THe Pastorall care and vigilancy of the Romish Pope ( vnto whom the Vineyard of the Lord of Sabbath , through the vnspeakeable providence of the chiefest and supreamest Father of the Family , is committed ) doth chiefely ayme at this scope , that no Labourers shall presumptuously intrude themselues into this Vineyard without being lawfully called and elected , who may destroy the good seed , roote out the well-growing , make weeds to spring vp , and mixe evill bastard branches among the good plants .

Notwithstanding that there hath beene made a very sharpe and strong prohibition , by the Christian Ordinances of the Generall Lateran Councell , and the Councell of Lyons , that no person should dare to ascribe so much power to himselfe , or take vpon him to bring in innovations in Religion , and that likewise by the godly Institutions of our predecessors of blessed Memory , Iohn the 22. and Clemens the fifth , Popes of Rome , all assemblies of Women , instituted by their owne power and authoritie , was cleane cut off , and rooted out , and condemned as most dangerous and pernicious . Neverthelesse , ( as wee haue vnderstood not without great griefe and sorrow of heart ) there are in divers parts of Italy , and of the Netherlands , certaine Women and Maidens , which haue boldly and presumptuously taken vpon them the name of Shee-Iesuites , without the consent and approbation of the Holy Apostolicall Chaire . These haue of late yeares made Convents and Assemblies , vnder pretence , and shew , of leading a devout and religious life . They haue vsed a singular kinde of habit , differing from all other , built Edifices and Houses in manner of Colledges , erected places named by the name of Novitiate , or tryall and probation . In these builded Colledges they haue established one to be Generall , and governo over the whole Assembly , giving them Stiles of Shee-Provosts ; Ascribing and taking vpon them such power and authoritie , as seemed good vnto themselues . Making Vowes and Protestations of Povertie , Chastitie , and Obedience , and these to stand for sound and solemne Vowes , having no ground nor warrant for this their Obedience , but onely their owne pleasure and well seeming , ( all vnder this Cloake and pretence of promoting Soules salvation ) taking vpon them ( not withstanding their Vow ) to walke freely about the Streets , and to performe such workes and businesses , which goe beyond the weakenesse , and capacitie , and braine of that sexe . And which doe in no wise beseeme and befit the modestie and civilitie of Women , and especially the Virgin Chastitie . Yea , such things , which godly and learned men , well experienced in the holy Scriptures , being of great knowledge and honest life , are wont to exercise and practise , not without a great deale of trouble , and much difficultie .

We therefore desiring and labouring by all meanes , in time to extirpate and roote out , all weeds and bryars out of the field of the holy Militant Church , haue Commanded and Charged our Reverend Brother Aloysius , Bishop of Tricariken , Ours and the Holy Apostolicall Chaires Nuntius in the Countryes of Lower-Germany , as also divers other Ordinaries , that they finding and perceiving the great dangers and scandalls which doe thence arise , should ( in the name of our Apostolicall Authoritie , ) earnestly admonish , and forewarne , and exhort the aforesaid Women and Maidens , to withdraw themselues from such intended courses and practises , and to betake themselues to better and wiser wayes and devises .

But whereas these presumptuous Women , contemning and despising the feare of God , and Vs , and abusing the great respect due vnto the Apostolicall Sea , to the great prejudice of their owne soules , and offending of many good religious people , haue not onely not obeyed our Fatherly and Godly admonitions , but haue not beene ashamed to continue and goe on in these their idle practises , and to broach and produce many things contrary to the Godly Truth and Doctrine of the Church . We haue now earnestly resolved to prevent such a farther contempt and presumption , with a sharpe and bitter sentence and penaltie . And to roote out and extirpate all such plants and sprouts vtterly , being so infectious , pernicious , and hurtfull to the Holy Church , for feare least they spread themselues farther , if they be not suppressed .

Therefore having held wise and provident Counsell with our Honourable Brothers , the Cardinalls of Rome , and the Generall Inquisitors , specially deputed against all evill Heresies of the said Sea , with vnanimous Counsell and Consent , according to the Decrees of the foresaid Councells , adhering to the Institutions of our Predecessors , Wee haue tituled the said Convents and Congregations of the sayd Women or Maidens , Shee-Iesuites . And doomed their sect and State , from the first beginning of their Institution , by our Apostolicall Authoritie . And doe by the tenour of this present Edict of Ours , declare the same to be voyde and of none effect or power , and that the same is of no worth , neither ever was .

And because they haue proceeded with the very action and execution of this their profession , Wee doe by our Apostolicall Authoritie , vtterly suppresse and annihilate the same , and make them subject to eternall abolition , and take away , and cut off the same from the most holy Church of God . Willing and ordaining , that the same Order of Women and Maidens , shall of all Christian beleeving people , be held for suppressed and abolished , extinguished , vtterly taken away , and extirpated . Neither will Wee that the same Women or Maidens shall any wayes be tyed , or obliged to performe the solemne Vow which they so strongly haue made to this purpose .

