URban bisschop seruaunt of seruauntis of god, to his bilouid dowtris in crist, þe Abbes & þe couent of sustris Menowressis enclosid of þe monestre of oure ladi of þe diocise of Paris, Greting & blessynge of þe apostle. For as moche we purchasin þe more willinglye þe encrese of religioun, as bi þat þe continementis of owre lorde been encresid, & þe helþe of sowles þereof comiþ to profite; And for þat wiþowte dowte, Alisaunder popeWord erased, but legible. oure predecessour of good werke recordinge, condescendinge & enclinyd to þe supplicacions of oure dere sone in criste þe nobel kinge of Frauns, to alle þe hende maydenis of Ihesu criste þis worlde forsakinge & doinge professioun in owre monestre whoche ys enfayrid of so noble name of þe mekenesse of blessid marie, þe whoche Minster whan hit was nyew made none body þer was dwellinge, as hit is sayde, grauntid þe rule whoche ys writyn here after for to holde & kepe perpetueli in þe same mynster, and beene clepid bi þe name of sustris enclosid. And werevpon alle Hit was to us prayde lowli bi þe same kyng that we þe forseyde rewle in some chapitres diden amende, & þat weþeyschulden take bysines, þorw beningnite of apostle to put to at þe schewinge of þis rewle þe name of meneres. And than weþeyMS. later hand, 'þey' over an erasure. enclinid to þe preyeres of þe same kynge, þe same rule by owre louid sonne Symon Deutre preest Cardinal of þe title of seynt Cecile did amende, so þat it was Word erased before 'done'. done as it was in name. But nameli þat ye same mynster, as hit is aboue sette, haue worschippid þe house of humilite of oure ladi & þat þis rewle may be fayrid bi þe profitȝ of þe same humilite, to þe name of þe sayde rule, we sette to þe forseyde name of menours. And we ordeynid & establissin þat þis rule be clepid from þis time forþe, Menoressis enclosid, & þat it be kept perpetuali in þe same mynster & in other minsteris whoche schal be fownded here after or plantid, In þewhiche þe same sustris schal make professioun to þis reddure, as it is amendid. The whoche rule & þe life of þis same sustris enclosid we haue do notefiyd here after, þe whiche is þis.

Eche womman whiche bi þe grace & gifte of þe holi goste schal be brouht to entre in þis ordre for to nyze to god owre lorde Ihesu Criste & to his ful swete moder, after þe cownsayle of þe perfeccioun of þe gospel, Lyue alle dayes in obediens, & chastite, wiþowte properte, And for to dwelle alle dayes of her life enclosid as a tresoure kepte to þe souereyne kynge.

Alle þo whoche schal leuen þe vanite of þe worlde & in to þe forseyde abbey schal comen, þis religioun for to resseyue, schal kepe bysili þis maner of lyuinge alle here life, after þat time þat þey been professid, & been bowndin be obediens for to dwelle enclosid wiþ in þe cloyster of þe abbey, But ȝif so be þat sche haue enspecial conge of þe pope or of þe general mynistre of þe ordre of Frere menowris or of þe prouincial of þe same prouince in þe whiche þe same Abbey is foundid, & þat bi cause for to edefie, or to plante þe same religioun, or for cause of gouernauns of somme place of þe forseyde religioun, Some haue been sent in to oþer places, þe whoche haue bihouyd afterwarde to returne to þc same places from whoche þey comyn bi þe licence of one of hem forseyde, ȝif hit seme good & expedient to þe Mynistre or to one of hem for to do. And ȝif hit happe so be werre, or be water, or be fire, or for oþer like case þat þe same Abbey falle to be destruyid or þat it be like þat þe hous schal falle downe or for drede of enemyes, þey were putte in soche verray & experte informacioun, þat wiþ oute greuous peril & opun destruxioun none bodi may dwelle ne abide þere, for to haue þe counsayle & þe conge of þe Mynster, þat þan bi þe counsayle & consentement of alle couent & bi þe comaundement of þe Abbes, þe Sustris þer may leueli remew þennis in to anoþer place sure, where þat þey may dwelle honestli & saueli enclosid vntil þe time þat it schal be oþer weyes wiseli ordeynid for hem what þat þey schul doo. And ȝif þe couent bi any cause resonable here Abbey oþer place edifi, þan þe sustryn bi licence of þe Ministre general may remuyn in to anoþer place couenable.

None womman schal be resseyuyd, woche for age or for sikenesse or for fole simplesse after þe iugemeut of hem whoche haue for to do þer of, be nat couenable & suffisaunt for to kepe þe maner of life, & also bi any oþer auenture, þat þan in oþer place bi counsel of þe most wise susteris of þe place, be for þe forseyde Ministre or one of hem dispense to another soche & þat bi cause resonable.

