The original [and] sprynge of all sectes [and] orders by whome, wha or were they beganne. Translated out of hye Dutch in Englysh.

¶ Here folowe some orders, whose tyme, founders, and begynners I coulde not hunte out, which orders neuerthelesse haue ben sene.

l. The order of Guilhelmites vn¦der Innocentius the. iiii. B. of Rome Anno. M. cc. xlvi.

ANno. M. cc. xlvi. was this order brought forth vnder Innocentius the. iiii. whose founder and begyn¦ner was Guilhelme Duke of A∣quitania, and county of Aluernia: whiche beynge without issue, gaue all his patrymo¦ny, lande and goodes, and buylded the Gigi¦nacish cloyster, makynge Berno an Abbot therof, prouydynge it with many rētes and subsidies. Of hym hath this order the name Theyr clothynge is al blacke. Of this order haue we treated also in the. xi. order before.

li. The order of S. Ioseph.

THe order of S. Ioseph is vnknowen vnto me saue onely that they shulde we are an ashcoloured cote & a whyt cole or hoode, wherwith they ymagyne to serue and folowe Ioseph that is called Chri¦stes father: But I cā not tel wherin, seynge I fynde of hym no where wrytten that he v¦sed such a garment, but that he was a good symple man, a carpenter by his craft. Now¦yf they wyll folowe hym in outwarde thyn¦ges, then must they take an are in theyr hā¦des and laboure also. But yf they wyll fo∣low hym in chastite of mariage, & by y^e con∣sent of theyr wyues lyue chast, orels folowe his ryghteousnesse, wherof we reade Math ii. that may they do wel ynough in euery ap¦parell, without excepcyon, lyke Ioseph dyd. Wherfore I can not perceaue theyr shyne and appearaunce, why they set Ioseph for a patrone: perchaunce they do it as the B. of Rome doth Christ. Some thynke because they haue absteyned frō theyr wyues, or els gone frō thē, wherof they haue no power w^t out y^e wyues wyll & cōsent. Yet I doute whe¦ther y^e womā haue power to geue him leaue seynge they are commaūded (accordynge to theyr estate) to growe and multiplye. Ge. ii.

lii. Sepulchrers order.

THe Sepulchre brethrē dyd fyrst tēde the holy Sepulchre, and brought the Dutch brethren or pylgrems to and fro the holy Sepulchre: of whom they were well rewarded. They dyd weare longe beerdes, and a graye cote and a graye cloke theron, with a crosse vpon it. Whether they be spirituall men and within orders, am I not certifyed: I reken they be laye brethrē, and that because of theyr beerdes, which ar not comly for prestes. Theyr dayly taxe is a stente of Pater nosters.

liii. The Sheere order.

THis order surely haue taylers inuen∣ted, for they weare for a bag a sheere of yron coloure vpon a whyte cloke. What that do signyfye can not I tell, wyth out it were, because they wolde seme to be cut and sundered from the worlde. Theyr cloke and cole is whyte. Theyr founder is vnknowen to me. I reken it be the taylers order, inuented of theyr patron, where with they be mocked dayly.

liiii. The Swearders.

THis order weareth whyt also, &. ii. reede sweardes crosse waye vpon a whyte cole, which signify theyr bloudy knight hode, wherwith they fyght agaynst the De∣uell vntyl the bloude. Heb. xii. The whyte cloke perchaunce sygnifyeth theyr clēnesse, wherof they be as full, as a sparowe full of chastite, or a foole is of wysedome: and fast with chastisyng of theyr bodyes, vntyl they be fatte. How, whan, or where this order be¦ganne am I not enfourmed of.

lv. The order of Starred mōkes

THe rule of this order haue no Croni∣cles, that I haue red hetherto shewed me, neuerthelesse they weare an ho∣nest blacke garment w^t a starre sewed ther¦on, wherby they maye be knowen. The grounde of theyr order is as of al other, na¦mely, therby to do penaunce for theyr syn∣nes, and to be iustifyed: which thynge is the moost wycked thyng of all orders, for it ma¦keth them Heythenysh. ii. Petri. ii.

lvi. The order of Starred freres.

