Transcript:Associated Architectural Societies. Reports and Papers/1914/Tombstone Inscriptions

Associated Architectural Societies'
Reports and Papers.

Mdccccxiv. VOL. XXXII., PART II.

The Architectural & Archæological Society of the County of Lincoln.

[page 403]

Tombstone Inscriptions from Bardney Abbey.

Revised by J. T. Fowler, D.C.L., F.S.A., Hon. Canon of Durham.

[Editor's Note.—In our last year's volume we were able to present from the pen of the Rev. C. E. Laing himself an account of the excavations which had been carried out by him on the site of Bardney Abbey during the last five years. All who are interested in the history of the past owe him a debt of gratitude, for his unwearied zeal and energy in securing the site, and bringing to light the long buried remains, of one of our most famous monasteries. Unfortunately his health broke down, owing in great measure to his over-exertions in the work of excavation, and his lamented death followed on September 4th, 1914. His illness rendered him unable to see through the press the Paper which he had prepared, or to append to it more than a bare list of names of those whose tombstones had been uncovered in the Abbey church. It seemed desirable that as full and authentic a record as possible of these inscriptions should be preserved, as it may probably be found necessary to cover up the stones again in order to save them from further deterioration by the weather. The Editors have happily been allowed to place Mr. Laing's notes of these inscriptions in the capable hands of Canon J. T. Fowler, of Durham, who had already taken much interest in them, and had paid more than one visit to Bardney in order to study and decipher them on the spot. He has kindly undertaken to edit them for our present volume with all the accuracy that the mutilated condition of several of them permits. It is thought that Mr. Laing's account of his personal excavation of the site, together with Mr. Hamilton Thompson's two papers dealing with the endowments and the internal history of the monastery, and the present record of those who found sepulture within the Abbey church, may form a not unfitting memorial of this once important Benedictine house. Some of the most important of these tombstones have already been figured in our pages, and others are presented here.—R.E.G.C.]

Dated Inscriptions.

1. Joan Browne, 24 Jan. 1384–5. Laing.

Hic jacet | joħna quōdā uxor Joħnis Browne de | Bardny mercatoris | que obiit nono kaln̄ februar' an̄o dn̄i m ccc | lxxx quarto | cui⁹ aīe ᵱpīetˁ ds̄ am.

2. —— —— 14 Feb. 1400–1. Laing.

+ Hic jacet | —— de —— qui obiit xviº kalend. | marcii anno | dn̄i mº quadragesimo cuius aīe ᵱpicietˁ | dn̄s amen. [page 404]

3. William Burgh, 9 June 14… Laing.

Hic jacet | frater Wiƚƚmus Burgh quōdam prior istius mo … qui obiit | viii idus junii | anno dn̄i miƚƚimo cccc … cui⁹ anim. ᵱpicietur deus | amen.

4. John of Tathewell, 25 Mar. 1406. Photographed.

+ hic | Jacet dns Johannes de tathewell capellanus | qui ᵱ illo—orat mercedem xpc sibi reddat amen |

Floreated cross with iħc and the crowned monogram of MARIA above it. On a circular band enclosing the upper part of the cross,

qui obiit vicesimo quīto die mensis marcii anno dni mill'mo cccc^mº vi^tº.

5. John Bracy, 20 Apr. 1415. Laing.

+ Hic | Jacet Johēs bracy qui obiit xij kƚn | Maii anno dn̄i | mº cccc xv cui⁹ Aie ᵱpiciet^r ds | Amen.

An elaborate cross in the middle of the stone.

6. Joan Bracy, 24 Jan. (1415–16 ?).

+ hic jacet john̄a | Bracy quōdā uxor joħis Bracy de lincoln̄ que obiit | vicesimo quarto | die mensis januarii cuius anime ᵱpīetˁ d — —.

Cross as in No. 5, but larger, and with a scroll from arms to base.

