her selfe yet none shall tell her what resolution hath beene taken about her but they shall remitt it to the Relation of the Abbesse her selfe except the Abbesse doth otherwise ordayne 7. In their Iudgments lett them conforme themselues to the Commaundement of the Abbesse neither may they contend among themselues or stand to stâ—bbornely in their owne opinions they must answeare each other with meaknesse and propose their reasons with all humilitie yet alsoe with Religious freedome and liberty Where vppon the lady Abbesse must bee willing to heare their aduises and must permitt them to haue their necessary liberty in speaking their mynds yea moreouer shee must inuite rnd incourage them that herein they carefully doe their Office and duty and if any thing chance to bee spoken by any of them that may bee distastfull to her lett her rather winke thereat then that the Assistants bee made afrayde to deliuer with fredome their opinions as they are obliged to doe in matters appertayning to the common good neither ought the Abbesse to departe from that they all Counsayle her but vppon sufficient ground and reason 8. If nothing occurr whereof they should consult yet the Abbesse ought to call them togeather to see if her â—onsulters haue any thing to propound vnto her and if nothing of worth doe occurr they may bee dismissed 9. When the Religious will declare to the Assistants their mynds concerning those things which they are not willing to declare to the Abbesse her selfe whereby sâ—ee may bee the better informed let the Assistants naming none performe this with all charitie and sinceritie and bring them an answeare and resolution as the Case requireth 10. Euery one must know that they may not deale about any matter with the Assistants but vppon this Condition that what they declare vnto them should bee made knowne vnto the Abbesse neither may they giue â—are to any thing vnder Condition that it bee kept secrett and vnknowne to the Abbesse 11. After the Assistants leaue their Offices yet they may not discouer to others in any sort those things that haue beene done or vttered in their Consultations except onely such matters as by the Abbesse were made common be fore and imparted to others and if they shal bee found faulty here in there by they shal bee disinabled tâ— haue this Office againe for euâ—r after and to the end the assistants may bee more free in deliuering their opinions by the Statutes it is for bidden that the Abbesse doe manifest vnto others what was sayd or counsayled her by any of the assistants but onely as the Case may require shee may tell the Conuent what was counsayled her yet soe that shee discouer not vnto them the name of her that gaue her Counsayle or aduese there in THE VIII CHAPTER Of the despositayre 1. THE Office of the depositayre is to keepe all such things as belong to the necessary prouision of the monastery as Woolen linnen money and the like and shee is to render an exact accompt of all Receipts and expenses to the Abbesse whom shee is to certify of all such things of moment which shee receaueth or spendeth and there in shee is to follow her order and and appoyntment 2. Shee must haue a Chest with two lockes one of the keyes the Abbesse must keepe and shee the other soe that it may not bee opened withoâ—t them both In this Chest all the money of the house must bee kept and from thence it must bee taken as neede requireth except the Abbesse will keepe by her some smale somme for such vses as some tymes may occurr 3. Shee must haue the keeping of the great Seale of the Conuent and therewith shee may Seale nothing without the Consent of the Conuent shee alsoe must keepe all Originalls and other writings and Euidences in a Coffer with a double locke where of the Abbesse must haue one key and shee another 4. Once euery yeare the depositor togeather with the Guardroabe must see what euery one hath and what they want they must sett all downe in writing that afterwards they may consult with the Abbesse how they may prouide for the necessitie of eaâ—h one and lett them labour to carry an euen hand to all And to the end all Confusion may bee aâ—oyded a certayne hower must bee appoynted at which tyme â—â—ery day all the Officers and the Religious â—ust repayre to the depository for their Neâ—essities 5. When shee deliuereth by appoyntment â—f the Abbesse any thing to the Cellarier â—â—ardroabe or Cater lett her demaund a writing of the person that receaueth it where in the Receipt is contayned and lett her shew her selfe prompt and easy to execute those things vnto which shee is bound by her Office and in noe wise must shee shew her selfe wrangling