Ewenny priory, monastery and fortress

mill

I

WILLIAM GEORGE'S SONS LTD.

BOOKSELLERS
89 PARK STREET. Ruis/i-m .

JIG-

EWENNY PRIORY

2 **

EWENNY PRIORY

MONASTERY AND FORTRESS

COLONEL J. P. TURBERVILL

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

LONDON

ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.G.

1901

MAR 2 3 1999

PREFACE

EWENNY PRIORY is a striking illustration of the truth of the
old saying, that places, as well as prophets, are without
Jionour in their own country.

' Who on earth has ever heard of Ewenny ?' will probably
be the exclamation of the vast majority of those, antiquaries
not excepted, who read the title of this little book, and echo
will answer, ' Who ?' Yet in Germany the name is familiar
to all who study the text-books on architecture, in which
Ewenny is described as being the best specimen of a fortified
ecclesiastical building which Great Britain can show.

To make so interesting an edifice better known to those
who are likely to appreciate its unique character is the object
of this venture into print.

In considering the position and peculiar features of the
Priory, it must, above all, be borne in mind that it was
at one and the same time a monastery and a ' Castle
Dangerous,' built at a time when the Norman invaders
had hardly secured their footing in the vale of Glamorgan,
and as yet occupied only a long strip of country between
the sea and the northern hills, over which the war-cloud
ever lowered.

While from within the Priory church rose the voice of
prayer and thanksgiving, without it were heard the clang
.of arms and the tramp of the mail-clad sentry. On the
Welsh borderland, as on the Scotch, men

' Carved at the meal

In gloves of steel,
And drank the red wine through the helmet barred.

vi PREFA CE

Next to its fortifications the most marked peculiarity of
Ewenny is the pure Norman architecture of the entire build-
ing. Whether owing to poverty or to some other cause,
its Priors never followed the changing fashions, contenting
themselves with the rude, massive grandeur of their ancient
church, the result being that scarcely a trace of Early English
or of any later style is to be found in it.

Towards the end of the eighteenth century, indeed, the
church fell upon evil times, suffering severely from neglect
and mutilation, but was mercifully spared the last indignity
of ' restoration ' in the style then in vogue.

The description of architectural details can lay no claim
whatever to originality, having, for the most part, been
copied verbatim from a pamphlet by the late Professor
Freeman, who took a great interest in the place, and made
many valuable suggestions as to repairs.

Having, unfortunately, only the most distant bowing
acquaintance with architecture and archaeology, I am but
ill qualified for the task which I have undertaken. All that
I can do is to describe, with whatever of clearness and accuracy
in me lies, the grand old church and its guardian walls,
which have been familiar to me for nearly half a century.

If, as is only too probable, I have altogether failed to do
justice to my subject, I would venture to remind my readers
that * half a loaf is better than no bread.'

To their charity I commend my labour of love.

To those who have assisted me in various ways — Miss
Talbot of Margam Abbey, Canon Bazeley of Gloucester,
Mr. de Gray Birch, of the British Museum, and Mr. Harold
Breakspear, F.S.A. — I offer my sincere thanks.

J. P. TURBERVILL.

EWENNY PRIORY,

October, 1901

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

PAGE

Situation of Ewenny Priory — Description by Professor Freeman —
Porch and north aisle — Nave — Screen — South transept — Arcade
— Presbytery — Vaulting — Tiles — Ruins of Eastern chapels —
Tower — View from Priory gardens (south-east) — North side —
West end of nave — Apertures in tower stair — Measurements - i-ii

CHAPTER II

Priory house and its surroundings — Early English window — Cloister
court — Walls and towers — Church and convent before the Dis-
solution— Church — Earliest engraving (1741) — Church from
north (1775) — Evil days— Extracts from books between 1775 ar>d
1804 — Grosse — Wyndham — Donovan — Evans — Turner's picture
of interior — Sketch of same by Prout — Destruction of north
transept and aisle— Repairs by Mr. R. T. Turbervill (1800-1825)
— Visit of Professor Fre man — Repairs by Lieutenant-Colonel
T. Picton-Turbervill (1870-1885) — Rebuilding of north aisle
(1895-1896) - - 12-29

CHAPTER III

Tomb of Maurice de Londres — Carne tomb — Mutilated effigy of a
de Turberville of Coity — Mistaken identity — Sketches by Prout
and Carter — Tomb of Edward and John Carne — ' Ewenny's
hope, Ewenny's pride' — In memoriam poetry — Nameless tombs
— Celtic stones — An antiquarian puzzle - 30-34

CHAPTER IV

Founder and benefactors — de Londres of Kidwelly and Ogmore —
Deed of 1141 — Bull of Pope Honorius — Execution of a Welsh
Princess — The last de Londres — The de Turbervilles of Coity
Castle — Other benefactors. Note A : Extracts from original
deed of gift to the Priory. Note B : A twelfth -century confidence
trick. Note C : Castles of Coity and Ogmore — Churches of
St. Ismael, Oystermouth and Penbray - 35-42

CONTENTS

CHAPTER V

PAGK

Monastic period — ' Giraldus Cambrensis' — A royal visitor — Alarms
and excursions — 1 160-1295 — Revolt of Llewellyn Bren — On-
slaught of Glendwr (1403-1404) — Defence of Coity Castle 43-47

CHAPTER VI

Last days of the monastery — Deed of submission by the Prior and
two monks, September n, 1534 — Arrangements for their support
— Ministers' accounts — Lease of Ewenny Priory to Sir E. Carne
(1534) — Sale to him (1546)— Extracts from Deed of Sale 48-56-

CHAPTER VII

Lay owners of Ewenny Priory — Sir Edward Carne (1536-1561) —
Thomas Carne (1561-1602) — Sir John Carne (1602-1617) —
John Carne (1617-1643) — Edward Carne (1643-1650) — Blanche
and Martha Carne (1650-1673) — Division of the estate — Colonel
John Carne (1673-1692) — John Carne (1692-1700) — Richard
Carne (1700-1713) — Frances Turbervill and Jane Carne, joint
owners (1713-1714) — Edward Turbervill and Jane Carne (1714-
1719) — Jane Carne and John Turbervill (1719-1734) — Jane Carne
and Richard Turbervill (1734-1741) — Richard Turbervill (1741-
1771)— Mrs. E. Turbervill (1771-1797)— R. T. Turbervill [Picton]
(1797-1817) — R. Turbervill (1817-1848) — Lieutenant-Colonel
G. P. Turbervill (1848-1862)— Miss Turbervill (1862-1867)—
Lieutenant-Colonel T. Picton-Turbervill [Warlow] (1867-1891) —
Colonel J. P. Turbervill (1891). Note A : Special livery of
John Carne (1619). Note B : Principal inhabitants of Glamor-
ganshire (1645-1646)— Descent of Edward Turbervill of Sutton
— Descent of Frances Carne, his second wife — Descent of
Pictons and Warlows from Cecil, eldest daughter of Edward
Turbervill of Sutton 57-86

APPENDICES

I. Extract from Dugdale's ' Monasticon Anglicanum ' — II. Ex-
tracts'from Manor Rolls of Ewenny (1634-1669) — III. Inventory
of all goods and chattels of Edward Carne of Ewenny (1650) 87-101-

CHAPTER I

ERRATA.

PAGE 20. Line 4 read " North " instead of " South " Side.
20. Read "Grose" instead of " Grosse. '

21.
21.

32-

75-
86.

86.

Engraving read " Grose" instead of "Goose. '

Line 13 read small a.m. instead of large A.M.

Note f read " Cartoe et Monumenta Glamorgan " instead

of " C."
Third line from bottom, read "(in 1685)" instead of "in

1685."

Line under " M " going down to " 3 Edward " to be erased,
line to be drawn down from " Thomas Picton " to
"5 Elizabeth"
In place of i Richard.

2 Gervas Powell.
,. ,, 3 Elizabeth Margaret.

Jssue
j

I I

i Richard, 2 Gervas Powell, 3 Elizabeth Margaret.

specimen of a fortified ecclesiastical building, of the union

* ' E ' signifies ' the ' and ' Wenny ' or ' Gwenny ' ' white, shining
bright.' From the same word are derived the names of Wenllian,
Guinevere and Gwendolen. Ewenny is supposed by some authorities to
be the Roman ' Bovium ' (' Arch. Cam.,' series v., vol. v., p. 394).

'Llydwyn the Knight founded the choir of Ewenni ' (' lolo MSS '
p. 636).

CONTENTS

CHAPTER V

PAGK

Monastic period — ' Giraldus Cambrensis' — A royal visitor— Alarms
and excursions — 1160-1295 — Revolt of Llewellyn Bren — On-
slaught of Glendwr (1403-1404)— Defence of Coity Castle 43*47

CHAPTER VI

Last days of the monastery — Deed of submission by the Prior and
two monks, September 1 1, 1534 — Arrangements for their support

?„«>,-,„ ^Prini-v tn Sir K. Came

Extract from Dugdale's ' Monasticon Anglicanum ' — 11. h-x-
tracts'from Manor Rolls of Ewenny (1634-1669) — III. Inventory
of all goods and chattels of Edward Carne of Ewenny (1650) 87-101-

CHAPTER I

EWENNY PRIORY CHURCH AS IT NOW IS

THE Priory Church of Ewenny* is situated on the left bank
of the bright little river from which it takes its name, at a
distance of one and a half miles south-south-east, as the
crow flies, from Bridgend, and nearly the same distance from
the sea ; it is sheltered from stormy winds by a low range of
hills.

The church and monastic buildings were, in old days,
defended by a strong line of fortifications, of which the
transept and massive tower formed an integral part on the
north, this being the side most exposed to an attack from
the hills. If tradition may be believed, there was a Welsh
churcht here before the Conquest, dedicated, as was the case
with very many of the most ancient Welsh churches, to
Saint Michael.

The following description is founded on an article by Mr.
Freeman, the sentences between inverted commas being
verbatim quotations : ' The Priory Church at Ewenny is a
building highly remarkable on several grounds. It is one
of the earliest of the great buildings of Wales, being an
example of pure Norman work. It is also perhaps the best
specimen of a fortified ecclesiastical building, of the union

* ' E ' signifies ' the ' and ' Wenny ' or ' Gwenny ' ' white, shining,
bright.' From the same word are derived the names of Wenllian,
Guinevere and Gwendolen. Ewenny is supposed by some authorities to
be the Roman ' Bovium ' (' Arch. Cam.,' series v., vol. v., p. 394).

t ' Llydwyn the Knight founded the choir of Ewenni ' (' lolo MSS.,'
p. 636).

I

2 E WEN NY PRIORY

of castle and monastery in the same structure,' and belong?
to the ' class of churches which were at once parochial
and collegiate, or monastic,' such as ' Dorchester, Monckton,
Malmesbury, Brecon, Ruthin, Leominster and Dunster.'
'This church has gone through no extensive remodellings.'
' So far as it exists at all, it exists very nearly as it was
originally built, and it consequently shows us what -a reli-
gious edifice raised by invaders in the midst of a half-con-
quered country was required to be.'

' Ewenny then is a cruciform church with a central tower
of enormously massive proportions ' ; it now consists of a
nave with a north aisle, choir under the tower, south tran-
sept, presbytery, and a small vestry, erected quite recently,
on the site of part of the demolished north transept.

' The western limb, or nave, formed, and still forms, the
parish church ; the choir, the presbytery and their appen-
dages formed the church of the Priory.'

' When they came into private hands at the Dissolution,
they might, at the will of the grantee, have been wholly de-
stroyed as at Leominster and Ruthin, ruined as at Monckton,
or united to the parish church as at Dorchester, Leonard
Stanley, and Abergavenny.'

As it was, they were allowed, as at Arundel, to remain
standing, and have of late years been carefully repaired.

' It must, however, be distinctly remembered that the sepa-
ration of the church into two parts is in no way owing
to the Dissolution or any of its consequences ; it was the
original arrangement of the church from the beginning.
The western limb formed, as in so many other cases, the
parish church, and the present altar stands on the site of the
parochial high altar. The portion beyond was the Priory
church, which, when the Priory was dissolved, ceased to be
used for ecclesiastical purposes. The parishioners of Ewenny
have indeed been defrauded* of their north aisle, but not of

* ' Defrauded ' is a term which might possibly mislead ; the aisle fell
down, together with the north transept, in about 1803. It was rebuilt in
1895.

, 1807.

NB

SHEWS ORIGINAL WORK
" 13™ CENTURY «

14^ «
MODERN » «

FEET

SCALE OF FEET

HAKOLU BKAKSFEAK, F.S.A.,
Mens et delt.

(To /ace /. 3.

the choir, transept, and presbytery, which never belonged to
them. Two distinct churches, in fact, formed one continuous
building.' The division between the monastic and parochial
portions of the building was made by a solid wall across the
western arch of the lantern, ' acting, of course, as the reredos
of the parochial church and the rood-screen of the Priory.'

PORCH AND NORTH AISLE.

A pathway through the graveyard leads to a north porch
of the Tudor period, through which is the entrance to the
north aisle ; this is separated from the nave by an arcade of
four bays, so solid and simple in style that visitors to
Ewenny in the early years of the nineteenth century generally
described them as 'Saxon.' The square bases of the columns
are perfectly plain, as are also their capitals, whilst the
pillars themselves are extremely massive in proportion
to their height, and the arches constructed with very few
and very simple mouldings. The half pillar at the east end
of the east bay has mouldings which differ from those of
the other pillars and are not quite so simple.

All the pillars are grooved in various places ; in one or two
instances it appears to be tolerably certain that this was
done in order to let in screens, which may have divided the
bays into separate chapels, but the object of other cuttings
is by no means clear. The only one of which there is
certain knowledge is the easternmost pillar, into which was
fixed an old-fashioned ' three-decker ' pulpit, removed more
than thirty years ago. The aisle is lighted by three Tudor
windows, two in the north wall and one at the west end.
Close to the latter window can be seen the bonding stones
which were inserted into the west wall of the original
Norman aisle, while above the arches on the south side there
still remain two distinct lines of corbels, which tell their own
story. At the east end is a small doorway, formerly the
entrance to the transept and now to the new vestry, on each
side of which have been laid down some very well-preserved

i — 2

4 E WEN NY PRIORY

mediaeval tiles, with various designs, which were dug up close
to the east wall, within a yard or two of their present
position.

NAVE.

The west wall of the nave is perfectly plain, and was
built in the beginning of the last century, when the church
was shortened by about 15 feet. The length of the nave
is 56^ feet, and its breadth, including the aisle, 34 feet
9 inches.

At a short distance from the west wall is the font, which
in the opinion of some is even older than the church, and
which, indeed, if it be not Saxon, is very early Norman.

