A short history of monastical orders in which the primitive institution of monks, their tempers, habits, rules, and the condition they are in at present, are treated of / by Gabriel d'Emillianne.

TREATISE OF NUNS.

CHAP. I.

Of their Original, Vail, Shaving, and Grates.

IT is an easie thing to observe, that there hath been formerly two sorts of Nuns, or Virgins, Consecrated to God. The First and most Ancient begun almost in the times of the Apostles; and as Prudent Virgins, en∣deavoured by the Grace of God, and with all Humility and Freedom followed St. Paul's ad∣vice, in keeping their Virginity, not reckon∣ing it an extraordinary merit in themselves, nor being bound to it by a solemn Vow, and

without condemning Marriage, which they often embraced after several years of Virgini∣ty, as not being accounted infamous for so do∣ing: Such were the Virgins of the Purest Times. As for the Second Sort of Nuns, who make Vows, they ought to acknowledge their Original from Eustatius, an Heretick, who put into their Heads, as foolish Virgins, that there was no Salvation to be hoped for in a Married State; and bound them by Vow, to keep their Virginity. This hapned about the year of our Lord 330. And it was likewise about the same time, that some Virgins and devout Wo∣men of the First Order, viz. of those who made no Vows, in imitation of the Hermits and Monks of Thebais in Egypt, joined toge∣ther and inclosed themselves in Monasteries. This Eastern Novelty passed also some years af∣ter * 1.1into the West. Some Priests of Alexandria in Egypt, flying from the Arian persecution, retired to Rome, and informed the Noble Wi∣dow Marcella with this kind of Life, which pleased her so much, that having gathered to∣gether several Roman Ladies, she persuaded them to live in common, and took upon her * 1.2self their conduct. After the example of so great Ladies, what appeared at first very ig∣nominious for its Novelty, became more Tole∣rable, and even Honourable; and in several places were built Monasteries for Widows and Virgins Consecrated to God. The Vail which was in use for all the Women in the Primitive * 1.3Church, and wherewith St. Paul saith, they

ought to be covered at Church, in reverence to the Angels, was appropriated to those who did retire into Monasteries, as an Habit that was to be particular to them, and their distin∣ction from those who lived in the World. Some time since, the Councils which were held, and particularly that of Valence held in France, in the year 378, made very rigorous Statutes against the Vailed Virgins, who should go out of their Monasteries to Marry, order∣ing not to receive them so easily to Penitence: Nevertheless there was yet a Door open for them. But Pope Innocent the I. by a very in∣discreet Zeal, and contrary to that Meekness * 1.4of the merciful Jesus, who is ready to receive Sinners at the first moment of their Conversi∣on, ordered in the year 407, that after such a fault as this, they should not be received to Penitence before the death of the Husband whom they had taken; and if they died first, they still lay under the sentence of Excommuni∣cation. This Law was confirmed since by se∣veral Synods; and every thing going still worse and worse in the Church, the Marria∣ges of Nuns were quite dissolved, and those who contracted them, both Man and Wo∣man were burnt alive. By such means the Nuns were, at last, forced to keep their Vir∣ginity against their Wills. In the mean time, St. Benet, having given, as it were, a new Life to Monkery in the West, Scholastica, his Sister, Founded a great many Monasteries for Women, whereof she made her self Abbess,

and gave them the same Rule which her Bro∣ther had written for Men. The following Ages, as more abundant in Superstition, did also abound more in Monks and Nuns, who made solemn Vows, and the shaving of Wo∣men, that was in use only in some Egyptian Monasteries, which had borrowed it from Pa∣gan Virgins, was brought also into the West. St. Hierom in his Letter to the Virgin Eusto∣chium, * 1.5calls it the Devil's Work. St. Paul at least saith, That it is a shameful thing for a wo∣man to go shaved. However the Nuns, a great deal wiser than this holy Apostle, did in pro∣gress of time attribute to their cutting off their Hair, to their Vails, and mimical Ha∣babits, a holy Virtue, and more than a bap∣tismal Grace. But this, notwithstanding their Habits, remaining always whatever really they were, to wit, pieces of Cloath without that imaginary sanctifying Virtue, these Nuns re∣mained still exposed to Temptations so much the more violent and shameful, as their en∣terprises were rash and unwise. Some bad circumstances, which hapned very often, shewed enough that they were only Virgins by force; taking all occasions to converse with Men. Therefore the Bishops thought necessary to raise up their Walls higher, and to order that they should speak to no body but through Iron Grates, being kept as close as the Prisoners in Newgate. Oh shame! Now Pagans and Infidels must know that Christian Virgins, that they may secure ho∣nesty

of Life, ought to be kept in Irons. And let the Papists be thanked for the confu∣sion which reflects from their infamous pra∣ctices upon the whole Body of Christendom. As for the Government of Nuns, some of them are under the Direction of the Bishops, in whose Diocese they are, and others under the Obedience of the Generals of the Orders of Men, who profess the same Rule as they do. The former have Secular Priests for their Confessors, and the later, Fathers of their Order.

CHAP. II.

Of the Orders of Nuns in General.

WOmen being at least as much inclined to Superstition as Men, they no sooner saw a Monkish Order to spring up, but they undertook to appropriate it to their Sex, building for themselves Monasteries, thereby to imitate, as far as they were able, the ex∣travagancies of Men; nay, outwitting them in forgeries of Revelations, Apparitions and Miracles, to get ••ame in the World, which (they say) they had left. As they do profess to follow the same Rules of the Monks, lea∣ving only out what is not agreeable to their Sex, and do acknowledge the same Founders of Orders for their own, wear the same Names, and Habits of the same Colour; it would be superfluous to labour, methinks, to set down at length, one by one, all the Orders of Nuns. Therefore I shall only give you here a short Catalogue of their Names, and Times of their respective Foundations, reserving only at the end, to relate more at large some few of the said Orders more worthy the Observation of my Reader.

