The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times…The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times…

Of Nuns and of the diversity of that sect.

Of Nunnes and of the diuersitye of that secte.

Pope John the first being Bishop of Rome, Monk Benet after that he had placed himself and his monkish brethren in a certain noble and famous cloister built upon the Mount Cassinus, raised up also an order of Nuns, and made his Sister Scholastica Abbess over them.¹ The apparel of these Nuns is a black cote, cloak, coal and veil. And least the scripture should deceive her and hers:² it was commanded, that none of that order should read the holy scripture without consent or permission of their superior. In the year, &c. Chron. Lib. Germ.

POpe Iohn the fyrst being Byshop of Rome, Monke Benet after that he had placed hymselfe and hys monkyshe brethren in a certayne noble and famous cloyster built vpon the Mount Cassinus, raysed vp also an order of Nunnes, and made hys Sister Scholastica Abbesse ouer thē.¹ The apparell of these Nunnes is a blacke cote, cloke, coule and vayle. And least the scripture should disceaue her and hers:² it was commaūded, that none of that order should rede the holy scripture without consent or permission of their superiour. In the yeare, &c. Chron. Lib. Germ.

1. 1The beginning of Nuns.The beginn•nge of Nunnes.
2. 2☞

Of the Nuns of S. Clares order.

Of the Nunnes of S. Clares order.

Pope Innocent the third bearing rule a certain maid called Clara, a countrywoman and Disciple of Francis the Fryer, assembled and gathered together a congregation of poor women, and gave them an order of life like unto the rule that Fryer Francis gave his convent. Their garment is grey. Their order admitteth ⟨p. 74⟩none but woman kind, except it be for to say Mass. This order of Clara,, both Pope Honorius the third, and Pope Gregory the ninth endowed with many gifts and privileges. In the year of our Lord .1225. Lib. Germ. Volat. Polidorus.

POpe Innocent the thyrd bearing rule a certain maide called Clara, a countreywoman and Disciple of Fraunces the Fryer, assembled and gathered together a congregation of poore women, and gaue them an order of lyfe like vnto the rule that Fryer Fraunces gaue hys couent. Theyr garment is graye. Their order admitteth ⟨p. 74⟩none but woman kynde, excepte it bee for to saye Masse. Thys order of Clara,, both Pope Honorius the thyrde, and Pope Gregorye the nynth endowed with many gyftes and priuileges. In the yeare of our Lord .1225. Lib. Germ. Volat. Polidorus.

Joannes Laziardus in his Chronicle writeth, that pope Innocent the fourth made the rule, which the Nuns of Saint Clares order use at this present.

Ioannes Laziardus in hys Chronicle writeth, that pope Innnocent the fourth made the rule, whiche the Nunnes of Saint Clares order vse at thys presente.

Of the Nuns of S. Brigit's or Brides order.

Of the Nunnes of S. Brigittes or Brides order.

Pope Urban the first being Bishop of Rome, a certain widow called Brigitta, Princess of Suetia, began the order of Nuns called Brigittians. But it is to be understand that this order of Brigit receiveth as well men as women, although they dwell severally by themselves, the men divided from the women, and the women from the men. For this holy woman Brigitte ordained, that both men and women being of this order might well dwell together, and ⟨image 104⟩have their habitation both under one roof, but yet men and women separated each from other, so that the one might not come to the other, except only when need required to minister the Sacraments. The Church should be common to both: Nevertheless the Nuns should be closed above in a closet and the men beneath, waiting upon the divine service: and that these should tend the altar, and they the query. The Abbess should have the primacy, and the brethren to be under her, so that she should provide both for man and woman, meat, drink and clothing. Among the brethren should one be called Prior, Warden, or Confessor, and be above the other. The women should be consecrated and brought in by the Bishop. Their clothing is a grey cote with a grey cloak thereon, & a red cross in a white circle. They may wear no linen after the tenor of their rule. The brethren of this order hear confessions, and preach at high feasts. This order also admitteth Lay brethren (as in many places moe) to do their business abroad. They feign, that this ⟨p. 75⟩order was confirmed of Pope Urban the fifth at the commandment of Christ. In the year, &c. 1353. Volat. Plati. Polichron. Pol, Libro. Germ. &c.

