Six hundred years ago the Friars had been established in England
about sixty years, and they were now by far the most influential
Religionists in the country. The Friars, though always stationed in
the towns, and by this time occupying large establishments which were
built for them in Lynn, Yarmouth, Norwich, and elsewhere, were always
acting the part of itinerant preachers, and travelled their circuits
on foot, supported by alms. Sometimes the parson lent them the
church, sometimes they held a camp meeting in spite of him, and just
as often as not they left behind them a feeling of great soreness,
irritation, and discontent; but six hundred years ago the preaching
of the Friars was an immense and incalculable blessing to the
country, and if it had not been for the wonderful reformation wrought
by their activity and burning enthusiasm, it is difficult to see what
we should have come to or what corruption might have prevailed in
Church and State.
When the Friars came into a village, and it was known that they were
going to preach, you may be sure that the whole population would turn
out to listen. Sermons in those days in the country were very rarely
delivered. As I have said, there were no pulpits in the churches
then. A parson might hold a benefice for fifty years, and never once
have written or composed a sermon.
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