them the Register remaining in the hands of the respective Secretaries CHAP. VIII An Account of the three Arch-Priest-hoods the Apostolical Chamber Lord Governour of Rome Lord Treasurer Lord Auditor Lord President Advocates of the Exchequer and Poor the Proctor of the Exchequer c. Their Offices and Dignities c. THere are redounding to particular Cardinals three Arch-Priesthoods that is to say of the three noted Churches in Rome These Arch-Priests have the sole power within the Jurisdiction of their Church to confer all the Benefices Livings Chaplain ships and other Vacancies depending thereon And these Churches are St. Peter's in the Vatican Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Johannes de Lateran and as to the latter of these the Arch-Priest has power in Criminal and Civil Cases to Inquire and Examine those within the Jurisdiction of his Church and in the year of Jubilee Every Arch-Priest goes Pontificaly to his Church with a splendid retinue in order to open the Holy Gate and to the Church of St. Paul the Cardinal-Deacon takes his way and takes the same Order in opening the Holy Gate but that of St. Peter is opened by the Pope in which Church the Fathers of the Society of Jesus are Penitentiaries in that of St. John de Laterand the Fathers of the Order of St. Francis and in Sancta Maria Maggiore the Fathers of the Order of St. Dominick and are well provided with all necessaries hearing Confessions in divers Languages and one of them for each place is Rector of the Penitentiaries The Ruota is properly the Apostolical Exchequer and is managed by Twelve Prelates Auditors every Auditor having Four Notaries and assemble in the Apostolical Palace twice a week viz. On Monday and Friday unless the first week of July and the first of October the Ruota operus and then the Auditors with divers Cardinals and Prelates ride in a Triumphant manner to Congratulate the Pope to whom the youngest Auditor makes an Oration The Apostolical Chamber sits every Monday and Friday and upon such days as the Consistory is held there sits the Cardinal-Chamberlain the Lord Governour of Rome a Vice Chamberlain the Lord Treasurer General the Lord Auditor of the Chamber the Lord President the Auditor of the Poor the Fiscal Advocate the Commissary and twelve Clarks of the Chamber four of which are viz. the Praefect of Flesh and White-meats the Praefect of Corn and Victuals the Praefect of the Prison and the Praefect of the State And the Jurisdiction of this Chamber is over Writings and Deeds relating to the Praefects the Revenues of the See Apostolical Treasures of the Provinces of the State Ecclesiastical over Causes of the Commonalty Ecclesiastical Feuds Reprisals Accompts of Officers Ministers of State Coinage of Money Appeals Building and the like and have nine Notaries who hold their Offices separately with many Clarks under them and are places of great profit This Chamber gives over sitting as the Ruota and then the Pope makes the Ministers and Officers a great Feast and on the first of August another is made by the Cardinal-Chamberlain and on St. Peter's Eve all the Tributes of the Feudatories of the Church are payed with other Matters The Lord Governour of Rome in civil Causes has usually two Lieutenants to take Cognizance of Wages Sallaries and the Condition of poor People And in Criminal Cases he hath usually but one and his Jurisdiction is over all the City as likewise Prevention with all the Tribunals having divers Judges and a prime Notary under him all whose Emoluments are distributed to Charitable uses so that he is called the Notary of Charity Further he has under him a Provost-Marshal and 300. Serjeants When this Lord passeth the Streets of Rome he has a Guard of Halberdiers Italians and over them a Captain which together with himself are maintained out of the Chamber The Lord Treasurer General takes Cognizance of the Reprisals of Ecclesiastical Persons as Priests c. of unwholsom Fruit of the Fountains of unlawful Negotiation exacting the Rents of the Chamber and See Apostolick he gives Mandates to those appointed to receive them overlooking the Accompts of Ministers Officers and Fathers and is diligent in all things wherein the See and Chamber are interessed or concerned and is a place disposed of by the Pope yielding between a 11 and 12 Thousand Crowns a Year The Lord Auditor of the Chamber has a large Jurisdiction as being the ordinary Judg of the Roman Court and of all the Merchants Strangers and Courtiers that reside in the City as also of the Princes Barons Ambassadors Bishops Patriarchs and Cardinals being likewise ordinary Judge of the Appeals as well those without as within the State Ecclesiastical that are within the Jurisdiction of the Court and is Executer privative quod omnes of the Chamber Obligation and Cumulative of all Letters Apostolical and of all Writings upon Oath and otherwise and the like of Sentences de