MethuenCoLondon1914LargerimagesavailableonHistoryfishnetPublicDomaintexttranscribedandpreparedasisforHTMLandPDFbyRichendaFairhursthistoryfishnetSeptember2008NocommercialpermissionsgrantedT ID: 507146
Download Pdf The PPT/PDF document "lay,RothaMary.,TheHermitsandAnchoritesof..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
lay,RothaMary.,TheHermitsandAnchoritesofEngland Methuen&Co.London,1914.LargerimagesavailableonHistoryfish.netPublicDomaintexttranscribedandprepared"asis"forHTMLandPDFbyRichendaFairhurst,historyfish.net.September2008.Nocommercialpermissionsgranted.Textmaycontainerrors.(Reporterrorstomolly@historyfish.net,orcheckhistoryfishforcurrentaddress.).HIGHWAYANDBRIDGEHERMITSToordainahermittostayinthehermitageandlabourwithhishandsforthemaintenanceofthehighway,whichhaslongbeenanuisanceforlackthereof.”—PatentRoll,1447.SirThomasMalory,lookingbackinimaginationtothegoldenageofKingArthur,saysthat“inthesedayesitwasnottheguyseofheremytesasisnowadayes”.Formerly,theyhadbeenmenofworshipandprowess:“andtheheremytesheldegretehousholde,andrefressehedpeplethatwereindistresse”.DuringtheMiddleAges,however,ministeringhermits,oftenofthepeasantclass,werefoundthroughoutthecountry,dwellingbesidethehighways,bridges,andfords.Theirdutieswerethoseofhost,guide,light-bearer,labourer,alms-gatherer,turnpikeman,orbridge-warden.Beforetheyear1114,Goathlandhermitage,onthemoorsnearWhitby,wasahouseofhospitalityforthepoor.ItwasunderthecareofOsmundthepriestandotherbrethren.AnotherphilanthropicsolitarywasHughGarth,“anheremytofgreatperfection,”who,aftergatheringalmsforthatpurpose,foundedahospital—probablytosheltertravellers—atCockersand,inthesandywastesbetweentheestuariesoftheLuneandCoker,aplacedescribedbyLelandas“standingveriblekelyandobjecttoallwynddes”.Thisrefuge,foundedshortlybefore1184,afterwardsdevelopedintoanabbey.Otherhermitsactedasguidesatthepassagesofrivers.TherewerecellsaboveRownhamFerrynearBristol;bytheSevernatRedstone[seethelastimageofchapterfour];bytheItchenatSouthampton;atseveralNorfolkfords;andbytheferryandhavenatGorleston.Theworkoflight-bearerattheriversideisillustratedbythestoryofSt.Christopher.InthatbeautifullegenditisahermitwhobidsOfferusservetravellers,andlightsthe--57--giantinhispiouslabours.InmanydrawingsofSt.Christopherdepictedonthe allsofourancientchurches,thesolitarystandsonthebankwithahugelantern,tolighthimashefordstheriver,carryingtheChrist-Child;as,forexample,inthewall-paintingsatSt.John’s,Winchester(nowdestroyed),andatPoughill(restored).ThepaintinginShorwellchurchshowsononeshoreacell,andontheotheratripod-beaconandcross.hatinSt.Laurence,Winchester,depictedaflamingbeaconoutsidethechapel,andontheoppositebank,acottage.Road-hermitsbegintoappearearlyinthefourteenthcentury.ThroughouttheMiddleAgestheupkeepofhighwayswaslefttothecharityofthefew.Someofthereligioushousesdidtheirshare,andthebishopsencouragedalmsdeedsinthisform.Langland,thefourteenth-centurysocialreformer,exhortedthecharitabletorepair“wikkedways”and“bryggesto-broke”.Thecomplaintoftheancientrhymethat“LondonBridgeisbrokendown”wasechoedinothertowns,andhowtobuilditupagainwasoftenaproblem.Aconsiderableamountofworkwasundertakenduringthefourteenthcentury.ThestateofthecommonwaysatthisperiodhasbeensofullydescribedbyM.JusserandinhisWayfaringLifethatitisnotnecessarytosaymoreaboutthesubjectthanactuallyconcernstheofficeofthehermit.Thebridge-maker’schiefdutywastoraisefundsformaterialsandwages.BrotherJohnleMarechalwentaboutthecountrycollectingalmsforthesustenanceofhimselfandofthemenworkingatthecausewaybetweenBlythandMattersey,andatMatterseyBridge.Thisfourteenth-centurystonebridgeovertheIdleisstillstanding.Itwasbeguninthepreviouscentury,forArchbishopWichwaneissuedabriefforitin1284.Theprivilegeofraisingpavageorpontage—tousethetechnicalterms—wasoccasionallygivenforatermofyears.TollswereleviedatDoncasterinordertofillupcertainpitsneartheking’shighway,andtorepairthepavementnearthebridge.GeoffreydeBolton,“whooutofcharityundertookthatwork,”waspermittedtotakeapennyoneverycart,andafarthingoneverypack-horseladenwithgoodsforsale.--58-- lateXXIII:St.ChristopherandHermit--pagenotnumbered----blankpage,notnumbered--Theofficeofthesebridge-keeperswasatoncesecularandreligious.OneofthehermitsofLancasterbroughttwenty-sixoaksfromJohnofGaunt;hepaidfortheminadvanceandselectedthemwiththechiefforesterofWyresdale.nother,thirtyyearslater,receivedfromHenryofLancaster,afterhisaccession,agiftofvestmentsofhischapel:Item,alermitedeLancastreunchesible,aube,amite,stole,etfanon,deuxdrapsdorragmasrouges,uncorporasetuntowaille.hekeepersofthis“BridgeofLoyne”receivedayearlygrantfromtheDuchy.Theoverlordsometimesgrantedmaterialassistance.Theking,asEarlofChesterorDukeofLancaster,supportedworkwhichwasdesignedtobenefithis enants.BywritofRichardII,theforesterofMarawasorderedtodelivertothehermitofTarvinoneoakfortherepairof“Holmestrete”andofStanfordbridge.HenryIVgrantedfivetimberoaksforWarringtonbridge.ThepowerthatlayinthehandsofsuchmenisillustratedbythestoryofonekeeperofBowBridge.AnabbotofStratfordLangthorneonceappointedacertainGodfreyPratt(notnecessarilyahermit)ashisagent.Hewasgivenahouseonthecausewayandanallowanceoffood.Perceivingthat,bythealmsofpassers-by,Godfreywasagainer,theabbotwithdrewhisdailydole.Butthemanwasamatchforhismaster;hebarredthebridgeandrefusedtoletcartorhorsemanpasswithoutfee.“Atlength,weariedwithtoyle”—soStowcharitablyhasit—“heeneglectethhischarge,whereofcamethedecayandruineofthestonebridgeandway.”hisbridgeofStratford-le-BowafterwardshadachapeldedicatedtoSt.Katherine,whichin1344wasinthecustodyofBrotherJohndeWare,hermit.Intheforest,thelaboursoftheroadmenderweremostnecessary.Theroughtrackswereoftenimpassableonaccountoffallentrees,anddeeprutsinthemire,whilstthelowwoodenbridgesofremotecountrydistrictswerefrequentlysweptawayinflood-time.Severalinstancesfromtheneighbourhoodof--59--YorkoccuronthePatentRolls.AdamdeWhenby,whodweltbySt.Helen’schapelatShiptonintheparishofOverton,undertooktomakeaconvenientroadincertaindangerousparts.Hewasgrantedprotectionandsafeconduct“whileseekingmeansofcarriageandalmstoenablehimtomakeasafewayintheforestofGaltres,ataplacecalledlesPolles,wheremanyaccidentshaveoccurredbyreasonofthedepthoftheways”.Adamcontinuedhislabourstherebetween1327and1332,butwassucceededbyRobertdeSkitheby,hermitofSt.Augustine’schapelatHuntingtonbyYork.ThisBrotherRobert,formerlyofSt.Augustine’schapelatSkeeby,nearRichmond,hadcollectedforthebuildingofabridgeovertheGillingbeck.Thereareotherrecordsofworkgoingforwardinthevicinity.ThehermitsofSkipbridgeandStainforthBridgespentlargesumsinrepairingthewaysoverthemoors.Similarimprovementswereeffectedinotherwilddistricts.AtWagmire,aboutsixmilesfromCarlisle,intheparishofHesketintheForest,dweltJohnofCorbridge,whoin1354wasoccupiedinmendingthehighwaybetweenCarlisleandPenrith.Itwassmallwonderifthislonelyroad,throughtheheartofInglewoodForest,wasa“foulway,”foratthisverytimethepavedstreetsofLondonwereadisgrace,thatbetweenTempleBarandWestminsterbeingfullofbogsandholes.Travellersinthefenswereconstantlyinperil.Itcanhavebeennolighttasktokeepopenseveralmilesofhighway,which,inthatlandofwatercourses,sufferedfromseriousinundations.TheabsolutenecessityoftheworkissetforthinanindulgenceissuedbytheBishopofEly(1458)inordertofacilitatecommunicationswiththecathedralcity:—“SinceourchurchofElyissurroundedbywatersandmarshes,andtherelicsoftheHolyVirginslyinginitcanonlybevisitedoverbridgesand auseys,requiringdailyrepair,wecommendtoyourcharityWilliamGrene,hermit,who,atourcommandandwithconsentofourchurchofEly,hasundertakentherepairofthecauseysandbridgesofStuntneyeandSome”.Abouttheyear1400therearefrequentgrantsofasimilarcharacterintheEpiscopalregisers.tCambridgeoneman--60--hadchargeofthegreatbridgeattheCastleendofthetown,andoftwolesseronesoverbranchesoftheriveratNewnham,andalsooftheroadtoBarton;anotherkepttheroadtowardsTrumpington.AcertainJohnLucaskeptthebridgeandcausewaybetweenGreatandLittleShelford;later,hemadeWhittlesfordBridgehiscentre,andconstructedachapelthere.“Foulmire,”aplace-nameinthatneighbourhood,suggeststhediscomfortswhichtravellershadtoendure.HermitsworkedbetweenRoystonandArrington,betweenWaterbeach,Denny,andStretham,betweenHaddenhamandEarith.ThebishopissuedabrieftoholdgoodforlifeonbehalfofJohnThompsonofEarithcauseway,offeringindulgencetoallwhoshouldsupplyhimwithfood,orcontributetotheworkcommittedtohim.Whenfundswerebeingraised,thecollectorrequiredeitheranEpiscopalorroyalcertificate,whichmightrunasfollows:—“Edwardtheking[nodate]hearingthatNewbryggeandthetwocauseysleadingfromit,theonetoStandlakeandtheothertoKingston,allofwhichweremadeofcharitybyJohnGolofre,knight,deceased,areoutofrepairanddangerous,giveshisprotectiontoThomasBrigges,hermitdwellingbythatbridge,who,movedbypiety,proposestocollectmoneyinOxon,Berks,andGloucesterfortherepairofthebridgeandcauseys”.Abouttheyear1434therewasahermitofNewbridgewhowashighlyrespected.Hemadehisofficeanopportunityfortalkingopenlyonthesubjectoftemptationandsin.ThelearnedThomasGascoigne,whodoubtlessheardhimwhenonhiswaytoOxford,givesinhistheologicaldictionaryabriefaccountof“goodWilliamofCormwall”.heofficeofbridge-wardenwasonewhichwasliabletoabuse.Someofthepersonsplacedintheseindependentpositionsproveduntrustworthy.InPiersPlowman,Langlandinveighsagainstfalsehermitsthat“edify”thehighway—menwhowereoncelabourersandilloff,buttookthehabitforthesakeofanidlelife,preferringalmstowages.Hepicturesatimeofdearth,whenevenhermitsseizedspadesanddug,indreadofdeathbyhunger.Langlandwouldhaverichmengivetothelunaticratherthantothe“loller,”whogathersalmsateventidetoresthisbackbythehotcoals,drinkdeep,and--61-- otobed;risingwhenhewill,heroamsouttoespywherehemaygetarepast—aroundofbacon,somemeat,aloafofatleastahalfaloaf,alumpofcheese