Contents of the fikst volume

2 William de Brooke, a Benedictine, had taken his doctor's degree, with great magnificence, in 1298, a little before

this time. "Wood, Hist, et Antiq. Univ. Oxon. lib. i. p. 24. With whatever credit to himself Worsley had performed

his exercises, the abbot's slender remittances would be very inadequate to the expensive feastings formerly used on

those occasions. For which see Wood, ibid.

3 Cauda, i. e. the address.
4 Nonnus was a title of reverence whose origin and etymology are very uncertain. Juniores, autem Priores suos

Nonnos vocant quod intelligitur paterna reverentia. Reg. Sc'i Benedicti, cap. 62, ap. Du Cange, in voce. From the

feminine Nonna, which is used by St. Jerome in Ep. ad Eustochium, is undoubtedly derived the word nun.
5 Pollards and Crokards were a base coinage cried down in 1299, about the date of this letter. See Matthew

of Westminster in that year, and Spelman's Gloss, voce Pollard.

150 HISTORY OF WHALLEY. [Boon II. CHAP. II.

domi non erant ; de iis tamen in posterum sis securus, nee te moveat quod plures sterl. non mittimus ut rogasti,

quia re vera & tempore recessus tui non increverunt tliesaurariam nostram de nostris receptis v solid, stl.

Mittimus nichilominus per eundem latorem ad opus nonni "W. de B. xx s. quorum medietas est de sterl. et alia

de pollard. Ceterum si possitis agere cum magro H. prece vel precio quod ipse impetraret nobis lieentiam

remanendi 11 Capitulo per literam d ni Cistertiensis quia graviter infirmati fuimus anno isto iiecdum plene

convaluimus, multum ei teneremur, et tue utilitati possemus commodius providere. Vale semper in Xro,

fratre et fili karissime, qui te incolumem custodiat, et spiritu proficere faciat in sanctitatem et viritutem.

The next epistle relates to the oppression which the abbot and his house experienced

from Bishop Langton, who, in addition to his jurisdiction over them as his diocesan, was

now Treasurer of England.

Arcliidiacono pro consilio requirendo.
Vencraudo discrecionis viro et domino in Cliristi visceribus amplectando Magistro R. de R. Arcliidiacono

C[estrensi] suus tocius et semper frater G[regorius] vocatus Abbas de W[halley] id modicum quod est et

quod potest. Quain verum sit illud verbum veritatis in evangelic, In mundo pressuram kabebitis, cotidianis

nostris angustiis experimur. In liujus cnim mundi mari magno flcbiliter fluctuantes dum ad portum

putamus potissime pervenirc, negato rcspiracionis solacio, procb dolor, ab hiis qui passis compati de jure

debucrant repellinrar in profundum. Eccc enim venerabilem patrem Dei permissione C. et L. Episcopum

qucm sccumlo ab urbe redeuntem dum dupliccm nobis gratiam et benedictionem speravimus reportasse, vice

versa duplici nos afflictione fatigat, quia solutis jam cidcin per nos C Marcis de illis Mille in quibus ei tene-

bamur, quas per ministros regies immisericorditer do bonis nostris temporalibus fecit fieri cujuscunque,

cum putaremus ipsum de residue micius acturum imposterum, alteram aciem gladii bisacuti ad ecclesiam

jam convertens, omnia bona nostra ccclesiastica exposuit venditioni prasconizari faciens solempniter in

ceelesiis, comitatu ct mercatis, ut ad ccrtos diem et locum mercatores conveniant empturi de dictis bonis

nostris quod sibi viderint plus valere. Undo cum tarn spiritualia quam temporalia pro prece maxima' sint

exhausta qualitcr nostra simul stabit congregacio pciiitus non videmus et ab invicem discedere seu disper-

tionem facere et maximo in absencia patroni nostri amarissimum arbitramur. Et ob hoc, venerande d ne et

amice, si placet rescribere dignemini per latorem presencium secundum quod vobis videbitur quid nobis in hoc

casu consulcius sit agendum. Et si aliquam vel aliquas do ecclesiis nostris in S. pro liberand. nobis de manu

homicidis ad firmam recipere volucritis vel aliquem amicorum vestrorum noveritis recepturum, adquies-

eimus libentissime quantum sive evidentissimo dampno poterimus vestris beneplacitis et mandatis. Venissemus

vel misissemus ad vos aliquem de nostris super hiis specialiter locuturum si licuisset pre valitudine nisi timuis-

scmus homicidianos ne forte in proprio eorum staret suspicio vel tumultus. Valeat vestra reverenda dilectio.

