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THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ANCIENT and ROYAL FOUNDATION, 
 
 CALLED 
 
 THE ABBEY OF ST. ALBAN, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 COUNTY OF HERTFORD, 
 
 -fcROM THE FOUNDING THEREOF IN 793> 
 TO ITS DISSOLUTION IN I539« 
 
 EXHIBITING THE LIFE OF EACH ABBOT* 
 AND THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS RELATING TO 
 
 THE MONASTERY, 
 
 DURING HIS RULE AND GOVERNMENT, 
 
 EXTRACTED FROM THE MOST FAITHFUL AUTHORITIES AND RECORDS, 
 BOTH PRINTED AND MANUSCRIPT. 
 
 By the REVEREND PETER NEWCOME* 
 RECTOR of SHENLEY, HERTS. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed, for the Author, by J. NICHOLS : 
 And fold by S. HOOPER, and W. FLEXNEV, Holborn. 
 
 M.DCC.XCIII. 
 
1/ c 
 ' / 
 
( W ) 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 TT is not expected, that a book, written on fo local a fiib- 
 ject, lhould excite any great degree of public and ge- 
 neral notice ; nor that a fubjedt fo antique and obfolete 
 lhould raife the curiofity of modern readers. It is not, there- 
 fore, a profpect either of fame or profit that has urged the 
 author to this undertaking. But, beholding daily the ve- 
 nerable fabrick of St. Alban's church, the only remains of 
 a large HTUC"ture, and hearing fomething like tradition ftill 
 dwelling in the country, relating to its hiftory, though with 
 much uncertainty and incoherency, the author determined 
 to difcover its true hiftory, and, as far as he could colledt 
 from authentic records, commit the fame to writing, for the 
 information of the country adjoining, and for the fubverfion 
 of much error and ignorance. He was encouraged farther 
 by this confideration, that there is not extant in our lan- 
 
 a guage, 
 
( '» ) 
 
 guage, nor to be found, except in the fundamental (ratines 
 and rules of the religious, any hiftorical account of the do- 
 mettic ceconomy of thofe houfes, or of their internal ufages, 
 cuftoms, and hr.bits of living. The fame may be laid of the 
 worfhip which the monks were perpetually celebrating, and 
 or their religious rites and ceremonies. Thefe defects in 
 our ecclefiaftic hillory will be in a great meafure fupplied 
 by the following narrative, and it will add to our common 
 flock of hiftoric knowledge to prefent the Englifh reader 
 with a more minute detail of the monaftic life : and this 
 work will probably be the more acceptable on this account, 
 that it will leave on record ibme hiltoric matter, which 
 has been quite forgotten or unknown in thefe kingdoms for 
 250 years ; and which, from fuppre fling monafteries abroad, 
 is likely to be forgotten there alfo. 
 
 When the blefied Jefus commanded his difciples to preach 
 to all the world, and baptize men into his name and religion, 
 he feems not to hint at, or to intimate, any other order of 
 men for inftru&ing the world than diligent preachers ; yet, 
 in lefs than ;oo years, another order of men arofe, who 
 fuppofed themfelves equal in authority with the apoltles 
 and their followers, if not to preach the word, yet to give a 
 more perfect example. This order began, indeed, with a 
 few only, who chofe to commence hermits, and devote 
 themfelves to a quiet contempl five life ; but from them it 
 became a more general practice, and thefe devout men agreeci 
 to aflemble in numbers, to form a fmall fociety, and to live 
 by the culture of a garden and other labours of their hands. 
 This ufage fpread itfelf through all the Eaftern countries, 
 wherever the church of Chriit was eftablifhed : and, though 
 the hiftory of the Eaftern and African churches is little 
 known to us, owing to the utter ruin and devaftation which 
 4 they 
 
( v ) 
 
 they fuffered from the hands of the Saracens and the conquefts 
 of Mahomet, yet fufficient proof remains that a very great 
 number of monafteries were eftablimed, and did flourifh, in 
 all thofe Chriftian countries; and at this day the Greeks, who 
 compofe the remains of the ancient Chriftians, are found 
 fettled and eftablimed in thefe monafteries. All the biftiops 
 of the Eaft (and in that name we muft comprehend the moft 
 learned, ingenious, and pious, men, that ever preached the 
 Gofpel) gave countenance and encouragement to this prac- 
 tice, and efpecially the great Bafil, bimop of Casfarea, in 
 Cappidocia (a). 
 
 From the example and benefit of them in the Eaft, the 
 bifhops in the Weft recommended the inftitution; and, by the 
 end of the fixth century, all the Chriftian countries of Eu- 
 rope had adopted the fame, and monafteries for both fexes 
 became reputable foundations, and were viewed with great 
 religious efteem. At firft, it is probable, they were the 
 proper attendant of every epifcopal fee, and had their fixed 
 residence together with the bifhop at his cathedral : but, in 
 procefs of time, they became feparate and diftincl: endow- 
 ments, fubordinate to the bifhops ; and, by the covenants of 
 the founder, fubjeel: to his vifttation and liable to his cen- 
 fures. And bifhops, having perhaps but few clergy, and 
 many parts of their diocefe without any inftruction, and 
 not even divided into parifhes, and many parifhes being 
 quite ftrangers to a church, could make no objection to any 
 concurring help in the work of the Gofpel. In the beginning 
 of Chriftianity, and in the early days of the church, the 
 number of epifcopal clergy was very few, and thefe rnonaAic 
 foundations were generally made in the molt folitary and 
 
 (a) Vide Cotelerius in his Monutn. Grccc. Ecclef. 
 a 2 
 
 un« 
 
( vi ) 
 
 unpeopled places. They were calculated, indeed, at fir ft 
 for the religious improvement, and fpiritual benefit of the 
 few who affembled together, and lived in a conventual man- 
 ner, in meditation, prayer, and devout worfhip ; and they 
 could influence others by their example much more than by 
 any inftruction; for, thefe being confined to their walls, and 
 having no duties abroad, the few epiicopal clergy were the 
 only perfons intruded with the labour of reforming mankind. 
 This diftinction is proper to be kept in mind, in order to ac- 
 count for the variance and emulation that arofe, in after times, 
 between thefe two branches of the clergy. The feculars, 
 being under the direction of their bifhop, were fent out into 
 the world, to preach at large or elfe to be fixed in one par- 
 ticular place; but, in either cafe, their fubfiftence was flender, 
 and made to depend on contributions ; for, fuppofing that 
 tithes were enjoined to be paid throughout the kingdom by 
 Ethelwolph, a Saxon king, yet this provilion was very fcanty, 
 becaufe the country was not, except in a few places, either 
 cultivated or inclofed : and it is well known, that, until 
 the Conqueit, when the king put the church on a better 
 footing, and gave to it more certain as well as more ample 
 provilion, the maintenance of the clergy, that is, of the fe- 
 culars, depended on a dittribution from the bifhop. But, 
 though the feculars, from that time, were better enabled to live 
 and exercife their functions in a more refpedtable manner, 
 yet the regular clergy had long ago, and did ltill, furpafs 
 them, in number, dignity, and public efteem. The parim, 
 prieft was but one in a large diftridt of country, and his la- 
 bours confifted in preaching the word, in prayer and public 
 worfhip, and in adminiftering the facraments to the pious 
 and religious, living himfelf in a plain and fimple manner ; 
 whereas the regulars employed themfelves in a gaudy and 
 
 oftentatious 
 
( vii ) 
 
 oftentatious worfhip, enjoying plenty, and oftentimes a luxu- 
 rious abundance, at their table : while the former were oc- 
 cupied in inftrucling the living and urging the neceffity of an 
 holy life, the latter were entirely bulled in praying < or the dead. 
 This was their profefled employment and occupation : and 
 this circumfrance alone procured rhem the admiration of the 
 vulgar, brought great gifts and endowments from the rich, 
 and many pious legacies from the dying. It is aftonifhing 
 to behold, that* upon the fingle foundation of our na- 
 tural anxiety concerning a future ftate, thefe men built their 
 fuccefs and confluence : and it is proper to obferve, how 
 ill-inrtructed men were in thofe days, when they chofe rather 
 to fruit their future concerns to the efficacious labours of 
 others than to their own pious cares and ftrict holinefs of 
 life. The pretended interelt, which the monks were thought 
 to have with Heaven, might be a reafon, with even very 
 pious perfons, to employ them after their own deceafe ; but 
 it is probable that they found evil livers, and the perpetrators 
 " of great crimes, to be the moft copious fource of liberality and 
 donation : inafmuch as fuch perfons were fearful and dif- 
 truftful even of their own repentance, and, therefore, were 
 defirous of hiring others to aid and aflift in the work of their 
 falvation. And, as this praying for the dead was the pro- 
 fefled occupation of thefe numerous bodies of clergy, fo it 
 will appear in the following meets with what art and con- 
 trivance they framed all the doctrines of futurity, to favour 
 the practice, and promote the pious fears of the anxious 
 offender. 
 
 Thus much will fuffice to account for their augmentation, 
 and riches, and number ; but, in the courfe of this work, 
 it will farther appear, with what art and application they 
 fucceeded in worldly grandeur, and in what manner they 
 
 withdrew 
 
( tin ) 
 
 withdrew from any fuhjeft ion to the d iocefan, until, in fliort, 
 the abbot furpaffed him in external fplendor, and the abbey 
 became a rival to the cathedral : and this went on, till, at the 
 difTolution, it was feen that the mitred abbots, who had by 
 degrees been labouring for pre-eminence, were more in 
 number, in the Houfe of Lords, than the bifhops. For, in 
 1 5 14, the abbots were 28 in number, and the bilhops only 
 18 or 19. 
 
 There were many other confiderations that tended to give 
 " the monks increafe and confequence ; and abbeys were found 
 to be fuch beneficial inftitutions that they would, have flood 
 their ground unto this day, if their great poffelhons and re- 
 venues had not tempted indigent courtiers to plot and com- 
 bine again ft them. Their utility appeared in thefe refpecls, 
 that they exercifed great hofpitality towards the poor, and 
 lo this was done at one tenth of the expence which the poor 
 now create, by being maintained by a legal provifion : the 
 monafteries were in general the houfes of reception for all 
 the lick, and they were here nurfed and cured : they ge- 
 nerally employed matters to teach the poor children of the 
 neighbourhood"! they entertained all perfons who were 
 ingenious in any art or fcience, and often tranfcribed books, 
 when but a few understood the art, or could undertake it ; 
 and there is now extant a chronicle, compofed and printed 
 here, in the year 1484, under the countenance then given 
 to this particular abbey by Richard III. thefe houfes alfo 
 kept public regifters of all great tranfaclions ; to them are 
 we indebted for all our Englifh hiilorians, down to the 
 time of the difTolution. They were poileffed, indeed, of 
 all the learning that was in any repute at the time prior to 
 - x the coming of the friers, and the monafteries generally fur* 
 nifhed the men who were fit for embafiies abroad, or for high 
 
 em- 
 
( " ) 
 
 employments at home : and, to their honour be it fpokeri, 
 that all the inferior officers, both in the law-courts, and in 
 the civil departments of government, who are called tlerks, 
 owe r his appellation to thefe houfes, whence, or from ca- 
 thedrals, the firif officer^ were taken. Their landed property- 
 was lb great, at the time of the diff Jution, that it was faid 
 to be one-third of all the lands of England ; but this account 
 is probably aggravated : yet, whatever were their temporal 
 poifelhons, they were always found to be good landlords, ever 
 ready at improvements, and doing many great works in in- 
 cloling, or draining, or planting, which individuals could 
 not undertake. In truth, they did more to civilize mankind, 
 and to bring them within the comforts of fociety, than any 
 fet of men of any denomination ever have done. And yet 
 the ungrateful world, that was enjoying the fruit of their 
 labours and their riches, now beholding the edifice to 
 be completed, cart down the builders and the fcaffold, as if 
 no longer uleful. 
 
 In fpite of all the calumny that was thrown out againft 
 them, nothing fo well proclaims their utility as this ; that 
 they maintained themlelves in repute, fome of them iooo 
 years, and many for the fpace of 5, 4, and 300 years ; 
 and that, when they were difTolved, Edward VI. and his 
 counlellors found it neceffary to endow new hofpitals, build 
 new fchobls, and provide new relief for the poor and 
 helpleis. 
 
 Yet, notwithftanding the advantages of thefe houfes, the 
 good that arofe from them could not prevent their ruin and 
 downfal. And it mutt be confefied that, on viewing them 
 in a civil and political light, they will appear too much at- 
 tached to the Roman pontiff, to be good fubjects to their 
 natural fovereign : as they owed their origin to the pope, 
 
 fo 
 
( * ) 
 
 fo they ever adhered to Him more than to their lawful 
 king ; and were at all times fo obedient to their fupreme at 
 Rome as to become his inftruments and agents in all his 
 exactions, and in all his contefts with the kings of England. 
 But not fo was it with the bifhops and their clergy : for, 
 though it was a perpetual conteft who fhould appoint the 
 bifhops, and, if one of thefe fovereigns ventured to appoint, 
 the other always claimed a right to approve or reject, yet 
 the bifhops and their clergy generally teftified the molt 
 faithful attachment to their own fovereign : and, to the ho- 
 nour of the Epifcopal Clergy be it fpoken, they have ever 
 fhewn themfelves the beft friends to monarchy and lawful 
 government. 
 
 Thefe fheets will exhibit a juft picture of thefe monadic 
 clergy, and the manners of the times moft prevalent among 
 the laity and great men, efpecially the courtiers ; and they 
 will lead us to a comparifon of times, fuch as ought to ex- 
 cite in us a moft fincere gratitude to God, that we are al- 
 lowed to live in an enlightened age, free from fuper- 
 ftitious worfhip, and in which the way to religious truth is 
 open to all inquirers ; and in this comparifon alfo will be 
 feen how fuperior the public worfhip of our church now is 
 to any of the ancient forms in this land, for the purpofe of 
 edification, and adminiftering all the comforts of that true 
 religion which Chrift wasfent to eftablifh here on earth. 
 
 Thefe religious foundations fell with fuch undeferved ca- 
 lumny and flander, that it is but common juftice to reftore 
 their character, and give them their due praifes, wherever the 
 fame can be done ; and, I truft, if all others were as free from 
 corruption and ill-government as this of St. Alban, it will be 
 fcen how unjuftlythey were accufed, and their overthrow will 
 appear to have been effected for other reafons than pretended 
 
 mif- 
 
t * ) 
 
 mifrule and fecret corruption. — As they had ever been the 
 main pillar and fnpport of the Papal power, it was natural 
 and confident to abolifh the members, after the head was 
 rejected. They were bodies fo nearly allied to the Popedom, 
 that they muft fall with it : and, though a gradual refor- 
 mation might have been effected in them, yet, in the new 
 plan of church -government, they were deemed unnecefTary ; 
 and the new head of the church, and his counfellors, wifhed 
 to have as few fubjects, in the church to be governed, as 
 might be : accordingly, by diflblving the regular clergy, and 
 limiting the Church to the epifcopal order of feculars, they 
 rejected above 100,000 of the former, and retained about 
 8000 of the latter. 
 
 Whatever was the pretext, the real truth was, that their 
 temporal power and wealth tempted their downfal : and, in 
 fpite of all the good and real merit that was to be found in 
 them, they fell a prey and ipoil to an extravagant monarch 
 and his neceflltous courtiers. In the legiflature of thofe times 
 there were many great and able men ; but, whatever caufe 
 there may be to charge them with want of piety, there is no 
 room to accufe them of any want of worldly wifdom, or of 
 their embracing that felf-denial, and contempt of the world, 
 which they were fo ready to condemn in the monks; they 
 made laws and ordinances to fupport a new religion, when 
 they could enrich themfelves by fuppreffing the old. But the 
 bright example of the bifhops and clergy who fubmitted to 
 the flames at that time will appear more illuftrious, when it is 
 feen how juft and rational was their oppofition to the worfhip 
 then in ufe, as well as to the doctrine ; the firft having in it 
 as little of true piety and devotion as the latter had of reafon 
 and revealed truth. It was the blood of thofe men who could 
 
 b die 
 
( »» ) 
 
 die for the truth that gave the new eftablifliment a firm and 
 liable foundation ; when neither the will of the prince nor 
 the laws of his parliaments could have been able, without 
 that cement, to effect a new conttrudion and edifice. 
 
 The itudy of antiquity is no longer confined to the con- 
 templation of rnft, but is now conducted on fuch piinciples 
 of real knowledge, that it is become a kind of liberal fcienct ; 
 and it hath received fo much help and encouragement from 
 the munificent care of our legiflature, that every man who 
 deals in refearches owes to them abundance of thank?, for 
 facilitating his enquiries. The author of this hiftory hath 
 drawn his materials from the molt authentic fources„ and 
 advanced nothing but what he finds written and recorded 
 by molt indifputable authority. The fir It part, which 
 comes down to Edward III. is furnifhed by Matthew Paris 
 and by Walfingham : the firft was a monk who lived in 
 this abbey in the reign of Henry III. and whole writings 
 fhew (and all fubfequent mention concurs), that he was 
 a man of great diligence in collecting his annals, and of a 
 temper too brave and independent, to comply with, or 
 to flatter, the ufurping pretentions of either the pope 
 or the king ; and, with this difpofition, he exhibits a ve- 
 racity that mult gain the credit of all his readers : the 
 other likewife was a monk of this abbey, and lived about 
 the time of Henry IV and V. The fecond part extends, 
 from about 1340 to the diflblution, and until the reign 
 of Edward VI. in which period the fame Walfingham, 
 and many other manufcripts little known (confifting of old 
 chartularies, leiger books, and fhort hiftories, compiled 
 in this abbey) fet forth a continued and regular account of 
 moft great and material events. Of thefe manufcripts fome 
 
 are 
 
 7 
 
( xiii ) 
 
 are in the Cotton Library, fome among the Harleian 
 Collections, and fome in other libraries, as will be men- 
 tioned when they are quoted. The information that fol- 
 lows the diffolution is drawn chiefly from the papers in the 
 Augmentation Office : and the fteps that preceded and 
 accompanied the diffolution, are verified by many authentic 
 documents, collected by Rymer in the 14th volume of 
 the Feeder a. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
( I ) 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Of Ancient Verulam. 
 
 THE firft and earlieft accounts that we have of this ifland and its 
 inhabitants are from fuch Romans as were actually prefent here 
 and bore command ; or elfe from the hiftorians and writers at Rome 
 who thought proper to commit to letters the tranfactions of thofe 
 Roman leaders. And thefe little remains of hiftory give us a very 
 mean opinion of the Britons when the Romans firft vifited them, 
 under Caefar, in the year 54, before the Birth of Chrift. The firft 
 mention of the Britons is from Caefar himfelf; who carried his arms 
 from Gaul with a view to make a conqueft ; or at leaft to fatisfy a 
 learned curiofity : and the following intimations of the Britons come 
 from Tacitus and Caefar. From their accounts it is certain, that the 
 Britons had no cities, towns, or buildings, of any lafting materials, 
 or any fixed duration (a). Civitas, whenever mentioned by Caefar, 
 means only a confederacy and alliance of men, united for the 
 purpofes of government; and he exprefsly faith, book V. 17, 'that 
 
 * their towns were nothing more than places fortified or made defen- 
 ' fible by woods, or bogs and ditches ; and that thefe were made ufe 
 ' of as dwellings only in war ; for in peace they lived fcattered and 
 
 * diiperfed.' And the fame may be underftood of the Britons, 
 which Herodian faith, lib. 7, of the Germans ; * that their habita- 
 
 (a) Caefar fays, B. V. cap. 10, ./Edifkia Gallicis confimilia, plurima. 
 
 B ' tions 
 
( * ) 
 
 * tions were mean, becaufe they did not unflerftand the way of build- 
 
 * ing with brick or {tone.' And, therefore, we may well give credit to 
 Tacitus, when he fays of Agricola, that, « whereas the Britons 
 
 * were difperfed and rude, and thereby the more prone and ready for 
 
 * war, he gave them encouragement to build temples, forums, and 
 
 * hoiiles.' Agric. cap. XXI. And in this refped doth oppidum in 
 thefe writers differ from civitas ; that, whereas the la ft meant only 
 a community or kind of civil inftitution, the firft meant a place of 
 fecurity and mutual aid and help, ab ope. And the cajlella of thefe 
 authors fignifies luch places as the Romans had made ftrong and de- 
 fenfible, with buildingsand works after the manner of theirown country. 
 
 It is obfervable that Caefar names no particular city or town, yet 
 defjribes the town of Caflivelaunus ; and, from the progrefs of Qefar 
 and his dillance from the Thames, and from that King's being the 
 head or chief of the league, and probably from his name, which 
 fignifies the King of the Caffii, his town might be no other than 
 what was then and afterwards called Verulam : and this conjecture 
 receives much flrength from this circumftance, that the place and 
 fituation of Verulam did exactly anfwer the defcription of a Britilh 
 town, /this paludlbufque mun'itum, fo long as the great pool and lake 
 remained, which is now turned to dry land. Caefar adds, that on his 
 arrival before the place, he finds it egregie naturd atque opere muni turn ; 
 but incapable of fuftaining the aflault of his foldiers; who, making their 
 attack on two fides, gained the town ; and the enemy after fome de- 
 lay fled out on another fide. Caef. Com. V. 17. 
 
 Under Auguftus no attempts were made againft Britain ; nor under 
 the two following fimperors, untill the reign of Claudius. Tacitus 
 lays (a) ' that Britain fuffered a long oblivion ; the Emperor 
 
 * Auguftus calling it prudence and good advice to forbear it; Tibe- 
 ' riu-s would have it be looked on as an injunction on him to forbear. 
 
 * The next Emperor, Caligula, from the ficklenefs and mutability of 
 
 * his temper, and from the leditions and wars among the Germans, 
 « turned no thoughts towards this ifland.' Claudius, on confultation 
 with Vefpafian, relumed the conqueft of it, and fent over an army 
 under the command of Aulus Plautius ; and he was foon after fuc- 
 cedeed by Oltorius Scapula. Such was the fuccefs of their arms, that 
 the part of Britain next to Gaul was reduced to the form of a province ; 
 and a colony of veterans was eftahlifhed at a place called Camalodunum 
 or Maldon (b). Didius Gallus next commanded ; and after him Vera- 
 
 (a) In Agricola, cap. 13. 
 
 (b) Ibidem, cap. 14, 
 
 nius, 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 nius, who died within the year ; and he was fucceeded by Paulinus 
 Suetonius. This general, anno 6 1, carried his arms to the weftern 
 fide of the ifland, and was preparing to aflault and vanquifh the ifle of 
 Anglefey (Mona) ; from whence he found the enemy received great 
 iuccours, and which was the principal feat of the Druids, who were 
 the rulers and counfellors of the land. His conqueft of this place had 
 fcarce fucceeded, when news was brought that the Britons in the pro- 
 vince, viz. the Iceni and the Trinobantes, under the conduct of Boa- 
 dicia, had taken arms ; and aflfaulied the colony, and {lain all the Ro- 
 mans therein ; and then, marching away to meet Petilius Cerialis, 
 a lieutenant coming to the aid of the colony with the ninth legion, 
 had routed the legion, and flain all the foot; the horfe having efcaped. 
 
 This was the firft colony planted by the Romans in Britain, and 
 is an argument of the fafe footing (as they thought) they had got 
 there, and of the fubmiffion of its inhabitants. But the total over- 
 throw of the colony, and the immenfe {laughter made of the Ro- 
 mans through the province, amounting to 70,000, according to 
 Tacitus (a), mews too the fierce refentments of the ancient Bri- 
 tons, and the weak flate in truth of their new mafters. Suetonius 
 quitted Mona, and marched back to London (and this is the firft. 
 mention in ancient hiftory of this place), which lays the hiftorian was 
 Cognornento quidem colonic non infigne, Jed cop 'id negotiatorum et commea- 
 iuum maxime celebre: this {hews that London was then very con- 
 fiderable as a port, and much frequented by merchants and tr?ders. 
 And by the heiitation of Suetonius, whether he fhould fave London and 
 abandon the reft, or preferve the reft at the lots of this place only, 
 and by his chufing the latter, it appears that London was then a 
 very confiderable place in the province, and mod convenient 
 for communication with the continent ; but ftill not a place 
 chofen for a colony. Tacitus fays alfo^b), that Verulamium, a 
 free town, was involved in the fame deftruclion ; and hints that 
 this was a rich and opulent town, and therefore was a greater 
 temptation to a plundering foe than mere caftles and military pofts ; 
 all which the enemy palled by, in order to make a good booty at Ve- 
 rulam : OmiJ/is caflellis, -pr a' fid 1 if que militum, quod uberrimum Jpoiiant, 
 et dcfenforibus intutum ; Iteti prtedd, et atiorum frgnes petcbant. 
 
 Suetonius having determined to abandon London, n otwithft a nd'uj g 
 the tears and intreaties of the people there who had efcaped the mai- 
 iacre, fought the enemy, under the command of Boadicia ; and, though 
 attended with only ten thouland men, attacked and defeated the Hi t - 
 
 (a) Ann. L XIV. cap. 33. (b) Eod. cap. 
 
 B 2 tons; 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 tons; and {lew in the battle and purfuit near 8o,oco, as Tacitus re- 
 ports ; and with the lois of 400 Romans (lain, and as many wounded. 
 The place of this flgnal defeat is defcribed by the hiftorian as being 
 very narrow and confined ; De/igitque locum arEih faucibus^ & a iergo 
 fylva claufum^ & in fronte apertam planiiicm. But it is uncertain 
 where to fix it among the Iceni and Trinobantes ; as it is a defcrip- 
 tion that may fuit a thoufand places, even at this time ; and therefore 
 probably was fuitable to many more, when the country was in 
 its wild and natural ftate. But thus much may be faid, that, having 
 but a fmall army, he chofe a place between two hills or eminences, 
 anguflias loci pro munimento ; which being immoveable, and having un- 
 dergone no fuch change as the wood in the rear, and the plain in front, 
 poffibly may, this circumftance may lead the curious antiquary to 
 form good conjectures as to the fpot where this memorable battle was 
 fought (a). 
 
 Tacitus fays, that as many as ~o,oco Roman citizens and their al- 
 lies perifhed in that in fur reel ion of the Britons, at the three places 
 which he has mentioned ; namely, the Colony, London, and Veru- 
 lam. Which great number proves how numerous and how well fettled 
 the Romans were in the province, and efpecially in thefe three towns or 
 cities. At the colony they had built a temple in honour of the Em- 
 peror Claudius, fet up an image of victory, and inflituted a 
 priefthood for the folemnities of religion. But they had not en- 
 clofed the feat of their colony ^Camalodunum) with any fortification ; 
 dum amccnitati pnus quam njui confulitur (b). And thus, in th-e midfr. 
 of apparent peace, they were on a fudden fur rounded by the 
 enemy, and cut off ; and even the ninth legion, coming to their re- 
 lief, fhared the fame fate. London feems at this time to have received 
 no augmentation of honours, or any advantage whatever, from the 
 Romans ; but to have been confidered as a great port and place of 
 merchandize ; whereas Camalodunum being converted into a colony 
 (for certainly it was before a Britifh town), and thereby fettled with 
 a number of veterans, in colon/am Camalodu?ium recens deduSli (c), 
 now became a place of arms, the feat of juttice (for Catus De- 
 cianus was there as Procurator, and not far from the place, with 
 200 men, when the Britons made the afifault), and the capital 
 alio of the new province. Thefe firft improvements make this 
 probable, and alio its middle fituation between the Iceni on the Eaft 
 and the Trinobantes on the Weft ; whereas London was too near one 
 extremity ; and perhaps Verulam was on the limits of the pro- 
 
 (a) Tac. An. XIV. 37. (b) Ann. XIV. 31. (c) Tac. Agiic. XIV. 31. 
 
 vines 
 
( s ) 
 
 vince weftward, and thought ill fituated for the capital of their new 
 conqueft, but well adapted for its boundary and barrier. But as Taci- 
 tus calls Verulam a Municipium, this denotes its augmentation and 
 advancement fince it had been iubject to the Romans ; who would 
 fcarce have given the old inhabitants the privilege of bearing offices, 
 and of participating in a corporation or local government, unlels there 
 had been a coalition between them, and a friendly underftanding. Or, 
 more properly fpeaking, the diftinclion between the Colon! a and the 
 Municipium was this, that, whereas in the firft the kind of govern- 
 ment inftituted therein was purely Roman, and none but the Roman 
 foldiers or citizens brought thither could be chofen magistrates, or 
 have a vote in the choice ; in the Municipium the old inhabitants 
 were allowed thefe privileges, and enjoyed a participation of the fame 
 rights of office and government, of law and property, as the Romans 
 themfelves; and this was efteemed the moff. prudent, as well as mod: 
 honourable way of treating their vanquifhed foes. In this ftate was 
 Verulam when the Britons deflroyed it and its people, in 61 years afcer 
 Chrift ; and to this pre-eminence had it rifen fince Aulus Plautius firft 
 invaded Britain, in the year of Chrift 42, and fecond of Claudius. 
 Dio faith that Claudius paiTed into Britain in per fan, and, having 
 joined Plautius, took the command of the army, and conducted the 
 enterprize againft Cunobelin, whofe chief city was Camalodunum ; 
 and, having defeated him, thus got pofleffion of that place. Vefpa- 
 fian and Titus, afterwards emperors, ferved in thefe wars under Plau- 
 tius, and Signalized themfelves by their fuccefies in the Ifle of Wight, 
 and in fighting the enemy 30 times. Vefpafian commanded the 2d le- 
 gion. Plautius commanded only three years, and then returned to Rome ; 
 and Oftorius came in the 10th of Claudius, or about the 50th of the 
 Chriftian aera, and died about four years after in the command ; during 
 whofe time the colony was eftablifhed at Camalodunum ; the famous 
 King of the Ordovices, Caractacus, defeated and taken prifoner ; and 
 the Roman authority acknowleged by the Iceni and the Trinobantes ; 
 that is, by the people who inhabit the prefent counties of Norfolk and 
 Suffolk, and the counties of Elfex and Middlefex. 
 
 The flouriffiing ftate of Camalodunum before its overthrow in 61, 
 and likewife of Verulam, may be well conceived from this circum- 
 ftance, viz. that there are now extant coins with both names on 
 them, probably ftruck by the Romans in memory of their fucceffes, 
 and the eftablifhment made at the former by Claudius (a). 
 
 Nero, then Emperor, fent reinforcements to Suetonius, out of 
 Germany ; being a fupply of 2000 legionary foldiers, 8 cohorts of 
 
 (a) See Camden. 
 
 t aux- 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 auxiliaries, and 1000 horfe. By which means the 9th legion was re- 
 inflated and compleated; but Suetonius was hindered from profecuting 
 the war by Tome dilTentions that arofe between him and the new Pro- 
 curator, Julius Claflicianus, who had been fent in the place of Catus, 
 on which Suetonius delivered up his corn minion to Petronius Turpili- 
 anus. Tins commander, and others who fucceeded him, were content 
 to a£t on the defenfive, and nothing of enterprize was attempted un- 
 till Vefpafian (now Emperor, and whofe fame and exploits were well 
 remembered in Britain) fent over Julius Agricola to command the 
 20th legion, VecYius Bolanus being lieutenant, or chief commander; 
 but his commiffion expiring this year, Petilius Cereal is fucceeded, and 
 the next year (after Chrift 72) Agricola had the command. And in that 
 fummer he made a conqueft of the iile of Mona, or Anglefey. In the 
 fecond year of his command Vefpafian died ; but he was continued in 
 h:s employ under Titus, and then under Domitian ; and, through 
 envy only, recalled by him in the year 92. The chief exploits of his 
 arms had appeared in the north of this ifland ; and, therefore, nothing 
 was done by him towards a re-eftabli(hment of the colony at Camalo- 
 dunum, or of the municipium at Verulam. Neverthelefs, all the 
 fouthern part of the ifland was in fubjecVion to the Romans ; and thefe 
 places recovered by virtue of peace and quiet, and under the command 
 of fuch inferior officers, both civil and military, as were pcfted in 
 them. And nothing fo much demonftrates the diligence and attention 
 of the Romans in improving their new conquefts, as the great number 
 of cities or towns which they had built and augmented, and the mi- 
 litary ways which they had eftablifhed, by the time when Antoninus 
 caufed his furvey or itinerary to be framed, about 155 after Chrift. 
 
 For, befide Camalodunum, they had Canonium, which is well 
 conjectured by Bifhop Gibfon to be Writtle, and not, as Camden fup- 
 pofed, Chelmsford ; alfo Casfaromagus, or Dunmow, and Colonia, or 
 Colchefter, all in the neighbourhood of Camalodunum. This laft place 
 (Colonia) has been miftaken by fome for the colony which Claudius 
 eftablifhed ; but by Tacitus that colony is exprefsly named Camalodu- 
 num ; and Colonia was a military ftation, on a place whofe name was 
 ealily latinized, perhaps, from fome Britifli word ; and if a conjecture 
 be allowed, as we find many places called from the trees moft prevalent 
 in them, as Berkfhire from the birch-trees, Oakley from the Oaks, 
 Bucks from the beech-trees, juft as Chenies from the Norman les 
 chenes {oaks), why may not Colonia have come from the Britifh collen, 
 which fignifies hazels ; but certain it is that the faid town, called Co- 
 lonia, had fome origin of that nature and likenefs, becaufe the name 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 of the river is Coin, and feveral villages adjoining therto ; as, Coin 
 Engaine, Earls Coin, and White Coin, are fo named from the river. 
 All which were either derived from one common and general root, or 
 elfe were places within the limits and jurifdiclion of Colonia(a). 
 
 As for Verulam, it is quite uncertain whence it derived its name ; 
 for, though the Britifh tongue hath Ffer for flrong, and although there 
 was a town in Italy, not far from Rome, among the Hernici, called 
 Verulae, I will not affirm either of thefe to be the origin of Verulam. 
 
 The towns in the vicinity of Verulam, we find by the Itinerary, (and 
 probably therewereno other townsbefidethofe that flood on the highway, 
 though there might be Stations) wereSullomacae ; which Camden would 
 place at Blochley Hill. Which latter place agrees with the diftances 
 both from London and from Verulam with the Itinerary. And on 
 the other fide is Durocobrivae, which he would place at Flamftead, 7 
 miles from Verulam. But there is ftill vifible, befide the Watling 
 Street way, or road from London to Verulam, another original Ro- 
 man road, through the forefr. of Enfield Chafe, called at this day Cam- 
 let Way ; and which feems to have been the road from Verulam to 
 Camalodunum, or Canonium. Magiovinium alfo, in the Itinerary, 
 muff, probably be Dunftable, which has at this day the ruined afpecl 
 of fomething once great, regular, and confiderable. It frauds at the 
 point where the Ikenild Way crofles the Watling Street Way; and, 
 though no mention is made of it earlier than its being much im- 
 proved, and augmented with a royal houie, and a monaftery, by 
 Henry 1. yet it is probable that it was in the Romans time a confider- 
 able and handfome town. 
 
 Caefar fays (a) * that the maritime parts of Britain were chiefly 
 
 * inhabited by people from Gaul and the Belgae; who called their new 
 
 * towns and habitations by the names of thofe places which they had left.' 
 We cannot difcern any marks of this in Verulam, nor find any name 
 in Gaul that bears a refemblance to it. And therefore it is probably of 
 Britifh origin j and, as that language has in it the word berrT, figni- 
 tying a fpear, and llan denoting a place for fuch particular ufes, it is 
 poflible that the firft Britifh name might fignify fomething military, 
 a place of arms ; efpecially if Caffivelaunus, the King and General 
 againft Caefar, had here his palace and refidence. 
 
 (a) And that Colchefter had its name from being feated on the Coin, and that this 
 river was io callec from the trees there moit abounding, may be thought farther pro- 
 bable from this c rcumftance ; that in the county of Cilocefter there ; s a river ot this 
 name ; and near it, a village or parilh called Hazleton ; audi a few miles further off, 
 another village called Nutgrove. And there are many rivers in England called Coin. 
 
 (a) Com. L. V. cap. 10. 
 
 2 The 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 The Romans mnde a compleat conqueft of the whole ifland fouth 
 of the rampart, which Hadrian drew from Carlifle to Newcaftle, and 
 which was repaired and much improved by the Emperor Severus. And 
 in the vicinity of that wall or barrier, they had more pofts and ftations, 
 and of courle there are now more remains of Roman antiquity, than 
 any where elfe in the kingdom. The fouth and weft parts of Britain 
 being in a more quiet and fubmiffive ftate, fewer garrifons were kept 
 there, and confequently fewer Roman towns or antiquities of any fort 
 are there to be found or difcovered. The fovereignty of the Romans 
 Jailed until the middle of the 5th century (a), though not without 
 frequent rebellions and infune&ions ; and the conftant guard or army 
 for keeping the conqueft had been at leaft three legions of verterans, and 
 great numbers of auxiliaries, levied in other countries, and quartered in 
 different parts of Britain. In the time of Severus the ftanding army of 
 the empire was 29 legions, of 6coo men each; of which three were af- 
 iigned for the cuftody of Britain, befides perhaps as many more in 
 Dalmatian horfe, and other foreign auxiliaries. One legion, viz. the 
 2d, and afterward the 20th, was ftationed a long time at Chefter; the 
 6th was fixed at York; and perhaps the other, which probably was the 
 9th, might be ftationed at the wall or frontier. In order to keep the 
 country quiet, the Romans employed vaft numbers of the country 
 people, together with their foldiers, in conftrucling the military ways 
 or roads, remaining to this day, and in many places vifible. Our ancient 
 hiftorians mention only four, and in the laws of Edward the ConfefTor 
 there is mention made, De pace quatuor Cheminorum ; but there were 
 many more, according to the Itinerary, though perhaps only four 
 might be kept up and lupported by the Saxons and the Saxon kings. 
 
 Now, when we furvey this ifland as the place where once the 
 Romans, the raoft potent and polUhed people on the earth, bore fway, 
 and held all in fubjedlion, we are apt to imagine that they fhould 
 form great cities, conftru£t vaft bridges, or aqueducts, eredt ftately 
 temples, and build places like thofe at Rome for the public baths ; 
 or, as amphitheatres, for the pleafure and amufement of the people. 
 But no veftagej of that fort are to be found ; no great bridge that 
 fhould ftand tor ages ; no remains or even the column of a temple ; 
 no forum ; no public baths ; no ruined palace, or even town; no great 
 pier for the better convenience of an harbour; no marks, in fhort, of 
 their grandeur and magnificence, and fcarce of their power or COn- 
 fa) The laft Roman legion quitted Britain in 490, being called away to oppofe the 
 Goths and Barbarians, who were then laying wafte the empire on the continent. 
 
 venience, 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 venience; although Bede, (lib I .) fays they had built 28 cities, befide 
 many villages and country feats: and nothing of their con'iruSing 
 now remains, except an old gateway, fuppofed to be Roman, at Can- 
 terbury ; and another at Leicefter ; and the ruins of Severus';; Wall. 
 From which circumftance it may be concluded, that they looked cu 
 Britain fcarce as a part of the empire, but as unworthy of their im- 
 proving or adorning ; and that they thought it only a conquered 
 land, that would yield a tribute, and fend a large revenue to the Im- 
 perial Treafury. And, indeed, on comparing this country with mod 
 others which they fubdued, and held only a few years, inltead of near 
 400, it is amazing to find fo few remains of improvement ; either in 
 building or opening ports ; or cultivating the land; or "m eftablifhing 
 any method of employing their new fubje<5ts ; or in contriving new- 
 ways of enriching thofe people, whom they meant to fpoil and plun- 
 der. They exhaufted, but they did not fupply. And perhaps this 
 low idea of Britain was taken up from its iniular fituation, and its 
 difbnee from the leat of empire ; and what is more, from their mak- 
 ing no fuch ufe of the ocean and a naval power, as future nations and 
 later ftatefmen have done ; who, to their honour be it laid, have 
 contrived to enrich the fubjecr., as the beft way of adding to the Mrength 
 of the fovereign power. 
 
 When the Romans quitted Britain, in the year 4:0, and withdrew 
 the lad: of their armed force for the defence of Gaul and Italy, Bii- 
 tain was ibou after invaded by the Picls, and Scots ; and the Saxons, 
 who were accuftomed to the lea, made defcents and iuvafions on the 
 coafts towards the North Sea. And in the courle of this century, and 
 indeed about the middle of it, all the nations of the north, as if by 
 public conlent, broke loofe from their cold inhofpltable regions ; and 
 came down in vaft armies to the warm and plentiful regions of the 
 (outh. Such national migrations were not wholly new, but thefe in this 
 age far furpatled all former examples. The Scythians, in the early- 
 ages of the Perfian Empire, had come down from the prtfent Rufiia, 
 and ravaged all Afia Minor, and held it in fuhjeclion for 28 years; hut 
 were afterwards vanquimed. The Gauls had marched under Brennus 
 about the year 3COofRome, and ieized, plundered, and burnt, that 
 capital. The Cimbri and Teutones had quitted their own country 
 (now called Denmark), and had over-run thegreateff. part of Gaul; but 
 were defeated with great (laughter by Marius, in the vear :o: before 
 (Thrift. The Helvetians alio, a few years after, marched cut of 
 Switzerland, in order to leek a more comfortable place of abode; but 
 were (lapped and vanquifhed by Ciefar. And manv iuftatices of fuch 
 
 C like 
 
( » ) 
 
 like partial emigrations may be produced ; but the multitudes that 
 poured forth from all parts of the north at this time, quite from Tar- 
 tary in the eaft to Norway in the weft, were too numerous and too 
 potent to be checked by any oppofition ; and, though often defeated, 
 yet fettled themselves in almoft every country in the fouth ; and on the 
 ruins of the Roman Empire erected ten diftinct fovereignties. 
 
 Britain fhared in the common calamity, being oppreffed by the Picts and 
 Scots as foon as quitted by the Romans : Vortigern, a prince of the weft 
 part of Britain, was chofen commander ; and he, finding himfelf and 
 his countrymen unable to repel the foe from the north, propofed an al- 
 liance with the Saxons for their aid and afliftance. The Saxon leaders 
 agreed ; and it was ftipulated, as the price of their fervice, that they 
 fhould fettle themfelves without moleftation in the corner of the 
 country afterwards called Kent ; than which no part of England could 
 be chofen more convenient and fuitable for them, confidering them as 
 a naval people, and ftanding in need of every convenience of life on 
 their firft fettling. Hengift and Horfa landed in Thanet in 449, and 
 the covenant was ratified by Vortigern's taking in marriage Rowina 
 the daughter of Hengift. They affifted him in repelling the 
 Picts and Scots ; and, having fent for more troops from Saxony, they 
 became io powerful, that they forgot their firft condition of allies 
 and mercenaries ; and in 454 erected Kent into a kingdom. And thus 
 by degrees, their countrymen coming over in great numbers, they 
 next, under Ella, in 491, founded the kingdom of South Saxons ; 
 that is, over the next counties to Kent, viz. Suffex, and Surrey. 
 Then, fpreading farther along the fouth and weft coaft, they maftered 
 all the country from the laft kingdom to the Land's end, and round 
 northward to the Severn ; and bounded thefe acquifitions by the river 
 Avon and the Thames, and by a line from Briftol to Lechlade. 
 And this Third fettlement in the year 519, under Cerdic, was denomi- 
 nated the kingdom of the Well: Saxons. Eight years after, thefe people 
 got pofiefiion of the country adjoining to the Thames northward, and oc- 
 cupied thofe tracts which were afterwards called Eaft Seax and Middle 
 Seax : and here was erected the Fourth kingdom by Erchenwin, in 527. 
 
 Thefe people, with a prudent degree of policy, had hitherto fettled clole 
 to each other ; and doubtlefs for the purpofe of mutual aid. And they 
 had fettled as far as poftible from that vexatious foe, whom they 
 had beaten out of Britain ; and who would have fallen on the Saxons 
 out of ancient grudge, had the Saxons attempted to fettle near them 
 while the enmity was frefh. But now, after 100 years, the Saxons 
 got po fief lion of the country to the north of the Humber; and occu- 
 pied 
 
( » ) 
 
 pied all that tract which reached to Caledonia and the Picls Wall ; 
 and which was bounded on the fouth by the Humber, and then by 
 the Dunn and crofs the land to the Merfey. And here was e reeled 
 the Fifth kingdom under Ida in 547. Another tribe of Saxons, called 
 Angles, feated themfelves in the tract contiguous to the Eaft Saxons, 
 on the northward ; and in 575, under the conduct of Uffa, eftablihhed 
 a Sixth kingdom, where Suffolk and Norfolk are now fituated ; and ex- 
 tended it weft ward over CambridgefTiire and the Me of Ely. 
 
 Thus all the coafts of the ifland were occupied by thefe invaders, ex- 
 cept what was afterwards the county of Lincoln ; and all the inland parts 
 remained in the pofleffion of the Britons. But this country, extending 
 from the Humber to the Thames, and bordering on the limits of the 
 other Saxon fettlements, was conquered by Crida in 582 ; and theBritons 
 driven back beyond the Severn : wheretheyever afterdefended themfelves 
 againft any further alTaults from thefe fierce invaders. And this tract 
 was called the Kingdom of Mercia, or, as it were, the Kingdom of the 
 Boundaries, being limited by the bounds of all the other lix, and oc- 
 cupying all the vacant ground between them and their enemies the 
 Britons ; for Mars, in the language of theBritons, fignifles the marches 
 or borders of a country; and mark, or mere, is the fame alfo in the Saxon. 
 This kingdom was the largeft, if not the mod powerful, of the whole 
 Heptarchy ; comprehending all the middle counties of England : but, 
 under the conduct of Peada it acquired great ftrength and renown. 
 This warlike Prince, during a reign of 50 years, was engaged in con- 
 tinual hoftilities with his neighbours; and flew in battle three kings of 
 the Eaft Angles, and two of the greateft princes who had filled the 
 throne of Northumberland ; but was himfelf defeated and flain by 
 Ofwy, king of Northumberland, in 655. 
 
 Now during thefe conflicts no mention is made of Verulam, nor of 
 any t ran faction there, although it had been a capital city of the Ro- 
 mans ; except this, that Uter Pendragon, a Britim prince, had fought 
 the Saxons in a great battle at this place, and received a dangerous 
 wound : and lay a long time confined to his bed (a) : and that he was 
 cured at length by retorting to a well or fpring not far diftant from 
 the city, at that time reputed falubrious ; and for that reafon, and for 
 the cures thereby performed, efteemed holy ; and bleflcd in a pecu- 
 liar manner with the favour of Heaven. Brompton, who lived in the 
 time of Richard II. lays this. But no earlier hiftorian mentions any 
 other tranfaction at Verulam, during the conteft between the Britons 
 and the Saxons, 
 
 (a) In k&o dercntus. M. Pari;. 
 C 2 
 
 The 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 The Mercians were in continual conflicts with fome of the other king- 
 doms; and, when OfFn afcended the throne, in 755, he found them vvar- 
 likeand enterprizing. He waged war with theKing of Kent, and defeating 
 him, in 774, in a great battle at Otford, near the river Darent in that 
 county, compelled him to be tributary. Hegainedalfo agreat victory 
 over Kenulph, the King of Weflex, in 778, atBenfmgton in Oxfordshire, 
 and fecured that part of his dominion from any further incurfions 
 from that quarter. His fuccefles railed in his breall: a temptation of 
 getting the Kingdom of the Eaft Angles ; but not by the glory of 
 war, or the atchievements of valour; nor by any conduct that could 
 reflect honour on a regal character. He treacheroufly flew the young 
 King Etherbert, while he was making fuit to his daughter Elfrida ; 
 and had been invited to Hereford with all his nobles, in order to ce- 
 lebrate the nuptials. Ethelbert being the laft of the royal family, 
 Ofra feized the kingdom, and fubdued the people by violence. He fought 
 to retrieve his character, and perhaps appeafe the remorfe of his con- 
 ference, by paying court to the clergy, by practifing all the monkifli 
 devotions which in that age of ignorance and fuperftition were in 
 the greateft efteem. He gave a tenth of all his goods to the Church ; 
 prefented rich donations to the Cathedral of Hereford ; and even made 
 a pilgrimage to Rome. In this place he thought his riches and power 
 would procure him abfolution ; and he offered the Pope to maintain a 
 college of Englifh youths at Rome, out of his revenues; and to that 
 purpofe impofed a tax on every houfe poiTefling Thirty pence a year, of 
 one penny. Which impofition was levied and fent to Rome, and called 
 Peter s pence ; and continued to be fent, though afterwards claimed 
 as a right of the Papal See, until the fame was abolifhed, in 1534, 
 by an act of Parliament which abolifhed all procurations, delegations, 
 culls, and difpenfations. from the bifhop of Rome. Rapin attributes the 
 tax of Peter's pence (then called Romefcot) to Ina, the great and il- 
 luftrious King of We (Tex, for the maintenance of a college at Rome 
 which he had founded for Englith youth ; and that Offa only extended 
 this tax over his own kingdom. His journey to Rome was made in 
 791 ; and here, in further expiation of his fins, he undertook to build 
 a flately church and monaftery to the memory of St. Alban and Ho* 
 jiorius. The fame year he fet about this work ; and died in 794. 
 
 Such are the general outlines of the character of Offa. But there 
 are many particulars to be gathered that cart a light on his virtues 
 and vices. And as he became famous for his piety at laft, and was the 
 founder of that religious endowment which gives rife to this hiftory, 
 it is neceflary to take a nearer view of his qualities and his character. 
 
 That 
 
( »3 ) 
 
 That wicked contrivance of feizing the kingdom of Ethelbert, and 
 putting him to death, in violation not only of all rights of hofpitality, 
 but of all laws human and divine, was fuggefted (lays M. Paris) by 
 his wife and con fort Drida ; whom, in abhorrence of her crime, he 
 caufed to be thrown headlong into a well, becaufe that was the pu- 
 nifhment (he had devifed againft the virtuous Ethelbert. This wo- 
 man, fays the fame hiftorian (in the Additions to his great work) had 
 been a near relation to the King of France, and fcr fome heinous 
 crime had been condemned to die ; but in companion to her lex, (lie 
 was put out to fea in an open boat, without fails or rudder, to live or 
 perifh at the mercy of the waves ; when at length (he was taken up 
 by fome Englifh feamen, brought to land, and laved from her horrid 
 doom of periming in the fea : that Offa was {truck with her adven- 
 ture, contracted a paflion, and married her ; and that fhe was hence- 
 forth ftiled Quendrida, or Queen Drida. But me called herfelf Petro- 
 nilla or Pamel ; and within the two firft years bore fons ; the eldeft of 
 which was called Egfrid, who fucceeded to the throne ; and then fhe 
 bore three daughters, the eldeft of which the King gave to Brithric, the 
 King of the Weft Saxons ; the next to Ethelbert, King of the North- 
 umbrians; and the third was lolicited by Ethelbert, King of the 
 Eaft Angles, when he was treacheroufly murdered. 
 
 T his potent monarch was fo formidable to his neighbours in the 
 beginning of his reign, that they confederated together for mutual de- 
 fence, and intreated the King of France to accede to this alliance, 
 and aflift them, if attacked ; and M. Paris has a letter written by them 
 to that purpofe. Thefe were the kings of Kent, of the Weft Saxons, 
 of the Northumbrians, of the South Saxons, and of the Eaft Angles. 
 In the letter they complain of his pride, and infolence, and crafty de- 
 vices ; and accompany the letter with iooo pieces of gold. Charles 
 the King of France accepted the prefent, and fent for anfwer a letter 
 to OfTa, ' commanding him to defift from difturbing Britain ; and 
 
 * forbear to fubjugate, by any fort of means, the kings who bordered 
 
 * upon him, and who had lately united themfelves to him ; that on 
 
 * fuch an attempt, he would feel Charles, who was formidable to 
 ' every mortal, hoftile to him.' 
 
 OfTa affembled his nobles and captains; and in a fpeech accufed the 
 kings and Charles of a confpiracy to ruin them and overturn the king- 
 dom of Mercia ; 4 but now is the time,' faith he, ' when Charles is 
 
 * employed in foreign wars ; let us fall on our enemies, and eaft them 
 
 * down, never to rife more :' and inftantly marched with his army to 
 
 attack 
 
( «4 ) 
 
 attack the King of the Eaft Angles. A bloody fight enfued, at a place 
 called Feldhurd, and Offa gained the victory. 
 
 Charles, or Carloman, at this time died, in Saxony ; and his 
 brother, called afterwards Charlemagne, iucceeded to his dominions. 
 The Britifh kings renewed their alliance with him, and he anfwered 
 with high threats to Offa. The confequence was that Offa marched 
 againft the King of Kent, and gained the great victory at Otford, 
 wherein the Kentifh monarch was (lain : and Offa took pofTeffion of 
 that kingdom. He then turned his arms againft Kenulph, King of 
 the Weil: Saxons, who was fecuring himfelf and confederate princes in 
 a great eaftle at Benfington. In this they defended themfelves, and had 
 alfo a great army in the field. The latter was completely vanquifhed, 
 and the former in a few days after furrendered ; the kings having 
 efcaped by favour of the night. They fled with all poflible hafte to 
 Marmod or Merfyn, the King of Powis, in Wales ; and were there 
 fheltered and protected. Offa wrote to this prince, charging the 
 kings with plots, and confpiracies and rebellion, againft him their true 
 and legal fovereign (becaufe fome of them had before been vanquifhed 
 by Offa or his anceftors): concluding that Marmod would involve him- 
 felf in the fame calamities, by affording them affiftance. The King 
 (Marmod) and his nobles alTembled, and having read the letter, they 
 concluded the confutation with this refolution, * that the powerful 
 ' King of Wales ought by no means to fear that little king, Offa, who 
 ' was filly, mad, and pofTefl'ed by the devil.' Marmodium potentem, 
 Off'am Regulum defipientem et arreptit'ium min'tme debere formidare. 
 And Marmod charged the Ambafladors of Offa with this anfwer : ' that 
 ' it would be an act of difhonour and timidity to defert thofe who were 
 * worfted, when he had taken them under his protection, and fhewn 
 ' them companion ; and that, if Offa mould prefume to attack them, 
 ' he would arm the whole force of Wales in their defence.* 
 
 Offa, in confequence of this, fent troops to take pofleflion of Kent; 
 and by fecuring the ftrong pods, preclude all hopes of the King's re- 
 turn. In the mean time he marched againft the Potentate of Wales, 
 and the fugitive princes; and having engaged, gave them a cruel and 
 bloody defeat. This happened a few days before the feaft of our Lord's 
 nativity ; when Marmod propofed the following ftratagem to his chiefs 
 and allies : that they fhould offer a truce to Offa during the iucceeding 
 folemnity ; when, if the Saxons fhould be rendered carelefs, and be put 
 off their guard, he would fall on them by night, and exterminate the 
 whole army of Offa. This treachery was approved : the truce being 
 propofed to Offa, it had his confent ; yet neither army made any re- 
 2 treat. 
 
( >5 ) 
 
 treat. The King then, for the better caution of each army, and by 
 the confent of both parties, caufed a long and deep trench to be dug, 
 with a very high bank thrown up on the fide of England, to prevent 
 any fudden incurfion of the Britons. And, for the more fafe and quiet 
 celebration of divine offices in fuch a iealon of folemnity, he built a 
 fmall church. All which tranfactions were compleated in 12 days, 
 and thole of the (horteft ; and the trench was named OfFa's Dyke, 
 and the church called Offkirke, even to this day, faith M. Paris, 
 
 The place of thefe tranlacYions is not mentioned ; but it is probable, 
 nay certain, that it was near the prelent dyke, and towards thefouthern 
 end thereof; and it is very likely to be at Lantwardine in the north 
 of Herefordihire, where two camps are very difrindf., with the river 
 Teme between them. Here are marks alio of the dyke(aj. And this con- 
 jecture is favoured by this circumftance, that Offa had a palace at Sutton, 
 north of Hereford, and fome remains are there to be lcen ; and here it 
 was that he contrived the death of Lvthelbert. Indeed, no fuch place 
 as OtT-Kirke is here to be found ; yet I cannot think that Warwick 
 or Off church near it was the place of thefe memorable exploits: 
 though it mud beconfeflfed that Warwick was founded by Warmand, 
 the father of the fii-fr. Offa. And probably Off-church might be of his 
 founding and building. And Camden fays, that here was a palace of 
 Offa j and it was the place where Fremund, a ion of Offa, was bafely 
 murdered. 
 
 The ilratagem of Marmod received every preparation that he thought 
 requilite ; and, on the night following Chriftmas Day, when Offa 
 and his army were refigned to fleep and lecurity, thefe combined kings 
 made a fierce attack. They had employed the men of the country to 
 level the ditch, and thus make an eafy paflage. The conflicl: was fa- 
 tal to the Saxons ; they underwent a fevere and bloody defeat, were 
 ilain in great numbers, and Offa retreated ; having fuffered a lofs not 
 to be recovered in a ihort time. The next year he took poft at the 
 fame place, and faced the enemy with new and well appointed num- 
 bers. The Britons aflembkd on the fame fpot, thinking it lucky and 
 
 (3) It is vifible on Brachy-hill, near Lantwardine ; and from Knighton it is con- 
 tinued over part of Shropfhire into Montgomerythire ; pafTes over the long mountain 
 of Kefn Digojtf, crofs the Severn to Llandiinio Common. Then it paffes the Vyrnwy 
 into Shropfhire, and going near Cfweltry enters Denbighfhire ; and may he plainly feen 
 from Rhuabou to l J las Power, near Wrexham, and thence to iiafmgweok, near Holy- 
 well, in Flintfllire ; and was a work of many years; and conij.lcated from the pat- 
 tern of the rampart which OfFa begun near Lantwardine ; and intended to check, and 
 reprefs the incurlions ot the Britons, 
 
 propitious 
 
( >6 ) 
 
 propitious to them ; and engaged Offa with great fiercenefs and nu- 
 merous bodies of men. A very bloody conteft followed ; the Britons 
 were routed ; the very plain was dyed with blood ; and the victor 
 gave orders to flay all the men and infants; and fcarcely to (hew mercy 
 to the women : an order which, becaufe given by the king in his rage 
 and fury, was executed, with mo ft unheard-of (laughter. Thofe who 
 had been (lain in fight he caufed to be buried, together with his own 
 men, in the ditch which the enemy had leveled ; and caufed all 
 holv offices, and the mafs alio, to be lolemnized over them. 
 
 This lad: exploit happened in the year 775 ; and he had fpent about 
 ten years in thefe fcveral military expeditions, in which he had at length 
 defeated and worn down all his adverfaries. In this year he is faid, by 
 VV ilium cf Mdlmjbury, to have founded a monaftery at Bath ; which 
 being afterwards demolished by the ravaging Danes, was rebuilt by 
 Elphage, who became biihop of Bath, and then archbifhop of Can- 
 terbury, about 980. 
 
 The King of France, who had written in fuch menacing terms to 
 Offa, on his entering into alliance with the petty kings of Britain, is 
 called Charles by M.Paris ; but it is probable that it was Carloman, 
 the brother of Pepin, or elfe Pepin himlelf ; becaufe the Great Charles, 
 who afterwards became Emperor, was net evening of France, un- 
 till the year 771. But whoever was that king, he 'took no fteps to 
 aid and affift his allies. But on the fucceffion of Charles, who was 
 at that time employed in Italy, and had vanquifhed the Lombards and 
 made captive their King Defiderius, in 774, Offa fent him ambaffa- 
 dors in form, bearing prefents of great (a) value and letters requeuing 
 his friendship. To thefe Charles gave anfwer in terms of civility, 
 and of piety ; but without the leaft mention of the affairs of Britain. 
 And in a few days after, he -lent another letter to Offa ; faying that 
 Defiderius, the Pagan King of the Lombards, and the generals and 
 chiefs of the vanquifhed Saxons, with many of their followers, had 
 taken on them the vow of Baptifm : ftiling himfeif the moll: potent 
 of the Chiiftian kings in the Eaft ; and Offa the moll: potent of thofe 
 in the Well:. And thefe letters were accompanied with prefents and 
 gifts ; among which were fome ftatutes made in the provincial fynods, 
 
 (a) Mcuin, a BenedicYine monk, and abbot of Canterbury, was fent to Charlemagne, 
 to fettle terms of peace, he. He was detained by the Emperor, and was in fuch fa- 
 vour as to be admitted to give him inftruftion as a preceptor ; and he pcrfuaded Char- 
 lemagne to found the univerfity of Paris, and that of Pavia; and died abbot of St. Mar- 
 tyn at Tours, in 790. 
 
 which 
 
( '7 ) 
 
 which Charles recommended as containing the rudiments of the Chrif- 
 tian faith ; but yet as very proper for the inftrudlion of the Britifh 
 bifhops, whom he believed to be rudes et tncompojitos. 
 
 Thefe intimations, aided and encouraged by the general tranquillity 
 of the kingdom, raifed thoughts in Gffa of making fome*regulations 
 and alterations in epilcopal matters ; particularly the places of the 
 refpecYtve fees. Lambert, the archbifhop of Canterbury, was thought 
 to have his fee too near the dominions of foreign powers ; and it was 
 charged on him in the pre fence of the King, that he had promifed 
 Charles, before the late confederacy of the kings, that, if he would 
 enter Britain with hoftility, and come to their aid, he mould find free 
 admiffion into his archbifhoprick, with all poflible favour and affift- 
 ance. And another motive with OfFa was, an opinion that, where he 
 had triumphed with glory over his enemies, there or near that place 
 would the primacy and archiepifcopal feat be moft. properly fet up, 
 and moft devoutly reverenced. He fent therefore to Pope Adrian pro- 
 per meflengers and prefents, requefting that his 4 holinefs would ap- 
 ' point (though contrary to the ancient and approved ufage) the Bifhop 
 4 of Litchfield, named lEaldulph, to bean archbifhop; and that all the 
 * provinces of the Mercians might be fubjedl to this prelate/ The Pope 
 confented.; and Ealdulph received the pall from Rome : but by this 
 divifion we are not to underftand, that the whole power of the arch- 
 bifhop of Canterbury was abolifhed, and the fee removed to Litch- 
 field ; but that a third province was made, and archi-epifcopal authority 
 eftablifhed, at a new place, over a great part of the former province 
 of Canterbury ; for there remained to Lambert, and to his fucceflors, 
 the bifhopricks of London, Rocheffer, Winton, and Shirburn. And, 
 on the death of Ealdulph, Humbert was appointed to fucceed him j 
 who was chaplain to the King and Confeffor, was privy to all his 
 counfels and lecrets, and was ai(b the Informator Morum, or Regula- 
 tor of his morals. This Archbifhop of Lichfield begged the body of 
 the young Prince Ethelbert, and depofited the fame with great fo- 
 lemnity in the cathedral of Lichfield ; but it was afterwards carried 
 to Hereford, and there buried, with a church built over it dedicated to 
 his memory. 
 
 The King had now attained to old age, and had afTociatecl his fori 
 as regent with him, and was paffing his days in great tranquillity, 
 when he conceived an intention of founding a monastery ; srntf, in en- 
 dowing the fame, of giving to it the manor of Winflow, where he. . - 
 was then dwelling. It leems as if he had many places of refidence, 
 for lomething of his name appears in many villages and lands, as if 
 
 D they 
 
( >8 ) 
 
 they' nad been once belonging to him, if not the places of bis 
 abode ; luch as Offlcy in Herts, Offington in Berkfhire, Ofton in 
 Warwickfhire, Ofton in Suffolk, and High Oflev in Staffordshire. 
 
 The monaftic life had begun in yEgypt ; where, about the year 210, 
 a fevere persecution raged againft all Chriftians, under the reign of 
 Decius, the Roman Emperor; and where certain pious men, the chief' 
 of whom were Paul and Anthony, retired into the delerts, not only for 
 fafety, but to enjoy a more quiet life of contemplation and devotion. 
 This example was followed ; and great numbers affembled together, 
 even after the perfecution had ceafed, for the fame purpofes of religion. 
 And indeed in a hot climate, and a plentiful luxuriant foil, there was 
 Something inviting to this kind of peaceful repofe befide motives of 
 religion. This kind of life grew into repute, and the fame of its fanc- 
 tity reached other countries. Athanaiius, the BihSop of Alexandria,, 
 is faid to have carried it into the Greek Cnurch : and there it foon 
 fpread ; and great inftitutions were founded and endowed. It pafl'ed 
 thence into the Weftern or Latin Church ; and Martin carried it into 
 France. 
 
 From France it had paflTed into Britain: though only two monafleries 
 are mentioned to have been founded there before Auguftin was fent over 
 from the Pope, with 40 monks, to the King of Kent, about ^i y 6, to 
 inftruct him and his people in the Doctrine of Chriftianity : fo unne- 
 ceffary had it feemed to the Britons to teach and propagate that reii* 
 gion by thofe means ; for the whole nation of Britons had in general 
 received Chriftianity and eftablilhed fome biihops, and built churches, 
 before Auftin's coming, and that by the affidutty of the clergy more 
 than by the labours of the monkiih bodies: for the mcnafteries, though 
 very considerable, being only two (a") in number, could never have 
 been able to fpread the Chriftian doctrine fo far as it feems to have gone 
 when the Saxons firft invaded and began to make conquefts. Thefe 
 two monafteries wtveGlqJionbury, and Banchor in Cheshire on the river 
 Dee, the foundation and beginning of which laft is very early ; but 
 it is celebrated for its numbers and magnitude,, and its ^ fatal . ruin and 
 cataftrophe (b). 
 
 Banchor contained in it above 2000 monks, and occupied a large 
 city, when /Edelfred, the king of the Eaft Angles, fighting againit 
 
 the 
 
 (a) Befide Shirborn In Dorfct, founded about 370. 
 
 (b) Banchor was founded by Congellus, a Briton by birth, and who became the 
 firft abbat abo-Jt 530, faith Hanmer in his Chron. of Ireland, p. 52. Bale fays, it 
 was founded by Lucius for Chriftian philofophers, and continued for 3^0 years ; 
 until Congellus changed it into a convent of monks. It is probable that Lucius 
 
 founded 
 
 7 
 
( '9 ) 
 
 the Tritons, put to death 1200 monks, for aflifttng their brethren and 
 countrymen. This happened probably about 613 ; though fome au- 
 thors place it a few years earlier, and con fide r Auftin as having inffci- 
 gated the king to execute fuch a degree of cruelty upon them. But 
 he feems to have died fome years before. Nothing elfe is faid of this 
 famous place ; but, from its fituation and dignity, it feems to have 
 been the univerfity as it were, and place of general education for the 
 Britons of thofe parts ; both before the Saxons came, and until its de- 
 cay and ruin, which followed by degrees from the victory of iEdelfred, 
 and the cruel revenge he had taken. 
 
 The other monaftery, Gfoftonbury, was founded about 300 years 
 after Chrift, and had grown great and famous ; was much augmented 
 and its church rebuilt by King Ina in 725, and maintained a high credit 
 in the time of Alfred, and the fame through all fucceeding ages 
 until its final downfall and diflblution ; at which time it was found 
 to have the largeft revenue of any religious foundation in England ; the 
 fame being 331 il. 7s. 4d. per annum, and therefore was thought the 
 more fit to be diffolved. 
 
 At the time of the Saxon invafion, the land was in general obedient 
 to the religion of Chrift; and moft parts had received the inftruction of 
 bifhops and priefts, fettled in a regular method, though not fo numer- 
 ous as in thefe times. But it is very -remarkable how foon and fudden 
 the Saxons became converts to the religion -of -the conquered. This 
 was generally erTedled by the perfuafion and arguments of the queens, 
 whom the Saxon kings and chiefs married. And -when Ethelbert, the 
 king of Kent, received Auftin and his retinue as mefiengers from the 
 Pope, we find he was perfuaded to become a Chriftian by the advice 
 and inftru&ion of his Queen, Bertha, who was the daughter of Lo- 
 thaire, king of France, and had been inftructed in the religion of Chrift. 
 And, as the beft proof of their fincerity, or as the moft meritorious 
 work they could perform, they generally founded monafteries ; of 
 which foundations we find about fixteen or feventeen to have been 
 
 founded it ; and placed it here, in opposition to the Druids, and to fpread the doftrine 
 or Chrift in that country, where the Druids had held their principal feat. This place 
 had the honour of training up David, the great faint and patron of Wales, and foun- 
 der of the archi-epifcopal feecalled now by his name ; Dubritius. alfo, the founder of 
 Llandaff Cathedral ; and lltutus, the reputed Bifhop of Caerleon. Other eminent Bri- 
 tons were educated here long before' the Saxons invaded Enciand, as Afap'i, Pctroe, 
 and Patern ; which is the reafon why we difcover the foundation of the great churches 
 .1 Wales, to be more ancient than any in England. Warrington's Hift. of V^ ales. 
 
 D 2 erected 
 
( *> ) 
 
 erected and endowed before the time of Offia's foundation ; and thefe 
 
 fome of the moil confide rable ; fuch as, 
 
 1. Rochefter, founded in 600 
 
 2. Canterbury (both at the perfuafion of Auftin) - - 605 
 
 3. Tewkefbury, by Odo and Dodo, Earls of Gloucefter, - 615 
 
 4. St. Swithin in Winchefter by Kenewulch, King of the Weft 
 Saxons, who alfo built the cathedral, - - 634 
 
 5. Dorchefter in Oxfordfhire, with an epifcopal fee by Cinigilfe, 
 King of the Weft Saxons ; and Ofwald, King of the North- 
 umbrians, - - - - 635 
 
 6. Bofton by Botulphus, - 654 
 
 7. Peterborough, by Peada, when the Mercians received Chrif- 
 tianity, - - - - 655 
 
 8. and 9. Barking and Chertfey, by Erkenwald, Biftiop of 
 London, ------ 680 
 
 10. Malmfbury, by Eleutherius and Aldhelm, Biftiops of Win- 
 chefter, - - - - - - 670 
 
 11. Glocefter, by Ofric, King of the Northumbrians, - 68a 
 
 12. F.vefham, by Egwine, Biftiop of Worcefter ; and Kenred, 
 
 fon of Wolphus, King of Mercia, - 700 
 
 13. Bardney in Lincolnfhire, by King Ofwald, - - 712 
 
 14. Croyland by Ethelbald, King of Mercia, - - 716 
 
 15. Abingdon, by Cifta, King of the Weft Saxons, - 720 
 
 16. Minchelney, in Somerfet, by a King of the Weft Saxons, 740 
 
 1 7. Winchcomb, in Glocefterfhire, by Kenulph, King of the 
 Weft Saxons, whom Oft a vanquiftied and dethroned, - 787 
 
 18. Glaftonbury, refounded by Ina, - - 725 
 
 Now, from this lift it appears that monaftic foundations had their 
 rife chiefly from the time of Auftin ; and though we read of the mo- 
 nasteries of Banchor, and of Glaftonbury, and Shirburn, prior to his. 
 time; yet they muft be confidered in a different light from thofe that 
 followed ; being places indeed of education and Chriftian inltru&ion ; 
 and containing perfons who taught all the fciences and arts then in re- 
 pute ; and fending forth preachers into places where the inhabitants 
 wanted them : though without any authority from bifhops, which at 
 many of thefe places we do not find any certain traces of. Whereas 
 when Auftin came, to convert, as he profeffed, the Pagan Saxons to 
 Chrift, he came to introduce the Chriftianity of Rome ; with not 
 only its doctrines of Papal fupremacy, and many other affumed pri- 
 vileges, and high pretentions; but alfo with all the Romifh artifices of 
 bearing rule and fway over the people whom they would convert: he 
 
 came 
 
( V ) 
 
 carre with 40 monks, accompanied with the gaudy veftments and 
 all the external apparatus of the Romifh wormip : but he came, alfo, 
 furnifhed with all the learning, and improved fcience, which Rome 
 afforded j with a knowledge of the civil laws, and of all the arts 
 which could contribute to civilize men, and teach them more conveni- 
 encies of living; and with this view he recommended the founding 
 of monafteries, as being places that contained all ulefal arts and 
 fcience, as well as letting forth a moll: exemplary wormip and 
 devotion. 
 
 It is remarkable that, in the very year in which Gregory the Pope 
 fent Auftin and his monks into England, a great monaftery of Bene- 
 dictines was deftroyed by the Lombards ; and this is afferted by the 
 Saxon Chronicle in the year 595 (a). Though the lettersof Pope Gregory 
 himfelf(b) place this cataitrophe a few years earlier, yet they fay it 
 was the monaftery of Monte Caffrno in Campania, founded by St. Bene- 
 dict 60 years before, and enriched with great donations ; and that it was 
 pillaged by Zotto, the firft Lombard Duke of Benevento, in ^amnium(c). 
 It is farther to be noted, that Gregory the Great was himfelf a Be- 
 nedictine monk, and had belonged to the monaftery of St. Andrew at 
 Rome. 
 
 It is then very probable, that the monaftery of Banchor was found 
 by Auftin and his monks to be adverfe to their plan and inftitution; 
 fince it is plain that Auftin made pretentions to an authority un- 
 known to the Britim clergy ; and that the latter had never acknow- 
 ledged a dependence on any foreign pontiff as head. And the advice 
 given by Gregory, as may be feen in his epiftle, tends to encourage 
 him to fubdue all adverfaries and contradiction, till he could firmly 
 fettle the Roman power in Britain. And this enmity againft the Bri- 
 tim clergy inftigated the King of the Eaft Angles, by the perfuafion 
 of Auftin, to extirpate Banchor. 
 
 (a) This Chron. was compiled at the end of King Stephen's reign. But this 
 event of Caffmo is lb foreign to Englifh hiftory, that the author by inferting it 
 here means to be underftood, that it was connected with the Englifh Church. 
 And the compiler of the Chronicle thought fo, when he mentioned it in the courfe 
 of Engltjh events, Sec. See Gibfon's Edit, of the Sax. Chron. 
 
 (b) See the Dial, of Greg. Mag. 1. 2. c. 17 
 
 (c) That Mount Caffmo had been founded for monks by Benedict, confult the 
 following authors, viz. Herempert's Chronicle, written in the 9th century ; and Peter 
 the Library-keeper's Treatife of illuftrious Ferfonages of Mount CafTino, written 
 in the 12th century; and a Chronicle of Mount Camno, by Leo, Bifhop of Oflia, 
 written alfo in the 12th century. 
 
 How- 
 
( " ) 
 
 However, the deftrudtion of Caffino happened but a few years be- 
 fore the monks were fent into England. And as this monaftery feems 
 to have been the only one in Italy, it is probable that the monks might 
 vvifh to be placed in a land of more fecurity and fafety ; or at leaft be 
 employed where was a richer and more plentiful harveft. And, when 
 they were allowed to fettle in England, it is plain that their monadic 
 inftitutions were blended witli epifcopacy ; that is, that, wherever 
 Auftin procured a bifhop's fee to be erected, there was founded alfo at 
 the fame time a monaftery contiguous ; where the monks were confi- 
 dered as a (landing council, to aid and alfift the Bifhop in the difcharge 
 of his duties, and to provide preachers, and a fuccemon of them, for 
 inftructing the villages and country. And it had not yet come to pafs 
 that monafteries were founded without a bifhop, and independent of 
 his authority : and, in a manner, under the government of an abbot, 
 to fet up a feparat-e and diftindt intereft, and to be labouring for the 
 fervice of a different mafter. All which did come to pals in fuc- 
 ceeding ages, when the monkifh bodies became very numerous, rich, 
 and powerful, and always took part with the Pope as their lawful 
 and only fovereign ; and when the clergy, or miniftering priefthood, 
 though numerous, were borne down by the monks, and a conftant 
 enmity and oppofition was maintained between the regulars and fe- 
 culars; as we (hall fee in the 9th and 10th centuries. 
 
 That the firft bifhops were Romans is very evident from their names; 
 and that, wherever Auftin appointed a bifhop, he there eftablifhed a 
 monaftery, appears in the hiftory of every cathedral : or, if the Me- 
 tropolitan did not eftablifh a monaftery together with the biftiop, it 
 appears that the new bifhops founded one or more monafteries very 
 loon after their appointment. 
 
 By the time of Offa, then, about twenty great monafteries had been 
 founded ; and about the fame number of epifcopal fees efrablfhed : 
 fome of the former unconnected with any fee; and fome of the latter 
 not conjoined or united with any of the former; the general defign of both, 
 being to civilize and iultruct mankind, and teach the doctrines of di- 
 vine truth and filvation ; but in ways that differed much in future 
 ages, and laid the foundation of great enmity, not only between the 
 different bodies, but alfo between the fuperiors to whom they reflectively 
 adhered. Offa's zeal prompted him to do what many of his crowned 
 brethren had done before him ; and he probably felt fuch compunc- 
 tions of mind concerning the death of Elthelbert as made him feek 
 for peace and reconciliation with Heaven : for, though he might not 
 contrive the murder of that prince, and might juftly abhor his wife, 
 
 who 
 
( *3 ) 
 
 who was the contriver ; yet he (hewed no fmall approbation of the 
 deed when he feized his kingdom. And no doubt his great ecclefiai- 
 tics, Humbert the Arch-bimop of Litchfield, and Unwona the 
 Bifhop of Leicefte-r, would not fail to admonim him of repentance, 
 and encourage him to that wprk, which was then confidered as the 
 moft meritorious of all others : and though fuch was the doctrine of 
 the Church in thofe ages, and fo contrary to what would now be 
 preached to a dying monarch ; yet it was a work that certainly com- 
 prehended in it a very great ftore of charity : and if doing good to pof- 
 terity can avail to procure the pardon of crimes, and reinftate the pe- 
 nitent in the favour of God, this work feemed to be of that kind. 
 
 But what made monaftic endowments a part of a dying man's charity 
 was the provifion therein made for his own particular fafety. Here 
 was an inftitution in which the dying man is interefted, and from 
 which he hopes for fome private benefit ; and that, when his own 
 prayers (hall have ceafed, the devotion of others may be hired and em- 
 ployed on his behalf : a doctrine this, too flattering to the dying man 
 to be overlooked and neglected ; and too gninfull to the monks to be 
 omitted. And, in order to fupport this bufinefs of being intercelTors 
 and faclors in the way of falvation, the Romilh Church had invented' 
 purgatory, and all the terrors of the intermediate ftate. 
 
 Such was the doctrine cf the times ; and fuch the practice directed 
 to the great, and advifed to the devout. And fuch was the rcfolution 
 of Offa, when he intended to finifh a life of great glory and profpeiity ; 
 but which had contracted perhaps many pollutions, befide that of 
 murder. To whom then mould he dedicate his religious foundation ? 
 For the patron of the work was confidered as interefted in the protection 
 and fuccefs of the fame. The name of Chrift had been ufed in the 
 dedication of Auftin's Monaftery at Canterbury; St. Peter's had been 
 applied to the foundation of the cathedral at York ; and the pious 
 Ethelbert, king of Kent, had dedicated the cathedral of London to St. 
 Paul ; and Sebert, who founded the church and abbey at Weftminfter, 
 had there dedicated the fame to St. Peter. 
 
 Offa feems to have been as much perplexed about the place ; 
 ' -, t in this perplexity he was relieved (lays M. Paris J by a kind of 
 miraculous intelligence; for, being then at Window, and in deep me- 
 ditation on this fubject, he prayed with great earneftneis to God, that, 
 4 as he had often delivered him from the dangers and afiaults cf his 
 'enemies, and from the traps and in a res of his wife ; ib he would 
 
 * vouchiafe to grant him further light and information, to enable 
 
 * him to compleat his vow of founding a monaftery.* Concluding 
 with an earneft addrefs to his relations and brethren', 'that they Would 
 
 * una* 
 
( H ) 
 
 ' unanimoufly and devoutly befeech God, to enable him to bring his 
 * intent to effecV The hiftory fays, that all prefent retired into the 
 chapel to pray, among whom were Humbert and Unwona, who are 
 called, the Special Counfellon of the King ; and that the congregation 
 having prayed longer than ordinary, and with the fame wifhes as the 
 king had exprefled, a fudden light from Heaven filled the place with 
 uncommon lplendor. This was considered as a token of God's favour; 
 and the king determined to grant the royal manor of Window, where 
 this miracle had happened, to endow his new foundation. 
 
