Monasteries and Society in the British Isles in the Later Middle Ages (Studies in the History of Medieval Religion, 35) (Volume 35)

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the history of the numerous houses of monks, canons and nuns which existed in the medieval British Isles, considering them in their wider socio-cultural-economic context; historians are now questioning some of the older assumptions about monastic life in the later Middle Ages, and setting new approaches and new agenda. The present volume reflects these new trends. Its fifteen chapters assess diverse aspects of monastic history, focusing on the wide range of contacts which existed between religious communities and the laity in the later medieval British Isles, covering a range of different religious orders and houses. This period has often been considered to represent a general decline of the regular life; but on the contrary, the essays here demonstrate that there remained a rich monastic culture which, although different from that of earlier centuries, remained vibrant. CONTRIBUTORS: KAREN STOBER, JULIE KERR, EMILIA JAMROZIAK, MARTIN HEALE, COLMAN O CLABAIGH, ANDREW ABRAM, MICHAEL HICKS, JANET BURTON, KIMM PERKINS-CURRAN, JAMES CLARK, GLYN COPPACK, JENS ROHRKASTEN, SHEILA SWEETINBURGH, NICHOLAS ORME, CLAIRE CROSS List of illustrations vii Acknowledgements ix List of contributors xi Abbreviations xiii Introduction Janet Burton and Karen Stöber 1 The Meeting of the Worlds 1 The social networks of late medieval Welsh monasteries 11 Karen Stöber 2 Cistercian hospitality in the later Middle Ages 25 Julie Kerr 3 Cistercians and border conflicts: Some comparisons between 40 the experiences of Scotland and Pomerania Emilia Jamroziak 4 ‘Not a thing for a stranger to enter upon’: The selection of monastic 51 superiors in late medieval and Tudor England Martin Heale Religious Houses and their Patrons and Benefactors 5 Patronage, prestige and politics: The Observant Franciscans 71 at Adare Colmán Ó Clabaigh 6 The Augustinian priory of Wombridge and its benefactors in the 83 later Middle Ages Andrew Abram 7 The rising price of piety in the later Middle Ages 95 Michael Hicks 8 Looking for medieval nuns 113 Janet Burton 9 ‘Quhat say ye now, my lady priores? How have ye usit your office, 124 can ye ges?’: Politics, power and realities of the office of a prioress in her community in late medieval Scotland Kimm Perkins-Curran Monasteries and Education 10 Monasteries and secular education in late medieval England 145 James G. Clark 11 ‘Make straight in the desert a highway for our God’: Carthusians 168 and community in late medieval England Glyn Coppack Monasteries and Urban Space 12 Early Franciscan legislation and lay society 183 Jens Röhrkasten 13 The Austin Friars in late medieval Canterbury: Negotiating spaces 197 Sheila Sweetinburgh Religious Houses in the Regions 14 Monasteries in medieval Cornwall: Mediocrity or merit? 213 Nicholas Orme 15 Monasteries and society in sixteenth-century Yorkshire: The last 229 years of Roche Abbey Claire Cross Index of Religious Houses mentioned in the text 241 Index 249 New Essays On The Monastic Life In The Later Middle Ages Show That Far From Being In Decline, It Remained Rich And Vibrant. The Meeting Of The Worlds. The Social Networks Of Late Medieval Welsh Monasteries / Karen Stöber -- Cistercian Hospitality In The Later Middle Ages / Julie Kerr -- Cistercians And Border Conflicts: Some Comparisons Between The Experiences Of Scotland And Pomerania / Emilia Jamroziak -- 'not A Thing For A Stranger To Enter Upon': The Selection Of Monastic Superiors In Late Medieval And Tudor England / Martin Heale -- Religious Houses And Their Patrons And Benefactors. Patronage, Prestige And Politics: The Observant Franciscans At Adare / Colmán Ó Clabaigh -- The Augustinian Priory Of Wombridge And Its Benefactors In The Later Middle Ages / Andrew Abram -- The Rising Price Of Piety In The Later Middle Ages / Michael Hicks -- Looking For Medieval Nuns / Janet Burton -- Quhat Say Ye Now, My Lady Priores? How Have Ye Usit Your Office, Can Ye Ges?': Politics, Power And Realities Of The Office Of A Prioress In Her Community In Late Medieval Scotland / Kimm Perkins-curran. Monasteries And Education. Monasteries And Secular Education In Late Medieval England / James G. Clark -- 'make Straight In The Desert A Highway For Our God': Carthusians And Community In Late Medieval England / Glyn Coppack -- Monasteries And Open Space. Early Franciscan Legislation And Lay Society / Jens Röhrkasten -- The Austin Friars In Late Medieval Canterbury: Negotiating Spaces / Sheila Sweetinburgh -- Religious Houses In The Region. Monasteries In Medieval Cornwall: Mediocrity Or Merit? / Nicholas Orme -- Monasteries And Society In Sixteenth-century Yorkshire: The Last Years Of Roche Abbey / Claire Cross. Edited By Janet Burton, Karen Stöber. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. New essays on the monastic life in the later middle ages show that far from being in decline, it remained rich and vibrant.In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the history of the numerous houses of monks, canons and nuns which existed in the medieval British Isles, considering them in their wider socio-cultural-economic context; historians are now questioning some of the older assumptions about monastic life in the later Middle Ages, and setting new approaches and new agenda. The present volume reflects these new trends. Its fifteen chapters assess diverseaspects of monastic history, focusing on the wide range of contacts which existed between religious communities and the laity in the later medieval British Isles, covering a range of different religious orders and houses. This period has often been considered to represent a general decline of the regular life; but on the contrary, the essays here demonstrate that there remained a rich monastic culture which, although different from that of earlier centuries, remained vibrant. CONTRIBUTORS: KAREN STOBER, JULIE KERR, EMILIA JAMROZIAK, MARTIN HEALE, COLMAN O CLABAIGH, ANDREW ABRAM, MICHAEL HICKS, JANET BURTON, KIMM PERKINS-CURRAN, JAMES CLARK, GLYN COPPACK, JENS ROHRKASTEN, SHEILA SWEETINBURGH, NICHOLAS ORME, CLAIRE CROSS New essays on the monastic life in the later middle ages show that far from being in decline, it remained rich and vibrant. In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the history of the numerous houses of monks, canons and nuns which existed in the medieval British Isles, considering them in their wider socio-cultural-economic context; historians are now questioning some of the older assumptions about monastic life in the later Middle Ages, and setting new approaches and new agenda. The present volume reflects these new trends. Its fifteen chapters assess diverseaspects of monastic history, focusing on the wide range of contacts which existed between religious communities and the laity in the later medieval British Isles, covering a range of different religious orders and houses. This period has often been considered to represent a general decline of the regular life; but on the contrary, the essays here demonstrate that there remained a rich monastic culture which, although different from that of earlier centuries, remained vibrant. KAREN STOBER, JULIE KERR, EMILIA JAMROZIAK, MARTIN HEALE, COLMAN O CLABAIGH, ANDREW ABRAM, MICHAEL HICKS, JANET BURTON, KIMM PERKINS-CURRAN, JAMES CLARK, GLYN COPPACK, JENS ROHRKASTEN, SHEILA SWEETINBURGH, NICHOLAS ORME, CLAIRE CROSS