or BECHARDS, religious of the third order of St Francis in Flanders. They were established at Antwerp in the year 1228, and took St Begge for their patroness, whence they had their name. From their first institution they employed themselves in making linen cloth, each supporting himself by his own labour, and united only by the bonds of charity, without having any particular rule. But, when Pope Nicholas IV. had confirmed that of the third order of St Francis in 1289, they embraced it the year following. They were greatly favoured by the dukes of Brabant, particularly John II. and John III. who exempted them from all contributions and taxes. In the year 1425, they began to live in common, and made solemn vows in 1467, after having taken the habit of the Tercearies (or religious of the third order of St Francis) of Liege. At last, in 1472, they became subject to the general of the congregation of Zepperen in the diocese of Liege, to which they were united by Pope Sixtus IV. As the convent of Antwerp is since become very considerable, the name of Beguards has been given to all the other religious of the same congregation. But, in 1650, Pope Innocent X. having suppressed the general of the congregation of Zepperen, all the convents of the third order of St Francis, in the dioceses of Liege, Malines, and Antwerp, were submitted to the visitation, jurisdiction, and correction, of the general of Italy, and erected into a province, under the title of the province of Flanders. This province has at present 10 or 12 convents, the principal of which are those of Antwerp, Brussels, Maastricht, and Louvain.