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who only paved the way for Servitude and Taxation. Domesday-Book is indisputably entitled to the highest commendation,-but the present Reports yield to no other in their beneficial consequences and importance. A series of numerous facts are here faithfully recorded, which are of great moment in the History of the Country, and are the surest guides to truth for those who may have occasion to found Legislative measures upon them.

SUPPRESSION OF THE MONASTERIES.

On the Suppression of the Monasteries by King HENRY the Eighth, we are informed by history, that great murmurs were every where excited on account of these violences,-and men much questioned, whether Priors or Monks, who were only trustees or tenants for life, could, by any deed, however voluntary, transfer to the King the entire property of their estates. In order to reconcile the people to such mighty innovations, they were told that the King would never thenceforth have occasion to levy taxes, but would be able, from the Abbey lands alone, to bear, during war as well as peace, the whole charges of Government.

While such topics were employed to appease the populace, HENRY took an effectual method of interesting the Nobility and Gentry in the success of his measure, -he either made a gift of the revenues

of Convents to his favourites and courtiers, or sold them at low prices, or exchanged them for other lands on very disadvantageous terms. He also settled Pensions on the Abbots and Priors, proportioned to their former revenues or their merits, and he gave each Monk a yearly

pension of eight marks.

But, beside the lands possessed by the Monasteries, the Regular Clergy enjoyed a considerable part of the Benefices of England, and of the Tythes annexed to them, and these were also at this time transferred to the Crown, and by that means passed into the hands of Laymen, -an abuse, which many zealous Churchmen regarded as the most criminal Sacrilege.

In order to dissipate their revenues, and support popularity, the Monks lived in an hospitable manner,—and, besides the Poor who were maintained from their superabundant victuals, there were many decayed Gentlemen, who passed their lives in travelling from Convent to Convent,

and were entirely supported at the table of the Friars. By this Hospitality, as much as by their own Inactivity, did the Convents prove nurseries of Idleness,--but the King, not to give offence by too sudden an innovation, bound the new proprietors of Abbey lands to support the ancient Hospitality,—a measure having no reciprocal interest, and this engagement was fulfilled in very few places, and for a very short time.1

The Visitations which preceded the suppression of the Monasteries discovered, if credit be due to the Inspectors, crimes the most degrading to human nature. It is difficult to conceive that they would venture, unsupported by evidence, to accuse a community of atrocities so monstrous,— and their veracity seems to be vindicated, by their extreme solicitude to preserve some Convents whose conduct was exemplary. These crimes were apparently notorious, nor is their existence doubtful,

1 Hume's Hist. of England, vol. iv. pp. 182, et seq. 8vo. edit. 1823. 1

or the licentious lives of the Regulars disputable, when their debaucheries had already attracted the Papal indignation, and their crimes incurred the censures and menaces of MORTON, the Primate.2

The Monks, however, had a merit in their liberal Hospitality and Charity. Their tables were open to strangers, and, as the cheer was excellent, they were much frequented by the neighbouring Gentlemen. At St. Albans, and probably at other Abbeys, every traveller found an hospitable reception for three days,—and was then permitted, if his conduct was satisfactory, or his business important, to protract his stay. The fragments of their luxury furnished an extensive Charity,—and their indulgence to their tenants, whose rents were always moderate, endeared them to the Peasants.3

But to finish this great affair of the Suppression of the Monasteries, a Parliament was called, which met at Westmin

2 Henry's Hist. of Great Britain, vol. vi. p. 652. 3 Ibid. p. 653.

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