APPENDIX III Table of Chief Dates in the History of the Abbey Of St. Edmundsbury, from a.d. 870 to 1903.

[Editor's Note.—I had originally contemplated printing only the dates included in Section II. of this Table, but at the suggestion of the general Editor of the series, I have extended it backwards and forwards so as to give a rapid aperçu of the history of Bury Abbey from its earliest beginnings up to the present date. The Table may have a use other than for readers of Jocelin's Chronicle, as it brings to a focus a mass of chronological information now scattered over a great variety of books.

For unfortunately there does not exist at present any adequate history of Bury Abbey, one of the most ancient, flourishing and important of the Benedictine institutions in England. There are adequate materials—at any rate for some of the periods of its existence—in the copious manuscripts relating to Bury (many of them formerly belonging to the monastery) now on the shelves of our public libraries and in private hands; and it seems a pity that no one has the courage to undertake a task which, though formidable, has been successfully accomplished in the case of other foundations of less fame.

The names of some of the principal works that may usefully be consulted by students of the history of the Abbey will be found on pp. 276 and 277 at the end of the Table.—E. C.].

SECTION I

BEFORE THE DAYS OF ABBOT SAMSON

870 Nov. 20. Martyrdom of St. Edmund. His head is cut off by the Danes and hidden in a wood "in silvam cui vocabulam est Haglesdun" (Abbo, writing 100 years after). [Domesday book (1086) records the existence in Wilford Hundred of a place called Halgestou.] The head being found, is miraculously rejoined to the body, which is buried "in villula Suthtuna [Sutton] dicta, de prope loco martyrizationis" (Herman, writing 200 years after).

903 (or later). Relics of St. Edmund removed from the place of burial to Beodricsworth—afterwards called Bury St. Edmunds. The early authorities differ as to this date. Herman says the translation took place in the reign of Athelstan (925-941): the compiler of the Bodl. MS. 240 says a.d. 900 or 906 (Nov. Leg. Angl. II. 590); the Curteys Register (Part I. f. 211) says a.d. 903.

937 (circa). According to Abbo, Dunstan, then a youth, hears the story of St. Edmund's death from an old man who said he was the King's standard bearer.

945 Bishop Theodred (II) of Elmham opens St. Edmund's coffin, finds the body "whole and incorrupt," and places it in a new wooden "loculus" (Abbo).

945 Charter of King Edmund II (son of Edmund the Elder) granting lands round Beodricsworth to the clerks (monasterii familia) who were then guarding St. Edmund's shrine. (Text in Arnold II. 340-1.) p. 238.

985 (circa). Dunstan, the Archbishop, tells the story of St. Edmund's martyrdom to others, and Abbo recounts it in his Passio Sancti Eadmundi. (Text in Arnold I. 3-25.) p. 217.

1010 Egelwin, or Ailwin, takes the body of the Saint from Beodricsworth to London. p. 175.

1013 Return of Egelwin, with body of St. Edmund, to Beodricsworth.

1014 February. Death of King Sweyn (according to the chroniclers, at the hands of St. Edmund).

1020 At the instance of Aelfwin, Bishop of Elmham, the clerks in charge of St. Edmund's shrine are removed, and twenty monks, headed by Uvius, prior of Hulme, installed at Beodricsworth.

1020 Uvius consecrated 1st abbot of Bury by the Bishop of London.

1020 New stone church (to replace the wooden one containing St. Edmund's body) commenced by order of Canute, in expiation of the sacrilegious behaviour of his father Sweyn towards the saint.

1028 Charter of Canute granting "fundus" or farm at Beodricsworth to be for ever in possession of monks, who were to be free from episcopal jurisdiction. (Text in Arnold II. 340-1).

1032 Oct. 18. Consecration of the new stone church by Egelnoth, Archbishop of Canterbury.

1035 Charter granted to the Abbey by Hardicanute, imposing a fine of "thirty talents of gold" on any one found guilty of infringing the Abbey's franchises. (For privileges granted, see Bodl. MS. 240, printed in Nova Legenda Anglie II. 607.)

1038 Oct. Body of the Saint removed to King Canute's new church.

1044 Visit of Edward the Confessor to Bury. p. 236.

1044 The Confessor grants to Bury abbey jurisdiction over 8½ hundreds in Suffolk, and the manor of Mildenhall, with freedom to choose their abbot. p. 238.

1044 Death of Uvius (remains in Infirmary Chapel). Leofstan appointed 2nd abbot.

1065 Death of Leofstan (remains placed in shrine at foot of St. Edmund). Baldwin of St. Denis (physician to Edward the Confessor) appointed 3rd abbot.

