The Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond: A Picture of Monastic Life in the Days of Abbot Samson

by active 1173-1215 de Brakelond Jocelin

DURING ABBOT SAMSON'S LIFETIME (1135-1211)

1135	SAMSON born at Tottington, near Thetford.
1144	Samson taken by his mother on a pilgrimage to St. Edmund.	p. [56].
1146	Death of Anselm: buried in Infirmary Chapel.
1146	Ording, Prior of St. Edmund, appointed 8th abbot.
1150	Fire, which destroys the conventual buildings—Abbot's palace, refectory, dormitory, the old infirmary, and the chapter-house. Rebuilt by Helyas the sacrist, Ording's nephew.	p. [247].
1150	(circa). Galfridus de Fontibus writes the tract De Infantia Sancti Eadmundi, dedicated to Ording.	p. [218].
1153	Eustace, eldest son of King Stephen, plunders some of the lands of the monastery. Dies at Bury.
1156	Jan. 31. Death of Ording: buried in chapter-house.	p. [247].
1156	Hugh, Prior of Westminster, elected 9th abbot. Receives benediction at Colchester from Archbishop of Canterbury.
1157	Battle of Coleshill: Cowardice of Henry of Essex.	pp. [103], [243].
1160	(circa). Samson returns from Paris, and made magister scholarum or schoolmaster.	p. [66].
1160	(circa). Samson's visit to Rome.	pp. [72], [236].
1161	Jan. 12. Bull of Alexander II, confirming the Abbot and monks of Bury in all their rights and privileges, authorizing appropriation of certain manors to special purposes, etc. Future abbots to be freely elected. In important matters there is to be an appeal to the Holy See. (Text in Arnold III. 78-80.)
1161	May 22. Brief obtained from Pope Alexander III, confirming the right of the Abbey to the revenues of Woolpit.	p. [74].
1163	Abbot Hugh at the Council of Tours, where he usurps the seat of the Abbot of St. Albans.
1163	Wager of battle between Henry of Essex and Robert de Montfort at Reading.	pp. [104]-5.
1166	Samson takes monastic orders.	p. [60].
1172	Apr. 7. Bull of Pope Alexander III, dated at Tusculum, exempting the Abbey from the visitation of the Archbishop of the Province as legatus natus of the apostolic see (Cf. Rokewode, p. 107).	p. [7].
1173	Jocelin of Brakelond becomes Monk of St. Edmund.	p. [1].
1173	Hugh the Prior deposed: succeeded by Robert.	p. [1].
1173	October 17. Battle of Fornham.	pp. [1], [86], [221].
1175	(circa). Samson master of the novices.	p. [6].
1180	(ante). Samson compiles the work De Miraculis Sancti Eadmundi. (See Appendix I.)	pp. [215]-21.
1180	Sept. 9. Abbot Hugh's accident near Rochester.	p. [10].
1180	Nov. 15. Death of Abbot Hugh I.	pp. [10], [225].
1180-2	Samson subsacrist and master of the workmen. Rebuilds choir of Abbey Church, and makes preparations for building the great tower.	p. [14].
1181	June 10. Martyrdom of the boy Robert by the Jews.	p. [23].
1181	Aug. 9. Arrival at Abbey of Archbishop of Trontheim on a visit.	p. [23].
1182	Feb. 21. Appointment of Samson as Abbot at Bishop's Waltham, with Henry II's approval.	p. [31].
1182	Feb. 28. Samson receives the blessing of the Bishop of Winchester, at Merewell.	p. [36].
1182	Mar. 21. (Palm Sunday). Samson is solemnly received at St. Edmunds.	p. [37].
1182	Mar. 29. Samson calls a meeting of the convent, the Knights and certain burgesses as to the election of bailiffs.	p. [109].
1182	Mar. 31. Samson sends messengers to Rome for confirmation of the Abbey's privileges.	p. [84].
1182	Apr. 1. Barons, Knights and freemen summoned to do homage.	p. [41].
1182	Samson appointed a judge in the ecclesiastical courts, by Pope Lucius III.	p. [51].
1182	Contests as to town rights and dues.	p. [108].
1183	Samson restores the Church of Woolpit to the monastery.	p. [72].
1184-5	Samson founds St. Saviour's Hospital, at Babwell.	p. [69].
