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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 January 2012
It has often been the occasion of remark that out of the enormous mass of jewels, ornaments, and substantial church plate accumulated in almost illimitable profusion in the ancient religious houses of our land so few specimens have descended to modern times. This paper will deal with this subject, and will show the manner of the disappearance of these treasures. It will give a series of documents (hitherto inedited, but unique in their complete connection and fulness) relating to a Visitation conducted by the King's Commissioners in the Chapel of St. George, Windsor, and illustrating these three points: (a) the wealth of these religious foundations; (b) the manner in which that wealth (in respect to the valuable moveables) was dealt with by its proprietors during the progress of the Reformation; and (c) the ultimate fate of the jewels, plate, ornaments, and vessels of gold and silver. The various documents are somewhat lengthy, and contain some repetitions. It has, however, been deemed expedient to give them as they appear, for two reasons : first, as providing an example of the exact mode of conducting one of these ancient Visitations; and next, as exhibiting, in their curious variety of expression, the diversity of sentiment and feelings prevalent in those days.
page 78 note a Additional MS. B. M. 5498, fo. 42. All these documents will be found in this MS. except where they are otherwise referred to. The contractions have been extended, and the modern distinction of “u” and “v” observed; otherwise the spelling has been retained.
page 78 note b Sir Philip Hoby had been himself in peril at Windsor from an accusation brought against him by Stephen Gardiner, Bp. of “Winchester.—Foxe's Acts and Monuments, 2nd Edition, v. 464–480. Strype's Eccl. Memorials, ii. pt. ii. 53.
page 79 note a State Papers, Domestic Series, vol. xiv. No. 55.
page 81 note a Sloane MSS. 4847, folio 101. This will was printed by Mr. Astle. London, 1775.
page 85 note a See Strype, Eccl. Mon. ii. pt. ii. 52. Cooper, Athenæ Cantabrigienses, i. 111, 542.
page 85 note b See Tighe's Hist. of Windsor, i. 379; and see Letters Patent, dated Feb. 27, 14 E. IV. printed in the Monasticon.
page 93 note a Vide supra.
page 94 note a Vide supra.
page 94 note b By Statute 33 H. VIII. c. 5, every spiritual person having benefices, &c. to the yearly value of 500 marks was to keep three stoned saddle-horses; those having benefices, &c. above £100 and under 500 marks per annum, to keep two. The various enactments regarding the payment of annates and first-fruits to the King, instead of to the Pope, are well known.
page 95 note a Cotton MSS. Cal. B. vii. folios 444, 445. There is a copy of a draft of this letter in Add. MS. 5498, fol. 45. The only material variation is in the passage marked * *, which in the draft reads as follows:— ‥‥. having therupon not onlie examined him, but also sundrie of the Clearkes of the College that were present at his lectures, we find by their Examinacion that thei are very sore agreeved with him even of an olde grudge and malice as it should seeme, and that they are not hable to affirme and prove the sainges mentioned in the said billes against Tourner ‥‥.
page 96 note a Additional MSS. 5751, fol. 327. Original Bill on Parchment
page 96 note a Additional MSS. 5751, fol. 328. This is the letter from the Privy Council referred to in the next document; the lower half of the sheet of paper on which it is written, and which contained the signatures and address, has been cut off.
page 98 note a Add. MSS. British Museum, 5751, 328. Original Indenture on Parchment. Label for the Seal torn away. From another entry in this book, which is a collection of royal and other warrants and accounts relating to the Great Wardrobe and Jewel Office, tempp. Edw. VI., Eliz., and Jac. I., it would seem that much plate and jewels belonging to Windsor, Hampton Court, and other chapels royal, had already in 1548 been appropriated to the King's use under the order of the Protector Somerset.