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

Of the many and large Pensions constantly paid by King Henry, to Monks and Nuns, during their lives.

1. IT was in those daies conceived highly injurious, to thrust Monks and Nuns out of house and home, without assigning them any allowance for their sub∣sistence. Alas! many of them dig they could not, and, to beg they were ashamed. Their fingers were, either too stiffe (by reason of their old age) to begin now to bow to a manual trade; or hands too soft (because of their tender breeding) to take pain in a laborious vocation. And, although there wanted not some to perswade the King, to out them without any maintenance (it being but just they should practice reall, who had professed seeming poverty) yet the King, better natur'd herein than some Courtiers, allowed, and duly paid, to some large, to most competent, to all certain annuities.

2. Indeed, there cannot be an higher piece of unjustice, than for a King, or State, publickly to promise pensions to necessitous persons, and never perform the same; so that poor people shall have some hundreds in common report, and not one peny in reall and effectuall payment. For, first, the grant raiseth and erecteth the spirits of such Pensioners for the present, which soon after (tyranny so to torture them) sink, and settle down on the non-performance thereof. Se∣condly, such expectations often make people proportion their present expences,

according to those their hopes, to their great damage and detriment, yea, some∣times to their utter undoing. Thirdly, such noise of pensions granted, takes off from them the charity of their kinred and friends, as needlesse to persons presu∣med able to subsist of themselves. Not to speak, how much it lessens the reputa∣tion of a State, rendring them justly censurable, either of indiscretion in granting pensions where not deserved, or injustice in not paying them when granted.

3. Yet all persons were not promiscuously capable of the King's pensions, but onely those who were qualified accordingly. Namely, first, such as at the dis∣solution of their Abbeys, were not preferred to any other dignity, or Benefice. By the way, this was a temptation to the King, and Chancellor, oft-times to pre∣ferre mean men (which formerly had been Monks, and Friers) to no mean Li∣vings, because (beside the generall want of able Ministers) such Incumbents being so provided for, their pensions ceased, and the Exchequer was disburdened from future paving them any exhibition.

4. These pensions of the King were confirmed to the Monks and Nuns by his Letters Patents under the Broad Seal, and Registred in the Court of Augmenta∣tions: One Copie whereof we here insert, having seen some hundreds of them, all the same in essentialls, not conceiving it impertinent to translate the same, de∣siring the Lawyers not to laugh at us if we misse the Legall terms, whilst we hit the true meaning thereof:

HENRICUS Octavus, Dei gratia Angliae et Fran∣ciae Rex fidei defensor Dominus Hiberniae & in terra supremum caput Anglicanae Ecclesiae. Om∣nibus ad quos praesentes litterae pervenerint Salutem. Cum nu∣per Monasterium de Carthus de Hinton in Com nostro Somer. jam dissolvatur, unde quidam Ed∣mundus Horde tempore dissolu∣tionis illi{us} et diu antea Prior inde fuit; Nos volentes rationabilem annualem pensionem sive promo∣tionem condignam eidem Ed∣mundo ad victum exhibitionem & sustentationem suam melius sustinendum provideri. Sciatis igitur quod nos in consideratione praemissorū de gratia nostra spe∣ciali ac ex certa scientia & meros motu nostris per advisamentum & consensum Cancellarit & con∣silii Curiae Augmentationum re∣ventionum Coronae nostrae, dedi∣mus & concessimus, ac per prae∣sentes damus & concedimus ei∣dem Edmundo quandam annui∣tatem sive annualem pensionem quadragint' quatuor librar' ster∣lingorum, babend, gaudendum & annuatim percipiendum eas∣dem quadraginta quatuor libras praefato Edmundo & assignatis suis à festo Annuntiationis beatae

