The english register of Godstow nunnery, near Oxford : written about 1450 / edited with an introduction by Andrew Clark.

[folio 193] Here begynneth [In the Register, Celestine III's bull is put first, as being the fullest confirma|tion, but it is second in point of time.] the bulles of popis, and of pope Celestyne confermyng all thyngis that were I-yeve to the mynchons of Godestowe, & cetera.

About 1192. Bull of pope Celes|tine III, renewing to Godstow the pro|tections granted by popes Eugenius III (1145|53), Alexander III (1159|81), Clement III (1187-91); making the same pro|visos as in no. 901; mentioning properties recited in no. 901, with others recently acquired, viz.:— (XXIX) Wycombe church (no. 87); (XXX) Bloxham (no. 306); (XXXI) tithe of fruits of Woodstock (no. 876); (XXXII) Duntisborne (no. 154); (XXXIII) Lamyat (no. 780); (XXXIV) Easington (no. 438); (XXXV) Din|ton (no. 52); (XXXVI) Wolvercot town (no. 5); (XXXVII) the 'cowry' in Pattis|hall (no. 886 § 42); (XXXVIII) Clereprevet (no. 216); (XXXIX) two carts daily in Shotover (892 § 67); (XL) fishery in Cher|well (no. 540); (XLI) Peches|ey, with rent|charges (no. 886 § 44); (XLII) rent|charges in Brackley and Far|thingho (no. 260); (XLIII) Hodycote, Knoll, and Swanton (no. 234); (XLIV) shop in Westcheap and land near St. Paul's (no. 243); (XLV) Bothes|worde mill; (XLVI) a hide in Walton (no. 516); (XLVII) mill at Empshot (no 202); (XLVIII) land in Winchester (no. 236); (XLIX) land atGlou|cester (no. 165); (L) houses at Win|chester (no. 237); (LI) rent-charge in Petham (no. 864); (LII) yardland in Bletchingdon (no. 290); (LIII) rent-charge in Tormarton (no. 193); (LIV) rent-charge in Knighton, Berks. (no. 16); (LV) meadow called Pederisham (no. 33); (LVI) rent-charge on Highworth mill (see no. 863); (LVII) Frampton mill, salt rights, &c. (no. 156); (LVIII) a salt|pit in Wiche (no. 200); (LIX) rent|charges in Winchester; (LX) in (? Glou|cester); (LXI) in Brack|ley; (LXII) (Bras|monger's) out|side Oxford; (LXIII) and at Ickford (no. 67); (LXIV) mes|suages in Cat-street; (LXV) and in St. Edward's Street, Oxford; (LXVI) fitȝ Durand's rent|charge in Ox|ford (no. 517); (LXVII) meadow at Wytham (no. 32). Exemption from paying tithe of (a) 'novale,' (b) cattle, (c) fruit-trees, (d) fisheries. Privileges to accept novices, and to retain pro|fessed nuns, except they have leave to enter a stricter rule; to have services during interdict; to have from the diocesan (without fee) chrism, oil for extreme unction, consecration of altars and churches, and ordination of their chaplains; and to im|propriate churches. Exemption (no. 866) from arch|deacon's jurisdiction in respect of hospitality, and calling chaplains into his court or to his visitation. Right to elect their own abbess at every vacancy. Excom|munication against all who com|mit crimes in their houses or barns, or take away their possessions, and against all, lay or cleric, who obstinately oppose this bull.

CELESTYNE, bisshop, seruaunte to the seruauntis of god,

willed to be know, that [he] owed to yeve help to his wel|beloued in crist doughters, abbesse of the monasterie of our lady and of seynt Iohn Baptist of Godestowe and to her sustern bothe now beyng and to be, I-professed [folio 193b] regularre lyfe for ever, wise virgynes, the which vndir the habite of religion, with lampes I-tended, araied them-self besely by the workis of mercy to go ayenst ther spouse, lest perauenture to comyng of ony frowardnesse other shold reuoke fro ther purpose or strengthe of the holy religion be broke, that god forbede. Therfore, he graunted mercyfully to the rightfull askyngis of his welbeloued in criste doughtirs, and toke the forsaid monastery of oure lady and of seynt Iohn Baptist of Godestowe in the which they were I-sette to the seruyce of god, at the exemple of his predecessours of blissed mynd, Eugeny, Alisaundre, and Clement, popis of Rome, and defensed hit with the privilege of this present writyng, he toke hit vndir his ['Marke wele,' in margin.] proteccion.

