542 Stanley Abbey. 



in Avranches, in 1112. The order increased rapidly and had 

 thirteen houses in England and Wales. In 1148 Serto, the fourth 

 abbot of Savigny, surrendered his house with all those dependent 

 thereto into the hands of Bernard, the head of the Cistercian order, 

 to become members of that community. 



Drownfont, being founded after this amalgamation, was through 

 a daughter of a Savignian house, colonised by Cistercian monks. 



The origin of the Cistercian order and the peculiarities of its 

 severe rule have so often been treated by able writers that it is 

 needless to repeat them, except perhaps a few sentences which 

 deal with the foundation of new houses and the arrangements of 

 the buildings. 



" None of our houses are to be built in cities, in castles, or 

 villages, but in places remote from the conversation of men, and 

 let all churches of our Order be dedicated and founded in honour 

 of the Blessed Mary. 



" Let there be no towers of stone for bells, nor of wood to an 

 immoderate height, which are unsuitable to the simplicity of the 

 Order. 



" Let glass windows be white only, except in abbeys that have 

 been of another Order, which may retain those made otherwise at 

 the time of their conversion. 



"Superfluities and notable curiosities in carvings, paintings, 

 buildings, pavements, and other like things, which may deform 

 the ancient honesty of the Order and are not consistent with our 

 poverty, in abbeys, granges, and cellarers' buildings, we forbid to 

 be made, nor any paintings except the image of our Saviour. 

 (Tables too that appertain to the altars may only be painted in 

 one colour.) All these things let father-abbots in their visitations 

 carefully enquire about and cause to be observed. 



" lb is not lawful for anyone to found an abbey of oi;r Order, or 

 to transfer one already founded, ov even to change or incorporate 

 the place of another religion by subjection to the Order, except 

 by leave of the General Chapter. 



" Let twelve monks at least, with the abbot as thirteenth, be 

 sent out to new houses. Nevertheless, let them not be settled 