7. John of Stepyng, 14 March 1420–1. Photographed.

+ Hic | iacet fratˁ Joħs de Stepyng precentor istius loci qui obiit | pridie Idus Marci [sic] A^o dn̄i Mº cccc xxº cui⁹ aīe | ᵱpicietˁ ds̄.

This inscription begins with the cross in the middle of the top side.

8. Richard Smythson, 21 Nov. 1420.

+ hic jacet frater + Ricard⁹ Smythson quondā pˁor isti9 moⁱ qui obiit xxiº — mēsis novēbris + A^o Dñi Mº ccccº xxº cui⁹ aīe ᵱpiciet' deus. amen +

9. Walter de Langton, —— 1431 ?

+ hic jacet frater Walterus de Langton bachalarius in jure canonico quōdā prior ist⁹ moⁱ qui cos̄truxit de novo placiam minutorum^[1] ap'd Sowthray cum clausura et ponte —— obiit —— xxxj — cui⁹ aīe ᵱpiciet ds̄ Amen. [page 405]

10. Matilda Papylky (?) 11 May, 1433.

+ hic jacet matilda quōdam vxor Wiƚƚi papylky —— (que obiit) — 11 die mensis Maii año dn̄i mº ccccº xxxiiiº cui⁹ aie ᵱpicietˁ (deus) Amen.

11. John and Alice —— ? 14 Apr. 1444 and 23 Apr. 1446. Photographed.

—— iacent ioħes | —— — Alicia vxor eius qui iohannes obiit quarto decimo die mensis Aprilis | Anno dn̄i Milƚimo cccc quadragesi^o | quarto et Alicia obiit xxiii die mensis Aprilis anno dn̄i Mº cccc xl vjº quor' aiabʒ | ᵱpicietˁ ds̄ amen.

Arranged in the same way as No. 7.

Incised full-length figures of a man and a woman ; the man's head rests on a lozenge-shaped cloth that lies on a barrel-shaped cushion shewing a pattern at the ends, which are not hidden by the linen cover ; the woman's head and its support are totally destroyed.

12. Hugh de Branston, 16 Nov. 1480.^[2] Laing.

+ Hic iacet | frat . . hugo de — — — hui⁹ — — — | xvi kaln decembris | anno dni m cccc octogesimo | | | deus | amen.

13. Thomas Elkington, 28 June, 1483. Photographed.

On a label round sides and top of stone—

Hic iacet fr thomas Elkyngtō qui obijt | iiijº kƚ Julii A^o | dn̄i Mº ccccº lxxxiijº cui⁹ aīe ᵱ . . īetˁ ds̄ aˁ.

In middle of stone, ihc.

14. Thomas Clark, 1 Jan. 1505.^[3] Photographed.

+ hic Jacet dn̄s + | thoma^s clark q^ondā Rector de ᵱtenay qui obijt pⁱmo + | die ianuar' A^o + | dn̄i Mº dº quīto cui⁹ aīe ᵱpietˁ deus amen.

The crosses are placed one at each corner.

15. Michael Gare, 17 Oct. 1505. Photographed.

Hic iacet ffr̃ Michael Gare q^ondā pⁱor hui9 moⁱ qⁱ obijt | xviiº die octoᵬ a^o | dn̄i Mº Dº quīto cui⁹ aīe ᵱpīetˁ ds̄ amen.

16. —— as —ole, 29 Aug. 1506. Laing.

Hic jacet | —— as —ole qui obiit iiijº kƚ sep^temᵬr | A^o dn̄i mº | cccccº vjº cui⁹ aīe ᵱpicietˁ deus amen. [page 406]

17. Richard Horncastel, 10 Oct. 1508. Photograph.

Hic iacet | dompnus | Ricardus horncastel quondam abbas istiu9 monastˁii qui | obiit xº die mēsis | octoᵬ A^o dn̄i miƚƚmo ccccc viiiº Cui⁹ aīe ᵱpīetˁ de⁹amen.