Mariae virginis ultimo praeterito ad terminum & pro termino vitae ipsius Edmundi vel quos{que} idem Edmun∣dus ad unum vel plura Beneficia Ec∣clesiastica, sive aliam promotionem condignam clari annui valoris qua∣dragint' quatuor librarum aut ultra per nos promotus fuerit, tam per ma∣nus Thesaurarii reventionum aug∣mentationum Coronae nostrae pro tem∣pore existentis de Thesauro nostro in manibus suis de reventionibus prae∣dictis remanere contingen' quam per manus receptor. exituum & reven∣tionum dicti nuper Monasterii pro tempore existen' de eisdem exitibus & reventionbus ad festum Sancti Michaëlis Archangeli, & Anun∣tiationis beatae Mariae virginis, per aequales portiones. Et ulterius de uberiori gratia nostra, Dedimus & pro consideratione praedicta per prae∣sentes concedimus praefato Edmundo Horde undecim libras sterlingorum habend, eidem Edmundo ex dono nostro per manus Thesaurarii prae∣dicti de Thesauro praedicto vel per manus dicti Receptoris de exitibus & reventionibus maneriorum terra∣rum & tenementorum dicti nuper Monasterii solvend'. Eo quod ex∣pressa mentio de vero valore an∣nuo, Aut de certitudine praemisso∣rum, sive eorum alicujus aut de aliis donis sive concessionibus per nos prae∣fato Edmundo ante haec tempora fact' in praesentibus minime fact' existit, aut aliquo statuto actu ordina∣tione provisione, sive restrictione in contrarium inde habit', fact', ordi∣nat' seu provis', aut aliqua alia re causa, vel materia quacunque in ali∣quo non obstante. In cujus rei testimo∣nium has Literas nostras fieri feci∣mus patentes. Tesse Ricardo Riche Milite apud Westmonasterium vi∣cesimo septimo die Aprilis, anno Re∣gni nostri tricesimo primo.

Duke Per Cancellarium & concilium Curiae Augmentationum Re∣ventionum Coronae Regiae virtute warranti Regii.

HENRY the Eighth, by the Grace of God, King of England and France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and supreme Head of the English Church on earth. To all to whom Our present Letters shall come Greeting. Whereas the Monastery of the Carthusions of Hinton in Our Coun∣ty of Somerset is now lately dissol∣ved, whereof Edmond Horde was Pri∣or at the time of the dissolution there∣of, and long before; We are willing that a reasonable Pension annuall, or sutable promotion should be provided for the said Edmond, the better to maintain and sustaine him in diet and maintenance. Know therefore, that Wee, in consideration of the premi∣ses, out of Our speciall Grace and fa∣vour, certaine knowledge, and Our meere motion, by the advice and con∣sent of the Chancellour, and Coun∣sell of the Court of Augmentations of the Revenues of Our Crown, Have given and granted, and by these pre∣sents doe give and grant to the same Edmond an annuity or yearly Pensi∣on on of forty four pounds sterling: that the said forty foure pounds may bee had, enjoyed, or yearly received by the aforesaid Edmond, and his As∣signes, from the Feast of the Annun∣tiation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past to the term and for the term of the life of the said Edmond, or un∣till

the said Edmond shall be pre∣ferred by Us to one or more Eccle∣stasticall Benefices or other sutable Promotion of the cleer yearly va∣lue of forty foure pounds or up∣wards, as well by the hands of the Treasurer of the Augmentations of the Revenues of Our Crown for the time being, out of Our trea∣sure, which shall chance to remain in his hands, of the Revenues afore∣said; as from the Receiver of the profits and revenues of the said late Monastery for the time being, out of the said profits and Reve∣nues at the feast of Saint Michael the Arch-angel, and the Anuntia∣tion of the blessed Virgin Mary, by equall portions. And further∣more of Our more plentiful Grace, We have given, and for the consi∣deration aforesaid by these presents doe grant to the aforesaid Edmond Horde eleven pounds sterling, that the said Edmond may have it from Our gift by the hands of Our foresaid Treasurer of Our foresaid Treasure, or by the hands of Our foresaid Receiver to be paid out of the profits and Revenues of the Manours, Lands, and Tenements of the said late Monastery.

any Statute, Act, Ordi∣nance, promission, or restriction to the contrary, had, made, ordained, or provided, or any other matter, cause, or thing whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding. In testimo∣ny whereof We have made these Our Letters Patents, witnesse Ri∣chard Rich Knight, at Westminster, the twenty seventh day of April, in the one and thirtieth of Our Reign.

