particular terms ad vestitum Monachorum ad victum ad luminaria ad hospitalitatem faciendam ad fabricam Ecclesiae ad reparanda Ecclesiae ornamenta and other uses to which those revenues were particularly appropriated The last grievance that shall be mentioned which indeed affected the Clergy in general was the Conqueror's charging Church-Lands with Military Services This is taken notice of by Matthew Paris but I shall crave leave to describe it in the words of a late ingenious Writer Whereas saith he before the Conqueror's time the Clergy held all their land by Franc Almonage and subject to no duties or impositions but such as they laid upon themselves in their Ecclesiastical Assemblies This Prince finding above a third part of the Lands of the Kingdom in the possession of the Clergy and the Forces of the Crown which consisted in Knights service lessened in proportion by their Immunities He reduced all their Lands to the common tenure of Knight's Fees and Baronage and thereby subjected them to an attendance upon the King in his wars and to other services anciently due and sometimes raised upon all Lands that held in Fee from the Crown This innovation touched not only the Bishops but all the Abbats throughout the Kingdom many of whom were endowed with great Lands and Revenues But Sir Will. Temple must pardon me if I suspend my opinion in this particular till better inform'd viz. That the Conqueror found above a third part of the Lands of the Kingdom in Possession of the Clergy ' The truth of this may be examined with more certainty than any other part of English History the Lands of the Ecclesiasticks being all particularly recorded in Doomsday-book so that it will be easie to compute the proportion But not having in this place the opportunity of consulting the Original it cannot be very accurate However by the transcript of those few Counties we have a pretty exact guess may be made In Cheshire were but twenty seven Mannors belonging to Churchmen in Warwickshire not fourty in Berkshire about sixty in Staffordshire about fifty and in Nottinghamshire but fourty Besides it ought to be considered that one fourth of the Lands that were in Church-men's hand in the time of King Edward III. at which time the Commons shewed the King that the Temporalities of the Clergy amounted only to above a third part of the Kingdom was not given to Religious places at King William's first coming to the Crown For there were not above an hundred Monasteries and endowed Churches founded before the Conquest which tho' they were richer for the most part than any after founded yet according to the highest account the revenues could not amount to above a fourth part of the incomes of the Religious Houses in the time of Edward III. And if so then the Ecclesiasticks had but at most a twelfth part of the Lands of the Kingdom in their hands at the time when the Conqueror imposed these services viz. A. D. 1170. After this digression we must again carry on some brief account of the state of the Monastick Orders here in England It was in the Conqueror's time that the third and last Regulation of Monks was made by Arch-bishop Lanfranc in the Council held at London A. D. 1075. This Reformation brought the English Monks nearer the Benedictines than ever before I mean those of the old Foundations but as for the new Monasteries they were replenished with Monks of what Order the Founder pleased For during this Reign were brought into England the Orders of Regular Canons of St. Austin and of Cluniac Monks Of each sort were six founded in this Kings time as also sixteen Benedictine Abbies and Priories besides fourteen Alien-Priories A note annexed to an old MS. book of Ecclesiastical Constitutions in the Bodleâ—â—n Library desires us to note the slyght of the Pope that when he had causyd the Deuke of Normandy to Conquer England under pretence of penance causyd him to give muche Lands to Abbyes and that Deuke dyd bylde many of the Order of Cluny because Pope Gregory VI. was a Monk of Cluny Thoâ— I cannot find that ever he founded any of this Order yet he built and endowed the great Abbies of Battel Com. Suss. and Selby in Com. Ebor. and the Priory of Hitchinbroke in Com. Hunt and the Alien-Priories of Frampton in Com. Dors. Paunsfeld in Com. Essex Derehirst in Com. Gloc. Andover in Com. Hants and Stayning in Com. â—uss Will. Rufus succeeded next heir to the vices not the vertues of his Father He miserably oppressed the Religious seised upon the Revenues of the vacant Abbies and Bishopricks and would never let them be filled without some Simoniacal bargain In this Kings Reign several of the Bishops of whom Walkeline Bishop of Winchester was the chief made strong efforts to expel all the Monks out of Cathedral Churches and to place Secular Canons in their rooms This infallibly they had accomplished having got the Kings consent had not Archbishop Lanfranc a man of universal Goodness and approved Wisdom maintain'd the cause of the Monks with a great deal of courage and not only brought the King to change his mind but also procured a Bull from the Pope prohibiting the like attempts for the future In the thirteen years of this Kings reign were not above thirteen Religious Houses except Priories Alien founded viz. seven of the Benedictine four of the Cluniac and two of the Austin Order and about nine Alien-Priories but not one Collegiate Church in this or the preceeding Reign The King built only the small Priories of Armethwait in Com. Cumb. and S. Nicholas in Exeter King Henry I. is recorded to have been a very pious good Prince an encourager of Learning and Piety and one that had a great esteem for the Church and all Religious Persons His founding nine or ten Monasteries confirms the truth of this character viz. the Episcopal See and Priory of Regular Canons at Carlisle the Abbies of Cirencester in Com. Gloc. and Mertâ—n in Com. Surr. with the Priories of Dunstable in Com. Bedf. St. Dennis at Southampton and Wells near Grimsâ—y in Com. Linc. of the same Order as also the stately Benedictine Abby at Reading besides the Alien-Priories of Steventon in Com. Berks. Tackley in Com. Essex and Newent in Com. Gloc. In the beginning of this Kings Reign the Knights Hospitalers settled in London A. D. 1128. the Cistercians were first brought into England and placed at Waverâ—â—y in Surrey and about this time the Canons 〈◊〉 the Holy Sâ—pulcher came to Warwick The number of Religious Houses founded in the Reign of King Henry I. were above an hundred viz about thirty of the Benedictine Monasterieâ— fourty of the Austin Order five Cluniac ten Cistercian Houses four Colleges two Preceptories and thirteen Alien-Priories King Stephen was Virtuous Religious and Liberal and after the wars between him and Maud the Empress were ended a great builder of Religious Houses To
him the Benedictines at Carow in Com. Norf. and at Heyham in Com. Cant. the Black Canons at Thornâ—olm in Com. Linc. and the Cluniac Monks at Feversham in Com. Cant. owe their Foundations and endowments and the Knights Hospitalers their Commanderies at Cressing Temple in Com Essex and at Egle in Com. Linc. A. D. 1146. the Premâ—nstratensian Order was brought into England their first Monastery being Newhouse in Lincolnshire Two years after the Gilbertine â—rder had its rise at Sempringham in that County The troubles the Kingdom was for a great part of this Reign embroiled in could not restrain the Piety and Charity of the English from building Religious Houses to the number of fifteen of the Benedictine Order twenty five Priories of black Canons thirty five Cistercian Abbies six Houses of the Premonstratensian six of the Gilbertine and four of the Cluniac Rule one College two Preceptories and three Alien-Priories King Henry II. was very obliging to the Clergy especially after the murder of S. Thomas Becket of Canterbury He founded the first house the Carthâ—sians had in England viz. Witham in Somersetshire as also Waltham in Com. Essex Newstede in Com. Nott. Ivy Church in Com. Wilt. and Marton in Com. Ebor. of the Austin Order Newstede in Com. Linc. for Gilbertine Canons Stonely in Com. Warw. for Cistercian Monks and the Alien-Priory of Hagh in Com. Linc. In his Reign were founded twenty two Benedictine thirty Austin eight Premonstratensian four Gilbertine and six Cluniac Monasteries three Collegiate Churches six Preceptories for in the year 1185. the Templers came into England eight Alien-Priories and what is more remarkable almost twenty Cistercian Abbies notwithstanding it was contrary to a Canon made at the general Chapter of the Cistercian Order A. D. 1152 wherein the erection of any more Abbies of that Rule was expresly forbid because there were above five hundred of them already founded In Richard I. time the humour of going to recover Holy Land from the Saracens mightily prevail'd in England as well as in all other parts of Christendom And the mony design'd for pious uses being expended in those Wars and for the Ransom of the King there were few Monasteries built in this Reign viz. six of the Benedictine four of the Austin one of the Cistercian four of the Premonstratensian and two of the Gilbertine Order with one Alien-Priory This King is said to have mortally hated the Black Monks the Cistercians and the Templers and not only those three sorts but also all Religious Men for we do not find that he built one Monastery in England King Iohn tho' he was always prejudiced against the Ecclesiasticks yet he founded a stately Abby for the Cistercians at Beaulieu in Com. Hants to which he made Farendon in Com. Berks. a Cell He built also the Ben. Nunnery of Lambley in Com. Northumb. and made Otterington in Com. Devon an Alien-Priory In his Reign were founded seven Benedictine Abbies and Priories eleven for Regular Canons seven for Cistercian Monks one Preceptory two Premonstratensian Abbies six of the Gilbertine Order and two Alien-Priories In King Henry the third 's long Reign we find but four Benedictine Abbies and Priories built fifteen of the Austin nine of the Cistercian and of the Gilbertine and Cluniac Orders each one as also one of the Premonstratensian viz. Tichfield in Com. Hants which was the last of that Order that was built in England and one Alien-Priory viz. Rumney in Com. Cant. the last that was subjected to any foreign Monastery And the King himself founded only the small Gilbertine Cell of Fordham in Com. Cantab. For during this Reign came the Dominican or Preaching Friers into this Kingdom A. D. 1217. and the Franciscans or Friers Minors A. D. 1224. who for the pretended severity of their lives and their frequent Preaching were at first mightily admired by the people to the great loss of the parish Priests as well as the Regulars King Edward I. succeeded next who built the stately Abby of Vale-Royal in Com. Cest. In this King's time the Charity and Devotion of the English began to be very cold the greatness and riches of the Ecclesiasticks being envied by the Nobility and Gentry and the affections of the people alienated by the Sermons Pamphlets and secret insinuations of the begging Friers The Nobility and Commons being thus prepared the Statute of Mortmain easily passed A. D. 1279. 