friars, their dress being white with a black hood. Their House was
in Fleet Street. Here was a sanctuary whose privileges were not
abolished till the year 1697.

Other Orders represented in London were the Cluniacs, a branch of
Benedictines--they had the Abbey of St. Saviour in Bermondsey; the Black
Canons, established at St. Bartholomew's: the Canons Regular of St.
Augustin--who had the Southwark Priory of St. Mary Overie: the Knights
Templars; and the Knights of St. John.

As a general rule it is enough to remember that the monks were
Benedictines with their principal branches of Carthusians, Cistercians,
and Cluniacs: that the friars were those named after Augustine, Dominic,
Francis, and Mount Carmel; that the monks remained in their Houses,
practising a life of austerity and prayer--so long as they were faithful
to their vows: and that the friars went about among the people,
preaching and exhorting them.

Of the nunneries some were Benedictine, some Franciscan: that of the
Minorites belonged to the latter Order: that of St. Helen's, to the
former.

The Religious Houses were dissolved at the Reformation. You must
remember that if it had not been for the existence of these Houses, most
of the arts, science, and scholarship of the world would have perished
utterly. The monks kept alive learning of all kinds: they encouraged
painting: they were discoverers and inventors in science: they were the
chief agriculturists and gardeners: they offered an asylum to the poor
and the oppressed. 'The friendship of the poor,' said Bernard, 'makes
us the friends of Kings.' And in an age of unrestrained passions they
showed an example of self-restraint and austerity. The friars did more:
they were poor among the poor: no one was below their care and
affection: they had nothing--they would take nothing--at first: till the
love and gratitude of the people showered gifts upon them and even
against their will, if they still retained any love for poverty, they
became rich.

28. THE LONDON CHURCHES.

Before the Great Fire of London there were 126 churches and parishes in
the City. Most of these were destroyed by the Fire, and many were never
rebuilt at all. Two or even three and four parishes were united in one
church. Of late years there has been a destruction of City churches
almost as disastrous as that of the Fire. Those who have learned from
this book, and elsewhere, to respect the monuments of the past and to
desire t