WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 81
of Bulby, to Nicholas Clerk, in fee, for four shillings per annum; to Norman
Blud, the ground in Staning-lane, for twelve shillings per annum ; the church of
St. Alban's, Wood-street, London, to the Hospital of St. James's, Westminster,
for thirteen shillings and four-pence per annum; the ground in Friday-street, to
John Fitz-Roberts, in fee, for twelve shillings per annum; which Gilbert de Clare,
afterwards Earl of Gloucester, held for fifteen shillings per annum, with ground
next the church there, for twenty shillings per annum; and to Nicholas Peckel-
sham, the village of Peckelsham, and manor of Benflete, for nine pounds per
annum. William Postard, who succeeded Walter as abbot of this church, dis-
charged it of fifteen hundred pounds, for the payment of which the monastery
was bound. He likewise performed many other acts of munificence. It appears,
that, in his time, the churches of Ockham and Hambledon were in the possession
of this abbey.
From the character of King John little is to be expected in favour of the
church. There is, however, one charter that marks his attention to the Abbey
of Westminster. It grants certain liberties and immunities to Islip, in the county
of Oxford ; which has been already noticed as the birth-place of King Edward the
Confessor*.
Wulnoth, the last abbot, who died before the design of Edward the Confessor
to rebuild the Church of Westminster could be carried into execution, was
succeeded by Eadwine, one of its monks, who, according to Sporley, was elected
at the particular request of the king himself.
EADWINE.
This ecclesiastic is represented as being advanced in years, and universally
venerated for his learning and virtues. Such was his character for piety, that
• Dart's History of St. Peter's, Westminster, vol. II. p. 17, &c.
Vol. I. M
of Bulby, to Nicholas Clerk, in fee, for four shillings per annum; to Norman
Blud, the ground in Staning-lane, for twelve shillings per annum ; the church of
St. Alban's, Wood-street, London, to the Hospital of St. James's, Westminster,
for thirteen shillings and four-pence per annum; the ground in Friday-street, to
John Fitz-Roberts, in fee, for twelve shillings per annum; which Gilbert de Clare,
afterwards Earl of Gloucester, held for fifteen shillings per annum, with ground
next the church there, for twenty shillings per annum; and to Nicholas Peckel-
sham, the village of Peckelsham, and manor of Benflete, for nine pounds per
annum. William Postard, who succeeded Walter as abbot of this church, dis-
charged it of fifteen hundred pounds, for the payment of which the monastery
was bound. He likewise performed many other acts of munificence. It appears,
that, in his time, the churches of Ockham and Hambledon were in the possession
of this abbey.
From the character of King John little is to be expected in favour of the
church. There is, however, one charter that marks his attention to the Abbey
of Westminster. It grants certain liberties and immunities to Islip, in the county
of Oxford ; which has been already noticed as the birth-place of King Edward the
Confessor*.
Wulnoth, the last abbot, who died before the design of Edward the Confessor
to rebuild the Church of Westminster could be carried into execution, was
succeeded by Eadwine, one of its monks, who, according to Sporley, was elected
at the particular request of the king himself.
EADWINE.
This ecclesiastic is represented as being advanced in years, and universally
venerated for his learning and virtues. Such was his character for piety, that
• Dart's History of St. Peter's, Westminster, vol. II. p. 17, &c.
Vol. I. M