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fatos Priores, aut Scolares, seu in eorum successores aliquam jurisdictionem ecclesiasticam, ordinariam aut spiritualem, exercere, aliquid restatuere, ordinare, seu diffinire in posterum valeamus, aut valeant vigore fundationis Collegii sæpedicti. Et si aliquid in contrarium alicujus præmissorum fecerint, aut facere præsumpserint, hoc sit penitus irritum et inane. Potestatem autem interpretandi et declarandi hæc nostra statuta et ordinationes prædicta, aut nova, si oportuerit, edendi et faciendi super præmissis, Abbati Cistercii, et Capitulo generali ordinis supradicti omnino relinquimus et plenarie dimittimus per præsentes, veraciter confidentes in devotis suffragiis totius Ordinis prædicti pro nobis Altissimo spiritualiter oblatis, et in piis precibus universorum prædictorum Scolarium pro salubri statu regis prædicti et nostri quotidie dum vixerimus, cum Collecta Rege generis, et post decessum nostrum cum hac Collecta Deus Qui inter Apostolicos, in singulis suis missis. Ad quæ omnia et singula debite observanda una cum die obitus nostri specialis annuatim imperpetuum celebranda, omnes et singuli Scolares prædicti Collegii firmiter astringantur per speciale statutum in generali Capitulo ejusdem Ordinis solenniter ordinandum, harum tenore ordinamus. quorum omnium testimonium et perpetuam evidentiam nostrum sigillum præsentibus apponi fecimus. Dat' octavo die mensis Februarii, anno Domini millesimo quadringintesimo, tricesimo septimo; et anno regni regis prædicti sextodecimo.

In

Sciant præsentes et futuri quod nos Henricus permissione Divina Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, totius Angliæ primas, tradidimus, dimisimus, et hac præsenti carta nostra confirmavimus Willelmo Bramley, Priori Collegii Sancti Bernardi in Oxonia et Scolaribus monachis ordinis Cisterciensis in Universitate Oxoniensi studentibus, omnia terras et tenementa cum suis pertinentiis quæ nuper habuimus ex dono et concessione Johannis Quarram in parochia B. M. Magdalenæ extra portam borealem villæ Oxon., per nomina duorum mesuagiorum adinvicem situatorum in eadem parochia, inter tenementum Collegii voc. Universite College ex parte australi, et ten. Johanis Snareston ex parte boreali; et continet in longitudine decem perticatas, et in latitudine novem perticatas et duodecim pedes; ac unius tofti seu gardini jac. in suburbiis villæ prædictæ extra portam borealem ejusdem villæ in parochia prædicta cont. in longitudine novem perticatas et decem pedes, et in latitudine duas perticatas et undecim pedes inter ten. Margarete Shipton ex parte australi, et gardinum magistri et scolarium Magne Aula Universitatis prædictæ. Habendum

et tenendum omnia prædicta terras et tenementa cum pert. præfatis Priori et Scolaribus, et eorum successoribus monachis dicti Ordinis in Universitate prædicta pro tempore studentibus in puram et perpetuam elemosinam in eorum fundationem imperpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium huic præsenti cartæ sigillum nostrum apposuimus. His testibus Johanne Cottesmore uno justic. domini regis nunc de communi Banco, Ricardo Quatermayns, Drugone Barantyn, Willelmo Marmyon, Roberto Tredarf, et multis aliis. Dat. decimo die mensis Febr., anno regni regis Henrici sexti post conquæstum xvjmo.

On the same day he makes John Marthieby clerk, William Marmyon and Robert Tredarf his attornies, to give seisin to Bramley and the scolars of the above.

The king's license to the archbishop is dated at Lambehith, 20 March, anno regni nostri 15.

III.

-CARMEN RYTHMICUM IN LAUDEM CISTERCII.-[MS. Univ.
Coll., Oxon., J. i, ad finem.]

Gaude, felix mater Cistercium, firmamenti spera stelligera,
Paradisus lignorum omnium quem Divina plantavit dextera !
Fons erumpens in quadrifluvium quo virtutum rigantur olera!
Te fundavit Virgo perpetua, Trinitatis sacrum triclinium.

Archa Noe contra diluvium salvandorum altior camera,
Tu columba deferens folium olivarum pacis signifera,
Scala Jacob visa per somnium pænitentes mittis ad æthera,
Charitatis dispergens munera, saccus ciphi Joseph peculium.

Rubus ardens monstrans prodigium castitatis vires per opera,
Virga ducis dans mare pervium, vita forti transcendens aspera,
Tu columna ductrix fidelium per desertum ad montis supera,
Testamenti dans archa fœdera elevatus clypeus fortium.

Vellus rore complutum nubium pietatis exprimis ubera;
Fons maxillæ dans refrigerium, lectionis frequentis littera,
Funda David per jejunium hostem frangens in carne tenera,
Sic cisterna Bethleem viscera reficiens pie precantium.

Virgo fovens regale sericum, languidorum relevans onera,
Tu reginæ Saba convivium contemplando subintras propera,
Thronus regis tu, sanctuarium tu, altare expians scelera,
Currus igneus quem fert in aera metus et spes, dolor et gaudium.

Cedrus montis, hisopus vallium summa tenens, moderans infera, Aquas scindens Helia pallium, mala spernis, eligens prospera, Helisei gratum tugurium, in quo fessus refovet latera,

Tu vas novum, salis quo misera corruptio sanatur fontium.

Fons qui crevit in magnum fluvium tu es, mater noster sic libera,
Tuus ordo Cistercensium est in orbe sol, lux et sidera,
Generale tuum collegium per virtutum currens itinera
Gloriosa virgo Christifera ad salutis perducas bravium.

