port his dignity with the scanty allowance that was left him. But fortune did not always frown upon him. For in K. Edward's reign he had the good luck to be translated to Norwich. And as he never had a predecessor, so never was there any successor (after his translation) appointed in his room, in the See of Westminster. "For in the sixth year of King Edward, the Bishoprick of Westminster was dissolved by the King's Letters Patents; by which the county of Middlesex, which had before been laid unto it, was restored unto the See of London.-Most of the lands of Westminster were invaded by the great men of the court, the rest laid out for the reparation of S. Paul's, pared almost to the very quick in those days of rapine. From hence came that significant by-word of robbing Peter to pay Paul."-In short: "In the space of twenty years it had been changed from an Abbey to a Deanry, from a Deanry to a See Episcopal; and from that reduced again to a Deanry; and lastly by Queen Elizabeth (having first pleased herself in the choice of some of the best lands belonging to it) it was to be called The Collegiate Church of St. Peter's, in Westminster." Much in the same manner does Mr. Fuller describe the changes at Westminster, only with this difference, that he allows a longer period of time (by ten years) for the completion of them. And thus (in his own most remarkable style) does he entertain his reader upon this subject. The bells of S. Peter, in Westminster, had strangely rung the changes these last thirty years. Within which time, first, it was a stately and rich convent of Benedictin Monks. Secondly, it was made a Collegiate Church of a Dean and Prebendaries by King Henry VIII. Thirdly, by the same King it was made an Episcopal See, and Thomas Thirlby the first and last Bishop thereof. Fourthly, Queen Mary reseated the Abbot and Monks in the possession thereof, who were outed after her death. Lastly, Q. Elizabeth converted it again into a Collegiate Church." + Heylin's Hist. Ref. p. 121. + Idem, p. 136. 6.-Sir William Dugdale's Account of the Suppression of our English Monasteries. THE following narrative is taken out of Sir William Dugdale's celebrated History of Warwickshire (p. 801), where, after having mentioned the particular suppression of Polesworth nunnery, he takes an occasion to present his reader with a short view of the vile artifices and scandalous methods that were pursued by the King's Agents or Commissioners in carrying on the general Dissolution of all the Abbies, Monasteries, Nunneries, &c. in the kingdom. "I find it recorded by the Commissioners, that were employed to take surrender of the Monasteries in this shire, (an. 29. Hen. VIII.) that after strict scrutiny, not only by the fame of the country, but by examination of several persons, they found these Nuns vertuous and religious women, of good conversation. Nevertheless, it was not the strict and regular lives, or any thing that might be said in behalf of the Monasteries, that could prevent their ruin then approaching. So great an aim had the King to make himself thereby glorious, and many others no less hopes to be enriched 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 deceas'd ancestors had much benefit, as was then thought, but themselves, the poor, as also strangers and pilgrims constant advantage; there wanted not the most subtle contrivances to effect this stupendious work, that, I think, any age has beheld; whereof it will not be thought improper, I presume, to take here a short view. "In order therefore to it, was that which Cardinal Wolsey had done for the founding of his Colleges in Oxford and Ipswich made a precedent, viz. the dissolving of above thirty Religious Houses, most very small ones, by the licence 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 pitch'd 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' the 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, (viz. profit, by so vast an enlargement of his revenue, and honour, in being able to maintain mighty armies to recover his right in France, as also to strengthen himself against the Pope, whose Supremacy he himself had abolished, and to 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 to persuade the people to stand fast to the King, without fear of the Pope's curse, or his dissolving their allegiance.. "Next, that it might be more plausibly carried on, care was taken so to represent the lives of Monks, Nuns, Canons, &c. to the world, as that the less regret might be made at their ruin. To which purpose, Thomas Cromwell being constituted General Visitor, employed sundry persons, who acted their parts therein accordingly, viz. Richard Layton, Thomas Leigh, and William Petre, Doctors of the Law, and D. John London, Dean of Wallingford, and others. By which they were to inquire 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 Governors, 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 they added certain injunctions from the King, containing most severe and strict rules; by means whereof, divers being found obnoxious to censure, were expelled, and many, discerning themselves not able to live free from exception and advantage that might be taken against them, desired to leave their habit. 