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The return of the Visitors of Abbeys.
BY this time, the Instruments imployed by the Lord Cromwell,* 1.1 to make dis∣covery of the vitious lives of Monks, and Fryers, were all returned in their persons, or in their intelligence sent unto him. They were men, who well understood the Message they went on, and would not come back without a satis∣factory answer to him that sent them, knowing themselves were likely to be no losers thereby. And now they had sound out water enough to drive the mill, (be∣sides what ran by) a sufficient detection to effect the businesse. Of these, some were put in Commission to visit Abbeys, others moving in a lower, (but no lesse needful) sphere of activity.
2. Of these Commissioners the principal were Rich: Layton,* 1.2 The: Legh, William Peters, Doctors of the Law;a 1.3 Doctor John London Dean of Wallingford. Of the three former I can say nothing, but finde the later (though imployed to còr∣rect others) no great Saint himself. For afterwards he was publicklyb 1.4 convicted of perjury, and adjudged to ride with his face to the Horse-tale at Windosor and Ockingham with papers about his head, which was done accordingly.
3. Their power was partly Inquisitive, to search into the former lives of religi∣ous persons; partly Impositive, to enjoyn them stricter rules for their future ob∣servation. It is hard to say, whether their eyes were more prying for what was past or hands more heavy for the time to come; and, most true it is, that betwixt both, many Monks formerly lazie in, were now weary of their present profession.
4. Some counted their Convents,* 1.5 their Prisons, being thus confined; for, once out of the house, (without lawful cause and leave obtained) and never in again. It was a fine thing when they might, but sad case, when they must, live in their Mo∣nasteries; the Eighty six Articles of the Visitors, (looking with Janus partly backward, partly forward) did so vex them, that many who had hopes of others subsistence, cast off the Couls and Vails, and quitted their Convents.