OF SELBOENE 271 



being crowded within the narrow limits of a city, or garrison- 

 town, where every inch of ground was precious, and an object of 

 contention. But with us, as far as my evidences extend, and 

 while Robert Saunford was master^ and Richard Carpenter was 

 preceptor, the Templars and the Priors lived in an intercourse of 

 mutual good offices. 



My papers mention three transactions, the exact time of which 

 cannot be ascertained, because they fell out before dates were 

 usually inserted ; though probably they happened about the 

 middle of the thirteenth century ; not long after Saunford be- 

 came master. The first of these is that the Templars shall pay to 

 the priory of Selbome, annually, the sum of ten shillings at two 

 half yearly payments from their chamber, "camera," at Sudington, 

 " per manum preceptoris, vel ballivi nostri, qui pro tempore fuerit 

 "ibidem," till they can provide the prior and canons with an 

 equivalent in lands or rents within four or five miles of the said 

 convent. It is also further agreed that, if the Templars shall be 

 in arrears for one year, that then the prior shall be empowered 

 to distrain upon their live stock in Bradeseth. The next matter 

 was a grant from Robert de Saunford to the priory for ever, of 

 a good and sufficient road, " cheminum," capable of admitting 

 carriages, and proper for the drift of their larger cattle, from the 

 way which extends from Sudington towards Blakemere, on to the 

 lands which the convent possesses in Bradeseth. 



The third transaction (though for want of dates we cannot say 

 which happened first and which last) was a grant from Robert 



"but afterwards projected, and by his will ordered, a noble church or religious 

 ' ' house to be built in the cemetery on the north side of the old minster or cathedral ; 

 " and designed that Grimbald should preside over it. This was begun A.D. 901, 

 ' ' and finished to the honour of the Boly Tnnity, Virgin Mary, and St. Peter, by 

 "his son king Edward^ who placed therein secular canons: but A.D. 963 they 

 " were e.xpelled, and an abbot and monks put in possession by bishop Eihelwold. 



"Now the churches and habitations of these two societies being so very near 

 "together, the differences which were occasioned by their singing, bells, and other 

 " matters, arose to so great a height, that the religious of the new monastery thought 

 " fit, about A.D. 1119, to remove to a better and more quiet situation without the 

 ' ' walls, on the north part of the city called Hyde, where king Henry I. at the 

 " instance of Will. Gifford, bishop of Winton, founded a stately abbey for them. 

 "St. Peter was generally accounted patron; though it is sometimes called the 

 "monastery of St. Grimbald, and sometimes of St. Bamaias,^^ &c. 



Note. A few years since a county bridewell, or house of correction, has been 

 built on the immediate site of Hide Abbey. In digging up the old foundations the 

 workmen found the head of a crosier in good preservation. 



I Robert Saunforde was master of the Temple in 1241 ; Guido de Foresta was the 

 next in 1292. The former is fifth in a list of the masters in a IVIS. Bib. Cotton. 

 Nero. E. VI. 



