particular terms ad vestitum Monachorum ad victum ad luminaria ad hospitalitatem faciendam ad fabricam Ecclesiae ad reparanda Ecclesiae ornamenta and other uses to which those revenues were particularly appropriated The last grievance that shall be mentioned which indeed affected the Clergy in general was the Conqueror's charging Church-Lands with Military Services This is taken notice of by Matthew Paris but I shall crave leave to describe it in the words of a late ingenious Writer Whereas saith he before the Conqueror's time the Clergy held all their land by Franc Almonage and subject to no duties or impositions but such as they laid upon themselves in their Ecclesiastical Assemblies This Prince finding above a third part of the Lands of the Kingdom in the possession of the Clergy and the Forces of the Crown which consisted in Knights service lessened in proportion by their Immunities He reduced all their Lands to the common tenure of Knight's Fees and Baronage and thereby subjected them to an attendance upon the King in his wars and to other services anciently due and sometimes raised upon all Lands that held in Fee from the Crown This innovation touched not only the Bishops but all the Abbats throughout the Kingdom many of whom were endowed with great Lands and Revenues But Sir Will. Temple must pardon me if I suspend my opinion in this particular till better inform'd viz. That the Conqueror found above a third part of the Lands of the Kingdom in Possession of the Clergy ' The truth of this may be examined with more certainty than any other part of English History the Lands of the Ecclesiasticks being all particularly recorded in Doomsday-book so that it will be easie to compute the proportion But not having in this place the opportunity of consulting the Original it cannot be very accurate However by the transcript of those few Counties we have a pretty exact guess may be made In Cheshire were but twenty seven Mannors belonging to Churchmen in Warwickshire not fourty in Berkshire about sixty in Staffordshire about fifty and in Nottinghamshire but fourty Besides it ought to be considered that one fourth of the Lands that were in Church-men's hand in the time of King Edward III. at which time the Commons shewed the King that the Temporalities of the Clergy amounted only to above a third part of the Kingdom was not given to Religious places at King William's first coming to the Crown For there were not above an hundred Monasteries and endowed Churches founded before the Conquest which tho' they were richer for the most part than any after founded yet according to the highest account the revenues could not amount to above a fourth part of the incomes of the Religious Houses in the time of Edward III. And if so then the Ecclesiasticks had but at most a twelfth part of the Lands of the Kingdom in their hands at the time when the Conqueror imposed these services viz. A. D. 1170. After this digression we must again carry on some brief account of the state of the Monastick Orders here in England It was in the Conqueror's time that the third and last Regulation of Monks was made by Arch-bishop Lanfranc in the Council held at London A. D. 1075. This Reformation brought the English Monks nearer the Benedictines than ever before I mean those of the old Foundations but as for the new Monasteries they were replenished with Monks of what Order the Founder pleased For during this Reign were brought into England the Orders of Regular Canons of St. Austin and of Cluniac Monks Of each sort were six founded in this Kings time as also sixteen Benedictine Abbies and Priories besides fourteen Alien-Priories A note annexed to an old MS. book of Ecclesiastical Constitutions in the Bodleâ—â—n Library desires us to note the slyght of the Pope that when he had causyd the Deuke of Normandy to Conquer England under pretence of penance causyd him to give muche Lands to Abbyes and that Deuke dyd bylde many of the Order of Cluny because Pope Gregory VI. was a Monk of Cluny Thoâ— I cannot find that ever he founded any of this Order yet he built and endowed the great Abbies of Battel Com. Suss. and Selby in Com. Ebor. and the Priory of Hitchinbroke in Com. Hunt and the Alien-Priories of Frampton in Com. Dors. Paunsfeld in Com. Essex Derehirst in Com. Gloc. Andover in Com. Hants and Stayning in Com. â—uss Will. Rufus succeeded next heir to the vices not the vertues of his Father He miserably oppressed the Religious seised upon the Revenues of the vacant Abbies and Bishopricks and would never let them be filled without some Simoniacal bargain In this Kings Reign several of the Bishops of whom Walkeline Bishop of Winchester was the chief made strong efforts to expel all the Monks out of Cathedral Churches and to place Secular Canons in their rooms This infallibly they had accomplished having got the Kings consent had not Archbishop Lanfranc a man of universal Goodness and approved Wisdom maintain'd the cause of the Monks with a great deal of courage and not only brought the King to change his mind but also procured a Bull from the Pope prohibiting the like attempts for the future In the thirteen years of this Kings reign were not above thirteen Religious Houses except Priories Alien founded viz. seven of the Benedictine four of the Cluniac and two of the Austin Order and about nine Alien-Priories but not one Collegiate Church in this or the preceeding Reign The King built only the small Priories of Armethwait in Com. Cumb. and S. Nicholas in Exeter King Henry I. is recorded to have been a very pious good Prince an encourager of Learning and Piety and one that had a great esteem for the Church and all Religious Persons His founding nine or ten Monasteries confirms the truth of this character viz. the Episcopal See and Priory of Regular Canons at Carlisle the Abbies of Cirencester in Com. Gloc. and Mertâ—n in Com. Surr. with the Priories of Dunstable in Com. Bedf. St. Dennis at Southampton and Wells near Grimsâ—y in Com. Linc. of the same Order as also the stately Benedictine Abby at Reading besides the Alien-Priories of Steventon in Com. Berks. Tackley in Com. Essex and Newent in Com. Gloc. In the beginning of this Kings Reign the Knights Hospitalers settled in London A. D. 1128. the Cistercians were first brought into England and placed at Waverâ—â—y in Surrey and about this time the Canons 〈◊〉 the Holy Sâ—pulcher came to Warwick The number of Religious Houses founded in the Reign of King Henry I. were above an hundred viz about thirty of the Benedictine Monasterieâ— fourty of the Austin Order five Cluniac ten Cistercian Houses four Colleges two Preceptories and thirteen Alien-Priories King Stephen was Virtuous Religious and Liberal and after the wars between him and Maud the Empress were ended a great builder of Religious Houses To
