Foundations were extant now of dayes, haply some Virgins of highest birth,
would be glad of such places, and I am sure their Fathers, and elder Brothers
would not be sorry for the same.
6. They were the sole Historians, in writing to preserve the remarkable passa∣ges
of Church, and Common-wealth. I confesse, I had rather any than Monks
had written the Histories of our Land; yet rather than the same should be un∣written,
I am heartily glad the Monks undertook the performance thereof. In∣deed,
in all their Chronicles one may feel a rag of a Monks coule; I mean, they
are partial to their own interest. But in that Age there was a choicelesse choice,
that Monks, or none at all, should write our English Histories. Sword-men
lacked learning, States-men leasure to doe it: it was therefore devolved to Monks
and Friers, who had store of time, and no want of intelligence, to take that task
upon them. And surely that industrious Bee hath in our Age merited much of
posterity, having lately, with great cost and care, enlarged many Manuscripts of
Monks (formerly confined to private Libraries) that now they may take the free
aire, and, being printed, publickly walk abroad. Mean time, whilest Monks pens
were thus employed, Nuns with their needles wrote histories also; that of Christ
his passion for their Altar-clothes, and other Scripture-(and moe Legend-) sto∣ries
in hangings to adorn their houses.
7. They were most admirable good Land-lords; and well might they let, and
set good peny-worths, who had good pounds-worths freely given unto them. Their
yearly rent was so low, as an acknowledgment rather than a rent, onely to distin∣guish
the Tenant from the Land-lord. Their fines also were easie; for, though
every Convent, as a body politick, was immortal, yet because the same consisted
of mortal Monks for their members, and an old Abbot for the head thereof, they
were glad to make use of the present time for their profit, taking little fines for
long leases. As for rent-beeves, sheep, pullein, &c. reserved on their leases, Te∣nants
both payed them the more easily, as growing on the same, and the more
cheerfully, because at any time they might freely eat their full share thereof, when
repairing to their Land-lords bountiful table. Insomuch, that long Leases from
Abbeys were preferred by many before some Tenures of freeholds, as lesse subject
to taxes, and troublesome attendance.
8. Their hospitality was beyond compare, insomuch that Ovid (if living in
that Age) who feigned famine to dwell in Scythia, would have fancied feasting
an inhabitant of English Abbeys: Especially in Christmas-time, they kept most
bountifull houses. Whosoever brought the face of a man, brought with him a
Patent for his free welcome, till he pleased to depart. This was the method:
where he brake his fast, there he dined; where he dined, there he supped; where
he supped, there he brake his fast next morning: and so in a circle. Alwaies pro∣vided,
that he provided lodging for himself at night; Abbeys having great halls,
and refectories; but few chambers, and dormitories, save for such of their own
society.
9. Some will object, that this their hospitality was but charity mistaken, pro∣miscuously
entertaining some, who did not need, and moe, who did not deserve
it. Yea, these Abbeys did but maintain the poor which they made. For, some
Vagrants, accounting the Abbey-almes their own inheritance, served an appren∣tiship,
and afterwards wrought journey-work to no other trade than begging; all
whose children were, by their fathers copie, made free of the same company. Yea,
we may observe, that generally such places wherein the great Abbeys were sea∣ted
(some few excepted, where cloathing began, when their Covent did end)
swarm most with poor people at this day, as if beggary were entailed on them,
and that lazinesse not as yet got out of their flesh, which so long since was bred in
their bones.
10. All this is confessed; yet, by their hospitality, many an honest and hungry
soul had his bowels refreshed, which otherwise would have been starved; and, bet∣ter
it is, two drones should be fed, than one bee famished. We see the heavens