'^''' kk: t k . >«. .k. <.< i :0 «« 'C HC It 1^^^- ^ 5 r J J >-J<-*' ;>•*>, ^S5. V^V^^^^ Abbas de Muchelneye 6 12 6 iJradene. J "^ Fyfliyde. Abbas de Muchelneye 2 Ilmynystr'. Abbas de Aluchelneye, P'benda ... 8 10 p. 204. The Patent and other rolls of John, Edward I, Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry VI, and Edward IV,* furnish us with various particulars, including the names of localities in which were situated the landed and other possessions of the Abbey. Mention is here made of the Manor of Muchelney ; the rents of assize of He Abbatis, Ilmystre, Fyf hede, Westover, Drayton, Cammell, Yemes- hill, Downhede, and Hylcombe ; the rents of tenements at Mydelenie, Yevelcestre, Lamport, Merston, Milton, Au- dresey, and Chypstapull ; the rent of a house in Yevyll ; the rectories of Muchelney, He Abbatis, Ilmystre, Hyl- combe, Horton, Fyfhede, Mowreton, Somerton, Meriett, * Pat. 19 Hen. Ill, p. 9. Pat. 21 Hen. Ill, m. 2. Pat. 36 Hen. III. Fin. G Johan, m. 16. Cart. 7 Johan, m. 7, n. 62. Plao. in Com. Somers. S Edvv. I, assis. rot. 13. lb. rot. 15, Pat. 18 Edw. I, m. 22. Pat 2 Edw. Ill, p. 1, m. 31. Pat. 6 Edw. Ill, p. 2. Pat. 9 Edw. Ill, p. 2. Pat. 13 Edw. Ill, p. 1. Pat. 32 Edw. Ill, p. 2, m. 18. Fin. Somers. 33 Edw. Ill, n. 41. Pat. 34 Edw. Ill, p. 3, m. 5. Pat. 40 Edw. Ill, p. 2, m. 42. Pat. 43 Edw. Ill, p. 1, m. 30. Pat. 8 Eic. 11, p. 2, m. 2. Pat. 10 Uio. II, p. 1, m. 30. Pat. 18 Rio. II, p. 1, m. 14. Pat. 9 Hen. IV, p. 2, m. 23. Pat. 23 Hen. VI, p. 1, m. 5. Pat. 5 Edw. IV, p. 2, m. 10. MUCHELNEY ABBEY. 7 and Drayton ; and the advowsons of the churches of Muchelney, Drayton, lie Abbatis, Ilmyster, Ilylcombe, Horton, Fyfhede, Somerton, Moreton, Mcriett, and Chyi)- stapull, and of two chantries in Ilmyster. According to the computation of Diigdale, tlie revenues amounted in 1534 to £447 5s., and, according to that of Speed, to £498 16s. 3id. It is certified tiiat the Abbat, in the 12th of Hen. II, held his lands, after the custom of his predeceE>ors, by the service of one knight's fee ; in the 14th of Henry III, that he paid three marks for one knight's fee towards the king's first passage into Brittany ; and, in the 38 th of Hen. Ill, that the same sum was contributed towards the aid for making a knight of the king's eldest son. The Abbat was also prebendary of Ilminster. On the 29th of November, 1201, Richard, the then Abbat, and his convent, made a grant to Savaricus, Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury, of the church of Ilminster, which wa?; afterwards converted into a prebend, annexed to the Abbey, and held by the Abbat down to the Dissolution.* Hearne has printed in the first volume of the Historia de Rebus gestis Glastoniensibus of Adam de Domerham, a large and interesting collection of documents relating to Much- elney Abbey, to some of which reference has already been made, including a few of general interest, f These consist, inter alia, of a Taxatio Spiritualium et Tempo- ralium, Articuli Visitatorum, charters of Edward III in * Anglia Sacra, vol. i, p. 503. Chron. Walt. Hemiiigf. vol. ii., p. ()20. Reg. Will, i, fol. 41. + Hearne has given, as a reason for tbe publication of these documents, the fact that next to notbing was previously known of the House in ques- tion. " De hac abbatia egregia aliquot nupcr edidimus, e Codicibus -MSS. honoratissimi nobilissimique Domini Caroli Baronis Bruce, ad initium Adami de Domerham, idque ea potissimum de caussa, quia jam antea paucissima de eadem consignaverunt scripiores Monastici hactenus in Incem editi." — Lib. Nig. Scao. Lond. 1/71, Vol. I, p. 8U. 8 JIUCUELNEY ABBEY. reference to the Manor of Dounhevede, pleas respecting the common pasture of Kyngesmor, in the manor of Som- erton ; a corrody granted to Ralph Drake, chantry priest ; a presentation to the chantry of S. ^lartin in the cathedral church of Wells ; an ordination of the vicarage of ^luch- elney ; a charter concerning Draytone and Bortone ; a receipt to make wode ; extenta de Martok ; de pastura dc Whattmore ; carta de Meriette ; a composition between the convent of Muchelney and the rector of West Cammelle ; a calendar ; and a perambulation of the forest of Neracchist. Several portions of the forest are represented as held by the Abbat of Muchelney, and mention occurs of " quidam raons qui vocatur Castrum de Hachich," doubtless the hill which is conspicuously visible from many parts of the Vale of Taunton, and vulgarly, though, as it thus appears, with indisputable propriety, called " Castle Each." The Abbat of Muchelney was an ecclesiastic of high rank and consequence. He wore the mitre, but does not appear to have bad a seat in parliament. A list of these dignitaries, collected from the records, is given by Dugdale and others, to whom I would refer the reader. It is imperfect, and must remain so until a work be executed to which I shall presently advert, and which would furnish us with the best materials now remaining for its construction. Liuuardus is incidentally mentioned in the Domesday record, as Abbat in the time of Edward the Confessor; Richard occui's in 1205 ; another Richard was Abbat, 1235; Walter, 1248; John de Barneville, 1251; William de Gyvele, 1274; Ralph de Muchelney, 1293; .lohn de Hentone, 1303 ; John de Somcrton, 1334 ; Thomas de Overton, 1353 ; William de Shepton, 1371 ; Nicholas de Strotton, 1397 ; John Bruton, 1400 ; John Cherde, 1433 ; Thomas Pipe or Pippe, 14G3 ; William MUCUELNEY ABBEY. 9 Crokehorn, or Cnikcrn, 1466; John Bracy, 1470 ; William Wyk, or Wyke, 1489 ; Thomas Broke, 1504 ; John Shir- born, or Scherbornc, 1522 ; and Thomas Yve, 1532. I need not occupy further time and space by repeating what every inquirer can consult without difficulty, and what has already been many times committed to the press. I gladly turn to a fragment of hitherto unpublished infor- mation in the following extracts from two of the Harldan MSS; which give us a view of the Society in the ordinary exercise of their rights as patrons of the benefices already noticed as being in their possession. The MSS. to which I refer (Harl. 6964 and 6965) con- tain extracts from the registers of several of the Bishops of Bath and Wells, particularly of Bp. Johannes de Drokens- ford, 1309-1329, and of Bp. Eadulphus de Salopia, 1329- 1363. They were made by Matthew Hutton in the year 1686. The far greater portion of these refer to the pre- sentation of clerks to various benefices, with the names of the several patrons, etc. The Abbat and Convent of Muchelney are noticed as presenting to the Church of " Muchelnaye," Harl. 3IS. 6964, p. 11 ; to "Muchelney," p. 50; to "Somcrton," p. 58 ; to " Chipstaple," p. 102 ; to "Fifhide,"p. 116; to "Wyke," p. 142; to "Chipsta- ple," p. 144 ; to the place of a chantry priest in the chapel of Blessed Mary of " Wyk, Perham, juxta Lamport," p. 145 ; to " Muchelney," Harl. 3IS. 6965, p. 148 ; to " Fit- hide," p. 148; to "Mochchiey," p. 165; to " Somerton," p. 173 ; to " lie Abbat," p. 204 ; to the place of a chantry priest in the chapel of S. Martin, in the cluu-ch of ^\"ells, p. 223 ; to "Somerton," p. 229; and to "Vyfhydc/' p. 249. I would here very urgently suggest that nothing could more excellently serve the cause of archa;ology in this c 10 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. kingdom than the careful transcript and accurate publica- tion of the Episcopal Registers. It would go far to furnish lists of the several abbats, priors, and other officers of many conventual bodies, as well as of the rectors and vicars of parish churches and chapelries. In fact it would present the antiquary with a clear and truthful picture of ecclesiastical matters at large during any given period, and would constitute of itself a parochial history for the entire district. Possessed of such an authority, the student might read without difficulty, and in the most assui'cdly conclusive of all possible ways, the successive changes which have eventuated in every locality, the consecutive annals of every parish, too insignificant perhaps for the notice of the so-called county history, but not less inter- esting on that account to the individual incumbent, land- ownei", native, or casual resident. I am persuaded that, notwithstanding what Dr. Archer has done in a similar field of research, which may be found in the second volume of Hearne's Chronicle of JValter Hcmingford, pp. 585-638, the preparation and publication of such a work, so far as the Registers at Wells could furnish the materials, would be one of the best and most useful labours on which the funds of our Society could possibly be em- ployed. The history of Muchelney seems, so far as we can gather it, to have been one of not unfrequent trouble. The Abbat was disseised, or dispossessed, of his lands and other possessions, by the king's command, as I find by an entry in the Great Roll of the 3rd year of K. John. We know not the particulars, except that he had to pay three marks of gold, or thirty marks of silver, to regain possession. It does not appear to have been an ordinary fine, but con- MUCUELNEY ABBEY. 11 nccted with some peculiar circumstances of which we are ignorant. The record gives no explanation : " Abbas de Muchelncia debet ili marcas auri vel XXX marcas argenti, pro habenda saisina Abbatia; su;e et terrx sux et rerum suarum, undo dissaisitus fuit per prajceptuni regis." Mag. Rot. 3 Joh. b. Dors, et Sumers. A little more than a century afterwards the House was in debt, perhaps for some additions to the Society's build- ings, or possibly from the carelessness or incompetence of the officer entrusted with the funds. The evil does not, however, appear to have been of greater magnitude than to necessitate the Bishop's permission to the Abbat and Con- vent to superintend in their own person the expenditure during one year : "Id. Sep. 1317. D'ns Ep'us concedit Abb. et Conv. de Muchelney, ut propter a2S alienum officiu' Sacristarie p' unu' annum in manus suas recipiant et de fructibus ejusd' disponere." * It would appear also, from what we can derive through brief and obscure announcements, that the Abbey was repeatedly and, perhaps, sorely tried by endeavoiu's to subject it to the neighbouring house of Glastonbury. William of Malmesbury gives us some particulars of one of these attempts which was made In the eleventh century against the Abbats of Muchelney and Athelney. The one replied with jest, and the other with logic, but with doubtful success. t Nor is it by any means improbable that some, if not all, of those " visitations," to which I shall presently direct the reader's attention, were instituted * MS. Sari. 6964, p. 54. t ^nu. Malmesl. de Antiq. Glaslon. Feci. Ed. Gale, fol. Oxon, 1691, torn, iii, p. 331. 