Monasticism in Late Medieval England, C.1300-1535 Book

Series editor's foreword xi

Preface and acknowledgements xiii

Introduction: Monasticism in late medieval England, c. 1300-1535 1

Part 1 monastic life in late medieval England 6

Part 2 monasteries and the world 37

Part 1 Monastic Life in Late Medieval England 75

I The essence of the monastic life: the Benedictine Rule 77

1 Extracts from the Rule 77

II Recruitment and economy 81

2 The recruitment of monks to Canterbury Cathedral Priory, 1330 81

3 The ordination and profession of Benedictine nuns 83

4 The estates of Meaux Abbey in the late fourteenth century 86

5 The lease of a rectory, a close and a manor by Oseney Abbey, 1474 88

III Everyday life and administration 92

6 An account from the nunnery of St Radegund, Cambridge, 1481/82 92

7 An account from Yarmouth Priory, 1496/97 96

8 Pocket money and recreation at Eynsham Abbey, c. 1403/4 101

9 Carthusian life in late medieval England: the inventory of Thomas Golwynne, 1520 104

10 Administration in a late medieval nunnery: the cellaress of Barking 106

11 The role and status of the monastic superior: the Barnwell Observances 112

IV Buildings and adornment 115

12 The buildings of Wilberfoss Priory, c. 1539 115

13 Construction and adornment at St Albans Abbey, 1420-40 118

14 Building at late medieval Glastonbury Abbey 121

15 A Venetian observer's impressions of English monasteries, c. 1500 123

V Reform and visitation 125

16 The Cistercians and women: access to Kirkstall Abbey church 125

17 The Benedictine response to the proposed reforms of Cardinal Wolsey, 1520 126

18 The visitation of St Helen's Bishopsgate, 1439 128

19 The visitations of Cockersand Abbey, Apriland December 1488 131

VI Liturgy and spirituality 135

20 The provision for the liturgy of the Augustinian canons: Wolsey's reforming statutes, 1519 135

21 Public liturgy in a monastic church: the Rites of Durham 137

22 The spirituality and asceticism of Abbot Thomas de la Mare 159

23 Carthusian spirituality and sanctity: Dom John Homersley of the London Charterhouse 141

24 Monastic devotion at Godstow and Missenden 144

VII Learning 147

25 Benedictine constitutions for university study, 1363 147

26 Learning in the cloister: Winchcombe Abbey under Richard Kidderminster 150

27 The preface to Bishop Fox's translation of the Benedictine Rule, 1517 151

Part 2 Monasteries and the World 153

VIII Monastic foundation and suppression in the later middle ages 155

28 The foundation statutes of Maxstoke Priory, 1337 155

29 The endowment of the London Charterhouse 160

3O A petition for the confiscation of alien priory property, 1414 164

31 The closure of St Radegund's Priory, Cambridge, 1496 166

IX Patronage 169

32 The induction of new patrons at Marrick Priory 169

33 The founders' chronicle of Tewkesbury Abbey 171

34 Durham Cathedral Priory and Sir Robert Ogle: the exchange of patronage between monastery and aristocracy 174

35 An unheralded benefactor of Hatfield Regis Priory, 1329 175

X The religious services of late medieval monasteries 178

36 Testamentary bequests to late medieval monasteries 178

37 A letter of confraternity from Hailes Abbey 181

38 Entrants into the confraternity of St Albans Abbey in the 1420s 182

39 A prohibited saint cult at Frithelstock Priory, 1351-52 186

XI The social services of late medieval monasteries 189

40 Monastic hospitality: Henry VI's visit to Bury St Edmunds Abbey, 1433-34 189

41 The education of Bridget Plantagenet at St Mary's Abbey, Winchester 193

42 The appointment of a schoolmaster at Llanthony Secunda Priory, 1502 195

43 The reconfiguration of monastic charity at Gloucester Abbey, 1516 196

XII Relations with lay neighbours 201

44 The monastery as employer: the household list of Butley Priory, 538 201

45 Crowland Abbey and its neighbours 204

46 An agreement between Reading Abbey and town, 1507 207

47 The dispute over Wymondham Church, 1409-10 211

XIII Criticism of the monastic life 213

48 William Langland, The Vision of Piers Plowman 213

49 The Order of Brothelyngbam, 1348 216

50 The Lollard Disendowment Bill, 1410 217

51 Desiderius Erasmus, the letter to Abbot Paul Volz 220

52 An evangelical attack on monasteries: Rede Me and Be Nott Wrothe 223

XIV Monasteries and the Crown 228

53 The new privileges of the abbots of Tavistock 228

54 Lay interference in monastic affairs: the abbot of Faversham's reply to Thomas Cromwell, 1536 230

55 Plans for monastic reform, 1529 233

References for printed works cited 236

Index 245