In the four corners are four circles containing the words sc̄a | marⁱa | ora | ᵱ me.

Under a large canopy is a full-length figure in mass vestments, the head bare and tonsured, the crosier lying in slanting position under the right arm, the hands concealed under a shield charged with a crowned heart bearing the monogram ihc, and on either side of the heart, on the shield, an inscribed label ; the words are, O bone ihu, and Esto michi. Over the head and shoulders a long scroll inscribed O domine ihu accipe spm̄ meū, and, Reposita ē hec spe^s | in sinu meo ; on part of the back of the scroll appear the words Esto | Michi. Over the figure the soul is represented as a body in a winding-sheet, borne upward on another sheet by two angels. “ Esto michi ” seems to refer to the monogram on the heart, “ Be Thou to me Jesus in my heart,” but why the words should be on the back of the long scroll is not very evident.

18. Thomas White, 27 Jan. 1525. Photographed.

Hic Jacet thomas | White qui obijt xxvijº die mensis ianuarii | anno dn̄i mº | ccccc xxvº cui⁹ aīe ᵱpīetur deus amen.

19. William Sotheray, 17 June, 1526. Photographed.

+ hic jacet frater + | Wƚƚm⁹ Sotheray quondā Suppⁱor & Sacrista isti⁹ moⁱ qⁱ + | Obijt xviiº die Mēs' + | Junij A^o dn̄i Mº Dº xxvjº cui⁹ aīe ᵱpicietˁ de9 amē.

20. Richard Borell and Thomas, 30 May, 1527. Laing.

Hic Jacēt Ricard⁹ borell | quōdā cōfr' hui⁹ cap̄li et thomas fili⁹ eiu^s quondā suppⁱor hui⁹ | monastˁii qui thomas | obiit iij kƚ iunij an^o dn̄i mº cccccº xxvijº quorū aīab⁹ ᵱpiciet' ds̄ amē.

In centre of stone, ihu m'ci ihc.

Dates Uncertain.

21. Ralph Lewyn, 30 Nov. 1-57. Laing.

+ Hic —— dn̄s (?) Radulphus lewyn q^ondā capellan⁹ cant'ie scī andree | de bardenay qui obiit | iiº kƚ decēᵬ an̄o dn̄i Mº —— lvij cui⁹ aīe ᵱpiciet' | ds̄ amen. [page 407]

22. Thomas de —— Aug. or Sept. 1-24. J.T.F.

+ Hic —— | dn̄s Thomas de —— vicarius de — qui — Septembris — dn̄i Miƚƚmo — xxiiij cuius aīe — ds̄ Amen.

Not Dated.

23. Robert Aydayn. Laing.

Hic Jacet fr̃ robt⁹ | aydayn cui⁹ aīe | ᵱpiet' dē amē.

Inscribed across the stone in three lines.

24. Roger de Barwe.^[4] Laing.

—— O —— | —— ROGERE DE BARWE | QVONDAM AB — | — US MONAST ——.

25. Roger and Elizabeth Baynthorpe. Laing.

+ Hic Jacēt Rogerus + | Baynthorpe et Elizabeth uxor ei⁹ consortes^[5] hui⁹ + capƚi quor' aīe per miscđiam dei in pace requiescant amen.

In the middle of the stone a heart bleeding from five wounds.

26. John de Bokton. Laing.

Hic jacet johēs de | bokton̄ de barton cui⁹ | aīe ᵱpicietur d'ns amen.

An incised cross 5 ft. 7 in. long reaching from the foot of the stone, and above this the inscription in three lines.

27. —— de Burgh. J.T.F.

Hic jacet —— de burgh | cui⁹ aīe ᵱpiciet' ds̄ amen.

In two lines on a label.

28. Emma Draper. Laing.

hic jacet Emma quondam vxor | Wiƚƚmi Draper cui⁹ aīe ᵱpiciet' ds̄ am(en).

