AD LIBRUM TERTIUM. I. Instructions for the general visitation of the monasteries. Articuli regiæ inquisitionis, in monasticam vitam agentes, exponendi, et præcipue in exemptos à jurisdictione diœcesana, jam tantum regiæ majestati et ejus jurisdictioni subditos et subjectos, ac hujus inclyti sui regni statutis et legibus, nullisque aliis penitus, obnoxios et astrictos. III. In primis; Whether divine service be solemnly sung, BOOK said, observed, and kept in this monastery, accordingly to the number and the abilities thereof, by night and by day, Cotton lib. in due time and hours? and how many be present commonly fol. 13. at mattins, and other service, and who be absent, and so accustomed to be, without cause or sickness? 2. Item; How many monks, canons regulars or nuns, be within this monastery, and how many there ought to be, and whether the number be compleat according to the founder's will, or the statutes, ordinances, and laudable custom of this house; and whether the number be augmented or diminished now of late? 3. Item; Who were the first founders of this house? Fundationem primam, secundam, tertiam, et quotquot habent, exhibeant. 4. Item; Whether this house hath bhad any encrease of lands given to it sithence the first foundation thereof? by whom? by how many? and when? 5. Item; To what sum of money thole revenues and rents of this house doth extend and amount eunto yearly? 6. Item; Whether this house was ever ftranslate from one Cleop. E. 4. a according b had om. e those d do e unto om. f translated BOOK habit and order to another? by whose authority? and for what cause? III. Translationem exhibeant. 7. Item; How the lands and possessions appertaining unto this monastery, given by the first founder, and all other lands given sithence the first foundation, were granted, given, and established, and so first brought to mortemain ? whether by the only authority of the giver, or by the autorization of the prince for that time reigning, and by what tenour and form ye hold them? Donationem et confirmationem exhibeant. 8. Item; What evidence have sye to shew for all and singular your lands, manors, tenements, and other your possessions mortisate, and given unto you, and this your monastery? 9. Item; Wherefore, for what causes and considerations ye were exempt from your diocesan? and what was your suggestion and motive at the obtaining of your said exemption ? Exemptionem exhibeant. 10. Item; Whether ye have any private, peculiar, or local statutes, confirmations, ordinances, or rules, made only for the behoof, good order, and singular weal of this house, besides the rules of your profession? and whether they were made either by your founders before your exemption, or by the good fathers of this house, with the whole consent of the brethren, then being sithen your exemption: to what use they were made, and how ye observe them? Statuta illa localia, et alia quotquot habent, exhibeant. 11. Item; By what way and form the master of this house was elected and chosen? and whether all the brethren having, or ought to have by the law, statutes, or laudable custom of this house, voices in the election, were present in the same election, or lawfully called or cited to it? 12. Item; Whether any persons excommunicate, suspended, or interdicted, did give voices in the same election? 13. Item; Within what time after the election was made and done, the master of this house was confirmed? and by BOOK whom? 14. Item; Whether unto the confirmation, all that had interest, or that would object against the same, were lawfully cited, monished, and called? Exhibeat electionem, confirmationem et titulum suæ in- 15. Item; What rule the master of this house, and other the brethren, do profess? 16. Item; How many be professed, and how many be novices; and whether the novices have like habit, or use to wear an habit distinct from the habit of the brethren professed ? 17. Item; Whether ye do use to profess your novices in due time, and within what time and space after they have taken the habit upon them? 18. Item; Whether the brethren of this house do know the rule that they have professed, and whether they keep their profession according to that their rule, and custom of this house; and in especial, the three substantial and principal vows, that is to say, poverty, chastity, and obedience? 19. Item; Whether any of the brethren use any propriety of money, or of plate, in their chambers: or of any other manner thing unwarre of the master, and without his knowledge and licence, or by his sufferance and knowledge? and for what cause? 20. Item; Whether ye do keep chastity, not using the company of any suspect woman within this monastery, or without? And whether the master, or any brother of this house be suspected upon incontinency, or defamed for that he is much conversant with women? 21. Item; Whether women useth and resorteth much to this monastery by back ways, or otherwise? and whether they be accustomably, or at any time lodged within the precinct thereof ? 22. Item; Whether the master, or any brother of this house, useth to have any boys or young men laying with him? III. BOOK 23. Item; Whether the brethren of this house keep their obedience, being ready at their master's commandment, in all things honest, lawful, and reasonable? Sequuntur regulæ cæremoniales. 24. Item; Whether ye do keep silence in the church, cloister, fraitrie, and dormitorie, at the hours and time specified in your rule ? 25. Item; Whether ye do keep fasting and abstinence, according to your rules, statutes, ordinances, and laudable customs of this house? 26. Item; Whether ye abstain from flesh in time of Advent, and other times declared and specified by the law, rules, and laudable customs of this house? 27 Item; Whether ye wear shirts and sheets of i wooll, or that ye have any constitution, ordinance, or dispensation, granted or made to the contrary, by sufficient and lawful authority? Profitentes regulam Benedicti quam arctissime tenentur ad prædicta cæremonialia observanda. 28. Item; Whether ye do sleep altogether in the dortre, under one roof, or not? 29. Item; Whether ye have all separate beds, or any one of you doth lay with another? 30. Item; Whether ye do keep the fraitry at meals, so that two parts, or the least, the more part of the whole covent be always there, unless the master at every one time dispense with you to the contrary? 31. Item; Whether ye do wear your religious habit continually, and never leave it off but when ye go to bed? 32. Item; Whether every brethren of this house have lightly departed hence, and hath gone to any other house of like order and profession, without special letters and licence of their master? 33. Item; Whether the master and brethren of this house have received and admitted any brother of another house, without special licence and letters of his master and head? 34 Item; Whether any of you, sithence the time of your k dormitorie, i woollen, I two parts profession, hath gone out of this house to his friends, or BOOK otherwise? 35. Item; How oft-times he did so, and how long at every time ye tarried forth? 36. Item; Whether ye had special licence of your master so to go forth, or not? 37. Item; Whether at every time of your being forth, ye changed or left off your habit, or every part thereof? 38. Item; Whether ye, or any of you be, or hath been, in manifest apostasy, that is to say, fugitives or vagabonds? 39. Item; For what cause or occasion ye have so gone forth and been in apostasy? and whether the cause of your going forth was by reason of the great cruelty of your master, or by his negligence, not calling you home to your cloister? 40. Item; Whether ye be weekly shaven, and do not nourish or suffer your hair to be long? and whether ye wear your apparel according to the rule, not too excessive, nor too exquisite; and in like wise the mtrappors of your horses, and other your bearing beasts? 41. Item; Whether the master and head of this house do use his brethren charitably, without partiality, malice, envy, grudge, or displeasure more shewed to one than to another? 42. Item; Whether he do use his disciplines, corrections, and punishments upon his brethren, with mercy, pity, and charity, without cruelty, rigorousness, and enormous hurt, no more favouring one than another? 43. Item; Whether any brother, or religious person of this house, be incorrigible? 44. Item; Whether the master of this house do use his brethren charitably when they be sick and diseased? and whether in time of their sickness he do procure unto them physicians, and all other necessaries? 45. Item; Whether he make his accompts (as he ought to do) once every year before his brethren, and chiefly the seniors and officers, to the intent they may be made privy III. |