7. Edw. I. By this Act it was not allowed to any Religious person to enter upon any Fees either to buy them or to receive them of the gift of others without licence of the chief Lords upon pain of forfeiture and the reason of this Statute was because the services due from such Fees and which at the beginning were provided for the defence of the Realm are wrongfully withdrawn and the chief Lords do loose their escheats of the same Upon the making this Statute the Religious seem'd to complain and to supply the loss of new benefactions procured pensions privileges from paying Tithes and what the Church finds the inconvenience of to this very day Impropriations These last thoâ— they were sometimes used before yet after the enacting this law were obtained by Bulls from Rome on every small occasion A. D. 1295. the King seised all the Aliâ—n-Priories the rents and profits which issued out of them to foreign Monasteries in case they received as formerly being conceived of advantage to the Kings enemies In this King's time were founded three Monasteries of the Benedictine Order two Austin Priories three Cistercian Abbies one Preceptory and nine Colleges as also one Gilbertine Priory viz. Pulton in Wiltshire which was the last House of that Order in England In King Edward II. his Reign we find no great stir made about the Monks or their lands Indeed the Knights Templers were seised and their goods and revenues confiscated tho' they were not appropriated to any Secular use but settled on the Knights Hospitalers by Act of Parliament 17. Edw. II. In which Statute there are some things very remarkable which shew the opinion Parliaments in those times had of church-Church-lands It seemeth good these are the words of the Act to our Lord the King the Noblemen and others assembled in Parliament for the health of their Souls and the discharge of their consciences that whereas the Military Order of Temples were originally instituted for the defence of Christians and the Universal Holy Church subversion of the enemies of Christ and Christians and canoniz'd to the augmentation of the honour of God and liberal almsgiving That the foresaid lands and tenements in demesnes Lordships Services c. according to the wills of the givers shall be assign'd and delivered to other men of most holy Religion to the intent the fruits obventions and profits of the same lands tenements and other things may be converted and charitably disposed of to godly uses I can't meet with any Monastery founded by this unhappy Prince and indeed
but two of the Benedictine and two of the Austin Order during his whole Reign King Edward III. is character'd by the Monks to have been a pious as well as a valiant Prince For tho' his wars with France would not suffer him to give much to Religious Houses and forced him to be severe upon the Alien-Priories Yet there were a great many Monasteries founded in his Reign viz. three Benedictine Houses six of the Austin Order one Cistercian and seventeen Colleges And notwithstanding his own extraordinary charges he founded and liberally endowed the Austin Nunnery at Dertford in Com. Cant. with the two large Colleges of St. George at Windsor and St. Stephen at Westminster In King Rich. II. his time Wicklive's Doctrines were greedily embraced and the Mendicant Friers began to lose their reputation There were no Monasteries except two or three Charterhouses founded in this Reign besides ten or eleven Colleges Thus after the Laity were prohibited to erect and endow Houses for the Regular Orders the Secular Priests became more in vogue It being perhaps more easie to get Mortmain's for them who had not so many privileges as the Regulars had or else they were maintain'd by Appropriations which were no Lay Fees and so not within the reach of the Statute or lastly it was no hard matter to enfeoffe such a number of persons with lands for the payment of certain annual stipends to the Dean and Prebendaries To the same reasons may be referr'd the erecting so many Chantries and Hospitals in the two Centuries before the Reformation This King founded no Monastery or College but gave several Alien-Priories that had been seis'd into his Grand-fathers hands to the Carthusians at Mountgrace in Com. Ebor. St. Anns near Coventry c. In the sixth year of Henry the Fourth's reign A. D. 1404. was the Parliamentum indoctum so called because none that were learned in the Laws of the Land were suffered to be chosen Members of it Herein methods were to be considered on to raise mony for the defence of the Realm against the Welsh and Scots at home and for carrying on a war against the Britains Flemings and Frenchmen abroad Among other resolutions some forward men among the Commons moved that the Clergy should be deprived of all their Temporal possessions to the relief of the King's necessities In answer to this Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop of Canterbury shewed what great service the Clergy did the Crown for their lands how that more of their tenants went forth to the King's wars than the tenants of the Lay-Fees And after he had at large set forth how ready the Clergy were to assist the King with their Prayers Counsels and Purses kneeling before the King he humbly desired his Majesty to remember his Coronation Oath wherein he swore to advance the honour of the Church and to maintain and cherish the Ministers thereof He prayed him also to think on the Curses which those incurr'd that took away any Lands or Privileges from the Church c. To this the King gave a gracious answer saying That he was fully resolv'd to leave the Church in as good state or better than he found it When the Arch-bishop heard this he turned to the Commons and told them That some had advised the King and his Predecessors to seise on the Alien-Priories affirming that thereby great riches would accrue to the Crown and indeed their goods and possessions were worth many thousands of gold and yet the King was not at that day half a mark the richer because they had begg'd them That it was easie to conjecture that they had now requested the Temporalities of the Clergy not to advance the Kings profit but to satisfie their own covetousness for most certain if the King should in this which God forbid gratifie their wicked desires he would not be one farthing the richer the next year after Yet A. D. 1410. there was a new bill exhibited against the Clerâ—y shewing how great an Army the Temporalities of the Clergy would maintain But the King after he had fully considered the matter misliked this motion and commanded that for the future they should not presume to think of any such thing This King built the College of Battlefield in Com. Salop. which with two or three Colleges more and a Carthusian Priory were all the Foundations during this Reign In 2. Henry V. there was another attempt made against the possessions of the Church but Arch-bishop Chichley earnestly pressing the young King to recover his right to the Crown of France and for the vigorous carrying on of a war he promising in the name of the Clergy such a benevolence as scarce ever had been given by the Subject The King readily embraced this proposal and so the Church was once more preserv'd from Sacrilege But in a Parliament held this same year at Leicester all the Alien-Priories were given to the King with all their Lands Houses c. except those that were Conventual i. e. that had liberty to choose their own Prior. For after the first seiâ—ures of these Cells by King Edw. I. and afterward by King Edw. III. the greatest of them got to be made Prioratus indigenae or Denison such were all those who have any valuations in the Notiâ—iâ— By this Naturalization they were freed from subjection to any foreign Monastery had power to elect a Prior and to use a common Seal c. But of the rest few were given or sold to the Laity but most of them were still continued for sacred uses being bestowed by Richard II. Henry IV. Henry V VI. and Edw. IV. on several Monasteries and Colleges In this Kings short reign were founded only six Colleges and an Austin Priory besides the Carthusian Abby at Sheen in Com. Surr. and the House of the Brigettan Order at Syon in Com. Middl. which were built and liberally endowed by the King himself King Henry VI. succeeded next a Religious but unfortunate Prince he founded Eaton College in Com. Bucks and Kings in Cambridge and endowed them chiefly out of the suppressed Alien-Priories Beside them were six Colleges founded in this Reign During the Civil wars between the York and Lancaster parties in the time of Edw. IV. we must not expect to meet with any considerable additions to the Church it being very good fortune that she had prudence enough to keep her own in those troublesome times There were some few Colleges built in this Reign The Reader is desired to observe that tho' here is noted how many Religious Houses were built in every King's Reign yet it is not pretended that the numbers are exact because there are almost two hundred and fifty Abbies Priories and Colleges mentioned in this Book the times of whose Foundations are yet unknown As for what relates to Monastick affairs in the Reigns of Richard III. and King Henry VII our Histories are silent so that there is nothing remarkable till the Dissolution which happned in the very next Reign
