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which peculiar aid is necessary,-or a casualty of evil accident, or of the manifold visitations of adversity, in poverty or old age, but find an open asylum, and a refuge ready prepared with every needful accommodation for reception, comfort, instruction, and cure.

CONCEALED LANDS.

WHEN the Monasteries were dissolved, and their Possessions surrendered to the Crown, some demesnes belonging to them, it appears, were still privately retained by certain persons, or corporations, or churches. This caused Queen ELIZABETH, when she understood the fact, to grant Commissions to some persons to search after these Concealments, and to retrieve them to the use of the Crown.

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But," says Mr. STRYPE," it was a world to consider, what unjust oppressions of the people, and the poor, this occasioned, by some griping men, that were concerned therein. For, under the pretence of executing Commissions, for inquiry to be made for these lands concealed, they, by colour thereof, and without colour of Commission, contrary to all right, and to the Queen's meaning and intent, did intermeddle and chalenge

lands of long times possessed by Churchwardens, and such like, upon the Charitable gifts of Predecessors, to the common benefit of the Parishes ;-yea, and certain Stocks of Money, Plate, Cattle, and the like. They made pretence to the bells, lead, and such other like things, belonging to Churches and Chapels, used for Common Prayer. Further, they attempted to make titles to lands, possessions, plate, and goods, belonging to Hospitals, and such like places, used for maintenance of poor people,-with many such other unlawful attempts and extortions, to a pernicious example, if the same had been further used and suffered by colour hereof."1

Great complaints being made in consequence of this unjust Commission, The Queen, on the 13th of February, 1572, set forth a Proclamation, to withstand this manner of extortion, and unlawful practices and troubles of her subjects,— and commanded, that all Commissions

1 Annals of the Reformation, vol. ii. p. 209.

which were then extant, and not expired, for inquisition of any manner of Concealments, should be by Supersedeas, out of her Court of Exchequer, revoked.2

"Thus," continues Mr. STRYPE," were these Harpies and Helluones, this Turbidum hominum Genus, these graceless and wicked men, (such are Lord COKE's expressions bestowed upon them), thus were they for a time laid asleep,-but they awoke again at times, and plagued the nation throughout this Queen's and the most of the next King's reign."

3

The very ancient premises of JOHN TAVIE OF THAVIE, which were bequeathed by him in 1348 to the church of St. Andrew, Holborn, appear to have been comprised in the seizures made of lands in the City of London, that were supposed to have been concealed from the Crown, and which were afterwards granted by King JAMES the FIRST to Sir JOHN LEMAN,

2 Annals of the Reformation, vol. ii. p. 209.

3 Ibid. vol. ii.

p.

210.-vol. iii. pp. 404, 468, &c.

C

Mayor, and CORNELIUS FISH, Chamberlain, in trust, for the particular uses mentioned in the wills or grants of the respective donors.4

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