Chaplains Singing-men Clerks and Choristers Preceptories or Commanderies were Mannors of the Knights Templers and Hospitalers where erecting Churches for the Service of God and convenient houses for habitation they sent part of their Fraternity thither who were to be under the government of the Preceptor or Commander and to take care of the Lands and Rents belonging to the Order in the neighbouring Country and so they were Cells to their principal Mansions in London Of all these Religious Houses in England and Wales the Reader may expect a Short History viz. the Foundation the Order Dedication and Valuation Concerning the Foundation the Reader will be troubled with no more than barely the Names and Qualities of the Founders and the time of the first Foundation It may be necessary here to note that in our Monastick Writers we find often mention of the First Second c. Founder and I have seen the Sixth Founder But the first may only be properly said to be the true Founder the others by their great Benefactions either restoring the old oâ— making some new additional Foundation Iâ— may be also observed that the Successors of the Founders the Patrons and chief Lords of the Fee were sometimes stiled Founders The Orders were either Religious or Military of the first were all Monks and Canons Of the Monks the most ancient anâ— the Benedictines or those that follow the Rulâ— of St. Benedict or Bennet who was born at Nuâ—sia in Italy about the year 480. He founded twelve Monasteries in his own Country the chief whereof was Mont Cassin and gavâ— them a Rule which was afterward approved 〈◊〉 by Pope Gregory the Great A. D. 595. They were called also Black Monks from the colour of their Habit which was a black loose Coat of stuff reaching down to their heels with a cowl or hood of the same and a Scapular and under that Coat another white Habit as large as the former made of white flannen and boots on their legs Of this Order were all our Cathedral Priories except Carliol and most of the richest Abbies in the Kingdom The Reformation of some things that seemed too remiss in St. Bennet's Rule by Odo Abbat of Cluny in Burgundy about A. D. 912. gave occasion to the rise of the Cluniac Order Most of our English Houses of this Order were subordinate to the Abby of Cluny or some other foreign Cluniac Monastery and so were seisâ—d as Alien-Priories during the wars with France but were afterward made indigenae and so discharged from all subjection and obedience to any forreign Abby Their Habit was little different from the Benedictines The Carthusians were also a branch of the Benedictines whose Rule with the addition of a great many aâ—sterities they follow Their Author was one Bruno born at Colen in Germany who first instituted this Order at Chartreuse in the Diocese of Grenâ—ble about A. D. 1080. Their Rule is the most strict and severe of any of the Religious Orders they never eat flesh always wear a hair Shirt next their skin none ever stir out of their Monasteries which are called Charter-houses upon any pretence whatsoever except the Prior and Procurator Their Habit is all white except their plaited Cloak which is black Rob. Harding an English man Abbat of Molisme in Burgundy first planted the Cistercian Order at Cistertium or Citeaux in the Bishoprick of Chalons A. D. 1098. They were called Bernardines from St. Bernard Abbat of Clarevall a great propagator of this Order and also White Monks from the whiteness of their Garments For their Habit was a white Cassock with a narrow Scapulary and a black Gown with long sleeves when they went abroad but going to Church they wore it white Their Monasteries were all of them dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary These were all the Orders of Monks that were to be met with in England The Canons were either Secular or Regular The Secular Canons were â—â—ergy men called Secular because they served the world Seculum in performing spiritual Offices for the Laity and taking upon them the care of Souls which the Regulars were incapable of They differed in nothing from ordinary Priests save that they were under the government of some local Statutes but were not so strictly obliged to live under one Roof as the Monks and Regular Canons but generally lived apart and were severally maintain'd by distinct Prebends in almost the same manner with the Canons and Prebendaries of our Cathedral and Collegiate Churches aâ— this day Regular Canons â—were so called because they were obliged to a strict observance of the Rule of St. Austin which enjoin'd them to have all things in common c. Their Habit is a long black Cassock a white Rochet over it over all a black Cloak and Hood They wear also beards the Monks were always shaved and a Cap upon their heads They pretend St. Austin of Hippo to have been their Founder but they were not eminent till the tenth or eleventh Century and not in England till after the Conquest For Authors disagree about the time when this Order was first brought into England Iohn Rosse saith that it was placed first at Colchester in the reign of King Stephen Reyner tells