One of the stereotypes about friars was that they traveled around seducing women, and we see this in the Friar's portrait in spades: we learn that he has "mad many a marriage / of young women at his owner cost" (General Prologue 212 – 213). The Friar probably does not pay for these women's dowries out of the goodness of his heart; we are likely meant to understand that he must marry off these women to pay for the virginity he has taken from them. Moreover, the Friar keeps his pockets full of baubles (pins and pocket-knives) to give away to young wives and earn their favor.