A Copy of the printed Pamphlet about the reputed Nunnery at Little-Gidding in Huntingtonshire.

THE

ARMINIAN

NUNNERY:

OR,

A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION

AND

Relation of the late erected Monasticall Place, called the ARMINIAN NUNNERY at little GIDDING in HUNTINGTON-SHIRE.

Humbly recommended to the wise consideration of this present PARLIAMENT.

The Foundation is by a Company of FARRARS
at GIDDING.

'Pag. 1.

THE

ARMINIAN

NUNNERY:

OR,

A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION

and Relation of the late erected Monasticall
Place, called the ARMINIAN NUNNERY at
little GIDDING in HUNTINGTON-SHIRE.

The Foundation is by a Company of Farrars at
GIDDING.

HERE stands a faire HOVSE
well scituated with a fine Grove
and sweet Walks, Letticed and
Gardined on both sides; their

livelihood or Revenew about 500. 1. per Annum.
One of my Lord Mountagues Mansion-Houses
being within two or three miles off called Hem-
mington House not farre from Oundle.

* A Gentleman comming to visit the said Pag. 2. House, was first brought to faire spacious Par

2

'The Pages in the Margin answer the former Impression.

Sic.

lour,

.

lour, where soone after appeared the old Gentlewomans second sonne, a Batchelour of a plain presence, but pregnant of speech and parts, unto whom when I had deprecated and excused my selfe for so sudden and bold a visit, he entertained me with seeming civilitie and humilitie.

After deprecations and some complements past betwixt us, he said I should see his Mother if I pleased, and I shewing my desire, hee went up into a Chamber, and presently returned with his Mother, (a tall ancient Gentlewoman about 80. yeares of age) shee being Matron of the House, his elder Brother a Priestlike man in habit and haire. Now he had a Sister married in the House to one Mr. Cooles, who had 14. or 15. Children in the House, and of these with a man-servant and 2. or 3. maidservants the Family then consisted.

I was permitted to salute the Mother and Daughters, as we use to salute other women: and after we were all sitten Circular, I had leave to speake ingenuously of what I had heard and did or might conceive of their House. I first told him what I had heard of the Nunns at Gidding; of two watching and praying all night; of their Canonicall houres; of their Crosses on the outside and inside of the Chappell; of an Altar richly decked with Tapestry, Plate and Tapers;

of

of their Adorations, genuflections, and geniculations, which I told them plainly might strongly savour of Superstition and Popery.

*

Now you must understand that the younger Brother who first came unto me is a jolly pragmaticall and Priest-like fellow, and is the mouth for all the rest, and he began to cut me off, and answered with a serious protestation (though not so properly) that he did as verily beleeve Pag. 5 the Pope to be Antichrist, as any Article of his Faith, which I noted and gave the hearing: and therein if he spake from his heart, he much differed from the opinons of Priest Shelford, Priest Squire, Dr. Draffig, the red Dragon of Arminians, and other eminent Arminians.

He denied the place to be a Nunnery, and that none of his Neeces were Nunnes: but hee confessed that two of his Nieces had lived the one thirtie, the other thirty and two yeares Virgins, and so resolved to continue (as he hoped they would) to give themselves to Fasting and Prayers; but had made no Vowes.

For their Canonicall hours, he said they usually prayed 6. times a day, viz. 2. times a day publikly in the Chappel, and 4. times a day more privatly in the House; in the Chappel after the Order of the Booke of Common Prayer, at both times chanting out aloud the Letany; and in their House particular private Prayers for a Familie.

And