 After fome time he was at Bath, where, in the reft and file nee of 
 night, he feemed to be accofted by an angel, who admonifhed him to 
 raife out of the earth the body of the firft Britifh martyr, Alban, and 
 place his remains in a fhrine, with more fuitable ornament. This 
 event, now reckoned moft propitious, is communicated to Humbert, 
 then at Litchfield ; who, taking unto him Unwona Bifhop of Lei- 
 cefter, and Ceolwolf Bifhop of Lindfey, his fuffragrans, proceeds im- 
 mediately, with a great crowd of followers of both fexes, and of all 
 ages, to meet the king, on a certain day by him appointed, at Ve- 
 rulam. 
 
 The Hiftory faith, that as the king was journeying towards this 
 city, there appeared to him a light mining over the place, and refem- 
 bling a large torch ; that the fame was feen by all prefent at Verulam, 
 and was interpreted as a mod favourable omen. And fading and prayer 
 were ufed by the prelates and people, befeeching the martyr himfelf 
 to aid and alii £1 them in the difcovery. For the place and memory of 
 Alban had been quite loft, finceGermanus, bifhop of Auxerre in France, 
 had preached here again ft the Pelagian Herefy, about 340 years be- 
 fore; and zMban was remembered only in the books of hiftory, and the 
 relations of the aged. So great had been the devaluation committed 
 by the Saxons at their coming ; when they leveled the churches to 
 the ground, beheaded the prelates and minifters, and reduced the 
 lands and country to a mere defert. 
 
 During which overthrow, the church of Alban had been demolifhed 
 and overturned from the foundations, with the other churches of the 
 country. For a church had been early erected to the memory of the 
 bleffed protomartyr of England, and which Bede fays had been con- 
 ftrucled with admirable art, though of timber and plank : and of confe-' 
 quence the iepulchre of Alban, irom the time of St. Germanus, and 
 indeed fiom Albau's paflion, until the general deiolation made by 
 the Saxons, had been in good repute, not only for the piety of Alban, 
 but for the miracles there fhewn ; and had been worfhiped by the 
 5 religious 
 
( *5 ) 
 
 religious of thofe times, and honoured by all ; when it was difcovered 
 to this invincible monarch by the miuiftry of an angel. But the 
 exact place of the fepulchre was quite forgotten and unknown. When 
 the king, the clergy, and the people, were afiembled, they entered on 
 this fearch with prayer, failing, and alms ; and ftruck the earth 
 every where, with intent to hit the fpot of burial; but the fearch was 
 not continued long, when a light from Heaven was vouchfafed, to 
 affilt the difcovery, and a ray of fire flood ever the place, like the 
 ftar that conducted the magi to find the Holy Jefus at Bethlem. The 
 ground was opened; and in the prefence of OfFa the body of Alban 
 found, depofited together with fome relicks in a coffin of wood, jufl 
 as Germanus had placed them 344 years before. 
 
 If every circumflance here mentioned be true, we need not wonder 
 at that which followed ; which was, as the hiftory fays, that all pre- 
 fent directly fried tears of holinefs and reverential awe ; and, having 
 raifed the body from the earth, they conveyed it in a folemn proceffion 
 to a little chapel, without the walls of Verulam, built formerly by 
 the new converts in honour of this blefTed martyr ; and fituate on the 
 very fpot where the martyr had fufFered, and fhed his blood in pro- 
 feflion of Chriit ; and which chapel, by reafon of its being fmall, had 
 efcaped the devaluation committed by his perfecutors. 
 
 The king is faid to have placed a circle of gold round the bare Ikull of 
 the deceafed, with an infeription to fignify his name and title; and 
 caufed the chapel and repofitory to be enriched with plates of gold and 
 filver; and to be decorated with pictures, tapeftry, and other orna- 
 ments ; until a more noble edifice could be erected. This tranfaction 
 happened 507 years after the fuffering of Alban, 344 after the invafion 
 of the Saxons, and on the firft day of Augufr, in the 36th year of 
 Ofta's reign, that is, 791 of Chrift. 
 
 It is very probably that, although this church had been demolimed 
 by the invaders near 300 years before, yet the fame of Alban had not 
 totally periflied ; fmce this chapel, called afterward St. German's 
 chapel, would tend in fome degree to preferve a remembrance of him. 
 And the name of his mailer and inftructor, Amphibalus, had been 
 held in fuch high eflimation, that the founders of the epifcopal and mo- 
 nadic church at Winchefter, viz. Conflans theBifhop, and Deodatus the 
 Abbot, had dedicated the fame to the honour and memory of Amphi- 
 balus in 309: yet, as the following ages of the Chriflian Church ex- 
 perienced woeful changes, and overthrows, and defolations ; it is 
 likely that the memory of Alban (a) lived only in OfFa's time, in the 
 report and tradition of old people. 
 
 (a) At Cainbodunum, in Yorkfliire, Paulinus had dedicated a church to Alban. 
 
 E Th« 
 
( M ) 
 
 The difcovery of the martyr's body, and the folemnity that followed, 
 is faid by M. Paris to have been accompanied with numberlefs mi- 
 racles ; fuch, he defcribes, ns were once performed by the Saviour of 
 the World. And the hiftorian fpeaks in a way that (hews he 
 thought the fimple age of OfFa to have been as credulous and as full of 
 craft as that of himlelf 500 years after : for he fpeaks of miracles 
 as if they were the common occurrences of every day ; and not as the 
 extraordinary operations of the Almighty, wrought on great occalion&, 
 and for great purpofes. 
 
 The king thought proper to call together his nobles, prelates, and. 
 chief perfonages, to take counfel on the further execution of his pious 
 defign. And it was then determined, that the King mould in perfotv 
 go to Rome, to lolicit leave of the Pope, and procure the defired 
 privileges to his foundation. The king proceeded ; and went in full 
 intention to make his endowment as far tranfcend all other monafteries- 
 as St. Alban had furpafled all other martyrs. The Pope, with great 
 commendations of the king's zeal and piety, grants all his requefts - r 
 and Offa, in return, granted, for the ufe of the Englilh fchool at Home, 
 that Peter-pence, or one pennv per family, fhould be collected through- 
 out his dominions. And having made confeflion to the Pope of all 
 his crimes, and received a conditional abiolution, he departed with a 
 devout benediction. 
 
 And, indeed, whatever invectives may be thrown out againft the 
 Church of Rome, and the incroachments of its pontiffs, it muft be 
 confeffed to have been a benefit to mankind in general, that there was 
 a power on earth that could controul the power of kings, and reft rain 
 their frequent enormities. And it might be faid, in apology for 
 Popery, that, however falfe may be fome of its doctrines, and incon- 
 fiftent with the revealed word of God ; yet that they were contrived 
 and calculated, efpecially thofe that relate to futurity, to terrify and 
 reclaim the great and mighty of this world. They argue that this 
 rank of men were in thole times profligate and violent, and above all 
 human laws ; and feem to evince, that as mankind in general ftood in 
 need of miracles to alarm and awaken their attention, fo did the high 
 and mighty need the terrors of Hell, rather than the perluafive voice 
 of realon or religion, to reftrain their impieties. And, amongft thole 
 men, who were the fole pofleffors of all learning and ingenuity, and 
 whofe duty it was to rule others by inftruclion and counfel, it cannot 
 be wondered, that they Ihould borrow aid and help from every cir- 
 cumftance that feemed to favour their plan. 
 
 The 
 
( ) 
 
 The king, on his return, alTembled the nobles and prelates at Ve- ' 
 rulam ; and took further fteps towards accomplishing his defign : re- « 
 folving to beftow on Alban very ample pofTeffions ; in confideration 
 that it was a work intended for alms and hofpitality, and that the 
 iituation being on the great road called Watling-ftreet, it would be 
 reforted to by many paffengers, both going from the north and from 
 London ; and deeming it an act of piety to relieve and accommodate 
 all travellers. Having made a felection of perfons out of other religious 
 houfes, and efpecially from that of Bee in Normandy, proper for 
 monks, he placed over them as abbot and luperior, one IVUlegod ; a 
 man who had been prefeut at the finding of the body, and had been 
 witnefs of the miraculous flame ; and who had devoted himfelf to a 
 religious life : he was alfo related to the king, and born of a noble 
 family, Having made choice alfo of a proper place, he began the 
 building; in great folemnity laying with his own hand the firft fame, 
 and recommending, in the moft devout prayer, the protection of this 
 houfe 'to thee, O Jefus ! and to thee, O Martyr Alban! and to thee, 
 1 O Willegod ! with maledictions on all who mould difturb it, and eter- 
 * nal bleffings on thofe who mould be its benefactors/ He proceeded 
 in the work, fu miming Willegod with money, and making him the 
 director and ruler; yet he continued to live here the reft of his life, 
 and conducted the building at his own expence, performing the part 
 of lurveyor and guardian of the whole ; faving only, that he procured 
 leave to ufe and apply Toward this work all the Peter-pence due and 
 collected in the then province of Hertford. 
 
 Let us now take a view of Verulam down to the period wc 
 treat of. During the time of the Britons, Verulam, like all 
 their other towns, was a naked defencelefs place, without any 
 works for its protection befide the woods and the great pool, 
 the head of which, or the bank which was railed acrols the val- 
 ley in order to flop the waters, was the only work now vifibleof Britifil 
 induftry or lkill. And as they dwelt together in towns only during 
 the winter, this was reduced almolt to a defert in the fummer months. 
 When the Romans became fettled here, and had recovered, under 
 Suetonius, Paulinus, or Agricola, they incloied this place with walls, 
 and built gates, and laid out the ground plot in regular ftreets ; and, 
 by the remains of thofe walls which are Oil I vifible, the work is ma- 
 nireftly Roman, and constructed in that fort or famion, which their 
 writers defcribe by the Ifodrome, that is, in equal or even courfes, to 
 diltinguim it from the more rude and baity works, where courfes were 
 not oblerved. And the materials, being the Roman tile made on the 
 
 E 2 lpot, 
 
( ) 
 
 WiI ^ gr b t J )0 t t he fpot, 'and the flints all faced and laid with great art and (kill, and 
 i " ¥ the nature of the cement, being made of quick lime and (harp gravel 
 or very coarfe land, is a lure argument that the builders were no other 
 than the Romans, who conftructed works of this fort in other places. 
 
 The town was probably built throughout of the fame materials, 
 and was bounded on the eaft and weft, and thefe extremities joined on 
 the fouth, by a ftrong wall and a deep ditch; and on the north the 
 boundary and defence was the great lake. The compafs of land in- 
 cluded could not be lefs than 100 acres. And the great lake or pool 
 occupied at leaft 20 more. The entrance on the fouth-eaft was at a 
 corner of the city, but was fecured with a double ditch and rampart, 
 and probably two gates. The place of the ftreets is very uncertain 
 at this day, except that the way from St. Michael's bridge, to the ruins 
 on the fouth-fide, was a main ftreet ; and but a few years mice the 
 foundations of that fouth gate were dug up. Another ftreet paffed along 
 the whole length of the city r from the fouth-eaft corner to the fite 
 where now {lands the church, and thence to Gorham-block. For the 
 ancient and moft frequented road from this new town (when it rofe up) 
 to Redburne, was on the north fide of the river. 
 
 Verulam was, no doubt, a handfome and convenient town, fo long- 
 as the Romans bore fway in this country ; but when they quitted, 
 about 4,50, and withdrew their military force, the Romans who re- 
 mained, though very numerous, were not able, becaufe untaught, to 
 defend the country from the Pi£ls and Scots, and then from the invad- 
 ing Saxons. And it is highly probable that the Scots and Picls, if 
 they came fo far into England, or fome of the Saxons, gave an utter 
 overthrow to this city j for, being allured by the hopes of plunder, they 
 would not overlook a large and well-frequented city. No memorials 
 of ftich an event do remain ; but, if Brumpton's account be true, that 
 Uter Pendragon had a great battle with the Saxons at this place, it 
 may well be conjectured, that, whatever was the event of that day, 
 they who conquered in other places, and finally fubdued all their Bri- 
 tifti adverfaries, did fucceed here alfo, and vanquim, fpoil, and lay 
 wafte this city : and in this conflict the inhabitants were either maf- 
 facred, or with other Britons- tied into Wales. And this muft have 
 happened between 450 and 700 after Chrift (a\ 
 
 And here it will not be amifs to note the extent of OfFa's domi- 
 nions, and the ftate of epifcopacy therein at this time. He reigned 
 then over as many provinces, as made afterwards (when Alfred divided 
 the kingdom) twenty three mires ; viz. that of Hereford, where the 
 
 (a) See Matt. Weflminfter, p. 138. 
 
 bimop 
 
bifnop herd his fee and place of refidence ; thofe of Worcefler andWiflgg^* 
 GlocefteV, the bifhop of which had his fee in Worccfter; the provinces , tU " 0t ', 
 of Warwick, Chefter, Stafford, Salop, and Derby, the bifhop of 
 which had his fee at Lichfield; the province of Lincoln, whofe bifhop 
 had his fee at Lindefey; the provinces of Northampton, Oxford, 
 Buckingham, Bedford, Huntingdon, Cambridge, and the Weftern 
 half of Hertfordflure, the bifhop of which had his fee at Dorchefter ; 
 over the province of EffeX and Middlefex, and the other half of Herr- 
 fordfttire, the bifhop of which had his iee in London ; alfe in Norfolk 
 and Suffolk, whofe bifhops were, one at Helmham, and the other at 
 Dunwich : he reigned alfo over Nottingham, which was fubject t0 
 the archbimop of York; and over Leicelter, whofe bifhop had his fee 
 in that city. Mod of which bimopricks, it is probable, had been in- 
 flituted by Theodore, the learned archbifhop, who came to Canterbury 
 in 668, and who had bred up Becle, John of Beverley, Alcuin, and 
 Tobias Bimop of Rochefter. 
 
 When OfFa, of immortal memory, had nearly compleated all the 
 offices and neceffary buildings, which within the 4th year he had ef- 
 fected, and having placed therein about 100 monks of the regular 
 orders, he retired to his palace at Offley, and there clofed the fcene of 
 his life. His body was carried to Bedford, and depofited in a royal 
 manner in fome chapel without the town, on the banks of the Ouie. 
 But in the time of M. Paris there were no remains of monument, fe- 
 pulchre, or chapel ; and the tradition was, the violence of the floods 
 had warned all away. No care had ever been taken by the monks or 
 abbot to preferve the remains of io great a king, and fo liberal a be- 
 nefactor. And pofterity have been left to bemoan the fate of royal re- 
 mains ; to charge the monks with great ingratitude, neglect, and folly ; 
 and to blame his family and relations for not giving him more hon- 
 ourable interment,, and for paying no fuitable regard to his piety and 
 zeal. 
 
 The endowment made by OfFa was his manor and palace of Window, 
 about twenty miles diitant from the monaftery, and as many miles 
 in circumference ; faith my author, as the ' writings of the king now 
 ' preferved in this church can teftify:' and for which eftate he had pro- 
 cured this privilege, that while all other lands and families were fubjeel 
 to the tax of Peter-pence, this alone was ever exempt. 
 
 At the death of OfFa, which happened in 794, Willegod was in 
 com pleat poffeflion of his new government and dignity, and had 
 eftablifhed the rule of his houfe. The monks had been elected out of 
 leveral other houfes ; and were now under the vow and obligation of. 
 
 5 St,. 
 
( 3° ) 
 
 *^blot ,,e * d Benedict's order ; which had been the order introduced by Auftin, 
 * " .* » and was that which Benedict himfelf had eftablifhed at Caffinam. The 
 vow of the order was this : to live in the obfervance of the mod rigid 
 chaftity, to have no poflefhons of their own, and to pay obedience to 
 their luperior or abbot. And their drefs was a long black tunic or clofe 
 gown, reaching to their heels, loofe and ungirded ; beneath they wore 
 a white clofe waiftcoat of woollen, and a hair fliirt ; for a covering of 
 the head, which was fhaved on the greateit part of the crown, fo as to 
 exhibit an outer circle of hair, there was a cowl hanging back on the 
 inouldeis; and their feet and legs covered with a boot. And in their 
 diet they were compelled to abftain from all flefh, except when they 
 began to grow lick. 
 
 Willegod ruled this abbey no longer than two months after the deatli 
 of Offahis beloved mafter ; for, though the fon of OrTa, named Egfrid, 
 lucceeded, and had given in the fun 1 year of his reign no lei's than five 
 manors to the abbey; yet he refufed the requeft of Willegod and the 
 monks, to have his father interred in this place of royal foundation : 
 and this dilappointmenf, and feeming ingratitude in the young mo- 
 narch, caufed fuch an affliction in Willegod as to haften his death. 
 
 If it be aikedwho this Alban was, to whole memory a royal and ampta 
 foundation fliould be erected, it isto be lamented that no account has been 
 left of him, more than that he was an eminent martyr for the Chriftian 
 faith in the perfecution fet on foot about 303, and called the Diocle- 
 tian perfecution, near 500 years before OrTa founded the monaltery. 
 His name imports him to have been a Roman ; but we know not 
 whether a man in high military command, or a great civil ruler, or 
 in what rank of life he fuftained fo high a character of piety, &c. But 
 as he was a Roman, and was put to death by Imperial authority 
 from Rome, it may be doubted whether his adherence to the Chriftian 
 faith was the only crime laid to his charge ; and whether there might 
 not be lbme civil offence urged againft him (a); though certainly hispiety 
 only was the virtue which excited the veneration of Germanus, and 
 afterwards of OrTa. * This perfecution,' lays Eulebius (b), * raged for 
 
 * ten years with mercilefs fury throughout Britain ; and many other 
 
 * illunrious perfons fell in teftimony of the faith; inch as Aaron of 
 
 * Exeter, and others, named by the above author (c). 
 
 The fecond abbot was Raciric^ chofen out of the body of monks, as 
 OrTa had ftrietly charged in the rules he had given ; and a relation of 
 the royal family. 
 
 (a) For fhelterirtg and protecting the periecuted, fays Giljjs. (b) Eccl. Hift. 8. 13. 
 
 >c.) See Lafaatiu', 1 nil it. Oiv. 5. 13. 
 
 The 
 
 7 
 
( 3i ) 
 
 The third abbot was Vulfig, or Ulfin, related alfo to the royal family Vu a ! J^J he ^ 
 of Offa ; though Alfred was now the general monarch, not of Mercia, . 
 but of all England. This abbot departed far from the ftrict fobriety 
 of his rank and office ; and, though chofen out of the body, foon be- 
 came highly elevated with worldly pride ; for he changed not only the 
 form and fhape, but the colour alfo of his garments ; ufed veftments 
 of filk, and walked with along train. Inftead of ferious ftudy at home, 
 he purlued the fports of the field, and went out a hunting; grew dainty 
 in his meat and drink, and courted the favour of the great and power- 
 s' ful more than the filent favour of God. Another great enormity he 
 practifed, which was to invite crowds of noble ladies to his table ; and 
 thereby he injured not only his own fame, but the fobriety alfo of 
 his brethren. He alienated and wafted the fubftance of their treafury, 
 and difpofed of the choice veiTels which OfFa had left them, and the 
 rich clonks or palls, with the valuable collars and chains. And his 
 female relations he united in marriage to the nobles and great men ; 
 enriching them at the expence of the abbey. M. Paris fays, this carnal 
 abbot, having fatiated himfelf with the fat of the public wealth, ex- 
 cited not only the vengeance of God, but the hatred and curfe of the 
 whole convent. And, having died in a fit of intemperate drinking, the 
 grave men of the abbey role in arms againft thofe who- had acquired 
 their riches, and obtained a reftitution of a great part ; and left the 
 poflefl'ors in indigence and mifery. 
 
 The fourth abbot was VuJnotb. He ft rove with great diligence for three Vulhoth the 
 or four years to correct the errorscf his predecenor ; but at length became . 4 ' h abbo 'l 
 n worfe man. A certain number of nuns, almoft approaching to fecu- 
 lar, who lived in Vullig's time too nigh the church, he removed further, 
 and fixed in 01 e dwelling ; fetting bounds to their walks; and limit- 
 ing the hours and place of their meals, their devotions, and fleep ; 
 and of their filence, which was intended for private prayer. Their buft- 
 nefs was to collect the alms, and attend the early morning prayer in 
 the great church. And, for the better prefervation of their health', they 
 were ordered to abftain from all diet of fltfh. 
 
 But, in procefs of time, thefe good beginnings of reform were polluted 
 with a moft (hameful end ; for he again altered the original fhape and 
 colour of the monkifh frock and the cowl, quitted the monaftic habit, 
 kept dogs and birds for the purpofes of hunting, and put on the man- 
 ners and drefs of a hunter. And by this licentious courfe he waited 
 the treaiuresof the church, and dilgraced the fame of religion. 
 
 This abbot, Vuhipth, having governed his church i 1 years, was 
 ftruck with a pally ; and turning this temporal punilhmcnt to a fpi ri- 
 tual 
 
( r- ) 
 
 ,'Edfnd the tual amendment, he gave proofs of a fineere repentance. Seeming to 
 t 5tn ^ abbot J himfelf as chaftized by the fcourge of Heaven, he changed his life to 
 fuch a degree of ianctity as to reform many others by his example, and 
 to finifh his life in felicity. 
 
 In the time of this abbot, and in the reign of Ethelftan, about 930, 
 the Danes were committing great excefs over all England : and a 
 party of them hearing the fame of Alban, the firft martyr of Britain, 
 they came to this abbey, broke open the tomb, feized his bones, and 
 carried fome of them orFinto their own country, and there depofited 
 them in a coftly fhrine, built for that purpofe in a houfe of the black 
 monks; hoping they would be worshipped and adored frith the like 
 veneration in Denmark as they had been in England. 
 
 The jifth abbot was JEdfrid. This man was defcended from fome 
 of the Saxon nobles ; and though relpectable far the elegance and de- 
 portment of his perfon, he was in his conduct and actions exceeding 
 vain and defpicable. On his election from being prior of the abbey to 
 the rank of abbot, he threw afide all the fevere behaviour of the cloif- 
 ter, and wafted the days of his life in ufelels eafe and idle feflivity. At- 
 tentive to the bufinefs of the treafury, he feldom appeared in the 
 cloifter, and never condefcended to fhevv himfelf in the choir. In the 
 defence of the church's pofleffions he was warm and earned ; ■ but in 
 new acquisitions very pufillanimous ; and was noted only for ob- 
 taining a cup, much to be admired for its workmanmip and the matter; 
 and dedicated the fame to St. Alban, for holding the wafer, which, when 
 confecrated, they called the Lord's Body. 
 
 In this abbot's time, which was in the reign of Edmund the good, 
 and by permiffion of the abbot, but without any affiftance from him, 
 a chapel was built in honour of St. German, by Ulpho the prior of 
 this abbey, and a man of admired fanctity. For it is to be underftood, 
 that Germanus, after he had raifed from the earth the bones of i\lban, 
 had made fome abode at this place, and had dwelt in a fmall habitation 
 behind the wall of Verula-m, and contiguous to the pool ; in which 
 place his buildings now lay in utter ruin, Icarcely exhibiting any marks 
 of their former mafter. Ulpho then conftructed this chapel on the fame 
 fpot to the memory of Germanus, and here lived a folitary life, culti- 
 vating a (mall garden, and living by the herbs and plants. And this 
 fame abbot, after the death of Ulpho, retired to the fame place, and 
 having laid down his paftoral care, and refigned his honour and dig- 
 nity, palled the reft of his days in a pious folitude. Some remains of 
 this chapel are to be ieen in Dr. Stukeley's View of Verulam ; but the 
 iame has been utterly demolifhed within the laft fixty vears. 
 
 The 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 The Jtxth abbot was XJlJinus. This man, being of a pious and or- u, J n h u J lbb pJ ,e 
 derly life, became confpicuous in all fpiritual and temporal concerns. j 
 By this time fomething of a village was gathered about the new church 
 and abbey ; and the abbot invited and encouraged the inhabitants of 
 the adjacent parts to build and fettle there ; and for that purpofe gave 
 them materials and money ; and moreover laid out and embellimed a 
 place for a market. He alfo conftrucled a church at each entrance 
 into this future town ; and dedicated that on the north to St. Peter, 
 that on the fouth to St. Stephen, and another on the weft to St. 
 Michael ; each of them at the confluence of the roads and ways ; and 
 intended not fo much for the ornament as for the utility of the village, 
 and the edification of the people. This was in the reign of Ed red, 
 and about 948. 
 
 This abbot teftified great regard to the memory of his predeceflbr, 
 and caufed his funeral obfequies to be folemnized with great fplendor. 
 The houfe alfo, in which he had lived and died, Ulfin treated with 
 great reverence ; infomuch that he often caufed mafs to be celebrated 
 there. And not far from it he caufed a chapel or oratory to be built 
 to the honour of the Holy Mary Magdalene. 
 
 He was fucceeded by ALlfric the 1 It of that name. This abbot pur- .£!fncthe7th 
 chafed, at the price of the cup abovementioned, from the King, pro- l abbot. ■ 
 bably Edgar, the great fifhpool ; for it was a fifhery belonging to the 
 king, whofe houie or palace was that now called Kingfbury : and this 
 pool, by reafon of its vicinity to the abbey, and the pride of the royal 
 fervants, had been hurtful and troublefome to the religious body. 
 yElfric, therefore, in order to prevent the like inconvenience, cut a 
 paflage through the head which banked up the waters, and, drain- 
 ing them off, turned it all into dry land ; preferving only a fmall pool 
 for the ufe of the abbey. And M. Paris, who wrote about 1240, fays, 
 1 to this day are to be feen the banks and mores of the great lake, ad- 
 * joining to the way which leads weftward, and is called fimpool ftreet. 
 ' The reft of the drained land was turned into gardens." 
 
 This w/Elfric was in great repute for his learning ; was the author 
 of a Saxon grammar ; and of many epiftles and fermons, fome books 
 of which are ftill extant in the libraries belonging to the cathedrals 
 of Worcefter and of Exeter. That at Exeter is written in Latin and in 
 Saxon ; the other wholly in Saxon, and feems a tranflation from the 
 Latin. And thefe epiftles and fermons were ufed by the bifliops in 
 their cathedrals. 
 
 iEifric had been bred up, as he fays himfelf, in the fchools of Ethel- 
 wold, the bifliop of Winchefter ; the fame who, in conjunction with 
 
 F Dunftan, 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 Ealdred theDunftan the Archbihhop of Canterbury, and Ofwald Bifhop of Wor- 
 L 8th * bbot ; cefter, expelled from all the cathedrals the married priefts, and en- 
 couraged monks to fupply their places. jElfric was abbot alfo of 
 Malmfbury in Edgar's time : and what is remarkable is this, that in 
 his epiftles, and in one of his fermons for Eafter Day, his doctrine 
 concerning the Eucharift is wholly fuch as the Reformers took up in 
 the Church of England under Elizabeth and Edward ; that is, againft 
 the bodily prefence and tranfubftantiation ; and perfectly the fame as 
 Berengarius taught in the time of William the Conqueror, and Pope 
 Gregory VII. called Hildebrand ; making the facraments a memorial 
 only, and to be taken fpiritually and typically. * Certainly,' he fays, 
 4 this houfel (hoft), which we do now hallow at God's altar, is a re- 
 4 membrance of Chrift's body, which he offered for us, and of his blood, 
 4 which he fried for us. Once fuffered Chrift by himfelf: yet his fuf- 
 4 fering is daily renewed at the mafs, through myftery of the holy 
 4 houfel.' And in his Epiftle to Wulfftan, Bifhop of Shirburn, are 
 thefe words, as may be feen in the original frill preferved in Exeter 
 cathedral : ii and yet that living bread is not fo bodily : not the felf 
 4 fame body that Chrift fuffered in ; nor is the holy wine the Saviour's 
 4 blood which was flied for us in bodily reality, but in ghoftly under- 
 4 Handing.' In the Latin copy of this epiftle at Worcefter, fent to. 
 Ofwald the bifhop, thofe words are erafed. 
 
 Alfric, or, as he is generally written, .^Elfric, tranflated alfo the 
 Bible, or many books of it, as may be learned from his tracts ; 
 which were printed by that great lover of antiquity William 
 L'l/Ie, Efq. of Wilburgham, in 1623. And fome books of the 
 faid Bible Tranflation were printed by Dr. Hlckes, at Oxford, in 1698. 
 Alfric was abbot in 950 ; and brother to Leofric, who was elected to 
 the archiepifcopal fee of Canterbury. 
 
 Alfric was fucceeded by Ealdred the eighth abbot : This man 
 was wholly intent on fearching the remains of the ancient city, in 
 digging out the old foundations and arches, and levelling the uneven 
 places ; with a view not only to clear that place of thieves and rob- 
 bers, who lived there in concealment ; but alfo to provide all kind of 
 materials for building ; having determined to pull down the prefent 
 fabrick, which had ferved for a church, and in due time build it quite 
 new. His workmen, in digging deep into the earth, were faid to find 
 planks of oak with nails, and fmeared over with pitch ; to have found 
 alfo very ancient anchors, marine (hells, and fhell fifh. And from 
 thefe difcoveries they gave names to places about the ancient pool, 
 
 as 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 as Oyfterhill, Shelford, Anchorpool, and Fiflipool. And this abbot Eadmer the 
 departed without any other deed worthy to be recorded of him. t 91 a 
 
 The next in fucceffion was Eadmer, a man of great piety ,^ gentle- 
 nefs, and learning. He was employed alfo in further providing, not 
 in wafting the materials defigned for the new church : and amafled a 
 vail: quantity of the Roman tile, ftone, and timber. His workmen, in 
 fearching the ruins of the old city, overturned the foundations of a large 
 palace, and found concealed in a wall a parcel of books and rolls : 
 one among the reft with an infcription and title that gliftened with 
 letters of gold. It was encompaffed or bound with boards of oak, and 
 filken bands ; which ftill preferved their ftrength and their beauty. 
 But, alas ! they found themfelves quite unable to read this book: and 
 though the curiofity of all perfons was great to be informed of its con- 
 tents, yet no perfon could be found able to read it; until, after a long 
 fearch, they found a poor decrepit old man, a prieft, who was verfed 
 in languages, and t who reported it to be written in the language that had 
 ufed to be fpoken by the ancient inhabitants of Werlamceaftre ; for lb 
 the Saxons called Verulam. Having committed the other books to the 
 flames, becaufe they treated of the idols and worihip of Heathens ; 
 this, which contained a hiftory of the life and fufferings of Alban, was 
 laid up, and ufed to be read in the monaftery with great devotion, fays 
 M. Paris, even to this day. Eadmer caufed it to be tranflated into 
 Latin, in order to make"the fubje£t more known and underftood ; and 
 as foon as the Latin tranQation was finifhed, the original in the Bri- 
 tifh tongue fell to duft and afties. 
 
 Now, this ftory hath fo much the air of a monkifli impofture, and 
 of that affected reverence which they would draw to their founders, 
 that I have written it at length, as a juft fpecimen of that art which 
 monks ufed, to fanctify falfehood or novelty; and often downright fraud 
 and deception. For it is probable that JEAtnc the 2d compofed this 
 little hiftory in Latin ; becaufe in Bifhop Ofmund's Breviary, or Mafs 
 Book, there is an office compofed by vElfric, in honour of Alban. 
 
 Eadmer difcovered, among the ruins of Verulam, feveral (labs of 
 ftone, befide tiles and columns, and other materials proper for build- 
 ing. They dug up fundry veflels of earth and of glafs, ufed formerly 
 as pitchers and cups : they found veffels of glafs containing the afhes 
 of the dead : temples alfo half ruined were difcovered, with altars and 
 idols, and divers forts of coins and money formerly in ufe. All of 
 which this pious abbot, having more zeal than love of anti- 
 quity, caufed to be ftamped to duft and deftroyed. Fie was fuc- 
 ccedcd by 
 
 F 2 Leofric 
 
( 3« ) 
 
 Leofmc the Leofric the tenth abbot. This man was Ton of the Earl of Kent, 
 , loth abbot , ' and of great perfonal beauty; but ftill more excellent for his faith and 
 his morals. His merits and fame were fo great and confpicuous, that 
 he was defied by the monks of Canterbury to be the archbifhop and 
 head of the church. But he confented nor, and refufed this dignity; 
 alledging his brother JEXii'xc, whom he had perfuaded to write the 
 ihort hiitory of St. Alban, to be more worthy of it. A great famine 
 prevailed in his time over all parts of England ; and, to alleviate the 
 diftrefles of the poor during this exigence, he fpent all the treafure 
 which had been collecting for the future building. And, to raife 
 more money for this charitable purpofe, he fold the materials which 
 had been gathered, with all the columns or pillars, and ftone pave- 
 ments preferved out of the old city ; and alfo difpofed of all the gold 
 and filver vefiels ; as well thofe that had been defined to the 
 ufe and ornament of his table, as for that of the church fervice: referv- 
 ing only certain precious (tones, for which he could find no purchafer, 
 and feveral curious engraved ftones, called even at that day Cameo's. 
 All which were intended for the embellifhment of the fhrine, when the 
 new church fliould be built. 
 
 In excufe for this wafte, or, as fome called it, extravagance, he 
 faid, * that the faithful in Chrift, efpecially if they were poor, con- 
 ' frituted the church and temple of God ; and was indeed that real 
 ' and true church, which it was his duty to build up and pre- 
 4 ferve. And that it was the beft inftance of pure and unde- 
 
 * filed religion to vifit the fatherlefs and the widows in their af- 
 ' friction.' However, this liberality caufed great diiTentions in the 
 monaftery, which were at length compofed and moderated, not 
 fo much by the intreaties of this charitable man, as by the fears 
 of the civil power. For the abbot being of high defcent, and 
 related to many of the nobles, found himlelf well fupported in his 
 eontefts concerning the property and rights of his abbey : and his 
 notions of high birth were fuch, that he never would admit into the 
 profeffion of a monk any perfon, unlefs of famous defcent, or at leaft 
 legitimate : faying, * that the ignoble and the illegitimate, efpecially if 
 
 * without any fame, or given to change, were ever prone to all enor- 
 
 * mities.' This man at length confented to be exalted to the fee of 
 Canterbury, and, in Godwin's catalogue, is mentioned by the name of 
 Alaricius by the Latin authors, and died in 1006, in the reign of 
 Ethelred, having fat there 13 years. 
 
 He was fucceeded in the abbacy by his own brother JElfric, the 2d 
 of that name \ who pofleffed the fame geruerofity, and the like accom- 
 
 plifhments 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 pKfliments both of body and mind ; and was elegantly (killed in facred Elftictfcemh 
 
 learninf. When he entered on his office of abbot, a brother of the L , 
 
 houfe, named Leofftan, paid him the following compliment, which 
 is a ipecimen of their learning, and of their mechanical poetry, rather 
 than of their ingenuity and real good taffe : 
 
 Fnc fuperes tu qui_ fuper es fucceffor honoris. 
 Degener es, fi degeneres a laude prioris. 
 
 Now this yElfrio, faith M. Paris expreffly, was the compofer of a 
 life of Alban, written whi'e he was Cbantor cf the abbey, and fet to 
 mufic ; and, by the authority of his brother the archbifhop, the lame 
 was publifhed in many parts of England, and a day appointed every 
 week, viz. Thurfday, for the celebration of the martyr. This man, 
 being of high birth and good education, was advanced, while a fecular, 
 to be chancellor to King Ethelred. And when in this high ftation he 
 purchafed of the king (and, when abbot, obtained a confirmation of 
 the faid deed from Ethelred) certain lands called King{bury; contain- 
 ing the royal manfion, together with the flews, warrens, and woods 
 belonging to the fame. Which manfion, becaufe it had often given 
 offence and trouble to the monaftery, Alfric caufed to be demolifhed, 
 and levelled with the ground ; except one fmall tower nearer to the 
 monaftery, which the King, at this time Canute, would not permit to 
 be thrown down ; in order that fome footfteps of royalty might ap- 
 pear; * and which endures,' fays M. Paris, ' to this day, and bears 
 * his name j' and probably is the old tower which (lands at this time 
 by the fide of the market, and is a fort of clockhoufe. 
 
 This abbot lived through the reigns of Canute, Harold, and Har- 
 dicanute ; and when King Edward, called afterward the ConfefTor, 
 fucceeded in 104.1. In this reign the Danes renewed their invafions, 
 and made dreadful havock in many parts where they marched, or 
 where they chofe to fettle and eftablifh themfelves. Alfric, therefore, 
 fearing their ravages and robberies, caufed the mod valuable; effects of 
 the monaftery, and, what was more efteemedthan all other goods, the 
 bones of St. Alban, and the fhrine enclofing the fame, to be concealed 
 in a fecret wall, viz. clofe under the altar of St. Nicholas ; with 
 the privity of fome few only of the brothers. But he fent an 
 open meflage to the abbot and monks of Ely, requefting, that, 
 as their place was well fecured by waters and marfhes from 
 the incurfions and dangers of robbers, they would be pleafcd 
 to receive into the convent of Ely the relicks of St. Alban ; 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 Leofftan^Ae an( J keep them fafe untill the fame mould be demanded, when peace 
 '' ' J and quiet mould be re-eftablimed. The monks of Ely confented ; and 
 /Llfric fent them the remains or relicksof fome ordinary monk, inclofed 
 in a very rich cheft. He fent alfo many ornaments of his church; and, 
 to give it a better appearance of truth, he added a very rough magged 
 old coat ; with an infmuation and caution that this was the very coat 
 that was ufually worn by Amphibalus (a) the mafter of Alban, 
 
 The Danes were difappointed in this projected invafion, by the lofs 
 of their king, who, in going on board, fell into the fea and was 
 drowned ; and in lefs than a year the alarm was over, and England 
 returned to peace and fecurity. The Albanians then demanded the 
 relicks: the Elyeians refufed ; and, fending back a faucy anfwer, de- 
 termined to keep them : the true owners pleaded the ianctity of the 
 engagement; and threatened to inform not only the king, but the Pope 
 alio, of their breach both of faith and of religion. The Elyeians then 
 began to entertain a fear ; and, difagreeing, a great fchilm happened 
 among them. The major part, however, thought the bones of Alban 
 to be valuable; and as much fo to them as to their old mafters; and 
 refblved to keep them. And, to fave appearances, they contrived to 
 open the bottom of the cheft, drew out the bones there contained, 
 and placed others of an ordinary fort in their room ; and thus fent 
 back the cheft and its facred contents. The Albanians depofited the 
 fame in a wooden cheft, which was over the altar of St. Ofwin(b), in 
 which, corporeal remains ufed to be referved : and in which very cheft 
 the martyr Alban had laid untill he was immured. 
 
 Alfric now drew the authentic relicks out of the wall, and placed 
 them with the fhrine in the midft of the church. Edward the Confef- 
 for being informed of this fraud committed by the monks of Ely, ex- 
 prefled great anger ; but left them in pofleffion of their imaginary 
 relicks. 
 
 Alfric was fucceeded by Leofftan, who had compofed the diftich above 
 recited. He had been a familiar friend with Edward the King ; con- 
 feflbr and counfellor to him and his Queen Editha, who was the 
 daughter of Earl Goodwin. The furname of this abbot was Plumftan : 
 and his chief attention was employed in rendering the ways leading to 
 this town fafe and commodious for merchants and travellers. The way 
 to London, called Watling Street and the Royal Way, as well as all 
 
 (a) See farther in the life of Symond the 19th abbot. 
 
 (b) See its place in the plate. Ofwin was in 644 a pious king of Northumberland, 
 and bafely murdered. But his piety raifed churches and altars to his memory in the 
 north ; and from thence his fame reached this place. 
 
 5 P arts 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 parts of the Chiltern, being covered with thick woods and groves, Leoffkn the 
 w T as become the refuge of divers forts of wild hearts, iuch as wolves, v 1 2 ' J " r ; 
 wild boars, flags, and wild bulls; and was alfo a harbour for thieves 
 and robbers, outlaws and fugitives; to the great annoyance and dangers 
 of all paffangers. On which Leofftan granted the manor of Flamffead 
 to a very valiant knight named Thurnot, and to his two fellow foldiers ; 
 for which Thurnot gave privately to the abbot five ounces of gold, a 
 very beantifull palfrey or nag, for his own riding, and a very choice 
 greyhound ; on condition that Thurnot mould guard and defend by 
 himfelf and his retinue all the faid highway, and all the weftern parts- 
 of the Chiltem (a), and that he mould be anfvverable for any lofles that 
 might happen therein by his neglect ; and in cafe any general war mould 
 arile in the kingdom, that thurnot mould ftrenuoufly guard and pro- 
 tect the church of St. Alban. 
 
 Thefe conditions were punctually complied with and fulfilled by 
 Thurnot and his companions, until the time of the Conqueror, when 
 that manor was taken from them becaufe they difdained being fubject 
 to the Normans. And frequent lkirmifhes happened between thefe 
 defenders and the invaders, and feveral houfes were burnt, and many 
 on both fides (lain ; when at length, the Normans gaining ftrength, 
 and their conqueft being eftablimed, the faid manor was given to a 
 follower of William, named Roger de Thoni, who wifhed to deprive 
 the monaftery of their right; but fulfilled with great diligence the 
 above fervice and engagement. 
 
 This abbot conferred fbrne ornaments on his church ; and left his 
 monaftery very affluent and abundant. But, as a great revolution is 
 foon to be experienced, it is proper to look back and (hew what ac- 
 quifitions the monks pofleffed, and from whofe benevolent and pious 
 endowments the fame had arifen. 
 
 Befide the palace, buildings, lands, and manor of Window, the 
 original gift of the founder ; his fon JEgfr'id, in the firft year of his 
 reign, 795, conferred on the abbey five manors, in a place called £ 
 Pynesfeld ; that is, the manor fo called, and fituate in Rickmanf- 
 worth, and other manors in the fame parifh. 
 
 In the reign of Edmund Ironfide, and Edward the Confeflor, 75Llfric 
 purchafed of the king, for 5 marks, an eftate called Oxonage and 
 Adulfinton : and for fifty pounds he bought Norton, Upton, and 
 Becces Wortham, in perpetual right and inheritance. At what time 
 they became poflefled of Flamftead I cannot find ; but the prefent 
 
 (a) The chalkey country near this town was fo called. 
 
 abbot, 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 L-otfbn the abbot, Leofftan, by means of his connection and in te reft at court with 
 l I2th abbat ; the king and queen, obtained Studham, Redburn, Langley, Grene- 
 bury, and Thwangton. The flrft was probably by grant or legacy 
 from one Ofwulph, and his wife Adilitha ; and the other four were 
 from Egehvin and his wife Winefled ; and probably by legacy; be- 
 caufe they were accompanied with other rents, gifts, and ornaments. 
 
 At the time when the great furvey was made and entered in the 
 book called Domefday fa) the poffeffions of the abbey in this county 
 there recorded are thefe following, where we may note what their 
 eftates were at this period, and in the time of Paul, the 14th abbot, 
 when the furvey was taken. 
 
 The land of St. Alban, in the hundred of Albaneston(d). 
 
 In Henamefted (Hempfted) were 20 hides; the abbot was rated for 
 fo much: two mills of 20s. each rent; pafture, or common for 
 cattle; wood for 1400 hogs : The whole value 22I. 10s. ; and in the 
 time of Edward the Confeftbr, 25 1. This manor lies in the lordfhip 
 of the church of St. Alban. 
 
 The abbot holds in Scenlai, (Shenley), and is taxed for 6 hides ; paf- 
 ture or common for cattle ; and wood for 400 hogs : the value in the 
 whole is 12I. and in time of Edward 61. This manor lies in the 
 lordfliip of the church of St. Alban. 
 
 The abbot holds Walden, and is affefTed for 10 hides. The land is 
 14carucat.es; in domain three hides, 2 mills of 15s. rent; meadow, 
 half a carucate ; pafture for cattle ; a grove or wood for hedges and 
 for houfes : the value 18I. 10s. and in time of Edward, 20I. 10s. 
 
 The abbot holds Sandridge for 10 hides. The land is 12 carucates. 
 In domain 3 hides; 1 mill of 10s. rent; pafture for cattle; a wood 
 for ^00 hogs : value 18I. 
 
 The town of St. Alban is afTeffed at 10 hides. The land is 16 caru- 
 cates ; in domain 3 hides. Here are 46 houfeholders. From the 
 toll and other rents, ill. 13s. is raifed ; 3 mills of 40s. rent: value 
 20I. a year; a wood for 1000 hogs. In this town are 12 cottagers; 
 1 inclofure (c), or park, for beafts of the foreft; and one fim-pool. The 
 faid houfeholders poflefs half an hide of land. 
 
 (a) Domefday book is a furvey of all the lands and poiTe (lions granted by the Conqueror, 
 and then held by his Norman chiefs ; and by no means a furvey of all the lands compre- 
 hended in his new kingdom. The firft cafe was necellary for William, in order to 
 enable him to eftablifh his knights fees., inftitute his feudal fyflem, and guard his 
 new acquifition. See Ingulphus. 
 
 (b) Hundreds were formed in the time of King Alfred. But how and when Hemp- 
 fted came into Dacorum is not known. 
 
 (c) Round Kingfbary. 
 
 In 
 
( 4i ) 
 
 Leoffl.in the 
 
 In Brodewater Hundred. «j*y>b»t. 
 
 Codicote and Oxewiche. Thefe two manors were feparate and 
 diftinct in the time of Edward ; but now make one, and contain 8 
 hides ; with pafture for cattle, and a wood for 200 hogs : the value 
 61. and in time of Edward 12I. a year. Here did Alwin hold of the 
 abbot 13 hides, not leparable from the church. 
 
 The abbot holds Norton, for 4 hides: 2 mills, of 1 6s. rent; 
 pafture ; and meadow * a carucate : value iy\. 
 
 In Efcepehale (Shephall) 3 hides; pafture; wood for 10 hogs: and 
 value 4I. a year. 
 
 In Danais Hundred. (Dacorum.) 
 
 In Langley the abbot holds 5 hides ; 2 mills of 20s. ; pafture and 
 wood for 300 hogs. 
 
 In Redbome, 7 hides and 1 virgate ; 2 mills of 26s. value : pafture 
 and wood for 300 hogs ; whole value 30I. a year. 
 
 The abbot holds Abfa (JMapftmry) for three hides ; and 1 mill of 
 1 os. rent; meadow, ~ a carucate ; pafture, and wood for 300 hogs: 
 value 3I. and in Edward's time 4I. 
 
 In Winrige, Goisfric de Bech held one hide and a half of the abbot ; 
 pafture, and wood for 300 hogs: worth 40s. and in Edward's time 50s. 
 
 InTiteberfth the fameGoisfric held of the abbot half a hide, value 6s. 
 
 In Redborne one Amelger held of the abbot 3 virgates and a half, 
 with wood for 200 hogs : and worth 30s. per annum. 
 
 The abbot holds in Richemareworde 5 hides. The land is 20 ca- 
 rucates ; 1 mill of 5 s.; pafture for cattle, and wood for 1200 hogs: 
 value 20I. 1 os. but when received 12I. 
 
 The abbot holds the manor of Caiflbu for 20 hides ; of thefe the ab- 
 bot poflefles 19. The land is 22 carucates ; 4 mills of 26s. Sd. rent ; 
 meadow 22 carucates ; pafture ; wood for 1000 hogs : value 28I. and 
 in time of Edward 30I. 
 
 In Eldeham (Aldenham) Goisfric holds of the abbot 1 hide, with 
 wood for 100 hogs ; now worth 12s. and in time of Edward 20s. 
 
 In Odesie Hundred. 
 
 The abbot holds Newham, for three hides and three virgates. Tlic 
 land is 8 carucates, value ol. and in Edward's time iol. 
 
 G In 
 
( 4* ) 
 
 Leofilan the 
 
 i2thabbot. J N THE HALF HUNDRED OF HlZ. 
 
 ' * ' 
 
 In Hegi^ftaneftone (Hexton)the abbot holds 8 hides and 3 virgates ; 
 2 mills of 7s. 4d. rent; meadow, i. a carucate ; pafture : value 1 yl. 
 
 In Bennington the abbot holds 1 hide. The land is 2 carucates ; 
 pafture and a grove for hedgewood : value 50s. 
 
 Belide the above poffeffions, recorded in Doomfday book, the abbey 
 held the following eftates : yEthelgive gave by will Gatefden and ;o 
 oxen. Wulph gave Eftun, or Eafton, and Oxawic, or Oxeys. King 
 Ethelred, in the time of Leofric the abbot, had given 6 houfes in Flam- 
 ftead and Verulam. Egfrid, the Ion of Ofta, had given, befide Pyne- 
 feld, land in Therfield (Turville in Bucks), (terrain decern manenJium) r K z). 
 
 But after all we are quite at a lofs in any enquiry about the real yearly 
 value of thefe eftates: the body muft probably have been always poor, or 
 flood in need cf a good revenue, from the conftant expence that attended 
 the bare maintenance of their houfe ; wherein at leaft ico perfons were 
 daily refident, fed, and cloathed ; befide the charge of travellers and 
 vifitors, and of the poor relieved at their gates. 
 Frederic the Leofftan died, and Frederic was elected in his place before the 
 1 3th abbot, d^th of King Edward : and he faw the mort and bloody reign of King 
 ' Harold. 
 
 The change wrought by the Norman Conqueft was not merely a 
 difpoflefling of perlons from their eftates and houfes, but it went alfo 
 to a perfect alteration of manners and cuftoms ; for, the conquerors 
 not only employed the utmoft derilion on the nobles and gentry, but 
 compelled them and others to practife a more polifhed mode of drefs(b) 
 and civility ; which was confidered as fo mocking an infult, and fo 
 wanton a mark of foreign dominion, that many of them quitted their 
 houfes and fought melter in the woods ; where, with, their families, 
 they would conftruct a kind of houfe, and endeavour to fubfifr. And 
 it grew to be cuflomary with this unfortunate race, whether remain- 
 ing at home or feeking fhelter in the woods, to barricade their doors 
 every night, and at the fame time invoke the protection of the Al- 
 mighty in prayer, as uncertain of ever feeing the next day : " A prac- 
 44 tice this" lays M. Pan's, " which continues even to this day (1 252) 
 44 though the clangers are pad." The conquerors introduced alfo num- 
 berlefs vices and immoralities before unknown to the Saxons. They 
 practifed rapine and perjury, as being fuppcrted therein by their fuperi- 
 
 (a) Mon. App. 27, 39^ (b) To Ihave their beards and trim the:/ hair. 
 
 ors ; 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 ors ; and they indulged themfelves in extreme, uncleannefs and de- Frederic the 
 banchery, in late hours nnd gaming, and in uttering moft dreadful ' h abb ° r « 
 oaths and imprecations with impunity : vices which were (hocking 
 from their novelty as much as from their atrocious nature. 
 
 This abbot (Frederic) perceiving the road to London, which was 
 by the Watling-llreet, to be much infefred with thieves and robbers, 
 who flieltered themielves in the thick woods adjoining, demifcd the 
 manor of Aldenham to the abbot of Weftminfter for a term of 20 years; 
 he engaging to defend and guard the road, and protect all travellers ; 
 paying the yearly rent of one hundred (hillings, and four fat oxen. 
 This abbot of Weftminfter was Theobald, who in right of that abbey 
 had in pofiefiion the adjacent manor of Titburft and Kendals. But being 
 a familiar friend of the Conqueror, and having good interefr. in the Court, 
 he not only did not fulfil his engagement, but thirfted after more ; 
 and delired to be polfeffed of a fine wood or grove not far diftant from 
 Aldenham, called, for its beauty and pleafantnefs, Prudeitti (a); alleging 
 that the fame was within the manor, and ought to be confidered as part 
 thereof: at the end of the 20 years, he refufed to give up the manor, 
 pretending loffes and injuries from being denied in his claim to that 
 wood; and, being lupported by his Norman friends, kept pofTefTion, 
 and gave all poffible trouble and vexation to the abbot and monks of 
 St. Alban. 
 
 Frederic died about 10 years after his election, which was in 1066; 
 but he began to rule the abbey and tranfact the bufinefs relating 
 to it, two years before, though not folemnly inftalled and inverted with 
 all the rights of abbot until the end of Edward's reign, in the beginning 
 of 1066. Ke was one of thofe Englifhmen who could not fubmit to a 
 foreign mafter, even had he ruled with juftice, or with humanity : 
 for, the new king had come in by that right which lubfifrs only among 
 men of the fword, but is no right amongfr. patriots, and men of civil 
 prudence. William had from the beginning ruled with fuch feverity, 
 and tyrannical authority, as to alienate the minds of all his new fub- 
 je&s : and he found it neceflary to hold that fword always drawn, 
 which had gained him the pofleflion at firft. His adminiitration, 
 though fworn to obferve the laws and cuftoms of the realm, was con- 
 ducted in many refpects quite oppofite, and in others with much po- 
 litical craft and feverity. For, in order to feparate the Englifh nobles 
 when he feared a confederacy, he would rob one of his eilate in Eng- 
 
 (a) From the Britifh word PrucMau, mournful, penfive, decent, comely. Perhaps 
 the wood now called Bury Grove, of fir-trees, and fituatc weft of the church. 
 
 G 2 land, 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 Frederic theland, and give him another in Normandy; and unite the Normans, 
 13th abbo t. f uc fo aG were ; n military rank and fame but unprovided, to the rich 
 heirefles in England, and to the utter difherifon of her male kindred. 
 
 The difcontented and oppreffed nobles began to unite for a public de- 
 fence : thole of the north put themfelves under the advice and con- 
 duct of Alfred the archbifhop of York ; and thofe of the fouth con- 
 fidered the abbot of St. Albans at the head of their confederacy : 
 they had alfo with them the bifhop of Worcefter, named Walftan, 
 and Walter bifhop of Hereford, and many other of the nobles : and 
 their plan was to bring their new king to better terms if poffible, or 
 to take arms and fet on the throne Edgar Etheling, who in thofe 
 days was called Engelondes Dereling ; and was in truth the right 
 and lawful heir to the crown, being defcended from the Saxon family 
 that had laft fat on the throne : he had fled into Hungary, and was 
 now returned to this country. 
 
 The king, perceiving the difcontent to become formidable, caufed 
 Stigand, the archbiuhop of Canterbury, to be thrown into prifon ^where 
 he confined him for four years, until he died), under a charge that 
 Stigand had ufurped the archi-eprfcopal chair ; which, though true, 
 might be a juft caufe for trial, &c. but not for perp- tual imprifon- 
 ment. The king fent for Lanfranc, who was abbot of Caen in 
 Normandy, and placed him in Stigand's room at Canterbury, and 
 made him his privy couniellor and chief minifter during the reft of 
 his reign. And here I muft note, that, when La n franc went to Rome 
 for his pall and inveftiture, and came afterward into England, he had 
 in his train a near relation and brother monk of Caen, named Paul, 
 whom we (hall lee advanced to the place of abbot of St. Albans. 
 
 But this confederation had fuch an effect on William, that, by the 
 advice of Lan franc, he fubmitted to the terms required by the nobles 
 and bifhops, and confented to meet them at Berkhampfiude ; where, 
 in the prefence of Lanfranc, he fvvore upon all the reliquesof the church 
 of St. Alban, and Frederic admtniftered to him an oath, ' that he would 
 
 * keep and obferve inviolably all the ancient laws of the realm, which 
 
 * his pious predeceflbrs, and efpecially the holy Edward, had eftablimed.' 
 Yet was his government fo opprefhve that no truft could be put in 
 him ; and Edrar thought fit to flv into Scotland, and other nobles into 
 Den mat k and Norway : Walter, the bifhop of Hereford, lay concealed 
 in Wales : and Frederic took refuge in Ely with the abbot and monks 
 of that place, where he foon after died, of mortification and grief. 
 
 The king kept the abbacy vacant near the fpace of one year, com- 
 mitting great milchief and devaluation on the manors, eftates, and 
 2 tenants 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 tenants of the fame : and, had not Lanfranc retrained him, he would ^abbot.* 4 ' 
 
 have deftroyed the monaftery itielf, beyond all poffibility of recovery. ' * — ' 
 
 In the year 1077, Lanfranc procured of the king this preferment 
 for Paul his kinfman, and, as fome conje&ured, his Ion. And Paul 
 was the firft abbot of this church after England had been fubdued to 
 the Norman Yoke. 
 
 This abbot within the firft eleven years of his government rebuilt 
 the church, and all the adjacent buildings of the monaftery, except the 
 bakehoufe and millhoufe : and in thele immenfe charges of building he 
 was much affifted by Lanfranc, who gave him for that purpole 1 oco 
 marks, of 13s.4d.each. Butwhenitis laid by my author, M. Par is, thathe 
 rebuilt the church, thismuftbe understood only of lb much of the pre- 
 fent building as comprehends the choir or body, the tower or fteeple, 
 and the enft end called the faints' chapel, where ftood afterward the 
 fhrine of Alban ; with the rranlept north and fouth, and part of the 
 nave, as far only as the fcreen. All this is of one uniform ftyle, and 
 in the plaineft and rudcft form of the Gothic ; being much inferior 
 in beauty to many buildings which had been erected fome years 
 earlier. 
 
 This conftruSion is faid to be intirely built of brick, that is, of the 
 Roman tile; which feems to intimate that the former church had been 
 built of ftone which having been taken out of the ruins of Verulam, 
 and being originally brought from the Totternhoe quarries, was found 
 by Paul to be utterly decayed ; which decay might have happened not 
 only from old age and length of rime, from the days oi Offa to Abbot 
 Paul's ; but moll probably from its being laid and fixed in the new 
 work by Willegod, in an unfkilful manner ; that is, in lome way 
 different from its natural pofition in the quarry. And one principal 
 caufe of the plain and rude llyle of Paul's building was this, that his 
 materials, namely, the Roman tile, would not admit of fo many fliapes 
 and forms, and elegant curve lines, ab ftone would ; being loo hard to 
 be cut, but yet extremely proper where nothing was aimed at, or 
 thought requifite, but mere ftrength and (olidity. And, if we reflect 
 on this circumftance, w< (hall lee a reafon why the arches are femicir- 
 cular, with a coarfe pillar between two; why the inner fur face of the 
 walls would not admit of even courfes ; and why the edges of the great 
 arches under the tower are all void of the leaft degree of embellifliment, 
 or even variation. 
 
 And that the rudenefs of this work is intirely owing to the 
 rude and untraceable nature of the materials, which ate wholly of the 
 Roman tile, without any ftone, even in thufe parts where ftone only 
 
 ought 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 Paul the 14th ought to have been ufed, feems highly probable from there being 
 1 " ' ' j at this time no want of good artifts and Ikilful builders ; fince 
 it is manitelt, that, at the very time when Paul was build- 
 ing here, at York the new archbimop, Thomas, (brought from Nor- 
 mandy) was conftructing that moft exqurfite and perfect of all 
 Norman edifices, the prefent cathedral. Thomas came to York in 
 1070, and died in 1101, and in that fpace re-edified not only the 
 church, which is the moft admired pattern of this kind and order of 
 building in the kingdom, but he alfo rebuilt a great part of the city, 
 after the Danes had burnt the whole a few years before, This 
 cathedral church is 161*- yards in length, and 35^ in breadth, and 
 probably the largeft in England ; but, befide its magnitude, it is 
 a fpecimen of the moft beautiful in this ftyle ; and mews that the 
 art and thetafte of the a;tift did not improve in later ages ; but endea- 
 voured to excel by new ornaments and more profufe decorations only (a). 
 
 And Paul would have built in a better ftyle, had he not confined 
 himfelf to fuch improper materials. And we fee how the work did 
 improve, when the Roman tile was all ufed, and recourfe was had 
 to ftone: for, from the fcreen before mentioned to the great weft door 
 was built in the later years of Paul, or the beginning of Richard's 
 time, by different undertakers and companies of builders ; and the 
 whole was complete when dedicated in 1 1 1 5 . 
 
 Paul was moreover a very prudent and religious man, and by de- 
 grees worked fuch a reform in the conduct and behaviour of the 
 body under his care, by virtue of the rules and ftatutes which he had 
 received from Lanfranc(b), and which had been approved by the pope, 
 that the monaftery of St. Alban was called the fchool of religion : and 
 this good fame drew towards him the inclination and affections of 
 many of the bifhops and principal perfons of the land. By his zeal 
 and prudence he obtained a reftitution of Eiwood (which was a very 
 
 (a) Lincoln cathedral was built in the time of Henry II. by Bimop Hugh, who 
 came out of Burgundy. 
 
 (b) The Norman Conqueft had caufed many innovations in the civil and ecclefiaftic 
 affairs of the kingdom ; but in nothing more than in encouraging learning, and im- 
 proving all places of religious difcipline. William introduced many very learned and 
 religious men, and among them this Lanfranc, who had been born of honourable 
 parents at Pavia, bred up in that famous univerfity, was admitted a monk of St. Bee in 
 Normandy, and chofen by Duke William to go to the pope twice as his ambaffador, 
 was made his privy counfellor, and at his appointment to the lee of Canterbury was 
 ni:ide the king's prime miniiler and regent in his abfence. His works ft ill extant fhew 
 him to be a man of great learning and found judgement: and the ftatutes of reform, 
 which he either made or colle&ed from others, lhew him to be zealous for the monaf- 
 tic iaftitutions. 
 
 pleafant 
 
( 47 ; 
 
 pleafant wood, fituate between the prefent ruins of Sopwell and St. 1 
 Julian) and of three farms called Tiwa, (Tewin) Apfa, (or Napfbury), 
 and Wycumb ; all which, in the time of King Edward, had been of 
 ancient right potTefled by this church ; but afterwards, in times of 
 trouble and diftrefs, being granted as a pledge for money borrowed, 
 they were retained, and in a manner alienated ; but the ufurpers, Odo 
 Bilhop of Bayeux, and Remigius Bifhop of Lincoln, were now in- 
 duced by the intreaties of Paul, and the influence of a little money, 
 and through a dreadful fear of the martyr (lays M. Paris), to re- 
 fbore them to the Church : and JefFry de Anefi became tenant of the 
 Vill of Wycumb under i\bbot Paul. He recovered alfo the village 
 and manor of Redburn, and that of Childwic, which had both been 
 nnjuftly withheld from the church : and this withholding was very 
 common with tenants, who thought they could by fraud or force de- 
 fend their ufurpations and new claims. 
 
 In Paul's time manv new benefactions were made to this church ; 
 viz. two hides of land in Shephal ; three yard-lands in Potton ; and 
 one carucate at Leting ; fome land at Talinton ; three manfions, or 
 tenements with gardens, at Glaifton in Rutland ; in Cambridge the 
 church of St. Bennet, and that of All Saints ; and in London many 
 more churches, one of which the abbot exchanged with the abbot of 
 Weftminfter for one that had been the chapel (a) of Offa the founder 
 and was contiguous to his palace (b): but this latter by neglect and ruin 
 was funk into a fmall tenement. Belide thele, there was given one 
 church in Stamford, and eleven acres of land without the town ; the 
 church alio of Glaillon, with the tithes thereof, which were afterward 
 aliigned by this abbey for the maintenance of a cell at St. Mary's at 
 Belvoir. There were given alfo the tithes of Cundell, Ringtou, Royns, 
 Bretham, Herlay, Thamesford, and Clifton ; alfo part of the tithes 
 of Efendoh, and Bayford, and Hertingfordbury ; the church alio of 
 the Holy Trinity at Wallingford, and half a hide of land without that 
 town : unto which church he lent lome monks to form a cell, and 
 live under rules prefcribed by this church. 
 
 At this time alfo, Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland, 
 caufed certain monks of this church to dwell in the church of St. 
 Mary, at Tinmouth, where had been interred the body of Ofwin, King 
 of Northumberland, and Martyr, and there to conflitutea cell, fubor- 
 dinate to this church. The cell at Belvoir was founded and confhucled 
 by Robert de Totheni. Another cell was founded at Hertford by 
 
 (a) Now St. Alban's, Wocd-fticct. 
 
 (b) This had likewife been the Palace of Athelftant the Saxon King, and thence comes 
 the name of Adtly or, as it is now written, y^/fc-ftreet. 
 
 * Robert 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 * Robert de Limifi(a), and an ancient celt at Binham was conferred on 
 /this church. 
 
 But, among other things, one Robert, a very flout foldier, who lived 
 at Hatfield, and being one of the Norman leaders had received that 
 vill and manor in the diftribution, gave two tenths of the tithes of 
 his demefne ; afligning it for the purpofe of purchafing and providing 
 books for the monks : for, this Robert was a man of letters, and a 
 diligent hearer and lover of the Scriptures. The tithes of Redburn 
 were affigned to the fame purpofe. And the belt writers and copyifts 
 were fought for far and near for tranfcribing books ; and their diet fo pro- 
 vided for them, that they might never be taken off or hindered in this 
 employment. The abbot, in return for thefe favours, gave to Robert, 
 for the ufe of his chapel in his court or palace at Hatfield, two fuits of 
 pontific veftments (which in t.hofe days confifted of many garments, 
 and thofe highly enriched with gold and filver), one filver cup, a 
 mafs book, and other neceflaries. Having thus furnimed Robert's cha- 
 pel, a particular room in the abbey was fet apart for thefe copyifts, called 
 the Scriptorium : and by their means twenty-eight volumes of the 
 choicefr. books were procured, Lanfranc furnifhing the originals: befide 
 thefe, they prepared eight pfalteries, a collection of the collects, an- 
 other of the epillles, and a book containing the chapters of the Gofpel, 
 to be read throughout the year; and alio two texts (probably of the 
 Vulgate Bible) much ornamented with gold and filver and precious 
 ftones : befide ordinals, or a fort of rubrick miflales ; troparia, or 
 books of fequences or refponfes; confuetudinaries, and feveral other 
 books in daily ufe. 
 
 This may give one fome idea how manifold and perplexed the divine 
 fervice was in thofe days; how little calculated for the infhuclion and 
 edification of the congregation, being all performed in the Latin 
 tongue ; and how perplexing to the clergy, unlefs they were daily 
 exercifed in it. 
 
 The women, who lived in the monaflery as fervants and at- 
 tendants, he obliged to appear at the holy offices in the church, allot- 
 ting for them a place called the Almonry. He directed alio that they 
 fhould be cloathed in one uniform drefs, called a black mantle, and 
 obferve certain times for reft and for filence, for the offices of the 
 houfe and for going abroad : and thefe henceforth began to be called 
 nuns or holy women. 
 
 (a) Ralph de Limifi held lands at Caldicot, value 40s. ; in Pirton, value 20I. ; in 
 Amwell, value 14I. 10s.; ia Haiiiftone (Anftey), value 10s. Doomjday. 
 
 After 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 After he had rebuilt the offices, he made many regulations in the diet p au i t i, e j. t h 
 of the monks : retraining them from immoderate ufe of ficfli meat, abbor. 
 and caufing them to live on pickled herrings (a). As a punimment ^ " ' 
 to any offending monk, he compelled him to bear a lantern about 
 the choir, during the fervice in the night time ; as well to diftinguifh 
 him, as to keep the reft from drowfineis and indolence : and, for a 
 greater offence, or while any one was doing penance, he was com- 
 pelled to carry the lantern very high : and, for the correction of the 
 more obftinate and incorrigible, he built a ftrong but horrid jail, 
 which remains to this day with very little alteration, and Jervcs for 
 offenders committed by the civil power; to whom is defcended all that 
 high authority, which great lords pofiefted in their manors, and the 
 great abbots over all their eftates. He injoined a ftriil filence in the 
 church, in the cloifter, in the refectory, or hall, and efpecially in the 
 dormitory. In the infirmary alfo a dead filence was ever to be ob- 
 ferved, and no meat to be eaten, unlefs the fick were beginning to 
 recover ; and they were ftri&ly forbidden to go beyond the door of 
 this place, which opened into the cloifter, unlefs to the bath or for 
 fome allowed caufe. He furnifhed the tower with bells; and to thefe 
 were added two more of a large fize, by Litholf, a man of great rank, 
 who lived in the woody part of this country. Paul alio gave to the 
 church a large filver bafon, in which wax might bum ;it ail times 
 without being extinguifhed ; alio three candleilicks richly adorned 
 with gold and filver, to be placed on the great altar ; and two more 
 of curious work, and gilt only, to be borne on fpecial feftivals, with 
 their wax lights, before the martyr in proceflion. He alfo adorned with 
 ftately painting all the rooms behind the great altar, called Conca- 
 merat.o, in which was afterwards placed the faints ftirine. 
 
 Lanfranc, who had reftored the church at Canterbury, and that at 
 Rochefter, to their ancient fplendor, and laid out great fums in build- 
 ings for the monks, and by his induftrious care had recovered to the 
 cathedral at Canterbury twenty five manors (b) that had been torn from 
 it, departed this life i;t 1009; having been under the dilpleafure (c) 
 of the young KingWilliam II, fortwo years, and forced to fly intoNor- 
 mandy. in his room was Anfelm placed by the King: but the latter 
 
 (a) Called by the Normans Harcnfie. 
 
 (b) CJffa had been a great bencfadtor to the church at Canterbury, having given 
 many eftates in 790 ; and in ^91 he gave to it the manor of (Jtford, and 12 plowiands 
 at Tenham. Du<j. A-Jon. I. ig. And to Kocheftcr he had given the manor of 
 Frendfbmy. 
 
 (c) lie had been preceptor to William and reproved him now for his enormities. 
 
 H rtfulld 
 
( 5° ) 
 
 Paul the 14th refufed to make reftitution of the temporalities, and kept them for two 
 v abbot - t years; to the great injury of the prelate and impoverifhment of the 
 eftates. Anfelm had been abbot of Bee, and was an intimate friend 
 of Lanfranc and of Paul ; and, during his diftrefs from the King's per- 
 fecution, he was greatly affiled by the liberality of Paul. But in the 
 year 1093 Paul alio died, on his return from Tiumouth, where he 
 had been vifiting the cell and directing the future government of 
 that body. 
 
 M. Paris cannot conclude his account of Paul's improvements and 
 benefactions without accufing him of great negledt in fome other 
 matters. He was charged with lofing the manor of Barton (probably 
 in Bedfordmire) which had been held by fome fimple Englishman ; but 
 which, together with the body of the deceafed owner, was matched 
 up and kept by the abbot of Ramfey, who was another fimple Englifh- 
 man. He loft alfo many other eftates by letting them to farm. An- 
 other great and inexcufable neglect was, that, like his predeceffors, he 
 had never brought the body of their illuftrious founder (with his tomb) 
 to be depofited in this church. But, what was the greatefi: crime, he 
 demolimed the tombs of all the former abbots and great men, who had 
 been interred in this place; although they were defcended from the 
 royal family, or of high birth and rank; and whom, Paul, being him- 
 felf of low defcent, uied to call rude and ignorant men, merely becaufe 
 they were Englifh. Paul alfo granted to Peter de Valoinges, a Nor- 
 man chief who lived at Hertingfordbury, the wood of Northaw to 
 farm, on condition that Peter paid the yearly rent of 25s. and two hawks, 
 to hold the fame during his natural life, and no longer: but Paul had 
 taken a fine of 1 00s. to be induced to grant it on thefe terms: and this laid 
 the foundation of a great difpute, as will be related ; although the faid 
 Peter,and his two fons, William and Roger, declared in the chapter, that 
 they held not the laid eiiate in fee, nor any longer than the father's 
 life, unlefs the abbot mould confent. There was alfo one Robert, the 
 mafon or mafter-builder, a man of great fame and excellence in his 
 profelfion ; to whom and his heirs Paul granted lands in Syret (Sarret) 
 and in Wanthony ; and one houfe in the town of St. Aiban, free of 
 rent and taxes: which lands in Syret had been before held by Derlewiu 
 for a rent of 60s. But Robert in his laffc illnefs, knowing his 
 title to be bad, made a refignation in form, and prevented a lofs to the 
 church. Paul had alfo granted to one Humbald, at the rcqueft of 
 Lanfranc, the lands called Weftwic, to hold during his life ; and 
 other grants and provifion did he alfo make to many other relations 
 and friends from Normandy, who were mean illiterate perfons; un- 
 advifedly and fecretly wafting the goods of the church. 
 
 c CHAP- 
 
( 5* ) 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 i°37 
 
 AFTER the death of the venerable Paul, the church differed a B ic ^ bb( ^ e 
 vacancy for the fpace of four years ; during which time Rufus i 5t y a ° j* 
 received all the profits, and impoverished the eftates by cutting down 
 the timber, and extorting money from the tenants, and from the in- 
 habitants of the town of St. Alban. And in this time alfo a great 
 diflenfion arofe, in the abbey, between the old intereft and the new ; 
 that is, between the Englifh and the Normans. This was happily 
 ended in 1097, when Richard undertook the paftoral charge. This man 
 was defcended of a good family in Normandy, and being an intimate- 
 friend of the King's, and alfo of Henry the firft, was enabled to gain 
 great acquisitions to his church, and as ftrenuoufly to defend them. 
 In his time there was given to this church, the church of St. Mary, of 
 Wymundham in Norfolk, with all its appurtenances, to be converted 
 into a cell. The church of Hatfield Peverel alfo, with the church 
 of Melbrook in Bedfordfhire, was given for the fame purpofe. There 
 was given alfo a manor called Tinghurft in Berkmire, with its church ; 
 and a village, called Wilftead ; with land to the value of 30s. per 
 annum, at Wallingford ; and alfo the manor of Eaftwell in Kent. 
 
 Many other benefactions of lefs note, and of obfcure places, were 
 made in Richard's time; for, it was a practice in thofe days to place 
 their younger fons in thefe religious communities, when men of fmall 
 eftates could not provide for them, and to grant in frank-pledge a portion 
 of land or tithes for their maintenance. And this was one great bene- 
 fit of thefe inftitutions, and what kept up their credit for ib many ages, 
 that they were not only the Ichools of religion when well governed, 
 
 H 2 raid 
 
( 5* ) 
 
 Richard the and the fource of inftruction for the neighbouring parifhes, to whom 
 ii;'habbot. t ] ie aD bey fent out preachers every Sunday ; but they received and fuf- 
 V v tained many old fervants, and younger fons and relations who had no 
 portion from the paternal inheritance, and in whofe time there was no 
 other profefiion, trade, or employment, to occupy them. And their 
 liberalities to the poor and the deftitute, the fick and thedifeafed, were 
 great beyond the example of the prefent times in any place, except in 
 e ftablifhed hofpitals ; moft of which, it is to be noted, had their rife and 
 beginning when thefe monafteries were fuppreffed. 
 
 The cell at Tinmouth, founded as above by Mowbray, Earl of 
 Northumberland, had received many endowments and benefactions, 
 and was in fo reputable and profperous a flate, that Richard obliged 
 them to pay to the mother-church of St. Alban a yearly fum of thirty 
 {hillings ; befides the abbot's expences for himfelf and twenty followers, 
 whenever he fhould choofe to make a vifitation to that place (a). 
 
 The principal events of his time were the conlecration of this church, 
 which never had received this folemn dedication f.nce it had been re- 
 built ; and, as this was thought neceffary, it muft be concluded that 
 Paul made a perfect new itructure from the ground, and not a repair 
 of the old church. And accordingly, at the time of Chrifrmas, in 
 1 1 15, a great afYernbly of bimops and nobles was gathered by invita- 
 tion ; fuch as, Geoffry, Archbifhop of Rouen; Richard, Bifhop of 
 London; Ralph of Durham; Robert of Lincoln; and Roger of Sarum; 
 with many abbots. There were prefent alfo King Henry I. and his 
 good Queen Matilda ; with many earls, barons, and nobles, both of 
 Kngland and of Normandy ; and a great body of inferior clergy. 
 Thefe were all lodged and entertained in the monaftery and town, from 
 the 27th of December till the 6th of January, at the expence of the 
 abbey ; and amfted at the folemnity of the confecration. And the 
 king gave to the church, and confirmed by grant, the manor of 
 Bilhoplcote. 
 
 Another event was this ; that, during the Abbot Richard's vifit at 
 Tinmouth, he received a wonderful cure of a withered arm, with which 
 
 (a) We may here difcern how much the intereft and character of Paul had contri- 
 buted to procure donations and grants to his church : and efpecially from his country- 
 men the Norman captains ; who, in all the new grants made to them, built where 
 wanted a fmall cell, and furnifned the fame with monks, and thereby connected the 
 cell with fome great abbey ; an inftitution this, and cuftom, very beneficial to the 
 great lord of the manor and his tenants ; as not only adminiftering to them all fpiri- 
 tual aids, but alfo promoting civilization and all temporal arts. Of this fort was the 
 cell at Behoir, founded by Totheni ; that at Hertford by Limifi, and moft of 
 the reft. 
 
 he 
 
( S3 ) 
 
 he had been afflicted many years. It is related, that, being prefent atR'chard the 
 Durham, when the monks were removing the corpfe of St. Cuthbert(a), t 1 ^ abb ° t ' 
 the founder of Durham Cathedral and the apoftle of the North, he 
 affitled to lift and fupport the fhrine, and received from that inftant 
 a cure of his malady, and found his arm reftored to health. Now, 
 whether this was a miracle, or performed by the intervention of fecond 
 caufes, as was probably the cafe (for, it is more likely, that by fome 
 fudden and uncommon exertion he might ftretch the contracted finews, 
 and caufe the humours to flow again and nourifh the part, than that 
 the Almighty mould work a miracle, when there was no juft occafion), 
 yet, in compliance with the credulity of the times, he would confider 
 it, not as a bleffing from God and worthy of grateful thanks, but as 
 a miracle wrought on him by the interceffion of Cuthbert. And ac- 
 cordingly, on his return, he built a wall, or fcreen, acrofs the nave of the 
 church, about 50 feet below the choir ; and, adjoining to the wall, 
 a chapel, dedicated to St. Cuthbert. This chapel flood on the weft 
 fide of the laid fcreen, and had fervice performed in it and an altar ; 
 but has been long fince pulled down, though the fcreen remains to 
 this day. 
 
 After he had ruled this church and abbey 21 years he died, in the 
 year 11 19. He is called Richard de Albany, or D'Aubeny, (de Exa- 
 quio), being of Norman extraction. And the faults or neglects laid to 
 his charge are, that he loft to the church fome of their lands and ef- 
 tate?, by enriching his relations and countrymen with beneficial 
 leafes, &c. For, he granted the vill of Stanmore for 60s. an- 
 nual rent; and the land of Sopwell to Robert the builder for 8s. 
 And the lands of Syret, after Robert had furrendered the fame, he 
 gave to Peter, the butler, or cupbearer, of William Earl Moreton. 
 
 Richard was fucceeded by the Prior of the abbey named Geoffrey de Geoffrey de 
 Gorham : from a place of that name in Normandy ; he being delcended j^h^bbot 
 of an illuftrious family which dwelt at Caen. While a iecular, 
 he had been invited by Richard to come over, and take the charge 
 and government of a fchool belonging to this abbey; but, he delaying, the 
 fchool was conferred on fome other, andGeoffrey went to Dunftaple^b) 
 
 and 
 
 (a) From Lindisfarne to Durham. Cuthbert died in 6S3. 
 
