RVLES OF THE ENGLISHE sodality, of the Immaculate Conception of the most glorious Virgin MARY MOTHER OF GOD, In the Englishe college of the Society of IESVS In louvain.  
AT MACKLINE, Printed by henry Iaey, 1618.   

The Common Rules. FIRST PARTE. What those of the sodality are to observe towards themselves.  
1.  
THIS Congregaiiou or sodality being instituted & founded under the protection of the ever B. Virgin Mother of God, & under the title of her immaculate Conception, Let all admitted thereunto, procure with all diligence to become singular in the devotion of this queen of heaven, & especially of this mystery of her immaculate Conception which is the roote & origem of all her other admirable mysteries.  
2. The end of this sodality is( by the direction of the Fathers of the Society of Iesus,) first: that every one therof give himself with all diligence, to the help & spiritual profit of himself & of his family: secondly that every one likewise exercise charity in the works of mercy corporal & spiritual towards his neighbours, according to his ability & commodity & as occasion shalbe offered; but above all the proper & peculiar exercise to be undertaken of this sodality, is to settle peace amongst enemies or ilwillers, & to appease discords, & quarrels, dissensions & disagreementes especially between catholics of our nation, and as concerning those persons and in those cases wherein it is to be feared some great damage may ensue: let therefore, those of the sodality cheerfully go about with dexterity and prudence, to understand and observe such chances as happen where they live, & make the Father of the sodality acquainted therewith, to the end they may haue his particular counsel, and direction, keeping always in memory these words of our saviour; Beats pacifici, quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur, & that it was the peculiar office of the son of God when he came into this world to make peace betwixt the divine majesty & man, & amongst men themselves. Wherefore those to whom( by the sodality) it shal bee given in charge to make union and peace, let them haue regard to do it with great charity and circunspection, to the end the difficulty be not increased which ordinarily falleth out( if care be not used) in this important & holy work: Let them procure likewise to haue by them some treatise of fraternal love & charity, speaking of peace, and concord with their neighbours; of loving our enemies; of pardoninge injuries, & rendering good for evil to our brethren: And let them make familiar to themselves some lively and efficacious reasons to induce men thereunto, whereof they may afterwards in occasions & occurrences make use.  
3. The better to attain this end of the sodality, these may be most secure and forcible means prayer,( especially mental) the frequentation of Sacraments,( a thing so profitable & necessary, to obtain victory of the flesh world and devill) diligence in abteininge virtue & Christian perfection, recollection sometime in spiritual Exercise, Mortifications, especially such as by the Father of the sodality shalbe judged most expedient for the service of God, & their own profit.  
4. All are at least once every month to confess, & afterwards in their oratory to communicate every first Sunday in the month, & on al the principal feasts of our saviour, & the B. Virgen, on the feast of All Saints, and of the Apostles, It is left notwith standing free to every one to do it more often for his greater profit, & the greater edification of others, as true members of this sodality; And as it is lawful for every one to choose for his Confessor him who may be for his greater content, so it is likewise convenient, that he haue one certain, & ordinary.  
5. every one shall spend a quarter of on hour in mental prayer every day in the morning, so soon as he riseth,( for that this time is better & more certain) or the evening before supper, or some other time which shalbe must convenient, taking for his Meditation some point of the life or passion of Christ our saviour, chiefly according to the order of the rosary: And for this end it willbe meet, that every one haue some spiritual book of meditations, taking for his use those points, which the Father of the sodality, or his confessor shal judge fittest for his greater profit.  
6. every one shal say every day seven Paters & as many aves in honour of the 7. joys of our B. Ladij, that she may obtain for us the 7. gistes of the H. ghost, & his holy grace; he shal also pray for his own salvation, the help of sinners, the Exaltation of the holy church, the increase of the sodality, for those which are in mortal sin, or in dissension, & for the souls of the faithful departed. On saturday they shal say moreover the hymn O gloriosa Domina with the versicles, & prayer of the Conception: And all are to know, that by saying these 7. Pater nosters, and 7. aves in some Church of the Society of Iesus, or in some other,( where there are no Churches of the said society; they gain all the Indulgences that on those dayes are to be gained in any church, either within or without the walls of Rome.  
7. All are to hear mass, as near as they can, every day( though it be not a holy day) for it is a thing very fruitful; But when by reason of some necessity, or hindrance of moment they cannot do it, let thē in place of hearing mass perform some other devotion; And while they hear mass, let them obsteine from talkinge with others, & procure to be attentive, with much reverence, both interriour & exterior: Let them also frequent sermons, divine office, and often visit holy places.  
8. Let every one accustom himself, to make every evening before he go to rest, the Examen of conscience, according to those five points contained in the form of the general Examen, for which end it is convenient that each haue one by him either printed or written.  
9. every one according to the direction of his confessor, or of the Father of the Congregation( with whom for this purpose it willbe convenient sometimes to deal, & treat familiarly out of the times of Congregation) must attend to the mortification of his passion, especially of those with which he is ordinarily molested, to which, will greatly help the particular Examen, ordained for the rootinge out of vices & defects, as the said Father shall further instruct him.  
10. Let every one afford some time for the reading of spiritual books, the which is a great furtherance to prayer, and of great help in all other virtuous exercises: And it willbe convenient that every one ask the iudgement of the Father or his confessor concerning the choice of books most agreeable to his particular defects.  
11. Let them procure often to deal with the Father of the Congregation of the means to attain virtue, and the ways to know the temptations of our ghostly enemy for their defence, & victory over them, for which purpose it will avail much to make choice of some particular fast in the week( besides those of obligation) or some other sort of mortification.   

THE SECOND PARTE. What those of the sodality are to observe towards their superiors.  
12.  
THey ought in general & in particular to honour, & reverence the Father of the Congregation, as their common Father, may dispense with the Rules, customs, & ordinances, when, & as far forth as he shall judge expedient. Wherefore it is convenient nothing of moment be handled in the Congregation, without his knowledge, & consent.  
13. They shall honour also and bear all respect to the perfect of the Congregation, whom, as the head thereof all must promptly obey in things belonging to the service of God, and good of the Congregation. They shall not bee wanting also to honour and respect the 2. assistants, as chief next to the perfect and allotted to him for his aid and assistance in the government, which they shall likewise perform towards all the rest of the Officers in things belonging to their offices.  
14. All must accept with due promptness & humility the penances & mortifications which shal be enjoined them, be they for their defects or exercise of virtue and shall fulfil the same showing desire of amendment: Likewise when they shalbe reprehended, or corrected by the Father or perfect, they most hear it patiently, & humbly.  
15. When to any one shal be assigned any office, or a business given in charge by the Father or perfect, or from the Congregation, he is to accept it with all charity, & readiness, and without excuse, procuring the execution thereof with convenient diligence. And if after mature consideration thereof, some difficulty should occur, let him present the same in private, to the end better deliberation may be taken.   

