A view of Northumberland with an excursion to the abbey of Mailross in Scotland. By W. Hutchinson: [pt.2]

ALNWICK ABBEY,

now the seat of Michael Doubleday, Esq. This was formerly an Abbey of Premonstratensian Canons, (Dugdale calls it a Priory) dedicated to St. James and the blessed Virgin. It was founded in 1147, by Eustace Fitz John, who by his marriage with Beatrix the daughter of Ivo de Vesey, became Lord of the barony of Alnwick. He endowed it amply.

The charter of foundation, included in a confirmatory charter of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, is addressed to William de Sta Barbara, Bishop of Durham. Among the souls for whose benefit it was erected, is mentioned that of Ivo de Vesci. Dugdale and Stephens do not agree touching the time when this order of Religious came first into England. From Dugdale's authority, it is said that the first of that order came to settle at Alnwick in the year 1147; but Stephens, from the authority of Raynerus, says the order first came over in 1146, and settled at Newhouse, in Lincolnshire, in their monastery built by Peter de Saulia, dedicated to St. Martialis.

In the chronicle of this house, preserved in the library of King's Col∣lege, Cambridge, there is an account of a Banquet given by Walter de Hepescotes, the Abbot, A. D. 1376, on the day of the assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary, to Henry the 4th Lord of Alnwick, with the 13 fol∣lowing Knights, William de Acon, Richard Tempest, Walter Blount, Allan de Heton, John Coniers, John Heron, John Littleburum, Thomas de Ilderton, Thomas de Boynton, Ingram de Umfravil, John de Dichaunt, John de Swyn∣ton, Radulphus de Viners, and many others of the chief gentry of the country, amounting to 120, all entertained in the refectory; beside 86 at a second repast. The cloisters too were filled with inferior people of all ages, to the number of 1020, who were likewise there feasted.

It appears from the same authority, that divers of the Percys were in∣terred here; particularly Henry the second Lord of Alnwick, who died in 1351: Henry the third Lord, who bestowed on the Monks 100l. at his death, A. D. 1368; also Mary his wife, daughter of the Earl of Lancas∣ter. Henry the fourth Lord of Alnwick, A. D. 1372, was admitted in the month of February to the Brotherhood of this Chapter, together with divers other Knights and Esquires; as also, in the succeeding year, Henry his eldest son, with his two brothers, Thomas and Radulphus.

During the Abbacy of Walter de Hepescotes, this house was afflicted with a great scarcity, together with a pestilence, whereby all the cattle belonging to the monastery were destroyed. In this chronicle the fol∣lowing Abbots are mentioned: John, who died in 1350; Walter, who resigned his office in 1362, and was succeeded by Robert; and Walter de Hepescotes, A. D. 1376.†

The Abbot of this house was summoned to the parliaments of the 23d, 24th, 28th, 32d, and 34th of King Edward I. also to that held at

Carlisle, 35th of the same reign; and to the parliament of the 19th King Edward II.

At the dissolution the revenues of this house were valued at 189l. 15s. by Dugdale, and 194l. 7s. by Speed, there being then 13 Canons. King Edward VI. in the 4th year of his reign, granted the scite to Sadler and Winnington. It came afterwards to the possession of the Brandling fa∣mily, and the Doubledays from whom the present owner is descended, derived their title by purchase from the Brandlings. This is a sweet though deep retirement, on the banks of Aln, defended by lofty hills to the north and west.

[figure] depiction of Alnwick Abbey gateway

ALNWICK ABBEY GATEWAY

There are no remains of the Abbey, but a Gateway and Tower, which by the architecture and arms sculptured upon the building, shew it is of much more modern date than the foundation of the house. This tower is not square, but oblong, having an exploratory turret on each corner. The north side is ornamented with a nich, canopy'd, capable of receiving a statue five feet high: most probable it contained the effi∣gies of the dedicatory Virgin. Beneath is a figure of an angel in relief, with expanded wings. Over this entrance are shields of arms, a cross, supposed to be the arms of the Veseys, and a cross molin. On the south side, in a nich, is the figure of one of the Religious, of the order of White Friars of Premonstratenses, in his proper habilament, in pretty good preservation. This front is ornamented with shields of arms, the arms of Brabant adopted by the Percys, with the arms of Lucys quar∣terly, the principal; and also the arms of Vesey.

