Signe then by theiâ— voyces neither may any of them presume to speake either of that wich is reade or of any thing els that noe occasion may bee giuen to your ghostly enemy except peraduenture the Superiour will say some what breifely for their edification lett the Reader take some litle pittance in bread and drinke before shee beginn to reade lest peraduenture her fasting night bee ouer greuious to her and afterwards lett her take Refection with those of the kitchin and the other Seruants The Sisters must not read according to their order but onely those that can best edify others by their reading Of the quantitie of their meate CHAPTER 28. VVEE beleiue that two boyled pittances may serue for their dayly Refection in euery Month of the yeare both one the day when the Fast and when there is noe Fast and in respect of the infirmities which may bee incident to diuers of their Complexions that those which cannot eate of the one may make their repast of the other therfore lett two boyled pulmentaryes or pittances suffice for all the Sisters and if there bee any Apples or new Fruytes then make them a third dish of the same one pound of bread must bee their dayly allowance whether they make onely dinner or both dinner and Supper and if they are to receaue their Supper lett the third parte of their pound bee reserued by the Cellarier for their Supper if their labour happen to bee greater then shall it bee in the Abbesses will and power to augment it as shee shall thinke good hauing especially care that all excesse and surfeting bee eschewed that the Religious might neuer bee troubled with indigesture For nothing is more contrary to a Christian then gluttony As our lord himselfe sayeth see that your harts bee not ouer charged with surfeiting and dronkennesse lett not the same quantity bee obserued to the younger sort but rather lesse then those that are greater obseruing frugalitie in all things lett all abstaine precisely from eating flesh of foure footed beasts except those that are sicke and Feeble Of the measure of their drincke CHAPTER 29. EVERY one hath a proper gift from God one after this manner and another after that aÌ„d therefore the measure of other Folks dyett is appoynted by vs with a certayne kinde of scruple and perplexitie not with standing considering the weaknesse of those that are sicke wee beleiue that a pynte of wine may suffice for euery one a day lett them vnderstand that they shall haue a peculier reward vppon whom our lord shall bestow the gift of abstinence But if either the necessitie of the place or their trauyll or the heates of the Summer shall require more lett that bee remitted to the arbitrement of the Superiour who must alwayes duely consider that it bee done without saciety and dronckennesse Althoughe wee reade that wine is noe drincke for those that lead a Monasticall life yet because wee cannot soe perswade these of our tyme at lest wise in this sort lett vs yeald there vnto that wee neuer drinke our sill but moderately for wine maketh euen the wise to become Apostataes where the necessitie of the place soe requireth that the afore sayd measure may not bee had but either much lesse or none at all lett theÌ„ which dwell in those places blesse our lord and beware of Murmuration all wayes warning you in the speciallest sort wee cann that the Sisters euer liue free from all Murmuration At what howers the Sisters must take their refection CHAPTER 30. FROM Easter to whitsontide the Sisters must take their dinner at the sixt hower and their Supper at night But froÌ„ whitsontide forward through the whole Summer let them fast wednesday vntill the Nynth hower except they labour much or that the excessiue heates doe much molest them but vppon other dayes they dyne at the sixt hower the which tyme of dynning at sixt may bee contynued either when they labour oâ— when the heats of the Sommer are excessiue great and lett all these things remayne in the prouidence and discretion of the Abbesse who must soe wisely temper and dispose all things that the Soules of her Sisters may bee saued and that they may doe their dutyes without murmuring But from the â—es of September vntill the beginning of â—nt the Sisters must dine at the Nynth In â—nt vntill Easter they must take their Refeâ—oÌ„ at Euening which Euening must bee soe â—nsidered that those wich eate may not â—ely neede Candle light but moreouer â—at all thinges may bee finished within the â—y light and at all Seasons of the yeare the â—ower of Supper and of their refection â—ust bee soe contynued that by the light of â—e day all things may bee wel dispatched Of Silence in the night CHAPTER 31. AL wayes the Sisters must haue care to keepe silence but especially in the â—asen of the night and therefore at all tyâ—es whether fasting