66 Having by these Visitors thus searched 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 be 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 from the Freamble of that Act for their dis solution, made in the 27th of Henry VIII. which Parliament, (consisting in the most part of such members as were pack'd for the purpose, thro' private interest, as is evident from 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 than two hundred pounds per annum, and giving them, with their lands and revenues, to the King. Yet so, as not only the religious persons therein should be committed to the great and honourable Monasteries of the realm, where they might be compelled to live religiously for the reformation of their lives, wherein, thanks be to God, Religion is well kept and observed, (they are the words of the Act) but that the possessions belonging to such houses should be converted to better uses, to the pleasure of God Almighty, and the honour and profit of the realm. "But how well the tenour thereof was pursued we shall see; these specious pretences being made use of for no other purpose, than by opening this gap to make way for the ruin of the greater houses, wherein it is by the said Act acknowledged that Religion was so well observed. For no sooner were the Monks, &c. turn'd out, and their houses demolished, (that being the first thought requisite, lest some accidental change might conduce to their restitution) but care was taken to prefer such persons to the superiority in government, upon any vacancy in these greater houses, as might be instrumental to their surrender, by tampering with the Convent to that purpose; whose activeness was such, that within the space of two years several Convents were wrought upon, and Commissioners sent down, to take them at their hands to the King's use; of which number I find, that besides the before specified Doctors of the Law, there were 34 Commissioners. "The truth is, that there was no omission of any endeavours that can well be imagined to accomplish these surrenders. For so subtilly did the Commissioners act their part, as that after earnest solicitation with the Abbots, and finding them backward, they first tempted them with pensions during life, whereby they found some forward enough to promote the work, as the Abbot of Hales, in Gloucestershire, was, who had high commendation for it from the Commissioners, as their letters to the Visitor General do manifest. So likewise had the Abbot of Ramsey and the Prior of Ely: Nay, some were so obsequious, that after they had wrought the surrender of their own houses, they were employed as commissioners to persuade others; as the Prior of Guisborn, in Yorkshire, for one. Neither were the courtiers unactive in driving on this work; as may be seen by the Lord Chancellor Audley's employing a special agent to treat with the Abbot of Athelney, and to offer him a hundred marks per annum pension, in case he would surrender; which the Abbot refused, insisting upon a greater sum: and the personal endeavours he used with the Abbot of Osithe, in Essex, as appears by his letter to the Visitor General, wherein it is signified, that he had with great solicitation prevailed with the said Abbot; but withal insinuating his desire that, his place of Lord Chancellor being very chargeable, the King might be moved for an addition of some more profitable offices unto him. Nay, I find that this great man, the Lord Chancellor, hunting eagerly after the Abbey of Walden, in Essex, (out of the ruins whereof, afterwards that magnificent fabrick called by the name of Audley Inn, was built) as an argument to obtain it, did, besides the extenuation of its worth, alledge, that he had in this world sustained great damage and infamy in serving the King, which the grant of that should recompense. "Amongst the particular arguments which were made use of by those that were averse to surrender, I find that the Abbot of Feversham alledged the antiquity of their Monastery's foundation, viz. by King Stephen, whose body, with the bodies of the Queen and Prince, lay there interred, and for whom were used continual suffrages and commendations by prayers. Yet it would not avail; for they were resolved to effect what they had begun by one means or other: insomuch that they procured the Bishop of London to come to the Nuns of Sion with their Confessor, to solicit them thereunto. Who after many persuasions, took it upon their consciences that they ought to submit unto the King's pleasure therein, by God's law. But what could not be effected by such arguments and fair promises, (which were not wanting nor unfulfilled, as appears by the large pensions that some active Monks and Canons had in comparison of others, even to a fifth or six-fold proportion more than ordinary) was by terror and severe dealing brought to pass. For under pretence of dilapidation in the buildings, or negligent administration of their offices, as also for breaking the King's injunctions, they deprived some Abbots, and then put others that were more pliant in their room. "From others they took their Convent Seals, to the end they might not, by making leases or sale of their jewels, |