Church of St Mary in the said Castle and placed in it twelve Secular Canons and a Dean appropriating thereunto all the Churches in Leicester except St. Margarets which is a Prebend of Lincoln with divers Lands Robert his Son and Heir having sounded the Abby de Pratis transferred all the Possessions and Prebends of the Church of St. Mary to his new built Abby This last mentioned Robert commonly call'd Bossu took the Habit of a Canon Regular in this Abby and died here An. 1167. He also founded an Abby of Monks at Geroudon and a Nunnery at Eaton in which his Countess Amicia became a Nun. After some time the Male Line of this Robert failing the Estate became divided between two Sisters Co-heirs Amicia married to Simon de Montefort and Margaret married to Sayer de Quincy These Canons had also a Grant of one Load of Wood daily out of the Forrest of Leicester ad focum domus infirmariae Canonicorum for Fewel to serve in the Infirmary Valued at 951 l. 14 s. 5 d. ob per Annum GRIMESBY in Lincolnshire KING Henry the I. founded and endowed this Priory granting to the Canons here among other things the tenth Penny of all his Farmes in Leiseby and Grymesby and the Tith of all Fish in his Port of Honflet in pure and perpetual Alms with large Liberties and Immunities All which were confirm'd by King Henry the II. Valued at 9 l. 14 s. 7 d. per Annum St. THOMAS the Martyr near Stafford FOunded by Richard Peche Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield 1162. who in his later days became a Canon Regular in this House in which Habit he died and was buried his Episcopal Habit being taken away by his Cosin G. Peche a Monk of Coventry Robert de Ferrars Earl of Derby gave to this Priory certain Lands together with his Body after his decease to be buried here Valued at 141 l. 13 s. 2 d. per Annum NEW-STEAD in the Forrest of Sherwood in Nottinghamshire FOunded by King Henry the II. for Canons Regular to whom he gave the Town and Church of Paplewic and other Lands with large Liberties Also two great Wastes called Kygell and Ravenshede King Iohn while Earl of Morton gave other Lands all which he confirm'd after he was King An. 6. Valued at 167 l. 16 s. 11 d. ob per Annum HICKLING in Norfolk FOunded and endow'd by Theobaldus de Valeines Confirm'd by King Iohn An. Reg. 5. Valued at 100 l. 18 s. 7 d. ob per Annum STONELEY near Kimbolton in Huntingtonshire THIS was a Prioy of seven Canons founded by William Mandeville Earl of Essex To this House the Rectory of Kymolton was appropriated The Bigrames were Benefactors and lay here buried Valued at 46 l. 0 s. 5 d. ob per Annum MODBERLEY in Cheshire FOunded by Patricius de Modberley for Canons Regular and by him endow'd with several Lands and Commons of Pasture He also granted the Canons free power upon the decease of their Prior to elect another according to their own pleasure SPINEY in Cambridgeshire FIRST founded by Beatrice Malebisse one of the Co-heirs of the Lordship of Wikes within the said Lordship for three Canons Regular Afterwards Maria de Basingburne encreased the number to four two of which were to come daily and officiate in the Church of Wykes She also gave a Messuage and other Lands for the Prior and Canons to maintain therein seven Poor men allowing to each daily a Loaf of a Farthing and among all a measure of Ale of a Penny to each three Ells of Linnen Cloath at two pence per Ell and every two years a Woollen Garment price two shillings and six pence c. Also to make three distributions of Alms per Annum to three thousand poor People But these Charges being found to extend to much more then the Revenue of the Lands by her given Richard Aithilwald and Matilda his Wife Cousin and Heir of the Foundresses did An. 6. H. 5. release the coming of the two Canons to the Church of Wykes and changed the three distributions abovesaid to the giving thirteen shillings and four pence yearly in Alms to the Poor of Wykes c. King Henry the VI. An 27. granted his License to the Prior and Convent of this House to give their Convent and all their Revenues to the Prior and Convent of Ely MOTESFONT in Hantshire FOunded by William Briwer who endowed this Priory with divers Lands and gave his Mannor of Merton for the maintenance of four poor men in Diet and Aparel c. Divers others were great Benefactors among whom Peter de Rivallis Brother of the Founder then commonly call'd The Holy Man in the Wall Alienora Wife of King Edward the I. gave divers Possessions for an Anniversary and for daily Alms to seven poor Widows c. Confirm'd by Margery de la Ferte or Feritate Daughter of William Briwer and Co heir after the death of William her Brother William Son of Reginald de Brus married Grace eldest Daughter and Co-heir of this William Brewere from whom descended four Daughters married to the Earl of Hereford Cantelow Fitzherbert and Mortemer The Estate of these Canons was confirm'd by King Iohn An. 6. Valued at 1 â— 4 l. 3 s. 5 d. ob per Annum FRITHELSTOKE in Devonshire IT was found by Inquisition 15 Iohn That Robert Son of Robert de Bello Campo founded and endow'd the Priory of Canons here dedicated to God the blessed Mary and St. George saving to the Patrons the liberty of appointing one to guard the Gare of the said Priory in time of Vacation and take care that the Goods of the same be not wasted the said Guardian to have nothing but his sustenence and upon confirmation of a new Prior to retire Valued at 127 l. 2 s. 4 d. per Annum WROXTON in Oxfordshire FOunded by Master Michael Belet in the time of Hugh Bishop of Lincoln and by him endowed with his Mannors of Wroxton where it was founded and Thorpe near Rowell in Northamptonshire Confirm'd by King Hen. the III. with Liberties of Sac and Soc c. Valued at 78 l. 13 s. 4 d. per Annum DE PRATO between North-Creyke and Burnham in Norfolk ANno 1206. Robert de Nerford founded a Church here which Robert was principal Warden of Dover Castle under Hubert de Burgo then Chief Justice of England He also built a Chappel to the honour of St. Bartholomew with an Hospital for thirteen poor men and four Chaplains and a Master After the death of the said Founder the said Master and his Brethren took the Habit of Canons Regular and from that time were called Prior and Canons The Chappel and new erected Priory was dedicated An. 1221. Alice Widow of the said Robert made several Orders for the Government of the said Hospital among others that the Brethren who should be admitted into the said Hospital should at their entry promise Chastity and Obedience to the Master that none should have property
Bishop of Worcester and by Simon and Iohn his Predecessors Iohn Son of Ieoffrey de Langele gave to God and St. Mary of Pinley and the Nuns there his Brother Robert de Langely his Homage and Service and Rent of 6 d. for the maintenance of our Ladies Lamp at Pinley ad Lumen beatae Mariae de Pineleia Valued at 23 l. 5 s. 11 d. per Annum STRATFORD Prâ—ory THE Nunnery here dedicated to St. Leonard was founded and endowed by Christiana de Sumeri and her Son as seems by the Confirmation of King Steven King Richard the I. did confirm other Lands to it given by Galiena and her Son Bartholmew de Daumartin Patrons of the House FRESTONE in Lincolnshire a Cell of Croyland ALan de Creun with Muriel his Wife and Maurice his Son gave the Clearch of St. Iames of Frestone with several Lands and Tithes to be a Cell to the Abby of Croyland From which Creun or Croune descended the Family of Pedwardyn who became Heirs of the Founder the Male Line ceasing St. DOGMELS in Pembrokshire Cella Caenobii Tyronensis THese Monks were Benedictines of the same Order with those of St. Martins at Tours The Priory here was founded by Martin de Turribus a Norman who first Conquered the Country hereabouts call'd Kames or Kemish Robert the Son of this Martin endow'd it with Lands confirm'd to it by King Henry the I. Valued at 87 l. 8 s. 6 d. per Annum WALDEN Abby in Essex THE Abby at Walden was founded in the year 1136. by Gaufridus de Mandevilia Earl of Essex He was Grandson of Ieoffrey who came into England with the Norman Conqueror and was of most signal note in his Army for his great Performances From the noble Founder of this Abby who died in the year 1144. descended the illustrious Family of the Bohuns Earls of Hereford Essex and Northampton This Abby was dedicated to the honour of the blessed Mary and St. Iames the Apostle The Family of Bohuns were great Benefactors to this Abby and most of them buried here This Abby was built on the West-side of the Town and adjoyning to the High-way which place was chosen as more proper for the relief of Travellers and for Hospitality After the death of the Founder Rohesia his Widow built a Nunnery at Chinksand to which she did all good Offices and for the sake of that House became very unkind to this of her Husbands Foundation William de Mandevilla second Son of the Founder while Ieoffrey his elder Brother lived led a military life in Flanders with Philip Earl of that Country but upon his Brother's death without issue he return'd into England and inherited his Estate Soon after which he made a Pilgrimage to Ierusalem and visited the holy Places from whence being return'd into England he visited this House and was here received with great Ceremony where he presented at the Altar several Relicks which be had purchased in the holy Land and became a great Benefactor to this House giving them by his Testament the Moiety of his Lordship of Walden c. and died in Normandy without issue After whose decease this Barony came by his Heirs General to one Ieffrey Fitz-Peter who disseiz'd the Monks of what Earl William had given them and kept the Estate from them a great while till after King Iohn's Coronation being made Earl of Essex he restored part of their Lands again and confirm'd them to the Monks here This Ieffrey Filius Petri was very vexatious to this Abby the manner and particulars may be seen in the Book at large Yet did Gaufridus de Mandavilla the first Founders Deed of Foundation contain a heavy Curse to any of his Successors or Tenants who should vex or disturb these Monks in any of their Possessions or alienate or diminish the same The Founders Endowment was confirm'd by several of his Descendents also by King Steven and King Henry the II. And King Edward the III. in the seventeeth year of his Reign Licensed William de Bohun Earl of Northampton to give and annext the Priory of Bereden in Essex as a Cell to this Abby Valued at 372 l. 18 s. 1 d. per Annum BROMFEILD in Shropshire ANno Dom. 1155. The Canons of Bromfeild by the Authority of Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury gave their Church of Bromfeild to the Abby of St. Peters at Gloucester King Henry the II. confirm'd all the Estate belonging to the Church of St. Mary of Bromfeild to the Prior and Monks there serving God to hold of him and his Heirs in perpetual Alms. The like did King Henry the III. BRETFORD in Warwickshire GAufridus Camerarius de Clintona gave certain Lands in this Lordship to one Noemi a Nun for the erecting a Cell of Nuns here Afterwards at the request of the said Gaufridus de Clinton the Nuns here being only two viz. Sebure and Naeumi gave their House and Estate here to the Canons of Killingworth TALLACH in the Diocess of St. David's in Wales THE Abby here dedicated to God St. Mary and St. Iohn Baptist was founded by Resus the younger Son of Resus the younger of the Family of the Princes of South-wales and by him and others endow'd with many Lands the particulars may be seen in the Monasticon at large fol. 466 467. all which was confirm'd to this House by King Edward the II. in the seventeenth year of his Reign and by King Edward the III. in the fifth year of his Reign Valued at 136 l. 9 s. 11 d. per Annum BLITHBURY Priory in Staffordshire HVgh Malvisin gave Blytheburgh to Monks and Nuns there dwelling for the service of God and St. Giles to hold in pare and perpetual Alms. Which Estate tho' for a while taken away by William Malvisin Son of the Founder Hugh yet it was soon restored again EDWARDSTON in Suffolk a Cell to Abbington HVbertus de Monte Canesi Lord of the Town of Edwardston in Suffolk gave the Church there to the Monks of Abbendon to be a Cell of that House and confirm'd his Gift in the fifteenth year of Henry the I. Which was also ratified by that King An. Dom. 1115. DEPING in Lincolnshire a Cell to Thorney BAldewinus Wac gave the Church of St. Iames in Deping with divers Lands belonging to it to God St. Mary and the Church of Thorney which was confirm'd by his Son and Grandson and also by Pope Innocent the III. in the first year of his Pontificate 1198 ALCESTER in Warwickshire IN the year 1140. Radulfus Pincerna or Boteler founded this Monastery then called from its Situation St. Mary's of the Isle and made Robert a Monk of Worcester the first Abbot here At which time it was agreed between the two Houses viz. The Abby of Worcester and this that there should be a constant Love and Brotherhood betwixt them and that upon the death of the Abbot here another should be chosen indifferently out of either House the said Founder endow'd this Monastery with divers Lands ordaining
