Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Strata Florida

c. 1441: Abbatial dispute

John ap Res, abbot of Cymmer, accused Abbot William Moris of Strata Florida before the king and forcibly seized the abbacy.

After just two years in office Abbot William Moris was accused falsely, it is alleged, before the king and forcibly seized the abbacy for himself. Moris, together with several monks of Strata Florida, were duly imprisoned in Aberystwyth Castle and John held the abbey by force. The king however, took the house under his possession and in February 1443 he appointed the abbots of Whitland and Margam to administer the abbey's goods, and forbade either William or John to do so.

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office (London, 1891-) 1441-6, pp. 151-2

The Heads of Religious Houses in England and Wales, III, 1377-1540, ed. David M. Smith (CUP: Cambridge, 2008) p. 335

Other events in the history of this site

1164: Foundation - The official foundation date was given as 1 June 1164; the new house was colonised by monks from Whitland Abbey.  [2 sources]
1165: Patronage - The Lord Rhys seized Cardigan and assumed patronage of the house. [2 sources]
1175: Burial - Cadell ap Gruffudd, brother of the Lord Rhys, took the habit and was buried at the house. [1 sources]
c.1175: Record-keeping - From the late twelfth century the monks began to keep annals and from these compiled a Latin chronicle in the thirteenth century and the house became a key custodian of Welsh culture.  [4 sources]
1179: Founds daughter-house - Strata Florida founded the first of its daughter-houses at Llantarnam (later Caerleon). [2 sources]
1184: Relocation - The community relocated some twenty years after it had first settled at Strata Florida. [1 sources]
1184: Patronage - The Lord Rhys granted an important charter to the abbey detailing the core monastic estate. This was read out to an audience at the church of Llansanffraid. [6 sources]
1186: Founds daughter-house - A second daughter-house was established; a colony of Strata Florida monks settled at Aberconwy. [3 sources]
1188: Hospitality - Archbishop Baldwin and Gerald of Wales stayed overnight at the house while preaching the Crusade throughout Wales. [1 sources]
pre 1197: Affiliation - Strata Florida was given oversight of the newly-founded nunnery of Llanllŷr. [2 sources]
1201: Burial - Gruffydd, the Lord Rhys' son and a prince of Wales, took the habit at Strata Florida where he was buried. [1 sources]
1201: Completion of new church - The new abbey church was completed [3 sources]
1202: Library extended - Gerald of Wales sought to raise money for his journey to Rome by borrowing money from the monks of Strata Florida and leaving his cherished collection of books as surety. [2 sources]
1202: Vision - A monk of Strata Florida had a vision of three angels in the choir of the monastery church. [2 sources]
1210: Burial - Matilda de Braose, widow of the Lord Rhys' son, Gruffydd, was buried at the house. [1 sources]
1212: Opposition - King John ordered the abbey's destruction as 'harbourers of our enemies' since the community supported Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. [3 sources]
1238: Meeting - Llywelyn ab Iowerth (d. 1240) summoned all the princes of Wales to a great gathering at Strata Florida where they swore fealty to his son, Dafydd, and thereby secured the succession. [4 sources]
1255: Purchase - The community purchased its great bell which Robinson (The Cistercians in Wales: Architecture and Archaeology) suggests hung from the crossing tower. [3 sources]
1258: Dispensation - The Cistercian General Chapter responded to the abbey's plight and granted the community dispensation to withhold hospitality for three years [3 sources]
1276-1277: Destruction - The abbey incurred damage during Edward I's Welsh wars. [1 sources]
1282-1283: Destruction - The monastery suffered damage as a consequence of Edward I's Welsh wars. [1 sources]
1284: Compensation - Edward I awarded the community £78 compensation for damage caused during the second campaign. [3 sources]
c.1284: Destruction - The belfry was struck by lightning and fire devoured the entire church save for the presbytery. [2 sources]
c.1291: Wealth - The Taxatio Ecclesiastica assessed the abbey's net annual income at £98 6s 9d. [4 sources]
1294-1295: Destruction - The abbey was burned by royalists in a local uprising. [3 sources]
1344-47: Tussle for the abbacy - Llewelyn Vaughan and Clement ap Richart were involved in a dispute over the abbacy. [1 sources]
1401-1402: Royal occupation - Henry IV and his army occupied the abbey and the monks were temporarily displaced. [3 sources]
1407: Occupation - During the Glyn Dŵr revolt royalist troops billeted at the house. [2 sources]
1415: Occupation - 120 royalist troops were billeted at the house. [2 sources]
1428 (Lent): Internal revolt - An abbot of Strata Florida's daughter-house, Aberconwy (Maenan), sought to overturn the abbacy at the mother-house.  [4 sources]
c.1441: Abbatial dispute - John ap Res, abbot of Cymmer, accused Abbot William Moris of Strata Florida before the king and forcibly seized the abbacy. [2 sources]
c.1442: Devastation - By 1442 the abbey was in a state of desolation. [2 sources]
1534: Malpractice - One monk was imprisoned for attempting to counterfeit coins.  [1 sources]
c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the house had a net income of £118 7s 3d. [4 sources][1 archives]
1539: Dissolution - The house was suppressed on 21 February 1539. [5 sources]
 
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