The Church History of Britain

providence, defeated-Parsons's wild intelligence-Testamentum Regis
Henrici VIII. Names of the executors-When this will was made-
Legacies scarcely paid-Monument made for the king by the cardinal
-Why his nicces more at liberty than his daughters-Ten thousand
pounds the portion of a princess-Much of arbitrariness in this will-
The Scottish line quite left out-Legatees witnesses in king's will.
Little of his will performed-His disease and the manner of his death.
His hope expressed by speechless gesture-Lying Slanders-His vices
and virtues-Why king Henry's monument never perfected-Cardinal
Pole's project-The bones of king Henry abused. Pages 91-133.

BOOK VI.

THE HISTORY OF ABBEYS IN ENGLAND.

SECTION I.

PRIMITIVE MONKS, WITH THEIR PIETY AND PAINFULNESS: First monks

caused by persecution-Their pious employment in a solitary life-

They vowed no poverty, chastity, or obedience-II. VOLUNTARY

MONKS, EMBRACING THAT LIFE, NOT FOR NECESSITY, BUT CONVENI-

ENCY: Silver monks succeeded the former golden ones-Fetched from

wandering in the wilderness to dwell together-The discipline of Brit-

ish monks under St. David-Superstition unawares occasioned by

them-III. OF SUPERSTITION, WHICH WAS THE FUNDAMENTAL FAULT

IN ALL ABBEYS: Abbeys built on the sand of superstition-Peter-

borough abbey founded to expiate murder. Middleton being on the

same occasion. So also the nunnery of Ambresbury. Suspicions

therein might be a great fault herein-IV. OF THE SEVERAL ORDERS

OF MONKS AND NUNS IN ENGLAND: A heap of monkish orders in

England-Benedictines the primitive monks in England-Scandalum

Benedictinorum-Hue and cry after St. Equitius. Why habits of monks

not here presented-Augustinian monks. Whether H be a letter-

Gilbertine monks-Carthusian monks-Monks and friars, how they

differ-Objection to null the distinction, answered-Criticism in this

subject not material-What meant by Wickliffe's CAIM-Dominican

friars-Franciscan friars-Sub-reformations of Franciscans-Carmel-

ites. their first coming into England-A great privilege of English

Carmelites; and praise of their industry-The legend of Simon Stock

-Augustinian hermits-Trinitarian friars-Bons hommes, or good men

-Their rich revenues-Crouched [Crutched] friars-Friars of the sack

and Bethlemites-Friars Robertines. Sweating moisture out of tombs

no miracle-Why so various the number of monks-A catholic's cause-

less accusation of Mr. Lambert justly disproved-Antipathy betwixt

friars and parish-priests, in Erasmus's jest-earnest dialogue. Monks,

why hating friars-Friars stinted to four orders-The numerousness of

nuns. The ancientest and poorest nuns. Bridgetteans the last order

of nuns-The mystical number of Bridgetteans-The prioresses of Cler-

kenwell-A good exchange-Exactness in dates not to be expected. A

pleasant story-Jesuats different from Jesuits-Jesuits the best but-

tresses of the Romish church. Jesuits' policy. In England like astro-

logers in Rome-Leprous people not mentioned herein.

-166.

Pages 140

SECTION II.

1. ABBEYS ENGROSSED TRADE, IMPOVERISHED PARISH-PRIESTS, ENCOU-

RAGED OFFENDERS: Abbots, farmers, tanners, brewers-Abbots rob

parish vicars, by appropriations; and other priests from exemption

from tithes-Freedom from tithes goeth by favour; confined to lands

given before the Lateran Council. Offend none in a captious age-A

prize in the hand, but no heart-Sanctuaries sewers of sin. The con-

scientious abbot of Crowland-II. OF THE PRIME OFFICERS AND

OFFICINES OF ABBEYS: The abbot; the prior; the sub-prior; the

secretary; the chamberlain; the cellarer-The gate-house; the refec-

tory; the parlour; the oriol; the dormitory; the laundry; the library;

the kitchen-The several parts in the church-The century; the

firmory; the stables; the gaol; the grange-Barbarous names and

offices. Rooms in small, houses in great abbeys. The use of cells.

The honours in Canterbury priory-III. SOME GENERAL CONFORMITIES

OBSERVED IN ALL CONVENTS: Rules calculated for the Benedictines

without any grand error will serve all orders-IV. OF SUCH ABBOTS

WHO ATTAINED TO BE PARLIAMENTARY BARONS: Numerous abbots

summoned to parliament; who afterwards decline their troublesome

service-Their number contracted to twenty-six. Doubtful barons

amongst the abbots-A short-lived barony made by king Henry VIII.

-Abbesses no baronesses, though holding baronies-Prior of Jeru-

salem chief baron. Next, the abbot of St. Alban's-The careless order

of the rest. Seniority not observed in the summons; nor ranked by

their wealth. Tewkesbury to be added to the catalogue-Some abbots
not barons richer than those that were-Shaftesbury the richest nun-

nery-A profane proverb. No country free from monks. Query,

What meant by four abbots peculiarly exempt-V. OF THE CIVIL

--༢

BENEFITS, AND TEMPORAL CONVENIENCES, ACCRUING TO THE STATE

BY THE CONTINUANCE OF ABBEYS: Give abbeys their due; they con-

venient to dispose youngest children in; an eminent instance thereof-

Children taught therein. Conveniency of she-colleges-Monks the

sole historians, and why-Abbots excellent landlords, and admirable

housekeepers-Objection against their hospitality. The same answered

-Ely puts all abbeys down for feasting-A pleasant story of king Henry

VIII. He proves a good physician-VI. PRESAGES OF THE APPROACH-

ING RUIN OF ABBEYS: Oldham's prophecy of the friars' fall; seconded

by abbot Whitgift-Ominous burning of abbeys, often by lightning.

