File:The counties of England, their story and antiquities (1912) (14784714433).jpg

Identifier: countiesofenglan01ditc (find matches)
Title: The counties of England, their story and antiquities
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson), 1854-1930
Subjects: Great Britain -- History England -- Antiquities
Publisher: London : G. Allen
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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the willing agent incarrying out his sovereigns wishes. He boasted toHenry that no corn was sold in a district where formerly140 ploughs were in use; that he had burnt townshipsand villages, and that no one lived where once a goodlypopulation dwelt. James IV. did not take this easily.He marched south and captured Norham Castle, but thebattle of Flodden Field closed his career, and left hiscountry naked to his enemies. The Cumberland story of the Dissolution of theMonasteries is a sad and gloomy page in our history.There were only two of the larger abbeys in the county,Holmcultram and the priory of Carlisle. The smallerones with a revenue under ;^200 a year were swept awayby the first Act of Spoliation, arousing the anger of thepeople. A rebellion broke out, but in Cumberland nomen of position supported it. The common people werethe instigators, and the movement did not receive thesupport of the parochial clergy, who thus incurred thedislike of the populace. They threatened to hang the
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Cumberland 73 poor rector of Caldbeck if he did not join the rebellion.At once it attained considerable proportions. Fifteenthousand men were ready to besiege Carlisle. Penrith,Caldbeck, and Cockermouth were the chief centres ofdisaffection, and Parson Towneley of Penrith was avaliant leader and expounder of the principles of thecause. When it was crushed by persuasions and falsepromises, Henry turned his attention to the larger houses,and soon Holmcultram was doomed. Its abbot took aleading part in the insurrection, urging on his tenants tojoin the commons, and going to demand in their namethe surrender of Carlisle. The end came. The monkswere driven out of their holy homes and compelled toattire themselves as laymen. Their houses were pillaged,desecrated, and destroyed. Holmcultram Church washappily saved for the parish, and a few others wererescued, but a clean sweep was made of the rest in themad storm of greed and iconoclasm. The good Bishop, Robert Aldridge, did good serviceas a

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