 (b) Henry I. had eftablifhed here in 1 107 a number of the canons regular of St. Auguf- 
 tine, in a priory now erected and endowed. Thefe canons were fuppofed to be more 
 pure and unconupt than the common monks, and approached near to the feculars ; 
 but were confined to a conventual life. They were firft inftituted by Ivo, Bilhop of 
 
 Ghartres, 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 Geoffrey de and .read lectures, &c. in the fchool of St. Catharine(a) ; and, for 
 f 6 ° t ' h h a a bbot. tne g reater dignity of his appearance, he borrowed of the facrifl 
 «■ — v ' of the abbey the choral copes ; but foon after his houfe was by acci- 
 dent burnt down ; and all his books, together with the copes, con- 
 fumed to afhes. On this, he gave himfelf, as a whole burnt offering, 
 unto God, faith my author, and affumed the religious habit in the 
 monaftery. 
 
 One of the principal deeds of this abbot was to regulate and amend 
 the ceconomy of the houfe, and to make a more juft and proper af- 
 fjgnment of its revenues. And in this work he began with adding 
 5s. a week to the expence of the kitchen, to augment the com- 
 mons of the monks. The allowance and diftribution of their in- 
 come was thus; they had, in all their manors, fifty-three farms, that 
 is, of 46s. each on an average. And this fum of 46s. was al- 
 lowed every week : the lteward of the abbot's houfehold had 
 13 of that fum, and the (reward of the monks the remaining 33. 
 Of which 33, three millings were allowed for maintaining 9 pack- 
 horfes, to fetch their provilions from London or elfewhere ; and the 
 remaining thirty were for the purchafe of the provifions. So that, at 
 this ftinted allowance, they were to live, in number 60 at leaft; and 
 the abbot to enjoy near half as much for his own fplendor and dignity. 
 And they had an overplus of rent, of only 46s. or one farm 
 more, for all extraordinary charges and repairs. But he was enabled 
 to make this addition to their former allowance by getting a rent of 1 2I. 
 a year (now perhaps beginning to make fome returns) for the manor 
 of EafKvell : and 12s. more for the land of Robert of Eiwood ; and 
 8s. more for the land of Wimund of Barnet. All which makes 13I. 
 or 5s. per week through the year. 
 
 Chartres, in the icth century ; and came into great repute for their fanftity and good 
 order: were brought into England by Edelwald, confellbr to Henry I. and placed firft 
 in a priory at R-oftel in Yorkfhire. Queen Maud gave them the priory of the Holy 
 Trinity in London, now called Duke's place. And in 1117a noble earl of Norman 
 extraction, named Gilbert, gave them a great priory at Merton in Surrey; refbunded 
 in 1274 by Walter de Merlon, Rifhop of Rochefter. And in the time of tdward I. 
 thefc regular canons of St. Auguftine were found to be poffeljed of 51 priories, and at 
 the diilblution of 57 in England. Molt of them had been founded by Henry I. or by 
 others in his reign ; and none exceeded that of Merton in revenue, which was near 
 ioool. per annum. 
 
 (a) This fchool was probably in the priory now founded by Henry. Catharine was 
 reckoned, in the opinions of the Romilh church, to be the patronefs of learned men. 
 }>ut it is quite unknown who this Catharine was. She is thought to have been 
 introduced trorn the Greek Church; and the name imported hither, together with fun- 
 di y relics and other fuperllitions, by fome oi the Crufadcrs. Mofl). Ecc. Hijh 9 Crnu 
 
 But, 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 But, befide this, they had every week two Teams or quarters of wheat Geoffrey de 
 for the kitchen ; and every year 60s. from Afpa, or Napfbury, for the ^Th abbot. 
 
 purchafe of milk. And Geoffrey affigned alio all the cheefe which * * • 
 
 came yearly from their demefne, in Langley, Sandridge, and Walden. 
 Moreover, there were yearly preients, Xenia, from fome of the ma- 
 nors ; to be divided between the two {rewards, after a third was re- 
 ferved lor the entertainment of the guefts and their retinue. Thefe 
 prefects came from Norton and Newnham, at three fpecial feafons, 
 at Chriftmas, at Eafter, and on St. Alban's day, to the amount of 
 15s. yearly : from Hexton came 6s. in like manner. From Caifhow, 
 or Caftio, came at Chriftmas zs. and 24 hens; at Eafrer, 2s. and 600 
 eggs; and on St. Alban's day 2s. and 24 cheefes, after a form and manner 
 prefcribed. From Rickmerefworth, at Chriftmas, 48 hens and 1 hog; 
 at Eafter, 1000 eggs, and 1 hog. From Cnddicote and Walden, at 
 Chriftmas, 50 hens and 1 hog ; at Eafter, ioco eggs, and one hog. 
 All which were to be diftributed between the ftewards. They had 
 alfo four mills ; one at Sopwell, another at Stanekfield, and two 
 called Park Mills : which, together, were bound to furnif'h, for the ufe 
 of the monks one thoufand of good eels every year. Befide thefe, 
 the abbot was bound to provide yearly 4 feams or quarters of good 
 bread corn, 4 of the fineft flour, and 6 of oats. 
 
 Geoffrey alfo appointed the church of Rickmerefworth, and all its 
 appurtenances, to the fee ret a ry of the monaftery, to be by him applied 
 in providing the ornaments of the church, and repairing the decays 
 thereof. The tithes and profits of this church ufed to go to the com- 
 mon ftock ; but this was a new and fpecial appointment of the fame : 
 and it is probable that at this time the faid pariuVchurch was turned 
 into a vicarage, and fome imall articles of tithe allotted by the writ 
 of endowmment for the refident vicar ; who being unmarried, and 
 perhaps a monk lent to the church on a Sunday, was thought well 
 maintained if he could get milk, eggs, wool, and garden -herbs-. [/ 
 The fecretary was bound to give an account, on the day of the 
 / abbot's acceffion, what charges he had made, and what was proper to 
 be made: and on this occafion his duty was to drefs up the monaftery 
 as fplendidly as pofiible : and the whole convent attended divine 
 iervice, and palled the day with great folemnity and pomp. 
 
 He made a donation alfo of the church of St. Peter, and all the appur- 
 tenances thereof, to the perpetual ufe of the infirmary: and enjoined one 
 of the monks to ac~t as mafter and provider (a) of the infirmary ; to buy all 
 
 (a) Infirmarius. 
 
 nccclfary 
 
( 56 ) 
 
 G fjori?! „ dc neceflary medicine and refrefhments for the fick and aged ; and to provide 
 i6-h ab'bo . the \v ! 1 1 e or m e a d for the uie of the refectory, every Sunday, or on one 
 
 * » holydav infteaa of a Sunday, which had ufually hefore been provided 
 at the expenceoi the abbot. And this donation was confirmed on the 
 great altar every year ; with threats of excommunication to all vio- 
 lators and impugners thereof. His predecefibr Richard had fet apart 
 the alms, which had ufed to be given to the poor, for the mainte- 
 nance of the copyifts. But Geoffrey restored the alms to the poor, and 
 affigned a certain portion of dinner from the monks table for the com- 
 pany of writers, that they might not be hindered in p-ocuring their victuals. 
 
 But, betide thefe improvements in the oeconomy of the convent, he 
 built a church and hofpital near the way that leads to London, for the 
 ufe of lepers : and endowed the fame with fundry portions of tithe : 
 as two parts in ten of the corn tithes of St. Stephen's and St. Mi- 
 chael's parifhes; but with the whole tithe of St. Alban's parifh, va- 
 lue 60s. and the whole corn tithe of the lordmip of Hamftude, and of 
 the lordmip of Kingfbury. This was built and endowed with the 
 advice and content of the convent, and dedicated to the honour of 
 God and of St. Julian. 
 
 The leprofy ieems to have been as common and as filthy a difeafe 
 at this time as it was in the days of Mofes, and in Judaea at all times ; 
 but whether it arofe from the fame caufes may be doubted. It did not 
 arife, in uther of thofe periods, from excefs of grofs food and animal fkfh; 
 for, the Jews were accuftomed to eat very little flefh, and the monks 
 were allowed to eat none ; but probably from the ule of woollen gar- 
 ments next the fkin, which are thought to render it unfit for 
 perfpiration, and of courfe to breed obftructions in the pores, and caufe 
 cutaneous diforders : to this may perhaps be added want of perfo- 
 nal cleanlinefs. The method of cure, if there was any in thofe 
 days, we know not ; nor ever find any perfons cured of this malady 
 but by the miraculous word of the Son of Gcd. But, as thefe afflicted 
 perfons were fhunned and avoided by all others, it became a matter of 
 great beneficence to provide a feparate houfe, &c. for them. And fo uni- 
 verfally did this charity prevail, that a larger hofpital for lepers was 
 founded at Burton Lazars, in the county of Letcefter, with which 
 all others were in iome degree connected, and did hold an intercourfe. 
 
 Geoffrey confirmed the grants made to St. Julian's, and procured 
 a confirmation thereof from Pope Gregory, in the 2d year of his 
 pontificate. He procured alfo a charter of confirmation from Henry I. 
 and a grant of one penny a day out of his treafury for the ufe 
 of this hofpital. Abbot Roger confirmed the fame with all its 
 2 bene- 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 benefactions in the year 1287: and then abbot Richard II. ( Wal- Geoffrey dc 
 lingford) confirmed the rtcovery of the 60s. which had been un- ^th abbot. 
 
 juftly withheld from this hofpital ; and dates his confirmation on the v v ' 
 
 day of the 7 holy fleepers, in the year 1329(a). The abbot Michael, 
 in the year 1344, thought proper to revile and amend their ftatutes, as 
 if it were like to be a large body of brethren; but, by his own confeffion, 
 the houfe never had more than three at once, fometimes but two, and 
 often one. Yet he framed ^0 ftatutes for the government of this 
 houfe : which ftatutes direct the number not to exceed fix, who (hall 
 be elected a brother leper, and their drefs and diet ; with others that 
 concern the priefis, their drefs, duty, and appearance : for, befide 
 the leprous brethren, there were five priefts always refident ; one of 
 which was a kind of fuperior, and called Re£tor Capella Juhani. 
 
 Another cell, founded by abbot Geoffrey in 1140, was that of Sop- 
 well ; where, having obferved two pious women to have erected a hut 
 for their dwelling, he conftructed a houfe for their better accommoda- 
 tion, and ordered that thirteen fifters mould inhabit the fame, under 
 certain rules and orders, together with a chaplain. They were al- 
 lowed a place of worfhip and a cemetery; and he allotted them certain 
 rents and pofTeffions ; and, becaufe the two firft women ufed to dip 
 their dry bread in the water of the fpring, the place was called 
 Sop well. 
 
 This abbot built fome additions to the abbey : he made a handfome 
 apartment with a double roof, it is faid, (which means only that it had 
 a cieling alfo), for the entertainment of ftrangers ; and near this he 
 built a very handfome chamber, called afterwards the Queen's cham- 
 ber : and towards the eaft he built a fmall houfe and chapel for the ufe 
 of an infirmary; into which any fick brother was fent the third day 
 after he complained ; where he generally was reftored to health by being 
 allowed flefli meat ; and on a perfect recovery he returned to the cloif- 
 ter, and was again, as before, obliged to abftain from the ufe of flefli. 
 He built alfo a large hall at Weftwick, for the ufe of a certain friend 
 and kinlman, who had fhewn great beneficence to the abbey. Geoffrey 
 was preparing a very fumptuous fhrine for the body of St. Alban, 
 and had expended thereon no lefs than fixty pounds : but, a year 
 of great fcarcity happening, he converted the gold and filver into 
 money, for the relief of the poor : a quarter of wheat at this time rofe 
 to twenty millings value ; whereas the ufual price was four fhh lings : 
 and in the reign of king John, who made an affize of bread in 1203, 
 
 (a) Thefe grants and confirmations may be feen in the Aufl. Addlt. of M. Paris. 
 
 I the 
 
( 5« ) 
 
 Gwham det ^ e P rice v/as ca ^ cu l ate ^ ror fi x fallings, and down to eighteen pence* 
 1 6th abbot. The year following being plentiful, he collected money, and purfued 
 
 — v ' his intentions with regard to the fhrine ; and, by the art of a monk 
 
 named Anketill, he brought the fame to great perfection of ornament 
 and mow This Anketill had been bred to the bufmefs of a goldfmith, 
 and had pa ed feven years in the kingdom of Denmark, in conftructing 
 curious works for the king, and in iuperintending his mint: then, 
 coming into England, he chole to fix himfelf in this abbey, and to 
 affurne the habit of a religious. The materials of this fhrine were filver 
 gilded; but the upper part of the canopy, called creji, was notfiniflied; 
 though intended to be adorned and enriched with gold and precious 
 ftones, whenever they could collect a quantity fufficienr. The fhrine 
 being erected in the fpace behind the great altar (a) as built by abbot 
 Paul, a day was appointed for the tranflation, or removal, of the faint.. 
 On this day attended Alexander, bifhop of Lincoln, whom the abbot 
 owned as diocefan ; Walter, abbot of Enfham, formerly prior of this 
 abbey ; Robert of Thorney ; and other abbots ; together with the 
 whole convent : and in their prefence the antient tomb of Alban was 
 opened. But, becaufe a certain college in Denmark, and the monks 
 of Ely alfo, had afferted and (till pretended, that they refpedtively 
 were pofTefTed of the whole body, or a great part of this faint, the 
 bones were numbered, taken out, and fhewed fmgly ; the head was 
 lifted up, for the infpection of all prefent, by the hands of the vener- 
 able Ralph, archdeacon of the churcli : on the forepart was a fcroll 
 of parchment, pendent from a thread of filk, with this infeription, 
 Sandlus Albanus ; and a circle of gold inclofed the fkull, fixed by the> 
 order of OfJa, engraved with thefe words, Hoc eji cuput Sanfti Albani 
 protomartyrh Anglia, But, in reviewing the bones, the left fcapula, or 
 Ihoulder- bone, was milling. However, the tranflation was effected ; 
 and lbme years after, faith the hiftorian, came two monks with letters 
 credential from the church and monaftery of Naumburg, in Germany, 
 faying that they were po'Ieffed of this valuable relick, viz, the fcat>uia% 
 and that the fame had been brought to them, many years fince, by 
 King Canute. This tranflation was a day of great feftivity : the ab- 
 bot ordered three hundred poor perfons to be relieved at the gate of the 
 monastery ; that the priefts mould fing four mafTes (or foiemn lervicc-. ; 
 and the reft of the brethren fhould fing, inftead of a mafs, fifty plaims. 
 The day of this folemnity was the 4th of the nones of Anguft, in the 
 29th year of the reign of Henry I. or 1 129: and the anniverfary was 
 lolemnized with great devotion and feftivity ; with a remiflion to all 
 
 (a) Called the Prefijtery : and behind the prefent wall, or fcreen. 
 
 penitents, 
 
 3 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 penitents, who mould attend, of one day's duty of their penance in G Q ff ^ m ^ 
 every week through the year. _ . _ i6°th abbot. 
 
 He ordained alfo certain days to be kept with peculiar holinefs, viz. the < ^ * 
 
 feaft of the Afcenfion; that of St. Matthew and St. John ; of the blefled 
 St. Giles ; the Conception of the bleffed Virgin ; and of the bleffed 
 Catharine. Thefe days were to be celebrated in copes, and he caufed 
 feven to be made for the purpofe : one was uncommonly rich with gold 
 and precious ftones; another with tafTels of great value, and ornamented 
 with gold and pearls; four were enriched with the heft and moil ccftly 
 gold fringe ; the 7th was of purple, and only decently adorned. He 
 provided five other habits, called chafubles (a), one of which waswholljr 
 covered with gold, to the value of fix marks and a half, befide a 
 coftly gold fringe, very broad, and ornamented with rich tafTels and 
 precious ftones, all laid upon a bright crimfon cloth. But this 
 rich veftment was burnt in the time of his fuCceffor Ralph, in 
 order to melt out the gold, with which it was too much loaded. He 
 caufed to be prepared many other rich garbs for the particular fervices 
 6r folemnities in which the abbot was to appear ; for, they all feern 
 intended to augment his fplendor and perfonal dignity rather than to 
 promote the glory of God and edification of man. He provided alfo a 
 large cup and patin ; which he afterward fent as a prefent to the pope, 
 Celeftine, to affuage the thirft of his avarice, when he was trying to 
 appropriate the rule and election of this abbey, and perhaps the re- 
 venues, to himfelf: this fucceeded, and the pope gave up his exorbitant 
 claims for the prefent. He made a large table, or plate, of gold and filver 
 and choice gems, to be laid on the great altar : but this, on a very urgent 
 occafion, was melted, and given to earl Warren and others, when, in 
 the time of king Stephen, they were preparing to burn down the town. 
 He made alfo feveral veffels for burning frankincenfe ; and rich candle- 
 flicks; and a veflel for the reception of certain relicks in their poffeffion, 
 viz. of St. Bartholomew, Ignatius, Laurence, and Nigafius, martyrs. 
 
 He provided books of all forts, necefiary for the fervice of the 
 church ; one mifiale, inclofed in a binding of gold ; another, in two 
 volumes, incomparably illumined with gold, and written in an open 
 and legible manner, that is, fair, correct, and without abbreviations ; 
 a pfalter alfo of great value, illumined ; one book containing the 
 benedictions pronounced by bifhops, and the facraments or religious 
 oaths and obligations ; one book containing exorcifms, or forms of 
 praying out the devil ; and one book of collects. He gave alfo one 
 large dorjak (b), on which was reprefented the finding the body of 
 
 (a) Thefe were garments that covered the whole perfon. 
 
 (b) Cortina ad dorfum aharis pendens, 
 
 I 2 St. 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 Geoffrey de St. Alban ; and another of lefs fize, where was (hewn the hiftory of the 
 G bihlbho*. vvoun ded wno ^ among thieves ; and a third, mewing the hiftory of 
 
 \ the prodigal fon. 
 
 Thefe fplendid gifts did Geoffrey make to his church : but 
 my author cannot difmifs his character without making mention 
 of fome things that argued negligence or imprudence. A bad bar- 
 gain, that Richard had made with Gofpatrick, GeorTrey kept and ob- 
 fcrvtd; and granted the fame lands to the fon of Gofpatrick by a 
 new charter, though he raifed the rent: this had been fixty millings; 
 but now the leflfee was to pay twenty {hillings more, and in deficiency 
 of money (viz. the 20s.) to pay feven oxen, worth three millings each. 
 This rent had been fettled on the church of Ofvvin, or, which is the 
 fame, the cell of Tinmouth : and it was agreed that, if there was a 
 deficiency of oxen, he mould pay three millings for eaclfto the church 
 of St. Alban. He rebuilt the church, and other buildings of the Holy 
 Trinity of the Wood (de BofcoJ (a) twice from the ground, after the 
 fame had been confumed with fire, and endowed this cell with por- 
 tions of tithe from Caffio and Watford ; but without the conlent of 
 the convent, and, as it were, by force. He granted alfo the wood of 
 Northaw to Roger, the fon of Peter de Valoinges. And all the lands 
 ofWeftwick, which had been granted to Humbald for his life, and 
 which had been fet apart at firft for the ufe of the monks table, he 
 granted to the fon of Humbald, who had married a fifter of GeorTrey. 
 He granted alfo lome lands, near Weftwick, to a familiar friend and 
 client, who had been born of obfcure origin, at a fmall hamlet in Nor- 
 mandy, called Gorham : and this he confirmed by charter, againft the 
 conlent of the convent, and to their great lofs and grievance. He had 
 formed a defign of completing the canopy of the fhrine in a very coitly 
 manner; but he was cut off by death, in the month of February, 1 146, 
 after he had ruled this abbey 26 years, and fome months. 
 
 As we have thus feen Geoffrey ruling the conventual body with great 
 order, and regulating the ceconomy of the monks, and improving the 
 inftitution, beyond the example and practice of any predeceffor ; fo to 
 this man was made the firft grant of the liberty, by Henry I.(b); that is, 
 the great civil power of holding pleas, and of taking cognizance of all 
 lefs crimes and offences, which had been punifhabie only in the leets, 
 the hundred, and the county-courts ; with a power of appointing a 
 Jmefcka'us, or ftewaird of the hundred ; and of receiving, for the ufe 
 or the abbey, all fines and amercements. This was a grant to the 
 abbot of a portion of the royal authority, and of the profits which 
 
 (a) Tlir cell at Merkyate-ftreet. - 
 
 (o) tieniy gi anted a umilar charter to the priory which he had founded atDunftaple. 
 
 ulually 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 ufually went into the king's exchequer : hut the powers were no other Geoffrey de 
 than what were granted to many other lords, and great men, in fe- ^^bbor 
 veral other hundreds ; and who, from prefiding in the court, and « „ -> 
 taking the fines, were called hundreders. But, though there was an 
 hundred -court here, before; yet the powers now granted were, the privi- 
 lege of refembling the county-courts, and holding the fame pleas with 
 them. This original grant was relerved in the abbey, in the time 
 of Henry VI. and by him was renewed, in 1440; it mentions the 
 offences there cognizable : and, in 1448, Henry grants to the ab- 
 bot, by a new charter, power to take cognizance of all pleas of lands 
 and tenements, within the hundred of Cayfho, and in the prefence 
 of his fenefchal ; a power, alfo, to make juftices of the peace within 
 the faid liberty; and that the fenefchal fhall execute the fame powers, 
 with regard to all tranfgreffions of felony, as any (herirT of our 
 kingdom. 
 
 This may be feen in the following Hiftory of John Wheathamftead's 
 time, foon after he was re-elected. And here is fuch proof of the 
 origin of the liberty, that one cannot forbear to wonder at the miftake 
 of Chauncy, when he fays, that it was firft erected in the time of 
 Edward IV ; but this miftake mall be accounted for, when we come 
 to treat of the new power granted to the abbot, in the early part of 
 that king's reign. The privileges granted to the abbot, on creating this 
 liberty, were the ufual ancient privileges derived from the Saxon 
 times, and given in fome degree to every lord or great tenant in ca- 
 pite ; viz. Sac, Soc, Toll, Theam, I'nfangentheof, and Outfan- 
 gentheof. 
 
 By Sac was meant, a power to fue a man in his own court. 
 
 By Soc was meant, a power to implead and puniih any offender, or 
 tranfgreffor, in the court of his lord. 
 
 By Toll was meant, an exemption for the lord or abbot, and all his 
 men, from paying toll in any market. 
 
 By Theam was meant, the power of having for your property all the 
 children and generations of your villains. 
 
 By Infangentheof was meant a power of trying any thief or robber in 
 your court, if taken in your fee, wherever the fad was committed. And 
 
 By Gutfangentheof was meant, a power of bringing back and trying 
 your villains in your own court, though the fact might be committed, 
 and the thief taken, elfe where. 
 
 In Geoffrey's time was the abbey of Croyland in a very low and 
 and ruined condition ; and, in order to reftore things to their for- 
 mer fplendor, it was neceflary to have a new fupply of monks : on 
 I ap- 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 G Q^ m cle application to Geoffrey, be fent to Croyland ten men of cflablifhed 
 1 6th abbo.. character; and capable to amend the rule and government of that 
 
 l — v ' abbey. He fent them alfo another monk named Godfrey ; whom at 
 
 Croyland they elected prior ; and this prior, after the example of 
 Geoffrey, let up a very cohMy fhrine, in the year 1 143 (a). 
 
 Palph the Geoffrey was fucceeded by Ralph, the feventeenth abbot, who had 
 ^711 a ° t j | 3een one f the confidential domeffic officers of the bifhop of Lincoln; 
 
 and, though a layman at that time, he had the care of the bifhop' s 
 chapel, and was keeper of his treafury ; or, as called in thefe days, 
 receiver of his revenue. By the bifhop's procuring, he was admitted 
 into this abbey as a monk ; but remained in the fervice of the bifhop 
 for fome time after ; on a promife, that the bifhop mould procure for 
 him the abbey of St. Alban, if the bifhop furvived Geoffrey. " For 
 *' the power and influence of bifhops," faith M. Paris, " hath at 
 " times been fufneient to difpofe and direct all things in this church, 
 " even againfr. its advantage." While he ferved the bifhop of Lincoln, 
 which was Alexander, the martial bifhop, he attended the lectures of 
 one Wodon, an Italian, who explained the Scriptures. And from that 
 time he became a lover of books, and furnifhed this church with many 
 volumes. When abbot, he (hewed himfelf a zealous defender of its 
 rights and eftates ; and managed the revenue fo well, that at his death 
 the convent was clear of all demands, and under pecuniary obliga- 
 tions to no perfon. He built fome chambers adjoining to the church, 
 for the ufe of the abbot, of very ftrong work, and caufed the houfe 
 to be covered with mingles of oak ; which mews that tiles of the 
 modern fort were not then ufed, and probably not invented. 
 
 He went into France, and met the pope, Eugenius, at Auxerre, and 
 obtained from him the privilege (b) which had been granted before by 
 pope Celeftine ; and, on his return, purchafed, for the ufe of this 
 church, two large palls, of ten marks value each. Geoffrey had 
 granted the manor of Shephall to Adam, the fteward, for 4I. 12s. 
 and Ralph confirmed the fame in chapter, and applied the rent to the 
 ufe of the monks table. 
 
 Having fome fuipicions of ill conduct in Alquine, the prior, about 
 fome table-plate, he caufed him to be depofed ; and Robert de Gor- 
 ham to be elected in his place. Alquine fled to his old friend, Lau- 
 rence, the abbot of Weftminfter ; and, they having been familiar 
 friends in this abbey before, he was by him received and chofen for 
 a monk. 
 
 (a) 2 Cont. Mon. p. 370. 
 
 (b) This privilege ieems to have been only peaceable pofleffion, and a temporary 
 fecurity againit the avaricious and overbearing claims of the papal court. 
 
 Of 
 
( 63 ) 
 
 Of the faults of Ralph, it is mentioned by M. Paris, that he caufed Ralph the 17A 
 one of the rich chafubles, which Geoffrey had provided, to be burnt , a ot * , 
 for the fake of the gold : and the fhrine was ftripped of all the 
 plates and folid gold, in order to purchafe the vill of Brentfield (a) 
 for twenty-four marks : the jewels alfo, and precious ftones, he 
 caufed to be fold; when lie might have furnimed the fum, from felling 
 the gold and filver cups which were ufed at his table. The rent of the 
 new purchafe was applied to repair the buildings, and reftore the fhrine. 
 
 Ralph was abbot no longer than five years ; and, finding himfelf de- 
 caying, he refigned, and procured the prior, Robert de Gorham, to be 
 elected in his place. He died in July 1151, in the fourteenth year of 
 king Stephen : he w r as furnamed Gobion, and was of Englifh extraction. 
 
 Robert was defcended of a good family at Caen in Normandy, and 
 born of a lifter of the late venerable abbot Geoffrey. Having heard Robert the 
 of the good fortune of his relations in England, he came over from the rfth abbot. 
 monaftery in which he had been educated ; and, bringing with him 
 a tefvimonial, was readily admitted a monk and brother of the church 
 of St. Alban. Some time after, he took on him the office of fecretary, 
 which had under its function the care and repairs of the building : 
 in this employment he rebuilt the chapter-houfe from the ground, 
 whitened the infide and outfide of the church, and covered the greateft 
 part of it, in a very becoming manner, with lead; for, probably, the co- 
 vering before this time had been of flrngles ffcindulisj . In the time 
 of abbot Ralph he had been created prior, which was a fort of 
 fub-abbot, or reprefentative of the abbot ; and, on the refignation of 
 Ralph, he was elected abbot by unanimous confcnt. On his being in- 
 flalled, he gave a pall to this church worth ten marks; which he 
 afterwards prefented, by leave of the convent, to the church of St. 
 Ofwin at Tinmouth. -He was very diligent in all matters that re- 
 lated to the Church's property ; and gave great afiiftance and relief 
 to Lawrence, the new abbot of Weftminfter ; but which Lawrence 
 requited very ill ; for, he ftrove, in a very fraudulent manner, to re- 
 gain the manor of Aidenham. One of the monks, named Germanus, 
 and made prior of Tinmouth, was thence elected, by the monks of Sclby, 
 to be their abbot: and another, named Godfrey, was chofen to be abbot 
 of Cropland; where, by the help of Adam his nephew, and other monks 
 of St. Alban, whom he took with him, when fent thither by Geoffrey, he 
 caufed religion andgoodorder again toflourifh. K mgStephen, having cauie 
 to pals through the town, was honourably entertained by the monaf- 
 tery : and one day, while the king was hearing mafs, the abbot fell 
 
 (a) So named, perhaps, as fignifying that it was purchased with Burnt, or Brent, 
 goods. 
 
 at 
 
( «4 ) 
 
 Robert the at his feet, with Tome relicks of St. Stephen, the firit martyr, in his 
 , l8tl ' abhot ; hand ; and befought the king, that he would caufe the remains of 
 his roya! manfe, called Kingfbury (a), to be demolilhed ; for it harboured 
 perfons, who, under pretence of the king's authority to keep the peace 
 and guard the town, were the caufe of great disturbance, injuries, and 
 extortions : on which the king gave the laid cattle or remains (fitu- 
 ate, it is laid, very near to this abbey) to the abbot, who caufed the 
 building to be demolished. King Henry 11. foon after his acceflion, 
 being at Clarendon, abbot Robert went thither, and petitioned him 
 for a grant of the church of Luton and of Hoclon : to which the 
 king confented, and confirmed the fame by a charter ; ordaining that 
 the profits thereof mould be let apart for the entertainment of ftrangers. 
 
 About this time, pope Anaftatius being dead, his place was fupplied by 
 Adrian IV. better known in England by his former and family name, of 
 Nicholas Brekefpear; who, being born at Langley, and brought to this 
 monaftery to allume the habit of a monk, was refufed as insufficient in 
 learning ; but came, in after-times, to fuch pre-eminence as to be chofen 
 pope. The chief events of his hiftory are thefe : on his being rejected 
 (which was by Richard), he went into Provence, and became a canon 
 in the houfe of Saint Rufus, and foon after was elected to be their 
 abbot : hence he went to Rome, to expedite fome bufinefs re- 
 lative to his abbey, and fo far recommended himfelf to the pope, that 
 he was made bifhop of Alba, and then chofen by the cardinals to be 
 pope. His father had been admitted a monk (probably after his fon 
 had left him, and his wife was dead) and lived fifty years in the 
 monadery: and, in confideration of his own and his fon's merits, he 
 was interred in the chapter-houfe, not far from the grave of abbot 
 Richard, which was afterwards covered with the tiles of the pave- 
 ment. On receiving intelligence of the exaltation of his countryman, 
 Robert thought it necelTary to make a journey to Rome, on purpofe to 
 pay his congratulations : the king, alio, encouraging and commanding 
 this compliment, as having lome duty to pay on his part. Robert, 
 accordingly, made great preparations ; and collected prelents, &c. to 
 the value of twenty-leven marks ; befide five cups of great value, and 
 three very coftly mitres, and fandals, or flippers, and other delectable 
 things ; but, in palling the channel, he narrowly efcaped (hi p wreck ; 
 yet, having great interell with the Virgin Mary and the martyr, (St. 
 Alban) he efcaped and landed fafe. When he met the pope, which 
 
 (a) Though my author has already faid, that Alfric II. demolifhed this palace in the 
 time of Canute, yet it is probable, that the principal rnanfion only was thereby meant, 
 and that foine of the offices, &c. might itill remain, and be the fubjedt of Robert's 
 complaint, and of the king's grant. 
 
 was 
 
 \ 
 
( «5 ) 
 
 was at Beneventum, he prefented the mitres, and the fandals ; which Robert th« 
 laft had been worked by the Lady Chriftina, priorefs of Merk- ^ 8:h * bbot ; 
 yate(a), where Geoffrey, the 1 6th abbot, had founded a cell for nuns. 
 
 After much familiar difcourfe, the abbot was encouraged to afk a 
 great favour, to which the pope avTented. The abbot then requefted, 
 that, in confideration of the * troubles and vexations which their 
 f bifhop (of Lincoln) gave his monaftery, the pope would be pleaftd 
 * to give them an exemption from all other authority than that of the 
 ' pope himfelf.'. This was granted by Adrian, with many other pri- 
 vileges, which were allowed to no other abbey in England. Soon 
 after, a fynod was held at London, under Theobald the archbifhop : 
 where the bifhop of Lincoln, named Robert de Querceto, that is, of 
 CheynieSy having heard that his authority at the abbey of St. Alban's 
 was fet afide, refufed to appear, but fent a meffenger to plead excufe, 
 by reafon of weaknefs and ill health. This privilege was the caufe of 
 great diflenfion between the bifhop and the abbot ; and in the eighth 
 year of Henry II. it was determined, in the prefence of the king and 
 by his mediation, in a great affembly of bifhops and nobles ; wherein, 
 after much argument, it was proved, that the church of St. Alban 
 was ingenua, or free-born ; that the bifhops of Lincoln had gradually 
 exercifed authority therein, by the negligence of the abbot ; that 
 fuch authority, fo long uncontroverted, had become almoft legal; but, 
 as its legality was founded on prefcription, and not on any fbtute, fome 
 recompence fhould be given, for the redemption of its liberties. It was 
 therefore agreed that the abbey mould give to the bifhop fome farm of ten 
 pounds value: and, this being the value of Tynkurfte(b), that farm was 
 conveyed and confirmed to the bifhop, and his claims hereby annulled. 
 
 From the time of Adrian's granting exemption to this abbey, the 
 abbot and his fucceffors affumed the mitre; and twice a year afterwards 
 he aflembled his clergy, and formed a fynod, and prefcribed rules and 
 laws for the convent and cells, habited in the mitre ; but left to the 
 bifhops, as before, all celebration of facraments, as ordination of 
 priefts, &c. confecration of oil and unctions, dedication of churches and 
 altars, and the bleffing the abbot, &c. And the next year the vene- 
 rable bifhop of St. Afaph, named Godfrey, confecrated a quantity of 
 oil in theEucharift at the great altar, and in the prefence of the whole 
 convent, to be diftributed as formerly to all the churches belonging to 
 this abbey ; the faid bifhop acting in no refpect as the bifhop of Lin- 
 coln. The fame Godfrey alfo held a general ordination in the chapel of 
 
 (a) This cell was fo named from Aferk, a boundary ; and Tate, or Gate, a way : it is 
 fituated on the border of Hertfordlhire, in the high road to Dunftaplc. 
 (b; Or Fingeil, in Bucks. 
 
 K the 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 crt the the infirmary ; and in the great church dedicated the altar of the Holy 
 3 th abbot . £ ro f s . an( j j n jj-jg c hurch of St. Peter he dedicated another altar, to the 
 honour of St. Nicolas. So that the honour of the mitre, when con- 
 ferred on any abbot, was not understood to fet him on a parity with 
 the epifcopal order, except that the king always caHed fuch to a feat 
 among the barons of the realm; but it exempted the abbot and monaf- 
 tery from epifcopal vifitation and diocefan jurisdiction : the abbots 
 then taking on them to rule and govern the feculars under their care, 
 and leaving the bifhop to exercife and perform certain minifterial func- 
 tions in the abbeys, and to govern the other parochial clergy, though 
 without any authority, or jurifdiction, over the vicars, or officiating 
 clergy, of churches that did belong to the abbeys; becauie fuch 
 clergy were always members of the monaftic body, and fent out to 
 do and perform the facred offices in fuch churches. And this probably 
 was the ufageand practice, even after vicarages were endowed and made 
 a feparate efrate, unlefs, in the instrument ot endowment ("which always 
 required confent of the bifhop and king), the fubordination and obedi- 
 ence of the vicar was therein transferred to the bifhop, and which was 
 probably the cafe very often. 
 
 This elevation of the abbot to the mitre happened in the year i i6r, 
 and the 7th of Henry II. (a). But the contefl: with the bifhop was fo 
 much agitated and laboured by the contending parties, that the deci- 
 lion could not be made but by the king in perfon ; who, together 
 with moll: of the bifhops, many of the great abbots, fome arch-dea- 
 cons, and feveral of the earls and nobles, lat during feveral days to 
 hear their claims, and adjuff. their differences ; and, at length, thefe 
 perfuaded the parties to agree to the compromife above-mentioned, 
 by which the abbot gained an high honour and place of pre-eminence, 
 but by which the body loft an eflate of iol. a year, and lurTered a 
 charge, in entertainments and lawyers expences, of 140 marks. This 
 tranlaction took place in n 62, in the firft year of Becket's advance- 
 ment to the fee of Canterbury. 
 
 The abbot of Weitminfter, named Lawrence, had given much 
 trouble to Robert ; for, though Robert had affifted him with two 
 hundred marks during the late time of famine and want, yet Law- 
 rence and his people made encroachments on the lands and tenants of 
 the abbey ; in particular on thofe of Sandrugge (or Sandridge), and 
 
 (a) About this time Lawrence, the abbot of Weftminfter, who had been bred in 
 this monaftei y 4 compiled, by order of Henry II. a hiltory of the holy martyr and 
 confelfor, King Edward. M* Faris, p. 1029. 
 
 fuch 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 fuch as lay near the river Ma rford, which is ftill apart of Wheat- R '~ ,I J : ," abbot* 5 
 hampftead, then belonging to Weftminfter. Lawrence, alfo, made ^ 
 new claims of the manor of Aldenham, and fued the abbey, and 
 Robert Tailleboys, their leflee, before the barons of the Exchequer. 
 But Lawrence, fearing the judgement of the court, and being re- 
 jected in his offer of twenty-three marks to Tailleboys if he would re- 
 linquim his right, a compromife took place ; and the abbey confirmed 
 Tailleboys in the quiet pofleffion of his right to pannage for twenty hogs 
 every year in the wood of Aldenham. 
 
 But another and more fevere trial harraffed the patience and fortitude 
 of Robert ; and that was, concerning the wood of Northaw (a) and 
 the danger of lofing it. It is proper to remember that Abbot Paul 
 had granted this wood to Peter de Valoinges, a great Norman baron, 
 who dwelt at Hertingfordbury, and to whom the Con queror nad 
 given divers manors and poffeffions in this county. By the grant he 
 was conftituted tenant, or ufufructuary, for his life. Abbot Geoffrey 
 had granted it to his fon Roger on the like condition ; and the grand- 
 fon Peter had the like grant from Abbot Ralph : but, this Peter being 
 on his death bed, Robert the abbot fent to him two of the brethren, 
 to folicit him to make reftitution of the wood of Northaw, according 
 to the terms of the grant. The dying man, in the prefence of his 
 foldiers and armed attendants, promifed to do fo, faying, * that he 
 
 * held it by no hereditary right ; but by the mere grace and favour of 
 
 * the convent, and would furrender the next day.* In the night, this 
 grantee died ; and inftantly meflengers are difpatched by the abbot, to 
 take pofleffion of the wood. But immediately Robert de Valoinges, 
 brother and heir to Peter, (who died without children), makes earneft 
 application to Robert, that he would renew the grant to him ; though 
 without fuccefs, for Robert would not comply. On this, Robert, the 
 baron, haftens to the King, who was then in France and engaged in 
 the fiege of Thouloufe : he there obtained the fubject of his petition, and 
 returned with letters written to this effect ; 4 That he forbade any 
 
 * perfon to deprive Robert unjuftly of any pofleffion, which his pre- 
 ' deceflbrs had held by inheritance and the rule of juflice.' 
 
 (a) And here it is proper to remark, that the true etymology of this place is North- 
 augh, from the valley, which is there to he ieen, vail and tremendous beyond any 
 valley in all this county ; for, in the language of thole times, and now in the north 
 of England, a valley is called a Ha ugh ; the Latin writers call Rofehaugh, de Rofa- 
 rum Voile \ and an artificial valley in a garden is called a Haugh : moreover, on 
 the fouthern boundary of this county, in Kaft Rarnet, t'icre is another valley, with 
 lands adjoining, which is called at this day by the name of Suthc.iv, or Soutbcupb. 
 
 K 2 Robert 
 
 * 
 
( «8 ) 
 
 Robert the Robert brought thefe letters to the abbot, and ftrenuoufly demanded 
 iSch a Q t ; p fl' e f^ otl f tne W ood. The abbot afTembled his brethren, and they 
 fat like a court, or grand council, in the confiftory or chapter-houfe. 
 Robert approached, with the letters in his hand, demanding the eftate. 
 The abbot rofe up and faid, thefe letters ought by no means to have 
 been brought to us by you, who make no diftinction betwixt a 
 tenure by inheritance and one by grant. On which, Robert, in great 
 anger, retired, and haftened to the Earl of Leicefter, then jufticiary, 
 or chief juftice of England ; for the tenor of the letter was ; « If ye do 
 
 * not juftice, let Robert Earl of Leicefter do it, that the complainant 
 
 * fuffer no longer vexation through want of right.' The earl directly 
 ifi'ues his letter to the fherifF of Herts, commanding him to fummoti 
 the abbot of St. Alban, and to cite him to appear at Northampton, 
 before the faid earl, and anfwer to this complaint in perfon. Abbot 
 Robert refufed to go; but fent a brother, named Hugh, a man of 
 difcretion and prudence, who, though with reluctance, undertook 
 the journey. The earl was incenfed, and iflbed another citation. The 
 abbot ftill declined appearing; the earl gave fentence, adjudging the 
 wood to Valoinges ; and the fherifF put him into poffeffion without 
 delay. Then he, Valoinges, thinking that he fhould be tenant but 
 a fhort time, from this unjuft fuccefs, fet himfelf to commit all kind 
 of wafte and fpoil, beyond the example of any of his predeceflbrs. 
 
 The abbot, finding the mifchief to be irrecoverable, fpeeds away to 
 the earl of Leicefter, and obtains letters from him, to reftrain and in- 
 hibit Robert de Valoinges from farther damage and injury. Robert 
 refufed obedience to the injunctions, and repeated, with double mif- 
 chief, the wafte and fpoil of the wood. The abbot hereupon haf- 
 tens to the Queen (Eleanor), then in England ; and obtains from her 
 letters to reftrain the bold proceedings of Valoinges, who, for a while, 
 acquiefced, and then returned to his old practices, and did more mif- 
 chief than ever. On this, the abbot fent meffengers, with the com- 
 plaint, to pope Alexander; who returned this anfwer, directed to Theo- 
 bald archbifhop of Canterbury, and Hilary bifhop of Chichefter ; 
 
 * Whereas, our beloved fons, the abbot and brethren of the monaf- 
 *" tery of St. Alban, have fhewn, by their complaint, that Robert de 
 
 * Valoinges doth unjuftly hold the wood of Northaw, their property : 
 ' We charge you to convene the faid Robert within thirty days after 
 
 * the receipt of thefe letters, and caufe him to make reftitution, or 
 •perform to them full and ample juftice, in your prefence ; which, 
 
 * if he fhall perchance, out of contempt, refufe to do, our will is, 
 
 * that you pronounce againft him the fentence of excommunication. 
 
 1 And 
 
( «9 ) 
 
 ' And if one of you be unable to be prefent at this bufinefs, let it be put Ro j5[J abbot* 
 
 * in execution by the other.' Given at Anagnia, 6. cal. Feb. v v — / 
 
 The bimops, on receipt of this papal order, were in the utmoft 
 fear and confuiion ; becaufe Henry 11. had forbid, that the lentence of 
 excommunication mould be pronounced againft any of his nobles. The 
 abbot, therefore, difpatches one of the brethren, laden with prefents 
 and promiies, to the king, who was before Thouloufe; foliciting his 
 Majefty to give orders to the earl of Leicefter, that he, together with 
 Robert de Valoinges, would be pleafed to hear this complaint concern- 
 ing the wood of Northaw, in his own court at Weftminfter. To this 
 the king was not inclined; but, being foftened by the importunities of 
 the monk, he con fen ted to write to the earl; directing, 1 That he 
 ' would not fuffer Robert de Valoinges, from that day, to cut any 
 
 * more timber or wood, or to fell or give away any.' Which in- 
 junction Robert having received, he, with great reluctance, com- 
 plied with. Robert, the abbot, Hill refenting the unjuft robbery 
 which his church was fuffering, repaired, with all fpeed, to the king, 
 then in Normandy, being returned from Thouloufe (a). The king 
 and the abbot had a long conference on the fubject of the wood ; the 
 latter claiming juftice, the former denying the neceffity of it. At 
 length a bargain was ft ruck between thefe great perfonages, for lool. 
 on receipt of which, Robert obtained a relcript to the chief jufticiary, 
 commanding him tocall before him therefpective parties, 4 and hear their 
 
 * allegations, and give a decifion concerning the right of property, 
 « from the charter of Lanfranc (b), who was made archbimop of Can- 
 ' terbury in 1070, and other charters, and pronounce a definitive 
 
 * fentence.' 
 
 The abbot returned, and laid the refcript before the earl, who cites 
 Valoinges to appear, allowing him only forty days. And, in the 
 mean time, the abbot made a journey to their cell at Thinmow, or 
 Tinmouth, in order to viiit and infpect the brethren there iettled. 
 
 At length the day came for the appearance of the two litigants ; 
 and Valoinges refufed to appear: the abbot had travelled into Scot- 
 land, andwas repoling himfelf in the abbey of Dumfermlin ; butSymond, 
 the prior of St. Alban, appeared in his ftead, and by his order. The 
 
 (a) This was in 1160; and in this year died Theobald, the archbifhop. But a 
 more material circumftance that marks this year is, that Htnry married his ion, aged 
 feven years, to the daughter of the king of France, who was aged three years. 
 
 (b) Lanfranc had been a great benefactor to this abbey ; for, belidfe aHifring Paul 
 with large funis to rebuild his chuich, as has been faid, he endowej the fame with 
 lands and manors ; of which Northaw was one. 
 
 judiciary 
 
( 7° ) 
 
 Folcrt tfcejufticiary proceeded not to a bearing, but ifFued a fecond citation to 
 j'-' n f i Robert de Valoinges, to appear at the fame place, at the end of forty 
 days. On the day appointed the abbot appeared, and Valoinges did 
 not : on which the judge declared the wood to be confilcated to the 
 nfe of the king: and fummoned Valoinges a third time, allowing him 
 fix weeks. On the day, the abbot appeared at Leicefter; and Valoinges 
 did not, nor did he fend any perfon to anfwer for him, or make ex- 
 ception. On which the earl, with the judgement of the whole court, 
 decreed the wood to the abbot. He then put Robert in poffeffion, 
 bv the delivery of a branch ; and compelled Valoinges to make reftitu- 
 tion for the mifchief and damage by him committed. 
 
 T have been thus particular in the narration of this event, in order to 
 mew, how much the rich and great envied the clergy in their poflef- 
 fions, and how much the latter were employed to combat the vio- 
 lence and artifice of the former : it difcovers the difficulty of obtain- 
 ing right in thofe days ; how corrupt the very fountain of juftice was ; 
 and how weak and helplefs the clergy, even at the height of their pro- 
 fperity, were, to obtain redrefs, and fupport themfelves againfr. the 
 ufurpations and encroachments of the great and opulent laity. It 
 mews alfo, on a comparifon with thefe days, with what wifdom great 
 men, kings, and minifters, and courts of law under them, have acted, 
 in fupporting the rights, and maintaining the body, of Proteftant 
 clergy ; in confidering them no longer as the lords of the heritage, 
 but as helpers of the faith ; and employing them as teachers and in- 
 ftruclors of the people, in obedience tojurt and mild government, not 
 as the inftruments and tools of arbitrary rule and unjuffc authority. 
 
 This fame abbot, Robert de Gorham, had another conteft with 
 the earl of Arundel, whofe father had founded the cell at Wymund- 
 ham ; and Robert, going to vifit this cell, was very ill-treated by the 
 prior, named Ralph de Nuers, and the fervants. In fhort, they de- 
 nied his authority, and refufed him admiffion ; and, having fent his 
 cook before, as was the cuftom, to provide for the abbot, the man 
 was beaten, and his horfe lfolen. The abbot applied to the earl, who 
 lived near, for relief and afTifhmcc : and he interpofed, by giving cor- 
 rection to the prior and fervants. But this he did, not fo much to 
 vindicate the rights of the abbot as to affert his own, and manifeft 
 his own fupei iority ; for, he affirmed that the abbot had no right or 
 jurildicYion there, and that, his father having founded and endowed the 
 cell, he was himfelf the patron and vifitor, to the exclufion of all 
 others. The abbot anfwered, that it was his, the earl's, duty, to give 
 confirmation to the grants made by his father ; that the king's char- 
 ter 
 
( 7' ) 
 
 ter (which was nil that was neceflary to eftablifh a foundation in the^ ,5ert tIie 
 time of Henry i.) was in nib cuftody, an I bv that the eel) was made (lib* * a - h ^ J ^ 
 ordinate to the abbey of St. Alban; and he'cfiallenged the ta 1 to fh'ew 
 any deed, or record, to exclude the abbey, or to limit the authority 
 of vifitor to himlclf or his family. The earl, being unable to do this, 
 fubmitted his own pretended authority, and acknowledged the right of 
 the abbey ; but not without fwearing by the lance of God (being "a 
 great armed knight), that the abbot's name fhauld, for the future, be 
 called Mate-felon. 
 
 Robert wa> on very good terms with his countryman, pope Adrian IV. 
 and, being at Rome one lummer, (a journey, which, in thofe days, 
 feems to have been only a fummer jaunt for the clergy'), he lolicited 
 his holinels to enter on fome meaiures to make the monks of Ely 
 forbear their boaftiug that they were pdflefled of the true relics of 
 St. Alban. The pope, accordingly, directed a commiflion to three 
 certain bimops, to make ftrict enquiry; who, going to tly, and 
 mewing their credentials, the abbot and convent made choice of twelve 
 of their oldeft and moft difcreet brethren, to dilcufs this arduous affair. 
 When the bilhops had flrft exacted an oath, to examine the truth and 
 obey it, otherwile they mould fuffer fufpenfion and the cenfures of the 
 church, they protefted, with unanimous content, ' that they had been 
 4 deceived by a pious fraud ; that they had perpetrated lacrilege, and 
 4 were wholly without one bone or St Alban : that, with regard to the 
 
 * faint's caflock, or rough coat, they believed themfelves to have been 
 4 deceived, through the like pious zeal; for, by realon only of the length 
 
 * of time, fuch a thing could not then exift ; and that Germanus, 
 ' when he difcovered the bones of the faint, found them not wrapped in 
 
 * a caflock, but in a pall or cloak ; and had left them in it, as he had 
 
 * found them : that OfFa, like wife, who 344 years after Germanus, 
 
 * had raifed the bones from the earth, did not find the faid caflock : 
 
 * but the laid pall or cloak he had relerved whole, and on hurt', in his 
 4 church, in teftimony of fo great a miracle.' With this confcliion, 
 the abbot and monks of St. Alban declared themfelves fatished. 
 
 Pope Alexander the Third had lummoned a general council to 
 meet at Tours in France ; and, among the relt, the prelates of 
 England fet forth to attend his holinels, and conlult for the bene- 
 fit of the univerial church. With them appeared the venerable 
 abbot Robert, a man efteemed, at that time, the moft eloquent, and 
 the beft inftructed, in all divine and human laws. To him was af» 
 1 figned, by Hyacinth, the cardinal deacon, the firft feat above all the 
 Englifh abbots, according to the privilege granted by pope Adrian ; 
 
 with 
 
( n ) 
 
 Robert the witli a charge to keep and preferve the faid feat, as one of his 
 i xy& °; fervants. And, left he might be too much puffed up by his 
 . elevation and honour, he was to confider himfelf as door-keeper 
 to the pope. In the writ of privilege, the tenor of the- grant 
 runs thus ; " that, as Alban was diftinguifhed as the firft mar- 
 " tyr in England, fo let the abbot of his monaftery be ranked 
 44 the firft in place and dignity." But the abbot of St. Ed- 
 mund (bury, named Hugo, was fadly mortified at this pre-eminence; 
 and, on the night before the day of aflembling, he got poiTeffion of 
 this firft feat, and, together with his attendants, fat up therein, 
 driving out, by violence, a fervant of abbot Roberts, who had been 
 fent to fecure it : in the morning, abbot Hugo, fearing that the 
 pope or ca rdinals would put fome affront on him, and depofe him 
 from his feat, offered the court of the pontiff a prefent of fixty 
 marks ; promifing that his brother Hamon, a monk, mould be de- 
 tained as a hoftage until the money was paid. Robert was unwilling 
 to appeal to the king's court for redrefs, becaufe Henry had forbid all 
 the prelates to bring any complaint, on any matter, into his courts. 
 But, in the prefence of all affembled, he laid before the pope the vio- 
 lence and affront committed by Hugo ; and, arrayed in all his pon- 
 tific habits, leated himfelf next to Hugo, and before all the other 
 abbots. 
 
 Hugo did this in j unification of the honour of his martyr, who had 
 been a king ; but it proved of little advantage to him to affert and vin- 
 dicate the royal martyr ; for, befide the charges of the journey, &c. 
 his prefents and liberalities to the pope, the cardinals, and court, coft 
 him very dear. Now, while Hugo was fupporting his own af- 
 fected honour and rank, Robert was turning his difgrace and af- 
 front to a public benefit ; for, under the influence of this grievance, 
 he offered many petitions to the pope, which his holinefs granted 
 without the leaft hesitation. One was, that he would be pleafed to 
 comfirm that exemption from the bimop of Lincoln, which Pope 
 Adrian had granted to his monaftery, and to the fifteen churches (a) 
 under its jurifdiction ; another contained fome advantages for the 
 cell at Hatfield ; and the third contained fome privileges in favour of 
 the holy virgins dwelling at Sopwell. 
 
 Robert, on his return home, was received with all the pomp and 
 folemnity of a proceffion ; and, approaching the high altar, he made 
 an offering of two filver bafons, value five marks ; and two mantles, 
 
 (a) Thefe were all that at this time belonged to the abbey. The other fix, which 
 conftitute the arch-deaconry of St. Alban, were later acquifitions. It is not clear 
 which were the fifteen here entitled to the privilege. 
 
 3 adorned 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 adorned before and behind with gold fringe. He caufed to beR° bert t5i e 
 made a very handfonie cenfer of filver, for burning frankincenfe. He , l8lhabb ° c - 
 purchafed two garments, or cloaks, of the fineft imperial purple ; 
 of which one was made into a cope, value one hundred millings, and 
 the other was converted into a mantle. He caufed alfo to be made 
 a fmall image of the Virgin Mary, with its attributes, to be placed 
 over the altar. He caufed many books to be tranfcribed ; " more'* 
 fays my author, " than can be mentioned." He repaired the coffin 
 and mrine of the faint, which, in the time of abbot Ralph, had been 
 broken and ftripped of its ornaments, in order to purchafe their eftate 
 at Brentfield ; and furnimed it, as before, with much ornament of 
 gold, filver, and precious ftone. He beftowed much expence in im- 
 proving the buildings of the monaftery ; for, he built anew the chap- 
 ter-houfe from the ground ; and the grand room called the King's Par- 
 lour ; and a chapel to the honour of St. Nicolas ; and all that fide 
 of the cloifter which Hood in the front of the chapter-houfe. He erected 
 alfo a granary, a landry, a larder, and a long {table ; and appointed 
 that a lamp mould be burning in the ftable every night. He built, 
 moreover, two funny rooms (a), fuch as were in great requeft in thofe 
 days, and which tended to foften the rigor of the winter weather. 
 
 But Robert, with all thefe virtues, {lands charged with fome faults; 
 although, fays M. Paris, they were very flight ones ; for, he gave to 
 his brother, named Ralph, the eftate at Syret, without the confent, 
 or even privity, of the body. And he gave to William Baflet, and 
 his heirs, the whole vill of Thorpe, for the annual rent of thirty 
 millings ; although the father of the faid William never had, or 
 claimed, any inheritance therein. He gave alfo to the monks of Ber- 
 mondfey the tithes, and all parochial rights of a farm called Bridef- 
 horn ; with this fingle condition, that they mould obferve an anni- 
 verfary day to his memory. Thefe two laft contracts he procured, by ear- 
 neft folicitation, to be confirmed by the body. And, in a difpute with 
 Roger de Meriden about the lands at Bradway, he yielded to the 
 claims of the faid Roger, not knowing the true title which the mo- 
 naftery had, and fuffering himfelf to be deceived by the teftimony, 
 upon oath, of fome of the dependents and foldiers of the faid 
 claimant, who, according to truth, and the charter of Henry I. had 
 no kind of right. 
 
 At length, Robert, having governed the abbey fifteen years and 
 four months, departed this life, being afflicted with a pleurtfy. He 
 
 (a) Stlaria, fince called Sollars. 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 Robert the died the 20th of October, 11 66; and his funeral was attended bv 
 jSrh aboot. Gilbert Foliot bifhop of London, Lawrence abbot of Weftminfter, and 
 Simon the prior ot this houfe. He was interred in the new chapter- 
 houfe, at the feet of abbot Paul, who was the firft and moft diftin- 
 guifhed perfon here buried, as appears by his grave-ftone, " in which," 
 iaith my author, ** he is reprefented as habited in his pontific robes." 
 <k But," continues he, " at rebuilding this houfe, the bodies of thofe 
 " venerable men were indecently difturbed, and thrown again pro- 
 " mifcuoufly into the earth." 
 
 At the deceafe of Robert, the abbey was confifcated ; that is, I 
 imagine, the temporalities reverted to the king : but the whole care 
 thereof was committed, by precept from the king's juftice, the earl of 
 Leicefter, to the prior, and to the fteward named Adam, and others 
 of the brethren. The church was fo much burdened with debt, that, 
 when an account was drawn out, and fettled by the king's officers 
 (1 fuppofe of the Exchequer, who had the care of the con fi feat ion), 
 the debt amounted to fix hundred marks, much of this owing to 
 Chriftians, but more to Jews. But this irregularity, and bad ftate 
 of their revenue, was eauly excufed •, in coniideration of the nume- 
 rous and arduous difficulties which they had been involved in, and 
 through which their abbot had carried them with perfect fuccefs. He 
 bore alfo a fpecial affection towards his relations and countrymen ; and 
 had conferred on them many gifts and prefents ; in particular, the 
 lands of Gorham, as they were now called, together with all their 
 product and increafe, he caufed to be confirmed unto the grantee 
 his relation, with certain enlargements, that were not ftrictly 
 lawful. 
 
 Symond the On Robert's death, the prior and monks petitioned the king for 
 19th abbot. j eave to elect a lucceflbr; but the king kept the vacancy open for four 
 months and more ; and at length, after much intreaty, he wrote to 
 the bifhop of London, Gilbert Foliot, directing him to go down ; 
 and thit, " having procured a nomination of three perfons, he mould 
 *' make report to the king of their true characters and abilities, and of 
 " the real ftate of the monaftery ; that he (the king) might choofe 
 «' whom he liked beft." T.his the bifhop performed; and the king 
 appointed Symond the prior to fucceed as abbot. In June, he received 
 the form of benediction from the bifhop, and, being inverted in the 
 proper habits, was enthroned. This was a new node of election. But 
 at this time the conteft ran high between'the king and fsecket ; and 
 this was one of the inftances, wherein Henry determined to fhew 
 Becket, that he could make abbots and bifhops, and give them invef- 
 
 titure, 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 titure, without the interference of the arch-bifliop ; or of the pope, ft* <? v 
 whom Becket contended. 
 
 Symond was an Englishman by birth; a privilege which three or four 
 of his predeceflbrs could not boaft. He had been bred up from his 
 infancy in the monaftery, and was well veried in all the rules, ufages, 
 and cuftoms, practiftd therein. He was well accomplished in letters, 
 and the learning then mo ft efteemed ; and of excellent morals and 
 fobriety. He took great pains to have plenty of good books. It has 
 been obferved, that there was in the monaftery a certain apartment, 
 called the Scriptorium, ufed for the (cribes and copyifts : this having 
 been long neglected, and the ufe of it perverted, Symond repaired it; 
 and employed three or four lcribes conftantly, and made fome addition 
 to their lalary : by this means he provided a great number of very 
 fair and reputable books, and among others, the Old and NewTeftament 
 much embellifhed. He caufed a place to be made for thefe books, called 
 the Almonry, oppofite the tomb of Roger the Hermit, fomewhere within 
 the body of the church ; for, it is to be obferved, that, among all the 
 rooms and buildings belonging to the abbey, there was none called the 
 Library : the fcarcitv of books rendered this unneceflary; and, from 
 their being kept in holes and corners, they foon decayed, and furniftied 
 new employment for the fcribes. He likewife ordained, that all 
 future abbots fhould employ one fcribe at leaft. 
 
 This abbot had no fuch contefts with the great and powerful as 
 Robert had. But his whole time feems to have been fpent in procu- 
 ring gold and lilver, and rich cups and utenfils ; and in applying the 
 gold and filver, together with many precious ftones, in decorating the 
 ftirine of the faint. And herein he employed a very excellent artift, 
 one mafter John, a goldlmith ; who, in a very few years, fo enriched 
 and embellilhed the fhrine, that M. Paris, who lived near one hun- 
 dred years after, fays, he had never feen one more fplendid and noble. 
 
 It is to be underftood, that in thofe days there was no fcreen at the 
 top of the choir, that the great altar flood where the rails and table 
 now ftand, and the (hrine was placed in what is now the confiftoryj 
 fo that it was all open, even from Cuthbert's fcreen, to the view of 
 the whole choir and congregation. Symond caufed the fhrine to be a 
 little elevated, for a better view, and to appear directly before the eye 
 of the prieft who was celebrating mafs ; whofe place it was to ftand 
 and kneel with his back to the people, and on the weft fide of the altar. 
 This pofition of the (hrine was not only the moft fplendid to the eye 
 of the beholder, but was intended to raife and elevate the devotion of 
 
 L 2 the 
 
( 7« ) 
 
 S vfn ^„j cnethe pried; and to this purpofe, alfo, was intended the decollation of Al- 
 1 9th abbot . ^ an ^ y^hJch was painted on the wall oppofite. The jfhrine was in form 
 fom what refembling an altar-tomb, but rifing, with a lofty canopy 
 over it (upported on pillars ; and was intended to reprefent the faint 
 lying in great ftate ; and thus to receive the homage and adorations of 
 all fuch as believe in faints and in their efficacious prayers. The 
 infide contained a coffin, wherein had been depofited the bones of 
 Alban by abbot Geoffrey. This was inclofed in another cafe, which, 
 on the two fides, was overlaid with figures caft in gold and filver, (hew- 
 ing the chief acts of Alban's life, in work that was highly raifed and 
 embofled. At the head, which was toward the eaft, was placed a 
 huge crucifixion, with a figure of Mary on one fide, and of St. John on 
 the other, ornamented with a row of very iplendid jewels. At the 
 feet, which were towards the weft, and in front of the choir, was 
 placed an image of the Virgin, holding her fon in her bofom, feated 
 on a throne: the work feemingly of calf gold highly embofled, and en- 
 riched with precious ftones and very coftly bracelets. The four pil- 
 lars which fupported the canopy, and flood one at each corner, 
 were fhaped in refemblance like towers, with apertures to repreient 
 windows, and all of plate gold, fupporting the roof or canopy, whofe 
 infide was covered with cryftal ftones. 
 
 Such was the fhrine or monument of the holy Alban ; and which, 
 in the notions of thofe times, was calculated to excite devotion in the 
 beholder. And, indeed, when the worfhip of iaints made a great part 
 of their religion, it was natural to fet off the monument of the faint 
 with all poffible fplendor ; fince this, with ignorant minds, would 
 infpire a degree of awe and aftonifhment, excite an idea of the faint's 
 power and intereft in heaven, and certainly tended to make the poor 
 votary more fubmiflive to the mafters of the faint. But it was a part 
 of that myftery of iniquity which Chrift and his apoftles foretold 
 would work : and now was the time when it drew near its higheft per- 
 fection ; when churchmen, now approaching to the greatelt pitch of 
 power, had inftituted and eftablifhed a rival jurifdiction, and were ever 
 combating and controuling the civil authority. 
 
 The quarrel, between Henry II. and Becket, was nothing more than 
 a ftruggle which mould be fuperior, the Crown or the Mure ; and 
 which dependent and fubfervient. Ever fince the Conqueror had che- 
 rifhed the clergy and church, in order to fecure his new acquifitions, 
 they had gone on to obtain more and more privileges ; William had 
 founded new bifhoprics, enlarged and amplified the old, created new 
 officers under them, and enabled the clergy to rule all his fubjects : and, 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 In the fpace of one century, they had grown independent of the Symond 
 Crown, and poflefTed privileges that were not only adverfe to the ufual v, 19 " 
 Jaws and rules of civil government, but even dangerous to monarchy 
 it felf, whenever the monarch ventured to oppofe them. This tem- 
 poral power was greatly ftrengthened by the doctrines which they had 
 taught : tranfubftantiation, the worfhip of the dead, and invocation of 
 faints, in order to ellablim a pretended intereft with Heaven ; the ne- 
 ceffity of confefiion, and refignation of all private will and opinion ; 
 and, to complete their tyranny over kings and civil powers, the pre- 
 tended lawfulnefs to dethrone, or to withdraw all allegiance and duty 
 from them. 
 
 In this fummit of church power, but with a view to reduce or reftrain 
 its exorbitancy, did Henry place his chancellor Becket, by appointing him 
 arch-bimop of Canterbury ; being fir ft ordained only deacon, and now, 
 for this exprefs purpofe. prieff. And, at firft, the conduct of Becket 
 feemed aflenting to this plan ; but he changed, and, inftead of a mo- 
 derate governor, became a moft zealous champion and defender of 
 the church It is unneceflary to lay more of the perfecution he 
 fuffered, his exile, his undutiful carriage to the king, and his tragi- 
 cal end at laft : but this event Sufficiently (hews the excefs of power 
 pofiefied by the ch rgy, and of the enmity which the ftate and its go- 
 vernors muft conceive againft them on that account. 
 
 Among the fautors and encouragers of Becket, our abbot Symond was 
 no 1 : the leaf) ; though there is no facl: on record that fpecially notes his 
 courage, or his infolence in the conteft, except this, which 1 will relate: 
 Becket, after a prokriotion of feven years, was permitted to return to 
 England : and he thought proper to go to Woodftock, to pay his duty 
 to prince Henry, juft then crowned and aflbciated with his father in 
 the throne. The arch-bifhop had incenfed the king afrem, by refus- 
 ing to abfolve thofe bifhops who had been excommunicated : and, 
 while he was on his journey, the king forbade him to proceed any 
 farther: the arch-bimop turned back, and repoled himfelf at his 
 manor of Harwes (a), about feven miles from this abbey; and fent for 
 abbot Symond, to confole him on his misfortunes and diftrelTes. 
 Here Symond palTed iome days with him ; and, within fifteen days 
 after their departure, Becket was (lain by four ruffian knights, at the 
 foot of an altar, on the 29th of December 1 170. The death of fuch 
 a man often drew pious lamentations from Symond, who grieved 
 M that he was not worthy to have been involved in fo glorious a toil ; 
 
 (a) This, I believe, is Hayes near Uxbridge. 
 
 " nor 
 
( 7« ) 
 
 Symond the << n0) . ever } irc | tne h onour to be maimed, or mutilated, or beheaded, 
 
 if) h abbot. . 7 7 ' 
 
 <■ — v ' " in 10 noble a caule. 
 
 This abbot prepared many ornaments for the church and the fer- 
 vice ; luch as very fine cups, well wrought in gold, and enriched 
 with precious ftones : to which the king added another exceeding rich 
 cup, to hold the vefiel that contained, what they called, the real body of 
 Chrift. He cauled alio to be made a very large crofs, covered with 
 plates of gold ; which was borne between two other crolTes on the day 
 of the Lord's pafiioij. The chapel of Cuthbert, built by abbot Richard, he 
 now caufcd to be coniecrated. He made another very uncommon 
 vefTel refembling a writing-delk f fcrinium ), covered with plates of gold, 
 and riling in the top in ribs or circles of gold, wrought with figures 
 and ftories of the blefTed Jefus. This contained a fmall cheft, in which 
 was deposited the true body : and the whole vefTel was carried about 
 with great iolemnity, and, at certain times, worshipped with all the 
 tokens of adoration by the whole convent; ' to fheW,' faith my au- 
 thor, 4 how much that body ought to be reverenced and adored by 
 * men, which Chrift gave up to be fcourged, crucified, and buried in 
 « the earth (a)." 
 
 One is quite at a lofs to underftand how the Saviour's body, morti- 
 fied as it was, could be juftly reprelented by a great gilded box, laid 
 to contain fomething, which the bearers pretended was the real body. 
 Nor can one fee by what logic the people could be thence reafoned 
 into a fenfe of the merits of Ch rift's body or death ; or how the fight 
 of this glittering veflel could raile any true devotion or reverence for 
 the Saviour ; but it ferved to dazzle and aftonifh, and thus prepare 
 men to be more fubmifiive and credulous ; it awed the vulgar, and 
 railed a credit or opinion, that priefts and monks, who abounded in 
 gold and riches, muft be favoured of Heaven. 
 
 Another principal event of Symond's time was the difcovery of the, 
 body of Amphibaluii the mafter and inllructor of Alban 1 his great 
 event is related by M. Paris as having come to pafs by the miraculous 
 appearance of Alban to one Robert, a lay perfon of the town ; to 
 whom he difcovered, that, if they would dig on Redburn Green, they 
 
 (a) Berenger, who was one of the raofl learned divines of his age, was a principal 
 of the fchool at Tours, and afterwards arch-bifhop of Angers, fuffered much perfecu- 
 tion for afferting and teaching the fpiritual prefence only, and not the corporea 1 , cf the 
 Saviour, in the F.ucbarift. He had derived this opinion from the writings of John 
 Scotus Erigena, who lived in the ninth century. Rut Berenger was perlecuted for this 
 doflrinef even when the church of Rome had not attained to any precife and fettled 
 do&rines concerning the prefence. Aio/h. £cc. Hiji. 1 1 Cent. 
 
 fhould 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 fhould find the remains of Amphibalus, and many of his felloW-fuf- s y m °^ bfe * e 
 ferers. The abbot obeyed the direction, and was as fuccefsful in the * 9 ' °V 
 difcovery as if he had known by tradition the place of their burial. 
 And with great lolemnity the bones of this pious man and his compa- 
 nions, or of fome others that had been depolited on that green, were 
 brought to the abbey in I 17S; and, to gain credit to the authenticity 
 of the fact, wonderful cures were faid to have been wrought among 
 the rick, lame, and blind, at the place. The particular infirmities are 
 related by M. Paris ; but they are plainly copied from the miracles of 
 Jefus. 
 
 This religious abbot at length died in 1 1 8 3, having ruled the mo- 
 naftery fifteen years. But it was difcovered, that he left his abbev in 
 debt above fix hundred marks to the Jews; and, to others, more than 
 two hundred. Aaron, the Jew, came down, and with great pride 
 and offentarion made his boaft, 4 that he had built that noble fhrine ; 
 ' and that all the grand entertainment of the place had been furnifhed 
 * out of his money.' Symond bore a very carnal affection towards his 
 relations, and had enriched many with the goods of the crucifix : 
 and, befide knights and nobles, he gave prefents to many who only 
 pretended to be his kinfmen ; and for that purpofe committed grievous 
 wafie on the timber and woods of the abbey. He was fucceeded in the 
 abbacy by Wairen or Waring. 
 
 Warren was delcended from an ordinary family in the town of Cam- Warren the 
 bridge, and had early acquired great fame and reverence for his learning v 20th abbot. 
 and piety; and was 150 lefs remarkable for the accomplishments of his 
 perfon. While a ircular, he went with his brother Matthew to 
 Italy, and O.udied phyfic at Salernum, which at that time was a re- 
 nowned medical fchool. But,- while there, the two brothers, together 
 with a nephew named Warren, end two aflociates, who were of Sa- 
 lem um, formed a lelolution of entering as monks into the abbey of 
 St. Alban : which wifh and intent they did each of them accomplifh, 
 except the nephew. And he, ftill continuing a iecular, kept a fchool 
 in the town, liv^d in good fame and character, and died in a habita- 
 tion very near to the nuns' houfe at Sopwell. His fchool was in Inch 
 reputation, that it was fcarcely furpafled by any other in the kingdom 
 at that time, either in the number of lcbolars or in the utility of 
 the fcience there taught. And it had this teftimony from that learned 
 doctor, called Alexander Ntquam (or Neckam), who had ruled the 
 fame many years before young Warren took it, and who was at this 
 time the director and governor of the great priory fchool at Dunftaple. 
 This Warren, the nephew, applied himfelf much to the ftudy of 
 
 the 
 
( »° ) 
 
 Warren the the decretals and church law, being fupplied with books by his two 
 s 20th * ot ; uncles. Thefe three men acquired great intereft and efteem among 
 perfons of all ranks : and were termed, by the envious, the threefold 
 cord that could not be broken. 
 
 The election of Warren the elder to the abbot's chair had pafTed 
 with the univerfal confent of the convent ; except that of William 
 Martel, the facrift, who himfelf afpired to that dignity, but with 
 much indecent conduct ; faying, that Warren (having a defect in his 
 eye) was quite blind ; ' that he was of mean origin, and born of that 
 
 * low tribe called Dealers in Salt; and that, if he mould be chofen, he 
 
 * would, with Matthew his brother, tread under foot the whole con- 
 4 vent; nor muft any man dare to contradict them.' Warren ruled 
 the abbey twelve years; and the moll remarkable of his deeds was, 
 his founding the cell and church of St. Mary de Pratis. He is faid 
 to have done this at the admonition of a man, born at Waldon, who 
 pretended that Amphibalus had appeared to him, and requefted 
 
 * that fome place might be dedicated to his honour, for that he had 
 
 * been the inftructor and converter of the great Alban.' Warren com- 
 plied fo far as to found a cell, with proper offices, and a church, 
 with chaplain and clerk, for the ufe and habitation of thirteen poor 
 leprous women. Its fituation procured its name de pratis ; for, it is 
 defcribed as being placed at the extremity of the plowed land, and 
 adjoining to the meadows of Kingnbury, with its offices on each fide 
 of the high-way (a). The perfon whom he placed over this fociety, 
 (if it could be called fuch, when they were fhut up from all commu- 
 nication with others, and limited to a fmall diftance from their 
 houfe), was John de Waldon, the ion of him who had been honoured 
 with the virion of Amphibalus ; and a brother and monk. The al- 
 lowance for the maintenance of this houfe was a certain quantity of 
 winter-corn, and of malt, per week; with cloaths, and a fmall por- 
 tion of money, from the Steward of the monaftery. Amphibalus had 
 fignified in the vifion, that this cell mould be built in the place where 
 his body had refted, when Symond removed the fame from Redburn, 
 in 1 1 78. And this induced Warren to honour it by this beneficent 
 act of humanity to the wretched fufferers of that incurable difeafe, 
 the leprofy. But, that Amphibalus might not complain, the abbot 
 caufed the holy relics of that man, and his companions, to be re- 
 
 (a) This place alfo received its name, not only from its fituation, but in imita- 
 tion of a place fo called near Rouen {St. Mary de Prez), and where the emprefs 
 Maud was buried in 1167. Hoveden 289. So natural was it for Normans to trans- 
 fer names thence to new places here, on which they founded new fettlements. 
 
 moved 
 
( 8l ) 
 
 moved with great folemnity, on the 8th of the calends of July r 1 86, Ur 2 a ^ n abb th f e 
 
 from the place where Symond had depofited them, and to be inclofed . \ 
 
 in a new fhrine richly adorned with gold and filver. Symond had 
 
 placed thefe relics on the right fide of the great altar, in one coffin ; 
 
 but now Warren gave to each of them a feparate inclofure, placing 
 
 the (hrine of Amphibalus clofe to the wall, on the right hand of the 
 
 great altar and next to the upper pier, near the rood-loft(a) on which 
 
 are reprefented, in rude carving, the fufferings of Amphibalus. He 
 
 placed the relics of his three companions in other coffins ; and 
 
 near the fame he placed the relics of the fix other co-martyrs, which 
 
 had been found with him, and all in feparate and diftindt boxes, or 
 
 coffins. 
 
 The king, Henry II. came down to the abbey with a large train of 
 attendants, for entertainment, and this feems to have happened 
 early in the time of Warren, and to have been the confequence of the 
 intereft he had with the court. The king defired to fee the monks and 
 body aflem bled together; and accordingly they met, and took their refpec- 
 tive places in the chapter-houfe. When the king entered, he feated 
 himfelf in the chair of the abbot, in the midff. of the room, with 
 the abbot on his right hand, and the bifhop of Lincoln on his left ; 
 he then bowed to one fide and the other, very gracioufly, in way of 
 falutation, in treating them to 4 pray with incefTant prayers, for the 
 
 * fafety of himfelf, and queen, and children, and alfo for the ftate of 
 ' the realm.' To this the whole convent moffc devoutly confented, 
 acknowledging that they were bound to perform this duty by every 
 tie of gratitude. Then Walter of Conusance, the bifhop of Lincoln, rofe 
 up, and, addreffing himfelf to the king, faid, that he begged leave 
 
 * to prefer a complaint to his Majefty; which was, that he was greatly 
 
 * injured, and the church of Lincoln fhamefully mutilated, by cutting 
 4 off from it fo noble a member as this monastery. With your per- 
 ' million, I mufl move a queftion againft this abbot. Whatever my 
 
 * predeceflbr did, who was fimple and eafy, he was circumvented in 
 4 the fame : the world well knows, that this church is fubjecT: to the 
 
 * church of Lincoln ; and, whatever hath been done in error, it is 
 6 fit and expedient that the fame be recalled.' The abbot Warren, 
 hearing this, laid his bare hand on the knee of the king, without ri- 
 fmg, and faid, * Your majefty is the pledge of my peace, the witnefs 
 
 * and mediator of the compromife, which was begun and confirmed 
 
 * between us.' The king arofe in fome warmth, and exclaimed, 
 
 (a) It feems as if tins rood-loft had been built at this time. 
 
 M « By 
 
( 82 ) 
 
 Wan-en the' By the eyes of God ! I was prefent at the agreement. What is it, 
 ^zoth abbo t, t m y lord of Lincoln, that you would attempt? do you think thefe 
 ' things were done in fecret ? I myfelf, and the moft cholen men of 
 * the realm were prelent : and what was then done is ratified by 
 ' writings the moft inconteftible, and confirmed by the teftimony of 
 ' the nobles. The determination ftands good, and whoever fets him- 
 ' felf to combat this abbot and monaftery combats me. What feek 
 < you ? to touch the pupil of mine eye ?' On which the bifhop found 
 himieif thunderftruck, and uttered not a word more. Nor was any 
 queftion on that lubject ever moved again : and, from that day to this, 
 Lincoln hath never made any claims ; but, at the difiblution, when 
 the power of the abbot was abrogated and annulled, all the places, or 
 churches, under his jurifdiction and confUtuting the arch-deaconry of 
 this church, were, together with all the churches in the liberty of 
 St. Alban, annexed to London diocefe. 
 
 I relate this event, in order to mew, on what footing thefe great 
 churchmen ftood with their fovereign in thole days ; and as a proof 
 of the efteem the king entertained for this abbot and his monaftery. 
 The king had come down to be entertained ; and it was the cuftom of 
 the fovereigns, both before and after him, to go down at the great 
 feftivals to fome abbey, and there keep their holidays : but he was 
 well acquainted with abbot Warren (a), and would not lufter any ob- 
 ftruction or diminution of honour to his hod:. And the confequence 
 of this little broil was, that Walter was the next year made arch- 
 bifhop of Rouen; and Warren fet on foot many innovations, changes, 
 and amendments, in the government of the monaftery ; one of which 
 was, the founding the hofpital of St. Mary de Pratis, as above-mentioned, 
 and aligning thereto fome of the ancient revenue, which, the discon- 
 tented faid, was almoft facrilege ; for, it was converting the iacred re- 
 venue to lay-ufes, and rendering that common, which had been hal- 
 lowed and given in alms. Another injunction was, that, whereas 
 every brother, or monk, had at their death been buried in the plaineit 
 and leaft expenfive manner, being only laid bare in the earth, for the 
 future they mould be interred in coffins made of ftone. This was con- 
 fidered as done out of pique to William M artel, the facrift, who had 
 oppofed the election of Warren ; for, it was a part of the duty and 
 functi Hi of the facrift to provide for the funeral of every member 
 of the convent, and this order would put him to great expence. 
 
