LETTER CI. BISHOP BARLOW TO CROMWELL. Llanfey, Aug. 16. Entreating CIII. DR. LONDON TO CROMWELL. Oxford, July 27. Surrender of CIV. JOHN FITZWARREN TO CROMWELL. Dorneford, Aug. 20. En- treating to be allowed to purchase the goods at the Black Friars in Sarum, and that Mr. Goodale may be allowed the same with the CV. DR. LONDON TO CROMWELL. Oxford, Aug. 31. Friars at Oxford who desire to change their habit. The Grey Friars in Reading. CVI. POLLARD AND OTHERS TO CROMWELL. Reports their having re- CVIII. DR. LONDON TO CROMWELL. Reading, Sept. 17. Proceed- ings at Reading. Image of our Lady at Caversham, and other relics. 221 CIX. DR. LONDON TO SIR RICHARD RICH. Reading, Sept. 17. Sur- render of the priory at Reading. Image of our Lady at Caversham, and other relics. Requires instructions for the suppression of the friars' houses in Aylesbury, Bedford, and Northampton CX. DR. LONDON TO CROMWELL. Reading, Sept. 18. Surrender of the Grey Friars at Reading. Relics taken there, with a list of them 225 CXI. DR. LONDON TO CROMWELL. Godstow, Nov. 6. Suppression of the nunnery of Godstow. The abbess and sisters recommended to favour. Tollisop Crossfriars beside Warwick, Austin Friars at CXII. THE ABBESS OF GODSTOW TO CROMWELL. Godstow, Nov. 5. Complaining of the conduct of Dr. London, and asking protection 229 CXIII. THE COMMISSIONERS TO CROMWELL. Christchurche, Dec. 2. CXIV. DR. LONDON TO CROMWELL. Oxford, Dec. 28. Surrender of the houses of Ensham, Notley, Donnington (near Newbury,) De- LETTER CXV. DR. LONDON TO SIR RICHARD RICH. Particulars relating to CXVI. THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE WEST TO CROMWELL. Glou- cester, Jan. 4, 1538-9. Surrender of the abbeys of Hayles and CXVII. BISHOP LEE TO CROMWELL. Wigmore, Jan. 12. Entreating to have the cathedral at Coventry converted into a collegiate MISCELLANEOUS PROCEEDINGS IN 1538. 12. CXVIII. SIR THOMAS AUDLEY TO CROMWELL. Eston, Aug. CXX. DR. LEGH TO CROMWELL. Vale Royal, Aug. 22. Disorderly living of many of the knights and gentlemen in the archdeaconries of Coventry, Stafford, Derby, and Cheshire CXXI. THE ABBOT OF VALE ROYAL TO CROMWELL. Lichfield, Sept. CXXIII. THE PRIOR OF GISBURNE and TRISTRAM TESHE TO CROM- WELL. Whitby, Oct. 8. Election of a prior of Whitby CXXIV. THE COMMISSIONErs to CromweLL. St. Alban's, Dec. 10. CXXV. JOHN BEAUMONT TO CROMWELL. Whellesborough, Dec. 27. With a present of 207., entreating that he may be allowed to pur- CXXVI. THE COMMISSIONERS TO CROMWELL. Glastonbury, Sept. 22, LETTER CXXVIII. THE COMMISSIONERS TO CROMWELL. Glastonbury, Oct. 2, CXXIX. LORD RUSSELL TO CROMWELL. Wells, Nov. 16. Execution CXXX. RICHARD POLLARD TO CROMWELL. Wells, Nov. 16. Further account of the execution of the abbot of Glastonbury. Requests that his brother Paulett may have the surveyorship of the abbey CXXXI. PROJECT FOR NEW BISHOPS' SEES. CXXXII. ACCOUNTS OF JOHN SCUDAMORE (the King's receiver for several counties on the borders of Wales). Shewing the proceeds from the sale of the goods, &c. of Bordesley abbey, the Grey and Austin priories of Stafford, the Grey Friars of Lichfield, and the 259 261 263 CXXXIII. SIR RICHARD RICHE TO JOHN SCUDAMORE. London, April, 24, 1540. Instructions for the disposal of the bells of Wen- CXXXIV. SIR RICHARD RICHE TO JOHN SCUDAMORE. July, 31. Disposal of the goods of Bordesley abbey CXXXV. ROGER BEDULL TO SCUDAMORE AND BURGOYN. Droitwich, Dec. 3. On the salt-works and payments belonging to the abbey CXXXVI. ROBERT BURGOYN TO JOHN SCUDAMORE. Thelesford, July CXXXVII. PHILIP HOBY TO JOHN SCUDAMORE. The Court, Oct. 31. CXXXVIII. ROBERT BURGOYN TO JOHN SCUDAMORE. Concerning the disposal of the goods, &c. of the priory at Worcester, and the CXXXIX. ROBERT BURGOYN TO JOHN SCUDAMORE. Watton at Stone, Jan. 9. Relating to the priory at Worcester, and various other CXL. WILLIAM CHORLTON TO JOHN SCUDAMORE. Concerning the Abbey of Lilleshull in Shropshire . CXLI. JOHN FREMAN TO CROMWELL. Louth, May 10. On the super- fluous fees given by the late suppressed houses CXLII. LETTER TO JOHN SCUDAMORE. Westminster, Feb. 28, 1555. He is directed to settle his accounts of lead and