Event detail for site: Llanthony Prima

1284: Visitation

Visitation of the priory was undertaken by Archbishop Pecham.

Pecham saw mismanagement as the real source of Llanthony’s problems and urged an improvement of the administration which would in turn benefit religious observance:

'Mary’s role must needs suffer constant interruptions unless the prudence of Martha … makes provision … for Mary’s sacred ease. For just as nature is the basis of grace so claustral tranquillity is best provided for by a careful administration of things temporal.’
[Cowley, Monastic Order in South Wales, p. 104]


Management
Pecham was concerned that at Llanthony, as elsewhere, there should be a central treasury and a regular system of auditing. He instructed the canons to appoint a layman as steward to oversee all the priory’s goods; one of the canons, known as the external cellarer, would assist him and the two would adminsiter the house jointly when the prior was away. But the cellarer's powers were restricted and he was forbidden to alienate the priory’s goods and received expenses by tally from either the treasurers or custodians of the manor. He was to take only one companion with him when travelling on business and strive to return to the house for meals.

Archbishop Pecham was equally concerned to constrain the prior and ruled that he should discuss all business with the canons except for matters of a more discrete nature which were to be considered with four senior members of the community. The prior could not simply act of his own accord. He needed the advice and consent of these men to appoint obdientiaries and servants and even to give gifts in his own name.

Discipline
Pecham discussed at length how offenders should be punished and warned that imprisonment should be reserved for only the most serious of crimes such as violence, apostasy, conspiracy and theft. The prior was urged to be loved and respected so that his sheep would follow him with gladness. The meting out of punishment was delegated, to prevent autocracy and to create a feeling of harmony rather than division and antagonism. A senior canon called the ‘common penitentiary’ was empowered to punish minor faults such as breaches of silence, inappropriate laughter and tardiness. These lesser faults were to be punished with fasting on water, the forfeiture of one’s pittance or being relegated to last place (at table, in the chapter and in choir). If the offender continued to be insolent the next step was a beating in the chapter and humiliation - the offender was to eat his meals off the refectory floor and lie on the floor at the threshold of the chapter-house where the brethren would walk over him. If this failed to prompt reform the miscreant was locked in a room until he showed remorse and if need be confined and chained until the diocesan decided if he should be imprisoned or expelled. But Pecham was adamant that offenders should be confined in appropriate conditions and stressed that prisons should be as airy as security allowed.

Care of the sick
Pecham also addressed the care of the sick. The canons were to treat their sick brethren as they would like themselves to be cared for. Similarly, proper care was to be taken of the poor and a ‘pious and merciful’ canon was to be made almoner.

Visitors
Archbishop Pecham reminded the prior that he should take his place with the brethren and not use hospitality as an excuse to dine apart or miss the Office unless the guest was of great importance and potential use to the community; similarly while no women were permitted to stay the night within the priory an exemption was made for noble ladies who could not be refused.

People associated with this event

John Pecham; Peckam; Peckham , Archbishop of Canterbury

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Registrum Epistolarum Fratris Johannis Peckham Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis, Rerum Britannicarum medii aevi scriptores; or, Chronicles and memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages, 77, 3 vols (London, 1882-1885) vol. 3, pp. 800-805

Cowley, F. G., The Monastic Order in South Wales 1066-1349 (Cardiff, 1977) pp. 104-106

Douie, Decima Langworthy, Archbishop Pecham (Oxford, 1952)

Williams, David H., 'Llanthony Prima Priory', The Monmouthshire Antiquary, 25-26 (2009-2010) pp. 24-25

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