THE THIRD PART. What those of the Sedalitie are to observe towards one another.  
16.  
LEt them procure to love each other with true, and sincere affection, & so maintain peace amongst themselves, & with others, & to remain united each to the other with that strict bond of charity, which beseemeth true children of the most B. Virgin, & members of such a Congregation, flying the least occasion of disunion: And when by frailty any thing should fall out between them contrary to this holy Institute of the Congregation, whosoever shall come to know it, he must speedily give notice to the Father, that as soon as may be, he provide meet & convenient remedy.  
17. When any difference, or suit for interest of goods, or other like causes should happen amongst those of the Sodality, let it be procured with fraternal charity by means of the Father & perfect, that by way of agreement, or compromise it be ended with all speed, & love possible.  
18. When any of the sodality shall fall in to sickness, or other missortune of moment, care must be had that the Father, or perfect, be warned as soon as may be, to the end they give order he be visited, aided, & comforted by others of the Congregation, with such charitable offices as are convenient; And he to whom it appertaineth may warn & appoint the rest such prayers as are to be made for his necessity both corporal & spiritual.  
19. When any of the sodality shall depart this life, every Priest of the Congregation shall say for his soul a mass, the day of his death or when he hath first notice thereof( if it be possible) or as soon as may be, and the rest( as soon as they can) must procure a mass for him, & that( if it may be) at some privileged Altar, applying the Indulgences, of beads grains, medals, & the like granted for the diliuery of souls out of purgatory. moreover in their oratory, after a mass of Requiem, they are to say together the whole Office of the dead. Besides for one whole month those of the sodality must say every day a De profundis for the soul departed with the prayer for the dead, & 3. Paters & 3. aves. But from these suffrages are to be excluded such as for being absent without leave at the times appointed are not written in the table of those who frequent, as also those, whose far distance wholly excusinge them to frequent shall not for the space of two yeares haue written to the sodality with show of esteem & account held therof. Besides let every one remember to recommend in general to our Lord in their prayers the souls of all the Sodalitye departed.  
20. When suffrages are to be given or consultation to be held, or treaty to be made, for the receiving of any into the Congregation, or for the election of prefect, assistants, Consultors, or other officers, or busenes of that nature which require voice, or consultation, Let every one procure to proceed without human respect, with all freedom & synceritye of intention, choosinge always them, whom in their conscience they shall judge meet for the purpose, having only regard to the greater honour of God and common good of the sodality.   

THE fourth PARTE. What those of the sodality are to observe towards their neighbours.  
21.  
LEt them fly not only all ill Company & all manner of occasions, which may bring peril to their souls, as gaminge, and dissolute places, procuring to converse often, and for the most parte, with such as may be a help unto them by their good examples, keeping themselves free from all vnbeseeminge speeches, from scandalous murmuringes, & other inconveniences, the which( besides the offence of God) diminish the good name, & credite of the Congregation, & the famed of their neighbours; But let them also endeavour to be very exemplar in their words, life, & actions to the edification of their neighbours, & with all not to be wanting with charitable counsels to exhort them to virtue, and integrity of life, frequentinge of the Sacramentes, to meditation, & mental prayer, exercises so profitable for the good of souls: And finally let them employ them themselves willingly in the service, & help of their said neighbours aswell temporal as spiritual. 22. These of the sodality must not only be content to know well themselves the Christian doctrine, or catechism, but they must also procure that all their family likewise know the same, as well their childerē & kindred, as also their servants, & such as dwell with them, to whom they must afford a convenient ime to learn it, and to satisfy all other obligations of christian duty; As to hear mass every sunday and holy day; To confess and communicate at their appointed times exhorting them to do it many times in the year, & likewise to observe all the commandments of God, & of the Holy church, prouidinge in the best manner possible, that in their house his divine majesty be not offended, nor yet that there be any occasion thereof.   

THE FIFTE PART. What they are to observe towards the Sodality itself.  
23.  
ALl must be diligent in coming to the Congregation, or sodality, on those dayes on which it is held, that is every saturday, & sunday, and all the feasts of our saviour, his glorious Mother,( of precept) on the day of all Sainctes, & the feasts of the Apostles, which light vpon wednesday. And let them perform with attention & denotion, the exercises of meditation, & mental prayer, conference, discourses, & other accustomend exercises of the Congregation, as the Father shall judge the quality, & commodity of time, business, occasions, & particular needs of the Congregation to require.  
24. Let every one with all diligence endeavour to come in due time to the Congregation, laying aside all business for the honour of God & his most glorious Mother, notwith standing if any just impediment shall happen to any, let him advertise the Father, or prefect, & failing herein let him supply it in the first Congregation following.  
25. Although the mortifications, penances, & other like secrets of the Congregation ought to remain private amongst those only that be of it( unless some one were to be informed thereof, the which should truly pretend, and were ready to enter) notwithstanding it is not forbidden by this, to let any one lead to the Congregation some friend which is not of it, to move him with that good example to enter therein, so it be done with licence of the Father or prefect; but at such times it is better to refrain from giving of penances, or mortifications to any, who should not of himself demand them.  
26. As for their places in the oratory, regard is not to be had to any sort of precedency, neither in the oratory itself, nor in going out thereof, to avoyde all ceremonies, & ambition; And in their departure, let them use such modesty & composition, in their gate, in their speech, and all the rest of their actions, that every one may reap good example thereby & take notie of the profit made by their spiritual exercise of the Sodality.  
27. Seeing those of the Congregation come together purposely, to make some recollection, & sequester themselves for an hour & a half from worldly affairs, the better to unite themselves with God, they must keep continual silence in their Oratory, every one attendinge to himself, & abstayninge from talkinge with others, even of spiritual things, much more of worldly, curious, & vain matters.  
28. When Conference is made of spiritual matters, or other affairs are treated, let those of the sodality expect till they be asked, neither propoundinge, nor answering( if they be not demanded) either in general, or particular. Yf notwithstanding any one of them for just causes would speak or propound any thing to the Congregation publicly, let him not do it, without first having asked licence of the Father: And let them beware, in deliueringe their opinions, to dispute & impugn, the sayings of others or to contend: But if in any thing, one should be of contrary iudgement to an other, and it should seem good to declare it, let him bring his reasons with modesty, and charity, and with an intent that truth may haue place, & that that may be done which is beste, slyinge all show of desire to become superior in his own opinion.  
29. When any is to go out of the city some long voyage, or to remain abroad some long time let him acquaint the Father, or Presect, & at due time let him demand, or procure, that licence may publicly be asked in his behalf in the Congregation, and let him take his patent of the prefect & of the assistants, that he may be admitted in other Congregations, & also to the end that when he returneth, he may be acknowledged, & accepted of, in this Congregation without further testimony. Let him procure also in the place of his abode, to observe( as much as is possible) the Rules of the Congregation, & perform the exercises thereof, in particular, their mental prayer, examination of conscience, pursuit of virtue, frequentinge of the Sacraments, & exampie of good life, exercising themselves also in some works proper to the Congregation, as in peace-makinge or other works of mercy, and help of their neighbours. Let him remember also to pray often for the spiritual advancement, & good progress of the sodality: as the Soda-litie is in like manner to pray for him; And if he is to be long absent, let him now and then give account of himself by letter to the Congregation; And this at least once every half year.  
30. whilst those of the sodality are meeting together in the oratory, one of the Lectors appointed shal read some spiritual book assigned by the Father: The same is to be done, whilst vpon any occasion stay is made of any of the ordinary exercises.  
31. Those that shal make instance to be admitted into the Congregation, let them do it by way of memorial: They must be sincere catholics resolved to live well, & endued with other particular qualities which by the Congregation are left to the discretion of the Father: and if they be such, as are not fully known( at least) by some of the sodality, or some of the Fathers of the society, let it be committed to one or two of the Congregation( acordinge as it shall seem best to the secret consult) that they take certain information, whether such qualities concur, as are requisite, which being found wanting, they are in good manner to be put of, but if they shalbe judged fit by the Sedalitie, then they are to be admitted to their probation. Before their admittance, all are to make a general Confession of their whole life, with whom they haue most deuotium: And if already they haue made one a little before, it is sufficient to make another, beginning from their last, & it would be very profitable unto them, to make for some dayes the spiritual Exercises of the society of Iesus, instituted by Blessed Father Ignatius, founder of the same( if so be, they feel themselves inclined thereunto) furthermore, before they be admitted, let them haue frequented the Congregation( at the least for 3. months, so far forth as their occasions permit) & be well informed, & instructed of those things which are observed therein, they are to see these present Rules to the end they may consider them well, and resolve themselves, if they can, and will fulfil what is contained in the, whereof one, or both of the assistants, some Counsultour, or some other deputed by the secret Congregation shall haue care: Afterwards, when they are to be admitted, their instructors must first in their absence make that full & ample relation, of which is treated in the particular Rules of the instructors. And being to proceed to the act of admission let it be done with the consent of the greater parte of those, that are present in the Congregation, by secret suffrages, and in absence of them of whose admittance they treat, & being accepted of, then they shalbe brought in afterwards at the first ensewinge Congregation. Finally, All are to haue these Rules, that now, and then, they may renew, and refresh the memory of them; And they must be red in full Congregation at the first opportunity after the choosinge of new officers. And as it is not intended that any who shall fail in the observance of them, should incur any sort of sin( even venial) so by observing them,( besides that he shall obtain most efficacions help to true spiritual life) he shal moreover gain very great, & particular merit in the sight of God, & his most glorious Mother; To whom be given glory, & praises for ever.   