or contentious yet if in her opinion shee thinketh that any thing may bee better done or that shee espyeth that any thing is more spent then ought to bee lett her make RelatioÌ„ there of to the Abbesse 6. Lett her take care that all Prouisions bee made in their due tymes for which cause shee must some tymes conferr with the Abbesse and Procurator of the Monastery as alsoe with the Cellarier conceruing those things which are vnder her charge and which shee is to vse 7. Shee must gather togeather all ould things of the Monastery as the ould lockes ould Iron and such like alsoe shee must keepe an accompt of all the Reuenewes and sommes of all the perticuler debts and of such things as are owing to any or by any to the Monastery and what tyme thâ— sayd payments are to bee made 8. Once euery yeare shee shall render aâ—â— exact accompt of all her Receips and Expenses where of shee is to deliuer a Coppy to the Abbesse whoe shall alsoe writt it downe in her booke and shee must seeke to haue the Abbesse subfigne to her yearely Reckonings whereby it may appeare that shee hath approued all and that all things haue passed according to her Order and well liking THE IX CHAPTER Of the Cellarier 1. THE Cellarier must often conferr with the Abbesse about those things which appertayne to her Office and shee must performe that both for quantitie and qualitie of the meate which shee shall appoynte shee must see that all things bee well keept in the Spence and Buttery that nothing bee negligently spent or wasted in meate drinke or any other thing committed to her charge and with a speciall care shee must endeauour that what soeuer belongeth to her Oâ—â—ice bee kept cleane â—nd hand some 2. In the manner of dressing and seasoâ—ing her meate shee must looke to that which is most whole some and lett her â—â—oyde all Curiositie and excesse in all things â—â—ll beeseeming a Religious estate yea if any thing bee superfluons lett her keepe it care fully to bee spent and vsed in due tyme and Season 3. Lett her foresee what is to bee prouided for the day following and lett her certify the
Cater thereof and that by writing soe likewise lett her inquire in good tyme of the Cooke what shee wanteth that in due tyme Prouision may bee made thereof and if the depositair shall bee wanting to her in any thing shee shall onely signify it to the Abbesse 4. If at any tyme any of the Professed of the Quier bee sent vnto her for any thing shee is to deliuer vnto them that which they haue neede of with all due Charitie and sweetenesse as her abilitie will permitt her 5. Shee must soe dispose all her businesses that shee may bee still present at the deuine Office soe farr forth as shee can possible 6. The Conuerse Sisters both Schollers Nouices as also the professed and all thâ— Sâ—ruantes of the house are vnder her charâ—ge and shee must bee very watchfull tâ— keepe them all in peace and Concord dirâ—â—cting them with all meakenesse and gentleâ—nesse taking care that they bee not twâ— much ouer charged with their labour anâ— that nothing bee wanting to their spiritualâ— proffitt and good but especially of her Conuâ—rse Sisters 7. Shâ—â— must instruct her Conuerse Sisters in the Catecâ—isme and Chriâ—tian doctrine and how to pray and make their Confession and to 〈◊〉 to the sacreed Communion with 〈◊〉 and proffitt â— Lâ—tt her sâ—â— that such Conuerse Sisters â—s â—re appaynted for sundry Offices haue their directions written in their seuerall Offices which shee must take care that once euery Moneth they bee read vnto them shee must alsoe haue an Inuentory of all such things as eueryone vnder her charge doth vse and shee must often visitt them all that shee may see that nothing bee brokâ—â— or nedâ— repâ—â—â—tion 9. Lett her not behaue her selfe contentionsly â—r distastfully to others but rather endeauour to mayntayne both her selfe and all her charge in â—â—ward peace and lett hâ—r seeke by her Religious outward tempâ—rate goâ—ernment moderation and manâ—â—r of speach to giue edification to others by the example of her vertuous â—nd true religious life THE X. CHAPTER Of the Portresse â— IT is the Office of the Portresse to keepe the key of the Gate oft the Monaâ—â—â—â—y the locke where of must haue two â—eyes soe that it may not bee opened witâ—out them both One of these keyes must bee kept by the Abbesse and when soeuer â—â—y person is to enter into the monastery or any thing is to bee brought in someone Religious is to bee sent by the Abbesse whoe may bring with her her key and there with open and shutt the sayd Gate and soe carry it backe to the Abbesse againe 2. If any are to enter into the Monastery from