The church-history of Britain from the birth of Jesus Christ until the year M.DC.XLVIII endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

SECTION III.

To the Honourable, the Lady MARY FOUNTAINE.

MADAM,

THough none can expect Courtship, many will require Congruity from me. Such will charge me with a great Impropriety, for dedicating a discourse of Monks and Friers to your Ladiship, where some passages of their wantonnesse, may occasion your blushing for them, who never blushed for themselves. But, know it done by design, that you may plainly perceive how far Marriage-chastity transcended forced and pretended virginity: or, if you please, how much a spring∣ing Fountain, is better than a standing-Pool soon subject to putrefaction.

Your Family, though not a Nunnery, may be a Religious house, seeing God hath multiplied you into a whole Convent, I mean, the fourteen Children which you have at this pre∣sent; I say have; for this reason is rendred, why the Chil∣dren of Job (after his restitution) were not doubled unto him as his Cattle were, because they were utterly foregone, his Children onely gone before; on which account those six re∣moved from you, into a better world, still remain yours. God in due time translate you, and your worthy Husband, in a good old age, into the same Place of Happiness.

Of Cardinal Wolsey's ominous suppressing of forty lesser Monasteries, therewith to build two Colledges.

VAst were the revenues of Cardinal Wolsey, if we account both his Wives, and Concu∣bines, I mean, the place whereon he resi∣ded, and Churches he held in Commendam; being at the same time, the Pope's Legate à latere, Archbishop of Yorke, Chancellor of England, Bishop of Winchester, Abbot of S. Albans, besides other meaner prefer∣ments. Yet he founda Solomon's observa∣tion true, When goods encrease, they are en∣creased that eat them: Insomuch, that his magnificent mind was poor in his plenty; & in the midst of his wealth, wanted means to compass his vast designs. Wherefore, intending to erect two fair Colledges, one, where he was born, in Ipswich; the other, where he was bred, in Oxford; and find∣ing himself unable to endow them at his own charges, he obtained license of Pope Clement 7^•h, An. 1525, to suppress forty smaller Monasteries in England, and to lay their old land to his new foundations, w^ch was done accordingly. For the Cardinal

thought, that these petty Houses, like little sparks of diamonds, were inconsider∣able in themselves, whereas they would make a fair show, if all put together into two jewels only, (his two Colledges) and he carry away all the credit thereof.

2. An action condemned by the conscientious in that Age, accounting it essen∣tiall to charity, that the thing given be the proper goods of the Donour. Cast thy bread (saithb Solomon) upon the water. It must be thy bread, otherwise, though c stollen bread may be pleasant to men, it is nauseous and distastfull to the God of heaven; who, in such cases will not be the receiver, though man be the thief; solemnly disavowing the acceptance of such donations, witnesse his own words, d I hate robbery for burnt offering.

3. Plead not in the Cardinal's excuse, that the houses by him suppressed were of small value, it being as great, yea, greater sacriledge to invade the widows mite, than the large gifts, which the rich Priests cast into Corban: because their boun∣ties were but superfluous wenns, whilst hers was an essentiall limb; yea, as our Saviour,e observes, the whole body of her estate. As probably, some of those poor Foundations were erected by Founders, like those off Macedonia, to their power, and beyond their power willing of themselves. As for the poor people, for∣merly living in these then-dissolved houses, they may be presumed more religi∣ous than others that were richer: poverty being a protection for their piety, and they unable to go to the cost of luxurious extravagancies. I finde not what pro∣vision was afterward made for these helplesse souls, thrust out of house and home; so that it is suspitious, that the Cardinal, notwithstanding his prodigious ho∣spitality, made moe beggars than ever he relieved.

4. Others alledge, that these houses were still continued to the generall end of pious uses: however, it was not fair to alienate them from the primitive inten∣tion of the Founders; yea, God himself seemed not well-pleased therewith. I know, thatg no man knoweth either love, or hatred, by all that is before them. All things come alike to all, there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked, &c. However, Gods exemplary hand ought to be heeded in the signall fatality of such, as by the Cardinall were employed in this service: Five they were in num∣ber, two whereof challenging the field of each other, one wash slain, and the o∣ther hanged for it. A third, throwing himself headlong into a well, perished wil∣fully. A fourth, formerly wealthy, grew so poor, that he begged his bread. The fifth Dr. Allen, one of especiall note, afterward Archbishop of Dublin, was slain in Ireland. What became of the Cardinal himself, is notoriously known: and, as for his two Colledges, that in Ipswich (the embleme of its Builder, soon up, soon down) presently vanished into private houses; whilst the other, Christ-Church in Oxford, was fain to disclaim its Founder, and (being adopted the issue of the bounty of the King Henry the eighth) at this day owns not him for Father, who first gave it life, but who afterwards kept it from dying. In a word, this disso∣lution of fourty small Houses caused by the Cardinall, made all the Forest of re∣ligious Foundations in England to shake, justly fearing the King would finish to fell the oaks, seeing the Cardinal began to cut the underwood.

Of the first Priory which was solemnly suppressed by King Henry the eighth.

SOme six years after, whilst as yet all other Abbeys flourished in their height and happinesse, as safe and secure as ever before; King Henry the eighth, for reasons best known to Himself, singled out the Priory of Christ-Church nigh Allgate in London, and dissolved the same. This He bestowed as a boon on Thomasa Audley Speaker in the Parliament; and indeed, it was an excellent receit to clear his voice, to make him speak shrill, and loud for his Master. This shrewd∣ly shook the freehold of all Abbeys, seeing now, two such great men, Wolsey and Audley, both in their times Lord-Chancellours of England, (and therefore presumed well versed in cases of conscience) the one a Divine first took, the other a Common-Lawyer first received such lands into their possession.

2. A word of the antiquity, wealth and dignity of this Covent, because in each respect it was remarkable. It was founded Anno 1108. by Queenb Matilda, Wife to King Henry the first, dedicated to the holy Trinity, for Black Canons, or Canons-Regular, and one Norman (by name and nation) was first Prior there∣of. In processe of time it became rich in land and ornaments, and passed all the Priories in London or Middlesex, especially in this particular, that the Prior there∣of was alwaies anc Alderman of London, namely, of Portsoken Ward (though otherwise their Covent standeth in Ealgate Ward) and used to ride amongst the Aldermen in a livery like the rest, save that his habit was in the shape of a spiritual person. In the year 1264,d Eustathius the eighth Prior of this Covent, because he himself was loth to deale in temporall matters, instituted Theobald Fitz-Ivo, Alderman in his place. They were most bountifull house-keepers, relieving all comers and goers, and got themselves much reputation for their hospitality.

3. Some conjecture this was King Henry's designe in dissolving this Priorie, thereby to make a discovery in peoples affections, how they resented the same. He dispatched this Covent first, as the forelorn hope is sent out before the body of the Army, which, if meeting with unsuspected dangers, may give timely notice to the rest, to advance no farther. And, if He had found the people much startled thereat, He could quickly knock off, retrench His resolutions, and (dexterous to decline envy for Himselfe) handsomely cast the same on His instruments em∣ployed therein. Others think, the King as yet had no such project in intention, but did it meerly to gratifie Sir Thomas Audley, whom He loved the better for hating Cardinal Wolsey, now beginning to fall, against whom he had bitterly in∣veighed in the Parliament.

4. As for the manner of the dissolving thereof, whereas all other Abbeys af∣terwards were stormed by violence (whatsoever is plausibly pretended to the con∣trary) this onely was fairly taken by composition. For the Prior thereof was sent for by the King, commended for his hospitality, promised pre∣ferment as a man worthy greater dignity, which promise surely He performed, though the particulars of the agreement are not to be known. Whereupon, Anno 1531, the twenty third year of the King's reign, in the moneth of July, he sur∣rendred the same to the King's use. As for the Canons, they were sent to other houses of the same Order; who now, being severally disposed in other Covents, they might serve them as Monitours to warn all the rest, seasonably to prepare for the time of their dissolution.

5. The rooting out of this Priory wrought a middle effect in people, for they were neither dumb, nor clamorous thereat, but grumbled out their discontent∣ment for a time, and then returned to their former temper. However at first they were so abstemious, that, whereas the Priory, Church and Steeple wase pro∣fered to whomsoever would take it down, no man would undertake the offer. Whereupon, Sir Thomas Audley was fain to be at more charges than he could make of the materials; the workmen with great labour beginning at the top, loosed stone from stone, and throwing them down, most part of them were broken in the fall, and remained uuelesse.

6. What might move the King to single this Priory out of all the rest, to lead this sad dance, is variously conjectured. Indeed, this was the antientest of all Eng∣land of that Order since the Conquest, I mean, of Canon-Regulars, as ourf Au∣thour telleth us. And therefore it was but reasonable, the oldest should go first, the first-born should be first buried. But surely, no such consideration moved King Henry to this choice, who was not so methodical in His deeds of undoing.

7. As for the Lord Audley, on whom this Priory was bestowed, Margaret his sole Daughter & Heir was married to Tho: Howard, Duke of Norfolk, who dwelt therein, and which from him was called the Dukes-Place. No ingenuous soul will envy so Honourable a person the accommodation of so handsome an habitation: onely some, perchance, will bemoan that the Lords-Place (for so in their, and g Jacob's language, they called the Church) whither alone the numerous neigh∣bour-inhabitants

repaired for publick service, should be so destroyed, that the people were for many years left Church-lesse, till their wantsb very lately were supplied by the re-edifying thereof out of the ruines, by the charity of others; I am sure, none of the Heirs of Him, who demolished the same.

Of the suppression of the Order of Observant Friers, and a preparatory for the dissolution of all the rest.

