ABBOTS AND BISHOPS OF GLOUCESTER
Passing over the régimes of the Abbesses[1] and the secular canons, we find that the first Abbot of the Benedictine rule at Gloucester was Edric (1022-1028), who in his long rule maintained a very low standard of discipline. His monks seem to have been as much addicted to "ill lyvynge" as the secular canons. He was succeeded by Wulstan (1058-1072), a monk of Worcester appointed by Bishop Aldred. In his time Aldred rebuilt the monastery on new foundations. Wulstan died abroad on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1072.
Serlo (1072-1103), the next Abbot, had been the Conqueror's chaplain, and was a man of great strength of character, and of quite a different stamp. He was buried in the abbey church, which he had raised "from meanness and insignificance to a glorious pitch."
Peter, who had been Prior, was Abbot from 1104-1113.
William Godemon, Godeman, or Godemore, was Abbot from 1113-1130, when he retired.
Walter de Lacy was appointed by Godeman and was consecrated in 1131. In his time, Robert, Duke of Normandy, surnamed Curthose, died at Cardiff after twenty-five years' imprisonment, and was buried in the choir. Walter de Lacy died in 1139, and was succeeded by
Gilbert Foliot (1139-1148), a Cluniac monk, who, owing his position to his relative Milo, Earl of Hereford, was consecrated in 1139. He was made Bishop of Hereford in 1148, and was translated thence to London. Though he owed much to Becket, his patron and tutor, he is said to have taken the king's side in the quarrels with Becket, and to have been instrumental in the latter's assassination.
Hameline or Hammeline (1148-1179).
Henry Blond (or Blunt) (1205-1224). Henry III. was crowned in the Abbey in 1216.
Thomas de Bredon (or Bredone) (1224-1228).
Henry Foliot (or Foleth) was Abbot from 1228-1243.
Walter de St. John died before his installation.
John de Felda (1243-1263).
Reginald de Hamme (or Homme) (1263-1283).
John de Gamages (1284-1306).
John Thokey (or Toky) (1306-1329).
John Wygmore (or Wygemore) (1329-1337).
Adam de Staunton (1337-1351).
Thomas Horton (1357-1377).
John Boyfield (1377-1381).
Walter Froucester (1381-1412).
The succession of Abbots, and the dates of various works executed since Serlo's time, are taken entirely from the particulars in the Chronicles "attributed" to Abbot Froucester (1381-1412), who wrote of the Abbey and of twenty Abbots after the Conquest. These Chronicles are the sole foundation up to that date on which all the histories have been made. There are three copies of them, one in the British Museum, one in Queen's College, Oxford, and one in the Chapter Library, which latter was lost for many years, and ultimately heard of again in 1878 as being in the possession of a book-seller at Berlin, from whom it was rescued on a payment of £150 by the Dean and Chapter.
Hugh Moreton (1412-1420).
John Morwent (or Marewent) (1421-1437).
Reginald Boulers (Boulars or Butler) (Boteler) (1437-1450). He became Bishop of Hereford and was translated to Lichfield in 1453.
Thomas Seabroke (1450-1457).
Richard Hanley (1457-1472). He began to build the Lady Chapel, which was finished by
William Farley (1472-1498).
John Malvern or Mulverne was Abbot for one year (1498-1499), and was succeeded by a monk named
Thomas Braunche (1500-1510), who in turn was succeeded by
John Newton or Browne, D.D. (1510-1514).
William Malverne or Parker (1514-1539).
Parker wrote a Rhythmical History of St. Peter's Abbey, which was reprinted in the appendix of Hearne's "Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle." It was compiled from local records extending up to the time of Abbot Horton.
He subscribed in 1534 to the King's supremacy, and remained Abbot till the dissolution of the greater monasteries. Different traditions are current as to his behaviour. Willis (in "Mitred Abbeys") describes him as losing his pension and the chance of preferment on the score of contumacy. Another tradition asserts that the king promised him the bishopric, but that he died before the appointment was made. The place of his burial is not known, and it is hoped that his tomb will escape desecration for the sake of gratifying mere idle curiosity.