Church History of Britain

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

VAst were the revenues of Cardinal Wolsey, if we account both his Wives, and Concubines, I mean, the place whereon he resided, and Churches he held in Commendam; being at the same time, the Pope's Legate à latere, Archbishop of York, Chancellor of England, Bishop of Winchester, Abbot of S. Albans, besides other meaner preferments. Yet he found Solomon 's observation true, When goods increase, they are increased 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 Colleges, one, where he was born, in Ipswich; the other, where he was bred, in Oxford; and finding 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 inconsiderable in themselves, whereas they would make a fair show, if all put together into two jewels only, (his two Colleges) and he carry away all the credit thereof.

2. An action condemned by the conscientious in that Age, accounting it essential to charity, that the thing given be the proper goods of the Donour. Cast thy bread (saith Solomon) upon the water. It must be thy bread, otherwise, though stolen bread may be pleasant to men, it is nauseous and distasteful 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, witness his own words, 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 sacrilege to invade the widows mite, than the large gifts, which the rich Priests cast into Corban: because their bounties were but superfluous wenns, whilst hers was an essential limb; yea, as our Savior, observes, the whole body of her estate. As probably, some of those poor Foundations were erected by Founders, like those of Macedonia, to their power, and beyond their power willing of themselves. As for the poor people, formerly living in these then-dissolved houses, they may be presumed more religious than others that were richer: poverty being a protection for their piety, and they unable to go to the cost of luxurious extravagancies. I find not what provision was afterward made for these helpless souls, thrust out of house and home; so that it is suspicious, that the Cardinal, notwithstanding his prodigious hospitality, made moe beggars than ever he relieved.

4. Others allege, that these houses were still continued to the general end of pious uses: however, it was not fair to alienate them from the primitive intention of the Founders; yea, God himself seemed not well-pleased therewith. I know, that 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, God's exemplary hand ought to be heeded in the signal fatality of such, as by the Cardinal were employed in this service: Five they were in number, two whereof challenging the field of each other, one was slain, and the other hanged for it. A third, throwing himself headlong into a well, perished willfully. A fourth, formerly wealthy, grew so poor, that he begged his bread. The fifth Dr. Allen, one of especial note, afterward Archbishop of Dublin, was slain in Ireland. What became of the Cardinal himself, is notoriously known: and, as for his two Colleges, that in Ipswich (the emblem 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 dissolution of forty small Houses caused by the Cardinal, made all the Forest of religious 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 happiness, 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 Thomas Audley Speaker in the Parliament; and indeed, it was an excellent receipt to clear his voice, to make him speak shrill, and loud for his Master. This shrewdly shook the freehold of all Abbeys, seeing now, two such great men, Wolsey and Audley, both in their times Lord-Chancellors 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 Queen 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 thereof. In process 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 thereof was always an 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, Eustathius the eighth Prior of this Covent, because he himself was loath to deal in temporal matters, instituted Theobald Fitz-Ivo, Alderman in his place. They were most bountiful house-keepers, relieving all comers and goers, and got themselves much reputation for their hospitality.

3. Some conjecture this was King Henry 's design in dissolving this Priorie, thereby to make a discovery in people's 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 Himself) handsomely cast the same on His instruments employed therein. Others think, the King as yet had no such project in intention, but did it merely to gratify Sir Thomas Audley, whom He loved the better for hating Cardinal Wolsey, now beginning to fall, against whom he had bitterly inveighed in the Parliament.

