ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY Another important event of Eustace's episcopate was the coming of the friars to London. The Franciscans, who arrived in 1224, received a warm welcome and were almost entirely supported and endowed in London by the citizens themselves. They were followed by the Carmelites in 1241, and by the Dominicans, the Austin Friars, and the Friars of the Sack between 1250 and 1260. Three other orders, the Friars de Arene, the Pied Friars, and the Crossed Friars, all had settlements in London in the latter half of the I 3th century.^^' Eustace's successor, Roger Niger, is described by Matthew Paris as a man of wonderful holiness of life, of far-famed learning, clear in preaching, pleasant in speech, and a lover and defender of religion."" He was held in high estimation after his death, and miracles were said to be performed at his tomb many years later."' He was a constant defender of the privileges and liberties of the Church in London and elsewhere,"^ and is especially remem- bered for his constitution regarding the payment of the clergy of London. They were chiefly supported not by the usual tithes, but by customary obla- tions or offerings, and fees for marriages, burial, &c., and this system naturally gave rise to disputes, which Roger tried to settle by a decree legalizing and defining the existing custom. No copy of his original constitution has been found, but there are several later summaries which agree as to substance, though not entirely in detail. They all state that he ordained that d. should be paid on every ioj. rent, on every Sunday and on some other feasts; according to a constitution of Archbishop Arundel (1397), ' on all solemn days and double feasts, and especially those of apostles whose vigils are fasts.' "^ The lack of precision in this constitution of Arundel's may reproduce that of Roger Niger, for some additional statutes also issued during his episcopate for the information of capellani ignorant of the customs of London enumerate 'doubtful feasts which are to be celebrated' in addition to those concerning which there is no uncertainty.'" The other clauses of this constitution are of great interest, especially those dealing with the ' chapter ' of the clergy of London. This chapter, composed of all the capellani et beneficiati of the archdeaconry of London, was to be held according to one version quater in anno loco antiquitus consuetis (sic), i.e. the first soon after the feast of St. Michael, the second soon after Christmas, the third in Easter week, and the fourth on the morrow of the Ascension ; according to the other version, the time and place were to be at the pleasure of the archdeacon or his official about the same dates, except that it gives the third morrow of Palm Sunday instead of Easter week. The fine for non-appearance at this chapter was two lagenae of wine to be paid to the archdeacon or his official. If the necessary business could not be transacted in four chapters others might be summoned. There was a common serjeant belonging to the "' See under the various friaries in ' Religious Houses.' """ Matt. Paris, Ciron. Maj. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 164 ; iv, 169 ; Hist. Angl. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 257. '" Matt. Paris, Hist. Angl. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 284. '«' Roger of Wendover, f/ow ///J/. (Rolls Ser.). iii, 20, 37, 55, 57; Matt. Paris, Chnn. Maj. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 544. "^^ Wilkins, Concilia, iii, 231. Cf. Wharton, Hist, de Epis. Lond. 86. '" There are two versions of these constitutions ; one is printed in full from a MS. at St. Paul's by Simpson in Reg. Statutorum, 190, the other is in MS. GG. 4, 32, fol. 108 in Camb. Univ. Lib. Both are transcripts, and there are some variations, the most important of which have been noted in the text. Cf. Arnold, Customs of Lond. 175. 187
