European University Institute Library

A history of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, 1182-1256, Samson of Tottington to Edmund of Walpole, Antonia Gransden

eng

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non fiction

A history of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, 1182-1256

electronic resource

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1103573759

Antonia Gransden

Studies in the history of medieval religion, volume 31Cambridge Social Sciences eBooks

Samson of Tottington to Edmund of Walpole

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.<BR><BR> Dr ANTONIA GRANSDEN is former Reader at the University of Nottingham.--, Provided by publisher

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