Over the piers of the bays, and opposite to them on the
south wall, are three perfectly plain, round-headed Norman
windows, while half of a fourth one is blocked up close to
the west wall. Near the east end of the south wall is a
small, mean Tudor window, inserted apparently with the
intention of throwing light on the communion-table.

On the south side of the second pillar from the east end
are two small and somewhat rudely cut niches, regarding
the object of which various conjectures have been hazarded.
Over one of these the wall is marked as if there had been a
canopy.

On the west side of the same pillar there are the remains
•of a fresco, so much damaged that it is impossible to state
positively what was its subject, unless it be the Virgin and
Child. Some faint remains of frescoes may also be seen on
the sides of one or two of the Norman windows on the
south.

The roof of the nave, a plain wooden one, is now much
too low down, leaving very little space above the windows.
It might, with much advantage, be raised to its original
height ; but then, in order to preserve the right proportions,
it would be necessary to remove the modern west wall, and
give back what remains of the nave beyond it. The nave is

E WEN NY PRIORY CHURCH AS IT NOW IS 5

separated from the eastern limb* of the church by a solid
wall, 8^ feet in height, which, in Freeman's opinion, was
undoubtedly original, and built for the express purpose of
separating the parochial and monastic portions of the build-
ing. Above this wall is a carved oak beam. ' Concealed
from view by the hangings which cover the rough face of
the wall are two pointed doorways (just analogous to those
in St. Cuthbert's screen at St. Albans) leading into the
choir, while at right angles to the southern one is a blocked-
up doorway, formerly communicating with the cloisters.' At
the east end of the third bay is a step carried across the
whole building, and 6 feet further east two similar steps in
front of the communion-table.

On the space between these two inner steps stand the
pulpit and reading-desk. A number of old tombstones,
which were formerly in that part of the churchyard on which
the new aisle has been built, form the pavement. The
oldest of them bears the date of 1668, and has the peculiarity
of a second inscription running lengthways, and at right
angles to the first one. Other tombstones form part of the
pavement immediately in front of the communion-table,
amongst them being one to the memory of Henry Jones
and his family. It describes him as ' Vicar of Llandivodug
and Minister of this Parish,' so he must have served two
parishes, at least twelve miles apart. His death took place

* ' The eastern limb (Arundel Church) had never been the chancel of
the parish church : it had originally been the property of a monastic
house, which had afterwards been converted into a college of secular
priests, and on the dissolution of this college, in the time of Henry VIII..
it was granted by him to the Earl of Arundel and his successors '
(Stephen's ' Life of Freeman,' vol. ii., p. 201).

' Dunster, of which we have the history, gives the key to Ewenny in
Glamorganshire. Here, unlike Dunster, part both of the monastic and
parochial church has been destroyed ; but enough is left to show the dis-
tinction in the most marked way. The western limb of a cross church
forms the parish church, fenced off by a solid reredos across the western
arch of the tower. The monks' choir is fenced off by another open screen
across the eastern arch, just as at Dunster. The transept and crossing
are, as they once were at Dunster, neutral. Since the "restoration" of
Dunster, Ewenny, unless that, too, has been " restored " out of its historical
value since I was last there, remains the most perfect example of churches
of the class ' (Freeman's ' English Towns and Districts,' p. 350).

6 EWEXXY PRIORY

in 1755. ' The lantern arches are round, perfectly plain, of
two orders, the inner one rising from two corbel shafts side
by side, the outer from a flat pilaster similarly treated. The
chevron string of the Presbytery is continued under them.'

SCREEN.

' The space under the crossing is divided from the Pres-
bytery, as at Brecon, by a screen of wood, apparently of
Perpendicular date, as the solid portion is panelled with the
linen pattern ; but the tracery above is Decorated, an elongated
version of the Reticulated type. The upright mullions appear
to have been renewed.'

SOUTH TRANSEPT.

' The north transept is destroyed. The southern one
remains and retains its original character nearly untouched.
It is lighted at the south end by three plain roundheaded
lights, arranged in a triangular shape, like those at Llanba-
darn-fawr, and at Barming in Kent.'

One peculiarity of these windows is that the centre one is
by no means in the middle of the wall. This arrangement
can be accounted for partially by the fact of the stair tower
taking up part of the wall ; but this irregularity is in entire
accordance with the style of the whole building, in which
it is difficult to find two parts exactly alike. In this entire
want of uniformity consists, to some minds, one of its greatest
charms. Another instance of this variety of treatment is
seen close at hand, in the two blocked-up arches which led
through the east wall into the two transept chapels, now in
ruins. The northern arch has its label adorned with the
billet, the southern is quite plain. The arches are divided
by a square pier, in which an elegant trefoil niche has been
inserted during the Early English period. This niche is
worthy of note, as being absolutely, with the exception of
the Tudor windows and porch, the only example of any style
other than Norman in the whole of the church.

Immediately under the northern end of the arcade a

EWENNY PRIORY CHURCH AS IT NOW IS 7

round-headed doorway leads in from what was formerly the
eastern walk of the cloister, and now forms the private
entrance from the adjacent grounds.

ARCADE.

In the west wall the passage to the tower, which is
approached, just as at Brecon, from the south-west corner
of the transept, opens to the church by an arcade of seven
small arches upon massive shafts alternately round and
square. The effect is excellent. The roof of the transept,
which is quite new, is of plain unvarnished pine-wood. The
transept contains some tombs, of which more hereafter.
The arch of the north transept has been filled up with
masonry ; in it are a modern doorway leading into the vestry,
and a Tudor window.

PRESBYTERY.

' The Presbytery may, in some respects, pass as a proto-
type of that of Brecon, though a greater difference in
general effect can hardly be imagined than exists between
the internal appearance of the two buildings. The eccle-
siastical arrangements are nearly identical ; the architectural
character presents a total contrast. Brecon, with all its bulk
and massiveness, derives an internal effect of lightness from
its noble series of Lancet triplets, and the positive height of
the building, in its unvaulted state, is considerable.'

' But at Ewenny all is dark, solemn, almost cavernous ; it
is indeed a shrine for men who doubtless performed their
most solemn rites with fear and trembling, amid constant
expectation of hostile inroads. Of course no arrangement
in the Norman style could directly compare with the Lancet
work at Brecon, but many examples of Norman work are far
from approaching the gloomy and ponderous character of
Ewenny.'

' The ground-plan of the two Presbyteries is very nearly
the same ; Brecon consisting of four bays, Ewenny, a much
smaller church, of only three. At Brecon the twp eastern

8 E IV EN NY PRIORY

bays stood free, but at Ewenny the extreme eastern one
only; the others in both cases having chapels' separated
from each other by solid walls. ' Again, at Brecon, there
was room for windows in all the bays, which, in the two
western bays, rose like a clerestory above the roofs of the
attached chapels.'

At Ewenny, the small height and character of the roof
did not allow of any side-windows at all except in the
extreme eastern bay. But it is in the roof just alluded to
that the great contrast of all is to be found.

VAULTING.

Ewenny Presbytery is one of the rare instances in Eng-
land of Romanesque vaulting on so large a scale. Over the
[two]* western bays there is a barrel vault, but the eastern
bay has groined cellular vaulting. The object of the differ-
ence clearly is to allow of the presence of windows in the
eastern bay. The two bays of the barrel vault are divided
by square-edged arches, rising from square pilasters, whose
capitals are connected by a spring forming a sort of stone
wall plate. These pilasters are corbelled off at a lower
string, which is enriched with a chevron. Between each
pair of these flat arches a moulded rib is thrown across ;
the groined vault of the eastern bay has also moulded ribs,
rising at the east end from shafts set diagonally. The barrel
vault is semicircular ; it seems always to have been a little
flattened, but now the crown has given way considerably.'
The groined vaulting is slightly flattened ; the east window is
a round-headed triplet, quite plain. The small windows on
each side of the eastern bay appear to have been tampered
with.

TILES.

The Presbytery is paved with encaustic tiles, exact replicas
of the original ones ; some of them form geometrical
patterns, while others bear the arms of the Abbey of Glon-

* Freeman has, in error, three western bays.

EWENNY PRIORY CHURCH AS IT NOW IS

cester(the cross-keys of St. Peter and the sword of St. Paul),
of William Parker, the last Abbot of that place, and of the
Beauchamps, Berkrolles and Turbervilles, all of whom were
considerable benefactors of this Priory, as also of the Abbey
of Neath, where their heraldic bearings are also found,
together with those of nine other knightly families.

RUINS OF CHAPELS.

At each side of the Presbytery, close to the wooden
screen, are small, round-headed doors leading into the side-
chapels, now in ruins ; on the north wall are an aumry, a
hagioscope, and, at the east end, a brass tablet containing
the names of all the owners of the estate who lie buried
below the spot where the high altar must have stood in
monastic days and the space to the north and south of it.

The earliest name is that of John Carne, son of Sir John
Carne, who died in 1643, and the latest that of Margaret
Elizabeth Turbervill, who died in March, 1867.

Nearly opposite to this tablet, on the south wall, is a
singularly fine double piscina, which was found some years
ago in the east window, having formed part of the masonry
with which it had been filled up.

Many Norman masons' marks are to be found on various
parts of the church, similar to those seen in Gloucester
Cathedral.

TOWER.

' The massive central tower rises with much dignity from
the intersection. Its general character strikingly resembles
that at Leonard Stanley from any point where the oblong
form and attached stair turret of the latter are not very
conspicuous. And this is the more remarkable when we
remember that the upper part of the tower at Stanley is
actually of Perpendicular date. It is, however, plainly an
exact reproduction of an earlier tower, being one of the best
examples of this rare, but by no means unique, process on
the part of the later medieval architects. Both towers rise

^ o E WENNY PRIOR Y

only a stage above the roof, and both are lighted by two small
single lights in each space, set wide apart. At Ewenny
these are round-headed ; at Stanley they are obtusely pointed,
and have the Perpendicular cavetto in their jambs, the only
sign they exhibit of their actual date. But at Stanley the
belfry stage is a little higher than at Ewenny, and the
massiveness is also slightly reduced by its being a little
recessed. Stanley also, of course, wants the remarkable
military character of Ewenny. A very lofty battlement,
certainly higher than the small belfry stage beneath it, is
supported on a corbel table. The battlements are stepped,
as they sometimes are in East Anglia, . . . and each is
pierced with a large cross eyelet. There are three embra-
sures in each face.' At the corners are very small pinnacles,
which are on the whole a relief to the effect.'

' The best point of view of Ewenny Church is from the
south-east, from the gardens of the Priory House. No
other, in the present mutilated state of the buildings,
preserves so much of the original outline ; in the northern
view the cruciform shape is, of course, entirely lost. From
the south-east the solitary transept is taken in, and conse-
quently the true character of the tower and the general
outline of the whole are better understood.'

From the north side, the only one from which access can
be obtained (except by special permission), the changes which
have been effected by time and by the hand of man are
painfully evident, the original grand proportions of the
building having been sadly marred by the destruction of the
transept, the shortening of the nave, and the lowering of the
roof. Although little besides the foundations of the side-
chapels remains, that little is deserving of very attentive
examination. In a fragment of carving over a blocked-up
doorway to the east of the vestry may be seen the only
specimen of genuine dogtooth in the whole building, and
also a dragon's head in very good preservation.

On both sides of the chancel the inner side -chapel is
larger than the outer. In the inner one, on the north, some

CHURCH AND HOUSE FROM COLUMBARIUM TOWER ( SOUTH-EAST).

[To face p. 10.

E WEN NY PRIORY CHURCH AS IT NO IV IS n

of the original tiles remain in situ in front of the remains of
a stone altar, while in its south wall are a hagioscope and a
small piscina. In the inner wall of the south chapel, next
to the Presbytery, is an aumry.

Beyond the east end of the church is the private burial-
ground of the family.

WEST END OF NAVE.

The west end of the nave, which now stands in the stable
yard, is unroofed, and the top part of the walls taken down,
the portion which contained the windows having entirely
disappeared. The remarkably beautiful Norman doorway
which formerly formed the entrance into the nave from
the west now stands in the garden to the east of the house.

APERTURES IN STAIR TOWER.

In the south wall of the stair tower, at a height of 12 feet
from the ground, is a blocked-up aperture only 4 feet n inches
by i foot 9 inches in size, the original object of which it is
difficult to divine, especially as the style of the masonry
proves that the opening must have been made at the time
the church was built. A yard to the east, in the south wall
of the transept, at the same level, is a blocked-up doorway
which evidently communicated with the dormitory over the
chapter house.

MEASUREMENTS :

Nave Length- 56 ft. 6 in., width (including aisle), 34 ft. 9 in.

S. Transept - Height 36 ft., „ (outer), 31 ft.

Presbytery - Length 42 ft. 7 in., ,, 22 ft. 2 in.

Tower - Height to battlements 56ft., width (outer) 29ft. loin.,

(inner) 21 ft. 6 in.
Chapels: North — Outer chapel, 12 ft. X 12 ft. ;

Inner „ igft. 4in. x i2ft.
South — Outer „ 15 ft. 3 in. X n ft. 3 in. ;
Inner „ 21 ft. 9 in. X 12 ft.

CHAPTER II

THE HOUSE OF EWENNY PRIORY AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

AT PRESENT

THE house as it now stands, with the exception of the third
story, recently added to the west side, and a few trifling
alterations, dates from the beginning of the nineteenth cen-
tury, when it was practically rebuilt as regards all the interior
walls, although the outer ones, which are 4 or 5 feet thick,
were mostly retained. The suite of rooms which form the
first and second stories on the west side of the cloister court
remain almost intact, while those on the south have been
but little altered ; the house consists, in fact, of two distinct
buildings joined together, of which the southern one has been
rebuilt to a much greater extent than the northern ; the
former contains all the reception-rooms and best bedrooms,
while the latter consists of servants' rooms, kitchen, and
offices.

The shape of the building, taken as a whole, differs from
that shown in Buck's engraving (1741) only by the absence
of the projecting wings on either side of the front.

EARLY ENGLISH WINDOW.

The oldest part of the house dates from as far back as the
thirteenth century, as is proved by the existence of a fine
Early English window in an upper room at the north-west
angle, close to the original west end of the church.

THE HOUSE OF EWENNY PRIORY 13

CLOISTER COURT.

The boundaries of the cloister court remain probably
unchanged (although there is some doubt on this point),
except on the east, where a wall has been built, separating it
from the side of the south transept, along which it used
to run.

WALLS AND TOWERS.

The walls and towers, which almost surround the church
and house on all sides except the south, are still in a very
fair state of preservation, but the high wall in front, which
formerly connected the south-west and south-east towers,
was entirely destroyed at the time when the house was
rebuilt ; the demolition of this wall, however much it may
be regretted from an antiquarian point of view, was abso-
lutely essential for the well-being of the inhabitants of the
house, insomuch as it entirely blocked the view at a distance
of only 70 feet, and did not leave room even for a carriage-
drive of suitable size.