partibus Fulminata Censura and hath a large power over Criminals having under him two Civil-Lieutenants being Prelates and one Lieutenant Criminal with many Judges and ten Officers for Notaries keeping their Offices separate And this Auditor's place is sold for 10000. Crowns which accrews to the Pope and further he has a Provost-Marshal with many Serjeants The Business of the Lord President of the Reverend Chamber is to make a review of all the Accompts of the Treasury of the Chamber and See Apostolical his Habit is Purple and his place valued at 30000 Crowns The Advocate of the Exchequer is bound to defend its Rites in all Courts and before all Tribunals if they are injured or brought in Question The Advocate for the Poor writes Supplications and other matters for indigent Persons without Fee or Exaction The Commissary of the Chamber has his Charge to defend and as much as in him lies to support its Interests in civil Matters and as Occasion requires to be assisting to the Lord Treasurer General in reviewing the Accompts of the Revenues and Rents of the Chamber of Assessments Customs Provision of Corn and Coinage The Proctor of the Exchequer in facto defends all its Rites before Tribunals as Cause requires CHAP. IX An Account of the Marshal-Senator Conservator Prior of the Caporioni Master of the Streets Chamberlain of the Water-Bank Referendaries Governour of the Burroughs with many other great Offices c. THE Marshal of Rome's Dignity is of a long standing and is generally conferr'd upon a Noble-Man of Rome his Office is to take Cognizance of many Causes not amounting to the Effusion of Blood and for a time hath the Custody of the Conclave on which he placeth the Guard of Soldiers commanded by him as also the Charge of a Prison In Rome there is a Senator whose Residence is in the Capitol constituted by the Pope's Breive and hath under him two Judges in civil Matters as also a Criminal Judge of Malefactors and dispences Justice to the Citizens c. Causes of Appeal only
has Jurisdiction over the Priests and Regulars inhabiting Rome as likewise the Companies of Lay-men Hospitals and Pious places c. within the precincts thereof and has for his entertainment 100. Crowns a Month out of the Chamber Under him are four Notaries who Exercise their Office apart each Notary having under him eight or nine Clarks This Office has likewise two Lieutenants the one for Civil matters who commonly is a Referendary Prelate and the other for Criminal Causes as also a Vice-gerent who for some years past hast been a Titular Bishop to the end he may not be absent but perform his Episcopal Function in Rome and his Superintendency or more peculiar care is over the Monasteries of Nuns yet is present with the other Officers in the Congregations which are made before the Cardinal-Vicar relating to matters and causes of that Tribunal and under him hath a Provost-Marshal with Serjeants and the like The charge of the Chief Penitentiary is undertaken by a Cardinal conferred on him by the Pope and is worth 8000. Crowns a year and under him is a Prelate stiled the Regent of the Penitentiaries whose Jurisdiction is over the Cases referred to the Pope of granting Absolutions Gratis Ubique directed to approved Confessors in Parliament Sealed with the Seal of the Penitentiaries The Cardinal Penitentiary sits in three Cathedral Churches viz. St. John d'Lateran St. Peter in the Vatican and that of Sancta Maria Maggiore upon a Seat raised four Degrees in the Nature of a Tribunal with a staff of his Office in his Hand from whence he gives Audit to Confessions of Cases reserved He likewise makes his Congregations with the intervening of his Regent of the Prelate who is the Seal-bearer and two other Divines with a Canonist many Offices of Profit are at his disposal As for the Vice-Chancellor he is at this day an Eminent Cardinal and the place is guessed to yield him between 15. or 16000. Crowns a year his Jurisdiction is over the Dispatches of Apostolical Letters concerning any matter whereof the Supplication is signed except such as are dispatched by Breve sub Annulo Piscatoris On Tuesday Thursday and Sunday every Week the Officers of the Chancery Apostolical Assemble in his Palace which are the Regent and the Abreviators de Parco Magiore being in number twelve Prelates beside the Regent attired in Purple made in the shape of that of Prelates And these Offices are to be sold at a great value being at the disposal of the Cardinal Vice-Chancellor As for these Prelates thirteen in number they take place in the Pope's Chappel but the Regent declines it in respect to the precedency with other Prelates They likewise are Referendaries both of the one and the other Signature and the Regent has Power to commit the Cause of Appeals in Rome which he generally does to the Auditors of the Ruota and to the Referendaries distributing them that every one may have a part The Office of