by Jill Blackwell Hughes, BA Thesis submitted to the University of ...

Longedon, clerk, and others.
809 (Fo. 53] 15 December 1315, Astbury.
Injunctions issued to the abbot and cony. of St
Werburgh, Chester, following bp. Langton's
visitation on 1 December 1315 when he found
correction and reform were needed, enjoining the
monks, under pain of greater excommunication, that
they should obey each article of his decree which
should be recited frequently in chapter before all
the brothers lest any should excuse himself about
its observance through ignorance.
[1] Because the house is gravely burdened with
debt, useless or unnecessary offices should be
removed from the household; the abbot should only
supply robes to six clerks, should robe only his
five esquires or yeomen in the monastery, and
robes should not be given outside the monastery
unless truly necessary.
[2] Neither the abbot, monks, nor seculars should
keep hounds or other dogs at the expense of the
house.
[3] The abbot should accept the counsel of the
greater and senior of his brothers regarding
important and difficult business, and not that of
only one or two.
(4) Corrodies and pensions should not be sold or
granted except in necessity, and then not without
the consent of the bp. and each member of chapter.
[5] The abbot should not entertain except on
solemn feasts, upon the arrival of magnates, or
because of other evident cause, nor should he
spend as much on wine and spices as he was
accustomed [to do], and he should be content with
ten tuns of wine annually.
[6] The abbot should treat his brethren equally
when dining in his room or elsewhere and he should
not believe private denunciations against his
brothers unless by formal charge.
[7] The abbot should not have only certain of his
brothers to dine in his room on meat days and fish
days but he should summon all to dinner without
exception.
[8] The abbot should diligently see that the
revenue and homage of the house are collected and
recovered in full.
[9] In charity and kindness the abbot should
correct, or cause to be corrected, the offences of
the brothers.
[10] The obedientiaries should be placed in
authority in chapter according to ancient custom.
[11] The abbot should restore the money he
received from the fabric-fund of the church and
henceforth he should not receive a loan of money,
of fabric-fund or of alms.
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