A HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE 



Swithun in the cathedral church of Winchester. Their joint letter to 

 Cromwell says that their work was done ' aboutes thre of the clok this 

 Saturdaye in the mornyng,' so we may conclude that cowardice or 

 shame caused them to labour in the dark. They bemoan that there 

 was no gold, and that the precious stones were counterfeits, but they 

 thought that the mere silver from the shrine was worth 2,000 marks. 

 They also obtained a cross of emeralds, a cross called Jerusalem, a 

 cross of gold, two gold chalices and some silver plate. They add : 

 ' We have also this mornyng going to our beddeswarde, viewed th' 

 aulter, which we purpose to bring with us ; it wol be worthe the 

 taking downe.' 1 The visitors continue : 'We entende, both at Hide 

 and St. Marye's, to swepe away all the roten bones that be called 

 reliques ; which we may not omitt, lest it shuld be thought we care 

 more for the treasure thenne for avoiding of tha abomynation of 

 ydolatry.' ! 



The acquiescence of the abbot of Hyde in the dissolution of that 

 great historic abbey was secured by considerable promises, which were 

 shortly fulfilled. He had been made Bishop of Bangor in 1534, and 

 only held the abbey in commendam. Immediately after the surrender he 

 was translated to Salisbury. The formal surrender was not signed till 

 30 April, 1539. 



The nuns of St. Mary's, Winchester, held out till 15 November, 

 1539, when they too surrendered, Elizabeth Shelley, the abbess, 

 securing a pension of 26 13^. ^d. The wealthy convents of Wherwell 

 (339 8j. yd.} and Romsey (528 ioj. io|</.) succumbed in the same 

 year. 



So far as the monastery of St. Swithun was concerned, William 

 Kingsmill, the prior, became dean, and most of the canons and minor 

 canons were taken from the old body. There seems to have been only 

 one of the old house provided with a pension, the rest having posts 

 found for them in the new establishment. 3 



Had the officially announced intention which was mainly alleged 

 for the second act of dissolution of monasteries in 1539 been fulfilled, 

 the diocese of Winchester would to some extent have profited, for 

 Southampton, Guildford and the Isle of Wight were places named as 

 sees of suffragan bishops. Out of the twenty-three promised bishoprics 

 only six were founded. 



St. Swithun's, Winchester, was one of those seven Benedictine 

 monasteries having the charge of cathedral churches which were 

 changed at the Reformation into a body of secular canons. 4 Though 

 the king cared not personally for education, it was the rising European 



' The nether part of the high altar, plate of gold garnished with stones, the front above ot 

 broidermg work and pearl, and above a table of images of silver and gilt garnished with stones ' (Inventory 

 of St. Swithun's, Harl. MSS. 358, f. i;b). 



2 Letters and Papers, Henry V1H. (1538), ii. 485. 



3 Winchester Cathedral Documents, 1541-7, Hants Record Society. 



1 There had been nine, but Coventry was destroyed, and Bath never received a capitular 

 establishment. 



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