Duke By the Chancellor and Coun∣cell of the Court of Aug∣mentations of the Revenues of the Crown by virtue of the King's Warrant.

See we here the payment to this Prior consisted of two Summes of several na∣tures or conditions: Namely,

• 1. The forty four pounds being properly the Pension paid yearly unto him.
• 2. The additionall eleven pounds, granted with an ulterius, paid but once as advance-money, to fit him with necessaries at his departure out of the Covent.

This is observable in all the Patents I have seen, That constantly the King's gratuity for their vale (some small fractions excepted) bears the proportion of a fourth part of their yearly Pension.

5. Suppose then this our Prior preferred to a Church Dignity, or Living, a∣mounting very neer, but not to the full value of forty four pounds yearly, this did not avoid his Pension; but that he might hold it and his Living together. Wherefore, as it was the desire and endevour of every Monk so advanced, to beat down the value of his Church-Living as low as might be (thereby to render him∣self capable of it and his Pension) so was it the proper work of the King's Officers in the Augmentation Court truly to state the valuation of the Livings of such Pensioners, that the Crown might not be defrauded. Where, by the way, I con∣ceive Livings were estimated not according to the favourable rates in the King's Book (where few of forty four pounds per annum) but according to the ordinary value as they were worth to be let and set in that Age.

6. Here faine would I be satisfied from some Learned in the Lawes, That whereas provision is made in this Patent for the Prior to enjoy his Pension untill per nos by the King's self, or His under-Officers, he was preferred to promotion of equall value, whether or no this Pension determined, if not the King, but some inferior Patron provided such preferment for him. Seeing in a generall sense all may be said, presented by the King, as Patron Paramount of the Church of England, who by virtue of His Law have institution and induction into any Ec∣clesiasticall promotion.

7. That effectuall passage is inserted in all Patents of Abbots, Priors, and Monks, that they were in the Covent Diu antea, Long before the Dissolution thereof. Otherwise many young folk who lately came in, even barely went out, without any Pensions. Such Novices and Probationers, whose Coules came but yesterday out of the Drapers shop, having youth and strength to provide for themselves, were left to the choice of their own calling, without any other an∣nuity allowed them.

8. Their Pensions, though seeming but small, being many in number, made a deep hole in the King's revenue, insomuch that He received from some Houses but small profits de claro until the said Pensions were extinguished: As will ap∣pear (guesse Hercules from his Foot) by comparing the Profits arising from, with the Pensions allotted to the Monks in the aforesaid Priory of Hinton in Somerset∣shire.

Edmond Hord Prior, his Pension 44 li. his Gratuity 11 li.

Monks.	Pensions.	Gratuitie.	Monks.	Pensions.	Pensions.	Grat.
	li.	s.	d.	li.	s.	d.		li.	s.	d.	li.	s.	d.
Thomas Fletcher	6	13	4	1	13	4	William Reynold	6	13	8	1	13	4
William Burford	6	13	4	1	13	3	Robert Savage	6	13	4	1	13	4
Hugh Layco••ke	8	00	0	2	00	0	Will: Robinson	2	00	0	0	10	0
Robert Frye	6	13	4	1	13	4	Jo: Chamberlaine	6	13	4	1	13	4
Jo: Bachcroft	8	00	0	2	00	0	William Coke	6	13	4	1	13	4
Robert Russell	2	00	0	0	10	0	James Marble	6	13	4	1	13	4
Robert Lightfoot	2	00	0	0	10	0	Roger Legge	2	00	0	0	10	0
Robert Nolinge	6	13	4	1	13	4	Hen: Bourman	6	13	4	1	13	4
Henry Gurney	6	13	4	1	13	4	John Calert	2	00	0	0	10	0
Thomas Hellyer	6	13	4	1	13	4	Robert Stamerdon	6	13	4	1	13	4
Nicholas Baland	6	13	4	1	13	4
	li.	s.	d.		li.	s.	d.
The total sum of yearly Pensions	163	6	8	The total sum of Grat.	40	16	9

Now whereas the Priory of Hinton, at the dissolution thereof, was valued at no more than two hundred sixty two pounds twelve shillings; if the aforesaid summe of yearly Pensions be thence deducted, the clear remainder to the King was but ninety nine pounds five shillings four pence. But the Crown had a double advan∣tage: One, that Priory-Lands were lasting, whilst Pensions expired with Monks lives: and the other, that the pensions were but bare Penny-Rent, whilst Abbey∣Lands were lowly rated farre beneath their true valuation.

