Page:Sussex archaeological collections, volume 9.djvu/27



After the general suppression of monasteries in England, in the sixteenth century, it is remarkable how quickly and how effectually the accurate knowledge of, or interest in, these religious institutions passed away from public memory, and what vague ideas of their inmates remained. Though closely connected by so many historical and biographieal ties to the progress of the kingdom, and to the importance of ancient families, all the documentary evidence relating to them was at once cast aside with neglect; and we principally owe it to IX.