It is indeed most likely that through his father Francis had become acquainted with the movement of the _Poor Men of Lyons_.

Hence his oft-repeated counsels to his friars of the duty of submission to the clergy.

When he went to seek the approbation of Innocent III., it is evident that the prelates with whom he had relations warned him, by the very example of Waldo, of the dangers inherent in his own movement.[17] The latter had gone to Rome in 1179, accompanied by a few followers, to ask at the same time the approbation of their translation of the Scriptures into the vulgar tongue and the permission to preach.

They were granted both requests on condition of gaining for their preaching the authorization of their local clergy.

Walter Map ([Cross] 1210), who was charged with their examination, was constrained, while ridiculing their simplicity, to admire their poverty and zeal for the apostolic life.[18] Two or three years later they met a very different reception at Rome, and in 1184 they were anathematized by the Council of Verona.