3. THE ABBEY OF PERSHORE
The abbey of Pershore is stated by William of
Malmesbury to have been founded by Egelward,
duke of Dorset, in the reign of King Edgar, (fn. 1)
but this is generally accepted as the date of the
re-constitution of a house already in existence
and the introduction of Benedictine monks. (fn. 2)
Leland describes the monastery as originally
founded about the year 689 by Oswald, (fn. 3) a
nephew of Ethelred, king of the Mercians, who
instituted secular canons in the new foundation,
monks being subsequently introduced, then the
canons reinstated and finally replaced by monks
through the instrumentality of King Edgar. (fn. 4)
The monastic Annals say that St. Oswald after
introducing monks at Worcester and Westbury
constituted the same at Pershore in 983, the
name of the first abbot being Foldbriht or
Fulbert. (fn. 5) According to the chronicle this holy
man, famous for the austerities he practised, was
raised from death by the prayers of St. Oswald
and declared the glorious visions he had seen
under the guidance of St. Benedict and that for
the merits of St. Oswald he had received forgiveness of sins and assurance of salvation, after
which he again expired. (fn. 6)
The charter of Edgar, dated 972, recites that
he has granted to the convent situated at Pershore
and dedicated to the ever blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of Our Lord, and the apostles SS. Peter
and Paul, all the privileges bestowed on them by
his predecessor Coenulf at the request of Duke
Beornoth with the liberty of electing a head
according to the rule of St. Benedict after the
death of Folbriht, in whose time this liberty had
been restored. The document, which runs to
great length, enumerates extensive grants of
'manses' in Pershore and elsewhere to be
restored to the possession of the monks. (fn. 7) The
monastery passed through many vicissitudes before the compilation of Domesday, and is said to
have sustained great losses amounting to 'more
than half her revenues, one part being devoured
by the ambition of the rich, another buried in
oblivion, and the greatest portion of all bestowed
by Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror on Westminster.' (fn. 8) The house was
perhaps exceptionally unfortunate; it was
several times destroyed by fire and a prey to
plunder. According to Leland it became deserted
on the first destruction by fire early in the
eleventh century, and the abbey of Westminster
stepped into the possessions of the monks. (fn. 9) The
church was rebuilt and opened in 1020. (fn. 10) The
brethren suffered severely under the depredations
of Duke Delfer, or Alphere, (fn. 11) who did great
injury to the monastic establishments of the
diocese. After a life of crime and rapine the
oppressor of the church is said to have met with
a horrible death, 'being eaten of vermin.' His
son Odda restored what his father had plundered
and vowed a vow of perpetual virginity lest a son
of his should be guilty of similar crime. (fn. 12) He
adopted the habit of a monk at Deerhurst, and
after his death in 1056 his body was carried for
burial to Pershore. (fn. 13) The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
describes him as 'a good man and pure and very
noble.' (fn. 14) Many years later, after another of these
disastrous fires which devasted Pershore, the
workmen digging in the Lady-chapel came upon
a leaden coffin containing the bones of this
'founder' and inscribed with his epitaph,
'Odda, sometime duke, in times past called Edwin
in baptism, a worshipper of God and a monk
before his death, lies here. Joy to him in peace
with Christ Our Lord. Amen.' (fn. 15) Earl Odda
or Wadda was the benefactor who purchased the
precious relics of St. Edburga and bestowed
them on the convent; in honour of this sacred
trust, which drew many pilgrims attracted by the
report of miracles performed at her shrine, the
house was from that time dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin and St. Edburga Virgin. (fn. 16)
At the time of the Domesday Survey the lands
held by the abbey comprised Hawkesbury and
Cowley in Gloucestershire, the manor of Pershore with the berewicks or hamlets of Chevington,
Abberton [Edbritone], Wadborough, Broughton,
Abberton [Edbretintune], Wick and Cumberton
containing 26 hides. The monks had a salt pan
at Droitwich yielding 36 'mits' of salt. In Beoley with Yardley the convent held 21 hides, 20
in Sture (Alderminster), 30 in Broadway, 3 in
Leigh and 5 at Mathon in the hundred of Dodingtree of which one hide lay in Herefordshire.
