Records of Romsey abbey; ...

Front matter

Book , H •' i u_

RECORDS

OF

Preface

HE History of Romsey Abbey has never yet been written.

and it is very unlikely that, owing to the loss or destruction of the Monastic Rolls and Register, such a work will ever be accomplished. The account of the Abbey and Town, contained in the following pages, has been compiled from notes, collected out of MSS. and printed books, and pieced together by the Author to the best of his ability. An intimate familiarity with the beautiful Church, acquired during a six years residence in the town from 1892-98, moved him to search for information about its past history, and led him to collect these notes. He is aware that the result must appear but fragmentary, and that an amateur, working in the field of history and archaeology, is very liable to errors of all kinds, but he ventures to hope that, since there is no book of the kind at present in circulation, his account of the Abbey and Town may not be without interest to his old friends in Romsey and the neighbourhood, and perhaps also to some of the visitors who come to view the Church during the summer months.

The Author has to express his regret that owing to lack of space he has been compelled to omit several Appendices. The plan of the Conventual Buildings for the same reason, and because of the lack of evidence for reconstructing it, has had to be omitted ; the matter is still under investigation, and therefore the notes with reference to the site either of the Abbess's Lodging or of the Guest House must be considered tentative.

The Author owes a large debt of gratitude to those who have generously assisted him in his undertaking, and has much pleasure in recording his thanks to the Rev. J. Cooke Yarborough, the Vicar of Romsey, for his kindness, shown in a variety of ways ; to the Right Hon. Evelyn Ashley for his very kind iv

Preface.

permission to reproduce the collection of old water-colour drawings at Broadlands ; to the Rev. Prebendary Coleman, of Wells, for his unfailing interest and encouragement ; to Charles Wooldridge, Esq., for his ready permission to examine the Episcopal Registers ; to the Rev. F. T. Madge for access to the Cathedral Library ; and to Ralph Nevill, Esq., for his help in several matters. He offers special thanks to the Rev. F. Hyne Davy for writing the chapter on the Romsey Psalter • and to E. C. Shearman, Esq., for the beautiful drawing reproduced as a frontispiece.

He wishes to record his obligations to the British Museum Authorities for allowing him to photograph Mr. Latham's sketches ; to Mr. H. Guard, of Romsey, for most kindly taking a large number of photographs both at the British Museum and at Romsey; to the Rev. C. Watling for a photograph of the Le Rous tomb at Imber ; to the Rev. M. West for a photograph of a page of the Psalter ; to Messrs. Wilkinson & Co., of Trowbridge, for photographs of Edington Church ; to Messrs. Dodridge and Gibbs, of Romsey, for permission to reproduce their beautiful photograph of the Saxon Rood ; to N. C. Nisbett, Esq., for careful photographs of seals ; to the latter and to the Hampshire Field Club for permission to reproduce a plan of the Church, attached to an article by the Vicar, entitled Recent Discoveries in Romsey Abbey ; to Miss M. and Miss H. Lethbridge for their kindness in making the Index. He wishes to recognise the careful work done for him by Miss M. Martin at the Record Office and at Winchester, in copying MSS.

He cannot close these few words of preface without expressing his appreciation of the excellent work done by Messrs. Warren and Son in printing and producing the book, and of the care taken by their staff in passing these pages through the press.

TABLE OF CONTENTS AND CALENDAR,

Chapter I. Page

INTRODUCTION 3

972. 982.

Chapter II

Abbey founded by King Edward the Elder His daughter, ^lflaeda, first Abbess ... King Edgar's Charter and Gifts Abbess Merwinna

Burial of Edmund ^theling in the Abbey Bequest of Ethelmere, Governor of Hampshire s Abbess Elwina

\ Danish raid by Sweyn and Canute J Nuns flee to Winchester

Abbess S. AZthelflceda, born c. 962

Gift of Queen /Ethelgyfu (Emma) { Abbess Wulfynn

I Abbess JE If 'gyfu and fifty -four nuns ...

