Beknakd — The Charters of the Abbey of Duislce. 43 



The CO. Wexford family of Dc Siimcri or Sutton appear half a dozen times in 

 the Duiske charters (see nos. 3G, 38, -il, 50, 51). There were three brothers, Adam 

 (whose wife was Clare), Ralph, and David. Of these, Adam had four sons, Robert, 

 David (whose wife was Margaret), Ralph, and William. We shall meet with them 

 all again. Here we have as a witnes.s, the elder Ralph de Suvieri: he appears 

 elsewhere' before 1224, and in 1230 (see no. 38). The instrument before us may be 

 dated about 122G. 



We next come to a series of deeds which direct that the small and poor 

 abbey of Killenny (see p. 4) shall be united to the prosperous abbey of Duiske. 

 Although only twenty years in existence, the convent of Duiske was now a 

 rich corporation, endowed with many bi-oad acres, and enjoying the powerful 

 patronage of Earl William Marshal and his great tenants. There was no need 

 for another Cistercian house so near as Killenny ; but, as we shall see, the 

 union of the two provoked a good deal of opposition, and was especially 

 distasteful to Jerpoint Abbey, of which Killenny was a daughter house. 



The procedure necessary for absorbing Killenny in Duiske was elaborate. 

 First, the abbot of Froidmont, who came from France to visit formally the 

 Irish Cistercian houses, directed the union of the two abbeys (no. 19) ; then 

 his recommendation was confirmed by the abbey of Clairvaux, the mother 

 house of Froidmont (no. 20) ; next the abbots of Citeaux, and of the four 

 elder ' daughters of Citeaux ' (see p. 3), viz., la Ferte, Pontigny, Clairvaux, 

 and Morimund, added their final confirmation (no. 21) ; and lastly, the 

 convent of Citeaux sent a formal order to the convent of Duiske on the 

 subject (no. 22). And, to remove all doubt, Earl William Marshal gave a 

 formal certificate of his approval (no. 25), and also the bishop of Leighlin. 

 See nos. 32, 33. 



19. 



B., abbot of Froidmont, visiting the Irish Cistercian houses with full 

 powers to reduce the poorer houses to be granges, to unite houses, to 

 interdict, suspend, and excommunicate all gainsayers and even the 

 monasteries themselves, finding that the abbey of Killenny is in debt 

 so that it can subsist no longer, and that the monks are obliged to 

 beg, directs the transfer of Killenny with its property to Duiske, 

 ordering that the abbot and monks of the foimer house be well 

 treated. He gives the abbot of Bective power to excommunicate, 

 expel, or, if necessary, to punish by the secular arm in case of gain- 

 saying or disobedience. 



Dated at Dublin, 22 July, 1227. 



Uniuersis presentes literas inspecturis Frater B. Frigidi Montis dictus 

 abbas eternam in domino salutem. 



■ R.T.A. 221. 



[6*J 