IT is the practise of advised Physicians, in purging of long corrupted bodies (where the ill humours may prescribe peaceable possession for many years) to proceed not violently, all at once; but gently, by degrees. The same course was embraced by King Henry in dissolving of Abbeys, gradually (and therefore the lesse visibly) to work their subversion, so to avoid the danger of a sudden and extreme alteration. And first He began with the Minorities, or Franciscan-Observant-Friers, whose chief seats were Greenwich, and Canterbury. Two motives mainly incensed Him against this Order; One, because two of their most eminent Fathers, Hugh Rich (Prior of a Covent in Canterbury) and Richard Risby, had tampered with Elizabeth Barton (aliàs the holy maid of Kent) and were convicted, and executed with her for high Treason. A second, because this Order generally manifested most contumacie and contempt against the King, in the matter of Queen Katharine's divorce, inveighing both in their sermons, a and disputations against the unlawfulness thereof, especially Elston and Payton, two famous Friers in London. A greatb Papist beholds it as ominous, and a prognostick of sad successe, that the Lady (afterward Queen) Elizabeth, just eleven moneths before, had been Christened in these Friers Church in Greenwich, as if Her baptizing therein portended, That those Friers should soon after be washed away from this their Covent.

2. Hereupon, in the year of our Lord 1534, the aforesaid whole Order of Friers-Observant were suppressed, and Augustine-Friers substituted in their pla∣ces. Nor were these Observants (like the Canon-Regulars in the last Chapter) disposed of in other Foundations, but totally and finally banished out of all Reli∣gious Societies. For, King Henry his smiles complemented the former out of their Houses, by their own willing condescension; whilst His frowns outed these as Delinquents, by a violent expulsion. Yea, probably, some of them had been expelled their lives, as well as their livings (two hundred of them being at once imprisoned) had not Sir Tho:c Wriotheslie, their great friend and favourer, sea∣sonably interceded for them to the King, on hopes of some of their future con∣formity to His Majesties desires.

3. Immediately after, a famous Petition, called the Supplication of Beggars, came into publick view. It was made some years before by one Mr. Simond Fish a Gentleman of Grays-Inne, and solemnly presented by George Eliot an English-Merchant, and entertained by King Henry for a great rarity: Though indeed the same long since had been tendred Him by Queene Anna Bollen, and the King acquainted with the passages therein. So that possibly, this Supplication might first come from some neer His Majesty, as contrivers thereof. And, as Mosesf was sent to be nursed unto her, who (though generally unknown) was indeed his own Mother which bare him: so Petitions may sometimes be recommended back to the same power that first framed them. Great ones delighting, not onely for the greater solemnity, but also for their better security to transferre their intentions to be other intreaties; their private designes finding more acceptance, when pas∣sing under the notion of a publick desire. The effect thereof was to complain, how a crew of strong, puissant, counterfeit-holy, idle beggars, and vagabonds, by their luxurie starved a number of needy, impotent, blinde, lame, and sick people, which otherwise might comfortably be maintained. As also to discover the foul

enormities and filthy conversation used amongst those pretended pious Frater∣nities, as the same is set forth at large in the Book of Martyrs, whither we remit the Reader.

4. Onely a word of the Geometry, Arithmetick, and Chronologie, used by the Au∣thor of this Supplication. For his Geometry, I conceive he faileth not much in pro∣portion, when, in measuring the content of this Kingdome, he affirmeth, That they had got into their hands more than the third part of all the Realm. But, whereas he auditeth the Revenues of the Friers in England (besides their lands) to amount yearly to Four hundred thirty thousand three hundred thirty and three pounds, allowing their quarteridge to arise out of Fifty two thousand Parishes, he highly over-reacheth their number, not compleatingg Ten thousand. Indeed, the Pa∣pists tell us of Ten thousand Churches in England destroyed all in one year,

Millia dena unus Templorum destruit annus.

Yet, these being Conventual, not Parochial Churches, adde nothing to the for∣mer computation. Yea, should all the Chappels of Ease in this Land be admitted to take a new degree, and to commence Churches in this catalogue, it would not make up the number. But, it is given to Beggars, sometimes to hyperbolize, to make their case the more pitifull: and indeed, if we defalk a third part of that summe, yet still vast was the remainder of such Friers revenues. But, whereas the said Authour of this Supplication, saith, That four hundred years past these Friers had not one peny of this money; Quare, whether he be not mistaken in his Chronologie? and, whether some of the same profits accrued not to the Bene∣dictines before the Conquest.

5. In answer to this, an Anti-supplication was made, and set forth by Sir Tho∣mas More (extant amongst his other works) called, The Supplication of the souls in Purgatory. The scope whereof is, to presse the continuation of those lands, given to pious uses, for the good of the deceased, and that they might not be aliened without danger of Sacriledge. In this Supplication, pleasant dallying and scoffing are so intermixt with complaints, that the Authour thereof discovereth himself more Satyrist than Saint in his expressions. So hard it is for an Actor so to devest himself of himself, as not to vent some of his own humours, with the property of that person whom he is to represent. And, seeing Sir Thomas More would have his own jests when dying, no wonder if he makes others to jeer when dead.

6. These two Supplications pressing both together for audience and reception, that of the Beggars on earth found the best entertainment. Whether because it came first, which we know is great advantage in Beggars, first come, first served: Or, because these Terrestrial beggars were neerer at hand (and so best able to ma∣nage their own suit) whilst those in Purgatory were conceived at a greater distance: Or, chiefly, because their Supplication suggested matter of profit to the King and His Courtiers; and such whispers sound loud, and commonly meet with atten∣tive ears. And, as an introduction to the dissolution of all Abbeys, spies were sent forth to make strict discovery of mens behaviours therein. Indeed, the Lord Cromwell, Scout-Master-Generall in this designe, stayed at the Court, whilst his subordinate Emissaries (men of as prying eyes, as afterwards they proved of gripple hands) sent unto him all their intelligence, in manner and form as in due time shall ensue.

The lesser Monasteries bestowed on the King.

NOW because some moneths were imployed in that service before a per∣fect account was returned to the Lord Cromwell: The suppressing of the smaller Monasteries may here seasonably be inserted: For in the twenty seventh of the King's Reign Anno 1539, a motion was made in Parliament, That to support the King's States, and supply His wants, all Religious Houses might be con∣ferred on the Crown, which were not able clearly to expend above Two hundred pounds a year.

2. Some may report, that John Fisher Bishop of Rochester earnestly (though pleasently) opposed the motion, by alledging an Apologue out of Aesope, That the Helve of the Axe craved a Handle of the wood of Oaks onely to cut off the Sere∣bowes of the Tree, but when it was a complete Instramentall Axe, it felled down all the wood. Applying it, That the grant of these smaller Houses would in fine prove destructive to all the rest. But Fisher, being now in his grave, this could not be spoken in this Parliament; which, with more probability was formerly urged by him against Cardinal Wolsey in dissolving the forty Houses, whereof before.

3. This Proposition found little opposition in either Houses. Henry the eighth was a King, and His necessities were Tyrants, and both suing together for the same thing, must not be denied: besides the larger thongs they cut out of other mens leather, the more intire they preserved their own hide, which made the Parlia∣ment to ease their own purses by laying the load on those lesser Houses, which they accordingly passed to the Crown.

4. The Lord Herbert in hisa Historie complaineth, and that justly, That this Statute for dissolution of the lesser Monasteries doth begin very bluntly, without any formall Preamble in the Printed Books they are Published. It seemeth that herein he never searched the Record it self (otherwise industrious in that kinde) to which a solemn Preface is prefixed, shewing some Reasons of the dissolution, and pious u∣ses, to which they were attained: In form as followeth:

The Preamble is this:

Forasmuch as manifest sin, vitious, carnall and abominable living, is daily used and committed commonly in such little and small Abbeys, Priories, and other religious houses of Monks, Canons, and Nuns, where the Congre∣gation of such religious persons, is under the number of twelve persons, whereby the Governours of such religious Houses and their Covent, spoile, destroy, consume, and utterly waste, as well the Churches, Monasteries, Prio∣ries, principall Houses, Farms, Granges, Lands, Tenements, and Heredita∣ments, as the ornaments of the Churches, and their goods and Chattels, to the high displeasure of Almighty God, slander of good Religion, and to the great infamy of the King's Hignesse and the Realm, if redresse should not be had thereof. And albeit that many continuall Visitations hath been heretofore had by the space of two hundred years and more, for an honest and charitable reformation of such unthrifty, carnall, and abominable living, yet never∣thelesse little or no amendment is hitherto had, but their vitious living shamefully increaseth and augmenteth, and by a cursed custome so grown and infested, that a great multitude of the religious persons in such small Houses, do rather choose to rove abroad in Apostasie, than to conform themselves to the observation of good Religion; so that without such small Houses be utterly suppressed, and the Religion therein committed to the great and honourable Monasteries of Religion in this Realm, where they may be compelled to live religioussly for reformation of their lives, there can else be no redresse nor re∣formation in that behalf. In consideration whereof, the King's most royall Majesty, being Supreme head in earth under God, of the Church of England,

daily studying and devising the increase, advancement, and exaltation of true doctrine and virtue in the said Church, to the onely glory and honour of God, and the totall extirping and destruction of vice and sin, having know∣ledge that the premises be true, as well by the compts of his late visitations, as by sundry credible informations; considering also that divers and great solemn Monasteries of this Realm, wherein, thanks be to God, Religion is right well kept and observed, be destitute of such full numbers of religious persons as they ought and may keep, have thought good that a plain Declara∣tion should be made of the premises, as well to the Lords spirituall and Tem∣porall, as to other His loving Subjects, the Commons in this present Parlia∣ment assembled.

