whole downe to the ground, and what manner and fashion they used in pulling it downe, I tolde your lordshypp of a vault on the right side of the high altar, that was borne with foure pillars, having about it five chapels, which be compassed in with walls 70 stepys of lengthe, that is, feet 210. All this is downe Thursday and Friday last. Now we ar a pluckinge downe an higher vaulte, borne up by four thick and gross pillars, 14 feet from side to side, about in circumference 45 feet. This shall downe for our second work. As it goeth forward, I will advertise your lordshypp from time to time, that your lordshypp may know with how many men we have done this. We brought from London seventeen persons, three carpenters, two smiths, two plummers, and one that keepeth the furnace. Every one of these attendeth to his own office: ten of them heweth the walls, about the which are the three carpenters. These made props to underset where the others cut away; the others brake and cut the walls. These men are exercised much better than other men we find in the countrie. Wherefore we must bothe have more men and other things also that we have need of. All the which I shall within these two or three days shewe your lordshypp by mouth. A Tuesday they began to cast the lead, and it shall be done with such diligence and saveing as may be; so that our trust is that your lordshypp shall be much satisfied with what we doe. Unto whom I most humblie commend myself, much desiring God to maintain your health, your honour, your heart's ease. At Lewes, March 24, 1538. "Your lordshypp's serveant,

JOHN PORTMARUS."

Thus was destroyed the monastery of Lewes, by the agent of the king's vicar-general. The callosity of feeling displayed in the above letter, wellfitted Portmarus to be the destroying tool of an obsequious statesman, and an apt instrument for carrying into effect the unprincipled designs of a mean and barbarous court. It is to be lamented that the inhabitants of Lewes did not make an attempt to save from spoliation and ruin, a structure which would have shed a glory on the town. The monastic establishment might have ceased, the accumulated wealth of centuries might have been sacrificed to the reforming spirit of the age, and yet the venerable pile, hallowed by the ashes of its founders, and consecrated by the free-will offerings of many a pious heart, might have stood, (as the abbey of St. Albans, redeemed from the spoiler's hands by the liberality of the people), at once a monument of past devotion, and a becoming temple for present praise and prayer. We cannot but regret the gothic barbarism of the age, though we exult in the religious freedom which has followed its destructive ravages.

When in 1538 this monastery was surrendered by its prior to Henry VIII., its revenues were valued, according to Dugdale, at 920l. 4s. 6d., but according to Speed at 10917. 9s. 6d. The scite of the monastery, together with all its possessions, as also the priory of Castle-acre and its estates, were granted by Henry VIII., on the 16th of February, 1539, to Thomas Lord Cromwell, the king's vicar-general, or vicegerent, to whom the king's supremacy, or absolute uncontrollable power assumed over the church, was delegated, and who, by virtue of his office, had been the most active instrument in undermining and overthrowing the monastic institutions of the country. In the grant from Henry to his favourite minister, are mentioned, amongst others, the following possessions appertaining to the priory of Lewes. We may judge, from the recital of them,

of the vast influence possessed by the monastery of St. Pancras, and also be enabled to see that the valuation of the estates of the priory given in to the king, was far from being the real income of the establishment. In the following traslation of part of the original deed, the modern names of the places mentioned are substituted for the ancient ones, as far as they could satisfactorily be ascertained.

The manors of Swanburgh, Kingston, near Lewes, Southover, Falmer, Balsdean, Withdean, Ditchling, Garden, Balneth, Horsted Parva, Atlingworth, Imberhorne, Langney, Ovingdean, Newtimber, and Wantly, with the appurtenances.

Also 1000 messuages, 600 cottages, 1500 gardens, 20 dove cotes, 10 water-mills, 8 wind-mills, 4000 acres of arable land', 2000 acres of meadow', 5000 acres of pasture3, 1500 acres of wood3, 2000 acres of marsh, 3000 acres of furze and heath, 500 acres covered with alder trees3, 500 acres of land covered with broom, 2000 acres of land covered with water, and 3001. rent, together with all the appurtenances in Lewes, Southover, Kingston juxta Lewes, Wogham, Hamsey, Iford, Newick, Rottingdean, Falmer, Bormer, Patcham, Chailey, Ditchling, Twineham, Bolney, Slaugham, Chiltington, Hurstperpoint, Berwick, Bolneth, Lindfield, Fletching, Horsted Parva, Atlingworth, Portslade, Aldrington, Brighthelmston, Hove, Imberhorne, East Grinstead, Westhoathly, Horsted Kains, Langney, Westhilden? Sutton, Seaford, Newtimber, Wantling, Goring, Pidinghoe, Cuckfield, Hangleton, Eckinton or Ripe, Blatchington, Clayton, Pycombe, Newhaven, Walderne, Balcombe, Ardingly, Terring, Preston, Beddingham, Barcombe, Bevingden, Westmeston, the Wallands sub castro, Twineham, South Berwick, Benhover? Shotenbere? Perching, Plumpton, Mulles comb, Balsdean, Rodmill, Northease, Lugershall, Bignor, Medlers, Compton, Upmarden, Midlavant, Stedham, Heyshott, Tollington, Cootes, Iping, and Boxgrove.