Payment of church scot was due to the abbey
for 300 hides, and the abbot had the right of
'forisfactura' or payment for transgression for
100 hides. (fn. 17) The value of the land in many
cases had fallen considerably since the days of
the Confessor, and many of the places mentioned
in the charter of Edgar had passed out of the
possession of the abbey. It is stated in a ledger
of the bishopric of Worcester that half the town
of Pershore with its appurtenances had been
granted to the abbot of Westminster by King
Edward. (fn. 18)
The abbot and convent obtained a charter
from King John in the first year of his reign
confirming to God and St. Mary and Blessed
Edburga Virgin and the monastery of Pershore
all their lands and possessions within the counties
of Gloucester and Worcester to be held free of
all secular service, with right of soc, sac, thol,
theam, and infangnethef, and a prohibition
addressed to the sheriff and king's officers forbad the exaction of toll or custom from the
convent and their servants. (fn. 19) Henry III. confirmed the privileges granted by his father, and in
1251 the convent obtained a charter granting
them the liberty of free warren over their
demesne lands in the manors of Pershore, Leigh,
Mathon, Alderminster, Broadway, Cowley,
Hawkesbury, and Wadborough. (fn. 20)
The Taxation of 1291 gives the abbey an income of £99 12s. 6d. derived from temporalities
in the diocese of Worcester. (fn. 21) The spiritualities, amounting to £41 2s. 10d., (fn. 22) included
£6 13s. 4d. from the altar of Holy Cross in the
southern part of the nave of the conventual
church which served the parish, and £5 from
St. Andrew's church, Pershore, said to have been
built by Edward the Confessor for the use of
the tenants of the abbot of Westminster to
whom he had made large grants in Pershore. (fn. 23)
Early in the thirteenth century a dispute seems
to have arisen between the two abbots as to
their respective rights, the abbot of Pershore
asserting that the 'atrium' of the church was
his and that the free tenants of the abbot of
Westminster had no right there; ultimately he
agreed that the abbot of St. Peter's should have
his seat where he had had it of custom. (fn. 24) The
abbot and convent of Pershore are said to have
obtained the advowson of St. Andrew's in 1241,
and to have been thus relieved 'from the
oppression of the abbot of Westminster and Guy
de Beauchamp.' (fn. 25) In addition to St. Andrew's
they appear by the end of the thirteenth century
to have presented to the churches of Broadway (fn. 26)
and Cowley (fn. 27) in Gloucestershire, Leigh, (fn. 28)
Mathon, (fn. 29) Abberton, (fn. 30) Eckington, (fn. 31) and St. Peter
the Great of Worcester. (fn. 32)
Financial difficulties induced the monks at a
comparatively early stage to supplement lessened
resources by resort to appropriation. At the
latter end of the twelfth century the archbishop
of Canterbury, Hubert Walter, bestowed on
the brethren in consideration of their poverty
the church of Hawkesbury 'in proprios usus.' (fn. 33)
Henry de Soilli is said to have granted them the
appropriation of the church of Broadway when it
should next become vacant for the maintenance
of the infirmary, (fn. 34) and the church of Mathon on
its next vacancy for the better 'procuration' of the brethren on festivals. (fn. 35) The
appropriation of the church of Alderminster,
granted about this time, was lost until restored by
bishop Giffard in 1269. (fn. 36) Eudo de Beauchamp
bequeathed the advowson of the church of HillCroome with his body to the church of SS. Mary
and Edburga of Pershore, (fn. 37) Osbert Fitz-Pontii
gave a fishery in Longney with the church of
that town. (fn. 38) Geoffrey de Chamville granted to
abbot Gervase the chapel of St. Nicholas of
'Kemerford' to provide a pittance for the monks
on the feast of St. Mary during his lifetime, and
after his death on his anniversary. (fn. 39) Among the
benefactors of the abbey special mention must be
made of Lady Constance de Leigh, who by
a charter made during her widowhood and
'after the divorce made between Geoffrey de
Avetot my kinsman and me' relinquished for
herself and her heirs all rights of stewardship
with customs and corrodies pertaining to the same
which she and her ancestors formerly enjoyed in
the abbey. (fn. 40) She also confirmed a bequest of 3s.
annual rent to the high altar of Pershore made
by her father William de Leigh, (fn. 41) and by the
consent of Mabel her mother, and after a
divorce had been 'celebrated' between herself
and Stephen de Ebroic', added the gift of a piece
of ground in Eckington to enlarge the monks'
burial ground which it adjoined. (fn. 42) During the
rule of abbot Roger, Lady Constance bequeathed
her body with the advowson of Holy Trinity
church, Eckington, in perpetuity to the monastery
and the abbot and his successors. (fn. 43) Besides the
Lady-chapel there is a mention of the chapel of
St. Michael, (fn. 44) and on St. David's Day 1514-15
Christopher Westerdall, 'gentyllman,' made a
grant for the maintenance of a daily mass called
'Seynt Johny's Masse' in the chapel of St. John
the Baptist within the conventual church. (fn. 45)
The causes of the dwindling resources which
so hampered the abbey are set forth in the
petition of the monks for the appropriation of
St. Andrew's church, Pershore. This document,
dated 1327, states that at the time of its foundation the monastery was sufficiently endowed for
the maintenance of a statutory number of
brethren, the exercise of hospitality, and the care
of the poor; a time, however, subsequently ensued
in which owing to wars and disturbances, the
power of kings and nobles, and by no fault of the
community itself, as many as thirty manors
formerly in its possession were lost, while at the
same time the charges on the hospitality of the
house had so increased on account of its situation
near the public way which attracted great
numbers of people, not only of the rich and
powerful, but also of the poor, that the brethren
found themselves unable to sustain the burden.