or dining if it bee a â—me to dyne in ymmediately after they â—aue risen from Supper lett them sitt dowâ—e togeather all in one place and lett one â—eade the Colations or liues of the holy Faâ—ers or some what els that may edefy the â—earers but lett them not reade at that tyme â—e siue bookes of Moyses or the bookes of â—e kings for it wil bee litle proâ—itable for â—ose that are of smale Capacitie at that tyme to heare that parte of Scripture but rather lett them reade it at other tymes But if it bee fasting day a litle after Euen song lett them goe to the lecture of the sayde collatioÌ„â— as wee haue said and after foure or fiue leaues haue beene read or as the hower will permit all meeting togeather by the space of the sayâ— lecture if any bee occupyed about any busâ—nee enioyned her by the Superiour lett her then come alsoe and when all are asseÌ„bled lett them make an end and goe to complyne and after none may speake vnto any about any thing for if any bee found to breake this Rule of silence let her bee seuerely punished except it bee vppon the arriuall of some guesse or that the Abbesse should commaund any thing to bee done which notwith standing must bee done with all decency and moderation Of those that come late to the Seruice of God and to the Table CHAPTER 32. LETT euery one runn with all speede leauing what soeuer worke is in her hads soe soone as shee shall heare the Signe to bee giuen vnto the deuine Seruice yet with grauity that scurrilitie may finde â—oe entertaynment among you Therefore â—eware that nothing bee preferred before â—he Seruice of God for if any come not to Mattines before the Gloria of the 94 Psalme â—ee sayd with Psalme for this cause wee will haue sayd in a long aÌ„d leisurely maÌ„ner â—ett her nott stand in her owne order but â—ither the last of all or in some other place â—hich the Abbesse shall appoynte for such â—egligent Sluggerds that soe shee may bee â—eene of
THE RVLE OF THE MOST BLISSED FATHER SAINT BENEDICT PATRIARKE OF ALL MVNKES Tu iuxta Regulam Patrum vivere stude maxime autem Consessoris Sancti BENEDICTI ne declinas ab ea quoquam nec illi addas quidquam nec minuâ— Totum quod sufficit habet numquam minus habet Gregorius Mag. in manuscripta Indevour to live conformable to the Rule of the Fathers Butt especially of the Confessour Saint Benedict do nott swerue any way from itt neither add you any thinge to itt nor take any thinge a way for itt hath that which sufficeth and it in nothing defectiue Printed at Gant by Iâ—OS DOOKS TO THE HONORABLE RIGHT REVER ENDE AND HER MOST RESPECTED LADY THE LADY EVGENIA POVLTON ABBESSE OF THE ENGLISH MONASTERY OF THE HOLY ORDER OF S. BENEDICT IN GANT Honorable and Right Reuerende Madame NEVER doe the newe risinge sunne spreede forth his beames with out a newe comfort to the behoulders neither doth the splendours yealded to so many dayes yeares and ages any whitt deminish the accustomed solace taken by the newe Spectatours And can I doubt this glorious sunne our Rule a bright beame of diuine light newely raised to shine in this place by your lady shipps predicessour aÌ„d your indeuour bringe lesse them wonted ioy to the inioyers aÌ„d though itt hath illustrated the worlde for many dayes yeares aÌ„d ages with so cleare beames of Illustrious sanctity cannonizinge with glorious triuÌ„ph more theÌ„ 3000 sainctes brought froÌ„ the obscurity of idolitry to the light of faith 33 nations adorned the Church with 15000 Bishopps 7000 Archbishops 200â— Cardinalls and twentye foure Popes most of which shined vnto the world as brighteâ— starres hauinge taken ther lustre and light as from the sunne from this glorious Rule Not to numbeâ— the innumerable florishinge monasteryes the shininge and illustrious Doctours and writters the intyre and purest Virgines fruites which this holy rule as a most comfortable sunne hath produced fostered and brought vp to inlighteÌ„ aÌ„d illustrait both with word writinges and examples of singuler sanctitye the whole Occident all church Can I as Isay yet douht that the vigour ther of is any whitt deminished butt rather as an experienced and an eye wittnesse can I auere newe comfort ioy aÌ„d solace raysed in the mindes and hares of the newe Embracers who vnder your ladyshipps gouerment happely doe a newe inioy the splendour of that light and most comfortably do pertake the fire of charity which with herbeames she doth inkindle in our hartes Giue me therfore leaue most Respected Madame though after many ages to lett this so holy a rule spreed her rayes a broade in our English tonge vnder your ladishippes protection that as you instill the loue of it in our hartes so you would make itt obuious to our Eyes and a monge the rest to hers who desires to remaine as she this day is become Your Ladishipps Professed