THese do not differ from the foresayd in clothyng nor rule, saue that they haue no cole or hoode. Theyr clo∣thynge is lyke coloured and fashioned, with a crosse theron. Theyr purpose is all one. The starre sygnifyeth theyr harte to be hea¦ued on hygh.

lvii. The crosse starred brethren

UPon a blacke cloke do these weare a dubble starred crosse, so that y^e cru¦cifyenge of theyr flesh is sygnifyed by the crosse, and the buryenge of theyr lyfe w^t Christ in God is sygnifyed by y^e starre. Item that they be folowers of the crucifyed Christ, whom with paunched bellyes, & blo∣wen vp chekes, they helpe to bear his crosse vpon a pylow, whyle theyr rentes do last.

lviii. Cōstātinopolitanysh order

AT Constantinople shulde this order haue ben begon. Theyr rule is to con¦fesse Christ with the mouth, but to de¦nye his power, in trueth, to abrenoūce him, and to trust in theyr owne workes. Theyr cote is grene, theyrcole is reed, with two ge¦low crosses sewed theron: wherby is sygni∣fyed theyr grene harte to Godwarde, and

ready wyll to shed theyr bloude for Christes cause, the which perchaunce sygnifye also y^e golden crosses that they esteme so greatly. Yf ony man coulde optayne the sygnifyca∣cyon of these thynges without the clothyng that were good: but that the rayment shuld dispatch it, that is false.

lix. The order of Wentzelaus.

WEntzelaus shulde haue founded this order, and compiled them a rule, with a whyte cloke, cole, coate and many shynynge workes of theyr owne inuentyng wherwith they thynke to do penaunce for theyr synnes and to become aungels, euen those that be of the better or perchaunce of the worst sorte. But the other only therfore because they be slouthfull and leade a care∣lesse lyfe, to serue theyr god, y^t is, theyr belly.

lx. The order of Nolhart brethren.

THese be hyred and institute therfore in cyties that they (because theyr neghboures and frendes do shune them) shulde assiste the sycke in theyr neces∣site, and to bury them, and do such other bu∣synesse aboute the sycke and dead. They

weare graye cotes, with a blacke scapulary vpon it, and a graye cloke ouer it. The we∣men weare graye also, with whyte vayles.

lxi. The order of S. Iames brethrē

AT S. Iemyes in Scotlonde shuld this order haue bene founded, they weare graye clothynge, and a muskelshel vp∣pon theyr brest, these haue ben sene. They shulde haue theyr rule of S. Iames, and shulde be his folowers.

lxii. The order of the brethrē of S. Iames with the swearde.

THis order (to confirme the fayth of fooles) shulde a B. of Rome haue cō¦firmed vnder a rule. They weare a blacke cote, with a whyte cloke without hoode ouer it, and a whyte cappe: And in tokē of theyr warre, they weare a swearde in theyr hande, theyr warre no doute is of y^e fleshe agaynst the sprete.

lxiii. The brethrē of S. Helēs order.

WHat tyme S. Helen floryshed in holy∣nesse, ther were certayne apes y^t toke vpon them to counterfayte hyr lyfe,

lyke gelous ydle bellyes. These grewe to a great multitude, whiche all toke vpon them to folowe and serue her, callynge themselues hir brethren: but it is no where founde that she shulde haue founded them. Theyr garment is all whyte.

lxiiii. The order of the brethren of Ierusalem.

ANno. M. c. iii. whan Ierusalem was destroyed rose this order in the tyme of Gregory the. vi. They drue toge∣ther at Ierusalem, and began this secte, cal∣lynge themselues brethren of Ierusalem af¦ter y^e cytie. Theyr habyte was a graye cote & a cloke w^t a cole, & a reed crosse vpon it, to sygnify theyr bloudy knyghthode against the enemyes of the crosse, which vāquished thē dayly, & were destroyed of them.

lxv. The order of the valley of Iosaphat.

IN the valley of Iosaphat shulde this order be, and we are all reed, though y^e bloudy beast of Rome, y^e B. I meane haue forbyddē ony of y^e spiritualty to we are reed, that onely becommeth hym and his

apostles. But what doth not mony: whiche also breaketh vowes, othes and promyses, & dispenseth wyth all thynges. Theyr rule is vnknowen to me, saue onely that they as al other orders cracke & boast vpon theyr reed abyte, & theyr owne inuēted Gods seruice.

lxvi. The Sclauony order.

