Ashridge Priory
Ashridge Priory was a medieval college of Austin canons[1] called variously the "Brothers of Penitence" or the "Boni Homines". It was founded by Edmund of Almain in 1283 who donated, among other things, a phial of Christ's blood to the abbey. It was granted to Mary Tudor, Queen of France and later became the private residence of the future queen Elizabeth I. It was acquired by Sir Thomas Egerton in 1604 and then passed down to the Duke of Bridgewater before being demolished.
History
In 1283 Edmund, son of Richard, Earl of Cornwall holders of Berkhamsted Castle (two and half miles away) founded a monastery at Ashridge, Hertfordshire.[2] The monastery was built for a rector and twenty canons who formed, according to the sixteenth-century historian Polydore Vergil, "a new order not before seen in England, and called the Boni homines".[2]
At the foundation of the abbey the Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall donated, among other things, a phial of Christ's blood. This relic was perhaps not so well known as the Holy Blood which the Earl of Cornwall donated to Hailes Abbey in Gloucestershire, but it proved fruitful for the abbey and convent. Pilgrims from all over Europe flocked to see the phial and the abbey grew quite wealthy as a result of their donations.[3]
One such visitor was King Edward I. In 1290 he held parliament at the abbey while he spent Christmas in Pitstone.[3] The Black Prince, a later lord of Berkhampstead castle, became interested in the College around the time of the Black Death around 1350. A second house of the Order was established at the prince's suggestion at Edington, Wiltshire around 1358 by William Edington.[4]
The last rector was Thomas Waterhouse, who surrendered the house to Henry VIII. The building ceased to be used for religious purposes shortly afterwards.[3]
The suppressed college was granted first to the king's sister Mary Tudor, Queen of France, a daughter of Henry VII.[2] It later became the private residence of the future queen Elizabeth I. It was here that she was arrested in 1554, under suspicion of treason during Wyatt's rebellion.[5]
In 1604 the priory was acquired by Sir Thomas Egerton. A descendant of his, the Duke of Bridgewater, demolished the old buildings in the 1760s.[6]
Albigensian connection
There has been speculation that the order was in some way associated with the Albigensian heresy of southern France whose perfecti called themselves bonhommes. The evidence for this is circumstantial and the conclusion contested. Edmund's mother was the daughter of Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse, a protector of the heretical sect. Wall paintings in the college cloisters, now lost, were described in the eighteenth century as favouring the Albigensians. Wall paintings in a cottage at Piccotts End, near Ashridge, have been similarly described. These paintings were discovered in the 1950s and have been preserved.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Godwin (F.S.A.), Henry. "Monasteries of St. Austin's Canons", The English Archæologist's Handbook, London. James Parker and Co., 1867, p.159
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c Hunter-Blair, Oswald (1907). "Boni Homines". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ a b c "House of Bonhommes: The college of Ashridge', A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 1 (1905), pp. 386–390". Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ "Victoria County History - Wiltshire - Vol 3 pp320-324 - House of Bonhommes: Edington". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ "MSN Encarta". Archived from the original on 31 October 2009.
- ^ Sanecki, K.N., Ashridge – A Living History, Phillimore & Co, 1996, ISBN 1-86077-020-7 p. 28
- ^ History of England Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine - The Inquisition, Note 4; the Cathars movement did indeed come to England.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Boni Homines". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Further reading
- History and topography of Buckinghamshire: comprising a general survey of the county, preceded by an epitome of the early history of Great Britain Author James Joseph Sheahan, Publisher Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1862, Ashridge entry, Pages 727–737 -ISBN 0-8048-3390-7
- History and topography of Buckinghamshire: comprising a general survey of the county, preceded by an epitome of the early history of Great Britain Author James Joseph Sheahan Publisher Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1862 St Margarets entry Pages 700-701-ISBN 0-8048-3390-7
Sources
- Douglas Coult (1980). "2-6". A Prospect of Ashridge. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN 978-0-85033-360-2.