Alle þo þat wolen in þis holi abbey abiden & in ani oþer whoche schal be fowndid here after, to þe whoche þis rule schal be grauntid & holden, AndAnd sche þat wole þis holi religioun resseyue, allegatis forsake prides & vaniteis of þis schort life. And as þey schul be resseyuid wiþ in þe cloyster, abide þey þere, & as sone as þey schullen be schorne, þey schullin leue þe robis of þe worlde. Thanne a wise maystresse & moste deuowte sustre in þe Abbey be ordeyned & be I-take to hem for to exite hem to holinesse & to holi vertues & for to speke to hem in feruent deuocioun & also for to teche hem for to abide & berehere hem in swetnesse of charite in alle poyntes whoche longin to holi religioun & bisili for to repreue hem of alle þinges whoche been repreueable. And þat þey be nat suffrid to entre in to þe chapitre duringe þe ȝere, but ȝif so be þat it be for cause of amonissinge & repreuinge. The ȝere fulfillid, make þey professioun in hondes of þe Abbesse bifore alle þe couent in þis manere. `I Suster. . . No gap in MS.bihote to god & owre ladi blissid mayde marie & to seynt Fraunces, to myne ladi seint Clare & to alle seyntis, in zoure hondes, moder, to lyue after þe rule of myne lorde þe apostle Boneface þe eytiþThe words 'of myne lorde þe apostle Boneface þe eytiþ' are underlined in MS. correctid & approuid be alle þe time of myne life, In obedience, In chastite, wiþowte properte or voyse in þe Cloyster, After þat whoche is ordeynid bi þe same Rule in alle poyntis.'

This like maner to make professioun holdyn þey whoche been ordeyned to serue & seche. Suche schulyn nat goo owte of þe Abbey, But alweyis ȝif hit happe be any riht & necessari cause for to sende owte of þe cloyster hem whiche servyn & been professid, In þe same maner bi leue of þe ministre general, Soche algatis be sent whoche been honeste & demurid in vertues & in age. Þe whiche whan þey schul so go oute of þe Cloyster, þey schul be hosid & schod beringe none cordis & þey schulle nat go alone.

EChe suster schal be cloþid in stamyn or heyre & ȝif here likiþ, sche may haue two cotis or þre or foure, after þat as it schal beste lyke to þe Abbesse, euermore eschuynge þe owtrage of cloþes & of robis in gode maner, Soo þat sche haue a mantel or tweyne couenable longe & brode. These robis schullen be of buystouse cloþe & low prise & of pouer coloure. And sche schal nat vse here one resticote alle white no alle blacke. Þes sustris, after þey been professid, þey schul use bifore gerdellis cordes whiche shal be made wiþ coriouste. And þey schul usyn kerchiues honestli in one maner of kerchiues & of colleres, whoche schal be alle white & nat precious. And also þat þe forhede & þe yȝen been couerid, as it bihouiþ, & in none oþer maner be þey nat so hardi for to apere bifore strawngeris; for it falliþ nat to hem whoche ys weddid to þe kynge perpetuel þat sche chiere none oþer but him, ne delite her in none oþer but in him. And also þat þey haue a blacke veyle I-spred aboue her hedis so large & so longe, þat hit may stretche from eche parti to þe schuldris & behinde at þe backe resonabli, wiþowte whiche þey schul mow be on nytes & some time on dayes bi licence of þe abbesse. Alle þese þinges þe forseyde sustris schullin haue & kepe, And þey whoche seruyn & whoche been ordeyneid nat for to passe oute. But oþer seruauntes & nouicis schullin haue gerdellis of wolle & white veylis on here hedis. The abbesse schal ordeyne, after þat sche schal best se for to do, of chausures for þe sustris & to hem whoche seruyn wiþ inne þe cloyster.

The Abbesse & alle sustres hole & alle oþer schullen lye in þe comune dortre & eche bi here selue haue a bed disseuerid fram oþer. The bedde for þe abbesse be made in soche place of þe dortoure þat sche may se fram here bed, ȝif it may be couenably, alle oþer beddis of þe dortoure wiþoute any stoppynge; & þat be alle nyhte in þe dortoure bi clere & continuel liht. From þe resurrexioun of oure lorde til þe Fest of þe Natiuite of oure ladi, after mete til þe houre of none þe sustris schulle slepe, þey þat willen; & þey þat nille nat slepen, ocupie hem in preyeres & þowtes of god or in oþer pesibel & gode trauayles. Eche may haue a sacke I-fillid wiþ strawe or wiþ hey, oþer ellis a cowche in stede of a sacke & a wollin cloþe buystus I-spred aboue & a cusschin I-couerid wiþ linnyn cloþe, I-stoppid wiþ hey or strawe or grete wolle or federis, like as þe abbesse schal ordeyne; & þat þey haue couertoures wiþoute skynnes wher wiþ þey may couer hem, But bi licence of þe Abbesse þo þat been syke may haue couertoures wiþ skynnes. Alle þe sustres schal haue here heris rowndid or alle clippid & þat at certeyne tyme to here eris.

