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A UTHOR : 
 
 ROWE, JOSHUA 
 
 TITLE: 
 
 CONTRIBUTIONS TOA 
 HISTORY OF THE ... 
 
 PLACE: 
 
 DA TE : 
 
 1878 
 
 [ENG.l 
 
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 932.0U2 
 
 R792 Rowe, Joshua Brooking:, 18a7-1908. 
 
 Contributions to a history of the Cistercian houses of Devofl. 
 By J. Brooking Rowe ... Plymouth tGng.j W. Brendon and 
 son, 1878. 
 
 9 n. I.« |3r1D8 p. Ind. icenefit. miileM. 8 pi. (Incl. plnn) 20^. 
 
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 CoifTRifTA. — Bncklntirl. — Buckfnst.— Newenham. — Dunkeswell.— Ford. 
 
 1, CIstercliiDS In Enfland. 2. Devon. Eng.— Church hHtory. 
 8. Abbeys — England. 
 
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 CONTKIBUTIONS TO A HISTOEY 
 
 OF THK 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES 
 
 OF 
 
 DEVON. 
 
 BY 
 
 J. BROOKING ROWE, 
 
 PELI.OW OF THE SOCIKTT OP ANTIftCARIES ; 
 
 FELLOW OF THK I.IvNKAN SOCIETY; 
 
 MRHBKS OP THK ROYAL ARCH^Ol.OGIC »L IN-TlTiTK OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND; 
 
 HONORARY MEMBK.R OP THK KOVAL INSTITUTION OF CORNWALL; 
 
 AUTHOR OF "a FAUNA OF DEVON;" 
 
 "th* ecclesiasxjcal histout op old pltmouth;" 
 
 ETC. ETC. 
 
 PLYMOUTH : 
 W. BRENDON AND SON, 26, GEORGE STREET. 
 
 1878. 
 
V (, - 1 1 ^ 3 c 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Pjure 5, paragraph 6, last line, for " among ' read i/». 
 Z 39, for Sir George Augustus -Heathfield" read Sir George Auguntus 
 
 Eliott. 
 „ 85, paragraph 123, line 12, for " Bishop " read Abbot. 
 106, „ 1*3, „ 4, for "Erne "read £m«. 
 J23 ,^ 179, „ 1, for" Churstowe" read CAwrf^*''^***. 
 
 I 141,' ,'! 206, „ 6. for "M" read 5. 
 „ 142, line 6, for " hortis" read hoglis. 
 
 142, » 6, for " Trivarunt " read Triverunt. 
 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 The following papers are reprinted from the Transacti(yn% 
 of the Devonshire Association. Referring to an observation 
 in paragraph 2, page 4, as I arranged my materials, I found 
 it unnecessary to carry out my original intention of giving 
 a concise history of each Abbey, as by so doing I should 
 have been repeating to a great extent what is already in 
 print. Buckland and Buckfast I have treated somewhat 
 fully. What I have said of Xeweuham is only additional 
 to the collections of Mr. Davidson, and the whole may be 
 considered as supplementary to the works of Dugdale and 
 Oliver, and may be of assistance to the author who at some 
 future period undertakes to write a full history of these 
 religious houses, the inmates of which did so much to make 
 our county a good land— a land of wheat and of barley, of 
 flocks and of herds. 
 
 16, LOCKYER StUKET, 
 
 Plvmoith. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Inteoduotoet . . • • * 
 
 The CisTEECiAN Obdee . • • * 
 
 BiroKiAin> . • • ' • 
 
 Documents belatinq to Buckland . 
 f HI Abbots of Buckland . ' • 
 
 Pediobee of the Redvebs Family . 
 
 Plates. [See par. 61, page 51.] 
 
 Buckland Documents, etc. 
 
 Buckland Ministebs' Accounts, 31 and 32 Heney VIII. 
 
 buckpast 
 
 The Abbots of Buckfas* . 
 
 Documents belatino to Buckpast . 
 
 Newenham 
 
 The Abbots op Newenham 
 
 Documents belatino to Newenham . 
 
 DUNKESWELL 
 
 The Abbots uf Dunkeswell 
 
 FOED 
 
 The Abbots of Foed 
 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 p'' 
 
 
 4 
 
 *p« 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 ' 
 
 
 37 
 
 
 . 41 
 
 
 
 . 46 
 
 
 
 . 08 
 
 
 
 . 130 
 
 / 
 
 
 . 131 
 
 
 
 . 139 
 
 
 
 . 167 
 
 / 
 
 
 . 193 
 
 
 
 . 159 
 
 
 
 . 170 
 
 ^-f 
 
 
 . 171 
 
 
 
 , 192 
 
 
 THE 
 
 CISTEECIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 BUCKLAND. 
 

 THE 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 1. We have in this county (for although Thomcombe was 
 in 1842 made a part of Dorsetshire, I include Ford Abbey as 
 belonging to Devon) examples both of the earliest and latest 
 foundations of the Cistercian order of monks. 
 
 Always excepting the most valuable work of the late Dr. 
 Oliver, little attention has been hitherto paid to the monastic 
 institutions and ruins of the county. Perhaps this neglect 
 has arisen from the unfortunate state of decay into which 
 nearly all the buildings have fallen. Devonshire seems to 
 have suffered more than any other part of England, and cannot 
 be said to possess any monastic ruin of importance, and there 
 is none perhaps except Dartington and Ford, in which the 
 existing remains give any idea of its former architectural 
 glories. And yet Devonshire possessed upwards of thirty re- 
 ligious houses, some of the first importance, and ranking among 
 the noblest in England. The bare mention of the great Bene- 
 dictine monasteries of Exeter and Tavistock, the Cluniac 
 house at Barnstaple, the five abbeys of the Cistercians dis- 
 tributed over the county, and last, but by no means least, the 
 Augustinian Priory of Plympton, to say nothing of the 
 numerous smaller establishments of the preaching orders and 
 friars, will show how much of interest there is in the investi- 
 gation of the subject. 
 
 2. Unfortunately, the task is not easy; and to work out 
 properly the history of even one of these, requires an amount 
 of time which few are able, and still fewer willing, to devote. 
 But even by a person whose time is much occupied, and with 
 whom the labour is one of love, a something can be accom- 
 plished; and I think that a concise history of each house, 
 
I 
 
 
 4 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 embracing all the known facts of interest connected with it, 
 such as I am about to endeavour to give, will be of some 
 little use. I propose to give a short history of each of the 
 Cistercian abbeys from its foundation to its fall, to refer 
 briefly to the various abbots, to enumerate the possessions of 
 the monks, and their holders after the dissolution, and to 
 describe from personal examination such of the buildings as 
 remain. And without giving in every particular my authorities, 
 I may say that 1 have consulted every author who has touched 
 upon the subject, from the ponderous folios of Oliver and 
 Dugdale and Polwhele, and the less unwieldy quartos of Pole, 
 Prince, and Lysons, down to the more concise but not-to-be 
 despised pages of the traveller's hand-book and the local 
 guide, and even to the magazine article and the newspaper 
 paragraph. 
 
 3. But before proceeding to the special subject of each 
 abbey, it will be convenient to consider briefly, by way of 
 introduction, the history of the order, the objects its members 
 had in view in its formation, and their rule of life, and also to 
 refer to the buildings, and to show how they were especially 
 constructed to meet the wants of the community. 
 
 4 As is well known to those who have looked into the 
 history of the monastic orders, the Cistercian sprang in the 
 eleventh century from the Benedictine order, and had its rise 
 in an attempt to abridge the luxury and put an end to the 
 worldly spirit which then pervaded monastic life. 
 
 5. Tn 1098 a few monks of the Abbey of Molesme, in the 
 diocese of Langres, took counsel, and resolved to endeavour 
 to stem the tide, and leaving their own monastery, wandered 
 forth under the leadership of their abbot Robert, and settled 
 down in a desert spot about fifteen miles south of Dijon, and 
 on St. Benedict's day laid the foundation of that famous order 
 which in its day and generation exercised such an important 
 influence throughout Europe, which sent forth so many men 
 distinguished for their piety and their learning, which gave 
 to the church many a pope and bishop, which in less than a 
 century possessed nearly two thousand monasteries, each and 
 for many a year the centre of a life of self-denial, piety, 
 frugality, and industry, each spreading around it an atmos- 
 phere of well-directed labour, each exercising an influence felt, 
 at least in England, perhaps even to the present day. 
 
 6. Although Alberic and Stephen Harding (the latter an 
 Englishman, and one of the West Country, a native of Sher- 
 borne), who succeeded Eobert in the government of the 
 newly-established order, did much in laying down the lines 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 5 
 
 which were to be the rules for future guidance, neither were 
 very successful in inducing others to follow their example in 
 living a life of such austerity as they proposed. But Hardin<T 
 was comforted by the vision vouchsafed to him of a great 
 multitude washing their white robes in a fountain, which he 
 took to be an assurance that his labours would one day be 
 rewarded It was not until the great St. Bernard, who in 
 lllo with thirty companions had knocked at the gate 
 and obtained admission to Citeaux, had joined the monks 
 that the order, in spite of the criticisms, the scofls, and the 
 jealousies of its brethren, began to grow in popular favour 
 ±rom that time the vision of Stephen Harding began to be 
 tulhlled, and soon the poor buildings of Cistercium were too 
 small to accommodate those who applied for leave to enrol 
 themselves among the ranks of the new brotherhood. 
 
 7. Before the Reformation it is estimated that the order 
 possessed about 3500 houses, 109 of which were in England 
 The first founded in this country was that of Waverley in 
 Surrey, in 1129; and one of the earliest was that of Buckfast- 
 leigh, m this county. 
 
 8. What were the objects which these men set before 
 them? What was it that gave them such a reputation? 
 What was it that made men exclaim that the whole church 
 was full of their high reputation and opinion of their sanctity 
 as It were with the odour of some divine balsam, and there 
 is no country or province wherein this vine loaded with 
 blessings has not spread its branches?* An endeavour to 
 answer these questions would be out of place here, as it 
 would necessitate an investigation, not only into the 'causes 
 which moved the founders of the order to separate them- 
 selves from their former associates in the religious life but 
 also to consider the history of the time, and the social and 
 political state of the people in the twelfth and thirteenth 
 centuries. Briefly, however, it would seem that the secret 
 was m the unquestionable sincerity and honesty of purpose 
 which characterized the order in its early days, in the self- 
 sacnfice shown, and the labours to which the monks gave 
 themselves up ; in their appealing by their simple mode of 
 life to the feelings of the lower classes, and in their avoid- 
 ance of the ease and luxury which even then was too fre- 
 quently a scandal and a blot on the religious life. 
 
 9. In the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries, the 
 lot of the Cistercian monk was a hard one. The rules drawn 
 up by Harding in his Carta caritatis, the Charter of Love, were 
 
 • Cardinal de Vitry. Fox, p. 293. 
 
i 
 
 6 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 strictly enforced, and it must have required no small confi- 
 dence in his powers of endurance when the novice took the 
 vows binding him for life to the austerities of the order. 
 The monasteries were situated in such secluded spots as to 
 render any intercourse with the outside worid difficult. The 
 food of the inmates was of the plainest kind, silence was rigidly 
 enforced, communication was carried on within the walls 
 mainly by signs, the fratry or day-room had no fireplace, 
 and was exposed to the rigour of the weather, one end being 
 left open to the air ; and when the poor monk, after perchance 
 his supper of fruit and herbs, sought his dormitory, the cold 
 night air played about his hard couch, admitted by the slits 
 in the long wall, unglazed and unshuttered, which served as 
 windows. The stranger or wayfarer was welcomed and hospi- 
 tably treated, but he was not allowed to enter the refectory or 
 cloister. Luxury, ease, and the ordinary comforts of life were 
 frowned upon, and for a long time banished. Labour and 
 prayer, prayer and labour, alone occupied the thoughts of the 
 Cistercian. 
 
 10. They were the farmers proper of the monastic orders. 
 While other communities had their mills and granges mainly 
 for their own use, and the use of those about them, the Cister- 
 cian made agriculture his business, and sent the products of 
 his land forth for the use of the outer world. It is somewhat 
 difficult to realize the scale on which farming was conducted 
 on the estates of a great Cistercian abbey. I think our 
 Devonshire houses were small in comparison with those in 
 other parts of the country; but when we recollect that a 
 Continental one had soon after its foundation 10,000 sheep, 
 1,000 goats, 2,000 pigs, 500 cows, 200 mares, and 100 horses, 
 we can easily understand that extensive buildings were re- 
 quired, and a large staff necessary for the conduct of such a 
 business. How then was the labour accomplished ? Not by 
 the monks ; for they were few in number. 
 
 11. In every Cistercian house were two classes — the monks 
 proper and the conversi, the masters and the servants. Both 
 classes took the vows ; but the lives of the conversi were spent 
 mainly in labour upon the farms and other menial work, per- 
 fonning such religious duties only as might be reasonably 
 expected from lay folk, who had to obtain their livelihood by 
 the sweat of their brow. They were the poorest of the poor, 
 and often the vilest ; and many sought the convent when no 
 other door was open to them, and death stared them in the 
 fece. Taken in hand then by the monks, compelled to earn 
 their bread, they soon became useful, and the outcast of 
 
 INTIiODUCTOKY. 7 
 
 society found in the Church a shelter denied him by the 
 world. The number of monks proper was comparatively 
 small ; the conversi were numerous. At Clairvaux it seems 
 that preparation was made for about 350 ; and at Fountains 
 Mr Sharpe calculated that 200 could be accommodated. 
 Where were such numbers housed? Mr. Sharpe answers 
 this question very satisfactorily, and to his recently-published 
 books on the subject of Cistercian architecture I must refer 
 all interested m the general subject. I will, however, briefly 
 indicate the ordinary features of the arrangements of the 
 buildings. 
 
 12. In the first place, the church was to be provided 
 This, according to the rules, was always to be in the form of 
 a cross, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The choir or 
 more properly chancel, was of small dimensions ; no Lady 
 chapel ; but chapels are frequently found in the transepts. 
 Ihe tower was low. There were to be no representations of 
 the human figure. Stained glass was forbidden ; pictures and 
 organs were not allowed ; but as time crept on these rules 
 were neglected, and the Cistercian church in its architecture 
 became less severe. It would seem that the rule was, that 
 the church should be on the north, and the other building's 
 on the south ; but we shall find that there were exceptions 
 to this. Supposing ourselves leaving the church on the 
 south side through the transept, we should have on the east 
 the chapter- house, and on the west the east walk of the 
 cloister and beyond the fratry or day-room of the monks 
 over which would be their scriptorium and dormitory, con- 
 nected by a flight of steps with the church. Turnincr to the 
 west, we should enter the south walk of the cloister, and have 
 on our left hand successively the kitchen, refectory, and offices, 
 and following the same walk, leaving the western arcade on 
 our right, we should enter that part of the building, the special 
 home of the servants of the monastery, to which Mr. Sharpe 
 has happily given the name of the Domus Conversorura. In 
 the greater monasteries this was sometimes 300 feet lonc^ 
 Those who know Fountains will doubtless recollect the nobfe 
 vaulted building which is foolishly called the cloister, mea- 
 suring about this length. This is the Domus Conversonim, 
 and over it was the dormitory of the conversi. 
 
 13. You will see from Mr. Sharpe's model plan, given in 
 the first part of his work, that access was thus easily gained 
 to the church by all. It was divided, probably by means 
 of wooden partitions, for the use of, firstly, the monks, who 
 took the east end; secondly, the conversi, who used the 
 
8 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 aisles and the last bays of the nave ; thirdly, the outsiders, 
 the inhabitants of the adjoining villages and others, to whom 
 was allotted the centre of the nave. 
 
 14. Hills and highlands were always avoided in the selec- 
 tion of a site for an abbey. The Cistercian's habitation was 
 far from the haunts of men; in a valley, and as far as possible 
 in the narrowest part of it, and close to a river, the settlement 
 was made ; and in such a situation in many a fertile spot 
 throughout England the farmer-monk made his home. In 
 five of such localities in our fair county, members of the 
 order, at varying intervals, took up their abode. The earliest 
 house was founded in 1137, only nine years after the first — 
 that of Waverley, in Surrey — was planted in England ; and 
 the remaining four were established at different times — one 
 in the twelfth, and the other three in the thirteenth century. 
 While we can boast one of the first, we can also claim one 
 of the latest in England. The one I am now about to speak 
 of is the last founded. 
 
 15. The Abbey of Buckland was founded by Amicia, the 
 mother of Isabella, wife of William de Fortze, Earl of Albe- 
 marle, a lady connected with both those great families which 
 had shown such love for the Cistercian, which had done so 
 much to extend his order, and which had endowed it with so 
 many rich possessions. Baldwin Earl of Devon had founded 
 Quarr, in the Isle of Wight ; and William le Gros, Earl of 
 Albemarle, had founded the Abbeys of Meaux and Vallis 
 Dei, both for the Cistercians, besides houses for other orders ; 
 and we may conjecture that it was the consideration of what 
 had been done by her ancestors and the ancestors of her son- 
 in-law, and the good results which were apparent from their 
 benefactions, which induced Amicia, the widowed countess 
 of Baldwin, seventh Earl of Devon, to provide another place 
 of settlement for Cistercian brethren. 
 
 16. The monks having already houses in other parts of 
 the county, and the south-west being unprovided, none being 
 nearer than Buckfastleigh, Amicia resolved that her new 
 colony should be planted amidst the family possessions on 
 the banks of the Tavy. She therefore acquired, either by 
 purchase or gift from her daughter Isabella, certain lands 
 which were vested in her by deed, dated 1273, the King's 
 confirmation of which is dated 1275; and in the eighth 
 year of Edward I. (1280) she signed the foundation deed of 
 Buckland Abbey, vesting in the monks and their successors 
 the manors of Buckland, Bickleigh, and Walkhampton, with 
 the advowsons thereof, and the hundred of Koborough, for 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 9 
 
 the use of the abbey dedicated in honour of God and the 
 blessed Mary, mother of God, and the blessed Benedict. 
 Jrom 1273 to 1280 the pious Amicia was, we may conclude 
 busily preparing the site and buildings for the reception of 
 the monks and their servants. 
 
 17. The foundress did not go to Ford, as might have been 
 expected, for men to fill the new house, but she asked the 
 Abbot of Quarr, the house founded, as I have mentioned, 
 by the restless Baldwin, the second earl, to send her some 
 monks, and accordingly Eobert the first abbot* and others 
 were sent from the Isle of Wiglit to Buckland. As frequently 
 happened, there was trouble to begin with. It was one of the 
 rules of the order that there should be no interference with 
 the parish priest, and that the houses should be under the 
 jurisdiction of the bishop. But when the monks came to 
 Buckland they seem to have broken both these rules; they 
 began to celebrate divine offices without any consent or 
 license of the bishop. The bishop of the diocese, the famous 
 Walter Bronescombe, was not a prelate to view with indif- 
 ference any encroachment upon the privileges of his see, or 
 to permit any interference with, or contempt of, the spiritual 
 jurisdiction rightly belonging to him, and when he heard 
 that the newly-arrived monks had begun to exercise spiritual 
 functions in the neighbourhood of their house, he quickly 
 placed them under an interdict. We do not know the date 
 of this, but, as we have seen, there were buildings used by or for 
 the use of the monks before the charter of Amicia. The inter- 
 dict is referred to in a deed of Bronescombe's, dated 27th May, 
 1280, in which he recites, that having been petitioned by the 
 Queen Eleanor (who had doubtless been urged to take up the 
 cause of the monks by Amicia), he thereby removed the inter- 
 dict, and permitted them to celebrate divine service until the 
 feast of Pentecost next following. In June, satisfied with 
 the conduct of the new-comers, the bishop extended the time 
 to Michaelmas ; but on the following St. Mary Magdalene's- 
 day (the day of his death, 22nd July, 1280) Bronescombe 
 released the monks from all further supervision, and gave 
 them permission to perform all divine offices for ever there- 
 after. 
 
 18. As I said just now, the Foundation charter vesting the 
 land in the abbey is dated 8th Edward I. It is interesting 
 to notice how careful grantees of land in those days were to 
 have their rights confirmed by all persons in whom there could 
 be possibly any claim, or right of claim, therein. We con- 
 
 ♦ Foundation Deed, Appendix C. 
 C 
 
 'i 
 
10 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Ill 
 
 il'i 
 
 stantly find deed after deed professing to quit claim to land 
 which we might have thought was effectually vested in the 
 holder. Here, besides the deed of foundation from Amicia 
 and the grant from her daughter, the wealthy and powerful 
 Isabella de Fortibus, it was thought necessary also to obtain 
 confirmation of the latter from the King, of whom the 
 lands were to be held in capite. And later, in 1291, when 
 it would appear that the Countess Amicia, "nohilis mulier 
 mater nostra carissima dcmiina Amicia " was dead, another 
 confirmation was obtained from her daughter * The deeds 
 are very interesting, containing the names of places very 
 familiar to us. The neighbourhood does not seem so utterly 
 desolate and uncared-for as might have been supposed. 
 We find mention of stone walls, boundaries, roads, paths, 
 and houses. Soon after the foundation the title of the 
 abbey to the hundred of Roborough was called in question, 
 and the abbot was cited in the king's courts to show his 
 authority in opposition to that of the crown ; and although 
 he produced the charters and confirmation by the king, as 
 the hundred was not mentioned in the latter, judgment was 
 given for the crown. But this difficulty must have been 
 got rid of; for the abbey held the hundred down to the 
 dissolution. , 
 
 19. From* the registers of the bishops of Exeter, so dili- 
 Ngently searched by Dr. Oliver for the purposes of his Mmas- 
 
 ticon, from a few old deeds, and from leases granted by the 
 various abbots, we gather some scanty knowledge of the 
 history of the abbey. No Cartulary, or any other important 
 record of the abbey, is to be found in any public office or 
 library, or, as far as I can ascertain, in any private one. 
 
 20. In 1336 (11 Edward III.), not 1328, as stated by 
 Dr. Oliver, the royal license was granted to the abbey and 
 convent to crenellate the abbey. Mansum aUatim sum. 
 Abbas et conventus de Buckelond. Perhaps the fear of the 
 foreigner had something to do with this fortification. It was 
 not long after this (1339), that the French landed and burnt 
 a great part of Plymouth; and William, the then abbot, 
 might have thought that the herds and well -stored barns of 
 the monks would prove a source of temptation to the 
 roving Breton, and needed protection, and the abbey was 
 battlemented.t 
 
 • Appendix E. 
 
 f « Very few houses of any importance were built in the thirteenth, four- 
 teenth, and fifteenth centuries without being fortified ; and the law required 
 a licence from the crown before any house was allowed to lye fortified."— 
 Parker. The following is an extract from a licence to fortify (1482) given 
 
 h 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 11 
 
 21. The monks appear to have lived a quiet, unosten- 
 tatious life— not greedy of wealth, or desirous of adding to 
 their possessions, not quarrelling with their neighbours, as 
 monks often did, and as landowners sometimes do even in 
 our more enlightened times, but still occasionally involved in 
 disputes with reference to their rights. Indeed, almost the 
 first mention we have of the doings of the monks is to be 
 found in the record of legal proceedings taken against them 
 by a servant of the Abbot of Tavistock— his forester, one 
 Thomas Gyreband— who complained, that having charge 
 of the wood of Blakemoresham, and coixiing to a place in it 
 called Ivyoak, he found Eobert the Abbot of Buckland 
 and others felling the wood and oaks there, and that on his 
 attempting to prevent this, the abbot and the others with 
 darts and hatchets assaulted and beat him, and with a bow and 
 an arrow made of ash, headed with iron and steel, wounded 
 him in the right arm, and afterward stole from him an outer 
 garment. The Abbot and Convent of Buckland pleaded 
 firstly their clergy, and denied the assault and robbery. 
 Thomas got the worst of the affair; for he contradicted 
 himself, and the abbot and his monks were acquitted, and 
 Thomas committed to gaol for making a false accusation. 
 And later in the pleadings we find the whole history of the 
 affair. Blackmoresham wood was, I expect, on the opposite 
 side of the Tavy, and belonged, as the forester said, to the 
 Abbey of Tavistock, but the Cistercians had on the river a weir, 
 and were obliged to keep it in order, and had a right to take 
 from this place wood for its repair. Whilst obtaining wood, 
 'Thomas assaulted the defendants, and drew blood, and 
 
 b^ Mr. J. H. Parker: "Edward by the grace of God King of England & 
 trance and Lord of Ireland, to all to whom these presents shall come, 
 greeting. Know ye that we considering the good & gracious services which 
 our dearly beloved subject Edmund Bedingfeld Esq™, hath before these times 
 rendered to us from day to day, and which he still continues inclined to 
 render : of our special favours have granted and given license and by these 
 presents do grant and give license, for us and our heirs, as far as in us lyeth, 
 to the said Edmund, that he at his will and pleasure, build, make, and 
 construct, with stone, lime & sand, towers and walls in and about his manour 
 of Oxburgh in the County of Norfolk, and that manour with such towers 
 and walls to inclose, and those towers and walla to embattle^ kernel and macke' 
 collate: and that manour so inclosed, and those walls and towers aforesaid so 
 embattled, kernell'd, and machicoUated, built and constructed, to hold for 
 himself and his heirs for ever, without perturbation, impeachment, molesta- 
 tion, impediment, or hindrance from us or our heirs or others whomsoever. 
 And besides, of our abundant grace, we pardon, remit, and release to the 
 aforesaid Edmund, all transgressions, offences, misprisions, and contempts, 
 by him the said Edmund before these times, however done or perpetrated, on 
 account of his enclosing such walls and towers, embattled, kemelled, mache- 
 collated, and built as aforesaid, in and upon his said manour," &c. &c. 
 
i 
 
 in 
 
 12 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 V ■ 
 
 n 
 
 
 in self-defence one of the Buckland men shot Thomas 
 with an arrow in the arm, whereupon he lied, leaving his 
 coat, bow, and hatchet, which William le Pye and another 
 carried away, not as a robbery, but because they were left 
 there. And the jury found that the defendants were rightly 
 in the wood and not trespassers, and they were acquitted.* 
 
 22. In 1448 the monks considered themselves aggrieved for 
 that the Lord of the Manor of Stonehouse, James Derneford, 
 had, in defiance of the rights of the abbot and monks as 
 lo-ds of the hundred of lioborough, set up at Stonehouse a 
 pillory and tumbrel, and had held a court of frank-pledge 
 there. This was a usurpation, and gave rise to much trouble 
 and unpleasantness. The monks would not allow James 
 Derneford to use these marks of authority, and he would not 
 admit that he was wrong, or remove them. At last, as recited 
 in the award, the whole matter was referred, by the media- 
 tion of friends, to the decision of William Hylle, the Prior of 
 Plympton, and James Chudlegh, Esq. The award was in 
 favour of the abbey ; and besides removing the pillory and 
 tumbrel, James Derneford had to pay £20, as a fine for his 
 encroachment.! 
 
 23. Thirty years later we find the monks defendants in a 
 case, which was apparently brought against them, on behalf 
 of the Crown, for the purpose of ascertaining the rights of 
 the Duchy of Cornwall in the Forest of the Dartmoors.I The 
 Abbot, Thomas Oliver, was cited to appear at Lydford, for that 
 he did on the fourth day of October (18 Edward IV.), 1478, 
 intrude and make claim upon land in Dartmoor within the 
 bounds and marks of the forest, and was found culpable ; 
 and the jury also found that all the lands within the pre- 
 cmcts, marks, and bounds of Dartmoor were of the ancient 
 demesnes of the said prince, and were called the Fentield 
 and Common of Devonshire; and that all waives, strays, 
 escheats, and presentments of assaults and bloodshed, plaints, 
 writs of right according to the custom of the manor of Lyd- 
 ford and assizes of land, were appropriate to the court of 
 Lydford. As doth appear, says Westcote, by ancient record 
 remaining in the castle of Lydford. § 
 
 24. The agreement in the muniment-room at Powderhara, 
 which has been quoted by 01iver,|| proves how much the 
 later Cistercians had departed from the strictness of the early 
 
 • Oliver, p. 385. f See Appendix F. 
 
 T The forest of Dartmoor was permanenUy attached to the Duchy of 
 ComwaU in 1337. 
 § Weetcote's Devon, p. 85. H Oliver's Monastieon, p. 381. 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 13 
 
 rules of their order. It is dated 28th May, 1522, and is 
 made between Abbot Whyte and Eobert Derkeham, and 
 shows how Kobert, in return for assisting daily in the choir 
 and teaching four boys of the convent, and also teaching the 
 boys ana any monks who might wish to learn music and the 
 organ, was to be paid an annuity of £2 13s. 4d., to be provided 
 with a decent table, to have a furnished room over the west 
 gate of the monastery, and a gown of the value of 12s. every 
 year ; to have the reversion of a tenement at Milton, and until 
 it lell m, feeding for two cows, and a garden, he paying half 
 the rent. One would have thought that this was very fair 
 pay as times went for Eobert's work ; but his room over 
 the west gate was cold and dreary in the winter, so he had 
 also five ounces of bread, a quart of beer, and a wax candle 
 every night throughout the year, and thirty horse-loads of 
 taggots. With these and his books and organ he ou^ht to 
 have made himself tolerably comfortable. He apparently 
 appreciated them, and continued in their enjoyment for 
 some time, for he was alive at the dissolution, and the grant 
 was allowed by the Augmentation Office, 18th December. 
 
 25. The list of the abbots is incomplete; the followin<» 
 ac^unt contains all that I can glean with reference to thenf 
 The names of the first and second abbots are somewhat 
 uncertain ; from Eobert being mentioned in the Foundation 
 charter, and as the abbot complained of in the proceedincrs 
 by the forester Thomas Gyreband, it may be concluded that 
 he was the first abbot, and, if so, it may be taken for granted 
 that the second was William, who is mentioned in a grant 
 17 Edward L, 1288, by Margaret de Eipariis, the widow of 
 Jialdwin, fifth of that name and eighth Earl of Devon the 
 only son of Amicia, the foundress, by which deed she re- 
 leased to William the Abbot of Bocland and his convent her 
 claim of dower m the churches of Bocland and Walkhampton 
 in consideration of an annuity of £^ paid to her clerk 
 VVilliam de Brenton, for which in default of due payment 
 the sheriff was to levy by writ oi fieri facias on the goods of 
 the abbey.* Bishops Quivell and Bitton confirmed the grant 
 of Buckland Church to the Abbey. 
 
 Galfridus was the next abbot. During the time of his rule 
 there were many disputes as to the injury done to the pro- 
 perty of the Abbey by the working of the silver mines in 
 the neighbourhood. The complaints of the monks and the 
 proceedings thereupon are to be found in the Bolls of 
 
 • Arehteol. Journal, vol. v. p. 68. 
 
 ii 
 
14 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 t 
 
 Parliament* Thomas Bitton, the Bishop of Exeter, in an 
 instrument dated 1305, appropriated the church of Walk- 
 hampton to the use of the monks who were its patrons, and 
 it recites the enormous devastation done to the woods and 
 lands of the abbey by the working of the silver mines by the 
 crown in and around them. The late Sir E. Smirke supposed 
 these to be the silver mines of Beer, which were about this 
 time worked with success, but as I do not find .that the abbey 
 ever had any property on the western side of the Tavy, it is 
 rather difficult to see how their lands could be injured, and 
 I think there may be some mistake in the identification. 
 
 Thomas was abbot as early as 1311, and in 1316 we 
 find that he and the prior of Plympton entered into an 
 arrangement (upon the intervention of the Bishop, Walter 
 Stapeldon, with reference to suit and service of the latter 
 at the hundred court of Koborough in respect of the lands 
 of the priory in Old Blakeston, which was situate within the 
 hundred, and it was agreed that the attendance should thence- 
 forth be limited to three courts a year instead of, as I suppose, 
 four, as theretofore. 
 
 The fifth abbot was a second William ; he was party to an 
 agreement with Ralph de Bellworthy, also with reference to 
 suit and service at the hundred court of Koborough. He 
 was succeeded by Thomas Wappelegh, John Bryton, and 
 Walter, successively abbots in 1356, 1385, and 1392. 
 
 In 1418-19 we find, from a lease granted to William 
 Pomeroy and his wife and daughter at Buttyckyswordy, in 
 the liianor of Walkhampton, for 65 years, that John was 
 prior. In May, 1442, William Rolff, who had the protracted 
 litigation with James Derueford, of Stonehouse, succeeded. 
 Of the abbots following him w^e know little. John Spore 
 succeeded Rolff, 28th September, 1449, and John Hylle, 
 October 21st, 1454. Thomas Olyver became abbot 20th 
 March, 1463, and it was against him that the proceedings 
 at Lydford were taken for the monks* trespass upon Dart- 
 moor forest, and during the long time that he was head of 
 the monastery, we find him granting many leases of land for 
 terms of years determinable on lives. He espoused the cause 
 of the Earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII., and was 
 proscribed by Richard, but lived to see the success of the 
 former, and continued abbot of Buckland for several years 
 after his accession. John Brundon, the next, was abbot for 
 a short time only. Thomas Whyte succeeded, and was abbot 
 before 1511 and after 1527. It was with him that Robert 
 
 * Mot. Parliam ; seo also Oliver'i Mmattieon, p. 385. 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 15 
 
 Derkeham, the organist, entered into the agreement I have 
 referred to. o "^vc 
 
 The sixteenth and last abbot was John Toker or Tucker a 
 member of a Devonshire family and brother to Robert Tucker 
 alderman, and afterwards, in 1543, Mayor of Exeter, who! 
 Prince says, in his memoir of his grandson William Tucker, 
 Dean of Lichfield, " with great honour discharged the office "♦ 
 Ihe family was settled at Moretonhampstead. The later 
 pedigree will be found in the Visitation of 1620. He was 
 blessed by the bishop as abbot of Buckland, 7th June 1528 
 and just ten years afterwards he surrendered the house and 
 Its belongings to the king. During the twelve months, 
 immediately before the surrender, he had granted leases (no 
 doubt for a consideration) of the rectorial tithes of the parish 
 chureh of Buckland, and of Walkhampton, Bickleigh, and 
 bheepstor and also of Bampton, to his brother Robert and his 
 nephews William and Hugh Tucker. 
 
 26. At the dissolution there were twelve monks in the 
 house, to all of whom pensions were granted. No complaint 
 was made as to their conduct ; no breath of scandal or word 
 of reproach rested on this or any of the Cistereian houses • 
 orindeed, as far as I know, and judging from the pension 
 lists, on any of the religious houses in the west country. 
 Ihus, after only about two centuries and a half, the land 
 dedicated to God, and set apart for pious uses by Amicia 
 was snatched from its holders, who had so well discharged the 
 trust committed to them, by a tyrannical king and his rapacious 
 courtiers, aided by a compliant and time-serving parliament. 
 With miserable pittances the monks were sent forth into a 
 world to which they were unaccustomed, while the buildin-s 
 which had been handed down to them, some of which they 
 had erected, and the lands they and their predecessors hail 
 tilled and improved, were given to those who had no love for 
 the monk, who had thus toiled for the stranger who now entered 
 into his labours; while, worst of all, the chureh was gutted 
 and ruthlessly converted into a dwelling-place for the usurper. 
 Whatever opinions may be held as to the expediency of the 
 existence of monasteries, it is impossible to look impartially 
 into the history of their dissolution without coming to the 
 conclusion that a grievous wrong was done to the people of 
 England, and an injury inflicted upon the commonwealth 
 trora which perhaps it has not yet recovered. This is not the 
 place to enter upon a defence, and I do not now wish to 
 attempt to extenuate, or to say anything upon the religious 
 
 • Prince's Worthies^ ed. 1810, p. 735. 
 
 v^ 
 
16 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 bearings of the subject, but the fact remains, that while before 
 the dissolution these houses were sources of immense good, 
 mingled perhaps with some things that were undesirable, on 
 their extinction, their belongings were squandered, and no 
 effort made to use them for the benefit of the people who had 
 so largely profited by them in former days. It is very evi- 
 dent that in such an establishment as that of Buckland, 
 where there was no grasping after an accumulation of wealth, 
 no endeavour to extend the possessions of the house, that the 
 labours of these monks must have been productive of great 
 good to the locality, and its loss severely felt by the lower 
 and middle classes of the neighbourhood. 
 
 27. The revenues of the abbey were at this time £241 
 17s. 9Jd. per annum, and it was easy to pay out of them, or 
 out of the proceeds arising from the sale of the plunder, the 
 pensions granted to Tucker, the last abbot, and his monks. 
 The abbot had £60 per annum ; and the monks various sums, 
 beginning with Thomas Maynard, who received £5 6s. 8d., 
 down to John Jordan, who had only £3 6s. 8d. a year. 
 
 28. What then were the possessions of the abbey at the 
 time of the dissolution ? I have said that the monks were 
 not avaricious. From the foundation charter, and the grants 
 and confirmations, we know that it was originally endowed 
 with the manors of Buckland, Bickleigh, Walkhampton, and 
 CoUumpton, and the hundred of Roborough, with the ad vow- 
 sons of Buckland, Bickleigh, and Walkhampton, and much 
 later, in exchange for a part of the hundred of Eoborough, 
 given up to the Corporation of Plymouth in 1464, the 
 church of Bampton. We find from the Valor Ecclesiastictcs 
 that at the end of the two hundred and sixty years of its 
 existence the abbey possessed very little more than is men- 
 tioned in the original grants, the additions consisting only of 
 a house in Exeter, doubtless for the use of the abbots on their 
 visits to the bishop, worth £1 6s. 8d. per annum, and a tene- 
 ment in Saltash worth 8s. per annum. How these were 
 obtained we do not know. 
 
 29. Before going further, I may refer very briefly to the 
 seals of the abbey. One, apparently the earliest, is from an 
 impression attached to a deed dated 1310, in which we see in 
 the centre, under a canopy, the Blessed Virgin and Child, and 
 below is a shield with what appears to be a lion rampant, 
 probably representing the arms of the Redvers, Earls of Devon. 
 Between the shield and the canopy the word "Amicia" 
 appears. There is around the margin the legend "sigillvm 
 
 ECCLESIE LOCI S'CI BENEDICTI DE BOCLAN." 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 17 
 
 Another, of about the same date, is said to be a counter or 
 private seal of the abbot ; but I am inclined to think that it 
 does not belong to Buckland, at least I can find no abbot 
 who was named Stephen, which word appears in the legend. 
 The seal is from an impression in the British Museum. 
 
 Another, mentioned by Dr. Oliver, very similar to the last 
 mentioned, has a figure of St. Benedict holding the crozier or 
 pastoral staff in his right hand, and a book in his left. In the 
 centre, between the figure, is the name Ami-cia divided. The 
 legend is " if^ s. abbatie bocland sancti benedicti." 
 
 A fourth has a right hand grasping a pastoral staff, from 
 which is suspended an olive-branch. The staff passes through 
 the letter A. The legend is " iji s. commune abbis et covent' 
 S'ci benedicti." This last seal is very similar to that used 
 by St. Bernard himself soon after tlie establishment of Clair- 
 vaux in 1115,* and probably this device was used by many 
 houses. 
 
 The arms borne by the abbey were, quarterly, argent and 
 gules, a crozier, in bend or. 
 
 28. After the monks came George Pollard, of London, 
 for whom the former were ousted from their valley home. 
 The lands, church, conventual and domestic buildings, were 
 then intact, and were granted to him the year after the 
 surrender, 14th December, 1539, for a term of 21 years, at a 
 rent of £23 3s. 5d., reserving to the king and his successors 
 all great timbers, as well as all trees and wood in and upon 
 the premises being or growing. 
 
 29. Erom the next document it would seem (although it is 
 not so recited) that George Pollard must have disposed of his 
 interest under the royal lease, for we find that May 26th, 
 1541, the king granted, in consideration of the good, true, 
 and faithful service which his well-beloved servant, Richard 
 Greynfeld (or, as we are accustomed to call him, Grenville), 
 of Bideford, knight, heretofore done to us, as for the sum of 
 £233 3s. 4d. paid by the said Richard Greynfeld, the reversion 
 of the site of the monastery, houses, buildings, barns, tene- 
 ments, meadows, pastures, feedings, and also all the church, 
 belfry, and burial ground, and all houses, buildings, barns, 
 dove- houses, orchards, gardens, pools, vivaries, land and soil, 
 as well within as close and near to the site, sept, circuit, and 
 precinct of the late monastery, as fully and wholly, and in as 
 ample manner and form, as the last abbot and late convent 
 held or enjoyed the same, paying £2 6s. 4|^d. yearly. And 
 thus a descendant of the Sir Richard Grenville, who in his 
 
 * See Archceol. Journal, voL xiv. p. 15. 
 D 
 
18 
 
 THE CISTEECIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 devotion in 1134 had founded and erected the Cistflrrian 
 in the spoil of another house of the same order 
 
 tJt ffu^^^u"*'"" ^^^. "»*' " '« ««'d that the bells in the 
 tower of the abbey were given to the church of E^^ Buckland 
 I do not know how this could happen, as therT waf no con 
 nection between the abbey and th1s%hu?ch In Te tower at 
 Egg Buck and there are at present three bells, one an alcTen 
 
 fZ ',1 * *5'! 'f'S*'' ''"^^ <=<""« from any place. The 
 two others are dated respectively 1682 and 1768. but mav 
 have been re««t from older bells, as there were th^e bell"a^ 
 
 ^ftm^Z 'vt^ "^^"''"-'^ - *^ --'o'y of cih 
 
 pil'i ^5^?i*"'''"f ^■'^ ""* '°"S continue the owners of 
 
 were sold t E r "b''f *!i' T^^^.^''«' •'°-« «"•' '-d? 
 were sow by Sir Richard and Lady Mary Grenville after 
 
 1580, to John Hele and Christopher Harris for £:i 400 ■ and 
 mne months later these conveyed the property to Sir Fmnds 
 Drake, whose descendants stUl retain them t 
 
 r.Z.J^^ r""' ^l^ ^^""^^ "^ Collumpton were sold to Sir 
 George St. Leger, whose son sold them to Thomas Eisdon bv 
 
 ±S ^tL"*'™ ^'"'^'^ "P ?'' ''•'P<'-d of to tenants 'anJ 
 to thTsw^L "°' "■"" "" *' «"'«^«d-"«. and from them 
 
 33. Bickleigh and Walkhampton, and the lands of Hele and 
 
 by John Slanniiig, September 24th, 1546, through whose 
 descendants by the marriage of danghtere they mssed to 
 the Heywoods, and frem them, by purehase, to Sb Cseh 
 M^ey Lopes, and are now held bf his grundson sIr S:J 
 
 34. The manor of Buckland, with the advowson of tbo 
 churchy was sold, 12th April, 1546. to a London haberdLer 
 
 ISed rfhe't '"kV''1; '"■i 9-^''- Their des^fnS 
 continued in the neighbourhood for some time and inter 
 
 mamed with the Coplestones, Prideauxes, Drakes' GlaniX 
 and other Devonshire families About Ifion „,!' V " '"*^' 
 thedeath Of William C^meMa^ ^^^^^^^^ ^-peX' 
 
 were sold long leases being granted ; but the man Jwas 
 retained for some years later. In 1660, howeverthTs was 
 also disposed of to the Slannings, and from them dn The 
 
 • JSxeh. Queen's Rem., T. G. 6211 N. f. 
 t Appendix I. Brake pediyree. 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 19 
 
 marriage of daughters, it descended to the Heywoods in the 
 same way as the Bickleigh and Walkhampton properties, and 
 like them is now held by Sir Massey Lopes. The patronage 
 of the vicarage was held by the Crymes family until a com- 
 paratively late period. It now belongs to the Hayne family. 
 
 35. Where the houses in Saltash and Exeter were situated 
 I cannot ascertain, nor how or to whom they were disposed 
 
 36. In conclusion I have to describe the remains of the 
 Abbey buildings as they now exist, but I must first observe 
 that I cannot vouch for the absolute correctness of eveiy 
 statement I may make, inasmuch as the alterations, removals, 
 and additions have been so extensive as to prevent absolute 
 certainty of identification. Although I suspect that Sir Richard 
 Grenville destroyed the greater part of the buildings, reserving 
 only such as were useful for the purposes of his new house, 
 yet much was left, portions of which appear to have been 
 removed in recent years. 
 
 37. The earliest drawing that I can find, — although it is 
 very rough, is interesting and suggestive, and to some 
 extent valuable, — is in the ancient map of the Forest of 
 Dartmoor, brought under the notice of our society at the 
 last Exeter meeting by Mr. C. Spence Bate. In that map 
 the Abbey Church of Buckland is represented much as we 
 should have expected to find it — a long church with choir, 
 nave, and central tower. It is always pleasant to overthrow 
 the theory of another, and I am able to do so with respect to 
 Mr. Bate's theory, that the map is of the date 1240 or there- 
 about. But at this time the Abbey Church could not have 
 been there, for the Abbey was not founded or thought of 
 for nearly forty years after. I think that the map is two 
 centuries later than the date Mr. Bate assigns to it. You 
 will notice the long cruciform building with low central 
 tower,* no aisles, and south transept. The chancel longer 
 than the nave is, I believe, the draughtsman's error, for the 
 choir was always short, and there was no lady chapel, the 
 whole church being dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. If there 
 were aisles, I think they would have been shown, as the 
 drawing is the largest of any on the map, and in the repre- 
 sentations of much smaller churches, aisles are distinctly to 
 be seen. The lines indicating buildings beyond, do not, I am of 
 opinion, represent the parish church of Buckland Monachorum, 
 but the Abbey buildings, and if so, here again the substantial 
 
 " * Turres lapidae ad campanas non fiant, nee ligneffi altitudinis inunoderatte, 
 quo} ordinis dedeceant simplicitatem." — Nom. Ciat. 
 
20 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVOIf. 
 
 accuracy of the map is proved. One thing in the drawing 
 I do not understand, the door-way shown^in the traTm 
 As a general rule the conventual buildings of the Cisterckn, 
 were o„ the south side of the church, but occa^ona y when 
 the nature of he ground prevented their being so placed we 
 find the buddings on the north, and so it wa^ at bS„7 
 The Cistercians, and indeed nearly all monks Wd thl' 
 valleys, and they preferred shelter I the Zll Jr 1 of 
 the order. Here, on the south side of the church thT^nnH 
 rises somewhat suddenly, and without a good deal of e^ava 
 
 lo the north, therefore, the monks went, and I think wp mnv 
 conclude that the chapter-house, the refectory, and the bu^ 
 of the buddings were on the north side of the cloister 
 
 Leland only just refers to the Abbey, and no further infnr 
 niation ,s attainable with reference to the buiJd „'s unHI 
 we come to Buck's view, published in 1734 n° which 
 although as to the surrounding scenery, and also in the dmJ^ 
 ing of some portions of the remains, there is a considerable 
 amount of romance, it shows, that various alterations have 
 been made, and some buildings altogether removed. Near y 
 hfty years later we have a plan of the house and iS sur 
 roundings. to which the same remarks apply, many erections 
 being there shown which cannot now be fbund^ None of 
 these help us m fixing the site of the conventual buUd"nc^ 
 nor will the three important buildings still remaining tS' 
 great extent intact-the church, the porter's lodTfafter which 
 I P^^a query) or the barn-render ^us much aSistncL ' 
 
 38. On visiting the house (for Abbey now is a misnomer^ 
 after passing down one of the noble avenues leadTrrere-' 
 to and resting on the high ground to the north to°adm[re 
 the magnificent view of the country, on the banks of th! 
 
 sM^fin'r** ^T' ^'^^"^•'■"S ''' ''"^^ towa4 he sea we 
 shall find ourselves m a narrow valley shut in on tho nAJ^^f 
 
 tTsf 'untn r Me 1^ ^^''""^ «^""' ^'0 ing toidTn 
 west, unt 1 the little stream we cannot fail to notice falU 
 
 into the nver some short distance below. A s^-t more su 
 able for the Cistercian could not be found. Far from the busv 
 town and haunts of men, and yet sufficiently near for the «.le 
 of wool, and for disposing of the produce of their firms « e 
 monks settled down to their varied tasks, annrayir'aml 
 abounng. quickly made their little valley fertde.'^rd caused 
 It to become the centre of a new life. 
 
 39. Before the monks from Quarr could take Dosse«inn if 
 was necessary that a church, or at least an o™K~or- 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 21 
 
 ship should be provided, with a refectory and dormitory for 
 the monks, a guest-room for strangers, and a porter's lodge. 
 With these the little community started ; and soon the more 
 stately church began to rise, with the domestic and farm 
 buildings, the fratry, the scriptorium, the long building for 
 the conversi, with sleeping-rooms above, and the great barn. 
 The little stream was diverted into various channels, and 
 used in different ways. One channel was the common sewer 
 of the monastery, another, carefully banked and tended, led to 
 the fish-ponds, important sources of supply in a Cistercian 
 house. And so the Abbey of Buckland grew, and with their 
 home barton of nearly 800 acres, besides a large extent of 
 " moorland and pasture, with outlying farms, the little band 
 had soon work enough to occupy their time and thoughts. 
 And so they worked until the crash came, and they were . 
 sent forth to live as best they might on the pensions allowed 
 them. 
 
 40. There has been found on the south side some little build- 
 ing rubbish, but there is nothing to lead us to suppose that 
 there was anything of consequence on this side. The cloister 
 was probably on the north-east. Just inside the gate of the 
 garden is an old wall, shown in Buck's view, running almost 
 from north to south. At the extreme south end on the western 
 side is a recess with a stone seat, and this wall may be the 
 eastern wall of the cloister. West of this is a building, which 
 I think may be the porter's lodge, and perhaps a part of the 
 entrance gate. It is now used with the stables. The window 
 in front is really a blocked-up door-way, opening into a little 
 liall or porch, lighted with a window on the north. Below is 
 a cellar, with a window west, and opposite the window an 
 entrance (now blocked up) to some place beyond. Over the 
 little hall is a small room, reached by a newel staircase in 
 the turret, and over this a platform. The platform on the top 
 of the turret is reached by the continuation of the staircase. 
 The whole appears to be late fourteenth century work ; but in 
 the arch in the cellar, and in the archway of the entrance, from 
 what I have called the little hall, to the building beyond, what- 
 ever it might have been, the character of the earlier work in 
 the church is imitated. This building is always called the bell 
 turret, which it certainly never was. It is shown in Buck's 
 view, and on the plan of 1769, but then apparently connected 
 with the church. 
 
 41. Opposite this building, on the last-mentioned plan, 
 are shown various erections not now to be found, but prob- 
 ably represented by a group of buildings which either formed 
 
 I 
 
 'i 
 
oil 
 Am 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 part of the monastery, or which were constnicted with the 
 old materials ; more especially a large door-way facing west 
 may be mentioned, and traces of other buildings extending' 
 upwards towards the north may be seen. Nothing certain is 
 known as to the situation of the churchyard, or of any of the 
 important buildings ; but I have no doubt that the founda- 
 tions of the latter are below the surface, and if excavation 
 was permitted, considerable information with reference to 
 many important matters, of which we are now entirely i<'no- 
 rant, might be obtained. - "^ 
 
 ^ 42. The orchards, now as formerly, are on the north side 
 west of the monastery, with a south aspect. The remains of 
 three fish-ponds are easily made out, portions of the banks 
 and traps remaining. The grand barn, upwards of 100 feet 
 m length, with its tine door-way, remains externally much as 
 the nionks left it. Useful to their successors, the barn was 
 spared the destruction and mutilation suffered by its neicrh- 
 bours. ' •' ^ 
 
 43. The noble yews and cedars will not fail to attract the 
 notice of the visitor as he approaches the house, otherwise 
 the church, which we now come to. 1 think we may safely 
 conclude that the present walls are those of the original 
 church, and we have a plan at once simple and unusual ♦ 
 consisting, as I have mentioned, of chancel, nave, and south 
 tmnsept The present building is about 130 feet long and 
 33 broad. The chancel is 24 feet long. The breadth of 
 the transept is 24 feet, and the depth from north to south 
 probably the same, consisting of two bays, the column divid- 
 ing them still remaining on the east side. The south wall of 
 the transept is gone, and the bay of the tower leading into 
 It IS walled up. The capitals of the columns at the junction 
 ot the tower and transept are clearly distinguishable, as well 
 as the corbels, drawings of which I have here. These are very 
 mteresting and if they are, as I believe them to be, Early 
 -bnghsh, Mr. Sharpe tells me that they are the earliest known 
 m Cistercian architecture. 
 
 44. Built into a wall over a door-way in the grounds is a 
 large boss of great interest, from which shafts are seen 
 spreading off, and which has evidently been the centre of a 
 groined ceiling. When I first saw it I thought it was a 
 mitred head, but it is clearly the head of a female The 
 upper pointed part is the head-dress, and below is a coronet 
 and whether the work is early or late, I have little doubt 
 out that It is intended to represent the features of the 
 • The plan of Grey Abbey, County Down, Ireland, Ib aimilar. 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 23 
 
 foundress of the abbey, the widowed Countess Aniicia. From 
 what part of the abbey it came it is impossible to say, and it 
 is equally impossible to assign a reason for its preservation. 
 
 45. On entering the house we shall find that it has been 
 divided into a series of floors, and although somewhat in- 
 tricate in its arrangements, it makes a very commodious and 
 comfortable residence. It has, however, been so interfered 
 with and so covered with plaster and battened throughout, 
 that an investigation of architectural details is ditficult, and 
 in many places impossible. The string course on either side 
 of the nave can be traced here and there from end to end 
 as far as the tower. The tower appears to be perfect. It has 
 been divided into floors. In the second from the top the 
 great arches over the crossing can be traced. On the south 
 and west these are perfect, the latter especially so, the whole 
 of the stonework being uncovered and as sharp as when the 
 workmen left it five hundred years ago. The southern arch 
 is partly built into and plastered, but no doubt perfect. The 
 eastern one is entirely covered up; but I think it is of a 
 different character, being one of construction only, and not of 
 ornament as well. The northern archway is formed of rubble 
 masonry, and is of a different [)itch, and I believe that there 
 was a window here. The springers of the vaulting shafts 
 remain, but I am inclined to think that the stone vaulting 
 was never completed. Below the eastern arch we find north 
 and south, parts of the columns, with their capitals, at the 
 commencement of the chancel. The chancel arch was much 
 lower than those of the nave and transept, but of the same 
 character; and there seems to have been another arch of 
 a similar size on the north side of the choir. On the 
 north side of the nave is a very curious and beautifully 
 vaulted little chamber, apparently opening from the tower, 
 and with openings also on the east and west, with a window 
 on the north. I think this must have been a porch or passage 
 leading into the cloister, or in connection with the monks' 
 dormitory, affording from thence easy access to the church. 
 The church is not truly oriented, being situated E.N.E. The 
 Cistercians do not seem to have been particular as to this 
 matter. I have only briefly mentioned these points in connec- 
 tion with the ancient buildings in order to draw attention to 
 them, and in the hope that some one more skilled in working 
 out the details of ancient buildings may take up the subject 
 and give us a full architectural history of the Abbey Church 
 of Buckland. 
 
 46. Pass we now to the more modern house into which the 
 
24 
 
 THE CISTEECUN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Cistercian Church was converted. The hall is a fine room 
 decorated with panels and Jacobean carvings in oak, said to 
 have been brought from the manor-houses of Callisham and 
 Durance, in the parish of Heavy, by the Drakes. Some of 
 the figures are beautifully carved, but unfortunately the whole 
 has been painted over. Over the chimney-piece is the date 
 MCCCCCLXXVi. Assuming this date to be genuine, and as 
 it IS in plaster and corresponds with the rest of the plaster- 
 work of the hall, I think there is no reason to doubt it. 
 It shows that the conversion was accomplished durinr^ the 
 ownership of the Grenvilles, and thus Eisdon's statement 
 that Sir Eichard Grenville built a fair new house, which 
 certainly he did not, is explained. There is no doubt, I 
 ■ think, that he destroyed the greater part of the monastic 
 buildings, completed the house, and laid out the surroundin<r 
 land in pleasure-grounds and gardens. ** 
 
 47. Sir Francis Drake has left no traces of his possession 
 of the abbey, but the old bowling-green is shown on the map 
 of 1769. In the staircase is a portrait of Don Pedro de Valdez, 
 one of the vice-admirals of the Spanish Armada, who was 
 taken prisoner by Drake, and kept by him at Buckland Abbey 
 until his friends had paid the round sum which Drake doubt- 
 less required as his ransom ; although, as Speed says, " Sir 
 Francis his souldiers had well paid themselves with the spoile 
 of the shippe, wherein were 55,000 ducats in gold, which they 
 shared merrily among them."* The rest of the officers and 
 inen were detained in Plymouth for eighteen months until 
 the ransoms arrived, and no doubt the Don spent the same 
 length of time with his captor. His portrait shows him to 
 have been every inch a Spanish cavalier— a noble figure, with 
 handsome features, presenting a strange contrast to the portrait 
 of Drake, whose appearance is the direct opposite in everv 
 respect. ^ 
 
 48. In one of the floors of the tower, the second, is a 
 mantel-piece with the shield, crest, and motto of Sir Francis 
 m plaster. On the left side or flank is a shield bearing tlie 
 ancient arms of the Drakes— a wyvern displayed, quartered 
 with the new grant of a fess-wavy between two polar stars. 
 Below IS the date 1655 and the letters R. K Sir Francis 
 Drake, the second baronet, the great nephew of the Sir 
 Francis, whose portrait is also at Buckland Abbey, was at 
 this time m possession of the estates, but I cannot explain 
 
 • Barrow's Life of Brake, p. 131. The ship was the St. Frann,, a 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 25 
 
 the meaning of the letters R N. On the right flank of the 
 chimney-piece are two shields, the first apparently a bird 
 naiant, and the second three mullets within as many in cres- 
 cents 2 and 1, with an acorn as a crest. Dr. Drake has sug- 
 gested to me that the former may be a canting coat — a duck 
 or drake swimming upon water. The second shield is that of 
 Gregorie,* of Plympton St. Mary. Elizabeth Gregorie married 
 first John Elford, of Sheepstor, and secondly Thomas Drake, 
 the brother and heir of Sir Francis. 
 
 49. As every guide-book says, relics of the great navigator 
 (these words seem indispensable) are to be found at the abbey. 
 His drum (really there are two), and his Bible, sword, arid 
 shield, the two latter, most unlike what he would probably 
 have used, are to be seen. In the dining-room is the well- 
 known portrait of Sir Francis, and in the staircase, besides 
 those of Don Pedro de Valdez and the second baronet, are two 
 other family portraits, and a painting, apparently an allegorical 
 subject, supposed to refer to some incident in the history of 
 the Drake family. The other portraits are those of Charles II, 
 in armour, and his queen, and Nell Gwynne. 
 
 50. The translations in the Appendix of some of the docu- 
 ments relating to the abbey will be found of interest. The 
 names of places have not much changed, and the boundaries 
 of the properties can be approximately ascertained. 
 
 DOCUMENTS. 
 
 A. 
 
 The following documents relating to Buckland Abbey will 
 be found as under : — 
 
 Carta Reg:i8 Edwardi Prirai. (Called "Edwardi Secundi" in 
 Dugdale.) — Ibid; Dugdale, vol. v. p. 714; Oliver, p. 384. 
 
 Carta fundationis per Amiciam Comitissam Devoni£e. Cart. 8 
 Ed. I. n. 85. — Dugdale, vol. v. p. 712; Oliver, p. 382; trans. 
 App. (C). 
 
 Carta AmicisB Comitissae DevonisB, &c. — Ibid; Dugdale, vol. v. 
 p. 714; Oliver, p. 384. 
 
 Carta Walteri Exon Episcopi. — Reg. Exon. Epis., f. 96 ; Dug- 
 dale, vol. V. p. 713; Oliver, p. 383; Oliver, Hist. Col., p. 71. 
 
 Carta alia Walteri Episcopi. — Reg. Bronesc, f. 97 ; Dugdale, 
 vol. V. p. 713; Oliver, p. 383; Oliver, fftst. Col.^ p. 72. 
 
 Carta IsabellaB de Fortibus Comitissae Albemarlae. — Pat 9, 
 Hen. IV. p. ii. m. 18; Dugdale, vol. v. p. 713; Oliver, p. 383. 
 
 Do Libertatibus Abbatis de Bocland. — Oliver, p. 384. 
 
 * Az. within three in crescents or, as many mullets ar. 
 
26 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 I 
 
 De Damno facto abbati de Bocland per minerarios et custodes 
 minerae regis. — Oliver, p. 385. 
 
 Compositio inter abbatem et conventu de Bocland et abbatem et 
 conventu de Ford de secta hominem de Tale ad hundredum de 
 Hange. — Oliver, p. 385. 
 
 Indulgentia pro adjuvantibus ad fabricum Ecclesi® Cathedralis 
 JfciXomae consummandum. — Oliver, p. 386. 
 • Taxatio et ordinatio vicariae de Walkhampton.—Oliver, p 386 
 
 Conventio inter abbatem de Buclond et quendara Belworthi pro 
 secta ad hundredum de Rowborough. — Oliver, p. 386. 
 
 Ordinatio vicariae de Bickleigh et visitatio ibidem.— Oliver 
 p. 387. * 
 
 Appropriatio ecclesiae parochialis de Bannton, taxatio vicaria? 
 Ibidem, et diversae facultates factae et concessa) per literas papales 
 —Oliver, p. 388. f f - 
 
 B. 
 
 CONFIRMATION BY THE KING OF THE GIFT TO AMICIA. 
 
 Edward, by the grace of God, King of England. Lord of 
 Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaiue. To all to whom this 
 writing shall come, greeting. Know ye that we have 
 conceded and confirmed to Amicia, Countess of Devon the 
 manor of Buckland, with the hamlets of Colunipton Walk- 
 hampton, and Bickeley, together with all and sincrul'ar their 
 appurtenances wheresoever situate ; To have and°to hold to 
 the same Amicia, according to the form and tenor of the 
 deeds which she had from the gift of Isabella de Fortibus 
 Coimt^ss of Albemarle her daughter; And if it shall happen 
 that the said Araicia should wish to give and to assign the 
 said manor and hamlets with all their appurtenances whatso- 
 ever to religious men, and with them to found a new reliaious 
 house know ye that we for ourselves and for our heirs" will 
 consider and accept that gift as acceptable, provided that the 
 said house, after the decease of the said Amicia, shall be held 
 f»f us and our heirs in capite. And we faithfully promise to 
 confirmit, when founded or appointed, in pure and perpetual 
 a ms. In witness &c. Witness myself at Odiham, 8th day 
 ot August, m the 4th year of our reign. 
 
 THE DEED OF FOUNDATION. 
 
 In the name of the most glorious and undivided Trinity 
 
 the Father the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen, and by the 
 
 avour of the most Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Blessed 
 
 l>enedict, we, Amicia Countess of Devon and Lady of the 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 27 
 
 Isle, trusting in the goodness of the Supreme Maker of all 
 good things, who disposes the wills of both men and '..omen 
 at his pleasure, and faithfully directs them though unseen, 
 and sustains our hope by the revelation of His mind 
 if we offer anything in perpetual memory to the honour of 
 His name; We found the Abbey, which we desire should 
 be called or entitled St. Benedicts of Buckland, which is 
 in our manor of Buckland, for the perpetual maintenance 
 of abbots and monks of St. Benedict of the Cistercian 
 order there to dwell, for the health of the souls of the Lord 
 Henry, formerly King of England, the noble Queen Dame 
 Eleanor his wife, and their children, of the Lord Edward, our 
 illustrious King of England, the son of the same Henry, the 
 noble Queen Dame Eleanor his wife, and the children of the 
 same, and for the health of the souls of the T/)rd Gilbert of 
 Clare, formerly Count of Gloucester and Hertford, our father, 
 and the Countess Isabella, our mother, and the souls of 
 Baldwin, Earl of Devon, our husband, and Isabella our 
 daughter, Countess of Devon and Albemarle, and Margaret, 
 our daughter, nun of Lacock, and for the souls of aU our 
 ancestors and descendants, and of all to whom we are bound 
 for any kindness, we set apart, and give, concede, and have 
 assigned as an abode and abbey for the aforesaid abbots and 
 monks, and we decree that abbots and monks of the aforesaid 
 order shall dwell for ever in the same abbey. And to this 
 abbey, to Brother Robert, the abbot, and for the support 
 of the monks dwelling in the same house, which have been 
 bought by us from Quarr Abbey, and to their successors, 
 for ever in honour ot God and of the most Blessed Mary, 
 Mother of God, and the Blessed Benedict ; we give and we 
 grant the same our manor of Bocland, and our manors of 
 Columpton, Bykeley, and Walkampton, with the advow- 
 sons of the churches, and with the hundred of Rugheberewe, 
 with all service, as well of free- tenants, villiens, as of others 
 belonging to the said hundred, with all their appurtenances, 
 as in demesnes and seigniories, military service, services of 
 freed men, villeins and villanages, with their chattels suits, 
 reliefs, aids, rents, heriots, heirships, escheats, aids of every 
 kind, meadows, pasturages, pastures, ways, paths, woods, 
 arable land, mills, waters, fisheries, moors, heaths, turbaries, 
 together with all liberties and free customs acquired by us 
 for the same abbey, with all other appurtenances, named and 
 not named, which belong to the said manors and hundred, or 
 which can in any way belong by w^hatever name they may be 
 known, without any reservation by us, or by our heirs, and 
 
 i 
 
 f* 
 
28 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 we have confirmed the same by this present charter to the 
 said abbot and convent and their successors, to be held in 
 free and full alms for ever, freely, quietly, well and peaceably 
 for ever, without any contradiction or impediment by us or 
 our heirs. 
 
 And we, the said Amicia and our heirs, will warrant, and 
 acquit, and for ever defend the said abbot and convent and 
 their successors to the manor, with the advowson of tlie 
 churches and with the said hundred together with all liberties 
 and free customs, and other appurtenances, named and not 
 named, which to the said manor and the said hundred in 
 any way belong or can belong in holy, pure, and perpetual 
 alms, as aforesaid, against all Nations, whether Christians or 
 Jews. And that this my gift, concession, and confirmation 
 of this my present deed may remain firm and binding, we 
 have caused this our seal to be placed unto this deed 
 Witnesses Hugo Peverell, William of Bikells, Thomas of Pyn, 
 Warren of Secchevill, Eeginald de Ferrars, Knights, John of 
 Valletort, Richard Heavy, Ralph of Lenham, Stephen of 
 Stoyll, Baldwin the Bastard, Humphrey of Donesterre, and 
 others. 
 
 iii 
 
 I! 
 
 D. 
 
 DEED OF AMICIA COUNTESS OF DEVON. 
 
