RELIGIOUS HOUSES HOUSES OF BENEDICTINE MONKS
1. THE ABBEY OF ST. PETER AT GLOUCESTER
In or about 681, with the consent of Ethelred,
king of Mercia, Osric, under-king of the Hwiccas,
founded a monastery at Gloucester in honour of
St. Peter and St. Paul. (fn. 1) It is possible that a
monastery for men was attached to it as to many
other monasteries for women which were
founded before the eighth century. (fn. 2) Osric's
sister, Cyneburh, was consecrated as the first
abbess by Bosel, bishop of Worcester. (fn. 3) She
died in 710, and was succeeded by her sister,
Eadburh. (fn. 4) On her death in 735, Eva was
consecrated abbess by Wilfrid, bishop of Worcester. (fn. 5) During the rule of the three abbesses
monastic life flourished, (fn. 6) and the possessions of
the house increased. (fn. 7) But on the death of Eva
in 767 no successor was appointed, (fn. 8) and it
seems probable that the nuns dispersed during
the confusion of civil strife in England. According to the writer of the Memoriale the monastery
was deserted for the space of fifty years. (fn. 9) It
has been suggested that King Offa took the lands
of the monastery into his own hands as he did
those of the abbey of Bath. (fn. 10) Bernulph, king
of the Mercians (ob. 823), is said to have rebuilt
the church, and to have endowed a body of
secular priests with the former possessions of the
nuns, and in addition five hides in Standish. (fn. 11)
Gloucester was untouched by the monastic
revival in the reign of King Edgar. However,
in 1022 Wulfstan II, who held the sees of both
Worcester and York, changed the community
of secular priests into a convent of Benedictine
monks and put them under the rule of Abbot
Edric. (fn. 12) According to one tradition, the men of
Gloucester resented the reform, and killed seven
of the monks, (fn. 13) and in atonement for that deed,
Wulfin le Rue gave Churcham and Highnam to
the convent. There is no evidence of a violent
expulsion of the secular priests, (fn. 14) and Abbot Edric
is said to have been one of them. (fn. 15) The house
did not flourish, lands at Badgeworth and
Hatherley were sold, (fn. 16) and the monastic buildings
were destroyed by fire. (fn. 17) In 1058 Edric was
succeeded by Wilstan, a monk of Worcester. (fn. 18)
Aldred, then bishop of Worcester, rebuilt the
church from the foundations; to recoup the
expense he took possession of the lands of the
monks at Leach, Oddington, Standish, and
Barton, and annexed them to the see of York,
to which he succeeded in 1061. (fn. 19) At the time
of the Norman Conquest monastic life languished
at Gloucester, as in many other houses. In
1072 the convent consisted only of two monks
and eight novices, and Abbot Wilstan had gone
on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. (fn. 20) After his death
in that year, Serlo, a Norman monk of Mont St.
Michel, was appointed by William the Conqueror. The monastery prospered exceedingly
under his vigorous rule, and before 1087 he
recovered the manors of Frocester and Coln
St. Aldwyn, which had been alienated by his
predecessor. (fn. 21) In the Domesday Survey the possessions of the convent in Gloucestershire (fn. 22) also
included the manors of Boxwell, Buckland,
Aldsworth, Hinton, Highnam, and Preston, of
the old endowment, Ledene of the gift of
Walter de Lacy, (fn. 23) Duntisbourne, of the gift of
his wife; (fn. 24) in Hampshire, (fn. 25) Linkenholt, the gift
of Ernulf de Hesding in 1082; (fn. 26) in Worcestershire (fn. 27) half a hide in Wick; in Herefordshire (fn. 28)
the manors of Westwood, Brompton, and Lea,
making in all 89½ hides. In 1093 Abbot Serlo
regained the manor of Nympsfield. (fn. 29) In 1095,
with the aid of the king, he compelled Thomas,
archbishop of York, to restore all the lands at
Leach, Oddington, Standish, and Barton, (fn. 30) which
had remained in the possession of the see of
York since 1058, when Aldred seized them.
William the Conqueror gave the convent the
manor of Barnwood (fn. 31) and the church of St.