THese gatherynge themselues from all partyes, & cōmyng in Sclauony, wear reed coles: in all fashion lyke to y^e Au∣gustiniās, only the coloure excepte. No cro∣nicle that I haue red specifyeth of theyr mō¦mynge, order or rule. Theyr purpose is as of all other, which theyr abyte wytnesseth, though all other thynges were vnspoken of: namely, that they separatynge themselues, wyll walke in perfection, despysynge the cō∣mune sorte as euell Christen men.

lxvii. The new order of our Lady.

THis order is foūded vnder the Prea∣chers order, which also call themsel∣ues Maryes brethrē. Uerely it must haue ben a fruteful mother, that bare so ma¦ny sonnes. They we are a whyte cote, & a black cloke theron, with a black freres cole.

lxviii. The order of the brethren of S. Ihon de ciuitate.

THese Iohannites or brethren of S. Ihon weare a reed cole, hoode and cote, with a chalice sewed vpō theyr brest, to signifye theyr holy presthode. They haue a rule seuerall from all other. I fynde no where the begynnynge of this order.

lxix. The Lazarites, or Mary Magdalens brethren order.

LAzarus and Mary Magdalene haue these taken as patrones, whome they notwithstandynge folow nother in pe¦naunce, nor clothynge. For scripture kno∣weth nought of the blacke cote & the whyte cole theron, yet wyll they be theyr folowers and auaunce theyr name.

lxx. The brethrē of wilful pouerte

THe brethren of wylfull pouerte are knowen welynoughe to the Dutch nacyon: they went crouchyng nym∣bly by the stretes, and hadde on a cloke or mantel hangynge close before & open in the syde, requyrynge breade for Gods sake, ha∣uynge a staffe wyth a crucyfixe and also

a payre of beedes hangynge theron. They requyred no mony nor ryches, but only to be taken for the wyllynge poore. They spake to nomā, whereby they fayned theyr godlynesse and holynesse to y^e people. They had plenteously geuen to them. The rych gaue them to drynke of theyr owne cuppes and cruses of the best drynke, countynge the vessel whereout they dranke euen halowed, and y^e wyne also y^t they left. Thus dyd they shyne to men, which thought all thynges to be well, & rekened thus to make satisfactiō for theyr synnes, and to merite much wyth God: which meanynge quencheth Christe wholy. Some other that (after the worldes iudgment) were worse, & perchaunce worser yet by God, begyled mē on thys wyse: They had in y^e nexte vyllage or there about a fayre wyfe and other baggage, y^t they caryed wyth them, so that they went not alone mōmyng and limlyftynge. After thys fashion is the worlde begyled alwaye, for so is hys wyll.

lxxi. The order of the Indians.

IN Inde, in the londes of Prester Ihō shulde also be an order which weare a black cote and a whyte cloke theron,

whose rule accordeth wyth all other, na∣mely that they boast & auaunce theyr good workes, lettynge noman come to heauē but by them, whereby they become Mammalu∣kes, maneyed theues and murtherers. Ioh. x.

lxxii. The crosse bearers order.

THese wente stoupynge to the grounde with a longe whyte rochet, gyrded a∣bout them with a corde, they wente al¦waye bareheaded and spake not, they laye on the bare grounde, they wente alway kne¦lynge euen to the grounde, and hangynge down theyr heades: they dyd weare a crosse of wood two spanne longe in theyr handes. Some dyd weare a boxe about theyr neckes wherin men put theyr almesses.

lxxiii. Another order of Scour∣gers or Flagellatores.

IAme credably informed of some, that at Rome ther is a secte, as in other places of Italy, which are called Flagellatores or Scourgers these go in longe whyte lyn∣nen shyrtes hauynge an hole on y^e blacke, & are open vpō the bare skynne, there vpon do they beate thēselues w^t scourges y^t are made

therto, so longe, tyll the bloud doth rūne out both ouer the shulders and also downe to & fete. These be admitted of the B. of Rome as penitēciares. They go barefooted in pro¦cession two and two together on good fry∣daye, whan the passiō is preached. To these accompany themselues many renowned cy¦tesins at that daye, which of great inwarde deuoci ō are also disgysed as the aforesayde, so that somtyme. iii. or. iiii. hundre thare sene in one processiō: Neuerthelesse the cytesyns go some vpon slyppers, and the shyrtes put on aboue theyr hosen, and haue a scourge in theyr handes, wherewith some stryke thē selues, some weare it only betwene theyr ar¦mes. But the true brethren of thys order go barefoote, and beate themselues vpon the bare, skynne tyll the bloude foloweth. The whyte lynnen garment hath a hoode sewed to it, that drawe they ouer theyr heades whan they wyll not be sene, thys commeth ouer theyr faces, and it hath holes lyke a bysore, wherethorow they both se and drawe theyr breth. Such as force not whether they are sene or not, or haue not dreth y∣nough, they draw downe the cole from theyr heades, & scourge thēselfes so openly. Great