Amen.

IV. A NOTE OF THE RECORDS OF FOUNTAINS ABBEY, AND THEIR PRESENT PLACES OF DEPOSIT.

THE MUNIMENT ROOM AT STUDLEY HALL.

1. The Coucher Book of Fountains. A folio volume on paper, containing abstracts, in Latin, of 3382 Charters and Legal Instruments relating to the several estates of the monastery, and arranged under the alphabetical heads of Manors. Written about the time of Richard the Second and the close of the 14th century.

2. A Parchment Roll of immense length, containing copies of many hundred Charters and Legal Documents relating to the estates of the Monastery: written in the time of King Edward the 1st or 2nd. There is reason to suppose that there were other rolls in continuation. A partial copy of one, which cannot, at present, be traced, is in the possession of the writer of these notes; and another is mentioned by Dr. Whitaker in his History of Craven, but the owner has not been ascertained.

3. A" President Book" in one volume folio, written about the year 1420, and containing a chronicle or brief history of the abbots to the time of Abbot Greenwell, 1442 to 1471, being the chief source whence our knowledge of these dignitaries is derived' —a singularly interesting Register of Homages done to the Abbots (where, by whom, and when) for divers lands;—and a very copious and accurate digest of all the records of the house relating to certain of their manors and estates in Craven, illustrated by genealogical statements which throw great light—no

(1) This is printed in Vol. I. of the Memorials of Fountains Abbey.

where else to be obtained-on the distribution and tenure of property in that district in the 12th and 13th centuries. It contains also many notes and references to persons and things connected with estates of the Abbey in divers parts, and copies of thirty-six charters relating to property in Ripon, of which no other trace is known to remain. The name of "President Booke of ye Abbey of ffountaynes" endorsed upon it, has probably been derived from the practice of placing it and similar volumes of digested history of their estates before the President of the Chapter, who could thus see at once the facts and dates bearing on any point where information was required, without consulting the original Deeds and Records, to which there are constant references. This book has not the protection of a cover, and having been saturated in moisture, is not in good condition.1

4. A Rental and Survey of certain Manors, Granges, and Farms at Dacre, Brimham, Ingerthorpe, Wallerthwaite, Markington, Baldersby, Bramley, Aldbrough, Bewerley, Kirby Wiske, Malham-in-Craven, Bordley, Kilnsey, and Litton, ascertained by jurors on oath. A record of great value as regards manorial questions, and the allotment and division and value of the monastic estates, as well as the rise of many families who subsequently purchased the estates on which their forefathers had lived as tenants of the abbey.

5. A very large Collection of Original Charters; being grants of manors, landed estates, rent charges, exemptions from tithes, tolls and suits of court; rights of road and of entercommon, free warren, composition for tithes, and privileges, franchises, and immunities of various kinds, dating from the time of the foundation of the Abbey to that of King Henry the Eighth. The whole are strung, without reference either to date, place, or subject matter, on piles of cord, and are therefore all but inconsultable without injury to the pendant seals, of which this is, without doubt, one of the finest and most valuable collections in the north of England. Apart from their curiosity and rarity-many of them being unique-they contribute not only much information on the interesting subject of seal engraving, but illustrate an early period in the practice of ornamental art, to which painted glass, illuminated pictures, sculptures, works in metal, and other sources of evidence seldom ascend. Among other

(1) An exact copy of this most valuable record is among the Walbran MSS.
(2) A large number of transcripts from these Charters are among the Walbran MSS.

valuable examples is a seal of Roger, Archbishop of York from 1154 to 1181, of which it may be doubted whether two other perfect examples remain, and where the counter seal, formed probably by his pontifical ring, bears the impression of a Roman gem displaying a chimera; though the object was so far misunderstood by the archbishop that the metal setting of his day bears the circumscription Notrum caput est Trinitas. Another seal of later date bears a very singular and interesting representation of the murder of Thomas a Becket, circumscribed "Signum prome, Thome, dat passio Thome." A seal of one of the early Mowbrays exhibits a representation of him in the "tegulated armour which has afforded a subject for controversy among military antiquaries. Some of the seals illustrate the origin of the armorial bearings of the families to whom they belong, while some of the minor land owners in the vicinity of Ripon have used the Roman signets or gems which they or their ancestors had picked up in their agricultural operations. None of these however are of a high class, and were probably all of Romano-British execution. A large number of these Charters have neither been copied into any Chartulary that is known at present, nor are even alluded to in the English notes of the Fountains Charters published by Dr. Burton in his "Monasticon Eboracense." No engravings of the seals have ever been published.

6. Bursar's Accounts. A folio volume on paper, containing the accounts of the Bursar of the Abbey for several years in the fifteenth century. The whole of the income and expenditure

is recorded under classified heads, and with a minuteness that enables those in any degree familiar with the social history of the period to form a perfect mental picture of what was passing in the monastery at the time over which the accounts extend. The following notes, from a very hasty and imperfect abstract of the volume, will at least afford an idea of its varied and most interesting contents. First, as to the Abbot, Grenewell, a man of great learning, who seems not to have interfered actively in the government of the house. Paid to Robert the sadler, for repairing the abbot's harness, 23d. Medicine for the abbot, 2s. A russet suit for the abbot's stable boy, 15d. ("Puero de stabulo domini abbatis in roset"). Medicine for the abbot by the wife of John Belton, 20d.; partridges for the abbot, 8d.; mending a broken spoon for him, 4d.; carrying drink to Brimham (grange) for him, 2d. ; a book 3d. and

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