york00orns

FALL OF THE GREATER MONASTERIES.
27 I
ground, where the grazing was unequalled ; and he
expresses his conviction that the king's highness
could find no place in England which would contribute
so much to the improvement of the royal stud.
From Jervaulx he went to Selby, in which he had a
more personal interest, having received a grant of it
from the king.
Jervaul.K Abbey was speedily dismantled. In
November of the same year. Richard Bellasys, who
was apparently an assistant commissioner in conjunction
with Layton and Legh, tells Cromwell that he
had stripped all the lead from its roofs, and made it
up for sale. The taking down of the buildings he
thought had better be deferred until spring, and he
wishes to have Cromwell's opinion as to where the
bells were to be sold, whether in the country or in
London.
On the 8th December the commissioners write
from Selby that they had dissolved the houses of
Hampole, St. Oswald's (Nostell), Pontefract, Fountains,
St. Mary's-in-York, Nun Appleton, and Selb}-.
But they were in some difficulty as to dealing with
the shrines, their commission not giving them any
.special power respecting them. As far as they had
gone they had seized upon their contents to the kings
use, but they desire to have their commission enlarged
in that particular, so as to meet any awkward resistance
that might be offered. On the 15th of the same
month they tell the vicar-general that they had quietly
taken surrenders from, and dissolved the monasteries
of Worksoj), Monk Bretton, St. Andrew's at York,
Byland, Ricvaulx, Kirkham, and Ellerton, together