to the Articles hereafter following The number of which Houses in every County limited in their Commission being annexed to the saâ—d Commission An Original Henry R. FIrst After the Division made one Auditor one particular Receiver one Clerk of the Register of the last Visitation with three other discreet Persons to be named by the King in every County where any such Houses be after their repair to such House shall declare to the Governour and Religious Persons of the same the Statute of Dissolution the Commission and the cause and purpose of their repair for that time Item That after the Declaration made the said Commissioners shall swear the Governors of the Houses or such other the Officers of the same House or other as ye shall think can best declare the state and plight of the same to make declaration and answer to the Articles there under-written Item Of what Order Rule or Religion the same House is and whether it be a Cell or not and if it be a Cell then the Commissioners to deliver to the Governours of the House a Privy Seal and also to injoin him in the King's Name under a great pain to appear without delay before the Chancellor of the Augmentations of the Revenues of the King's Crown and the Council and in the mean time not to meddle with the same Cell till the King's pleasure be further known Item What number of Persons of Religion be in the same and the conversation of their lives and how many of them be Priests and how many of them will go to other Houses of that Religion or how many will take Capacities and how many Servants or Hinds the same House keepeth commonly and what other Persons have their living in the same House Item To survey the quantity or value of the Lead and Bells of the same House as near as they can with the ruin decay state and plight of the same Item Incontinently to call for the Covent-Seal with all Writings and Charters Evidences and Muniments concerning any of the Possessions to be delivered to them and put the same in sure keeping and to take a just Inventory betwixt them and the Governour or other Head-Officer by Indenture of the Ornaments Plate Jewels Chattels ready Mony Stuff of Houshold Coin as well signed as not signed Stock and Store in the Farmor's hands and the value thereof as near as they can which were appertaining to the same Houses the first day of March last past and what debts the House doth owe and to what Person and what Debts be owing to them and by whom Item After to cause the Covent or Common-Seal the Plate Jewels and ready Mony to be put in safe keeping and the residue of the Particulars specified in the Inventory to be left in the keeping of the Governor or some other Head-Officer without wasting or consumption of the same unless it be for necessary expence of the House Item That they command the Governor or other receiver of the same House to receive no Rents of their Farms until they know further of the King's pleasure except such Rents as must needs be had for their necessary Food or Sustenance or for payment of their Servants Wages Item To survey discreetly the Demesnes of the same House that is to say such as have not been commonly used to be letten out and to certifie the clear yearly value thereof Item To examine the true yearly value of all the Farms of the same House deducting thereof Rents reserved Pensions and Portions paied out of the same Synodals and proxies Bailiffs Receivers Stewards and Auditors Fees and the Names of them to whom they be paied and due and to none other Item What Leases hath been made to any Farmer of the Farms pertaining to the same House and what Rent they reserved and to whom and for how many years and a Copy of the Indenture if they can get it or else the Counter-pane Item To search and enquire what Woods Parks Forrests Commons or other Profit belonging to any of the Possessions of the same Houses the Number of the Acres the Age and Value as near as they can Item What Grants Bargains Sales Gifts Alienations Leases of any Lands Tenements Woods or Offices hath been made by any the said Governors of any of the said Houses within one Year next before the 4 th day of February last past and of what things or to what value and to whom and for what estate Item If there be any House of the Religion aforesaid omitted and not certified in the Exchequer then the said Commissioners to survey the same and to make Certificate accordingly Item That they straitly command every Governor of every such House limited in their Commission to Sow and Till their Grounds as they have done before till the King's pleasure be further known Item If there be any House given by the King to any Person in any of the said several Limits of the said Commission the Names whereof shall be declared to the said Commissioners Then the said Commissioners shall immediately take the Covent from the Governor and take an Inventory indented of the Lead Bells Debts Goods Chattels Plate Jewels Ornaments Stock and Store to the King's use and to make sale of the Goods Chattels and other Implements Plate and Jewels only excepted Item The said Commissioners in every such House to send such of the Religious Persons that will remain in the same Religion to some other great House of that Religion by their discretion with a Letter to a Governor for the receipt of them And the residue of them that will go to the World to send them to my Lord of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor for their Capacities with the Letter of the same Commissioners Item The said Commissioners to give the said Persons that will have Capacities some reasonable Rewards according to the distance of the place by their discretions to be appointed Item The said Commissioners to command the Governour to resort to the Chancellor of the Augmentation for his yearly Stipend and Pension Item If there be any House dissolved or given up to the King by their Deed then the Commissioners shall order themselves in every point and purpose as the Houses given by the King to any other Person in form aforesaid Item Every of the said Commissioners having in charge to survey more than one Shire within the Limits of their Commission immediately after they have perused one Shire parcel of their Charge in form aforesaid shall send to the Chancellour of the Court for the Augmentation of the Revenues of the King's Crown a brief Certificate of all these Comperts according to the Instructions aforesaid what they have done in the Premisses and in every County so surveighed then to proceed further to another County and so as they pass the said Counties to make like Certificate and so forth till their Limits be surveighed and there to remain till they know further of the King's