1065 Mint established at Bury under grant of Edward the Confessor, in which Beodricsworth is called (apparently for the first time) St. Edmundsbury. "Ic kithe ihu that Ic habbe unnen Baldewine Abbot one munetere with innen Seynt Edmunds Biri" (Battely, p. 134). p. 248.

1071 Abbot Baldwin at Rome: receives from Pope Alexander II a precious altar of porphyry, with special privileges.

1071 Oct. 27. Bull of Pope Alexander II, taking the monks of St. Edmund under the special protection of the Holy See, and forbidding that a bishop's see should ever be established at Beodricsworth. (Text in Arnold I. 344.)

1081 May 31. Charter of William the Conqueror deciding against the claim of Arfast, Bishop of Thetford, to transfer his see to Bury, and granting exemption from episcopal jurisdiction. (Text in Arnold I. 347.)

1086 Domesday Book returns show that the annual value of the Town "ubi quiescit humatus S. Eadmundus rex et martyr gloriosus" was double that of its value under Edward the Confessor, and a larger number of persons were maintained.

1095 Apr. 29. Translation of St. Edmund's body to new and magnificent basilica built by Baldwin and his sacrists Thurstan and Tolinus.

1097 Death of Baldwin: buried in the Abbey church, east of the choir altar.

1098 (circa). Herman the Archdeacon compiles his book, De Miraculis Sancti Eadmundi. p. 218.

1100 Henry I gives abbacy to Robert, son of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester. Robert (I) deposed 1102.

1101 Attempts of Herbert de Losinga, Bishop of Norwich, to fix his see at Bury; finally disposed of 1102.

1102 Robert II, a monk of Westminster, elected 5th abbot. Scheme for Abbey church enlarged. Godefridus the sacrist a man "of almost gigantic stature, great in body but greater still in mind." p. 247.

1107 Aug. 15. Robert II consecrated by St. Anselm. Dies soon after, 16 Sept.; buried in Infirmary Chapel.

1114 After seven years' interregnum, Albold, prior of St. Nicasius at Meaux, elected 6th abbot: died 1119; buried in Infirmary Chapel.

1120 Charter of Henry I confirming the Charters of Canute and Edward the Confessor.

1121 Anselm, nephew of St. Anselm, elected 7th abbot. In his days the Norman tower of the Abbey was built.

1132 Henry I pays a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Edmund.

1135 (circa). St. James' Church built by Abbot Anselm, instead of making a pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella. Church consecrated by William Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury.

SECTION II

DURING ABBOT SAMSON'S LIFETIME (1135-1211)

1135 SAMSON born at Tottington, near Thetford.

1144 Samson taken by his mother on a pilgrimage to St. Edmund. p. 56.

1146 Death of Anselm: buried in Infirmary Chapel.

1146 Ording, Prior of St. Edmund, appointed 8th abbot.

1150 Fire, which destroys the conventual buildings—Abbot's palace, refectory, dormitory, the old infirmary, and the chapter-house. Rebuilt by Helyas the sacrist, Ording's nephew. p. 247.

1150 (circa). Galfridus de Fontibus writes the tract De Infantia Sancti Eadmundi, dedicated to Ording. p. 218.

1153 Eustace, eldest son of King Stephen, plunders some of the lands of the monastery. Dies at Bury.

1156 Jan. 31. Death of Ording: buried in chapter-house. p. 247.

1156 Hugh, Prior of Westminster, elected 9th abbot. Receives benediction at Colchester from Archbishop of Canterbury.

1157 Battle of Coleshill: Cowardice of Henry of Essex. pp. 103, 243.

1160 (circa). Samson returns from Paris, and made magister scholarum or schoolmaster. p. 66.

1160 (circa). Samson's visit to Rome. pp. 72, 236.

1161 Jan. 12. Bull of Alexander II, confirming the Abbot and monks of Bury in all their rights and privileges, authorizing appropriation of certain manors to special purposes, etc. Future abbots to be freely elected. In important matters there is to be an appeal to the Holy See. (Text in Arnold III. 78-80.)

1161 May 22. Brief obtained from Pope Alexander III, confirming the right of the Abbey to the revenues of Woolpit. p. 74.

1163 Abbot Hugh at the Council of Tours, where he usurps the seat of the Abbot of St. Albans.

1163 Wager of battle between Henry of Essex and Robert de Montfort at Reading. pp. 104-5.

1166 Samson takes monastic orders. p. 60.

1172 Apr. 7. Bull of Pope Alexander III, dated at Tusculum, exempting the Abbey from the visitation of the Archbishop of the Province as legatus natus of the apostolic see (Cf. Rokewode, p. 107). p. 7.