that the Abbot should not spend any of the Revenues to enrich his secular kindred but upon the Poor and Travellers Robert Earl of Leicester of whom this Estate was holden by the foresaid Founder confirm'd the same to the Monks here and granted to them divers Liberties The like did King Steven King Henry the II. confirm'd to them all their Lands by their several Benefactors given and also granted them full power to choose their own Abbot from among themselves in their Convent King Edward the IV. in the fifth year of his Reign seeing the Estate of this Monastery to run to decay it being so far wasted that it was not sufficient to maintain any Monks but the Abbot only granted this House and what Estate it had left to the Abby of Evesham to which he annext it for ever so that from that time it became a Cell of that Abby Valued at 65 l. 7 s. 11 d. per Annum LINGEBROOK Priory in Herefordshire IT seems by an Inquisition taken 24. Edw. 3. that Adam Esgar Clerk was a Benefactor to the Monastery of Nuns here and founded an Anniversary for William de Power Valued at 22 l. 17 s. 8 d. per Annum NUNKELLING in Yorkshire AGnes de Archis gave the Church here and divers Lands to God St. Mary and St. Helen and to the Nuns of Killing in pure and â—ree Alms. The Nuns Estate here was afterwards confirm'd by Richard de Sancto Quintino and William de Fortibus Earl of Albemarle and by Aeliz de Sancto Quintino Daughter of the foresaid Agnes who also gave other Lands and lastly by the Archbishops of York Valued at 35 l. 15 s. 5 d. per Annum SANDWELL in Staffordshire WIlliam Son of Guido de Offney founded a Hermitage in Bromwich near the Well call'd Sandwell for a Habitation of Monks and endow'd the same with divers Lands lying about the same Which was confirm'd to the said Monks by Gervais Paganellus Lord of the honour of Dudley of which Barony the Lands were holden MONKETON in Yorkshire WIlliam de Arches and Iuetta his Wife founded a Nunnery here of which their Daughter Matilda was a Nun endowing the same with divers Lands All which was confirm'd to the said Nunnery by Henry Murdac Archbishop of York He died 1153. Valued at 75 l. 12 s. 4 d. ob per Annum HALISTANE in Northumberland RIchard Bishop of Durham in the year 1311. united the Churches of Crossanet and Harbottell to the Church of Halistan and the Nunnery there and gave the Patronage of the same to Richard de Vmframvill Patron of the said Nunnery King Henry the III. in the thirty ninth year of his Reign confirm'd to the Prioress and Nuns of Halystan the Lands given to them by Alice de Alneto and Roger Bertram Valued at 11 l. 5 s. 7 d. per Annum DUNSTER in Somersetshire THE Monastery of Monks here dedicated to the honour of St. George was founded and endow'd with sundry Lands and Revenues by the Ancestors of Iohn de Mooun Lord of Dunsterre which Iohn did in the fifteenth year of King Edward the III. ratifie and confirm to the Monks here all his Ancestors Donations Valued at 37 l. 4 s. 8 d. per Annum MARGAN Abby in Wales THIS Abby was founded by Robert Earl of Gloucester in the year 1147. King Iohn in the sixth year of his Reign confirm'd to the Church oâ— St. Mary's of Margan and the Monks there all the Lands and Estate given to them by the said Robert and several others Vaued at 181 l. 7 s. 4 d. per Annum BLACKBURGH in Norfolk ROger de Scales and Muriell his Wise gave to God St. Mary and St. Catherine and to the Brethren serving them in this place called Shiplade otherwise Blackbergh divers Lands and Possessions The same Roger by an other Deed gave the same Lands and others to the Sisters here serving God Vid. Vol. 2. p. 879. Valued at 42 l. 6 s. 7 d. ob per Annum HENWOOD in Warwickshire KEtelbernus de Langedona gave to God and St. Margeret the Virgin and to the Nuns at Eastwell so was this Monastery then called by reason of its situation part of his Demeans of Langedon in which Lordship this Nunnery stood with divers other Lands and Liberties to hold as freely as he himself held them of his chief Lord Hugh of Arden Pope Innocent in the first year of his Pontificate incorporated annext and united to this Nunnery of Henwood divers Churches given to the same by King Rich. II. and King Henry the IV. Valued at 21 l. 2 s. 0 d. ob per Annum St. RADEGUNDS adjoyning to Cambridge KING Steven confirm'd to the Church and Nuns of St. Mary of Cambridge certain Lands which William a Monk and Goldsmith gave them and also other Lands given them by Countess Constance Wife of his Son Eustace It was found by Inquisition taken at Cambridge 3. Edw. I. that the Prioress and Nuns of St. Radegund at Cambridge hold a certain piece of Ground called Greencroft containing ten Acres on which their Church and House is founded which was given for that purpose by Malcolme King of Scotland and that Nigellus and Eustachius Bishops of Ely had been Benefactors to this Nunnery LANGLEY in Leicestershire THE Nunnery of St. Mary's of Langly was founded by William Pantulphe and Burgia his Wife from whom descended Robert de Tatesale Patron of this Priory 5. H. 3. The Nuns here upon the death of their Prioress had power to choose another without asking leave of their Patron who did use during the time of such Vacation to appoint a Boy unum Garcionem with a white Wand to keep the Gate of the Nunnery for which he was to have his Diet there Valued at 29 l. 7 s. 4 d. ob per Annum SANDFORD in Barkshire KING Edward the I. in the 2 â—st year of his Reign granted to the Prior and Convent oâ— Sandelford free Warren in their Demeans Saâ—herus de Sancto Andrea granted to God and the Church of St. Nicholas of Sandford and to the Nuns there a Râ—nt of Five Shillings per Annum in his Town of Littlemore Vid. Vol. 3. p. 13. SETON in â—umberland HEnry Duke of Lancaster Earl of Derb Lincoln and Leicester being inform'd that the Revenues of thâ—â— Priory were so small that they could not maintain the Priâ—ress and Nunsâ— gave and annext to this House the Hospital of St. Leonardâ— in Lancaster to hold in pure and perpetual Alms. Which Hospital was first founded by King Iohn for a Master a Chaplain and nine poor People three of which to be Lepers and the rest sound Valued at 12 l. 12 s. ob per Annum ANKERWIK in Buckinghamshire GIlbert and Richard Muntfichet Knights founded a Nunnery here and endow'd it with Lands King Henry the III. in the one and fortieth year of his Reign confirm'd their Estate given by many Benefactors whose Names and Parcels given are exprest in his Charter Valued at 32 l. 0 s. 2 d. per
he left five Sons all successively Earls of Pembroke but they all died without issue Matilda the eldest of their Sisters and Co-heirs was married to Hugh le Bigod Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk c. Valued at 192 l. 1 s. 4 d. ob per Annum RIEVALL in Yorkshire ANno 1132. Gualterus Especk a Great man in the Court of King Henry the I. founded this Monastery in a place called Blachomour near the River Rie for the receipt of certain Monks of the Cistercian Order sent over by Bernard Abbot of Clarevallis whose first Abbot was William This Walter Especk having unhappily lost his Son and Heir who broke his Neck by a fall from a Horse built and endow'd with part of his Estate three Monasteries viz Kirkham Rievall and Wardon The rest of his Estate was divided between his three Sisters and Co-heirs one of which married to Peter Lord Roos the Descent of which Noble Family the Reader may see set forth in the Book at large with their several Matches and Issue down to George Manners Lord Roos who died An. 1513. Many were the Benefactors and large the Possessions of this Monastery exprest Fol. 729 730 731. Pope Alexander the III. by his Bull dated 1140. granted to Aelredo Abbot of St. Mary's of Rievalle and his Brethren and their Successors in that Monastery a Confirmation of all their Possessions with divers Priviledges in particular that they might celebrate the Divine Offices in the time of a general Interdict c. Valued at 278 l. 10 s. 2 d. per Annum FOUNTAINS in Yorkshire a Cell of Clarevallis Founded 1132. THE Rule and Discipline of St. Benedict being relaxt in the Abby of St. Mary's at York and a great Dissention happening therein on that occasion between the Abbot and Prior Turstin then Archbishop of York gave leave to thirteen of the Monks to retire from the said Abby To these the said Archbishop appointed a Solitary and then Desert place for their Habitation at that time called Skeldale since Fountains Here for a time a great Elme was their only fence from the Weather under which they slept sed and performed their Offices according to their Rule Richard who had been their Prior at York being elected their first Abbot and confirm'd by the Archbishop Turstin aforesaid They having past a Winter in this manner sent to the holy Bernard Abbot of Claravellis submitting themselves to his Rule and Direction Abbot Bernard sends back with the Messengers one of his Monks named Galfridus who taught them the Cistercian Discipline Hitherto they were in great want being forced to dress for their Food the Leaves of the Trees and Herbs of the Fields Yet in their distress having in their poor House but two Loaves and a half they gave one of them to a Poor man who demanded an Alms for Christ his sake Two years they labour'd under this grievous Poverty after which God sent them many Benefactors the first of which was Hugh Dean of York Five years after the first Foundation of the Monastery of Fountains a certain Nobleman called Ranulph de Merâ—ay built for them a new Monastery to which they sent some of their Monks under the Government of Abbot Robert formerly a Monk at Witheby Besides which many Cells were founded and given to this House a Woburne Kirkstall Bitham otherwise called Vallis dei Lisa in Norway c. Benefactors to this House were Alanus de Aldeburg Roger de Mubrai de Aldeburg Swanus de Tornetun de Bramlcia Roger de Lact Constable of Chester Nigellus de Mubrai Alice de Gant c. who gave to God and the Church of St. Mary de Fontibus divers Mannors and Lands All which were confirm'd to the Monks of the Cistercian Order here and their Successors for ever by King Richard the I. Valued at 998 l. 6 s. 8 d. ob per Annum QUARRE Quarrera in the Isle of Wight a Cell to Savigny Foâ—nded 1132. RIchard Earl of Exeter Son of Baldwin confirm'd to God the holy Virgin and Gaufridus Abbot of Savigny this House and divers Lands and Revenues thereunto belonging first given by his Father Benefactors to this House were Henry Fitz-Empress who writ himself Son of the Duke of Normandy and Earl of Anjou Engelgerius de Bohun William de Vernun Earl of Devon c. Controversie arising between the Abbot and Covent of Lyra and this Church of Quarre about certain Tithes and Revenues in and about Carisbrok and other Neighbouring Towns here in this Island the Matter was agreed and settled by Deed dated in the year 1289. Valued at 134 l. 3 s. 11 d. per Annum CUMBERMERE in Cheshire Founded 1133. HVgo Malbanc founded this Abby in the Honour of the blessed Virgin and St. Michael and endow'd it with very large Lands and Possessions among others with the fourth part of the Town of Wiche and the Tithes of the Salt and Boylries there Yet by the same Deed he granted that Ralph Earl of Chester his chief Lord should be accounted the Principal Founder and Defender of the said Church and Monks there King Henry the III. in the sixteenth year of his Reign confirm'd all their Possessions and again in the fiftieth year of his Reign In the year 1230. Ralph Earl of Chester confirm'd their Estate given by Hugo Malbanc and granted them several Liberties and Immunities Vid. 2. Vol. p. 913. Valued at 225 l. 9 s. 7 d. per Annum GEROUDON in Leicestershire THIS was founded Anno 1133. as Cell to Waverle The Founder Robert Earl of Leicester endow'd this Monastery with all his Lands in Disseley and with the Wood of Shepehed Many were the Benefactors who gave to this Church of St. Mary of Geroldon and the Monks here large Possessions viz. Margaret Countess of Wynton Sister of the said Robert Margaret de Ferrariis Countess of Derby Roger de Quincy Gilbert de Coleville William Son of Richard Wareyn William Peverell c. All whose Gifts were confirm'd to them by King Edward the III. in the fourteenth year of his Reign Valued at 159 l. 19 s. 10 d. ob per Annum SWINESHEAD in Lincolnshire Founded An. Do. 1134. THIS was founded and endow'd by Robert Greslei whose several Lands and Possessions were recited and confirm'd to God and the Church of St. Mary of Swynesheved and the Monks there by King Henry the II. Valued at 167 l. 15 s. 3 d. per Annum CALDER in Cumberland Founded An. Do. 1134. KING Henry the II. confirm'd to the Abbot and Monks here all the Lands and Possessions given by Ralph de Meschin their Founder and other Benefactors Valued at 50 l. 9 s. 3 d. ob per Annum BILAND in Yorkshire Founded An. Do. 1134. THIS House was at first founded for certain Monks of Savigny by Roger de Mulbray which Roger died in the Holy Land Walter de Sciflings Parson of Kildale Hugo de Wake and others were Benefactors In the ninth of Richard the II. Thomas Earl Mareschall and Earl of Nottingham Lord
