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Article CANYNGTON PRIORY AND FAIR ROSAMUND. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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Canyngton Priory And Fair Rosamund.
place have endeavoured to accommodate it to their several requirements . To the fragments Avhich remain of the nuns ' abode , consisting of a part of the basement , and including two or three small internal doorways , and one ivhich gives access to them from the gardens , I shall direct attention at a subsequent
page . It is tlie history of this ancient house that I offer to the reader , so far as it can now be recovered . Both legend and reliable fact will be found to enter into the narrative , but little difficulty will arise in adjusting their relative claims . As the residence of a conventual body , Canyngton Priory was neither large nor wealthy . But its annals are interesting , and the endeavour to rescue them from the practical oblivion in which
theif position among the mass of surrounding matter hashitherto availed to bury them will not be destitute either of p leasure or of profit . So little has been already done in this direction , that the far greater part of my present contribution to the monastic kncwkdge of my reader will he likely to possess , at least , the charm of novelty . In the beginning of the reign of King Stephen , or about the year 1138 Robert de Curcior Curcycalled Williambut
erro-, , , , neously , by Collinson , founded the Priory of Canyngton for a community of Benedictine Nuns . The good founder was seAver , or chief butler , to the Empress Maud ; ancl his name , together with those of Milo , Earl of Hereford , Robert de Oilli , and others , may be noticed among the witnesses to a charter of hers , dated at Oxford , in confirmation , to the monks of St . Martin , at Paris , of a donation by Buldewin , Earl of Dei'on , to that
monastery , of the chapel of St . James's , Exeter . ( Lei Collect , j . 78 . Dugd . Bar j . 451 . Mon . Angl . Ed . 1682 , j . 545 . ) His father , Richard de Curcy , held , at the time of the Domesday Survey , Neuham , Secendene , and Poxcote , in the county of Oxford . ( Domesday j . 159 . ) The credit of the foundation has also been given incorrectly to William de Romare , Earl of Lincoln . The heads of the family of Curcy were , however , as we shall see , the constant and ordinary patrons . The House
was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin , but of the circumstances of the foundation or of the extent of the original endowment no record has been preserved , and the opportunity of supplying the omission is now gone for ever . Within thirty-five years after the first establishment , a personage is traditionally associated with the community , around whom a romantic interest has ever since revolved . I am aware that the connexion of this with the lace whose
personage p history I am noiv offering to the reader is purely legendary . But , if I mistake not , he will be glad to possess , what has never yet been given to him , the various statements of the ancient chroniclers , and others brought together and Avoven into one consecutive narrative . Nor will he be less interested in the story , when he hears that the subject of his study is no less celebrated a person than the lady usuall y designated " Pair Rosamund . "
Pair Rosamund—Rosa Mundi , the rose of tbe ivorld—was the second daughter of Walter de Clifford , tbe son of Richard and grandson of Ponz . Richard is mentioned in the Domesday Survey as holding lands in the counties of Oxford , Gloucester , Wilts , Worcester , and Hereford . Walter de Clifford , by his wife Margaret , had four children . Lucy , first married to Hugh de Say , and subsequently to Bartholomew de Mortimer ; RosamundWalterand Richard . ( dale j 335336 )
, , Dug Baronage , . , . Of Rosamund ' s early life we have no particulars . Local tradition affirms that Canyngton was the place of her birth , -and that Ai'ithin the walls of its priory , she received such education as the age afforded . That , as the daughter of a powerful lord , she was intrusted to the cave of some religious sisterhood for nurture , both of mind and body , ive have no doubt , though the old chroniclers are silent on the subject . The art of
embroidery Avould appear to have been one of her accomplishments , for the venerable abbey of Buildwas long possessed among its treasures a magnificent cope , which bore ivitness to the taste and skill of its fair embellisher . ( Hearne ' s Will . Neubr . ij . 164 ,. ) Of her first acquaintance Avith King Henry , and the mode and place of her introduction to him , no details have been preserved . Probabl y she Avas known to him from her earliest years . Nor have