1 1

11 14

15 IS

Chapter III. The Saxon Princesses

1030. Saxon Rood (now in South Choir Aisle) ... ... ... 36

Names of Abbesses, unknown for about a century ... ... 51

(?) Saxon or Early Norman Apse ... ... .. ... ... 38

1086. Christina, sister of S. Margaret, Queen of Scotland, veiled

1093. Queen Margaret's daughters, Eadgyth (Matilda) and Mary,

1093. William Rufus and Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland,

1 100. Matilda (Eadgyth) married to Henry I, nth November ... 42 (?) Grant of four -days fair, beginning S. ^Ethelflaeda's Day

(23rd October), 7 Charters of Henry I 45

11.05. Henry I at Romsey, and again in 1110 ... ... ... 44 vi Table of Contents and Calendar.

Chapter IV. Princess Mary Of Blois

c. 1120. Building of the Great Abbey Church begun 49

Three Charters of King Stephen 53

c. 1 150. Abbess Matildis, © 1155 53

c. 1 155. Abbess Princess Mary, married 1 161 ; © 1182 54

(?) Fourteen Charters of Henry II... ... ... ... ... 53

1 176-7. Nuns brought by Henry II from Fontevrault to Romsey ... 58

1 199. Abbess Matilda Patric, 3rd June ; ©1218-19 59

1200. King John at Romsey, 28th February ... ... ... .. 59

1 2 10. King John at Romsey, 22nd — 23rd January and 12th February 59

Chapter V. The Thirteenth Century Abbesses

1219. Abbess Matilda (unnamed), © December, 1230 ... ... 63

„ Gallows falls into disuse... ... ... ... ... ... 67

1221. King John's house given to the Abbey, 9th November ... 66

1230-1. Abbess Matilda de Barbfle, 14th December — 19th January;

1 23 1. Henry III at Romsey, 15th March ; and on 9th January, 1235 66

„ Five oaks given for Dorter, 15th March ... ... ... 66

1237. Abbess Isabel de Nevill, 28th April — 15th May 66

„ Five New Forest bucks given for her feast, 21st May ... 66

1 241. Tithe Settlement, Adam and John, Prebendaries of Romsey,

and Rectors respectively of Romsey and Edington,

24th — 27th March 72

1244. Gift of Joan de Nevill, c. gth July ... ... ... ... 74

1247. Abbess Constancia, late Prioress, 6th — 26th September ... 64

1 25 1. Six New Forest oaks for Sacrist, 24th June .. ... ... 66

1253. Sixteen New Forest oaks for the fabric of the Church,

1253. West End of Church in course of building .. ... ... 69

(?) Coffin lid with cross and hand ... ... ... ... to face 78

(?) Recumbent Effigy (now in south transept) ... ... ... 76

1261. Abbess Amicia de Sulhere, late Prioress, 16th May — 6th June 64

1266. No Jew in Romsey without the Abbess's license, 6th July ... 1268. Abbess Alicia Walerand, nth — 28th July; © 10th April,

1298 64, 78, 84

Table of Contents and Calendar. vii

1 27 1. Six Clarendon Forest oaks given, 20th November; Lady

1272. A cask of wine given, 1 oth May ... ... ... ••• 67

1275. Edward I at Romsey, 28th — 29th January 7 1 * 7^

1279. Right of Assize of bread and ale confirmed ... ... ... 7^

c. 1282-3. Visitation of Archbishop Peckham ... ... ... ••• 82

1294. Gift of John de Romeseye in Testwode, 3rd April 79

Chapter VI. Early Episcopal Visitations

1298. Abbess Phillipa de Stokes, 13th — 28th April 91, 94

1299. Gift of William Gocelyn and of Walter de Romesey, 1 ith July 1302. Visitation by Bishop John de Pontoise, February 99

1305. Attorneys appointed, Abbess being infirm, 19th February ... 91

1306. Edward I's visit, 15th February

1307. Grant of Custody of Abbey, during a vacancy, 7th June . .. 96 Abbess Clemencia de Guldeford, 23rd September — 24th November; © December, 1314 ... 91, 95

1309. Confirmation of Charter, 14th June

131 1. Visitation of Bishop Henry Woodlock, 10th — 23rd March ... 102

„ Attorneys appointed, Abbess being infirm, 3rd September ... 92 1313. Release of right to appoint two nuns, given by Sir John le