d. per Annum NOCTON in Lincolnshire THE Priory of Nocton Park was founded by Robert de Areci Lord of Nocton It was dedicated to St. Mary Magdelen The Heir general of Norman de Arcy descended from the Founder married to Iohn de Lymbury The Possessions given by several Benefactors were recited and confirm'd by King Henry III. in the 55th year of his Reign Valued at 44 l. 3 s. 8 d. per Annum WIGMORE in Herefordshire OLiver de Merlymond cheif Seneschal of all the Lands of Hugh de Mortimer in the time of King Steven built the Church of Schobbedon which Town his said Lord Hugh de Mortimer had given him in Consideration of his Service This Oliver being kindly entertain'd at St. Victors Abby at Paris in his return from a Pilgrimage he was so highly pleased with their good life and Regular devotion that he afterwards obtain'd from that Abby two of their Canons to come over and Institute a House of Religion at his new built Church of Schobbedon to which he annext divers Lands and profits But after this a great dissention arising between the said Hugh de Mortimer and Oliver de Merlymond in so much that the said Oliver departed from his Service and went to Miles Earl of Hereford Mortimer seized upon all his Estates and took from the Canons all the Goods which Oliver had given them whereby the said Canons were reduced to such extreamity that they were about to leave their House But this difference being at last composed by the mediation of the Bishop of Hereford Mortimer not only restored them their Lands c. of which he had deprived them but gave them more among other Benefactions the Church of Wigmore and advanced their Prior to the title of an Abbot But soon after he took from them again the Town of Schobbedon and it was once more restored by mediation After this these Canons removed their habitation to a place call'd Eye and from thence to Wigmore After this they removed once more into the Field of Beodune where they built from the ground a Monastery and Church which Church was dedicated to St. Iames by Robert Folyoth then Bishop of Hereford the aforesaid Sir Hugh de Mortimer conferring thereon at the Dedication great Benefactions both in Lands and Plate for the Altar Which Sir Hugh died a Chanon of this House being very antient Whose Son and heir Sir Roger de Mortimer behaved himself so unkindly to the Canons of this House that the Abbot and most of the Convent were forced for some time to retire to Schobbedon but the differrence was made up by the Interposition of King Henry Isabell de Ferrers Widow of the said Sir Roger built a House of Religion at Lechelade after her Husbands decease and endow'd it with Lands for the good of his Soul The said Sir Roger tho' unkind at first yet before his death confirm'd all that his Father had given to these Canons with other Lands given by himself Among those 260 most famous and valiant Knights that King William the Conqueror brought into England with him in his Army was Ralph de Mortuomari one of the chief which Ralph obtain'd to himself the Lordship of Wigmore and other Possessions in the Marches of Wales This Ralph built the Castle of Wigmore and left issue Hugh and William Hugh became the Founder of the Abby of Wigmore as has been said and endow'd it largely An. 1179. and dyed in this Monastery An. 1185. Grandson of this Hugh was Ralph de Mortuomari who being sent over into Normandy by King Iohn in order to defend that Country against the King of France who had invaded and Seized all Normandy because King Iohn refused thô several times summon'd to do homage for the same was by the said King of France taken Prisoner During whose absence from these Parts the Welch invaded this Monastery of Wigmore plundered the Canons of all their movables and burnt all the Buildings except the Church Son of which Ralph was Roger who marryed Matilda daughter of William de Breuse Lord of Bregnoc and was so faithful an adherent to King Henry III. against his rebellious Barons that he was the chief means of defeating that formidable Commotion and establishing the King in his Throne Grandson of this Roger was Roger Mortimer who was created the first Earl of March An. 1. Edward III. Which Earl Roger was great grandfather of Edmund Mortimer who married Philippa only daughter and heir of Leonel Duke of Clarence second Son of King Edward III. Which Edmund having buried his said Wife went over into Ireland the Kings Lieutenant and An. 1381. departed this life in that Kingdome being but twenty nine years of age His body was brought over and buried in this Abby Church of Wigmore with his Countess and most of his Ancestors Which Edmund and Philippa had issue two Sons Roger and Edmund and two Daughters Elizabeth and Philippa Roger Mortimer was slain in Ireland An. 1398. But left issue by his Wife Alianora daughter and coheir of Thomas Holland Earl of Kent two Sons Edmund and Roger and two daughters Anne and Alianore Anne was married to Richard de Condsborough Earl of Cambridge The two Sons and the other daughter died all without issue Valued at 267 l. 2 s. 10 d. ob per Annum THORNHOLME in Lincolnshire IT was found upon Inquisition at the Assizes at Lincoln 4 Iohn that King Steven founded this Priory and placed Canons in it That Henry II gave the Mannour of Aplebi in which the Priory is scituated to William de Lungespe his Brother who after gave the Manour to Iohn Maleherbe DERLEY in Darbyshire Hvgh the Priest intitled Dean of Derby gave to Albinus and his Canons of St. Helens near Derby the Land which he held at Little Derby for the erecting of a Church and Habitation for him and the said Canons with divers Lands of his Patrimony Which Estate the said Albin and his Successors Abbots of this House quietly enjoyed all the time of the life of the said Hugh and of Henry his Son which Son he begat in lawful marriage before he received holy Orders and of two daughters and heiresses of the said Henry who dying in the Reign of King Henry III. that King supposing the said two daughters to dye without heirs claim'd the Advowson of this Abby as an Escheat Vid. Vol. 3. P. 57. Valued at 258 l. 14 s. 5 d. per Annum St. AUGUSTINS at Bristol in Gloucestershire ROBERT Fitz Harding a Burgesse of Bristol to whom King Henry II. gave the Barony of Berkly built this Abby and gave to the Canons Regular of this House the Church of Berkly with divers others Whose Estate was confirm'd to them by King Henry II. while he was yet Duke of Normandy and Earl of Anjou also by Iohn Earl of Morton c. Valued at 670 l. 13 s. 11 d. ob per Annum COKESFORD near Rudham in Norfolk JOhn de Querceto or Cheney gave to God and St.
to the Master and Brethren of this Hospital divers Lands Tenements and Rents in London and elsewhere as Westhame Stratford Bromley and Stepney c. Ieffrey Fitz Peter Earl of Essex granted to the Brethren of this Hospital of St. Thomas the Martyr of Acon the Custody of the Hospital of St. Iohn Evangelist at Berchamstede Anno 23. Heney the VI. Iohn Neel then Master and his Brethren of this House exhibited their Petition in Parliament setting forth that Thomas Son of Theobald de Helles and Agnes his Wife Sister of St. Thomas the Martyr Archbishop of Canterbury gave to the Master and Brethren of this House then being all the Land with the Appurtenances sometimes belonging to Gilbert Beckit Father of the said St. Thomas in which Land the said Martyr was born to make there a Church in Worship of God the blessed Virgin and the said Martyr which Lands lye in the Parish of St. Mary of Colchirche in London that the Endowment of the said Hospital was enlarg'd by King Henry the III. An. 52. in which house have always been ever since a Master and Brethren prosessing the Rule of St. Austin and Priests and Clerks to the number of twelve or more that of old time this House hath been dispoiled and great part of their Evidences lost and destroyed they pray therefore that his Majesty by the assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and by the Authority of this present Parliament would ordain stablish and approve that the Master and Brethren of the House or Hospital of St. Thomas the Martyr of Acres in the City of London may by that name plead and be impleaded purchase Lands have a Common Seal and choose their own Master presenting him to the Ordinary and that they may not be charged with any Corrody or Pension and that their present Lands and Possessions may be confirm'd to them all which was granted as desired by the King with the advice and assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in that Parliament and by Authority of the same Valued at 277 l. 3 s. 4 d. per Annum St. JOHN BAPTIST at Lynn in Norfolk FOunded by Vlfketel Son of the Nun of Sceringes and by him endow'd with a parcel of Land in Linn to hold in pure and perpetual Alms. The Mayor and Burgesses of Linn did use to present and establish the Master and Warden of this Hospital till the time of Iohn of Ely Bishop of Norwich Valued at 7 l. 6 s. 11 d. per Annum St. MARY MAGDALENS at Lenne THomas de Cant. and Robert Winchelsey Archbishops of Canterbury in their Visitations and Peter the Chaplain the Founder made several Orders for the Government of this Hospital as that any Brother being a detractor or vexatious to the rest to be punisht by the Prior and Brethren and if incorrigible to be expell'd founded with a Church and Coemitary for twelve Brothers and Sisters some sound and some infirm with a Chaplain to dwell in the House the infirm not to come into the Chancel Cellar Kitchin or Curtelage nor to intermeddle with the Offices of the House to have a Common Seal c. All the Brothers and Sisters to have equal Portions in the Revenues with the Prior if any of the Infirm withdraws himself for one month his Salary for a year to be forfeited if for a year he to be expell'd a general Chapter to be held yearly the next day after the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen c. Which Orders were ratified and confirm'd by William de Turbus Bishop of Norwich Anno Dom. 1174. KYNEWALDGRAVES in Yorkshire ROger Archbishop of Tork and other Archbishops of that See were Benefactors to the poor Sisters of this Hospital dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen all confirm'd by Thomas Archbishop of York An. 1301. Which with many other Possessions by others given were all recited and confirm'd by King Edward the III. An. 1. St. MARGARETS at Huntingdon SEems to be founded by Malcolm King of Scotland who gave to the Infirm of this Hospital Lands and Rents so did Isabel de Brus Daughter of Earl David Robert de Brus Son of the said Isabel Lord of Anandale gave them divers Tenements in Cunyngtone with view of Frank-pledge to be held there twice per Annum viz. after Easter and after Michaelmass with small Courts to be held there at their Will as ost as expedient The like Grant by Bernard de Bruys all which was confirm'd to the Master and Brethren of this House by King Edw. III. An. 12. HORNECHIRCHE in Essex THE Master and Confraters of the Hospital of Hornchurch were removable at the Will of the Master of the Hospital of St. Bernard de Monte in Savoy to which Hospital this was only a Cell having no Common Seal of their own nor power to sue or be sued HERBALDOUNE in Kent FOunded by King Henry II. who assigned to the Lepers of this Hospital a Rent of twenty marks per Annum out of his Revenue of Canterbury till such time as he assigns them other Provisions in Churches or Rents elsewhere Valued at 109 l. 7 s. 2 d. per Annum St. SEPULCHERS at Hedon in Yorkshire ALan Son of Oubernus gave a parcel of Land to God and the Lepers of St. Sepulchres at Hedon Alexander de Thunestal and many others were Benefactors to this Hospital all whose Gifts were recited and confirm'd by King Edw. the II. An. Reg. 19. HAVERING in Essex KING Henry the II. gave the Church of Havering to the poor Brethren of the Church of St. Bernard de Monte Iovis Confirm'd to them with other Lands by King Richard the I. and King Henry the III. An. 37. ELLESHAM in Lincolnshire THIS Hospital begun by Beatrix and finisht and confirm'd by Walter de Amundevil was by him conferr'd upon Canons Regular to whom he gave divers Lands and Churches for the maintenance of Hospitality and Sustentation of poor People Confirm'd to the Canons by Iohn Son of William de Dyve An. Dom. 1277. The abovesaid Walter de Amundevile became a Canon here and was here buried The Hospitallers of Ierusalem having by fraud obtain'd this House from the then Patron were by Letter from Pope Alexander made to relinquish their Pretensions Valued at 70 l. 0 s 8 d. per Annum St. MARY's at Dover in Kent FOunded by Hubert de Burgo Earl of Kent King Henry III. An. II. granted to the Brothers and Sisters of this Hospital the Tith of all profitsarising from the Passage of the Port of Dover to hold to them and their Successors in Frankalmoign The same King An. 13. granted them a yearly Rent of 10 l. at the feast of St. Michael to be paid out of the profits of his Port of Dover beside the tith above mention'd Vid. Vol. 3. p. 86. CONYNGESHED in Lancashire WIlliam de Lancaster gave to God and St. Mary and to the Brethren of this Hospital all Conyngsheved and divers other Lands Possessions and Commons of Pasture c. He also gave
and Isabella de Say his Wife gave the Church of St. George of Clune to the Monks of St. Milburge at Wendloke Pag. 614. DUDLEY THe Church and Monastery of St. Iames at Dudley was founded and endow'd by Gervaise Paganel or Painel who granted that in whatsoever Pastures his own Cattle fed there also the Cattel of the Monks of Dudley might freely feed except in his Parks with tithe of his Bread hunting and fishing while he remains at Dudley An. 1290 Roger Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield granted a Remission of forty days penance to those who being truly contrite and confest should say the Lords Prayer and Salutation of the Blessed Virgin for the Soul of Roger de Somery buried in the Conventual Church of Dudley and for the Souls of all the Faithful deceas'd Pag. 619. LEWIS TO this House did belong divers Lands Churches and Tithes in Devonshire Sassex Surrey Kent and Norfolk the several Names of which and of the Benefactors who gave them may be seen in the Book at large Pag. 636. BROMHOLME KIng Edward II. granted to the Monks here the Mannour of Blaketon to hold in fee farm at the yearly Rent of twenty pound which Mannour did formerly belong to Edmund Earl of Kent Pag. 668. MONTEACUTE THis Monastery was founded by William Earl of Moriton near the Castle of Monteacute for Monks of Cluny and to it he gave the Burgh and Castle of Montacute and the Chappel in the Castle together with many other Mannours Lands Churches Tiths Fairs and Hundreds Pag. 687. TICKFORD GErvasius Paganell gave and confirm'd to the Monks of the Church of the blessed Mary at Newport divers Lands and Revenues given them by his Ancestors and by other men which held of his Fee An. 1187. These Monks of Newport the same with Tickford were here as a Cell to St. Martins call'd Majus Monasterium or Marmonstier in France Pag. 704. WAVERLEY POpe Eugenius the III. by his Bull dated at Paris An. 1147. granted to the Monks of this House and their Successors inter alia that no Tithes should be by any exacted of them for their Lands or Cattel in their own hands or occupation Pag. 768. CUMBERMERE BAldwin and Hubert successive Archbishops of Canterbury confirm'd to these Monks and their Successors several Churches and Chappels to them given among the rest that of Namptwiche Pag. 782. BILDWAS FOunded by Roger Bishop of Coventry Hugh Bishop of Coventry gave these Monks an Inn in Litchfield for their Reception when they came thither William Fitz-Alan gave them the Town of Little Bildewas with other Lands Henry Abbot of this House granted to Hamon de Benthale in consideration that his Mother was burden'd with many Children and at her instance a certain Allowance and stipen'd in this Monastery for Term of his Life which afterwards 11 E. 2. in consideration of a Sum of Money in hand paid to him by Iohn then