 (a) Erat autem regi cbar'ijfimui, propter liberal'itaUm. tt dapfilitaum. M. Paris. 
 
 He 
 
( 8 3 ) 
 
 He enjoined alfo, that a day of anniverfary feafting mould be fet Warren 
 apart, in memory of their deceafed fteward, Adam, who had been a t ?ot 
 faithful fervant for many years, and had procured them the church of 
 Suthbury. Adam, on bringing this church to the polTedions of the 
 abbey, had procured that a part of its revenue, which was more than 
 iool. a year, mould be expended in gifts and feafting, for the fouls of 
 his father and mother, and for the fouls of all the parents of all the 
 monks, that is, as a dole, or recompence, to the receivers, who mould 
 pray for the falvation of thofe fouls. The remainder of this revenue 
 was now ordered to be expended in feeding an hundred poor perfons 
 at the gate, on the anniverfary of Adam, with bread and ale, and an 
 hundred more by the fteward of the monk's kitchen ; and in provi- 
 ding at the fame time a fufficient and fplendid repaft for the whole con- 
 vent in the refectory. Warren alfo appointed an anniverfary for the 
 foul of his predeceffor Geoffrey, in which the treafurer of the church 
 mould relieve an hundred poor perfons with bread and ale, and one 
 mefs of broth ; and all others who might be prefent, ihould have 
 half a loaf each, a quarter of corn being baked for the purpofe. 
 
 Warren granted many indulgences to his monks, by way of miti- 
 gating the rigor of their order; for, whereas it had been a cuftom for 
 the monks to be blooded about four or five times a year (a), the opera- 
 tion to be performed after dinner in the fummer, and the patients to 
 abftain from the refectory, and from converfe, and from holy wor- 
 fhip ; he ordained, that they mould undergo this operation in the morn- 
 ing both in the fummer and in winter, Ihould dine in the refectory, 
 and then go (with the other monks, to whom alfo it was a liberty now 
 firft granted) into the ftrangers parlour, and there join company and 
 converfe for one hour ; in which time the fervitors and attendants 
 were dining. 
 
 He ordered alfo, that they mould all go together into the dormi- 
 tory, at night, before the brethren mould be fummoned by the bell 
 
 (a) This ceremony is defcribed by Cardinal du Frcfne, in his Account of the Order 
 of St. Victor, in thefe words, 4 five times in the year let there be a general lofing of 
 ' blood ; beyond which number, without great danger of extreme weaknefs, the li- 
 1 berty lhall not be granted : and fo many times are neceffary (to be obferved at ccr- 
 1 tain fixed periods), that no perfons may require the fame <\\. an improper feafon : 
 ' the firfl is in September, the fecund before Advent, the third before Lent, the fourth after 
 ' Eaftcr, the fifth after Pentecoft. Three days lhall be employed in the rite ; after 
 
 * which they (hall come to matins, or morning fervice, and join the convent; and on 
 
 * the fourth they lhall receive abfolution in a chapter.' This rite is enjoined in the rule 
 of the order of Semprlngham j and in the Chrcnicsn of Truao, c. 9 ; and in the Ufus 
 Ord. Cijicnhnfium, c. go. 
 
 M 2 to 
 
( H ) 
 
 Wa oth"abbot e t0 ail ^ e ^ 0r midnight fervice, Completorium: and that thofe, who 
 ' did rife for that folemnity, mould meet in the ftrangers parlour, and 
 converfe for one hour, or fo long as the keeper of that room mould 
 give leave, befoie they went into the choir; but not ionger, or later, 
 than the curfew (a). He added, likewife, to fome, a leave of able nee from 
 the midnight fervice or an indulgence of abfence the next day. The 
 matins were a fervice in the church at three o'clock in the morning:, 
 or in the fummer at break of day : and it had been a conftant cuftom 
 for thefe bleeding monks to abfent themfelves for the firft night after 
 the operation, but to attend on the fecond. The abbot now granted 
 them abfence on the fecond night, with injunctions to attend the 
 third, at all canonical hours; unlefs fome principal fefHval, or double 
 fervice, mould intervene on the fecond. 
 
 This practice of bleeding the monks did not become neceflary 
 through high living, or to prevent a plethora and carry off any in- 
 temperance ; for, they lived chiefly on roots and bread, and but rarely 
 on fifh and fowl : they, however, drank plentifully of ale and malr- 
 liquor. But, in the phyfical fyftem of thofe days, bleeding was 
 deemed a remedy for all diforders, and efpecially for a low and weak 
 conftitution : and befide, they placed fo much religious merit in a pale 
 afpect and a mortified habit of body, that they thought a florid com- 
 plexion, and healthy looks, quite inconfiftent with religion and grace; 
 and fuch appearance created a fufpicion of great fin and criminality in 
 the bearer. 
 
 It was the duty of the facrift to regulate and direct all matters 
 relative to the fafts, and the obfervance thereof; and he was now 
 ordered to allow moderate refremment to fuch as could not wait till 
 the late hour the body fat down to dinner on faft-days; but to manage 
 in fuch a manner, that the whole fhould affemble at the great mals. 
 In Lent, the daily practice was, that no man tafted a moifel until 
 after the great mafs, which began at three o'clock; and then he might 
 take a little food, and aflemble with the convent, at fix, to the velpers. 
 But, as it had ever been complained, that they had but one hour (for, 
 the great mals lafled two hours) for relieving their faft, and for ne- 
 ceffary eafe and refremment, the abbot allowed that fome fhouid flay 
 longer at their repaft, provided that others attended vefpers ; and that, 
 if the convent abstained from fifh, which they did often on faft-days, 
 a man mould be abfolved from the injunction of abftinence, and be 
 allowed to eat what he could get. When any perfon had taken his 
 
 (a) Pyritegium. 
 
 repaft, 
 
( «5 ) 
 
 repaft, he mould quit the refectory inftantly, and betake himfelf to his w * r ™ , 
 fblitary duties, while the body was dining; and that, if any monk t ^ ,\ 
 abode or {faid in the refectory until the found of the bell was heard, 
 (which was probably a fummons to the fervants, &c), that monk 
 mould not be permitted to enter the parlour; but go into the church, 
 and remain there iolitarv and filent. 
 
 It was contrary to the rule and law of their inftitution to eat 
 flefh meat, except in the infirmary ; but, becaufe there were fome 
 who concealed their weak and low condition, although they looked 
 extremely pale and wafted, and wifhed to keep out of the infirmary, 
 to them the abbot gave leave to eat meat, but it muft be in the gate- 
 houfe, and probably with the porter. And, even in the infirmary, 
 no one touched meat, unlets in the extremity of his difeafe, (which, 
 as it arole from very low diet, here met its fuitable remedy), or when, 
 if recovering, the mafter of the infirmary, authorized for fpeaking the 
 truth, affirmed that meat was neceflary. He directed every one to 
 enter the infirmary, as foon as he complained of ficknefs ; and the 
 offerings made at the altar of St. Peter (a), at the north end of the town, 
 were fet apart for the purpole of finding medicines, advice, &c. ; fo 
 that no one, who mould undertake that duty, might hereafter plead 
 an impoftibility or defect of means : and this appointment of the 
 offerings continued till the time of John of Hertford^ the 23d abbot, 
 who, in 1 25 endowed a vicarage in this church, and alfo in that of 
 Saint Michael of Kingfbury j when the offerings and certain portions 
 of the tithe were allotted to the maintenance of the vicar, and no re- 
 compence made to the monaftic body. 
 
 He permitted any of the monks, who feemed to be declining in 
 their health, to go and recreate themfelves at Redburn ; left a conti- 
 nual round of ducy and confinement in the cioifter, without any va- 
 riation, might breed utter and irrecoverable licknefs : but they were 
 obliged to this condition, that, if flefh-meat was proper and necef- 
 iary, they mould eat iuch as their fervants might provide for themfelves, 
 and they (the fervants) mould eat the conventual dinner. He allowed 
 the monks, on faft-days, to lleep after dinner, if any thought proper; 
 whereas, the cuftom had been, to lie down to reft at noon. But it is 
 necefiary alfo to mention, that it was a cuftom with Warren, to fend 
 
 (a) Abbot Geoffrey had appointed St. Peter's, and all its appuitcnances, to the per- 
 petual ufe of the infirmary and refectory ; with annual denunciations, &c. &c. fee 
 page 55 : But, from this Frelh grant of Warren's, it would appear, that, after a lapfe of 
 50 years, the^threats were forgotten, and the Infirmary s portion otherwife applied. 
 
 5 away 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 Warren the away to Tinmouth, or fome diftant cell, any monk whom he dif- 
 20th abbot , jj^gj . unc } er pretence of its being neceffary for his health, or for 
 his farther progrefs in the ways of righteoufnefs and falvation. 
 
 He remitted much of their duty in the choir, by fhortening many 
 parts of the fervice, and efpecially that fervice on private days, from 
 All Saints to Eafter, in which they were accuftomed to fing thirty 
 pfalms: this fervice was fo tirefome to fome, that they babbled it 
 over as quick as pofftble, and others were ready, in the mean time, to 
 nod: he therefore divided it into two fervices, with an interval ; and, 
 inftead of fome other fervice, or fet of prayers, ufed before, he fub- 
 flituted the feven penitential pfalms. 
 
 He made fome alterations in their drefs; injoining, that inftead of 
 high-fhoes, fattened with a thong, they fhould wear boots, and thofe 
 made of the leather called Bafan, or in prefent vulgar fpeech, Bajils, 
 that is, calf-lkin, tanned; whereas, their former fhoes were made 
 of bullock's hide, and tanned at more expence : the reafon cf this 
 change was, th<jt they might be more ready and expeditious in co- 
 ming to the fervice in the morning, and might not entangle themfelves 
 with their neighbour in walking j and, that they might appear with 
 clean hands: thele boots ftill retained the ancient roundnefs and wide 
 form of the (hoes. He ordered them, alfo, to wear their under gar- 
 ments in fuch a manner, that they might have their arms more at 
 liberty, and no longer be confined by fleeves. He directed that no 
 fervitor, or attendant in the refectory, fhould wait without a good 
 frock; for, before, they were fo iihcloathed, that their appearance 
 approached very near to nnkednefs: and, obferving that the noviciates 
 wore only a frock with a hood fewed to it, he ordered, that, as foon 
 as the young monk received the tonfure, he fhould put on the 
 whole drefs and habit of a projejfed. He ordained alfo, that no 
 fecular, except a bifhop, mould ever dine with the monks. 
 
 He gave to his church a certain habit of a purple colour, and of 
 great value, being adorned with rows of very coftly pearl, and 
 painted, or embroidered, with the figures of birds looking behind 
 them ; and ordained, that on his anniverfary, or day of his death, 
 the officiating priell fhould be habited in this garment, and offer up 
 a falutary vi&im {\ fuppofe in prayer) for his loul. When he per- 
 ceived his end appioaching, he bequeathed to his fucceflbr one hundred 
 marks for rebuilding the well front of his church. 
 
 It was in this abbot's time, that King Richard fCoeurde hionj was 
 taken prifoner, on his return from the Holy Land ; and he had lent 
 an order to his Council, to demand, in his name, from all the mo- 
 
 nafteries, 
 
( «7 ) 
 
 nafteries, bifliop*. and clergy of England, all their Giver cup?, m w ' arren ^ 
 
 order to make a Turn for his ranfom : the abbot then Tent to the king , Z1 oc ; 
 
 two hundred marks of filver ; being unwilling to impoverifh his 
 abbey, or mutilate the fplendor of its appearance. 
 
 Warren ruled the abbey near 12 years; but had always (hewn him- 
 felf an imperious, felf-willed, man, full of his own conceits, and 
 never lifteniug to any advice or admonition of others, however 
 friendly : and, by the help of his brother Matthew, the prior, who 
 was of a very fufpicious character, he offended many of the heft 
 nobility and great perfonages, who had concerns with tbe abbey, 
 and purfued them with a mod unrelenting hatred. This conduct 
 rendered his monaftery fo thin, that he had noviciates of Jive years 
 old ; and the few that remained in the convent never durft contradict 
 him, He was much blamed for founding the church and hofpital of 
 St. xMary de Pratis, as doing an injury to the revenue of his abbey : 
 and the indulgences, which he gave his monks, were faid to be with 
 a view of keeping them in good temper and compliance. But he was 
 famous for doing irreparable mifchief in the woods of the abbey ; and 
 every Sunday he kept a kind of exchequer, or revenue office, to which 
 reformed the forefters and others, who fold or bought the wood, in 
 order to fettle their accompts, &c. And yet, from this fupply, he 
 never added to the ornaments of the church, or to the buildings of 
 the monaftery ; nor, indeed, did he keep up or repair thofe of the 
 farms and manor? : but, with great affiduity, and many liberal dona- 
 tions, did he ftudy to recommend himfelf to king Richard and queen 
 Eleanor; as if that had conftiruted the ium of religious duty and of 
 good fame. Whomloever he found lpeaking of him with obloquy 
 or reprehending his excefles, thefe perions were foon hurried away 
 to feme diftant cell, where many fuffered a kind of exile, and, en- 
 during great bitternefs of mind, finimed a wretched life, with dread- 
 ful imprecations on Warren; and chiefly, becaule they found them- 
 felves con ft rained to break thole vows of obedience, and act contrary 
 to thole promifes and piofeffions, which they had made on admiffion. 
 Waircn died in 1 195. 
 
 The indulgences, if they may be fo called, which this abbot (hewed 
 to his monks, give full proof, in how abject a fubjection to the fuperior 
 they lived, and alfo, what an auftere and irklome life they were 
 forced to lead : the lervice of the choir employed them eight hours 
 iu the twenty-four, namely, two hours at fix in the morning or at 
 
 dav- 
 
( 83 ) 
 
 Warren the day-break, two more at noon, two at fix in the evening, and two more at 
 . ' Qt a ° i midnight. They had, indeed, eight hours for reft, but that was much 
 broken, and interrupted by frequent vigils in the night-feafon ; and 
 the remaining eight, which we may fuppofe fpent in recreation, or in 
 pleafant company and agreeable dilcourfe, feem to have been quite 
 void of all thefe pleafures : if they ipent thefe hours in folitude, it is 
 probable they were given to reft or indolence ; or, if they chofe to 
 refrefli themielves in the open air, it is probable that this could not 
 be done without leave ; and then, it was enjoined every man, who 
 fought for air and exercife, to employ himfelf in the garden with the 
 fpade or the hoe. Every thing like innocent mirth or amufement 
 was excluded thefe walls, in which a repetition of prayers and per- 
 petual ringing of pialms were deemed devotion and worihip, and 
 were holden equivalent to found faith and to pure morals. 
 
 The diet of the monks was another aufterity, that, in thefe days, 
 would not be fubmitted to by the mod indigent. Falling twice a 
 week is reckoned a hardfhip now, by even thofe who are ever full, 
 and fare fumptuoufly every day; but it was a ievere trial and mortifi- 
 cation to men, who fared very fcantily at all times, and may be faid 
 never to have a belly-full of good fubftantial food ; for, the little flefh 
 they had was generally turned into broth, and the fhh allowed was 
 but in fmall quantities : eggs boiled hard, and a portion of roots and 
 herbs, with bread and ale, constituted the generality of their meals. 
 And here it is to be obferved, that the roots and herbs were but of 
 the moft ordinary kind, fince, in the days I fpeak of, very few of 
 the prefent efculent plants were known in England. They feem, indeed, 
 on fome occafions, to have had a portion of wine (a), and were, at times, 
 indulged in the flefh of birds and the feathered tribe, which feem, in 
 thole days, to have been more plenty than beef and mutton, and to 
 have made a considerable part of the feafts, even in later times. 
 
 The drefs, or attire, of the men had as little in it to excite pride, 
 as their diet could gluttony ; or, rather, was as well calculated to 
 mortify and humble them : a coarfe long gown of black, with fome 
 ordinary under-garments, and beneath all a hair ihirt (b), is a drefs, 
 
 that, 
 
 (a) Probably of their own making. 
 
 (b) This is underllood to be the garment worn, among the Jews, by the penitent 
 and the mournful ; and is'the iame as the Septuagint tranflators term £axxo«, and St. John 
 in the 6th chapter of the Apocalypfe ; and which the Latin interpreters have rendered 
 C'dicium ; being made of the hair, or wool, (horn from the goats, and woven in Cili- 
 cia, where this invention took its rife, and continued long in practice, as is affirmed 
 
 by 
 
( h ) 
 
 that, befide being ever painful and working like a thorn in the flefli, Warren »h= _ 
 was a conftant incumbrance to the legs and arms, in every motio n 2UI J " j 
 and gefture : a bald head, and with no covering, in the fevered: cold, 
 but a dirty cowl, or hood, hanging on the moulders, is fomething 
 very humiliating to all perfons, who are lenlible how much the manly 
 character is railed by the air and ornament of the head. 
 
 Their life was palled without much induction, either in public or 
 in private; for, the fermons were not, as now, leifons of faith or good 
 morals, but panegyrics on fome faint, with an account of the ftrange 
 miracles, performed at the tomb of fome pious departed mortal : and 
 books were fo fcarce, and fo few perfons capable of reading them, that 
 no inftruction could ealily be had in private. The fole bufinefsof thefe 
 monks was, to chaunt and exhibit the public worlhip of God in pomp 
 and fplendor ; and their private adoration of him was in ftlf-denial 
 and abafement. 
 
 On a view of their life, what perfons, it may be faid, could be in- 
 duced to embrace it ? and here, though I will allow, that parents might 
 often breed up their children with a view to it, and that many rcalons 
 of prudence and policy prompted the younger branches of families to 
 enter, yet I may fafely venture to fay, that far the greater number took 
 on them this kind of life when they were capable of judging, 
 and that they did it through choice, and after much ferious conli- 
 dcration : it may then be anfwered to this queftionifr., " Alas ! 
 *' thou favoureft more of the things that belong unto men, than 
 *' of thofe that belong unto God." For, thefe men did it out of 
 principle, and in conformity to the notions and do&rines of the 
 times, with great fincerity of mind, and the raoft pure fenti- 
 ments of piety. All their books and doctors of theology taught, 
 that men came into the world with a monftrous burden of fin : it 
 
 by Varro de Re Raflica, in fine. Sometimes it was made of camel's hair; but alwavs 
 of the coarfeft fort, and woven with a very hard coarfe thread: And this was the rai- 
 ment of John the Baptift, as being moll fuitable to his penitential character and mif- 
 lion. The Englifh tranflators term it fackclotk, as if it was made of hemp ; but it is pro- 
 bable this name was affixed to the garment from its refembling a fack, and being, like 
 that, narrow and ftraight. 
 
 Virgil alludes to this in the 3^ Georg e^ thus, 
 
 Cinyphii tondent hirci, fetafque comantes, 
 
 Ufum in caftrorum, miferis velamina nautis. 
 And Alcirnus Avitus de Ju/tiiin, cap. 4. 
 
 Mollibus abjedtis, Oilicum dant tegmina fetae. 
 And Paulinus Nolanus in Obit. Celft, v. 451. 
 
 Si modo lugentcm gravis hirto tegmine faccus 
 
 Caprigcnum feus dum teget, et ft i mulct. 
 
 N matters 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 w " r TJ B lhe . matters not how this guilt was contracted ; they found themfefves 1 
 l ^ V laden.. and, therefore, were not only prudent in forbearing to add to 
 the burden, but were prompted to gain a difcharge from this paternal 
 debt by any means they could devife. The monaftic life offered the 
 faireft promife of remedy. They thought it enough to expiate and 
 wear away the old debt ; but had no notion of fetting out as inyocenc 
 perfons, and making farther progrefs in holinefs and virtue : to get 
 rid of the original burden was all their care ; and this inftitution of- 
 fered the belt means, as being full of harm and rigid duties, and re- 
 moved far from all new temptations : the continual offering up a fa- 
 critice, whether of the real or fuppoled body of the Redeemer, together 
 with frequent and fervent prayer, they thought would derive a merit 
 upon them. And to do their duty in that ftate of life, wherein 
 they mould place themfehes (a), thus by choice, they thought moft 
 pleafing to God. 
 
 To fuch a faith as this, what could better accord and fuit, than a 
 flate of life, wherein their duties were very few : for, by this life, they 
 cut off many of the commandments ; they rejected all the duties of a 
 father and all thofe alfo of a fon, and they no longer owed juflice or love 
 to a neighbour, when they quitted fociety; then too, they renounced all 
 conjugal ties, and the beft endearments of blood and affection : and, by 
 vowing perpetual chaftity, poverty, and fafting, they very nearly ex- 
 punged all the duties due to a man's felf (even fobriety and temperance)' 
 and comprehended the whole duty of this new life in piety and religious 
 worlhip. 
 
 Indeed, the moft pious perfons of thofe times confidered the monaftic 
 life as the moft perfect pattern of holy living, and fuch as could not 
 be attained in the world, or be taught by the fecular clergy : and this 
 induced liberal gifts and benefactions to the monafteries, and was the 
 caufe of frequent bickering and rivalfhip between the regulars and the 
 feculars. Thefe foundations had fuch reputation for fanctity, that 
 they became the parents of moft parifh-church.es ; the lord of a manor 
 generally fending to a monaftery for fome prieft to occupy the 
 church he had built, and therein perform the holy offices among his 
 tenants. Nay, moft of the cathedral churches were founded with 
 a body of this fort, and the bifhop was furrounded with a cloifter of 
 monks. They had a pre-eminence for fame, and gained an afcen- 
 dency throughout the kingdom : they were the leminaries of inftruc- 
 
 (a) The reformers, afterwards, taught people to do their duty in that ftate of life, 
 unto which it Jball pleafe God to call them. 
 
 tion, 
 
( 9> ) 
 
 tion, and (vou'btlefs well calculated to fpread religion over the land, to' 
 found churches, and eftablifh parifhes ; and to perform thofe great v v » 
 works, wh ch none but corporate bodies, in whom refide power, 
 numbers, and duration, can accomplish. 
 
 They we- e, indeed, the parents of many parifh-churches ; but this 
 was not all, they were the great inftruments, in the hand of the 
 popes, not only for governing the papal fubje£ts, but for managing 
 and ruling even the kings of the earth : they were the fworn fubje&s 
 of the pope, and but in a fecond place the fubjects of their civil 
 prince : accordingly, every kingdom experienced a rival jurifdiction, 
 wherein a continual ftruggle was kept up, by the fovereigns and their 
 barons, on one fide, again It the pope and clergy on the other. In this 
 twelfth century, which is reckoned the fummit of papal power, it is 
 remarkable how inftrumental the monks were, to ftir up, at the com- 
 mand of the pope, all the nations of Europe, to go upon that mad 
 project of relcuing the Holy Land ; but which wars appear, on a 
 nearer view, to have been the contrivance of the popes, to ward off" 
 fome great blow that threatened themfelves. And it is remarkable, 
 likewile, that when, in this fame century, the Albigenfes and Waldenfes 
 appeared, contefting the ufurpations of Rome and difproving its doc- 
 trines, the popes could not vanquihh thofe new foes by argument or 
 learning ; nor combat them with any other weapon than by giving 
 all poliible encouragement to the monaftic bodies then exifting, and 
 by creating new orders of monks; as, for inftance, the Dominicans and 
 t rancifcans, of whom I (hall have occafion to fpeak more at large iu 
 the fequel of this work.. 
 
 N 2 CHAP- 
 
( >* ) 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 John T. tlie /^.N the death of Warren, the monks chofe John, the firfl: of that 
 v l * ot j \^J* name, to be abbot ; he was called 'John of the Cell, from having 
 been born at Merkgate Cell, not far from Studham, and therefore 
 fometimes called John of Studham* He was a man of extraordinary 
 piety, and a rigid obferver of the monaftic rules ; and for that reafon 
 chofen, in order to revive the difcipline of the cloifter, and recover 
 credit to the abbey, which had fallen into neglect, by the remiflhefs 
 of the late abbot. This John, in his younger days, had ftudied at 
 Paris ; and came home with fuch reputation, that, in grammar he was 
 reckoned a very Prifcian, in poetry a perfect Ovid, and in phyfic was 
 efteemed equal to Galen. Having taken the habit of a religious, he was 
 advanced to the place of prior of Wallingford(a), and thence was elected 
 to govern this abbey. He committed the care of the cloifter, and of 
 the internal government, to Raymond the prior, a man of good coun- 
 fel, and efteemed prudent and religious, and to the fteward, or celle- 
 rarius, named Roger Parker ; and thus, by delivering over to others 
 the cares of the houfe, he referved himfelf for the more ferious duties 
 of devotion and contemplation. 
 
 Now, with the affiftance of thefe two, he undertook the repair, or 
 rebuilding, of the weft front of the church ; for which he had received, 
 of the late abbot, one hundred marks. But, before I relate the pro- 
 grefs of this work, or the difficulties and troubles that involved both 
 John and his coadjutors, it is proper to fay fomething relative to the 
 
 (b) A cell belonging to the abbey, and (ituated in Berkshire. 
 
 ftructure, 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 ftructure, and to afcertain the time, or times, of its being built andjohn I. the 
 completed : and this is neceffary, becaufe there appear fo many , 2 1 ft abbot ; 
 different ftyles of architecture, that the fever.il parts have been afcribed 
 to different ages, in which a different ftyle, or fafhion of building, 
 prevailed ; for, fome connoiileurs have thought they could dicover, in 
 the choir and tranfepts, the rudenefs and iimplicity of the ancient 
 Saxon, prior to the Conqueft ; and, in the moft improved part, all the 
 elegance and rich variety of Henry VI or Vll.'s time; with the gradual 
 changes and improvements of the intervening periods. 
 
 But, as it is certain that abbot Paul, in the time of the conqueror and 
 Rufus, began and carried on a great part of the building ; fo it is no 
 lefs certain, from this legacy of Warren, that the whole of the 
 well: end had been completed, and did now, in the front, want 
 great reparations. Abbot Paul was appointed in 1077, and ruled fix- 
 teen years; and now, in 1 1 95, a great decay has happened: hence it 
 is probable that this ruinated part had not flood 100 years. And, be- 
 fide, it may be remembered that abbot Richard, the fucceifor of Paul, 
 built the fcreen and chapel, in honour of Cuthbert, and caufed the 
 dedication of the church to be folemnized, with great feftivity, on 
 Chriftmas-day, in the year II 15: whoever oblerves nicely the 
 pofition of that fcreen, now ftanding, muft acknowlege, that it was 
 built after the arches and piers on either fide of it, and therefore thofe 
 arches and piers muft have been built before 1115: and, when the 
 weft front was in a decayed ftate in 119c, it muft follow, that both 
 fides below that fcreen had been built and comr leted, not only before 
 1195, but before 1 1 15. But farther, 1 have already faid, on the ex- 
 prefs teftimony of M. Paris, that the church was begun, and great 
 part of it built by abbot Paul, within the firft eleven years of his rule; 
 and that the fame was dedicated by his fucceifor in 1 j 1 5 : now, if 
 the church had not been entirely rebuilt, dedication would not 
 have been neceflary ; and, if it had not been complete, that folemnity 
 would not have taken place. So that no doubt can remain, but that 
 the whole ftructure, of its prefent fize, form, and dimenfions, was 
 ert£Kd by Paul and Richard, between 1077 and 11 15. 
 
 Whence then, it may be laid, comes inch variety in the ftyle and 
 fafhion of the architecture ? It aroie from two caufes : partly from 
 the different tafte and fancy of the various fets of builders and work- 
 men, but chiefly from the nature of the materials. .It is well known, 
 that bands and companies of builders were united by confent, and un- 
 dertook great works, and enjoyed certain privileges and immunities ; 
 as they were thought the only perfons qualified, for their fkill, their 
 2 numbers, 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 John ^1. numbers, and union, to put the fame in execution(a). Now, as feveral 
 . 2 . * fets of thofe men were employed at the fame time, each fet engaged, 
 as the cuftom was, to perform (uch a part, for fuch a price: but they 
 could work only in the ftyle and manner they had been accuftomed to; 
 and therefore fome of the fets, unlkilled, perhaps, in the nicer operations 
 of ftone, would readily undertake to execute the work, with the fimple 
 materials, that had been long preparing for the purpofe, and were 
 now collected in great quantities ; while others, of more fkill 
 and judgement, might ftand aloof, until the Roman tile was 
 nearly exhaufted, or, till they had enforced the propriety of living 
 more tractable materials, both to embellifli the church and difplay 
 their tafte. In proof of this, let us take a view of the ftructure itlelf: 
 juft below the fcreen, on the louth fide, are four or five arches and 
 piers, of the moft beautiful ftyie in the whole building ; and directly 
 oppofite thefe, on the north fide, five of the moft rude and ordinary : 
 the laft are formed entirely of the Roman tile, the firft of (rone : 
 this makes it evident, that, though the work was executed at or about 
 the fame time, yet it was neither by the fame men, nor after the 
 fame plan ; nor was the lame fort of materials ufed, at lead: in the ex- 
 ternal. But, as a mark of the antiquity of the former beautiful part, 
 there may be feen, at the fpring of the arches, the head of Lanfranc, 
 of Offa and his queen, and of Edward the Confeiibr; the venerable 
 founders and benefactors ; and over their heads are the arms of Eng- 
 land (the 4 lions rampant), which were the arms of the fa i d Edward, 
 then the arms of Mercia (3 crowns), the arms of the abbey (a crofs 
 like St. Andrew's), the arms of France, and the arms of Weftrniniter 
 (3 birds); all cut in the Totternhoe ftone, and very entire at this day. 
 
 As to the very rude part of the building, viz. the four piers and 
 arches that iupport the tower, the whole of the choir, the two tranfepts, 
 and the five arches above-mentioned ; the rudenefs argues nothing 
 for its antiquity or its being a mark of originality; for, it aroie chiefly, 
 
 (a) When the Crufaders built churches in Paleftine, which was done under the di- 
 rection and fkill of fuch bands from Europe, it was common to bind the Sa r acen 
 captives, taken in battle, to thofe builders, and make them perform all the moll; la- 
 borious fervices ; and this fact is expreiUy afcertained by M. Paris, who fays, in the 
 year 1184, " that the king of Portugal gave, for flaves, the captives and pflfoners, to 
 *' ferve the builders in the repair of the churches." Hence perhaps, from the many 
 Saracens employed in the fervile part, this ftyle of building may have been called, 
 the Saracenic Architecture, and the name brought into England at the return of the 
 Crufaders. From thefe bands, likewife, we may perhaps date the oiigin of the Free 
 Mofons, who were efteemed the better builders ; in oppofition to that ignorant and 
 ferviie tribe, who wrought without fancy, tafte, or judgement. 
 
 7 as 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 as I have already faid, from the intractable materials then ufed, which, ^°^^' ah ^* 
 being the Roman tile, would not admit of being formed into beautiful i j 
 columns, or fmooth and well-turned arches, or even make a fmooth 
 wall : and the other builders, obferving the uncouthnefs of thefe ma- 
 terials, took care, in forming their arches and columns, to make the 
 nice and even edges with ftone from Totternhoe, and to conceal the 
 Roman tile in the folid infide : and it may be prcfumed, from the ex- 
 quifite hardnefs of thefe Roman materials, that the ftructure will 
 iurpafs, in duration, any thin£ that is built of ftone or marble. 
 
 If this be the cafe, how comes it, it mav be faid, that the weft 
 front was fo foon decayed ? Becaufe, it is probable, it had been built, 
 for the fake of ornament and a more complete finifh, of fome different 
 material, as of the Totternhoe or lome other frone : and it is manifeft 
 at this day, that what part is made of that ftone or of the SufTex 
 marble, is in the (heltered part of the gate and arch-way. and that 
 fuch part as is expofed to the weather is compofed of the Roman tile: 
 yet the firft is moft decayed. 
 
 Having thus (hewn, that the rudenefs and fimplicity of the choir 
 and tranlepts are owing, chiefly, to the very uncouth materials where- 
 with thefe parts were built, which had been collecting for a length 
 of years, and which would allow no arch but the plain femi-circle, 
 without any leflening from its outer edge ; and having ftated, that, 
 when thefe materials were almoft exhaufled, the builders had recourfe 
 to the Totternhoe ftone, and of that conftructed all the beautiful 
 parts below the rude ; it may be proper to add, that we may here 
 plainly difcern the error of thole critics in architecture, who anert, 
 that the pointed arch arofe firft in the time of Henry III. and is feldom 
 found in earlier conftructions ; whereas, in this ftiucture, the pointed 
 arch is to be feen, in all the feveral fpecimens of good and complete 
 building : and the lame was undoubtedly erected in the time of the Con- 
 queror and his fons, before 1115. Indeed, fo complete and perfect: is 
 the ftyle of thefe beautiful parts, that the authors may be thought to 
 have reached the fummit of their art : for, it is not only calculated for 
 ftrength and duration ; but the proportion of the feveral parts of the 
 arch and its columns is molt exquifite, and contrived with fo much 
 judgement, that they lofe nothing of their beauty, though placed 
 more than forty feet above the eye of the ooferver. Thefe fpecimens of 
 the perfect Gothic are equal, in themfelves, to any work, in any ca- 
 thedral ; but yet, as they confift only of four or five arches in each 
 fpecimen, they appear not with that commanding admiration, which 
 reluits from a whole and complete building, erected in this ftyle. The 
 
 cathedral 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 John I. the cathedral at Peterborough Is of that fort, and uniform throughout: 
 2ift abbot. anc j f mucn refembles fome of thefe fpecimens, that, as it was built 
 later, we may almoft fay, the ftyle and form was copied from this 
 abbey church. 
 
 This ancient and religious ftyle of building has never received its 
 due praifes, nor the inventors their due merits, from thofe even who 
 pretend to underftand their works. Perhaps nothing has fo much con- 
 tributed to keep down their fame as calling them Gothic ; and, be- 
 caule invented in rude and unpolifhed ages, this art itfelf is likewife 
 thought to be a rude jumble of contrivances. But be it confidered, 
 that it was the invention of people, who lived fome centuries after 
 the Gothic name was funk and undiftinguifhed among the nations of 
 Europe : it was invented and improved by Chriftians, and men of 
 pious and elevated minds. When it began, or where, we know 
 not. But when men law that Heathen temples, though beautiful and 
 exquifite in the external parts, were, within, neither beautiful nor 
 enlightened, (tor they were without windows, and full of fmoke and 
 filth, from lamps (a) and fires), nor fit to be applied to the worfhip of 
 a pure and holy mind, they learnt to build for themfelves : and here 
 it mud be faid, that they ftudied the internal from the beginning, and 
 aimed at fuch a ftrudture as fliould tend to raife the thoughts, elevate 
 the mind, and captivate the heart of man, by charming his light. 
 Indeed, the Romim worfhip had every thing in it, to arrelt the fenfes 
 of its votaries, and withdraw them, as they thought, from all worldly 
 vanities: mufic and melody for the ear, incenfe and rich perfume for 
 the nofe, and every difplay of painting and ftatuary to engage the 
 eye. But, before thefe arts prevailed or were called in, the building 
 was contrived with every fort of fkill and art, to raife the mind to a 
 contemplation of that God whom they worfhipped : lofty in its roof, 
 enlightened, and chearful ; fpacious, for proceffions and great af- 
 femblies of worfhippers ; full of pillars, as neceffary to fupport a 
 heavy roof; yet, when ftrength was attained by their mafly pillars 
 and thick walls, they contrived to reduce thefe folid and clumfy parts 
 with fuch art, in fh.iping them, ai to give an air of lightnefs, without 
 diminifhing the ftrength. 
 
 They were confined to no rules of proportion ; or, rather, had 
 never ftudied to confine the art within any rule : they built from 
 fancy, guided only by a judicious tafte. In their arches and columns 
 they have fhewn great ingenuity, not only in placing three or four 
 
 (a) Lychnychi penfiles in delubris. Plin. Lib. 34. 
 
 rows 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 rows of fuch wotk in height, but in m aking the lower row large in its John I.^tfce 
 parts, gradually lelTening the parts of the next, and fo diminishing ?s \ 
 they rife ; thus, they have fhaped the columns and the arches in luch 
 a manner as to make the work appear light and eMy, without preju- 
 dice to its ftrength : the variations in their arches are likewile vuy 
 ingenious, as being both beautiful and Strong : and, indeed, that 
 boundlefs variety which appears, not only in the neceflary and fut ? 
 Stantial parts, but in the ornamental, is lo chafte, fimple, and correct, 
 that it ever appears with a firnefs and propriety fuitable to its place 
 and its ufe. It was no fmall advantage in thefe frructures, that they en- 
 abled the builders to ufe and employ all the Small Stones; for, of fucK 
 are their works compofed, both within and without : but this de- 
 fect was fupplied and made up by ufing an incomparably good 
 cement. 
 
 This kind of building was in ufe and faShion in England, from the 
 time the Normans firit became connected with this country, (before 
 the ConqucSt,) until the reign of Henry VIII. at which time it gave 
 way, only, on the difcovery of the Greek and Roman architecture. 
 But, although it was in univerfal ufe, yet not a fcrap of any defign on 
 paper is come down to this time, nor are the names of any of the prin- 
 cipal builders, in that long period of five hundred years, nowfo much 
 as known : except William of Wickham be thought the architect of 
 Edward HI. and Nicolas Clofe, bifhop of Litchfield and Coventry, 
 the architect of Henry VI.; the firft having conducted the building of 
 V.'indfor caftle, the laft that of King's College Chapel. Yet their 
 works will preferve the fame of their art as long as any Grecian 
 architecture (hall be {landing; for, on a comparifon, the advantage! 
 and general utility mud appear on the fide of the former ; becaufe the 
 exquifite art of the Grecian goes only to the perfect beauty of the co- 
 lumn and the entablature, and the repetition of thefe in a grand porti- 
 co, or a periStyle and arcade; and there its beauty is great, and its 
 perfection complete; owing to its very fine marble and the geometri- 
 cal knowledge of the artiSts : but it is a mere external architecture ; 
 and provides not, in the leaft degree, for the internal ufe, beauty, or 
 convenience. This church-architecture ought to be called, The Chrif- 
 1 1 an Order : for, as it has been ever ufed for places of worfbip, and 
 was invented with that view, and is exquifitely adapted to that pur- 
 pofe, fo will it hereafter prevail, more or lefs, in all new churches, 
 as being the moft perfect work of man's art, to elevate the mind and 
 raiSe ideas and affections fuitable to the Christian worfhip. 
 
 O But 
 
( 9? ) 
 
 '°a°ftaM>ot! But t0 return to abbot John. He fet himfelf in great earnefi: to 
 V tf ' repair the decayed front, and is reported to have proceeded in this 
 manner ; he caufed the old wall to be taken down, even the hard 
 and folid part of it, where the materials were of the tile and the mor- 
 tar impenetrable ; then he began to draw together timber, and 
 {tones not a few, with fome columns and planks ; after which, he af- 
 fembled a fet of mafons (ccementariij, the head of which was one 
 Hugo de Goldcliff, a deceitful knave, but an excellent artift: Hugo 
 was employed, and, having dug the trench and laid the foundation, 
 he began to build ; but in a very fhort time the hundred marks were 
 found to be expended, together with many more, and a daily charge 
 going on ; nor was the work fo far advanced as that the wall was 
 even with the ground. On this, the abbot began to feel weary, and, 
 perceiving that Hugo was adding many carvings and ornaments that 
 were very expenfive, yet very trifling, before the wall was raifed to 
 the height of a houfe -floor, the abbot grew quite tired and timid, and 
 the work began to grow languid : in the following winter, the wall 
 being uncovered, the Hones crumbled away, the columns, with their 
 bafes and capitals, fell to the ground, and the whole exhibited the 
 appearance of ruin and rubbifh : the workmen hereupon withdrew 
 and quitted the job, as it is called, but were denied their wages. 
 Perhaps, when they found the hundred marks gone and no fpeedy 
 fupply, they might think they had done enough ; and, by the charac- 
 ter of Goldcliff, this was probably the true cafe. 
 
 The abbot then afilgned the work to the care of one of the brethren, 
 named Gilbert de Everfholt, and impofed a tax of one (heaf of corn, 
 to be paid yearly, for every acre fown of the abbey's eftates : this tax, 
 being begun in the third year of John's election, was continued during 
 his whole life, which was feventeen more, and for ten years of his 
 fuccelTor's ; nor did the work advance in any manner to adminifter 
 joy to the old abbot, but was a conftant fource of grief and forrow. 
 He offered many prefents of gold and filver to any perfon who would 
 forward the work, and caufed this offer to be proclaimed through all 
 the lands of the abbey, and fome of the diocefes ; and, having fent one 
 Amph'ibalus to travel about with relics, and pretend " that he had 
 '* been raifed from the dead by the merits of Alban and Amphibalus, 
 " and was able to give good proof of their miracles," he collected, by 
 this illufion, great fums of money ; but this unfortunate work abforbed 
 all the fupplies, juft as the fea drinks up all rivers: and, as the fea 
 receives thereby no figns of increafe, fo this work received no advance- 
 ment. After much ufelefs expence, and at the death of Everfholt, 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 the work was given up; though entrufted to another curator, named J * 10 thc 
 Sifleverne, who had the care and conduct thereof for thirty years * * . 
 after; and, though he received great lupplies, yet the work did not ad- 
 vance two feet in height in any one year. 
 
 At the death of Everfholt, the abbot turned his thoughts to more 
 prudent counfels ; and, finding the refectory to be decayed and ruinous, 
 he caufed the fame to be pulled down and rebuilt: this was completed 
 in a handfome manner and brought to a happy conclulion, during 
 his life, to the no fmall joy of himfelf, and to the better entertain- 
 ment and feftivity of the brethren. While this work was going on, 
 he caufed the dormitory, now old and ruinous, to be rebuilt, and alfo a 
 dwelling adjoining, ufed and inhabited by the domeltics. Thele im- 
 provements he finifhed in a complete manner, and with the entire con- 
 tent and approbation of the convent ; for, in order to difcharge the 
 expence of thefe two fplendid edifices (a), as they were called, the 
 convent gave up their wine (b), by general content, for the fpace of 
 fifteen years : though the good abbot lived not to fee the end and 
 conclufion of the compact. 
 
 Another vexation, that caufed great grief to John, was, a new 
 claim fet up to the wood of Northaw, by Robert the fon of Wal- 
 ter (c) ; who, being an earl of large pofieffions, and furrounded with 
 relations and dependents, was able to purfue his pretended right with 
 great trouble and injury towards the abbot and the monaftery. John 
 fupported the con tell with fpirit and firmnels ; being aflifted by the 
 experience and wifdom of Raymond, the prior ; and Roger Parker, the 
 fteward of their houfehold ; and by William SilTeverne, a knight, and 
 fteward of the manors and eftates ; and by Lawrence de Therebrugge, 
 a knight of great eloquence and prudence, who (hewed that he had 
 not the leaft fear of the threats of Robert. The earl, after caufing 
 infinite mifchief and trouble to the abbot, and having procured four of 
 his dependents to enter into a plot againft the life of the laid Law- 
 rence, at length fubmitted ; and the wood remained in the pofleffion 
 of the abbey. 
 
 Soon after, the claim was revived ; and Robert produced a grant 
 under the feal of the conventual chapter: this alarmed and confounded 
 the abbot, until it was difcovered that one William Pigun (d), a 
 falfe brother in the convent, had been gained over by Robert, to frame 
 
 (a) Nobilium Domorum. 
 
 -(b) That is, by refuting to buy any, and by felling what they mac!:.-, 
 (c) Fitzwatter, perhaps a defcendant of Robert dc Valoinges. 
 (a) Since called Pigeon. 
 
 O 2 and 
 
( lOO ) 
 
 t^and contrive for him this forged deed, and, in the hurry of bufinefs, 
 during other tran factions, to put to it the common feal, in a treache- 
 rous and clandeftine manner. My author loads the memory of this 
 Pigun with every epithet of reproach, and fays that John fent him to 
 the cell at Tin mouth, there to undergo a perpetual penance, if that 
 could efEice-the guilt of his crime ; and that, at his death, which hap- 
 pened foon after, a voice was heard, by fome in the dormitorv, repeat- 
 ing thefe words, cape, Satan, cape, Satan ; whence it was concluded that 
 Satan had chofen him. 
 
 It feems Pigun had conceived a diflike and hatred to John, for being 
 refufed by him in a requeft to have his nephew admitted a monk, at 
 that time a fchool-boy in the town ; and it is probable that his late 
 exile had fharpened his temper to a keener edge againft the abbot. 
 However, he died fuddenly, it was faid, after a very intemperate de- 
 bauch ; in which, being full of wine and meat, he paffed from ebriety 
 to deep, and from fleep to death, by a natural and common gradation. 
 
 John was now fo infirm and languifhing in his health, that he 
 deputed Willinm bifTeverne to tranfact all bufinefs for him ; which 
 William, as fteward, performed for a year and a day. John having 
 ftill great dread of the open violence or private machinations of Robert, 
 he prudently offered terms of accommodation and peace; and Robert, 
 feverely /truck, fays M. Paris, with the fad end of his friend Pigun, 
 and through fome compunctions of confeience, fearful alfo of the ven- 
 geance which Alban might take on him or prevail upon God to 
 inflict, and thinking that more of his enormities might come to light, 
 liftened to overtures. The deed was committed to the flames, and 
 John confented to give him the church's eftate at Bifhopfcote, worth 
 lol. a year. 
 
 This inftance is one of many, which occurred in thofe days, wherein 
 the tyranny and avaricious encroachments of the rich and great was 
 frequently employing itfelf againft luch as were thought unable to 
 defend themfelves : and the meeknefs and gentlenefs of abbot John 
 ferved to invite fuch kind of contefts and ufurpations. For, the fame 
 Robert fet up a claim alfo to the patronage of the cell at Binham (a), the 
 prior of which, named 'T nomas, had been removed by John for his 
 partial regards towards Robert ; on which occafion the earl claimed 
 the right of making the prior, and pretended he had a deed from the 
 abbey, granting him that privilege, and that, by the tenor of the 
 fame, no prior could be turned out without his leave: in fupport of 
 
 (a) Now Bynham, in the county of Norfolk, and fituate near Walfingham, 
 
 his 
 
( >°I ) 
 
 his claim, he befet the cell with armed men, threatening the defenders ^ ohn ft I ' bb th t ( 
 with extreme punifhment, if they (being thirteen brethren) would not ^ Y ' j 
 furrender. The king, hearing this at court, exprefTed great difplea- 
 fure at the daring infolence of Robert, and fentan armed party to raife 
 the fiege, and retrieve the honour of the church. 
 
 It was now the reign of king John, and in that part of the fame, 
 when the pope was waging war againft him ; and Robert was fet at 
 the head of one of the armies, afluming the title of conffable (a) of the 
 army of God : this he did by the encouragement and advice of the pope, 
 Innocent the third. When John fubmitted to the pope, then Inno- 
 cent raifed a perfecution againft Robert, and cauled all his poffeffions 
 to be confifcated, and himielf to be banihVd, or compelled to wander 
 in diftrefs and want. At length, in the reign of Henry 111. he died, 
 but refufed ever to quit his claim to the patronage of Binham or give 
 up the pretenced deed. However, at his death, his confident, friend, and 
 feilow fo'dier, Adam, the fon of William, or, as he would be called 
 now, Adam Fitzwilliam, who had been privy to the whole tranlac- 
 tion, and was fufpected to have forged the deed, gave it up to the 
 abbey ; declaring all the fecrets of his patron Robert : and, in expiation 
 of his own guilt in the affair, he prefented to the church and of- 
 fered on the great altar one large filver cup, gilt, out of the goods of 
 the faid Robert ; but this cup was afterwards ftolen. 
 
 But other and heavier afflictions awaited the patient abbot. For, 
 during the interdict from the pope, in which all divine worfhip was 
 fufpended and the celebration of holy offices prohibited, an injunc- 
 tion came from the king, commanding to contemn the pope's decree, 
 and to return to the holy folemnities and the ufual modes of worfhip. 
 On which he called a council of the brethren, where it was refolved, 
 in due form, that it was better to obey God than man: and he thus re- 
 „ fuicd compliance with the king's command. On this the king took 
 po^eflion of the abbey, and pohV-i in it an armed force, under the 
 ■ command of one Robert London (b), a cleik, and in great favor with 
 
 (a) This man was one of the moft fhenuous afTerters of the liberties of the fubjedr, 
 and foremol\ in demanding Magna Loa>-ta', his name alfd ltands tirfl in the atteftation 
 to that deed, as copied by M. t'ar'n. Yet he could deny liberty and jultice to his 
 inferiors. 
 
 (b) This Robert had been fent by the king, the year before, to the f.reat 
 king of Moocco, called admiral Marine-line, with an offer of the crown of England, 
 to be held of him as a fief; and, during Robeit's abode in the monaftery, he uied to 
 fnow and exhibit, with much pomp, the jewels and Iplcndid prefects, which he pre- 
 tended to have received from Marmelme; and of thefe, M. farii fays, he was hjmfelf 
 a beholder and admirer. 
 
 2 the 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 John I. the the king : nor would the king reftore the abbey and quit poflfeffion, 
 2 lit abbot. unt j| t | ie a b Dot laid down fix hundred marks. 
 
 In the fame year, 1214, the king, having thruft into the fee of 
 Durham one Richard de Marifco, (for he was never duly elected), 
 ordered him to make a requisition of the abbot of five hundred marks 
 more. This Richard was lord chancellor, and bilhop of Durham ; 
 but, befide fquandering the revenues of the fee, he was bound in duty 
 to provide for the exigences of his matter: and, having fent for the 
 abbot, he addreifes him thus, * My lord abbot, there is not a better 
 
 * man in England than you : to what amount are you willing to aflifr. 
 
 * the king? We know that you have given him fix hundred marks; 
 
 * but that was for the delivery of your abbey, which the king had a 
 4 right to have held ; and therefore you had an equivalent : but now 
 
 * let us fee, how far your mere liberality will go, and whether it will 
 ' not be better to give five hundred more, and receive thanks for 
 ' them.' The abbot {tarried at the exaction, and began to mutter. 
 ' Oh V faith Richard, ' why do you murmur ? the fen ten ce is paffed, 
 ' and cannot be altered: and is it not better, and more like a good 
 
 * fubjedl, to give Jive hundred and receive thanks, than to give two 
 1 or three hundred and receive none ?' No intreaties could avail to mi- 
 tigate this unjuft demand, and the abbot was compelled to pay, to the 
 great detriment and burthen of his church. 
 
 The experience and practice of abbot John had been fo great, that 
 he is faid to have been able to repeat a whole fervice, perhaps fifteen 
 or twenty pfalms, without book ; nay, that he could repeat them 
 backward, and not err in any of the refponfes : and his fanctity was 
 fuch, that, if he fang alone, the refponfes were made by angels. 
 Indeed, in one of the piers on the north fide of the body, there is a 
 large cavity, to be approached and entered from the gallery (tri- 
 foriumj, with an aperture toward the middle walk; and which 
 ieems calculated for no other poflible ufe but to fpeak through, 
 unfeen. 
 
 There were in the time of this abbot many paintings made and 
 hung up in the church ; they were executed chiefly by fome of the 
 monks, among whom was John of Colchefter, and others, named 
 Richard, William, and Simon, by whofe hands feveral of the faints 
 and holy men were delineated in colours or reprefented in curious 
 carving : all the wall furrounding the great altar was adorned with 
 St. John, St. Stephen, St. Amphibalus, and St. Benedict. : by the 
 hand of Simon there was a curious picture of St. Peter and St. Michael, 
 and another of St, Thomas. Thefe pictures were all in being, and, I 
 
 fuppofe, 
 
( I0 3 ) 
 
 fuppofe, in great eftimation, in the time of M. Paris, who might be John I. the 
 a young monk at this time 1214), and who lived himfelf to 1259. * lft * bbot ; 
 By the care and induftry of Raymond, the prior, many noble and ufe- 
 ful books were obtained, by copying, and added to the collection ; and 
 in particular a very elegant book, ftyled Hijloria Scholajiica cum 
 Allegoriis{z\ 
 
 Itisto be noted, that there were feveral altars at this timein thechurch, 
 befide what was the principal, and called the Great Altar: thefe were dedi- 
 cated to different la'ints, and received prayers and gifts, at the pleafure 
 of pious perfons, who fought relief, or made application to them, as 
 mediators and interceffors at the throne of Grace: one of thefe was 
 dedicated to the Virgin Mary ; and on this altar a golden cup was 
 made an offering by Richard de Clothall, knt. a man of piety, and moft 
 affectionate to the abbot. 
 
 John was the author of divers good ftatutes : the firft of which was, 
 that, in confederation of their poverty and hardfhip of travel, any 
 monk, on his journey to this abbey, might turn afide out of the road, 
 and be entertained, both man and horle, at any farm or grange, which 
 he could find, belonging to the abbey. The fecond was, that the 
 number of monks fhould be one hundred; but none farther, or beyond 
 that number, fhould be admitted, unlefs well recommended for Icience 
 or rank, or by petition from fome great man, whom they feared to 
 offend. Another ftatute was, that, in celebrating either private or 
 public mafles, the number of collects, then repeated, fhould not ex- 
 ceed feven; becaufe feven were fufficient to make prayer effectual ; and, 
 befide, it was a number of great dignity. 
 
 This pious abbot, finding his end approaching, fpent his latter days 
 in frequent exhortations to the brethren, and in mortifications to him- 
 felf: he caufed himfelf to be placed in the middle of the chapter- houfe, 
 on a fall-ftool, that is, in a kneeling pofture, and his garments to be 
 ftripped off to the bare fkin ; in order to mew them, what a poor, 
 emaciated, deformed, wretch an old man was, and to give them a 
 leffon of reflection, on comparing themfelves w ich him. He was con- 
 veyed thence to the infirmary, and placed on a Hone there prepared 
 and ufed for this purpofe, where the extreme unction was adminiftered : 
 He declared, as if by a prophetic Ipirit, that he fhould not furvive the 
 third day ; which accordingly did come to pais : and the intervals of 
 reft he employed in ferious exhortation and advice, and in diflributing 
 little prefents to thofe about him ; but cue of the brethren, perhaps 
 
 (a) One of thefe in Ben. Coll. Lib. Cambridge 
 
 thinking 
 
( I0 4 ) 
 
 John !. tlie thinking himfelf forgotten, interrupted the ferious moments of the 
 
 i ^'company, b)' crying out, that the abbot had once given above one 
 
 hundred and fifty marks to a certain kinfman, to fit him out and pay 
 his cxpence of being knighted : " True," fays the abbot, " and 1 cau- 
 " not deny fuch an ad: of liberality ; but I procured for you the tithes 
 " and offerings of ^t. Stephen's church in this town, and alfo I have 
 '* purchaled, for one hundred and fifty marks, the lands of Hammond: 
 *' and all thefe profits have I beftowed on your kitchen, for the aug- 
 *« mentation of your commons." " Right, O father ! thou haft done. 
 *' well, and thou haft been beneficent unto all," was* the anfwer. But 
 directlv did the abbot, though on his death-bed, give orders, that his 
 acculer mould be lent away to fome diftant cell (a). 
 
 However, four or five joining in dilapprobation, among whom was 
 the keeper of the leal, they drew up a paper to difannul that deed 
 and to abolifh the practice, and brought the form to be read and fealed 
 by the abbot, then dying : he heard and underftood the lubje<£t ; but 
 could not ipeak, or exprels his diflike otherwife than by turning away 
 and making his head ; the bearer of the feal replied, " the filent man 
 " gives confent enough ;" and then gave confirmation to the tranfac- 
 tion. This was the laft time of ufing that feal ; for, at the death of 
 the abbot, it was broken, and, as in thefe times with the feals of 
 all deceaied prelates, lent to the arch bifhop. Thus ended the life 
 and rule of abbot John the firft, in the year 1214; tne >' ear before 
 the barons obtained the great charter; and two years before the death 
 of king John. 
 
 William the As loon as the abbacy was vacant, it was judged necefiary to fend 
 32 i abbor fwQ o ^ ^ Q brethren to the king, to alk leave to proceed, to an election ; 
 
 and the convent made choice of Robert de Brightvvell and William 
 de Trumpington, for this embafiy. T he king was then in Poitlou ; 
 but, though he gave them audience, he contented not to the matter 
 or fubjecl of their petition ; well knowing, that the longer he kept 
 the vacancy open, the more wealth and lubflance he fhould draw from 
 the abbey's eftates, which, at the death of an abbot, as in a bifhopric, 
 reverted to the hands of the king and cuftody of his lord chancellor: 
 this was early in the fpring, and he put them off until his return to 
 England, in November. In the mean time a valiant knight, named 
 William de Trumpington, made intereft with the king in behalf 
 
 (a) What did the religion of thefe monks confift in ? when, amid all this folemn 
 preparation for death, fuch bitter refentment dwelt in the abbot's breaft, that, with 
 his lair, breath, he could endeavour to entail milery on a fellow-creature ! 
 
 of 
 
( io5 ) 
 
 of Wi'liam the monk, who, he faid, was his relation, and who, William^ the 
 
 though a young man, had been fenefchal to Sayer, earl of Win- * ■ , ', 
 
 chefler. The monks, finding by what interefr. he was fupported, 
 and feaiinp- to offend the king or earl, made choice of V/ill'um de 
 Trumpington : he was elected and inftalled on the 20th of November, 
 1215, and was prepared to receive the benediction from Eufhce, 
 bifhop of Ely, before the great altar, on the firft day of Advent 
 following. 
 
 This abbot immediately quitted, as if with contempt, the fociety 
 and converfe of his former friends and affociates of the cloifter ; and, 
 mixing with ieculars and laymen, followed their ways and manner, 
 both in his diet and his converfation : this was fo new and unexpected 
 by his electors, that they took the liberty to remonftrate and argue 
 with him ; thefe were, Raymond the prior, Walter de Rheims, 
 Alexander de Langley, Alexander Appleton, Fabian the fuperior, 
 Aylmer, Hubert Ridell, and John Scott ; who all fpoke of the election 
 with fome felf-condemnation, as if they deferved this difgrace, for 
 regarding the king more than the law, in the form of the election. 
 In a chapter, held loon after, the monks proceeded to give him fevere 
 reprehenfion for his libertine conduct and carriage ; claiming, at the 
 fame time, the privilege and freedom of the body, contained in the late 
 charter : " Truly," fays William, " I did make that charter, or 
 " deed, and by my diligence procured it ; but I knew not then what 
 '« I was doing : now I well know what I was ignorant of then." 
 " True my Lord," faith Aylmer, " Now you know that you are 
 " abbot ; which you did not then." A few days before this, a monk 
 was ordered to be fent off to fome diftant cell, though without the 
 confent of the convent : the poor wretch, in fpite of all his tears and 
 mofr. humble intreaties, was forced to comply ; and he died there, 
 foon after, in great anguilh of mind. Within a fhort (pace another 
 was fent away and never heard of again. 
 
 By the procurement of the abbot, the pope's legate, named Nicolas, 
 came to the abbey, and, having convened the body, defired to infpect a 
 certain charter, granted by the late abbot : it was put into his hand, 
 and, when he had perufed it, he faid, " My brethren, are ye mad ! 
 " what! do you mean to renounce the obedience which ye have vowed 
 " unto God with a fblemn oath ?" and inftantly tore the charter into 
 pieces; and, breaking the feal in like manner, he threw it before 
 them. On fight of which, the pride of the moft lofty was humbled, 
 and the wit and irony of the molt ingenious put to fiience, and, 
 the chapter being dillolved, they departed full of amazement and 
 
 P confufion ; 
 
( «°6 ) 
 
 William the con fu lion ; the legate directing, that, if any murmur mould arife, he 
 22a abb-t. m ig} Jt be fent for. 
 
 In a few days the prior Raymond, a man of great chara&er, for 
 wildom, fidelity, and diligence, was removed from that office, and 
 fent away to the cell at Tinmouth, much againft his will and to the 
 great grief of the old man, who was thus not only banilhed from His 
 friends, but robbed and lpoiled of all his books and dripped of every 
 thing that might be the confolation of his old age. 
 
 William, in order to root up all feeds of complaint and difcontent, 
 thought proper to remove others of his brethren and fend them to 
 fome of the diftant cells : thefe were William Carne, John Seldford, 
 Aylmer, and Walter Standon. As for Alexander de Langley, he fent 
 him, at the requeft of the Countefs of Arundel who was patronels 
 of Wymundam (a), to be the prior of that church and cell; but the 
 poor man foon after became io ill, by an alienation of mind and lofs 
 of his reafon, as to be incapable of his charge : he was accordingly 
 fent back again, and his place fupplied by Ralph de Whitby. This 
 Ralph was originally of Stanham, or Stoneham, and became a monk 
 of Whitby, where he was chofen prior ; but, after luffering divers 
 troubles and perfecutions, he left that monaftery, and prayed to be 
 admitted at St. Alban's: and, having governed the cell of Whitby with 
 great prudence and circumfpe&ion, was now thought a proper perlon 
 to rule that of Wymundham. Raymond's place of prior was filled by 
 Walter of Rheims, a monk of good learning and zealous for the 
 honour and reputation of the order. 
 
 This was the year 121 5, fo famous for the contefr. of the barons 
 (among whom alio were many of the bifhops and abbots), who ob- 
 tained of king John the Great Charter of their liberties. But I find 
 not that our abbot took any part in thofe tranfadlions : indeed, he had 
 been fo lately advanced, and owed his preferment fo much to the king, 
 through the recommendation of his kinfman, that William could not 
 make a declared oppofition to the king. And, though feveral bifhops 
 and abbots joined the barons and with them aflembled at Stamford, 
 then at London, and afterwards at Staines, yet it is probable that he 
 ftaid quiet at home and fettled his own little domeftic kingdom. 
 
 The great tranfadtion of Runemede was in June 1215. But the 
 pope excommunicated the barons and Langton the archbifhop, and 
 
 (z) This place is the fame as Wyndham, and is fituate in the county of 
 Norfolk. The patronage of this cell, contended with fome warmth between 
 a former earl and abbot Robert, (p. 70.) feems now to have been compromifed. 
 
 declared 
 
( 10 7 ) 
 
 declared the articles of Magna Charta no longer binding on the king. William _tfce 
 John then breathed nothing but war ; and, providing his caiHes with . 2 " " J 
 men and (lores, he fet forth, in the winter following, to raile forces, 
 and in the middle of December came to this abbey with a numerous 
 train of adherents and foldiers. Here, in the chapter-houfe, he held 
 a grand confultation on the future plan of renewing and carrying on 
 the war; and here it was determined, that he mould raife two armies: 
 the one to curb and reftrain the Londoners; the other to march north- 
 wards, and fight the barons troops and the mercenaries under Lewis 
 the Dauphin of France, who had invaded England and joined the re- 
 bellious barons againft their tyrannical fovereign. John then pafled on to 
 Dunftable and Northampton : and, in the courfe of this campaign, he 
 took up his abode, for fome time, at the caftle of Langar, in the 
 county of Nottingham. 
 
 During this conteft, Lewis the Dauphin thought proper to make 
 a vifit to abbot William : and, after the firfb falutations, the prince 
 propofed, that, as he was in pofifeffion of great part of the kingdom, 
 he, the abbot, mould alfo do homage to him and confent to ac- 
 knowledge him for his fovereign. This the abbot refufed, unlefs he 
 could be abfolved from his allegiance to his former and lawful prince ; 
 and, though the Dauphin ufed many threats, yet ftill William was 
 firm and uncomplying: at laft, the prince threatened to burn down 
 the abbey and the whole town. Here Sayer, the former friend of 
 William, interpofed and mollified the rage of this bluftering prince, 
 and, by William's prefenting him with eighty marks, faved both 
 abbey and town ; for, the prince departed with the prefent, and fome 
 difappointment. 
 
 It was during the fury of this civil war, that one Falco, a great 
 partizan of the times, came to this town, and committed horrid out- 
 rages, his followers having (lain one of the abbot's fervants in the 
 very church ; and, after robbing the townfmen, they feized one, and 
 in a violent manner, roafled him alive. This fierce invader, before he 
 would depart, exacted one hundred marks from the abbot. But he 
 met with his juft deferts, fome years after, at Bedford, where his 
 company and followers were moll: of them hanged, and himfelf driven 
 out a vagabond and beggar for life (a). 
 
 At the end of the year 121 5, and in November, the pope's fum- 
 mons to a general council was complied with, and, among the prelates 
 of England, went our abbot, taking with him Alexander Appleton 
 
 (a) M.Paris, anno 1225. 
 P 2 
 
 and 
 
( >°s ) 
 
 'ild'abboV 311 ^ R°g er Porretan, brethren of great fame for learning and experi- 
 ence ; and accompanied, on his journey, by the abbot of Weftmin* 
 fter. The chief bufinefs of the council was to urge on, with more 
 fpeed and fuccefs, the holy war : but many fubje&s of a domeftic 
 nature, for the better rule of the church (a), were difcuffed, And one 
 day, while the pope and council were all prefent, our young abbot 
 rifes, and, the fubject of debate being the mafs and fome circum- 
 ftances thereof, begs leave to put a queftion ; which was, he faid, 
 to be informed, ** whether it was lawful for thole abbots, whole 
 " churches were pofieffed of the body of fome faint, to mention his 
 *' name alfo, in conjunction with the other intercefTors and advo- 
 " cates at the throne of God ?" to which the pope, with fome circum- 
 fpe£tion, anfwered, " that it was proper and agreeable to right, that 
 " the faint, his name, and his intercerMon and intereft, fhould, in its 
 " proper place, be demanded, in the folemnity of the mats.** On the 
 folution of which queftion, many thanks were beftowed on abbot 
 William, by all thole who were pofieffed of the body of any 
 dead faint ; in particular by the abbots of St. Edmund's and of 
 Durham. 
 
 The pope, when the council broke up, inquired who that ingenious 
 abbot was, who had put the queftion ; and, being told he was the ab- 
 bot of St. Alban's in England, his holinefs paid him many compli- 
 ments for the weighty matter of the queftion and the prudence of his 
 addrefs: on which Roger Porretan advifed William to refign his abbey, 
 as being fure of receiving higher promotion from the Pope. " No," 
 fays William, " I learn wifdom from the experience of others : you 
 " did fo, with regard to your abbey of Bath, but never got any thing 
 " at all after." The pope fent for William to a private audience, 
 and William, with exceeding joy, obeyed : " What ?'* faith his holi- 
 nefs, " are not you the abbot of St. Alban's, which hath obtained 
 " from us fuch great privileges and benefactions ? I cannot fufFer a 
 '* man of fuch eminence to depart, without a more efpecial compli- 
 " ment being paid to me;" and he refufed to let William fet forth from 
 Rome without laying down at the feet of his holinefs one hundred 
 marks. 
 
 (a) The Xlth canon enjoins, that, in every cathedral church, there fhall be kept a 
 grammar-mafter to teach, gratis, the clergy of that church, and other poor fcholars ; 
 and, in the metropolitan church, befide the grammar-mafter, a divine, to teach the 
 priefts and other ecclefiaftics the holy fcriptures, and what relates to the cure of fouls. 
 The XVilth is againft the effeminacy of fome clerks, who fpent part of the night 
 in feafting or in prophane company, who flept till day-light, and who, in faying their 
 matins, left out one half of the office. 
 
 Soon 
 
( I0 9 ) 
 
 Soon after his return, Alexander Appleton died : and Alexander de w5!1 ^ m b , 
 
 Langley, having recovered his health, was fubftituted in his place * ^ 
 
 and made keeper of the abbey feal : he was a man of learning, and, 
 being very expert in writing and in rhetoric, was capable of writing 
 an elegant epiftle to the pope, if need be. But, in a fhort time, his un- 
 derftanding failing him once more, and growing quite frantic, he 
 was ordered back to the cloifter, and well lowered with bleeding ; but 
 this was no remedy : and, afluming the airs of a great man, and in his 
 extreme pride deriding the abbot, he was ordered to undergo a very 
 fevere flagellation, and to be fent in irons to the cell at Binham ; 
 where he w r as kept, in folitude and in fetters, to the day of his death, 
 and interred with his chains on (a). 
 
 About this time, Thomas, bifhop of Norwich, held an ordination 
 in the church of St. Alban, at the great altar, on the 1 8th of Decem- 
 ber : this was done at the reqneft of the abbot ; and the bilhop de- 
 dicated, or confecrated, as it is now called, a cemetary, or burial 
 ground, for the church of St. Alban, in which many of the faithful 
 had been buried during the interdict (b): he dedicated, alfo, a burial 
 place for the church of St. Peter, and one for the cell of St. Mary 
 de Pree, and an altar in the great church to the honour and wor- 
 ship of St. Leonard. All this was done about Chriftmas, 121 6, and juft 
 after the death of king John. 
 
 (a) From the inhuman treatment of this unfortunate man, it appears pretty evi- 
 dent that charity and brotherly love were not the leading chara&eriiiics of the monkifh 
 religion. 
 
 (b) It is probable that thefe churches had not any burial grounds, or confecrated places, 
 adjoining, before this time; for it was not until the days of Gregory II. early in the 
 eighth century, that church-yards had a beginning ; tiie dead being ufually buried near 
 the highways, as the Roman laws directed, and which practice was followed by the 
 Chriftian congregations, or elfe in places, remote from the walls of the city or town, 
 fet apart for that purpofe. But, in the time of the aforefaid Gregory, the priefls and 
 monks began to offer prayers for thedeceafed, and received gifts and offerings from the 
 relations for the performance of thofe duties ; on which they requeued the pope, that 
 the dead might be buried near the places of the monks abode, or in the verv churches 
 or monafteries : in order that the relations, coming to the worlhip and folcmnities 
 ufed in thofe places, might fee their graves, remember them, and be moved to join in 
 prayer and proceffions near their remains. Cuthbert, the arch-bilhop of Canterbury, in 
 750, brought over this practice into England, and hence is dated the origin of church-yards . 
 in this ifland ufed as burial grounds : then it grew into a cuftom to bury in the church; 
 fo much, that it gave occa'.ion to a canon, made fumewhat before the time of Edward the 
 ConfelTor, de non Jepeliendo in eccLJiis : then in was praclifed in the nave or body, only 
 of the church, and afterwards under arches by the fide of the walls. Lanfranc, arch- 
 bilhop of Canterbury, feems to have been the firlt who brought up the ufe of 
 vaults in chancels and under the very altars, when he rebuilt the church of Canter- 
 bury, about the year 1075. Ken. Par. Ant, 592. 
 
 Soon 
 
( no ) 
 
 William rtie Soon after the acceffion of Henry III. the kingdom returned to a 
 f 2c ^ ° j ftate of peace and quiet; and William then refolved to make a vifita- 
 tion of the cells. But he firft ordained, that the abbot, whenever he 
 travelled, mould be attended by fix knights or fquires, to bear arms 
 and be a body guard ; and this was to be a flanding rule whenever the 
 abbot (hould vifit Tinmouth, eipecially : he appointed, that they 
 fliculd be enfeofed with certain lands, out of the eftates of the abbey, 
 which had been held aforetime by certain fquires : he directed that 
 their expences, both in going and returning, mould be born by the 
 monaftery, and that they mould find their own horfes ; but, in cafe 
 any horfe died on the journey, his matter fhould be indemnified to the 
 full value, which was limited at ten millings : it was alfo appointed, 
 that each horfe mould be of decent appearance, and ftrong enough 
 to carry the cloaths and garments of one monk behind his rider. 
 
 This may appear nothing more than having fix lervants, mounted 
 and armed, to attend his lordlhip ; but, in thole days, thefe knights 
 or fquires were not attendants on any other occafion than to defend 
 their lord in times of danger : they enjoyed their lands on this condi- 
 tion. And this was one of the chief marks, wherein great churchmen 
 imitated the lords and barons of the realm : it carried with it a lordly 
 confequence : and, being done at the expence of the body, reflected an 
 honour on St. Alban and his church, much more than if they had 
 been the private fervants of the abbot. This military kind of attend- 
 ance was pracliled by fome of the bimops ; and at length, in a very 
 oftentatious degree, by Cardinal Wolley, when, in the day of his 
 difgrace, he marched from London to York with 160 horfe: a piece 
 of grandeur which induced his mailer, Henry VIII. to leave all future 
 bifhops without any means for fuch pomp and vanity. 
 
 The abbot fet forward on his journey with his retinue of fix 
 knights, and, having taken Belvoir in his way, it was whifpered that 
 the prior, Roger de Wendover, committed wafte and fpoil of the 
 goods, &c. in prodigal living : the abbot admoniihed him, the prior 
 promiled an alteration in that matter, and William proceeded on his 
 journey. When he approached to Tinmouth, he was met by an im- 
 menle crowd of people, headed by the prior accompanied by the 
 gentry and principal perfons of the country ; infomuch that the com- 
 pany appeared like an army ; many were fuffered to come into the 
 cell, to congratulate the abbot ; and immenle feafting followed : and, 
 after a few days, in which the abbot received the homage of all luch as 
 owed duty to him, and regulated and directed all matters of any moment, 
 he appointed a day of departure; at which time the prior, by name 
 5 Ralph 
 
( >>> ) 
 
 Ralph Gobion, fell at the abbot's feet and begged to be difmifled, crying v-'iiiiam th^ 
 out, in the words of Simeon, Now, O Lord ! thou kitejl thy jervant depart v 2 - a ^ ' bo ^ 
 in feace, Sec. pleading, at the fame time, his great age, many infir- 
 mities, and long fervices : to which the abbot anfwered only, railing 
 him with his hand?, *' brother, fupport your burden awhile longer, until 
 " 1 can prov ide for the confequences of your resignation." This inci- 
 dent is of no moment, except as it mews the fervile obedience which 
 monks confented to and bound on themfelves with an oath when they 
 entered the order. And, if the obedience and compliance was fo ftiicl: 
 in the orders of regular clergy, where their functions and duties were 
 but of little moment, let me afk, if that obedience ought not to be more 
 ftricT: in the ieculars of thefe days, whofe functions and duties are of a 
 more ferious nature and import ? 
 
 When the abbot came to VVymundham, the prior there, named 
 Ralph de Whitby, was accufed of walling the goods, &c. and of in- 
 riching the cell of Whitby, whence he had come at the expence 
 of this cell, and that he courted the favour of the earl of Arundel, in 
 a manner that (hewed he loved him more than God, or the abbot, or 
 any one of the brethren : the abbot enjoined an amendment, and, 
 withfome admonition to prior Ralph, on the lubjecl: of excels and im- 
 prudent management, he departed. He then came to Hatfield, that 
 is, Hatfield Pcverel, in Effex: and here a very great enormity was 
 alleged again ft the prior, to which the abbot promifed that a fpeedy 
 correction mould be had ; but refuled to examine into the charge upon 
 the fpot. Thefe are trifling events, and, as the charge in each place 
 was much the fame, it is probable that they proceeded from fome 
 of the monks, who bore a grudge againft their priors ; as they would 
 have done, had they been gratified in all their wilhes and inclinations: 
 and it is likely that, by uoafle and extravagance, the monks meant, that 
 the prior lived in plenty and comfort, and better than themfelves. 
 
 The abbot returned home, and at the fame inftant arrives Ralph 
 Gobion, the prior of Tinmouth, with a grievous complaint, what 
 trouble and vexation he lufFered from one Simon of Tinmouth, 
 who demanded of him two monks corrodies, that is, maintenance for 
 two monks ; which Simon claimed by perpetual right, as the gift of 
 iome abbot of this church to the church of Tinmouth : Simon 
 brought with him, for he came alfo, a hup^e fighting fellow, named 
 William Pigun, as a champion : for, though it had been fettled hi 
 a court of law in favour of Ralph, yet, by the judicial practice 
 of the times, if the party, who loft his fuit, chofe to try it again, 
 and by battle, the fame was allowed ; and this new trial was 
 
 called, 
 
( m ) 
 
 William the called, difrationare et per duellum dirimere\ as if it were the fame thing 
 2 2d abbot . tQ difpj-ove D y reafon and to fight by deputies. However, it was ne- 
 ceffary to anfwer this new appeal of Simon, and a champion was 
 provided on the part of the prior. The contefl ended in favour of Si- 
 mon and his champion, and Ralph was bound to yield up the two 
 corrodies. But, on this unfortunate conflict, he refufed to return any 
 more to his cell at Tinmouth, and begging again his difmiflion of the 
 abbot, it was granted ; and the abbot entertained him thence forward 
 as his privy counfellor and table companion. 
 
 Soon after, the abbot recalled the prior of Wymundham, Ralph 
 de Whitby, who was found quite unable to reform his own exceiTes, 
 and lefs able to govern others : he came to St. Alban's, and, in a very 
 decent manner, but in few words, returned thanks to the abbot 
 and brethren for the many favours and honours conferred on him : 
 he then went to the hermitage, afligned to his ufe by the cell of 
 Whitby, which he found well provided and furnifhed ; and here, 
 having lived a few years longer in the ftrictell: courfe of piety, he 
 departed this life. In like manner was the prior of Hatfield recalled, 
 named Alexander de Burg, a man of duplicity and very unfteady 
 conduct. ; and, for his incorrigible exceflfes, he was ftripped of all his 
 former pre-eminence, and degraded to the cloifter and common con- 
 dition of the monks. 
 
 The priorate of Belvoir was conferred on Martyn de Borfham, 
 fteward (a) of the houfehold of this abbey : and of Wymundham the 
 priorate was conferred on William de Fefchamp, a man who poflefled 
 lefs difcretion than became his poll:; and, having fallen under the dif- 
 pleafure and reprehenfion of the Earl of Arundel, patron of that houfe, 
 he was removed : his place was fupplied by Thomas Mead, who had 
 travelled into the Holy Land with the late earl of Arundel ; and, the 
 earl dying there, this Thomas had carefully brought back the dead 
 body and given it honourable interment at this cell. In the room of 
 Alexander, prior of Hatfield Peverel, another perfon was placed, named 
 Richard de Brantfield, one of the necelTary attendants of the abbot. 
 And the place of Ralph Gobion, the prior of Tinmouth, was iupplied 
 by one Germanus, a man of northern extraction. 
 
 In the year 1219, a very long and expenfive fuit was rimmed, by the 
 mediation of Richard, bifhop of Salilbury, and the two abbots of 
 Wcilminfter and Waltham, who were appointed for this puipoie by 
 letters from the pope. The inftitution or endowment of vicarages 
 
 (a) Ccllerarius. 
 
 was 
 
( "3 ) 
 
 was almoft a new thing: and the abbey having the church of -Luton * ^* 
 with all its tithes, lands, or glebes, nnd obventions and offerings, had __LT„ 
 inftituted a vicar; but had not afcertained his rights, or clearly fixed 
 the revenue neceffary and proper for his maintenance ; nor would the 
 abbey allow any authority of the diocefan over the vicar. This con- 
 troverfy arofe from the novelty of vicarages and the defire of keeping 
 what they ufed to receive, as their own ; being accuflomed, probably, 
 to fend a priefr. thither occasionally. But now the faid judges deter- 
 mined, that the vicar mould be prefented by the abbey to the bifhop of 
 Lincoln, to be approved by him and be inlHtuted ; that his mainte- 
 nance mould arife from fome fixed property, namely, all the fmall tithes 
 and obventions; that he mould be furnifhed with a fui table man- 
 Con and glebe, and be entitled to all the obventions paid or given at 
 the chapels belonging to the faid church of Luton, and pay all parihV 
 dues, and procurations, and fynodals : and that the bifhop of Lincoln 
 and his fuccefTors mould have full jurifdidtion in the laid church. 
 