FOr to do þe office & seruise of god by day & be nyht to þe preysing of god & to þe gladnes of his glorie, The sustris schul haue hem & gouerne hem, as it is writen here after.

Þe sustres whoche canne rede & singe schal do þe office reuerentli & mesurabli after þe custome & þe ordre of freris menoures, & þe oþer schal sey xx Pater noster for matyns, v for laudis; For prime, tierce, sexte, none, & complin, For eche owre vii Pater noster, And for euynsonge, xii Pater noster. And in þis same maner be alle þinges in þe office of oure blissid ladi; be hit kepte wiþ deuowte preyinge for þe dede. And ȝif þer be any sustris couenable & of gode witte, The abbes, ȝif sche þenkiþ hem goode, to ordeyne & assigne a maystresse couenable & honeste for to teche hem songe, to performe þe office & seruise of god stedfastli. The sustris & þey whiche servyn in werkis & placis stabelliche, be hit ordeynid þat þey schul been ocupiid in profitable & honest trauayles, bi þe whiche maner þat slowþe & schlugri whoche been grete enemyes continueli to þe sowle schal& þat schal be skerid awey & eschewid, þat it lette nat ne stawnche nat þe spirit of preyere & deuocioun, to whom alle oþer wordli þinges schulde do seruice, So þat oure lorde Ihesu criste espouse te þe soule be take aboue al þinges: for as moche þat þe soule may be þer fed & refestid of þe comfortabel wordis of his espouse.

Þe sustris first wole be confessid whan it nediþ & schul resseyue twies eche moniþ in reuerence & deuocioun þe ful holi bodi of owre lorde Ihesu criste, & also ȝif it likiþ hem eche sonday in lentyn & in þe Auent, but ȝif it so be þat ani of hem bi resonable cause leeue hit & bi licence of þe Abbesse.

THe sustris & þey whoche seruyn Schal fast fro þe fest of seint Fraunces til þe fest of þe resurrexioun of oure lorde, And from þe Assencioun of owre lorde vnto Pentecoste, Forasmoche þat þey may plentiuowseliche resseyue þe grace of þe holi gost, owte take þe sonday onliche & þe fest of alle Halwyn & Cristmas day & þe fest of sent Stephin & Seint Iohn euangelist & þe Circumsicioun & Epiphanye & þe purificacioun. But from þe resurrexioun of oure lorde till þe Ascencioun & fram Pentecost til þe Fest of seint Fraunceyse þey be nat boundin to fast, but þe Fridayes & oþer fastis whoche been ordeynid & bowndyn generali bi holi chirche. And þey may sureli drinke wyne & ete fisshe & eyrin & chese & soche oþer þinges as perteyniþ to mylke. And also fro þe Natiuite of oure lorde til septuagesme þey may, ȝif þey wole, to-dite here metis wiþ grece owtake Friday & saterday. Also fram þe Fest of alle halwyn til the Fest of þe Natiuite of oure lorde & in lentoun & in Fridayes and in fastingdayes whoche been generalli I-stablid bi holi chirche, þe Sustres schul nat ete Eyrin ne cheese, ne none oþer þinge þat perteyniþ to Milke, but in all oþer times þey may use hit. The sustres beinge in gode hele & þey þat seruin kepin hem alle dayes fram etinge of flesche. And also þey whoche been hole in bodi schul faste eche Friday wiþowte fische, but ȝif it falle so þat þe Abbesse dispense wiþ hem, as it is acustumyd, ȝif any Fest solempne come on a Friday. This maner of Fastinge & of abstinence forseyde, þe ȝonge sustris wiþ inne þe age of xv ȝere be nat boundin to kepe, ne þe ouer agid, ne þe fiebel, ne þe sike, to þe whiche after her febelnesse þe Abbesse may merciabli purueye comunliche alle dayes, & in oþer þinges necessaries to þe sustris. And to hem whoche seruyn, & to þe ȝonge sustris wiþ inne xviii ȝere þe Abbes may dispense in fastinge after þat it schal like to here goodli, saue in aduent, & in lentoun & in friday & in fastinge dayes whiche been enstablid bi holi chirche. The sustris whoche been lete blode been nat boundin to fastinge in þe time duringe bi þre dayes, safe in lentoun & in fridayes & in time of advent, And in þe time bitwene þe Ascencioun & pentecoste, & þe fastinges whiche been enstablid bi holi chirche generali.