 Know all men, now and to come, that we Amicia Countess 
 of Devon and I^dy of the Isle [in our lawful widowhoodl 
 with the thought of God and for the health of the souls of 
 Lord Henry, formerly King of England, and the noble Queen 
 D&me Eleanor, his wife and their children, and of the Lord 
 Henry, formerly King of England, son of the same Kin<r 
 Henry and the noble Queen Dame Eleanor, his wife and 
 their children, and for the health of the souls of Lord 
 Gilbert of Clare, formerly Earl of Gloucester and Hertford 
 our father, and the Countess Isabella, our mother, and 
 lialdwin. Earl of Devon, our husband, and for the health of 
 our souls and the souls of Baldwin, our son, formerly Earl of 
 Devon, and Isabella, our daughter. Countess of Devon and 
 Albemarle, our daughter, nun of Lacock, and of all our ances- 
 tors and successors, and of all to whom we are bound by any 
 favours, and of others who do or shall bestow alms or any 
 favours have given and granted, and confirm by this present 
 writmg to God, and the Blessed Mary, and St. Benedict, and 
 to Brother Robert and his convent taken from Quarr, and their 
 successors of the Cistercian order in holy, free, pure, and per- 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 29 
 
 petual alms, for building and perpetually supporting an 
 abbey in honour of Mary, most blessed Mother of God, and 
 the blessed Benedict, the manors of Buckland, Bickley, and 
 Walkhampton according to their metes and bounds ; that is 
 to say, from the Lobbapilla, on the western part of Bocland 
 towards the north and east, through the middle of the water 
 of Tavy, and from Walkhampton to the boundaries of Dart- 
 moor, on the northern part of Mistor, and thence towards the 
 south by the boundaries of the Verderers (regardorum) of 
 Dartmoor, that is to say, by Mistorhead (Mistor panna), and 
 by Hysfochres, and by Siwards Cross and Gyllesburgh and 
 Plymciundla to the Plym, and thence by the Plym towards 
 the west to Yaddabrook, and so by the bounds which sur- 
 round Rydemore and Smalacumba, that is to say, by the old 
 ditch to the angle of the ditch of Yllalonde, and thence by 
 Hurtwallen to Smalacumbacrosse and Smalacumbalak, and 
 by the water course of Meavy to Olyak, and by the ditch to 
 the road which leads from Plympton to Schitestor, and so by 
 the stone bounds to Biricombaford and by Crewecumba, and 
 Denebrok, and [along] the course of the river Meavy to 
 Schollaford, and so by the old boundaries to Yanedonecross, 
 and thence by the bounds to Stoford and Lake and Churche- 
 ford, and by the divisions between Elleford and Crosseton to 
 Elfordlak and to the course of the river Meavy, and so to the 
 place where the Meavy falls into the Plym, and along the 
 Plym towards the divisions of Hescombe, and to the cross 
 roads beyond Purpris, and thence by passing along the way 
 which leads from Cadaworth bridge to Plympton through 
 the land of the Schagh towards the east as far as Shitaburgh, 
 and thence by old bound-stones to Haneketorr, and thence 
 towards the west and north through the land of Famhill to 
 Maynstonktown and Maynstoncross and Horingbrook and to 
 Writewillak, and thence by a certain footpath to Pudehel, 
 including Southpudehel, and so along the bounds towards 
 the east to Horsford, and thence along the ancient metes to 
 Writewille and Horyngbrok, and so to the Plym and to 
 Wolewillebroke and to Wolewille Cross, and thence by the 
 road which leads from Sutton to Tavistock at Copriscrosse, 
 and thence towards the north along the ancient ditch to 
 Bycacumbayoneda, and so along the ancient bounds to 
 Lobbapilla. 
 
 And the lands and villeins of Tor at Shitestorr, lying near 
 to the manor of Bickleigh, with the appurtenances and with 
 their villanages and chattels and belongings, and the hundred 
 of Roborough, and with all profits thence arising with all 
 
 f 
 
30 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 suits of freemen and bondmen, and with everything which 
 belongs or may belong to the said hundred. 
 
 We have also given, granted, and confirmed to the same 
 abbot and convent and their successors the lands and villeins 
 of Ton- at Schitestor, adjoining the manor of Buckeleye, with 
 their chattel Is and suits. 
 
 We also have given, granted, and confirmed, to the same 
 abbey and convent and their successors the hundred of 
 Roborough with all profits thence arising, with all suits of 
 freemen and villains, and with all liberties, free customs, or 
 whatever things belong to the hundred or can accrue or 
 belong in any way to the same. 
 
 We also have given, granted, and confirmed to the same abbot 
 and convent and their successors the manor of Columpton, 
 according to its bounds, that is to say, from Colump by the 
 land of St. Nicholas of Exeter to Smalabrok, and by the 
 outer bounds of the land of la Brok to the road which leads 
 to Padokbrok, and thence by Lutteskeskell and Ponteford, 
 and by the boundaries from Hillesdon to Burn, and by Linor 
 and Sweton, and Morston and Burn to Culump, and so bv 
 la Ny weloud to Rotherford Bridge, and a certain piece of land 
 on the eastern part of that water near Kyngesmill, and thence 
 by Stonweya, Crundla, Waterleta, Halstrewa, Westerhays, and 
 Lattemere, to Cliff brigg, with the lands of Halsholte, anfl 
 the meadows and woods of Swenham, and with the advowsons 
 of the churches of Boclond, Walkampton, and Bykelie, with 
 the chapel of Schitestorr, with all that to the same manor and 
 lands, and to the same hundred belong, whether in suit of 
 court, demesnes, seignories, knight's fees, homage, scutage, 
 service of free men, &c., without any reservation by us or 
 our heirs. To have and to hold freely of the lord the king 
 and his heirs to the same abbey and convent, and their 
 successors, the same manor and lands, with the advowsons 
 of the churches of Boclond, Walkampton, and Byklie, and 
 the chapels of Schitestorr, and with the aforesaid hundred, 
 with all their appurtenances whatsoever in holy, free, pure, 
 and perpetual alms, free, &c. These being witnesses, Sir Henry 
 of Chaumbernon, Oliver de Denham, Hugo Peverell, &c. 
 
 E. 
 
 CHARTEK OF ISABELLA DE FORTIBUS WITH METES AND BOUNDS. 
 
 To all the faithful in Christ to whom this present writing 
 shall come, Isabella de Fortibus, Countess of Albemarle and ' 
 Devon and Lady of the Isle, health in the Lord; Know ye that 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 31 
 
 we have granted and confirmed and by this present writing 
 quit claim for ourselves and our heirs, to God and the 
 monastery of the Blessed Mary and the Blessed Benedict of 
 Buckland, and to the Abbot and Convent, and to their 
 successors of the Cistercian order serving God in the same 
 monastery, and to all those who shall hereafter serve him 
 (there), all gifts and grants which the noble woman, our 
 dearest mother Lady Amicia, formerly Countess of Devon 
 and Lady of the Isle, obtained and gave to the same, namely, 
 the manors of Boclond, Bykelie, and Walkampton, accord- 
 ing to their metes and divisions, that is to say, from the 
 Lobbapilla, on the western part of Bocland towards the 
 north and east, throuj^h the middle of the water of Tavy, 
 and from Walkhampton to the boundaries of Dartmoor, on 
 the northern part of Mistor, and thence towards the south by 
 the boundaries of the Verderers (regardorum) of Dartmoor, that 
 is to say, by Mistorhead (Mistor panna), and by Hysfochres, 
 and by Siwards Cross and Gyllesburgh and Plymcrundla 
 to the Plym, and thence by the Plym towards the west to 
 Yaddabrook, and so by the bounds which surround Rydemore 
 and Smalacumba, that is to say, by the old ditch to the angle 
 of the ditch of Yllalonde, and thence by Hurtwallen to 
 Smalacumbacrosse and Smalacumbalak, and by the water 
 course of Meavy to Olyak, and by the ditch to the road 
 which leads from Plympton to Schitestorr, and so by the stone 
 bounds to Biricombaford and by Crewecumba, and Denebrok, 
 and [along] the course of the river Meavy to Schollaford, and 
 so by the old boundaries to Yanedouecross, and thence by 
 the bounds to Stoford and Lake and Churcheford, and by the 
 divisions between Elleford and Crosseton to Elfordlak and to 
 to the course of the river Meavy, and so to the place where 
 the Meavy falls into the Plym, and along the Plym towards 
 the divisions of Hescombe, and to the cross roads beyond 
 Purpris, and thence by passing along the way which leads 
 from Cadaworth bridge to Plympton through the land of 
 the Schagh towards the east as far as Shitaburgh, and thence by 
 old bound-stones to Haneketorr, and thence towards the west 
 and north through the land of Farnhill to Maynstonktown 
 and Maynstoncross and Horingbrook and to Writewillak, 
 and thence by a certain footpath to Pudehel, including 
 Southpudehel, and so along the bounds towards the east to 
 Horsford, and thence along the antient metes to Write wille 
 and Horyngbrok, and so to the Plym and to Wolewillebroke 
 and to Wolewille Cross, and thence by the road which 
 leads from Sutton to Tavistock at Copriscrosse, and thence 
 
32 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 M 
 
 \ 
 
 towards the north along the ancient ditch to Bycacnm- 
 bayoneda, and so along the ancient bounds to Lobbapilla. 
 
 And the lands and villeins of Tor at Shitestorr, lying near 
 to the manor of Bykelie, with the appurtenances and with 
 their villanages and chattels and belongings, and the hundred 
 of Eoborough, and with all profits thence arising with all 
 suits of freemen and bondmen, and with everything which 
 belongs or may belong to the said hundred. 
 
 And the manor of Columpton according to its bounds, that 
 is to say from Colump by the land of St. Nicholas of Exeter 
 to Smalabrok, and by the outer bounds of the land of la 
 Brok to the road which leads to Padokbrok, and thence by 
 Lutteskeskell and Ponteford, and by the boundaries from 
 Hillesdon to Burn, and by Linor and Sweton, and Morston 
 and Burn to Culump, and so by la Nywelond to Eotherford 
 Bridge, and a certain piece of land on the eastern part of 
 that water near Kyngesmill, and thence by Stonweya, 
 Crundla, Waterleta, Halstrewa, Westerhayes, and Lattemere, 
 to Clifbrigg, with the lands of Halsholte, and the meadows 
 and woods of Swenham and their appurtenances. And the 
 land of Lygh with its appurtenances in Sampford Spiny. 
 And the advowsons of the churches of Bocland Walkampton 
 and Bykelie with the Chapel of Scitestorr. And all things which 
 belong to the aforesaid manors and lands, and to the aforesaid 
 hundred whether in suits of courts, rights, seignories, military 
 service, homage, scutage, services of freemen, bondmen, with 
 their services, chattels and suits, wards, marriage rights, 
 reliefs, aids, rents, heriots, and escheats of all kinds, with mea- 
 dows, pastures, pasturages, ways, paths, woods, arable land, 
 mills with their dams and tolls, dove cotes, waters, fisheries, 
 fish ponds, alder beds, moors, wastes, heaths, turbaries, strays, 
 waifs, together with all liberties and free customs, and all 
 other things, and appurtenances named and not named, which 
 belong to the said manor and land, and to the said hundred or 
 which from them to us, or to our heirs may accrue without any 
 reservation or demand; to have and to hold the aforesaid 
 manors, lands, hundred and advowsons of churches, and the 
 aforesaid chapel with all their liberties, possessions, and ap- 
 purtenances, by whatever name known, of our lord the king 
 and his heirs, to the aforesaid abbot and convent, and to their 
 successors of the aforesaid order, freely, quietly, entirely, ab- 
 solutely, well, and in peace, without any exaction or demand, 
 actions, or hindrance from us or of our heirs, in free and pure 
 alms for ever. 
 And we the said Isabella will for ever acquit and defend 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 33 
 
 to the said abbot and convent, and their successors, the said 
 manors and lands, advowsons of churches, and the said chapel, 
 and the aforesaid hundred with all their liberties, things, and 
 appurtenances, named and not named, against all nations, 
 Jews or Christians. In witness whereof we have affixed 
 our seal to the present charter with these witnesses. Brother 
 Kichard, prior of Christ Church, Twynham ; Brother Thomas, 
 prior of Brommor; Sir Eichard, Fitz John, Eichard of Affeton; 
 Hugo of Peverell ; Gilbert of Kuovile ; Eeginald of Ferrers 
 Knights; Ealph of Lynham ; Stephen Stoil; William of 
 Stapeldon; Simon of Travailesworth; William of Budekeside; 
 Eobert of Coleford; and others. Given at Brommor, the 
 Feast of St. Edmund, King and Martyr, 1291. 
 
 F. 
 
 AWARD OF THE PRIOR OF PLYMPTON AND JAMES CHUDLEIGH. 
 THE PRIOR OF PLYMPTON, ETC. 
 
 To all the faithful in Christ to whom the present letters 
 indented shall come. We, William the Prior of Plympton 
 and James Chudleigh, Esq., send greeting in the Lord ever- 
 lasting. Wliereas divers suits and discords have been moved 
 between William the Abbot of the House and Church of 
 the blessed Mary of Bokelond of the one part, and James 
 Derneford, Esq., of the other part, at length, by the interven- 
 tion of friends between the parties aforesaid, peace hath been 
 obtained in this manner ; viz., that the parties aforesaid have 
 submitted themselves to stand our judgment, ordinance, and 
 award in the premisses, whereupon the aforesaid abbot by 
 his council hath declared to us that whereas he and his 
 predecessors from time to time, to the contrary whereof the 
 memory of man is not, have held, and of right ought to 
 have, the hundred of Eoweborgh and a court of view of 
 frankpledge, to be holden three times in the year at Eowe- 
 borgh, and all which to view of frankpledge pertains, and also 
 chatties of felons, fugitives, and escapes, of thieves, tumbrel, 
 gallows, and pillory, with all the suit of free men and villeins', 
 and with all liberties, free customs, or whatsoever things which 
 to the hundred do pertain, or in any manner may accrue or 
 pertain, as of the right of his church aforesaid. Nevertheless 
 the aforesaid James Derneford hath caused to be set up a 
 certain pillory and tumbrel at Estonhouse, and hath caused 
 a certain court to be holden at Estonhous, within the pre- 
 cinct of the hundred aforesaid, and there hath caused to be 
 presented in his court aforesaid by his ministers the assize of 
 
 F 
 
n f 
 
 34 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 1: 
 
 bread and ale there levied, and effusion of blood and of arms 
 and injuries done against the peace, and other articles which 
 ought to be presented in the view of frankpledge at the 
 hundred aforesaid; and hath refused the bailiffs and ministers 
 of the said abbot to levy amerciaments and distress at Eston- 
 hous of himself and his tenants there, and hath caused such 
 and so many injuries to them that they are greatly impeded 
 about the business of the said abbot in exercising his office 
 there, so that the same abbot hath lost the profit of his 
 hundred aforesaid for five years past, which he ought to have 
 received within the precinct of his visne of the manor of 
 Estonhous aforesaid during the same time ; whereupon the 
 aforesaid J. Derneford being summoned before us, the afore- 
 said arbitrators says that he does not claim any right in the 
 premises, or any parcel thereof, as against him is declared, 
 nor hereafter intends to claim, but supposeth himself to be 
 thereof not guilty. Therefore we the arbitrators taking upon 
 ourselves the burthen of the arbitration, having heard the 
 proofs thereof and mature deliberation thereupon had, do 
 arbitrate, order, and adjudge on Thursday next after the 
 feast of Saint Barnabas the apostle, in the 26*^ year of the reign 
 of King Henry VI. at Boklond Monochorum, that the afore- 
 said pillory and tumbrel and every of them, together with 
 appurtenances and supports, before Thursday next coming, 
 shall be deposed, destroyed, and removed, and thereafter not 
 erected, nor the same or any other be there used by the afore- 
 said James Derneford, his heirs, or assignes, or by any other 
 by his procurement. Also we arbitrate, order, and adjudge 
 that the aforesaid James Derneford and his heirs shall 
 not hereafter hold any court with view to frankpledge at 
 Estonhouse aforesaid, nor on any manner intromit himself, 
 nor delay the said abbot and his successors concerning any 
 articles which to view of frankpledge pertain, and he and his 
 heirs shall permit the bailiffs and ministers of the said abbot 
 and his successors at Estonhous aforesaid to collect, levy, 
 and distrain the amerciaments, fines, executions, and other 
 emoluments whatsoever which in the court of the hundred 
 aforesaid so come, or in anywise hereafter may come, and 
 to make summonses and executions, and also distresses and 
 attachments there, and the distresses and attachments to 
 there made to lead, drive, and carry away, and to retain in 
 their custody without the contradiction, impediment, or distur- 
 bance of the aforesaid James Derneford and his heirs, tenants, 
 servants, ministers, or other whomsoever by his abatement or 
 procurement in any manner. Also we arbitrate, order, and 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 35 
 
 adjudge that the aforesaid James Derneford shall pay to the 
 aforesaid abbot and his successors, before the feast of St. Michael 
 the archangel next coming after the date of presents, £20 for his 
 costs and expenses which he hath sustained against the said 
 James Derneford by occasion of the disturbance of the ministers 
 of the said abbot in exercising his office in Estonshous aforesaid, 
 and by reason of the execution and levying of the pillory and 
 tumbrel aforesaid to be paid in favor of the said abbot by our 
 award. Also we arbitrate, order, and adjudge that the security 
 of this our award may for ever remain secure and be unbroken 
 and be also secured in law as by the advice and counsel of 
 Henry Fortescue and Wm. Hyndeston before the feast of St. 
 Michael the archangel next coming shall and may be desired. 
 In witness whereof we the aforesaid prior and James Chudleigh 
 to these indentures have set Qur seals, dated the day, year, and 
 place above said, and hereupon the aforesaid Henry Fortescue 
 and Wm. Hyndeston on Thursday in the feast of the behead- 
 ing of St. John the Baptist, in the 26*^ year of the reign of 
 King Henry VI., at Bokelond Monachorum, have advised and 
 given council upon the award, order, and judgment aforesaid 
 that the aforesaid abbot, or some one of his successors of the 
 house and church aforesaid do, or ought to, prosecute against the 
 aforesaid James Derneford, Esq., an action of trespass according 
 as the law on that behalf demands and requires concerning 
 the matters whereof the aforesaid award, order, and judgment 
 are by the aforesaid arbitrators made and rendered. And the 
 aforesaid James Derneford, in his proper person or by his 
 attorney, in the same action ought to plead, have, and defend 
 himself according to the advice and counsel of the aforesaid 
 abbot or his successors, at the costs and expenses of the said 
 abbot or his successors ; so that after judgment in the action 
 aforesaid given, the damages, costs, and expenses by the said 
 abbot or his successors recorded to the aforesaid James his 
 attorney, be released, and in nowise levied. 
 
ti 
 
 
 36 
 
 THE CISTEBCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 a 
 
 LIST OF THE ABBOTS OF BUCKLAND. 
 
 Name. 
 
 1. Robert. 
 
 2. William. 
 
 3. Geoffry. 
 
 4. Thomas. 
 
 6. "William. 
 
 6. Thomas Wappelegh. 
 
 7. John Bryton. 
 
 8. Walter. 
 
 9. John. 
 
 10. William RolflF. 
 
 11. John Sporo. 
 
 12. John Hylle. 
 
 13. Thomas Olyver. 
 
 14. John Brundon. 
 16. Thomas Whyte. 
 16. John Toker. 
 
 Aathoritiei. 
 
 Pleadings in Gyreband's complaint. 
 Named in grant by Margaret de Ripariis. 
 Rolls of Parliament. 
 
 Proceedings in claim upon the Priory of 
 Plympton. 
 
 Agreement with Ralph de Bellworthy. 
 
 Oliver. 
 
 Oliver. 
 
 Oliver. 
 
 Lease to William Pomeroy and others. 
 
 Proceedings against Demeford. Epis. Reg. 
 
 Oliver. 
 
 Episcopal Registers. 
 
 Episcopal Registers. 
 
 Oliver. 
 
 Leases. Agreement with Derkeham. 
 
 Episcopal Registers, &c. 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 37 
 
 PEDIGREE OF THE REDVERS FAMILY. 
 Abridged from Oliver and Pitman Jones' Pedigrees of the Courtenay Families. 
 
 Richard de Redvern 
 
 1st Earl of Devon. 
 
 Lord of Nehou. 
 
 d. 1107. 
 
 = Adeliza 
 
 Baldwin 
 
 2nd Earl. 
 
 d. 4 June, 1155. 
 
 Wi 
 
 T 
 
 = Adelieia William Robert Hadujisa 
 
 aoM 
 
 = William de Romara 
 Earl of Lincoln. 
 
 Richard 
 
 3rd Earl. 
 
 d. 1162. 
 
 Dionisia 
 
 daughter of 
 
 Beginald 
 
 Earl of 
 
 OomwalL 
 
 Henry 
 
 I 
 
 William 
 
 de Verona. 
 
 6th Earl. 
 
 d. 10 Sept, 
 
 1217. 
 
 = Mabilia 
 or Lucy. 
 
 Matilda 
 m. Ralph 
 Aveneli ? 
 
 Hadewisa 
 
 Baldwin 
 
 4th Earl. 
 
 d.8.p. 
 
 Alice Richard 
 
 da. of 5th Earl 
 Ralph d.s.p. 
 deDol. 
 
 Hmma Baldwin -■ 
 da. of d. I Sept. 
 Robert 1216 
 dePonte- 
 arches. 
 
 Margaret 
 
 d&. of 
 
 Warren 
 
 Fitzgerald 
 m. 2nd 
 Foulkes 
 
 de Brent. 
 
 Johanna 
 
 or Jane. 
 
 m. Wm. 
 
 Lord 
 
 Brewer the 
 
 yr. d.8.p. 
 
 Mary 
 m. 1st 
 Peter 
 
 Des- 
 preauz 
 2nd Sir 
 Robert 
 
 de 
 Cour- 
 tenay, 
 
 Knt 
 
 Baldwin = 
 7thEarL 
 d. 1244-5. 
 
 Amieia, eldest da. of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, by 
 his Countess Isabella, m. 1240. 
 
 Aviza 
 1st wife. 
 
 Baldwin 
 8th EarL 
 
 d. 
 28 Aui 
 1272 
 
 f- 
 
 Margaret Christian = William =Isabella de Redvers 
 2nd wife. da. of deFortze, de Fortibus, Coun- 
 d. 24 May, Allen Deforce, tess of Albemarle 
 
 1292. Earl of ordeFor- and Devon, and 
 
 Oalloway. tibus, Domina Insula, 
 
 d.s.p. Earl of Survived her chil- 
 
 1254. Albe- dren. d. 1292, when 
 
 1st wife. marie. the estates (except 
 
 d. June, the Isle of Wight, 
 1260. claimed by the 
 
 Crown) descended to 
 Sir Hugh Courtenay, 
 Knt., gt. -grandson 
 of Mary, da. of 
 Wm. de Redvers, 
 6th Earl of Devon, 
 
 and wife of Sir 
 
 Robert Courtenay. 
 
 2nd wife. 
 
 r 
 
 John 
 d. an infant 
 
 Margaret 
 Nun of 
 Lacock. 
 
 I III 
 
 Thomas William John Alice 
 
 Edmund Plantagenet = Aveline 
 Earl of Lancaster, m. 8 April, 
 2nd son Henry III. 1270. 
 
 2nd wife was Blanche d.s.p. 
 Queen of Navarre. 1273. 
 
I.— DRAKE PEDIGREE. 
 
 A ?*^^~7The earUer pedigree and the connection of Sir Franda Drake with the Drakeg of 
 Aah IB bemg worked out by Dr. Drake.-^See Arch. Journ., voL ^J. 359 
 
 John Drake of Otterton => 
 
 Edmund Drakes 
 3rd son 
 Vicar of Up- 
 church, Kent. 
 Will proved 
 16 Jan., 1566. 
 
 John 
 
 I 
 
 1st wife 
 
 m. 3 July, 1569 
 
 d. bu. 25 
 
 Jaa, 1582-3. 
 
 Mary Newman = Francis = Elizabeth 
 Drake Sydenham 
 b. 1541 ! and wife 
 knt.1581 da.&heiress 
 d. 1595 of Sir Geo. 
 8.p. Sydenham. 
 Thomas mar. set. 
 his dated 10 
 
 brother Feb., 1584. 
 inheritd. Siurd. Sir 
 Francis, & 
 afterwards 
 wife of Sir 
 Wm. Cour- 
 tenay. 
 
 John Edward, Joseph, John, Thomas = Elizabeth 
 
 da. of 
 
 Gregorie 
 
 ofPlymp- 
 
 ton St. 
 
 Mary. 
 
 Mamed 
 
 first John 
 
 Elford of 
 
 Sheeps- 
 
 tor,2ndly 
 
 Thomas 
 
 Drake 
 
 d. 5 Mar. 
 
 1631, b at 
 
 Sheepstoi 
 
 [Besides these Edmund Drake 
 had four other sons.] 
 
 Jane, da of 
 Sir Amias 
 
 Bampfylde, 
 
 Knt., of 
 Poltimore. 
 Set. dated 
 
 22 Sept. 1602. 
 
 1st wife no 
 
 surviving 
 
 issue. 
 
 Francis 
 created 
 
 Bart. 2 Aug. 
 
 1622. M.P. 
 
 for Devon. 
 
 d. 11 Mar., 
 1637. 
 
 Joan, da. of 
 
 Sir Wm. 
 
 Strode, of 
 
 Newnham. 
 
 Post-nup. set. 
 
 dated 17 Jan., 
 
 1627. 2nd wife: 
 
 survived, and 
 
 afterwards married 
 
 John Trefusis. 
 
 Elizabeth = John Bamfield, Esq. 
 
 Issue 
 
 Francis = 
 2ndBrt. 
 M.P. for 
 Devon, 
 m. 1640. 
 d. 6 Jan., 
 ' 1662. 
 s.p. 
 succeeded 
 by nephew. 
 
 Dorothy 
 
 da. of John 
 
 Pym, of 
 
 Brymore, 
 
 CO. Somer* 
 
 set 
 
 Thomas = 
 
 Susan 
 da.Wm. 
 Crymes 
 
 Set. 
 
 dated 
 21 July, 
 
 1641. 
 
 John : 
 
 of Ivy. 
 
 bridge. 
 
 I 
 William 
 of Nether- 
 ton. 
 
 Joseph = 
 
 T Sarah 
 Johanna 
 
 Dorothy, da. of = Anne,da.4co-h. = 
 
 Sir John Bamp 
 fvlde. Bart, of 
 Poltimore. Ist 
 wife. Postnup. 
 set. dated 30 
 Aug., 1673. 
 
 of Thos. Boon, 
 
 of Mt. Boon, CO. 
 
 Devon. 2nd wife. 
 
 Set. dated 
 
 25 Oct, 1680. 
 
 Francis, 
 3rd Bart. 
 M.P. for 
 
 Tavistock. 
 
 = Elizabeth, eldest da. of Sir Henry 
 Pollexfen, Knt., of Nutwell Court 
 Lord Chief Justice Com. Pleas 
 Set dated 17 Feb., 1689. 3rd wife. 
 
 Gertrude 
 
 Henry 
 
 PoUex- 
 fen, of 
 NutwcU 
 Court 
 
 Dorothy Frances 
 
 [It is doubtful whe> 
 
 ther these three 
 
 daughters were the 
 
 ehildren of the first 
 
 or second wife.] 
 
 Francis Henry 
 
 4th Bart 
 b. 
 d. 26 Jan.. 
 1799-40. 
 
 Anne, da. of 
 Samuel Heath- 
 cote, Esq., of 
 Hursley, Hants. 
 
 r 
 
 George, 2nd son = Sophia Bugden Henry ElLabeth 
 . . ^. L 3rd8on. 
 
 A son, who died unmarried, 
 and two daughters. 
 
 Thomas Martin, Gertrude 
 Esq., one of the 
 Welsh judges. 
 
 Francis Henry 
 
 5th Bart, 
 b. 26 Aug. 1722 
 d. 19 Feb. 1794 
 
 when the 
 
 estates passed 
 
 to his nephew, 
 
 the 2nd Lord 
 
 Heathfield. 
 
 Francis William = Elizabeth 
 
 of Hillingdon, da. of 
 
 CO. Middlesex. Sir Wm. 
 
 Vice-adm. of the Heathcote, 
 
 Bed. bapt 22 Bart. 
 
 Aug., 1724. m. 1763. 
 
 d. 
 
 Two daughters. 
 
 Francis Samuel 
 Rpir-adm. m. 
 1788. Created 
 bart. 12 Aug., 
 1782. d. 1789. 
 8.p. 
 
 Pooley da. 
 
 Geo. Onslow, 
 
 Esq,. 
 
 Anne Pollexfen 
 
 = Sir George Augustus Heathfield, created 
 I Baron He .ihfii Id 6 July, 1787. 
 
 I d. 1790. 
 
 Francis Augustus Eliott 
 2nd Lord Heathfield. d. 26 Jan., 
 1813, and the title became ex- 
 tinct. Succeeded to the Drake 
 estates on the death of his uncle, 
 Sir Francis Henry Drake, the 
 
 4th Bart, 19 Feb., 1794. 
 
 I 
 
 Anne Eliott = 
 
 John Trayton Fuller 
 
 of Ashdown House, 
 
 Sussex. 
 
 Augustus Eliott Fuller 
 
 b. 7 May, 1777. 
 
 m. 1801. d. 1857. 
 
 s. &h. 
 
 Issue 
 
 Clara, eld. 
 da. & co-h. 
 0. P. Mey- 
 
 rick, of 
 Bodorgan, 
 Anglesea. 
 
 Francis John Thomas Trayton = Eleanor 
 Capt. 20th 3rd son. Assumed only da. 
 Dragoons. surname and arms of Jas. 
 
 d. uumarrd. of Eliott and Drake. Halford, 
 2nd son. Created Bart. Esq., bf 
 
 22 Aug., 1821, with Lale- 
 rem. failure male ham, 
 
 issue to his brothers Middle- 
 WiUiam Stt^phen sex. d. 
 
 and Rose-Henry. 18 Sept 
 
 b. 8 Feb., 1785. 1841. 
 
 m. 5 Aug.. 1819. 
 d. 6 June, 1870. s.p. 
 
 Succeeded by his 
 
 nephew, the present 
 
 Bat t. Became entd. 
 
 under set. made by 
 
 bir Francis Henry 
 
 Drake, 5 Bart 
 
 William Stephen Ilose-Henry=Margaretta Robert Fits!herbert=Ursula,da 
 
 4th son. 
 
 Capt R.N. 
 
 d. 10 Sept., 1815. 
 
 B.p. 
 
 Capt R.N 
 b. 1789. 
 
 m. 1831. 
 d. 1860. 
 5th son. 
 
 da. uf Sir 
 Robert 
 
 Shefiield, 
 Bart 
 
 In holy orders. 
 6th son. 
 
 of Sir 
 
 Robert 
 
 Sheffield, 
 
 Bart. 
 
 I I I I I 
 
 1 Eliza=Jno Hamilton 
 
 2 Sarah Maria 
 
 3 Cordelia Eleano a 
 
 4 Louisa 
 
 5 Charlotte 
 
 Issue 
 
 r 
 
 Francis George Augustus Fuller Eliott Drake 
 b. 24 Dec., 1839. m. 1861. Succeeded his 
 uncle as second Bart, new creation, 6 June, 
 1870. Late Capt. Royal Horse Guards. Took 
 by royal license, 3 Oct, 1870, additional sur- 
 names and arms of Eliott and Drake. 
 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert 
 Doughu^, Bart, of Glenbervie. 
 
 Jane Eliza Anne Pollexfen 
 eld. da. m. 3 April, 1866. 
 
 Rev. Robert Briscoe, 
 
 D.D., Rector of 
 
 Nutfield, Surre> . 
 
 I 
 
 Eleanor Halford 
 
 m. 7 Aug., 1856. 
 
 d. 21 Oct., 1858. 
 
 s.p. 2nd. da. 
 
 Charles Eales 
 Esq., of East- 
 don, Devon. 
 
 Son bom 
 15 Oct, 1867. 
 
 Son bom 3rd Nov., 1871. 
 d. 1873. 
 
 I 
 Elizabeth Beatrice. 
 
40 
 
 THE CISTEKCIAH HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 upper 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. 
 
 I. • Plan from Aislabie's map of the estate, hanging in the 
 corridor at Buckland Abbey, referred to par. 37. 
 b Ground-plan of the remains of the Church (approximate). 
 a and b Door-ways in the Turret of the building (plate VI.), de- 
 scribed in par. 40. 
 e The Abbey Church from the Perambulation Map, slightly enlarged, 
 par. 37. See also Transactions Devonshire Association, vol. v. 
 p. 512. 
 e Capitals of columns. 
 IV. Western Arch of Tower, showing springer of the Vaulting shafts. 
 V. a Boss Head of the Countess Amice (?) par. 43. 
 b and e Corbels in Transept. 
 VI. West elevation of building referred to in par. 40. 
 VII. Seals and Arms of the Abbey, described par. 27. 
 VIII. Plaster Chimney-piece in the second floor of the Tower, with the 
 arms of Sir Francis Drake, granted him 20 June, 1581, and 
 the double motto. On the flanks, are the shields mentioned in 
 par. 50. 
 
 II. 
 
 III. 
 
 > 
 
 uJ 
 
 CD 
 OQ 
 < 
 
 U 
 CO 
 
 . f 
 
 K 
 
 I 
 o 
 
 U 
 
 to 
 a 
 
 « 
 
 < 
 
 Vi 
 
 
 P 
 
 n 
 
 y 
 
 
 CO 
 
 . 
 
 <f 
 
 o 
 
 UJ 
 
 (3 
 
 
 tc 
 
 
 O 
 
 
 ul 
 
 
 O 
 
 
BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 Plajf/>y 2 
 
 2FT 31"? 
 
 - -* 
 
 DOOR- WAY LEADING 
 TO TURRET. 
 
 DOOR-WAY IN ROOM 
 IN TURRET. 
 
 
 I 
 
 r] 
 
 I 
 
^ 
 
 llliiir 3' 
 
 o 
 
 z 
 < 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 00 
 
 y«?www*>..»io'; p WW,*-, -fs^ . 
 
 <0 
 
 QO 
 
 _V_ 
 
 X 
 U 
 
 o 
 
 0. 
 
 (A 
 
 -1 
 
 OL 
 
 < 
 
 o 
 

\m 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 JYato 
 
BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 Tl/xjhf!/ 6 
 
hi 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 Tlaix/ 7. 
 
11 
 
 
 !i 
 
 , 1- 
 
 Hi 
 
 ¥ 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 FlcUe^ 8. 
 
THK 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON 
 
 n. 
 
 BUCKLAND— Concluded. 
 
 :ti 
 
i\ 
 
 THE 
 
 CISTEECIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 { 
 
 BucKLAND. — Concluded. 
 
 Ill 
 
 |-!'f 
 
 51 . In my search for documents connected with Buckfast 
 , Abbey, I have met with a few relating to Buckland, which 
 
 may as well be given, with a few additional quotations and 
 notes, as a supplement to my former paper. 
 
 52. First as to the Abbey of Quarr, Quarrera, or Quar- 
 reria, in the Isle of Wight, from which Buckland was colon- 
 ised, see par. 17. The pedigree of Buckland was as under : — 
 
 Savigny, 
 
 Quarr, 
 
 Buckland. 
 Quarr in the oldest deeds is called Quarraria, probably from the 
 neighbouring stone-quarries. It was one of the first monas- 
 teries of the Cistercian order founded in England, and was, 
 as I have before shown, begun by Baldwin, Earl of Devon, 
 who, in the 32nd year of the reign of Henry I. gave the 
 Manor of Arreton to GeofFry, Abbot of Savigny, for its 
 building. The earliest charter now remaining is that of 
 Engler de Bohun, who bestowed Haseley upon the monks, 
 probably soon after Baldwin's donation. This deed was 
 executed in Normandy and witnessed by Serlo, Abbot Geof- 
 fry's successor, and otiier Norman Bishops and Abbots. This, 
 with other benefactions to the abbey, was confirmed by Richard 
 son of Baldwin, whose deed without date must have been 
 executed in the reign of Henry II. Most of the lands of the 
 abbey appear to have been given in the reign of Stephen. 
 There is also a grant from Henry, Duke of Normandy, of a 
 place called Locwelle, in Normandy, for the monks of Quarr 
 to build an abbey there, and a grant of confirmation from the 
 
 G 
 
 ; f 
 
y 
 
 i 
 f 
 
 H 
 
 ?; 
 
 h 
 
 42 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 li| 
 
 same Henry as King of England. This, Sir Richard Worsley 
 conjectures to have been an act of gratitude in Henry to 
 Earl Baldwin for espousing the cause of Matilda. Among 
 the persons of consequence known to have been buried here 
 are Earl Baldwin the founder, Adeliza his countess, and their 
 son Henry. William de Vernun bequeathed £300 for the 
 erection of a tomb here for himself and his father ; the chapel 
 also contained a monument to the Lady Cicely, second 
 daughter of King Edward IV. (See Dugdale^a Monasticon, 
 IJist. Isle of Wiffht, p. 177, note.) 
 
 53. In the foundation deed of Amicia Countess of Devon 
 mention is made of her daughter Margaret, described as 
 a nun of Lacock. Lacock Abbey was in \Viltshire, founded 
 in 1232 by Ella daughter of William Earl of Salisbury and 
 widow of William Longspee, a natural son of Henry ll. by 
 fair Rosamond, and, in right of his wife. Earl of Salisbury. To 
 this abbey Amicia gave the manor of Shorewell in the Isle of 
 Wight, and also her heart. In all probability the body of 
 Amicia was buried at Buckland, and her heart certainly was 
 at Lacock. Her obit was kept at the latter place, on the Feast 
 of St. Andrew, down to the Dissolution, and in the Valor is 
 an entry : — " To money distributed to the poor on the feast 
 of St. Andrew the Apostle for the soul of Amicia Countess of 
 Devon, four bushels of corn worth 2s. 8d., and on the eve and 
 day of that feast to three poor persons in bread drink and 
 meat to each of them daily 2d. worth. 3s. 8d." 
 • 54. Of the documents, the first is from the Roll, Placita de 
 Quo W^aranto, Edw. I., whereby it appears that Amicia was 
 called upon to show by what auuiority she held the hundreds 
 of Wonford, Tiverton, Harrige, Roborough, and Axminster, 
 and view of frankpledge, &c. in Tiverton, Collumpton, and 
 Exminster, without licence, &c. 
 
 Amica Comitissa Devon' sum' fuit ad respond' dno Regi de 
 ptito quo war'to tenet hundra de Wonford Tyverton Har- 
 rigg' Rubergg & Axemenistre que ad Coronam dni Regis 
 ptinent, Et quo waranto dam' lire visum francipleg' furcas 
 emendas assis' panis & c'vis fracte in Tyverton, Colump- 
 ton' & ExEMiNiSTRE sine licentia, &c. 
 
 Et Amicia p' attor' suu venit, Et dicit qd non debet dfio 
 Regi ad hoc bre responde quia dicit qd non tenet integre 
 pdca hundra eo qd Abbas de Bocland tenet inde hundra 
 de Harrigg & Rubergg' et petit judm de bri. 
 
 Et Will's de Gyselh»m qui sequif pdfio Rege dicit qd 
 licet Jdcus Abbas tencat pdca hundra pdcta Amicia tenetur 
 
 *. — . y» 
 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 43 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 responde diio Regi de tenancia suo quo ad alia hundra et 
 nisi inde respondeat petit judiciu de ip'a tanq^m de indefensa. 
 Dies dat' est ei coram diio R'a die Pasch in unu mensem 
 ubicumq' &c. de audo judo suo &c. — Rot. 37. (Placita de 
 Quo Waranto Edw. L Ed: Rec. Com. fol 1818, p. 168.) 
 
 55. The next is from the Assize Roll, 1281 : Robert of At Exeter, 
 Buckland, who was the first abbot, is charged with unjustly 1^''*^^® ®^ ^*- 
 dispossessing the Prior of Plympton of certain land : — " Eihvard i' 
 
 § Assisa venit recogn si Robs Abbas eccie sci Benedci de 
 Boclaund fra? Rog'us Iverlesboclond Wills le Fores? Thorn 
 de Wythye Gilbs le Brewer Witts de Wyrk^m Wal?us de 
 Eckeworth Robtus Gosce Rics de Crewet Witts de Elleswitt 
 Rog'us de Fylech^m Rogus Semer Walrus le Provost Witts 
 Russet Robs de Alwistoii Rog'us Upperig' Witts le Knyht Rics 
 de Legh Ro^us Orig' Gilbs de la Bure Thom de Colewitt 
 Thorn le Fotur Gilbs de Crewile Witts Altwy Wal?us 
 Uppehutt Ricus Bulymer Walterus Webbe Witts le Pyl 
 Galfrs Aylmer Edwardiis de Uptoii Petr de Wobhutt Robs 
 de la Yo Gilbs le Rede Robs de la Hole Ricus Berey Rog'us 
 Lond Godief 'rs de Bikecumb et Rog'us de Hamme injuste &c. 
 disseis Priore de Plumptoii de libo ten suo in Plympton post 
 pm %, Et unde quer' qd diss eum de quinq'ginta acr ?re 
 cum ptin. Et Prior ven et re' se de bri suo Ido pdcus Abbas et 
 alii inde sine die Et Prior et pi sui de p§ in mia scitt Galfrs 
 le Frere et G'vaS de Crymel Postea covenit int eos qd pdcs 
 Abbas cogn pdcas quinqginta acr tre cu ptiii in Hetfeld 
 juxa Pudele ee jus pdci Prioris et eccie sue de Plympton et 
 illas ei redd tenend pdco !Priori et succ suis imppet Et p hac 
 *?c. pdcs Prior cocessit qd tenetes ipius Abbis in Pudet heant 
 communa in eisdem teri tempo apto ad omnimoda a9ia etc. 
 (Assize RoU, M. 1, 34.— 1 Memb' 29d.) 
 
 56. The next is from the De Banco Roll, William charging 
 Thomas the Abbot, and Brother John Bryton, monk of the 
 abbey, and John Spenser, with breaking into the house of 
 the said William at Collumpton and carrying off goods and 
 chattels to the value of £10. The defendants did not appear, 
 and we do not know tlie result 
 
 Will's Couta p at? suii op' se iiij^ die vsus Thoma Abbem 
 de Boklond et frem Joliem Brytoii comonacu eiusde Abbis et 
 Johem Spenser de ptito quare vi et armis domu ipius Witti 
 apud Colomptoii fregunt et bona et ca? sua ad Valencia dece 
 
 g2 
 
 A.D. 1281. 
 
J 
 
 1) , 
 
 a 
 
 Fnr la maison 
 de Bocklond. 
 (fo.eib.) 
 
 AA 
 
 MM, 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 16 
 
 2 8 
 
 16 
 
 2 8 
 
 6 
 
 10 8 
 
 9 
 
 15 4 
 
 
 13 4 
 
 libra^ ibidm invent cepunt et asptavunt et alia enormia ei 
 intulerunt ad g*ve dampnii ipius Wilti et cont"^ pace Reg etc. 
 Et ipe non ven Et tiuer inde die vsq) ad hunc die scitt a die 
 Pasche in tres septiasp esson suu postqam attach etc. I'o prec 
 est vie qd distr eos p omes ?r etc. Et qd de exi! etc. Et qd 
 habet corpa eox hie a die sci Michis in xv dies etc. (De 
 Banco RoU. Eist, 38 Edward III.) 
 
 57. In the Taxation of Pope Nicholas, 1291, we find some 
 of the Abbey property mentioned : — 
 
 Abbas de Bokland) Bokland q'd tax' . 
 h't Man'ria de ) Bikeley q'd tax' . 
 
 Walhampton & in Derte- 
 
 more, q'd tax' . 
 Colompton q'd tax' 
 Item apud Bikecumbe q'd tax' 
 S'm"- . . . . 39 13 .5 
 Dec"" . . . . 3 19 4J 
 
 (Pp. 146-153.) 
 
 There are also two or three other scattered references. 
 
 58. The next, in Norman-French, from the White Book 
 of Tenures in Cornwall, is a direction, that in consequence 
 of the poverty of the Abbey it should be relieved from the 
 payment of charges connected with the Forest of Dart- 
 moor : — 
 
 Comewaille. ffev*er Mar). Ian Dengt xxx E. etc. A nre 
 ch vadlet Robt de Eleford iire sen de Corn et DeveneS saluj. 
 Porceq3 no^ avons entenduz q la poure maison de iire dame 
 de Bokland est durement mult aninentie p la charge et 3venue 
 des fores?s de iire foreste de Dertemore Sur quei no^ 
 desirrant3 la relevacion de la dite maison Vous maundons 
 
 3~ vous meismes 3veie5 q ele ne soit chargee ou grevee p' les 
 it3 forests ou auts autrement q ele ne doit estre de reson, 
 et ne soeffrez q labbe de la dite maison ou ses gent) et tenant) 
 soient empesche) ou endamage) p les dit) forests autrement 
 q nad estee vsee einz ces heures ou q ils deyvent estre de 
 bon foi. Don etc. a loads le xiij iour de fFe9er Ian etc. p I 
 levesq) de Wync. 
 
 Wliite Book of Tenures in Cornwall — 25-39 Edw. III. 
 
 59. The last document is a complete copy of the Ministers' 
 accounts, 31-32 Henry VIIL, so far as they relate to Buck- 
 land, carefully transcribed from the original. It gives foil 
 details as to the property of the abbey at the time, the 
 rental, and the names of the various tenants. 
 
 ; 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 m 
 
 BucKLAND Abbey, co. Devon. 
 
 Comp'a OTm et singulox Balliuoi Spo§ Coft firmar et at^^P'^o^as**"^' 
 Ministro^ Computabit Oim et Singlo^ Diiio^ MaSio^ Terr et '^«B««'^«^*"''«- 
 ten? Rector pencofi et porcofi quaicumq^ tam Spuat qam 
 Tempat Diii Regf Deo nup Moii ptinen sive spectan viz. a 
 ffesto sci Michis Archi Anno Regni Henr viij" Dei gra Angi 
 et ffraunc Rf fidei Defeng Diii hibn ac in terr supmi Capitf 
 Ecctie Angt xxxj°*° vsq) idm fsm sci Michis Archi Anno 
 eiusdm Dni Rf extunc pxiih sequeii scit p vnii annu Integr 
 put inferius pt. 
 
 CoMP'us Georgii Pollerde firmar. ibm p tempus Scit' d'ci nup' Mon' cu terr 
 
 ~j-j^ ^•' -P r D'nical' eid'm p'tinen'. 
 
 Null: put ill pede vltimi Compi Anni px pcedeii plenius Arrerag. 
 conf. 
 
 Sm"-— nutt. 
 
 Sed r de — xxiij li. iij s. v d. de firm Scit ibm cu Orf pomar ffi>*™'- 
 Gardiii terr prat pasc & pastur voc Calses pke Barne pke 
 Dedeh"'m Quarry pke cu duob) pvis pra? eidm Annex le 
 Conyger Wyndemyll pke long pke cii 1 pvo pra? adiac Long- 
 land Vyntens Oxenh"^m Southefelde Penmlshe pke Ookewell 
 Higher Byckh*'m Lower Byckeh^'m Haylebdle Longpke 
 Ruggemyit pke Cansey mede & Shepewaysshe cu § ptiii eidm 
 scit ptifi sive spectan sic dim pfato Compu*' p tmio xxj Annox 
 p Inden Diii Rf sub Sigitt Cur Augmeri Reven coron § ut 
 asSif sot ad festa Anniic bte Marie virginis & §ci Michis 
 Archi equatr viz. p ij hmoi festis infra temp^ hui^ Compi 
 accideri ut supra. 
 
 Sm**" — ^xxiij li. iij s. v d. 
 
 Sm"" Toflis firm pdce — xxiij li. iij s. v d. q libavit Thome 
 Arundell Mili? Rec Dni Rf ibm de exi? firme pdce huius 
 Anni sine billa sed tm ex Recognicicon sua sup hunc compm. 
 
 CoMP'us Robti Toker Bait ibm p tempus pdcm. Man'in de 
 
 Nuit put in pede vltimi Compi Anni px pceden plenius Colompton co 
 
 _,r cert' terr' m 
 
 Sm — nuft. Arrerag.' 
 
 I 
 
 Sed r de — ciiij 3. vj d. de toto Redd liboi Tenen ibm p Redd' lib'o' 
 Annu sot ad ftn §ci Michis Arch Im put p Compm de Anno Tenen'. 
 px pceden sup hunc Compm exeun?. 
 
 Sm^~ciiij s. vj d. 
 
 V 
 
 ..?> 
 
46 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Redd' Cast' 
 Tenen'. 
 
 Et de — Ivj li. vij s. xj cl. de toto Redd Custum Tenen ibm p 
 Annu cu xvj s. vj d. re in? Tenen ifem p quodm redd voc le) 
 guldage rent p Annu sot ad iiij**' Anni ?mios principat equis 
 porcioii put in Compo de Anno pX pcedeii ad larg annota? 
 
 pleni^ conf^. 
 
 Sm"' — Ivj li. xij 3. xj d. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 51 
 
 Terr' in Exoi!. Et de — xxvj s. viij d. de Redd 1 Ten infra Civitat Exon in 
 tenur Joh'^nne Chubbe vid p Annu sot ad ?mio8 ^dcos. 
 
 Sm"" — xxvj 8. viij d. 
 
 p'quis'Cur'. Etde— X8. ixd de pquis cur ifem hoc Anno ten? put p 
 Rotlas ea^dm sup hunc Compm ostens et examia? ultra 
 xlj s. v d. de divs Arriciam illevabit et pdonat rone Ac? pliam 
 de geSali pdonac Dili Rf inde edi? et pvi§. 
 
 Sm"" — X 8. ix d. 
 Sm"" To?lis Re?. — Ixiij 1. xiiij s. xd. 
 
 D quib). 
 
 ffeod' et vad'. I^m compu? in feod sive vad sui ipius compu* Baft ifem ad 
 Ixvj s. viij d. p Annu sic sibi conccsS ac Wiltmo & Hugoii 
 fit g p tmlo vite eo^ p tras patefi Da? sub sigillo nup conven- 
 tuat ibm xx™° die fFebruarij Anno rr Henrici viij"^ xxv*° sot 
 ad fes? Annuo bte Marie virginis & Sci Michis Archi equis 
 porciofi put in eisdm tris paten pleni^ cont"^ viz. in Altone 
 flmoi virtute trar^ pdic? p hoc anno — Ixvj s. viij d. Et in 
 feod Johis^Edmond Decennar ManSij pdci ad xxs. p annii 
 sic sibi Silit ConcesS p tmio vite § p tras paten nup Abbis 1 
 convent ibm da? xx™° die Aprit Anno xxix^o Rf pdci sot ad 
 fm §ci Michis Archi ?m viz in Aitone hmoi virtute easdra 
 trar^ pateil p hoc anno — xx s. Et in feod Anthonij Harvye 
 subseii Manlij pdci Ac Mafiij de Bauntoii ad xxvj s. viij d. p 
 Annu sic sibi concesS p tmio vite 5 p tras patefi dci nup prior 
 & conven? da? vj*« die Octohr anno xxx™" Dni Rf pdci sot ad 
 fes? pdcm viz. in Altone hmoi Virtute trax pdca^ p hoc anno 
 xxvjs. viijd. Et in Stipend ctici Auditor scriben hunc 
 compm put Cticis Audi? Dn Rf Ducat § lancastr Allocar 
 Cons viz. in Aitone hmoi put Alloc est in Annis pceden — ij s. 
 
 Sm"" — cxv 8. iiij d. 
 
 Expen' Sen'. 
 
 hi;'? 
 
 Et in Experi Sent Ctici Cur & At Officiar ibm existefi p 
 cur supMic? hoc anno tenend put p Rotut eaidm sup hunc 
 compm osteng & examia? — xx s. ij d. 
 
 Sm*"— XX 8. ij d. 
 
 h 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBE¥. 
 
 47 
 
 Et in Denar p dcm comp*n? liba? Thome \ • Lib'ac' denar' 
 
 Arundell Mili? Recep? Diii Rf ibm de exi? ( i • i j 
 
 offic § huius Anni sine biit sed ?m ex j ^ ' ' 
 
 Recognic § sup hunc compm . . . ) r' Rec'. 
 
 Sm"~ Alloc et libac pdic? — Ixiij. li xiiij s. x d. 
 Que quidm Sm"" correspondet sume To?lis Re* Bdce. 
 
 Et sic Eq^. 
 
 Comp'tts Wftl?i Lano-Pfiforde Baft ^"cklond' Man'iu cu' hundred' de Row burgh 
 KjOMP us W aitl Ijangesiorae nm jj^^j^ Walkch-mpton Shittistor& Rynmore cu 
 
 ibm p tempus pdcm. ^ cert' terr' in Saulteaysshe. 
 
 Nult. put in pede vltimi compi Anni px pcedeii pleni^ Arrerag'. 
 cont"^. 
 
 Sm"' — nuit. 
 
 Sed r de — lix 1. xij s. xj d. ob de toto Redd t^m liboi q^m Redd' Assis'^ 
 custum Tenen ibm p Annu sot ad iiij **^ Anni tnios principat ^° Bucklond'. 
 equis pore put in compo de Anno px pceden ad larg Annota? 
 pleni^ cont'. 
 
 Sm"" — lix 1. xij 8. xj d. ob. 
 
 Et de — viij 1. de Redd AssiS in Hayle cii xx" de Redd Rowimrgh sc 
 cuiusdm Coie de Rowburgh pdca sot ad tmios pdict put p ^*y^®- 
 dcm compm de Anno px pcedeii. 
 
 Sm"-— viij 1. 
 
 Et de xxj 1. xiiij s. viij d. ob de Redd Assig Custum Teneri Walkeh'm- 
 cii iiijs. jd. ob. de Redd Guldag ibm p Annu put p3 p compm *^^'- 
 pdcm. 
 
 Sm"^ — xxj 1. xiij s. viij d. ob. 
 
 Et de Ixij 8. xj d. de toto Redd Assis Tenen ibm p Annu Shittistor & 
 sot ut sup put p3 p comp pdcm. ^ Rynmore. 
 
 Sm"^ — Ixij s. xj d. 
 
 Et de viij s. de Redd j Ten ibm p Annu sot ut sup p3 p Salteaysshe. 
 compm pdcm. 
 
 Bm — V11J8. 
 
 Etde — xxiiijs. ixd. de pquig cur ibm hoc Anno ten? cu P'quis* cur', 
 xxj 8. de quod"m redd voc fieasure wheighte & watche sot p 
 xiiij" decennar ibm ex Antiq cong put p3 Rotut ea^d sup 
 hunc Compm osteng & examia? ultra xlviij s. iiij d. de divg 
 AnJciam illevabit & pdona? rone Ac? pliam de gefiali pdonac 
 Dni Rf inde edi? & pvig. 
 
 Sm"" — xxiiij s. ix d. 
 Sm'" To?lis Re?— iiij « xiiij 1. ij s. iiij d. 
 
 D quib3. 
 
 i .. 
 
 * II 
 

 •I 
 
 i'li 
 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 ffeod' & vad' 
 cu Expeii' 
 
 Idm Comput in feod sive Begard sui ipius Compu^« Bait ibm 
 ad xl 8. p Aiinu sic sibi concesS p ?mio vite § p tras paten dal 
 sub Sigitt pup Conventuat ibm xxyj*** die Aprit Anno rrf 
 Henric viij xxx"** sot ad fm sci Mictlis Arctli tm put in eisdm 
 tris paten ad larg rro* pleni^ Apparet viz. in Attone tlmoi 
 Virtute tra^ pdict p hoc Anno — xl s. 
 
 Et in Stipend Ctici Auditor scriben hunc compm put Alloc 
 est in Ann pceden— ij s. 
 
 Et in Expen Sen* Ctic Cur & at Officiar ibm existen p cur 
 supMic? hoc anno tenend put p3 Rotut ea^dm sup hunc compm 
 ostenS & examial — iiij s. iij d. 
 
 Sm"" — xlvj 8. iij d. 
 
 Decas' Redd'. Et in defec? Redd j Teii in Salteaysshe sup oSat in titlo 
 p se ad viijs. p. Annu & duo^ Ten nup m te* Johis v" 
 Holdm* & Johis Broke iiij s. xj d. supius o8a? in titlo redd 
 
 3ic dimisa* p' Assis MaSij pdci infra Sumam Iviij 1. xiiij s. x d. ob ad 
 
 discrec' Audi- j^ g. xj d. p annu. Et qd did Ten totlr in decaS sunt & exis? 
 
 tor&Recept'. ^ '' . ^ ,,.9 , „ x ,- . s i. -s "-• ~ i* • 
 
 vac ac m nuili te° p totu temp*^ hui compi ex sacro aci 
 
 compute vi). in defect hmoi Redd p temp^ pdcm xvij s. xj d. 
 
 Sm"' — xvij s. xj d. 
 
 lib'ac' Denar' Et in denar p Compntf libat Thome \ 
 
 Arundell Milit Rec Dni Rf ibm de j .... 
 r' Rec'. ©xit officij S huius Anni sine biit sed j •' 
 
 tm ex Recognic s sup hunc Compm ) 
 
 Sm"" Alloc et libac ^dict — iiij" xij li. ix s. vj d. 
 
 xl. vs. iiij d. [?] 
 
 Et debt xxxij s. x d. q Alio"" ei ut de to? Den p ipm soluf 
 p dv}§ Repac fac? & impoi? sup Div's Ten & Cotag infra 
 MaSiu pdcm hoc Anno maxie RuinoS ut in empcion Tegut 
 find Clav Calc & areri ac at ad hec neccssar put p bitt de 
 pticlis inde sup hunc compm osteng & examla?. 
 
 Et E(]^ 
 
 Byckeleigh& Shagh p'cell'ManMj ^ CoMP'us Jollis Stephyii Batti bm p tempus 
 
 de Buckland' p'dict' , pdcm. 
 
 Arrerag. Nutt put in pede Vltimi Compi Anni px pceden pleni^ 
 
 contf^. 
 
 Sm*^ — nutt. 
 
 u: 
 
 
 
 Redd' Assis'. 
 
 Sed r de xxiiij 1. iiij s. vij d. de toto Redd t*m libo^ q*m 
 CustumTenenc ibm p Annii sot ad iiij"*" Anni ?mlos principat 
 equis pore put in Compo de Amio px pcedeii ad larg Annota? 
 plenius cont'. 
 
 Sm — xxnij h. iiij s. vij d. 
 
 r«.. 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 49 
 
 Et de iiij l vi s. viij d. de firm j Molend ibm p Annu sic ffirm' Mojend 
 dim Thome Boreman i Inden ut Ass^if sot ad festa pdca ut ^^ Byckeleigh 
 m in Compo de Anno px pceden. 
 
 Sm — iiij 1. VJ s. vnj d. 
 
 Et de xxvij s. vij d. de pquis xiij''^ cur ibm hoc anno tent P'qnis' Cur', 
 cu ix« de hie!t vij s. vd. de Redd cen§ 1 xjs.ijd.de At 
 pquig put p3 Rotut eaxdm sup hunc compm ostenS t examia? 
 ult"' xxixs. vd. de div^g AiSciafh illevabit *? pdonat rone Ac! 
 pliam de geSali pdonac Dni RegC inde edil % pvig. 
 
 Sm"' — xxvij s. vij d. 
 
 Sm"" Totlis Re* — xxix li. xviij s. x d. 
 
 I> quib}. 
 
 Idm Compu! in feod sive Regard sui iplus compu* Batt ^^od' k Vad'. 
 01m & singles Dniox Maflio^ Terr & Ten cu ofiiib^ eo^ Mem- 
 bris in Byckleigh Abbottesrowe & Shagh ac vig fr«unc pleg 
 Mafiij de Buckelond voc Holme BalifF ad xxvj s. viijd. p 
 Annu sic sibi concesg p tmlo vite g p tras paten da? sub 
 Sigillo nup conventuat ibm ix^o die Aprit Anno rrf Hennci 
 viij vi xxx™° sot ad f 'm gci Michis Archi tantu put in eisdem 
 tris paten ad larg rro* pleni^ liquet viz. in Attone hmoi vir- 
 tute trax pdic? p tempus huius compi— xxvj s. viij d. Et in 
 feod sive Regard cuiusd^m Simon Lawry Decennar 01m & 
 singlox Dnioi sive MaSio^ Bdict ad vj s. viij d. p Annu viz. 
 in Attone hmoi caug eScic officg huius Anni put Alloc est m 
 Ann pcederi— vj s. viij d. Et in Stipend Ctici Auditor scriben 
 hunc compm put Alloc est in Ann pceden — ij s. 
 
 Sm — XXXV s. iiij a. 
 
 Et in Denar p dcm compu*^ solu? p expen sen* Ctici Cur & Expen' Sen''. 
 At Offiiciar ibm existen ad Cur supMic! hoc Anno tenend 
 put p3 Rotut eaidm sup hunc compm osteng & examia! — 
 
 xlj s. j d. 
 
 Sm"" — xlj s. j d. 
 
 Et in Denar p dcm compu* libat Thome 
 Arundell Mili'f Rec Dni Rf ibm de exi? 
 ofiic sui huius Anni sine bitt sed tm ex 
 
 ■i ;• 
 
 ',;!"t 
 
 lib'ac' Denar'. 
 
 xxiiij 1. xix s. iiij d. 
 
 Recognic g sup hunc compm ^ 
 
 Sm"" Allocae et libac pdic?— xxviij 1. xv s. ix d. 
 
 Et Debt— xxiij s. j d. q Alio' ei ut de to? deii p nov fcur» 
 j pinfald Dni Regf ibm p Salv Custod Catalt p dco Diio 
 Rege district in eodm pinfald ponend hoc Anno sine bitt sed 
 ?m ex sacro dci compu*® ^t Eq,. 
 
 r*Rec'. 
 
■*«■ 
 
 
 'TtHp^ 
 
 50 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKLAND ABBEY. 
 
 61 
 
 
 % 
 
 Buckelonde 
 
 Rector'. 
 
 Arrerag'. 
 
 ffinn' Rector'. 
 
 CoMP'us Robti looker firmar ifem p tempus pdcm. 
 Idm o' de — ^xviij li. de arr vltimi compi Anni px pceden 
 put ibm pleni^ cont'. 
 
 Sed r de— xviij 1. de firm oim Decim Garb Ree? Jdic? 
 cu Omib3 At Comod eidm ptin sic dim pfa? Compu* Wittrao 
 & Hugori fii S de quinquen in quinquennm durari tmio Ix Ann 
 p Indefi Dat quinto Die Octobr Anno rrf Henrici viij^ xxyij"*^ 
 sot ad fm §ci Andree fm put in eadm Inden ad larg irro* 
 
 plenius cont"^. 
 
 Sm*" — ^xviijl. 
 
 r' Rec*. Sm"" ToHis ffirme pdic? cfi Arr— xxxvj li. De qib} libavit 
 Thome Arundell Mili! Rec Dni Rf ibm de exi? firm § pdic! 
 hoc Anno sine biit sed !m ex Recognic § sup hunc Commn— 
 xviij 1. Et debt^xviij U Totu. 
 
 Sup'. Ipm Compu** de Axr firin S buius Anni eo qd tiet Die 
 
 Soluc inde uxsq^ fm Sci Andree px futur post ClauS hui^ 
 Compi put p Lideii dci firmar .... xviij 1. 
 
 Rect de Walkh.mton & ^ CoMP'us dci Robti Tooker firmar ibm p tempus 
 
 Shittistor'. pdcm. , A ~ TTU- . n - A • - 
 
 Arrerag,. Wm o' de — vij 1. X8, de Arr Vltimi Compi Anni px 
 
 pceden pleni^ cent'. 
 
 Sm""— P3. 
 
 Sed y de — vij 1. X 8. de firm decim Garb eiusdm Rector ac 
 de iij'"" Teri in Byckleigh cu omib} at Comodi? eidm Rector 
 ptin Sic diin pfa? Compi Wiftmo & Hugoii fit § p ?mio Ix 
 Annos p Indefi supius in Compo px pcedeii specific sot ad fm. 
 §ci Andree pdict put p Indeii pdict 
 
 Sm"^ — vijl. X8. 
 
 Sm"' Toflis fiirme pdic!— xvli. q libavit Thome Arundell 
 Mili! Rec Diii Rf ibm de exi? firm pdict hoc Anno sine bitt 
 sed !m ex Recognic 9 sup hunc Compm — vij li. x s. 
 
 Et debt — vij 1. x 8. 
 
 Sup Ipm Compu*« de Arr firm g hui^ Anni. Eo qd bet 
 Die ut sup — vij 1 x s. 
 
 CoMP'us Bup^dci Robti Tooker firmar ibm p tempus pdcm. 
 Nutt put in pede Vltimi Compi Anni px pceden plenius 
 
 cent'. 
 
 Sm"' — nuft. 
 
 ffirm' Reef. 
 
 Reef de 
 
 Bampton'. 
 
 Arrerag'. 
 
 
 Sed r de—xlli. de firm Rector ibm cu Mane dom Clausur ffi«n'. 
 terr Ten necnon fruc! decim oblacion & At pfic quibuscuq^ 
 eidm Reel ptin sic diih pfa! Compu* de quinquen in quinqueii 
 duran ?mIo Ix* Annex p Inden da? xxiiij*° die Julij Anno rre 
 Henrici viij'» xxvj*« sot ad fies! Pasche & Nat Diii p equat 
 porciori cu xxl. p penc Vicar ibm xls. sot Epo Exoii & 
 Decan & Capitlo ibmp pencion § Ac xvs. ixd. sot Arcbno 
 Exoii p Sinod & pcur Omib} At oSib} pochiat & Capelt §ci 
 Luce put in eadem Indefi ad larg irro* plenius cont«". 
 
 Sm"--xlli. 
 Sm*^ ToHis ffirme pdic?—xlli. 
 
 D quib). 
 
 Idm Compu! in Denar solu! Vicar ibm p pencioii S ad Penc' & Potc' 
 XX 1. p Annu sic sibi & Succ suis concesS p quandm Compos l\^l^ ^ 
 inde m? die? Vicar ac nup Abbem & Conven? ibm confec? viz. 
 in Altone hmoi p tempus huius compi— xx 1. Et in Consilib) ^ideat'concess 
 penciofi Ann" sot Epo "« & Decano «» & Capiflo Exofi 
 exeunt ex* Rector pdict ad xl s. p Annu viz. in Altohe hmoi p 
 tempus huius Compi put ab Antiq Allocar Con§ in Anfi 
 pcedeii— xl s. Et in Denar solut Archno Exoii p Sinod & 
 pcurac p Annu put oihino Allocar Cong — xv s. ix d. 
 
 Sm"" — xxij 1. XV 8 ix d. 
 
 Et in Denar p pdcm compu*'' libat ] lib'ac' denar'. 
 
 Thome Arundell Mi* R^c Diii Rf ibm de ^^j. j jjj. ^ •- ^^ ^ ^^, 
 exi? firm pdce sine bitt sed ha. ex Recognic J J •' 
 
 g sup hunc compm . . . • • ' r^ «. 
 
 Sm"- Allocac ot libac pdict— xll. Que quidm Sm corre- 
 spond suihe To?lis firm pdic?. 
 
 60. In 1553 we find the following monks still alive and 
 enjoying their pensions : — 
 
 John Tooker, Abbot 
 John West 
 Thomas Hooper 
 William Gye 
 William Alford . 
 Benedict Lonege 
 William Milford 
 William Ebsworth 
 John Jordayne . 
 Thomas Maynard, Robert Troope, Hugo Harvey, and 
 Simon Rugeway having died in the meantime. 
 
 61. The enlargement from the old Dartmoor Perambulation 
 
 H 2 
 
 
 60 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 4 13 4 
 
 4 
 
 3 6 8 
 
 3 6 8 
 
 .:¥ie '■■ 
 
 rl 
 
! t 
 
 « 
 
 f 
 
 i i 
 
 i! 
 
 'J ' 
 
 f r 
 
 'i 
 
 52 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Map accompanying my first paper is incorrectly engraved. 
 On reference, I find my drawing is right, but the litho- 
 grapher has taken liberties, and on the right-hand side of the 
 tower and transept has inserted an upper row of windows, 
 giving the appearance of a clerestory, which is altogether 
 wrong. The engraver has also made the buildings above, 
 more distinct than they are in the original drawing. 
 
 61. In connection with Sir Francis Drake, I may mention 
 that after our last meeting Captain Swann, of Honiton, was 
 good enough to write me, asking if I had met with any 
 boxes on which were carved or engraved the arms of Sir 
 Francis Drake, and describing one in his possession. 
 Curiously enough, his letter reminded me of a box which I 
 had seen, which, as far as 1 could recollect, corresponded 
 with the description given by Captain Swann. Of course, 
 when wanted, the box could not be found, and it was sup- 
 psed to have been altogether lost Fortunately, within the 
 fast few weeks it lias been recovered. It bears the inscription, 
 John Brisset fecit, 1712. The arms of Drake appear in a 
 shield, Afess wavy between two polar stars; above is a helmet 
 and the crest, a ship under ruff^ drawn round a terrestrial globe 
 with a cable rope by a hand out of the clouds. The letters 
 A. D. stand for the crest motto. The motto, sic parms 
 magna, is below the shield. At the top are the words " Sir 
 Francis Drake," and below the ship the words, " The Adven- 
 ture — Europe, America [? Hispania], Asia, Africa." The 
 mantling is very good and the work delicate. 
 
