and the worst crimes laid to the charge of the monks are but too fully verified by the long chain of historical evidence reaching without interruption from the twelfth century to the sixteenth. Those who have studied in the interior history of this long period the demoralizing effects of the popish system of confession and absolution will find no difficulty in conceiving the facility with which the inmates of the monasteries, at the time of their dissolution, confessed to vices from the very name of which our imagination now recoils. These documents are of peculiar importance amid the religious disputes which at present agitate the world; and I think that even the various lists of the confessions of the monks and nuns of the several religious houses, entitled comperta, and preserved in manuscript, ought to be made public. The great cause of the Reformation has been but ill served by concealing the depravities of the system which it overthrew.

I will only add that I have done what I could, under circumstances, to ascertain the dates of these letters, and arrange them in chronological order. It was the custom at this period in dating letters to write the day of the month without the year, which now gives rise to considerable difficulties. In the description in the Cottonian Catalogue the dates of these letters are thrown into almost hopeless confusion.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

LETTER I. EDMOND ABBOT OF YORK TO CARDINAL WOLSEY. York, Sept. 20,
1528. Suppression of the priory of Romburgh

PAGE

2

II. RICHARD BISHOP OF NORWICH TO CARDINAL WOLSEY. Hoxne,

January 12, 1528(-9). Concerning the election of a prior of Butley

III. WILLIAM BARLOW TO THE KING. 1533. Recantation of opinions

expressed in his works

.

IV. COMMISSIONERS AT BRISTOL TO SECRETARY CROMWELL. Bristol,

1534. Preaching of Latimer and Hubberdin at Bristol

V. JOHN HYLSEY TO CROMWELL. Bristol, May 2, 1534. Same sub-

ject as the preceding

VI. LETTER TO SECRETARY CROMWELL. 1534. About prophecies, &c.
of Elizabeth Barton, the holy Maid of Kent

VII. THE PRIOR OF CHRIST'S CHURCH CANTERBURY TO CROMWELL.

1533. His account of Elizabeth Barton

4

6

.

7.

11

14

VIII. PETITION OF THE MONKS OF CANTERBURY TO THE KING, for a

pardon for those who had been concerned in the affair of the Maid

of Kent

IX. ROLAND LEE AND THOMAS BEDYLL TO CROMWELL. Canterbury,

Dec. 10, 1533. Their commission in Kent to examine into the pro-

ceedings of the Maid of Kent

XI. CROMWELL TO BISHOP FISHER, concerning the Maid of Kent

XII. VISION OF JOHN DARLEY. June 27

-XIII. LETTER OF THOMAS DORSET. London, March 13. Dr. Crouk-
horne's vision of the Trinity and Virgin Mary. Lambert's exami-
nation at Lambeth for heresy. Jurisdiction of the Bp. of London.
The Bp. of Worcester's Sermon at Paul's Cross. The King's pro-
position for an Act of Parliament against idleness

XIV. BEDYLL TO CROMWELL. London, Ascension Day, 1534. Con-

ference with the monks of the Charter House, who refused to ac-

knowledge the King's supremacy

XV. ROLAND LEE AND BEDYLL TO CROMWELL. Milesend, June 15,

1534. Conference with the friars of Richmond on the same subject 41

LETTER XVI. BEDYLL TO CROMWELL. London, July 28, 1534. Bp. Fisher's

books against the King's new marriage. The nuns of Syon acknow-

ledge the King's supremacy, &c.

XVII. DR. LAYTON TO CROMWELL. Sion, Dec. 12, 1534. The nuns

of Syon. Conduct of Bishop the Confessor. Many of the monks

weary of their habit.

44

47

.

XIX. RYCHARD ZOUCHE TO CROMWELL. Requests to have the abbey

of Stavordale restored as it was founded by his ancestors

XX. SIR PETER DUTTON TO CROMWELL. Dutton, Aug. 3. Insur-

rection at Norton. The abbot and some others in custody

XXI. THE ABBOT OF WARDON'S REASONS FOR RESIGNING

XXII. Margaret Vernon to CroMWELL, desiring to surrender her

monastery.

XXIII. DR. LEGH TO CROMWELL. Laycock, Aug. 20. Requesting
uniformity in the proceedings against the monasteries

XIV. DR. LAYTON TO CROMWELL. Bristol, Bartholomew's Day.

Relics from Maiden Bradley. Dissolute behaviour of the prior of

that house.

XXV. JOHN BARTELOT TO CROMWELL. States that he and five others
found the prior of the Crutched Friars, in London, in bed with a
prostitute.

XXVI. THOMAS I. Legh to CROMWELL. Belvoir, Sept. 1. Scanda-
lous life of the Abbot of Rievaulx, who refused to acknowledge the
jurisdiction of the visitors.

XXVII. JOHN FITZ-JAMES TO CROMWELL. Redliche, Sept. 2. The
abbot of Glastonbury requests to be freed from four of the injunc-
tions of the last visitation.

XXVIII. DR. LEGH TO CROMWELL. Wilton, Sept. 3.

Recommend-

ing that the heads of the religious houses should not be allowed to
go forth of their houses. Visitation of the universities of Oxford
and Cambridge

.

.

61

63

. 65

67

XXIX, JASPAR FYLOLLE TO CROMWELL. London, Sept. 5. Revenue

of the Charter House (London). Behaviour of the monks. In-

structions for the management of that house

XXX. DR. LAYTON TO CROMWELL. Oxford, Sept. 12. Particulars of

the visitation of the university of Oxford

XXXI. THE ABBOT OF REWLEY TO CROMWELL, offering one hundred

pounds to have his abbey preserved or converted into a college . 72

.

