Note 1500 — BOOK IV THE PLAY-HOUSES (continued 4)
Reading edition
Clapham suggests, plausibly enough, that the description (c. 1394) of a Dominican house in Pierce the Ploughmans Crede (ed. Skeat, E. E. T. S. 153–215) was based upon the London Blackfriars. The following passages relate to the cloister and refectory.
Þanne kam i to þat cloister . & gaped abouten Whouȝ it was pilered and peynt . & portred well clene, All y-hyled wiþ leed . lowe to þe stones, And y-paued wiþ peynt til . iche poynte after oþer; With kundites of clene tyn . closed all aboute, Wiþ lauoures of latun . louelyche y-greithed.... ... Þanne was þe chaptire-hous wrouȝt . as a greet chirche, Coruen and couered . and queyntliche entayled; Wiþ semlich selure . y-set on lofte; As a Parlement-hous . y-peynted aboute.... ... Þanne ferd y into fraytour . and fond þere an oþer, An halle for an heyȝ king . an housholde to holden, Wiþ brode bordes aboute . y-benched wel clene, Wiþ windowes of glas . wrouȝt as a Chirche.... ... Chambers wiþ chymneyes . & Chapells gaie; And kychens for an hyȝe kinge . in castells to holden, And her dortour y-diȝte . wiþ dores ful stronge; Fermery and fraitur . with fele mo houses, And all strong ston wall . sterne opon heiþe, Wiþ gaie garites & grete . & iche hole y-glased; And oþere houses y-nowe . to herberwe þe queene.