The scarcity of the last few years, combined with
disease and murrain among the sheep, and the
'extortion of enemies,' had so reduced the
capacity of the house that it was impossible
without extra assistance to put the church and
conventual buildings, the greater part of which
had been destroyed by fire, into repair, and the
nave of the church, the refectory, dormitory, and
guest house still lay in ruins. (fn. 46) In addition
to St. Andrew's, Pershore, the convent were
permitted in 1344 to appropriate the church of
Holy Trinity, Eckington, also of their advowson,
at the request of John de Beauchamp. (fn. 47)
In 1327 the abbot and convent received
licence to lease certain lands in Pershore with
the advowson of St. Andrew's church to Adam
de Herwynton for the term of his life. (fn. 48) After
his death, about 1345, the convent ordained a
chantry of two secular priests at the altar in the
southern part of the nave in a chapel within which
the late Adam had been buried, to pray for the
souls of Guy, late earl of Warwick, and Adam de
Herwynton, who had bequeathed a large sum of
money with certain lands and rents for this
purpose, and for the good estate of Thomas, now
earl of Warwick, and Lady Katherine, his wife,
while they lived and for their souls 'when
withdrawn from this light. (fn. 49) The yearly
observance of the anniversary of the said Adam
was set down for the last day of March. (fn. 50)
No blame seems to have attached itself to the
monks for the management of their affairs until
the middle of the fourteenth century; their misfortunes received due commiseration and their
kindness to poor travellers was much commended.
Their conduct, however, in 1340 attracted the
bishop's attention, and he wrote to the late abbot,
William de Herwynton, committing the custody
of the abbey to him, pro tem., on the ground of
reports that certain brethren, 'degenerate sons,'
were wasting its goods and creating grievous
scandal by applying them to their own licentious
pleasures. (fn. 51) The charge of alienation of property
and general mismanagement was renewed in December, 1352, but uncoupled with a hint of grosser
scandal. (fn. 52) The economic condition of the last
half of the fourteenth century was little calculated to improve the financial position of any
religious foundation, and Pope Boniface IX., in
1345, confirming the appropriation of the
churches of Broadway and St. Peter the Great of
Worcester to the abbot and convent of Pershore,
states that their monastery 'is weighed down
with debt, and their refectory and dormitory in
need of repair.' (fn. 53) This is the last reference to
the financial condition of the house until the eve
of the Dissolution.
The relations of abbot and convent with the
king, and their contact with national life, seem
of a quite normal and uneventful nature. The
abbot received letters of protection from King
John in 1200, (fn. 54) and on three occasions from
Edward I. (fn. 55) Henry III., on the occasion of the
fire which broke out on S. Urban's day, 1223,
and reduced the monastery and the greater part
of the town to cinders, (fn. 56) issued instructions for
the constable of Bristol to allow the convent
twelve trees (fusta) from the forest of Alveston
for the repair of their church and buildings,
similar contributions being laid on the forest of
Feckenham and forest of Kinver; (fn. 57) the new
church was dedicated by Walter de Cantilupe
in 1239. A similar fate overtook it in 1288;
a conflagration broke out on 22 April in the
bakehouse and brewery, spread to the bell-tower
(clocherium), and nearly consumed the whole
church. (fn. 58) Edward I., who had spent a week at
Pershore in January, 1281-2, (fn. 59) came to the
monks' assistance, and bestowed on them ten
oaks fit for timber from the forest of Dean for
rebuilding. (fn. 60) The entry in the Annals records
that on 25 June, 1299, the bishop of Llandaff
'reconciled' the church of Pershore, as the churchkeeper, deceived by the counsel of a woman, had
offered strange fire in the sacred place. (fn. 61)
A register containing an account of the estates
held of the abbey and the privileges enjoyed by
the convent was burnt during one of these fires,
and a commission was held to ascertain their
extent by the evidence of the monks. Walter
the prior stated in evidence that when Bishop
Mauger came to Pershore to ordain, he withdrew
from the monastery to the chapel of St. Andrew
within the precincts of the monks' cemetery on
being shown their customs; subsequently, on the
