[De horis canonicis]

And if he does not wish to fulfill these, he may be removed from it. This is supported by the law "Relation," 8, concerning clerics who do not reside, and by the chapter "Since some," and by others in the same title. Therefore, I said that they are a certain satisfaction of the thing, just as to the extinction of a debt contracted between a creditor and debtor, the payment itself is required, as in the Institutes, "In what ways an obligation is dissolved," in the beginning, where the text says that the obligation is lifted by the payment of that which is owed. For this, the notes in the chapter "He who," concerning payment, also serve. Likewise, in the same way, through the payment and reading of the hours, we perform the owed burden of our service, that is, the obligation by which, by reason of the benefice, order, or office, we are obligated to our Creator, and from which, according to the Psalm, we are commanded to praise Him Himself seven times a day, as is provided in this chapter.

Any of these definitions is good and is founded in law. For the aforementioned, those things that are held in the text that begins, "I ask what if a cleric dismisses," which is held on the first side of the tenth folio, are useful.

I ask where the canonical hours are said to be derived from. Answer: According to Guillaume and generally in the said Clementine, concerning the celebration of masses, they are said to be from "prayer" original: "oro" prayer, because they ought to be said in purity of conscience and devotion of spirit and while watching. See the chapter "Where there is danger," final paragraph, concerning elections, Book VI. They are also called "hours" from this, that they ought to be read at certain hours, as is approved in our chapter and in the chapter "Grieving," in the same title. And they are called "canonical" because they are found in the canon by the holy fathers who instituted them in councils, of which mention is made in our chapter, and the chapter "In the matter of," and in the final chapter. And in the said Clementine and in many other places, they ordered them to be said, assuming as their foundation the saying of the Psalm:

Seven times a day I have sung your praises

And for other reasons, of which it will be spoken in the following question, they gave a rule that we must say these canonical hours. And therefore I said they are found "from the canon," because "canon" is the same as "rule." It is given as a rule, therefore, that every presbyter, whether existing in sacred orders or beneficed by reason and for the debt of his service, that is, his obligation, is held to read them seven times every day. Likewise, they are not only called canonical because they are found from the canon, but they are also called "divine" because they are offered and spent for God. Likewise, they are called "vigils" because they ought to be said with watchfulness of spirit.