TAVISTOCK ABBEY.*

THIS illustrious Abbey, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and St. Rumon,† Bishop and Confessor, was begun by Ordgar, Earl of Devon, in 961, and completed by his son Ordulph. About thirty-six years after its foundation, it was burnt and destroyed by the Danish invaders during the calamitous reign of King Ethelred. But it soon rose, a Phoenix from its ashes; and though not so opulent as the Priory of Plympton, yet it was far superior in point of dignity and of local situation; and it eclipsed every religious house in Devonshire, in the extent, convenience and magnificence of its buildings. The Kings of England, from the conquest at least, were reputed its founders and patrons.

ABBOTS OF TAVISTOCK.

1. Almer, who is described in the cartulary of the abbey as a good scholar, and exemplary for his piety to God and charity to man. He was doomed to witness the utter destruction of his monastery by the Danish invaders. How long he survived this catastrophe is uncertain.

2. Livingus. He was originally a Monk of St. Swithin's monastery at Winchester. His benefactions and services to Tavistock Abbey, entitle him to the name of its second founder. "Per Ordga

A. D.

Arms of the abbey-Vair, Or & Azure: on a Chief of the first, two Mullets Gules.

+ St. Rumon's festival was celebrated at Tavistock, on the 4th of January, with a fair of three days. This Saint was an Irish Bishop. The history of his life had perished before William of Malmesbury's time: probably before the Danish invasions. Vid. Gul. Malmesb. de Gest. Pont. Angl. Lib. 2. There was a Saint Rumold, Bishop of Dublin, afterwards first Bishop of Mechlin, who was murdered by two assassins in the year 775. See Sir James Ware's Hist. of the Bishops of Ireland. Edit. Dublin, 1739. p. 305. There is no other Irish Bishop, mentioned by Sir James, of a name any thing like Rumon.

rum surgendi exordium, per Livingum Episcopum crescendi accepit auspicium."--Wil. Malmes. In 1032 he was promoted to the See of Crediton. On the death of his uncle Brithwold, the Bishop of Cornwall, he succeeded in uniting that diocese in perpetuity to his own See. In 1038 King Harold appointed him to the bishopric of Worcester, which he continued to hold, with Crediton, until his death, on Sunday, 23. March, 1046. He was buried at Tavistock.

.

3. Aldred, a Monk of Winchester; succeeded Livingus, first as Abbot of Tavistock, and secondly as Bishop of Worcester. In 1060 he was translated to York, where he sat until his death, on 11. September,

4. Sistricus, who died in the spring of 5. Gaufred I., who died in

6. Wymond. He was deposed by St. Anselm, for simony, in 1102.-See Eadmeri Hist. fo. 67.

7. Osbert was Abbot in 1109.*

8. Gaufred II. was the next Abbot.

A. D.

1069

1082

1088

9. Robert de Plympton, who is supposed to have died in

1145

10. Robert Postelt, who was Abbot nine

years.

11. Waller, who is said to have died in

1174

12. Baldwin.

13. Stephen.

14. Herbert. To this Abbot, Pope Celestine

II. addressed a bull of privileges, on 29. May, 1193 -See 2. Regist. Veysey. fo. 41.

15. Jordan was appointed, I believe, in

16. William de Kernit, Prior of Otterton, was

elected Jordan's successor, in 1220. He held his

1204

dignity four years.

17. John.

18. Alan de Cornwall, who died in

19. Robert de Kitecnol.

20. Thomas, who died in

1248

1257

* We have to regret the very jejune and imperfect account of the following Abbots, until the accession of Philip Trentheful, in 1259, when we take for our guide the registers of the Exeter Bistrops.

E

21. John de Northampton, who presided during two years

A. D.

22. Philip Trentheful, a Monk of St. Swithun's Monastery, at Winchester, was con- 1259 firmed the next Abbot, in Oct.

He made his profession to Bishop Bronescombe, in the following words :-vid. Regist. fo. 8. "Ego frater Philippus, electus Abbas Ecclesie de Tavistock, promitto tibi, Pater Dne Waltere Exon Epe, tuisque successoribus canonicè intronizandis & Sancte Exoniensis Ecclesie, fidem & canonicam per omnia subjectionem."

23. Alured, confirmed Abbot on the 29. Sept. 1260 N B. Fecit professionem quam obtulit super principale Altare. Regist. Bronescombe.

24. John Chubbe succeeded, but was deposed by Bishop Bronescombe, in crastino Sancti Edmundi Regis & Martyris, (21. Nov.)

