RELIGIOUS HOUSES 



de Hestholm in a plea of common pasture at Meles in Kirksanton in 

 Cumberland. Roger had disputed the right of the abbot to the common, 

 and as an agreement could not be arrived at, one of the parties appealed 

 the other in wager of battle that God might defend the right. The 

 justices sat in area duelll attended by members of the county court, and 

 as the combat proceeded the affair was abruptly ended in the abbot's 

 favour by Roger renouncing his claim to the property and withdrawing 

 his champion. 1 



It will be readily admitted that a county on the Scottish frontier 

 was ill adapted to the multiplication of nunneries. In fact, one marvels 

 that a religious society of women could exist during the periods of bar- 

 baric strife which broke out from time to time between the two king- 

 doms in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The few nuns at 

 Armathwaite in the valley of the Eden, nine miles to the south of 

 Carlisle, were often plundered and impoverished, but managed to hold 

 together till the dissolution. The nunnery of Seton, though far removed 

 from the scene of frequent forays, did not increase in wealth or influence. 

 The glimpses we get of it betoken its miserable condition of poverty. 

 Both institutions were entitled in the name of Our Lady and constituted 

 under the Benedictine rule. 



All the monastic bodies in the portion of Cumberland within the 

 ancient diocese of Carlisle were subject to episcopal visitation and cor- 

 rection except the Cistercian abbey of Holmcultram. The value of the 

 bishop's periodic inspection was proved on several occasions of dispute or 

 mismanagement. Monks, canons and nuns were alike amenable to his 

 pastoral advice. In the early centuries of diocesan history the Bishop of 

 Carlisle was not a popular figure with the regular clergy. Whether the 

 hostility took its rise from his differences with the priory of Carlisle about 

 the distribution of the property of his church, or on account of his zeal in 

 keeping cloistered life up to the requisite standard, there can be no doubt 

 that the monasteries smarted under his supervision. In cases of dispute 

 between neighbouring houses the bishop was the natural referee for the 

 readjustment of friendly relations. From some instances on record we 

 see that he did not spare the litigating parties ; his award was often 

 drawn up in language of sternness, not to say of asperity. But as time 

 went on more amicable relations prevailed. The monks found the 

 bishop a useful ally in promoting their interests, and they were too 

 worldly wise not to grapple with the situation by making him their 

 friend. Holmcultram was a papal peculiar over which the bishop of 



I Beck, Ann. Furnesienses, 2245. The deed of quitclaim which followed was witnessed by 

 William son of Thomas de Craystok, Roger de Loncastria, Thomas de Muletona, Roger de Lasceles, 

 Ranulf de Daker, Thomas de Musegrave, Alan de Orretona, and Robert de Mulcastre. On the back 

 of the deed there is the following endorsement : ' Die et anno contentis in hoc scripto Inrotulata fuit 

 tota sententia script! istius cum divisis eo contentis in rotulis Justiciariorum hoc scripto nominatorum. 

 Ipsis Justiciariis sedentibus in area duelli in parte percussi, et retractis utrimque campionibus pacificati 

 ad instanciam Rogeri de Estholme ibidem presentis et tarn Inrotulamentum predictum quam presentis 

 script! tenorem gratis concedentis et approbantis.' A somewhat similar diel was fought in Yorkshire 

 in 1239, when an abbot was intimidated by armed force to withdraw his champion and renounce his 

 right (Cal. of Papal Letters, i. 179-80). 



II 129 17 