In describing the fortifications, it may be convenient to
begin at the spot which would first be reached by any visitor
following the highroad from Bridgend, viz., the round flank-
ing tower at the north-west angle of the outer court, now a
kitchen garden — a use to which it has in all probability been
devoted for the last three or four hundred years. This tower,
which can at no time have been so strong as the others, has
suffered much from time or violence, and is now in a state of
great dilapidation, only partially concealed by the ivy which
has been allowed to grasp it so firmly that any attempt to
remove it might bring the whole building dowrn with a run.
The walls, 21 feet in height, are also to a great extent covered
with masses of thick ivy, but are still almost as strong as
ever, only the upper part of their parapet having disappeared.
The arrow slits still show patches of blue or gray sky amid
the surrounding green.

Next in order comes the massive tower under which

14 EWENNY PRIORY

ran the principal entrance in days of yore ; the archway
is 30 feet in height and 33 feet in depth. Although the
portcullis which guarded this entrance has long since disap-
peared, its position is shown by the groove in which it ran,
which is continued into the chamber above. Some distance
further on are two long slits in the roof, possibly intended
for inner portcullises, which, as the absence of grooves
proves, must have been of that smaller and lighter descrip-
tion which either hung loose, or were steadied by their spikes
resting on the ground below. Another theory is that these
slits were meurtriers, which an old French writer describes
as follows : ' Une ouverture pratiquee dans le mur d'une
fortification, et par laquelle on pouvait a couvert attaquer leS
assiegeants a coups de pique.'

Between the outer of these slits and the great portcullis
are two holes in the roof, about a foot square, through which
boiling pitch or lead could be poured from the guardroom
above. These holes in Old French are termed masclie-coulisr
from masche, signifying molten matter of any sort, and coidis,
from couler, to flow. The outer (northern) portion of this
tower, containing the portcullis room, is of later style of
architecture than the rest, and appears to have been rebuilt,
or added, about the time of Edward I., the angles being
strengthened by 'broaches' (small buttresses), which were
first introduced into fortifications in his reign. Large square
holes have been left in the walls on both sides, the object of
which was to allow of heavy beams being inserted in them,
the space between which could be filled up with rough stones,
so as to entirely block up the whole space between the port-
cullises, and to resist even the assaults of the battering-ram.

On the inside a small door admits to a narrow winding
stair in a side-tower, by which access is given to the room
from which the portcullis was worked. From this a postern
door and a flight of steps lead to the sentry walk on the top
of the walls, which formerly ran round the whole line of
fortifications and communicated with all the towers.

From this point the staircase leads right up to the roof

THE HOUSE OF EWENNY PRIORY 15

of the side-tower, which commands a splendid view of the
country for many miles round, and from which a beacon-
fire would have given the alarm to three or four Norman
castles when the wild Welsh were making a raid from their
mountain fastnesses.* Continuing our course eastwards we
come to a gap in the curtain wall, where is now the entrance
to the stableyard ; a few yards on stands another tower, now
roofless and with holes in its walls, but which once must
have been almost as strong as its western neighbour.

From this point the line of defence ran south, a wall, of
which little now remains, leading to another large tower
close to the west end of the aisle, which is shown in a draw-
ing taken in 1775, but of which no trace remains, the ground
on which it stood being partly covered by a modern building.
The other defences on this side, including the large north
transept, have all fallen to the ground and been cleared
away, except a few yards of battlemented wall which now
forms one side of the family burial-ground. From this angle
a line of wall, lowered and modernized, forms the east side
of the enclosure, and joins the south-east tower, which, when
no longer required for defensive purposes, was converted into
a columbarium, becoming the abode of pigeons in place of
men-at-arms. It now has accommodation for a thousand
birds, and is, perhaps, the largest dovecot in Wales. In
these degenerate days it has been put to yet baser uses, and
affords shelter to swarms of impudent jackdaws.

At a distance of 130 yards to the west stands a tower
which is now the main entrance from the front ; if less
imposing, grim, and massive than the northern tower, it far
exceeds it in beauty, and can boast of some Early English
windows. Under the archway of this tower there is said to
be a small but deep dungeon, which has not up to the
present time been explored by any of the owners of this
place. Immediately to the east of this tower, and built

* ' In such a land as Wales a monastery could not fail to be a fortress :
a church was driven to be, on occasion, a house of warfare. Of the
fortified monastery no better example can be seen than the Priory of
Ewenny.' — FREEMAN.

T6 EWENNY PRIORY

against the south wall connecting the towers, was a chamber
about 40 feet by 15 feet, which was in all probability the room
allotted to travellers of low degree, whom it was not deemed
advisable to admit to the main building.

The modern house has no pretensions to any kind of
beauty, being a plain, substantial building, which, before it
had become covered with creepers and its colouring mellowed
by time, must have been sadly out of keeping with its sur-
roundings.

FORTIFICATIONS AS THEY WERE.

In considering the fortifications of Ewenny, it must be
remembered that the principal danger of attack came from
the north, where the wild Welsh held the hills within an
easy night's march, and consequently that the strongest
defences would be required on that side, although it was to
a certain extent protected by the river, and by the narrow
valley through which it then flowed, which in those days
was, in wet weather, probably little better than a swamp.
The enclosure within which the church and monastic build-
ings stood may be roughly described as a parallelogram, the
two longer sides of which faced north and south, and the
shorter ones east and west. In some old accounts of the
place reference is made to a moat, and although no traces of
one can now be found, it seems likely that the streams which
ihave always flowed down from the higher ground on the
south and west were utilized to form a moat, which would
have been carried down to the river on either side, and have
thus converted the whole enclosure into an island ; even now
it is encircled by river and stream on all sides except the
west. The extreme length of the fortifications is 190 yards,
their greatest breadth 130 yards, and their circuit about
600 yards ; they enclose an area of nearly 5 acres.

Beginning at the west end, we find a nearly square space
surrounded by lofty walls, which formed the outer court,
within which would have been outhouses, stables, and cattle-
sheds. At its north-west angle was a round tower (A), flank-

:;>• "^

EWENNY PRIORY.
(From Ordnance Map.)

[To face p. 17.

THE HOUSE OF E WEN NY PRIORY ij

ing the walls which ran on either side of it ; at a distance oi
45 yards to its east stood the strongest of all the towers (B),
through which was the entrance from the river side. It was
no doubt altered and strengthened at various times, as
improvements were made in military architecture, but must
from the very first have been a most formidable obstacle to
an attacking force.

With triple portcullis, or single portcullis backed by two
meurtriers, guarding an entrance 33 feet in depth, in the
centre of which were iron doors, and at the sides an arrange-
ment of holes in the solid masonry into which huge beams
would have been inserted, blocked up by masses of stones,
while in its roof were the usual apertures for pouring down
molten lead, etc., on the head of any foe who might have
succeeded in forcing his way through the outer and biggest
portcullis. This tower was in its turn flanked and protected
by another almost equally strong (C), only 49 yards further
east. From the further side of this a wall ran for 40 yards
nearly due south to yet another tower (D), which stood in
front of the north-west end of the church ; from it a high
wall* ran eastwards outside the narrow aisle which it
enclosed, and joined the north transept. This, with its high
corner turrets, formed a projecting bastion, behind which
rose the massive church tower, its flat roof affording ample
space for catapults and other machines of war. Beyond the
transept the wall was continued eastwards for 27 yards, and
then, turning at right angles, ran due south for 85 yards to
the south-east tower (E), which was connected by a high
wall, strengthened in the centre by a square bastion, with the
south-west tower (F) distant about 130 yards, through which
passed the road from the south. This tower, although of fair
size and strength, was by no means so formidable as its
fellow on the north side, about 100 yards off, and does not
appear to have possessed a portcullis. On its west was the

* A broad (20 feet) aisle would have been a weak point if exposed
to attack, and there would not have been room for it behind a protecting
wall.

1 8 EWENNY PRIORY

outer court before described. Behind the battlements on the
walls ran a sentry walk round the entire circuit of the fortifi-
cations, connecting all the towers and the north transept.

The greatest difficulty which presents itself when consider-
ing the defensive power of the place is the great number of
men-at-arms which it would have required to defend so great
an extent of wall against an active and numerous besieging
force.

CHURCH AND CONVENT BEFORE THE DISSO-
LUTION, AND CHANGES SINCE MADE.

CHURCH.

The church when complete consisted of a nave 82 feet in
length and 2i| feet in breadth, a north aisle, transepts
with two eastern chapels attached to each, and a chancel.
' The nave was at this time separated from the choir by a
solid wall, acting at once as the reredos of the parochial
church and the rood-screen of the Priory. Against this wall
stood the high altar of the church, at each side of which was
a small door through which processions passed from the
private chapel of the monks.'

Whether the original aisle was a broad or a narrow one is
a matter of controversy, but for reasons which have been
given in dealing with the fortifications, of which the church
itself formed a part, it seems almost certain that the aisle
must have been narrow. If broad it must have had a flat
roof to leave room for the clerestory, but when in Tudor
times the new aisle was built no attention was paid to this,
and with a view to obtaining sufficient slope for an aisle
20 feet wide the roof was carried up until it joined that of
the nave, thus completely covering the Norman windows on
the north side. This must have deprived the interior of a
considerable amount of light, but as there were three Norman
windows in the west wall, this may net at that time have
been a matter of very great importance. When, however, this

THE HOUSE OF EWENNY PRIORY 19

west end was pulled down (about 1803), and a dead wall
erected in its stead, it was absolutely necessary to provide
more light. This was done by converting two Norman
windows on the south side into large square, or, rather, oblong,
ones, while for some mysterious reason the eastern window
on the south wall and all those on the north were blocked
up with solid masonry and whitewashed over, the north
clerestory being thus converted into a wall for the whole
length above the arcade.

This act of barbarism must have been committed between
1801 and 1803, as Sir R. Colt Hoare, describing the nave in
the former year, states that ' the windows also are long,
narrow, and with round tops,' while Carter, in a sketch taken
in 1803 (No. go), shows the windows on the south as Tudor,
with traces of the Norman ones over them on the outside,
while those on the north over the arcade are in their original
form (No. 95).

The porch, which must have been added at the same time
as the broad aisle, is undoubtedly Tudor, as are the aisle
windows.

In the sixteenth century the west arch of the tower above
the screen was filled in, so as to completely separate the
nave from the eastern portion of the church, which since the
Dissolution had become the private property of the owner of
the Ewenny Priory estate, and was used as a burial-place for
members of his family. Some clue to the date of this altera-
tion may be gained from the fact that on the surface of this
eastern wall was the painting of the head of an armed knight,
the helmet being of the form in use in the days of Queen
Elizabeth.

The small transept chapels, which after the Reformation
could have been of little or no use, and which, moreover, had
become private property, must have been the first part of the
church to fall into ruin. When Carter visited the place in
1803 he describes them as ' groined aisles in ruins,' while on
the ground-plan which he prepared only one of them is
shown at all, ' destroyed ' being written over the site of the

2 — 2

20 E WEN NY PRIORY

two northern, and a perfectly blank space left where the outer
one on the south side once stood.

EARLIEST ENGRAVING (GROSSE).

In the earliest existing engraving of the south side of the
church (dated 1775) both aisle and transept are shown in
fairly good condition, while another sketch taken only
thirteen years later shows a very great change for the worse,
and from that time the entire building rapidly fell into a state
of dilapidation.

In addition to the general disregard of churches and other
ancient buildings which was so marked a characteristic of
the eighteenth century, there were special reasons which
accounted for, although they by no means justified or even
excused, the gross neglect which for ever damaged, and very
nearly effected the entire destruction of, this grand old church
and all its surroundings.

After the death of Mr. Richard Turbervill in 1771 the
estate was left to his widow for her life. She, having her
own property in a distant part of the county, had apparently
no regard whatever for the home in which all her married
life had been passed, and let the house and adjacent land as
a farm for the rest of her long life, contenting herself with
drawing the rents and allowing everything to go to rack and
ruin.

At her death in 1797 the house was quite uninhabitable,
and her successor, Mr. Richard Picton (afterwards Turbervill)
had serious thoughts of abandoning the place entirely and
making his home elsewhere. Fortunately he eventually gave
up this idea, and a few years later took in hand the much-
needed work of repair. Before proceeding to recount the
work done by him and his successors it will be well to give
some description of the place as it appeared to those who
visited it during the last decade of the eighteenth and the
first few years of the nineteenth century, and this can best
be done by verbatim quotations from their writings taken in
chronological order.

THE HOUSE OF EWENNY PRIORY 21

F. GROSSE, 1775.

' This church is a most venerable structure, having every
mark of great antiquity. Its columns are extremely thick,
their capitals very simple, and the arches they support semi-
circular. It is at present horridly defaced by a filthy custom
which prevails in many parts of this country, namely, the
making of raised graves on the floor of the churches, and
strewing flowers and herbs over the graves ; these flowers
soon decay, become like dung, which, with the bones and
pieces of broken coffins thrown about, afford a very disgusting
sight, and must be extremely unwholesome.'

WYNDHAM'S TOUR, 1774-75.

' Two gateways and part of the wall are still extant of
Wennye Priory ; the church is perfect, and from the solidity
of its structure time has made hardly any impression on it.
This church is indisputably of greater antiquity than any
other perfect building in Wales. It was finished before the
year uoo, and founded by one of the Norman knights upon
the first conquest of this country. The arches are all cir-
cular, the columns short, round and massive. The tower is
of moderate height and supported by four fine arches, upwards
of 20 feet in the chord from their respective springs. The
roof of the east end or choir is original and entire, not
diagonal, but formed of one stone arch from wall to wall,
with a kind of plain fascia or bandage of stone at regular
distances.'

DONOVAN, 1805.

' This church has been a spacious structure. The design
is cruciform. A lofty square tower, rising in the centre of
the building, was supported within upon four noble semi-
circular arches that sprang from thick clustered columns,
and, opening to the four cardinal points, displayed at one
view, to the spectator standing under the tower, the nave and
chancel to the west and east, with the two transepts, one on

22 E WEN NY PRIORY

the north side, the other to the south. But the fine effect
arising from the spirit of this design has been long since
destroyed by blocking up one of the arches that formerly
opened to the nave. This awkward contrivance was in-
tended to separate the nave from the rest of the building,
that the former only might be appropriated to the church
service.

' Towards the end of last summer (1804) I found the arch
opening to the north transept had undergone a similar fate,
that being also blockaded by means of a thick wall which
completely filled up the arch, with the exception of a square
aperture supposed to be intended for the admission of day-
light.

' The fine arched roof of the chancel was standing in
August last. From the injurious effects, however, of the
heavy rains in the two preceding winters all the arches
have become loosened, and the removal of a single stone or
two, which threaten to fall daily, will, in all human prob-
ability, be immediately followed by the downfall of the
whole roof in one undistinguished ruin.