us Nosthell in Yorkshire was the first this Kingdom had which was founded temp Hen. I. Stow saith that Trinity within Aldgate London was the first which was founded A. D. 1107. But Mr. Somner's opinion is more consonant to truth who tells us that S. Gregorie's in Canterbury was the first that being built by Arch-bishop Lanâ—ranc A. D. 1084. So that the Reader is desired to take notice that tho' he may find mention made in this book of Black or Regular Canons before the Conquest yet they were the same at the foundation with Secular Canons but afterwards assumed the Habit and Rule of St. Austin For it was usual in those old times to stile the Secular Canons of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches Canonici Regulares to distinguish them from ordinary Parish Priests The Premonstratensian Canons lived according to the Rule of St. Austin reformed by one Norbert who instituted this Order about A. D. 1120. at Praemonstratum in Laon in France They were called also White Canons from their Habit which was a white Cassock with a Rochet over it and a long white Cloak The Sempringham or Gilbertine Canons were instituted by St. Gilbert at Sempringham in Lincolnshire A. D. 1148. His Rule is composed out of those of St. Austin and St. Bennet with some special Statutes of his own The Habit of these Canons is a black Cassock over which they wear a furred Cloak and a Hood lined with Lamb skins The Monasteries of this Order consisted both of Men and Women who lived under the same Roof and were separated by a wall Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulcher were founded in imitation of those Regulars instituted in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher of our Saviour at Ierusalem Their Habit was the
made Hieu who was afterward Abbess and Foundress of Hartlepool the first Nun among the Northumbrians A. D. 640. And 't was afterward a custom in Northumberland and Scotland in these old times for Monks and Nuns to live together in the same Monastery who were all subject to the government of the Abbess thus it was at Whitby Repingdon Coldingham c. 2. Some account of the Secular Clergy who make so great a noise in the Ecclesiastical History of the Saxon times would not be impertinent But the Monks having so blacken'd them it will be a very hard matter to recover their just character The invective Oration King Edgar made against them hath given us a catalogue of their crimes but probably their memories had not suffered so much if their defences had been as carefully preserved I am not satisfied what was the distinction between the old Secular Canons and the Monks for Historians by calling the Houses of Monks Collegia and the Chapters of Secular Canons Monasteria confound these two sorts of Religious Persons Nor does the opinion of the Learned Mr. Wharton seem unlikely when he tells us that before the Reformation by King Edgar and St. Dunstan our Monasteries were nothing but Convents of Secular married Clergy This conjecture he confirms by a great many quotations which must be here omitted I shall only presume to acquaint the Reader farther that 't is probable the Monks and Nuns in the first ages of Monkery might marry a pregnant proof of which we have from Bede who reports that in St. Iohn of Beverley's time the Abbess of a Monastery called Vetadun had a carnal daughter who was Nun of that House And on the contrary some of the Seculars obliged themselves to the vow of chastity It is certain they observed some regular Constitutions for the Canons of Durham read the Psalms in the same order as they were appointed in the Rule of St. Bennet At Peykirk as Ingulphus relates they observed the Canonical hours of the Monks and took the vows of Chastity and Obedience And at Canterbury they wore the very Habit of the Monks but indeed as Gervasius notes did not strictly observe the Rule So that in all likelyhood the terms of Monk and Secular Canons were indifferently used or at most with very little distinction till King Edgar's time when St. Dunstan enforcing a stricter observation of St. Bennet's Rule those that were willing to retain their wives and Parochial Cures were termed Secular Clerks and those came to be called Monks or Regulars who quitted both according to the Constitutions of that Order Lastly The Monks of this Isle were never under one Rule before the second Reformation For not to mention the difference between the British Scottish and Roman Monks we may observe that every holy Man that was an Abbat laid down particular Rules of the Monastick way of living for those under his jurisdiction Hence it is that we meet with the Rules of St. Patric S. Congall S. Columba Molva S. Columban S. Carthagus Segenius Fursaeus S. Coman and others among the Irish and Scots S. David S. Asaph S. Cuthbert S. Aldhelm c. among the Britains and Saxons Neither did Arch-bishop Cuthbert's Regulation make an uniformity in these matters for in King Alfred's time there were diversi generis Monachi And even after the Conquest at a general Visitation of Religious Houses A. D. 1232. among the Benedictines there were not two Monasteries that lived after the same manner At the Conquest Monasteries had a deep share in the afflictions of the Conquer'd Nation Some of the best of their Mannors were sacrilegiously taken away their Treasuries were rifled and their Liberties infringed by the insulting Normans Most of the English Abbats being deposed for small or no causes strangers were preferr'd to the richest Abbies in the Kingdom who introduced several new customs to the grievance of the old Saxon Monks One thing that seemed very hard was the altering their Missals Upon this account what heats were in the Abby of Glastonbury when Thurstan the pragmatical Norman Abbat would needs compell the Monks to lay aside the old Gregorian service which had been sung in that Abby time out of mind and to make use of the new devotions of one William of Fiscamp These and several other