The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

In the thirteenth Age, few years after the beginning thereof, divers kinds of Monks came into Scotland, formerly unknown to the Land; as Dominicans, Franciscans, Jacobins, and sundry other of that sort of Locusts. In this Age these Vermin of Monks did so multiply every where, that at a Council at Lyons it was decreed, That no more new Orders of Monks ⟨image 32⟩should be admitted or tolerated. But how the Decree hath been kept, we see in our days.

In the thirteenth Age, few yeers after the beginning thereof, divers kindes of Monks came into Scotland, formerly unknown to the Land; as Dominicans, Franciscans, Iacobins, and sundry other of that sort of Locusts. In this Age these Vermine of Monks did so multiply every where, that at a Councell at Lyons it was decreed, That no more new Orders of Monks ⟨image 32⟩should be admitted or tolerated. But how the Decree hath been kept, we see in our dayes.

Next, the Monks of several kinds gave themselves so to Begging, that the people were much eaten up by them, and the poor his portion was withdrawn; which occasioned a great murmur among the Commons. Upon this, there was a Decree made then, That only the Minorites, Praedicants, Carmelites, and Hermits of S. Augustine, should have liberty to beg: Whence they are called, The four Mendicants; Les quatre Mendiants.

Next, the Monks of severall kindes gave themselves so to Begging, that the people were much eaten up by them, and the poor his portion was withdrawn; which occasioned a great murmure among the Commons. Upon this, there was a Decree made then, That onely the Minorites, Praedicants, Carmelites, and Hermits of S. Augustine, should have liberty to beg: Whence they are called, The four Mendicants; Les quatre Mendiants.