 There is a box similar to this in the British Museum, and I 
 have heard of others, and it would seem that there are many 
 in existence of various sizes. 
 
 I 
 
 THE 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 III. 
 
 BUCKFAST. 
 
 
1. - 'u 
 
 I 
 
 [ 
 
 THE 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OE DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST. 
 
 62. The Abbey of Bulfestra, the name by which we find 
 it called when we first learn of its existence, occupies a site- 
 within the hundred of Stanborough, the Deanery of Totnes, 
 and the parish of Buckfastleigh— which is not so typical of a. 
 Cistercian selection, nor so secluded, as are many of the house* 
 of the White Monks. It is situated, it is true, in the deep 
 valley, close by the river, selected originally more for use 
 than pleasure, with the hills surrounding the retreat, and 
 protecting the pasture land ; but still, beautiful as the position 
 is, and charming as is the scenery (and those who know 
 Turner's exquisite engraving will not say that the painter has 
 exaggerated its loveHness), there is not that sense of repose, 
 that feeling which comes over the visitor of distance and 
 apparent estrangement from the world without, which is 
 so characteristic of many abbeys of the Cistercians. I must 
 assume my hearers to be acquainted with the facts relating to 
 the general history of the order contained in my first paper, 
 
 pars. 1 to 14. i • j 
 
 63. Throughout this paper I shall use the convenient word 
 " Buckfast " in speaking of the abbev. We find the spelling 
 varying from time to time in the different documents relating 
 to the house— Bulfestra, Bulfestre, Bugfasta, Bocfasta, Bus- 
 sestre, and Buckfestria, are instances. In the earlier deeds 
 the last syllable has ordinarily the ** r," which was dropped as 
 time went on. The spelling Bussestre is evidently a mistake 
 of the scribe or copyist mistaking the letter "f" for a 
 
 lonff " 8." 
 
 64. Unlike the abbey to which my two preceding chapters 
 have been devoted, which was one of the latest mediaeval 
 monastic foundations in England, the early history of the 
 Abbey of Buckfast is bat in remote antiquity. 
 
 I: 
 
54 
 
 THE CISTEKCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 55 
 
 65. It is one of the common errors, which, like the vulgar 
 belief that all monks were and are priests, I suppose will 
 never be eradicated from the mind of the ordinary English- 
 man, that monasteries had their rise in and only flourished 
 during the middle ages. In spite of all that has been written 
 and said, it is forgotten by many, that from the first institu- 
 tion of Christianity, to say nothing of the earlier dispensation, 
 lives of seclusion were found necessary for the welfare of 
 many souls whose lots were cast in the midst of a world 
 steeped in heathen wickedness. And Britain from the first 
 had monks, and the ftuy of the English vented itself upon 
 them, and upon their priests, their altars, and their churches. 
 The story of the massacre of the monks of Bangor will recur 
 to everyone, and scattered throughout the pages of the earliest 
 chroniclers are references to places which, if not monasteries 
 in the sense in which we use the word, were places of retire- 
 ment and religious asceticism. If these facts are forgotten, it 
 is not much to be wondered at that the early history of the 
 Abbey of Buckfast should have been lost sight of by the 
 casual reader. 
 
 66. In all probability the abbey was in existence before 
 the coming of the Nortli-man, and it is an unquestionable fact 
 that monks were settled in the pleasant spot on the banks of 
 the Dart long before the Norman Conquest. The account 
 will therefore carry us far back through the story of England's 
 
 history. - /. i i • i 
 
 67. There appears to be no good reason for doubtuig the 
 claim, rather proudly put forward by the Buckfast monks in 
 the reign of Edward I., where the jurors affirm that they, 
 the monks, said that the Abbey held a certain manor called 
 Sele Monachorum, by the gift of King Cnut, — 
 
 ** Dicunt quod AWas Biicffestrie tenet quoddam manerium 
 quod vocatur Sele monachorum in pei-petuam elemosinam de 
 dono regis Cnud "—-B,oiu\i Hundredorum, Edw. I. 
 
 There can be little question that that sagacious monarch 
 was interested in some way in this part of his kingdom of 
 Wessex. You will recollect Lyfing was his companion on 
 his pilgrimage to Home, and to him, the then Abbot of 
 Tavistock, afterwards the famous Bishop, the King entrusted 
 that remarkable letter to his English people which contains 
 so much kingly wisdom, and shows so much anxiety for 
 the welfare of his subjects. Cnut, during his reign, did 
 much for religion, and conferred many a gift upon the 
 monks, and Ely and St Edmundsbury, Glastonbury and 
 Winchester, among other places, benefited by his bounty. 
 
 
 and long cherished his memory, and the Church, during the 
 years of peace which he gave to the country, fostered 
 literature, art, and, to some extent, science, and spread 
 throughout the land " great buildings and busy schools." 
 
 68. From the list of their possessions after the Conquest, it 
 is not rash to assume that the monks of Buckfast received 
 something more than the manor of Sele from the Danish 
 King. In the possession of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter 
 is a charter of Cnut, conferring land upon Burhwold, the 
 Bishop of St Germans, in which I think may be recognised 
 the names of places in Devon, and on the death of Burhwold 
 the King assented to tlie request of Lyfing, who was then 
 Bishop of Crediton, that the sees of St Germans and 
 Crediton might be united, and to this king and the once 
 Abbot of Tavistock, and to his successor Leofric, the esta- 
 blishment of the see of Exeter, as we now have it, is due. It 
 is in our time, after a union of nearly nine hundred years, 
 that the ancient sees of Devon and Cornwall are again to be 
 separated. 
 
 69. From the death of Cnut, 1035, to the date of the 
 Domesday Survey is but fifty years or thereabouts, and in the 
 Great Survey we find clear evidence of the existence, and a 
 list of the possessions, of Buckfast Abbey. Whatever the 
 foundation of the Abbey might have been, Domesday Book 
 shows us that at the time of the Survey Abbot Alwine and 
 his monks were not only settled at Buckfast, which was the 
 head of the abbacy, but had considerable possessions in land 
 and other property in the county. The entries are interesting 
 and valuable, and further on will be found translations which 
 I have made from the Exeter and Exchequer books. The 
 former, belonging to the Dean and Chapter, is supposed to 
 have been the groundwork of the Exchequer book (the one 
 intended to be preserved as the permanent record), and, as 
 is apparent on comparing the two, much more full in its 
 information. Thus, in 1086 it is clear that there was a 
 religious house at a place called Bulfestra, that it had con- 
 siderable property, and was apparently in a flourishing con- 
 dition. There can be no question that this place was Buckfast 
 
 Abbey. 
 
 70. It has been always stated, that in some way or other 
 this house was dissolved after the Conquest, its possessions 
 confiscated, its inmates scattered, that this was probably the 
 work of the Conqueror, and that the land was given to 
 the Pomeroys. But this could not, I think, have been the 
 case. Because, to a great extent, the troubles of the Con- 
 
 i 
 
 u 
 
 'jJifcifc^ 
 
M 
 
 THE CISTKBCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 65. It is one of the common errors, which, like the vulgar 
 belief that all monks were and are priests, I suppose will 
 never be eradicated from the mind of the ordinary English- 
 man, that monasteries had their rise in and only flourished 
 during the middle ages. In spite of all that has been written 
 and said, it is forgotten by many, that from the first institu- 
 tion of Christianity, to say nothing of the earlier dispensation, 
 lives of seclusion were found necessary for the welfare of 
 many souls whose lots were cast in the midst of a world 
 steeped in heathen wickedness. And Britain from the first 
 had monks, and the fury of the English vented itself upon 
 them, and upon their priests, their altars, and their churches. 
 The story of the massacre of the monks of Bangor will recur 
 to everyone, and scattered throughout the pages of the earliest 
 chroniclers are references to places which, if not monasteries 
 in the sense in which we use the word, were places of retire- 
 ment and religious asceticism. If these facts are forgotten, it 
 is not much to be wondered at that the early history of the 
 Abbey of Buckfast should have been lost sight of by the 
 casual reader. 
 
 66. In all probability the abbey was in existence before 
 the coming of the North-man, and it is an unquestionable fact 
 that monks were settled in the pleasant spot on the banks of 
 the Dart long before the Korman Conquest. The account 
 will therefore carry us far back through the story of England's 
 history. 
 
 67. There appears to be no good reason for doubting the 
 claim, rather proudly put forward by the Buckfast monks in 
 the reign of Edward I., where the jurors affirm that they, 
 the monks, said that the Abbey held a certain manor called 
 Sele Monachorum, by the gift of King Cnut, — 
 
 ** Dicunt quod AUxia Bucffestrie tenet quoddam manerium 
 quod ijocatur Sele monachorum in perpetuam elemosinam de 
 dona regis Cnud.'^ — Rotuli Hundredorum, Edw. I. 
 
 There can be little question that that sagacious monarch 
 was interested in some way in this part of his kingdom of 
 Wessex. You will recollect Lyfing was his companion on 
 his pilgrimage to Rome, and to him, the then Abbot of 
 Tavistock, afterwards the famous Bishop, the King entrusted 
 that remarkable letter to his English people which contains 
 so much kingly wisdom, and shows so much anxiety for 
 the welfare of his subjects. Cnut, during his reign, did 
 much for religion, and conferred many a gift upon the 
 monks, and Ely and St Edmundsbury, Glastonbury and 
 Winchester, among other places, benefited by his bounty, 
 
 •Pi 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 55 
 
 \ 
 
 and long cherished his memory, and the Church, during the 
 years of peace which he gave to the country, fostered 
 literature, art, and, to some extent, science, and spread 
 throughout the land " great buildings and busy schools.'* 
 
 68. From the list of their possessions after the Conquest, it 
 is not rash to assume that the monks of Buckfast received 
 something more than the manor of Sele from the Danish 
 King. In the possession of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter 
 is a charter of Cnut, conferring land upon Burhwold, the 
 Bishop of St Germans, in which I think may be recognised 
 the names of places in Devon, and on the death of Burhwold 
 the King assented to tlie request of Lyfing, who was then 
 Bishop of Crediton, that the sees of St Germans and 
 Crediton might be united, and to this king and the once 
 Abbot of Tavistock, and to his successor Leofric, the esta- 
 blishment of the see of Exeter, as we now have it, is due. It 
 is in our time, after a union of nearly nine hundred years, 
 that the ancient sees of Devon and Cornwall are again to be 
 separated. 
 
 69. From the death of Cnut, 1035, to the date of the 
 Domesday Survey is but fifty years or thereabouts, and in the 
 Great Survey we find clear evidence of the existence, and a 
 list of the possessions, of Buckfast Abbey. Whatever the 
 foundation of the Abbey might have been, Domesday Book 
 shows us that at the time of the Survey Abbot Alwine and 
 his monks were not only settled at Buckfast, which was the 
 head of the abbacy, but had considerable possessions in land 
 and other property in the county. The entries are interesting 
 and valuable, and further on will be found translations which 
 I have made from the Exeter and Exchequer books. The 
 former, belonging to the Dean and Chapter, is supposed to 
 have been the groundwork of the Exchequer book (the one 
 intended to be preserved as the permanent record), and, as 
 is apparent on comparing the two, much more full in its 
 information. Thus, in 1086 it is clear that there was a 
 religious house at a place called Bulfestra, that it had con- 
 siderable property, and was apparently in a flourishing con- 
 dition. There can be no question that this place was Buckfast 
 Abbey. 
 
 70. It has been always stated, that in some way or other 
 this house was dissolved after the Conquest, its possessions 
 confiscated, its inmates scattered, that this was probably the 
 work of the Conqueror, and that the land was given to 
 the Pomeroys. But this could not, I think, have been the 
 
 Because, to a great extent, the troubles of the Con- 
 
 i 
 
 case. 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 I" 
 
 ,4ai. 
 
 >rt<^i . . 1^ 
 
 
 y^ 
 

 56 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 57 
 
 quest were over, the land had been apportioned, William 
 had rewarded his companions, and among the great lords 
 whose lands are enumerated in Domesday the Abbey of 
 Buckfast appears with Baldwin de Redvers, William de 
 Pomeroy, and others, as holding large domains Domesday 
 Book was completed only a short time before William met 
 his death in the streets of Mantes, and yet within fifty years 
 the abbey is said to have been dissolved, its possessions 
 divided, and a new house founded in the same place. If such 
 were the case, how did it happen, and what were the reasons 
 for such a spoliation ? A conjecture might be hazarded that 
 the Red King found the abbey lands conveniently near his 
 hunting-grounds in the Forest of the Dartmoors, and took 
 possession of them with the usual disregard of the rights of 
 the Church shown by him, but there is no evidence to support 
 such a theory, and I think, although the contrary has always 
 been stated, that I shall be able to adduce ^ood grounds for 
 believing that the monks of Buckfast contmued to hold the 
 lands that belonged to them at the time of the Great Survey 
 uninterruptedly for five centuries after. 
 
 71. The only evidence as to the supposed dissolution and 
 re-foundation of the Abbey is the unsupported statement of 
 Leland, who says that Ethelwardus Jilius GuL Pomerey erat 
 primus fundator. Coll. Heame, vol. i. p. 80, ed. 1770. Dug- 
 dale, with more caution, following him, says, that Ethel ward 
 is said to have been its founder, and Pole, Westcote, and Risdon, 
 wishing to convey the same information, but making utter 
 eonftision of it and copying one another, tell us in the calmest 
 way, that Duke Alford erected a fair abbey of the Order of 
 Cistercians, Pole and Risdon saying that this happened 
 before the Conquest. It is, I think, evident that the Duke 
 Alford of the last mentioned writers is the Ethelward of 
 Leland and Dugdale. It is also very evident that the addi- 
 tional statement of Pole and Risdon, " before the Conquest," 
 cannot be true, simply because it is certain tliat there were no 
 Cistercians in existence anywhere for more than thirty years 
 after the Conquest, and that there was no Cistercian house in 
 England until the year 1128. 
 
 72. An examination of the case with reference to Ethel- 
 ward also induces us to believe that the claim made for him 
 that he was the founder rests on no substantial foundation. 
 His name is not mentioned in any deed or charter relating to 
 the Abbey, and he is not in any way referred to in the royal 
 confirmations of Henry and Richard, which are dated not 
 long aft»r 1 137, the date of the alleged foundation. Again, the 
 
 I 
 
 «,•• 
 
 greater part, if not the whole, of the lands mentioned in 
 Domesday can be traced as being in the possession of the 
 abbey at the end of the twelfth and the beginning of the 
 thir<^eenth centuries; and even supposing that they had in 
 some mysterious way, scattered as they were throughout the 
 county, come as a whole into the hands of Ethelward de 
 Pomeroy, it is not likely that they would have been granted 
 in their entirety to the monks of Buckfast. But there is 
 another fact of greater weight. In the deed of King Henry, 
 which I shall refer to presently, and which was given before 
 1161, all the lands and tenements, and so on, belonging to 
 the Abbey were confirmed to the monks, as they held them, 
 " ayi meV Henry died in 1 135, two years before the alleged 
 foundation by Ethelward. We have therefore to suppose 
 that the land continued in the possession of the Abbey from 
 the date of Domesday until some time in the reign of Henry I. 
 and then it passed somehow to Ethelward, who in course of 
 time established the monks afi-esh in the same locality, and 
 endowed them with the same lands. In the unsettled state 
 of the country during the r'^ign of Stephen, the monks did 
 not, as far as we know, trouble themselves to obtain a confir- 
 mation from that monarch ; but, as soon as Henry's kingdom 
 was firmly established, a charter confirming them in their 
 possessions was obtained from the king. 
 
 73. Doubtless Ethelward was a benefactor to the Abbey, 
 and on this account he and his descendants were held in 
 grateful remembrance by the monks for many a long year, 
 and on several parts of the ruined buildings, before their final 
 destruction, the crest or badge of the Pomeroys, the red lion 
 rampant, was to be seen, and there can be little question but 
 that the story of Ethelward being the founder of the abbey 
 arose from this fact. 
 
 74. I think, therefore, we may conclude, as far as the 
 evidence goes at present, that there was no dissolution of the 
 Abbey, and that Ethelward was not the first founder. 
 
 75. We have no clue whatever as to what the original 
 foundation of the Abbey was, but in all probability it was 
 Benedictine, and we know tliat it became a daughter house 
 of Savigny, which sprang from the hermitage, afterwards 
 the abbey, founded by Raoul de Fugeres and John de Lan- 
 dere in 1112, and which in 1148 was united to the Cistercian 
 Order. Whether Buckfast became Cistercian at the time 
 that Savigny and many others did, cannot be ascertained ; 
 probably it did not, as the confirmation charter of Henry II. 
 about 1161, speaks of the monks " que sunt ordine Savigny" 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 * 
 
 l<lr\..^.^»4L. 
 
 ■j^~'i^* di, ^ .V'*l 
 
 ..iMjiferAjiiiiii: li'litj' 
 
'I 
 
 I' 
 
 n; - 
 
 ^i 
 
 58 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 which seem to show that Buckfast did not pass in 1148, when 
 the fourth Abbot of Savigny surrendered his house and its 
 dependencies into the hands of St Bernard. Leland says, 
 " Ccenohium de Bukfest olim incepit per fr aires quos appella- 
 hunt Grysaosy deinde admisit Bemardinos" Collectanea^ vol. 
 3 (4) p. 152, ed. 1770. 
 
 76. Here he says that the monastery of Buckfast was com- 
 menced by brethren called " Grysaeos," afterwards admitted 
 Bemardines. " Grysaeos " stands for the " grisei monachi," 
 the monks of the order of Savignv. This extract from 
 Leland I have never seen quoted ; perhaps, from the sentence 
 being curiously inserted in a list of manuscripts belonging 
 to the Abbey, it has been overlooked. Leland's statement is 
 confirmed by that in the charter of Henry II., to whioh I 
 have just referred, ** monachis de Bugfasta qui sunt de ordine 
 de Savineio.^^ 
 
 77. What led Dr. Oliver to make the statement that 
 Buckfast was colonized from Waverley I cannot imagine. 
 There is not the slightest evidence, so far as I am aware, of 
 there having been any connection between Waverley and 
 Buckfast Dr. Oliver seems also to have been confused as to 
 Waverley itself, for he says that it was a daughter of the 
 Abbey of St. Mary at Savigny, the fact being that it was a 
 daughter of L'Aumone. 
 
 78. There is no foundation charter of the Abbey. The 
 earliest document I can find relating to it, after Domesday, 
 is the patent of Henry II., of which I have before spoken, 
 confirming to the monks of Bugfast the church and abbey of 
 Bugfasta and all the lands and tenements, &c., belonging to 
 them, as they held them in the time of King Henry, " avi 
 
 The deed contains no names of places, or particulars 
 
 mei. 
 
 as to the property of the Abbey ; but it is interesting, and 
 must have been granted some time before April, 1161, as 
 among the witnesses are Theobald the Archbishop and 
 Tliomas the Chancellor, the famous Thomas Becket 
 
 Henry King of England and Duke of Normandy and 
 Aquitaine and Count of Anjou. To the Archbishops 
 &c. health. Know that I have granted in perpetual 
 alms to the Monks of Bugfast, who are of the order 
 of Savigny, the Church and Abbey of Bugfast, with 
 all lands and tenements and churches and other pos- 
 sessions to the said church belonging, so well and in 
 peace, &c. as if the aforesaid abbacy ever, <fec. held in 
 
 J: 
 
 m 
 
 BUCKF4.ST ABBEY. 
 
 59 
 
 the time of King Henry my grandfather, &c. These 
 being witnesses : 
 
 Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 Thomas, Chancellor. 
 
 Humphrey of Bohun, Steward. 
 
 KOGER DE NOVANT. 
 
 Warren son of Gerald, Chamberlaine, & 
 William the son of Hamo. 
 At Worcester. 
 
 (Patent Rolls, 1 Edw. IV , p. 2, m. 4.) 
 
 79. I have also obtained another copy of a charter, which 
 is apparently the same as this, but differing slightly in the 
 wording, and more full and precise in the description of the 
 benefits conferred. It speaks of tlie monks of Buckfast as of 
 the order of Cistercium (at least the word appears to be this) 
 instead of Savigny, as in the other. The charter is nearly 
 illegible at the edges, and many of the words are obliterated. 
 
 H. [illegible] Sciatis me p di amore & p salute anie mee 
 & p aniab} onium antecessors liiox Qcessisse & in ppetuam 
 Elemosina c'firmasse do & Monachis de Bugfasta de ordine de 
 Custerc ones tras & Tenuras suas q*s Racionabilit habnt libe 
 tenendis cu socha & sacha & Thol & Them & Infangene? & cu 
 onib} aliis libtatib) & libis c'suetudinib) [Q""re?] volo & [firmir ?] 
 pcipio qd ipi & hedes eo^ hant in pace libtates suas & quietan- 
 cias de Scyr & hundr & placitis & auerel & Murdr & hidagiis & 
 Scutagiis & Geldis & Danegeldis Lillegible] & c'suetudinib) de 
 Moris & oni seclari svico & exaccoe sic mea Elemosina pp*a. 
 i T. Thoiii Cane: etc. (Cartae Antiquse. Y.) 
 
 80. But before the date of this charter, we have mentioned, 
 in 1143, the Abbot of Buckfast, Eustachius, who was wit- 
 ness to an agreement between the abbot of St. Martin's-in- 
 the-Fields and the Chapter of the Cathedral of Exeter in that 
 year. This is the first Abbdt of whom mention is made, after 
 the English abbot Alwaine or Alcuin, whose name occurs in 
 Domesday Book. 
 
 81. There is also a deed, which may possibly be earlier 
 than the confirmation deed of Henry II., being a grant to 
 the church of Buckfast by Henry de Novant, for the health 
 of his soul an A. that of his wife Elizabeth, of the land of 
 Scirhull, which he and his father granted to the monas- 
 tery. 
 
 82. The date of this document is uncertain. If the grantor 
 is Henry de Novant, son of Roger de Novant, to whom largo 
 
 2i 
 
 nd 
 
 M 
 
60 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 grants of land were made by Henry I., it is the earliest deed 
 we have relating to the Abbey. There was a Roger, a grand- 
 son, and he had also a son called Henry, but Pole, Coll., p. 
 169, says, that the wife of this last-mentioned Heniy was 
 Isabel Bulbek, whereas the name of the wife of the Henry 
 Novant of the deed is Elizabeth. It is to be noticed that, if 
 the earlier date is the correct one, we have another piece of 
 evidence against the destruction and resuscitation of the 
 Abbey after the Conquest, for it shows that in the reign of 
 Henry I. it was flourishing. 
 
 Hucitfast. Notu sit 6ibus &c. qd ego Hen. de Nunant p salute 
 anime raee et spouse mee Elizab' dedi et concessi Eccles' de 
 Bokfasta omne ter' de Scirhull &c. qua pater mens Rog' et 
 ego prius conces' Praedict Monachis. Test. Will'o fil Stephani 
 Johe Longo &c. H. 2, Pole's M.S., p. 182. (Add. MSS. 
 (Brit. Mus ) 28,649, p. 394.) 
 
 83. In 1189, Nov. 18, about two months after his acces- 
 sion, and not long before his departure for the Third Crusade, 
 Richard I. confirms to the monks of Buckfast, by the hand 
 of his newly nominated Chancellor, the famous Bishop of 
 Ely, William Longchamps, the possessions which they then 
 held, and apparenSy confers upon them further privileges. 
 As in the former deeds, the words are general : — 
 
 Ricardus Dei gratia rex Angliae, Dux Normannie et Aqui- 
 tanie, comes Andegavie, archiepiscopus, etc. salutem. Sciatis 
 nos pro Dei amore et pro salute anime nostre et omnium 
 antecessorum et successorum nostrorum concessisse et pre- 
 senti carta confirmasse Deo et ecclesie beate Marie de Boc- 
 fasta et monachis ibidem Deo servientibus omnes donationes 
 que eis rationabiliter facte sunt in terns et tenuris et tene- 
 mentis in liberam et puram et perpetuam elemosinam. Quare 
 volumus et firmiter precipimus quod predicti monachi habeant 
 et teneant oranes terras et tenuras et tenementa eis ration- 
 abiliter data in bosco et piano in viis et semitis in agnis et 
 molendinis in vivariis et stagnis in pratis et pascuis in 
 homagiis et serviciis et releviis in grangiis et virgulis infi-a 
 burgum et extra cum soch et sach et thol et theam et infan- 
 genethef. 
 
 Cuncedimus etiam eis et hominibus suis quietanciam de 
 theloneo et passagio et pontagio et de schiris ct hundredis et 
 de omnibus placitis et querelis et de pecunia que ad murdrum 
 et latrocinium pertinet 
 
 T 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 61 
 
 Preterea concedimus eis et hominibus suis quietanciam de 
 heingwita et de flemeniswita et de blodwita et de girthwita et 
 de hidagio et scutagio et geldis et danegeldis et de operacioni- 
 bus castellorum et de essart et de waste foreste et de rewardo 
 et placitis foreste et de auxiliis vicecomitum et de misericordia 
 comitatus et de omnibus auxiliis et de clifwardis et de consue- 
 tudiuibus et de moris et de omni seculari servicio et exactione. 
 Concedimus etiam eis pasturam in moris per totam annum 
 ad omne genus pecudum suorum. 
 
 Prohibemus etiam ne quis predictos monachos gravet vel 
 eis aliquam injuriam aut molestiam aut gravamen iaciat, nee 
 eos in placitum ponet de aliquo tenemento nisi coram nobis 
 vel capitali justiciario nostro. 
 
 Testibus : Hugone Dun, Johanne Norwic, Huberto Sarum 
 episcopis. Rogero le Bigot, Waltero filio Robei*ti, Galfrido 
 filio Petri. 
 
 Dat' apud S. Eadmundum, Nov. 18, per manum Willielmi 
 Elien. electi, cancellarii noslii A. R. prime. (Cartas Anti- 
 quae, S. No. 19.) 
 
 84. We have another glimpse of the Abbey in 1196, when 
 we find William, Abbot of Bukfestria, witnessing the execu- 
 tion of the foundation deed of the Premonstratensian Abbey 
 of Tor by William Lord Bruiere, in that year. 
 
 85. Early in the thirteenth century we find Nicholas 
 Abbot at Buckfast, he granting to John Lambrith lands and 
 houses at Exeter, in what was then and still is the High 
 Street there. 
 
 Omnibus fidelibus ad quos presens scriptum pervenerit 
 NiCHOLAUs, Abbas de Buckfesti, et ejusdem loci conventus, 
 salutem in Domino 
 
 Noverit universitas vestra nos concessisse et dedisse 
 Johanni Lambrith totam terram et domus nostras que 
 fuerunt Ailmari Atlekin in Exon, scilicet duos sellas in 
 regno vice cum introitu ejusdem domus versus magnum 
 vicum Exonie, et omnes domes et terram retro, cum solario 
 et pertinenciis sicud paries domus Ricardi Stukard' rectd 
 linea ducit in cimiterium sibi et illis quos inde heredes con- 
 stituere voluerint, Tenendum de nobis inperpetuum jure 
 hereditario libere et quiete reddendo inde annuatim nobis et 
 successoribus nostris unam libram piperis ad pascha et domui 
 hospitalis Sancti Johannis decem solidos per manu nostra ad 
 quatuor annis terminos. Et nos tenemur warantizare pre- 
 dictas sellas et domes et terram predict© Johanni et here- 
 dibus suis adversus omnes homines. 
 
 >j. \ *...■■,■ . 
 
 •'\-f 'i]^ _ 
 
62 
 
 THE CISTEBCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 63 
 
 Et si predicta tenementa prefato Johanni et heredibus 
 8U]8 warantizare non possumus faciemus sibi vel heredibus 
 8U18 rafaonabile exscambium. 
 
 Pro hac autem concessione et donatione nostra dedit nobis 
 predictus Johannes vigniti et quinque marcas argenti. Quod 
 
 C^nfi^^'l'w^r^"''^* ^'^'^^'' "''^*'''' ^''^^^''^ "^^'^^ ap^sito 
 Hiis Testibus : 
 
 Magistro Willielmo Paz. 
 
 Samsone et Rogero filiis Henrici tunc prepositis. 
 
 Waltero fiho Turberti. 
 
 Willielmo Hastemend. 
 
 Johanne Caperum. 
 
 Martino Toton. 
 
 Johanne Puddin. 
 
 Johanne filio Walteri filii Tuberti. 
 
 Roberto Tabernar. 
 
 Waltero le Gyawe. 
 
 Hare et multis aliis. 
 
 Original in possession of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter. 
 — (Ohver's Monast. Sup. pp. 33, 34.) 
 
 , ?^ ^l ^^'^ i^^' """^ P""^^ ^^ P^PP®*" is reserved annuallv 
 to the abbot and his successors and 10s. to the house of the 
 hospital of St. John, Exeter. That the Abbev of Buckfast 
 was interested in, and helped to support "this hospital, 
 formerly that of St. Alexius, it is certain, but, so far, I have 
 not been able to ascertain what the nature of the connection 
 between them was. From an entry in the register of the 
 hospital, now m possession of the Corporation of' Exeter, Dr 
 Oliver thought that Abbot William granted an annuity of 
 dOs. te the master and brethren of the old hospital, to issue 
 from certain estates the names of which i-e given as 
 Lamenecote and Einilde, of which we know nothing now. 
 
 «7 In 1207 a thirteenth part of the goods of the Church 
 was demanded ot the bishops and clergy by King John. 
 
 IZ?'a 7T T^ ^ff°?e* ^"^^"^ ^^'' ^«°^*"d» J^^n being 
 a fnond of the order : " Ad guam colligendam midt ministros 
 
 mos per universes comitatus AngluB; at hac exactione liber 
 •SonasrlL p.^^.tr-"-"^^"^^^ '' ^^^^^^^^ ^- 
 
 f.Jt.^^A"^ ^ u'^T.*^^ ""^ ^°^ ^« «bW received 
 further gi^. Richard de Bauzan, whose pedigree I have 
 
 not been able satisfact § ily to make out, gives alT his land of 
 
 11 
 
 Holne, with the appurtenances, to the abbot and convent of 
 Buckfast. 
 
 Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Ricardus Bausan dedi, 
 concessi, et hac presenti carta mea conlirmavi abbati et con- 
 ventui de Bufestre, Deo et beate Marie servientibus, in puram 
 et perpetuam elemosinam, pro animabus patris mei et matris 
 mee et fratris mei Stephani Bauzan, totam terram meam de 
 Holna cum omnibus pertinentiis suis ut in dominicis, villena- 
 giis, boscis, turbariis, homagiis,- et serviciis liberorum, vide- 
 licet Stephani Mugge, Michaelis Mugge, Wimundi Sele, 
 Osberti Corbyn, et Warini de Budditone, et omnibus aliis 
 pertinentiis tenendam et habendam dictis abbati et conventui 
 et eorum successoribus vel cui earn assignare voluerint, de 
 me et heredibus meis, libere, quiete, iutegre et pacifice jure 
 hereditario imperpetnam in viis semitis, &c. faciendo inde 
 mihi et heredibus meis ipsi et successores sui vel eorum 
 assignati tricessimam partem feodi unius militis pro omni 
 servicio, querela, demanda, acta et exactione. 
 
 Hiis testibus : Gilberto de Umfranvill, Hugone de Cardi- 
 nan, Martino de Fisacre, Gilberto filio Stephani, Philippo de 
 Bodrigan, Waltero Bernas, Nicholao de Ferariis, et aUis. 
 
 89. Lysons states that " the Manor of South Holne was 
 given to the Abbey of Buckfastleigh by Reginald de Valletort, 
 in the early part of the thirteenth century," Devon, p. 277, and 
 goes by on to say that another manor of Holne was given them 
 by Stephen Bauzun, which is manifestly a mistake. I have not 
 been able to verify the statement that the Valletorts were 
 donors to the abbey either of lands in Holne or elsewhere, 
 and if, as seems to be the case from the deed I have just 
 given, from the information given by the Hundred Roll, and 
 from the fact of the arms of the Abbey being still to be seen 
 upon the screen in the church, the monks held lands there, 
 they must in some way have disposed of them before the 
 Dissolution, for the ministers' accounts contain no mention 
 whatever of property there. Of course the statement of 
 Lysons, that the church of Holne was appropriated to the 
 Abbey of Buckfast, is a mistake. It belonged to the see of 
 Exeter, and was granted by Bishop Grandisson to St. John's 
 Hospital in that city. 
 
 90. There is an order, dated in 1215,. from King John to, 
 among others, the Abbots of Ford and Buckfast, for the 
 delivery of whatever vessels, jewels, &c might be in their 
 custody, handed them for safe keeping. This appears to be 
 
 ' . I 
 
 I 
 
 it 
 
 fa.^i. 
 
 
64 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 one instance of the ordinary deposit of valuables with the 
 officers of a reh'gious house for their preservation, and not a 
 deposit to secure the repayment of a loan due to the house, 
 an instance of which we shall find further on. 
 
 91. In 1225, among the Feet of Fines, there is an entry 
 of the final proceedings on the sale to the abbot of seven 
 acres and a half of meadow land in Sele, which I give, as it 
 enables me to add the name of Abbot Michael, the first of 
 some abbots whose names have -not hitherto been recorded, 
 which I have the pleasure of adding to the list contained in 
 the Monasticon. 
 
 Hec est final concordia fca in curio Dni Keg apd Exofi 
 Die Sabbi px" post octati trinitatis Anno Regri Reg Henr fit 
 Regis Johis Duodecim Coram Thofn de Mule? Robto de 
 Lexinf Rado Musard & Jordan Oli? justic Itiriantib} & aliis 
 dfii Reg fidehb} tiic ibi psentib) In? Simone Lampreie 
 petete & Michaele Abbm de Buffes?r tenente de Septem acris 
 p^ti & dimid cu ptifi in Sele. Un asSa mortis aiicessor 
 sumonita fuit int eos in pfata curia Scilicet qd pdcus Sim 
 remisit & quietu clamavit ae se & hedib) suis ipi Abbi & suc- 
 cessorib) suis & ecctie sue de BufFestr imppfh totu jus & clamiu 
 quod huit in toto pdco p*to cu ptiii. Et p h"c remissioe 
 Quieta clamancia fine & cocordia idem Abbas dedit pdco 
 Simon Septe marcas argnti. 
 
 Feet of Fines, Devon. Henry III. No. 107. 
 
 92. The friendship of John for the Cistercians did not last 
 long. After his excommunication, he continued his exactions 
 from the Church The chronicler of Waverley tells us : — 
 
 Idem rex coUecto multo exercitu in mense Junio trans- 
 fretavit in Hibemiam, ubi hostibus ad votum subactis dimissis 
 ibi episcopo Norwicensi, Johanne de Grai, et Willelmo Mares- 
 callo mense Septembri minus infestus omnibus viris Cister- 
 ciensis ordinis rediit. Convenerat enim eos antequam trans- 
 fretaret, sicut et csBteros, de auxilio ipsi praestando contra 
 iminicos sues; et quia idem Cistercienses pecuniam ei ad 
 libitum suum contra libertatem ordinis sui dare noluerunt, in 
 immensum eos afflixit, et a singulis domibus brevissimo 
 temporis spatio indulto, multe valde causum ita ut summa 
 xxxiii m et ccc marcatum coUectio ilia excederat, violenter 
 ^torsit Ipsi vero per dirersas domos monachorum et cano- 
 nicorum dispersi sunt Waverleia vero, omnibus facultatibus 
 suiR distractis et ablatis, facta similiter dispersione mona- 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 65 
 
 A 
 
 chorum et conversorum circumquaque per Angliam, regis 
 iram patienter sustinuit. Abbas ejusdem loci Johannes ter- 
 tius timore regis peterritus, domum suum reliquit et de nocte 
 latente aufugit. Acta sunt [haec] circum festum beati Mar- 
 tini. Prohibuit etiam rex ut nullus de ordine Cisterciensi 
 transfiretaret, aut de alienis in Angliam veniret. 
 
 Annales de Waverleia. (Ann. Monast. vol. ii. p. 265.) 
 
 93. Letters resigning their property were also extorted 
 from the Cistercians and others, and under Henry III. both 
 monks and Jews suffered. In the year 1225, when the 
 King confirmed the charters, a fifteenth of all movables in 
 the kingdom was granted to him to enable him to recover the 
 English possessions in France. The annalist from whom I 
 have quoted says : — 
 
 " Monachi vero Cisterciensis ordinis, tam pro libertatibus 
 quam pro gratia et benevolentia regis habenda, dederunt ei 
 duo milia marcas argenti. Judaei autem existentes in Anglia 
 dederunt ei eodem tempore quinque milia marcas argenti." — 
 Ann. Waverleia ii., p. 300. 
 
 Were the Jews richer than the monks, or were they more 
 patriotic ? 
 
 94. In 1236 the abbot and monks became members of the 
 Merchants' Gild of Totnes. On the back of a roll of the gild, 
 in the possession of the Corporation of Totnes, is written a 
 covenant between the abbot, probably Michael or Howell, 
 and the Convent of Buffestleigh, 20 Henry III., and the 
 burgesses of Totnes, to the effect that the latter have ad- 
 mitted the abbot and monks into the guild, so that they 
 might make all their purchases in the same way as the bur- 
 
 f esses, all sales, however, being excepted " nomine tabernse " 
 y way of trading. Third Report, Hist. MSS. Com. p. 343. 
 To go forward a little, twenty-four years later, we find the 
 Abbot of Buffestie second on the roll of the gild, then 
 numbering about two hundred members, following the Abbot 
 of Tor. 
 
 95. In 1243 we have entries on the Assize Rolls relating 
 to disputes with the convent in respect to various properties. 
 
 Plac' Corone et Assise, 
 
 28 Hen. III. Devon. 
 As§a venit rec Si Prior de Plumtoii ini^te etc. disS Abbem 
 de Buffestre de Communa paste sue i Walleworth que ptinet 
 ad libm teii suu in ead villa pt p'ma etc. 
 
 '3; 
 
 
 w 
 
 ■■1 ' 'ij 
 
 Urikiyi 'i WWP^fWMWMWMiMMMai 
 
 ■HHI 
 
 ^,M^m^ — ' j_ »^ 
 
I-, 
 
 h 
 
 66 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOtJSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Et Prior ven & iiich die qr assa remaneat 
 
 Jur dnt qd pdcs Prior disg ^dcm Abbem de j^dca comuna 
 ini^te etc. sic bre die. Et lo Consid est qd Abbs rec seis suam 
 1 Prior I mia. p pt Wal?i de Bath. 
 
 Dampn.Jjg. ^ ^ , 
 
 • • ♦ • * 
 
 Witts Swenge & Isab vx ei^ petut. 9 Abbem de Buffestr 
 
 dim ferling ?re cu ptiii in Nyrifeud ut Jus & beditatem ipius 
 
 Isab & i qua ide Abbs no ht ingrm n' p Kobm de Waleworth 
 
 qui no n' custodiam iii buit du pdca Isab fii* inf» etate & m 
 
 custodia sua etc. . . « 
 
 Et Abbs ven & voc inde ad war Henr de Altariis qui [^sens 
 est & ei war & deffend Jus suu qn "^c & tale ingrm & die qd huit 
 ingrm i eand ?ra p Wittm frem frem* ipius Henr. Et qd ita 
 sit ponit se sup priam. Et Witts & Isab sitr. Et ido fiat 
 
 inde Jurata. o ~ ^ 
 
 Jur dnt qd pdcs Abbs buit Ingrm i pdcam Vram p pdcm 
 Robm de Walewortb du pdca IsabUa fuit If^ etatem & i 
 custodia ipius Robti Dicut & qd pdcaf carta q'' Abbs pfert de 
 feoffamento pdce ft-e f^a fuit ptq Jdcs Robs eide Abbi dimiS 
 pdcam ?ra. Et lo conS est qd Witts & Isab rec sei§ suam. 
 Et Henr in mia p pt Witti de Muthecumb & Robti de 
 Avayngnes. Et fac escamb pdco Abbi ad vatn pdce tre etc. 
 Et Abbs in mia p magna t^nsgr. 
 
 Plac' de Jur' Coron' &c. 
 
 33 Hen. III. Devon. 
 
 Ad de Broth qui tulit bre nove disSie v's^ Abbem de Bucfestr 
 & alios in bri de Libo ten suo in Tottofi ven & ret'xit se. lo 
 ipe & pleg sui de pS in mia scitt Hugo de Corndon Rics 
 Doulelegb de Brenta. Pleg Ad de mia sua. 
 
 Assize Roll 1 >l-2 
 
 32j 
 
 96. The same year, on the Feet of Fines, we have an 
 entry relating to another purchase by the convent of eight 
 ferlings of land in Englebum in the parish of Harberton. 
 
 Hec est finat concordia fca in Cur Dili Reg ap Exon In 
 c»stino See Trinitatis Ann Regii Reg Henr fit Reg Job 
 vicesimo octavo Cora Rog*o de Thurkelby Gilbto de Fston 
 Jobe Abbe de Shyleborn & Robto de Bello capo Justic 
 
 ♦ Sic. bis. 
 
 f It will be seen that no charter is before mentioned. 
 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 67 
 
 Iti8antib3 & aliis dni Regf fidelib} tuc ibi gresentib} In? 
 Abbem de Buffes?r quer & Thorn de Reyny & Johanna ux 
 ejus inped de Octo filing ?re cii ptin in Engeleburn Unde 
 plac War carte sum fuit in? eos in eadem cur Scitt qd pcdi 
 feiom T; Johanna recognov'iit tota pdcam tra cu omib3 ptin 
 suis esse jus ipius Abbis 1 Ecctie sue de Buffestr ut ilia q"" 
 idem Abbas 1 Ecctia pdca bent de dono pdco^ Thorn 1 Jobe 
 Habend 1 Tenend eidm Abbi 1 succ suis 4 Ecctie sue pdce de 
 pdcis Thorn 1, Johanna 1 bedib} ipius Jobe in lib^am 1 ppetua 
 Elemosina. Reddendo in p annu unu par Cyrothecaru albaru 
 pcii sex denr 1 sex denr ad festu sci Micb et faciendo in 
 forinsecu ?vic qd ad pdcam ?ra ptinet p 6i ?vic6 1 exaccoe 
 Et pdci Thorn ^ Joba % h^edes ipi^ Jobe Warantizabut pdco 
 Abbi 1 succ suis T; Ecctie sue pdce tota pdcam tra cu omnib) 
 ptiii suis in lib^am T; ppetua elemosinam sua p pdcm ?vic 
 cont* oms homies inppetuu. Et p h^c recognicoe War fine 
 T; concordia Idem Abbs dedit pdcis Thorn \ Jobe sexaginta 
 1 dece marcas argenti. — (Pedes Finium Devon. Hen. III. 
 No. 369.) 
 
 97. From the collections of Sir William Pole in the British 
 Museum I have gleaned some little information relating to 
 the Abbey, and some of its abbots. The first is dated the 
 Feast of St. Lambert, 1246, and another William, hitherto 
 unmentioned, is named in it. 
 
 Wifltis Abbas de Bukfastr et ejusd. Loci Conven! Salut 
 Nov Cum aliquando mot esset Placit inter nos et Witto de 
 S^" Stephano de 24 Acris terre in La Dene una pax et con- 
 cordia facta fuit in Curia Dni Reg inter nos et idm [sic] 
 Wittum de S*** Stephano Man suu de Dene Ded. Priori et 
 Conven? de Plympton nos dicta conces. confirm. Tes? Dno 
 Tho : Arch. Tottoii, D^° Wtto de Widworthy et Galfrido de 
 Prideas Milii Galfrido de La Ya, Robto le Peyterin alijsq,. 
 Dat in festo s^' Lambti 1246.— (Add. MSS. Brit. Mus. 
 28,649, p. 381.) 
 
 98. In 1247 Howell was abbot, and Durandus, Dr. 
 Oliver says, was probably his successor, and in his time it is 
 likely that those strange proceedings which occurred on the 
 death of Bishop Blondy were investigated, and, as the abbot 
 seems to have taken an important part in the inquiry, and as 
 the inquiry was conducted in the chapter-house at Buckfast, 
 I have thought it well to refer shortly to the matter. Bishop 
 Blondy was consecrated Dec. 1st, 1245. He died 26 Dec, 
 
 k2 
 
 k lil^ 
 
 i- 
 
 
 ■V 
 
 "■""ThUw-B 
 
 i«*i 
 
T 
 
 ? 
 
 .."/ 
 
 68 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OP DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 i 
 
 1257. He was a prelate of piety and learning, and con- 
 scientiously discharged the duty of his high office, but his 
 biographers have confounded him with another of the same 
 name, his opposite in every respect Soon after his death 
 his enemies traduced his memory and accused him of allow- 
 ing his servants to forge collations for their personal benefit. 
 This, of course, soon came to the knowledge of his successor, 
 Walter Bronescombe, and on the 19th of March Walter of 
 Loddeswell, the ChanceUor, and Richard of Totnes, a notary, 
 appeared before the Bishop and the Abbot of Buckfast in 
 the chapter-house of Buckfast, and confessed to them that 
 on the night of the late Bishop's death they entered his 
 chamber and found several persons engaged in drawing up 
 and signing letters for the disposal of benefices and the appro- 
 priation of the effects of the Bishop, who then, if not actually 
 a <X)rpse, was in extremis, and that after the parties were fully 
 satisfied of the death of the Bishop many other letters were 
 written and signed. Fuller details of the affair will be found 
 in the extracts fi-om Bishop Bronscombe's Register, given in 
 the Lives of the Bishops by Dr. Oliver.* 
 
 99. In 1268 I can add the name of another new abbot, 
 Henry, his name appearing in the following extract : — 
 
 A« Regni Regis H. fit Johis 53 Facta fuit hsec concordia 
 inter Henr Abbm de Bukfast et ejus[d] Loci convent et 
 Rich filiu Aluredi de Dodeworthy p ocmuni pastura in Man 
 de Brent. Tes! T)^ Wiito Probo {Le. Prous] Johede Niveton 
 Johe de Boyvile Wiito de Killbury Wiito de Chiverston 
 Johe de Davayly Petro de La Ya et mult. alijs.--(Add. 
 MSS. Brit. Mus. 28,649, p. 381.) 
 
 100. In the episcopal registers, where we frequently find 
 similar entries, there is a record of Simon being blessed as 
 abbot by the bishop on the Feast of the Nativity of St. John 
 the Baptist, 1272. 
 
 101. The conveyance of the land in Holne parish by 
 Richard Bauzan is said by Dr. Oliver to have been made 
 in the time of this abbot My impression is that it is of 
 earlier date, but as I before said I have not been able satis- 
 factorily to make out the Bauzan pedigreej and the learned 
 doctor probably, although he does not give any evidence 
 satisfied himself as to the correctness of his statement ' 
 
 102. I now come to the entries in the important documents 
 known as the Hundred Rolls, which contain thp results of 
 
 * Lires of the Bishops of Exeter, pp. 37, 38, and 39- 
 
 ^9 
 
 , the surv^ey made by special commissioners appointed by 
 Edward I. to ascertain the state of the demesne lands, the 
 revenue of the crown, the various tenures by which lands 
 were held, and so forth. 
 
 103. We find from the roll relating to Devon that the 
 property of the Abbey had not much increased since Domes- 
 day. Curiously enough Holne, said to have been granted by 
 Richard Bauzan only a year or so before, is mentioned as 
 Sutholn, the gift to the Abbey of Richard Bareyn. The 
 commissioners made their returns, and, as it was necessary 
 for the (Jourt of Exchequer to have in one view such parts of 
 them as affected the crown and its rights, a selection from the 
 fuller returns was made containing the entries relating to 
 these matters. These latter rolls are called extracts, and th^y 
 are valuable, as the fuller rolls of some counties are altogether 
 lost Fortunately both the rolls relating to Devon are in 
 existence, and I give here the return of the commissioners, 
 and the extract therefrom as well, relating to the land of 
 Buckfast : — 
 
 Rotuli Hundredorum, Edward 1. Printed ed. 1812. Such fast. 
 
 Hoc e' vered'cm xij jurator' Hundr'i forins' de Er- 
 my'tone. 
 
 Jurati Walt' de Fenton Jofe de la Porte Alvedr' de Ponte 
 Wills de Karswitt Ric de Leg' Joh' de CoUaton Ric de 
 Colamor' Rob* de Gudeford Rand' de Bahecumb' Rob*' de 
 Wonigwill Walt' de Longeh^m Joh' de Bosco p' sac'^ment' 
 suu diet 
 
 It' Battekesburne Hetfell & EssA tenet" fuer 'de (Fnico 
 coron' de R^gb} pdecessorib} Reg' q* iic e E in capite & 
 tenet m'* abbas & dom^ Bufestie in pura & ppet' elemosina a 
 q° tpr ignorat. p. 69. 
 
 It' abbas <fe dom^ Bufestr' hnt' furcas in manor' de Het- 
 fell & assis^m servis' ibidm & ap' Battekesbuhr a q° tpr' 
 & q** war' ignorat'. p. 69. 
 
 It' Bacekesburhe Hetfell & Essa fu^nt de dnico corone Extract', 
 pdec R <fe tenet modo abbat Bufest'e in pura & ppetuam 
 elemosina a quo tpe ignorant, p. 90. 
 
 It' abbas Bufestr' habet furc' in maSio de Hetfell & Extract'. 
 ass'm cvisie ibide & apud Hattekesburh a quo ?pe & quo 
 waranto ignorant p. 91. 
 
 Vered'cm Hundr' de Schefbeare. 
 
 Et Abbas de Bufest^a het apud Pat^chstowe ftircas assis*m 
 cvis & alias libertates regias & het war' sed de quo Rege 
 ignorant p. 78. 
 
 V 
 
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 1.1 I I t^mimum 
 
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 wim4M 
 
liJnW I j ■ ■ I > "^ ^' * \ m ■ ■ V * ■• '^ ■» " . ^ 
 
 ■i^-^i"**^"*^^" 
 
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 ■ 
 r 
 
 f 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 71 
 
 70 
 
 THE CI8TERCJAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Extract'. & Abbas de BufFestria ht apud Patrichestowe furc' & 
 
 assias 2visie and alias libertat' regias & habet war' de quo 
 Rege ignorant, p. 94. ^ , 
 
 Veredictu' xij It' q» clamant refnu vl exfctu breviu & qS tenent placit 
 
 jnr'deHundr's ^q naumeo vetito vl clamant here wrecku mar. 
 
 de Stanburg'. j)|^^^ ^^ j^^jj sed . . • • & man'iu de Brente & 
 
 rcburchtowe.] man'ia de Buffestr' q* sut abbat' de BufFest' ' ' • ' f 
 maiiiu de Thurestowe ten3 abbas de Buffest' & tint fiircas & 
 assis' pan' & s'vic & in q« maSio est novu' burg' q' respondet 
 p' se p' vi. mr & tenent iiicatu die Ven'is & tenet placit 
 assis' pan., & sVis q° waranto ignorant, p. 79. 
 
 It' de his q^ hnt libtate p Reg. Angl' concessas. 
 
 Dicut q* abbas de Buffest' clam' here libtate q* q*eti sint de 
 hid' murdriis & aliis q'ib) guldis quo warranto ignorant. 
 
 p. 79. 
 
 It' de pprest'is fcis. 
 
 Dicut q^ abbas de BufFesf ' & convent' fecunt pprest'am de 
 qod magno wasto Qmunis mora in ausfle pte de Dertemorb 
 ad nocuraentu' toci' pat^e q' in tape H. Reg' p'tis d'ni E' Reg'^ 
 q» nuc est Howaldus abbas de Biffesf and convent' predic* 
 wastu' sibi approp^aJut & teiit & vendut carbon' t'*» & past'as 
 de anno in annu & capiut inde redd' quo waranto ignorant 
 ad dampm annuatim xi». p. 79. 
 
 It' dicut' q'd Rog's Mirabel tenuit t'ram de SciREDON de 
 d'no Reg' in capit' p' s'jantiam t^'u sagittaj quandocuq' d'ns 
 Rex c'eret in foresta de Dertemore q' fee' feloniam p' q^ 
 utlagiat' fuit & tuc' predcam tram accidit in man' dni Reg. H. 
 pat% diii Reg' Ed q* dedit illam magro Walto Medico & modo 
 ten} Joh' de Boyvile & Dyonis' ux' sua fil & hes' predci 
 Walft & ptea duo ferling' tre in Kyngdon ptin predce s'ganc 
 de SciREDON alienata est de novo tepe isti' aeg' p' Nichm de 
 Kyngdon libe tenent' predce tre de Kyngdon q* dedit illam 
 abbat' & convent' de BuffeStre & val) p' ann' x sol', p. 79. 
 
 Veredictu' Hundri' de Teyngebrugg'. 
 
 Dicut & Q* maSia de Kingdon Sekiredon & Hokneton 
 
 ^^__ psvic iiy 
 
 t'lim sagittax q*ndo dns R voluit venare in foresta de 
 Dertemore. Que q'd maiiia p mortem pdci Waiti decendebant 
 cuidam Dionis' filie sue q*m Johnes de Boyvile ht^ in ux' & 
 idm tenent maiiia p'dicta maiiia de dno R p' s'vic pdcm 
 excepto uno ferlingo tre q' abbas Buffestr' m** ten} p' 
 
 If 
 
 alienacone Nichi de Kingdon tenen* dci Johnis de Boyvile 
 q*m fee' eidm abbti <fe valent maiiia pdicta p' annu xl'^s unde 
 Kingdon valet viij s. p. 81. 
 
 D' hiis qui Clam' retumu' vel extract' breviu' &c. 
 
 Dnt qd qd Hugo de Ferrar' & Witts de Chiv'ston apud ^^^ ^^, 
 Thurleston, Gilbo de Cnovitt Lodeswell Abbas de Buffestria S**°^"^g 
 apud Brente & Buffestr' Johes de Boyvill apud Sciredon *'^*''*^*- 
 prior de Plimton apud Den Abbas de Sco Donmel' apud 
 Kastriwe Nich' fil Martini apud Derlington Rog's de 
 Mules apud Dupeford et Johes de Besillis apud Alfington 
 hut furc' & assisas c'visie set [sed ?] nesciiit quo waranto. 
 It' Abbas BufFest'e in man'io de Churestorwe habet fur' et 
 assias panis & c'visie in quo man'io est novo burg' qui res- 
 pondit p' se p' vj jur' & tenet m'cutu die VeSis & hnt assias 
 panis & c'visie s} nesciOt quo waranto. p. 91. 
 
 It de hiis qui h'nt libertate &c. 
 
 D'nt q'd abbas Buffestrie clam' hre lib' qd quiet' est de Extract, 
 hidag' murdriis & aliis coinunib} gildis s} nesciut quo war' 
 & man'iu de Dertigton et Dupeford quiet' sint d'coib} 
 gildis & de turno vie' s} nesciut quo war'. Et sei^ q'd 
 Nichs fil Martini tenet man'iu de Dertigton Rog's de Mules 
 man'iu de Dupeford & Gilb' de Conevill man'iu de Lodes- 
 well, p. 91. 
 
 It de hiis qui de novo appropriav'int chac' &c. 
 
 Dnt qd man'ia de Dupeford Derlington and L 
 
 clam' hre warenna & hut s} a quo ?pe vl quo waranto 
 ignorant. 
 
 D'nt q'd abbas de Buffestria & convent' fec'int purprestura 
 de quoda' magno vasto comun' more in australi p'te de 
 Dertemore ad nocumentu' totius patrie q' in t'pe H. Reg' 
 p'ris d'ni Reg' nuc (nup ?) Hewaldus abbas Buffestrie & (Sic). 
 convent' p'dcs vastu sibi appropriav'ut & tenet & vendut 
 carbones turbas & pasturas de anno in annu & capiunt inde 
 redd quo waranto ignorat ad dapnu annuali XL. sol. p. 91. 
 
 Hund' de Colrig'. 
 D' feodis dni' Reg' & tenentibu} ejus <fec. 
 
 D'nt q* Rog's de Valle Torta tenuit baronium de Hurberton 
 cu membr' de d'no Rege in capite p' s'viciu duo^ militu' ad 
 bellu quando diis Rex h'uit necesse v'l q*tuor armigeru' & 
 eadem baronia est nuc in manu d'ni Reg' p' morte d'ci Rog'i 
 de qua baronia Abbas de Bufest'a tenet Sutholn p' donu 
 
 ■I •! 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 wm% * \ J '* ^ i !■ P * Mfc " 
 
 >rf' ■ ■ \^-m^sfm^^tmim 
 
72 
 
 THE CISTERCUN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 73 
 
 ill 
 
 
 At Exeter. 
 Octave of St. 
 Martin. 
 9-10 Ed. I. 
 A.D. 1281. 
 
 Rici' Barejn qui feoffat' fiiit de baronia de Hurberton et dedit 
 eide abbati t*pe H. Reg' p'ris dfii R' nuc xl. q'nto. 
 
 I? d'nt q'd abbas de Bufest'a tenet centu' acr' bosci apud 
 Sutholn in man'io de Huberton que boscu elemosinavit Rads 
 de Valle Torta fra't dci Rog'i nuper defuncti d'co abb'ti 
 tpe ejusde' H. Reg' p'ris dni R. nuc XL. sodo. p. 89. 
 
 104. In consequence of the returns of the commissioners 
 it is supposed that the statute of Gloucester was enacted, and 
 various holders of land were called upon to answer " Quo 
 Waranto" such things had or had not been done, and in the 
 Rolls of the Pleadings in answer we find that the Abbot of 
 Buckfast was called upon to defend the then possessions of 
 the house, inasmuch as he claimed to have a view of frank- 
 pledge, assize of bread and beer, and free warren, and a 
 gallows in Buckfast, Churstow, Heathfield, and Batteburg. 
 The abbot by his attorney pleaded that he claimed no free 
 wan'en, and that as to the gallows he produced the deed of 
 Richard I., which gave him the rights he exercised, and as to 
 the other matters he pleaded that the crown had no right to 
 question him, for the places where they were exercised were 
 within the precincts of the hundred of Roger de Moles and 
 Richard, the Lords of the Manors of Stanborough and 
 Ermington respectively. On behalf of the King it was alleged 
 in reply, that privileges of that kind especially pertained to 
 the King, and, as the abbot showed no warrant from the 
 crown, judgment was demanded on its behalf. As far as I 
 know there is no account of the termination of the case, 
 which was tried at Exeter. It frequently happened that pro- 
 ceedings, up to a certain point, were carried on, and then 
 dropped, either because the King's advisers knew they had a 
 bad case, or because it was not thought worth while to dis- 
 turb the holders, or, which perhaps happened as frequently as 
 either of the others, that unmolested possession was retained 
 by judicious bribes. 
 
 Abbas Buifestr sum fuit ad respond diio Regi de pto quo 
 War clam hre visum f^nci pleg emend a§s panis <& cvi§ f*cte & 
 furc in Buffestr Thorestowe Hecfeld & Batteberg & libam 
 Warenn in dnicis tris suis ibidm sine licenc etc. 
 
 Et Abbas p atorn suu veh Et quo ad libam warenn die qd 
 nullam warenii clain in pdcis vitl Et quo ad furc die qd dns 
 Rics Rex concessit ei Infangenethef & Itfangenethef in omib} 
 pdcis vitl p cartam suam q*m pit & hoc idm testaf^ Id inde 
 sine die Et quo ad visum t^nci pleg emend asS panis & ^vis 
 
 f*cte in Buffestr & Thorestowe die qd sunt infra pcinctum 
 Hundri Rof i de Moeles de Stanberwe Et quo ad Hecfeld & 
 Battebergh die qd sunt inf * pcinctu Hundri Rici fit Stephi de 
 Ermingtori in quibus Hundr nich po? acdsce diio Regi Et pe? 
 judm. 
 
 Here, in the later entry mentioned below, follows : " Et 
 petit Judm si dns Rex accoem heat ad pdcas libtates petendas 
 que sunt in alienis Hundris." , , .9 ^ 
 
 Et Wilts de Gyselh^m qui sequif etc. Die qd huj mod 
 libtates spali? ptinent ad Coron diii Reg Et desic nullu aliud 
 ostend war lo ad judm. 
 
 Dies dat^ est coram dno Rege a die Pascil in unu mensem 
 ubicuq^ etc. [de audo Judo etc. Et Abbas po lo suo Waltm de 
 ffyrsedoii, added on the Roll in the note.] 
 •^ M^j 
 
 Assize Roll. Devon 1 >Memb. 20 d. 
 
 34J 
 M] 
 A similar entry in the Assize Roll 1 > 3 on memb. 37, 
 
 33J 
 
 with, here and there, a trifling variation in the Record. The 
 names of places are written : " in Buffestre Thurescowe Het- 
 feld & Batteburg & libam warennam in dnicis suis ibidem sine 
 licencia etc." This last-mentioned entry will also be found in 
 the Placita Quo Waranto. ed. Record Com. fol. 1818, p. 168. 
 
 105. Of Robert, who was confirmed abbot in 1280, we 
 have nothing to record. He did not, I think, continue abbot 
 long, for I have found that Peter, whom Oliver mentions as 
 occurring in 1306, was abbot at least as early as 1290, and 
 his name appears again in 1295-6, as will be seen from the 
 following extracts : — 
 
 A** Regis E. 19, facta convene, inter Petru Abtem de 
 Buckfastre et ejusd Loci convent ex vna pte et Jo^e de 
 Hubernford ex all. p terra in Brenta. Test. Witto de Kil- 
 berry Wiito de Boyvill. P. 9. (P. 381.) , ^ ,. , 
 
 Convencio facta 24 E. inter Petr. Abb. de Buckfastr etc. 
 et Johm Welbrok p ?ra in Brenta. Test. Pho de Boterford, 
 Hen le Norreis, Hug de Corndon, Rico de la Forde, Rico de 
 la Forde, Rico de Hubernford, 24 E. 1, p. 10. (Additional 
 MSS. Brit. Mus. 28,649, p. 380. 
 
 106. In Abbot Peter's time the Survey for the Taxation of 
 Pope Nicholas was taken. In 1288 this Pope gave to Edward 
 I. the tenth of all the revenues of the churches m England, 
 
 L 
 
itll 
 
 74 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Scotland, and Ireland, in aid of the war in the Holy Land. 
 The survey was not made till 1291 and 1292, as the King did 
 not immediately avail himself of the benevolence of the Church. 
 The entries relating to this abbey are as follows : — 
 
 Decanaf de Cadebur. 
 
 Taxatio. Decima. 
 
 Abbas Buffestr' p'cipit de ecclia de Donne 2 4 
 
 Decanatus de Chamlegh. 
 
 Abbas BufFestr' p'cipit de ecclia de Sele 
 
 Decanatus de ToUon. 
 
 Ecclia de Brenta 
 
 Vicar' de eadem 
 
 Ecclia de Birfestr* .... 
 Vicar' de eadem .... 
 
 Decanaf de Wodlegh, 
 
 Pens' alibi l Abbas Bufestr' p'cipit de 1 
 bnfic I Ecclia de Thurstonde* j 
 
 Archidiaconaf TottorC. 
 
 Maniu de Brent q*d tax' 
 
 Maniu de Northon f q'd tax' . 
 
 Apud Donfestr' % q'd tax' 
 
 Apud Hedfelle § q d tax' 
 
 Apud Bankesburgh || q'd tax' . 
 
 Apud BodrikestonlF q'd tax' . 
 
 Apud Sele q'd tax' 
 
 Apud Dymm'** q'd tax' 
 
 Apud Trisma q'd tax' 
 
 Apud Robrok and Hyndon q'd tax' 
 Siiia . . . 37 5 
 Dec' . . . 3 14 6 
 
 Taxatio Ecclesiastica, P. Nicholai, pp. 144, 
 146, 149, 151-153, fol. 1802. 
 
 107. In 1297, April 8, Edward I. visited the Abbey, pro- 
 bably on his way to Plympton Priory. He was in Devon- 
 shire fourteen years before, and spent some time at Exeter 
 with Queen Eleanor, and the Court kept Yule-tide in the 
 Bishop's palace. 
 
 108. Abbot Peter was one of the witnesses to a deed with 
 the Abbot of Tavistock and the Priors of Plympton and 
 
 Abbas 
 Buftr'^ 
 het 
 
 2 13 4 5 4 
 
 6 13 4 13 4 
 
 1 10 non ex 
 
 5 6 8 10 8 
 
 10 non ex 
 
 13 4 14 
 
 9 15 4 
 6 6 8 
 3 14 4 
 
 8 
 13 
 
 4 8 
 
 9 4 
 10 
 15 8 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 2 
 2 
 2 
 3 
 1 
 
 • Churchstow. 
 t Notone. 
 i Bnckfastlei^h. 
 § Heathfield. 
 
 y Batisborough. 
 ^ Petrockstowe. 
 •♦ Donne. 
 
 : 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 75 
 
 Totnes, which was an undertaking by the Burgesses of Ash- 
 burton to provide a maintenance for a priest and necessaries 
 for divine worship for the Chapel of St. Laurence, at Ash- 
 burton. A transcript of this deed will be found in the Lives 
 of the Bishops of Exeter, by Dr. Oliver, from the Registers 
 of Bishop Stapledon, p. 69. Robert, Stephen, and John de 
 Churstowe succeeded Peter, 1 Aug. 1316; 24 June, 1330; 
 and 1 Nov. 1332. I have not found a single entry relating 
 to acquisition of land, disputes leading to legal proceedings, 
 or to any event in the history of the Abbey during the time 
 of these three abbots. 
 
 109. William Giffard was confirmed 6th June, 1333, his 
 predecessor having been abbot for only about eight months. 
 He seems to have been more than once involved in contro- 
 versy as to the rights of his Abbey. I have not been able to 
 trace in the Year Books the particulars of the dispute between 
 him and the Stoners, the then Lords of the Hundred and 
 Manor of Ermington, mentioned by Dr. Oliver ; and 1 have 
 in other cases been unable to verify the learned doctor's 
 references to public records, which in two or tln:ee instances 
 I particularly regret. 
 
 110. On the death of William Giffard early in 1349, 
 Philip was admitted, 21 May, 1349, and in the following 
 year he obtained from the King, a grant to his Abbey of 
 a weekly market at Buckfastleigh, and a yearly fair at 
 Brent, the former on Tuesday, and the latter on the feast 
 of St. Michael and the two preceding days, to be held on 
 Brent Down. I believe this fair is now represented by the 
 Brent September fair. How long the Buckfastleigh weekly 
 market continued I do not know, but an unsuccessful attempt 
 to revive it was made early in this century. 
 
 Grant to the Abbey of Bucfaste of a weekly Market 
 AT Buckfastleigh and of a yearly Fair at Brent. 
 
 ^ eisdem* sattm. Sciatis nos de gra nra spali concessisse Pro abb'e et 
 1 hac carta nra confirmasse ditcis nob in xpo Abbi 1 Conventui conuentu de 
 de Bucfas? in Com Devon qd ipi 1 successores sui imppetuu Bucfast. 
 heant vnu i9catu singlis septimanis p diem Martis apud 
 Bucfastenlegh 1 vnara feriam singlis annis apud Brente in 
 quadam placea vocata Brentedoune p tres dies duraturam 
 vidett in die §ci Michis in mense Septembr T: p duos dies px 
 jcedentes nisi iScatu illud 1 feria ilia sint ad nocumentu 
 
 * Archiep'is Ep'is Ducib' Comitib' Baronibus Justic' vice commitib' pre- 
 positis Ministris et om'ibu' Ball's et fidelib' suis. 
 
 2 L 
 
 ir 
 
 ■•CCIIil 
 
 i': 
 
 rtlM 
 
I 
 
 76 
 
 THE CISTEBCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 77 
 
 vicinox iScatox % vicinax feriax Quare volum^ T; fermir 
 pcipim^ p nob T; heredib} nris qd pdci Abbas 1 Conventus T: 
 successores sui imppetuQ lieant dca mcatu 1; feriam apud 
 loca pdca cum omib) libtatib) T; libis consuetudinib} ad 
 huiusmodi iScatu 1 feriam ptineiitib} Nisi mcatu illud T: feria 
 ilia sint ad nocumentu vicinox mcato^ 1 vicina^ feria^ sieut 
 pdcm est. Hiis testibj veSabilib} prib) J. Archiepo Ebo^ 
 Angt Primate Cancellario riro W. Epo Wyntoii TheS iiro 
 Henr Duce Lancastr Wilto de Bohun Nortit 1 Thoma de 
 Bello Campo Wampo Warr Comitib} Bartho de Burgherssh 
 seniore Johe de Grey de Retherfeld Senescallo hospicij nri 
 1 aliis. Dat p manu iiram apud Wyndesore xxiiij die Aprilis. 
 
 p ipm Rege nunc Wifto Mugge. 
 
