Saint Francis and the pledge of obedience

Francis pledged obedience to the Roman Catholic Church and its doctrines, reflecting an increased emphasis in this period on religious orthodoxy and conformity. How does this emphasis help explain the intolerance for the Jews as revealed in the Life and Miracles of St. William of Norwich?

The "Rule of the Franciscan Order" encompasses every facet of a brother's life. Not only are brothers expected to take vows of poverty and chastity, but they must submit in obedience to rules about their dress, diet, and their ways of praying. They "must remember that they have surrendered their own wills for the sake of God." One reason for the vigilance might be that the Franciscans were one of the first orders to go out into the world, as opposed to earlier orders that lead only a cloistered existence. These rules ensured that the brothers would not fall into temptation, which would presumably be an easy thing to do, living amongst non-clerics. "Thus I strictly order them to obey their ministers in all those things which they have promised the Lord to observe and which are not contrary to the soul and to our rule." The reason for this deference and emphasis on orthodoxy might have its roots in the fact that the order was more open to intrusion from other customs, thus monks needed to be reminded they should not accept money, for example, an offer which would not occur in a cloistered order.