And first he ordeyned that the ordir of mynchons the which is I-know I-ordeyned after god and the rewle of seynt Benet in the same monastery shold be keped for ever ther inuiolably.

Furthermore that all possessions all goodis that the monastery at that tyme rightfully and lawfully had in possession or in tyme to come by graunte of Bisshoppes, yiftis of kyngis or of prynces, by the offeryngis of trew cristen men, or by ony other rightfull maners, by oure lordis graunte, myght be pur|chased, shold abide to them sure and clene, and to ther predecessours [Read 'successours.'] .

In the which he willed to be expressed these thyngis by ther owne names, that place in the which the mon|astery is I-sette with the Ile and all his pertynentis; The chirche of wycombe, with all his pertynentis; The chirche of Bloxham, with all his pertynentis; all the tythe of all the frutes of wodestok; The right that they had in the chirche of Patishulle; The chirche of Dauntesburne, with the londes and ther pertynentis; The tythe of Rollendrith; The chirch of Seynt Gyle, that is with-out Oxenford, with his pertynentis; The chirche of Lamyeth; And the chirche of Esendon, with his pertynentis; The

chirche of Donyngton, with all the pertynentis; Also of the yifte of kynge henry the seconde, the towne of wolgarecote, with all his pertynentis. Also of the yifte of the same, the Cowerye of pacheshale with pasture; and lond in Clere by name Prevet. And of the yifte of the same kyng henry and of kynge Richard his sone, two cartis every day walkyng in the wode of Shottore to cary busshes to the nede of the mynchons. Of the yifte of Moolde the emperice his modir and his, the lond of Shillyng|ford, that is to sey, [folio 194] two hides and half a yerde, with his other pertynentis; And a hundred shillyngworth of lond in Walton; And one Fysshwere in Charewelle, with medis and pastures and all there pertynentis; And the Faires that dure by thre hole dayes at Godestowe at the Natiuite of Seynt Iohn Baptist. Of the yifte of Reynolde of Seynt Walerye the mylle of Wollegare|cote, and one Fysshwere that is I-called bynsilwere ['Binsilwere' also in the Latin; in both cases in error for King's-weir.] ; And medis that bene called Heryngisham, Boyeham, and Licheseye; And a lond that lieth bitwene the two waters; And half of a mede that is I-called Lambeye. And the other half of the same mede, of the yifte of Robert Doylle. Of the yifte of Alisaundre, somtyme bisshoppe of Lyncolne, an hundred shil|lynges by yere of the Tolle of Bannebury. Of the yifte of Bernard of Seynt Walerye, a mede that is I-called Pechesey, and to mow the same mede iiij. shillings by yere At the fest of Seynt Iohn Baptist (ij. shillings in Erdyngton And ij. shillings in lye). Of the yifte of Robert, Bisshoppe of Excetere, xl. shil|lings yerely to be paid, that is to sey, xx. shillings in the chirche of Farendon, And xx. shillings in the chirch of oure lady of Gloucestre. Of the yifte of Robert, Erle of leyceter, thre pounde worthe of lond in Halso; Of the yifte of Amye Countesse, his wyf, ij. marke by yere, one in Brakeley and another in Farnyngho. Of the yifte of Raynold, the Erles sone, and of Emelyne his wyf, and of his heires, Eaton with all his pertynentis. Of the yifte of Nicholas Basset, one hyde of lond in Rysyndene. Of the yifte of Richard Labaanc, all the dowerye of his wyf, that is to sey, Hodycote al so moche as his predecessours had in possession, that is to sey, v. hides and Cnolle and Swanton with all ther pertynentis. Of the yifte of Arnolphe Bolde, the londe that is I-called Sanford.