Peter Mancroft at Norwich. (fn. 32) When William II
lay sick at Gloucester in 1093, he gave the
church of St. Gundelay at Newport and fifteen
hides. (fn. 33) Henry I granted the manor of Maisemore in 1101. (fn. 34) Lands and churches in the
marches in Wales were lavishly presented by
Norman lords; in 1088 Bernard of Newmarch
gave the manor of Glasbury and the church of
Cowarne; (fn. 35) Robert Fitzhamon granted the
church of Lancarvan and fifteen hides at
Penhow. (fn. 36) In 1100 Harold, lord of Ewyas,
founded and endowed the cell of Ewyas in
Herefordshire. (fn. 37) In the following year Hugh de
Lacy gave the collegiate church of St. Peter at
Hereford. (fn. 38) The church of St. Martin in the
Vintry, London, was the gift of Ralph Peverel. (fn. 39)
The number of monks increased rapidly, and in
1104 was said to have reached 100. (fn. 40) However,
in a charter granted by Samson, bishop of
Worcester, on 23 July, 1100, he expressly
stated that Serlo had gathered around him more
than sixty monks, and that the possessions of the
house scarcely sufficed to provide for them. (fn. 41)
In 1089 (fn. 42) the foundation-stone was laid of a
new church which was dedicated on 13 July,
1100, with great pomp by Samson, bishop of
Worcester, Gundulf, bishop of Rochester, and
Hervey, bishop of Bangor. (fn. 43) Two years later
the building suffered some damage by fire. (fn. 44) On
the death of Serlo in 1104, Prior Peter became
abbot. (fn. 45) Building and the acquisition of property
continued, and Henry I gave the manor of
Abload and Paygrove Wood in exchange for some
land in Gloucester on which the castle was
built. (fn. 46) Learning flourished, Abbot Peter had
long been an earnest student of the Scriptures,
and he gave many books to the library. (fn. 47) In
1122, during the rule of his successor, William
Godemon, the monastery suffered serious damage
by fire. (fn. 48) The convent appears to have already
enjoyed the privilege of freedom of election, (fn. 49)
and in 1130, Walter de Lacy, who had entered
the monastery under Abbot Peter at the age of
seven, was unanimously chosen. (fn. 50) On his death
in 1139 the monks elected Gilbert Folliot, a
monk of Cluny, (fn. 51) and when he was promoted to
the see of Hereford in 1148, their choice fell
on the sub-prior Hamelin. (fn. 52) Under these three
abbots the possessions of the house continued to
increase very rapidly. In 1134 the cell of
Kilpeck, in Herefordshire, was founded and
endowed by Hugh Fitzwilliam. (fn. 53) In 1135,
Robert Curthose, a former benefactor, (fn. 54) received
honourable burial within the church. (fn. 55) To find
a light at the high altar for his brother's soul,
Henry I gave the manor of Rodley, with a wood
and fishery. (fn. 56) Robert, earl of Gloucester
(ob. 1146), gave lands at Tregoff and Penhow in
Glamorganshire. (fn. 57) The dependent priory of St.
Guthlac at Hereford was founded between 1139
and 1148, with the aid of the bishop, Robert de
Bethune. (fn. 58)
In 1141 Maurice of London founded and
endowed the cell of Ewenny in Glamorganshire. (fn. 59) In 1144 the lands at Glasbury were
exchanged for the manor of Eastleach. (fn. 60) In
1146 the college of secular canons at Stanley
St. Leonard was given to the monastery by
Roger of Berkeley III, with the consent of the
prior and canons, and became another cell. (fn. 61)
In 1155 the secular canons of Bromfield in
Shropshire surrendered their collegiate church to
the monastery, (fn. 62) and themselves became Benedictines in the new cell. The old claim of the
see of York to the manors which had been surrendered by Archbishop Thomas in 1095, was
again put forward by Archbishop Roger. After
a journey to the papal court, Abbot Hamelin
made a final settlement by granting Oddington,
Condicote, and Cherdington to the archbishop. (fn. 63)
In spite, or perhaps on account of the very
rapid expansion, there are indications of that
financial embarrassment which becomes so
marked a feature in the history of the monastery
in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The
revenues were very large, but they frequently
proved insufficient. In 1146, for a loan of £80,
the abbot and convent handed over the manor of
Tregoff, their land at Penhow, and the church
of Lancarvan to Robert Fitzharding for a term
of five years. (fn. 64) If they were able to repay him
before the time had expired, he undertook to
restore the property at once. The intellectual
condition of the monastery was flourishing. Of
the monks who are known to have added their
works to the library, Benedict (fn. 65) wrote a life of
St. Dubricius about 1130, and Osbern was conspicuous among his contemporaries for his knowledge of philosophy and theology. (fn. 66) The letters
of Gilbert Folliot bear witness to his reputation
for elegant scholarship and wisdom. (fn. 67)
He assigned the church of Glasbury, the
tithes of Talgarth and those from the lordship
of Brecon to the precentor to find parchment
and ink to increase the library.
Between 1163 and 1179 one of the western
towers fell while Roger, bishop of Worcester,
was celebrating mass, and although the church
was thronged with people they all escaped unhurt. (fn. 68) In 1168 the ritual murder of a boy
named Harold was attributed to the Jews of
Gloucester. (fn. 69) Abbot Hamelin and the monks
gave the body honourable burial in their
church.