1173 Jocelin of Brakelond becomes Monk of St. Edmund. p. 1.

1173 Hugh the Prior deposed: succeeded by Robert. p. 1.

1173 October 17. Battle of Fornham. pp. 1, 86, 221.

1175 (circa). Samson master of the novices. p. 6.

1180 (ante). Samson compiles the work De Miraculis Sancti Eadmundi. (See Appendix I.) pp. 215-21.

1180 Sept. 9. Abbot Hugh's accident near Rochester. p. 10.

1180 Nov. 15. Death of Abbot Hugh I. pp. 10, 225.

1180-2 Samson subsacrist and master of the workmen. Rebuilds choir of Abbey Church, and makes preparations for building the great tower. p. 14.

1181 June 10. Martyrdom of the boy Robert by the Jews. p. 23.

1181 Aug. 9. Arrival at Abbey of Archbishop of Trontheim on a visit. p. 23.

1182 Feb. 21. Appointment of Samson as Abbot at Bishop's Waltham, with Henry II's approval. p. 31.

1182 Feb. 28. Samson receives the blessing of the Bishop of Winchester, at Merewell. p. 36.

1182 Mar. 21. (Palm Sunday). Samson is solemnly received at St. Edmunds. p. 37.

1182 Mar. 29. Samson calls a meeting of the convent, the Knights and certain burgesses as to the election of bailiffs. p. 109.

1182 Mar. 31. Samson sends messengers to Rome for confirmation of the Abbey's privileges. p. 84.

1182 Apr. 1. Barons, Knights and freemen summoned to do homage. p. 41.

1182 Samson appointed a judge in the ecclesiastical courts, by Pope Lucius III. p. 51.

1182 Contests as to town rights and dues. p. 108.

1183 Samson restores the Church of Woolpit to the monastery. p. 72.

1184-5 Samson founds St. Saviour's Hospital, at Babwell. p. 69.

1186 Kalendar or general survey of Abbey estates completed. pp. 44-5.

1187 Victory over Archbishop Baldwin as to jurisdiction in case of homicide at Monks Eleigh. p. 76.

1187 Jan. 21. Samson obtains from Pope Urban III the privilege of giving the episcopal benediction. p. 84.

1187 Feb. 11. Dispute as to jurisdiction, between Samson and the Monks of Canterbury, brought before Henry II in chapter-house at Canterbury. pp. 77, 238.

1187 Sept. 29. Loss of Jerusalem: Samson's grief. p. 60.

1187 Samson waits upon Henry II at Clarendon, to obtain a recognition of the immunity of the Abbey from certain taxes. p. 96.

1188 Jan. 20. General exemption granted by the Pope to Samson and his successors from the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. p. 84.

1188 Jan. 21. Henry II takes the Cross between Trie and Gisors. p. 80.

1188 Feb. Henry II at Bury. Samson refused permission to accompany the King to the Crusades. p. 81.

1189 Sept. 3. Richard I crowned at Westminster; Abbot Samson present.

1189 Sept. Purchase of the manor of Mildenhall from Richard I. p. 70.

1189 Nov. Samson appointed one of the arbitrators to settle the dispute between Archbishop Baldwin and the Monks of Christ Church at Canterbury.

1190 March 18. Massacre of 57 Jews at Bury. p. 69.

1190 Oct. Conflict as to monastic discipline, at the Council of Westminster, between Samson and the Bishop of Ely. p. 81.

1191 Death of Robert of Cockfield. pp. 86, 255.

1191 Samson's quarrel with William Longchamp, Bishop of Ely. p. 79.

1191 Sept.-Oct. Excommunication of Longchamp, and his flight from England. pp. 79, 240.

1192 Complaints of the monks to the abbot concerning the Abbey revenues. p. 114.

1193 Return of Longchamp. Samson refuses to celebrate Mass before him. p. 80.

1193 Collection of money for the ransom of King Richard. pp. 71, 234.

1193 Samson excommunicates the disturbers of the peace, and appears in arms before Windsor. p. 82.

1193 Samson visits Richard I in his German prison "with many gifts." p. 82.

1194 Feb. 4. King Richard released from captivity.

1194 Mch. 12. Lands at Sandwich after an absence of 4¼ years; pays, before the end of the month, thanksgiving visits to (1) Canterbury (2) St. Edmundsbury.