Furthermore , Wee will , ordaine , and declare , that all Shee-Visiters , shee-registrices , and shee-Provosts , as all other Shee-Governants and Officialls of the said Congregation and sect , by what name or title they may be named or called , shall by power of this our Edict be deprived of the Office , service , or place which they haue taken vpon them to performe or execute .

Wee doe likewise absolue all and every Woman or Maiden , which vnder pretence of a solemne Vow , hath ( vpon whatsoever occasion in this kinde ) bound or obliged her selfe to any obedience tending to this Order , and vtterly free them from such Vow and Obligation . Yea even those that haue in this nature tyed themselues by approbation of an Oath .

Furthermore , Wee doe ordaine , and command all Women or Maidens , and their afore-mentioned Governours , named or dignified with the foresaid or other manner of titles , ( by vertue of the holy obedience due vnto Vs , and vpon penaltie of our Bull , and farther Excommunication , which they will presently incurre , and from the which they cannot be absolved by any but our selfe , and whosoever shall be Pope of this holy Citie of Rome ) to depart , and seperate themselues from all those Colledges , or Houses where they are assembled , prohibiting them to haue any more meetings or assemblies together , to consult , conferre , or treate together , or performe either spirituall or temporall exercises . Willing and charging them presently and speedily to abandon and dismisse the manner of habit supposedly and fally taken vpon them , and never to put on the same any more , neither to admit any other Women or Maidens to receiue and put on the same . As also that they with their consent shall not suffer , nor counsell , helpe , or favour others to doe it directly or indirectly , or in any manner whatsoever , neither shall they professe themselues , or make known themselues to be religious persons , followers of that pretended sect and Congregation .

For the better suppressing of which Assembly , Wee doe freely and willingly absolue all those Women and Maidens , who haue really and punctually made their Vowes ( as Wee said before ) with that intention , being in such an estate , condemned and reprobated by the Apostolicall Chaire , although they haue not performed the promised conditions of their secret Vowes , nor could not performe the Obligation of their Vowes fully .

But all those who in any case haue made Vowes , ( being they are simple Vowes to liue honestly and religiously , being seperated from the other , and this reprobate State , and the pretended sect and Assembly , shunning and avoyding whatsoever hath by this Edict beene prohibited , these Wee permit to submit themselues to the obedience of the Ordinarie , with the vse , but nor the full command of their Goods , but with such power which Wee mercifully graunt them , both in their liues , and before their decease to dispose of them to holy and pious vses . Neuerthelesse this prouided , that the same Goods shall , without any will or Testament befall , and be deriued vnto those , which by right and equity were to succeede in them , and to inherite the same , if so bee that these women or maidens had not made such a vow of voluntary poverty .

And in case any of these afore-sayd women or maidens would betake themselues to the estate of Matrimony we graunt them free permission to marrie : but with this proviso , that they shall keepe that which therein is to bee obserued , and we doe afford them our Apostollicall Benediction , and as farre as necessity requires , the relaxation and quittance of all their vowes ( as aforesaid ) made by them .

But because the Apostle teacheth , that hee that marries doth well , but hee that remaines vnmarried doth better , wee doe therefore , as earnestly , and with as much power as wee can , admonish and exhort those afore-sayd women and maidens , by the mercies of God , in our fatherly loue and care , that they would but recall and truely consider , the zeale and affection which they haue had to embrace a holy , Religious , and Spirituall life , and to take vpon them the Lords yoke , and that they renounding themselues , and all worldly luses , cares , and concupiscences , would betake themselues into some holy and religious order instituted and approued of by this Holy Apostollicall Chaire . And there with a faithfull , holy and godly desire , and intentions , make their vowes vnto the God of Iacob : and with innocencie of hands , and puritie and sinceritie of heart , practizing and performing holy spirituall exercises of Religious workes , would manifest themselues to bee the purest and pretioust part of Christs Sheepe and Flocke . And there kindle their lampes with the flames of Loue , and so prepare themselues to meere the sweete heauenly Bridegroome of their soules .

