A History of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds, 1257-1301
Title Details

405 Pages

0 x 0 cm

9 colour, 8 b/w, 11 line illus.

Series: Studies in the History of Medieval Religion

Series Vol. Number: 42

Imprint: Boydell Press

A History of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds, 1257-1301

Simon of Luton and John of Northwold

by Antonia Gransden

  • Description
  • Contents
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.
The Abbots, Simon of Luton and John of Northwold
Abbot Simon of Luton's Early Problems
Repercussions on the Abbey of the Barons' War
Record-Keeping and the Codification of Customs
Relations between Abbot Simon and the Convent
John of Northwold's Early Problems and Reforms
St Edmunds and the Crown - Introduction
St Edmunds' Mint
Interaction and Co-operation with the Crown
The Abbey and Edward I
The Abbey's Influential Friends
William of Hoo, Sacrist 1280-94
Debt and its Causes
Retrenchment and Reform
Loss and Recovery
Taxes and other Financial Impositions
The Town and Trade
Estate Management
Abbatial Vacancies: Problems and Solutions
Religious Life under Abbot Simon
Religious Life under Abbot John
The Monks' Intellectual and Cultural Life under Abbot Simon
The Monks as Chroniclers and Historians under Abbot John
Afterword - The Deaths of Abbots Simon and John
Appendix I: The identity of the abbot's justices, Henry of Guildford and Henry of Shenholt [in 1287]
Appendix II: The monks' dietary regime; their food and drink
Select List of the Registers and Customaries Cited
Select Bibliography

Ebook (EPDF)

9781782045090

May 2015

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Title Details

405 Pages

0 x 0 cm

9 colour, 8 b/w, 11 line illus.

Series: Studies in the History of Medieval Religion

Series Vol. Number: 42

Imprint: Boydell Press