The Protestant monastery: or, a complaint against the brutality of the present age. Particularly the pertness and insolence of our youth to aged persons. ... Concluding with a proposal for erecting a Protestant monastery, where persons of small fortunes may end their days in plenty, ease, and credit, ... By Andrew Moreton, ...

Table of contents

- [titlepage]

- THE PREFACE.

- BOOKS printed for W. MEADOWS at the Angel in Cornhil.

THE Protestant Monastery.

THERE is nothing on Earth more shocking, and withal more common, in but too many Families, than to see Age and Grey Hairs derided, and ill used. The OLD MAN or the OLD WOMAN, can do nothing to please; their Words are perverted, their Actions misrepresented, and themselves look'd upon as a Burthen to their Issue, and a Rent Charge upon those who came from their Loins.

This Treatment, as it is directly opposite to the Dignity and Decency of Human Nature, calls aloud for Redress; the Helpless and innocent ought to be the care of the Healthy and able. Shall a Man or Woman toil and moil to bring up a numerous Issue? shall they rear up, thro' all the Uncertainties and Fatigues of Childhood, a Race who shall spring up but to abandon them? shall they enfeeble themselves to give Strength to those who shall one Day thrust them aside, and despise them?

Yet this is the Case of many aged Persons, who have outlived the Comforts of this World; who survive only to hear themselves wish'd out of the way, by those very Persons upon whom they have bestowed their whole Substance, and upon whom their whole Hopes have been fixed. Uncertain Hopes indeed! and far unfit for so degenerate an Age. Honour thy Father and thy Mother is a Commandment given by God, and ratified by our Blessed Saviour, both in Precept and Example; If so, what Brutes are those who shall dare to spurn those Persons whom God has thought fit to make the Means of their Entrance into human Life?

But indeed, not only Parents, but all aged People in general, are thought to stand in the way of the present Generation: and but for some good Children, some Persons of Tenderness and Humanity, who honour the hoary Head, and comfort the Feeble; immediate Vengeance would be pulled down on those who let not their Sires live out half their Days.

The Word OLD is a standing Jest among our youthful Gentry. When they would frighten Children, they tell them The old Man's a coming: Thus they inculcate an Abhorrence of Age, even in sucking Babes; which no doubt will improve with adult Age, according to the Proverb;

Quo semel est imbuta recens, servabit odorem

Testa diu.

IF any whimsical or ridiculous Story is told, 'tis of an Old Woman. If any Person is aukward at his Business, or any thing else, he is called an Old Woman, forsooth; But this is no new thing, for we read in former Ages, that they made Witches of their Old Women. Those were brave Days for young People, when they could swear the old Ones out of their Lives! and get a Woman hanged or burnt only for being a little too old; as has been the Case of many a poor innocent ancient Creature. The Story of the Witch, alias, the poor Old Woman of Hertford, is yet fresh in every one's Memory; and had not the very Judges on the Bench seen through the Enthusiasm and Obstinacy of the Evidence, who swore thorough thick and thin: had not the Judges themselves, I say, represented the thing in a right Light to the Higher Powers, poor Jane Wenman had certainly been truss'd up; as a Warning to all ancient Perfons, who should dare to live longer than the young Ones think convenient.

It is well it has never been in the young Ones Power, to bring in a Bill for the better trimming of Mankind, i. e. to knock all ancient People on the Head.

But though they are suffered to live, 'tis under many Hardships and Restrictions, many Humps and Grumps; and scarce a Day, but they are ask'd, what they do out of their Graves. This is a very common, but withal, a most impious and unchristian Saying; nay, not only unchristian, but even unmahometan: For the very Infidels themselves pay more Veneration to old Age, than the Christians do; to the Shame and Scandal of our Holy Profession.

Far be it from me, to tax all Christians, or all Children with so severe a Reproach. No, I only blame those who triumph in the Strength of their Youth, and snuff up their Nostrils at Old-Age: Who laugh at the Groanings of the hoary Head, and have no Bowels of Compassion for the Bowels that gave them Nourishment.

Let such self-sufficient Persons consider, that it was once in their Parents Power to have abandoned them, when they were more helpless than any other Being to which God had given Life. When they must inevitably have perished, without great Care and Tenderness: and indeed the Divine Wisdom is most manifestly seen, in making Man, the Chief of all his earthly Creatures, to require so delicate a Management, and so tender a Nourishment: parental Love being encreas'd by its Care, as filial Love ought to be, by a Gratitude for that Care it can never too much acknowledge or repay.

All Creatures whom God has ordained to quit their Sires, or indeed those whom he has not endow'd with a rational Soul, to distinguish between good and bad, or to know Duty or Obligation, are easily brought up, and can help themselves better the Hour they are born, than Man can in a whole Year, nay in Years. They perform all the necessary Functions of Life, and there is no need of Education. Far otherwise is it with Man; he in his Infancy requires a constant and careful Attendance, his Members know not their Functions, and it is a long while before he can feed himself, even then his Parents have the Care for his Food. When the Body is duly nourished, there is yet a further Care to form the Mind, and cultivate the rational Soul God had endow'd him with.

