died the devices, never learned to
resolve one question; they are blind leaders of the blind; come to us,
who know how to distinguish one leprosy from another, to whom the secrets
of God are manifest.' Many therefore, especially nobles, despising their
own priests, confessed to these men, whereby the dignity of the
ordinaries was not a little debased."

Another says: "Now they have created two new fraternities, to which they
have so generally received people of both sexes, that scarce one of
either remains, whose name is not written in one of them, who, therefore,
all assembling in their churches, we cannot have our own parishioners,
especially on solemn days, to be present at divine service, &c.; whence
it is come to pass that we, being deprived of the due tithes and
oblations, cannot live unless we should turn to some manual labour. What
else remaineth therefore? except that we should demolish our churches, in
which nothing else remaineth for service or ornament but a bell and an
old image, covered with soot.' But these preachers and minors, who begun
from cells and cottages, have erected royal houses and palaces, supported
on high pillars, and distinguished into various offices, the expenses
whereof ought to have been bestowed upon the poor; these, while they have
nothing, possess all things; but we, who are said to have something, are
beggars." Alas! how many a poor curate of this nineteenth century, upon
30 pounds a-year, might subscribe to a like pitiful complaint.

Another accusation against these mendicant friars, in their days of
maturity, was that they used to steal children under fourteen years of
age, or receive them without the consent of their friends, and refuse to
restore them, embezzling or conveying them away to "other cloisters,"
where they could not be found. A statute of Henry IV. subjected these
friars to punishment for this offence; and the provincials of the four
orders were sworn before the parliament, for themselves and successors,
to be obedient to this statute.

Kirkpatrick, from whom the above is quoted, says elsewhere, that in 1242,
a great controversy arose between the friars minors and preachers, about
the greatest worthiness, most decent habit, the strictest, humblest, and
holiest life; for the preachers challenged pre-eminence in these--the
minors contradicted, and great scandal arose. And because they were
learned men, it was the more dangerous to the church.

"These are they,