invitation of the brethren, he entered the convent
and ordained. On another occasion when the
said bishop was invited by the abbot and convent
to the feast of St. Edburga, he celebrated mass
and prepared to carry away the offerings, but
restored the same without gainsay on the exhibition of their privileges, by which also Abbot
Gervase claimed, and took his place at the right
hand of William de Blois when the bishop held
a synod. The prior further stated that the
bodies of all holding lands in the following places
were to be buried in the abbey:—Pershore, Pinvin, Besford, Defford, Woodmancote, Birlingham,
Pensham, Wick, Bricklehampton, the village of
Eckington, Strensham, Woolashill, Nafford, Pirton, Stoke, Naunton, Great Comberton, Peopleton, North Piddle, Abberton, Broughton Flavel,
Martin Hussingtree, Upton Snodsbury, Cowsdoun,
Broughton, Walcot, Chevington, Caldwell, Wadborough, Thornton, 'Harlega,' and Little Comberton; those who held no lands should be buried
in the churchyard of Little Comberton. Respecting the wills of the deceased, the principal
legacy should be carried before the corpse to the
church of Pershore, and having been valued by
the sacristan and the chaplain of the place to
which the dead belonged, half should belong to
the sacristan and half to the chaplains. All
offerings made in the monastery for the dead
should go to the sacristan. Further, the bodies
of the deceased should be carried to the chapel of
the place to which they belonged, and mass there
said for their souls with the exception of the
parishioners of Wick, St. Andrew, Pershore,
Bricklehampton next the church, Pinvin, Birlingham, and those of the fee of Walter de
Nafford; the oblations offered in the chapels
should belong to the chaplains. In conclusion
the prior said that he had frequently witnessed
the register, and committed its contents to
memory, and that the brethren had frequent recourse to each article referred to, being much
disturbed in the peaceful possession of their privileges, and had written them down in various
places for inspection by judges deputed by the
pope or the ordinary. Other indulgences had
been granted, but these he admitted he could
not recall. His testimony, with some variations,
was more or less confirmed by the witness of
fifteen of the monks. (fn. 62)
The abbot of Pershore was summoned in
1264 to Parliament with other prelates to confer
with Simon de Montfort on the affairs of the
kingdom, (fn. 63) and to the Parliaments held in 1295
and 1299. (fn. 64) The service of the house from the
year 1155-6 was assessed at two knights' fees. (fn. 65)
By a deed dated 1166 Reginald, abbot of Pershore, acknowledged that he held all knights'
fees of the old feoffment, and that of these
William Beauchamp held one, and Geoffrey
Blacke and Robert de Lorticote half a knight's
fee each of the abbot. (fn. 66) In all burdens incident to their position the abbot and convent of
Pershore bore their due share, respectable but
wholly commonplace.
The king exercised the royal prerogative of
imposing pensioners on the house, though it may
be questioned whether this imposition was claimed
as of right or conceded as by request. The abbot
of Pershore in Michaelmas Term, 1813, appeared
in suit before Edward II. respecting a corrody,
and stated that John Beauchamp, Hugh de Cokesay, and John le Blake held the manors of
Beoley, Yardley, Goldicote, and Walcot from the
abbot by the service of two knights, and that he
held them of the king in chief by the said service
quit of all other charge. (fn. 67) Stephen le Prest, of
Ripley, was sent in May, 1309, to the convent
to receive maintenance for himself and one
groom, (fn. 68) and in 1318 William de Rampton,
yeoman of the king's pantry, who had long
served the late king, was sent to receive for life
the same allowance as Richard Fytel had received
in his lifetime. (fn. 69) William del Putte, serjeant of
the queen's buttery, was similarly sent in
December, 1329, to the abbey in place of Robert
Squier, deceased. (fn. 70) In connexion with this last
grant an entry in the patent rolls states that the
king made a concession to the abbot and convent
that it should not prejudice them in future nor be
drawn into a precedent. (fn. 71) A few years later,
however, Thomas de Mussenden, king's yeoman,
after long and faithful service, was sent to receive
the maintenance which the late William del
Putte had received 'at the late king's request.' (fn. 72)
In accordance with recent legislation, Edward III.