WHEREUPON the said Lords and Commons by a great delibe∣ration finally be resolved, That it is, and shall be much more to the pleasure of Almighty God, and for the honour of this His Realm, that the possessions of such small religious Houses, not being spent, spoiled and wasted for increase of maintenance of sin, should be used and converted to better uses; and the unthrifty religious persons so spending the same, to be compelled to reform their lives. And hereupon most humbly desire the King's Highnesse, that it may be enacted by authority of this present Parliament, That His Majesty shall have to Him and to Hit Heirs for ever, all and singular such Mona∣steries.

His Majesty shall have and enjoy, &c. As it foloweth in the printedb Statute.

In this Preamble two principles are laid down of infallible truth, and posterity must not be so presumptuous as to question them.

• 1. The smallest Convents were the greatest sinners, and they who had the least lands led the leudest lives.
• 2. It was harder to reform little Covents than those that were greater.

It seems such small Houses, like little fishes, could not be caught with the net of Reformation, as slipping through the holes thereof, and therefore no way to re∣presse their faults except by suppressing their foundation. All I will adde is, God first punished great Sodome, and spared little Zoar, (though probably also in fault) here Zoar was first punished, let great Sodome beware, and the larger Monasteries look to themselves.

5. And now adieu all religious Houses in England that could not cleerly spend above Two hundred pounds per annum, and we must not believe any finister deal∣ing was used by favour to wrack the revenues of some above, and out of dislike to shrink the rents of others, beneath the standard of dissolution, when Twenty shil∣lings a year, under or over the aforesaid, summe, might save or destroy a small Monastery. As for such (if any in that posture) who had just Two hundred pounds, and no more, they were obnoxious to the Statute, whilst Five shillings more saved all, as that is a fair ball in the Tennis-Court, which toucheth the line, yet goeth over it.

6. Ten thousand persons were by this dissolution sent to seek their fortunes in the wide world, some indeed had Fathers or Friends to receive them, others none at all; some had Twenty shillings given them at their Ejection, and a new Gown, which needed to be of strong cloath to last so long till they got another. Most were exposed to want. I see no such certainty for a comfortable livelihood as a lawfull calling, for Monkish profession was no possession, and many a young Nun proved an old Beggar. I pity not those who had hands and health to work, but surely the gray hairs of some impotent persons deserved compassion, and I am confident such, had they come to the doors of the charitable Reader hereof, should have had a meals meat and a nights lodging given unto them.

7. A clear Revenue of Thirty thousand pounds per annum, was here advanced to the Crown, (besides Ten thousand pounds in plate and moveables) though the King enjoyed it but a short time, as passing it away by grant, sale, and ex∣change to His Subjects. This was done by the politick counsell of the wise Lord Cromwell, not hoping that these small morsels to so many mouthes should satisfie their hunger, but onely intending to give them a taste of the sweetnesse of Abbey∣lands. And here Papists plentifully rail upon him in scattering these Lands all a∣broad, that if any should be so scrupulous as to finde fault with the fact, a general guiltinesse should amount unto innocence: Thus say they, there is no fear that a man shall be condemned for felony, who hath so many receivers in the County; that scarcely a Judge can sit, and surely no Jury can be impanelled upon him, saving such who had been parties with him.

8. No fewer than Three hundred seventy five Covents (as Sanders doth account them) were dissolved at this time: sure I am, none, was left standing in the whole Diocesse of Bangor, where no Foundation was valuedc at full seventy pounds per annum.

9. We must not forget how in the foresaid Preamble, the King fairly claweth the great Monasteries: wherein, saith He, Religion thanks be to God is right well kept and observed, though He clawed them soon after in another acceptation. The truth is, King Henry could not suppresse the lesser Abbeys but by the consent of the greater Abbots, whereof twenty six (as Barons) voted in the Parliament, who mollified them by this Commendation into a Concurrence with His desire.

10. However, most specious uses were pretended (though few perchance had faith firm enough to believe their full performance) That all should be done to the pleasure of Almighty God, and for the honour of the Realm. And particular care is taken in the Statute, as it is printed, for the reservation of many Rents and Servi∣ces, Corrodice, and Pensions to Founders, Donours, and Benefactors. Order also was taken, that those to whom Abbey-lands were passed, should keep, or cause to be kept a continual House and Houshold in the same Site or Precinct. They were also to occupy yearly as much of the demeans in Tilledge as the Abbots did, or their Far∣mers under them, within the time of twenty years next before this Act, otherwise forfeiting to the King's Highnesse for every Moneth so offending 6 lib. 13s. 4 d. to be recovered to His use in any of His Courts of Record. The arrears whereof, if rigoroussly exacted, would amount to a vast summe from such Offenders, whose hospitality was contracted to a Shepheard and his Dog, neither relieving those that would work by industry, nor such who could not work by their charity.

11. These penalties stood in full force above eighty years, viz: untill the 21 of King Iames, when by Act of Parliament they were repealed. Indeed, such who are obnoxious to penall Statutes are onely innocent by courtesie, and may be made guilty at their Princes pleasure. And though such Statutes may be dormant as disused, they are never dead till revoked, seeing commonly Princes call on such Statutes when themselves are called on by their necessities. Many of the English Gentry knew themselves subject to such penalties, when instead of maintaining Tillage had converted the Granges of Abbeys into inclosures: And therefore provided for their own safety, when they wrought the King to a revocation of those Statutes.

12. But the Courtiers grudged at this Grant and great Indulgence given by the King without any valuable compensation, some sticking not to say, That hereby the King at once gave His Subjects more than ever they gave Him in Subsidies, Be∣nevolences, Contributions, or any other way whatsoever all the time of His Reign. Which, if so, Let no mans eye be evil, because the King's was so good to His Subjects.

The Northern Rebellion occasioned by this dissolution.

WHen all in the School are equally guilty, and the Master beginneth at the bottome to correct the least boyes first, no wonder if those in the highest form begin to shake; as here no doubt the bigger Ab∣beys did, except some few, who (to follow the Metaphor) like sturdy striplings (counting themselves above correction) began to prepare themselves to make re∣sistance; hence presently arose the Northern Rebellion, wherein all the open Un∣dertakers were North of Trent, though, no doubt, many secret Compliers South of Thames were ingaged.

2. This Commotion began first in Lincoln shire, where the Rebels presented six Articles to the King, in the last whereof they complained, That divers Bishops of England of His Graces late promotion, had Subverted the Faith of CHRIST, (as they thought) which is, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of Ro∣chester, Salisbury, S. Davids, and Dublin.

3. This Lincoln shire Commotion being quickly suppressed, and a right under∣standing begotten betwixt the King and His Subjects, the Rebellious humour removed into York••shire, where no fewer than fifty thousand, saith Sanders, were assembled in a body under Robert Aske (a mean Gentleman) their Captain, and one Diamond (though a knave of another suit) who termed himself the Earl of Poverty: yet this distemper also was seasonably cured by the King's pardon, and their submission, till soon after a great part of them fell into a relapse of Rebel∣lion, carrying in their Ensignes the five wounds of our Saviour, the Chalice, wi••h the Hoste, and the Name of JESUS betwixt them; who being vanquished by the King's forces, under the command of the Earle of Shrewesbury, were con∣dignely executed for the same.

4. Indeed Sanders, (to whom it is as naturall to defame, as for a stone to de∣scend) complaineth, That the King executed those whom formerly He had par∣doned for the same offence, contrary to Gods proceedings, with whom peccata remissa non recurrunt: yea, contrary to equity, and all common justice; but our Chronicles make it plain, that they ran on the score of a new Rebellion (their faults specifically not numerically the same) and justly suffered for their offences therein.

5. Thomas Lord Darcy, and the Lord Hussey (first and last Baron of his Family) were beheaded on this account: The first of these being much be∣moaned both for what he had been (a marshall man of merit by sea and land) and for what he was, (decaied, being almost eighty, with old age) insomuch that there goeth a Tradition, that he had the King's Pardon in his pocket, and slept the while the sentence of condemnation was passed on him, and then pro∣duced it too late: such (it seems) were the rigorous proceedings against him.

Ask and Diamond were executed in this Rebellion, and so also were six Ab∣bots, namely, of Sanley, Barling, Gerviaus, Whaley, Rivers, with the Prior of Berlington, besides many Gentlemen of prime account, whereof these the chief: Robert Constable, Thomas Piercy, Francis Bigot, Nicholas Musgrave, Nicholas Temple, Stephen Hamilton, Thomas Gilby, William Lomley, John Bulmar and his Wife. However, some pity may seem proper to these persons, as ignorantly zea∣lous, and grieved to behold the destruction of the old Religion before they had received any competent instruction for a new. And thus was there a rout of the most antient of the Northern Gentlemen of the Romish perswasion, who in the next Generation had scarcely rallied themselves again but they were routed the second time in the Rebellion of the Earls of Northu••berland and Westmerland.

The return of the Visitors of Abbeys.

BY this time, the Instruments imployed by the Lord Cromwell, 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, The: Legh, William Peters, Doctors of the Law;a 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 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, 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.

The second sort of insinuating Emissaries.

THese Visitors were succeeded with a second sort of publick Agents, but working in a more private way, encouraging the members in Monasteries to impeach one another: for seeing there was seldome such general agree∣ment in any great Convent, but that factions were found, and parties did appear therein, these Emissaries made an advantageous use thereof. No Abbey could have been so soon destroyed, but by cunning setting it against it self, and secret fomenting of their own divisions. Whereupon, many being accused, did recrimi∣nate their Accusers, and hopelesse to recover their own innocency, pleased them∣selves by plunging others in the like guiltinesse. Others being conscious to them∣selves, prevented accusing, by confessing their faults, and those very foul ones. Insomuch that some have so much charity as to conceive, that they made them∣selves worse than they were, though it was a needlesse work for a Black-Moore to besoot his own face.

2. Yea, some hold that as Witches long-tortured with watching and fasting, and pinched when but ready to nod, are contented causlessly to accuse themselves to be eased of the present pain; so some of these poor souls frighted with mena∣ces, and fearing what might be the successe, acknowledged all, and more than all against themselves, the truth whereof none on earth can decide.

