_Roger Pele, Abbot of Furness._--Is anything known of the antecedents of
Roger Pele, last abbot of Furness, who, after years of trouble and
persecution, was at length constrained to execute a deed, dated 5th April,
28 Hen. VIII., whereby he did "freely and hollie surrender, giff, and
graunt unto the Kynges highnes and to his heyres and assignes for evermore
... all his interest and titill in the said monasterie of ffurness, and of
and in the landes, rentes, possessions, revenous, servyce, both spirituall
and temporall," &c.? This deed is, I believe, given at length in the Cotton
MSS., Cleopatra E. IV. fol. 244.
Roger Pele was elevated about 1532, and became rector of Dalton, a village
near his old abbey, 9th Nov., 29 Hen. VIII. This rectory he held, I
believe, during the remainder of his life, in spite of all the efforts made
to dispossess him. (See Beck's _Annales Furnessienses_, p. 346. et seq.)
What was the origin and early history of this man, remarkable for the
firmness and ability which so long baffled all the power and might of
Henry, whose vengeance pursued him even into obscurity.