Shall such a Being, possest of a rational Soul, to distinguish between Good and Bad, between Gratitude and Ingratitude, so far debase himself, or indeed become so much a Brute, as to forsake his Parent, to spurn him who begot him? or at least, by using him ill, to elbow him as it were out of the World, to give himself the greater Scope for Luxury?

Yet how many do we see of such? how many truly compassionate Hearts daily bleed, when they see the Son curbing the Father, or the Daughter snubbing the Mother? It seems as if the Order of Nature were perverted: So shocking is it to any Soul who has the least Tincture of Humanity.

I am sure I speak by Experience: for but very lately I went to see an old School-Fellow and Acquaintance of mine, who had lately married his Daughter, and settled himself in her Family; accordingly he gave me a general Invitation to come one Day or other and take a Dinner with him; he had been a Merchant from his Youth, and always liv'd in what we call high Life, had travell'd much, and was Master of the most good Manners I ever met with.

This Gentleman being very weary, and indeed almost incapable of Business, thought it best to leave off House keeping, to marry his Daughter, and settle in her Family. Accordingly he gave her his All for her Portion, made her a Fortune of 12000 Pounds, and match'd her to an eminent Merchant, who us'd the same Trade with himself.

During the Honey-Moon, and till the Portion was paid, the Old Gentleman liv'd in Clover; nothing was too hot or too heavy for him. 'Twas Dear Sir! Dear Father! at every Word; the Servants were ordered to respect him, and he was in some Share Master of the Family; but alas! he found this but a short-liv'd Dream, the Servants began to taunt at him, and he must call twenty Times for a thing, before he could have it. If he gently chid 'em, or reason'd with them, they flew to their Mistress, and made twenty Stories about it: so that his Life was in a manner a Burthen to him.

I went in my Chariot to see him; and had not the little Appearance I made, commanded fome respect, I had danc'd Attendance, till they should find in their Hearts to call him. However, without much Ceremony, they directed me up three pair of Stairs, into a better sort of a Garret; there might be indeed some Lodging-Rooms over Head for the Servants; but I have seen many Servants have much better Appartments: but the Room would not have so much surpriz'd me, had the Furniture been any thing tollerable. I dare swear it was as old as the House, and had no doubt pass'd from Tenant to Tenant half a score Times.

This I thought an odd Residence for my Friend, but he seem'd contented; and I saw no Reason I had to make him otherwise. He amused me till Dinner time, with shewing me his Books, and reading some of his Verses to me, as having a pretty Knack that way: he would have play'd me a Lesson on his Flute, but that he said it would disturb his Daughter, who did not love Musick. I saw that all his little Arts were only to beguile the Time, lest a Whet before Dinner, which I never mist at his House, should be expected; and which I believe was now out of his Power to give. At last the Bell rang, and he desired me to walk down to Dinner, but with an Air that seem'd chidingly to say, Ah! why did you not come sooner, when I had more Authority: However, with a long Apology to his Son and Daughter, he introduced me; and by pleading our long and intimate Acquintance, and the Obligations he was under to me; he prevail'd on them at last to bid me a very ceremonious Welcome. Excusing themselves, as indeed they had need, that they had not made a proper Provision; and pleading their Ignorance of my coming, accordingly down we sate to, some cold Roast-Beef, a few Herrings, and a Plate of Fritters. Every thing was indeed very clean, and we had Attendance enough, but never in my Life made I a worse Dinner. Herrings are my aversion, I never eat cold Meat, judge then what a Belly full I could make of my share of the Fritters. I happened by Mistake to call for a Glass of Wine, without which I never dine, when the Gentleman told me he had none in the House; but if I pleas'd he would send for some, recommending at the same time some of his Home-brew'd Ale, which I in Complaisance could not but accept in Preference to Wine. They took me at my Word, and with much ado I got down half a Glass of the worst Potion I ever took in my Life, but had the Dinner been never so elegant, my indignation would have spoil'd my Stomach; to hear the Daughter at every turn, take up her Father in his Discourse, as if he had been an Idiot or an underling, with Oh! fye Sir, and I wonder Father you should say so! But lest the Readers, by my Recital of the Lady's Phrases, should think my Friend spake ludicrously or indecently, I beg Leave to assure them the contrary, and that he is a Man of great Wit and strict Modesty. Even the Son who was the least Severe upon him, could not refrain contradicting him every now and then, meerly for contradiction sake, with, Pray, Sir, give me Leave, and indeed, Sir, you have forgot your self; this was my whole Entertainment: For my Part I said little, but admired not only at this wondrous Frugality, but the surprizing Impertinence and Ingratitude of of the young Couple. However, I was undeceived at last, as I hope my Readers will be when I assure them, that the Reason why Sir and Madam, eat so sparingly with us was, because they had devour'd in Hugger Mugger by themselves, a good handsome Fowl, and Oyster Sauce, and dispens'd with a Bottle of Wine, though they could drink none in our Company.