For the 27. of Henry VIII all the lesser Monasteries not having 200 â— per ann of which there were above three hundred and seventy were dissolved and all their Lands Rents Houses c. with their stock of Cattel Corn c. given to the King In the 31st year of his Reign all the great Abbies to the number of six hundred fourty and five had the same fate And in the 37th year ninety Colleges one hundred and ten Hospitals and two thousand three hundred seventy four Chantries and Free Chappels were granted to supply the Kings necessities besides the Houses Lands and Goods of the Knights of St. Iohn of Ierusalem which were suppressed 32. Hen. VIII These things I have but barely named because the account Sir Will. Dugdale has given us of the methods used in the Dissolution of Monasteries shall be here subjoin'd at large out of his celebrated History of Warwickshire After he had told us that the Commissioners had signified to the Visitor General That after strict scrutiny not only by the fame of the Country but by examinatiâ—n of several persons they found the Nuns of Polesworth Vertuous and Religious Women and of good conversation He goes on and tells us That it was not the strict and regular lives of these devout Ladies nor any thing that might be said in behalf of the Monasteries that could prevent their ruine then approaching so great an aime had the King to make himself thereby glorious and many others no less hopes to be enricht in a considerable manner But to the end that such a change should not overwhelm those that might be active therein in regard the people every where had no small esteem of these Houses for their devout and daily exercises in Prayer Alms-deeds Hospitality and the like whereby not only the Souls of their deceased Ancestors had much benefit as was then thought but themselves the poor as also strangers and pilgrims constant advantage there wanted not the most subtil contrivances to effect this stupendious work that I think any age hath beheld whereof it will not be thought impertinent I presume to take here a short view In order therefore to it was that which Cardinal Wolsey had done for the founding his Colleges in Oxford and Ipswich made a president viz. the dissolving of above thirty Religious Houses most very small ones by the license of the King and Pope Clement VII And that it might be the better carried on Mr. Thomas Cromwell who had been an old servant to the Cardinal and not a little active in that was the chief person pitched upon to assist therein For I look upon this business as not originally designed by the King but by some principal ambitious men of that age who projected to themselves all worldly advantages imaginable thro' that deluge of wealth which was like to flow amongst them by this hideous storm First therefore having insinuated to the King matter of Profit and Honour scil Profit by so vast enlargement of his Revenue and Honour in being able to maintain mighty Armies to recover his rights in France as also to strengthen himself against the Pope whose Supremacy he himself abolish'd and make the firmer alliance with such Princes as had done the like did they procure Cranmer's advancement to the See of Canterbury and more of the Protestant Clergy as my authority terms them to other Bishopricks and high places to the end that the rest should not be able in a full Council to carry any thing against their design sending out Preachers â—o perswade the people that they should stand fast to the King without fear of the Popes Curse or his dissolving their allegiance Next that it might be the more plausibly carried on care was taken so to represent the lives of the Monks Nuns Canons c. to the world as that the less regret might be made at their ruine To which purpose T. Cromwell being constituted General Visitor imploy'd sundry persons who acted therein their parts accordingly viz. Rich. Layton Thomas Legh and William Petre Doctors of Law Dr. John London Dean of Walingford and others to whom he gave instructions in eighty six Articles by which they were to enquire into the Government and behaviour of the Religious of both Sexes which Commissioners the better to manage their design gave encouragement to the Monks not only to accuse their Governours but to inform against each other compelling them also to produce the Charters and Evidences of their Lands as also their Plate and Money and to give an inventory thereof And hereunto did they add certain injunctions from the King containing most severe and strict Rules by means whereof divers being found obnoxious to their censure â—were expelled and many discerning themselves not able to live from some exception or advantage that might be taken against them desired to leave their Habit And having by these Visitors thus search't into their lives which by a Black Book containing a world of enormities were represented in no small measure scandalous to the end that the people might â—e better satisfied with their proceedings it was thought convenient to suggest that the lesser Houses for want of good Government were chiefly guilty of these crimes that were laid to their charge and so they did as appears by the preamble of that Act for their Dissolution made in 27. Hen. VIII which Parliament consisting of the most part of such Members as were packt for the purpose through private interest as is evident by divers original Letters of that time many of the Nobility for the like respects also favouring the design assented to the suppressing of all such Houses as had been certified of less value then 200 â— per ann and giving them with their lands and revenues to tho King yet so as not only the Religious Persons therein should be committed to the great and honourable Monasteries of this Realm where they might be compell'd to live religiously for reformation of their lives wherein thanks be to God Religion is well kept and observ'd as are the very words of that Act but that the possessions belonging to such Houses should be converted to better uses to the pleasure of Almighty God and to the honour and profit oâ— the Realm But how well the tenour thereof was pursued 〈◊〉 shall soon see these specious pretences being madâ— use of for no other purpose than by opening this gap to make way for the total ruine of the greater Housesâ— wherein it is by the said Act acknowledg'd thaâ— Religion was so well observed For no sooneâ— were the Monks c. turned out and the House dâ—molish'd that being it which was first thought râ—quisite least some accidental change might conduce to their restitution but care was taken to prefer such persons to the Superiority in Government upon any vacancy of those greater Houses as might be instrumental to their surrender by perswading with the
the story of that time may see And for farther terrour to thâ— rest some Priors and other Ecclesiastick persons who had spoke against the Kings Supremacy a thing then somewhat uncouth being so newly set up were condemn'd as Traitors and executed And now that all this was effected to the end it might not be thought that these things were done by a high hand the King having protested That he would suppress none without consent of Parliament A Parliament being called April 28. Anno 1539. to confirm these surrenders so made as hath been said there wanted not plausible insâ—â—â—ations to both Houses for drawing on their consent with all smoothness thereto the Nobility being promised large shares in the spoil either by free gift from the King easie purchases or most advantageous exchanges and many of the active Gentry advancements to honour with increase of their estates all which we see happened to them accordingly And the better to satisfie the vulgar was it represented to them that by this deluge of Wealth the Kingdom should be strengthened with an Army of fourty thousand Men and that for the future they should never be charged with Subsidies Fifteens Loans or common Aids By which means the Parliament ratifying the before specified surrenders the work became compleated for the more firm setttling whereof a sudden course was taken to pull down and destroy the buildings as had been before upon that Dissolution of smaller Houses whereof I have touch't Next to disperse a great proportion of their Lands amongst the Nobility and Gentry as had been projected which was accordingly done the Visitor General having told the King That the more had interest in them the more they would be irrevocable And least any domestick stirs by reason of this great and strange alteration should arise rumours were spread that Cardinal Pool laboured with divers Princes to procure forces against this Realm and that an invasion was threatned which seemed the more credible because the Truce concluded betwixt the Emperour and the French King was generally known neither of them wanting a pretence to bring them hither And this was also seconded by a suddain journey of the King unto the Sea Coasts unto divers parts whereof he had sent sundry of the Nobles and expert persons to visit the Ports and places of danger who failed not for their discharge upon all events to affirm the peril in each place to be so great as one would have thought every place had needed a Fortification Besides he forthwith caused his Navy to be in a readiness and Musters to be taken over all the Kingdom All which preparations being made against a danger believed imminent seemed so to excuse this Suppression of the Abbies as that the people willing to save their own Purses began to suffer it easily especially when they saw order taken for building such Forts But let us look a little upon the success wherein I find that the said Visitor General the grand Actor in this tragick business having contracted upon himself such an Odium from the Nobility by reason of his