1186	Kalendar or general survey of Abbey estates completed.	pp. [44]-5.
1187	Victory over Archbishop Baldwin as to jurisdiction in case of homicide at Monks Eleigh.	p. [76].
1187	Jan. 21. Samson obtains from Pope Urban III the privilege of giving the episcopal benediction.	p. [84].
1187	Feb. 11. Dispute as to jurisdiction, between Samson and the Monks of Canterbury, brought before Henry II in chapter-house at Canterbury.	pp. [77], [238].
1187	Sept. 29. Loss of Jerusalem: Samson's grief.	p. [60].
1187	Samson waits upon Henry II at Clarendon, to obtain a recognition of the immunity of the Abbey from certain taxes.	p. [96].
1188	Jan. 20. General exemption granted by the Pope to Samson and his successors from the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury.	p. [84].
1188	Jan. 21. Henry II takes the Cross between Trie and Gisors.	p. [80].
1188	Feb. Henry II at Bury. Samson refused permission to accompany the King to the Crusades.	p. [81].
1189	Sept. 3. Richard I crowned at Westminster; Abbot Samson present.
1189	Sept. Purchase of the manor of Mildenhall from Richard I.	p. [70].
1189	Nov. Samson appointed one of the arbitrators to settle the dispute between Archbishop Baldwin and the Monks of Christ Church at Canterbury.
1190	March 18. Massacre of 57 Jews at Bury.	p. [69].
1190	Oct. Conflict as to monastic discipline, at the Council of Westminster, between Samson and the Bishop of Ely.	p. [81].
1191	Death of Robert of Cockfield.	pp. [86], [255].
1191	Samson's quarrel with William Longchamp, Bishop of Ely.	p. [79].
1191	Sept.-Oct. Excommunication of Longchamp, and his flight from England.	pp. [79], [240].
1192	Complaints of the monks to the abbot concerning the Abbey revenues.	p. [114].
1193	Return of Longchamp. Samson refuses to celebrate Mass before him.	p. [80].
1193	Collection of money for the ransom of King Richard.	pp. [71], [234].
1193	Samson excommunicates the disturbers of the peace, and appears in arms before Windsor.	p. [82].
1193	Samson visits Richard I in his German prison "with many gifts."	p. [82].
1194	Feb. 4. King Richard released from captivity.
1194	Mch. 12. Lands at Sandwich after an absence of 4¼ years; pays, before the end of the month, thanksgiving visits to (1) Canterbury (2) St. Edmundsbury.
1194	June 28. Samson's contest with turbulent young knights, who hold a Tournament without his authorization.	p. [83].
1194	Samson grants a Charter to the town.	pp. [116], [244].
1194	Abbey debts entirely discharged.	p. [46].
1196	Samson's contest with his fifty knights concerning their dues: the abbot victorious.	pp. [97]-9.
1196	Samson takes the cellarer's department into his own hands.	p. [131] et seq.
1197	Commission of Pope Celestine III for the restoration of the Monks of Coventry.	pp. [142], [246].
1198	Jan. 14. Samson at Coventry in high spirits.	p. [143].
1198	Jan. 18. Coventry Monks re-inducted by the Archbishop.	p. [143].
1198	Samson charges moiety of Wetherden in favour of schools at Bury.	p. [144].
1198	(circa). Archbishop Hubert Walter proposes to visit the Abbey of Bury.	p. [122].
1198	Dispute between King Richard and Samson as to the wardship of Nesta of Cockfield.	pp. [147]-9.
1198	Samson goes to Normandy to settle with King Richard as to the four knights demanded from the Abbey for the war against the King of France.	p. [129].
1198	July 18. Richard I confirms by Charters the Manor of Mildenhall to the Abbey.	pp. [70]-2, [235].
1198	Oct. 17. Fire in the Abbey: shrine of St. Edmund in danger.	p. [162].
1198	Nov. 23. Shrine transferred to high altar.	p. [170].
1198	Nov. 26. Samson views St. Edmund's body.	p. [173].
1198	Dec. 1. Letter of Pope Innocent III exempting the Abbey from the visitation even of a legate, unless he were a legate a latere.	pp. [124], [245].
