RELIGIOUS HOUSES 



The electors' choice of the prior, John de 

 Maryns," pleased everybody but Richard de 

 Hatford, Prior of Redbourn, who baulked in 

 his own ambition tried to get the Archbishop 

 of Canterbury to interfere, but only drew 

 reproof upon himself.** Maryns received the 

 papal confirmation on 25 May,^ and celebrated 

 the inauguration of his abbacy with a splendid 

 feast at which two abbots and thirteen knights 

 were present.** His first work was to settle 

 outstanding quarrels and grievances. He 

 appeased the archbishop,** and conciliated 

 Tateshall by a grant of the livery he wanted." 

 The manor of Childwick was restored by him 

 to the convent,*' and on 18 October 1302 he 

 removed another cause of discontent by fixing 

 the amount of bread and ale which the abbot 

 could require from the refectorer.*' 



On the death of the Prior of Wymondham 

 in 1303 the abbot successfully asserted the 

 exemption of the cells from the escheator's 

 authority.** He also guarded the abbey's 

 liberties in Buckinghamshire against the 

 sheriff.'" 



Maryns apparently found it no easier than 

 his predecessor to reduce the financial affairs of 

 the house to order. The expenses at the papal 

 court were very heavy, over ^^1,700,'^ and if the 

 fine of 1,000 marks was paid to the king in 

 June 1303,*^ it was only done by borrowing.** 

 St. Albans was at any rate so much in debt in 

 April 1305 that its custody was committed by 

 the king to William de Bolum, who held it until 

 December 1306.** Even then it was not free 

 from difficulties. Only a few months later Walter 

 Langton, Bishop of Lichfield, the king's 

 treasurer, was endeavouring to get from the 

 abbey an annual pension of ^£30 for three Uves in 

 return for his loan of ^£900.** One of the 

 brothers pointed out to the abbot that to pay 

 debts thus was not only uneconomical but 

 dangerous, as it would lead to similar demands 

 from the king and others. Maryns faced by 

 a present peril would not listen, and in the 



*i Maryns had had long experience of office. He 

 had been cellarer from 1 281 to 1287 (StoweMS. 849, 

 fol. 1 5 d.-l 8 d.), and had probably then been made 

 prior. 



ii. 53-4. 



*2 Gesia Abbot. 



*3 Ibid. 55. 



" Ibid. 



»* Ibid. 



*6 Ibid. 



" Ibid. 



*8 Ibid. 



" Ibid. 



*o Ibid. 



56. 



48. 



63-4. 



66-9. 



69. 



?2-9. 



79-80. 



56-8. 



«1 Ibid. 



*2 Cal. Close, 1302-7, pp. 42-3. 

 *' According to the Gesta Abbat. (ii, 108), at the 

 abbot's death the 1,000 marks were still owing. 

 ^ Cal. Pat. 1301-7, p. 335. 

 ^* Gesta Abbat. ii, 90-3. 



bishop's presence enjoined the convent to grant 

 the annuity. But as the monks were most dis- 

 inclined to acquiesce, the business was pro- 

 rogued,** and before further pressure could be 

 used Edward I died and Langton's fall followed 

 immediately. The relief, of course, was only 

 comparative,for the money had still to be repaid.*' 

 Maryns's neglect to supply two carts on the 

 new king's demand seems to have been a 

 mistake. Edward was so much annoyed ** that 

 the abbot, to placate him, after sending a peace- 

 offering of money,** made him a present of his 

 wood at Langley.'" Maryns was unable to 

 fulfil his intention of putting the temporal 

 affairs of the house on a satisfactory footing.'* 

 Before he died he explained to the prior and 

 senior monks that the house was about X^jOOO 

 in debt, and advised them to choose for his 

 successor a good and simple man, and not one 

 proud and pompous.'^ 



The ordinances he made for the abbey and 

 cells '* show that discipline and conduct were 

 no longer what they had been. The rule of 

 silence was to be kept,'* and satisfaction was to 

 be made for every infraction, not occasional 

 amends after much breaking of the rule ; there 

 must be no idle talk and slander ; there was to 

 be no swearing by the wounds, blood or limbs 

 of Christ ; none but the cellarer or kitchener 

 was to keep a dog for coursing ; there must be 

 no wandering about alone, nor loitering at doors 

 talking to women, and except in company of a 

 brother of mature age none was to hold converse 

 with a woman ; private property was strictly 

 forbidden ; the chamberlain was never to give 

 money to the brothers instead of clothes, and 

 when new clothing was allotted the old must be 

 given up ; food left over from meals was to be 

 distributed in alms ; the order of priesthood 

 was not to be given too soon, and outside office 

 was not to be bestowed on a monk who had not 

 been three years in the cloister and behaved 

 well during that time. 



The changes Maryns introduced, if generally 

 in the direction of diminished strictness, were 

 marked by humanity and good sense. Certain 



'* To consult the priors of cells, who refused to 

 burden their hou5es. 



*' To the king, intsead of Langton (fiesta Abbat. 

 ii, 94 ; Cal. Tine R. 1307-19, p. 29). 



** When he came to St. Albans he would not see 

 Maryns (Gesta Abbat. ii, 95). 



*' He sent 100 marks through Gaveston, to whom 

 he gave ^40 (ibid.). 



™ For the houses the king was building for the 

 Dominicans (ibid.). 



'1 Ibid. 107. 



'2 Ibid. 108. 



" Ibid. 95-106. 



'^ It is said he allowed the convent to talk for the 

 sake of learning, and the rule of silence was in con- 

 sequence very badly observed (ibid. 107). 



385 



49 



