Monks in Bristol, where she, a poor widow, had what she considered a lodging "most meetest to serve God in her old days,” from which she was likely to be excluded by the new rule, that "no woman shall come within the precincts of the same." She faithfully promises that she and her women will be "of such governance that no inconvenience shall ensue thereof.” "And where hereto," she adds, "I have used from my house to go the next way to the church, for my ease, through a cloister of the same to a chapel that I have within the quire of the same, I shall be content from henceforth, if it shall so seem convenient unto you, to forbear that, and to resort to the common place, like others do, of the same church.” * Another Abbess bribes Cromwell to permit her to re-open a back-gate in her monastery, the closure of which, she declares, causes her visitors to go two miles about.

Every conceivable device was laid hold of, to accomplish the suppressions by other than forced means. The convents were forbidden to receive fresh inmates, on pain of the royal displeasure; and any transgression, on the part of the Superior, was considered to forfeit the house into the King's hands. The following royal mandate gives an idea of the summary mode of proceeding it relates to the abbey of Whalley, in Lancashire, and was addressed by the King to his Commissioners :—

"Whereas, upon the execution of the Abbot of Whalley, ye have taken order for the good direction of the house, and the safe keeping of the goods, without embezzlement, till further knowledge of our pleasure; approving much your good foresight hereof, we have thought convenient to signify unto you, that, forasmuch as it appeareth that the house of Whalley hath been so sure corrupt, amongst other, that it should seem there remaineth very few therein that were meet to remain and continue in such an incorporation; we think it shall be meet that some order be taken for the removal of the Monks now being in the same, and that we should take the whole house into our own hands, as by our laws we be justly, by the attainder of the said late Abbot, entitled unto it, and so devise for such a new establishment thereof as shall be thought meet for the honour of God, our surety, and the benefit of the country. Wherefore our pleasure is, that you shall, with good dexterity, lay unto the charges of all the Monks there their grievous offences towards us and our Commonwealth, and therewith essay their minds, whether they will conform themselves gladly, for the redubbing of their former trespasses, to go to other houses of their coat, where they shall be well entreated; or else whether they will rather take capacities, and so receive secular habit. Albeit, we require you so to move them to enter into other houses, that they may choose the same; for we think it cannot be wholesome for our Commonwealth to permit them to wander abroad; and therefore we require you to frame them to that point, that they may enter into other places, as is aforesaid; wherein you shall do unto

* "Letters," &c., vol. ii., p. 160.

us good service, desiring you to advertise us of this matter with all diligence. As touching the order of the house in the mean time, we desire and pray you to have special regard that nothing be embezzled, and to lie in a good await of the Monks, that they conspire not to the brewing of any inconvenience."-State Papers, vol. i., p. 540.

Efforts were sometimes made to obtain a transmutation of the monasteries into institutions for the benefit of learning. Audeley writes to Cromwell,

Such bruit hath run since my last departing from your good "Lordship, concerning the dissolution of the abbeys of Saint John's in Colchester, and Saint Osyth's, that I am bold to write to your good Lordship, after mine old suit, for the continuance of the said two places; not as they be, religious, but that it might please the King's Majesty, of his goodness, to translate them into Colleges, after such sort and ordinances as shall seem most charitable to His Highness; for the which, as I said to you afore, His Grace may have of either of them a £1,000; that is, for both, £2,000, and the gift of the Deans and Prebendaries at his own pleasure."—Ibid., vol. i., p. 587.

The breaking up of the monasteries brought about many disclosures in reference to the relics which had been regarded with such veneration, and from which some houses had derived enormous wealth, by substituting false plate and jewels for those offered by the devotees, and selling the real, or hiding it in secret recesses of the convent. The following notes record the result of inquisitorial visits to Glastonbury and Winchester :

"Pleaseth it your Lordship to be advertised, that, since our letters last directed unto you from Glastonbury, we have daily found and tried out both money and plate, hid and mured up in walls, vaults, and other secret places, as well by the Abbot as other of the convent, and also conveyed to divers places in the country. And, in case we should here tarry this fortnight, we do suppose daily to increase in plate and other goods, by false knaves conveyed. And, among other petty briberies, we have found the two Treasurers of the church, Monks, with the two Clerks of the vestry, temporal men, in so arrant and manifest robbery, that we have committed the same to the jail.” —Ibid., vol. i., p. 619.