12 MUCHELNET ABBEY. not so much on account of any irregularities in the estab- lishment itself, as from the desire of the more powerful neighbour to add to its already comprehensive dominion. Means would hardly be wanting to eifect, if possible, so cherished a design. Be this, however, as it may, the storm which indiscri- minately assailed every religious establishment in the country during the first half of the sixteenth century, put a summary termination to these and all other differences, if they still survived, by exterminating the contending parties. Long before that time, doubtless, all such causes of dispute had been laid to rest, and the Abbat and Convent of Muchelney had been allowed to hold their own, in the terms of the ancient charters — bene, quiete, et in pace — so as to carry out into good effect the sacred purposes for which they were instituted. At last, however, after centuries of benefit and blessing to the land, forgotten by many and ill-requited by more, the tempest descended upon this House of God. The demons of cruelty, avarice, and wrong, were let loose. Every passion that can degrade man to the brute's level was dominant. The excesses that were committed under pre- tence of religion, for it was but a pretence, would hardly be credited by modern readers, most of whom have been carefully educated to believe the worst of the sufferers, and the best of their unprincipled enemies. Those were, in- deed, the days of " trouble, rebuke, and blasphemy," of which it were well that we knew more, and took to heart the lesson, however painful, that their memorials can so graphically, so touchingly, and so truthfully convey. In the 30th year of Henry VIII the king granted the monastery and manor of Muchelney, together with many other lands belonging to the House, to Edward, Earl of MUCUELNEY AUBEY. \'-i Hertford, better known as Duke of Somerset. Ames- bury, in Wiltshire ; Maiden Bradley, in the same county ; Ottery, in Devon ; Wimborne, in Dorset ; Shene, in Sur- rey ; Sion, in INliddlesex, and several other religious houses, were his fearful share of the general plunder. It will not be amiss to add that, in common with the other receivers of these lands, the hand of God fell heavily upon him. He was one of the most unfortunate of mankind, and ended his life on the block in the year 1552. Five years before the suppression Thomas Yve, the Abbot of Muchelney, and his Convent, had pledged a considerable quantity of plate, in goblets, cruets, pastoral staff, censer, spice plate, candle- sticks, &c., to Sir John Baker and Richard Eakeclytfe, of Exeter, for one hundred pounds of lawful English money.* This sum was, I believe, expended by them on various buildings, foreseeing, doubtless, as they did, the rapidly gathering storm, and knowing that everything that was moveable would soon be at the mercy of unscrupulous and oreedy inquisitors, whose very mission within their conse- crated precincts was one of hardly disguised robbery and studied spoliation. The attempt, however, to remain masters of their own, however ingenious and reasonable, was frustrated by the spii'it of wholesale confiscation whicli presently exhibited its tendencies in the complete annihila- tion of multitudes of religious establishments. Like hun- dreds of other Houses, Muchelney Abbey fell under the spoiler's hand, and left little except its name to tell how pious kings gave, and holy men served God ; and how, in a faithless age, and for their own bad purposes, a monarch tyrannized, courtiers coveted, and a whole land was seduced, till wrong had gone too far for remedy. Thomas Yve, as I before stated, was the last Abbat. * Cart. Offic. Augment. d 14 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. Together with Richard Coscob, prior, John Montacute, and eight others, he subscribed to the king's supremacy, July 2, 1534, 26 Henry VIII, and afterwards to the surrender, Jan. 3, 1538, 29 Henry VUI. Sacrilege and murder were horribly rife ; and of those of the brethren whom it had been thought proper to pension — the individuals, we may pre- sume, who offered the least opposition to the tyrant's designs — only two are mentioned as continuing to survive the outrage down to the second year of Queen Mary : " Mochelney, nuper Monasterium. Annuit. Georg. More per annum lx\ Johannes Plumber per annum lx%" An impression of the seal of the Abbey is appended to two documents still preserved in the Augmentation Office ; and an outline of it is given in the last edition of Dugdale, drawn and engraved by John Coney. The device consists of two figures under canopies — one of them representing St. Peter, crowned, and habited in a richly-ornamented cope, with his right hand uplifted in the act of benediction, and holding in his left the papal crossed staff; the other repre- senting St. Paul, with his usual insignia, a book and a sword. On either side is an angel holding a shield — that on the right charged with the keys and sword, that on the left with a saltire. The legend is defective, but reads, as much of it as is legible : — » * * * abbatisi (Et Conbcnttig * * * * * * it S)c ^ucljclncs- So far as the ordinary history of the Abbey is concerned, I might here come to a conclusion. I might, indeed, say something of the subsequent possessors, and make them tell us how they enjoyed the spoil, and what reason they had to be satisfied with the perilous possession. This, MUCHELNEY ABBEY. 15 however, will hardly be expected of me. I will, never- theless, solicit the reader's attention for a few moments longer — first, to illustrate the subject by a very interesting commentary which I have unexpectedly met with among the MSS. treasures of the British Museum, and quote entire: and, secondly, to offer some remarks ou, and, I hope, to afford some insight into, the system of Monastic Visitation, of which this Abbey seems to have been the not unusual scene. Towards the elucidation of this last point also, 1 am happy to be able to offer some new and unpublished materials, derived from the same vast depository to which I have just referred. On Friday, the 25th of November, 1725, the learned antiquary, Thomas Ilearne, wrote as follows to his friend James West, " at No. 7, in Fig-tree Court, in the Inner Temple, London" : — " Dear Sir, " I shall be glad to peruse your Extracts from the Leiger Book of Christ's Hospital in Abbington, tho' I suppose they might be taken from the same Leiger Book that T have quoted pag. 198 of the Ix"* Vol. of Leland's Itin. in which Vol. I have also printed the Table, you mention, at large, Mr. Leland himself having taken some Notes from it. "You judge rightly, that Robert Ilalstead's Book is a very great Curiosity. I do not remember any thing dis- tinctly about it ; but I think I have seen it. I would fain have some short account of this Halstead, who and what he was, and whether he was a Man of Learning. "I suppose the Catalogue, you speak of, contains Sir Thomas Sebright's MSS. as well as printed Books. Any note you shall take from it will be acceptable, especially 16 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. since I have not an opportunity of seeing the Catalogue my self. " Some time ago I saw in your hands a MS. of W". of Malmesbury's Life of S'. Dunstan. But having had only n transient View of it, I cannot tell, whether it contains any thing more than what we have already in print about that Saint. "In the Cotton Libr. Julius F. X. 13, is an Account of the foundation of several Monasteries, in England. I take hold of your generous Offer, and desire that you would be pleased to see, whether, in that Account, there be any men- tion of Michelney Abbey in Somersetshire. " I have not seen the Defence you mention. I doubt not but 'tis a poor edgless Thing, far beneath my notice. 'Tis a very shrewd Sign of a wretched Cause, when the Advo- cates for it are such vile infamous Wretches. "I saw Mr. "Whiteside last Sunday Night, just after your's came to hand. He told me he rec* your Letter. " I am, Dear Sir, " Your most obi. humble Servant " Tho : Heakne. "Edm, Hall " Oxford Nov. "25. Frld. 1725.* This was followed up some time subsequently by the next : — " Dear Sir, " Notwithstanding I have printed the old Table, hang- ing in the Hospital of Abbiugton, yet I shall be glad of an opportunity of seeing your Extracts from the Leiger-Book, there being, it may be, something remarkable in them, tliat may have escaped me. * MS. Lamdovin, 778, n. 16. MLXHELNEY ABBEY. 17 " I know not what occasion I ever shall have for your MS. life of S'. Duustan, the mention of such things hap- pening to nie very often when I am not aware. I wish you would examine Surius and Papebrochius and BoUan- dus, as well as our own Writers, and try whether there he any Thing momentous tliat does not occur there. I have not an opportunitj^ of doing it my self. " I thank you for inspecting the Cotton !MS. "Tis strange to me, that there should be so very little left upon Record about Michelney Abbey. Neither Mr. Dodsworth nor Sir Wm. Dugdale met with any particulars, as far as I can learn, of consequence concerning it. And yet "twas a very old Abbey, and is mentioned as a Mitred Abbey, tho' not as one of the Parliamentary stated ones. K. Ina, as Leland notes, is said by some to have been Founder, tho' others, as Leland observes, tell us (and that, I think, more truly) that K. ^thelstan founded it. JEl- fred the Great built the Church, as is likewise noted by Leland. " I thank you for your Notes from Sir Thomas Sebright's Catalogue. But I am inclined to think, that this Catalogue contains only such Books as belong'd to Sir Roger Twis- den, and it may be 'tis the very same with what I saw many Years ago, even before Sir Thomas Sebright had bought them. Since that, Sir Thomas purchas'd Mr. Badger's Books, as also the MSS. of Mr. Edward Lhuyd. I looked over Mr. Badger's Study during Jlr. Badgcr"s Life, but there was very little or nothing to my purpose. I also looked over Mr. Lhuyd's old ilSS., as I did likewise many of his own writing, tho' I think several of Mr. Lhuyd's Papers were not among those MSS. when I had the View of them. " I licar there is an honorary Monument erected in 18 MUCHELNET ABBEY. Westminster Abbey, to tlie Memory of the late D''. Grabe. I wish I had the Inscription. " I am, Dear Sir, " Your most obliged humble Servant " Tho. Heakne. " Edm. Hall " Oxford Dec. 20. "1726. " We lately drank your health with the Token you sent. I fre- quently drink it my self. But when will you be here again ?" * I have thought proper to furnish coniDlete copies of these two letters, not only with a view of illustrating the history of Muchelney, but also of enriching my memoir vfith the hitherto unpublished compositions of one to Avhoni every English archseologist is under such special obligation — an antiquary so well known and a scholar so unwearied as Thomas Hearnc. The subject of the Visitation of Monasteries is involved in considerable obscurity. Whether it was systematic or of uncertain occurrence, we have no positive knowledge. Some accounts would lead us to suppose that official inves- tigations into the state of the monasteries were ordinarily made, and at certain intervals ; while others can hardly be reconciled with such a sujjposition, and incline us to think that the examinations in question were instituted as com- I)laints arose of particular and local irregularities. The Benedictines assembled at Oxford in general chapter, in the year 1249 ; and one result of their meeting appears to have been the appointment of certain Visitors, who should inves- tigate and correct abuses. By the rules which were then * MS. Lansdown, 778, n. 23. SlUCIIELNEV AlilUOV. 