vigorously until the sixteenth century, and has put several distinguished names, such as those of Duns Scotus and Roger Bacon, on the rolls of English history. Of its later corruption and final overthrow at the Reformation it is unnecessary to treat; but, contrary to popular supposition, the Grey Friars (for they wore a grey habit in pre-Reformation days) were never really extinguished. From a monastery in France friars were sent over in various disguises, almost continuously up to the middle of the present century. About forty years ago the Belgian province of the same order, seeing that all hope of martyrdom in England was finally extinct, sent a colony for the purpose of reviving the order. Besides the rich spiritual emolument there were many attractions in the independent missionary life, and the Belgian friars offered themselves generously for the work. English novices were obtained, churches and monasteries erected, and ten years ago the English province found itself strong enough to form a detached organism. To-day it numbers eight large monasteries and more than a hundred religious in the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, seeing the success of the brown-robed Belgian friars, the yellow-robed friars of the French province invaded the country from the south-west corner, and are also creeping apace. Each section claims to be the real successor of the original Grey Friars, and treats its rival as a usurper, whilst Rome, ever tactful and diplomatic, calmly encourages their