dread and fear to detect or accuse such detestable known Hereticks the particularities and specialities of which said abominable Heresies Errors and Offences committed and done by the said Thomas Cromwell being over-tedious long and of too great number here to be expressed declared or written And to the intent to have those damnable Errors and Heresies to be inculcated impressed and infixed in the Hearts of your Subjects as well contrary to God's Laws as to your Laws and Ordinances Most Gracious Soveraign Lord the same Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex hath allured and drawn unto him by Retainours many of your Subjects sunderly inhabiting in every of your said Shires and territories as well erroneously perswading and declaring to them the Contents of the false erroneous Books above-written to be good true and best standing with the most Holy Word and Pleasure of God as other his false and heretical Opinions and Errors whereby and by his Confederacies therein he hath caused many of your faithful Subjects to be greatly infected with Heresies and other Errors contrary to the right Laws and Pleasure of Almighty God And the same Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex by the false and traiterous means above-written supposing himself to be fully able by force and strength to maintain and defend his said abominable Treasons Heresies and Errors not regarding his most bounden Duty to Almighty God and his Laws nor the natural Duty of Allegiance to your Majesty in the last day of March in the 30 year of our most gracious Reign in the Parish of St. Peter the Poor within your City of London upon demonstration and declaration then there made unto him that there were certain new Preachers as Robert Barnes Clerk and other whereof part been now committed to the Tower of London for preaching and teaching of leud Learning against your Highness's Proclamations the same Thomas affirming the same preaching to be good most detestably arrogantly erroneously wilfully maliciously and traiterously expresly against your Laws and Statutes then and there did not lett to declare and say these most traiterous and detestable words ensuing amongst other words of like matter and effect that is to say That if the King would turn from it yet I would not turn And if the King did turn and all his People I would fight in the Field in mine own Person with my Sword in my hand against him and all others and then and there most traiterously pulled out his Dagger and held it on high saying these words Or else this Dagger thrust me to the heart if I would not die in that Quarrel against them all And I trust if I live one year or two it shall not lie in the King's Power to resist or lett it if he would And further then and there swearing by a great Oath traiterously affirmed the same his traiterous saying and pronunciation of words saying I will do so indeed extending up his Arm as though he had had a Sword in his Hand to the most perrilous grievous and wicked Example of all other your loving faithful and obedient Subjects in this your Realm and to the peril of your most Royal Person And moreover our most Gracious Soveraign Lord the said Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex hath acquired and obtained into his possession by Oppression Bribery Extort Power and false Promises made by him to your Subjects of your Realm innumerable Sums of Mony and Treasure and being so enriched hath had your Nobles of your Realm in great disdain derision and detestation as by express words by him most opprobriously spoken hath appeared And being put in remembrance of others of his estate which your Highness hath called him unto offending in like Treasons the last day of Ianuary in the 31 year of your most noble Reign at the Parish of St. Martin in the Field in the County of Middlesex most arrogantly willingly maliciously and traiterously said published and declared That if the Lords would handle him so that he would give them such a Break-fast as never was made in England and that the proudest of them should know to the great peril and danger as well of your Majesty as of your Heirs and Successors For the which his most detestable and abominable Heresies and Treasons and many other his like Offences and Treasons over-long here to be rehearsed and declared Be it Enacted Ordained and Established by your Majesty with the Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That the said Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex for his abominable and detestable Heresies and Treasons by him most abominably heretically and traiterously practised committed and done as well against Almighty God as against your Majesty and this your said Realm shall be and stand by Authority of this present Parliament convicted and attainted of Heresie and High Treason and be adjudged an abominable and detestable Heretick and Traitor and shall have and suffer such pains of death losses and forfeitures of Goods Debts and Chattels as in 〈◊〉 of Heresie and High Treason or as in