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106-563: The Abbey of Saint Mary de Pratis , more commonly known as Leicester Abbey , was an Augustinian religious house in the city of Leicester , in the East Midlands of England. The abbey was founded in the 12th century by the Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester , and grew to become the wealthiest religious establishment within Leicestershire . Through patronage and donations the abbey gained

212-529: A Cardinal . Repyngdon's successor, Richard of Rothely, was granted a Royal Licence permitting him to ask the Pope for to remove the abbey from the Bishop of Lincoln's jurisdiction, as the abbot feared Repyngdon would interfere with his former abbey, which lay within that Diocese. It is unclear if the Pope ever agreed to this petition, as Repyngdon also petitioned the Pope; receiving a declaration confirming that Leicester Abbey

318-561: A Commissary General , each of the two congregations by a Vicar General , and every monastery by a Prior (only the Czech monastery of Alt-Brunn in Moravia is under an abbot ) and every college by a Rector . The members of the Order number both priests and lay brothers . The Augustinians, like most religious orders, have a Cardinal Protector . The Augustinians follow the rule of St. Augustine which

424-472: A monastic community life. Regarding the use of property or possessions, Augustine did not make a virtue of poverty, but of sharing. Their manner of life led others to imitate them. Instructions for their guidance were found in several writings of Augustine, especially in De opere monachorum , mentioned in ancient codices of the eighth or ninth century as the " Rule of St. Augustine ". Between 430 and 570 this life-style

530-456: A 21-year lease, to Dr. Francis Cave, one of the commissioners who had negotiated the surrender of the abbey. During this period the abbey was rapidly demolished with the stone sold to meet the high demand within the town of Leicester. War with France and Scotland led Henry VIII to sell of some of the religious establishments and land to raise finances quickly. Later, they were granted or bestowed to leading families who were friends or supporters of

636-634: A General Chapter, again to be held under the supervision of his nephew, Cardinal Annibaldi. During this chapter the following groups of hermits, inter alia , were amalgamated to the Order, which up to then had only consisted of the groups of the Tuscan hermits (including the Hermits of the Holy Trinity): At this Chapter Lanfranc Settala, the leader of the Bonites, was elected Prior General. The belted, black tunic of

742-427: A clerical adaptation of monastic life, as it grew out of an attempt to organize communities of clerics to a more dedicated way of life, as St. Augustine himself had done. Historically it paralleled the lay movement of monasticism or the eremitical life from which the friars were later to develop. In their tradition, the canons added the commitment of religious vows to their primary vocation of pastoral care. As

848-644: A college of secular canons in Leicester , known as The College of St Mary de Castro . The new abbey assumed control of the college and its possessions, which included all of the churches in Leicester. Robert added to this with the gift of numerous churches in Leicestershire, Berkshire and Northamptonshire. The abbey also gained the manor of Asfordby from its merger with the college, and the manor of Knighton from its founder. The earls of Leicester continued to patronise

954-400: A contemplative Order, differs from traditional monastic orders in three ways. 1) They do not take vows of stability, meaning that they can live in one house (called a friary or sometimes a monastery) typically for several years before being moved into a different community of the order. 2) They are engaged in apostolic activity, such as mission work, education, prison ministries, etc. The order

1060-453: A dozen saints and numerous members declared blessed by the Church. The Prior General Sebastiano Martinelli was the latest member of the order to be elevated to the cardinalate from 1901 to 1912. Ecclesiastical privileges were granted to the order almost from its beginning. Alexander IV freed the order from the jurisdiction of the bishops; Innocent VIII, in 1490, granted to the churches of

1166-425: A further undercroft; a warming house, containing a large fire for the residents to warm themselves by; and to the first floor the refectory, where the brethren ate. To the south of the cloisters lay another three ranges of buildings which were formed around cobbled courtyard. The western range of this courtyard contained the abbey's kitchens. South-east of this courtyard was a large, separate, rectangular building with

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1272-447: A major superior and to adopt one of the Rules of community life that were approved by the Church. In 1243 the Tuscan hermits petitioned Pope Innocent IV to unite them all as one group. On 16 December 1243 Innocent IV issued the bull Incumbit Nobis , an essentially pastoral letter which, despite its brevity, basically served as the magna carta initiating the foundation of the Order as it

1378-458: A misnomer for they ranked among the friars, and became the fourth of the mendicant orders. The observance and manner of life was mild relative to those times, meat being allowed four days in the week. In August 1256, a number of Williamite houses withdrew from the newly formed mendicant order and were allowed to continue as a separate congregation under the Benedictine rule. The early years in

1484-735: A rule). Augustine's Rule appears again in practice in the eleventh century as a basis for the reform of monasteries and cathedral chapters. Several groups of canons were established under various disciplines, all with the Augustinian Rule as their basis. It was adopted by the Canons Regular of the Abbey of St. Victor in Paris, as well as the Norbertines . The instructions contained in Augustine's Rule formed