And also þe Abbesse muste be ware þat sche suffer nat þe sustris to be lete blood ouer iii times bi þe ȝere, but ȝif it be for certayne cause enspecial & necessarie. And algatis þat þey be nat lete blode of any seculere persone straungere, & nameli of a man by none resoun, ȝif it may be as goodli.

Of þe syke sustris whan sykenesse falliþ bi grete cure & diligence, as ferforþe þat men schul mowe or se for to do, þat þey been seruid bi alle maner þinges in metis & drinkes whoche been gode for þoo maladies, And in alle oþer þinges nedeful be wey of charite feruent benyneli, couenabelliche & ententifeliche. And þey whiche been sike schullin haue proper place in þe whiche þey schul dwelle desseuerid from hem whoche been in helþe of bodi, For as mochel þat þe reste & þe ordinaunce of þe Couent be nat distourbid be none wey.

The abbesse, for as mochel þat sche schulde be a clere myroure & ensaumple to alle þe sustris, þat sche enstrengþe her as mochel as sche may for to suen continueli þe couent & þe comune life. The abbesse þat wole nat ne may nat lede þe comune life, be assigned wiþowte tariynge of þe office for to gouerne oþer bi þe mynster or bi þe visitouris of þe ordre, bot ȝif it so be þat þe Abbey had none harme, bi cause of here longe dwellinge in þe office or ellis þat mani grete & schewynge profites þere of commecomune.

Silence, be it of alle Sustres holden in soche maner, þat þey speke nat wiþoute licence ne one to oþer, ne to none oþer, sauynge þe febel & þe syke. But alle gates þat þe Abbesse, or presedente take kepe ententifeliche in whoche place, whan, & howe sche schal gif licence to sustris for to speke. And þat alle sostres enstrengþe hem to vse signis religious & honestis. At dowble festis & at Festis of apostles, & any oþer dayes after þat it schal best like to þe Abbesse, fromAnd from þe howre of none til euynsonge or ani howre couenable, The sustris may speke of oure lorde Ihesu criste & of þe solempnite of þe Feste present & of good ensaumplis of seyntis & of oþer þingis honeste of whoche þey haue for to speke.

Whan anybodi to any of þe Sustres schal speke, First schal þe Abbesse be warnid þer of or þe president, & ȝif sche graunt, þanne schal þe suster speke wiþ þe straunger so þat sche haue two oþer sustris at þe leste wiþ here, þat þey mow see & here what þat þey doo or speke, boþe on þat one syde & on þat oþer. And allegatis þat þe sustris whiche haue for to speke to any straunger, þat þey be welware þat þey aboundyn nat hem for to speke in vayne wiþ owtyn profite & houre longe.

Neuerþeles whan any of þe Sustris wole confesse her, bi þe perloure make her confessioun in privite alone to one. The confessoures, þe whoche schullin be assingnid bi þe Minster general or bi þe prouincial, assoyle hem of alle sinnis. None of hem schal speke bi þe grate of yryn bi þe whiche þey schullin be huslid & here diuine office & sermones, but be auenture þat it be for cause resonable & necessarie & wiþ compani, after þat it is ordeynid & establid to speke; & algatis þat it be seeldyn. This grate of yren be hangin wiþin a blacke cloþe, so þat bi resoun none suster may be seyne þer þorw & þat none bodi may see none þinge wiþ inne, but ȝif it so be for a resonabel cause, þat þe same cloþe be drawyn agayne bi licence of þe Abbes; & in þe same maner schal be holden a blacke cloþe at þe perlour whiche some may be done awey bi licence of þe Abbes & of þe Assentement of grete parti of þe couent; & þis gratis schullyn haue doris of yren bund & naylid whoche schal be alwey closid but ȝif it be for þe causes forseyde.

Þe perlour be of many & þicke roddis of yren, of stronge werke forgid. Þis perloure to confessioun schulle be made in þe Chyrche, oþer in oþer place couenabel after hit schal beste seme to þe mynster, & þat þe gratis be of mani & thicke roddis of yrin bisili forgid & of stronge werke. Allegatis in one of þe sydis of þe forseyde grate be a smalle wyndow I-made wiþ a goget of yrin, bi þe whiche þe preest, whan he schal heue vp his honde, may mynistre to þe Sustris goddis bodi, and þat none bodi may putte his honde wiþinne þe grate be ani partie of þe grate. And þe forseyde goget alwey schal be closid wiþ two keyis, in þe warde of a persone couenabel & honeste, sauing whan þe sustris schullin resseyue goddis bodi & here sermonis, or bi oþer cause resonable after þe Iugement of þe Abbes. Wiþowte licens of þe Ministre þer schal nat be in þe couent but one whele couenable, bi þe which we takiþ to þe sustris þat whiche schalschal nat nede to hem & take awey þat whiche is nedeful; & þat þis whele be made & ordeynid in soche wise þat none þinge may be seyne bi þat. Bi þis whele schal none Suster speke to nobodi, but two whiche kepin þis whele wiþ grete diligence.

