A History of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds, 1182-1256: Samson of Tottington to Edmund of Walpole (Studies in the History of Medieval Religion) (Volume 31)

Definitive history of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds during a crucial period in its history. St Edmund's Abbey was one of the most highly privileged and wealthiest religious houses in medieval England, one closely involved with the central government; its history is an integral part of English history. This book (the first of two volumes) offers a magisterial and comprehensive account of the Abbey during the thirteenth century, based primarily on evidence in the abbey's records (over 40 registers survive). The careers of the abbots, beginning with the great Samson, provide the chronological structure; separate chapters study various aspects of their rule, such as their relations with the convent, the abbey's internal and external administration and its relations with its tenants and neighbours, with the king and the central government. Chapters are also devoted to the monks' religious, cultural and intellectual life, to their writings, book collection and archives. Appendices focus on the mid-thirteenth century accounts which give a unique and detailed picture of the organisation and economy of St. Edmunds' estates in West Suffolk, and on the abbey's watermills and windmills. The Abbey Of Bury St Edmunds Was One Of The Wealthiest And Most Highly Privileged Religious Houses In Central England, Closely Involved With Central Government, Its History An Integral Part Of The History Of England. This Account Of The Abbey's Affairs Is Exceptionally Valuable For Combining Both Religious And Economic Detail, And For Its Focus On The Thirteenth Century, A Period Of Particular Interest In The Abbey's History, And One Which Has Received Less Attention From Ecclesiastical Historians. The Religious, Cultural And Intellectual Life Of The Abbey, The Monks' Writings, Book Collection And Archives, Are Fully Described. There Are Four Appendices, Two Of Them Substantial: One Examines The Mid-thirteenth Century Accounts Which Give A Unique And Detailed Picture Of The Organisation And Economy Of The Abbey's Estates In West Suffolk, And The Other Is Concerned With The Abbey's Watermills And Windmills. The Book Is Based On Evidence From The Abbey's Records (over Forty Registers, Many Of Them Hefty, Survive); The Many Books From Its Library, Now Dispersed; And Material Held In The National Archives, Much Of It Unpublished. A Full Bibliography Is Provided.--jacket. Pt. 1. Samson Of Tottington, Abbot 1182-1211. Samson's Biographer, Jocelin Of Brackland (de Brakelond), And His Work -- Samson's Early Life And Career -- Samson's Election To The Abbacy -- The Early Years Of Samson's Abbacy And Reform Of Estate Management -- Conflict With The Convent -- Relations With The Town Of Bury St Edmunds -- Samson And Secular Law -- Samson And The Knights Of St Edmund -- Relations With The Angevin Kings -- Samson And The Papacy -- Samson As A Builder -- Religious And Intellectual Life Under Samson: The Shrine And Cult Of St Edmund ; Secondary Cults At St Edmunds ; Hagiographical Writing At St Edmunds : The De Miraculis Sancti Edmundi And Other Works ; Learned Monks And The Book Collection -- Samson's Death And Burial -- Pt. 2. The Abbey 1212-1256. The Vacancy, 1211-1215, And Election Of Hugh Of Northwold -- The Abbots 1215-1256: Hugh Of Northwold (hugh Ii), 1215-1229 ; Richard Of The Isle (de Insula, De L'isle), 1229-1233 ; Henry Of Rushbrooke (alias Henry Wodard), 1234-1248 ; Edmund Of Walpole, 1248-1256 -- Observance Of The Rule Of St Benedict: Relaxations Of The Rule ; The Reform Movement -- Learning -- Books -- Buildings -- St Edmunds' Liberties And The Crown ; Jurisdictional Liberties ; The Mint -- Henry Iii And The Cult Of St Edmund -- Appendix 1 : An Inventory Of Edmund De Walpole's Table-linen And Table-ware -- Appendix 2. The Story Of Edward The Confessor's Gift Of Mildenhall -- Appendix 3. The Abbey's Economy In The Mid-thirteenth Century : The Accounts In Bl Ms Harley 645 And Related Documents -- Appendix 4. St Edmunds' Watermills And Windmills. Antonia Gransden. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. LIST OF PLATES LIST OF FIGURES PREFACE EDITORIAL NOTE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MAPS AND PLANS Part I: SAMSON OF TOTTINGTON, ABBOT 1182–1211 Introductory 1. Samson’s Biographer, Jocelin of Brackland (de Brakelond), and his work 2. Samson’s Early Life and Career 3. Samson’s Election to the Abbacy 4. The Early Years of Samson’s Abbacy and Reform of Estate Management 5. Conflict with the Convent 6. Relations with the Town of Bury St Edmunds 7. Samson and Secular Law 8. Samson and the Knights of St Edmund 9. Relations with the Angevin Kings 10. Samson and the Papacy 11. Samson as a Builder 12. Religious and Intellectual Life under Samson The shrine and cult of St Edmund Secondary cults at St Edmunds Hagiographical writing at St Edmunds: the De Miraculis Sancti Eadmundi and other works Learned monks and the book collection 13. Samson’s Death and Burial Part II: THE ABBEY 1212–1256 Introductory 14. The Vacancy, 1211–15, and Election of Hugh of Northwold 15. The Abbots 1215–1256 Hugh of Northwold (Hugh II), 1215–1229 Richard of the Isle (de Insula, de l’Isle), 1229–1233 Henry of Rushbrooke (alias Henry Wodard), 1234–1248 Edmund of Walpole, 1248–1256 16. Observance of the Rule of St Benedict Relaxations of the Rule The reform movement 17. Learning 18. Books 19. Buildings 20. St Edmunds’ Liberties and the Crown Jurisdictional liberties The mint 21. Henry III and the cult of St Edmund APPENDICES I. An inventory of Edmund de Walpole’s table-linen and table-ware II. The story of Edward the Confessor’s gift of Mildenhall III. The abbey’s economy in the mid-thirteenth century: the accounts 252in BL MS Harley 645 and related documents 1. Introductory 2. The contents of the accounts (a) General (b) The treasurer/treasurers (c) The obedientiaries, their servants and officials (d) The chamberlain’s accounts (e) The food farms IV. St Edmunds’ watermills and windmills 1. Introductory 2. St Edmunds’ watermills 3. Two early examples of windmill-building 4. St Edmunds windmills in the thirteenth century 5. The profitability of mills 6. Examples where both receipts and expenses are recorded 7. Examples where receipts only are recorded 8. Miscellaneous examples 9. Icklingham and its mills 10. Disadvantages of demesne management of mills 11. Abbot Samson’s leases of St Edmunds’ mills ABBREVIATIONS AND SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX Definitive history of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds during a crucial period in its history. St Edmund's Abbey was one of the most highly privileged and wealthiest religious houses in medieval England, one closely involved with the central government; its history is an integral part of English history. This book (the first of two volumes) offers a magisterial and comprehensive account of the Abbey during the thirteenth century, based primarily on evidence in the abbey's records [over 40 registers survive]. The careers of the abbots, beginning withthe great Samson, provide the chronological structure; separate chapters study various aspects of their rule, such as their relations with the convent, the abbey's internal and external administration and its relations with itstenants and neighbours, with the king and the central government. Chapters are also devoted to the monks' religious, cultural and intellectual life, to their writings, book collection and archives. Appendices focus on the mid-thirteenth century accounts which give a unique and detailed picture of the organisation and economy of St Edmunds' estates in West Suffolk, and on the abbey's watermills and windmills. Dr ANTONIA GRANSDEN is former Reader atthe University of Nottingham.