66 PAPEUS, ETC. 



On tlie lOtli of Februaiy, 1539, tlie Cliapter-hoiise of 

 Buckelonde was witness of the most melancholy scene tliat 

 had ever been enacted within its walls. It was on that 

 day that tlie Prioress and Convent were snmmoned to meet 

 tlie Commlssloners Jolui Tregonvvell and William Peter, 

 and unwillingly affixed tlielr conventual seal to the instru- 

 ment of Surrender.* This was the conclusion of so much 

 that piety and refinemcnt had laboured at and brought to 

 perfection, a conclusion whereof it is dlfficult to speak 

 as its nionstrous enormity deserves. The document still 

 exists in the Eecord Office, witli the impression of the 

 seal appended. In the brief notice of this House by the 

 last editors of the ßlonasticon, it is said that an impression 

 had bcen seen by one of them, but so wholly flattened that 

 no part of the subject of it could be discovered. This, if 

 intended for the present, whicli I liave every reason to 

 believe, hardly gives a fliir description of its State. The 

 legend, indeed, belies its name, for it is illegible; but 

 the dcvice in the centre is clearly that of a Greek or Patri- 

 archal Gross. (See the figiire.) The form of the instru- 

 ment itself is the one that was generally adopted, prepared 

 as Visual beforehand, and requiring merely the insertion of 

 the name and style of the doomed House, and the signa- 

 tures and seal of the pillaged inraates. In the case before us 

 the signatures are wanting. It was, perhaps, too mournful 

 a task and liard an efFort for the unhappy Sisters to set 

 their hands to a document which consigned them to ever- 

 lasting exile from their ancient and beloved liome. And, 

 accordingly, the Commissioner John Tregonwell was fain 

 to content himself with the subscriptlon of his own name 

 in the stead of other and better.f 



* MS. Lanst'. 97, f. -Sb. 

 t Autagraijh. in OtT. RccorJ. Il.vmor, Fcol. xiv., p. 631. 



