The Exemplum in the Early Religious and Didactic Literature of England (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1911. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV The Exemplum In Popular Homiletic Literature After The Coming Of The Friars At the opening of the thirteenth century, as we have seen, exempla were chiefly confined to Latin literature and were i in the hands of clerics and scholars; larger use in the vernacular was needed to bring them into more common knowledge. This end was advanced mainly by the coming of the Dominican and Franciscan friars, who completely revolutionized preaching in England, as elsewhere. It has already been shown that at the opening of the thirteenth century there I was little preaching; and that this was practically confined J to the country districts. "In the towns there were but few priests, and these were frequently but ill-educated and unfitted to cope with the difficulties of the situation."1 J. S. Brewer, in the preface to the Monumenta Franciscana, says, "The inhabitant of the town ... had to struggle on to light and order, self-taught and self-sustained."2 The change which resulted with the coming of the friars was immediate, and their success pronounced.8 The Dominicans came to Dover early in August, 1221, and were cordially received by Archbishop Langton. On August 10, they were preaching in London, and on the 15th they appeared in Oxford. Just three years later, on September 11, 1224, came the Franciscans, who quickly spread throughout the populous districts. By the autumn of 1225 they were established at Canterbury and London; in 1226 they were settled in Lynn, Yarmouth, and Norwich. Welcomed and encouraged by Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln,4 they were soon working in other towns, such as York, Bristol, and Shrewsbury. Some of England's best men joined the order; others came from abroad. Thirty years after their first arrival, there were in England twelve h...