And also like as þe abbesse beriþ here, make sche alle þe sustris for to kepe be hem alle bisili þe ordinaunce of silence of þis present rule. For as mochel for as mochel þat alle materis to speke wiþ inne be forbarrid in alle þingis to alle sustris, sauinge þat þe Abbesse may speke to here sustris at houris & in places couenablis as it schal be moste plesaunt to god. The sustris sike in þe time of here maladi in þe fermeri, & þey whiche been seruauntis, & oþer hole sustris bi cause for to visite þe sike charitabli bi licence of þe Abbesse entringe in to þe fermeri, may speke wiþ sike sustris after disposicioun of þe Abbesse.

MOreouer we comawnde estreyteli in vertu of obedience, þat none Abbesse ne ani suster suffer nat ani persone, what euer he be, for to entre wiþoute especial licence of þe apostle wiþinne þe Abbey or cloyster, ne wiþ inne none place where þat þe sustris been abidinge, be he religious or seculere or of what maner dignite. And also we defendin þe entre to alle maner folke, excepte þe kynge in whoche Reine þis Abbey is foundin, whoche kynge may entre to hem wiþ þe numbre of x personis, & excepte þe Minister general of þat ordre of Freris Menoures, wiþ ii honest felowis, And excepte þo whiche of þe comaundement of the Abbesse & bi counsayle & assentement of þe moste wise suster schal enter inne to hem for a grete nede wel schewinge of ani werke nedeful or mater profitable; þe whiche, ȝif þer be many, þan þat þer be many suffisauntli ordeynid þe same werke to performe. And whan þat werke is doon, þat wiþoute tariynge þey been made go oute of þe place; & in soche materes & causis þat þe assentement of þe Ministre prouincial be requirid whan it may be done couenabli, for as moche þat þe clerete of here renouns be sauid & kepte. The mynistre provincial of þe same prouince may entre into þe Abbey wiþ ii honest felawis bi cause necessari for to visite & refourme þe couent. And also in oþer materis & causes whoche happin for to come, þat may nat be reformid wiþoute entre amongis hem, þe forseyde Ministre prouincial schal entre, ifaf þat þe Ministre general bi counsayle of most wise sustris þer schal to hem graunt. ȝif it happe bi auenture þat any Cardinal wole come & entre in þe Abbey, þat he be resseyuid in reuerence & deuocioun, but þat he bringe nomoo saue x persones. Anoþer prelate, to whom is grauntid any time bi þe apostle for to entre wiþ inne þe Abbey for to blesse þe Abbesse or for to sacre a sustre, or in any oþer maner þat it be grauntid at any time to any Bischop for to singe masse wiþ inne, it schal suffice for to haue wiþ him iii or iiii personis to ministre duli to him. And whan it schal be grauntid to any man wiþ inne þe gate for to abide, þe Abbesse may speke wiþ him alle dayes, wiþ ii of moste demures & wise sustris of þe couent. ȝif it happe any time þat any womman have licence to entre in to þe Abbey, þe sustres may speke to here bi conge of þe Abbesse. & Allegatis þat þe sustris take gode kepe þat wiþ alle diligens þey eschiewyn þat none of hem at here knowynge speke to noman þat is entrid, but in þe maner & bi ordinauns forseyde, sauinge to vertuous men & to honest, whoche been here confessoures, or to oþer in here stede, & þat in couenable time to herehere here consolacioun & edificacioun of here sowlis, some times þey may speke bi licens of þe Ministre generale or prouincial or of þe Abbes, so ii or iii Sustris be þere present to herin & to see. Of þis same maner be take kepe, þat þey whoche haue graunt to enter inne in þe Abbey been so honeste of spekynge & of here maneris & of her life & of here abit, þat þe sustres whoche seen hem may vertuousli be edified in here sowlis & none mater of disclawnder þer of for to rise. Alle þoo whiche bi licence of þe apostle wole enter wiþ inne, First þey schullen to þe Abbesse & to oþer wise sustres of þe couent schew here letres of þe apostle of here graunt.