The house suffered severely from the financial
extortions of John. The chalices and silver
vessels had been sold for Richard I's ransom in
1194, (fn. 70) and other chalices were sold to meet the
king's demands in 1210. (fn. 71) On 28 October,
1216, Henry III, then a boy of nine years old,
was crowned king of England by Guala, the
papal legate, and other bishops, in the great
church of the monastery. (fn. 72) A market in the
manor of Northleach was granted by Henry III
in 1222, (fn. 73) and in 1227 a fair on the vigil, feast,
and morrow of St. Peter and St. Paul. (fn. 74) The
church of Frocester was appropriated to the
house by William of Blois, bishop of Worcester,
in 1225; (fn. 75) in 1231 20 marks out of the revenues
of the church of Newport were assigned to
provide wine for the convent. (fn. 76) Some of the
monastic offices were destroyed in a fire which
did much damage in the town in 1222. (fn. 77)
Building continued steadily. The central tower
was erected under the supervision of Elias
the sacrist about 1222; (fn. 78) he also made the
monks' stalls and constructed an aqueduct. (fn. 79) In
1232 Henry III granted 100 oaks in the forest
of Dean for the work of the church; (fn. 80) in the
following year he gave ten, (fn. 81) and in 1234 he
allowed the abbot to have a horse going to the
forest to fetch dead wood to his mill at Rodley,
to melt lead for the roof of the church of the
monastery, every day from the Feast of the Purification until three weeks after Easter. (fn. 82) In
1227 the Lady chapel, which had been built and
endowed by a benefactor named Ralph de
Wilington, was completed. (fn. 83) The church was
dedicated in 1239 by Walter Cantilupe, bishop
of Worcester. (fn. 84)
In 1242 the vaulting of the nave, which,
possibly from poverty, had been undertaken by
the monks themselves, was finished. (fn. 85) The southwest tower was begun immediately and completed within a few years. (fn. 86)
Yet there are indications of mismanagement
and lack of order. In 1239 the convent vainly
attempted to deny the right of visitation to the
bishop of Worcester, (fn. 87) and when Walter Cantilupe exercised that right in 1242 he removed
the prior and other obedientiars from office. (fn. 88)
Under the rule of John de Felda (1243-63) the
monastery became heavily in debt. The exactions of both crown and papacy were felt as a
very serious burden by most of the religious
houses during those years, but building and the
acquisition of land were probably responsible for
financial difficulties. In 1246 the old frater
was pulled down and a new one was begun. (fn. 89)
Five years later the house owed 3,000 marks,
and the abbot and convent were in such straits that
they appealed to Bishop Cantilupe for help, (fn. 90) and
he forbade the reception and entertainment of
guests. Nevertheless in 1260 the abbot purchased
from Laurence de Chandos 55 acres of arable
land in Brockworth, 40 acres of meadow, and
Buckholt Wood, covering 300 acres. (fn. 91) John de
Felda's successor, Reginald de Homme, found a
debt of 1500 marks in 1263. (fn. 92) In 1271 John
de Breton, bishop of Hereford, allowed the
abbot and convent to appropriate the church of
Great Cowarne, (fn. 93) but the abbot's difficulties were
so great that in 1272 he appealed to the crown.
On 24 January, 1273, until the king should
arrive in England, Reginald de Akele was given
the custody of the monastery, which was reported
to be decayed. (fn. 94) As was usual in such commissions he doubtless received the whole of the
revenues, made provision for the abbot and convent and such servants as were necessary, and
used the remainder to pay off the debts. However, on the accession of John de Gamages in
1284 the house was again in debt to the amount
of 1,000 marks. (fn. 95)
The most interesting event in the abbacy of
Reginald de Homme was the foundation in
1283 of a college at Oxford for monks of
Gloucester by John Giffard, lord of Brimpsfield. (fn. 96)
It bore the name of Gloucester Hall, but within
a few years other Benedictine monasteries began
to send students there and to have their own
lodging within the college. (fn. 97) In 1298 William
de Brok, a monk of Gloucester, was the first
Benedictine to gain the degree of doctor in
theology. The day of his inception, 11 June,
was made the occason of a great gathering of
Benedictines at the college. (fn. 98)
Fifty monks, including the priors of the cells,
took part in the election of John de Gamages in
1284. (fn. 99) As prior, first of Ewenny, (fn. 100) and afterwards of St. Guthlac's, Hereford, (fn. 101) he had already
gained some profitable experience of administration, and during the twenty-two years of his
rule he effected many reforms. The life and
management of the monastery satisfied even so
stern a visitor as Giffard, bishop of Worcester,
had shown himself to be elsewhere. The
injunctions (fn. 102) sent in 1301 by Winchelsey, archbishop of Canterbury after his metropolitical
visitation were in great part a confirmation,
on the petition of the abbot and convent, of
ordinances which they had made. In accordance with these, no one might henceforth
become a monk, unless he were whole in
body and mind, lettered and skilled in song, and
of tried character. The abbot's household was
strictly limited at home and when he went
abroad, and he was not allowed to hold property
of his own. The common seal could only be
used in the presence of the greater or wiser part
of the chapter. The duties of the chamberlain
in providing clothes were carefully defined. No
pensions or liveries might be granted except for
the manifest use of the house and then only
with the consent of the bishop of the diocese.
