INVENTORIES OF THE CORNISH FRIARIES AT THE TIME OF 

 THEIR DISSOLUTION. 



By H. MICHELL WHITLEY. F.G.S., Hon. Secretary. 



The Mendicant Friars soon after their introduction into 

 England, settled, as usual, in the chief towns of the counties ; 

 selecting in Cornwall, Bodmin and Truro. At the former town 

 the Franciscans or G-rey Friars had a house, which was founded 

 by a London merchant, John Fitzralph, and completed by 

 Eichard Earl of Cornwall in 1239; and at the latter, the 

 Dominicans or Black Friars established themselves ; their con- 

 vent being founded by the Reskymer family, and their church 

 dedicated in 1259. 



Unlike the monks, who were amongst the great landowners of 

 England, the friars had at first but little endowment, — although 

 as time passed on their revenues increased, — and we should 

 therefore expect to find them in Cornwall, possessed of but little 

 property, and this is found to be the case, the value of the lands 

 of the Priory of the Preaching friars at Truro being returned at 

 £4 Is. 4d., whilst at Bodmin the revenue appears to have been 

 still smaller. In accordance with the act for the dissolution of 

 the monasteries, visitors were appointed to undertake the duty of 

 carrying out its provisions. They were to visit each house in 

 turn, to dismiss the monks and take possession in the king's 

 name. The debts were to be ascertained and discharged. 

 Appraisers valued the stuff, furniture, stocks, ornaments, etc., and 

 the visitor paid himself out of the sale. Thus at Bodmin two 

 old feather beds and two old coverings were sold for ten shillings 

 to pay these charges, whilst the balance was accounted for to 

 the Augmentation Ofiice, and the plate and jewels reserved for 

 the king. Lead in these times was very valuable, and accurate 

 returns of the quantity at each house had to be made, whilst in 

 some cases the melter accompanied the visitor. At Bodmin the 

 upper part of the cloyster and part of the steeple were of lead, 

 but at Truro there was none on the roofs of the buildings 

 Inventories, it has been well said, are "The grammar of the. 

 archaeologist," and by their aid some idea may be formed of 

 the furniture and internal appearance of the ruined abbey 

 churches which dot our land. Friaries though poor in landed 



