08 



About the time that chivalry arose, or soon after, the 

 mendicant orders arose also. St. Dominic and St. Fran- 

 cis of Assise were the founders, at the very same time, 

 of the two great monastic orders of mendicant friars. The 

 dignitaries of the universities were the chief opponents of 

 these orders. The mendicants endeavoured to support their 

 conseqvience, and gain adherents, by a superior degree of 

 industry, learning and eloquence. Here was another poli- 

 tical circumstance, which contributed to enlighten the pub- 

 lic mind, and produced a rivalship and emulous exertion 

 of talent. These two parties attacked each other Avith great 

 animosity, and much ability was displayed on each side. 

 The earliest opponents of the mendicant orders were, Wil- 

 liam de St. Amour, Joachim,* Abbot of Flora, in Cala- 

 bria. John de Meun,-!- also, attacks the mendicants in 

 verse, and gives a summary of the invectives of William 

 de St. Amour. John of Parma was the great champion 

 of these orders. 



Tiie kind of civilization and advancement in the arts, 

 -which Howed from a source remote, and appearing so lit- 

 tle calculated to produce any good or ornamental eiiect, 

 and rather adapted to cramp the energies of the human 

 mind, to degrade its taste and feelings, and confine its 

 pursuits, was still worthy of the source whence it sprung. 



It 



* Who added to the 'Jsu,^l monastic vows, 



t John de Meun principally attacks them, on two grounds: their insinu- 

 ating themselves into private houses, and seducing young persons and wo- 

 men; and their idleness. 