low birth tho' not long before made Knight of the Garter Earl of Essex and Lord High Chancellour of England as also from the Catholicks for having thus operated in the Dissolution of Abbies that before the end of the before specified Parliament wherein that was ratified which he had with so much industry brought to pass the King not having any more use of him gave way to his Enemies accusations whereupon being arrested by the Duke of Norfolk at the Counsel Table when he least dream't of it and committed to the Tower he was condemn'd by the same Parliament for Heresie and Treason unâ—eard and little pittied and on the xxviii of July viz. four days after the Parliament was dissolved had his head cut off on Tower Hill And as for the Fruit which the People reapt after all their hopes built upon those specious pretences which I have instanc'd it was very little For plain it is that Subsidies from the Clergy and Fifteens of Lay-mens goods were soon after exacted And that in Edw. VI. time the Commons were constrained to supply the Kings wants by a new invention viz. Sheep Clothes Goods Debts c. for three years which Tax grew so heavy that the year following they prayed the King for mitigation thereof Nor is it a little observable that whilst the Monasteries stood there was no Act for the relief of the Poor so amply did those Houses give succour to them that were in want whereas in the next age viz. 39. Eliz. no less than eleven Bills were brought into the House of Commons for that purpose So far this Learned Knight Many other ill consequences that attended the Suppression of these Religious Houses might be here farther observed but besides that they would lead me into a long and tedious digression it is an an invidious subject which few in this age can bear So that 't is my design at present to take notice only of the great decay of Learning that was like to ensue the Dissolution in so much that in the Parliaments held 2. Edw. VI. and 3. Edw. VI. there were Bills brought in for incouraging men to give lands for the maintenance of Schools of learning And the loss of good Books was irreparable for Bale honestly tells us Never had we bene offended for the loss of our Lybraryes beynge so many in nombre and in so desolate places for the more parte yf the chiefe monumentes and most notable workes ' of our most excellent wryters had bene reserved If there had bene in every Shyre of Englande but one solempne Lybrarye to the preservacyon of those noble workes and preferrement of good lernynge in oure posteritye it had bene sumwhat But to destroye all without consideracyon is and wyll be unto Englande for ever a moste horryble infamy amonge the grave Senyours of other Nacyons A great nombre of them whych purchased those superstycyouse mansyons reserved of those Lybrary bokes some to serve theyr Iakes some to scoure their candelstyckes and some to rubbe their bootes Some they sold to the Grossers and Sopesellers and some they sent over See to the Bokebynders not in small nombre but at tymes whole Shyppes full to the wonderynge of foren Nacyons Yea the Vnyversytees of thys Realme are not all clere in this detestable fact But cursed is that bellye whyche seketh to be fedde with suche ungodly gaynes and so depelye shameth his natural Countrey I knowe a Merchaunt Man whych shall at thys tyme be namelesse that boughte the contentes of two noble Lybraryes for xl shyllynges pryce a shame it is to be spoken Thys stuffe hath he occupyed in the stede of graye paper by the space of more than these ten years and yet he hath store ynough for as many years to come A prodygâ—ouse example is this and to be abhorred of all
given to the Chronicle that records how that St. Wilfrid A. D. 666. introduced that Rule or rather as others say improved the Orders of the English Churches by it And as for the Bull of Pope Constantine commanding that the Monks of Evesham should live under that Rule there are great probabilities that 't is forged and spurious and tho' 't was genuine it does not make much for the Patrons of the Benedictines because it follows in the next words that at that time A. D. 709. that Rule was very little used in England For Bede who hath given us a very accurate account of the state of Religion in this Isle till A. D. 731. hath nothing of Saint Bennet or his Rule And at the first Regulation of the Monks in England by Arch-bishop Cuthbert A. D. 747. in the great Synod at Clovesho there is not the least mention of it In this Council several things were amended relating to the Habit and manners of the Monks and according to the Canons thereof without doubt the Religious especially of the Province of Canterbury walked till the fatal invasions of the Danes who were very barbarous where ere they came in rifling and burning Monasteries and stripping wounding and very often killinâ— the poor Monks During their incursions Monkery and with it Christianity had almost been extinguished and there were scarce any remains of a Monastery save at Glastonbury and Abingdon And even at Winchester and Canterbury in King Alfred's time there was such a scarcity of Monks that Seculars were permitted to assist them in performing the Divine Offices Nay Gervasius saith that before St. Dunstan's time the name of Abbat was scarce heard of and very few had seen a Convent of Monks This Dunstan being promoted to the Archiepiscopal Seâ— and countenanced by King Edgar was the great restorer of the Monastick way of living by repairing the ruinous Churches and Religious Houses and placing Monks and Nuns in the room of Secular Canons It was by his advice that King Edgar made the second Reformation of our ancient English Monks in the Council of Winchester A. D. 965. To this end several Monks were sent for from Fleury and Corby in France who were to inform them in the particulars of St. Bennet's Order So little was that rule known then in England which several fondly imagine was generally received some hundreds of years before At this Synod was framed a general Constitution for our English Monâ—s composed partly out of the Rule of St. Bennet and partly out of the ancient customs of the English Devotees This was called Regularis concordia Anâ—licae Nationis and is published in Saxon and Latin by the Learned Selden in his Spicilegium after Eadmerus According to this Rule were Monasteries founded and governed in the Southern and more civilized part of Britain and their number encreased so very much that 〈◊〉 is King is recorded to have erected or rather re-founded fourty seven Neither were new Monasteries only founded but all the Lands which by the iniquity of the times had been taken away from Religious places were restored by the authority of the King and the care of Dunstan Arch-bishop of Canterbury Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester and Wulstan Bishop of Worcester After this Kings death the Secular Clergy began to lift up their heads again and were encouraged by Elfere Prince of Mercia who expelled the Monks out of all the Monasteries in that Province and restored the Secular Canons These things occasioned the contests between the Monks and Seculars at the Synods of Winchester Caln and Ambresbury in the time of King Edward the elder Where being convinced by pretended miracles or else over-ruled by the power of Arch-bishop Dunstan and others of the Monks party the Seculars made no great stir afterward and so the Monks quietly enjoyed their Lands till the Conquest But this must be understood only of the state of Monasteries in the South parts of the Isle in the Kingdom of the Northumbrians Monasteries were more frequent even from their first receiving Christianity For here the new Converts being mightily taken with the powerfull Preaching and exemplary lives of Aidan and the Scotch Monks were very zealous in building and endowing Religious Houses So great an opinion had they of the sanctity of those Monks and their way of living that it was very usual for their Nobles and very often their Kings and Queens to renounce the world as they call'd it and put on Religious Habits Not to make any mention here of the old Scottish Monks or Culdees of whom we had none in England except at St. Peter's in York because they were the same with the Monks of the Irish Rules As in the South parts of England 't was usual to send their children to France to learn the Monastick way of living so in the North they were sent into Ireland to the Monasteries there to be instructed in Learning But as Sim. Dunelmensis saith after the devastation of that Country by the Danes A. D. 867. who reduced the Churches and Monasteries to ashes Christianity was almost extinct very few Churches and those only built with hurdles and covered with straw were rebuilt but no Monasteries were re-founded for almost two hundred years after The Countrey people never heard of the name of a Monk and were frighted at their very Habit till three Monks from Winchelcomb brought again the Monastick way of living to Durham York and Whitby It may be necessary here to note 1 Something concerning the Nunneries before the Conquest That we had Nuns in the time of the Britains is very probable because the Irish and Scots allowed of them before St. Austin came into England and the Constitution of the British Churches were in a manner the same with them But if Leland's authority be allowed in this case I think it is clear enough to decide the controversie for he tells us of Nunneries in the time of the Britains more than once particularly of one at Caermarden What Monastick Rules so ever St. Austin might introduce we meet with none relating to religious Virgins Yet in the next Century we find them very frequent among the Saxons King Eadbald is recorded to have founded about A. D. 630. a Nunneâ—y at Folkstone in Kent which 't is likely was the first in England So according to this it must be an oversight in Mr. Weaver and Sir W. Dugdale to say that Barking in Essex was the first Nunnery in England which was not built till A. D. 680. About which time without doubt Nuns were in great plenty because we find in that year Domneva to have presided over no fewer than seventy in one Monastery in the Isle of Thanet And A. D. 694. Abbesses were in so great esteem for their Sanctity and Prudence that they were summon'd to the Council at Becanceld and the names of five and not one Abbat subscribed to the Constitutions there made Bishop Aidan
