Male counterpart of beguineMember of a community of unmarried women who led a religious life and lived in a beguinage. Beguines took only two (temporary) vows: obedience (to the Grand Mistress of the beguinage) and purity. As they did not take a vow of poverty, they were allowed to own property. They also had to be self-supporting.. Just like beguines, they were unmarried, and beghards only took two (temporary) vows: obedience and purity. Beghards lived together in a house in town and devoted themselves to education and caring for the poor. Many beghards were also weavers. In Antwerp, Beggaardenstraat reminds of their presence.