The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

How the Religious must be receaued into Religion.

THE II. CHAPTER.

IF any Virgin or woman diuinely inspired present her selfe to you to be admitted to this course of life, lett the Abbesse be obliged to damaund aduise of her sisters: and if the greater part consent ther∣to, she may receaue her, after permission had of the Cardinall Pro∣tectour of the Order. Bur before the habitt be giuen her, lett her

very diligently examine her, or cause her to be examined touching the Catholique Faith, and the holy sacramentes of the Church. And if she be found sincerely faithfull in those matters, and doe loyally confesse them, and promise entierly to obserue them, and that she be not marryed, or if hauing a husband he by consent of the Bishop of the Diocese become Religious, hauing vowed continencie, and she not hauing other impediment, as ouer-aged or infirme, or want of iudgement, and discretion to obserue such course of life, lett the manner and rule of liuing be dilligently declared vnto her: then being found capable, the wordes of the gospell be denounced vnto her, that she goe and sell all she hath, and endeauour to distribute it vnto the poore: which if she cannot effect, her good will shall suffice. And lett the Abbesse and other sisters be carefull not to confound their co∣gitations with her temporall affaires: but lett them leaue that care to her, that she dispose of her substance as our Lord shall inspire her. And if she demaund counsaile of them thervpon, lett them direct her to some vertuous person that feareth God, by whose counsaile she shall dispose of her goodes among the poore. After that, hauing cutt her haire about her garment, and discloathed her of her seculer atti∣re lett be giuen her three coates, one cloake, and lett her no more be permitted to goe out of the Monastery without profitable, manifest and probable occasion. The yeare of her probation expired, lett her be recea∣ued to obedience, promising perpetually to obserue the life and rule of our pouerty. None may weare the vaile but after the yeare of pro∣bation and nouitiat: the sisters also may weare a cloake, to be mo∣re lighty, decently and commodiously prepared to labour. Lett the Abbesse discretly prouide thē cloathing according to the qualities of the personnes, places and time, and correspondent to necessity. The virgins that are receaued into the monastery before their age conuenient, lett their haire be cutt, and being disattired of their seculer garmentes, lett them be cloathed with the same cloath that the other Religious do vse, as it shall please the Abbesse, and hauing attayned age conuenient, lett them be cloathed as the other, and make their probation. And lett the Abbesse commende them, as also the other Nouices to a mistresse, whome she should choose of the most vertuous of the monastery, who shall carefully instruct them according to the order of our professiō. Lett the forme aforesaid be obserued in the examination made to receaue the sisters that are to serue without the Monastery, and they may weare hose and shooes, and lett no woman or mayden dwell in the Monastery among you, if she be not receaued according to the forme of your pro∣fession. My deere and welbeloued sisters, I admonish, pray, and require you for the loue of IESVS CHRIST, who comming into the world

was wrapped in poore cloutes, and then by his most sacred mother layd in a manger, that you alwayes cloath your selues with the poo∣rest and coursest cloath, and the meanest that you can possibly.