1590-405: A small projection facing north: this building is believed to have been the "guest hall", with the projection explained as an oriel window . The abbey sat within a large walled precinct. The original precinct walls were constructed of sandstone in the 13th century, and featured both projecting corner towers, and smaller interval towers along its length. Much of this original wall was demolished when

1696-403: A total of £1,000 to debtors. John Bourchier, who would be the last abbot of the house, took control in 1534 and by 1538 had reduced the debt to £411. Abbots were usually elected from among the canons of the abbey: Bourchier represented a departure from tradition. Bourchier most probably gained the position of abbot on the instigation of the influential Robert Fuller, Abbot of Waltham Abbey , and on

1802-564: A year was being taken in tax, and asking that the tax be paid by the abbey. It was during Abbot Pescall's tenure, in 1530, that Cardinal Thomas Wolsey visited the abbey. Wolsey was an influential minister in the government of King Henry VIII . He fell from favour after failing to secure papal permission for Henry to divorce his wife Katherine of Aragon , and on 4 November 1530 was arrested for treason. While en route from Yorkshire to London, where Wolsey would be held prisoner, he fell ill. The journey took Wolsey through Leicester, and he arrived at

1908-466: Is certain that in its modern state the Order is principally founded on spiritual works, those that pertain to the contemplative life. These are as follows: the singing of the divine office; the service of the altar; prayer; psalm singing; devotion to reading or study of sacred scripture; teaching and preaching the word of God; hearing confessions of the faithful; bringing about the salvation of souls by word and example.". The Order expanded beyond Europe to

2014-476: Is divided into 8 chapters (purpose and basis of common life, prayer, moderation and self-denial, safeguarding chastity and fraternal correction, the care of community goods and treatment of sick, asking for pardon and forgiving others, governance and obedience, and observance of the rule). The Augustinians also use the charism or "gift from the Holy Spirit" to guide the communal life. The choir and outdoor dress of

2120-449: Is known today. This papal bull exhorted these hermits to adopt the Rule and way of life of Augustine of Hippo , to profess this Augustinian manner of life in a way that they themselves would decide with regards to their specific charism and apostolate , and to elect a Prior General. The bull also appointed Cardinal Riccardo Annibaldi as their Cardinal protector . The importance of this man in

2226-405: Is notable for his Chronicle , which was written during his time at the abbey in the 14th century. In 1530 Cardinal Thomas Wolsey died at the abbey, whilst travelling south to face trial for treason. A few years later, in 1538, the abbey was dissolved , and was quickly demolished, with the building materials reused in various structures across Leicester, including a mansion which was built on

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2332-451: Is under the supervision of a Prior General in Rome, and as an international order they are divided into various Provinces throughout the world, with each Province being led by a Prior Provincial. (3) As an order, they have a special commitment to corporate poverty as opposed to simply the poverty professed by the individual friar. While this is not currently legislated as it was in the origins of

2438-399: The 8th Earl of Dysart . In 1882 it was opened by The Prince of Wales and became known as Abbey Park . The remaining 32 acres (13 ha), which included the abbey's site and the ruins of Cavendish House, were donated to the council by the 9th Earl of Dysart in 1925 and, following archaeological excavations, opened to the public in the 1930s. Following its demolition, the exact location of

2544-636: The Acts of the Apostles , particularly Acts 4:32: "The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common." (NAB). By decree of the Holy See, the Augustinian Order was historically granted what was known as exempt status, which placed made it directly dependent on the Pope, meaning that bishops had no jurisdiction with regards to

2650-602: The Augustinerkirche in Vienna, where orchestral masses by Mozart and Schubert are performed every week, as well as the boys' choir at Sankt Florian in Austria, a school conducted by Augustinian canons, a choir now over 1,000 years old. Augustinians have also produced a formidable body of scholarly works. Augustinian friars believe that Augustine of Hippo , first with some friends and afterward as bishop with his clergy , led

2756-574: The Augustinian Rule , and the lives and experiences of Augustinians over sixteen centuries help define the ethos and special charism of the order. The pursuit of truth through learning is key to the Augustinian ethos, balanced by the injunction to behave with love towards one another. These same imperatives of affection and fairness have driven the order in its international missionary outreach. This balanced pursuit of love and learning has energised

2862-567: The Royalists left and marched south towards Oxford, meeting parliamentary forces at the Battle of Naseby . Cavendish House was never repaired. The Cavendish family sold the abbey in 1733, at which point, with Cavendish House in ruins, the precinct was being used as agricultural land. By the 19th century the abbey had come into the possession of the Earls of Dysart . Lionel Tollemache, 8th Earl of Dysart , sold

2968-708: The advowsons of countless churches throughout England, and acquired a considerable amount of land, and several manorial lordships . Leicester Abbey also maintained a cell (a small dependent daughter house) at Cockerham Priory , in Lancashire . The Abbey's prosperity was boosted through the passage of special privileges by both the English Kings and the Pope . These included an exemption from sending representatives to parliament and from paying tithe on certain land and livestock. Despite its privileges and sizeable landed estates, from