Bells no effectual charm against lightning-VII. OF THE ESSAYS AND

OFFERS TO OVERTHROW ABBEYS BEFORE THEY TOOK EFFECT: Orders

of friars alterable according to the pleasure of their founders. Particu-

lar convents, on misdemeanour, dissolvable. Whole orders routed out

by the pope for their faults-The first stroke at the root of abbeys—

The objection of covetousness against abbeys (though not answered)

evaded by archbishop Chicheley-VIII. OF THE SUPPRESSION OF
ALIEN PRIORIES: The original of priories aliens-Alien priories of two
natures-Their dissolution. The dangerous influence of this prece-
dent. Pages 166—200,

SECTION III.

I. OF CARDINAL WOLSEY'S OMINOUS SUPPRESSING OF FORTY LESSER MO-

NASTERIES, THEREWITH TO BUILD TWO COLLEGES: Wolsey's wealth

and want. Wolsey's act justly censured-Fig-leaves to cover it, in

vain. The miserable ends of the cardinal's instruments herein-II. Or

THE FIRST PRIORY WHICH WAS SOLEMNLY SUPPRESSED BY KING HENRY

VIII.: Christ-Church priory near Aldgate first and solely dissolved.

The antiquity, wealth, and dignity thereof-A guess at king Henry's

design. The priory taken by composition; the effect thereof upon the

people-This the ancientest of all priories; at this day called the

Duke's Place-III. OF THE SUPPRESSION OF THE ORDER OF OBSER-

VANT FRIARS, AND A PREPARATORY FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF ALL

THE REST: Observant friars, why first falling under king Henry's dis-

pleasure totally and finally dissolved-The supplication of beggars,

with the sense thereof. The geometry, arithmetic, and chronology of

the author thereof―The anti-supplication of the souls in purgatory-

The first supplication best received-IV. THE LESSER MONASTeries

BESTOWED ON THE KING: A gainful motion made for the king:

reported, by mistake, opposed by bishop Fisher; easily passed in par-

liament-A preamble of importance restored out of the records to the

printed statute. Two principles which must not be questioned-Exact

measuring to the standard of dissolution. Many aged persons at a

loss for livelihood. Abbey-lands politicly scattered among many pur-

chasers. The number of the lesser monasteries-Why the king cajoleth

the great monasteries. Specious uses pretended on heavy penalties.

Such penalties graciously repealed by king James. Some grudge at so

great a grant-V. THE NORTHERN REBELLION OCCASIONED BY THIS

DISSOLUTION; Northern rebellion begun, suppressed, punished; ex-

cused by Sanders unjustly-Persons executed-VI. THE RETURN OF

THE VISITORS OF ABBEYS: The return of the lord Cromwell's agents.

The principal commissioners-Their two-edged sword. Monks weary

of their lives-VII. THE SECOND SORT OF INSINUATING EMISSARIES:

Others undone by their own dissensions. A charitable censure-VIII,

SOLICITING AND TEMPTING EMISSARIES COMPLAINED OF BY THE

PAPISTS: A devilish design, if true. A memorable story: sin plot, sin

pay for. Application as far as concerns the matter in hand-A com-
plaint of the papists; a sad story, if true. The pedigree of this tradi-

tion IX. SOME CONVENTS ON EXAMINATION APPEARING VERY VIR-

TUOUS: Some convents retaining their primitive piety; but too few to

preserve the rest-X. THE GENERALITY OF MONASTERIES NOTORIOUSLY

VICIOUS: Charitable premisses. Read, and blush, and sigh-A coltish

trick served upon the monks of Waltham. More talk than truth of

under-ground vaults-Provision made for their lust. Charity best in

doubtful evidence-A Sodom in Sion nunnery-XI. ABBOTS WIL-

LINGLY-UNWILLING RESIGNED THEIR MONASTERIES TO THE KING:

Monks, persuaded into a resignation, strive who should be the fore-

most-The surrender of the warden and friars of St. Francis in Stan-

ford-A more humble form of surrender-Betwixt first and last no

great difference-XII. THE SEAL OF ARMS OF THE MITRED ABBEYS

IN ENGLAND: The design of the work. The arms of Tavistock, of

Glastonbury, of Middleton, of Malmsbury, of Abingdon, of Reading,

of Hide, of Battle, of St. Augustine, of Gloucester, of Tewkesbury, of

Winchcomb, of Cirencester, of St. Alban's, of St. John's of Jerusalem,

of Waltham, of Colchester, of Bury, of St. Benet's, of Thorney, of
Ramsey, of Peterborough, of Crowland, of Bardoey and Evesham, of
Shrewsbury, of Selby, of York-XIII. THE LORD DARCY'S EXTRAC-
TION JUSTLY VINDICATED: A causeless aspersion grounded on passion.
What the lord Marney was-Three noble branches of the Darcyes in
the north-Thomas lord Darcy-XIV. THE ANCIENT ENGLISH NOBI-
LITY GREAT LOSERS BY THE DISSOLUTION OF ABBEYS: Ancient nobi-
lity losers. Good rents ill paid. Services wholly lost, with the com-

modity of corrodies-XV. THE PREMISSES PROVED BY INSTANCE IN

THE FAMILY OF THE BERKELEYS: Robert Derby, last abbot of Crox-

ton-XVI. INGRATITULE TO THEIR FOUNDERS, A GRAND FAULT IN

MANY ABBEYS: If unthankful, all bad-Great bounty ill-requited.

Summum jus-Another instance of ingratitude-A cause of their ruin.

An over-wise conceit easily confuted. Strong faith to believe so much

of king Henry's charity. Pages 200—237.