Seeing this penurious Management, and the Awe my poor Friend was in, I thought it best to adjourn to the Tavern to smoak a Pipe, and withal to take a Glass to warm my Stomach, which rak'd prodigiously. I had before learn'd that the poor old Soul had been oblig'd to leave off Smoaking, because forsooth his spitting and spawling turn'd Madam's Stomach; his smoaking she said, made the House stink, and damaged the Furniture. He had been from his Youth a great Smoaker, and this sudden Check, upon a Habit of so long standing, had very much impair'd his Health.

Accordingly to the Tavern we went; where a Pipe and a Bottle gave new Life to my old Acquaintance; he resum'd his native Gayety; and eleven of the Clock stole upon us, before we could think of Parting, and even then but with great Reluctance; so agreeably did the Time pass away in recounting our old Adventures. Indeed our sweet was intermix'd with sour, for his poor Heart was so full, he could not contain himself from lodging his Sorrows in the Bosom of his old Friend. With Tears in his Eyes, he recounted all the Indignities he daily met with, not only from his own Children, but from the very Servants. If he spake to them as to Servants, his Daughter would take him up, and tell him he domineer'd too much in her House: If he spake submissively, he was told he had no occasion to make himself so little; insomuch that he knew not what Medium to take.

He told me his Daughter had lately a Chamber-Maid, who was the Daughter of a decay'd Gentleman, and who having had a tolerable Education, had imbib'd high Notions of Virtue; and amongst other things, an Abhorrence of undutifulness in Children, or indeed any disrespect in old Age. This young Woman having learn'd in what Fashion my Friend had once liv'd, could not without Indignation, see how ill he was treated: and being of a good Family her self, scorn'd to take Part with the other Servants, to torment a poor old Man; but on the contrary, would do him all the Christian Offices she could, would constantly get him something warm in a Morning, and if he was out of Order at any time, would tend him, and do him a thousand little Services, for which he in Recompence, when her Lady was gone a Visiting, would read to the Girl a whole Afternoon together, while she sat at Work. And as so many good Offices must consequently engage her to him, especially when every Body else had abandon'd him, he, with an innocent Familiarity, us'd to call her his Nanny: This was taken in great Dudgeon, and the spiteful Servants improv'd it into an Intrigue, and never left till poor Nanny was turn'd away; and with her all the old Man's Comfort; for he had no warm Breakfast now, if he was Sick, there he might lie, for no body would help him; and as for Attendance, they neglected him so much, he was scarce clean, which drew Tears from my Eyes, as knowing what a neat old Man he was us'd to be. And but for disgracing his Children, he wish'd himself a thousand Times in the Charter-House, or some other Place of publick Charity: I dissuaded him from such Thoughts, and comforted him in the best Manner I could; and so we both parted and ended our pleasant Evening, with heavy Hearts and wet Eyes.

About a Week after, by the Penny-post, I receiv'd the following Letter.

Dear Friend,

THOUGH I shall carry to my Grave the agreeable Remembrance of ourlast Meeting, I believe I shall suffer to my dying Day for that Night's Pleasure. Your engaging Company, and my long Abstinence from Wine, made me, I think, drink a little too much; and tho' not to disguise my self, as you I hope might well perceive, yet more than my Age and Weakness cou'd well bear. My Daughter, who seldom or never comes Home before Midnight, took Care to be at Home that very Night before Nine a-Clock; and at Ten she sent all the Family to Bed, and sate up for me her self, out of mere Spight and pure Intention to rattle me off; which she did with a Vengeance, crying out shame of such Hours; telling me I was drunk: and when I complain'd of sickness at my Stomach, she said it was good enough for me. This you may conclude made me worse. I thought I should have died, and had not I eas'd my Stomach, I had not surviv'd that Moment. This put her beyond all Patience, and instead of pitying her almost Dying Father, she called me (would you believe it!) she called me Old Beast; and used me in such a Manner as has riv'd my very Heart; Nor is this all, for ever since I am become the Jest of the whole Family: they call me Old Fool, and drunken old Beast to my Face, and every Visitor that comes in, is told what a Sot I am; so that I keep my Chamber, and dare not show my Head about the House; but I thank God, who has heard my Prayers, that I hourly find my self weaker and weaker, and I doubt not but my long wished for Dissolution is near at hand; for all the Torments of a lingering Death are Trifles to the Usage I meet with. Dear Friend, let me see you once more before I dye, having some Manuscripts, and a few other Trifles to give you in Remembrance of our old Friendship; which alas! is all I can give to the only Friend I have left on this side the Grave.

Your Affectionate Friend.

FOR the sake of the young Lady, to whom God grant a speedy Repentance, I forbear subscribing even the initial Letters of her Father's Name; that the World may not know how good a Man she has murthered: For her Usage was such, that before I could find Opportunity to visit him according to his Desire, I was prevented by a Ticket, which invited me to hold up his Pall, which more surpriz'd than afflicted me, as knowing the miserable Life, he lead under his most unnatural Daughter.

Quis talia fando temperet a Lachrymis?

The burying was of a Piece with the rest; and I hope the whole will be a Warning to all aged Persons, and teach 'em to reserve at least wherewithal to maintain themselves elsewhere, in Case of the like Usage from their Children or Relations.

I hope, at the same time, it will be a Looking Glass to young People, especially those guilty of the like Actions. If they see any thing ugly in this Lady's Character, let them not be so over good natured to their own Persons, as to think what is a Crime in her, may be excusable in themselves: No, the Sin is the same, let who will commit it.

To do as we would be done by, one would think a sufficient Restraint upon any, who would give themselves the least time to consider, that they in all probability may be Fathers and Mothers; and that though they are young and healthy now, they may be old and feeble hereafter. Let them therefore use the Old as they could wish to be us'd when they are so, and let them be as tender of their Parents, as they wou'd have their Posterity tender of them.

But on the contrary, we bring up our Youth, as it were to despise us; and to our shame be it spoken, make Rods for our selves: Every one indulges his own Children, and so all act with Impunity. Our Youth are not half educated, nor are they under any Restraint; we make Men and Women of them too soon, and put 'em upon a footing with our selves, before they have well learned good Manners, or indeed any thing else.

For good Manners does not altogether consist in a formal Courtesy or Bow, in coming in and going out of a Room: No, a Man may behave himself most punctually Ceremonious at a Ball, a drawing Room, a Tea-Table, or indeed in any other fiddle faddle part of Life; and yet for all this be but a Man of Clouts, a meer Sir-courtly-Nice. I have very often seen some of these well dress'd, well bred Gentlemen, alias Hobbydehoy's have Assurance enough to stare a whole Coffee-Room out of Countenance; but neither Sense or Learning sufficient to give any Man of Parts a reasonable Answer.

No, the Satchel is too soon taken from the shoulders of our young sparks, and the Rod from their Backsides; the Tye-Wig and Sword are too soon put on, and little Master is made a Man before he is a well-grown Child; our little Girls, through the Indulgence of their Mothers, are yet more forward, and put on womanly Airs even at ten Years of Age. In a Word, our Youth in general, are above Correction; without Shame, too ripe, too ignorant, and too impudent, and according to the Poet.

Now little Miss in Hanging-Sleeves knows more

Than formerly her Grandame at threescore:

And Master who was lately whipt at School,

At bare thirteen sets up for Rake and Fool,

Runs the whole Race of Vice with full Career,

Is green and ripe and rotten in a Year.

Instead of Puerile Diversions, our Boys of 14 or 15 Years of Age go to Plays, become Members of Clubs, keep Hounds and Horses, and sometimes follow worse Game. This is owing to the over Indulgence of Parents, who let them finger Money before they know the Worth of it; and if a Stop be not put to such Practices in this Generation, the next may severely repent it.

Instead of Babies, Play-Things, and other pretty Innocencies used of old, our Girls at 10 or 11 Years of Age, keep their visiting Days, have their select Companies, and treat 'em with as much Solemnity and Expence, as their Parents do their own Acquaintance: This prevails not only at Court, but in the City; and I doubt not but the Court Airs of the Mother, and the womanly Airs of the Daughter, have made Bankrupt many an honest Man, who had not Courage enough to repel the Force of this most prevailing, most pernicious Custom.

This idle Custom is not only very Expensive, but extreamly inconvenient withal; for there is as much a Fuss made at some Houses against such a Miss or such a Miss comes to visit the Daughter, as if a Dutchess was expected. The Servants are hindred from their other Business, and the whole House is in a Fluster to receive Miss's Visitors forsooth. When the Visit is return'd, she must be dress'd up to the heighth of the Mode, and some new Thing or other is always wanted: Not to mention Top-Knots, Gloves, Coach-hire, and other unavoidable Expences.

This is most criminal in those who cannot afford it; Such People would therefore do well to reduce their Children to the Old Standard; that is to say, make Scholars of their Boys, and Housewives of their Girls: for the Education above complain'd of, has spoil'd many a good Tradesman's Wife, and been the Ruin of many a Family.

I cannot close this Discourse, without particularly cautioning the young Ladies of this Age, how they Laugh, Fleer, and toss up their Noses at sober Matrons, and elderly Ladies. Let 'em consider, that those very Persons were once young and beautiful as themselves, if not more beautiful: For to say truth, Tea, Drams, Wine, and late Hours, have not a jot added to the Beauty of the present Generation.

