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154 YORK.
parish churches. They ate and drank whatever was
set before them by those to whom they ministered.
Deep was their insight into heavenly things, for their
spiritual vision was unclouded by any attachment to
this lower world or any sympathy with its vain and
fleeting pleasures. They make it a rule to reserve
nothing in the shape of food for the wants of the
morrow, in order that the humility of spirit which
rules them within may have an outward expression
which may be recognised of all."i
It is almost needless to say that they soon had
convents in all
the larger towns in Yorkshire, such as
Hull, Beverley, and Scarborough. One thing is very
striking as a proof of the feeling which existed towards
them. During all the long period from the thirteenth
century to the end of the fifteenth, from the humblest
person who has anything to bequeath to the lordly
baron with his wide extent of manors, scarcely a single
will is to be found which does not contain some bequest
of varying amount to the houses of the friars.
Their social influence did not arise wholly from
their loving charity to the sick and the poor. Another
power was brought to bear with singular effect upon
the popular mind. The friars were great as preachers.
Preaching had, no doubt, been much neglected by
the parochial clergy, whose spiritual work was, for the
most part, confined to the hearing of confessions and
the celebration of mass. And where it was not laid
aside it probably was not presented in a very attractive
form. Injunctions were often issued by bishops that
'
Matthew Paris, p. 296 (ed. 157 1).