we any reason to suppose that , according to some modern versions of the sad story , a broken vow added its shadow to a We whose record is sufficiently gloomy ivithout this additional element of woe . Not a hint of her having been a nun do the chroniclers give us ; and , had such been the fact , full use Avould nave been made of such an aggravation of her offence . Her i-oyal lover was one of the most unscrupulous of mankind , and
the sin of " spousebreehe" ivas but one of many enormities for Avhich he was notorious . His affection for Rosamund , however , such as it Ai'as , Avas constant . In order to protect her from the vengeance of his queen , he removed her successively to various places of greater or less security . The paraphrasfc of Robert ot Gloucester tells us : —
"Bonres hadde tho Eosamunde about in Englonde , Which this Ivyng for her sake made , ich cindcrstoiide ;" among ivhich were Bishops Waltham , IVyncli , Premantel , ancl Martelstone . But the most famous of all , ancl with Avhich her name is more than with all others associated , was her retreat- afc Woodstock . It was here that Henry built a chamber , which Brompton describes as of ivondrons architecture— " operi Dcedalino similem "—resembling the ivork of Daidalus ; in other words , a labyrinth or maze . A manuscript of Robert of Gloucester , in the Heralds' Office , says
that"Att AVoclcstokc for hure he made a touvo , That is called Boscmoimdo ' s Ijoure , " the special iutent of which was to conceal her from her royal rival . The internal decorations of this abode were as much attended to as its means of escaping external notice . The abbot of Jorevall describes a cabinet of marvellous ivorkmanship , Avhich was one of its ornaments . Ifc Avas nearly tivo feet in length , and on it the assault of champions , the action of cattle ,
the flight of birds , and the leaping of fishes were so naturally represented , that the figures appeared to move . Brompton , in Script x . eol . 1151 . Knighton , in Script , x . col . 2395 . Polyd . Vergl . Hist . lib . xiij . fol ., Bas . 1570 , p . 241 . ) Rosamund did not long occupy the retreat that royal though guilty love had created for her . She died in 117 V , Avhile yet Avithout a rival in the king ' s affections , and , as it Avould appear , of some natural disease . In after times the injured queen
Eleanor had the credit of discovering her place of concealment , by means of a clue of silk AA'hich the king had incautiously left behind him , and which enabled her to thread fche intricacies of the path , and of gratifying her revenge by obliging her rival to drink from her hand a cup of poison . That the queen discovered the abode of Rosamund is possible ; and it may have been that the shock of the meeting , and the unmeasured language ivhich her majestis saicl to have loyedivere too
y emp , much tor the poor victim of her ivomanly add natural displeasure . It is only fair , however , to say that the queen ' s part in the entire transaction is nofc alluded to in the old Avriters , and is probahly the fiction of more modern times . The fruits of the intercourse ivere tivo sons—William Longspe , afterwards created Earl of Sarum , the firm adherent of his brother , King John , against the barons ; and Geoffrey , SAiccessively Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of York .
Rosamund Avas buried in the first instance before the high altar in the church of Godstow nunnery , ivhich Avas probably selected from its neighbourhood to Woodstock , and which henceforward enjoyed a goodly number of benefactions in memory of her and for the health of her soul . The body ivas wrapped in leather , and then placed in a coffin of lead . Over the whole Henry builfc a magnificent tomb , which ivas covered , n ith a pall of silk , ancl surrounded by tapers constantly burning . This
occurred in the lifetime of her father , for he gave to the nuns of Godstow , in pure and perpetual alms , for the health of the souls of Margaret his Avife ancl of Rosamund his daughter , his mill at Franton , Avith all appurtenances , a meadow adjacent to the same called Lechtun , and a salt-pit in Wiche . Walter , his son , confirmed the gift . Osbert Pitzhugh added to this the grant of a salt-pit in Wiche , called the Cow , pertaining to his manor of Wichebalt . ( Monast Angl . iv . p . 366 ; Dugd . Bar . i .
, , , 335 , 336 . ) Indeed , Walsingham goes so far as to say , though incorrectly , that the nunnery of Godstow was actually founded by King John for the soul of Rosamund . ( Wals . Ypodigma Neustriae , fol ., Loncl ., 1574 , p . 56 ; sub . an . 1216 . ) It is not unlikely that a chantry ivas founded by that king for the object stated , but the foundation of the house Avas beyond question the Avork of a much earlier period .
