THE FRIAR-PREACHERS, OR BLACKFRIARS, OF HOLBORN,

LONDON.

BY THE REV. CHARLES F. R. PALMER.

THE Second General Chapter of the Mendicant Order begun in the year 1215, at Toulouse, by Dominic Gusman, a Spaniard of Old Castile, was held in May, 1221, at Bologna. In this assembly thirteen Brethren or Friars were commissioned by the founder to establish in England, the eighth province of the Order. The company of religious preachers, passing through Canterbury, reached London on the Feast of St. Lawrence (August 10th), then went on, and on the Assumption (August 15th) entered Oxford, where they built a little oratory, and began their charge of teaching in the University, and preaching throughout the country. Within fifty years this Order numbered forty convents in England and Wales, afterwards much increased, and had hence spread throughout Ireland and Scotland.

At first these new Friars were called Canons of the Order of FriarPreachers, because their founder had been a Canon-regular of St. Augustin, in the Cathedral of Osma; but the simple title of FriarPreachers became their legal and recognized designation. From the black cappa, or cloak, and capuce, which they wore in public over the white woollen tunic, they were also popularly called Black Friars, although the same name was sometimes given to the black-robed Friars of St. Augustin. In the 15th and 16th centuries they were generally styled Dominicans, as disciples of St. Dominic.

It is probable that when the Friars went from London to Oxford in August, 1221, F. Gilbert de Fresnoy, who was their head or Provincial Prior, left a few of his brethren to found a house in the metropolis of England. To this opinion we incline, because F. Nicholas Trivet, in noting the time of their coming, seems as if he had in view to record the dates of the settlements of the two houses, whilst he has not been so exact in respect to Canterbury, where a convent was not founded till fifteen years later. Be this as it may, it is certain that within a very short time, the Friars established themselves in the north-west suburb of London. At first they must have lodged in a rented or borrowed house; for such has generally been the case when new religious communities have not had immediately by gift or purchase some old church or building.

Amongst the magnates whom these Friars of London soon attached to themselves as friends and patrons, was Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent, Grand Justiciary of England and the most powerful noble at the royal court, especially during the minority of Henry III. From John Bokointe, a citizen of London, the Earl purchased a plot of land with the buildings on it in the parish of St. Andrew juxta Holeborn, and gave it to the Friars. Here they immediately formed a convent. Whilst they were in this house they gave a fitting welcome to their brethren of a kindred institute, the Friar-Minors of St. Francis of Assisi, who in September, 1224, followed them into England; the

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four Minors who came to London were entertained by the FriarPreachers for fifteen days, till they obtained a habitation for themselves in Cornhill. a The two Orders long maintained a close friendship, and the Chronicles of the Franciscans record with pleasure how F. Jordan of Saxony, second Master-General of the Order of FriarPreachers, visited them during his sojourn in England.

b

In 1224, John Bokointe confirmed to God and the Canons of the Order of Preachers, in perpetual almoigne (saving the services due to the lords of the fief) the land and buildings which the Earl of Kent had given them. © The Friars had adapted the building for a dwelling; and though probably at first (like the Minors) they had not even an altar of their own, but celebrated mass in the churches around, in the course of a few years they fitted up a church, with a burialground, which they dedicated to God under the invocation of St. John the Evangelist. But this establishment soon became too small for the community which probably endured all the inconveniences of the rough adaptation of common buildings to monastic usages. So rapid was the increase of the Order that a moderate calculation, based on existing data, shows that within twenty years more than six hundred devotees had embraced the Rule of St. Dominic throughout England; in 1243, the Convent of Holborn numbered eighty religious. The Friars here, therefore, soon set about to enlarge their bounds, and build a church, and then to erect a large dwelling.

About 1228, William le Veill granted to the Canons of the Order of Preachers all the land which he had of Richard Golafre, in the parish of St. Andrew ultra Holeborn; in pure almoigne as to himself, but charged with the rent of a pair of gloves or d. at Easter to the heirs of Richard Golafre, and 2s. yearly in the octaves of Easter and Michaelmas to the capital lords.

d

Early in 1232, Alice la Brune, widow, gave to God and the Blessed Mary and to the Church of St. John the Evangelist of Holeburne, and to the Friar-Preachers serving God there, her land which lay between their burial-ground and the entrance to the capital messuage once belonging to Richard Lungejambe, tanner.

a Ex Reg. Frat. Min. London: Bibl. Cotton, Vitellius F. xii. fol. 316.
b Monumenta Franciscana, p 11.