No obedientiar might sell lands or grant corrodies,
and thus burden his office, without the knowledge of the abbot and the consent of the
chapter. Among the injunctions added by the
archbishop was one for a strict yearly audit of
the accounts of bailiffs of manors and of the
obedientiars of the monastery. He limited the
number of dogs kept for the chase, forbade the
monks to play draughts, practise the use of the
bow, or to enter alone any house in Gloucester
or to wander about the countryside.
Owing to the abbot's watchful care, the
manors were well stocked and profitable. (fn. 103) The
number of sheep was increased to 10,000, and
in one year 46 sacks of wool were sold, realizing
probably over 550 marks. (fn. 104) More land was purchased in the manor of Upton, much building
went on in the different manors, and included
the abbot's chamber at Hartpury, the great
granary at Frocester, and new houses at
Upleadon. (fn. 105) Abbot John de Gamages' gifts to
the church included plate and vestments, and
an altar in honour of St. Paul was dedicated in
1306. (fn. 106) Among the books which de Gamages
added to the library was a 'Legenda Sanctorum'
and a cartulary. (fn. 107) It was during his rule that
Robert of Gloucester compiled a chronicle in
English verse of over 12,000 lines. (fn. 108) He wrote
the praises of England as the best of all lands, (fn. 109)
and desired that English should be spoken by
great folk as well as by low-born men. (fn. 110)
Abbot John de Gamages remembered the loss and
damage when the escheators held the lands of
the house in the vacancy before his accession, (fn. 111)
and in 1306 he obtained from Edward I a concession to the prior and convent to retain the
custody of the monastery lands during each
successive voidance on condition that they rendered 200 marks for four months, and if it lasted
longer, a further payment at the same rate. (fn. 112)
The first dispute with the prior of Worcester,
who claimed the right of visitation of the diocese
during a vacancy of the see, took place during
the abbacy of John de Gamages. On 15 March,
1302, the prior appeared before the gates of the
monastery and was refused admittance, (fn. 113) because
the house had been visited twice within a year
by Bishop Giffard and Archbishop Winchelsey.
The prior excommunicated the abbot and convent. (fn. 114) They at once appealed to Winchelsey,
archbishop of Canterbury, against the sentence,
and the prior petitioned for the preservation of
his lawful jurisdiction. The prior cited the
abbot to appear before him on 21 March, 1302,
in the parish church of Winchcombe, but as
he did not come he was declared contumacious.
However, the official of the archbishop intervened, inhibited the prior from taking any further
proceedings, and summoned him to appear
before the Court of Arches. In July he was
compelled to absolve the abbot and convent
from the sentence of excommunication.
The quarrel was renewed during the next
vacancy of the see. (fn. 115) On 20 March, 1308, the
prior of Worcester wrote to inform Abbot Thoky
that he should visit Gloucester on the vigil of
Palm Sunday. The abbot refused to admit the
prior, and the controversy continued till 1309,
when Winchelsey proposed to arbitrate, and both
parties consented. His decision was that the
priors of Worcester had had, and ought to have,
the right of visiting the monastery of St. Peter
at Gloucester. In spite of this award, the abbot
and convent offered resistance at the next
vacancy, and in December, 1313, Thoky and
eleven of the great officers were excommunicated. (fn. 116) However, in 1317 the prior of
Worcester's claims were admitted, (fn. 117) and no further
controversy was raised during later vacancies.
The most interesting feature of the history of
the monastery throughout the fourteenth century
is the continuance of the building, which only
falls within the scope of this article in so far as
it throws light on the financial position of the
house. Abbot Thoky continued the policy of
his predecessors, and of him, too, the chronicler
wrote: 'He obtained many good things in
building and other ornaments' for the church. (fn. 118)
On the feast of the Epiphany, 1300, a fire
which began in a timbered house in the great
court spread to the small bell-tower, the
great camera, and the cloister. (fn. 119) The dorter
suffered some damage; in 1303 it was pulled
down to build a new one, which was not finished
till 1313. (fn. 120) About 1318 the south aisle was
rebuilt at great cost. (fn. 121) It was most probably in
aid of the expenses that, in 1318, the abbot and
convent sought to obtain from Cobham, bishop
of Worcester, the appropriation of the church
of South Cerney, urging that they were oppressed
by grievous burdens, and that ruin threatened
the fabric of their church. (fn. 122) The bishop ordered
an inquisition. (fn. 123) The administration of the house
was known to be unsatisfactory, and after the
visitation, during the vacancy of the see in
1317, the prior of Worcester issued letters of
absolution to Abbot Thoky, who was found to
have transgressed certain rules, and especially the
injunctions of Robert Winchelsey, archbishop
of Canterbury. (fn. 124) On 18 March, 1318, Bishop
Cobham wrote to remind the abbot that he had
already bidden him to desist from wasting the
goods of the house, and to compel others to
refrain also. (fn. 125) Nevertheless, the abbot retained
Walter de la Hurst as cellarer, who had already
entirely cut down the woods of Littleton and
Linkenholt in Hampshire, and was now felling
those of Hope Mansel and Birdwood in Herefordshire. There can be no doubt that the
maintenance of lavish hospitality was a serious
drain on the finances of the house, and it would
be felt chiefly by the office of the cellarer.