Men which love their Nation as they should do Thus Bale one of the bitterest enemies the Monks ever had is forced to lament the great damage the Learned World sustained at the Dissolution Indeed those well furnish't Libraries that were in most Monasteries plainly shew that we are too much prejudic'd against the Monks when we rashly condemn them as idle ignorant and discouragers of Learning and that on the contrary we ought to esteem many of them to be Learned and industrious and promoters of several usefull parts of knowledge In every great Abby there was a large Room called the Scriptorium to which belonged several Writers whose whole business it was to transcribe good Books for the use of the publick Library of the House Tho' sometimes they wrote the Leiger-books as also Missals and other Books used in Divine Service yet generally they were upon other Works viz. Fathers Classicks Histories Philosophy c. And to give but one instance the care they had to encrease the number of good Books will appear by the large Catalogue of Books which were transcrib'd at Glastonbury in one Abbat's time and are as follow Bibliotheca una Plinius de Naturali Historia Cassiodorus super Psalteriam Tria Missalia magna Duo Lectionaria Breviarium in domo infirmorum Jeronimus super Ieremiam Isaiam Origines super Vetus Testamentum Ejusdem Omeliae Idem super Epistolam Pauli ad Romanos Hieronymus super Epistolam ad Galathas ad Ephesios ad Titum ad Philemonem Vitae Patrum Collationes Patrum Breviarium Hospitum Antiphonarium Pars una Moralium Cyprianus Registrum Liber dictus Paradisus Jeronimus contra Iovinianum Ambrosius contra Novatianos Septem Volumina de Passionibus Sanctorum per totum anni circulum Vitâ—e Caesarum Gesta Britonum Gesta Anglorum Gesta Francorum Pascasius Radbertus de corpore sanguine Domini Summae quaedam Liber Abbatis Clarevallensis de amando Deo Hugo de S. Victore de duodecim gradibus Humilitatis de Oratione Physionomia Lapidarium Liber Petri Alfimii in uno volumine Rhetorica prima secunda Vnum Volumen Quintiliani de causis Epistola Augustini de oratione Dominica super Psalmum Miserere mei Deus Benedictionale unum Episcopale Decreta Juonis Carnotensis Episcopi Jeronimus super XII Prophetas Lamentationes Ieremiae Augustinus de Trinitate Augustinus super Genesin Ysidori Etymologiae Paterius Augustinus de verbis Domini Hugo de Sacramentis Cassianus de Incarnatione Domini Anselmus cur Deus Homo These valuable Books could never have been without the expence of a great deal of time and money transcribed had not the Monks had a Spirit of Learning and industry There were no less than 1700. MSS. Tracts in the Library at Peterburgh and the Catalogues of Books belonging to the Priory of Dover and the Abby of St. Mary de la Pre at Leicester clearly evince that those Houses had no mean Libraries and those kept in very good order Nay so zealous were the Monks for the encouragement of Learning that they very often got Churches appropriated ad libros faciendos And in the Abby of St. Austin at Canterbury there was temp Edw. II. an order made by Thomas the Abbat with the unanimous consent of the whole Convent that yearly on the first day of Lent Prayers should be made for the Souls of the dead and the good estates of the living Benefactors to the Library that for the living the Mass of the Holy Ghost should be solemnly sung and for the dead the Mass Pro Defunctis with the Prayer Inclina c. And not only their diligence in procuring new Books but their care in preserving the old was very commendable Of this St. Aldhelm's Psalter at Malmsbury and St. Cuthbert's Gospels kept till the Dissolution in Durham Abby and now among that curious Collection of MSS. belonging to Sir Iohn Cotton at Westminster are pregnant instances And Leland tells us that in Bath Library he found several Books given them by King Ethelstan To this end they had in some Monasteries Librarians as Flaccus Albinus at York and William Somerset at Malmsbury and in others there is reason to believe the Libraries were under the care of the Camerarius It would be too hard a censure to think that those who were so great lovers of Books should not make some use of them The ancient British Irish and Saxon Monasteries we find were the Schools and Universities of those times they were not only Cells of Devotion but also Nurseries of Learned Men for the use of the Church The works of Bede are a sufficient argument of the knowledge the Monks of those times had in all parts of Learning Their skill in the Learned Languages was so very eminent that 't is reported some of them understood Greek and Latin as well as their Mother-tongue But it is to no purpose to enlarge any more in this matter which requires a particular Treatise When the Monks were rooted out by the Danish wars an universal ignorance overspread the land in so much that there was scarce any one in England that could read or write Latin But when by the care of King Edgar and Arch-bishop Dunstan Monasteries were restored Learning found it's former encouragement and flourished very much within the walls of the Cloisters So that Leland who was no great friend to the Monks often confesses that in these old times there few or no Writers but Monks and that all the knowledge of those dark ages was amongst them Even after the Conquest tho' by reason of the introducing several new Orders of Religious who minded their Devotions more than Books there were but few Learned Men yet all or most of the Writers were Monks and Regular Canons till the rise of the Mendicant Orders in the beginning of the Reign of King Henry III. In the preceding Centuries Learning began to flourish in our Universities tho' the original or at least the Restoration of one of them is owing to the â—onks of Croiland In them were taught â—chool Divinity and Canon Law then mightily 〈◊〉 vogue and the Friers resorting thither in â—reat numbers and applying themselves to â—earning with indefatigable industry went beâ—ond the Monks in all parts of the then fashioâ—able knowledge But in the next age the â—onks had Colleges in the Universities foundâ—â— and liberally endowed for the education of â—â—eir Novices Thus Leland tells us The â—â—mes of Peterburgh Haulle Semplingham and â—auldey remain at Stanford as places for those â—ouses of Men of Religion that sent their Scholars â—â—ther to study And in Oxford we had Glocester â—â—rham Canterbury and London Colleges for 〈◊〉 Benedictines St. Marie's near North-gate 〈◊〉 the Austin Canons and the College of St. 〈◊〉 for the Cistercians Here the young â—onks were instructed for some years in Grammar Rhetorick Philosophy School Divinitâ— c. and
then returning home improv'd theâ—â— knowledge by their private Studies to the seâ—vice of God and the honour of their respectiâ—â— Societies So that a little before the Reformatioâ— the greatest part of the Proceeders in Diviniâ—â— were Monks and Regular Canons as will 〈◊〉 appear from the Fasti Oxonienses It farther observable that when Printing was 〈◊〉 known the Monks were the chief promoteâ— of that excellent invention in England 〈◊〉 Hollingshead saith William Caxton of Londâ—â— Mercer brought Printing into England about 〈◊〉 year 1471. and first practised the same in the 〈◊〉 of St. Peter at Westminster after which time was likewise practised in the Abbies of St. 〈◊〉 at Canterbury St. Albans and other Monasterâ— These are all the remarks that I shall 〈◊〉 in favour of the Learning of the Monâ— tho' I pretend not to justifie the ignoraâ—â— of some of them or to compare the 〈◊〉 lege of those dark ages with that of 〈◊〉 times but it is my design only to shew 〈◊〉 there were some persons among the 〈◊〉 who were allowance being made for the 〈◊〉 wherein they liv'd very good Scholars theâ— selves and encouragers of Learning in otherâ— Having detain'd the Reader with such aâ—dious Preface I shall make no other apolâ— for it and the whole Book than in the 〈◊〉 of our Great Master Camden who saith 〈◊〉 are some I hear who take it ill that I have mentioned Monasteries and their Founders I am sorry to hear it but not to give them any just offence let 'em be angry if they will Perhaps they would have it forgotten that our Ancestors were and we are Christians since there were never more certain indications and glorious Monuments of Christian Piety and Devotion to God than those nor were there any other Seminaries for the propagation of the Christian Religion and good literature however it came to pass that in a loose age some rank weeds run up too fast which required rooting out I shall crave leave to suggest but one thing more which is that some able pen would give us an exact and full account of all that Protestants have given or laid out for the Publick Good since the Reformation in works of Piety and Charity for the promotion of Learning the relief of the Poor and the honour of the Nation Some such thing was attempted by Dr. Willet in his Synopsis Papismi but that being imperfect by reason of the almost innumerable Benefactions bestowed since a Book of this nature deserves the encouragement of all Publick spirited Men and true English Protestants because it would be a standing Monument of the Publick affection and zeal of this Protestant Kingdom to Piety and good works By such a Book as this it would appear That there is no pretence that I may use the words of a Right Reverend father of our Church to upbraid us that error and superstition could make Men more zealous of good Works than the Doctrine of the true Religion and that our adversaries of Rome may be convinced that our Piety is as generous and charitable as theirs but would not be so arrogant and presumptuous and that whilst we disclaim merit yet we do most stedfastly believe the obligation and necessity of good Works NOTITIA MONASTICA Or A SHORT HISTORY Of the RELIGIOUS HOUSES IN ENGLAND and WALES BARK-SHIRE 1. Abingdon THIS Abbey was founded about A. D. 675. by Heane Nephew to Cissa Viceroy of the West-Saxons but the Monks forsook it in K. Alfreds time for fear of the Danes It was restored A. D. 955. by the munificence of K. Edred and K. Edgar and by the care of Ethelwulfus afterward Abbat here This Monastery being of the Benedictine Order and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary was endowed at the Suppression with 1876 l. 10 s. 9 d. according to Sir William Dugdale's Valuation or according to Mr. Speed with 2042 l. 2 s. 8 d. ob q. per an Vide Monasticon Angl. T. 1. p. 96. Angliae Sacr. T. 1. p. 163. Reynerii Apostolat Bâ—ned in Anglia Tract 2. p. 124. Historiam MS. de primis Fundatoribus Abbendoniae in Bibl. Cotton Vitellius A. 13. * Registrum de Abbendon MS. quondam penes Baron Fenton nunc in Bibl. Cotton Claudius C. 6. * Cartas de terris pertinentibus ad Monast. de Abbendon in Bibl. Cotton Jul. C. 2. 