A Catalogue of the Foundations of Nuns.

MArcella, a Roman Lady, is lookt upon as the first Founder of a Claustral Life, and the Mother of Nuns, both in the East and in the West. She lived at the end of the third Age, and died in the year 410.

The Regular Canonesses of St. John of La∣teran, were Founded about the same time, as the Fathers of the same Order, by Pope Gelase in the year 440; under the Rule of St. Austin.

The Regular Canonesses of the Holy Sepul∣cher at Jerusalem are of a very ancient Foun∣dation, and were renewed in France in the year 1620, by Mother Mary of St. Francis, formerly Claudy du Moy, Countess of Cha∣ligny.

The Regular Canonesses of St. Austin were Founded by a Scotch Gentlewoman, called Bridget, in the year 615. Being extraordina∣ry beautiful, she begged (they say) of God, that he would be pleased to take away her Beauty, upon which she lost one of her Eyes.

The Regular Canonesses of the Low Coun∣tries, Germany and Lorrain were Founded by the Princess Waltrude; she lived in the year 650.

The Regular Canonesses of Mons in Hai∣nau••t, are Nuns only in the Morning, and go a visiting in the Afternoon in a Secular Dress,

and Marry when they please. They do ac∣knowledge the Lady Gertrude for their Foun∣der.

The Regular Canonesses at Colen are much like the former, and were Founded in the year 716, by Plectrude, Dutchess of Austrasia.

The Regular Nuns of St. Agnes at Dort, were established in the year 1326.

The Beguines of Amsterdam, derived their Name from Begge, a French Princess, who Founded there a Monastery for them, having taken her self the Religious Habit; she died in the year 698. They have several other Monasteries in the Low Countries, under the Rule of St. Austin, and can Marry when they please.

The Nuns of the Good Jesus at Ravenna, were instituted in the year 1506, by Margua∣rita Rusci, an Italian Gentlewoman, to match the Priests of the Good Jesus, for whom she had Founded a College. They wear great Beads on their Necks.

The Nuns of St. Cesarius were founded by him, when he was Archbishop▪ of Arles, to∣wards the year 478. They are Cloathed in White, with a Black Vail on their Heads, and observe the Rules which their Founder wrote for them, which are almost the same with those of St. Austin.

The Congregation of the Women of the Christian Doctrin, were instituted at Milan, by Cardinal Charles Borromeo, in the year 1568, whose duty is to instruct those of their own

Sex, both in the Christian and Popish Do∣ctrin: They are submitted to the Rule of St. Austin, and are of two sorts, some of them being under a Claustral Confinement.

The Nuns of the Congregation of our La∣dy, were Founded in the year 1616, by Mo∣ther Alix, of the Presentation, born in Lor∣rain.

The Hospitaler-Nuns of St. John of Jerusa∣lem were introduced at Rome, in the Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen in the year 1080. There the Women who will go a Pilgrimaging to Jerusalem, do receive their Blessing and Pass∣ports. Pope Gelasius was the first that appro∣ved this Institution. These Nuns were re∣formed in France, in the beginning of this Age by Mother Gaillote de Vaillac, and are call∣ed Reformed Hospitalers.

The Hospital-Nuns of the Holy Ghost, were founded in the year 1198, by Pope Innocent the III. who built the Hospital of the Holy Ghost in Saxia at Rome. He committed it to Men and Women, to take care of the Sick of both Sexes, and prescribed them Rules. They have on their Cloaths a White Pidgeon, sur∣rounded with Beams, to represent the Holy Ghost. Some Nuns, like these, are to be found in the Low Countries, who are under the Rule of St. Austin.

The Black Nuns are also Hospitalers, going to Nurse the Sick at their own Houses; they are paid for it, and bring that Mony to their Convents.

The Order of Women Servants was institu∣ted long before by a holy Woman call'd Fabiola, in the year 390. They did oblige themselves to serve the Sick, and procure them every thing necessary that they wanted.

The Order of the Nuns Knightesses, Sword∣bearers of St. James in Spain, was established there by King Ferdinand, about the year 1170. There Office is to lodge and provide with ne∣cessary things the Pilgrims who go to St. James in Galicia. They are under the Rule of St. Austin. Their Cloaths are Black, and on the Right Side of their Robe they have a red Sword, hilted with a Sea-shell.

The Nuns of Tabennesia, in Egypt, had for their Institutor the Abbot Pacomius. His Si∣ster having been one day to visit him, he de∣nied to speak with her until she had promised to lead the same Life as he did. Which having consented to, he had a Monastery built for her, where she was Abbess over a great ma∣ny Women, in the year 340, and observed the Rule which her Brother gave her. They were Cloathed all in Black, with Crosses upon their Vails, and at the bottom of their Robes.

The Nuns of St. Basil were instituted about the year 340, by Macrina his Sister, under her Brothers Rule. Some of them are called Canonesses of St. Basil.

The Acaemetes or Studites begun at Constan∣tinople in the year 459, but were wholly de∣stroyed when the Turks made themselves Ma∣sters of those Countries.

Some Women Hermits, in imitation of St. Anthony, were seen in Egypt in the year 318, under the direction of a holy Woman, called Syncletica; and likewise at Jerusalem, under the Abbess Mary, in the year 325.

Some others, who follow the Rules of St. An∣thony, are to be seen yet in Ethiopia. They were instituted in the year 1325, by Mother Imata. They have on their Heads a kind of a Turbant, made with a striped Calico, and on their Shoulders a little Cloak of yellow Skins of Goats. The rest of their Habits are either Yellow or White, not minding much the Colours. They get their livelihood by their Prayers, which they sell for Mony, or by their Works, and are very charitable to the Poor. They never enter the Church no more than the other Women of that Country. They are for the most part very chast; but it being not accounted any great shame in those Coun∣tries to get Children, they likewise oftentimes get great Bellies.