by letters patent in 1340 granted to the abbot
and convent that on the occasion of a vacancy by
the death, cession, or resignation of the abbot,
the custody of the house with the temporalities
and goods should devolve into the hands of the
prior with full administration of the same, saving
to the king and his heirs knights' fees and advowsons of churches, and paying for each vacancy
that should occur £36 for a period of two months
and for a longer time in proportion. It was
enacted also that at the commencement of any
vacancy the sheriff, escheator, or king's officer
should take a simple seisin within the gate
of the monastery and then retire, nor should
he remain longer than one day for the purpose of
taking seisin. (fn. 73) By the payment of a fine of £10
the convent obtained a confirmation of the grant
from Richard II. in 1379. (fn. 74)
The position of the abbot of Pershore from
early days was an important one in ecclesiastical
circles, and he receives frequent mention during
the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The abbey
of Pershore was included in a federation which,
according to a document dated 1022, contained
in the chartulary of Bath Abbey, united the
abbots of Evesham, Chertsey, Bath, Pershore,
Winchcomb, and Gloucester, and the dean of
Worcester, in a bond of agreement pledged to
abide by the Benedictine rule, and to live as if all
seven monasteries were one monastery, 'quasi cor
unum et anima una.' The members of each
community should be received as brethren whilst
living, and after death benefit by the prayers of
all. (fn. 75) The abbots of Gloucester, Tewkesbury,
Winchcomb, and Pershore when they were
blessed were bound to provide entertainment for
the cathedral convent of Worcester or pay 40s.;
the sacristan of Worcester should receive from
them vestment and cope. (fn. 76) These dues are recorded to have been paid in 1198 and in 1234. (fn. 77)
On the benediction of William de Leigh, early
in 1290, the sacristan received his 'baudekin'
and vestment 'de serico cum arbouribus,' but the
usual entertainment was excused on account of
the late fire. (fn. 78)
The efforts of the heads of the community
during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were
directed towards lessening the burdens incident to
their poverty, and adjusting the affairs of each
department in the house. An early entry records
that Abbot Wido or Guido assigned the manor
of Hawkesbury to the monks for the augmentatation of their kitchen and to provide clothing. (fn. 79)
Abbot Gervase confirmed the grant, but reserved
to himself and his successors the right of presentation to the vicarage, homage, reliefs etc., and
of visiting the church once a year, with entertainment for himself and twelve horsemen for
four days, including the day of arrival. (fn. 80) Abbot
Eler added a proviso that any increase in the
issues should be applied to the office where need
should appear greatest; 40s. out of Longney
was to be expended in procuring herrings for the
brethren during Lent. (fn. 81) An interesting entry
states that Richard, abbot of Whitby, bestowed
on the church of Pershore for the sake of Abbot
Simon, 'monk of our church,' a toft with houses
within the borough for the curing of his fish,
with as much wood as should be required. (fn. 82) The
anniversaries to be observed by the brethren include that of Abbot Simon, whose obit was
ordained to be kept on the same day as that of
his father, Maurice de Ambersley, (fn. 83) and the anniversary of Abbot Gervase, who decreed that on
his obit 10s. should be expended in wine and a
pittance for the monks, and 10s. in food for the
poor, and the almoner, out of certain rents, of
which one mark was bestowed in perpetual alms
with Walter de Fonte 'our monk,' should find
the abbot and his successors 10s. to be distributed
annually to thirty poor persons on Maunday
Thursday at the 'mandatum,' and 4d. to be bestowed by each monk on two poor people, and
half a mark to clothe and shoe the brother deputed
annually in succession to pray for the soul of the
abbot, with a daily allowance from the kitchen. (fn. 84)
The convent confirming the aforesaid ordination
recorded that Abbot Gervase 'ruled this place
well and nobly for thirty years, and repaired it
after its destruction by fire, and relieved it of
debt beyond the ability of the convent, plunged
in poverty, to pay, and acquired for it further
lands and possessions.' (fn. 85) The anniversary of
their benefactor Lady Constance de Leigh was
ordained by Abbot Roger, (fn. 86) and in 1249 the
abbot and convent granted an anniversary to
Roger de Wigorn', prior of Pershore, and about
the same time to the precentor, Richard de
Wendelburgh, and Sampson de Bromsgrove,
rector of Stoke, who bestowed rents on the convent for the provision of lights for the high altar
and the Lady-chapel. (fn. 87) Abbot Eler obtained
from Walter de Cantilupe the restoration of
certain tithes within the parish, and ordained
that these should be expended in augmenting the
monks' brewery, and for the yearly observance
of his own anniversary on the feast of St. Elerius
Martyr. (fn. 88) The anniversary of Henry de Bideford
who augmented the goods of the house, and obtained the restoration of the church of Alderminster, was ordained by William de Leigh to
be observed on the vigil of St. Martin 'in hieme'
(11 November), and the anniversary of Henry de
Caldwell on 2 March. (fn. 89)
The abbey of Pershore appears to have been
diligently visited by the bishop of Worcester, or,
in the case of a vacancy, by the prior of Worcester.
Bishop Giffard showed himself a kind, but stern,
disciplinarian; during the first year of his rule he
restored to the community the church of Alderminster for the maintenance of hospitality and of
the infirm monks. (fn. 90) In December, 1269, he
issued a mandate to compel the abbot and cellarer
of Pershore to make satisfaction for the goods of
the late rector of Broadway which they had
carried off. (fn. 91) The bishop paid as many as five
recorded visits to the abbey in the course of his
rule, (fn. 92) but with the exception of a list of corrections published after a visitation in 1284 no
comment is recorded which throws light on the
internal condition of the house. In that year,
after notifying the abbot and convent of his
intention to visit them, (fn. 93) the bishop arrived at
the monastery on the Vigil of the Feast of
St. Edburga, and remained two days at the
charge of the convent. (fn. 94) His amendments denote a somewhat lax discipline. The brethren
were admonished to apply themselves more to
the divine offices, and to have the door of the
cloister more carefully kept to prevent the
entrance of seculars 'whereby a stumblingblock is prepared for those contemplating Christ.'
