Belényesy Károly: Pálos kolostorok az Abaúji-Hegyalján (Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén megye régészeti emlékei 3. Miskolc, 2004)

PAULINE FRIARIES IN THE ABAÚJ HEGYALJA REGION

Ruszka". These expressions show little variety in space and in time, which suggests the stability of the catchment zone. In the case of Gönc the change of the social background can be traced. In the earliest sources, the monastery appears "under the castle of Gönc" (1371,

172 1384,

173 1407,

174 1428

175

). At around the turn of the fifteenth century, there is a characteristic change in the designation. Further on, the location of the monastery is consistently cited as "near the market town of Gönc", "above the market town of Gönc". This modification can be linked to the disappearing authority of Amadé'

s castle,

176 and at the same time, it marks the development of the new regional center.

177 The topographical value of these written data should not be underestimated. The cited designations point to the excellent knowledge of local circumstances. The location of the monasteries isnot described as an abstraction, suggesting simple, but at the same time delicate, "topographic" cogitation. Strong interactions between the order and the social landscape can also be detected in the period of the monasteries' destruction. Political changes, economic regression, and the significant spiritual influence of the Reformation are the main factors that destroyed the background of the Pauline communities.

178 Pauline Monasteries as a Group in the Abaúj Hegyalja Region The appearance of small, but interrelated groups of monasteries is a typical feature of the Pauline order. According to the inner organization of the order, the most influential community from every four to six neighboring monasteries has to appoint a vicar.

179 This system can be reconstructed from the inventory of Gergely Gyöngyösy, and the so-called Máriavölgy- list constructed by Peter Pázmány.

180 According to these sources, the communities near Gönc, Göncruszka, Regéc fell under the authority of the vicar of Újhely. This is also supported by written evidence; among the 172 Bandi, 1985 583 4. 173 Bandi, 1985 584 7 Bandi, 1985 588 19. 174 Bandi, 1985 586 12. 175 Bandi, 1985 588 19. 176 The expression "under the castle ofGwnc" is first mentioned in a charter from 1371. The charter was confirmed in 1384 and in 1407, therefore it is probable that the expression was borrowed from the first writing. The charter from 1428 uses the same formula, but it confirms older documents as well. The original of the texts cannot be later than the turn of the 14th-15th centuries. The castellanus of Gunch is last mentioned in 1384. Bandi, 1985 584 6. 177 Presumably it is also connected to the early presence of the Pelsöczi Bebek family as landowner in the region. 178 Iványi, 1926 20-62. 179 Mályusz, 1971 259., DAP I, VII., Bencze, 1991 416-417. 180 Hervay, 1984. documents of the vicary, there is a charter issued by the chapter of Buda, on the request of the priors of Regéc and Göncruszka monasteries.

181 After the disappearance of the studied monasteries, the role of the Újhely vicar became more apparent, as he commanded the once estates of the destroyed monasteries. In 1558, he appears in connection with the lease of estates once owned by Gönc monastery, and at the sale of the property belonging to the St Catherine monastery. Not much later, after the destruction of the Gönc monastery, one of the most important incomes of the monastery, namely the curia in Horváti, the mill and the fields belonging to it, fell under the authority of Újhely too. The Archives of Újhely document the possession of these estates up to the dissolution of the order. Despite the written material, relatively little is known about the structure of the vicaries (if they had any deeper organizing features at all). Written documents concerning the studied monasteries contain only hidden information about the inner relations of the communities. In 1384, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, at the request of the Virgin Mary monastery, command Paul, son of Stephen, castellan of the castles Gönc, Regéc, and Boldogkő, and his officials to protect the ancient rights of the Paulines. Moreover, the monks should not pay ninth, and neither collecta nor census should be given after their mill.

182 The other charter, issued by Queen Elizabeth on the same day, called upon the castellan and officials of Regéc that they should not collect ninth after the vineyards of the Pauline monks on the mountain of the castle Regéc, and warns them to retain their exemption from tolls.

183 In 1406, King Sigismund issued two charters on 31

st of December with similar contents. He warned the castellan and officials of the castle Regéc, and the citizens of Telkibánya that the Paulines should be exempted from paying ninth or tolls after the vine they produce in the neighboring area. It is worth to note that the first charter describes the three monasteries as neighboring communities.

184 In 1412, it is mentioned that the St Philip and Jacob monastery, the Virgin Mary monastery, and the St Catherine monastery "are the beneficiaries of the depopulated Holy Trinity monastery's properties and income."

1 5 In 1419, King Sigismund confirms the exemption of the communities from taxes and tolls.

186 Behind the claim of the exemptions' general confirmation, sources propose that these charters were issued as the result of a corporate act in the common interest of the communities. Unfortunately, this unique group of sources does not allow having a closer look on :1 Bandi, 1985 701 40. 2 Bandi, 1985 584 6. 3 Bandi, 1985 671 /. 4 Bandi, 1985 672 6. s Bandi, 1985 587 75. 16 Bandi, 1985 701 40.