particular Rules For the Officers of the Congregation. Rules belonging to the perfect.  
1.  
THe perfect, as he excelleth the rest in degree, & office, so he ought to endeavour to excel them in virtue, & exact observance of al the Rules.  
2. Let him embrace the government with great charity, and procure to apply himself with all diligence thereunto, as a thing of great importance for the service of God, & the most Blessed Virgin; And let him be careful to come always in time, as well to give good example, as to provide for all things, which( by the advice of the assistants) shall seem necessary for the Congregation.  
3. He is to consult with the either of the Congregation, & with his Assistants( before he ordain any thing) all the particular things which shall occur in the government of the Congregation, either belonging to the spiritual profit of those of the sodality, or any other matter; And therefore every saturday, or Sunday( in fit place) he shall treat with them, & for that purpose he shall haue a book, in which he shall distinctly note( for his better memory) al that which he is to consult or ordain.  
4. When there occurreth some weighty matter,( for which greater consideration is required, & therefore it may seem necessary to haue the advice of many) he may( if it seem good to the Father) call( besides the two assistants) the Consultours, with whom also every first saturday of the month he shall treat, howe those of the Congregation do procede, howe the Rules be observed, And whether there be necessity to make any ordinance for the good of the sodality.  
5. When any one is received into the Congregation let him presently procure that the book of Rules be given him.  
6. When he shall understand that any of the sodality is sick, he shall cause him to be visited, as it shall seem most convenient, Inquiringe afterwards the necessities of the sick person, procuring also that to be performed for his temporal & spiritual help which is contained in the 18. common Rule.  
7. When any of the Congregation shall die, he shall haue care that( as soon as may be) the ordinary obligations be performed for him, according to the 19. common Rule: And when the deceased person shall leave behind him Children, poor, and in necessity, he shall procure that a consult be made in presence of the Father, with the assistants, and Consultours, howe to succour them according to their necessity & quality, & ability of the Congregation.  
8. When any ordinances are to be made, either by way of decree in writtinge, or in other manner, he shall procure with the Father, & assistants, that the secret Congregation be assebled, in the which they shall deliberate & decree so much as is expedient, & being things fit to be published, or confirmed in the general Congregation, the deliberation, or decree made in the secret, shalbe proposed in the general, to the end, that( by Gods grace) that which is decreed may be better observed.  
9. It doth belong to the prefect( if he happen to be a priest) to say before the Congregation, the accustomend prayers & litanies of our B. Lady, the Prayer Actiones nostras &c. before meditation, & meditation ended, to intone, the Magnificat, and after, say the prayer Famulis tùis &c. & at the end of the Congregation, to begin, & prosecute together the salve Regina, or Alma Redemptoris, or Aue Regina coelorum, or Regina coeli, with the versicle, and prayer for the time: As also to begin the Prayers, hymns, psalms, & say all the prayers, & litanies, which are accustomed to be said at the distribution of Sainctes, before, & after admissions, before, & after the private Congregation, & to do the office, in saying the prayers when the office of the dead shalbe recited, & perform the office in the matins, of tenebras, and in the houres of the three dayes of the holy week: To perform the office in the Vespers of the eve of the Conception: All which offices ought to be performed by him with the Rochet,( yf he be a Prelate) Therefore, it is convenient, that he prepare himself in due time for all the aforesaid actions, and other such like, perusinge before, all the things which belong unto him to say, & do, that he may perfectly perform his office in the sight of all the Congregation.   

Rules of the two assistants.  
1.  
THe office of the 2. assistants, is, to assist the perfect, and help him in the government of the Congregation, & therefore they ought to sit near unto him,( that is) the first, on the right hand, & the second on the left: And when the prefect is absent, the first Assistant must supply his place in government; And the first Assistant also being absent, the second shall supply; In which cases they shall haue the same authority, & the same obligation to observe the Rules of the prefect.  
2. Let them procure to be very exemplar in virtue, & exact in the observance of all the Rules.  
3. The Assistants ought particularly to affect, & seek the good government of the Congregation, & be diligent in coming to the same, for the example of the rest, and help of the perfect in things that shall occur.  
4. When they deliver ther opinions, they shall do it with all modesty, & without passion, having regard to the service of God, & the most B. Virgin, & to the good of the Sodality: and what shal be treated with the perfect, or determined, they shall keep in secret, as well from strangers, as from those of the sodality, it being the office of the perfect to publish( when it salbe necessary) the determinations, and other things which shal be done. And if in their resolutions, there happen diversity of opinions between the Assistants & the prefect, let it be signified unto the Father, that he may provide as shalbe expedient.  
5 Let them know that of themselves they cannot ordain any thing, and when it shall occur unto them, to propose some thing for the furtheringe of the rest in spirit, or for the help of the Congregation, or of the works which it hath embraced, they may represent it unto the Father, or to the prefect, remitting themselves unto them( after they haue proposed it) in all that shal be determined in our Lord.  
6. The Assistants also ought to put the prefect in mind of things concerning the government of the Congregation.  
7. And because the Assistants are likewise accustomed to give instructors, to those that desire to be admitted into the Congregation, they must observe that which is ordained in the 6. Rule of the Consultours, & more amply in the Rules of the instructors.   

Rules of the secretary of the Congregation.  
1.  
THe secretary must be present at all the actions of the Congregation, as well public, as private, he shall writ in a book( appointed for that purpose) the things that shal be done: He shall haue a chest, or desk locked with a key, where he shall lay up all the things of his office well kept, & in good order, that they may easily befounde when soever there shal be need, & that afterwards he may resign them unto his successor: he must also be mindful of due secrecy; wherefore he shall not talk with any of things determined, or to be determined in the Congregation, nor show any writing, without order, or knowledge of the Father, or prefect.  
2. He shall haue two other books, one little, & the other greater, the less shall serve to note the names, surnames, country, & profession of those that shal be admitted into the Congregation, as well after three months probation, as by virtue of patents, or other certain testimonies which come from foreign Congregations, and therein he shall note the day of his admission: And that little book shal serve, that after a year expired, they may take out of it, and transfer into the greater book the names, surnames, countreyes, profession, and day of admission of those, which for that year haue diligently frequented the Congregation as it behoveth; and in the same great book he shall keep, an account of those that change their state. moreover, he shall haue a little book in which he shall note those that depart, especially who are not likely to return.  
3. He shall writ those letters which occur to be written in the name of the Congregation, & shall give patents to those that take any journey, sealinge the one & the other with the accustomend seal of the Congregation( all not withstanding by order of the Father and Presect) And he shall always haue a Register of the things of moment, especially of the decrees which shalbe made; of the patents which are given to such as depart; & of those who shalbe brought from other Congregations, and of their acceptance.  
4. He shall haue an vnder-secretarie which may help him to writ, & in his absence assist in his place; but that under Secretary must not be present at the consultations, unless sometime it seem otherwise expedient to the Father & perfect.  
5. He shall haue care that in the oratory, at the entrance of the door, on one fide, there be a table with the names & surnames of all of the Congregaiion( yet living) & on the other side another table of the names, and surnames of those that frequent the Congregation, & near unto that, another of those that frequent( which are not Priestes) that they may sign them that are to communicate. And also let there be in the oratory, or in some other fit, and convenient place, the Bull of the erection of the Congregation, the common Rules, a sumne of the Indulgences, and other things as shal be ordained by the Father & perfect.  
6. He shall haue a care to read, or see red every saturday, the plenary & other notable Indulgences, which in the week follow inge may be gained by those of the Congregation, and also in due times the Rules, and all other things which shall occur to be red in the Congregation.  
7. It shal be also his care to call those of the sodality one by one, by name, & surname to go and take the suffrages, when they shalbe distributed, & to call also in sundays Congregations by name, and surname, those, that are that week to visit the hospital( provided that they be of those then present at the Congregation.  
8. Likewise he shall haue care to make a bill of those which shal make their hour of prayer in the quarant-houer, having regard that the houres less commodious be assigned to those that dwell not so far of: And it is to be noted, that the said bill be fastened in the oratory( at the least) the morning of the day going before  
9 He shall do diuers other things, which occurrences of actions shal declare to belong to his office, & which also shal be assigned unto him by the Father, or prefect.   

