It had doubtless served as a stand or reading-desk, in the Abbey
chapel, to hold a folio Bible or missal.
The sacred relic was sent to a brazier to be cleaned. As he was at work
upon it, he discovered that the pedestal was hollow and composed of
several pieces. Unscrewing these, he drew forth a number of parchment
deeds and grants appertaining to the Abbey, and bearing the seals of
Edward III. and Henry VIII., which had thus been concealed, and
ultimately sunk in the lake by the friars, to substantiate their right
and title to these domains at some future day.
One of the parchment scrolls thus discovered, throws rather an awkward
light upon the kind of life led by the friars of Newstead. It is an
indulgence granted to them for a certain number of months, in which
plenary pardon is assured in advance for all kinds of crimes, among
which, several of the most gross and sensual are specifically
mentioned, and the weakness of the flesh to which they are prone.
After inspecting these testimonials of monkish life, in the regions of
Sherwood Forest, we cease to wonder at the virtuous indignation of
Robin Hood and his outlaw crew, at the sleek sensualists of the
cloister:
"I never hurt the husbandman,
That use to till the ground,
Nor spill their blood that range the wood
To follow hawk and hound,
"My chiefest spite to clergy is,
Who in these days bear sway;
With friars and monks with their fine spunks,
I make my chiefest prey.
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