Sciant omnes tam presentes quam futuri quod Ego Johannes Bokointe concessi et presenti cartâ meâ confirmavi Deo et Canonicis Ordinis Predicatorum placiam illam cum pertinenciis apud Lond' que est in parrochia sancti Andree juxta Holeborn, quam, videlicet, dominus Hubertus de Burgo emit à me, et dedit eisdem Canonicis. Hanc placiam eis concessi et confirmavi, habendam et tenendam sibi et successoribus suis in perpetuanı elemosinam integre et plenarie cum edificiis et omnibus pertinenciis suis, salvo servitio dominorum feodi; sicut in carta predicti Huberti, quam ipsi Canonici inde habent, continetur. Hiis testibus, Ricardo Reinger tunc Majore Lond', Henrico de Sancto Albano, Andreâ Bokerell, Johanne Travers, Thoma Bokerell, Josce filio Petri, Thomâ Lambert, Johanne Waleraun, Ricardo Richeman, et multis aliis.

Orig.: Public Record Office; Duchy of Lancaster, Charters, A, No. 199.

Renger was Mayor of London, 1223 to 1226; and Bokerell and Travers were Sheriffs in 1224. It is often necessary to glean the dates of the deeds from the names of the witnesses attached to them.

d Orig.: Duchy of Lanc., charters, A, No. 209. Hiis testibus, Josce filio Petri tunc Aldermanno, Ricardo Richeman, Adam de Westmonasterio, Henrico de la Claye, Johanne Langhals, Gilleberto Tegulario, Hugone le Chaucier. Et multis aliis. Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 193. Hiis testibus, Andrea Bukerel tunc temporis majore

About 1234, the Abbey of Nutley gave the Friars a piece of land in Sholand, subject to some yearly rents.

f

Shortly afterwards, Adam le Cutiler, for the health of his soul, gave in pure almoigne to the Friar Preachers of London, a messuage in Scholand lying between the land which had belonged to Agnes daughter of Alexander le Caucer on the north and the land which had been the Abbey of Nutley's on the south; from the street eastward it was seventeen iron yards long, and its breadth was seven yards next the street and five yards at the back. "

In 1235, Richard Renger gave to God and the Church of St. John of Holeburne and the Friar-Preachers there in pure and perpetual almoigne, all the land in the parish of St. Andrew which he had bought of Elias son of Richard Lungegamb between the Friars' land on the west and the water called Holeburne on the east; charged however with the yearly rent of 10s. to Walter le Brun and his heirs. h If this was the land which Alan le Ram, in 1236, quit-claimed to Richard Renger, citizen of London, it lay between Holeburn and the Friars' burialground, and contained in breadth in front next the kings-way 10 iron yards (king's measure) and behind 15 yards in width and 37 yards in length. i

Probably about 1236, Richer son of Geoffrey de Cruce, for God's sake and the health of his own soul and of all belonging to him, granted to the Friars, in pure almoigne as to himself, that land which he had bought of Henry Tegularius and Margery his wife, and of Adam Tegularius and Cecily his wife. It was close to the Friars' land on the south, and paid 3s. 4d. a-year at Easter, Midsummer, Michaelmas and Christmas to the lord of the estate.

About this time, the same Henry Tegularius and Margery and Adam Tegularius and Cecily, being in straitened circumstances, sold to the Friars all the land which they possessed in common in the parish of St. Andrew, being that which Godfrey de Holeburn bought of Richard son of Robert de Levelande, and lying between the Friars' land on the north and that of Robert Tegulator on the south, and extending from the land of William le Veil and that once Alexander

Londoniarum; Michaele de Sanctâ Helenâ, Waltero le Bufle tunc temporis vicecomitibus Lond'; Jocio filio Petri tunc temporis aldremanno, Nicholao capellano de Haliwell, Henrico tannatore, Godefrido de la More tannatore, Andrea tegulatore, Ada Blundo pellipario, Willielmo le Vielur, et multis aliis.

f Vide infra.

Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 198. Hiis testibus, domino Andreâ Bukerel tunc majore Lond', Ricardo filio Rengeri, Henrico de Sancto Albano, Jocio filio Petri tunc aldermano, Roberto Tegulario, Gileberto Tegulario, et multis aliis.

h Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 194. Hiis testibus, Andreâ Bukerel tunc majore Lond'; Gerardo Bat et Roberto Hardello tempore eodem vicecomitibus Lond', Josceo filio Petri, Roberto la Justise, Johanne Wawcher, Elyâ Aurifabro, Willielmo de Sancto Paulo aurifabro, Gilberto Tegulario, Roberto Tegulario, et multis aliis.

i Orig. D. Lanc., A, No. 195. Hiis testibus, Andreâ Bukerel tunc majore Lond', Henrico de Cokham et Jordano de Coventre tunc vicecomitibus Lond', Ricardo Renger, Henrico de Sto. Albano, Roberto Justic., Joceo filio Petri tunc aldermanno, Ada de Westm., Willielmo de Berdefeud, Alexandro Parmenter, Willielmo de Sto. Paulo, Simone Corveiser, Stephano Parmenter, Galfrido Tannatore, et multis aliis.

Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 207. Hiis testibus, Josce filio Petri tunc Aldermanno, Willielmo Ilbode tunc Sokereve, Adam le Mercier, Ric. Clerico, Roberto Tegulario, Gilleberto Tegulario, Godefrido le Gos, Willielmo le Fruitier, Radulpho Carpentario, Rogero le Fundur, Johanne le Chapeler, et multis aliis.

le Chaucer's into the Flete; to be held at the yearly rent of half a mark of silver for all service, at the four terms.

k

In 1240, Ralph Eswy, citizen of London, for the souls of himself and of all his ancestors and successors, granted to the Church of St. John the Evangelist beyond Holeburn-bridge and the Friar-Preachers there, in pure and perpetual almoigne, all the lands, rents and buildings which he had in vico de Soland in the parishes of St. Andrew of Holeburn and St. Bridget, of the final sale and quit-claim of Robert Tegularius, and whatever he had there in timber and stone, in length and breadth, and in all things without any withholding; subject however to the services due to the lords of the fiefs. 1

m

As to the rents and charges which encumbered all these lands, the Friars soon got clear of them by gift or purchase. About 1234, for 40s., they bought of Henry de Bedeford and Melkasisa his wife, daughter of Geoffrey Bockointe, the yearly quit-rent of 3s. for the land in Scholanda given by the Abbey of Nutley. About 1236, the Brethren and Sisters of the Hospital of St. Bartholomew sold to them, for 107. sterling, the yearly rent of 20s. which the Abbot and Convent of Nutley paid them for the land which Hugh de Sancto Albano celegarius held of them and had sold to the Abbey; and at the same time they confirmed the Abbey's gift to the Friars. " 1242, the Nuns of Clerkenwell without London quit-claimed 28. yearly rent. ° The Friars purchased of the Brethren and Sisters of the Hospital of St. James, for 5s., the yearly quit-rent of 6d. for the tenement once Robert Tegulator's in vico de Solande. P Also in 1242, of the Augustinians of Blackmore, for twelve marks, the yearly quit-rent of 17s. for the land which was Robert Tegulator's, and which Ralph Aswy, once Mayor of London, had given to the Friars. "

About

Whilst the enlargement of the site was thus going on, the Friars were building their Church. In this work they were assisted by great

k Orig. D. Lanc., A, 206. Hiis testibus, Jocio filio Petri tunc Altherman, Willielmo fil. Ylbod, Roberto de Warewic, Ricardo Clerico, Ricardo Carpentario, Roberto Tegulario, Adam Cultellario, Ricardo servienti de Gaola de Flete, Godefrido Tegulario, Rogero Tegulario, Johanne Bedello, et multis aliis.

Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 197. Hiis testibus, Dno. Girardo Bath tunc majore London', Joc. filio Petri tunc aldermano warde, Willielmo Joynier, Simone filio Mar', Roberto filio Johannis, Michaele de Sanctâ Helenâ, Jac' Blundo, Johanne Viel juniore, Thomâ filio Thome fil' Ric', Rogero filio Rogeri, Willielmo le Lutre, Ham' de Castello, Stephano de Abom', Alexandro Clerico, et aliis.

m Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 196. Hiis testibus, Dno. Andreâ Bukerel tunc majore Lond', dno. Ricardo filio Rengeri, Joecio filio Petri tunc aldermanno, Henrico de Cocham, Roberto Tegulario, Gileberto Tegulario, et multis aliis.

n Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 219. Hiis testibus, Domino Andreà Bukerel tunc majore Lond', domino Ricardo filio Renger, domino Jocio filio Petri aldermanno, Simone de Cocham, Richerio de Fonte, Roberto Tegulatore, et multis aliis.

• Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 216. Hiis testibus, Laurentio de Frowyk aldermanno, Stephano de Bromsote, Reg. Piscenario, Gervasio Tannatore, et multis aliis.

P Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 218. Hiis testibus, Laurentio de Frowyk, tunc aldermanno, Radulpho Aswy, Radulpho Aurifabro.

a Orig.: D. Lanc., A, No. 217. Hiis testibus, Radulpho Aswy tunc majore Lond., Roberto filio Johanne et Radulpho Aswy aurifabro tunc vicecomitibus Lond', Laurentio de Frowich tunc aldermanno, Willielmo de Sancto Paulo aurifabro, Ada de Westm', Stephano de Bromsote, Galfrido Joppe tannatore, Mattheo Linipannario, Ada de Winton' tannatore, Galfrido filio Golde tannatore, Stephano Tegulatore, Albino Alutario, Sorlon' parmenterio, Galfrido Fruterio, Willielmo Blundo, et multis aliis.

benefactors, partly in materials and partly in money. Thus Gilbert, Earl of Pembroke, in 1235, gave eighty oaks in his wood of Greywell within the Royal forest of Odiham; and a royal mandate was directed, April 7th, to the constable of Windsor to allow the Friars to fell the trees, and to carry them without paying chimmage. Shortly afterwards the same Earl gave more timber in his wood of Rutherwick, and again, June 5th, a royal writ freed the carriage of it from chimmage.

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In 1237, Henry III. ordered, June 17th, that a lime-kiln should be made at Windsor Castle for the work of this Church, supplied with faggots out of Windsor forest. t And on the 19th, he directed that 200 quarters of lime should be lent to the Friars by the constable of Windsor out of the royal kiln, and the kiln being emptied they should use it in the same manner and quantity as a royal kiln. " At that time, some building was going on at Windsor Castle, for which lime was borrowed of the Friars; the king, July 27th, 1238, ordered the constable of Windsor to give back as much as had been thus taken.▾ The king also made gifts of money out of the royal exchequer for the building of the Church, Jan. 20th, 1239--40, 107.; May 5th, 1241, twenty marks; and Nov. 6th following, ten marks.

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a

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In the course of time, the building of a large and commodious convent had to be taken in hand. In 1250 the abbess of Barking gave two oaks, and Alice de Hodenger four oaks, all in the forest of Essex; and the Friars, June 5th, had the royal licence to fell and to them to their house without chimmage. carry Z On March 13th 1255-6 the king gave seven oaks in the royal forest of Wanborough. Henry III. was very liberal. He gave, March 22nd, 1258-9, seven good oaks to make a lime-kiln; April 27th, 1259, ten good oaks for planking, and a thousand of free-stone which Master John de Gloucester, cementer, was to deliver; d Feb. 1st, 1259-60, six good oaks for timber; all these oaks being out of the royal forest of Essex: moreover, Feb. 12th, 1260-1, two thousand of freestone for completing the study-rooms, to be delivered by Edward de Westminster and Robert de Beverley, wardens of the works at Westminster; April 23rd following, twelve good oaks out of Havering forest, for the construction of the study rooms, and July 10th, 107. for the same; Dec. 10th, 1262, "quinque milia de franca petra et triginta navatas seu batellos de petra voluta" for the dormitory, to be delivered by Edward de Westminster;i Jan. 3rd, 1262-3, twenty oaks out of Essex forest, for the dormitory; Jan. 27th, 1265-6, fifteen oaks

h

e

r Claus. 19 Hen. III., p. t Liberate 21 Hen. III., m. 8. ▾ Claus. 22, Hen. III., m. 8.

I Liberate 25 Hen. III., m. 11.

z Claus. 34 Hen. III., m. 11.

1, m. 14.

g

u Claus. 21, Hen. III., m. 10.
w Liberate 24 Hen. III., m. 20.
y Liberate 26 Hen. III., p. 1, m. 17.
a Claus. 40, Hen. III., m. 13.

11.

b In the royal gifts of oaks, the Robora (then commonly called Rowers) were used for fuel, whilst the Quercus had the preference for timber. This was the general rule. c Liberate 43 Hen. III., m. 11. d Claus. 43 Hen. III., m. e Claus. 44 Hen. III., p. 2, m. 3. f Claus. 45 Hen. III., m. 17. * Claus. 45 Hen. III., m. 11. 1 Claus. 46, 47 Hen. III., m. 1.

h Liberate, 45 Hen. III., m. 6.
j Claus. 47 Hen. III., m. 14.