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324 General History of Europe 548. Dissolution of the English Monasteries. Henry wanted money; some of the English abbeys were rich, and the monks were quite unable to defend themselves against the charges which were brought against them. A large number of scandalous tales were easily collected by Henry's agents, some of which may have been true. The monks were some- times indolent and sometimes violated their pledges to lead a good life. Nevertheless as a body they were kind landlords, hospitable to the stranger, and good to the poor. The royal commissioners took possession of the monas- teries and their lands and sold every article upon which they could lay hands, including the bells and even the lead on the roofs. The picturesque re- mains of some of the great abbey churches are still among This interesting sketch was made be- the chief objects of interest to fore Edward became king; he could have been scarcely six years old, as Holbein died in 1543 EDWARD VI. (By HOLBEIN) the sight-seer in England. 549. Henry VIIFs Third Marriage and the Birth of Edward VI. Henry's family troubles by no means came to an end with his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Of her too he soon tired, and three years after their marriage he had her executed on a series of monstrous charges. The very next day he married his third wife, Jane Seymour, who was the mother of his son and suc- cessor, Edward VI. It was arranged that should Edward die leaving no heirs to the throne he should be succeeded by Mary, Henry's daughter by his first wife, Catherine, and that Elizabeth, the daughter of Anne Boleyn, should be next in line of succes- sion. Henry's death in 1547 left the great problem of Protes- .tantism and Catholicism to be settled by his son and daughters.