78 Mr. W. Dickson on a Chantry 



These endowments were however effectually abolished by sta- 

 tutes, which not only rendered the holding of such property 

 unlawful, but conferred the same upon the Crown (37 Hen. VIII. 

 c. 4; 1 Ed. VI. c. 14; and 1 Eliz. c. 29). 



The reason for the dissolution of Chantries is best shown by 

 the preamble of the statute of Edward the Sixth, which is as fol- 

 lows : — 



" The King's most loving subjects, the Lords spiritual and temporal, and 

 the Commons in this Parliament assembled, considering that a great part 

 of superstition and error in Christian religion hath been brought into the 

 minds and estimation of men, by reason of their ignorance of their very 

 true and perfect salvation, through the death of Jesus Christ, and by de- 

 vising and phantasing vaine opinions of purgatory, and masses satisfactory 

 to be done for them which be departed ; the which doctrine and vaine 

 opinion by nothing more is maintained and upholden than by the abuse of 

 Trentalls, Chauntries, and other provisions made for the continuance of the 

 said blindness and ignorance : and further considering and understanding, 

 that the alteration, change and amendment of the same, and converting to 

 good and godly uses, as in erecting of Grammar Schools to the education 

 of youth in virtue and godliness, and further augmenting the Universities, 

 and better provision for the poor and needy, cannot in this present Parlia- 

 ment be provided and conveniently done, nor cannot nor ought to any other 

 manner of person be committed, than to the King's Highness, whose Ma- 

 jestie with and by the advice of his Highness' most prudent Counsel, can 

 and will, most wisely and beneficially, both for the honor of God and the 

 weale of this His Majesty's Realm, order, alter, convert, and dispose of the 

 same." 



This was a Chantry in the Chapel of St. Michael iu the pa- 

 rochial Chapelry of Alnwick, in the parish of Lesbury, in Nor- 

 thumberland, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was founded 

 by Henry Earl of Northumberland, in the reign of Henry the 

 Sixth, and the following translation of a Licence from the Crown 

 will best show the reason and origin of its foundation. 



Among the records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls 

 pursuant to Statute 1 and 2 Vict. c. 94, and preserved in the 

 Tower of London, (to wit) Patent Rolls, 26 Henry VI. part 2. 

 Memb. 18, it is thus contained : — 



" L. Cantar.fimdan'ft. 

 Percy et Aliis. 

 "The King, — To all to whom, &c. — Greeting. — Know, that, of our special 

 grace, we have granted and given licence, for us and our heirs, as much as 



Here to unfold, what thou dost know, 

 Hath newly past between this youth and me. 

 Priest. A contract of eternal bond of love, 

 Confirm'd by mutual joinder of your hands, 

 Attested by the holy close of lips, 

 Strengthen' d by interchangement of your rings, 

 And all the ceremony of this compact, 

 Seal'd in my function, by my testimony. 