abroade the Portresse togeather with her Companion whom the Abbesse or the Superiour shall appoynte for fewer then 〈◊〉 shall neuer accompany them must bring them to the place whether they are to goâ— and none may speake vnto those persons but in a word or two and as it weare Obiter or by the way neither may the Portresse permitt euery one to open the Gate or deliuer her key to any but to her whom the Superiour shall appoynte 3. If there shal bee more Gates to thâ— Monastery then one euery one of them must allwayes haue two keyes where of the Abbesseâ— must haue one and the Porâ—resse another and the Portresse must bee very carefull to see they bee allwayes well shutt and that whosoeuer are lett into the Monastery doe allwayes enter and departe at full day light except some most vrgent Causes of necessitie doe exact the contrary and after Complyne shee is to giue vpp her keyes to the Custody and keeping of the Lady Abbesse THE XI CHAPTER Of the Thourier or the Prefect of the speaking place 1. THIS Officer must haue a Cell neere vnto the speaking place â—hat shee may bee the readyer to answeare â—uch as come and to deliuer such messages as are requisitt 2. Shee must demaunde the names of such persons as come to the speaking place if shee know them not and shee must endeauour to informe the Lady Abbesse or Prioresse of the qualitie of such persons as require to speake with any one 3. Shee shall call noe Religious to speake with Externes at the Grate without the the lycence of the Prioresse at the least and what soeuer shee receaueth of Externes shee must deliuer it to the Abbesse or to the Prioresse soe soone as well shee may 4. When the Religious are called to speake with Externes shee must notify vnto them the quality of the persons that if they bee persons of qualitie they may goe vnto them in their great habitt and when shee calleth any to the Parloy or speaking place lett her â—ignify vnto her what Companion shee is to haue according as the Abbesse or Prioresse shall appointe and if the Conuersation seeme to bee vnprofitable or inconuenient lett either her Companion or the Prefect of the place prudently and discreetely call her thence 5. If any Externe bee denyed to speake with any lett her in good Religious manner seeke to giue the person due satisfaction by her yealding those reasons that are for that purpose and in her speeches or answeares lett her haue care of edisication and religious Ciuilitie and being by the Bell called to the Parloyre lett her make hast to goe thither and make answeare to the person that called and see that there shee vse noe other talke then that which is necessary and conuenient 6. Shee may not suffer any to execute her Office but onely that Religious whom the Superiour shall appoynte 7. Shee may receaue noe writing or message to bee sent to any except the Abbesse Prioresse or Conuent bee acquaynted ther with except it bee to bee sent and addressed to the Bishopp or Visitours as hereafter in the third parte and first Chapter shal bee declared THE XII CHAPTER Of the Chantresse 1. ALL the bookes that appertayne to the Quiar must bee in the Cuâ—â—ody of the Chauntresse whoe must haue care that in their singing and reading the hearers may bee edifyed and euery weeke vppon Wednesday shee shall sett vp a Paper wherein there names are to bee written that in the weeke following must sing or reade any thing in the Quiar Shee must make choyce of the more skillfull according to the solemnitie of the Feasts and in all things lett her take that Course and methode in her proceedings that shee bee not ouer greiueous or troublesome to any 2. Euery weeke vppon Saterday lett her sett vpp in writing the Order of the Office for the weake following and withall the extraordinary obligations both for the liuing and the dead for which cause shee must â—â—ue the keeping of that booke wherein the sayd Obligations are contayned 3. Lett her bee very wary and Circumâ—spect before shee begin to sing or intoneâ—â— any thing and lett her vse the same warrynesse in euery thing els that if any erroâ— happen shee may seeke to amend it witâ— Zeale yet without any signe of impatience soe farr as shee
