CHAPTER X 



THE ENGLISH LAND SYSTEM {continued) 



In dealino- with the causes which broug^ht about the 

 ruin of the peasantry and yeomanry of England, the 

 suppression of the monasteries and other religious 

 houses cannot be left out of account. Before touching 

 on the direct effect which the dissolution had on the 

 cultivating classes, it might be well, in a few words, to 

 consider the object which the despoilers of the monas- 

 teries had in view. That object was neither religious 

 nor political but simply a mercenary one, that of get- 

 ting hold of the wealth of the Church. 



In order to carry out this the more easily it was felt 

 to be necessary to embitter Parliament and the people 

 ajrainst the dwellers in monastic institutions. With 

 that view the most scurrilous charsfes ag^ainst the in- 

 mates of the religious houses were scattered broadcast. 

 One of the most violent and damaging documents 

 issued with this aim is entitled " The Beggar's Petition 

 against Popery" (see Somers Tracts, Vol. I, p. 41.) 

 Every known crime is charged against the religious 

 orders, but the work is overdone and bears on its face 

 its object and partisan character. The unscrupulous 

 Cromwell, with the rest of the dishonest cabal that 

 surrounded the king, lent himself to this work. 



Under the mask of religious zeal commissioners 

 were appointed to visit and examine the monasteries. 



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