1199	Reconciliation between Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Samson.	p. [127].
1199	April 6. Death of King Richard I.
1199	May 27. King John crowned at Westminster.	p. [178].
1199	King John visits Bury.	p. [178].
1199	Violent quarrels between Samson and his monks: he withdraws from the Abbey for a week: reconciliation effected.	pp. [179]-83.
1200	Mar. 15. Ratification by King John of Charter granted by Samson to St. Saviour's Hospital at Babwell.	p. [72].
1200	Nov. 6. Samson one of three arbitrators in dispute between Archbp. of Canterbury and Canons of Lambeth.	p. [229].
1200	List drawn up of knights of St. Edmund.	pp. [183]-6.
1200	Hugh, Abbot of Cluny, visits Bury.	p. [189].
1200	Death of Prior Robert: Herbert succeeds him.	p. [191].
1201	Eustace, Abbot of Flay, preaches at Bury.	p. [202].
1201	Sept. Samson appointed one of three Commissioners sent by the Pope to Worcester to investigate the miracles of St. Wulfstan.
1202	Dispute between the monks of Ely and of Bury concerning the market at Lakenheath.	pp. [203], [253].
1202	Hugh of Northwold (afterwards abbot) admitted a monk.
1203	Jan. 31. Samson appointed by the Pope on a commission concerning the dispensation of Crusaders from their vows: and summoned over sea to advise the King on this question.	pp. [207]-11.
1203	Dec. 21. John at Bury, and makes valuable offerings: but prevails on convent to grant him for life the use of the jewels which his mother Queen Eleanor had presented to St. Edmund.	p. [251].
1208	Mar. 24. Interdict comes into force throughout England.
1210	Sept. 23. Fall of central tower of Abbey Church.
1211	Dec. 30. Death of Samson: buried in unconsecrated ground.	p. [xl].
1213	July. King John expresses a wish for the vacancy to be filled: Hugh (II) of Northwold chosen.
1214	July 2. Interdict solemnly dissolved.
1214	Aug. 12. Samson's body exhumed and buried in the chapter-house of Bury Abbey.	pp. [xlii]., [247].

SECTION III

FROM 1214 TO DISSOLUTION IN 1539

1214	Nov. 4. King John at Bury: makes a speech in the chapter-house asserting his rights over the election of abbot.	p. [251].
1214	Nov. 20. The discontented earls and barons meet at Bury (probably on St. Edmund's Day) "as if for prayer." Archbishop Langton reads to them Henry I's charter: and each swears on the high altar to make war on John unless he gives them the liberties contained therein (Roger of Wendover, vol. iii. 293-4).
1215	Mar. 10. Commissioners appointed by the Pope finally give judgment in favour of Hugh's election as abbot.
1215	June 9. King's approval to appointment of Hugh given in Staines meadow.
1215	June 15. Magna Charta signed.
1215-6	Louis, son of Philip II of France, invited by the barons to help them in their struggle against John. East Anglian towns sacked—Norwich and Lynn by the French; Cambridge, Yarmouth, Dunwich, Ipswich and Colchester by the barons (Ramsay's Angevin Empire, 1903, p. 497). Bury St. Edmunds a stronghold of the king (Norgate, John Lackland, 1902, pp. 257-8). Louis himself fighting in the south of England. No evidence of Louis or his hordes ever being at Bury.
1216	Oct. 19. Death of John at Newark. Henry III succeeds to the throne.
1220	(circa). Richard of Newport, sacrist, destroys the old chapter-house and rebuilds it from foundations.	p. [247].
1220	Death of Herbert the prior. Richard of Insula (afterwards 12th abbot) succeeds him.
1224	Abbot Hugh at the Royal camp before Bedford Castle, attended by knights holding manors under St. Edmund.
1225	(circa). Abbot's Bridge built.
1229	Abbot Hugh II made Bishop of Ely: died August, 1254. Described by Matthew Paris as "flos nigrorum monachorum."
1229	Nov. 20. Richard of Insula recalled from Burton and installed as 12th abbot on St. Edmund's Day.
1234	Abbot Richard sent abroad on an appeal to Pope Gregory IX. Attacked on his return with mortal illness, and dies at Pontigny. Buried in the chapter-house at Bury, where his skeleton was discovered on January 1, 1903, with skull sawn through and sternum severed (evidently for embalming purposes).	p. [247].
