How Religious ought to behaue themselues in Oratories and solitary places.
THE XLIX. CHAPTER.
LEtt those that desire to reside in solitary places, there to liue re∣ligiously and spiritually, be in number foure or more, wherof lett two be as mothers that haue two children, lett two act the Life of Martha, and the others of Magdalen, and lett each one haue a celle, so that they neither sleep nor conuerse together but when they read their office. Lett them be carefull to say their Compline before the Sunne setting, that thence forward they may keep silence, till they arise in the night to say Mattins. Lett them in all thinges first seeke the glo∣ry and the kingdome of God, and his iustice: Lett them say the Prime* 1.1 and Tierce att the ordinary houre, which done they may speake each to other of some matter of edification. Those said children as poore crea∣tures shall demaund almose of their mother for the loue of God: after that lett them say the Sixt, Ninth, and Euensong att their due hou∣res: lett them permitt no person to enter into the Cloyster or enclosure where they reside, nor to eat there. The mothers shall labour to liue also sequestred from all conuersation, and with due obseruance of obedience to their Guardian, lett them permitt none to speake to their children, but their Guardian when he commeth to visitt them. And lett the children sometimes for exercise of humilitie assume the office of Mothers according as the Guardian for their behoofe shall ap∣point, that so they may experience both the one and the other office. Happy is that seruant who hath no tast of any other thing then the word of his God, and by the same doth excite others to loue