DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0042
WALTHAM ABBEY CHURCH.
29
cup of sack to the health of thy master. I would give a hundred pounds could I
feed so heartily on beef as thou dost, but my poor queasy stomach can hardly digest
the breast of a chicken." The King pledged him, and having dined heartily,
thanked him for his good cheer, and departed. A few days after, the abbot was
sent for to London, and lodged in the Tower, kept a close prisoner, and fed, for
some time, upon bread and water : at length a sirloin of beef was placed before him,
on which he fed as heartily as one of his own ploughmen : in the midst of his meal
the King burst into the room from a private closet, and demanded his hundred
pounds, which the abbot gave with no small pleasure, and on being released, re-
turned to his monastery with a heart and pocket much lighter than when he left it,
a few days before.—Not long after this the King began to play a much more serious
game with the monks and abbots throughout all England ; and Waltham, among
other rich ecclesiastical foundations, fell a prey to the rapacity of the tyrant. It was
dissolved in 1539, when the annual revenues amounted, at the highest estimate, to
£1079. 12s. an immense sum, if calculated by the present worth of money. The
abbey being dissolved, its site, with many valuable lands, were granted to Sir
Anthony Denny for thirty-one years. The church was appropriated to the use of
the parishioners, and most of the rich plate, with vestments, &c. were also bestowed
on them. The latter, however, were soon sold by the churchwardens:—among
their accounts are some very singular items.—" Anno 1542. Paid the ringers at the
King's coming, sixpence." Yet Farmer says, Waltham bells told no tales every time
the King came thither ; for he had a small house in Romcland, a field belonging to
the see of Rome, to which he frequently retired for his private pleasures. " Re-
ceived of Richard Farmer for eight stoles, three shillings." A stole is an ornament
usually appended to the neck of a Popish priest. " Rem, for mending a hand-bell,
twopence." This was carried by the sexton before receiving the sacrament. " Anno
1549, Edward VI. Sold, an iron rod which the curtain run on before the rood,
nmepence."—" Item, Sold, as much wax as amounted to twenty-six shillings."—
' Rem, Spent in the visitation at Chelmsford, among the churchwardens and other
honest men, 14#. Ad." N.B. The first visitation whereat Waltham wardens ever
appeared, the abbot having episcopal jurisdiction. " Item, Received for 270 oz. of
plate, £67. 14*. 9</."—" Anno 1556', For coals to undermine a part of the steeple,
wWch stood after the first fall, 2s." The parish built another steeple, or tower, at
the west end of the church, the former having stood in the centre. " Anno 1558,
first of Eliz. For taking down the rood-loft, 3s. 6a?."—" For a suit of vestments of
E. VOL. III.
29
cup of sack to the health of thy master. I would give a hundred pounds could I
feed so heartily on beef as thou dost, but my poor queasy stomach can hardly digest
the breast of a chicken." The King pledged him, and having dined heartily,
thanked him for his good cheer, and departed. A few days after, the abbot was
sent for to London, and lodged in the Tower, kept a close prisoner, and fed, for
some time, upon bread and water : at length a sirloin of beef was placed before him,
on which he fed as heartily as one of his own ploughmen : in the midst of his meal
the King burst into the room from a private closet, and demanded his hundred
pounds, which the abbot gave with no small pleasure, and on being released, re-
turned to his monastery with a heart and pocket much lighter than when he left it,
a few days before.—Not long after this the King began to play a much more serious
game with the monks and abbots throughout all England ; and Waltham, among
other rich ecclesiastical foundations, fell a prey to the rapacity of the tyrant. It was
dissolved in 1539, when the annual revenues amounted, at the highest estimate, to
£1079. 12s. an immense sum, if calculated by the present worth of money. The
abbey being dissolved, its site, with many valuable lands, were granted to Sir
Anthony Denny for thirty-one years. The church was appropriated to the use of
the parishioners, and most of the rich plate, with vestments, &c. were also bestowed
on them. The latter, however, were soon sold by the churchwardens:—among
their accounts are some very singular items.—" Anno 1542. Paid the ringers at the
King's coming, sixpence." Yet Farmer says, Waltham bells told no tales every time
the King came thither ; for he had a small house in Romcland, a field belonging to
the see of Rome, to which he frequently retired for his private pleasures. " Re-
ceived of Richard Farmer for eight stoles, three shillings." A stole is an ornament
usually appended to the neck of a Popish priest. " Rem, for mending a hand-bell,
twopence." This was carried by the sexton before receiving the sacrament. " Anno
1549, Edward VI. Sold, an iron rod which the curtain run on before the rood,
nmepence."—" Item, Sold, as much wax as amounted to twenty-six shillings."—
' Rem, Spent in the visitation at Chelmsford, among the churchwardens and other
honest men, 14#. Ad." N.B. The first visitation whereat Waltham wardens ever
appeared, the abbot having episcopal jurisdiction. " Item, Received for 270 oz. of
plate, £67. 14*. 9</."—" Anno 1556', For coals to undermine a part of the steeple,
wWch stood after the first fall, 2s." The parish built another steeple, or tower, at
the west end of the church, the former having stood in the centre. " Anno 1558,
first of Eliz. For taking down the rood-loft, 3s. 6a?."—" For a suit of vestments of
E. VOL. III.