The Benedictine Nuns were Founded by Scholastica, St. Benet's Sister, who gave them her Brothers Rule in the year 530.

The Benedictine Nuns, of the Order of Clu∣ny, were instituted by Odo, Abbot of Cluny, about the year 940.

The Benedictines of the Congregation of Chesal Benoist, were reformed about the year 1520, by Mother Tovars, Abbess of St. Mary of Charentan.

The Reformed Benedictines of the Congre¦gation of Mount Calvary, were founded by Mother Anthony of Orleans, Princess of France, who died in the year 1618.

The Benedictine Nuns of the Order of Ca∣maldoli, were instituted by one Romauld, who was also the Founder of the Monks of the same Order, and died in the year 1027.

The Carthusian Nuns do follow the Instituti∣ons of St. Bruno, but acknowledge Mother Bea∣trix, a French Woman, for their Founder, in the year 1309.

The Benedictine Nuns of the Order of Ci∣teaux, were Founded by Humberlina, Sister of Bernard, Abbot of that place. She run from her Husband, and became Nun her self in the year 1118.

The Military and Knight Nuns of the Or∣der of Calatrava and Alcantara, were rather for Vanity than for Piety, instituted by Ele∣onora Gonzales in the year 1219, under the Rules of the Order of Cisteaux. They wear a white Gown, and a Scapulary with the marks of Knighthood of Calatrava on the Breast, viz. a green Cross under a green Pear-tree: How wisely that Order of Knights of Cala∣trava was instituted by the Kings of Cassiglia, to fight against the Moors, is sufficiently known: But how sillily it was also purchased by Women, every one may judge.

The Gregorian Benedictines were Founded by Pope Gregory the Great, under the Rule of St. Benet, in the year 594. They wear white Cloaths.

The Ambrosian Benedictines say, that they owe their Institution to St. Ambrose, but in process of time embraced the Rule of St. Benet. They have white Garments with a black Vail.

The Nuns of St. Columban, under the Rule of St. Benet, were Founded by Burgundo Fare, Sister to the Bishop of Fare, in the year 615. They are all in White.

The Nuns under the Bishop's Rules, were Founded by Eloy, Bishop of Noyon, who made a Convent of his own House at Paris, and maintained in it 300 Women. Their Habit is Black, with a White Cloak upon it.

The Benedictine Nuns of the Order of Feu∣illans, were Founded by Mother Margaret, of Polastron, in the year 1588, in imitation of the Masculin Order, Instituted by John de la Barriere. They have white Cloaths and a black Vail.

The Benedictine Nuns of Mount Olivet, were Founded by a Woman, called Frances de Pontia∣nis. After forty years of a Married Life, St. Peter the Apostle (they say) appeared to her, and made her a Nun, giving her the Vail with all the usual Ceremonies; and St. Benet coming in the very nick of time, gave her his Rule. She died in her Monastery of Torre di Speculo at Rome, in the year 1440. They are Cloath∣ed all in Black.

The Nuns of Premontre, were Instituted in the year 1121, in imitation of the Monks of the same Order, under the Rule of St. Austin.

The Dominican Nuns, were by one Domini∣cus Instituted about the year 1206, who Foun∣ded four different Orders of them, as he had done of his Monks, under the Rule of St. Au∣stin.

The Nuns of the Redemption of Captives, had their beginning from Mother Mary du Secours, who died in the year 1288.

The Nuns Servites, or Servants of the Virgin Mary, in imitation of the Fryars of the same Order, were Instituted by Mother Juliana Falconieri, who died in the year 1341.

The Nuns Hermits of St. Austin, were Insti∣tuted a little after the Fryars of the same Order.

The Nuns Hermits of St. Hierom, do falsly boast their Origin from this holy Doctor. Their Order was Confirmed, and perhaps Founded by Pope Gregory the XI. in the year 1374.

The Nuns of St. Cassian are said to have been Instituted by him at Marseilles, or at Au∣tun, a Town in the Dutchy of Burgundy, about the year 440. They were since put under the Rule of St. Austin.

The Nuns of St. Isidor had for their Founder Florentina his Sister, in the year 598. She put them (as some say) under the Rule which Isidor her Brother gave her, tho such a Rule is no where to be found.

The Carmelite Nuns begun in Syria, a little while after the Foundation of the Fathers Car∣melites, which was in the year 1122.

The Reformed Bare-footed Carmelite Nuns, do acknowledge one Theresia a very supersti∣tious Woman for their Mother: She begun this Reformation in Spain, and died in the year 1582.

The Nuns of the Immaculate or Unspotted Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, were instituted in Portugal, in the year 1484, by Mother Beatrix of Sylva. They wear blew Cloathes, having upon their Scapulary, the Image of the Virgin Mary, bearing the little Jesus in her Arms, who kills with a long Spear a Dragon, under the Feet of the Vir∣gin. Pope Innocent the VIII. approved it in year 1439, and gave them the Rule of Ciste∣aux. After the death of Beatrix, the Nuns left their Rule and took that of St. Francis: Some while after they took again that of Ciste∣aux, and in the year 1511. Julius the II. made them to make another jump to that of the Franciscans.

The Franciscan Nuns, were instituted in the year 1212, by Francis Assisi, and had one Clara, a very superstitious and deluded crea∣ture for their Mother. Some are very disso∣lute in their Manners, and go under the name of Franciscan Nuns; others are very strict in their Observances, and from that Clara are called Clarisses. They have some Sisters Ser∣vants, who go a begging for them, and are reputed of the third Order of their St. Fran∣cis.

The Nuns of the Third Order of S. Francis, in the year 1221, were by him instituted, and did consist indifferently of Unmarried and Married Women, who had left their Hus∣bands. He gave them a milder Rule than the former, being allowed to live single, or two or three together in their own Houses. They wear gray Cloathes with a black Vail, are girded with a Cord, and go bare-footed. There is yet another Congregation of the Third Order, confined in Cloisters, and Founded in the year 1405. By Mother An∣gelina of Termes, Countess of Civitella in Italy, who lead a very rigid Life.

