or Preachers, White Friars, or Carmelites, Grey Friars,
or Minors, and the Austin Friars, all had at one period, from the
thirteenth century to the era of the Reformation, large establishments
within its precincts; besides which, there was a nunnery, and divers
hospitals, as they were called, such as the Chapel of the Lady in the
Fields, Norman's Spital, and Hildebrand's Hospital; and hermitages
without number lurked about the corners of its churchyards, or perched
themselves above the gateways of its walls. The greater portion of these
have left but a name, or a few scattered fragments, behind to mark their
site; but one magnificent relic of the Black Friars monastery, comprising
the whole of the nave and chancel of their beautiful church, yet stands
in an almost perfect state of preservation,--a noble witness of the
wealth and taste of the poor "mendicant" followers of Friar
Dominick,--which was rescued from destruction at the period of the
general "dissolution," by the zeal and practical expediency of municipal
authorities. Of the two friaries that have ceased to exist even in
outline, it may suffice to record, that the Carmelites numbered among
them the eminent writer, "John Bale, the antiquary," as he is wont to be
called; the Austin Friars seem to have possessed few particular claims
for notice, save their less rigorous injunctions for fasting, but the
Friars Minors were the great rivals of the Preachers, and both together,
the sore troublers of the peace of the "Regulars," who looked upon the
growing power of this "_secular_" priesthood with a jealousy and hatred
to be conceived only by those who appreciate duly the "loaves and
fishes." As a sample of the feeling existing, the account of Matthew
Paris, the monk of St. Albans, may fairly be cited. He says, "The
'friars preachers' having obtained privileges from Pope Gregory IX. and
Innocent IV. being rejoiced and magnified, they talked malapertly to the
prelates of churches, bishops and archdeacons, presiding in their synods;
and where many persons of note were assembled, showed openly the
privileges indulged to them, proudly requiring that the same may be
recited, and that they may be received with veneration by the churches;
and intruding themselves oft-times impertinently, they asked many
persons, even the religious, 'Are you confessed?' And if they were
answered 'Yes,' 'By whom?' 'By my priest.' 'And what idiot is he? He
never learned divinity, never stu