cases of either of them at the pleasure of your most Royal Majesty And that the same Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex shall by Authority abovesaid lose and forfeit to your Highness and to your Heirs and Successors all such his Castles Lordships Mannors Mesuages Lands Tenements Rents Reversions Remainders Services Possessions Offices Rights Conditions and all other his Hereditaments of what names natures or qualities soever they be which he the said Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex or any other to his use had or ought to have had of any Estate of Inheritance in Fee-Simple or Fee-Tail in Reversion or Possession at the said last day of March in the said thirtieth Year of your most Gracious Reign or at any time sith or after as in Cases of High Treason And that all the said Castles Lordships Mannors Lands Mesuages Tenements Rents Reversions Remainders Services Possessions Offices and all other the Premisses forfeited as is abovesaid shall be deemed invested and adjudged in the lawful real and actual possession of your Highness your Heirs and Successors for ever in the same and such estate manner and form as if the said Castles Lordships Mannors Mesuages Lands Tenements Rents Reversions Remainders Services Possessions Offices and other the Premisses with their Appurtenances and every of them were specially or particularly founden by Office or Offices Inquisition or Inquisitions to be taken by any Escheator or Escheators or any other Commissioner or Commissioners by virtue of any Commission or Commissions to them or any of them to be directed in any County or Counties Shire or Shires within this your Realm of England where the said Castles and other the Premisses or any of them been or do lay and returned into any of your Majesties Courts Saving to all and singular Person and Persons Bodies politick and corporate their Heirs and Successors and their Successors and Assignes of
trigesimo quarto Regni vero Regis nostri Henrici Octavi vicesimo sexto Ego Frater Richardus Ingerth Prior Conventus Praedicator Langley Regis cum consensu omnium Fratrum Conventus praedicti non coactus sed sponte subscribo Ego Frater Edwardus Tryley Sacrae Theologiae Bacalaureus Conventus Ailsberiae cum assensu omnium Fratrum Conventus praedicti non coactus sed sponte subscribo Ego Frater Joannes Cotton Prior Conventus Praedicatorum Dunstabliae cum assensu omnium Fratrum Conventus praedicti non coactus sed sponte subscribo Ego Frater Joannes Wyatt Sacrae Theologiae Doctor Conventus Bed una cum assensu omnium Fratrum sponte hoc scribo non coactus Ego Frater Joannes Sutler Prior Conventus Carmelitarum Hicchiae cum Assensu omnium Fratrum Conventus praedicti non coactus sed sponte subscribo Ego Frater Joannes Chapmanus Sacrae Theologiae Bacalaureus Magister immerito Conventus Mare cum assensu omnium Fratrum mea sponte subscribo Another Declaration to the same purpose Mutatis Mutandis is made by the Prioress of Bedford in Kent of the Order of St. Dominick May 4. 1534. Regn. vicesimo sexto Rot. Clausa LI. A Mandate for the Consecration of a Suffagran Bishop Rot. Pat. 2. par 27 Regni REX Reverendissimo in Christo Patri perdilecto Consiliario nostro Thomae Cantuariensi Episcopo salutem Reverendus Pater dilectus Consiliarius noster Richardus Norvicensis Episcopus nobis significavit quod Diocesis sua Episcopi Suffraganei solatio qui suae sollicitudinis partem sustinere consuevit destituta est existit ideo reverendos Patres Gregorium Abbatem Monasterii Beatae Mariae de Leystone Thomam Mannynge Priorem Monasterii Beatae Mariae de Butley Norvicen Dioc. Ordine Sacerdotali rite insignitos legitimo Matrimonio natos in aetate legitima constitutos virosque in Spiritualibus Temporalibus multum circumspectos quibus de Canonicis nihil obviant instituta quo minus ut asserunt ad Episcopalem Suffraganei Dignitatem admitti possint deberent nobis per suas literas suo magno sigillo munitas praesentavit humiliter devote supplicans quatenus nos alterum ipsorum sic praesentatorum ad aliquam sedem Episcopi Suffraganei infra Provinciam Cantuariensem existentem nominare ipsique sic nominato stylum Titulum Dignitatem hujusmodi sedis donare dignaremur unde nos ex gratia nostra speciali mero motu nostris dictum Reverendum Patrem Thomam Manynnge Priorem Monasterii Beatae Mariae de Butley praedicti alterum ex dictis Praesentamus in Episcopum Suffraganeum Sedis Gips vici Norvicen Diocesantedictae nominamus eique Stilum Titulum Dignitatem ejusdem Sedis Episcopi Suffraganei damus conferimus Atque haec vobis tenore praesentamus significamus requirentes vos quatenus eundem Patrem sic per nos nominatum in Episcopum Suffraganeum ejusdem Sedis Gips vici consecretis eique Benedictionem ac omnia Episcopalia Insignia conferatis caeteraque omnia singula quae vestro in hac parte incumbunt officio pastorali juxta modum formam Statuti Parliamenti in vicesimo sexto Anno Regni nostri apud Westmonasterium nuper editi peragetis T. R. apud Westm. 6. die Martii 27. Regn. Ad Librum Tertium I. Instructions for the General Visitation of the Monasteries Articuli Regiae Inquisitionis in Monasticam vitam agentes exponendi praecipue in exemptos a jurisdictione Diocaesana jam tantum Regiae Majestati ejus jurisdictioni subditos subjectos ac hujus inclyti sui Regni Statutis legibus nullisque aliis penitus obnoxios astrictos 1. IN primis Whether Divine Service be solemnly sung said observed and kept in this Monastery according to the Number and the Abilities thereof by Night and by Day in due time and hours and how many be present commonly at Mattins and other Service and who be absent and so accustomed to be without cause or sickness 2. Item How many Monks Cannons Regulars or Nuns be within this Monastery and how many there ought to be and whether the number be compleat according to the Founder's Will or the Statutes Ordinances