4. As for the manner of the dissolving thereof, whereas all other Abbeys afterwards were stormed by violence (whatsoever is plausibly pretended to the contrary) this only was fairly taken by composition. For the Prior thereof was sent for by the King, commended for his hospitality, promised preferment 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 month of July, he surrendered 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 discontentment for a time, and then returned to their former temper. However at first they were so abstemious, that, whereas the Priory, Church and Steeple was proffered 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 labor 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 ancientest of all England of that Order since the Conquest, I mean, of Canon-Regulars, as our Author 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 Honorable a person the accommodation of so handsome an habitation: only some, perchance, will bemoan that the Lord's-Place (for so in their, and Jacob 's language, they called the Church) whither alone the numerous neighbor-inhabitants repaired for public service, should be so destroyed, that the people were for many years left Church-less, till their wants very lately were supplied by the re-edifying thereof out of the ruins, 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 practice of advised Physicians, in purging of long corrupted bodies (where the ill humors 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 less 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 contumacy and contempt against the King, in the matter of Queen Katharine's divorce, inveighing both in their sermons, and disputations against the unlawfulness thereof, especially Elston and Payton, two famous Friers in London. A great Papist beholds it as ominous, and a prognostic of sad success, that the Lady (afterward Queen) Elizabeth, just eleven months 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 places. 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 Religious 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: Wriotheslie, their great friend and favourer, seasonably interceded for them to the King, on hopes of some of their future conformity to His Majesty's desires.

3. Immediately after, a famous Petition, called the Supplication of Beggars, came into public view. It was made some years before by one Mr. Simon Fish a Gentleman of Grays-Inn, 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 tendered Him by Queen Anna Bollen, and the King acquainted with the passages therein. So that possibly, this Supplication might first come from some near His Majesty, as contrivers thereof. And, as Moses 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 only for the greater solemnity, but also for their better security to transfer their intentions to be other entreaties; their private designs finding more acceptance, when passing under the notion of a public desire. The effect thereof was to complain, how a crew of strong, puissant, counterfeit-holy, idle beggars, and vagabonds, by their luxury starved a number of needy, impotent, blind, 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 Fraternities, as the same is set forth at large in the Book of Martyrs, whither we remit the Reader.

4. Only a word of the Geometry, Arithmetic, and Chronology, used by the Author of this Supplication. For his Geometry, I conceive he faileth not much in proportion, when, in measuring the content of this Kingdom, 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 completing Ten thousand. Indeed, the Papists 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, add nothing to the former computation. Yea, should all the Chapels 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 pitiful: and indeed, if we defalk a third part of that sum, yet still vast was the remainder of such Friers revenues. But, whereas the said Author of this Supplication, saith, That four hundred years past these Friers had not one penny of this money; Quare, whether he be not mistaken in his Chronology? and, whether some of the same profits accrued not to the Benedictines before the Conquest.

5. In answer to this, an Anti-supplication was made, and set forth by Sir Thomas More (extant amongst his other works) called, The Supplication of the souls in Purgatory. The scope whereof is, to press 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 Sacrilege. In this Supplication, pleasant dallying and scoffing are so intermixt with complaints, that the Author thereof discovereth himself more Satirist 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 humors, 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 nearer at hand (and so best able to manage 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 attentive ears. And, as an introduction to the dissolution of all Abbeys, spies were sent forth to make strict discovery of men's behaviours therein. Indeed, the Lord Cromwell, Scout-Master-General in this design, 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 months were employed in that service before a perfect 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 conferred 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 alleging an Apologue out of Aesope, That the Helve of the Axe craved a Handle of the wood of Oaks only to cut off the Serebowes 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 men's leather, the more entire they preserved their own hide, which made the Parliament 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 his History complaineth, and that justly, That this Statute for dissolution of the lesser Monasteries doth begin very bluntly, without any formal Preamble in the Printed Books they are Published. It seemeth that herein he never searched the Record itself (otherwise industrious in that kind) to which a solemn Preface is prefixed, showing some Reasons of the dissolution, and pious uses, to which they were attained: In form as followeth:

The Preamble is this:

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 repress their faults except by suppressing their foundation. All I will add is, God first punished great Sodom, and spared little Zoar, (though probably also in fault) here Zoar was first punished, let great Sodom beware, and the larger Monasteries look to themselves.