innovations in the Divine Worship were growing up apace in the Church had they not been stopp'd by the pains of Osmund Bishop of Salisbury who composed a new Ritual which was afterwards known by the name of Missale in usum Sarum and generally used in England Scotland and Ireland 2. Another thing that was a burden to the Religious especially those of the Cathedral Convents was the making of Secular Priests Bishops of those Churches Of this the Monks made loud complaints because it was rarely or as they pretended never heard of in the Saxon times and even forbid by a positive Canon made in the time of Arch-bishop Theodore and afterwards confirm'd by King Edgar And this was so strictly observed among the Saxons that tho' a Secular Priest was nominated or elected by a Conventual Chapter yet he was forced to be made Monk before he could be consecrated Thus Odo Bishop of Shirburn being chose Arch-bishop of Canterbury could not get his Pall or be Installed till he had received the Religious Habit from the Abbat of Fleury Thus the Monks who after the Conquest would be as exempt as possible from the jurisdiction of any Secular made this a plea for all or most of their quarrels with the Bishops They were always very jealous of their privileges and upon the least occasion were ready to publish how much the Secular Bishops acted to the disadvantage of the Cathedral Priories by imposing several things repugnant to the Immunities of their Order 3. The third disadvantage that was occasioned in Monasteries by the Conquest was the distinction that was afterward made between the Lands of the Bishop and the Convent For during the Saxon times whatever donations happened they were given Deo Ecclesiae to the Bishops Priors and Monks in common But after the Conquest the Bishops assigned what revenues they thought sufficient to maintain the Prior and Convent and reserved the rest and best part of the Church-Lands to the use of themselves and their successors This division I am afraid fell very hard upon the Monks in several places for the Canterbury Historian complains that their Arch-bishop had retained the Services and Fees of the Earls Barons and Knights and allowed the Monks none but Yeomen and Husbandmen Certain it is that this gave occasion at first for the distinction in other Monasteries of the Lands of the Abbat and Convent and afterward of the several great Officers of the House So that we never read till after the Conquest that any grants were made in usum Prioris Sacristae Eleemosynarii Cellerarii Camerarii c. or as others run in more
â—ame as of other black Canons with the distinction of a double red Cross upon the breast of their Cloak or upper garment The endeavours of these Religious for the regaining of the Holy Land after the loss of Ierusalem coming to nothing their Lands Revenues and Privileges were transferred to the Maturines or Friers of the Order of the Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives who were instituted by S. Iohn de Matta and Felix de Valois about A. D. 1200. It was confirmed by Pope Innocent III. who gave them white Robes with a Cross red and blew on their breasts and appointed that all the possessions which they should enjoy should be equally divided into three parts one for the entertainment and reception of Religious persons the other to relieve the poor and the third to redeem Christians kept Captive by the Infidels These Canons were also called Trinitarians because all their Churches were by the Rules of their Order to be dedicated to the Holy Trinity And here in England they were said to be of the Order of Iâ—gham because that Monastery in Norfolk was the chief House of that Rule There were another Order of Canons of the Austin Rule in England called Bonhommes or Good-men They were first brought into this Kingdom A. D. 1283. 11 12. Edw. I. and placed in a Rectory or College founded by Edmund Earl of Cornwall at Asserâ—g in Bucks Of which Order in England there was but one more viz. at Edingdon in Wiltshire The Reader may observe that they were not the same with the Friers Minimes or Franciscans whom some Authors call Bonhommes because our Bonhommes were amply endowed with Lands and Rents which that Mendicant Order could never be possess'd of Neither could they be of the Order of Grandmont the Religious whereof were called Bonhommes because these were only Benedictines reformed As for the Nunneries of the Benedictine Climiac Cistercian and Carthusian Rules and the Austin Premonstratensian and Gilberâ—ine Nuns they were â—nstituted by the same as the Monks of those Orders they follow the same Rules with the Monks omitting only that which is not convenient for their Sex and wear habits of the same colour their Heads being always covered with a Vail Besides these we had in England three other Orders of Religious Females 1 Clarisses or of the Order of St. Clare who instituted it at Assise in Italy about A. D. 1225. 2 Brigettan Nuns who were founded by St. Bridget Queen of Sweedland about A. D. 1360. 3 Nuns of the Order of Fontevrault who wear a black Habit with a white Vail This Order was a Reformation of the Benedictine begun by Robert de Arbusculo at Font Ebrald in Poictiers A. D. 1117. There were also Monks of this Rule but none I think in England except it were in such Alien-Priories as were Cells to that Abby So without doubt other Alien-Priories that were subordinate to St. Victor at Paris and Grandmont in France the Canons of the first and the Monks of the last having particular Rules distinct from any other Order were of the same Constitutions with those Abbies Of the Military Orders there is mention made but of two in this book viz. of the Knights Hospitalers of S. Iohn of Ierusalem and the Knights Templers The Hospitalers since called Knights of Rhodes or Malta were first taken notice of about A. D. 1090. and were mightily favoured by Godfrey of Bullen and his successor Baldwin King of Ierusalem They followed partly