1235	Henry of Rushbrook, prior of Bury, elected 13th abbot.
1235	Royal Charters granted to Abbot Henry to hold two fairs at Bury and a market at his manor of Melford.
1245	Abbot Henry excused by the Pope, on account of the gout, from attending the Council of Lyons.
1245	At the request of the convent, Henry III calls his newly-born son Edmund (founder of the house of Lancaster). Text of Royal letter in Arnold III. 28.
1248	July 5. Bull of Pope Innocent III (signed at Lyons) prescribing the solemn celebration of the feast of the translation of St. Edmund (April 29). Text in Nov. Leg. Angl. (1901) II. 574.
1248	Death of Abbot Henry: buried in chapter-house. Edmund of Walpole, LL.D., appointed 14th abbot.
1250	Henry III takes the Cross: the abbot does the same, exposing himself to general derision (Matt. Par. v. 110).
1252	Simon of Luton (afterwards abbot) made prior.
1254	Richard of Clare, seventh Earl of Gloucester, claims St. Edmund's manor of Mildenhall: threatened with excommunication by the Pope.
1254	Aug. Death of Hugh, Bishop of Ely (Abbot of Bury, 1213-29).
1256	Aug. Statutes approved by Pope Alexander IV for the governance of the Abbey of Bury, providing inter alia for "two persons watching the body of St. Edmund and two the church treasure and clock night and day."
1256	Dec. 31. Abbot Edmund died: buried in the chapter-house.	p. [247].
1257	Jan. 15. Simon of Luton, prior, elected 15th abbot: cost of confirmation by the Pope, 2,000 marks.
1263	Nov. Franciscan friars expelled from Bury, under a rescript from Pope Urban IV, and compelled to migrate to Babwell.
1264	(Easter). Serious conflict between the monastery and the burgesses. The abbot complains to the king: fine inflicted on the burgesses.
1265	Defeat and death of Simon de Montfort. Many barons of his party take shelter at Bury, but subsequently dislodged.
1267	February. Henry III summons the barons who owe military service to the Crown to meet him at Bury.
1272	Sept. 1. Henry III at Bury on his way to Norwich.
1272	Nov. 16. Death of Henry III (Rishanger says at Bury).
1275	April 17. Edward I and his Queen come to St. Edmundsbury on a pilgrimage, "as they had vowed in the Holy Land."
1275	July 1. Foundation stone of new Lady Chapel laid by Prior Robert.
1279	April. Death of Abbot Simon at Melford: buried in the Lady Chapel, which he had built "at the cost of himself, his parents and his friends" (Leland, iv. 164).
1279	Dec. 28. John of Northwold, guest master of the abbey, solemnly received in the Abbey Church as 16th abbot, after having gone to Rome to be blessed by Pope Nicholas III. Cost of his journey, 1,175 marks, his credit from abbey being only 500 marks.
1281	A new division between the property of the abbot and that of the convent, sanctioned by Edward I in consideration of £1,000.
1285	Feb. 20. The King with the Queen and her three daughters make a pilgrimage to Bury.
1292	April 28. The King, with his son and daughters, again at Bury, remaining either at the abbey or the manor of Culford for ten days. Granted charter that none of his justices should sit within the banlieue of St. Edmund.
1292	Dispute between monastery and town. Royal Commission of inquiry sent down. The burgesses to present annually an alderman for confirmation by the abbot: the alderman to present four persons to the sacrist as keepers of the four gates.
1294	Mar. 18. Edward I again at St. Edmundsbury "with great devotion."
1296	Nov. Edward I holds a Parliament at Bury to obtain an aid from the clergy and people. Difficulties in its collection.
1301	Oct. 29. Death of Abbot John I: buried in the church before the choir altar.
1301	Nov. 30. Edward's I's letter giving permission for a new election.
1302	Jan. 2. Election of Thomas of Tottington (Samson's birthplace) as 17th abbot.
1305	Further disputes between the convent and the town. The king's justices impose fines on the aldermen and burgesses.
1312	Jan. 7. Death of Abbot Thomas: buried in north aisle of abbey church (part of his memorial brass now at Hedgerley church, Bucks). Succeeded by Richard of Draughton.