1314-15. Abbess Alicia de Wyntereshulle, 30th December-5th February;

© c. May 92

1315. Commission of inquiry as to her death, 28th May and 1 ith July 92 „ Abbess Sybil Carbonel, — 8th August ; © 1st June,

1333 93

13 17. Appropriation of Itchenstoke Rectory, 6th April ... ... 99

„ Hospital of SS. Mary and Anthony mentioned, 3rd March ... 204 1 32 1. " Ordination " of Romsey Vicarage, 9th September, and 18th

1327. No more nuns to be received, 27th October ... ... ... 98

Chapter VII. The Great Pestilence

1333. Abbess Johanna Icthe, late Cellaress, nth June — nth Sept. 111 ,, Ninety-one nuns mentioned by name ... ... ... ... 112

1334. Visitation by Bishop Adam Orlton, and Sermons, 28th Nov. 122

1335. The Braishfield Chantry 115

1340. List of Romsey Taxpayers of a " Fifteenth " ... .. ... 178

1349. The Great Pestilence (Black Death). Abbess, Prebendary,

and two Vicars die, May — September ... ... 1 18-127 viii

Table of Contents and Calendar.

Chapter IX. Edington And Imber

1349. Abbess Johanna Gerneys, 6th — 22nd May

135 1. Appropriation of Second Prebend of S. Laurence to the

Convent, and gift by the Convent to Bishop William de Edyndon, of Edyndon Church and Prebend, for his Chantry there, 8th July 146

Chapter X. Abbess Isabella De Camoys

1352. Abbess Isabella de Camoys, 24th — 25th November 163

J 35&- Transmutation of Edyndon Chantry into a House of

Augustinian Bonshommes, 6th April 15°

1360. Gift of Walter Nott and others, 15th July 170

1367. Gift of Martin Moulysche, Richard Pauncefote, and others,

7th February 1 70

1372. Dispute between Vicar and Convent as to blessing of palms

for Palm Sunday, 13th March ... ... ... ... 169

1373. Inquiry as to Vicar's Income, 15th March ... 128

„ Inquiry as to who should repair the North Aisle or Parish

Church, 15th March ... 180

1390. Confirmation of Charters by the Crown, 1 Oth May .. ... 170

1396. Abbess Lucy Everard, 17th April — 1 6th May ... 171

1396. Visitation by Bishop William of Wykeham. Date of Commission, 8th September ... ... ... ... ... 172

1403. License for enlargement of Parish Church, 10th May ... 180

Chapter XII. The Manor Court Rolls

1405. Abbess Felicia Aas, 30th July — 27th August 191

1412. Household Account Roll of Convent ... ... ... ...192-5

1416. Bishop Henry Beaufort's Register (141 6 —1447) missing ... 196

141 7. Abbess Matilda Lovell, 25th October — 18th November ... 196 1420. Will of John Keredyf (Cardiff), 20th August 191-2

Table of Contents and Calendar. ix

. 1450. Date of Red Altar Cloth, now lost 197

. 1460. Date of Chimney Piece in house in Church Street, now

1462. Abbess Johanna Bryggys, late Prioress, 26th April — 30th May 198 1467. New Aisle of Parish Church and Brotherhood of St. George

471-2. Entertainment of Abbess at Winchester College, last Monday

1395. Series of Manor Court Rolls (1395 — 1444) ... 198

Chapter XIII. Abbess Elizabeth Broke

1472. Abbess Elizabeth Broke, 27th May — 22nd June ; © 12th

1475. Chantry of St. George, in the Parish Church, founded

17th February 182

1478. Absolution and Re-election of Elizabeth Broke and list of

Nuns, 17th August — 14th October ... 214

1485. Gift to Chantry of St. George, nth June 183

1491. Full authority with abbatial staff restored to Abbess Elizabeth

1492. Visitation by Commission of Archbishop Morton, 29th Oct. 216-7

1501. Visitation by Commission of the Prior of Canterbury during

the vacancy of Archbishopric, 27th March ... 222-3

1502. Abbess Joyce Rowse, 6th. — 18th June ; resigned 16th Sept., 15 15 226 ,, List of Nuns at the election ... ... ... ... ... 236

