The 1536 Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries: Same Suppression ...

monasteries had over less well-endowed churches.‖ 18 Nevertheless, Crossley right points out that
the country was moving away from monasticism as the founding of chantries became the
preferred form of devotion. 19
Furthermore, an increasing emphasis on colleges also contributed to the decline in
enrolment in monasteries. Monasteries were once the traditional means of education. The
foundation of colleges gradually took the place of monasteries as the main sources for education.
As Crossley writes, ―several years before the debacle many religious houses were suppressed and
their property given to the new seats of learning.‖ 20 The suppressions referred to here are the
ones by Wolsey, as discussed above. Additionally, an increasing number of monks were
attending colleges to receive an education in theology to increase their opportunities for
advancement, which could take them away from their houses for several years. 21 The
consequences of this was monks leaving their orders for advancement, or not being able to
contribute or take part in the observance of the orders while away at school.
There were problems with the actual observance of the orders, as well. The orders had
become fairly lax: ―little by little the hardships of the rule had been softened til only the form
remained.‖ 22 In a larger number of houses there was chronic mismanagement, especially of
finances, a lack of discipline, and a high degree of petty squabbling. Constant divine service was
required of monks, but all observances were not always being carried out in houses with fewer
numbers of monks. ―Numerous injunctions make clear that the night office and the seven daily
hours were to be said in every cell,‖ but many visitation records reported how these were not
18 Thompson, ―Monasteries, Societies, and Reform,‖ 178, 180-1.
19 Crossley, 9.
20 Ibid.
21 Clark, 12, 16, 20.
22 Crossley, 9.
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