5. And now adieu all religious Houses in England that could not clearly spend above Two hundred pounds per annum, and we must not believe any finister dealing was used by favor to wrack the revenues of some above, and out of dislike to shrink the rents of others, beneath the standard of dissolution, when Twenty shillings a year, under or over the aforesaid, sum, 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 clothe to last so long till they got another. Most were exposed to want. I see no such certainty for a comfortable livelihood as a lawful 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 exchange to His Subjects. This was done by the politick counsel of the wise Lord Cromwell, not hoping that these small morsels to so many mouths should satisfy their hunger, but only intending to give them a taste of the sweetness of Abbeylands. And here Papists plentifully rail upon him in scattering these Lands all abroad, that if any should be so scrupulous as to find fault with the fact, a general guiltiness 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 Diocese of Bangor, where no Foundation was valued 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 suppress 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 honor of the Realm. And particular care is taken in the Statute, as it is printed, for the reservation of many Rents and Services, 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 Household 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 Farmers under them, within the time of twenty years next before this Act, otherwise forfeiting to the King's Highness 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 sum from such Offenders, whose hospitality was contracted to a Shepherd 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: until the 21 of King James, when by Act of Parliament they were repealed. Indeed, such who are obnoxious to penal Statutes are only innocent by courtesy, 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 enclosures: 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, Benevolences, Contributions, or any other way whatsoever all the time of His Reign. Which, if so, Let no man's 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 bottom to correct the least boys first, no wonder if those in the highest form begin to shake; as here no doubt the bigger Abbeys did, except some few, who (to follow the Metaphor) like sturdy striplings (counting themselves above correction) began to prepare themselves to make resistance; hence presently arose the Northern Rebellion, wherein all the open Undertakers were North of Trent, though, no doubt, many secret Compliers South of Thames were engaged.

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 Rochester, Salisbury, S. David's, and Dublin.

3. This Lincoln shire Commotion being quickly suppressed, and a right understanding begotten betwixt the King and His Subjects, the Rebellious humor removed into York • shire, where no fewer than fifty thousand, saith Sanders, were assembled in a body under Robert Ask (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 Rebellion, carrying in their Ensigns the five wounds of our Savior, 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 Earl of Shrewesbury, were condignly executed for the same.

4. Indeed Sanders, (to whom it is as natural to defame, as for a stone to descend) complaineth, That the King executed those whom formerly He had pardoned for the same offense, contrary to God's 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 offenses 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 bemoaned both for what he had been (a marshall man of merit by sea and land) and for what he was, (decayed, 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 produced 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 Abbots, 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 zealous, 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 ancient of the Northern Gentlemen of the Romish persuasion, 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 Westmorland.

The return of the Visitors of Abbeys.

BY this time, the Instruments employed by the Lord Cromwell, to make discovery of the vicious lives of Monks, and Friars, 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 satisfactory 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, (besides what ran by ) a sufficient detection to effect the business. Of these, some were put in Commission to visit Abbeys, others moving in a lower, (but no less needful ) sphere of activity.

2. Of these Commissioners the principal were Rich: Layton, The: Legh, William Peters, Doctors of the Law; Doctor John London Dean of Wallingford. Of the three former I can say nothing, but find the later (though employed to correct others) no great Saint himself. For afterwards he was publicly 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 religious persons; partly Impositive, to enjoin them stricter rules for their future observation. 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 lazy 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 Monasteries; 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 public Agents, but working in a more private way, encouraging the members in Monasteries to impeach one another: for seeing there was seldom such general agreement 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 itself, and secret fomenting of their own divisions. Whereupon, many being accused, did recriminate their Accusers, and hopeless to recover their own innocence, pleased themselves by plunging others in the like guiltiness. Others being conscious to themselves, prevented accusing, by confessing their faults, and those very foul ones. Insomuch that some have so much charity as to conceive, that they made themselves worse than they were, though it was a needless 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 menaces, and fearing what might be the success, 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 do heavily complain (how justly, God alone knoweth) that a third sort of Agents were employed, to practice on the chastity of the Nuns, so to surprise them into wantonness. Some young Gallants were on disigne sent to some Covents, with fair faces, flattering tongues, store of gold, and good clothes, youth, wit, wantonness, and what else might work on the weaker sex. These having with much craft, screwed 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 suspicion, jealous of a particular person, who kept her company. To put it to trial, 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 design, (but wearing to them the visage of a seeming casualty ) brought, and left together. Mean time her Husband made himself Master of a secret inspection out of the next room, where, with some of his friends, he was the witness of his Wives dishonesty, and his own disgrace. Soon after he entered his action, sues for a divorce, and the Court seemed generally inclined to the granting thereof.