—andcarriesithometohiscot.Thusdoeshelive“inydelnesseandineseandbyotherstrauayle”.Theroadmender,indeed,wasmuchintheworldandmightreadilyfallintobadcompany.Langland’sGluttonfindsahermitinthetavernwithapedlar,aratcatcher,andthehangmanofTyburn.hehermitageofSt.JamesnearChester(atHandbridge,beyondtheDee)fellintobadrepute.JohnBennetwasindictedforreceivingrobbersthere,andkeepingahouseofill-fame.Hissuccessor,IeuanapBlethynapCaswet,wasnominatedbytheking,nowdirectedthemayorandsheriffstoinquireintohisconductandruleoflife(1455).ThefollowingentriesonthePatentRollsshowthattherewereotherswhodisgracedtheirhabit:“PardontoThomasdeAnderstowe,hermitofCorbridge,oftheking’ssuitforthestealingofapigworth3s.whereofheisindictedorappealed,andofanyconsequentoutlawry”.ThomasShelve,hermitofSt.Katharine,dwellingonTemebridge,Ludlow,latehermitofLeintwardine,waspardoned“forallfelonies,trespasses,andmisprisionscommittedbyhim”.ThevowofRichardLudlowofMaidenheadshowstheabusesofwhichthisoffice,atoncereligiousandsecular,wasliable.Heundertooktohavetheminister’sprofessioninworshipandreverence,tolivetohislife’sendintemperance,soberness,andchastity,toeschewallopenspectacles,commonscot-ales,taverns,andothersuspectplacesofsin;tohearMass,pray,andfast;andlastly,heundertookthatwhateverheshouldreceivebywayofcharity,hewouldexpendtruly,withoutdeceit,uponthemendingofthebridgeandcommonwaysofthetown,reservingonlysufficienttosupporthimself.Thebishop’schargeintheofficeforthebenedictionofahermit(seeAppendixB),includedaclausedeclaringthathemustlabourwithhishandsinordertoobtainfood,andalsoinmakingroadsandbridges:“foridlenessistheenemyofthesoul.”Intoomanycases,however,thesemenwereexpected--62--tofulfilimportantdutieswithoutbeingresponsibletoanycompetentlocalauthority.Thisseemstohavebeenremediedtosomeextentduringthefifteenthcentury.HenryIVwhengrantingpontagetothehermitofStonyStratfordappointedoverseersoftherepairs.Thepublic-spiritedwardensofSt.Christopher’sgild,Thame,tookthematterinhand,themselvesproposingtofoundahermitageatTetsworth“andtoordainahermittostayinthehermitageandlabourwithhishandsforthemaintenanceofthehighwaybetweenStokenchurchandHarefordBridge,whichhaslongbeenanuisanceforlackthereof”.ThehermitsofStratford-on-Avonweremembersofthetowngild,whichwasaguaranteeofgoodconduct.Theappointmenttosuchpostswasoftenmadebythecommonaltyofthetown.Letters-patentsealedbythemayorofOxfordweregrantedtoNicholasWadekyns,keeperofPettypont,whofoundpledgesthathewouldmendthebridgeaccordingtohisability.Themayor,bailiffs,andaldermenappointedWilliamCardontobewardenoftheSouthBridge.Evidentlyhewastogoaboutthetowncollecting,forthedeedasks eopleingeneralthatwhenhecomestothemandasksalms,theywilltrusthimandcontributetotherepairofthebridgeandofdangerousplacesinthewaysaboutthetown.AtHenley,thehermitwasunderanofficial“Bridgeman,”whoevensuppliedhisclothes.Themakingandmendingofroadscontinuedtoberegardedasaworkofindividualpietyandprivateenterprise.SimonCotesofWestbornehadtheneedsoftravellersmuchonhisheart;hethereforefoundedonhispropertythehermitageofSt.Anthony,andhimselfsettoworktoimprovethemeansofcommunicationinthatneighbourhood.Athisdeathin1527,hebequeathedthehouse,chapel,andgardentotheEarlofArundel,totheintentthataprofessedhermitmightdwellthere,