1194 June 28. Samson's contest with turbulent young knights, who hold a Tournament without his authorization. p. 83.

1194 Samson grants a Charter to the town. pp. 116, 244.

1194 Abbey debts entirely discharged. p. 46.

1196 Samson's contest with his fifty knights concerning their dues: the abbot victorious. pp. 97-9.

1196 Samson takes the cellarer's department into his own hands. p. 131 et seq.

1197 Commission of Pope Celestine III for the restoration of the Monks of Coventry. pp. 142, 246.

1198 Jan. 14. Samson at Coventry in high spirits. p. 143.

1198 Jan. 18. Coventry Monks re-inducted by the Archbishop. p. 143.

1198 Samson charges moiety of Wetherden in favour of schools at Bury. p. 144.

1198 (circa). Archbishop Hubert Walter proposes to visit the Abbey of Bury. p. 122.

1198 Dispute between King Richard and Samson as to the wardship of Nesta of Cockfield. pp. 147-9.

1198 Samson goes to Normandy to settle with King Richard as to the four knights demanded from the Abbey for the war against the King of France. p. 129.

1198 July 18. Richard I confirms by Charters the Manor of Mildenhall to the Abbey. pp. 70-2, 235.

1198 Oct. 17. Fire in the Abbey: shrine of St. Edmund in danger. p. 162.

1198 Nov. 23. Shrine transferred to high altar. p. 170.

1198 Nov. 26. Samson views St. Edmund's body. p. 173.

1198 Dec. 1. Letter of Pope Innocent III exempting the Abbey from the visitation even of a legate, unless he were a legate a latere. pp. 124, 245.

1199 Reconciliation between Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Samson. p. 127.

1199 April 6. Death of King Richard I.

1199 May 27. King John crowned at Westminster. p. 178.

1199 King John visits Bury. p. 178.

1199 Violent quarrels between Samson and his monks: he withdraws from the Abbey for a week: reconciliation effected. pp. 179-83.

1200 Mar. 15. Ratification by King John of Charter granted by Samson to St. Saviour's Hospital at Babwell. p. 72.

1200 Nov. 6. Samson one of three arbitrators in dispute between Archbp. of Canterbury and Canons of Lambeth. p. 229.

1200 List drawn up of knights of St. Edmund. pp. 183-6.

1200 Hugh, Abbot of Cluny, visits Bury. p. 189.

1200 Death of Prior Robert: Herbert succeeds him. p. 191.

1201 Eustace, Abbot of Flay, preaches at Bury. p. 202.

1201 Sept. Samson appointed one of three Commissioners sent by the Pope to Worcester to investigate the miracles of St. Wulfstan.

1202 Dispute between the monks of Ely and of Bury concerning the market at Lakenheath. pp. 203, 253.

1202 Hugh of Northwold (afterwards abbot) admitted a monk.

1203 Jan. 31. Samson appointed by the Pope on a commission concerning the dispensation of Crusaders from their vows: and summoned over sea to advise the King on this question. pp. 207-11.

1203 Dec. 21. John at Bury, and makes valuable offerings: but prevails on convent to grant him for life the use of the jewels which his mother Queen Eleanor had presented to St. Edmund. p. 251.

1208 Mar. 24. Interdict comes into force throughout England.

1210 Sept. 23. Fall of central tower of Abbey Church.

1211 Dec. 30. Death of Samson: buried in unconsecrated ground. p. xl.

1213 July. King John expresses a wish for the vacancy to be filled: Hugh (II) of Northwold chosen.

1214 July 2. Interdict solemnly dissolved.

1214 Aug. 12. Samson's body exhumed and buried in the chapter-house of Bury Abbey. pp. xlii., 247.

SECTION III

FROM 1214 TO DISSOLUTION IN 1539

1214 Nov. 4. King John at Bury: makes a speech in the chapter-house asserting his rights over the election of abbot. p. 251.

1214 Nov. 20. The discontented earls and barons meet at Bury (probably on St. Edmund's Day) "as if for prayer." Archbishop Langton reads to them Henry I's charter: and each swears on the high altar to make war on John unless he gives them the liberties contained therein (Roger of Wendover, vol. iii. 293-4).

1215 Mar. 10. Commissioners appointed by the Pope finally give judgment in favour of Hugh's election as abbot.

1215 June 9. King's approval to appointment of Hugh given in Staines meadow.

1215 June 15. Magna Charta signed.

1215-6 Louis, son of Philip II of France, invited by the barons to help them in their struggle against John. East Anglian towns sacked—Norwich and Lynn by the French; Cambridge, Yarmouth, Dunwich, Ipswich and Colchester by the barons (Ramsay's Angevin Empire, 1903, p. 497). Bury St. Edmunds a stronghold of the king (Norgate, John Lackland, 1902, pp. 257-8). Louis himself fighting in the south of England. No evidence of Louis or his hordes ever being at Bury.