 They ordained alfo, tint, in all other churches, which the abbey 
 had been accuftomed to appropriate to its own ufes, but to which it 
 had now begun to afiign vicars, the rights and authority of the dioce- 
 fan mould be the fame as they had been in the faid churches, before 
 this difpute had arifen. Which, in fa£f, was making no determination 
 in the cafe of the other churches, and left the claims of the bifhop and 
 the uiual rights of the abbey on the fame footing as before. But thefe 
 judges hoped and thought, that the determination they had made, in 
 the cafe of Luton, would be a pattern for all future proceedings of the 
 like kind : and indeed it became neceffary to appoint by law (which 
 began in the councils and conftitutions of the arch-bifhops, and received 
 its final completion in Parliament; what mould be the legal method 
 of inffituting and endowing a vicarage. This bufinefs began by peti- 
 tion from the patron to the bimop, was followed with the bifhop's 
 inftrument and endowment, fetting forth the articles of tithes, &c. tor 
 the vicar, and, that being prefented to the king or his chancellor, a 
 writ from him gave confirmation to the whole : and it was not, until 
 all thele fteps had been taken, that the vicar could be deemed an ec- 
 clefiaftic perfon, and become a member of the ecclefiaflic body, with 
 fpecial rights and privileges. 
 
 With regard to the cells alfo, which had ufually claimed an exemp- 
 tion from the bifhop and acknowledged no fuperior, betide their abbot, 
 it was ordained, by thele judges, that, whenever any prior mould be 
 appointed by the abbot, the fame mould be prefented to the bilhop . 
 in whole diocefe the cell was fituate, and receive from his hands the 
 
 Q fpiritual 
 
( " 4 ) 
 
 Jam the fpintual ad min ill: ration, and be fubjecT: to all the functions of the pariftv- 
 
 id abbot. , . i c i j | | . . 1 , 
 
 , church, and payment or tenths and the like duties, in regard to 
 
 which he was bound to acknowledge the bilhop as his lawful diocefan. 
 This was now ordained, but became a general obfervance afterwards, 
 wherever a cell was united, like a manfe and glebe, to a parrm-church:: 
 but, if it had no connection with a parim-church, it owed no fuch obe- 
 dience, and was fubject purely to the abbey. 
 
 Abbot William, having put all things abroad and without his 
 walls in good order, turned his thoughts to domeftic improvements : 
 and the firft thing of this fort was to new-furnihh the dormitory : 
 here he caufed all the bedfteads to be made of oak, which is called a 
 very decent and elegant improvement, but leaves us in the dark as 
 to the former ftate of this matifion of fleep. The two wings of the 
 church, forming the tranfept, being much decayed both in the tim- 
 ber and the ftone work, and letting in the rain and bad weather, he 
 caufed to be repaired with good oak well united and fattened together, 
 and the walls to be ftrengthened with battlements and turrets (a) at 
 the corners: the tower alio, which threatened ruin, and had, from its 
 form, a very unfeemly appearance, he caufed to be raifed higher and 
 to be well confrru&ed of the bed materials ; and all thefe works to be 
 covered with lead. 
 
 Thefe great repairs were effected, under the abbot's direction, by 
 the diligence and lkill of Richard de Thydenhanger, who was treafurer 
 to the abbey; after whofe death, which was much lamented, the abbot, 
 by the perfuafion of Matthew Cambridge, keeper of the feal, and of 
 the abbot's privy council, was induced to make farther additions to 
 the tower ; and he added thofe rectilinear projections, like pilafters, on 
 each fide of the tower, which ferve to vary the flat furface : thefe 
 were built from the foundation up to the battlements, and were faid to 
 give wonderful flrength to the walls and beauty to its appearance. 
 The weftern front alio, which had been a tedious job, fometimes ad- 
 vancing and fometimes decaying and falling, the abbot determined to 
 undertake : he did fo ; and in a fhort time completed it in its prefent 
 form ; finifhing the fame with its roof and arches, and exquifite glafs 
 windows, and with a good covering of lead, adjoining to the old roof. 
 :AU the decayed or ruinous .parts of the walls he caufed to be re- 
 paired, many of the windows in the long wall he completed with 
 fione uprights and glafs, and he made the two great windows of 
 
 (a) Still in good condition* 
 
 ,tbe 
 
( Hi ) 
 
 the wings (a) to be fuitable, in fafhion, and form, and lighting, roWin^m the 
 the reft about the church ; in fuch a manner, faith my author, that*, 22j J lbbor ; 
 by the advantage of this new light, the church feemed, as it were, 
 rebuilt. 
 
 Walter de Colchefler, now facrift, and an excellent painter and 
 fculptor, conftrudted a pulpit (b) in the middle of the church, with a 
 great crois fufpended in it, with figures of Mary, and John, and other 
 fuitable carvings. And William removed the fhrine of i:t. Amphiba- 
 lus, in which were contained the remains of him and his companions,, 
 from the place where the fame had flood, namely, clofe along by the 
 fide of the great altar, on the north and near St. Alban's fhrine, to a 
 place in the middle of the church, inclofed with an iron grating,, 
 where had been fixed a decent altar with a painting and other fuitable 
 ornaments. This altar he caufed to be dedicated anew to the Holy 
 Crofs; for, that had been its former title, and to Amphibalus and his 
 companions, whofe remains refted in this fhrine. 
 
 There is nothing that fo much (hews the ignorance of the Romifh 
 church in thefe ages as the ufe of altars, which have no neceflary 
 place in pure Chriftian worfhip. If the church adopted them from 
 the Jewifh worfhip, why did they not copy the whole ceremony of 
 their fervice, and flay and burn thereon certain parts of the victim ? 
 If they took the practice from Heathen worfhip, they feem to imitate 
 the Heathen throughout, making mediators and intercelTors of every 
 pious departed man, juft as the Heathen made divers deities or local 
 Gods ; and in both cafes invoking their aid and intereft in Heaven : 
 whereas, it is not more repugnant to reafon to make other divinities 
 than it is to fcripture to make ether mediators and interceflbrs. If 
 they fay, the devout worfhipper at the altar offers up his praifes to 
 God, and makes a facrifice of his own fins and frailties, that is true ; 
 but an altar is not neceflary for this proper duty and fervice. The 
 truth is, that, when the Romifh church took up the do£lrine of facri- 
 fices, and adopted into their worfhip an imitation and perpetual re- 
 hearfal of the facrifice of Chrift, they made an altar a neceiTary part 
 of fuch reprefentation : and, indeed, an altar is the only fenfible part 
 of fuch facrifice, or fervice, the reft being quite imaginary and not 
 bearing the leaft refemblance to the lolemnity of a facrifice; though, 
 at the fame time, they wifh to communicate fpiritual health and 
 
 (a) That in the fouth wing was blown into the church, in 1J03, in the famous high 
 wind. 
 
 (b) Marks of this are feen, at this clay, on one of the piers on the north fide juft 
 above Cuthbert's fcreen ; the work being cut away to admit a ftair-cafe. 
 
 Q 2 ftrength, 
 
( »« ) 
 
 William the ftrrength, and derive all Chriftian aid from ufing it. But to return to 
 . 22d abbot ; William, and his altars, and ornaments, and relics. 
 
 The folemnity of dedicating the altar to St. Amphibalus, and like- 
 wife of confecrating the great crofs fufpended in the pulpit above-men- 
 tioned, with rhe images of Mary and John, was performed by the 
 biihop of Ardiert in Ireland, who flopped on his journey and repofed 
 here for fome confiderable time. The two gilt fbrines, in which 
 had been depofited the remains of Amphibalus and his companions 
 before Warren moved them to more fumptuous flumes, he fent to the 
 church at Redburn, in honour and reverence to that place, where 
 thefe martyrs had undergone fo glorious a trial ; and he appointed that 
 a perpetual guard fhould be kept, day and night, over thefe (hrines, 
 by one monk, to be relieved by another. * And,' fays my author, 
 ' it is plain that God approved this tranfaclion, by the many miracles 
 * which were performed at this place :' but he mentions not any of 
 the particulars. 
 
 Among the many laudable deeds of this abbot, it is recorded, as 
 one, that he furnifhed the church with a mod ineftimable relic ; 
 which was the rib of Wulftan, formerly bifhop of Worcefter, and a 
 ftrenuous defender of the church, in the time of William the Con- 
 queror. The prefent bhhop, named Sylvefter, intended to make a 
 iolemn tranflation, or, in modern phrafe, to remove the body of the 
 deceafed Wulilan to a more fplcndid tomb which he had provided 
 for him : to this folemnity Sylvefter invited our abbot with fundry 
 Others of high rank. But how William obtained this rib is not fiid : 
 it could icarcely be by gift ; for, in that cafe, every perfon would 
 expect the like boon, or compliment: and, had that been done, there 
 could not have been one bone left for the fecond interment. How- 
 ever, this rib was reckoned a great acquifition ; and the abbot caufed 
 an altar to be conitrucled in honour of Wulilan, near the altar of 
 Sr. Ofwin, toward the eaft, and the rib, inclofed in fome work of 
 gold, to be depofited on the fame. 
 
 He caufed many additional ornaments to be made about the great 
 altar ; and on the beam, which fupports the rood loft, he caufed 
 fome carvings to be made, reprefenting the hiftory of St. Alban and 
 his martyrdom : ' a very exquifite work,' faith M. Parts, 6 and per- 
 ' formed by that incomparable carver, Walter de Colchefter.' And, 
 in farther honour of the martyr, he ordered fix large wax candles to 
 be lighted in every feftival, or fervice, wherein the monks attended 
 in copes; the expence of which was directed to be defrayed by one 
 m irk, to be paid by the priory of Binham, in lieu of a certain quan- 
 tity of herrings thence fent every year to the abbey. 
 
 .2 Walter 
 
( t»7 ) 
 
 Walter de Ramfey alfo provided, at his expence, two large wax wi,1Iam lhe 
 lights, to burn during the fervice lung to the honour of the Virgin * a , .1 
 Mary, in addition to four others which had ufually been provided 
 and lighted for her before ; two of which, thofe ftanding toward 
 the eaft, had been provided as the gift of Adam, the former fteward : 
 and afterward, a lady, named Alicia, the wife of Sir Henry Cock, left 
 as a legacy to that altar one garment, called a chafuble % for the ufe of 
 the officiating prieft, of fcarlet cloth adorned with a rich gold fringe. 
 William ordained that a conftant watch, or guard, of one monk at a 
 time, fhould be placed over this altar to the Virgin : it ftood in the 
 fouth wing, and the watch took his ftation near the altar of St. Blaze, 
 in fome of the recedes of .the wall in the gallery, (triforium,) or in a 
 fmall clofet now remaining, with an iron grate in front, which had 
 been built in imitation of the little chamber in the wall, as mentioned 
 in fcripture, 2d Kings IV. 10 ; and from which, being directly op- 
 pofite the Virgin's altar, he might have a conftant view of the altar 
 and its contents, aided at night by wax lights burning thereon. And, 
 whereas it was the cuftom, in all the great churches, to fing mais, 
 that is, to perform a fervice in honour of the Virgin, every day; 
 and in this church but once a week, viz. on the Sunday ; he ap- 
 pointed this to be done here alfo every day, and to be performed by a 
 company of fix monks at a time, to be iucceeded by fix more ; the 
 names and order being written and hung up, for the purpofe of giving 
 public notice : and this fervice was to be performed by finging, to 
 mufical notes, the compofition madj; for the office. 
 
 It is here proper to remark, that great part of the fervice confifted 
 in finging ; and, whenever any prayer intervened, the prieil (topped 
 and (aid, Let us pray ; which, being copied from the mafs-book into 
 our liturgy, founds oddly, till we underftand that it means a tranfi- 
 tion from finging. 
 
 William cauled a very loud founding bell to be cafr, and, when con- 
 fecrated by the laid bifhop of Ardfert, to be hung up; this was to 
 be founded three times every day, to call the fix prielts and the 
 watch monks to their duty, and to fummon all ethers of the faith- 
 ful, who were devoted to the Virgin, and wilhtd to adminifter to 
 her honour and procure profperity to the church or themfelves : 
 He farther caufed a very curious image of Mary to be carved by 
 Walter de Colchtlter, and to be confecrated by the (aid biffiop; this 
 curious Manola, as it was called, was to be placed over the altar 
 where mais was to be fung every day to her honour; and, jufl: be- 
 fore her, was placed a wax light bound round and adorned With 
 
 flowers, 
 
( "8 J 
 
 William the flowers, to be lighted up, day and night, in the principal feafts and 
 2 2d abbot , pi-oceflions made in commemoration of her. He caufed alfo the del- 
 ing of the fouth wing, wherein flood the Virgin's altar, to be covered 
 faith boarding fomewhat wrought and carved, and the walls of that 
 wing to be cleaned and whitened ; and, as he had placed the old and- 
 mean image of Mary in another place, fo he thought proper to remove 
 a great beam, which was over the great altar, to the fouth wing, and 
 let it up near the noble Mary. This was calculated to do honour to 
 the Virgin and to render ornament to the church ; for, there was 
 earved on it a feries, or row, of twelve patriarchs and twelve apofUes, 
 and in the middle was figured God the Father (a), with the fynagogue 
 and the church (b). The old crofs, and the former Mary, he placed 
 in the north wing, to the edification of the laity and all beholders, 
 Cuthbert's chapel had been built about 130 years, having been 
 erected by abbot Richard; but it was, at this time, fo decayed and- 
 ruinous, that William thought it neceflaty to rebuild it : he there- 
 fore conftructed it anew of hewn ftone, and furniihed it with glafs 
 windows and all things fuitable ; and it was raifed high enough to 
 admit of a chamber over it, which being capable of holding twelve beds, 
 fupplied the want of room in the dormitory: for, ever fmce John had 
 increafed the number to one hundred, it was found that the dormitory 
 could not contain them. In this chapel he conftructed an altar (c), 
 and caufed the faid bimop to confecrate the fame and the chapel, 
 dedicating the latter to St. Cuthbert, and John the Baptilf, and St. 
 Agnes, a martyred virgin. The faid bifhop, alfo, proclaimed an 
 indulgence of twenty days, to every perfon who would pay his wor- 
 fhip at the faid altar, on the faft of either faint or the anniverfary of 
 the Dedication. 
 
 It is to be remarked, that this biftiop exercifed his function in many 
 parts of this diocefe, and particularly in dedications, and failed not to 
 grant indulgences to the faithful, in a manner fuitable to his office 
 and dignity. He was employed alfo, at the requefl of our abbot, to 
 confecrate many churches and chapels in this diocefe ; and particu- 
 larly, the church at Redburn, to the worfhip of Amphibalus and his 
 companions. This was done with great folemnity, the abbot 
 appearing drefTed in his full pontific habit, and the bifhop granting 
 to Gilbert Silleverne, the prior of Redburn, an indulgence of forty 
 days. 
 
 (a) Majeftas. 
 
 (b) This curious fculpture hath long ago been deftroyed. 
 (cj Its place and fituation may ilill be difcerned. 
 
 i An 
 
X "9 ) 
 
 An indulgence founds, in our ears, as if it fignined a leave of full William the 
 gratification, and permiffion to tranfgrefs ; but it is a Latin word, and t 2zd abboc ; 
 fignifies an indulgence to the wifhes of the penitent to be releafed 
 from the pains of hell : thefe indulgences were granted to the 
 living as well as to the dead, and they proceeded upon this funda- 
 mental doctrine, that mankind was already under a ftate of condem- 
 nation, burthened with original fin and guilt, and obnoxious to pains 
 and torments bcth here and hereafter ; and therefore any remiffion 
 that could be obtained was a defirable object. Now the promife of 
 fuch remrffion and the pretentions of poflefiing this power were a 
 fource of great emolument and profit ; but by indulgence was meant, 
 a mitigation or releafe from the pains and penalties of Hell, the 
 power of which the church of Rome had claimed as her right. 
 This impious and abfurd doctrine was made up of St. Auftin's 
 .notion of original fin, and the Pagan notions of the future ftate; 
 both of which are inconfiftent with the true and genuine doc- 
 trines of Chrift and his apoftles : but as the Papal Chriftians took 
 many parts of their wcr/hip from that of the Pagans, fo did they 
 likewiie many of their dodirlnes of the future ftate : and upon thofe 
 Pagan notions hath Rome built her doctrines of purgatory (a), in- 
 vocation of faints, and of divers mediators, &c. 
 
 As a farther improvement to the fpiritual matters, he obtained a 
 holy crofs and other valuable relics : this crofs had been brought by 
 one Lawrence from the Holy Land, where he had dwelt as a monk, 
 in the monaftery of Jehofaphat, near to Jeruialem ; and he brought 
 alfo authentic teftimonies, from feveral perfons of rank there, in 
 proof of the fanctity of this crofs and of its antiquity ; for, he pre- 
 tended it was the real crofs upon which Chrift had furTered, above 
 1200 years before. This crofs Lawrence depofited, with the proofs 
 and other valuables, in this abbey; promiiing, that if he failed in his 
 
 (a) Thefe purgatorial fufferings, according to the popular creed of Pagan Greece 
 , /ind Rome, are beautifully defcribed by Virgil m his yEncid, Lib. VI. v. 735, et fequen. 
 Quin, et fupremo cum lumine vita reliquit, 
 I^on tamen omne malum aniens, nec funditus omnes 
 Corporeas excedunt Defies : penitufque neceffe eft 
 Malta din concreta modis inolefceic miris. 
 Ergo exercentur pcenis, veterumque malorum 
 Supplicia expendunt. Alias panduntur inanes 
 Sulpenlae ad ventos : al\is tub gurgite vafto 
 Infe&um eluitur fcelus ; aut exuritur igni. 
 Qui [que fuos patimur Manes : fxinde per amplum 
 ^iiltimur ci^/ium, &c. &c. 
 
 bufinefs, 
 
( 120 ) 
 
 ^ bufinefs, and which was to procure the manor and church of Bright- 
 _/ Well, he would leave this invaluable crofs as a teftimony of his grati- 
 tude to this abbey for the V aticum, Sec. which they would afford him 
 on his return : the monk was difappointed and did return ; leaving 
 this prefent. A modern eye will eafily difcern, in this tranfaction, 
 a trick and fraud; but muft allow there was (kill and management on 
 both iides. 
 
 Together with this crofs Lawrence had brought a human arm, 
 pretending and proving, that it was an arm of St. Jerom, who lived 
 and died near Bethlem, in the fifth century; but Jerom was a facred 
 name in the Romim church, and better known than any other of the 
 fathers : and this arm our abbot cauied to be inclofed in lome coftly 
 work of gold, fet with jewels and ftones of value, and it was borne 
 in the proceffions, on all great feftivals : there were other relics 
 likewife, being part of Jerom's clothing and his ftaff. He re- 
 ceived alfo two fingers of St. Margaret brought from the Holy Land 
 by a traveller (a). W illiam procured alfo another crols, which had long 
 been concealed at London, had paffed from father to fon, without 
 any creature of the family declaring its value, (and that, too, in times 
 when fuch relics were incftimable) and was now pretended to have been 
 the actual crofs ufed at the torture and death of Alban : though he was 
 always faid to have been beheaded. The abbot now compofed a fpecial 
 lervice in praife of Alban, to be fung every day, and the fummons to 
 this folemnity was given and known by the ringing of two bills at 
 once. It began with praying the faint to recommend them to God, 
 &c. and ended with a chorus, addrefied to Alban, of Praife, honour^ 
 g/ory, be to thee for ever. He compofed alfo a fervice in praife of 
 all thefe relics and their owners, naming them fingly, but always 
 beginning with the crofs : and this was fung with great folemnity. 
 
 And here we cannot contemplate the nature of thefe fervices with- 
 out perceiving, th \t they were calculated to aftonim and furprize an 
 ignorant audience, but not to inftrucl: or reform, being always in a 
 language unknown to the common people, and to many of the 
 monks, and conveying no moral precept. The wormip, in every 
 part, was addrelled to the eyes and ears of the beholders, but not to 
 the heart : and they became believers from admiration and wonder, 
 and were charmed, or feduced, into obedience, not gained by arguments 
 of truth. 
 
 (a) M. Paris, ad arm. 1223. 
 
 William 
 
( 1*1 ) 
 
 William purchafed a houfe in London, for the fafe and honourable William the 
 abode of himfelf and fucceftbrs, or of any of his monks who might 22d abbot - 
 have bufinefs in London : it was like a palace for fize, and there be. 
 longed to it a chapel, a good kitchen, a garden, an orchard, a well, 
 a ftable, and divers grand apartments, befide a court ; and, by building 
 other dwellings round the court and forward to the ftreet, he railed 
 a good rent, and appointed a perfon to have the inflection and care of 
 the whole : this houfe coft one hundred marks, and the improvements 
 fifty more. He purchafed alfo, for fifty marks, a houfe at Yarmouth 
 to lay up in ftore, at the proper feafon, falted fifh and efpecially 
 herrings ; to the unfpeakabie benefit and comfort of this abbey. 
 
 But, befide all thefe improvements and conveniences abroad, he 
 .ftudied the fame with no lefs attention at home : and, for this purpofe, 
 he added ieveral cloifters, or covered v. ays, about the monaftery, 
 for the better communication between one phce and another: he made 
 one cloifter from the chapter- houfe to St. Cuthbert's chapel (that is, 
 along the weft and out fide of the prefent fouth wing,) to keep dry all 
 paftengers ; becaufe this way was more frequented than formerly, 
 by reafon of the chamber made over that chapel : he built another 
 with three fides, viz. from the door of the kitchen to the entrance of 
 the monks' cloifter, and then to the door of the ftrangers parlour, and 
 the third fide was from the monks' cloifter to the way leading to the 
 fartory (a) ; and thefe fides were fenced with grating and lattice-work, 
 in order to prevent any perfon from going into the middle plot, which 
 contained a very nice little fhrubbery : the other cloifter was con- 
 ftructed round a fquare court, and had four fides, and they led to the 
 infirmary ; the care of this cloifter was given to the mafter of the in- 
 firmary. They were all built of found oak timber, and covered with 
 mingles of the fame. 
 
 This abbot made great addition to the library by the acquifition of 
 many books ; among which was one, of a very handfome appearance, 
 called the Scholaftic Hiftory, procured, as mentioned before, by the dili- 
 gence and expence of Raymond the prior. He gave to the church of St, 
 Amphibalus, at Redburn, a very noble pfalter bound and enriched in 
 a coftly manner ; together with a very handfome ordinal, which 
 was a fort of rubric, or directory, neceflary to inftruct the priefts and 
 monks in the form and manner of the fervices, and generally de- 
 pofited in fome confpicuous part of the church, for the ufe of all who 
 wanted information : a large book of this fort lay in the abbey-church. 
 
 (a) An office where the monks cloaths, &c. were repaired. 
 
 R 
 
 He 
 
( 122 ) 
 
 William the He gave alfo to the church at Wymundham another pfalter of greater 
 ?2(i at-bot. va ] ue anc j adorned with exquifite devices. He directed that at the 
 * ' end of the Lord's prayer, which was repeated every hour and by 
 every perfon in private, they mould add thefe hhort devout ejacula- 
 tions, Ki^/s, eXsycrov, Lord, have mercy upon us, but thrice : whereas, 
 before, perfons ufed them much oftener. He directed, farther, that 
 the lhoes and fhort boots of the monks mould no longer be made of 
 the raoft ordinary leather, but of fuch as mould have been tanned 
 and properly prepared by the art of the currier. 
 
 This monk was able to keep all the eltates of the church during 
 the late war, though he was grievoufly robbed at different times, 
 as, in one (ingle year, to the lofs of one thoufand marks, by that mod 
 tyrannical of the fons of men, king John. Their eftate at Berkhamp- 
 ftead was pillaged of money and goods to the value of iool. There 
 was a prefent, by extortion, made to Lewis, the Dauphin, while at 
 Dover, of iool. ; and another preient to Sayer, earl of Win ton, his 
 kinfman, and the barons when in arms at London, of 50 marks • 
 the eftate at Rickmerefworth and that at Watford were pillaged ; the 
 firft of 60 marks, and the latter of iool. and a good palfrey worth 10 
 marks. The treafurer (a), or collector of the abbey's revenues, was 
 likewife a great fufferer; and the other officers alfo fuftained lories; 
 fo that, in the whole, it was computed that the monaftery and its 
 fervants did not lofe lefs than 2,5001. In fhort, all their eftates in 
 this country were robbed ; but none were confifcated or torn from 
 them. And yet, notwithftanding thefe lofies, fuch was the good 
 management of William, that, excludve of building, and repairs, 
 and ornaments for the church, wherein he expended large fums, he 
 purchaled and procured much land, and encreafed the yearly rents 
 and income of the abbey. And, if any perfon defires to know the 
 particulars, my author refers us to the oak-cabinet which lies in the 
 great chtft that holds their papers, and in that are contained all 
 their muniments, or deeds, and the feveral titles of them written on 
 the infide of the lid. 
 
 (a) When king John came to Redburn, the treafurer loft 3 good horfes and 2 afles, 
 and a good new carl mod with iron ; worth in all 50s.; befide other loffcs, to the amount 
 of 60s. more : and, when Falco came to Langley and fet fire to the town, there were 
 three houles burnt down and thirty-five hogs deftroyed, worth in value at leaft iol. : 
 He loll alfo, by the fame rapacious plunderer, five good horfes, worth 61. and more; 
 and a good plow, worth 10s. : and, when the marfhal of the French troops came, 
 he was robbed of 24 horfes, and, in oxen, hogs, and fowls, to the value of 40 marks. 
 And at Winflow he loft feven horfes, and, in cows, fheep, geefe, eggs, and poultry, to the 
 value of 10 marks. £0 that the whole loiTes of this officer came to at leaft 58I. 
 
 William 
 
( I2 3 ) 
 
 William performed a very kind act towards a vicar in the north of William the 
 England, which was never mentioned without great commendation * 2d abt >°t- 
 and praife. This vicar, by name Hugo, and an Italian, had got 
 poffeflion of the living of Hertburn, in Durham, by intrusion and 
 authority from Rome, without any confcnt or leave of its rightful 
 patron, the abbey of St. Alban. At length comes this Hugo, after 
 a long journey, to the abbot, and makes a free and voluntary confef- 
 fion of his usurpation, and, having had enjoyment thereof for many 
 years, begs leave to thank him and to make resignation of the 
 fame. The abbot anfwered, «' I accept your resignation, Hugo, and 
 *' indeed I have never found fuch faith in any Tranlalpine." Hugo now 
 retired with an eafy confeience. In half an hour the abbot called 
 him and faid, " Now, Hugo, I will give you the living out of 
 c£ charity, and in a legal way ; that you may always enjoy peace of 
 *' mind, and have a perpetual eafe of confeience." 
 
 It had been an unfettled point, for fome years, what canonical 
 obedience was due from priors of cell?, who had alfo pariih-churches. 
 For, as priors, they were fubject intirely to their abbot ; and there- 
 fore they wifhed to withdraw themfelves totally from every other 
 jurifdiction. But this was fettled, by a compofition between the 
 bifliop of Norwich, and the priors of Binham and Wymundham 
 who had hitherto acknowledged no authority over them or their 
 churches, befide that of the abbot, without considering that the office 
 and duty of rector was antecedent to that of prior. And now it was 
 decreed, by a commislion from the pope to the dean of London, the 
 archdeacon of Middlefex, and the matter, or dean of the arches, as 
 follows : that the faid priors mould attend the visitations of the bifhop 
 and his fucceffbrs, and take their feats with the other priors, and, 
 without changing their travelling drefs, may appear in great coats 
 and boots (a), and (hall do and perform all canonical obedience at the 
 bifhop's fynodical meetings : that vicarages fhall be created in every 
 parifh where there is a priory (b) in this diocefe : that the vicars 
 fhall be prefented to the bifhop and admitted : and that the rights of 
 the abbey (hould remain fafe and entire, with a power over the monks 
 and of placing or difplacing the priors. Thus were the two jurifJic- 
 tions made distinct and feparate, the two cures placed in different hands, 
 and the great tithes left with the abbey. This compofition was 
 decreed in the year 1228 (c). 
 
 (a) In Cappis et Calcaribus. M. Paris; 
 
 (b) Which were Binham, Wymundham, Snetfham, Hapfbury, and Detfingham. 
 
 (c) This beneficial rule extended no farther than through the diocefe of Norwich ; 
 for, in 1319, Walter, bifhop of Coventry inquired, in his vifitation, by what title 
 religious men held parifh-churches. Man. I. 117. 
 
 R 2 Abbey- 
 
( "4 ) 
 
 William the Abbey-lands owed a military fervice to the crown, as well as lay- 
 t 2 * * 'v baronies and the lands of laymen; and the duty required of this abbey 
 was to find the king fix foldiers : the fix knights, or horfemen, 
 which abbot William had appointed, were for his own ufe and ffate, 
 and diftind from the fix foot foldiers, incumbent on the abbey's ef- 
 tates to find, maintain, and fupport, in defence of the realm. And it 
 was now as formerly (when the feudal duty was extended over all 
 lands by William the Conqueror), that fix and fometimes five hides (a) 
 were bound to find one man jointly. Oxhaie containing two hides, 
 and Crokefly containing fix and a half, found one man ; Gorham 
 containing four hides, and Rongton two hides, found one man ; 
 Childwic containing; two hides and a half, and Merdon two and 
 a half, and Sifleverne and Norton two hides and one yard-land, 
 found one man ; Burfton being one hide, and Garfton half a hide, 
 and Sarret one yard-land, they were united with other eftates to find 
 a man ; and other lands of obfeure names found two more. But, 
 among the names of the tenants of thefe lands, we find fuch as are, 
 at the prefent day, of note in this country, to wit, Perrot, Baldwin^ Wake* 
 In the time of this abbot a dreadful alarm happened from a florm of 
 thunder and lightning. The latter fell on the top of the church, 
 and, having melted the lead, fet fire to the timber underneath ; but, 
 by good providence, there flood near the fpot a tub placed there to 
 catch the water that leaked through the roof, and this tub, happen- 
 ing to be full at the time, afforded means to extinguish the flames. 
 This event is in itfelf fo inconfiderable, that I mould not have in- 
 ferted it, had it not been with a vieu to confirm the prefent philo- 
 fophy of an electric fluid in thunder and lightning: for, it is mod 
 probable that this inflammable fluid had penetrated through the 
 cracks, and thereby formed a train for the fire; and the lead was 
 melted after the fire began or in the inftant of the explofion. 
 However, the tub deferved a day of thankigiving with a proceffion, 
 but had it not. 
 
 This good abbot, whofe faults or neglects are not to be mentioned, 
 and are indeed nothing in companion with his benefits and laudable 
 deeds, died on St. Matthew's day, 1235 j after he hau thus ruled his 
 church, in profperity and honour, 20 years and three months. But 
 he was not buried until the calends of March following, and then 
 his oblequies were performed, with all poffible honours, by the abbot 
 of Waltham. Diredly on the death, three cholen brethren were 
 
 (a) A hide was fuppofed to be as much as would employ a team. 
 
 difpatched 
 
( "5 ) 
 
 difpatched to the king to obtain leave to proceed to a new election, WI1H 
 and to be indulged with the quiet pofleffion of their abbey dining the £Z 
 vacancy ; granting the king the elcheats and forfeitures, and the col- 
 lating to the churches : and, on prefenting the king three hundred 
 marks, he granted their requefrs. But, foon after, the church of St. 
 Julian, or Stephen, became vacant, and the king collated to it one 
 of the brethren, named Nicolas. The king's efcheator, a flout 
 knight who lived at Hatfield and was lord thereof, came with a 
 great pofi'e of ruffics and dependents, with intent to take pofleffion of 
 the abbey and all its lands, in the name of the king ; but, on being 
 {hewn the king's writ for enabling the monks to hold the fame in 
 their own hands, his lofty looks began to fink, and he returned with a 
 grievous dilappointment. 
 
 One reafon, among others, for delaying the burial of the late abbot, 
 was, to do the greater honour to the man whom they had dearly- 
 loved ; and to allow, befide, a due preparation for the election, and 
 the appearing of the priors and others at a diftance. But, in this intent 
 of honouring their abbot, it is necel'fary to hVuv what kind of embalm- 
 ing they ufed towards fuch a perfon : the cuftom then had been, and 
 was now practifed on the body of William, to vva(h and (have the de- 
 cealed, and to remove the corpfe into the infirmary ; thither were 
 admitted only a few of the more difcreet, and but one tecular, who, 
 as fervant to the facrift. was to perform the anatomic part, which 
 coniifted in making a long incihon from the throat downward'., and 
 extracting the entrails ; thefe were received into a broad veflel and 
 fprinRled with fait, and the next day depoiired in the church-vard(a), 
 near the altar of St. Stephen, with great iolemnity and the devotion 
 of the lingers- The body, being well Warned and impregnated with 
 vinegar, and fpiinkled plentifully with fait, was iewed Up : and, with 
 no other preparation, it was kept until the burial, without being 
 offenfive. 
 
 After three days, in which the juices and moifture had quitted it, 
 the uody was cloathed ; that is, d re fled in the pontifical habits, with 
 a mitre on the head, gloves and a ring on the hands, under the right 
 arm his ulual ftaff, the hands placed acrols, and fatidals put on the 
 feet : during this formality, there was a iervice fung, at the door of 
 the infirmary, containing certain collects, and the leven penitential 
 plalms and other piec.-s formerly ufed at the death of every brother. 
 'I he great bell then tolling, the body was borne into the church, being 
 
 (a) At length a fmail tomb of marble was erected on this fpor. 
 
 placed 
 
( «6 ) 
 
 William tlie placed on one of the covers, or lids, of fome fhriue, and bound down; 
 
 l 22d ■ '■ : ' bot - the convent following in proceffion, all the while, and finging pfalms: 
 when the body was fc-t down in the choir, the abbot's feal was brought 
 forth, and, being laid on one fide of the ftone fte}s leading to the great 
 altar, was broken at one ftroke of a huge hammer ; fo that (to the regret 
 of all po fterity, fays M. Paris') the image (a) and the letters were utterly 
 defaced and deftroyed. Then began a lolemn fervice of pfalmody, 
 which continued, with great exertions and earnefhiefs, day and night; 
 with this intermiffion only, that every day a folemn mafs was faid at 
 the great altar, as was pradlifed always for any deceafed brother : at 
 the firft m.-fs the whole convent appeared in white (b), and thofe who 
 conftituted the choir, or Tinging part, were apparelled in copes; and 
 wax-lights in great numbers were burning. 
 
 Tims did they perform the exequies, or la(t offices, due to their 
 departed abbot ; and, admiffion being given to all perlons into the 
 choir, or preibytery, they had leave to behold and mourn over their 
 loft friend. The body remained with as vivid a countenance as when 
 alive ; and moft awful lamentations were made, not only by the 
 monks, but by the laymen who reforted to the fight. Thefe were 
 true and genuine forrows ; for, no man was more beloved. At his 
 return from a journey, he was received with a falutation of profound 
 reverence by all the monks : and the poor he received at the gate 
 with donations and liberalities. He was ufed to be prefent at tranfact- 
 ing all bufinefs in the chapter- houfe, (which was confidered as a kind 
 of council-chamber) and to attend all the fervices in the church, even 
 thofe for private offices to any particular faint, and that alfo which 
 was folemnized at midnight ^c) : in all which, by his ready and 
 chearful manner of finging, he excited others to a proper and patient 
 difcharge of their duty in the fame. Though he attended the mid- 
 night fervice, yet he never failed to affift at the matins, which was a 
 fervice of twelve lefTbns to be read at three o'clock in the fummer, 
 and fix in the winter ; in which duty he always read the chapter that 
 came to his turn and fang the refponfory (d). At ringing the Te Deuui 
 he was always the firft. to begin and lead the band, and, though the 
 fingers took their turns to rife and ling, the abbot was always ftand- 
 jng, and thus animating the whole choir by his example. At the 
 
 (a) A faltire Or, on a field Sable. 
 
 (b) In /flbis; that is, probably, in Surplices. 
 
 (c) Called Completorium, from finifhing the day. 
 
 (d) Short lentences of ejaculation following each chapter* 
 
 mafs 
 
( i*7 5 
 
 mafs fung in honour of the Holy Virgin he was ever prefent in the W !^ m abb t], r e 
 mid ft of the choir, habited in his mitre : and, on the principal feafts, <-.*". 
 he always celebrated the mafs at the great altar. At the double feafts, 
 that is, when two feftivals came together, he attended all the time 
 in his mitie ; on common days, he appeared ftanding in his ftall, 
 guiding the choir and fmging with great fpirit ; and, whenever the 
 convent appeared either in white or in copes, (which was on par- 
 ticular days,) he failed not to ling the reiponfes in the mafs, at the 
 nod of the chantor. It was the cuftom to bring the fick and infirm 
 into the midft of the choir, there to receive extreme unction ; and this 
 the abbot was always attending in his feat, which was near the middle 
 of the choir. He never received the profeffions of noviciates at any 
 other place than at the great altar, which was a juft and proper rule, 
 ufed here ever fince the foundation of the monaftery. 
 
 He, on all occafions, carried himfelf to the potentates and prelates 
 of the realm with mod profound refpect and reverence, and with a 
 mien that gained their efteem and love. His Ikill and ability in tem- 
 poral matters I have before (hewn, together with his diligence in the 
 care of the monaftic body and the advancement of their revenues and 
 interefts. The grief for this lofs was truly fmcere ; and, befide a 
 mafs celebrated every day for the peace of his foul, the convent 
 thought they could not do him the laft honours in a proper manner, 
 unlefs they requefted a man of lingular holinels, and of full affection 
 toward the deceafed, to bury him. For which purpofe they requefted 
 Henry, the abbot of Waltham, to perform this laft office : and 
 William, in the midft of univerfal forrow and tears, was depofited 
 in the center of the chapter-houfe, adorned in all his pontific 
 habits. 
 
 It had been cuftomary, at the death of every abbot, to appoint an 
 anniverfary to his memory, and to grant a corrody, or daily main- 
 tenance, to one monk then newly admitted, for the purpoie of 
 celebrating mafs and praying daily for his foul. This was now- 
 providing and fettling, when Richard, a monk, and keeper of the 
 church and hofpital of St. Mary de Prez, came forward and demanded, 
 for the ufe of the leprous women under his care, feven corrodies : 
 for, he alleged that, ' by the tenor of the charter which founded 
 « and endowed this hofpital of St. Mary, at leaft one new corrody 
 « fhould be granted at the death of every abbot, until the number 
 
 * amoun r ed to thirteen (which was the number of women confined) ; 
 
 * and that not one had been granted ever fince the foundation.' This 
 
 claim 
 
( »« ) 
 
 William the claim was confidered and allowed, and it made no frnaU addition to 
 t 22d j ibl " !t - the table of thefe wretched objects. 
 
 And here, b' caufe we are come to the period, in which the church 
 and the monafteries had arrived at their higheft degree of power and 
 influence, in confequence of their having attained the iummit of 
 their wealth and affluence, we will paufe a while, and take a view 
 of the domeflic reconomy of this abbey, and of the fervice and 
 devotion which employed them in the church : and then fhew in 
 what relation they Hoed to the king, to the pope, to the bifhops, and 
 to other abbeys. 
 
 It is to be remembered that the body confided at this time, and 
 had confifled, from the time of William's predeceiTor, abbot John, 
 of iqo monks. Thefe were all in the fame degree of rank and pre- 
 cedence, except what arofe from the time of admitiion, and except 
 that the rulers and officers (a) of the houfe bore fome title and pre- 
 eminence: as, next to the abbot, the prior; then the houfe-Jicward, 
 or cellerarlus ; the facrifl, who had the care of the veftments, and 
 provided all iiecefTaries for the church ; and the injirmarius, who 
 had the care of the (ick : there were other inferior officers who had 
 certain occafional duties put upon them, but thefe duties were not 
 conflanc and regular. 
 
 The abbot lived in good apartments, alone, except that he had his 
 Bajuli(\i), or intimate and confidential friends (who ferved him in the 
 capacity of privy counfellors, and were generally brought with him or 
 chofen out of the Body) ; but he always dined in the great hall, or refec- 
 tory, fitting alone at a table placed at the top of the room(c); the prior 
 and facrifl were feated at the head of along table on the right hand of 
 the abbot, and the fteward and mfirmarius took their places at the head 
 of another long table on his left hand; which two tables accommodated 
 all the brethren. It appears not whether they were waited on by any 
 brethren of an inferior degree, or by the noviciates, or by ordinary lay- 
 retainers : and probably by neither; as their food was (lender, confut- 
 ing of eggs boiled hard, dried or ialted fifh, or roafted fowl, with 
 fome farinaceous compound : this being placed, with bread and beer, 
 requ ired noluch change or attendants as the fancied wants of modern 
 
 (a) Obedientiarii. 
 
 (b ) We may here difcern the afftfled humility of the monks in their ufe of this word, by 
 which the favourites and counjeikn ot the abbot were fond of being diftinguifhed, although 
 it is known to fignify, in its ufual acceptation, the meaneft and moft Jervile attendant. 
 
 (c) This table was called Dais, from Epulum. 
 
 3 days 
 
( >^9 ) 
 
 days have invented and found needful. A profound fiience was e v er W:Ili ° m bb lhft 
 obferved at meals, as alio in the church, in the dormitory, and , 
 in the cloifter ; and therefore it was a gratification to be allowed 
 to converfe in the parlour, when abbot Warren gave that liberty. 
 
 It appears not that they had any feparate rooms, to which they 
 might retire to read or purfue any particular amufement or employ- 
 ment : and, indeed, fb much was their attendance required in the 
 choir that little time could be fpared for any other bufinefs. We find 
 alfo no fchool to have been kept up in this abbey, for the inftruclioii 
 of youth, or even for training the young monks, until the time of 
 John Wheathampftead. The copying-room employed only two or 
 three, and thole feldom were monks: and fo void of inllruclion were 
 thele men, after they had profelTed and taken the vows, that many of 
 them did not underftand the language which they fang ; and it was 
 generally conlidered as a proper qualification for ordaining a deacon 
 cr prielr, (of which holy order here were always ten or twelve, em- 
 ployed in faying mafs, and reading the prayers, and to fucceed to the 
 churches in the gift of the abbey,) if the perfon could read Latin 
 with propriety, and be expert and ready at finding and obferving 
 the office and fervice for the day. Though the fervice was frequent, 
 yet it was fo infinite and manifold, beyond the duties of our prefent 
 churches, that they feem ever to have had fuch a regulator thereof as 
 is now called a Dean ; and this office was either fupplied by one of that 
 name, or by the prieft in waiting. And the fervice confined fo much 
 in finging, and returned fo often in the twenty-four hours, that the 
 ordinary monks were no better than ebbrifters and tinging men ; and 
 the fancxityof their character mud have arifen from the place and duty 
 performed, rather than from any attainments in moral holinefs and 
 improvements in folid virtue. 
 
 The care that lay on the abbot was no fmall matter, to govern this 
 family, which, with its necefTary retainers and fervants, could net be 
 fewer than 130; befide the three hofpitals near the abbey, con- 
 taining about 50 perfons, and the diftant cells, which were eight in 
 number (a), and maintained at leaft 100 more. Not to mention the 
 frequent molefhtion, and injury, and violent alTaults, committed by 
 the potent laymen againft the perfons or the lands and property of 
 
 (a) Thefe were Mcrrgate-fireet and Hertford, both in this county (Heits) ; Hatfield- 
 Pevird, in Eifcx ; Blnkam and li yndhain, in Norfolk ; Beivn r , in Leicdtei fhire ; 
 7mmoutb, in Northumberland ; and JVollin^ford, in Kerkfhi-e. Beaui'uu, in Bedford' 
 fhirc, was not long under the government of this abbey, as will appear in the next 
 chapter. 
 
 S the 
 
( *3° ) 
 
 William the the abbey : for, the nbbot was defeated in every conteft, unlefs he 
 , 22d abbor ; could make a friend of the king or his chief judiciary. Such was the 
 adnaniiftration of juilice in thofe days. 
 
 With regard to the fervice of the church, I have (hewn how much 
 of the monks' time was employed it it : infomuch, that the authors 
 of fo long and tedious a fervice feem to have thought, that monks 
 were arrived at fuch a pitch of heavenly perfection as to be no 
 longer liable to the earthly infirmities of hunger, and thirft, and 
 bodily fatigue; without confidering, that the mind will be unable 
 to raife itfelf to contemplation or devotion whenever the body is ill 
 at eafe. But fuch was the idea then prevailing, that the whole duty 
 of man was to mortify and purge out the old leven, without attend- 
 ing to the methods of being inftruct.ed in new virtues and advanced 
 to higher attainments of holinefs. This will appear alfo in the nature 
 of the fervice, and in the practice of this and moft other churches. It is 
 well known that there was no uniformity of worfhip, and no general 
 book of common prayer, prior to the Reformation ; but it had been 
 the ufage with all biihops, and abbots, and fuch as prefided over a 
 great conventual body, to form and to ufe whatever liturgy they 
 pleafed : agreeing only in this, that the canon of the mafs, as being 
 of the effence of Chriftian worfhip, was univerfally ufed in the fame 
 manner. And whatever was ufed in the cathedral church was adopted 
 through the diocefe ; and in all the parifli-churches the like liturgy 
 was obferved as far as one perfon could perform it, and that was in 
 general on the Sundays only : and the practice of the abbey-church 
 was obferved by all the churches belonging to it, if the mother-church 
 and its branches had ever obtained an exemption. But William the 
 Conqueror had brought into England, and placed in the fee of Salifbury, 
 one Ofmond, a man of great learning, and bred up in Normandy; 
 and he compofed a liturgy, for the ufe of his own cathedral, which 
 came into general ufe, and continued in great efteem until the Refor- 
 mation. The fervice directed by this ordinal, or miffal, was in this 
 form and manner. Every Sunday, the firft bufinefs of the priefl; was 
 to prepare the holy water, which was received in a veffcl at the entrance 
 into the choir ; and, after repeating fome fhort prayers to obtain a 
 blefiing, or virtue of falubrity, on the water, the priefr. cafr. into it a 
 quantity of fait, praying for farther and more effectual prefervation to 
 refide in the fame. The prayers then began with fentences of fcrip- 
 ture, alluding to the Advent, the Nativity, the Epiphany, and the 
 other great feafts : piayers followed, with two or three collects; and 
 portions of Scripture, called the EpilVie and Gofpel. And this fpecial 
 
 fervice 
 
 2 
 
( »3> ) 
 
 fervice for each Sunday was much lengthened by figging certain pfnlms w ' lI,iam , J he 
 or hymns, and by reading four or five chapters of the Word ci (iod. 22 a ' "V 
 But this finging and reading was arbitrary, and appointed at the will 
 of the bi(hop or abbot, and made no part of the direction in the 
 Rubric. There were alfo faints days without number, and for every one 
 there was provided a fpecial office, in Ofmond's Miflal: and this office 
 and the ftated fervice of the day were both performed, and it was 
 called a double feftival, and had iometim.es nine lellbns and generally 
 fix to be read. The mafs, or giving the Lord's Supper, was performed 
 almoft every day, and was a very lolemn fervice : though it was at- 
 tended with fo many gefticulations and motions of the prieft, as, with 
 perfons who did not underftand it, would be thought theatrical. Yet 
 this was the only fervice, wherein the Apoftles Creed is profefTed or 
 any open confefl'.on made of fin and imperfection. 
 
 In this papal wbrfhip we may behold a great refemblance to that of 
 pagan Rome : both had altars and facrifices ; and, in the former, holy 
 and pious men took the place of heroes and legiflators : both were per- 
 formed in the Latin tongue ; though the papal worfhip was planted 
 in countries where the Latin was a dead language, utterly unknown 
 to the worfhipper, and often even to the performer. Hence it is 
 plain, that inftruction was not the aim of the bifhops and rulers of 
 the papal church : and, though the office of matrimony was always 
 performed, in the betrothing part, in the Englifh tongue, yet they 
 taught not the way of falvation in the fame manner. We may weil 
 imagine how tirefome and difgufting it was, to fuch as did not un- 
 derhand the language, either to perform the fervice or to hear it: 
 but, to thofe who did underftand it, how Utile could it inftrudt 
 and edify ! and how little would it communicate of true comfort and 
 fatisfaction, when the ienies only were entertained and charmed, and 
 the mind left void of help ! It was a kind of fervice that feemed to 
 have arifen, or to have been well calculated, for more perfect beings ; 
 as refembling that heavenly harmony which fhall occupy the bleljcd ; 
 but it was wholly unfit for edification, or to communicate the confo- 
 lations of religion to frail ignorant mortals. And, though the re- 
 femblance of it in great churches is now exceeding proper and fuit- 
 able to the elevated dignity of the place, yet the reformers wilely ex- 
 cluded it from parim-churches, where inftruction and the firft feeds 
 of religion were to be flown : thefe reformers provided for the wants of 
 the people, not for the grandeur of a few. Though many of the 
 collects, epiftles, and gofpels, are copied in our liturgy from the 
 ancient fervice; yet the latter had no prayer, or petition, fo well 
 
 S 2 adapted, 
 
( *3* ) 
 
 William the adapted, fo properly addreSTed, fo interesting to the worfhipper, and fo 
 
 2 id abbot. • /r «• v* 
 
 » , , lnitrudtive, as our litany. 
 
 Abbeys and monasteries, cathedral churches and biShops' fees, 
 were always founded by the king's chaiter, whoever were the authors 
 and contributors thereunto. They may be alike considered as corpora- 
 tions for the better furtherance of piety and religion, and, being in- 
 tended to have fucceflion and perpetuity, they were eftablilhed with 
 all the Strength and firmnefs which the law of the land could give : 
 endowments alio were ratified by the like authority ; and, in the Saxon 
 times, the great nobles and officers of State confented and fublcribed 
 to the fame, two forms whereof I have exhibited in the Appendix, 
 (a\ Elections of abbots, and alfo of biShops, were originally con- 
 fined to the brethren and conventual body. But, when thefe heads 
 and Superiors became rich by endowments, and held lands of the 
 crown, and were placed in council on the footing of peers and nobles, 
 then the kings became interefted in the fee, and would not grant the 
 temporalities without approving the tenant. The next ftep, both 
 with the Saxon kings and thofe of the Norman race, was to grant 
 leave to elect, and to recommend : and it Stood on this footing (though 
 not without interruption from the popes) until, in the reign of 
 Henry II. the pope aflumed the whole power to himfelf : and, though 
 the Succeeding kings Struggled againft this ufurpation, yet the pope's 
 authority and power generally prevailed, until the time of Henry VIII. 
 when the legislature refumed this power, and placed it, beyond all 
 controverfy, in the regal head of the church But, whoever appointed, 
 the confirmation always came from Rome : and, as biShops and abbots 
 were but different branches of the fame holy church, the pope made 
 equal claims to the right and privilege, as head and ruler of that church, 
 to terminate and fettle all difputes in the election of thefe lubordinate 
 rulers ; and generally made them pay a good price to obtain a quiet 
 pofleSTion. 
 
 Although the Christian religion had been received by the Britons, 
 and was established through the land ; yet we find very few traces, 
 either of bishoprics or of abbeys, in their times. The oldeSt feat of 
 Christianity Seems to be Glaftonbury; Banchor in Flintshire was next 
 in fame as well as age ; then probably Winchester, where a cathe- 
 dral was founded and dedicated to Amphibalus, about 309 ; Caerleon 
 alio and St. David's were of that time : and all thefe were the great 
 Seminaries of the church, before the coming of the Saxons ; but it is 
 difficult to distinguish how far they were monaltic institutions or 
 Secular. Lucius, a king of the weftern part of Britain, and, from his 
 
 (a) N° U 
 
 name, 
 
( *33 ) 
 
 name, one mould be apt to fuppofe of Roman extraction, was a great William 
 inftrument of converting his fubjects to Chrift ; and the bifhop of , 22d 
 Rome had fent him two bimops, Faganus and Damianus, for the ef- 
 tablifhment of the gofpel. This was about 189, and it is remarkable 
 that this place, Winchefter, fuffered extremely in the Dioclefian per- 
 fecution ; though no name of great note for its piety has reached us : 
 but, when the church was rebuilt, it was dedicated by Conftaus, the. 
 bifhop, about the year 309, to St. Amphibalus, who had fuffered in 
 the late perfecution : fo that the fame of Amphibalus was fpread 
 abroad foon after his death, but that of Alban had no regard paid to 
 it, nor any dedication made to it, until Germanus took up the name, 
 in a pious intention, 200 years after Alban's death. 
 
 But the great eftablilhments of cathedrals and of monafteries were 
 referved for the Saxon converts : and it is furprizing to behold, on ex- 
 amination, how many of the great endowments of both were made 
 by Auftin, and his followers and converts. In the feventh century, 
 were founded the fees of Canterbury, Rocbefter, London, York, 
 Hereford, Lincoln, Litchfield, Norwich, Worcefter, and Durham. 
 In that fame century, many great monafteries were likewife founded, 
 and, indeed, in every century down to the end of Henry the Vth's 
 reign ; the number of which, of 200I. a year and upwards, was near 
 two hundred at the diffolution ; and the fmall ones, together with 
 priories, chantries, and other monkifh eftabhfhments, amounted to 
 eight hundred and more. If it be afked, why there were io few of 
 the former (fees J and fo many of the latter ? feveral reafons might be 
 given; but this alone may iuffice: that the former were eltablifhed as the 
 leminaries for the church, and to breed up fecular clergy for the fer- 
 vice of the country ; whereas the latter were promoted by a fclfim. 
 ipirit, and intended to pray for the foul of the founder, and be entrufted 
 with his interefl: between his death and the day of judgement : and 011 
 this principle new benefactors daily appeared, new gifts and offerings 
 were made, and new fpiritual cares were undertaken. 
 
 . It may be oblerved that moft, if not all, the foundations prior to 
 the Conqueft are of the Benedictine order. The reafon is, becaufe the 
 other orders, as the Ciftertians, Praemonftratenfians, Cluniacs, Au- 
 ^uftine Canons, Carthufians, and Gilbertines, were introduced by the 
 Conqueror and the following kings and great men, from their prin- 
 cipal abbeys in France, and were, in fact, only different modifications 
 of the oider of Benedict, and took their name from the reformer 
 or from the place of their abode abroad. Each of thefe orders, as 
 they prelumed to call thcmfelves, though they were but as difienters 
 4 from 
 
( =34 ) 
 
 William the from Benedict, was under the rule and dire&ion of a principal, called 
 2 2u abbot. t j )e p r0V ; nc i a / 9 who ufed to convene the heads of ins refpective order, 
 inquire into the ftate and management thereof, and enact rules for 
 their better government. But as all the monaftic bodies confidered the 
 pope as their temporal as well as fpiritualhezd^ fo he claimed the right 
 of regulating and directing their chapters, or general conventions, and 
 of confirming the ftatutes therein made. Thus we fnall Ice the Be- 
 nedictines affembled by the legate Otho for amending their ftatutes, 
 in the year 1238 (a), and again in 1249 : anc ^ lt a Ppear what 
 
 kind of a life thefe men led, and what abufes and neglects had crept 
 in, from perufing the new ftatutes and ordinances then given them, 
 and confirmed by the pope: thtfe 1 have exhibited in the Appendix (b), 
 and may have occafion to mention them again under their proper 
 dates. 
 
 Although the monks and the fecular clergy were branches of the 
 fame church, yet there was continual enmity between them : one 
 envying and maligning the other, on a fuppotition that the adver- 
 sary enjoyed more advantages. The feculars poffeOed a freedom, 
 in their parochial cures, which the monks had not : and the latter, 
 from carrying away the tithes and owning lands and manors, were 
 fuppofed, by the former, to be rich and opulent, full and eafy. 
 
 (a) At the provincial chapter of Benedi&incs, in 1338, there were fummoned to it 
 40 abbots and 21 priors : oniy 4 exempt. And 25 Benediitine abbots fat in Parliament, 
 beine; ufually fummoned as holding batonie&. (^w^. Alon. II. 178} 
 
 (b) N° 11. and N° 111. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
( «3J ) 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE fame day on which William was buried, the convent dif-j ohn Ir# tlie 
 patched three of the moft difcreet brethren to the king, to in- 23d abbot, 
 treat leave to proceed to a new election, that the houfehold of the ^ v ' 
 Lord (a) might not be damaged by a long vacancy. In the mean 
 time, the convent were employed in feeking the fpiritual aid of the 
 blefled martyr, by making, every day, folemn proceffions about his 
 fhrine with their feet bare, finging the feven penitential pfalms, 
 and in proftration repeating, with the moll: earned devotion, certain 
 collects proper for the occafioil. The three monks fent to the king 
 having obtained his leave, in confequence of a handfome letter writ- 
 ten to him and another to his chancellor, the convent appointed the 
 morrow of the Annunciation for the day of election, and, by letter, 
 fummoned the priors to attend, they being principal members of the 
 body. Accordingly, being all afTembled on that day, they could not 
 proceed to fo arduous a bufinefs, by reafon of the fandtity of the 
 day (b) and the necefiary duty therein; therefore, it was agreed to 
 adjourn the bufinefs till Monday, and, on Monday, it wns agreed to 
 defer it, by reafon of its requiring farther deliberation, until Wednefday : 
 at laft, on that day, the priors and convent being aflembled in the 
 chapter-houfe, they made choice of John of Hertford, prior of the 
 cell at that place, a reguiar monk, and a man of great piety. He was 
 prefented to the king on Palm-Sunday, together with a letter of re- 
 
 (a) Grex Domini. (b) Being Sunday. 
 
 com- 
 
( ) 
 
 joSn II. the commendation ; and the king, out of Jove to the abbey and having 
 i 2 3 " ot i a good character of John, gave him a moft gracious reception. 
 
 The form and manner of electing an abbot was this; and praclifed 
 in the cafe of John. Thofe priefts whofe duty and office it was to 
 receive con fern" on s (being three or four in number) made choice of 
 twelve of the moft upright and faithful men in the whole convent ; 
 and thefe twelve had the iole power of the election, taking whom 
 they or the majority of them pleafed, out of their own number, or 
 from any other rank belonging to the monaftic body. 
 
 At the laft Lateran Council, held in the year 12 15, a canon was 
 made, fubjecting all abbeys and monaftic bodies, which had gained 
 exemption from epifcopal jurifdidtion, to that of the pope: and our 
 abbey came under that name and defcription : and thereupon the 
 king wrote to the pope a handfome letter, fupplicating his confirma- 
 tion of this election. Three difcreet monks, namely, Reginald of 
 Booking, Nicolas of St. Alban, and Geoffrey of Langley, were 
 deputed to Rome to prefent this letter. And, when they came to 
 the pope's court, which was then held at Perufium, they found it 
 neceft'ary to lay a fum of money at the pope's feet, which, being im- 
 mediately accepted, was ordered by his holinels to be deposited in his 
 treafury ; but neither the treafurer nor his mafter condefcended to 
 offer thefe melTengers the fmalleft entertainment or repaft : they 
 found it neceflary, alfo, to make liberal prefents to the janitors and 
 attendants about the court, and even to thofe friends of the king, to 
 whom he had recommended them and lent letters, &e. which they 
 ever confidered as of little value (a) unlefs accompanied with pre- 
 fents. But, the meftengers having obtained a confirmation and 
 received a large portion of apoftolic benediction, they returned, much 
 diigufted wirh the practice of that court. 
 
 The pope's confirmation was made by a refcript to the bifliops of 
 London and Ely, directing them to examine into the merits of the 
 elected and the form of the election ; and, on difcovering no fault 
 or illegality therein, to give John admiflion and adminifter to him 
 an oath of fubjection : accordingly, on the morrow of the Nativity of 
 the bleffed Virgin, namely, the 9th of September, the bifhops, find- 
 ing no exceptions to be made, repaired to this abbey, and the new 
 abbot read aloud, in the prefence of the bilhops, and in the au- 
 dience of the convent and of the clergy and people aflemblcd, the 
 following oath and engagement : * I, John, abbot of the monaitery 
 
 (a) Steriles et iuh u&uofas. 
 
 « of 
 
 « 
 
( '37 ) 
 
 ' of St. Alban, will, from this hour, he faithful and obedient unto j u j. in u. t j, c 
 « St. Peter and the holy apoftolic church of Rome, and to my Lord 23d abbor. 
 ' the pope, and his fuccefibrs canonically admitted. I will not be v v 
 
 * of counfel, cither by con fen t or deed, to take away their life or de- 
 ' prive them of limb or liberty : but the counfel which they (hall en- 
 4 truft to me, either by themfelves, by others, or by letters, I will 
 6 make known to no perfon, wilfully to their detriment. The pa- 
 ' pacy of Rome and the fovereignty of St. Peter I will aid and 
 ' aftiir. to keep and defend, without prejudice to my order, againft all 
 « men. The legate of the apoftolic fee, in coming and returning, I 
 « will treat with honour, and, in all his neceffities, relieve and afiift. 
 
 * When fummoned to a fynod, or council, I will come, unlefs hin- 
 
 * dered by fome lawful impediment. The threfholds of the apoftles 
 ' I will vifit every third year, either in perfon or by my meflenger ; un- 
 ' lefs abfolved by apoftolic licence. Moreover, the pofTetfions of my 
 « monaftery I will neither fell, nor give, nor pledge, nor infeof 
 « anew, to any perfon, without confulting the pontif of Rome. So 
 *' help me God, and thefe holy gofpels.' 
 
 One of the firft occafions, wherein we difcern our new abbot in 
 his fplendor, was, in the year 1236, at the coronation of Henry III. 
 who, having juft married Eleanor, the daughter of Raymond earl of 
 Provence, thought proper to be crowned together with his 
 queen. And here the folemnity was performed by the archbimop of 
 Canterbury, affiited by the bifhop of London ; the other bifhops 
 being placed according to their rank, and, next to them, the mitred 
 abbots, the firft of whom was John of St. Albans: for, as Alban was 
 the firft martyr of England, fo this abbot had pofl'efled the firft place 
 in rank and dignity, until deprived of the fame by the abbot of Weft- 
 minfter ; the time and caufe of which fhall be related. 
 
 John was no fooner invefted in his new dignity than he thought 
 himfelf fubjected to the yoke and tyranny of the Romifh Pontif. 
 He did not clearly underftand what was meant by his vifiting, in 
 perfon or by deputy, the apoftolic threfholds every third year; and, 
 even in the firft years of his office, he was troubled with many ex- 
 actions and new demands, but efpecially by the novel and unheard-of 
 oppreflions of the Romifh court : and he fuffered the more vexation, 
 becaufe he found that this noble church, which had ever been in- 
 genuous and free-born, could have no enjoyment of its liberties and 
 privileges; and it was reckoned a prefageof evil times and fad difafters, 
 becaufe, within the firft three years of John's rule, the church had 
 been twice fet on fire by lightning. There was fixed on the tower an 
 
 T Agnus 
 
( '3» ) 
 
 John II. the Jgnm Dei (a), being the imprefiion of the popes feal affixed to his 
 * 3 * ", ' refcripts and orders ; and this had ufually been thought, by the peo- 
 pie and monks, to have virtue and power in it to guard the church 
 from all calamities arifing from the elements, but now they con- 
 fidered it as portending nothing but evil and mifchief. 
 
 Soon after his acceffion, he prefented to the church one crimfon 
 cope, for the ufe of the choir, ornamented with handfome gold 
 friuge ; and he gave, for the ufe of the refectory, one filver cup, 
 gilt, of great value both for the workmanfhip as well as for the 
 materials. 
 
 He built a magnificent apartment for the ufe of Grangers, fuch as 
 might be denominated a royal palace (faith my author). It confided 
 of one very fuperb room, painted ; and of feveral chambers and fmall 
 apartments, with a ftack of chimneys; and, before it, were a court and 
 lower hall. The court wasfpacious and noble, and had in its entrance a 
 porch, or gateway (b); the chambers were very handfome, with chim- 
 neys and clofets, for the honourable reception of guefts. A large hall had 
 flood in this place, but it was much decayed in the walls and the 
 roof, was very dark and unfeemly, and had been covered and mended 
 with mingles ; whereas the new building was covered handfomely 
 with lead. The large room and chamber adjoining were painted,, 
 and in a delightful manner ornamented (c) by the hand of matter 
 Richard, a very Ikilful monk of this abbey. John built alfo, oppofite 
 the great gate, a very long houfe, or dwelling, of ftone, covered 
 with tiles, and with three chimneys : the fight and view of this, 
 building, being in the firft approach to the monaftery (d), added much, 
 to the beauty of the whole ftructure. This houfe contained two 
 floors, the upper of which was affigned to the ufe of the upper fer- 
 vants of the abbot, and the lower was ufed for a larder and ftore- 
 room. In the time of John, Stanmer, which had been one of the 
 earlieft pofleffions of the abbey but loft by the floth of fome of his 
 predeceHbrs, was recovered : and here John built a manor-houfe 
 and alfo a very excellent windmil. 
 
 John fuffered many opprefiions from the great men of the realm ; and 
 was engaged in a very expenfive and vexatious conteft with Ralph de 
 Chanduit^and in another with Geoffrey de Child wic on the right of Free 
 
 (a) This lamb is painted in all the compartments, or divifions, of the deling over, 
 the choir and prefent conliftory. 
 
 (b) Honolum. 
 
 (c) Delitiole redimita. 
 
 (d) On the eaft fide and fronting Sopwell-lanc. 
 
 Warren 
 
j 
 
 ( '39 ) 
 
 Warren; but lie" had a judgement given in his favour, by the judges (a) ** 4 ° d abbot! 
 
 at Hertford, though not without an expence of iooo marks and up- * — v ' 
 
 wards. And the perfecution from Geoffrey he took ill, the more, 
 becaufe this man was a tenant of the abbey and a neighbour, and 
 ought to have been its defender and proteclor ; being the fon of 
 Roger de Childwic, who held three hides and a half of land, and 
 was bound to find a foldier for the king, on the part of the abbot. 
 This Geoffrey had married the filler of John Manfel, who was one 
 of the King's privy couniellors, and in great repute and authority at 
 court; and, by virtue of his intereft, Geoffrey prefumed to commit 
 many outrages and illegalities : for, if he met at any time the abbot's 
 fervants hunting, he would rob them of their nets, dogs, bows, and 
 arrows ; beating and abufing them, though they were hunting in the 
 king's highways or in the abbot's lordfhips, or warren, where he 
 could have no right. Becaufe, it is to be underftood, that the law 
 had ever considered the game and all fera natura as belonging to the 
 king : and the right of keeping and preferving the fame in parks or 
 warrens, and the right to kill, were derived from the king ; and 
 was a right always given with manors and large extenfive fees, by a 
 writ called the Writ of Free Warren : and thus was a right belong- 
 ing to the tenant in capite, and to none under him. 
 
 The influence of Manfel was fo great, that no juftice, or remedy, 
 againfl: fuch afTaults could be had at Law: fo that abbot John thought 
 proper to fend William, his fleward, up to court with the com- 
 plaint ; where, in the prefence of the king and of the baronage, 
 (which was probably the affembly of the barons,) he openly declared 
 the grievance and injuftice which his abbey fuffered : but the king's 
 juftices, who were prefent, whifpered in his ear, that there were then 
 two great rulers at court, namely earl Richard and John Manfel, againfl 
 whom they dared not utter a word. 
 
 In thofe days, it is to be underflood, the king heard complaints 
 and decided at a word, and performed many of thole duties and judi- 
 cial offices which have fince devolved on his judges, fpeciaily ap- 
 pointed. The king then acted in his proper dignity, as the fountain 
 of juftice and of mercy : whereas, now, he is approached, too often, 
 as the fountain of honour only, if not of power. Neverthelefs, 
 though a crowned head may be liable to many errors in his decifions, 
 and many impofitions, yet it always reflects a luftre on the ch '" 10 - 
 ter and office of Majefty, when it fhews itfelf acceffible to th 
 plaints and grievances of the fubje£t. 
 
 (a) Juft iciarii. 
 T 2 
 
( *4° ) 
 
 John II. the It happened, one day, that this Geoffrey, being in the road from 
 23d abbot . Bedford, met a iervant of my lord abbot, coming from the arch- 
 deacon of Bedford with a prefcnt of venifon for the abbot j on which 
 Geoffrey accofb him with very reproachful language, and much 
 heat and paffion ; accufing him of having ftolen the venifon out of the 
 king's foreft. This the Iervant took exceedingly ill, having been 
 himfelf one of the king's domeftics as a marfhal, or harbinger, 
 to go before his majefty to clear the way. Whether this marfhal 
 made any refinance in his own defence, or not, doth not appear ; 
 but, in the event, he was thrown from his horfe, and the venifon 
 together with the horfe taken away by Geoffrey and his attendants. 
 On this the abbot fpeedily proceeded to excommunication. This 
 fentence was denounced on him by the abbot and whole convent, 
 and proclaimed by the clergy belonging to the churches and lands 
 of St. Alban, and likewife by the arch-deacon of Bedford, and by all 
 the clergy in his jurifdiction. 
 
 Contemptible as this fentence may appear to many in thefe days, 
 and although it is difarmed of much of its terrors now, yet ftill it 
 puts a man under fo many legal difabilities, that it is, at this time, 
 a very ferious denunciation. It is analogous to outlawry. And, as 
 the latter deprives a man of the protection, and benefit, and ufe, of 
 the law, fo the former deprives him of the privileges and ufes of 
 religion j he being excluded from the public worfhip of God, and the 
 company and fociety of the faithful. This fentence cannot now be 
 pronounced againft any perfon, but thofe who are proved delinquents 
 in fpiritual courts and in matters of mere fpiritual nature, and for 
 contempt to the orders and authority of thofe courts. But, in the 
 days of Henry III. when the power of the clergy was high, it might 
 be, that the abbots poffeffed this power of excommunication ; though 
 they had got themfeives exempt from the jurifdi&ion of thofe in whom 
 this power certainly did refide : I mean the bifhops and arch-deacons. 
 
 It feems to have been a very hafty and ram proceeding, and argues 
 great paflion and animofity, for the lofs of a horfe and fome venifon : 
 and it may be faid, that it was a civil offence and breach of the peace, 
 and a felonious taking the goods and chattels of the abbot, and 
 therefore cognizable before the civil magiftrate and punifhable by 
 common-law procefs : but the channels of law were flopped by the 
 influence of Manfel, and, Juftice not finding a free courfe, thefe in- 
 jured parties proceeded in their own way. If, at that time, the 
 abbots did not lawfully poffefs this power, the prefent fentence was 
 begun and proceeded on by the arch-deacon robbed, and from him 
 
 was 
 
( Hi ) 
 
 was taken up by the abbot and copied in his dominions. And, tointimi- fofc 
 dafeGeoffrey the more, a fecond denunciation of this fenteuce was made, 2 
 and with greater folemnity, being accompanied with a grand procef- 
 fion, the great bell tolling, the candles all flaming, the (hiine deckt 
 out in all its fplendor, and the abbot and monks attired in their 
 gaudieft habits. After this, Geoffrey, who had fcorned thecenfures of 
 the church, was attacked by the king's writ. But the abbot was molli- 
 fied by the intreaties of the king and great men about court, who all 
 appeared, as interceflors, on behalf of Geoffrey. This had been done 
 by the craft and addrefs of Manfel : and the abbot, finding upon con- 
 futation that he was liable to a charge of irregularity in his pro- 
 ceeding, confented to drop the appeal to the king in perfon ; and 
 thus Geoffrey efcaped. 
 
 Afterwards, by the procurement of this fame Manfel, Geoffrey 
 obtained a writ of free warren over all the lands which he held of the 
 abbey, though in diredt contradiction to ancient deeds and long ef- 
 tablifbed ufage, and contrary to the very charter granted by the pre- 
 fent king, and for which the abbey had given a great fum of money. 
 The abbot, however, and his people continued to exercife their right 
 of free warren over the lands which were included in Geoffrey's new 
 grant, although the fame were furrounded, and, as it were, inclofed, 
 by the lands of the abbey. But a complaint of this was moved be- 
 fore the King, and, by the artifice of William, bifhop of Salifbury, 
 the abbot was intangled in law and lay at the king's mercy : for, 
 by the fuggeftion of the faid William, the king anfwered, that if, 
 by his charter, he had granted the manor of another to any of his 
 nobles or great men, though manifeftly againft law, it could not be 
 allowed, 1 that the rightful lord Ihould re-enter his Jordfhip, until 
 ' the fame wa6 difcuffed at law and decided in court. In truth, that 
 4 he ought to appear before the king and declare his right, in order 
 ' that he might re-enter his manor with the more fecurity.* 
 
 This fentence was deemed full of injuftice : for, were this to be 
 accounted law, it might be lawful for the king to enter the manor 
 of any other perfon by violence, and, if that orher could not beat off 
 the invader with greater violence, he would be wretchedly difpofft fled 
 of his eftate. All this was the contrivance of Geoffrey de Childwic, 
 fupported by the countenance and advice of Manfel, then councilor 
 to the king. But, in the year 1240, the abbot obtained of the king 
 a writ to fummon Geoffrey and his affociates before the king's juftices, 
 to anfwer for this offence ; the form of the writ appears in the 
 Appendix (a) : it came to trial at Cambridge, before a jury of 
 
 (a) N° IV, 
 
 ten 
 
( H* ) 
 
 }ohn If. the ten yeomen of common rank and twelve knights girt with fwords, 
 2 3d abbot. concurrcc j [ n giving a verdift againft Geoffrey and his compa- 
 nions; and lie was lenteuced by the court to pay forty marks damages. 
 This Geoffrey alio gave the abbot incredible trouble about the eftate 
 of Newberry ; for, though the abbot had bought it of the true 
 lord and owner, in order to redeem him and his title-deeds from the 
 hands of the Jews, yet Geoffrey fo embarraffjd the abbot in law 
 that the convent were forced to demife the land over to Geoffrey, 
 keeping and referving only for thcmfelves the old rent. Befide this, 
 he obliged the convent to furnifh a corrody to a young man of his 
 appointment, before he would make any conceffions to the church: 
 which was like to prove a lafting detriment to the abbey. 
 
 Ralph Chanduir, another great man of this country, was very 
 cameft in perfecuting and troubling the abbot and monks : and, 
 among many other enormities which he committed, (and which I 
 here omit, fays M. Pan's,J one day in his field-fports, and near the 
 walls of the monaftery, in a place called then Derefold, he fell upon 
 one of the abbot's principal attendants and companions, named Dun- 
 ham, and beat him very feverely : for this he was called to anfwer 
 in Weftminlter-Hall, where, being afked by one, what was the 
 quarrel between him and the abbey ; 06 / fays he in derifion, the 
 monks have only excommunicated me, becaufe my /addle will fcarcely hold 
 me, when on horfeback. But, foon afcer, he fell grievous lick, and, 
 being near his end, he moft devoutly entreated the monks to forgive 
 him and to procure for him the pardon and aid of St. Alban ; truly 
 fenfible of his fault, he promifed to make retribution, and his exe- 
 cutor, who was the prior of Miflenden, faw this performed. 
 
 It has been already mentioned that the fuit about free warren cofl: 
 John 1000 marks ; and, by thefe additional troubles, charges, and 
 contumelies, he incurred a farther expence to the like amount ; fo 
 that, upon the whole, he fuffered a lofs of no lefs than 2000 
 marks (a) : but he added to the reputation of his virtues, by fhewing 
 that he bore thefe lolTes with great patience and good temper. 
 
 The church of Hertburn, in Durham, had been, for many years 
 before, conferred on this abbey by Walter the bilhop of Durham ; 
 and this, together with the church of Eglinham, given alfo by an- 
 
 (a) It is probable that great part of this fum was bellowed in prefents to the 
 courtiers and judges. This corrupt practice was introduced by the Normans, among 
 whom there was no approaching the great, to folicit a favour or even to demand a 
 right, without a prefenL It is known to prevail through the nations of the eafl at 
 this day. 
 
 other 
 
( '43 ) 
 
 other bifliop of Durham, was now offered to be rented, exclufive John II. the 
 of the vicarages, for 24.0 marks of yearly rent, by the prior of Tin- v 2 > d ahbot ; 
 mouth. The great tithes of the church of Norton, in this county, 
 were conferred on the abbey, and religned by the rector, named Law- 
 rence, in his life-time, for the fpecial purpofe of mending and im- 
 proving the malt- liquor of the monks, and for the better entertain- 
 ment of Grangers. The church of Heckltan, or Hextou, which had 
 formerly been given, the abbot now appropriated for the fpecial ufe 
 of celebrating the anniverfary of abbot William and himfelf ; and to 
 be adminiftered by the facriffc : and he affigned the church of St. 
 Michael, in this town, for the ufe of the veftry and garments, under 
 the care of the facrift ; for which holy wardrobe very (lender provi- 
 sion had hitherto been made. 
 
 This fame John repaired all the mills belonging to the abbey f. 
 which, having been let on covenant to be repaired by the tenants, 
 were, by their neglect, gone to decay : thefe, together with the 
 houfes adjoining, he repaired with good oak timber. And becaufe 
 the water-mill, which was fituate near the malt-houfe (a), was ren- 
 dered ufelefs and incapable of grinding a lufficient quantity for the 
 houfe, by reafon of the river being grown up with reeds and almoft 
 dry in fummer, infomuch that they were obliged to fend feven 
 miles to have their corn ground, he thereupon erected a very good 
 mill to be worked by horfes, adjoining to the faid malt-houfe. And 
 all thefe repairs coft lool. and upwards. 
 
 But the badnefs of the malt liquor, or, in jufter phrafe, the 
 vveaknefs of their ale (b), was (till a detriment to them and alio a 
 reproach : and John, with great condefcenfion and humanity, or- 
 dered an addition to their yearly confumption of one thoufand quar- 
 ters of malt(c), made of barley and oats mixed (d). 
 
 The pope had lent a legate, a few years ago, to refide in England, 
 for the purpofe, as was laid, of reforming the monaftic orders and 
 regulating the church, bur, in reality, to exact money of all the re- 
 ligious of all orders, under a pretence of fending relief and fuccour to 
 the Chriftian princes, who were ftill fighting in the Holy Land. 
 Otho, which was the legate's name, convened the abbots of the Be- 
 nedictine Order, in 1238, to the church of St. Martin's (Le Grand) 
 
 (a) Braforia. 
 
 (b) Cerevifia fupra modum clcbilis extitit. M. Paris. 
 
 (c) Brefia, or, Brafia. 
 
 (<i) By another account, it appears that this was an augmentation made to the bread 
 as well as beer, and did amount to the annual value of 463 raaikSj or 308I. 13s. ^d. 
 
 in 
 
 S 
 
( »44 ) 
 
 abbot 6 111 London, and there gave them fuch rules and regulations as he 
 *' j thought neceflary to bring back the monks to their ancient rule and 
 difcipline (a). And the lame Otho was likewife in England in 1249, 
 and afi'embled the abbots of this order again, at Ofney (b) near Ox- 
 ford ; but thither came only eight abbots. On which he appointed 
 another convention, at the church of St. Mary Overies in Southwark, 
 an Augulline abbey founded in 1106. Here the legate renewed and 
 confirmed the former ftatutes, and added fome others: which, or the 
 principal of them I have exhibited in the Appendix, N° III. (as already 
 mentioned) and in their original language; for the fubject would 
 appear mean and low, if translated. 
 
