Collections towards the History 



The next section is of interest, as it introduces to our notice, for 

 the first time, I believe, Brother Michael the Monk, whose labours 

 for the benefit of his order have merited a special paragraph entitled 

 " Titles of the Privileges which were acquired in the year of grace 

 MCCXLV 0 by brother Michael the Monk, whose labour may God 

 requite in the kingdom of heaven. Amen." This worthy religious 

 appears to have been the means of obtaining no less than eighteen 

 papal documents of privileges and liberties from Pope Innocent IV., 

 and these the compiler of the calendar has numbered consecutively 

 from A to S. The tenor of all, from the titles or docquets appears 

 to be of a nature general to the Cistercian Order. 



The next division of deeds is devoted to " Final Concords made 

 before the Justiciers of our Lord the King/'' and relate to lands at 

 Childcnoel, Rudes or Heland, Stanleg, Cudel [inton] , Wappel', 

 Winterbourn, Nethermore, Blakedun, Calestun, Aubree, Wiltun, 

 Heiwude, Cokelberg, Ruteshale, Jettun, Stodleg, Bradenstok, and 

 Eston, most of which localities are I believe circumjacent with the 

 Abbey. This section contains a variety of valuable historical, 

 biographical, and topical information, such as names of several 

 Abbots, Nicholas, Thomas, Stephen, Robert, Peter, and William. 

 The list of Abbots which I give at the end of the paper is 

 materially assisted by these names. The last entry is perhaps 

 curious, as it relates to the Jew " Jocepinus 99 of Bristol, who had 

 acquitted to the Abbey his claim to a debt owing by Ralph de 

 Beauchamp, a scion of a noble family well known in Wiltshire at 

 that time. 



The next division of the calendar is devoted to " The Titles of 

 charters of Sovereigns, which are enrolled and not in order.'''' This 

 class embraces grants and charter of liberties from Richard I., 

 Henry III., and Edward II. While the next series is of those 

 which are " in order 99 viz., of chronology, and these leading off with 

 two of the Empress Mathildis, proceed with several of Henry II., 

 and Richard I. Mr. Bowles has printed the text of some of these 

 from the original deeds in the possession of E. Bayntun, in his 

 work, to which reference has been already made. 



Then succeeds the body of the work, with an introductory 