1216 Oct. 19. Death of John at Newark. Henry III succeeds to the throne.

1220 (circa). Richard of Newport, sacrist, destroys the old chapter-house and rebuilds it from foundations. p. 247.

1220 Death of Herbert the prior. Richard of Insula (afterwards 12th abbot) succeeds him.

1224 Abbot Hugh at the Royal camp before Bedford Castle, attended by knights holding manors under St. Edmund.

1225 (circa). Abbot's Bridge built.

1229 Abbot Hugh II made Bishop of Ely: died August, 1254. Described by Matthew Paris as "flos nigrorum monachorum."

1229 Nov. 20. Richard of Insula recalled from Burton and installed as 12th abbot on St. Edmund's Day.

1234 Abbot Richard sent abroad on an appeal to Pope Gregory IX. Attacked on his return with mortal illness, and dies at Pontigny. Buried in the chapter-house at Bury, where his skeleton was discovered on January 1, 1903, with skull sawn through and sternum severed (evidently for embalming purposes). p. 247.

1235 Henry of Rushbrook, prior of Bury, elected 13th abbot.

1235 Royal Charters granted to Abbot Henry to hold two fairs at Bury and a market at his manor of Melford.

1245 Abbot Henry excused by the Pope, on account of the gout, from attending the Council of Lyons.

1245 At the request of the convent, Henry III calls his newly-born son Edmund (founder of the house of Lancaster). Text of Royal letter in Arnold III. 28.

1248 July 5. Bull of Pope Innocent III (signed at Lyons) prescribing the solemn celebration of the feast of the translation of St. Edmund (April 29). Text in Nov. Leg. Angl. (1901) II. 574.

1248 Death of Abbot Henry: buried in chapter-house. Edmund of Walpole, LL.D., appointed 14th abbot.

1250 Henry III takes the Cross: the abbot does the same, exposing himself to general derision (Matt. Par. v. 110).

1252 Simon of Luton (afterwards abbot) made prior.

1254 Richard of Clare, seventh Earl of Gloucester, claims St. Edmund's manor of Mildenhall: threatened with excommunication by the Pope.

1254 Aug. Death of Hugh, Bishop of Ely (Abbot of Bury, 1213-29).

1256 Aug. Statutes approved by Pope Alexander IV for the governance of the Abbey of Bury, providing inter alia for "two persons watching the body of St. Edmund and two the church treasure and clock night and day."

1256 Dec. 31. Abbot Edmund died: buried in the chapter-house. p. 247.

1257 Jan. 15. Simon of Luton, prior, elected 15th abbot: cost of confirmation by the Pope, 2,000 marks.

1263 Nov. Franciscan friars expelled from Bury, under a rescript from Pope Urban IV, and compelled to migrate to Babwell.

1264 (Easter). Serious conflict between the monastery and the burgesses. The abbot complains to the king: fine inflicted on the burgesses.

1265 Defeat and death of Simon de Montfort. Many barons of his party take shelter at Bury, but subsequently dislodged.

1267 February. Henry III summons the barons who owe military service to the Crown to meet him at Bury.

1272 Sept. 1. Henry III at Bury on his way to Norwich.

1272 Nov. 16. Death of Henry III (Rishanger says at Bury).

1275 April 17. Edward I and his Queen come to St. Edmundsbury on a pilgrimage, "as they had vowed in the Holy Land."

1275 July 1. Foundation stone of new Lady Chapel laid by Prior Robert.

1279 April. Death of Abbot Simon at Melford: buried in the Lady Chapel, which he had built "at the cost of himself, his parents and his friends" (Leland, iv. 164).

1279 Dec. 28. John of Northwold, guest master of the abbey, solemnly received in the Abbey Church as 16th abbot, after having gone to Rome to be blessed by Pope Nicholas III. Cost of his journey, 1,175 marks, his credit from abbey being only 500 marks.

1281 A new division between the property of the abbot and that of the convent, sanctioned by Edward I in consideration of £1,000.

1285 Feb. 20. The King with the Queen and her three daughters make a pilgrimage to Bury.

1292 April 28. The King, with his son and daughters, again at Bury, remaining either at the abbey or the manor of Culford for ten days. Granted charter that none of his justices should sit within the banlieue of St. Edmund.

1292 Dispute between monastery and town. Royal Commission of inquiry sent down. The burgesses to present annually an alderman for confirmation by the abbot: the alderman to present four persons to the sacrist as keepers of the four gates.