The sick and infirm should receive more attention,
and a certain ancient custom as to corn for the
bread and ale of the convent should be commuted.
The abbot was enjoined, other things permitting,
to sit in the cloister alone, and Brother Henry
de Winchcomb being rather suited for performing
divine offices than to attend to matters outside
the convent, was ordered to reside within the
cloister henceforth. The obedientiaries were
reminded of the duty of rendering strict and
regular accounts. (fn. 95) In a list of complaints formulated towards the close of his rule, Giffard was
charged with exacting procuration of more than
30 marks during a visitation of Pershore, and of
taking the gift of a palfrey. The bishop in
his reply stated that he had not exceeded the
customary procuration in food and drink, and
had been presented with a foal by the abbot. (fn. 96)
Visitations carried out by the successors of
Giffard are duly recorded, (fn. 97) but between the
years 1284 and 1340 afford no light as to the
management of the house. The abbot and
convent received a licence from Bishop Cobham
to have the cemetery of their church reconciled
from effusion of blood and homicide. (fn. 98) In the
last year of his rule the bishop addressed a friendly
letter to the abbot requesting that he would
make the bearer, Walter de Chalgrove, porter
within the abbey, the office of which had fallen
vacant. (fn. 99) The scandalous behaviour of the
monks necessitated the recall of their late abbot
in 1340, as has been already mentioned. On
his resignation, Thomas de Pyriton was appointed
by the bishop in consequence of the double
election made by the convent of him and brother
Robert de Lutlenton. (fn. 100) The number of brethren
about that time appears to have been thirty
according to a letter, dated 1346, purporting to
be signed by all the convent. (fn. 101) At the time of
the Dissolution it had fallen to about twenty.
The abbot and convent were warned by
Bishop Thoresby in December, 1352, after a
recent visitation made by his official, not to
alienate their property, and admonished to
observe the ordination of the bishop's deputy
of a special allowance of 2d. a day per head in
lieu of provision from the kitchen 'until the
faculties of the house should have increased.' (fn. 102)
A copy of the bull of Pope Innocent VI. for the
visitation of houses within the diocese 'not
exempt' was appended to a notice of impending
visitation, and the procuration to be required
forwarded to the abbey in 1357. (fn. 103) The commissioners of the prior of Worcester visited the
monastery during a vacancy on 24 April, 1364,
and received procuration in food and drink. (fn. 104) In
1392 Bishop Wakefield deputed the abbot of
Pershore to perform the ceremony of 'blessing'
a widow. (fn. 105)
The accounts of visitations in the fifteenth and
early sixteenth centuries are mostly without colour
or interest. (fn. 106) In 1412 Bishop Peverell forwarded
a list of injunctions to the convent in lieu of visitation. The brethren were admonished therein to
study to make their lives conformable to the rule
of blessed Benedict, to quit vain talk and contentious heresies, and to celebrate masses for the
souls of their founders, and keep their names in
remembrance. The bishop reminded them of
the rule forbidding a good religious to hold
personal possessions, and directed that Brother
W. B., who contrary to rule held the offices of
prior and sacristan, should be absolved from the
latter and summoned to make a faithful report
of his receipts. (fn. 107) Abbot William Newenton
appears in some manner to have given rise to
scandal in 1426. The bishop ordered him to
be admitted to purgation on a specific charge
of incontinence. (fn. 108) From this ordeal he issued
triumphant, and his defamer, John Lockyer,
was cited to appear before the bishop, who
imposed public penance on him in the cathedral
of Worcester and the conventual church of
Pershore. (fn. 109) Bishop Carpenter paid two visits to
the abbey. On the first occasion he arrived at
Pershore on Wednesday, 14 October, 1461, and
was received in state and with great reverence
by the community, and remained at the convent
till Friday morning; his visitation sermon was
preached by Master William Mogys. A list of
special injunctions was issued to the abbot; but,
unfortunately, their contents are not stated. (fn. 110)
The bishop remained at the abbey from Friday,
24 April, until the following Tuesday in the
year 1467, and received procuration in food and
drink, a special mandate being issued for his
visitation. (fn. 111) A monk of Pershore received a
dispensation from the pope in 1468 enabling
him to accept a benefice with cure of souls. (fn. 112)
In 1478 the brethren admitted Bishop Alcock
into their fraternity in return for his kindness,
and ordained that he should participate in all their
spiritual exercises and devotions, and after death
that a special mass should be said yearly for his
soul, with 'dirige' and 'placebo.' (fn. 113) Alcock visited
