Txi.UNTON PRIORY. 103 



prellminaries of the sad tragedy. I must hasten to the 

 point at whicli Taunton Prioiy ouce more enters upon the 

 scene. 



The efForts of the Commissioners had been specially 

 directed to induce the occupants of the ßeliglous Houses 

 to make a voluntary surrender of thelr possesslons. Two 

 modes were adopted for this desired result. On the one 

 hand they were allured to comply by the proniise of pen- 

 sions, and on the other endeavours were made to frighten 

 them into acquiescence by threats of the exposure of im-agi- 

 nary ofFences, and of the punlshment of evils which had 

 no foundatlon save in the minds of the visitors them- 

 selves. Some were proof against both of these manceuvres, 

 and them, by trumped up charges of treason, or by 

 the assertion of the concealment of theu* most valuable 

 property, which if true was perfectly justifiable, they 

 mercilessly tortured to the death. It has Struck inul- 

 titudes in later times with wonder, that the shameless 

 attack on the Eeligious Houses was attended with so 

 much apparent success ; and it has been oftentimes in- 

 ferred that the aiins of the kiug and his courtiers must 

 have been warmly seconded by the acquiescing verdict of 

 the people at large. The contrary of this is the truth. 

 The people looked upon the scenes tliat were disgracing 

 the land with horror, consternation, and loathing, and 

 every here and there, as in the West of England itself, 

 rose in rebellion against the tyrant and his myrmidons. 

 Nor — and let us not forget this — could the attempt have 

 been successful, had it not been for the want of concen- 

 trated effort on the part of the clergy themselves. Singly 

 they strove, and singly they were of course overcome. 



The Storni at length burst upon Taunton. It was on 

 the 12th of February, 1539, that the Prior and Canons 



