or Bridgetins, more properly Brigittini, a religious order, denominated from their founder St Bridgit or Birgit, a Swedish lady in the 14th century: whom some represent as a queen; but Fabricius, on better grounds, as a princess, the daughter of king Birgenes, legislator of Upland, and famous for her revelations. The Brigittins are sometimes also called the Order of our Saviour; it being pretended, that Christ himself dictated the rules and constitutions observed by them to St Bridget. In the main, the rule is that of St Augustin; only with certain additions supposed to have been revealed by Christ, whence they also denominate it the Rule of our Saviour.—The first monastery of the Bridgettine order was erected by the foundress about the year 1344, in the diocese of Linköping; on the model of which all the rest were formed. The constitution of these houses was very singular: though the order was principally intended for nuns, who were to pay a special homage to the holy Virgin, there are also many friars of it, to minister to them spiritual assistance. The number of nuns is fixed at 60 in each monastery, and that of friars to 132. Brignoles answerable to the number of apostles, of whom St Paul made the 13th; besides which there are to be four deacons, to represent the four doctors of the church, St Ambrose, St Augustin, St Gregory, and St Jerome; and eight lay-brothers; making together, says our author, the number of Christ's 72 disciples.—The order being instituted in honour of the Virgin, the direction is committed to an abbess, who is superior not only of the nuns, but also of the friars, who are obliged to obey her. Each house consists of two convents or monasteries, separately inclosed, but having one church in common; the nuns being placed above, and the friars on the ground. The Bridgetines profess great mortification, poverty, and self-denial, as well as devotion; and they are not to possess any thing they can call their own, not so much as an halfpenny; nor even to touch money on any account. This order spread much through Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, &c. In England we read but of one monastery of Brigittes, and this built by Henry V. in 1413, opposite to Richmond, now called Stone house; the ancient inhabitants of which, since the dissolution, are settled at Lisbon. The revenues were reckoned at £1495 per annum.