can possibly 4. If they shall sing any thing in Musicke in the Church â—hose are to bee appoynted by her or by some other who perhapps may bee fitter for this Office that must sing neither may any other presume to sing but such as by her are appoynted THE XIII CHAPTER Of the Sacristane 1. THE Sacristane must bee very dilligent to see that what soeuer belongeth to the Church Cloyster Chapter house and Sacristy bee kept very carefully and han somely 2. Lett her carefully prouide that the wine which must seruâ— for the most holy Sacrifice bee good and pure and drawne the same day that the Chalices Purificatoryes Corporalls Cruetts Water Towells and all the furniture and appurtenances of the Church bee whole and very cleane shee must carry holywater to the Cells and the accustomed places of the Monastery where euery weeke shee must put it into Vessells that there are appoynted to contayne the same 3. Lett her appoynte the tyme when euery one is to goe to Confession by the aduise of the Abbesse and lett her see that all the Masses bee sayd in fitt tymes if they haue sundry Prists to celebratt Lett her make the hosts as fayre as shee can possibly which shee must prouide may bee sufficient for the Masses and the Communicants and shee must see that shee allwayes haue them in readynesse as neede may require 4. Shee must kepe the kyes of the Turne and Grate of the Church or Sacristy neither may shee receaue or deliuer any thing by them but onely such things as appertayne to the Aultar the holy Sacrifices or Church lett her see that this grate or Turne bee all wayes well shutt and locked except in tymes of Communion or when any thing is to bee deliuered or receaned by the same 5. Shee must not speake or talke with any at the Grate but onely about those things that necessaryly appertayne to her Office and if any Externe demande any thing of her which concerneth not immediately the Church lett her send him to the Tourier and when shee speaketh with any at her Turne or Grate lett her doe it with a low voyce and lett her bee still ready to deliuer those things which belong to the Seruice of the Church 6. Shee must deliuer euery Euening to the Abbesse the keyes of her Office and in the morning lett her demaunde them of her at a competent tyme. 7. See that with due care and Dilligences hee write downe in some booke all such donations as haue beene made to the Church togeather with the names of the giuers and shee must take an Inuentory of all such things as are committed to her charge THE XIV CHAPTER Of the Infirmaire 1. THE Infirmayre must assist the sicke with singuler Charitie and seeke to procure their confort accordingly wherefore shee must endeauour to performe all those things that may tend to the ease and comfort of the diseased with very great alacritie 2. About the sicke all things must bee neat and decent and the Infirmaire must haue an Inuentory of all such things as belong to her Office 3. Shee must haue all medicinable things and what soeuer els are neceessary for the sicke in some conuenient place and shee must often visitt them to see that nothing bee corrupted and to procure by Order from the Superiour that new bee had in due tyme. 4. If the disease soe require it lett her send for the Phisition yet with the consent of the Abbesse and lett her punctually obserue his prescriptions and ordinations concerning the diett and Phisicke of the Patient She must alsoe haue certayne common Rules and instructions according to which shee may proceede when the disease seemeth not to require the presence or aduise of the Phisition 5. If the disease increase lett the Abbesse bee câ—rtifyed there of that other Phisitions bee sent for in due tyme if it seeme needefull or if the disease bee infectiue that others bee for bidden to haue accesse to the diseased or to conuerse with her 6. If the Sicke bee in any danger shee must prouide that in fitt tyme they bee armed with the holy Sacraments and assisted whith the deuoute prayers of the Religious and withall may bee excited with holy admonitions to endure patiently the greife of their disease and willingly to embrace the will of almighty God in all things 7. Some holy Pictures and Images must bee had in the Infirmary and shee must see that a Table bee decently adorned and prepared when the most blessed Sacrament is to bee brought thither and shee is to make it ready and to prepare all other necessaryes for the Communion of the sicke soe often as the ghostly Father shall thinke it expedient that they communicate 8. Shee may not change or omitt any thing that the Phisition hath appoynted except some euident reason moue her to the contrary and lett her haue a booke where in all must bee sett downe that hee prescribeth 9. Whensoeuer the Phisition or Surgeon commeth to the Monastery by some signe the Conuent shal bee aduertised of their comming that if any haue neede of their helpe by the Superiours licence they may come vnto them 10. When the Ghostly Father the Phisition or Surgeon enter the Infiâ—â—ary shee or some other with a Companion must bee present who shall neuer departe out of the place till they