1294 Mar. 18. Edward I again at St. Edmundsbury "with great devotion."

1296 Nov. Edward I holds a Parliament at Bury to obtain an aid from the clergy and people. Difficulties in its collection.

1301 Oct. 29. Death of Abbot John I: buried in the church before the choir altar.

1301 Nov. 30. Edward's I's letter giving permission for a new election.

1302 Jan. 2. Election of Thomas of Tottington (Samson's birthplace) as 17th abbot.

1305 Further disputes between the convent and the town. The king's justices impose fines on the aldermen and burgesses.

1312 Jan. 7. Death of Abbot Thomas: buried in north aisle of abbey church (part of his memorial brass now at Hedgerley church, Bucks). Succeeded by Richard of Draughton.

1326 Edward II spends Christmas at Bury.

1327 Great riots at Bury: the abbey plundered. The abbot seized and carried off, and eventually deported to Diest in Brabant. The outlying manors ravaged, and nearly the whole of the conventual and domestic buildings burnt: loss of property assessed at £140,000. Charter extorted by the townsmen from the convent. (French text in Arnold III. 302-317.)

1330 Sept. 13. Charter of Edward III granting free warren in all demesnes of the Abbey of St. Edmund, and a weekly market at Melford, with an annual fair of nine days.

1335 Death of Abbot Richard: buried in north aisle of the church. The sub-prior, William of Bernham, hastily elected 19th abbot for fear of the Pope's interference.

1345 Jan. 24. Completion of Richard of Bury's Philobiblon.

1345 Quarrel between the abbey and Bishop Bateman of Norwich. Morality and discipline of the abbey reported bad by diocesan commissioners.

1346 The abbot appeals to the Pope, and also sues Bishop Bateman in the King's Court, pleading the Charter of Hardicanute (1035): the judges give sentence in the abbot's favour.

1346 (circa). Completion of abbey gateway, erected after destruction of a previous gateway by the townspeople in the riots of 1327.

1351 Presentation to the abbot of three names for selection of an alderman to have charge of the municipal government of Bury. Admission by the abbot of John Ewell as a matter of favour.

1361 Death of Abbot William: buried in Lady Chapel. Henry of Hunstanton elected his successor, and proceeds to Avignon, but dies of the pestilence near that city before obtaining confirmation by the Pope.

1361 John of Brinkley appointed as 20th abbot by Pope Innocent VI.

1375 Date of last miracle recorded in Bodleian MS. 240 (Symon Broun, nearly lost at sea, vows to St. Edmund and is saved. Nov. Leg. Anglie (1901) vol. II. p. 678).

1379 Death of John of Brinkley at Elmswell: buried in the Lady Chapel. John of Timworth, sub-prior, elected by the monks 21st abbot. Urban VI appoints Edmund de Bromfeld instead, and a controversy ensues, lasting five years.

1381 Rebellion in East Anglia under Jack Strawe. Murder of John de Cambridge, the prior, and Sir John Cavendish, the chief justice. Town of Bury outlawed and fined 2,000 marks.

1383 Richard II and Anne of Bohemia visit Bury and remain ten days at the monastery, at an expense of 800 marks.

1384 June 4. Matters having at length been arranged with the Pope, John of Timworth's election as abbot is confirmed (died 1389).

1390 William of Cratfield elected 22nd abbot.

1400 Oct. 1. Thomas of Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, visits Bury: received as a visitor with much respect, but without a procession.

1408 Nov. 25. Letters patent of King Henry IV finally deciding, in favour of Bury Abbey, the disputed question as to the jurisdiction of the Liberty of St. Edmund over Hadleigh and Eleigh. pp. 76-8, 239.

1410 Catalogue of 195 Monastic Libraries (including that of Bury), compiled by John Boston, monk of Bury.

1415 June 18. Death of Cratfield. William of Exeter elected 23rd abbot.

1424 William Exeter causes the marble tomb of Ording (and (?) of Samson) in the chapter-house to be renewed. p. 247.

1424-33 Building of the present St. Mary's Church on the site of an older church in S.W. corner of the cemetery of the abbey.

1427 Thomas Beaufort, second son of John of Gaunt, buried in Abbey Church (coffin discovered and re-interred 1772).

1429 Death of William Exeter. William Curteys or Curtis elected 24th abbot.

1430 Dec. 18. Fall of Southern side of western tower.

1430 Dec. 30. Fall of Eastern side of western tower. Immediate steps taken to contract for a new tower.

1430 Abbot Curteys builds a library for the abbey (see his regulations for use of books in James, pp. 109-11).

1432 Ruins of tower cleared away. Rebuilding commenced: estimated cost, 60,000 ducats of gold.

1433-4 Visit of Henry VI to Bury Abbey from Christmas till St. George's Day. The monastery presents him with a magnificently illuminated Life of St. Edmund, by John Lydgate (now in Brit. Mus. Harl. MS. 2278).