Soliciting and tempting Emissaries complained of by the Papists.

THe Papists doe heavily complain (how justly, God alone knoweth) that a third sort of Agents were imployed, to practise on the chastity of the Nuns, so to surprize them into wantonness. Some young Gallants were on disigne sent to some Covents, with fair faces, flattering tongues, store of gold, and good cloathes, youth, wit, wantonness, and what else might work on the weaker sex. These having with much craft, scrued themselves into the affections of Nuns, and brought them to their lure, accused them afterwards to the Kings Commissioners for their incontinence. A damnable act, if true, and which mindeth me of the ensuing story, here not impertinently inserted.

2. Some sixty years since, an English Gentleman had the chastity of his Wife in suspition, jealous of a particular person, who kept her company. To put it to triall, this her Husband so contrived the matter, a private place was appointed, with all accommodations for such a deed of darkness, whither the Woman with her suspected Paramore, were by set designe, (but wearing to them the visage of a seeming casualty) brought, and left together. Mean time her Husband made him∣self Master of a secret inspection out of the next room, where, with some of his friends, he was the witnesse of his Wives dishonesty, and his own disgrace. Soon after he entred his action, sues for a divorce, and the Court seemed generally in∣clined to the granting thereof.

3. But a Reverend Judge there present, refused to consent thereunto, alledging it the duty of every Husband by his prayers, counsel, and all other lawful means to save and secure the chastity of his Wife; and not to tempt temptations to tempt her: who otherwise might charitably be presumed honest, if such a fore-plotted occasion had not debauched her, and this not the detecting, but first causing of her disloyalty. Seeing therefore in some sort he had been a Pander to his Wife, let him satisfie himself in the assurance of what was doubtfull before, and bear the burthen of his own betraying her.

4. How just this Judges sentence was (all circumstances considered) I will not interpose. Onely in application to the present purpose, though I confesse the relation betwixt Husband and Wife the nearest, (and therefore most oblig••ng to their mutual preservation) the general Principles of Religion, and the Communion of Saints, tieth all Christians, as they tender the honour and glory of God, to pre¦serve the consciences of others undefiled. It was therefore a meer Satanical trick, who is commonly called thec Tempter in Scripture, first to sollici••e souls to sin, and after the committing thereof to be and Accuser of the brethren. And seeing the Tempter is deeper guilty than the tempted, (as more active and voluntary) no reason that he should escape, and the other be punished. But all this discourse sin∣keth, the foundation failing, namely, if the premsses cannot be (which as yet are not) proved, that such indirect dealing was used in surprizing of any Votaries into uncleanness.

5. But still the Papists go further, complaining of false returns, that many of these Enveiglers of Nuns met with impregnable pieces of chastity, (neither to be battered by force, nor undermined by fraud) who despairing to lie with their bo∣dies, did lie on their reputations, making their fames to suffer in those false reports, which they returned to the Kings Commissioners. And the following story is, I assure you, traditioned with very much credit amongst our English Catholicks.

6. Two young Gentlemen(whose names for just cause I forbear) went to a Nun¦nery within twelve miles of Cambridge, in the nature of Travellers on the high way, who being handsomly habited, and late at night, were admitted into some out Lodgings of that Nunnery: next day their civil addresses to the Abbesse were re¦turned with such entertainment as became the laws of hospitality. Afterwards (producing or pretending a Commission to visit their Covent) they abode there

certain daies, and how bad soever they were, met with no counterpart to embrace their wanton profers. However, at the return they gave it out, that nothing but their wearinesse bounded their wantonnesse, and that they enjoyed those Nuns at their own command.

7. One of the aforesaid Gentlemen, with great grief and remorse of heart did in private confesse the same to Sir William Standly Knight, (afterwards imployed in the Low Countreys) avowing that nothing in all his life lay more heavy on his conscience than this false accusation of those Innocents: and the said Sir William told this passage to a noble Catholick still alive. All I will say to this story is this, that if this Sir Will: Standly was he, who contrary to his solemn Oath to the Earl of Leicester and the united States, betrayd the strong City ofe Daventer to the Spaniards, (and lived many years after in af neglected, forlorn condition) one so faithlesse in his deeds, may be presumed false in his words, and the whole credit of the relation may justly at least be suspected.

Some Covents on examination appearing very virtuous.

IT is confessed by unpartial people, that some Monasteries of both sexes, being put to the test, appeared very commendable in their behaviour, so that the least aspersion could not justly be cast upon them. I read in oneg Author, that some Societies behaved themselves so well, that their lives were not only exempt from notorious faults, but their spare times bestowed in writing books, painting, carvil, engraving; so that their Visiters became Intercessours for them. Amongst these, the Nunnery of Godstow neer Oxford must not be forgotten, which as it hath a good name, (being a Bethel, that is, Gods house or habitation) well an∣swered thereunto, in the conditions of the people living therein.

2. But there were few such black swans, and these innocent Convents being in∣considerable in number, could not preserve the rest from ruine. Eight, and one, pious persons, are insufficient to save Sodome from destruction,b if ten be the lowest number to which Divine Mercy will descend.

The generallity of Monasteries notoriously vitious.

I Say the generallity, otherwise take any numerous Society, and where there be many people there will be many offenders; there being ai Cham amongst the Eight in the Ark; yea, ak Cain amongst the four primitive persons in the begin∣ning of the world. I adde, also notoriously vitious,1 for, In many things we offend all. Yea, if the Visiters had been visited, they were conscious to themselves of many failings, which might make them more favourably to reflect on the infirmities of others.

2. Here I shall present the Reader with a black Bill of some eminent Male-factors, as I finde them in mym Author in the same nature.

In Battle•• Abbey.

John Abbot	Gregory Champion	John Hamfield	Sodomites.
Richard Salchurst	Clement Westfield	John Jherom
Thomas Cuthbert	John Crosse	Clement Grigge
William March	Thomas Erambrook	Richard Tovey
John Hasting	Thomas Bayll	John Austine

In Canterbury.

Richard Gomershan	Nicholas Clement	Thomas Farley	Sodomites.
William Liechfield	William Cawston	Thomas Morton
John Goldingston	John Ambrose	Christoph: James Kept 3 married Whores.

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
        • Whores.

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 n 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

for their lusts on their Leases, enjoyning their Tenents to furnish them, (as with wood and coles, so) with fewel for their wantonness. Ao Reverend Divine hath informed me, that he hath seen such a passage on a Lease of the Abbey of Essex, where the Lessee was enjoyned yearly to provide, Unam claram & lepidam puellam, ad purgandos renes, Domini Abbatis.

7. It was never my hap to behold any Instrument with such a lustfull clause, or wanton reservation therein, and shall hardly be induced to believe it: First, because such turpis conditio was null in the very making thereof. Secondly, be∣cause it was contrary to the Charta magna, as I may call it, of Monasticall pra∣ctise, Sinon cassè, tamen cautè; wherefore what private compact soever was by word of mou••h made betwixt them upon their Leases parole; sure all Abbots were, (if not so honest) so discreet, that no act in scriptis should remain, which on oc∣casion might publickly be produced against them.

8. As for the instances of their private incontinence, they are innumerable. I will insist but in one hapning just at this juncture of time; and which may be pre∣sumed very operative to the ruine of such Religious Houses.

A Lettore certefying the incontynensye of the Nuns of Syon, with the Friores, and astore the acte done, the Friores reconsile them to God. Endoised, To the Right Honourable, Master Thomas Cromwell, chief Secretary to the Kings Highnesse.

IT maye please your goodnesse to understand thatp Bushope this day preched, and declared the Kynges tytelle very well, and hade a grete Audyense, the Chorche full of people, one of the Focaces in his said declaration, only called him false knave, with other foolish words; it was the foolish fellow, with the corled head that kneeled in your waye when you came forth of the Confessores Chamber. I can no lesse doe, but set him in prisone, ut poena ejus sit metus aliorum: yesterday I learned many enormous thinges against Bushope, in the examination of the lay Brederen, first that Bushope perswaded towe of the Brederene to have gone theire wayes by night, and he himselfe with them, and to the accomplishment of that, they lacked but money to buy them seculere apparell. Further, that Bushope would have perswaded one of his lay-Brederen a Smithe, to have made a keay for the doare, to have in the night time re∣ceived in Wenches for him and his fellows, and especially a Wiffe of Uxebridge, now dwelling not farre from the old Lady Derby, nigh Uxebridge: which Wiffe his old customer hath byne many times here at the grates communing with the said, and he was desirous to have her convoyed into him. The said Bushope also perswaded a Nunne, to whom he was Cenfessour, ad libidinem corporis perimplendam And thus he perswaded her in Confession, making her believe, that whensover, and as ofte as they shold medle together, if she were, immediately after, confessed by him, and tooke of him absolution, she shold be cleere forgeven of God, and it shold be none offence unto her before God. And she writte diveres and sundrye Lettores unto him of such their foolishnesse and unthriftynesse, and wold have had his Broden the Smithe to have polled out a barre of iron of the window, whereas the examyned the Ladye Abbas, that he might have gone in to her by night.q And that same window was their com∣moning place by night. He perswaded the Sextene that he would be in his contempla∣cion in the Chorche by night, and by that meanes was many nightes in the Chorche talking with her at the saide gate to the Nunnes Quire, and there was their meeting-place by night besides their day communications, as in cofession: It were too long to declare all thinges of him that I have heard, which I suppos it true. This afternoone I intend to make forder serche, both of some of the Brederen, and some also of the Sisters of such like matters; if I fynde any thing apparent to be true, I shall God willing thereof sertefy your Mastorshipe tomorow, by vij in the mornyng. And after this daye I suppos there will be no other thinges to be knowne at yet here; for I have

already examined all the Brederen, and many of them wold gladly departe hense, and be ryghte weary of their habbyte; such Religion, and fained sanctetye, God save me froe. If Master Bedle had byne here a Frior, and of Bushopes counsell, he wold right welle have helped him to have broghte his mattores to passe, without brekyng uppe of any grate, or yet counterfetting of keayes, such capassetye God hath sent him.