1326	Edward II spends Christmas at Bury.
1327	Great riots at Bury: the abbey plundered. The abbot seized and carried off, and eventually deported to Diest in Brabant. The outlying manors ravaged, and nearly the whole of the conventual and domestic buildings burnt: loss of property assessed at £140,000. Charter extorted by the townsmen from the convent. (French text in Arnold III. 302-317.)
1330	Sept. 13. Charter of Edward III granting free warren in all demesnes of the Abbey of St. Edmund, and a weekly market at Melford, with an annual fair of nine days.
1335	Death of Abbot Richard: buried in north aisle of the church. The sub-prior, William of Bernham, hastily elected 19th abbot for fear of the Pope's interference.
1345	Jan. 24. Completion of Richard of Bury's Philobiblon.
1345	Quarrel between the abbey and Bishop Bateman of Norwich. Morality and discipline of the abbey reported bad by diocesan commissioners.
1346	The abbot appeals to the Pope, and also sues Bishop Bateman in the King's Court, pleading the Charter of Hardicanute (1035): the judges give sentence in the abbot's favour.
1346	(circa). Completion of abbey gateway, erected after destruction of a previous gateway by the townspeople in the riots of 1327.
1351	Presentation to the abbot of three names for selection of an alderman to have charge of the municipal government of Bury. Admission by the abbot of John Ewell as a matter of favour.
1361	Death of Abbot William: buried in Lady Chapel. Henry of Hunstanton elected his successor, and proceeds to Avignon, but dies of the pestilence near that city before obtaining confirmation by the Pope.
1361	John of Brinkley appointed as 20th abbot by Pope Innocent VI.
1375	Date of last miracle recorded in Bodleian MS. 240 (Symon Broun, nearly lost at sea, vows to St. Edmund and is saved. Nov. Leg. Anglie (1901) vol. II. p. 678).
1379	Death of John of Brinkley at Elmswell: buried in the Lady Chapel. John of Timworth, sub-prior, elected by the monks 21st abbot. Urban VI appoints Edmund de Bromfeld instead, and a controversy ensues, lasting five years.
1381	Rebellion in East Anglia under Jack Strawe. Murder of John de Cambridge, the prior, and Sir John Cavendish, the chief justice. Town of Bury outlawed and fined 2,000 marks.
1383	Richard II and Anne of Bohemia visit Bury and remain ten days at the monastery, at an expense of 800 marks.
1384	June 4. Matters having at length been arranged with the Pope, John of Timworth's election as abbot is confirmed (died 1389).
1390	William of Cratfield elected 22nd abbot.
1400	Oct. 1. Thomas of Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, visits Bury: received as a visitor with much respect, but without a procession.
1408	Nov. 25. Letters patent of King Henry IV finally deciding, in favour of Bury Abbey, the disputed question as to the jurisdiction of the Liberty of St. Edmund over Hadleigh and Eleigh.	pp. [76]-8, [239].
1410	Catalogue of 195 Monastic Libraries (including that of Bury), compiled by John Boston, monk of Bury.
1415	June 18. Death of Cratfield. William of Exeter elected 23rd abbot.
1424	William Exeter causes the marble tomb of Ording (and (?) of Samson) in the chapter-house to be renewed.	p. [247].
1424-33	Building of the present St. Mary's Church on the site of an older church in S.W. corner of the cemetery of the abbey.
1427	Thomas Beaufort, second son of John of Gaunt, buried in Abbey Church (coffin discovered and re-interred 1772).
1429	Death of William Exeter. William Curteys or Curtis elected 24th abbot.
1430	Dec. 18. Fall of Southern side of western tower.
1430	Dec. 30. Fall of Eastern side of western tower. Immediate steps taken to contract for a new tower.
1430	Abbot Curteys builds a library for the abbey (see his regulations for use of books in James, pp. 109-11).
1432	Ruins of tower cleared away. Rebuilding commenced: estimated cost, 60,000 ducats of gold.
1433-4	Visit of Henry VI to Bury Abbey from Christmas till St. George's Day. The monastery presents him with a magnificently illuminated Life of St. Edmund, by John Lydgate (now in Brit. Mus. Harl. MS. 2278).
1446	Sept. 17. Henry VI writes to Abbot Curteys to ask him to be present at laying of foundation stone of King's College, Cambridge, on Michaelmas Day.
