Notitia monastica, or, A short history of the religious houses in England and Wales by Thomas Tanner ...

OXFORD-SHIRE.

1. Dorchester.

AT the first Conversion of the Saxons to the Christian Faith here was an Episcopal See, which was founded by St. Birin A. D. 635. who had under his jurisdiction the two large King∣doms of the West-Saxons and Mercians. And thō in after times it was mightily abridg'd in its ex∣tent, the Bishopricks of Winchester, Salisbury, Exe∣ter, Bath and Wells, Litchfield, Worcester and Hereford, being taken out of it, yet the Diocese still re∣main'd the largest in England, the Bishops of which had their Seat here till Remigius transla∣ted it to Lincoln about A. D. 1075. The Priory of Black Canons was afterwards built by Alex∣ander Bishop of Lincoln about A. D. 1140. to the honour of St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Birina 1.1. It was rated 26. Hen. VIII. at 219^l. 12^s. per an.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 197.

* Cartas quamplurimas ad hunc Prioratum spe∣ctantes in Registro Dominorum de Borstal penes D. Joh. Aubrey de ead. Baronettum.

* Munimenta pen. V. Rev. Ric. Davis de Sanford.

2. St. Frideswide's now Christ Church in Oxford.

About A. D. 730. Didanus a petty King in these parts founded a Nunnery here, in honour of St. Mary and All-Saints, and made his daugh∣ter

Frideswide Abbess thereof; who being buri••d here and afterward Canoniz'd, this Monastery in process of time was call'd by her name. But the Nuns being dispersed in the Danish wars, Secular Priests inhabited this place till A. D. 1111. at which time Roger Bishop of Salisbury placed a Convent of Regular Canons of the Order of St. Austin in the Church of St. Frideswide under the care of Prior Guymund. This Priory being surrendred into the King's hands A. D. 1524. the next year Cardinal Wolsey began the foun∣dation of a Noble College for a Dean, eighteen Canons, &c. But A. D. 1529. the King seised on all the Cardinals revenues, and among other on the lands appointed for the endowment of this College. A. D. 1532. King Henry VIII. re∣established it for a Dean and twelve Canons; but this was also dissolv'd A. D. 1545. In the next year the Bishop's Seat being remov'd from Oseney, this Church became a Cathedral, and the King refounded the Chapter. This Royal and ample Foundation consists of a Dean, eight Canons, one hundred Students, besides Chap∣la••s, Choristers, &c.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 173, 983.

Historiam & Antiquitates Acad. Oxon. per Ant. Wood. Lib. II. p. 246. Oxon. 1674.

Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden, Burcester, &c. by White Kennett B. D.

Registr. in Bibliotheca Coll. Corp. Christi. Oxon.

* Historiam Fundationis Prioratus S. Frideswid•• Oxon. per Will. Wyrley. MS. penes Henr. Wors∣ley de Hosp. Linc. Arm.

* Registra, Cartas Originales, &c. in Thesaurario Aedis Christi Oxon.

3. ••ynsham.

A Benedictine Abby built by Aethelmare or Ail∣mer Earl of Devonshire A. D. 1005. to the ho∣nour of St. Mary. It was valued 26. Hen. VIII. at 441. 12^s. 2^d. ob. per an. Dugd. 441^l. 16^s. 1^d. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 258.

Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden, &c.

Registr. penes Decan. & Capit Eccl. Christi Oxon.

* Johannis de Wudetun Librum Statutorum Monasterii de Eynsham MS. In bibl. Bodl. NE. F. 3. 7.

4. Oxford.

A. D. 1075.b 1.2 Robert D' Oily founded the Col∣legiate Church of St. George within the Castle here, for a Dean and Secular Canons; but a∣bout A. D. 1129d 1.3 . they were translated to Oseney, where they became Regulars of the Or∣der of St. Austin.

5. ••rgges.

An Alien-Priory of Black Monks to the Abby of Fiscamp in Normandy, founded by Manasser Arsic A. D. 1103. It was given by Henry VI. to Eaton College.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 573. T. 3. P. 2. p. 199.

6. Osney.

A. D. 1129. Rob. D' Oily built a Priory of Canons Augustines here to the honour of the blessed Virgin. Its yearly revenues at the Disso∣lution were worth 654^l. 10^s. 2^d. Dugd. 755^l. 18^s. 6^d. Speed. Upon the erection of the new Bi∣shopricks by King Hen. VIII. the Seat of the Bishop of Oxfordshire was placed here, but it was not long after, viz. 1546. translated to Christ-Church Oxon.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 136.

Mr. Kennett's Parochial Antiquities of Ambros∣den, Burcester. &c.

Registr. in Bibl. Cotton.

