quent censure, therefore, which might lead the way to the ultimate dissolution of the establishment, and the entire alienation of its possessions, the residentiaries, assisted by the above family, hastened to replace the dilapidated furniture of the church. In 1529, as we learn from an old manuscript, preserved by Huntbach and cited by Shaw, Nicholas Leveson* presented the church with a new chalice of silver. It was determined also that the high altar should be restored in its former beauty; and it was completed in 1533, at the expense of £95; towards which the above Nicholas Leveson gave 40s. and £40 towards the gilding of it; and his brother, James Leveson contributed £3 6s. 8d. While matters were in this state, at Wolverhampton, the dean fell into disgrace with the king, and was sent to the Tower, for furnishing certain persons with money who had denied the supremacy; and William Franklyn was appointed in his place. In 1540 three bells, which had been purchased by the inhabitants at Wenlock Abbey, were hung in the tower. In 1544 the chancel was fitted up with sixteen stalls, for the dean, seven prebendaries, the sacrist, three curates, and four lay singing men; which were sent by Sir Walter Leveson from the dissolved monastery of

hande? Item, whether the plate and jewells, or eny other parcell therof, or eny other moveable goodes of this house be layd to pledge, solde, or alienated for a tyme, or for ever; and for what cause, and to whome; or otherwese imbeseled or consumed?"—(Cott. MSS. Brit. Mus. Cleop. E. iv.―vi. p. 13.)

* He was lord mayor of London and died in 1539.

This was an immense sum in those days; when, as we have just seen, the whole of the decanal and prebendal property, which is now worth £4000 a year, amounted only to £90 annually.

66

He was a merchant of the staple, and lived at Lilleshull, and probably at Turton Hall, Wolverhampton. Vincent, in his Discoverie of Errours, p. 700, says, merchandizing in those days was no abatement of honour," Camden expresses himself to the same effect in the following passage. "Mercatura non derogat nobilitati, et laudi sane illis ducatur quicunque dederunt posteris suis un nobiles nascerentur, si parentes sibi non dedissent sui."

Lilleshull.* All these precautions,

however, did not avert the fate of the church, although from the terms of an Act of Parliament for the dissolution of colleges and chanteries, and appropriating their possessions to the crown, that passed 1 Edw. VI., in which the royal college of Windsor was specially exempted, the chapter of Wolverhampton felt so secure, as being specified a member of that college, that, although the church had been formerly seized by the crown, the prebendaries proceeded to lease out their property, as we find by a series of indentures dated the last day of November, 4 Edw. VI The prebendaries of Featherstone and Monmore leased their lands and tithes to Robert Broke, Gent., the former for an annual rent of £7, and the latter for £3 6s. 8d.; and the rest of the prebendaries granted leases of the same date to John Leveson, Esq., at the following reserved rents. Willenhall, £6 6s.; Wobaston, £4; Hilton, £2 13s. 4d.; Hatherton, £2 4s. 10d. These deeds were confirmed in the same year by William Franklege, dean, and the chapter of Windsor; but the legality of the confirmation appears to have been doubted; for the king having been advised that the deanery of Wolverhampton was a

* Andin 1558, as we learn from a table in the chancel, John Leveson gave towards the repairs of the church for ever, the yearly rent of £1 6s. 8d., now called Stretton's rent, which is paid to this day. He gave at the same time to the poor of this town for ever the yearly sum of £2 13s, 4d., to be paid on Good Friday, saving 12d. thereof to the two churchwardens for their trouble in distributing it.

†These improvements appear to have had some effect on the inhabitants, for they not only were stimulated to the purchase of bells, as above, but they entered into a spirited subscription, and erected a new market cross, which was completed in 1552.

The confirmation was made under the chapter seal of Windsor, and the transaction appeared so doubtful, even in the estimation of the chapter, that they thought it necessary to insert in the minutes by William Franklege, dean, the undoubted patron of all prebends and other offices to the said deanery of Wolverhampton belonging; and also ordinary of that place, and canon of the said chapel of Windsor, in chapter assembled, and constituting a full chapter for that purpose."-(MS. penes me.)

separate benefice, which might be legally detached from the college of Windsor, had seized upon the whole property of the church in the 2nd year of his reign; and, at the date of the above demises, the prebends were in the hands of the crown.

There is a record in the Augmentation-office of the minister's account of the profits of the deanery and prebends, for the year ending Michaelmas, 4 Edw. VI, under the title of "lands and possessions lying in the county of Stafford, late the property of divers colleges, chantries, free chapels, stipendiaries, gild fraternities, and other spiritualities, being in the hands of the then king Edw. VI. at the feast of Easter, the 2d year of his reign by virtue of an Act of Parliament."

"The late colleges of Wolverhampton and Totenhall, with the prebends of the same, together with the chantries of Bilstun, Willenhall, and Kynfare, with others.

The account of Hugh Lee, occupying the office of bailiff, or collector of the rents there for the time aforesaid.