3. But a Reverend Judge there present, refused to consent thereunto, alleging 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 satisfy himself in the assurance of what was doubtful before, and bear the burden of his own betraying her.

4. How just this Judges sentence was (all circumstances considered) I will not interpose. Only in application to the present purpose, though I confess 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 honor and glory of God, to preserve the consciences of others undefiled. It was therefore a mere Satanical trick, who is commonly called the Tempter in Scripture, first to sollici • e souls to sin, and after the committing thereof to be an 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 sinketh, 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 bodies, 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 Catholics.

6. Two young Gentlemen (whose names for just cause I forbear) went to a Nunnery within twelve miles of Cambridge, in the nature of Travelers on the high way, who being handsomely habited, and late at night, were admitted into some out Lodgings of that Nunnery: next day their civil addresses to the Abbess were returned with such entertainment as became the laws of hospitality. Afterwards (producing or pretending a Commission to visit their Covent) they abode there certain days, and how bad soever they were, met with no counterpart to embrace their wanton proffers. However, at the return they gave it out, that nothing but their weariness bounded their wantonness, 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 confess the same to Sir William Standly Knight, (afterwards employed in the Low Countries ) 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 Catholic 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 of Daventer to the Spaniards, (and lived many years after in a neglected, forlorn condition) one so faithless 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 behavior, so that the least aspersion could not justly be cast upon them. I read in one 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 Intercessors for them. Amongst these, the Nunnery of Godstow near Oxford must not be forgotten, which as it hath a good name, (being a Bethel, that is, God's house or habitation ) well answered thereunto, in the conditions of the people living therein.

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

The generality of Monasteries notoriously vicious.

I Say the generality, otherwise take any numerous Society, and where there be many people there will be many offenders; there being a Cham amongst the Eight in the Ark; yea, a Cain amongst the four primitive persons in the beginning of the world. I add, also notoriously vicious, 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 find them in my Author in the same nature.

In St. Augustine.
• Thomas Barham a Whoremonger and a Sodomite.

In Chichester
• John Champion, and Roger Barham, both of them natural Sodomites.

In Cathedral Church
• John Hill had no less 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 find this Catalogue only in the third Edition of Speed, proving it a posthumeaddition after the Authors death, attested in the margin with the authority of Henry Steven his Apology 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, tradition is the only Author of many stories in this nature, amongst which the ensuing story intituleth it felt to as much probability as any other.

3. One Sir Henry Colt of Neither-Hall in Essex, much in favor 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 hastened to Waltham -Abbey, being informed by his setter's, that the Monks thereof would return in the night from Cheshunt -Nunnery, where they had secretly quartered themselves: Sir Henry pitched a Buckstall (wherewith he used to take Deer in the Forest) in the narrowest place of the Marsh where they were to pass 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 find the way home in so used a pathe. Making more hast than good speed, they ran themselves all into the Net. The next morning 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 leading from Fryeries to Nunneries, confuted by the situation 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 provision for their lusts on their Leases, enjoining their Tenants to furnish them, (as with wood and coles, so) with fuel for their wantonness. A Reverend Divine hath informed me, that he hath seen such a passage on a Lease of the Abbey of Essex, where the Lessee was enjoined 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 lustful 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, because it was contrary to the Charta magna, as I may call it, of Monastical practice, Sinon casse, tamen caute; 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 occasion might publicly be produced against them.

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

A Lettore certefying the incontynensye of the Nuns of Zion, with the Friores, and astore the act done, the Friores reconsile them to God. Endoised, To the Right Honorable, Master Thomas Cromwell, chief Secretary to the Kings Highness.