bells belonging to the THREE CHAPTERS OF LETTERS RELATING TO THE SUPPRESSION OF MONASTERIES. CHAPTER I. THE PERIOD PREVIOUS TO THE PASSING OF THE ACT FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE SMALLER MONASTERIES. ALTHOUGH it is uncertain when the idea of dissolving the Monasteries was first talked of, it is certain that the axe was first laid to the tree by Cardinal Wolsey, who obtained grants for suppressing a number of the smaller monasteries in order to found a college at Oxford (now Christ's Church) and another at Ipswich. Wolsey himself (in his letter to the King, printed in Ellis, Orig. Lett. Second Series, ii. p. 18) calls them "certain exile* and small monasteries, wherein neither God is served ne religion kept." The zealous Catholics were alarmed by this measure, and justly regarded it as an example which would not fail to lead to a more general demolition of the religious houses. Some of the abbots attempted to avert the danger by offering sums of money for his scholastic foundation instead of the abbey lands, as in the present example of the abbot of York. There were even some tumultuous outbreaks of popular dissatisfaction. Grafton (Chron. p. 382, new edit.) says,-"You have heard before how the Cardinall suppressed many monasteries, of the which one was called Beggam in Sussex, the which was verie commodious to the countrey: but so befell the cause, that a riotus company, disguised and unknowne, with painted faces and visers, came to the same monasterie, and brought with them the chanons, and put them in their place againe, and promised them that whensoever they rang the bell, that they * Poor, lean, endowed with small revenues, Lat. exilis, (not alien priories). It is a word of no uncommon occurrence in the writers of this age. CAMD. SOC. B would come with a great power and defend them. Thys doyng came to the eare of the kings counsayle, which caused the chanons to be taken, and they confessed the capitaynes, which were imprisoned and sore punished." When Wolsey was beginning to decline in the royal favour, the suppression of these religious houses was one of the first charges brought against him. The small monastery of Romburgh or Rumburgh in Suffolk is supposed to have been founded about the time of the Norman Conquest. It was given by Alan the Savage, fourth Earl of Richmond and Earl of Britany, about the time of Henry I. to the Abbey of St. Mary at York, which had been founded about 1078, by Alan Rufus, the first Earl. At least such is the opinion of antiquaries, who consider the statement in this letter, that Romburgh was given to the Abbey of York by Alan Niger (the second Earl), to be erroneous. The cell of Romburgh was suppressed by Wolsey, and the site and revenues granted to his college at Ipswich in 1528, the date of the present letter. Edmund Walley, or Whalley, the writer of the letter, was abbot of St. Mary's at York from 1521 to 1530. I. THE ABBOT OF YORKE TO CARDINAL WOLSEY. [MS. Cott. Cleop. E. iv. fol. 46.*] PLEASETH your grace to understaunde, that I, your pore oratour, have lately receyvid certen lettres frome our priour of Romeburgh, with other of our brethren there beinge, by whose purporte I perceyve that your graces pleasure ys to suppresse the said priory of Romeburgh, and also to unite, annex, and improper the same unto the church of Saint Peters in Ipiswiche; and for the accompleshment of the same, as they wryte unto me, your officers came to the said priory the xjth day of this present moneth; and there, after the redinge of certen lettres commissionall not onely of your grace, bot also of our holy father the pope, and of our soveraigne lorde the kynge, for the same purpose directed, intered into the same priory, and that done, toke away as well the goodes moveable of the said priory, beinge a membre of our monastery, and gyven unto us by Alen Niger, summe tyme erele of Richemound, and our secounde refounder, by whose gyfte next unto the kinges grace we have had moost benefyttes, laundes, and profettes gyven us, by reason whereof we be most notabily charged with massez, suffragies, and other almouse dedes for hys bene |