 In 1242, the conventual church at Waltham, a Benedictine 
 abbey founded by Harold in 1060, having been now rebuilt, was de- 
 dicated. This church is a very fine model of Saxon architecture j 
 fimple, grand, and uniform, with femicircular arches: and indeed, 
 it is fo excellent a pattern of the original Saxon before it received 
 its variations, and additions, and ornaments, which came into ge- 
 neral ufe in this reign, that it might well be thought much older, 
 did not this palTage in M. Paris fet us right in the date of its conftruc- 
 tion. But, in this reign, were numberlefs churches built ; for, that of 
 Saint Paul had been dedicated, jufr. before Waltham, and in the 
 prefence of the fame honourable perfonages ; that of Weftminfter, if 
 not rebuilt, did at this time receive great additions and enlargements(c); 
 and, in 1240, the abbey-church at Abingdon was dedicated, and that 
 at Wells j and the churches alfo at Perlhore and Evefham, and at 
 Tewkfbury, Aulcefter, Winchcomb, and Glocefter, in that county, 
 were built about this time ; and many more in the kingdom. And 
 that a fpirit of building new churches and rebuilding others was very 
 prevalent towards the middle of this century, appears evident from 
 this circumftance, that cardinal Otho, who held a council at Lon- 
 don, in 1237, made and ordained a decree; 'That all cathedral, 
 
 * conventual, and parochial, churches, which are completely built, 
 « (hail be confecrated within two years, by the diocefan.' And 
 then it prohibits 'all abbots and curates from pulling down old confe- 
 ' cra ed hurches, under pretence of making them finer, without con- 
 
 * fent of he b.lhop; whole duty it mail be, to confent or not, as he 
 
 (a 1 ) See Appendix, N° IT. 
 
 (b) A monaftery of Auguftines. 
 
 (c) Ampliatur, dirutis antiquis cum turn muris partis orientalis, \ pra?cepit no- 
 vos deeentiores conftrui, fubtilibus artificibus conyocatis, et occidental! coaptari. M. 
 Furis, 
 
 '• mall 
 
( H5 ) 
 
 * (hall fee fit; and, if he confents, that he (hall caufe the new one to J ^} 1 ^* 
 « be finifhed forthwith (a).' — ^ — / 
 
 King Henry HI, came to this abbey twice in the year 1244, an d 
 ftaid three days each time. The firft vifit was in the fpring : and, 
 during his flay, his pleafure was much abated by the vexatious ru- 
 mours which were brought to him, relating to the infolent incurfions 
 of the Welch, and to the treatment of his new- appointed bilhop of 
 Chichefter, who was put by and another thruft in his place without 
 the king's confent, this was done by Martin, the pope's agent and 
 clerk, and not without fufpicion of having taken money for the 
 advancement of this new man. The king's fecond vifit fb) was at 
 the feaft of St. Thomas, juft before Chriftmas : and, during his de« 
 votion at the great altar, he made an offering of a very rich pall, or 
 cloak, and three bracelets of gold to be affixed to the (hrine, to 
 the honour of the faint, and to the remembrance of himlelf: for, he 
 had before, at different times, made offerings of feven more of thefe 
 rich bracelets, or ornaments for the arm, which were worn by men 
 of high rank and degree, 
 
 During this year alfo, the earl of Flanders who was uncle to the 
 queen, and his brother Boniface juft now chofen archbilhop of 
 Canterbury, made a vifit to this abbey. They were the fons of Peter 
 earl of Savoy : the count came over, under pretence of aiding and 
 aflifVmg king Henry againfi: the king of Scotland and his invaders, 
 and brought him an armament of fixty foldiers only, but above 
 an hundred fervants and retainers, whom, in truth, he meant to 
 ferve and provide for : the latter, named Boniface, fignalized him- 
 lelf, afterward, by the raoft rigorous vifitation of his province that 
 could be made, injoining punhhments and cenfures on his clergy, on 
 puipofe to receive money for commutation : and his exactions and 
 enormities were fuch, that the clergy, by general confent, affembled 
 at Dunftaple, in 1250, and collected four thoufand marks to pay the 
 charge of an appeal they intended to make to the pope, againft 
 the impofitions and extortions of the archbilhop. His vifit to the 
 abbey, at tins time, was probably for entertainment ; but he had 
 a palace at Hayes in Mtddlefex, about feven miles, fays my author, 
 
 (a) Spelm. Councils, an. 1237. In this Council alfo was confirmed an order of the 
 council of Paris, forbidding the reading of the works of Ariftotlc, newly brought from 
 Conftantinople, and tranflated into Latin. The books were ordered to be burnt, atid. 
 the readers to be excommunicated. Dup. 13 Cen. 
 
 (b) Gratia hofpitandi. M. Pwis, p. 574. 
 
 U from 
 
( 146 ) 
 
 John ir. the from St. Alban's; and at this he abode, in i2co, during his vifitation 
 
 22d abbot. c . r ■ ° 
 
 x. ^ or theie parts. 
 
 Next year, 1245, the pope was redding at Lyons, and there hold- 
 ing a general Council : to this was our abbot fummoned, but, being 
 advanced in years and unable to travel, he procured an excuie ; 
 though not without fending two difcreet brethren as proclors. 
 
 One of the moft memorable events of abbot John's time was the 
 compromife, or agreement, which was made in 1 247, between 
 the Bifhop and chapter of Durham on the one part, and our abbot 
 with the prior and convent of Tin mouth on the other. For, the 
 prior had refuted obedience to the bifhop, and pleaded a general ex- 
 emption from his jurifdiction, by virtue of that immunity by which 
 the parent-abbey was freed from any iubje&ion, or obedience, to the 
 bifhop of Lincoln. 
 
 This priory had been founded by Robert de Mowbray, the flout 
 and warlike earl of Northumberland, who, in a certain hoftile inva- 
 lion made by the Scots under Malcolm their king, in the conflict 
 and defence of his country flew the faid Malcolm, and gave him 
 honourable interment in the church of Tin mouth which the earl had. 
 newly built. He afterwards loft his eye-fight : and, choofmg to re- 
 tire from the world and quit its bufinefs as well as its vanities, he de- 
 fired to be admitted a monk in the abbey of St. Alban ; he accordingly 
 affumed the habit and life of a monk, and abode here many years, and, 
 at his death, was interred with fuitable pomp, in a place not far diftant 
 from the chapter-houfe, on the very fpot where abbot Symond after- 
 ward built the chapel of St.Symeon; the body lying in themidft thereof, 
 or fomewhat nearer to the altar. This happened in the time of abbot 
 Paul. But the earl caufed the parifh-church of Tinmouth to be 
 erected into a priory, and fent a number of monks from St. Alban's 
 abbey (a) to conftitute a convent. In like manner, during Paul's 
 time, the cell at Hertford had been founded and endowed by a great 
 man, named Robert de Limifi, that at Belvoir by another potent 
 chief, named Robert de Tothenei, and that at Wymundham by- 
 William de Albany (b), butler, or cup-bearer, to King Henry!.; 
 and the cells at Binham and Wallingford had been conftituted by Paul 
 himielf, and annexed to the parifh-churches. 
 
 (a) Tanquam ab eleftiffima domo inter omnia coenobia Anglis. M. Paris. 
 
 (b) William's lbn became earl of Arundel : and, befide other defceudents, the Iaft 
 of all in the male line, named Hugo de Albineto, a very young man, was buried 
 at this cell in 1243; anc ^' at n ' s death, tne inheritance was divided among four 
 filters. 
 
 7 But 
 
( >47 ) 
 
 But to return : the prior of Tinmouth having reje&ed the authority ^"j^' 
 of the bifhop, the pope, on application of the bifhop, iflued a com- — v — * 
 million of inquiry with orders to adjudge ; and, the cafe being heard 
 by the archdeacon of Stow and the. chancellor of Lincoln, it was by 
 them determined, that the weft end of the church, where the people 
 aflembled for divine worfhip, and the prior alio when there offici- 
 ating, mould belong unto and be fubjedf. to epilcopal vifitation ; but, 
 when as prior at the other end ot the church and at the head of 
 the convent, he mould then be exempt : that the priors mould be 
 placed there by the abbey, and be removeable by that authority ; 
 but mould be prelented to the bifhop for inititution to the vicarage, 
 and mould fwear canonical obedience : and that the rights of the 
 abbey mould remain unimpaired and inviolate. So that the exemp- 
 tion, which had been granted to the parent, was allowed to belong 
 alfo to the daughters and offspring : though, without fuch original 
 grant of exemption, the abbeys and priories were fubjecl to their dio- 
 cefan, were vifited and reformed by him, and reckoned a branch of 
 the epifcopal charge : the parim-churches alfo, fubordinate to the 
 abbeys and priories, were fubject to their refpective bifhops, if they 
 had no monadic inftitution affixed to them. 
 
 Befide the leveral orders already mentioned as being eftablimed in 
 England, and the two military orders, (the knights templars and hof- 
 pitallers,) there ltarted up, in this reign, two otherreligious orders, taking 
 their rife about 1219, and iurprizing all the world by their wonderful 
 increafe and advancement. Thele were the Frier-Preachers and 
 the Frier-Minors : or, as they were more ufually called abroad, 
 the Dominicans and Franciscans. They had been raifed by the 
 encouragement and fuggeftion of the pope and court of Rome, in order 
 to oppole the Albigenles and VValdenles who then combated, with great 
 courage and much learning, the do&riues, the power, and the extor- 
 fions, of the pope. . For this purpole they were directed to fupply all 
 the defects of the other orders : inftead of leading a filent and holy 
 lire in the cloifrer, they were to preach and travel about, warning 
 the people again ft the peltilence of thofe heretics, and they were 
 to exhibit the perfect life in a courte of poverty and patience, to work 
 whenever they could, and, when otherwile, to fupport themfelves by 
 begging. Hence they were called Mendicants : and, though always 
 begging, they were feen, about 1243, to be pofleffed of the moft 
 ample buildings, and dwelling in princely houfes (a), and furpafTing 
 
 (a) Hubert dc Burgh fettled the preachers at Whitehall. 
 
 U 2 
 
 all 
 
( '48 ) 
 
 Tohn J T * J e all other orders in their wealth and full eftablimment (a). For, with 
 a 3d abbo t. [{ le f e pi-ofeffions of beggary, they found means to be admitted into 
 all families, contrary to the monaftic practice, and afliduoufly attended 
 the death- bed of the rich and great ; thus excluding the fecular prieft 
 and the authority of the bifhop, and extorting confeflion and urging 
 the (ick to make their will, with a certain recommendation of their 
 own order, in preference to any other. Infomuch, that none of the 
 faithful thought themfelves in the way of lalvation, unlefs they were 
 ruled by the counfels of thefe trier preachers and minors. 
 
 They got admittance in the council of the kings and great men, 
 and became earneft folicitors for new privileges : and their extreme 
 fuccefs and fudden rife foon made them the objects of hatred and envy 
 with all the other orders, aud no lels contention and animofity pre- 
 vailed again ft thefe. friers than again ft the feculars. They now began 
 to be great mafters of theology, and to difpute and hold exercifes in the 
 fchools with a lkill and ability before never fcen, and with a degree 
 of fubtlety and depth that was neither becoming the fubjedt (b) 
 nor expedient for proving the truth. They were, in lhort, the authors 
 of that fcholaftic jargon, which, as a new fcience, then peftered the 
 fchools, and which was fo managed as to confound and perplex an 
 adverfary, whenever it failed to convince him. The frier- preachers 
 had monafteries and abbeys all over England, being brought in about 
 the year 1221, and placed fir ft at Oxford ; but, at the diiTolution, they 
 had forty-three houfes in the kingdom. The minors, fo called from 
 •their affected humility, came hither in 1224, and had their firft houfe 
 at Canterbury and the next at London ; and, at the diflblution, they 
 poffefled no lefs than fifty-five houfes, in this kingdom, under feven 
 principal rulers and guardians refiding in the chief cities. 
 
 (a) Praedicatio per Praelatos, maxime vero per Fratres Pradicatorcs et Minora fiebat: 
 et data fuit poteftas cruce fignandi & votum, data pecunia, relaxandi : fefe multi, 
 quorum non erat numerus, cruce fignavcrunt. Sed cito in tantatn nobilitatem, ne 
 dicam arrogantiam, elevabantur Praedicatores et Minores, qui fpontaneam paupertatem 
 cum humilitate elegerunt, ut recipi curarent in coenobiis et civita^ibus, in proceffione 
 folenni, in vexillis, cereis accenfis, et in difpofitione veftimentis feftivis indutorum. 
 Et concefla eft eis venia multorum dierum fuis conferrc auditoiibus : fignatofque 
 hodie, eras, data pecunia, a crucis voto abfolverunt. Parvoque tempore, fa£ta eft 
 tanta commutatio, tarn multiformis pecuniae exaftio, nec jfciri poterat in quam abyf- 
 fum tanta pecunia effet demerfa. 
 
 (b) Qcii non verentes tangere montes, nitebantur Dei fecreta inreftigabilia temere 
 perfcrutari. Deo plus placet firmas fidei fimplicitas fobria, quam nimis tranfeendens 
 in Tbeologia fubtilitas : et cum tutius fit, fimpliciter a Patribus tradita accipeie et cre- 
 dere, quam probata experiri. M. Paris, an. 1243. 
 
 Thefe 
 
( H9 ) 
 
 Theft orders were not only well directed and inflrudted in executing J oI,a AaJJ 
 the pope's commands, but they really did i upply the imperfections . ^ ' 
 all the other orders. For, as teaching and initrucYmg prevailed much 
 among the heretics, it was a prudent injunction to caufe thefe orders 
 to make that their chief duty and care; and, by their alliduity therein, 
 they crufhed or cried down all their adverfaries. indeed, a new dawn 
 of learning and ingenuity teemed now to be riling up, and fome coeval 
 circumtlances, new but important, gave aid and encouragement to 
 thefe men. The canon-law had been the principal lubject of ftudy 
 for two or three centuries ; but, about this time, the civil law was 
 coming into repute and ufe, by the difcovery of the Pandects, at Amalfi, 
 hi 1 1 30 ; and the works of Ariftotle, which had not been known 
 in Europe except among the Moors and Arabian lcholars, were now 
 brought out and recommended by all public teachers: the laft were 
 probably brought from Greece by the Crufaders : but, as loon as 
 known in England, they were tranflated and read, and became the 
 frandard of all philofophy. Thefe two orders embraced this new learn- 
 ing, and, with wonderful diligence and ftudy, recommended it by 
 public lectures, &c. About this time alio, colleges began to be founded 
 in our univerfities ; and the molt learned men for two or three cen- 
 turies were of thefe friers, as Bacon who died in 1292, Kihvardby, 
 Groftead, and others. 
 
 f hough the important events in religion, in learning, and in civil 
 polity, which thefe orders either produced or were intimately concerned 
 in, (for they meddled with everything) would amply juitiry this feeming 
 digreffion, yet the immediate reafon of mentioning them here is this: they 
 were not only the preaching defenders of the papal faith, and employed 
 to infufe an univerfal prejudice again ft the heretics, who had appeared in 
 the louth of France and in the mountains of the Alps, but their buli- 
 nefs alfo was to exact money and goods for the pope. And fome of 
 them, coming to St. Alban's in 1246, demanded admittance and the 
 liberty to receive the monks to confelfion : the principal of the com- 
 pany demanded alfo a privilege to preach, and, requiring filence for 
 that purpole, the archdeacon (topped him and laid; Gently, brother^ 
 and forbear a lit He, until I fhali have Jhewn your wi/dom what my opi- 
 nion is. We plain men, who bane been accujlomed to ancient and approved 
 ujages, are filled with wonder and aflouijhtnent at thefe innovations. You 
 not only affect to be frier-preachers, but Jrier-confcfjors alfo : nay, you 
 would exto.t a confefjion. But let vie few you what the decree is, on that 
 head, maae and ratified by one of the greatefi councils ever known (namely, 
 of Lateral}, in 1215); and which has been had facrcd and inviolable 
 throughout Cbrftendom. And, opening the book, he read thus; * And 
 
 * let 
 
( *5° ) 
 
 ^ ohn i I Vu the 4 J et every perfon of either fex make faithful confeffion of their tranf- 
 
 23d abbot. 0-1 1 -i -r 
 
 <. — v / 4 greiiions, alone, and once in the year only. And, if any perfon 
 4 (hall choofe to confefs to a ft range prieft, let him firft demand and 
 4 obtain leave of his own proper prieft ; fince, otherwiie, the ftrange 
 
 * prieft can neither bind nor ablolve him. But let that prieft be difc 
 
 * creet and cautious, that he may pour wine and oil into the wounds 
 
 * of the guilty, and 10 wary, that he do nor, by any means betray 
 4 or dilcover an offender ; becaufe, whoever hhall prelume to dilcover 
 4 any thing confefled or fpoken in the penitential trial, we not 
 
 * only decree that prieft to be depoled from his lacei dotal office, 
 " but to be thruft into lome clofe monaftery, there to undergo per- 
 ** petual penance.' 
 
 The year after in the beginning of lent, came a certain frier- 
 minor, named John, to the abbey : he had been employed on this 
 bufinefs all over England, and now he introduced himlelf here with a 
 demand of forty marks, by apoftolic authority, to be paid at London 
 at the feaft of the decollation of John the baptift ; and he produced 
 new mandates from the apoftolic fee for this purpofe : for, the abbot, 
 having had the like demand made upon him laft year, had appealed to 
 the pope and cardinals on a grievance io inlupportable. The minorite 
 then lummonedthe abbot to appear, on the third day after, at London, 
 or appoint a fufficient proctor, well inltructed on his behalf and pre- 
 pared to make full fatisfaction to our lord the pope, in the fubfidy 
 now demanded. On the day, the abbot fent his proctor, namely,, 
 his archdeacon : and the firft thing he did was to demand a fight 
 of the new mandate, or commifTion ; which having, with fome dif- 
 ficulty, obtained, he found it to run in this form : 4 Innocent, 
 4 bifhop, &c. to our beloved fon John, the abbot of St. Alban's in the 
 
 * diocefe of Lincoln, health and apoftolic benediction. The daily 
 ' preflure of that fecular periecution, wherewith we are furrounded, 
 4 compels us, by its vehemence and danger, to make head again ft it 
 4 in defence of the apoftolic lee, and, of neceiiity, to have recourfe 
 4 to the aid of its lubjects. Wherefore, agreeably to the counlel of 
 4 our brethren, we exhort and attentively admonifti you, and by the 
 4 lacred writings we charge you, that, lb far as our beloved brother 
 4 John, provincial guardian of his order and our meflenger, being the 
 4 bearer of thele, thall propole or requeft, on our part, a fublidy for 
 4 our holy fee, you would give full credit to his words; and that 
 4 you carefully obferve, that the church, by fupporring this oppofi- 
 4 tioiii is effectually maintaining the general intereft of the church 
 4 and of all church-men ; and that you will freeiy and liberally ftudy 
 
 4 to 
 
( I5« ) 
 
 * to fu'fil your duty herein, in fuch a manner as will be moft accept* J 0,in 
 
 * able to us and our brethren ; and that your adtions, as the btfk c 
 
 * evidence of the truth, may appear as the tokens of your devout af- 
 ' fe&ions. Given at Lyon a, IV. Id. Oct. in the fourth year ot our 
 4 pontificate.* 
 
 It is to be underftood, that the popedom had been at war with the 
 emperor for feveral years. The Emperor, named Frederic, did not 
 take fo interefted a part in the Holy War as many other of the 
 European princes, and, finding the popes encroaching on his fovereign 
 privileges in Ialy, he had maintained a vexatious war on the apofto- 
 lic fee : and, by the fecular perlecution which the pope here com- 
 plains of, he means this imperial war. Indeed, every war was an oc- 
 cation, with his holinefs, to demand money ; for, while he fought 
 only as a fovereign prince of Italy, he yet confidered himfelf as the 
 head of a fpiritual kingdom : and, though poffetling the whole of the 
 other world, he was not above contending for a fmall portion of this 
 world. The Holy War had been a plaufible ground for exactions and 
 extortions, for near two hundred years ; yet another urgent occafion 
 or plautible opportunity was not to be miffed : and, for this purpofe, 
 the pope had fent four cardinal legates, one into Germany, a fecond 
 through Italy, a third into Spain, and a fourth into Norway, to fo- 
 licit aid ; betide fome (ham legates into other places : and, that he 
 might not feem to infringe the royal privileges in England, he em- 
 ployed here the frier preachers and minors : they were prefTed into his 
 fervice much againfr. their will, and efleemed it a fcandal and detri- 
 ment to the honour of their order to be made tax-gatherers and 
 criers (a). It is farther to be remembered, that in 1239 the legate 
 Otho had been at our abbey, and, in great folemnity, had excommu- 
 nicated the Emperor, by virtue of an authentic then fent by the pope; 
 but, for which ad, the abbot and monks fent a letter of excule privately 
 to the emperor, alleging that the tact was not done with their appro- 
 bation or content. 
 
 'I he archdeacon having read the mandate above written, frier 
 John enjoined him and his attendants to be and appear before him at 
 the lame place, eight days hence, then and there to fatisfy him in 
 three hundred marks of 111 ver ; otherwile the mandate of our lord the 
 pope would be executed with excommunications and interdictions. 
 The archdeacon anfwered, that the abbot was emploved in lending 
 fome lpecial meffengers to the pope's prekuce, in order to lay his 
 
 (a) Tdoniarios ct Bcdeltos. M.Pai.s, an. 1247. 
 
 grievances 
 
John u. ti.e grievances before him, and to make fatisfa&ion in proportion to the 
 pi abbot. a biij t j es f the church and its dependences, but with no view of re» 
 ceding from the appeals preferred before. 
 
 .Soon after, to deprefs and afflict the Englim church more and 
 more, John produces a new authentic, or power, with enlargements 
 of his authority, in this form, 4 Innocent, bifhop, &c. having under- 
 « ftood by the intimations which thou had: written, we charge thee, 
 
 * by the authority of thefe prefents, that if the major part of the Eng« 
 4 lifh prelates mould make anfwer, on thy demand of the fubfidy re- 
 ' cjuefted by us, that they are exempt or foreign, thou doft demand a 
 ' greater fum from them, and compel them, by ecclefiaftical cenfures, 
 
 * to withdraw their appeals : any privilege or indulgence not<withJlanding t 
 ' and although we mention not thofe privileges, Given at Lyons, 
 « XVI. Cal. Aug. 1247.* 
 
 Such demands, made fo frequently and enforced with fo much ar- 
 tifice and violence, againft which neither the privileges of holy men 
 nor the grants or indulgences of former popes could defend them, 
 ipread an univerfal alarm. A fear inftantly aroie, led princes or great 
 men among the laity, who had by themfelves or their anceltors 
 founded, endowed, and enriched, many churches out of their pof- 
 feflion.s, and had mutilated their eftates in fo doing, and had framed 
 written grants of the fame, fhould revoke thofe grants and refume 
 the eftates ; having the pope for an example and the tenor of fuch 
 and fuch a charter notwithjlanding (a) : eipecially when, contrary to 
 the intention of the founders, thefe pofieflions were devoured by the 
 pope or by fuch Italians and Grangers as he fent over to fatten on the 
 iweets of England. And, whenever the exactions of the pope were 
 complained of, which was done in every public council or meeting 
 in the kingdom, it was obferved that the Italians enjoyed preferments 
 to the amount of fifty thoufand marks of annual value, and yet, by 
 reafon of their abfence and negligence, their houles and buildings were 
 falling to ruin. 
 
 The abbot and his monks, feeing themfelves enclofed on all fides by 
 danger, determined to fend two proctors to quicken the appeal with 
 the pope, and deftined for this negotiation a monk, named John Bui), 
 and mafter Adam Beam, a laic; but John the minorite, pretending 
 he fhould foon quit England and return to the pope, fent another 
 mandate to the abbot, in this form, 'To the mod venerable John, by 
 
 (a) This claufe of nan obftant: is the grcateft ufurpaclon ever devifed, and fubje&s all 
 Jaw and ail former aiiurancts to the prefent will ot the pope. 
 
 « the 
 
C *53 ) 
 
 * the Grace of God lord abbot of St. Alban, frier John, our lord the ^"/^^ 
 
 * pope's meflenger in England, health in the lord. Although we have ■ . v ■« 
 
 * written to you many times before, we have determined to write ftill 
 
 * once more, having received a ftrong mandate on this head ; intreating 
 ' you and admonifhing, and, by virtue of our obedience to the pope, 
 ' g lV,n g y ou to underftand, that, all obftru&ion being removed, 3'ou 
 
 * be and appear, on the Thurfday before the feaft of St. Thomas, at 
 ' Bereford, the dwelling-place of the frier-minors, there to make full 
 
 * fatisfacYion unto the church in the fubfidy. By doing fo, you will 
 
 * not oblige us (which God forbid !) to proceed according to the tenor 
 
 * of a former mandate ; nor will it be proper to difmifs you, becaufe 
 
 * we have received a fpecial mandate thereupon. Fare ye well. But, 
 
 * what ye mall think proper to do in confequence of this, we will, that 
 
 * you write unto us by the bearer of thefe.' 
 
 The abbot pufhed on the appeal, choofing rather to abide the deci- 
 fion of the pope, who was reckoned the mod excellent of men, than 
 of one, who, under the covering of fo much humility and poverty, 
 harboured fuch afperity and cruelty. The meffengers to the Romifli 
 tribunal were ordered to be there by the fifteenth day after the feaft 
 of St. Michael. John doubled his threats : the arch-deacon and fome 
 others were fent to him, to moderate his rigor ; he anfwered, that the 
 ftricteft juftice, which his authority would allow him to fliew, he ' 
 would fully employ and exercife ; and for this reafon, becaufe, when 
 he was at St. Alban's a few years before, the monks had not ftiewn 
 him fo much reverence as was due to a papal meflenger, much lels to 
 a legate ; yea, that although he had been entertained in a civil and 
 courtly manner with regard to his table (a), yet fome of the monks 
 had prefumed to reprove him, as if he had changed his habit and run 
 away from fome other order. At length the deputies from the abbot, 
 with bended knees and moll: fuppliant words, intreated fome refpite 
 and a kind of truce until fome intelligence fhould arrive from their 
 proctors at the pope's court. This they obtained ; but, in the expedi- 
 ting of their bufinefs, frier John prcmifed them no kind of aid or fa- 
 vour, and it was difcovered, that he had written to the pope, infla- 
 ming his mind, and alleging that the abbot of St. Alban's was the only 
 abbot of all England who kicked, with moft perverfenefs, again ft the 
 pope's mandates and edicts. The deputies at Rome, on this, found 
 great obftacles thrown in their way, and fuch difficulties created as 
 made their longer ftay necefiary : At length, by means of prefents, 
 
 (a) In efculcntis ct poculentis. M. Paris. 
 
 X 
 
( 154 ) 
 
 • thc artd bribes, and conduct-money, properly applied, they made an end 
 i °J of their bufinefs, and compounded with his holinefs for two hundred 
 marks. But thus, by the venality of the papal court and the necef- 
 iary charges, three hundred marks were fwallowed up in that infa- 
 tiable whirlpool. 
 
 The whole fum raifed in this manner, and remitted through the 
 hands of the bifliops of Win ton and of Norwich, during this year 
 only, amounted to eleven thoufand marks; and no mitigation or fa- 
 vour was now mewn to the abbot, although he had, in the year be- 
 fore, remitted to the pope four-fcore marks. 
 
 There is nothing fo remarkable, through this long reign of fifty-fix 
 years, as the vanity and levity of the royal character, and the crafty 
 ufes made thereof by the avaricious and griping hands of the popes. 
 And, if the people then could have felt their ftrength, or could have 
 found any principles of true liberty, they never would have borne the 
 unjuft extortions that were practifed, by turns, by both the royal 
 power and the church ; for, they had the policy to act in concert, and, 
 whenever either wanted money, a kind of confentwas afked of the other: 
 and, though the king feemed to take part with the great lords, and 
 to favour all their complaints of grievance from the church of Rome, 
 and to join in all their remonftrances to the pope; yet the latter ever 
 found a way to divide the union, and, by drawing off the king, to 
 leave the barons and the laity at the papal mercy. At this time it can- 
 not be faid, that the conftitution of the kingdom had in it any free 
 parts; it had indeed two independent powers, which frequently jarred, 
 and were generally oppreffive ; but it was without a third, to balance 
 the weight of either that might preponderate with excefs : and thefe 
 two were the royal authority and the papal power ; which iaft, being 
 planted in every parifh and every corner of the kingdom, fupported the 
 in te reft of thellomifh church in a more effectual and more active man- 
 ner than all the king's minifters, officers, and placemen, could ufe 
 in fupport of the regal authority. Parliament as yet confifted of only 
 the greater barons, whofe number probably did not exceed fifty ; and 
 as many of the lefTer barons (a) as the king chofe to fummon ; and of 
 eighteen bifhops, and twenty-eight abbots and priors. How weak 
 then muft have been the civil intereft compared with the ecclefiaftical, 
 even fuppofing the king to be friendly, at all times, to his barons and 
 people, and to the fecular interefts ! 
 
 (a) That is, fuch as held of the great barons. 
 
 In 
 
( '55 ) 
 
 In the theory of the constitution, the king was hut the firfr. baron of John lf„ die 
 the kingdom, and placed at the head of the reft, as the chief of a con- 2 ~' d aobo!- 
 federacy, or combined intereft, and intended as their leader in war 
 and their legifiator, in conjunction with them, in peace : but, though 
 this parliament, or great council, could and did enact laws for the 
 benefit of the realm, yet the Spiritual part had fuch an univerfal 
 influence as to hinder the execution of the mod falutary, when they 
 chofe to oppofe them. And there were infinitely more affiduity, di- 
 ligence, and energy, in executing the decrees of Rome, than the laity 
 could employ in putting in force any laws of the great council. The 
 sera of the firft rife of the Commons, that is, in fact, the time when 
 the king omitted the lefler barons, and fummoned to parliament two 
 knights of a hhire and two burgefles for the cities and towns, was in 
 the 49th of this reign, or the year 1265. And this might probably 
 arife from a falutary hint given to the king, that fuch a ftep would 
 enable him, if he took part with the barons, to refift with effect: the 
 papal and ecclefiaftic influence. For, the barons, who were as much 
 fubjected to the grievances and impofitions of the clergy and legates as 
 the lower ranks, might think that, by adding to their own number, 
 they might draw off the king from fiding with the pope, and enable 
 him to act: with fuch a degree of weight and influence as would 
 conduce to his and their honour and credit. It is to be remarked, 
 that, whenever the parliament, or great council, was convened, the 
 pope's legate, or commiilioner, came to London to affift, and was as 
 powerful to bring the lords to compliance as he was to mafter the 
 bifliops and clergy. 
 
 The current of court favour had run, many years, towards the 
 Poictovins and the queen's relations, and they had experienced won- 
 derful bounty and munificence from the king ; while the pope, at the 
 ^ fame time, was fending over all the neceffitous Italians to be provided 
 for with preferment in the church : for which abufes in government, 
 the king met with the mod fevere, but juft, rebukes from fbme of 
 the barons, when affembled and confulting in Parliament. In confe- 
 quence of thefe complaints, the king, in 1 258, iffued an order to 
 every county, that the people mould choofe four knights, to take into 
 confederation fuch grievances as the lower ranks felt from the oppreflions 
 of the higher ; and that, having written down the fame, they fhould 
 inclofe them under their feals, and bring the fame to the baronage, or 
 general council : and, in feven years after, thefe perfons were called 
 up, by writ, to have a feat in that auembly ; where, from being con- 
 {idered as deputies to report the ftate to the counties, they now ac- 
 
 X 2 quired 
 
( >5« ) 
 
 •^ ohn d ir a ' bb t Q t e quired a right to appear as the reprefentatives of them. And this aug- 
 * 3 , . ' mentation of two hundred votes, if adhering with fidelity to the 
 king and civil power, would give a new turn to the decifions of that 
 great body. 
 
 But this account, though attended with great probability, is not the 
 whole truth : for, the barons had been in arms the year before ; and, in 
 1265, happened the battle of Evefham, wherein fell Simon Montfort; 
 and, though a parliament was called at Winton by the advice of 
 prince Edward, the bufinefs of it feems to be only to disfranchife the 
 Londoners, who had borne arms againft the king. The war continued 
 in 1266, though confined chiefly to the ifle of Ely, where the difin- 
 herited and fugitives from the city had taken refuge, but were com- 
 pelled to furrender ; and, in 1267, my author exprefsly fays, that the 
 king caufed the earls and barons, the archbiihops and bifhops, the 
 abbots, and all who owed him military fervice, to come armed unto 
 St. Edmundfbury, to concert meafures againft thofe who, contrary 
 to the peace of the realm, had feized the ifle of Ely: and, in this num- 
 ber convened, are thought to be comprehended the above-mentioned 
 knights of the (hires. It appears not who it was that fuggefted this 
 expedient to the king, or whether he intended by it only to ftrengtheu 
 his own numbers ; but certain it is it tended to add ftrength to the 
 nobles, and laid the foundation of rendering the king and the civil 
 power more independent of the pope and the clergy. 
 
 The king's exceftes had indeed fubjected him to great neceflities, and 
 he had thereupon taken part with that power and influence which bore 
 a fway in every part of the kingdom, though to his difgrace, yet with 
 ibme relief to his wants. For, when he called a general parliament in 
 1248, for the purpofe of a (king a fubfidy of money, he was fharply 
 jeprehended in thefe terms ; * that he blufhed not to demand a relief, 
 
 * when he had given a written charter to his nobles, promifing never 
 
 * to do them fuch injury as they had complained of; that he was 
 
 * highly blameable in his indifcreet invitation of ftrangers, among whom 
 
 * he wafted, profufely and prodigally, all the riches of his kingdom ; 
 
 * that he contracted in marriage the nobles of the realm with ignoble 
 
 * foreigners ;' with many reproaches on the wafte and extravagance of 
 his houfehold. 
 
 And, in 1249, when he came to this abbey, (on a kind of progrefs 
 by way of Huntingdon, whither he called to him the abbots of Ram- 
 fey and of Peterborough, and had begged a fum from them,) he in- 
 treated abbot John to let him have fixty marks ; for y he added, it was 
 as great chant)' as to give an alms at the abbey -gate : yet, in this fame 
 
 year 
 
( '57 ) 
 
 year and in the laft, he had obtained a good fum of the abbot by J * 1 
 his artful pretences. And, having fucceeded thus with our abbot, he 
 fent Simon Paffelaw, a clerk of his treafury, with a circular letter, tc* 
 all the abbots and priors in the counties of Eflex and Hertford, to afk 
 money for the defence of his civil rights, both at home and abroad. 
 Thefe requefts, though fo much like extortions, could not be refufed 
 by this abbey ; becaule the king honoured this place frequently with 
 his prefence, and prefented habits and ornaments of great value, and, in 
 1251, he came down twice, and made an offering of three robes made 
 intirely of filk, which, with others before given, amounted to thirty 
 in number : he gave alfo at this time two necklaces of great value, 
 directing them to be fixed to the (hrine, as a memorial of his liberality. 
 
 And, to (hew what fhifts the king, urged on by his neceffities, had 
 in contemplation, I will relate the following interview. In the 
 year 1252, the prior, or hofpitaller, of Jeruialem, then dwelling in 
 Clerkenwell, taking an opportunity of lpeaking to the king, made 
 complaint of fome grievous injury he fuffered, and cited the charters 
 of protection which former kings, and even his majefty, had granted; 
 on which, the king, in great heat, and with a high tone of voice, accom- 
 panied with an oath, cries out, * You prelates and religious, efpecially 
 4 the templars and holpitallers, have fo many liberties and charters, that 
 
 * your fuperfluous pofleffiens make you proud, and your pride makes 
 
 * you mad. There wants a prudent refumption of what hath been fo 
 « imprudently granted ; and there ought to be a deliberate recal of 
 ' what hath been given without any deliberation. Doth not our 
 « lord the pope fometimes, nay oftentimes, revoke his deed ? doth not 
 
 * that little bar, called non objlante, vitiate and annul all former grants ? 
 
 * In this fame manner will 1 break this and other charters, which my 
 4 predeceffors and myfelf have rafhly and inconfiderately granted.' To 
 which the prior, with a high look, anfwered fpiritedly : 4 What cloth 
 ' my lord the king fay ! far be it from you, that any word fo abfurd 
 4 and unfeemly fhould come out of your mouth : as- long as you ob- 
 
 * ferve to do juflice, you fuftain the character of a king ; but, as foou 
 
 * as you infringe juflice, you ceafe to be a king.' 4 What means that r" 
 faid Henry, 4 what ! you Englifh mean to ferve me as you did 
 4 my father ; firlt turn me out of my throne, and then worry me to 
 4 death ?* 
 
 In 1255, he affctfled to make war on the king of Scotland, and, 
 having affembled lome loldiers, harrafled the borders of that country; 
 on which, the monarch of Scotland thought proper to purchafe peace, 
 by giving Henry a great fum of money : yet, on his return, he flopped 
 
 at 
 
< '58 ) 
 
 abbot* at ^ U! '^ am ' aH( ^ caufed all the money and plate, belonging to the 
 l " v j abbey and cathedral church, to be taken as ipoil, and carried away 
 for his own efe; though he afterwards did make fome reftitution. In 
 the mean time, Rutland, a deputy from the pope, was demanding 
 ■money from all the bifhops and abbots, and fix hundred marks from 
 -our abbot, on pretence that it was for the king's ufe ; during which, 
 letters came to the abbot from the pope, directing him to pay to cer- 
 tain merchants five hundred marks within one month, otherwife the 
 abbey would be put under a fentence of fufpenfion : and thus, if 
 they confeuted, the abbots were put under a pretended obligation, td 
 which they had not agreed. But it is likely that the pope or king had 
 taken up this fum of the merchants or ulurers, and then gave the 
 lenders fuch a fort of authority to indemnify themfelves, if they could. 
 The bifhops were convened at London by general confent, to make 
 anfwer to Rutland's demand, and at firft were ready to divide and fe- 
 parate ; but the barons encouraged them to be unanimous, and offer 
 a fum to the king; meaning thereby to fave themfelves. And this 
 artifice fatisfied Rutland. In 1256, the king ifiued a proclamation, di- 
 recting that all perfons, who polfefTed 15I. a year in land, mould 
 learn the ufe of arms ; otherwife redeem themfelves for a fum of 
 money. And, to mention one inftance more of the king's diffipation 
 and want of faith, he promifed the young earl of Glocefter, who was 
 going to betroth his majefty's niece, the daughter of Guy earl of An- 
 gouleme, five thoufand marks; and he demanded of the abbots of St. 
 Alban, Reading, and Waltham, that they would pay down the money : 
 they anfwered that they were not able, nor, if they were, could they 
 juftify fuch an act. Then he applied to the templars and hofpital- 
 Jers ; but they refufed : and from that time he plotted againft them. 
 
 I have £tid thus much of the neceffities and the exactions of the king 
 and the pope, in order to (hew the prudent zeal which the barons 
 felt, and which excited them to take up arms in defence of their 
 rights, and to efrablim a more juft government. The good effects 
 of which zeal and courage we fee in the regulations and improve- 
 ments that took place in the next reign, under one who had 
 been an eye-witnefs of his father's excevTes, and had fought in fupport 
 of him. The king's debts amounted at this time (1256) to 950,000 
 marks or 6s. 8d. 
 
 This year, the king and queen of Scotland came into England, to 
 vifit the Englifh court, the queen being the daughter of Henry and 
 his queen. They came with about three hundred attendants on horfe- 
 back. The place of meeting was the royal manfion of Woodftoke, 
 
 which 
 
( '59 ) 
 
 which not being fufficiently capacious for fuch a retinue (for, Henryjshn n. the 
 brought a thoufand perfons with him), the ground adjoining was co- 2 3 d abbot, 
 vered with tents and pavilions. They proceeded to London by dif- 
 ferent routs, for the better convenience of entertainment and lodging. 
 At London thefe royal perfonages were met by prince Edward, and,, 
 after much royal feilivity, they were entertained, together with many 
 others and the chief of the city, by John Manfel, at his houfe in 
 Totale (fince call Tothill) fields. 
 
 Some other material events of John's time, which particularly con- 
 cern this abbey, or which (though but remotely connected with it) 
 ferve to difplay the manners and cuftoms of that age, 1 will relate, 
 in the order in which they happened, without attending folicitoufly 
 to the immediate connection of the detail. 
 
 In the autumn of 1247, a peftilence, or epidemical illnefs, raged fo 
 much in the town, that nine or ten corpfes were interred, every day, 
 in the church-yard of St. Peter. 
 
 In 1248, the bilhop of Bangor, with many of his clergy, took re- 
 fuge in this monaftery, rinding it dangerous to flay in their own 
 country of North Wales, where the difputesof the fons of Llewellyn 
 had fpread war and defolation, to the terror of all pacific perfons (a). la 
 this year alfo, Matthew Paris was requefted by the decayed monaftery 
 of Holm, in Norway, and directed by an authentic from the pope, to- 
 go and put in order the bufinefs and rule of that abbey, which had 
 been founded by Canute, on his return from England, and which, 
 out of veneration to St. Alban, he had furnimed with monks and 
 relics from this abbey r the high character, which Matthew bore with 
 the pope and among all the benedictines, caufed him to be chofen for 
 this purpofe ; and, having palTed the fummer in Norway, he returned 
 fafe. 
 
 This year, the king's brother Richard, earl of Cornwall, who had 
 taken the vow of the crofs and had provided for his departure, came- 
 to the abbey, to requeft their prnyers and intercefiion with Heaven for 
 his fuccefs, and, after a few days, departed. This man bears a great 
 
 (a) The bifhop of Hereford had done the like, about twenty years before, and died 
 in the year 1245 : his name was John, but his fur name is unknown, and lie is 
 not mentioned in Goodwin's catalogue. He feems to have been the bifliop that 
 had the conteft with Peter Egelblanke, who, being a Savoyard, was favoured by 
 the king, and excluded John the lawful bifhop. This John, in confederation of the 
 reception and kindnefs lhewn him for twenty years, left his books and feme church-- 
 ornamtnts to the abbey, and alio fome benefices: he was interred juft before the altar 
 of St. Amphibaiu?. M. Paris, p. 604.. 
 
 character 
 
( >6o ) 
 
 11. the character throughout hiftory(a): and, as he was the owner of Berk- 
 00 .' hampftead caftle and lived there, and was a benefactor to the cell of 
 Beaulieu then belonging to this abbey, it is not improbable but that 
 he was well acquainted with the abbot, and that the caufe of his vifit 
 was in fricnduhip to him as well as devotion to God. In 1250, the lady 
 of this earl, named Cynthia, was delivered, at Berkhampftead, of a 
 Ton whom they named Edmund, and in honour of whom the father, 
 in 1257, founded and endowed the monaftery of Alkridge, in Bucks, 
 for thirteen friers of the Bonfjommes (b). 
 
 The priory of Beaulieu (de bello loco), at Moddry, in the parilTi of 
 Clophill in Bedfbrdmire, had been founded by king John, but left in- 
 complete: and, in Henry's reign, this abbey replenilhed it with monks, 
 by removing thither thole of Melbrook cell in the fame county ; and 
 it was afterwards farther endowed by the above-mentioned Richard, 
 the king's brother, in completion of a vow which he made in ex- 
 treme danger abroad. But, in the year 1250, it ceafed to be a cell 
 under the management of this abbey ; and, in consideration of fome 
 equivalent, it was conveyed over to the faid earl, who obtained of 
 the king and pope a charter of incorporation under the name of an 
 abbey, and placed therein thirteen poor brethren and twenty monks of 
 the Ciftertian order from Winchcomb, in the county of Glocefter, 
 which he had before augmented with new endowments. Richard 
 paid this reverence to Beaulieu, through a motive of piety to his mo- 
 ther, whom his father, king John, had caufed to be buried there (c). 
 
 The frier-preachers had fettled themfelves in a large and commo- 
 dious houfe in Holborn (d), then called the fuburbs of London, and, 
 in 1250, they held there a general chapter of their order, at which 
 appeared about 400 abbots and principals ; for, they were convened from 
 all parts of the Chriftian world, and lome came from Jerufalem. Their 
 poverty and wants were lb great, that the nobles, and bilTiops, and 
 fome of the abbots, fent them large fupplies of provilions : among the 
 
 (a) He was afterwards .chofcn king of the Romans, and died at Berkhampftead in 
 1271, lor grief at the death of his elder! fon Henry, who was murdered in Italy. He 
 
 •directed, that his Wyfhould lie huried in the church of the frier-minors at Oxford, and 
 his heatt depofited in the monaftery of Hailes, in Glocefterfliire, which he had built 
 ,and endowed. 
 
 (b) On the death of Richard, this Edmund was created Earl of Cornwall by 
 Henry III. aod, in 1283, ne enlarged and farther endowed the religious houfe at Aik- 
 ridge, founded by his father. 
 
 (c) M. 'Paris. 
 
 (d) Holborn was never paved till the time of Henry IV. from whom ifTued an ordgi 
 to that purpofe. Ky//.cr , i Feed. 
 
 reft, 
 
( 161 ) 
 
 red, abbot John and the abbot of Waltham fent a large portion. On John II. the 
 the firft day of their' chapter, the king entertained them at his own ^bot. 
 charge, and, having entered their afiembly, prayed them to remem- 
 ber him in their fupplications. The next day, they were entertained 
 at the expence of the queen j and, on the third, by the bifhop or Lon- 
 don ; and then by John Manfel. 
 
 In this year, 1250, the church of Weftley belonging to the priory 
 of Binham being vacant, the pope fent thither an Italian, and gave 
 him pofieifio.i, to the great lofs and vexation of the abbot and 
 brethren. Another vexation was, that the manor of AU.enham 
 (which had alwavs belonged to this abbey, and had been fo confirmed 
 by many kings and by Henry hrmfelf, and was, at this very time, 
 leafed to the abbot and convent of We(tminfter) was now conveyed, 
 by a new grant, to the laid abbot, in perpetuity, to the great lols of 
 our abbey : and, more than this, although Geoffrey or Childwic had 
 been cafi in thefuit about free, warren, jet the king now granted him a 
 charter to that effect. And Matthew Paris remonftrating to the king 
 boldly on thefe matters, on vifiting this place, the king anfwered, 
 " Why ? doth not the pope this very thing, lubjointng in his letters 
 " notwithstanding any privilege or former grant (a).? however, I will 
 " think of it.' Yet nothing more was ever heard of it, nor did the 
 king's actions correlpond with thcie promifes. 
 
 Robert de Gorbam, who had been elected abbot in 1151, had 
 granted certain lands, contiguous to Wefhvic, to one of his family 
 and name. That man fettled there and builr, and the place obtained 
 the name and appellation of, Gorbam Bury, that is, the houfe and 
 dwelling of Gorham : and here a good family had continued: Wil- 
 liam Gorham, the laft who died here, left a widow, named Cecilia 
 Sanford, fprung from a good family, dwelling at Sandford, one mile 
 from the town of St. Alban's. This lady, having been well educated, 
 was chofen in her younger days to the office of preceptrefs to Joan, 
 the fifter of king Henry, who became the wife and relief of William 
 Marfhal the younger, afterwards earl of Pembroke, and was married 
 to the earl of Leicefter, Simon Montfort. Cecilia, together with this 
 countefs of Pembroke, being both widows, made a vow to continue in 
 this widow r ed ftate, and, together with the fponfal ring, aflumed that 
 mournful garb, then called Ruffe t, from the colour and plainnefc. The 
 countefs, being wooed by the earl of Leicefter, applied to the pope 
 
 (a) Non obj'tante. This difpenfing power was creeping into the civil tranfa&ions. 
 M. tuns, in an. 1250. 
 
 Y to 
 
t 
 
 ( 162 ) 
 
 P h ^f* ^to be abfolved from her vow ; which having obtained, (he left her 
 ' v ° _,__■* companion alone. Cecilia continued (Ingle, and, on her death-bed, 
 the pried, who was Walter, abbot of St. Martin's in London, fpying 
 a valuable ring on her finger, ordered the attendant to draw it off, as no 
 longer neceflary, and indeed fuperfluous to a dying perfon. Cecilia, 
 though dying, recovered breath enough to fay, 4 No, good father ! I 
 ivill never quit this ring, either living or dead: I will carry this ring 
 with me to the tribunal of God, as a pledge of that continence which I 
 fwore to my hujband, and there demand the retribution which we cove- 
 nanted ; for, for bis fake, I have refufed many offers of high rank and 
 great fortune. Then, grafping the ring, (he breathed her laft. 
 
 In the fame year, 1251, died Paul Piper, a man who, from a 
 fmall beginning and humble origin, railed himfelf to a great office at 
 court, called the Regis Dapifer. When he firft began to tafte the 
 fweets of the court(a), he had only two hides of land; but in a fiiort 
 time he had gained, by fome means or other (b), fifty hides. He 
 had (hewn himfelf a great builder of manfion-houfes, and had now 
 nearly completed a magnificent dwelling at Teddington, with all 
 conveniences of ufe and fplendor, fuch as raifed the admiration of the 
 beholders, having employed fo many men and artifts, that the 
 weekly wages came to one hundred (hillings, and oftener to ten 
 marks (c). He left a widow, but no child : and John de Gray, a 
 knight well-bred and of diftinguimed courage, married the widow, 
 and came into the fudden pofiefiion of that place and all the for- 
 tunes of Paul Piper. The ruins of this great houfe are ftiil to be 
 difcerned. 
 
 This fame year, and about the feaft of St. Michael, notice came 
 to the monks, by letter, that a vintation was intended to be made 
 by Theobald prior of Hurley in Berkfhire, and James the fub-prior 
 of the Auguftines church in Canterbury, who was alfo one of the 
 pope's chaplains, Our abbot demanded a truce, as it was then 
 called, that is, a delay, or refpite, until the Sunday next before 
 the day of all faints, promifing to amend all defects and correal all 
 enormities before that time. The two vidtors appeared on the day 
 appointed : and, the next day, the fub-prior entered into dilcourie 
 with the monks, in the chapter-houle ; then he (hewed his credeiv- 
 
 (?) Lambere curiam. 
 
 (b) Licenter et illicenter. 
 
 (c) Allowing money to be then twenty times more valuable than at prefent, this 
 weekly expenditure will amount only to 133I. j a fum not greater than is often feen 
 in modern days, 
 
 tialSj 
 
( ) 
 
 rials, or commiflion from the pope, called his authentic; and, laftly, «3 
 caufed the ftatutes to be read in public, which had been enacted at v___ 
 the laft general provincial aflembly, held at London, of the Benedic- 
 tine abbots. And, having found nothing amifs, although they made 
 very ftrict enquiry of the monks in private, after a ftay of four days, 
 they departed. Soon after, fome of the monks of this abbey were di- 
 rected to make the like vifitation to the abbey of St. Edmundlbury in 
 Suffolk. And, in the end, abbot John made the like kind of fatisfac- 
 tion to the convent, in the matters promifed by him, as his prede- 
 cefTor William had done, when he was vifited by the abbots of Box- 
 ley and of Begham. But neither of them made good their word: 
 for, they had both promifed fome amendment to the monks table, 
 in detriment to their own ; and that the portions of meat, which 
 they had denied to the fick and changed into an allowance of wine, 
 mould be reftored. But, when the vifitation was completed, thefe 
 amendments were no longer thought of by the abbot. 
 
 In 1252, a dreadful ftorm of thunder and lightning happened, at a 
 time when the queen was regaling herfelf and children in this abbey. 
 The lightning ftruck the chimney of the queen's chamber, and 
 fhivered the fame to pieces, and Ihook the whole houfe : it let fire 
 to the laundry, and left vifible marks of its effects on the walls. 
 Some frier-preachers, who were accuftomed to be entertained or 
 lodged here, in their daily travels, and would not be reftrained longer 
 than to receive refreshments, did now fet forth in the midft of the 
 tempeft, and were extremely terrified before they quitted the town, 
 thinking they law, in the path before them, a flaming torch or a 
 drawn Iword. Three large oaks, growing in the church-yard, and 
 of fuch circumference as three men could not grafp, were torn up 
 by the roots : and, in Windfor Foreft, thirty-five large oaks were 
 overthrown or Ihivered to pieces. About this time Alan de Zouch, 
 the king's chief juftice of Chefter and of the Welfh diftrict near 
 Chefter, was travelling to London, and flopped at this abbey, for reft 
 and entertainment. He was bearing to the king no fmall treafure, 
 which he had collected, on his account, in Wales and Chefter : and 
 the fame was conveyed in carts drawn by two horfes. 
 
 In this year alio, died John de Bafingftokes, arch-deacon of Lei- 
 cefter, a man of great experience in common and uncommon learn- 
 ing, and fully accomplished in the Greek and Roman literature. 
 This John had intimated to Robert (Grofthead) bilhop of Lincoln, 
 that, when he ftudied at Athens, the Greek doctors had fhewn him 
 fomething that was quite unknown to the Latins ; and that was a. 
 
 Y 2 book 
 
( 1 64 ) 
 
 John II. tiiebook containing the teflaments of the twelve patriarchs, a work of 
 23d a bbot. g rear repute in the Greek libraries, though the Jews, through envy 
 of the maniieft prophecies therein contained concerning (Thrift, had 
 endeavoured to hide and conceal it. On which, the bifhop fent into 
 Greece, and, having obtained the book, tranflated the fame from the 
 Greek into the Latin tongue (a). This fame John was the firft man 
 who brought into England the knowledge of the Greek numerals, 
 and nVwed their meaning and fignification : in which, fays my au- 
 thor, this is mod wonderful, that a fingle letter may be made to re- 
 prefent any number ; which obtains not, adds he, either in the Latin 
 or the Arabic tongue. This learned arch-deacon tranflated aifo a 
 Greek book into Latin, wherein was comprehended the whole power 
 and myftery of grammar; and which the Greeks called Donatus. 
 
 About the fame time Richard de Wendover, a phyfician of note 
 and eminence at London, died, and bequeathed, as a legacy to this 
 abbey, a curious crucifix of ivory; it acquired its value from having 
 been the property of pope Gregory, to whom the laid Richard admi- 
 niftered and ferved in the office of phyfician; and the dying pope be- 
 queathed to his dear triend what was, and had been, raoft dear to himfelf. 
 
 In this year, alio, the above-mentioned bifhop of Lincoln obtained 
 a refcript from the pope, directing him to augment the vicarages to 
 a proptr maintenance; for, the religious, who had been the authors 
 of all vicarages, ftill took the whole tithe to their own ufe, that is, 
 of their mouaftery, and made no provifion for the officiating brother : 
 and this was the cafe, whether the gift of the vicarage was in the 
 bifhop, 01 the lord of the manor, or even in themfelves. This re- 
 fcript is dated at Lyons, the eighth year of the pontificate of Inno- 
 cent. Alter this, the bifhops obtained a power of making adequate 
 pirovjfion for a brother or a fecular prieft, to enable him to refide ; 
 and, by degrees, they procured, that no vicarage fhould be inftituted, 
 or any church ferved, vice alterius, unlefs an endowment was made, 
 out of the tithes or of land, by the lord of the manor: and this was 
 not d a:e without licence from the king and the bifhop. And, at a 
 fynod held at London, in iz68, under Othobon the legate, it was 
 decn ed, that all the religious, whether exempt or not, who enjoyed 
 an appropriate church, fhould, on a vacancy, prefent a clerk to the 
 bifhop within fix months ; and, in failure, that the bifhop fhould ap- 
 point a vicar (b). 
 
 (a) Prirtcd at Paris in 1549, anc * ' n tne Biblioiheca Patrum ; thought, by Drs. Cave 
 and I odwell, to have been written in the firft or fecond century, 
 (b, CM. Ecc. Hijt. J. 475. 
 
 I The 
 
( i«5 ) 
 
 The king vifited this abbey, together with his elded fori Edward, John 
 at the feaft of St. Bartholomew: they entered the church with great 2 ^ 
 folemnity and made offerings of rich palls, bracelets, and gold rings, 
 and of twelve talents betide (a) ; the king directing, that they might 
 convert thefe valuable articles into money, if they pleafed, provided 
 the fame was laid out in ornaments for the fhtine. And this fame 
 year, on the fir ft day of October, was the church o r Elv dedicated, 
 after the venerable bifhop Hugo had conhVucted, at his own charge, 
 the prefbytery and the fine tower adjoining. 
 
 On the tranflation of the Holy Edward, now the 13th of OdTober, 
 the king convened all the bifhops of England to London, and there 
 laid before them a papal mandate, fignifying, that his holme fs had 
 conferred on the king the tenths of all tceL-fiaftic benefices through 
 the realm for three years, to provide the king all neccflaries for his 
 peregrination to the wars in the Holy Land ; the tenths to be raifed, 
 not according to the old valuation, but by a new eftimate, to be 
 formed according to a ftri£t enquiry, made by the king's officers (b). 
 This demand raifed the admiration and furprize of all prefent ; and 
 the bifhop of Lincoln, Robert Grofthead, gave vent to his indigna- 
 tion, with a fpirit of freedom, honefty, love to the church, and 
 loyalty to his prince, that would have done honour to a man in 
 any age, when kings and popes were mod powerful and alTuming. 
 It is foreign to this hiftory to relate the progreis of this conteft. But 
 the reluit was, that the biihops, by a iteady oppofition, maintained 
 their refulal ; and the king dilcovered, that the feafon was too far 
 advanced toward winter to allow his peregrination. The bimops had 
 told him, * that he had taken the mark and vow of the crols with 
 ' no other view but, as his father had done, to extort money on pre- 
 4 fences ; that, although his jubjeffs in Gafcony had complied, they 
 
 * could not, (ince it had appeared, that an act, once repeated, was 
 
 * next called a cuftom, and would give lanction to a third and fourth 
 
 * deed of the like kind.' 
 
 While thefe grave ma ters were tranfacting at London, fcenes of a 
 ludicrous kind were exhibited by tile king's halt-brothers at Hatfield 
 and at this abbey. William de Valentia, who lived in the caftle 
 at Hertford, broke into the p.-rk at Hatfield, then belonging to the 
 bifhop of Ely; and, having diverted himlelf in the chace, he came to 
 
 (a) M. Paris. It is not eafy to afcertain the value of this fum ; but, as the word 
 talenium occurs, in the writers of the middle age, to denote fometimes a found and 
 fometimcs a mark, it is vciy probable that taris here ufes it in fomc fuch fenfe, and not 
 to expreis a fum of higher value. 
 
 (b) Satellites et extortores. 
 
 the 
 
( x66 ) 
 
 John IT. thcthe houfe, and, with his companions, broke into the cellar, and com- 
 2 3 ci ^ libor ; mitted great riot and wafte. Another brother, named Geoffrey de 
 Leizine, came, in a very imperious manner, to this abbey, and, to- 
 gether with his attendants and horfes, occupied the whole monaftery, 
 and, during his flay, utterly fubverted the order, regularity, and fo- 
 lemnity, of the place. My author fays, who then lived on the fpof, 
 that the ftrangers ftable, which would ho!d three hundred horfes 
 without inconvenience, did not fuffice this riotous prince's retinue. 
 
 In the year 1253, a clerk and fpecial counfellor of the king, 
 named Walter de Sarindon, made a donation to this abbey of the 
 church of Hartworth in Nottinghamfhire, valued at 300 marks a 
 year; in confideration of the great expences maintained by the abbey: 
 and, this year, the abbey difcharged a great debt wherein they had 
 been bound to a Jew of London, named Elias, on behalf of Richard 
 de Oxhaie, a knight: and it caufed great joy to recover their bond out 
 of the cheft of Elias. 
 
 Boniface, the arch-bifhop, had gone to Lincoln to attend the fune- 
 ral of, and pay the laff. duties to, that good bifhop, Robert Grofthead, 
 deceafed ; and, returning, intreated the abbot to give him entertain- 
 ment on his journey, tie had been refufed admillion at the priory 
 of Belvoir, becaufe it claimed exemption ; the petition therefore- 
 was for reft and refrefhment, to which the archbifhop was ad- 
 mitted, and was entertained ; but he entered not the cloifter, nor 
 made the leaf! pretentions to the authority of vifiting the abbey. 
 
 In the year 1254, while the king was in Gafcony, the kingdom 
 was left in the hands of the queen and earl Richard. Thefe regents 
 ordered a fine and amercement of iool. to be reftored to the abbey : 
 this fine had been impofed, by the king's jufticiary, on the abbey 
 and the liberty, becaufe fome perfons of this jurifdiction did not obey 
 a fummons to come to Chefhunt. For, by the charter which con- 
 ftitutes the liberty, no man was obliged to go out of the liberty 
 for juftice, or to appear before other juftices than thofe of 
 the liberty, and who were made and appointed by the abbot. This 
 grant of remiffion (a) is a clear proof that the liberty did 
 exift, as a diftinct jurifdiction, in this year 1254; although Sir 
 Henry Chaunccy fays, it was created by Edward IV. But the true 
 time; of its creation was in the reign of Henry I. by grant to abbot 
 Geoffrey, as already mentioned. However, as 1 am now on the 
 fubject of this liberty, I will mention the following inftance as a 
 farther proof of its exiftence at this time. In 1269, fome perfons of 
 Dunftaple, who had been accuftomed to robbery and plunder, flole 
 
 (a) See the Appendix, N° V. 
 
 twelve 
 
( i6; ) 
 
 twelve oxen from the farmers dwelling at Colney, and drove them jbb£! 
 
 away. The owners purfued and took one of the robbers at Redburn, < 1 > 
 
 and, having brought him back to this town, charged him with the 
 crime before the bailiff of the liberty, (the lame who is called the fe- 
 nefchal in the grant of Henry I.) who, having read to him the 
 king's grant and the power veiled in himfelf, cauled him to be tried, 
 and he was convicted and fuffered death as a felon (a). 
 
 The biQiops at length con fen ted to grant the king the tenths, on 
 conditions : one was, that the regulars, or religious, mould pay and 
 contribute a tenth of their goods and movables: and another, that 
 the money fhould be faithfully applied to the relief of the Holy Land. 
 The bifhop of Norwich, named Walter de Suffield, and who had 
 long been an exactor of the taxes, &c. for the king, came now to the 
 abbey, and convened before him the rectors and vicars of all the 
 churches belonging to the abbey, and the wardens, or guardians, 
 of all the churches, even of St. Julian's, of St. Mary de Pie, and 
 of Sopwel!. He required alio all the officers of the abbey, and even 
 the almoners, to appear before him ; and charged them, on pain of 
 another more ftrict inquiry, to fet a value on all the goods and mo- 
 vables under their refpective care, the tenth of which he caufed to 
 be paid inftantly. And, about this time, the tower of St. Peter's 
 church was (truck with lightning, and the timbers fhivered to pieces. 
 
 The king had .given three of the mo ft pre-eminent churches in 
 England to his wife's relations and his own ; but not one of thofe 
 was worthy or fit for fuch a rank. The queen's uncle, named Bo- 
 niface, had been made archbifhop of Canterbury for fome years, but 
 lived chiefly abroad and engaged in the fecular affairs of the continent. 
 Hereford had been given, in 1239, to Peter de Egleblanke, a Savo- 
 yard and near relation to the queen. And, at Wmchefter, the king 
 had caufed, by compulficn, the monks who compofed the chapter 
 to choofe iEthelmar, one of the king's half-brothers. This man 
 quarrelled with his chapter ; and, with a wanton fort of folly, (hut 
 up fome of them in the cathedral, and kept them without food for 
 three days. When he releafed them, they all left the convent and 
 church ; and the bilhop made choice of the meanclt wretches he 
 could find to fupply their places. But fome of the exiles took refuge 
 
 (a) About the fame time, the cell at Merkgate-ftrcet, called St. Giles de Bofco, for- 
 merly built and endowed by abbot Geoffrey, was alTaultcd in the night by fifty robbers, 
 and the nuns pillaged and robbed of every thing valuable ; but, the alarm being 
 given, fome of ait robbers were taken ; and the country-people rofc, with great 
 zeal and diligence, to apprehend and bring to juftice the reft. 
 
 in 
 
( '68 ) 
 
 d "'bof 16 ' 111 a ^ e y at Riding, anc * many others in our abbey of St. Alban, 
 -1—J and were here fheltered and protected. Indeed, the violence, which 
 raged in thofe days, and which the wanton humour of the great 
 was pleafed to exercife towards their inferiors, and efpecially towards 
 men of a religious character, m;ide fuch places as abbeys a mod 
 comfortable refuge for the perfecuted : for, all places that could afford 
 fanctuary, though iometimes abufed, were yet necefTary and prudent 
 retreats, while powerful men were fierce, favage, and revengeful. 
 Our abbot John had a brother Thomas, who died archdeacon of 
 Northumberland ; who, with Richard, late bifhop of Chichefter, was 
 eminent in rank, and they were of the like fame and meiit(a). 
 Thefe two had been educated, with Edmund the pious archbifhop of 
 Canterbury, at Univerfity college in Oxford. The life of Richard 
 was compofed by Matthew Paris, and laid up, he fays, in the librarv 
 of the abbey ; he being a man of eminent piety, and canonized, in 
 1247, five years after his death. Thomas was famous after his 
 death, as was likewife the bifhop of Lincoln, for the miracles faid 
 to be performed at their tombs; an account of which was reduced to 
 writing, and alio depofited in the faid library (b). But both thefe 
 books have been loft - . 
 
 In 1256, an extraordinary tempeft, accompanied with great and 
 uncommon rains, had fo fwelled the river Oufe at Bedford, that the 
 banks were overflowed, and many houfes, mills, and bridges, demo- 
 lifiied. Among the reft, it is fuppofed that the church, in which the 
 illuftrious Offa had been buried, with all its contents, was warned 
 away. The abbot and convent, on the day of the martyrdom, (viz. 
 June 17, which day they had always obferved with fome folemnities, 
 and caufed the priors and clergy to affemble here for that purpole,) 
 pafled a decree, in full chapter, that, for the future, a more iolemn 
 fervice, with a particular prayer for the reft of Offa's foul, fhould 
 be celebrated. And here I muft remark, that it is fomewhat llrange, 
 the abbots and rulers of this great and religious inftiturion could be 
 content to fuffef the body of the founder to reft, for near 500 years, 
 in a very obicure church, liable to the fate which at length fnatched 
 it away. But their attention was entirely confined to Alban, whom 
 they loaded with honours ; while they forgot their benefactor and 
 friend, the author ot all their enjoyments. 
 
 In this fame year, the j ope's inftruments and exactors made fome 
 demand on the abbey, and enforced that deteftable claufe non objtante, 
 
 (a) M. Paris, 1253. Pans, anno 1255. 
 
 in 
 
( i«9 ) 
 
 in oppofition to all the pleas, rights, and grants, which John could John II. the 
 allege : on which the abbey was put under an interdict, the fervice of ^3 a * llbot ; 
 the choir ceafed, no bell was tolled, and morning and evening prayers 
 were read in private in the chapter-houfe. This lalled fifteen days, 
 when, probably, the abbot complied or a compromife took place. 
 
 About the end of this year, it was found neceliary to repair or rebuild 
 the ealt end of the church ; (now contiguous to the palTage ;) and, in 
 opening the ground, the workmen dilcovered a (tone- coffin, which, 
 bv the inicrip.tion, contained the true remains of the pious Alban. It 
 was difcovered between the altar of Ofwin and that of Wulftan, where 
 the matins were ufually faid, and where had flood an ancient painted 
 fhrine, and under it a marble tomb, or coffin, fupportcd on maible 
 pillars, and which place and tomb had been called the tomb of St. 
 Alban. Here had the holy martyr been interred on the day of his 
 death, about 970 years before : by which it is plain that the profecu- 
 tion, in which he fell, was in the year 217 of the Chnftian aera. And 
 this dilcovery was made in the prefeuce of the abbot, and of the bifhop 
 of Bangor, and of Philip de Chefter, a principal counfellor of earl 
 Richard : there were prefent alfo all the convent, (and of coufe the 
 writer of this article, Paris himlclf,) and fome noble perfons be- 
 longing to Lord William de Valenria, and great numbers of pious 
 people, who heard of this extraordinary fact (a). Miracles were faid to 
 be performed at the new coffin of Alban: and Paris relates, that a 
 boy, on fuch a day, was raifed from death, and then another; and that 
 many were cured of blindnefs, and of the palfey. But this is not the 
 way in which the miracles of Jelus and the apoltles are related : nor 
 doth there appear any reafon, on this occafion, for any miracle, when 
 110 perlon was incredulous or hardened in old attachments and opi- 
 nions. The variety of thefe miracles may alio be fufpected, becaufe 
 a profit was derived from them, and the more votaries the more 
 offerings ; contrary to the effects and confequences of the miracles 
 related of Jelus. 
 
 In 1257, in the beginning of March, the king came to the abbey, 
 and made great offerings to the fhrine, of a curious and fplcndid 
 bracelet, and valuable rings, and a large filver cup gilt, in order to 
 depofit therein the dull: and afhes of the venerable martyr ; he gave 
 alfo fix robes of filk as a covering to the faid old monument, and to 
 cover the tombs of two famous hermits buried here, named Sigar and 
 Roger. The king continued here a whole week, and converted much 
 
 (a) It is probable that this difcovery was, in reality, only a contrivance, wit'i a view 
 to gain credit to the pretended miracles, which began to be reputable with the vulgar, 
 and gainful to the monks. 
 
 Z with 
 
( i 7 o ) 
 
 John II. the with M. Paris; making him his companion at table, and in the au- 
 t, 2jdab oc ' 7 diehce- chamber, and in bis clofet, or private room: and, in difcourfe, 
 he fpoke much of the fuccefs which was then like to attend his bro- 
 ther earl Richard, in being chofen king of the Germans, or Romans ; 
 and who were the perfons that would efpoufe his intereft. He w r ouid 
 alfo run over a lift of former crowned heads in England, who for 
 their fanctity had been canonized. He could name a Ions; lift of 
 the baronies in England ; and by his memory recite the titles of 250, 
 which was thought to be the whole number. 
 
 During his ftay here, there came from Oxford nine mafters(a) of 
 a'rts, deputed from the univerfity, (which then confifted only of Uni- 
 verfity college, for, Raliol was not yet founded,) with a complaint 
 that the bifhop of Lincoln, in whofe diocefe Oxford was, gave great 
 difturbance to the fcholars. The petition was prefented to the king 
 in the chapel of St. Ofwin ; where, Paris being prefent, he boldly be- 
 fought the king to have regard to the church, now in a tottering 
 ftate. 4 The Univerfity of Paris,' faid he, 1 which hath bred fo many 
 
 * learned prelates, is now grievoufly troubled: and, if Oxford mould 
 « fuffer the like, which is the fecond ichool, nay the foundation of 
 
 ;« the church, 1 fear the whole fabric will fall to ruin.' ' God for- 
 ' bid,' fays the king, * that it mould happen in my time : I will pre- 
 
 * vent it/ And it is fuppofed he took the part of the univerfity. 
 
 The difturbance at Paris was this : the frier-preachers, contrary to 
 the ufage and cuftom of the univerfity and of the city, infilled on 
 reading theology ; and opened Ichools for that purpofe. The king 
 and citizens oppofed this innovation: but the friers, being encouraged 
 by the pope, and always teftifying implicit obedience to him, fuc- 
 ceeded in the difoute ; and thus waged a verbal war with the poor 
 Albigenfes. The great fuccefs of the two orders, that had been list up 
 by the pope in the beginning of the century, gave rife to other or- 
 ders ; a new one appeared now in England, cloathed in fackcloth : 
 and Paris fays, the number of orders was fuch, and fo great, thac 
 nothing but diforder was feen (b). Henry had, iome years before, 
 fou.ided the fmall abbey of Netley, near Southampton, for Ciftercians, 
 and another at Titchfieid, not far off, for the fame order, or for the 
 Premonftra;enfians. The former now began to grow confiderable ; 
 and were the firft of all the ancient orders who djfdained that con- 
 tempt into which they had fallen, and who, having obtained of 
 the pope the privilege of opening fchools at Paris, began to rival 
 
 (a) Novem artiftae. 
 
 Lb) lantus ordinum numerus, ut non nifi confufio videretur. Ad an. 1257. 
 
 the 
 
 .7 
 
( '7* ) 
 
 the new orders in their ftudies of theology, and the exercifes founded I ohr > IT - 
 thereon (a). And it began likewife, about this time, to be a practice with 2 3 d ab ot.^ 
 Henry (which was adopted and extended by his fuccefibr) to grant pro- 
 tections to fuch monafteries as feemed too much borne down by the le- 
 gantine power, or to be otherwiie opprefled (bj. 
 
 About the decline of the fummer, the extreme wet weather caufed 
 a general alarm for the iaftty of the crops, both of hay and of corn : 
 and it was feared that both, being delayed longer than ufual, would 
 be fpoilt : the abbot therefore, in full chapter, decreed a general f.ift 
 and humiliation through every pari fh of the archdeaconry, w.th 
 prayers for the fpecial bleffing of fair weather ; and ordained, that 
 a folemn proceflion mould be made, attended with the fhrine, from 
 the church to the little church of St. Mary de Pree. This the abbot 
 and convent performed, with all fuch pious perfons as would join ill 
 the folemnity ; and all walked barefoot 
 
 Soon after, the queen came down, accompanied with the wife of 
 prince Edward, daughter of the king of Spain, and made an offering 
 on the altar of a rich cloth, called Baldokin y or tiffue of gold. 
 
 In this year, 125S, the parliament having refuted the king's re- 
 queft in alking for money, he procured a pope's meflenger to come 
 over, named Manluetus, to get aid of the abbeys and churches. This 
 man goes to the abbot of Walt ham, and by intreaties and threats ob- 
 tains a fecurity for 250 marks, which the king could procure of the 
 merchants ; then came Simon Paflclaw, a counfellor of the king, 
 to this abbey, pretending that he had rode all night and was juft 
 come from Waltham, and hoped our abbot would follow fo good an 
 example: at this inftant came a mefienger from Waltham, relating 
 what had happened there, and to put John upon his guard. Our 
 abbot therefore refolutely refufed : and Simon Paffel aw took leave; 
 but he went to Reading and to other great abbeys, though with 
 what fuccels it appears not. This was doing and tranfadting at a 
 time, when, from the badnefs of the corn and lcarcity alfo, a great 
 peftilence was raging in London among the lower ranks of people; 
 and in this fpring there died 15,000 of them. 
 
 Another fraud of the pope's mefienger was difcovered at this time, 
 by the death of Bernard de Nympha: this man, though a clerk and 
 dependant of earl Richard, had been employed as one of the pope's 
 collectors and exactors. And, at his end, there was difcovered in his 
 
 (a) Ut fcholas exercendo in theologia, legibus, et decretis, ftuderent liberius, ne 
 inferiores viderentur. M. Paris. 
 
 (b) Sec Appendix, N° VI. * 
 
 Z 2 cuftody 
 
( »7» ) 
 
 John II. thecuftody a cheft full of Papal bulls, refcripts, and orders, already 
 a?d abbot. f ea i ec ], but quite blank. 
 
 The archbifhop this year notified to the abbot, that he Intended to 
 come and hold an ordination in the great church. The abbot pleaded 
 the exemption ; and, eipecially as the iee of Lincoln was vacant, it 
 might be coniidered that his grace was reprefenting by that act the 
 ordinary of that dioceie ; and therefore, he hoped, his grace would 
 hi-ld him exculed if he could not permit him. On which the arch- 
 bilhop held the ordination at Dunftaple : but, in going and coming, he 
 was received and handlomely entertained at the abbey. 
 
 Soon after, the king came down, and, during his flay, a more fo- 
 lemn proctffion than ordinary was directed, within the walls of the 
 church : the convent were habited in their bed attire; the faint was 
 borne, that is ; the whole fhrine that was moveable ; and the king 
 walked in the train. In I2 : 9, the frier preachers, having received one 
 fmall houfe as a gift at Dunftaple, took poffeflion, and aflembled in 
 great numbers : though profeffing poverty, they manifefted great 
 wealth : and, though defigned and pretending to be ever begging and 
 wandering, they fettled themielves at this place in a large convenient 
 building, now erected by them ; to the great lols and detriment of the 
 prior and convent there, eftabliuY d in the time of Henry T. and by 
 that king. On a fudden they prepared a place of wormip, fet up an 
 altar, and, without waiting for any regular licence, performed divine 
 offices. They were encouraged by cardinal Hugo, a brother at Rome, 
 and great privileges were granted them. They continued to build, 
 and engrofled much of the land which before had paid rent to the 
 priory ; and ulurped all the oblations which had ufed to be made to 
 the priory-church. But that which more immediately concerns our 
 abbey is, that thefe frier-preachers, when they firft fettled at Dun- 
 ftaple, belought the charity of the priorels of Markg ate, who at that 
 time was Agnes de Gubion ; (he relieved them with a certain portion 
 of corn, and this continued during her time. When a fucceiibr came, 
 the friers demanded it as a right : and, as the hiflory mentions no con- 
 tradic - ' ion, it is probable the charity was continued (a). 
 
 In the year 1259 died Matthew Paris, the pride and glory of 
 this monaitery ; lecond to none in his days in all reputable learn- 
 ing ; and as confpicuous for his piety and virtuous conduct. He 
 came e.uly into this houle, and might have been placed in the abbatic 
 chair when John was elected, had he not declined the honour, 
 through tear that it would involve him in care and trouble, and pre- 
 vent him from recording and writing his great hiftory. We are in- 
 
 (a) Cou, MSS. Claud. E. 4. 
 
 debted 
 
( '73 ) 
 
 debted to his induftry for all the intelligence of fads prior to his^J ^Jf* 
 
 death; as we are to his example for a knowledge of what was pof- . v j 
 
 terior : for, in imitation of Pans, and to render his hittory and lives 
 more complete, Wendover and Rifhanger continued the lame to the 
 death of Henry III. in \zji ; and Wallingham, who lived here in 
 the reigns of Henry IV. and V. re fumed the hiftory of the abbots, 
 and compofed their lives, from John of Hertford inclufive, to the 
 death of Thomas de la Mare (a). This hiltory hath never been printed ; 
 nor was it ever feen by Chauncty, or Camden, or Dugdale, or 
 Stevens ; and probably read only by Hearne, who hath printed lome 
 flight extracts. It will therefore furnilh us with much authentic 
 new information of this abbey, from the death of Paris (b). 
 
 The abbev had not been entirely without learned men to record 
 their tranfadtions, both before and after Paris: for, before his time 
 lived William, a monk, in 1170 ; and Walter, another monk of lb me 
 fame, in 1 1 8 1 ; both of whom are mentioned among the learned of 
 the Englilh Benediclines. And, in the beginning of Henry the Third's 
 time, Roger de Windfor had been appointed hiftoriographer by the 
 direction of the abbot, and with a falary from the king ; an ufual 
 practice ir, all the great abbeys. 
 
 The hiltorical collections of M. Paris contained all the notes and 
 remarks of this Windlor ; and he continued thefe to his own death, 
 digefled in annals : a fair copy of this is now in the Museum, among 
 the King's MSS. written in Paris' s own hand, and was probably the 
 original whence Matt Parser printed in Elizabeth's time, and 
 which Dr. Watts printed from in 1084 i an exceeding good hand, but 
 much abbreviated. Riihanger continued the remarks, but noted only- 
 civil and ftate events, unto the death of Henry III. He was hiftorio- 
 g rap her unto Edward 1. and II. and died in 131 2; yet nothing more 
 
 (a) Cott. MSS. Claud. E. 4. 
 