IT may please your goodness to understand that 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 way when you came forth of the Confessores Chamber. I can no less do, but set him in prison, ut poena ejus sit metus aliorum: yesterday I learned many enormous things against Bushope, in the examination of the lay Brederen, first that Bushope persuaded towe of the Brederene to have gone their ways by night, and he himself with them, and to the accomplishment of that, they lacked but money to buy them seculere apparel. Further, that Bushope would have persuaded one of his lay-Brederen a Smithe, to have made a keay for the doare, to have in the night time received in Wenches for him and his fellows, and especially a Wiffe of Uxebridge, now dwelling not far 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 persuaded a Nun, to whom he was Cenfessour, ad libidinem corporis perimplendam And thus he persuaded her in Confession, making her believe, that whensover, and as often as they should medle together, if she were, immediately after, confessed by him, and took of him absolution, she should be clear forgeven of God, and it should be none offense unto her before God. And she writ diveres and sundry Lettores unto him of such their foolishness and unthriftynesse, and would have had his Broden the Smithe to have polled out a bar of iron of the window, whereas the examined the Lady Abbas, that he might have gone in to her by night. And that same window was their commoning place by night. He persuaded the Sextene that he would be in his contemplacion in the Chorche by night, and by that means was many nights in the Chorche talking with her at the said gate to the Nuns Choir, and there was their meeting-place by night besides their day communications, as in cofession: It were too long to declare all things of him that I have heard, which I suppos it true. This afternoon I intend to make forder serche, both of some of the Brederen, and some also of the Sisters of such like matters; if I find anything apparent to be true, I shall God willing thereof sertefy your Mastorshipe tomorow, by vii in the morning. And after this day I suppos there will be no other things to be known at yet here; for I have already examined all the Brederen, and many of them would gladly depart hense, and be right weary of their habbyte; such Religion, and feigned sanctetye, God save me froe. If Master Bedle had byne here a Frior, and of Bushopes counsel, he would right welle have helped him to have broghte his mattores to pass, without brekyng uppe of any grate, or yet counterfetting of keayes, such capassetye God hath sent him.

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 Latin it signifieth, one set open, or let loose to their own liberty;

whereas Recluse was taken in that Age for one close shut up: so that many Monks and Friars 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 engrossed in Parchment, enjoining them all to subscribe, sign, and seal the same, with their seal conventual, upon the pain of His displeasure. It is not probable that such a formal Writing was sent unto them, drawn up beforehand by the Kings Officers; but most certain it is (which amounts almost to as much in effect) a general intimation was given to all Houses, how acceptable such an act would be to the King. It was also pressed upon the said Monks, Friars, and Nuns, that they (through their viciousness) 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 virtue of necessity; the rather, because this complement conduced nothing to the Kings right, (on whom the Parliament had already bestowed those Abbey-lands ) but might add 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 several forms therein, some only condemning their lives for superstitious, but not confessing themselves personally vicious, as by the following Instrument may appear.

The surrender of the Warden and Friars of S. Francis in Stanford.

FOr as moche as we, the Warden, and Freers, of the Howse of Saint Frances in Stanforde, comenly callyd the gray Freers in Stanforde, in the Countey of Lincoln, do profoundly consider that the perfeccion of Christain lyving doth not conciste in the dome ceremonies, weryng of the grey cootte, disgeasing our self after strange fashions, dokyng, and beckyng, in gurding our selffes with a gurdle full of knots, and other like Papistical ceremonies, wherein we have been most principally practysed, and misselyd in times past; but the very true way to please God, and to live a true Christian man, with out all ypocrasie, and feigned dissimulation, is sincerely declaryd unto us by our Master Christ, his Evangelists, and Apostles. Being mindyd hereafter to follow the same; conformyng our self unto the will and pleasure of our supreme hedde undre God in erthe the Kings Majestye; and not to follow hensforth the superstitious traditions of ony forincycall potentate, or poor, with mutual assent, and consent, do submytt our selffes unto the mercy of our said soveraygne Lord. And withe like mutual assent, and consent, do surrender, and yield upe unto, the hands of the same, all our said house of Saint Frances in Stanforde, comenly callyd the grey Freers in Stanforde, withe all Lands, tenements, gardens, meadows, waters, pondyards, feedings, pastures, comens, rentes, reverssons, and all other our interest, ryghtes, or titles, aperteying unto the same; most humbly besechyng His most Noble grace, to disspose of us, and of the same as best shall stonde with His most graciouse pleasure. And farther, freely to grant unto everyone of us His licens undre wretyng and seall, to change our abites into secular fassion, and to receive such manner of livyngs, as other secular Priests comenly be preferryd unto. And we all faithfully shall pray unto Almighty God long to preserve His most noble grace, with increase of moche felicity and honor.