' As they now appear, the arches are in the boldest style
imaginable. The broken pavement observable in some few
places on the floor of the transepts is very singular. This
appears to be coeval with the earliest part of the building
itself. The whole consists of glazed earthen tiles about
10 inches square, all of which are curiously marked with
devices, shields, coats-of-arms, swords, keys, and other emble-
matic figures in white or yellow, disposed upon a ground of
blue and white. Some are red, but these appear to have been
originally blue, as the cloudy stains of that colour remain still
upon them.

' The fragments of this pavement are not uninteresting, but
the appearance of the whole from the happy combination of
colours and figures was no doubt peculiarly elegant when
complete.

' The nave, which is now set apart for the performance of
the church service, betrays every symptom of neglect as well

THE HOUSE OF ElVENNY PRIORY 23

as of innovation. There was formerly a spacious aisle on
the north side of the nave, extending under cover of a hand-
some colonnade of semicircular arches, supported upon
pillars, but for some purpose best known to the repairer
all these arches were blocked up with masonry last summer
(1804).

' Of late years the descendants of the Turbervilles seem to
have dealt rather scurvily with the good works of their
ancestors, if in no other instance, at least in suffering this
venerable edifice to fall into decay, while at a small expense
that might have been avoided.

' The stranger, when he sees the ostentatious mansion that
is now almost finished for the family residence for the pro-
prietor of the estate immediately behind the Priory house,
cannot avoid thinking that the church might have been con-
sidered, also with much propriety, an object highly worthy
of his liberality. As a place of worship, nothing can be
more disgraceful.

' For the want of a few score tiles on the broken roof the
congregation when assembled are exposed in all weathers
to the open day, and, what must prove still more disgusting,
to the filth occasioned by a busy swarm of pigeons kept
about the Priory, whose dung falls at intervals into the
church, where it accumulates through neglect, and is suffered
to soil the furniture of the pulpit, the pews, the floor, and
even the Communion table, in the most unbecoming manner.'

EVAN'S TOUR 1803.
EWENNY ABBEY (GLAMORGAN). A CELL OF ST. PETER'S.

' In this research we met with the remains of the ancient
Abbey of Ewenny, with the noble ruin of its monastic
church. It stands upon the marshy flat near the banks of
the river, and is one of the numerous structures erected in
this country by the Normans.

' This was a Benedictine Priory founded by John de Londres,
Lord of Ogmore, A.D. 1140, and given by his brother,
Maurice de Londres, as a cell to Gloucester Abbey, A.D. 1141,

24 E WEN NY PRIORY

dedicated to St. Michael, and valued at the Dissolution at
£78 os. 8d., and clear, £59 43. od., and then granted, as a
part of the possessions of St. Peter's in that city, to Sir
Edward Carne, the thirty-seventh of Henry VIII. It was
defended by strong walls having two gateways, with two
portcullises to the principal entrance. The buildings were
extensive, and some of the rooms of the Abbot's lodge, still
remaining, are large and stately. This was formerly the
residence of the Turbervilles, in which family it still
remains.

' The Abbey church is a noble building of cruciform shape,
having a large choir and nave, with two transepts ; the
columns, terminating in figured capitals, are crowned with
circular arches. The choir has a very curious arched and
groined roof of stone ; in this lies a stone coffin, with an in-
scription to Roger de Londres as founder of the abbey. In
the southern transept a rude stone figure to Pain de Turber-
ville, Lord of Coity, etc. The floor was paved with porce-
lain tiles, similar to Tintern Abbey ; the nave is at present
used as the parish church.'

PICTURE BY TURNER.

The truth and accuracy of the descriptions given above as
to the disgraceful condition of the interior of the church
towards the end of the eighteenth century are confirmed by
a fine early Turner, which belonged to the late Mr. Pyke
Thomson, and is now in the Cardiff Museum. This view is
taken from the west corner of the north transept, and shows
the space under the tower, the wooden screen and the south
transept, with a large altar tomb, on the top of which is the
statue of de Turberville. Against the sides of it a lot of
young pigs are rubbing themselves ; another member of the
litter is being driven through the door of the screen by a
woman, while a man is shown near the south door bringing
in a bucket of pig's-wash, and a woman near the west door
feeding chickens. In the foreground are seen tiles bearing
various devices, while scattered about are a harrow, wheel-

^ H
a ^

THE HOUSE OF EWENNY PRIORY 25

barrow and hen-coop, around which a brood of turkey
poults are disporting themselves. No cattle appear in the
picture, but this part of the church seems at about this time
to have been made use of as a cowshed, and the upright bars
of the wooden screen still show the deep cuts worn in them
by the friction of the ropes with which the beasts were
tied up.

REPAIRS FROM 1800 TO 1825.

Such being the condition of things, it is hardly to be
wondered at that the new owner, Mr. R. T. Turbervill, did
not attempt the restoration of the entire edifice, but con-
tented himself with making it fit to be used as a church,
confining his work to what was absolutely necessary.

This may not, after all, be a subject of unmixed regret, as,
considering the style of architecture in vogue in his day, he
might, with the best intentions and at great cost, have
' restored ' the church in a manner calculated to make its
builders turn in their graves and his successors execrate his
memory. As it was, he pulled down the ruinous north
transept and aisle, cut off about 15 feet at the west end of
the nave, and lowered its roof, while he still further de-
stroyed the fine proportions of the nave by raising the level
of the floor so high as to entirely cover the bases of the
pillars — a somewhat rough-and-ready way of making the
building less damp by keeping its floor level with the ground
outside.

That the aisle, at all events, did not fall down of itself is
proved by the passage in Donovan's account of his visit :
' But for some purpose, best known to the repairer, all these
arches (in the nave) were blocked up with masonry last
summer (1804).' The purpose was evidently to form the
arcade into an outer wall after the aisle was removed.

From the churchwardens' accounts it appears that the
necessary alterations and repairs, which included the pro-
curing of a new bell, extended over a period of more than
twenty years (1800 to 1825), during all of which time a heavy

26 E WEN NY PRIORY

church rate was imposed, amounting in one year to two-
shillings in the pound.

All this money was expended on the parish church only,
and nothing was done to the private part, east of the parti-
tion wall, beyond such repairs as were absolutely needed to
save it from coming down with a run and to keep the interior
in decent order.

REPAIRS FROM 1870 TO 1885.

The church remained in this condition for more than half
a century, when it was again taken in hand (about 1870)
by Colonel Picton-Turbervill, advised, and to a great extent
guided, by the late Professor Freeman, who took intense
interest in the building, which he was wont to describe as
'the most perfect specimen of Norman architecture remain^
ing in the country.'

At the time of his first visit (1867) three enormous but-
tresses of solid masonry almost entirely concealed both
sides of the chancel, while its south side was further hidden
by a dense growth of shrubs and trees. The windows in the
south transept were unglazed, while those in the chancel had
been filled in with masonry and whitewashed, with the ex-
ception of the top of the central window at the east end,
which, for some mysterious reason, had been made pointed
instead of round by the insertion of a piece of painted wood;
over all had been placed some of the modern monumental
tablets. To complete the uniformity of the work, the whole
of the beautiful groined roof of the chancel, as well as its
walls, had been covered with the all-pervading whitewash.

The whole of this portion of the building was dark,
mouldy and dismal — as bare and ugly as the combined
neglect and mistaken care of man could make it.

The task of rectifying as far as possible the mischief which
had been done was at once taken in hand by Colonel Picton-
Turbervill, and continued at intervals for more than ten
years. The trees and shrubs were first cleared away, and two
of the great buttresses on both sides of the chancel removed,

THE HOUSE OF EWENNY PRIORY 27

leaving only the ones at the east end, the removal of which
might have been attended with danger to that part of the
building.

The discoveries now made were of much interest, in-
cluding as they did the two blocked archways leading from
the east side of the transepts into the side chapels, the
foundations and parts of the vaulting of the chapels, an
aumbry, and the remains of a window in both walls of the
chancel.

The interior of the chancel was next taken in hand, the
windows at the east end being opened out and glazed, as
well as those in the side walls ; the whitewash, which had
been so lavishly used, was removed, and the mouldings on
the walls renewed from the pattern of what was still re-
maining ; the old oak screen, which was in a somewhat
dilapidated condition, was repaired, and the whole of the
chancel paved with tiles, copied exactly from some which
had been found in the inner chapel on the north side, and
which still remain in situ, in front of the foundations of the
old altar there.

The large tombs, including that of the founder, which
to a great extent blocked up the chancel, were then removed
to the south transept, together with the tablets which had
been placed over the east windows ; the floor of the transept
was repaired and covered with concrete, and the walls
cleaned and cemented.

About 1875 the oak pulpit was put into the nave and the
old-fashioned pews replaced by the present ones, while a
year or two later the tower was repaired, no alterations what-
ever being made in the original design ; the oak flooring of
the belfry was renewed in 1886, and three years afterwards
the great arch separating the nave from the choir was
opened out, the dividing wall, which is believed to have been
part of the original building, being retained.

After the death of Colonel Picton-Turbervill, who had
left a considerable sum of money for such further improve-
ments as might be thought necessary, his widow and his

28 EWENNY PRIORY

brother, Colonel J. P. Turbervill, decided on restoring the
aisle, and remedying, as far as possible, the injuries which
time and the hand of man had inflicted on the interior of the
nave. The idea of restoring this part of the church to
its original length and height was, for various reasons,
abandoned, and after much consideration it was decided
that the new aisle should be a narrow one, as the original is
generally believed to have been.

Mr. Micklethwaite,* well known as an architect and an
antiquary, was called in, and the work commenced under his
guidance in June, 1895.

In order to clear the site of the new aisle it was necessary
to take down several tombs, which were afterwards replaced
as near as possible to their former positions, and to remove
the earth, which had been raised to the height of 2 or 3
feet above the level of the original floor of the nave ; this
entailed the disturbance of a large quantity of bones, which
were reverently reinterred in a spot on the north-east side of
the burial-ground.

The Tudor porch had to be pulled down and rebuilt in a
new position ; this was done with much care, every stone
being marked and replaced. When the masonry blocking
up the arcade was removed, it was found that little or no
damage had been done to the moulding of the arches, and
the mortar was removed without much difficulty.

The floor was then brought down to its proper level,
bringing to light the bases of the pillars and restoring their
original proportions.

The two large Tudor windows in the south wall of the
nave were removed, and the Norman ones, which had fortu-
nately escaped with only slight damage, restored.

The levelling of the floor having made a difference of from
2 to 3 feet between the east and west ends, it was now
possible to make a flight of steps up to the altar, such as
must have existed in early days.

A few of the most perfect of the old tiles from the side

J* Now architect to Westminster Abbey.

THE HOUSE OF E WEN NY PRIORY 29

chapels were placed in a safe position on either side of the
small arch leading from the aisle into the vestry, which
was built on a portion of the ground of the ruined north
transept.

In 1896 the church was reopened by the Bishop of
Llandaff, on the anniversary of its patron saint, St. Michael,
but the new vestry was not fully completed until a month or
so later.

CHAPTER III

OLD TOMBS AND SCULPTURED STONES

TOMB OF MAURICE DE LONDRES.

IN the transept are several old tombs. The nearest to the
choir is a coffin-shaped stone, on which is carved a highly-
ornamented cross, not unlike a crozier, an inscription, and
an elaborate border of foliage, vine-leaves and grapes. This
is the tomb' of the founder, or, to speak more accurately, the
donor of the church to the Abbey of Gloucester. It is
remarkable alike for its beautiful workmanship and for its
wonderful state of preservation after the lapse of over seven
centuries. The inscription in old Norman characters runs as
follows :

' Ici • gist j Morice • de • Lundres • le • fun
dur I Deu • li j rende • sun • labur • A.M.'

CARNE TOMBS.

Next to this is an altar tomb of plain gray stone, on all
four sides of which are seen the coats-of-arms, with various
quarterings, of the Carnes, this showing clearly that it must
have been erected in memory of some important member of
that family. The stone which bore the inscription has at
some time or other been destroyed, as the one which now
•covers it is perfectly plain, without the slightest appearance
of having ever been cut.

MUTILATED EFFIGY OF A TURBERVILLE OF COITY.

On the top of this tomb, in much the same position that
it occupied, if old engravings may be trusted, a hundred

OLD TOMBS AND SCULPTURED STONES 31

years ago, lies the effigy, rather more than life-size, of a
warrior, whose pointed shield, long sword and chain armour
appear to indicate that he lived at some time during the
twelfth century. Time and man have dealt hardly with him ;
his feet have been broken off, and but little is left of his face.
Tradition has always maintained that this much-damaged
figure represents a Paganus de Turberville of Coity, who was
•a benefactor of this Priory.

\ A death-blow was apparently given to this legend by
Sir R. Colt Hoare, who in his ' Giraldus,' vol. i., p. 147,
writes as follows : ' In the southern transept is an ancient
altar tomb, supporting the mutilated effigy of a knight in
armour, bearing a shield on his left arm. The personage to
whom this sepulchral memorial was erected has never as yet
been clearly ascertained, and has been vulgarly attributed by
•the whole tribe of modern tourists to Paganus de Turberville,
Lord of Coity. A happy gleam of sunshine, a pail of water,
.and a broom, enabled me to ascertain the true original of
this effigy, which was intended to commemorate probably a
friend or follower of Morice de Londres :

' Sire Roger de Remi gist isci
Deu de son alme eit merci . A.M.'

MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

This seemed to set the matter at rest, and subsequent
writers, with one or two exceptions, accepted and repeated
this statement. A reference, however, to Sir. R. Colt Hoare's
original notes in his own handwriting (now in the Cardiff
Free Library) shows that the account he wrote on the spot
differs materially from the text of his work quoted above.
His MS. reads thus :

' Sire Roger de Remi gist ici
Deu de son alme eit merci. Amen.'

' The above is engraved (but in letters ruder than in the
other inscription) on a stone shapen like a coffin, in the
.centre of which is a simple cross, and the inscription is on

32 E WEN NY PRIORY

the edge of the tombstone, which lies parallel and on the
right side of the mutilated effigy of a knight in armour,
bearing on his left arm a shield.'* This shows clearly that
whoever the knight in question may have been he was
clearly not De Remi, whose tombstone (which no longer
exists) is described as lying beside the effigy.

Probably the old tradition is correct after all, and De
Turberville has for all these centuries been lying peacefully
at rest within the walls of the old church which he loved so

dearly.f

' The knight's bones are dust,
And his good sword rust ;
His soul is with the saints, I trust.'

The third tomb, a very handsome one of white, black and
brown marble, raised on two steps of the same material, is
to the memory of Edward Carne, who died in 1650, and also
of his great-grandson, the last of this branch of the Carne
family, who died in 1700 at an early age. On the flat surface
of the tomb are the following inscriptions :

' Here lyeth the body of John Carne Esqre
son of Edward Carne and great grand
son of Edward Carne that lyeth here,
deceased the 4 day of June 1700
aged 15 years 10 mo and n days.'