and laudable custom of this House and whether the number be augmented or diminished now of late 3. Item Who were the first Founders of this House Fundationem primam secundam tertiam quotquot habent exhibeant 4. Item Whether this House hath had any encrease of Lands given to it sithence the first Foundation thereof by whom by how many and when 5. Item To what Sum of Mony those Revenues and Rents of this House do extend and amount unto yearly 6. Item Whether this House was ever translated from on habit and order to another by whose Authority and for what Cause Translationem exhibeant 7. Item How the Lands and Possessions appertaining unto this Monastery given by the first Founder and all other Lands given sithence the first Foundation were granted given and established and so first brought to Morte main whether by the only Authority of the Giver or by the Authorization of the Prince for that time reigning and by what tenour and form ye hold them Donationem Confirmationem exhibeant 8. Item What evidence have you to shew for all and singular your Lands Manors Tenements and other your Possessions Mortisate and given unto you and this your Monastery 9. Item Wherefore for what Causes and Considerations ye were exempt from your Diocesan and what was your Suggestion and Motive at the obtaining of your said Exemption Exemptionem exhibeant 10. Item Whether ye have any private peculiar or local Statutes Confirmations Ordinances or Rules made only for the behoof good order and singular weal of this House besides the Rules of your Profession and whether they were made either by your Founders before your Exemption or by the good Fathers of this House with the whole consent of the Brethren being sinneth your exemption to what use they were made and how ye observe them Statuta illa localia alia quotquot habent exhibeant 11. Item By what way and form the Master of this House was elected and chosen And whether all the Brethren having or ought to have by the Law Statutes or laudable custom of this House Voices in the Election were present in the same Election or lawfully called or cited to it 12. Item Whether any Persons Excommunicate Suspended or Interdicted did give Voices in the same Election 13. Item Within what time after the Election was made and done the Master of this House was confirmed and by whom 14. Item Whether unto the Confirmation all that had Interest or that would object against the same were lawfully cited monished and called Exhibeat Electionem Confirmationem Titulum suae Incumbentiae 15. Item What Rule the Master of this House and other the Brethren do profess 16. Item How
every of them other than the said Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex and his Heirs and all and every other Person and Persons claiming by the same Thomas Cromwell and to his use all such Right Title Entrie Possession Interest Reversions Remainders Lease Leases Conditions Fees Offices Rents Annuities Commons and all other Commodities Profits and Hereditaments whatsoever they or any of them might should or ought to have had if this Act had never been had nor made Provided always and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid that this Act of Attainder ne any Offence ne other thing therein contained extend not unto the Deanery of Wells in the County of Sommerset nor to any Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments thereunto belonging nor be in any wise prejudicial or hurtful unto the Bishop of Bath and Wells nor to the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew of Wells nor to any of them nor to any of their Successors but that the said Bishop Dean and Chapters and their Successors and every of them shall and may have hold use occupy and enjoy all and singular their Titles Rights Mannors Lands Tenements Rents Reversions and Services and all and singular other their Hereditaments Commodities and Profits of what nature kind or quality or condition soever they be in as ample and large manner and form as tho this Act of Attainder or any Offence therein mentioned had never been had committed nor made and that from hence-forth the Dean and his Successors Deans of the said Cathedral Church that hereafter shall be prefected elected and admitted to the same Shall by the Authority aforesaid be Dean of the said Cathedral Church fully and wholly incorporated with the Chapter of the same in as ample large and like manner and form to all intents and purposes as the Deans before this time hath been and used to be with the said Chapter of the said Cathedral Church of Wells And that the same Dean and Chapter and their Successors shall have occupy and enjoy all and singular their such Possessions Mannors Lands Tenements Rents Reversions and Services and all and singular their Hereditaments of what nature kind name or names they be called or known And shall be adjudged and deemed in actual and real possession and season of and in the same Premisses to all intents and purposes according to their old Corporation as tho this Act of Attainder or any thing clause or matter therein contained had never been had committed nor made This said Act of Attainder or any other Act Provision or any thing heretofore had or made to the contrary notwithstanding Cui quidem petitioni cum provisione praedict perlect intellect per dictum Dominum Regem ex Authoritate consensu Parliamenti praedicti sic Responsum est Soit faict come il est desiro Cromwell's Letter to the King concerning his Marriage with Ann of Cleve An Original To the King my most Gracious Sovereign Lord his Royal Majesty MOst Merciful King and most Gracious Sovereign Lord may it please the same to be advertised That the last time it pleased your benign Goodness to send unto me the Right Honourable Lord Chancellor the Right Honourable Duke of Norff. and the Lord Admiral to examine and also to declare unto me divers