However, in 1323 the bishop was satisfied, and
effected the appropriation of South Cerney. (fn. 126) A
new and important source of revenue was obtained in 1327. After the murder of Edward II
at Berkeley Castle, the abbots of Bristol, Kingswood, and Malmesbury feared the vengeance of
Roger Mortimer and Queen Isabella if they gave
the king burial in any one of their churches. (fn. 127)
Edward II was well known to Abbot Thoky,
who had entertained him sumptuously at
Gloucester, and he sent an escort to Berkeley
to bring the body of the king to Gloucester,
where it was buried with great honour near the
high altar on the north side of the choir. It is
somewhat strange, after the misgovernance of
the king and the general unrest throughout the
country during his reign, that his tomb became
immediately an object of pilgrimage. According
to the chronicler, the crowds which flocked thither
were so great that the town of Gloucester could
scarcely contain them. (fn. 128) Moreover, the offerings
were so numerous and costly that the new work
in the south transept was completed in 1335.
The offerings at the tomb also paid for the
vaulting of the choir in the time of Adam of
Staunton. (fn. 129) In consideration of the great expenses incurred at the funeral of his father,
Edward III granted many privileges to the
monastery. In 1328 he diminished the payment
to the crown during each voidance of the abbey,
fixing it at the rate of £100 a year. (fn. 130) At the
same time he also granted a licence to appropriate
the churches of Chipping Norton, Cam, and
Wyrardisbury. (fn. 131) These were not effected for some
time, and in 1345, in exchange for the advowson
of Wyrardisbury, Edward III granted the manor
of King's Barton by Gloucester, the weir of
Minsterworth, and half the weir of Duneye at a
fee farm rent of £48 a year. (fn. 132) In 1336 he
granted the hundred of Dodeston for a fee farm
rent of £12 a year. (fn. 133)
The manor of Standish, which had been
given to St. Peter's by Bernulph, king of the
Mercians, when he founded a college of secular
priests, (fn. 134) had from an early date been assigned to
charity. In 1202 Mauger, bishop of Worcester,
made an ordinance that it should be restored to
the use of the poor, except in case of great
necessity, and that the revenues should be administered for them by the almoner. (fn. 135) In 1301
Winchelsey, archbishop of Canterbury, issued
an injunction that the poor should not be defrauded of the profits of the manor. (fn. 136) In 1346
Wulstan de Bransford was compelled to intervene
again on their behalf. (fn. 137) In 1535, according to
his ordinance, as much as £92 was distributed
to the poor from the issues of the manor of
Standish, (fn. 138) over and above other regular alms.
It is not easy to discover the mortality from
the Black Death. In 1339 the number of the
monks was forty-six, (fn. 139) in 1351 it was only thirtysix, (fn. 140) but during the abbacy of John Boyfield
(1377-81) there were fifty-four monks, (fn. 141) so the
numbers suffered no permanent diminution. The
register of Thoresby, bishop of Worcester, bears
witness to serious internal discord in 1350. The
custom, or, as the bishop termed it, corruption,
had grown up of allowing the monks so much
a year for their food and clothes. (fn. 142) In 1350
Abbot Staunton experienced some difficulty in
carrying on the administration of the house,
the revenues being seriously diminished. Accordingly he abolished this custom, and provided the
food and clothing. Although his object was
evidently to economize, for he had been obliged
to borrow money, the monks complained to
the bishop of his action as an infringement of
their privileges. However, the abbot seems to
have effected his purpose, for on his death in
1351 he left the house free of debt and with
1,000 marks in the treasury. (fn. 143)
During the abbacy of Thomas Horton between 1368 and 1374, the new work in the
north transept was completed at a total cost
of £581 0s. 2d., out of which the abbot contributed no less than £444 0s. 2d. (fn. 144) Further
building was undertaken; (fn. 145) vestments, silver
vessels, and candlesticks were among his gifts,
and at his own cost he purchased the tenement
of Le Wast near Lettrington, and defrayed the
expenses of the appropriation of Cam, which,
although sanctioned by Edward III in 1328,
had not as yet been effected. It became more
and more necessary to make out a good case to
induce bishops to consent to the appropriation of
churches by religious houses, and the petition of
the abbot and convent to Brian, bishop of Worcester, was strongly worded. (fn. 146) They urged that
their buildings within and without the monastery were ruinous and in need of costly repair;
the property in Wales from which they derived the greater part of their food was in the
hands of enemies; their lands were sterile and
numbers of their sheep had died in the pestilence.
