MYNCHIN BÜCKLAND PRIORY, 43 



robbery of their possessions. The main features of that 

 odious tragedy are necessarily the same in every iustance, 

 although the detalls are as various as the multiform shapes 

 in which tyraony, falsehood, sacrilege, and mm'der can 

 present themselves and be exemplified when under no 

 restraint nor necessity tu deceive. Happily, therefore, 

 there will not be any need to take the reader over ground 

 with which he is already acquainted, and which is too 

 unlovely to be voluntarily allowed to detain us. I will, 

 accordingly, introduce him to the particular and special 

 information which I have succeeded in gathering in con- 

 nexion with the House on the history of which we are now 

 employed. 



Is is Singular that uo Declaration of the King's Supre- 

 macy, made either by the officers of the Preceptory or by 

 the Sisterhood, has been preserved. It may be presumed 

 that such was submitted to and accepted by them, but tlie 

 record of the transaction is not extant. 



Immediately afterwards, with a view to apportion the 

 payment voted to the King for the support of his new 

 dignity, followed the well-known " Valor." It is a most 

 important document, as furnishing us with a minute account 

 of the possessions of the House, with its income and 

 expenditure in customary deductions, on the eve of the 

 dissolution. I will, therefore, present the reader with its 

 details, only more lucidly arranged than in their original and 

 obscure form. Under each head he will thus be able without 

 difficulty to see the gross and net values of the estates, both 

 before and aftcr the dues, stipends, and other disbursements 

 had been accounted for and liquidated, and the subsequent 

 surplus which remained for the raaintenance of the House 

 itself. 