10 made, the Visitors were to be respectfully lodged and en- tertained, all questions vvliicli they proposed were to be faithfully answered, and their office was to be regarded as pre-eminently distinguished. On their parts they were most strictly enjoined to discountenance all undue expen- diture on their account, to act in their examination with all moderation and kindness, and to cherish a solemn sense of their responsibility, so that they might receive of God a worthy reward of their labours. Notwithstanding these excellent and considerate regulations, we have abundant proof that the visitations were oftentimes conducted with the greatest severity, and that the conduct of the inqui- sitors not unfrequently prevented tlie attainment of the object which was professedly in view. The troubled community set itself against the troubler, and sometimes mastered him. In the Monumenta Franciscana, just pub- lished, there is an account of tlic afflictions endured by the Houses of that order through the visitation of a certain brother Wygmundus, a great friend of Cardinal Otho, at that time the legate in England. He looked so sharply, as it appears, into the aflfairs of his brethren, and behaved with such intolerable arrogance, that the communities rose in open rebellion and put their persecutor in righteous alarm. He was obliged to quit tlie field of his exploits, and in undisguised fright to betake himself, having done his work, to his native Germany, carrying the engine of iiis torture with him, " omnibus turbatis, turbatus et ipse non modicum, rediit in Alemanniam, secum liabens sericm suk visitationis." The whole affair recals to our mind the story told by jNIatthew Paris, of tlie troubles of an official of the Archbishop of Canterbury, a certain Master Eustace de Len, who was pounced upon, much to his disgust and as- tonishment, just as he was sitting down to dinner, and put 20 MUCHELNET ABBEY. to ignominious flight, by the servants of the Bishop of Winchester, for opposing the presentation of a favoured ecclesiastic to the Hospital of S. Thomas, in Southwark. The unhappy official, after suffering some further indig- nities, was driven away like a criminal, heartily rejoiced that he had escaped from their crooked and hooked hands, " quod manus aduncas et hamatas evasisset," and without ever daring to look behind him, lest he should suffer the doom of Lot's wife. Although an old man, he flew away like a bird, "licet senex avolavit," to Waverley Abbey, causing no little wonderment to the good monks that wel- comed him there, and not able to draw breath freely till some comfort had been administered to him ! * It is probable that for some time subsequent to the chai)- ter to which I have referred, other chapters and the Visita- tions which they decreed were holden at regular intervals. But I see no reason to suppose that this state of things Avas of long continuance ; for in the episcopal I'egisters mention is made of Visitations being ordered in the instance of par- ticular Houses, which would not seem to harmonize with the fact of such examinations being general. For example, and that strictly connected with our present locality, there is, in Harl. MS. 6964, p. 28, being extracts from the register of Bishop John de Drokensford, previously quoted, the fol- lowing entry : — " 6 Id. lul. 1315. Commissio facta mag'ris Tho'e de Di- litone, S. T. D. & Ric'o de Forde, juris canon, professori, ad visitand. Abbatiam de Mochelney & conv." This would hardly have been the case if such investiga- tions had been of periodical and regular occurrence. The Benedictine Articles of Visitation which have come down to us may be allowed to be not a little inquisitorial, * Matt. Paris, sub ami. 1252, ed. Wats, fol., Lond., 1684, p. 739. MUCHELNEY ABBEY. 21 and capable, in tlic hands of an nnfriendly Visitor, of being made an engine of insufferable tyranny. Of course it must not be forgotten that religious societies were bound by vows to the observance of a strict and strictly-defined rule, and consequently it would not be fair to judge them with tlie same leniency as would be accorded to men who were not so circumscribed. Yet, on the other hand, it is well to recollect the real and actual state of the case, and to examine the matter with unprejudiced minds. A Benedictine Abbey in the middle ages was a society of highly-educated and, oftentimes, nobly-born men — a centre of religion, socia- bility, and mental cultivation. Hospitality was a virtue professed and practiced ; home duties constituted the em- ployment of the day ; learned leisure alternated with devo- tion, and rigid a-ceticism was neither propoi^ed for constant observance, nor accepted as an ordinary habit of life. 1 deny not that this state of things was against the animus and spirit of the rule ; but, notwithstanding this fact, it will not appear, to the ])resent age at least, deserving of very grave condemnation. The refectory and cloister of a Benedictine House were a mediseval form of the hall and common-room of our present colleges at Oxford and Cambridge, or of a metropolitan club or learned fraternity. The atmosphere was in general calm and jrentlemanlike, the intercourse was polished, the society thoroughly respectable. And yet in several matters — celibacy for instance, and community of possession — there was a broad line which separated such brotherhoods from the world that surrounded them. Their world lay ^vithiu tlie precincts of their House ; and in tliis retreat could no doubt be found men of all powers, tempers, and physical peculiarities. Grave and gay, studious and easy, chatty and reserved, solemn and jocose, strong and wp,ak, here found a common home. To suppose any other 22 MUCHELNEY ABBET. state of thing8 would betray an ignorance of human nature. Wliilc Brother Johannes do Taunton would be illuniinathig :i liymnal, Brother Walterus Mapes would be indulging himself and eliciting peals of unaffected rtirth with one of his satirical songs, and Brother Anselmus de Muchelney would be absorbed in meditation on some thoughtful sentence of S. Augustine or S. Ambrose, or tasking his acumen with some logical puzzle of Aquinas or Occam. There were no newspapers, no " special correspondent from the seat of war," no electric telegraph, in those old days ,: and accordingly you might have found, as often as opportunity allowed, a circle of attentive ears round some visitor from the court or beyond sea, with piquant ac- counts of moving incidents, battles with the infidels, or the transcendant glories of some wonder-working shrine. AVhen there was a lack of gossip of this kind, there was plenty of talk about the internal affairs of the House itself. In the company of that most charming of chroniclers, Jocelin of Brakelond, we can mingle with the groups that saunter along the cloister, and catch the whispers of the conventual critics. " That brother is good, and a good clerk, fit to be Abbat," says one. " From good clerks kind heaven deliver us !" replies another. " How can an unlearned man," says a third, " deliver a sermon in chaptei', or preach to the people on holidays, or attain to the knowledge of binding and loosing ? For the cure of souls is the art of arts and the science of sciences. Heaven forbid that a dumb statue should be set up among us !" " That man has more brains than all of us put together," urges a fourth ; " strict in discipline, profound, and eloquent, and of a comely sta- ture." " What if he do excel V quoth another; '' he is too scornful and too reserved." " Better that than one slow of speech," it is retorted ; " one that has paste or malt in his MUCHELNEY ABBEY. 23 mouth when called upon to speak." " If we wait for one who is above disparagement," says a peacemaker, " we shall never find such an one, for no man living is without fault." Imagine that to a House thus constituted a Visitation should bo ordered. I have said that the articles of exami- nation were severe and inquisitorial. Here are a few of them. Inquiry is to be made whether strict obedience is rendered by and to all the officers ; whether silence is pre- served in the cloister and at table ; whether all eat together in tlic refectory, and all sleep in one common dor- mitory ; whether there is reading aloud during meals ; whether they constantly wear the monastic habit; whe- ther the fasts are duly observed ; whether chapters are frequent ; whether the house has any debts ; whether any- thing belonging to the house is pledged ; Avhether Divine Service is regular and punctual ; whether any suspected persons or such like are allowed to enter within the pre- cincts. Then the inquiry becomes still more particular. Questions are asked touching each officer and member of the society In turn — the abbat, prior, sacrist, chamberlain, cellarer, &c. It proceeds : " Item, si allquid emendandum, corrigendum, vel reformandum, in A. Item si in B. Item si in C. Et sic de omnibus aliis monachis siffillatlm." Pretty sharp scrutinizing this ! Pretty opportunity, too, for envy and detraction, which can never be entirely obliterated from human society, to work their evil will. And, lest aught should inadvertently be forgotten, tlie arti- cles conclude with the expansive corollary : "Item, si slnt ibi aliqua alia reformanda" — "Also, if there be any otlier matters there that need reformation !" How would such Articles of Visitation be relished in the present state of university or club society ? "What would 24 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. you think of them, Dr. A ? And what would you say to them, Reverend Professor B ? And, as for the Dean C, the Bursar D, or even the Senior Proctor E himself, fond of chat at the hall table, a quiet party in the common room, with occasional assemblies of neighbours and lady friends inside his own " oak," — how would they be likely to regard such an investigation ? Let us run over the list of our friends in London, Oxford, and