CHAPTER I. THE NOVICE

Situation, income and size of the English nunneries 1

Nuns drawn from (1) the nobles and gentry 4 (2) the middle class 9

Nunneries in medieval wills 14

The dowry system 16

Motives for taking the veil: (1) a career and a vocation for girls 25 (2) a 'dumping ground' for political prisoners 29 (3) for illegitimate, deformed or half-witted girls 30 (4) nuns forced unwillingly to profess by their relations 33 (5) a refuge for widows and occasionally for wives 38