the Abbreviators is to make the Original of the Bulls upon the Supplications signed by the Pope and review them when fairly Written on Parchment and is assisted by Inferiour Officers who have their Fees out of Taxing the said Bulls c. As for the Cardinal-Chancellor's further Office it is to take the Collations of the Cardinal's Tythes and Declarations of Promotions in the Secret Consistory as also of the Bishopricks which the Pope makes pro tempore Likewise of the Consistorial Abbies giving out the Schedules of such Provisions The Cardinal-Chamberlain's Place is in high Esteem and proves worth between 12. and 14000. Crowns yearly his Jurisdiction being to take notice of the Causes that appertain to the Apostolical Chamber as also of the Clarks thereof when he is not detained by the Consistory he sits in the Chamber most part of the dispatches passing there under his Name although they be subscribed and discussed by the Clark His likewise Judge of the Appeals from the Sentence given by the Master of the Streets Taking Cognizance of the Reason of Building as also of the Bridges Streets c. And during the Vacancy of the See takes Possession of the Pope's Lodging and has a Guard of Switzers Coining Money with his Arms stamped thereon and is in a manner Pope till one be Elected The Praefect of the Signature of Justice is always a Cardinal his place yielding him 200. Ducats a Month and has a Jurisdiction in Reference of Supplication and Commissions of Causes which are delegated for Justice and unless it be in Vacation time sits every Thursday of the Week in his own Palace to decide Matters between the Commissioners and their References where there are Officiating twelve voting Prelates the Ancientest Referendaries with the Auditor of the Ruota and the Cardinal-Vicar's Livetenant Civil who are there to defend the Jurisdiction of their Courts and are permitted to Vote and since many of the Causes delegated are dispatched by Breive or the Cardinal Praefect's Letter two Officers are purposely appointed one of which is call'd the Praefect of the Originals of the Breives who consigns them when made the other Officer called the Master of the Breives which he consigns to the Secretary of the Breives under Taxation that he may get them Sealed The first of these Offices is worth 12000. Crowns and the latter between 12 and 1300. Crowns and to these in a manner is joined the Office called the Revisor of the Commissions of Signature of Justice and all of them are attired in Purple Robes The Office of Praefect of the Signature of Grace rests in the Person of a Cardinal and procures him a hundred Ducates of the Chamber each Month his Business being chiefly to assist at the Signature of grace made before the Pope and to Seal each Supplication where also the twelve Voting Prelates are present which are commonly the same that Vote in the Signature of Justice and there likewise officiate the Cardinal Prelates of the Signature of Justice the Cardinal-Vicar and Cardinal-Praefect of the Breives the Lord Datary and more or less of the Cardinals as the Pope-shall appoint twelve being ever the least and interuening at that Signature are likewise the Lord Auditor of the Chamber his Civil Lieutenant the Lord Treasurer General the Auditors of the dela Ruota the Cardinal Vicars Lieutenant Civil a participant Pronotary a Clerk of the Chamber an Abbreviator de Parco Maggiore with the Lord Regent of the Chancery and their business there is to defend the Jurisdiction of their respective Offices It is held every Week upon Sunday or Tuesday before the Pope unless in Vacation time The Praefect of the Breives has as the reward of his Office 100. Crowns each Month out of the Chamber his Business being to Review and Sign the Original of the Breives that are under Taxation The Library Keeper is generally a Cardinal whose Charge is to supervise the Printing and look to the Vatican Library and those that Work in it and where Classical Works in
devolving from him and his Judges to the Captain of Appeals who is likewise a Magistrate resident in the Capitol This Senator upon publick Occasions is apparelled like the Antient Romans with a Cloth of Gold Garment reaching to the Ground long Sleeves lined with Crimson Silk and a great Chain of Gold and is commonly a Doctor of the Law he holds his place at the Pope's pleasure and frequently gives him an Account of his proceedings In the Capitol as the former are the Conservators consisting of three Roman Gentlemen and the Prior of the Caporioni pro tempore Which Caporioni are in the Nature of Aldermen in Number 14. and with the Conservators c. are every three Months renewed and the Choice de novo made before the pope Cardinal Chamberlain and Cardinal-Nephew and the day after Election they take their Oath before the Pope and have by the Order of the Senator the first Month their places assigned them in the Capitol Their Office and