The Bishop describes him as "Monasterii bonorum dilapidator intolerabilis & manifestus, reprobates his scandalous neglect of religious discipline, and enumerates instances of his savage violence, and even sacrilege.

25. Robert, who was substituted in the place of John Chubbe, on Palm Sunday,

26. Robert Champeaux aliter Campell, succeeded in

This Abbot is highly commended for his tender piety and zeal for improvement. During his government, several parts of the Abbey were re-built, but particularly the conventual church, which is said to have been 378 feet long, without including the Lady's chapel. Bishop Stapeldon dedicated this noble church and two altars in the nave, on the 21. Aug. 1318. It was finally taken down in 1670.

On the 21. May, the same year, the Bishop had dedicated St. Eustachius' parish church, at Tavistock, which adjoined to the abbey inclo

sure.

This amiable and benevolent Abbot, with the consent of his convent, A.D. 1291, appropriated,

1269

1270

1285

for ever, the whole profits arising from an estate called Westlydeton (granted two years before to his abbey, by Sir Odo Le Arcedeakne), to the providing of the poor with clothes and shoes; the annual distribution of which was made in the cloisters, on the 2. November, the commemoration of all the Faithful departed.

In consequence of this Abbot's petition, Bishop Stapeldon approved and confirmed a perpetual chantry, to be erected in the parish church of Whitechurch, near Tavistock, for four Priests, who should be bound to celebrate the daily and nightly office, together with the service for the dead; to say three, or at least two, Requiem masses every day, besides one of our Lady. In their suffrages, they were to pray for the prosperity of the said Abbot and convent; for King Edward II. and his Queen Isabella; for the Bishop, Dean and Chapter of Exeter ; and for the founders and benefactors of Tavistock Abbey. The Superior of these Priests was to be called the Arch-priest; he was to live in common with them; and they were to be called his Socii, or Fellows. He was also to be charged with the care of the parishioners.-Vid. Stapeldon's Regist. fo. 165.

N.B. The famous charter, "De Libertatibus Comitatus Devon," granted by King John, and its confirmation by his son, Henry III., were preserved in Tavistock Abbey. Bishop Stapeldon took copies of these originals, and has inserted them fo. 152. of his register. *

A. D.

22. Robert Bonus inducted 13. June, on the recommendation of Pope John XXII. N. B. Bishop Grandisson deposed this Abbot, for contumacy and intemperate behaviour, 24. October,

1328

1333

23. John de Courtenay, substituted for Robert, 24. April,

1334

N. B. This Abbot had very little of the spirit of a religious man. He was passionately fond

*

Chapple, in p. 52. of his Review of Risdon, has given incorrect copies of these charters. Faithful transcripts may be seen (h) Appendix.

of field sports, was very conceited and foppish in his dress, and a most incurable spendthrift. During his government, discipline seems to have been banished from the convent. Frequently but two of the community were present at the regular meals in the refectory, whilst the rest were feasting sumptuously in their private chambers. From the neglect of repairs, the monastery was falling into a dilapidated state; and, moreover, was overcharged with debts. "Monasterium, quod solebat abundare divitiis & honore, erat & est oneribus debitorum usque ad MCCC libras sterlingorum & aliorum multiplicium onerum sarcina pregravatum."-Vid. I. Regist. Grandisson, fo. 134. II. Idem. fo. 217. 12. Sept. and 14. Oct. 1345.

29. Richard de Esse succeeded in 30. Stephen Langdon succeeded in 31. Thomas Cullyng, confirmed as Abbot on the 12. February,

A. D

1348

1362

1380-1

I believe this Abbot finished the campanile of the church, begun by his predecessor.

He died 11 June,

32. John May, confirmed as his successor 30. July,

He died 7. February,

33. Thomas Mede, elected 26 March, and confirmed by Bishop Lacy, 19. April,

N. B. This Abbot is accused of neglecting regular discipline, of enormous dilapidations, and of simony; but the charge appears to be exaggerated.

34. Thomas Cryspyn, elected 11. June, His death happened 5. April,

35 William Pewe, elected 2. May, confirmed Abbot 23d of that month, and died 26. Dec.

36 John Dynyngton was elected to succeed William, on the 27th of the following January, and was confirmed by Bishop Lacy, 20. February.

N. B. It appears, from 2. Rymer's Fœdera, p. 408. that this Abbot obtained a papal

1402

1421-2

1422

1442

1447

1447

1450