Cambridge, and imagine their returns to this stringent series ! Without offence, I be- lieve that theu" judgment of such an infliction would not present many points of difference from that of the Francis- cans before referred to, when smarting under the severities of Brother Wygmuudus. What the penitentiary Arnulf said to the Pope about it these excellent gentlemen would be likely to endorse : " Si Diabolus fuisset ineamatus, non invenisset subtiliorem et fortiorem laqueum ad illaqueandas animas, quam fuit ilia visitatio" — "The very devil incarnate could not have invented a more subtle and effective snare for the snaring of souls than was that visitation!" A place now for two documents. What has been al- ready said may perhaps furnish us with some notion of the reception given to them. The first consists of a judgment of Bishop Radulphus de Salopia, in the year 1335, in refer- ence to the report of a previous Visitation : " Injunctiones d'ni epi in visitac'oe sua, ad Abbate' & Conv. de Muchelney. " Nup' comp'imus q'd aliqui monachi domus v're, qui secundu' canonica instituta vili supellectili deberent esse content!, aliis f 'ribus difformiter conversantes in refectorio, vasis preciosis & splendidis in suis refectionibus abutuntur. Alij quibus, ex ordinis proprio, cxilia tuguria sufficere po- tcrant & deberent, lectos sen cubilia in co'l dormitorio ad modum tabernaculi scu vestibuli sibi fieri faciunt, & orna- MUCIIELNEY ABBEY. '] 25 tiorem aliis sibi in Imjus''' perp'am apparatu'. Alij pii\ atuiu secessum, singulurcs coinmcssac'oes, seu aliam lasciviam in- discrete niiiiium affcctantcs, ad refectioncin in refectorio, prout cx])oscit nionaclialis professio, non accedunt. Alij solivagi p' itinera campos & rura equitant & discurnmt. " Item extitit in n'ra visitac'oc detectu', q'd viri seculures, sine delectu, ac niulieres ac puclle septa claustri & rcfec- torij v'ri mon. sepius & impudeuter subintrant. "Prohlbemus &c. Dat. apud Banewell, 6 Id.Jul. 1335."* Translated it is as follows : " Injunctions of the Lord Bishop in his Visitation, to the Abbat and Convent of Muehelney. " We have lately discovered that certain monks of your House, who, according to canonical rule, ought to be con- tent with cheap utensils, acting unlike the rest of the brethren in the refectory, presume to use costly and rich vessels in their repasts. Others, whom, by the rule of their order, small cots might and ought to sufScc, cause to be made for themselves couches or beds in the com- mon dormitory, after the similitude of a tent or porch, and the like silly furniture more ornamental than the rest. Others, without discretion, too much affecting private re- tirement, separate meals, or other wantonness, do not come to repast in the refectory, as the profession of a monk demands. Others, wandering alone, ride about and disport themselves through the highways, plains, and fields. " It has been also clearly laid open in our Visitation that secular men, without discrimination, and women and girls too frequently and without shame enter surreptitiously the precincts of the cloister and refectory of your mon- astery. " We forbid. Sec. Dated at Banwell, July 10, 1335." » MSS. Sari. 69C5, pp. 87, 88. ff 26 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. The second is a very noble letter, possibly relatincr to the same Visitation, addressed by some Bishop of Bath to his brother, the Abbat of Muchelney. It is preserved in No. 431, f. 31, of the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum, and has never been published. I have, accordingly, given it exactly as it stands, together with perhaps too literal a translation. There is, unfortunately, no name of the writer, nor date ; so that, although it may be presumed to be of the fourteenth or fifteenth century, complete identification of it with any particular bishop is as yet impossible. But it is a model in its way of calm, temperate, and dignified expostulation : — " L'ra domini Bathon' Ep'i directa domino Abbati de Michelney, sue dioc', qui se nimis diu absentans a Monas- terio suo, &c'. vt redeat & ib'm resideat, &c. " Amice carissime, Bonus pastor & pater Abbas ille merito designat' ex noi'e, cuj' opus m'itoriu' tanto no"i rea- liter exhibit se conforme. Nee ad paterni sen pastoralis honoris apicem ilium credim' condignis meritis sublimatu', qui, neglecto com'issi gregis regi'e, aut suor' in x'po filior' disciplina conniuentib' oculis pretermissa, curam suam deserens & ad libitu' evagans aliunde latitat emin' in oc- culto, vbi nee p'ris castigantis facies austera filios terreat in- solentes, nee vocem pastorls absentis audire poterit grcx oberrans. Presertim cum in prelato p'uido non sit vox seu doctrlna viuacior q' cfficax exemplum boni op'is suadens & docens factibile. Du' t'n bene op'ando palam faciat suadibile quod docet'. Prcsentis itaq' huius n'ri p'hemij misteriu', si fbrsan vera sint que de vob' audiuim', v're negligencie nimiru' in parte vcraciter applicam'. Quidam e'm confra- tru' v'ror' quor" vos dum seorsu' a raonasterio v'ro in abditis habitantes curam geritis non curantes. Hij more v'ro honestis finib' claustralib' non contcnti, quin uerius v'ra sequentcs MUCMELNEY ABBEY. 27 vestigia, tanq' grex abductus pastoris oberrantis cxcmplo, a cliiustro ad non clausa scpi' cxiiire, licencia non obtenta, vobis abscntib', non verentcs, vulut mures absente inureligo debacantes, obedi'e laxatis habenis palain saliunt in plateis, ac mundanis tumultib' se publice immiscentcs, ymo et quod det'ius est ne dicam' p'stibula, ymo locor' latibula suspcctor" f'rcqucnti' subintrantcs, cont' sui status decenciam & sancte rcligionis regularcm obscruanciam, inter laicos ut laiel vitam ducunt vt asserit' mirabiliter dissolutam. Ne dum semet- ip'os & religionem ip'am, q'n uerius p'sonam v'ram, quod (lolentcr rcferim', non immerito, diffaniantes, dum ob defec- tum saniorls reg'is excessus quoscu'q' v'ri gregis indomiti tuta pastoris custodia destituti v're negligencie totaliter imponit obloquens totum vulgus, sinistra nimiru' suspicans de p'sona v'ra, p' eo q'd vos campum diligit' plus q' claus- trum, publice p'clamans deteriora in quadruple q' forsitan vos audistis. An non creditis, carissime, facti evidencia realiter boc exp'ti, q'd uos visitac'oem n'ram ordinariani (lomus v're hacten' benigno favore distulim', de v'ri regimi- nis industria sanioris & confi-'m v'ror' s'ca conu'sacione specialius pre ceteris confidentes, ac eciam veraciter opi- nantes, ac si loco tarn bonesto opus correccione aliqua non t'uisset ? Sed ecce vbi prius putabat' honestioris conuersaci- onis s'citas vberi' pululasse, jam major sup'est inopinata necessitas graviores excessus delinquenciu' seuerius corri- gendi. Nee dubiu' quin v'ra aberrante gregc v'ro absencia & correcco'is debite v'ra neglige's dilacio totaliter est in causa, nee absq' v'ro p'iculo s'mne formidando credatis. Sacerdos c'm Heli, quia dudum neglex'at filios corrip'e transgessores, confractis cervicib' corruit, sicut satis flagello ji'cussus vindici terribilis interitus repentini. Quocirca, carissime, ne forsan pastoi'is absentis negligencia vobismet ip'is & errantl gregi occasio sit ruine, necnon vt religionis 28 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. honestas ab hac hora in antea honesti' obseruet', ne cle p'sona v'ra obloquens suspicio vbilibet deleat', vobis in virtute sancte obedl'e ac sub pena status v'ri firmiter iniun- gendo mandam', qua'ti' a locis illis campestrib' ignominioso f'etore suspicionis sinistre non carentib' ad monasteriu' v'r'm suavissi'e contemplacionis florib' redolens & amenu' visis presentib' reu'tamini, infra decendiu' a temp'e recep- cionis p'senciu', absq' mora inibi put tenemini de cetero residentes. Vt conf'r'm v'ror' insolencias, de qulb' hijs diebus laborat in partibus phis solito pu" vox & fiima, amodo purificet integritas vlte v're ; ac mor' v'ror' maturi- tas tanq' luc'na sup' candelabra' posita taliter de cetero fulgeat & clarescat, vt lux v'ra cora' ho'ib' clare lucens tarn verbo q'm op'e honestioris conuersaco'is exemplum eisd'm v'ris conf'rib' vndiq' subministret : ne forsitan in futuru' al' cont' vos hijs n'ris I'ris amicabilit' premunitos, v'ris culpa & mora p'cedentib', nob' det' occasio seueri' p'cedendi. In d'no valeat'. Sc'pt' &c." * Translated, it may stand in English as follows : " A letter of the Lord Bishop of Bath, addressed to the Lord Abbat of Muchelney, of his diocese, too long absent- ing himself from his monastery, commanding him to return, and there reside, &c. " Dearest friend, — He is deservedly named a good shep- lierd and father Abbat whose meritorious work really exhi- bits Itself conformable to so great a name. Nor do we hold him to be deservedly elevated to the summit of paternal or pastoral honour, who, neglecting the government of the flock committed to him, or forgetfully winking at the discipline of his sons in Christ, forsaking his own cure and at his fancy roving out of the way, lurks afar off in secret, where neither the grave face of a correcting father can * MSS. Sari. 431, f. 31. MUCHELNEY ABBEY. 29 Strike alarm into unruly sons, nor the wandering flock can bear the voice of the absent shepherd. Especially, since in a wise prelate there is no word nor doctrine more potent than a vigorous example of good work, advising and teaching the practicable ; while at the same time, by well working, it manifestly practises the advisable that is taught. The secret, then, of this our present preface — if perchance those reports are true which we have heard of you — to remove doubt in part we truly refer to your negligence. For there are certain of your confraternity of whom, while you live in unknown places, apart from your monastery, you take no oversight. These, after your man- ner, not content with the honourable bounds of the cloister, but rather following your footsteps, as a flock led away by the example of a wandering shepherd, not fearing too fre- quently to wander from the safe cloister to the unsafe world, without license, yourself being absent, like mice that play while the mouser is away, the reins of res- traint loosened, disport themselves in the highways, and mixing themselves up publicly with worldly confusions — yea, and what is worse, we grieve to add, too frequently entering houses of indifferent report, yea secret and sus- pected places, in opposition to what becomes their position, and the observance according to their rule of our holy religion — spend as laics among laymen, as it is asserted, a life of marvellous dissoluteness. Not to speak of their spreading an evil report of themselves and their religion it self — nay, more truly of your own character, not undeser- vedly, as we grieve to report — whilst, through the lack of a more sound discipline, the entire populace