The Third Order of Penitent Nuns of St. Francis, in which all sorts of Women, Marri∣ed or Unmarried, Widows, Honest or Dis∣honest, who desire to lead a penitent Life are received, was reformed by Mother Clara Frances of Besanoçn, who died at Paris in the year 1627. They are a kind of Capucines, and wear long gray Cloathes.

The Reformed Nuns of the Three Orders of St. Francis, had their beginning from Sister Colette, in the year 1410, she pretended to se∣veral Apparitions of God to her on that ac∣count, and brought her Nuns to a very austere manner of Life, as lying on the Straw, go∣ing bare-footed, wearing very course Cloth. She died full of Superstition at Ghent, in the year 1447.

The Capucines are also a Reformation of Nuns of St. Francis, made by Mother Mary Longe, in the year 1538. They live of the Alms which are brought to their Convents, are indepen∣dent upon the Bishops, and subject only to the Fathers Capucine: They have nothing of their own but a Breviary, a Wooden Cross, and a Whip or Discipline. Upon a new Habit they patch always a piece of an old one. They touch no Mony, but have a Tempor∣al Father that receives, keeps, and spends it for them. Except their Vail, which is black, their Habit is the same as that of the Fathers Capucine.

The Recolettes were founded in the year 648, by a Spanish Gentle-woman called Benedicta, under the direction of the Bishop Fructuosus. But they were afterwards by the Popes put under the Rule of St. Francis, and Cloathed as the Capucines, except that their Clothes are longer, and they have a Scapulary.

The Penitent Nuns of the Order of St. Francis, in High Germany. After having lived some while in their Monasteries, they go into the Woods, and live single, or two to∣gether, in a little House, with a little Chapel, after the manner of the ancient Hermits, eating almost nothing else but Herbs and Roots. They have a short gray coloured Gown, girded with a Cord, go Bare-footed or with Wooden-shoes.

The Nuns Sack-bearers were established in France by St. Louis King of France, in the year 1261, at the instance of his Mother Blanca. But both the Nuns and the Fryars of the same Order, were suppressed before his Death. They were Cloathed with Sacks, and obliged to a strange odd sort of Life.

The Nuns Urbanistes, under the Rule of St. Francis, were instituted by Isabella Sister to St. Louis King of France, with the Title of the Humility of our Lady: She took her self the Religious Habit amongst them, and was made a Saintess by Pope Leo the X. in the year 1521. The Nuns of St. Francis of Paula: Two Spa∣nish Women, Mary and Francis of Lucena, founded this Order in the year 1495, follow∣ing the Rules of this Francis, and except the black Vail on their Heads, they wear an Ha∣bit like to that of the Fryars of the same Order.

The Nuns of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, were instituted by Francis Sales Bishop of Geneva in the year 1610, who writ Rules for them, which were approved by the Popes, and in his Life he could reckon above 30 Cloisters which followed his Institutions. They did afterwards very much increase, particulary in France. They have black Cloathes, and a little Silver Cross on their Breasts.

Of the Order of the Ʋrselines, or Jesuitesses.

THIS is the Female Order of the Jesuits. A young Italian Woman called Angela of Bressia, of a mean Family, published that hor deceased Sister appeared to her in a glorious State, with several other holy Virgins, who came down from Heaven to Visit her, and a Voice was heard saying, Angela thou shalt not dye, before thou hast instituted a Nun∣nery of Virgins like these. It was in all likelihood the Voice of the Jesuit, because this Angela having declared her Vision to her Confessors, who were Fathers of that Society, they forgot nothing to perswade her, to put in Execution what she was command∣ed from God. And as Ignatius Loyola made a Vow before the Institution of his Order, to go rambling to Jerusalem, so did likewise this young Woman, upon which she was struck stone Blind. But this did not hinder her from going thither alone Bare-footed, and living on Alms. (And it was a Miracle in∣deed, that she could find the way so well.) Being returned from Jerusalem to Venice, by another Miracle she recovered her Sight, and other new Visions coming one upon another, to forward her design of founding an Order, She went at last about it, and found immedi∣ately 76 young Women, ready to embrace

her Institution. This unanimous resolution * 1.6of so many at once, seemed to a Popish Au∣thor a very great Miracle, though it was in∣deed the wise disposition of the Jesuits, who had prepared them long before for it. A College was then founded and richly en∣dowed for them, where they began to teach the Women, according to their capacities, as * 1.7the Jesuits do the Men. Their Congregation was first approved in the year 1572, by Pope Gregory the XIII. at the instance of the Car∣dinal Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, and of Paul Leon, Bishop of Ferrara. Upon this pattern Magdalen Lullier Lady of St. Beuve, inspired by the Jesuits, founded in the year 1611, the Urselines in France, and Pope Paul the V. approved their Establishment and Constitutions. Their first Monastery there is that of Paris, from whence they have spread themselves through the whole King∣dom, where they instruct the young Girls, and take Boarders. They are called Urselines, from a holy Virgin called Ursula, and Daugh∣ter (they say) to a King of great Britain, who suffered Martyrdom, according to some Au∣thors, near Colen on the Rhine, with Eleven thousand young Ladies, who went to wait on her. I shall not stand to reharse the History of it, which seems very fabulous, and is vari∣ouly * 1.8related: The Urselines have also several Convents in Suitsserland, Germany, and else∣where. In some places they are confined to their Cloisters, and in others they have liber∣ty

to go abroad, and keep every where an intimate familiarity with the Jesuits.

Of the Order of the ten Virtues, or De∣lights of the Virgin Mary, called also of the Annunciade.