Salutem in domino Jesu Christo. (Fol. 87.)

The same circumstances drew from the abbot this eloquent and affecting complaint,

addressed to Thomas of Lancaster :

Une Playnte.
A treshonorable home e sun tres cher seingnur en Deu sire Thomas de Lancastre, Frere Gregor' Abbe

de Whall. Salutz, ove touz honurs e reverentes. Pur ceo qe tout nostre refuit e esperaunce de socour en

terre principalment pent en vous sire apres nostre avowe e seingnur le Counte de Nichole, a vous come a

sovereyn ayde terrien mustroms noz grevaunces. Sachez, honure sire, qe nostre Evesque de Cestr' par sun

poer e male volente qil ad eu, ia lungement devers no" a tort, en taunt ad noz grevaunces e ennuys com-

BOOK II. CHAP. II.]

THE ABBEY.

151

passe countre la priere clu Rey, do nostre seingnur le Counte, de vo 8 sire, voz mercy, 1 e des autres plusours

noz amys, e outre mesure tendue e fet no" ad escumeger depecea, e les pluis avaunt de nostre mesun, qe la

deneyent guyer, e apres la sentence, la capcioun sur no s pchase, par vint no 8 ne usoms en les ammones nostre

avowe demorer, ne ne pooms ordre ou religioun garder, ne servise Deu, ou nostre dctte a noz beinfetours

mortz ou vifs rendre, ne autre estat de religioun meyntenir, mes come forbaniz de Countee en Countee fuyr.

Count no s vo s reqeroms cher seingnur pur Deu et pur voz grauntz bounteez qe pite vo s emprenge de no 8 , et

voillez sire quant verrez oure convenable prior nostre seingnur le Rey pur no s , qe il, si li plest, pur lamour le

Counte et vostre priere sire, comaunde estat de Religioun a no s estre grauntee, et alegge noz ennuys auaunt

nomeez jusqe la venue nostre avowe en terre ; kar mout harrioms voider ses ammones pur rien, qe puist

auenir saunz sun comaundement, qe si frauncliement les ad graunte a no s . E sachez sire qo no mye par

nostre defaute no 8 fet nostre Euesque ces tortz et duresces, countre le graunt de la Court de Rome, et countro

les apeaus qe fet avouns a mesmes la Court : mcs pur sa dure volunte deinaunde a queus no 9 ne pooms atteyndre.

Dount, cher sire, pite vo s emprenge. Salutz en Iliesu Crist, qe vo s garde cors et alme e la dame vostre

compayngne, et bone engendrure vos doynt en haste." (Fol. 96.)

Next follows 2 an apology from Abbot Gregory, on the plea of bad health, for not

obeying a summons to parliament ; 3 and an appointment of a proxy :

Excusatio et procuratio ad Parliamentum.
Universis sancte matris ecclesie filiis ad quos prcsentes littere pervenerint Fratcr G. Abbas loci

Benedicti de "Wh. salutem in omnium Salvatore. Quia adversa corporis valetudine ad presens prepcditi,

cum prelatis, magnatibus et patribus regni coram domino Rege in parliamento suo London, sccunda die

dominica quadragesime proximo future ad colloquendum et tractandum super negociis dictum dominum

Regem et regnum contingentibus personaliter intercsse nequimus ; dilectum commonachum nostrum fratrem