Her remains , however , Avere not long allowed to occupy their sepulchre in peace . Pourteen years after their solemn commission to this sacred place of interment , Hugh , Bishop of Lincoln , in a visitation of his diocese , came to GodstoAV . After he had entered the church , and performed his devotions , he observed the tomb occupying its conspicuous position before the high altar , adorned as already described , and forthwith asked whose it ivas . On being informed that it was the grave of Rosamund , Avhom Henry , the late king , had so dearly loved , and for whose
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Canyngton Priory And Fair Rosamund.
place have endeavoured to accommodate it to their several requirements . To the fragments Avhich remain of the nuns ' abode , consisting of a part of the basement , and including two or three small internal doorways , and one ivhich gives access to them from the gardens , I shall direct attention at a subsequent
page . It is tlie history of this ancient house that I offer to the reader , so far as it can now be recovered . Both legend and reliable fact will be found to enter into the narrative , but little difficulty will arise in adjusting their relative claims . As the residence of a conventual body , Canyngton Priory was neither large nor wealthy . But its annals are interesting , and the endeavour to rescue them from the practical oblivion in which
theif position among the mass of surrounding matter hashitherto availed to bury them will not be destitute either of p leasure or of profit . So little has been already done in this direction , that the far greater part of my present contribution to the monastic kncwkdge of my reader will he likely to possess , at least , the charm of novelty . In the beginning of the reign of King Stephen , or about the year 1138 Robert de Curcior Curcycalled Williambut
erro-, , , , neously , by Collinson , founded the Priory of Canyngton for a community of Benedictine Nuns . The good founder was seAver , or chief butler , to the Empress Maud ; ancl his name , together with those of Milo , Earl of Hereford , Robert de Oilli , and others , may be noticed among the witnesses to a charter of hers , dated at Oxford , in confirmation , to the monks of St . Martin , at Paris , of a donation by Buldewin , Earl of Dei'on , to that
monastery , of the chapel of St . James's , Exeter . ( Lei Collect , j . 78 . Dugd . Bar j . 451 . Mon . Angl . Ed . 1682 , j . 545 . ) His father , Richard de Curcy , held , at the time of the Domesday Survey , Neuham , Secendene , and Poxcote , in the county of Oxford . ( Domesday j . 159 . ) The credit of the foundation has also been given incorrectly to William de Romare , Earl of Lincoln . The heads of the family of Curcy were , however , as we shall see , the constant and ordinary patrons . The House
was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin , but of the circumstances of the foundation or of the extent of the original endowment no record has been preserved , and the opportunity of supplying the omission is now gone for ever . Within thirty-five years after the first establishment , a personage is traditionally associated with the community , around whom a romantic interest has ever since revolved . I am aware that the connexion of this with the lace whose
personage p history I am noiv offering to the reader is purely legendary . But , if I mistake not , he will be glad to possess , what has never yet been given to him , the various statements of the ancient chroniclers , and others brought together and Avoven into one consecutive narrative . Nor will he be less interested in the story , when he hears that the subject of his study is no less celebrated a person than the lady usuall y designated " Pair Rosamund . "
Pair Rosamund—Rosa Mundi , the rose of tbe ivorld—was the second daughter of Walter de Clifford , tbe son of Richard and grandson of Ponz . Richard is mentioned in the Domesday Survey as holding lands in the counties of Oxford , Gloucester , Wilts , Worcester , and Hereford . Walter de Clifford , by his wife Margaret , had four children . Lucy , first married to Hugh de Say , and subsequently to Bartholomew de Mortimer ; RosamundWalterand Richard . ( dale j 335336 )
, , Dug Baronage , . , . Of Rosamund ' s early life we have no particulars . Local tradition affirms that Canyngton was the place of her birth , -and that Ai'ithin the walls of its priory , she received such education as the age afforded . That , as the daughter of a powerful lord , she was intrusted to the cave of some religious sisterhood for nurture , both of mind and body , ive have no doubt , though the old chroniclers are silent on the subject . The art of
embroidery Avould appear to have been one of her accomplishments , for the venerable abbey of Buildwas long possessed among its treasures a magnificent cope , which bore ivitness to the taste and skill of its fair embellisher . ( Hearne ' s Will . Neubr . ij . 164 ,. ) Of her first acquaintance Avith King Henry , and the mode and place of her introduction to him , no details have been preserved . Probabl y she Avas known to him from her earliest years . Nor have