Let them again consider, that their own Mothers as well as themselves, are of the same Sex: That it is a foul Bird bewrays its own Nest; that the very Infirmities they deride in those Persons, are probably occasioned by the bearing and bringing up many Children; and that the Wrinkles in their Faces are occasioned by their Care to support such giddy brain'd Creatures as themselves.

But such is the Ignorance and Impudence of the present Generation, that young People look upon their Elders, as upon a different Species, an inferiour Class of People: They ascribe no Merit to the Virtue and Experience of Old Age, but assume to themselves the Preference in all things. With them a Face and a good Shape is Merit, a scornful toss of the Head, and despising every Body, but their own dear selves is Wit, an everlasting Giddiness, and an eternal Grin is Affability and good Nature, fancy in Dress, is Understanding, a supine Neglect of every thing commendable Gentility; and a prodigious Punctilio in the greatest Trifles, is the Heighth of good Breeding.

From this general Corruption in Education, proceeds all that may be complain'd of in this present Age, and whatever Evils may be expected in Generations to come. But above all, nothing has more contributed to this Corruption, than the disregard paid to Teachers and other Persons concern'd in the Education of Youth; for the first and chief Step to the Ruin of Youth, is when they have no Awe upon 'em, and are above Correction.

Spare the Rod and spoil the Child, is a Sentence of so much Weight and Truth; that no sharper a Reprimand can be given to those Parents, who have stimulated in their Children a Spirit of Pride, and taught them to look contemptibly on their Tutors. The very Word Master or Mistress implies something of Dominion; and as Youth are committed to their Care, so they ought to be subject to their Discipline.

It shocks me when I see a Tutor in a great Family, put upon a Footing with the Servants; it makes his Pupil think contemptibly of him, and is too great a Curb on his Spirits, to let him deliver his Instructions and Sentiments, in a manner suitable to the Dignity of an Instructor. And what is worse, the little Deference paid to him, begets in the young Gentleman a mean Opinion of and Indifference to Learning it self, seeing his Master reap so little Advantage and Respect from it.

It is the same Case in Schools, where the Master's or Mistress's passive and sordid Temper makes them the Slaves of the Scholars, whom they dare not correct, for fear of loosing: Nothing being more common now a days, than for Parents to make it in their Bargain, that their Children shall not be whipt, or otherwise corrected at School. Hence proceeds all that Noise and Misrule, which reigns in Schools, stunning both Master and Scholars to such a Degree, that they can hardly hear each other speak.

Parents therefore can blame none but themselves, if by these pernicious Methods, their Children grow in time to be too many for them; nor can they with any reason expect to find Duty and Humanity, where they have not been inculcated. If they have countenanc'd, or indulg'd their Children, in deriding the hoary Head, are they to be pitied when they reap seven Fold the Fruits of so ungenerous a Tillage? or to speak more plain, when it comes Home to themselves. Let every Person therefore make the Case their own, when they see Children taunting and flouncing at their Parents, Teachers, or Relations; mocking and deriding People for Age and Infirmities, or indeed any other bodily Misfortune, or Deformity; upbraiding any for their Poverty, or crowing over any Person, over whom they may pretend to claim Preheminence. This domineering way being now a days so prevalent, that Tradesmen, Servants and other Dependants, are generally more insulted by Children, than by Masters and Mistresses themselves.

To conclude, as we sow we shall reap; As we bring up our Children, so we may expect to find them: If we educate them in the Nurture and Fear of the Lord, in an universal Benevolence to all Mankind, void of all personal or Party Prejudice; if we train them up to be dutiful to their Parents, respectful to their Teachers, mannerly to their Equals, and courteous to their Inferiours; if we incite in 'em an Emulation and Thirst after Knowledge and other liberal Acquirements; If we instil into 'em early Principles of Humanity, Compassion and Forbearance; and in a Word, all that may inspire to the highest Notions of Honour, and carry human Nature to its most exalted Pitch; then may we expect to have Comfort in Old Age, from our Grand Children, our Children and other Relations; then may we conclude we have laid a sure Foundation for the Happiness of succeeding Generations.

But if on the contrary, we humour and favour all their little Petulancies, and by over praising and indulging them, make our selves contemptible in their Eyes; if instead of correcting them in their Errors, we arraign the Justice of Discipline, and call it Severity; if we suffer them with Impunity to fly in the Faces of their Parents and Relations, to defy their Teachers, to outvie their Equals, and insult their Inferiours; If we permit 'em to scoff at, and turn to ridicule the Misfortunes and Afflictions of others, and in a manner, suppress, or at least, not encourage in them any Propensity to Tenderness, but suffer their Hearts to be hardned, and to know no Pity: we must expect to have our Eyes pluck'd out by those we have brought up. We must look for nothing in Old Age, but Contempt, Oppression, and all the Insults we have but too much reason to fear from so inhuman a Generation.