3074-401: The 11th and 12th centuries. This wave was responsible for the foundation of the majority of England's monasteries, and very few were founded after the 13th century. These monasteries were often founded by a wealthy aristocratic benefactor who endowed and patronised the establishments in return for prayers for their soul, and often, the right to be buried within the monastic church. Leicester Abbey

3180-411: The 25 canons attended) and roamed freely outside the abbey: visiting the town's alehouses and frequently going hunting. Two canons were also accused of "incontinence". This visit revealed the abbey was severely in debt, leading the Bishop to appoint two administrators to oversee the abbey's finances. The Chancellor of Lincoln Diocese visited the abbey in 1528 and found things had not improved. The abbot

3286-460: The Abbot by constantly interfering with affairs at the abbey. Abbot Pescall finally resigned 5 years later (10 years after his "failures" were first noticed) and was granted a pension of £100 a year. Pescall's retirement was far from quiet, however. Pescall frequently wrote to Thomas Cromwell complaining about affairs at the abbey, even bemoaning the fact that £13 of his undeservedly generous pension of £100

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3392-456: The Abbotship of William Clowne (tenure: 1345–1378) the abbey prospered, increasing their lands and endowments with acquisitions such as the manors of Ingarsby and Kirkby Mallory . Clowne is described as having "friendly relations" with King Edward III , and used this to gain further privileges for the abbey, including being exempted from having to send representatives to Parliament. However, by

3498-482: The Bishop complained the boys in the almonry were being improperly educated. A follow-up visit, in 1521, by Bishop Atwater's successor, John Longland , showed that things had not improved. Abbot Pescall rarely attended church services and, when he did, he would often bring his jester who "disturbed the services with his buffoonery". The Abbot's bad example had affected the canon's behaviour, who ate and drank at improper times, failed to attend services (an average of 11 of

3604-452: The Diocese of Lincoln lists him as "not known whether he lives or not". This continued until 1570, when his disobedience was noticed and he was deprived of the rectory. In June 1571 Bourchier sold the rights to his £200 a year pension to Sir Thomas Smyth for the sum of £900, and quietly fled abroad, probably to France or Flanders. A wealthy, but very old man, wanted by the state as a "fugitive over

3710-829: The Dominicans (i.e. without long scapular, rosary, etc.). "The foundation of Augustinian life is life in common," with a contemplative dimension. Abbey of Brno Delegations of Central America (Costa Rica) Province of England and Scotland Vicariate of Antilles (Puerto Rico) Vicariate of Apurimac (Peru) Vicariate of Argentina Province of Belgium Province of Bolivia Delegation of Brazil (Castille) Vicariate of Brazil (Holy Name) Vicariate of Brazil (Mother of Consolation) Province of Cebu (Philippines) Province of California Province of Canada Province of Castille (Spain) Province of Chicago Province of Chile Vicariate of Chulucanas (Peru) Saint Augustine of Hippo Too Many Requests If you report this error to

3816-694: The Dowager Countess, Christiana Cavendish, instructed her gardener to search for the body of Cardinal Wolsey and relics from the abbey; although little was found. With no above ground remains, the exact location of the abbey had been lost, and so in the 1840s, the editor of the Leicester Chronicle , James Thompson, tried, and failed, to attempt to locate the abbey church. In the 1850s the Leicester Architectural and Archaeological Society would also carry out excavations, but also failed to locate

3922-476: The King. These former religious establishments were frequently developed into country homes by their new aristocratic owners. Notable examples of this include Calke Abbey , Longleat House , Syon House , Welbeck Abbey . and Woburn Abbey . Leicester Abbey followed a similar format: Dr. Cave's tenancy was cut short in 1551, when King Edward VI granted the abbey to William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton , brother of

4028-777: The Order follows the Constitutions approved in the Ordinary General Chapter of 2007. The government of the order is as follows: At the head is the Prior General, elected every six years by the General Chapter . The Prior General is aided by six assistants and a secretary, also elected by the General Chapter. These form the Curia Generalitia . Each province is governed by a Prior Provincial , each commissariat by

4134-469: The Order forever by a Bull issued in 1497. The holder of the office was Rector of the Vatican parish (of which the chapel of St. Paul is the parish church). To his office also belonged the duty of preserving in his oratory a consecrated Host , which had to be renewed weekly and kept in readiness in case of the pope's illness, when it was the privilege of the papal sacristan to administer the last sacraments to

4240-509: The School of Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Leicester . The archaeological excavations undertaken have allowed historians to calculate the layout and plan of the abbey: which were then plotted out with low stone walls, during the 1920s and 1930s. The abbey church was built on an artificially raised piece of land and is thought to have been richly decorated. It featured a tower at

