Reading Six (Discipline in the chapter room, cont.)

No one shall denounce his brother in chapter for any offenses, for which he is not able to prevail on him through witnesses, but first he shall kindly warn his brother. After this, if the brother has not corrected himself, he [who has the complaint] shall speak to the one or ones who can help and not harm, for example the prior or some religious men. All ought to be extremely careful in the peril for their souls not to denounce their brothers out of rancor or hatred but according to our rule with love for men and hatred for vices. The prior, when he hears the offense, considering the rank and character of the person and the magnitude of the fault, shall impose that which seems fit to him, if the offense is small. If however it is great, action shall be taken on the advice of his betters from the chapter. The culprit shall receive and perform (the punishment) with humility, and again prostrating his whole body, he shall be absolved and then, rising up, he shall go back to his seat. It should be known that the brother, who has denounced him, should not make an accusation again on the same day. It must also be noted that he who holds the chapter, is not to discipline the exposed brother or the brother who denounces him. If the abbot sees anyone speak with no good reason and contentiously, he himself shall order him to be silent; and he [who spoke with no good reason] should not speak any more. Indeed this should be so in every situation. If however he does not stop talking, he shall be punished within reason. But if he is not willing to receive the discipline, one waits until the next day, so that, advised for the second time by his brothers, he may submit to obedience. And if even then he is found to be absent, he shall be punished once for obstinacy, then for the offense. If however concerning the affairs of the church, a brother speaks reasonably against the abbot or the prior, he shall be given a hearing, and a silence shall not be imposed upon him on that account.

Lectio sexta.

Nemo clamet fratrem suum in capitulo de aliquo crimine de quo non possit ipsum uincere per testes, sed benigne moneat fratrem suum primo. Postea si non se emendauerit, dicat illi uel illis qui possunt prodesse et non obesse, puta priori uel aliquibus religiosis. Omnes summopere cauere debent in periculo animarum suarum, ne ex rancore uel odio fratres suos clament, sed secundum regulam nostram cum dilectione hominum et odio uitiorum. Prior, offensa audita, secundum ordinem et personae qualitatem et culpae quantitatem quod ei uidetur, iniungat, si parua sit offensa. Si uero magna, de consilio meliorum de capitulo fiat. Reus humiliter recipiat et faciat, et iterum prostratus toto corpore absoluatur et post surgens ad sedem suam reuertatur. Sciendum est quod frater qui eum clamauerit, eodem die non debet reclamare. Notandum etiam sit quod ille qui tenet capitulum, fratrem nudatum non disciplinet, nec ille qui clamat. Si abbas uiderit aliquem loqui irrationabiliter et contentiose, ipse iubeat eum tacere, et ille ultra non praesumat loqui. Sic enim debet fieri in quolibet loco. Si autem non tacuerit, rationabiliter puniatur. Si uero disciplinam recipere noluerit, usque in crastinum expectetur, ut iterum a fratribus ammonitus oboedientiae pareat. Et tunc si contumax inuentus fuerit, tum pro contumacia, tum pro offensa puniatur. Si autem frater de negotiis ecclesiae, et rationabiliter contra abbatem uel priorem loquutus fuerit, audiatur, nec propter hoc ipsi silentium imponatur.