Also the rectories of Brighthelmston, Patcham, Falmer, Kingston juxta Lewes, Iford, Rottingdean, Piddinghoe, Ditchling, Wivelsfield, Cuckfield, East Grinsted, Westhoathly, Eastbourne, Hardham, Herringham, Cottis, Waldern, Onstey, and Monkencourt.

Also the advowsons of the churches of Brighthelmston, Patcham, Falmer, Kingston juxta Lewes, Rottingdean, Iford, Piddinghoe, Ditchling, Wivelsfield, Cuckfield, East Grinstead, Westhoathly, Ekinton or Ripe, Blessed Mary in foro Lewes, St. Andrew in Lewes, St. Peter Westout of Lewes, St. Mary Westout of Lewes, St. John sub castro of Lewes, St. John Baptist in Southover, Blatchington Mayfield, Clayton, Kymer, Pycombe, Newhaven, Horsted Keyns, Waldern, Balcombe, Ardingly, Tarring, Barcombe, Newick, Lugershall, Stedham, Heyshott, Sutton, and Tollington in the counties of Sussex and Surrey.

Also three messuages, three gardens, 100 acres of arable land, 20 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, 40 acres of wood, and 10l. rent, with the appurtenances in Southwark, Raterlane? Stoke juxta Guildford, Gatten and St. Olive in Southwark, in the counties of Surrey and Middlesex. Also 4 messuages, and 2 gardens, with the appurtenances, in London, in the county of Middlesex. Also the manors of Carlton with the appurtenances.

Also 10 messuages or cottages, 8 tofts, 20 gardens, 200 acres of arable, 60 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, 40 acres of wood, 100 acres of furze and heath, and 401. rent, with the appurtenances in Carleton, Elmweston, Colvilweston, Barbadors, Willingham, Trumpeton, Weresham, and Fouledon.

Also the advowsons of the churches of Carleton and Weston, in the county of Cambridge, and 10%. rent with the appurtenances in Prittlewell, Cantfeld Parva, Berkhamsted Parva, Alta Roding, Asheton, Maunden, Wyckham, and Leden Roding. Also the advowsons of the churches of Cantfeld Parva, Berkhamsted Parva, and Ashton in the county of Essex.

Terra in all the surveys of Doomsday, is taken for arable land, and always so distinguished from the pratum, &c. Kennet's Gloss.

"The distinction between meadow and pasture, seems to have been, between grounds which were mowed, and those which were fed only.' Dallaway's Sussex.

Boscus. An ancient word signifying all manner of wood: Bosco Italian, Bois French. Boscus is divided into high wood or timber, hautboys, and coppice or underwoods, sub-boscus, sub-bois.

Jampnorum et Bruerarum.-Jampna dici videntur loca, iis arbusculis obsita, quas Armorici Jan vel Jaon nuncupant. Hæ autem arbusculæ junipero fere similes pro foliis spiniculas. Du Cange Gloss.

Bruarium, bruera. (Armoric brug.) Ericetum, ager sterilis, vepribus, et dumetis horridus. Ibid.

Jacob, in his Law Dictionary, gives the following explanation of Jampnum: "Furze or gorse and gorsy ground; a word used in fines of lauds, &c., when law proceedings were in latin, and which seems to be taken from the French jaune i.e. yellow,because the blossoms of furze or gorse are of that colour."

Brueria, briars, thorns, or heaths, from the Saxon brær, briar. Bruere (Lat, erica) signifies hea'h ground. Par. Ant. s Alnetum. A place where elder trees grow, or a grove of elder trees. Doomsday Book.

6" Ruscaria, the place where kneeholm or broom grows." Co. Litt. 5.