1446	Death of Curteys. Succeeded by William Babington as 25th abbot.
1447	Feb. 10. Parliament at Bury, in the Abbey refectory. Duke Humphrey of Gloucester present, and arrested (Feb. 18) for high treason.
1447	Nov. 13. Charter of Henry VI confirming the abbey privileges. (Text in Arnold III. 357.)
1449	Royal Charter granted, freeing the Abbot of all aids to the King for forty marks a year.
1453	Death of Abbot Babington: John Boon, or Bohun, appointed 26th abbot.
1462	General pardon granted by Edward IV to the Abbot and monks, whose sympathies had been Lancastrian.
1462	Nov. 17. A lost Abbey register bought by John Broughton, and presented by him to the monastery at the instance of Abbot Boon.
1465	Jan. 20. Abbey Church completely gutted by fire. (St. Edmund's shrine said to have been saved.) Abbot Boon spends and collects large sums for its repair and rebuilding.
1469	Death of Abbot Boon: buried in the Lady Chapel. Succeeded by Robert of Ixworth as 27th abbot.
1474	Richard of Hengham appointed 27th abbot.
1479	Thomas of Rattlesden appointed 28th abbot.
1479	May. William of Worcester visits the Abbey and takes measurements of the various buildings.
1486	Visit of Henry VII to Bury.
1497	William of Codenham appointed 29th abbot.
1513	Death of Codenham. John Reeve of Melford appointed 30th and last abbot.
1532	Abbot Reeve assists at the funeral of Abbot Islip of Westminster.
1533	July 21. Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, buried in great state at the Abbey (subsequently re-interred in St. Mary's Church).
1535	Nov. 5. Letter from John Ap Rice to Thomas Cromwell as to the state of morals and worship of relics at Bury Abbey and enclosing compertes of proceedings (Compendium Compertorum now at Record Office).
1536	Nov. 26. Grant by the Abbey to Thomas Cromwell and his son Gregory of an annuity of £10.
1538	(circa). Visit of Leland the antiquary to Bury, in search of ancient books and records.
1538	Sept. Sir John Williams, Richard Pollard, Philip Parys and John Smyth report to Cromwell that they have been to St. Edmundsbury, "where we founde a riche shryne which was very comberous to deface. We have takyn in the said monastery in golde and sylver MMMMM marks and above, over and besydes a well and riche crosse with emereddes, as also dyvers and sundry stones of great value, and yet we have left the churche, abbott and convent very well ffurnesshed with plate of sylver necessary for the same" (MS. Cotton. Cleop. E. iv. 229). The actual amount of plate taken at 'His Majesty's visitation' on this occasion was 1,553 oz gold plate, 6,853 oz. gilt plate, 933 oz. parcel-gilt plate, 190 oz. white plate. (Monastic Treasures, 1836). See also under Dec. 2, 1539.
1539	Nov. 4. Deed of surrender of Bury Abbey signed by Abbot Reeve, Prior Thomas Denysse of Ryngstede and 41 other monks.
1539	Nov. 7. Sir Richard Rich, Sir A. Wingfield, Ric. Southwell, Wm. Petre, John Ap Rice, and T. Mildmay inform Henry VIII of the surrender of the Abbey: they "have taken the plate and best ornaments of the house" for the King, and have sold the rest. They also ask whether they are "to deface the church or other edifices of the house." The lead and the bells (if the house be defaced) will be worth 4,500 marks.
1539	Dec. 2. Indent of Richard Southwell of amount of plate taken from Bury Abbey—150 oz. gilt plate, 145 oz. parcel-gilt plate, and 2,162 oz. white plate, besides a pair of birrall candlesticks (handed to the King), and an ornamented mitre (Monastic Treasures, 1836). [Thus, with the spoils of 1538, 1,553 oz. gold plate (all on the first occasion), and 10,433 oz. silver plate, were taken from the Abbey.]

SECTION IV

FROM THE DISSOLUTION TO 1903

1540	March 30. Death of ex-Abbot Reeve; buried in the chancel of St. Mary's Church.
1550	The first of the thirty grammar schools founded by Edward VI established at Bury.
1560	Feb. 14. Site of Monastery sold by Queen Elizabeth for £412 19s. 4d. to John Eyer; by him transferred to Thomas Badby.
1578	Aug. 7. Queen Elizabeth at Bury.
1599	Over a hundred books from Bury Abbey in the hands of William Smart, a "Postman" of Ipswich. Given by him to Pembroke College, Cambridge.