 (Charter Roll 25 to 27 Edw. III. m. 7.) 
 
 111. Philip was not abbot lone. He was succeeded by 
 Robert SimonB, whose name I fin3 frequently occurring in 
 legal documents for nearly forty years. As early as 1358 he is 
 mentioned, and as late as 1393. Whether it is that he was 
 particularly litigious, or that his predecessors had been lax 
 in their care of the rights of the Abbey, I do not know, but, 
 besides the case of the Abbey against the Dean and Chapter 
 of Exeter with reference to the fishery of the Dart,* I have 
 found references to several other cases in the Assize and De 
 Banco Rolls, some of which I give. 
 
 112. The first relates to a claim made against the abbot 
 by Richard Avery, who complains that on the Thursday after 
 the Feast of St. Dionysius in the 30th year of Edward III., 
 the Abbot vi et armis, at Trusham, carried off the goods and 
 chattels of the said Richard, labour horses [jumenta], oxen, 
 cows, heifers, calves, pigs, and sheep, besides com, hay, straw, 
 and other things, and alleged that he was injured to the extent 
 of £100. The abbot in person stated, in reply to the charge, 
 that he ought not to be called upon to answer, inasmuch as 
 Richard Avery was his villein, belonging to the Manor of 
 Trusham, the property of his church of tlie Blessed Mary of 
 Buckfast, and sought judgment accordingly. Richard said 
 that he was a free man and not a villein, out the jury upon 
 their oaths were satisfied that poor Richard was nativus^ and 
 the abbot had judgment. This document therefore is valu- 
 able, showing that at this time, 1358, the villein had no rights, 
 at all events against the lord of the soil. Professor Stubbs 
 eloquently describes the position of the nativus after the Con- 
 
 • 01iTer*8 Monasticon, p. 371. 
 
 quest, and shows that, although it may seem a hard one to us 
 at this time, it had many advantages. " Under a fairly good 
 lord, under a monastery or a college, the villein enjoyed im- 
 munities and securities that might be envied by his superiors ; . 
 he had a ready tribunal for his wrongs, a voice in the ma- 
 nagement of his village ; he might with a little contrivance 
 redeem his children and start them in a higher state of life. 
 His lord had a peremptory claim on his earnings, but his 
 lord had a lord, whose claims on him were as irresistible, if 
 not as legally binding. He was excluded from juries and 
 assizes touching property, but by that exemption he was freed 
 from the risk of engaging in quarrels in which he would be 
 crushed without pity by the more powerful neighbour against 
 whom he might have to testify. If he was without political 
 rights, so were also the great majority of his superiors."* 
 
 Robtus Simon Abbas de Buckfestre attactius fuit ad res- At Exeter, 
 pondend Rico Averay de ptito t^nsgr p billam Et undo idem 32 Ed in. 
 
 4-».^. . '' * o^j'T- »- i. r~ -— Sept. 1368. 
 
 Ricus m ppria psona sua quer* qd die Jovis px post tm sci ^ 
 
 Dionig anno regni Reg E' nunc Angt tricesimo vi 1 armis 
 
 videl? glad T:c apud Trussume bona 1 catalla ipsius Rici scilt 
 
 tria Jumenta pcii quadraginta solido^ sex boves pcii quatuor 
 
 librae quatuor vaccas pcii quadraginta solidorum duas Ju- 
 
 ventas ^cii sexdecim solidoi duos bovettos pcii di m*rc tres 
 
 vitulos ^cii sex solidox quinque porcos pcii qndecim solido^ 
 
 nonaginta bidentes pcii sex libr % sexdecim solidorum cepit 
 
 1; abduxit 1 quinq, q^'rSia fr septem quartia siligis quatuor 
 
 quar?ia aven duodecim trusses de feno sexaginta trusses 
 
 stramig quatuor coffr una caruca T: ij hcias de ferro T: viginti 
 
 clayes p i fald ad valenciam decern librae cepit T; asportavit 
 
 cont"" pacem Ic. unde dicit qd detioratus est T: dampnu het 
 ' valenciam centu libra*. Et inde pducit sectam. 
 Et pdcus Robtus Abbas in pp^a psona sua venit T; dicit qd 
 
 Et pdcus Robtus Abbas m pp'a psona sua venit t aicit qa 
 pdcus Ricus responder non debet quia dicit qd idem Ricus 
 est nativus ipsius Abbtis de Mafiia suo de Trussume Et idem 
 Abbas T; pdecessores sui Abb!es loci pdci seiti fgerunt de ipso 
 Rico 1 antecessoribus suis ut de nativis suis MaSii sui pdci de 
 jure eccte sue be Marie de Bokfast 1 petit judiciu etc. Et . 
 pdcus Ricus dicit qd ipse est liber homo ^ libe condicois T; non 
 nativus ipsius Abbtis put idem Abbas v*sus eii ptitando allegat 
 1 hoc petit qd inquiraf p priam. Et pdcus Robtus Abbas 
 similiter. I'o prec est vie qd venire fac coram pfatis Justic hie 
 die M^cur in prima septia quadragesime xxiiij*"" tam milites etc. 
 Et qui nee etc. ad recogii T;c. Quia tam Ic. idem dies datus 
 
 ♦ Stubbs, Const. Hist, vol L p. 430. 
 
 i 
 
/ 
 
 78 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 DcTon. 
 
 Devon. 
 
 est ptibus pdeis etc. Ad quern diem coram Justic hie veB ptes 
 ^dce m ppriis psoms suis Et Jur ven qui de consensu Scfcoi 
 Riea Averay 1 Rofeti Simon Abbtis ad hoc etci txiati { Ju? 
 dicunt sup sacrm suum qd ?dcus Ricus Averay est nativus 
 ipius Robti Simon Abbtis de maSio suo Sdco put idem Abbas 
 supius allegat. To conS est qd ^dcus feicus*^nichil capet p 
 billa sua set sit in mia p injusta queret sua Et Sdcus Ifcbtus 
 Abbas quietus sine die. 
 
 Mj 
 Assize Roll. 1 8 Memb. 4'*. Devon 
 34) 
 
 113. In 1364, in the White Book of Tenures in Cornwall 
 
 ZluT ^Vfc ^^"^ ^^ ^^^^''^'•^' «^ * *»« «f wine to the 
 Abbot of Buckfast. The Carmelites of Plymouth at the 
 same time obtained five tuns. I have printed this elsewhere.* 
 
 114. In 1366 there was a dispute with the Vicar of 
 Harberton, and in 1367 the abbot had occasion to take pro- 
 ceedings against John Prestcote and Matthew Kellv, who 
 had destroyed trees to the value of ten pounds. 
 
 a^f^^n^Jl"^ f * ^^.^L^^ B,?«kfasV ^"^^ ^ ^«^^™ Wonard 
 art suum 1 Galfro vicar ecctie de Huberton p Johem Wilbv 
 attsuude ptito t^ns^r hie a die see Trinitat^in xv dirs £ 
 
 m.'42T)^ ^ ^^"'' ^^"' ^^ ^^^^^^ in. h'LvJ' 
 
 Abbas de Bukfast p Johem Prestecote attorn suu op se 
 iiij»» die 9sus Ricm Isshelegh 1 Matheu Kellygh de ptito 
 quare vi 1 armis arbores ipius Abbis ad valen? decc liC 
 JP'^'^T.PS^^* °"P ^re^^'^? combusserunt 1 alia enoS 
 Ic Et iDi non ven et pdcus Ricus fuit attach p Johem uXl 
 Johem liert Po ipi in mia Et Jc est vie qd dist? eum p omnes 
 ri-aslc.et qd de excitib^lc. £ qd heat corpus emThl aZ 
 Pasche m tres septias ^ Justie Ic. et de ^dL MaAeo m W 
 vie qd nichil het Ic. Po ?e est vie qd ca/eum si Ic etTaTvo 
 Ic. Ita qd heat corpus eius hie ad ^fatum ?min Ic me 
 Banco Roll, Hilary, 42 Edward III. m. 163d.) ^ 
 
 115. The next document is from Rymer's Fcedem. Tf 
 must not be supposed that John Beaumont was the Abbot of 
 Bucyast m 1372^ Doubtless this proclamation wasTssued Tn 
 the time of trouble following the victorv of f !,«%!!! • i 
 over the English off Rochell| when te^Eafl S ptee' 
 the son-m-law of the King, was taken prisoner. ^''"^'^^^' 
 
 • Ecclesiastical Hiat. Old Pljmontli, Appendix, p. 88. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 79 
 
 De hominibus ad arma in comitatu Devon* arraiandis. 
 
 A.D. 1372. 
 46 Edw. III. 
 
 } Rex venerabili in Christo patri Thomae, 
 ' eadem gratia episcopo Exon' ac dilectis 
 R0I. Franc. 1 et fidelibus suis Hugoni de Courtenay 
 
 ?nWLond°'*^^'i °^™i*^ Devon', Johanni de Cheverston, 
 
 Theobaldi Greneville, Ricardo de Stapuldon, 
 Johanni Beaumond abbati de Bukfast, Johanni Daumarle, 
 Willielmo de Bykebury, et Martino Ferrers, salutem. 
 
 Sciatis quod nos, de fidelitate et circumspectione vestris 
 plenius confidentes, assignavimus vos, conjunctim et divisim, 
 ad omnes homines defensabiles comitatus Devon', infra 
 libertates et extra, exceptis nominibus, qui nobiscum in 
 obsequium nostrum sunt profecturi, cum omni festatione 
 arrairi, et ipsos, videlicet, quemlibet eorum juxta statum et 
 facultates suas, armis competentibus muniri, faciendum : et 
 ad ipsos, sic arraiatos et numitos, videlicet, illos qui terras vel 
 tenementa juxta costeram maris habent, ad morandum super 
 eisdem terris continue cum tota familia sua, et alios, terras et 
 tenementa super costeram praedictam non habentes, juxta 
 praemunitionem vestram, et cujuslibet vestrum ad costeram 
 praedictam quociens necesse fiierit, et periculum aliquod 
 iminuerit, viis et modis quibus melius expedire videritis, 
 venire compellandum, ibidem quamdiu indiguerit super salva 
 custodia terras maritimae continue moraturos, ad resistendum 
 malitiae inimicorum nostrorum, si qui regnum nostrum 
 invadere praesumpserint. 
 
 Et ad omnes illos, quos in hac parte contraries inveneritis 
 seu rebelles, arestandum, et prisonis nostris mancipandum, in 
 eisdem moraturos, quousque de eorum punitione aliter 
 duxerimus ordinandum. 
 
 Et ide6 vobis et cuilibet vestrum distiictius quo poterimus, 
 mandamus, firmiter injungentes, quod circa praemissa, 
 omnibus aliis praetermissis, cum omni diligentia et solicitudine 
 quibus poteritis, effectualiter intendatis, et ea faciatis et 
 exequamini in forma praedicta : et vos ipsi et qualibet vestrum 
 ad terras et tenementa vestra, costerae praedictae propinquiora, 
 cum omni festinatione vos trahatis, ibidem super salva 
 custodia terrae maritimae, cum tota familia vestra continue 
 moraturi. 
 
 Damus autem vicecomiti nostro comitatiis prajdicti, ac 
 universis et singulis aliis fidelibus nostris comitatus praedicti, 
 tam infra libertates quam extra, tenore praesentium in 
 mandatis, quod vobis, et cuilibet vestrum in praemissis 
 
 I * 
 
 -'■ 
 
 i» * 
 
 Oh m 
 
80 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Devon. 
 
 pareant, obediant et intendant, quociens et quando per vos, 
 seu aliquem vestrum, super hoc ex parte nostrd fuerint 
 praemuniti. 
 
 In cujus, 
 
 Teste Rege, apud Westm' xx die Jiilii . 
 
 Per ipsum Regem et consilium. 
 
 [Rymer's Fcedera, vol. iii. p. 2, p. 956, ed. 1830.] 
 
 116. In the Year Book, 50 Edward III. 1375, is 
 mentioned the case of the Abbot of Bukfast versus the Dean 
 and Chapter of Exeter, John Wyllyot, and Robert Davy 
 [see ff. 10b and 11], and in the Liber Assisarum, 47 Edw. 
 III., the Dean and Chapter of Exeter and John Wiliot, 
 clerk, were attached to answer to Robert, abbot of Bukfast, 
 of the plea, " quare ipsi cum Thomas Bail de Staverton, etc. 
 injuste & sine judicio levaverunt quondam gurgitem in 
 Staverton ad nocument' liberi ten' sui in Bukfast post 
 primam, &c" The abbot used to take fish to the value of 
 40/. per annum, and now cannot take more than to the value 
 of lOs. a-year. Arguments upon verbal omissions and 
 technicalities followed, but nothing apparently was done. 
 The last words are " Et sur ceo adjornatur." 
 
 117. The following relate probably to the same matter, and 
 are taken from the De Banco Roll : — 
 
 Jur*in?Abbem de Bukfast que? l Rofctm Sumpter Decanii 
 ecctie beati Petri Exoii 1 Capitulum eiusde ecctie 1 Johem 
 Wyliet cticum de eo si pdcus Abbas pendente bri suo vsus 
 ipos Decanu 1 Capitulu T; Johem impetrato supponendo qd 
 ipi siml cum Thoma Baillyf de Stav'ton iniuste \ sine indico 
 levaverunt quondam gurgitem in Stav^toii ad nocumentu libi 
 ten ipius Abbis in Bukfast pstravit gurgitem pdcm p quod 
 idem Abbas bre suu vl?ius v'sus pdcm Johm manutenere non 
 debet sicut idem Johes dicit vel non sicut ^dcus Abbas dicit 
 Et eciam si die irapetracois bris ^dci Abbis scitt decimo die 
 Nov anno regni Regis nunc Angt quadragesimo pdci Decanus 
 1 Capitulu fuerunt tenentes vt de libo ten soli in Stanton vbi 
 supponit* nocumentu pdcra fieri ad nocumentu libi ten pdci 
 Abbis in Buckfast p qd ipi vt tenentes soli illius ad excepcoem 
 allegand in Cassacoem bris pdci admitti debeant sicut ijdem 
 Decanus 1 Capitulu Dicunt vel non Immo pdco die impe- 
 tracois bris pfat Johes Willyet fuit tenens eiusdem soli vt de 
 libo ten sicut pdcus Abbas dicit ponit"^ in respcm hie vsq^ a 
 die Pasche in xv dies nisi Justic dni Regis ad assias in com 
 pdco capiend assign |j forma statuti etc. die M^cur px post ftn 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 81 
 
 §ci Mathie Apli apud Exon prius veSint p defcu Jur quia 
 nullus ven. I'o vie heat corpa etc. — (De Banco Roll, 48 Edw. 
 III., Hilary m. 169 d.) 
 
 Jur=^ in? Johem Welyet quer 1 Robtm Abbem de Bukfast Devon. 
 T; fratre Johem Skyredoh from Radm Middelworthy f rem 
 Rohm Cok* T: frem Walterum Morchard cdmonac eiusde 
 Abbis de ptito t^nsgr ponit"' in respectu hie vsq3 a die Pasche 
 in tres septias p Justic nisi Justic dni Reg ad asSias in coin 
 pdco capiend assign p forma statuti etc. die Mercur px post 
 festu sci Mathie Apli apud Exoh prius veSint p defcu Jur 
 quia nullus ven. I'o vie heat corpa etc. Ad que die veh ptes 
 etc. Et vie non mi§ bre. I'o Jur" pdca ponit"" in respcm hie 
 vsq3 a die see Trinitatis in xv dies p defcu Jur quia nullus 
 ven. I'o vie heat corpa Ic. Ad que die * * 
 
 Further put in respite to Michaelmas, then to Hilary. 
 (Apparently here the Record stops, but the writing is so bad, 
 small, and close, that it is difficult to say positively). — Ibid. 
 m. 263. 
 
 118. In 1377 we again find Abbot Robert in legal mire, 
 prosecuting James Audeley for interfering with the river 
 Dart and the fishery at Dartiugton, Staverton, and Little 
 Hempston. No decision upon the case can be found. It is 
 repeated de novo in subsequent Rolls. 
 
 Jacobus de Audele Chivliler sum fuit ad respondend Robto Devon 
 Abbti de Bukfast de ptito quare ipe injuste T: sine judicio 
 levavit sex gurgites in Dertyngtoii Staverton T; Hemmestoii 
 Arondel ad nocumentu libi ten ipius Abbtis in Bukfast % 
 Ayshpertoii post p"'m Ic Et undo idem Abbas p Thomam 
 Spyrweye attorn suu die qd ubi idem Abbas het T; here debet 
 ipeqj 1; omes pdecessores sui Abbtes loci pdci a tempo quo non 
 extat memoria huerunt in villis de Bukfast T; Ayshpertoii in 
 quadam aqua vocata Derte quondam gurgitem de quo quidem 
 gurgite pdca aqua de Derte currit usq} ad pdcas villas de 
 Dertyngtoii Staverton Hemmestoii Arondel 't a pdcis villis 
 usq3 ad altum mare extra portum de Dertemouthe de quo 
 gurgite idem Abbas here debet ipeq3 T: omes pdecessores sui 
 Abbtes ejusdem loci a tempe cuj^ cont"^rii memoria non existit 
 huerunt quandam aperturam latitudinis sex pedu in aqua 
 
 Elsewhere (in previous Bolls) Cooke. 
 
 
 I 
 
, jy 
 
 ■ " 
 
 82 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 83 
 
 pdca in medio majoris cursus 1 pfundita? ejusdem aque in 
 omib} locis T; dfiiis int pdcas villas de Bukfast T; Ayslipertoii 
 T: altu mare extra portfi pdcra ex quacumqj pte ubi majore 
 cursu 1 pfundita? ejusdem aque in alneo suo fore contig^it p 
 (|uam quidem apturam salraones trutes peles 1 alii pisces 
 maris natare solebant T; potuerunt ab alto mari extra portii 
 pdem usa ad gur^ite ipius Abbtis 8up"'dcam pdcus Jacobus 
 levavit pel cos sex gurgites ex f^nsvso ejusdem Aque % pdce 
 apture in eadem aqua de Derte in pdcis villis de Dertyngtoii 
 Stavertoii T; Hemmeston Arondel int gurgite ipius Abbtis 
 pdcm T: altu mare 1; portii sup""dcm p quos quidem gurgites 
 in eisdem villis de Dertyngtoii Stavertofi T; Hemmeston 
 Arondel sic levat aptura pdca est obstructa ita qd pisces Ic 
 natare non possunt ab alto mari usq^ ad gurgitem ipius Abbtis 
 pdcm sicut solebant p quod ubi ipe Abbas solebat T: potuit 
 cape pisces in gurgite suo pdco ad valenciam quadraginta 
 librarx p annii ante levacoemT; obstruccoem sup^lcasT; modo 
 non potest cape pisces nisi ad valenc decem solidox p annii 
 et sic ad nocumentu etc. unde die qcf deter est It dampnu het 
 ad valenc mille libra^ Et inde pduc sectam etc. 
 
 Et pdcus Jacobus p Johem Bozoun atl suu ven Et pet 
 indo visu heat T: Dies datus est eis hie a die sci Michis in xv 
 dies p Justic Et int^im Ic. 
 
 De Banco Roll, Trinity, 
 
 Ric. II. m. 210. 
 
 119. In 1377 a brief somewhat similar to the one before 
 mentioned (par. 115) from the King and his Council, is 
 directed among others to the Abbot of Buckfast 
 
 De MORA facienda; super invasion e Gallicorum. 
 
 } Rex venerabili in Christo patri Th. eadem 
 ^ gratia episcopo Exoniae, salutem. Quia 
 I pro certo intelleximus quod inimici nostri 
 J Franciae, et alii sibi adhaerentes, magnam 
 multitudinem navium gallarum, et barge- 
 arum, cum homnibus ad arnia et armatis, congregarunt, et 
 infra regnum nostrum Angliae, ad citiiis quo poterunt, ap- 
 plicare, et nos, et dictum regnum nostrum, ac totam linguam 
 Anglicanam destruere et delere proponunt, nisi eorum 
 malitiae manu forti resistatur : 
 
 Nos volentes hujusmodi dampnis et periculis, quae nobis et 
 dicto regno nostro, ex subitis dictorum iniinicorum nostrorum 
 aggressibus evenire possent praecavere, vobis, districtius quo 
 
 A.D. 1377. 
 51 Edw. III. 
 
 Rot. Clans. 
 
 .51 Edw. III. m. 8 
 
 in Turr. Lond. 
 
 T 
 
 1 
 
 poterimus, firmiter injungendo mandamus, quod vos, cum omni 
 festinatione, ad terras et tenementa vestra, villas de Dart- 
 mouth propinquius adjacentia, personaliter divertatis, ibidem, 
 cum hominibus vestris, et tota familia vestra, fortiori modo 
 quo poteritis, super defeusione villae praedictae, et partium 
 adjacentium, contra hostiles agressus, continue moraturi. 
 
 Et homines et tenentes vestros ibidem, videlicet, quemlibet 
 eorum juxta statum et facultates sues, arraiari, et moram 
 continuam ibidem, fortiori modo quo poterunt, hujusmodi 
 periculis iminentibus, facere, et ipsos ad hoc celeriter facien- 
 dum, per districtiones honor uni et catallorum suorum, et alios 
 vias et modes quibus poteritis, compelli et distringi faciatis 
 indilate ; et hoc, sub periculo quod incumbit, nullatenus 
 omittatis. 
 
 Teste Rege, apud West'm xiv die Maii. Per ipsum 
 Regem et consilium. (Rymer's Foedera, vol. iii., part 2, 
 p. 1078, ed. 1830. 
 
 120. In the following extract, 1378, the abbot seeks to 
 recover from John Suddon and Margaret his wife a mes- 
 suage and land in Petrockstowe, which Robert Goding held 
 of. William Giffard, the former abbot, and which the then 
 abbot claimed, as reverting to the Abbey on the death of 
 Goding. 
 
 Robtus Abbas de Bukfast petit vsus Johem Suddon ? Devon. 
 Mar^iam uxem ejus unu ferlingu tre *? tres acras pti cu ptin 
 in Petrokystowe que Robtus Godyng^ tenuit de Wilto memb. 289 d. 
 Giffard nup Abbe de Bukfast pdecessore nunc Abbis et que 
 ad ipm nunc Abbem revti debent tanq""m escaeta ^ua eo qd 
 pdcus Robtus Godyng^ obiit sine her %. Et unde idem Abbas 
 p Thoma Spirwey att suu dicit qd pdcus Robtus Godyng^ 
 fuit seit^ de ten pdcis cu ptin in dnico §uo ut de feodo *? Jure 
 tempe pacis tempo dni E nup Reg Angt Avi dni RegC nunc 
 capiend inde explec ad valenc ?c. It ea tenuit de pdco Witto 
 pdco ?c. p homag J fidelit *? scutagiu dni Reg^ cu accederit 
 ad quadraginta solidos decern solid qn ad plus plus qn ad 
 minus minus 7c. t p 3vicia sex solidoi p ainiu ad quatuor 
 anni tmios principales solvend, vidett ad festa sci Michis 
 Natat Dfii Pasch ? Natat sci Johis Bapl de quib} Sviciis idem 
 pdecessor 7c., fuit seit^ ut in jure ecctie sue see Marie de 
 Bukfast [blank] p manus pdci Robti Godyng ut p manus 
 veri tenentis sui vidett de pdcis homag 7 fidelil ut de feodo 7 
 Jur 7 de pdco redditu in diiico suo ut de feed o *? Jure Et que 
 ad pdcm nunc Abbem reverti debent tanq""m eschaeta sua eo 
 
 M 2 
 
 *\\ 
 
 h 
 
 1|i|f 
 
r'^^km».'^-~-\-^ 
 
 mmmmmtm 
 
 II- . 
 
 \ 
 
 84 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCK FAST ABBEY. 
 
 85 
 
 : 
 
 s" 
 
 ( t' 
 
 ,ii = 
 
 i« 
 
 i It 
 
 Devon. 
 
 in. 175cl. 
 
 qd etc. Et inde pducit secta etc. Et pdci Johes t Margeria 
 p Johem Coplestoii a'tt suu vefi Et defend Jus suu quando 
 etc. Et dicunt qd ipi nichil hent in ten pdcis nisi ex 
 dimissione Johis Hopere ad vita ipojj Johis Suddoii 1 
 Marg'ie tantu rev^sione inde ad ^dcm Johem Hopere t her 
 suos spectante sine quo non possunt pdco A^i inde res- 
 pondere It petunt auxiliu de ipo Johe Hopere heant eu 
 hie in Crastino sci Martini etc. Idem dies dat^ est Sdcis 
 ptibj p attorii suos pdcos hie *?c. ad que diem pdcus Johes 
 Hoper sum fecit se esson de malo veniend v'sus pdcm 
 Abbem *? de pdco ptito et huit inde die p Esson suu hie ad 
 hunc die scitt a die Pasche in tres septias extunc px seqn 
 put patet rotlo Esson sexto Idem dies dat^ fuit ptib} Jdcis 
 hie *fc. Et modo ad hunc die ven tam ptes pdce p attorii 
 suos pdcos q'^m pdcus Johes Hoper p Johem Coplestoii 
 attorn suu vefi Et idem Johes Hoper se jungit pdcis Johi 
 Suddoii *? Margie iii respondend Vsus pdcm Abbem de pdco 
 ptito etc. [Hereupon a day was given to the parties, as well 
 y* Abbot as John Suddon or Margery and John Hoper, now 
 joined, from Michaelmas to fifteen days ; at which day come 
 the parties aforesaid from Hilary to fifteen days ; at which 
 day come the parties aforesaid from Trinity to fifteen days ; 
 at which day come the parties aforesaid to the morrow of St. 
 Martin ; at which day come the parties aforesaid from 
 Easter to three weeks] in statu quo nunc salvis ptib) etc. 
 
 De Banco Roll, Trinity, 1 and 2 Ric. 11. 
 
 Here, too, the termination of the case does not apf>ear on 
 the Rolls. For some reason or other it would seem to have 
 been dropped, a compromise being effected, or one of the 
 parties not being sure of his success, allowing the other to 
 take or retain possession of the land in dispute. 
 
 122. The next extract I have during Abbot Simon s time 
 relates to his claim against Walter Rosere and William 
 Buriman, whom he charged with carrying off his villeins, 
 Christina Barry and John Barry, of Downe St. Mary, and 
 the abbot claimed that he was injured to the extent of 20Z. 
 
 Abbas de Bukfast p Johem Lacche at? suu op se iiij*° die 
 9su8 Walrum Rosere J Wittm Buriman de ptito quare vi J 
 armis Cristina Barry ? Joham Barry nativas ipius Abbis in 
 3vico suo apud Sejmtemarydoune existentes cepunt ? abdux- 
 erunt p quod idem Abbas 3viciu nativaa suax pdcax p 
 magnu tempus amisit 1 alia enorma 1c. ad dampnu ipius 
 
 |# 
 
 Abfeis viginti librai 7 con"^ pace dni E' nup Regis Angl 
 avi 1c. Et ipi non veii Et pc fuit vie qd capet eos Et vie 
 nichil inde fecit nee bre misit I'o sicut prius capiant"^ qd sint 
 hie a die sci Michis in xv dies p Justic. 
 
 De Banco Roll, 8 Rich. 11. Trinity [1384]. 
 
 123. In the next, of the date 1393, the abbot is the defen- 
 dant, being called upon by William Beaumont to deliver to 
 him a box, with writings and documents in it. It appears 
 that the box, with its contents sealed up, was handed by John 
 Beaumont the father of the claimant in his lifetime to John 
 Warre, Episcopus Cumogensi, [? Le Mans] and that on the 
 death of John Beaumont the same should have been handed 
 to the son. And afterwards the bishop died at the Abbey of 
 Buckfast, and the box with its contents came into the posses- 
 sion of the abbot, who would not give it up, by which William, 
 the heir of John Beaumont, was much injured, and claimed 
 redress and satisfaction. The bishop appeared by his attorney 
 John Lack, to whom he must have been a good client, 
 admitted having the box, and in effect stated that he was 
 only desirous of doing what was right with it. He produced 
 it in open court, and said that he had received it from the 
 deceased bishop to take care of; that there was another 
 claimant for the box, a certain John Brightricheston, and 
 which was the right owner he did not know ; and asked that 
 John Brightricheston might be protected. The court thought 
 it necessary under these circumstances to give John an oppor- 
 tunity of proving his right, and a day was fixed for him to 
 appear. On the day named he did not come, and eventually 
 the box with the deeds and muniments were handed over to 
 the first claimant, the plaintiff William Beaumont. Here we 
 have, among other interesting matter, the apparent fact that 
 an Englishman was a bishop of a foreign see, if Le Mans is 
 meant, and that he died, and was probably buried, at Buck- 
 fast Abbey. 
 
 FoUowing this are three other extracts from the same roll, 
 relating to litigation initiated by the abbot in respect of tres- 
 pass committed on the abbey lands. 
 
 Robtus Abbas de Bukfestrie sum fuit ad respondend Witto Devon. 
 Beaumount de ptito qd reddat ei quandam pixidem cu cartis 
 scriptis 1 aliis munimentis in eadem pixide contentis quam ei 
 iniuste detinet ?c. Et vnde idem Witts d Thomam Hertescote 
 attorn suu die qd cu quidam Johes Beaumount pat ipius 
 Witti cuius her ipe est die lune px post fm §ci Andr apli anno 
 
 i \ 
 
86 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 regno^ dni Regis nunc quarto apud Exon libasset cuidara 
 Johi Warre Epo Cumogensi* pixidem pdcam sigillatam cum 
 cartis scriptis 1 alijs munimentis eta ¥ras 1 ten que eidem 
 Witto post mortem pdei Johis Jure hereditar descenderunt 
 tangencia in eadem pixide contentis salvo custodiend et eidem 
 Jolli vel her suis cu inde requisitus fuisset relifeand Ac 
 postmodum pdcus Epus in Abbia Bukfesrie obijt post cuius 
 mortem pixis ^dca cu cartis etc. ad manus pdci Abbis deve- 
 nerunt. Idem tamen Abbas licet sepius requisitus pixidem 
 ^dcam pdco Johi Beaumount in vita sua nee eciam eidem 
 Witto fit 1 her pdci Johis Beaumount nondu libavit set illas 
 ei hucusq3 libare cont"'dixit T; adhuc cont*^dicit vnde die qd 
 deVioratus est T; dampnum het ad valenciam centu libra^. 
 Et inde pduc sectam Ic. 
 
 Et pdcus Abbas p Johem Lacche attorn suu vefi Et pfert 
 hie in cur pixidem f/dcam cu cartis ?c. patani ad reddend cui 
 cur Regis hie considerav'it die qd pixis ilia cu cartis 7c. p 
 pfatu Epm eidem Abbi libatu fuit salvo custodiend et cui de 
 Jure libari debet deliband Et die qd quidam Johes 
 Brightricheston clam pixidem pdcam cu cartis %. eidem 
 Johi Brightricheston de Jure libari debe set an pixis pdca cu 
 cartis %. ^dco Johi Brightricheston an pfato Witto de Jure 
 libari debeat nee ne die qd ipe omio ignorat Et pet qd 
 ^dcus Johes Brightricheston j^inuniatur tc. To prec est vie 
 qd jD pbos Jc. scire fac pfato Johi Brightricheston qd sit hie 
 in Octab §ci Michis osten§ si quid p se heat vel diee sciat 
 quare pixis pdca cu cartis ?c. fJfato Witto libari non debeat 
 si ?c. Idem dies datus est ptib} pdcis hie %. Ad quem 
 diem ven tam pdcus Wittus q*m pdcus Abbas p attorn suos 
 • pdcos Et pdcus Johes Brightricheston iiij'o die ptiti 
 
 solempniter exactus non veh Et vie modo mand qd scire 
 fecit eidem- Johi Brightricheston essend hie ad hunc diem 
 ostenS in forma pdca p Nichm More Johem Tonne 1 Robm 
 Feryby I'o oon§ est qd pdcus Wittus heat libacoem pixidis 
 pdce cum cartis etc. extra possessione pdci Abbis Et sup hoc 
 pdcus Abbas pfett hie in cur pdcam pixide cum cartis 7c. 
 parata ad recldend pfato Witto quequidem pixis cu cartis 
 etc. pfato Witto hie in cur liberat"" I'o idem abbas de eadem 
 pixide cu cartis 7c. exoSet"' 7c. — De Banco Roll, 17 Rich. 
 II. Trinity. 
 
 I>evon. Robtus Abbas de Bukfast 1 frater Edwardus Stele 1 frater 
 
 memb. 176 d. Henr Haredon 1 frater Robtus Asshe 1 frater Stephus 
 
 • ? for le Mans in France. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 87 
 
 Roulande comonacos eiusdem Abbis 7 Ricus Roke in iiiia p 
 plur defalt. 
 
 Dies dat^ est Johanne que fuit px^ Johis Jaycok que? p 
 Johem Jaycok attorri suu Et pdcis Abbi Edwardo Henr 
 Robte Stepho 7 Rico p Johem Lacche attorii suu de ptito 
 t*nsgr hie in Octab sci Hillar pcepcium sine essoii etc ad que 
 die ven ptes pdce 7c. Et sup hoc dies datus est eis hie a die 
 Pasche in tres septias pee pciu sine essofi 7c. 
 
 Mem.— On this Roll (230 d.) Robert, Abbot of B. v. 
 ' ** Joham que fuit vxor Johis Jaycok" who " clausa fregit" 
 and cut down the abbot's trees, depastured lands, &c. She 
 does not come. Sheriff ordered to distrain her through all, 
 &c., and have her body here from Hilary to fifteen days. No 
 -writ. Order for Easter as before. — Ibid. 1 8 Rich. II. Mich. 
 
 The next two extracts refer, one to a defaulting bailiff of 
 the Abbey at Battochsburgh, who was not to be found, and 
 the second, to a claim for the recovery of land and houses at 
 Buckfastleigh. 
 
 Robtus Abbas de Bukfast p Johem Lacche attorn suum op' Devon' 
 se iiij'° die vsus Johem Weryng de South lodebroke de pHto 
 qd reddat ei ronabilem compotu suu de tempo quo fuit ballivus 
 suus in Battokysburgh 7 receptor denario^ ipius Abbis Et 
 ipe non ven Et pcept fuit vie qd capet eu Et vie modo mand 
 qd non est invenl 7c. I'o peep? est vie qd capiat eu si 7c. Et 
 salvo 7c. Ita qd heat corpus eius hie in Octabis §ci Hillar 7c. 
 — De Banco Roll, 18 Rich. II. Mich. m. 250. 
 
 Abbas de Bukfast p Johem Lacche attorn suu pe? v*sus Devon' 
 Johnam Jaycok T: Waltum Deghere vnu toftum cum ptin in 
 Bukfastlegh Et vsus Johnam que fuit vxor Johis Jaycok 
 septem mesuag duas acr trc T; vnam acr p*ti et dimid cum 
 ptin in eadem villa Et vsus Waltum Deghere de Bukfastlegh 
 duo mesuag vnam acr rre T; dimid T; vnam acr p"ti cum ptiii 
 in eadem villa vt Jus T;c. p bre Regis de forma donacois T:c. 
 Et pdci Johna Jaycok WaT?us Deghere Johna que fuit vxor 
 Johis Jaycok T; WalSus Deghere de Bukfastlegh p Johem 
 Jaycok attorn suu ven Et sepatim petunt inde visum heant 
 Ic. dies da? est eis hlc a die rasche in quinq^ septimanus Et 
 inrim l.c.-f-lbid, m. 333 d. 
 
 124. I have not been able to find any account of the case 
 referred to by Dr. Oliver which he calls the valuable cause of 
 the fishery of the River Dart at Buckfastleigh against the 
 Dean and Chapter at Exeter, but only a short reference to it. 
 
 4 
 
 
■ * ■ 
 
 88 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 In Hilary term, 1376, a verdict having already been given 
 in favour of the Abbey, apparently at the assizes, the matter 
 came before the Court of Common Pleas on demurrer. Davy, 
 one of the defendants, had never once appeared. The words 
 showing the finding are " Sur que quant a les auters " [Davy 
 not having appeared] " qui averont pled' al enquest trove fuit 
 p' nisi prius que le Dean & le Chapitre n'averont reens en le 
 frank tenement, & auxi Tabbot n'avera abatu le Gorce pen- 
 dant le bre, coe." 
 
 125. While hunting for the Dart case another important 
 fishery case turned up, which is very fully set out in the De 
 Banco Roll. It is too long to produce at length, but a friend 
 who has helped me in transcribing documents for the 
 purposes of this paper has prepared a full abstract of the 
 proceedings. The dispute arose as to the right of fishery in 
 the Brent River, the Avon, and the action was brought by 
 the abbot, still Robert Simons, against Richard Knight, 
 Vicar of Brent, and others. The case was tried, apparently, 
 at Exeter, when a verdict was given in favour of the abbot. 
 There was an appeal, and the verdict was reversed on technical 
 grounds. I have given the judgment and some other parts 
 of the proceedings as they appear on the Roll. 
 
 The King (Richard II.) issued a AVrit of Mandamus to 
 Walter Clopton and the Justices of the King's Bench, dated 
 at Westm., 8 June, 22 R. 2 (1399) ; whereby he directed that 
 Buckfast. the record and process relating to a plea of trespass between 
 Robert, late Abbot of Buckfast, and Robert Knyght, Vicar 
 of the Church of Brent, John Beare [and others as herein- 
 after], &c., being seen by them, a manifest error committed 
 (as alleged) by the Justices of Common Pleas should be cor- 
 rected. The Record and process mention in the said writ as 
 follows : — 
 
 Attorn recep! apud Westm coram ♦ ♦ * Justic Mi 
 Reg de coi Banco de Vmio Hillar Anno regni Reg Rici scdi 
 
 quartodecimo. t *. ir t k 
 
 Devon'. Robtus Knyght vicar ecctie de Brente Johes tlox Jones 
 Beare Witts ffenford Witts Pitman Witts Langedon Johes 
 Langedon Wal?us Schaghe 1 Thomas Schaghe po lo suo 
 Thomam Reymound vel Thomam Noreys vsus Robtm abbem 
 de Bukfas? de pHto t""nsgr. , , ^ « ~ 
 
 Ptita apud Westm coram Robto de Cherlton 1 soc suis 
 Justic Dili Regis de Banco de T*lmio see Trinitatis anno regni 
 Reg Rici scdi quintodecimo. Ro. cccvj. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 89 
 
 Robtus Knyght vicar ecctie de Brente Johes ffox Johes Dev 
 Beare Witts ff'enford Witts Pitman Johes Langedofi t Waltus 
 Schage attach fuerunt ad respondend Robto Abbti de Bukfast 
 de ptito quare ipi cu Witto Langedon i Johe Shaghe vi t 
 armis clau§ ipius Abbis apud Brenta freg^unt i arbores suas 
 ibm nup crescentes succiderunt t in sepal i piscar sua ibm 
 piscati fuerunt t piscem inde ac arbores ^dcas necnon alia 
 bona t catalla sua ad valenc viginti libra^ ac quingentos 
 cuniclos sues pcij centum solido^ ibm inventa ceperunt et 
 asportaverunt i blada t herbam suam ad valenc centu solido^ 
 ibm nup crescencia cum quibusdani averijs depasti fuerunt 
 conculcaverunt T: consumpserunt i alta enormia ei intulerunt 
 ad grave Dampnum ipsius Abbis t cont"" pacem Regis Et 
 vnde idem Abbas p Johem Lacche attorn suu querit qd pdci 
 Robtus Knyght Johes t Johes Witts Witts Johes t Wal?us 
 siml etc. die Jovis px post festu oim sco^ anno regno^ dni 
 Reg nunc nono vi i armis scitt glad archub^ t sagittis claus 
 ipius Abbis apud Brenta fre^unt % arbores suas vidett quadra- 
 ginta quercus viginti fraxinos decern ulnos decem tremulos t 
 viginti fabos ibm nup crescentes succiderunt t in sepali 
 piscaria sua ibm piscati fuerunt t piscem inde vidett quadra- 
 ginta salmones lupos aquaticos percheas tencheas anguillas i 
 pelos ac arbores pdcas necnon alia bona t catalla sua vidett 
 pannos lineos i laneos ad valenc viginti libra^ ac quingentos 
 cuniclos sues pcij centum solido^ ibm inventos ceperunt J 
 asportaverunt i blada vidett frumentu ordeu fabas pisas t 
 avenas t herbam suam ad valenc etc. ibm nup crescenc cu 
 quibusd a9ijs vidett equis bob} vaccis affris bidentibus t 
 porcis depasti fuerunt conculaverunt t consumpserunt t'^nsgr 
 pdcam quoad succisionem arbo^ piscacoem % depastu blado^ 
 t herbe p duos aniios tunc px seqn diversis vicibus continu- 
 andi et alia enormia etc. Et cent"' pacem etc. vnde die qd 
 deter est i dampnu het ad valenc centu libra^ t inde pduc 
 sectam etc. Et Sdci Robtus Knyght Johes ffox Johes Beare 
 Witts ffenford Witts Pitman Johes Langedon t Wal?us p 
 Thomam Norreys Attorri suu ven t defend vim t injur quando 
 etc. Et quo ad venire vi t armis necnon fraccoem clausi 
 succisione arbox ac asportacoem bono^ t catallo^ die qd ipi in 
 nullo sunt inde culpables et de hoc poii se sup priam Et 
 pdcus Abbas simitr. Et eciam pdcus Johes ffox t ofhos alij 
 p? pdcm Robtm Knight quoad capcoem cuniclo^ die sili? qd 
 ipi in nullo sunt inde culpables Et eciam idm Robtus Knight 
 quoad depastu bladox t herbe pdco^ die qd ipe in nullo est 
 inde culpabit Et inde sopatim pon se sup priam Et f^dcus 
 Abbas simili? et quoad piscacoem etc. ^fatus Robtus Knyght - 
 
 N 
 
 ou 
 
 I i 
 
 ii 
 '^1 
 
90 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 91 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 die qd quidam Witts Gybbe circa fm Oim scox Anno re^iox 
 dni Regis nunc sexto cepit de pfato Abbe ad vsii ipius liobti 
 t ^dci Witti Gybbe ac quondam Johis Erode t \^ itti fFylyp 
 piscariam pdcam tenend ad voluntatera ic. ad piscand in 
 eadm p voluntate sua. Et die qd idm Robtus occupavit 
 piscariam pdcam i in eadm pisca? fuit absq) hoc qd ipe 
 aliquo alio tempe in eadm piscaria pisca? fiiit et pdcus Johes 
 fFox t omes alij defend die qd ipi vener in auxiliu ipius Robti 
 ad piscand in piscaria pdca pdcis Annis sexto t septinio absq} 
 hoc qd ipe [aliquo] alio tempe in eadm piscar piscat fuerunt 
 Et hoc pati sunt sepatim vriheare vnde singillatim non intend 
 aliquam Iniur in psonis suis ea de causa assignari posse tc. 
 Et quo ad capcoem cuniclox etc. Robtus Knyght die qd ipe 
 fuit capettus ^dci Abbis i cu eodm Abbe comorabat"" i p 
 pceptii pdci Abbis Annis regno^ dni Regis nunc scdo t l^eio 
 cepit duos cuniclos ad vsu eiusdm Abbis ibm i eos eidm Abbi 
 aft'erebat t libavit absq} hoc qd ipe aliquo modo aliquos 
 cuniclos ibm cepit Et hoc patus est vificare vnde non intend 
 aliquam iniur in hac pte in psona sua assignari posse jc. Et 
 pdcus Joties ffox t omes alij defendentes p? pdcm Robtm 
 Knyght quo ad depastii blado^ j bbe etc. die qcl divsis vicib) 
 p tempus in narracoe pdcis Abbis content div'sa avia sua in 
 bladis 1 herba pdci Abbis capta i impcata fuerunt i in divsis 
 cur eiusdm Abbis p idm tempus ibm p t^'nsgr illis que sunt 
 eadm t'^'nsgr vnde idm Abbas querit"' amciati i afforati fue- 
 runt t amciamenta ilia eidm Abbi de tempe in tempus sepatim 
 solverunt t sic die qd pdco Abbi p dampno p ipos in bladis i 
 herba eiusdm Abbis vnde idm Abbas modo querit"' in foi-ma 
 pdca satisfcm existit vnde non intend qd ipi occone ilia i?um 
 molestari seu g*vari debeant etc. Et pdcus Abbas die qd Sdci 
 Robtus Knyght Johes ffox Jobes Beare Witts ffenford Witts 
 Pitman Joties Langeton i Walrus vi t armis t de iniur sua 
 ppria p tempus in narracoe eiusdm Abbis content in sepali 
 piscar ipius Abbis apud Brente piscati fuerunt t piscem inde 
 ceperunt t asportaver cont"^ pacem Reg put p querelam ipius 
 Abbis supponit**" Et hoc pe? qd inquirat"" p priam. Et pdcus 
 Robtus Knyght t omes alij defendentes qui modo comparent 
 slli? Et eciam idm Abbas die qd Robtus Knyght p tempus 
 in narracoe ipius Abbis specificat vi t armis t de miur sua 
 ppria % cont"^ pacem Beg cepit quingentos cuniclos sues ibm 
 put idem Abbas querit"' Et hoc simili? pet qd inquirat"^ p 
 priam Et pdcus Robtus Knyght simitr Et quo ad depastii 
 blado^ "* herbe pdco^ idm Abbas die qd pdci Jofces ffox Jobes 
 Beare Witts ffenford Witts Pitman Johes Langedon j Wal^'us 
 blada t herbam sua pdca p tempus in narracoe eiusdm Abbis 
 
 content depast fuer cont"- pacem Reg absq3 hoc qd ijdm 
 Johes ffox Johes Beare Witts ff'enford Witts Pitman Jobes 
 Lano-edon i Wal?us p t^^nsgr illis adciati i afferati fuerunt 
 vel eidm Abbi inde p eisdm f^nsgr satisfecerunt Et boc pet 
 qd inquirat"^ p priam Et Pdci Johes ffox Jobes Beare AVitts 
 ffenford Witts Pitman Jobes Langedon t Waltussilit. 1 o pr 
 est vie qd venire fac hie a die sci Micbis in xv dies xij etc. 
 p quos etc. et qui nee etc. Ad recogn etc. Quia tam etc. 
 
 Afterwards the jury being placed in respite at York from 
 Micbmasday to three weeks IG R. II. unless the justices, &c. 
 come before to Exeter, &(i. Afterwards on the day and at 
 the place before Wm. Rykhill and Wm. Brenchell Justices 
 assio-ned &c. in Co. Devon, come as well Robt Abbot of B as 
 Rob*t Knyght, John Fox, John Beare, Wm. Fenford, AVm. 
 Pitman, John Langedon, and Walt. Shaghe by y"-^ att. And 
 likewise the Jurors who &c. say on their oath That ye s^^ John 
 Fox, Wm. P. and John L. are not guilty of the trespass men- 
 tioned. And that the s^ Robt. K. John B. Wm. F. and 
 Walter Shaghe as to breaking the close, cutting down and 
 carryintr away 12 oak trees are guilty; and as to cutting dow^n 
 and carrying away the residue of y« trees ment*, also taking 
 and carrg away the goods and chattels menf* they say that s** 
 Robt K. John B. Wm. F. and Walter S. are not guilty ; 
 and as to fishing in y« sev^ fishery of f Abbot and taking 
 fish, that the s* Robt. John, Wm. and Walt, with force and 
 arms for the time contained in the Abbot's description fished 
 at Brent and took and carried away 30 salmon as complained 
 by the abbot ; and as to taking the remaining fish mentioned 
 that thev (R. J. W. and W.) are not guilty ; and as to ye 
 taking of the rabbits, except twenty of them, that y« s Robt 
 John, Wm. and Walt, are not guilty; as to the 20 rabbits, 
 they took and carried them away as compl"! \yy yc ^bbot ; and 
 as to the depasture that s*^ Robt Knyght is guilty, and the s 
 John Beare, Wm. Fenford and Walter Shaghe also depastured, 
 &c. and they were not amerced, &c. And they assess the 
 damages of the sd abbot on ace* of y« s^ trespasses at Ten 
 Pounds So it is cons«i yt ^e gd ^bbot s\i^ recover ag«* y« said 
 Robt. John, Wm. and Walter his s* damages assessed at lOt. 
 and ye s^^ R. J. W. and W. be taken And y« s^ abbot in 
 mercy for his false claim ag^* John Fox, Wm. Pitman, and 
 John Langedon who are acquitted of y^ s«J trespasses. And 
 hereupon s"* abbot confesses " se nolle ultenus prosequi ag« 
 Wm. Langedon and John Shaghe of plea afores'*. So y« s 
 
 abbot may have exon, &c. « ^ tt t» x., -ir x^j. 
 
 Afterw**" viz. in octaves of S. Hil. 1 6 R. IL Robt Knyght, 
 
 2n 
 
92 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 present here in Court, is committed to Flete "prison (goale de 
 iflete) there to remain until &c. 
 
 The abbot by his s^ atty offered himself on the 4*** day v. s** 
 Wm. Langedon and John Shaghe And they do not come 
 And the sheriff is ordered &c. The sheriff has not sent }<= 
 writ Adjourned to Trinity Term then to be at York on y« 
 morrow of S. John Bapt. At w'^'' day no writ from ye sheriff. 
 To be at York in the octave of S. Michael &c. 
 
 (Pleas at Westm de Banco Mich 15 R. 11.) 
 
 Robt. Abbot of B. pit. v. Robt. Knyght vicar of ch. of 
 Brente, John Fox, John Beare, Wm. Fenford, Wm. Pitman, 
 John Langedon and Walter Shage of a plea of tresj)ass. Jury 
 in respite. Adjourned to Hil. term when (no writ from \^ 
 sheriff) Jury in respite to Trin.* 16 R. 11. Again respited to 
 Michmas unless before &c. Jury to be before y« K.'s Justices 
 at York &c. 
 
 Afterwards, ie. in Mich term 1 Hen. IV. before y« King 
 himself at Westm. at the suit of s^ Robt Knight, John Beare, 
 Wm. Fenford and Walter appearing in person and ascertain- 
 ing there was error in the record and process afores** and in 
 the delivery of the judgment aforesaid and because s** Robt 
 late abbot praying for a writ to summon Wm. now abbot of 
 Bukfast to be before the King to hear s*^ record and process. 
 So the sheriff is ordered to let Wm. know, &c. The same 
 day is given to s* Robt. J. Wm. and Walt. At w<='» day come 
 before the King at Westm s'* R. J. W. and W. in person, 
 and the sheriff returns that he let Wm. now abbot know that 
 he was to be at Westm. to hear &c. as required by y« K's 
 writ by " Wittm Lamelan, Wiitm Hamstede, Johem Coke f 
 Ricm More," &c. Which said Wm. now abbot, tho' warned 
 and solemnly called on the fourth day, does not come. 
 Hereupon y* s^ Robt. John, Wm. and Walter say that in the 
 record and process and delivery of judgment there are divers 
 errors, viz. ; — 
 
 Tliat whereas the s* Roftt late abbot prosecuted a writ of 
 trespass ag»' y«= s** Robt. Knyght and other def*» before y« s** 
 justices etc. and y« s** def*^ by Thos. Norreys y"' attorney 
 w*''^ said writ was quashed namely in Hilary Term 14 R. II. ; 
 and long aflerw<»» ie. 12 April 14 R. 11. the s^^ late abbot 
 obtained that writ ag«» y« def*' in w'^* Thos. Norreys as the 
 attorney of y* def*" (as contained in the said rec** and proc.) 
 whereas y" s** Thos. had no warrant in that second writ " de 
 
 ♦ Robert (abbot) •' po. lo. suo Joh'm Lacche " in this Term. 
 
 . 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 93 
 
 quo totu pcessG ^dcm warrantizat"" ;" and so in this, that the 
 s^ justices proceeded upon the said plea without any def* 
 appearing in his own pson or by att^ have erred And by 
 writ as well Wm. Thirnyng Ch. Justice de Coi Banco as 
 Wm. Pountfreit keeper of the K's writs de Banco *'ad 
 certiorand etc." whether y* s* Robt. John, Wm. and Walter 
 made any atty in the plea aforesaid, etc. The s<J Wm. 
 Thirnyng to search the Rolls and the s^ Keeper to examine 
 the writs of the terms and years afores^ and to certify w*out 
 delay. Afterw^^ 30 Jafiy in that same term Wm. Thirnyng 
 certified that the Rolls of y" s<^ terms and years had been 
 examined; and no attorney can be found of record in y« 
 same. And y® s'^ keeper certified that he had no Writ of Atty 
 for the terms and years aboves^, and that the date of ye orig* 
 Writ in the dispute afores'^ is 12 April 14 R. II. And y^ s<* 
 Robt. John, Wm. and Walter say, that there is manifest error 
 as appears by y« s^ certificates. And in this, that whereas the 
 s*^ Robt. late abbot supposed that they depastured at Brent, 
 and they, the def*% alleged that they were diverse times 
 amerced and satisfied the abbot of those amercem*% and y® s*^ 
 abb^ alleged that they were not amerced, &c. Afterw^'s the 
 Justices by Writ of Nisi Prius inquired "if John Fox, Wm. 
 Pytman and John Langecon were guilty of the s^ trespasses 
 or not, whereas y^ s«i J«8 ought to have inquired if y« s*^ 
 John, Wm. and John were amerced and satisfied the abbot 
 for said trespasses or not. And, because the Justices Inqf^ if 
 they were guilty or not of y« trespasses which the def*" 
 acknowledged, they erred. Also there is error in this, that 
 whereas John Shaghe came not in his own person or by 
 atty and never pleaded, nevertheless y^ Justices inquired if 
 he were guilty or not of the s^^ trespasses, they erred. Also 
 in this, that whereas W^alter Shaghe s* that he was not guilty 
 of taking y« s** rabbits (conies) as alleged by y« abbot, the 
 Justices did not inquire whether he was guilty or not, they 
 erred. Also in this, that whereas y® s^ abbot supposed that 
 s*^ Robt Knyght and other def*" fished in his several fishery 
 at Brent and took fish, etc. the s'' Robt K. s'* y' about y« Feast 
 of All Saints 6. R II. one Wm. Gibbe took from the abbot to 
 the use of the s^ Robt and others ye fishery aforesaid as tenant 
 at will, etc. and said y* said Robt occupied the s^ fishery and 
 fished there : to w'^'^ plea y*' s"^ abbot made no answer but 
 maintained his writ, and y* s** Justices inq^ as to the justifica- 
 tion of s'l Robt K. in s^ plea, whereas the abbot made no 
 answer to the justify, they erred. Also in this, that whereas 
 Jolm Fox and other def*^ said in y""" plea that they came to 
 
94 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 assist Robt Knyght to fish in the 6th and 7th years, etc. 
 whereas no mention was made of any seventh year in the 
 plea and y'= s^^ abbot by accepting that plea and answering 
 thereto, whereas it is not the plea on which the parties joined 
 issue (as appears in the Record) which issue the Justices 
 accepted and inquired upon, they erred. Also in this, that 
 whereas y« s^ abbot supposed that the tresj)ass was done at 
 Brente,^ " postea in replicacoe sua idm Abbas manutenuit 
 |cam t'-nsgr fieri apud Brente t sic non n>anutenuit f^ncrr 
 f/dcam fieri in villa in naracoe sua contenta s} in alia villa et 
 in hoc qd Justic pcessenint ad iudni sup tli ptito erraverunt." 
 And they pray that the said judgment on ace* of s** errors 
 and others in the Record and process aforesaid be reversed ; 
 and that the Court proceed to the exam" of the said Record 
 and process. Hereupon a day is given to y« said Rotit 
 Knyght and others from Easter to three weeks, at w^^ day 
 came y" s^ Robt and others in person ; and, the Court not 
 bemg ready to deliver judgement, a day is given to s*^ R. <S:c. 
 to be before our Lord y« King wherever, &c. in term of Holy 
 Judgment. Tnnity to hear judgment. Ad quern diem coram dno Retre 
 apud Westin veil Jdci Robtus Knyght Johes Beare Wiltms 
 Fenfibrd 1 WalViis in ^priis psofi suis Et vis 1 diligen? 
 examniatis recordo 1 pcessu fdcis videf cur qd in hoc qd ubi 
 p/dcus Robtus nup Abbas etc. supposuit p bre 1 narr sua 
 qd ^dcj Rob Knv^cht 1 alii defendent etc. blada 1 herbam sua 
 cu quibusdam av'iis suis depasti fuerunt apud Brenta etc. 
 f/dci Johes BVx Johes Beare Wiltms Fenfford Wiltms Pitman 
 Johes Lang«don 1 Walt Shaghe allegar qd p eisdin t-^nsgr in 
 Cur ipms nup Abbtis apud_ Brenta diesis tempib) aiiiciati 
 1 afforati fuer 1 de eisdm anlciament eidm nup Abfeti 
 satisfecef ad quod idm nup Abbas ptitando alleg qd p\lci 
 »Johes Fox % alii defend non fuer amciati 1 afforati p eisdm 
 f'nsgr nee p eisdm f^nsgr eidem nup Abbti satisfecer Sup quo 
 postea cJtis die 1 loco put continet' in recordo qd Justic 
 adinquir de t»nsgr fJdcis p bre de Nisi Prius deputaf inquisiver 
 SI f^dci Johes Fox Wiltms Pitman 1 Johes Langedoii fuer 
 culpables de f'nsgr fdcis vel non ubi jJdci Justic inquisivisse 
 debuissent si p/dci Johes Fox Wiltms Pitman \ Johes 
 Langedon p p/dcis t"-nsgr aniciati 1 afforati fuerunt 1 p eisdm 
 t nsgr eidin nup Abbti satisfecer vel non put ipi ptitando 
 allegar Et in hoc qd Justic inquisiver si ipi fuerunt culi)able3 
 
 15 *""?^'^ P^^^^^ ^^^ ^**" "^* if» P P*i?'n 8UU ?dcm cogn 
 t nsgr jidcum manifesto est err. To con§ est qd ob errorera 
 pdcm 1 alios in recordo 1 pcessu pdcis comptos qd judm 
 all. f/dcm revocetur adnuUef^ 'i penit^ p imllo heaf Et qd ^dci 
 
 95 
 
 
 .lud'm adn 
 
 Rofet^ Knyght Johes Beare Wilts Fenfford *? Wal?us reheant 
 dampna sua pdca si que occone pdca pfato nup Abbti aut dco 
 nunc Abbti satisfeclint Et qd ipi eant inde sine die etc. 
 (De Banco Roll, Hilary, 1 Henry IV.) 
 
 127. I have failed not only in verifying Dr. Oliver's 
 authorities in the Dart fishery case, but also in ascertaining 
 further particulars with reference to the placing of the arms of 
 James and Thomas Audelay " in the window of the w^est end 
 of the Conventual Church and in the window of the gable end 
 in the Lady Chapel there." Although a careful search has 
 been made, the entries havo not turned up, and they are not 
 wliere Dr. Oliver states they are. I much regret this, for I 
 believe there is some mistake, inasmuch as Cistercian churches 
 had no Lady Chapel, the whole church being dedicated to the 
 Blessed Virgin [See Monasticon Cisterciense, cap. xviii.] 1 
 was in hopes also that the document might have contained 
 some further references to the church, which might have 
 enabled us to form some idea of its extent and appearance. 
 
 128. Robert Simons was evidently an abbot who had the 
 interest of his house at heart, and did much for its worldly 
 prosperity. Ho must have been abbot for upwards of thirty- 
 five years, and was succeeded in his office by William Paderston, 
 who was confirmed in September, 1395; He was not abbot 
 long, and I havo not been able to find anything relating to 
 the abbey in which he was interested, except the Avon fishery 
 case, which w^as finally decided in his time, and the following 
 from the De Banco Roll 3 Henry IV., 1202. 
 
 Wm. abbot of Buckfast, Brother Wni. Beagh, and 
 Brother Richard Gorwet, fellow monks of the said abbot, . 
 and Thomas Baker and Richard Helyere, the abbot's servants, 
 were attached to answer to Thomas Knight, Vicar of the 
 Church of Brent, of the plea ** quare vi et armis in ipsum 
 Robtm apud Brente insultum fecerunt, etc.," and detained 
 him in prison there until he, R^ibert, paid 20/. for deliverance. 
 The abbot denied his culpability, and alleged that Robert 
 had diverted a water-course which ran through his, Robert's, 
 lands, &c. All parties put themselves on the country, so the 
 sheriff, to make come twelve, &c., from Michaelmas to 
 fifteen days. 
 
 129. My next document is dated 18th May, 1414, when 
 the learned William Slade had become abbot. He was a 
 Devonshire man and educated at Exeter. Proceeding to 
 Oxford, he acquired a good reputation, and about 1413 be- 
 came abbot of Buckfast. As far as we know, with the 
 
 n 
 
96 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 exception of the last abbot, be v as the most distinguished 
 man connected with the house. He was not only a scholar 
 and a theologian, but an artist, and a spiritual guide to those 
 over whom he was set, and to the parishioners of the churches 
 belonging to the Abbey. He made many important additions 
 to the conventual buildings, and I think it may be concluded 
 that it is to his exertions that the people of Kingsbridge are 
 indebted for the Chapel of St. Edmund, king and martyr, 
 — consecrated by Bishop Stafford, 26th August, 1414, at 
 which time the cemetery adjoining was also blessed — being 
 made a parisli church. 
 
 130. Kingsbridge was in the parish of Churchstow. • 
 Certainly, as early as 1333, 7 Edward III., the manors of 
 Churchstow and Kingsbridge belonged to the abbey, but how 
 it became possessed of them is not clear. In 1291, when 
 the Survey for the Taxatio of Pope Nicholas was taken, 
 Churchstow belonged to the Abbey, and, as appears from the 
 entry paragraph 106, the value is entered at 13s. 4d., the 
 tenth being Is. 4d. Churchstow is two miles from Kingsbridge, 
 and, as often hapi)ened, a particular part of the parish, as 
 time passed on, became as important as, or more important 
 than, the neighbourhood around the mother church; and 
 we iind from a deed without date, but probably late in 
 the twelfth century, that provision was required for the 
 spiritual wants of the people of Kingsbridge. The original 
 d&ed is in the possession of the feoffees of the town lands 
 of Kingsbridge, and a translation will be found in Hawkins's 
 History of Kingsbridge, p. 122. 
 
 " Sciant praisentes et futuri quod ego M. de Litlecumba 
 Rector Ecclesiae de Chirchstowe concessi Abbati et Monachis 
 de Bukfest edificare Ecclesiam in honore beati Edmundi Regis 
 et Martiris in Dominio suo in Villa qua dicta Kingesbrig, 
 ita quod omnes proventus illius Villae ad Ecclesiam pertinentes 
 cedant ad Sustentationem unius Capellani qui in pra?dicta 
 Ecclesia Divina celebret imperpetuum, et omnes Homines in 
 prsedicta Villa maneutes audiant divinum Seryicium in 
 prsedicta Ecclesia Et omnia Ecclesiastica jura ibidem per- 
 cipiant, ita cum quod Saltem semel in Anno insitent Matrem 
 Ecclesiam scilicet Chirchstowe videlicet in Assumptione 
 Beatse MarisB Virginis ut infra octavum oblationibus quibus 
 infra limites Parochiae pranlicta villa consistet. Verum 
 propterea Ecclesia de Chirchstowe de loco illo scilicet 
 Kingesbrig nunquam aliquid percipere consuento et ideo 
 libere istud concedo quam omnino est sine prejudicio Matris 
 Ecclesiae et Maximum opus Misericordiae est Divinum in- 
 
 : 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 97 
 
 choare servitium quod per omnibus Christi fidelibus unus et 
 Defunctus Annuente Cristo in loco illo celebrabiter in per- 
 petuam. Ut aut haec concessio mea firma permaneat huic 
 prsesenti Scripto in Testimonum et Confirm ationem Sigillum 
 meum appono. 
 
 131. This deed was the consent of the rector of the mother 
 church to the erection of a new church, but apparently the 
 new building was not consecrated for some time after, for the 
 consecration deed of Bishop Stafford speaks of the chapel 
 which then and from time immemorial (the scribe did not 
 trouble himself to make very careful inquiry, or he would 
 have found that his " time immemorial " would have dwindled 
 down to very few years) was erected, and magnificently built 
 by sufficient and lawful authority, that the parish and parish- 
 ioners were distinct from Churchstow, and that the rector was 
 obliged to perform all divine services at the chapel for the 
 people of Kingsbridge, except burial of the dead, which was 
 accustomed to be done at Churchstow. 
 
 132. The chapel received assistance towards maintaining 
 its independent character. John Cob, Vicar of Hennock, 
 gave to the chapel of St. Edmund at Kingsbridge, and to the 
 overseers of the chapel, a tenement and garden near the 
 cemetery of the chapel. The deed conveying this is dated 
 23rd April, 1410, more than four years before the consecra- 
 tion, so that the cemetery although provided was not used. 
 
 Noverint universi per presentes me Johannem Cob Vica- 
 rium Ecclesia? de Heanok remisisse relaxasse et omnino pro 
 me et haeredibus meis imperpetuum quiesce clamasse Deo et 
 Capellae Sancte Edmundi Regis et Martiris de Kyngesbrigge 
 et Hugoni Pocok et Roberto Fayrefot Custodibus instauri 
 dictae Capellae et successoribus suis Custodibus dictae Capellae 
 et instauri ejusdem totum jus et clameum quae habeo in uno 
 tenemento et gardino eidem tenementum adjacente situatis 
 inter Cimiterium dictae Capellae ex parte australe et tene- 
 mentum Thome Duer et Johanne uxoris suae Filiae Johannis 
 Granute ex parte boreali Et ego vero praedictus Johannes et 
 heredes mei totum praedictum tenementum et totum prae- 
 dictum gardinum cum pertinentiis praefatis custodibus et 
 successoribus suis contra omnes gentes warrantizabimus 
 imperpetuum. 
 
 In cujus rei testimonium praesentibus sigillum meum ap- 
 posui. Hiis testibus : 
 
I' 
 
 t 
 4 
 
 i 
 
 1 vi 
 
 (i 
 
 I* ' 
 
 ■ ■ 
 
 98 
 
 Datii 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Thoma Duer tunc praeposito VillsB praeclictae. 
 
 Johanne Jaycok. 
 
 Rogerus Degher. 
 
 Johanne Vele. 
 
 Willielmo Gormond. 
 
 Johanne Torryng. 
 
 Johanne Radevifie et multis aliis. 
 
 apud Kyngesbrygge Vicessimo tertio die Aprih's 
 
 Anno Regni regis Henrici Quarti post Conquestum undecimo. 
 
 133. A copy of the sentence of consecration is, like the 
 others to which I have referred, in the custody of the 
 feoffees of the Kingsbridge Town lands, and a translation 
 will be found in Hawkins's History of Kingsbridge, p. 123. 
 Attached are six seals, those of the Bishop, the Archdeacon, 
 probably, and the Abbot of Buckfast. In the fourth a double 
 key is to be made out, which shows that it is the seal of the 
 Prior or Priory of Plympton, the fifth seal is altogether gone, 
 and the sixth is the seal of the Kingsbridge Feoffees. Entries 
 relating to the consecration will also be found in Bishop 
 Stafford's Registers. 
 