21. * Cartularium de Abbend MS. penes ... Berry de Cullam prope Abbend * Registrum aliud MS. penes Magistrum Wray de Ricot in Com. Oxon. * Apographa Cartarum c. ad hoc coenobium spectantium in Volum secundo Collectionum MSS. Briani Twine in Bibl. Coll. Corp. Christi Oxon. 2. Hellenstow Here was a Nunnery built by Cissa or Cilla Sister to Hean Founder of Abingdon to the honour of the Holy Cross and S. Helen not long after it's Foundation it was removed to Witham from whence also the Nuns were forced to fly by reason of the Wars Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 97. 99. 3. Hurley A Cell of Benedictine Monks to the Abbey of Westminster to which it was given by Ieffrey de Magna-villa or Mandevil in the reign of William the Conqueror It was dedicated to St. Mary and valued 26. Hen. VIII at 121 l. 18 s. 5â— Dugd. 134 l. 10 s. 8 d ob Speed Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 363. 4. Walingford The Church of the Holy Trinity here being given to the Abby of St. Albans Paul the Abbat temp Will. Conq. sent hither a Convent of Monks and so made it a Cell to that Monastery Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 1. p. 11. T. 1. p. 326. 5. Reading In the Saxon times here was a Nunnery built by Queen Alfrith but that being destroyed and the lands alienated King Henry I. A. D. 1225. founded an Abby here to the honour of the Holy Trinity the Blessed Virgin St. Iames and St. Iohn the Evangelist for two hundred Black Monks The yearly Revenues of this Abby were worth at the Dissolution 1938 l. 14 s. 3 d. ob q. Dugd. 2116 l. 3 s. 9 d. Speed Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 417. Reyner Apostolat Benedict Tr. 2. p. 152. Registrum Abbatiae de Reading in Bibl. Cotton Vespasian A. 1. * Aliud in eadem Bibliotheca Domitian A. 3. * Aliud penes ... Davies de Pangburn in Com. Bercher * Catalogum Benefactorum Mon. Radingensis in Bibl. Lambeth 4 â—o XLVII * Registrum mutilum hujus Abbatiae penes V. Rev. Rob. Woodward L. L. D. Decanum Eccl. Cathedr Sarisbur * Cartularium de omnibus terris tenementis redditibus placitis c. ad Abbatiam de Reading pertinentibus manu antiqua in membrana pulchre exaratum fol. Continens paginas 500. Hunc quantivis pretii Codicem MS. inter alia venerâ—â—dae Antiquitatis monumenta religiosissime conservat Vir Dignissimus Henricus Worsley nuper Aulae S. Edmundi Oxon. nunc Hospitii Lincolniensis Armiger 6. Steinington or Stiventon An Alien Priory
Reinham founded by Roger Prior of Reinham A. D. ... Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 637. 41. Fildalling An Alien-Priory to the Abby of Savignei in France annexed by King Rich. II. to the Carthusians of St. Anne's Priory near Coventry Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 966. 42. Heveringland A Cell to the Abby of St. Laurence de Montegaudio in France 43. Malsingham A Cell of Canons to Westacre 44. S. Olaves A Benedictine Priory founded by Roger fil Osberti Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 545. 45. Aldeby A Cell of Benedictines to the Abby of Norwich to which it was given by Agnes de Bello-fago and dedicated to the blessed Virgin Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 545. 46. UUendlyng An Abby of the Praemonstratensian Order built by Will. de Wendling to the honour of the blessed Virgin It 's yearly revenues were worth 55 l. 18 s. 4 d. ob Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 613. 47. Sporley An Alien-Priory to the Abby of St. Florence near Salmur given by Hen. VI. to Eaton College Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 198. 48. UUells An Alien-Priory to the Abby of St. Stephen at Caen in Normandy to which it was given by Will. de Estois or Will. de Scocris Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 574. T. 2. p. 956. 49. UUrongly A Cell to Pentney 50. Mendham A Cluniac Priory subordinate to Castle-acre founded by Will. de Huntingfield ... dedicated to the blessed Virgin Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 631. 51. Burnham A Priory of Austin Canons called Prioratus S. Mariae de Pratis inter Creyk Burnham founded by Alicia de Nerford A. D. 1221. to the honour of St. Bartholomew Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 327. * Registrum penes Henr. Dereham de West-Dereham Armig. A. D. 1632. 52. Slevesholm A Cell of Cluniac Monks to Castel-Acre to which it was given by William Earl of Warren about A. D. 1222. It was dedicated to St. George Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 638. 53. Marham-Barbara A Nunnery of the Cistercian Order built by Isabella de Albini Countess of Arundel A. D. 1252. It 's yearly revenues were worth 33 l. 13 s. 5 d. ob q. Dugd. 42 l. 4 s. 7 d. ob Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 929. * Reg. penes Joh. Hare de Stowhill in Com. Norf. mil. A. D. 1632. 54. Castre juxta Yarmouth A Collegiate Church built by Rob. de Castre to the honour of St. Iohn Baptist. 55. Tomeston or Tomson A College of Secular Canons founded by Tho. de Shardelow Knight and Iohn his brother 22. Edw. III. Valued at 52 l. 15 s. 7 d. Dugd. 56. Raveningham A College built by Iohn de Norwych Knight 24. Edw. III. to the honour of St. Mary and St. Andrew for a Master and eight Priests 57. Rushworth A College of Secular Canons founded by the Lord Edmund de Gonevil about A. D. 1360. dedicated to St. Iohn the Evangelist It was rated 26. Hen. VIII at 85 l. 15 s. ob per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 110. 58. Attilburgh Sir Rob. Mortimer founded a College for a Warden and four Secular Canons in the Church of the holy Cross here 7. Hen. IV. It was endowed with 21 l. 16 s. 3 d. per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 142. 59. Heringby A College valued at 23 l. 6 s. 5 d. 60. Norwich There was a College in the Church of St. Martin in Campis founded by one Iohn Brown ☞ Sibton placed in this County by the Monasticon T. 3. P. 1. p. 22. is in Suffolk NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE 1. Castor AN old Monastery founded by Kinneburga daughter to King Penda but destroyed by the Danes about A. D. 1010. Camd. 2. Peterburgh olim Medeshamsted This famous Abby was begun by Peada King of the Mercians A. D. 655. and finished by his Brother and Successor King Wolfere who commended it to the Patronage of St. Peter It was of the Benedictine Order and valued 26. Hen. VIII at 1721 l. 14 s. ob q. per an Dugd. 1972 l. 7 s. ob q. Speed At the Dissolution of Abbies King Henry VIII turned this into a Cathedral and placed here a Bishop a Dean and six Prebendaries c. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 63. The history of the Church of Peterburgh by Symon Gunton published with large Additions by Dr. Patrick Lond. 1686. fol. * Registrum Will. Abbatis de Burgo S. Petri vocatum The White Book penes Rob. Wingfield militem 1636. * Collectiones MS. Rog. Dodsworthi in Bibl. Bodl. Vol. 86. * Registri Terrarum Mon. Burgi S. Petri Partem 1 am in Bibl. Cotton Cleop. C. 1. 2. Partem 2 dam. in ead Bibl. Cleop. C. 2. 1. * Cronicon Petroburgense a fundatione Monasterii ibidem ad A. Ch. 1368. continens seriem Abbatum Petroburgensium Priorum Spaldingensis Ecclesiae per Johannem Abbatem Burgi S. Petri. In Bibl. Cotton Claudius A. 5. 1. * Coenobii Petroburg Historiam vetustissimam In Bibl. Cotton Otho A. 16. 3. 3. Peykirk olim Pegelandia An ancient Monastery founded in memory of Pega Sister to St. Guthlac but destroy'd by the Danes and the Monks afterwards remov'd to Croiland A. D. 1048. 4. Wedon Leland tells us that St. Werburg was a Nun at Wedon where was a Monastery in Bede's time afterward destroyed by the Danes After the Conquest here were two Alien-Priories one called Wedon-Pinkney belonging to the Abby of St. Lucian near Beauvoys in France by the gift of Giles de Pinkeni the lands belonging to this Priory were granted by King Henry VI. to All-Souls College in Oxford The other was Cell to the Abby of Bec in Normandy to which Abby Roger de Thebovil gave part of this Mannor which was bestowed after the Dissolution of these Alien-Priories by King Henry VI. on Eaton College Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 584. T. 2. 954. * Cartas ad hos Prioratus spectantes in Thesaurariis Collegiorum Omn. Anim. Oxon. Eton. 5. Dorthampton A Priory of Cluniac Monks built by Simon de Seinlitz Earl of Northampton A. D. 1084. to the honour of St. Andrew It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 263 l. 7 s. 1 d. q. per an Dugd. 344 l. 13 s. 4 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 679. Reyner Apost Bened. Tr. 2. p. 129. Registr in Bibl. Hattoniana Registr penes Jo. Theyer de Coupershilt juxta Glocestr * Cartularium penes Joh. Lambe militem 1641. * Collectiones MSS. Rog. Dodsworthi Eboracensis in Bibl. Bodl. Oxon. Vol. 100. 6. Chacomb Hugh Chacomb temp Will. Conq. founded here a Priory of Canons Augustin's and dedicated it to St. Peter and St. Paul It 's yearly revenues at the Dissolution were worth 83 l. 18 s. 9 d. ob Dugd. 93 l. 6 s. 3 d. ob Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 279. * Rentale terrarum ad Mon. de Chacomb spectantium in Offcio Armorum London 7. Davintre A Priory of Cluniac