Whan any of þe sustris been greuousli syke, þat sche may nat godeli come to þe perloure for to be confessid or for to resseyue goddes bodi or oþer sacramentis of holi chirche, þan here confessoure arayid in vestimentis longynge to a preest excepte þe chesiple schal entre wiþinne, & his felaw reuestrid alle in white; þat þan þe sike suster confesse here bi soche maner þat iii oþer sustris be so nyȝe þat þey may se þe same confessoure & also her whoche is confessid. And whan þe confessioun schal be herde or any oþer sacrament ministrid, like as þey come inne reuestrid, so goo þey owte, ne dwelle þey þer inne, ne wiþ any oþer Suster speke þey nat, but in þe forseyde maner. And also whan any comendacioun schal be done for sowlis of Sustris, or for obsequies of any of hem dede, ii freris menoures or preestis preuoyres or þre, whan þe bodi is brought to entierment, schalle mowe entre reuestrid wiþ ornementis longynge to a preest, and þey for to do alle þat longiþ to a preest in soche cas. And be þey alle wey to gyderes bi alle þe time þat þey schullin be ocupied abowte þe execucioun of þe same office, and þat fulfillid for to departe þennis wiþowte tariynge. And also þat gode kepe be takyn of the Ministris, & bi him whoche schal be visitoure in þat tyme of hem whoche schal entre in to þe Abbey for any soche werkis to make ȝif þey be necessari, whan & how þey schullin entre, & gouerne & haue hem wiþinne. And up þat þey ordeyne and disposin þer of as hem schal best like, so allegatis þat þe name & þe gode fame of þe Sustris be sauid in alle poyntis.

For to kepe þe forseyde entre duringe þe tyme, one of þe sustris best louynge god, wise & vertuouse, be ordeynid & enstablid & in alle maner of diligence þat þe keyes of þe same entre be saueli kepte & putte in saue warde of þe forseyde sustre keper in þat case assignid, so þat none dore ne gate þer be nat, openid wiþoute verray knowinge of þe same Suster. The oþer keye alle diuers schal þe Abbesse kepe. And also þat þer be assignid & ordeynid an oþer suster for to be felow & helpinge to þe forseyde porteresse in alle times & in alle þinges longinge to þe same kepinge, whan þe chief porteresse schal be ocupiid oþer weyes resonabeli in þe nedis of þe Abbey necessari. And ful ententli þat þis porteresse suffer nat þat þe dore be nat openid but whan þat grete nede askiþ it, & þat þe dore diligentli be kepte & schet & þe Guyches of barris of yrin & þe openinge be nat any tyme lefte wiþoute warde of one of þe forseyde porteresse, & þat it be schette be day & be niht wiþ ii keyes, & þat it be nat openid to sone at eche knockynge, but ȝif hit so be þat þe porteresse firste see bi þe smalle wyndow who þat he is, & þat it is none dowte but þat he þat knockiþ be soche a persone whoche may lefolli come inne after þe rule of þe same religioun aforseyde. We wole of alle þinge, þat þe ȝate be of hihenesse þat þer may nat come þer to but wiþ a ladder, whoche be lefte vp & vnder a chayne of yrin, & schet wiþ a keye; & in þe mornyninge whan it is day, bi þe chayne avale bifore iii of þe sustris. We graunt that þey haue a lowe ȝate, where þorwe þat þey may bringe Inne grete þinges as tunnys of wyne & oþer þinges like, & þat it be schette wiþ locke & keye & diligentli I-kepte. And ȝif it hap any tyme þat any werke be for to do wiþ inne þe Abbey, & þat seculeris persones muste enter þere for þat, þan þe Abbesse puruoye & ordeyne iii sustris wise, sad, & vertuouses of þe Couent, whiche kepe hem in silence to alle þo persones whiche schal make werke, & algates þat none oþer persones entre. And ȝif it happe þat þer be multitude & prees, þat oþer persones honest & couenable be ordeynid & chaun gid for to helpe þe forseyde sustris to kepe þe same ȝate sureli & bysili.

OF þe visitacioun of þis religioun: be alle weyes ordeynid þat who þat schal be establid Generall or special visitoure, þat he be soche one whoche is wel knowen of stedfastnesse of religious life & gode vertuis; þe whoche whan he comiþ to þe Abbey & is entrid wiþ inne, þat he bere him & schewe him soo þat he may drawe þe Sustris from goode in to beter, & þat he enstrengþe hem in þe loue of oure lorde, & þat he alwey estabel amonges hem feruent desire in charite. And whan he schal entre bi reson of visitaciounWords supplied by comparison with Latin original, þat he take him ii religious felawes honest & couenable, þe whoche felawes, wille þey be wiþinne þe Cloyster, schulle nat departe asunder by none time. Alle þe Abbeyes of þe same religioun been I-visitid eche ȝeer ones or at þe leste in ii ȝere ones. The visitoures be algatis of þe ordre of Freris menoures & þat he be I-sent by þe minister general of the ordre.

