CHAPTER V. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

Poverty of nunneries 161 (1) prevalence of debt 162 (2) insufficient food and clothing 164 (3) ruinous buildings 168 (4) nuns begging alms 172

Reasons for poverty: (1) natural disasters 176 (2) ecclesiastical exactions and royal taxes 183 (3) feudal and other services 185 (4) right of patrons to take temporalities during voidance 186 (5) right of bishop and king to nominate nuns on certain occasions 188 (6) pensions, corrodies, grants and liveries 194 (7) hospitality 200 (8) litigation 201 (9) bad management 203 (10) extravagance 211 (11) overcrowding with nuns 212

Methods adopted by bishops to remedy financial distress: (1) devices to safeguard expenditure by the head of the house 217 (2) episcopal licence required for business transactions 225 (3) appointment of a _custos_ 228