{39}
Item, no hounds are to be kept in the monastery for hunting, nor
any dogs save watch-dogs. Persons in religion who come to the
monastery are to be entertained there for two days, during which
time the cellarer is to give them bread and wine, and the pittancer
{40} pittance.
"Item, women of bad character, and indeed all women, are forbidden
the monk's apartments without the prior's license, except in times
of indulgence, or such as are noble or above suspicion. Not even
are the women from San Pietro, or any suspected women, to be
admitted without the prior's permission.
"The monks are to be careful how they hold converse with suspected
women, and are not to be found in the houses of such persons, or
they will be punished. Item, the epistle and gospel at high mass
are to be said by the monks in church, and in Lent the epistle is
to be said by one monk or sub-deacon.
"Item, two candelabra are to be kept above the altar when mass is
being said, and the lord abbot is to provide the necessary candles.
"Any one absent from morning or evening mass is to be punished by
the prior, if his absence arises from negligence.
"The choir, and the monks residing in the monastery, are to be
provided with books and a convenient breviary {41} . . . according
to ancient custom and statute, nor can those things be sold which
are necessary or useful to the convent.
* * *
"Item, all the religious who are admitted and enter the monastery
and religion, shall bring one alb and one amice, to be delivered
into the hands of the treasurer and preserved by him for the use of
the church.
* * *
"The treasurer is to have the books that are in daily use in the
choir re-bound, and to see that the capes which are unsewn, and all
the ecclesiastical vestments under his care are kept in proper
repair. He is to have the custody of the plate belonging to the
monastery, and to hold a key of the treasury. He is to furnish in
each year an inventory of the property of which he has charge, and
to hand the same over to the lord abbot. He is to make one common
pittance {42} of bread and wine on the day of the feast of St.
Nicholas in December, according to custom; and if it happens to be
found necessary to make a chest to hold charters, &c., the person
whose business it shall be to make this shall be bound to make it.
"As regards the office of almoner, the almoner shall each day give
alms in the monastery to the faithful poor - to wit, barley bread to
the value of twopence current money, and on Holy Thursday he shall
make an alms of threepence {43} to all comers, and shall give them
a plate of beans and a drink of wine.
