File:The greater abbeys of England (1908) (14598470978).jpg

Identifier: greaterabbeysofe01gasq (find matches)
Title: The greater abbeys of England
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Gasquet, Francis Aidan, 1846-1929
Subjects: Abbeys
Publisher: New York, Dodd, Mead and company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ey measure of turpitude fixed by the Actmade it necessary as a preliminary to inquire what housesfell within this limit of £200 a year. Commissionerswere consequently appointed to inquire and report. Thistime some at least of the commissioners were the gentryof the county; the rest were officials of the AugmentationOffice, newly created in the expectation of the large sumslikely to come to the crown by the operation of the Actof Suppression. Thus, for Hampshire on May 30, 1536,Sir John Worseley, John and George Poulet, and WilliamBerners were directed to hold these inquiries, and this istheir report about Netley: It is a large building situateupon the rivage of the seas, to the Kings subjects andstrangers travelling the same seas great relief and com-fort. Although its income was under £200 a year, stillthe seven priests living there were by report of goodconversation. This favourable report from the gentry of the neigh-bourhood did not avail to save poor Netley from destruc- ( 202)
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NETLEY tion. In February, 1537, the blow fell. The abbot hadbeen made to take the abbatial office at Beaulieu, and thecommunity were actually without a head. The processof suppression was much the same in every case, and thework was not done in a day, the existing accounts showingthat it took from six to ten weeks to conduct a dissolution.The chief commissioners paid two official visits duringthe progress of the work. On the first occasion theyannounced to the community and its dependents theirimpending doom, called for and defaced the seal—thesymbol of corporate existence, without which nothing inthe way of business could be transacted—desecrated thechurch, took possession of the best plate and church vest-ments unto the Kings use, measured the lead upon theroofs, counted the bells, and appraised the goods andchattels of the community. They then passed on to the scene of their next opera-tion, leaving behind them under-officials and workmen tocarry out the designed destruction by

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