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 Abbesse is to be chosen.

THE IV. CHAPTER.

THe Religious shalbe obliged to obserue the canonicall forme in e∣lection of their Abbesse, where they shall endeauour to haue the Generall of the Frere Minors, or att least the Prouinciall, who may by the word of God vnite them, and admonish them to agree, touching the election of their Abbesse, to doe what shall seeme to them most pro∣fitable aduertising them not to choose a Religious that is not professed: and if one should be elected before profefsion, and made Abbesse by any other meane, lett not such Abbesse be obeyed, till she haue made pro∣fession conformably to the ordonances and to the rule of our pouerty. And the terme of her chardge being ended, lett an other be chosen. And if sometimes after the election of the Abbesse all the sisters iudge her vn∣capable of such chardge for the good of the seruice of God and of their Monastery, lett them be bound and obliged to choose an other, as soo∣ne as they can according to the said rule.

And lett her that shalbe chosen consider well what is the burthen which she hath taken on her, and to whome she must yeld an account of the sheep wherof she hath taken chardge. Lett her endeauour to be ra∣ther Superiour to precede her Religious in vertues and pious conuersa∣tion, then in honour and dignity: to the end that the sisters induced by her example, obey her more for loue then for feare.

Lett not her carry any particuler affection, for feare that in louing one she may scandalize others, lett her comfort the afflicted, and be alwayes the first and last in assisting art diuine seruice. Lett her be the reliefe and recourse of the afflicted, that if the remedies of saluation faile them, she att least exempt and deliuer them from the disease of despai∣re. Lett her haue a very diligent care of the comunalty in all thinges, but principally in the Church, in the dormitory, in the refectory, in the infirmary, and in their cloathing: And lett her Vicaresse be in like sort obliged to all the aforesaid.

Lett the Abbesse be obliged to assemble all her Religious in the chapiter att least once a weeke, in which place as well she as the o∣thers, shall accuse themselues of all their publike sinnes and of all their defaultes and negligences. Then lett her there treat and con∣sult with her sisters of the affaires of their Monastery, because God doth oftentimes communicate and giue his spiritt to the meanest of the company.

Lett her not enter into great or important debt, but by the common consent of all the Religious and vpon a manifest necessity, and with∣all lett it be by the entermile and mediation of the Procuratour of the monastery. Lett the Abbesse, as also the sisters, be carefull not to receaue any pledge or gage into their Monastery in regard of the troubles, encombers, and scandales that often arriue therby. Lett all the officers of the monastery be also elected by the common con∣sent of the Religious, the better to entertaine peace and fraternall vnion among them; and likewise shalbe chosen and elected att least eight Religious of the most discreet, of whome the Abbesse shalbe obliged to take counsaile in such matters as our rule requireth. The Religious likewise may and ought, if they know it to be necessary, put out such officers as are indiscreet and incapable, and choose others in their places.