E. de R. procuratorem seu excusatorem nostrum ordinamus facimus et constituimus. per prcsontcs : Dantes

eidem potestatem plenariam tractandi et faciendi in dicto negotio omnia quo faccro possemus si nos con-

tingeret personaliter interesse. Ratum habituri et gratum quicquid per eundem nomine nostro, ct com-

munitatem cleri, ac ordinis nostri ibidem coram dicto domino Rege seu quovis locum ipsius tcnentnm fuerit

ordinatum. In cujus rei, etc. Dat. apud locum benedictum dc W. in festo beati Petri in Cathedra, Anno,

etc. (Fol. 119 b.)
The next is a commendatory epistle to the Abbot of Kirkstall, sent with a delinquent

monk. It is accompanied with a kind of pass.

Venerabili in X to Patri et cum omni reverencia nominando domino Abbati de K(irkstall)
suus tocius et semper frater Gr. dictus Abbas Loci Benedicti de Wh. salutcm cum omni reverentia et honore :

Quia ex decreto visitatorum nostrorum lator presentium fr. nomine monachus noster et sacerdos

pene conspiratorum est addictus, et eandcm penitentiam humiliter et devote per annum et amplius jam peregit,

quern salva pace fratrum et ordinis disciplina ad presens in domo nostra retinere non possumus, dilectam pater-

nitatem vestram attencius exoramus, ut eundem cum debita vestium quantitate ad vos missum inter vestros ad

tempus retinere velitis, ordinate tractantes et ab aliis tractari facientes, quousquc licentiam habuerimus

revocandi eundem a Capitulo generali. Ita quod sit ultimus sacerdotum in ecclesia, nee celebret ; omni sexta
1 [Probably a clerical error for " marie " your wife.]
2 [Not so in the MS. volume, for there is an interval of 24 folios.]
3 [This was the Parliament held at London on 6th March, 1300. Seventy-nine abbots, priors, &c. received

summonses : among them the forty- ninth was addressed " Abbati de Stanlow." The writ to the Abbot of St. Augustine

Canterbury is dated " apud Berewycum super Twedam, xxix. die Decembr." Parliamentary Writs, vol. i. p. 84, No. 4.]

152

HISTORY OF WHALLEY.

[BOOK II. CHAP. II.

feria in adventu et quadragesima in pane et aqua pcenitens in capitulo accipiat disciplinam, nisi grandis

solempnitas, vel evidens infirmitas aliquara exegerit dispeusationem. Promitteutes nos vobis vicem similem

rependere, si quod absit casus talem emiserit vel majorem. Valeat vra reverenda paterniias, s. i. d. I. X.

Dat ut in patentibus.
Emissio.
Eeverendo patri in Christo domino venerabili Abbati de Wh. et cetera. Latorem presentium
fratrem R. nomine rotarium strenuum et subtilem conversum domus nostre quern ad presens culpis suis

exigentibus ad pacem quorundem in domo propria retinere non valemus dilecte paternitati vestre cum pleni-

tudine vestium duximus transmittendum : rogantes attencius quatenus eundem in congregatione vestra

ad tempus suscipere et secundum ordinis disciplinam tractare dignemini. Ita quod omni vi ta feria sit

in pane et aqua ct omni capitulo quo interfuerit vapulet usque ad proximam Pascham, et esu carnium careat

per annum, nisi grandis et cetera usque Promittentes quousque mutuo fruamur colloquio vel aliud de eo

vobis direxerimus in mandatis. Valeat et cetera. Dai. ut in patentibus. (Fol. 130 b.)
These arc very curious particulars in the monastic discipline.
Littere Viatice et patentes. 1
Umvcrsis ad quos presentes littere pervenerint Fr. G. dictus abbas Loci Benedict! de Whalley et

ejusdem loci Conventus, salutem in Domino : Latorem prassentium fratrem nomin monachum

nostrum, quern ad abbatiam de K(irkstall) transmittimus, universitati vestre recommendamus, attencius

supplicantcs quatenus eidem per vos transeunti, nullam molestiam, dampnum, seu gravamen inferri permittatis,

sed in vie et vite necessariis quibus indiguerit misericorditer assistatis, eterna pro temporalibus recepturi.