1507. Admonition to Master John Folton and the Vicar of Romsey,

1507. Visitation by Commission of Bishop Richard Fox, 3rd Jan. 228-232 1515. Abbess Ann Westbroke, 16th September — 9th October;

1522. Grant by Abbey of ^133. 6s. 8d. to Henry VIII for personal

expenses in France for recovery of the crown ... ... 233

1522. Episcopal License to Richard Lyster for the celebration of

Mass in the Oratory at Stanbridge, 15th September ... 234

Chapter XIV. The Suppression

1523-24. Abbess Elizabeth Ryprose, November 24th — January 25th ... 241

Injunctions of Bishop Richard Fox's Chancellor ... ... 244

1525. Subsidy Roll, with list of Taxpayers, 20th January ... ... 272

1526. The King's visit to Romsey relinquished, by reason of "the

sickness " there, 6th August ... ... ... ... 244

Table of Contents and Calendar.

A.D.

1527. Reprimand and punishment of two Nuns by Bishop Richard

Fox's Vicar-General, 16th January .. ... 245-6

1527. Papal Bull of protection, shown (in Court at London) by

John Foster, 7th June 247

1534. Profession of nine Nuns, 27th and 28th July... ... ... 248

„ Two letters of Abbess Elizabeth Ryprose to Cromwell,

November and 15th December ... ... ... ... 248

1534. Act of Supremacy passed circa November ... ... ... 248

S. George's Chantry, valued at £4. 16s. 8d. .. ... ... 186

I 535- Thomas and John Foster made "Receivers" in the Abbey,

20th February 249

1536. Act of Suppression of Lesser Monasteries, February ... 250 „ " The Pilgrimage of Grace," October ... ... ... ... 250

1537. Visitation of Monasteries resumed, Autumn ... ... ... 250

„ Confirmation of Romsey Charters, 5th November ...

1538. Sir Richard Lyster's letter to Cromwell concerning the

alienation of property by the Abbey of Romsey, 15th September ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 250

1538. Pensions granted by Abbess and Convent to various persons,

1538. Indenture relating to letting the Rectory Farm, 28th November 1538. John Foster's letter to Sir Thomas Seymour, describing the value of the Abbey, with list of twenty-six nuns, 28th December ... ... ... ... ... 237, 252

1538. Richard Layton (Cromwell's Commissioner) leaves for a visit

1539. Royal License to alienate Wiltshire Manors to Sir Thomas

Seymour, 20th and 27th January ... ... ... ... 254

1539. Suppression of Romsey Monastery ... ... ... ... 254

1539. Royal License to alienate Itchenstoke to Sir William Poulett,

Lord S. John, 22nd April

Chapter XV. " Afterwards/'

1539. Account Roll of Henry Warner, the King's Bailiff, 29th

1540. John Foster's pension, £20. 6s. 8d., relating to the Chapels

of SS. Andrew and Peter (made 1st September, 1536), confirmed 18th February ... ... ... ... ... 252

1540. John Mason, Prebendary of Tymesbury, 28th May ... ... 268

1541. Grant of Romsey Rectory to the Dean and Chapter of

Winchester, May 268

1541. Inquiry as to the marriage of Jane Foster, nee Wadham,

1542. Grant by the Dean and Chapter of Winchester to Francis

Fleming, of Romsey Parsonage, 17th November ... 268

Table of Contents and Calendar. xi

1 543- John Foster, Incumbent of Baddesley... ... ... ... 256

„ John Newman, Vicar of Romsey, infirm ... ... ... 268

1544. Subsidy Roll, with list of tax-payers, 12th February ... 272

„ Purchase of the Abbey Church by the townsfolk, 20th Feb. 270

„ Grant of Romsey Manors to Foster and Marden, 17th

1547. Richard Wynslade presents to Vicarage, 16th March ... 268

1547. Grant to Bellowe and Biggot, 28th January .. ... ... 267

1549. Subsidy Roll, with list and occupations of tax-payers, 6th May 272

r 554- Church Plate restored by the Crown ... ... ... ... 270

1554. Sir Richard Lister dies, 17th March 266

1558. Mention of " Mayor and Constables " ... ... ... 276

1558. Grant of Manor of Romsey Extra to Sir Francis Flemynge,

1 8th July 267

„ Dean and Chapter present to the Vicarage for the first time,

6th September 269

„ Will of Sir Francis Flemynge, 24th August 278

1569. Registers of Parish Church begin ... ... ... ... 281

1578. Mention of "William Pratt, now Mayor," 14th May ... 277

NOTES.