things from your Majesty among the which one special thing they moved and thereupon they charged me as I would answer before God at the dreadful day of Judgment and also upon the extreme danger and damnation of my Soul and Conscience to say what I knew in the Marriage and concerning the Marriage between your Highness and the Queen To the which I answered as I knew declaring unto them the Particulars as nigh as I then could call to remembrance Which when they had heard they in your Majesty's Name and upon like charge as they had given me before commanded me to write to your Highness the truth as much as I knew in that Matter which now I do and the very truth as God shall save me to the uttermost of my knowledg First After your Majesty heard of the Lady Ann of Cleves arrival at Dover and that her Journies were appointed toward Greenwich and that she should be at Rochester on New-years Even at night your Highness declared to me that you would privily visit her at Rochester upon New-years-day adding these words To nourish love which accordingly your Grace did upon New-years-day as is above-said And the next day being Friday your Grace returned to Greenwich where I spake with your Grace and demanded of your Majesty How ye liked the Lady Ann your Highness answered as me thought heavily and not pleasantly Nothing so well as she was spoken of saying further That if your Highness had known as much before as ye then knew she should not have come within this Realm saying as by the way of lamentation What Remedy Unto the which I answered and said I know none but was very sorry therefore and so God knoweth I was for I thought it a hard beginning The next day after the receipt of the said Lady and her entry made unto Greenwich and after your Highness had brought her to her Chamber I then waited upon your Highness into your Privy-Chamber and being there your Grace called me unto you saying to me these words or the like My Lord is it not as I told you say what they will she is nothing so fair as she hath been reported howbeit she is well and seemly Whereunto I answered and said By my Faith Sir ye say truth adding thereunto that I thought she had a Queenly manner and nevertheless was sorry that your Grace was no better content And thereupon your Grace commanded me to call together your Council which were these by name The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk my Lord Admiral and my Lord of Duresme and my self to commune of these Matters and to know what Commissions the Agents of Cleves had brought as well touching the performance of the Covenants sent before from hence to Dr. Wotton to have been concluded in Cleves as also in the declaration how the Matters stood for the Covenants of Marriage between the Duke of Lorrain's Son and the said Lady Ann. Whereupon Olisleger and Hogeston were called and the Matters purposed whereby it plainly appeared that they were much astonished and abashed and desired that they might make answer in the next morning which was Sunday And upon the Sunday in the morning your said Counsellors and they met together early and there eft-soons was proposed unto them as well touching the Commission for the performance of the Treaty and Articles sent to Mr. Wotton as also touching the Contracts and Covenants of Marriage between the Duke of Lorrain's Son and the Lady Ann and what terms they stood in To which things so proposed they answered as Men much perplexed That as touching Commission they had none to treat concerning the Articles sent to
Monks of his House and the Abbot of Gervanx with a monk of his House and the Abbot of Sawley in Lancashire with the Prior of that House and the Prior of Burlington who were all attainted of High Treason and Executed The Abbots of Glastenbury and Reading were men of great power and Wealth The one was rated at 3508. lib. and the the other at 2116. lib. They seeing the storm like to break out on themselves sent a great deal of the Plate and Money that they had in their House to the Rebels in the North. Which being afterwards discovered they were attainted of High Treason a year after this but I mention it here for the affinity of the matter Further particulars about the Abbot of Reading I have not yet discovered But there is an account given to Cromwel of the proceedings against the Abbot of Glastenbury in two Letters which I have seen the one was writ by the Sheriff of the County the other by Sir Iohn Russell who was present at his Trial and was reputed a man of as great Integrity and Virtue as any in that time which he seems to have left as an inheritance to that Noble Family that has descended from him These inform that he was indicted of Burglary as well as Treason for having broken the House in his Monastery where the Plate was kept and taken it out which as Sir William Thomas says was sent to the Rebels The evidence being brought to the Jury who as Sir Iohn Russel writes were as good and worthy men as had ever been on any Jury in that County they found him guilty He was carried to the place of Execution near his own Monastery where as the Sheriff writes he acknowledged his guilt and begged God and the King pardon for it The Abbot of Colchester was also attainted of High Treason What the particulars were I cannot tell For the Record of their Attainders was lost But some of our own Writers deservs a severe censure who Write it was for denying the King Supremacy whereas if they had not undertaken to write the History without any information at all they must have seen that the whole Clergy but most particularly the Abbots had over and over again acknowledged the Kings Supremacy For clearing which and discovering the Impudence of Sanders Relation of this matter I shall lay before the Reader the Evidences that I find of the Submission of these and all the other Abbots to the Kings Supremacy First in the