 (b) Walfmgham, the continuaror of his hiftory, gives him the following chara&cr. 
 Eodem quoque temp, floruit et obiit dom. Matt. Parifienlis, Moil. Eccl. St. Albani ; 
 
 vir quidem eloquens et famofus, innumeris virtutibus plenus, htttoriographus et 
 chronographus magnificus, dictator egregius, corde frequenter revolvcns. Otiofitas 
 ^•J illuminata eft (plendoic anirnaof: quem quidem ubi feccrat iniquum picleutia cogen- 
 tium partibus remotis. lama reiididerat divulgata commendatum : hie via multis 
 retroa&is temooribus ufque ad fiiiem vitrefuae chronica diligenter colligens, gefta mag- 
 natum tarn lecula'ium quam eccleliafticorum, nec non caiuset eventus vanor. niiiabilesia 
 fcriptis plenarie rcdegi ; mira^ilemque ad polteros notitiam pneteritorum, reliquis cer- 
 tificationem. .iu-rat et tanta fubuhtas in auro et argento, ceteroque mctallo, in fcul- 
 pendo et in pi&uris depingendo, ut nullum port fe in Latino orbe creditur icliquiiTe 
 fecund um. Igitur exemplo iplius opibus infudemus falubribus inceflintcr, ut cuin 
 ipfo pieniiis remuncreaiur ctkitibus. Cott. Claud, E. 4. 
 
( *74 ) 
 
 J°kn n.^the f his writing has been difcovered or has been ever mentioned : and, if 
 . ' . he left nothing, this (hews a reafon why Waltingham, in the time of 
 
 Henry V. took up the hiftory from the death of Paris. There is alfo, 
 among the fame MSS. a mofl uncommonly fine copy of the Hiftoria 
 Scholajlica, and probably the very lame which, Paris fays, had been 
 written and procured at great expence, for the ufe of the church : 
 and, fubjoined to the fame, is a copy of Grofthead's tranflation of 
 the patriarch's teftament, in the hand writing of M. Paris (a). 
 
 In the year 1260, and on the day of St. Alphage, (now the 17th of 
 April,) John of Hertford died, having ruled the monadic body twenty- 
 five years, and was buried in the church with a pomp luitable to fuch 
 a prelate. This abbot conducted himfelf without any manireft partia- 
 lity to his parents, relations, or friends; and, unlike fome of his 
 predecedors, forbore to enrich or even to gratify them by ditlipating 
 the goods or effects of the abbey, either in wanton liberalities or pru- 
 dent donations. He had converfed much with all the other prelates of 
 the realm, and ever (hewn himfelf a mirror of religion, and an ex- 
 ample of the moft mature and fober judgement. He was given to 
 hofpitality and munificence, and had gained the love and eiltem of 
 all perfons by his facetious and pleafant difcourfe : and many of the 
 nobility, who lived out of the kingdom, recommended their children 
 to his care and cuftody, to be educated and trained up by his 
 directions. 
 
 He had lived in times of great trouble and vexation. Henry had 
 often (hewn himfelf very adverfe to the nobility and prelates in mah 
 ters wherein Magna Charta had granted them great privileges : and, 
 as we have feen, the king and the pope were ever thirfting for gold, 
 and, on one pretence or other, harraffing the great for iubfidies of 
 money. Many of the prelates were much expofed to their exactions, 
 and forced to live abroad : thofe of the king's kindred did this by 
 choice. But John had always governed with extreme prudence, to 
 be able to efcape the vexations and afflictions which many others had 
 fufiered. 
 
 The crufades had caufed great intercourfe between England and the 
 weftem parts of Europe with Paleftine and Greece ; through which 
 laft country the armies and leaders often paiTed, and fometimes made 
 long abode there in their paffage : and, in 1204, Baldwin, earl of 
 
 (a) King's MSS. 4. D. 7. 
 
 Flanders, 
 
C '75 ) 
 
 Flanders, by help of the Latin arms, was made the head of thes-J'' ft " *^ bo thc 
 Grecian empire. By this commerce and communication, many books vi_ y -) 
 and manufcripts were brought into the Weft ; and many monks and new 
 inftitutions of foreign orders were introduced into England, the monaf- 
 teries abroad having merited favours of the leaders and commanders, 
 from having given them entertainment on their long journeys 
 to the Eait. And this accounts for the numerous foundations of mo- 
 nafteries in England, during the time of the Crulades; that is, in the 
 period from the end of Rufus to the beginning of Edward Vs reign, 
 or from iioo to 1272 : during which time (if the great abbeys that 
 were diffolved amounted to 200) above one half of that number are 
 found to have been eftablifhed. And it is afcertained, by hiftorical re- 
 cord, that the Carmelites were brought into England, in 1240, by John 
 Veley and Richard Grey, and fixed by them at Alnwick in North- 
 umberland and at Aylesford in Kent, having been driven out of 
 their habitations on Mount Carmel by the Saracens. 
 
 The thirteenth century produced many great events : it was dif- 
 tinguifhed by th~e high power and pre-eminence of the popedom, and by 
 the inftitution of the two new orders who were intended to fupply all 
 the defects of all the other orders. Although the council of Lateran, 
 in 121 c, had decreed, with univerfal confent, that no new order JJjould 
 be eflabl'tfied or created^ yet the exigence of the times gave a fanction to 
 the frier-preachers and frier- minors : and the world beheld thefe men, 
 not like the drones who lived on the honey of the land, but active 
 and bufy, learned and ingenious ; preaching and declaiming againft 
 heretics, and railing a degree of admiration and confequence which 
 had not been feen before in any of the monaftic orders. It was a 
 wife inftitution for tne purpofe intended : and every poflible encou- 
 ragement was given to thefe men by the popes, to manifeft to the 
 world that they were as learned nd as zealous for religion as the Albi- 
 genies and Waldenfes. Many circumftances concurred to make them 
 conipicuous. The Pandects, containing the renowned law of the Ro- 
 mans, had been brought into England in the time of king Stephen; 
 Gratian's Decretals and the Canon Law, which had been ftudied at 
 Bologna only, and was now taught at Paris, the only flourifhing uni- 
 verfity in theWeff. of Europe, found its way into England ; and the works 
 of Anftotle were new in this part of the world. The fciences contained 
 in theie books, together with the Fathers, furnifhed all fubjects that 
 were reputtd worthy to be called learning, wifdom, and religion. 
 Scnuols were op ned by thole iiicr^ fur the inftruction of youth, and 
 "fHey procured other univerfities to be founded : the bifhop of Ely, Hugo 
 
 de 
 
( i7* ) 
 
 John II. the d e Balfam, now collected the fcattered ftudents of Cambridge, and 
 j 3d abbot.^ £ ounc j e( j t j^ e ^ r fl. co n e g e? by the name of St. Peter, in 1257 : tne u ^e 
 was done at Oxford in 1262 by Baliol : and future founders went on 
 upon the fame plan ; all calculating for the furtherance of knowledge, 
 and more effectual teaching of arts and icience. Hence a role thofe 
 many ingenious men, called the fchoolmen ; as, Albert the Great, at 
 Cologn ; Peter Lombard, at Paris ; Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure, 
 in Italy ; and Frier Bacon, at Oxford : all whofe works are fo nu- 
 merous as to difcourage a reader, and we fcarce know what they con- 
 tain ; yet we are certain they were the ftandard of divinity and philo- t 
 fophy, until the revival of Greek and Roman literature. I have made 1 
 thefe remarks on purpole to fay, that nothing of this new-fafhioned 
 learning was yet admitted into this abbey ; that it had not more than 
 two or three ingenious men within its walls, in this century, befide 
 M. Paris 1 that learning and fcience were foreign to their inllitution, 
 and ulelels to their occupation, which was to renounce the world 
 and all the concerns of the living, and to contemplate, pray, and 
 intercede for the dead. 
 
 Now, whoever reviews what hath been here written, and it is 
 written with a rnofl faithful regard to truth, muft be convinced, that 
 thefe monaftic inftitutions were not founded, in any age, with a view 
 to eafe, indulgence, and gratification : for, while they obferved their 
 rule and maintained the fame ftrict form of worfhip, they could not 
 be liable to a fufpicion of that nature. Yet, when at length, in fpite 
 of all their public utility (a), any fmall deviation or remifinefs of duty 
 was obferved, this was enough to raile a charge again ft them, 
 among fuch as envied their pofleffions ; even though thefe lay re- 
 formers and zealous accufers were themfelves guilty of more irre- 
 gular and more criminal conduit. In the theology of thofe times 
 this was reckoned the moft perfect life, and probably men embraced it 
 upon principle, and with a fincere dedication of themfelves to the 
 worfhip and lervice of God : but there is no part of that myftery of 
 iniquity, which Chrift and his ApohMes foretold would work, more vi- 
 lible and conlpicuous than the worfhip and devotion of thele monks. 
 Indeed, where no inftrudtion was uled or allowed, they faithfully be- 
 lieved, and zealoufly adhered to, fuch doctrines as they found already 
 
 (a) At firft fight this expreffion may appear exceptionable : but, when it is recol- 
 lected that thefe foundations inftrucled the young, entertained the traveller fed the 
 poor, and nurled and chenflied the fick and aged, at a time when neither lchools, nor 
 work-houfes, nor hofpitals, were ertabliihed, it will be agreed that their utility was 
 confiderable. 
 
 taught. 
 
( *77 ) 
 
 taught. Their general duty was to mortify them felves : and, with 
 
 iurprifing patience, they fubmitted to the painful duties of fafting » 
 
 •and watching ; but their occupation they ever confidered as being 
 devoted to the fervice of the dead. And it is wonderful to behold, 
 how much more diligent they were to ferve the dead than to benefit 
 the living : the latter they left in a great meafure to the parifh-prieft; 
 but their own peculiar province was to be factors for the dead, and 
 to render them all pofTible aid and fuccour by their prayers in this 
 world. The popes and rulers of the Chriftian church at Rome had 
 framed a very ingenious plan of doctrine to this purpofe : and, fetting 
 out upon the pagan notion of an inherent and natural immortality of 
 the foul, they had deviled and eftablilhed a fyftem of proceedings 
 upon all departed mortals, by which they had made the dead ftill 
 fubject to the laws of the church. They filled up that undefined period 
 in man's exigence with many and interefting events : they deviled a 
 ftate of purgatory, wherein all departed fouls were fuppofed to be 
 purifying by fire from the pollutions contracted in life: they afl'umed 
 to themlelves the power of the keys, or, as they explained it, a power 
 of palling judgement on departed fouls, and inflicting a heavier or 
 lighter punilhment on them. The p adage of Scripture, that mentions 
 the power of the keys, intimates no more than an admifiion into 
 the church of Chrift by baptifm, or into Heaven by repentance ; and 
 implies that the terms of admiffion, as praclifed by Peter or others, 
 mould be regarded and re'fpecled in the future judgement of thole 
 perlons at the la ft day ; that whatever obligations of duty and obe- 
 dience the apoftles mould lay on the converted, or whatever forgive- 
 ness and pardon of fin they mould extend to the penitent, according 
 to the promifes and conditions of Chnft himfelf, the fame ientence 
 Ihould be regarded and inviolably kept by Jelus himltlf, when he 
 had power in Heaven, or fjiould come down to judge the Earth. 
 The popes therefore, fancying themlelves pre-eminent to Peter, and 
 to be the vicars of Chrift, aflumed greater power and authority, and 
 framed fomeihing of a code for the better governing thefe invifinle 
 and diftant ful jects. This power, of binding and loofing, they exer- 
 ciled in its fulleft extent. They taught that men were unavoidably 
 doomed to that place of purgatory, and, for their certain fins and in- 
 firmities, were bound to undergo the pains and penalties of it : and 
 therefore they did not add to thefe levere inflictions, and bind on 
 them ftri&er terms ; but they chole to exercile the more pleafant 
 and gracious part of this papal prerogative, that of loofing and re- 
 mitting part of their punilhment. Hence aiole the contrivance of 
 
 A a iiv 
 
( 178 ) 
 
 John ir. the indulgences, which are remiffions of the pains and penalties there 
 L 3d * bbot ] inflicted ; and, if this act of grace was at firfl extended toward the 
 dead, it foon found its way, in the papal chancery, to be ufeful and 
 beneficial toward the living' : and then indulgences began to be fold, 
 and perfons who were anxious of their future welfare paid money, 
 to obtain a reipite for a number of days. The firft bufmefs was the 
 employment of the monks, who acted as a kind of attorneys, to 
 fecure the intereft of the departed y and for this they always receive ! 
 the payment fifft, either by a legacy from the drceafed, or by a cer- 
 tain rent or pcnfion payable out of his eftate, and fecured as a demand 
 on the heir;. The latter method, that of obtaining a refpite, and 
 which is properly to be called indulgence, was pra£lifea by the 
 pope on all emergencies when lie wanted money. And this was 
 a main expedient ufed againft the Albigenfes and Waldenfes, who had 
 affected to deride and to confute thefe impofitions ; yet he raifed 
 great fums of money by the fale of them (a), and kept down the 
 growing power of thofe people: for, it leemcd, that the purchafers 
 iet a greater value on a ialfehood for which they had given money 
 than on a truth which they might receive gratis. The next ftep to 
 aid the monks in this bulinefs was to invent as many mediators as 
 poffible : and, for this purpofe of having friends at court, they exalted 
 the mother of Jefus, and fome of the apofllcs ; ' but efpecially many 
 of the faints, or voluntary devotees, who had undergone extreme 
 aufrerities! Very few of the Greek or Latin fathers were reckoned 
 in this catalogue. Hence aroie altars, and offerings, and particular 
 worfhip, to thefe nominal interceflcrs. Then the popes pretended 
 that in their poffeffion was lodged a wonderful treafure of merits, 
 which, beginning with the merits of the Redeemer, had been im- 
 menfely augmented by the merits of the faints and followers of 
 Jefus ; all of whom having fome portion of merit more than their 
 own cafe required, they had thrown in the fuperfluity, and the pope 
 had a power to apply this as he pleafed, and retail it out to fuch as 
 wanted. If their adverfaries derided this venal traffic, then they 
 faid it was the treafure of God's mercy, and that Jefus had intrufted 
 them with the key ot it, and a power to give or lend as the cafe re- 
 quired. Hence arofe the doctrine of merits and fupererogation : and 
 hence followed the practice of many to live in the moft carelefs, if not 
 profligate and abandoned, manner, when they were told that their 
 
 (a) The pope, Leo X. was felling thefe indulgences for the purpofe of building St. 
 Peter's church, when Luther preached againft them, 
 
 falvation 
 
( '79 ) 
 
 falvation could be worked out by others : hence alfo arofe a reverence Joh 
 for the dead, and a degree of worfhip ; which was foon extended to the ^5 
 garments, or bones, or relics, of any fort; and this opened a door to 
 iiumberlefs frauds, and impofed on the laity, but was ever gainful to 
 the monks. 
 
 It is impoflible to revolve in our minds this corrupt fvftem of doc- 
 trine and worfhip without fhuddering at the extreme impudence of 
 thofe who could invent and eftablifh it, and at the grofs ignorance 
 and credulity of thofe who could receive and follow it. But this was 
 the mvftery of iniquity foretold by St. Paul, who, at the fame time 
 that we wonder at this fvftem, furnifhes us with the moft powerful 
 argument of the truth of our religion, when viewed in the purity of 
 the gofpel. 
 
 The monftrous impiety and blafphemy of Popery excite in us 
 fomething far beyond indignation : we are alarmed at conlidering the 
 future doom of thefe men, who taught devices, tricks, and other expe- 
 dients befide a fober and virtuous life, to gain the blefTednefs of Heaven ; 
 who made inftruction no part of the public worfhip; who thought they 
 governed and fed the flock of Chrift, if they could keep the people 
 in fubjection ; who confined the church of Chrift to the body of the 
 clergy ; and who taught that the grofleft ignorance in their followers 
 approiched very near to perfect innocence. 
 
 In this period of my hiftory the church had arrived at the meridian 
 of its fplendor and glory: or, to ipeak in more ju(l language, the 
 pone and clergy had attained the fummit of their worldly power and 
 grandeur, and boafted of having derived this pre-eminence from the 
 bleifed and holy Jefus, although he renounced all earthly greatnefs, 
 and faid, « His kingdom was not of this world.'' The ignorance of the 
 laity, the weak ftate of all governments, and the want of energy in 
 the laws and of unanimity in the councils of princes, gave to 
 churchmen an opportunity of mounting above the rulers of the earth. 
 But in that fpiritual kingdom, as they called it, or rather earthly 
 dominion, in which the church held the temporal fubjects of all 
 princes, it is fome thing curious to obferve what refemblance the fea- 
 tures of their rule and ordinances bear to the laws of the civil power. 
 Thus the power of binding and looting is analogous to a man's being 
 bound by a recognizance, to forfeit fo much if he does not comply ; 
 and loofing is a real refpite of the penalty for a longer time. Excom- 
 munications (a) are a kind of fpiritual outlawry : and, though at firft 
 
 (a) Mofhcim, vol. If. 64. 
 
 A a 2 
 
 they 
 
( i8o ) 
 
 J^JJ ^ ^they meant only an exclufion from the fociety of the faithful, they 
 ~S \ have fince been followed with many difabilities and painful loffes of 
 civil privilege. An interdict from the pope, which was a total prohibi- 
 tion of all public worfhip, was borrowed from the Roman law, and 
 prohibited the perfon from fire and water, and the enjoyment of all do- 
 mefticcomforts and fociety, and treated him as a vagabond and a Pagan.. 
 In the conftitution of the church many things were appointed in full 
 refemblance to the civil ft ate. For inftance, a benefice was copied 
 from the gift, or donation, of land given to the old foldier : inftitution 
 is authority given to exercife fpiritual functions : but induction is ana- 
 logous to livery and feizin, and is an in^'eftiture of the temporal 
 righis and profits. Firft fruits, or annates, were- an invention of the 
 popes or bifhops of Rome (for they are very early), and borrowed 
 from the primer feizin of the feodal iyftem; they were one year's pro- 
 fit of the land or benefice. Mortuaries alfo were required as ecclefiaftic 
 heriots. The fpecies of trial by wager of law in the Saxon courts 
 was copied by the Roman clergy in their canonical compurgation. 
 Cathedrals and bifhops fees, palaces and courts, were conftituted 
 with much refemblance to imperial courts, and with the fame of- 
 ficers, alike in name and in power, as that of chancellor, treafurer, 
 &c. And thus the church of Rome, ever emulous of imperial ftate, 
 adopted fimilar titles and offices, and laid the foundation of a rival 
 empire (a). 
 
 (a) BJackftone's Comment. III. 46. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
( 1*1 ) 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Roger Norton. 
 
 TFT E prior, foon after the funeral of John, difmiffed three of Rog« thc 
 the monks to the king, to obtain licence to elect a fucceflbr, ft th * °> 
 and to make fine for the cuftody of the abbey and its temporalities. 
 The licence of election was granted without delay or debate, and 
 agreement made for 600 marks to the king, in lieu of all his rights, 
 privilege?, and perquifites, during a fuppofed vacancy : by this 
 agreement the abbey was enabled to retain all prefentations to their 
 churches, and to hold all waif?, forfeitures, reliefs, and efcheats, 
 that might have happened. The day of election drawing near, and 
 all the diftant members who could attend this duty being arrived, the 
 firft ftep, as had been ufual, was to make choice of the electors, 
 called Compremtflar s, who had the fole power of electing, and were 
 now nine in number, though they had been twelve at the time the 
 laft abbot was elected. Thele nine were appointed, not in a general 
 chapter, but by the three or four priefts who had authority to take 
 conteffions, and were, on that account, the molt pre-eminent of 
 the prielthcod. Their voice was unanimous for Roger de Nor- 
 thone (or Norton). The election was declared the next day, and in- 
 ftantly the new-elected, taking with him the priors of Tinmouth 
 and of Wymundham, and iome of the brethren, haftened away to 
 the king, with letters of election ; and as fpeedily returned. The 
 king then fent his own letters, with thole of the convent, to the 
 pope for confirmation. Thele letters were accompanied with letters 
 alio from the bifliop of Norwich, then the pope's agent, &c. and with 
 other letters from the bilhop of Ely, and the abbots of Waltham and 
 
 of 
 
 I 
 
Roger theof St. Auguftine in Canterbury, relative to this election, and pro- 
 2 4 u, abbor. bably tQ atteft the gQod c i lara a er f t j le elected. Thefe were all 
 
 fent by a meffenger bearing a letter to the king's agent at Rome, 
 called his prodtor. 
 
 The pope, on receiving them, gave charge to the cardinal de Cor- 
 nario, with two other cardinals, to examine the election; and, on 
 their report, ordered bulls (a) to be prepared and fent to the prior 
 and convent, confirming the election. Thefe papal difoatches con- 
 tained alfo many charges of duty and obedience to the elect, with 
 letters to the bifhops of London and of Ely, directing them to confer 
 on the elect the grace of the holy benediction. Finally, the pope 
 fent, as ufual on thefe occafions, a letter to the king, intreating, on 
 behalf of the abbot and the freemen of the land of St. Alban, that 
 they may be allowed to pay obedience to the church of St. Alban ; 
 that is, that the king would not employ the civil power to diminifh 
 the rights and privileges of the holy church. Thefe being received 
 by the king and by the abbey, the benediction was conferred by the 
 Xaid bifhop, the abbot of Waltham being prefent and afiifting: this 
 ceremony was performed before the great altar, on the Sunday before 
 the Nativity, i 263. 
 
 The firfr. thing done by Roger was to recover the abbey's eftate at 
 Childwic. It has been laid how troublefome and vexatious Geoffrey 
 de Childvvic had been to the abbey, although their tenant and lefiee : 
 he had died lately, and given all his lands to his brother, including 
 thofe within the manor of Childwic, which manor he had held 
 of the abbey ; the brother, ienfible of a bad title to thele, luffered the 
 bailiff of the abbey, under the orders of Roger, to enter and recover 
 the fame : and, on petition from Roger to queen Eleanor, fhe caufed 
 the brother to pay all the colts and charges which Geoffrey had made 
 the abbey to fuffer," and to give a writing to quit claim, &c. 
 
 The priory of Wymundham gave frelh caufe of trouble ; for, the 
 countefs of Arundel, named Ifabtlla D'Aubeny, claimed a right of 
 appointing the prior at every vacancy ; at leaft, that the abbey mould 
 not appoint any one whom fhe fhould not think to be idoneus. The 
 convent would not agree to her having a power to reject, and laid 
 they were bound, by the charter of the founder, to defend, with the 
 goods of the mother church, all injuries and contradictions made 
 againff that priory •> and, the priory having laved fome money, the 
 
 (3) So named from the Great Seal appendant, called Bulla. 
 
 abbot 
 
( **3 ) 
 
 abbot caufed it to refund 200I. in order to defend this right : and the P^sf. * ,ie 
 eountefs withdrew her claims and prerenfions. l 4 '' t j ' 
 
 In 1264, a great tumult and afTault happened from the townfmen 
 of S r . Allans, They had been long accuffomed to make woollen, 
 though of the meanefl kind ; but now they intended to full the cloth, 
 and began to employ the mills for that purpofe, and were content to 
 grind their com at home in fi nal) handmills. However advantageous 
 this might prove to them, the' abbot would not fufffr his .mills, four 
 or five in numjber, to be applied to this Life, and caufed his bailiff to 
 ieize and diftrain the handmills : great coufuiion arofe, and violent 
 outrage filled the town. The queen came down, and multitudes 
 crowded the ways in expectation of meeting her and fupplicating her on 
 their behalf; but the abbot took care to conduct her to the monastery 
 by fome private way. The people, thus d;f appointed, were more out- 
 rageous : however, by her mediation a compromife was effected, 
 peace reftored, and the mills converted to their former ufe. The 
 town at this time was fo barricaded at every avenue, on account of 
 this inlurrection within and the barons wars without, that it was 
 called, from this fortified ftate and the pofitive refufal to any horfe- 
 man to enter, Little London. During this tumult, the conftable of 
 Hertford caftle, named Gregory de Stokes, came with three attend- 
 ants armed, with intent to compel the feditious to obferve peace 
 and good order ; but the townfmen, pretending he meant to burn or 
 to plunder the town, with extreme rafhnefs and infolence feized them 
 and cut off their heads, which they fixed on poles and fet up at each 
 entrance to the town. The king, hearing of this outrage, amerced 
 the town in icq marks, which they infiantiy paid. 
 
 In 1260, and during the life of king Henry, the church of Ditchet 
 became vacant by the death of Richard Green ; on which the abbot, 
 who was the true patron, prefented his clerk, William Blunden, to 
 the bifhop of Lincoln, then Richard de Gravelende, whom the 
 bifhop received, and made no objection ; but, before the inftitution, the 
 bifhop died. On which Sir Henry Pynkeney, knt. obtained from the 
 Court of King's Bench a brief, under pretence that the advowfon 
 belonged to him, with a writ presenting William Eyton to that church 
 The king lent a letter of prohibition to tne new bifhop, commanding 
 him to proceed no farther: Pynkeney urged his right, and moved 
 a fuit in the King's Bench, advifing the abbot to forbear oj por- 
 tion, becauje he 'was very jamiliar at courts and would be fupported by all 
 the boay that J'urrounded the king. At length Pynkeney came into 
 court, attended by Alphonfe, the governor of the young prince, and 
 
 many 
 
Roger the many other courtiers : the abbot pleaded long ufage, unvaried right, 
 a t.bo t. anc | conftant exercife of that right : the court adjourned and put 
 off a farther hearing: then the abbot began to fail in his refolutions, 
 and to forfee much trouble ; yet he hoped the adverfe party would 
 delay fo long, that the living (after fix months from the avoidance) 
 would lapfe to the new bifhop, that he mould thus get rid of his 
 adverfary, atvd that, if the bimop mould in future times claim the 
 advowfon, he and his fucceffors would find a milder or a more juit 
 enemy to contend with. 
 
 In the midtf. of thefe hopes he received a gracious letter from the 
 queen, faying how acceptable it would be to her, if he would prefent 
 Eyton to the living. Pynkeney then declined the fuit, faid he mould 
 be well content if the abbot would comply with the queen's requeft, 
 and, in mort, began to think his claim not fo good as he did at firft, 
 and would renounce entirely, if the abbot would gratify the queen. 
 To this the abbot confented, and, refuming the former prefentation, 
 he made another in favour of Eyton : and all the parties met at Chef- 
 ham, together with the archdeacon of Bucks ; the abbot having 
 fent Geoffrey Cambridge thither as facrift. Eyton was inftituted, and 
 Blunden returned to the cloifler, but not without fome prefent to af- 
 fuage his difappointment. Pynkeney, next year, renounced all right 
 and claim, on viewing the deeds of his anceitors, and delivered the 
 renunciation in a written form. 
 
 The next year the king fent down a letter, which was read in the 
 confiftory, in prefence of the abbot, the whole body, and all the 
 neighbouring gentry, requiring the abbey to elect a coroner, in the 
 room of their ienelchal, who had always exerciled that office. Ed- 
 ward, in his third year, ordained that none under the rank of a knight 
 mould ferve this office ; and, though this letter was lent two years 
 before the death of Henry, it ieems to favour of that innova- 
 tion and reform which Edward afterwards put more fully into 
 practice. 
 
 It was now difcovered that two of the monks, one of whom was 
 collector of all the rents and revenues, had committed many forgeries, 
 by affixing the abbey- feal to feveral inftruments, as bonds, con- 
 tracts, and obligations ; whereby the abb-y appeared to be borrowing 
 money, and yet none came into the great chefr. The ufual cuttoni 
 was this ; the prior, iub-prior, praecentor, and this chaplain, (who 
 was collector inftead of the cellerer, now charged with want 
 of fobriety,) had each a feal ; and whatever papers or deeds re- 
 quired to be made authentic, or, as we now ipeak, to be parTed, 
 
 were 
 
were all brought into a fecret parlour, and left there until the re- R °g« r xhe 
 ceiver could find time to affix the feal, which was to make them ! 4t ' ot / 
 valid, inftead of his writing his name. And this gave them oppor- 
 tunity to fign many that were not leen or known by the abbot. 
 This difcovery made it neceffary to excommunicate the offenders, 
 to declare the papers, from fuch a period, null and void, and to break 
 the feal. 
 
 In 1275, it was ordained in full chapter, and for their future ob- 
 fervation, that, when any prior or monk became incapable of duty 
 through age or infirmity, he (hould be allowed a fmail annuity, 
 and permitted to return to his friends, if he chote it, for the red 
 of his life. Another ordinance was made alfo, by the like authority, 
 decreeing, that, when any monk died abroad, or out of the monaftery, 
 which happened fometimes at Redburn, the keeper of the infirmary 
 fhould provide a cart and horfes (careltam et equos) to convey the 
 body to the gate of St. German's chapel, where the fervants of the 
 infirmary mould attend to receive the fame and carry it to the infir- 
 mary, with the crofs borne, holy water fprinkled, cenfers burning, 
 and tapers lighted ; the whole procefiion chaunting certain pfalms : 
 and that, in the infirmary, the body mould undergo all the neceffary 
 wafhings, embowelling, falting, fewing up, and decent apparel, pre- 
 vious to its being committed to the dull. And thus a coltly burial 
 after death was to confole the poor monk for a life of toil and watch? 
 fulnels, and a courfe of painful duty. 
 
 The church of Chinner became vacant by the death of William 
 Penne, and one Hugo, a goldfmith of London, preilnted, in preju- 
 dice of the cell at YValiingford ; the prior of which aflerted his right, 
 and that he had before prelented to it one Richard Sotwell, and he 
 how cautioned the bifhop of Lincoln againft institution. The eaufe 
 was delayed, but heightened into a law-fuit ; and the bifliop, taking 
 advantage of a laple, collated to the church one Coleman, as if in 
 full right : but, at the aflize, the right of patronage was adjudged to 
 the prior, and the king wrote to the bifhop, injoining him, that, 
 notwithstanding the proclamation of Hugo, he would proceed to 
 inftitute a proper perfon. The church of Thirficld (or Turville, as 
 now called) in Bucks had long been in the pofleffion of the abbey : 
 and, about this time, the abbot having neglected to fend a proctor to 
 the bifhop's fynod at Ayleibury, the officers of the bifhop's court 
 (Ordinaru) took pofi'eflion of Thirfield by direction, and declared it to 
 be lequeftered. The abbot requeued the vicar of VVycomb, who was 
 dean of the fynod, to defire of the fequefl raters to w ithdraw, and he 
 
 B b would 
 
( iU ) 
 
 Roger the would make Satisfaction for his error. The dean contemned the requeft 
 t *-* thabbot ; and would not comply. The abbot then wrote to the vicars of Wynflow 
 and of Horwood that they mould declare the dean excommunicated for 
 his difobedience. The vicars obeyed, and thereupon John de Luca, 
 the official of Buckingham, iffued a mandate to the vicars of Hugen- 
 don and Medmeyham, that they fhould publicly pronounce, in the 
 faid church of Wycomb, that the above excommunication was null 
 and void, and declare that the vicars of Wynflow and of Horwood 
 had no jurisdiction, either ordinary or delegate, againft the dean ; and 
 he commenced a fuit againft them for an unjuft excommunication, 
 and for ifliiing citations contrary to the privileges of St. Alban's mo- 
 nailery. The vicars appealed to the court of arches, or the arch- 
 bifhop's court, in which the Sentence of the official was annulled and 
 the Sequeftration taken off; but not until the vicars had obtained a 
 prohibition from the king. 
 
 Thefe Sequeflrations were much in practice, and bear a very near 
 refemblance to diftreSs at common-Jaw. For, in 1281, PtfecWaon, the 
 archbifliop, Summoned to a council, afTembled at Lambeth, all the 
 exempt and non-exempt of his province ; and, on the refufal of fome, 
 he ordered his iuffVagan bifhops to take poffefiion of certain churches, 
 and lequefter the goods and chattels to their own uSe; anc! charging 
 thofe churches, if they could not prove a rightful exemption, to ap- 
 peal. On which the abbots of St. Peter Wcftminfter, of St. Alban, 
 of St. Edmund, and of Waltham, protefted unto the hands of a notary- 
 public their exemption, and appealed to the official court of Canter- 
 bury, where the judge, Peter de Saint Maire, ordained them to * pay 
 
 * the accuftomed compofition, that the Sequeftration, or diilrelles, 
 4 mould be taken off, and the appeals difmiffed: that they fhould 
 ' relerve their defence iniegre^ and Submit unanimoufly ; and So com- 
 
 * port themfclves for the future, that thefe tranfactions might not de- 
 '• rogate from the privileges of the abbeys, or from the dignity of the 
 6 archbifliop, whenever he Should call a like affembly.' A Sentence 
 that leaves open the claims and pretentions of all the parties. 
 
 A great contefl: and fuit at law arofe in civil matters alfo between 
 the abbot and one William Merun of Sandridge ; the latter having 
 alleged, that the abbot, by his Servants of the manor, had Seized his 
 horles and cows, and imprifoned his body, for not performing the 
 Services due and incumbent on him. The abbot anfwered that Wil- 
 liam was a villanus, and held his land Subject to Such Services, which 
 had not been performed, and that the abbot had purSued the re- 
 medy directed by the law. Merun valued his 3 oxen and 4 horfes 
 6 ' at 
 
( i8 7 ) 
 
 at 11 marks. This fuit had begun in the 54th year of Henry III. Roj , er t! , e 
 and the two' litigants had been vexing each other ever fince ; Merun ^-.h abbot, 
 ftill pleading that he was a free man, and held his land free from ' -v— — ' 
 any fervice : but now at the affize and by the fentence of John de 
 Ryegate, the jufticiary, he was proved to hold only in villeinage: 
 and thereon the abbot feized his land, and infeofed another tenant 
 therein. 
 
 In 1277, li was ordained in a general chapter of the Benedictines, 
 that the pfalm, which is called Fides Athnanajii, £*uicunque vult, fhould 
 not in future be recited at the prime, or fir ft: fervice of the day, ex- 
 cept on Sundays: it ufed to be repeated in all the feftivals, and 
 made twelve lelTons in a week. Many other omiflions were alfo di- 
 rected, in order to fhorten the fervice. And Edward I. having, in the 
 next Parliament, procured an act, or ftatute, forbidding the religious 
 to hold or appropriate to themfelves any lands, rents, or pofleffions, 
 my author (a) fays, he did this in ultionem tanta pigritice. This was 
 ? the famous Statute of Mortmain, and the fir ft ever made on that 
 fubject. It enjoins that the religious fhall not receive Fees by purchafe, 
 by appropriation, by gift, or by any iervices, which, having been 
 provided for the defence of the realm, have been unjuftly omitted 
 and withdrawn. It charges the chief lord to enter, and, by default 
 of one year, the king fhall enter, and infeof others in certain fervices 
 for the defence of the realm : referving to the chief lord his el- 
 cheats, wards, and other accultomed dues. The pope's council at 
 Lyons, held in 1245, nac * decreed that the religious fhould pay tenths 
 of the juft value of their goods and poffeffions, temporal and lpiritual; 
 and 200 marks of filver was impofed on this abbey, as a yearly pay- 
 ment, to relieve the remaining Chriftians in Palcftine againft the Sa- 
 racens. Roger had been prefent (b) and confented ; but the times of 
 payment were not obferved, and, for this default, the prefent pope 
 inhibited the worfhip to go on ; and the whole fervice ceafed, until, 
 by the intercefiion of John Darlington, a frier-preacher, they obtained 
 an abfolution ; that is, probably, paid their money. 
 
 The falfifying the abbey-leal had caufed great frauds, and, about 
 the time of the abbot's death, there were difcovered at London 
 two deeds under thele feals, declaring that a Jew had lent the 
 abbey 1000 marks, and that the monks had pawned, for fums of mo- 
 ney, certain of their valuable trinkets, &c. as golden crowns, and 
 precious {tones, two cups of gold of 24 pounds weight, belide 300 
 
 (a) Walfingham, MS. 
 
 (b) He had attended as one of the proftors for his prcdecefTor, John of Hereford* 
 See p. 146. 
 
 B b 2 filver 
 
( 'S8 ) 
 
 Roger thefi| V r Cr fpoons. The like fraud was found to have been committed on 
 z4th abbot. ^^gy a t Reading ; where the Jew, being taken and profecuted, 
 fufFered death as a cheat and impoftor, confeffing the fraud. And 
 it was fuppofed that fome Jew had corrupted the keepers of the feals 
 here, and, by their connivance, had purloined the plate and jewels. 
 
 In 1278, the abbot vifited Tynmouth, and abode fix weeks at Dur- 
 ham, and, having received great civilities from the bifhop, he in- 
 vited him, in return, to Tynmouth ; but here the prior objected, who, 
 having fome years fince aimed at independency and (hewn himfelf 
 very contumacious, wai preparing to revive his ancient enmities : 
 however, at length, he complied, and admitted the two great men, 
 and unanimity prevailed. After an entertainment of fome days the 
 bifhop returned well pleafed, and the abbot flattened back to his abbey, 
 where he was received with great joy, and much applauded for his 
 fuccefsful vifit at Tynmouth, in reclaiming a difobedient brother. 
 
 In the next year, the abbot was fummoned by the king's juftices iti- 
 nerant to Maidftone, to fhew by what warrant, or right, he claimed 
 view of Frankpledge over the tenants of the manor of Eaftwell, and 
 aflize of bread and ale, and amerced them in his manor-court at Eaft- 
 well ; and over fuch as ufed to follow the court of our lord the king. 
 One William Tylingham profecuted for the king, and faid that king 
 Richard was feized of thefe farms and liberties, as belonging to his 
 crown; that John and Henry had holden the fame in like manner; and 
 that the abbot holds them by fubtradlion, and damnifies the king in 
 ice], a year. The abbot defended, by his attorney, and faid, that 
 Nigel D'Aubeney (de Albineo) held the faid manor with all its liber- 
 ties, &c. and gave the fame to God and the church ; and that he, the 
 abbot, held, as Nigel had given, for the redemption of his and his 
 parents fouls ; and produced the charter-deed. The prolecutor re- 
 plied, that, whatever confirmation Richard might give, his predecef- 
 Jors had pofTeffed this manor ; and infifted that the abbot mould put 
 himfelf on his country. The jury found ' that none of the kings had 
 1 been feized of this manor prior to Richard, that the abbot and his 
 
 * predecefTors had from length of time (from which time there exifts no 
 
 * memory or record) ufed the faid liberty, or view of frankpledge, with 
 4 affize of bread and ale, and had amerced the tenants, and had made 
 ' no fubtraelion from the hundred court of Eftre ; but that the bailiff, 
 
 * and two men of the manor, did every year make fuit at the hundred 
 
 * court on the two law-days ; fo that the king's court fufFered no 
 
 « fub- 
 
( >8<> ) 
 
 ' fubtradVion. And farther, it is adjudged that the abbot depart fine R°g" *e 
 « die, and that the king is intitled to nothing for his brief (a)/ t 4th ' J 
 
 The king, by his juftices, caufed many inquifitions to be made con- 
 cerning the privileges of his crown, and actually feized into his hands 
 many of the liberties belonging to the religious. Our abbot was fum- 
 moned to anfwer, by what warrant he claimed to have and poffefs di- 
 vers liberties in divers manors and pi aces, a s well in what belonged to 
 the principal monaflery as to the cells ; but, on producing the records 
 and inftruments, the juftices were fatisfied, and allowed all their 
 claims. This was pracYtfed on the cell at Hertford, at which place 
 the abbot was brought before John de Ryegate and others, on the 
 morrow of All Souls, in 6 of Edward I. to anfwer to the claims of 
 fome others on the lands held by this priory ; but the abbot claimed 
 (under the grants of Henry II. Richard, and John) view of frank- 
 pledge, chattels of felons and fugitives, and free warren, in all the 
 lands belonging to the priory ; and, on view of thofe grants, the ab- 
 bot's rights were approved. 
 
 The Edwards ruled all their fubjecls with a much ftronger hand 
 than Henry had ufed. For, the abject fubmiffion of John, and the 
 conceffions he had made to the pope and the church, had prevailed 
 through Henry's reign, to the ruin and debafement of the crown, the 
 impoverishing of the people, and the great exaltation of the clergy* 
 But Edward I. had courage to inftitute better order, and to work a 
 reform : with this view, he formed a fecond council, hi Parliament, 
 of the lefter barons, knights, and burgefies ; by which the lower ranks 
 of fubjects were railed to fome importance, and this fecond council 
 was a kind of counterprize to the power of the barons, who compofed 
 the fir ft. And now, having united thefe two branches in legiflation, 
 he ufed them in reftraining the increasing wealth of the clergy, who, he 
 perceived, were always acquiring but never alienated. In the feventh 
 year he procured the Mortmain-Act, and the year before he had itlued 
 quo warranto* i to feveral bodies of the lefler clergy to mew their titles. 
 Under thefe reftraints, the clergy were lefs enterprizing in the 
 affairs of ftate, and Edward confined them to the peaceful difcharge 
 of their duty. 
 
 Our abbot procured many advantages in point of eftate and landed 
 property. He had obtained from Henry III. a grant of a market for 
 Codicote, to be held on the fixth day of every week (or on Saturday) 
 throughout the year, with all the privileges and free cuftoms belonging 
 
 (a^ Capiat nil propter breve fuum, 
 
 to 
 
{ 190 ) 
 
 Ro f rr bb\ eto mar ^ ets » anc ^ a ^° a g ranC * ^ or a y ear ^y f° r four days. He ob- 
 t 2 *' h y a °V tained alio of divers perfons, who had leafed fmall eftates to the abbey, 
 for the maintenance of an aged parent or fervant, that they mould, at 
 the death of fuch perfons, quit claim and renounce their right : 
 of this fort of purchafe, called perquijitio, there were more Man 
 forty, although the premifes were often no more than an acre of land, 
 or a rood, or, perhaps, a wretched cottage falling to the ground. 
 And here we may difcern the origin of that mode of conveyance, by 
 leafe and releafe, which prevailed for many years, until the laft cen- 
 tury, and which, though praclifcd by the clergy as an evafion of the 
 flatute, yet came into univerfal ufe with the laity and others. Norton 
 alfo extinguished many claims and latent rights, by giving an equiva- 
 lent ill money : as, for inftance, he piocured from John Lewis of Lu- 
 ton, a written grant, which John had obt .lined with much folicita- 
 tion, for leave of common paflure in ths abbdt*S j on! at Luton near 
 the mill : in all the manors he bought out the rights of the little 
 tenants: and, at Watford, he procured or abolifhed the right of ta- 
 king toll there, pracliled bv the millers fi ng: and of thefe fmall 
 redemptions the number was above twenty. He beftowed much coft in 
 adorning the church and the mouafkry; which laft was now deemed 
 very fplendid and handfome, (fpeciofiffima,) for, he had furnifhed all the 
 chambers f cameras) with chimneys and cloiets. He alfo rebuilt the 
 infirmary, and gave 100 marks to the work ; this was executed by the 
 diligence of the prior, John Maryns, who, unknown to the abbot, took 
 the timber out of the abbot's wood, and completed the work in two 
 years. He gave to the choir feventeen copes of crimfon, adorned on 
 the moulders with images, or figures, made of gold fringe, and in them 
 was worked the name of the donor, for the perpetual record of his 
 fame. He gave four altar-cloths, and one for the Virgin's altar, where 
 mafs was laid every day and fung ad nolam, that is, the fervice fet to 
 mufic. He gave alfo a pair of decretals ; and the fums, or comments, 
 of Raymund, Manfred, and Bernard, on the decretals : and, among 
 many other choice books, he bellowed one in which was contained 
 Seneca and his difcourfes. He caufed a very large and deep-founding 
 (fotwrojij/ima) bell, to be made and hung up, to be ftruck every night 
 at the time of Curfew ; and two other bells in honour of St. Alban 
 and St. Catharine : and he broke four old bells to furnim the metal, 
 &c. for thefe three. He caufed one cenfer to be made, of filver 
 gilt, and very handfome, weighing 4.1b. noz. and of price 11 marks, 
 which is 2s. 6d. per oz. 
 
 In 
 
( '9' ) 
 
 In his laft illnefs he caufed all the plate to be brought before him, f^l^f 
 and made donations of the fame to his fecular friends, and gave money i j 
 alfo to his relations. He gave likewife fome corrodies, putting the 
 chapter-leal to the grants with his own hands. He was fui peeled of 
 conniving fecretly at the lofs and alienation of Stanmere and of Hor- 
 wode, both of which were claimed under ancient grants or leafes from . 
 the abbey, in which, it was pretended, the abbey had not obferved 
 the covenants, and thereby the right was forfeited : this might be ; 
 yet it was almoff. impoffible to vindicate ancient rights, at a time 
 when the crown and its judges called every thing, belonging to the 
 clergy, in quedion. But, as he had done numberlels things well, he 
 was eafily exculed for fome few that appeared ill ; and he departed 
 with the love and efteem of all, who gave great tokens of real forrow 
 and concern : at his death the church was not ico marks in debt. After 
 thirty vears rule and flrenuous exertions, he died in I 290, and was 
 buried before the great i ltar; the bifhop of Ely performing the funeral 
 fervice, and the prior of Waltham with a great number of religious and 
 feculars attending. 
 
 Having already mentioned the high hand with which Edward 
 fwayed the fceptre, and hinted at fome of the means he took to re- 
 train the pouer and confequence of the clergy, 1 will here add a few 
 obfervations, that grow out of that fubjedt or tend to illuftrate it. 
 The ftatute of Mortmain not only forbad the clergy to make purchafes, 
 but alfo to receive even by gift and donation. And Edward diicovered, 
 fo early as the third year of his reign (1275) in what manner he meant 
 to govern the clergy of his kingdom : for, in this year, he procured 
 the ftatute of Weftminfter the firft, which considerably leffened the 
 privileges of clerkfliip. On this ftatute Sir Edward Coke obferves, 
 (3 Edward I. cap. 2.) that, before this act, if any clerk had been 
 arretted, for the death of a man or any other felony, and the ordinary 
 did demand him in the prelence of the fecular judge, he was to be 
 delivered, without any inquifition to be made of the crime. But, 
 after this ftatute, when any clerk was indicted of any felony, and re- 
 futed to anlwer to the felony on the fcore of his clerkfhip, and was 
 demanded by his ordinary ; in this cafe, before he was delivered to the 
 ordinary, an inquifition was to be taken, whether he was guilty of the 
 fact or not, and, if he were found guilty, his goods and chattels were 
 forftited, and his lands feized into the hands of the king. But then, 
 as Fleta reports, if the clerk was delivered afterward to the ordinary, 
 
 and 
 
^ 102 ) 
 
 Roger iiicand flood the teft of the fpiritual court, and cleared himfelf by the 
 abbot . cuftomary forms of purgation, the king, on certificate from the ordi- 
 nary, was bound to reftore him his goods, chattels, and lands. Thus* 
 by the interpretation of the clergy, the laft judgement of the offence 
 was left with the diocefan. This privilege continued with the fpiritual 
 courts until the reign of Elizabeth, when it was enacted (18 Eliz.) 
 that no man, allowed his clergy, mould be delivered to his ordinary (a). 
 
 It was not merely with a view to reduce the exorbitant power of 
 the church, or to gratify the king's pique and envy, that parliament 
 palled the Mortmain-act ; there were other reafons, of a more 
 public nature, which fwayed with both king and Parliament : 
 for, when eftates were given to the church, many of the fervices 
 incident to the fee were funk : the lords loft their wards, marriages, 
 and reliefs ; and the public loft the military aid which was due 
 for thofe fees. So that the number of fees, though by the ap- 
 pointment of the Conqueror they amounted to 6o,ooo { was, by 
 the negligence or refufal of the clergy, diminifhed to one third of 
 that number. 
 
 The king alfo, in the parliament holden at Weftminfter in 1285, 
 obtained another ftatute that affected the clergy, called the ftatute of 
 circumfpedle agath ; which was intended to diftinguifh the two jurif- 
 dictions, and to afcertain the limits of the fpiritual and temporal 
 courts j and was meant as a fort of a barrier between the church and 
 the ftate. It fet forth that caufes merely Jpirituah and therein fpeci- 
 fied, did come within the cognizance of the court Chriftian, and 
 that no prohibition mould iffue from the civil courts in fuch caufes ; 
 for that they have no mixture of the temporalities, and becaufe they 
 are corrections pro falute an'ima. And this prudent falutary law 
 endures to this day. 
 
 The king continued to act with much more rigour, and, from his 
 former fuccefs, proceeded to greater feverity. For, in the parliament, 
 holden at St. Edmundfbury in 1296, the laity granted the king a 
 large fupply, but the clergy refufed to contribute any thing, alleging, 
 that their late payment of half a year's profit ought to excufe them. 
 The king rejected this excufe, and ordered all the barns of the clergy 
 to be locked up. On which the archbifhop Winchelfey directed 
 the bull of pope Boniface to be read in all the churches j by virtue of 
 which the clergy were forbidden, under excommunication, to pay any 
 taxes to the king without the pope's confent ; and all collectors of 
 
 (a) Coll. I. 478. 
 
 fuch 
 
( 193 ) 
 
 fuch a tax were put under the like cenfure. The archbifhop convened Ro S e 5 
 the bifliops and clergy to a fynod at St. Paul's; and the king fent them 
 a charge not to make any conftitutions prejudicial to his prerogative or 
 the public repofe, or to difturb any perfon under his protection and 
 government. The fynod inftantly entered on the matter of fubfidy, 
 and the majority refufed to comply. On this the king's highnefs 
 ordered his officers to feize the horfes of the clergy and religious ; he 
 alio forbad the lawyers to plead for them, and denied them the affift- 
 ance both of the bench and of the bar ; in fine, he commanded 
 them to be outlawed, and put out of the protection of the govern- 
 ment. In this fituation did they continue, until four prelates propofed 
 a temper and accommodation: but the archbifhop refuied any qualify- 
 ing expedient ; on which the king feized on all his eltates, and he 
 was reduced to extreme neceflity; yet ft ill he proteited againft ail com- 
 pliance. The four prelates propofed, that they mould give one- 
 fourth part of their goods, and depofit the money in the fafe cuftody 
 of fome fanctuary, to be hereafter applied and expended, in the public 
 fervice of church and ftate. The king was now engaged in a war 
 with France, and, hearing that the money was collected and depo- 
 fited, he made a feizure of the whole, in contempt of the fanctuary ; 
 after which he took off the outlawry, and reftored their horfes, &c. 
 
 The pope was not a whit behind hand in this dexterous way of 
 getting money; for, the next year he al(b practifed on the Francifcans. 
 Thefe holy brethren fent a deputation of three brothers to the pope, 
 to requeft that he would be pleafed to impower them to purchafe 
 lands, and live like other orders, and renounce the fcandal of begging; 
 and they were to offer him 40,000 ducats for a bull to this effect. 
 The pope inquired if they had the money ready ? yes, they anfwered, 
 it was at Rome in the hands of a certain banker, whom they named : 
 he then defired three days to confider the petition, at the end of which 
 time they were directed to return : he, in the interval, fent and de- 
 manded the money of the banker ; and, in order to quiet his corP~ 
 fcience, he accompanied this demand with an abfolution for breach of 
 truft. When the three days were expired, the holy friers waited on 
 the pope, elated with hope. But he faid, « he could not fuffer them 
 « to renounce the oath of poverty, nor was it advifable to difpenfe 
 
 * with the rule of St. Francis : and, as to the money, it muft re- 
 
 * main for the ufe of the Roman fee (a).' 
 
 (a) Matt. Weft. ad. an. 1299. 
 Cc 
 
 John 
 
( 194 ) 
 
 John of Eerkhampstead. 
 
 ' t e The death of Norton being known, the king's efcheator, named 
 j Malcolm, battened down, and, demanding all the keys, made a very 
 ftrict fearch into the cherts and coffers of the late abbot. He made an 
 inventory of all the effects which he thought had been the property of 
 the abbot; vifited all the farms and granges in hand ; and proceeded 
 to fell the crops then growing, the horfes, cattle, and implements : 
 he took no money, but agreed for price : the officers of the houfe 
 remonftrated on this new proceeding ; and, the king being apprized 
 hereof, he came down, now in the 1 8 th year of his reign. He made 
 ftrict enquiry into the ftate and rule of the houfe, and, after fome 
 days, reftored all the temporalities, and reinftated the monks in their 
 pofleffions. The prior, John de Maryns, had procured the election 
 to be made a few days before the king's arrival ; and therefore the new- 
 elected was now prefented, and many expreffions, full of approbation, 
 parted. Four monks were difpatched to Rome, to procure confirma- 
 tion ; where they were made to undergo a very ftrict examination, 
 relative to the form of the election. The prior, noting the ac- 
 tivity of the efcheator, went from one priory to the other, to give 
 them warning of his vifits, and to put them on their guard. 
 
 During the vacancy, the vicarage of Hocton had become void : 
 and the prior and convent prefented, and the archbifhop approved 
 and gave inffttution, without any interruption from the king, or any 
 claims of prerogative being urged. 
 
 The new-elected abbot thought it necefiary to go to Rome in per- 
 fon, although his four brethren had appeared there with all the ulual 
 credentials for gaining confirmation. This 'John of Bcrkhampjlead, 
 therefore, was the Jirji, who, as Willis notes, went to Rome on this bufi- 
 nefs hi per [on. When he arrived at Civiia Vecchia^ called, in the lan- 
 guage of Rome, Urbs Ant 'iqua, he was met by two cardinals, and luf- 
 fered to approach no nearer; but he was here interrogated, in the 
 itricteft manner, as to the forms of the election and his own qualifica- 
 tions ; whether he lay under any canonical impediment; when and 
 where the election was holden, to which it was anlwered on the 5th 
 Id. Dec. Many queftions were put to the abbot, of the moft trivial 
 kind ; as if the court of Rome feared fome colluiion in the appoint- 
 ment, 
 
( 195 ) 
 
 ment, and would not be fatisfied with the ufual attentions. The J o1in . HLthe 
 abbot had gone to Rome, by the advice of his chapter, in order to 2 I th '' < b "'"'. 
 obviate that probable feverity which they were likely to experience 
 from the king, and to make a friend at Rome : and, on the other 
 hand, the cardinals made the moft minute inquiry into the life and 
 morals of the elect, as if to obviate any future objection which the 
 king might make. The charge and expences of this journey exceeded 
 13C0 mark?, of which about 800 went in liberalities to the cardinals 
 and to the holy chert. 
 
 The abbot, on his return, flopped at the priory at Hertford for 
 fome days, in order to attend the king, then returning from North- 
 ampton. On his Majefty's arrival, the abbot prelented to him the 
 inftrument of confirmation, received at Rome; but, the king obfer- 
 ving that it had its leal, or bull, of lead, he faid it was mill and void, 
 and perhaps a counterfe it. This was an unexpected obitacle; but the 
 abbot difpatched a melTenger to the camerarhiSy or keeper of the re- 
 cords, then at Redburn, to produce other and more ancient bulls ; 
 theie being of lead alfo, the king withdrew his objection, admitted 
 the abbot to his oath of allegiance, and directed his efcheator to re- 
 ftore the temporalities. On St. Alban's day, the abbot returned, and 
 was received with great folemnity : the abbot of Waltham attended, 
 a great mafs was performed, a valt multitude was prefent, and 
 the prior had provided w ith uncommon fplendor for the joy of the day. 
 
 The abbot had taken up the 1300 marks, expended when abroad, of 
 the foreign merchants, and given bills for the fame; and now the 
 time was approaching for payment, but no money could our abbot 
 find : the trealury was empty, and the houfe impoverished. On this 
 he repaired to the king, and befought him to direct his efcheator to 
 purchafe the crops on the ground, and take them at the price he had 
 fet a few months befoie: the king complied, and the efcheator fold 
 the corn on the ground, and raifed for the abbot 913 marks, 10s. §d. 
 This was in July, 1291 . 
 
 It was now the year 1293 ( 2I of Edward), when the king directed 
 the {heriff of Northumberland to order the abbot of St. Alban's to 
 yield up to his majefly the advowfon of the priory of Tinmouth, un- 
 jultly withheld (a) from him ; and, in cafe of refufal, 4 that the abbot 
 * do appear before our juftices itinerant, at the next affize, and have 
 c you there this brief.' Dated, Robei tfbury, November 3c. The 
 abbot prelented himfelf before the king, but in great diimay and 
 
 (a) Deforciatus. 
 
 Cc 2 
 
 trouble, 
 
( «9«- ) 
 
 John in. tiie trouble, and reprefented the impropriety and utter impoflibility of 
 a jth ^bbor. ^r^ifying his Majefty : the king at length forbore his fuit, and gave 
 the abbot a charter of confirmation ; fo that his view in this proceed- 
 ing feems to have been the fame as when he iffued his quo warrantos, 
 in the beginning of his reign. 
 
 But, a year or two after, a report came to the ear of the abbot, that 
 the prior, Adam de Telbing, and the convent of Tinmouth, were 
 ready to go into rebellion and to refufe all obedience to the abbey : 
 the abbot haftened thither, and, at Newcaftle, he applied to the 
 mayor for an armed force and a company of followers to attend him, 
 to fupprefs the rebellion : the mayor had heard nothing of this 
 mfurrf ction ; but referred the abbot to one Henry Scott, a citizen of 
 fome note and a familiar friend of the prior ; affuring the abbot of 
 his good offices to compromife all differences. The abbot, by proper 
 addrefs and application, gained over Scott to accompany him ; and 
 away they marched, with a great poffe, in the night. Next morning 
 Scott appears at the gate, and demands entrance ; which being ob- 
 tained, the abbot and company advance, and, occupying the gate, 
 feize the keys and poft a guard : Scott then conduces the abbot and 
 followers to the prior's chamber, where the prior is found juft re- 
 turned from chapel, and putting off his furplice ; on hearing Scott's 
 voice, he opens the door ; whereupon the abbot enters with his guard, 
 and inftantly makes the prior prifoner. He was kept in cuftody 
 fome days, and then fent, under a ftrong guard, on fhipboard, con- 
 veyed to fome foreign monaftery, and never heard of more. A new 
 prior was appointed, and this rebellion cruflied ; and Scott was re- 
 compenfed with many privileges and beneficial gratuities, to the 
 lofs and detriment- of the priory. But it was learnt that the former 
 prior, and John Thorblock, and fome others, had put the king on 
 that ftep of claiming the advowfon ; hoping aad wifhing to be 
 thereby nearer the king's prefence, who was then warring againft 
 Scotland. 
 
 It was now the ninth year of John's advancement, when he pur- 
 pofed to vifit Wymundham ; but a certain lawyer of the town, 
 named Tatemall, hearing of the abbot's coming, entered the priory 
 and barred the gate, refufing the abbot to come in or the prior to go 
 Out. The party within was too weak to refift and expel this violent 
 ufurper j and the party without too fmall and unprovided to iupport 
 their claim of right, and force admifiion : fo that the abbot was 
 obliged to retreat, and make his abode at lome other houfe. Here he 
 prepared a form of excommunication againft thefe malefactors, and 
 
 ordained 
 
( 197 ) 
 
 ordained that the fentence fhould be read four times in every year, j n h n nr. the 
 the bells tolling and the lights all flaming : after fome time and ^ th ai)bor ; 
 much altercation between thefe contending chiefs, the difcord was 
 ended, and a compromife effected, between the coni])iracy within 
 and the excommunication without. 
 
 In 1299, the church of Datchet became void, by the death of Eyton, 
 and the abbot prefented a certain clerk ; but, by his neglect and 
 delay, (the bifhop of Lincoln dying,) he could not receive inftitution. 
 On this, one Sir Hugh D'Efpencer fent his clerk with a prefenta- 
 tion, to the archbifhop, claiming the church as under his own pa- 
 tronage. This prelate ordered the official of Bucks to make inquiry 
 if the church was vacant, and how; and he returned, * By death, and 
 « that D'Efpencer was the true patron, and that Richard de Stand was 
 ' by him prefented.' Richard himfelf accompanied this return to the 
 archbifhop, and obtained inftitution. This tranfaction was unknown 
 to the abbot, until he was told that Stand had got poflefiion. When 
 he demanded of D'Efpencer by what peculiar inftinct he would 
 prefume to vindicate his claim of patronage, to the prejudice and in- 
 jury (lejionem) of him and his church, D'Efpencer attempted to give 
 reafons in justification ; but, on the abbot's producing the proofs on 
 his part, D'Efpencer believed his right now was not quite fo good as he 
 had thought it; and offered to drop his pretenfions, provided his clerk 
 was fuffered to remain. Nothing more is faid ; and probably the clerk 
 did not quit. 
 
 By a decree of pope Boniface VIII. anno 1290, the church and all 
 its members were forbidden to pay any portion, or tax, of their goods 
 to the king, or any noble or foldier, without the confent of the Holy- 
 See. The king, now meditating a war with France, was little atten- 
 tive to this injunction ; and exacted money of the bifhops and abbots, 
 locking up their barns and horfes, as I have already Hated. This was 
 practiied on the poffeffions of our abbot 5 but he gained a releafe, on 
 paying down the fum required. 
 
 An agreement had been made, in the time of the late abbot Roger, 
 
 betwixt him and John, the fon of John 1 , concerning the chace 
 
 or Horewood. But this John had, of late years, done much mif- 
 ch>ef by cutting the timber, defpoiling the underwood, and thereby 
 ftarving the deer. The abbot mewed the compofition above-men- 
 tioned : John anfwered // was null and void, having only the abbot's 
 feal. This was anfwered by a profecution, and the juftices gave fen- 
 tence againft John, faying * that both parties were equally bound, 
 * that tne agreement was good and valid againft him as well as for 
 
 ♦ him, 
 
( >98 ) 
 
 John nr. the* him, and it was neceflfary he fliould comply in every article that 
 t 5 ° r ; ' tended to fave the timber and preferve the deer,' &c. 
 
 The former exactions of the king were not the only caufe that 
 afflicted the abbot : for, at this time, came from the court one Kirby, 
 ftyled a familiar of the king; and this man, by threats and other arts 
 of extortion, compelled the abbot to pay loco marks to Geoffrey de 
 Verano, an executor of the Holy See, for the aid of the poor Chrif- 
 tians in the Holy Land under the oppreffion of the Ottomans j and 
 this, he faid, fhould be confidered as tenths paid in advance. 
 Though this was a demand made by the king, under pretence of being 
 for the pope and the Holy Land, yet it was in reality for himielf. It 
 was anfwered by our abbot, that he and his church had paid as much 
 as this fum to the king, for this very ufe : the king faid, he had ufed 
 all that money in his expedition into Arragon: the abbot, thereupon, 
 begged a truce on the occafion ; adding that, though the king had given 
 him a patent of indemnification for himfelf and his heirs, as he had done 
 to many other monasteries, yet he could not comply with this new de- 
 mand, without fuffering a very great grievance. On this, the king pro* 
 mifed a recompence,and directed the abbot to pay the money. At length 
 the cellerer, having procured 1430 marks, gave the king 1000, and the 
 recompence in the letters patent was this, * that, whereas the abbey had 
 
 * fuffered great expences and labours, and the abbot had brought the 
 6 fame to a conclufion, the abbey fhould, at every vacancy of the abbacy 
 4 by death, continue to enjoy as well the barony as all other their 
 
 * poffeiTions, with a power of difpofing of the fame; which barony and 
 
 * poiTeffions the king had been ufed to hold, to the innumerable lories 
 « and grievances of the faid houfe.' The king gives at the fame time an 
 acquittance, or releafe, to the abbot and his church, of all debts, 
 however due to him or his predeceflbrs in time pair. In this patent of 
 recompence he engages that the cells and their poiTeffions fhall be fafe 
 and inviolate, and that his efcheator fhall ftay no longer than one 
 day within the gates of the abbey or cell. This is dated in the 3 ill: 
 of his reign, namely, 1301. 
 
 The king gave them alfo a charter, confirming all the formei 
 grants made by his royal predeceflbrs ; one of which was free warren 
 in all their lands, and even Warrena Columbarum ; and another, to 
 pay no toll in buying any thing for the monaftery : he alfo confirmed 
 another ancient grant, that the men of the abbot lhould not go out of 
 the liberty, on any fummons or on any occafion, to appear before any 
 other jufticiary j fo that the fenefchal had a power of oyer and ter- 
 miner, general goal-delivery, of affize, &c. 
 
 2 The 
 
( m ) 
 
 The king, on his expedition into Scotland, had required the mi- J ohn 
 litary aid, which was the fervice incumbent on the abbot as a baron, i^l 
 and confifted in the whole of fix men only And now Oxey and 
 Crokefley found one man : Batchworth, Britewell, and Harpfield, 
 provided another: Langley, WefKvic, Kickmerfworth, Burflon, Gar- 
 fton, and Syret, raifed one man : John de Gorham and Lau. de Broke 
 were bound to find one man, for the fee they held in Weftwic and 
 Shephall ; and it fell to the turn of Gorham to provide him : Chil- 
 wic, Myrdon, Bradelkye, SiflTeverne, and Norton, found one man ; 
 and now the turn fell on Sirleverne : Sopwell lands, Titeburft, Wy- 
 nung, Redburn, Hexton, and Blackh'de, found the fixth ; and it was 
 now Sopwell's turn. Although thefe eftates far exceeded fix knight's 
 fees, yet this aid had been appointed at firft, and was dill permitted to 
 be, in foot-foldiers, armed and provided, paid and maintained, during 
 the king's pleafure. 
 
 A precept came from the king, charging the abbot to direct his 
 cellerer, John de Stevenache, and his bailiff, John Greenftude, to ex- 
 amine and compare all the weights, in the markets here and at Wat- 
 ford, by the ftandard which had been long kept in the monaftery ; and 
 to do this in the prefence of a jury of twelve men. 
 
 Robert de Winchelfey ^the archbifhop) was making his abode for 
 fome time at Hawes, and requeued to vifit the abbot, now labouring 
 under old age and infirmity, and be entertained in this abbev : but the 
 abbot and chapter begged leave to decline that honour; and in a man- 
 ner that was confidered as a grofs refufal. However, the archbifhop 
 came, and the abbot's marefcallus, or grand equerry, gave him recep- 
 tion and entertainment in the town ; but, the bells not ringing at 
 St. Stephen's, he grew angry, and threatened to inhibit the church 
 fervice, or put an interdict on the church : and, indeed, fome trouble 
 was feared ; but, the abbot dying, his luccelTor found means to ap- 
 peafe the archbifhop. 
 
 This abbot, after ruling the houfe ten years and a half, died, on 
 the 15th of November, 1301. Having fallen under a fentence of 
 excommunication, he loft the manor of Childwic, which his predecef- 
 for had recovered and dedicated to his annivcrfary. He had incurred 
 the hatred of the priors; for, he had removed and changed them all, 
 except the new prior of VVymundham, — and he was ftill very ftrenu- ' 
 oufly defended by Tatefhall, who continued claiming the patronage 
 and advowfon. Although our abbot had pqflefled an ample revenue, 
 he ftill added to it by great fales of timber and wood, to the prejudice 
 of his fucceiTor ; and yet he burthened his houie with penfions and 
 
 many 
 
( 200 ) 
 
 John in the many liberal benefactions. He was efteemed to poffefs many virtues, 
 ^5th abbot. k e f lc | e being focial and good tempered : he was buried, on the 19th of 
 November, before the great altar, the abbots of Weftminfter and of 
 Wobourn attending the folemnity. 
 
 The fub-efcheator came to the abbey, ad capiendam feizinam, or to 
 take poflefiion for the king ; but the prior read to him the king's 
 grant, in the prefence of two of the king's judiciaries, Henry Spiiginai 
 and John Aygnell, and of others. The two judiciaries had been requefted 
 to come down, to fpeak on the validity of the royal grant; and the 
 fub-efcheator allowed the king's conceflion, and withdrew. 
 
 When we obferve the unjuft and bafe methods, pradtifed by the fb- 
 vereign, to get money, we cannot but think it a moft noble druggie 
 in favor of popular right and common juftice, when, in the laft 
 century, the true patriots infifted, that no king had a right (although 
 an ufage) to levy money without confent of Parliament. And this is 
 one of the moft valuable ingredients in EngUfh liberty : it is a right of 
 the people, built on natural juftice ; to be exercifed in a certain orderly 
 and regular manner ; and to be applied for the good of the whole, not 
 for the caprice or wanton humour of a few. 
 
 John Maryns. 
 
 John iv. the The funeral being performed, three monks were difmiffed to the 
 26th abbot. king, then at Lillefton, in Scotland, to beg licence to elect. The 
 v ' king readily confented ; and, the day being fixed, the chapter chofe, 
 and with great unanimity, John Maryns, who, for fourteen years, had 
 ferved the duty of prior. No election could pafs with more univerfal 
 joy, except by the prior of Redburn, who, during the whole day, 
 kept the chapter affembled, and would read his exceptions and objec- 
 tions. The elected went and prefented himfelf to the king, and was 
 gracioufly received ; and, on the firft day of Lent, fet forth, with 
 four brethren of the monks, towards Rome. In this journey he 
 pafled the mountains of Chat and of Seneife, as they were then 
 called ; and was forced to go to Anagnia, where the pope was then 
 holding his court. When at length he obtained an audience, a long 
 examination enlued, as before, into the forms of the election and the 
 merits of the elected. He was then confirmed, and next day received 
 6 the 
 
( 201 ) 
 
 t 
 
 the holy benediction, and returned on the Sunday after the feafl: of J<*n^ 
 St. Bartholomew, 1 302. The charges and fees at Rome amounted to . 2 i * 
 3000 florins (a). 
 
 In the mean time, the body at home petitioned the queen that (he 
 would be pleafed to remit a fee that ufed to be paid to her, called the 
 Queen's Gold. But her treafurer anfwered, ' that this was a fine for 
 '** the king's grant of holding the abbey on a vacancy, when he gave 
 ' a compenfation for the 1000 marks;' and it muft be paid for this 
 new reafon now, as formerly for fome old reafon. 
 
 The king, in his charter of compenfation, had referved to himfelf 
 a power to collate, as the abbot had done, to the churches which 
 (hould be void during the vacancy of the abbacy : and, the rectory of 
 Watlington becoming void in that time, the king's chancellor pre- 
 fented to it, becaufe, he faid, the taxation (b) of it was under ten 
 marks : although, at the fame time, P. Muntfichet, a great lord, 
 claimed the right of patronage. Here is an inftance of that privilege 
 which the chancellors of England have ever enjoyed; and we may 
 here fee how it was derived to them from the firft rights that had been 
 exercifed by the crown : and the privilege remains the fame to this day, 
 with the change only of the meafure, or boundary, which extends now 
 to twenty pounds. 
 
 But we may trace alfo other ufages and prefent rights. It had long 
 been a cuftom for the new abbot, at every election, to bellow a cer- 
 tain penfion on fome clerk of the king's appointment, efpecially of 
 his chaplains; and the abbot hoped the king would forbear that claim, 
 on taking one of the abbey's churches and giving it as above : but the 
 king wrote to the abbot, commanding him to appoint the penfion, 
 and pay it annually to his clerk therein named ; and infilled on the 
 ■abbey-leal being put to the grant without delay. The abbot com- 
 plied, and granted ten marks a year, to be continued folong as the clerk 
 Ihould live in habitu feculari, (for, he was not yet ordained,) and to be 
 paid at St. Alban's, every year, * until we can provide him with a com- 
 « petent church.' Dated in pleno capitulo, 19 Sept. an. 30 Regni. (1307). 
 
 Peace was now made with Robert de Tatelhall, the fon, who no 
 longer aflerted thole claims, which had been fet up and maintained 
 by the father, to the patronage and advowfon of Wymundham. 
 And. in the prefent compromife, it is ftated that, the father having 
 married a woman defcended from the D'Aubignys who had founded 
 the priory 200 years before, he had afl'erted the fame to be part of 
 
 (a) Which, at 4s. 6d. a florin, is8t$l. 
 
 ,(b) By this taxation was meant the firft fruits, or firft year's profit. 
 
 D d her 
 
( 202 ) 
 
 John TV the her inheritance ; and, on that foundation, he had got polTefllon, and 
 l n J' °! ' ftruggled hard to keep it ; until death took him away, when the fon 
 renounced thefe pretentions. 
 
 When Edward I. made his fir ft incurfions into Scotland, the abbot 
 of this church had furnifhed the eftablifhed feudal aid of fix foldiers ; 
 but, on his later incurfions, towards the cJofe of his reign, the abbot 
 contributed, in lieu of this military aid, the fum of fix fcore pounds 
 at one time, and fix fcore marks at another. And now Edward II. 
 juft come to the crown, and preparing war with Scotland, demanded 
 of Maryns to be furnifhed with two carts, and proper horfes and all 
 appurtenances : the abbot pleaded his poverty and inability to com- 
 ply : the king came down to the abbey, but refufed either to converfe 
 with the abbot or to fee him ; on which Maryns, by the mediation 
 of Peers Ciavefton, gave the king 100 marks of filver, and they parted 
 in feeming friendfhip. Soon after, Edward cut down a wood at Lang- 
 ley, called Weftwode, in order to enlarge the royal manfion, &c. on 
 which the abbot exclaimed at the invafion of his property, and aflerted 
 the wood to belong to the abbey : but the king ordered his forefters to 
 enter, and, by oufting the abbot's fervants, keep pofTefh'on of the fame. 
 This palace, or royal manfion, had been begun by Henry III. and 
 was the favorite refidence of the fovereigns, for many luccefiive reigns : 
 and at this place Edward II. did afterwards found a fmall endow- 
 ment of frier- preachers, and depolited in their church the body of his 
 favorite Gavefton, when the barons, in 13^2, without trial or cere- 
 mony, cut off his head. The church of this priory is now the parifh 
 church, and exhibits an ancient rude monument, faid to be that in 
 memory of Gavefton ; (though the arms, fculptured on the ftone work, 
 denote quite another family;) and another to the memory of Edmund 
 of Langley, fon of Edward Hi. and of his wife Ifabella of Caftile. 
 
 Our abbot turned his thoughts to new regulations in the houfe, and 
 framed many injunctions, or rules, for its better government; yet they 
 went no farther than to a ftricter obiervance of filence, to the more orderly 
 wearing of the cowl, and to fuch kind of matters, in fhort, as denoted the 
 power of the ruler and the fubje&ion of the ruled ; but which had no 
 fubferviency to real religion, or tendency to promote the moral duties. 
 
 Thus, after fix years and three quarters, our abbot finding himftlf 
 grow feeble, and his bodily ftrength to fail, he called the chief officers 
 to his chamber, and told them the ftate of the abbey; that it lay 
 under obligations of debt in the fum of 1300I. to fundry creditors, 
 and to the king in 1000 marks for the laft vacancy ; and that he had 
 only feventeen marks in his treafury, fent lately by the prior of Tin- 
 mouth : he advifed that they would, at his deceafe, prefent to the king 
 the great cup of filver and a ring ; that they would not choofe into his 
 6 place 
 
( 203 ) 
 
 place any mail that was likely to be proud and pompous, but one who Jotm IV. the 
 
 would be plain and honeft : he defired, to meet his brethren once more t z6 ' h abbo ^ 
 
 In chapter; and, being conveyed thither in the arms of two monks, he 
 
 intreated that his fucceflbr, whoever he might be, would luggefttothe 
 
 pope the great debts of the houfe, and the real want and poverty 
 
 they laboured under : he befought the monks, with tears falling, 
 
 ' if he had ufed any with harftinefs or with injuftice, that they 
 
 * would forgive, and teftify their love and reconciliation by giving him 
 
 ' the farewel token of kifs they all addreffed him with that mark of 
 
 valediction : he then defired to be borne to the mrine, where, with his 
 
 la ft breath, he uttered thefe words, O Holy Alban ! whom I have 
 
 loved and addrefj'ed as my befl aid, as 1 have exifled and lived by thy 
 
 help, Jo, O glorious faint ! defend me from the pains of Hell I He died 
 
 on the 6th Cal. March 1308, and was buried, by the abbot of Waltham, 
 
 in the choir before the great altar, and near to the two former abbots; 
 
 in token of the love and efteem they had borne to each other when 
 
 living : united by thofe principles which are everlafting, they wiflied 
 
 to be as little feparatcd as poffible, in all the events of future exiftence. 
 
 Hugo de Eversden. 
 
 John Maryns was fucceeded by Hugo de Everfden(a), who ruled this Hugo tie *7tk 
 abbey about 18 years, and died in 1326. He is faid to have im- \ ab ° ot " a 
 proved the revenues of the abbey, (but in what manner (hall appear,) 
 and to have purchafed the manor of Caldecot, near Baldock, and other 
 fair poffeffions. He procured from king Edward III. many great do- 
 nations; as a crucifix of gold fet with jewels ; a cup of iilver, gilt, 
 of great value; fundry Scctifh relics; timber for repairing the choir; 
 and 1 00 1, in money. 
 
 One of the firft works which employed the attention of this man 
 was to build a chapel to the holy virgin, in order to mew her a more 
 efpecial honour : in this he was greatly affifted by one Reginald, a 
 clerk of Rome ; and with large fums from Walter de Langley and 
 Alicia his wife.- When this chapel was finifhed, an image of the 
 virgin, richly habited, was fet up. The true motives that urged Hugo 
 to this work were fuch as, in thole days, were called pious : and it 
 was a frequent practice to build and dedicate altars and chapels to her 
 worfhip. A chapel argued greater honour and piety than an altar ; 
 and, if the fame was placed at the eaft end of the church, (as may be 
 
 (a) So called from a place of that name in the county of Cambridge. 
 
 D d 2 feen 
 
( 204 ) 
 
 Hugothe27thfeen in fome cathedrals,) it intimated the preference, or pre-eminence, 
 i a bot ' , which the founder intended above the Godhead. But, befide this, it is 
 very probable that the Virgin's altar, which flood in the fouth wing, 
 might be gone to decay ; or might not be large enough to receive 
 the devotion of all her votaries : and, as her mediation feems to have 
 been much fought, and the oblations large, it was fit to give all 
 poffible accommodation to the offerers. It is likely, too, that the coft 
 and charge of this work was fo great as to create part of that vaft 
 debt which lay as a burthen on the abbey during the whole rule of 
 Hugo. There is reafon to think that at firft the wall, which now 
 forms the paffage in the anti-chapel, was not built. This antichapel, 
 which is 48 feet long and the width of the church, was the place to 
 which the devout reforted, and where they waited till there was room in 
 the chapel to receive them ; which room, or fpace, could be but fcanty 
 and narrow, when the monks all attended, to chaunt the fervice (a). 
 
 In Hugo's time, great ruins of the church happened : the roof of the 
 fouth wing fell in : great part of the fouth wall, over the long cloi- 
 Her, fell down, occalioned by the water from the roof having pene- 
 trated the top and loofened the work ; by this fudden ruin one monk 
 was killed : the cloaca alfo fell in, and one monk and a boy perifhed. 
 So that great repnirs became neceflary. 
 