1. The Abbey was a Royal Foundation.

2. It was dedicated in honour of S. Mary and S. ^Ethelflseda.

3. The names of thirty-three Abbesses are known.

4. The Convent existed for c. 632 years.

5. It held property in four Counties.

6. It was a home of learning in early days.

7. It feel into disrepute about the close of the 15th century.

8. The suppression took place in the Spring of 1539.

Dates are given according to modern reckoning. The sign [©] is used to indicate the day or year of death.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

TO FACE PAGE

Recumbent Effigy, S. Transept ... ... ... ... Frontispiece.

The Nave, Romsey Abbey (twelfth and thirteenth centuries) ... 14

Saxon Rood, South Choir Aisle ... ... ... ... ... ... 36

Norman Rood, Site of Cloister ... ... ... ... ... ... 40

Carving — South Choir Aisle ... ... ... ... ... ... 44

Carvings on Norman Capitals, South and North Choir Aisles ... 50

Nave Arcade and North Aisle 58

Seal of Vicar Nicholas de Sancto Botolpho, a.d. 1334-49 ... ... 64

The East End 68

The West End 68

The East End, and Site of Lady Chapel ... ... ... ... 70

Coffin Lids, thirteenth century ... ... ... ... ... ... 78

Carvings, chiefly on North Side ... ... ... ... ... 92

The Outer Gate, before Rebuilding, a.d. 1886-88 114

Coffin Lid of Abbess Joan Icthe, a.d. 1349 120

Edington Church, Wiltshire ... ... ... ... ... ... 126

Edington Church, Wiltshire ... ... ... ... ... 150

Effigies of " Le Rous," Imber Church ... ... ... ... ... 156

Injunctions of Bishop William of Wykeham ... ... ... ... 168

North Side of Romsey Abbey, shewing Nave Aisle or Parish Church

North Transept Screen (from within) ... ... ... ... ... 184

Ancient House in Church Street ... ... ... ... ... 196

Chimney-piece of House in Church Street — Circa 1460 ... ... 198

Altar Frontal, c. 1450 202

Nave Choir Aisle and Apse ... ... ... ... ... ... 228

Convent Seal (probably of late date) ... ... ... ... ... 244

Mr. John Latham, f.r.s., f.s.a .. 254

Deed of Sale of Abbey Church by King Henry VIII to the Inhabitants 270

The Nave from the Sanctuary, c. 1836 276

Sketch Map of the District 8

Map of Romsey 282

Introduction

"The Test .... rising clear and pure out of Overton Pool."

KlNGSLEY's Waterbabies.

B

Chapter I.

INTRODUCTION.

HE Town of Romsey situate in the New Forest

Division of South Hampshire, though but little known to-day, was once famous. Kings visited it, and Princesses made it their dwelling-place. The Town possesses two attractions of great beauty, the Abbey Church and the River Test. It is a matter of regret that these attractions are not better known, for they afford very real pleasure to lovers of architecture, and of pleasant country scenery, such as is characteristic of these South Hampshire valleys.

The river claims prior attention, not only as the older attraction, but as being indeed the maker of Romsey, for it is quite certain that the Abbey was placed here owing to the convenient and pleasant site created by the river. No river, no abbey — and the town may therefore look with gratitude to the River Test, both as the author of its being, and as the great benefactor which caused it to be endowed with so beautiful and valuable a treasure as the Abbey Church. The Test or Teorstan, as it was called in Saxon days, rises thirty-five miles away in Overton Pool, and is said to be the longest river in the county. It flows down between chalk hills, which are a characteristic of this part of Hampshire, and has all the charms of chalk streams, such as Charles Kingsley

Records of Romsey Abbey.

delighted to describe. Here are clear waters, a swift current, and the trout he loved so well.

