A History of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, 1257-1301: Simon of Luton and John of Northwold

Completes what will become the definitive history of the abbey of Bury St Edmunds in the thirteenth century.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 second of two volumes, offers a magisterial and comprehensive account of the Abbey during the latter part of the thirteenth century, based primarily on evidence in the abbey's records (over 40 registers survive). It begins with an account of the two abbots of this period, Simon of Luton and John of Northwold, who showed outstanding ability in steering the abbey through difficult times, including conflict with the Friars Minor in the town, straitened financialcircumstances (partly caused by oppressive taxation from king and pope), and domestic issues. This is followed by consideration of such matters as the abbey's mint, its economy, religious, intellectual and cultural life, and the abbey's architecture -- especially the charnel chapel constructed by John, which survives to this day. The monks'dietary regime (with examples of actual recipes from the time) is examined in a detailed appendix. Dr Antonia Gransden is former Reader at the University of Nottingham. Frontcover 1 Contents 8 List of Plates 10 List of Figures 12 Preface 14 Editorial Note 18 Acknowledgements 20 Abbreviations 22 Maps and plans (figures 1–11) 26 Part I. Introduction 38 1 The Abbots, Simon of Luton and John of Northwold 40 Part II. Abbatial Governance 50 2 Abbot Simon of Luton’s Early Problems 52 3 Repercussions on the Abbey of the Barons’ War 63 4 Record-Keeping and the Codification of Customs 71 5 Relations between Abbot Simon and the Convent 75 6 John of Northwold’s Early Problems and Reforms 84 7 St Edmunds and the Crown – Introduction 88 8 St Edmunds’ Mint 100 9 Interaction and Co-operation with the Crown 107 10 The Abbey and Edward I 116 11 The Abbey’s Influential Friends 125 12 William of Hoo, Sacrist 1280–94 139 Part III. The Abbey’s Economy 154 13 Debt and its Causes 156 14 Retrenchment and Reform 167 15 Loss and Recovery 194 16 Taxes and other Financial Impositions 200 17 The Town and Trade 229 18 Estate Management 238 19 Abbatial Vacancies: Problems and Solutions 251 Part IV. Religious Life and Reform 256 20 Religious Life under Abbot Simon 258 21 Religious Life under Abbot John 273 Part V. Intellectual and Cultural Life 292 22 The Monks’ Intellectual and Cultural Life under Abbot Simon 294 23 The Monks as Chroniclers and Historians under Abbot John 306 24 Afterword – The Deaths of Abbots Simon and John 339 Appendices 346 I The identity of the abbot’s justices, Henry of Guildford and Henry of Shenholt (in 1287) 346 II The monks’ dietary regime: their food and drink 348 Select List of the Registers and Customaries cited 374 Select List of Further Manuscripts Cited 375 Select Bibliography 376 Index 388 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 second of two volumes, offers a magisterial and comprehensive account of the Abbey during the latter part of the thirteenth century, based primarily on evidence in the abbey's records (over 40 registers survive). It begins with an account of the two abbots of this period, Simon of Luton and John of Northwold, who showed outstanding ability in steering the abbey through difficult times, including conflict with the Friars Minor in the town, straitened financialcircumstances (partly caused by oppressive taxation from king and pope), and domestic issues. This is followed by consideration of such matters as the abbey's mint, its economy, religious, intellectual and cultural life, and the abbey's architecture -- especially the charnel chapel constructed by John, which survives to this day. The monks' dietary regime (with examples of actual recipes from the time) is examined in a detailed appendix.

Dr Antonia Gransden is former Reader at the University of Nottingham. 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 second of two volumes, offers a magisterial and comprehensive account of the Abbey during the latter part of the thirteenth century, based primarily on evidence in the abbey's records (over 40 registers survive). It begins with an account of the two abbots of this period, Simon of Luton and John of Northwold, who showed outstanding ability in steering the abbey through difficult times, including conflict with the Friars Minor in the town, straitened financial circumstances (partly caused by oppressive taxation from king and pope), and domestic issues. This is followed by consideration of such matters as the abbey's mint, its economy, religious, intellectual and cultural life, and the abbey's architecture -- especially the charnel chapel constructed by John, which survives to this day. The monks' dietary regime (with examples of actual recipes from the time) is examined in a detailed appendix