St. Austin's Rule and wore a white Cross upon their black Habit. There was also in England one House of Nuns of the Order of St. Iohn of Ierusalem viz. Buckland in Somersetshire The Knights Templers so called from having their residence in certain Rooms adjoining to the Temple at Ierusalem were instituted A. D. 1118. They followed the Cistercian Rule and their duty was to guard Pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land Their Habit was white with a red Cross. Thus I have in short traced the several Monastick Orders by their Original Institutions and Habits and in the Notitia have been very careful to note the Order of every Religious House which may be very useful besides the curiosity of knowing what sort of Monks inhabited every Country in the matter of tithes especially The Cistercians Premonstratenses Hâ—spitalers and Templers being discharged from the payment of tithes in their own Demâ—snes Such Monasteries I mean of those Orders as were founded before the Council of Lateran A. D. 1215. and such of the Cistercians and Premonstratensians being valued above 200 l. per an as were not dissolved by the Statute of 27. Hen. VIII See Sir Sim. Degge's Parsons Counsellor Lib. II. Cap. 21. The next thing the Reader will be informed of in this Short History of the Religious Houses is their Dedication which is very necessary to be known for distinction sake in great Towns or Cities where are two or more Monasteries This may be also of some use in reading our old Historians for in them the Monastery is often mentioned under the bare name of the Saint to whom it is dedicated Thus we frequently meet with Monasterium or Abbatia S. Aldhelmi for Malmsbury in Wiltshire S. 〈◊〉 for Chich in Essex Prioratus S. Swithini for the Cathedral at Winchester and several other instances of the like nature which some even the more understanding Readers may stick at But this is remedied in the following book by turning to the Index of Names wherein under the Saints Name may be found the Pages in which are any Monasteries dedicated to that Saint The Virgin Mary must be excepted because she being the Patroness of all the Cistercian Houses and of a great many other Monasteries is mentioned once or twice in almost every Page And that the Reader may know what revenues every Religious House had and so partly guess at the number of the Foundation here is set down the valuation of them which was taken by the Kings Commissioners 26. Hen. VIII Of this valuation we have two very different Copies the one given us by Mr. Burton or Mr. Speed in the Catalogue of Religious Houses which was taken from the very Original delivered in to King Henry VIII by the Commissioners The other at the end of the first Tome of the Monasticon taken by Sir Will. Dugdale out of an ancient Copy in the Cottonian Library These two valuations seldom or never agree in the same sum and for that reason because there is good Authority for both it is thought fit that the revenues according to both Rates should be inserted That of Dugdale's in the Monasticon generally amounting to a less sum than that of Speedâ—s I shall not endeavour to reconcile them or to give a reason of the difference It was once thought that Dugdale's valuation had been the clear revenues over and above all Pensions Corrodies Alms c. but adding the sums of these Reprises which are at large mentioned in Sir Will. Dugdale's History of the Monasteries
him the Benedictines at Carow in Com. Norf. and at Heyham in Com. Cant. the Black Canons at Thornâ—olm in Com. Linc. and the Cluniac Monks at Feversham in Com. Cant. owe their Foundations and endowments and the Knights Hospitalers their Commanderies at Cressing Temple in Com Essex and at Egle in Com. Linc. A. D. 1146. the Premâ—nstratensian Order was brought into England their first Monastery being Newhouse in Lincolnshire Two years after the Gilbertine â—rder had its rise at Sempringham in that County The troubles the Kingdom was for a great part of this Reign embroiled in could not restrain the Piety and Charity of the English from building Religious Houses to the number of fifteen of the Benedictine Order twenty five Priories of black Canons thirty five Cistercian Abbies six Houses of the Premonstratensian six of the Gilbertine and four of the Cluniac Rule one College two Preceptories and three Alien-Priories King Henry II. was very obliging to the Clergy especially after the murder of S. Thomas Becket of Canterbury He founded the first house the Carthâ—sians had in England viz. Witham in Somersetshire as also Waltham in Com. Essex Newstede in Com. Nott. Ivy Church in Com. Wilt. and Marton in Com. Ebor. of the Austin Order Newstede in Com. Linc. for Gilbertine Canons Stonely in Com. Warw. for Cistercian Monks and the Alien-Priory of Hagh in Com. Linc. In his Reign were founded twenty two Benedictine thirty Austin eight Premonstratensian four Gilbertine and six Cluniac Monasteries three Collegiate Churches six Preceptories for in the year 1185. the Templers came into England eight Alien-Priories and what is more remarkable almost twenty Cistercian Abbies notwithstanding it was contrary to a Canon made at the general Chapter of the Cistercian Order A. D. 1152 wherein the erection of any more Abbies of that Rule was expresly forbid because there were above five hundred of them already founded In Richard I. time the humour of going to recover Holy Land from the Saracens mightily prevail'd in England as well as in all other parts of Christendom And the mony design'd for pious uses being expended in those Wars and for the Ransom of the King there were few Monasteries built in this Reign viz. six of the Benedictine four of the Austin one of the Cistercian four of the Premonstratensian and two of the Gilbertine Order with one Alien-Priory This King is said to have mortally hated the Black Monks the Cistercians and the Templers and not only those three sorts but also all Religious Men for we do not find