JEAN Queen of France, of Valois, Daugh∣ter of Louis the XI. and Spouse of Louis the XII. King of France, having been repu∣diated, left the Court full of discontent, and retired herself in the Dutchy of Berry, with∣drawing all her thoughts from the World, which had proved so unfaithful to her. The direction of her Conscience being in the hands of two Fathers, Cordeliers, who were her Con∣fessors, they were not wanting to make use of her good Dispositions, endeavouring to per∣suade her, that the greatest honour which she might render to God, was to build some Convents of Nuns of their Order, like that of the Ave Maria at Paris, Founded by Queen Charllotte of Savoy, her Mother. But this Prin∣cess, either by a greatness of Soul which she had from her Birth, or to get more reputati∣on in the World, would not hearken to their proposal, for the propagation of an Order al∣ready established; but undertook to found

a new one of her own invention, pretending for it a Revelation, manifested to her by a Special Voice of the Virgin Mary. The Fa∣thers Gilbert and Nicolas her Confessors, see∣ing no hopes for their Order, took at last upon themselves to help the Princess in her new design, and after to go and look out four Wo∣men for her, upon Condition that they should ••e likewise their Confessors and Directors. They had the good luck to bring a great num∣ber of young Ladies, of the best Families of Bourges, and by order of the Queen, they composed a Rule for them, the chiefest busi∣ness whereof was to honour with a great many Beads and Rosaries, the ten principal Virtues or Delights of the Virgin Mary. The first of these Delights and Comforts, was when the Angel Gabriel annunciated to her the Mystery of the Incarnation, for which these Nuns took also the name of the Annun∣ciation. The second of these Delights was, when she saw her Son Jesus brought into the World. The third, when the Wise Men came with Presents to worship him. The fourth, when she found the Child Jesus, Qestioning the Doctors in the Temple. I shall not stand to relate the rest, which any one may easily imagin. Now, for what belongs to our Or∣der of Nuns, the business was, to get the Confirmation of it in the Court of Rome. They met there with much coldness, on the side of Pope Alexander the VI. and of the Cardinals, who in hope of getting a great

sum of Mony from the Princess, shewed themselves very unwilling to grant it. Upon which Father Gilbert, a subtil cunning Man, was obliged to go to Rome, where he plaid them a trick of Cordeliers Craft. He having bribed with Mony the Cardinal John Baptist, Ferrier Datary, and great friend to the Pope: This Man went in a Morning to frighten the Pope, and his Brethren the Cardinals, telling them that the glorious Martyr S. Laurence, and S. Francis had appeared to him, and stri∣ctly charged him, to get under pain of their heavy Displeasure, the Rule and Order of th•• ten Virtues or Delights of the Virgin Mary con∣firmed. The Pope and the Cardinals yielded immedately to it, and this Confirmation was made the 14 of February, in the year 1501. Leo the X. confirmed it again in 1517. This Order hath been increased very much since in France, Flanders, and other parts. They wear a gray Habit, with a red Scapulary and a white Cloak, and have for a Girdle a Cord with ten Knots, in remembrance of the ten Delights, of the Virgin Mary.

Of another Order of the Annunciade, called Celestes.

THIS was founded at Genoa in Italy, by a Lady of Quality in the year 1600, and was called of the Annunciade, as making pro∣fession of honouring particularly the Mystery of the Incarnation. There Statutes are like enough to those of France; but they differ in colour of Habits, the Nuns of Italy having them white, with a Scapulary and a Cloak of a blew colour, from whence they are called Celestes. They receive indifferently into their Convents Widows and Maids, and do possess many Convents in Italy, where the Genteel∣ness of their Habits is an inticing Charm to young Ladies.

Of the Order of Clarisses.

* 1.9 THE Institutrice of this Order was one Clara. She was born at Assisy in Italy, and became a very Superstitious Maid. She went a Pilgrimaging to Jerusalem, to Rome, and to St. Michel of Mount Gargan, and after much rambling, came acquainted with Fran∣cis

of Assisy, and entred into great familiarity with him. He persuaded her to leave her Father and Mother, and to come under his Discipline: She followed the advice, and fled from her House one night to Portiuncule, where this Francis was with his Fryars, who received her with lighted Torches, and great Devotion. There having cut the Hairs off her Head, she shewed herself in this condition the next day, to her Relations who came to look for her, and by the Vow she said she had made, took from them all hopes of bringing her home again: She withdrew herself af∣terwards, by Francis's advice to the Church of St. Damian, and there gave beginning to the poor Maids, called from her name Clarisses, in the year 1225. So the Brothers Minors of the Order of St. Francis, acquired to their great satisfaction a Female Order for them∣selves; but Gregory the IX. seemed for a while to take delight in crossing of them, command∣ing they should not visit the Nuns. But the Holy Clara did remedy it, and by her Pray∣ers and Intercessions prevailed so much with this Pontiff, that she made him to recall his * 1.10Decree. She applied herself to the practice of extraordinary Penances, that spoiled her Constitution, and rendred her very Sickly, bearing also in this World, the just Pain of her indiscretions. She obtained the Title of the greatest poverty for her Order, from In∣nocent the III. and the Opinion of her San∣ctity being spread very far, there were seen

both in the Country and in the Cities, great numbers of Monasteries built for the recep∣tion of Women, who would imitate her Hi∣pocrisy and Superstitions. From that time, this Order, as well as the others, hath encrea∣sed more and more in the Countries Subject to Popish Tyranny.

Of the Order of St. Katherin of Siena.

