LETTER CXXVII.

The Prioress and Convent of the Cistercian Nunnery of Legborne in Lincolnshire to their Founder, previous to the Dissolution of their House. A. D. 1537.

[MS. COTTON. CLEOP. E. IV. fol. 270 b. Orig.]

The Nunnery of Legborn was founded before or about the year 1150, having been removed from another place called Halington; but the name of its first founder has not come down to us.

The FOUNDER mentioned in the following Letter was the Patron, who was usually the heir-general of the individual to whose munificence the Priory or Abbey owed its first construction: and it was lawful for that heir, if the rents and profits of the endowment were not applied to the ends and uses for which they were originally given, to re-claim, and resume the lands.

These Patrons were intitled to different privileges in different Houses; according to the terms of their respective charters of foundation. To some Monasteries they presented the head or superior; in others they only approved of the election. In many they were allowed to place their children first for education, and afterwards as professed, and in others to provide their relatives with what were called corrodies.

The Monks and Nuns, in many of the Monasteries, seem hardly to have thought the lands they were possessed of secure, unless confirmed from time to time by the successive heirs, as their Patrons.

The NUNS of LEGBORN, it appears, conscious that their lives were irreproachable, besought their Patron to interfere in behalf of their House.

RIGHT honourable our most synguler Maister and Founder, our duetie in the humblest wise presupposed, with dayly prayer, as your perpetuall and religious beedwomen. Please yt your goodnes to undirstonde, that where as Almyghty God hath indued you wt just title Founder of the Pryory of Legborne to

the great comfort of me and all my systers: we doo and shall alweyes submit ourselfs to youre most rightuouse commaundement and ordre, oonly puttyng our comfort in your goodnesse for all causes concernyng your poure Pryory of Legbourne. And where as we doo here that a grete nombre of Abbyes shalbe punysshed, subprest, and put downe bicause of their myslyvyng; and that all Abbyes and Pryores undir the value of CC be at our moste noble Prynce's pleasure to subpresse and put downe. Yet if it may pleas your goodnes, we trust in God ye shall here no compleynts agaynst us, nother in our lyvyng nor hospitalitie kepyng. In consideracion wherof if it may please your goodnes, in our great necessitie, to be a meane and sewter for your owne powre Pryory, that it maye be preserved and stond, you shalbe a more higher Founder to vs than he that first foundid oure Howse. We have noon othir comfort nor refuge but oonly unto your goodnes, and we hooly submyt our selfs to the pleasure of God, to the pleasure of our Prynce, and to the pleasure of you our Founder; and how soever it shall please God that we shalbe orderid, we shall continue your faithfull and dayly bedewomen. As knoweth oure Lorde who ever preto your most comfort.

serve you

Yo' owne dayly beadwomen

JANE MESSYNDYNE Pryores

and SISTERS of the PRYORY of LEgborne.

LETTER CXXVIII.

Thomas Bedyll to Lord Cromwell, respecting the Monks of the Charter House at London. a. D. 1537.

[MS. COTTON. CLEOP. E. IV. fol. 217. Orig.]

"The nineteenth day of June," says Hall, in the 27th. of Henry VIIIth "were thre Monkes of the Charterhouse hanged, drawen, and quartred at Tyborne, and their quarters set up about London, for deniyng the Kyng to be Supreme Head of the Churche. Their names were Exmewe, Myddlemore, and Nudigate. These men, when they were arrained at Westminster, behaved themselves very stiffly and stubbornly; for hearing their inditement red, how traiterously they had spoken against the King's Majesty, his crown, and dignity, they neither blushed nor bashed at it, but very foolishly and hypocritically knowledged their treason, which maliciously they avouched, having no learning for their defence; but rather being asked divers questions, they used a malicious silence, thinking as by their examinations afterward in the Tower of London it did appear, for so they said, that they thought those men which were the lord Cromwell and other that there sat upon them in judgement, to be heretics and not of the Church of God, and therefore not worthy to be either answered or spoken unto. And therefore, as they deserved, they received as you have heard before." a

The following Letter will explain the less merciful treatment which some of the other Monks of the Charter House received.

My very good Lord, after my moost hertie commendations it shall please yo1 Lordship to understand that the monks of the Charterhouse here at London, whiche wer committed to Newgate for thair traitorus behavor long tyme continued against the Kings Grace, be almoost dispeched by th'and of God; as it may apper to you by this byll inclosed. Wherof considering

a Hall's Chron. edit. 1809. p. 817.

thair behavor and the hole mater, I am not sory, but wold that al suche as love not the Kings Highnes and his wordly a honor wer in like caas. My Lord (as ye may) I desir you in the wey of charite, and none other wise, to be good lord to the Prior of the said Charterhouse, which is as honest a man as ever was in that habite (or els I am muche deceyved), and is one whiche never offended the Kings grace by disobedience of his Lawes, but hath labored very sore continually for the reformation of his brethern, and now at the last, at myn exhortation and instigation, constantly moved and finally persuaded his brethern to surrender thair house, lands, and goods, into the Kings hands, and to trust only to his mercy and grace. I beseche you, my Lord that the said Prior may be so entreated by your help, that he be not sory, and repent that he hath fered and folowed your sore words and my gentil exhortation made unto him to surrender his said house; and think that he myght have kept the same, if yo1 Lordshyp and I had not led him to the said surrender. But suerly (I beleve) that I knowe the man so well that how soever he be order he wolbe contented without grudge. He is a man of suche charite as I have not seen the like. As towching the house of the Charterhouse I pray Good if it shall please the King to alter it, that it may be turned into a better use (seing it is in the face of the world) and

с

e God.

muche communication wol run thereof throughout this realme; for London is the common countrey of al England, from which is derived to al parts of this realme al good and yll occurrent here. From London the xiiijth day of Juny.

By yor Lordships at

commaundement

THOMAS BEDYLL.

Ther be departed.

Brother William Greenewode.

Dane John Davye.

Brother Robert Salt.

Brother Water Peereson.

Dane Thomas Greene.

Ther be even at the poynt of dethe.

Brother Thomas Scryven.

Brother Thomas Reedyng.

Ther be sycke.

Dane Thomas Jonson.

Brother William Hore.

One is hole.

Dane Bird.