the abbey on Friday, 11 January, 1481-2, but
left the following day. (fn. 114) His successor, Morton,
visited the convent Friday, 10 June, 1491, and
preached in the chapter house; he remained at
the abbey till the following Monday. (fn. 115) The
abbey, in common with other religious houses,
was visited at no infrequent intervals by the
vicars-general of the Italian prelates who followed. The duration of these visits, during
which they were entertained by the convent,
was commonly of three days; no record is
preserved of the state and condition of the
houses thus visited. (fn. 116)
Entries of the grant of corrodies and annuities,
the right of which seems to have remained in
the hands of the crown, occur towards the close
of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth
centuries. In 1478 an annuity of 26s. 8d. was
made to a certain John Usher. (fn. 117) In the first
year of the reign of Henry VIII. John Ashkyrke,
yeoman of the Wardrobe of Beds, received the
grant of a corrody lately held in the abbey by
John Young, deceased. (fn. 118) The convent obtained
a licence from Henry VIII. in May, 1512, to
appropriate the rectory of Mathon with the
portion of Chokynhill of their own patronage. (fn. 119)
In 1514 the convent, probably at this time heavily
in debt, consolidated the rents for the endowment
of the chantry of Adam de Herwynton of two
chaplains, and ordained that in future it should
be served by one only. (fn. 120) William Compton,
who succeeded to the rule of the house in 1504,
appears to have been an ecclesiastic of the type
represented by William Moore, the last but one
of the priors of Worcester; his name occurs in
the list of justices of the peace for Worcester
and Gloucester in 1512 and 1514 (fn. 121) ; he was
evidently popular in the county, and probably
took a share in all local doings and events. At
the same time his lax government and profuse
expenditure added much to the difficulties of
his successor. He resigned in 1526, and on
30 September John Stonywell, bishop of Polizzi,
received the royal assent to his election. (fn. 122)
The history and personality of the last abbot
of Pershore is an interesting and notable one.
He is said to have been born in the parish of
Longdon, Staffordshire, in a small hamlet called
Stonywell. In accordance with the early bent
of his mind, he was educated in a Benedictine
monastery, probably Pershore, and from thence
sent to Gloucester College, Oxford, where the
monks of Pershore had an apartment for their
novices. He became in later years 'prior' of
this college, and was noted for his learning and
blameless life. (fn. 123) He was already bishop of Polizzi
when a patent for his election to Pershore was
granted by Henry VIII. The task set before
him was no light one. He found the abbey,
he said, loaded with debt which had been
accumulated by his predecessor, offices granted
for which no services had either been exacted
or returned, and his efforts to lift the house out
of this condition, to free it from debts, some of
which under the circumstances he considered
not binding, and to redeem its offices, earned
him the opposition of the tenants and the hatred
of the inhabitants of Pershore. He had to meet
incessant demands from his predecessor for
pension deferred, the insidious attacks of enemies and detractors, and constant pressure from
the court party on whom he had relied for
support.
The letter written by Richard Beerley, monk
of Pershore, to Cromwell in 1536, even allowing
for exaggeration, points to a very sad and unsatisfactory condition in the monastery. The writer,
addressing it to the 'Most reverent lord in God,
second person in this realm of England,' states
that 'it is grudging in his conscience that the
religion they keep is no rule of St. Benet nor
commandment of God nor of any saint, but light
and foolish ceremonies . . . and let the precepts
of God go.' He has done this for six years, and
it grieves his conscience that he has been a dissembler so long, supposes this religion is all vainglory and nothing worthy to be accepted before
God or man, has a secret thing on his conscience
which moves him to go out of the religion were
it ever so perfect, which no man may know but
his ghostly father, who shall know of it hereafter,
and many other foul vices done amongst religious
men. He begs the commissioner to help him
out of this vain religion and make him his
'servant, handemayd, and beydman,' promising
to tell him how the king's commandment is
kept in putting forth from books the bishop of
Rome's usurped power. The monks, he continues, drink and bowl 'after collacyon until ten
or twelve of the clock and come to matins as
dronck as "myss" (mice), and some at cards and
some at dice and at tables. Some come to
matins at the beginning, some in the midst, and
some when it is almost done; and they would
not come at all but for the bodily punishment,
"nothyng for God's sayck." (fn. 124) This was not
the only blow struck at the house or its head.