A gate opens to the east, on each side of which are the figures of cherubs supporting armorial shields: on this front is also a canopy and nich for a statue. Here are the arms of Brabant and the arms of Lucys on separate shields. At this entrance, as also on the north side, were machicolations; and in the center of the arching of the gateway is a square aperture, from whence the possessors could annoy assailants. The masonry of this tower is excellent; the gates of lattice braced with iron still remain.

Above the gate going into the court of the house, is an escutcheon of white marble, much injured by the weather, but retaining some marks of the Sculptor, to distinguish that it once contained the crest of the Doubledays, an arm in armour suspending a mullet. The antiquity of this piece has been much doubted, but the materials determine that point clearly.

This seat of the Doubleday family has nothing very singular to mark it, but the beauty of the retirement, under the hanging woods of the river Aln. The ground plot of the religious house is now included in the orchard; the ruins of which probably afforded materials for the pre∣sent mansion; but there are not the least remains to denote the exact scite of the monastic buildings, or the place of interment of the illustri∣ous personages before mentioned.

Solemn situations like this, and the ruins of religious houses, always affect my mind with a degree of languishment. Such a seclusion, such a retirement, would have filled my wish. The life of the Ecclesiastic is most desirable, and seems calculated to be the happiest. No natural tendency to indolence and ease prompts this determination; but the se∣renity of a Churchman's life, under the entire preclusion of all worldly concerns, affords that tranquillity of mind, so necessary to contemplation and study, to philosophic researches, and divine meditation—without the poison of ambition, some minds can enjoy a mediocrity with con∣tent—without an impertinent wish to intermeddle with public affairs, some men can sit within the little mansion, busied only in pious duties and contemplations; and amidst domestic peace, living each day, in gratitude for the enjoyment of the rural beauties of some sylvan scene, the plain, the mead, the grotto, and the stream—call it luxury: but the busy world incessantly rolls the heavy wheels of care too near my threshold—I am frequently induced to adopt Horace's description:

[figure]

[figure] depiction of Warkworth Castle

WARKWORTH CASTLE.

Agricolam laudat juris legumque peritus, Sub Galli cantum, Consultor ubi Ostia pulsat.

And a thousand times am induced to follow his precept,

—Rebus omissis, Atria servantem postico falle clientem.

We passed from Alnwick Abbey to

Notes

• The village of Hincliff with its demesnes and wastes, with the service of half the tenants. Two parts of the tythes of the Lordship of Tughall, of Alnham, Heysend and Chatton. One moiety of the tythes of Wooler, of Long Houghton and Lesbury. He annexed to it the Priory and Church of Gysnes near Felton, dedicated to St. Wilfred, to hold in pure alms with all its privi∣leges and endowments; a moiety of the tythes and two bovats of land at Gyson, the church of Halgh or Haugh, the lands of Ridley and Morewick Hough, the liberty of erecting a Corn Mill on the river Coquet, and of raising as much Corn on his wastes there as they could plough, with liberty to grind it at his own mill, mulcture free. He also gave the Canons for their table, the tenth part of all the ••enison and pork killed in his parks and forests, and of all the fish taken in his fishery by his order, and a salt work at Warkworth.

  William de Vesey his son gave them advowsons of Chatton, Chillingham, and Alnham. They also held the advowsons and appropriations of St Dunstans, in Fleet-street, London, and of Sckenfield in Yorkshire. They had 24 acres of Turbary, and liberty of pasturage on Edlingham Common; Lands at Chatton and Falloden: Also four Tenements and a Garden in Newcastle upon Tyne.

  Grose and Wallis.
• Grose.
• †

  The following list of Abbots is given by Browne Willis. "Thomas Alnwicke occurs Abbot, A. D. 1432 and 1437. Patric Gale, A. D. 1491, in Henry the Seventh's time, when there were accounted 22 religious in this Convent. William Harrison was last Abbot; he surren∣dered his Convent 22d December, A. D. 1540, 31st King Henry VIII. and had a pension of 50l. per annum, which he enjoyed in 1553, in which year there remained in charge 2l. 6s. 8d. in annuities, and these following pensions. Robert Forster 5l. 6s. 8d. Roger Spence 5l. Robert Baker 5l. Richard Miller 6l. James Samsenne 5l. John Hochinson 5l. William Hudsonne 5l. William Saunderson 1l. and Richard Wheteley 1l.