Thus then wee doe ordaine , that these present Letters , and all the Contents of the same , yea notwithstanding , that the women or maidens of such a Sect and Assembly , or any other , hauing some suspition or seruple of the Premises , or pretending to haue , should not haue consented vnto the same , or haue not beene summoned and heard in the matter . And that the reasons of this same Edict , alleaged , verified , and otherwise sufficiently iustified , shall at no time whatsoever hereafter bee subiect to subreption , or obreption , nullitie , or invaliditie , or accounted wanting in our intentions . Or bee accused of any fault or defect , how great , vnthought of , or substantiall the same might bee ; neither bee lessened or dimished . No not although that in the afore-sayd businesse , the Solemnities , and all other things afore sayd , which ought to haue beene kept and obserued , were not prosecuted , obserued , and performed , Nor by reason of some Capitall point or Clause in Law , Ordinance , or Vse , nor by reason of any totall breach or prejudice , nor vnder pretence or any other excuse or cloake whatsoever : nor conclution of Law , nor any just reasonable and and priuiledged reason , which for the strength and validitie of the Premises , ought to haue beene produced or performed . Yea although that of our aforesayd will and pleasure , could no wayes nor no where appeare , nor bee made good or manifested otherwife , yet the same shall not bee impugned , opposed , made invalidable , bee brought into Law , bee controverted , nor bee brought vpon termes of Law . Neither shall any easement , making of way , termes and times granted by Law , or any other Iudiciall acts and remedies of fauour , grace , or Iustice bee obtained , or any way granted in this behalfe . Neither shall it bee lawfull for any one who hath obtained such easements , to vse or employ them , or benefit and helpe himselfe with such meanes in or without the Law . Neither shall these letters of ours bee comprehended vnder any other equall or vnequall fauours , which in time to come shall be recalled , suspended , held backe , or which might otherwise in time to come bee disposed of : but these shall euer be excepted and exempted , and shall for euer hereafter stand firme and vnalterable , and haue their full force vigour and perfect effect . And shall bee obserued and obeyed infringeable and vnviolable , of all those whom they doe concerne , or shall concerne hereafter . And thus ( and no otherwise ) in this matter afore-sayd shall it bee judged , by all Iudges , Ordinaries , Delegates , by the Auditors also of the affaires and matters concerning the Apostollicall Palace , and the Cardinals of the holy Romish Church : Legates and the Nuntius , and all others of whatsoeuer authority or power they are or shall bee , in all Instances and Iudgements , depriuing them all of all authority and power of judging otherwise . Wherefore wee doe declare whatsoeuer shall be contrary , or bee attempted contrary to this our fore-sayd Edict and Letters , of whatsoeuer Authoritie the same may be found , to bee frustrate , quite voide , and of none effect , whether the same bee vndertaken wittingly or ignorantly .

Furthermore , for the better execution of this our will and pleasure , wee doe commaund by Apostollicall Edict and Writing , all our Reuerend Brothers , and well-beloued Sonnes , Ours , and the Apostollicall Chaires Nuntius , all Patriarchs , Superiours or Governours of the Church ; Arch-Bishops , Bishops , and Ordinaries , wheresoever they are seated ; that as soone as our present letters shall come to them , or any of them , or shall any way be made knowne vnto them , solemnely to publish them , and cause them to bee published : and to put the same , and cause them to be put , in some place fit for that execution , either by themselues or others , as they shall finde fit and expedient in the Lord . Also Wee will and command them , earnestly to sensure by sentence , and seuerely to punish by Spirituall punishment , and other just and reasonable meanes , which may constraine and compell them . All those who are rebellious , gaine-saying , and will not obey our fore sayd Edict , debarring them , and depriving them from all manner and way of appeale , refuge , and recalling , employing to this end , the Temporall Magistrate , as farre as shall bee found requisite and necessary . Notwithstanding ( as farre as shall be necessary ) the Constitutions of Boniface the eight , our Predecessour , of blessed Memory , instituted one , and the Generall Counsell of two dayes Iourney , and all other contrarying .

And to the end that this present Edict , and the Contents thereof may be made knowne and manifested to all men , and no man may pretend or plead ignorance , Wee likewise will and commaund , that the same , be by one , or diuers of our Couriers affixed and published vpon the Church doore of Lateran , and Saint Peter the Prince of the Apostles of this City , and of the Apostollicall Chaunceries . And vpon the Corner of the Flower-field . And when the Copies shall be taken off , re-printed , and distributed abroad , which be thus affixed and published , all those ( within two moneths after the day of the sayd Publication ) whom it doth concerne any way , shall therby be so tied and obliged , as if notice of the same were giuen to their owne persons . Also that all the Copies thereof printed , being sealed with the feale of any Person placed in Spirituall Dignity , and subscribed by the hand of a Notarius Publicus , shall haue so much credence and beliefe given therevnto , as ought to be given vnto this present , if so be it were extended and shewed .

I● is not lawfull therefore for any one whosoever , to transgresse these our Letter of Suppression , annihilating , subjection , extenuation , and our Ordinances of Privation , Ablation , Obsolution , Remission , and Our Commandement of Declaration , Permission , Fauour or Grace , Admonition , Desires , Will and Pleasure ; or to oppose the same , or contrarie the same , through bolde and impudent presumption . For whosoever shall dare to vndertake and presume so much , the same shall fall into the wrath and indignation of God Almightie , and of his holy Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul .