Discipline in School and Cloister

by Jacobus X

There are also forbidden games, for playing which one gets it ‘on the back’ as the scholastic euphemism has it. Games which do not exercise the body are forbidden; also those played for money or other gain, such as games with cards or dice. Books, bags, belts, etc., must not be lost or sold, and no trading carried on in the school. Those who play about in the privies, or who stay longer than is necessary, are to be flogged.

Flogging was used in all educational establishments, whether at Port Royal or under the jesuits. There was, however, a Jansenist named Varet who was not afraid to write that ‘the severity recommended by Holy Writ is much better exercised and more in accordance with the spirit of God, by the refusal of a kiss or caress, rather than by the use of a rod.’ It wasn’t that he wished to spare them pain, for he adds: ‘If they have some infirmity or sickness, although in secret you spare no effort to cure them, try however to teach them to bear their pains with resignation.’

It would appear that the rigour of the pedagogical rules of the jesuits has been exaggerated. A number of stories, and some of them only stories, have contributed to establish this reputation: this one, for instance, from the Memoirs of the Count de Bonneval. ‘The Marquis de C..., a cavalry captain, had been stationed for a year or two in the outskirts of Strasburg. He often visited the town and had a mistress there. He abandoned her in a rather shameful way, and she resolved to be avenged and as cruelly as possible.

‘She conceived the plan of writing to the rector of the jesuits, in the name of the Marquis of Louvois. The letter stated that a certain cavalry officer would call on him, that the king desired that he should be given twenty-five lashes by the corrector of his college in the presence of three or four of most respectable monks. The letter further stated that the victim should lean on the table and cross his thumbs during the punishment, and that he should give ten louis to the corrector and thank him for the correction given. It ended by an order to the rector that he should give a detailed account of all that happened.

‘While this ridiculous letter was being read by the jesuits and they were rejoicing that they had the confidence of M. de Louvois, the captain received one by the same hand ordering him to go on Friday to the jesuit corrector, who would give him the king’s commands. He impatiently awaited the day, and went to the college at the indicated hour, 8 p.m. He was first shown into an inner room and there told the orders which concerned him. These imbecile monks, who were unable to understand that these orders, accompanied with so many ridiculous circumstances, could not possibly have come from the court, pleaded earnestly with the captain to submit. He was fool enough to believe them, and indeed prepared himself for the flogging, which was soundly administered. The treatment was accompanied with a reprimand which his young lady had dictated. He gave ten louis to the corrector and thanked him, and the jesuits promised to keep the affair secret.’

To understand better the educational methods of the jesuits, it is preferable to consult their Ratio studiorum, published in 1599. This Ratio states that a punishment should only be given in a last extremity. ‘Let not the master be in haste to punish: let him not push his inquisition too far: let him pretend that he does not see all the faults committed, if he can do so without compromising the interests of the pupils.’

In another passage they are recommended to avoid corporal punishment as much as possible, and in any case they are not to use the rod themselves. A special corrector, attached to the establishment but not a member of the order, was detailed for flogging. The corrector was a servant, either the cook or the doorman; sometimes recourse was had to a penniless workman of the district, who was given a few coppers for fulfilling the office.

In the Toulouse province, at Rodez College for example, another plan was used. The jesuits picked out a hefty scholar and educated him gratis, on condition that he flogged his fellow-pupils when necessary. The victim was fastened to the back of a chair, and the punishment took place before the teacher and all the class. The number of strokes given was usually from seventy to eighty, never less than forty; sometimes as many as three hundred were given.

The victim was forbidden to cry out, and the flogger was ordered to pause for a few seconds between each stroke so that the pain might be greater.