BEGUINES, a congregation of religious or nuns founded either by St Beghe, founder likewise of the Beguards, or by Lambert le Begue; of whom the former died about the end of the seventh century, the latter
Beguines, latter about the end of the 12th. They were established
Beheading. first at Liege, and afterwards at Neville, in 1207; and
from this last settlement sprang the great number of
Beguines, which are spread over all Flanders, and
which have passed from Flanders into Germany. In
the latter country, some of these religious fell into ex-
travagant errors, persuading themselves that it was pos-
sible, in the present life, to arrive at the highest per-
fection, even to impeccability, and a clear view of
God; in short, to so eminent a degree of contemplation,
that there was no necessity, after this, either to observe
the laws of the church, or submit to the direction and
laws of mortal men. The council of Vienna, in 1113,
condemned these errors, and abolished the order of
Beguines; permitting, nevertheless, those among them,
who continued in the true faith, to live in chastity and
penitence, either with or without vows. It is by fa-
vor of this latter clause, that there still subsist so many
communities of Beguines in Flanders; who, since the
council of Vienna, have conducted themselves with so
much wisdom and piety, that Pope John XXII. by his
decretal, which explains that of his predecessor made
in the council of Vienna, took them under his protec-
tion; and Boniface VIII. in another, exempted them
from the secular tribunal, and put them under the ju-
risdiction of the bishops.
There is scarce a town in the Low-Countries, in
which there is not a society of Beguines; and, not-
withstanding the change of religion at Amsterdam,
there is a very flourishing one in that city. These so-
cieties consist of several houses placed together in one
inclosure, with one or more churches, according to
the number of Beguines. There is in every house a
prioress, or mistress, without whose leave they dare not
stir out. They make a sort of vow, which is conceived
in the following terms: "I, N. promise to be obe-
dient and chaste as long as I continue in this Begui-
nage." They observe a three years novitiate before
they take the habit. The rector of the parish is supe-
rior of the Beguine; and he does nothing without
the advice of eight Beguines. They were formerly
habited in different manners; some in grey, others in
blue; but at present they all wear black. When they
go abroad, in Amsterdam, they put on a black veil.
Formerly they had as many different statutes as there
were societies. In the visitations of the year 1600 and
1601, by the archbishop Matthias Hovius, they were
forbidden, under the penalty of a fine, to have lap-dogs.
The finest Beguine in Flanders is that of Malines.
That of Antwerp likewise is very spacious, and has
two separate churches.