4346-458: The Tuscan hermits was adopted as the common religious habit , and the walking sticks carried by the Bonites in keeping with eremitical tradition—and to distinguish themselves from those hermits who went around begging—ceased to be used. The 12-year-old religious Order of friars now consisted of 100 or more houses. On 9 April 1256 Pope Alexander IV issued the bull Licet Ecclesiae catholicae (Bullarium Taurinense, 3rd ed., 635 sq.) which confirmed

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4452-399: The abbey on 26 November, declaring: "Father abbott, I ame come hether to leave my bones among you". Wolsey died on 30 November and the public were allowed to view his remains before he was interred within the abbey's church. By the time Pescall was removed, the abbey's financial position was poor: Despite being the richest monastery in Leicestershire (with an income of £951 in 1534), it owed

4558-408: The abbey precinct, which included the abbey's site and Cavendish House, were donated by William Tollemache, 9th Earl of Dysart, to Leicester Council in 1925. Part of Cavendish House had to be demolished as it was found to be unsafe, however, nearly six-and-a-half years later the area was opened to the public as part of Abbey Park . The first excavations of the abbey took place in the 17th century, when

4664-586: The abbey was dissolved: the largest in the Diocese of Lincoln. Payments did not continue for very long, however, as in 1552, in the reign of Henry VIII's son King Edward VI , the national finance's were so poor that all pensions over £10 were suspended, with Bourchier recorded as having not received payments for over six months. Following the Dissolution, during a period in which religion was rapidly changing in England, Bourchier managed to adapt his beliefs to stay within

4770-458: The abbey was lost; it was only rediscovered during excavations in the 1920s/30s, when the layout was plotted using low stone walls. The abbey has been extensively excavated and was previously used for training archaeology students at the University of Leicester . Leicester Abbey is now protected as a scheduled monument and is Grade I Listed . Leicester Abbey was founded during a wave of monastic enthusiasm that swept through western Christendom in

4876-459: The abbey's canons. Abbot Bourchier sought to gain Thomas Cromwell's favour to protect his canons and abbey; in 1536 sending him £100 and gifts of sheep and oxen. This was ultimately fruitless: Cromwell had convinced King Henry of the immoral behaviour within England's monasteries and thus between 1536 and 1541 they were all suppressed and dissolved : their land, property and wealth transferred to

4982-459: The abbey's monastic buildings had recently been extensively rebuilt and the abbey had a substantial annual income of £1180. Perhaps because of the large income the Abbot was sustaining, Bishop Alnwick appears to have not taken strong measures against the Abbot's indiscretions. He ordered that the number of canons should be increased to 30 and the number of boys in the almonry increased to 16. The Bishop also ordered proper accounts to be kept and forbade

5088-455: The abbey. Prior to the 9th Earl of Dysart 's donation of the abbey precinct, another attempt was undertaken, but again, no trace of the abbey was found. In the interim period between the donation of the land in 1925 and opening of the abbey park, the abbey was the subject of numerous archaeological excavations, which continued into the following decade. By 1930 the abbey church, and many of its associated buildings had been finally located, and it

5194-407: The abbey: Petronilla de Grandmesnil , wife of the founder's son, Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester , financed the construction of the abbey's Great Choir; whilst her husband donated 24 virgates (720 acres) of land at Anstey . In 1148, Pope Eugene III granted the abbey an exemption on paying tithe for their newly acquired land and livestock. This was granted on the condition that there

5300-508: The abbot from granting favours without the permission of both the Bishop and the Canons. In 1518 William Atwater, Bishop of Lincoln , visited to inspect the abbey. The Abbot, Richard Pescall, was, like Sadyngton, accused of financial impropriety, but also was thought to be too old to perform his duties. Pescall's extravagances included an "excessive number of hounds", which were known to roam freely "fouling church, chapter house and cloister"; whilst

5406-409: The almonry in return for money, of "pocketing various minor revenues", of "keeping the offices of treasurer and cellarer in his own hands" and of not disclosing the abbey's accounts to his canons. Sadyngton was also known to keep servants and was even accused of practising magic, including divination . Despite Abbot Sadyngton's apparent financial corruption, the abbey appeared to be financially stable:

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5512-466: The basis of the Rule that, in accordance with the decree of the Lateran Synod of 1059, was adopted by canons who desired to practice a common apostolic life, hence the title of Canons Regular of Saint Augustine . The Canons Regular follow the more ancient form of religious life which developed toward the end of the first millennium and thus predates the founding of the friars. They represent

5618-584: The canons became independent of the diocesan structures, they came to form their own monastic communities. The official name of the Order is the Canons Regular of St. Augustine (CRSA). The 2008 Constitutions of the Order of St. Augustine states that the Order of Saint Augustine is composed of the following: In addition to these three branches, the Augustinian family also includes other groups: a) religious institutes , both male and female, formally aggregated to

5724-476: The chapter house, dormitory and kitchens was not clear. In 2002 the University of Leicester Archaeological Services decided to excavate the presumed location of the abbey's kitchens, to clarify the layout of that area of the abbey. These first excavations located both the north and south walls and a 15th–16th-century brick oven, confirming that it was indeed the kitchens. The area excavated was enlarged in 2003, with

