A Source-Book of English Social History — John Shaqi
A Source-Book of English Social HistoryJones, M. E. Monckton (Mary Evelyn Monckton)
History
A Source-Book of English Social History
Jones, M. E. Monckton (Mary Evelyn Monckton)
Great Britain -- Economic conditions; Great Britain -- Social conditions
The whole of our library also perished, which contained more than three
hundred volumes of original works, besides smaller volumes more than
four hundred in number. We also lost at the same time an astronomical
table of extreme beauty and costliness, wonderfully formed of all
kinds of metal, according to the various natures of the stars and
constellations. Saturn was made of copper, Jupiter of gold, Mars of
iron, the Sun of latten, Mercury of bronze, Venus of tin, and the Moon
of silver.... Throughout all England there was not such another Nadir
known or heard of. The king of France had formerly presented it ... to
the library of the convent, both as an ornament and for the instruction
of the younger brethren, and now it was consumed by the voracious
flames and so annihilated.
The whole of our Chapter house was burnt. Our Dormitory ... our
Infirmary ... our Refectory ... the kitchens also adjoining, and the
hall and chamber of the lay brethren, with all the contents thereof,
were consumed by the fire. Our cellar also, as well as the very casks
filled with beer were destroyed. The abbot’s hall, too, and his chamber
together with the entire courtyard of the monastery....
A few cottages of the poor corodiers,[22] the stalls of our beasts
of burden, with the sheds for the other cattle, that stood at a
considerable distance, and were covered with stone, were the only
things that remained unconsumed. Besides the northern transept of the
church, from which the wind drove onwards with most impetuous force
towards the south, all the buildings of the monastery, and especially
those covered with lead, whether formed of wood or of stone, our
charters and jewels, books and utensils, bells and belfries, vestments
and provisions, were in a moment of time lost and consumed, myself, to
my most bitter sorrow, being then the head of the convent....
The news of our dreadful misfortune being speedily spread ... numbers
of our neighbours ... had compassion.... Remigius, bishop of Lincoln,
graciously granted an indulgence of forty days to all who should do us
any service.... He also gave us forty marks in money.... Lincoln sent
us one hundred marks. Richard de Rulos ... a most loving friend, gave
us ten quarters of wheat, ten quarters of malt, ten quarters of peas,
ten quarters of beans, and ten pounds in silver.
Haco of Multon also, at the same time gave us twelve quarters of wheat,
and twenty fat bacon hogs.... Elsin of Pyncebek also gave one hundred
shillings in silver, and ten bacon hogs. Ardnot of Spalding likewise
gave us six quarters of corn, two carcases of oxen, and twelve bacon
hogs. Many others also presented us with various gifts.... Nor should
among so many of our benefactors, the holy memory of Juliana, a poor
old woman of Weston, be consigned to oblivion, who, “of her want”
did give unto us “all her living,” namely, a great quantity of spun
thread, for the purpose of sewing the vestments of the brethren of our
monastery (p. 203.)
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