toprayforthesoulsofhisancestorsandthoseofhislord,andtomaintainthebridgesandhighwayswhichhehadmade.Suchlabours,faithfullycarriedout,wereappreciatedbythepeople,asappearsfrombequests.AbutcherofNorthamptondefinesinhiswill(1528)theworkwhichhedesirestobedone:“AlsoIwyllthatStontontheHermytofSayntThomaschapellhavedelyveredtohim...vjiij.othemen[ding]--63--thecausey”;afterdescribingthesituationofthestonybitofstreet,thetestatoroffersalikesumfortherepairofalittlecausewaybetweentheTabardInnandthestonebridge;whilstathirdinstallmentistobeexpended“atthediscretionofthesaydArmytt”infillingupwithramell(rubbish)theholesinthestreettowardsCoton.Aslateas1532NicolasWodhulldirectshisexecutorstorepairthehermitage“attheBriggfoot”atBanbury(i.e.inGrimsburyontheNorthamptonshiresideoftheriver),toplacethereinanhonestmantoprayforhimandhisfriends.Therepairofbridgesandoftheadjoininghighwaysbecameamatterforlegislationin1530-1.JusticesofthePeacewerechargedtoinquire“ofanoysancesofbridgesbrokeninthehighewayestothedamageoftheKyngesliegePeople”.Incaseswherenopersonwasliabletorepairthem,taxesmightbeleviedforthispurposebyappointedcollectors.herefollowedcloseuponthisstatute,however,theSuppressionofReligiousHouses,whichresultedinthecripplingofcommunicationsformanyyears.AftertheDissolutionbridge-cellsdisappear,likeotherreligiousinstitutionsdirectlyorindirectlyassociatedwiththemonasticlife.Lelandnotes:“AttheveryendofThrapestonBridgestandruinesofaverylareHeremitageandprincipallywellebuildidbutalatediscoveridandsuppressid”.ThehermitofChippenhamcausewaylingeredonuntilthedaysofEdwardVI,whenitwasrecordedthat:“Tharmyteholdythwithoutcopyeiijacresofpasture...byth’armytage”.In1554thecausewaybecamechargeableupontheborough.Wayfaringmensufferedsadlythoughthesuppressionofreligioushouses.Thenewownersofchurchpropertydidnotconsiderthemselvestobeunderanyobligationtocarryoncharitiesofthiskind.Thepeoplepreferredtobealmsgiversratherthanratepayers.In1588theywerecomplainingthatsincetheSuppressiontheywereburdened,taxed,andchargedfortherepairofdiversgreat ridges.EveninthetimeofQueenElizabeth,whenthehermitsofthehighwaywerealreadydimfiguresofabygoneage,theirwork,howeverimperfect,wonrecognitionasusefultotheirowndaysandtothedays--64--thatfollowed.In1596thestorywasbeinghandeddowninHighgatethat:“WherenowtheScholestandethwasahermitage,andthehermytecausedtobemadethecausewaybetweeneHighgateandIslington,andthegravellwashadfromthetopofHighgatehill,whereisnowastandingepondeofwater”.Induecourse,whenthesocialupheavalofthesixteenthcenturyhadrighteditself,thingswereplacedonasounderbasis.Itwas,ofcourse,farbetterthatthemaintenanceofroadsshouldbecomeapubliccharge,organizedbyalocalbodywhichhadcontinuity.Theworldofthepioneerneednot,however,beforgotten,anitmeritsatleasttheslightrecordwhichhadbeenattemptedinthischapter.--65--Footnotes~1.Fourn.Brit.Arch.Ass.x.pl.10,11;P.G.Stone,Antiq.I.ofW.,pl.cxi.2.John,“calledthehermitofSyngelton,”wasatRibblebridgebeforehewenttotheLune(Loyne;theLancastertoastis“lucktoLoyne”).3.P.R.O.,Pat.4Hen.VI.pt.2,m.27.4.Archaeologia,XXVII.80.5.SeenotesbyRev.J.H.CrosbyinElyDiocesanRemembrancer.6.Gascoigne,LiberVeritatum,ed.J.E.T.Rogers,105-6.7.Ed.Skeat(E.E.TextS.)TextC,IX.183;x.140-52;VII.368.8.Statute22Hen.VIII,c.v.-endchapter-