ABB (3) ABB
ABATEMENT, in Heraldry, something added to a Coat-Armour to diminish its proper Value and Dignity, and note some dishonourable Action, or Stain in the Character of the Person who bears it. See ARMS.
'Tis a little controverted among Authors, whether Heraldry allows of any such thing as regular Abatements. Leigh and Guillim, without any Scruple as to their Reality, give us several Kinds. Abatements, according to the last of those Writers, are either made by Reversion or Diminution.
Reversion is either turning the whole Escutcheon upside-down or the adding another Escutcheon, inverted, in the former.
Diminution, is the blemishing any part by adding a Stain, or Mark of Diminution : Such are a Delf, a Point Dexter, a Point Champaign, a Plain Point, a Goar Sinister, and a Gusset. See each under its proper Article, DELF, POINT DEXTER, GOAR, GUSSET, &c.
It may be added, that these Marks must always be either Tawny, or Murrey; otherwise, instead of Diminutions, they become Additions of Honour. See TAWNY, MURREY, &c.
The last Editor of Guillim discards the whole Notion of Abatements, as a Chimera. He alledges, that no one Instance is to be met withal of such Bearing ; and that it implies a Contradiction to suppose it. Arms, being Insignia Nobilitatis & Honoris, cannot admit of any Mark of Infamy, without ceasing to be Arms, and becoming Badges of Disgrace ; which all would covet to lay aside. Add, that as no hereditary Honour can be actually diminishi'd ; so neither can the Marks thereof. Both, indeed, may be forfeited ; as in the Case of Treason, where the Escutcheon is totally revers'd, to intimate a total Suppression of the Honour.
Some Instances, however, are produc'd to the contrary by Colombiere, and others. But these, tho they may shew some extraordinary Resentments of Princes for Offences committed in their Presence, do not amount to a Proof of such Custom or Practice ; much less authorize the Being of particular Badges in the Hands of inferior Officers, as Kings at Arms.
ABATEMENT, in Law, is us'd for the defeating or overthrowing of a thing, as a Writ, Appeal, or the like.
Thus the Abatement of a Writ, is the frustrating, or setting it aside, by some Exception alledg'd and made good against it. Such Exception may be taken either to the Matter, as insufficient ; or to the Allegations, as uncertain, e g. where one of the Parties or a Place are misnam'd ; or to some Variation between the Writ and Record ; or to the Uncertainty of the Writ, Count, or Declaration ; or to divers other Particulars. Upon any of which, the Desendant may pray that the Writ, or Plaint, may abate ; i.e. that the Plaintiff's Suit may cease for that time. See WRIT.
So we read in Staundsord, " The Appeal abates by Covin : that is the Accusation is deseated by Deceit.---- In the old Nat. Bev. To abate a Castle, or Fortlet, is interpreted, to beat it down.
ABATEMENT is also an irregular Entry upon Lands, or Tenements, left vacant by their former Possessor, and not yet laid hold of by the next Heir.
As he that puts out the Poslessor is said to disseize ; so he that interposes, or steps in between the former Possessor and his Heir, is said to abate. See Disseisin.
Coke on Littleton distinguishes between Abatement and Intrusion ; but the new Book of Entries renders Abatement by Intrusio. See INTRUSION.
ABBESS, the Superior of an Abbey, or Convent of Nuns. See ABBEY, and CONVENT.
The Abbess has the same Rights, and Authority over her Nuns that the Abbots regular have over their Monks. See ABBOT.
The Sex indeed does not allow her to perform the Spiritual Functions annex'd to the Priesthood, wherewith the Abbot is usually invested; but there are Instances of some Abesses, who have a Right, or rather a Privilege, to commission a Priest to act for 'em. They have even a kind of Episcopal Jurisdiction, as well as some Abbots, who are exempted from the Visitation of their Diocesans. See EXEMPTION.
F. Martene, in his Treatise of the Rites of the Church, observes, that some Abbesses have formerly consess'd their Nuns. He adds, that their execsessive Curiosity carry'd 'em such lengths, that there arose a neceslity of checking it.
S. Basil, in his Rule, allows the Abbess to be present with the Priest at the Consessions of her Nuns. See CONFESSION.
ABBEY, or ABBY, a Monastery, or Religious House, govern'd by an Abbot, or Abbess. See ABBOT, &c.
Abbies disser from Priories, in that the one are under the Direction of an Abbot, and the other of a Prior : but Abbot and Prior (we mean a Prior Conventual) are the same thing ; and only differ in Name. See PRIOR.
