‘I lament your miserable behavior, brothers, and I weep bitterly about my misfortune, that instead of … presiding over brothers and the most devout Franciscans, it appears that I rule over dogs and vipers. …” Francesco-Scipio Gonzaga's letter attacking the Paris friars arrived in August 1581. The Paris friary was one of the most important convents in the Franciscan order, a nursery of eminent preachers and theologians. It was here that Bonaventure, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham once pursued their theological work, and the best and brightest friars continued to flood to Paris for theological training throughout the sixteenth century. Normally a source of pride, the community was in serious trouble with the head of the Observant order, the minister general, for outright disobedience to his authority. The source of the dispute was the controversial election of the new head of the community, the guardian, in the absence of a representative of the general three months earlier. Even after the arrival of the general himself in July 1582, leaders of the community continued to resist his authority. By August 3, 1582, rumors of violent encounters between rival bands of friars in the community began circulating in Paris and even captured the attention of the Parlement. A commission sent to investigate found that the rumors had not been exaggerated. One jaundiced witness even accused the general of striking down the sacristan to obtain his keys to the sacristy.