Jurisdiction mostly relating to the conservation of the Customs and Antiquities of the City and inspecting Weights Measures and Prices of Victuals administring Ordinary Justice and are Ordinary Judges in case of Appeals brought by the Consuls of Trades and Husbandry granting also Freedoms and other things of the like nature taking place above the Secret Chamberlains and going on high days in Senators Habit as for the Prior he is chosen by the Caperioni and is equal with the Conservators c. The Master of the Street has his place likewise Assigned him in the Capitol and has an Assistant with an Assessor and a Notary and they imploy themselves in Surveying the Streets and Bridges as occasion requires to keep them in good Order determining controversies arising on that Occasion and amerceing Offenders As for the Master his Office is conferred on him by the Pope's Breive and continues during his pleasure The Chamberlain of the Water Bank an Officer so called exerciseth his Jurisdiction amongst Marriners and what relates to Maritine affairs and from him there is an appeal to the Clark of the Chamber Apostolical whose lot is to have the president ship of the Water-Bank and hâ— has a Judge who administers Justice to Mariners Barge-men and the like whâ— Trade upon the River c. where the Cardinal Chamberlain appoints by hiâ— Pattent a Commissary over the Wood to prevent frauds The Referendaries of both Signatures are a Colledge of Prelates without any setled number and their Jurisdiction is to propound the Commissions and both the Contentions and Gracious Supplications in the Signature of Justice and Grace and to take Cognizance of all Causes committed to them under twenty five Crowns for if any Exceed they are to be Committed to the Ruota When any of these are Created he is obliged to visit the Colledge of Cardinals and the Twelve Voting Prelates The Governour of the Burrough at Rome is impowered by the Pope's Breive and maintains a Judge and an Attorney-General a formal Court a Palace and a Prison a Head Notary with divers Clarks under him a Provost-Marshal and fifteen Serjants under him to administer Justice throughout the Burroughs his Jurisdiction in that case extending as far as Settigâ—ana his Judge having Weekly Audience of the pope to render him an Account of the Affairs of his Tribunal The Datary and Under-Datary are two Roman Officers through the hands of the former pass the Vacancys of Beneefices not valued at above 24. Ducats a year and causes supplications even without the participation of the Pope to be signed and in case of Benefices of greater value as Dignities Canons places c. in carrying the Supplications to the Pope and exposing the Concurrents it standâ— in his power by favouring the Merits oâ— one more then another to procure advantage to his Friends as also to pardon that part of the Compositions wherein some sorts of Graces are Taxed he and his Under-Datary have daily Audience of the Pope by carrying the Supplications to be signed The latter or the Under Datary is to consider all dispatches which pass through the Datary the Vacancie of the Benefices that happen by Death excepted and his place is worth a thousand Crowns a year as the formeâ— is worth two thousand these twoâ— have many Officers under them to manage Affairs all very advantageous Besides what have been mentioned there are Venial Offices whose Posessors exercise no Jurisdiction yeâ— are of a considerable value as thâ— Writers of the Penitentiaries thâ— Apostolical-Writers Apostolical Chamberlains Apostolical Squires and Secretaries Writers of Breives Knights of St. Peter and those of St. Paul Knights of the Flowr'd-de-lys Pious Knights Lauretan-Knights the Rolls the President Other Offices there are of the Palace whose value is not inconsiderable as the first Chain the second Chain the Iron-Gate the Keeper of the Pictures the Vergers the Mace-Bearers which Offices are for Life and when Vacant disposed of by the Pope though the Praemium of some of them appertain to the Cardinal Vice-Chancelor CHAP. X. An Account of the Summist Participant Notaries Consistorial Advocates Praefects of Provision General-Visitor of Prisons Judge of Confidence Auditor of Contradictions Apostolical Subdeacon c. their Office and Dignity THE Office of Summist is of a great value and is generally possessed by a Cardinal who has in his Gift one of each of the Offices before mentioned The Participant Protonotaries is a Colledge of twelve Prelates instituted by Pope Clement their First and the principal Business is to Write the Lives of the Saints the place of each being valued at 7000. Crowns They go attired in Purple and preceed all the Prelates that are not consecrated they make request for the Canonization of Saints and when the Pope intends any great Action he causes one of them to rebuest of him the performance and have respectively power to Create Doctors and Notaries but