A PROJECT for erecting a PROTESTANT-MONASTERY.

THAT a Joint-Stock of Twenty Thousand Pounds be raised between 50 Persons, by an equal Deposite of four Hundred Pounds each; which Stock is to be vested in themselves only. For this being no Charity, but rather a Copartnership, there is no need of having any Governor, Treasurer, Director, or other commanding Officer, but what may be chosen among themselves; and as the Money is their own, they are the fittest Persons to keep it.

2. That after they have obtained his Majesty's Sanction, and are become a Body Corporate under what Name or Title they shall think fit, they may chuse from among themselves, one Treasurer, two Wardens, and such other Officers they shall deem proper; which Officers shall have annual Rotation, and new ones be chosen every year.

3. That instead of consuming all, or a great Part of the Stock in Building, which would nip the Project in the Bud, they shall rent a convenient Hall or House in Town or Country, at their own Option; which House must be equally divided into Apartments: and to save another great Expence, as well as to prevent Partiality, or Disgust, 'tis fit that every Person furnish their own Apartment, which Furniture they may bequeath to whom they please. For as all the Members of the College are to be upon an equal Footing, 'tis highly necessary there should not be the the least Distinction among them in Diet, Lodging, &c. And if one Person dresses or furnishes better than another, there will be no need of Complaint, because they do it at their own Charge: Tho' to speak my Mind, it would look most lovely, to have a decent Equality and Uniformity in Dress.

4. The Kitchin, the Infirmary, and other Offices, to be furnished at the common Expence, but not to be taken out of the Joint-Stock. On the contrary, every Person to pay an equal Proportion, which cannot amount to above two Guineas a Head. But in Case the Joint-Stock encreases, the Money to be refunded.

5. That they call a Court among themselves as often as they shall think fit; at which every Member shall have an equal Vote; the Treasurer taking the Chair. At these Courts every thing shall be settled, all Bargains made, all Accounts audited, Servants hired or displac'd, the Diet, and College Hours settled; and bye Laws made or amended as Occasion, or the general Consent shall point out.

6. As all are to share the Benefit, it may readily be supposed that the best Advantage will be made of the Money; but above all that they will go on a sure Footing, and content themselves with the less Interest, upon the greater Security. Tho' I must confess I know of no safer and more profitable Method than to lend Money on proper Deposits; as Goods, Merchandises, &c. after the Manner of the Charitable Corporation in Fenchurch-Street. This, or some such sure Method, may bring in twenty per Cent. on their Money, which will considerably encrease their Capital, better their Provisions, &c. and in time make them a very wealthy Body. But in case no more than five per Cent. Interest be produc'd from their Capital of twenty Thousand Pounds, it will amount to one Thousand Pounds per Annum; which may be laid out after this, or the like Manner.

l. per An.

To a Physician

20

00

00

To a Clerk for the Treasury,

20

00

00

To a Chaplain

20

00

00

To a Cook

10

00

00

To a Laundry Maid

05

00

00

To a House Maid

05

00

00

To two Nurses for the Infirmary

20

00

00

100

00

00

These Salaries may be enlarged as the College encreases in Wealth, or the whole Subscription may be doubled at first, and every thing in proportion. But as this is only a Sketch or rough Draught, farther Particulars from me would be needless: Besides I am but a poor Calculator, and only give the Hint to the Publick, as my Duty to my fellow Christians: I wish for nothing more than to see it improved, and if I don't properly explain my self, People must be so charitable to think for me: For I write even this under many bodily Infirmities, and am so impatient to have done, that I forget half I have to say. But to proceed,

The Salaries amounting to a Hundred Pounds a Year, and allowing another Hundred for a House, till there shall be Overplus enough to build one; there remains just eight Hundred Pounds per Annum for Provision.

If this should be deficient, it will easily be made up out of the Overplus which will accrue.

- 1st, From making better Advantage of their Money than is here proposed.

- 2dly, From the Money paid at the Admission of new Members, as the old ones dye. And,

- 3dly, From the Legacies which the old Members may leave to augment the Stock; for if but one Member die in a Year, there is four Hundred Pounds to be added to the Thousand, which will considerably augment every Article. If more should dye, or Legacies be left, the Stock will encrease, and consequently the Interest thereof will make allowance for greater Expences, and by degrees render the whole more Noble and Magnificent.

Excuse, gentle Reader! my immethodical Manner of calculating, and help me out the best you can, for I have forgot some Things which ought to have been mentioned before; but writing just as they occur, I must leave the whole to be methodized and amended, by a clearer Head and a more able Hand.

I have mentioned Salaries without prescribing for what, give me leave therefore to assign the Officers their proper Employments.

The Treasurer must have care of the Cash, and be Chairman of all Committees.

The Wardens must look after the Provisions, agree with all Tradesmen, and superintend the Accounts.

