138 The New Forest ■ its History and its Scenery. 



the breath of authority, utterly selfish, utterly despicable. Not 

 one word does he appear to have raised on behalf of his priory. 

 Not one sigh did he utter for the old, nor one aspiration after 

 the new religion. Thus the commissioners write: — "Our 

 humble dewties obser\'yd unto y"" gudde Lordeschippe. It 

 may lyke the same to be advertised that we have taken the 

 surrender of the late priory e of Christ Churche twynhm, wher 

 we founde the prior a very honest, conformable pson, And the 

 howse well furnysshede w* Jewellys and plate, whereof som be 

 mete for the King^ majestic is use as A litill chalys of golde, a 

 gudly lardge crosse doble gylt, w^ the foote garnyshyd w* stone 

 and perle, two gudly basuns doble gylt having the Kings armys 

 well inamyld; a gudly great p^-xe for the sacramet doble gylt. And 

 ther be also other things of sylv, right honest and of gudde 

 valewe as well for the churche use as for the table resyvj^d, and 

 kept to the Kings use." * Before the Dissolution came, whilst 

 matters still trembled in the balance— whilst still there was hope 

 that Protection would, for a little time longer, be given to hypo- 

 crisy, and Authority to sloth, he pleaded with Henry.f Now, when 

 all hope was lost, when the end had arrived, the commissioners 

 compliment him as the " very honest, conformable person." 

 Had he previously been in earnest they must have written very 

 differently. By his conformity he purchased his peace. And 

 so, after giving up his priory, he was allowed to depart with a 

 pension, to finish his life as he pleased, at the Prior's Lodgings 

 at Sumerford Grange. There he died ; and was buried in front 

 of what had been his own choir ; and his chantry still remains in 

 the south choir aisle. Of the conventual buildings, which stood 



* Brit. Mus., Bibl. Cott., Cleopatra, E. iv., f. 324 b. 

 t "Petition of John Draper." Amongst the INIiscellaneous MSS. of 

 the Treasury of the Exchequer, Record Office. 



138 