Veruntamen pedes eat. Dat. etc. Anno, etc. Valeant eidem per dies proximo subsequentes. 2

(Fol. 131.)
Several inferences may be drawn from the singular document before us. First,

Kirkstall, which, being of the same order and of the foundation of the same family, is

undoubtedly expressed by the initial K, was little more than forty miles from Whalley.

Yet a poor monk could not travel on foot from one to the other, without some risk of being

robbed, or otherwise injured. Secondly, there were no inns by the way. Thirdly, his pass,

though addressed to all men, was in Latin ; consequently, all but the clergy, and some

perhaps of them, must have taken the bearer's word for the meaning of it. I strongly

suspect, therefore, that the English language, at this time, was scarcely written at all.

French was the court language, and in French the monks wrote to their patrons. There

is not a vestige of their native tongue in this volume, though filled with minutes of the

most familiar transactions.
Reverendo in Christo patri domino Abbati de B. Frater Gregorius vocatus Abbas de
Whalley salutem cum omni reverentia et honore. Fratrem I. monachum vestrum Dominica Septuagesima

cum plenitudme vestium recepimus, minori tamen quam eidem in hac regione que frigidissima est, precipue

Jiyemis tempore, perspeximus oportere. Unde pro certo noveritis quod ipsius indigenciam libentissime sup-
i [This title is plural, and refers to the whole series of five letters, of which the first only is here given; at the

end of the fifth is a marginal note, Patentee usque hue.'}

* [The next " littere viatice " end " valeant eidem quantum necesse fuerit," the next " valeant eidem per x dies."]

BOOK II. CHAP. II.]

THE ABBEY.

153

pleremus, sed tantis debitis et multis etiam incommodis aliis sumus ad presens onerati quod nostris propriis

prout deceret vel oporteret indumenta 11011 possumus providers ; quapropter vestram rogamus paternitatein

quatenus eidem subvenire dignemini in hac parte. Ceterum, cum calamus quassatus non sit omnino

conterendus, iterum vobis preces afFectuosas pro ipso et cum ipso porrigimus, quatenus ab hac ignomi-

niosissima qua detinetur pena in hoc instanti general! capitulo vestra ope absolvatur, et ad proprie matris

gremium misericorditer revocetur : scieutes certissimc, si id feceritis, quod de ejus anima quam regendam

suscepistis secure respondebitis, et pariter laudem cum honore ab omnibus qui hoc factum audierint adquirctis.

Speramus enim per Dei graciam et per v.exacionem quo sibi jam tribuit intellectum, quod omnibus dicbus

quibus vixerit ipsum inveneretis promptiorem ad omnia que vestre sederint voluntati. Vait. (Fol. 132.)
This epistle is probably addressed to the Abbot of Bylaiid. It affords another proof

that the climate of the hilly part of Lancashire was much colder formerly than at present.

No one would now feel it necessary to make a change in his clothing after he had removed

from any of the adjoining counties to Whalley.

Hitherto we have seen the monastic discipline as exercised upon humbled and peni-

tent offenders : the next memorandum lays open a scene of desperate and incorrigible

depravity.
Pateat universis per presentes quod cum nos W. clictus Abbas do C(umbermere) concomitantibus

nobiscum venerabili Abbate do V(alle) R(egali) et domino R. coabbate nostro de D(culacres) die, etc. Anno,

etc. ad filialem domum nostram de TV(halley) accessimus ad litere domini Abbatis Cistertii nobis

directe executionem faciendam super inquisitione emissionis Fratris R. de A. Monachi de W(halley), qui

dicto domino Abbati Cistertii retulit se per venorabilcs Abbates de F(ontibus) et de K(irkstall) minus

juste a domo propria fuisse eliminatum, quibus data fuit plenaria commissio per patrem Abbatem dictani

domum de W(halley) visitandi, et corrcctiones facicndi secundum dcmerita tarn in capite quam in

membris. Invenimus dicte domus venerabilem Abbatem ab omnibus criminibus per preclictum Fratmn