  To which we may add,

  	Abbots.
  Not. Mon.	Baldwin 1st Abbot, ao	1152
  Robert el.	1167
  Gilbert
  Gaufridus
  Adam	1208
  P— oc. in cro S. Michs.	1224
  Ib.	Wilhelmus	1263
  	John died	1350
  	Walter res.	1362
  	Robert succeeded	1362
  	Walter de Heppescotes	1376
  Willis	Thomas Alnwycke oc.	1532 and 37.
  Tunstal, p. 8.	Roger Acton made his proof of obedience Oct. 28, 1531.
  Ib. p. 5.	Dns Will. Halton el. Sep. 4. 1532 p. mort. Dni Acton.
  Rhymer.	He made his profession of obedience to the Bishop of Durham
  	Sep. 22d following, and was the last Abbot.

  Randal's Manuscripts.

  MCXLVII

  Hoc anno ordo Praemonstratensis venit ad Alnewic, ubi primus Abbas Baldewinus.

  Lel. Col. vol. 3. p. 73.
• An Abbey of Praemonstratensian Canons founded by Eustace Fitz John, A. D. 1147. It was dedicated to the blessed Virgin, and valued 26th Hen. VIII. at 189l. 15s. by Dugd. 194l. 7s. Speed; about which time there were 13 Canons. The site of this house was granted 4 Edw. VI. to Ralph Sadler and Lawrence Winnington.

  Vide in Mon. Angl. Tom. 2. Diploma Henry Percy com Northumbriae, recit, & confirm. cartam fundationis: Cartas tres Will. de Vesey filii Eustachii; unam pro Eccl. de Chetton; alteram pro Eccl. de Chaulingham; tertiam pro Eccl. de Alncham. p. 592. Stemma fundato∣ris ex rol. escaet. 8 Edw. II. in cedula.

  In Bourn's History of Newcastle, p. 142. of four tenements and a garden in Newcastle, be∣longing to this Abbey.

  In Newcourt's Repertorium, vol. 1. of the church of St Dunstan, in the West, London.

  Registrum et cartas penes Franc Brandling de ead. M••l. A. D. 1639. Collect ex eisdem ms. Dodsworth, vol. xlix.

  Chronicon monasterii de Alnwike, ms. in bibl. Coll. Reg. Cantab. hugus apographum in bibl. Stillingfleet, nunc Harleyana, et excerpta ex eodem ms. Cotton. Vitell E xiv. 22. 10.

  Cart 2. Joan m. 12. p. 13. pro Turbaria xxiv acrarum inter Yerlesseter et divisas de le Mor∣ton et Edelingham.

  Plac. in com. Northumb. 21. Ed. 1. assis. vol. 27. de commun pastur. in Edelingham: Cart. 35. Edw. 1. p. 25. recit. et confirm. donationes.

  Pat. 1. Edw. 2. p. 2. m 4. pro. Eccl. de Wollore concess. per Nic. Graham: Pat. 5. Edw. 2. p. 1. m. 23. pro Eccl. de Chartam: P. 16. Edw. 2. p. 2. m. 1. de teris ibidem et in Falendon.

  Pat. 3 Edw. 3 p. 2. m. Pat. 8. Edw. 3. p. 2. m. 9. vel. 10. Pat. 9. Edw. 3. p. 2. m 14. Escheat Northumb. 50. Edw. 3. p. 56. Pat. 50 Edw. 3. p. 1. m. 24. pro hospitali S. Leonardi ibidem annectendo.

  Pat. 9. Ric. 2. p. 1. m. 14. pro. eccl. S. Dunstani in Fletestreet Londini approprianda.

  Pat 2. Hen. 4. p. 4. m. 9. Fin. 2. Hen. 4. m 3.

  Pat. 35. Hen. 6. p. 2. m ult. Pat. 37. Hen. 6. p. 1. m. 4. pro eccl. de Lakenseld appro∣prianda; et p. 2. m. 20. et 37.

  Tanner.