TO THE
READER.
S
Omething may be said here, by way of Preface, of the Work it self, and of this Abridgment or Epitome of that Work. First for the Work it self, it will perhaps be thought by some that the Monasticon Anglicanum, or History of the Foundations and Endowments of the antient Abbies, Priories, &c. once flourishing in England, and long since utterly supprest, is in these our days (in which their very memory seems to some People, odious and ungrateful) more useless and insignificant than an Old Almanack. 'Tis true, the matter appears very obsolete and neglected, yet is the Monasticon Anglicanum so far from being useless, that it is in effect the most useful Evidenciary, and Repertory of Titles that is in print. Considering, 1. The vast Quantity of Lands which formerly belong'd to Religious Houses in this Kingdome. 2. The divers sorts of Liberties and Immunities which most of those Houses and their Possessions were endow'd with, as Courts of Pleas, Markets, Fairs, Commons, Free Pastures, Estovers, Exemptions from Tithes, Tolls, Taxes and Contributions, with other Franchises of various sorts and not easily reckon'd up. 3. That by the Statutes 27 H. 8. ch. 28. §. 1. &. 31 H. 8. ch. 13. § 2. 3. it is expressly provided that the King and his Patentees shall have and hold the said Lands in as large and ample maneuver as the said Houses enjoy'd them, and §. 21. of the last mentioned Statute, that such Lands as were before discharged of the Payment of Tithes shall so continue. By which Provisions such Persons as enjoy any
of