Abbot the said Hamon did Release and Quit claim An. 1287 Henry de Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Constable of Chester confirm'd an exchange made between the Monks of this House and those of Crokesden viz. of Caldon Grange in Com. Stafford being of his Fee for certain Lands in Edwyneye in Com. Salop. Pag. 802. NEWMINSTER THE first and principal Founder of this Abby was the Lord Ralph de Merley from whom descended two Sisters who became Co-heirs to the Barony of Merley Mary married to William Baron of Graystok and Isabella married to the Lord Robert de Somervill all whose descendants were great Benefactors to this House so also were the Bertrams Barons de Mitford with divers others Ralph Baron of Graystok who died An. 1483. was also Baron of Wemme George Dacre Lord of Gillesland and Graystok died young and untimely by the accidental fall of a Wooden Vaulting-Horse An. 1569. he being then in Wardship with the Duke of Norfolk Pag. 866. DORE ROger de Clifford gave his Body to God and the blessed Mary and the Monks of Dore to be buried in the Church of Dore and with his body he gave them certain Land nomine Dotis Pag. 885. BLANCLAND PAganus de Cadurcis Son and Heir of the Lady Hawisia de London gave to the Cistercian Monks of Albaland nineteen Acres of arable Land that every Priest of the said House should daily in the Canon of the Mass make special commemoration for the Souls of such and such of his Family pro vivis inter Vivos pro defunctis inter mortuos Whose Deed bears date An. 1270. Pag. 892. DEULACRES ROger de Menilwarin gave to the Monks of this House for the Health of the Soul of Ranulph Earl of Chester and Lincoln his Mothers Brother in pure and perpetual Alms free Common in his Wood of Pevere House-bote and Hay-bote with Paunage for fifty Hogs Pag. 893. CLUNOCK-VAUR FOunded and endow'd by one Gwithno King Cadwalader and divers Welch Lords gave large Possessions to this Abby dedicated to God and St. Beyno Pag. 916. ROBERTSBRIG ALice Countess of Eu Daughter of William Earl of Arundell and of Queen Alizia gave Lands to this Abby in pure and perpetual Alms ad hospitalitatem sustentandam for the maintenance of Hospitality Which Lands were confirm'd to them by William the third Earl of Sussex her Brothers Son and by Iohn de Augo her Son Pag. 926. BEAULIEU KING Iohn gave out of his Treasury one hundred Mark for the building this Abby in Newforest and directed his Letters to all Abbots of the Cistercian Order to be helpful to the re-edifying of the same out of their several Stocks Pag. 936. VALE-ROYAL PRince Edward Son of King Henry the III. being in great danger of drowning at Sea as he return'd from the Holy Land vow'd in case he and his came safe to Land to erect a new Monastery in honour of God's blessed Mother Mary in some proper place in England and endow the same with sufficient maintenance for one hundred Cistercian Monks Which Monastery being afterwards built and by him named Vale Royal a Convent was translated thither from the Abby of Dore. In the year 1277 the said Edward being then King of England laid the first Stone of a new Building in the place design'd for the great Altar and after his example all the prime Nobility of the Land did the like in honour of our Lord Christ the Virgin Mary and the Holy Confessors St. Nichelas and Nichafius Their first Habitation was but small yet there they remain'd for the time of four Abbots till in the year 1330. the Convent was translated to a new Monastery on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin The place where this Monastery was situated was before call'd Munechene wro in Latin Monachorum silua Munchene in old English signifying a Monk or Nun and Wro a Wood. 'T is said that many years before this Monastery was founded in the place Shepherds and Country People did usually on the Solemn Feasts of the Virgin about Midnight hear Coelestial Musick and see such
year began also the Hospitallers and Templers St. Gilbert of Sempringham founded his Order An. 1148. St. Dominick An. 1198. St. Francis 1260. The Carmelites were settled and establisht by Pope Martin An. Dom. 1279. Kings of this Land who have become Monks Petroc King of Wales Constantine King of Cornwall Sebby Offa and Sigebert Kings of the East-Saxons Ethelred and Kynred Kings of Mercia Coelwulph and Edbricht Kings of Northumberland The Old Form of admitting a Brother into a Convent His first Petition in the Colloquium Syr I besyche you and alle the Covent for the luffe of God our Lady sanct Marye sanct John of Baptistâ— and all the hoyle Cowrâ—e of Devyne that ze wolde resave me to lyve and dye here among yow in the state of a Monke as prebenvarye and servant unto alle to the honour of God solace to the Company prouffet to the place and helth unto my Sawie His Answer unto the Examinacyon Syr I tryste thrugh the helpe of God and your good prayers to keep all thes things which ze have now heyr rehersede His Petition before the Profession Syr I have beyn heyr now this twell month nere hand and lovyde be God me lyks right well both the order and the company wherapon I besyche yow and all the company for the luffe of God our Lady sanct Marye sanct John of Baptisie and all the hoyle company of hevyne that ze will resave me unto my profession at my twell month day according to my petycion whyche I made when I was fyrst resaved heyr amongs youâ— c. Of the Benedictine Order have been four Emperors twelve Empresses six and forty Kings one and fifty Queens not to mention those of lesser Quality ERRATA PAge 6. l. 24. r. Lindisfarn p. 37. l. ult r. or an Oxe p. 39. l. 30. r. for the. p. 69. l. 4. r. Inspeximus p. 78 l. 12. r. or any l. 20. r. be put in p. 84. l. antepeâ—ul r. Daptfer p. 168. l. antepenul r. of the same p. 196. l. 14. r. HETHE in Kent p. 210. l. 32. r. Earl p. 220. l. 35. r. special p. 231. l. 30. r. East Angles p. 232. l. 3. r. Derham p. 262. l. 7. r. Marches p. 267. l. 4. r. Patron of the. p. 294. l. 19. r. colours p. 328. l. 25. r. Wyndesore Some other literal Mistakes and false Pointing have happen'd which the Reader may eaâ—â—â—y perceive and correct A BENEDICTINE MONK Place this y e following plates according to y e pages in y e mergin Vol. 1. P. 1. MONASTICON ANGLICANUM Abridg'd in English VOL. I. Of the BENEDICTINE Order The Monastery at GLASTONBURY in Somersetshire IN the 31th year after our Saviour's Passion twelve Disciples of St. Philip the Apostle among whom Ioseph of Arimathea was one came to this place and preacht the Christian Religion to King Arviragus They obtained of that King the Ground where the Monastery afterwards stood and twelve Hides of Land and built there the first Church of the Kingdom in a poor and homely manner They lived here in a kind of heremitical life and converted many Pagans to the Faith of Christ. After they were all dead and here buried the holy men Phaganus and Diruvianus having baptized King Lucius obtained this place of that King and for a great while they and their Successors remained here in a kind of Society consisting of twelve only till the arrival of St. Patrick who taught them the monastical Life and became himself their first Abbot Afterwards St. David Archbishop of Menevia now called St. David's added to the East-end of the Old Church a lesser Chappel in manner of a Chancel and consecrated it in honour of the Virgin Mary This Church for its Antiquity was by the old English call'd Ealdechirche and the Men of those days had no Oath more sacred and formidable than to swear by this Old Church And it was reverenced like Rome it self for as that became Famous for its multitude of Martyrs so did this for its multitude of Confessors here buried The Isle in which this Church stood was by the Britions call'd Ynswyrtryn i. e. the Isle of Glass from the clear and cristaline stream of Water which runs into the Marsh here It has been also called Avallonia By the Saxons it was named Glastynbury This Isle with several other places adjoyning were call'd the twelve Hides and did enjoy from the beginning very great Priviledges The Bounds of which twelve Hides may be seen in the Monasticon at large p. 2 3. These places there mentioned enjoyed all sorts of Immunities from the first beginning of Christianty in this Land confirm'd to the Church of Glastonbury by the British English and Norman Kings In this Church did rest and lie buried the twelve Disciples of the Apostle Philip above mentioned whose chief was Ioseph of Arimathea with his Son Iosephus Here also lies St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland and two of his Disciples St. Gildas the British Historaographer St. David Archbishop of Menevia St. Dunstan Archbishop St. Indractus with his seven Companions all Martyrs St. Vrbanus the Bones of Venerable Bede with the 〈◊〉 of a great number of other Saints and holy Martyrs and Confeffors To recite all the Reliques that were in this Church would be two large for any Abridgement I only mention those of most note Several things relating to the Old Testament as Moses's Rod Manna c. things 〈◊〉 to our Lord Iesus Christ two small pieces of his Cradle some of the Gold which the Wise-men of the East offer'd some pieces of Bread of 〈…〉 Loaves with which Iesus fed five thousand men some of 〈…〉 some pieces of his Cross and of his Sepulchre one 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 of Thorns c. Things relating to the Virgin Mâ—ry 〈…〉 one thread of her Garment and some of her Hair ◠〈…〉 tude of Reliques relating to St. Iohn Baptist the 〈…〉 and Virgins On this account the Church of 〈…〉 verenced by Kings Queens Archbishops Bishops Dukes 〈…〉 lity of both Sexes and of all Orders and Degrees and 〈…〉 think himself who could give any thing to the increase 〈…〉 or could here obtain a place of Sepulture In this Isle which was call'd the Tomb of Saints was interr'd Coel King of the Britons Father of St. Helena Mother of Constantine the Great Caraducus Duke of Cornwall â—he renowned King Arthur and Guenevera his Queen which King died at Glastonbury about Whitsontide in the Year of our Lord 542. King Kentwynus King Edmund Son of Edward the Elder King Edgar King Edmund Ironside with several Bishops and Dukes who were great Benefactors to this House and many other Great men In so great Reverence was the Church and Church-yard where these were interr'd that our forefathers did not dare to use any idle discourse or to spit therein without great necessity enemies and naughty men were not suffer'd to be buried therein neither did any bring any Hawk Dog or Horse upon the Ground for
Danes coming down out of Yorkshire into Lincolnshire Earl Algar Morcar a Lay-Brother of Crowland-Abby call'd Tolius who had been a famous Souldier before he entered into Religion Hardingus of Reihalle and under his Command all the men of Stamford made head against them and at first conquered the Pagans but they being soon after reinforced with greater power they in a second Battel over-threw the Christians with grievous slaughter burnt down the Abby and Church of Croyland and from thence marcht to Medeshamsted where they slew the Abbot and all the Monks to the number of eighty four and utterly destroyed the Church and all other Buildings From hence they march'd to Cambridge destroying all the Country as they went In the year of Christ 970. St. Adelwold Bishop of Winchester began to re-edifie the Monastery of Medeshamstede and call'd it the Borough of St. Peter one hundred year after it was destroyed by the Danes The foregoing Particulars of this History have been curiously painted in the Windows of the Cloysters belonging to this Abby with English Verses under each Picture explaining the Story Which see in the Monasticon at large Valued at 1721 l. 14 s. 0 d. ob q. per Annum WHITBY of Old call'd STRENSHALE in Yorkshire ANno Dom. 655. Penda the Pagan King of Mercia making War upon Oswy King of Northumberland Oswy made a Vow to Almighty God that if he overcame his Enemies he would dedicate his Daughter to perpetual Virginity and give twelve of his Manour-houses to be converted into Monasteries Hereupon he fought and tho' much inferiour in number obtain'd a Signal Victory and Penda was slain in the Battle In performance o◠〈◊〉 Vow he gave his Daughter named Ethelfleda then scarce one year 〈…〉 and the Ground then called Streneshal for the building of a Monastery It was begun by Hilda a Woman of great Religion and was at first a Nunnery but afterwards a House of Monks In the year 1067. William de Percy who came into England with the Conquerour and had obtained to himself and Heirs the Town of Whitby and all its Members made a new Foundation of the Abby of Whitby and gave all the said Town and Members to God St. Peter and St. Hilda of Whitby and to the Monks there serving God in perpetual Alms with divers other Lands and made Reinfridus a Monk of Euesham Prior of the Monastery This was after this place had been destroyed by the Danes above two hundred years Many were the Benefactors to this Abby besides the Founder William de Percy a particular of the Lands Possessions Forests Churches Tithes and Liberties by them given may be seen in the Monasticon at large p. 74 75. Vid. inf p. 988. Valued at 437 l. 2 s. 9 d. per Annum CHERTSEY in Surrey THE Abby of Chertsey was founded in the Reign of King Egbert in the year of our Lord 666. by Frithwaldus a petty King or Governor of the Province of Surrey under Wulfar King of Mercia and endow'd with large Possessions all which were confirm'd by the said Wulfar King of Mercia The Limits of the Lands belonging to Chertsey-Abby may be seen in the Monasticon at large p. 77. Pope Alexander granted to this Abby many Priviledges among other that they should pay no Tithes of their Lands in their own hands nor of the Beasts which they themselves kept Valued at 659 l. 15 s. 8 d. ob per Annum BERKING in the County of Essex THE Nunnery at Berking eight miles from London was founded by Erkenwaldus Bishop of that City for his Sister Ethelburge who was the first Abbess of this Nunnery Hodelredus a Kinsman of Sebby King of the East Saxons gave to this House fair Revenues which Guift was