Note F.--The Abbess of Wilton.
The nunnery of Wilton was granted to the Earl of Pembroke upon itsdissolution, by the magisterial authority of Henry VIII., or his sonEdward VI. On the accession of Queen Mary, of Catholic memory, the Earlfound it necessary to reinstate the Abbess and her fair recluses, whichhe did with many expressions of his remorse, kneeling humbly to thevestals, and inducting them into the convent and possessions from whichhe had expelled them. With the accession of Elizabeth, the accommodatingEarl again resumed his Protestant faith, and a second time drove the nunsfrom their sanctuary. The remonstrances of the Abbess, who reminded himof his penitent expressions on the former occasion, could wring from himno other answer than that in the text--"Go spin, you jade!--Go spin!"