of a Warden eight Secular Priests and three Clerks Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 80. Dr. Thorotons history of Nottingham-shire p. 170. * Registrum penes virum eruditum R. Thoroton 16. Tuxford A College of Secular Canons founded here by Iohn Longvillers 31. Edw. III. Vide Mon. Ang. T. 3. P. 2. p. 90. Thoroton p. 382. 17. Clifton A College dedicated to the holy Trinity built by Sir Robert and his son Sir Gervase Clifton temp Edw. II. valued at 20 l. 2 s. 6 d. per an Dr. Thoroton's history of Notingham-shire p. 55. OXFORD-SHIRE 1. Dorchester AT the first Conversion of the Saxons to the Christian Faith here was an Episcopal See which was founded by St. Birin A. D. 635. who had under his jurisdiction the two large Kingdoms of the West-Saxons and Mercians And thoÌ„ in after times it was mightily abridg'd in its extent the Bishopricks of Winchester Salisbury Exeter Bath and Wells Litchfield Worcester and Hereford being taken out of it yet the Diocese still remain'd the largest in England the Bishops of which had their Seat here till Remigius translated it to Lincoln about A. D. 1075. The Priory of Black Canons was afterwards built by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln about A. D. 1140. to the honour of St. Peter St. Paul and St. Birin It was rated 26. Hen. VIII at 219 l. 12 s. per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 197. * Cartas quamplurimas ad hunc Prioratum spectantes in Registro Dominorum de Borstal penes D. Joh. Aubrey de ead Baronettum * Munimenta pen. V. Rev. Ric. Davis de Sanford 2. St. Frideswide's now Christ Church in Oxford About A. D. 730. Didanus a petty King in these parts founded a Nunnery here in honour of St. Mary and All-Saints and made his daughter Frideswide Abbess thereof who being buriâ—d here and afterward Canoniz'd this Monastery in process of time was call'd by her name But the Nuns being dispersed in the Danish wars Secular Priests inhabited this place till A. D. 1111. at which time Roger Bishop of Salisbury placed a Convent of Regular Canons of the Order of St. Austin in the Church of St. Frideswide under the care of Prior Guymund This Priory being surrendred into the King's hands A. D. 1524. the next year Cardinal Wolsey began the foundation of a Noble College for a Dean eighteen Canons c. But A. D. 1529. the King seised on all the Cardinals revenues and among other on the lands appointed for the endowment of this College A. D. 1532. King Henry VIII re-established it for a Dean and twelve Canons but this was also dissolv'd A. D. 1545. In the next year the Bishop's Seat being remov'd from Oseney this Church became a Cathedral and the King refounded the Chapter This Royal and ample Foundation consists of a Dean eight Canons one hundred Students besides Chaplaâ—s Choristers c. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 173 983. Historiam Antiquitates Acad. Oxon. per Ant. Wood. Lib. II. p. 246. Oxon. 1674. Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden Burcester c. by White Kennett B. D. Registr in Bibliotheca Coll. Corp. Christi Oxon. * Historiam Fundationis Prioratus S. Frideswidâ— Oxon. per Will. Wyrley MS. penes Henr. Worsley de Hosp. Linc. Arm. * Registra Cartas Originales c. in Thesaurario Aedis Christi Oxon. 3. â—ynsham A Benedictine Abby built by Aethelmare or Ailmer Earl of Devonshire A. D. 1005. to the honour of St. Mary It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 441. 12 s. 2 d. ob per an Dugd. 441 l. 16 s. 1 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 258. Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden c. Registr penes Decan Capit Eccl. Christi Oxon. * Johannis de Wudetun Librum Statutorum Monasterii de Eynsham MS. In bibl Bodl. NE. F. 3. 7. 4. Oxford A. D. 1075. Robert D' Oily founded the Collegiate Church of St. George within the Castle here for a Dean and Secular Canons but about A. D. 1129 they were translated to Oseney where they became Regulars of the Order of St. Austin 5. â—rgges An Alien-Priory of Black Monks to the Abby of Fiscamp in Normandy founded by Manasser Arsic A. D. 1103. It was given by Henry VI. to Eaton College Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 573. T. 3. P. 2. p. 199. 6. Osney A. D. 1129. Rob. D' Oily built a Priory of Canons Augustines here to the honour of the blessed Virgin It s yearly revenues at the Dissolution were worth 654 l. 10 s. 2 d. Dugd. 755 l. 18 s. 6 d. Speed Upon the erection of the new Bishopricks by King Hen. VIII the Seat of the Bishop of Oxfordshire was placed here but it was not long after viz. 1546. translated to Christ-Church Oxon. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 136. Mr. Kennett's Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden Burcester c. Registr in Bibl. Cotton * Reg. in Scaccario penes Remem Regis D. * Registra Rentalia alia munimenta ad bam Abbatiam spectantia in Thesaurario Aedis Christi Oxon. * Historiam fundationis Abbatiae de Osney per Will. Wyrley MS. in Bibliotheca Henr. Worsley de Hosp. Lincoln Arm. 7. Godstow A Benedictine Nunnery founded by one Editha or Ida a rich widow A. D. 1138. It was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Iohn Baptist and rated at 274. 5 s. 10 d. ob per an Dugd. 319 l. 18 s. 8 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 525. T. 2. p. 884. Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden c. * Historiam de Godstow inter MSS. Hon. Comitis de Clarendon N. 17. * Reg. de Godstow in Scaccario pen. Remem Regis * Munim penes D. J. Walter de Saresden Baron 8. Tame Sir Rob. Gait Knight A. D. 1138. founded a Cistercian Abby upon Otmoor within the parish of Oddington which was translated hither by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln It was commended it to the Patronage of the blessed Virgin and endowed with 256 l. 13 s. 7 d. ob per an Dugd. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 802. Mr. Kennett's Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden Burcester c. 9. Bruern A Cistercian Abby founded A. D. 1147. by Nicholas Basset it was dedicated to St. Mary It 's yearly revenues at the Dissolution were worth 134 l. 10 s. 10 d. Dugd. 124 l. 10 s. 10 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 835. Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden c. * Munimenta in Thes. Coll. Aenei Nasi Oxon. 10. Cold-Norton Will. Fitz-Alan temp Hen. II. built here a Priory of Black Canons to the honour of St. Iohn the Evangelist and St. Giles This Priory was escheated to the Crown temp Hen. VII from which it came to the Dean and Chapter of St. Stephen at Westminster of whom Bishop Smith bought it and gave it 5. Hen. VIII to Brasen-nose College in Oxford Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 275. T. 3. P. 1. p. 55. Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden c. * Munimenta
penes Principalem Socios Coll Aenei Nasi Oxon. 11. Stodâ—ley A Benedictine Nunnery dedicated to St. Mary and founded by Bernard de S. Waleriâ—o temp Hen II. It was endowed at the Suppression with 82 l. 4 s. 4 d. per an Dugd. 102 l. 6 s. 7 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 486. Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden c. Registr â—lim penes Tho. Allen ex Aula Glocestr 12. Burcester Gilbert Basset A. D. 1182. built a Priory of Black Canons to the honour of St. Mary and St. Edburg It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 147 l. 2 s. 1d per an Dugd. 167 l. 2 s. 10 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 283. Parochial Antiquities first attempted in the History of Ambrosden Burcester and other adjacent villages in the Counties of Oxford and Bucks deduced from the time of the Britains to near the Age of the Reformation by White Kennett B. D. Vicar of Ambrosden Hic liber accuratissime Historiam hujus Prioratus a tempore fundationis ad eversionem usque tractat quam ex Cartis Autographis penes D. D. Guil. Glynne de Ambrosden in Com. Oxon. Baronettum quamplurimis aliis Codicibus tum MSS. tum impressis summa fide industria contexuit Reverendus Autor 13. Wroxton A Priory of Canons of the Order of St. Austin founded by Mich. Belet temp R. Ioh. and dedicated to the blessed Virgin It s yearly revenues were worth 78 l. 13 s. 4 d. Dugd. 78 l. 14 s. 3 d. Sp. Vide Monast. Angl. T. 2. p. 326. * Cartas penes Hon. Franc. Dom. Guildford 14. Rewley or De Regali loco A. D. 1281. Edm. Earl of Cornwall changed the Secular Priests here placed by his Father into an Abbat and fifteen Monks of the Cistercian Order It 's Tutelar Saint was the blessed Virgin Mary It was rated 26. Hen. VIII at 174 l. 3 s. ob per an Dugd. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 934. Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden c. 15. Burford A Priory valued at 13 l. 6 s. 6 d. per an Dugd. Sp. 16. Clattercote A Gilbertine Priory dedicated to St. Leonard Endowed at the Dissolution with 34 l. 19 s. 11 d. per an Dugd. Speed 17. Goring A Benedictine Nunnery dedicated to the blessed Virgin valued at 60 l. 6 s. 5 d. per an Dugd. Sp. Vide. Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden c. * Munimenta quaedam ad hoc Caenobium spectantia in Cartulario de Borstall penes D. J. Aubrey Baron 18. Saucomb A Priory of Black Canons dedicated to St. Mary Speed 19. Minster Lovel An Alien-Priory Cell to the Abby of St. Mary de Ibrcio in Normandy founded by some of the family of Lovâ—l Vâ—le Cartas penes Henr. Farmer de Tusmore in Câ—m Oxon. Armig. 20. Oxford A. D. 1283. Iohn Gisfard Baron of Brimsfield founded a College here for the Benedictines of St. Peter's at Glocester and other Monasteries of that Order It was suppressed and the lands alienated by King Henry VIII part of it yet remaineth and is callâ—d Glocester-Hall Vide Histor Antiq. Vniv. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 338 380. Reyn. Apost Bened. in Angl. Tr. 3. p. 53. 