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so decides the water may be mixed with wine. But this must
not be done to excess but sparingly, for we see that even
wise men are stricken down by wine." It is recommended
that the brethren should eat two by two, "lest there be
shown too much austerity in eating ".
The Rule points out, " The reward of the poor is in the
kingdom of heaven, and it is therefore doubtless proper that
they should be permitted their poverty ", but nevertheless
the authors of the Rule consider that charity can properly
be given to the poor. They are to receive a tenth of the
bread, as well as any broken food, but whole loaves which
are left over must be carefully preserved for the next meal.
The brethren are to go to bed immediately after compline,
and once they have left the hall, they must not speak in
public. If, however, it is a matter of dire urgency, a knight
and his squire may converse very quietly. Should there arise
something of great importance which a brother has not earlier
had the opportunity to bring to the notice of the Master,
the rule against speaking after compline may be broken, but
care is to be exercised in making use of this permission.
" For it is written, * In many words thou shalt not avoid
sin *j and in another place, * Life and death are in the hands
of the tongue \ In such conferences, therefore, we strictly
prohibit any scurrilous or idle talk, such as would move to
laughter 5 and if, when you go to bed, any one of you has
said a foolish thing we exhort him to repeat the Lord's prayer
in humility and with purity of devotion,"
In several places attention is drawn to the dangers of
immoderate abstinence for men who are entrusted with the
duty of making war. The Rule recalls the text, " There
was divided unto every man according as he had need "> and
points out that while exceptional treatment is to be avoided,
1 the needs of the weak should be taken into account. The
brother who has less need than others should not feel
aggrieved because those others, on account of their weakness,