AT alle ȝeres þat þe Abbey may nat be visitid bi þe visitoure, whoche ys sent fro þe mynister generale, ȝif it be nedeful, þat þan þe abbey be visitid bi þe Mynister of þe same prouince after þe forme of þe Rule of þis religioun forseyde. The visitoure whiche wole goo ferþer in his visitacioun, after tyme þat þe rule ys redde, enquere he besili þe trowþe of alle Sustris & of eche of hem bi hemselfe generali, & especiali þe estate of alle þe sustres & how þey kepin here religioun; & þere he fyndiþ any defawte, for to amende & refourme hit in þe principal & in þe membris in jelosie of charite & in þe loue of rihtwisnesse & bi grete discresioun in alle times.

WHan þat he visitiþ in alle times any of þe Sustres, þe Abbesse schal abide oute of þe chapitre, & resigneþe resigne þe seele, & sche schal nat be at here owne visitacioun; & none þinge be purposid of one suster to anoþer, but þat whoche may be prouid haue be done by comune spekynge or bi apert knowynge. An ouer alle þinges þat he take kepe & þenke bisili & nameli in þe visitasioun of þe Sustres, þat stere nat to any þinge but to þe loue of god for to speke of, & of þe amendement of þe Sustris whoche wole nat knowe here trespace & þe defauhtes whoche been putte on hem, ȝif þey wole excuse hem of þe same; & ȝif it be grete þinges, audience schal nat be denyed to hem. And þoo sustris whoche acusiþ oþer of greuousis þiuges, ȝif þey faylen in prouing þer of, after þe blame whoche is put vppon hem, be lawfullich punischid. And þe trespace or defaute whiche haþ be punischid biforne bi a visitour, schal natbe redressid of newe. The visitoures schullin kepe þe maner of spekynge forseyde, þat is for to vnderstonde, þat þey speke to alle þe sustris or to ii at þe leste bifore mani whiche be nat ferre; & also whan he is oute of þe place & wole speke to one or to many of þinges whiche perteyniþ to his office.

And we wole þat þe visitoures spede hem of here visitacioun of alle wiþ owte greuauns of þe Abbey, & algatis þat wiþinne iiii dayes or v atte moste bi here visitacioun, but ȝif it so be þat it nediþ lenger to abide for hope & grete nede. And after þat þey for to haue none power to entre in to þe Abbey. The time of þe visitacioun whoche is aboue seyde schal nat be esloignid wiþowte special conge of þe Mynistre. And we wole nat þat þe generalle Minister dwelle ne abide lenger but þe same time, but ȝif it so be for a grete certayne cause. Allegatis at þe nyhte from þe sonne goynge to reste til in þe morwe at þe sunne risinge, þat none be suffrid for to dwelle or to entre wiþ inne, neyþer visitour ne oþer, of what auctorite þat he be þat he beþat he be that he be warnid, but ȝif it so be þat it be for confessioun for to here of any sike Suster gretli syke or for any grete peril schewynge. And wolyn & monestyn ententifeli, þat þe Sustres in priue & aperte þo þinges whiche after þe forme, as it semiþ to doo to kepe here rule, whoche been to establid & to amende, After þat whoche schal best seme to hem & þer vppon þat þey myngin & preposin couenabli & besili to visitoure to whom þey been holden by vertu of obedience for to obeye stedfastli wiþ in þe time forseyde In alle þinge longinge to þe visitoures office. And ȝif þer be any Suster þat haþ trespassid aȝenst þe Rule, be sche punyschid rihtfulli bi þe visitoure, as it longiþ for to be done. The abbesse also, ȝif here meritis & here defawtes axen hit, be sche assoylid of here office bi þe visitoure & bi him also corectid. The couent & oþer familieres, ȝif þey be reprouable in any þinge, þat þey be repreuid; & ȝif þey wole nat be repreuid, þat þey be algatis remuyd. The confessoures & here felowes be of þe ordre of freris Menoures, whoche þey schullyn dwellin þere & minister þe sacrament of þe awter & oþer sacramentis, but ȝif it so be þat Ministres general or prouincial ordeyne in oþer maner bi cause resonable & honest. And ȝif þe visitoure fynde any cause notable ageynist þese confessoures, he is holdin to enforme þer of þe Ministre prouincial, whoche schal redresse hem or putte hem awey owte of þe place.

