By Rev. Chr. Word&ivorth, M.A. 257 



very large number. The total quota of Cluniacs in England in 



thirty-seven abbeys and priories was only about 460. Moreover, 



when the General Chapter of the Gilbertines met, presumably not 



long after their founders' death, when the numl)er of houses had 



increased to fifteen, they carefully defined the maximum of inmates 



for each house, thus : — 



M. 



4 houses of women only total + 



5 „ men only „ 113 + 



6 „ ., both sexes „ 291 + 



Total 15 „ 404 + 960 = 1364 



making a decrease of 836 within a few years after St. Gilbert's 

 death (if we accept the numerical statements), although the num- 

 ber of houses had slightly increased. About fifteen houses were 

 added after the founder's death. Of these only one was as late as 

 the 14th century. This was Pulton, founded by Sir T. Seymour, 

 within what was reckoned the north border of Wilts, in 1347- All 

 those which were subsequent to (about) 1195 seem to have been 

 priories for canons only, without any of those Gilbertine nuns for 

 whom the order was originally devised. And Marlborough seems 

 to have been one of these.^ 



St. Margaret's, by Marlborough, the only Gilbertine house within 

 the boundaries of Wilts at the present day, is said to have been 

 founded as early as 1199. Its earliest known charter is of the 

 year 1214. A patent of Eichard II. (13th April, 1399) declares 

 that it was in the King's patronage and founded by his royal 

 progenitors.- It may, of course, have been founded by King 



' That there were ever any Gilbertine nu7is at Marlborough, I can find no 

 proof whatever. Still less for the popular legend that there M'as " once a nun 

 walled up." A favourite fiction which is current in every old town in 

 England ! I should not be surprised if it be simply traceable to the unlucky 

 use of the word " inclusa," as applied to one who was a " recluse " from 

 "the world." 



- Dugd. Mon., vii. 981. Miss Eose Graham, whose account of St. Margaret 

 in her S. Gilbert of Semjjriiiy/iam and the Gilbertines, 8vo, 1901, is somewhat 

 brief, says that it was " probably founded by King John at the beginning of 

 his reign " (p. xii., cf. 139, 151, 176, 194, 208, 219). It is mentioned in a 

 charter of his first year. 



