226 The three principal are the _Historia Monachorum_ of Rufinus, who visited Egypt A.D. 373, about seventeen years after the death of St. Antony; the _Institutiones_ of Cassian, who, having visited the Eastern monks about A.D. 394, founded vast monasteries containing, it is said, 5,000 monks, at Marseilles, and died at a great age about A.D. 448; and the _Historia Lausiaca_ (so called from Lausus, Governor of Cappadocia) of Palladius, who was himself a hermit on Mount Nitria, in A.D. 388. The first and last, as well as many minor works of the same period, are given in Rosweyde’s invaluable collection of the lives of the Fathers, one of the most fascinating volumes in the whole range of literature. The hospitality of the monks was not without drawbacks. In a church on Mount Nitria three whips were hung on a palm-tree—one for chastising monks, another for chastising thieves, and a third for chastising guests. (Palladius, _Hist. Laus._ vii.) _ 227 Vita Pauli._ St. Jerome adds, that some will not believe this, because they have no faith, but that all things are possible for those that believe. _ 228 Vita St. Hilarion._ 229 See a long list of these penances in Tillemont, _Mém. pour servir à l’Hist. ecclés._ tome viii. _ 230 Vitæ Patrum_ (Pachomius). He used to lean against a wall when overcome by drowsiness. _ 231 Vitæ Patrum_, ix. 3. 232 Sozomen, vi. 29. 233 E.g. St. Antony, according to his biographer St. Athanasius. 234 “Il y eut dans le désert de Scété des solitaires d’une éminente perfection.... On prétend que pour l’ordinaire ils passoient des semaines entières sans manger, mais apparemment cela ne se faisoit que dans des occasions particulières.”—Tillemont, _Mém. pour servir à l’Hist. eccl._ tome viii. p. 580. Even this, however, was admirable! 235 Palladius, _Hist. Laus._ cap. xx. 236 “Primum cum accessisset ad eremum tribus continuis annis sub cujusdam saxi rupe stans, semper oravit, ita ut nunquam omnino resederit neque Jacuerit. Somni autem tantum caperet, quantum stans capere potuit; cibum vero nunquam sumpserat nisi die Dominica. Presbyter enim tunc veniebat ad eum et offerebat pro eo sacrificium idque ei solum sacramentum erat et victus.”—Rufinus, _Hist. Monach._ cap. xv. 237 Thus St. Antony used to live in a tomb, where he was beaten by the devil. (St. Athanasius, _Life of Antony._) 238 βοσκοί. See on these monks Sozomen, vi. 33; Evagrius, i. 21. It is mentioned of a certain St. Marc of Athens, that, having lived for thirty years naked in the desert, his body was covered with hair like that of a wild beast. (Bollandists, March 29.) St. Mary of Egypt, during part of her period of penance, lived upon grass. (_Vitæ Patrum._) _ 239 Life of Antony._