The Pious Practices of Edward I, 1272-1307
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The Pious Practices of Edward I, 1272-1307 Charles Hedley Davies Christopher Farris Thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of London Royal Holloway College, University of London March, 2013 1 Declaration of Authorship I Charles Hedley Davies Christopher Farris hereby declare that this thesis and the work presented in it is entirely my own. Where I have consulted the work of others, this is always clearly stated. Signed: ______________________ Date: ________________________ 2 Abstract Edward I’s devotional life has not received much attention from historians; indeed, his reputation in this respect has long been overshadowed by his father’s noteworthy – all too extravagant – piety. Having outlined Henry’s piety to establish a benchmark, the thesis assesses Edward’s debt to his father. Clearly he learned much from him. But, once established, Edward’s piety was both generous and strikingly well worked-out: overall, the day-to-day fulfilment of his devotional duties assumed a more consistent nature than his predecessor’s ever did. Copious evidence survives to shed light on Edward I’s piety, and this thesis particularly depends upon those materials created by clerks working in the king's wardrobe. Moreover, exchequer clerks enrolled much of the same material in the pipe rolls, so for those years for which wardrobe material has been lost we may yet derive some impression of royal pious practice. Having briefly described accounting procedures, the thesis concentrates on those individuals whose duty it was to ensure that Edward’s soul should profit from masses, good works, and the intercession of the saints – which means an appraisal of the royal chapel and its clerks. Foremost among the latter was the royal almoner who discharged a variety of spiritual activities, many of which were eleemosynary. In addition to constant almsgiving on behalf of the king, the almoner acted assiduously to guarantee intercession – not only for the king’s soul but also for the good of his realm. The royal family also played its part in a carefully co-ordinated round of religious activity on Edward’s behalf, which the thesis proceeds to investigate. By conscientious pious provision, Edward sought both to profit his soul and to ensure that his subjects should also benefit from the grace that a good Christian king could accrue. He deserves credit for this. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page...........................................................................................................................1 Declaration of Authorship.................................................................................................2 Abstract..............................................................................................................................3 Table of Contents...............................................................................................................4 Tables, graphs and images.................................................................................................7 Acknowledgments...........................................................................................................10 Abbreviations...................................................................................................................11 Introduction...................................................................................................................12 Chapter 1: The Legacy of Henry III..................................................................15 I. The sources.................................................................................................................17 II. Environment.............................................................................................................20 III. Alms..........................................................................................................................24 IV. Offerings...................................................................................................................35 V. The friars...................................................................................................................48 VI. The royal family......................................................................................................50 VII. Conclusions.............................................................................................................54 4 Chapter 2: The Piety of Edward I - the Sources...........................................55 I. The king's household.................................................................................................55 II. The exchequer and the pipe rolls............................................................................67 III. Conclusions..............................................................................................................73 Chapter 3: Edward I's Almsgiving.....................................................................74 I. Almsgiving..................................................................................................................74 II. The almoner..............................................................................................................76 III. Finance.....................................................................................................................89 III. Touching for scrofula.............................................................................................95 IV. Travelling alms........................................................................................................99 V. Weekly alms............................................................................................................101 VI. Alms given for the family of Edward I................................................................107 VII. Alms 'by order of the king'.................................................................................110 VIII. Penitential alms..................................................................................................112 IX. Alms and the liturgical year.................................................................................116 X. Conclusions..............................................................................................................145 Chapter 4: Oblations I..........................................................................................149 I. The chapel and the clerks of the chapel.................................................................150 II. Masses......................................................................................................................162 III. Communis partizona..............................................................................................174 5 IV. The king's offerings...............................................................................................177 IV. Conclusions............................................................................................................210 Chapter 5: Oblations II - the Mendicants and Foundations...................212 I. The Mendicants........................................................................................................212 II. Foundations.............................................................................................................238 III. Conclusions............................................................................................................248 Chapter 6: The Piety of the Royal Family.....................................................250 I. Eleanor of Castile.....................................................................................................250 II. Margaret of France................................................................................................260 III. The royal children.................................................................................................265 IV. Conclusions............................................................................................................271 Conclusion.................................................................................................................273 Bibliography of Cited Works.............................................................................276 6 Tables, graphs and images Tables: 1. Money issued to the almoner 1242/3...................................................................27 2. Solemn masses requested in 1265.......................................................................40 3. Henry III's oblations enrolled on the pipe rolls...................................................44 4. Years in which Edward I's wardrobe expenditure was enrolled on the pipe rolls......................................................................................................................69 5. Staff of the almoner, c. 1282-1307......................................................................84 6. Money issued to the almoner, 1306/7..................................................................90 7. Pious expenditure between 23 April and 26 May, 1307......................................91 8. Annual totals of Edward I's touching for scrofula...............................................95 9. Scrofula figures 1296/7.......................................................................................96 10. Scrofula figures from almoner's account, TNA, E101/353/16............................98 11. Weekly