9. Now because our hand is in, and I for the present can make use of an Au∣thentick Manuscript (once Henry Baron Hunsdon's Lord Chamberlain) Kindly communicated to me by a worthy friend of all the Pensions in Somerset-shire, it will not be amisse to exemplifie such as were allotted to the severall Abbots and Priors therein.

Place.	Abbot.	Pension.	Gratuity.
		li.	s.	d.	li.	s.	d.
Athelnye.	R. Hamlyn	50	00	00	the Prebend of Sutton.
Briston.	Jo: Ely	80	00	00	20	00	00
Keynsham.	Jo. Stoneston	60	00	00	00	00	00

Place.	Prior.	Pension.	Gratuity.
		li.	s.	d.	li.	s.	d.
Bath.	William Gibby	08	00	00	an House in Bath.
Montacute.	R. Whitlocke	80	00	00	20	00	00
Taunton.	W. Williams	60	00	00	30	00	00
Witham	Jo. Michell	33	06	08	08	06	08

Place.	Master.	Pension.	Gratuity.
		li.	s.	d.	li.	s.	d.
Bridgwater.	Ro. Walshe	33	06	08	16	13	04
Wells.	Ric. Clarkeson	12	00	00	00	00	00

These two last were Hospitalls.

The aforesaid Book reacheth not Bristoll, because not properly in Somerset-shire, but a County Incorporate by it self. As for Whiting, late Abbot of Glassenbury, he was executed for a Traytour, and so his Pensions paid. No mention therein of the Prior of Mucchelnye, whose place may be presumed void by his death, or he otherwise preferred.

10. We may observe great inequality in these Pensions, not measured as the Jewes Manna by one and the same Homer, but increased or diminished: 1. Ac∣cording to the wealth of the house dissolved. For where more profit accrued to the King by the suppressions, their larger Pensions were allowed to the Prior or Monk thereof. 2. According to the merits of the man. 3. According to his age and impotency needing relief. Lastly, and chiefly according as the Parties were befriended by the King's Officers in the Augmentation-Court; wherein as in all other Courts, favour ever was, is, and will be in fashion.

11. But of all Pensions, the largest in proportion, and strongest in conveyance (as passed not as the rest by Letters Patents, but by Act of Parliament) were those assigned to the late Lord Prior, and those of the Order of the Knights Ho∣spitalars. These being men of high birth and honourable breeding; The King no lesse politickly than civilly thought fit to enlarge their allowance (a main motive which made them so quietly to surrender their strong and rich Hospitals) as in the printed Statute doth appear.

	li.	s.	d.
To Sir William Weston Lord Prior	1000	00	00
To Sir Jo: Rawson	666	13	04

Confreres.	Pensions.
	li.	s.	s.
Clement West	200	00	00
Jo: Sutton	200	00	00
Richard Poole	133	06	08
Jo: Rawson	133	06	08
Gyles Russell	100	00	00
Geo: Aylmer	100	00	00
Edw: Belnigham	100	00	00
Thomas Pemberton	080	00	00
Edmund Huse	066	13	04
Ambrose Cave.	066	13	04
Rich: Brooke	066	13	04
Cuthbert Leighton	060	00	00
Thomas Copledike	050	00	00
Edw: Brown	050	00	00
William Tirell	0••0	00	00

To Anthony Rogers, Oswald Massingberd, &c. ten pounds a piece yearly to be paid, as all the former Pensions, during their naturall lives. In the same Statute it is provided, that John Maplesden, Clerk, Sub-Prior of the said Hospital; Wil∣liam Ermsteed, Clerk, Master of the Temple in London; Walter Limsey, and John Winter, Chaplains there, should every one of them have, receive, and enjoy, (the said Master and two Chaplains of the Temple doing their duties and services there during their lives) all such Mansion-houses, stipends, wages, with all o∣ther profits of money in as large and ample manner as they were accustomed to doe.