it extends not without the Walls of Rome and commonly these Protonotaries are Referendaries of either Signature The Consistorial Advocates are Twelve being made by the Pope and are Instituted to make publick Orations in publick Consistories and to be Advocates The Orator who speaks having for his Oration 12. Ducats out of the Chamber and enters into the Secret Consistories to require the Palis for the New Arch-bishop and he that does it is paid Twelve Ducats of the Chamber by him for whom he moved and have power within the Walls of Rome to create Doctors of the one and the other Law with many other priviledges The Habit they wear upon publick Occasions is a Purple Robe of Wooll with Red Silk Lining a Hood of the like Purple Wool about their necks lined with Ermins but usually they pass up and down with a black Cassock and Cloak reaching to the Ground their Arms coming out and if any one of these be a Referendary Prelate c. he may be a Consistorial Advocate The Praefect for the Provision of Corn is given by the Pope to a Prelate most commonly
THE HISTORY OF Monastical Conventions AND Military Institutions With a SURVEY of the COURT of ROME OR A Description of the Religious and Military Orders in Europe Asia and Africa for above twelve hundred years being a brief Account of of their Institution Confirmation Rules Habits and manner of Living the Qualification of their Institutors and the time of their respective Institutions extending to either Sex c. Together with a Survey of the Court of Rome c. in all the Great Offices and Officers Ecclesiastical and Civil dependant thereon as also the Ceremonies of the Consistories Conclave and those that have been used in the Creation of Cardinals Election of the High-Bishop or Pope and his Triumphant Coronation Procession and that of his taking Possession of the Lateran Church in Rome with what is observed in his Sickness and the manner of Solemnizing his Funeral Obsequies with many other things worthy of Note according to what has been recorded by Candid Authors of divers Nations and faithfully Collected By J. S. LICENSED May 11. 1686. London Printed for H. Rhodes next door to the Swan-Tavern near Bride-Lane in Fleet-street 1686. A prospect of a monastical Life and Pilgramage Jerusalem taken by the Christians Anno 1099 In hoc vincis The Pontifical proscession to the Eateran Church THE EPISTLE TO THE READER REader in the following Treatise you will find the Cause and Original of a Monastick Life referring to either Sex viz. as well of Nuns as Eremites Monks and Friers c. of divers Orders and Institutions with the Motives that induced their Founders to such Pious and Charitable Vndertakings and the Time of their Institution the account of their Progress Encouragement Increase and Decay for upwards of 1200 years Also the Rules and Habits prescribed to the several Orders and the Regulation of the Monasteries and Covents as they are warranted by Authors the truth of whose Testimony has not been reduced under the least scruple or imagination of Falsity or Partiality in taking a Survey of which you will not only find what Progress Religion made in the World since its marvellous light removed the shadows of Ignorance and Atheism but many other remarkable things affording much variety To these Orders properly termed Religious because devoted to Religious Worship and the propagation of the Christian Religion I have added others viz. Military Orders of Knighthood which have been and are at present in the Christian World with the Time of their Institution the Countries they were erected in their Habit Badges Collars And the names of those Kings Princes and Noble-man who erected them mostly for the defence of the Christian Cause as well in the Holy land as in Europe and Africa non were they when the Infidels like a deluge sought to carry all before them a little serviceable as appeared by the Valour and Conduct of some of them against the Sultans of Egypt in Palestine and others by Eclipsing the Turkish Moons with blood at the famous Sieges of Rhodes Candia c. To these I have added a Survey of the Court and City of Rome in all its great Offices Places of Honour and Eminency from the Pontifical Chair to the Inferior Officers Ecclesiastical and Civil with the Consistorial Order and Proceedings in the Conclave Election of a Pope to fill the empty Throne and what is Observable and Remarkable on that occasion and in the splendid Procession to the Lateran Church the manner of Benediction Creation of Cardinals and many other things very Remarkable in which is described the Magnificence and Splendor of that great Court and City as it has been faithfully delivered and what may be very much serviceable to Readers or Writers of History or other matters that any way concern the affairs of either or border on things of this nature And thus much I thought fit briefly to lay down as well for the Pleasure and Instruction