bee thence departed 11. Shee must not dismisse those that are on their Recouery till shee see theÌ„ strong and able to vndergoe their accustomed labour 12. Shee must haue a Care that they obserue due modesty whyle they are vnder her charge lest that whyle they seeke to restore their corporall strenght they loose their Zeale and Spiritt yet they shall not soe much imploy themselues in their meditations and deuotions as before vntill that they may bee able to retourne to their former Exercises in perfect health and without any inconuenience THE XV. CHAPTER Of the Guarderobe 1. THE Guarderobe must keepe all such Cloathes as the Religious doe not vse â—s alsoe all linnen and woollen which are applied to their bedding or to any other Monasticall vses the which shee must dilligently looke vnto as to those things which are belonging to the poore 2 Shee must keepe an accompt of all such things that are vnder her charge as of all those things whereof the Religious haue the vse and if shee bee to make prouision for any either in linnen or in Woollen lett her acquainte the Lady Abbesse therewith neither may shee deliuer to any a new garment or any thing els that is new without the consent of the Lady Abbesse 3. Lett her haue great care of cleanelynesse and handsomenesse and shee must haue commodious places to lay vpp those things that appertayne to her custody the which shee must looke vnto that by noe meanes they bee spoyled 4. When shee deliuereth out any thing to bee washed or which is already washed shee must deliuer them by accompt and by accompt shee must receaue
to their former silence for at lest eight dayes more that they may well ponder and cast with them by what meanes they may best with fruyte vse that benefitt of god his holy Grace and fauour which hee hath bestowed vppon them and how they may Zealousty accomplish those things which to the honor and seruice of God they had before purposed and deâ—â—rmyned with themselues 20. The place of Recreation for the Schollers and Nouices must bee different from that of the professed neither yet may they conuerse with those whoe although they liue in the Monastery yet are not there with intention and pâ—rpose to bee Religious except for sometyme the Abbesse ordayne otherwise 21. They must not ordinaryly bee admitted to make their Profession before they bee eighteene yeares ould although reason may sometyme perswade the contrary as when their Iugdments and forwardnesse may supply the defect of their yeares and shee that after the yeare of her Probation iâ— found vnfitt must bee dismissed 22. All the Religious must receaue from the Mistris of the Nouices information concerning the dispositions Vertues and aptnesse of the Schollers and Nouices especially when otherwise they cannot haue sufficient notice and knowledge thereof But as touching the Conuerse Sisters they must inquire of the Celarier concerning what soeuer may occur touching them 23. When the Religious deliberate among themselues in Chapter concerning the admission of any either to the habiti or profession the Sister or kinsewoman of the party within the third degree yea although it bee the Abbesse her selfe may not bee present as neither the Mistris of the Nouices or Cellarier whyle the Religious doe there debate among themselues concerning those that are vnder their seuerall charges yet they must bee present when by balloting they all are to deliuer their suffrages and Voyces The Suffrages of the Religious for those that are to bee admitted for cloathing or Profession must not bee deliuered by writing but by Bowles and they that are to bee admitted must haue more than halfe the Voyces of the CoÌ„uent and the CoÌ„uent must giue these their Voyces some six Weekes before their Cloathing aÌ„d ProfessioÌ„ but especially before the ProfessioÌ„ that the Lord Bishopp or his deputy may bee certifyed in fitt tyme of those that are to bee admitted that hee may examyne theÌ„ according to that which is decreed in the fife aÌ„d tweÌ„ty SessioÌ„ of the holy Counsell of Trent 24. They must dispose of al things that any wyse appertayne vnto thâ—m before the day of their Profession and if they shall not bee found fitt all what soeuer was any wayes bestowed vppon the Monastery must bee rendred to them backe againe as in the holy Counsayle of Trent in the 25. Session and 16. Chapter is enacted 25. After the Profession the Mistris shall informe the Prioresse of their natures and dispositions soe farr forth as it is conuenient for her to know them and after their Nouitiate shee shall ordinarely leaue them to the Prioresse to dispose of them and to bee subject vnto her in all things in