we any reason to suppose that , according to some modern versions of the sad story , a broken vow added its shadow to a We whose record is sufficiently gloomy ivithout this additional element of woe . Not a hint of her having been a nun do the chroniclers give us ; and , had such been the fact , full use Avould nave been made of such an aggravation of her offence . Her i-oyal lover was one of the most unscrupulous of mankind , and
the sin of " spousebreehe" ivas but one of many enormities for Avhich he was notorious . His affection for Rosamund , however , such as it Ai'as , Avas constant . In order to protect her from the vengeance of his queen , he removed her successively to various places of greater or less security . The paraphrasfc of Robert ot Gloucester tells us : —
"Bonres hadde tho Eosamunde about in Englonde , Which this Ivyng for her sake made , ich cindcrstoiide ;" among ivhich were Bishops Waltham , IVyncli , Premantel , ancl Martelstone . But the most famous of all , ancl with Avhich her name is more than with all others associated , was her retreat- afc Woodstock . It was here that Henry built a chamber , which Brompton describes as of ivondrons architecture— " operi Dcedalino similem "—resembling the ivork of Daidalus ; in other words , a labyrinth or maze . A manuscript of Robert of Gloucester , in the Heralds' Office , says
that"Att AVoclcstokc for hure he made a touvo , That is called Boscmoimdo ' s Ijoure , " the special iutent of which was to conceal her from her royal rival . The internal decorations of this abode were as much attended to as its means of escaping external notice . The abbot of Jorevall describes a cabinet of marvellous ivorkmanship , Avhich was one of its ornaments . Ifc Avas nearly tivo feet in length , and on it the assault of champions , the action of cattle ,
the flight of birds , and the leaping of fishes were so naturally represented , that the figures appeared to move . Brompton , in Script x . eol . 1151 . Knighton , in Script , x . col . 2395 . Polyd . Vergl . Hist . lib . xiij . fol ., Bas . 1570 , p . 241 . ) Rosamund did not long occupy the retreat that royal though guilty love had created for her . She died in 117 V , Avhile yet Avithout a rival in the king ' s affections , and , as it Avould appear , of some natural disease . In after times the injured queen
Eleanor had the credit of discovering her place of concealment , by means of a clue of silk AA'hich the king had incautiously left behind him , and which enabled her to thread fche intricacies of the path , and of gratifying her revenge by obliging her rival to drink from her hand a cup of poison . That the queen discovered the abode of Rosamund is possible ; and it may have been that the shock of the meeting , and the unmeasured language ivhich her majestis saicl to have loyedivere too
y emp , much tor the poor victim of her ivomanly add natural displeasure . It is only fair , however , to say that the queen ' s part in the entire transaction is nofc alluded to in the old Avriters , and is probahly the fiction of more modern times . The fruits of the intercourse ivere tivo sons—William Longspe , afterwards created Earl of Sarum , the firm adherent of his brother , King John , against the barons ; and Geoffrey , SAiccessively Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of York .
Rosamund Avas buried in the first instance before the high altar in the church of Godstow nunnery , ivhich Avas probably selected from its neighbourhood to Woodstock , and which henceforward enjoyed a goodly number of benefactions in memory of her and for the health of her soul . The body ivas wrapped in leather , and then placed in a coffin of lead . Over the whole Henry builfc a magnificent tomb , which ivas covered , n ith a pall of silk , ancl surrounded by tapers constantly burning . This
occurred in the lifetime of her father , for he gave to the nuns of Godstow , in pure and perpetual alms , for the health of the souls of Margaret his Avife ancl of Rosamund his daughter , his mill at Franton , Avith all appurtenances , a meadow adjacent to the same called Lechtun , and a salt-pit in Wiche . Walter , his son , confirmed the gift . Osbert Pitzhugh added to this the grant of a salt-pit in Wiche , called the Cow , pertaining to his manor of Wichebalt . ( Monast Angl . iv . p . 366 ; Dugd . Bar . i .
, , , 335 , 336 . ) Indeed , Walsingham goes so far as to say , though incorrectly , that the nunnery of Godstow was actually founded by King John for the soul of Rosamund . ( Wals . Ypodigma Neustriae , fol ., Loncl ., 1574 , p . 56 ; sub . an . 1216 . ) It is not unlikely that a chantry ivas founded by that king for the object stated , but the foundation of the house Avas beyond question the Avork of a much earlier period .
Her remains , however , Avere not long allowed to occupy their sepulchre in peace . Pourteen years after their solemn commission to this sacred place of interment , Hugh , Bishop of Lincoln , in a visitation of his diocese , came to GodstoAV . After he had entered the church , and performed his devotions , he observed the tomb occupying its conspicuous position before the high altar , adorned as already described , and forthwith asked whose it ivas . On being informed that it was the grave of Rosamund , Avhom Henry , the late king , had so dearly loved , and for whose