' Here lies Ewenny's hope, Ewenny's pride,
In him both flourished and in him both dyed.
Death, having seized him, lingered, loathe to be
The ruin of this worthy family.'

On the north side of the tomb is a short inscription
stating that it was erected by Martha, daughter of Sir Hugh
Wyndham, of Pilsden, in memory of her husband, Edward
Carne.

* A sketch by Prout, the date of which is uncertain, and one by
Carter (in 1803) show the effigy on a platform, leaving room for a stone
beyond it, while one by Carter (96, British Museum) gives the stone
carved with .a cross and name of Roger de Remi.

t ' Meissum etiam inquocunque habitu vel loco decessero simul rum
haaredibus meis in praedicta ecclesia Sancti Michaelis sepeliendum.' — ' C.,'
vol. iii., pp. 549, 550.

OLD TOMBS AND SCULPTURED STONES 33

On the opposite side is the following specimen of the In
Memoriam poetry of the period :

'To THE MEMORY OF EDWARD CARNE OF EWENNY, ESQRE,

DECEASED.

' Here lies an house entombed in one Game's fall,
Idly bemoaned in Ewenny's funeral.
Glamorgan's losse and hopes one hour hath caste
Into this urn of Carne's the best and last.
Ancient in stock and of a race so long
That to deriv't would tire the herald's tongue,
Great Rhese's liegeman, one whose scutcheon bears
Charges as aged as Fitzhamon's peares.
But great as little time hath both their date?,
And families as well as men their fates.
Yet birth's but borrowed he was noble grown,
And fraught with partes which we can call his own ;
In years but youth, in worth a man, a plant
That did more standing not matureness want.
Grief and joy's equal object one in name,
Destroyed and yet surviving in his fame.
A husband twice, and not a father less,
But crossed with a most erring fruitfulness
His issues missed their sex, had that been right,
And nature sons for daughters brought to light,
His friends had now with half the sorrow cried,
For Edward only and not Carne had died.'

NAMELESS TOMBS.

Embedded in the concrete floor of the transept are
several stones to the memory of various Carnes and Turber-
vills, and also two stones absolutely without an inscription of
any sort. In the centre is a very long and perfectly plain
cross, on each side of which are short pillars. It has been
conjectured that these pillars may be meant to represent the
crosses of the two thieves, and that these are the tombstones
of two Priors. All along the east wall of the transept, and
across the choir to the north wall, are arranged a consider-
able number of sculptured stones, most of which belong to
the Norman period, but amongst them are two fragments of
purely Celtic design, both of which have been made use of
at a later time, and bear on one side Norman carving.

One of these is merely a small specimen of twisted cord

3

34 EWENNY PRIORY

pattern, but the other (which is broken in two) forms part of
a large cross, and is very similar in design and general
appearance to the celebrated eighth or ninth century crosses
at Margam and Llantwit Major.

There is another stone, the origin and date of which is a
matter of dispute amongst antiquaries and archaeologists.
It has only quite recently been taken out of the wall of the
old tithe-barn, in which it had done duty as a coping-stone,
and is of the following dimensions : Length, 34 inches ;
breadth, 14 inches ; and depth, 12 inches.

On it is carved, in such bold relief that it is possible to
introduce a little ringer between the stone and the sculpture,
a tired, emaciated horse or ass, on whose back in place of a
rider is a human head, with faint traces of handsome, regular
features, a pointed beard, and short curled hair; the head is
out of all proportion to the horse, and must be intended for
that of a giant, unless, as was sometimes the case in very old
sculpture, the huge head was intended to do duty for the
whole body. The tail of the horse is firmly held in the
mouth of some nondescript animal, which is being dragged
along, head downwards, its back curved like a bow, and its
hindquarters in the air. Possibly this may be a monkish
mode of representing the devil.

In an old description of Ewenny is the following passage :
' It is not a little remarkable that in the churchyard of the
venerable Priory Church of Ewenny there are two gravestones,
the one covering the remains of a man of that parish who
was cook to Charles the First, and the other those of his
fellow-parishioner, who was smith to the usurper.'

These gravestones are no longer to be found, and even the
* oldest inhabitant ' does not profess any knowledge of their
existence.

CHAPTER IV

FOUNDER AND BENEFACTORS OF EWENNY PRIORY
DE LONDRES OF KlDWELLY AND OGMORE.

' THERE is no received pedigree of the family of De Londoniis,
or De Londres, Lords of Carnwathlan and Kidwelly in Caer-
marthen, and of Ogmore in Glamorgan, where they founded
the Priory of Ewenny and built the castle of Ogmore,' the
ruins of which are still to be seen on the left bank of the
Ewenny, close to its junction with the Ogmore, at a distance
of only a mile and a half from the Priory. William de Londres
followed the fortunes of Robert FitzHamon, Lord of the
house of Gloucester, in his invasion of Glamorgan, and
secured a good share of the spoil. He and his son Maurice
were serving together in 1102 under the Earl Marshal. The
former was probably the actual founder of the Priory of
Ewenny, although its foundation is attributed by Leland to
John de Londres, which seems to be a mistake, as no one of
that name appears in any record until a considerably later
period. The church, with the strong walls and towers by
which it is surrounded, must have taken a good many years
to build, and must have been completed before the year 1141,
when it was handed over to the Abbey of Gloucester by
Maurice. On his tombstone, which still remains in excellent
preservation, he is described as ' the founder'; but the records
of the Abbey of Gloucester show that he gave the church of
Ewenny, together with several others, all of which were
already in existence, for a Priory.

The earliest date at which the name of Maurice de Londres

3—2

36 E WEN NY PRIORY

appears in a deed is in 1126, when he, together with Paganus
de Turberville, and many other men of note, was a witness.

The record of his gift to the Abbey of Gloucester reads as
follows :* ' In the year 1141 Maurice de Londonia, the son of
William de Londonia, gave to the Church of St. Peter of
Gloucester, the Church of St. Michael of Ewenny, the Church
of St. Bridget with the Chapel of Ugemore de Lanfey, the
Church of St. Michael of Colvestone, with the lands, meadows,
and all other things belonging unto them, freely and willingly
(quiete) in free almoigne, in order that it might become a
convent of monks. 't

' Moreover (he gave) also the church of Ostrenuwe (Oyster-
mouth) in Gower, the church of Penbray, and the church of
St. Ismael, with lands, etc.'

This was in the time of Abbot Gilbert, and was confirmed
by Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury.

This gift was confirmed, after his death, by his son
William ; by his overlord, Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester ;
and, lastly, by King Henry I. It was also confirmed by
Nicolas, Bishop of Llandaff.*

BULL OF POPE HONORIUS.§

Like a good many other 'pious founders,' Sir Maurice
seems to have been a somewhat truculent person, as in a
Bull of Pope Honorius II., dated April 19, 1128, he is
denounced as a despoiler of church lands, and solemnly
warned that, if he does not repent of his evildoings and
make full restitution, he will be excommunicated. It must,
however, be admitted that if he sinned he did so in good

* ' Cartas et Munimenta de Glamorgan' (Clark), vol. i., p. 14.

t In an unpublished manuscript at Margam Abbey of 1139-1141 the
number of monks is fixed at not less than thirteen.

| 'Cartas et Munimenta de Glamorgan' (Clark), vol. i., p. 15.

§ 'Bulla Honorii II., Papa. 19 April, 1128: Honorius Episcopus,
Servus Servorum Dei, dilectis filiis, Monachis, Capellanis, Canonicis,
Waited filio Ric.,' etc., etc. If tradition may be believed, Maurice
was of a simple and confiding character. See Note B at end of
chapter.

FOUNDER AND BENEFACTORS OF EWE N NY PRIORY 37

company, inasmuch as the Bull in question is addressed
to the monks, chaplains, and canons of Llandaff, and to ten
of the leading men in that diocese.

His Holiness begins by addressing them all as his beloved
sons, giving them his salutation and apostolic benediction.
He then proceeds to state that, if all that he has heard be
true, they have been robbing and defrauding their mother-
church of Llandaff, contrary to the honour and welfare of
their own souls, and directs them at once to restore and
make good whatever lands, tithes, oblations, or other valuables
of any sort they may have appropriated, pointing out to them
that if it is considered by all men to be a heinous thing for
one to hurt and injure his own mother, how much more
horrible and infamous must it be for anyone to plunder,
injure, and grievously afflict his spiritual mother the Church,
and asks indignantly whether they do not blush for shame
when they reflect that they have not only plundered in broad
day, but even have killed merchants when they were coming
to and from Llandaff?

He then warns them all that if they do not forthwith
cease from all such villainies, and humbly submit themselves
to his venerable brother, Urban the Bishop, he will, by the
authority given to him by God, confirm the sentence which
the said Bishop is about to pass on them.

Unfortunately for the memory of Maurice de Londres,
making free with the property of the Church was by no
means the greatest sin which can be laid to his charge, for
he was guilty of putting to death, in most cruel and un-
knightly manner, a Welsh Princess, Gwenllyan, wife of
Gruffyd ap Rhys and daughter of Gruffyd ap Cynan, whom
he took prisoner and at once beheaded in the courtyard of
his castle at Kidwelly. In revenge for this brutal deed her
brothers, Owen Gwynedd and Cadwaladyr, destroyed the
castle of Aberystwyth (in 1135) and put its garrison to the
sword.

William de Londres confirmed all the grants made to
Ewenny by his father Maurice, and also gave a considerable

38 E WEN NY PRIORY

amount of land himself. These gifts were confirmed by his
son Thomas and by his granddaughter Hawise, but these
two do not appear to have made fresh grants on their own
account. This Hawise was the last of the De Londres
family.* She was twice married, and through her great-
granddaughter the castles of Ogmore and Kidwelly passed,
by marriage, to the Earls of Lancaster, and through them
to King Henry IV. Hawise died in 1274, and was buried at
Ewenny, where the greater part of her tombstone was found
during some alterations to the church in 1895 ; the head is,
unfortunately, missing, but the rest of the figure is in good
preservation. The inscription runs as follows :

'(De la nob)le Dame : Hawise : de : Londres : pensez
(Et chanter) pur : la : so(n) : alme : pult (?) : pat : noster.'t

DE TURBERVILLES OF COITY CASTLE.

' Next to the de Londres the greatest benefactors of
Ewenny Priory were the " de Turbervilles of Coity, a branch
of a once powerful and wealthy race, who derived their name
from ' Turbida Villa ' (probably), in Normandy, and whose
name appears on the Roll of Battle Abbey." '+

' The Turbervilles probably first settled in Dorsetshire,
where they long remained ; but the ancestor of the Welsh
branches seems to have shot off at an early period, for he
entered Monmouthshire under Bernard Newmarsh, and
he, his brother or his son, pursued similar fortunes in
Glamorgan under FitzHamon.'

' A Welsh line established itself at Coity, in Glamorgan,
which was gained by conquest, but their title to which was
prudently fortified by a marriage with the Welsh heiress.
Here the Turbervilles flourished in considerable local
splendour for eight generations, when the main line dis-
appeared in four co-heiresses.'

The first Paganus de Turberville, nicknamed ' Cythrawl,'

* A branch of the family settled in Ireland before 1 186, where they were
known as de Loundres. t Letters in brackets are conjectural.

J ' Genealogies of Glamorgan ' (Clark), pp. 447, 448.

FOUNDER AND BENEFACTORS OF EWENNY PRIORY 39

the Devil, who was wise enough to secure his possession of
Coity Castle by marriage with Sybilla, daughter of its owner,
Morgan ap Caradoc ap Jestyn, was a contemporary of Fitz-
Hamon, and his name, or that of his son (also Paganus),
appears in a deed dated 1126, together with those of William
and Maurice de Londres.

The first notice of grants to the Priory by members of this
family is to be found in a deed* (1226-1229), in which their
overlord, Count Gilbert de Clare, confirms grants already
made to the Priory by various persons, amongst whom
appear the names of ' Symon de Turbervilla et Paganus et
Gilbertus de Turbervilla.' All the land given by them is
stated to have been shown on certain plans. From another
deed it is clear that Gilbert was the grandfather and Paganus
the father of another Gilbert. By this deedt he confirms the
grants of his ancestors, and makes some additional ones on
his own account, with the consent of his wife Agnes. J

As this Gilbert de Turbervilla expressly stated in his will
that it was his earnest desire to be buried in the Priory
Church of Ewenny, it is probable that the effigy there,
which tradition has always assigned to one of the De Turber-
villes, is really his.§

The direct male line of the Turbervilles of Coity ended in
Sir Richard, who died in the last years of the fourteenth
century, leaving four daughters, between whose husbands the
estate was divided. Several junior branches of the family had
by that time been established in various parts of the county,
all of which have since become extinct in the male line.

In the deed last mentioned appear the following names of
donors to the Priory : (i) Scurlage, of Scurlage and Killecurn
Castles in Gower ; (2) William Corendone ; (3) Gaufridus
de Causi ; (4) Herbertus, son of Hugo ; (5) Paganus Grossus.

Another benefactor, whose name does not appear in this
deed, was Richard de Kardiff.

* ' Cartae et Munimenta de Glamorgan' (Clark), vol. i., pp. 73, 74-

f Ibid., vol. iii., p. 549.

J Appendix A at end of chapter.

§ See chapter on Tombs in the Church.

40 E WEN NY PRIORY

NOTE A.

The following extract shows the land given, as well as privileges
granted as to wood and fishing :

1 Scilicet totam terram de Carweldem et quadraginta acras quae jacent
juxta Mansionem Godrici Fullonis et viginti acras terras apud Wikam
et pratellum quod dicitur Loemeresham . . . et totam moram Paschualem
quae data fuit in escambium pro terra Nicholai Tygeht : cum toto
augmento quod Paganus pater meus ex propria largitione contulit Deo
et ecclesiae Sancti Michaelis sicut carta ejusdem testatur : et duas acras
terrae quas Gilbertus de Turbervilla excambiavit.

' Concessi etiam ut habeant in perpetuum unum summarium in memore
meo ad eundem propter ligna duabus videlicet vicibus singulis diebus in
hyeme et tribus vicibus in estate. . . .

' Et ut ista in perpetuum firma sint et inconvulsa . sigilli mei attesta-
tione ea munivi. Meipsum etiam in quocunque habitu vel loco decessero
simul cum heredibus meis in praedicta ecclesia sancti Michaelis sepeli-
endum : facta super altare solempni oblatione . concessi. . . .

' Ego vero ea quae praedicta sunt rata habens et grata . ea praedictae
ecclesiae et dictis monachis in puram et perpetuam elemosinam confirmo
et intuitu Dei ex propria largitione predictis accresco . videlicet ut dicti
monachi et omnes homines sui habeant libertatem per terram meam
eundi ad boscam et redeundi sine vexatione vel vadii captione mei vel
meorum absque documento mei vel hominum meorum. . . .