Rules of the Consultours of the Congregation.  
1.  
THe office of the Consultours, is to aid with their counsel, & help the perfect in his charge, for which it is expedient that they be very zealous in the service of our lord, & of the B. Virgin, and of the good progress, & spiritual help of the Congregation: They must also be well united with the perfect, & amongst themselves, in fraternal charity.  
2 They shall procure in all things belonging to the Congregation, & in the observance of their Rules, to be the first, that the others moved by their example be more diligent. 3. When soever the Father, or perfect, shall call them to consult, they must show themselves ready, & deliver plainly, ther opinions, and when there shal be variance, every one must tell his reasons, without touching, or reprehendinge others, & if they go about to confute the reasons of others, they must do it in such manner, that they give no signs of contradiction, but only to confirm that which they judge convenient.  
4 If some thing occur to any of them, profitable for the universal good of the Congregation, he may propound it privately unto the Father, or perfect, remitting himself afterwards to that which they shall determine.  
5. They are also to haue care to keep secret that which is treated in the Consultes, not only from others, but also from them of the Congregation itself.  
6. When there shal be assgned unto them by the officers & Consultour, any of those who demand entrance into the Congregation, to be instructed, they must haue particular care to instruct, & direct them well in things concerning the said Congregation, and let them reuiewe diligently, the particular Rules of the instructors, procuring to observe them punctually.   

The Rules of the instructors of those which desire to enter into the sodality.  
1.  
WHen the Father shall commit to any the memorial of some person( not known) who desireth to enter into the sodality, they must with all diligence inform themselves of his quality, & give account of their information with all speed, unto the Congregation, that it may quickly be resolved, whether he is to be proposed or no, to the sodality, for his admittance to probation; and to this end let them read what is contained in the 31. common Rule.  
2. After any shalbe admitted to the said Probation, the instructors must see that during the time thereof, they fulfil what soever is prescribed in the forenamed 31 common Rules, which treateth particularly hereof, especially about the general Confession, in that manner, which in the foresaid Rule is declared.  
3. They must show them all the common & particular Rules, with the customs of the sodality. which often they must inculcate, declaring unto them that which they do not well vnderstad, that they may resolve whether they can, and will observe them. And to be brief, they must instruct them of what soever they are to do, as well during the time of their Probation, as after their admission.  
4. It appertaineth also to their care, to instruct them exactly, in that which they are to do on the day of their admittance, and on the day when they are publicly to be brought in into the sodality, which shalbe the first day of Congregation, after the day of their admittance, for which end it behoveth the instructors, & the persons instructed, to peruse diligently the forenamed 31 common Rule.  
5 They must endeavour that those who me they instruct, be taught the maner of commendinge themselves to God, every morning, to examine their consciences at night, as also to pray mentally, & to live like good Christians.  
6 They must haue care to warn the Father & the perfect, when the time of their probation is expired. 7. That, which by all means the instructor is to observe, when the party by him instructed is to be admitted,( that those of the Congregation, may with a safe conscience give their voice) is, as followeth, first he must admonish the party( to be admitted) to go out of the Oratorit Secondly, he shall with a loud voice say, howe such an one( telling name, surname, country, state and profession) was so long since admitted by the secret Congregation, to his probation, and that he was assigned for his instructor: That he hath endeavoured to instruct him according to the Rules of the sodality, as well as he could: That the three months of probation are expired: That he hath made a general Confession of his whole life, or from his last general, of which he hath sufficiently certified the Father of the sodality: howe he himself hath observed, that the said party hath, during the term of the three months( when he was not lawfully hindered) not only frequented diligently the sodality, but also the holy Sacraments: That he hath shewed a good & christian spirit: That he seemeth to him sufficiently instructed in the Rules of the Sodalitte, & in what else so ever a good menber of the same is bound to observe. That he sheweth a good and resolute will, to put them in execution: That he show a purpose, at times appointed to frequent the sodality: And that for all the respects aforesaid, he do verily judge him worthy to be admitted into the same and hopeth it will haue good success. Thirdly, after that by suffrages he shall be admitted, the instructor must advertise him, that the sodality hath received him: that the next Congregation, he is to be brought in, after the accustomend manner set down in the customs; That communicating on the day of his entrance, at the mass of the sodality, either first, or second, he gayneth a plenary Indulgence. Fourthly, in the next sodality, at the end of the meditation, he shall cause the party, to go out again of the oratory, and shall put the Father in mind of his entrance to be read, & the Father giving him order so to do, he shall go out to bring him in; And at the door the Sacristans shall receive him, accomponie & direct him in the rest of the actions, & ceremonies accustomend in such times, as is set down in the sixte rule of the Sacristans, and in the foresaid chapter of the customs.   

Rules of the Sacristans of the sodality.  
1.  
THe Sacristans are to haue care of the chapel, & of all things perteyninge to the use thereof and therefore they must always come the first,( at least half an hour) before the time of the sodality, to prepare all things necessary for mass.  
2. They shall haue care to dress the Altar with ornaments answerable to the times both festival and feriall withsuche other offices, and functions as are to be done, dispatchinge all either the day before, or when else will be more commodious for them.  
3. Eight dayes before the general communion, at the end of the Congregation, they shall admonish all, either by themselves, or by means of the Father, that the next Sundy will be the first of the month, that they may prepare themselves to communicate.  
4. They shall also haue care to prepare the suffrages of the Sainctes, every month, and to haue them ready, to be divided the Saterdayes Congregation, next before the beginning of the new moaneth.  
5. It belongs also to their charge, to provide all things necessary for the giving of voices, whensoever, either for admittance, election of Officers, or any other business of like nature is to be done, and they must go about with the things, provided for that purpose.  
6 It is their office also to receive at the door, and lead between them the new admitted to the place of prayer before the Altar, and to accompany them to the magistrates bench, to be embraced, according to the custom.  
7 They shall also haue the charge to advertise timely those, which are to read the Lessons in all the offices which in the Congregation are to be said, leading them to the desk, and to bring them back again( between thē) to their places, observing particularly what is set down in the sixte chapter, of the custom concerning the divine office.  
8. They must haue a diligent care timely to hang up at the Oratory door, the table with the names & surnames of thē which are not Priestes that will receive at the first mass, remembering, that when they put the pyx with hostes vpon the Altar, for the offertory, that they put so many hostes as there are names signed, and so many more as they may probably guess will come persons to communitate after the offertory, putting rather always to many then to few: And the same is to be observed for the communion in the second mass after the Congregation. Likewise every day of communion( as well general, as particular) to make a bill of all them that do communicate, and to give it to the Father, at the end of the month,  
9. They must prepare the Candles for Candelmas day, the palms for palm Sunday, in due time.  
10. They must admonish betimes the Father or Presecte, of what soever wanteth in the Sacristie, that it maybe provided, & must haue a book, to writ therein what soever is laid out: Neither must they lay out any thing, much or little, for the oratory, without first acquaintinge the Father, or perfect.  
11 They must keep a book, wherein they shall make a very exact, & faithful inventory of all things belonging to the Oratory( be they never so little) & when soever new Sacristans shall succeed, & the old go out, they must all together with two others( assigned by the Father, & perfect) reuewe the said inventory, adjoining thereunto What soever hath been made, or given, or come thither of new, for the service of the chapel, or use of the Congregation,( which is not already written.)   