Convocation in the 22d year of this Reign they all acknowledged the King Supream Head of the Church of England They did all also swear to maintain the Act of the Succession of the Crown made in the 25th year of his Reign in which the Popes Power was plainly condemned For in the proceedings against More and Fisher it was frequently repeated to them that all the Clergy had sworn it It is also entred in the Journal of the House of Lords that all the members of both Houses swore it at their breaking up And the same Journals inform us that the Abbots of Colchester and Reading sate in that Parliament and as there was no Protestation made against any of the Acts passed in that Session so it is often entred that the Acts were agreed to by the Unanimous consent of the Lords It appears also by several Original Letters that the heads of all the Religious Houses in England had Signed that Position that the Pope had no more Iurisdiction in this Kingdom than any forreign Bishop whatsoever And it was rejected by none but some Carthusians and Franciscans of the Observance who were proceeded against for refusing to acknowledg it When they were so pressed in it none can imagine that a Parliamentary Abbot would have been dispenced with And in the last Parliament in which the second Oath about the Succession to the Crown was enacted it was added that they should also swear the King to be the Supream head of the Church The Abbots of Glassenbury and Reading were then present as appears by the Journals and consented to it So little reason there is for Imagining that they refused that or any other Complyance that might secure them in their Abbies In particular the Abbot of Reading had so got into Cromwels good opinion that in some differences between him and Shaxton Bishop of Salisbury that was Cromwels creature he had the better of the Bishop Upon which Shaxton who was a proud ill-natured man wrote an high expostulating Letter to Cromwell Complaining of an Injunction he had granted against him at the Abbots desire He also shewed that in some contests between him and his Residentiaries and between him and the Major of Salisbury Cromwel was always against him he likewise challenged him for not answering his Letters He tells him God will judge him for abusing his Power as he did he prays God to have pity on him and to turn his heart with a great deal more provoking Language He also adds many insolent praises of himself and his whole Letter is as extravagant a piece of vanity and insolence as ever I saw To this Cromwel wrote an answer that shews him to have been indeed a great man The Reader will find it in the Collection and see from it how modestly and discreetly he carryed his Greatness But how justly soever these Abbots were attainted the seizing on their Abbey-Lands pursuant to those Attainders was thought a great stretch of Law since the Offence of an Ecclesiastical Incumbent is a Personal thing and cannot prejudice the Church no more than a secular man who is in an Office does by being Attainted bring any diminution of the Rights of his Office on his successors It is true there were some words cast into the thirteenth Act of the Parliament in the 26th year of this Reign by which divers Offences were made Treason that seemed to have been designed for such a purpose The words are that whatsoever Lands any Traytor had of any Estate of Inheritance in use or possession by any Right Title or Means should be forfeited to the King By which as it is certain Estates in Tayl were comprehended so the Lands that any Traytor had in Possession or use seem to be included and that the rather because by some following words their heirs and Successors are for ever excluded This either was not thought on when the Bishop of Rochester was Attainted or perhaps was not claimed since the King intended not to lessen the number of Bishopricks but rather to increase them Besides the words of the Statute seem only to belong to an Estate of Inheritance within which Church-Benefices could not be included without a great force put on them 'T is true the word Successor favoured these seisures except that be thought an expletory word put in out of form but still to be limited to an Estate of Inheritance That word does also import that such Criminals might have successors But if the whole Abbey
was forfeited these Abbots could have no successors Yet it seems the seizures of these Abbeys were founded on that Statute and this stretch of the Law occasioned that Explanation which was added of the words Estate of Inheritance in the Statute made in Edward the Sixth's Reign about Treasons Where it is expressed that Traitors should forfeit to the Crown what Lands they had of any Estate of Inheritance to which is added in their own Right it seems on design to cut off all Pretence for such Proceedings for the future as had been in this Reign But if there was any Illegality in these seizures the following Parliament did at least tacitly Justifie them For they excepted out of the Provisos made concerning the Abbies that were suppressed such as had been forfeited and seized on by any Attaindors of Treason Another Surrender is not unlike these but rather less Justifiable Many of the Carthusian Monks of London were executed for their open denying of the Kings Supremacy and for receiving Books from forreign parts against his Marriage and other proceedings divers also of the same House that favoured them but so secretly that clear proof could not be found to convict them were kept Prisoners in their Cells till they dyed But the Prior was a worthy man of whom Thomas Bedyl one of the Visitors writes that he was a man of such Charity that he had not seen the like and that the eyes of the people were much on that House and therefore he advised that the House might be converted to some good use But the Prior was made to resign with this Preamble