12. No mention (as in other Patents) of any Gratuities in ready moneys given unto them, which probably cast into their Pensions, made them mount so high. As for the thousand pounds yearly allowed Sir Will: Weston, not one peny there∣of was paid, he dying the next day (the House of his Hospitall and of his Earthly Tabernacle being dissolved both together) Soul-smitten with Sorrow, Gold, though a great Cordial, being not able to cure a Broken heart.

13. We will here present a Female-Patent of the Pension allowed to the Abbesse of Buckland, though in all essentials very like unto the Former.

HENRICUS Octavus, Dei gratia, &c. Cum nuper Mona∣sterium de Buckland in Com' nostro Som' jam dissolvatur, unde quaedam Katherina Bowser tempore dissoluti∣onis illius & dicti antea Priorina inde fuit. Nos volentes rationabilem annualem Pensionem sive promotion∣nem condignam eidem Katherinae ad victum exhibitionem & sustentatio∣nem suam melius sustinendum pro∣vider••. Sciatis igitur quod nos in consideratione praemissorum de Gra∣tia nostra speciali ac ex-certa scien∣tia & mero motu nostris per advisa∣mentum & concensum Can••ellari•• & Concilii Curiae Augment' reven∣tionum Coronae nostrae Dedimus & concessimus at per praesentes damus & concedimus eidem Katherinae quandom anno itatem sive annualem Pensionem quinquaginta librarum sterlingorum, iabendum g••••den∣dum & annuatim percipiendum eas∣dem

quinquaginta libr' praefat' Ka∣therinae & assignatis suis a festo Annuntiationis beata Mariae virgi∣nis ultimo praterito, ad terminum vitae ipsus Katherinae tam per ma∣nus Thesaurarii nostri Reventionum augmentationum Corona nostra pra∣dict pro tempore existen' de The∣sauro nostro in manibus suis de re∣ventionibus praedict' remanere con∣tingen' quam per manus Receptor' Exituum & reventionum dict' nu∣per Maner' pro tempore existen' de eisdem exit' & reventionibus ad fe∣stum Sancti Michaëlis Archangeli & Annuntiationis beatae Mariae vir∣ginis per aequales portiones solven∣dum. Et ulterius de uberiori Gratia nostra, Damus & pro consideratione praedicta per praesentes concedimus prafatae Katherinae viginti quinque libr' sterlingor' Habend' eldem Ka∣therinae ex dono nostro per manus dict' Thesauraii de Thesaure prae∣dicto, vel per manus dict' Receptoris de exitibus & reventionibus Mane∣riorum terrarum & tenementorum dicti nuper Monasterii solvend'. Eo quod expressa mentio, &c. In cujus Rei testimonium, &c.

Teste Richardo Riche Milite apud Westmonasterium deci∣mo die Maii, Anno Regni nostri tricesimo primo.

HENRY the Eighth, by the Grace of God, &c. whereas the late Monastery of Buckland, in Our County of Somerset, is now lately dissolved; whereas one Ka∣therine Bowser was Prioresse at the time of the dissolution thereof, and long before. We are willing that a reasonable Pension annual, or sutable promotion should be provided for the said Katherine, the better to sustein her in diet and maintenance: Know therefore, that We in conside∣ration of the premises of Our speciall Grace and certain Knowledge, and Our own meer motion by the ad∣vice and consent of the Chancellor and Counsell of the Court of Aug∣mentations of the Revenues of Our Crown, Have given and granted, and by these presents doe give and grant unto the said Katherine a cer∣tain annuity or annuall Pension of fifty pounds sterling, That the said

