ment and behaviour of the votaries of both sexes, that their enormities might be discovered, or rather that their houses might be dissolved, and their lands confiscated." That he was a time serving politician, and callous to moral and religious principles, when his interest was concerned, it would be folly to deny. But still he is much to be commended for his grateful attachment to Exeter College, in Oxford, where he had received his education; as also for his resolution to resign all rectories, or appropriated tithes and glebes, to their first spiritual uses; and for his readiness to make immediate restitution for that purpose. See Bishop White Kennet's Parochial Antiquities, p. 671. a work most admirable for its perspicuity, candour, and elaborate research. BUCKLAND ABBEY.* T THIS abbey, seated on the Eastern banks of the Tavy, was founded in honor of our Lady and St. Benedict, in the year 1278, by Amicia, Countess of Devon. For this new foundation she obtained a colony of Cistercian monks, from Quarrer, in the Isle of Wight. These Religious, without the previous licence and approbation of Walter Bronescombe, the Bishop of Exeter, presumed to celebrate mass, and to exercise their functions. The Bishop resented this trespass on his diocesan jurisdiction, and subjected the community to excommunication and suspension. But he soon relieved them from this penalty, at the solicitation of the Queen Eleanor. Vid. fo. 96-97. Reg. Bronescombe. I. Walterus, Dei grâ, Exon Epus dilecto filio Officiario suo, salutem, gratiam & benedictionem. Cum ad instanciam & peticionem Serenissime Dne, Dne Aleanore Regine Anglie, dudum vobis scripserimus, ut suspensionis seu interdicti sententias in Monachos de Boclond Cystercien. Ordinis, seu loca sua, pro eo quod iidem Monachi in Diocesi Nostrâ absque auctoritate nostrâ seu licentiâ, Diyina celebrare presumpserunt, latas seu promulgatas relaxaretis, permittentes eosdem Divina celebrare, usque ad festum Pentecostis, ut quousque cum dictâ Dnâ nrâ Regina colloquium haberemus personale; ejusdem Dne nostre precibus iterum inclinati, vobis mandamus, quatenus eosdem Monachos usque ad quindenam Sci Michaelis proximè venturi Divina ibidem liberè * Arms, Quarterly Argent & Gules, a Crosier, in bend, Or. celebrare permittatis, ullam nemini eorum inferentes molestiam vel gravamen. Datum London, 6. Kal. Junii, A. D. 1280. II. Universis &c. Walterus, &c. miseracione Divinâ Exon Epus. Ad universitatis vestre notitiam volumus pervenire, quod nos Interdictum factum in Abbaciâ de Boclond, nostre Diocesis de novo fundatâ, tenore presencium relaxamus; & concedimus quod Abbas & Monachi Cysterciensis Ordinis ibidem commorantes Divina ibidem licitè celebrare & que Ordinis Cisterciensis, sunt, secundum regulam Sci Benedicti liberè exercere valeant, jure, honore & dignitate Episcopali & Ecclesie Exon, in omnibus semper salvis. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum presentibus fecimus apponi. Datum apud Teynton* Episcopi, in festo Beate Marie Magdalene A. D. 1280, & Consecrationis nostre 23°. I regret that I cannot present the reader with the regular succession of the Abbots of Buckland.-The following names and institutions are extracted from the Registers: 7. Thomas Olyver succeeded 20. March, 8. John Brundon followed. 1463 9. Thomas Whyte, was the next Abbot, and was alive in 1527 John Toker, or Tucker, was the last Abbot. The yearly revenues of Buckland Abbey were valued at £241. 17. 94.; though some have rated them as high as £341 per annum. Abbas de Bocclond habet Manerium de £ s. d 16 2 8 It is very certain, that the Bishops of Exeter had a palace at Bishop's Teignton, long before the time of Grandisson. In the early part of his Episcopacy, he states to Pope John XXII. the existence of pulcra edificia at Bishop's Teignton; but does not insinuate that he had erected them, This Abbey had also very considerable property in Bampton. The following pensions were granted to the Religious, 28. April, 31. Hen. VIII. :— £. s. d. ....... 4 13 4 William Myllford.. Sir William Pole, in p. 337. of his Collections, mistakes the order of the occupants of this dissolved monastery. The scite then was first granted 33. Hen. VIII. to Richard Greynfeld, and "four years after" it was conveyed to "Richard" Crymes, of London. In the time of Queen Elizabeth, it was purchased by Sir Francis Drake, in a descendant of whose family it still continues. I have seen an indenture made between the Abbot, Thomas White, and Robert Derkeham, organist. It is dated 28. May, 1522. The Abbot engages to pay Robert an annuity of £2. 13. 4; to provide him a decent table; to allow a furnished room over the West gate of the monastery, and a G gown, every year, of the value of 12s. He further engages to Robert the reversion of a tenement at Milton, then occupied by John Brooke; and, in the mean while, to provide a decent dwelling-house garden, the moiety of the rent to be paid by Robert Derkeham, who is however to have the feeding of two cows, until he obtains possession of John Brooke's tenement. Robert is also to be allowed five ounces of bread and a quart of beer every night throughout the year; a wax candle from 1. Nov. until 2. Feb.; and thirty horse-loads of faggots for his fire. In consideration of all this, the said Robert is to assist in the choir every day during divine service, and to teach four boys of the convent, any one of whom he may choose, to wait upon him as his servant. He further engages to instruct the boys, and those monks who may wish to learn, in the art of music and playing the organ. N. B. This indenture was admitted and allowed by the Augmentation Court, 18. Dec. 1540. The editor of "the Beauties of England," vol. 4. p. 14. Art. Devon, remarks, that the Abbey of Bucland is said to have planted the earliest orchards in the county. |
