The monastic order in England : a history of its development from the times of St. Dunstan to the Fourth Lateran Council, 940-1216

Annotation The Monastic Order in England by Dom David Knowles was originally published in 1940 and was quickly recognised as a scholarly classic and masterpiece of historical literature. It covers the period from about 940, when St Dunstan inaugurated the monastic reform by becoming abbot of Glastonbury, to the early thirteenth century. Its core is a marvellous narrative and detailed analysis of monasticism in twelfth-century England, brilliantly set in the continental background of all the monastic movements of the day - with a vivid evocation of Anselm, Ailred, Henry of Blois and a host of other central figures. Dom David himself brought this second edition up to date in 1963. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents GLASTONBURY FROM THE AIR PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Part One Historical I. Introductory I. The Rule of Saint Benedict The life of the Rule: the Opus Dei, lectio divina and opus manuum its suitability to the needs of the age its limitations its spirit II. The monastic order between the death of Saint Benedict and the times of Saint Dunstan Cassiodorus, the basilican monasteries and the influence of Gregory the Great Monasticism in England: Augustine and Benet Biscop Benedict of Aniane Cluny, Gorze and Brogne II. 940-1066 III. The monastic revival under Dunstan and King Edgar: the Regularis Concordia Disappearance of the monastic life in England, 800-940 The revival under Dunstan, Ethelwold and Oswald the Concordia and its content the period of expansion, 960-990 the three leaders IV. English monasticism between Dunstan and the Conquest The maturity of the revived monasticism: Aelfric and Byrhtferth the monastic bishops new foundations the missionaries to Scandinavia The monasteries under Cnut Edward the Confessor Evesham and Worcester The state of the monasteries immediately before the Conquest III. 1066-1100 V. The Norman monasticism The origins of the Norman abbeys: William of Dijon and Fecamp The foundation of Bee Lanfranc Norman and English monasticism compared The intellectual influence of the Norman abbeys Anselm St Evroul VI. The Norman plantation The number and wealth of the English monasteries in 1066 their opposition to the Conqueror The character and policy of Lanfranc The appointment of Norman abbots the good abbots disturbances at Glastonbury St Augustine's Charges against the Normans The new buildings observance Lanfranc's Consuetudines the new culture the increase in numbers VII. The development of the religious life between 1066 and 1100 The new foundations The cathedral monasteries Dependent priories and cells The English nunneries The regular canons before 1100 Death and character of Lanfranc VIII. The Cluniacs in England Cluniac organization under Odilo and Hugh Cluniac observance The foundation of Lewes other foundations Cluniac organization in England IX. Worcester, Evesham and the northern revival Wulfstan, bishop of Worcester Aethelwig, abbot of Evesham The foundation of Odensee The northern revival at Jarrow, Whitby and Durham further development of Durham IV. 1100-1135 X. The English monasteries under Henry I The monastic life under Henry I Increase of the regular canons Survey of the monasteries of England c. 1120 General conclusions V. 1135-1175 XI The new orders The new monastic movement in Italy c. 1000 Romuald and John Gualbert Peter Damian Molesme Tiron and Savigny Grandmont, Fontevrault and Premontre Gilbert of Sempringham XII. The new model of Citeaux The constitutional documents the aims of the first fathers federal organization the converse economic framework Influence of Bernard the Cistercian vocation Collisions between the Cistercians and the black monks XIII. The Cistercians in England: I. The first foundations The foundations of Tiron and Savigny the new Augustmian houses of the north The exodus from St Mary's, York, to Fountains subsequent history of Fountains, 1132—43 The early history of Rievaulx and the arrival of Ailred, 1132-45 XIV. The Cistercians in England: II. The period of expansion The families of Rievaulx, Fountains and Waverley Furness, Byland and Jervaulx The Cistercians in public life, 1138-53: Richard of Fountains and Henry Murdac Ailred, abbot of Rievaulx, 1147-67: his character, activities and last days XV. The black monks between 1135 and 1175 Characteristics of the period sufferings of the monasteries during the reign of Stephen quarrels and lawsuits struggles for exemption and autonomy internal developments A great abbot, Walter de Lucy of Battle XVI. Cluniac influence: Henry of Blois and Gilbert Foliot The influence of Cluny Foundation of Reading the case of Peterborough other Cluniac abbots The career and character of Henry of Blois Gilbert Foliot The increase in the religious houses under Stephen VI. 1175-1216 XVII. The black monks from 1175 to 1216 Characteristics of the