5830-545: The church (i.e. the future Dissolution of the Monasteries , of which Cromwell was the architect). In 1527 King Henry VIII asked Pope Clement VII to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon , but the pope refused. This started a series of events known as English Reformation in which Henry broke away from the authority of the pope. In lieu of the pope, Henry assumed authority over the church: all priests and religious figures, including monks, were required to swear support to

5936-471: The drain. This excavation confirmed the kitchen was a square building measuring 11.88 metres (39.0 ft) square, with walls of between 1.32 metres (4 ft 4 in) and 1.74 metres (5 ft 9 in) thick. The ovens found in the corners of the room suggest the room was an octagonal shape internally: similar to the kitchens found at Glastonbury Abbey . From 2000 until 2008, the abbey ruins were used for training excavations for archaeology students at

6042-645: The eastern Mediterranean, briefly acquiring a convent in Acre just prior to its conquest in 1291. In the middle of the fourteenth century, the Augustinian Friars acquired the large convent of San Salvatore in Venetian Heraklion (medieval Candia) where they attempted to use the cult of Nicholas of Tolentino to appeal to the local Greek-speaking population. The building stood on Kornaros Square until its demolition in 1970. The Augustinians count among their number over

6148-431: The enclosure was enlarged to the south around the turn of the 16th century. This work was thought to have been done under Abbot John Penny and what remains of the wall is now known as "Abbot Penny's Wall". This new wall was built using red brick, rather than stone, and is decorated by forty-four different patterns or symbols, which include heraldic devices, simple patterns, and religious symbols, all of which were built into

6254-499: The first floor, the abbey's best residential accommodation, probably including that used by the Abbot. The East range contained the abbey's chapterhouse ; a small room which is presumed to be either a library or a sacristry; a second larger undercroft, again used for storage; a corridor, known as the Slype , leading to the graveyard; and on the first floor were the canon's dormitory and reredorter (communal latrine). The south range contained

6360-564: The former Queen Catherine Parr . Much of the abbey stone was then used to create a new mansion on the site, for the Marquess. The Marquess only held the abbey for two years: after supporting Lady Jane Grey 's claim to the throne, in 1553, on the accession of Bloody Mary , he was arrested and his lands were confiscated. Mary granted the abbey and mansion to her catholic supporter Edward Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings of Loughborough , however he too fell from favour when Mary's sister Elizabeth I came to

6466-688: The foundation of the Order cannot be overstated. As decreed by the bull Praesentium Vobis , the Tuscan hermits came together for a general chapter in March 1244, a chapter presided over by Cardinal Annibaldi. At this chapter the Order formally adopted the Rule of St. Augustine and determined to follow the Roman office with the Cistercian psalter , and to hold triennial elections of the Prior General. The first Prior General

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6572-484: The friars is a tunic of black woolen material, with long, wide sleeves, a black leather girdle , and a large shoulder cape to which is attached a long, pointed hood reaching to the girdle. The indoor dress consists of a black tunic and scapular , over which the shoulder cape is worn. In many monasteries, white was formerly the color worn in areas where there were no Dominicans . In hot climates Augustinians tend to wear white habits as they are easily distinguishable with

6678-449: The hierarchy in the church: twice becoming a candidate for a bishopric, before servings as rector of Church Langton, from 1554. This benefice may have represented his true religious sympathies as the rectory was under the patronage of "zealous Catholic" Edward Griffin of Dingley Hall ; although it also had financial incentive with a "wage" (income) of £60 a year: the highest in Leicestershire. Henry VIII had personally considered Bourchier for

6784-518: The integration of the Hermits of John the Good (Rule of St. Augustine, 1225), the Hermits of St. William (Rule of St. Benedict), the Hermits of Brettino (Rule of St. Augustine, 1228), the Hermits of Monte Favale (Rule of St. Benedict), other smaller congregations, and the Tuscan Hermits into what was officially called the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine. Almost from the beginning the term "hermits" became

6890-414: The internal affairs of the order. This is now expressed by saying that the order is an institute of pontifical right. The Augustinian friars originated after the older Canons Regular . The friars represented part of the mendicant movement of the 13th century, a new form of religious life which sought to bring the religious ideals of monastic life into an urban setting which allowed the religious to serve

6996-399: The king. The abbot's attempts at bribery could not save Leicester Abbey, and it was finally surrendered to the crown for dissolution in 1538. After Dissolution in 1538, the abbey buildings were demolished within a few years; although the main gatehouse, boundary walls and farm buildings were left standing. The last abbot, John Bourchier, was granted the substantial pension of £200 a year, when

7102-567: The land east of the River Soar (known as Abbey Meadows) in 1876; this was to allow Leicester Town Council to undertake flood prevention work. The part of this land between the river and the Grand Union Canal was developed by the Town Council into a public space known as Abbey Park , which was opened by King Edward VII (then Prince of Wales) in 1882. The remaining 32 acres (13 ha) of