confirm'd by the said King Sebby The Ancient Profits and Expences of this Nunnery as they were charg'd to the Account of the Celeress may be seen in the Monasticon at large p. 80 81 82 83. Valued at 862 l. 12 s. 5 d. ob per Annum The Monastery of St. Mildred in the Isle of Thanet in Kent MIldred the Virgin was the Daughter of Merwaldus Son of Penda King of Mercia and Domneva of the Family of the Kings of Kent Which Domneva with her Husband's assistance built this Monastery for Nuns and placed here seventy Virgins of whom their Daughter Mildred was consecrated Abbess This House was destroy'd by the Pagan Danes A BENEDICTINE NUN Vol. 1. P. 79 the year 1011. Afterwards in the time of King Cnut it was annext by that King 's Grant to St. Augustines Monastery and the Body of St. Mildred translated from hence of St. Augustines at Canterbury A. D. 1033. The Lands belonging hereunto in the Isle of Thanet were confirm'd to the said Monastery of St. Augustines by King Edward the Confessor FALKSTONE in Kent EAnswida Daughter of Eadbaldus Son of Ethelbert King of Kent built this Monastery in a remote Part from Commerce situated seven Acers breadth from the Sea which in process of time quite wore away the Land and destroyed this House but the Reliques of the holy Virgin the Foundress who lived and died here were removed to the Neighbouring Church of St. Peter See more of this House infra p. 560. Valued at 41 l. 15 s. 10 d. per Annum LIMING in Kent THE Monastery here was built by Ethelburge Daughter of King Ethelbert and Wife of Edwin King of Northumberland after whole death she return'd into Kent and founded this Nunnery and lies here buried RACULFE in Kent BIrthwald Archbishop of Canterbury was before his election to that See in the year 692. Abbot of Raculfe In the year 949. King Eadred King of all England gave the Monastery of Raculfe and all the Lands belonging thereunto to the Church of Canterbuy Odo being then Archbishop and Metropolitan there The Lands belonging to this House did amount to twenty five Carucates and one Carucate assigned only to the Repairs of the Church ELY Abby in Cambridgeshire ANno Dom. 627. The blessed Augustine built a Church at Ely in a place called Cradindene a mile distant from the present City it was consecrated to the honour of the blessed Virgin and stored with Ministers for God's service but these were all expell'd by Penda King of Mercia and the place turn'd into a Desert Afterwards in the year 673. Ethelreda the Virgin built a Monastery in a more eminent place in Ely for both Sexes of which she her self became the first Abbess In the year 870. the Church of Ely was again destroy'd and burnt by the Pagans In the year 970. Ethelwaldus Bishop of Winchester bought this Isle of King Edgar rebuilt the Church and placed Monks in it under the Rule of an Abbot and in this state it remained till the year 1108. 9 H. 1. at which time Pope Paschal at the request of that King changed the Abby into a Bishoprick The foresaid Ethelred was Daughter of Anna King of the East-Angels and was buried in Ely together with several
third Bishop of Worcester founded this Monastery Kenredus King of Mercia and Offa Governour of the East Angles in the year 709 being both then at Rome endow'd it with large Possessions The Towns which St. Egwin obtain'd to his Monastery of the said Kings were in all twenty two There were belonging to this House sixty seven Monks five Nuns three poor People three Clerks who had all the same allowance as the Monks had and besides these sixty five Servants The under Officers of this House as Prior Sub-Prior third Prior Precentor Sacristan Celarer c. were created by the Abbot with the advice and consent of the major part of the Covent in Chapter All which Officers had their several Rents arising from distinct and several places appropriated to their several Offices In the year 1174. Waldemarus King of Danemark gave and confirm'd the Priory of Othenesia in that Kingdom as a Cell to this Abby of Euesham This Abby was first founded as aforesaid by St. Egwin in the year of grace 692. and dedicated to the honour of the glorious Virgin Mary The Founder himself leaving his Bishoprick became the first Abbot here After whose death succeeded eighteen Abbots until the year 941. at which time the Monks here were dispersed and secular Chanons substituted in their room In the time of King Edgar Anno Dom. 660 the Monks were again restored but after his death expell'd again in the year 977. This House and Estate was afterwards given to a potent man called Godwin and successively it came into several hands till at last in the year 1014. King Ethelred made Ailfwardus a Monk of Ramsey Abbot of Euesham he was also Bishop of London at the same time From his time the Abby of Euesham flourisht under divers Abbots whose names from the Norman Conquest till the year 1379. are as follows Egelwinus Walterus Robertus Mauricius Reginaldus Willielmus de Andivilla Rogerus Adam Rogerus Norreys Radulphus Thomas de Marleberg Richaadus le Cras Thomas de Glovernia Henricus Willielmus de Wytechurch Iohannes de Brokehampton Willielmus de Chyriton Willielmus de Boys Iohannes de Ombresseye Rogerus Zatten 1379. Vid Vol. 2. p. 851. Valued at 1183 l. 12 s. 9 d. per Annum SHEPEY Monastery of Nuns in Kent FOunded by Queen Sexburga about the year of our Lord 710. William Archbishop of Canterbury after the Conquest restored this Monastery it having lain a long time burnt down and destroyed by the Danes King Henry the II. King Richard the I. King Henry the III. and others were Benefactors to this Church of St. Sexburg here and to the Nuns serving God in the same all whose Donations of Lands and Liberties were confirm'd in the 1st year of King Henry the IV. Valued at 129 l. 7 s. 10 d. ob per Annum SELSEY in Sussex IN the year of our Lord 711. Wilfred Bishop of Hagulstad remaining five years in the Isle of Selsey to avoid persecution built there a Monastery in honour of the blessed Mary to which Ethelwold King of the South Saxons gave Lands TUKESBURY in Gloucestershire THIS Monastery was founded in the year 715. by two Dukes of great account in the Kingdom of Mercia named Oddo and Doddo to the honour of the glorious Virgin Mary Robert Fiz-Hamon in the year 1102. new built this Church and Monastery making it an Abby and subjecting to it the Priory of Cranburne His Daughter Mobilla was afterwards married to Robert base Son of King Henry I. who was created Earl of Gloucester he built the Priory of St. Iames at Bristol and annext it also to the House From him descended Gibbert de Clare Earl of Gloucester and Hertford who was a great Benefactor to this House and buried here as were the rest of his descendants Earls of Gloucester and the Dispencers who descended from one of the Heirs General All these and more of their Blood among whom Henry de Beauchamp Duke of Warwick were Benefactors to this Abby their pious gifts being all confirm'd and ratified by the King 1462. The several parcells of Lands and Hereditaments given and confirm'd to this House by former Kings may be seen p. 161 162. Valued at 1598 l. 1 s. 3 d. per Annum WINBURNE in Dorsetshire SAint Quinburga and St. Cuthburga Sisters of Ina King of the West Saxons built here a Monastery for Nuns Anno Dom. 718. CROYLAND in Lincolnshire CRoyland is one of those small Islands which lie in the East Fens Here St. Guthlac at the age of twenty five years became a Hermite and in his life time delivered the Island from Devils and evil Spirits and dying was here buried Ethelbald King of Mercia by his Charter dated in the year 716. gave to God the blessed Mary and St. Batholomew the whole Isle of Croyland containing four Leucas or miles in length and three in breadth for the erecting of a Monastery under the Rule of St. Benedict and endow'd the said Monastery with large Possessions lying about the Place All which was confirm'd to them by Offa King of Mercia in the year 793. and by Withlaf King of Mercia in the year 833. This Abby being afterwards burnt down and destroyed by the Pagan Danes was re edified and restored to its former Possessions and Liberties by King Eadred who stiled himself King of Great Britain in the year 948. Vid. Vol. 2. p. 853. Valued at 1803 l. 15 s. 10 d. ob per Annum BEVERLEY in Yorkshire SAint Iohn Archibishop of York was the first Dr. of Theology in Oxford He converted the Parish-Church of St. Iohn in the Town of Beverly into a Monastery building to it a new Quire and made his Deacon Bithunus the first Abbot here Both which lie buried in this Church One hundred years after this the Monastery of Beverley was destroyed by the Danes and lay in Ruines three years before it was repair'd King Athelstan built here a Colledge of secular Chanons And granted and confirm'd to this Church of St. Iohn of Beverley many great Priviledges and Liberties An. Dom. 938. King Edward the Confessor was a great Benefactor to this Church and augmented the number of the Prebendaries William the Conqueror was also a Benefactor Thomas the first Archbishop of York erected a new Dignity in the Collegiate Church of Beverley viz. a Prepositus or Provost who has neither voice in the Chapter nor Stall in the Quire of these there is a List of thirty eight Thomas Becket being the fifth in number Vid. Vol. 3. part 2 p. 3. Valued at 109 l. 8 s. 8 d. ob per Annum RIPPON in Yorkshire WIlfrid Archibishop of York founded a Monastery at Rippon which was afterwards burnt down in the Devastation which King Adred made upon the Northumbers But being in after-times re-edified King Athalstan granted to this Church the Priviledge of Sanctuary with the same Liberties which he had given before to the Church of Beverly and that the men of Rippon should be believed by their yea and by
the Authority of Pope Alexander King Henry the II. and Richard Archbishop of Canterbury Which King Henry the II. gave to the said Nunnery of Font Everard this Church as a Cell with many other Lands and great Liberties all which were confirm'd by King Iohn in the first year of his Reign with a Gift of 50 s. per Annum out of the Exchequer for ever in the fifth year of his Reign Vid. 2. Vol p. 868. Valued at 495 l. 15 s. 2 d. per Annum MIDLETON in Dorsetshire KING Athelstan having upon false accusations unjustly banisht his youngest Brother Edwyn and put him to Sea in an old Vessel without either Sails or Oars where he was drown'd and being afterwards extream penitent he built and endowed here a Church and Monastery in honour of St. Mary and St. Sampson the Archbishop and stored it with Black Monks for the Soul of his said Brother Edwyn He also purchased from Rome and other places beyond the Seas several holy Reliques and gave them to this Monastery as a piece of our Saviour's Cross a Great Cross composed of Gold Silver and precious Stones the Arm and several Bones of St. Sampson the Archbishop c. King Athelstan's Charter of Endowment bears date in the year 843. and was exemplified and confirm'd by King Henry the II. The same Founder built another Monastery on the same occasion at a place called Michel in Dorsetshire Valued at 578 l. 13 s. 11 d. ob per Annum POLESWORTH in Warwickshire EGbert King of the West Saxons built here a Nunnery and made his Daughter Edith the first Abbess there King William the Conqueror gave this Estate to a Favourite of his called Sir Robert Marmyon whose chief Seat was at the Neighbouring Castle of Tamworth he expell'd the Nuns for a while but not long after restored them again to their old Estate and was reputed their Founder The Nuns of Polesworth had a Cell at Olbury which was given to their Monastery by Walter de Hastings and confirm'd to them by Roger Bishop of Chester then the same Diocess with Coventry and Litchfield and others Valued at 87 l. 13 s. 3 d. per Annum St. WERBURGS at Chester THE holy Virgin Werburg was Daughter of Wulfer King of Mercia and Ermenilda his Wife She lived and died in a Monastery at Chester which had been built of old time for the Habitation of Nuns but after the Conquest Hugh Earl of Chester placed Monks there The Monastery was built by King Edgar in the year 858. Hugh Earl of Chester having establisht Monks here endow'd the Foundation with great Revenues his Barons also giving very liberally to the same whose Charter bears date Anno Dom. 1093. The Particulars given may be seen in the Monasticon at large p. 201. 