"Pleaseth your Lordship to be advertised, that this Saturday, in the morning, about three of the clock, we made an end of the shrine here at Winchester. There was in it no piece of gold, nor one ring, or true stone, but all great counterfeits. Nevertheless, we think the silver alone thereof will amount near to two thousand marks. We have also received into our possession the cross of emeralds, the cross called Jerusalem, another cross of gold, two chalices of gold, with some silver plate, parcel of the portion of the vestry; but the old Prior made the plate of the house so thin, that we can diminish none of it, and leave the Prior any thing furnished. We found the Prior and all the convent very conformable, having assistants with us at the opening of our charge to the same,-the Mayor, with eight or nine of the best of his brethren, the Bishop's Chancellor, Mr. Doctor Craiford, with a good appearance of honest personages besides; who, with one voice,

most heartily gave laud and praise to God, and to the King's Majesty, thinking verily that they do all as much rejoice of His Majesty's godly and most Christian purpose herein as can be devised. We have, also, this morning, viewed the altar, which we purpose to bring with us. It will be worth the taking down, and nothing thereof seen; but such a piece of work it is, that we think we shall not rid it, doing our best, before Monday night or Tuesday morning. Which done, we intend, both at Hide and St. Mary's, to sweep away all the rotten bones, that be called 'relics;' which we may not omit, lest it should be thought we came more for the treasure, than for avoiding of the abomination of idolatry."-State Papers, vol. i., p. 621.

By far the wealthiest shrine in England was that of Thomas à Becket. The following extract records a visit paid to it, just before its removal, by a French lady, Lady Montreuil :—

"At ten of the clock, she, her gentlewomen, and the said Ambassadors (of France), went to the church, where I showed her Saint Thomas's shrine, at the which she was not a little marvelled of the great riches thereof, saying to be innumerable, and that, if she had not seen it, all the men in the world could never have made her to believe it; thus overlooking and viewing, more than an hour, as well the shrine as Saint Thomas's head, being at both set cushions to kneel, and the Prior, opening Saint Thomas's head, saying to her three times, 'This is Saint Thomas's head,' and offered her to kiss it; but she neither kneeled nor would kiss it, but was still viewing the riches thereof: so she departed, and went to her lodging to dinner.” -Miscellaneous Letters, Second Series, vol. xxxvi., p. 241.

Cranmer writes to Cromwell to investigate St. Thomas's shrine, and adds,

"Farther, because that I have in great suspect, that Saint Thomas of Canterbury's blood, in Christ church in Canterbury, is but a feigned thing, and made of some red ochre, or of such like matter, I beseech Your Lordship that Doctor Lee, and Doctor Barbour my Chaplain, may have the King's commission to try and examine that and all other like things there."-State Papers, vol. i., p. 580.

With the removal of the shrine, the primary ground of offence, however, Thomas à Becket did not cease to excite uneasiness. A Curate records being at a church, where,

"On the north side of the church, I espied certain windows, wherein is pictured the life of Saint Thomas: in especial, I noted a superstitious Popish remembrance in the absolution of the King that was in that time, that is thus set forth: there be divers Monks pourtrayed with rods in their hands, the King kneeling naked before a Monk, as he should be beaten, at the shrine of Saint Thomas. This manner I have seen in divers places, and have heard pardoners set forth, in the declaration of the pardon of Saint Thomas, divers points wherefore he was slain, in that he did resist the King at that time: one is, that he would not grant that whosoever set his child to school should pay a tribute; also, that no poor man should eat certain meats except he paid a tribute; also, that Priests or Clerks should be judged of any layman, whom they call Secular Judges. These words, with

divers other, remaining in the people's heads, which they call the Articles of Saint Thomas and Liberties of the Church of England, with such pictures, shall be a great hinderance to the contentation of the King's subjects, unless by your wisdom you be good helper herein."-Miscellaneous Letters, Second Series, vol. xlvi., p. 49.

An adherent to Romanism writes in a melancholy strain to his mistress, Lady Lisle, then at Calais :

"The most part of saints, whereunto pilgrimages and offerings were wont to be made, are taken away. Our Lady of Southwark is one, Saint Saviour, the Blood of Hayles, and others. I doubt the Resurrection will after."

"This day" (July 18th, 1538) "our late Lady of Walsingham was brought to Lambeth, where was both my Lord Chancellor and my Lord Privy Seal, with many virtuous Prelates; but there was offered neither halfpenny nor candle: what shall become of her, is not determined."