* Reg. in Scaccario penes Remem. Regis D.

* Registra, Rentalia & alia munimenta ad bam Abbatiam spectantia in Thesaurario Aedis Christi, Oxon.

* Historiam fundationis Abbatiae de Osney per Will. Wyrley MS. in Bibliotheca Henr. Worsley de Hosp. Lincoln. Arm.

7. Godstow.

A Benedictine Nunnery founded by one Editha or Ida a rich widow, A. D. 1138. It was dedi∣cated to St. Mary and St. Iohn Baptist, and rated at 274. 5^s. 10^d. ob. per an. Dugd. 319^l. 18^s. 8^d. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 525. T. 2. p. 884.

Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden, &c.

* Historiam de Godstow inter MSS. Hon. Comitis de Clarendon. N. 17.

* Reg. de Godstow in Scaccario pen. Remem. Regis.

* Munim. penes D. J. Walter de Saresden Baron.

8. Tamee 1.4.

Sir Rob. Gait Knight, A. D. 1138. founded a Cistercian Abby upon Otmoor within the parish of Oddington, which was translated hither by Alex∣ander Bishop of Lincoln. It was commended it to the Patronage of the blessed Virgin, and endow∣ed with 256^l. 13^s. 7^d. ob. per an. Dugd.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 802.

Mr. Kennett's Parochial Antiquities of Ambros∣den, Burcester, &c.

9. Bruern.

A Cistercian Abby founded A. D. 1147. by Ni∣cholas Bassetf 1.5, it was dedicated to St. Mary. It's yearly revenues at the Dissolution were worth 134^l. 10^s. 10^d. Dugd. 124^l. 10^s. 10^d. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 835.

Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden, &c.

* Munimenta in Thes. Coll. Aenei Nasi Oxon.

10. Cold-Norton.

Will. Fitz-Alan (temp. Hen. II.) built here a Priory of Black Canons to the honour of St. Iohn the Evangelist and St. Giles. This Priory was escheated to the Crown, (temp. Hen. VII.) from which it came to the Dean and Chapter of St. Stephen at Westminster, of whom Bishop Smith bought it, and gave it 5. Hen. VIII. to Brasen-nose College in Oxford.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 275. T. 3. P. 1. p. 55.

Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden, &c.

* Munimenta penes Principalem & Socios Coll▪ Aenei Nasi Oxon.

11. Stod••ley.

A Benedictine Nunnery dedicated to St. Mary, and founded by Bernard de S. Waleri••og 1.6, (temp. Hen II.) It was endowed at the Suppression with 82^l. 4^s. 4^d. per an. Dugd. 102^l. 6^s. 7^d. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 486.

Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden, &c.

Registr. ••lim penes Tho. Allen ex Aula Glocestr.

12. Burcester.

Gilbert Basset A. D. 1182. built a Priory of Black Canons to the honour of St. Mary and St. Edburg. It was valued 26. Hen. VIII. at 147^l. 2^s. 1d. per an. Dugd. 167^l. 2^s. 10^d. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 283.

Parochial Antiquities, first attempted in the History of Ambrosden, Burcester, and other ad∣jacent villages in the Counties of Oxford and Bucks, deduced from the time of the Britains to near the Age of the Reformation, by White Kennett B. D. Vicar of Ambrosden. Hic liber accu∣ratissime Historiam hujus Prioratus a tempore fun∣dationis ad eversionem usque tractat, quam ex Cartis Autographis penes D. D. Guil. Glynne de Ambros∣den in Com. Oxon. Baronettum, & quamplurimis a∣liis Codicibus tum MSS. tum impressis summa fide & industria contexuit Reverendus Autor.

13. Wroxton.

A Priory of Canons of the Order of St. Au∣stin, founded by Mich. Belet (temp. R. Ioh.) and dedicated to the blessed Virgin. Its yearly reve∣nues were worth 78^l. 13^s. 4^d. Dugd. 78^l. 14^s. 3^d. Sp.

Vide Monast. Angl. T. 2. p. 326.

* Cartas penes Hon. Franc. Dom. Guildford.

14. Rewley or De Regali loco.

A. D. 1281. Edm. Earl of Cornwall changed the Secular Priests, here placed by his Father, into an Abbat and fifteen Monks of the Cistercian Or∣der. It's Tutelar Saint was the blessed Virgin Mary. It was rated 26. Hen. VIII. at 174^l. 3^s. ob. per an. Dugd. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 934.

Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden, &c.

15. Burford.

A Priory valued at 13^l. 6^s. 6^d. per an. Dugd. Sp.

16. Clattercote.

A Gilbertine Priory dedicated to St. Leonard. Endowed at the Dissolution with 34^l. 19^s. 11^d. per an. Dugd. Speed.