Rules of the treasurer.  
1.  
THe Treasourers office is, to keep the money which they of the sodality shall offer for the necessities thereof, & which by any other means shall come to the Congregation, and to give it out to those persons, which the perfect shall appoint in the manner, and form, as the rule prescribeth.  
2. He must keep a book of what he receives, and lays out, And as concerning what is received, he must note with the greatest distinction, and perspicuity possible, all the sums which he receives, specifyinge the causes, and the dayes, & with the same diligence, he must note what soever is laid out, specifyinge also the causes, dayes, and the order given.  
3. He must also exact of every one what they are to give for the ordinary expenses of the Congregaiion; And he must so distinctly put it down in writing, that it may be clearly seen howe much every one hath given, and what he is yet to give, that so he may sometimes remember them, & exact it of them.  
4. For the expenses to be made for the use of the Congregation, he must not give any money to what persons soever, without order from the perfect in writing.  
5. When the treasurer shall give money to any one, to be spent in small matters for the Oratories use, as to Sacrictans, or other such like, let him note it particularly, in the book of expenses, to the end, that those which haue received the money, may render their account of the small expenses, & give a bill thereof to the prefect, who must reuiewe it, to the end, that what soever they shall haue laid out( besides) of their own, may be restored unto them, or not having laid out all, it may serve for the next expenses they are to make, which bills( for good order sake, after the perfect hath seen them) are to begeuen to the secretary, to keep.  
6. every 2. months, the treasurer is to give unto the perfect, a distinct account of the administration of the receiptes, & expenses, which afterwards is to be given to the secretary to keep.   

The Rules of the Porters.  
1.  
THey must come( the first) to open the Oratory door, & to see it be swept, handsome, & the seats well placed.  
2. They must sit near to the door, and must admonish those that come, to sign their names in the table of those that frequent, and those( besides) that will communicate, to sign their names in the table for that purpose. Let them also procure that all take their places as they come, close one to another, that when others come, they may find empty place, without stirringe, & moving for every one that comes.  
3. They must haue a care that none enter into the Congregation that are not of it, unless they haue particular leave of the Father, or perfect, that none enter armed: And if sometime any stranger should insinuate himself, and enter in the Oratory to see what is done therein; It is the care of the Porters( having regard to the quality of the person) in good fashion to aduise him that he go forth, or else to dissemble for one only time. & let him alone,( especially if he be a Prelate, or gentleman of account; & there be no secret business to be treated in the Congregation, or action to be done, at the which strangers presence would be disconuenient) But, if the same party should continue to come; It is the custom that the Porters tell him the second time freely, but withall modestly that it please him to retire himself thence, or else to demand licence of the Father or perfect, to remain.  
4. Let them note all those that shall haue come to every Congregation, and those, that shall at any time be wanting( acordinge to the Table) giving afterwards the said note unto the Father, to the end he may aiwaies know truly who hath frequented, when, & howe oft.   

Rules of the Readers.  
1.  
LEt him to whom( by turn) it appertaineth to read, procure to come betime, & about one quarter of an hour before the time assigned for mass( though the number of the assembled be small) let him begin to read in that book, & with that order that the father shal haue assigned, & let him continue on till the Priest come forth to say mass: And if he shall see, that after mass there be some hindrance for the other exercises, let him read again till such time as they begin.  
2. Let him endeavour to read readily, distinctly, & with an intelligible voice, and let him sit where every one may easily understand him.  
3. When he shalbe hindered to come, let him give notice thereof, to one of the other Readers, that he may supply for him, and also, when the others shall mark that he to whom it appertaineth is wanting, let them procure to supply themselves according to the order assigned.  
4. Let him that readeth, procure to lay afterwards the book in his place, & note where he left reading, that it may be afterwards orderly continued.   

Rules of those that visit the sick.  
1.  
SO soon as they shal know that any of the Congregation be sick, let them endeavour( with all diligence) to go & visit them, & when they shall see that the sick receive content, & comfort by their visit, let them visit them oftener. Let them also be diligent in relatinge unto the Father, or Presect, the state of the sick, not only the first time, but others also,( especially when they shal be in danger of death) since that on this their diligence dependeth, that the said Father, or prefect, may ordain prayer to be made for their corporal, & spiritual health as also suffrages, when death succeedeth: Neither is it necessary that the office of visiting, be done in one, & the self same time, of all the visitors, but two at a time willbe sufficient, and when that cannot be, one only, & so divided, they may better supply the visits when there shalbe more sick.   

CVSTOMES Of the Congregation, About the government, & the officeres of the Congregation.  
CHAPTER 1.  
HE that principally governeth, and directeth the Congregation,( especially in spiritual things) is one of the Fathers of the society of Iesus; After him, the perfect hath the first place, who must be one of the Congregation, either an ecclesiastical person or lay-man.  
To the perfect are appointed two Assistants, unto which immediately followeth the Secretatie of the Congregation, who hath an vnder-Secretarte, that supplieth in all things for him when he is absent.  
All the foresaid five are accustomend to sit on the bench of the Magistrates.  
There are besides these other officers following( which may be increased, or doubled according to the number of the Sodality) 6. Consultours, 2. Sacristans, one treasurer, 2: Porters, 2. Readers, & 2. visitors of the Sick of the Congregation.  
When the perfect is wanting, or is hindered for some short time, so that he cannot be present at the Congregation, the first Assistant governeth in his place, & when the first Assistant is wanting, the second supplieth: And though it seldom happen, that all be wanting when there is need; nevertheless( when it shall so happen) the Father of the Congregation is never wanting. But when it happeneth that the perfect departeth ( not to return with in the time of his office, or is to haue some long ympedimente so that he cannot be present at the Congregations at times appointed) then the whole Congregation proceedeth to make choice of another in his place, & the same is to be observed touching the two Assistants. Other Officers are substituted by the particular Congregation only, according to necessity & occurrences.   