and vowed child ALEXIA GRAY THE BREVE OF S. GREGORY POPE FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE RVLE OF SAINT BENEDICT I Gregory Pralat of the holy Romane Church haue writt the life of Saint Benedict and reade the Rule which the Saint hath written with his owne hand I haue praysed itt and I haue confirmed itt in a Holy Counsell and haue comanded that through sundry partes of Italy and whersoeuer the Latine toung is vsed itt should hee exactly obserued by all whosoeuer to the end of the worlds should come to a retyred life And I also consitme the 12. Monasteryes the holy Saint erected Ex originali in Monasterio sublacensi THE BVLL OF ZACHARY POPE Successor to Saint GREGORY THE GREATE FOR THE APPROBATION OF THE RVLE OF THE MOST HOLY S. BENEDICT ZACHARY Bysshop seruant of the seruantes of God To all redeemed by the bloode of Christ wisheth health and Apostolicall Benediction VVee giue thankes to Almighty God whose mercy is more deare then life that he iâ— glorious and admirable in his Saintes and â—istowâ—â—â— with vnspeakeable bounty hiâ— vertues aÌ„d gifâ—es For he hath putt the most Blessed BENEDICT to bee the Father of all Munkes He through the meriâ—ts of this Saint hath made the monastery of Cassina placed in the grounde of Tertullus Patritius to 〈◊〉 aboue all the Monasteryes in the worlde where the Saint writt the Rule of Munkes which our predicessour of holy memory Greg. hath aboundantly approued aÌ„d praysed in his booke of Diologs aÌ„d wee approue and prayse and declare itt to bee holy and in the dedication of that holy church while wee are ther with therteen Arckbishoppes threscore and eight Bishopes doe ordaine appointing that whâ— soeuer shall dare to contradict itt bee excoÌ„municated FINIS THE RVLE OF OVR HOLY FATHER S. t BENETT THE PREFACE HARKEN daughter to the commaundmeÌ„t of God thy Master and inclyne the eare of thy hart and willingly receaue the admonition of thy pittifull Father and put it in execution to the end thou mayst retourne againe vnto him by the labour of thy obedience from whom thou deddist depart by the negligence of thy disobedience To thee therefore which dest renounce thyn owne will with intention to fight vnder Christ the true king and to take vppon thee the strong armour of obedience thes wordes are addressed first of all desire thou by most instant prayer that that good worke which thou purposest to begin in the may bee perfected that hee who hath vouch safed to accuÌ„t vs in the numbre of his Children might not bee contristated by our misdemeanour and soe wee must alwayes obey him with those good parts that are in vs that not onely hee may not at any tyme like an angry Father desinheritt vs his childreÌ„ nor like a dreadfull lord prouoked by our offences adiudge vs as naughty seruants to perpetuall punishment which would not follow him to his Glory Now therefore at lenght lett vs rise the holy Scripture exciting vs saying Now is the hower to rise out of sleep and with open eyes and attentiue eares let vs behould the deuine splendor and heare that which the voyce of God dayly crying doth admonish saying If this day you shall heare his voyce harden not your hartes and againe hee which hath eares to heare lett him heare what the spirritt sayth to the Churches aÌ„d what sayth it Come he ther Children giue eare to mee I will teach you the Feare of our lord God Runn while you haue the light of life lest the darcknesse of death ouerreach you And God seeking his labour our amongst the Comon sort of people sayth furthermore what man is hee that wisheth life and hath a desire to see gooddayes and if thou hearing this dost make answeare saying I am hee God sayth vnto thee againe it you wilt enioy a true euerlasting life refrayne thy tonge from euill and thy lipps from vttering lyes and deceipts shunn ewill and doe that which is good seeke peace and pursue it and at what tyme you shall doe this myne eyes shall watch ouer you
IF peraduenture some Sister should haue any thing enioyned her that is impossible to bee done lett her receaue the Commaundement of her that commaunded her with all sweetenesse and obedience and if shee see that the weight of the burthen doth altogeather exceede the compasse of her force then lett her at some fitt tyme and with all patience declare vnto the Superior the cause of the Impossibilitie thereof without all pride Resistance or Contradiction And if after her suggestion the Commaundement of the Superiour continew in the former Rigour let the Inferiour then vnderstand that it is expedient for her that it should bee soe and soe lett her obey with all loue and Charitie reposing her trust in the helpe of God How one may not defend another in the Monastery CHAPTER 53. YOV must take good heede that one Sister presume not to