ARREARAGES. Item, he is charged upon his account with £48 12s. 83d., for the arrears of the last account of the year next preceding, as therein more fully appears,

"And for £38 for the farm of the demesne or manor of Wolverhampton, with the appurtenances to the same belonging, demised to Richard Leveson, Esq., by indenture under the seal of the aforesaid college, dated 19th May, 33 Hen. VIII., for the term of 30 years, commencing at the feast of St. Michael the archangel, at the rent above mentioned, payable at Lady-day and Michaelmas.

"And for £7 11s. 64d., for the farm of the prebend of Hatherton, with all messuages, lands, tithes, rents, services, and other profits to the aforesaid prebend belonging or appertaining; as demised to the said Richard Leveson, by indenture, for term of years as above, at the rent aforesaid, payable at the feast aforesaid. "And for £12 6s. 8d., for the farm of the prebend of Willnall, with all messuages, tithes, lands, rents, services, and other profits to the said prebend belonging, demised to John Horton, by indenture, under the seal of the said college, dated 4th November, 33 Hen VIII., for the term of 21 years, commencing from the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary then next ensuing, at the rent aforesaid, payable at the feast aforesaid.

And for £13 6s. 24d. for the Prebend of Featherstone, with all the messuages, lands, tithes, rents, services, and other profits whatsoever to the same belonging, demised to Richard Greatston

and Michael Brooke by indenture, for terms of years as above, at the rent aforesaid.

66

And for £8 13s. 4d. for the farm of the Prebend of Hulton, with all the lands, meadows, pastures, tithes, rents, services, and other profits to the same prebend belonging; demised to Richard Leveson, esq. by indenture, under the conventional seal of the said late college; dated 7th June, 36 Hen. VIII. for the term of 21 years, commencing at the feast of St. George the martyr, then last, at the rent aforesaid, payable at the feasts above mentioned, in equal portions.

And for £9 12s. 6d. for the farm of the prebend of Monmore, with all the lands, tithes, and other profits whatsoever to the same belonging, demised to Nicholas Grosvenor, by indenture, for a term of years, as above, under the rent aforesaid.

And for £7 8s. 102. for the farm of the prebend of Stonwall, alias Kinvaston, with all the messuages, lands, tithes, rents, services, and other profits whatsoever, to the prebend belonging; demised to John Howlet by indenture, dated the last day of April, 36. Hen. VIII., from that day, for the term of 21 years, under the annual rent above mentioned, payable at the feasts aforesaid. And for £9 8s. 104d. for the farm of the prebend of Wobaston, with all messuages, lands, glebe lands, tithes, rents, services, and other profits to the same prebend belonging; demised to William Crosswall, by indendure, under the conventional seal of the said late college, dated 23 November, 35 Hen. VIII. for the term of 21 years, commencing from the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, then last past, at the rent above mentioned, payable at the feasts aforesaid.

Sum £56 8s. 14d.*

These possessions did not long remain in the crown; for by letters patent dated 2nd March in the 7th year of his reign, king Edw. VI. granted the manors, lands, and revenues of the dean, prebendaries, and sacrist, to John Duke of Northumberland; who, by virtue of this grant, broke up the establishment, destroyed the images of the saints to whom the different chantries, chapels, and gilds, were dedicated, removed the high altar which had just been erected at a great expense, and took formal possession of all the emoluments.

* MS. penes me.

† It appears probable therefore, that the confirmation of the above deeds purporting to have been effected by the corporation of the church of Wolverhampton, was invalid; for the act was really that of the dean and chapter of Windsor, who could at no time have

The chief excellence of monachism consisted in its unbounded hospitality, by virtue of which the necessities of indigence were amply provided for; and the child of misfortune had an asylum from absolute want. It professed also to impart instruction in science and morals, and was the only legitimate conservator of learning.* The religious gilds also, several of which existed at Wolverhampton, by the names of Our Lady's gild, St. Catherine's gild, St. George's gild, and the Bachelor's gild; attached to this system, were societies established, for the purpose of mutual assistance and relief; and contributed their aid to prevent the evils attendant on a state of absolute destitution. These advantages were forfeited by the dissolution of the monasteries, and the consequent alienation of the ecclesiastical revenues; which being placed in lay hands, were

power over the possessions of the church of Wolverhampton, which, during the period of its existence, was a distinct corporation. But at the date of those demises, the church had passed to the crown, and the estates were afterwards granted to the Duke of Northumberland; there were therefore no dean or prebendary of Wolverhampton in existence, and consequently the leases were no better than so much waste parchment.

* The monks preserved, says Berington, (Hist. Hen. II. p. 632,) "the valuable remains of Grecian and Roman literature, without which, who can say that Europe, at this day, would not have been involved in the shades of barbarity.”

The objects for which these religious gilds were established, appear to have been that every family belonging to the union should pay a penny at Easter, and another on the death of any member of the gild, which seems to have resembled our friendly societies, where the members make small stated payments, and are buried at the expense of the fund. Others were made for God's love, and their souls' need, holding meetings three times a year. Priests were appointed to sing a mass for their living friends, and another for their dead ones; and every brother had two psalms. At the death of every member six psalms were to be chanted, and every man at the suth-fore was to pay five pennies at the grave. There was much good fellowship connected with them, and at their meetings conviality was not forgotten." (Turn. Angl. Sax. vol. p. 136.)

iv.

+ Appendix G.

F