[De horis canonicis]

Then, once the hours have been completed and the sick visited, if he wishes, he may go out to rural work fasting, so that he may again be able to assist the needs of pilgrims and guests, or of various travelers, the sick, and the deceased, until the appointed hour, as much as possible, according to the Prophet who says:

Seven times a day I have sung your praises
which number of seven is fulfilled by us, if we perform the offices of the hours of our service: Matins, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. For concerning the nocturnal vigils, the same Prophet says:
At midnight I rose to confess to you
Therefore, at these times, let us offer praises to our Creator, over the judgments of His justice. This is the tenor of the constitution and our chapter to the letter. Now I come to the questions by which I believe I shall make the present little work clearer.

I ask first what the canonical hours are. Answer: Generally, they are a certain duty assigned to divine worship by those who have been chosen for the lot of the Lord, from which they receive sustenance from the patrimony of Christ. And this definition is gathered in the chapter "When according to the Apostle" original: "c. cum scdm̄ apl̄m" concerning prebends and dignities, and the chapter "Clergy" original: "cleros lxxxj. di." in the 81st Distinction.

Or otherwise, canonical hours are a sacrifice or host of praise, which one offers from the fruit of his lips, purely, piously, and devoutly. This definition is posited by Guillaume de Mont-Lauzun original: "guil' m cle." in the first Clementine, concerning the celebration of masses.

Or otherwise and thirdly, canonical hours are certain divine offices instituted by the Church at certain times, to which a devout person is obligated on account of a benefice, order, or office, and this is according to Cal.

I posit another definition, namely that canonical hours are a certain satisfaction of an obligation contracted on account of a benefice, order, or office, from which, or from one of which, someone is devoutly obligated to say those hours. And this definition is approved by the gloss in the Clementine "Finally, Lord" original: "c. fi dn̄m" in the word "himself" original: "seipm", and by the note of M. in the chapter "Unless with the aforesaid," and by Zabarella, who also commented on this chapter, and afterwards as read by the note of M. in the chapter "It is signified" original: "significatū" concerning prebends, and in the final chapter concerning rescripts, Book VI. For it is noted in the said chapter "Unless with the aforesaid" that a contract arises between the recipient and the offerer of a benefice, such that from this contract he ought and can be compelled not only to say these hours but to undergo whatever burdens are incumbent upon the benefice.