In St. Augustine.
- Thomas Barham a Whoremonger and a Sodomite.
In Chichester
- John Champion, and Roger Barham, both of them natural Sodomites.
In Cathedrall Church
- John Hill had no lesse than thirteen Whores.
- In Windsor-Castle
- Nicholas Whyden had 4
- George Whitethorn kept 5
- Nicholas Spoter Kept 5
- Robert Hunne had 5
- Robert Danyson kept 6
- Whores.
- In Shulbred Monastery
- George Walden Prior
- of shulbred, had 7
- John Standney had
at this command 7
- Nich: Duke to supply
his. Venery had 5
In Bristow
- William, Abbot of Bristow, kept 4 Whores.
In Mayden Bradley
- Richard, Prior of Mayden-Bradley, kept 5 Whores.
In Bath Monastery
- Richard Lincombe had 7 Whores, and was also a Sodomite.
In Abingdon Monastery
- Thomas, Abbot of Abingdon kept 3 whores, and had 2 children by his own Sister.
In Bermondsey Abbey
- John White, Prior, or rather Bull of Bermondsey had 20 Whores.
I finde this Catalogue only in the third Edition of Speed, proving it a posthume∣addition
after the Authors death, attested in the margine with the authority of
Henry Steven his Apologie for Herodotus, who took the same out of an English
Book, containing the Vilenesse discovered at the Visitation of Monasteries. Thus
this being but the report of a forrainer, and the Original at home not appearing,
many justly abate in their belief of the full latitude of this report. Indeed, tradi∣tion
is the onely Author of many stories in this nature, amongst which the in∣suing
story intituleth it felt to as much probability as any other.
3. One Sir Henry Colt of Neither-Hall in Essex, much in favour with K Henry
the eighth for his merry conceits, suddenly took his leave of Him late at night,
promising to wait on His Grace early the next morning. Hence he hastned to Wal∣tham-Abbey,
being informed by his setter's, that the Monks thereof would return
in the night from Cheshunt-Nunnery, where they had secretly quartered them∣selves:
Sir Henry pitcht a Buckstall (wherewith he used to take Deer in the Fo∣rest)
in the narrowest place of the Marsh where they were to passe over, leaving
some of his Confederates to manage the same.
4. The Monks, coming out of the Nunnery, hearing a great noise made behind
them, and suspecting to be discovered, put out the light they had with them,
whose feet without eyes could finde the way home in so used a pathe. Making
more hast than good speed, they ran themselves all into the Net. The next mor∣ning
Sir H. Colt brought, and presented them to King Henry, who had often seen
sweeter, but never fatter Venison.
5. Here I cannot believe what is commonly told of under-ground Vaults lead∣ing
from Fryeries to Nunneries, confuted by the scituation of the place, through
Rocks improbably, and under Rivers impossible to be conveyed. Surely had Wal
tham Monks had any such subterranean contrivances, they would never have made
use of so open a passage; and such Vaults extant at this day in many Abbeys extend
but a few paces, generally used for the conveyance of water, or sewers to carry
away the filth of the Covent.
6. More improbable it is, (what is generally reported) that Abbots made provi∣sion