 134. It is clear therefore that, for the convenience of the 
 inhabitants of Kingsbridge, the rector of Churchstow, with 
 the consent of the abbot and convent, promoted the erection 
 of what we should now call a chapel of ease, which very soon 
 became or was considered, if not a parish, a district with 
 certain parochial rights. The dead of Kingsbridge had still 
 to be brought, as stated in the petition, from the chapel, on the 
 low ground near the sea, to the church, founded on the summit 
 of a high mountain, proceeding through a troublesome and 
 tedious ascent of the said mountain. The rector of Church- 
 stow had to provide for all the duty, and now Abbot Slade 
 thought that tliG time had arrived when the new building 
 should be consecrated. Kingsbridge was now becoming more 
 important and required development, which the abbots of 
 Buckfast as lords of tiic manor did their best to encourage. 
 
 135. William Slade did not devote the whole of his time 
 to the temporal affairs of his A bbey. He was a student and 
 author, and Leland has left us a list of his books which re- 
 mained in the library of the Abbey, which I here give. It 
 contains also the titles of other manuscripts belonging to the 
 Abbey. In the middle of this list is the observation as to tlie 
 origin of the house to which I have before referred : — 
 
 " Cosnobium de Bukfast olim incepit per fratres quos appeU 
 lahant GrysaoSy deinde admisit Bemardinosy 
 
 ,. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 99 
 
 Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of Buckfast 
 
 Abbey. 
 
 Trivet super tragaedias Senecae. 
 
 Triveti historia ab initio mundi usque ad nativitatem Christi 
 ad Hugonum de Engolisma, atchidiaconum Cantuar. 
 
 Lectura Blencot super quartum Sententiarum. 
 
 Kilwardeby de conscientia et synderesi. 
 
 Quaestiones Johannis Sutton. 
 
 Quodlibeta Johannis Sutton. 
 
 Quaestiones Gaynesburg. 
 
 Quaestiones Gilberti Segrave. 
 
 Quolibeta ejusdem. 
 
 Universalia magistri Sharpe super libros Phisicorum. 
 
 Qusestiones Gulielmi Slade abbatis de Bukfest de anima. 
 
 Quaestiones ejusdem super 4**' libros Sententiarum Vixit 
 tempore Ricardi 2^ 
 
 Beda de nominibus regnorum. 
 
 Flores Moralium Gulielmi Slade. 
 
 Johannes abbas de Forda de contemporibus Mundi. 
 
 Stephanus Cantuar de benedictionibus et maledictionibus 
 datis in monte Ebal. 
 
 Grostest super decem praecepta. 
 
 Antiquarii Collectanea, Johannis Lelandi. 
 
 Ed. 1770. Vol. iii. (iv.), p. 152. 
 
 136. If there was nothing else to show the great mistake 
 made in dealing with the monasteries as they were dealt with 
 at the Dissolution, the atrocious way in which the priceless 
 libraries were dispersed and destroyed would be quite suffi- 
 cient to convince the most sceptical. Even the fanatical Pro- 
 testant Bale called the destruction wanton and shameful, and 
 prophesied that it would be to England a most horrible infamy, 
 " among the grave senyours of other nacyons." 
 
 137. From the Issue Roll it appears that the Dean and 
 Chapter of Exeter, with the Abbot of Buckfast and others, 
 lent moneys to the King, taking care to have security for the 
 repayment. 
 
 18 May. To JohnCopelston, junior, and divers other persons 
 coming from the county of Devon to London, with a certain 
 sum erf £573 6s. 8d. borrowed from the Dean and Chapter of 
 the Cathedral Church of Exeter ; the Mayor of the town of 
 Exeter ; the Abbot of Tavystock ; the Prior of Lanceton ; 
 
 2o 
 
 , ■»i|P» I 
 
 sjp. 
 
 it m 
 
 • tf ^mmvaimmm'Wm 
 
I I 
 
 r 
 
 I -I 
 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 the Abbot of Bukfast ; Robert Gary, Prior of Plymton ; 
 Alexander Chambemoun, Mayor of the town of Plymouth ; 
 John Bonel and John Copelston. In money paid to the afore- 
 said John Copelston, junior, and his companions, for the safe 
 conduct of certain of the King's jewels, valued at £800, 
 delivered to the aforesaid persons as security for the said 
 sums borrowed of them under conditions contained in certain 
 indentures made between our lord the King and the said 
 John and his companions, &c. By writ, &c. — i;10. 
 
 Issue Roll, Easter, 3 Hen. V. 1414. 
 
 137. The assent to the consecration of the church at Kings- 
 bridge must have been one of the latest acts of Blade's life, 
 for in 1415, Sept- 8th, about twelve months afterwards, Wil- 
 liam Beaghe or Beagle was confirmed abbot. In the glories 
 of Agincourt in the following month the Abbey participated, 
 for William Beaghe contributed one hundred marks towards 
 the expenses of the expedition. 
 
 138. It would seem from the De Banco Roll, 3 Henry IV. 
 before quoted, par. 128, that William had been a monk of 
 the house before his election in the time of Abbot Paverston. 
 
 139. The first of the three following extracts relates to a de- 
 faulting collector of some of the revenues ; the second to a 
 debt due ; and the third to a trespass committed upon some 
 property of the Abbey at Totnes. 
 
 Devon. Abbas de Buckfast in ppria persona sua op' se iiij**' die 
 
 versus Johem Torryng de Lostwythyell in com Cornub 
 iSchant de ptito qd reddat ei ronabilem compotu suu de 
 tempore quo fuit receptor denar ipius Abbis etc. Et ipe no 
 veil Et prec fuit vie qd sum eu etc. Et vie modo mand 
 qd nichil het etc. I'o capiat"' qd sit hie a die see Trinitatis 
 in XV dies etc.— (De Banco Roll, Easter, 8 Henry V. m. 251.) 
 
 Devon. Witts Abbas de Buckfastre per Attorn suu op' se iiij*° die 
 
 9sus Johem Johan de Dodbroke in com pdico Milward de 
 plito qd reddat ei sexagintaT; vndecim solidosT; octo denarios 
 
 m. 159 d. quos ei debet 1 iniuste detinet etc. Et ipe non ven Et prec 
 fuit vie qd sum eu etc. Et vie modo mand qd nichil het etc. 
 To capiat*^. Ita qd sit hie a die Pasche in tres septimanas 
 etc.*— (De Banco Roll, Hilary, 8 Henry V. m. 159 d.) 
 
 I^von'. Wills Abbas de Bukfast p attorn suu op' se iiij*" die versus 
 
 ra. 203. Patricu Mark de Tottori in com pdco Crokker de ptito quare 
 
 ♦ The same debt appears in the Roll Easter, 9 Henrj V. [m. .'JSSd] and 
 ihen order made to " hare him here " from Trinity to fifteen days. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 101 
 
 cu idem abbas in feodo suo apud Toton p consuetudinib) T, 
 svicijs sibi debitis quedam catalla p Rofetum Marchant 
 svientem suii capi fecisset idem Robtus catalla ilia noie 
 districcois scdm legem T: consuetudinem rcgni Regis Angt 
 ibm detinere voluisset pdcus Patricius catalla ilia eidem 
 Rob to vi 1 armis abstulit et alia enormia etc. ad g*ve 
 dampnu etc. '1 cont"" pacem Regis etc. Et ipe non ven 
 Et sicut prius prec fuit vie qd capet eu etxj. Et vie modo 
 mand qd non est inventus etc. I'o sicut plur capiat"". Ita 
 qd sit hie a die Pasche in tres septimanus etc. — (De Banco 
 Roll, Hilary, 8 Henry V. m. 203). 
 
 140. During this abbot's rule the house had trouble, and six 
 years after his elevation things had become so bad that it was 
 found necessary to refer them to William, Abbot of Hayles, 
 and Brother Michael of Moreton. I have to thank Mr. 
 Edward Bishop for furnishing me with a transcript of a 
 notarial instrument published in the chapter-house at Buck- 
 fast 26 January, 1421. It is a most interesting document, 
 perhaps more so than any I have been able to include in this 
 paper. 
 
 141. The name of the notary is not given. In it the name 
 of the abbot is spelt Beagle. Oliver gives his name as Beaghe, 
 and in the extracts from the De Banco Rolls it is also so spelt. 
 I give a free outline of the contents. 
 
 After a preamble with the date of the year, the reign of 
 the Pope, and so on, the document goes on to say that the 
 abbot, Abbot William of Hayles, Brother Michael of Lang 
 Benynton, which was originally an English cell of Savigny, 
 Thomas Roger, Prior of Buckfast, with the whole assembly of 
 the monastery being present in the chapter-house, the 
 abbot of Hayles handed to the notary a paper, praying that 
 he would read the contents aloud, which he did to the follow- 
 ing effect. 
 
 A subject of discord having arisen between that honourable 
 man the abbot and the convent, with regard to the govern- 
 ment of the brethren within and without, which, by the wis- 
 dom, labour, and zeal of the Abbot of Hayles and Brother 
 Michael, was settled thus, that the abbot might entertain 
 according to the ancient and worthy and wonted usage of the 
 Abbey, might receive his guests and strangers, and that the 
 servants of the monastery might wait upon them according to 
 his instructions. That the abbot, being advanced to a con- 
 siderable age and frequently crippled with bodily disease, was 
 often broken down witli infirmity, so that things which, 
 
 "<> q 
 
 . ' ■ r - * ii 
 
 jii^l»i»< jJ||^iai''g|(g|^ 
 
 ^SS. 
 
 ■ » » > * . ■ 
 
 " Wi 
 

 M 
 
 „ I 
 
 
 102 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 according to the statutes of the order, should be fulfilled in 
 person, he was unable to fulfil, and the monastery had suffered, 
 and it was feared would suffer more in future, it was decreed 
 that the abbot should not interfere in any way except when 
 required to do so by the prior and brethren, and then that he 
 should agree to their wishes. That the abbot should not 
 obtain any privileges or exemptions from Rome, as such 
 might tend to the curtailment of the statutes and privileges 
 of the order. That the abbot should receive either 10/. or 
 40/. [which is uncertain, probably the latter,] per annum, 
 paid quarterly, for his clothes and necessaries. That when 
 the abbot was summoned or invited to take part in any cere- 
 mony, such as the installation of the Bishop of Exeter, the 
 burial of nobles and otliers for the advantage of the monastery, 
 or the honour of the abbot himself, as he was often wont to 
 do, and as his predecessors were wont to do, the abbot's 
 expenses were to be borne by the house ; and if at any time 
 he should wish to ride or walk about outside the monastery 
 for his own recreation, he might go with a proper retinue, but 
 at his own expense. That if any gifts were presented to the 
 abbot he was to have them and rejoice therein, and reward the 
 bearers ; but, if he allowed the gifts to go to the common use 
 of the monastery, the bearers were to be rewarded from the 
 common chest. 
 
 And the notary says that all these things were done as 
 above written, and that, beside those mentioned at the com- 
 mencement, there were also present those discreet men John 
 Carnell, bachelor of law, and Henry Fortescue, clerk of the 
 said diocese, these having been specially called and sum- 
 moned ; and piously concludes. And thus peace, faith, hope, 
 and charity here met together, which the undivided blessed 
 Trinity abandons in discord, but cherishes in concord. Amen. 
 
 There are many errors in the spelling, grammar, &c., but 
 the sense is apparent, the mistakes are easily corrected, 
 and I print the document as it stands. 
 
 26 Jan. 
 1421. 
 
 In Dei Nomine. Amen. 
 
 Per presens publicum instrumentum cunctis 
 api^ereat (sic) evidenter quod Anno ab Incama- 
 cione Drii secundum cursum et computacionem ecclesie 
 Anglicane millesimo cccc™** vicesimo primo, Indicciones quinta 
 decima, Pontificatus sanctissimi in Christo Patris et Domini 
 nostri Domini Martini Divina Providencia Pape quinti Anno 
 quinto mensis Januarii die xx™" vj** in domo capitulari 
 5lonasterii de Buckfast Ordinis Cisterciensis, Exoniensis 
 
 BUCKEAST ABBEY. 
 
 103 
 
 Diocesis, in mei Notarii Publici et Testium subscriptorum 
 presencia honorabilibus et religiosis viris Domnis Willielmo 
 Beagle Abbate ut asserit Monasterii de Buckefast predicti 
 et Willielmo Abbate Monasterii beate Marie de Hayles 
 Wigorniensis [Diocesis], Fratre Michaele de Moretoneo 
 Magistro de Langbinyngton Lincolniensis Diocesis ut asser- 
 itur, ac Fratre Thoma Roger Priore dicti monasterii de 
 Buckfast predicti («ic.) [cum] toto Conventio ejusdem Monas- 
 terii de Buckfast personaliter constitutis; 
 
 Dictus Honorabilis et rehgiosus Vir Domnus Willielmus 
 Abbas Monasterii de Hayles assertus (?) mihi uotario in- 
 frascripto Cedulam in papiro scriptam tradi fecit, supplicans 
 quod eandem cedulura legerem in aperto; quam post ejus 
 inspeccionem legi ; cujus cedule tenor talis est : — 
 
 Nuper exorta materia perturbacionis et discordie inter 
 honorabilem et religiosum virum Domnum Abbatem Monas- 
 terii de Buckfast Ordinis Cisterciensis Exoniensis Diocesis et 
 suum Conventum ibidem de et super regimine et gubernacione 
 Spiritualium et Temporalium dicti Monasterii infra et extra, 
 ceterisque causis, punctis et articulis aliis, que omnia et sin- 
 gula in presenti longum esset en arrare ; Deo tamen annuente 
 qui est pacis Auctor, discrecione, labore, et industria reverendi 
 in Christo Patris et Domini Domni Willielmi Dei gracia 
 Abbatis Monasterii beate Maria de Haylez Wygomiensis 
 Diocesis, et religiosi viri fratris Mychaelis de Moretones 
 Magistro de Langbinyngton Lincolniensis Diocesis, Ordinis 
 antedicti, ad visitandum Monasterium de Buckfast in capite 
 et in membris legitime deputatorum, dicta materia sedata est 
 et quievit per visitatores predictos in hunc modum : — 
 
 In primis quod dictus honorabihs et religiosus vir Domnus 
 -Willielmus Abbas antedictus secundum antiquum, honestum 
 et solitum usum dicti Monasterii de Buckfast hospites et 
 advenas suos cum ad idem monasterium declinaverint juxta 
 eorum statum bene recipiat, hillaremque vultum eis ostendat, 
 suis eciam et dicti Monasterii famulis quibuscumque in licitis 
 et honestis jubeat, precipiat et commoneat quod eisdem inten- 
 dant in aula, mensa et camera prout sui status honestas debite 
 exigit et requirit 
 
 Item quia dictus Domnus Willielmus abbas prelibatus jam 
 in matura etate constitutus corporisque invalitudine multi- 
 pliciter detentus diversis infirmitatibus sepius occupatus [est] 
 et confractus, quod omnia que in sua persona errent juxta 
 sui Ordinis statuta adimplenda personaliter nequeat propter 
 premissa providere nee adimplere, adeo quod dictum monas- 
 terium dampnum. patitur in presenti et plus timendum ei in 
 
 -»«^ 
 
 ii>.« 
 
i 
 1 
 
 104 
 
 THE CISTEKCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 faturo ; quare consideratura est et decretam quod dictus 
 Domnus Willielmus Abbas prelibatus nullo modo se intro- 
 mittat in guberiiacione et regimine spiritualium aut tempo- 
 ralium quorumcumque nisi cum fuerit per Priorem et Con- 
 ventum suuin debite ad hoc requisitus, et tunc eorum 
 voluntati adquiescat in hiis que tangant dicti monasterii 
 utilitatem et sui status et ordinis exigenciam omnimodo. 
 
 Item concordatum et decretum est quod dictus honorabilis 
 vir et Domnus Willielmus Abbas prelibatus non acquirat per 
 se aut sues aliqua privilegia exempciones et similia a Curia 
 Romana que possunt vergi in derogacionem dicti Ordinis 
 Cisterciensis et statutorum ejusdem ; &, si qua hujusmodi 
 privilegia liabeat, aut habere eum de cetero contingat, quod 
 eisdem non utatur quovis modo. 
 
 Item consideratis considerandis concordatum et decretum 
 est per visitatores predictos commune consensu pariter et 
 assensu dictorum Abbatis et Conventus Monasterii de Buck- 
 fast predicti quod dictus Willielmus Abbas . . . dum Abbas 
 fuerit percipiet annuatim ad quatuor anni terminos per 
 equales porciones a dictis Priore et Conventu pro vestura et 
 aliis necessariis dicti Abbatis x libr. 
 
 Item concordatum et decretum est, si contingat dictum 
 Domnum Willielmum Abbatem extra Monasterium invitari 
 aut vocari pro dicti Monasterii utilitate, ipsiusve Abbatis 
 honestate, videlicet ad installacionem Episcopi Exoniensis 
 loci Diocesani, sepultura et obitio Magnatuum et Prelatorum 
 ac aliorum generosorum, amicorum et vicinorum, prout sepe 
 solebat et predecessores sui Abbates solebant, liec omnia 
 semper fient expensis dicti Monasterii cum contingant. 
 
 Item si aliquando dictus domnus Abbas extra dictum 
 Monasterium pro sui ipsius disporto et voluntate equitare 
 aut spaciare voluerit, tunc decente familia, sed expensis 
 propriis, ista fient. 
 
 Item concordatum est et decretum quod si qua munera, 
 donaria, bonaque alia quecumque dicto Domno Abbati 
 ofi'erantur et donentur, eadem habeat et inde gaudeat, dum 
 tamen contemplacione persone ejusdem hoc fiet ; tunc ex 
 propriis remuneret deportantes prout placet. Et si eadem in 
 communem usum et dicti Monasterii utilitate convertat, de 
 com muni thesauro remunerentur. 
 
 Et dum nee omnia premissa fiJeliterobservanda hinc et inde 
 tam dicti Abbas quam frater Thomas Roger Prior dicti Monas- 
 terii tactis Dei Evangeliis per eosdem corporaliter prestiterunt. 
 
 Acta sunt hec omnia prout suprascribuntur et recitantur 
 sub anno Domini, Indiccione, Pontificatu, die, mense, et loco 
 
 99 
 
 mmfmmm 
 
 f 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 105 
 
 predictis ; j)resentibus tunc ibidem discretis viris Jolianne 
 (^arnell in Legibus Bacallario, et Henrico Fortescu Clerico 
 dicte Exoniensis Diocesis, testibus ad premissa vocatis speci- 
 aliter et I'ogatis. 
 
 Et sic pax, fidis, spes, et charitas hie in unum obviarunt, 
 quas inter discordes concedat, inter Concordes foveat, Trinitas 
 indivisa. Amen. (MS. Reg 12, E. xiv., fol. (32-64 recte.) 
 
 142. The aged and infirm abbot enjoyed his home and 
 l)ension for several years. Let us hope he often walked 
 abroad with his becoming retinue ** pro sui ipsius disporto 
 spatiari." His successor, Thomas Rogger, was not blessed 
 until the 13th April, 1432, more than eleven years after the 
 settlement of the discords detailed by the notary. 
 
 143. Of Thomas Rogger and the succeding abbots we 
 know little more than their names. Rogger was succeeded 
 by John Ffychet, 16th October, 1440. He was concerned in 
 legal proceedings with reference to the Erne river, as 
 appears from the following extracts in Norman French from 
 the year-book 1441 : — 
 
 En Trns Le pi' counta v's PAbbe de Bulkfast de san Trespas. 
 gort debrwi' en Ermingf. 1[ Yelverton. Est un douce eau 
 courrant en t dit Ermingt tanqj al' haut mer, qui est appelP 
 Erine, ou le dit Abbe 1 touts ses gdec Ic. ont un ou^ture de 
 vj pieds de largeur en chaqu gort en le dit Erine, 1 illec taqj 
 a haut mer de temps, Ic. ou le cours d ce eau plus pfondemt 
 court '^ disousq le dit gort dont il ad luy complain est [B] 
 en la dit Ermingt, %qc fuit estopjje, T; nous ceo debrusames 
 accord a nre ouverture avadit. Jug si ace. IT Markham. A 
 ceo disons nous, q le Snr de Hun? long temps devant le 
 trespas fuit seisi de fn le gort en son domain come de fee, 1 
 nous lessa pur Pme de x ans, le ?me commenc, Ic. Quel 
 tme dure unc, 1 vous debrusastes m le gort hors de cost lieu 
 dont vous ave5 pie par ij pches pcheiii at ?re, sur q nous avos 
 conceu nostr ace. Jug. Et prios q vous soie} atteints. 
 1" Yelverton. Log temps devat cest leas le Siir de Hun? a 
 no lessa m le gort pur tme de fir vie, p fore de ql nous 
 fumes seisis T; debrusames come bn a nous list, f Mark- 
 ham. De vre tort demon sans tiet cause, f Newton. Ceo 
 n'est pie : car si jeo port bre de Trns v^s vous 1 vous dies que 
 le lieu ou, Ic. fuit vre franc! (Jug Ic.J n'e rns pur moy, adire, 
 De vre tort demeii sans tiel cause. Ergo nee hie. Et puis. 
 J Markham. Way va la pie, 1 tra% le leas a ?me de vie.— 
 (Year-Book De Termino Trinitatis, Anno xx. Henrv VI.) 
 
 i 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 ■ff yy 
 
 
Bukfast. 
 La Ya in 
 Brent. 
 
 106 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 144. It was also about this time perhaps that Richard 
 Dove, monk and scholar of Buckfast, drew up the statutes of 
 the house, with the oaths to be taken by the novices, monks, 
 scholars, and others. They are very interesting, and I am glad 
 to be able to present them in the appendix to this paper. 
 
 145. The following, perhaps about the same date, relates 
 to land in Brent : — 
 
 Hec convencio facta inter frem Minorensem Abbm Buck- 
 fastre &c. ex una pte et Rieum de Cotelaford ex alta viz. 
 pdict abbas &c. dedere &c. unu ferling t^re in la Ya in 
 man«io de Brenta qd Robtus de la Ya quond tenuit &c. 
 Habend de dicto Rico Cotelaford et Hered &c. In cujus rei 
 test sigilla sua alternatim apposuer. Hijs Test. Jolie de 
 Boyvile. Witto de Kilbury, Stepho Stoyll, tunc Scenescho 
 Sdictoru Religiosoru Benedicto le Bon Witto de Harbenford, 
 Witto de la Ford [sans date*] p. 540.— (Brit. Mus. Add. 
 MSS. 28,649, p. 413.) [Prince's excerpts from Pole's MS.] 
 
 From the Assize Roll, temp. Henry VI., we learn that 
 Gode claimed as his freehold a tenement in Buckfastleigh, 
 of which the abbot of Buckfast and William Budde and his 
 wife, and another Budde and his wife, had dis-seized him. 
 The verdict was against the abbot. 
 
 146. John Matthu was confirmed 3 Oct 1449, and he it 
 was probablv who obtained from the King, — Edward IV., 
 surely not Henry VI., as stated in Fox's Kingsbridge,— a grant 
 of a weekly market, and a fair for three days in the year at 
 Kingsbridge, and a fair for the same number of days once a 
 year at Buckfastleigh. The Kingsbridge market and fair still 
 continue to be held. A copy of the grant is given in the 
 
 book just mentioned.! 
 
 147. It has been said that John Bothe, afterwards Bishop 
 of Exeter, was Abbot of Buckfast ; but, on examining the 
 events of his life before his consecration as bishop, it would 
 seem that this could not have been. 
 
 148. John Kinge is found as abbot 25 Feb. 1483, and 
 John Rede 24 Nov. 1498. 
 
 149. In the interesting little book entitled " The Parish of 
 Ashburton in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries," being 
 extracts from the churchwardens' accounts from 1479 to 1580, 
 in the year 1499-1500 a receipt of 4s. is credited from a gift 
 of the Lord Abbot of Buckfast, Saint Clere Pomeroy, Galfrid 
 
 • •So in MS. „ „^^ 
 
 t Kingsbridge and its Surroundings, by S. P. Fox, pp. 34—248. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 107 
 
 Harepath, and others. I thought at first that this was an 
 unraentioned abbot of Buckfast, but on consideration I do 
 not think the entry bears this out. If in the original entry 
 there is a comma after " the Lord Abbot of Buckfast," it 
 would I think show that the abbot and Saint Clere Pomeroy 
 were different persons. Prince says that Edward Pomeroy 
 and Margaret Beavil his wife had issue Henry, Seinclere, and 
 John * Sir William Pole says that Edward Pomeroy died 
 24 Henry VI. 1445.t Both Prince and Pole trace the descent 
 of the elder son Henry, and do not refer to the second and 
 tliird ; but in the Heralds' Visitation of 1620 we find in the 
 j)edigree of Ford | that St. Cleere Pomeroy was the son ot 
 John Pomeroy, and that he married, and had issue, in which 
 case he could not have been the abbot of Buckfast. I believe 
 this to be the same person as that mentioned in the Ashburton 
 accounts. Beyond this there is no reference elsewhere, so 
 far, to a Pomeroy being abbot of Buckfast ; but, if it should 
 prove to be the case, it will be very interesting to find that a 
 descendant of its early benefactors was connected with the 
 Abbey in its latter days.|| 
 
 150. In the accounts just referred to is another entry, 
 under date 1512, ijs. for ringing the knell of the late abbot 
 of Buckfast. This must have been for either Saint Clere 
 Pomeroy ^if he was the abbot) or John Rede, for on Palm 
 Sunday, 20 April, 1512, Alfred Gille succeeded the deceased 
 abbot. Gille, after ruling the house for thirteen years, was 
 succeeded by John Rede, whom Dr. Oliver thought might 
 have been a nephew of Abbot John- Rede before mentioned. 
 He had a care for the welfare of Kingsbridge and Church- 
 stow, and readjusted the revenues of the chm'ches. He was 
 confirmed abbot 13th April, 1525, and lived about twelve 
 years after. He may be considered the last abbot, for his 
 successor was foisted upon the monks, and was simply put in 
 to carry out the designs of the King. 
 
 151. Gabriel Donne or Downe was a student in Trinity 
 Hall, Cambridge, and afterwards a monk of Stratford, a 
 Cistercian house at West Ham, Middlesex. A suit, followed 
 by an appeal to Rome, between the abbot and convent and 
 the vicar William Shragger arose, and on the 7th Feb. 1517, 
 a "composition real" between the abbot and the vicar was 
 executed, and "the provident and religious man Gabriel 
 
 * Prince's Worthies, p. 645, ed. 1812. 
 t Pole's Collections, p. 20 J Har. Soc. 1872, p. 108. 
 
 II I have since examined the original entry, and I do not think that it is 
 any evidence as to Saint Clere Pomeroy having been an abbot of Buckfast. 
 
 p2 
 
 
 I 
 
 ■ 1.; 
 
 J-^: 
 
 J 
 
 Bar 
 
 M«;aMM^»4n*[|Mi|a 
 
108 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DE^ON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 109 
 
 Donne, monk of the Blessed Mary of Stratford, of the Order 
 of Cistercians " was procter for the brethren. 
 
 152. His abilities and zeal soon broufjht him into more 
 public notice, and he was employed by Cranmer, More, and 
 others to assist in the apprehension of Tyndale at Antwerp. 
 He accompanied Henry Phillips, " a tall, comely, good-looking 
 young man " travelling as a gentleman, as his counsellor, dis- 
 guised as a servant. There can be little doubt that he 
 was the author of the plan which resulted in the capture, 
 imprisonment, and death of Tyndale. Donne resided for six 
 months after Tyndale's arrest with Phillips or Buckenham at 
 Louvain, assisting in preparing the case against Tyndale. 
 He returned to England in June, 1535, and was shortly after 
 thrust into the abbey of Buckfast, doubtless as a reward 
 for his services to the King, the Archbishop, Bishops, and 
 Cromwell. In June, 1536, he attended the meeting of 
 Convocation at St. Paul's, and he signs the articles then 
 promulgated, as "Gabriel, Abbas de Buikfastria,"'' 
 
 153. Within two years of his election he alienated much 
 of the monastic property, and on the 25th February, 1538, he 
 betrayed his trust, and surrendered the house with its be- 
 longings into the hands of the King, and fifteen months 
 after was rewarded with a large pension ; the Prior of 
 Plympton alone, among all the heads of religious houses in 
 this county, receiving so much. This pension of £120, equal 
 to £1,800 of our money, was enjoyed by him until his death 
 in 1558. On the 16th March, 1541, he was made Prebendary 
 of St Paul's, and three years later Cromwell gave him the 
 rectory of Stepney "sine cura." Upon Bonner's depriva- 
 tion in Sept. 1549, Cranmer, according to Strype,* " consti- 
 tuted Gabriel Donne residentiary of St. Paul's, to be his 
 official and keeper of the spirituality, and to exercise all 
 manner of episcopal jurisdiction in the said city and 
 diocese." 
 
 154. Donne died 5th December, 1558. By his will, after 
 directing payment of his debts and certain legacies, he be- 
 queathed the residue of his estate to Trinity Hall, Cambridge. 
 With this residue a scholarship was founded, which continues 
 to be enjoyed to the present day \iy the student called " Mr. 
 Gabriel Donne's scholar." In the chapel of Trinity Hall, 
 among the shields in the roof, are still to be seen the arms of 
 the ex-abbot: ''^ Azure, a wolf rampant^ a chief argenC^ 
 
 * Memorials of Cranmer, vol. i, p. 274, ed. 1812. 
 
 f I am indebted for many of the facts here given relating to Donne's Life 
 to the sketch given by Christopher Anderson in his Annals of the English 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 
 155. He was honourably buried before the high altar in 
 Old St. Paul's, four days after his death, and the inscription 
 on his tomb has been fortunately preserved by Dugdale.* 
 
 Mole sub hoc Gabrael Donnus detruditur, hujus 
 
 Qui praeses Templi, Presbyter atque fuit. 
 Mortua terreno clauduntur membra sepulchri 
 
 Vivens coelicolo spiritus orbe manet, 
 Ossibus urna locum dat, pulvere terra recumbit, 
 
 Sydera sunt animae coelica tecta suse. 
 Elius (adde Deus) menti tua gaudia clemens 
 
 Corpus in Elizii pace quiescat. Amen. 
 
 156. Donne was doubtless a time server, and trimmed his 
 sails according to the varying breezes of the time. His share 
 in the persecution of Tyndale cannot be excused, but he 
 sinned with Sir Thomas More, Archbishop Cranmer, and 
 others no less distinguished. The great blot in his memory 
 must ever be his consenting to be forced upon the monks of 
 Buckfast as their abbot, taking the solemn oaths he was com- 
 pelled to by the rules of his order, well knowing that he was 
 sent to the monastery for a purpose, and that in a short time 
 he would be called upon to fulfil the undertaking he had 
 doubtless given, betray the solemn trust committed to him, 
 become a perjured man, and an accomplice in an act of 
 sacrilege and robbery. 
 
 157. At the time of the surrender, the following brethren 
 were in the house : — 
 
 The Abbot, Gabriel Donne. 
 The Prior, Arnold Gye. 
 John Cowle. 
 John Watts. 
 Richard Taylor. 
 William Shapcott. 
 Matthew Pryston. 
 Richard Splat 
 Thomas Gylle. 
 William Avery. 
 John Doyge. 
 
 158. With the exception of the Prior, Arnold Gye, all these 
 received pensions from £6 13s. 4d. paid to John Doyge, 
 down to Thomas Gylle who had but £5. Why was the 
 
 Bible. The author is strong in his denunciation of the ex-abbot, but all 
 alleged against him is the part taken against Tyndale. 
 ♦ History of St. Paul's, ed. 1658, p. 61. 
 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 
 i •''5 
 
 >4 
 
 ■i 
 
 ■ 
 
 •*•»»; 
 
 m W > 
 
 
t A 
 
 110 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 prior left out? Was he less compliant than the others, or 
 had he passed away before the pension list was completed and 
 so spared the sight of the spoliation of his house. 
 
 159. For spoliation soon came. The Abbey, the church, 
 and the monastic buildings, with their sites and precincts, and 
 the cemetery, grange, and farm buildings, were granted by 
 the King to that avaricious knight. Sir Thomas Dennis, who 
 not only succeeded in deceiving the monks, pretending to 
 be their friend, and obtaining offices of trust, and of course 
 emolument, from them, but who also by his subserviency and 
 cringing made himself to be well thought of at Court. He 
 was appointed steward for the management of the lands of 
 several religious houses, and the reversion of the same office 
 was granted his son. He also pretended to give valuable 
 advice to the monks in the critical position in which they 
 were placed, in return for which he succeeded in obtannng 
 annuities from many of the abbeys and priories, and so well 
 did he plav his game that he succeeded after their dis- 
 solution in obtaining confirmation of such annuities from the 
 Augmentation Court Dr. Oliver well says, *• if the mammon 
 of iniquity could confer happiness, this very rich man must 
 have been supremely happy." 
 
 160. I have found a curious letter written by him which 
 seems to imply that he had been charged with appropriating 
 lead from the abbey buildings. It is endorsed " Sir Thomas 
 Dennyes as touchinge vj. fodores of lead of the late P'ory of 
 Buckefast." To show that the lead was worth taking a httle 
 trouble about, I may mention that a fodder weighed upwards 
 of two thousand pounds. 
 
 S' Tiilmas Hvght wurshipfull af? my hartye coinenct doo pseve by M' 
 
 iiennyes as Totyll ye be my verye good maist accordyng to^trouthe for 
 touchinge vj fodder of leed supposed by Grove M' Arundell s vaunt that 
 
 ^ad orthc late I shulde have the custodi of. Wherfor trouthe I never sawe 
 piorv of no suche leed nor psell therof and yf I had I am sure the 
 
 mater is not so lyght but he wolde have had for his dis- 
 chardge a byll of my hand of the recept or some other 
 sufficient wytnesh to testyfye the same. I never was at 
 Buckfast but one tyme synnes I dyd purchasse yt therfore yf 
 yt maye please yo' maistership & the rest of my maysters in 
 comyssion w*'' you to derect a comyssion in to the countreye 
 to enquyre for the trouthe herof yf then shall appere that I or 
 any one of my Servaunte to my knoledge or consent ever had 
 any parte of the seid leed I wyll promes you by this my 
 wrytting to geve you for everye fodder of leed a c ^ & in this 
 
 IJuckcfast. 
 
 wyes I trust you shall come to the knoledge of the trouthe & 
 knowe hym to be as he is & I a trewe man good M"^ Barnes 
 for youre Jentylnes in this behalfe shoued I shall thynk no 
 lesse but my selfF alwayes bounden to gratefye you or any 
 Frynd of yours duryng my lyef ^y^^ such plesures as shall lye 
 in my huyll powre as knowethe the hollye Trynite to whome 
 
 I coinyt vou. 
 
 Yours assured 
 
 Thom's Denys. 
 
 To the right Worshipfuft master Willyam BarSs Esquyer 
 
 geve this. 
 
 (Land Revenue Records, Bund. 1392, File 31, No. 1.) 
 
 161. The lead from the roof is also mentioned, with the 
 five bells in the tower of the church, in an inventory dated 
 29th November, 1555, headed *' A brieff Declaraton of all 
 the Bell belonginge to late suppressed & dissolved Monasteries 
 and Pryores in the foresaide counties made by Mathiewe 
 Colthurst esquier late Auditor & Robt. Grove some tyme 
 s'vant to S" Thomas Arundell Knight, late Receyvo'" there, 
 at the comaundyment of Willm Barnes, Thomas Myldemay & 
 John Wiseman Esquiers by their letters unto us directed." 
 
 V. Buckfaste xxxiiij^'. v". 
 A Brieff Declaracon of all the leadd belonginge to the 
 late Monasteries and P'ories [as before]. 
 Buckfast vj foders ccc lib. 
 
 remayneng w^'' the farm s of the said 
 houses as it apereth by report of Edmonde 
 Wynter Esquyer. 
 (Land Revenue Records, Bund. 1392, File 33, N. 1.) 
 
 162. In 1553, besides the abbot, there were six monks still 
 alive and in receipt of pensions, viz., Matthew Preston, John 
 Watts, Richard Taylor, William Avery, and Richard Splate, 
 5/. 6s. Sd. each, and Thomas Sylle, 5L* 
 
 163. There is little interest in tracing the subsequent 
 history of tlie Abbey lands. From Sir Thomas Dennis, with 
 the manor of Buckfast, they descended to his son. Sir Robert, 
 whose daughter Margaret is said to have married Sir Arthur 
 Mainwaring.t In 1629, according to Chappie, quoted by 
 Dugdale and Lysons, they were in the possession of Sir 
 Richard Baker, the historian. The property passing to the 
 
 * Brown Willis, Hist. Abbeys, vol. ii. p. 60. 
 f See Pole's Collections. 
 
 r 
 
 ?i 
 
122 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 family of D'Oleys, it was by them dismembered and sold 
 off in parcels. The actual site of the Abbey was purchased 
 by Mr. Berry, by whom it was sold to Mr. William Searle 
 BenthalJ, and it is now the property of Dr. James Gale, of 
 Dovescourt, Newton Abbot. 
 
 164. Before 1806, when the remaining portions of the 
 buildings were almost entirely destroyed, the ruins were very 
 extensive, and, doubtless, the plan could have been made out 
 without difficulty. Westcote and Risdon speak of the 
 *' skeleton of a huge body whereby may be conceived what 
 bigness once it bore, whose ruins may move the beholders 
 both to wonder and pity."* Buck's view is dated 1734, but 
 nothing certain can be learnt from it It appears that the 
 church was as usual chancel, transepts, and long nave, the 
 chapter-house on the south, and the conventual buildings 
 running down towards the river, the normal plan of the 
 Cistercians being followed. (See Buckland Abbey, par 12.) 
 
 165. In the Gentleman's Magazine for 1796, Mr. James 
 Laskey gives an account of the ruins, which, although very 
 unsatisfactory to an archaeologist, is worth rescuing from the 
 pages of the old periodical. Of course we are not bound to 
 agree with all Mr. Laskey's speculations, some portions of his 
 story being, to say the least, curious. 
 
 After saying that the ruins were of great extent and 
 worthy of a more particular description than he could give, 
 the author proceeds : — 
 
 " There now remain of this magnificent ruin two arches 
 which appear to have been the entrance, and some ruins on 
 a large scale which we took for the lodge. The arches are 
 situated one behind the other and stand across the road 
 leading from Buckfastleigh to Ashburton ; the iron staples for 
 gates to hang on still remain and are of great bigness, which 
 led us to think they were of massy structure. The ruins of 
 what we took to be the lodge stand on the eastern side, its 
 length about twenty paces, breadth eight paces (not being sup- 
 plied for a minute measurement we were obliged to content 
 ourselves with it thus roughly, taking care to diminish rather 
 than exaggerate). On the same side are several apartments, 
 one of which is inhabited, another is converted into a pound- 
 house, in which stands a moorstone trough of great bulk, for 
 the purpose of breaking apples for the pound. The following 
 measurement I received from a learned gentleman who has 
 paid great attention to these ruins. The diameter of this 
 
 * Bisdon, p. 152; 
 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 113 
 
 stone is 9 feet 4 inches, depth 3 feet 6 inches, one-half of which 
 is sunk in the ground ; the supposed weight before it was 
 hollowed he computes must amount to above 100 tons. It is 
 of the granite kind and affords matter of surprise by what 
 means it was brought there, stones of that quality not being 
 to be found within the distance of many miles ; round the 
 abbey being one continued limerock, which is worked at 
 many places to a depth, height, and extent surprising, and 
 forming a vast cavern at once terrific and beautiful, which 
 proves an inexhaustible fund of gain to the owner. The 
 remainder of these ruins are situated in an orchard on the 
 western side of the road, at the bottom of which runs with 
 silent murmur the River Dart, seemingly regretting the 
 downfall of the abbey. The first thing that presents itself, 
 tradition says, was the abbot's cellar, which is entered by a 
 small Gothic gateway and is about twenty-eight paces long and 
 twelve wide arched overhead. « * ♦ ♦ 
 
 At one end remain a few steps which led to the ruin above, 
 which our guide told us was the abbot's kitchen ; it is now 
 converted into a kitchen garden. At the south end is the 
 skeleton of a set of apartments, which appear to have been 
 the cells of the monks, which was approached by winding 
 steps, fifty-one of which now remain. It is of particular form, 
 having, as well as we could guess, seven sides. The immense 
 bushes of ivy, dropping in rich festoons, almost buried its 
 form. On removing some of these we could plainly observe 
 the holes in which the joists and sleepers rested for support on 
 the flooring, from which we judged the rooms to be about 
 6 feet in height in the clear, one above the other. These we 
 were told solely belonged to the abbot. Joining this was 
 their court of judicature and judgment seat, and behind a 
 dungeon for those that by their offences were thought worthy 
 of the same. On the north-east side appear the walls and foun- 
 dation of this once spacious and splendid seat of superstition ; 
 the abbey church and the remains of its tower all lying in 
 such massy fragments, that it is scarcely to be conceived by 
 what power so vast a fabrick could be disjointed. The walls 
 appear to be of the thickness of 9 or 10 feet and entirely 
 composed of small stones in layers and a compost of lime and 
 sand, which we supposed to have been thrown on these layers 
 hot, after the method antiently used in such large buildings, 
 which incorporating together formed a mass as solid as the 
 native rock. The ruins of this church appear to be about 
 250 feet in length, and the ruins of the tower towards the 
 
114 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 
 H 
 
 south seem like huge and vast rocks piled on one another in 
 extensive confusion — 
 
 by Time's fell hand defac'd, 
 Tte rich prond cost of outworn bnry'd age. — Shakspeare.** 
 
 166. The author then goes on to say that, as stone for 
 building is plentiful in the neighbourhood, the ruins will in 
 all probability continue unmolested for ages; a prophecy 
 unfortunately not fulfilled. (A Ramble on Dartmoor, by J. L. 
 Gentleman's Magazine, 1796, vol. Ixvi. p. 194.) 
 
 What our author here calls the cellar and the seven-sided 
 building apparently still remain, the latter being what is now 
 called the Abbot's Tower. It is unquestionably a domestic 
 building of some kind, but nothinj; more certain I think can 
 be said. It is square, of three stories, with a cellar under. 
 In it are fireplaces and garderobes, with a well, and a stair- 
 case with landings to every floor; the entrance appears to 
 have been from the south on the first floor. 
 
 167. The great barn of the grange remains, and tlie arches, 
 of apparently an entrance, but the gatehouse is gone. In 
 the lawn on the eastern side of tlie house graves have been 
 found, and here was probably the cemetery. The foundations 
 of the present house, erected [ibout fifty years since, are said 
 to be upon vaulted work of Early-English character. The 
 greater part of the materials of the old buildings were used in 
 the erection of the adjoining mill, which occupies the site of 
 some of the conventual buildings. 
 
 168. The arms of the Abbey are Sable, a crozier in pale 
 argent, the crook or, surmounted by a stag's head caboshed, 
 of the second, horned gules. Leland gives a sketch in his 
 Collectanea. I know of two seals only belonging to the Abbey, 
 the first, appended to the surrender deed, is small, and shows 
 the Blessed Virgin Mary and Holy Child under a canopy, with 
 the legend " S. Conventus Bucfestrie." The second is a 
 counter-seal of the abbot — in the centre an arm grasping a 
 crozier, the legend " Sioill. Abb. Buckfesta^Ji." 
 
 169. Let us now see what the various possessions of the 
 Abbey were. To commence with those we find in Domesday, 
 let us try to identify the manors there mentioned. The first 
 paragraph relating to each is a translation from the Exeter 
 Book, the second from the Exchequer Book, see paragraph 69. 
 The first is headed " The Land of the Church of the Abbot 
 of Bulfestre in Devonshire," the second " The Land of the 
 Church of Bucfestre." 
 
 BUCKFAST abbey. 
 
 115 
 
 170. Petkockstow. " The abbot has a manor* which is 
 called Petrocestova, which the abbot Aluuin held in that 
 day when King Edward was alive and dead, and it paid geld 
 for one virgate and a half. These can be ploughed by five 
 teams. From thence the abbot has in demesne half a virgate 
 and one plough,t and the villeins one virgate and two ploughs. 
 There the abbot has six villeins and one bordar and two 
 serfs and four oxen % [cows ?] and twenty sheep, and three 
 furlongs of wood in length and one furlong and a half in 
 breadth, and six acres of meadow and eight furlongs of 
 pasture in length, and five furlongs in breadth, and worth 
 by the year fifteen shillings, and when he received it it was 
 valued at just as much." 
 
 ^ " The church of Buckfestre holds Petrochestov. In the 
 time of King Edward it paid geld for one virgate of land 
 and a half. There is land for five ploughs. In demesne is 
 one plough and two serfs, and six villeins, and one bordar 
 with two ploughs. There six acres of meadow pasture eight 
 furlongs long and five furlongs broad. Formerly and now 
 worth fifteen shillings." Exchequer Book. 
 
 The name has changed but little during the eight hundred 
 years that have elapsed since the great book was com- 
 piled, although it is also known as Stow St. Petrock and 
 Heanton. 
 
 The return of the jurors recorded in the Hundred 
 Roll, temp. Edward I. shows that the abbot had a gallows 
 there. 
 
 Shortly before the dissolution the Valor § shows: — 
 
 ♦ Mansionem. This word properly means a habitation, capital dwelling, 
 plot of ground, on which several houses are built. 
 
 t Mr. William Basevi Sanders is of opinion that in Domesday, whenever 
 "car" stands alone, it is intended for « carvca'' or some case of that noun, 
 and that, whenever '* carucata " is meant to be designated, " car " is always 
 
 followed by « terrts," or is written in full. "Terra est car," and similar 
 
 entries should therefore be read as meaning that there was as much arable 
 land as so many ploughs could till. 
 
 t Animalia. 
 
 § This was a survey taken in consequence of Parliament having passed 
 a measure granting to the King the first-fruits of all spiritualities and a 
 tenth of the possessions of the Church. The instructions to the Commis- 
 sioners, dated 30th January, 1536, were to ascertain the whole and just 
 and yearly value of all possessions, lands, tenements, profits, &c., as well 
 spiritual as temporal, pertaining to any manner of dignity, monastery, church, 
 parsonage, vicarage, or other dignity through England, Wales, Berwick, and 
 Calais. 
 
 1 
 
 Q 2 
 
 W '^T"* ••^'^m'^yy^mn • -*>.>.« 
 
T 
 
 B 
 
 116 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 
 5 6 \\\ 
 
 3 I 8 
 
 9 6J 
 
 1 8 
 
 3 2 lOJ 
 
 13 
 
 9 
 
 01 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Maneriuin de Patrikstowe : — 
 Redditus assise liberorum teuencium et 
 
 custumariorum .... 
 
 Terrarum bartone .... 
 
 Auxiliorum 
 
 Operum custumariorum 
 
 De finibus terrarum cum perquisitis 
 
 curie et aliis proficuis ejusdem raanerii 
 
 per annum communibus annis . 
 
 And the Ministers' accounts give : — • 
 Petrockystowe Keditus tam liberorum 
 quam custumariorum tenentium 
 
 Firma manerii 
 
 Perquisita curie .... 
 
 Porcio 
 
 and the rector paid £1 6s. 8d. to the abbey. 
 
 The manor appears to have been merged in that of Heanton 
 Sackville in the same parish, and it has descended, as shown 
 by Lysons, with the advowson of the church, to Lord Clinton 
 whose nephew, the present baron, now enjoys them. ' 
 
 171. AissA. There are two Ashs mentioned in Domesday 
 as belonging to the Abbey. One is doubtless Ash the villa o-e 
 in the parish of South Brent, but the locality of the other *ls 
 very uncertain. 
 
 " The abbot has one manor which is called Aissa, which 
 paid geld for one virgate and a half in that day when King 
 Edward was alive and dead. These can be ploughed by 
 three teams. From thence the abbot has in demesne half a 
 virgate and one plough, and the villeins one virgate and two 
 ploughs. There the abbot has five villeins, and three bordars 
 and three serfs, and ten oxen, and forty sheep, and six acres of 
 wood and six acres of meadow, and three furlongs of pasture 
 in length and breadth, and it is worth by the year twenty 
 shillings, and, when he received it, it was worth ten shillings.*' 
 
 " The abbot has one manor which is called Aissa, which the 
 abbot Aluuin held in that day in which King Edward was 
 alive and dead, and paid geld for a hide and a half This ten 
 teams can plough. Thence the abbot has in demesne a 
 virgate and a half and one plough, and the villeins have a 
 hide and a half, a virgate, and five ploughs. There the abbot 
 has eight villeins, and eight bordars, and six serfs, and nine 
 oxen, and sixty-eight sheep, and eleven goats, and three fur- 
 
 1- 
 
 * 
 
 I 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 117 
 
 longs in length of wood and one in breadth, and four acres of 
 meadow and one mile of pasture in length and a half in 
 breadth, and worth by the year thirty shillings, and, when the 
 abbot received it, it was worth just the same." 
 
 " The same church holds AissE. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for one virgate of land and a half 
 There is land for five ploughs. In demesne is one plough 
 and three serfs and five villeins, and three bordars with two 
 ploughs. There six acres of meadow and six acres of wood, 
 pasture three furlongs in length and breadth. Formerly ten 
 shillings, now worth twenty shillings." Exchequer Book. 
 
 " The same church holds AissE. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for one hide and a half There is land 
 for ten pl«)ughs. In demesne is one plough and six serfs, and 
 eight villeins and nine bordars with five ploughs. There four 
 acres of meadow. Pasture one mile [leuca] long and half-a- 
 mile broad ; wood three furlongs long and one furlong broad. 
 Formerly and now worth thirty shillings." Exchequer Book. 
 
 172. Lime or Limet, as the Exchequer Book has it, I am 
 unable to trace. 
 
 " The abbot has one manor which is called Lm^, and it paid 
 geld in that day in which King Edward was alive and dead 
 for one hide. This seven teams can plough. Thence the 
 abbot has one virgate and one plough in demesne, and the 
 villeins have three virgates aud six ploughs. There the abbot 
 has ten villeins and fourteen bordars, and four serfs and nine 
 oxen, and four pigs and seventy-two sheep, and four acres of 
 small wood, and three acres of meadow, and it is worth by 
 the year fifty shillings.'* 
 
 " The same church holds Limet. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for one hide. There is land for eight 
 ploughs. In demesne is one plough and four serfs and ten 
 villeins and fourteen bordars with six ploughs. There three 
 acres of meadow, and four acres of small wood. It is worth 
 fifty shillings." Exchequer Book. 
 
 173. Dona, Downe, or Done, is Down St. Mary. Tlie Manor 
 and Water Mill, Barton Estate, Donne and CliflPe Wood, with 
 the advowson and rectory of Downe Church, belonged to the 
 house at its fall. Sele, Zeal Monachorum, is near it, and 
 they are entered in the accounts together. The latter is the 
 manor mentioned in the Hundred KoU as having come to the 
 abbey by the gift of King Cnut. 
 
 " The abbot has one manor which is called Dona, which 
 paid geld for two hides in that day in which King Edward 
 
 * 
 
 i 
 
 fl 
 
 I <\ 
 
 -»»- 
 
 ■Omh 
 
 W li r i II ' »' *ltm.imt^mmm^tk 
 
118 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 119 
 
 was alive and dead. This ten teams can plough. Thence 
 the abbot has in demesne half a hide and one plough and the 
 villeins one hide and a half and five ploughs. There the 
 abbot has twelve villeins, and nine bordars, and seven serfs, 
 and six oxen, and four pigs, and sixty-six sheep, and eight 
 furlongs of small wood, and eight acres of meadow, and twelve 
 acres of pasture, and it is worth by the year three pounds. " 
 
 " The same church holds Done. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for two hides. There is land for ten 
 ploughs. In demesne is one plough and seven serfs and 
 twelve villeins and nine bordars with five ploughs. There 
 eight acres meadows and twelve acres of pasture and seven 
 furlongs of small wood. It is worth three pounds." Ex- 
 chequer Book. 
 
 Tlie Valor gives : — 
 
 Manerium de Sele et Donne — 
 
 Redditus assise liberorum tenencium . 
 
 Custumariorum tenencium 
 
 Terrarum bartons .... 
 
 Firma molendini . • . . 
 
 De finibus terrarum cum perquisitis 
 curie et aliis proficuis ejusdem 
 manerii per annum communibus 
 annis ...... 
 
 Inde solutum Priori Sancti Johannis 
 Exonie et successoribus suis de 
 quodam annual! redditu per annum 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 
 17 3J 
 15 19 8| 
 11 17 9 . 
 
 1 10 
 
 6 4 5i 
 
 1 10 
 
 Et remanet clare . 
 
 34 19 
 
 2i 
 
 And the Ministers* accounts — 
 
 
 
 Sele et Downe Redditus liberorum 
 
 £ s. 
 
 d. 
 
 tenentium 
 
 Sele Redditus custumariorum tenentium 
 Downe Redditus custumariorum tenen- 
 
 17 
 4 17 
 
 3ob. 
 4ob. 
 
 tium ...... 
 
 Sele et Downe Firma certe terre vocate 
 
 le barton ground . ... 
 Perquisita Curie .... 
 Sele et Downe Porcio de rectorie 
 
 12 12 
 
 11 17 
 8 
 2 13 
 
 4 ob. q. 
 
 9 
 9 
 4 
 
 174. Trusham. "The abbot has a manor which is called 
 Trisma, which paid geld for one hide that day in which King 
 Edward was alive and dead. This four teams can plough. 
 
 Thence the abbot has in demesne one virgate and one plough and 
 the villeins three virgates and three ploughs. There the abbot 
 has four villeins, and nine bordars, and ten serfs, and six oxen, 
 and nine pigs, and one hundred and three sheep, and twenty-two 
 goats, and sixteen acres of wood, and three acres of meadow, 
 and ten of pasture, and it is worth by the year thirty shillings, 
 and when he received it it was worth twenty-five shillings." 
 
 " The same church holds Trisma. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for one hide. There is land for three 
 ploughs. In demesne is one plough and ten serfs and four 
 villeins, and nine bordars with three ploughs. There three 
 acres of meadow and ten acres of pasture and sixteen acres of 
 wood. Formerly twenty-five shillings, now worth thirty 
 shillings." Exchequer Book. 
 
 Trisma is Trusham, granted by the King to a Southcote, in 
 whose family it continued for several generations, and is now 
 the property of Sir Lawrence Palk. 
 The Valor gives : — 
 
 Trisme. £ 
 
 R<3dditus assise liberorum tenencium . 
 Custumariorum tenentium ... 5 
 Ac terrarum bartone . . . .5 
 De quibus terra cum perquisitis curie 
 et aliis proficuis ejusdem manerii per 
 annum communibus annis 
 
 s. 
 7 
 9 
 5 
 
 d. 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 2 13 7 
 
 13 15 4^ 
 
 7 2 
 
 10 14 10 ob. 
 
 1 lib' cere. 
 
 Ministers' Accounts. 
 Trisme — 
 Redditus liberorum tenentium . 
 Redditus eustumai'iorum tenentium 
 
 Porcio 
 
 175. AiSERSTONE. " The abbot has one manor which is 
 called Haiserstona, which paid geld for one ferling and 
 a-half and three acres in that day in which King Edward 
 was alive and dead. There the abbot has one villein who 
 pays forty pence a year." 
 
 " Tlie same church holds Aiserstone. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for one ferling and a half and three acres 
 of land. There one villein pays forty pence." Exchequer Book. 
 Aiserstone, it has been suggested, is Ascerton in the 
 parish of Sidmouth, but there is no evidence that I can find, 
 showing that the abbey ever had any land there, and we may 
 find it much nearer the abbey, Staverton being perhaps the 
 place, the monks having a mill there in later years. 
 
 ;»-- 
 
 f A 
 
 ■•^ 
 
 ^ .tnm* i m 
 
120 
 
 THE CISTEKCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 ri. 
 
 With reference to Staverton the Valor gives : — 
 
 Staverton — 
 Molendinura ibidem valet per annum £ s. d. 
 
 ultra 6 13 4 
 
 Solutum decano et capitulo Exoniae et 
 
 successoribus suis per annum . .368 
 
 Ministers' Accounts : — 
 Stafarton — 
 Redditus Molendini 
 
 10 
 
 176. Heathfield. " The abbot has a manor which is called 
 Hetfelt, which the abbot Aluuin held in that day in which 
 King Edward was alive and dead, and paid geld for two hides. 
 These twelve teams are able to plough ; from thence the abbot 
 has in demesne half a hide and one plough, and the villeins 
 have one hide and five ploughs. There the abbot has ten 
 villeins and nine bordars and six serfs, and eleven oxen, and 
 five pigs, and sixty sheep, and sixteen goats, and two acres of 
 small wood, and forty acres of pasture, and it is worth by 
 the year forty shillings, and, when the abbot received it, it 
 was worth thirty shillings." 
 
 " The same church holds Hetfeld. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for two hides. There is land for twelve 
 ploughs. In demesne is one plough and six serfs, and ten 
 villeins and nine bordars with five ploughs. There forty acres 
 of pasture and two acres of small wood." Exchequer Book. 
 
 Hetfelt or Hetfeld or Hethfylde is the manor of Heath - 
 field, in the parish of Aveton Gifl^ard. Here, it is stated in 
 the Hundred Roll, the abbot had a gallows, and conse- 
 quently power of life and death. 
 
 The Valor gives : — 
 
 Manerium de Hethfyld — 
 
 Redditus assise tam liberorum tenen- 
 tium quam custumariorum 
 
 Terrarum bartone .... 
 
 Auxiliorum ..... 
 
 Operum custumariorum tenendum . 
 
 De finibus terre cum perquisitis curiae 
 et aliis proficuis ejusdem manerii 
 per annnm communibus annis 
 
 s. 
 
 17 16 
 12 9 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 6 
 10 
 
 74 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 H 
 
 2 1 9 
 
 35 4 11 
 
 
 mmm^BrntmiB. 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 121 
 
 Ministers' Accounts. 
 
 Hethfylde — 
 
 Redditus liberorum tenentium . 
 Venditio operum cum auxilio tenen- 
 tium ...... 
 
 Redditus custumariorum tenentium . 
 
 Redditus terr' berton' 
 
 Perquisita curie .... 
 
 £ s. d. • 
 
 4 18 11 
 
 2 17 7 ob. 
 
 7 12 8 
 
 18 18 10 
 
 1 1 
 
 177. Bulfestra. "The abbot has one manor which is 
 called Bulfestra, and is the head of the abbacy, and that 
 never paid geld. Tliere the abbot has one smith [or carpenter] 
 and ten serfs, who have two ploughs, and there the abbot has 
 three pigs and one mile in length of wood and a half in 
 
 breadth." 
 
 " Bucfestre is the head of the abbacy. It never paid 
 geld. There is one blacksmith and ten serfs, with two 
 ploughs. Wood one mile long and half a mile broad." 
 (Exchequer Book.) 
 
 Bulfestre and Bucfestre, of course, stand for the caput 
 abhaticB. At Buckfastleigh there appear to have been four 
 manors, those of Buckfast Abbey, Buckfast, Brooke Main- 
 bow, and Kilbenland. The Earl of Macclesfield and Dr. 
 Gale hold these now, or what portions of them remain. 
 
 The Valor gives, 
 
 Manerium de Buckfastleigh cum Kelbury. 
 
 Redditus assise tam terrarum domini- 
 calium cum pastura bosci circa man- 
 cionem dicti monasterii . 
 
 Ac piscaria de Dert . 
 
 Quam liberorum tenendum 
 
 Ac custumariorum tenencium 
 
 Firma molendini 
 
 Incrementum redditus 
 
 Finis terre 
 
 Ac perquisita curie per annum com- 
 munibus annis . . . . 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 4 6 
 
 50 11 
 
 4 
 
 2 7 4 
 4 I 0) 
 
 1 18 7i 
 
 71 12 5 
 
 B 
 
r I 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 123 
 
 r> ' 
 
 , 1 22 THE CISTEBCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Manerium de Kylbury, 
 
 Redditus assise tam liberorum tenen- 
 
 ciam quam custumariorum cum £ s. d. 
 molendino ibidem valet per annum . 18 15 9^ 
 
 Maynebowe. 
 
 Redditus assise tam liberorum tenen- 
 cium quam custumariorum tenen- 
 
 cium 
 
 De finibus terre cum perquisitis curie 
 et aliis proficuis ejusdem manerii per 
 annum communibus annis 
 
 
 1 14 3J 
 3 17 Oi 
 
 Ministers' Accounts. 
 
 Buckfastleigh. Scitus cum terris pratis 
 pascuis et pasturis .... 
 
 Redditus liberorum tenentium . 
 
 Redditus custumariorum tenentium . 
 
 Firma duorum molendinorum aquat' 
 granat' ..... 
 
 Kenynton, alias Lowertowne. Redditus 
 custumariorum tenentium 
 
 Buckfastleigh. Perquisita curie 
 
 Kylbury. Redditus liberorum tenentium 
 
 Redditus custumariorum tenentium . 
 
 Maynbow. Redditus liberorum tenen- 
 tium ...... 
 
 Redditus custumario^'um tenentium . 
 
 Perquisitae curie ^ . . . 
 
 Buckfastleigh. Porcio 
 
 Firma Rectorie 
 
 11 3 6 
 
 4 6 
 
 30 1 7 
 
 4 1 
 
 20 8 11 ob. 
 
 6 6 8 
 
 1 ob. 
 
 20 12 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 1 4 
 18 
 2 
 16 8 
 11 13 4 
 
 
 4 
 4 
 
 178. NoTONA. " The abbot has one manor which is called 
 NoTONA, which the Abbot Alwin held in that day in which King 
 Edward was alive and dead, and it paid geld for two hides. 
 These ten teams are able to plough. From thence he has 
 half a hide and one plough in demesne and the villeins one 
 hide and a half and five ploughs. There the abbot has nine 
 villeins and twelve bordars and six serfs and four oxen and 
 three pigs and seventy sheep, and two furlongs of wood in 
 length and one in breadth, and two acres of meadow and 
 
 ' 
 
 twenty acres of pasture. This is worth forty shillings, and 
 when the abbot received it thirty shillings." 
 
 " The same church holds Notone. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for two hides. There is land for ten 
 ploughs. In demesne is one plough and six serfs and nine 
 villeins and twelve bordars with five ploughs. There two 
 acres of meadow and twenty acres of UtSre. Wood two 
 furlongs long and one broad. Formerly thirty shillings, 
 now worth forty shillings." (Exchequer Book.) 
 
 To this place we can assign no modern name. 
 
 179. Chereforda may be Churstowe, although this is 
 only a guess. 
 
 " The abbot has one manor which is called Chereforda, 
 which the Abbot Alwin held in that day in which King 
 Edward was alive and dead, and paid geld for one hide. 
 This eight teams are able to plough. From thence the abbot 
 has one virgate and one plough in demesne and the villeins 
 three virgates and three ploughs. There the abbot has seven 
 villeins and six bordars and four serfs and six oxen and 
 forty-four sheep and two acres of meadow and twenty acres 
 of pasture. This is worth thirty shillings, and when the abbot 
 received it twenty shillings." 
 
 " The same church holds Chereford. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for one hide. There is land for eight 
 ploughs. In demesne is one plough and four serfs and 
 seven villeins and six bordars with three ploughs. There two 
 acres of meadow and twenty acres of pasture. Formerly 
 twenty shillings, now thirty shillings." (Exchequer Book.) 
 
 The Valor gives, 
 
 Manerium de Churchstowe — 
 
 Redditus assise liberorum tenendum . 
 18 libre cere et dimidium 
 
 Custumariorum tenendum 
 
 Terrarum dominicalium 
 
 De finibus terre cum perquisitis curie 
 et aliis proficuis ejusdem manerii 
 per annum communibus annis 
 
 £ s. 
 2 14 
 
 d. 
 
 Si 
 
 17 7 
 21 
 
 8 
 
 
 3 13 5i 
 
 £44 15 9} 
 1 8 libre cere et dim. 
 
 2b 
 
 • I 
 
■.■^ — ^Ul^ ' 
 
 124 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Kyngeshngg— 
 
 Kedditus assise liberorum tenencium 
 et convencionariorum 
 
 Pirma molendinorum 
 
 Exitus mercatorum et nundinarum 
 
 Ac perquisita curie per annum com- 
 munibus annis .... 
 
 Inde solutum Philippo Champernon 
 militi et heredibus suis pro redditu 
 gurgitis molendini flxati super 
 terram suam apud Dodbrooke per 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 8 8 Oi 
 
 3 6 8 
 
 5 
 
 18 
 
 annum . 
 
 2 
 
 Et remanet clare . £17 10 84 
 
 Ministers' Accounts. 
 
 Churstowe — 
 Redditus tarn liberorum quam custu- 
 mariorum tenentium . 
 
 Kyngesbrigge- 
 
 Bedditus custumariorum tenentium . 
 
 Exitus mercat' sive nundinarum 
 
 Redditus liberorum tenentium . 
 
 Perquisita curie .... 
 
 Churcbstowe cum capella de Kings- 
 bridge — Firma rectorie . 
 
 s. 
 
 9 
 5 
 4 
 
 1 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 18 
 
 d. 
 
 3 a 2q. 
 
 8 
 8 
 
 8ob. 
 6 
 
 32 14 6 
 
 180. Brent. " The abbot has one manor which is called 
 Brenta, which the abbot Alwin held in that day in which King 
 Edward was alive and dead, and paid geld for two hides. These 
 ten teams can plough. From thence the abbot has half a 
 hide and one plough in demesne, and the villeins one hide 
 and a half and five ploughs. There the abbot has ten 
 villeins, and eight bordars, and five serfs, and fourteen oxen, 
 and fiftv-five sheep, and five acres of wood, and four acres 
 of meaaow, and thirty acres of pasture. This is worth forty 
 shillings, and when the abbot received it thirty shillings." 
 
 " The abbot has one manor which is called Brenta, which 
 the abbot held in that day in which King Edward was alive 
 and dead, and paid geld for two hides. This six teams are able 
 to plough. Thence the abbot has half a hide and one plough 
 in demesne, and the villeins one hide and a half and three 
 ploughs. There the abbot has eight villeins and six bordars, 
 and four serfs and eleven oxen, and seventy sheep, and thirty 
 
 1 
 
 t 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 125 
 
 goats, and one mile of wood in length and one furlong in 
 width, and two acres [of meadow]* and one mile of pasture 
 in length and a half in breadth. This is worth thirty 
 shillings, and when the abbot received it twenty shillings." 
 
 " The same church holds Brenta. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for two hides. There is land for ten 
 ploughs. In demesne is one plough and five serfs, and ten 
 villeins and eight bordars with five ploughs. There four 
 acres of meadow and four acres of woo^, and thirty acres of 
 pasture. Formerly thirty shillings, now worth forty shillings." 
 
 " The same church holds Brent. In the time of King 
 Edward it paid geld for two hides. There is land for six 
 ploughs. In demesne is half a plough and four serfs, and 
 eight villeins and six bordars with three ploughs. There two 
 acres of meadow, pasture one mile long and half a mile 
 broad, wood one mile long and one furlong broad. Formerly 
 twenty shillings, now thirty shillings." (Exchequer Book.) 
 
 The two Brentas stand for manors, both probably in tho 
 parish of South Brent. The Brent property appears in the 
 valor and Ministers' accounts, as under: — 
 
 The Valor gives, 
 
 Manerium de Brent. 
 
 Redditus assise liberorum tenentium . 
 Et custumariorum tenencium 
 Firma molendini . . .* . 
 Piscaria ...... 
 
 Incrementum redditus 
 
 De finibus terrarum cum perquisitis 
 
 curie et aliis proficuis ejusdem manerii 
 
 per annum communibus annis 
 
 £ 8. 
 
 d. 
 
 8 6 
 
 7i 
 
 87 17 
 
 3 
 
 . 6 16 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 9 17 
 
 H 
 
 11 5 
 
 U 
 
 Ministers' Accounts. 
 
 Brent. Redditus liberorum tenentium 
 manerii . . . , . 
 
 Redditus custumariorum et conventio- 
 nariorum tenentium 
 
 Brent. Porcio de vicarie . 
 
 Brent. Firma rectorie 
 
 121 6 7f 
 
 8 17 3 
 
 102 15 
 
 4 
 
 18 2 
 
 7q. 
 
