rs, nor the archbishop's
promises of an eternal reward, could prevent the breaking up of this
vast multitude, and the hasty dispersion of the rebel host.

Ere morning Paslew was gone. He liked not the dust from a falling house.
Weary and alone he came back to his dwelling on the tenth day after his
departure.

From this time danger and misfortune crowded fast upon that devoted
house. The dark course of events unfolded with frightful rapidity, and
Paslew, by many a vain contrivance, sought to avert the king's
displeasure and his own doom. A relaxation of some measures more than
ordinarily severe was attempted; and we find, from existing records,
that a pension of ten marks per annum was granted to Thomas Cromwell,
the king's secretary and principal visitor,--whether in the way of bribe
or fee is not certain.

It shows, however, the humiliating and submissive circumstances to which
the monks were now reduced. They were indeed fallen from that high
estate, when kings were their tributaries, and empires too narrow for
the wide grasp of their ambition. The following is a copy of Thomas
Cromwell's indulgence, taken from the Townley MSS.:--

"To all estates due honour and reverence, and to all other commendacioun
in our Lord everlastyng. Know ye that we John, abbot of ye monasterie of
our blessed Ladie of Whalley, in Com. Lanc., by ye assente and consente
of ye convente, have freely granted untoe ye right honourable Mr Tho.
Cromwell, secretarie, general visitor, and principal official to our
most sovereign Lord Kyng Hen. VIII., an annual rent or fee of vi: xiii:
iv: yerele, to be paide at ye nativitie of St John Baptist unto ye saide
Maister Thomas Cromwell. Wee, ye saide abbot and convent have put to ye
same our handes and common seale. Yeven at Whalley 1st Jan. 28 Hen.
VIII."

But every act of submission, every stratagem and advice, had failed to
ward off the blow. Within ten weeks from the date of this document there
was neither abbot nor abbey of Whalley.

After the dispersion, imprisonment, and execution of the principal
leaders of the rebellion, the day of reckoning and retribution was at
hand. Shrewsbury, by the king's orders, sent a herald with a troop of
horse, who, taking Paslew, Eastgate, Haydock, and some others of the
monks prisoners, they were arraigned at Lancaster, and convicted of high
treason. On the 12th March 1537, Paslew was conveyed back to Whalley for
execution, where, in a field called the Holeho