The origin of these friars is uncertain, and they were apparently only known in England, and so may perhaps be considered to have had their beginning in this country. Matthew Paris says that in the year 1257 they were given a house at Cambridge, in Trumpington Street. He describes their dress as being very like that of the Dominicans, from which it was distinguished only by having a red star, of five points with a round blue centre, on the scapular. This badge recalled the meaning of their name, representing as it did the star which led the Magi to Bethlehem. [Illustration: FRIAR OF THE SACK] [Illustration: TRINITARIAN] viii. _The Bonshommes_ These friars were apparently of English origin. Some have thought that they were the same as the “Friars of the Sack,” but this is by no means clear. Polydore Vergil says that Edmund of Cornwall, the brother of Henry III., on his return from Germany in A.D. 1257, built and endowed a fine monastery at Ashridge. This he gave “to a new order of men, never before known in England, called _Boni Homines_, the Bonshommes. They followed the rule of St. Augustine, wearing a blue-coloured dress of a form similar to that of the Augustinian hermits.” The only other house possessed by the Bonshommes was at Edingdon. LIST OF ENGLISH RELIGIOUS HOUSES An asterisk (*) prefixed to a religious house signifies that there are considerable remains extant. A dagger (†) prefixed signifies that there are sufficient remains to interest an archæologist. No attention is paid to mere mounds or grass-covered heaps. For these marks as to remains the author is not responsible. They have kindly been contributed by Rev. Dr. Cox and Mr. W. H. St. John Hope, who desire it to be known that they do not in any way consider these marks exhaustive; they merely represent those remains with which one or other, or both, are personally acquainted. The following abbreviations for the names of the religious Orders, etc., have been used in the list:-- A. = Austin Canons. A. (fs.) = Austin Friars, or Hermits. A. (n.) = Austin nuns. A.P. = Alien priories. A. (sep.) = Austin Canons of the Holy Sepulchre. A.H. = Alien Hospitals. B. = Benedictines, or Black monks. B. (fs.) = Bethlemite Friars. B. (n.) = Benedictine nuns. Bridg. = Bridgettines. C. = Cistercian monks. C. (n.) = Cistercian nuns. Carm. = Carmelite, or White Friars. Carth. = Carthusians. Cl. = Cluniac monks. Cl. (n.) = Cluniac nuns. Cru. = Crutched, or Crossed Friars. Dom. = Dominican, or Black Friars. Dom. (n.) = Dominican nuns. F.A. = Friars de Areno. F.D. = Friars de Domina, or of Our Lady. Franc. = Franciscan, or Grey Friars. Franc. (n.) = Franciscan nuns.