A long cross ; inscription in two lines at the top.

29. William Etton. Laing.

Hic jacet Wiƚƚm⁹ Etton | cui⁹ | aīe ᵱpicietur deus amen.

30. Robert Fosse. Photographed.

Hic jacet frater Robertus | fosse cui⁹ | aīe ᵱpiciet' deus amen.

On a label as in No. 13. [page 408]

31. Richard of Goldesburgh.^[6] Photographed.

Hic iacet | dominus ricardus de goldesburgh | miles | cuius anime propicietur deus amen |

Remains of a floreated cross with a lion (?) at the foot.

32. Richard Grene. Laing.

Hic jacʒ Ric⁹ Grene.

At the top (upside down) MATHEVS. The stone seems to have been used a second time. It bears an elaborate cross, full-length.

33. John Jolyf. Laing.

Hic Jacet Joħe(s) Jolyf | cui⁹ aīe | ᵱpīet' omp̄s dn̄s amen.

34. John and Joan Jolyf. J.T.F.

+ Hic ħet terra simul + ᵱit'qʒ Joħa vocantur.

+ uxor [ipsa maritus et ?] Jolyf + John tumulantur.

On a label disposed lozenge-wise, with ihs at the top, and miserere nobis on another label across the bottom. The inscription is much injured, but the above reading is mostly, if not wholly right, so far as it goes. The words in brackets are supplied conjecturally.

35. Agnes Kyghtlay. Laing.

Hic jacet agnes qn̄dā vx' | rob'ti kyghtlay cui⁹ aīe ᵱpīet' ds̄. Amen.

36. John de Lincoln. Laing.

FR IOHES DE LINCOLN.

37. Robert Lincoln. Photographed.

Ciues inter celor' fratri m^ı rober + To ds̄ | vt ᵱce lincoln discūᵬe con'.

A good-sized cross patonce is deeply cut below the middle of the stone, and below that a tasseled card formed into a link enclosing the letter R, and entwining OLN, for R. Lincoln. The inscription is on a scroll.

As there was at first some difficulty in making out the meaning of the inscription, which was by no means obvious, [page 409] the following reading and rendering have been suggested :—

Cines inter celorum fratri mihi Rober

+ to deus vt parce Lincoln discumbere coner.

“ O God, spare me brother Robert Lincoln, that I may endeavour to be a guest among the citizens of heaven.”

38. Robert Marton. Laing.

Hic jacet Robertus marton | cui⁹ aīe | ᵱpiciet' deus amen.

The inscription is on a scroll.

39. William Radclyffe. Laing.

Hic Jacet fr' | Wiƚƚm⁹ Radclyffe | cui⁹ aīe | ᵱpiet' deus amē.

A little saltire at each corner.

40. John Salow ? Laing.

Hic jacet frat' Johēs Salow — A^o dn̄i.

41. Robert and William [sons] of John [Tailboys ?] Laing.

hic jacent Robertus et Wiƚƚmus —— Johannis Tailboys | —— —— | —— —— quorum animabus ᵱropicet' deus | Amen.

Two floreated crosses in the upper portion.

42. Robert Thornton. Laing.

… … cet frater | Robertus de thornton̄ quondam prior istius | monas …… —— . īe ᵱpiciet' | ——.

43. Robert W ——. Laing.

+ hic jacet Robertus | W —— de —— | cui⁹ aīe.

Three lines at the top ; a fourth has probably completed the inscription.

44. John and —— ? Laing.

Hic jacent Joh —— —— (O) rate pro —— ——.

45. William ——. Laing.

Hic jacet dn̄s Wiƚƚs —— —— —— ihu [mˁc] y.

46. —— —— ? Laing.

hic jacet —— | —— amen.

Two lines on a scroll.

