52 Antiquity and Early 



In the first year of Edward VI., 1547, when 



^ ^ ,-,^ Enp^land was on the crest of the 



Statute of Chan- wave of the Reformation, the Crown, 



by the re-enactment of an Act passed 



In the last year of the reign of Henry VIII., 



confiscated all chantries, colleges, chapels, and 



bequests for superstitious uses, such as masses, 



obits, etc. After appropriating the revenues from 



this source for two years, the King allowed the 



Companies to redeem the charges at twenty years' 



purchase. In order to do this the Companies were 



obliged to sell other property. The following 



particulars of the redemption by the Saddlers' 



Company are furnished by Strype : — 



£ s. d. 

 "They purchased of the Kinge in Rente 



per ann. . . . . . . .. 32 05 02 



They sould tenements to buy the same 



per ann. . . . . . . . . 21 14 08 



Sum of the yerelie payments out of the Rents 



purchased — 



Xi S. d. 



In pensions to poor decased Brethren 14 00 00 

 In Exhibitions to Schollers . . . . 05 06 08 



To ther Almesmen . . . . . . 21 16 08 



Sum of the yerelie payments . . 41 05 04" 



The Charter granted by Elizabeth in the first 



A.D. 1558. y^^'^ of her reign (9th November, 



Charter from 1 558) Is a long and ample one, setting 



out the Charters of Edward III. and 



Richard II., and their confirmation by Edward IV. 



