DIARY OF THE" BLUE NUNS."
to her the Obligations of a Religious life, and the Examen has been made by the Authority of his Grace my Lord Arch-Bishop, she shall give her the habit, provided that this be done with consent of the principal superiour of the house, to whom it belongs to perform the usuall ceremonies of Cloathings, in case he chuses not rather to depute some other in his place. 3. Assoon as she shall receive the Habit, Mother Abbesse shan put her under the direction of a Mistress of the novices, in whom she may confide, who shall teach her both the practice & ceremonies of a Religious state, and instruct her in the method both of mental & vocal Prayer, as also in all the Exercises of humility, Mortification, and generally all other Vertues. 4. Novices shall no way be allow'd to make any Friendships, or particular Familiarity with any person, or even to speak either to the Religious or Pensioners without express leave either of the Mother Abbesse, or their Mistress, who shall be present if they speak to any Pensioners, or other seculars whatever. 5. During the time of their Noviceship they shall twice pass the suffrages of the whole Community: the First at the six months end, counted from the time of their Cloathing, the second six weeks before the year of their Noviceship bee expir'd, before which last suffrages their Mistress shall render an account to Mother Abbesse both of their humours, & how they are dispos'd; and if they be found unfit, let them be charitably sent away without making them pass any further the suffrages of the Community: But such as are receiv'd must have the secret suffrages at least of above half the Religious that have voices in Chapter, to make them capable of it. lt is to bee observ'd, that if there happens any doubt to be made of any ones being admitted, by reason they shall not have provided sufficiently for their maintenance, Mother Abbesse before the Year of their Noviceship be expir'd, shall tell the Novice in the presence of the Discreets, that she cannot be receiv'd altho the time of her Noviceship be now ended, unless she brings the Community such a portion as may handsomely keep her all her Life, that is supposing the community has not a sufficient revenue to subsist otherwise; for in such a case Novices shall be receiv'd without any portion. 6. A little before their Profession, either the Superior, or some other person commission'd by his Grace my Lord Arch-Bishop, shall examine them concerning their Vocation. After which, in the presence of Mother Abbesse & the whole Conununity, they shall make a publick and solemn renunciation of the world, and all that belongs thereto, as Parents, or any manner of Riches that they might expect, & humbly ask their profession of the whole Community. 7. In asmuch as such a Profession is a concerne of the last importance, & wherein they consecrate themselves entirely to God, they shall take eight or ten days to retire & prepare themselves for it, both by a general confession since their last, by prayer, and other spiritual exercises. I