From Syone this Sondaye xij. Decembere.

By the speedy hand of

your assured poor Priest, Richard Layton.

We will conclude this discourse with one observation, how through ignorance the true meaning of that word [Recluse] was in that Age abused: For, in pure Latine it signifieth, one set open, or let loose to their own liberty;

Quid non ebriet as designat, operta recludit?

whereas Recluse was taken in that Age for one close shut up: so that many Monks and Fryers were Recluses indeed, not in the common acception, but true notation of that name.

Abbots willingly unwillingly resigned their Monasteries to the King.

SAnders saith, that King Henry sent a large Instrument to every Monastery. fairly ingrossed in Parchment, enjoyning them all to subscribe, signe, and seal the same, with their seale conventual, upon the pain of His displeasure. It is not probable that such a formal Writing was sent unto them, drawn up be∣fore-hand by the Kings Officers; but most certain it is (which amounts almost to as much in effect) a generall intimation was given to all Houses, how accept∣able such an act would be to the King. It was also pressed upon the said Monks, Fryers, and Nuns, that they (through their vitiousnesse) being obnoxious to the Kings anger, this might, and would be done without their consent; so that it was better for them, rebus sic stantibus, to make a vertue of necessity; the rather, be∣cause this complement conduced nothing to the Kings right, (on whom the Par∣liament had already bestowed those Abbey-lands) but might adde much to their own advantage, as being the way whereby their Pensions might the more easily be procured, largely allotted, and surely satisfied unto them.

2. The premisses made such impression on the parties concerned therein, that fearing the Lagge would be looked on with bad eyes, they ran, as it were, a race, in their resignations, who should be first and foremost therein. However they used severall forms therein, some onely condemning their lives for superstitious, but not confessing themselves personally vitious, as by the following Instrument may appear.

Thes surrender of the Warden and Fryers of S. Francis in Stanford.

FOr as moche as we, the Warden, and Freers, of the Howse of Saynt Frances in Stanforde, comenly callyd the gray Freers in Stanforde, in the Countey of Lin∣colne, doo profoundly consider that the perfeccion of Christain lyving dothe not con∣ciste in the dome ceremonies, weryng of the grey cootte, disgeasing our selffe after straunge fashions, dokyng, and beckyng, in gurding owr selffes wyth a gurdle full of knots, and other like Papisticall ceremonies, wherein we have byn moost principally practysed, and misselyd in tymes past; but the very tru waye to please God, and to live a tru Christian man, wythe owte all ypocrasie, and fayned dissimulation, is sincerely declaryd unto us by owr Master Christe, his Evangelists, and Apostles. Being mindyd hereafter to folowe the same; conformyng owr selffe unto the will and pleasure of owr supreme hedde undre God in erthe the Kinges Majestye; and not to follow hensforth the superstitious tradicions of ony forincycall potentate, or poore, with mutuall

assent, and consent, doo submytt owr selffes unto the mercye of owr said soveraygne Lorde. And withe like mutuall assent, and consent, doo surrender, and yelde upe unto, the hands of the same, all owr saide howse of Saynt Frances in Stanforde, comenly callyd the grey Freers in Stanforde, withe all Lands, tenements, gardens, medowes, waters, pondyards, feedings, pastures, comens, rentes, reverssons, and all other our interest, ryghtes, or tytles, aperteying unto the same; mooste humbly besechyng His mooste Noble grace, to disspose of us, and of the same as best schall stonde wythe His mooste graciouse pleasure. And farther, freely to graunt unto every one of us His licens undre wretyng and seall, to change our abites into seculer fassion, and to receive such maner of livyngs, as other secular Priestes comenly be preferryd unto. And we all faythfully schall pray unto Almighty God long to preserve His moost noble grace, wyth encrease of moche felicitie and honor.

And in witnes of all and singuler the premisses, we the saide Warden, and Covent of the grey Freers in Stanforde, to these presents have put owr Co∣vent Sceall the yeght day of Octobre, in the thyrtythe yere of the Raygne of owr moost Soverayne King Henry the yeght.

• Factum Johannis Schemy Gar∣dian.
• Per me Fratrem Johannem Ro∣bards.
• Per me Fratrem Johan. Chad∣whort.
• Per me Fratrem Ricardum Pye.
• Per me Fratrem Johannem Clarke.
• Per me Fratrem Johannem Quoyte.
• Per me Fratrem Johannem Jar∣man.
• Per me Fratrem Johannē Yong.
• Per me Fratrem Johannem Lo vell.
• Per me Fratrem Willielmum Tomson.

3. Other Resignations were far more humble and submissive, with an acknow∣ledgment of their vitious and voluptuous lives; such was the surrender made by the Prior and Covent of S. Andrews in Northampton, which because very tedious, we shall onely transcribe so much thereof as concerneth our present purpose.

But as well as others our predecessors, called religiouse persons within yowr said Mo¦nastery, taking on us the habite of owtward vesture of the said rule, onely to the intent to lead owr liffes in the ydle quyetnesse, and not in vertuose exercyse, in a stately esti¦mation, and not in obedient humylyte, have undre the shadowe, or color of the saide rule and habite, vaynely, detestably, and also ungodly, employed, yea rather devow¦red, the yerely revenues yssuing and comyng of the saide possessions, in continuall in gurgitations and farcyngs of owr carayne bodyes, and of others, the supportares of owr voluptuose and carnal appetyte, with other vayne and ungodly expensys; to the manyfest subvertion of devocion, and clennes of lyvyng; and to the moost notable slaunder of Christs holy Evangely, which in the forme of owr professyon, we did osten∣tate, and openly devaunt to kepe moost exactly: withdrawyng thereby from the symple, and pure myndys of yowr graces subjectes, the onely truth and comfort, which they oughte to have by the true faith of Christe. And also the devyne honor, and glory, onely due to the glorious Majesty of God Almyghty, steryng them with all perswasions, ingynes, and polyce, to dedd Images, and counterfett reliques, for owr dampnable lucre. Which our moost horryble abominacions, and execrable persuaci∣ons of yowr graces people, to detestable errours, and our long coveryd Ipocrysie cloked with fayned sanctite; We revolving dayly, and continually ponderyng in owr sor¦rowfull harts, and thereby perseyving the botomlas gulf of everlasting fyre, redy to devowre us, if persysting in this state of lyving, we shulde depart from this uncertayn and transytory l••ffe, constrayned, by the intollerable anguysh of owr conscience, callyd as we trust by the grace of God, who wold have no man to perysh in synne: with harts moost contrite, and repentante, prostrate at the noble feet of yowr moost royall Maje∣stye, most lamentably doo crave of yowr highnes, of yowr abundant mercy, to grant unto

us moost greevous against God, and yowr Highnes, your most gracious perdon, for owr saide sondry offences, omyssyons, and negligences, comytted as before by us is confessed agaynst yowr Highnes, and yowr most noble Progenitors. And where yowr Hyghnes, being Supreme hedd, immediately aftre Christ, of his Church, in this yowr Roialme of England, so consequently generall and onely Reformator of all religious persons, there, have full authority to correct or dyssolve at yowr Graces pleasure, and libertye, all Covents and religious companyes abusing the Rewles of their profession. And moreover to yowr Highnes, being owr soveraygn Lord, and undoubted fownder of yowr said Monastery, by dissolucion whereof apperteyneth onely the Oryginall title, and propre inherytance, as well of all other goods moveable and unmoveable, to the said Monastery in any wyse apperteyning or belonging, to be disposed, and imployed, as to yowr graces most excellent wysdeme shall seme expedyent and necessary.

• Per me Franciscum Priorem.
• Per me Johannem Sub-Priorem.
• Per me Tho: Smyth.
• Per me Tho: Golston.
• Per me Rob: Martin.
• Per me Jacob: Hopkins.
• Per me Ric: Bunbery.
• Per me Johannem Pette.
• Per me Jo: Harrold.
• Per me Tho: Barly.
• Per me Will: Ward.
• Per me Tho: Atterbury.
• Per me Will: Fowler.

Other Resignations varying in their words met (for the maine) in the matter, and were with all speed presented to the Kings Visitors. As School-boyes hope to escape with the fewer stripes for being the first in untying their points, those Convents promised to themselves the kindest usage, which were forwardest in their Resignations, though all (on the matter) fared alike.

4. Yea, John de Warboise so called from the place of his nativity in Hunting∣don shire (where my worthy friend Mr. William Johnson is well beneficed) though thea first, with his sixty Benedicti Monks, who with solemn subscription renoun∣ced the Popes Supremacy, and now as officious as any in surrendring his Convent to the Kings Visitors, met with no peculiar and extraordinary civility above others of his Ord••r.

5. Such Resignations seal'd and deliver'd; the Visitors called for the Seales them∣selves (which now had survived their own use, having passed the last effectual Act) and these generally made of silver, were by the Kings Officers presently broken in pieces. Such material Stamps being now abolished, it will be charity to preserve their Impressions, and exhibit them to posterity, which here we shall endeavour, rendring some probable reason how most of them referre to the Founders, or sci∣tuation, or some remarkable action therein.

The Seale of Armes of the Mitred Abbeys in England.

IN presenting of them, I will not be confined to the strict termes of Blazoury, the rather, because some of their Armes may be presumed so antient, as sitter to give Rules to, than take them from our moderne Heraldry: And what my pen cannot sufficiently describe, therein the Reader may satisfie himselfe by his own eye: To which these Cotes are presented in the last sheet of this Volume after the History of Waltham Abbey.