21. Oxford A College for eight Benedictine Monks of Durham built by the Prior and Convent of Durham A. D. 1290. to the honour of St. Cuthbert but more amply endowed by Thomâ— Hatsield Lord Bishop of Durham about A. D. 1370. This being dissolv'd by King Henry VIII in the place where it stood was founded by Sir Thomas Pope Knight a College for a President twelve Fellows and â—â—ght Scholars 2 3. Phil. Mar. now called Trinity College Vide Histor. Antiq. Vniv. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 293 337. Angl. Sacr. T. 1. p. 748 770 772. 22. Littlemore near Sandford A Benedictine Nunnery dedicated to S. Nicholas Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 482. T. 3. P. 1. p. 13. 23. Milton A Priory of Monks 24. Sandford The Mannor of Sandford being given to the Knights Templers by Sir Thomas de Sandford Kn t. A. D. ... it became a Preceptory Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 544. Mr. Kennet's Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden Burcester c. * Registrum MS. in Bibl. Bodl. Wood. 10. 25. Oxford A College for the Black Monks of Canterbury founded by Simon Islip Arch-bishop of Canterbury A. D. 1363 This was suppressed by Henry VIII and is now part of Christ-Church 26. Oxford A College for Black Monks in the parish of St. Aldate called London College from Richard Clifford Bishop of London who was a great benefactor to it A. D. 1421 27. Oxford A. D. 1435. Thomas Holden Esquire and Elâ—zabeth his wife sounded a College near the Northgaâ—c for Novices of the Order of St. Austin It was dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary 28. Dâ—ford The College of St. Bernard for Monks of the Cistercian Order was founded by Henry Chichely Arch-bishop of Canterbury A. D. 1437. On the site of this dissolv'd College Sir Thomas Whitâ— Knight built and endowed a College to the honour of St. Iohn Baptist A. D. 1555. Vide Hist. Antiq. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 302 338. 29. Banbury A College dedicated to St. Mary and endowed with 48 l. 6 s Speed RUTLAND-SHIRE 1. Brook A Priory of Canons Regular of the Order of St. Austin subordinate to the Priory of Kenelworth founded by Hugh Ferrers temp Ric. I. and dedicated to the blessed Virgin It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 40 l. per an Dugd. 43 l. 13 s. 4 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 130. The history of Rutland-shire by J. Wright Lond. 1684. fol. p. 26. 2. Edichweston An Alien-Priory Cell to the Abby of S. George of Banquervile to which it was given by Will. de Tankervile temp Hen. II. Vide Mâ—n Angl. T. 2. p. 952. Mr. Wright's Rutland-shire p. 41. SHROP-SHIRF 1. Lilleshull A Delfleda Queen of Mercia is said to build a Church here in honour of St. Alâ—mund which was afterward endowed with lands for the maintenance of ten Prebends by King Edgar The Priory for Canons of the Order of St. Austin was founded about A. D. 1140. by Philip de Belmâ—is and dedicated to the blessed Virgin It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 229 l. 3 s. 1 d. per an Dugd. 327 l. â—0 s. Speed Vidâ— Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 144. 〈…〉 Ric. Leveson de Trentham in Com. Staff 2. Wenlock An Abby of the Cluniac Order founded by Roger Earl of Montgomery A. D. 1081. It 's Tutelar Saint was St. Milburga who being Niece to Wolphere King of Mercia had built a Nunnery here in the Saxon times which was now destroyed It was endowed with 401 l. 7 l. q. per an Dugd. 434 l. 1 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 631. 3. Shrâ—wsbury A. D. 1083. the same Roger Earl of Monâ—gâ—mery built a Benedictine Abby here to the honour of St. Pâ—ter and St. Paul It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 132 l. 4 s. 10 l. per an
868. 16. Whiston A Nunnery founded by the Abbat and Convent of Worcester A. D. 1255 It was endowed at the Dissolution with 53 l. 3 s. 7 d. per an Dugd. 56 l. 3 s. 7 d. Speed 17. Cokehill A Priory of White Nuns founded by Isabella Countess of Warwick about A. D. 1260 Valued at 35 l. 9 s. 3 d. per an Dugd. 34 l. 15 s. 11 d. Speed 18. Astley An Alien-Priory to the Abby of St. Taurinus at Ebroix ☞ The Monasteries of Alnecester and Wotton-Wawen which are in Warwickshire are placed in Mr. Speed's Catalogue under this County where also are there said to be Halesowen and Penwortham the former of which is in Shropshire and the latter in Lancashire YORK-SHIRE 1. York PAulinus was consecrated the first Arch-bishop of York A. D. 625. who having converted Edwyn King of the Northumbers to the Christian saith built a small Church here to the honour of St. Peter This being destroyed by the Danes Thomas the first Norman Arch-bishop A. D. 1067. laid the foundation of the stately Cathedral now standing Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 1. p. 128. Thomae Stubbs Acta Pontiâ—icum Eboracensium Inter X. Script Hist. Angl. Lond. 1652. â—ol 2. Lestinghan An ancient Monastery founded by St. Cedd A. D. 648. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 62. 3. UUhitby ol Strenshall A Monastery founded by S. Hilda about A. D. 650. destroyed by the Danes but reâ—dified for Benedictine Monks by Will. de Percy to the honour of St. Peter and St. Hilda A. D. 1067. It s yearly revenues at the Dissolution were worth 437 l. 2 s. 9 â— Dugd. 505 l. 9 s. 1 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 71 988. Registr pâ—nes Hug. Cholmondley mil. 1640. 4. Rippon St. Wilfrid about A. D. 660. built a Monastery here which in succeeding ages became a College for a Dean and Secular Canons It was dedicated to St. Peter and valued 26. Hen. VIII at 35 l. 3 s. 8 d. per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 172. T. 3. P. 2. p. 87. Registra Cartas c. penes Decan Capit. Rippon * The history of the Collegiate Church of Rippon by Sir Tho. Herbert MS. penes V. Doctiss. Thomam Gale Scholae S. Pauli Lond. Archididascalum 5. Beverley A Monastery dedicated to St. Iohn the Evangelist founded by Iohn de Beverley about A. D. 720. It was destroyed by the Danes 146. years after but reedified by King Aethelstan in memory of S. Iohn de Beverley and Canons Secular placed here At the Suppression it was endowed with 109 l. 8 s. 8 d. ob per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 171. T. 3. P. 2. p. 1. * Registrum penes Franc. Thorp Baronem Scaccarii tempore Vsurpationis Cromwellianae * Statuta Cartularium hujus Collegii In Biblioth Coll. Univ. Oxon. F. 1. 6. York Here were Culdees in the Church of St. Peter A. D. 936. at which time King Aethelstan endowed it with lands but after the Conquest it became a Priory of Black Canons and an Hospital the Church being rebuilt by King Stephen it was by him dedicated to St. Leonard The foundation consisted of a Master thirteen Brethren four Secular Priests eight Sisters thirty Choristers two Schoolmasters two hundred and six Beadmen and six Servitors The revenues 26. Hen. VIII amounted to 362 l. 11 s. 1 d. ob per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 367. Registr in Bibl. Cotton 7. Selby A Benedictine Abby founded by King William the Conqueror and commended to the Patronage of St. Mary and St. German It was rated 26. Hen. VIII at 729 l. 12 s. 10 d. per an Dugd. 819 l. 2 s. 6 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 371. Reyner Apost Bened. T. 2. p. 155. Registr penes Th. Walmesly de Dunkehalgh in Com. Lanc. Arm. 1620. Apographum bujus Registri est inter MSS. Viri rei Antiquariae peritissimi Nath. Johnston M. D. de Pontfract qui agri Eboracensis Antiquitates jam sub manibus habet unde pleniorem Abbatiarum Prioratuum aliorum locorum Religiosorum Historiam expectet Orbis eruditus Cartular in Archivis Ducatus Lancastr * Tenementa Mon. de Selby in Bibl. Cotton Cleop. D. 34. * Collectiones MSS. Rogeri Dodsworthi in Bibl. Bodl. Vol. 118. 8. York A. D. 1088. Alan Earl of Richmund built a stately Abby here for Black Monks to the honour of St. Olave but it was afterward dedicated to the blessed Virgin by the command of King William Rufus It s yearly revenues at the Suppression amounted to 1550 l. 7 s. q. Dugd. 2085 l. 1 s. 5 d. ob q. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 383. T. 3. P. 1. p. 9. Reyner Apost Bened. in Anglia Tr. 2. p. 145. Registr in Biblioth Deuvesiana 1646. Steph. Witebiensem de fundatione Mon. S. Mariae Ebor. Historia ejusdem Mon. una cum figuris Abbatum Sciagraphice depictis c. In Bibl. Bodl. NE. A. 3. 20. * Reg. penes Decan Capit. Eborac * Collectanea MS. Rogeri Dodsworthi in Bibl. Bodl. Vol. 7. 9. 9. York A Priory dedicated to the Holy Trinity and subordinate to Marmonstier in France It was founded by Ralph Painell A. D. 1089. for Benedictine Monks and valued 26. Hen. VIII at 169 l. 9 s. 10 d. per an Dugd. 196 l. 17 s. 2 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 563. 10. Hakeness A Cell to Whitby to which it was given by William de Percy temp Will. Rufi Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 414. 11. Richmond A Cell to the Abby of St. Mary at York to which it was given by Wymar Sewer to the Earl of Richmond about A. D. 1100. St. Martin was the Patron of this Priory which was endowed with 43 l. 16 s. 8 d. per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 388 401. * Reg. in Bibl. Cotton 12. Bridlington A Priory of Black Canons founded by Walter de Gant temp Hen. I. and dedicated to S. Mary and S. Nicholas It was rated 26. Hen. VIII at 547 l. 6 s. 11 d. ob per an Dugd. 682 l. 13 s. 9 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 161. Registr pen. Will. Ingleby de Rippon Equ Aur. * Cartularium penes Ric. Maleverer Bar. * Collect. MSS. Rogeri Dodsworthi in Bibl. Bodl. Oxon. Vol. 159. * Registrum penes Joh. Bellengham de Levens in Com. Westm. 13. Birstall An Alien-Priory to the Abby of St. Martin de Albamarle in Normandy to which it was given by Stephen Earl of Albamarle A. D. 1115. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 587. 14. Gisborn A. D. 1119. Rob. de Brus built a Priory of Black Canons here to the honour of the blessed Virgin It s yearly revenues at the Dissolution were worth 628 l. 3 s. 4 d. Dugd. 712 l. 6 s. 6 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 147. T. 3. P. 1. p. 46. Annotationes Cartarum de Gisborn in Bibl. Cotton Cleop. D. 2. * Rogeri