Leo Santifaller: Ergänzungsband 2/1. Festschrift zur Feier des 200 jährigen Bestandes des HHStA 2 Bände (1949)
IV. Quellen und Quellenkunde - 31. R. B. Pugh (London): Fragment of an account of Isabel of Lancester, nun of Amesbury, 13331334
Account of Isabel of Lancaster. 489 however, been exercised in analysing the items, no doubt in compliance with known rules, and a sentence first incorporated in the ‘spices’ section has been moved as an afterthought into the ‘alms’ section. The head of the account would probably also have shown upon what funds the various issues were charged. We may be tolerably certain that these recepta denariorum were the profits of lands assigned to Isabel for her maintenance. It was of course irregular for a nun to hold private property in this way. But it was not unusual. Nuns who were great ladies could not otherwise have maintained their estate1). The existence of one such estate is inferred from other sources. On 23rd January 1330 the manor of Berwick St. James, Wiltshire, had been settled upon Isabel for life by her father2). The date on which Isabel began to profit by this grant has not been established and it is known that in 1330-2 the Earl was enjoying the issues3). During the present year of account however Isabel’s officers are found managing this property—viewing the stock or auditing the accounts. The manor of Standen in Chute, Wiltshire, was with almost equal certainty assigned to Isabel; for the account relates that her officers were sent thither to view the stock, that special arrangements were made to thresh the corn and that a robe was given to the bailiff. Less certainly she held land at King’s Somborne, Hampshire, at Kempsford, Gloucestershire and Collingbourne Ducis, Wiltshire; at least she appears to have enjoyed some rights of venison at the first place4), to have claimed service from carters at the last two, and to have cut timber in Collingbourne wood. She also kept a flock of sheep in ‘la Leyghe’ and cultivated gardens at Standen and Amesbury where leeks and little onions (oynenet) grew. Isabel’s household as revealed in this account is hardly distinguishable from that of a lay person. Her chief officials, whose quality is not stated, were Peter Colswein and Philip Lambrist. They were employed indiscriminately on a variety of errands and in making purchases of clothing and food. Thus Colswein went in advance of his mistress from Tutbury to Amesbury to make things ready for her coming home and sent a subordinate to Kenilworth to find out exactly when she would arrive. Lambrist carried letters to the Bishop of Salisbury at Sonning, Berkshire, and to Lady Wake at Wakes Colne, Essex, and saw to the roofing of the garden walls. Colswein bought basins and bowls for the chamber, silken purses at Wilton, wedding-presents for Mary of Lancaster in London5), spices and other commodities at Winchester. Lambrist purchased white thread, silk, rushes, ginger and sugar and mended the doe-skin cover of his lady’s bed. Some of these purchases may really have been gifts to the purchasers but others were certainly for the maintenance of the chamber or wardrobe. Both officials were also concerned in estate management. Colswein helped to view the stock at Standen and bought barley for the thresher there. It was no doubt in performance of some similar duty that he travelled to Berwick St. James and to Hungerford in Berkshire. He went to Somborne about the capture of a doe. Lambrist paid a business visit to Wexcombe in Grafton, Wiltshire, and bought draff for oxen. Both helped to look after their mistress’s greyhounds. Colswein went from Tutbury to London on behalf of the beasts and Lambrist arranged an exchange with Sir Hugh de Audley. We can judge little of the status of these two gentlemen. Colswein, who is twice styled dominus and who experienced some form of preferment during the year of account, was presumably the senior. He subsequently became Isabel’s chaplain 6). Both were big enough men q Successive kings so endowed the princess Mary. Isabel’s own property was augmented in 1337, when the manor of East Garston, Berkshire, was settled upon her for life (Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1334-8, 553). 2) Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1327-30, 474. 3) It is also significant that she gave Henry de Holt, the Earl’s steward in Hampshire, a girdle and a casket. For Holt’s office see P. R. O. Duchy of Lancaster, Returns of Knights’ Fees (D. L. 40) 1/11 f. 45. *) ibid., f. 44 v. 5) A journey from Amesbury to Tutbury, recorded in the account, was perhaps made in order to deliver these presents. ®) Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1343-5, 225.