These arguments found favour with the bishop
and he allowed the appropriation of Cam.
Abbot Horton proceeded to charge the revenues
of Cam with a provision of cakes, wines, and a
pittance of fruit for the keeping of his anniversary. (fn. 147)
In 1359 the abbot and convent were able to
withdraw their monks from the cell of Ewyas
in Herefordshire, on the plea that its revenues no
longer sufficed for the maintenance even of a
prior. (fn. 148)
The revenues of the house, which under
Abbot Boyfield (1377-81) were said to be
greatly reduced through inundations, pestilences,
and excessive hospitality, amounted to 1,700
marks a year. (fn. 149) There were at that time fiftyfour monks besides the abbot and 200 servants.
The most important event of his rule was the
meeting of Parliament at Gloucester in 1378
from 22 October to 16 November. (fn. 150) Richard
II and the court lodged in the abbeys of Gloucester and Tewkesbury. Parliament met in the
great guest-hall of St. Peter's. The place was
more like a fair than a house of religion, and
games were played on the cloister garth. According to the chronicler Boyfield was a gentle,
simple-minded man, and his enemies gave him
little rest. (fn. 151) He engaged in a dispute with
Wakefield, bishop of Worcester, who is said to
have demanded a sum of money on the resignation of Abbot Horton, and to have defamed the
convent at the papal curia. In spite of the
grant by Edward III of a reduction in the sum
due to the crown during a vacancy, in 1377 the
escheator demanded 200 marks. (fn. 152) A lawsuit
followed, but at length judgement was given in
favour of the abbot and convent. It was probably in consequence of these troubles, that, when
Abbot Walter Froucester succeeded in 1381, he
found a debt of 8,000 florins, (fn. 153) but under his
rule the monastery recovered its prosperity. (fn. 154)
The cloisters which had been begun by Abbot
Horton were completed, much rebuilding took
place on the manors, and they were well stocked
with cattle and sheep. He pursued a very deliberate policy of increasing the rental of the
house by appropriating churches. Richard II
and John of Gaunt supported the petition of the
abbot and convent to Urban VI in which they
asked to be allowed to appropriate the vicarage of
St. Mary de Lode, and to serve the church by one
of their own number or a secular clerk removable at will. (fn. 155) They urged that 1,700 marks a
year was not sufficient to maintain forty-four monks
and 200 servants, and to meet other charges.
After an inquiry which Urban VI directed the
abbot of Winchcombe to hold, the appropriation
was effected. On 30 June, 1391 he also consented to the appropriation of the parish church
of Chipping Norton, which was worth 70 marks
a year. (fn. 156) It was urged that the convent was
obliged to maintain three or four monks at Gloucester Hall in Oxford, and furnish them each
with 15 marks a year, which they then had
difficulty in doing. (fn. 157) On 30 April, 1391,
Richard II granted the advowson of the church
of Holy Trinity, Gloucester, with the chapel of
St. Mary, Grasslane, to the abbot and convent. (fn. 158)
According to the petition to Boniface IX, the
revenues of the convent had then reached 2,000
marks. (fn. 159) However, owing to representations
which were made to him in 1402 he insisted
that vicarages should be created. (fn. 160) Boniface IX
also granted to Walter Froucester the privileges
of a mitred abbot. (fn. 161) During his rule the muniments of the house, which were kept in the
treasury, (fn. 162) appear to have been set in order. It
was probably by his wish and influence that one
of the monks compiled the chronicle which
briefly relates the lives and good deeds of the
abbots, concluding with Walter Froucester. (fn. 163)
Several registers were compiled by him, and of
these two have survived. (fn. 164) One of them contains a collection of royal charters and a series
of documents referring to churches appropriated
to the monastery. (fn. 165) The other, which was compiled in 1393, contains documents arranged in distinct sections, concerning the property of ten of the
officers of the house, viz.: of the sacrist, almoner,
hostiller, sub-almoner, master of the works,
chamberlain, masters of the frater, the farmery,
and Lady Chapel, and precentor. (fn. 166) The office of
master of the works existed under Abbot Henry
Foliot (1228-43), (fn. 167) it was perhaps created by
him after the death of Elias, the sacrist, in 1237. (fn. 168)
A register of the property of the common fund
of the convent, which was administered by
treasurers or receivers, (fn. 169) seems also to have
been compiled at this time. (fn. 170) The other officers of
the house, who are known to have held property (fn. 171)
are the prior, kitchener, custos or master of the
churches, and master or monk of the town. A
document which may probably be assigned to
the first half of the fourteenth century shows
the relative value of the property held by each
of these officers at a time when the total revenue
of the monastery amounted to £1,623 16s. 4d. (fn. 172)
It is interesting to note that at Gloucester the
common fund was large, its income being nearly
£830. The abbot's personal income was only
£10. In view of the great expenditure of
Abbot Horton, it may perhaps be concluded
that he appropriated the offerings at the tomb
of Edward II to his office, or that he got a
larger share of the common fund. The
separate income of the abbot, though usual in
Benedictine houses, was contrary to the injunction of Winchelsey, archbishop of Canterbury
of 1301.