About the choice of Officers.  
CHAPTER 2.  
THe election of officers is made thrice a year( to wit) about the feasts of the Conception, Anuntiation, & the Assumption of the glorious Virgin: The perfect & the 2. Assistants are chosen by the whole Congregation; The other officers by the particular Congregation only, who( as is supposed) hath more distinct, and more intrinsical knowledge of all in the sodality: And all is done after the manner following.  
In the Congregation which goeth before the day appointed for the election of the perfect, & the 2. Assistants, notice is given of the said future, election, & the names of all that haue active, and passive voices are red by the secretary, to renew by that means the memory of all: In the same Congregatio also is red all this chapter concerning the election of officers.  
Afterwards on the day itself of election, mass being said, with the prayer of the holy ghost, and immediately before the election, the ordinary prayers, and litanies of our B. Lady, the Father, or perfect, with some short discourse, exhorteth all to proceed in the election without any worldly passion, regarding only the glory, and service of God, and the spiritual good of the Congregation.  
Then is said the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus with the prayer Deui qui corda Fidelium.  
After which, in certain little papers prepared for that effect by the Secretary, with other necessaries to writ, every one writeth the name only of the person whom he chooseth for future perfect, he folds it, and presentes it at the bench before the Father, who, together with the perfect, compareth first the number of all the suffrages, with the number of the assembled, to see how the names given in and the persons that are to give their voices do agree, he readeth afterwards to the hearing of all, the suffrages: and the secretary hath care to note the names of them that are chosen, and the number of suffrages as they are given to every one.  
This scrutiny being ended, he that hath more then half the suffrages, is by the Father, declared new perfect of the Corgregation, & being lead between two of the Sacristans, after a little prayer made before the Altar, he is placed in one of the Chayers( prepared by thē for that purpose) in the midst of the oratory,( to wit) in that which is the middle of the three, & this done, they are to proceed to the election of the two Assistants in the like manner.  
Afther this, the perfect, and 2. Assistants that haue ended their offices, one after the other, kneeling in the midst of the oratory before the Father, accuse themselves openly of their faults committed in their government and humbly demaundinge penance, receive from the father that which is given them, not returning any more to the bench.  
This done, Te Deum Laudamus is said, with the prayer Deus cuius misericordia, & the rest of the Congregation departed, to saving the Prefectt, the Assistants newly chosen, the former perfect, & Assistants, together with the rest of the Particular Congregation, and the Father, who choose the other officers, according to the order as they are before name, and observing that which hereafter shal be said: & the suffrages are in like manner noted by the secretary.  
In the Cougregation following, the perfect, & the 2. new Assistants, after mass, and the accustomend prayers, & litanies, go to sit on the bench in place of those who ended, & the perfect, or Father at his request, saieth briefly somewhat for edification, before any other exercise begin.  
The same day, the old secretary publisheth by wordeof mouth the officers newly chosen, & the old accuse themselves in like mannner before the Father, of their faults, & receive penances.  
Finally the old secretary readeth, or causeth to be red the common Rules of the Congregation( in case the Father iudgeth it not expedient to defer it till another time) and the said Father exhorteth all to the entire observance of them, notinge some particular thing wherein defect is seen.  
having thus proceeded the old secretary yieldeth his place to the new, and goeth to accuse himself, & receate penance, as the other officers haue done.  
The election of the perfect, and the 2. Assistants, is always made by scrutiny, with the greater parte of the voices of those which are present in Congregation, so as they are to exceed the half( as before hath been said) And when in the first scrutiny there falls out equal voices between two then they procede to the second in which no other can be chosen then one of those between whom the equality fell in the precedent scrutiny; And in case they fall equal again in number of suffrages, lotts are cast, and he is chosen whose name is drawn out: But if in the first scrutiny those that concur were more then two by equality of voices, they are to be brought to two only, by a new scrutiny, or by billets or ballottinge, which not succeedinge, they afterwards cast lotts to determine the two concurrences: the election of the other officers, is made either by scrutiny, or word of mouth, as it best pleaseth the particular Congregation.  
The perfect, & Assistants, are not wont to be confirmed in their offices above once only, the same is to be observed for the most parte in the other officers, exceptinge these in whose offices more particular, & long practise is required, as are the Secretarte, of the Congregation, the Sacristans, and the treasurer.  
Except the perfect,( and when the number is great) the Assistants also, & secretary of the Congregation, more offices may concur in one & the self same person, so the offices themselves be not contrary.  
No man in what soever election hath more then one voice, no not the Father, nor perfect himself.   

About the daies on which the Congregation is held.  
CHAPTER 3.  
BEsides the dayes appointed in the Rules,( which are the Saterdayes, & sundays of all the year, all the feasts of our saviour, & of our B. Lady( of precept) the feasts of the holy Apostles that fall vpon wednesday, & the feasts of all Sainctes, the Congregation is to be held on other dayes also for diuers occasions, either on the peculiar Feast of the Congregation or the offices of the Holy week.  
For the better solemnizinge their proper Feast, which is that of the Immaculate Conception of our B. Lady, they are wont to assemble themselves together for 8. dayes before the said Feast; every morning to hear mass; to say the litanies of our B. Lady, and to make a quarter of an hour of mental prayer vpon thes points which the Father proposeth: Further they must assemble themselves also on the eve to say Vesperas.  
To celebrate the offices of the Holy week, they must assemble themselves the 3. dayes in which they are said, as well in the evening as the morning, & further, on holy thursday morning, for mass & communicate in the said oratory, & for the conference vpon the B. sacrament; After which, they are wont to go into the church, to attend on the most holy Body of our Lord to the sepulchre: And on holy saturday morning( besides the hours which are first said) there are red also the prophecies, & mass following at which it is fit al should be present: To the prayer before the B. sacrament in the oratory for the necessities of our country, they also assemble themselves the day appointed, according to the maner contained in the customs about the quarant-hower.  
On Easter Sunday( by reason of the bond which every Christian hath to communicate in his proper parish) there is no Congregation; Neither in the two other feasts which ymediatly follow, to the end they may attend to their other deuotions; And for the same reason there is wont to be no Congregation on Christmas day.  
It is likewise omitted when for any public solemnity, all, or the greater parte of the sodality are likely to be hindered, or for other reasonable causes as the Father and perfect shall judge, giving warning thereof, that all may know it.   

About the Particular Congregations.  
CHAPTER 4.  
ON the first saturday of every month, & every other time that there occurreth any urgent necessity, there is a particular Congregation immediately held after the General & the Father, or perfect use to give notice thereof.  
At this Particular Congregation there useth ordinarily to be present the Father, the perfect, the 2. Assistantes, the Secretary & the Consultours only, nevertheless sometimes also other officers, & others( not officers) are wont to be called, according to the matters which are to bee treated, as the Father or perfect shall think good,  
The order that is to be observed is that which followeth first, are said a Patur noster, & Aue Maria, with the prayer Actiones nostras: Secondly, the things to be treated of, are proposed, & every one to propose that which to him occurreth, for the service, and good of the Congregation, lastly the Congregation ended with an Aue Maries stella & the prayer defend quaesumus Domine.  
The first that speaketh his opinion about that which is proposed, is the perfect, After whom follow the first & second Assistants, the secretary, and so the rest one after another, and all are to be secret.  
Of the things that are determined in the particular Congregation apperteyninge unto all; Relation is to be given to the rest in the next general Congregation, to the end those things may be accordingely performed: And the Secretary as he hath care to set down all in the book of acts, of the Congregation, so is it his care also to remember the Father & perfect to do the foresaid office in the general Congregation.   

About the ordinary Exercises of the Congregation.  
CHAPTER 5.  
THe ordinary exercises of the Congregation are these following.  
First, some spiritual book is red for a quarter of an hour while they come together.  
Secondly, mass is said.  
Thirdly, if it be not necessary to resume the spiritual reading for some occurrence, the Father, or some other Priest say the prayers before the Congregation, with the litanies of our B. Lady, all answering thereunto.  
Fowerthly, some points of meditation are briefly proposed by the Father, whereupon all do afterwards meditate for one quarter of an hour in silence.  
Fiftly, At the end of meditation, the Father is wont to recommend to their prayers, some particular occurrence, or necessity.  
Sextly, The rest of the time is spent in some spiritual exercise, which according to the dayes is changed.  
Seauently, The exercise to be done in the next Congregation, and other such like things are notified.  
Eghtly, The letters directed to the Congregation( when any come) are red.  
Nintly, If any be to enter, they are then admitted.  
Tently, The secretary readeth, or causeth to be red the Indulgence of Rome, which they may gain for that week, by saying seven times the Paternosters, & Aue Maria, in some church of those of the society of Iesus, or in others( when in the place where they are, there be no Churches of the said society.)  
Eleuently, The prayers of the Congregation, are said by the Father, or some other priest.  
Twelftly, One other mass is said for those who were not present at the first.  
On every Sunday, & certain other feasts also, a conference is wont to be made of some moral points, after the manner which more fully is afterwards said in the particular Chapter thereof.  
On the saturday before the first Sunday of the month following when it may be, & that there is time, the Father is wont to give some notice unto all of the general Communion, which is to be made on the said first Sunday.  
every month a mass is to be said by some Priest of the sodality, appointed by the prefect: And the first saturday of the month every one is to hear a mass, and one Nocturne, & three lessons of the office of the dead is to be said for the souls departed of the Congregation in general, in the Oratory; And before it beginneth, the Secretary readeth, or causeth to be red the names of those of the sodality deceased.  
On the 2. saturday of the month 3. appointed and warned by the Father, are to discourse vpon the saint, sentence, and virtue, which befalleth the Congregation, in common, when the distribution of Sainctes is made: The first speaketh of the saint; the second of the virtue; the third of the sentence.  
On the 3. saturday there is no determinate exercise besides the foresaid, nor on the fouerth when the month chanceth to haue five.  
On the last saturday is wont to be made the distribution of Sainctes, with the other things which that action requireth, as is more fully said in his particular chapter.  
On the feasts of our saviour, of our B. Lady, of all Sainctes, & of the Apostles, there is no determinate exercise, neither of discourse, nor conference: But the Father is wont to see, & deliberate what maketh most to the purpose.  
When the B. Sacrament is exposed, an exhortation is made after mass.  
On the day of the Immaculate Conception in the morning, mass is said by the Father, or some other Priest; There is a general Communion to the which all men may be admitted; Afterwards are said the wonted prayers, with the litanies of our B. Lady, & immediately followeth a Sermon, and when there remaineth time there are said other Masses.  
On the saturday with in the Octaue of the commemoration of the Dead, a mass of Requiem is said, and afterwards, the whole office of the dead, for them of the Congregation deceased; And the prayers wont to be said before, & after the Congregation, the litanies and the meditation are omitted, which likewise is to be observed, when the whole office of the dead is said for any one of the sodality departed.  
On the dayes that the Election of officers is made, there is no meditation, nor other exercise, but that is observed which is afore said in his particular chapped.  
On the day that the new perfect taketh possession, or on some other that the Father thincketh good, in place of the forenamed spiritual exercise after the Meditation, are wont to be red the common Rules of the Congregation.   