1. I will make a method of my own beginning (where the Sun ends) in the West: Tavestock in Devon shire gave Varrey Or and Azure, on a Chiefe Or, two Mulletts, Gules.

2. Glassenbury gave Vert (as I conjecture the Colour) a Crosse Bottone Argent. In the first Quarter the Woman with a Glory holding a Babe (radiated about his head) in her Armes, because [forsooth] by the direction of the Angel Gabriel their Church was first dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

3. Middleton in Gloucester-shire gave Sable, three Baskets Argent replenished with Loaves of Bread, Gules. Had the number of the Baskets been either Seven or Twelve, some would interpret therein a reference to the Reversions preserved by Christ his command of the Loaves miraculously multiplied: whereas now they denote the Bounty of that Abbey in relieving the poor.

4. What Malmesbury in Wiltshire gave I cannot yet attain.

5. Abingdon gave a Crosse flurt betwixt Martelletts Sable, much alluding to the Armes of our English Kings before the Conquest, who, it seems were great Benefactors thereunto.

6. The Abbey of S. James in Reading, gave AZure three Scallop Shells Or. Here I know not what secret sympathy there is between S. James and Shells; but sure I am that all Pilgrims that visit St. James of Compos-Stella in Spaine (the Para∣mount Shrine of that Saint) returned thence obsiti conchis, all beshell'd about on their clothes, as a religious Donative there bestowed upon them.

7. The Abbey of Hide, juxta Winton. gave Argent a Lyon rampant Sable, on a cheiff of the second, four Keyes Argent.

8. Bataile Abbey in Sussex gave Gules a Crosse betwixt a Crown Or, in the first and third Quarter. A Sword (bladed Argent, hilted Or) in the second and fourth Quarter thereof. Hete the Armes relate to the Name, and both Armes and Name to the fierce Fight hard by, whereby Duke William gained the English-Crown by Conquest, and founded this Abbey. Nor must it be forgotten, that a Text X pierced through with a dash, is fixed in the navill of the Crosse. Now, though I have read, Letters to be little honourable in Armes, this cannot be dis∣gracefull, partly because Church-Heraldrie moveth in a sphere by it self, partly because this was the Letter of Letters, as the received character to signifie Christus.

9. S. Augustines in Canterbury gave Sable a Cross-Argent.

10. Crosse we now the Thames, where Westward we first fall on S. Peters in Gloucester, whose Dedication to that Apostle sufficiently rendreth a reason for the Armes thereof, viz AZure two Crosse Keyes (or two Keyes Saltire) Or.

11. Teuxbury gave Gules, a Cross of an antick form Or, a border Argent.

12. I will not adventure on the blazoning of the Armes of Winchcombe (having much conformity therein with Mortimers Coat) but leave the Reader to satisfie his own eyes in the inspection thereof.

13. I should be thankfull to him who would inform me of the Armes of Ci∣rencester, which hitherto I cannot procure.

14. St. Albans gave Azure a Cross Saltire Or.

15. Westminster-Abbey gave Azure a Cross flurt betwixt five Marteletts Or, and this I humbly conceive were antiently the entire Armes of that Abbey being in effect the same with those of King Edward the Confessour the first Founder thereof: But afterwards their Conventuall Seale was augmented with the Armes of France and England on a Chiefe Or betwixt two Roses Gules, plainly relating to King Henry the seventh, enlarging their Church with his Chappell.

16. The Prior of St. John of Jerusalem gave Gules a Cross Argent, which the Lord Priot sometimesa impayled with (but before) his own Coate, andb some∣times bare it in a Chiefe about it.

17. The Armes of Waltham Abbey in Essex, appear at this day neither in glass, wood, nor stone, in, or about the Town or Church thereof. At last we have reco∣vered them (Unus home nobis) out of a faire Deed of Robert Fullers, the last Ab∣bot, though not certain of the mettall and colours, viz: Gules, (as I conjecture) two Angels (can they be lesse than Or?) with their hands (such we finde of them inc Scripture) holding betwixt them a Cross Argent, brought hither (faith our d Antiquary) by miracle out of the West, whence Waltham hath the addition of Holy Cross.

18. The Arms of S. Johns in Colchester, I leave to the eye of the Reader.

19. Burie gave Azure three Crowns Or, The Armes of the Kings of the East-Angles, assumed in the memory of King Edmund (to whom this Abbey was de∣dicated)

martyred by the Danes, when his Crown of Gold, thorough a Crown of Thorns (or Arrows rather) was turned into a Crown of Glory.

20. St. Benet's in the Holme, in Norfolke, gave Sable, a Pastorall. Staffe Argent, picked below, and reflexed above, (intimating the Abbots Episcopal Jurisdiction in his own precincts) betwixt two Crowns-Or, pointing at England and Norway, the two Kingdomes of Canutus, the Founder thereof. The aforesaid Staffe was infulated, that is, adorned with an holy Lace or Label, carelesly hanging down, or cast a crosse, such with which their Mitres used formerly to be fastned.

21. Thorney-Abbey in Cambridge shire gave Azure three Crosses crossed fitchee, betwixt three Pastoral Staves Or.

22. Ramsey in Huntingdon-shire gave Or three Rams Heads couped Argent, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bend Azure: The rest of the Rams must be supposed in the blue Sea, the Fennes, appearing such when overflown. Besides, such changes were common here, whereof Melibaeus complaineth in the Marishes of Mantua.

—Non bene ripae Creditur, ipse Aries etiam nunc vellera siccat. There is no trusting to the foundring bank. The Ramme still dries his fleece so lately dank.

But, since the draining of the Fennes hath (I hope) secured their Cattell from casualties.

23. The very name of Peterborough unlocks the reason why that Abbey gave Gules, two crosse Keyes betwixt four Crosses crossed fitchee, Or.

24. Crowland Abbey gave quarterly three (call them long Knives, or short) Swords bladed Argent hasted or pomelled or, Azure three Whips stringed and knot∣ted Or, the second like the third, the fourth like the first. Instruments of cruelty re∣lating to their Monks massacred by the Danes, Anno 870. whereof their Histo∣rian gives us this account, That first they were examinati, tortured, see there the Whips; and then exanimati, killed, see there the Swords. But if any will have those Whips to relate to the Whip of S. Bartholomew, the most remarkable Relique of that Monastery, I will not appose.

25. The Armes of Evesham Abbey in Worcester-shire, I cannot recover, but possibly may before the conclusion of this Work.

26. Shrewsbury gave Azure, a Lyon Rampant over a Pastorall-staffe Bendwayes, so that both the ends thereof are plainly discovered.

27. Crosse we now North of Trent, where onely two remain: Selby (founded by William the Conquerour) which gave Sable, three Swans Argent, membred Or, alluding, as I believe, to the depressed scituation of the place, where the neigh∣bouring River of Ouse affordeth such Birds in abundance.

28. St. Maryes in Yorke gave Argent a Crosse, Gules, and a Key, in the first Quarter of the same. In the midst of the Crosse a King in a circle in his Robes of state, with his Scepter and Mound: Yet hath he onely a ducall Cap (and no Crown) on his head. I humbly conceive (under favour of better judgments) this King-Dukes picture to relate partly to King VVilliam Rufus, partly to Alan Duke of Britain and Richmond, the principall Co-Founders of that Monastery.

The Lord Darcy his Extraction justly vindicated.

AMongst the principal persons who suffred for their zeale in defending of Abbeys was the lately mentioned Thomas Lorda Darcy, whose extracti∣on I finde foully aspersed by the pen of that passionate Prince, K. Henry the eighth: for when the Rebels boasted of the many Noblemen who sided with them, in confutation thereof, King Henry returned a Letter to them, interlined with His own hand, wherein this passage, [b Others, as the Lord Marney and Darcy are but mean, scarce well-born Gentlemen, and yet of no great Lands till they were promoted by Us, and so made Knights.] It cannot be denied but that K. Henry

too much consulted His choller (now swelling high, because opposed by the Re∣bels) more than His judgment in this His expression; and seeing an Historian should, suum cuique tribuere, give me leave a little to enlarge in this subject.

2. Of the Lord Marney, I can say but little, finding him whilst as yet but a Knight, Sir Henry, Servant, and one of the Executors to the Lady Margaret, Countesse of Darby: at which time, he was Chancellour of the Dutchie of Lan∣caster. It seemeth he rose by the Law, being the first and last Baron of his name, whose sole Daughter was married to Thomas Howard Vicount Bindon.

3. Longer must we insist on the Parentage, performances, and posterity of Tho∣mas Lord Darcy, finding in the North three distinct branches thereof, whereof the first was

Begun	Continued	Extingnished
In Norman de Adrecy or Darcy possessed under K Will: the Conquerour, of many Manours in Yorke shire and Lincoln shire, where Normanbye His prime seat seemeth so na∣med by him.	For ten Generations, most of them buried in Noke∣ton Priory in Lincoln sh. by them founded, and in∣dowed, viz: 1. Robert. 2. Thomas. 3. Thomas. 4. Norman. 5. Norman. 6. Philip. 7. Norman. 8. Philip. 9. Norman. 10. Philip.	In Philip Darcy dying is∣sue-less, whose two Sisters and Co-heires were mar∣ried, the one to Roger Ped∣wardine; the other, to Pe∣ter of Limbergh.

4. The first Male Line of the Darcyes being thus determined, a second Race succeeded, derived from Norman Darcy the Penultim Lord in the last Pedigree,

Begun	Continued	Extinguished
In Iohn Darcy (Son to the aforesaid Norman) Steward to the King's Houshold, Justice of Ire∣land.	For five descents, being Barons of Knaith & Moy∣nill. 1. John. 2. John. 3. Philip. 4. John. 5 Philip.	In Philip the fifth Baron, who (though dying under age) left two Daughters, Elizabeth married to Sir James Strangewayes of Hartley Castle, and Mar∣garet to Sir Iohn Coigniers of Hornbey-Castle.