 
 10 
 
 181. I have now been through the whole of the land 
 mentioned in Domesday, and shown as nearly as possible that 
 it continued to be held down to the time of the Dissolution. 
 
 • Omitted, but see Exchequer Book. 
 
 t 
 
 ^ 1 ' 
 
 ... ♦ **^ 
 
■ mm...mj ^ l ii W" * « ' »■!■* ' - '■ « t ' ■ I' W" ■■ ' * ' ..P'W I. .'.a'... 
 
 -■ 'At. ' ^ — , , I W.vM"»IJ -iHiMliai«»Si.- 
 
 'ri--'iii'mii»PJ.'.-..,i..':. «' ■' 
 
 126 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Besides the above the Abbey held some other land scattered 
 through the county, mentioned thus : — 
 
 In hundreto Mertone .... Abb de Bulfestra i 
 virga. Fol. 65b., p. 59. 
 
 In hundreto chridiatone . . . Dehisht* Osbuusepg iiii. 
 hid & dim. & abbas de bulfestra dim' hida. Fol. 66b, p. 60. 
 
 In hundredo Taintone . . . . et abbas bulfestrensis 
 fertium [ferlium ?] & dim\ Fol. 69b, p. 64. 
 
 In hundredo dippeford . . . . et abbas bulfestrensis 
 ii. hid. Fol. 69b, p. 65. 
 
 182. Of course the property had greatly increased in 
 value since Domesday, but that was owing to the general 
 progress of the country, and the care bestowed upon it by 
 its owners, but it cannot fail to be noticed that the additions 
 made during the time between the Great Survey and the 
 Dissolution were few and unimportant. They were, following 
 still the Valor and Ministers' Accounts, as follows : — 
 
 183. Palston, in South Brent, probably belonged to one of 
 tlie Domesday manors, thus mentioned in the Valor : — 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 Redditu bertone ibidem per annum .300 
 And in the Ministers' Accounts — 
 
 Redditus terrarum dominicalium vocat' 
 
 Palston 3 
 
 184. Engleburne, Ingleborne, or Engelbourne, is in the 
 parish of Harberton. It was leased by Gabriel Donne to 
 Sir Phillip Champemowne for a term of sixty years, and 
 subject to this was sold by the Crown. About the end of the 
 last century it was divided into parcels and sold. 
 
 Valor. 
 
 Manerium de Engleburne. 
 
 £> 8. d. 
 Redditus assise liberorum tenencium . 9 
 
 1 libra cere. 
 Custumariorum tenencium in Totnes, 
 
 Aisheberyngton, Churston, quam 
 Engleburne predicta . . . 10 7 2 
 
 et 1 libra cere. 
 
 Ac terrarum bartone . . . 5 13 4 
 
 De finibus terrarum cum perquisitis 
 curie et aliis proficuis ejusdem 
 manerii communibus annis . . 2 5 0|^ 
 
 18 14 6i 
 
 2 libre cere. 
 
 • 
 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 127 
 
 Ministers' Accounts. 
 
 Engleburne — £ s. d. 
 
 Redditus liberorum tenentium . . 12 1 
 Redditus tarn custumariorum quam 
 
 conventionariorum tenentium . .110 6 
 
 Firma manerii . . . . 5 13 4 
 
 185. Bromston or BrowTiston is a manor in the parish of 
 Modbury and was given to the abbey by John de Morville. 
 On the Dissolution Sir Thomas Dennis secured this for 
 
 himself. 
 
 Valor. 
 Brounston — 
 Redditus assise custumariorum tenen- 
 cium ibidem per annum . . .510^ 
 
 1 par. cirotecarum. 
 
 Ministers' Accounts. 
 
 Bromston — 
 Redditus assise 
 
 5 10 ob. 
 
 186. BoTTOXBURGH, Bottokysburgh, or Battisborough, is a 
 manor in the parish of Holbeton. 
 
 Valor. 
 Bottokysburgh — 
 Redditus assise liberorum tenencium . 
 Custumariorum tenencium 
 . Terrarum bartone .... 
 Firma molendini ... 
 Ac perquisita curie per annum com- 
 munibus annis .... 
 
 Ministers' Accounts. 
 Bottoxburgh — 
 Redditus liberorum tenentium . 
 Redditus conventionariorum tenentium 
 Firma capitalis mesuagii . 
 Perquisita curie .... 
 
 * 187. Chyscombe was a piece or parcel of land in the 
 parish of Dene Prior, of the yearly value of 6s. 8d. both in 
 the Valor and the Ministers' Accounts. 
 
 1 
 
 15 
 
 H 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 H 
 
 22 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 15 
 
 5ob 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
j i j 9 V 't "J ' g ,■ 
 
 
 gT ' ""ft^ Its ' l.ltg " 
 
 »' ■ M ^V ' ' 
 
 >- - ' - -, TT— ^ 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 129 
 
 128 
 
 1534. 
 26 Hen. VII. 
 cap. 3. 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 188. At Spychewyke, in the manor of the same name, in 
 the parish of Widdecomhe, the abbey had two tenements 
 returned at an annual rent of 28s. both in the Ministers' 
 Accounts and in the Valor. 
 
 189. North Bo VEY. Here was a tenement included in the 
 Valor and Ministers* Accounts as producing an annual rent 
 of lOs. 
 
 190. Hoo or Hooe, in the parish of Plymstock, described 
 in the Valor as being below the parish of Plympton. Here 
 was a tenement entered in both accounts as bJeing worth 8s. 
 per annum. 
 
 191. Plympton. Here the Abbey had a garden, the rent 
 being returned in the Ministers' Accounts and Valor at 5s. 
 yearly. 
 
 192. Exeter. Like most of the other abbeys, Buckfast 
 had a house in the city for the residence of the abbot, the 
 successive owners of which are traced by Dr. Oliver. In 
 the Valor and Ministers' Accounts it is entered as producing 
 only 6d. per annum for firewood. The reason of this probably 
 was, that it had been leased for a money payment, this small 
 amount being reserved. It was not until 1543 that the King 
 disposed of it. 
 
 193. BiCATON, a village in the parish of Broad hempston, 
 according to Oliver, belonged to the house, but I have not 
 met with any mention of it in any original document, nor 
 does the name or parish occur in either the Valor or Ministers' 
 Accounts 
 
 194. We also find enumerated in the Valor the usual pay- 
 ments made out of the annual revenue, amounting to £15 1 6s. 
 There was a corrody of £3 per annum to James Knottysford. 
 
 1 95. The spiritualities, which are entered separately, amount 
 with the pensions paid to £68 Hs. 3d. and one pound of wax 
 from the Kectory of Petrockstow. 
 
 196. Taking then the figures as they stand in the Valor, 
 we find that the total annual income of the Abbey in 1534 
 was— £ 8. d. 
 
 Rents, &c 430 19 7} 
 
 Spiritualities. . . . 68 14 3 
 
 out of which payments- 
 Temporalities 
 Spiritualities 
 
 15 16 
 
 17 6 8 
 
 499 13 10} 
 
 33 2 8 
 
 £466 11 2] 
 
 I 
 
 Thus leaving the total nett income £466 lis. 2|d., besides 
 twenty pounds of wax and one pair of gloves, an income 
 larger than any other Cistercian house in Devon. And yet, 
 unlike some monastic establishments, there appears to have 
 been no greed of wealth, no undue accumulation of riches ; 
 the monks did their best with their land, and often had, as we 
 have seen, to struggle to maintain their rights; but in the 
 centuries which elapsed between the Conquest and the Disso- 
 lution it cannot be said that they had been covetous; and 
 the sneer of Richard Coeur de Lion, when he told Fulke that 
 of his three daughters, Covetousness, Pride, and Lust, he 
 would bestow the first upon the white monks, could not 
 apply to the monks of Buckfast. 
 
 197. Besides being the chief farmers of the day, the Cis- 
 tercians were great promoters of the industrial arts. It has 
 recently been discovered that the Cistercians were the prede- 
 cessors of the ironmasters of the nineteenth century, the 
 monks of Kirkstead and Louth Park Abbey having pro- 
 moted iron-mining and smelting, and carried on the work on 
 an extensive scale. 
 
 Rather than covetous, the Cistercians should be called 
 thrifty and industrious, developing the resources of the 
 neighbourhood in which they settled, and endeavouring to 
 make two blades of grass grow where only one grew before. 
 It would be a pleasant task, and the results valuable, to trace 
 out the various occupations in which these monks engaged, 
 and what effects their labours have had upon the commercial 
 and agricultural interests of the country. 
 
 198. Buckfastleigh owes what prosperity it has to the 
 monks of Buckfast, for the Cistercians were the great wool 
 traders of the times in which they lived, and the owners of 
 the large mills, some of which are built up with the materials 
 of the Abbey and its belongings, are but carrying out in the 
 same locality, in other ways, the work of former years. 
 
 Yon may break, you may shatter the vase if you will, 
 But the scent of the roses will cling round it still ; 
 
 and so, when we use the "Abbot's Way" across the breezy 
 
 moor, we think of those busy men who often trod it, and 
 
 carried their merchandise along it ; and when we follow the 
 
 " Monk's Path " by the Dart, flowing on as it did long 
 
 years ago. 
 
 Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge, 
 It overtaketh in its pilgrimage ; 
 
 the lives of those who prayed and laboured, laboured and 
 
 s 
 
* • A 
 
 130 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 prayed, hard by, must occupy our thoughts, and " Abbot's 
 Way " and " Monk*8 Path," and the moor and the river, tell 
 us more, and do more to keep alive the memory, of the old 
 dwellers in the Abbey of Bulfestre, than the few scanty re- 
 mains of the buildings which they raised. 
 
 APPENDIX (A). 
 
 List of the Abbots of Buckfast. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Alwine . 
 Eustachius 
 William . 
 Nicholas . 
 Michael . 
 William . 
 Howell 
 Durandus . 
 Henry 
 Simon 
 Kobert 
 Peter , 
 
 Robert . 
 Stephen . 
 John de Churstowe 
 William Gififard. 
 Philip 
 
 Robert Simons . 
 WiUiam Paderston 
 William Slade . 
 William Beaghe 
 Thomas Rogger 
 John Ffychet . 
 John Matthu . 
 John Kynge 
 John Rede 
 St. Clere Pomeroy 7 
 Alfred Gille . 
 John Rede 
 Gabriel Donne . 
 
 Approz. 
 dikte. 
 
 1066 
 
 1148 
 
 1196 
 
 1207? 
 
 1225 
 
 1246 
 
 1247 
 
 1258 
 
 1268 
 
 1272 
 
 1280 
 
 1290 
 
 1316 
 1330 
 1332 
 1333 
 1349 
 1358 
 1395 
 1400 
 1415 
 1432 
 1440 
 1449 
 1483 
 1498 
 
 1512 
 1525 
 1687 
 
 Authorities. 
 
 Domesday Book. 
 
 ArchivesDeanand Chapter,Exeter 
 
 Foundation Deed, Torr Abbey. 
 
 Grant to John Lambrith. 
 
 Pedes Finium Henry III. 
 
 Coll. Sir William Pole, B.M. 
 
 Oliver. 
 
 Ohver. 
 
 Coll. Sir William Pole, B.M. 
 
 Episcopal Registers, Exeter. 
 
 Do. do. 
 
 Agreements with Hubemford and 
 
 others, &c. 
 Episcopal Registers. 
 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 
 Will of Ambrose Franke. 
 Episcopal Registers. 
 See par. 149. 
 Episcopal Registers. 
 
 Do. do. 
 
 Do. do. 
 
 / 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 131 
 
 APPENDIX (B). 
 
 The following documents are printed (from transcripts made for me from 
 the originals in the British Museum) as they stand, with the contractions 
 and errors. I have thought it hest to adopt this course with all the docu- 
 ments throughout this paper, the greater part of which are printed for the 
 first time. 
 
 Sloane MS. No. 513. (fo. 210b.) 
 
 Anno Drii M™° Ic. In crastino p'"ificac6is Be Marie v''g 
 copleta visi°^ in mo""s?io de B. p pre} Abbate statuta sut ea q 
 secut^ f'mi? ob^vanda. In p'mis statuit^ Anno Diii Ic. Nos 
 Vr R. dcus Abbas — visitantes filam nram Abbacia de B. sta- 
 tuim*^ T; pcipim'J ea q sequt'' inviolabili? ob^vada In p" statud 
 decVim*^ %c. Et in fine sigillu visitator appo'^f Qn aliq^ 
 officiu tepale iniugi"^ If Mo"'cho alic' vt 9VS0 p Abbm suu h" 
 juramentu sb se*ptu tenea"^ pstar cora Abbe suo T, seniorib) de 
 coventu p costitucoes Dili Biidci pape xij~ 
 
 ;mi 
 
 IF Juramentu. 
 
 Ego fr R mo"'ch'1 vt 99sus Mori de B. ordis Cist juro p 
 i*"^ sea Di ev"^nge"" q^ ab i*° die in antea in offo m' p vos 
 Abbem meu cdmisso % 1 oib) T; sin' m^ in offo ^dco comiss 
 fideli? me tiebo 1; q^ de p'ciis reddaib} f^ctib} seu pvetib} 
 quib3CU3 inde pveientib) 1 expflsis quocies 1 qn p Abbe) 
 meu requisit*^ fSo fidele 9potu redda pt D§ m» ded^it 1 poto 
 T; reliq"^ quecii} supf Sit Mo""s?io vt bursario h*^ Mori mei 
 integ'^li? assignabo s*' me D§ adjuvet 1 ista sea Di Ev^'ngelia. 
 
 IT Juramentu novicorf. 
 
 ■ % Ego fr N. cticus juro p ista sea Di ev"'nge^ q^ ab isto die 
 in antea nullu appona repugnacois obstactm uftm pc''abo 
 defencois psidm qm ad jussiom Abbis mei offa si qua m* com- 
 mitted^ in fufo dimitta abs3 9""dicc6ne q"^cu3 sic me D§ 
 adjuvet Ic. ^ 
 
 Quili3 novici*' in ordie Cis? petens instant? ut pfessiom sua 
 faciat inf '^ annu pbois sue 1 si coced' ei sic licite pt ut ex"" 
 de relig % t""nsit ad religiom e° ad aplicam Tuc pre? T; faciat 
 ins'pta renuciacom in cn° cora Abbe suo T; coventu. 
 
 Pfessio MonachorC. 
 
 Ego tr R cticus Exorcista Accolit*' sbdiacon'' t sacdos 
 pmitto stabilite mea T: cov'siom morf meorf 1 obedien'^ 
 s™ regta) sci Biidci ordis Cist cora Do 1 omib) scis ej*' quore 
 
 2 s 
 
 
132 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 reJiquie hie hnt' in hoc loco qui voca' Bucfast ord Cisf 
 construct© in hone beatissime De genitricis semp ip'^ 9ffinis 
 Marie m Psencia dni Wiiti Abbis. ^ ^ ^ 
 
 BUCK FAST ABBEY. 
 
 133 
 
 .nil 
 
 IF Juramentu Abbis. 
 
 Ego fr N etcus Abbs l\^ Mon be Marie de B juro p ista 
 sea Di evn'^ge'* ^ me tacta q, possessiones reddit^ 1 jura 
 mobiha 1 imobilia isti'J Mon no venda n'= alienabo vJ impig- 
 norabo ne) de novo infeodabo nc p am modum donabo n* 
 cTtenus statutu Pape Bndci % jura ordis mei pmittut s«= me 
 D§ adjuvet 1 ista sea Di Ev'^nge* p me tacta 1 9aci)? 
 osculata. 
 
 Juramentu scolaris mittendi ad studiu. 
 
 ^ Ego fr N etcus scolaris hup Mon be M« de B ordis Cist 
 juro p ista sea Di evn""ge'» q^ ab isto die in antea eg* corn ordis 
 mei pViIegia libtates It appbatas 9suetudies atq) statuta a'd 
 clani vl pala p me i p aliu attemptar impet'^re seu 1 in a™ 
 lUicite sive pt^ve C9"'iren6 psumauii pdcus ordo mens in pte 
 vj in toto dampnu a^scadalu inc""rer valeat vi g^^vamen s« me 
 Dg Ic. 
 
 Juramentu scolaris pmovedi ad g'^du scolasticum. 
 Ego fr N Monachus 1 scolaris Mori be M« de Bucfas? ordis 
 Cist juro p ista sea Di ev*"nge» q3 cu ad baclar vl Magisf^tu 
 theologice facultat^ pvehlo C9"" instituta ordis mei pVilegia 1 
 libtates a'd m fut'is no atteptabo p me 1 p aliu seu alios n« 
 quocu3 doloso color quesito pc'abo seu p me pc''ari paciar 
 ipetrando q*^ instituta 1 libtates ordis mei aridci Nee eidm 
 I^suma vi 1 pc""abo p me vl p aliu clam vf pala infinPe seu 
 q«»modoli3 alias inpugr"" s'' me D§ Ic. 
 
 Juramentu Monachi vocati ad cosiliu Abbatis. 
 Ego fr N. Mo^-ch^ 1 pfessus Mori be M« de B. ordis Cist 
 juro p 1** sea _Di ev^nge"" q, secretu 1 consiliu q,cu3 m» per 
 vos Abbm meu vt aliu seu alios noie vro ja revelandu fideli^ 
 tenebo at3 sHabo nc id ullaten*^ in posPu alic^ vt a*d pS con- 
 8cia3 vra3 p me n«^ p alia seu p alios qOscu5 revelabo ne3 
 denudabo n'= 1 revelar seu denudar faciam vt pcurabo sic me 
 dg Ic. ^ 
 
 Juramef Monachi m*tedi ad curia Ro^a p nego'" dom*J. 
 
 Ego f r N. Mo'^ch^ 1 pfess^ h'^ Mon be M« de B. juro p ista 
 
 ^~* £V®C"^®" ^ ™® "^^^^^ *^^**^ % "®^«" <ini ™e» Abbis 1 
 dee Mo stii mei 9missa 1 comHenda fide* in cur ro%a pseq^^r 
 
 1 p posse meo ditnr pmovebo cG exacta diligencia ac pecunia3 
 
 m^ delibanda in usus 1 utili*^* dcorf negociore m' comissore 
 1 cornittedo^ 1 no in alios vsus frivilos expenda q^q3 uUam 
 Tp ef'com in dca cur vl alibi p me vl p aliu seu alios facia vl 
 ri pcu";bo q tend^e potit ad inc^mentu honorf seu status dci 
 dm mei abbis vl mei a* C9li3 de coventu sive Mon me piudiciu 
 vl ruina qVism" ac 1 int"" t'duG advent*' mei p^mo ad doas 
 cur griali pcu^-tori ordis mei si ei*J copia her potuo me fideliV 
 pntabo s*= me ds Ic. 
 
 Juramet Mo^^ch t C9?'si dir'^ti ad cui= ro'^na p absolucoe. 
 
 ^ Ego fr J^. Mo^-ch^ "l pfessus h^ Mo"^st" de B. iuro p ista 
 sea di ev""ng» q, cas^ que stimulante 9scia mea dno meo 
 abbi exposui T; p q« ad endm sede aplica tiam ab eo petivi 
 V est T; Vacit m» accidit ullo simulacois vl fraudis color 
 pmixtojt q, p tepe quo ex"^ dcm Mon meu ex causa pdca iSo 
 itinJatu^^s mansurus vl q°m*'cu3 moraturus nullu oio actu vl 
 inst]^ mentu seu a'd aM qcu3 noie censeaf^ 09*^ pVilegia 
 ordis mei aridci vl statuta a^ C9suetudies appbatas eiusdm'' p 
 me vl p alios seu aliu pcu'^bo a* alias arte vl ingenio impetrabo 
 q, in Jiudiciu a*=^ psone C9cri3 stat^ digni^^ vl condicois ^xistat 
 vl^g""varnen ac T: inf*^ t»duu p^ advetu meu p'mo ad cur 
 ro'^na gnJali pcu""tori ordis mei si copia ipi^ her po?o me 
 fidelit presentabo s'' me ds T;c. 
 
 Obligaco recipiendi in Noviciii. 
 
 Ego N. de cticus Exorcista accloit^ sbdiacon^ diacon^ vl 
 saedos dio instinctu motus cupiens vitam Mo**"chalein duce in 
 isto Mon^ be M« de B. ordis Cist Exori dioc obligo me do 1 
 be M« §p vgi di genit>ci ac 6ib3 §cis 1 pa? abba q, die m» limitato 
 tonsura T; hitu novicior^ in isto dco Mon v*aci? assuma ac 
 integru annu pbaconis mee vl qntS in h°a regla sci bndci fSit 
 indultu fidelit pimplebo §°^ for«m ordis aildci. 
 
 IT Peticio novicij in Capitulo. 
 
 Diie peto instan? 1 hmt^ supplico qten^ \aleam a vobis 
 recipi ad faciend pfessiom mea in isto Mon de B. ad 3viend 
 do T; scis eius hie in? vos in hitu Monachali scdm reglam gci 
 bndci ordis Cis? ad rminu vite mee s"^ legem di T: vra docu- 
 menta. IF Tuc exponat illi abbas auricia ordis vt est modus. 
 
 IF Benuciaco. 
 
 Ego fra? Ric etct^ Novicius in isto Mon bte Marie de 
 Bukfast ordis Cis? dio instictu motus cupiens ordinem monas- 
 ticu in isto pdco Mori s"* regla^ §ci bndicti solempni? pfi?i in 
 
 
 »^^— ■ 
 
134 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 V f 
 
 Sbsidu novicijs rehgiosis de lure indultu novi n^metu induct^ 
 83 pe sponte siph*^ 1 absolute residue dcti anni pbaconis mee 
 m hijs stfpte renuco 1 peto instan? me recipi ad pfess^m 
 Jdcam faciendam §» for'-m ordinis antedci. P^essiom 
 
 Itm cu refrigescente devocone mlto^ pauce pso« nth dolor 
 ad c9V8ioem veiant liijs dieb^ vn in nouUis miidi ptibj 
 monasha nri ordis magnu paciut^ defeetu psona* pp? qU 
 cultf dm mmuir 1 monasteria ipa in tepalib^j magna 
 
 """le^-^S JT°^ ? *"J^ ^^ ^^^^P*''« "«^^<^y8 cici^adiuver ca- 
 ge diffiva al,as edita de novijs ante annu pbacois finitu ad 
 pfessione solempne admittens ipis q3 bndicedis vsq3 ad revo- 
 cacoem pdurandu progat 1 renovat sic tameq, ipi novici' 
 anq m bndicat sciant psal&u 1 ea que de iiccit^te sut scieda 
 'I qrtiidecimu sue etatis cople9int 1 residuo fpis anni sue 
 pbacois de fco renucient ex^sse vt ps sup». Ista diffinico 
 compilata fiiat anno dni Miitimo ccc Ixxiij apud Cist i c«ge«. 
 
 212 b. Re?endo i x« pri ac dno dno E. di gra Exofi EBo sui 
 ftini es 1 devoti filij Abfesl Convent^ MonasTij Bukfestr ordis 
 Oist ciensis Exon dioc re^encias tento pri debitas cu honor 
 Revende Wnitati vre. J. b. accolitu virum liberu 1 legit- 
 boneq3 Wsacois 1 honeste vre dioc ^sentam^ hmili? sup- 
 plicates 1 devote qtin9 eude. J. ad cms sacros ordles p 
 sac^ru manuu vra^ iposicoem cari^P ituitu r>mo9e digeL 
 Un a«^ :pmocois sive pvisois eiusd i nos 1 successores riros 
 tonr suscipim vos ante successorsqj vros i hac pte idepnes 
 co^var pmittim^ p pntes. In c^ rei testio^ sigillO nrj ^e e 
 
 BUCKFAST ABBEY. 
 
 135 
 
 H 
 
 APPENDIX (C). 
 
 Sloane MSS. No. 513, fo. 213. 
 
 In visitacone facieda p** d3 Abbas visi*^* pmunir visitand 
 sc'bendo s* vt ej*^ locu teneti de te® advet'^ sui ca visi'" celebftde 
 P'* g^ die visits ariq^"" intret ca™ d} pmunir Abfem t ej'^ Porem 
 dom*' 1 p*' intr eccm"^ ad \\gi^ vi ad p^mam ut filii sui s* 
 obediat magf devote. Intfts g ca™ post Icom regie plecta 
 dicto ut mor c bndi**' sbjugat CarisSi fres T; filii later vos no 
 d3 ca instant advet'^ nri q»li3n pa? Abbas p* sci?f § statuta 
 ordis tene' annuati p se 1 p aliii singta Mos""i^ia s^ ime'^ 
 sbjecta visitar 1 ea q iveSit corigeda zelo di T: ordis ta in 
 s^ualib3 q*^ in corpalib3 emedar Ad h** g^ vei ut actu visi^" 
 pficia i vobis dia g""tia dirigete 1; q3 c ta form"" i hac pte 
 hem*' mutada io s'^gat cator T; legat cora vobis Deiri pte**^ 
 carta visi" T; lega"^ tQc plec!f diffinib} legedis dicat visitator. 
 Ecce Itmi vos audista bona inforc'^om nob a scis prib} nris 
 f^dita q""br nos 1; vos heni*' pced^e i ^nti visitacoe nra T; io 
 do® Abba debetf fres vros rogar pcipe % moner ut ea q 
 corigeda nov'int puplice t pVati nob suggerant T; pponant S9 
 form"" cora nob lectam Post%"" v® Abbas fec^it moicom sua 
 Dicat visitator T: nos autori** prna q"" fugim' i hac pte vob 
 6ib3 T: sin^ pcipim*' i hac pte i v^'tute see obedi® q"'tin*' veiatf ad 
 nos puplice i pVati p meli'^ indicaPitf facied % ondatf ea q 
 corigeda sut i raos""oo i spualib} T; tepalib3 ta i capite q"" in 
 meb's ptestem"^ q3 vobis p pte nra 03 q'cq^' nobis caritatie 
 suggestii fu^it T: ex bono spu pati sum^ id effica*^ emedar p* 
 D§ mistv"'erit gt""ia T; ipi*' T: ordis honore aiarf vrarf salute 
 paceq3 T; utilite3 oniu I cor Tiie dicat visitator volum*> p*' ca™ 
 visitar officia 16 vos officiales sitf in officiis vris T; vos P^or 
 pvideatf de Frib3 q^ vadat nobiscu T; p"* nova hebitf pliametu 
 Insup durate visitacoe res^vam*' in man*' nras pulsacom ad 
 p'ma 1 ad ca™ % phibem*' ne a^o Mo""ch*' de Monas?io se 
 absentet sii licen"" nra spali % q^ opus bonu incipe d3 cu orone 
 ut fine meliore heat in effcu io ut pfis act*' nre visi'^ meli*' 
 pspe"" dice*' i p'n" veni cr spc pr nr ave et coltca Accones 
 nras T;c. 
 
 
'"Y^^^'T^ 
 
 { * 
 
 \ f 
 
 136 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 ,:f. 
 
 «ic, bis. 
 
 I ■' III 
 ' ,,» I' » 
 
 De comissar 
 
 n.- ■ . ^ "^5 ^^^^^ "" Venimus sv vocati sural ad mn- 
 tnlnl' "* P. """f i»ffi P?i« vri dSi v5 AbWs ttis loci s, i pi„o 
 voiul (J audiatf for'^m comissiois nre q"- ptca dieat eom!?.^? 
 
 sCrStorli:'?f 'r> 9'l'3annuetibus dieat eoraiW 
 s gat cator T legat for"-m visi" Ic ut s"" De relaxacoe Den« 
 vt mifgano p„ie Amice nos itellexim'> ob q^m cTj ZCi 
 pn.a T SIC dcra e nob rSito h» pa?is ad istancia tii AbWs tui% 
 «ocore tuore remittim-) T relaxaml pelaj ista i- p de ce?o te 
 
 sno n ,^- V'ru? ^^^ pclamacoes ,,t ma?ia inveSit in 
 suo pliamcto 1 ahbi sup p'ore supp'ore cantor succetor ecile- 
 rans Sbcel era? de spualib, T tepalibj \ sup articles gteTe in 
 scJpto v,s.« Pore sic alloquens! Uiie F-or tu es peal" 
 p eo a no fac f debitu officii tui cJea ordiej obSvad Fres no 
 
 - t3 L'' ^^"J? "* '^^''^'■e'- Silenciu in 4 locis p'ncipalib, 
 Zft~ "?" ^ •'" "'."^ '""'^ ^ '^P''" debitel'^cKad 
 
 vi^;&^' '°- '5'^'-'"^ P"'' cSpletorfn ^ an remanl 1 de 
 „f^f!^-tr ^''- ""P t'*"- nee ea psolvut in iPmitoris tepe debito 
 
 no ob^vate devote morose ac vivaci? cantado sj nimis tepide 
 festma te 1 mdeyote coplefp ?viciu dnm q- ?ceptQ ^ 
 
 S'v.te dno , lio^ ps^ea dne P'or debe>s ex offo tno 
 exctar cantore m ecctia 1 alios gftes tuos ut dnu officiD cu 
 tior 1 tremor nnbi psolvant remissos sv negligetes i ca° 
 
 d^\Z 'f -Z } •*«'■'"«';'" "° ■nodicu religio". Ilia que 
 Q-n^ ?h""k91 .^"PP'"" ■>""'"'' 13 "5 faeedebitu ?uu 
 
 de .bar volura_1 ^ vob.s p vra necligecia sit faciei eatf^essQ 
 nsj n crastmu judic.Q exsp'tantes. T'cia die dTco a Ssidete 
 bndi>« expo q, regta sbjugat loq^m' de ordie nro 1 petita 
 
 n^llTl T""- ^~'f "" """ '•'•' ' '»° "» "agna peiiiaj 
 njeru sti ex ord.s ngor Sj mia moti volum") ad pSs pinico, 
 
 «.o difterr sb spe emtdacois usqj ad pxia) visi" i q- si 
 
 Z^- T^" .™ ~''*^'*^ emedacom i te T in aliis n' vobis 
 ppoim-* onder gro decePo I favor sy costet vobis de ce?o sj 
 
 BUCKPAST ABBEY. 
 
 137 
 
 io^fect°f o^f sS .4s°'-^i;>^««if q- vos volum". obPvare 1 
 f-J ^ li" • T '*" emedari \ eatf sessura Tuc dicat hi 
 ftes 1 fih, 9s,d«ate atteci"" 1 videf« q-]i? Snte, visi^nr^ 
 pfecnl I vob 61 rigor ordis peiti ??misso ppom-m ' n n n'" 
 onder vob.s so" gra, % favoe movedo 1 vitan^" q "in" dZ 
 
 S^e AbbW~„^''*1-?"l^'''f "-» «" leccoitel^ib^dett 
 insistate Abbi vro 1 alus srioribj vns obedieneia % re^Pniig 
 
 exhibeatf caritate trnitatis 1 bonfi pace ivice obfvado dlblri^ 
 insup vagacojoloda evitar defcus^ vesk^atq iSa 
 emcdar ut s^ graj vobis tc^ i„ ^„ti visitaeoe iveiam S 
 advetunro vosin vacua nȣte1 ^oepisse Sup IstVT effica? 
 obW p.o„ 1 suppriori comittim^ vices nfas u fIciS 
 monicom nram ab oibj sbSvari. Niehil ad facied Tad Sus 
 iEi n- cu orone ut mof e visita" nmj ftai^. R«dam5 S 
 yobis \orombj vfis statu 1 unitate eccie uKpud^ J 
 intiucecu? dnm sij Sumu pon? cu toto clero TImS 
 adherjte ut sut cardenales AUeprEpTAbbt Po^s eelh 
 
 5 rojomedo oroib3 vns 6s fideles vivos 1 defuctos 1 sBali? 
 
 r^^'-fu-f*"!^ '^ *'* P^*^ "^'f """trO frata "ororf oniuo, 
 pentu 1 bnfactorf n-'no 1 omii fideliu defucforf d di S: 
 
 pa^ req'escat Vos ex pte Pore q' estf sacerfolUbrXis 
 1' 3 vrm celebrabit una missa p defuctf 1 q'li, vto q^ estU 
 
 do^nft^!" ""^"■■r^ t! ^? ^8^"e Mark I^cSaM 
 do Ki mttu ree cian? vobis de mora nfa 1 ilia pace a"m d! 
 rel,qu,t su,s di«,iptis t"-„siens ex h" mudo JTre? v"bt 
 iJoptam^ 1 pax di q exsupat oe, ss- exultet i co,il7b- v? s 
 
 iSf Tt ;™?'"°"'^l «»*«''« ""e-norate Et ad'^dffi sitf filii 1 
 «rea't^n\rre??rS '''' ^''''- '^ '^^''^^ ^ 
 M de^!""''"' ^"""^ Monachus 1 scolaris de Bukfast-R. D. 
 
 t 
 
- il -I ■ <Hi ^« i"» w ii ;ii !i n wi m 1 '"T " ! i " i """ "' " * * W" " ^i " *; , ' f I 'i ;" " ' " "^ if "^ ■'— ■ n ' w" j» wpi» « m n i'iwi>iiifipi M ' wy^'^wy 
 
 ■ 'IP ■i»iw— pMppwjm 
 
 ; 
 
 i 
 
 
 THE 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 IV. 
 NEWENHAM. 
 
 
THE 
 
 i'-i 1 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Newenham. 
 
 199. This Abbey was situated in the parish of Axminster, 
 at a short distance from the town. Founded by William de 
 Mohun in 1245, the site of the Abbey was blessed, and the 
 cemetery consecrated in the course of the following year. 
 
 200. It is not my intention to write the history of this 
 house. This has been already done by the late Mr. James 
 Davidson, in a manner which leaves little further to be said, 
 and to his Memoir I would refer my readers.* I intend only to 
 print some unpublished documents relating to the Abbey and 
 to certain proceedings of its inmates hitherto unknown. 
 
 201. The second Abbot was Henry de Persolte, and in 
 the first year of his abbacy a purchase of part of Shapwick 
 was made of Henry de Burton and Mabilla his wife for a 
 inoney consideration, the convent yielding in addition an- 
 nually, on the Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist, a 
 pair of white gloves. I give the original of the agreement 
 entered into at Exeter on the Morrow of the Ascension, 1249. 
 The payment appears to have been thirty marks, not thirty- 
 five, as mentioned by Davidson, p. 158. 
 
 Hec est finat concordia fca In Cur dni Regf apud Exoii Li 
 C"^stino Ascensionis Dfii Anno regni B^gf Henr fit RegC Joh 
 Tricesimo ?cio Cora Rogo de Thurkelby Gilbto de Preston 
 Magro Sim de Wautoii % Johe de Cobbeh Justic Itiflan? T; 
 aliis dni Regf fidet tuc ibi psentib) Int Henr Abbem de 
 Newenh quer \ Henr de Burtoii % Mabit vx ei^ imped de vna 
 Caruc rre T; dimid cu ptin in Shepwykf . Unde plac War 
 carte suin fuit in? eos in ead Cur Scilt qd pdci Henr % Mabit 
 rec pdcam tra cu ptiii esse ius ipius Abbis T: Ecctie sue de 
 Neweham vt ilia q m Id Abbs T; eccta sua pdca hnt de dono 
 
 * The History of Newenham Abbey, in the County of Devon, by James 
 Davidson. London and Exeter. 1843. 
 
 U 
 
 4 
 
 i 
 
 ■m 
 
 . 1 — ■iiii i i. <n »ii m i ia ii nn i n ii n ni n 4tiini > iiii 
 
 '•"IIJIiStMl'**"! 
 
 i'. ' 
 
^.Mmm 
 
 mtimm 
 
 140 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 141 
 
 ^dcorx Henr T; Mabit. Habenf 1 tenendf eid Abbi It succ 
 suis T; ecctie sue Jdce de pdcis Henr T: Mabit 1 hed ipius Mabii 
 impp Reddendo inde panii vnu par albarx Cyrothecar^ ad 
 Natitate sci Joh Bapte p omi 3uico T; exaccone. Et ^dci 
 Henr "X Mabit T; hed ipius Mabit War Jdco Abbi \ succ suis 
 T; ecetie sue pdce pdcam tram cu ptin p pdcm 3uic cont"^ 
 omes boies impp. Et p he rec war fine T; concordia Idem 
 Abbs dedit pdcis Henr 1 Mabit Triginta M^'rcas argnti. 
 
 Feet of Fines, Devon. Henry III. No. 446. 
 
 202. The next is the abridgment of John Prince (the 
 author of " The Worthies of Devon," who was born in the 
 house at Newenham Abbey,) of the account of the ceremonies 
 attending the laying the foundation stone of the church. 
 Prince heads his abstracts, — 
 
 \Cartm sequentes ob nimia prolixitate abreviunter p J. P.] 
 
 A" gratie 1254 Idus Septem. positus est primus Lapis 
 super Fundamentu Ecte B^® Marie de N3rweham a ven®^ viro 
 Dno Reginaldo de Moun Fundatore ejusd abbathie ; qui etia 
 tres Petras posuit, cruc© signatas ; et quartam petram posuit 
 Diius Wiilmus de Moun frater dicti Reginaldi ; Quinta petra 
 posuit Dnus Wymondus de Ralegh miles; et in secundo 
 Anno postea Dnus de Smaleridge. Posite sunt he quinque 
 petre in honore s** Trinitaf et b*® Marie Virginis et oium 
 Sanctoru, p«sen? tunc Dno Henrico tunc Abbate et omni 
 Conventu.— (Add. MSS. 28,649, p. 370.) 
 
 203. The date given in the following copy of the deed of 
 Reginald de Mohun, directing that his body should be buried 
 before the high altar in the Abbey Church of Newenham, is 
 different from that in the copy referred to by Davidson, and 
 it appears to vary in other particulars. — See Davidson, p. 35. 
 
 Oibus 8*® Matris Ecte filijs &c. Regiii de Moun Miles Dnus 
 de Dunsterre Salut in Dno Sempiter. Affectione qua nos 
 Nov®*" versus Monasteriu de Nyweham Exoii DioceS quia 
 nostra existit fundat Abtem et Monaohos Ord. Cis?. ibide 
 Deo et Gloriose virg Marie famulantibus ex devotione gerimus 
 
 psentibus, declaramus, volentes Corpus nostril, cu ab eod 
 
 Anima fuerit separata, in Ecta de Nyweha ante majus altare 
 honorifice sepeliend legamus, et insuper expresse concedentes 
 qd ubicu% et quocunq^ decesserim preterqua in Terra sancta 
 p Heredes [vel] Alios Amicos Execu! nostros Corpus firum 
 apud Nyweham Sepeliend deferatur. ahoqui liceat memorato 
 Abti et Monachis qui p tempore in dioto Monasterio existunt 
 
 corpus iirum p se vel p certos nuntios ad hoc specialiter 
 Deputatos requirere et apud Nyweha deferre, vt p aliquos 
 Amicoru nrorum alibi (qd absit) humatu esset. In cujus rei 
 testimoii Sigillu meum apposuimus. Hijs Test Dno Witlo de 
 Moun, Wimondo de Ralegh, Gervasio de Horton tunc vicecom 
 Devoii, Johe Arondell, Warino de Ralegh Militibus ; Wiito 
 de Bray, Reginaldo de Bath, Gilb. de Castello, Rado de 
 Monte Sorell, Rico de Membyry, Ada Hunt et alijs. Da? 
 apud Dunstor iiij Kal. Jul. A*' D. 1255.— Ibid. p. 423. 
 
 204. The record of the death of the founder follows: — 
 
 A°. D. 1257. 13 Kal. Feb. die Dominica in festo §toru 
 Fabiani et Sebastiani Reginaldus de Moun Dnus de Dun- 
 storre et Fundator Abbathie de Nyweham via universe Carnis 
 ingressus est apud Torr in Com Devoii. — Ibid. p. 371. 
 
 205. The kindness of Mr. J, M. Davidson, the son of tlie 
 historian of Newenham, enables me to print a complete copy 
 of the monkish rhymes in praise of Bishop Bronescombe 
 with the original Latin extended. 
 
 Plus de viro referam 
 Qualiter et Nyweham 
 Fovet et decorat 
 
 Prout vobis dicere 
 
 Possum necnon pandere 
 Plurimum honorat. 
 
 Ibi multum laboravit 
 
 Et thesauros erogavit 
 
 Eorum laboribus 
 
 Quod nunc patet et patebit 
 Gaudet homo que gaudebit 
 
 Futuris temporibus. 
 
 Primo sex altaria 
 Per sua donaria 
 Ibidem levavit 
 
 Quae de Dei giatia 
 
 Manu sua propria 
 Post et dedicavit. 
 
 Ex his autem senis aris 
 Pars habet aquilonarie 
 Ternas in basilica. 
 
 Quorum sancto Gabrieli 
 
 Cunctis angelisque cseli 
 Dedicatur unica. 
 u2 
 
 .'11 
 
 ■11 ! 
 
 I| 
 ^11 
 
 % 
 
■•■ 
 
 142 
 
 TBS CISTEKCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Thomae magistri secunda 
 
 Cujus luxit vita munda 
 
 Cunctisque martyribus 
 
 Qui vi crucis triumphalis 
 Caput hortis infernalis 
 
 Trivanmt sub pedibus. 
 
 Sanctae quoque Katerinae 
 Et virginibusque sine 
 Virili concubitu 
 
 Ara tertia sancitur 
 
 Dlis eis et largitur 
 Laus devoto spiritu. 
 
 Aliae quidem tres arse 
 
 Latae nunc ad angulare 
 
 Locis stant dividuis 
 
 Quarum prima dedicatur 
 Johanni qui plus amatur 
 
 In Dei discipulis. 
 
 Lucap, sanctoque Matthaeo, 
 
 Et ei quern signat leo, 
 
 Cunctis et apostolis, 
 
 Quos gens Christianae legis 
 Jussis poena summi Regis 
 
 Habet pro didasculis. 
 
 Annae secundaque piae, 
 
 Matri scilicet Mariae, 
 
 Sanctisque conjugibus 
 
 Qui per nuptialem vitam 
 Aulam coeli concupitam 
 
 Habent pro laboribus. 
 
 In honore Nicholai 
 
 Preca leni qui vult trahi 
 
 Ad opem merentium 
 
 Omniumque confessorum 
 Qui fragrarunt in amorem 
 
 Stat altare tertium. 
 
 Multa post haec fecit ibi, 
 O tu lector, quae non tibi 
 Modo recitantur ; 
 
 Dicant hi de Nyweham 
 
 Qui per Dei gratiam 
 Inde jam laetantur. 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 143 
 
 Igitur vos Sancti Dei 
 Subvenite, precor, ei 
 Implorantes veniam 
 
 Qui nos tantus sit honore 
 
 Et pro Christo sic labcre 
 In domo de Nyweham. 
 
 Hinc vos qui de Nyweham 
 Estis ut memoriam 
 Praesulis habendo 
 
 Deprecor ne taceat 
 
 Vox laudis sed valeat 
 Gratias agendo. 
 
 Orantes cum credulis 
 Pro salute praesulis 
 Vos qui via honorat 
 
 Germiuat ut lilium 
 
 Ante Dei filium 
 Pro quo sic laborat. 
 
 Pro Waltero confessore 
 Mentis visu cordis ore 
 Rogatis, carissimi. 
 
 Ut in die mortis dirae 
 
 Hunc dignetur custodire 
 Filius altissimi. Amen. 
 
 206. The following is the agreement with William de 
 Staunton, permitting the monks to take stone from his quarry 
 of Staunton, which was situated, it is stated, between the 
 quarry of the monks of Ford and the grantor's arable land. 
 
 Oibus x^ fid ^seh Scrip? visur vel Auditur Witts fit Willi de 
 Stauton mit salut. Nov^*^" me dedisse et concesS Deo et b^^ 
 Marie et fabrice Ecte in honore eorund apud Nyweham incepte 
 et Monachis ejusd Loci una Acram de Quarrarea mea de Staun- 
 ton jacente inter Quarraria Monachoru de Forda et tram 
 mea arabilem, et se extenden! ab oriente Longitudine 16 
 pticaru, et in Latitud versus Austru 8 pticaru et adeo pro- 
 funde sicut melius videretur expedire. Concessi etia p me 
 dictis Monachis et ministris qd hab Liberu et idoneG ingress 
 et egress p terram meam cu Carro et Carreta ad petru Ca- 
 riand &c. Pro hac aute donatione et concessione dedere mihi 
 Abbas et Conven? de Nyweham septe marcas sterling prema- 
 nibus &c In cujus rei testiih p^senti Scripto sigillu meu 
 apposui. Testibus Dfio Henr de Aulton, Diio Andrea Rec- 
 
1 
 
 r 
 
 1 1 
 
 *44t 
 
 THE CISTEBCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 145 
 
 tore Ecte de Staunton RotSto de Staunton he ejus Ro^o de 
 La Breche, Dno Hug tunc Priore de Newham et alijs. Dat 
 mense Apr A°. D'. 1279.— (Add. MSS. 28,649, p. 370.) 
 
 207. The next document is of some interest. It is the 
 record of a dispute between the Abbot of St MichaePs 
 Mount, — not the Comish, but the French Abbey, that of 
 St. Michael " inpericulo Maris,^^ — and the Abbot of Newen- 
 ham, as to rendering " secta " in respect of land in the manor 
 of Yarcombe in the hundred of Axminster. The verdict of 
 the jury was in favour of the French abbot. William de 
 Saham, one of the justices itinerant, was a judge of the Court 
 of King's Bench. William de Giselham, whose name often 
 appears in the legal records, was the King's advocate, the 
 names of Attorney and Solicitor-General not having been 
 adopted until the reign of Edward IV. In 1229 Giselham 
 was appointed one of the Judges of the Common Pleas.* 
 
 Ptita de Juratis % Assisis Coram Salam de Roffi 1 Sociis 
 suis Justiciar Itifiantib} Apud Exoii In Com Devon In 
 Octab Sci Martini Anno Regni Reg Edwardi fit Reg Henr 
 Nono Incipiente Decimo. Boylund. 
 
 jf Abbas sci Michis in picto mar sum fuit ad respond Abbi 
 de Neweham de ptito qd fac sectam ad hundrm suum de Ax- 
 menystre q*m ad illud fa2e debet T:c Et undo dicit qd quidam 
 Galfrs pdec suus fuit ses de pdca secta p man^ cuj^dam 
 Thurstani Abbis de Monte sci Michis in picto mar pdec pdci 
 Abbis de MaSio de Yartekumbe ut de tribus sepl in tres sepf 
 ut de feodo T; Jure tpe pacis tpe Dni H Reg pats Diii Reg 
 nuc capiendo inde explec ad valenc Ic Et qd tale sit Jus T;c 
 ofl^t Et Abbas p Atorii suu ven Et defend Jus suu T; seisi'^m 
 
 fdci Galfri ^ec Ic Et totu Ic. Et poii se in magnam assi^m 
 )ni Re&^ Et pel rec fieri uf" ipe maj^ Jus ht tenendi 
 pdcm manSiu suu de Yartekumbe absq^ hoc qd aliq^m s'^tam ei 
 faciat p eodm ad hundredu pdci Abbis de Axemenystre sic 
 tenet An idm Abbas de Neweham hndi pdcam sectam de 
 tTbus sep& in tres seplis Ic. Et ofi^t Dno Regi dimid marc 
 p hnda mcoe de Ipe Et Recipif Ic. Et Witts de Radlegh. 
 Rads de Done. Rics Coifyn \ Rics de Hydon q^tuor milites 
 ven 1: eligut istos scitt Ricm de Hydon. Wiltm de Radlegtl. 
 Radm de Done Ricm CoflFvTi Hugone de Radlegti Wiltm 
 de Albemarle. Henr de Radlegh ^Johem de VSlle Torta 
 de Clist Witm Punchardon. Radm fit Rici Warinum de 
 sicca vill Jotiem Punchardon Michem Trenchard Rogum 
 
 • Fobs, Judges of England, p. 301. 
 
 fit Pagani Johm de Umfhnivyt T: Wiltm le Prouz, qui dnt 
 sup sacrm suu qd pdSus Abbas de Monte sci Michis in picto 
 mar maj^ Jus lit tenendi pdcm maSiu de Yattecombe absq^ 
 pdca secta faciend ad hundrm pdci Abbis de Axemynstre 
 de tribus septis in tres septifh sic tenet q* pdcs Abbas de 
 Neweh'^m hndi pdcam sectam ad hundrm suu pdcm de ?bus 
 sept in tres sept Et I^o conB est qd Abbas de Monte sci 
 Michis in picto mar 1 succ sui teneat pdcm Mafiiu de Yatte- 
 combe absqj pdca secta faciend ad hundrm pdcm q'ete de 
 p'dco Abbe de Neweham T; succ suis inppet Et Abbas de 
 Neweh*m in mia Et Witts de Gyselh*m appoii clafh p diio 
 Rege. 
 
 Assize Roll Devon 
 
 L 
 
 1 Memb : 13-d. 
 
 208. In 1301-2 at the Comish Assize at Launceston the 
 Abbot was called upon to show by what authority he claimed 
 to hold the hundred and bailiwick of Stratton. This is re- 
 ferred to by Davidson, and I give the original entry from the 
 Assize Roll. 
 
 Placita de Jar 1 assiB • • apud Lanceneton In Com Cor- 
 nub In Octab sci Michis Anno regni Regis Edwardi filij 
 Regis Henr Tricesimo. 
 
 jf Abbas de Niwenham sum ftiit ad respond dno Regi quo 
 waranto clamat hre hundredum 1 ballivam de feodo sine aliquo 
 dando de hundredo de Stratton. Et Abbs per attorn suu 
 ven Et dicit qd ipe '\ eius pdecessores sui a tempore quo no 
 exstat memoria lial»uerunt pdcam ballivam % ea vsi fuerut 
 hucusque absq^ aliqua interrupcoe. Et de hoc ponit se super 
 patriam. Et Job de Mutf * simitr In hundro nichil clamat. 
 Ideo rem Regi. Jur quo ad ballivam pdcam dicunt sup 
 sacrm suu qd pdcus Abbas T; omes predec sui a tempo fun- 
 dacois Abbathie sue pdce 1 ofnes alij qui MaSium de Korton 
 tenuerunt ante fiindacoem pdcam huerunt ballivam pdcam 
 Ic Ideo pdcus Abbas inde sine die salvo T;c. 
 
 H 
 
 Assize Roll. 1^ 
 
 21 
 
 l.m. 37. 
 
 209. The next, from the De Banco Roll, date 1317, refers 
 
 ♦ Joh'nes de Mut/ordy in other Pleas — qui sequiturpro Rege. 
 
 t 
 
 [ 
 
 > ' '9 
 
yr 
 
 -^ 
 
 f ' 
 
 J* 
 V * 
 
 I 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 
 \i . 
 
 I • 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 V 1 
 
 146 
 
 THE CISTEKCIAN HOUSES OF DETON. 
 
 to a claim by the Abbey against William Gel, chaplain, for 
 the payment of £20 due from him. 
 
 Ptita apud Westm coram Witts de Beresford 1 sociis suis 
 Justic Dni Reg de Banco Termino Pasch anno regni Regis 
 E. filii Regis E. decimo. 
 
 De tribus septim Pasch. 
 
 (f Esson Al5fctis de Nywynh*m op. se iiij. die versus Witto 
 Gel Capellanii de ptito qd reddat ei viginti libr quas ei debet 
 T; injuste detinet Ic Et ipe no ven Et pceptu fuit vie qd sum 
 eu Ic Et vie nich inde fecit set mand qd nicli het Ic Et 
 testatu est hie qd satis het in code Com tuo Ic T o sicut f^us 
 pceptu est vie qd sufn eu 5d sit hie a die Sci Michis in xv 
 dies Ic. De Banco Roll, Easter, 10 Edw. II. 
 
 210. The next, 20 Edw. II. from the Pole Collections, 
 refers to the gift of the Tyntens, of lands in Shapwick to the 
 Abbey. See Davidson, p. 71. 
 
 Oibus X^ fidel. &c. Frater Johes de Tynten Abbas de 
 Neweham et ejus Loci convent ex una pte et Alicia de 
 Tynten Dna de Colury(?) et Johes Tynten mit fil. ejus ex 
 all pte de terris in Shapwick in Man de Axmister D. Da!. 
 A. R. R. E. fil. R. E. 20, p. 56. Add. MSS. (B. M.) p. 381. 
 
 211. I give the next to preserve the names of the parties 
 and of the witnesses. It is from the same source as the last. 
 The Abbot is Walter de la Houe, the sixteenth abbot. 
 
 Sciant &c. qd Ego Henricus de la Ford persona Eccles. de 
 Meriet* dedi &c. Johi de Carru mil. omnes ter meas auas habui 
 in La Moore in pochia de Loueputt. In cujus test. &c. Sigillu 
 meu apposui Test. I>** Wall Abbe de Newham Johe Francois 
 Witto iJphey Johe de Greneway Dat apud Nyweham 27 
 E. 3.— Ibid. p. 381. 
 
 212. The next entry, from the De Banco Roll, relates to 
 proceedings taken against Thomas Morton, a defaulting col- 
 lector of the Abbey, who did not appear, and against whom 
 judgment was given. 
 
 Wal?us atte Hone Abbas de Nyweh""m p Wiltm de EUe- 
 worth at? suu op. se iiij. die 9su8 Thom de Mortoii de ptito 
 qd reddat ei ronabilem compotu suu de tempo quo ftdt recep- 
 tor denar ipius Abbis l Johis de Gaytyngton nup Abbis de 
 Nyweham Jdecessoris Jdci Abbis 1c Et ipe no veii Et peec 
 
 • Probably Merriott, co. Somerset. 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 147 
 
 fiiit Vic q distr eulc Et vie modo ijanf q^^^f ^f^l}„^ 
 preeestvie qd cap eu le Et f ^^P.^l^^ Hd^\^5\^.^^,^,^ 
 eius hie in Octab see Trinitat p Justic Ic^ Et vn \e Ad que 
 die vie no misit bre losic p^us prec est yic qd cap eu siT-c M 
 
 saluolc Itaqd heat corpus ems ^^«, ^^^'^^t '" ^l^^l 8 I 
 Justic lc.-De Banco Roll, Easter, 17 Edw. IIL memb. 18 d. 
 
 213. A Mayor of Exeter is mentioned in the following 
 entry relating to another debtor. 
 
 Preceptii fuit vie qd corpus Henr de W .^%^^^^f^^^ 
 si laicus esse? capet et in p^sona Regf saluo custodm fae donee 
 Abbi de Nvweh^m de q^ndecim libr plene satisfac quas j^deus 
 Henr p'mo'die ffebruar\nno regni dni Rege m.c Angt q^nto- 
 decimo cora Henr de Hughetoii nup maiore ^mitat Exon ^ 
 Robto de Lucy tuc ctico ad recogn debitor^ apud Exon acci- 
 dend deputat recogn se debere f/deo Abbi et quas^ei soluisse 
 Sebuit acf fm sci Michis Archangeli tuc px ^equen et eas ei 
 nodule Etquali? le scire fae hie ad hue die ^ciK a die Pasche 
 in XV dies 4 Et vie modo mand qd cepit 5«^Py« P.^^,^^^^^^ 
 illud saluo 1 secur ousted fae sedm t^^^or^^?^^!.^^^^^^^^^ 
 Abbas heat inde bre p statut Ic Et quali? ^c vie scire fae hic 
 in Octeb sci Michis Ic Et vn Ic.-Ibid. memb. 49. 
 
 214. Walter Bourdenile had neglected to furnish a proper 
 account, and proceedings were taken agamst him. 
 
 Waltus Abbas de Nyweham p Wittm de Elleworth at? suu 
 op. se iiij. die 9sus Wal?m Bourdeny e de ptito qd redd e 
 
 ronabile compotu suu de tempo quo fuit ^^^Pf Jf^b^^^^^^^ 
 nup Abbis de Nyweham pdecessoris ipius Walti nuc Abbi^s de 
 Nvweh^mlc Et ipe no ven Etprec fuit vie qd cap eu tc Et 
 vie mod^mand qd no est inuentf le Po sic p^us prec est vie 
 qd cap eu si Ic Et saluo Ic Tta qd heat corpus ems hic a die 
 ^£e^niLis in xv dies p Justic le Et vie sit le.-Ibid. memb. 
 161 d. 
 
 215. Thomas Morton turns up again the foUo^^^S J^.^^ 
 [see 212], and Robert Cayphas wa^ called upon to ans^ver tor 
 the like neglects as Morton. 
 
 Wal?us atte Hone Abbas^de Nyweham p Wiltm de Elle- 
 woKh aH suu op. se iiij die 9sus Thorn de Morton de ptrto qd 
 redd 01 ronabilem compotu suu de tempo quo f^it receptor 
 denar ipius Abbis ^\Johis de Gayt;^ngton nup Abbis de 
 Nyweham Pdecessor^ ?dei Abbis ^e. lit ipe no yen ?c fuit ^nc 
 Jd^Iap eum^ si le. Et vie modo mand qd no est inuent^ ^e t o 
 
 " - ! V • 
 
i\ 
 
 148 
 
 l> 1 
 
 I ' 
 
 » 
 
 THE CISTEBCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 sicut prius Jc est vie qd cap eu si Ic. Et saluo Ic Ita qd heat 
 corpus eius hie in Octafe §ci Michis Ic.— Ibid. Easter, 18 
 Edw. III. memb. 46. 
 
 Walrus Abbas de Nyweham p Wiltm de EUeworth atf suu 
 op. se iiij. die Vsus_Rob!m Cayphas de piito qd reddat ei 
 • roriabile compotO suu de tempe quo fiiit receptor denar ipius 
 Abfeis Ic Et ipe no ven Et prec fuit vie qd capet eu Ic Et vie 
 modo mand qd no est inuentuslc Fo sic p'us prec est vie qd 
 cap eu si Ic Et saluo Ic Ita qd lieat corpus eius hie a die sci 
 Michis in XV dies Ic Et vie sic Ic.- Ibid. memb. 134. 
 
 216. William Abraliam, in 1343, was charged with stealing 
 hay and rushes, and committing other depredations, and did 
 not appear to defend himself. 
 
 Abbas de I^weham p Wiltm de EUeworth atf suu op. se 
 iiij. die Vsus Wiltm Abraham de ptito q"^e vi 1 armis clauS 
 ipius Abbis apud Axemynstre fregit 1 fenu 1 ruscos ad valenc 
 quadrag lib? ibidem inuenta cepit 1 asptauit 1 alia enormia ei 
 mtulit ad g«ue dampnu ipius Abbis 1 cont« pace le Et ipe no 
 ven Et sic prius prec Mi vie qd cap eu Ic Et vie modo mand 
 qd no est inuent^ Ic To sic plur prec est vie qd cap eu si Ic 
 Et saluo Ic Ita qd heat corpus eius hie in Octabis sci Michis 
 Ic Et vie sic Ic— Ibid. memb. 46 d. 
 
 217. The next is a complaint against the Convent. John 
 at bloo asserts that the Abbot and John Sangere had deprived 
 him of forty sheep, of the value of one hundred shillings. 
 
 Ad hue de Octali sci Hillar. 
 
 IT Johes atte Sloo op se iiijt° die 9sus Waltm Abb?m de 
 -Nyweham % Johem Sangere de ptito quare vi 1 armis qua- 
 draginta oves ipius Johis atte Sloo precij Centu solidors apud 
 Kouerigge mventas ceperunt 1 abduxerunt 1 alia enormia ei 
 mtulerut ad grave dampnu ipius Johis atte Sloo 1 cent* pacem 
 Regie Et ipi non ven Et prec fuit vie qd distr eoslc Et vie 
 modo mand qd fydcus Abbas distr p ca? ad valenc duoderi 
 denar Et m p Johem Scot et Henr Dare Fo ipi in inia Et 
 sicut prius prec est vie qd distr eu p omes ?ras Ic Et qd de 
 exitle Et qd heat corpus eius hie a die Pasche in xv dies p 
 Justie'te Et de f^dco Jolie Sangere mand vie qd nichil iiet Ic 
 1 o prec est vie qd capiat eO si Ic Et salvo Ic Ita qd heat 
 corpus ems hie ad Sfatu ^min Ic Et vn Ic.— De Banco Roll, 
 Hilary, 26 Edw. III. m. 21. ' 
 
 ■" ■* i ii i * i . ■!< 41{ ii »'»i i» - # 1 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 149 
 
 218. In the next the grievance is somewhat similar, but 
 the Abbot is plaintiff, not defendant. 
 
 (f Abbas de Nyweham p Johem de Cruk at! suu op. se iiij*° 
 die vsus Rogm de Cabus de Lym de ptito quare vi 1 armis 
 ducentos multones ipius Abbtis precij viginti libra apud 
 Swapwyk inventos cepit 1 abduxit T: alia enormia ei intulit ad 
 grave dampnu ipius Abbtis 1 cent* pacem Beg Ic Et ipe non 
 ven Et sicut plur prec fuit vie qd capet el si Ic Et salvo Ic 
 Ita qd heret corpus eius hie ad hunc diem scitt m octabis sci 
 hillar Ic El vie modo mand qd non est inventus Ic nee aliquid 
 het Ic Po prec est vie qd exigi fac eu de Com in Com 
 quousa scdm legem 1 cons Ic vtlaget* si non compuJit Et si 
 Ic tuc eii cap T: salvo Ic Ita qd heat corpus ems hic m Octabis 
 sci Michis Ic Et vnde Ic.— Ibid. m. 41. 
 
 219. Here William Gilemyn is a defaulter in his accounts, 
 and does not appear to justify himself. 
 
 ir Johes Abbas de Nyweham p Johem de Chudd att suu 
 op. se iiij. die versus Wittm Gilemyn de ptito qd reddat ei 
 ronabile compotu suu de tempe quo fuit receptor denar 
 Robti de Pebbesbury quoda Abbatis de Niweham f^decessoris 
 p^dci Johis Abbtis Ic Et ipse no venit et fuit attach p Wiitm 
 de Trenant 1 Ricm de Trenant lo ipi in mia Et {^cep? est 
 vie qd distr eum p oihes terr Ic Et qd de exitt "ic Et qd 
 heat corpus eius hic In Octabis sci hillar Ic— Ibid. m. 33. 
 
 220. William de Stamford, the executor of the will of 
 Simon of Farham, sues the Abbot on behalf of himself and 
 his co-executors for £12 stated to be due from the former to 
 the estate. 
 
 (T Wilts de Staunford exec testi Simonis de ffarnam p 
 Thoin P*t at? suu op. se iiij^" die Vsus Abhem de Nywenham 
 de ptito qd reddat ei ^ Johi Descures Rado de Bereford 1 
 Wilto Dunmuire coexec pdci Wiiti de Staunford duodecim 
 libr quas ei iniuste detinet Ic Et ipe non ven Et huit diem 
 nuc hic posstq^'m compuit in Cur hic 1 cepit mde diem f^ce 
 pciu Ic lo prec est vie qd distr eum p oes tr le Et qd 
 heat corp^ ei^ hic in octabis Pur be Marie 'Ic. Et quia 
 Sdci Johes Radus % Witts Dunmuire ad pxm diem compuerut 
 hic 1 modo non secuntur 'Ic lo p^dcus Witts de Staunford 
 sequat* sine Ic — Ibid. m. 337. 
 
 221. The next refers to another defaulting collector of some 
 of the revenues of the Abbey. 
 
 x2 
 
150 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 151 
 
 JT Abbas de Neuwenham p Johem de Chuddelegfe atf suu 
 op. se iiij*° die vsus Wal'i^um de Burdevill de piito qd redd ei 
 ronabilem compotu suu de tempe quo fuit receptor denariora 
 ipius Abfetis Ic Et ipe non vefi Et sicut plur distr p cat ad 
 valenc duor^ solidojj Et Man p Walfm de Bodget 1 Johem 
 de Kerle l6 ipi in mia Et sicut plur pceptu est sic qd distr p 
 oines ?r T;c Et qd de exit Ic Et qd heat corpus eius hie a 
 die Pasche in xv dies Ic Et vic° sit Ic— Idem. m. 263 d. 
 
 222. In 1366-7 Richard Branescombe, the Abbot, com- 
 menced proceedings against several persons for entering his 
 land at Newenham and cutting down and carrying away trees 
 of the value of £20, and against William Constance for 
 cutting down growing trees at Clocombe [ Valor Clokham] 
 and digging stone at Foxhole. 
 
 jf Abbas de Nywenham p Johem Prestecote ail suu op. se 
 iiij^** die vsus Rohm Strange Johem ffowel Johem Alhot 
 Waltm West Witlm Bertelot WiHm Conyng senior Marg'iam 
 Hayward Marg'iam Belle Johem Soutli Rogm Diegher Wittm 
 Hembury Juri Wittm Hembury senior Johem Dulymere 
 Wittm Purs ad Pratenesse Johem Toterigge T; Waltm 
 Toterigge de ptito quare ipi simul cii Witto Constance vi T; 
 armis clausu ipius Abhis apud Nywenham Park frefunt 1 
 arbores suas ad valenc viginti libra^ ibidem nup crescen? 
 succiderunt 1 asportaverunt 1 alia enormia ei intulerunt ad 
 g*ve dampnu ipius Abbis 1; contra pacem Reg Ic Et ipi non 
 vefi Et sicut plur prec fuit vie qd capet eos si Ic Et salvo Ic 
 Ita qd heret eoija eoy hie ad hunc diem scitt a die sci hillar 
 in XV dies Ic Et vie modo mand qd non sunt invent Tc Id 
 prec est vie qd eos de Com in Com quosq^ Ic omes ^ter pdce 
 Marfia 1 Marg'ia vtlagent"* 1 Jdce Marfia It Margia wai- 
 vient"8 si non Ic Et si Ic tunc eos capiat Et salvg Ic Ita 
 qd heat corpa eoi hie a die sci Michis in xv dies Et vfi Ic — 
 Ibid. 41 Edw. III. Hilary, m. 198. 
 
 jf Abbas de Newenham p Johem Prestecote att suu op. se 
 iiij*° die Vsus Wittm Constance de ptito quare vi 1 armis 
 clausu ipius Abbis apud Clocombe freg 1; arbores suas ibidem 
 nup crescentes succidit 1 in quarrera sua apud ffoxhull fodit 
 1 petras inde prectas ac arbores |)dcas ad Valencia decem 
 librax cepit 1 asportavit 1 alia enormia Ic Et ipe non veil 
 Et pc fuit vie qd distr eu T;c Et vie modo mand qd nichil het 
 T;c Id pc est vie qd capiat eu si T;c Et salvo Ic Ita qd heat 
 corpus eius hie a die Pasche in vnu Mensem p Justic Ic. — 
 Ibid. m. 232 d. 
 
 223. In 1394, the Abbot, John Leggas, sued William, the 
 Vicar of Axminster, for intruding upon his free warren at 
 Axminster without licence, and taking fish, hares, rabbits, 
 pheasants, and partridges. 
 
 Jf Abbas de Newenham p at! suu op. se iiij*** die v'sus 
 Wittm vicar ecctie de Axmynstre Wittm fit Johis Toker de 
 Cleyhill % Johem Blakeford de ptito quare vi T; armis lifeam 
 warenna ipius Abbis apud Axmynstre intraver T; in ea sine 
 Ucencia 1 voluntate sua fugaver T; in sepali piscaria sua ibid 
 piscati fuer T; pisce inde ad Valencia viginti libra^ ac lepores 
 cuniclos phasianos Ipdrices de warenna pdca cepunt '^ aspor- 
 taver % alia enormia T:c 1 cont^ pacem R^gis T:c Et ipi non 
 ven Et prec fuit vie qd attach eos Et vie modo mand qd 
 nichil {lent l6 prec est vie qd capiat eos si Ic Ita qd heat 
 corpora eoi hie a die Pasche in xv dies Ic ad quem diem vie 
 non mi§ b^ I6 sicut prius capiant** qd sint hie in Octab sci 
 Michis.— De Banco Roll 18 Ric. II. Hilary m. 46d. 
 
