influence of the papal throne, assembled one at Mantua. Before this tribunal, Henry was cited to appear; but when information of this summons was brought to the convocation by Fox, bishop of Hereford, that assembly protested against the measure, as more likely to gratify ambition and malice, than to satisfy the ends of justice and truth. The king * also published his reasons against it, shewing the absurdity of expecting a fair trial, when the pope, one of the parties, was to sit as judge, and the court itself was so situated, that no Englishman could safely make his appearance at it. Reginald Pole, who was now resident at Padua, attacked the king in his writings; and his book De Unione Ecclesiastica ends by comparing Henry to Nebuchadnezzar, and praying the emperor to direct his arms against so heretical a Christian, rather than against the Turks.

$. 209. Some progress was made during this summer in the dissolution of monasteries; for besides those foundations which the liberality of parliament had already bestowed on the king, many abbots made voluntary surrenders of the establishments under their charge, to the commissioners of the augmentation office, in hopes of obtaining better terms and larger allowances for themselves; entertaining little doubts, that the rapacity which had swallowed up the smaller, would soon extend itself over all such ecclesiastical bodies. Many persons were thus deprived of all means of subsistence; for besides

* Sleidan's Hist. Ref. p. 231.

dioceses to preach out of his own church, for whose honesty and judgment they could not answer.

§. 210. The direction of the military operations was committed to the duke of Norfolk, who when he joined the earl of Shrewsbury, found the rebels so strong and desperate, that it was necessary to adopt the greatest caution. They were under the command of a gentleman of the name of Aske, who was well calculated for his office, and numbered among their ranks the archbishop of York, and lord Darcy, who having been made prisoners at the capture of Pomfret castle, had taken the oath of the party, viz. that their object was to preserve the king from low-born and pernicious counsellors, and to reestablish true religion. The rebels had already taken Hull and York, and advanced as far as Doncaster; but their further progress was stopped by the prudence of the duke of Norfolk, who, after many delays and much intercourse, obtained for them a general pardon. (A.D. 1537.) Yet discontent soon manifested itself again, and breaking out in a fresh northern rebellion, it was easily put down by the forces still under the command of the duke of Norfolk and lord Shrewsbury, and the chief offenders were executed ; amongst which number were comprehended lords Darcy and Hussey, Aske, many gentlemen of consideration, and six abbots *.

. 211. The suspicion that this rebellion had owed its origin and support chiefly to the encou

* Fuller, 313

ragement of the clergy, undoubtedly hastened the suppression of religious houses; but their general dissolution arose from other causes, and would probably have taken place, had these events never occurred. In order to prepare the way for this fresh attack on church property, a new visitation was set on foot, and the disorders discovered in these establishments were thrown open to the world; for as the visitors were charged with receiving bribes a, they found it necessary to quiet unpleasant reports concerning their own ill conduct, by publishing such scandalous stories of the parties visited, as fell within their observation.

The vicious lives and conversations of “the reli“ gious,” as they were denominated *, were too notorious not to call forth the indignant animadversions of their enemies; and, as might have been expected, the guilt of individuals entailed a great degree of infamy on the body in general. We have however so many authentic documents of their gross profligacy and superstitious knavery, that little doubt can be entertained of either their guilt, or the benefit which morals have received by the suppres

a There seems to be good grounds for this accusation : we have several offers of bribes to Cromwell himself: when Latimer wrote to him, to pray that the priory of Malvern might be spared, he offered five hundred marks for the king's favour, and two hundred for that of the vicegerent. (Strype's Mem. i. 399.) So sir Thomas Eliot offers him the first-fruits of such lands as should be granted. (Ibid. 405.) See also Burnet, vol.i. 224. fol. Svo. 407.

sion of monasteries. But there were several exceptions to this extensive condemnation*; and in many of the convents visited by the commissioners, not only were real devotion and sound morality found to exist, but the liberal hospitality and charitable munificence of the members, merited for them that love, which was felt towards the monastic orders by a large portion of the community, particularly by the common people.

. 212. Many abbots now tendered their resignations, influenced by various motives, as either their fears of the king predominated, or as they entertained views favourable to the reformation; while others hoped, by conciliating the good-will of the ruling powers, to obtain for their societies new and more useful foundations. The benefit derived to the crown by these resignations fell infinitely below the amount at which it might probably have been calculated; for in many cases the establishments were found to be in a very dilapidated state. The several members of such foundations, foreseeing what was likely to happen, had been providing for the storm; and while they consulted their own personal interests, had neglected the common property, of which

b The Roman catholics, on the other hand, accuse the visitors of great iniquity in their proceedings; of having first corrupted, and then punished the nuns whom they had debauched, and of having brought untrue accusations against those who had resisted their solicitations. (Fuller, 315.)

* Strype's Ecc. Mem. 393.