1606	Apl. 3. Bury made a Borough by Charter of James I. (Borough Motto: Sacrarium Regis, Cunabula Legis).
1634	Condition of the site of the Abbey described by William Hawkins of Hadleigh in his "Corolla Varia."
1644	Publication at Toulouse of Caseneuve's "Vie de St. Edmond," alleging that the body of the saint was at the basilica of St. Sernin there, and had been brought over by Louis in 1216. Caseneuve describes, misquoting Matthew Paris (II. 663) the alleged pillage by Louis of "Toutes les églises du comté de Suffolk," refers to the fact that in those days "les Chrétiens faisaient gloire d'enlever par un devot larcin les reliques des saints," and says "Il est croyable que les Francais en firent autant de celles de St. Edmond" (cf. 1216, 1256, 1901).
1745	Publication at Oxford by Rev. Dr. Oliver Battely of Antiquitates S. Edmundi Burgi ad annum MCCLXXII perductæ, written by his uncle, Dr. John Battely (died 1708).
1761	Ancient gates of town pulled down by order of Corporation.
1772	Some excavations on site of Church, made by Mr. King, and reported in vol. III. of Archaeologia.
1805	Publication of An Illustration of the Monastic History and Antiquities of the Town and Abbey of St. Edmund's Bury, by Richard Yates, D.D., F.R.S. (1769-1834).
1806	Site of Abbey comes into the hands of the Hervey family, the present possessors.
1840	Rokewode's Edition of Latin text of Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond, published by Camden Soc.
1843	Carlyle's Past and Present published.
1843	Publication of second edition—including fragment of Part II projected in 1805—of Yates' History of Bury (Remainder of Yates' materials amongst Egerton MSS. in British Museum).
1844	T. E. Tomlins' English translation of Jocelin's Chronicle.
1850	S. Tymms' Bury Wills (Camd. Soc.).
1865	Papers by Mr. Gordon M. Hills on antiquities of Bury St. Edmunds in Journal British Archæological Association, vol. xxi. pp. 32-56 and 104-140.
1869	July 20. British Archæological Association at Bury: paper on Abbey read by Mr. Alfred W. Morant.
1890	Publication of J. R. Thompson's Records of St. Edmund [mostly based on Battely and the legendary chronicles].
1890	Publication of vol. I. of Memorials of St. Edmund's Abbey (Rolls series), edited by T. Arnold (vol. II. published 1892, vol. III. 1896).
1893	Publication of St. Edmund King and Martyr, by Rev. Father Mackinlay, O.S.B. [picturesque and interesting, but uncritical].
1895	Publication of Dr. Montague R. James' two papers on (1) the Library (2) the Church of "The Abbey of St. Edmund at Bury" (Camb. Antiq. Soc., 8vo. Publications No. xxviii.).
1901	Publication of Nova Legenda Anglie (Ox. Univ. Press), containing in vol. II. the full "Vita et passio cum miraculis sancti Edmundi," compiled at Bury in the 14th Century (Bodl. MS. 240).
1901	July 25. Landing at Newhaven, for the new Roman Catholic Cathedral of Westminster, of bones from Toulouse said to be those of St. Edmund (cf. 1216, 1256, 1644.).
1901	Sept. 5. Letter in The Times showing cause against these bones being those of St. Edmund.
1901	Sept. 9. Cardinal Vaughan admits at Newcastle-on-Tyne that, in view of facts stated, "the relics are not genuine."
1902	Publication of Lord Francis Hervey's Suffolk in the XVIIth Century, containing in Appendix a critical study of the legends about St. Edmund's life and martyrdom.
1902-3	(Winter). Excavations on site of chapter-house.
1903	Jan. 1. Discovery on the site of the chapter-house of five stone coffins with skeletons, in the positions assigned in a Bury MS. of circa 1425 (now at Douai) to the burial places of Abbots Ording (1146-56), SAMSON (1182-1211), Richard of Insula (1229-34), Henry of Rushbrook (1234-46), and Edmund of Walpole (1248-56). A sixth skeleton (uncoffined) also found in a line with these coffins to the west—doubtless that of Abbot Hugh I (1156-80).	pp. [225], [247].

INDEX