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CXXVI.

THE COMMISSIONERS TO CROMWELL.

[From Burnet's Reform. vol. iii. p. 160, who printed it from MSS. Tanner * at Oxford.] A Letter of the visitors, sent to examine the Abbot of Glassenbury.

Please hyt your lordship to be advertised, that we came to Glastenbury on Fryday last past, about tenn of the clock in the forenoone and for that the abbot was then at Sharpham, a place of hys, a myle and somewhat more fro thabbey, we, without any delay, went unto the same place; and there, after communication declaring unto him theffect of our coming, examined him upon certain articles. And for that his answer was not then to our purpose, we advised him to call to his remembrance that which he had as then forgotten, and so declare the truth, and then came with him the same day to the abbey; and there of new proceeded that night to search his study for letters and books: and found in his study secretly laid, as well a written book of arguments against the divorce of his kinges majestie and the lady dowager, which we take to be a great matters, as also divers pardons, copies of bulls, and the counterfit lyfe of Thomas Bequet in print; but we could not find any letter that was materiall. And so we proceeded again to his examination concerning the articles we received from your lordship, in the answers whereof, as we take it, shall appear his cankerd and traiterous heart and mind against the kinges majestie and his succession; as by the same answers, syned with his hand, and sent to your lordship by this bearer, more plainly shall appear. And so, with as fair words as

* It would have been desirable to have collated this letter with the original; but, although the Tanner MSS. have been a century in the Bodleian Library, they still remain uncatalogued, and, out of the large number of volumes of letters in that collection, it is almost useless to search for a single document.

we could, we have conveyed him from hence into the tower, being but a very weak man and sickly. And as yet we have neither discharged servant nor monk; but now the abbot being gone, we will, with as much celerity as we may, proceed to the dispatching of them. We have in money 300l. and above; but the certainty of plate and other stuffe there as yet we know not, for we have not had opportunity for the same, but shortly we intend (God willing) to proceed to the same; whereof we shall ascertain your lordship so shortly as we may. This is also to advertise your lordship, that we have found a fair chalice of gold, and divers other parcels of plate, which the abbot had hid secretly from all such commissioners as have bine there in times past; and as yet he knoweth not that we have found the same: whereby we think, that he thought to make his hand, by his untruth to his kinges majesty. It may please your lordship to advertise us of the kinges pleasure by this bearer, to whom we shall deliver the custody and keeping of the house, with such stuff as we intend to leave there convenient to the kinges use. We assure your lordship it is the goodliest house of that sort that ever we have seen. We wold that your lordship did know it as we do; then we doubt not but your lordship would judge it a house mete for the kinges majesty, and for no man else: which is to our great comfort; and we trust verily that there shall never come any double hood within that house again. Also this is to advertise your lordship, that there is never a one doctor within that house; but there be three batchelors of divinity, which be but meanly learned, as we can perceive. And thus our Lord preserve your good lordship. From Glastenbury, the 22 day of September. Yours to command,

RICHARD POLLARD.
THOMAS MOYLE.

RICHARD LAYTON.

To the ryght honorable and their syngular good lord, my lord pryvye seal, thys be delivired.

CXXVII.

THE COMMISSIONERS TO CROMWELL.

[From the State Papers, vol. i. p. 619.]

Pleasithe hytt your lordeshippe to be advertised, that sithen our letters last dyrectide unto yow from Glaston., we have dayly fownde and tryede oute bothe money and plate hyde and muryde up in wallis, vauttis, and other secrette placis as well by thabbott as other of the coventt, and also convaide to diverse placis in the countrye. And in case we shoulde here tarry this fortnigthe, we do suppose daily to increase in plate and other goodis by false knaves convayde. And emonge other petty bryberies, we have founde the twoo thresorers of the churche, monkis, with the 2 clarkis of the vestry, temporall men, in so arraunte and manifeste robery, that we have commyttide the same to the jayle. At our first entree into the threser house, and vestre also, we nether fownde jewellis, plate, nor ornamenttis sufficient to serve a pour parishe churche, wherof we colde not a litell marvill; and therupon ymmediatly made so diligent enquirye and serche, that with vigilante labour we muche improvide the same, and have recoveride agayne into our handes bothe money, plate, and adornamenttis of the churche. How muche plate we knowe not, for we hade no leysure yet to wey the same; but we thinke hit of a greate valewe, and we increase itt more every day, and shall doo, as we suppois, for our tyme here beinge. We assure your lordeshippe that thabbott and the monkis forsaide hade ymbecelyde and stollyne as muche plate and adornamentes as wolde have sufficide to have begone a new abbay; what they mentte therby, we leve itt to your judgmentt. Whether the kyngis pleasur shalbe to execute his lawis upon the saide 4 persones, and to mynister them justice, according to their

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desertes, or to extende his mercy towardes them, and what his majesties pleasur is, hitt may please your lordeshipp to advertise us therof. The house is greate, goodly, and so pryncely as we have not sene the lyke; with 4 parkes adjoynynge, the furthermoste of them but 4 myles distaunte from the house; a grete mere, whiche ys 5 miles cumpas, being a myle and a halfe distante from the house, well replenished with greate pykis, bremes, perche, and roche; 4 faire manour placis, belonginge to the late abbott, the furthermost but 3 myles distante, beynge goodly mansions; and also one in Dorsettshire, 20 myles distante from the late monastery. We have dispachyde the servauntes, with their halfe-yeres wagies, gevinge humble thankis to the kingis majestie for the same; the monkes also, withe the kingis benevolence and rewarde, and have assigned them pentyons. We fynde them very glade to departe, most humbly thankinge the kyngis majestie of his grete goodnes moste graciously showyde unto them at this tyme, as well for his gracis rewarde as also for their pentyons. Cattell we intende to sell for redy money; and to let owte the pastures and demeynes now from Mighelmas forthe quarterly, untill the kingis pleasure therin be further knowyne, to thentente his grace shall lease no rente, for thabbott had muche pasture grounde in his hande. Other newys we knowe none, but that almighty God have you in his tuytion. From Glaston., this 28 day of September.

Youres to command,

RYCHARD POLLARD,
THOMAS MOYLE.
RIC. LAYTON.

To the right honorable and our singuler good lorde, my lorde

prevy seale.

CXXVIII.

THE COMMISSIONERS TO CROMWELL.

[From the State Papers, vol. i. p. 621.]

Pleasyth hytt youre good lordshyp to be advertysed, that, sythens the dyrection of oure laste letters unto youre lordshypp, we have come to knowlege of dyvers and sundrye treasons commytted and done by the abbot of Glastonbury; the certentye wherof shall appeyre unto youre lordeshyppe in a boke herein inclosyd, and the accusers names put to the same, wych we thyngke to be verye haut and ranke treasons. And thus Jesu preserve youre good lordshypp. Frome Glastonbury, the second daye of Octobre.

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[From MS. Cotton. Cleop. E. iv. fol. 99*.]

Right honourable and my verey good lorde, pleaseth youre lordeshipp to be advertysed, that I have receyved youre lettres dated the xijth, daye of this preasent, and understond by the same youre

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