in severe terms lays the whole blame of all the evil deeds of your unre- strained flock, deprived of the safe keeping of the shepherd, to your negligence ; indulging truly in sinister surmises re- ft .'JO MUCHELNEY ABBEY, specting your own character, for that you are fonder of the plain than you are of the cloister ; publicly asserting that there are worse things four times over than perhaps you have heard. Do you not believe, dearest brother, this by the evidence of fact clearly proved, that up to this time we liave delayed our ordinary visitation of your house with kindly favour, having particular confidence in respect of the more perfect observance of your rule, and of the good con- versation of your brethren, and also truly supposing, as if there had not been in a place so excellent a need of any correction ? But, behold, where first it was thought that the seeds of more honest conversation were abundantly shooting forth, there now remains a greater unexpected necessity of more severely correcting the too-grievous ex cesses of delinquents ! Nor is it doubtful but that with your wandering flock your own absence and negligent de- lay of rightfi.ll correction is entirely the cause of the wrong; nor can you believe it to be destitute of the most dreadful peril in your own regard. For EH the priest, because for a long while he had neglected to correct his transgressing sons, fell and brake his neck, struck, as it were, with an avenging lash of terrible sudden death. Wherefore, dearly beloved, lest perchance the negligence of the absent shep- herd should be an occasion of ruin both to yourself and your wandering flock, and also that the honour of religion may from this hour, as before, be more honourably observed ; also that the reproachful suspicion in reference to your own character may on all sides be removed, we strictly enjoin and command you, by virtue of your religious obedience, and on pain of your state, that you do return, with as little delay as possible after the sight of these presents, from those outlying places, laden with the disgraceful fetor of injurious suspicion, to your own monastery, redolent MUCIIELNEY AnBET. 31 and delightful with the flowers of most sweet contcin- l)lation, within ten days from the time of receiving these presents, and without delay there continuing to reside for the future, as you arc by rule bound to do. So that the irregularities of your brethren, concerning which at this time in various places the public voice and fame is more than customarily employed, the integ- rity of your own life may from this time reform ; and that the perfection of your morals, as a candle set upon a candlestick, may so, for the future, glow and be bright, that your light clearly shining before men, as well bv word as by deed, may furnish an example of more honest conversation to the same your brethren on all sides ; lest, perchance, otherwise, at a future time, against you whom we have amicably forewarned by these our letters, through your increasing fault and delay, occasion be given to us of proceeding with greater severity. Fare ye well in the Lord." The effect of this epistle is not known. Whether, indeed, there was any real foundation for the charges thus conveyed is by no means certain. It might, after all, as I hinted previously, have been the result of some jealous neighbour, such as we know it was the ill fortune of Muchelney to possess. Nor would it be fair to take an isolated instance of wrong, even could it be clearly proved to have existed, and to set it against many centuries of excellence, and many generations of blameless men. Besides all this, I must not forget to add, tliat, granting the bishop's interference to have been founded on strict principles of justice, two conclusions are imperatively, forced upon us, each of them opposed to modern views on the subject of the Religious Houses, and such as are proof positive that those views arc erroneous. First, that the 32 MUCHELNEY ABBEY, rarity of such documents may be taken to demonstrate the infrequency of conduct which would necessitate them ; and, secondly, that, when such conduct did occur, it was by no means winked at by those in authority, but faithfully exposed, fearlessly condemned, and summarily punished. Let us now, in conclusion, examine rather more minutely the peculiarities of the lovely scene on which we have been gazing in imagination, during our retrospect of its for- tunes and our musings on its fate. The buildinjjs were both extensive and magnificent. "William of "Worcester, in his Itinerary, describes the chmxh as measuring 104 of his steps in length, and 30 in breadth : the chapel of the Virgin Mary he notices, but the measurements are want- ing. The length of the cloister, he says, was 54 of his steps, and the breadth of similar extent. From some edifices elsewhere remaining, whose dimensions he re- cords, we learn that the worthy traveller's "step" was not more than a space of two feet, in some instances not more than a foot and a half! '^^'"e may, therefore, allow to the church a length of about two hundred, and a breadtli of about fifty-five feet ; and to the cloister an equal length and breadth of one hundred feet. The greater part of the struc- ture appears to have been speedily demolished, although the foundations to a considerable extent may yet be traced, and indicate the existence of a large and wealthy establish- ment. I am indebted to my friend Mr. A. A. Clarke for an accurate ground-plan, after J. Buckler, of the most im- portant of these remains (Plate I). Little of the edifice itself is now visible, save those beautiful portions to which I alluded at the commencement of ray memoir, erected a very few years prior to the final catastrophe. They consist of a few rooms, belonging, it may be, to the Abbat's lodg- ings, and of the north side of the cloisters (Plate II). MUCHELNEY ABREY. 3.'? TIic former are similar to tlie usual ilomestic edifices of tin; period of their coustruction, and have windows and doors with square heads and plain mouldings. Several of these windows, however, are very elegant, and have quatrefoils in their spandrils, and here and there still retain a few fragments of their orio-iual slazinii:. One of the rooms on the first floor possesses some ornamental details in stone and wood of considerable excellence (Plate III). The cloister is, perhaps, a little earlier, but also of the late Perpendicular period, and is entirely covered on its south aspect, which is supposed to have formed a side of the refectory, with cusped and otherwise ornamented panel- work ; while on the north front, that toward- the court, the remains of several windows are yet apparent (Plate IV), some built up for tiie purpose of converting the cloister into a cellar, and one or two still exiiibiting poitions (if the tracery that once adorned them, now, however, doing- little more than declaring the excellence of that which has been ruthlessly destroyed. There, as I saw it on that bright morning in June, it lay in stillness and sweetness ; and every stone seemed to whisper, notwithstanding all tiiat had been done to it, of truth and peace. At some moments, indeed, the breeze seemed to be laden with a sound of walling : — " Deus, veneruut gentes in hajreditatem Tuam ; pollucrunt tcmplum sanctum Tuum : comederunt Jacob, et locum ejus desolaverunt." But, more powerful even than that was tiie hopeful strain of faith ami patience, as though the peace that was once invoked upon the place still availed, like Charity, to bear all things and overcome evil with good : — " Quam dilecta tabernacula Tua, Domine virtutum ! Concupiscit et deficit anima mea in atria Domini : quia melior est dies una in atriis Tuis, super millia." Man had done all but his worst, and yet i :?4 MUCIIELXEY ABBEY. there was that wliich mocked his efforts. Hour after hour rolled away, but there was no satiety, nothing of the pain wliich too many works of modern hands inflict upon way- farers; no sense of disappointment, annoyance, weariness and chagrin. True, there was dilapidation of the completest kind. It required the knowledge of one who had often- times been a pilgrim to sacred Places where the footsteps of the spoiler are less apparent, duly to appreciate many of the still remaining evidences of ancient possession, and even partially and imperfectly to picture the scene as it was exhibited to the gaze of its olden tenants. None but eyes so instructed could trace the few and usually obscure indications of edifices which had been either long since levelled with the ground, or altered, when still preserved, for uses most widely contrasting with those originally de- .-rio-ned. And yet, no observer could possibly be insensible to the charm that so sweetly characterizes every detail of the old structure, and so unmistakeably reveals the power which imparted to it life. An exquisite air of grace is over the whole tliat indicates the presence of a master hand, the pervading influence of consummate taste, and of a mind in which beauty was an inherent and ina- lienable ingredient. Go where you will, it is the same in every instance. There is in these edifices something unapproachable, almost indescribable — something for heart to revel in and for soul to kindle at, rather than for tongue to discuss and for pen to delineate. One cannot look at such buildings without loving them. 'J'hey are themselves kindly, and they elicit corresponding feelings. As I bent my steps homeward on the evening of the day to which I have referred, I seemed to be parting with an old and dearly loved friend. I turned again and again to catch another and yet another look ; and, despite of the MUCIIELNEY ABBEY. 