• Factum Johannes Schemy Guardian.
• Per me Fratrem Johannem Robards.
• Per me Fratrem Johan. Chadwhort.
• Per me Fratrem Ricardum Pye.
• Per me Fratrem Johannem Clarke.
• Per me Fratrem Johannem Quoyte.
• Per me Fratrem Johannem Jarman.
• 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 acknowledgment of their vicious and voluptuous lives; such was the surrender made by the Prior and Covent of S. Andrew's in Northampton, which because very tedious, we shall only transcribe so much thereof as concerneth our present purpose.

But as well as others our predecessors, called religious persons within your said Monastery, taking on us the habit of outward vesture of the said rule, only to the intent to lead our liffes in the idle quyetnesse, and not in vertuose exercise, in a stately estimation, and not in obedient humylyte, have undre the shadow, or color of the said rule and habit, vaynely, detestably, and also ungodly, employed, yea rather devowred, the yearly revenues yssuing and coming of the said possessions, in continual in gurgitations and farcyngs of our carayne bodies, and of others, the supportares of our voluptuose and carnal appetyte, with other vain and ungodly expensys; to the manifest subvertion of devocion, and clennes of lyvyng; and to the most notable slander of Christ's holy Evangely, which in the form of our professyon, we did ostentate, and openly devaunt to keep most exactly: withdrawyng thereby from the simple, and pure myndys of your graces subjectes, the only truth and comfort, which they ought to have by the true faith of Christ. And also the devyne honor, and glory, only due to the glorious Majesty of God Almyghty, steryng them with all persuasions, ingynes, and polyce, to dedd Images, and counterfett relics, for our damnable lucre. Which our most horrible abominacions, and execrable persuacions of your graces people, to detestable errors, and our long coveryd Ipocrysie cloaked with feigned sanctite; We revolving daily, and continually pondering in our sorrowful harts, and thereby perseyving the botomlas gulf of everlasting fire, ready to devowre us, if persysting in this state of lyving, we should depart from this uncertayn and transytory l • ffe, constrained, by the intolerable anguysh of our conscience, callyd as we trust by the grace of God, who would have no man to perish in sin: with harts most contrite, and repentante, prostrate at the noble feet of your most royal Majestye, most lamentably do crave of your highness, of your abundant mercy, to grant unto us most grievous against God, and your Highnes, your most gracious perdon, for our said sundry offenses, omyssyons, and negligences, comytted as before by us is confessed against your Highnes, and your most noble Progenitors. And where your Hyghnes, being Supreme hedd, immediately aftre Christ, of his Church, in this your Roialme of England, so consequently general and only Reformator of all religious persons, there, have full authority to correct or dyssolve at your Graces pleasure, and liberty, all Covents and religious companyes abusing the Rewles of their profession. And moreover to your Highnes, being our soveraygn Lord, and undoubted fownder of your said Monastery, by dissolucion whereof appertaineth only the Oryginall title, and proper inherytance, as well of all other goods moveable and immovable, to the said Monastery in any wise appertaining or belonging, to be disposed, and employed, as to your 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 main ) in the matter, and were with all speed presented to the Kings Visitors. As School-boys 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 Huntingdon shire (where my worthy friend Mr. William Johnson is well beneficed) though the first, with his sixty Benedicti Monks, who with solemn subscription renounced the Popes Supremacy, and now as officious as any in surrendering his Convent to the Kings Visitors, met with no peculiar and extraordinary civility above others of his Ord • r.

5. Such Resignations sealed and delivered; the Visitors called for the Seals themselves (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 endeavor, rendering some probable reason how most of them refer to the Founders, or situation, or some remarkable action therein.

The Seal of Arms of the Mitred Abbeys in England.

