98 THE ABBOTS OF DALE. 
Comparimus insuper ibidem Johannes Bede de incontinentia et 
quod ex muliere vocata Margaret de Hall genuisset 
sobolem 
which offence he confessed he had committed, although on a 
previous occasion when he had been accused of the same crime 
by the Abbot, he was not deserving of blame. 
For punishment the Visitor enjoined 40 days gravioris culpa,* 
and as penance to be sent to the sister Abbey of Hales Owent for 
seven years. 
Apparently he was not absent from his own monastery for the 
whole term, as in 1500 he re-appears among the “ Vomina 
Jratrum monastery de Dalla” as Cantor. 
Abbot John Bebe comes before us next in the “ Black Book,’ 
compiled by Drs. Legh and Layton, at the instance of Henry 
VIIL., for the purpose of bringing forward a colourable excuse for 
the suppression of the monasteries. They report, concerning 
Dale Abbey : 
Incontinentes. Johannes Staunton Abbas 
cum una soluta et 
altera conjugata 
Willimus Brampton 
cum quinque conjugatis 
feminis. 
Hic in veneracione habent 
partem zonae et Lactis 
Sanctae Mariae et rotam 
Catherinze in argento 
Fundator,§ Gervasius 
Kyngeston, Armiger. 
Redditus annuus cx] 
It is possible that the charge here made against the Abbot is the 
offence for which he was punished in 1494, and raked up again 
* The chief points in the punishment gravioris culpe were— 
To sit by himself in the Fratry on the ground at a bare table and feed on 
coarser bread and water. ; 
While the Canons were entering or coming out of the church at the Hours, to 
lie prostate ante ostium chort. 
No one to speak to him. 
Not to be communicated, nor receive the kiss of peace, nor kiss the Text, 
nor hold any office in the church. 
+ In Shropshire. 
+ Now in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire. 
§ Fundator here is equivalent to Patron, 
