The dissolution of the monasteries : $b As illustrated by the suppression of the religious houses of StaffordshireHibbert, Francis Aidan
History
The dissolution of the monasteries : $b As illustrated by the suppression of the religious houses of Staffordshire
Hibbert, Francis Aidan
Great Britain -- History -- Henry VIII, 1509-1547; Monasteries -- England -- Staffordshire; Monasteries and state
The books and documents that were important as title-deeds were of
course looked after. The original Chartulary of Burton Abbey is still
in the possession of the Marquis of Anglesey, and that of Dieulacres is
possessed by the Earl of Macclesfield. The Chartularies of Stone and
Ronton are in the British Museum.[226] But probably the greater part of
the books were treated in a manner similar to that in which Dr. Layton
treated the books at the Oxford colleges, and no doubt the description
he gave of the result of his visit to New College would apply to most
of the monasteries: “We fownde all the gret quadrant court full of the
leiffes ... the wynde blowing them into evere corner.”[227]
As might be supposed from the character of the agents employed, much of
the spoil did not reach the Royal treasure-house without a good deal
of trouble. The lead was to be melted into “plokes” and sows, weighed,
and marked with the King’s marks, and delivered under indenture to
the constables of neighbouring castles, such as Tutbury. But so long
afterwards as the reign of Mary, John Scudamore was being called upon
for the settlement of his accounts. The following letter was addressed
to him from Westminster on the “laste of February,” 1555:[228]
“After our harty comendacyons, theise maye be to advertyse
you that we have perused the indentures made betwyxte Mr.
Sheldon and you, and accordynge to the tenure of the same
have charged the sayed master Sheldon with all the leade,
bell metalle, and redy money mencyoned and conteigned in
the sayed indenture, which beynge deducted oute of youer
charge, yett there dothe remayne to be aunsweryd by you
bothe leade and bell metalle as ffollowythe, that ys to
saye for leade att ... Rocestre, vi, ff.; Croxden, xiiii,
ff. de.; Delacres, iiii, ff.; Tuttberye, vi, ff., i,
quarter; _nuper prioratus canonicorum de_ Stafford,
xliiii, ff.; ... the celle of Dudley, iiii, ff.; ... ffor
the aunswere whereof we requyer you, by the vertue of the
kynge and quenes majesties comyssyon to us directed, that
wythe as convenyente spede as you may after the receyte
hereof sende unto us youre suffycyente deputie to accoumpte
byfore us for the same, so as hereuppon their majesties
may be satisfyed by you of the dett that shall faul out
uppon the same. And bycause we be moche callyd uppon to
reporte youer estate and dett herein, we therefore are
constrayned the more ernestly to calle uppon you, whome we
dought not wylle have such regarde hereunto as bothe their
majesties expectacyon herein may be served (as ys mete),
as also for the full ende of this charge towardes youer
selfe, with which as before the ende ys troublesome and
comberous unto you, so will the ende thereof be to youer
quyetnes and comforte. Whereof, for that you are ouer oulde
ffrende and of oulde acquayntaunce, we thought to advyse
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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