such sort as the rest of the Profested for the Quier are 26. If at any tyme young Children bee receaued into the Monastery for their education let that bee done with great choyce and in regard of a greater good and whose good education in regard of those things which passe in Religion may proue to aduance them to a greater good they may not bee receaued before they are seuen yeares old and they may not bee retayned in the Monastery after they are past fifteene they may not bee admitted with any burthen to the Monastery excepted it bee otherwise sufficiently prouided for 27. Whyle these Children liue in the Monastery they may not bee curiousty cloathed or adorned but the Habitt which they are to vse must bee decent and fitly beeseeming the place they may not conuerse with the Schollers Nouices or Professed but as the Lady Abbesse and Prioresse shall giue them leaue neither may they speake or haue any Conuersation with such as come vnto them from abroade and when this latter shal bee permitted them lett them doe it at a certayne Grate that must bee peculiarely appoynted for them and they must allwayes haue there some graue Religious ordinarely to accompany them and to bee present with them THE THIRD PARTE OF THOSE MATTERS that are more extrinsecally and externally appertayning to the Congregation and Monastery and are belonging to the Temporalities of the same AT GANT Printed by IOOS DOOMS 16â—2 THE FIRST CHAP Of the Visitor and Visitation of the Monastery 1. THE Abbesse with her Conuent shall propose to the Bishopp that hee would vouchsafe to appoynte and constitute some one Visitor of the Monastery whose authoritie shall wholly in all things depend of the Bishopp and the place of his ordinary residence must bee at the most but one dayes Iourney from the Monastery and he must yearely make a visitation of the monastery and that must bee within the Feasts of S. Iohn Baptist and of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary if it can possibly bee soe 2. If at any tyme the Visitation cannot bee made at the ordinary appoynted tymes the Abbesse shall certify the Conuent of the hindrance and when the tyme of the Visitation approacheth shee must vâ—e that forme of writing to the Visitour which is sett downe in the booke of Ceremonyes 3. The Conuent must chouse one that is skillfull in the practise of Religion and is a Religious man who may assist at the Visitation And because the Abbesse is likelyest best to know who may bee most fitt for this purpose after shee hath deliberated of the matter with her Assistants shee shall propose two or three to the Conuent leauing free vnto them to chuse one of them or some other as may seeme meetest to them 4. During the Visitation all must yeald their accustomed obedience to the Abbesse and other Superiors in those things that appertayne to ordinary disciplyne neither may they require of the Visitor leaue to doe any thing before they haue first warned the Abbesse thereof 5. The Abbesse must deliuer a noate of all the names of her Religious and Family to the Bishopp or Visitor when hee commeth to visitt and shee must write downe what Office euery one beareth in the Monastery 6. To the end that euery one with better aduise may declare to the Visitor their mynds and difficulties they shall deliuer vnto him in writing what they would say vnto him And all must haue free accesse to the Visitor that in any sort appertayne to the Monastery But they that cannot write may explicate to him their myndes by word of Mouth 7. They shall auoyde and fly all kinde of exagerations in those things that they write and propounde and they shall onely make a naked Relation of the matter and they must maturely ponder with themselues whether their Superiors could not haue sufficiently of themselues amended and reformed those things
must deferr the prioritie to the same and they shall beare it a peculier respect and whatsoeuer concerning Religious perfection is done there in the rest must follow and perfoâ—me the same framing and forming themselues to the imiâ—ation and gouernment there of 9. If any Monastery by not obseruing fully the Statutes shal be notably alâ—red and changed from the first and soe from the rest It shall bee depriâ—ed and loose all those priuiledges which is enioyed by reason of this Vnion recept it recall and reforme it selfe 10. If the first Monastery should notably fayle in disciplyne and Spirrit which God for diâ—d it shal bee depriued of the priuiledge of priority ouer the rest and the priorâ—â—ie shal bee transferred to the second and if that should in like sort proue defectiue then it must goe to the Third and thus in all