period separation of abbot from community lawsuits debts Two great abbots: Odo of Battle, 1175-1200 Samson of Bury, 1182-1211 St Albans and its abbots XVIII. The hostility of the bishops towards the black monks Disorganization in England, 1181—1215 hostility of the clerks towards the monks Career and character of Baldwin his quarrel with the monks of Christ Church Hugh of Nonant and the monks of Coventry The controversy between Hubert Walter and Christ Church between Savary and Glastonbury XIX. The case of Evesham Appointment of Roger Norreys at Evesham Early disturbances the abbey claims exemption in 1202 litigation at Rome, 1204-6 visit of the legate, Nicholas of Tusculum, in 1214 XX. The Cistercians from 1153 to 1216 The foundations in Wales Developments in the order: conversi enclosures sheep-farming debts, churches and tithes A saintly abbot: Ralph of Fountains, 1190-1203 Increase of the black canons of the white XXI. The reign of John and the Fourth Lateran Council, 1199—1216 The Canterbury election of 1205-6 sufferings of the Cistercians under John Preparations for the Lateran Council its decrees on union and visitation XXII. The Charterhouse of Witham and Hugh of Avalon The origin of the Carthusians their way of life Foundation of Witham Hugh of Avalon, prior of Witham novices and visitors at Witham: Adam of Dryburgh Peter of Blois St Hugh as bishop of Lincoln Part Two Institutional I. The Interior Polity of the Black Monks XXIII. The office of Abbot Election or appointment of the abbot, 970-1216 abnormal cases the machinery of elections deposition of an abbot The separation of abbot from community c. 1100-35 Abbots in public life in the Council as judges delegate XXIV. The internal government and personnel of the monastery The growth of the powers of the monastic chapter recruitment: oblati and conversi the end of child oblation the noviciate Social status of the recruits Numbers in the black monk houses XXV. The administration of the monastery The officials of the monastery their multiplication and duties the control of revenues: methods of exploitation the "obedientiary system” devolution of powers and division of revenues the farming of manors The servants of the monastery Economic organization: the farm-system in kind its commutation to money-rents The monastic borough II. The Work and Influence of the Monks XXVI The daily life of the monastery The horarium The observance of silence introduction of recreative conversation The meals: their number quality; the eating of flesh-meat at the abbot's table by the minuti Articles of food beverages Baths fires Manual work: in the Rule Northumbrian monasticism and in the Concordia; its disappearance The sacraments: Mass, the Holy Eucharist Penance Private prayer XXVII. Unions and confraternity: hospitality and charity Agreements of union: for suffrages for chapter rights Personal confraternity: during life ad succurrendum Hospitality: guests pilgrims Care of the poor relief work hospitals XXVIII. The intellectual activities of the black monks: I. Educational and literary Monastic schools: from 943 to 1066 in Normandy in England after the Conquest The literary work; from 970 to the Conquest: Aelfric, Wulfstan and Byrhtferth from the Conquest onwards: the Anglo-Norman culture Symeon of Durham William of Malmesbury the Chronicle verse composition from 1150 to 1170: St Albans and Bury contrasted from 1170 to 1216: the annals chronicles Jocelin of Brakelond XXIX. The intellectual activities of the black monks: II. Theology, canon law, medicine, monastic libraries Theological writings the Immaculate Conception Scripture study: the text of the Vulgate Canon law The study and practice of medicine The work of the scriptorium calligraphy The monastic libraries and their contents the care of books XXX. The illumination of manuscripts and monastic craft work The illumination of manuscripts: before the Conquest from 1140 to 1180 Monastic arts and crafts: before the Conquest and after XXXI. The liturgy and the chant The structure of the liturgy the grading of feasts new feasts and various customs and rites The Gregorian chant: in England, 596-750 in Europe, 750-850 The revival under Alfred Ethelwold after the Conquest Development of the Kyriale tropes polyphony The organ III. The External Relations of the Monastery XXXII, The place of the monastery in the fabric of the Church and of society Original isolation of the monasteries Control of all churches by the city-bishop: the Roman conception The northern invasions and the Eigenkirche conditions in the eleventh century The relations of the monastery to the diocesan and to Rome, 451-628 commendation and subjection papal Eigenkldster The ownership of churches by monasteries monastic immunities XXXIII. The origins and development of exemption in England Origins of canonical exemption secular immunities in England before Edward the Confessor The policy of the Confessor of the Conqueror and Lanfranc Evolution of canonical exemption in the