35 luutilation aud tlic ruin, tried to people tlic spot once more witii its former tenants, to tlrinlv in the melody tliat tlicn made the place vocal, and to mix with the refined and refin- ing company that there fiaund a holy home. A few steps further, and the white summer mist from the vast level on c\ ery side hid all from my view. Time and nature thus acted in concert, aud the one completed what the other had begun. The physical, too, symbolized the moral. A cloud lies between us and Muchelney Abbey, which the morn only of a brighter than earthly day, making innocence as clear as the light and just dealing as the sun, shall at Ihe time of retribution disperse and annihilate. Then, if not befoi'c, its good shall be made manifest, its blessedness shall appeal-, " the day at length shall break, and the shadows shall flee away " for ever. THOMAS HUGO. 36 MCCHELNET ABBET. APPENDIX. I reserve for an Appendix those of Dr. Hutton's Extracts from the Wells Registers which have reference to the Abbey of iluchelney. They were made from the originals by their learned transcriber in and about the year 1686, and are contained in five closely-written volumes, munbered 6964 — 6968 inclusive, of the Harleian Manuscripts in the Bri- tish Museum. I have constantly referred to them and several times quoted them in the foregoing pages, and hardly need add that their importance and value cannot be over-rated. The first four of these volumes furnish us with a series of extracts from the Registers of various Bishops from the year 1309 to 1645. They are occasionally defective in chronological arrangement, a few leaves of the originals having been misplaced through the ignorance or careless- ness of the binders of subsequent times. These inaccu- racies, however, admit of easy rectification. The fifth volume, No. 6968, contains extracts " e registro cartarum penes Dec. & Capl'm Well.", " ex magno llbro Cartarum penes Decan. & Capit'lm Well.", "nomina Ep'onun in Somers." &c., " ex alio Registro penes Dec. & Capl. Well, vocat. the Red booke," and " ex alio registro penes Dec. & Caplm. Well." It is greatly to be regretted that these most interesting collections are, for the most part, unprovided with in- APPENDIX. 87 dexcs, a deficiency which unl'ortunatcly is not supphed bv another volume (No. 7521) containinr; tables of reference to several other departments of their compiler's labours. This fact necessitates the careful and laborious jicrusal of the entire series, the fruits of which, so far as they relate to Muchelney, given with minute exactness from the MSS. in the Museum, are now for the first time committed to the press. MS. HARL. 696-i. " E Registro loh'is de Drokenesford ep'i Bath. Well.'" [1309—1329.] "4 Non. May. 1310. Adam de Ilemenistre ad vicar, de Muchelneye ad pres. Abb. & Conv. ejusd." p. 11. "4 Id. Feb. 1314. dn's Will, de Bulraere ad vicar, eccl. prebendal. dc Ilmister ad coll. ep'i eo q'^ Abbas & conv. de Muchelney presentarunt p'sonam inhabilem." p. 25. "6 Id. lul. 1315. commissio facta mag'ris Tho'e de Dilitone, S.T.D. & Kic'o de Forde, juris canon, professor! ad visitand Abbatiam de Mochelney & conv." p. 2S. "6 Id. Sep. 1315. dn's ep'us ccrtificat Thesaurar & Barones de Scacc. d'ni regis, quod Abbates Glaston. & Muchelney, ac Priores Taunton & Montisacuti reccperunt a d'no Walt'o de Escudemor mllite custode quarundam terraru' Templar, in Com. Somers. 18'. 8'. pro vadijs Willi, de Warrewyk, AVilli de Craucumbe, Ric'iEngainc & Kic'i de Colingham Templar' in dictis monaster' ad penitentiani peragendam deputati viz a die lune prox post festu' sc'e !Mar. Magd. anno reg. Edw. 2. sexto usq' 26 Apr. anno codem pro 276 dieb. ultimo die . . putato & non prime, viz p' diem pro quolibet eorum 4 denar." pp. 28, 29. k 38 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. " 18 Kal. Nov. [1319] d'ns ep'us mittit literas testimo- niales Priori hosp. sc'i loh. lerim in Angl. de Pre Willo de Craucomb ordinis quondam militie tcmpli lerl'm q'' p' Abb. & Conv. de Muchelney ad ipsius Will, electionem re- cipitur ut in eoru' monasterio juxta voti sui observantiam & inandati Ap'lici tenorem, d'no suo perpetuo famuletur." p. 44. "4 Id. Apr. [1313] loh. atte Brugg ad vicar eccl. de Muchelney ad pres : Abb. & Conv. cjusd." p. 50. "Id. Sep. 1317. d'ns ep'us concedit Abb. & Conv. de Muchelney, ut propter es alienu' officiu' Sacristarie p' unu' annum in manus suas recipiant, & de fructibus ejusd' dis- ponere." p. 54. "Non. Febr. [1317] loh. de Henton ad vicar, de Somer- ton ad pres. Abb. & Conv. Muchelney." p. 58. "Prid. non Mar. 1325. mag'r loh. d'cus de la more de Wamberg ad eccl. de Chipstaple p' mort. ad pres. Abb. & Conv. de Muchelney." p. 102. " 14 Kal. Nov. [1327] Eic. Dygon de Thorny ad vicar, de Fifhide p' resig. loh. de Kamesham ad pres. Abb. & Conv. de Muchelney." p. 116. " Non. Apr. 1328. petitio fris Tho'e Heremite in Heremitagio de Och in parochia de Aire nup' ex magna devoco'e ipsius auctoritate n'ra (epi) inclusi, quod cu' a temp'e incluslonis sue nuUus eu' visitare sou videre posset quali scu quanta foi'et infirmitate dctcntus, ut de licentia & beneplacito n'ro ad augmentum vite & profectum anime sue hostiu' fieret p' quod (alicui) paterct ingressus pro d'co APPENDIX. 39 iucluso in neccssitatibus suis visitand, ipsiusq' confessioncs audiend absolvcnd & pcnitentiam injungcnd cu' p' ipsius cohercmitain fuerit requisltus, ac etiam cu' ab hac luce substractus fuevlt, in cccl'ia de Ali'c vol cimiterio ejusd aut alibi in loco consecrate ubi sepultura' elegerlt sepeliri valeat. Nos — huic annuimus gratiose viz. q"^ hostium liujus- modi p' visum vicarij ecclie paroch. dc Muclielney fiat, & sub firma secura cujus clavis penes dcu' vicariu' remancat." pp. 120, 121. " 6 Kal. lul. 1329. Rob. dc la Zoe capellanus institutus fuit perpetuus presbiter in libera capella de la AVyke ad pres. Abb. & Conv. Mucbelney." p. 142. The two following entries are misplaced. Dr. Hutton notices the fact : — "Sunt quedam folia," he says, "pertinentia ad regis- trum Rad'i de Salopia ep'i B. W. p' errorem in hoc registro consut', que sequuntur." p. 143. " 14 Feb. [1361] Ric. Forst' ad eccl. de Chipstaple p. resig. AYill. Wysman ad pres. Abb. & Conv. de Much- elney." p. 144. " 26 Feb. [1361] Will. Bailly ad perpet. cantar. in capella be' mar. de Wyk Perham juxta Lamport p' resig. d'ni loh. Rouland. ad pres. Abb. & Conv. Muchelncy, hac vice raco'e minor, etat. Nich. fil. & heredis Will. Poulet in manu sua existentis." p. 145. MS. HARL. 6965. " quaeda' ex Registro Radulphi de Salopia ep'i Bath. & WeU." [1329—1363.] 40 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. "commissio Waltero de Hulle rectori eccl. de Schepton belli campi ad absolvendu' fr'em Henr. de Estcam'el monachu' de Muchelney ord. sc'i Bened. dat. Lond. 9 Kal. Feb." [1329.] p. 20. " Commissio facta Tho'e de Eetford Cancell. Well. loh'i Martel & Lam-, de la Barre canon. "Well, in negotio provi- sionis concesse Walt? de Legh paup'i cl'ico de beneficio eccl'iastico spectante ad presentacoe' Abbat. & Convent, de Moclielney ord. sc'i Bened. dat. apud Okestede Non. Aug." [1330.] p. 36. "4 Non. Sept. [1332] apud Dogmersfeld. certificatoriu' citatoru' ad Conciliu' apud London. Dec. & Capitlu' Well. Prior Batbon. Capitul' Bathon. Propositus AVell. Ai-cbid. Well. Arcbid. Batbon. Arcbid. Tanton. Abb. Glaston, de Mucbelney, de Keynesbam, de Atbelney. Prior Tanton, de Bruton, & Clerus Bath & WeU." p. 62. " d'ns ep'us concedit licentia' Abbati & Conv. de Much- elney ut unu' corrodiu' sive liberacoe'm WiU'o le Iressch domicello possint concedere ad terminu' vite sue dat. apud BaneweU 4 Id. Dec." [1332]. p. 67. " code' die [14 Kal. Aug. 1334.] Fr. loh'es de Somer- tone Prior eccl. regularis be'orum Aplo'm Petri & Pauli de Muchelney confirmatur Abbas cjusdc' loci & munus benedictionis recipit." P- 81. " Injunctiones d'ni epi" &c. This has been ali-eady given, and will be found at pages 99, 100. p. 87. " 1 Apr. 1337. apud Hywysch Nich. de Somerton rect. APPENDIX. 41 eccl. lie Kyncwarston in obsequijs Abb"' de Muchelney." p. 110. "Penitcntia injuncta Toh'i do Wortliy raonaclio !Mu- clielu. a convcntu sequcstrctur, in camera aliqua sub tuta custodia conservetui", singulis dicbus d'nicis & majoribu.s duplicibus, sicut alij monachi illius mon. in quo ipsu' morari contigcrit, diebus vero Martis & lovis dc pane cerevisia leguminc & uno gcncre piscium rainistrctur, dicbus vero Lune Mercur' Veneris & Sabb'' de pane cerevisia Icgu- raine duntaxat sit contentus, singulis festivis & alijs unu" psalteriu' preter horas canonicas — dicere teneatur. dat. 2 Kal. Nov. 1338." p. 125. "8 Kal. Apr. [1341] Eic. Dygon presbr. admiss. ad vicar, de INIuchelney ad pres. Abb. & conv. de Mucbelney. m. A. W." p. 148. " eod' die [8 Kal. Apr. 1341] loh. do Kirkada presbr. admiss. ad vicar, dc Fifhide vacat. p' resign. Eic. Dygon ad pres. Abb. & Conv. de Mucbelney. m. A. T." ib. "XI Feb. [1343] apud Wyvelesco'b Ric'us Eossedenek presbr. £xon' dioc. collat. ad vicar, de Mocbelney ad pres. Abb. & conv. de Mocbelney cujus redditus & prove'tus 20 marc, sterl. annua' quantitatc' juxta taxaco'em decime nou excedunt." p. 165. " 5 Non. Oct. [1345] apud Banewell. Nicb'us de Somer- ton presbr. admiss. ad vicar, de Somerton ad pres. Abb. & Conv. de Mocbelney." p. 173. " 2 Id. Mar. [1348] lob. de Oxton presb'r. ad vicar, do He Abbat ad pres. Abb. & conv. de Mucbelney." p. 204. I 42 MUCHELNET ABBEY. " d'ns rex assensu' prebet election! de fr'e loh. de Over- ton in Abbatem de Muchelney. Test. 30 May, regni 23." [1349.] p. 216. " 13 Kal. Mar. 1350. Walt, de la Eode, capellan. ad cantar. in capella sc'i Martini in cccl. "Well, ad prcs. Abb. & Conv. Muchelney. pro d'co patre, & pro ai'a bone me- mor. loh'is de Somerton nup' Abbatis de Mulchelney & toto conventu ibide' celebrand." p. 223. " 5 Id. Apr. 1350. apud Wyvelesco'b. Univcrsis — Ead's salut. — damus & concedimus Priori Hospitalia lob'is civi- tat. Well. & ejusde' loci confr'ibus in p'petuum o'es redditus proventus terras messuagia & tenementa queciinq' cu' suis pertinentiis universis que de dono sen feoffamento Willi de Luttelton, Willi de Bath, & Willi de Bourwardesleye ha- buimus seu adquisivimus, — habe'd & tenend eisd Priori & Conf ribus & succ. suis in perpetuu' de capitalibus dn'is feodoru' illorum, reddend inde annuatim servicia dcbita. Idem Prior & fr'es 6 marc, sterl. cuidam capellano missas pro nobis du' vixerimus & pro ai'a n'ra cu' ab hac luce migraverimus, & ai'a recolende memorie loh. de Somerton quondam Abbatis de Muchelney ai'abusq' o'iu succ. suor' & singuloru' dc conventu ad altare sc'i Martini in eccl. n'ra Well, in perpetuu' celebraturo, que' quide' capellanum Abbas & Conv. de Muchelney nobis & succ. n'ris presen- tabunt." pp. 224, 225. "8 Id. Oct. 1350. apud Evercrich. Petr. Langc de Ancbury presbr. ad vicar, de Somerton ad pres. Abb. & Conv. dc Muchelney. m. A. W." p. 229. " 1 2 Kal. Oct. [1352] apud Hychamme, loh. Hunte APPENDIX. 43 presbr. ad vicar, cccl. de Vyfhydc p' resign. loh. Crukcade ad pros. Tho'c Abbatis & Conv. dc Muchclncy. m. A. T." p. 249. Vide plura ad liiicin Registri loh. de Drokensford. p. 143." [G9C4]. p. 269. Here may be inserted the extracts already given in this Appendix, at p. 39. MS. HARL. 6966. " e registro Hen. Bowet ep'i B. W. incipit 1401." p. 1. " lOlul. 1404. loh. Abbas de Muchilney q'. q'." p. 3. " c Registro Nich'i Bubbewyth B. W. ep'i translat ab eccl Sarum. 1407." p. 13. " no'ia citatoru' ad convocacoe' in eccl. sc'i Paul. Lond. 18 Nov. [141;j] loh'es Prior Bath. Walt. Medford Dccan. Well. loh. Abb. Glaston. loh. Abb. de Muchelney. Leo- nardus Abbas de Clyva. loh. Abb. de Athelney. Thomas Abbas de Keynesham. loh. Prior de Bruton. Thomas Prior Tanton. D'us loh. Ikelyngton Archid'l' Well. Rogerus Harewell Arch. Bath, clerus Bath & Well dioc." p. 21. " 26 May. [1410] Mr. Ric. Com-tenay Canonic. Well, electus est Decanus Well. & 1 9 lun. confirmatus p' d'nu ep'ura. in die electionis loh. Abbas dc Muchelneg \ non comparentes loh. Abbas de Athelnegh > prouunciati contuma- [inter multos alios] ; ces." pp. 29, 30. 