IN presenting of them, I will not be confined to the strict terms of Blazoury, the rather, because some of their Arms may be presumed so ancient, as sitter to give Rules to, than take them from our moderne Heraldry: And what my pen cannot sufficiently describe, therein the Reader may satisfy himself 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 Chief Or, two Mulletts, Gules.

2. Glassenbury gave Vert (as I conjecture the Colour) a Cross Bottone Argent. In the first Quarter the Woman with a Glory holding a Babe (radiated about his head) in her Arms, 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 Cross flurt betwixt Martelletts Sable, much alluding to the Arms 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 Spain (the Paramount 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 Keys Argent.

8. Bataile Abbey in Sussex gave Gules a Cross 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 Arms relate to the Name, and both Arms 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 navel of the Cross. Now, though I have read, Letters to be little honorable in Arms, this cannot be disgraceful, partly because Church-Heraldrie moveth in a sphere by itself, partly because this was the Letter of Letters, as the received character to signify Christus.

9. S. Augustine's in Canterbury gave Sable a Cross-Argent.

10. Cross we now the Thames, where Westward we first fall on S. Peters in Gloucester, whose Dedication to that Apostle sufficiently rendereth a reason for the Arms thereof, viz AZure two Cross Keys (or two Keys 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 Arms of Winchcombe (having much conformity therein with Mortimers Coat ) but leave the Reader to satisfy his own eyes in the inspection thereof.

13. I should be thankful to him who would inform me of the Arms of Cirencester, 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 anciently the entire Arms of that Abbey being in effect the same with those of King Edward the Confessor the first Founder thereof: But afterwards their Conventuall Seal was augmented with the Arms of France and England on a Chief Or betwixt two Roses Gules, plainly relating to King Henry the seventh, enlarging their Church with his Chapel.

16. The Prior of St. John of Jerusalem gave Gules a Cross Argent, which the Lord Priot sometimes impayled with (but before) his own Coat, and sometimes bare it in a Chief about it.

17. The Arms 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 recovered them ( Unus home nobis ) out of a fair Deed of Robert Fullers, the last Abbot, though not certain of the metal and colors, viz: Gules, (as I conjecture) two Angels (can they be less than Or? ) with their hands (such we find of them in Scripture) holding betwixt them a Cross Argent, brought hither (faith our 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 Arms of the Kings of the East-Angles, assumed in the memory of King Edmund (to whom this Abbey was dedicated) 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 Norfolk, gave Sable, a Pastoral. Staff 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 Kingdoms of Canutus, the Founder thereof. The aforesaid Staff was infulated, that is, adorned with an holy Lace or Label, carelessly hanging down, or cast a cross, such with which their Mitres used formerly to be fastened.

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.

23. The very name of Peterborough unlocks the reason why that Abbey gave Gules, two cross Keys 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 knotted Or, the second like the third, the fourth like the first. Instruments of cruelty relating to their Monks massacred by the Danes, Anno 870. whereof their Historian 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 Arms 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 Pastoral-staff Bendwayes, so that both the ends thereof are plainly discovered.

27. Cross we now North of Trent, where only two remain: Selby (founded by William the Conqueror ) which gave Sable, three Swans Argent, membred Or, alluding, as I believe, to the depressed situation of the place, where the neighbouring River of Ouse affordeth such Birds in abundance.

28. St. Mary's in York gave Argent a Cross, Gules, and a Key, in the first Quarter of the same. In the midst of the Cross a King in a circle in his Robes of state, with his Scepter and Mound: Yet hath he only a ducall Cap (and no Crown ) on his head. I humbly conceive (under favor of better judgments) this King-Dukes picture to relate partly to King William Rufus, partly to Alan Duke of Britain and Richmond, the principal Co-Founders of that Monastery.

The Lord Darcy his Extraction justly vindicated.

AMongst the principal persons who suffered for their zeal in defending of Abbeys was the lately mentioned Thomas Lord Darcy, whose extraction I find 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, [ 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 Rebels ) 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, Countess of Darby: at which time, he was Chancellor of the Dutchie of Lancaster. It seemeth he rose by the Law, being the first and last Baron of his name, whose sole Daughter was married to Thomas Howard Viscount Bindon.

