A sketch of the origin and progress of monasteries in England, 163. Danes destroyed the monasteries, 164. This gave an impetus to building manorial churches, 165. King Edgar rebuilt them, 165. His leading church ideas, 165, 166. The English monks passed through three reformations, 166. The Norman bishops divided the properties of the cathedral church, 168. Table showing the monasteries built from William I. to Henry VI., 169. Alien monasteries, 170. Main indications of a religious revolutionary wave passing over England, 170. The preaching of Franciscans, Dominicans, and John Wickliffe that tithes were only alms, 170-172. Wickliffe’s opinions pronounced heretical, 171. Cathedral Act of 1840 [3 & 4 Vict., c. 113] passed to sweep away Church abuses, 172. Beneficial effect of the Act, 173. The object of owners in appropriating tithes to monasteries, 175. Charter of the Earl of Chester to the Monastery of Chester, 176. CHAPTER XVI. _Dissolution of Monasteries, pages 177-185._ Eight cases to guide Henry VIII. in dissolving monasteries, 177. His own action in dissolving them, 179. Most objectionable appointments to college livings, 178. Henry VIII. made “Supreme head of the Church of England,” 179. Political expediency swept away the monasteries, 180. Monasteries with less than £200 a year dissolved by 27 Henry VIII., c. 28, p. 180. Property obtained £32,000 per annum, and personal effects £100,000, p. 180. The conditions upon which Parliament granted Henry VIII., and by him to others, such vast estates, 180. He created six new bishoprics; he intended to create twenty-one, 181. The manors and palaces surrendered by Cranmer to the King, 182. The Act 1 Eliz., c. 19, p. 183. Houses dissolved by 31 Henry VIII., c. 13, p. 183. Three abbots executed, 184. Over 653 monasteries dissolved, 184. In 1546, 90 colleges, 110 hospitals, and 2,347 chantries suppressed by 1 Edward VI., c. 14, p. 185. The preamble ran, “For erecting grammar schools, augmenting universities, and a _better provision for the poor and needy_.” This object completely failed, 185. An Act in Henry VIII.’s reign for payment of tithes, 185. Lands exempt from paying, 185. CHAPTER XVII. _Tithes in the City and Liberties of London, pages 186-200._