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Rh rity : Edward VI. did not die till 6 July, but on 30 July a mass book was bought, and on the same page of the Churchwardens' Accounts it is noted that two vestments were procured and new altar linen hallowed for use. This prompt action was no doubt partly due to the influence of Sir William Dormer, to whom the advowson of the church belonged : he had been among the first in the county to proclaim Mary as queen. There were probably others to whom the change was equally welcome : five churches at least in this county (Taplow, Little Missenden, Thorn- borough, Cublington, and Latimer) were still served by monks who had received livings by way of pension, and it was likely that they would favour the old way rather than the new ; the vicar of Willen also was an old chantry priest. On the whole, however, it would be natural to expect that in this county the reconciliation with Rome was accepted rather of necessity than goodwill the records of the following reign show that those principles which had once been popular only amongst the lower classes had made way amongst the gentry of the county during the time of Edward VI. There is, nevertheless, no record of persecu- tion here or in any other part of the diocese of Lincoln ; and the general visitation of Cardinal Pole in 1556 discovered none amongst clergy or laity who were persistently unwilling to conform.

This visitation, though it had as one object the discovery of heretics, was directed mainly to the securing of decency and order in the services of the church. In Buckinghamshire nine chancels were in great need of repair ; in two cases (Mursley and Weston Turville ) by the default of the rector, who was ordered to do his duty as soon as possible ; at Cuddington by the neglect of the dean and chapter of Rochester, at Datchet by default of the college of Windsor ; the remaining five churches had just passed to the cardinal himself by the queen's gift, so