defend or beare out another in the Monastery for what cause soeuer though they bee neuer soe familiar and neere in bloode and in noe sort lett this bee presumed by the Sisters for thereby great occasion of schādall may arise And if any transgresse this Rule let her bee seuerely punished That one may not presume to stricke another CHAPTER 54 TO the end that all manner of presumption may bee excluded out of the Monastery wee ordayne and appoynte that it bee not lawfull for any to excommunicate or stricke the Sissers excepting her onely to whom this authoritie is giuen by the Abbesse Butt lett those that offēd bee reprehended before the rest that others thereby may bee kept in more awe But lett Chastisement or sharpe correction bee giuen vnto Childrē by the Sisters vntill they come to sixteene yeares of age and lett good watch bee held ouer them yet with that regard and discretion that it passe not the bounds and measure of reason for whoe shall presume to stricke them when they shall come to riper yeares without the commaundement of the Abbesse or to worke her passion indescretely vppon soe much as the very Children lett her bee submitted to the punishment of the Rule for it is written that which thou wouldest not haue done to thy selfe see thou doe it not to another That the Sisters must obey one another CHAPTER 55. THE Vertue of obedience ought to bee performed of euery one not onely to the Abbesse but alsoe the Sisters must obey one another knowing that by this way of obedience they shall goe to our lord Therefore after the Commaundement of the Abbesse and of the ancients put in office by her before whose cōmaūdemēts wee permitt that noe perticuler persons commaundements should take place lett those that are younger obey those that are their Ancients with all loue and dilligence ād if any should bee found to bee a Comtemner of her Ancients lett her bee punished likewise if any Sister bee in any sort reprehended by her Abbesse or any of her Ancients for any cause how litle soeuer or if shee perceaue that the Countenance of her Ancient bee neuer soe litle changed with anger against her I say how litle soeuer it bee lett her forth with cast herselfe vppon the ground and there ly prostrate before her feete doing her satisfaction soe long vntill that motion bee cured with some benediction and if any should contemne to doe it let her bee put to some corporall punishment and if shee continew still hardned in her opinion then let her bee thrust out of the Monastery Of the good Zeale and Charitie the Sisters ought to haue one towards another CHAPTER 56. AS there is an euill and bitter Zeale and hatred that seperateth from God and leadeth vnto hell euen soe there is a good Zeale that seperateth from Vice and leadeth vnto God and vnto his euerlasting life Therefore lett the Sisters exercise one towards another this good Zeale with a most feruent loue and affection that is to say lett them preuent one another with honour bearing patiently each others infirmities whether they bee of body or of their behauiour and let them striue to obey one another with all their power and abilitie let none follow that which to her owne Iudgment seemeth good and profitable but rather that which shall seeme good to another shewing all sisterly Charitie in a most pure and chast loue see they feare God loue their Abbesse with a sincere and humble affection and preferr nothing before our Sauiour Iesus Christ who of his goodnesse bring vs all to that life that neuer shall haue end Amen How that the obseruation of all Iustice is not contayned in this Rule CHAPTER 57. VVEE haue sett downe this Rule that by the obseruing it in the Monastery wee may shew vnto others that we haue in some honest kinde good behauour and the beginning of a holy Conuersation But for those that speede forward in the perfection of holy Conuersation there are the good lessons of holy Fathers the obseruation where of bringeth a man to the topp of perfection what Page or what Word of the diuine Authoritie is not a most right Rule of mans life or what booke of the holy Catholike Fathers doth not sound out this that by a direct Course wee may come to our Creator Alsoe the Collations of holy Fathers and the Rule of our holy Father S. Basill what other thing are they but the Examples of good life and of obedient and good people and the very Instruments of Vertues but to vs sluggish ill ād negligent people they are a shame and confusion therefore whosoeuer thou art that makest hast to that heauenly Country fullfill by the ayde of our Sauiour Christ this litle Rule written for young beginners and then afterwards by the protection of God thou shalt come to those more greater perfectiōs of doctrine and vertuous life where of wee haue already made mention Soe bee it FINIS