Curia the sum of privileges comprised The growth of exemption in England: from 1100 to 1154 from 1154 to 1189 from 1189 to 1216 XXXIV. The monastic churches Eigenkirchen in England before the Conquest monastic Eigenkirchen before the Conquest and after development of the pension and vicarage systems Monastic peculiars XXXV. The monasteries and the feudal system The English and Norman monasteries and feudalism before 1066 the introduction of knight-service into England its uneven incidence Wardship of vacant abbacies the abbot's household manorial and honorial courts XXXVI. The cathedral monasteries and the bishops' abbeys Origin of the English cathedral monasteries developments after the Conquest Constitution of Christ Church, Canterbury, Durham, Norwich and other houses Division of the revenues appointment of officials rights of chapters share in diocesan administration quarrels of the twelfth century Two bishops' Eigenkldster: Eynsham and Selby IV. The White Monks XXXVII. The institutions of the white monks Organization of the white monks and the black contrasted The white monks: recruitment and the novitiate the abbot and his officials visitations general chapter The horarium and the dietary silence, prayer and the sacraments literary activity art and architecture the "reform" of the chant V. Monastic Discipline XXXVIII. The maintenance of discipline Original relations between bishop and monastery legatine visitations reintroduction of episcopal visitation the Lateran decrees general judgment on the discipline of the black monks The white monks: activities of general chapter regarding purchase of land and ownership of churches various cases in England and troubles in Wales XXXIX. The critics of the monks The circle of the clerks Gerald of Wales, his career and character early criticisms of the monks collision with the Cistercians discussion of his charges Walter Map: his career and character (674); his charges against the Cistercians The satirists: Nigel Wireker VI. Conclusion XL. Review of the period 940-1216 Increase in the number and wealth of the monks between 940 and 1216 Phases of their influence Changes in the conception of the monastic vocation elements of danger: wealth small dependencies entanglement with feudalism customs mitigating the Rule Partial decline in fervour of the Cistercians The spiritual life of the English monks conclusion Appendices I. The evidence for the disappearance of monastic life in England before 940 (v. p. 32) II. The status of Glastonbury previous to Dunstan's appointment as abbot c. 940 (v. p. 37) III. The composition of the community at Christ Church, Canterbury, before the Conquest (v. p. 50) IV. Monastic bishops, 960-1066 (v. p. 66 V. The Norman monasteries, 940-1066, with dates of foundation (v. pp. 84 seqq.) VI. The value of the holdings of monasteries and nunneries in Domesday (v. pp. 101, 136) VII. The provenance of foreign superiors appointed to English monasteries, 1066-1135 (v. p. 112) VIII. Date and authorship of the Evesham Chronicle (v. pp. 74, 162) IX. The interventions of St Bernard in English affairs (v. pp. 230 seqq.) X. A list of black monks and regular canons who became Cistercians between 1132 and 1200 (v. p. 268) XI. A list of the Cistercian and Savigniac foundations in England and Wales, 1124-1437 (v. p. 252 et al.) XII. Monastic bishops in England and Wales, 1066-1215 (v. p. 131) XIII. The increase in the number of religious houses in England and Wales, 1100-1175 (y. pp. 190, 297) XIV. The dates of the grants of insignia pontificalia to English abbeys (v. p. 586) XV. Knight-service due from the monasteries according to the cartae of 1166 (v. p. 609) XVI. The officials of a great monastery (v. p. 429) XVII. The numbers of monks in the black monk monasteries (v. p. 425) XVIII. The monastic horarium in winter and summer according to the Regularis Concordia (y. p. 450) XIX. The alleged dietary of St Ethelwold at Abingdon (v. p. 459) XX. The measures of monastic beverages (v. p. 465) XXI. Chronological list of abbatial depositions, 1070-1215 (v. p. 654) XXII. The use of the term Cluniacensis by Gerald of Wales (v. p. 663) Tables I. The derivation of the English monasteries, 943-1066 (v. chaps in and iv) II. The derivation of the Norman abbeys of the eleventh century (v. chap, v) III. The derivation of the Cluniac houses in England (v. chap, VIII) IV. The derivation of the English and Welsh Cistercian abbeys (v. chaps xin, xiv and xx) (i) The family of Clairvaux (ii) The family of Aumone (iii) The family of Savigny (iv) The family of Fountains (v) The family of Morimond (vi) The family of Citeaux BIBLIOGRAPHY ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY ADDITIONAL NOTES INDEX This book was originally published in 1940 and was quickly recognised as a scholarly classic and masterpiece of historical literature. It covers the period from about 940, when St Dunstan inaugurated the monastic reform by becoming abbot of Glastonbury, to the early thirteenth century.