 The prior of VVymundham, William de Somerton, refufed all 
 obedience, and was quite rebellious, until at length brought to terms : 
 and indeed the whole rule and government of Hugo received many 
 interruptions, and was full of vexations and troubles. During the 
 early part of his rule, the cells were difobedient and rebellious : and 
 he was continually embroiled with the townfmen, and great dif- 
 f^nfion arofe concerning their refpective rights and jurifdictions. 
 The townfmen were under an obligation, and had always been ac- 
 cuftomed, to grind at the abbot's mills; but they now refufed, (in the 
 beginning of Hugo's government,) and furnifhed themfelves with 
 hand-mills ; the abbot profecuted, and probably exalperated them 
 by his rigid proceedings. They had likewife been ufed to attend the 
 abbot's feffions for the liberty, (then held at no fixed feafons,) as other 
 men of the liberty did and had been ufed to do ; but now, warm with 
 refentment, they availed themfelves of the general confufion of the 
 kingdom, combined again ft the monks, revived old claims, fet up new 
 ones, and, at laft, after a violent ftruggle, they obtained from the abbot 
 a charter of privileges, in the lail year of his rule. This is the 
 fum : but, as it will ferve to (hew the temper and fpirit of the times, 
 
 (a) See, more of this chapel in the. life of John Wheathampftead. 
 
 and 
 
and" difcovers the beginning of the corporation, I will be more circum-Hugothea;*. 
 ftantial in the detail of thefe contefts and (truggles (a), abbot. ^ 
 
 When thetownfmen had furnifiied themfelves with hand-mills, the 
 abbot endeavoured to fupprefs them ; and one, named Robert de Lym- 
 bury, refitted the bailiff, named William Peacock, who had orders to 
 di (train, or feize, on his mill, and bring away the upper mill-ftone. 
 The bailiff forbore to proceed farther, and the abbot brought his ac- 
 tion againft Lymbury; and the king's writ (here inferted at large, and 
 dated at Windfor, February r, in the 7th year of our reign) directs 
 Lymbury to appear before the judiciary (Leicefter), to anfwer in a 
 trefpafs, on a certain day and place. Lymbury appeared, and found 
 furetits for trying the caufe. His fureties appeared, but' did not 
 bring Lymbury; on which, a precept iffues from the judiciary to 
 four fuieties (who offered) to bring his body to Barnet, on Tuefday, 
 three weeks before Eafter. He came not : and he was bound, by two 
 fureties, to appear at St. Alban's, on the eve of Pentecoft. Now be- 
 gan the trial :.. the counfel for the abbot pleaded a damage of 60I. by 
 the uie of thefe hand-mills : Robert anfwered, that he hindered not 
 the bailiff in taking the mill-Hone, but that the bailiff could not carry 
 it out;, cn which he turned him out of the houfe, and (hut his doors. 
 When the charge, at opening the trial,, was read, he put himfelf on 
 his country (b), ponit fe (uper fatriam^ (which hath continued as a phrafe 
 ufed to this day on the like occafion,) and alleged that he never 
 injured the abbot, by ufing this mill, in the damage of 100 (hillings. 
 However, the jury gave damages to the abbot, in the amount of 
 fixty pounds ; and Lymbury was committed to goal (goiola), whence 
 he was difcharged, on paying a fine or 20 (hillings, and giving iurety, 
 with two pledges, not to offend in the like again. 
 
 Three other fuits of the like nature the abbot profecuted again ft 
 three other townfmen : and, foon after, they ill treated a monk, 
 named Henry St. Ncot; they alio br ko open a houfe in the town, be- 
 longing to the abbot, carried away many of the roods, and threw 
 down all the trees, &c. And the villains, or copyholders, of Watford, 
 catching this kind or contagious love or mifchief and infult, robbed 
 thefihhponds at Watford that belonged to the abbey, to the no fmall 
 prejudice, lols, and grievance, of the mcnattery. 
 
 The general date or the kingdom was, at this time, very diffolute: 
 the people, from feeing great licentioufnels prevail at court and 
 among the great, were ready enough to follow the r example, and to 
 
 (?) Extracted from Walfingham's MS. 
 
 (b) On a charge of tetany, the prifoner fays he will be tried by G a J and bis country. 
 An appeal of too krious a nature to be made by the guilty* 
 
 think 
 
( 206 ) 
 
 Hugothe 2 7tb think light of anv enormity which they chofe, in their wanton un* 
 
 atibot. i • ' »1 
 
 v j dacity, to commit. 
 
 And here (in St. Alban*s,) great diforders, befide the above, were 
 daily praftifed : but twelve of the principal men of the town came to 
 the abbot, and intreated him not to relate to Thomas, earl of Lan- 
 cafter, (then refting in the monaftery, on his journey to London,) 
 the crimes and trefpafles committed in the town ; for, they would 
 rectify all diforders, and conform to the laws of the land. The abbot, 
 trufting to thefe falfe promifes, complied with their requeft ; but, as 
 foon as the earl left the town, a fervant of the abbot was caught and 
 very ill treated : and, to (hew their enmity the more, they erected a 
 gallows in the market, and affixed an axe to the fame, fattened by a 
 chain, with a written threat, that whoever refufed to confent and join in 
 their contrivances fliould be beheaded. Next day, the above-mentioned 
 twelve principals of the town came to the abbot, claiming certain 
 privileges : at firft they were moderate and gentle in their requefts ; 
 then more earned ; and, at length, proceeded to threats, and fpoke 
 in a high tone : the abbot, with fhort deliberation, requefted them 
 to put their claims into writing, digeft them into articles, and bring 
 them to him four days hence. The twelve could not wait fo long, but, 
 next day, came to the abbot, and prefented an indenture, containing 
 the articles, and demanded immediate anfwer. They were as follow. 
 
 ift. * The commons of the town (communitas villa) fupplicate the 
 
 * abbot and convent, that they would yield up to them their privileges 
 ' and a charter thereof, as they had ever ufed and enjoyed from the 
 
 * making of the faid charter, until they had been hindered in the fame 
 « by the laft abbot ; as the charter itfelf will fet forth, and as is wit- 
 « nefled by a book in the King's Treafury, called Domufday, wherein 
 
 * their town is ftyled a borough and they burgejfes, 
 
 2d. * Alfo they intreat, that leave be given them to choofe two 
 
 * burgefles to go to the king's parliament, according to the liberty 
 
 * granted to any other borough, and as they had ufed in time part. 
 
 3d. ' Item, that they might have leave to make anfwer, in all mat- 
 « ters of inquifition and pleas before the jufhces itinerant, by twelve 
 4 men chofen in the faid town, without any admixture of ftrangers(a). 
 
 4th. ' Item, that the affize of ale and bread might be obferved and 
 ' kept by twelve men of their vill, or town, being burgelTes and fworn, 
 
 * as hath been accuftomed in time pall:. 
 
 (a) Sine conjurM'ione forlnjecorum. By this it appears, that the firft idea of a foreigner 
 was a man not of our vicinage. 
 
 5th. ' Item 
 
( m ) 
 
 §t!u * Item, that they may have common, in the lands, woods, Hugojhe^ih 
 ' waters, fifheries, and other commodities, as is contained in Domuf- i \ ' ■> 
 4 day, and as they had enjoyed formerly. 
 
 6th. * jftent t that they be allowed to have hand-mills, and be indem- 
 4 nified in the lofles they have furtained by defending the fame. 
 
 7th. * Item, that the bailiff of the town (an officer appointed by 
 
 * the abbot) mould be fworn, and mould do and perform al! executions 
 4 (or king's writs) without interference or mention of the bailiff of 
 
 * the liberty.' 
 
 Thefe articles were exhibited to the abbot in the confiftory, and a 
 ready anfwer was given to each article by word of mouth ; but, be- 
 caufe every anfwer was not put into writing, as they had demanded, 
 the twelve left the abbey in great wrath, and returned to the town. 
 This interview happened on the octave of the virgin St. Aynes, or 
 on January 21, about one o'clock ; and, about fix in the evening, the 
 townfmen, fome on foot and fome on horfes, approached the gate at 
 Holywell, (probably a gate near the water,) and began the afTault 
 with great clamour and cafting of ftones, while fome were putting 
 fire to the gate. The abbot forefaw this in the morning, and had brought 
 in for defence, of fervants, tenants, and dependants, to the number 
 of 200, befide monks. This tumult and fiege Lifted about ten days, 
 to the Cal. of February ; and the defenders maintained their ground, and 
 repelled the afiailants in every attack, fubmitting, with great patience, 
 to long watchings and much fafting : for, it was neceffary to deal out 
 the provifions with ftrict frugality. 
 
 'J he king, then at Windfor, fhewed great concern for this affront 
 on his church, as he called it, (for, he boafied himfelf the patron,) and 
 fent a brief to the meriff, to take with him the pojje comitatus, and 
 ' fupprefs, if neceffary, with force of arms, the violence and audacity 
 4 of thefe evil-doers, and make proclamation of his peace ; and if, 
 4 after the proclamation and inhibition, he mould find any of thefe 
 4 rebels on the fpot, he mould leize and confine them in prifon, until 
 4 he received a farther mandate from the court, how to proceed with 
 
 * them.' On the Cal. of February the fherirT came and read the 
 proclamation : on which the aflailants conceived fome degree of fear, 
 and no longer bore arms, or terrified the monks with appearance of 
 hoftility ; but they fupplied the defects of fighting with reproaches 
 and invectives : they had alfo formed a fort of confederacy with fome 
 of the neighbouring towns, and with certain of the Londoners, and 
 bound themfelves by an oath, and collected money, to hire certain 
 lawyers to defend them and procure their liberties. 
 
 The 
 
( 208 ) 
 
 ^''abJo't* 7 * a kbot *P are< 3 110 pains to refill: their malice: and, on the ptft 
 
 i m ' A^y of February, fix of the townfmen, with fome friends out of the 
 country, and others fit for mediation and treaty, came to the abbot, 
 and requeued him to appoint a day, wherein both fides might treat of 
 a pacification, at London, and in the church of St. Paul. On that 
 day the pro&ors appeared : but the townfmen renewed the attack on 
 <the monaftery, and were again repulfed ; though about 80 of them 
 rpaffed four or five nights, in traverfing ail round the abbey, and 
 forming ambufcades, with Intent to catch any of the defenders who 
 might try to go out in the night; one poor wretch (a) of the town, 
 being on this duty at the gate called Werngate, was furprifed by the 
 garrifon, and, being made prifoner, was, like a thief, committed to prifon. 
 
 The townfmen and their counfellors obtained a writ (b) of the king, 
 <direfted to the abbor, commanding him to forbear farther moleftations 
 to the townfmen, and to place all liberties, privileges, and franchifes, 
 •on the fame footing -zs was fet forth in the book of Domufday : and 
 the king directed a brief to the treafurer and chamberlain of his ex- 
 chequer, requiring them to fearch that book, and make report there- 
 from, what concerned the parties. 
 
 This book fet forth (after recounting the land of the vill to be 
 taxed at ten hides) that there were four men freeborn, and Jixteen copy- 
 holders (villani), and forty-fix burgejfes, or inhabiters in the town : for, 
 the Villani and Francigeni were on the land, and the ten hides muft 
 have comprehended a great part of the country adjoining. It fays 
 alio, 'There is one park for the ivild beafls of the woods and one great ffi- 
 pool. Which park was the old park of Kingfbury, and comprehended 
 all the land from that place up to the ftreet and maik;et-place, and the 
 pool was in it. It fays alfo, The burgefj'ts have ony half an hide. 
 This was produced and pleaded by the townfmen, but was perceived 
 to make very little in their favor. Then the abbot's council produced 
 the grant of Henry II. where he fays, He confers, on the church of St. 
 Alban, the vill of Sl Alban, with every liberty, or privilege, which a 
 borough ought to have. 
 
 It was initantly ieen, that, by the word Burgus, they were in no 
 corporate, or united, cap-city, and not independent of the abbey, nor 
 in any other light than as inhabitants and houfeholders ; and that 
 their 11 ate and condition was confirmed, by writing and feal, to the 
 abbey. The townfmen had nothing to reply : but the king's counfel, 
 feeing that this very privilege and right was injurious to the church, 
 
 j(a) Ribaldus. (b) Dated February 8, ii°an. regn 1 . 
 
 and 
 
( 2C 9 ) 
 
 and had been the caufe of Its great fufferings, they moved, to have the 
 matter adjourned, for a further hearing atWeftminfter, to the 6th of the 
 Ides of March, and there to be difcuflfed by the more wife men of the 
 kingdom. On this day the parties appeared, and, after much argument 
 and difceptation, the three brethren, who reprefented the abbey, and 
 Thomas Pyrot, profedor of civil law and furnimed with authority to 
 confent, agreed and obtained the others confent, that twenty-four true 
 and faithful men of the town mould walk the bounds and defcribe the 
 ancient limits; and, when the fame were by them well marked and de- 
 fcribed, they mould prefent them to the abbot, to b. confirmed by him 
 under the common feal ; he firit giving feizin, to the townfmen and 
 their fucceflors, of every thing within the faid limits. This feemed 
 a gracious condefcenfion in the abbey council ; but it was granting, 
 in truth, what the town wifhed, and more than they could prove 
 by Domefday to be their right. However, the church propofed this 
 expedient, and thought they got rid of fome burdenfome duties and 
 fome very fturdy competitors. The twenty. four were chofen, and, 
 aflembling in the conhTtory, they made oath for the faithful walking 
 and marking the true and ancient bounds; and this defcriptio-n (a), 
 written in law French, was fealed in form, and preferved many years 
 in the archieves of the church. The fubftance was this. 
 
 From Gonnerfton to the meepfold of Kinglbury, thence to the corner 
 of Downehedge, thence to the corner of Tonman ditch, thence unto the 
 Grange of St. Peter, thence to Bernate wood, thence unto Stone Crouch, 
 thence to the corner of the church of St. Peter toward the left, thence 
 untothe Grange of John, the fon of Richard Baldewyn, thence unto Ton- 
 man ditch and Sopwell-lane, thence to the Croft of John Hampton, 
 thence to Green Lane end, thence toEyewood lane, thence to Holywell 
 Brigg, and thence to Gonnerfton by the water of the river. It was now- 
 agreed that the town contained within thele bounds (hall be a borough, 
 and for a borough holden; and all the tenements within the laid bounds 
 fhall be burgages; and all the good men, their heir heirs, and fucceflors, 
 within the faid boundsd welling, (hall be burgeffes, and for burgeffes holden 
 for ever ; and that they may, out of themfelves, elect two burgeffes to go 
 to every parliament. This limit comprehended in it the abbey, and all its 
 buildings, courts, gardens, &c. and it was agreed, on the part of the town, 
 that nothing in this grant (for it was confidered ftill as a conceffion from 
 the abbot) mould turn to the prejudice of the laid church, but the lame 
 fhall have and ufe all its other franchifes and rights, which to the church 
 
 (a) The deed calls it renewing the bounds, as if the limits had been formerly fixed, 
 iul till this time neglected and difrcgarded. 
 
 E e arc 
 
 Hugo the t y\\ 
 abhor. 
 
( 2IO ) 
 
 Hugothe2?th are appendant ; it was alfo agreed, that nothing in this grant (hall 
 ^ ab ^ ot ' j bar the abbot and convent from grinding at the mills on the faid river, 
 although they may belong to any of the good men of the town (a). 
 
 The abbot was willing to con fen t to this letter of concord, out of 
 a prudent neceffity, and in obedience and refpect to the royal pleafure; 
 having regard to the tempeftuous condition of the (late, and becaufe 
 the kingdom was almoft deftitute of all remedy of law. This is 
 expreflly laid by my author, as an apology for many imprudences 
 committed during the rule of abbot Hugo. 
 
 But, when the letter of concord was produced by Hugo, read in full 
 chapter, and ordered by him to be figned and fealed, Lo ! the articles 
 made their appearance as part of the compact, and, thefe being read 
 out diftindtly, the monks began to mutter, and look on each other 
 with emotion and altonifhment : then, with one voice, they faid they 
 ' would choofe to die rather than to lign and fe3l to fuch terms ; and they 
 befought Richard Paxron, the archdeacon, to pronounce, in the 
 name of all and every one fingly, their refufal to atteft. The arch- 
 deacon entered his pro reft in writing in the name of all prefent, giv- 
 ing it as a reafon of refufal, that fuch proceeding was betraying the 
 interefts of the body, would prove a dangerous precedent, and be fol- 
 lowed by great lofles. 
 
 The abbot then, fearing what evils might enfue from this refufal, 
 produces a letter from the king, (which the townfmen had procured 
 at the day when the compromile was made), commanding him to put 
 the abbey feal to the faid agreement. The archdeacon and monks re- 
 fufed, and fhewed more indignation ; and, rifing from their feats, 
 quitted the confiftory. But at length, the abbot repreienting the dan- 
 ger of withftanding the king, and farther provoking the town, they, 
 with great reluctance, con fen ted to fign ; though not without making 
 a folemn proteftation againft the act, in the prefence of John De Maid- 
 ford, and John Le Hay, two notaries. This inftrument is there fet 
 forth at length, and dated 15 Cal. Ap„ anno 1327, reciting the ob- 
 jections made by the archdeacon, but ending with the full confent of 
 the abbot, the feal affixed, and the atteftation of John le Hay the 
 notary. 
 
 In this ftate was the government of the town : that is, having the 
 privilege of electing juries, not to be and appear at the abbot's fefiion, 
 but at a view of Frankpledge or Leet, with a bailiff chofen by the 
 
 (a) This deed may be found in the roll of patents in the Tower, in the ift year of 
 Edward HI. pait II. MS. 28 ; and likewife in the archives of the corporation. 
 
 townfmen : 
 
 1 
 
( 211 ) 
 
 townfmen: and this probably held and continued until the grant ofHugothe* 7 th 
 incorporation made by Edward VI. in 1553. But this effort of the t ab ^ ot * J 
 townfmen was intended to detach themfelves from the rule and au- 
 tnority of the abbot, and to erect themlelves into a degree of corporate 
 capacity, for their better government at home, and the furtherance of 
 their bufinefs in the great council of the nation. 
 
 But it appears alfo, by the archives of the faid corporation, that 
 burgeffes had been fent into parliament as early as the 35th of Ed- 
 ward I, when Simon de Trewyk and Adam atte Srile were fent from 
 this town, as reprefentatives ; and, at the fame time, John de Sumery 
 and Gerard de Brabroc were deputed as knights of the (hire. 
 
 On the completion of this bufinefs, my author remarks, the townfmen 
 were highly elated, and now thought themfelves to be in the mod; 
 compleat, if not new, manner, perfect burgefies ; and demanded, in 
 very threatening terms, the common of Bernate Heath, &c. The 
 abbot gave orders to the feneichal to comply, but not in hafte ; 
 and, after fome delay and preparations made, the feneichal repaired 
 thither, and gave them feizin by delivery of the branch. The townf- 
 men followed in a great crowd, and began, on entering the heath, 
 or wood, to break down the branches of the beech trees, and to take 
 feizin for themfelves : and, after iome hours of enjoyment in this Ii- 
 ceutious way, they marched back into the town, bearing thefe 
 branches as in triumph. They deftroyed all the hedges and fences in 
 Frith wode and Eye wood, in the name of feizin ; and threw great 
 branches into the abbot's fifhpools, and alfo caught the fiih. ; 
 and, for five years after, they continued to hunt the hares, rabbits, 
 and all game there found : they alfo fet up their handmills, to the 
 number of 80, in and about the town. They did infinite mi.fchief to 
 the timber, and did not fpare to cut and carry away whatever they 
 could ; and this licence, augmented into mere malice, was not re- 
 ft rained till the time of the next abbot, who brought them back to 
 their former ftateof moderation and order, and made them pay damages 
 for thefe exceffes. 
 
 But another incident added to the vexation of the poor abbot at 
 this time; a knight, though unknown to him, requeued one 
 day to lpeak to his lordnhip, and, being introduced to the par- 
 lour, the old abbot entered, and the knight laid he had a lecret 
 to communicate, that was of great importance to the abbey and the 
 church ; but it muft be related to the abbot in private, and entrufted 
 to him alone, and never be divulged again. The abbot conducted this 
 friendly informer to his ftudy in his lodgings ; at which place the 
 
 E e 2 abbot 
 
( 212 ) 
 
 Hugo the jyih abbot removed the domeftics and chaplains, and, big with expectation' 
 l ' j to hear the fecret, (hut the door and Cat down. The knight rufhed 
 on him, feized him by the throat, and, with the other hand, drew 
 out a knife, or dagger, and fwore he would cut his throat, if he did 
 not give him inftantly 20 1. The terrified old man complied, and the 
 knight took his leave, and paffed through the cloifters and crowds be- 
 low as an honeft man. 
 
 The character of this abbot is, that he was very little feared and 
 lefs beloved. He was reputed to be of a very poor fpirit (a), as the 
 above inftance (hews. He was of a tall and graceful ftature, and 
 reckoned a very handfome man ; and he had no fmall tincture of 
 vanity and affectation, which he gratified in great feafts and enter- 
 tainments given to the gentry, and efpecially to the ladies, of the 
 neighbourhood ; the refort of which laft was greater than decency al- 
 lowed, or his dignity required. As an inftance of his munificence, 
 it is recorded, that being once at Wymundham, and vifiting a gen- 
 tleman named Symon de Heterfete (fince called Herfeth), he was there 
 fplendidly entertained for fome days ; at his departure he took notice 
 of an infant fon of his hoft, lying in the cradle, and gave the child 
 a penfion of forty (hillings for lite, out of the houfe of Wymund- 
 ham : which penfion was paid, to the great lofs of that houfe, dur- 
 ing about 50 years. 
 
 He died with very little warning of his end, having iufFered much 
 anxiety of mind, from innumerable law fuits and many crofs events 
 near home. However, he died, fays the MS. infelici nocle: and 
 the man, whofe charadhr is defpifed, will do no good by his precepts 
 and •words. This was in the year 1326. 
 
 The ftate of the treafury was fuch as alarmed the officers: a debt of 
 5000I. to fundry creditors ; petitioners, who had a claim of 24I. 1 8s. ; 
 and corrodars, to the number of 54 or more ; befid'e great wafte of 
 the woods, fuch as had never been before. He had received, for wood 
 fold in his time, 7605L; and 700I. (de auxllio j ' as aid to the monastery 
 from the tenants ; alfo from the priors of the cells, as aid, 6000I. ; and 
 iool. from the king. He had received of talliage from the tenants 
 ioool. (b); as aid from the vicars iool. ; for corrodies fold at the 
 abbey, 1077I. ; and ioool. for corrodies fold in the cells. 
 
 For the better maintenance of his fplendor and fhew, he firft hit on 
 the expedient of letting long leafes, and taking a good fum in hand 
 
 (a) Vecordiflimus. 
 
 (b) A kind of excife oji their goods and moveables, when the abbey was afleffed to 
 the king or the pope. 
 
 for 
 
( 213 ) 
 
 for fo doing: and here follows a lift of fuch grants, and the fums Hugo the 27 th 
 
 paid. abbot. 
 
 To Andrew de Medefte, the manor of Combes in Suflex, for the ' v 
 term of his life ; and iool. laid down. 
 
 The manor of Pynefield to Symon de Perkote, for 16 years ; and 
 40I. to be paid, yearly, for the firffc 5 years. 
 
 The manor of Walden, with two mills, to William Legat, for 
 10 years ; and 50I. yearly, for the two firft years. 
 
 The manor of Barnet, with fome affigned rents in Eaft Barnet, 
 and the mill of Agate, for 10 years ; and 24 marks down. 
 
 The manor of Caldecot to John de Gavelock, for the term of 5 
 years ; and 40I. in hand. 
 
 The manor of Wynflow, with the market rents and a mill, for 
 100 marks yearly rent ; and 100 marks in hand. 
 
 The manor of Richard Alexander, in Langley, for a term of 9 
 years ; and 24I. for the 4 firft years to himfelf. 
 
 A meadow at Richmereworth to John Windrugge, for 30 years ; 
 and 20I. to himfelf. 
 
 The manor of Sandrugge for 20 years ; and, for the 10 firft years ? 
 180], to himfelf. 
 
 For a mill let there for 20 years, he received, for himfelf, in 
 10 years, 30I. 
 
 For the manor of Northaw, he received down, for 6 years, 60U 
 For the church of ConfclifF he received 40 marks for 5 years. 
 For the manor of Codicote, with a mill, iool. 
 For 2 mills at Norton, 40 marks. 
 For the mill at Watford, 20 marks. 
 
 This caufed a lofs to the monaftery of 647I. ; and he nlfo gave 
 away wood and timber to divers perions, to the value of 930I. 
 
 He is excufed, in thefe exceftes, from a consideration of the great 
 expence and damage he incurred by entertaining and aiding the nobles, 
 who rofe up againft the king; from the great lofles he fuftained on the 
 farms; and from the many law fuits he had been always involved in. 
 It is farther faid in his favour, that he was compelled to expend great 
 fums in neceflary reparations ; that many of thefe corrodies had been 
 fold in the time of his predeceffor, which had now got up to the fum 
 of 209I. if valued in money, befide the neceflary cloathing, equal to 
 14I. a year more, and an extra expence of corn yearly of 4I. 
 
 To thefe extenuating circumftances may be added the great expence 
 of building the virgin's chapel, and, perhaps, the exactions made by 
 Gaveilon and Spencer : for, thefe favourites would fcarcely fpare the 
 
 clergy,, 
 
( 214 ) 
 
 Hugoshe^th clerg)', who could not refifl: oroppofe them, when they practifed the 
 ^abbot. boldeft extortions on the lords and barons, who could refift. As the 
 rapacity of thefe minions, and the general licentioufnefs of the times, 
 doubtlefs called for uncommon fupplies, fo muft our abbot have 
 been obliged to devife uncommon means to raife thefe fums ; and 
 part of his unpopularity with the rownfmen may have proceeded from 
 a too rigid exaction of all the rights which a feudal lord could, in thofe 
 days, demand : it was, however, attended with this advantage to the 
 townfmen, that, whereas their rights were before vague and undefined, 
 and feemed to depend much on the will of the abbot, they now got 
 them afcertained and confirmed by a charter, and became a corporate 
 body. It is obfervable, through the whole of the.difpute, that the king, 
 in this inftance at leaft, purlued his father's policy, and fided with the 
 people, in order to curb the power of the church : and the abbot's 
 too ready compliance, as the monks thought, with the king's man- 
 date, muft have tended to lellen him in the ettcem of his brethren of 
 the cloilter, who confidered his conceffions to the townfmen as Sa- 
 crilege. He died therefore unlamented, and unefteemed, either 
 within the monastery or without. 
 
 Richard Wallingfosd. 
 
 Richard II. tbe This man was elecled on the 30th of October, and ruled almoit 
 28th abbot, nine years, dying in 1335. He derived his name from the place of 
 
 * * ' his birth, as was the common practice ; for, no man was diftinguifhed 
 
 by his family name. He was the (on of a blackfmith, and had been 
 educated at Oxford, where he attained great fame for his early piety 
 and learning The particulars of his youth are thele. He was bereft 
 of his parents at ten vears of age; on which the prior of Wallingford, 
 named Kykeby, in companion to the boy took him under his care, and, 
 finding him to poflefs a docile genius, prepared him for the univerlity 
 of Oxford ; at w hich place, his conduct and abilities growing confpi- 
 cuous, he was, in due time, appointed to read in public that great 
 
 ftandard 
 
( *'5 ) 
 
 ftandard of divinity, the fentences of "Lombard. After nine years P 3 ^d R jg^ r ^u^ he 
 in that duty, he came to dwell in this abbey, where he had been >. y J 
 admitted a monk long before, though allowed to be abfent as a public 
 lecturer. He had been much encouraged in his ftudies by the laft 
 abbot, and, at his death, this young man was elected in his room. 
 
 The forms of the election being palled, he fet out to the pope, to 
 receive confirmation, and was ablent nine months. He paid his duty 
 to the pope at Avignon : and it is noted, that all his expences and 
 donations amounted to 9 5 3 1 . Jos, 1 id. 
 
 With the pope he had met with many delays, and objections 
 were made that threatened to annul the election. It was laid, he had 
 brought no certificate of the vacancy, and no letter from the king to 
 recommend or to allow : and, after intimidating our abbot many days, 
 the pope was pleafed to fay, that he had> in kindnefs, thought of a 
 way to expiate thofe faults, and to fuffer the bufinefs to proceed — 
 which was to go to his chamberlain and agree for a tax. Richard ad- 
 dreiled himfelt to the chamberlain and officers of the Papal Treafury, 
 who beginning to mention a tax, he ahfwered, ' He knew of no tax, 
 ' to which the monaftery was liable, but one ounce of gold every 
 
 * year for its exemption. The officers faid, * they found marked in their 
 
 * regifter an arrear of 720 marcs, as due for a vifitation, in the name 
 4 of a vacancy : and, for the entertainment of thefe fuppofed vifitors, 
 
 * 120 marcs more." Richard was {truck dumb: but, when he reco- 
 vered his fpeech, they compelled him to fwear on the Bible, that he 
 would pay thefe fums at certain ftated periods ; and they added a 
 threat of excommunication if he failed ; or if, in cafe of failure, he 
 did not return to the pope's court within five months. 
 
 On thefe terms, after being long detained, he was permitted to de- 
 part ; and, landing In England, he came to his manor of Crokefly, 
 or Croflcy, for reft and repofe : here he found himfelf afflicted with a 
 fevere pain in his left eye, which brought on a total blindnefs. He 
 went next, and abode fome time at his manor of Hexton and Ryken- 
 ham ; and waited on the king, then at Northampton, to do homage 
 for his baronies, and receive the temporalities. 
 
 On St. Alban's day, the abbot invited to a fplendid dinner, as had 
 been the cuftom, the friends and tenants of the abbey : and now 
 comes one John Aygnell, and demands a certain filver cup, in order 
 that he may Jerve the abbot, and prefent the fame when he was dining ; 
 for that he held his land in Redburn by that fervice. And, ftretching 
 out his hand to reach the cup, he could only touch it ; but that was 
 
 enough, 
 
 4 
 
( 2l6 ) 
 
 ^^h^bbo' 116 ^ 70 ^^' ^ e ** ai< ^' ^ e ™ as m fe* % * n °f ^' ls °ffi ce * began to be very 
 I troublefome. The company interpofed ; the abbot refufed to be ferved 
 by him ; John claimed the cup as his perquifite, ftill maintaining that he 
 held his land by the fervice of Grand Butler to the abbot ; and the cellerer 
 was called, who alledged that they had no fuch office, and no land 
 holden by fuch a tenure: on this Aygnell pretended to be ill ufed; but 
 quitted not his feat at the dinner. This man's name adheres to the 
 land to this day. 
 
 Soon after this feaft, the abbot determined on an examination 
 of the convent, and the ftate and condition of its revenues and ex- 
 pences, and the proceedings of all its officers : he took to him, for af- 
 firmants, two notaries, Richard Prior of Tynmouth, and John de Sull- 
 full. He fpent five days in making all proper inquiries, but com- 
 pleated not the whole examination in three years, as well becaufe of 
 the ablence of particular perfons as becaufe he thought a little diffimu- 
 lation neceflary, fearing to difcover too much He therefore let him- 
 felf to compile a tract (a), concerning the ftatutes enacted in the ge- 
 neral chapters of the order, and from the decrees of the legates Ocho 
 and Othobon. Thefe he digefted in fixteen articles, and ordained 
 that they (hould be recited in the cloifter, that is, to the monks, three 
 times in the year ; — for, aliqud erant notabUlter reformata: one article 
 taught the law and decrees againft Symonifts. 
 
 After fome fpace of time the abbot enters the chapter-houfe, in full 
 affembly ; and calls before him, by proclamation, the underwritten 
 officers, or obedientarii, namely, Hugo de Langley, the facnji ; Wil- 
 liam de Wynflowe, coquinarius ; Richard de Heterfete, (or Herfeth as 
 now called), Almoner; John de Woderone, camerarius ; and John de 
 Tywyng, refedtorarius ; and the crime laid to their charge was, that, 
 in fpite of the frequent admonitions of the abbot, they had neglected 
 and refufed to pay to him the tenths, which the king (now Edw. III.) 
 had exacted of the abbot, and which had been granted by the clergy 
 in convocation, during the vacancy on the death of abbot Hugo (b) ; 
 and therefore, for their neglect, and obftinate refufal, he muft now 
 declare them depofed from their offices, as the penalty held forth to 
 them at firft. He then declared them degraded from their frails 
 (d Jlallis), in the choir, in the chapter, and in the refectory ; placed 
 
 (a) Beginning thus, Aufcultate, obedientiae filii, quae ftatuta gratis et appofite publi- 
 cavit et fanxcivit tenenda approbans, priufquam voluit vifitationis fuae articulos pub- 
 licare, fciens et prudens, &c. 
 
 (b) Thefe were the taxes granted to the king, at the fame time that others were 
 granted by the Parliament. 
 
 3 ' m 
 
( 2j; ) 
 
 in a ftate of perpetual filence, rendered incapable of any office or any ^^"thbm* 
 benefice whatfoever ; and to continue in this condition, until, by 
 humble penitence, they fhould merit to have their punifhments dif- 
 penfed or removed. He farther enjoined them to abftain from any 
 communication with the brethren, until they mould merit the benefit 
 of abfolution ; and ordered them to undergo certain corporal difcipline, 
 every fourth and fixth holy day. 
 
 On this, a great concern was vifible on the face of every one prefent: 
 and, the abbot retiring to the parlour with the prior and fome of the 
 elder monks, he inveighed in ftrong terms againft the contumacy of 
 the offenders : thefe who were prefent undertook for them (a), that 
 they would amend their conduct, and comply with the mandate of 
 the church. The abbot then abfolved them from the faid fentence, 
 injoined a private and fecret repentance, and directed them to make 
 oath never to offend in the like manner again. From this day began 
 a kind of combination, not to call it a confpiracy, to rife againft the 
 abbot : fome wifhed to depofe him, faying, that the leprofy had feized 
 him and was making quick progrefs on him ; fome wifhed to ordain 
 him coadjutor, or tutor : others contrived to fubject both the houfe and 
 the barony entirely to the king ; but in hopes to have the care thereof 
 committed to their hands : and, others, in order to create the greater 
 tumult and difturbance, were propofmg to take from him the daily 
 pittances which were ferved to his table from the monks' kitchen. 
 
 The abbot was not in the leaft moved ; but went on, with much 
 feeming indifference, to rule and govern, or to yield and concede a 
 little, as he faw neceflary, and according to the reports which were 
 brought to him ; but gathering this leflbn of admonition, that, if he 
 relaxed or diminifhed any thing of the prelate, it would be witli great 
 diminution of the mafter. Yet, notwithftanding this feeming tran- 
 quillity, he was long after heard to make a folemn proteftation, that 
 argued how much he had been fecretly moved with chagrin, when 
 he declared, in the prelence of the two priors and others, * that he 
 
 * fhould ever confider thofe, who mould attempt to impugn his ftate 
 
 * and rank, or the privileges of the abbey which the king had 
 4 given him to defend, as confpirators againft the ftate and throne.' 
 
 He propofed to the fenior monks to make fome grateful prefent to 
 the keeper of the king's Privy Seal, named Richard de Byrclive (or 
 Berkley) : and, with their approbation and con fen t, it was agreed to 
 give four of their choice books, namely, their fine Terence, their 
 
 (a) Pieftita cautione. 
 
 F f Virgil, 
 
I 
 
 ( 218 ) 
 
 Richard II. thtVirgil, their ghtintilian, and 6"/. Jerom contra Ruflnum. This was 
 2b'ih abbor. ^one, yvith a view to future favour in their bufinefs with the king, as 
 well as for fervices already done : and, though thefe were ineftimable 
 books to a clerk, and the fource of all confolation to the church, yet 
 it was allowed that lie Qiould have power to fell them. On this, one 
 present iuggefted that they (hould be fold fir ft, and the money given 
 toBerkhy. But, after a diverfity of opinion on the matter, and by 
 communication with him, it was agreed to fell him 32 of their books 
 for 5^1. To this the chapter contented, and that the abbot mould 
 retain a moiety of thefum. When he received the money, he affigned, 
 out of the fame, 13I. to the refe£torar, and iol. to the coquinar, for 
 the better difcharge of their refpe&ive offices. The younger monks 
 blamed this tranlaction, as bartering away the fpiritual food, to ferve 
 the cafual exigencies of a carnal kind. However, this Berkley was 
 afterwards made biftiop of Durham, and then he reftored many of 
 thefe books ; and others were lold by his executors to abbot 
 Mentmore. 
 
 Richard was very minute in all inquiries made on his vifitation of 
 the cells, and of the abbey's eftates ; and caufed all the tenants and 
 dependants to prefent themfelves before him, and acknowledge his 
 rights and their duties. 
 
 At Redburn. there had been a fort of priory; though the monks 
 were all on an equal footing, and lived in the vicarage-houfe ; and it 
 was rather considered as a place of recefs for the fick than of devotion 
 for the well and healthy. But now the abbot ordained, that three 
 monks mould be here on duty for one month, and then be relieved 
 by three others; and that, in going and coming, they mould be always 
 conveyed in a handfome vehicle ( honejld vedlurd)^ to be provided by 
 the chantor and the camerarius. 
 
 The townfmen ftill withftood the rights of the abbot, and, when 
 he held a view of frankpledge, or (as now called) a court-leet, they 
 would neither enter the fame, nor lufFer the court to make and 
 appoint the affize of bread and ale, as formerly : on which, the abbot 
 directed his fenefchals, John deMunden, and Richard de Belifhall(a), 
 to appoint four conltables for the refpeclive wards of the town. He 
 directed alfo, by his fenefchal, that the bailiff mould, every year, at 
 the conclufion thereof, deliver to the treafurer a fair and diftincl lift 
 of the gaol delivery ; of the chattels of felons ; and of every tranfac- 
 tion that paffed under the green wax,, which denoted the authority 
 
 (a) Thefe are ftyled Servients in Banco, that is, of great rank in the law. 
 
 of 
 
( 2*9 ) 
 
 of the court. He directed alfo, that no perfon detained in gaol Richardll.the 
 (which at that time was indeterminate) fhould be bailed, or delivered \ 
 to Mainprife, without the content of the abbot; and not then, unlefs 
 the offence was bailable ; and, if it was, that the prifoner fhould pro- 
 vide two, three, or more, fureties, to be bound with him jointly and 
 feverally in ibl. or 20I. each, that they would. bring the priloner into 
 court on the day appointed ; find that this obligation, or recognizance, 
 fhould be lodged in the hands of the abbot. The fnft ftatute that 
 directs and regulates bail was made in the iecond year of Phil, and 
 Mary; but this point of hiflory (hews the nature of bail before that 
 time, and how rigorous it was when left to the dilcietionof the juftice 
 or judge. 
 
 In his inquiries, the abbot found, that certain of the tenants of the 
 abbey were bound, by their tenure, to find him a certain number of 
 horfes for his journey, whenever he fhould vifit Thynmount (a) : that 
 William de Harpsfield-Hall was liable to find him one horfe ; John 
 de London, in the Park of Idelflre, one horfe; William atte Welde, 
 one horfe; Matthew de la Veche, in the Park, one horfe ; the vicar 
 of St. Peter, according to ufage and cuftom, one horfe; Lawrence of 
 Aycote, for two tenements, two horLs ; and the camerarius (by virtue 
 of fome land held by him) and John Aygnell, of Redburn, one horfe. 
 
 At this time died the prior, Robert Norton. And the abbot, hi- 
 ving affembled the chapter on the third day after his burial, addreffed 
 the brethren in a fet and formal fpeech, fetting forth the public lofs, 
 &c. and recommending to their choice Nicholas de Flamftcde. The ^ 
 monks had never feen or known of fuch a decency and formal advance 
 towards any election ; and fome confternation was vifible among them, 
 as not knowing what was to follow. The abbot rofe, and proclaimed, 
 that, if any man knew either crime or fault in Nicholas, they fhould 
 now declare it : a perfect filence enfued. The abbot then addreffed 
 Nicholas, and ordered the fub prior and the arch deacon to arife, and 
 conduct him, between them, to the fide of the abbot. Nicholas pleaded 
 his unworthinefs, and his incapacity, and ftrove to be excufed ; and 
 mewed more tokens of humility than of abfolute truth ; but, before 
 he could be heard, he was placed at the abbot's left hand. The abbot 
 then addrefled him in thefe words, * Mr. Prior (Doniine Prior), I re- 
 ' commend unto you the care of all my brethren ; that you will at 
 ' all times be anxious for the fafety of them, for the neceffary honour 
 * of religion, and for the ftrict obedience that is due to the rule of Sr. 
 ' Benedict.' And, caufing feveral of the provincial decrees to be 
 
 (a) Tynmouth. 
 Ff 2 
 
 read, 
 
( 220 ) 
 
 Fichardli.tlieread, he added, ' If thefe men have lived, hitherto, in the obfer- 
 38th abbot. t vance Q f religion, it becomes them to be more obfervant for the fu- 
 
 * ture ; becaule you, O Holy Nicholas ! are promoted to a ftation of 
 
 * eminence, in order that, by your example, all others may receive 
 
 4 inftruction.' 
 
 This character was afterwards amply fulfilled : for, the mofr. affec- 
 tionate concord ever prevailed between this man and the abbot ; and it 
 was the wifh of Richard to have the prior for his fucceffor. 
 
 The priorefs of Sopwell, named Philippa, died; and, inftantly, 
 great caballing enfued among the fifters, who wifhed to have the 
 choice of a fucceffor ; and in their minds they had fixed, with perfect 
 unanimity, on one Alice de Hakeney. This coming to the knowledge 
 of the abbot, (in whom alone was the power to make the priorefs, 
 without any confent or leave of the fifters), he difpatches thither the 
 prior, with orders to appoint fome other whom he might find quali- 
 fied; accordingly, the prior went, and, calling a full chapter, pro- 
 ceeded to a nomination much after the manner in which he had him- 
 felf been elected ; and, to the difappointment of the female council, 
 he directed that Alice de Pekefdene fhould be priorefs : and (he after- 
 wards difcharged the duty with great credit. 
 
 He thought it neceffary, that every brother or filter, hereafter ad- 
 mitted, mould repeat and fign a certain form, or declaration, obliging 
 them, if poffible, to a conftant remembrance of the oath they were ta- 
 king of their perfect lubmiffion to chaftity, poverty, and obedience. 
 And this was the more requifite, becaufe, by omifTion, many of them 
 were perfuaded, that they were under the profeflion of no rule what- 
 ever. So neceffary did he think it to guard and fecure matters of 
 great moment, by a punctilious obfervance of all the moft minute cir- 
 cumftances that precede or concern them. Ceremonies in religious 
 worfhip may, of themfelves, and abftractedly taken, be of no ufe and 
 of no moral tendency; but, ifconfidered as appertaining to the mental 
 act, they are not only the expreffion of that act, but they excite it, 
 prepare the mind for it, and become alfo an ufeful example unto 
 others. 
 
 There came to the abbey a company of the Francifcans and 
 Dominicans, with a requeft to take confeflions and to preach in his 
 jurifdidtion. The abbot thought fome examination neceflary, previous 
 to his confent; he therefore afks one, whether he knew what were 
 the cafei; referved for the bifhop or abbot : the frier could make no 
 anfwer, and manifefted utter ignorance ; Qui idiota juerat (fays 
 Walfingham) uti plerique fiint qui confeffiones audire mereantur. The 
 4 abbot 
 
( "I ) 
 
 abbot replies, * Why, if you are fo void of piety and knowledge, ^ owR ^ ld .^ ,!lc 
 * do you know that you can give abfolution ?' And the frier departed, * r 
 not a little chagrined and mortified. For, the general exceptions were 
 well known, and had been long (for bad memories) reduced, like 
 As in Prefenti, to a few lines in verfe ; thus 
 
 Qui facit inceftum, deflorans atque homicida, 
 
 Sacrilegus, patrui percufTor, fic fodomita, 
 
 Tranfgreffor voti, perjurus, fortilegufque, 
 
 Et mentita fides, faciens incendia, prolis 
 
 Opprcffor, blafphemus, hereticus, omnis adulter,. 
 
 Pontificem fuper his omnis denotu; adibit. 
 None of this confeffional tribe ever came again to abbot Richard. 
 
 We may here fee the policy of the Romifh Church : for, by grant- 
 ing thefe mendicants a power and authority to take confeflions, it en- 
 abled thefe holy beggars to live ; and, by the exceptions, the popes 
 faved the credit of religion ; for, befide thefe excepted crimes, there 
 was very little to be either forgiven or con felled. 
 
 The townfmen, ever fince the extorted grants from abbot Hugo, 
 had affumed the title of burgefles ; and were in fome degree jut juris. 
 But, not content with impugning his civil authority, they became fo 
 alienated as to refufe obedience in all fpiritual matters. And, for 
 want of the frricTt hand of civil power, as formerly held over them, it 
 was now notorious how profligate the morals of the people were grown, 
 in the raoft audacious fraud and cozening, and in the moft fhameful 
 commiflion of adultery and unclennnefs. Among the moft confpicu- 
 ous offenders was one named Taveruer ; and the abbot determined to 
 punifh him, if poffible; which might be done either in his court-leet 
 or by his fpiritual authority : two monks were fent to ferve on him 
 the fummons ; and Walter de Amerfham, the abbot's marefchal, or 
 equerry, (a lay office), accompanied, in order to atteft the fervice. 
 This being done, a violent fray enfued % Taverner ftruck Amer- 
 fham ; a vaft crowd aflemlled, chiefly of women, and fell on poor 
 Amerfham. He had refifted the firfl affault of 'I averner with fuch 
 fuccefs as to difpatch and lay him proftrate : but, fatal luccefs ! the 
 vengeance of the women overpowered the mareichal, and he was 
 killed. On this the townfmen rofe; and, feizing the two fummoners, 
 and one Maidford, and others who came from the abbey, hurried 
 them all away to the king's coroner, then dwelling in the town. On 
 which the coroner, named William de Band, and his companions, 
 afligned to keep the peace of the king in the county of Hertford, gave 
 it in exprefs charge to Richard de Pereres, the fheriff of Hertford, 
 
 that 
 
( 222 ) 
 
 R 8^ ar Sot het ^ at ^ e h ? - ve » on a certain day named, the bodies of Maidford, and 
 S ' ^ " ' j the two fummoners now in gaol before them at Brantfield, to anfwer 
 for the death of Taverner, and of Amerfham ; and to bring thither 
 alfo Richard, abbot of St. Alban, and Nicholas Broom, a monk, to 
 anfwer on the fame charge. They ifTued a precept alfo to the merifF, 
 commanding him to fummon 24 men of the liberty, and 24 of the 
 town of St. Alban, probos et /egales homines, by whom inquifition 
 might be taken and the truth known. The townfmen* refufed to 
 obey, and faid they would not be joined with men out of their jurifdic- 
 tion, nor mould the ftrangers hold any communication with them, in 
 iuch inquilitions. On the day appointed, the townfmen appeared, and 
 produced a writ from the king in thefe words. 
 
 4 Edward, by the Grace of God, to our beloved and faithful Wil- 
 
 * liam de Band, &c. keepers of our peace in the county of Hertford, 
 ' health. Whereas, in a certain writ indented between our beloved in 
 ' Chrift the abbot of St. Alban and the townfmen of the faid vill, con- 
 
 * cerning divers diffenfions there arifing, and which writ, being made 
 
 * patent, we have appointed and confirmed, it appears, and among 
 1 other things is contained, that the faid vill is a free borough, and 
 
 * the burgelfes thereof have a jury of twelve men (DuodenamJ from 
 
 * themfelves, fo ordered that they mould have no commixture with 
 
 * ftrangers, nor ftrangers with them ; with this exception, that when 
 
 * they themfelves fhall plead or are impleaded, the caufe fhall go, by 
 ' the kings writ, to the hundred court, as hath formerly ever been 
 
 * the ufage ; we charge and command you, that in all inquifitions of 
 f trefpaffes and felonies committed in the faid vill, you allow the faid 
 ' burgtfles to ufe and enjoy the faid privileges, according to the tenor 
 4 of the faid letters patent.' 
 
 The abbot alfo, on his part, produced the king's writ for fetting 
 at liberty the men imprifoned. The men of the hundred had affembled 
 at Brantfield, and alio thofe (that is, fuch as the fherifF had fum- 
 moned to ferve on the jury) out of two of the adjoining hundreds ; and, 
 with wonderful applaufe of all thefe, was the writ heard. The townf- 
 men were here greatly difappointed and mortified : and, in fact, this 
 arbitrary proceeding of the king vacated and rendered null their boafted 
 charter of privilege; and the countrymen of the hundred faw, with 
 gr^at pleafure, the upftart confequence of the townfmen taken down : 
 the men who had been indicted, and who were all tenants of the 
 abbey, were thus let at liberty, without any form of trial. And this 
 is an in fiance, among others in this reign, where the king interpofed 
 with a high hand, and perverted the ordinary courfe of law : for, 
 
 though. 
 
C 22 S ) 
 
 though he might have pardoned thcfe men after a trial and convic- R c c, ' ar ^ TT the 
 tion, yet he chofe to keep within very ftrict L-ouiuL all the new > i " t i '' * 
 powers which had been granted to the tQwnfmen. The abbot alio, 
 and the archdeacon, who had been indicted as acceflaries in the murder 
 of Taverner, pleaded the King's pardon, and were discharged in their 
 obligation] to appear. But, at the end of ten days, the abbot indicted 
 the townfmen before John de Cambridge and John Hay(i), judges, for 
 the death of Amerfham, and of one Elye, whom the townfmen had 
 affaulted arid killed in a fray, two or three years before. 
 
 The townfmen now turned their thoughts very ferioufly to terms 
 of concord ; and, at their requcit, a day was appointed for a conference, 
 and an amicable compromile of all their differences. On the part of 
 the abbot, there appeared Philip de Aylefbury, the QierifFof Bedfordhhire ; 
 mafier Richard Pereres ; Richaid Monchefy; John de Cambridge, the 
 fenefchal of the abbot : Sir William bymond, and John Slowmill, knights ; 
 John Poleyn ; and William Louth ; John cle Haye, the fub-fenefchal ; 
 and eight others, principal men of the neighbourhood. On the other 
 fide appeared only one citizen of London, named Symon Fraunceys ; 
 and one ferjeant at Law, named Thomas Lincoln. The fubjedt 
 was no fooner opened than the townfmen renewed the claim of the 
 handmills, and dwelt on this complaint with fuch earnefhiefs and 
 impudence that the bufmefs could not proceed. On that day nothing 
 farther was done than to declare the right of the abbey, and to expole 
 the infolence and obftinacy of the townfmen : and, on confaltation, 
 it was determined to proceed againfl: them by a bill, without any fa- 
 vor or affection (b). It was now the year 1331, when, on the i^th 
 of September the king's juftices, Roger de Gray, and John de Cam- 
 bridge, began to hold their ieflion, called trayle hqfton, at Hertford, for 
 the whole county : a third judge was mafier Robert le Boufter. Be- 
 fore which day the abbot provided a calk of wine, and good frore of 
 meat, fifh, and other provifions : he fent his cellerer and fome 
 monks to prepare this, and to collect a quantity iufficient for a week's 
 coufumption, for the entertainment of the judges and the company 
 aliembled, who would choofe to accept of holpitality at the priory. 
 
 The judges being ieated in court, the king's letter patent was pro- 
 duced, addrelfed to the judges, and felting forth the fundry and ma- 
 nifold grievances and injuries done by the townfmen to the abbey and 
 monks. The bill of indictment, contained in the letter, charges the 
 
 1) In thofe times an indi&ment might be lodged with a judge, before it came to 
 til knowledge of a jury. 
 
 (b) Per placitum line amore. 
 
 townf- 
 
( 224 ) 
 
 Jl J h "^ Ir * tlie townfinen with fundry cruel affaults made on the fervants of the 
 »■ v ' > abbot ; with wanton imprifonments ; with wilfull mifchief to any 
 fort of property belonging to the abbey ; and with fome very forcible 
 extorfions made on the abbot, fuch as threatening to cut off a fervant's 
 head, unlefs the abbot would enfeof a certain perfon in 50 acres of 
 the land at Childwick : an exaction with which the abbot was forced 
 to comply. The proof of thefe enormities was fo full, that the townf- 
 men made no defence, but petitioned to be fined only, and they would 
 fubmit. One part of the charge was againft the coroner John de 
 Murden ; who, in taking an inquifuion on the murder of AmerOiam, 
 ha d betrayed a manifeft partiality or a (hameful fear of the perfons 
 who were charged with that crime. A fine was impofed on each per- 
 fon fingly and leparately, with an injunction not to depart the court till 
 fecurity for payment was given, and not to approach the king's court, 
 that is, to bring any complaint in future, until the fines were paid. 
 
 The handmills frill continued a fubject of debate ; and the townf- 
 men pleaded, that they were poffefled of thirteen for time immemorial, 
 and fpecified the particular houfes to which they were annexed : but, 
 on a hearing before the judges, the verdict was given in favour of the 
 abbot : that his mills ever had ground the corn, that former abbots 
 were feized of this right, that the writ to incorporate did not diminifh 
 this right, and that it was appendant to him as lord of the manor, and 
 was a general and common right attached in the like manner to other 
 lords. On this, four of the townfmen came to the abbot and offered 
 to rent one of his mills, and propofed to give him 40I. a year rent, 
 repair the fame, and make the payments regularly at the four quar- 
 ters of the year ; and on this condition, they would give up the 
 grant of all their liberties (a), aud make void the fame in the king's 
 chancery nnd all his other courts ; they engaged to grind at no other 
 mill, except it was the article of malt, and for this they would con- 
 tinue to ule the hand-mills. The abbot liftened to this propofal, and 
 fpoke fair ; but intimated that they had caufed great expence and cofts 
 to the abbey, and he muft afk an indemnification of ;oo marks, to be 
 paid in five years. The parties here feparated, as it was neceflary to 
 confider thefe terms ; whether they could be accepted by the townf- 
 men, on the one part, and whether the prior and officers, on the other 
 part, would approve and abide by the fame. On confutation in 
 private, the prior and fub-prior, the precentor and arch-deacon, were 
 ready to approve and promife performance on their part. One of the 
 
 (a) As obtained under abbot Hugo. 
 
 monks, 
 
 1 
 
( 22 5 ) 
 
 monks, named Richard de Pyrton, bethought himfelfof an expedient Richard T^tto 
 to quicken the treaty, and to bring the other party to concord. Accor- 2 c 8th abbor - 
 dingly he goes out, in the evening, to one of the leading men, (who, 
 for divers fmall offences, had made himfelf obnoxious to the law,) 
 and, in fecret, he advifes him to confult his own fafety and make 
 terms of fome fort, to avoid profecution from the abbot ; Pyrton tcld 
 his mind very freely, fome beginning was made towards a mutual 
 confidence, and each undertook, at parting, ro adhere to their opi- 
 nions and their promifes : the fubfcance of this oblique treaty was 
 loon known to all the confederacy. 
 
 It was now the month of May, exactly one year after the atrocious 
 murder of Amer(ham, when the townfmen came to the abbot, and 
 made a voluntary furrender of the charter that had given caufe to all 
 this difcord. They gave up alfo a charter of confirmation obtained 
 from Edward II. which, with fome fraud and concealment, had com- 
 prehended certain grants very prejudicial to the Church, having been 
 obtained in an artful and crafty manner. They gave up, befide, an- 
 other confirmation made by Edward II. ; likewife one made by Ed- 
 ward III. ; and alfo the arbitration made by the knights fent by the 
 king to make peace between the. litigants. They gave up, at the 
 fame time, the perambulation of their borough, and all their other 
 briefs and records whatever. They brought all the mill-ftones, and 
 depofited them in the church, in token of renouncing for ever the 
 right of grinding at home : and they prefented to the abbot the thre« 
 keys and the chert: itfelf, as a token of furrendering all their corporate 
 rights, and to abolifh entirely all the hopes and profpects of a commu- 
 nity, or body, in future. On this free and liberal fubmiflion, the 
 abbot began to note them with words of relpect and efteem, and the 
 interview ended with an invitation to dinner at the abbey : mutual 
 prefents began to pafs and friendfliip to take place, all departing with 
 perfect filence as to their own faults and mifdemeanours. The deeds 
 were all fent, by the abbot, to John bifhop of Winchefter, then 
 chancellor, to be kept and preferved in the archieves of the chancery. 
 
 In this profperous flate of the abbot's affairs, he thought it neceffary 
 to have, from the townfmen, a formal renunciation of all their for- 
 mer rights, privileges, and immunities, which they had extorted 
 from abbot Hugo. This was drawn very full and comprehenfivc, 
 and enrolled in the common bench; and herein the townfmen re- 
 nounce, for themfelves and their heirs, all private mills ; and 
 confent to grind all their corn and malt (a), and to full all their coarfe 
 
 (a) Omnimoda blada et brafia. 
 
 cloths, 
 
( 226 ) 
 
 Richard II. the cloths, at the abbot's mills ; and to pay for the fame all the accuf- 
 28th abbot , tomed tolls and {tallage, fuch as had been ufually paid for time out 
 of mind. This was figned by four or five of the principal men, 
 and fealed with their refpective feais ; and is dated in the fixth year of 
 Edward III. 
 
 During thefe commotions, the monks, and their tenants at Red- 
 bum, had refufed to be aflfefled toward the fifteenth, which the con- 
 vocation had granted to the king, and which was a tax on land and 
 realty as well as on cattle and perfonals. Thefe men pleaded an 
 exemption, founding the fame on a deed, as ancient, they faid, as 
 Edward the Confeflbr's time : but the abbot, on perufing the fame, 
 foon difcovered the forgery; for, it contained words and exprefiions 
 not known in England, till the coming of the Normans (a), and the 
 ftyle was very unlike the Saxon, or Englim, ufcd before that period. 
 Being convicted of this fallacy, they departed, without any degree of 
 >( that confidence or defence which truth ever infpires ; and the abbot 
 ordered them to be excommunicated in all the churches of his jurifi 
 diction, and the tax to be levied by the bailiff of the liberty. Here 
 might follow a lift of 63 names of perfons afleffed to the tax, which 
 was directed to be little more than 5I. on the whole manor and pof- 
 feffion of the abbot fituate at Redburn; but I will felect only a few, 
 in order to (hew the delignation of perfons, and the rife and origin of 
 furnames. 
 
 Of Adam de Befteney (fmce Bifney), 6 marks. 
 
 Of John Botyler, 12 pence. 
 
 Of the land of William Purfleye, 1 1 
 
 Of Robert Atte Feld, 40 
 
 Of John Atte Chirche, 2 
 
 Of Emma Atte Grene, 12 
 
 Of Chrift. Jacob Atte Ponde, 12 
 
 Of Thomas Atre Hache, 18 
 
 Of John Atte Dene, 1 1 
 
 Of Roger Chriftmas, ■ 12 
 
 Of Phe. Palmere, ■ » 12 
 
 Of Ifabclla Atte Huile, 1 2 
 
 Of William Atte Bekke, 6 
 
 The queen dowager Ifabella had dwelt at Langley fince the time of 
 king Edward the fecond's death, and there held the manor, in grant 
 
 (a) Quando Idyoma noftrum fuit corruptum. 
 
 from 
 
( ) 
 
 from her Ton. The abbot di (covered that a certain mill in that manor R ; cha--dn.!t)e 
 was ufed, in former times, to pay 20 (hillings yearly to the abbey; z l l * * ' 
 and now, by procefs of law, the queen was compelled to pay this rent, 
 and all arrears fo lonsr as (he had the manor. It had been loft to the 
 abbey for many years, and was an in (lance, how in(ecure was all 
 landed property in thofe days, by reafon of the private alienations, 
 fecret demi(es, and fraudulent conveyances, which the rigor of the 
 feudal law, and the high authority of the lords, put the tenants on 
 practifing. 
 
 At this time the abbot obtained a reftitution of a meffuage of five 
 acres of land at Sandru^e, which had been feized by the king's 
 efcheator, William de TrufTel, during a claim which the abbot of 
 Weftminfter made to it. This office of efcheator was in great vogue, 
 and of great utility in thefe ages ; and this man (lyles himfelf the 
 king's efcheator c'itra 'Trentam. When, by feizing for the king, he 
 became a judge of the true right, he fettled the property without 
 much trouble; and in this caie Truffel, on perufing the claims of 
 each, in conlequence of a petition from Richard, decided in his fa- 
 vour and adjudged the eftate to the abbey. In like manner the efchea- 
 tor had feized on the fummer-houfe (a) of one John Purfer, {land- 
 ing, he thought, too near the highway : on which, by petition of 
 the abbot to the chancellor, the efcheator is directed to make inquifi- 
 tion (b) into the nuifance; and find, who built it and when, and of 
 whom held, and what is the yearly rent ; and to return this verdict 
 into chancery. This was done, and the fummer-houfe adjudged to 
 the tenant of the abbey, who had built it. The decifion is dated 
 thus, Tefte meipfo apud turrim London, 21 Mail anno Regni nojlri 12 . 
 
 (1339) ( c > 
 
 The attention of this abbot was not fo wholly engrofled by law- 
 fuits and external concerns, but that he gave much improvement to 
 the inward government of the houfe. He directed, for the better 
 lupport of the monks table, an addition of 100 quarters of better malt 
 to be provided, and 50 quarters of better corn than ufual, from the 
 manor at Norton : he repaired the roof, and all other decayed parts 
 of the monaftery, in the fir(l and fecond years of his prelacy. He 
 repaired al(o at that time the'mills at Codicote and Laton, Moor-mill, 
 and Park-mill (d), the latter he conftrutted anew, and enlarged the 
 
 (a) Solarium. 
 
 (b) By the oath of 12 men. 
 
 (c) Though this faft happened after Richard's death, it is related here, to illuftraU 
 the office and power of the efcheator. 
 
 (d) Lh mora it de parco : flill in being. 
 
 Cj g 2 pool, 
 
( 223 ) 
 
 Richard lithe pool, or mill-dam, by railing the banks : he augmented the pool of 
 ggthab t. t ^ e a t>bey-mill, after repairing the lame ; and the meadow adjoining 
 the pool, called St. German's meadow, he raifed. He caufed the 
 hedges, ways, and clofes, about St. German's, to be repaired ; and 
 fowed a croft there, of four acres, with acorns, intending to make 
 a wood. He had fown this land four years together, and never had 
 a return of the feed again ; but this year, after fowing the acorns, 
 he caufed feven bufhels of feed to be thrown on the ground ; and, 
 in the following autumn, the crop was about ten quarters of very 
 good wheat. This year is faid by my author (Walfingham) to have 
 been fruitful in all the Chiltern, and this increafe he confidered as a 
 prodigy of fertility, and that the abbot had not the like on any of 
 the lands which he farmed. He rebuilt the mill at Stankfiekl, from 
 the very foundation ; built a n e vv one, a t the paffage to Verulam ; 
 repaired a mill in or near the town, ufed for malt only ; and raifed 
 the banks of the pool. He repaired alfo the manfion (a) at London ; 
 rebuilt the hall, chambers, kitchen, ftables, and chapels ; and aug- 
 mented the rent, of the part leafed out, 15 (hillings. And,, by the 
 help of Richard de Herefet, then almoner, he built a houfe and 
 offices, within the monaftery, for the future refidence of that 
 officer. 
 
 He laid the firft ftone of a new cloifter (b), reaching from the 
 abbot's chapel towards the great cloifter. On this ftone his name 
 was infcribed, with the year of Chrift ; and, under the fame ftone, 
 he fprinkled the foundation with fmall relics, and fome of the earth 
 found with the bodies of Amphibal and his companions. He paid to 
 the workmen, concerned in thefe employs, thirty (hillings a week ; 
 and this he faved out of his income, by living in a very fparing 
 manner ; for, otherwife, his rents would not have fufficed, and he 
 refufed to borrow and encumber the barony. He caufed alfo fome 
 repairs to be made to the farms at Tydenhangre ; and he adorned the 
 private chapel and chamber with fome curious carved work. The 
 remark of my author is, that, inftVad of expending money in thefe 
 ufelefs works, he ought to have paid the debt of the abbey : but 
 it is a common fault, in the abbots of every great church, to leave 
 
 (a) This is called Maneriwn. The word manor is of Norrrfifft origin, and meant 
 the Lord's abode, Manolr. 
 
 (b) This is probably the dark paffage now remaining under the fouth window, 
 without the wall, 
 
 tke 
 
( 22 9 ) 
 
 the burdens, incurred by former works, to their fucceflbrs ; and to Richar< j ,I -' t ll€ 
 fludy new works, and often fuch as are needlefs. I ' j 
 
 He obtained of the king the royal licence to hold the church of 
 Appelton, in Yorkshire ; without which licence, the Mortmain Act 
 of Edward I. would have rendered it an impoflible acquifition. 
 
 In the fixth year of his rule, he began to grow very weak and 
 infirm, and was fo far difabled, by the progrefs of the leproly, that 
 he was thought incapable of doing his duty : and a monk of Abing- 
 don, named Richard de ildefly, informed the pope of the fame, in 
 hopes to be elevated into his place, or appointed to be his coadjutor. 
 The pope liftenedto the infinuation, and directed a letter to the birtiop 
 of Lincoln, requeuing farther information, * for, he had heard that 
 « the abbot had loft the organ of fpeech, and was wholly unable to 
 
 * aflemble with the found and healthy.' The bifhop immediately fent 
 to the abbey John de OfTord, the dean of the arches, and Robert de 
 Bromley, official, to fulfil this inquiry. The abbot, on hearing 
 their bufinefs, difpatched the prior inftautly to the king at York, 
 where he was then holding a parliament ; and the prior reprefented 
 what an injurious invafion the bifhop of Lincoln was making on the 
 rights of the abbey, and how falfe it was to fuggeft, as Ildefly had 
 done, that the abbey was fuffering great lofTes, and that the buildings 
 were all in ruins: he then prefented a petition in parliament, * that 
 1 the king's council, or fome of the nobles, would inquire into the 
 ' truth of thefe charges, and why the keeper of the king's privy feal 
 
 * fhould affix the feal to a letter from Ildefly to the pope, to begin 
 
 * this charge and accufation.' The keeper, on being queftioned, 
 anfwered, he was fo urged, prefTed, and fohcited, by fome great men, 
 to feal fuch a letter that he could not refufe it. And it is probable 
 this was an artifice of fome courtiers to get pofTeffion of the abbey's 
 property. 
 
 It is not faid what iteps the parliament directed to be purfued in 
 confequence of the petition, nor what reception or anfwer was given 
 to the bifhop's meflengers. Bur, on the return of the prior, the abbot 
 fent him to the chapter, to propofe, from the abbot himfelf, a choice 
 of a coadjutor, and named the prior, the arch-deacon, and two others, 
 offering to appoint any one or two of them, as fhould be moft agree- 
 able to the chapter ; on which they made choice of the prior, and 
 fignified this to the abbot. Then it was thought necelTary to write 
 a letter to the pope, to ft ate the truth, &c. This being done, 
 these was perfect peace and unanimity reftored in the houfe. 
 
 Bur, 
 
 x 
 
( 2 5° ) 
 
 Richard It.tbe But, in the year 1335, in the month of May, and before he had 
 ^18. h abbo t. fi tl j( nec } t he n * in th year of his elevation, the abbot died, and was 
 
 interred, by the lord abbot of Waltham, in the prefbytery near his 
 
 two predeceffors. 
 
 He had made great proficiency, at Oxford, in the new ftudies then 
 become reputable, and excelled, as Leland writes, in arithmetic, geo- 
 metry, and aftronomy. As a fpecimen of his ingenuity, he is faifl 
 to have invented a clock that was a miracle of art : it exhibited the 
 co jrfe of the fun and moon, the riling and fetting of the fixed ftars 
 and planets, the ebbing and flowing of the fea, and, in fhort, the 
 figures, operations, and effects, of all the heavenly bodies. He had 
 begun this clock early in life, and then neglected it; but, being en- 
 couraged to proceed by the king when at the abbey on a vifit, he re- 
 lumed the work, and this royal exhortation made him very diligent 
 in the execution ; for, he would fay, * though the abbey wants ie- 
 * pairs, my fucceficrs may be able to build walls and mend tiling, but 
 4 none, I believe, excepting myfelf, can ever finifh this clock.' As 
 we have no fcientific defcription of this piece of mechanilm handed 
 down to us, we can form no judgement of its merits, being ignorant 
 of the principles that actuated the complex machine, and even of the 
 materials whereof it was confiructed : it would appear, however, 
 to have been a matter-piece for that age. He compofed feverai 
 writings that better declare his learning, though nothing more than 
 the titles have come down to thefe times: he wrote of agronomical 
 judgements, of demon ftrative figns, of the chord and arch, of the 
 eclipfes of the fun and moon, of the right angle, and of arithmetic 
 and computation. 
 
 There were but four colleges founded at Oxford prior to Walling- 
 ford's time, namely, Univerjity, Balioi, Merton y and Exeter : yet the 
 refort to thefe new foundations of learning was very great, and, if 
 we may credit Richard of Armagh, the number of ftudents in Ox- 
 ford, in Henry the third's time, was thirty thoufand ; but, if we re- 
 ject the literal fenfe of thefe words, and allow them to mean only a 
 great and unufual number, the reafon of it was owing to the ftudious 
 fame of the two new orders, and the emulation which fprang up 
 among the old. Thefe two orders had now been eftablimed in Eng- 
 land about a hundred years, and all the men of any note, who had 
 appeared during that period, were either Dominicans or Francifcans, 
 as Roger Bacon, Alexander Hailes, Robert Grofthead, and many 
 others; and this is very confpicuous on beholding the many volumi- 
 nous works, compiled by them, and fince publilhed, compared with 
 
 fuch 
 
( 2 3 l ) 
 
 fuch as iffued from the monaftic bodies. Now, the high pre-eminence,R»chardrr.the 
 to which they had raifed themfelves by their learning and public fu- 2 , 8th * bboc / 
 periority in all reputable fcience, proved a powerful incentive to emu- 
 lation in the ancient orders, and firft fuggefted the defign of fending 
 young men to the college then exifting at Oxford, and, afterwards, 
 of endowing new colleges both there and at Cambridge ; for, it was 
 loon found, that this defire to excel could not be cultivated with efFect 
 in the monafteries, becaufe the continual duty of the choir occupied 
 their whole time, and allowed no vacant hours for private ftudy ; it 
 was there thought enough, if the abbot and his higher officers had 
 a little Latin, and fuch farther inftruction as enabled them to execute 
 their ofrLe; and, if they had one or two monks, who could keep 
 their journals in Latin, and occasionally write a letter in Latin to the 
 pope, it was all that was thought neceffary or attainable. 
 
 This difficulty, of uniting the monaftic dilcipline with a courfe of 
 clofe fludy, was a fubiect that ftruck the attention of feme of the 
 great men about Henry the Third : and accordingly Walter de Mer- 
 ton, then chancellor of England, founded a college at Oxford in 1264, 
 two or three years after Baliol, King of Scots, had founded another 
 college; and about the fame time, (viz. 1257,) Hugo de Balfam, 
 prior of Ely, and then bifhop, founded Peter-Houfe, the fir ft college 
 in Cambridge, and afterwards modelled this new endowment on the 
 plan of Merton. They were inftituted in the time of Henry the Third, 
 with a view to train up young men for the offices in the abbey?, and 
 to give them that tindlure of fcience which the abbey could not teach, 
 and which the_twoj)rders only were found to poffefs. This emula- 
 tion received 'countenance from Edward the fir ft, and the two next 
 kings, ail of whom gave more encouragement to the new learning 
 than to the old monkifh orders (a) : nor was the fpirit, which the 
 fuccefs and fame of the friers had excited, confmed to the monal- 
 teries, it ftimulated other generous patrons to endow colleges, and 
 was the chief caufe of the many ne w foundations that were made by 
 the bifhopsand others, in the reign of the three firft Edwards ; in!o- 
 much, that, at the death of Edward the Third, in 1377, there were 
 feven colleges built and endowed in Oxford, and fix in Cambridge. 
 
 (a) It had been the cuftom for two centuries back, and of courfe long before the 
 new orders exitted, to fetch even the engineers, and managers of the warlike machines 
 then in ufe, from among the religious, who pollened all the learning of their time : but 
 the old orders could no longer furnifti fit perfons, and the Francifcans had now the 
 preference in fupplying them, becaule they excelled both in abftraft fcience and in all 
 the arts of utility. 
 
 But, 
 
( 2 3 2 ) 
 
 ^ l |t h habboi e But ' befide the r °y al ^vour, and this rivallhip for fame, there was 
 ; m yet another caufe which operated very powerfully in promoting thefe 
 foundations and endowments : for, it is to be remembered, that the 
 ancient channels of liberality and charity to the monks were Hopped 
 and (hut up by the ftatutes of Mortmain, and colleges became the 
 prevailing objects of benevolence and piety. Thefe feminaries were 
 ibon overftocked, and the monafteries could not employ all that were 
 fit ; then the reft were tranfplanted into the country churches, and 
 became the fecular clergy and the new endowed vicars. 
 
 The Benedictines, throughout England, roufed by the motives I 
 have mentioned, partook of the general fpirit, and contributed largely 
 ""N^ to the maintenance of the fcholars at the univerfities. In Edward 
 the Second's time, the monks of Durham built and endowed Durham 
 College, to train up their youth to be feculars or regulars (a): the 
 monks of Gloucefter, then alfo, built Gloucejler College for the fame 
 ufes, and it was afterwards enlarged, by licence of Mortmain, for 
 other houfes of the Benedictines, among which our abbey of St. 
 Alban was one(b) : Canterbury college was likewife founded and built, 
 by Iflip the archbimop, to educate youth for the fupply of the abbey 
 and cathedral at Canterbury, called Chrift Church (c) : thefe three 
 were at Oxford. And, in the reign of Edward the Fourth, a prior 
 was conftituted, in a provincial chapter of their order, to overlook 
 and direct the ftudies of their youth in the univerfity of Cambridge. 
 
 It has been generally thought, and always faid, that the monks 
 were poftefTed of all the learning of their times. Now this can be 
 true only of the times prior to the eftablilhment of the frier-preachers 
 and minors, or black and grey friers ; for, thefe foon eclipfed all the 
 monks, and left them with no other learning than fome Latin, to 
 enable them to underftand what they chaunted, and a little more for 
 their accounts and their correfpondence : or, if fome of the higher 
 officers,' and a few of the priefb, had a tincture of fcience, £1 ill the 
 great body of the monks were void of all inftruetion, except mufic, 
 which was the only ftudy either taught or ufed in the monafteries ; 
 
 (a) This college fell at the general fuppreffion ; but, after lying in ruins fixteeri 
 years, it was re-endowed, in 1555, by Sir Thomas Pope, and then newly called Trinity 
 College. Monaft. II. 344. 
 
 (b) See more concerning this college in the life of John Wheathampftead, the 33d 
 abbot, book VII. 
 
 (c) The famous John "Wickliffe was here chofen fecond warden ; but, being elected 
 by the fecular fcholars and not by the regulars, he and they were difplaced by arch- 
 bifhop Langham, and the monks put in their room. WicklirFe, while here, was tutor 
 to Geoffrey Chaucer. 
 
 whereas 
 
( 233 ) 
 
 whereas the two orders not only diftinguifhed themfelves in all fcrip RjcfcarilLth* 
 ture learning and the favourite fcience of canon law, but cultivated * St h abbor. 
 every branch of knowledge then known; and we may fee the whole 
 extent of their erudition by the lift of the fciences they deemed liberal, 
 which were feven in number, namely, grammar, rhetoric, logic, 
 mufic, arithmetic, geometry, and aftronomy. Yet, narrow as this 
 field is in comparifon with our prefent acquifitions, it is wonderful to 
 behold with what penetration, and acutenefs, and fubtle enquiry, 
 they fearched into the recedes of nature, and with what fanciful in- 
 genuity they railed new queftions when demonftration and proof failed. 
 But, though their labour may be commended, and their zeal applauded, 
 they erred from the truth, by beginning to build on the falfe founda- 
 tion of Ariftotle and Ptolemy's Almageft. Such was the learning in 
 vogue when Wallingford was public reader of divinity at Oxford ; at 
 which place, anoHfrom the friers, he doubtlefs learned his mechanic 
 knowledge and geometric fcience. But that the preaching friers, both 
 at home and abroad, were the mod celebrated fcholars in the laft age, 
 in this, and the next, will manifeftly appear to any who mail perufe 
 the Ecclefiaftic Hiftory of Dupin, and the Antiquities of Canifius, 
 and the Continuation of Dugdale. 
 
 Edward I. had contributed other means, befide the two ftatutes 
 already noticed, to curb the power of the pope and avaricious temper 
 of the clergy, whom he thus endeavoured to make fubject and obe- 
 dient to him : for, he repeated and improved the Mortmain Act by- 
 three or four more, in order to obviate, with filent but fure effect, 
 the many devices, by which the clergy ftill found means, though 
 with a fraud, to be gaining eftates, as by taking them in truft for the 
 owner, for certain purpofes and ufes, and in a way of accounting to 
 him, or with a pretence and engagement to provide for his children, 
 &c. : thefe devices were confiderably checked, though the clergy and 
 dying teftator called fuch checks profane and wicked ; but, as this 
 was a military reign, fuch proceeding of the king was prudent, in 
 order to keep up, and prevent the utter lofs of, the military aid: 
 and, at length, this clofed that immenfe gulph, in which all the 
 lands of England were likely to be fwallowed up. In the time of 
 Edward III. paffed the ftatutes of Praemunire, calculated to deprefs the 
 civil power of the pope, and to break, if poffible, the connection with 
 Rome. Another very politic act of this Edward was to inftitute vi- 
 carages, and thus encourage a laborious parochial clergy, endowing 
 the fame out of the fwoln pofleffion of the regulars : for, though it 
 was impracticable to deprive thefe bodies of lands or of tithes by force, 
 
 H h yet 
 
( 234 ) 
 
 iicV-ilf.Aeyet they would content to endow a vicar, and provide for his refidence, 
 % _ * on condition he was one of their body ; but, on other terms, or to 
 fufFer the patronage to pafs from them, they (till refufed. 
 
 The irrict hand which the Edwards held over the regulars, and 
 the great increafe of academic foundations in the two univerfities, 
 kept this branch of the clergy in their proper bounds; and, for 
 thefe reafons, we find no mention of them in a public and general 
 character, or, as taking any part in the government of the king- 
 dom, and interfering in the functions of royalty. They now were 
 not heard, except in fome ineffectual oppolition they made to the 
 king's demand of aid; and their private government was fo quiet 
 and regular that very little novelty happened among them. 
 
 Such was the uniform and peaceable ftate of this abbey, except when 
 interrupted by the difputes with the townfmen, which, indeed, lafted 
 long, and were carried on with much animofity. In thefe contefts, it is 
 obfervable, that (kill, management, temper, and ancient cuftoms, were 
 on the fide of the monks; while perfeverance, numbers, impetuofity, 
 and the fpirit of freedom (theu fpreading faft), befriended the townfmen. 
 Both parties, however, as their fcale preponderated, outraged juftice ; 
 the people by open violence, and the monks by favour and fecret perver- 
 fion. For, when at length the former carried their point, they were 
 intoxicated with their luccefs, and could not enjoy their new condition 
 with temper and moderation; and the monks, on the other hand, were 
 ftill ready to refume, in the hour of profperity and court-favour, what- 
 ever they had prudently given up in times of trouble and of tumult. 
 Thus, after abbot Hugo, yielding to the preflure of circumftances, had 
 granted the townfmen a charter of all their demands, they let no bounds 
 to their licentioufnefs, and conducted themfelves in a manner fo wanton 
 and fo lawlefs, that, when the firm hand of Edward III. had reftored 
 domeftic peace and good order, they furnimed Wallingford, not only 
 with an opportunity of punifhing the evil doers, but with a pretext for 
 depriving the borough of many of the privileges that had been conceded 
 by Hugo. In (hort, though we may difcern the rudiments of liberty in 
 the(e exertions, they were io disfigured by violence, and the advantages 
 gained fo fluctuating, that it is obvious the principles of civil freedom 
 were then but little underlfood : and, though we know, from co-eval 
 circumftances of great moment, that the middling ranks of men were 
 rifing into confequence, and the loweft clals began to be emancipated, 
 yet the Englilh lorm of government, at the period we treat of, was but 
 a rude and imperfect call of the admired and matchlels conftitution 
 which we enjoy at this time. 
 
 End of Part I.