Katherine or her assigns, may have, enjoy, or yearly receive the said fifty pounds from the Feast of the An∣nuntiation of the blessed Virgin Ma∣ry last past for the term of the life of the said Katherine, as well by the hands of Our Treasurer of the Aug∣mentation of the Revenue of Our Crown for the time being out of Our Treasure which shall happen to remain in his hands out of the Reve∣nues aforesaid, as by the hands of the Receiver of the profits and revenues of the said late Monastery for the time being out of the said profits and revenues at the feast of S. Michael the Archangel, and the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary, to be paid by equal portions. And furthermore of Our more plentiful Grace, and for the considerations aforesaid, We give, and by these presents doe grant to the aforesaid Katherine twenty five pounds sterling for the said Ka∣therine to have of Our proper gift by the hands of Our foresaid Trea∣surer out of Our treasury aforesaid, or by Our said Receiver to be paid out of the profits & revenues of the Manours, Lands, and Tenements of the said late Monastery, because that expresse mention, &c. In witnesse whereof, &c.

Witnesse Rich: Rich Knight••, at Westminster, the tenth of May, in the thirty first year of Our Reign.

There are but two considerable differences betwixt this and the former Pa∣tent: 1. Whereas Pensions allotted to Priors and Monks were conditionall, as determinable upon their preferment to Ecclesiasticall promotion of equall va∣lue; this to the Prioresse (as to all Nuns) was absolute for term of life, Women being not capable of any Church-advancement. Secondly, whereas the Gra∣tuity allotted to Monks generally, amounted to a fourth part of their Pension; this to the Prioresse was double as much as a just moyety thereof. Whether this proceeded from the King's courtesie to the weaker Sex, or because Mundus Muliebris, there was such a world of Tackling required to Rigge and Lanch them forth to shift for themselves in a Secular life.

14. But as for ordinary Nuns, we finde that four pounds Pension, and forty shillings Gratuity, was generally their provision, and that onely for those qua∣lified with a Diu antea, that they had been in the Covent a long time before the dissolution thereof, otherwise I meet with no Portions to those that lately were entred into the Houses, being outed, and left at large, to practice the Apostles precept, I will that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, &c.

15. The vivacity of some of these Pensioners is little leste than a Miracle, they survived so long. For though none will say, they lived out of despite to anger the King to pay their Pensions, surely none so highly affected Him as to die in duty to exonerate His Exchequer of their Annuity. Isabell Sackvile, Lady Pri∣oresse of Clarkenwell, is an eminent instance of longevity in this kinde. For,

• 1. In the one and twentieth of King Henry the seventh, she was a Nun in Clarkenwell-Priory, when a Legacy was bequeathed her as Niece by Wil∣liam Sackvile Esquire, and must be then conceived fifteen years of age.
• 2. She was the last Prioresse of Clarkenwell, at the dissolution thereof.
• 3. She died in the twelfth of Queen Elizabeth, (as appears by her Epitaph in Clarkenwell-Church) and by Computation must be allowed Eighty years of age.

But farre older was that Monk or Nun (I am assured of the Story, not the Sex) to whom Living in or neer Hampshire, Mr. John Pymme, then an Officer in the Exchequer, paid the last payment of his Pension about the fift year of King James.

Notes

• The good na∣ture of K. Henry herein.
• High injustice to detain pro∣mised pensions.
• The first qua∣lification of His Pensio∣ners.
• A Copie of the Kings Letters Patents for Pensions.
• What Church Livings were inconsistent with Pensions.
• A Quaere pro∣pounded.
• Seniority in Covents an advantage.
• Many Pensions mount to much money.
• Speed in his Catalogue of religious Hou∣ses, pag. 707.
• The Pensions of the Abbots in Somerset.
• Mr. Edward Pepis of the Temple.
• Besides the Capitol Mes∣suage in East Ghynock.
• Pensions go by favour.
• Largest Pensi∣ons allotted the Hospitallers.
• An. 32 Hen. 8. cap. 24.
• He was Prior of Kilman in Ireland.
• Stout hearts can bear the lesse grief.
• Weaver, Fun. Mon. p. 460.
• The Patent for a Pension to the Prioresse of Buckland.
• Youth and strength ac∣compted a pension to it self.
• 1 Tim. 5. 14.
• M••thusalah. Pensioners.
• To be seen in the pedegree of the Barl of Dorset, Weaver fun, Mon. pag. 429.
• Attested by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pymme's Kinsman to Godfrey Bp. of Gloucester. See his printed Paper.