By Harold Brahspear, F.S.A. 545 



In 1247 the convent entered their new monastery,^ which 

 doubtless means that the eastern part of the church and the new 

 eastern range of buildings were finished. The church, however, 

 was not ready to be hallowed until 1266, in which year that cere- 

 mony was performed by Walter of Wyle, the bishop of Salisbury .^ 



In 1270, on St. John Baptist's day, the new f rater was finished 

 and entered by the convent.^ 



During the fourteenth century some building works were under- 

 taken in connection with the church, and new cloister alleys were 

 built. Just before the Suppression some of the abbey was " newe 

 buylded,"* though what part it is not possible to tell, except that 

 it was not any of the claustral buildings. 



In August, 1535 Stanley was visited by those time-serving 



wretches, Thomas Legli and John ap Eice, the King's Visitors, of 



whom the latter reports to his master, Cromwell : — 



"At Stanley the abbot confessed incontinencie before he was abbot 

 and vj or vij of the convent have confessed incontinencie." " 



Even these despicable characters could not agree amongst them- 

 selves, for shortly afterwards ap Eice sneakingly complains to 

 Cromwell : — 



" Then he (Thomas Legh) handleth the Fathers where he cometh very 

 roughely and many tymes for small causes as thabbots of Brueton and 

 Stanley and Mr. of Edington for not meeting of hym at the doore whene 

 they had no warnyng of his comyng. Also I require more modestie, 

 gravitie, and affabilitie whiche wolde purchase hym more reverence than 

 his owne setting foorth and satrapike countenaunce. The man is yong 

 and of intolerable elation of mynd." ^ 



He also complains that Legh took too many fees, but naively 

 adds " unknowen to me." 



' Bod. MS., vide Bowles, 120. 1247. Ingressus est conventus de Stanlegh 

 novum monasterium. 



- Ibid. 115. 1266. Dedicata est ecclesia de Stanleye in Wiltschire a 

 domino Waltero de Wyle, tunc Sarum episcopo. 



^ Ibid. 115. Eodem anno (1270) intra vit conventus de Stanleye in Wiltes 

 novum refectorium die beati Johannis Baptisti. 

 * Post, p. 546. 

 * Letters and Papers, Henry VIII. ix. 139. 

 6 Ibid, ix. 622. 

 VOL. XXXV. — NO. ex. 2 N 



