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.

CHAPTER II.

THE RISING IN LINCOLNSHIRE.

• pp. 1-40

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.

CHAPTER V.

DISSOLUTION BY ATTAINDEr.

pp. 121-158

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-

ventual life-The good done by religious ladies-Testimony

of royal commissioners-Importance to the king of surrenders

and royal instructions on the point-Failure as regards convents

-Final suppressions-Number of nuns.
pp. 203-237

CHAPTER VII.

FALL OF THE FRIARS.

Fundamental principle of the mendicant orders-Numbers in Eng-

land on suppression-Their troubles-Bishop Ingworth's

work in dissolving the friaries-The Dominican prior of

Newcastle-on-Tyne-Opposition to the royal policy-Friar

Anthony Brown-Progress of the dissolution-Friar Stone-

Doctor London and the friars-The surrenders-Small value

of the spoils-Sites of the friaries much sought after-Special

hardships to which the disbanded friars were exposed.

pp. 238-276

CHAPTER VIII.

PROGRESS OF THE GENERAL SUPPRESSION.

Value of surrenders-Policy of Henry in hiding the scheme of

total suppression-Religious anticipate the work of spoliation

in some instances-Second suppression of Bisham-Destruc-

tion of Lewes-Suppression of Abingdon-Example of Vale

Royal-Royal pressure to secure surrender at Hinton Charter-

house and Athelney-Abbots appointed for the purpose of sur-

rendering their houses-Deprivation of the abbot of St. Albans

-And forced resignation of abbot of Evesham-Romsey abbey

-Dr. Hillyard and the monks-Account of the dissolution of

Roche- Total number of ejected religious.

CHAPTER IX.

THE THREE BENEDICTINE ABBOTS.

pp. 277-324

Pre-eminence of Glastonbury-High position of abbot Whiting-
The oath of supremacy-Royal visitation of Glastonbury-
Last glimpse of abbot Whiting at Glastonbury-Greater