The stream, after passing Whitchurch and Longparish, is joined by the Anton from Andover, one mile below Wherwell. At Wherwell stood a Benedictine Nunnery, made famous by the residence of two unhappy Queens. The one, Elfrida, the widow of King Edgar the Peaceable, founded it in expiation of her crime in murdering her step-son Edward at Corfe Castle. The other, Eadgyth, daughter of Earl Godwin, and the young wife of Edward the Confessor, was banished here for a time by reason of the jealousy of the Norman courtiers, and was placed under the charge of the Abbess, the King's sister. In this neighbourhood, King Edgar is reported to have slain the Ealdorman ^Ethelwold, for his treacherous conduct in reporting unfavourably of the charms of ^Elfthryth or Elfrida, the daughter of Ordgar, Earl of Devon, and marrying the lady himself. Here too, is laid the scene of the strange wooing, by Edgar, of the Lady Wlfhilda, and of the romantic escape of this courageous maiden from the too importunate advances of her royal lover. Passing Leckford, the Test flows by Stockbridge, and a little lower down, at Horsebridge, the old Roman road from Winchester to Salisbury passes over it. To the east lies King's Sombourne, so called because the Crown held property there, and at one time owned a mansion in the parish. This village gives its name to the Hundred.

Three miles below this point the valley narrows, and the bright clear stream flows through meadows, standing thick with long grass in the summer season, and edged by borders of rushes and great reeds. From the rising ground on the west bank, a spring pours forth its waters to join the river, and at this spot stood the Priory of Mottisfont, the Mortesfunde of Domesday. When some

Introduction.

alterations were being made in the present dwelling-house in 1 901, it was found that several of the rooms had been constructed within the old Priory Church. The first settlement of Augustinian Monks was made here in the reign of King John, when William Briwere of King's Sombourne, Chief Baron of Hampshire, and Sheriff of the County in 1207, founded the Priory. His benevolent example was followed by his brother the hermit, Peter de Rivallis, known as " the holy man in the wall," who enriched Mottisfont with his savings. On the same side of the river, but lower down, is Kimbridge, which once belonged to the Cantertons, a New Forest family.

Away on a hill to the east is the village of Michelmersh, called Michelmareys in a deed of circa 1248, and Miclamersee in a Saxon charter of King Ethelred II, of 985. Possibly the name indicates the great marsh which stretched out below the village right across the valley of the Test. The manor of this village, from the time of Queen Emma, the wife (successively) of ^Ethelred the Unready and Canute, belonged to the Priory of St. Swithun's, Winchester. It was part of the Queen's property and was given by her to St. Swithun's as a thank-offering, so runs the legend, on her acquital from a base charge of too great intimacy with Bishop Alwine, she having successfully passed the ordeal of walking barefoot on hot ploughshares. Below Mottisfont the river turns slightly to the east, and the church of Timsbury or Timberbury stands on slightly rising ground on the left or eastern bank. This church was attached to, or dependent on, one of the Prebendal Stalls of Romsey, and is an ancient Norman edifice. On the opposite bank, and a little away from the river, is the site of the ancient manor house of Stanbridge, the home so it has been conjectured of Ethelwulfe, the father of Alfred the Great. The present house dates only from the time of

Records of Romsey Abbey.

Queen Elizabeth. On the hill a little further south may be seen Roke or Oke Manor. Below the hill is a wood called Squab or Quabbe, which takes its name from the marshy nature of the ground. Near Kimbridge, the river, uniting with another stream from Lockerly and East Dean, flows out into a wide valley, which is intersected by many streams and which no doubt formed, in the old days, the Great Marsh referred to above in reference to the name of the village of Michelmersh.

