[689] There were then dissolved 645 monasteries, 90 Colleges, 2374 Chauntrys, and 110 hospitals. The yearly revenue of the whole amounted then to 161,100l. a sum equal perhaps, to 3 or 4 millions of our money, which must be far less than the present ecclesiastical revenue of England and Ireland. From a part of the above fund the universities were indulged with some additional colleges and professorships; and six new bishoprics were erected. An immense sum too accrued to the king from the furniture, clocks, bells, lead, &c. of these edifices; and even from bullion, 5000 marks of which were found in one abbey. See Andrews, 2. 282.
[699] These have long been deemed here among the chief of sinners, as tippling and other vices are supposed to have abounded through their patronage or connivance.
[702a] Mr. Man was minister of South Lynn till 1646, when he was succeeded by the worthy and learned John Horne, who was not likely to restrain his parishioners from eating meat in Lent, or require the sick to take out licences on that occasion. Of this memorable person we shall have occasion to say more hereafter.
[702b] This Thomas Lilly was a respectable ancestor of our present representative in parliament, Sir Martin Browne Folkes, and original proprietor, it is supposed, of that gentleman’s valuable possessions in South Lynn. His daughter and sole heiress married Sir William Hovel of Hillington, and was grandmother of Martin Folkes Esquire, president of the Royal Society, and of William Folkes Esquire, the father of Sir Martin.
[704] Those Licences and Dispensations seem to have been no longer at the disposal or option of the parish ministers, for there was an office in London opened expressly for that purpose, as we find by an advertisement which appeared in the said Mercurius Publicus of Feb. 26. 1662, and the two following weeks, and which was expressed as follows—“An advertisement—The Faculties Office for granting Licenses (by Act of Parliament) to eat flesh in any part of England, is still kept at Paul’s-Chain, near St. Paul’s Church-yard.” The present writer cannot find when this notable office was first opened, or how long it existed, but thinks it not very likely that it was laid by, or shut up before the revolution.
[712] This is said to have been remarkably the case in a certain excursion which her majesty made to Coventry. The mayor, recorder, and corporation met her on the road at some distance from the city, with what they deemed an appropriate or suitable address. Versifying being then much in vogue, and the queen herself rather fond of such compositions, they had their address drawn up in that way, which the recorder read before it was presented to her majesty. It was but short, and said to run thus,
“We men of Coventry, are very glad to see,
Your gracious majesty. Good Lord, how fair you be!”
Which drew from her immediately the following, not very gracious answer.
“My gracious majesty, is very glad to see,
You men of Coventry: Good Lord! what fools ye be!”
Loyalty abounded then, it seems, at Coventry, not only among the members of the corporation, but also among those of the cathedral.