Of the yifte of Roger Dalmarye, fyfty acres in Blechesdon; Of the yifte of Walter Pery, in the same towne, one yerde of lond and x. acris. Of the yifte of hugh Tywe, nyne shillyngworthe of lond in Oxenford. Of the yifte of Roger, Bisshoppe of Salisbury, a mylle that is I-called boymylle, with the lond that lieth to the same. Of the yifte of the Citeȝens of Oxenford wyke or wyke crofte, the which Segreue held in portemanheyte beside Oxenford; And of the other parte of the same Citee vpon the Southbrigge, xviij. shillyngworth of lond. [folio 194b] Of the yifte of Ambrose Fitȝ Gerolde, v. shillings in wynchestir. Of the yifte of Baldewyne fitȝ Ingelot, in london in westchepe, xj. shillings. Of the yifte of Edward fitȝ Sywyne, vj. shillings. Of the yifte of hugh, Archidekon of Leycetir, one Shoppe in westchepe ij. shillings, and ij. shillings with-in the west yate of Seynt Powle. Of the yifte of Alurede Bendeuille, the mylle of Botheworde ['Botheswurda' in the Latin copy: see note⁵, p. 663] . Of the yifte of henry of Oxenforde, one hide of lond in walton. Of the yifte of william vennȝ, a mylle and his lond in Hymbeset. Of the yifte of Robert Meysy in wynchestir, his londe with-oute the north yate, And in Selwithstrete and Flesshmongerstrete. Of the yifte of Robert Euersy, his tofte of Roddys (in Latyne virgultum) without Glou|cestre at the kyngesham, and one dwellyng place. Of the yifte of herebert of Seynt Quyntyn, in wynchestre two dwellyng placis, with-in the walle one, and one with-oute. Of the yifte of Aleyne of lye, half a marke in Putham. Of the yifte of Robert fitȝ Nigelle, one yerde of lond in Blechesden. Of the yifte of Nicholas Motton, ij. shillings in Thormerton. Of the yifte of Gye of Seynt walerye, half a marke in wynchestir [In the Latin copy 'Ciheton,' in error for 'Knighton.'] . Of the yifte of the Abbot of Abendon and of all the Couente, v. acris by name called Pederesham. Of the yifte of hugh of Merton, one marke by yere of the mylle of worthe [Highworth.] . Of the yifte of walter Clyfford, the mylle of Framton with all his pertynentis, And in wyche xiiij. mittis of Salte and one mese. Of the yifte of hubert fitȝ hugh, one Salyne,

(anglicè, a salte pitte) in wiche that is I-called a Cowe. (Also in wynchestir, of the yifte of herberte fitȝ westman xvj. shillings ix. d.; Of the yifte of Edeyue the wyf of Thursteyne Osere, iij. shillings viij. d. obolus; Of the yifte of hereberte Reve, v. shillings; Of the yifte of william of Seynt Pancrace, ij. shillings with-oute the Est yate; Of the yifte of humfrey, Chapeleyne of the abbesse of Godestowe, in wynchestir vppon Cheshulles, ix. shillings v. d. obolus; Of the yifte of Alisandire, preest of Gloucestire, xij. d. Of the yifte of Turkille Reve in Brakeleye, iiij. shillings. Of the yifte of Aleyne Bras|monger and of Edithe his wyf, half a marke by yere with|out the north yate of Oxenford. Of the yifte of Bartholomew Ickeforde, halfa marke. Of the yifte of Roger fitȝ Sewyne, one mese at Oxenford in Catstrete. Of the yifte of Iohn Bisshoppe of Norwyche, ij. mesis in Seynt Edwardis strete. Of the yifte of Geffrey fitȝ Durande [folio 195] and of Moolde his wyf, one marke in Oxenforde. Of the yifte of Vyncente knyght of Wytham, v. acris of mede by name Ruenth, with the pertynentis.

Furthermore no man shall presume to take or aske ['for tythes,' in margin. The Latin is: 'Sane novalium vestrorum quae propriis manibus vel sumptibus colitis, sive de nutri|mentis animalium vestrorum, seu de fru|ctibus arborum vel usibus piscationum, nullus a vobis decimas exigere vel extor|quere presumat.'] of yow tythes of youre noualle that ye tele with youre hondes or costis, or of the norisshyng of youre bestis, or of the frutes of youre trees, or of the vsis of Fisshyngis.