of the Curious as to prevent Mistakes or Misconstructions in the Ignorant who generally are abused by Misrepresentations And hoping this Candid Vndertaking may please some and give offence to none Reader I remain yours to oblige you in what I may J. S. The Introduction c. IN the dawn of the Gospel when as St. John observes in his Apocalypse The woman had given her the wings of an Eagle to fly into the Wilderness from the the face of the Dragon who cast out a flood of water to carry her away When the Primitive Christians to avoid the persecutions stirred up against them by the Prince of Darkness in the Reigns of the Heathen Emperors fled into Mountains Woods Caves and solitary Places there to injoy though in the greatest external Poverty that Religion in the freedom of its exercise which they valued infinitely beyond tlie Pomp and Glory of the Universe as knowing their blessed Redeemer lived and that he would not fail to Crown their Labour in the end with Life and Immortality with a Crown of Glory that will never fade Then it was that many Devout Christians being wonderfully taken with such Solitude altogether weaned themselves from the world and despising its vanities chose to live and dye in the privacy of their Retirements for the support of whom Nature or rather the more immediate hand of Providence by unexpected ways produced the food whereby they did subsist and these from the Desarts and obscure Places where they chose to reside as also their singleness of Life were called Eremites or Monachies held by the Church in high esteem for their Piety and Devotion and of these in the Primitive Times Paul Hillarian Basil and Hierom were note-worthy who lived in that Estate and were imitated by others no less devout than themselves But when the Church had Peace especially under the happy Reign of Constantine the Great and many of those Emperors that succeeded him in the Eastern and Western Empires those that were scattered in solitary places that they might be at hand to proclaim the Gospel-Truths to those who as then sat in darkness or but dimly beheld its marvellous Light chose to change their Hutts and Caves for convenient places in populous Towns and Cities where they lived together in a poor but contented Estate having all things in common amongst themselves and from thence the places in which they chose to reside were called Monasteries Convents or Cloisters Nor was it long e're by their good example in a devout way of living the number was increased nor were there wanting devout Women who as we may properly term it left the world that is the enjoyment of worldly things and voluntarily chose to live in such retirements and from their recluse manner of living and singleness of life were called Nonnae or Nuns or as some will have it from the Egyptian word Nonnus and were further distinguished by the name of Moniales from whence the word Monastery seemeth to be derived Great indeed was their Devotion insomuch that increasing in holy zeal and a fervent desire
St. Austin's Rules The Hospitalers of the Holy Ghost took their beginning at Rome about the Year of Christ 1201 and were called Hospitalarii confirmed by Pope Innocent the Third having the privilege of the Monks that preceded them Their chief business was to see the Poor and Sick were well lodged attended and carefully provided for as likewise to Bury them when they were dead and use other charitable Offices to the same purpose The Trinitarians or Monks of the Order of the Trinity began Anno 1211. and were Founded by John Manta and Faelix Anachoreta who its said were warned in a Vision to repair to Innocent the Third and to require of him a place for their Order and he warned by the like means of their coming approved and confirmed them cloathing them both in white Cloaks giving them as a Badge a red and skie-coloured Cross upon their Breasts calling them Brothers of the Holy Trinity and Monks of the Redemption of Captives Their charge being to Collect Money for the Redemption of such as were taken Prisoners and held in Bondage by the Infidels The first coming into England of this Order was Anno 1357. two parts of whose Revenues were allowed for their Maintenance a third for Redemption of Captives By their Rule Three Clergy-men and as many Lay-Brothers were to dwell with one Procurator who was to be called by the Name of Minister They were to wear Garments of white Cloth and lodge in Woollen putting off their Breeches when they went to Bed They might ride on Asses but not on Horses Fasting is injoyned them and not to eat Flesh but on a Sunday from Easter to Advent-Sunday and from Christmas to Septuagesima-Sunday likewise on the Nativity Epiphany Ascention Assumption Purification and on all Saints days being further injoyned to labour with their Hands and every Sunday to hold a Chapter or Assembly for regulating their Affairs in the Convent and in the Octaves of Pentecost