Prebends, together with the Chantry lands of Willenhall, Bilston,
and Kinver, when they passed from the Crown in 1552, fell into the hands
of the notorious John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, who contrived to
grab no end of church property in this immediate locality. When
Northumberland came to the block shortly afterwards, there was a great
redistribution of this property, that of Wolverhampton being once more
annexed to the Royal Free Chapel of St. George at Windsor.

XI.--How the Reformation Affected Willenhall.

As recorded in the last chapter, the Willenhall Chantry, in common with
all others throughout the country, was finally suppressed by Edward VI.
and his Protestant ministers (1547). It had been in existence upwards of
200 years, the name of its first Chantry Priest being given (1341) as
"William in the Lone."

The Prebendal lands also, as we have seen, were leased in the fourth year
of this reign to John Leveson, for the sum of 6 pounds 6s. per annum.
All the other lands belonging to the Deanery of Wolverhampton then passed
into the hands of the King, but did not long remain in the Crown, being
conveyed, with much more ecclesiastical property hereabouts, to John
Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. On his attainder in the reign of Mary
(1553), the Deanery lands reverted to the Crown, to be again restored to
their original use by that most pious queen.

In 1547 the zeal of the Protestant reformers induced the Government of
Edward VI. to send Commissioners round the country to make inquiry in
every parish and every church as to the ecclesiastical appointments used
in ritual, with orders to suppress all that made for "idolatrous Popish
practices."

The Commissioners for this locality were all men of high standing in the
county, as will be seen from their names. They were sworn to make--

A juste, treu, and parfett survey and inventorie of all goods, plate,
juelles, vestements, belles, and other ornaments, of all churches,
chappells, brotherhoddes, gyldes, fraternities, and compones within
the Hundred of Offeley, in the Countie of Stafford; taken the seventh
day of October, in the sixte yere of the Rayne of our Sovereyn Lord,
King Edward the Sixte, by Thomas Gyffard and Thomas Fytzherbert,
knyghts; and Walter Wrottesley, Esquier, by virtue of the King's
commissein to them, directed in that behalf, as hereafter
particularly appereth.

On one hand, they had to put