1446 Sept. 17. Henry VI writes to Abbot Curteys to ask him to be present at laying of foundation stone of King's College, Cambridge, on Michaelmas Day.

1446 Death of Curteys. Succeeded by William Babington as 25th abbot.

1447 Feb. 10. Parliament at Bury, in the Abbey refectory. Duke Humphrey of Gloucester present, and arrested (Feb. 18) for high treason.

1447 Nov. 13. Charter of Henry VI confirming the abbey privileges. (Text in Arnold III. 357.)

1449 Royal Charter granted, freeing the Abbot of all aids to the King for forty marks a year.

1453 Death of Abbot Babington: John Boon, or Bohun, appointed 26th abbot.

1462 General pardon granted by Edward IV to the Abbot and monks, whose sympathies had been Lancastrian.

1462 Nov. 17. A lost Abbey register bought by John Broughton, and presented by him to the monastery at the instance of Abbot Boon.

1465 Jan. 20. Abbey Church completely gutted by fire. (St. Edmund's shrine said to have been saved.) Abbot Boon spends and collects large sums for its repair and rebuilding.

1469 Death of Abbot Boon: buried in the Lady Chapel. Succeeded by Robert of Ixworth as 27th abbot.

1474 Richard of Hengham appointed 27th abbot.

1479 Thomas of Rattlesden appointed 28th abbot.

1479 May. William of Worcester visits the Abbey and takes measurements of the various buildings.

1486 Visit of Henry VII to Bury.

1497 William of Codenham appointed 29th abbot.

1513 Death of Codenham. John Reeve of Melford appointed 30th and last abbot.

1532 Abbot Reeve assists at the funeral of Abbot Islip of Westminster.

1533 July 21. Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, buried in great state at the Abbey (subsequently re-interred in St. Mary's Church).

1535 Nov. 5. Letter from John Ap Rice to Thomas Cromwell as to the state of morals and worship of relics at Bury Abbey and enclosing compertes of proceedings (Compendium Compertorum now at Record Office).

1536 Nov. 26. Grant by the Abbey to Thomas Cromwell and his son Gregory of an annuity of £10.

1538 (circa). Visit of Leland the antiquary to Bury, in search of ancient books and records.

1538 Sept. Sir John Williams, Richard Pollard, Philip Parys and John Smyth report to Cromwell that they have been to St. Edmundsbury, "where we founde a riche shryne which was very comberous to deface. We have takyn in the said monastery in golde and sylver MMMMM marks and above, over and besydes a well and riche crosse with emereddes, as also dyvers and sundry stones of great value, and yet we have left the churche, abbott and convent very well ffurnesshed with plate of sylver necessary for the same" (MS. Cotton. Cleop. E. iv. 229). The actual amount of plate taken at 'His Majesty's visitation' on this occasion was 1,553 oz gold plate, 6,853 oz. gilt plate, 933 oz. parcel-gilt plate, 190 oz. white plate. (Monastic Treasures, 1836). See also under Dec. 2, 1539.

1539 Nov. 4. Deed of surrender of Bury Abbey signed by Abbot Reeve, Prior Thomas Denysse of Ryngstede and 41 other monks.

1539 Nov. 7. Sir Richard Rich, Sir A. Wingfield, Ric. Southwell, Wm. Petre, John Ap Rice, and T. Mildmay inform Henry VIII of the surrender of the Abbey: they "have taken the plate and best ornaments of the house" for the King, and have sold the rest. They also ask whether they are "to deface the church or other edifices of the house." The lead and the bells (if the house be defaced) will be worth 4,500 marks.

1539 Dec. 2. Indent of Richard Southwell of amount of plate taken from Bury Abbey—150 oz. gilt plate, 145 oz. parcel-gilt plate, and 2,162 oz. white plate, besides a pair of birrall candlesticks (handed to the King), and an ornamented mitre (Monastic Treasures, 1836). [Thus, with the spoils of 1538, 1,553 oz. gold plate (all on the first occasion), and 10,433 oz. silver plate, were taken from the Abbey.]

