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Eating of flesh forbidden.

"In addition to these things, inasmuch as the eating of meat has been, by the rule of St. Benedict, by our statute, and also at a general chapter of the presiding abbats of England, forbidden to the monks of the Black order; we, in order that all occasion and matter for discontent amongst those monks who have been accustomed by an abuse to eat meat, may be removed, order abbats and priors to pro-cure, according to the means of their house, and supply to the monks, some other suitable food instead of the food forbidden to them."

Fit and sufficient garments to be provided.

"Item, that the monks shall have fit and sufficient garments, both for their backs and beds, supplied to them, according to the rule and means of the house; but shall not wear linen shirts or nightcaps."

"Also, that the according to rule; a light."

The monks to sleep together.

monks shall sleep together, and have beds nor shall their dormitory be without

Hospitality to be observed.

"We order and decree, that hospitality be observed, both by superiors and their inferiors, according to the sanction of the rule and the means of the place, in all charity and cheerfulness, and that a kind and gentle monk be always deputed for this purpose; we also decree, that the same is to be observed towards sick brethren."

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All to be present at collation and complends.*

Also, that all shall be present at the hours of divine service, and especially at the collation and complends; unless for some good reason any one is engaged with guests, or by special permission of his superior, he may hold it necessary to be absent."

Superfluity to be avoided.

"That the prelates shall endeavour to limit the number of their horses and attendants as much as they can."

*Two different services of the Church, so called.

These statutes to be written according to rule.

"We also decree, that abbats and priors shall daily cause to be written, according to rule, the decrees of the supreme pontiffs which refer especially to them and their order, which are contained in the compilation of his holiness Pope Gregory the Ninth, under the titles written below, namely:— Of seculars about to enter religious houses,' &c.-On your part, &c.; We decree,' &c.; Lest rel.,' &c. ; ' Of the condition of the monks,' &c.; 'In each province,' &c.; 'Those things which, for the honour of religion,' &c.; Of simony,—Whereas, the stain of simony, &c.; Of the sentence of excommunication," &c.; The whole body,' &c.; Whereas, the absolution of those,' &c.; 'Of nuns,' &c., 'Of sureties,' &c. That to certain, &c.; Of payments,' &c.; Of whomsoever.'

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All these things to be often repeated.

"Also, we strictly enjoin on all abbats and priors, that they study to learn the above-mentioned rule of St. Benedict, and the decrees and constitutions above written; and that they always keep them at hand; and that they make it their business that those subject to them are not kept in ignorance of them.”

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The above to be read once every day.

Also, we decree, and strictly order it to be observed, that the above-mentioned rule and decrees be read once in each day, at a proper hour, in the convent of all monks, and that they be explained to those who do not understand them."

The statute of Pope Honorius the Third concerning those who enter religious houses.

Honorius the

"On your part it has been set forth,' &c. Third to the bishop of Arezzo.-It is known that there are some who, although they have for many years worn the habit of monks, have yet never made the profession of monks; wherefore, when they are accused by you or others of having private property, and living otherwise irregularly, they are not ashamed to say that they are bound to be without private property, to continence, and other regular observances, when it is not the habit that makes the monk, but the regular profession, &c. &c. We, therefore, command your fraternity, by the censure of the

Church, to compel all those subject to you by diocesan law, who dare to enter the land by two roads, in the manner aforesaid, to make their profession and observe the rule according to the forms of the order, after they have worn the monks' habit for one year."

Decree of Pope Gregory the Ninth concerning the same.

We e decree, that novices in their probation, before assuming the monk's habit, which is usually given to those who make their profession, or before making their profession, are at liberty to depart and return to their former condition within the year, unless it evidently appears that such persons are willing absolutely to alter their way of life, and to serve the Lord in continual devotion, with whom it may be worth while to renounce that which is known to have been introduced upon its own merits; but we decree, nevertheless, to remove all doubt, that, as in some religious houses the habit of novices cannot be distinguished from that of the professed, the garments which are given to those professing shall be blessed at the time of profession, so that those of the novices may be discernible from those of the professed."

Further on the same subject.

