VI consistent with the reckless manner in which the pos- CHAP (6.) It was further enacted that the King should provide occupation and pensions for those monks who were not transferred to the greater houses: and that on the site of every dissolved monastery or priory a mansion should be erected where liberal hospitality should be observed, as in the religious foundations which they had superseded. A. D. 1535-6 the Com But although the tone of this Act was very far Some of above the infamous transactions which it sheltered, and although it bears clear evidence of being con- pose it cocted under royal superintendence, some vigorous opposition to it was offered by members of the House of Commons, and it was only passed after the King had thrown some of his usual threats at their heads. "When the bill," says Sir Henry Spelman, "had stuck long in the Lower House, and could get no passage, he commanded the Commons to attend him in the forenoon in his gallery, where he let them wait till late in the afternoon, and then coming out of his chamber, walking a turn or two amongst them, and looking angrily on them, first on the one side and then on the other, at last- I hear,' saith he, ' that мy Bill will not pass; but I will have it pass, or I will have some of your heads :' and without Their other rhetoric or persuasion returned to his chamber. threatened Enough was said, the bill passed, and all was given him as he desired." 6 The first words of the Act state that the administration of monastic property by the monks was “to the high displeasure of Almighty God, slander of heads King VI A.D. 1535-6 the small monas teries 4 CHAP good religion, and to the great infamy of the King's highness and the realm." It may safely be alleged that the case was not improved, however bad it might be, by the operation of the Act itself. But some evidence as to the new uses which were made Spoils of of monastic property will be found at a subsequent page. It is enough to say here that 376 religious houses were ruined and despoiled, and that no portion of their property returned to the Church. Lord Herbert and other historians estimate the annual revenue of this first spoliation at £30,000, and the ready money value of the "jewels and stuff" which the visitors "packed up" and sent to Cromwell, at £100,000. These sums represent quite a quarter of a million, and a million, of modern money, and there are good reasons for thinking that they are much below the real value of the property confiscated.5 Attack prepared ing monas : But the spoils were not likely to last long when for remain the expense of the King and his court was so enorteries mously prodigal and the first Act of Suppression was no sooner passed than Cromwell and his master prepared for a new campaign. Even while the bill was passing through Parliament, the voice of the destructive party was heard boldly declaring that the measure was only a beginning. "Even at that time one said in the Parliament House," says Grafton in No importance attaches to the fact that some of the monasteries resigned into his hands were "refounded" by Henry. The “. refoundation" or non-dissolution only amounted to a reprieve of a few months. 5 The Court of Augmentations was established for the purpose of receiving and managing the funds of the dissolved monasteries. As it consisted of twenty-four officers, including ten auditors and seventeen receivers, it must have been provided with a view to the subsequent dissolution of the greater monasteries. VI A. D. his Chronicle, "that these were as thorns, but the CHAP great abbots were putrified old oaks, and they must needs follow. And so will other do in Christendom,' quoth Doctor Stokesley, Bishop of London, 'or many years be passed."" 1535-6 ance in Cromwell seems not to have hesitated for a Steady moment in the career of spoliation on which he had persever entered; for a letter has come down to us which is plan of spoliation a reply to one he had written on the 8th of March 1535-6 (about the very time when the act was receiving the royal assent), in which he demanded the resignation of one of these "putrified old oaks,” John Shepey or Castleoak, the Abbot of Faversham in Kent. This letter gives us some light respecting the transactions which were then going on between the crown and the monasteries, and is well worth perusal. sham's Right worshipful Sir, after humble recommendations accord- The Abbot ing to my most bounden duty, with like thanks for your bene- of Favervolent mind always shewed towards me and my poor house to defence your goodness had and used; it may please you to be advertised, that I lately received your loving letters dated the viiith day of this present month concerning a resignation to be had of the poor house which I under God and the King's highness my sovereign lord of long time (though unworthy such a cure) have had ministration and rule of, and that by cause of the age and debility which are reported to be in me. So it is right worshipfull sir, I trust I am not yet now so far enfeebled or decayed, neither in body nor in remembrance, either by any extremity of age whom debility lightly for the most part always accompanies either by