Of Masses.  
CHAPTER 6.  
THe mass is wont to be said at the beginning of the Congregation, & it beginneth always at the hour which from time to time the Father doth appoint, without missinge any whit, that so the other exercises may haue their due time.  
Another mass also is to be said after the Congregation for those which haue denotion to hear it.  
Al are wont to be admonished precisely of the hour of mass( as well in winter as in summer) to the end that knowing it, they may distribute punctually the time for other things.  
Vpon holy thursday mass is said in the oratory, where there is a general Communion, with a conference of the B Sacrament.  
Vpon Easter eve mass is said with the Prophecies, & litanies.  
When any of the Congregation should happen to be made Priest, it must be signified unto the Father that he may invite the rest to hear his first mass, and to communicate( if they will) thereat; And at the end they kiss( for reverence sake) his hand, And if time permit, they are wont to make a conference of the excellency & dignity of Priest hood; of the reuerenee which is due unto Priestes, and of the virtues which they ought to haue.   

Of the holy Communion  
CHAPTER 7.  
WHen any( for some necessary impediment) cometh not in time for to communicate with the rest at the first mass, let him defer it until the last, not to trouble the exercises of the Congregation.  
In the oratory there is wont ordinarily to be a Father( until the time of the communion) for the commodity of those which haue need to confess.  
The time of communion is after the Priest hath communicated himself, before he taketh ablution.   

Of prayer & Meditation.  
CHAPTER 8.  
THe Meditation ordinarily is not to be omitted when there is a Congregation, except on those dayes in the which the election of officers is made; the office of the dead is said with three Nocturnes and when the B. Sacrament is exposed.  
For the Meditation, the Father is briefly to propose the matter, & those points which he shall judge to be most to the purpose; which sometimes he causeth to be red out of soome book.  
The Meditation doth not last above a quarter of an hour, and it is to be made after the litanies of our B. Lady, before all other spiritual exercises: And before they begin, the Father,( after the points be given) or some other Priest, is wont to say the prayer Actiones nostras &c. & in the end to begin the Magnificat, standing & the rest say forward by turns, some on the one side, & some on the other, & after all, he saith the prayer Famulis tuis quaesumus Domine.   

Of the Conferences.  
CHAPTER 9.  
THe Conferences are to be made ordinarily vpon all the sundays in the year, vpon the Gospells which occur, and at any other time when the Father shall think good vpon the same matters of the Gospells occurring, or others,  
It belongeth to the Father to ask them indifferently as he thinks good, but he taketh heed not to ask but such as will take it in good parte.  
If unto those which the Father doth ask, nothing do occur, It is sufficient, that putting of their hats they answer modestly that nothing doth occur unto them; but when they would say any thing, putting on their hats let them do it aloude that they may be understood by all, & the Father may now & then briefly interlace some thing between every ones discourse.  
In this exercise of the Conferences, ostentation is to be shunned, & prolixity, that others may haue time to speak, & they must avoyde speculative discourse, & with breuitye, and simplicity attend unto moral, & practical considerations, by the which they may receive profit, which in all is the end of the Congregation, but particularly in this conference.   

Of the prayer of quarant-hower.  
CHAPTER 10.  
WHen the B. Sacrament is to be exposed in the Oratory vpon the day appointed, the Altar and the Oratory, is decently to be adorned, but in such manner, that ostentation, & superfluity be shunned, & yet that nothing be wanting unto the convenient adorning of the same: And for this cause in particular there must not be more then 24. lights of white wax placed with proportion.  
That morning mass is to be said, & a general communion is made thereat: And when there is commodity for music, some mottet may be saying at the offertory at the elevation, & in time of the general Communion.  
mass being done, ymediatly( without loosinge of time) the litanies of our B. Lady are red by him that hath said the mass, kneeling before the Altar, & all answer devoutly, & after having incensed the B. Sacrament, he setteth it in the place prepared.  
After which there is a Sermon of half an hour, which ended, according to the bill which is set up near unto the door of the Oratory, one after another all that day they make their determinate hours of prayer, and sometime after dinner, the Father, or some body else maketh another Sermon  
moreover when they haue commoditye, now & then some mottet, psalm, or other spiritual thing may be saying with a few, good and sweet voices, which may help devotion.  
The same evening without other ceremony, or solemnity the B. Sacrament is covered vpon the Altar of the Oratory, the which afterwards is carried back into the church by the Fathers.   

Of the Distribution of the Sainctes of every month.  
CHAPTER 11.  
VPon the last saturday of every month Sainctes are distributed for the month following; The which is done with certain little papers prepared by the Sacristans against that day in sufficient number: every one of which papers is to haue the name of the saint, and the day of the Feast; a spiritual sentence, with a virtue unto which they are especially, to attend; a particular intention and the name of one of the sodality to pray for: The manner to be observed in the distributing of these Sainctes, is as followeth.  
At the time appointed Vent Creator spititus being said with the prayer Deus qui corda Fidelium, All remaining upon their knees, the Father at the Altar draweth a paper, and the saint therein contained, is to be the next month following protector of the whole Congregation, he readeth it publicly, and all make a little short prayer giving thanks unto the saint of the month past for, the protection which he hath had of the sodality, & entreating the new one to take the protection of it in place of the other; Then rising up, they sit down; The Father taketh a saint for himself, & readeth the paper after the same manner; Then followeth the perfect, the first, and second Assistants, the secretary, and after, all the rest according as they are called by the secretary, & every one whilst the Father doth read his saint, kneels on the ground bare headed before the Altar, and having received the saint at the hand of the Father, he maketh a short prayer applyinge unto his own saint, and unto himself in particular that which is said before of the whole sodality.  
The distribution being ended, the litanies of the Sainctes are said, putting the name of the saint which hath happened unto the whole sodality in his proper place therein, and repeatinge it twice: And after the litanies, the prayer Concede quaesumus oimpotens Deus vt intercessio &c. is said.  
The paper of the saint which hath happened to the whole sodality, is by the secretary placed where all may whensoever they will see it, & read it: And on the same day those three are admonished, who the time appointed are to make some discourse vpon the saint, the sentence & the virtue.  
unto those which were not present at the distribution,( that they be not deprived of so great a good,) the papers of the Sainctes are given after, without any other ceremony.  
whilst the distribution of the Sainctes is made, all must attend with diligence unto the spiritual sentences which are red procuring to receive profit thereby.   