That many of that House had offended the King so that their goods might be justly confiscated and themselves adjudged to a severe death which they desired to avoid by an humble Submission and Surrender of their House to the King But there were great Complaints made of the Visitors as if they had practised with the Abbots and Priors to make these Surrenders and that they had conspired with them to cheat the King and had privately embezeled most of the Plate and furniture The Abbess of Cheapstow complained in particular of Doctor London one of the Visitors that he had been corrupting her Nuns and generally it was cryed out on that under-hand and ill practices were used Therefore to quiet these reports and to give some colour to justifie what they were about all the foul Stories that could be found out were published to defame these Houses Battel-Abbey was represented to be a little Sodom so was Christ Church in Canterbury with several other Houses But for Whoredom and Adultery they found Instances without number and of many other unnatural practices and secret Lusts with arts to hinder Conceptions and make Abortions But no story became so publick as a discovery made of the Prior of the Crossed Friars in London who on a Friday at eleven a Clock in the day was found in bed with a Whore He fell down on his knees and prayed those who surprised him not to publish his shame But they had a mind to make some advantage by it and asked him Money He gave them 30 lib. which he protested was all he had but he promised them 30 lib. more yet failing in the payment a Sute followed on it and in a Bill which I have seen given to Cromwel then Master of the Rolls the case is related But all stories of this Kings served only to disgrace those Abbots or Monks that were so faulty And the people generally said these were personal crimes which ought to be punished but they were no way satisfied with the Justice of the Kings proceedings against whole Houses for the faults of a few Therefore another way was thought on which indeed proved more effectual both for recovering the people out of the Superstitious fondness they had for their Images and Relicks and for discovering the secret Impostures that had been long practised in these Houses And this was to order the Visitors to examine well all the Relicks and feigned Images to which Pilgrimages were wont to be made In this Doctor London did great service From Reading he writes That the chief Relicks of Idolatry in the Nation was there an Angel with one wing that brought over the Spears head that pierced our Saviors side To which he adds a long Inventory of their other Relicks and says there were as many more as would fill Four Sheets of Paper He also writes from other places that he had every-where taken down their Images and Trinkets At St. Edmundsbury as Iohn ap Rice Informed they found some of the Coals that Roasted St. Laurence the Parings of St. Edmunds Toes St. Thomas Becket's Penknife and Boots with as many pieces of the Cross of our Savior as would make a large whole Cross. They had also Relicks against Rain and for hindring weeds to spring But to pursue this further were endless the Relicks were so innumerable And the value which the people had of them may be gathered from this that a piece of St. Andrews finger set in an ounce of silver was laid to pledge by the House of Westacre for 40 lib. but the Visitors when they suppressed that House did not think fit to redeem it at so high a rate For their Images some of them were brought to London and were there at St. Paul's Cross in the sight of all the people broken that they might be fully convinced of the jugling Impostures of the Monks And in particular the Crucifix of Boxley in Kent commonly called the Rood of Grace to which many Pilgrimages had been made because it was observed sometimes to bow and to lift it self up to shake and to stir head hands and feet to roul the eyes move the lips and bend the brows All which were looked on by the abused multitude as the effects of a Divine Power These were now publickly discovered to have been cheats For the Springs were shewed by which all these motions were made Upon which Iohn Hilsey then Bishop of Rochester made a Sermon and Broke the Rood in pieces There was also another famous Imposture discovered at Hales in Glocestershire where the Blood of Christ was shewed in a viol of Christal which the people sometimes saw but sometimes they could not see it So they were made believe that they were not capable of so signal a favour as long as they were in Mortal sin and so they continued to make presents till they bribed Heaven to give them the sight of so Blessed a Relick This was now discovered to have been the Blood of a Duck which they renewed every week and the one side of the Viol was so thick that there was no seeing through it but the other was clear and transparent And it was so placed near the Altar that one in a secret place behind could turn either side of it outward So when they had drained the Pilgrims that came thither of all they had