R. de A. et complices sues sibi maliciose imponitis legitima pnrgatione tocius conventus unanimc ' et

dictum Fratrem R. rite et juste cmissum. Insupcr non solnm diligent! inquisitione mediante, verumetiam

publica fama omnium conventualium conclamante, indisciplinatum nimis et exordinatum, necnon, ct quod

dolentes referimus, a, longo retroacto tempore gravibus viciis et sordibus dift'amatum, utpote conspirationis,

furti, ac incontinentie criminibus miserabiliter inquinatum, et quod magis dolendum in venerabilem Abbatem

de K(irkstall) coram nobis in pleno capitulo cum cultello. acuminato extracto manus injecit violentas. Pro

quibus excessibus intolerabilibus qui tot! ordini maximum scandalum gravarint ipsum carcori perpetuo

clecrevimus mancipandum. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum prcsentibus est appensum, et sigilla

venerabilium de Valle Regali et de D. Abbatum apponi procuravimus. Dat. loco die et anno supra-

dictis. (Fol. 132 b.)

I have ventured to fill up the initials of these abbots, Valcroyal, Deulacres, and

Cumbermere : the last of whom was .Richard de Rodierd, formerly a monk of Whalley,

where he was interred, A.D. 1316. The criminal appears to have been IV Eic. de Aston.
Pro negociis in Capitulo.
Reverendo patri in X' domino venerabili Abbati S(avigniensi), suorum minimus fr. G(reg.) vocatus

Abbas de W(halley) tarn devotam quam debitam reverentiam cum salute. Licet tanquam films non degencr

vobis esse debemus, honoris caus&, non oneris, multum tamen donee fortuna blandior arriserit, onus nostrum
1 Some word or words apparently omitted.]

VOL. I. X

154

HISTORY OF WHALLEY.

[BooKjI. CHAP. II.

supplieantes vobis imponimus, lionorem quern Dominus voluerit libencius impensuri. Cum igitur jam din

et oravi infirmitate detenti anno isto acl capitulum generale propter imbecilitatem corporis accedere non

possumus, et ob hoc litteratorie nostram illic absenciam excusemus, vobis, sancte pater, ea que ibidem

haberemus facere suggerimus, ut vestro si placet consilio et auxilio fulciantur. In primis petimus et

roo-amus, ut si contributio Angligenis per capitulum imposita, quam propter inhibitionem regiam sub pcena

oravi in Anglid solvere vel trans mare mittere non audemus, solvi debeat omni modo ; vos si placet pro rata

nostra cavere velitis vel a mercatoribus mutuando vel alias prout potueritis f'aciendo, et nos mandate vestro

super hiis indilate respondebimus et contante. 1 Est autem porcio nos contingens xxxii li. et di. marc, sterling.

Item ut emissi nostri pro conspiratione jam per triennium 2 possint licite, si se hnmiliaverint et conventus

consenserit revocari, vel saltern ubi moram traxerint de licentia capituli celebrare, et Monachi novicii aput

nos recipi non vetentur. Item quia vicinus Abbas noster de domo S(allay), que per quinque leugas a nobis

distat, et sita est in provincia separata, in qua nee passura pedis habemus de terra, nee domus nostra in

aliquo communicat cum eadem, sepius comminatus est de nimia propinquitate et vicinitate nostra se in

capitulo conqucsturum, si de hoc fieri mentionem audieritis, pro nobis interponcre dignemini preces vestras.

Audacius scripsimus vobis, non quasi in aliquo liorum minimo meruerimus exaudiri, sed hide trahentes

fiduciam quia super et in omnibus agcndis nostris vestram inoletam bonitatem nobis sensimus adjutricem.