men vse thys fantsy wyth them also, that they maye be partakers of theyr pardō, do penaunce for theyr synnes, & come to Gods fauoure. Of such lyke haue we spoken ano∣ther where, but I ame not sure whether they be the same, forcause theyr order was cōdem¦ned as heresy, and thys now is permitted. Surely the one is as good as the other, it is one potage of one pot.

lxxiiii. Chapter monkes, or the chapter order.

AT Schunbach by Tubynge in y^e duke dome of Wirtēborow is ther a cloy∣ster & order, which haue crownes, heer and gownes of all maner of colours, black, blewe and russet, euen lyke seculare prestes saue only that they haue rounde clokes lyke the vplandysh men haue, whose hoodes they draw vp or let downe. Theyr heade do they call a father. Theyr rule is S. Austins, or as some saye S. Peters. At Buschbach. iiii. myle from Frankforde was thys order re∣fourmed, and made somwhat strayghter. These be of honest report amōg theyr negh¦bures. They haue a library wherin are Wes¦selus and Wicklefs workes of theyr owne

handwrytynges & the fyrste copyes. They are learned mē, they preach, heare cōfessions & serue y^e parysh y^t they haue cure of. They call theyr head prouest. They wyll not be called mōkes, nor theyr house a cloyster, but syrs and brethren, and theyr house do they call a chapter house.

lxxv. The order of Monachi or Monache in Italy.

IN Italy do some orders persuade the cytesins both men and wemen to be partakers of theyr pardons and good dedes, although they be in state of mariage and that with wearynge of theyr habites. Upon thys doth one weare hys lyfe longe a gyrdell of the barefooted freres, another a graye cote: y^e one promyseth to weare thys or y^t gyrdell or rayment for y^e orders loue, another maketh such maner of vowe or clo∣thynge. Thus are they than in fye and bro∣therheade wyth the holy fathers, whiche made them promes, to enioye al such pardōs and good workes as they do and haue: these be called monachi or monache. And the con¦syderaciō of the holy fathers in thys behalfe is, that they agayne be relyued wyth testa∣mentes,

buryals, cōfessiōs, diriges and o∣ther aimesses, lyke brethren and systers.

lxxvi. The Stooll brethren order.

IN some cyties and other places is a brother head founded, wherin are ta∣ken olde, aged mē past laboure, honest men and of good report, which communely haue beerdes. These are assygned to saye dayly a summe and taxe of Pater nosters, for the foūders and benefactours soules and all Christē soules. These weare a fatherly cote of black, blew or russet coloure, and a hoode with a flappe thangynge behynde.

Truth it is, that to helpe and relyue olde¦mē is a charitable dede, and worthy of great commendacion: but to lade them wyth an order or clothyng, and that founders requi∣re much to haue done for them, that is Hey∣thenysh. Yee in no place of the scripture is such lyke red, ether of Abraham, Isaak, Ia∣cob, Ioseph, Iosue, Dauid or lyke holy and approbate men of God: no nor in the new testament nother.

lxxvii. The Gerundinensish order.

A Byshop of Gerundinū, Ihō by name had a dreame and visiō (euē as many thynges are done & founded by drea∣myng

and visions, and because noman doth proue the spretes, whether they be of God, but only do approbate it, that hath a good shew and appearaunce) vpon thys the myd∣dayes deuell that chaungeth hymself into an aungell of lyght dyd easyly cause hym foūde & buylde a monastery. Thys he dyd, & gaue therto all hys goodes, and procured them an habite, rule, and maner of lyuynge of the B. of Rome. Theyr clothynge is all whyte, wyth the byshops shylde sewed therō whom he called after the partyes there a∣bout Gerūdinenses. Theyr rule is todenye Christ in power, & to confesse him in mouth

lxxviii. The brethrē of Purgatorye.

WHether these be founded to haue theyr purgatory here in the strayght order, or that they be appoynted to relyue thē y^t be in purgatory, can I not shew: only they weare a crosse sewed vpō a russet cloke & cote. Theyr fundamēt & intent is as of all other, namely to merite therby.

lxxix. The brethren of Scotlande.

