[991] Linc. Visit. I, p. 238. Alnwick’s visitations sometimes mention this division of the frater. “Also she prays that frater may be kept every day, since there is one upper frater wherein they feed on fish and food made with milk, and another downstairs, wherein they feed of grace on flesh” (Nuncoton 1440). “Also she says that they feed on fish and milk foods in the upper frater and on flesh in the lower” (Stixwould 1440). Alnwick’s Visit. MS. ff. 71d, 76.
[992] “Et qe nule Dame de Religion ne mange hors du Refreytour en chambre severale si ceo ne soit en compaignie la Priouresse, ou par maladie ou autre renable encheson.... Item, purceo qe ascune foitz ascunes Dames de vostre Religion orent lur damoiseles severales por faire severalement lur viaunde, si ordinoms, voloms et establioms qe totes celles damoiseles soyent de tut oste de la cusine, et qe un keu covenable, qi eit un page desoutz lui soit mys per servir a tut le Covent” (1319). Exeter Reg. Stapeldon, pp. 317-8. Compare V.C.H. Yorks. III, p. 165 (Hampole 1411).
[993] For the following references, see Linc. Visit. II, pp. 46, 89, 114, 117, 119, 121, 175; Alnwick’s Visit. MS. ff. 71d, 76, 77, 83.
[994] Pupils or boarders may account for these discrepancies.
[995] Linc. Visit. I, p. 67 (and note 3); compare V.C.H. Yorks. III, p. 181.
[996] Walcott, M. E. C., Inventories of ... the Ben. Priory of ... Shepey for Nuns (Arch. Cant. 1869), pp. 23 ff.
[997] E.g. at Gracedieu “The dorter, item ther three nunnes selles whyche as sould for 30s.” Nichols, Hist. and Antiq. of Leic. (1804), III, p. 653; at Catesby where the “sells in the dorter were sold at 6s. 8d. apiece,” Archaeologia, XLIII, p. 241. In theory the nuns were supposed to get up and lie down in full view of each other and curtains were forbidden by Woodlock at Romsey in 1311. Liveing, op. cit. p. 104. On the other hand at Redlingfield in 1514 a nun complained that “sorores non habent curricula inter cubilia, sed una potest aliam videre quando surgit vel aliquid aliud facit” and the Bishop ordered the Prioress to provide curtains between the cubicles in the dorter. Jessopp, Visit. of Dioc. of Norwich (Camden Soc.), pp. 139-40. Dom Butler thus traces the transition from the open dorter to private cells: open dorter; side partitions between the beds; curtains in front; a latticed door in front, making a cubicle; a solid door with a large window; the window grew smaller and smaller until it became a peephole; the dorter became a gallery of private rooms. Downside Review (1899), pp. 119-21.
[998] Linc. Visit. II, pp. 51-2. See also among many other injunctions and references to the custom the following: Gracedieu (1440-1), ib. II, p. 125; Godstow (1432), ib. I, pp. 67-8; Barking (1279); Wherwell (1284), Reg. Epis. Johannis Peckham, I, p. 84, II, p. 653; Hampole (1311), V.C.H. Yorks. III, p. 181; Swine (1318), ib. p. 163; Nunappleton (1346 and 1489), ib. pp. 171-2; Fairwell (1367), Reg. Stretton of Lichfield, p. 119; Romsey (1387 and 1492), New Coll. MS. ff. 85, 85d, 86, Liveing, Records of Romsey Abbey, p. 218; Aconbury (1438), Reg. Spofford of Hereford, p. 224; Stixwould (1519), V.C.H. Lincs. II, p. 148; Sinningthwaite (1534), Yorks. Arch. Journ. XVI, p. 441. Sometimes the system can be traced in one house over a long period of years. At Elstow, for instance, in 1387, Linc. Epis. Reg. Memo. Bokyngham, f. 343; in 1421-2, Linc. Visit. I, pp. 50, 51; in 1432, ib. I, p. 53; in 1442-3, ib. II, p. 89; and in 1531, Archaeologia, XLVII, p. 51. For an admonition to a nun by name see “Moneatis insuper dominam Johannam de Wakefelde commonialem quod illam cameram quam modo inhabitat contra debitam honestatem religionis predicte solitarie commorando omnino dimittat et sequatur conventum assidue tam in choro, claustro, refectorio et dormitorio quam in ceteris locis et temporibus opportunis, prout religionis convenit honestati” (Kirklees 1315), Yorks. Arch. Journ. XVI, p. 359.
[999] See, for instance, Longland’s careful injunction to Elstow in 1531: “Foras moche as the very ordre off sainct benedicte his rules ar nott ther obserued in keping the ffratrye att meale tymes ... butt customably they resorte to certayn places within the monasterye called the housholdes, where moche insolency is use contrarye to the good rules of the said religion, by reason of resorte of seculars both men women and children and many other inconvenyents hath thereby ensewed ... we inioyne ... that ye lady abbesse and your successours see that noo suche householdes be then kepte frome hensforth, butt oonly oon place which shalbe called the mysericorde, where shalbe oon sadde lady of the eldest sorte oversear and maistres to all the residue that thidre shall resorte, whiche in nombre shall nott passe fyve att the uttermoost, besides ther saide ladye oversear or maistres and those fyve wekely to chaunge and soo ... all the covent have kepte the same, and they agen to begynne and the said gouernour and oversear of them contynally to contynue in thatt roome by the space of oon quarter of a yere, and soo quarterly to chaunge att the nominacon and plesure of the ladye abbesse for the tyme being. Over this it is ordered undre the said payne and Iniunction that the ladye abbesse haue no moo susters from hensforth in hir householde butt oonly foure with hir chapleyne and likewise wekely to chaunge till they have goon by course thrugh the hole nomber off susters, and soo aȝen to begynne and contynue.” Archaeologia, XLVII, p. 51.
[1000] Wilkins, Conc. II, p. 16. See also “Et fetez qe lez deuz parties du covent a meyns mangent checun jour en le refreytour” (Wroxall 1338); Sede Vacante Reg. (Worc.), p. 276; cf. Elstow (c. 1432), Linc. Visit. I, p. 53. It is often accepted that the nuns shall keep frater only on the three fish days, but see Gray’s injunction to Delapré Abbey (c. 1432-3) enjoining its observance on the three accustomed days (Sunday, Wednesday and Friday) and on Monday as well. Linc. Visit. I, p. 45.