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
things which belong to the Monastery negligently or sluttishly lett her bee punished and if shee doe not amend lett her bee put to regular discipline VVether the Religious should haue any thing proper to themselues or noe CHAPTER 22. THIS Vice of propriety much bee wholly plucked vpp by the Rootes out of the Monastery that none presume to giue or Receaue any thing what soeuer proper to themselues not soe much as a booke or writting Tables or any Instrument to write withall yea nothing at all for they ought to haue neither bodyes nor wills at their owne disposing They must receaue all their necessaryes from their Abbesse neither shall it bee lawfull for them to haue any thing but that which the Abbesse shall giue them or appoynte them to haue lett euery thing bee common to euery one as it is written neither lett any presume to say that any thing is her owne If soe bee that any shal bee found to take delight in this pernitions Vice lett her bee once or twice admonished and if shee amend not lett her bee punished VVhe ther euery one ought to rcceaue all necessaryes equally CHAPTER 23. IT is written that to euery one was distributed according to their necessity Wee say not that their should bee any distinction of Persons god for bidd but rather that Consideration bee had of euery ones infirmity soe that shee which hath lesse neede bee thankefull to god therefore and noe way greiued in her mynde but shee that hath more neede must bee more humble in respect of her Infirmitie and not puffed vpp with pride for the mercy which is vsed towards her and thus euery member shal bee in peace and quietnesse Wee giue you this speciall Caueat to bee ware that the Sinne of Murmuration may not for any occasion appeare either in Worde or in any externall signe what soeuer and if any bee taken in this fault lett her bee putt vnto seuere punisment Of the hebdomadaries or weekely Offices in the kitching CHAPTER 24. LETT the Sisters serue each othersand none must bee excused from seruing in the kitching except shee bee hindred by sicknesse or in respect of some greater Commoditie for here by the more Charitie and merritt is gayned lett the weaker sort haue some solace that they may not doe it male content but lett them haue some assistance according to the State of the Congregation and situation of the place If the Conhregation bee great the Cellarier shal bee excused from the kitchin or whosoeuer is hindred with businesse of greater importance as wee haue sayd but lett all the rest serue each other with all Charitie being at the weekes end to goe out of office lett her on Saterday make all things cleane lett her wash the clothes where with the Sisters wipe their hands and Feete Both shee that is to enter and shee that is to depart must wash the Feete of all the rest Lett her resigne all the Vessell belonging to her office neate and whole vnto the Cellarier the which Cellarier must deliuer thē againe vnto her that entreth into that Office that shee may know what shee deliuereth and what shee receaueth The Hebdomadaryes must take some peece of bread ād a draught of drincke ouer and aboue their ordinary Portion one hower before the rest of the Couent take their Refection soe that at the hower of Refection they may serue their Sisters without murmuring for their ouer much labour vppon Solemne Feasts they must abstayne till Masse bee ended Euery Sunday the hebdomadaryes wich enter and goe out of office shall kneele them Downe before euery one requesting their Prayers They that goe out of office must say this verse Benedictus es Domine Deus qui adiuuisti me consolatus es me blessed bee thou o lord god wich hast holpen mee and comforted mee which Verse being three tymes repeated lett her that entreth into the Officē follow and say Deus in adiutoriū meum intende Domine ad adiuuandū me festina and this being in like manner thrice repeated of all hauing receaued the Benediction lett her enter into her office Of the infirme and sscke Sisters CHAPTER 25. BEFORE and aboue all things care must bee had of the sicke soe that Seruice bee done vnto them as to Christ himselfe for hee hath sayed I was infirme and sicke and you visited mee ād that which you haue done to one of my litle ones you haue done it to my selfe yea lett the infirme Consider with themselues that all this Seruice is done them for the honour of God and lett them not bee trouble some to the Sisters which serue them by ouer much superfluity Not withstanding they are much to bee borne withall for by such as they are the greater merritt is obtayned therefore lett the Abbesse bee carefull that they endure nothing vppon the negligence of others Vnto the sicke a place must bee appoynted and some to serue them that haue the feare of God and are carefull and dilligent lett the infirme haue the vse of the Bath soe oftē as it shal bee expedient but lett it bee rarely granted to those that are whole especially to the younger sort yelett t hose that are all togeather weake eate flesh for their Recouery but when they are recouered lett them abstaine from flesh as they were wont to doe lett the Abbesse haue especiall care that the sicke bee not neglected either by the Cellarier or by those that serue them for it is imputed vnto her fault how soeuer her Scollers err and offend Of those that are old and very younge CHAPTER 26. ALthough that man of his owne nature is easely drawne to pitty the ould and young yet notwithstanding lett them bee prouided for by the authoritie of your Rule lett allwayes consideration bee had of their Weaknesse and vse not in any wise the stricknesse of the Rule as concerning their dyett but allwayes lett them bee confidered with pitty◠and lett them preuent the ordinary tymes of eating Of the hebdomary Reader CHAPTER 27 THE Sisters must neuer bee without reading at meales yet lett not euery one presume to reade as by chance shee shall take the booke in hand but lett her beginn vppon Sunday that is to read all the weake following whoe entring into the office must request the Prayers of the rest ymmediately after Masse and Communion that God would deliuer her from the Spirritt of Pride and lett this Verse bee recited thrice of all them in the Church Domine labia mea aperies os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam and soe lett her beginn to reade hauing first receaued her benediction let soueraigne silence bee obserued at meate neither whispering or other noyse be there herd but onely of the Reader and lett all that is necessary both for meate and drinke bee soe deliuered to the Sisters that none may haue neede to demaunde any thing Notwith standing if any thing shal bee wanting lett it rather bee demaunded by the sound of some