SECTION IV

FROM THE DISSOLUTION TO 1903

1540 March 30. Death of ex-Abbot Reeve; buried in the chancel of St. Mary's Church.

1550 The first of the thirty grammar schools founded by Edward VI established at Bury.

1560 Feb. 14. Site of Monastery sold by Queen Elizabeth for £412 19s. 4d. to John Eyer; by him transferred to Thomas Badby.

1578 Aug. 7. Queen Elizabeth at Bury.

1599 Over a hundred books from Bury Abbey in the hands of William Smart, a "Postman" of Ipswich. Given by him to Pembroke College, Cambridge.

1606 Apl. 3. Bury made a Borough by Charter of James I. (Borough Motto: Sacrarium Regis, Cunabula Legis).

1634 Condition of the site of the Abbey described by William Hawkins of Hadleigh in his "Corolla Varia."

1644 Publication at Toulouse of Caseneuve's "Vie de St. Edmond," alleging that the body of the saint was at the basilica of St. Sernin there, and had been brought over by Louis in 1216. Caseneuve describes, misquoting Matthew Paris (II. 663) the alleged pillage by Louis of "Toutes les églises du comté de Suffolk," refers to the fact that in those days "les Chrétiens faisaient gloire d'enlever par un devot larcin les reliques des saints," and says "Il est croyable que les Francais en firent autant de celles de St. Edmond" (cf. 1216, 1256, 1901).

1745 Publication at Oxford by Rev. Dr. Oliver Battely of Antiquitates S. Edmundi Burgi ad annum MCCLXXII perductæ, written by his uncle, Dr. John Battely (died 1708).

1761 Ancient gates of town pulled down by order of Corporation.

1772 Some excavations on site of Church, made by Mr. King, and reported in vol. III. of Archaeologia.

1805 Publication of An Illustration of the Monastic History and Antiquities of the Town and Abbey of St. Edmund's Bury, by Richard Yates, D.D., F.R.S. (1769-1834).

1806 Site of Abbey comes into the hands of the Hervey family, the present possessors.

1840 Rokewode's Edition of Latin text of Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond, published by Camden Soc.

1843 Carlyle's Past and Present published.

1843 Publication of second edition—including fragment of Part II projected in 1805—of Yates' History of Bury (Remainder of Yates' materials amongst Egerton MSS. in British Museum).

1844 T. E. Tomlins' English translation of Jocelin's Chronicle.

1850 S. Tymms' Bury Wills (Camd. Soc.).

1865 Papers by Mr. Gordon M. Hills on antiquities of Bury St. Edmunds in Journal British Archæological Association, vol. xxi. pp. 32-56 and 104-140.

1869 July 20. British Archæological Association at Bury: paper on Abbey read by Mr. Alfred W. Morant.

1890 Publication of J. R. Thompson's Records of St. Edmund [mostly based on Battely and the legendary chronicles].

1890 Publication of vol. I. of Memorials of St. Edmund's Abbey (Rolls series), edited by T. Arnold (vol. II. published 1892, vol. III. 1896).

1893 Publication of St. Edmund King and Martyr, by Rev. Father Mackinlay, O.S.B. [picturesque and interesting, but uncritical].

1895 Publication of Dr. Montague R. James' two papers on (1) the Library (2) the Church of "The Abbey of St. Edmund at Bury" (Camb. Antiq. Soc., 8vo. Publications No. xxviii.).

1901 Publication of Nova Legenda Anglie (Ox. Univ. Press), containing in vol. II. the full "Vita et passio cum miraculis sancti Edmundi," compiled at Bury in the 14th Century (Bodl. MS. 240).

1901 July 25. Landing at Newhaven, for the new Roman Catholic Cathedral of Westminster, of bones from Toulouse said to be those of St. Edmund (cf. 1216, 1256, 1644.).

1901 Sept. 5. Letter in The Times showing cause against these bones being those of St. Edmund.

1901 Sept. 9. Cardinal Vaughan admits at Newcastle-on-Tyne that, in view of facts stated, "the relics are not genuine."

1902 Publication of Lord Francis Hervey's Suffolk in the XVIIth Century, containing in Appendix a critical study of the legends about St. Edmund's life and martyrdom.

1902-3 (Winter). Excavations on site of chapter-house.

1903 Jan. 1. Discovery on the site of the chapter-house of five stone coffins with skeletons, in the positions assigned in a Bury MS. of circa 1425 (now at Douai) to the burial places of Abbots Ording (1146-56), SAMSON (1182-1211), Richard of Insula (1229-34), Henry of Rushbrook (1234-46), and Edmund of Walpole (1248-56). A sixth skeleton (uncoffined) also found in a line with these coffins to the west—doubtless that of Abbot Hugh I (1156-80). pp. 225, 247.