ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



being present, the victory of the northern barons over the Scots on Cowton 

 Moor (1138) was due in no small degree to Turstin's initiative.'^ 



The growth of monasticism was much furthered by Turstin, the last 

 few days of whose life were spent in Pontefract Priory." Secular canons of 

 the greater churches of his jurisdiction, who had taken vows as monks or 

 canons regular, were allowed to keep two-thirds of their prebendal incomes.^"" 

 At the beginning of his episcopate, the chief religious houses of Yorkshire 

 were the Benedictine abbeys of Selby, St. Mary's at York, Whitby, and the 

 Cluniac house at Pontefract.^ Soon after his election, the priory of 

 Augustinian canons afterwards known as Bolton was founded at Embsay 

 (1120). About a year later, Walter I'Espec founded Kirkham Priory. 

 Other Augustinian houses founded in his pontificate were Guisborough (i 129), 

 Warter (1132), Bridlington, Drax, and Nostell. Newburgh was founded in 

 1 145. In 1 131 Walter I'Espec founded the first Cistercian monastery in 

 Yorkshire at Rievaulx. The order had already been established in the 

 diocese at Furness (11 27), and Turstin in 11 32 powerfully assisted the 

 foundation of Fountains Abbey. About 1 134 a monastery was established at 

 Hode by the community which finally (i 147) removed to the present Byland 

 Abbey. In 1145 Fors Abbey (afterwards Jervaulx) was founded, and in 

 1 147 were founded Roche, Sawley, and Barnoldswick (afterwards Kirkstall). 

 Meaux was founded in 1 150. To much the same date belong the Gilbertine 

 houses of Malton and Watton. Premonstratensians settled at Easby in 1152. 

 Many smaller monasteries and nunneries were founded during the reigns of 

 Stephen and Henry II. Before the end of the century the Premonstratensian 

 houses of Egglestone and Swainby, the parent of Coverham, were in existence.' 



The influence of the religious orders was felt in the dispute over the 

 election of a successor to Turstin. The Treasurer of York, William Fitz 

 Herbert, a nephew of King Stephen,* was elected by a majority of the 

 chapter. The election was opposed by Osbert, one of the archdeacons. 

 The Abbots of Fountains and Rievaulx, and the Priors of Guisborough and 

 Kirkham, accused William of simony. William was supported by the 

 Abbots of York and Whitby, and by the Bishop of Orkney,* and remained for 

 some time in possession. However, Eugenius III, a Cistercian, aided by the 

 advice of St. Bernard,' deposed him, and consecrated Henry Murdac, Abbot 

 of Fountains, in his place." Murdac was elected archbishop in July 1147, 

 with some contention, the Dean of York and Hugh Pudsey, the treasurer,^ 



" Henry of Huntingdon, Hist. Angl. (Rolls Ser.), 262. 



" Stubbs, Hist. Ch. York (Rolls Ser.), ii, 387, says that he resigned his archbishopric, entered the monastery 

 on 25 Jan. 1139—40, and died on 5 Feb. From this point the chronicle of the archbishops is continued by the 

 Dominican Thomas Stubbs, whose name is usually applied to the whole tripartite chronicle. 



"" Ibid, ii, 386. ' For the dates of these various foundations see 'Religious Houses' below. 



' Page, Yorkshire Chant. Surv. (Surt. Soc. 1894), i, pref p. vii, notices that after 1250 the only monas- 

 tery established in the county was Haltem price Priory, first founded at Cottingham in 1322. But the Charter- 

 houses at Hull and at Mount Grace, founded in 1378 and 1396, must also be reckoned. 



' Vita S. Willelmi, auctore anonymo. Hist. Ch. York (Rolls Ser.), ii, 270 seq., and Stubbs, ibid. 390. 

 His father was Count Herbert ; his mother Emma, the king's sister. 



* Stubbs, ibid. 389-91. A fuller account, mainly derived from John of Hexham, is printed ibid. 



' On St. Bernard's part in the dispute, see a note by Morison, Life and Times of St. Bernard, 351, 352. 



* Murdac, probably a Yorkshireman, had been a monk at Clairvaux and Abbot of Vauclair in Laon 

 diocese, before going to Fountains. See Dixon and Raine, op. cit. 210-13. 



' Stubbs, Hist. Ch. York (Rolls Ser.), ii, 393 (second account). Both dean and treasurer had been 

 appointed by William. The election took place at St. Martin's Priory, outside Richmond, on 24 July. 

 Pudsey's candidate was Master Hilary, a clerk of the Curia. 



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