92 THE ABBOTS OF DALE. 
Shortly after this the Abbot resigned office, and spent the rest 
of his days in comfort and peace. A copious account of the pro- 
vision made for him is given below. 
18th Dan Richard Nottingham, a pious father, adorned with sundry 
flowers of the virtues, caused to be built the roof of the 
uppermost choir, and many other edifices and benefices did he 
to this Monastery ; and, like a good shepherd, he happily 
governed the sheep committed to him 19 years, and then his 
soul having been loosed from his body, he ended his life in peace. 
The earliest mention of this person is in Bishop Redman’s 
Visitations for 1478, when he held the office of Circator.* Two 
years later he became Sub-Prior, and in 1485 was presented to the 
Vicarage of Heanor by the Abbot and Convent. He held this 
living until 1491, when on the resignation of Abbot John Stanley, 
he succeeded to the chief rule of the Monastery.t 
The character given of Richard de Nottingham by his biographer 
would seem to have been really deserved, for in all the Visitations 
he is well spoken of. For example, in 1494 Bishop Redman 
writes that he found nothing that called for restriction, and all 
things, both within and without the Monastery, were most honour- 
ably preserved by the circumspection of the Abbot. Moreover, 
the house was free from the burden of debt. The last Visitation 
was on May 15, 1500, when the Visitor states he did not leave any 
precepts, because of the fewness of the brethren, on account of the 
plague which the Lord had lately permitted amongst them, but he 
doubted not but that the said Abbot would fill up the accustomed 
number as the means of the Church permitted. 
One of the first acts of Abbot Richard after his election was to 
provide for his predecessor. The arrangements for his comfort 
* It was the duty of the Circator to go round (cévcuzre) all the offices of the 
Monastery at appointed hours, to prevent negligences of the brethren and 
violations of the Rule. 
+ This Richard de Nottingham must not be confounded with another Canon 
of Dale of the same name, who held the Vicarage of Kirk Hallam from 1442 
to 1458, and that of Ilkeston from 1458 to 1497. 
£‘* Nulla competit nobis relinquare precepta tum paucitatem fratrum 
ibidem comparimus ob plagam quam nuper dominus inter eos exercuerat con- 
suetum vero numerum dictus Abbas adimplere secundum quod facultas ecclesie 
permiserit non dubitamus. 