Fauchet observes, that in the early Days of the French Monarchy, Dukes and Counts were call'd Abbots, and Duchies and Counties Abbies. Many Persons of the prime Quality, without any Concern in the Monastic Life, took thesame Quality ; even some of their Kings are mention'd in History under the Title of Abbots. Philip I. Louis VI. and afterwards the Dukes of Orleans, are call'd Abbots of the Monastery of S. Agnan. The Dukes of Aquitain were call'd Abbots of the Monastery of S. Hilary, at Poitiers ; and the Earls of Anjou of S. Aubin, &c.
One third of the belt Benefices in England were antiently,by the Pope's Grant, appropriated to Abbies, and other Religious Houses ; which, upon their Dissolution under King Henry VIII. became Lay-Fees : 190 such were dissolv'd of between 200 l. and 35000 l. yearly Revenue, which at a Medium amounted to 2853000 l. per Annum.
ABBOT, or ABBAT, the Chief, or Superior of an Abbey, of the Male Kind. See ABBEY, and ABBESS. The Name Abbot is originally Hebrew, where it signifies Father. The Jews call Father in their Language Ab ; whence the Chaldees and Syrians form'd Abba ; and thence the Greeks GREEK, which the Latins retain'd, Abbas ; and hence our Abbot, the French Abbe, &c.
St. Mark and St. Paul use the Syriac Abba in their Greek ; by reason it was then commonly known in the Synagogues, and the primitive Assemblies of the Christians ; adding to it, by way of Interpretation, the Word Father, 'GREEK, Abba, Father, q. d. Abba, that is to say, Father.
The Name Ab and Abba, which at first was a Term of Tenderness and Affection, in the Hebrew and Chaldee, became at length a Title of Dignity and Honour. The Jewish Doctors affected it ; and one of their most antient Books, containing the Sayings, or Apothegms of divers of 'em, is entitled, Pirke Abbot, or Avoth, i. e. Chapter of the Fathers.
'Twas in allusion to this Affectation, that Jesus Christ forbad his Dlsciples to call any Man their Father on Earth :which Words S. Jerom turns against the Superiors of the Monafteries of his Time, for assuming the Title of Abbots, or Fathers.
The Name Abbot, then, appears as old as the Institution of Monks it self. See MONK.
The Governors of the primitive Monasteries assum'd indifferently the Names Abbots and Archimandrites. See ARCHIMANDRITES.
They were really distinguish'd from the Clergy, tho frequently consounded with 'em, because a Degree above Laymen. S. Jerom, writing to Heliodorus, says expresly, Alia Monachorum est Causa, alia Clericorum. See CLERGY, PRIEST, &c.
In those early Days, the Abbots were subject to the Bishops, and the ordinary Pastors. Their Monasteries being remote from Cities, built in the farthest Solitudes, they had no share in Ecclesiastical Affairs. They went on Sundays to the Parish-Church with the rest of the People : or, if they were too remote, a Prielt was sent 'em to administer the Sacraments ; till at length they were allow'd to have Priests of their own Body.
The Abbot, or Archimandrite himself was usually the Priest : but his Function extended no farther than to the Spiritual Assistances of his Monastery ; and he remain'd Hill in obedience to the Bishop.
There being among the Abbots several Persons of Learning, they made a vigorous Opposition to the rising Heresies of those Times ; which first occasion'd the Bishops to call 'em out of their Defarts, and fix 'em about the Suburbs of Cities ; and at length in the Cities themselves : from which Æra their Degeneracy is to be dated.
The Abbots, now, soon wore off their former Plainness and Simplicity, and began to be look'd on as a sort of little Prelates. In time they would be Independent of the Bishop ; and became so insupportable, that some severe Laws were made against 'em at the Council of Chalcedon: This notwithstanding, in time, many of 'em carry 'd the Point of Independency; and got the Appellation of Lord, with other Badges of the Episcopate, particularly the Mitre.
Hence arose new Species and Distinctions of Abbots, Mitred, and not Mitred ; Crozier'd, and not Crozier'd, Oecumenical, Cardinal, &c.
Mitred Abbots, were those privileg'd to wear the Mitre; and having, withal, a full Episcopal Authority within their several Precincts. Among us, these were also call'd Abbots sovereign, and Abbots general ; and were Lords of Parliament. Of these Sir Edward Coke, de Jur. Eccles. reckons 27 in England, beside two Mitred Priors. See PRIOR.
The rest, who were not mitred, were subject to the Diocesan.
Peré Hay, a Benedictine Monk, in his Book entitled Astrum Inextinctum, maintains, that the Abbots of his Order have not only an Episcopa, but even a Papal Jurisdiction ; Potestarem quasi Episcopalem, imo quasi Papalem ; and as such can confer the lower Orders of Deacon and Subdeacon. See ORDER.
When the Abbots first assum'd the Mitre, the Bishops made heavy Complaints of their Privileges being invaded by