 224. The following are records of similar proceedings to 
 those already mentioned : — 
 
 jf Abbas de Newenham p Johem Dennyng att suu op. es 
 iiij*° die vsus Rog'um Carter cticum de ptito quare vi 1 armis 
 clausu ipius Abbis apud Newenham fregit et arbores suas 
 ibm nup crescentes ad valenc decem libraj succidit % aspor- 
 tavit T; blada % herbam sua ibidem nup crescencia ad valenc 
 Centu solidos cu quibusda av'ijs depastus fuit conculcavit T; 
 consumpsitT; alia enormia Ic ad grave dampnu Ic et cent* 
 pacem Regis Htc Et ipe non ven Et prec fuit vie qd capet eu 
 Et vie modo mand qd non est inventus T;c Id sicut prius prec 
 est vie qd capiat eu silc Et salvo T^c Ita qd heat corpus eius 
 hie a die Pasche in tres septimanas Ic.— Ibid. M. 202d. 
 
 jf Witts Lange de Axmynstre p Thomam Brokhampton at? 
 sua op. se iiij**' die v*sus Abbm de Newenham de ptito qd 
 reddal ei decem libras Et vsus Johem Ryde de Colyford de 
 ptito qd reddat ei centum solidos quos ei debent % iniuste 
 detinentTic Et ipi non veil EtsumT^c Judm attach qd sint 
 hie a die Pasche in tres septimanas Ic, — Ibid. m. 217d. 
 
 225, The next appears to be a record of the firesh proceed- 
 ings in the protracted litigation between Thomas Carew, on 
 the death of Robert Grymeston in 1401, and the Convent, with 
 respect to the right of presentation to the Church of Luppit. 
 See Davidson, p. 75 et seg. 
 
152 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 153 
 
 Jf Thomas Carreu Chivaler p attorn suu op se iiij*" die 
 V8US Johem Abbem de Nyweham 1 Vincencium atte Hille 
 Capeitm deptito qd pmittant ipm presentare idoneam psonam 
 ad ecctiam de Lovepitte que vacat T: ad suam spectat dona- 
 ^em T;c Et ipi non vefi Et huerunt inde diem p essori suos 
 hie vsqj ad hunc diem Ic I6 prec est vie qd distr eos p ofhes 
 ?ras Ic Et quod heat cor pa eoa hie in Octab sci Michis Ic. — 
 De Banco Roll 1 Henry IV. Trinity, m. 7 Id. 
 
 226. The following year we have some further entries. In 
 the second Thomas Carew is still pursuing his action against 
 the Convent. His proceedings were ultimately unsuccessful. 
 
 jf Jacobus Chuddelegh Miles p attorn suii op. se iiij^° die 
 vsus Ricm Abbem de Dunkeswell % Johem Abbem de Ny- 
 wenham de piito qd vt'a eo^ reddat ei viginti libras quas ei 
 debet 1 iniuste detinet Ic Et ipe non vefi Et prec fuit vie 
 qd Attach eos Ic Et vie modo mand quod v^q^ eox Attach 
 est p Johem Holme 1 Thomam fforster Id ipi in mia Ic 
 Et prec est vie qd distr eos p omnes ?ras Ic Et qd de exif 
 Ic Et qd heat corpa eos hie A de sci Michis in xv dies Ic — 
 De Banco Roll, 2 Henry IV. Trinity, m. 176d. 
 
 jf Jur* int Thomam Carreu Chivaler quer T; Johem Abbem 
 de Nyweham de ptito quare impedit ponit"" in respcm hie 
 visq^a die sci Michis in xv dies Nisi Justic dni Regis ad 
 assias in Com pdco capiend assign p formam statuti Ic die 
 veSis px post fm Sci Jacobi Apli apud Exofi prius veflint p 
 de#Qu Jur quia nult ven lo vie heat corpa Ic. — Ibid. m. 
 3l9d. 
 
 227. An account of a daring deed is preserved in the next 
 extract from the De Banco Roll. Thomas Usher and others 
 appear to have taken the Abbot, Leonard Houndalre, prisoner 
 and carried him from Newenham to Bykele, and also detained 
 his goods and chattels to the value of £40. The defendants 
 did not put in an appearance. 
 
 Jf Abbas de Nywenham p attorn suu op. se iiij*« die vsus 
 Thorn Usshor Ricm Tryst T; Radih Paym de Colmpton de 
 ptito quare ipi siml cu Johe Prentys de Honytoii Reginaldo 
 Baker de Bradenynche 1 Johe Vautard de Clyst vi 1; armis 
 ipm Abbtem apud Nywenham ceperunt % ipm abinde usq. 
 Bykele duxerunt "^ ipm imprisonaverunt 1 male tractaverunt 
 1 ipm sic in prisona ibm quousq^ idem Abbas finem p decern 
 libras p delibacone sua henda cu pfat Thoma Rico Rado 
 Johe Iteginaldo "t Johe fecisset detinuerunt T; bona 1 catalla 
 
 sua ad valenc quadraginta libra^ apud Jdcam villam de 
 Nywenham inventa ceperunt T; asportaverunt Et alia enor- 
 mia Ic ad g'"ve dampnu Ic Et cent* pacem Rege "Ic Et 
 ipi non vefi Et sicut plur prec fuit vie qd capet eos Ic Et 
 vie modo mand qd non sunt inventi Ic I6 sicut plur capianf 
 Ita qd sint hie a die sci Michis in xv dies p justic T:c. — De 
 Banco Roll, 5 Henry IV. Trinity, m. 307. 
 
 228. The following relate to other legal proceedings, and 
 sufficiently describe themselves. The third shows that the 
 Abbot was a receiver for the Prince of Wales, probably of 
 the revenues of the Duchy of Cornwall. 
 
 jf Abbas de Nywenham p attorfi suii op. se iiij*° die vsus 
 Ricm Trist de piito quare cum de ^coi consilio regni Reg 
 Angt pvisum sit qd non liceat alicui vastum vendicoem sen 
 destruccoem fa2e de Sris domib} boscis seu gardinis sibi 
 dimissis ad fmifi vite vel anno^ idem Ricus de domib} boscis 
 T; gardinis in Tuddelieys que Ricus Excestre nup Abbas de 
 Nywenham pdecessor pdci nunc Abbis pfato Rico dimisit ad 
 ?mifi annoA fecit vastum vendicoem 1 destruccoem ad ex- 
 hedacoem eccHe ipius Abbtis be Marie de N^^enham T: cont"^ 
 forma pvisionis pace Et ipe non ven Et attach est p Johem 
 Mey 1 Ricm Masofi I'o ipi in mia Et prec est vie qd distr 
 eu p omes Sras 1:c Et qd de exit Ic Et qd heat corpus eius 
 hie a die sci Michis in vnu Mensem l^c. — De Banco Roll, 
 8 Hen. IV. Trinity, m. 79. 
 
 jf Johes Palmer de Brydport p attorfi suu op. se iiij^** die 
 \?sus Leonardu Abbem de Newenham de ptito quod reddat ei 
 quadraginta solidos Et 9sus Aliciam que fuit vx Johis Cole 
 de Southmoltofi de ptito qd reddat ei decem marcas Et vsus 
 Stephm Burdescombe de ptito qd reddat ei quadraginta soli- 
 dos quos ei debent T; iniuste detinent Et ipi non vefi Et 
 prec fuit vie qd sum eos T;c Et vie mand qd pdcus Abbas 
 suin est Judm attach qd sit hie in Octabis sci Michis Et de 
 ^dcis Alicia 1; Stepho mand vie qd nichil hent T:c I'o 
 capiant"" qd sunt hie ad Jfat ?mifi p Justic Ic ad quem vie 
 non mis bre I'o pdcus Abbas sicuf prius et pdei Alicia 1 
 Stephus sicut prius [to Hil. then to Easter.] — Ibid. m. 433 d. 
 
 Jf Henr Princeps Watt p attorfi suu op. se iiij*° die Vsus 
 Abbem de Newenham de piito qd reddat ei ronabilem compotu 
 suu de tempore quo fuit receptor denar ipius Principis Et 
 ipe non vefi Et sum Ic Judm attach qd sit hie a die sci 
 Michis in tres septias T;c.— Ibid. m. 527 d. 
 
I 
 
 pii"' ll:"" 
 iF .IF' 
 
 W 
 
 154 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 155 
 
 jf Jur"" in? Johem Calmadya in ppria psona sua que? et 
 Leonardu Abbem de Neweham de ptito f^nsgr ponit"" in 
 respcm coram Dho Rege vsq^ in (j"8tino sci Johis Bapte 
 vbicu% '^c p defcu Jur Quia nuUus T;c Vo vie heat corpa Ic 
 Idem dies da? est ptibi pdcis T;c. 
 
 Jf Jur"" in? Ricm Ualmadya in ppria psona sua quer' et 
 Leonardu Abbem de Neweham Michm the Abbotes servant of 
 Keweham 1 Thomam the Abbotes servant of Neweham de 
 ptito f^nsgr poit"" in respcm coram Dno Rege vsq^ in C^stino 
 sci Johis Bap?e vbiciiqj %c p detcu Jur Quia nullus Ic I'o 
 vie heat corp Ic Idem dies datus est ptib) pdcis Ic. — Coram 
 Rege Roll. Easter, 11 Henry IV. m. 8d. 
 
 jf Abbas de Newenham qui tam p dno Rege q""m p se ipo 
 sequit"" p aXl suu op. se iiij*° die vsus Johem Colewille de 
 piito contemptus T; t'^nsgr cont"' forma statuti de Svientib} 
 nup editi et ipe non ven et pceptum fuit vie qd capet eii et 
 vie retorn qd ipe non est invent^ '\c I'o p/ceptu est vie qd 
 Exigi fac eu de Com in Com quousq^ Ic vtlaget"" si non Ic et 
 si Ic tunc eum capiat Et salvo Ic Ita qd heat corpus eius 
 cora dno Rege in Crastino Pur he Marie vbicuq^ 1,0 Et vnde 
 a die Pasche in xv dies. — Ibid. m. 8d. 
 
 229. The first of the last three documents I am able to 
 quote shows that the Abbey had property upon the water as 
 well as on the land, the Aboot of Abbotsbury, in the county of 
 Dorset, and others, being charged with having taken a ship 
 the property of the Monks of Newenham. Nicholas Wyse- 
 beche, the Abbot, appeared at Exeter in person to support the 
 complaint 
 
 jf Nichus Abbas de Nyweham in ppria psona sua op. se 
 iiij^*^ die 9sus Rohtm Abbem de Abbotysbury in Com Dor§ 
 Radm Cokwyll de Abbotysbury in pdco Com Dorg yoman 
 Johem Walshe de Dorchester in eodem Com DorS yoman 
 Ricm Hille de Waymouth in pdco Com DorS yoman Wiltm 
 Sandwyche de Setoii in pdco Com Devon yoman de ptito 
 quare vi T; annis quandam navem ipius Nichi Abfeis procij 
 quadraginta libraj^ apud*iSeton inven? ceperunt l abduxerunt 
 1 alia enormia "^c Ad g""ve dampnu Ic Et cont"" pace Reg 
 .Ic Et ipi non veii Et prec fuit vie qd attach eos Ic Et 
 vie modo mand qd quilibet eox attach est p Riem ffoys 1 
 Johem Gyon I'o ipi in mia I o prec est vie qd distr eos p 
 omes ?ras %c Et qd de exit T,c Et qd heat corpora eoi hie 
 a die see Trinitatis in xv dies Ic [Further postponed to 
 
 Mich., Hil., Easter, and Mich, following.]— De Banco Roll. 
 6 Henry V. Easter, m. 248. 
 
 jf Nichus Abbas de Nyweham p Johem Trelay att suu op. 
 se iiij*" die v'sus Wittm ffrankeleyn de Setofi in Com pdco 
 Bocher de pHlo quare vi T: armis bona T; catalla ipius Abbtis 
 ad valenciam centu solido^ apud Bere inventa cepit 1 aspor- 
 tavit Et alia enormia Ic ad g^ve dampnu Ic Et cont"^ 
 pacem Ic Et ipe non vefi Et sicut plur prec fuit vie qd 
 capet eum si Ic Et salvo Ic Ita qd heret corpus eius hie 
 ad hunc diem scitt a die Pasche in xv dies Et vie modo 
 mand qd non est inventus T:c I'o prec est vie qd exigi fac 
 eum de Com in Com quousq, Ic vtlaget'^si non Ic Et si Ic 
 tunc eum capiat Et salvo Ic Ita qd heat corpus eius hie in 
 crastino aia^ Et vnde.— Ibid. m. 269d. 
 
 jT Wal?us Cool^ cticus in pp*a psona sua op se iiij*« die 
 vsus Nichm Abbem de Nywenliam in com jydco de ptito qd 
 reddat ei centum solidos' Et Vsus Adam Geraunt de Axe- 
 mynstr in eodem com Husbondman T: Johannam vxJem ems 
 de plito qd reddant ei centu solidos quos ei debent 1 iniuste 
 detinent T:c Et ipi non ven Et prec fuit vie qd attach eos Ic 
 Et vie modo mand qd uVq, eoj attach est p Ricm Brouii 1 
 Johem Coll Fo ipi in mia Ic Et prec est vie qd distr eos p 
 omes ?ras Ic Et qd de exit T:c Et qd heat corpora co^ hie 
 in Octabis see Trinitatis T:c.— Ibid. m. 271. 
 
 jf Johes Cole in ppria psona sua op se iiij*° die v*sus Nichm 
 Abbem de Nywenham in com pdco de ptito qd reddat ei 
 octo libras 1 duodecim solidos Et Vsus Leonardu Abbem de 
 ClyfF in com Soi3§ de plito qd reddat ei octo libras T: decern 
 solidos Et vsus Johem Parys de Dertemouth in com Deyoii 
 mercatorem de ptito qd reddat ei octo marcas Et vsus Ricm 
 AVorthy de Dertemouth in eodem com Devon Bocher de 
 ptito qd reddat ei quadraginta Isex solidos T; octo denar Et 
 Vsus Johem Broun de Wyke in J^dco com Soms husbondman 
 [qd] reddat ei quadraginta solidos quos ei debent T: iniuste 
 detinent Ic Et ipi non ven Et prec fuit vie qd distr p^dcos 
 Abbem de Nywenham % Abbem de ClyfF 1 Johem Parys Et 
 eciam sicut prius qd capet pdcos Ricm 1 Johem Broun '\c 
 Et vie modo mand qd vVq, pdco^ Abbtum distr est p catalla, 
 ad valenc quadraginta denar Et vtq, eo^ m p Ricm Poyer 
 Johem Waye Johem Treysewe % Henricu Waye I'o ipi in 
 mia Et sicut prius prec est vie qd distr eos p omes tras Ic 
 Et qd de exit Ic Et qd heat corpora eo^ hie a die see 
 
 ■■■gg-> 
 
 .4V*. 
 
156 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 157 
 
 Trinitatis in xv dies Et de pdco Johe Parjs mand vie qd 
 nichil liet Ic Et de ^deis Rico 1 Johe Broun mand vie qd 
 non sunt inven! Ic I'o ^dcus Johes Parys capiat"* et eciam 
 sicut plur pdci Ricus Brouii capiant^ Ita qd sint hie ad pfatii 
 ?min %c Ad que die vie non misit bre Ic I'o sicut plur ^dci 
 Abbes distr Ic [for Mich terra, then in Hilary term all the 
 defendants to be here]. — Ibid. m. 329 d. 
 
 230. The arms of the Abbey were apparently those of the 
 founder De Mohun. The common seal was the Blessed 
 Virgin seated, with the Holy Child, under a canopy, with 
 shields on each side, — one bearing the engrailed cross of 
 Mohun, the other the Maunche. The legend is Jb. C®^* 
 V1B1^€V^ i«#Na|bCIBKil mm §iVmilBn^fi. Three of the 
 Abbot's seals are mentioned and described by Davidson, 
 p. 87. 
 
 231. For a description of the remains of the buildings I 
 must refer my readers to the History of Mr. Davidson, to 
 which work my paper is only supplemental. The monastic 
 buildings were on the south side of the church, and probably 
 the whole ground-plan could be traced by excavation. Of 
 the magnificent church, nearly three hundred feet in length, 
 within the walls of which the bodies of many distinguished 
 persons were laid, not a vestige remains above the ground, 
 and the other scanty remains are gradually disappearing. 
 The east end of the building, with the Early English triplet 
 light, of which Mr. Davidson gives an engraving, has now 
 fallen. The little stream, the invariable accompaniment of 
 a Cistercian abbey, sometimes overflows its banks, and washes 
 out from the adjoining soil human bones, indicating the site 
 of the monks' cemetery. No crime of its inmates, no con- 
 piracy against the common weal, brought the stately house 
 of Newenham thus low. The pension list attests that the 
 abbot and his monks were honest and of good conversation, 
 and thev and their property but shared the common fate of 
 thousands as guiltless as themselves. " 
 
 232. The evidence for the history of this house is full and 
 interesting. The cartulary and some of the original books 
 of the Abbey are in existence. They are referred to by 
 Mr. Davidson and fiilly described, and Dr. Oliver prints in the 
 appendix to his notice in tlie Afonasticon Devoniensis some 
 interesting documents. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 List of the Abbots of Nbwenham. 
 
 Names. 
 
 Dates. 
 
 Authorities. 
 
 John Godard .... 
 
 1246-1248 
 
 
 Henry de Persolte, or Spersholte 
 
 1248-1250 
 
 
 John de Ponte Roberti . 
 
 1250-1252 
 
 
 Geoflfry de Blanchville 
 
 1252-1262 
 
 
 Hugh de Cokeswell 
 
 1262-1265 
 
 
 John de Northampton 
 
 1265-1272 
 
 
 William de Cornubia 
 
 1272-1288 
 
 Tol347tliechartulary 
 
 Richard de Chichester 
 
 1288-1293 
 
 of the Abbey com- 
 
 Richard de Pedirton 
 
 1293-1297 
 
 piled in the abbacy of 
 
 William de Fria 
 
 1297-1303 
 
 Walter de la Hone. 
 
 Richard de Pedirton, again 
 
 1303-1304 
 
 
 Ralph de Shapwick . 
 
 1304-1314 
 
 
 Bobert de Pupplisbiiry . 
 
 1314-1321 
 
 
 John de Cokiswille . 
 
 13211324 
 
 
 John de Geytyngton 
 
 1324 1338 
 
 
 Walter de la Hone . 
 
 1338-lb61 
 
 Davidson, 
 
 Richard Branescombe 
 
 1361-1391 
 
 Oliver's Monasticon, 
 
 John Legga's .... 
 
 1391-1402 
 
 the Bishops' Regis- 
 
 Leonard Houndalre. . « . 
 
 1402-1413 
 
 ters, &c., &c., are the 
 
 Nicholas Wysebeche 
 
 1413-1431 
 
 authorities for the 
 
 Trystram Crucherne 
 
 1431-1456 
 
 names and times of 
 
 William Hunteford 
 
 1456- ? 
 
 election of the suc- 
 
 John ? 
 
 ? 1512 
 
 ceeding Abbots. 
 
 John Ellys .... 
 
 1512-1525 
 
 
 John Ilmynster, alias Cabell 
 
 1525-1530 
 
 » 
 
 Richard Gyll .... 
 
 1530-1539 
 
 fi 
 
 Y 2 
 
THE 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON 
 
 V. 
 
 DUNKESWELL. 
 
 Mk - 1 
 
 r 
 
 
X 
 
 I 
 
 THE 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 DUNKESWELL. 
 
 233. Dunkeswell Abbey, one of the three Cistercian houses, 
 the others being Newenham and Ford, situated within a 
 comparatively short distance of one another in the east of 
 the county, has but a meagre history. Founded in 1201, by 
 the piety of Wilh'am Lord Briwere or Bruere, it flourished 
 for nearly three hundred and fifty years. 
 
 234. In 1199 William Briwere purchased the manor of 
 Dunkeswell of Henry de la Pomeroy, which purchase was 
 confirmed by King John at York, 28th March, in the first 
 year of his reign. There seems however some little confusion 
 here, for the property formerly belonged to William Fitz- 
 william, who was compelled by his necessities* to borrow 
 money of a Jew and mortgage Dunkeswell manor. It is 
 said that William Briwere redeemed the land from the Jew, 
 but the evidence offered by the confirmation charter of King 
 John above mentioned contradicts this. 
 
 235. Early in the new century the new Abbey was founded, 
 — Dunkewelle fundata est, say the Annals of Waverley,t and 
 by a deed dated at Southampton on 13th April, in the 
 seventh year of his reign. King John confirmed the lands 
 the donation of William Briwere, as well as those the gifts of 
 others. 
 
 236. The gifts of William Briwere were all his lands in 
 Don eke-well and Wolford and the advowsons of the churches 
 there; the abbot and convent of Ford gave their right in 
 Biwood; Richard de Hydon all his land in Bureheghe; 
 Richard de Treminett all his land in Bautescnapp ; William 
 de Pynn all his land in Bautescnapp ; John de Thoriton a 
 ferling of land in Stenetewde ; Ivo Fitz-Allen the manor of 
 Sobbecumbe ; Richard de Mannesley a tenement in La 
 Cumba [Marlecombe] ; Thomas de Duna all his land in 
 
 • Ly sons' Devon, p. 170. 
 
 t Ann. Waverleia, Ann. Monast. vol. ii. p. 253. 
 
*f 
 
 160 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 DUNKESWELL ABBEY. 
 
 161 
 
 Sill'' . I 
 
 il I 
 
 Uggaton, and a tenement in Codeford ; Philip de Gatesden 
 a ferling of land in Uggaton (this was a purchase) ; Robert 
 Fitzanne all his right in the tenement of Lynor and By wood; 
 and Ursellus Fitzwilliam his right in the same tenements. 
 
 237. In the 11 th year of the succeeding monarch, Henry 
 III., we have a further confirmation of the possessions of the 
 Abbey, from which we find that the founder and others had 
 bestowed further gifls upon the house. Besides the lands of 
 Dunkeswell and Wolford, Briwere had given it all his lands 
 in the manor of Ufculme, with the mill there, and the monks 
 of Ford had bestowed upon their newly settled brethren, 
 besides Biwood, all their lands in Boleham, Freschic, Boc- 
 land, Lodreford, and Hickersdon; Robert, the nephew of 
 Robert le Goiz, his right in Lynor, and Avicia de Dun her 
 land at Hoked. 
 
 238. It is easy to understand the gifts of the Cistercians of 
 Ford, for Dunkeswell was her daughter, the new Abbey 
 having been colonised by monks from the house of the founda- 
 tion of Adelicia de Brioniis. 
 
 239. The powerful founder selected Dunkeswell as the 
 place of his interment, passing by the other religious founda- 
 tions which owed their existence to his bounty, and there 
 in the year 1227, in the choir of the Abbey church, his body 
 was laid. It is supposed that his lady was also buried there, 
 for a short time since two stone coffins, covered with plain 
 slabs of Purbeck, were found, each containing a skeleton, one 
 of a man, the other of a woman. In all probability these 
 were the bones of Lord Briwere and his wife, thus disturbed 
 after a period of nearly six hundred and fifty years. All the 
 bones were placed in one of the coffins and reinterred ; the 
 other coffin still remains above the ground, and may be seen 
 under the south-east wall of the present churchyard of 
 Dunkeswell Abbey. 
 
 240. We have but few documents illustrative of the history 
 of Dunkeswell. The course of its existence appears to have 
 been uneventful. We do not even know who the first abbot 
 was, and the names of his immediate successors are wanting, 
 but I am able to furnish the name of an abbot earlier than 
 any yet recorded. This is Richard, who in 1228 bought of 
 Richard de Crues three hundred and sixty-eight acres of land 
 in Coleton. 
 
 Hec est final concordia fca in Curia Dni Reg apd ExoB 
 die sci Jacob Apti Anno Regn Reg Henr fit Reg Johis 
 
 Duodeciih. Cora Thorn de Muleton Robto de Lexinton Rad 
 Musard Johe de Baioc % Jordan Oli? Justic ItiSantib} 1 
 aliis dni Reg fidelibj T;c ibi psentib3. In? Ric de Crues petente 
 1 Ricard Abbem de Donekewiit Tenente de Tricent 1 sexa- 
 ginta 1 octo acris ?re cu ptin in Coletofi. Ufi placi! fuit 
 inteos i ^fata Curia. Scit qd pdcs Ric remisit T; q»et clamavit 
 de se % liedib^ suis Ipi Abbati 1_ successorib3 suis 1 Ecctie 
 sue de Donekf wilt in ppetuii. Totii Jus T; clamiii quod habuit 
 in tota pdca fra cu ptiii. Et p h"^ remissioe q'eta clamacia 
 fine T; cocordia Ide Abbas dedit ^dco Ric q'nam arc argnti. 
 —Feet of Fines, Henry III. Devon, No. 83. 
 
 241. The next Abbot of whom we have any mention is 
 Ralph, Vir quidem morum gravitate ac sapientue fulgore non 
 mediocriter adornatus. He it was probably who obtained, in 
 1242, Sept. 21st, from the nephew of the founder, William 
 Briwere Bishop of Exeter, an appropriation of the emolu- 
 ments of the parish church of Dunkeswell, and a few days 
 afterwards, 30th Sept., the Bishop gave to the Abbey the ad- 
 vowson and revenues of another church dedicated to St. David, 
 and called Doddington, which cannot now be traced. In 1251 
 Ralph, who had been a monk of Tintern, was appointed Ab- 
 bot of Waverley, in Surrey, and left the banks of the Culme 
 for those of the Wey. He succeeded on the death of 
 Abbot Walter Giffard, the 10th Abbot, in 1252. The Annals 
 of Waverley say: — " Litera dominicalibus B. dies Paschae 
 xvi. Kal. Maii. Eodem anno dominus Radulphus monachus 
 Sancte Marias de Waverleia, qui quondam abbatizaverat in 
 dorao de Tinterna, electus est in abbatem de Donekwell : vir 
 quidem morum gravitate ac sapientiae fulgore non mediocriter 
 adornatus." — Ann. Wav. p. 336. 
 
 242. Ralph was succeeded by Thomas, whose name occurs 
 as early as 1253. In 1259, Dec. 5th, Bishop Bronescombe 
 dedicated a new parish church at Dunkeswell. In the follow- 
 ing February he issued a decree with reference to the church 
 of Doddeton, the font and bells of which had been removed, 
 and the building altogether disused for divine service. The 
 Abbot and convent were cited to appear, and admitting the 
 facts, submitted themselves to the Bishop's directions, which 
 were that the church should be re-opened and daily service 
 said therein. During the rule of this Abbot he greatly in- 
 creased the possessions of the convent by exchanges and 
 dealings with the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem. 
 

 ill " 
 
 I 
 
 ki 
 
 I ■: 
 
 ii i 
 
 ^1 
 
 162 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 243. Between Thomas and John the next Abbot, according 
 to Oliver, is a long lapse of time, and there is little doubt but 
 that the names of some intermediate Abbots are wanting. I 
 am able to furnish some information as to what took place in 
 connection with the house during this period, but un- 
 fortunately the names of the Abbots mentioned are not given. 
 The first is from the Hundred Roll, the jury finding that the 
 Abbey held the manor of Broadhembury, in tlie noil called 
 " de Hambiri." 
 
 Hoc est veredcm Hundr de Harrig. 
 Henr de Kyngesford. Joties Norman. Robts de Cliffewilmo. 
 Rics de la Forde. Walts de Ba. Wilts le Engleys. Witts de 
 Godeford. Petrus de Fonte. Phs de Siccavilla. Rogs de la 
 More. Drogo de Foforde, T; Rob?s le Engleys duodecim Jur 
 de Harrigg dnt sup sacrm suum quod • • • 
 
 • « « • • « • 
 
 Km dnt qd Abbas de Donkeswille tenet maSium de Hambiri 
 a quondam ptinebat ad baroniam de Toritone In tpe Witti 
 de Toritone Qui Wilis dedit dcm manlium cu suis ptinenc 
 Witto Briwere T: idem Wittus Briwere dedit dcm mariium 
 dco Abbati de Donkeswille in libam 1 ppetuam elemosiam. 
 
 Jf Et Idem Abbas tit furc**"s ass"" panis T; cvisie utinen? ad 
 ad pdcm mafiiu suu de Hambir ex antiq" T; ex c firmacone 
 dni reg Johis T^ dni reg. H. pris reg qui nunc est. Et dna 
 Amicia comitissa devonie ht furcas » * • «f 
 
 — Exchequer, Treasure of Receipt. Hundred Rolls ; Devon, 
 No. 18. 
 
 244. From the Coroner's Roll I am able to refer to what 
 appear to be important proceedings taken by the Abbot against 
 certain persons who had wrongfully, entered upon the manor 
 of Hakepenne, and ejected the monks and conversi belonging 
 to the abbey who happened to be there. 
 
 Jf Johs de Cogan Thorn filius ejus Phus de Cogan 1 Rofets 
 de Stolkeye Johs Comyn Ricus de la Hutt Eusths le Hey- 
 ward Robts le Selcr de Ofcomt Rogs de la Forde Wittus le 
 Turner Rics de la more Johs Boneweye Waits Hogh Wilt's 
 le Haueker * Johs Everedd Ricus le Bakere Wilts Scribi 1 
 Robts Scotte attach fuerut ad respond Atfcti de Donekeswell 
 de plito qua? ipi simt cu Robto le Hunte Gilfeto Hereward 1 
 aliis malefactorib} ignotis maSiu ipius Abbtis apud Hakepenne 
 vi et armis ingressi domes suas ibidm fregunt 1; furcas ejusdm 
 
 • Hawker elsewhere. 
 
 DUNKESWELL ABBEY. 
 
 163 
 
 Atfctis in solo suo pp'o ibidin juxta libtates Abbatib} ejusdm 
 loci p pgenitor regis concessas ut dicif" levatas noctanr 
 pst'^vut asptavut T; cobusserut T; menaces convsos abbath 
 f/dce ibidm inventos inde ejecrunt in ipius Abbtis dapnu 
 gravissimu 1 cont" pace Ic Et unde idm Abbas quer"^ qd 
 pdci Johs 1 alii simul cu pdcis Robto le Hunte Gilbto Here- 
 ward T: aliis malefactorib} ignotis in vigilia sco^ innocenciu 
 Anno r Dni Regis nunc vicesimo septimo Ma8iu pdcm ipius 
 Atfctis de Hakepenne vi T; armis ingressi domos suas ibidm 
 fregunt T; furcas ejusdm Abba?' jux"" libtates ^dcas Ic ibidm 
 levatas noctan? pst^'vut 1: illas asptavut usq, manliu pdci 
 Johis de Cogan de Ofcomb * 1 ibi illas cobussert 1 menaces T; 
 convsos Abbathie pdce in pdco maSio de Hakepenne inventos 
 inde ejeSunt 1 ?vientes ipius Abbis videl! Phm le Messer T; 
 Johm de Heyles 9bavut vlSavut p quod idm Abbas amisit 
 eoa ?vicium p unu quar?iu anni T; aplius T: t sexaginta boves 
 % viginti vaccas ipius Abbtis in p^dco maSio suo invent 
 ceprut 1 eos fugav*ut usq^ pdcm mafiiu pdci Job Cogan de 
 Ofcomb 1 ibi eos inpcavut racone cuj^ impcamti tresdecini 
 boves de pdcis pierut % dui boves T; vacce residui deteriorati 
 fuiit ad valenc viginti libr in ipius Abbtis dampnu gravissimii 
 nt cont"^ pace Ic Unde die qd deSioratus est 1 Dapnu ht ad 
 valenc Centu libr ^ inde pducit secta Ic. 
 
 Et Johs de Cogan 1; alii ven Et Thorn fit Job Cogan T; oms 
 alii excep? ipo Johne T: pdcis Eustach le Heywai'd Wiito le 
 Hauekere Wal?o Hugh T: Robto le Scote dnt qd ipi nulla 
 pdcai trangr pdco Abbti intulerut cont"* pacem Ic put eis 
 imponit 1 de hoc pofi se sup pa?am Et Abbas simitr lo tit 
 inde Jur*. _ 
 
 Et Johs Cogan Eustach Wiito le Hauekere Walts^ Hugh 1 
 Robts Scote dnt qd ipi nulla t^nsgr pdcoAbbti intutit contra 
 pacem Ic dfit enim qd pdCus Johs Cogan bet in pdco manlio 
 suo de Ufculm libtate hndi in fangenethef utfangenethef 1 
 ftircas T: oia que ad huj^ libtate ptinent T; quia pdcus Abbas 
 in mafiio suo pdco de' Hakepenne qd est infra pcinctu pdci 
 mafiii ipius Johis de Ofcomb levasse voluit furcas de novo in 
 lesione T: pjudiciu libtatis ipius Johis idem Johis pcepit pdcis 
 Eustach 1 aliis qd ipi pdcm Abbtem huj^ furcas ibidem leva? 
 non pmit?ent qui quid Eustach % alii ipm Abbtem de pdcis 
 ftirc ibidm levand impediverGt sicut eis bn licuit Et qd aliam 
 tftsf ei no fe2unt cent"" pace 1c poii se sup patam Et Abb 
 die qd ipi furcas f levavit in pjudm libtat dci Johis T;c die 
 
 ♦ Ulfculm elsewhere. 
 
 t Query, non omitted. 
 
-wii!i,:.-i 
 If 
 
 164 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVOK. 
 
 DUNKESWELL ABBEY. 
 
 165 
 
 enim qd diis J. Rex av^ diii Rf nunc cocessit T; carta sua 
 cofirm Abbathie de Donkweft 1 Monach ibide deo 5vient in 
 pur It ppef Elemog qd pdca Abbatfea Abbas T; Monachi ibide 
 deo svient heant 1 teneant omes terr T: ten que huerut ex 
 dono Witti le Brewere i maSio T;c et qcumq^ alia que infu- 
 turii adq'sierint cu Socco T; Sacca Tol l Theam T; Infangene- 
 thief Utfangenethief Et diis H. Rex pr diii Re§ nuc eosde 
 libtat pdce Abbathie Ic p cartam suam ^cessit T; cofirmavit 1 
 pfert pdcas cart que h testanf Et die qd a tempe confeccois 
 cartarC illaj^ oes ^decessores sui Abbates T. ipe huerut in 
 manlio suo pdco de Hakepenne furcas suaa quousq^ pdcus 
 Johes Cogan furc itt pstnere fecit Ipe ipius Abbatis nunc [on 
 tlie dorse is the following] l p quod ftita inde in? ipos Johem 
 1, Abbtem contr^'versia pdcs JoiSs Cogan p septum suum pd 
 cocessit p se Ti her T; assig^'tis suis ipi Abbti 1; coventui suo 
 qd ipi % eorf successores heant 1; teneant omes lifetates 1 
 libas con§ in cofirmacoib} dnor^ Johis T; Henr Regii con- 
 tentas in Puram T; ppetua Elemosinam Imppm Et pfert 
 pdcm sciptu ipius Johis quod hoc idem testaf^ 1 die qd ipe 
 statim post confeccom pdci scpti furcas suas repare fecit in 
 pdico maSiio suo de Hakepenne que ibi ste&it p ij annos T; 
 ampli^ qus% pdci Johs Cogan T: alii furcas iUas pst verut sicud 
 sup"^dcm est Et hoc petit qd inquir T;c. 
 
 Et Johes bn cogii pdcm scptu % ouicquid in eo continet' 
 Set die qd tempe cofecconis illi^ scpti pdcus Abbas nullas 
 fiircas huit in pdco mafl io suo de Hakepenne nee unq^"' postea 
 quousq^ jam de novo qd idem Abbas furcas ibide levasse 
 voluit 1 Pdci Eustach Wifts le Hawkere Wal?us Hug 1 
 Robtus Scote p pceptii ipius Johis ipm Abbate inde im- 
 pediv^ut sic sup"^acm est. Et qd nullam aliam t'nsg*ssionem 
 ei fecerut qt"" pace le ponut se sup pa?am ? Abbas sitr Ido fiat 
 
 inde Jur"" Jur dnt sup sacrm suu qd pdci Thorn fii Johis 
 
 de Cogan, Ricus de la Huit, Eustach le Heyward, Rog'us de 
 la Ford, Witts le Tumur, Ricus de la More, Johes Boneweye, 
 Wal?us Hughe, Witts te Haweker, Johes E^ard, Ricus le 
 Bakere, Witts Scby 1 Robtus Scote p pceptu 1 assensu 
 pdco^ Johis de C T; R de Scote furcas pdci Abbatis in pdco 
 Manlio suo 4© Hakepenne in pdca vigit innocenciu noctanP 
 pst'^verut % furcas illas ad ma3iu pdci Johis de Cogan de 
 tJfculm cariavut 1 ibi eas cohusserut, quas quidem furcas 
 idem Abbas scdm libtates a Reg Angt Abbathie de Donkes- 
 weft % Monach T;c concessas huit in pdco manis suo levatas, 
 fere p duos annos ante q pstate fuut % furcis illis sic pstratis 
 pdcus Johes de Cogan levare fecit furcas suas in solo ipius 
 
 Abba?, inf"" pdcm maSiu ipius Abbatis de Hakepenne. Et q^ 
 pdcus Abbas ps?ne fecit furcas ipi^ Johis in solo ipius Abbatis 
 levatas pdci Thorn fit Johis Ricus de la Hutt, Ewstachius, 
 Johes de Bonewey, Wal?us Hug, Witts le Hawekere, Johes 
 Ev*ard, Ricus le Bakere, T: Witts Scribi in c^'stino die sequent 
 pdcm manSiu pdci Abbatis de Hakepenne int*^ verut '\ hostiu 
 aule quod clausum inveSant ibidem freg'ut T; ?vient ipius 
 Abbatis in eodem manlio inventos v'beravut videl} Phm le 
 Mess T; Johem de Heyles. Et postea cepunt if^ eude maSiu 
 boves T: vacc ipius Abbatis circi? quadrag quos fugav'ut usq^ 
 pcu pdci Johis de Cogan de Ufculm % ibi eos impcavut racone 
 cuj' impcamen? tres de eisdem pierut ad dampnu ipius 
 Abbatis quadrag li. Et Jur quesit si pdci Thorn % alii fre^ut 
 pdcu hostiu T;c p pceptu pdco& Johis de Cogan T; Robti de 
 Stokhey. Dicut qd pdci Thoni T: alii v pceptu T; assensu 
 ipius Johis de Cogan ibidem veBiit s} iaem Johes no pcepit 
 eis aliquod hostiu frange un post factum illud illos receptavit 
 T; adhuc plures de illis receptat in svico suo Ic. 
 
 M 
 
 1 
 
 Coroner's Roll, Devon. 34 
 
 5- 3 27 Edward I. 
 
 245. John was blessed, as appears by Bishop Stapeldon's Re- 
 gister, 1 7th Oct. 1311, at Yarcombe, after the dedication of the 
 high altar there. He was not Abbot long, as we find that his 
 successor William was blessed in Exeter Cathedral on Palm 
 Sunday, 1318. I quote two entries from the De Banco Roll. 
 
 (f Abbas de Donekeswelle p Adam de Bauntofi at? suu op. 
 se iiij*** die 9su8 Wittm Vyncent de ptito qd reddat ei rona- 
 bilem compotu suu de tempore quo fuit receptojj denar ipius 
 Abbtis T;c Et ipe non veil Et sicut plur prec fuit vie qd 
 capet eu T;c Et vie modo mand qd bre adeo tarde venit ^c 
 1*0 sicut plur prec est vie qd cap eii si Ic Et salvo le Ita 
 qd heat corpus eius hie a die sci Hillar in xv dies l;c Et vie 
 sit.— De Banco Roll, 19 Edw. II. Mich. (m. 210). 
 
 Jf Wittus Abbas de Donkeswelle p Adam de Baunton att 
 suQ op. se iiij'® die vsus Wittm Pyioun '\ Robtm Don de ptito 
 quare ipi simul cum Henr de Campo Arnulphi T; Walto 
 Grydie cepunt a9ia ipius Abbis et ea iniuste detinuerunt cont"" 
 vadiii T; pleg Ic Et ipi non ven Et pdcus Witts attach 
 fuit p Wal?m Gydie 1 Robtm Don Et j^dcs Robts p Wittm 
 Pyioun T; Waltm Gydie Id ipi in mia Et prec est vie qd 
 distr eos p oes tr T;c Et qd heat corpa eorx hie a die Pasche 
 in q'nqj septias T;c. — Ibid. (m. 414 d) 19 Edw. II. Mich. 
 
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 ■A --i.<|» P;. 
 
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 iiiill 
 
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 ft'"' t 
 
 166 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 246. Little more than three years afterwards William's 
 successor, William de Wanlake, was consecrated Abbot, 
 8th Sept. 1321, at the Bishop's palace at Clyst. For the 
 Abbots succeeding William de Wanlake I can only quote 
 Oliver • and the Bishop's Hegisters. 
 
 247. John followed William, and Simon was blessed at 
 Chudleigh by Bishop Grandisson, 22nd Feb. 1341. The 
 cellarer of Newenham was elected in the stead cf Simon 22nd 
 April, 1346. William Wedmore followed, 7th April, 1353, 
 and Robert Orchard was blessed at the palace at Chudleigh by 
 Bishop Brantyngham, 20th April, 1382. Alexander Burles- 
 combe was Abbot in 1397, and two years afterwards Richard 
 Lamport was elected, 17th July, 1399. In Richard's time we 
 find several entries in the Banco Roll, principally relating to 
 pleas of debt in which the Abbot was plaintiff. 
 
 Jf Abbas Monas?ij de Donkeswill p attorii suu op se iiij*** 
 die 9sus Robtum Clauenesburgh Gifctum Bobbeknolle Ricm 
 Bakere de Honyton hostiller 1 Ricm Dryewode de plito qd 
 quilt eoa reddat ei quadraginta marcas quas ei debet T; iniuste 
 detinet ^c Et ipi non ven Et sicut prius prec fuit vie qd 
 capet eos Ic Et vie modo mand qd non sunt inven? %c I'o 
 sicut plur capiant"^ qd sint hie in octab sci Michis Ic. — De 
 Banco Roll Trin. 2 Hen IV. m. 52 d. 
 
 Jf Ricus Abbas de Dunkeswyll p attorn suu op se iiij*° die 
 9su8 Thomam Ammary de ptito quare vi T; armis arbores T; 
 subboscum ipius Abbis ad valenc decem libra^ apud Dunkes- 
 wyll nup crescent succidit T; asportavit 1 blada 1 hbam sua 
 ad valenc centum solido^ ibm nup crescen? cum quibusdam 
 av^ijs depastus fuit conculcavit 1 consumpsit 1; alia enormia 
 Ic ad g**"ve dampnu "^c 1 cent"' pacem Regis Ic Et ipe non 
 ven Et prec fuit vie qd attach eii Ic Et vie modo mand qd 
 nichil iiet Ic I'o prec est vie qd capiat eu si Ic Et salvo 
 Ic Ita qd heat corpus eius hie A die sci Michis in xv dies 
 Ic.— De Banco Roll, Trin. 2 Hen. IV. m. 152. 
 
 jf Ricus Abbas de Dnnkeswill p attorii suii op se iiij*** die 
 9sus Nichm Sturgioii de plito qd reddat ei quadraginta solidos 
 quos ei debet 1 iniuste detinet '^c Et ipe non ven Et sicut 
 phu prec fuit vie qd distr eum '^c Et vie modo mand qd distr 
 est p catalla ad valenc decem % octo denarin^ Et m p Johem 
 Hunt Wiitm Craweford Thomam Stowe 1 Wilim Nooke I'o 
 ipi in mia "^c Et sicut plur prec est vie qd distr eum p omes 
 
 ♦ Monasticon, p. 394. 
 
 DUNKESWELL ABBEY. 
 
 167 
 
 tras %c Et qd de exit Ic Et qd heat corpus eius hie in Octab 
 sci Michis "^c.— De Banco Roll, Trin. 2 Henry IV. m. 159. 
 
 Ii'i'i'tO 
 
 (f Abbas de Dunkiswill p Johem Cole attorn suu op se iiij 
 die v'sus Waltm DoUebeare ctieu de ptito qd reddat ei quin- 
 quaginta solidos quos ei debet T; iniuste detinet Htc Et ipe 
 non veil Et sicut plur prec fuit vie qd capet eu Ic Et vie 
 modo mand qd non est invent^ T;c I'o sicut plur capiat"" 
 Ita qd sit hie a die sci Michis in xv dies p Justic T,c. 
 
 Idm Abbas p attorii suii pdcm op se iiij*** die 9sus Johem 
 Vssher 1 Isoldam vxorem eius de ptito qd reddant^ei quad- 
 raginta solidos quos ei debent 1 iniuste detinent Ic Et ipi 
 non ven Et sicut plur prec fuit vie qd capet eos si Ic Et 
 salvo Ic Ita qd heret corpa eoi ad hunc diem scitt in Octa- 
 bis see Trinitatis Ic Et vie modo mand qd non sun^ inventi 
 Ic I'o prec est vie qd exigi fac eos de Com in Com quousq^ 
 %€ Jdcus Johes vtlaget"" T; pdca Isabella wayviet"^ Si non Ic 
 Et si Ic tunc eos capiat Et salvo Ic Ita qd heat corpa eo^ 
 hie in crastino Pur be Marie Et vnde Ic Ad que die vie 
 non mi§ bre I'o de novo exigant"" in forma pdca qd sint hie 
 in Octab sci Michis Et \Tide Ic.— De Banco Roll, Trin. 
 2 Hen. IV. m. 280 d. 
 
 Jf Jur^ in? Thomam Aunger quer 1 Ricm Abbem de Don- 
 keswyll T; frem Alexm Burgoyn Comonachum eiusdem Abbis 
 Johem Leygh Wiitm Wolmari 1 Witlm liomen de ptito 
 transgr ponit*^ in respcm hie vsq, a die sci Michis in xv dies 
 nisi Justic dni Regis ad assisas in Com pdco capiend assigfi 
 p formam statuti Ic die lune px post fm sci Jacobi Apli apud 
 Exon prius veSint p detcu Jur quia nuUus ven I'o vie heat 
 corpora T;c.— De Banco Roll, Trin. 8 Henry IV. (m. 24, 6d). 
 
 (f Abbas de Dunkeswill p att suu op se iiij*** die vsus 
 Thoma Aunger de ptito qd reddat ei decem libras quas ei 
 debet T; iniuste detinet T;c Et ipe non veil Et prec fuit vie 
 qd distr eu Ic Et vie mand pd nichil tiet Ic I'o capiat"^ qd 
 sit hie a die sci Michis in xv dies Ic ad quem diem vie non 
 misit bre I'o sicut prius capiat"^ qd sic hie a die sci Hillar in 
 XV dies Ic.— De Banco Roll, Trin. 8 Henry IV. m. 252 d. 
 
 jf Abbas de Domkeswell p Johem Cole attorn suii op se 
 iiijto ^[q ^sus Ri^m Bakere de Honyton 1 Thomam Davy de 
 Honyton de ptito qd v?qj eoj^ reddat ei viginti 1 duas marcas 
 sex solidos 1; octo denar quos ei debent 1 iniuste detinent 
 
 * 'I 
 
 
 ^*<is?;- 
 
■«■■«■ 
 
 ,,t ■' 
 
 I 
 
 
 I 
 
 168 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 %c Et ipi non ven Et sicut plur prec fuit vie qd capet eos 
 si %c Et salvo Ic Ita qd heret corpora eoi hie ad hunc diem 
 scitt a die sci Trinitatis in xv dies Ic Et vie modo mand qd 
 non sunt inventi T;c I'o prec est vie qd exigi fac eos de Cora 
 in Com quousq^ Ic vtlagent"" si non \c Et si Ic tunc eos 
 capiat K.t salvo Ic Ita qd heat corpora eo^ hie a die sci 
 Hillar in xv dies Et vnde Ic. — De Banco Roll, Trin. 8 
 Henry IV. m. 298d. 
 
 248. John Bokeland, 10th June 1419, John Ottery, 26th 
 April 1439, Simon, 13th February 1441, were Abbots, as 
 shown by the Bishop's Registers, and by leases examined by 
 Dr. Oliver, and from the former we find that Richard Pyt- 
 mynster was Abbot in 1492, and as late as 1498. John 
 Whitmore succeeded, and was Abbot twenty years.* 
 
 249.* The last Abbot was John Ley, who was confirmed in 
 1529 by the suffragan Bishop of Exeter. On the 14th Feb. 
 1539 hQ surrendered his house to the King's Commissioners. 
 There appear to have been seven monks in the Abbey at the 
 time of the surrender, viz., John Webbe, William Boreman, 
 John Grave, John Segar, John Genyng, John Benett, and 
 Thomas Typson. The Abbot, John Ley, on the death of the 
 Abbot of Ford, John Tybbes, in 1556, became Vicar of Pea- 
 hembury. John Gay, one of the monks, was appointed on 
 the Dissolution perpetual curate of Sheldon, formerly belong- 
 ing to the Abbey. 
 
 250. The annual value of the property of the Abbey at the 
 surrender was nearly £300. The site of the monastic build- 
 ings, the home farm and mill, and other lands, were granted 
 with large possessions, of which the owners were ruthlessly 
 deprived, to John Lord Russell by letters patent dated 4th 
 July, 31 Henry VIII. He does not seem to have retained 
 them very long, for we find soon after that parts originally 
 
 fiven to him reverted to the Crown and fresh grants made, 
 b trace the successive owners of the various lands be- 
 longing to the Abbey would be tedious and uninteresting. 
 
 251. The Abbey adopted the arms of its founder, William 
 de Briwere, — two bends wavy. The fine common seal, up- 
 wards of three inches long, represents the Blessed Virgin 
 with Saints on either side, all under canopies. Unfortunately 
 
 * OliTer, MonasticoD, p. 394. 
 
 DUNKESWELL ABBEY. 
 
 169 
 
 there is but one impression of this seal extant, which is very 
 mutilated. Below the Saint on the sinister side of the 
 central figure is a shield with the De Briwere arms. An 
 impression from an Abbot's counter-seal is also preserved. 
 It is vesiea-shaped, about one and six-eighths of an inch long. 
 The Abbot is represented standing, hol(Eng his crozier in his 
 right hand. 
 
 252. There were four bells in the tower of the church at the 
 Dissolution, valued at £32 5s. The lead went to the recipient 
 of the Abbey lands, and the entry relating to it curtly says, 
 " My Lord of Bedford had the leade w^*^ the eifte of the 
 land." ^ 
 
 253. My Lord of Bedford took care to appropriate the lead, 
 without reference to the preservation of the fabric, with every- 
 thing else capable of being turned into money, and the grand 
 buildings, for such they must have been, and the despoiled 
 abbey, soon shared the fate of many a stately monastery, for 
 centuries the home of labour, almsgiving, and prayer. 
 
 254. In dry summers the foundations of the church and of 
 some of the important buildings may be traced by the grass 
 above them being quickly scorched. The western tower has 
 fallen within a comparatively recent period. Portions of the 
 eate-house remain, and fragments of walls still standing in- 
 dicate the positions of certain of the original edifices, and I 
 think that a little time and some digging would enable one to 
 make a ground-plan of the whole of the monastic buildings. 
 A modern - church has been recently built upon the site of 
 the antient cemetery. The situation of the Abbey is very 
 secluded, but very beautiful and very characteristic of a 
 Cistercian selection. 
 
 I. 
 
 ' ». 
 
 
170 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 List of the Abbots of Dunkeswell. 
 
 Names. 
 
 Bichard . 
 
 Ralph 
 
 Thomas . 
 
 John 
 
 William . 
 
 William de Wanlake 
 
 John 
 
 Simon 
 
 William Wedmore . 
 
 Robert Orchard 
 
 Alexander Burlescombe 
 
 Richard Lamport 
 
 John Bokeland 
 
 John Otteij 
 
 Simon 
 
 Thomas DuUton 
 
 Richard Pytmynster 
 John Whitmore 
 John Ley 
 
 1228 
 
 Abbot to 1251 
 
 1253 
 1311-1318 
 1318-1321 
 1321- 
 
 -1341 
 1341-1346 
 1353-1382 
 1382-1397 
 1397-1399 
 1399-1419 
 1419-1439 
 1439-1441 
 1441- 
 
 As early as 
 
 1474 down 
 
 to 1486 
 
 As early as 
 
 1492 to 1498 
 As early as 
 
 1509 to 1529 
 1529-1539 
 
 Authorities. 
 
 Purchase from Richard de 
 
 Crues. 
 Translated to Waverley in 
 
 1251. 
 Lease. 
 
 Bishop Stapeldon's Reg. 
 Episcopal Registers. 
 
 Do. 
 Oliver. 
 Episcopal Registers. 
 
 Do 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do 
 
 Do. 
 Leases. 
 
 Do. 
 
 THE 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 FORD. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Episcopal Registers, &c. 
 
 
 m 
 
THE 
 
 CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 VI. Ford. 
 
 255. Up to the year 1842 the site of this Abbey, now a 
 gentleman's mansion, was in the county of Devon. In that 
 year the parish of Thorncombe, in which it is situated, was, 
 by authority of Parhament, for the convenience of those 
 having the transaction of magisterial and other business, trans- 
 ferred to the county of Dorset. There is therefore a necessity 
 for including the history of Ford Abbey in this series of 
 papers. 
 
 256. The Abbey was founded in 1141, and in point of date 
 is the second Cistercian foundation in Devon. But the 
 Annals of Waverley say, under date 1135, '^ Fordafundata 
 est guinto nonas MaiV* Tliis, however, fixes the date of the 
 migration of Richard and twelve monks from Waverley, the 
 famous house before spoken of, to Brightley near Okehampton. 
 
 257. This is not the place to attempt to trace the parentage 
 and descendants of Richard, stated in the Book of Ford 
 Abbey to be the son of Baldwin de Brionne, and although the 
 question has had brought upon it all the acumen and learning 
 of Mr. Planch^,f it is by no means settled. It is, however, 
 clear that a Richard, connected with the great family of 
 Redvers, made provision for Cistercian Monks at Brightley, 
 and sent to Waverley for men to colonise the new house. 
 
 258. Richard the Monk and his companions had settled at 
 Brightley only a few months when their patron died, 25th 
 June, 1 137. His death prevented his plans for the permanent 
 establishment of the house of Brightley being carried into 
 effect, and wanting not only friends, but the bare necessaries 
 of life in the barren spot in which the temporaiy buildings 
 
 * Annales de Warerleia, Ann. Monast., vol. ii. p. 225. 
 
 t See Earls of Devon, Collectanea Arch., vol. i. p. 263. The Conqtieror 
 and his Cf>mpanu>ns, vol. i. p. 44. On the Lords of the Isle of Wight, Jow'n. 
 Arch. Assoc., vol. xi. p. 217. 
 
 2a 
 
172 
 
 THB CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 FORD ABBEY. 
 
 173 
 
 were placed, and having no hopes of being able to carry out 
 the wishes of their would-be benefactor, the thirteen monks, 
 after having lost their leader and Abbot, who had broken 
 down in the struggle, resolved to abandon Brightley and to 
 return to their old home. The five years attempt was a noble 
 but a hopeless one, — prae inopia et prae dira sterilitate vic- 
 tualiumque penura ibidem amplius morari non potuissent, — 
 and with sad memories and disappointed hopes they set their 
 faces again towards Waverley. 
 
 259. They had proceeded on their journey as far as Thorn- 
 combe when Adelicia, the sister of Richard the Viscount, met 
 them. The chronicler quoted by Dugdale gives the very 
 words of Adelicia when she saw the monks walking two and 
 two with uplifted cross, as five years before they had set out 
 from Waverley. " Absit a me, domini et patres sanctissimi, 
 opprobrium tam damnabile et ignominiosum periculum, ut 
 quod dominus mens et frater Ricardus pio devotionis affectu 
 ad Dei honorem nostrumque omnium salutem tam solemp- 
 niter quam salubriter inceperat, ego vero soror ejus, et heres 
 cui decedendo omnia tradidit in manus, non velim aut valeam 
 ad debitum perducere effectum. Ecce manerium meum in 
 quo jam consistimus fertile satis et nemorosum ac abundans 
 frugibus, quod vobis in excambium pro terra sterili de 
 Brightleia cum tota mansione nostra et domicilio imperpe- 
 tuum donamus. Manete hie donee alibi in ista possessione vobis 
 competentius fit monasterium, nee vobis in hoc deesse pos- 
 sumus, sed satis juvabimus ad construendum." The fruitful 
 and well- wooded manor which Adelicia offered the monks was 
 that of Thomcombe, and the proffered gift induced them 
 to change their plans and accept the lands for a new founda- 
 tion. 
 
 260. The house called Westford, which accompanied the 
 gift of the manor, was taken possession of, and there the 
 wanderers lived until the completion of the larger and more 
 convenient buildings. It was resolved that their site should 
 be Hertbath (Balneum cervorum) and the erection of the 
 church was at once commenced. ' 
 
 261. Scarcely had the new arrangements been completed 
 when the monks sustained another loss. In September, 1 142, 
 Adelicia died, and was buried within the precincts of the 
 church, although at this time little progress could have been 
 made with it. The remains of Richard the Viscount and 
 Richard the Abbot were removed from Brightley, and buried 
 before the place of the high altar in the slowly rising church. 
 The Abbey was soon known as Ford, taking this name from 
 
 a passage-way over the River Axe, near which it was 
 situated. 
 
 262. Tlie first Abbot was succeeded by Robert de Penynton, 
 or Penigton, as we find it sometimes spelt, and who, as 
 his name occurs in deeds under dates so far apart as 1137 
 and 1168, must have ruled the house for many years. It is 
 very probable that the conventual buildings were completed 
 in his time, and the remains of the two Richards removed 
 from Brightley to Ford. 
 
 263. The third Abbot was Baldwin of Exeter. Originally 
 a monk at Ford, he, in the course of a short time, became 
 Abbot, and about the year 1181 was made Bishop of Wor- 
 cester, and not long afler Archbishop of Canterbury, and his 
 life in consequence becomes a part of the history of our 
 country. 
 
 264. Of the next Abbot, Robert, we know nothing. 
 During his time, or in that of his successor, Maurice Somer- 
 set was a monk here, and, his writings obtaining him celebrity 
 at Oxford, he was made Abbot of Wells. 
 
 265. John, the Confessor of the King of the same name, 
 formerly Abbot of Bindon, succeeded Robert, and made Ford 
 famous for its learning. He was a great theologian and was 
 Abbot from 1191 to 1220. 
 
 266. Another John followed,* and was Abbot until 1236. 
 We have from the Feet of Fines some entries in which his 
 name is mentioned. 
 
 Hec est finalis concordia fca in Curia dni Reg apud Westm. 
 In Octab Purificacois anno regni Reg Henr fit Reg Johis 
 vicesimo p'mo Coram Robo de Lexintori Witto de Eborf Ada 
 fii Witt % Wiilo de Colewrth Justic % aliis dni Beg fidelib} 
 tiic ibi pjsentib} Int Galfridu de la Pomeray petentem p 
 Hug de la Hutt positu loco ipius Galfr ad lucrandu ut per- 
 dendu T; Johem Abbem de Forde tenetem de trib} Carucatis 
 ?re cu ptin in Tale vnde placitii fuit in? eos in ead Cur 
 Scilicet qd pdcus Galfr remisit T: quietil clamauit de se % 
 heredib) suis pdco Abbi 1 successorib} suis T; Ecctie sue de 
 Forde totii Jus 1 elamiu quod habuit in tota ^dca ?ra cu 
 ptin imppetuu. Et p hac remissione quieta clamancia fine % 
 concordia idem Abbas dedit pdco Galfr quiquaginta T; tres 
 m^'rcas argenti. — Feet of Fines. Devon. Henry HI. No. 
 196. 
 
 Hec est finalis concordia fca in Cur dni Reg apud Exori a 
 
 * But see Annals of Waverley under date 1234. 
 
 2 A 2 
 
 fl 
 
 I 
 
174 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 die sci Joti Bap? in quindeci dies anno regni Reg Henr fit 
 Reg Joli vicesimo scdo Coram Wiito de Eborf Robto de 
 Bello Campo Wiito de Sco Edmundo T: Jordano OliS iustic 
 itinlantib} \ aliis dni Reg fidelib} tiic ibi psentib} Inr Claricia 
 fit Radi petentem T; Johm Abbm de Ford tenente de Dimid 
 ferlingo tre cu ptin in Stok Vnde assisa mortis antecesS 
 sumonita fuit in? eos in eadem Cur scit qd pdca Claric re- 
 cognouit tota Sdcam ?ra cum ptin esse ius ipius Abbis % 
 Ecctie sue de Ford Habend % tenend eidem Abbi ^ succ suis 
 % Ecctie sue pdce de ^dca Claric T; liedib} suis inppetuQ 
 reddendo inde annuatim vnu den ad festO sci Micti p omi 
 seruico ad ipam Claric Ol ad bedes suos ptinete Et acquie- 
 tando tota pdcam tra cum ptiii us^ Capi tales diios feodi ilP 
 de omib} aliis seruic ad eandem ?ra ptinentib}. Et p hac 
 recognicone fine 1 cocordia Ide Abbas dedit pdce Claric duas 
 Marc argeti. — Ibid. No. 2 1 9. 
 
 Hec est finat concordia fca in Cur dni Reg apud Exofi a 
 •lie sci Job Bapt in quindeci dies Anno Regni Reg Henr fit 
 tleg Jobis vicesimo scdo Cora Wiito de Eborf Robto de Bello 
 Campo Wiito de sco Edmundo T; Jord OliS iustic itifiantibj % 
 aliis dni Reg fidelib} tuc ibi psentib3 In? Thoin de Ford T; 
 Petroniit vxem ei^ petetes 1 Jobm Abbm de Ford tenente 
 de ?cia pte vini^ ferlingi ?re cu ptiri in Stokf. Qua ?cia pte 
 pdci Thorn 1 Petronilla clamabant esse ronabile dote ipius 
 Petronille q eam contingebat de libo tenemeto qd fuit Radi 
 fit Ric quondam viri sui in eadem villa. Et vnde placitu 
 fuit in? eos in oad Cur scit qd pdce Thorn 1 Petronilla 
 remisrunt T; quie? clamauunt de se eidem Abbi 1 succes- 
 sorib} suis 1 Ecctie sue de Ford totQ ius 1 clamiii quod bunt 
 in tota pdca rcia pte cu ptiii noie dotis ippetuij. Et p hac 
 remissione quieta clamanc fine ^ concordia idem Abbas dedit 
 pdcis Thome 1; Petronille Duas Marc Argeti.— Ibid. No. 254. 
 
 Hec est finat concordia fca in Cur dni Reg apud Exofi in 
 Octab sci Jobis Bap! Anno Regni Reg Henr fit Reg Johis 
 vicesimo scdo Cora Wiito de Eborf Robto de Bello Campo 
 Wiito de SCO Edmundo 1 Jordano OliS iustic itifiantib) % aliis 
 diii Reg fidelibj tuc ibi Ssentib). In? Symone de Pylesdon 
 petente 1 Johm Abbm de Forde tenente de duab} Carucatis ?re 
 cu ptin in Leffbrd 1 in Cundebur vii placitii fuit in? eos in 
 eadem Cur scit qd pdict^ Symo remisit \ quiel clamauit de se 
 1 heredib} suis ipi Abbi 1 successorib} suis 1 Ecctie sue de 
 Forde totti ius T; clamiu quod habuit in tota pdca ?ra cu ptin 
 inppetuii. Et p hac remissione quieta clamanc fine 1 con- 
 
 FORD ABBEY. 
 
 175 
 
 cordia ide Abbas dedit 9dco Symoni q""tuordeci marc T: 
 dimid argeti. Et si pdict^ Symo ut bedes sui dece?o aliq"*s 
 Cartas ut aliq"" munimeta Ss^ pdcm Abbm ul succ suos q"'ntu 
 ad pdcas duas Carucatas ?re cu ptin in Jdcis villis cont* hue 
 fine ^tulerint p' nuUis penit^ habebunf. — Ibid. No. 283. 
 
 267. Roger succeeded, in whose abbacy the church was 
 completed, for under date 1239, in the Annals of Waverley, 
 we have " Ecclesia de Forda dedicata est a domino Willelmo 
 Exoniensi episcopo." John de Warwick followed, then 
 Adam, who became Abbot in 1240, and William, who died 
 and was buried at Waverley. 
 
 Hec est finat concordia fca In cur drii Reg ap Exon a die 
 see T^nit in q^ndec! dies anii Regn Reg Henr fit Reg' Job 
 vicesimo octavo. Corl Jobe Abfce de Schyreburn Rog'o de 
 Thurkelby Gilbto de Fston T; Robto de Bello campo Justic 
 Itifiantib} % aliis drii Reg fidelib} tiic ibi Jsentib} In? A^m 
 de Ford quer T; Ric de Laya deforc de secta q"^ Ide Abfcs 
 exig ab eodem Rico \iide Idem Abfcs exigebat qd facet ei 
 secta de t^b} sept in tres septim ad Hundr suu de Thorneciibe, 
 Et vnde plac fiiit In? eos in eadem cur. Scitt qd pdcs Ric 
 recogn T; concessit p se T; bedib} suis qd ipi de ce?o faciant bis 
 p annu sectam pdcm Hundr simt cu libis homib} suis T: cii 
 suo capitat Thedingman T; duob} aliis homib} sciit semel sabto 
 pximo p^t Hokeday T: I?um sabto px p^t festii sci Micbis. Ita 
 tn qd pdcs Thedigman cii pdcis duobj hoib} ad pdcos duos 
 dies m6st""re debet oia plac de Thedinga ipi^ Rici T; bed suoi 
 ad pdcm Hundr ptinenc T; si aliq^s ipox q^ Ita seq' debt ad 
 pdcos duos dies f Sit in defalf Id Abb S 
 
 »v# • • I*.* 
 
 , - succ SUI omia ipors 
 
 amciafhta Integre habnt T: oia alia amciamta de homTb3 ipi 
 Rici T; bed suoj ad eunde Hundr contingec In? pdcm Abbem 
 % succ suos % pdcm Ricm % bed suos fideli? dimidiabiit"^ T; 
 oia ilia amciafnta taxari debent p pdcm Abbm T: succ ut Baltos 
 suos T; p pdcm Ricm T; bedes ui atfnatos suos. Et p?ea Idem 
 Ric concessit p se T; bed suis qd si aliq^d plac fSit in eodem 
 Hundr p Bre dni Reg ut latro fSit ibi Judicand ipi ut atfnati 
 sui sequi debet Hundr ipi^ Abbis de T^bj sept In tres sep? 
 vsq^ loquela ilia p Judm eiusdera Hundr plena? fSit t^miata. 
 Et p hac rec concessione fine T; cocordia. Idem Abbs refh T; 
 q*el clafn de se T; succ suis T; Ecctia sua de Forde pdco Rico 
 "t bed suis oia arreragia 1; ofns alias sectas q""s ab code Rico 
 exigibat T: oia dampn que dicebat se huisse occasione sub"^cc6is 
 pdce secte usq> ad diem quo hec concordia tea fuit — Feet of 
 Fines. Henry III. No. 316. 
 
 '11: 
 
ilj 
 
 176 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 
 Hec est finat concordia fca in Cur Dni Reg apud Exon a 
 die see Trinitati's In q'ndecim dies anno regni Reg Henr fit 
 Reg Jotlis vicessimo octavo coram Johe Abbte de Schryreburn 
 Rogo de Thurkelby Gilbto de Preston 1 Robto de Bello Campo 
 Justic Itiflantibj 1, allis dni Reg fidelib} tuc ibi ^sentib) In? 
 Adam Abbem de Forde querptrem Wifhn MonachQ suO poitum 
 loco suo ad Juc""ndu ut pdendu 1; Hug PeSel de Erminton 
 deforc de annuo rediditu decem lib? Cere vnde Idem Abbs 
 questus fuit qd decem libre eiusdem redditus ei aretro fiierut 
 de vno anno. Et vnde placitu fuit in? eos in eadem Cur scitt qd 
 pdcs Hug recognouit \ concessit eidem Abbti decem libr Cere 
 p annu ; pcipiendas ipi Abbti successorib} suis de Molendino 
 de Ermintoii p manii Balti ipius Hug 1 bedum suox de Ermin- 
 ton ad festii sci Michis apud Exoii inppetuG. Et p h"^c 
 recogn concessione fine T; concordia Idem Abbs remisit 1 
 quie! clain de se T; succ suis eidem Hug T; bed suis omia 
 arreragia pdci redd ^dcar decem libr Cere vsq^ ad diem quo 
 hec concordia ica fiiit. — Ibid. No. 328. 
 