' Do etiam dictis monachis et concede in puram et perpetuam elemo-
sinam ut liceat eis libere pischare absque impedimento mei vel meorum .
per totam aquam de Ewenni ubi eis placuerit . quamdiu terra illorum
contra terram meam extendit. Ita scilicet quod cum in praedicta aqua
pischantur medietas piscis mihi vel haeredibus meis remaneat . altera
medietate penes ipsos libera remanente . et ego et hseredes mei idem
ipsis monachis sine contradictione vel impedimento faciemus . cum in
dicta aqua pischati fuerimus.'

NOTE B.

TRICK PLAYED UPON MAURICE DE LONDRES BY HIS WIFE (ADELAYS).

' Giraldus Cambrensis,' vol. vi., p. 79, Rolls Series.

[Translation.]

' In the time of Henry I., King of the English, Wales having obtained
a quiet time of peace, though the aforesaid Maurice had a forest in those
parts rich in game, and especially abounding in deer, he was very
sparing in his hunting, whereupon his wife made use of a wonderful trick,
for, as is often the case, the woman is clever in playing a trick on the
man. Now, the husband had on the side of the forest towards the sea
large meadows, and in these meadows a plentiful supply of sheep. The
wife, therefore, having all the shepherds and stewards as helpers and

FOUNDER AND BENEFACTORS OF E WEN NY PRIORY 41

accomplices in her trick, and presuming upon the complaisance of her
guileless husband, addressed these words to him (for he was of a simple
nature though obstinate): " It is a marvel," said she, "that you, a con-
queror of wild beasts, have now ceased to control them, and by making
no use of your deer, you no longer have your way with your deer, but
only with your slaves." [There is a pun in this sentence, " Cervis jam
non imperas sed servi's."] " And now, see how great abuses arise from
your excess of forbearance. For with unheard-of savageness, and un-
accustomed greed, they so vent their rage upon our sheep that instead
of many they are now few, and from being innumerable they have become
easily counted." In order to render her story more probable she had
two stags disembowelled, and sheep's wool inserted among the intestines.
And so it came to pass that the man, deceived by the astuteness of his
wife, delivered his deer to the greed of his dogs.'

NOTE C.
COITY CASTLE.

' This castle was given by FitzHamon to Sir Payne Turberville, from
whom it passed successively to the families of Berkrolles, Gamage,
Sydney and Wyndham, and is now part of the Dunraven estates. The
present ruins are more picturesque than illustrative of early castle build-
ing, as the whole structure has undergone many alterations and additions,
having been inhabited within the last two hundred years. There were,
as usual, an outer and inner baily, protected by the ordinary external
defences. The principal ruins consist of two blocks of buildings, one of
which contains a singular kind of portal, and has lost within three or four
years some of its upper stories. The other contains the remains of a
stone-vaulted hall, with a similarly vaulted passage by its side, beyond
which, in the basement of one of the large towers, was the grand receptacle
for the refuse of the castle.'*

This castle is the only one in the whole county which was able success-
fully to resist the assaults of the Welsh in 1404, when it was besieged
by Owen Glendowr, and defended by the last of the Berkrolles.

OGMORE CASTLE.

This castle stands on the left bank of the Ewenny, just above its
junction with the Ogmore river, about a mile from the sea. It was built
by one of the De Londres family about the year iioo, and, together with
Kidwelly, remained in their possession until their line ended in an heiress,
through whom it passed into other hands.

Edward IV. obtained it from the Duke of Gloucester in exchange for
the Castle of Ewell.

* Copied from Arch. Cam., Third Series, No. lx., p. 429.

42 EWENNY PRIORY

In 1445 it was placed in the charge of trustees by King Henry VI.
The castle, which is now in a very ruinous condition, belongs to*
Mr. Nicholl of Merthyr Mawr.

CHURCHES OF ST. ISMAELS AND OYSTERMOUTH.

The church of St. Ismaels, near Kidwelly, is said to have been founded
originally about A.D. 542-566 by Ismael, Bishop Suffragan of Menevia,-
whose mother was a sister of St. Teilo.

The Norman church was probably built by one of the De Londres, as
it was handed to the Abbey of Gloucester at the same time as Ewenny ;
but it must have been given away oj: exchanged at an early date, since:
it does not appear as belonging to the Priory in the thirteenth century.*

Oystermouth Church also soon ceased its connection with the Priory
of Ewenny, having on August 6-9, 1367, been granted by the Abbot of
Gloucester to St. David's Hospital, Swansea, on an annuity of two marks-
to Ewenny Priory. I"

CHURCH OF PEMBREY.

The parish church of Pembrey is situated in the middle of the village
of Pembrey, in the south-eastern division of the county of Caermarthen.
The village lies about midway between Kidwelly on the west of it and
Llanelly on the east. It is most picturesquely situated at the base of the
promontory of Pembrey, which terminates immediately above it, and
from which the village derives its name.

From the top of Pembrey Hill can be seen the whole of the town of
Kidwelly, with the magnificent old castle and its surroundings.

The name is a very ancient one, as it appears in the ' Liber Llander-
vensis' in 1066 as ' Inpennbre,' that is, 'in Penbre' ; in 1291 in'Taxatio/
Pope Nicholas, it was spelt 'Pembrey'; in the ' Inquisitiones Post
Mortem,' Edward I., 1282-1283, it is spelt ' Penbre,' its correct Welsh form ;•
in Queen Elizabeth's time, 1583, it is spelt ' Pembrey,' its present form.

The foundation of the church is, no doubt, a very ancient one — that is,
a foundation most probably of the fifth to the eighth century, during
which period a large number of our parish churches were founded,
especially those which have the vocable 'Llan' prefixed to their names.

The church of Pembrey is dedicated to Saint Illtyd, an Armorican-
saint of the fifth century, who is said to have lived between 450 and 480.

* ' Cartae et Munimenta de Glamorgan' (Clark), vol. iii., p. 505.
f Ibid., vol. iv., pp. 240-254.

CHAPTER V

MONASTIC PERIOD

ANY account of the Priory during the monastic period must,,
to a very considerable extent, be conjectural, as the records
from which an authentic history might be compiled have
either been destroyed or so carefully stowed away that they
cannot be found. With the exception of a few casual
references in the deeds of Margam Abbey and St. Peter's
Abbey, Gloucester, the first glimpse which we catch of
Ewenny is in the pages of Giraldus Cambrensis, who accom-
panied Archbishop Baldwin in the tour which he made
throughout South Wales in the spring of 1188, preaching a
crusade for the recovery of Jerusalem. The cavalcade, on
its way from Llandaff to Margam, passed by ' the little cell of
Ewennith,' but does not appear to have made even a halt
there.

The next visitor to the Priory was no less a personage than
King Edward L, who honoured it with his presence on
December 13, 1284, and passed a night there while on his
way from the Abbey of Margam to Cardiff.*

Between the years 1149 and 1183 the names of four Priors
of Ewenny (Bertram, Maurice, John and Roger) appear in
various deeds, to one of which is attached their seal, a pointed
oval in shape, measuring 2.\ inches by if inches. The device
on it is : ' The Prior of Ewenny ' (turned to the left, holding a
scroll and book) ' Sigillu...ael : de : Uggomor.' On another
seal of about the same date the inscription runs as follows i

* ' History of Margam Abbey,' p. 327 (Birch). Hartshorne's ' Itinerary *"
from Patent Rolls.

44 E WEN NY PRIORY

' . . . sigillum : Prioris : sci : Michael : de : Uggomor,'* this
being one of the names by which the Priory of Ewenny was
known in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Of the
churches which were bestowed by Maurice de Londres on the
Priory, Oystermouth was made over to the Prior of St. David,
Swansea, on payment of an annuity of two marks to the said
Prior on August 6-9, and confirmed by the Bishop and
Chapter of St. David's on August 20, 1367.

The churches of Pembrey and St. Ismael's must also
have been exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, prior to the
Dissolution, as they do not appear in the grant made by
Henry VIII. to Sir E. Carne.

Notwithstanding the fact that its history is unknown, it
must not be supposed that Ewenny, in its earlier days, was
in the proverbially happy position of the country whose
annals are a blank. The remarkable strength of its fortifica-
tions shows that the Priory was built in no peaceful times ;
that it was prepared to find itself often 'girt about with
leaguer of stern foes ' in no figurative sense, and that, to
quote Professor Freeman, ' it was indeed a shrine for men
who performed their most solemn rites in fear and trembling,
amid constant expectation of hostile inroads.' That these
unpleasant expectations were very frequently fulfilled we
may judge from the experience of neighbouring places.
What the state of affairs was during the first two centuries
after the monastery was founded may best be shown by the
following extracts from Clark's ' Land of Morgan.'

EXTRACTS.

'1160. Earl William took part in an expedition against
Rhys ap Griffith, who retaliated in the year following by
burning the Grange of *Margam.f

' 1183. *Kenfig Town had been burned, and had to be
•enclosed and the rent remitted for a year. The Dean and

* 'Cartfe et Munimenta de Glamorgan' (Clark), vol. iv., p. 254.
f All the places named are within thirty miles of Ewenny Priory, whilst
•those marked * are within a radius of ten miles from it.

MONASTIC PERIOD 45.

Archdeacon came in for compensation for injuries done by
the Welsh.

' 1185. The Welsh, unrestrained by any giving of hostages,
took advantage of the interregnum, and invaded and laid
waste Glamorgan. They burned Kenfig for the second time
(" it had not been burned a year or more "), and the town of
Cardiff. Neath was attacked, but relieved by the Normans.
' 1211. The Welsh burned and plundered Glamorgan, as in
1 1 12 they had treated the town of Swansea.

' 1224. The Welsh invaded Glamorgan, killing certain
farm-servants and a shepherd's boy. Morgan ap Owen burned
a house belonging to Neath Abbey, with above 400 sheep, and
killed several farm servants, and dangerously wounded a monk
and some lay brethren.

'1227. The Welsh burned the Margam Grange at *Pennuth,
with many animals, and killed many men ; also the Grange
of Rossaulin, with many sheep, and drove away eleven cows
and killed a farm servant. Also they cleared the Grange of
Theodore of animals, and burned several horses and great
flocks of sheep, the property of Margam.

' 1226. The Welsh burned *St. Nicholas, "Newcastle, and
*Laleston, and certain men.

' 1232. Llewellyn again invaded Glamorgan and attacked
* Kenfig. The Welsh burned what was outside the walls and
attacked the castle keep, but were driven off. It was observed
that on this occasion they spared the lands of the church.
' 1257. Llewellyn ap David took up arms.
' 1258. The Welsh attacked Neath with 800 mail-clad horse-
men and 7,000 footmen. They failed to take the castle, but
burned the town up to the gates.

' During the reign of Henry III. the state of Glamorgan
was such as to cause great anxiety to its lord. The land was
wasted, the houses burned, the cattle driven off, the borough
towns and religious houses sorely bested. The clergy were
in arrears of their tithes, the Bishops and monastic bodies
with their dues, and the landlords of. all ranks with their
rents and the produce of their demesnes. Treaties and

46 EWENNY PRIORY

truces between the English and the Welsh were of no avail.
Each party broke them at pleasure.

'1271. Llewellyn came down upon Caerphilly, and laid
siege to it with a considerable force.

' 1294. Local troubles were considerable, especially in South
Wales.

' 1295. In the spring was a general rising, in the course of
which Morgan of Avan seemed at one time to have gained
complete mastery of Glamorgan.

' In 1315 a most serious rebellion broke out in East
Glamorgan under the leadership of Llewellyn Bren, who
at the head of ten thousand Welshmen attacked Caerphilly
Castle, and, failing to take it, killed the Governor and burned
all the outposts. This insurrection became so formidable
that de Turberville, at that time Custos of the county, had
to play a waiting game, and it was put down only after a large
force had been collected by the Earl of Hereford.

' During this campaign Llewellyn Bren destroyed the castles
of St. Georges, Sully, Tregogan, Barry, St. Athans, Beaupre,
Kenfig, Ruthyn, Gelligarn, Flemingstone, and the castle of
Foulke Fitzwarine, and killed such numbers of English and
Normans that no Englishman could be found who would so
much as entertain for a moment the idea of remaining in
Glamorgan.'*

After the suppression of this rising nothing of a very serious
nature took place for nearly ninety years ; but in 1403-1404
* the irregular and wild Glendowr ' avenged the defeat of his
allies at the battle of Shrewsbury by a furious onslaught on
the county of Glamorgan, over which his followers spread
like a destroying flood, carrying everything before them.
None of the many castles were able effectually to resist them,
with the solitary exception of Coity, where de Berkrolles
stood savagely at bay for the best part of three years, at the
end of which period the siege was raised by Prince Henry in
person.!

* lolo MSS., p. 481.

t ' Cartae et Munimenta de Glamorgan' (Clark), vol. iv., p. 315.

47

During all this time the victorious Welshmen must have
been in undisturbed occupation of all the country round
Ewenny, whose walls, although by no means weak, could
have been but a poor defence against a foe who had stormed
such strongholds as Cardiff and Caerphilly.

Possibly the religious feelings of the Welsh may have
induced them to spare a monastery even when it was com-
bined with a castle, but of this there is no evidence one way
or the other.

A season of comparative peace and security followed the
reconquest of Glamorgan by the English, and the monks of
Ewenny were left free to pursue the even tenor of their
ways — laborare et orare — to do such work, good or evil, as
in them lay, until, more than a hundred years later, their
day of grace came to an end and their place knew them no
more.

CHAPTER VI

LAST DAYS OF THE PRIORY

As the Parliament which sat from 1529 to 1536 was engaged
principally in passing Acts discarding the Pope as head of
the Church in England, and abolishing the minor monasteries,
it is probable that some at least of the monks of Ewenny,
foreseeing the evil to come, forsook their convent before that
shameful day arrived when the Prior and his two remaining
monks put their names to the Act of Supreme Head and
Succession, by which they acknowledged as their lawful
Queen a woman whose marriage must have been odious
in their eyes, and renounced the Pope, whom in their
hearts they must have regarded as their only true and real
head.

If nothing can justify, there is much to extenuate their
conduct. They were, after all, only following their leaders, for
the document in question was signed by every Abbot in
England,* and, as a Roman Catholic writer of the present day
well puts it, ' Resistance usually entailed death, and if they
thought that the Papal supremacy was no cause for which
to die, they were not the only men of their class who did
so think.'

Still, one cannot but wish that the closing scene had
been of a more glorious nature, and it is with a feeling of
shame and sadness that one reads the following deed of
submission:

* ' History of the Church of England ' (Dixon), vol. i., p. 501.