a General Chapter to be held every Year As for their Minister he must be chosen by the Brothers in common consent being a Priest every Convent having one over all which must be owned Superior nor must any be admitted into the Order till past the Age of Twenty who must be shaven though the Lay-men are allowed their Beards and have injoyned them Rules for Civility Continency Love Sobriety and other Christian Virtues according to the Rules of St. Basil St. Benet and St. Augustin c. The Bethlemites are another Order who came into England about the Year 1257. and had their abode near Cambridge and soon after in it and had a red Star on their Breast like a Comet in Commemoration of the Star that appeared to signifie the Birth of our Saviour to the Wise-men of the East Their Apparel being comparative to that of the Dominicans or Praedicants of which we shall hereafter speak The Dominicans were so called from the Founder of their Order viz. one Dominicus a Spaniard taking their original from the Humiliatii and were Anno 1205 Instituted by Innocent the Third Bishop of Rome The main design of their Institution being to Read Preach Write and Expound the Word of God which gives the occasion of naming them Praedicants or Praedicatories As for the Founder of their Order by the aforesaid Bishop of Rome Anno 1207. he was joyned with Twelve Abbots of the Cistertian Order to preach against the Doctrine of the Albigenses and professing the Rules of St. Austin with some addition he had his Order confirmed by Honorius the Third Bishop of Rome dividing his Monastery into Three parts one he alotted himself and those Brothers that were Contemplative the second for Contemplative Sisters and the last for either Sex if they were given to a stirring and active course of Life under the denomination of Brothers and Sisters of Saint Dominick or the Souldiers of Jesus Christ The Dominicans are bound to renounce worldly Riches every Year to hold a General Chapter to Fast as much as possible from Holy-Rood Day in September till Easter and at other times to eat no Flesh on Fridays unless in case of sickness As for their lying it is to be in Blankets nor must they lye in Feather-Beds silence is injoyned them as likewise to wear a white Coat under a black Cloak That they be satisfied with the Title of Friers Praedicants to celebrate every Saturday the Office of the Virgin Mary unless in Lent and on Festival Days and that for the preaching the Gospel they disperse themselves through all parts of the World choosing them a general Master whose subordinate Prelates should be stiled Priors Dominicus himself being the first Master-General Anno 1220. but he enjoyed it not long dying the next Year As for the Praedicants they do not faithfully promise to live according to these Rules but to live up to them as well as they can and by their Preaching and Industry they wonderfully spread themselves into most parts of the World insomuch that Sebelicus affirms That in the Year of Christ 1494. there were Monasteries of this Order Four thousand one hundred forty three in which were found One thousand five hundred Masters of Divinity and One hundred and fifty Convents of Dominican Nuns and the cause of this great increase is thought to proceed from the good Opinion the World had of Dominicus who gave himself up to a strict Life and for which he was Canonized by Gregory the Ninth Anno 1233. and at this Day the Order is in high esteem at Rome and many Priviledges were conferred upon them as to Preach in any Pulpit of a Roman Clergy-man without asking leave of the Eishop to oblige Nobleman and Ladies to Confess to them and not to their Curates to Administer the Sacrament when they think sit and be utterly exempted from all Ecclesiastical Censures and these were confirmed by Pope Innocent the Fourth not are any that have taken this Order to change it And of these things testifie Antonius Vicentius Theodoricus of Apolea in the Life of Dominicus Matthew Paris Crantzius and others The Mendicant Friers were of Four kinds and amongst them the Praedicants of whom we have spoken were recorded the rest were Augustinians Carmelites and Minorites and of these in their Order As for the Augustinians their first Founder was William Duke of Aquitain about the year of Christ 1150. from whom they took the denomination of Guilebelimites and were enjoyned by Innocent the Fourth to follow St. Austins Rule and Alexander the Fourth reduced these and all other Eremites to the same Rule being as Tradition goes warned so to do by St. Augustine who appeared to him and subjected them to a grand Prior dispensing with their former Rules and Observations enjoyning them to forsake the Desarts and live in Cities Towns and Villages there to teach the people giving them divers priviledges which were augmented by Honorius the Fourth about the year 1290. Their Habit was a Black Coat with a Hood of the same colour