202. See more of this House p. 985. Valued at 1003 l. 5 s. 11 d. per Annum ATHELING in Somersetshire KING Elfred being driven out of his Kingdom by the Danes conceal'd himself for some time in this place then compast about with Marishes and Water that it was inaccessable but with a Boat Upon his restoration he built here a Church and Monastery His Charter of Endowment bears date Anno Dom. 878. About the same time that King Elfred founded this Monastery for Monks he founded another for Nuns at Shaftesbury Valued at 209 l. 0 s. 3 d. q. per Annum PERSHORE in Worcestershire THE Monastery here was built in the time of King Edgar by Duke Egelwardus but the greatest part of its Estate was in after-time transferred by King Edward and King William to Westminster Others say it was founded about the year 604. by Oswald Nephew of King Athelred Oswald did at first place here secular Canons which were after changed to Monks then Canons restored and then Monks once again introduced by King Edgar Anno Dom. 1223. there happened a grievous fire here and the Monks for some time having left the place their Estate was usurpt by the Monks of Westminster The Deeds and Charters of Priviledges of this House being burnt Witnesses were examined and made several Depositions of the ancient Liberties and Customs used and of right belonging to this Monastery which may be seen in the Monasticon at large Valued at 643 l. 4 s. 5 d. per Annum HIDE in Dampshire THIS is otherwise called the new Monastery at Winchester and was designed by King Elfred but built after his death by his Son King Edward who placed therein secular Canons under the Rule of a holy man call'd Grimbaldus This new Monastery being at first built within the City close to the Cathedral Church was on the account of several inconveniencies in the Scituation removed in the year 1121. to the place called Hide Great was the Revenue given to this Monastery and many the Benefactors besides the Founder as King Athelstan King Edmund King Edred King Edgar who expell'd the Canons and placed Monks here King Edmund Ironside Edward the Confessor William the Conqueror Henry 1. and Maud his Queen c. But this House was not without its misfortunes William the Conqueror at his first coming finding the Abbot and twelve of his Monks in arms against him seiz'd upon their Estate and held it from them almost two years And in the Reign of King Stephen Henry then Bishop of Winchester committed such extortions upon the Monks here that he got from them almost all their Church Plate and was so oppressive that of forty Monks there remain'd but ten in the House King Edgars Diploma to this House was written in Letters of Gold and dated Anno Dom. 966. The Priviledges of this House were agreed and settled between William Bishop of Winchester and Gaufridus Abbot here An. Dom. 1110. Valued at 865 l. 18 s. 0 d. ob q. per Annum WINCHESTER Monastery of Nuns ABout the year 903. Alswitha Wife of King Alfred began the Foundation of a Nunnery at Winchester which was after her death compleated by her Son King Edward the Elder Valued at 179 l. 7 s. 2 d. per Annum St. PETROCUS at Bodmin in Cornwall KING Athelstan was the first Founder of this Monastery for Monks which after the Conquest came into the Crown but was purchased by Alganus and stored with Canons regular St. GERMAINS in Cornwall KING Athelstan founded a Monastery here which at that time was the Seat of a Bishop but was afterwards removed by King Edward the Confessor from hence to Exeter Bartholonew Bishop of Exeter introduced into this Church by the King's Authority Canons Regular eight in number and a Prior. Valued at 243 l. 8 s. per Annum SHAFTESBURY in Dorsetshire KING Elfred built this Town in the year 880. Elgiva Wife of Edmund great Grand-child of the said Elfred built here a Monastery for Nuns King Edward the younger commonly called St. Edward the Martyr murder'd by his Mother-in-Laws procurement was here interr'd on which account this Church was afterwards call'd by his name Benefactors to this House were King Edmund King
Deed dated 1395. setting forth that the Abbot and Convent of St. Martin had past over to his beloved Cousin the Duke of Lancaster their Priory of Birstal in England for the Sum of one thousand Livers granted them his License to purchase Lands of the like value in France The said Abbot and Convent of St. Martin by their Deed dated 18. Rich. 2. granted all their Lands Tithes and Pensions here in England to the Abbot and Convent of Kirkstal in Yorkshire GOLDCLIVE in Monmouthshire a Cell to Bec in Normandy RObert de Candos gave this Church of St. Mary Magdalen of Goldclive with divers other Lands c. to the Monks of St. Mary at Bec. All which was confirm'd by King Iohn in the second year of his Reign This Priory was afterwards united to the Abby of Teukesbury which union was ratified by Pope Eugenius Anno Dom. 1402. Vid. 2. Vol p. 904. MINTING in Lincolnshire a Cell of S t. Benedict Super Leyre THIS was given to that Monastery by Ranulph Earl of Chester BOXGRAVE in Sussex a Cell of I'Essay in Normandy THIS Priory was founded in the Reign of King Henry the I. William Earl of Arundell endow'd it with great Possessions and gave and confirm'd it to the Monks of the Holy Trinity at l'Essay The first â—ounder of this House dedicated to the blessed Mary and St. Blase at Boxgrave was Robert de Haya who placed here three Monks of the Order of Sâ—â— Benedict Roger de Sancto Iohanne who married Cecily his Daughter doubled the number of Monks whose Sons William and Robert de Sancto Iohanne still encreas'd them to fifteen conferring divers Revenues for their maintenance out of which he reserved only an annual Pension of three Mâ—â—ks to the Abby of l'Essay Thomas Abbot of the Holy Trinity at l'Esay granted to the Prior of Boxgrave and his Successors that they might constantly have fifteen Monks in their Priory and that upon the decease of any they might supply their number with whom they pleas'd to elect King Edward the III. in the thirteenth year of his Reign discharged this Priory of all seizures as an alien Priory in time of War and made it Denison LONG-BENINGTON in Lincolnshire a Cell to Savigny in Normandy RAdulâ—us Filgeriarum gave Belintone to the Abby of Savigny The Monks here held sour Carucates of Land each Carucate worth 4 l. per Annum GROMOND in Yorkshire a Cell to the Abby of Gramont in France THIS was given to the said Abby by Ioan late Wife of Robert de Turneham and confirm'd by King Iohn in the fifteenth year of his Reign Vid. Vol. 3. p. 15. MONKENLEN in Herefordshire a Cell to Conchis in Normandy WIlliam Bishop of Hereford did by his Episcopal Authority confirm and appropiate to the Abby of St. Peter at Conchis the Mannor and Church of Monekeslen and other Revenues given by Ralph de Tony Senior TOFT Priory in Norfolk a Cell to Preaux THIS was given by Robert Earl of Mellent and with divers other Lands confirm'd to the Abby of St. Peter at Preaux by King Henry the II. and by King Edward the I. with great Liberties ALVERTON in Yorkshire a Cell to the Majus Monasterium RIchard Malleverer gave the Church of St. Martin in Alverton to the Monks of Majus Monasterium in Alverton Confirm'd by King Henry the II. MONMOUTH a Cell to the Abby of St. Florence at Saumurs WIhenocus de Monemue built in his Castle of Monemue a Church to the honour of God St. Mary and St. Florence and gave it in perpetual Alms to the Monks of St. Florence at Saumurs Iohn de Monemuta gave to the Church of St. Mary of Monmouth and to the Abby of Saumurs the Hospital of St. Iohn at Monmouth HAGH in Lincolnshire a Cell to the Abby de Voto near Cherburg KING Henry the II. gave and confirm'd to the Abby and Cannons of Cherburg in France the Mannor and Church of Hagh with large Liberties as they were formerly confirm'd by King Henry his Grandfather The particulars and values of their Estate was â—ound by Inquisition 22. Edw. 3. Among other things that they had certain Rents in Grantham c. HINKLEY Leicestershire a Cell to Lyra in Normandy RObert Earl of Leicester gave to the Abby of Lyra the Church of Hinkelai with divers Chappels and other Churches adjoyning with their Tithes All which was confirm'd by King Henry the II. HORSELEGH in Essex a Cell to St. Martin of Troarn THE Abby and Covent of St. Martins at Troarn in Normandy granted the Churches of Horselegh and Whitenhirsâ— to the Prior and Convent of Bruton in exchange for other Lands which the Priory of Bruton had in Normandy from which time the Prior of Bruton placed a Prior in Horselegh from among his own Canons and presented secular Vicars to the said two Churches This was confirm'd by King Edward the III. in the forty fifth year of his Reign ABBERBURY in Shropshire a Cell to the Abby of Gramount FVlco Fitz-Warin â—ounded and gave this Priory to the Monks of Gramount with divers Lands c. confirm'd by King Henry the II. in the seventeenth of his Reign And by Thomas Corbeth in the year 1262. LEVENESTRE in Sussex a Cell to Almenesches THE Possessions of the Benedictine Nuns of St. Mary of Almenesches as well in France as England were confirm'd to them by Pope Alexander and their Lands in their own hands exempted from Tithes by his Bull dated 1178. BY the Stat. made at Carlile 35. E. 1. commonly called De asportatis Religiosorum it is anacted that no Foreign Abby c. shall impose any Tallage Payment or Assesment whatsoever oo any of their Houses subject to them in England under the Penalty of forfeiting their Estate here In the Parliament held at Westminster 13. R. 2. it was ordain'd that no alien of the French Nation should enjoy any Benefice in this Kingdom notwithstanding several Frenchmen having purchased Letters of Denization continued to enjoy Benifices c. whereby great Treasures were transported out of the Kingdom the King's Council discovered to his Enemies in France c. It was therefore enacted 1 H. 5. ch 7. that the foresaid Ordinance be but in due execution against all but such Priors Alien as are conventual and such as have Induction and Institution provided that such be Catholicks and that they give security not to discover c. It was finally enacted in the Parliament held at Leicester 2 H. 5. for the Inconveniencies above-mentioned and also for that the English had their Possessions seiz'd in France that all the Possessions of the Priors aliens except Conventuals c. be vested in the King's hands and his Heirs for ever to the intent that Divine Services in the places aforesaid may for the time to come be more duly perform'd by English people than they have been by French A CLVNIAC MONK Vol. 1 P. 611. OF THE Cluniacenses or Monks of Clugny The first Institutor of this Order or
this place The said Wulfric died An. 1154. KENILWORTH in Warwickshire GAlfridus de Clinton Chamberlain to King Henry the I. sounded this Church for Canons Regular in honour of St. Mary to whom he gave all his Lands at Kenilworth except what he had retain'd to his Castle and for making a Park with many other Lands and Liberties all which he enjoyn'd his Heir to observe and not to violate on pain of his Curse and God's Wrath. Gaufridus his Son confirm'd his Father's Gifts and granted them Tithes of all manner of Provisions whatsoever that came to his Castle of Killingworth Henry his Son made the like Confirmation and granted still moreâ— King Henry the I. recited and confirm'd all former Benefactions and granted the Canons here great Liberties and Immunities The like Confirmation was made by King Henry the II. Valued at 538 l. 19 s. per Annum STONE in Staffordshire WVlfer King of Mercia was Son and Successor to Penda a Pagan and Persecutor he after his Father's death became a Christian and married Ermenilda a Christian Lady Daughter of Exbert King of Kent by whom the had two Sons Wulfad and Ruffin and a Daughter named Werburg which two Sons being baptized by St. Cedda then a Hermit and by him privately instructed and incouraged in Christianity This did so offend their Father Wulfer who had apostatized from the Faith of Christ that finding them at Prayers at St. Cedd's Cell he killed them both with his own hands their Martyrdom happened on the 9th Calend. August This sad News being known to the Queen she caused their Bodies to be inclosed in a Stone Monument and in process of time a Church to be erected in the place where they were martyr'd Wulfer the King being horribly tormented in mind could find no ease till he repair'd to St. Cedd who upon his repentance and contrition absolved him and enjoyn'd him for Pennance to suppress Idolatry throughout his Kingdom of Mercia and establish the Christian Religion This King hereupon built many Churches and Monasteries among others Peterborough Abby and in the place where the Martyrs suffered was erected a Colledge for Canons then called Stanes now Stone In after-times one of this House went to Rome as a Procurator from the rest and obtain'd from the Pope a Canonization for St. Wulfad and St. Ruffin In the time of the Normans Conquest one Robert Lord of Stafford from whom the Barons of Stafford did descend was chief Lord of this Place here did Inhabit at that time two Nuns and a Priest who were all slain by one Enysan de Walton after which Murther the abovesaid Robert by advice of Geffry de Clinton did Establish here Canons instead of Nuns Nicholas de Stafford Son of Robert gave this House as a Cell to Kenilworth King Henry the II. confirmed all the Benefactions The Church here was dedicated to St. Wulfad Valued at 119 l. 14 s. 11 d. per Annum BROKE in Rutland a Cell to Kenilworth HVgh de Ferrariis granted to the Canons of Kenilworth the Land of Broch with the Wood-ground and Essarts and this was by the assent of Walchelin his Nephew and William his Brother all which was confirm'd to the said Canons by King Henry the II. Valued at 40 l. per Annum LANERCOST in Cumberland THIS House dedicated to God and St. Mary Magdalen was founded and endowed with large Revenues by Robert de Vallibus Son of Hubert de Vallibus he granted to the Canons here inter alia Pasture and feeding in his Forest of Walton for thirty Cows and twenty Sows with all the Bark of his Timber-Trees in the Woods of his Barony with all all the dry Wood lying any where in his Forest for the support of their House The Church here was dedicated by Bernard Bishop of Carlile An. 1169. King Richard the I. confirm'd the several Lands c. given to the Canons of this Monastery The abovesaid Herbert de Vallibus was the first Baron of Gillesland which Barony went by a Daughter to the Name and Family of Multon and in like manner from them to the Family of Dacres Valued at 77 l. 7 s. 11 d. per Annum DUNSTABLE in Bedfordshire HEre was formerly a very Woody place just in the meeting of those two Royal Ways of Watling and Ickneld which made the Passage so unsafe and full of Thieves that there was hardly any Travelling King Henry the I. desirous to rectifie this caused the Woods to be cut up and a Royal Mansion to be built near the place which was called Kingsbury He also caused Proclamation all over the Kingdom that who ever would come and inhabit in that place should have Land for 12 d. an Acre per Annum and enjoy the same Liberties and Freedoms as the City of London doth or any other ancient Borough in the Kingdom by this means People flock'd hither and built the Town which from Dunning a noted Robber who used to rob here was named Dunningstable Besides the Liberties abovementioned this Town had two Markets weekly and a Fair at St. Peter ad Vincula for three days and a Gallows for Felons Within the Limits of this Borough that King erected a Church in honour of St. Peter and built a Monastery for Canons Regular to whom he gave the said Church and all the Borough with its Markets Fairs and Liberties retaining only in his own hands the Capital Mansion All which with the Grants of other Matters were afterwards confirm'd to them by King Hen. the II. and King Rich. the I. King Iohn did the like and granted them also his House of Kingsbury the said Canons had also a Court of Pleas there of their own Some of the Tenants held in Capite of the Abbot and some by Services to be done to the said Canons but all were Freemen Valued at 344 l. 13 s. 4 d. per Annum SUTHWIKE in Hantshire THIS Monastery was founded and endowed with divers Lands by King Henry the I. who granted them all sorts of Liberties and Freedom from Tributes Taxes and Exactions and that they should not be impleaded for any matter or thing unless in the presence of him or his Heirs Valued at 257 l. 4 s. 4 d. per Annum MERTON in Surrey FOunded by King Henry the I. An. 1121. and by him endowed with the Town of Merton belonging to his Crown and large Liberties Valued at 957 l. 19 s. 5 d. per Annum OSENEY near Oxford RObert de Oilley whose Uncle of the same name came into England with the Conquerour and obtained from him the Baronies of Oxford and St. Waleries founded this Priory for black Canons among the Isles made by the River Isis near Oxford It is said that his Wife Edith took occasion to incite her Husband to this Foundation from the constant assembling and chattering of certain Magpies in that place whenever she walkt our thither for her recreation The Church here dedicated to St. Mary was built An. 1129. Which said Robert endowed the Canons
