or PREMONSTRATENSES, a religious order of regular canons instituted in 1120, by S. Norbert; and thence also called Norbertines.

The first monastery of this order was built by Norbert in the Isle of France, three leagues to the west of Laon; which he called Premonstry, Premonstratum, and hence the order itself derived its name; though as to the occasion of that name, the writers of that order are divided. At first the religious of this order were so very poor, that they had only a single ab, which served to carry the wood they cut down every morning, and sent to Laon in order to purchase bread. But they soon received so many donations, and built so many monasteries, that in 30 years after the foundation of the order, they had above 100 abbeys in France and Germany; and in process of time the order so increased, that it had monasteries in all parts of Christendom, amounting to 1000 abbeys, 300 provostships, a vast number of priories, and 500 nunneries. But they are now greatly diminished. The rule they followed was that of St Augustine, with some slight alterations, and an addition of certain severe laws, whose authority did not long survive their founder.

The order was approved by Honorius II. in 1126, and again by several succeeding popes. At first the abstinence from flesh was rigidly observed. In 1245 Innocent IV. complained of its being neglected to a general chapter. In 1288, their general, William, procured leave of Pope Nicholas IV. for those of the order to eat flesh on journeys. In 1460, Pius II. granted them a general permission to eat meat, excepting from Septuagesima to Easter. The dress of the religious of this order is white, with a scapulary before the cincture. Out of doors they wear a white cloak and white hat; within, a little camail; and at church, a surplice, &c.

In the first monasteries built by Norbert, there was one for men and another for women, only separated by a wall. In 1137, by a decree of a general chapter, this practice was prohibited, and the women removed out of those already built, to a greater distance from those of the men.

The premonstratenses, or monks of Premontre, vulgarly called white canons, came first into England, A.D. 1146. Their first monastery, called Newhouse, was erected in Lincolnshire, by Peter de Saulia, and dedicated to St Martial. In the reign of Edward I., this order had 27 monasteries in England.