7 Toftum, a messuage; or rather a place or piece of ground where a house formerly stood, but is decayed or casually burnt, and not re-edified.-Jacob's Law Dict.

Toftman (toftmanus) the owner or possessor of a toft.-Lewes Prior. Reg. p. 18.

Also the manors of Melton Mowbray Prior with the appurtenances. Also 40 messuages, 20 cottages, 50 gardens, 1000 acres of arable land, 300 acres of meadow, 1000 acres of pasture, 1000 acres of wood, and 2000 acres of furze and heath.

Also two wind-mills and two water-mills, and 60%. rent, with the appurtenances in Melton Mowbray. Also the rectory and advowson of the church of Melton Mowbray, in the county of Leicester, and 10s. rent with the appurtenances in Wethall. The advowson also of the church of Wethall, in the county of Hertford, and 40s. rent, with the appurtenances, in Berynebere, in the county of Devon, and 30s. rent, with the appurtenances in Winterborne Basset, together with the advowson of the church of Winterborne Basset, in the county of Wilts, also 20s. rent in Hotton, in the county of Kent, and 607. rent, with the appurtenances in Sutton Pallet, and Fleta. Also the rectory of Sutton Pallet, and the advowsons of Sutton Pallet and Fleta, in the county of Lincoln.

Also 127. rent with the appurtenances in Haverell, Butley, Netherfelde, Blenorton, and Debdon, with the rectory and advowson of the church of Haverell, in the county of Suffolk.

Also 47. rent with the appurtenances of the town of Westminster, in the county of Middlesex. Also the manor of Halifax with the appurtenances, and forty messuages, twenty cottages, two dove cotes, 2000 acres of arable land, 500 acres of meadow, 2000 acres of pasture, 1000 acres of wood, 2000 acres of furze and heath lands, and 1301. rent, with the appurtenances in Halifax, Heptonstall, Tronfleet, Wakefield, Consborough, Braywell, Herthill, Port, Sandall, Donnington, Southerby, Warlege, Ovingdon, Widgeley, Wadsworth, Langeld, Eringden, Rushworth, Warland, Barsland, Stayneland, Elland, Greteland, Rasteix? Fixby, Tothill, Bridgehouses, Southhowram, Hiprom? North-howram, Shelfe, Stercourte, Stanesfelde, Clifton, Wansworth, Ramfield, Morthing, Dalton, and Grisbrook.

Also the rectories of the churches of Halifax, Consborough, and Braywell, and the advowsons of the churches of Halifax, Consborough, Braywell, Hertshill parva, Sandall, and Donnington in the county of York.

After reciting the deed of surrender by the priors of Lewes and Castle Acre, the grant proceeds to state that

"All and singular the said recited possessions belonging as well to the prior of Saint Pancras, in Lewes, as to Castle Acre priory, were granted unto Sir Thomas Cromwell, Kt., Lord Cromwell, keeper of the king's privy seal, in consideration of his good, true, and faithful services, performed for the king. To hold the said premises to the said Thomas Lord Cromwell, his heirs and assigns, freely and clearly for ever, to be held nevertheless to the king and his heirs in capite by knight's service; viz. by the twentieth part of a knight's fee, and also yielding therefore yearly to the king and his heirs 777. 14s. 5 d. of lawful money of England, in the name of tenths or first-fruits of the tenth part of all and singular the said premises above given and granted at the king's court of augmentations of the revenues of his crown, at the feast of St. Michael, the archangel, in every year, to be paid in lieu of all other rents, services, exactions, and demands whatsoever of or for the premises, or any other the premises to be demanded, paid, yielded, or made."

Teste Rege apud Westm. 16 die Febr. Anno regni regis Hen. Oct. Angliæ, &c. 29°, Per ipsum regem.

Such are the immense possessions and patronage once claimed by the prior of the Monastery of Lewes, as recited in the grant of Henry VIII., (to whom they had been surrendered), to Lord Cromwell. It must be recollected, however, that the landed property here specified in round numbers, was probably much greater than the real possessions of the prior, for it is customary in levying fines, to enumerate considerably more than the actual quantity.

The vast estates which had been lavished on Cromwell by his royal master, reverted to the crown on the attainder of that nobleman; and the fickle monarch having succeeded in repudiating his queen, Ann of Cleves, who had been raised to the throne at the suggestion of the unfortunate Cromwell, the king granted to her a considerable portion of the estates, before held