198 



Lacock Abbey. 



annis post vixit sine omni cura libera ; a 0 setatis suae lxxiv. ix kal Septemb. 

 aniinam suam in pace optinens, requievit in D'no a 0 mcclxi. et in choro dicti 

 monasterii decentissime tumulata." 1 



The period from the foundation in 1232 until the Foundress took 

 the veil in 1 238 is probably that in which the principal buildings 

 were erected, and if not completed were at least made habitable. 

 The mention of Alice Graringes, as first canoness, at the time 

 of the foundation would imply that there were some inmates 

 from the first, who would of necessity be housed in temporary 

 buildings. 



Two original Cartularies are preserved at the Abbey, and contain 

 the usual transcript of deeds relating to the possessions of the 

 convent. Some of these will be referred to later. 



1 Bowles and Nichols, History of Lacock, appendix, p. v. " Ela survived 

 her husband seven years in widowhood, and had often proposed to found 

 monasteries pleasing to God for the salvation of her soul and that of her 

 husband and those of all their ancestors. She was directed by revelations to 

 build a monastery near Lacock in a field called in English Snaylesmede in 

 honour of St. Mary and St. Bernard, and she completed it till finished, at her 

 own expense, from her inheritance of the Earldom of Salisbury. A 0 1232, 

 May 16th, in the forty-fifth year of her age, she founded two monasteries in 

 one day, in the morning that at Lacock, in which holy canonesses might 

 continuously dwell and most devoutly serve God, and Hinton in the afternoon. 

 The Priory of Hinton was founded for the Carthusian order. Alice Garinges 

 was veiled as first canoness at Lacock. A° 1238, Jany. 7th, in the fifty-first 

 year of her age, seven years after the foundation of the house of Lacock, the 

 noble matron Lady Ela Longespee assumed the religious habit at Lacock, 

 having in all her actions and designs been constantly guided by the council 

 and aid of St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury and other discreet men. 

 A 0 . 1240, Sept, 18th, in the fifty-third year of her age Lady Ela Longespee 

 the Foundress was appointed the first Abbess of Lacock, where for many 

 years she strictly governed the convent that had been committed to her, most 

 devoutly serving God, in a life of strict seclusion, in fasting, in vigils, in holy 

 meditation and discipline of constant strictness and other good and charitable 

 works for 18 years. A 0 1257, January 31st, in the seventieth year of her age, 

 she finding herself at length affected by old age and such weakness as 

 prevented her from being of use to religion as she wished, renounced and 

 retired from her post and during her life appointed an Abbess called Beatrice 

 of Kent. And after this she lived for nearly five years liberated from every 

 care. A 0 . 1261, Sept. 9th, in the seventy-fourth year of her age, possessing 

 her soul in peace, she rested in the Lord and was most honourably buried in 

 the quire of the abbey. 



