By the Rev, Canon Jackson, F.8.A. 



59 



afford to look back upon this with philosophical complacency, and 

 without any of that political or professional excitement which attends 

 the discussion of alterations in our own times. But I think that all 

 parties, even those who may utterly dislike the Monastic system, 

 will at any rate agree in one point, viz., that the whole business of 

 the abolition was grossly mismanaged. 



There is no doubt that a change had been for many years impend- 

 ing. The discovery of printing was a heavy blow. But in Henry 

 VIII time, the change was considered a political necessity. The 

 Crown was determined to shake off the yoke of Rome. The mon- 

 asteries, stout champions for the Pope, blocked the way, and at any 

 cost had to be put down. This confiscation of property was a serious 

 step to take, and Henry paused at first, but other things happened 

 to make him less scrupulous. In order to proceed on safer grounds, 

 a Visitation and enquiry were ordered, and the Visitors took care to 

 make the worst of everything. Gross misconduct was reported; 

 but this was only in some of the smaller and most carelessly con- 

 ducted houses : not in the largest and best : so that to sweep away 

 the whole on account of a few, was like flogging the school all 

 round because a few boys were naughty. But no matter, the King's 

 Supremacy was to be acknowledged. The monasteries would not 

 yield that, and their opposition was fatal to them. 



The great ^management was, that so enormous an amount of 

 ecclesiastical property, which had been in earlier days, by Kings or 

 Nobles, given for National Religious purposes, was so entirely diverted 

 into other channels that hardly any of it was retained for any object 

 either of Religion, Education or Charity. When the King began, he 

 certainly promised that all these things should be provided for care- 

 fully, that all should be spent for the use and welfare of the realm : that 

 thirteen new Bishopricks should be appointed : in short, a glorious 

 future. Scarcely one of these fine promises was kept : except the 

 appointment of four or five new Bishopricks, very badly endowed. 

 There might have been a Grammar School founded in every parish 

 in England. There might have been Hospitals and Asylums for all 

 the maladies and infirmities to which Human Nature will be liable 

 so long as Human Nature lasts. 