And hit shall be lawfull to yow to resceive fre persones and lowsid fleyng fro the worlde to conuersion, and to holde theyme, with-oute ony agayne-seiyng. More-overe he forbede that to none of her sustern shold be lawfull to go a-wey after profession I-made in the same place, with-oute licence of the Abbesse of the same place, but by cause of streighter religion: And that no man holde none that gothe away, with-oute the writyng of there commune lettres.

And whan that ther is a generall ['for generall enterdityng,' in margin.] entirdityng I-made, Hit shold be lawfull to them, the yates I-shitte, cursed peple I-excluded or I-shitte oute [The second participle is (as is frequent with the translator) an alternative render|ing of the Latin word. The clause runs: 'persons excommunicate and interdicted being shut out.'] , and also suche as be entirdited,

the belles [not [Added from the Latin.] ] I-ronge, with [In the Latin: 'suppressa voce celebrate divina officia.'] lowe voice to sey goddis service.

Also he comaunded to yeve to them with-oute ony exaccion creyme and holy oyle, halewyngis of auters or of chirches, ordeynyngis of clerkis the which ben to be promoted to holy ordirs, and other sacramentis of the chirche, by the Bisshoppe diocesane.

And in parissh chirches that they haue, hit shall ['grete priuylege,' in margin.] be lawfull to theyme to chese preestis and presente them to theire dio|cesane Bisshoppe, to the which yf they be covenable, he shalle commytte to them Cure of sowles, that they aunswere of dewte to hym of spirituall thyngis, and to yow of the temper|alteis.

Also he confermed by his auctorite the liberteis and the immynumentis [In the Latin is 'immunitates.'] the whiche somtyme Alisaundre, bisshoppe of Lyncolne, resonably yaf, with the consente of the Archidekon, to ther monastery, with good deuocion, vppon hospitaliteis not to be asked of the Archidekon of the place, Chapeleyns and other mynystres wrongfully to be impleyd nother to be com|pellyd to go to Seyne, as hit is I-conteyned in the autentikes of the forsaid Bisshoppe, and hidir to be ordre.

And whan the abbesse at that tyme of that place, or ['for to chese the abbesse of the same place,' in margin.] ony of theyme that succede, [died] none shold be made abbesse there by ony wylynesse of surrepcion or violence but suche one which the [folio 195b] Sustirs, with the commune assente, or the more parte of the sad counseille of Sustern, aftir the love of god and the rewle of Seynt Benette prouide to be chose.

Also, he willyng with his fadirly besynesse to prouide to pease and rest fro that tyme forthe, forbede, by his auctorite of the appostles, that no man with-in the closyng of ther howses or graungis do violence or Rauysshynge or theft, sette to fire, take man or sle, or frowardely be bolde to do violence. Ther|for (or ['Marke wele,' in margin.] for these causes) decreid that hit shold not be lawfull to no man vttirly to trouble the forsaid monastery frowardly, or to take away theire possessions, to with-hold them I-take

away to lessen them or to vexe them with ony vexacions but that they shold be keped hole for theire sustenaunce and gouernynge for the which they were I-graunted to profite in all manere vsis, Savyng the auctorite of the pope and the reguler right of the diocesane Bisshoppe. And yf ony in the tyme to come, of the Chirche or of the seculer parte, knowyng this his writyng, tempte frowardely to come or do ayenst hit twyes or thries I-warned, but he correcte his gilte with dew satis|faccion, he shold lakke or be depreved of his dignyte, worshippe, and powere, and know hym to be Iugged of god for that his wikkednesse that he did, And that he stondith departed fro the most holy body and blode of god and of oure agayne-byere Ihesu crist, and be subiected to streight vengeaunce in the last dome. And all this is no more to sey after my symplenesse, but that suche persones bene accursed. And he wolde that the pease of oure lord Ihesu crist shold be, to all kepyng of the same place theire rightis, that is to sey, they shold have cristis blissyng, that they doyng so myght take the frute of ther good doyng and to fynde the rewardes of everlastyng pease at the streight Iuggement. Amen, & cetera.