vntill the second hower bee expired at the second hower say the Third and then lett euery one attend to that worke which is enioyned her vntill the Nynth when the signe is giuen to the Nynth lett euery one lay away the worke and bee in a readinesse at the second Signe After Refection lett them attend to reading spirituall bookes or the Psalmes vppon those dayes that come in lent lett them attend to their reading vnto the third hower full out and then lett them worke that which is commaunded them vnto the tenth hower vppon which dayes lett euery one take her a booke out of the library the which shee must reade through out and these bookes must bee deliuered to them at the beginning of lent See that one or two ancient be appoynted to goe through the Monastery at such tymes as the Sisters apply their bookes and see that noe Sisters bee found Idle or prating with others and not occupyed in reading and there by is not onely vnprofitable vnto her selfe but troble some vnto others if such an one as god forbidd should bee found in this sort lett her bee rebuked for the first and second tyme and if shee amend not lett her bee put to regular Correction in such sort as others may bee kept in feare ād awe neither lett one Sister bee found with another at vnfitt howers and seasons vppon Sundayes lett all apply their reading except such as are deputed to other offices If any shal bee found soe negligent and slothfull that shee either will not or cannot meditate or reade lett her haue some other worke enioyned her that shee may not bee idle and vnoccupyed lett such workes an arts bee enioyned to those Sisters that are weake and delicate that neither they may bee Idle or oppressed with the violence of their labour that thereby they should seeke to shunn it and soe their weaknesse is of the Abbesse duly to bee considered Of the manner of the obseruation of lent CHAPTER 38 AL though the life of the Religious should bee a perpetuall lent yet because this vertue is found in very few therefore wee admonish you that in the tyme of lent you lead your life in all purity that is to wipe away all the negligences of former tymes by the good obseruation of these sacred dayes which is then worthyly performed if wee abstaine from all Vice and attend to our prayers with compunction of hart lett vs therefore on these dayes add some what to the ordinary taske of our Seruice as abstinence both in meate and drinke and some peculier prayers lett euery one offer freely with Ioy of the holy Ghost some what vnto God aboue all that which is appoynted her that is that shee with draw from her body some what of her meat drinke sleepe talke scurrilitie expecting the sacred Feast of Easter with ioy in all spirituall and ghostly comfort notwithstāding whatsoeuer it is that euery one doth offer lett her signify it to her Abbesse that it may bee done with her good will and benediction for what soeuer is done with out her permission and of the ghostly Father is to bee accounted persumption and vayne glory and in noe wise meritorious Therefore all things are to bee done with the good liking of the Abbesse Of the Oratory of the Monastery CHAPTER 39 LETT the Oratory bee that which the name there of doth imparte neither lett any other thing bee there done or disposed after the worke of God is ended lett euery one depart with silence and with reuerence done to God that that Sister that can bee able to pray perticulerly may not bee hindred by the miserule and importunity of others but if it bee soe that any other will make there her prayers lett her enter in with all simplicitie and pray not with a loude and clamorous voyce but with teares and deuotion of hart sheet herefore that doth not this may not bee permitted after the seruicē to stay in the place of Prayer lest as I haue sayd another suffer an impediment thereby How it is vnlawfull for the Sisters to giue or receaue any letters or Presents CHAPTER 40. IT is altogeather vnlawfull for the Sisters to receaue or giue letters bookes of deuotion or what other present howlitle soeuer either to their kinsfolkes or to any other person or one to another without the commaundemēt of the Abbes And if any thing should bee sent them from any of their kinsfolkes let them not presume to receaue it before it bee shewed to the Abbesse and if shee commaund them to receaue it then shall it bee in her power to giue it to her vnto whom shee shall commaund to giue the same And lett not that Sister to whom it was sent bee sorry if it bee giuen to another to the end noe occasion may bee suffred for the deuill to enter amongst you and if shee presume to doe the contrary lett her bee submitted vnto reguler discypline and Correction Of the Cloathes of the Religious CHAPTER 41. LET the Sisters haue their cloathes giuen them according to the qualitie of of the place where they dwell and disposition of the ayre for there is neede of more in colder Countryes and in hotter of lesse therefore lett this consideration pertayne to the Abbesse notwithstanding wee beleiue that in temperate places it may suffice the sisters to haue a cuculua ād anin warde coate They must haue a Cuculua in the winter and that some what grosse and hayry and in the Sommer more synd and well worne and a Scapular to labour and as concerning their Feete they shall haue hose and Shoes but as concerning the Colour or grosenesse of thē the Sisters may not in any wise dispute but let it bee such as may bee found in the Prouince where they dwell or that which may bee bought the best cheape let the Abbesse looke to the measure there of that the cloathes bee not two short for those that weare them but of a Competent greatnesse when they receaue any new thing see that presently they giue vpp their ould to bee reserued in the Guardroabe for the poore it sufficeth that eath Sister haue two Coates and two Cuculuers both for the nights and for to wash them and that which shal bee ouer and aboue this shal bee superfluous and must bee cutt of and as concerning their 〈◊〉 and what ould thing soeuer see they render it vpp when they receaue any new as for their bedding lett it suffice they haue a Mattresse a Couering ouer that and another to couer them and a boulster which bedds must bee often searched by the Abbesse for feare of prepriety that there it may not bee found and in whom soeuer it shal bee found to haue any thing that shee receaued not from the Abbesse lett her bee most seuerely punished and that this Vice of propriety may bee wholly rooted out lett all things that are necessary bee giuen them by the Abbesse that is their Cuculua a Coate shoes