VOL. XIX. (3) 
K XCU RSION — C I R E NC ESTER 
187 
had been Fitz Osborn’s, and of the Seven Mundreds. Until the Reformation 
and Dissolution there consequently occurred ]H'rpetual and very bitter 
quarrels, resulting often in bloodslied and fierce litigations between tlie 
Abbey and the Town, the .-Vbbey in\ ariably winning tlie day with its Royal 
Charters and Confirmations, which re-established its questioned autocracy. 
To mention a single fact, the entire taxation became placed in the Abbot’s 
hands. Moreover, the Abbots enclosed 62 acres of the common pasture 
of the town in 1292 at the Crundles {i.e., Querns), and appropriated to their 
own uses both the local Irospitals, turning out the Guild-masters, and taking 
their tithes. It was this evil and victimizing monopoly that prevented 
Cirencester fi'om ever rising to independence and importance, and probably 
the inhabitants were not loath to leave no single stone of the Abbey 
in situ, when at last the grim day of reckoning arrived in 1539. 
The President brought his remarks to a close with mention of Leland’s 
visit in Henry VUI.’s reign to the Abbey Church, and his leaving record 
that there were conspicuous marble tombs in it to its founder. Reinbald, 
Dean of the Church, and to Thomas Ruthall, Bishop of Durham, whose body 
lies in the North choir-aisle of Westminster. The latter was not only a 
great benefactor of both the churches at Cirencester, but was a native of the 
town. His arms occur in the Parish Church, and his surviving sister. Mistress 
Alice Avening, shared his benefactions to it. He died (1523) of grief, it is 
believed, at Durham House, in the Strand, at having discovered that, by 
error, when asked by King Henry to draw up a Brief of the lands of his Diocese, 
he had sent the inventory of his own great possessions. He is|^known to 
have borne one-third of the expense of the great (then) new bridge at New- 
castle-upon-Tyne. Truly such a citizen deserved commemoration, and it 
is remarkable that there is no tablet to his memory. Of the Library of 
the Abbey there are thirty-four volumes surviving, of which sixteen arc at 
Hereford, four in the British Museum, ten at Jesus College, Oxford, and 
four are in the Bodleian. 
The MS. Register [Phillipps, 6692. XITT. c. fob (vellum)] is in 
Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham. 
Before dispersing, the President thanked Mr Sewell heartily for the 
excellent arrangements he had made for the meeting, and for the information 
on many local matters imparted by him during the day. A few Members 
visited Cripps Mead, where IMrs Cripps received them in her Museum of 
Roman antiquities, for the most part, found in and around Cirencester. 
Mr W. J. Greenwood had kindly arranged at the Bingham Library sheets 
of plants native to the district, which he had selected from his herbarium, 
and these were examined by Members interested in botanical work, who 
appreciated the trouble taken. 
Walter Lucy, Leasgill Cottage, Amberley, proposed by E. W. Fyffe, 
seconded by A. E. Smith ; 
Colonel E. B. Jeune, Whaddon Manor, proposed by A. E. Hurry, seconded 
by Roland Austin, 
were duly elected Members of the Club. 