POpe Vrban the fyrst beyng Byshop of Rome, a certayne wydowe called Brigitta, Princesse of Suetia, began the order of Nunnes called Brigittians. But it is to be vnderstand that thys order of Brigit receaueth as wel men as women, although they dwel seuerally by themselues, the men deuided from the women, and the women from the men. For thys holy woman Brigitte ordayned, that both men and women beeing of thys order myghte well dwell together, and ⟨image 104⟩haue their habitation both vnder one roofe, but yet men and women seperated eche from other, so yt the one might not come to the other, except only whē nede required to minister the Sacramentes. The Church shoulde be common to both: Neuerthelesse ye Nunnes shoulde be closed aboue in a closet and the men beneath, wayting vpō the diuine seruice: and that these should tend the altare, and thei the quere. The Abbesse shoulde haue the primacye, and the brethren to bee vnder her, so that she shoulde prouyde both for man and woman, meate, drinke and clothyng. Among the brethren shuld one be called Prior, Warden, or Confessour, and be aboue the other. The women shuld be consecrated and brought in by the Byshop. Their clothing is a gray cote with a gray cloke theron, & a red crosse in a white circle. They may weare no linnen after the tenour of theyr rule. The brethren of thys order heare confessions, and preache at hye feastes. This order also admitteth Lay brethrē (as in many places moe) to do their businesse abroade. They fayne, that thys ⟨p. 75⟩order was confyrmed of Pope Vrban ye fyft at the commaundement of Christ. In the yeare, &c. 1353. Volat. Plati. Polichron. Pol, Libro. Germ. &c.

Of the Nuns of S. Katherine's order of Seen.

Of the Nunnes of S. Katerines order of Sene.

Pope Gregory the .xi. bearing rule, Catherine of Seen a Dyers daughter, refusing the state of matrimony, took upon her the third order of S. Dominic, or of the Fryer Preachers. They say, that Christ should have married her with a ring,¹ wherein were four pearls & one diamond, & taken her heart from her, and given her his in stead thereof. The Nuns of this order wear garments like to the black Fryers. Their cloak & veil are black, their cote is white. In the year of our Lord .1455. Volat. Lib. Germ. Chron.

POpe Gregorye the .xi. bearyng rule, Katerine of Sene a Dyers daughter, refusyng the state of matrimonye, tooke vpon her the thyrd order of S. Dominicke, or of the Fryer Preachers. They say, that Christ shuld haue maryed her with a ryng,¹ wherein were foure pearles & one diamonde, & taken her harte from her, and geuen her hys in steade therof. The Nunnes of thys order weare garmentes lyke to the black Fryers. Theyr cloke & vayle are blacke, theyr cote is white. In the yeare of oure Lorde .1455. Volat. Lib. Germ. Chron.

1. 1A tale of a tub.A tale of a tubbe.

I pass over the Nuns that be of the Justinians order, of Mary Magdalene's orders, of Austens order, &c, which all are wrapped full of superstition and hypocrisy, seeking their salvation ⟨image 105⟩not in Christ through faith, but in mens inventions by foolish and popish works. But let us hear the Popes pleasure more at large concerning the poor Nuns.

I passe ouer the Nunnes that be of the Iustinians order, of Marye Magdalenes orders, of Austens order, &c, which all are wrapped full of superstition and hipocrisye, seking their saluation ⟨image 105⟩not in Christ thorow fayth, but in mens inuentions by folishe and popish workes. But let vs heare the Popes pleasure more at large concerning the poore Nunnes.

Rules concerning all orders of Nuns.

Rules concerning all orders of Nunnes.

¹Pope Pius the first made a decree, that no maid should be admitted to be a Nun or a religious person, before she were .xxv. years of age: and that she should be professed and consecrated only upon the feastful day of the Epiphany, commonly called, Twelfday. In the year of our Lord. 147. Ranulphus. Cestrensis. Joannes. Stella. Phil. Bergom.

¹POpe Pius the fyrst made a decree, that no mayde shoulde be admitted to bee a Nunne or a religious person, before she were .xxv. yeres of age: and that shee shoulde be professed and consecrated only vpon the feastful day of the Epiphanye, commonly called, Twelfday. In the yeare of our Lorde. 147. Ranulphus. Cestrensis. Ioannes. Stella. Phil. Bergom.

1. 1The age of Nuns to be professed & on what day they shall be professed.The age of Nunnes to be professed & on what daye they shalbe professed.

Pope Sother ordained, that a Nun should not handle the towels of the altar, nor the Chalice, paten, or corporas clothe, nor yet put incense into the censer,¹ but that she should always wear a veil upon her head, and a wimple under her chin. In the year of our Lord. 168. Polichron, Chron. Ang. &c..

Pope Sother ordained, that a Nunne shoulde not handle the towels of the altare, nor the Chalice, patenne, or corporasse clothe, nor yet put incense into the senser,¹ but that shee shoulde alwayes weare a vayle vppon her head, and a wymple vnder her chynne. In the yeare of oure Lorde. 168. Polichron, Chron. Ang. &c..

1. 1The Nuns veil & wimple.The Nonnes vayle & wimpl•.