Regula, caput IV
The Nuns' Habit Arranged by Christ
Christ himself orders the regulation of the nuns' clothing, footwear, veils, and crown.
Here Christ arranges the matter of the nuns' habits and garments, footwear, veils, and crown.
Garments, Mantle, and Footwear
The sisters are to wear plain gray wool and white linen garments, a simple unadorned mantle, and modest seasonal footwear.
The sisters' garments shall consist of two shifts of white linen—one for daily use and the other for washing—one tunic of gray wool, and one hooded cloak whose sleeves shall not extend farther than the tip of the middle finger. And when they perform manual labor, the hanging folds at the hand shall be drawn in moderately toward the arms with a knot, like other sleeves. They are also to have one mantle of gray wool, like the tunic and the cloak. This mantle is not to be pleated or elaborately finished on the outside, but close-fitting and plain in part, having everything of use and nothing of vanity. Moreover, in summer it should be unlined, but in winter lined—not with delicate furs, but with lambskin or sheepskin. A fur garment of this kind may also be had in winter. The same mantle is not to reach the ground by more than a hand's breadth and is to be fastened at the breast with a wooden clasp. For foot coverings, in summer they are to have sandals reaching to the ankles and leggings reaching to the knees; but in winter, sandals reaching to the knees, lined with wool, and leggings equally high.
The Veil and the Crown of Chastity
A dark veil and a white crown marked with five red pieces in the form of a cross adorn the head as a sign of continence.
The only adornment for the head will be a band that encircles the forehead and temples and partially covers the face; its ends are to be fastened together at the back of the head with a single pin. Over this, a veil of dark cloth is to be placed, and so that it won't slip off, three pins will secure it — one around the forehead and two around both ears. Then over the veil, a crown of white cloth is to be placed, onto which five small pieces of red fabric are to be sewn, arranged like five drops: the first piece is to be on the forehead, the second at the back of the head, the third and fourth around the ears, and the fifth in the center of the head in the form of a cross. A single pin at the center of the head is to stabilize this crown and secure it to the head. Both widows and virgins will wear this crown as a sign of continence and chastity.
Read the original Latin
Christus disponit hic de habitu et indumentis et calciamentis et velaminibus et corona monialium .
"Indumenta sororum erunt due camisie de albo burello, vna propter cottidianum vsum, alia propter locionem, vna tunica de burello griseo et vna cuculla, cuius manice non longius quam ad summitatem medii digiti protendantur. Et dependentes sinus circa manum, quando manualia seruicia exercebunt, cum nodo instar aliarum manicarum moderate ad brachia constringantur. Vnum eciam mantellum habendum est de burello griseo sicut tunica et cuculla. Quod quidem mantellum non sit deforis corrugatum nec accurate compositum sed ex parte strictum et planum, totum habens vtilitatis, nichil vanitatis. Quod eciam in estate debet esse simplex, in hyeme vero sufforatum non pellibus delicatis sed agninis vel ouinis. De pellibus eciam huiusmodi pellicium in hyeme haberi potest. Ipsum quoque mantellum ab vno palmo terram non pertingat et nodo ligneo in pectore colligetur. Ad calciamenta autem pedum in estate habeant sotulares vsque ad talos et pedulos vsque ad genua, in hyeme vero sotulares vsque ad genua altos, sufforatos burello, et pedulos eque altos.
Ornamenta capitis erit vitta, qua frons et gene circumdentur et ex parte operiatur facies; cuius extremitates vna acus in occipite coniungat. Super hanc ponatur velum de tela denigrata, quod ne defluat, tres acus adaptabunt, vna circa frontem et due circa ambas aures. Deinde super velum ponatur corona de tela alba, cui assuantur quinque particule de panno rubeo quasi quinque gutte; prima particula sit in fronte, altera in occipite, tercia et quarta circa aures, quinta in medio capitis in modum crucis. Hanc coronam vna acus in medio capitis stabiliet et capiti coaptabit. Istam autem coronam tam vidue quam virgines portabunt in signum continencie et castitatis."
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