5. Thus expired the second Male stem of the Darcyes, styled Barons of Knaith, long since aliened from their Family, and for this last hundred years the habita∣tion of the Lord Willoughby of Parham. Come we now to the third Stemme, which was

Begun	Continned	Extinguished
In Sir Iohn Darcy of Tor∣xay, second Son to the last Lord John Darcy of Knaith.	Through seven Generati∣ons, 1. Richard. 2. William. 3. Thomas. 4. George. 5. Iohn. 6. Michael. 7. Iohn.	In Iohn Lord Darcy of Ashton, dying issue-lesse, (though hee had foure Wives) in the Reigne of King Charles.

6. Thomas Darcy here named is the person, the subject of this discourse, of whom four things are memorable:

• 1. He was Knighted by K. Henry the seventh, who made him Captain of the Town and Castle of Barwick, and Commander of the East and Middle Marches.
• 2. K Henry the eighth, in the first year of his Reign, made him Iustice in Eyre of the Forests beyond Trent, summoned him the same yeare as a Baron to Parliament, imployed him with a Navie, An. 1511. to assist Ferdi∣nand King of Arragon against the Moores, and made him knight of the Garter.
• 3. Though the Ancestours of this Thomas Darcy (since the second Branch was expired) were styled Lords in some Deeds (whether by the courtesie of the Countrey, or because the right of a Barony lay in them) yet this Thomas was the first summoned Baron to Parliament, in the first of King Henry the eighth, and his Successours took their place accor∣dingly.
• 4. Though the Revenue of this Thomas Lord Darcy was not great at the beginning of King Henry the eighth, (because the Heires Generall of the Lord Darcyes of Knaith carried away the maine of the Inheritance) yet he had a considerable Estate, augmented by his Match with Dowsa∣bella the Daughter and Heire of Sir Richard Tempest.

The result of all is this, This Lord was most Honourably descended, and his Nobility augmented; not first founded by K. Henry the eighth, as his words did intimate. Let therefore passionate Princes speak what they please, their patient Subjects will believe but their just proportion. And although the Foxes eares must be reputed horns whilst the Lyon in presence is pleased so to term them; yet they never alter their nature, and quickly recover the name after the Lyons de∣parture. This I though fit to write in vindication of the Lord Darcy, who though he owed his life to the Law, it is cruelty he should lose both it and the just honour of his Extraction.

7. As for the present Coigniers Lord Darcy, he is not onely descended from the foresaid Lord Thomas, but also from the Heire Generall of the second Stem of the Lord Darcyes of Knaith, and was by King Charles accordingly restored to take his place in Parliament.

The antient English Nobility great Losers by the Dissolution of Abbeys.

ALthough many modern Families have been great Gainers by the destructi∣on of Monasteries, yet the Antient Nobility (when casting up their Au∣dits) found themselves much impaired thereby both in power and profit, commodity and command: I mean such, whose Ancestours had been Founders of Abbeys, or great Benefactours unto them. These reserved to themselves and their Heirs many Annual Rents and Services, Reliefs, Escuage, as also that such Abbots and their Successours should doe Fealry and Homage to their Heirs for such Lands as they held of them in Knights Service.

2. Now although order was taken at the dissolution to preserve such Rents to the Founders Heires (payable unto them by the Kings Officers out of the Ex∣chequer) yet such summes after long attendance were recovered with so much difficulty that they were lost in effect. Thus, when the few sheaves of the Subject are promiscuously made up in the Kings mewe, it is hard to finde them there, and harder to fetch them thence.

3. As for the foresaid Services reserved (either at money, or money worth) to

them and their Heires, they were totally and finally extinguished: for formerly such Abbeys used

• 1. To send men on their own Charges in Voyages to Warre to aid and attend such of their Founders and Benefactors Heires, of whom they held Land in Knights service.
• 2. They bountifully contributed a Portion to the Marriage of their eldest Daughters.
• 3. They bear the Costs and charges to accoutre their eldest Sonnes in a gentile military equipage when Knighted by the King.

But now the Tree being pluckt up by the roots, no such fruit could afterwards be expected.

4. Nor must we forget the benefit of Corrodies, so called à conradendo, from eating together: for, the Heires of the foresaid Founders (not by courtesie, but composition for their former favours) had a priviledge to send a set number of their poor Servants to Abbeys to diet therein: Thus many aged Servants past working not feeding (costly to keep, and cruell to cast off) were sent by their Masters to such Abbeys where they had plentifull food during their lives. Now though some of those Corrodies (where the property was altered into a set summe of mo∣ney) was solvable out of the Exchequer after the dissolution of Abbeys; yet such which continued in kinde was totally extinct, and no such Diet hereafter given where both Table and House were overturned.

The Premisses proved by instance in the Family of the Berkeleys.

THe Noble Family of the Berkeleys may well give an Abbots Mitre for the Crest of their Armes, because so loving their Nation, and building them so many Synagogues. Hence it was, that partly in right of their Auncestors, partly by their Matches with the Co-heirs of the Lord Mowbray and Seagrave, in the Vacancies they had a right of Nomination of an Abbot, in following Foun∣dations.

Place.	Founder.	Order.	Value.
1. St. Augustines in Bristoll. 2. Burton Laus in Leicester shire. 3. Byland, or Bella-Launda, in York sh. 4. Chancomb in North∣hampton shire. 5. Combe in Warwick shire. 6. Croxton in Leice∣ster shire. 7. Edworth in the Isle of Axholme in Lin∣coln-shire. 8. Fountains. 9. Kirkby in Leicester∣shire. 10. Newburge in York∣shire.	1. Robert Fitz-Hard∣ing, whose posterity assumed the name of Berkeley. 2. The Lord Mowbray in the Reign of K. Henry the first. 3. Robert de Mowbray, & Gonnora his Mother. 4. Hugh de Anaf. Knt, in the time of the Conq. whose Son Robert took the name of Cha••comb, & Annabisia his daugh∣ter was married to Gil∣bert Lord Seagrave. 7. Tho: Mowbray Earl of Notingham in the Reign of K. Rich. the 2. to which the Mowbrays were grand Benefactors. 9. Roger de Beller, who held this Manour of the Lord Mowbray.	1. Black Canons of the Order of S. Victor. 2. Leprous peo∣ple professing the Order of S. Augustine. 6. Premonstra∣tentian Monks. 7. Carthusians. 9. Canons Regu∣lar of S. Augu∣stine.	l. s. d. ob. q. —767.15.3.0.0 —458.19.11.1.1 7.290.14— —178.7.10▪ 0▪ 1-

What shall I speak of the small Houses of Longbridge and Tintern in Gloucester∣shire, not (mentioned in Speed) the Hospitals of S. Katharine and Mary Maudlins neer Bristol, the well endowed Schoole of Wotton Underhedge in Glocester shire, be∣sides forty Chanteries founded by the Berkeleys: yea, I have read in a Manuscript belonging unto them, no lesse judiciously than industriously composed by Mr. John Smith (who did, and received many good offices to, and from that Family, as is mutually confessed) that the forenamed Abbeys and others, held of the Lord Berkeley at the dissolution, no fewer than eighty Knights fees, and payed services unto them accordingly, all which are now lost to the value of ten thou∣sand pounds within the compasse of few years.

2. Nor will it be amisse to insert, that Robert Derby the last Abbot of Croxton, was presented thereunto, April 22. the 26 of King Henry the eighth, by Thomas (the sixt of that name) Lord Berkeley, (the place being void by the death of one Atter cliffe) belonging to his presentation by inheritance. And in the Record, he commandeth the Prior and Convent to receive and obey him as Abbot.

Ingratitude to their Founders, a grand fault in many Abbeys.

INgratitude is the abridgement of all basenesse, a fault never found unattended with other vitiousness. This is justly charged on the account of many Abbeys, whose stately structures grew so proud as to forget the Rock whence they were Hewen, and the Hole of the Pit whence they were digged: unthankfull to such Founders who under God had bestowed their maintenance upon them.

2. One instance of many. Vast was the liberality of the Lord Berkeleys to S. Austins in Bristoll, leaving themselves in that their large Estate not one Rectory to which they might present a Chaplaine: all the Benefices in their numerous Ma∣nours being appropriated to this and other Monasteries: Now see the Requitall.

3. Maurice, the first of that name, Lord Berkeley, having occasion to make the ditch about his Castle the broader (for the better fortifying thereof) took in some few feet of ground out of Berkeley Church-yard, which Church with the Tithes thereof, his Ancestors had conferred on the aforesaid Monastery. The Abbot beholding this as a great trespasse, or rather, as a little sacriledge, so prosecuted the aforesaid Lord with Church-censures, that he made him in a manner cast the dirt of the ditch in his own face, inforcing him to a publick confession of his fault, and to give Five shillings rent for ever, with some Tithes and Pasture for as many Oxen as would till a Plow-land, by the words of his Will, Pro emendatione culpa meae de fossato quod feci de Coemiterio de Berkeley circa castellum meum.

4. I know it will be pleaded for the Abbot that there is as much right in an inch as in an ell, that he was a Fiduciary intrusted to defend the rights of his Covent, that Founders Heirs are not priviledged to doe injuries; yea, they of all persons most improper to take back what their Ancestors have given. However, the Lords incroachment on the Church-yard being in a manner done in his own defence, the thing in it self so small, and the merit of his Ancestors so great to that Abbey, might have met with that meeknesse which should be in the brests of all Spirituall persons to abate his rigorous prosecution against him.