"Lest religious men, having occasion to travel, should incur any injury to their health, and their blood be required at the hands of their superiors, we decree, that the presidents, at the holding of chapters, according to the statute of the general council, whether fathers, abbats, or priors, shall every year carefully seek after those brothers who have fled or been expelled from their order; and if the latter can, according to the regular rule, be received again in their monasteries, shall, by ecclesiastical censure, compel their abbats or priors to receive them, saving the discipline of the order. But if the order does not permit this to be done, the said president shall, by our authority, make provision for them to be secluded in monasteries of the same order, in suitable places, provided it can be done without serious scandal; or else the necessaries of life shall be supplied to such persons in other religious houses of the same order, there to do penance; but if they find any such disobedient, they shall excommunicate them, and shall cause them to be publicly denounced as

excommunicated by the superiors of the churches, until they return in all humility at their summons.”

Of the condition of the monks.

"Monks shall not be received in monasteries by the payment of money, nor shall they have any private property of their own; they shall not be distributed one by one throughout the churches in the different towns and villages, but in a large convent, or with some of the brethren, that they may not be by themselves amongst seculars, to await the conflict with spiritual enemies, for Solomon says, 'Woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up.' If any one shall, on being asked, give anything for being received, he shall not rise to holy orders, and the receiver shall be suspended from his office. Whoever shall keep anything to himself, unless it has been allowed to him by his abbat for some service enjoined on him, shall be removed from the communion of the altar; and if any one in his last moments is found with any private property, and has not duly repented, no offering shall be made for him, nor shall he receive burial amongst the brethren; and this we order to be observed amongst all religious orders. Let the abbat who does not carefully guard against these offences know that he will incur loss of office. Neither shall priories or offices be given to any one for payment; otherwise, both givers and receivers shall be dismissed from their offices. Priors, after having been canonically appointed in conventual churches by election of their chapters, shall not be changed, unless for some manifest and reasonable cause, unless they shall be dilapidators, incontinent, or such as seem to deserve to be removed; or also, if they shall have been transferred by the advice of the brethren to a higher office."

Further concerning the same.

"We strictly forbid any of the monks henceforth to wear linen shirts: we also strictly prohibit any of the monks, by virtue of their obedience, and under threat of the divine judgment, from possessing any private property in any way, and whoever has anything of his own, shall at once resign it ; and if he shall afterwards be found to have any private property, after a regular warning has been given him, he shall be expelled from the monastery, nor shall he be again received

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into it, unless he has done penance according to the discipline of the monastery. If any property is discovered on any one at his death, it shall be buried, together with him, in a dung-heap, according to what the blessed. Gregory says in his dialogue that he had done; therefore, if anything shall be sent to any one in particular, he shall not dare to receive it, but it shall be assigned to his abbat or prior. In the oratory, refectory, and dormitory, continual silence shall be observed, and in the cloister also, at certain times, and in certain places, according to the ancient custom of the monastery. No one at all shall eat meat in the refectory, not even on any public solemnities, as has been sometime the custom of the convent; but let him leave a few in the refectory, and go out with the abbat to eat the meat outside, as in these days particularly discipline ought to be more strictly observed: let them not, however, think that they are allowed to eat flesh outside the refectory, unless it is in the infirmary, although the abbat may sometimes, by way of indulgence, summon some of the brethren to him, sometimes one, and sometimes another, and treat them to better fare in his own room. Besides, sick and weak brethren, who need strengthening, or some medicine, may receive a proper quantity of what is necessary for them, both of meat and of other things; not, however, privately in their rooms, but all in the infirmary. But if any one is sick, or even delicate, and cannot be satisfied with the common food, it shall be so - managed for him, without scandal to the others, that, if the abbat or prior wishes to do him a particular kindness in the refectory, he may cause a sufficient quantity of food to be brought, not before the sick man, but before himself, from which the sick man may take a small portion to sustain nature. Such men shall be appointed to perform the duties of the monastery as are discreet and faithful, and no office shall be intrusted to any one to be held for ever, as if it were assigned to him for his life; but when he ought to be removed he shall be removed, without any opposition whatever. The prior should be next to the abbat, and should be above all the rest influential in his acts and discourse, so that, by the example of his life, and the words of his doctrine, he may be able both to instruct his brethren in what is good, and reclaim them from what is bad, having a zeal for religion

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