44 MUCHELNET ABBEY. " e Eegistro d'ni loh'is Stafford B. W. Epi." [1425]. p. 37. " Cantaria ad altare sc'i Martini in eccl. Catli Well, fundata, pro a'labus Rad'i de Salopia e'pi B. W. & loli'is Somerton Abb'is de Muchelney." [1432]. p. 43. " Ajir. 1438. mandatu' ad interessend concilio Ferrari- ensi tarn propter Orientalls & Occidentalis eccriaru unita- tem qua' reformacoe' universalis. nomina citatoru' ad conciliu' Ferrariense d'ns Nich'us Frome Abbas Glaston d'ns loh. Cluerde Abb. Muchelney d'ns loh. Pederton Abb. Athelney d'ns Davyd loyner Abb. Clyva d'ns Will. Benet Prior Taunton" [cum aliis.] pp. 49, 50. " Registrum Tho'e de Bekynton ep'i B. W. qui conse- cratus fuit * * * 13 Qctob. 1443." p. 57. " 12 lun. [1449] d'ns Tho. Lacok Prior Bathon.^ d'ns loh. Cherde Abb. de Mochilney. d'ns David loyner Abb. de Clyva. f 'r. loh. Henton Prior de Bruton. ( d'ns loh. Benet Prior de Monte acuto. f'r. Ric'us Glene Prior de Taunton." j p. 67. " Prebendarij eccl'ie Well, tcmpoi'e hujus clectionis [sc. Decani, 22 Aug. 1446] fuere Fr' loh. Pederton Abb', de Athelney loh'es Cherde Abb', de Muchilncy pcrsonalitcr." [cum multis aliis.] p. 117. APPENDIX. 45 " loll. Chcrdc Abbas nioii. bcatoru" Apostoloru' Petri & Pauli tie Moclielueye ord. s'ci Bened. obijt x Sept. 146.3. & Dominus Tho. Pipe clectus est Abbas (llccntia d'ni regis prius habita) 20 Sept. confirmatur 3 Octob. mandatu' ad induce'd cu' in preb.de Ilmystr.dat. 1.3 Octob." p. 120. "Eob. Stillyngton." [1465.] p. 125. " 20 Mar. [1468] loh. Taylour A.M. ad vicar, de Ile- my'str. p' resign raag'ri loh. Stokys Canon. Well, ad prcs. Abb. & Conv. de Muchelney." p. 126. "15 lul. 1474. loh. Abb. de Muchelney. q'. q'." p. 132. "Will. Wytham LL.D. Decan. WeU. obijt 16 lul. 1472. & canonici residentiarij petita & obtenta llccntia ab cp'o B.W. ad eligcnd Decanu' statuunt 18 Dec. prox diem electionls future. ,, . f loh. Bracy 1 Abb. de Muchelney "'iRob. HyllJ Abb. de Athelney. [inter alios] non comparentes pronunciati contumaces." p. 143. "d'ns loh. Bracy Abb. de Mochelney obijt 16 May 1489. & Will. Wik clectus unanimlter 15 lun. pontificat. Innocent. 8. pape. anno sexto.'' p. 144. " E Registro Eicardi Fox B.W. epi a sede Exon' translati anno 1492." p. 145. "21 Aug. 9 H. 7 [1494] Will. Wykes Abb. de Mo- chelney & eonv. concedu't annua' pensione' 20 marc. Rob. Iloby nup' vicariu' do Cherde. durante vita." p. 148. 46 MUCHELNEY ABBET. " E Registro Ollveri Kyng Ep'i Bath. Well. [1496]" p. 151. "29 lul. 1498. loh. Abbas de Mocbilney q'. q'." p. 154. " cantaria in capella s'ci Martini ad altare s'ci Martini in eccl. Cath. Well, pro a'iabus d'ni Rad'i de Salopia ep'i B.W. & loh. de Somerton quondam Abbatis de Mo- chelney." p. 158. " Ad electionem Decani. [25 Dec. 1498] hi fiiere canonici Well, citati [inter alios] d'ns Georgius Abb. de Athelney d'ns Willelmus Abb. do Mochilney." p, 1 75. MS. HAKL. 69G7. " E Registro Hadriani de Castello. 1504." fol 3. "Rog. Churche deer. D'^- Canon. Well, vicar, general dat commissionem loh. Bekham deer. bac. ad supervidcnd statu' Abb. de Mochelncy tcmp'e vacaco'is p' mort Will'i Wyke ultimi Abbatis. dat 24 Oct. 1504." f. 3. "6 Feb. [1504] Tho. Broke Abbas de Muchelney in- stallatur preb. do Ilmystr ab antiquo debit' isto Abbati.'' f. 3b. " 20 Ian. [1505] d'ns Tho. Rowcetor ad eccl. de Chip- stajile p' resig. d'ni Ric'i Meryman ad pres. Tho. Abb. de Mochilney & Convet. Solv. ann pens. 4 libr. resignanti." f. 5b. " 15 lul. [1508] d'ns Will. Scott ad vicar, de Fyfehede p' resig. d'ni Will. lonys ad pres. Tho. Abb. dc Mochilney & Conv. solvend ann. pens. 50'- resignanti." f.9b. APPENDIX. 47 "11 Aug. [1508] d'ns Ric. Stabyllc ad vicar, de Mo- chilney p' mort. d'ni loli. Yongc ad prcs. Tho. Abb. de ^lochllney & conv." f. 9b. "Nomina citatorii' ad convoca'oem [1509] sunt D'ns Kic. Beer Abbas. Glaston D'ns Tho. Broke Abbas de Mochilncy D'ns loll. "Wellyngton Abbas de Athelncy D'ns loll. Peynter Abbas de Clyva Dn's loh. Prows Prior de Taunton Mr. Polydorus Vcrgilius Arcbid. Well. ]\Ir. Kob. Honywodd Archid. Taunton." [cum aliis] f. 12, 12b. "18 Ian. [1509] d'ns Will. Drewc ad cant. perp. ad altare s'ci Martini in eccl. catb. Well, (pro a'iab. Rad- de Salopia &, loh. de Somerton^ p' mort. d'ni loh. Tcel ad pros. Tho. Abb. de Mochilncy." f. 14. " eod. die [3 May, 1511] d'ns loh. Mawnfeld ad vicar, de Somerton p' mort. d'ni loh. Preston ad pres. Tho. Abb. de Mochllney & conv." f. 14b. " 24 Aug. [1512] d'ns Nich. Glllet ad vicar, de Mochel- ncy p' resig. d'ni Ric. Staple ad pres. Tlio. Abb. de Mo- chelney & conv." f. 17. " Nomina citatoru' ad convocacoem [1514] D'ns Ric. Beer Abb. Glaston D'ns Tho. Broke Abb. de Mochclney D'ns loh. Wellyngton Abb. de Athelney D'ns Will. Dovell Abb. de Clyva D'ns Nich'us Peper Prior Taunton." [cum aliis] f. 19b. 48 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. " Novum mandatu' pro convocac'oe cleri. 1515. nomina citatoru' [Abbat. Mucheln. & Atheln.] lit antea." f. 21. " 23 Mar. [1515] d'ns loh. Wennysley ad vicar, de II- mystr. p' mort d'ni loli. Taylour ad pres. Abb. & Conv. de Mochilney." f. 22 b. "21 Ian. 1504 The. Broke Abb. de Mochilney confir- matur, p' mort. d'ni WUl. Wyk" f. 24. " E Registro Thome Wuley" [1518] f. 25. " 26 Mar. 1520. loh. Wyche jur. bac. ad cantar. perpet. altaris s'ci !Mai'tini in eccl. Cath. Well, pro aiabus Ead. de Salopia ep'i B.W. & loh. de Somerton olim Abbat. de Mochehiey fundat. vacant, p' resign. Will'i Bowreman ad pres. Abb. & Conv. de Mochelney." f. 28. " 9 Jan. [1520] d'ns loh. Stacy ad vicar, de Meiyet p' mort. d'ni Will. Marten ad pres. Abb. & Conv. de Mu- chelney m. A.T." f. 29. "5 Sep. [1521] loh. Dybell LLB. ad cantar. perpet. altaris s'ci Martini in eccl. Well, p' mort. mag"ri loh. Wyche ad pres. Abb. & Conv. de Muchelney." f. 29b. " 6 Nov. [1522] loh. Shirborn confirmatur Abbas dc Mochilney p' mort. d'ni Tho. Broke, mandatu' est decano Well, aut subdecano aut presidenti capit'li Well, ad admit- tend cum in prebendariu' de Imestria jure dc'i monasterij." f. 31. APPENDIX. 49 "27 Apr. [1525.] Hen. Kyle, A.IM. ad vicar, de He Abbatis p' resig. d'ni loh. Ilayne ad prcs. Abb. & Conv. Mochelney. in. A.T." f- 37. " 10 Sep. [1526] d'ns liob. Nokc ad vicar, de Ilmister p" resig. loh. Wennesley ad pres. Abb. & Conv. Mochel- ney, solvend ann. pens. 20 marc, resignanti. ni. dec. Well, ad indue." f- 38b. " E reglstro loh. Gierke Ep'i Bath. Well, quod incipit 12 May 1523." i- 42. " 3 Aug. [1533] d'ns loh. Paslewe ad vicar, de Abbats yle p' resign, d'ni Hen. Kyle ad pres. Tho. Ive Abbatis de Mochelney & conv." f- 46. " E Registro Will'i Ivnyght Ep'i Bath. Well, quod in- cipit 29 May. 1541. Hen. 8, an. 33." f. 49. " 1 Oct. [1544] Tho. Lock cl'icus ad prebenda' de II- myster ad pres. Edw. Comitis Hertford." f. 53b. " 15 Aug. [1546] Will. Rodberd A.M. ad vicar de Somerton p' mort' d'ni Cuthb. Hillacre ad pres. Edw. Com'i' Hertford magni Camerarij Angl." f. 55b. These two concluding extracts mark the commencement of the new regime. Edward, Earl of Hertford, was, as I have akeady stated, Henry the Eighth's grantee; and henceforth the name of the Abbat & Convent of Much- elney occurs no more. 50 JIUCHELNEY ABBEY. MS. HARL. 6968. " e Registro cartarum penes Dec. & Capl'm Well." p. 1. "Rob. Bath. eccFie minister [1135—1166] salut. — Hywis in Brentemaresco quedam terre poi'tiuncula que hida vulgo dicitur membru' monerij n'ri de Banewella ab antiquis fuisse dignoscitur. liec — predecessoru' n'rorum presiilu' beneficio in plurium tarn laicoru' quam cl'icoru' translata est potestatem & possessionem de quorum nu- mero mag'rm Walt, de Moretania fuisse recordamur, quem eandem Hywis possidentem invenimus cum ad Ep'atum vocati fuissemus, post quem mag'r Aluredus ex dono n"ro, deinde mag'r Rio. de IMonteacut eam nihilominus optinere meruerunt. Et quoniam vidimus & audivimus prefata' Hywis in plurimoru' — absq' certo titulo cessisse potestatem & possessionem, metuentes ne ob banc causam premcutc forsan potenter petico'e, seu n'ra q^ absit vel succ. n'rorum ep'orum minus provida deliberaco'e transfen'etur in jus & rem perpetuam laicorum, maluimus eam divino juri penitus mancipari, & nequaquam illam a mensa d'ni sequestrari vel alienari. Proinde — instituimus prescriptam Hywis in per- petua' prebendam eccli'e d'i & b'i Andree de Well cu' imiversis pertin. 2 Non Nov. 1159. cp'atus n'ri 24. Assentientibus ac petentibus Ivone Decano & Convent Canonicoru' Well. Petro Priore & Conv. Bathon. Alano Abbate Muchcln. Bened'co Abbate Adhalighen. Rob. Prior' Glaston. Will. Prior' IMontisacuti Steph. Prior' Tanton. AVill. Prior' Briuton. laudantibus & postulantibus Archid'is n'ris Rob 'to & Tli. Donac'o predc'a de Hywis confirmatur p' Th. Arep'uni Cant." pp. 24, 25. This is a very important contribution to our knowledge APPENDIX. ol of Muclielncy, as it I'urnislics us with tlie name oi' an Abbat not included in the lists previously published. "die Sabbati prox. post festu' cxaltaco'Is ec'c crucis Edw. de la Cuoll decanus Well obijt. & Tho. dc Button Archid'us Well, missus est ad R. epnni B.W. pro licentia ad eliffendu' decanuui. anno 1284. canonici citantur ad elig-endu', no'ia abscntiuni lucre, Nich. de Cranford, AVill. fil. Will'i. Ilcnr. dc Grandisono. Malcolmus. Rob. de Fangfos. Nich. de sc'o Quintino. Tiio. de Chcrleton. Rob. de Wfiye. Roger de Turkeby. Bogo dc Clare. Will, do Ilameledon. Will, dc Midelton. Walt, dc Haselschagli. Walt, de Bathon. Abbas dc Muchclncy. Will. Burnell. Regin. de Legh. loh. dc Dcreby. Hen. Husee. Barth'us de Castell. Simon de Micham. Galfridus dc Haspale. Reymundus dc Radyng. Rad. dc Freningh'. Nich. dc Wodcford. Rog. Baret loh. dc Kyrkcbi. Ric. de Bamfcld. lacob. de Hispan. Lodovicus de bcllo campo. Tho. de Midelton Gilb. dc s'co Leofrico, Abbas de Athcln. & Tho. dc Sudington." pp. 33, .'54. " hcc donac'o [Rob. dc Wallibus Joscelino Bath, op'o (1206 — 1242) — advocaco'is cccric dc Eshull, al. Assliul] confirmatur p' Aliciam de vallibus niatrem d'ci Rob'ti. testib. Ric'o Abb. Muchelney." p. 40. "O'ibus Bcnedictus dei gr'a Abbas dc Alingen' & ejusd loci conv. salut — Univ. v're notu' facimus nos — eon- cessisse & dedlssc ven. p'ri n'ro d'no locelino Bath, ep'o [1206—1242] & succ. advocaco'cni eccl'ie do Ilton cu" o'ibus pertin. Ita quod in pcrpctuu' prcdc'i ep'i pro volun- tate sua libere de predc'a cccl'ia cu' omni intcgritate sua quemadmodum et de alijs ecclijs seu prebendis quas con- 52 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. ferunt, ordinent & disponant. hijs testibus Ric. Abbate de Muchelen'. mag'ro Helya de Derham, mag'ro loh'e de Ikeford &c." p. 42. " O'ibus — F'r Kic'us deo annuente Muchelnensis Abbas & conv — salut. — concessimus dedimus & pres. carta — con- firmavimus eccl'lam n'ram de Ilministre cu' o'ibus pertin. suis ecclie sc'i Andi'ee Well. — canonicos etiam ipsius eccl. Well, in n'ram fraternitatem admittentes, — concedentes in perpetuum ut audito alicujus eorum (decessu) unum trite- narium missarura pro eo in conventu n'ro fiat. Decedentibus vero Decanis sen Precentoribus Wellens. fiet apud nos pro eis sicut pro Priore Mucheln. fieri consuevit, pro ep'is vero diocesanis quantum pro Abbatibus Mucheln. fieri consuevit. Dat. Dec. 1. 