LAST DAYS OF THE PRIORY 49

DECLARATION BY THE PRIOR AND Two MONKS OF EWENNY
ON SEPTEMBER n, 1534.

' Whereas it is not only the dictate of the Christian religion
and of piety, but also the rule of our Order, not only to pay
to our Lord, King Henry the Eighth of that name — to whom
alone and solely after Jesus Christ our Saviour we owe it —
universally as in Christ both the same sincere, entire, and
perpetual devotion, fidelity, observance, honour, worship, and
reverence, but also to give a reason for the same fidelity and
observance as often as it shall be demanded, and to testify
openly and most willingly to all, if the thing be required. Know
all to whom the present writing may come, that We, the Prior
and Convent of Ewenny, in the Diocese of Llandaff, with one
mouth and one voice, and by the unanimous consent and
assent of all, by this our writing, given under our common
seal, in our Chapter-house on behalf of ourselves and of our
successors, each and all will always pay entire, inviolate, sincere
and perpetual fidelity, observance, and obedience to our Lord,
King Henry the Eighth, and to Anne, his wife, and to his
offspring lawfully begotten, and to be begotten of the same
Anne, and that we will notify and preach the same things to
the people wherever time and occasion shall be granted.
Also that we hold it confirmed and ratified for ever, and will
hold it in perpetuity, that our aforesaid King Henry is head
of the English Church. Also that the Bishop of Rome, who
in his Bulls usurps the name of Pope and arrogates to himself
the supreme Pontificate, has no other jurisdiction conferred
upon him by God in this kingdom of England than any other
foreign Bishop. Also that none of us, in any sacred assembly,
to be held in private or in public, will call the said Bishop of
Rome by the name of Pope and supreme Pontiff, but by the
name of Bishop of Rome or of the Roman Church, and that
none of us will pray for him as Pope but as Bishop of Rome.
Also that to the said King alone, and to his successors, we
will give our adherence, and will keep his laws and decrees,
renouncing for ever the laws, decrees, and canons of the

4

So EWENNY PRIORY

Bishop of Rome, which shall be found to be contrary to the
Divine law and the Holy Scriptures, and to the laws of this
kingdom. Also that none of us all in any assembly, either
public or private, will presume to take anything from the
Holy Scriptures and distort it to another sense, but will each
preach Christ and His words and deeds, simply, aptly, and
sincerely, and according to the standard or rule of the Holy
Scriptures, and of the truly Catholic and orthodox divines,
in a Catholic and orthodox manner. Also that each of us,
in making his customary orisons and prayers, will commend,
first of all the King, as supreme head of the Church, to God
and the people present, afterwards Queen Anne, with her
offspring. Finally, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York,
with the other ecclesiastical orders as shall seem good. Also
that we all and each aforesaid and our successors bind our-
selves firmly by our conscience and by a solemn oath to
observe faithfully for ever each and all of the above.

' In witness whereof we have appended our common seal
to this writing of ours, and have each subscribed our name
witji our own hands.

' Given in our Chapter-house, September the nth, A.D. 1534.

' DOMPMUS THOMAS,* Priory de Ewenny.

' DOMPMUS THOMAS TOK, Monachus ibidem.

' DOMPMUS WILLELMUS BRANCHE, Monachus ibidem.'

LEASE OF THE PRIORY TO SIR E. CARXE.

Beyond saving themselves from homelessness and want,
the unfortunate Prior and his comrades gained but little by
this humiliating surrender, for within eighteen months of the
signing of the above declaration, on February 28, 1536, the
Priory, with all its belongings, was leased for a period of
ninety-nine years to Sir Edward Carne, who, to all intents
and purposes, became their Abbot.

As will be seen from the following extract from the Record

* 'Thomas Eysley appointed 25th August, 22 year of Henry VIII. v
(Dugdale's ' Monmouth ')•

LAST DAYS OF THE PRIORY 51

Office, Carne was entrusted with the duty of providing a
priest and keeping the church and other buildings in repair,
and it is difficult to see what work was left to be performed
by the Prior and monks, whose position must have been
equally unpleasant and anomalous.

A TRANSLATION OF A DEED CONTAINED IN THE MINISTER'S
ACCOUNT, GLOUCESTER, 28 HEN. VIII. , ROLL 65, AT
THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE.

' The Account of Edward Carne, Knight, Steward at that place

at that time.

' None, as appears at the foot of the account of the year
last preceding.

' Total, none.

' The accounts for -£20 ios., on account of the whole of
the aforesaid cell lately belonging to the aforesaid late
Monastery, and of all the Manors, Messuages, Houses,
gardens, lands, tenements, meadows, arable and pasture
land, woods, coppices, rents, reversions, and of all the
fisheries, mills, commons, wards, maintenances, reliefs,
escheats, waifs, frankpledge, courts, accounts, fines, tithes,
oblations, pensions, portions, fruits, and every kind of advan-
tage and emolument whatsoever of the aforesaid cell.

' . . . Except and reserved as here demitted to the said
Edward Carne by the name of Edward Carne, Knight,
by an indenture given under the seal of the late Abbot and
convent aforesaid, late a Monastery, on the 28th day of
February, in the 28th year of the reign of King Henry the
Eighth, for the term of 99 years on condition of his paying
yearly to the said late Abbot and his successors £20 ios. . . .
And the aforesaid Edward Carne, his executors and assigns,
at their own proper cost yearly during the aforesaid term,
shall find one priest for the care of the parish church of
Ewenny aforesaid, paying to him a sufficient stipend and
salary yearly to that office ; and shall also pay to a certain
Edmund Wotton, late Prior of the said cell, for his salary

4—2

52 EWENNY PRIORY

during his natural life and sojourn in the aforesaid cell
£6 13$. 4d. per annum, and to two other monks who remain
there during the life of the said Edmund and his sojourn
there for their salaries, viz., £3 i6s. 8d., besides eatables,
drinkables, chamber and dwellings necessary for them ; and
if it should happen that the said Edward Carne during the
af6resaid time should move his dwelling into another home
or place than the aforesaid cell, so that he keeps house (or
exercises hospitality) there no longer, that the said E. Carne,
his executors and assigns, shall pay yearly as follows, namely,
to the aforesaid E. Wotton, late Prior, while he remains here,
100 shillings for his diet, and to the other monks dwelling
there with him, £3 i6s. 8d. for their diet. . . . And also the
said Edward, his executors and assigns, shall find, for the
service of the said Prior and monk, eatables and drinkables
at the said cell . . . and also they shall repair, maintain,
and sustain all the buildings and edifices of the said cell at
their own proper cost and expense during the aforesaid term,
according as in the said indentures is more fully set forth.

' Total, £20 IDS.

' Total of the accounts, £20 ios., which are ordered in the
composition of John Arnold, receiver of the King, holding
possession of the late Monastery of St. Peter of Gloucester,
as in the account of the said receiver for the same year is
more fully contained.'

It would be interesting to know how Carne got on with his
' happy family,' and whether he exercised hospitality to the
satisfaction of his non-paying guests, or, finding their com-
pany uncongenial, made it worth their while to depart.
Unfortunately, we have no information even as to whether
the three lived or died, the only certain fact being that no
mention whatever is made of them ten years later (1546),
when Carne bought the Priory with all the lands belonging
to it, and succeeded to all the rights and privileges of the
convent on payment down of £727 6s. 4d.

LAST DAYS OF THE PRIORY 53

After just 400 years the whirligig of time had brought its
revenge ; the fair lands, which had been wrested from their
lawful owners by the strong hands of de Londres and
de Turbervilles, and by them presented to a Norman abbey,
reverted to a descendant of Welsh princes.

The original Royal Grant in Latin, bearing the seal and
signature of King Henry, is still in the records at Ewenny,
but is much too long to give verbatim. The following ex-
tracts will serve to show how completely all the possessions,
privileges, and rights of the Priory had passed into the hands
of the lay Rector, while the conditions as to providing for
the service and preservation of the church are ' conspicuous
by their absence.'

EXTRACTS.*

' Of Our special grace and certain knowledge and mere
motion, we have given and granted, and by these presents
do give and grant the said Edward Carne all that our
Lordship and Manor, or late Cell of Ewenny, in our County
of Glamorgan in Wales, with their rights, members, and
appurtenances whatsoever, to the late Monastery of Saint
Peter, Gloucester, in our County of our City of Gloucester,
formerly belonging and appertaining and lately being, parcell
of the possessions of the same late Monastery. Also the
whole house and scite of the said late Cell of Ewenny and
the whole Church, Belfry, enclosure, and cemetery of the said
Cell, and all and singular our messuages, houses, edifices,
barns, Stables, Dovehouses, Orchards, Gardens, Pools, Parks,
Lands and Soil, being as well within as without the scite,
close, bounds, circuits and precinct of the same late Cell.
Also all and all manner of Manors, Lordships, messuages,
Granges, Mills, Tofts, Cottages, Gardens, Houses, Edifices,
Barns, Stables, Dovehouses, Lands, tenements, Meadows,
feedings, pastures, woods, underwoods, rents, reversions,

° The spelling and use of capitals is copied from the original English
translation.

54 EWENNY PRIORY

services, rent charge and rent sec, and the rents and
profits upon any lease or grant, reserved annuities, annual
rents, annual payments and pensions, also rents, farms and
services, as well free as customary, of tenents and farmers
for the term of life or years, and for pleasure and fee farms,
farms, waters, fishing, fisheries, moors, marshes and marsh
lands, as well fresh as salt pools, running streams, banks,
furze, wastes, heathes, common ways, footways, waste grounds,
mines, sheepwalks, Courts Leet, Views of Frank pledge, and
all things which to the view of Frank pledge belong or may
or ought hereafter to belong : the assize, assay and regula-
tions of bread, wine and beer, Knight's fees, Wards, Marriages,
escheats, reliefs, heriotts, aids, fines, amerciaments, goods
and Chattels, Waifs, Estrays, Goods and Chattels of felons,
fugitives, outlaws, attainted and put in exigent and felons of
themselves, and Deodands, Treasure found, Native Villains
and Villains with their train fares, Markets, Marts, tolls
of Passage, Customs, free Warren and all things which
to free warrens belong, Wrecks of the Sea, Rectories,
Vicarages, Chantries, Chapels, by whatsoever name or names
known or distinguished, Tythes of whatsoever kind, nature
or species they are, oblations, obventions, pensions, portions,
Lands, Glebes, advowsons, nominations, donations, presenta-
tions, collations, free dispositions and rights of Patronage of
Rectories, Vicarages, Churches, Chapels, Chauntries and
other ecclesiastic Benefits whatsoever by whatsoever names
called, known or distinguished . . . belonging to the late
Cell of Ewennv.'

' By these presents have given to the aforesaid Edward
Came all and every advowsons, nominations, donations, pre-
sentations, collations, free dispositions and rights of patronage
of the Vicarage of the Parish Church of Colwynston in our
said County of Glamorgan and the Vicarage of the Parochial
Church of Saint Brigide Mayer in our said County of
Glamorgan ; also of the Vicarage of the Parochial Church
of Llandabadoch in our said County of Glamorgan, to the

55

said late Lordship and Manor or late Cell of Ewenny, and
to the said late Monastery of St. Peter, Gloucester, lately
belonging and appertaining and being parcel of the Heredita-
ments thereof.'

' Which said Lordship and Manor or late Cell of Ewenny,
and all and singular other the premises above by these
presents granted with their appurtenances granted altogether
now amount to the clear annual value of twenty pounds and
ten shillings sterling.'

' All and singular other the premises above expressed and
specified, with their appurtenances whatsoever, to the afoie-
said Edward Carne, his Heirs and Assigns for ever to the
use and behoof of him, the said Edward, his Heirs and
Assigns for ever. To hold of us, our Heirs and Successors
in Capite by the service of the twentieth part of a Knight's
Fee, and rendering therefor annually to us, our Heirs, and
Successors, three pounds eleven shillings of lawful Money of
England to the said Court of Augmentation of the revenue
of our Crown.'

' And that the same Rectories, Vicarages, Churches,
Chauntries, and Chapels, with all and singular their appurts
for ever hereafter to the said Edward Carne, his Heirs and
Assigns, for their own proper use shall be appropriated as
fully, freely and entirely, and in as ample manner and form
as the aforesaid Prior of the said late Cell of Ewenny in
right of the said late Cell, and the aforesaid last Abbot and
late Convent of the said late Monastery of Saint Peter,
Gloucester, in right of that late Monastery, or any of them,
or any or eithertheir Predecessors, or any or either of them
. . . had held or enjoyed.'

The above extracts give only a few specimens of the
iterations in which the lawyers of that day seem to have
revelled to an even greater extent than do their successors

56 EWENNY PRIORY

of our own time. It is noteworthy that in this grant the
King most specifically, and without the slightest reserva-
tion, makes over to Carne the entire church and cemetery,
without any conditions whatever as to his keeping it open
for the use of the parishioners, or requiring him to keep
it in repair. He was apparently at liberty to pull down the
entire structure, if it had so pleased him, and have sold the
materials.

It will be seen by entries in the Manor Rolls* that rights of
both treasure trove and felon's goods were exercised by the
lords of the manor.

* Appendix II., p. 89.

CHAPTER VII

OWNERS OF EWENNY PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION

EVER since the Dissolution the Priory has been in the
possession of two families, Carnes and Turbervills. The
latter, who succeeded to the estate by marriage with a Carne
heiress, became extinct in the male line in 1771, but their
name was perpetuated by their descendants in the female
line, Pictons and Warlows.

Sir Edward Carne, the founder of the Ewenny branch of
that family, was the second son of Howel Carne, of Nash,
by Cecil (or Sibyl) Kemeys, of Newport. His family was
one of the oldest in Glamorgan, and claimed descent from a
Welsh Prince.

The exact date of Sir Edward's birth is not known, but
it must have taken place at the end of the fifteenth or
beginning of the sixteenth century, as in 1524 he was holding
the dignified post of head of Greek Hall, Oxford, and had
taken his D.C.L. degree. Possessing the most marked
ability, and being no more troubled with scruples than most
men of his day, he soon brought himself into notice, and
became a zealous and trusted servant of King Henry, by
whom he was employed as his excusator in the question of
the divorce of Queen Katherine. In this capacity he went
to Rome in 1530, and remained there for some years.

After his return from this mission he took an active part in
the dissolution of the minor monasteries, not without con-
siderable profit to himself. In 1536 he was ' recommended '
by the King to the Abbot of Gloucester as a fitting tenant for
ninety-nine years of the Priory of Ewenny, on terms which

58 EWENNY PRIORY

were no doubt satisfactory to him, whatever they may have
been to the Abbot and Chapter of Gloucester.

Some time after this Carne was appointed Chancellor of
Salisbury, notwithstanding an indignant protest from a rival
candidate : ' I hear that Dr. Carne, lately married to a widow
in the county, makes suit to have a Commendam, Hoc non
obstante quod sit bigamus. I would not that you should open
that gap before that a law were therefor made.'

