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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON FACULTY OF HUMANITIES History The Abbey at St Albans and its Relationship with its Lordship in the Later Middle Ages by Rebecca Toepfer Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy July 2017 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON ABSTRACT FACULTY OF HUMANITIES History Thesis for the Doctor of Philosophy THE ABBEY AT ST ALBANS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS LORDSHIP IN THE LATER MIDDLE AGES Rebecca Toepfer This thesis aims to examine the relationship between the monks and monastery of St Albans, and the townspeople and the tenants on the manors it held, including a case study on the manor of Codicote, by considering how the nature of this relationship changed throughout the history of the abbey from one of dependency to independence, and of animosity to acceptance. It will analyse events from the foundation of the monastery when the town grew around the abbey, to the problems of the fourteenth century, and finally, the Dissolution. This thesis concludes that the relationship between the monastery and the town of St Albans and its surrounding manors had three phases: the first phase took place from the foundation of the abbey through to the fourteenth century, where the town and monastery were dependent on one another. The second was during the fourteenth century, where the townspeople fought for their freedoms while the third was from the end of the fourteenth century through to the Dissolution when the town was able to function without the monastery, but still maintained a productive relationship that continued until after 1539 when the abbey was dissolved. This thesis is an addition to the work that has already been completed on both St Albans and Benedictine monasteries. It will go beyond the vast historiography on the subject by examining the relationship between town and abbey not as a simple political or financial one, but instead, as a complex changing relationship with multiple layers evolving over time. Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................... i DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP ............................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... iii Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Research Questions and Sources .............................................................................................. 2 1.2 Introducing St Albans ............................................................................................................. 11 1.3 Historiography ........................................................................................................................ 21 Chapter 2: The Early Growth of the Town and Monastery ....................................................... 34 2.1 Schools, Hospitals, and Dependencies ................................................................................... 34 2.2 Pilgrimage .............................................................................................................................. 39 Chapter 3: A Case Study of the Manor of Codicote .................................................................... 50 3.1 Manors, Peasants, and Medieval England .............................................................................. 52 3.2 The Manor of Codicote .......................................................................................................... 62 3.3 Land Make-up and Sub-division ............................................................................................ 69 3.4 Social Structure on the Manor ................................................................................................ 71 3.5 Codicote Market Place ........................................................................................................... 81 3.6 Mills ........................................................................................................................................ 84 Chapter 4: The First Half of the Fourteenth Century: Famine, Rebellion, and Plague .......... 88 4.1 Famine .................................................................................................................................... 88 4.2 Rebellion ................................................................................................................................ 95 4.3 The Black Death ................................................................................................................... 100 Chapter 5: The Second Half of the Fourteenth Century - Revolt ............................................ 110 5.1 The Events Leading up to the Revolt ................................................................................... 110 5.2 The Revolt ............................................................................................................................ 115 5.3 Social Composition of the Rebels ........................................................................................ 123 5.4 Aftermath .............................................................................................................................. 125 Chapter 6 - The Fifteenth Century ............................................................................................. 128 6.1 Abbot John Whethamstede ................................................................................................... 128 6.2 Lay devotion at St Albans .................................................................................................... 132 Chapter 7: The Final Years of the Monastery ........................................................................... 150 7.1 The Events Leading up to the Dissolution ........................................................................... 150 7.2 The Dissolution of the Smaller Houses ................................................................................ 154 7.3 The Dissolution of the Larger Monasteries .......................................................................... 157 7.4 After the Dissolution ............................................................................................................ 158 Chapter 8: Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 164 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................. 170 i DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP I, Rebecca Toepfer declare that this thesis and the work presented in it are my own and has been generated by me as the result of my own original research. The Abbey at St Albans and its Relationship with its Lordship in the Late Middle Ages. I confirm that: 1. This work was done wholly or mainly while in candidature for a research degree at this University; 2. Where any part of this thesis has previously been submitted for a degree or any other qualification at this University or any other institution, this has been clearly stated; 3. Where I have consulted the published work of others, this is always clearly attributed; 4. Where I have quoted from the work of others, the source is always given. With the exception of such quotations, this thesis is entirely my own work; 5. I have acknowledged all main sources of help; 6. Where the thesis is based on work done by myself jointly with others, I have made clear exactly what was done by others and what I have contributed myself; 7. None of this work has been published before submission. Date: 04/07/2017 ii Acknowledgements I would like to first thank my supervisors, Nicholas Karn and Peter Clarke for guiding me through my PhD, I am very grateful for their advice and help throughout the process. I would like to thank Senate House Library, Hertfordshire Archives, British Library, Library of Congress, Boston Public Library, University