Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/609

Rh presse in the towreehambre a great coffar in oon of the toure chambres a parciose in the toure, a parolose in the parloure.” On securing this lease, Wolsey pulled down the manor house and chapel and built a palace on the site.

It has already been recorded that in the year 1546 the priory of Clerkenwell was suppressed, and the estates of the Order in England confiscated to the crown. In the statute 32 Henry VIII., o. 24, it is enacted that “the Kinges Majestie his heirs and successours shall have and enjoye all that Hospitall, Mansion house, Churehe and all other houses ediflcions buylclinges and gardienes of the same belonging being nere unto the citie of London in the Countie of Midd called the house of St. John of Jerlm in England.”

The reason given for this confiscation was that they had “Unnaturally and contrarie to the duety of their allegaunces sustayiied. and maynteynid the usurped powere and auctoritie of the Bishop of Rome and have not only adhered themselfes to the said Bishop being comon enemy to the King our souvraine Lord and to his realme, untruely upholding, knowlegiug, and affirmyrg maliciously and traitorously the same Bishop to be supreme hed of Christos Churche by Godds holy wourde, intending thereby to subvert and overthrow the good and godly lawes and statutes of this realme their naturall contrey made and grounded by the auctoritie of the Holy Churche by the most excellent wisedome and polyce and goodness of the Kiuges majesty.” The members of the langue were forbidden to wear the dress of the Order, or to assume any of its title or dignities, as to which it said, “they shall be callid by their awne propre chren names and surnames of their parentis without any other additions towching the said religion;" and the bill rescinded “all priveleges of Saincturies heretofore used or claymed in mansion houses and other places coenly called Saincte Johne’s holde.” The following pensions were awarded out of the confiscated property:—To Sir William, Weston, the grand-prior, £1,000; Clement West, £200; T. Pemberton, £80; G. Russel, £100; G. Mimer, £100; J. Sutton, £200; E. Belingam, £100; E. Browne, £50; E. Huse, 100 marks; Ambrose Cave, 100 marks; W. Tirel, £30; J. Rawson, 200 marks; to A. Rogers Oswald Massin