THIS Katherin was born at Siena, a City of Tuscany in Italy. She saw in a Dream, being yet very young (according to the Re∣lation, she hath made herself of it) the Foun∣ders of several Religious Orders, and amongst the others, St. Dominick holding a Lilly in his Hand (as he is usually painted.) All these Saints exhorted her to chuse a Religion, in * 1.11which she might render a greater Service to God; and Katherin ran rightly to St. Domini∣cus, preferring him before all the others, and begged of him the Religious Habit of his third Order, which he held in his Hand; and it was granted her. She was so strangly affected by this Vision, that she afterwards entred that Order, against the Will of her Father and Mother. She was extreamly forward, in the outward practices of Penance, Disciplining her self every day, even to drawing Blood

with Iron Chains, for the Souls in Purgatory. Christ Jesus (saith the Legend of her Life) came very often into her Chamber to visit her. He brought sometimes along with him the Blessed Virgin Mary his Mother, some∣times St. Dominic, St. Mary Magdalen, St. John the Evangelist, the Apostle St. Paul, and other Saints, who came by turns to Chatter with her. And one day Jesus Christ appear∣ed to her, and at the request of the Virgin Mary, who was there present, took Katherin visibly for his Wife, giving her a very fine * 1.12golden Ring, with four precious Stones, and a very rich Diamond in the midst. The Wit∣nesses of this Marriage, were St. John the E∣vangelist, St. Paul, and St. Dominic, who all the while the Ceremony lasted, sung very * 1.13Melodiously the Psalms of David. All this blessed company being returned to Heaven, Katherin was left alone with the Ring on her Finger (a sign that there was nothing of a strong imagination in the whole matter) and she wore it all her Life long. This holy Vir∣gin being once in Prayer, desired Christ Je∣sus her Husband, to take from her, her own Heart, and to give her a new own pleasing to him. The Divine Bridegoom, not willing to deny her any thing, came near, and mak∣ing an Incision into her left Side, pluckt out her Heart. So that Katherin remained for some while without any Heart, until being another day at Prayer in the Chappel of the Sisters of the Penitence in the Church of the

Dominican Fryars of Siena, a Celestial light surrounded her in a moment, and our Lord Jesus was seen holding in his hand a red shining Heart, and coming near to Katherin, put it in the Incision which he had made before in her Side; saying, My Dear, I have taken from thee thy heart, according to thy desire, here I give thee mine, by which thou shalt live. Which having performed, he closed up again the Wound, and disappeared, but the Scar remained visibly in it, lest any body might question the truth of this wonderful Operation. Another time Christ Jesus appeared to her, and Bathed her whole Body, with his own precious Blood, that sprung out of his Wounds: And another time again he Cloathed his dear Spouse, with a Robe which he drew out of his Sacred Side, all died with his Blood. Since that time, Katherin did not feel any cold in her Body, even in the midst of the bitterest Winters. All these and other such like Miracles, which were daily performed in favour of this Saintess, did not serve a little towards the increase of her Or∣der. Several young Women joyned them∣selves to her, followed her practices, and would afterwards be called from her name, Nuns of St. Katherin of Siena. They have yet abundance of very stately and rich Mona∣steries in Italy, but are not so unmerciful to their Bodies, as their holy Foundress was to her's. This is the Female Order of the Domi∣nican Fryars.

Of the Order of Repenties, or Penitent Si∣sters.

JOHN Tisseran, a Franciscan Fryar of Paris, Founded in the year 1494, the Order of Penitent Sisters, in honour of St. Mary Magda∣len. He was a great Preacher, and honest Man. After he had pierced by his Sermons * 1.14to the quick, the most hardned Hearts, and con∣verted several debauched Women, he formed this Institution, that they might retire thither, who by Gods Grace had forsaken their Sins. He caused a Monastery to be built, and above Two hundred of these Women offered them∣selves to come in willingly, and some of them were permitted to go a begging about for the rest: Such was their condition in the year 1500, when Louis Duke of Orleans, who was since the XII. King of that name, gave them his Palace of Orleans, where they had their Habitation, till in the year 1572, when Queen Katherin of Medicis transferred them elsewhere. Pope Nicolas the IV. approved this Order, and granted so many Indulgences, and Blessings to it, that the number of leud Women increased very much at Paris, seeing the way so easy to go to Heaven, by entring those Monasteries, after having led an abo∣minable Life. This Order passed from France into Italy, where a great many of these Con∣vents

are to be seen, they do not stay now till these debauched Creatures come and sur∣render themselves willingly, but they force them to go in, and being Whipt for several days, till they promise amendment, they are admitted at last to the Holy Habit of that Re∣ligion. If Popery does ever return to London, these Nuns may find a fine Monastery ready for them in Bridewel.

Of the Order of the Nuns and Monks of Fontevrault.

THIS is an Hermaphrodite Order of both Sexes, and the weaker Sex does command the other. It was Founded in the year 1100, some while after the Celebration of the Coun∣cil of Poitiers, by Robert d' Arbrissel. He was first Archdeacon of Rennes, and received a particular Mission from Pope Urbanus the II. to go and instruct the People by his Preach∣ing. He did it accordingly, and with such success, that seeing himself followed by Crouds both of Men and Women, he built for them Cells in the Woods of Fontevrault, three Leagues from Saumeur, on the Confines of Poitou in France. Afterwards having set the Women apart, he formed that famous Mona∣stery, chief of the whole Order, the Abbels

whereof is General, and commands the Men. Pope Paschal approved of it, and his Successors granted to it fine Priviledges. There are reck∣oned amongst the Abbesses of that place four∣teen Princesses, five whereof have been of the Royal Branch of Bourbon. Robert d' Arbris∣sel by subjecting in such manner Men to Wo∣men, pretended to honour the holy History, releated in St. John Chapt. XIX. where it is written, that Christ being on the Cross, recom∣mended his beloved Disciple St. John to the Virgin Mary, and commanded him to acknow∣ledge her for his Mother. This Order is under the Rule of St. Benet, Robert having on∣ly added some Constitutions to it. They have about 60 Monasteries in France: The Nuns wear a black Habit, with a white Vail, and being at Church, a long black Gown with large Sleeves. The Monks are all in black as secular Priests, but upon their Casock they have a Camail, as the French Bishops, at the bottom of which hang two little square pieces of the same Stuff, one before and the other behind.

Of the Order of St. Briget, for both Sexes.