Few superstitions had so strong a hold upon the popular feelings as our Lady of Walsingham. After the removal of the image, a rumour of a miracle just performed by it was spread abroad, and jealously traced back, by an assiduous Magistrate, to its author, a woman of the place, who was committed to ward.

"The next day," writes our informant, "I caused her to be set in stocks, in the morning, and about nine of the clock, when the said market was fullest of people,-with a paper set about her head, written with these words upon the same, 'A REPORTER OF FALSE TALES,' she was set in a cart, and so carried about the market-stead, and other streets in the town, staying in divers places, where most people assembled, young people and boys of the town casting snowballs at her. This done and executed, she was brought to the stocks again, and there set till the market was ended. This was her penance; for I knew no law otherwise to punish her but by discretion, trusting it shall be a warning to other light persons in such wise to order themselves. Howbeit, I cannot perceive but the same image is not yet out of some of their heads."

It was evidently a fresh experience to the English autocrat, that the superstitions of ages were not to be uprooted at his bidding, and that it could be considered at all outré in him to punish those observances, the absence of which, a few years before, would have been equally, or still more severely, chastised.

"It may also like you to know," writes Audeley to Cromwell, "that there is a book come forth in print touching the taking away of images, which I send you; praying you to know, whether ye be privy to the setting forth thereof. I insure you, in the parts where I have been, some discord there is, and diversity of opinions, amongst the people, touching worshipping of saints and images, and for creeping at cross, and such like ceremonies, heretofore used in the Church; which discord were good should be put to silence. Whereupon I pray you I may be adver. tised, whether ye know it or not; for I intend to send for the printer, and stop them; but there be many abroad. It were good that the

VOL. II. NO. IV.

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Preachers and the people abstained from opinions of such things, till such time as by the report of such as the King's Highness hath appointed, for searching and ordering of laws of the Church, his Grace may put a final order in such things, how his people and subjects may use themselves without contention.". -State Papers, vol. i., p. 447.

The numerous classes of persons, whose interests were intrenched upon by these reforms, murmured sorely against them. The Friars Mendicant, more especially, went about with grave looks amongst their friends and supporters, accosting them with a solemn shake of the head:

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Father, (or, Sister,) what a world is this! It was not so in your fathers' days. You may see here is a perilous world: they will have no pilgrimage; they will not we should pray to saints or fast, or do any good deeds. Our Lord have mercy on us! I will live as my forefathers have done. I am sure your father and friends were good, and you have followed them hithertoward: therefore, I pray you, continue as you have done, and believe as your friends and fathers did, whatsoever these new fellows do say.”—Miscellaneous Letters, Second Series, vol. xlvi., p. 49.

In this state of affairs, it will not be matter of surprise, that England was reputed abroad to be wholly given over to the new doctrines. Cromwell informs his master,

"That there arrived yesterday one Hieronymo, an Italian of Sienna, a man of much outward simplicity, and as weak learning, as far as I can perceive. He fled the persecution of the Papists in Italy, and went to Wittemberg, where he hath been but a little season; yet, nevertheless, he hath letters of commendation from Martin Luther, Philip Melancthon, Kreutziger, Oziander, and other learned men, and therewith some letters to my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and to Your Grace's Chaplain, Mr. Thixtill. The simplicity of the man, and his rude apparel and behaviour, show the man not to be, in my judgment, greatly suspected. I have sent him to the said Archbishop, as well for to judge of his learning, as also for to help him as he shall see cause."-State Papers, vol. i., p. 611.

The Flemish Ambassador, Pate, writing to Norfolk from Bruges, July 12th, 1540, a few months after the fall of Cromwell,

says,

"Your Grace shall understand that, all the while Thomas Cromwell ruled, there were such slanders and obloquies of our realm, as might be, to a true Englishman hearing the same, a great grief; some pronouncing the blessed sacrament of the altar was utterly abolished with us; some affirming that we never observed holy days, nor regarded saints, as we had none of their images standing within our churches; and some said that we no more fasted than dogs; the Lent abrogated, so that all piety and religion, having no place, was banished out of England; whither, some purposing to go, said they would carry their Chaplain with them, to say them Mass in their chambers, thinking they could have no place in the church so to do; but when they heard me declare the contrary,—to whom such kind of questions were moved