7208-543: The late 14th century the abbey began to suffer financially and was forced to lease out its estates. The worsening financial situation was exacerbated throughout the 15th century and early 16th century by a series of incompetent, corrupt and extravagant abbots . By 1535 the abbey's considerable income was exceeded by even more considerable debts. The abbey provided a home to an average of 30 to 40 canons , sometimes known as Black Canons, because of their dress (a white habit and black cloak). One of these canons, Henry Knighton ,

7314-414: The late 14th century, the abbey had entered a difficult period, and its income began to fall. It was during this period that the abbey was home to canon Henry of Knighton , who wrote Knighton's Chronicon . The chronicle includes both Knighton's contemporary experiences, between 1377 and 1395, and a historical section recording events between 1066 and 1366. Knighton chronicles the impact of John Wycliffe ,

7420-465: The mansion that had been built on the site thus became known as Cavendish House. The 1st Earl intended the abbey to be his main residence and so started to massively extend the mansion, with a new range added to the south and a large wing to the north. The family was massively wealthy with several other estates and stately homes; following the death of the 1st Earl, the family decided to use Chatsworth House as their principle residence: Cavendish House thus

7526-468: The monasteries inspected, with the establishment's wealth and endowments recorded, along with frequent reports of impropriety, vice and excess. These reports were compiled into volumes known as the Valor Ecclesiasticus . Leicester abbey was inspected by Richard Layton , in 1535, who complimented Abbot Bourchier as an honest man, but who tried to bring charges of "adultery and unnatural vice" against

7632-480: The needs of the people in an apostolic capacity. At this time a number of eremitical groups lived in such diverse places as Tuscany , Latium , Umbria , Liguria , England, Switzerland, Germany, and France. The Fourth Council of the Lateran of 1215 issued the decree Ne nimium to organise these small groups of religious people by requiring them to live in community, to hold elective chapters, to be under obedience to

7738-652: The order by a decree of the Prior General (this would include the Augustinians of the Assumption , the Sisters of St. Rita , etc.); b) other groups of lay Augustinians; c) lay faithful affiliated to the Order. The Augustinian, or Austin, friars (OSA), are a mendicant order. As consecrated religious, they pray the Liturgy of the Hours throughout the day. This Latin Church order, while

7844-617: The order indulgences such as can only be gained by making the Stations at Rome; Pope Pius V placed the Augustinians among the mendicant orders and ranked them next to the Carmelites . Since the end of the 13th century the sacristan of the Papal Palace was always to be an Augustinian friar, who would be ordained as a bishop . This privilege was ratified by Pope Alexander VI and granted to

7950-457: The order's history featured a great devotion to learning, to study, to prayer, to service of the poor, and to defense of the Pope and the Church – a particular charism of the Order rooted in the fact that it is the only Order in the history of the Church to be founded directly by a Pope. In his work The Life of the Brothers , the 14th-century Augustinian historian and friar Jordan of Saxony writes:"It

8056-470: The order, this is to be a distinguishing mark of their lives as a community. As consecrated religious, Augustinians profess the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience. They follow the Rule of St. Augustine, written sometime between 397 and 403 for a monastic community Augustine founded in Hippo (in modern day Algeria), and which takes as its inspiration the early Christian community described in

8162-510: The outside world, and lived an isolated, contemplative life. Leicester Abbey was founded in 1143 by Robert le Bossu, 2nd Earl of Leicester , and was dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary . It was not the first abbey Robert had established, having founded Garendon Abbey , also in Leicestershire, in 1133. Robert's father, Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester , had previously founded

8268-548: The parish had a population of 76. The parish was formed in 1858, on 26 March 1896 the parish was abolished and merged with Leicester. Augustinians There are also some Anglican religious orders created in the 19th century that follow Augustine's rule. These are composed only of women in several different communities of Augustinian nuns . In a religious community, "charism" is the particular contribution that each religious order, congregation or family and its individual members embody. The teaching and writing of Augustine,

8374-480: The pope. The sacristan had always to accompany the pope when he traveled, and during a conclave it was he who celebrated Mass and administered the sacraments . He lived at the Vatican with a sub-sacristan and three lay brothers of the order (cf. Rocca, "Chronhistoria de Apostolico Sacrario", Rome, 1605). Augustinian friars, as of 2009, still perform the duties of papal sacristans, but the appointment of an Augustinian bishop-sacristan lapsed under Pope John Paul II with

8480-488: The position of Bishop of the King's proposed new bishopric of Shrewsbury but the king then decided against the bishopric's creation. In 1554 Bourchier was in touching distance of becoming a Bishop when he was suggested by Edward Griffin as a candidate for the Bishopric of Gloucester. Bourchier was even granted the income of the Bishopric in preparation for being formally appointed by Queen Mary . Mary, however, died, and Bourchier