BRIGET Queen of Sweedland, and Widow, in the year 1360, went to Rome to Pope Urban the V. to obtain from him the confir∣mation of a new Order of both Sexs, which she had instituted (she said) by express com∣mand of Christ himself. The Pope received her very kindly, because she was esteemed as a Saint, and endowed with the Gift of Pro∣phesy. He confirmed her Order, at the first request she made for it. Her Institution was in this manner: The Monasteries were built double. In one half, which was separated from the other by a Wall, were enclosed the Maids and the Widows, under the dir••∣ction of an Abbess, and the other half was Habited by the Men. The Church was so contrived, that it served both for the Men and the Women, the Monks having the in∣feriour part of it, and the Nuns the Superi∣our. The Men were to take care of the Spi∣ritual matters, and the Women of the Tem∣poral. Their Monasteries had generally great Revenues, but for want of them the Nuns were to work for their living, and that of the Monks; both M••n and Women were to obey the Abbess. Now since the Rule which St. Briget brought to Urban the V▪ to be con∣firmed, was written and given to her by Ch••ist

himself, as it was acknowledged by this Pope and all his Successors, who pretended to be the infallible Oracles of Truth; methinks I cannot well forbear to relate something of it, to the end that Protestants may not be alto∣gether deprived of the Knowledge of this new Gospel.

The Rule dictated by Jesus Christ himself. in Honour of his Mother the Blessed Vir∣gin Mary.

Chap. i.

CHRIST saith in this Chapter, that Hu∣mility, Chastity and willful Poverty, ought to be the first beginning of this Order. That both the Monks and the Nuns, ought to possess nothing of their own, not so much as a Farthing, neither touch with their Fingers Gold or Silver, unless it be in their works of Embroidery, with the Permission of their Abbess.

Chap. ii.

Christ prescribes the Form of their Beds, Blankets, Bolsters and Pillows.

Chap. iii.

Christ sets down all the Habits and Vails of the Nuns, both for Summer and Winter: Orders that their Vails be pinned with three Pins, and that there be on the top of them, a little Crown of white Linnen, spotted with little pieces of read Cloth, cut after the form of drops Blood.

Chap. iv.

Christ will have these good Sisters to recite every day, in honour of the Virgin Mary his Mother, an Office of three Lessons, with many Ave Maria's, and Salve Regina's; e∣very Saturday, to have a Mass sung of the Virgin Mary; and lo here is the Prayer which Christ hath himself composed, and will have them to recite in honour of his Mother.

We beseech the O most gracious and boun∣tiful Virgin Mary, Queen of the World, and of Angels, to refresh the Souls in Pur∣gatory, to obtain Remission for Sinners, and Perseverance to Just Men, and to pre∣serve us from all evils,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Chap. v.

Christ does order the hours in which Si∣lence is to be kept, viz. from the beginning of

the Night, till the Mass of his Blessed Mother be ended the next Morning.

Chap. vi.

Christ forbids the Men to enter the Mona∣stery of his Nuns.

Chap. vii.

Christ sets down which days the Seculars may come to Discourse, and Converse with the Nuns at the Grate, viz. on Sun-days and Holy-days.

Chap. viii.

Christ prescribes the Fasts of the year, and will have them to fast with Bread and Water on certain days, especially on the Eves be∣fore the Holy-days of the Virgin Mary. And those days which are not Fasts, they shall Eat Flesh-meat only at Dinner, and at Sup∣per Fish, Eggs, Milk and other such things.

Chap. ix, x.

Christ gives Rules for the reception of No∣vices, and sets down very exactly all the Ce∣remonies to be performed by the Bishop in their Consecration, and all the Prayers which he ought to read in giving them the Religi∣gious Habit and Vail.

Chap. xi.

Christ will not have above sixty Sisters in each Monastery, and in those of Men thirteen Priests only, in the Honour of the thirteen Apostles, the thirteenth whereof is St. Paul; besides them there shall be four Evangelists or Preachers, to represent the four Doctors of the Church, St. Ambrose, St. Austin, St. Gregory and St. Hierom. There shall be moreover eight Convers Brothers to serve the Priests. So that (saith Christ) reckoning the sixty Nuns, the thirteen Priests, four Evangelists and eight Convers Brothers, all these together make up the number of the thirteen Apostles and se∣venty two Disciples.

Chap. xii.

Christ declares here what Habits the Priests, the Evangelists and Convers Brothers are to wear. They must be all of a gray Colour; but the Priests shall have on their Cloak a piece of red Cloath cut like a little round Wa∣fer or Host, as a memorial, that they are to sacrifice every day my Body in the Mass. As for the Evangelists, they shall wear on their Cloaks little pieces of red Cloath cut in form of Tongues, because the Holy Ghost hath fill∣ed them with Wisdom and Understanding. And the Convers Brothes shall have on theirs

a white Cross, with five little pieces of red Cloath, in honour of my five Wounds.

Chap. xiii.

The Abbess (saith Christ) shall be elected from amongst the Sisters, and be their Mi∣stress; because the Virgin Mary, my Mother, in whose honour this Order is Instituted, after my Ascension into Heaven, was the Head and Queen of my Apostles and Disciples.

Chap. xiv.

The thirteen Priests shall wholly apply themselves to Divine Service and Prayer.

Chap. xv.

The Nuns, the Priests, and the Convers Bro∣thers ought to confess their Sins, at least, three times in the year.

Chap. xvi.

They shall receive the Holy Sacrament every Holy and Solemn Day, and the most Devout every Saturday.

Chap. xvii.

Christ orders Penances, and Fasts for delin∣quent Sisters.

Chap. xviii.

He orders a special Punishment for those, who dying shall be found to have something of their own.

Chap. xix.

Christ will not have them to receive any Present from their Friends or Relations.

Chap. xx.

All the Regular Places of a Monastery ought to be built, before the Nuns and Monks come to live in it. Christ regulates the Foundations and Revenues of each Convent, and how the Oblations made to them ought to be em∣ployed.