that he built one Monastery in England King Iohn tho' he was always prejudiced against the Ecclesiasticks yet he founded a stately Abby for the Cistercians at Beaulieu in Com. Hants to which he made Farendon in Com. Berks. a Cell He built also the Ben. Nunnery of Lambley in Com. Northumb. and made Otterington in Com. Devon an Alien-Priory In his Reign were founded seven Benedictine Abbies and Priories eleven for Regular Canons seven for Cistercian Monks one Preceptory two Premonstratensian Abbies six of the Gilbertine Order and two Alien-Priories In King Henry the third 's long Reign we find but four Benedictine Abbies and Priories built fifteen of the Austin nine of the Cistercian and of the Gilbertine and Cluniac Orders each one as also one of the Premonstratensian viz. Tichfield in Com. Hants which was the last of that Order that was built in England and one Alien-Priory viz. Rumney in Com. Cant. the last that was subjected to any foreign Monastery And the King himself founded only the small Gilbertine Cell of Fordham in Com. Cantab. For during this Reign came the Dominican or Preaching Friers into this Kingdom A. D. 1217. and the Franciscans or Friers Minors A. D. 1224. who for the pretended severity of their lives and their frequent Preaching were at first mightily admired by the people to the great loss of the parish Priests as well as the Regulars King Edward I. succeeded next who built the stately Abby of Vale-Royal in Com. Cest. In this King's time the Charity and Devotion of the English began to be very cold the greatness and riches of the Ecclesiasticks being envied by the Nobility and Gentry and the affections of the people alienated by the Sermons Pamphlets and secret insinuations of the begging Friers The Nobility and Commons being thus prepared the Statute of Mortmain easily passed A. D. 1279. 7. Edw. I. By this Act it was not allowed to any Religious person to enter upon any Fees either to buy them or to receive them of the gift of others without licence of the chief Lords upon pain of forfeiture and the reason of this Statute was because the services due from such Fees and which at the beginning were provided for the defence of the Realm are wrongfully withdrawn and the chief Lords do loose their escheats of the same Upon the making this Statute the Religious seem'd to complain and to supply the loss of new benefactions procured pensions privileges from paying Tithes and what the Church finds the inconvenience of to this very day Impropriations These last thoâ— they were sometimes used before yet after the enacting this law were obtained by Bulls from Rome on every small occasion A. D. 1295. the King seised all the Aliâ—n-Priories the rents and profits which issued out of them to foreign Monasteries in case they received as formerly being conceived of advantage to the Kings enemies In this King's time were founded three Monasteries of the Benedictine Order two Austin Priories three Cistercian Abbies one Preceptory and nine Colleges as also one Gilbertine Priory viz. Pulton in Wiltshire which was the last House of that Order in England In King Edward II. his Reign we find no great stir made about the Monks or their lands Indeed the Knights Templers were seised and their goods and revenues confiscated tho' they were not appropriated to any Secular use but settled on the Knights Hospitalers by Act of Parliament 17. Edw. II. In which Statute there are some things very remarkable which shew the opinion Parliaments in those times had of church-Church-lands It seemeth good these are the words of the Act to our Lord the King the Noblemen and others assembled in Parliament for the health of their Souls and the discharge of their consciences that whereas the Military Order of Temples were originally instituted for the defence of Christians and the Universal Holy Church subversion of the enemies of Christ and Christians and canoniz'd to the augmentation of the honour of God and liberal almsgiving That the foresaid lands and tenements in demesnes Lordships Services c. according to the wills of the givers shall be assign'd and delivered to other men of most holy Religion to the intent the fruits obventions and profits of the same lands tenements and other things may be converted and charitably disposed of to godly uses I can't meet with any Monastery founded by this unhappy Prince and indeed
Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 177. T. 3. P. 1. p. 45. Registr MS. in Bibl. Cotton Tiber. D. 6. 9. Andover A Cell to the Abby of St. Florence at Salmur to which it was given by King Will. Conq. But this with the rest of the Alien-Priories being dissolved 2. Hen. V. King Edw. IV. gave it to the College of St. Mary near Winton Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 552. T. 3. P. 2. p. 135. 10. Carisbrook Wight Will. Fitz-Osbern temp Will. Conq. gave the Church of St. Mary in Carisbrook to the Abby of Lira in Normandy which thenceforth became a Cell to that Abby King Rich. II. gave it to the Abby of Mountgrace in York-shire but Henry V. bestowed it on the Cistercians at Shene Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 968. T. 2. p. 905 985. 11. Winteney A Benedictine Nunnery built by Roger Colrith Esquire and Thomas his son temp Will. Conq. to the honour of the blessed Virgin and S. Mary Magdalene It 's yearly revenues at the Suppression were worth 43 l. 3 s. Dugd. 59 l. 1 s. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 483. 12. Shirburn An Alien-Priory of Benedictine Monks dedicated to St. Mary Cell to the Abby of St. Vigor at Cerasie in Normandy thereunto given by Henry de Port temp Hen. I. King Edw. IV. bestowed it upon the Hospital of St. Iulian in Southampton Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 441. 13. Southampton juxta King Henry I. built a Priory of Black Canons here It 's Tutelar Saint was St. Dennis and it 's yearly revenues at the Dissolution were worth 80 l. 11 s. 6 d. Dugd. 91 l. 9 s. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 108. 14. Quarrer Wight A. D. 1132. Bald. de Redveriis Earl of Devon built an Abby of Cistercian Monks here to the honour of the blessed Virgin It 's yearly revenues were worth at the Dissolution 134 l. 3 s. 11 d. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 760. 15. Bromere A Priory of Black Canons founded by the said Baldwin de Redveriis and by him commended to the Patronage of the Holy Trinity and St. Michael It was rated 26. Hen. VIII at 154 l. 14 s. 1 d. ob per an Dugd 200 l. 15 s. 1 d. ob Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 201. 16. Southwyke King Henry I. A. D. 1133. founded here a Priory of Canons of St. Austins Order and dedicated it to St. Mary It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 257 l. 4 s. 4 d. per an Dugd. 314 l. 17 s. 10 d. Sp. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 134. 17. De Bello-Loco or Beaulieu An Abby for thirty Cistercian Monks founded by King Iohn A. D. 1204. and dedicated to St. Mary It was rated at 326 l. 13 s. 2 d. ob q. per an Dugd. 428 l. 6 s. 8 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 925. Registr MS. in Bibl. Cotton Nero A. 12. Vitellius F. 1. 18. Motisfont Will. Brewere temp Ioh. built here a Priory of Canons of St. Austins Order to the honour of the Holy Trinity which was endowed at the Suppression with 124 l. 3 s. 5 d. ob per an Dugd. 167 l 15 s. 8 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 322. 19. Tychfield Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester 16. Hen. III. built an Abby here for Praemonstratensian Canons to the honour of the blessed Virgin At the Suppression it was endowed with 249 l. 16 s. 1 d. per an Dugd. 280 l. 19 s. 10 d. ob Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 660. 20. Seleburn A. D. 1233. Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winton built here a Priory of Black Canons to the honour of the blessed Virgin Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 343. 21. Lettely or de Loco Sancti Edwardi King Hen. III. A. D. 1239. founded an Abby here for Cistercian Monks and commended it to the Patronage of St. Mary and St. Edward It was valued at 100 l. 12 s. 8 d. per an Dugd. 160 l. 2 s. 9 d. ob Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 933. 22. Hamele An Alien-Priory to the Abby of Tiromo in France dedicated to St. Andrew 23. Badeisley A Preceptory valued at 118 l 16 s. 7 d. per an at the Suppression Speed 24. Andewell An Alien-Priory to Tyrone in France 25. Apple-Durcomb Wight A Cell to the Abby of St. Mary de Montisburg in Normandy founded by one Nicholas Spenser and Margaret his wife Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 571. 26. Ellingham A Cell to St. Saviours in Normandy given by King Hen. VI. to Eaton College Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 199. 27. Hailing An Alien-Priory to Gymeges in France bestowed by Henry V. on Shene Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 975. 28. S Cross. Wight An Alien-Priory to Tyrone in France 29. S. Helen Wight An Alien-Priory of Cluniack Monks given by King Hen. VI. to Eaton Coll. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 199. 30. Burton Wight A Priory of Canons of the Order of S. Austin 31. Winchester A Monastery built by one Adam Martin to the honour of St. Iames. MS. Ash. 32. Stratfield-say An Alien-Priory to the Abby de Valido-monte in France 33. Winchester A College of a Provost six Priests and six Clerks founded by Ioh. de Pontissar Bishop of Winchester A. D. 1301. and dedicated to St. Elizabeth It was endowed at the Dissolution with 112 l. 17 s. 4 d. ob per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 46. 34. College juxta UUinton That Munificent Prelate William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester A. D. 1387. built this College to the honour of the blessed Virgin Mary It consisteth of a Warden ten Fellows a School Master an Usher and seventy Scholars besides Chaplains Clerks c. Vide Monast. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 106 133. * Munimenta hujus Collegii penes Custodem Socios ☞ Beside these Durford or Dertford is sometimes reckoned in this County but I choose rather to place it in Sussex HEREFORD-SHIRE 1. Hereford THis was a Bishop's See ever since the year 680. But Milefrid King of the Mercians founded the Cathedral Church about A. D. 825. to the honour of St. Ethelbert King and Martyr Vide Monast. Angl. T. 3. P. 1. p. 180. 2. Leominster Leot Knight v. Leâ—ster Merwald King of the Mercians first built a Nunnery here about A. D. 800. which was destroyed in the Danish wars after that here was a College of Prebendaries untill Hen. I. annexed their lands to the Abby of Reading and so it became a Cell of Benedictine Monks to that Abby It was dedicated to St. Iames. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 420. 3. Monkenlane An Alien-Priory Cell to the Abby of Conchis in Normandy to which it was given by Ralph Tony the elder temp Will. Rufi Given by King Edw. IV. to Windsor College Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 597. T. 3. P. 2. p. 74. 4. Ewias A. D. 1100. Harold Lord of Ewias built
