MOUNT GRACE PRIORY. THE FOUNDING OF THE CARTHUSIAN ORDER. BY THE REV. H. V. LE BAS., M.A., Preacher of the Charterhouse, London. Stat Crur dum volvitur orbis. THE Order of Carthusians was established at La Chartreuse, in the mountains of Savoy, in the year 1084. Bruno, a native of Cologne, was the founder. It is recorded of him that after a course of theological study at Paris he returned to his native town, where he became a canon of the Church of St. Cuthbert. This position he quitted on his appointment to a canonry in the Cathedral of Rheims, of which church he was shortly made chancellor. In 1084 he determined to withdraw entirely from the world, and devote himself to a life of asceticism. It has been said that one of the causes of this determination was the disgust which he felt at the shameful administration of the diocese of Rheims. Finding himself powerless to abate the irregularities which so greatly distressed him, he made up his mind to abandon his ecclesiastical position and prospects, and to seek for peace in a life of seclusion, asceticism, and prayer. Six friends were persuaded to accompany him, and after some deliberation on the choice of a locality, they settled at a lonely spot in the mountains of Dauphiné, which the Bishop of Grenoble granted to them for the purpose. The place was called La Chartreuse, and from this name of their first home the Order takes its title. The word has survived in a modified form in the vernacular of all the countries in which the Carthusians have settled. In England we speak of the Charterhouse and the Carthusians; in Italy the words become Certosa and Certosini; in Spain Kartuja and Kartujanos; in Germany Karthaus and Karthäuser, etc. The legendary form of the history of the foundation of the Carthusian Order has been recorded on the authority of the Carthusians themselves. It is given in the Statutes of Prior Guigo, which were first printed in 1510. The translation of the Latin original is as follows: VOL. XVIII. P Richard Hochinson, of Wyckham aforesaid, is well borne and descended of worthie auncestres, that haue of longe tyme vsed and boren armes as tokens and demonstrations of their race and gentry, which lykewise to him by iust descent and prerogative of birth ar duely deryued; He, yet not knowenge of any creast or cognoysance properly belonginge vnto his auncient armes (as in very deede to meny auncient cotes of armes ther be none), hath required me, the said Norroy Kinge of Armes, to assigne vnto his said auncient armes a creast or cognoysance, meete and lawful to be boren without preiudice or offence to any other person. In consideration wherof, for a further declaration of the [wort]hinesse of the said Edward Hochinson, and at his instant request, I, the said Norroy Kinge of Armes, by power [and au1]thoritie to me committed by Letters Patentes vnder the Greate Seale of England, have assigned, giuen, and graunted [vnto'] the said Edward Hochinson to his auncient armes, being Partie per pale gueules and asure a lyon rampant argent, the feild replenished with crosse crosselets gold, for his creast or cognoysance, vpon the heaulme, a cockatrice asure, membred gueules, seiant in a coronett gold, and hauinge the winges eleuated, with mantelles gueules, doubled argent; as more plainly togither with the said auncient armes appereth depicted in the margine hereof. Which armes and creast, or cognoysance, and euery part and parcell therof, I, the said Norroy Kinge of Armes, do by these presentes ratifie, confirme, giue, and graunt vnto the said Edward Hochinson, and to all the offspringe and posteritie of the beforenamed Richard Hochinson, the father, for euer. He and they the same to haue, hold, vse, beare, enioy, and shew foorth, to their estimation and worshippe, at all tymes, and for euer hereafter, at his and their libertie and pleasure, accordinge to the lawe of armes, without the impediment, lett, or interruption of any person or persons. In witnesse wherof I, the said Norroy Kinge of Armes, haue hereunto subscribed my name, and sette the seale of myne office, the fourth day of June, in the yere of our Lord God a thousand fiue hundred foure score and one, and in the xxiijth yere of the reigne of our moste gracious souuereigne lady, Queene Elizabeth. p' moy Wyllam Flower, alias Circular seal, yellow wax, 1 inches in diameter, a cross, and on a chief a lion passant between a fleur-de-lys and a key. SIGILL... REGIS ARMORVM PA..... BORIALIS. Dorso:-Norroy King of Arms to Hutchinson, esquire. Grant of a crest to his antient family arms. (Seventeenth century hand.) 1 Hole in the MS. and from 20 me of ther ins LMR te we w The word has survived in a modde bru the countnes vart tue arobain table bet speak of the Chameroone and the Caftizati become Certosa and Cent # Span las y aids Kist, jaid's Germany Karthaus and Lartiuser er The legendary form of the 11.3.0 " Carthusian Order has DEPT. TECOTOUR A Carthusians themselves. It a giver it to be as of your My bigbo which were first printed in original is as follows: VOL. XVIIL A SHORT NOTICE ON THE ORIGIN OF THE CARTHUSIAN ORDER. At Paris about the thousand and eighty-second year from the incarnation of our Lord sacred studies were in high repute. At that time a certain Professor, distinguished above his fellows by his manner of life, his learning, and his reputation, died of the extreme weakness incident to advanced age. Now when the whole University of Paris, both Professors and Scholars, had met for the interment portion of his funeral obsequies, suddenly, to the amazement of all, the dead man raised his head, and then sank back again on his bier, and in the hearing of all, with a loud and awful voice, he called out, "I have been accused at the just tribunal of GOD." This said, his head fell back on the bier, and once more he lay (as) dead. At this astounding miracle all present were terrified, and determined that the corpse should be watched till the next day. When morning dawned a very large concourse was gathered, both of learned and ignorant men; in their presence, while they were discussing with great astonishment what had happened the day before, the dead man suddenly raised his head once more, and with a lamentable and fearful cry thundered out, "I have been judged at the just tribunal of GOD." All who had come together to see the sight, distinctly and intelligibly heard this cry, and enquired what could be the portent implied by these unusual utterances of a dead man, and they settled unanimously that the corpse should certainly not be buried till the day following. So when morning came, as this astounding report of a strange occurrence had been bruited through the whole town, there was a great gathering of old and young, of sick and poor. Now, when all things had been duly set in order, and the body was being conveyed to the burial, the dead man suddenly, for the third time, gave forth a very loud and lamentable cry, saying, "I have been condemned at the just tribunal (or by the just decision) of GOD." When they heard distinctly this horrible and unexpected sentence of damnation passed on so great a man, all present, struck with fear and trembling, called to mind the text of the royal prophet, "By terrible things in Thy righteousness wilt thou answer us; Thy thoughts are very deep." Among others present on that occasion was Bruno, a native of Germany, who was born of parents of good repute in the city of Cologne. He was a canon of the Cathedral of Rheims and a distinguished professor of divinity. There were also present two Stephens, one of Bourg and the other from Die, canons of Saint Ruff. They had been joined also by one Hugo, whom they called their chaplain, for the reason that he was the only one among them who could perform |