AN ATTEMPT TO ILLUSTRATE THE HISTORY OF THEIR

SUPPRESSION.

BY

FRANCIS AIDAN GASQUET,

MONK OF THE ORDER OF ST. BENEDICT,

SOMETIME PRIOR OF ST. GREGORY'S MONASTERY, DOWNSIDE, BATH.

VOL. II.

Third Edition.

JOHN HODGES,

HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON.

1889.

Lewes :

PRINTED BY H. WOLFF.

CONTENTS.

TO THE READER.

CHAPTER I.

THE DISSOLUTION OF THE LESSER MONASTERIES.

State of affairs in the spring of 1536-Obstacles to Henry's

return to obedience of Rome-Establishment of Court of

Augmentation-Instructions for commencement of dissolu-

tion-General method of procedure-Monasteries refounded

by Henry-Fines paid for licence to continue-Number of

religious expelled on dissolution of lesser monasteries-

Petitions for preservation of monasteries-Re-establishment

of Bisham by the king-Progress of the work of destruction

-Resistance of the Hexham canons.
pp. 1-40

CHAPTER II.

THE RISING IN LINCOLNSHIRE.

Outbreak of the rising-Causes of popular discontent-The resistance

at Louth-People rose in defence of the faith-Feeling against

Crumwell and some of the bishops-Statute of uses-Story of

the rising-Destruction of the registrar's books in Louth-

Murder of the bishop of Lincoln's chancellor-The "articles

of popular discontent-Henry's answer to the demands-

Royal anxiety as to the result and the effect of the news in

foreign countries-Collapse of the movement-Part taken by

the monks.

pp. 41-83

CHAPTER III.

THE PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE.

Popular sympathy with the insurgents-Severe measures taken by

Henry-Causes of the Yorkshire discontent-Aske's declara-

tion and examinations-Story of the rising-Religious re-

placed in their houses-Henry's instructions to Norfolk-His

"politic device "-Insurgent envoys to the king-Assembly

at Pomfret-The settlement at Doncaster.

CHAPTER IV.

THE SECOND NORTHERN RISING.

pp. 84-120

Dispersion of the insurgents-Henry's attitude with regard to the

promises made to them-Proclamation of the royal pardon-

Instructions to the officials as to the reinstated religious-

Aske's endeavour to restrain the people-His belief in the

king's honour-The new rising and its failure-Part taken by

the religious in the popular movement and especially those of

Watton, Jervaulx, Whalley and Bridlington-The quondam

abbot of Fountains-Trials and executions. pp. 121-158

CHAPTER V.

DISSOLUTION BY ATTAINder.

The royal vengeance-Attainder of a religious superior advan-

tageous to the king-Fate of Whalley, Barlings, etc.-Abbot

and monks of Furness forced to surrender-Holm Cultram—

Lenton priory-Story of the fall of Woburn-Abbot Hobbes-

His examinations in the Tower-His views as to papal

supremacy-His anguish of mind-His death. pp. 159-202

CHAPTER VI.

THE SUPPRESSION OF CONVENTS.

Hard case of disbanded nuns-Number of convents-Good repute
of the English nuns-Some convents purchased a temporary
respite from destruction-Many reduced to a state of destitu-
tion-Injunctions for Synningthwaite convent in 1534-Con-