The Physician must visit twice a Week, or oftner if need be, and prescribe to the sick Members: He may likewise appoint the Apothecary, inspect his Medicines, and tax his Bills.

The Clerk or Book-keeper must be constantly in the accompting House, to set down every Particular, to minute the proceeding of Committees, to keep the account of Cash, and in a word, to take the trouble of writing off the Treasurer and Warden's Hands; he must diet in the House. As also,

The Chaplain, some sober elderly decay'd Clergyman of good Morals, to read Prayers Morning and Evening; and every Sunday a Sermon out of Bishop Tillotson, Dr. Scot, Dr. South, or some other sound Divine: And to further this good Work, I my self will present the College with a handsome Bible, and Common Prayer Book, and all the Sermons above-mentioned, if I live to see it finish'd; and if I dye before, I have made proper Provision in my Will.

The Cook must dress the Victuals, keep clean the Kitchin, Pantry and Cellar.

The Laundry-Maid must wash and mend their Linnen, and wait at Table.

The House-Maid must make the Beds, sweep the Rooms and wait at Table.

The two Nurses must attend the Infirmary, and sit up alternately if need be; and when none are Sick, they must help, get up and mend the Linnen, and assist the other Servants, as the Treasurer and Wardens shall appoint.

As the Thing encreases, so may the Servants and their Wages. A Porter, a Butler, a Scullion, and other Servants may be added as the Members think fit.

To crown all, let the whole be independent, and among themselves; let them always keep the Staff in their own Hands, and never subject themselves to Treasurers, &c. out of their own Body. Let them accept of no Charities, but do as many as they are able; and in a Word, let them keep up the Grandeur of the Design, to such a Pitch, that their Friends and Relations may not be ashamed to visit them; but on the contrary, be proud they are of such a Body. Let the Election of new Members be vested only in themselves, and let them chuse only such as shall give Reputation to the College.

In a Word, I have drawn up my Scheme in general Terms, it being intended for the Benefit of either Sex. 'Tis indifferent whether the Ladies compose a College, and call themselves Sisters, or any other Name they shall think fit; or whether a College be compos'd of Gentlemen, under the Title of Brothers, Fellows, or any other Denomination; our PROTESTANT MONASTERY is still the same; nor can a Name alter its Property, or make it less beneficial or commendable.

FINIS

THE Protestant Monastery: OR, A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE Brutality of the present AGE.

PARTICULARLY The PERTNESS and INSOLENCE of our YOUTH to aged PERSONS.

WITH A CAUTION to People in Years, how they give the STAFF out of their own Hands, and leave themselves at the Mercy of others.

CONCLUDING With a PROPOSAL for erecting a PROTESTANT MONASTERY, where Persons of small Fortunes may end their Days in Plenty, Ease, and Credit, without burthening their Relations, or accepting Publick Charities.

By ANDREW MORETON, Esq Author of Every-Body's Business is No-Body's Business.

LONDON: Printed for W. Meadows, at the Angel in Cornhill; and sold by J. Roberts, in Warwick-Lane; E. Nutt, under the Royal Exchange; A. Dodd, without Temple-Bar; and N. Blanford, at Charing-Cross. 1727. Price 6d.

THE PREFACE.

A COMMONWEALTH is a Machine actuated by many Wheels, one dependant on the other, yet the Obstruction of a small Wheel may stop the Motion of the whole: Every Man ought therefore as much as in him lies, to contribute in his Station, to the publick Welfare, and not be afraid or ashamed of doing, or at least, meaning well.

I hope therefore the Reader will excuse the Vanity of an over officious Old Man, if like Cato, I enquire whether or no before I go hence and be no more, I can yet do any thing for the Service of my Country.

For if every Man should say Children are burthensome, and the Cause of many Sorrows, therefore will not I be a Father, farewel to all Ties of Nature, and every Blessing of human Society.

Or if every Man should say to himself, what have I to do with State Affairs? is it my Business? are there not enough at the Helm? what need I interfere? Let me be subject to the Higher Powers, and let Matters sink or swim, I shall have Neighbours Fare.

Would not this be a very churlish Resolution? would it not very much contribute to universal Anarchy and Confusion? should every Man thus throw the Care of the Publick from his shoulders, and acquit himself of any Concern for the rest of Mankind.

This would be my Case, should I, knowing I am Master of a Project, which in all probability, may be of great use to Mankind, reason thus to my self; what have I to do to divulge my Secrets? What though they are of Benefit to the Publick, shall I reap any Advantage by them? Shall I not rather be laugh'd at and despised as a Projector, the most contemptible Character in this Part of the World? May not another run away with the Profits of my Labour, and by a little Improvement make my Project his own? is it not better for me to repose myself, to die in Peace, and leave an ungrateful World to their own Imaginations? Non nobis nati sumus. That Thought would quash all harsh Contemplations, I could hazard with Pleasure, the publick Contumely for the publick Good, knowing it has been the Fate of much better Men than my self, to be despised when living, tho' rever'd when dead.