47. Name unknown. Laing.

hic jacet —— | —— obi —— lin . . ln | —— mēsis | —— anno dn̄i mº C —— cui⁹ aīe ᵱpiciet' deus. Amen. [page 410]

48. A large stone once containing an elaborate brass, portions of which were found. Nothing decipherable. Laing.

49. Only a portion of a floreated cross, and the end of a line round an inscription at the base, now to be seen. Laing.

50. No inscription. Laing.

51. A plain stone. Laing.

Mr. Laing has left notes of about a dozen uninscribed or fragmentary stones besides the above, one with a chalice, one with “ Saxon markings,” and five with incised crosses.

Also of fourteen Nuremberg tokens or counters, and of six coins, two mediæval, and the rest of Edward VI., Elizabeth, George II., and George III., found in the excavations.

As Mr. Laing was more interested in the substance of the inscriptions than in their exact form, he does not seem to have always observed such minute points as the use of “ i ” or “ j,” “ u ” or “ v ” ; or to have noticed or distinguished all the contraction marks. Some of the latter have here been supplied.

Dr. Stukeley, the antiquary, in his Diary, v. xiii., 71, has made the following entry relating to Bardney Abbey under date,—“ July 9, 1753, Mr. Rob. Banks gave me the following inscriptions on tombstones now under turf at Bardney Abbey :—The Abbey is entirely demolished, and was so when I saw it many years agoe. 'Tis now a pasture, but the rubbish of the sacred structure has covered the pavement of the church, which they are now digging up for the sake of the stones. The corpses were intire, the sceletons I mean, and the very beards lying upon the breast-bones.” The three inscriptions which he gives are—1. John de Tathwell, as No. 4 above ; 2. Richard de Goldesburgh, as No. 31 above ; and a third, which has now disappeared,—“ Johēs Kesteven natus . . sic dotatus | fato prostratus jacet hic annis 58, anno Dom. 1429.”—Surtees' Soc., 76, p. 297, 8.

1. ↑ The placia minutorum rebuilt by prior Walter de Langton, was the temporary residence of the Minuti, that is of the monks and novices who had undergone their periodical bleeding. There can be no doubt that the site of this place was within the moat of which the north-east and south sides remain, at the baek of the farm house, now known as the Poplars, Southrey, 3½ miles from the Abbey. Here enough stone has been unearthed to prove the existence of some ancient building, and in old documents the site is called Seney or Senex place (from the French Seignee, bleeding).—Note by Mr. Laing. See also “ Lincoln Record Society,” vol. vii., Glossary under Minutio, and the New Engl. Dictionary under Seyny.
2. ↑ Hugh de Branston was confirmed as Abbot in succession to Thomas de Stapulton, on 1 Oct., 1379. He resigned 26 April, 1385. (Pat. 3 Ric. ii. p. 391, 8 Ric. ii. p. 557.)
3. ↑ The church of Partney was part of the original endowment granted by Gllbert de Gant to the abbey ; and Thomas Clark was presented by the abbot and convent to the rectory, 24 March, 1494.
4. ↑ Roger de Barowe was Abbot from 1342 till his death in 1355, Thomas de Stapulton being confirmed as his successor, 20 Sept, 1355.
5. ↑ Consortes.—Admitted to confraternity with the monastery, and so entitled to burial in the abbey church.
6. ↑ The Goldesburgh family were for several generations during the 14th and 15th centuries lords of the Manor of Potterhanworth, and made frequent grants to the abbot and convent of Bardney of rights in Potterhanworth fen. By Inquis, 10 Ric. ii., it was found that Sir Richard de Goldesburgh, knt., died seized of the manor of Potterhanworth in 1387. He may well have been the person commemorated by this slab. Or it may have been his son and heir, another Sir Richard de Goldesburgh, then aged 22, who was in attendance on Henry IV., when that king visited Bardney Abbey in 1406. (Leland's Collectanea, vol. i., p. 300.) The will of this, or perhaps a third, Sir Richard de Goldesburgh was proved, 17 Feb., 1438–9. (Harl. MS. 6978, p. 34.)