Page:Monasticon Anglicanum, or, The history of the ancient abbies, and other monasteries, hospitals, cathedral and collegiate churches in England and Wales. With divers French, Irish (IA monasticonanglic00dugd).pdf/12
ter; such were Canterbury, Rochester, Winchester, Ely, Norwich, Worcester, Durham, Carlile; (and in such Churches where there was a Bishop, the Superior of the Monks was always call'd a Prior, the Bishop being in effect the Abbot) others never were Abbies, but the Chapter did always consist of a Dean and Secular Canons (or Prebendaries) as at present; such were York, London, Lincoln, Salisbury, Exeter, Wells, Litchfield, Hereford, Chichester, and in Wales, St. Davids, Landaff, Bangor, and St. Asaph. Besides these, there were five new Bishopricks erected by King Henry VIII. in certain Abbies, after their dissolution, viz. Peterborough, Oxford, Chester, Glocester, and Bristol, whose Churches were left standing, with soem of their old Buildings for the Habitation of the Bishop, Dean and Chapter, &c. (for which see the Statutes, 31 H. 8. ch. 9. 34 H. 8. ch. 17.) Westminster-Abbey was also made an Episcopal Seat, but that continued so but a while. Some other Monastick Churches were made Parochial, and are still in being, as St. Albans, St. Mary Overies, Royston, &c. To conclude, I think I may, not unfitly, apply to my present undertaking the words used on the like occasion, in the Second Book of Maccabees, ch. 2. v. 23.
All these things (I say) being declared by Jason' of Cyrene in five Books, we will essay to abridge in one Volum. For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they find that desire to look into the Narrations of the Story, for the variety of the Matter, we have been careful that they that will read might have delight, and they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease, and that all into whose hands it comes might have profit.———To stand upon every point, and to go over things at large, and to be curious in particulars, belongeth to the first Author of the Story. But to use Brevity, and avoid much labouring of the Work, is to be granted to him that will make an Abridgment. Here then will we begin the Story: only adding thus much to that which hath been said, that it is a foolish thing to make a long Prologue and to be short in the Story it self.