endow'd with the Mannour of Leystone The Advowson of this Abby coming to the Crown by the forfeiture of Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk King Richard II. An. 12. confirm'd to the Abbot and Convent of this House their Estate and granted them free Election of their Abbot that in time of Vacation neither he nor his heirs nor any of his or their Officers would seize the Temporalities nor intermeddle in the same nor should any Abbot and Convent of this House be ever compell'd to grant any Corody or Pension to any Person Vid. Vol. 3. p. 74. Valued at 181 l. 17 s. 1 d. per Annum BEAUCHIEF in Derbyshire RObert Fitz-Ranulf Lord of Alferton Norton and Marnham was one of these four Knights who martyr'd the Blessed Thomas Arch-Bishop oâ— Camesbury in explation of which Act he founded this Monastery of Bello Capite or Beauchef dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr Thomas de Cadureis or Chaworth descended by an Heir General from the said Robert gave divers Lands to this House and confirm'd all the Gifts of his Ancestors King Edward II. An. 9. recited and confirm'd the Lands c. given to the Abbot and Canons of this House by their several Benefactors Valued at 126 l. 3 s. 4 d. per Annum BLANCLAND in Northumberland FOunded for twelve Canons of the Order of Premonstratenses by Walter de Bolebek and by him endow'd with divers Lands c. Valued at 40 l. 9 d. per Annum NEWBO in Lincolnshire FOunded and endow'd with Lands and Churches by Richard Malebisse Confirm'd by King Henry III. An. 9. Among other things the foresaid Richard gave the Canons of this House certain Lands in Estwisell held of Iohn de Lascy Earl of Lincoln by Ward Releif and Scurage c. all which Services the said Earl afterwards released and quit claim'd to these Canons in pure and perpetual almes Valued at 71 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob per Annum LAVINDENE in Buckinghamshire FOunded by Iohn Bidun and by him endow'd with divers Lands and Churches Ranulph Earl of Chester and Ralf de Bray with divers others were Benefactors all whose gifts were confirm'd to the Canons of the Church of St. Iohn Baptist at Lavindene by King Henry III. An. II. Valued at 79 l. 13 s. 8 d. per Annum WENDLYNG in Norfolk FOunded and endow'd with Lands c. by William de Wendlying in free and perpetual Almes Confirm'd by King Edward III. An. 6. And by Robert de Stuievill An. 1273. 1. Edward I. Valued at 55 l. 18 s. 4 d. per Annum HAGNEBY in Lincolnshire FOunded in honour of St. Thomas the Martyr Archbishop of Canterbury by the Lady Agnes de Orreby Wife of Herbert de Orreby An. 22. Henry the II. Richard Bishop of Lincoln 52 H. 3. and Philip de Kyme 4 E. 1. with divers others were Benefactors Valued at 87 l. 11 s. 4 d. per Annum STANLY Park commonly call'd Dale in Darbyshire IT is said that a certain Baker living in the Parish of St. Mary at Derby a man very Religious and a great Alms-giver was admonisht in a Vision to leave all that he had and betake himself to a solitary Life in a Place call'd Depedale which accordingly he did This was a Desert and Moorish place East from Derby near Stanley Radulsus Son of Geremundus Lord of the place accidentally discovering this Hermit in his poor Habitation as he was hunting and commiserating his Condition granted him the Soil where his Hermitage stood and also the Tith of his Mill of Burg for his maintenance The Daughter of this Radulfus was married to Serlo de Grendon Lord of Badeley to whom his Aunt and Godmother call'd The Gome of the Dale Gome in old English signified a Godmother gave Depedale These two astembled hither certain Canons from a Religious House at Kalke to whom they gave this Place where they built asumptious Church and Monastery which obtain'd from Rome ample Priviledges But these Canons becoming very relax in their Divine Offices and more given to hunting and the Pleasures of the Forrest than to the Church and Prayer for which being in danger to be removed they by way of Prevention refigned all they had here into the hands of their Patron and return'd to the place from whence they came except Humfrey their Prior who retired to a place call'd the Magdalen and became a Hermit But this House became not hereby desolate but afterwards rise to a greater degree of honour Ludit in adversis divina potentia rebus for after this there came hither six Canons of the Order of Praemenstratenses from Tupholme invited by the Patron But these also misbehaved themselves and were recall'd to Tupholme Hereupon William de Grendhom then Patron procured five other Canons of the fame Order from Welbeck These also after some time return'd back discouraged by excessive Poverty At last William Son of the foresaid Radulf with his Daughter Maud married to Ieffrey Sawcemere but childles and the foresaid William de Grendon the Patron his Sisters Son joyn'd together in making a Fair and sufficient Endowment of Lands to this House procuring nine Canons from Newhouse to whom they gave the Town and Park of Stanley the Dominion of Depedale with other Lands in Okebroke c. All which with their other Possessions given by other Benefactors were confirm'd to the Abbot and Canons of Stanlegh Park by King Henry the III. An. 19. Vid. Vol. 3. p. 72. Valued at 144 l. 12 s. per Annum LANGDONE in Kent a Cell to Leystone FOunded by William de Auberville and by him endow'd with the Town of Langedone and divers other Lands confirm'd by Simon de Albrinciis his chief Lord and Nicholas do Cryoll defcended of the foresaid William the Founder WEST-DERHAM in Norfolk FOunded by Hubert Dean of York for the good of his own Soul and the Souls of his Father and Mother and of Ranulph de Glanville and Bertra his Wife who brought him up He became afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury and endow'd this Abby with many Lands all which was confirm'd by King Iohn An. 1. who also granted to the Canons of this House very great Liberties and Immunities as to be quit from all Tolls throughout the Kingdom both for themselves and their men c. Valued at 228 l. ob per Annum BILEGH alias Maldone in Essex THE Canons of Perendune removed to Maldon An. Dom. 1180. Robert Mantell was their Founder King Richard the I. An. 1. confirm'd all their Lands and Revenues with the grant of Liberties Valued at 157 l. 16 s. 11 d. per Annum SULBY in Northamptonshire THIS Abby of St. Mary de Welleford afterwards call'd the Abby of Suleby was founded by William de Wideville King Richard the I. granted these Canons divers Immunities Robert de Pavily Knt. granted them his Mannor of Suleby to hold of the Abbot and Convent of Westminister being Lords of the Fee at the yearly Rent of 102 s. and of him the said Robert
by the Payment of one pound of Cummin Cimini or 2 d. at Easter yearly for all Services and Demands Divers other Benefactors gave other Lands in Northamptonshire and elsewhere among whom were Iohn de Lacy Constable of Chester Ralph Basset c. All confirm'd and recited by King Edward the II. An. 9. Valued at 258 l. 8 s. 5 d. per Annum COKERSAND in Lancashire FOunded by Theâ—bald Walter Brother of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury for Canons of the Premonstratenses to whom he gave in pure and perpetual Alms the Hay or inclosed ground call'd Pyling for the â—recting of this Abby Confirm'd by King Iohn An. 2. All which with other Lands granted by William de Lancaster Iohn de Lasey Earl of Lincoln and Constable of Chester and the Ieffrey Son of the Lord Iohn and others were recited and confirm'd by King Richard the II. An. 7. A Contest happening between the Prior of Lancaster and the Abbot of Cokersand about Tithes and other Rights of the Church it was agreed and settled by Papal Authority An. 1216. that the Prior should have two parts of the Corn Tithes in Lancaster and Pulton and this Abbot one third part also that the Abbot of Cokersand shall not admit any of the Parishioners of the Prior of Lancaster to Sepulture at his Convent without the Priors License c. The Abbot and Convent of Leicester de pratis granted to the Canons of Cokersand the Scite of the Hospital of Cokersand for the making of an Abby which change from an Hospital to a Monastery of Premonstratenses was made An. 1190. BEGEHAM in Sussex THIS Abby was first founded at Hotteham by Ralph de Dena and by him endow'd with Lands c Translated from thence to Begeham otherwise call'd Benlin by Ela de Saukvile Daughter of the first Founder whose Son Ieffrey de Saukvile confirm'd the Estate of these Canons Confirm'd also by Gilbert de Aquila Robert de Tuâ—nham Walkelin Maminot and Richard Earl of Clare and Hereford were also Benefactors all whose Gifts were confirm'd by King Iohn King Henry the III. An. 35. granted to these Canons a weekly Market on the Thursday at their Mannor of Rokeland and a Fair there for three days at Midsomer Which with their other Possessions was confirm'd by King Edward the II. An. 6. Vid. Vol. 3. p. 77. BARLINGS in Lincolnshire FOunded by Ralph de Haye with the Consent of Richard Haye his Brother confirm'd by King Henry the II. and King Iohn An. 16. The Bardolfs and Longspes were Benefactors BRODHOLME in Nottinghamshire KING Edward the II. An. 12. recited and confirm'd the several Lands and Possessions given to the Brothers and Sisters of Brodholme by divers Benefactors among whom Ralph de Albaniaco Walter de Clifford and Agnes his Wife c. Valued at 16 l. 5 s. 2 d. per Annum COVERHAM in Yorkshire THIS Monastery was first founded at Swayneby An. Dom. 1190. by Helewisia Daughter and Heir of Ranulf de Glanvilla a Baron and Capital Justice of England in the time of King Henry the II. and Richard the I. It was afterwards translated from Swayneby to Coverham near Midleham by Ralph Fitz-Robert descended from the said Helewisia The Lands c. given to this House by the Foundress and her Son Walleran Fitz-Robert and Ralph Fitz-Robert Edric Neusum and others were all confirm'd by King Edward the III. An. 22. Of this Family did descend two Sisters Co-heirs Mary Lady of Midleham married to Ralph de Nevile and Ioan married to Robert de Fatershall Valued at 160 l. 18 s. 3 d. per Annum St. AGATHA near Richmund in Yorkshire FOunded by one Roaldus the Constable possibly of Richmond Castle Roger de Moubray Alan Bygot and others were Benefactors whose Grants were recited and confirm'd by King Edw. III. An. 3. Richard le Scrope of Bolton by License of King Rich. II. granted to the Abbot and Convent of this House a yearly Rent of 150 l. for the Maintenance of ten Canons over and above the common number then in the Monastery and of two Secular Chaplains to celebrate for the said Richard and his Heirs c. and for the Maintenance of twenty two poor men in the said Abby This Richard le Scrope had been the Kings Chancellour and gave also to this Abby the Mannor of Brompton upon Swale then valued at 10 l. 3 s. 4 d. per Annum Valued at â— 11 l. 17 s. 11 d. per Annum TORRE in Devonshire THIS Church and Abby of St. Saviours of Torre was founded by William Briwer and by him endow'd with many Lands and with the Church of Torre c. to hold in free pure and perpetual Alms. King Iohn confirm'd to these Canons all their Possessions with the Grant of large Franchises and Immunities from Scutage and all Gelds and Tolls c. for themselves and their men From this William Briwere the Founder descended Reginald de Mohun who in the thirty six of King Henry the III. had a grant from this Abbot and Convent of Liberty to erect a Chappel in his Court at Thorre for himself and proper Family but not to baptize there nor admit any of the Parishioners to any Ecclesiastical Rights the said Abbot and Convent to receive one Moiety of all Oblations or Obventions arising in the said Chappel c. Valued at 396 l. 11 d. per Annum HALES-OWEN in Shropshire THE Mannor and Advowson of the Church of Hales was given by King Iohn An. 16. to Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester for the erecting of a Religious House which was accordingly founded here by that Bishop and by him endowed with this Estate Confirm'd by King Henry the III. Roger Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield An. 1248 appropriated the Church of Waleshale to this Abby after the death of Vincent then Rector of the said Church saving out of the same a Vicaridge of thirteen Marks to be assigned to a Vicar with all Obventions c. An. Dom. 1270. Godfrey Bishop of Worcester made a Settlement between the Abbot of Hales and the Perpetual Vicar of the Parish Church there the said Vicar to have and receive from the Abbot ten Marks yearly a House with Out Houses Orchard Garden and the Vesture of the Church-yard The Canons to find another Priest to be under the Vicar Presbiterm secundarium and to bear all ordinary and extraordinary Charges Iohn de Hamptone Ioan Botetourt and Iohn her Son gave divers Mannors and Advowsons to this Abby conditioning for Chantrys Wolstan Bishop of Worcester appropriated to this Abby the Church of Clent and Chappel of Rouley reserving to the perpetual Vicar who hath the Cure of Souls there a Revenue of 10 l. viz. a Messuage and Curtelage on the South side of the Church-yard with Tith of Calves Lambs c. and all small Tithes except of the Monasteries proper Lands Mortuaries the Herbage and Trees of the Church-yard and all the Altarage Valued at 280 l. 13 s. 2 d. ob per Annum LANGLEY in