Prompted by this Reflection, I once more take Pen in Hand, as I hope for the Service of my Country: If my Countrymen find what I advance practicable, I hope they will not call my Integrity in question. and if they have patience to read my well intended Thoughts, tho' digested I fear but too mildly, and in too mean a Stile, I hope they will find I have advanc'd nothing but what is practicable, beneficial, and without Self-Interest; having excluded myself from any propriety in my own Project, by thus publishing it and making it every Body's: and if any think I write for Money, let them ask my Bookseller.

Alas I have but small Health and little Leisure to turn Author, being now in my 67th Year, almost worn out with Age and Sickness. The Old Man cannot trouble you long; take then in good part his best Intentions, and impute his Defects to Age and Weakness: Look on him as a Man of more Experience than Learning; excuse his Stile for the sake of his Subject, and take the Will for the Deed. Assure your self, gentle Reader, I had not published my Project in this Pamphlet, could I have got it inserted in any of the Journals, without Feeing the Journalists or Publishers.

I cannot but have the Vanity to think, they might as well have inserted what I sent them, Gratis, as many Things I have since seen in their Papers. But I have not only had the Mortification to find what I sent rejected, but to lose my Originals, not having taken Copies of what I wrote.

However, to justify my Complaints to the World, I shall, in a proper Place, let them know the Substance of what was rejected, and by whom.

In the mean time, give me leave to assure my Readers, that the Reason why this Project appears in a Pamphlet is, because I have been thus baffled and disheartened by Journalists; for if by any Means the Publick could have had it at a cheaper Rate, I had been better pleased.

BOOKS printed for W. MEADOWS at the Angel in Cornhil.

- NUmmi Britannici Historia: Or, an Historical Account of English Money, from the Conquest, to the uniting of the two Kingdoms, by King James 1st and of Great Britain, to the present Time. With a particular Description of each Piece, and illustrated with Cuts of the more ancient: A Work hitherto unattempted. Necessary for all those that would have any Knowledge of this useful Part of Antiquity; but particularly calculated for the Benefit of the curious Collector of English Coin.

- 2. The money'd Man's Guide: Or the Purchaser's Pocket Companion. Shewing at Sight, what Interest is made by Money paid out in the Companies Stocks, or any other publick Fund; And also the present Value of any yearly Income. With the easiest Method to cast up the present Worth of Lands, Houses, Annuities, Fines, Repairs, Reversions, &c. The whole being made plain to the meanest Capacity; By Richard Hayes, Accomptant and Writing-Master in Cannon-Street.

- 3. Every-Body's Business, is No-Body's Business; Or Private Abuses, Publick Grievances: Exemplified in the Pride, Insolence, and exorbitant Wages of our Women-Servants, Footmen, &c. With a Proposal for Amendment of the same; as also for clearing the Streets of those Vermin call'd Shoe-Cleaners, and substituting in their stead, many Thousands of Industrious Poor, now ready to starve. With divers other Hints of great Use to the Publick. Humbly submitted to the Consideration of our Legislature, and the careful Perusal of all Masters and Mistresses of Families. By Andrew Moreton Esq The fifth Edition, with the Addition of a Preface.

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Title statement

The Protestant monastery: or, a complaint against the brutality of the present age. Particularly the pertness and insolence of our youth to aged persons. ... Concluding with a proposal for erecting a Protestant monastery, where persons of small fortunes may end their days in plenty, ease, and credit, ... By Andrew Moreton, ...

Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731.

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University of Oxford Text Archive
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ID [ota]

http://ota.ox.ac.uk/id/4557

ID [isbn10]

1106015568

ID [isbn13]

9781106015563

ID [TCP]

K061017.000

ID [BIBNO]

CW3317487401

ID [ECRP]

0038601100

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— The Protestant monastery: or, a complaint against the brutality of the present age. Particularly the pertness and insolence of our youth to aged persons. ... Concluding with a proposal for erecting a Protestant monastery, where persons of small fortunes may end their days in plenty, ease, and credit, ... By Andrew Moreton, ..., Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731.. viii,31,[1]p. ; 8⁰. London :: printed for W. Meadows; and sold by J. Roberts; E. Nutt; A. Dodd; and N. Blanford,. 1727 [1726]. [Andrew Moreton = Daniel Defoe.] [Published 26 November 1726 (Moore).] [Later adapted as 'Chickens feed capons: .. '.] [Reproduction of original from the British Library.] [Moore, 486] [English Short Title Catalog, ESTCT71969.] [Electronic data. Farmington Hills, Mich. : Thomson Gale, 2003. Page image (PNG). Digitized image of the microfilm version produced in Woodbridge, CT by Research Publications, 1982-2002 (later known as Primary Source Microfilm, an imprint of the Gale Group).]

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