294 



The Fall of the Wiltshire Monasteries. 



If we turn now to the other chief visitor of Wilts, Dr. Legh, we 1 

 find him writing to Cromwell from Lacock, August 20th, tc 

 complain of Layton's conduct, in giving permission to the heads oi 

 convents to leave the precincts, which he (Legh) had forbidden : — 1 



" After my due and moste hartie commendacions, please it your mastership to 

 be advertised, that whereas I have in all the places that I have ben at, according b 

 to myne instructions and to the kinges graces pleasure and yours, restrayned as 1 ftf 

 well the heddes and masters of the same places as the brethern from going foorth | lai 

 of the precincte of the said places, which I adsure you greveth the said heddes ( sit 

 not a litle, as ye shall well perceive by thinstant sutes that they shall make to the { it 

 kinges grace and to you. It hathe been reported unto me sens my comyng toUl W 

 theis parties, that Mr. doctour Laitone hathe not doon the same in the places | it 

 where he hathe ben, but. licenced the heddes and masters to goo abrode, which 1 ye 

 I suppose maketh the brethern to grudge the more, whan they see that they be \ f 

 worse entreated than their master, which hath professed the same rule that they \ ol 

 have. Wherefor, to thintent that an uniformitie maye be observed amongest us "I i 

 in all our procedinges, it maye please your mastershipp other to commaunde Mr. \ t 

 doctour Laytone to geve the same injuncions where he goeth and hath ben that ■ jj 1 

 I have geven in the places aforesaid, in which case yf ye see reasonable causes ; i 

 wherefor ye shulde release the same injunctions in some places ye maye at all | 

 tymes ; or els to advertise me of your pleasure therein, that I may confourme \ 

 myself to the same, and direct my proceedings after one weye with you. Sir, yf in 

 ye go to Oxforde shortly, as ye ones intended, this bringer is a man of good I 

 experience and intelligence there and can declare you the state of the Universitie j 

 very well. Thus knoweth Allmightie God, who have your mastership in his if: 

 blessed tuicion. From Laycok the xx th of Auguste. 



" Yours ever assureyt, ( 

 " Thomas Legh." f 



Cromwell had apparently replied by giving Legh leave to let the | 

 heads go abroad, at his discretion ; but to exercise this power was 

 very far from Legh's mind, and he specially desired to have no 

 such licence, in order that those who wished to leave the precincts 

 of their monasteries should have to apply to Cromwell himself, the 

 application, of course, to be accompanied by a present for the all- 

 powerful minister. Accordingly he writes : — 1 



" After my dewe commendations to your good maistershipp, please it you to 

 be advertised that I have receyved youre gentill and loving lettres, yn which ye 

 wolde that at my discretion I may licence the heddis for their necessary busynes 

 and affaires to go furth of theire monasteries in suyche discrete maner and 

 fourme as no brute may be made thereof. Sir, it was not myne entent in my 



1 Letters and Papers, ix. 138. 

 1 Letters and Papers, ix., 265. 



