Archimedes Texts

That the Priest's Camp is the Cloyster; the Duty of the Priest; the various
Sorts of Cloysters and their proper Situations.

The Priest's Camp is the Cloyster, in
which a certain Number of Persons shut
themselves up together in order to devote them
selves either to Religion or Virtue; such are those
who have dedicated themselves to the sacred
Functions, or who have taken upon themselves
a Vow of Chastity. Besides this Cloyster is a
Place where Persons of studious Dispositions
employ themselves about the Knowledge of
Things as well Divine as Human; for as the
Priest's Duty is as far as in him lies to lead
Mankind into a Course of Life as near to Per
fection as possible, this can never be done more
effectually than by Philosophy. For as there
are two Things in the Nature of Man to which
this must be owing, Virtue and Truth; when
the former has taught us to calm and govern
our Passions, and the latter to know the Prin
ciples and Secrets of Nature, which will purge
the Mind from Ignorance and the Contagion of
the Body; we may then be qualified to enter
into a happy Course of Life, and to have some
Resemblance with the divine Nature itself. Add
to this, that it is the Duty of all good Men, as
the Priests ought and would be thought to be,
to exercise themselves in all those Offices of
Humanity which are due from every Man to
his Neighbour, namely, to assist and relieve the
Poor, the Distressed and the Infirm, to the ut
most of their Power. These are the Things
in which the Priest is to employ himself and
all those under his Direction. Of the Struc
tures proper for these Purposes, whether be
longing to the superior or inferior Rank of
Priests, we are now to treat; and first we shall
begin with the Cloyster. Cloysters are of se
veral Sorts, either for such Persons as are to be
so strictly confined that they must never ap
pear in publick at all, unless at Church or in
Processions; or for those who are to be allow
ed a little more Liberty. Of these again some
are for Men, others for Women. Those for
Women should, in my Opinion, be neither too
much in the City, nor too much out of it: For
though in a Solitude they may not be so much
srequented, yet any one that has a Design may
have more Opportunity to execute any villan
ous Enterprize where there are so few Wit
nesses, than where there are a great many both
to shame and disswade him from such an At
tempt. It is our Business in both to take Care
not that they have no Inclinations to be un
chaste, but no means. For this Purpose every
Entrance must be so secured, that nobody can
possibly get in; and so well watched, that no
body may loyter about in order to attempt it
without instant Suspicion and Shame. No
Camp for an Army should be so well guarded
by Intrenchments and Palisadoes, as a Monas
tery ought to be by high Walls, without either
Doors or Windows in them, or the least Hole
by which not only no Violator of Chastity, but
not so much as the least Temptation either by
the Eye or Ear, may possibly get in to disorder,
or pollute the Minds of the Recluse. Let them
receive their Light from an open Court on the
Inside. Round this Court the Portico, Cells,
Refectory, Chapter-house and the like Conve
niencies should be disposed according to their
various Uses, in the same Manner as in private
Houses. Nor should Space be wanting for
Gardens and Meadows, for the moderate Re
creation of the Mind, but not for administring
to Pleasure. If all these Precautions are ta
ken, it will be best to have them out of the
Way of a Concourse of People. The Cloysters
for both Sexes therefore cannot be better placed
than without the City; that the Attention of
their Thoughts which are entirely dedicated to
Holiness, and the calm and settled Religion of
their Minds may not be disturbed by too many
Visitors. But then I would have their Houses,
whether they are for Men or Women, situated
in the most healthy Air that can be found out;
that the Recluse, while they are wholly intent
upon the Care of their Souls, may not have
their Bodies, already impared, by constant fast
ing and watching, oppressed likewise with
Weakness and Diseases. Those who are with
out the City should be placed in a Situation
naturally strong, that neither Robbers nor any
plundering Enemy with a small Force, may
be able at every turn to sack it; and I would
have it moreover fortified with a Trench and a