INDULGENCES PROPOSED TO BENEFACTORS TO THE CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE THE
MARTYR, SOUTHWARK.
As I believe little is known of the early history of this church, which
was dependent upon the Abbey and Convent of Bermondsey, the following
curious hand-bill or _affiche_, printed in black letter (which must have
been promulgated previous to the disgrace of Cardinal Wolsey, and the
suppression of religious houses in the reign of Henry VIII.), seems
worthy of preservation. It was part of the lining of an old cover of a
book, and thus escaped destruction. It is surmounted, at the left hand
corner, by a small woodcut representing St. George slaying the dragon,
and on the right, by a shield, which, with part of the margin, has been
cut away by the bookbinder. But few words are wanting, which are
supplied by conjecture in Italics.
It appears from Staveley's _History of Churches in England_, p. 99.,
that the monks were sent up and down the country, with briefs of a
similar character, to gather contributions of the people on these
occasions, and that the king's letter was sometimes obtained, in order
that they might prove more effectual.
It is most probable that the collectors were authorised to grant special
indulgences proportionate to the value of the contribution. No comment
is necessary upon these proceedings, from which at least the Reformation
relieved the people, and placed pious benefactions upon purer and better
motives.