the rest otherwise the prioritie must stand according to the antiquitie of the Monasteryes and of their vnion and Combinaâ—ion with the rest 11. These â—re the Statutes and Constitutioâ—◠〈…〉 for the more perfect and better obseruation and keepeing of the most holy Rule of the most glorious Father and Paâ—riarch Sainte BENEDICT which all though they ought to bee of highe esteemeâ— and authoritie with the Religious and Childâ—en of this Sodalitie and consequenâ—ly to bee prâ—cisely kept by them soe farr forth as their diuers and sundry regular imployments may require or occasion may bee offered yet they impose not further obligation vppon their Consciences then the very nature of the things and reason it selfe shall require or in force yet they are greatly obliged in Conscience to obserue those things that are appoynted touching the Election and deposition of the Abbesse as alsoe those things that concerne the Correction of most greueous faultes where by any may deserue to bee seperated from the Company oâ— the rest moreouer euery one is obliged neuer to require or to permitt that more liberty bee admitted then the Rule and the Statutes will yeald vnto but if any thing bee broughâ— in or practised which is not sâ—tt downe in the Rule or Statutes that must bee to greater perfection and austeritie and it shall onely belong to the right Reuerend the Lord Bishopp or Visitor to explicate the sense and meaning of the words and Clauses contayned there in if there may happen any doubt or Controuersy there in to whose Verdict and Iudgment euery one must stand in this matter therefore for as much as all the professed Religious in this Congregation ought to obserue all the Statutes according to that sense and me aning which the Bishopp or Visitor shall admitt as hath beene sayd none may bee suffered to make their profession amoâ—g you whoe shall not first promise in the Chapter house according to a certayne forme of writing â—eet downe in the booke of Ceremonyes that they will accept of any reformation proceeding from the Bishopp conformable and agreable to the Rule and Statutes and that they will not admitt any greater liberty then the Rule and Statutes will permitt and this their purpose sett downe in writting they shall confirme with their owne hand and deliuer it to bee kept in the place of their other principall writings and monuments The End of the Statutes THE CONFIRMATION Oâ— THE STATVTES MATHIAS by the grace of God and of the holy Sea Apostolike Arch Bishopp of Machlin 〈…〉 welbe loued Daughters in Christ 〈◊〉 Abbessâ— and Conuent of â—he â—lessed 〈◊〉 Mary of â—he Order of St. Bâ—nedict â—eâ—â—ding in the Citty of Bruxâ—lles subiect to vs by ordinary right heâ—lth in our Lord. Although the Rule â—f the holy Father Saint Benedict which you professe bee written â—nd 〈…〉 〈…〉 soe that it truly deserâ—â—th â—nd ought to bee estemed 〈◊〉 of it selfe to bee an absolute and perfect gâ—ide 〈◊〉 directory of good life to such as follâ—w the same Yet for as much as diâ—ers praecepts there of are some what generall and therefore are diuersly vnderstoode and obserued by diuers according to the diâ—ersitie of their natâ—res aâ—d Countrayes yoâ—r piety and â—eale of perfection was such that 〈…〉 sâ—pplication to the 〈◊〉 Father the Soâ—eraigne Bishopp of 〈◊〉 that by vs you 〈…〉 Statâ—tes and Constitâ—tions in 〈…〉 the sayd Rule to bee by vs 〈◊〉 to yoâ— confirâ—ed for you and by oâ—r 〈◊〉 to bee imposed vppâ—◠〈◊〉 that as by the motion of 〈…〉 desire yoâ— â—ay by theâ— bee directed to the exact and vniforâ—e obseruation of the sayd Râ—le 〈◊〉 wee knowing right well our owne â—â—perfection would not trâ—st only to oâ—r selâ—es in this â—atter bâ—t wee would vse the helpe 〈◊〉 Coâ—nsayle of diâ—ers men well seene and experienced in Monasticall manner of life for the best compiling of these Statutes yea and wheâ— they were soe compiled wee would not soe hastely commaunde you to keepe them except that first you had fully tryed for more then the space of a whole yeare whethere your hâ—â—ane and naturall infirmitie could obserue them after which your triall when you had declared and made knowne to vs your promptitude and willing myndes wee thought good to confirme them by the authoritie of the sayd holy Fater delegated vnto vs for 〈…〉 〈…〉 NOTE that the wordes interliued in a diuers Carecter are onely obserued by this monastery of Gand by grant of his lordshipp whoe att lest for the present iudged it fitter For vs to singe our office ouer night and keepe onely one refectory though some for health are ordained to eate flesh when the comunity eateth fish Vnlett aâ—t a table part vn lesse they say maâ—ins