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

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,

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 habitation of the Lord Willoughby of Parham. Come we now to the third Stem, which was

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 Justice in Eyre of the Forests beyond Trent, summoned him the same year as a Baron to Parliament, employed him with a Navy, An. 1511. to assist Ferdinand King of Aragon against the Moors, and made him knight of the Garter.
• 3. Though the Ancestors of this Thomas Darcy (since the second Branch was expired) were styled Lord's in some Deeds (whether by the courtesy of the Country, 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 Successors took their place accordingly.
• 4. Though the Revenue of this Thomas Lord Darcy was not great at the beginning of King Henry the eighth, (because the Heirs General of the Lord Darcyes of Knaith carried away the main of the Inheritance) yet he had a considerable Estate, augmented by his Match with Dowsabella the Daughter and Heir 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 ears 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 Lions departure. 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 honor of his Extraction.

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

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

ALthough many modern Families have been great Gainers by the destruction of Monasteries, yet the Antient Nobility (when casting up their Audits ) found themselves much impaired thereby both in power and profit, commodity and command: I mean such, whose Ancestors 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 Successors should do 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 Heirs (payable unto them by the Kings Officers out of the Exchequer) yet such sums 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 find 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 Heirs, they were totally and finally extinguished: for formerly such Abbeys used

• 1. To send men on their own Charges in Voyages to War to aid and attend such of their Founders and Benefactors Heirs, 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 Sons in a gentile military equipage when Knighted by the King.

But now the Tree being plucked 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 Heirs of the foresaid Founders (not by courtesy, but composition for their former favors) had a privilege 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 cruel to cast off ) were sent by their Masters to such Abbeys where they had plentiful food during their lives. Now though some of those Corrodies (where the property was altered into a set sum of money) was solvable out of the Exchequer after the dissolution of Abbeys; yet such which continued in kind was totally extinct, and no such Diet hereafter given where both Table and House were overturned.

The Premises 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 Arms, 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 Foundations.

What shall I speak of the small Houses of Longbridge and Tintern in Gloucestershire, not (mentioned in Speed ) the Hospitals of S. Katharine and Mary Maudlins near Bristol, the well endowed School of Wotton Underhedge in Gloucester shire, besides forty Chanteries founded by the Berkeleys: yea, I have read in a Manuscript belonging unto them, no less 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 paid services unto them accordingly, all which are now lost to the value of ten thousand pounds within the compass of few years.

2. Nor will it be amiss 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 sixth 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 baseness, 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: unthankful 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. Austin's in Bristol, leaving themselves in that their large Estate not one Rectory to which they might present a Chaplain: all the Benefices in their numerous Manours 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 trespass, or rather, as a little sacrilege, 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, enforcing him to a public confession of his fault, and to give Five shillings rent forever, 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 entrusted to defend the rights of his Covent, that Founders Heirs are not privileged to do injuries; yea, they of all persons most improper to take back what their Ancestors have given. However, the Lord's encroachment on the Church-yard being in a manner done in his own defense, the thing in itself so small, and the merit of his Ancestors so great to that Abbey, might have met with that meekness which should be in the breasts of all Spiritual 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. Augustine's, 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, only 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 removed the Suit to Common Law, (as challenging the sole power to regulate Modum Dicimandi: ) And now when all was ready for a Trial before the Judge irinerant at Gloucester, it was compounded by Friends on such Terms as the Abbot in effect gained his desire.

6. Indeed, so odious and obvious was the unthankfulness 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 politically 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 being.

8. But such consider not that such a Reservation would have favored more of wildness than wisdom in that Age: as well might one have sought to secure himself with a shelter against the falling of the skies as equally probable as the diverting of Abbey-Lands to other intentions. Besides, such a jealous clause might be interpreted heretical to put into people's fancies a feizability of such alterations: Yea, I have heard it questioned by the Learned in the Law, whether such a conditional settlement with such a clause were Legal or no, many maintaining that such Donations must be absolute. But suppose such a Clause in their Foundations, 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 dissolution.

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 find out their Heirs, if extant. Besides this would minister matter of much litigiousnesse equally to share them amongst their many Benefactors. Wherefore the King the Founder General 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.