Many mills are turned by these streams to-day, just as similar ones have been turned by the same water power for probably a thousand years. Three mills are mentioned in Domesday as belonging to Romsey. The Town is not only surrounded by these streams, which form an island, but it actually stands upon several of the smaller ones. A branch of the Fishlake Stream flows under Porter's Bridge Street and crosses the Hundred on the east side of the Market Place, at a spot where the Hundred Bridge formerly stood. Another branch of this stream, which divides the parish into Romsey Infra and Romsey Extra, passes beneath the pavement in Church or Churchstigel, i.e., Churchstyle Street, and flowing through the Market Place, makes its way round by the Abbey Gate and turns the Abbey Mill No. I. This stream finds its way out of the town by a double branch and joins the stream of Abbey Mill No. II. To the west of the great church there are two streams, one at the foot of the vicarage meadow which turns Abbey Mill No. II, and the other, the main stream or old Teorstan lying some few hundred yards beyond, which, after being turned to account by Sadler's Mill, receives the water of the lesser streams and flows under Middlebridge. The water about these mills is clear, bright, and swift, and it is pleasant on a summer's evening to watch the trout lying quiet under the bank or gliding up

Introduction.

stream, and to hear the splash of the water as one rises to a fly. At Sadler's Mill, in spawning time, salmon may be seen leaping high out of the water, bars of glowing silver, and casting themselves into the mill race in their mad endeavour to win the higher reaches of the stream.

Perhaps the marshy nature of the ground gave the place-name to Romsey ; " Rom," it is true, means broad, but " Ruimne " means marshy, and the name almost certainly originated with the latter and means, " the isle in the marshes." It is spelt in a variety of ways, Romeseye, Romsey, Rumsey, and in the Hyde Register, (A.D. 1016-25,) Hrumesig, where the expression Nomina sororum Hrumensis Ccenobii is also found. If the marshy character of the ground be thought to have originated the name, the similar conditions and names found in the case of Ramsey, Hunts, of Romney, Kent, and of Rumbridge, lower down the Test, will give point to the argument. It may also be worth noticing that " Rhymni " is used to indicate the marshy land, in Monmouth, on a river called by the same name, from the nature of the land through which it flows. If " Ruimne " be Gaelic, says Mr. Shore in his History of Hampshire, " Romsey is a very early name and we may suppose there was a settlement before Saxon times."

After passing the modern Middlebridge, built in place of an older structure which is mentioned in the records of the Civil Wars, the Test flows at the foot of Broadlands' or Brodelondes' Lawns. Pauncefoot Hill lies away on the right, going down stream, and the road after passing it leads in about two miles to a spur of high ground overlooking the valley, where is a small hamlet called Ridge or Rige. On the opposite side of the valley and at some distance is Ashfield or Ashfold, and straight ahead in the meadow land, as its name implies, is the hamlet of Lee.

Records of Romsey Abbey.

The river dividing into two branches passes Moorecourt and the Manor of Wade by Oure on the right, and Grove Place with the Manor of Welles on the left. The latter place is frequently referred to from early days, but the present mansion dates from the time of Queen Elizabeth.

About three miles from Romsey, Nursling Church is reached. In old days a monastery stood here, made famous as the home of St. Boniface, from whence he went forth to carry on his missionary work throughout Germany. At the time of the Danish incursions in the tenth century Nursling or Nutceling perished, and the monastery was never rebuilt.

At Redbridge, Southampton Water meets the river, and here Romsey Abbey owned a saltern ; close by are Totton or Todyngton and Eling, both of which places are connected with the Abbey. Testwood, too, is a familiar name in records of the neighbourhood, and Rumbridge, already referred to, lay between the two former places. On the west side of the head of the Water lies Marchwood, sometimes called Marchwood Rumsey, owing to a family of the name of Rumsey having possessed it in old days. Southampton Water at full tide is graceful and picturesque with a peaceful still beauty, but to be appreciated it should be seen in its glory, with the setting sun kindling the dark waters into flame.

This slight survey of the course of the River Test and of the villages, hamlets, manors, and farms on either bank may be of use in giving a general idea of the country, and of the various names and places which will frequently be met with in any description of the Records of Romsey.

WARREN U

Chapter II

' ' The race of Alfred covets glorious pains,

bold to strive

With the fierce tempest, while, within the round

Of their protection, gentle virtues thrive." — Wordsworth.

Chapter II.

THE FOUNDATION.

HE first establishment of a religious house at Romsey was made by King Edward the Elder, the son and successor of Alfred the Great. Edward's reign lasted for twenty-three years (901 — 924), and he is supposed to have founded Romsey Abbey in 907.