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PREFACE.

In the present work it is intended to give a connected and fairly detailed history of the London Charterhouse. The situation of the Charterhouse in the midst of the busy centre of the commercial world, the existence even to-day of a considerable portion of the ancient buildings, the peculiar life its inmates used to lead, and the troubles that befell them in the sixteenth century, all tend to render the subject interesting. Other spots in the City are comparatively quiet, Austin Friars for instance, but none so quiet as the precincts of the Charterhouse. There are other monastic remains in the City, but none so considerable as those of the Charterhouse. Of Carthusian life, indeed, nothing can be found in the London of to-day; but the Order to which the monks of the Charterhouse belonged is still in existence, and has lately returned to England with the same rule, the same habit, and the same spirit

as in the days of old. As to the troubles of the sixteenth century, there is certainly no monastic establishment in London of which so much is recorded.

Though avowing Catholic principles, we trust to be found impartial from an historical point of view; for our object is to place before our readers all that is worthy to be recorded of the monks of the Charterhouse, neither exaggerating the virtues and good deeds of the best, nor hiding the delinquencies of the worst. The short account of the English Carthusians since the dissolution will, we think, be new to almost all our readers.

As regards the sources of information, the references given throughout the book would be almost enough; yet it may be worth while to note that the works on the Charterhouse itself which are mentioned in our pages are very little known beyond the somewhat narrow circle of Protestant "Carthusians," or Charterhouse boys. To these works we are indebted for most of the particulars regarding Thomas Sutton and his institution, and to them we must refer our readers for more minute details of the rather uneventful history of the Charterhouse as an almshouse and a public school. Smythe's Historical Account, published in 1808 and now very rare, is

by far the best of these works, and it has proved useful in the compilation of the history of the Charterhouse, even when it was inhabited by those from whom it derives its name.

We have endeavoured to give the documents and letters with all possible accuracy. It has, however, been deemed advisable to modernize the spelling.

We are indebted to several persons, both within and without the Carthusian Order, for aid in the collection of materials. Grateful thanks are especially due to the Rev. Mother Superior and one of the Sisters of the English Convent at Bruges, who supplied us with the extracts from Father Long's Notitia Cartusianorum; and to Mr. C. M. Berington, who has presented to our Order all that belonged to his relative, Father Williams, the last English Prior, including the seal of Sheen Anglorum; but above all to the Rev. John Morris, S.J., who, with his well-known zeal for all that concerns the English Martyrs, has helped us very considerably, and has rendered the work less imperfect than it otherwise would have been.

The photoprint illustrations will, it is hoped, be deemed a valuable addition to the work, for the pictures of which they are faithful reproductions are

of historical as well as of artistic worth. That in six compartments (No. II. in the List of Illustrations) is the most ancient. The original, painted on wood, is still preserved at the Grande Chartreuse, and under it is the curious inscription given on page 350 of this volume. Three others (Nos. III., V., and VII. in list) are from paintings by Sanchez Cotan, a Carthusian lay brother, who died at Granada in 1627. According to the traditions of Granada, Brother Cotan was of English extraction. His pictures are remarkably accurate as to facts, and perhaps they are not unworthy of the attention of artists. The sketch by Mignard, which forms the frontispiece, and the fresco at the Charterhouse of Florence, will speak for themselves.

The plan of the London Charterhouse, especially prepared for this book, is the work of Mr. R. Herbert Carpenter, of 4, Regent Street, London. Having been educated in the Charterhouse, this experienced architect takes a lively interest in the buildings.

ST. HUGH'S CHARTERHOUSE,

Ash Wednesday, 1889.

L. H.

THE AUTHOR'S PROTESTATION.

IN obedience to the decrees of Pope Urban VIII., the author of The London Charterhouse hereby declares that when, in the course of this work, any miracle, vision, or event beyond the ordinary course of nature is recorded, it rests on purely human authority; and if he has given the title of Saint, Blessed, or the like to any one not yet canonized or declared Blessed, it is far from his intention to anticipate the judgment of the Holy Apostolic See. In these, and in all other respects, this history is humbly and devoutly submitted to the correction of the same Holy See.