PROLEGOMENA. 



Ixix. 



of the Rosary, now universal in the church ; though 

 the habit of couuting prayers by beads is much 

 older; for we find the Bell, the Cross, the Beads, 

 and the Maple Dish, the proverbial accompaniments 

 of the Hermit, at a very early period. With the 

 Dominicans originated the Inquisition ; a Tribunal 

 perhaps abused in later times. It was first established 

 by the Council of Thoulouse, in 1229. 

 This Order has produced 5 Popes, 48 Cardinals, and 

 600 Archbishops. The object of its foundation was 

 originally the Conversion of the Albigenses and other 

 heretics that infested Languedoc and other parts of Europe 

 at the time, and it has been attended with prodigious 

 success. The Rules of this Order, founded chiefiy on the 

 Rule of St. Austin, were confirmed by Honorius III. in 

 1216. It is divided, 1st. according to its principal Con- 

 Tents, or, 2dly. according to its Reformations. The 

 original Convents are — 



1. Dominicans of Bologna, settled in 1217. 



2. Dominicans of Spain, as Segovia, Madrid, &c. 



3. Dominicans of St. Jacques, at Paris. 



4. Black Friars of England, so called from a black 



cloak and hood worn by this Order in the 

 streets. This Order was first settled in England 

 by Brother Gilbert. 

 The Reformations of this Order are said to amount 

 to 12 in number ; the principal of them in Europe are — 



1. Observantine Dominicans reformed in the 16th 



century. 



2. Conventuals : these, like those of St. Francis, 



live in large Convents. 

 There are also females of this order as — 



1. Nuns of the Order of St. Dominic. 



2. Nuns of the Reformed Orders. 



f2 