Bodl. NE. B. 1. 6. * Rentale Cartas c. hujus Ecclesiae in manibus Henr. Worsley Hosp. Lincoln Arm. * Cartularium Abbatiae Westmon penes Henr. Spelman * Registrum penes ... Okely de ... in Com. Salop. 1649. * Exemplar Rotulorum Curiae diversorum Maneriorum Abbatiae Westmon sc. de anno primo secundo Ricardi III. In Officio Armorum * Râ—ntale hujus Ecclesiae MS. in Bibl. Coll. Vniv. Oxon. I. 10. Imperf * Jo. Fleet MS. de Fundatione dedicatione Abbatiae Westmon In Bibl. Westmon Eccles. 3. College of St. Martin near Aldgate A College of a Dean and Secular Canons founded by one Ingelricus and Edward his brother A. D. 1056. and confirm'd by King William the Conqueror A. D. 1068. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 26. * Collect. MSS. Rogeri Dodsworth in Bibl. Bodl. Vol. 24. 4. Clerkenwell A Benedictine Nunnery built by Iordan de Briset A. D. 1100. to the honour of the Assumption of our Lady It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 262 l. 19 s. per an Dugd. 28 l. 16 s. 5 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 428. Registrum in Bibl. Cotton Faust. B. 2. * Collect. MSS. Ricardi James in Bibl. Bodl. Vol. 7. 5. S. Iohn of Ierusalem A Priory of Knights Hospitalers of St. Iohn of Ierusalem founded by Iordanus Briset A. D. 1100. Upon the Suppression of the Templers which Order began A. D. 1119. and was seated here in the New Temple A. D. 1185. the best part of their lands were given A. D. 1324. to the Hospitalers whose yearly revenues at the Dissolution were worth 2385 l. 12 s. 8 d. Speed 3385 l. 19 s. 8 d. Stow. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 505. Registr in Bibl. Cotton 6. Christ-Church near Aldgate A Priory of Black Canons founded by Rich. Beaumey Bishop of London A. D. 1107. to the honour of the blessed Trinity This being the first Monastery that was dissolv'd by King Hen. VIII it was given by him to Sir Thomas Audley then Lord Chancellor A. D. 1533. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 80. 7. S. Bartholomew's in Smithfield A. D. 1123. Raherus built a Priory of Black Canons here It was rated 26. Hen. VIII at 653 l. 15 s. per an Dugd. 757 l. 8 s. 4 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 166. 8. S. Helens near Bishopsgate-street A Benedictine Nunnery founded by William Fitz-William about A. D. 1160. It was endowed with 314 l. 2 s. 6 d. per an Dugd. 376 l. 6 s. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 894. 9. S. Mary de Bethlem without Bishopsgate A Priory of Black Canons founded by Simon Fitz-Mary A. D. 1247. It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 478 l. 6 s. 6 d. per an Dugd. 557 l. 14 s. 10 d. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p 382. 10. Nunnery without Aldgate Edmund Earl of Lancaster 21. Edw. I. built a Monastery for Nuns of the Order of St. Clare or Minoresses to the honour of the blessed Virgin and St. Francis It 's annual revenues at the Suppression was worth 318 l. 8 s. 5 d. Dugd. 342 l. 5 s. 10 d. ob Speed 418 l. 8 s. 5 d. Stow. Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 541. 11. â—lsingspittle by Cripplegate In old time it was a Nunnery but William Elsing got this house of the King and placed therein a Warden and four Secular Canons A. D. 1331. whom he changed A. D. 1340. into Regulars of the Order of St. Austin Adjoining to it was also a Hospital of his Foundation They were endowed at the Dissolution with 193 l. 15 s. 5 d. per an Dugd. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 462. 12. Corpus Christi College in Candleweek-street Founded by Iohn Pultney Lord Mayor of London 20. Edw. III. It was rated at 79 l. 17 s. 11 d. per an 13. Westminster King Edward III. finish'd the College here begun by King Stephen and therein placed a Dean twelve Secular Canons and thirteen Vicars four Clerks six Choristers to the honour of St. Stephen 22. Edw. III. It was endowed at the Suppression with 1085 l. 10 s. 5 d. per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 61. 14. S. Mary of Grace near the Tower A Cistercian Abby founded by King Edw. III. 25. Edw. III. It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 546 l. 10 d. per an Dugd. 602 l. 11 s. 10 d. Speed Vide Mon. Ang. T. 1. p. 943. 15. Charter-house A Carthusian Abby built by Sir Walter Manny A. D. 1372. to the honour of the Salutation of the blessed Virgin It 's yearly revenues at the Dissolution amounted to 642 l. 4 d. ob Dugd. 757 l. 8 s. 4 d. Speed In room of this Thomas Sutton Esq temp R. Iac. I. founded and largely endowed a most magnificent Hospitall consisting of a Master a Chaplain and several other Officers also eighty decay'd Gentlemen Souldiers and Merchants besides a Schoolmaster and Usher to instruct fourty four Scholars Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 961. * Domus Carthusiana or an account of the founder and foundation of the Charterhouse London by Sam. Hern. Lond. 1677. 8 vo 16. S. Michael in Crooked-Lane A College founded by Will. Walworth for a Master and nine Priests 4. Rich. II. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 104. 17. Barking A College founded by King Richard the third in the Chappel of our Lady within the Church of All-hallows Barking Stow p. 131. 18. Whitingdon-College The Executors of Richard Whitingdon sometime Lord Mayor of London endowed a College in the Church of Pater Noster A. D. 1424. and dedicated it to St. Michael It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 20 l. 1 s. 2 d. per an Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 177 189. MIDDLESEX 1. Stratford-Bow A Benedictine Nunnery dedicated to St. Leonard and founded by William Bishop of London temp R. Will. Conq. It 's yearly revenues were worth 108 l. 1 s. 11 d. ob Dugd. 121 l. 16 s. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 443. 2. Kylburn A Priory of Nuns of the Order of St. Benedict founded by Herebert Abbat of Westminster about A. D. 1139 to which Abby it was subordinate St. Iohn Baptist was the Tutelar Saint of this Priory It was valued 26. Hen. VIII at 74 l. 7 s. 11 d. per an Dugd. 121 l. 16 s. Speed Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 361. 3. Haliwel A Benedictine Nunnery built by Robert Fitz-Gelran Canon of St. Paul's London temp Ric. I. to the honour of St. Iohn Baptist. It was valued at 293 l. per an Stow. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 531. 4. Syon King Henry V. founded an Abby here for sixty Nuns of the Order of St. Bridget thirteen Priests four Deacons eight Lay Brethren and commended it to the Patronage of St. Saviour and St. Bridget It was endowed at the Dissolution with 1731 l. 8 s. 4 d. ob q. per an Dugd. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 360. * Constitutiones Mon. de Syon