8586-427: The prices of food, grain, wine and cattle, and on changes in wages and the labour market. The chronicle also includes detailed death tolls for all of Leicester's parishes, revealing that one-third of the population of Leicester were killed by the disease. Following the deaths of canons within the abbey, Knighton theorises that it was punishment because of "the ordination of candidates ill-prepared and but little suited for

8692-568: The promise of a bribe for Henry VIII's chief adviser, Thomas Cromwell. Exact details are unknown, but letters seem to suggest Cromwell was promised his nephew Richard Williams (Cromwell) would be given £100 and the lease of the abbey's grange at Ingarsby ; the promise was only honoured in April 1536, as Bourchier faced opposition from the canons of the abbey. Historians have suggested that in choices such as Bourchier, Cromwell may have been selecting abbots he felt would be more "pliable" his future changes to

8798-716: The retirement of Petrus Canisius Van Lierde in 1991. In papal Rome the Augustinian friars always filled one of the Chairs of the Sapienza University , and one of the consultorships in the Congregation of Rites . The Discalced Augustinians were formed in 1588 in Italy as a reform movement of the Order and have their own constitutions, differing from those of the other Augustinians. The Augustinian Recollects developed in Spain in 1592 with

8904-619: The rise of the Lollards , and gives an unusually favourable account of John of Gaunt . Knighton's chronicle is valued by historians for his contemporary account of the Black Death in Leicester , which has been compared with Giovanni Boccaccio 's Decameron , which chronicles the plague in Florence . His in depth account records the effects of the Black Death on Leicester. This includes the impact on

9010-430: The royal supremacy over the church. Abbot Bourchier and the 25 canons at Leicester Abbey acknowledged the king's royal supremacy on 11 August 1534, thereby saving the abbey from immediate dissolution. Thomas Cromwell, Henry's Chief Minister, had long since had his eyes on the wealth of English monasteries; at the time they owned approximately a quarter of all the realm's landed wealth. Starting in 1534, Cromwell had each of

9116-512: The sacred ministry". The chronicle was not published until 1652. In the 15th century the abbey began to lease out its land (most probably as a solution to their falling income). By 1477 only the demesne lands in Leicester, Stoughton and Ingarsby remained un-leased, and were directly farmed by the abbey. Philip Repyngdon served as Abbot of Leicester Abbey from 1393 to 1405, when he resigned to become "Chaplain and Confessor" to King Henry IV , and subsequently served as Bishop of Lincoln and as

9222-475: The same goal. Currently, though, they are primarily found serving in pastoral care . The Augustinian Hermits, while following the rule known as that of St. Augustine, are also subject to the Constitutions, first drawn up by Augustinus Novellus (d. 1309), Prior General of the order from 1298 to 1300, and by Clement of Osimo. A revision was made at Rome in 1895. The Constitutions were revised again and published at Rome in 1895, with additions in 1901 and 1907. Today,

9328-411: The sea, contrary to statute", Bourchier lived quietly abroad for his remaining years. His date and place of death is unknown, but he is thought to have lived until at least 1577, when he would have been around 84 years old. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Henry VIII began to lease out his newly acquired land and property to extract an income from them. Leicester Abbey was granted in 1539, on

9434-480: The site. The house passed through several aristocratic families , and became known as Cavendish House after it was acquired by the 1st Earl of Devonshire , in 1613. The house was eventually looted and destroyed by fire in 1645, following the capture of Leicester during the English Civil War . Part of the former abbey precinct was donated to Leicester Town Council (the predecessor of the modern City Council) by

9540-418: The south-west corner of the building and a second oven uncovered: this corner had not been entirely robbed of stone, with two courses of sandstone remaining. The second oven was found to contain charcoal, fragments of wheat and barley, fish-bones and hazelnuts. A drain identified in the 1930s excavation was also located, and found to contain small bones, fish-scales, and the bones of rats who had formerly lived in

9646-441: The throne. The abbey was sold to Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon , in 1572, and then to his brother, Sir Edward Hastings, in 1590. It was Sir Edward who is through to have been the first of these owners to have actually lived at the abbey permanently: living in the gatehouse whilst the site was developed. Sir Edward's son Henry (who inherited the abbey in 1603) sold it to in 1613 to William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire ;

9752-418: The various branches of the order into building communities founded on mutual affection and intellectual advancement. Augustine spoke passionately of God's "beauty so ancient and so new", and his fascination with beauty extended to music. He taught that "whoever sings prays twice" ( Qui cantat, bis orat ) and music is also a key part of the Augustinian ethos. Contemporary Augustinian musical foundations include

9858-401: The wall using black bricks. The abbey precinct was entered through an outer gateway on the north wall of the precinct. This led to a "halt-way" which was around 60 metres (200 ft) long, and was flanked either side by stone walls; it was enclosed at the south end by the abbey's formal Gatehouse. The original gatehouse was a single storey construction of two lodges flanking the gate; but this

