198 Lacock Abbey. 
annis post vixit sine omni cura libera; a° etatis sue lxxiv. ix kal Septemb. 
animam suam in pace optinens, requievit in D’no a° mceclxi. et in choro dicti 
monasterii decentissime tumulata.”’ ! 
The period from the foundation in 1232 until the Foundress took 
the veil in 1288 is probably that in which the principal buildings 
were erected, and if not completed were at least made habitable. 
The mention of Alice Garinges, as first canoness, at the time 
of the foundation would imply that there were some inmates 
from the first, who would of necessity be housed in temporary 
buildings. 
Two original Cartularies are preserved at the Abbey, and contain 
the usual transeript of deeds relating to the possessions of the 
convent. Some of these will be referred to later. 
1 Bowles and Nichols, History of Lacock, appendix, p. v. ‘‘ Ela survived 
her husband seven years in widowhood, and had often proposed to found 
monasteries pleasing to God for the salvation of her soul and that of her 
husband and those of all their ancestors. She was directed by revelations to 
build a monastery near Lacock in a field called in English Snaylesmede in 
honour of St. Mary and St. Bernard, and she completed it till finished, at her 
own expense, from her inheritance of the Earldom of Salisbury. A° 1232, 
May 16th, in the forty-fifth year of her age, she founded two monasteries in 
one day, in the morning that at Lacock, in which holy canonesses might 
continuously dwell and most devoutly serve God, and Hinton in the afternoon. 
The Priory of Hinton was founded for the Carthusian order. Alice Garinges 
was veiled as first canoness at Lacock. A° 1238, Jany. 7th, in the fifty-first 
year of her age, seven years after the foundation of the house of Lacock, the 
noble matron Lady Ela Longespée assumed the religious habit at Lacock, 
having in all her actions and designs been constantly guided by the council 
and aid of St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury and other discreet men. 
A°. 1240, Sept, 18th, in the fifty-third year of her age Lady Ela Longespeé 
the Foundress was appointed the first Abbess of Lacock, where for many 
years she strictly governed the convent that had been committed to her, most 
devoutly serving God, in a life of strict seclusion, in fasting, in vigils, in holy 
meditation and discipline of constant strictness and other good and charitable 
works for 18 years. A° 1257, January 31st, in the seventieth year of her age, 
she finding herself at length affected by old age and such weakness as 
prevented her from being of use to religion as she wished, renounced and 
retired from her post and during her life appointed an Abbess called Beatrice 
of Kent. And after this she lived for nearly five years liberated from every 
care. A°. 1261, Sept. 9th, in the seventy-fourth year of her age, possessing 
her soul in peace, she rested in the Lord and was most honourably buried in 
the quire oi the abbey. 
