the breath of authority, utterly selfish, utterly despicable. Not one word does he appear to have raised on behalf of his priory. Not one sigh did he utter for the old, nor one aspiration after the new religion. Thus the commissioners write:—"Our humble dewties observyd unto yr gudde Lordeschippe. It may lyke the same to be advertised that we have taken the surrender of the late priorye of Christ Churche twynhm, wher we founde the prior a very honest, conformable pson, And the howse well furnysshede wt Jewellys and plate, whereof som be mete for the Kings majestie is use as A litill chalys of golde, a gudly lardge crosse doble gylt, wt the foote garnyshyd wt stone and perle, two gudly basuns doble gylt having the Kings armys well inamyld, a gudly great pyxe for the sacramet doble gylt, And ther be also other things of sylv, right honest and of gudde valewe as well for the churche use as for the table resyvyd, and kept to the Kings use."[1] Before the Dissolution came, whilst matters still trembled in the balance—whilst still there was hope that Protection would, for a little time longer, be given to hypocrisy, and Authority to sloth, he pleaded with Henry.[2] Now, when all hope was lost, when the end had arrived, the commissioners compliment him as the "very honest, conformable person." Had he previously been in earnest they must have written very differently. By his conformity he purchased his peace. And so, after giving up his priory, he was allowed to depart with a pension, to finish his life as he pleased, at the Prior's Lodgings at Sumerford Grange. There he died; and was buried in front of what had been his own choir; and his chantry still remains in the south choir aisle. Of the conventual buildings, which stood
- ↑ Brit. Mus., Bibl. Cott., Cleopatra, E. iv., f. 324 b.
- ↑ "Petition of John Draper." Amongst the Miscellaneous MSS. of the Treasury of the Exchequer, Record Office.