Of the visiting of hospitals.  
CHAPTER 12.  
ORdinarily upon all the Fridayes of the year when they are not hindered by some other exercise in the Congregation, or by some other more urgent occasion, they are wont to go in the morning in competent numbers, & the Father with thē, to visit some hospital & to serve the sick in time of dinner, taking also occasion to give them some spiritual repast of good counsel, that so charity be exercised not only with their bodies, but also with their souls, in that half hour, or little more, which is bestowed therein. They go thither( of themselves) without obligation of meeting in any other place( except in the said hospital) And,( besides, some which are accustomend to go ordinarily of their own accord) It is the use that others be particularly in the public Congregation invited unto that exercise the sunday before, for the Friday following, who( hearing themselves name) uncover their heads, in token that they do accept the invitation.   

Of the spiritual offerings.  
CHAPTER 13.  
THey are wont to make some spiritual offerings unto God unto our B. Lady, & unto the Sainctes; The which do consist in fastings, disciplininges, and communions, visiting of hospitals, of the prisoners, hearing mass, in alms, visiting Holy places, the rosary, the beads, saying some office, vocal and mental prayer, acts of virtue, & other works of piety, either for the whole month, week, or one day only, as every one shall think best.  
These offerings are wont to be made upon the dayes which the Father doth assign, and upon occasion, of some feast following; as of the Conception of the most B. Virgin, of all Sainctes, of advent, of the epiphany, & the Anuntiation, on which( being the day our Congregation began) an annual memory is made) with thanckesgeuing, unto God, & unto his most holy Mother; & in acknowledgement of so greeat a favour, somewhat is offered unto them, of our poverty, chiefly on that day, when the son of God became man for our sake; And they must pray for the happy progress, & spiritual advancement of the Congregation.  
And always when they understand of any trouble, or urgent necessity of the Christian common wealth,( especially of our country) like offerings are made unto our saviour, to his most Holy Mother, & unto the Sainctes, that they would mitigate the wrath of almighty God and be our Patrons, and intercessors in those necessities.  
The foresaid offerings are made in writtinge, & the words, & intention is such, that they are not held for vows, but only for devout purposes, by the neglectinge whereof they commit no sin, but only the merit is lost which was to be had for that good work: And in the bill is written the name and surname of him which offers it, the which bill they bring from home ready made, or else they writ it in the oratory itself in papers, which for that purpose are prepared, reteyninge with them a copy for their memory; Afterwards every one( as he sits in the Oratory) goeth to carry his bill to the box, for this purpose placed at the foot of the crucifix before the Altar kissinge first the foot of the crucifix: And these bills come not to the hands of others, but of the Father only, who burneth them; And the memory of that which is contained in them serveth only for the spiritual good of the offerour.   

Of Candelmasse & palm Sunday.  
CHAPTER 14.  
VPon Candelmas day & palm Sunday, the Father, or some other priest, blesseth the candles, & palms, which are provided, of the same fashion, & bigness for all.  
The distribution of the same is made afterwards amongst all the Congregation which are present in the Oratory; first unto the Father, then unto the perfect, & the rest of the Officers which sit vpon the bench and afterwards unto the others, beginning in order from the top of the bench.  
The Sacristans haue care to provide candles for that day & bows of oliues with little crosses of palms.   

Of the accusinge themselves of their own faults.  
CHAPTER 15.  
IT is the custom now & then of some more fervent to accuse themselves publicly of their faults and defects committed in the observing of the Rules & the like, & kneeling down before the Father, and the perfect, they humbly ask penance in public, which the Father giveth thē. In these actions,( besides that they give edification unto others, and become more exact observers of the Rules) they merit very much before Almighty God; The fittest time for their accusation, is after the meditation, and before the Conference begin.   

The manner of coming in, & going out of the oratory.  
CHAPTER 16.  
ALl at their entering in to the Oratory, first take holy water, & then sign their names in the Table of those that frequent: And those that will communicate do sign their names in the Table of communicants, to the end that the Sacristans may know the number of those which are to communicate, & may provide sufficient hostes. This being done, kneeling on both knees, they make a little prayer as long as they think good, so that the exercise be not begun. But coming in time of meditation, they meditate together with the rest; And if they come whilst the points of meditation are giving, or in time of conference, of sermon, or exhortation, It is sufficient they kneel down, & make a short prayer, & after reverence made to the Altar, they turn themselves likewise to those that sit vpon the benches, & it is sufficient that the Father, or perfect uncover unto thē, to avoyde disturbance, Then they sit down in a place, in which they may beseene comodiously procuring to sit close( as much as they can) to leave place for others.  
In sitting, the 26. common Rule is exactly observed, proceeding without ceremony, or precedence: Chayers are only given to the Father & Magistrates.  
In going forth, they observe the same, without having any rerespect of Precidencie, the which is always cause of disunion, and disagreeinge of opinion.   

Of the manner of admitting into the Sodality.  
CHAPTER 17.  
IN the memorials which they do give up that desire to be received, they are to writ their names, surnames, country, profession, and dwelling place, and when the persons are not known the diligence is observed, which is set down in the common Rule 31.  
After they are received to the Probation, they use in the 3. months of it, to be present at all the spiritual exercises which ordinarily are performed, to the end, that by their proceeding they may be known, & a iudgement made of them; and on the other side, they seeing that which others do, learn the observance of the Rules, but they are not permitted to haue suffrage in the election, or admission, or any other busenes which is treated of in the Congregation.  
The time of their Probation being expired, their instructors do propound to the whole Congregation their admission( but yet in the absence of those which are to be admitted) & their instructors make the relation according to the contents in their particular Rules: After the wonted prayers are said( that is Veni Creator spiritus, and the prayer of the holy ghost) they go about the choice, & the greater parte of the suffrages prevaileth, & if they receive him, they aduise him by his instructors of his receiving, & in the next Congregation they cause him to be brought in by the same instructors & they receive him with the accustomend prayers, & ceremonies, being met in the entrance by 2. Sacristans, and brought between thē to kneel down hard by the Altar, where they make a little prayer, which being done, the Sacristans carry them to the bench, where they are embraced in name of all the Congregation, first of the Father, then of the magistrates, & they put them in mind of the plenary Indulgence which they obtain: And lastly they say Te Deum Laudamus, with the prayer Da nobis quaesumus Domine perseuerantem &c.  
It is not the custom to admittany of another Congregation to ours, whose patents be not very well examined, or at least the person himself, and certain notice is to be procured whether he haue the qualities required in one of our Congregation.  
But Prelates are so privileged that without any probation, or further trial, it sufficeth they signify to the Father or perfect their desire to enter into the Congregation, & so to be admitted.   

The manner of recommendinge himself to God in the morning.  
1.  
TO give thanks to Almigtie God for the benefits received in general, & in particular for having passed well that night. 2. To offer himself wholly in the hands of Almighty God, and pray that he keep him, and give him grace to do that day al things according to his will.  
3. To consider those things, which do most draw him to sin, resoluinge to abstain from them & withall renewinge his good purpose of spiritual life.  
4. To ask help to that end of our B. Lady, and to recommend himself to all the company of the blessed of heaven, and in particular to his saint protector for that month.  
5. Lastly to say thrice Pater noster & thrice Aue Maria for all the faithful alive & dead, & to go devoutly to mass offering that sacrifice for his sins & the necessities of the Holy church.   

A manner of examininge our conscience at night  
TO give thanks to almighty God for the benefits received generally, & in particular for those received that day.  
To ask grace of our saviour, & true light to know, & hate sin & in particular the errors committed that day.  
To ask account of his conscience of all that wherein he shall haue offended almighty God that day in thought, word, deed and omission, attending to those defects to which he is most inclined.  
To ask of almighty God humbly pardon of whatsoever fault or sin which he shall find  
To haue a firm purpose to preserve himself by the help of almighty God from sin hereafter, with purpose to confess himself ending with Pater noster, Aue Maria & the creed.  
FINIS.   

SOme few Chapters of the Roman copy concerning certain particular officers, & some kind of penances, & expenses,( not making for our present purpose) are in this edition omitted, kept notwithstanding by the secretary to be printed, & practised when it shalbe judged convenient.