On 22 April, 1538, information was lodged with
my Lord Privy Seal by William Harrison, groom
of the King's Privy Chamber,' of such words as
the abbot of Pershore did speak at his table . . .
sounding to treason.' The substance of the
charge being: first, that the abbot in conversation with Mr. Ralph Sheldon (one of his most
determined opponents by the way) on 'the
usurpation of the Church of Rome,' said, inclining
himself over the table: ' I trust as I pray God
that I may die one of the chynderne of Rome;'
and, further: 'I will prove that he is accursed
that withstondyth a power,' giving for his proof
this text: 'Omnis potestas a Deo est, quia a Deo
ordinatæ sunt.' Secondly, that in reference to
the pestilence which was then raging the abbot
remarked: 'As for us in this country we be
smitten with the plagues of David for David's
offences . . . God be merciful to us.' (fn. 125)
That the suppression of the house already
determined (fn. 126) would be unopposed by the muchtried man appears evident in his letter to Cromwell in February, 1538-9, in which he expresses
his willingness to resign and 'entreats' of a
pension, (fn. 127) because he has borne all charges of his
monastery from Michaelmas to the Annunciation next, prays he may have this half-year's
rent, and then he will leave the house out of
debt which he found indebted over £1,000. In
the light of past services he begs to have this
considered in his pension, and that he may have
a house and his monks' pensions according to
their virtues; he also petitions for leave to have
his books and 'favour for his trusty servant the
bearer.' (fn. 128) According to the Valor of 1535 the
net income of the abbey amounted at that time
to £643 4s. 5d. (fn. 129) The pension list, dated January, 1539-40, assigned the following pensions to
the dispossessed monks: John Stonywell, bishop
of Polizzi, abbot, £160 with the gallery, new
lodgings adjoining it, a garden, two orchards
'with the pools in the same'; (fn. 130) the prior
£13 6s. 8d., sub-prior £10, almoner £9, fermerer £8, four others, of whom the cellarer was
one, £6 13s. 4d. each, John Glyn £7, and four
others the sum of £6 each. (fn. 131)
Abbots Of Pershore.
Foldbriht or Fulbert (fn. 132) 983, died 988.
Bricthegn or Brihteah occurs 1032, (fn. 133) made
bishop of Worcester 1033. (fn. 134)
Edmund, died 1085. (fn. 135)
Turstin, died 1087. (fn. 136)
Guido or Wido, deposed 1102, (fn. 137) died 1137. (fn. 138)
William, elected 1138. (fn. 139)
Thomas, occurs between 1145-1153. (fn. 140)
Reginald, occurs 1157, (fn. 141) died 1174. (fn. 142)
Simon, elected 1175, died 1198. (fn. 143)
Anselm, elected 1198, died 1203. (fn. 144)
Gervase, elected 1204, died 1234. (fn. 145)
Roger, elected 1234, died 1250-1. (fn. 146)
Eler, elected 1251, (fn. 147) resigned 1264. (fn. 148)
Henry de Bideford, elected 1265. (fn. 149)
Henry de Caldwell, elected 1274, (fn. 150) died
1289-90. (fn. 151)
William de Leigh, elected 1290, (fn. 152) died
1307. (fn. 153)
William de Herwynton, elected 1307, (fn. 154)
resigned 1340. (fn. 155)
Thomas de Pyriton, appointed 1340, (fn. 156) died
1349.
Peter de Pendock, elected 1349.
Peter de Broadway, elected 1363, died
1379. (fn. 157)
Thomas de Upton, elected 1379. (fn. 158)
William de Newenton, elected 1413.
Edmund Hert, elected 1456, resigned 1479.
Robert Stanwey, elected 1479.
John Pibleton, elected 1497.
William Compton, elected 1504, resigned
1526.
John Stonywell, elected 1526, (fn. 159) surrendered
1539-40.
The pointed oval twelfth-century seal of the
abbey, (fn. 160) chipped at the point, represents the Virgin
with crown seated on a carved throne; on her left
knee the Child with nimbus, lifting up his right
hand in benediction; in her right hand is a
sceptre fleur-de-lizé. At the left side of her head
is a crescent, on the right an estoile of six points.
St. Paul stands on the left holding a sword erect
by the point, St. Peter on the right holding two
keys; over the head of each an estoile, over the
keys a quatrefoil. In base under a trefoiled
arch St. Edburga, three-quarters length, in her
right hand a chalice, in her left an open book.
On each side an estoile. Legend:—
[+ SIG]ILL . BEATE . MARIE . ET. SBĒ
EADB [VRGE] . VIRGINIS. PSORENSIS . ECLES[IE]
The pointed oval counterseal of the thirteenth century (fn. 161) represents the Virgin with crown, turned
to the right, seated on a throne; the Child with
beaded nimbus is in her arms, before her
St. Edburga kneeling in adoration. Legend:—
+ SIGIL'M . SBE. MARIE . ET . SB.
EADBVRGE . VIRG . PSOR
The pointed oval seal of Roger de Radeby, abbot,
1234-1251, (fn. 162) represents the abbot, full-length,
having in his right hand a pastoral staff, in his left
hand a book. Legend:—
+ SIGILL' RO . . . . . . . . DEI GSA .
. . BATIS PERSORE