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Historic Collections, Relating to the Monasteries in Devon
Historic Collections Relating to the Monasteries in Devon Author:George Oliver General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1820 Original Publisher: Printed by R. Cullum Subjects: Monasteries Exeter (England) Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free... more » trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: STk CATHARINE'S PRIORY, AT POLSLO.' J. HE-Benedictine nunnery of Polslo was founded in bonor of St. Catharine, by William Lord Brewer, the father and founder of the religious houses of Tor and Dunkeswell, Leland asserts, in his Collectanea, that this nobleman was uncle, by his mother's side, (Avunculus) to King John. Matthew of Paris, (in Maj. Hist. Angl.) informs us, that he was a great counsellor of state during the reigns of Richard f. and of John; and that William Brewer, who was consecrated Bishop of Exeter, 1224, was a grandson of his (nepos). The sameness of the name has induced several writers to ascribe the honor of this foundation to the Bishop. It is not unlikely that he was a great benefactor. , The Bishops of Exeter were the patrons of this convent, and they appear to have discharged their trust with great zeal and tenderness. The community comprehended about sixteen persons at least; the names of so many appear at the election of the Prioress Juliana de Bruton, A. D. 1347. As the convent was poor, 1 find it was generally exempted from paying the King's tenths ; t and yet, notwithstanding their poverty, Queen Philippa wished to charge them with the maintenance of Jane Turbeville, a secular lady. In the answer of the convent, to be seen inthe appendix (e) they represent to her Majesty, that it would be a dreadful hardship to support others, when their finances were barely sufficient to afford themselves the common necessaries of life. However, 1he resources of the community were considerably improved and aug...« less