70

LETTER XXXII. SIR THOMAS AUDLEY TO CROMWELL. Sept. 26. Request-
ing him to spare a visitation of the nunnery of Barking until he can
speak with him; and various other matters

XXXIII. DR. LAYTON TO CROMWELL. Oct. 23. Informing him that

he had suddenly entered the abbey of Langdon and captured the

Abbot's concubine

74

74

XXXIV. WILLIAM BARLOW TO CROмwell. States the violent oppo-
sition that he had received in preaching the Gospel in the diocese
of St. David's. Ill treatment of other unoffending persons

XXXV. THE PRIOR OF BRIDLINGTON TO CROMWELL. Bridlington,

Oct. 23. With a present, and stating that Sir Gilbert de Gaunt

was the founder of his abbey, and not the King

XXXVI. DR. LEGH TO CROMWELL. Ely, Nov. 1. Many of the

monks desire to be set at liberty from their way of living

XXXVII. THE COMMENDATOR OF WELBECK TO CROMWELL.

beck, Nov. 2. Death of the abbot of West Dereham. Election of a

successor

XXXVIII. JOHN AP RICE TO CROMWEll.

management of the abbot, and disorderly

Bury. Relics of that house

Wel-

77

80

82

83

86

XXXIX. RICHARD WHARTON TO CROMWELL. Bungay, Nov. 7. The
prior of Ingham had sold his abbey and lands to William Wood-
house, contrary to his promise to Edward Calthorpe, whose an-
cestors founded the same, and who now desires to have it.

XL. THE COMMISSIONERS IN KENT TO CROMWELL. Canterbury,

Nov. 16. Surrender of Langdon, Dover, and Folkstone abbeys . 88

XLI. CHRISTOPHER LEVYNS TO CROMWELL. Informing him that the
prior of Christ's Church, Canterbury, had acted contrary to his oath,
and had conveyed away jewels and treasure out of the house, and
according to report murdered some of the monks
XLII. DR. LAYTON TO CROMWELL. Lichfield, Dec. 22. Visitation
of monasteries northward from London, and lewd and riotous living
of the monks. Chicksand, Harewold, St. Andrew's in Northamp-
ton; Newark and Southwell colleges

XLIII. THE BISHOP OF LINCOLN TO CROMWELL. Woburn, Jan. 10.

Election of Sir John Blakytt to be prior of Newstead besides Stam-

ford

XLIV. DR. LEGH TO CROMwell. York, Jan. 13.

and Dr. Layton had visited the archbishop of York

XLV. DR. LAYTON TO CROMWELL. York, Jan. 13. Corruptions in

the monasteries in Yorkshire. Abbey of St. Mary at York

91

LETTER XLVI. BEDYLL TO CROMWELL. Ramsey, Jan. 15. Commendation of
the abbot and convent of Ramsey. Charter of King Edgar in their
house. Visitation of Saltrey abbey. Inquires if he shall proceed
to the unvisited houses in the diocese of Lincoln
XLVII. LAYTON AND LEGH TO CROMWELL. Richmond in Yorkshire,
Jan. 20. Scandalous practices of the abbot of Fountains; that one
Marmaduke, a monk of the house, is a proper man to succeed him,
and will give six hundred marks for the office. Resignation of the
abbot of Whitby

XLVIII. THE ABBOT OF FAVERSHAM TO CROMWELL. Faversham,
March 16. Stating what he considers the duties of an abbot, and
that he is not yet so infirm as to be unable to perform them; also
the services he has rendered that house, and hoping he may be
allowed to remain there

98

100

. 103

112

116

XLIX. THE MANNER OF DISSOLVING THE ABBEYS BY KING HENRY

VIII.

L. THE PRIORESS AND NUNS OF LEYBORNE TO CROMWELL, entreating
to have their house preserved

LI. SIR PETER EDGECUMBE TO CROMWELL. March 25. Stating that

his ancestors were founders of the priories of Totnes and Corn-

worthy, and intreating to have them spared

. 117

.

.

LII. LORD LAWARR TO CROMWELL. March 25. Intreating to have
the priory of Boxgrave saved from suppression, as he is founder
thereof, and many of his ancestors lie buried there; or, if not, that
it may be made a college of; or lastly, that he may have the
temporalities thereof

LIII. JOHN MORISE TO CROMWELL. Boxgrave, March 27. Reports

that he and two others had dissolved the priory of Boxgrave accord-

ing to their instructions, and that Lord Lawarr had bought the

goods, &c.

LIV. HUMPHREY Stafford to CromweLL. Bletherwick, Palm Sun-

day. Intreating that the priories of Fineshed and Worspring may

be granted him when suppressed

LV. THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK TO CROMWELL. Cawood, April 23.
Informs him that he has given instructions to his archdeacons to
warn all monasteries under £200 per annum not to embezzle or
alienate their goods. Praying also that the houses of St. Os-
wald and Hexham may not be suppressed, and that he has given
commandment that no preachers shall be allowed to preach novelties 123

LVI. THE PRIOR OF COKESFORD TO CROMWELL. Petition for a pen-

sion of 201. per annum or more

LVII. RICHARD STRETE TO CROMWELL. Lichfield, May 12. Inven-

tory of the goods and lands belonging to Calwich abbey

. 127