1201. testibus Alex. Decano. &mag. WUlo de sancta fide Precentorio Well. Hanc cartam sup' majus altare eccl. Well, ofTerebant d'ci Abb. & Conv." pp. 46, 47. " Oibus — Decanus & Capitlu' Well, salut. Univ. v're notu' facimus nos inspexisse cartam — Savarici dei gr. Bath. & Glaston ep'i sub liac forma Oibus — Savaricus divina permissione Bath & Glaston ep'us — salut. — at- tendentes honestatem simul & paupertatem Micheln ce- nobij & f'rum ibidem deo servientium — deliberaco'e provida statuimus & ep'ali aucto'" eis confirmavimus ut omnis garbc ecclie eorum de Sumerton de ilia viz porco'c que ad COS ab antlquis temp'ibus dinoscitur p'tinere libere & quiete plcnarie integre ad victus eorum necessaria ce- dant. cum servicijs ho'ium ad fundum ipsius eccl'ie perti- ncntium. salvis vicarijs ad presentaco'em Abbatum & monachis Micheln' in eadem eccl'ia substltuendis toto altelagio terrlsq' arabilibus & o'ibus obvenco'ibus & mi- APPENDIX. 53 nutis decimaco'ibus tarn ai'alibus (luam de alijs rebus ad ipsam cccl'laiu sive ad ejus capellas pertinentibus, unde ipsi vicarij o'ia cmolumenta salvis ipsis monachis o'ibiis garbis & lio'ium servicijs plcnaric percipient, & o'ia onera tam Ep'ulia (juain Archidi'alia cum auxilio compctcnti d'corum Abb'is & monachoru' sustinebunt. ut autem pred'ca robur firmitatis obtincant — hec carta confinnatur p' Rob. Prior' Bath & Conv." pp. 59, 60. " Id. [de Drokensford] B.W. ep'us [1309—1329] ded. & concessimus mag'ro Tho'e de Cherleton Archid'o Well. 20 acras pasture in manerio n'ro do Hywish quo jacent in la Southmore in quadam placea inter novum clausum quod vocatur lytylnye, & extendit se in longitudine a manerio n'ro de la Hull usq' ad rivum aque versus ]\Iu- chelu. habeud & tenend sibi & succ. in p'petuu in separali. pro liac autem donaco'c remisit dc'us Arcliidus pro se & succ. suls totam communam pasture quam habere consue- vit in novo clauso n'ro de la Southmore & la Northmore, salva tamen sibi & succ. decima feni & alioru' proficuoru' ad eccl. sua' de Hywish spectant'. lun. 1317." p. 107. " 22 Feb. [1378] dies prefixus electioni futuri Decani, quo tcmp'e hi fuere prebendarij Rob. Abbas de Athelney Sutton. Will. Abb. de Mochilney llminster." [cum multis aliis] pp. 140, 141. "Ex magno libro Cartarum penes Decan. & Capitl'm Well." p. 1. " Will. fil. Henr. de Hardington concedit Abbatic de Keynsham, eccliam de Hardington, quam Savaricus ep'us 54 MUCHELNET ABBEY. appropriavit dc'o Abbati & Canonicis, salva p'pet, & lio- nesta vicaria. test. Ric. Abb. Muchiln. Alex. Decauo Will, precentor', Rad'o de Lecbelade Canonicis Well. Alano de Creton tunc offic. Hug. de Well. loscelin de Well. Rogero de Well, loh Camvell Canonicis Wellen'." [cir. 1200.] p. 3. "Savaricus ep'us [1192—1205] confirmat Abbatie de Mucliilney o'es garbas eccrie de Somerton de ilia viz. por- co'e que ad eos ab antiquis temp'ibus dinoscitur pertinere, salvis vicarijs (ad presentaco'em d'coru' Abb'is & Conven- tus) toto altalagio terrisq' arabilibus & o'ibus obvenco'ibus & minutis decimaco'ibus tarn de ai'alibus quam de alijs rebus ad ipsam eccliani sive ad ejus capellas p'tinentibus unde ipsi vicarij o'ia emolumenta salvis ipsis monacbis o'ibus garbis & ho'ium servicijs plenarie percipient, & o'ia onera tarn ep'alia quam Arcbidi'alia cu' auxilio competent! d'coru Abbatis & monachoru' sustinebunt. — bijs testibus Benedicto Abb'e de Atbelney. Durando Priore Montisacuti. Gilberto Priore Bruiton, loli'e Priore Tanton." pp. 5, 6. " cantaria in mon. de Mucbelney pro ai'a Nich'i Bubbe- witbep'iB.W. 1433." p. 37. "Nomina Ep'orum in Somers," &c. tbl. 115. "Savaricus 5"^ Batbou ep'us [1192—1205] successit licrinaldo in ep'atum Batlion annis 12. Iste fuit consan- guineus Henrlci Imp'atoris Alamannie, qui regem Anglie Ric. 1""" in redeundo a terra sancta p' Lcopoldu' Ducem Austrie captum in carcerlbus diu detinuit minus juste, & a d'co Imp'atore dictus obtinuit Savaricus q'' idem re.x An- glie aliter non deberet a carceribus liberari nisi prius eidem Savarico & succ. suis concederet monastcrium Glastonie APPENDIX. 55 ill escambiu' pro civitate Bathonic. Et cum d'ciis rex Aiiglie post gravissimum pro sua liberaco'c redemptionem plenaric pcrsolutani, ac ex tunc diram incarceraco'em an- nalcm conspiccret so non posse alitcr a carccribus liberari nisi votis linp'atoris aniiucret in liac parte, misit pro Abbatc Glastonie qui in Alamanniam ad dc'um regem accessit, et cp'atu Wigorniensi p' ipsuni rege' sibi collato Savaricus Abbatiam prcdc'am obtinuit, quam Aj)'lica rcgia ct ordi- uaria auctoritate mcnse sue ep'ali univit ij)samq' ad tcr- minum vite sue tcnuit sic unitani, transtulitq' iliic sedcm suam cp'alera, & se fecit Glastonicns' ep'uni publice appellari. Iste Savaricus eresit cccl'ias parochiales de Umcstre & Langsutton in prebendas cccric Well, qua- rum primam Abbati de Mucbelneye, secundam Abbati dc Athelueye & eorum successoribus contulit in perpctuum possidend. Hie etiam ep'atuiu suu' &, cceliam Well, multis possessionibus ampliavit. Iste etiam de novo concessit bur- gensibus Wellie libertatem quam Eeginaldus predecessor suus prius eis conccsserat. Ilic etiam Archidi'atum Batlio- nie Priori & Conventui Bathon & eorum succ. integraliter possidend concessit. Savarico tandem defuncto & apud Bathoniam tumulato," &c. f. 12.3, 12.')b " Ex alio Registro penes Dec. & Capl. Well vocal the Red booke." j). 1 . "20 lun. 1491. Will. Wykes Abb. de Mucliilney instul- lat. in p'sona propria in prebend, de Ilmister." p. ."51. To those for whose perusal the foregoing extracts are intended it will be unnecessary for inc to suggest their intrinsic value and the amount of multifarious information which they convey. They furnish us not only with a 56 MUCHELNEY ABBEY. truthful picture of the affairs of the House itself for many consecutive ages, but also with numerous allusions to events of social consequence, and with pleasant glimpses of the rules, usages, and vicissitudes of ecclesiastical life in England during the centuries to which they refer — centuries which are second to none, if they he not first of all, in sacred interest and national importance. On behalf, however, of the general student, and yet not to enter upon matters extraneous to the present subject of our research, I must content myself with giving a list of the Abbats of Muchelney, as contained in and gathered from the MSS. now made available : — Alan occurs as a witness to a charter of Robert, Bishop of Bath, Nov. 4, 1159. Richard and his Convent give the church of Uminster to the Cathedral Church of WeUs, Dec. 1, 1201. The same Richard occurs as a witness to a charter of William de Hardington, to which Alexander, Dean of Wells, was also witness, which fixes the date at about 1200. Another Richard is a witness to a charter of Benedict, Abbat of Athelney, cir. 1225; and to a confii-mation of a previous charter by Alice, mother of Robert Vaux, at about the same period. John de Somerton, Prior, is confirmed Abbat, 19 Aug., 1334. A chantry is founded for his soul in the Cathe- dral Church of Wells by Bp. Ralph de Salopia, 9 April, 1350. John (incorrectly, as it appears, called in the printed books Thomas) de Overton, obtains the royal assent to his election, 30 May, 1349. Thomas and his Convent present John Hunte to the vicarage of FIvehead, 21 Oct., 1352. APPENDIX. 5 ( William is present, as rrebcndary of Ilminster, at the election of a Dean of Wells, 22 Feb., 1378. John is summoned to the election of a Dean of Wells, 26 May, 1410 ; and is cited to Convocation in St. Paul's, London, 18 Nov., 1415. John Chierde, or Chekde, is summoned to attend the Council of Fcrrara, in April, 1438 ; is present at the election of a Dean of Wells, 22 Aug., 1446; and dies 10 Sep., 1463. Thomas Pipe is elected Abbat 20 Sep., 1463; and con- firmed 3 Oct. of the same year. John Bracy is summoned to the election of a Dean of Wells, 18 Dec, 1472 ; and dies 16 May, 1489. William Wykes, Wyke, Wyk, or Wik, is elected Abbat 15 June, 1489 ; is installed Prebendary of Il- minster, 20 June, 1491 ; grants an annual pension to Rob. Hoby, 21 Aug., 1494 ; is cited to the election of a Dean of Wells, 25 Dec, 1498 ; and dies 1504. Thomas Broke is confirmed Abbat, 21 Jan., 1504 ; is in- stalled in his prebend of Ilminster, 6 Feb., 1504 ; pre- sents clerks to various benefices in 1505, 1508, 1509, 1511, and 1512; is summoned to Convocation in 1509, 1514, and 1515 ; and dies in 1522. John Shirbokn is confirmed Abbat, 6 Nov., 1522. Thomas Ive, the last Abbat of the House, and Convent present John Paslewe to the vicarage of Isle Abbats, 3 Aug., 1533. T. II. TAUNTON : PEINTED BY F. MAY, HIGH-STEEET. APPENDIX. 57 AViLLlAM is present, as Prebendary of Ilminster, at the election of a Dean of WeUs, 22 Feb., 1378. JoriN is summoned to tlic election of a Dean of Wells, 26 May, 1410 ; and is cited to Convocation in St. Paul's, London, 18 Nov., 1415. John Cdieede, or Chekde, is summoned to attend the Council of Fcrrara, in April, 14.38 ; is present at the election of a Dean of Wells, 22 Aug., 1446 ; and dies 10 Sep., 1463. Thomas Pipe is elected Abbat 20 Sep., 1463 ; and con- firmed 3 Oct. of the same year. John Bkacy is summoned to the election of a Dean of Wells, 18 Dec, 1472 ; and dies 16 May, 1489. William Wykes, Wyke, Wyk, or Wik, is elected Abbat 15 June, 1489 ; is installed Prebendary of Il- minster, 20 June, 1491 ; grants an annual pension to Rob. Hoby, 21 Aug., 1494 ; is cited to the election ol' a Dean of Wells, 25 Dee., 1498 ; and dies 1504. Thomas Broke is confirmed Abbat, 21 Jan., 1504 ; is in- stalled in his prebend of Ilminster, 6 Feb., 1504 ; pre- sents clerks to various benefices in 1505, 1508, 1509, 1511, and 1512; is summoned to Convocation in 1509, 1514, and 1515 ; and dies in 1522. JoQN SiiiRBOKN is confirmed Abbat, 6 Nov., 1522. Thomas Ive, the last Abbat of the House, and Convent present John Paslewe to the vicarage of Isle Abbats, 3 Aug., 1533. T. H. TAUNTON : FEINTED BY F. MAY, HIGH-STEEET. UNIVERSITy OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-42m^8,'49(B5573)444 THE LIBRARY TTNrm^RSTTY OF CALIFORNIA *m Hugo- •K""00b-451 OBb (>(h k memoir of D ouu ^o M88H87 Muchelney abbey 66U M88H87 & >'•>. ■^^. ^^^ >y>: > .1 i ^ '.Vf '^^es^i^, >^ •;>:> ^); s ^m^ ^@QK4^ »1? ->^ 5^