DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0039
GLASTONBURY ABBEY.
27
with what labour the work was done:—how the noble abbot
called in the affiftance of men not only “ induftrios et dili-
gentes, verum eciam magnos, erudites et fapientes namely,
John Fitzjames, armiger and learned in the law, and fenefchal
of Glaftonbury; William Lange, auditor and praepofitor; with
John Horner, the land-furveyor, a prudent man, and bailiff of
Whitftone, with other affifting menfurants ; Thomas Somerfet
and William Walton clerks of the treafury.
The enumeration and defcription of the eftates belonging to
the abbey were enough to make the mouth of a much lefs rapa-
cious monarch than Harry VIII. water. Such fine old manors,
—Glaftonbury, Eftrete, Weft Pennard, Godenye, Mere,
Northlode, Eftbrent, Therlefmere, Lymplefhame, Southbrent,
Berghes, Wryngton, Hunftert, Merkyfbury, &c. At thefe
manors were noble manor-houfes, churches, chapels, vineyards,
mills, lakes and pools for fifh, immenfe moors for firewood
and game, parks, ftreams, quarries of ftone, orchards for fruit,
and every imaginable thing that can make a very princedom.
The monarchs of thofe times might well have afked with James
of Scotland, “ What want thefe knaves that a king fhould
have ?” Within the manor of Glaftonbury proper we are
told that there was not only the princely abbey, but all requifite
buildings for the adminiftration of juftice, for holding feffions
and trying criminals; for the abbey had all the rights of a lordly
jurifdidtion held by charter of Edmund, namely, “ libertatem
et poteftatem, jura et confuetidines, et omnes forisfadturas
omnium terrarum fuarum ; id eft, Burgbrice, Hundredfocna,
Athas, Ordelas, Infangenetheofas, Frithbrice, Foreftealle, et
Toll et Team; et fint terrae fuae fibi liberae, et folutae ab omni
calumpnia, ficut meae michi habentur.” Which barbarous
terms would require a little volume of legal expofition to fet
forth all their fulnefs of power and privileges. But, in ftiort,
27
with what labour the work was done:—how the noble abbot
called in the affiftance of men not only “ induftrios et dili-
gentes, verum eciam magnos, erudites et fapientes namely,
John Fitzjames, armiger and learned in the law, and fenefchal
of Glaftonbury; William Lange, auditor and praepofitor; with
John Horner, the land-furveyor, a prudent man, and bailiff of
Whitftone, with other affifting menfurants ; Thomas Somerfet
and William Walton clerks of the treafury.
The enumeration and defcription of the eftates belonging to
the abbey were enough to make the mouth of a much lefs rapa-
cious monarch than Harry VIII. water. Such fine old manors,
—Glaftonbury, Eftrete, Weft Pennard, Godenye, Mere,
Northlode, Eftbrent, Therlefmere, Lymplefhame, Southbrent,
Berghes, Wryngton, Hunftert, Merkyfbury, &c. At thefe
manors were noble manor-houfes, churches, chapels, vineyards,
mills, lakes and pools for fifh, immenfe moors for firewood
and game, parks, ftreams, quarries of ftone, orchards for fruit,
and every imaginable thing that can make a very princedom.
The monarchs of thofe times might well have afked with James
of Scotland, “ What want thefe knaves that a king fhould
have ?” Within the manor of Glaftonbury proper we are
told that there was not only the princely abbey, but all requifite
buildings for the adminiftration of juftice, for holding feffions
and trying criminals; for the abbey had all the rights of a lordly
jurifdidtion held by charter of Edmund, namely, “ libertatem
et poteftatem, jura et confuetidines, et omnes forisfadturas
omnium terrarum fuarum ; id eft, Burgbrice, Hundredfocna,
Athas, Ordelas, Infangenetheofas, Frithbrice, Foreftealle, et
Toll et Team; et fint terrae fuae fibi liberae, et folutae ab omni
calumpnia, ficut meae michi habentur.” Which barbarous
terms would require a little volume of legal expofition to fet
forth all their fulnefs of power and privileges. But, in ftiort,