Transactions. 119 



Friars' frock and cowl were often worn by imposters, like Friar 

 John in the Canterbury Tales of Chaucer, and the adage was true — 

 Cucullus 11011 facit monachnn. Their monastevies, known as Friaries, 

 were in cities and towns ; and their churches different from the 

 monks in being less encumbered with pillars and aisles, so as to be 

 better fitted for preaching to large audiences. They kept up an 

 intimacy with the subordinate officials of monasteries in their 

 constant peregrinations, and different chiefly from monks in being 

 by profession beggars. They called each other Fratres, and their 

 superior Master, and sometimes Warden. 



There were four great Orders of this religious brotherhood. 



(1) Dominicans, or preaching Friars, called also Black Friars, 

 because they wore a black cassock over white robes ; hence like- 

 wise called " Magpies," because of the mixture of the two colours. 

 They came to England A.D. 1220. 



(2) Franciscans, or Grey Friars, who came to England A.D. 

 1224, 



(3) Carmellites, or White Friars, but for long their cassock 

 was white, striped with brown, like the bourhouse of the Arab 

 Bedouin, and hence called in Paris in jest Freres barres — i.e., in 

 prison bars. 



(4) Augustiniau, or Austin Friars, also called White Canons. 



A s the chief characteristic of the Dominican friars was preach- 

 ing and praying, that of the Franciscan was begging ; and to this 

 Order belonged a large monastery in Dumfries occupying all the 

 ground between the present Chui'ch of Grey friars and the Nith, at 

 which time Buccleuch Street, Castle Street, and Irish Street were 

 fields and gardens. Their church is believed to have stood where 

 Comyn's Court is, now approached by that long narrow street called 

 from the French a Vennel. I saw some remains of that monastery 

 30 years ago in a large vaulted room with a huge fireplace, supposed 

 to have been the kitchen of the Refectory, which ran behind Mr 

 Lennox's shop, who tells me there is still some ancient uiason 

 work in his cellars. This Monastery was founded by Devorgilla, 

 who gave the Friars authority to levy dues on persons and ani- 

 mals crossing the bridge. The Friars were great bridge makers, 

 and these dues would be partly for its upkeep and partly for their 

 own maintenance. The original bridge would, I think, be con- 

 structed chiefly of timber, but the main features of it have no 

 doubt been preserved in the subsequent stone erection. One 