17. Goring.

A Benedictine Nunnery dedicated to the bles∣sed Virgin, valued at 60^l. 6^s. 5^d. per an. Dugd. Sp.

Vide. Parochial Antiquities of Ambrosden, &c.

* Munimenta quaedam ad hoc Caenobium spectantia in Cartulario de Borstall penes D. J. Aubrey Baron.

18. Saucombh 1.7 .

A Priory of Black Canons dedicated to St. Mary. Speed.

19. Minster Lovel.

An Alien-Priory Cell to the Abby of St. Mary de Ibrcio in Normandy, founded by some of the family of Lov••l.

V••le Cartas penes Henr. Farmer de Tusmore in C••m. Oxon. Armig.

20. Oxford.

A. D. 1283. Iohn Gisfard Baron of Brimsfield founded a College here for the Benedictines of St. Peter's at Glocester, and other Monasteries of that Order. It was suppressed and the lands a∣lienated by King Henry VIII. part of it yet re∣maineth and is call••d Glocester-Hall.

Vide Histor & Antiq. Vniv. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 338, 380. Reyn. Apost. Bened. in Angl. Tr. 3. p. 53.

21. Oxford.

A College for eight Benedictine Monks of Dur∣ham, built by the Prior and Convent of Durham, A. D. 1290. to the honour of St. Cuthbert: but more amply endowed by Thom•• Hatsield Lord Bishop of Durham about A. D. 1370. This being dissolv'd by King Henry VIII. in the place where it stood was founded by Sir Thomas Pope Knight, a College for a President, twelve Fel∣lows, and ••••ght Scholars, (2, 3. Phil. & Mar.) now called Trinity College.

Vide Histor. & Antiq. Vniv. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 293, 337. Angl. Sacr. T. 1. p. 748, 770, 772.

22. Littlemore near Sandfordi 1.8 .

A Benedictine Nunnery dedicated to S. Nicholas. Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 482. T. 3. P. 1. p. 13.

23. Milton.

A Priory of Monksk 1.9.

24. Sandford.

The Mannor of Sandford being given to the Knights Templers by Sir Thomas de Sandford Kn^t. A. D. ... it became a Preceptory.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 544.

Mr. Kennet's Parochial Antiquities of Ambros∣den, Burcester, &c.

* Registrum MS. in Bibl. Bodl. Wood. 10.

25. Oxford.

A College for the Black Monks of Canterbury, founded by Simon Islip Arch-bishop of Canterbury A. D. 1363l 1.10. This was suppressed by Henry VIII. and is now part of Christ-Church.

26. Oxford.

A College for Black Monksm 1.11 in the parish of St. Aldate, called London College from Richard Clifford Bishop of London, who was a great bene∣factor to it A. D. 1421n 1.12.

27. Oxford.

A. D. 1435. Thomas Holden Esquire and El••∣zabeth his wife sounded a College near the Northga••c, for Novices of the Order of St. Au∣stin. It was dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary.o 1.13

28. D••ford.

The College of St. Bernard for Monks of the Cistercian Order, was founded by Henry Chichely Arch-bishop of Canterbury A. D. 1437. On the site of this dissolv'd College Sir Thomas Whit•• Knight built and endowed a College to the ho∣nour of St. Iohn Baptist A. D. 1555.

Vide Hist. & Antiq. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 302, 338.

29. Banbury.

A College dedicated to St. Mary, and endow∣ed with 48^l. 6^s, Speed.

Notes

• a 1.1

  MS. Bodl.
• b 1.2

  Cronicon Thomae ••ikes Canonici de Oseney. Edit. Oxon. 1687.
• d 1.3

  Histor & Antiq. Univ. Oxon. Lib. I. p. 48.
• e 1.4

  N••t in Buchu 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in which County this Abby is said to be situated by the Editors of the Monasticon.
• f 1.5

  Leland. Coll. Vol. 1. p. ••3.
• g 1.6

  Founded by Peter Corbyzen and Will de 〈…〉〈…〉.
• h 1.7

  ••u. Whether this is not the same with Chacomb in 〈…〉〈…〉
• i 1.8

  A Charter belonging to this Priory is referr'd by the Mo∣nasticon ••T. 1. p. 482.) to Sandl••ford in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• k 1.9

  I••land. Itin. Vol. 2. ••.
• l 1.10

  Hist. & Antiq. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 328.
• m 1.11

  Le∣land. Cellec••. Vol 5. f. 1••.
• n 1.12

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. & Antiq. Oxon. Lib. ••. p. 338.
• o 1.13

  Hist. & Antiq. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 33••.