290 



The Fall of the Wiltshire Monasteries. 



which had elapsed since the Taxation of Pope Nicholas, in 1290 — 

 the last general valuation of the property possessed by religious 

 bodies in England — while the revenue of the kingdom had trebled, 

 the share of the religious had only increased by 50 per cent., so 

 that they held only half as large a portion in England in 1535 as 

 they had done in 1290. Taking as a Wiltshire example the property 

 of the Abbey of Lacock, we find that in 1290 the whole possessions 

 were valued at £101 12s. ±d., while in 1535 they were worth 

 £203 12s. S^d., or almost exactly double, showing that in this 

 case the increase in value was somewhat above the average. 



The spoils having been thus surveyed beforehand, the visitors of 

 of the King were to be sent to make their reports. But before 

 we follow these gentlemen in their peregrinations it may be well to 

 remind ourselves of the number, order, and value of the various 

 monasteries in Wiltshire as they were in 1535 : — 



A. — In the great order of Benedictines, or Black Monks, we 

 have : — 



1. Malniesbury, with twenty-four inmates, and £803 17s. 7d. 



annual income. 



And of the reformed branch of Benedictines, the Cluniacs : — 



2. Monkton Farley Priory, six inmates, £217 0s. 4o?. income. 



Of nuns of this order : — 



3. Amesbuiy 1 , thirty-four inmates, £553 10s. 2d. income. 



4. Wilton, twelve inmates, £652 lis. od. income. 



5. Kington S. Michael, three inmates, £38 3s. lOd. income. 



B. — Of the Cistercians, or White Monks, we have : — 



6. Kingswood 2 , fifteen inmates, £254 5s. lOd. income. 



7. Stanley, ten inmates, £222 19s. 4d. income. 



C. — Of Black or Austin Canons : — 



8. Bradenstoke, fourteen inmates, £270 10s. 8d. income. 



9. Maiden Bradley, eight inmates, £197 18s 8d. income. 



1 Belonging to the "congregation" of Fontevrault. 

 2 This, though now reckoned in Gloucestershire, was formerly a detached 

 portion of Wiltshire. 