many be Professed and how many be Novices and whether the Novices have like Habit or use to wear an Habit distinct from the Habit of the Brethren Professed 17. Item Whether ye do use to profess your Novices in due time and within what time and space after they have taken the Habit upon them 18. Item Whether the Brethren of this House do know the Rule that they have professed and whether they keep their Profession according to that their Rule and Custom of this House and in especial the three substantial and principal Vows that is to say Poverty Chastity and Obedience 19. Item Whether any of the Brethren use any propriety of Mony or of Plate in their Chambers or of any other manner thing unwarre of the Master and without his knowledg and license or by his sufferance and knowledg and for what cause 20. Item Whether ye do keep Chastity not using the company of any suspect Woman within this Monastery or without And whether the Master or any Brother of this House be suspected upon Incontinency or defamed for that he is much conversant with Women 21. Item Whether Women useth and resorteth much to this Monastry by back-ways or otherwise and whether they be accustomably or at any time lodged within the Precinct thereof 22. Item Whether the Master or any Brother of this House useth to have any Boys or young Men laying with him 23. Item Whether the Brethren of this House keep their Obedience being ready at their Master's Commandment in all things honest lawful and reasonable Sequuntur Regulae Caeremoniales 24. Item Whether ye do keep silence in the Church Cloister Fraitrie and Dormitorie at the hours and time specified in your Rule 25. Item Whether ye do keep Fasting and Abstinence according to your Rules Statutes Ordinances and laudable Customs of this House 26. Item Whether ye abstain from Flesh in time of Advent and other times declared and specified by the Law Rules and laudable Customs of this House 27. Item Whether ye wear Shirts and Sheets of Woollen or that ye have any Constitution Ordinance or Dispensation granted or made to the contrary by sufficient and lawful Authority Profitentes Regulam Benedicti quam arctissime tenentur ad praedicta Caeremonialia observanda 28. Item Whether ye do sleep altogethers in the Dormitorie under one Roof or not 29. Item Whether ye have all separate Beds or any one of you doth lay with an other 30. Item Whether ye do keep the Fraitry at Meals so that two parts or the least the two part of the whole Covent be always there unless the Master at every one time dispense with you to the contrary 31. Item Whether ye do wear your Religious habit continually and never leave it off but when ye go to bed 32. Item Whether every Brethren of this House have lightly departed hence and hath gone to any other House of like Order and Profession without special Letters and License of their Master 33. Item Whether the Master and Brethren of this House have received and admitted any Brother of another House without special License and Letters of his Master and Head 34. Item Whether any of you sithence the time of your Profession hath gone out of this House to his Friends or otherwise 35. Item How oftimes he did so and how long at every time ye â—arried forth 36. Item Whether ye had special license of your Master so to go forth or not 37. Item Whether at every time of your being forth ye changed or left off your habit or every part thereof 38. Item Whether ye or any of you be or hath been in manifest Apostasy that is to say Fugitives or Vagbonds 39. Item For what cause or occasion ye have so gone forth and been in Apostasy and whether the cause of your going forth was by reason of the great cruelty of your Master or by his negligence not calling you home to your Cloister 40. Item Whether ye be weekly shaven and do not nourish or suffer your Hair to be long and whether ye wear your Apparel according to the Rule not too excessive nor too exquisite and in like wise the trappo's of your Horses and other your bearing Beasts 41. Item Whether the Master and Head of this House do use his Brethren charitably without partiality malice envy grudg or displeasure more shewed to one than to another 42. Item Whether he do use his Disciplines Corrections and Punishments upon his Brethren with mercy pity and charity without cruelty rigorousness and enormous hurt no more favouring one than another 43. Item Whether any Brother or Religious Person of this House be incorrigible 44. Item Whether the Master of this House do use his Brethren charitably when they be sick and diseased and whether in time of their sickness he do procure unto them Physicians and all other necessaries 45. Item Whether he make his Accompts as he ought to do once every year before his Brethren and chiefly the Seniors and Officers to the intent they may be made privy to the state and condition of the House and know perfectly the due administration thereof 46. Item Whether the Prior Subprior Sellerar Kitchener Terrure Sacristen or any such-like Officer having Administration of every manner Revenues of this House do make his whole and true Accompt according as he is bound to do not applying any thing by him received to his own proper use or commodity 47. Item Whether any Religious Person of this House do bear occupy or exercise more Offices than one for and to his own singular commodity advantage or profit by the partial dealing of the Master 48. Item Whether all and singular the Revenues and Profits of this House be converted and employed to the behove and use thereof and of the Brethren and according to the Founder's mind and Giver 49. Item Whether the Master do make sufficient reparations upon his Monastery as the Church and all other housing thereto adjoined and also upon all other the Lands Granges Farms and Tenements belonging to the same and whether he suffer any dilapidation decay or ruine in any part of them 50. Item Whether there be any Inventory made of all and singular the Moveables Goods which from time to time have been and yet be in this House as of Jewels Reliques Ornaments Vestiments ready Mony Plate Bedding with other Utensils also of Corn Chattels and other Commodities to the intent the state and condition of this House may be always known 51. Item That ye express truly and sincerely the whole state and condition of this House as in Mony Plate Cattel Corn and other Goods 52. Item Whether this Monastery be indebted to whom and for what cause 53. Item Whether any of the Lands be sold or mortgaged and for what Sums 54. Item Whether any be lett to Farm by the Master of this House for term of years and for how many years and specially whether they be letten for small Sums or for less Sums