The fifteenth century is almost barren of
interest save in the continuance of the building.
The west front was the work of Abbot Morwent
(1420-37) (fn. 173) the rebuilding of the central tower
was begun by Abbot Sebroke (1450-7) (fn. 174) and
finished after his death by a monk named Tully.
The Lady chapel was built during the rule of
Richard Hauley (1457-72) and William Farley
(1472-98). (fn. 175) In 1428 the cell of Kilpeck
was united to the mother house by Thomas
Spofford, bishop of Hereford. (fn. 176) When Thomas
Polton, bishop of Worcester, visited the
monastery early in 1429 he was extremely dissatisfied with its condition; pressure of other
business apparently compelled him to depart in
some haste, and he appointed a commissioner to
conclude his work. (fn. 177) Abbot Boulers (1437-50)
was a shrewd man of affairs and was sent on an
embassy to Rome in 1449, when the convent
allowed him £400 for his expenses. (fn. 178) In 1450
he was seized by Richard, duke of York, and
imprisoned for a time in Ludlow Castle. In
that year he was promoted to the bishopric of
Hereford; in 1453 he was transferred to Lichfield, and shortly before his death in 1459 he
willed his books to the library at Gloucester.
In 1484 Richard III granted in mortmain to
Abbot Farley £20 a year, the reduced fee farm
payable by the burgesses of Gloucester. (fn. 179)
At the elections of the Abbots Braunche and
Newton, there were hot disputes in the monastery. Matters reached such a pass that in 1500,
and again in 1510, the king issued a mandate to
the prior to maintain order. (fn. 180) In 1510 there
were forty-eight monks in the house, two who
were scholars at Oxford, and fifteen who were
at the four cells. (fn. 181) All these assembled to elect
an abbot, and the choice of the majority fell on
John Newton, a bachelor of divinity, then prior
of St. Guthlac's, Hereford, but sixteen voted
for John Huntley, the cellarer, and appealed to
the bishop of Worcester. However, Newton
was declared elected. On his death four years
later William Malvern or Parker, also an Oxford
scholar, who had taken the degree of bachelor
of divinity, was peacefully chosen. (fn. 182) The
registers of the last three abbots have survived, (fn. 183)
and relate chiefly to the granting of leases and
presentations to livings. The manumission of
bondmen occurs not infrequently, and corrodies
were granted to faithful servants. In 1507 a
doctor entered into a contract to live in the
monastery and give his services; he was allowed
to go away and see his friends for a week in
each quarter. (fn. 184) In 1515 an annuity was granted
to John Tucke, a bachelor of arts, in exchange
for his services as master of the grammar school
and of the song school. (fn. 185) He was appointed
to instruct in grammar the younger monks,
thirteen boys of the almonry, and five or six
boys who 'were apt in learning to sing.'
A special building in the monastery was set
apart and known as the schoolhouse in or
before 1378. (fn. 186)
In 1516 Abbot Parker made a fresh provision
for the distribution of a portion of the alms,
which were charged on the manor of Standish.
In accordance with the ordinance made by
Bishop Wulstan de Bransford in 1346 it was usual
every year to give away corn, gowns, and money
within the monastery. These occasions were
marked by much unseemly behaviour, 'brawling,
swearing, blaspheming, and fighting,' 'sick and
unthrifty persons' resorted thither to the great
disquiet of the monastery. (fn. 187) As a remedy the
abbot and chapter founded a fraternity of the
Holy Cross of thirteen poor and honest men to
be called Peter's men, who were to be supported
chiefly out of the alms from Standish. They
were to be chosen from among the fathers and
brethren of the monks, servants who had spent
their youth in true service to the house, or from
impoverished and decayed tenants, preferably
those of Standish.
The acknowledgement of the royal supremacy
was signed by the abbot and thirty-five monks,
31 August, 1534. (fn. 188) In 1538 Henry VIII sent
an imperative request to the abbot and convent
to recall the prior and monks from the cell of
Stanley St. Leonard and grant a lease thereof to
Sir William Kingston. They had no choice
but to comply. (fn. 189) In 1539 Abbot Malvern died. (fn. 190)
The monasteries were being surrendered everywhere. On 9 June, 1539, the prior, Gabriel
Morton, wrote in the name of the convent to
notify the abbot's death to Cromwell and to ask
how to proceed in petitioning for a new election. (fn. 191) No reply seems to have been vouchsafed.
