From Stenbock's "Faust"
I said, continuing my enquiry (which was both official and ecclesiastical), ‘You must tell me exactly about it. I know that you monks, observing the rule of silence, are not inaccurate when you do talk.’
‘Well,’ said the guest-master, ‘although our Order is generally silent, I have to do the talking for the whole community; but I will try and tell you as best I can, though, perhaps, one of the others might relate it better, being less accustomed to speak.’