Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/91

 condition no doubt, was much exaggerated. It was allowed, as Professor Green says, "that one-third of the religious houses were fairly and decently conducted. The rest were charged with drunkenness and simony, and with the foulest and most revolting crimes." So the cry was raised, "Down with them," and the decision was that all those whose incomes were under ₤200 per year should be destroyed, and their revenues be granted to the Crown. How did the nation meet this measure? With perfect silence. But it was a silence produced by terror. As many as 376 houses were suppressed, and thus 10,000 men were thrown upon the world to swell the ranks of beggars. The destruction of these houses was followed by several formidable rebellions in various parts of England, as the nation gradually took in what it meant. In 1536 one was suppressed in Lincolnshire, and soon after that another, called the Pilgrimage of Grace, in Yorkshire. The king and his party, however, took no warning from these events.

In the year 1539 he allowed the larger Monasteries to be suppressed, although in these it was acknowledged good work, honest Christian work, was carried on. The tomb of Thomas à Becket, at Canterbury, was also spoiled and its treasures plundered. As many as twenty-six loads of valuables were taken away. Many of the ancient Abbeys were also destroyed, and in some cases the Abbots were executed. The wealth was enormous which fell to Henry from these ravages. With this he enriched himself and his courtiers, and erected some new bishoprics and endowed them. He promised that twenty-one bishoprics should be erected from the spoils, as