Valeat vestra rev. paternitas semper in domino Jesu Christo, nee valeant in eternum qui vos nuper turbavc-

rint in Anglia, nisi rcsipucrint et digue correxerint culpam suam. (Fol. 135.)
Abbot Norlmry is always pleading indisposition. The tremendous curse, in the end of

this letter, must have been meant either for Edward the First or Bishop Langton his

treasurer the sovereign or the diocesan of the writer! 3 As Norbury died in 1309, all the

foregoing papers are to be dated between the year 1296 and that time.

During the reign of Edward the Second I meet with few -memorials in the Liber Loci

Benedicti. The latter part of the volume affords two curious poetical compositions of the

earlier part of Edward the Third's time. The first is a sarcastic effusion of triumphant

loyalty after the battle of Neville's Cross, 4 in the form of an epistle from David Bruce to

his friend Philip de Valoys, whom the writer was too good a courtier to style respectively

Kings of France or Scotland.

1 [i. e. in ready money.]
' 2 [As the Concordia with Salley, before related in p. 85, was made in 1305, this conspiracy among some of the

monks of Whalley cannot be placed later than 1302.]

3 [Our author's inference is mistaken, because the last sentence of the preceding letter was thus incorrectly printed

in previous editions, " Valeat vestra rev. paternitas in D" J. X. Nee valeat in eternum qui nos nuper turbavit in

Anglia, nisi resipuerit et digne correxerit culpam suam." The word " vos " is obviously employed because Savigny,

to which the letter is addressed, was in France.]

4 [The battle of Neville's Cross, near Durham, was fought 17 Oct. 1346, while Edward III. was besieging Calais

after the victory of Crdcy. It is fully described in a paper by Robert White, esq. in the Archceologia JEliana, New

Series, vol. i, pp. 271 303. The present poem is not included among the curious compositions of the like nature

edited by Thomas Wright, M.A., F.S.A., in his Political Songs, printed for the Catnden Society in 1839, and in his

Political Poems and Songs relating to English History, from the Accession of Edward III. to the reign of Henry VIII.

in two volumes, 1859, 1861, in the Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland in the Middle Ages, published

under the direction of the Master of the Rolls. But various other poems, both in Latin and English, made on the same

battle, will be found in Mr. Wright's series, but he has overlooked a remarkable one, formerly published in Hutchinson's-

History of Durham, vol. ii.]

BOOK II. CHAP. II.]

THE ABBEY.

155

Ceste cst la copie cle Ictre que David le Bruys
Ore escoutez de Davyd le Bruys
Come a Philippe de Valoys maund Saluz.
Per ceo qe avoms entenduz

Qe moult de gentz avoms perduz,

Vous face a savoir qe bien tard

Si avoms fait notre part.

Taunt avoms tenuz \oz maundementz

Qe nous sumes perduz et noz gentz.

La tcrrc d'Escoce ay refuse,

Et en Engletcrre su demore

Tout soul saunz nul amy,

Et en garde d'autruy.

Jeo me confcsse a toutcs gentz,

Qe trop avoms fate malement

Quant nous entrains en Engleterrc,

En absence le roy de lever guerre.

Qaro nous n'avoioms rien a faire

Mes grant meschance pur nous aquerc.

Nous cntendismes bien passere

Parmy la terre saunz destourbere

Meis L'erccvcsqye : ove poeir grauntz

Nous vynt toust encountraunt.

Le Percy et le Moubray

Se perdent bien al journay.

Nous n'avoyoms grace no poeir

Encountre lour bataille estere

A la novelle 2 Croyce du Dureme,

La perdymes nostre Realmo.

La fumes pris en fuaunt ;

Philippe, gardez vous de taunt,

Qe nous fumes pris en nostre trcspas,

Count svimes venuz de hautz en bas,

Come la Fortune est ordyne,

Primes mountams dc gre en gre

Quant estoy venus al pluys haute,

Si perdy moun regne qe ore me faute.

Vous me maundastes par vcrito

Qe en Engleterre ne seroit trouve

Fors chappellayns, dames et moignes

maunda a Philippe dc Valoys Roy de Frauncfr.

Et autres femmes et berchers :

Meys trovames illoeques granto gentz,