IN Scotlande is a place or order whiche weare a grene cloke & cole or hood, wher by perchaunge they do sygnifye theyr

grene and alway floryshynge harte in God. The begynnynge of theyr rule and order is vnknowē to me, but sure I ame that a wyc∣ked cōscience and an vnfaythful harte hath founded them, that therby they myght helpe themselues.

lxxx. The order of the keyed. monkes.

Thys order weareth two heauēly keys vpon a black cloke, to sygnyfye that they haue power of heauē both to bynde and lowse. Wherfore they boast to haue theyr sprynge, rule, order and abite of S. Peter theyr founder and patrone, of whom they also haue receaued theyr keyes.

lxxxi. The order of the Lordes of Ungary.

IN Ungary are rych spiritual Lordes & an order which weare a white cote, & a reede cloke theron, where vpon they haue a grene crosse. They haue alway a boke wyth them, to declare therby theyr spiritualty. Theyr fundament, rule and or∣der is as of al other.

lxxxii. The order of y^e holy goost,

AT Rome, at Gruningen in Wyrtē bo¦row dukedom, and in other places is this order, clothed and shauen lyke o∣ther prestes, onely do they weare a dubble whyte crosse. These haue authorite of y^e B. of Rome to absolue all crymes. Where so euer these come a visitacyon or lymytynge, there must they be letten in. They haue al∣so letters and seale, that whereso euer they come to vysite, al other muste voyde & geue them rowme. At Gronyngen haue they a great state by theyr beggynge. At Rome are the poore greatly relyued in the hospitall, y^t it haue some shyne of holynesse to bleare mens eyen, & lest men thynke theyr mony euell bestowed. The lymetynge of S. Ua∣lentine, Quirine, Antony and such lyke are other brotherheades, wherwith muche mo∣ny hath ben pyckte out of realmes and con¦tryes. For they haue such vnmercyfull sayn¦tes, that without mony myghte no mercy nor brotherhead haue ben obtayned. These are metely well knowen. Theyr order is to begyle the people, theyr garmentes prestly. Theyr rule is to fray the people with theyr sayntes, to lye, to prate, and preache all home. ii. Petri. ii. ii. Timo. i.

lxxxii. Speculariorum Order.

THe order of Speculariorum, began in Italy. They weare a black crosse vpō a whyte cloke, & vnder the crosse is a blacke circle or a glasse, perchaūce they haue the same name because they wolde be taken for a spectakle to all y^e worlde in theyr lyuynge.

lxxxiii. The order of Hospitall brethren.

THese are founded in some places and hospitals to tende the sycke, and to assist thē in syknesses & necessite of death. Theyr garmentes are for the moost parte blacke.

lxxxiiii. The order of S. Katherine of Sene.

ANno. M. cccc. lv. dyd shyne S. Kathe∣rine of Sene a dyers doughter, which refusynge the state of Matrimonye toke vpō her y^t. iii. order of saynt Dominike or preachers. Christ shuld haue maryed her with a rynge wherin were. iiii. pearles and one diamonde, and taken hyr harte from

her geuynge her his therfore. Of this saint Katherine that was canonisate by Pius y^e ii. hir contryman, B. of Rome is rysen a great secte. They we are garmentes lyke blacke or preacher freres. Theyr cloke and vayle are blacke, theyr cote is whyte. They dyffer muche from all other orders in cere∣monies, saue only in the Psalter, y^e whiche they bable without vnderstandynge, and in trustynge in theyr good workes.

¶ Of all sectes and orders in generall.

THe order of the B. of Rome, Cardi∣nals, Patriarkes, Byshops, Curti∣sans, Prestes, Deacons, and such o∣ther is metely well knowen, & are therfore here passed ouer, so that the knowen orders do here ende. I passe ouerhere such orders & gods seruice as euery one taketh vpon him of his owne chosynge, wherof ther are ma∣ny thousandes, and neare hande so many as are men in the worlde. As pylgrimage go∣ers, Psalter sayers, oure Lady psalterers, massehearers, fasters, kepers of sylence. &c. For onely they y^t be earnest trusters & bele∣uers in God are Christen men, & prayers

thorow fayth all other good seruices and spi¦ritualties that we take vpō vs of our owne chosynge and inuencyon, are sectes, orders and rules.