ABSTRACT
The Carthusians, founded in the 11th century, were proverbial for their strictness in the matter of discipline. Their rules were most minute and particular on this point. Delinquents had to strip, and go before their Superiors to receive severe punishment. Novices were visited with slighter disciplines. For criminals and apostates fourteen days’ fasting and fourteen days’ scourging before the whole inmates was the usual punishment. Even when travelling, the rules of the order with regard to the birch were strictly enforced. The Superiors were exemplary in asserting their prerogative of birching the novices. The laymen of the order received a double share of the scourging, and on festival days were well whipped on the back down to the knees. Sometimes the usual birch was not considered enough, and stronger instruments were procured. In the convents of this order the discipline was equally strict. The three principal rules were the punishing, the regulating, and the voluntary discipline.