9964-444: The west end, under which was the main entrance to the church; two large transepts, which extended beyond the church's aisles; and large secondary side chapels, situated either beside the chancel , at the east-end of the church. The cloister lay to the south of the abbey church and was flanked by three ranges of building. The west range contained the "lavatorium", a room used for washing; a vaulted undercroft, used for storage; and, on

10070-418: Was "fully subject to him and his successors". Under the tenure of Abbot William Sadyngton (1420—42) the abbey's fortunes fell further. A visit by William Alnwick, Bishop of Lincoln , in 1440, revealed the number of canons had fallen from 30 to 40 to just 14 and that the number of boys in the almonry had fallen from 25 to 6. Sadyngton was accused of various unsavory practices: of accepting unsuitable boys into

10176-454: Was Friar Matthew, followed by Adjutus and Philip. In the papal bull Pia desideria , issued on 31 March 1244, Pope Innocent IV formally approved the foundation of the Order. In 1255 Innocent's successor, Pope Alexander IV , issued the papal bull Cum Quaedam Salubria summoning all the various groups of Augustinian hermits and the Hermits of Saint William to send two representatives to Rome for

10282-571: Was carried to Europe by monks and clergy fleeing the persecution of the Vandals. In the thirteenth century, the various eremitical groups that composed the Augustinian Hermits faced the threat of suppression by the papacy based on their lack of antiquity. To overcome this, the friars forged a historical connection to St Augustine, and made an especial point to demonstrate that they received the Rule directly from Augustine himself. The Augustinian rule

10388-403: Was decided (by the architect in charge of designing the new public park, William Bedingfield) that the site of the abbey should be laid out with low stone walls. As the abbey's stone was "robbed", all that remained of many of the buildings were trenches: the remains of the former foundations. These trenches were "not always recognised" by the first excavators, which meant the layout of areas such as

10494-458: Was founded in the Augustinian tradition. The monks at the abbey were known as canons , and followed the monastic rules set down by Saint Augustine of Hippo . Sometimes known as Black Canons, because of their dress (a white habit and black cloak), Augustinian Canons lived a clerical life engaged in public ministry; this is distinct to other forms of monasticism in which monks were cloistered from

10600-688: Was in use by a wide range of groups across early and high medieval Europe, and there is no historical evidence that the Augustinian Friars were in any way founded by St Augustine himself. Rather, the friars invented these links after the Order was threatened with suppression in 1274 at the Second Council of Lyons. While in early Medieval times the rule was overshadowed by other Rules, particularly that of St. Benedict , this system of life for cathedral clergy continued in various locations throughout Europe for centuries, and they became known as Canons regular (i.e. cathedral clergy living in community according to

10706-417: Was made up of two large buildings: one a chapel; the other a hall (with latrines to one end) serving as a ward. The abbey precinct also contained an almonry, where poor boys received a free education in a type of boarding school; a water mill; a dovecote; and a fishpond. Manors held by the abbey: Lands held by the abbey at: A list of abbots of the abbey: Leicester Abbey was a civil parish , in 1891

10812-510: Was never appointed. Mary was Catholic, where as her sister and successor, Queen Elizabeth was Protestant; Elizabeth therefore refused to appoint Mary's favoured candidates for the 5 vacant bishoprics Mary had left. Bourchier may have gotten off lightly as two other candidates were arrested. Bourchier felt unable to accept Queen Elizabeth's Acts of Settlement and Uniformity , so whilst still serving as rector of Church Langton , he decided to lie low: A list, drawn up around 1569, of pensioners of

10918-473: Was only used as a stopping point on the way to London. The house gained full-time residency again in 1638, however, when it was used as a Dower house by Christiana Cavendish (née Bruce), widow of the 2nd Earl of Devonshire . In 1645, during the English Civil War , the house was used by King Charles I and the Royalist forces after they had besieged and captured Leicester. The house was looted and burned when

11024-511: Was still not attending services and was eating at unusual times and in unusual places, away from the other canons. The Chancellor also complained about the Abbot's "excessive number" of servants. The 24 canons were also still frequently leaving the abbey without proper reason. Bishop Longland saw no alternative but to remove Abbot Pescall, but the task was not simple as Pescall tried to secure his position by sending gifts and bribes to Thomas Cromwell , leading Bishop Longland to resort to "harassing"

11130-450: Was subsequently enlarged. The new gatehouse measured 21 metres (69 ft) by 8.5 metres (28 ft): it had round turrets at each corner, thought to contain stairs, and had "a couple of storeys" built above the gate itself. The gatehouse was then flanked to the west by what is thought to be a small, second kitchen. On the eastern side of the precinct lay the abbey's infirmary: a hospital used to care for ill or elderly canons. The infirmary

11236-450: Was to be no impropriety or violence when electing an abbot, and that those who donated money to the abbey could be buried within it, regardless of whether they had been excommunicated. Though the abbey was a religious house, it was attacked in 1326 by the Earl of Lancaster 's soldiers, who seized property belonging to Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester , which was being kept there. Under

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