any immoderate pas- Old as he sion of any great continual infirmity, but that I may as well rule (high thanks be unto God thereof!) accommodate myself to the his house good order, rule, and governance of my poor house and monastery as ever I might since my first promotion to the same, is can still CHAP though I may not so well percase ride and journey abroad as VI I might have done in time past. But admit the peculiar office of an abbot to consist, as I must needs refell for we 1535-6 profess a rule much diverse thereunto, in journeying forth and A.D. duties of an abbot surveying of the possessions of his house, in which case agility and patience of labour in journeying were much required indeed, though I myself be not so well able to take pains therein as I have been in my young years, at which time I trust I took such pains that I need less surveying of the same at this present time, yet have I such faithful approved servants whom I have brought up in my poor house from their tender years, and those of such wit and good discretion joined with the long experience of the trade of such worldly things, that they are able to furnish and supply those parts, I know right well, in According all points much better, than ever I myself could or than it had to the true been expedient or decent for me to have done. Again, on that other side, if the chief office and profession of an abbot be (as I have ever taken it) to live chaste and solitarily, to be separate from the intermeddling of worldly things, to serve God quietly, to distribute his faculties in refreshing of poor indigent persons, to have a vigilant eye to the good order and rule of his house and the flock to him commited in God, I trust your favour and benevolence obtained (whereof I right humbly require you), I myself may and am as well able yet now to supply and continue those parts as ever I was in all my life, as concerning the sufficiency of my own person. Yet doubtless much more ease and quiet might it be unto me as ye in your said letters right friendly and vehemently have persuaded, for to make resignation of my said office upon the provision of such a reasonable pension as your good mastership should think meet and convenient, wherein surely I would nothing doubt your worship and conscience, but in the same gladly be have much affiance, not only for the great goodness and good as personal indifference which I hear everywhere commonly reported by you, but also for the great favour and benevolence which I have always found in you. And percase in my own mind 1 could right well be contented and fully persuaded for as much as concerneth my own part so to do, for the satisfaction and contentation of your loving motion, for I am nothing less than Would free as far ease goes VI A. D. ambitious; but I do more esteem in this thing the miserable CHAP state and condition that our poor house should stand in, if such thing should come to pass, than I do my own private office and dignity, the administration whereof though it be 1535-6 somewhat more painful unto me than it hath been accustomed heretofore, yet God forbid that it should seem unto me hirkefull or tedious. Moreover I (pray) your good mastership, to whom I would all these things were as openly and manifest- But the ly known as to myself, our said poor house and monastery by Abbey impoverished meane and occasion of diverse and many importable costs and by taxes charges which we have sustained as well towards the King's highness as otherwise; partly by reason of divers great sums of money which it was left indebted in, in the time of my last predecessor there (which as it is well known in the country was but a right slender husband to the house): partly by means of divers and many great reparations, as well of the edifices of our church as of other houssing, which were suffered to fall in great ruin and decay, insomuch that some of them were in manner likely to fall clean down to the ground, as in the repairs and innyng of divers marshes belonging to our said monastery reclaiming which the violent rages and surges of the implacable sea had won and occupied, being now since my time well and sufficiently repaired and fully amended, as the thing itself may sufficiently declare, to the inestimable cost and charges of our poor house partly again by the means of the great cost, charges, and expenses, which we have had and sustained by and through the occasion of divers and many sundry suits and actions which we have been compelled to use and pursue against divers of our tenants for the recovery of divers rights of our said monastery of long time unjustly detained and by the same tenants obstinately denied; and partly also by mean of divers and many great sums of money by £2000 which we have paid and lent unto the King's highness, as lent" to well in dysmes and subsidies as otherwise amounting in all to the sum of ii m. li. and above to our great impoverishing, and is yet now at this present time indebted to divers of our friends and creditors above the sum of cccc li. as ye shall be further instructed of the particulars thereof whensoever it shall please you to demand a further and more exact declar marshes the King |