On 2 January, 1540, the monastery with its
cells was surrendered, (fn. 192) and the prior was discharged with a pension of £20. The receiver
had the same amount, and twelve other monks
had pensions varying from £10 to £5. (fn. 193) Other
monks and some of the servants of the house
who were left at the monastery under the charge
of Thomas Bisley, late prior of St. Guthlac's until
a scheme should be framed for a bishopric, also
received pensions. (fn. 194)
The clear yearly value of the property of the
monastery in 1535 amounted to £1,430 4s. 3d.,
and including the four cells of Stanley St.
Leonard, Ewenny, St. Guthlac's, Hereford, and
Bromfield, £1,846 5s. 9d. (fn. 195)
The possessions of the monastery included
rents and tenements in Gloucester of the value
of over £150 a year, the manors of Tuffley,
Hartpury, Maisemore, Highnam, Droiscote, a
third of Lassington, Abload, Barnwood, Brookthorpe, and Harescombe, Abbot's Barton, Matson, Wotton, Longford, Upton, Preston, King's
Barton, the hundred of Dodeston, the manors of
Boxwell and Leighterton, Frocester, Rudge and
Farley, Upleadon and Highleadon, Cubberley,
the borough and manor of Northleach and
Eastington, the manors of Aldsworth, Coln
Rogers, Coln St. Aldwyn, Eastleach, Ampney
St. Peter, Duntisbourne, Buckland and Staverton,
Hinton, Clifford, Standish, Churcham, Rudford,
and Rodley in Gloucestershire; in Hampshire
the manors of Linkenholt and Littleton; in
Herefordshire of Hope Mansel, Brompton,
Monkhide, Ullingswick, Dewchurch and Kilpeck; in Glamorganshire of Tregoff; and the
rectories of St. Mary de Lode, Holy Trinity
with the chapel of Grasslane in Gloucester,
Hartpury, Maisemore, Barnwood, Frocester,
Northleach, Coln St. Aldwyn, Kempsford,
South Cerney, Standish, Churcham, Cowarne,
Tregoff, Glasbury and Devennock, Newport
and Chipping Norton, besides pensions and
charges. (fn. 196)
Abbots of Gloucester. (fn. 197)
Edric, 1022
Wilstan, 1058
Serlo, 1072
Peter, 1104
William Godemon, 1113
Walter de Lacy, 1130
Gilbert Folliot, 1139
Hamelin, 1148
Thomas, 1179
Henry Blunt, 1205
Thomas of Bredon, 1223
Henry Foliot, 1228
John de Felda, 1243
Reginald de Homme, 1263
John de Gamages, 1284
John Thoky, 1306
John Wygmore, 1328
Adam of Staunton, 1337
Thomas Horton, 1351
John Boyfeld, 1377
Walter Froucester, 1381
Hugh of Morton, 1412
John Morwent, 1420
Reginald Boulers, 1437
Thomas Sebroke, 1450
Richard Hauley, 1457
William Farley, 1472
John Malvern, 1498
Thomas Braunche, 1500
John Newton, 1510
William Parker or Malvern, 1514
Deans of Gloucester (fn. 198)
William Jennings, prior of St. Oswald's,
Gloucester, 1541
John Man, warden of Merton College,
Oxford, 1566
Thomas Cowper, 1569
Lawrence Humphrey, 1571
Anthony Rudd, 1585
Griffith Lewis, 1594
Thomas Moreton, 1607
Richard Field, 1609
William Laud, 1616
Richard Senhouse, 1621
Thomas Winniffe, 1624
George Warburton, 1631
Accepted Frewen, 1631
William Brough, 1643
Thomas Vyner, 1671
Robert Frampton, 1673
Thomas Marshall, 1681
William Jane, 1685
Knightly Chetwood, 1707
John Waugh, 1720
John Frankland, 1723
Peter Allix, 1729
Daniel Newcombe, 1730
Josiah Tucker, 1758
John Luxmoore, 1800
John Plumbtree, 1808
Edward Rice, 1825
Henry Law, 1862
H. D. M. Spence, 1886
A seal of the fifteenth century represents St.
Peter seated in a carved gothic niche with a
crocketed canopy and tabernacle work at the
sides; on his head a triple crown, in his right
hand a crozier, in the left two keys; in base a
shield of arms, two keys in saltire, wards upwards, over all a sword of St. Paul in pale, hilt
downwards. (fn. 199) The legend is:—
SIGILLUM . COMMUNE . MON. . . . SANCTI .
PETRI . GLOUCESTRIE.
The private seal of Abbot Staunton represents
the abbot standing on a carved corbel in a
niche; in his right hand a pastoral staff, in his
left a book. (fn. 200)