 268. William of Crewkeme was the tenth abbot, and his 
 time was famous for the great dispute between him and Bishop 
 Bronescombe, the particulars of which are detailed by Oliver, 
 and the documents given at length in the appendix to the 
 Monasticon. His name occurs in the following legal pro- 
 ceedings : — 
 
 Hec est final concordia fca In cur dni Reg* apd Exon In 
 Octab see Trinitatis Anno regni Reg Henr fit Reg Jobis 
 Tricesimo tercio Cora Rog*o de Thurkelby Gilbto de Preston 
 1 Jobe de Cobbeb Justic ItiSant 1 aliis dni Reg fidei tuc 
 ibi Ssentibus In? Radm de Trewurtheth petn 1 Adam Abbem 
 de Laforde ten de vno ferlingo ?re T; dimid cu ptifi in Opecote. 
 Unde plac fuit in? eos in ead Cur Sciit qd pdcs Rads rem 
 1 quief clam de se 1 bed suis ^d2o Abbi 1 succ suis 1 Ecctie 
 sue de Forde totu Jus 1 clamiu qd buit in pdca ?ra cii ptiii 
 imppet. Et p h""c rem quieta clam fine 1 cone Idem Abbas 
 dedit pdco Rado duas M'^cas argiiti.— Feet of Fines. 
 Henry III. No. 435. 
 
 Hec est finat concordia fca in cur dni Reg apud Westih 
 In Octab sci Hillar anno regni Reg Henr fit Reg Jobis q»n- 
 quagesimo scdo Coram M""rtino de Litlebir Magro Rof o de 
 Seyton 1 Jobe de Cobbeh"*m Justic 1 aliis dni Reg tidehb} tuc 
 ibi psentib} Int Magrm Thom de Wymundeh*^m psonara 
 Ecctie de Pahambir petn % Wittm Abbem de fforde tenetem 
 
 FORD ABBEY. 177 
 
 de vno fferlingo T; vna acra ?re cum ptifi in Tale, vnde Jurata 
 vtrura pdca terra cu ptin sit liba elemosina ptines ad ^dcam 
 Ecctiam an laicu feodu ipius Abbis sum fuit in? eos in cade 
 cur. ^ Scitt qd pdcs Abbs recogii pdcam ?ram cu ptin esse 
 Jus pdce Ecctie T; pdem ferlingu terre cu ptiri ei reddidit in 
 eadem cur 1: remisit T; quieteclam de se 1 succ suis T: Ecctia 
 sua de fforde pdco Thorn '\ succ suis psonis pdce Ecctie 1 
 Ecctie pdce Inppe?-. Et p hac recogfi reddicone remissioe 
 
 ?'eta clam fine \ cocordia. Idem Thoin cocessit pdco Abbi 
 dcam acram terre cu ptin. Habn T; Tenende eide Abbi 1 
 succ suis % Ecctie sue pdce de Sdco Thorn T; succ suis psonis 
 pdce Ecctie ippe?. Reddn incJe p ann vnu clauii Gariophili 
 ad Pascb p omi suico con§ T; exaccone. Et hec cocordia fca 
 fuit ex assensu T; volutate Wal?i Epi Exon % cam concedentis. 
 —Ibid. No. 603. 
 
 1 
 
 
 A.D 1281. 
 
 jf Abbas de Forde sum fiiit ad respond dno Regi de ptito At Exeter, 
 quo Waranto clain hre vi§ franc pleg emend assise panis T; Octane of St. 
 8vi§ fracte furc in Kentesbery 1: Thornecombe sine licenc Ic. 9.1^^^' j 
 
 Et Abbas p Atorfi suu venit Et quo visum f""nci pleg in ' ' ^ ' 
 Kentesbyr die qd nicb inde clafii Et quo ad emend as§ panis 
 T: cuiS f'cte % furc in eadem villa. Et quo ad emend as§ 
 panis l cvig f^cte furc T: visum i"'nci pleg in Thorncombe 
 dicit qd ipse % omnes pdec sui a ?pe quo no exstat memor 
 huunt emend asS panis % cvis in Kentesbyr l visum f"^nci 
 pleg 1 emend as§ panis % 2vig f""cte In Thomcumbe pet qd 
 inquira'^. 
 
 Et Witts de Gyselh'^m qui sequi' Ic Die qd huj^mo 
 libtates spali? ptinent ad Coronam dni Regis Et desic nullii 
 War inde ostend de drio Rege pe? Judm. 
 
 Dies dat^ est coram dno Rege a die Pasch in unu mensem 
 ubicuq^ l;c de aud judico. 
 
 Assize Roll Devon 
 
 M 
 
 1^ 1 Memb: 20d. 
 341 
 
 269. Nicholas, who was blessed at Axminster 1st Jan. 1283, 
 by Bishop Quivill, followed. William de Fria succeeded, 
 and, having been able to be of great use to the Convent, was 
 persuaded to resign it for Newenham, where similar services 
 were much needed. However he remained there only about 
 four years, when he returned to Ford, and resumed his place 
 as a simple monk. Dying at Ford, his body was removed to 
 the Abbey he had evidently loved so well, for interment. 
 
 II' 
 
 ;n 
 
 \ 
 
 l! 
 
178 
 
 THE CISTEBCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 p' Abbe et 
 Conventn de 
 Forda. 
 
 Dated 5 Feb. 
 1312-13. 
 
 I 
 
 270. Henry took the place of William de Fria on his re- 
 signation, and was Abbot until 1319. The grant of the fair 
 at Thomecombe, which was continued down to the year 
 1770, I give from the Charter Roll. 
 
 ^ Archiepis T; Ic. saltm. Sciatis nos concessisse T; hac 
 carta nra confirmasse ditcis not in xpo Abbati T: Conventui 
 de Forda qd ipi T; successores sui imppm heant unu mercatii 
 singtis septimanis p diem mercurii apud maneriu suii de 
 Thorncube in Com Devon, et una feria ibidem singtis annis 
 p sex dies duraturam vidett in die martis in septimana Pasche, 
 et p quniqj dies sequentes. Nisi rilcatii illud 1, feria ilia sint 
 ad nocumentu vicinoa mercato^ T; vicinai feriax. Quare 
 volum^ 1; firmit Jcipim^ p nobis 1 heredib} nris qd pdci 
 Abbas l Conventus 1 successores sui imppm heant pdca mer- 
 catii 1 feriam apud MaSiu suii ^dcm cum omnib) libtatib} % 
 libis consuetudinib) ad hujusmodi mercatii 1 feria ptinen- 
 tib}. Nisi mcatii illud T: feria ilia sint ad nocumentii vicinorj 
 mcatoi'^ nt vicinari feriai sicut Jdcm est Hiis testib} veSa- 
 bilib3 prib3 W. Wigorn. W. Exofi Epis Gilbto de Clare 
 Comite Glouc 1 Hertford Adomaro de Valencia Oomite 
 Pembr Hug le DespenS Wiito le Latimer. Nicho de Seg^'ve 
 T: aliis. Dat p manii nram apud WindeS quinto die Febr p fine 
 contentii in alia carta inferius.* — Charter Roll 6 Edward II. 
 No. 106, mem. 17, section 36. 
 
 ^ oinnib} ad qnos Ic 8al?m. Sciatis qd cum p tras nras 
 patentes concesserim^ T; licenc dederimus p nobis T; her iiris 
 quantu in nobis est dilcis nob in xpo Abbi T; Conventui de 
 fford qd ipi decem libratas trai ten '\ redditii de feodo suo 
 pprio adquirere possint feendHt tened sibi T; succ suis imppetuii 
 Statuto de ?ris 4 ten ad manu mortuam Ic put in tris ^dcis 
 plenius continet^ Nos volentes concessione iiram pdcm debito 
 eftcui mancipari concessim^ T; lie dedim^ p nob T; her iiris 
 quantu in nobis est Witto de Pillaunde 1 Nichs Portebref 
 qd ipi vnu me8 ^tiu molendinii Triginta acras ?re tres acras 
 p""ti % tres acr more % alneti cum ptiii in Wheteham T; 
 Burghstolt et Thome de Langedon qd ipe vnu meg duodecim 
 acr rre T; tres acr bosci cum ptin in Thomecobe et Witto de 
 Watelegh qd ipe viginti % tres acr rre 1 duas acr alneti cum 
 ptin in Watelegh iuxta Wynesham que de pdcis Abbe T: Con- 
 ventut '^ que valent p annii in oinibj exitibj iuxta veru va- 
 
 ♦ This is No. 26 on the same Roll, being a Confirmation of a Charter of 
 King John granting the church of Tomecnmbe, &c., &c. Dated 10 Oct. in 
 the tenth year of bis reign. Confirmation dated 5 Feb. (as above). 
 
 t " tenentar " omitted. 
 
 FORD ABBEY. 
 
 179 
 
 lorem eojdem quatuordecim solid 1 quatuor denar sicut p 
 inquisicoes p delcm cticum nrm Magrm JotSem Walewayn 
 Escae?^nrm cit"" Trentam de mandate iiro fcas 1 in Can- 
 cellar nra retomatas comptu est dare possint 1 assignare 
 eisde Abbi 1 Conventui hend 1 tenend sibi et succ suis 
 imppetuu in pte satisfaccois dece libratarx ?re ten 1 reddituu 
 f^dcor^. Et eisde Abbi 1 Conventui qd ipi ^dca me§ Molen- 
 dinu tram p"^tum boscum moram 1 Alnetu cum ptiii a 
 pfatis Witto Niciio Thoma T: Witto recipe possint 1 tenere 
 ^!^\\®"^^ ^"^^ P^^^^ imppetuu sicut ^dcm est tenore psenciii 
 similiV licenc dedimus spalem Statuto ^dco non obstante. 
 Nolentes qd pdci Witts Nichs Thomas 1 Witts vel heredes 
 sui aut pfati Abbas T; Conventus seu succ sui rone statuti 
 pdci p nos vel her firos inde occonenf molestenf in aliquo 
 seu g'^venf. Salvis tamen Capitalib} dnis feodi iUius ?viciis 
 Ic. In cui^ Ic. T. R apud Westfn. xxv. die Octobr.— Patent 
 RoU 11 Edw. 11. pars 1, m. 21. 
 
 271. William, who patronised Charmouth, was confirmed 
 22 Sept 1219. His successor John appears to have under- 
 taken the repairs of the buildings of his house, then become 
 dilapidated judging from his reply to Bishop Grandisson, 
 who asked for a money grant to enable him to comply with 
 the large demand of the Court of Rome. John replied that 
 his buildings and his church were ruinous, and with great 
 humility begged that the Abbey might not be called upon to 
 contribute to the subsidy. Still he seems to have acquired 
 land for the house, as the following from the Patent Roll 
 shows : — 
 
 ^ ^ omib3 ad quos '^c sttm. Sciatis qd cum de gra nra p Abbate de 
 spall p httJ as nras patentes concesserimusllicenciamdederi- ^orde. 
 mus p nobis T; heredib^ iiris q"^ntum in nobis est dilcis nob in 
 Xpo Abbati 1 conventui de fforde qd ipi decem libratas tlrax 
 tenemento^ 1 reddituum de feodo suo pprio adquirere possint 
 hend 1 tenend sibi 1, successorib} suis imppetuu. Statuto de 
 tris 1 ten ad manu mortuam non ponend edito non obstante, 
 put in littis f/dcis plenius continet"^ nos volentes concessionem 
 nram p^dcam debito efFectui mancipari concessimus 1 licenciam 
 dedimus p nobis 1 heredib} nris q"-ntum in nobis est Witto 
 de Pillaunde 1 Nicho Portebrief qd ipi quinquaginta acras 
 tre "l vigmti acras more cum ptin in Watelegh que de pdcis 
 Abbate 1; con ventu tenent' T; que valent p annuii in oiiinib} 
 exitib} iuxta veram valorem eoidem quindecim solid 1 decem 
 denar sicut p inquisicoem p dilcm cticum nrm Ma^m Joliem 
 
 2b 
 
 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 I 
 
 : 1 
 IN 
 
180 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 NH 
 
 Walewayn nup Escaetorem nrm vltra Trentam de mandate 
 iiro inde fcam T; in Cancellar nra retornatam est comptum 
 dare possint T; assignare eisdem Abbati T; conventui habend 1 
 tenend sibi T; successorib) suis imppetuu in ptem satisfaccois 
 decern librata^ rras tenn T; reddituu pdcox. Et eisdem Abbati 
 T; conventui qd ipi tram T; mora pdca cum ptin a pfatis Wiito 
 1, Nicho recipe possint 1, tenere sibi 1, successorib; suis pdcis 
 imppetuG sicut pdcm est tenore Ssencium similit licenciam 
 deaim^ spalem statute pdco non obstante. Nolentes qd pdci 
 Wiito T; ISiclius vel her sui aut pfati Abbas 1 conventus seu 
 successores sui rone statuti ^dci p nos vel her iirosindeocconent' 
 in aliquo seu g*vent'. Salvis tamen capitalibj dnis feodi illius 
 sviciis inde debitis T; consuetis. In cui^ T;c. T. Rf apud Ebo». 
 XXX. die Dec. — Patent Roll, 13 Edw. II., m. 24. 
 
 272. John de Chidley succeeded John, 24 June, 1330, and 
 seems, although his reputation did not stand high, to have 
 had several legal matters upon his hands in connection with 
 the property of the Abbey. 
 Derofi. Johnes Abbas de fForde p at? suu op. se iiij die vsus 
 
 Ranulphu Blaunmoster T; Alic vxem eius Ricm de Combe T; 
 Waltm de Edyngton de plito q'^re cepnt auia ipius Abbis T; 
 ea iniuste detinue? cont"' vadiu T; pleg T:c Et ipi no ven Et 
 hue? inde die hie ad hunc die ex piiccoe Ic Judm attach qd 
 sit hie in Octab sci Michis '^c. — De Banco Roll, Easter 17 
 Edw. III. memb. 26d. 
 
 DcTofi. Abbas de fforde p Johem de Crukern att suu op. se iiij die 
 
 vsus Henr de sco Claro vicariu ecctie de Brodewyndesore de 
 plito qd reddat ei ronabilem compotQ suii de tempo quo fuit 
 receptor denar ipius Abbis Ic Et ipe no ven Et sicut plur 
 prec fuit vie qd cap eu Ic Et vie modo mand qd no est 
 inuent^ Ic I'o sicut plur prec est vie qd cap eii si Ic Et 
 saluo Ic Ita qd heat corpus eius hie a die see Trinital in xv 
 dies p Justic \c Et vie sit T:c. — Ibid. memb. 88. 
 
 Deyon. Abbas de fferde p Ricm Be3myn at? suu op se iiij die 9sus 
 
 Johem de Clopton de plito qd redd ei ronabilem conipotu suii 
 de tempo quo fuit receptor denar ipius Abbis '^c Et ipe no 
 veil Et pc fuit vie qd cap eii si 1c Et vie modo mad qd no 
 est inuent^ Ic To sic p'us prec est vie qd cap eii si Ic Et 
 saluo Ic Ita qd heat corpus eius hie a die see T'nitatis in xv 
 dies p Justic ic Et vie sit Ic. — Ibid. memb. 145. 
 
 Idem Abbas p pdcm at? suii op. se iiij. die 9sus Robfm 
 
 FORD ABBEY. 
 
 181 
 
 Jlmystre 1 Adam Rogge de plito q'^re vi T: armis decem 
 boues T; q'^tuor vaccas ipius Abbis pcii decem marcai apud 
 Tale inventos cepiit % abduxerunt \ alia enormia ei intuler 
 ad g"ue dampnii ipius Abbis T; cont"" pace Ic Et ipi no ven 
 Et pc fuit vie qd cap eos si T;c Et vie modo mand qd no siit 
 inuenti Ic I'o sic p'us prec est vie qd cap eos si Ic Et saluo 
 Ic Ita qd heat corpa eo^ hie ad pfatii ?minii p Justic Ic Et 
 vie sit Ic. — Ibid. memb. 145. 
 
 273. Adam was confirmed Michaelmas-day, 1354. Abbot 
 John did not undertake the repairs of the church, whatever 
 he might have done to . the other buildings, for we find that 
 about this time the edifice required rebuilding. The follow- 
 ing extracts from the White Book of Tenures are interesting: — 
 
 Octobre Novembr Ian Dengt xxix Cornewaille. 
 
 Edward "Ic. A nos chs vadlet} Robt de Eleford fire Seii de "^drffOTd^^^ 
 Corn 1 Deveneg 1; Johan de Skirbeekf gardein de nos feod} ^ ^^ *' 
 illeoqs 1 a vn de eux salu). N're ch en dieu Abbe de fforde 
 no^ ad moustree p sa peticion a fire conseil grevousement 
 compleignant q vous nre dit feeder lui destreigne} de iour en 
 autre p' relief a no^ paier T: seute faire a fire Court de 
 Bradenessh p^ eteines tres T; tefi} es villes de lyntoii Countes- 
 bury 1; loeford en Countee de DeveneS queles il tient a ce qil 
 dit en pure 1 ppetuelle aumoigne, et en affermance de son 
 estat en cele ptie si ad il moustree devant fire conseil vn fait 
 p quel Gueras * de Pilesdofi g*unta T; p sa chartre conferma 
 a leglise nre dame de fforde T; as Moignes illeoqs dieu "Svant} 
 la tre de lefford T; la tre de Cuntebury eve ses app'^tenances 
 ensemblement eve lewe pentre Cuntebury T; lyntoii quele ewe 
 il retynt de9s lui p' ?me de sa vie la rev'sion au dit Abbe. 
 A tenir en pure 1; ppetuelle Aumoigne quel doun Henri Tracy 
 filz Witt Tracy conferma p sa chartre f et auxi vne chartre p 
 quele Henr filz au Counte dona a dieu T; nre dame de fford 
 1 as Moignes illeoqs dieu svant} la Vre de Cuntebury % 
 lyntofi ove touj ses app''tenances. A tenir de lui % de ses 
 heirs en pure T; ppetuelle aumoigne quits de toutes maSes 
 seculers ?vices 1 demandes en maSe come Henr de Tracy 
 g'^unta meisme la ?re as dit} Moignes empriant q no^ lui 
 veuilliens s"" ce faire droit p quei p avis de fire conseil vous 
 maundons q vous etifie} nre conseil a lond^s quel estat no^ 
 avons en la §"^ie des dites ?res. £t face) diligealment enquerre 
 p quel svice le dit Gueras qi p*mes enfeoffa le dit Abbe tynt 
 les dites tres de Henr de Tracy ou dautre coment T; en quele 
 
 • Written (fo. 64) «' Gerveys." 
 
 2b2 
 
 t Oliver, p. 347. 
 
 ■ li 
 
182 
 
 THE CISTERCUN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 manle, et si le dit Abbe tiegne au?s fres 1 ten} es dites villes 
 q ne sont composes en les dit} fait} adonqs quelles Pres ces 
 sont T; de qi ces sont tenu} 1 p queux 3vices Et ent 8tifie} hre 
 conseil entre cy T; la xv de seint Hillair Jsch avenir. Et 
 chargeons vous nre dit feeder q vo^ 8"^8eie} de la destresce 
 quele vous faites v*8 le dit Abbe p' les choses devantdites entre 
 cy ^ la dite xv. Et ce ne lesse}. Don Ic a Westm le xxix 
 iour Doctobr Ian xxix. 
 
 p 1 lev[e]sq} de Wync 1 p bille endossee 
 
 p Skipwith. 
 
 The White Book of Tenures in CornwaU, 25—39 Edw. III., 
 fol. 58. 
 
 « » 
 
 Cornewaille. 
 
 Touch' les 
 
 Abbeet 
 
 Ovent 
 
 de fforde. 
 
 Som's. 
 
 At fo. 64 a letter of the Prince, dated at London, 
 1 1 July, 30 E. III., that Robert de Eleford has fully certified 
 to the Council as to the matters above ordered, and directing 
 inquiry to be made " si no^ eous lestat le dit monS Henri de 
 Tracy en dit Manoir ou del vn 1 del autre." 
 
 Juyl Ian xxxj. As auditors 
 
 des accomptes de no} Ministres salu}. Coment no^ feismes 
 ore tard s"^veer 1; examiner p les sages de iire conseil les 
 enquestes p>ses a fire maundement devant Robt de Elford nre 
 Sen de Comewaitt T; DeveneS 1 Johan de Shirbeh} Gardein 
 de no} feed} illeoqs 1 devant fire dit conseil ret""neer touch 
 labbee T; covent de fforde avis estoit a nre dit conseil q p"" 
 rien q feust Adonqs trove no^ ne deyvons seute nautre 3vice 
 de eux demander p reson de ?res composes en mesmes les 
 enquestes si mandasmes p no} auPs tres a no} dit} Sefi 1 
 Gardein de feed} qils ne destreignassent les dit} Abbe 1 Coven 
 p cause des dites tres centre reson a ce q semble vous mandons 
 p avis de nre dit conseil q s"' la compte du dit Johan lui face} 
 descharger de la soiiie susdite. Et ceste tre vo^ ent 5ra garr. 
 Doii Ic a lond^s en lostiol levesa Dely le xj iour de Juyl Ian 
 le xxxj '^c.— Ibid. fol. 76. 
 
 274. John Chylheglys seems to have succeeded Adam. He 
 was Abbot in the year*1373. His successor, Waller Burstok, 
 was confirmed 16 April, 1378. The proceedings referred to 
 in the following extracts occurred in his time. 
 
 jf^Abbas de fforde p Johem Crukerii alt suu op. se iiij*" 
 die vsus Adam Hodeforde de piito qd reddat ei quadraginta 
 1 duos solid quos ei debet iniuste detinet Ic Et ipe non venit 
 Et pc fuit vie qd sum eu Et vie mode mand qd nichil het 
 
 L. 
 
 FORD ABBEY. 
 
 183 
 
 J'o pc est vie qd capiat eii si %c Ita qd heat corpus eius hie 
 a die see Trinitatis in xv dies p Justic. — De Banco Roll, Easter 
 9 Rich. II. m. 104d. 
 
 (f Abbas de fforde p Johem Crukerii attorfi suu op. se iiij*« 
 die vsus Robtum Cornu Chiualer de ptito qd reddat ei quad- 
 raginta solid quos ei debet 1 iniuste detinet %c Et ipe non 
 venit Et sicut plur fuit distr p cataUa ad valenc duoi solid 
 Et in p Johem Hunt 1 Henr Hift J'o ipi in mia Et sicut 
 plur distr qd sit hie a die see Trinitatis in xv dies p Justic.— 
 Ibid. m. 151. 
 
 ^ jf Abbas de fforde p Johem Crukerii at! suu op. se iiij*" die 
 vsus Thoma Kernere 1 Elena vxem eius % Wiltm fit eorid 
 Thome 1: Elene de ptito quare cu de coi consilio regni Regis 
 Angt puisu sit qd non liceat alicui vastu vendicoem sen des- 
 truccoem face de tris domib} boscis seu gardinis sibi dimissis 
 ad ?minu vite vel anno^ iidem Thomas Elena 1 Witto de ?ris 
 domib} boscis % gardinis in Thorncombe que Johes de ffar- 
 yngdoii nup Abbas de fforde pdecssor pdci nunc Abbis eis 
 dimisit ac vita ipoa Thome Elene 1 Wiii fecerunt vastii ven- 
 dicoem T; destruccoem ad exher ecctie ipius nunc Abbis be 
 Marie de fforde 1 cent"' forma puisionis pdce 1c Et ipi non 
 ven Et pc fuit vie qd dislr qd eos Et vie mode mand qd 
 bre adeo tarde Ic J'o sicut prius distr qd sint hie a die see 
 Trinitatis in xv dies p Justic ad que die vie non mi§ bre J'o 
 sicut plur distr qd sint hie a die sci Michis in xv dies. — Ibid, 
 m. 228. 
 
 ^ Jf Abbas de fforde p Johem Crukern at? suu op. se iiij*** 
 die vsus Thoma Stremyngf vicar ecctie de Thorncombe de 
 ptito quare cu idem Abbas dfis MaSii de Thomecombe existat 
 "t here debeat ipeq^ l omes pdecessores sui diii Maflii pdci a 
 tempore quo non exstat memoria ibide here consueuer quand 
 cur de hoib} T; tenentib} suis MaSii pdci in quoda loco infra 
 idem MaSiu p cur pdca de trib} septimanis in tres septias 
 antiquit vsitat pdcus Thomas Nichm Bolour balliuu ipius 
 Abbisad Cur pdcm apud Thornecombe in loco pdco tenend} 
 p pfatu Abfeem deputaf quomin^ idem Nichus Cur illam ibidem 
 tenere potuit vi % armis impediuit p quod idem Abbas pficuu 
 quod de Cur pdca si ibidem tenta fuisset pcepisse debuisset 
 amisit T: alia enormia Ic ad dampnu ipius Abbis quadraginta 
 libra^ 1 cent"' pace Reg T; Et ipe non veii Et sicut prius 
 pceptii fuit vie qd capet eii 1 Et vie mode mand qd non est 
 inuentus J'o sicut plur pc est vie qd capiat eii si le Ita qd 
 
 Devofi. 
 
 Devon. 
 
 If 
 
 Devon, 
 (m. 391.) 
 
 if 
 
184 
 
 CISTEBCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Devofi. 
 
 Devoil. 
 
 DeTofi. 
 
 DCTOfl. 
 
 heat corpus eius hie a die see Trinitatis in vx dies d Jnstic.— 
 Ibid. m. 391. 
 
 275. Nicholas was the next Abbot. His name occurs as 
 early as 1388, Oliver says, but without giving his authority; 
 but in one of the following entries from tlie De Banco Roll 
 we have an Abbot Walter, in Hilary Term, 2 Hen. IV. 
 
 jf Abbas de fforde p Johem Sparowe att suQ op se iiij*** die 
 vsus Laurenciu Archere de ptito quare vi T; armis arbores '\ 
 subboscum ipius Abbis apud Satteburgh nup crescentes suc- 
 cidit T; in sepali piscaria sua ifem piscatus fuit T; piscem inde 
 ac arbores T; subboscum pdcos ad valenciam viginti libra^ 
 cepit T; asportauit T; alia enormia T;c. ad g^'ue dampnu Ic. et 
 cont"^ pace Regf Ic. Et ipe non ven Et prec fuit vie qd distr 
 eu Et vie modo mand qd nichil het T^c p quod potest distri 
 J'o prec est vie qd capiat eu si Ic Et salus Ic Ita qd heat 
 corpus eius hie a die Pasche in tres septimanas 1c. — De Banco 
 Roll, 19 Ric. XL m. 166. 
 
 jf Abbas de fforde p Johem Sparowe a?t suu op se iiij*® die 
 vsus Georgiu Crukern T; Galfrm Smyth de ptito quare vi '^ 
 armis clausa ipius Abbis apud Bromhille '\ Wythewylle frege- 
 runt % arbores % subboscum sues ad valenciam centii solidor^ 
 ibm nup crescentes succider T; asportauer T; blada ^ hbam 
 sua ad valenciam decem marca& ibm nup crescentia cu qui- 
 busdam auiis depasti fuerunt conculcauer T; consumpS T: alia 
 enormia Ic ad g""ue dampnu 1c et cont"' pace Regf 1c Et ipi 
 non ven Et ^c fuit vie qd attachet eos Et vie modo mand qd 
 nichil hent Ic. J*o prec est vie qd capiat eos si Ic. Et saluo 
 Ic. Ita qd heat corpora eoi hie a die Pasche in tres septi- 
 manas Ic. — Ibid. m. 167. 
 
 jf Abbas de fforde p Johem Sparowe a?t suu op se iiij*° 
 die vsus Georgiu Knyf 1 Thoma Crukerii cticum de ptito 
 quare vi 1 armis in sepali piscaria ipius Abbis apud Shyterok 
 piscati fuerunt 1 piscem inde ad valenciam decem marca^ 
 ceper 1 asportauer 1 alia enormia 1c ad gu""e dampnu 1c et 
 cout"" pace Regf 1c. Et ipi non veii. Et pc fuit vie qd attachet 
 eos. Et vie modo mand qd nichil hent 1c. J'o prec est vie qd 
 capiat eos si 1c. Et saluo 1c. Ita qd heat corpora eor^ hie a 
 die Pasche in tres septimanas 1c. — Ibid. m. 167. 
 
 jf Abbas de fforde 1 fraP Henr Kernere comonacus 
 eiusdem Abbis p Johem Sparowe attorn suu op se iiij*® die 
 
 FORD ABBEY. 
 
 185 
 
 vsus Johem Crawelegh de ptito qd reddat eis quadraginta 1 
 sex solidos 1 octo denar quos ei debet 1 iniuste detinet 1c. 
 Et ipe non ven Et sicut plur fuit distr p catalla ad Valencia 
 duodecim denar Et ilt p Juone Donne 1 Luca Moune I'o 
 ipi in m'la Et sicut plur prec est vie qd distr eu p omes Sras 
 1c Et qd de exi? 1c Et qd heat corpus eius hie a die 
 Pasche in tres septimanas p Justic 1c. — Ibid. m. 167 d. 
 
 Jf Abbas de fforde p Johem Spwe at? suu op se iiij*** die 
 vsus Johem atte Wille de ptito quare vi 1 armis bona 1 
 catalla ipius Abbis ad Valencia quadraginta libra* apud fforde 
 inuent cepit 1 asportauit 1 Waltum Whyte natiuu 1 suientem 
 suu in suico suo ibid existent cepit 1 abduxit p quod idem 
 Abbas suiciu natiui 1 Suientis sui pdci p magnii tempus 
 amisit 1 alia enormia 1c 1 cont"^ pacem Regis 1c. Et ipe non 
 venit Et pc fuit vie qd attach eu Et vie modo mand qd nichil 
 het I'o pc est vie qd capiat eii si 1c. Ita qd heat corpus 
 eius hie a die Pasche in tres septias p Justic. — Ibid. m. 186. 
 
 jf Wal?us Abbas de fforde Robtus Borde Bocher Witts 
 atte Horsmylle Johes Baker 1 Stephus Eueray attach fuerunt 
 ad respondend Edwardo Osborne vicario ecctie de Thorne- 
 combe de ptito quare vi 1 armis clausum ipius Edwardi apud 
 Thorn ecombe fregerunt 1 quatuor vacc^as 1 sexaginta porcos 
 sues ibidem inuentos cum quibusdam canib) fugauerunt canes 
 illos ad mordend vaccas 1 porcos pdcos in tantum incitando 
 qd p fugacoem illam 1 morsus canQ pdcoi due vacce 1 
 quadraginta porci pcii decem marcax de vaccis 1 porcis pdcis 
 inSierunt 1 vacce 1 porci residui multiplici? detiorati fuerunt 
 ac vaccas 1 porcos residues ibidem ceperunt 1 imparcauerunt 
 1 eos ibidem sic imparcatos quousq^ idem Edwardus finem p 
 quadraginta solidos p delibacoe vaccari 1 porcorx residuorx 
 pdco^ henda cum pfatis Abbe Robto Wifto Johe 1 Stepho 
 fecisset./ detinuerunt Et alia enormia ei intulerunt ad g"'ue 
 dampnu ipius Edwardi Et cent"" pacem dni Rf nup Regis 
 Angt scdi post conquestum 1c Et vnde idem Edwardus p 
 Johem Qoold attorii suu querit' qd pdci Abbas Robtus Witts 
 Johes 1 Stephus die lune px post festu sci Michis Anno 
 regni dni Rf nup Regis Angt tciodecimo vi 1 armis scitt 
 gladiis arcub) 1 sagittis clausum ipius Edwardi apud Thome- 
 combe fregerunt 1 quatuor vaccas 1 sexaginta porcos sues 
 ibidem inuentos cum quibusdam canib} fugauerunt canes 
 illos ad mordend vaccas 1 porcos pdcos in tantum incitando 
 qd p fugacoem illam 1 morsus canu pdcox due vacce 1 
 quadraginta porci pcii 1c de vaccis 1 porcis pdcis intierunt 
 
 m. 167 d. 
 
 Devon, 
 m. 186. 
 
 Devon. 
 
 I 
 
186 
 
 THE CISTEKCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 Devofl. 
 
 Devoii. 
 
 Devon. 
 
 M 
 
 % vacce 1 porci residui multipliciP deftorati fuerunt ac vaccas 
 T; porcos residues ibidem ceperunt T; impareauerunt % eos 
 ibidem^ sic imparcatos quousq^ idem Edwardus finem Ic p 
 delibacoe vacca^ l porco^ residuox pdcorx henda cum 
 dfatis Abbe Kobto Wilto Johe 1 Steptfo fecissetv detinuerunt 
 Et alia enormia Ic ad g'^ue dampnu Ic Et con*^ pacem 
 T;c Vnde die qd detioratus est l dampnu het ad valenciam 
 quadraeinta library Et inde pduc sectam Ic. 
 
 Et ^dci Abbas Robtus Witts Johes '\ Stephus p Thomam 
 Martyn attorn suii ven Et defend vim 1 iniur quando Ic Et 
 die qd ipi in nullo sunt culpabiles de t""nsgr pdca put pdcs 
 Edwardus supius vsus eos querif Et de hoc pon se sup priam 
 Et Jdcus Edwardus similit I'o pc est vie qd venire fac hie a 
 die Pasche in xv dies xij Ic p quos le Et qui nee Ic ad 
 recogn Ic Quia tam Ic— Ibid. 2 Hen. IV., Hilary, m. 138d. 
 
 As I have said, it will be noticed that here we have Walter 
 mentioned as Abbot. The explanation may be that the pro- 
 ceedings were commenced in Walter Burstok's time, and his 
 name continued on the pleadings after his death. 
 
 jf Abbas de fforde p attorn suu op se iiij*° die 9sus Thomam 
 Splent de ptito qd reddat ei ronabilem compotum suu de 
 tempo quo fuit balliuus suus in Westforde T; receptor denariorx 
 ijius Abbis Et ipi non vefi Et prec fuit vie qd sum eum Ic 
 Et vie mode mand qd nichil het Ic I*o prec est vie qd capiat 
 eum si T;c Et saluo Ic Ita qd heat corpus eius hie a die Pasche 
 in vnu Mensem Ic. — Ibid. m. 459. 
 
 De Banco Roll ; Trin. 2 Henry IV. 
 jf Abbas de flPorde d attorn suu op se iiij^** die vsus Thomam 
 Splent de ptito qd ei reddat ei ronabilem compotu suu de 
 tempore quo fuit ballivus suis in Westforde 1; receptor denario^ 
 ipius Abbis Et ipe non veil Et sicut prius prec ftiit vie qd 
 capet eum T:c Et vie mode non misit bre Ic I'o sicut plur 
 capitat""qd sit hie in Octab sci Michis "^c.— Ibid. Trin. 2 Hen. 
 IV., m. 2958. 
 
 (f Abbas de fforde p attorn suu op se iiij*** die 9su8 Jofiem 
 Smyth de Tale T: Johem Seger de Taletoii de ptito quare vi % 
 armis clausa ipius Abbis apud Tale fregerunt T; libam waiTenna 
 sua ibm intraverunt T; in ea sine licencia T; voluntate sua 
 fugaverunt T; in sepali piscaria sua ibm piscati ftierunt T; 
 piscem inde ad valenc centu solidox ac lepores euniclos phasi- 
 anos 1 pdices de warrenna pdca ceperunt 1 asportaverunt et 
 alia enormia Ic et cont"' pacem Ic Et ipi non ven Et prec fuit 
 
 FOBD ABBEY, 
 
 18t 
 
 vie qd attach eos Ic Et vie mand qd nichil tient T:c I'o capianf 
 ^d sint hie in Oetabis sci Michis %c. — Ibid., Trinity, 8 Hen. 
 v., m. 409. 
 
 2 
 
 276. Of the succeeding abbots until the last we know very 
 little. John Bokelandwas confirmed 10 June, 1419. Richard 
 succeeded him. Robert occurs in 1448. 
 
 (f Abbas de fforde p attorn suu op se iiij*" die vsus Gilbtum Devofi. 
 Pyper alias dcm Gilbtum Boteswayn de Elleworth in Coin 
 Dorg husbondman de ptito t"^nsgr Et ipe non ven Et prec fiiit 
 vie qd attactiet eii Ic Et vie retorn qd ipi nichil het l;c p quod 
 '^c To prec est vie qd capiat eu si T;c Et salvo %c Ita qd heat 
 corpus eius coram dno Rege a die sci Hillar in xv dies vbicuq) 
 T;c Et vnde in xv sci Martini %c. — Coram Rege Roll, Mich. 
 1 Hen. VI., m. 35. 
 
 277. The next entry in the De Banco Roll relating to Ford 
 gives the name of Walter, and thus enables me to add a new 
 abbot to the list. This is on the Roll for Michaelmas term, 
 38 Hen. VI. 
 
 If Walrus Abbas de flForda p attorn suu op se iiij*° die 9sus Devon. 
 Wal?um Colebroke de parochia de Columpton in Com pdco 
 Gentilman de plito quare cum idem Abbas in feodo suo apud 
 Oolbroke p con§ T: suiciis sibi debitis p Wal?um Holway 
 5uien? suu quedam auia capi fecisset T; idem Wal?us Holway 
 aula ilia scdm legem T; con§ regni Regis Angt imparcare 
 voluisset pdcus Wal?us Colbroke aSia ^dca vi T; armis res- 
 cussit Et alia enormia %c ad g^'ue dampnii T;c Et cent"" 
 pacem Regis Ic. Et ipe non veii. Et prec fuit vie sicut 
 prius qd distr eum Ic. Et vie mode mand qd dis?r est p 
 catalla ad valenc duodecim denar. Et manuc p Edm Mate 
 l Ricm Ware. I'o ipi in mia. Et sicut plur dis?r qd sit hie 
 in Oetabis sci Hillar Ad que diem vie non mi§ bre I'o sicut 
 plur distr qd sit hie a die Pasche in vx dies Ic. — De Banco 
 Roll Mich. 38 Hen. VI. m. 52d. 
 
 278. My last extract, too, refers to a claim made in the 
 time of Walter, the newly found Abbot. 
 
 Wal?us Abbas de fforde p attorii suu op se iiij**' die 9sus Devon. 
 Robtum Cammeit de ffytelford in Com Dorg Gentilman alias 
 dcm Robtum Cammett de Cammeft in Coin DorS Geflosum 
 de ptito qd reddat ei decern libras quas ei debet T; iniuste 
 
 2c 
 
I 
 
 188 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 detinet Ic. Et ife non vefi. Et prec fuit vie sicut prius qd 
 capet eum '^c. Et vie modo mand qd non est inuent Ic. 
 I*o sicut plur capiat qd sit hie in Octabis sci Hillar Ic. — 
 Ibid. 253. 
 
 279. Then comes Elias, in 1462, and William White, who 
 was apparently Abbot for upwards of thirty years, from at 
 least as early as 1490 to 1521. 
 
 280. The last Abbot, Thomas Charde, otherwise Tybbes, 
 has left something more than a name. He was one of the 
 most distinguished men of whom the Abbey could boast. He 
 was not only an eminent scholar and divine, but the build- 
 ings at Ford show him to have been an artist of no mean 
 capabilities. Dr. Oliver has given a memoir, and Dr. J. H. 
 Pring has dealt with the history of his life in fuller detail.* 
 He succeeded in 1521. An account of his various prefer- 
 ments, some probably of great value, and given him to 
 suppoi-t to some extent his dignity as Suffragan Bishop to 
 his Diocesan, Oldham, will be found in the memoirs to which 
 I have referred. He was evidently fond of building, and 
 remodelled the domestic buildings at Ford on a scale of great 
 magnificence. The beautiful tower, the north walk of the 
 cloister, all that now exists, and the new refectory, with his 
 initials, mitre, and abbot's cap, were as much admired by 
 his contemporaries as by succeeding generations. He sur- 
 rendered his house 8th March, 1539, at which time there was 
 the full number of thirteen monks. He did not survive the 
 fall long, dying full of years and honours early in 1544. 
 
 281. Thus Ford shared the fate of its sister houses. They 
 were all surrendered in 1538-9, but in all probability no 
 buildings were so perfect, and none were abandoned with 
 greater grief than this important foundation. Its revenues 
 amountecl to £374 10s. G^d., according to Dugdale, and its 
 possessions, besides those in the immediate neighbourhood of 
 the Abbey, extended into the adjoining counties of Somerset 
 and Dorset, and as far as Lynton and Countisbury on the north 
 coast. 
 
 282. The history of the Abbey after the dissolution is well 
 known, as it became the home of many distinguished families. 
 It and the adjoining land was first leased to Richard Pollard for 
 a term of twenty-one years, at an annual rental of £49 6s. 6d., 
 but tlie following year, 23rd June, 1540, the lessee obtained 
 from the king a conveyance in fee. Sir John Pollard suc- 
 ceeded his father, and sold Ford Abbey to his cousin. Sir 
 Amias Poulett, of whom William Rosewell, Queen Elizabeth's 
 
 • A Memoir qf Thama» Chard, D.D., by James Horly Pring, M.D., 1864. 
 
 FORD ABBEY. 
 
 189 
 
 Solicitor- General, bought it; and his son. Sir Henry Rosewell, 
 sold it to Edmund Prideaux, who, employing Inigo Jones, 
 proceeded to convert the domestic buildings of the convent 
 into a mansion, at what must have been a great expenditure. 
 In the Prideaux, Gwyn, and Fraunceis families the Abbey 
 continued down to 1847, when on the death of John Fraunceis 
 Gwyn it was sold to G. F. W. Miles, Esq., by whom however 
 it was not long retained, the present owner, Herbert Evans, 
 Esq., becoming its possessor by purchase. 
 
 283. No Cistercian building in England, perhaps none in 
 the world, remains in so perfect a state as that of Ford. The 
 site is on the south of the Axe river, the formation of the 
 ground compelling tlie monks to take that bank of the river 
 instead of, as they preferred, the north. The stream flawing 
 into the river rises in the ground south of the Abbey, and the 
 fish ponds which were constructed in its course still remain, 
 although somewhat altered in shape. The principal entrance 
 is now from the east, and the visitor approaching the Abbey 
 walks over the foundations of the antient church, and treads 
 under foot the dust of stately ecclesiastics and noble founders. 
 
 284. Not a vestige remains of the monastic church. The 
 entrance road crosses the north aisle, and the south side of 
 the cloister. This was not consecrated until 1239, but it 
 must not be supposed that there was no building for divine 
 serx'ice until that time. The whole of the buildings were in 
 all probability laid out from the beginning, and the work 
 completed as the bounty of the faithfol allowed. It was the 
 finished church no doubt that was consecrated nearly a century 
 aft^r the monks left Brightley. Within its walls the remains 
 of Richard the Viscount, Richard the Abbot, Adelicia (1142), 
 Hawisia de Courtenay (1209), Reginald or William de 
 Courtenay (1192-94), Robert de Coui^enay (1242), and John 
 de Courtenay (1273), found resting places. 
 
 285. Turning to the right we shall enter a building fitted 
 up as a chapel, and usually considered to be the church of the 
 Abbey. This is a chamber of the greatest interest, it being 
 in fact no other than the chapter house of the monks. It is 
 of twelfth-century work, transitional Norman, with pointed 
 vault of two bays. In the extensive alterations of the Abbey 
 made by Edmund Prideaux, this was converted into the 
 domestic chapel of the mansion, and here Cromwell's Attorney- 
 General was buried in 1659. On the walls are various 
 memorial tablets. 
 
 286. Over the chapter-house would be originally the library. 
 This IS now completely altered into a spacious modern room. 
 
 2c2 
 
i 
 
 190 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DETON. 
 
 Through the library the monks passed from their dormitory 
 to the church, the staircase leading down to it being probably 
 in the north transept. 
 
 287. Still passing northward we enter a vaulted chamber 
 originally nearly 170 feet long, and divided by a central row 
 of eleven columns, all of which with the vaulting are perfect. 
 This building is of rather later date than the chapter-house, 
 and the work is of an elegant and delicate description. Over 
 it is the dormitory of tlie monks, almost perfect, although now 
 divided up to furnish sleeping apartments for the servants of 
 the mansion. 
 
 288. Retracing our steps we come to the south front of the 
 house, and find ourselves in the north walk of the cloister. 
 This is eighty-two feet in length. All but this side is destroyed, 
 and the beautiful Perpendicular work is that of Charde the 
 last Abbot, whose memorj' is so intimately interwoven with 
 Ford. He did not scruple here to mingle his initials, T. C., 
 and his episcopal and abbatial insignia, with the arms of the 
 Abbey and the King, on the many shields which decorate the 
 spaces between the buttresses and between and over the 
 tracery. Within the existing portion of the cloister and on 
 the north may be traced the ancient refectory (of the later we 
 shall speak presently), although it is blocked up with modern 
 partitions. The kitchen of the monaster}- remains the kitchen 
 of the mansion. 
 
 289. We now come to the domus conversorum, but a small 
 portion only of it remains. In its original state it extended 
 northward from the church, probably as far as the diverted 
 stream, which formed the common sewer of the house, and 
 was therefore at least two huntlred feet long, the breadth 
 being twenty-six feet. The whole of this however was not 
 occupied by tlie convent, as trace? of divisions can be made 
 out. Over were the dormitories of the lay bretliren. 
 
 290. We now enter tlie hall, which is really the eastern end 
 of the new refectory of Abbot Charde. Jn its original state 
 this fine room was one hundred and fifteen feet long. The 
 western part was divided and altered by Inigo Jones to form 
 the state apartments, and, shorn as it is now of its fair propor- 
 tions, it still remains a very fine apartment 
 
 291. The bam still remains, and between it and the western 
 end of Charde's refectory mav be found remains, probably of 
 the gatehouse; for it was on this side, not on the east, that the 
 entrance formerly was. 
 
 292. The alterations made by Inigo Jones, while to a great 
 extent destroying many of the ancient features and disfiguring 
 
 FORD ABBEY. 
 
 191 
 
 the fine work of Charde, and mutilating its proportions, 
 tended to make the abbey a convenient and commodious 
 residence. The dining and drawing rooms are good apart- 
 ments with elaborate ceilings, and the staircase and saloon 
 are finely designed. But still, in spite of the interference 
 with his architecture and the incongruities of Inigo Jones's 
 additions, Charde's work remains pre-eminently beautiful, 
 and renders Ford Abbey perhaps the most interesting building 
 architecturally, as it is archaeologically, in the west country. 
 
 293. The property of the Abbey was not of great extent, 
 although at the dissolution its annual value was second only 
 to that of Buckfast. It was, as I have said, situated in the 
 immediate neighbourhood of the Abbey, in the north of the 
 county, at Lynton and Countisbury, and in Somerset and 
 Dorset Besides Adelicia, the later Courtenays endowed Ford 
 with some of their wealth and the Pomeroys also were its 
 benefactors. 
 
 294. The arms of the Abbey were a stag's head caboshed, 
 and the shields containing them may be found in various parts 
 of the buildings of Charde. 
 
 295. The seals of the Abbey so far known are but two. 
 One described by Oliver is oval, " divided into three com- 
 partments. In the upper part, between two pointed windows, 
 a bell appears suspended in a steeple. In the canopy beneath, 
 is the Blessed Virgin and Divine Infant. On the dexter side 
 is the Courtenav shield. Or, three torteaux, with a label of 
 three points. On the sinister is the shield of Beaumont, 
 Barry of six vairy and gules. Below is an Abbot erect, 
 holding his crozier in his right hand and a book in his left, 
 and three persons on their knees." The legend is, 
 
 Sb* (^Tommune JHonasterii ISeate fSiam tt jForlia. 
 
 Another seal, and one not hitherto described, is said to 
 represent the Abbot between two shields, on the dexter that 
 of the Courtenays, and on the sinister a lion rampant A 
 legend surrounds tlie device. This seal is appended to a grant 
 from William Toterigge and Mabilla his wife to Edward 
 Blakforde, John Forde Capellanus, and others, of tenements 
 in Sperhay. This deed was for sale by a firm of London 
 booksellers in 1875, but I have not been able to trace its 
 present owner. 
 
 296. With this brief account of Ford I bring to a close 
 this series of papers on the Cistercian Houses of Devon, and 
 trust that I have been enabled to add a little to their some- 
 what meagre history. 
 
•m 
 
 192 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 List op the Abbots of Ford. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Richard . 
 
 Robert de Penynton 
 
 Baldwin . 
 
 Robert . 
 
 John 
 
 John 
 
 Roger . 
 
 John de Warwick 
 
 Adam . 
 
 William 
 
 William of Crukem 
 
 Nicholas 
 
 William de Fria 
 
 Henry . 
 
 William . 
 
 John . , 
 
 John de Chidley 
 
 Adam . 
 
 John Chylheglys 
 
 Walter Burstok 
 
 Nicholas 
 
 Walter? 
 
 John Bokeland 
 
 Richard . 
 
 Robert . 
 
 Walter . 
 
 Elias 
 
 William White 
 
 Thomas Charde 
 
 
 Date. 
 
 1136 
 
 1137-1168? 
 -1181 ? 
 
 1191-1120 
 Until 1236 
 
 In 1236 
 Died in 1246 
 
 Died 1262 
 1262 
 
 From 1283 
 Resigned 1297 
 In 1312 
 From 1319 
 
 * . 
 From 1330 
 From 1354 
 In 1373 
 From 1378 
 In 1388 
 
 From 1419 
 
 In 1448 * 
 In 1460 
 In 1462 
 In 1490 
 1521-1539 
 
 Authorities. 
 
 Harleian MSS. 
 
 Do. 
 Various. 
 Harleian MSS. 
 Leland and Various. 
 Feet of Fines and Docu- 
 ments. 
 Documents. 
 Harleian MSS. 
 
 Do. Oliver. 
 
 01iver,Dugdale,and various. 
 Various. 
 
 Episcopal Register. 
 Various. 
 Oliver, 
 Episcopal Registers. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 See par. 275. 
 
 Episcopal Registers. 
 
 Oliver. 
 
 Oliver. 
 
 De Banco Roll. 
 
 Oliver. 
 
 Various. 
 
 Various. 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 Mr. Davidson has very kindly furnished me with a trans- 
 cript from the Cartulary of Glastonbury, in the Bodleian 
 Library, relating to Newenham Abbey, which I am very glad 
 to be able to add here. 
 
 The following seems to have been the substance of the 
 dispute. 
 
 The manor and hundred of Axminster, which belonged at 
 the Conquest to the King, were, by a donation in the year 
 1246, granted by Reginald de Mohun to the Abbey of 
 Newenham. The grant of the hundred carried with it the 
 right to have suit (secta) and service {servitium) from the 
 owners of the several tithings in the hundred, at the hundred 
 court, when the sheriff made his visitation or tourn. One of 
 the tithings in Axminster hundred was Upljrme, of which 
 manor the Abbot of Glastonbury was lord ; and it is to be 
 presumed that from and after. 1246 the seneschal of the 
 Abbot of Glastonbury, on each occasion of a sheriffs tourn 
 being held at Axminster, presented himself and did suit 
 (secta) to the Abbot of Newenham for the tithing of Uplyme. 
 This " doing suit of court" had been and might be commuted 
 to a payment of ten shillings a year for the sheriff's tourn, and 
 a yearly rent of 6s. 8c?. for liorderisgeld, " hordarii geldum," 
 or treasurer's tax, which seems to have been a peculiar 
 impost payable to a religious house when lords of a manor. 
 It happened, however, that upon the death of an Abbot of 
 Glastonbury, the fruits of the Abbey possessions became 
 vested in the crown during the vacancy, and the seneschal 
 neglected either to do suit of court, or to pay either the fee 
 due at the hundred court to the lord of the manor, or the 
 treasurer's tax, due to the Abbot of Newenham. Thereupon 
 it was alleged, a number of persons, twelve of whom are 
 named, went over from Newenham and its neighbourhood to 
 Uplyme, entered an enclosed field belonging to the Abbot of 
 Glastonbury, and there burnt some growing rushes and 
 other standing crops. At the same time one Robert Tudde, 
 bailiff of Axminster, seised and carried off 37 beasts belong- 
 ing to the Abbot, by way of distress for non-payment of the 
 fees due at the last sheriff's tourn. This led to a process of law 
 being instituted. A writ was issued to the sheriff to inquire 
 into the truth of the alleged enormities, and to attach the 
 wrong-doers. Tlie return made by the jurors on the 25th of 
 January, 1275, established the truth of the charges, and on 
 the 5th of February following a writ was issued by the 
 Crown, dated at Reading, which was in the nature of a 
 
.*' 
 
 vj' 
 
 ij i, 
 
 ■f" 
 
 194 
 
 THE CISTERCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 decree or judgment. It took the form of commanding the 
 bhenff of Devon to take bail for the appearance of the 
 followmg persons— John, Abbot of Newenham, Brother 
 Henry de la Boneie, Luke le Messer, William Kussel, 
 Wilham Todde, Richard de Cleyhulle, Nicholas Pin, and 
 -Nicholas Dare, to shew cause why they, together with 
 Kichard le Berker, Richard the son of Amiable of Shapwick 
 wMr Egelcumbe, John the son of Richard Care, and 
 William Salomon, and others, committed the acts above 
 mentioned ; also to shew cause why they did not appear on 
 the morrow of the Purification of the Virgin (2nd February) 
 as summoned by their sureties. The names of the sureties, 
 are then given. 
 
 For the Abbot 
 
 For the Friar Henry of Bouere 
 
 For Luke le Messer 
 
 For William 
 
 For Robert Tudde 
 
 For Nicholas de Cleihulle 
 
 For Nicholas Pin 
 
 For Nicholas Dare 
 
 Robert Squirel. 
 Reginald Fayth. 
 Adam Scurel. 
 Thomas Fait. 
 Reginald Gladewine. 
 William Velfais. 
 Reginald Copiner. 
 William Blonoch. 
 Hugh Douile. 
 Thomas Bal. 
 Richard le Pottere. 
 Nicholas Pin. 
 Richard Humas. 
 Walter Grey. 
 Thomas Grug§. 
 Thomas Tannur. 
 
 The writ goes on to direct the sheriff to take bail for Richard 
 le Berker, and the other delinquents named, to appear and 
 shew cause together with the eight defendants for whom bail 
 had been taken before. 
 
 The narrative of the law-suit is here interrupted in order to 
 introduce an agreement, made in October, 1275, between the 
 Abbots of Glastonbury and Newenham, with regard to the 
 boundaries of some contiguous lands, whereby in considera- 
 tion of thirty marks paid by the Abbot of Newenham to the 
 Abbot of Glastonbury, the dispute was settled, and all leeal 
 proceedings stayed. ^ 
 
 We then find an entry of a deed of release and quit-claim 
 on the part of the Abbot of Newenham to the Abbot of 
 Glastonbury of the hundred suit and sheriff's toum due to 
 the former m respect of Uplyme, in consideration of forty 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 195 
 
 marks paid by the latter to the former. This last mentioned 
 deed is to be found in the register of Newenham, and has 
 been already observed upon.* 
 
 This is a transcript of the original — 
 
 MSS. Bodl: Wood i. 212_b. 
 
 jf Processus placiti inter dmn regem et abbatem de Newen- 
 ham pro tras in manerio de vplim abbis Glastonie. 
 
 Breve originale. 
 
 Rex vicecomiti Devonie salutem quia accepim^ quod qui- 
 dam malefactores T; pacis nre perturbatores nuper uenerunt 
 ad quendam seperalem pasturam in vplim que pertinot ad 
 abathiam Glastonie in manu nra existente racione vacionis 
 cuiusdam 1; de qua vltimus abbas eiusdem abbathie obiit 
 seisiau et jaunS T; alia in eadem pastura crescentia corabus- 
 serunt T; alia enormia ibidem perpetrauerunt ad graue 
 dampnu ipius abbathie in nostri contempt^ manifestum 1; 
 contra pacem nram tibi pcipimus quod per sacramentum 
 proborum T; legaliu hoiin de balliua tua per quod rei ueritas 
 melius sciri poterit diligenter inquiras qui predicta transgr' 
 fecerunt T; omnes illos quos per inquisicionem illam inde 
 culpabiles inueneris attachies ita quod heas corpora eorum 
 cora nobis in crastino PurificacoTs beate Marie vbicumq^ 
 tunc fuerimus in anglia ad respondend nobis de transgressioe 
 pdicta et habeas ibi hoc breue. Teste me ipo apud Marle- 
 berghe T:c. 
 
 lb. 212 b. 
 
 Inquisicio capta apd?^ exoniam per ^dic? bre. Friday, 25 Jan. 
 
 Inquisicio capta apud Exoniam die veneris in festo con- 1275. 
 uersionis sancti Pauli anno regni Regis Edwardi tercio qui 
 malefactores T; pacis Domini Regis perturbatores nuper 
 uenerunt in quandam seperalem pasturam in vplim que 
 pertinet ad abbathiam Glastonie et janta et alia in eadem 
 pastura crescentia combuscerunt T; alia enormia ibidem per- 
 petrauerunt in pjudiciu Domini Regis ad dampniim ipius 
 abbie manifestum T, contra pacem domini regis per sacrariitum 
 Johannis de Hitone, Johannis fit Galfrid, Rog' de Clauile, 
 Hugonis de Raleigh, Willi de la uerge, Willi Vinortheheie 
 Willi de Cranesweye, Henrici de Hayuile, Philippi de Combe, 
 Willi de esse, Roberti Russel, Roberto Pur, Waltero Wering, 
 Henrico de Wicrofte, Henrico de Hale, Ricardo de Boclande, 
 Roberto Beuener, Nicholai de la Forde, Jordano de la 
 Roche, Jordani de Harecumbe et Walteri de Fraunceis Qui 
 dicunt super sacramentum suum quod Henricus de la bouecte 
 
 • Davidson, HUt. of Newenham Abbey, pp. 24, 25. 
 
 2d 
 
196 
 
 THE CISTEKCIAN HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 ,.•1 
 
 .» r 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 ■ ^ 
 
 » 
 
 de Niwenham frater Ricardus de la Bekei^, Lucas le messer 
 de Nywenham, Willm Russel de la bate, Robertus Todde 
 Ric^ filius amiable de schapewik, Johannes de Egelcumbe, 
 Johannes filius Ricai-di Care de Egelcumbe, Henr^ filius 
 Dauid de Egelcumbe, Johannes de la Sale, Ricardus Wrange. 
 Ric^ faber T; Willms Salomon T; alii multi quorum nomina 
 ignorant vi 1 armis venerunt ad terrara abbie Glastonie in 
 vplini que est in manu domini regis racione uacationis 
 abbathie predicte 1 janta ipius abbie Glastonie in eodem 
 manerio crescentia contra pacem dfii regis [combusserunt]. 
 Et dicunt quod Robertus Tudde balliuus de Axminstre alia 
 enormia ibidem fecit videlicet cepit triginta 1 septem au^ia 
 ipius abbie Glaston pro quadam secta quam exigit abbas de 
 Niwenham ab abbatem Glastonie ad turnu quod senescallus 
 ipius abbis tenuit in vltimo hundredo suo quod tenuerunt post 
 festum sancti Michaelis vbi pdictus abbas Glastonie nullam 
 sects debet nee homines sui nee etiam homines de feodo ipius 
 abbatis Glastonie eo quod quieti sunt per carta abbatis et 
 conuentus de Newenham. In cuius rei testimoniii huic 
 inquisitioni sigilla sua alternatiui apposuerunt Da¥ dictis 
 die 1 anno. 
 
 If Breue judicii. 
 
 Rex vicecomiti deuonie salutem. Pone per uadium 1, 
 meliores plegg* Johanne abbatem de niwenliam fratrem 
 henricu de la bonei, lucam le messer, Williii Russel, Willin 
 Todde, Richm de cleyhuUe, Nicholaum Pin T; nichm dare 
 quod sint coram nobis a die pasche in quinta septim ad 
 rnded' nobis de placito quare ipi simul cum fre Ricardo le 
 berker, Ricco filio amiable de schapewik, Johfie de egelcumbe, 
 Johanne filio Ricci Care et Willmo Salomon et alii nuper 
 uenerunt ad quamdam seperalem pastur^ in vplim que 
 pertinet ad abbathiam Glastonie in manu nra existente 
 occasione vacationis eiusdem 1 de qua ultimus eiusdem 
 abbathie obiit seisiau et janct? l alia in eadem pastura 
 crescentia combusserunt l alia enormia ibidem perpetrauerunt 
 ad grave dampnii ipius abbie et nostri contemptum manifestimi 
 et contra pacem nostram ut dicitur. Et ad ostendendum 
 quare non fuerunt coram nobis in crastino purificationis beate 
 marie sicut attachiati fuerunt 1 siimoniti per bonos suin. 
 Robertum Squirel 1 Reginad* fayth primos uel pMicti 
 Johannis abbis de Newenham 1 adam Scurel 1 Thoma fait 
 primos pl'Sdicti fratris henrici de la bouei^ Et regni^ Glade- 
 wine et Willm velfais Smos_prpredicti luce le messer. Et 
 reginaldus copiner et Willin blonoch primos plef predicti 
 Wiiri 1 hug* douile 1 thorn bal. primos pl'predicti Roberti 
 
 NEWENHAM ABBEY. 
 
 197 
 
 Tudde 1 Ricm le pottere 1 nichm pin primos pl'pdicti nich*i 
 
 de cleihuUe 1 ricrm humas 1 Walterum Grey ^mos pl'pdicti 
 
 nich'i pin. Thorn Grugg* % Thoin tannur primos pi' pMicti 
 
 nichi dare quod sint coram nobis ad prefatum terminiii ante 
 
 ludiciu suii de hoc quod non huerunt predictos Johannem 
 
 abbatem de Niwenham 1: alios coram nobis in crastino 
 
 purifici.tionis beate marie sicut eos pleg* precipim^ tibi quod 
 
 no ommittes propter libertatem abbatis quin ponas per vad' 1 
 
 saluos pleg" f^dictos fratrem Ricardum le berker, Ricrm filium 
 
 amabile de schapwik, Johannem de Egelcombe T; alios quod 
 
 smt coram nobis ad j^fatum terminu ad respondendum 
 
 nobis simul cum pdictis Johanne abbate de Niwenham 1 
 
 aliis de predicto placito. Et vnde tu tpe nobis mandasti in 
 
 crastino pur^ be mar^ quod preceperas balliuis predicte 
 
 hberta^ quod attachia? pdictos frem Riccm le berker T; alios 
 
 quod cent coram nobis ad eundem terminu ad respondendum 
 
 nobis simul cum ^dictis Johanne abbate de Nievenham 1 
 
 aliis de predicto placito qui nichil inde fecerunt 1 habeas ibi 
 
 nomma secundoa pleg* 1 sum pleg* % hoc bre. Tes# ^ de 
 
 hengham apud Radinge v« die febrr anno regni nri tercio. 
 
 Memorandum quod cum eet contencio inter uiros religiosos 
 dominum Johannem abbatem 1 couentum Glastonie ex una 
 parte % Johannem abbatem % conuentum de Niwenham ex 
 parte altera super terrarum suarum sese contingenaciu ter- 
 minis atq, metis tandem pdictus abbas de Niwenham volens 
 nee sufferens diucius durare sed omnino uolens dirimere 
 Htis materiam ante mote pro se T; conuentu suo uadiauit 
 pdictis abbati et conuentui Glastonie triginta marcas pro 
 bono pacis 1 ob captandam ab eisdem graciam T; fauorem. 
 Ita quod p'dictus abbas T; conuentus de Newenham predictis 
 abbati T; conuentui Glastonie dabunt et soluent Decem marcas 
 argenti de summa p'dictarum triginta marcarum citra nat' 
 domini proxim futu^ et residue xx marcaru de summa 
 eadem ex predictorum abbis T; conuentus Glastonie tali con- 
 dicione T; mode sunt posite in respectu ut si bene se gesserunt 
 abbas T; conuent^ de Newenha erga abbatem % conuentum 
 Glastonie nominatim in negocio perambulationis utriusque 
 partis assensu inter terras suas faciendis quam neutra pars 
 uUo malo ingenio impediet nee peruertet. Statim peracto 
 negocio penitus remittentur nee alterutri parte competet actio 
 per f^sentes. Dat londoii meng oc? anno drii m^'.cc. septua- 
 gessTo qnto. 
 
 jf Carta abb! de Newenha de quietaclamancia secte hundr^ 
 T; torno vicecoin de vplim. 
 
 Omnibus has literas visuris uel audituris Henricus di gratia 
 
 5 Feb. 1275. 
 
 Oct. 1275. 
 
■!■■ 
 
 l. 
 
 '■a 
 t 
 
 198 
 
 THE CISTEBCIAiJ HOUSES OF DEVON. 
 
 ub\ 
 
 abbas de Niwenham 1 eiusde loci conuentus salutera eternam 
 in diio. Nouert uniuersitas uestra nos pro nob' et succes- 
 soribus nois imperpetuu remisisse et quietumclamasse domino 
 raictii abbati glast? et eiusdem loci conuentui T; ecclie Glas- 
 tonie totum ius 1 clameum quod huimus uel here potuimiis 
 versus ipm abbatem glastonie % successores suosl onines hom- 
 ines suos T; o5 homines de feodis suis de manerio suo de vplim 
 de sec? hundred' ^ tomo vic^ que nos exegimus ab eis ad 
 hundred* nostrum de axeminstre quod habemus de dono 
 re^'w^di de moun T; confirmacione domini henrici regis filii 
 regis Johannis ^ similiter de sexdeceim solid' T; octo denai^ 
 quos exegimus ab eisdem per annii vnde decem solidos sunt 
 de turno vicecom et vj soP et viij d' sunt de quodam redditu 
 qui uocatur horderesgeld' vnde inplacitauimus predictum 
 raichaeleni abbatem per breue domini regis in comi? exoii. 
 Ita quod nee nos nee successores nostri unquam in posterum 
 clamare uel exigere poterimus de predictis abbate nee conuentu 
 Glastoii nee eorum successoribus nee etiam ab hominibus suis 
 nee ab hominibus de food' suis de pdicto manerio de vplim 
 ahquam sectam aut pdictos sexdecim solidos 1 iiij denar per 
 annu uel aliquod aliud quod ad nos uel successores nostros 
 aliquo occasione tempore predicti hundredi nri de Axeminstre 
 accidere poterit. Hoc solumodo saluo nobis T; successoribus 
 nris quod si balliuos nrox abbatis T; conuentus de vplim in 
 executione mandati diii regis quod per bre suum viceeofn 
 deuonie demandat^ fuerit T: postea nobis per return Q per ipm 
 vicecom de mandat^ fuerit 1 nos postea idem mandatum per 
 returnu predictis ballivis ipius abbatis de vplim demanda- 
 uerimus negligentes ee constiterit ita quod mandatum domini 
 regis in hac parte non fuerint {sic) executi, bene licebit tunc 
 ballivo de axeminstre qui pro tempore f uit tanquam balliuo 
 vicecom T; non tanquam balliuo nro predictum manerium de 
 vplim intrare 1 mandatum illud ea nice executioni demandare, 
 ita quod nee pdictus abbati 1 conuentui Glastonie nee eccTe 
 Glastonie nee hominibus suis de vplim per mandati illius 
 executioni aliquod unquam in posterum preiudiciu gene- 
 retur omnes autem prescriptas libertates predictis abbati 1, 
 conventui Glastonie ac ecctie Glastonie contra omnes homines 
 1; feminas impei'petuu warantizabimus T; pro hac remissione 
 l quietaclamancia ac warentia iddem abbas T. conuentus 
 Glastonie dederunt nob quadraginta marcas. In cuius rei 
 testimoniu huic scripto sigillum nrm apposui hiis testib) 
 dominis Reginaldo de moun, Henrico de traci, Johe balon, 
 Waltero de bathoii tunc vicecom deuon, Willmo de leighe 
 militib}, Willmo le bray, Ricio de Craswelle 1 aliis. 
 
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 I 
 
 II 
 
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