the City of Colchester erected here a Monastery of which he lay'd the first Stone An. Dom 1097. Which being finisht some Monks were brought hither from Rochester But they not being endow'd here according to their own mind return'd to Rochester After this Eudo received other thirteen Monks from the Abbot of York these began upon a New Foundation which prosper'd so well that in a short time one of the thirteen was chosen Abbot and Consecrated by Maurice Bishop of London About the year 1104. Their number increased to above twenty who all lived very regularly The founder Eudo dyed in Normandy and devised his Body to be buried in the Abby of his foundation at Colchester which was accordingly done the Monks meeting it a Mile from the Monastery An. 1120. This Eudo endow'd this Monastery with several Mannours Tithes and Churches among others with the Church of St. Mary in the Westcheping Call'd the Newcherch and his Stone House near the same also the Church of St. Steven Walebroch in London King Henry II. released the Tax of Danâ—geld c. in the Lands of these Monks SNAPES in Essex A Cell to Colchester WIlliam Martell being Seised of the Mannour of Snapes enjoy'd Wreck of the Sea from Thorp to Hereford Nesse and gave this Mannour to the Abby of Colchester for the founding of a Priory here which Priory was founded accordingly and made a Cell to that Abby An. 1155. This Priory paid half a mark yearly to Colchester as a Pension of acknowledgment Twice a year the Abbot of Colchester was to Visit here with twelve Horses and abide here four days St. HELENS in Bishopsgatestreet London ALardus Dean of St. Pauls London and the Chapter of that Church granted License to William Son of William the Goldsmith Patron of the Church of St. Helen to constitute Nuns in the said Church and â—rect a College there endowing them with the Advowson of the said Church The Prioress to be upon election presented to the Dean and Chapter of Pauls and to swear fealty to them and to pay them a Pension of half a mark yearly at Easier c In the yeat 1439. Raynold Kentwode Dean of Pauls made other Constitutions for the Government of this Nunnery some of which were That Divine Service be by them duly perform'd night and day That no secular person be locked within the Bounds of the Cloyster nor come within it after the Complin Bell except Women Servants and maid Children that none of the Sisters receive Letters from or speak with any secular Person without License of the Prioress and some other Nun to be present That they grant no Corody or Pension without License of the said Dean and Chapter that no Dancing or Reveling be used in the House except at Christmass and then among themselves and in the absence of Secualr persons That there be a Door made to the Nuns Quire that no Strangers may look on them nor they on the Strangers when They be at Divine service That no Nun have any Key to the Postern Door that goes out of the Cloyster into the Churchyard but the Prioress c. These Orders were to be Read publickly in their Chappel four times a year and kept and observed under the pain of Excomunication Valued at 314 l. 2 s. 6 d. per Annum CATESBY in Northamptonshire KIng Henry III. in the fifty seventh year of his Raign recited and confirm'd to the Nuns of Kateby the Church of the blessed Mary of Kateby with the Chappel of Helidene with the Church and divers Lands in great Esseby and several other Revenues given them by divers Benefactors Confirm'd also by the Bull of Pope Gregory the VIII Valued at 132 l. 1 s. 11 d. per Annum St. MARY de Pratis adjoyning to Derby KIng Henry II. granted and confirm'd to the Nuns of St. Mary de Pratis near Darby among other things twenty seven acres of Land in his Forrest of the Peak with large Commons in the said Forrest King Henry III. granted them 100 s. per Annum to be received from the Baylies of the Town of Nottingham out of the Farm of the said Town Valued at 18 l. 6 s. 2 d. per Annum GRIMSBY in Lincolnshire THe Church and all the Monastery of Nuns here being of the Kings Foundation and Patronage together with all their goods and Movables and all their Writings and Evidences concerning their Lands and Estate in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire being burnt and consumed by a casual fire King Henry IV. in the seventh year of his Reign confirm'd to this Prioress and Convent all their Grants c. made as well by his Progenitors as others NEWTON in Yorkshire KIng Edward II. in the fifteen year of his Reign granted his Licence To his well beloved Cousin Thomas Wake to give one Messuage with the appurtenances in the Town of Neutone for the erection of a Religious House of what order he pleased and to endow it with Lands in Neuton and Cottingham c. Vid. 3. p. 88. BROMHALE HEnry de Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Margaret his Wife did release and quit claim to the Nuns of Bromhale one hundred acres of Land in their Wast of Asserige with the Appurtenances Pag. 551. LEUESHAM in Kent KIng Alured and his Son King Edward the Elder gave and King Edward the Confessor confirm'd to the Abby of St. Peters at Gant the Mannour of Luesham with all its appurtenences viz. Greenwic Wullewic Modingham and Cumbe with other Lands and great Liberties and Franchises as large as the King himself had in the said Lands c. Dated An. Dom. 1044. Pag. 551. St. MICHAELS MOUNT in Cornwal RIchard King of the Romans Edmund Earl of Cornwal and Conan Duke of Britany were Benefactors to this House Pope Adrian in the year 1155. confirm'd to the Abbot and Monks of this House by the name of the Monastery of St. Michael de periculo maris all their Lands and Revenues lying most in Normandy and also in England Pag. 558. BERGAVENNY HEnry de Bellocampo confirm'd to the Monks of Bergavenny all those Possessions which his Ancestors Hamelinus de Balon and others Lords of Bergavenny had given them and further gave and confirm'd to the said Monks divers other Revenues Pag. 595. GOLDCLIVE RObert de Candos founded the Priory at Goldclive in Wales being then Lord of Karlyon The Patronage of which House came afterwards to William Earl of Gloucester and after that to Richard Duke of York CARESBROKE in the IIe of Wight WIlliam Fitz Osbern was Mareshal to William the I. and Conquer'd the Ile of Wight at such time as the other Conquer'd England King William made him Earl of Hereford The Estate of this William descended to Baldwin Earl of Exeter who granted all the Churches and Tithes of this Iland to the Abby of St. Mary of Lira King Henry II. recited and confirm'd the several Possessions given to those Monks as well in France as England and Wales Pag. 614. WENDLOCK WIlliam de Boterell
he was upon his great sorrow and tears absolved after which he gave divers Lands to this Church Gurcan who succeeded Guinan having lived incestuously with his Mother in Law was therefore in full Synod excommunicated by Bishop Erthguin and after upon his reformation being absolved gave divers Lands to this Church King Clitauc Son of Clitguin was a Prince who governed his Kingdom in Peace and exact Juctice and became afterwards a Martyr on this account A young Virgin of quality was in love with him so far as to declare she would never marry unless to Clitauc whereupon a Nobleman of the Court whose Sute she had refused for the Kings sake in revenge murder'd the innocent King in hunting After whose Murder the Bishop of Landaff caused to be built and consecrated a Church to his memory in the place where he was buried near the River Myngui c. Which with divers Lands given to the same was afterwards a granted to the Bishops of Landaff by King Iudhail Son of Morcant A Noble man of the same name Iudhail Son of Edelvirth going with his Wife on a Sunday to hear divine Service at St. Clitaue's was so far prevail'd upon by the Devils insligation and his own lust 〈◊〉 to lie with his Wife in a Meadow on the Bank of Mingui and having perform'd the Act and about to withdraw he found himself not able to disjoyn but was forced to remain in that Posture inseperable from his Wâ—â—e whereupon he call'd out to his Attendants and order'd them to repair to the Monument of the Martyr Clitauc and there offer in his name that Meadow which he had unjustly taken from that Church this being done with promise of amendment of Life he was again separated from that vexatious Conjunction Convur bought certain Lands of King Fernvail Son of Iudhail for an excellent horse of the price of 12 Cows a Dog that had kill'd Birds with a Hawk cum Ancipitre of the Price of 3 Cows and another Horse of the Price of 3 Cows which Lands so purchased he gave to the Bishops of this Church of Landaff Fernuhail Convelin King Ris Son of Iudhail and abundance of other Kings and great Men in Wales were Benefactors to this Church King Hotel being excomunicated by the Bishop and Synod at Landaff for killing Galcun after a peace swern upon his Absolution gave divers Lands to this Church the like did Ili Son of Conblus who was excommunicated for killing Camauc after a Peace sworn between them Agvod Son of Iovaf having an angry Contest betwixt his family and the Bishops came up to the Church Door and threw stones into the Church and then fled under an Anathema for which he afterwards beg'd pardon and gave divers Lands to Corenhiro then Bishop and his Successors King Nongui gave Lands for violating the Liberties of this Church and committing Sacriledge An. Dom. 955. Pater being then Bishop of this Church six men of the Family of Nongui broke into a Church in this Diocesâ— and there kill'd a Deacon before the Altar who had fled thither for Sanctuary for which they were delivered up to the Bishop and remain'd imprison'd six months in Chains and they were further sentenced by a Synod that they should forfeit all their Lands and Substance to the Church which they had prophaned Asser Son of Marchvid having kill'd Gulagguin by treachery gave to this Church the Town of Segan c. Brochmail Son of Mouric gave to this Church certain Lands which he had before given to his Daughter whom he made a Nun but she being seduced from her Vow by Etgar Son of Levi had a Son incestuously Teudur King of Brecknock King Grifud c. were also Benefactors An. Dom. 982. Gucaun Bishop of Landaff was consecrated by the Metropolitan Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury and had his Pastoral Staff given him by Edgar the Supream King of the English At the same time lived Edgar King of all Britain Hawel da and Morgan hen which two last were subject to King Edgar Etguin King of Guenti having a great contest with Bledri Bishop of Landaff it went so far that the Bishop himself was wounded whereupon he summon'd and assembled all the Clergy from Taratir in Gui to Tigui who in full Synod Anathematized the King with his whole Family and put his Country under interdict but the King seeking absolution obtain'd it and thereupon gave divers Lands to this Church Muric Son of Hivil after he had solemnly sworn to a Peace and Friendship with Etguin a Neighbouring King before Ioseph Bishop of Landaff seized upon the said Etguin cast him in Prison and put out his eyes which occasion'd his death for which being curst in a Synod he afterwards obtain'd absolution and gave several Towns to this Church King Mouric and Caratanc one of his Lords being under censure for violating the Sanctuary of this Church obtain'd remission and gave divers Lands The like happened in the Cases of Catguallaun Ringuallaun Gistinus and others who being guilty of like Crimes made the like Compensations When King William conquer'd England Hergualdus was Bishop of Landaff Catguacaun Son of Mouric King of Glatmorcant Caratoc and Riderch Kings of other parts of Wales all which Kings served King William and died in his time LITCHFELD Cathedral THIS was formerly call'd the Mercian Church and first founded in the year 657. upon the Conversion of this Province to the Christian Religion it was then made a Cathedral and Duina the first Bishop of the Mercians or middle English who govern'd here but two years and died To him succeeded Cellach a Scot. After him Trumhere and after him Iarman both Englishmen but ordain'd Bishops in Scotland To these succeeded St. Cedda An. Dom. 667. who had been before that Bishop of York After whose death succeeded Winfrid and after him Sexwolf who founded the Abby of Peterborough after whose death the Province of Mercia was divided into two Diocesses Parâ—chias Litchfield and Leicester tho' after a while they were both united again under Hedda Bishop of Litchfield who died An. 721. In the time of Ethelred King of Mercia the Bishoprick of Litchfield was divided into five Diocesses viz. Hereford Worcester Litchfield Leicester and Lindisey After this division Litchfield had five successive Bishops till the time of Adulphus who was made Archbishop of Litchfield by Pope Hadrian An. 764. and a Jurisdiction given him over all Mercia and the East-Angles but after him there was no more Archbishops From his time to the Norman Conquest were fifteen Bishops of Litchfield soon after which the Episcopal Seat was translated from Litchfield to Chester An. 1075. The second Bishop of Chester was Robert de Lymesi who An. 1095. removed his Seat again from Chester to the rich Monastery at Coventry not long before built and magnificently endow'd by Earl Leofrick and Godeva his Wife To him succeeded Robert Peche Roger de Clinton Walter Durdent Richard Peche and Gerard de Puellâ all of them successively Bishops of