Chap. xxi.

Christ orders Thirteen Altars in every Church, a Chalice for each Altar, and two for the great Altar, with a precious Box to put his Body in. The Relicks of Saints must be shut up in Golden and Silver Boxes. He goes on with the other Ornaments of the Church.

Chap. xxii.

Christ forbids to receive the Nuns to Pro∣fession before eighteen years of Age, and the Men before twenty five.

Chap. xxiii.

My Mother (saith Christ) having divi∣ded her time into three parts, one for praising God with her Mouth, the other to serve him with her Hands, and the third for her Cor∣poral Necessities; so likewise ought the Sisters to divide theirs, viz. in praising God, attend∣ing to work, and supplying the wants of their Bodies.

Chap. xxiv.

Christ does not allow to his Nuns, any dif∣ference in Eating and Drinking, being to be served all alike.

Chap. xxv.

Christ orders Iron-Grates, a Turning-Box, to slip every thing necessary into the Mona∣stery. The Priests shall not enter the Apart∣ment of the Nuns, unless it be to carry the Sa∣crament to the Sick, or to bury them when they are dead.

Chap. xxvi.

The Bishop of the Place shall have Jurisdi∣ction, and Right of Visitation in the Monaste∣ries, both of Men and Women. No Mona∣stery, of this Order, ought to be built with∣out the Pope's Consent. When this Rule hath been confirmed by the Pope (saith Christ) some Benedictines or Bernardine Monks must be desired to take the trouble to settle and appoint the Chastisements for the Transgressi∣on of this Rule: The Ceremonies for Burials, what the Bishop ought to observe in his Visi∣tation, and in what case he is permitted to enter the Monastery, and what is wanting to this Rule, must be supplied by St. Benet's and Bernard's Rules.

Chap. xxvii.

Christ Commands a Coffin shall be placed at the Church-gate, to the end that the Sisters looking on it, may be continually mindful of Death.

Chap. xxviii.

Christ promises all kind of Helps to this Order, and abundance of Graces and Blessings to those who shall maintain the observance of it.

Chap. xxix.

The most part of this last Chapter is em∣ployed by Christ, in giving directions to Briget, how she shall make the Pope and all the World believe, that this Rule comes im∣mediately from himself. He saith, that the Pope shall sufficiently know by the Wisdom of these Rules, that they proceed from him; and in case he should question the truth of it, she ought to produce three Witnesses, viz. a certain Bishop whom she knows, a Monk, and a Priest of her own Country, who will serve fully to convince him. Christ promi∣seth to be very liberal of his Blessings towards those Cities, Provinces, and Kingdoms who shall be so happy as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 contain Monasteries of this Order. He saith, that if one does ask him why he did not give this Rule, nor had it Confirmed before the Creation of the World? The Reason is, because he was not pleased to do it (Observe how a foolish Woman makes Christ, the Eternal Wisdom to speak; as if God's Omnipotency could reach to give a Rule to Monks and Nuns, and have it con∣firmed by a Pope, before the Creation o•• the World.)

Lastly, He concludes this Fine Chapter with these Words, worthy of Observation;

Thou, Briget, to whom this Rule is given, shal•• take care to bring it to the Pope. I am he, who, when I commanded my Disciples

to go to a Town, and thence to fetch me an Ass, could have made it come to me with∣out their help, by my Almighty Power. And I could cause now, in a moment, that this Rule should be brought to the Pope, and be Confirmed by him; but it is Just, that for greater Spiritual Labours, the Soul should receive a more ample Reward.

Thus does this Rule end, dedicated to Saint Bridget by Christ himself. I have extracted it from Hospinian; and even for fear of being too long, I have left out several things which would seem very ridiculous. One may suffi∣ciently see by what I have here related, how blind the ••gnorance of those Times was. This Order, notwithstanding the fair Promises which Christ (if we will believe Popish Lies) made of heaping Blessings upon the Kingdoms, Provinces, Cities, and Persons who should Found such Monasteries, did not increase in that measure, which this Bridget did hope for; some few only were seen to start up here and there in Sweedland, and some few others were built in England, the first whereof was at Richmond, in the year 1414.

Of the Order of Guastalla.

THAT my Reader may understand bet∣ter, in what excess of misery these Monkish Orders, composed both of Men and Women, do end at last; I have reserved for this place the Order of Guastalla. It was Institu∣ted in the year 1537, at Mantoua in Italy, by a Countess called Guastalla, at the instigation of Brother Baptista, of Cremona, a Dominican Fryar, and was made up of Monks and Nuns, who, to overcome Fleshly Lusts, did lay toge∣ther a Monk with a Nun, in one and the same Bed, putting a big Wooden Cross be∣tween both, which (as they gave out) had the Virtue to quench Rebellious Concupi∣scence. But this Cross being but a very low * 1.15Wall of Partition, and several scandalous dis∣orders and works of Darkness arising from this foolish Institution, this infamous Order came to an end at last, being destroyed all over Italy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Erasm. in vita Hier.
• * 1.2

  Hierom. in Epit. Mar∣cell.
• * 1.3

  1 Cor. 11.
• * 1.4

  Epist. De∣cret. 2 Can. 12.
• * 1.5

  1 Cor. 11.
• * 1.6

  L' Auth••ur des Habits des Ordres Relig.
• * 1.7

  Moreri Dict. Hist.
• * 1.8

  Vide Sup∣plement of Moreris Di∣ctionary at the word▪ Ursule.
• * 1.9

  Hospin.
• * 1.10

  Anthonin Paragr. 4.
• * 1.11

  Anthonin tit. 23. c. 14. Paragr. 1. & 4.
• * 1.12

  Ibidem in eâdem Le∣genda.
• * 1.13

  Ribaden. in his Le∣gend.
• * 1.14

  Mor••r•• Di••••. Hi••••▪
• * 1.15

  Auth. ••lv. p. 27.