AFter þat we enmonestyn straytli þe visitoure, þat þoo þinges whoche he fynt in his visitacioun þat he kepe priue, ne schewe hit nat bi his knowinge to none bodi, but assone as misdedis schal be redde & penaunce enioynid, alle þat whoche is writen schal be brent bifore þe couent, but ȝif þer be soche þinges whoche bi þe counsayle of moste wise sustris of þe couent schul be reportid to þe Ministre general of þe ordre. And also ȝif so be þat þe Minister prouincial finde after þe visitacioun any þinge notable ageynis þe visitoure or ageynis his felawes, He is holdin to make enformacioun to þe Minister general. The felaws to þe visitoure schul nat be at þe visitacioun, but ȝif it so be þat þat it seme to þe visitoure for þe beste to doo.

The eleccioun of þe Abbesse perteyniþ alle oneli to þe couent, but þe confirmacioun quassacioun & deposing perteniþ to þe Ministre general of þe ordre of Freris Menoures, ȝif he be present in þe prouince; & ȝif he be nat, þat it schal pertien to þe Minister prouincial, In þe whiche þe forseyde Abbey is foundid, To whom perteniþ þe ordinaunce of þis ordre, þe gouernaunce, þe cure, þe visitacioun, þe correccioun, & reformacioun, & bi hem & bi oþer visitouris after þat at it be enioynid hem in place & in time; bi þe whiche visitoures þe abbesse schal be assoylid of here office, as it is expressid aboue. And þere for þan in vertu of obedience we comaunde straytli senden & enioynen alle Abbessis & Sustris of þis religioun, þat þey be obedientis to þe Minister general of þe ordre of frere Menoures & to þe Minister prouincial of þe same prouince, in þe whiche þe same Abbey is sette, in þinges whiche been nat ageynis here sowlis, ne ageynis þis present rule. For we wole þat þey be alwey sogettis to here gouernouris. Also we enioynin to alle þe sustris of þis same religion, þat þey obey diligentli to here Abbesse, after þat þe Abbesse be confermid, as longe as þat sche dwelliþ & abidiþ in here office. Whan for maladi or for any oþer caas þat þe Abbey be destitute or voyde of an Abbesse, þat þan þe sustris schal mow chesyn a president to whom in þe mene time þey schul be obedientis til a nyew Abbesse be confermid & ocupie here office. And þis same president schal vse & execute in þe mene time þe office who ys longynge to þe Abbesse. The mynistris andwhoche þe visitoures schul refourme alle dishoneste & amende alle þingis whoche been for to amende booþ in spiritualite & in temporalite. And it is for to eschiewen comynges & goinges of straungeris bi occasioun of temporal þinges & forasmoche þat þe Sustris may lyue more in pees for to serue god allegatis, þat þey haue in comune & for to resseyue þe profites of rentis & possessions & sureli to kepe. And for to trete þe forseyde possessions in riht maner, haue þey in þe forseyde Abbey a procuratoure wise & trew, whoche schal be establid of the counsayle of the Abbesse & bi consentement of þe couent & be he put owte at alle time, whan hem schal seme goode & profitabel; & þat þe procuratoure be holdin to ȝeelde acounte resonable to þe Abbesse & to þe wise Sustres enspeciali bi þe couent þerto assignid, & to þe visitouris whan þey wolen herin of alle þinges whoche haue be deliurid to him & þat he haþ despendid. And þis procuratoure schal nat in none maner selle, ne bynde ne draw awey any goodes or catallis of þe Abbey, & alle þat which is done in damage to þe Abbey bi soche maner of bad gouernaunce, we Juge it for nawt & of none auayle. And for as moche þat in oþer place is oure life perpetuel, we wole aboue alle þinges þat þe sustris of þis religioun eschuen outrage & þe sourfait of bigginge & of alle maner curiosite, whiche been contrarious to alle godenesse & whoche god hatiþ in alle þinges.

The seel of þe couent be kepte after þe ordinaunce of þe same couent. And alle þe letres whiche schul be sent from þe couent schal be firste I-redde in þe chapitre. None of þe Sustres sende ne resseyue any letres but soche whoche þe Abbesse schal rede first, or ellis þat þe same letres be I-redde bifore þe Abbesse be anoþer suster þer to assignid. The Abbesse schal holde chapitre eche wike twies at þe leste, one of coreccioun & amonisschment, & anoþer of þe ordinaunce of Sustris. And ouer alle þinge we defende þat none Ministre ne visitoure bi here auctorite make none constitucionis in þe Abbey ageynis þe forme & rule aforseyde, wher þorwe þe sustris be bounde or enclinid to any vice or payne, but ȝif so be þat it be done bi consentment of alle þe couent; and ȝif ani soche nyew ordinaunce be made, by no maner þat þe sustres schul be boundyn þer to.