5. Thomas the first Lord Berkeley of that name, found little better usage from the Abbot of S. Austines, though he had formerly (besides confirmation of many Lands) conferred on that Convent pasture for Twenty four Oxen; discharging also their Lands (lying within certain of his Manours) from all Services and Earthly demands, onely to remember him and his in their prayers; yet did that Abbot and Convent implead him before the Popes Delegates for Tythes of Paunage of his Woods, for Tythes of his Fishing and of his Mills. The Lord re∣moved the Suit to Common Law, (as challenging the sole power to regulate Modum Dicimandi:) And now when all was ready for a Tryall before the Judge

irinerant at Gloucester, it was compounded by Friends on such Terms as the Ab∣bot in effect gained his desire.

6. Indeed, so odious and obvious was the unthankfulnesse of some Convents, that it is reputed by some, the most meritorious Cause of their Dissolution, and their doing things without and against the Will of their Founders is instanced in the Statute as a main Motive to take them away.

7. Some who pretend to a Prometheus wit, fondly conceive that the Founders of Abbeys might politickly have prevented their dissolution had they inserted a provision in their Foundations, That in case Abbey Lands should be alienated to other uses against or besides the Owners intents, then such Lands should revert to the true Heirs of the said Founders, if then in beeing.

8. But such consider not that such a Reservation would have favoured more of wildnesse than wisdome in that Age: as well might one have sought to secure him∣self with a shelter against the falling of the skies as equally probable as the divert∣ing of Abbey-Lands to other intentions. Besides, such a jealous clause might be interpreted hereticall to put into peoples fancies a feizability of such alterations: Yea, I have heard it questioned by the Learned in the Law, whether such a condi∣tionall settlement with such a clause were Legall or no, many maintaining that such Donations must be absolute. But suppose such a Clause in their Foundati∣ons, it had not much befriended them at this time, seeing Cables are as easily cut off as Twine-threads by power of Parliament, when disposed to make such a dis∣solution.

9. Now some conceived it just Abbey-Lands should have been restored to the Heirs of their Founders; but seeing the most and greatest Abbeys were built and endowed before the Conquest, it was hard to finde out their Heirs, if extant. Be∣sides this would minister matter of much litigiousnesse equally to share them a∣mongst their many Benefactors. Wherefore the King the Founder Generall of them all, mediately or immediately in himself or in His Subjects, as who in His person or Ancestors confirmed, consented, or at least connived at their Foundations, may charitably be presumed to seize them all into His own hands; so to cut off the occasion of dangerous division amongst His subjects about the partition of those Estates.

Notes

• Wolsey's wealth and want.
• a

  Eccles. 5. 11.
• Wolsey his act justly censured.
• b

  Eccles. 11. 1.
• c

  Prov. 9. 17.
• d

  Isa. 61. 8.
• Fig leaves to cove•• it, in vain.
• e

  Luke 21. 4.
• f

  2 Cor. 8. 3.
• The miserable ends of the Cardinals in∣struments herein.
• g

  Eccles. 9. 1, 2.
• h

  Godwin his Annals of Hen. the eigh••h, Anno 1525. Yet Mr. Fox maketh the Lord Cromwell the principall person employ∣ed by the Car∣dinall therein.
• Christ-Church Priorie neer Allgate first, and solely dissolved.
• a

  Hall's Chro∣nicle, An. 1525.
• The antiquity, wealth, and di∣gnity thereof.
• b

  Harp••field in his Catalogue of Abbeys.
• c

  Stow's Survey of London, p. 145.
• d

  Idem ibidem.
• A guesse at King Henry's design.
• The Priory taken by com∣position.
• The effect thereof upon the people.
• e

  Idem, ut priùs.
• This the anti∣entest of all Priories.
• f

  Stow, ut priùs.
• At this day called the Dukes-Place.
• g

  Gen. 38. 17.
• b

  viz. An Dom. 1621.
• Observant Fri∣ers why first falling under King Henry's displeasure.
• a

  Sanders de Schis. Anglic. lib. 1. pag. 81.
• b

  Idem, pag. 80.
• Totally and fi∣nally dissolved.
• c

  Sanders, p. 89.
• The Supplica∣tion of Beggars, with the Sense thereof.
• d

  Fox Monum. vol. 2. pag. 279.
• e

  Idem ibidem.
• f

  Exod. 2. 8.
• The Geometry, Arithmetick, and Chrono∣logy of the Au∣thor thereof.
• g

  See Cambd. Brit. in his di∣vision of Brit. pag. 162.
• The Anti-sup∣plication of the souls in Pur∣gatorie.
• The first Sup∣plication best received.
• A gainfull mo∣tion made for the King.
• Reported by mistake oppo∣sed by Bishop Fisher.
• Easily passed in Parliament.
• a

  Of Henry 8, pag. 376.
• A Preamble of importance res∣tored out of the Records to the Printed Statute.
• b

  Cap. 28.
• Two principles which must not be questioned.
• Exact measu∣ring to the standard of dissolution.
• Many aged persons at a losse for live∣lihood.
• Abbey-lands politickly scat∣tered among many pu••cha∣sers.
• The number of the lesser Mo∣nasteries.
• c

  See Speed his Catalogue of Valuations.
• Why the King cajoleth the great Monaste∣ries.
• Specious uses pretended on heavy penal∣ties.
• Such penalties graciously re∣pealed by King Iames.
• See the Sta∣tutes the 21 of K. James, c. 28.
• Some grudge at so great a grant.
• Northern Re∣bellion,
• begun suppres∣sed, punished,
• Excused by Sanders un∣justly.
• Persons exe∣cuted.
• The return of the L. Crom∣wells agents.
• The principall Commissioners.
• a

  L. Herbert in the Life of Hen. 8. p 398.
• b

  Fex Acts & Mon p.1221. where is a pi∣cture thereof. Their two-edged sword.
• Monks we••ry of their lives.
• Others undone by their own dissentions.
• A charitable censure.
• A devilish de∣sign, if true.
• A memorable story.
• Sin plot, sin pay for.
• Application as far as concerns the matter in hand.
• c

  Mat,'4. 3. & Thes. 3. 5.
• d

  Rev. 12. 10.
• A complaint of the Papists.
• A sad ••••ory, if true.
• The Pedigree of this tradi∣tion.
• e

  Camden Eliz. in anno 1587. page 507.
• f

  Idem. ibidem.
• Some Covents retaining their primitive piety.
• g

  Lord Herbert in Henry 8. page 399.
• But too fe•• ••O prese••ve ••e ref.
• b

  Gen. 18.
• Charitable premisses.
• i

  Gen. 7. 7.
• k

  Gen. 4. 1
• 1

  Jam. 3. 2.
• Read, and blush, and sigh.
• m

  Jeb. Speeds Hist. of Great Brit. p. 791. Col. 1.
• n

  Cap. 21. sol. 183.
• A coltish trick served
• upon the Monks of Waltham.
• More talk than truth of under∣ground Vaults.
• Provision made for their lust.
• o

  Mr. Steven Marshall.
• Charity best in doubtfull evi∣dence.
• A Solome in Sion Nunnery.
• p

  He was one of Fryers who (according to the constituti∣on of your Or∣der) lived here with the Brigi∣tian Nuns.
• I conceive this two pro∣per names.
• q

  This Copie was taken out of the MS. Let∣ters in the Lib. of Sir Simon Dewes.
• This was one of the Prime Visito••s afore-mentioned.
• Hor. lib. 1. Epist. 5.
• Monks perswa∣ded into a re∣signation.
• Strive who should be the foremost.
• s

  Out of the Records of the Court of Aug∣mentation.
• A more humble form of sur∣render.
• Betwixt first and last no great diffe∣rence.
• a

  Speed in his description of Huntingdon-shire.
• The designe of the work.
• The Armes of Tavestocke.
• Of Glossenbury.
• See the first Cent. Paragr. 11.
• Of Middleton.
• Of Malmsbury
• Of Abingdon
• Of Reading.
• Erasm•••• in his Dialogue, called Peregri∣natio Religionis e••go.
• Of Hide.
• Of Battaile.
• Accidence of Armes.
• Of S. Augu∣stine.
• Of Gloucester.
• Of Teuxbury.
• Of Winchcomb.
• Of Cirences••er.
• S. Maryes in Coventry had no Armes in their Seale, as my good friend Mr. Dugdale informed me.
• Of S. Alban••
• Of S. Johns of Jerusalem.
• a

  Thus Sir Tho. Tressam.
• b

  Thus Sir Tho. Dockwray.
• Of Waltham.
• c

  Mat. 4. 6.
• d

  Gamd. Brit in Essex.
• Of Colchester.
• Of Bury.
• Of S. Benets.
• Of Thorny.
• Of Ramsey.
• Virgil. E•• log 9.
• Of Peterbo∣rough.
• Of Crowland.
• Ingulphus, pag. 866.
• Of Evesham.
• Of Shrewsbury.
• Of Selby.
• Of Yorke.
• a

  vide supra, pag. 313. parag. 5.
• A causlesse a∣spersion groun∣ded on passion.
• b

  Speeds Ch••••. in his 1 ••dit. pag. 776.
• What the Lord Marney was.
• Three noble Branches of the Darcyes in the North.
• Dooms-day book, chap. 32. in Lincoln shire.
• privatae Sigilla de anno 14 Henrici 7.
• Antient No∣bility losers.
• Good rents ill paid.
• Services wholly lost.
• With the com∣modity of Co∣rodies.
• Rob. Derby last Abbot of Croxton.
• If unthankfull all bad.
• Great bounty.
• Ill required.
• Summum j••••.
• Another in∣stance of in∣gratitude.
• A cause of their ••uine.
• For the dis∣solution of Chanteries & Colledges, 37 of Hen. 8. cap. 4. An overwise conceit
• Basily confu∣ted.
• Strong faith to believe so much of King Henry's charity