Carne, who was by this time high in favour with the King,
was appointed (in 1538) special ambassador to the Emperor
Charles V., at whose Court he remained for three years, and
from whom he received the honour of knighthood.

In 1546 Carne was further rewarded by being allowed to
become the purchaser of Ewenny Priory with all the lands
belonging to it, and also of a fair amount of land at Llan-
carvan, which had belonged to the Abbey of Margam.

After the death of King Henry and his son, it might have
been supposed that Carne would have fallen upon evil times,
and that the leading part which he had taken in the divorce
of her persecuted mother would have drawn upon him the
severe displeasure of Queen Mary. So far from this being
the case, he was very soon in as high favour with her and
King Philip as he had been with the high-handed monarch
who defied the Pope and despoiled the Church.

Notwithstanding his antecedents, Carne continued to
flourish like a green bay-tree, and in the year following
the accession of the new Queen was nominated, together
with Lord Montague and the Bishop of Ely, to make the
submission of England to the Pope, and to arrange with
His Holiness for the reception into the fold of that erring
country. Parliament having (in 1554) ma-de it sure that
restitution would not be exacted from the owners of the
confiscated Church property, Carne could afford to act in
accordance with his convictions, and work for the re-estab-
lishment in his native country of the form of religion to
which, all appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, he
was in his heart of hearts devoted. In a letter to Queen

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 59

Mary he is zealous even unto slaying, writing as follows :
' Beseecheth Almighty God ... to conserve their Majesties
long ... to the confusion of their enemies and the enemies
of God : for who will not be faithful to God cannot be
faithful to man.' ' He means but good and his duty to their
Majesties. If she spares either heretics or traitors, she shall
but nourish fire in her own house.'

Considering that money was then worth from ten to twelve
times as much as it now is, Carne appears to have been
fairly well paid, his 'diets' from February 12 to July 21,
I555 (X6o days) amounting, at the rate of £2 135. 4d. per
diem, to the sum of £426 135. 4d.

When Philip and Mary disappeared from the scene and
Queen Elizabeth reigned in their stead, Carne still continued
well to the front, and was appointed Ambassador to the Pope,
with instructions to obtain, if possible, his approval of the
Queen's title. This task was one which proved beyond even
Carne's powers of persuasion to accomplish ; the negotiations
were an utter failure, and His Holiness pronounced that
Elizabeth, being illegitimate, must resign all pretensions to
the throne of England, of which kingdom he claimed the
right to dispose, as being a fief of the Holy See.

After this announcement it was clear that the resources of
diplomacy were at an end, and on February i, 1559, a letter
was sent to Sir E. Carne ' signifying that the Queen is
pleased, in consideration that there is no further cause why
he should make further abode there, that he do put himself
in order to return home at such time and with such speed as
he shall think most meet.' Whether Carne was disposed to
avail himself of this permission, and to return to a now heretic
country, does not appear, inasmuch as he was not allowed to
remain a free agent. On March 31 he received a mandate
of Bernardinus, Cardinal of Trani, founded on the verbal
commandment of the Pope, by which Sir Edward Carne,
Orator of the late Queen Mary, is forbidden to leave the city
of Rome, and is further commanded to ' take charge of the
English College within the same city.'

60 E WEN NY PRIORY

According to Lord Herbert of Cherbury, the Pope was at
the time 'in a very great Pett,' and charged Carne to obey
' in respect of the holy obedience due to him,' and, moreover,
forbade him, ' under pain of the greater excommunication
and the Loss of all his Goods, not to depart the City, but to
take upon him the charge of the English hospital.'

In the opinion of many this was a case of spurring a
willing horse, and Lord Herbert goes on to say: ' Some are of
opinion that this crafty gentleman made his absence from
home his own choice, out of the bigotted zeal he bore to the
Religion of the place where he was.'

This was also the opinion expressed by some of Game's
contemporaries, as is shown by the following extract from
an official letter from Throckmorton : ' As he (Throck-
morton) accompanied the Ambassador of Venice home, he
asked the writer what he heard of the Queen's Ambassador
at Rome, Mr. Kerne. Replied he understood he was on
his way homewards : whereat he smiled, and said the Pope
had staid him there with his will, and had given him the
Hospital which the Cardinal Pole had in Rome and which
Mr. Kerne hath thankfully received.'

Six months later Cecil writes to Throckmorton : ' Carne
is still at Rome, and says he is stayed there, writing piteously
in words to be helped home.'

Altogether the suspicion that Carne was playing a part
seems to have been pretty general. ' I confess that some
conceive that the crafty old Knight was ' — such his addiction
to Popery — ' contented with his restraint,' writes Fuller,
while Wood puts it more strongly : ' The crafty old Knight
did not choose his banishment out of burning zeal to the
Roman Catholic religion, and eagerly desired to continue at
Rome rather than return to his own country, which was then
ready to be overspread with heresy.'

Another writer is of opinion that Carne ' was so far
patriotic that he informed Elizabeth of the machinations of
some of the Catholic Powers to her prejudice, but he dis-
approved her heretical views and schemes.'

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 61

That these surmises regarding Carrie's detention were
correct is shown by State papers which have since come to
light. 'Philip, King of Spain, on being requested by the
Queen of England in 1560 to obtain her Ambassador's
release, ordered Francesca de Vargas, his representative at
Rome, to inquire judiciously into the matter. Game's
account of his detention was that on the Queen of England's
.accession he, being a good Catholic, had decided to live and
die in the faith. He had asked Paul the Fourth to detain
him, in order that the Queen might not confiscate his
property and persecute his wife and children. The Pope
granted his request, and after the death of Paul, Pius the
Fourth followed the same course.

' Carne begged of Vargas that his story might be kept a
profound secret. The English Ambassadors in Spain accord-
ingly received an evasive reply, and Carne remained un-
molested at Rome until his death, which took place on the
ninth of January, 1560-61.'*

Early in the following month Sherer reports ' Master
Carne (that so holy hath bequeathed both body and soul to
the Pope) is dead and buried at Rome.' His tomb in the
cloisters of the Quadriporticus, before the Church of San
Gregorio in Monte Celi, bears the following inscription :

'D. O. M.
'EDWARDO CARNO, BRITANNO.

' Equiti aurato, jurisconsulto, oratori, summis de rebus Britannia?
Regum ac Imperatorem, bisque ad Romanam et Apostolicam sede
sedem, quarum in altera legatione a Philippo Mariaque piis Regibus
missus. Oborto deinde post mortem Marias in Britannia schismate,
sponte patria carens ob Catholicam fidem : cum magna integritatis
verasque pietatis estimatione decessit. Hoc monumentum Galfridus
Vachanus et Thomas Freemannus, amici ex testimento pos. Obiit ann.
Salutis MDLX1. XIIII Cal. Febr.'t

Arms defaced. Above is carved the figure of the Blessed
Virgin holding our Divine Redeemer in her arms.

Notwithstanding Sir E. Game's frequent and long periods

* Arch. Camb., 1849, vol. iv., p. 316.

t Notes and Queries, yd Series, March 29, 1862, p. 259.

62 ElVENNY PRIORY

of diplomatic service abroad, he found time to attend to
public as well as private affairs in his own county, of which
he was the first High Sheriff in 1542, filling the same
important office again in 1544, and in 1554 he was returned
as Member of Parliament for the county.

He married Ann, daughter of Sir William Denis, knight,
and widow of John Raglan, by whom he had a family of one
son and four daughters, all of whom appear to have made
good marriages.

THOMAS CARNE.

Thomas Carne is mentioned on several occasions as having
been in company with his father abroad, but does not appear
to have taken any prominent part in diplomacy, and after
succeeding to the estate settled down in the county, where
he seems to have made himself unpleasant all round, and to
have come into collision with a good many of his neighbours.
He was, to put it mildly, extremely tenacious of his rights or
supposed rights, and might have taken for his motto, ' Take
what you can get and get what you can take.' These little
foibles resulted in frequent lawsuits, in connection with
which may be mentioned the following incidents :

' On the twenty-ninth of March, 1568, John Thomas, with
wife and family, is " at his own dwelling-house, called
Brocastle," when Thomas Carne, with others named (among
which names we find Carne, Fleming, Turbill, Kemys,
Wilkin, Hyett, Prawlff, Knapp, Savor, Spencer), with a
miscellaneous crowd (names unknown), the number of which
John Thomas estimates at four hundred, armed with the
most formidable list of weapons which the ingenuity of a
lawyer of the time could devise, march from the dwelling-
house of the said Carne, " where they had been confederating
and conspiring together, to Brocastle aforesaid, minding
most shamefully to slay and murther " peaceful John Thomas,
his wife and family. This riotous crowd enter his premises
in most unlawful manner, and proceed to break down the

OWNERS OP' THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 63

walls, doors, and windows of his house. Murdered he would
have been, he said, and his family as well had not the
country come to the rescue ; and that afterwards Thomas
Carne and his confederates remained together " fassing "
and "brassing" (?), and threatening the poor gentleman,
not only to his own great terror, but also to that of all the
peaceable people thereabout. What dreadful meaning there
may be in the words " fassing " and " brassing " (as I read
them) I do not know, and I leave it to the ingenious to
discover.'*

If we turn from the Star Chamber to the Exchequer, we
find Carne engaged in legal warfare with another neighbour
(Gamage of Coity Castle), far too powerful to be dealt with
in a simpler and more summary manner. ' Some early Lord
of Coity had, in an excess of religious zeal, and with a desire
to secure the spiritual good offices of the Prior and con-
ventual house of Ewenny for his family, past, present, and
to come, granted the said Priors and house the right of
" house-bote," "fier-bote," and other " botes " in his wood
of Coed y Mwstwr. Carne considered that these rights had
descended to him as representing the ancient religious
fraternity of Ewenny. This was denied by Gamage, who
pleaded, as I gather (for my abstracts are not sufficient on
this point) that high spiritual offices were to be given in
return, and apparently he did not think Carne's prayers would
be very efficacious in his behalf.'

Whether from his previous experience of the Star Chamber,
or for other reasons best known to himself, Carne thought
it expedient not to put in an appearance when cited by that
court in another suit, some four years after his exploits at
Brocastle. ' The complainant moved that he be committed
for contempt. Upon this Carne files a plea of excuse, which
was this : The odious document, having been left in the hall
window-seat, a pet monkey, which had probably been studying
his master's face as he gloomily scanned over the document,
and had wondered what it could possibly contain to throw
* Arch. Camb., Series V., vol. vii., pp. 93-96.

64 E WEN 'NY PRIORY

him into so brown a study, stole, when all was quiet, to the
window-seat, and examined the document for himself. Fail-
ing to discover anything in it which could to his mind account
for his master's gloom, and thinking perhaps to render his
master a service, he tore the document to pieces, " so that
it could not be read." If the Bench in the reign of Elizabeth
had as keen a sense of humour as it has in the reign of
Victoria, it must have laughed heartily over this plea ; for
Jack's action is again and again referred to, and he has
thereby been elevated into quite a historical position in the
family annals of Ewenny.'

A couple of years later Ewenny, which, it must be remem-
bered, was in the lordship of Ogmore, was the scene of a
very pretty scrimmage, in which, although his name does
not appear, Carne most likely had a hand, seeing that it
took place at his very door and on his land. On the Feast
of St. Michael there was wont to commence a fair which
lasted for eight days, and was under the control of the
officers of the Lord of Ogmore, who held their court at
that time.

' Certain officials, " sufficiently appointed," also walked
the fair to keep order amongst " the savage and disorderly
people " resorting thither.

' While John Kemeys, Gent., the under-steward, is thus
discharging the duties of his office, one Jenkin Turbervill,
of Skare, Gent. ; Lison Evans, of Llantwit, Gent. ; Peter
Stradling, of Llantwit, Gent. ; Thomas Stradling, of Merthyr
Mawr, Gent. ; and divers others to the number of one
hundred and more ' (there are many ' Turbills ' and
' Loughers ' in the names given), 'all armed with dreadfully
murderous weapons, " ferociously, sodainly, and rebelliously "
make an assault and affray upon the under-steward and his
officers, wherein they are so " pitifully hurt with shot of
arrows, beaten, maymed, and evil entreated, that a great
number of them did hardly escape with their lives." :

Notwithstanding these little escapades, which were
evidently lightly regarded in those good old days, Thomas

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 65

Carne was deemed a fit and proper person to be responsible
for the well-being and peaceful ordering of his county, and
filled the office of High Sheriff twice, in 1561. (the year of
his father's death) and again in 1580, and represented the
shire in Parliament from 1586 to 1588.

In 1569 a very unpleasant and invidious duty was imposed
by Her Majesty's Government on Carne in conjunction with
five other county gentlemen : Leyson Price, Christopher
Turberville, Robert Gamage, William Jenkyn, and Edward
Mansell. It was to keep a keen look-out on all the proceed-
ings of Sir Thomas Stradling, of St. Donat's, and to report
as to his attendance at church and partaking of the Sacra-
ment, at a time when that unfortunate gentleman was in bed
' ympotent and unable to travell, or to stirre out of his bedd
by reason of the gowte.'

Whether owing to over-zealous discharge of this peculiar
duty, or for some other reason, a ' boylinge hatred '
arose between Carne and the Lord of St. Donat's, which
Lord Pembroke, as a common friend, endeavoured to
assuage.

In the Stradling ' letters constant complaints are made
against Carne by all sorts and conditions of men.'

Anthony Montague writes that Carne went bail for one of
his cousins, and when it was forfeited positively declined to
pay up. Margaret Arnold complains of his having dealt
hardly with ' my husband's nephew, matched with your
kinswoman and mine.'

Anne Blountte reports that Carne will not pay some
money, for which she holds as security his Manor of Llan-
dough and St. Mary Church, while Robert Davey has the
same grievance with reference to twenty marks which he
had lent.

Altogether Carne seems to have firmly held to the doctrine
that ' base is the slave who pays.'

In the settlement made by Thomas Carne on his wife,
Elinor, daughter of Sir John Wyndham, of Orchard, Somer-
set, mention is made of two parks at Ewenny, one stocked

5

66 E WEN NY PRIORY

with ' redd deer ' and the other with ' falowe ' deer, as also of
a warren of coneys.

Thomas Carne died in 1602, and was succeeded by his
son.

SIR JOHN CARNE.

How, when, or why, he was knighted I have been unable
to ascertain ; it can hardly have been on account of his skill
in dancing, although that appears to have been unusually
great, seeing that it is celebrated in a song which is still in
vogue with the Welsh dairy maidens over their milking :

' Tri dawnsiwr gora'n Nghymru,

Syr Charles o'gefn Mably
Seweir Lewys Wych o'r Fan,

A Syr John Cam o' Wenni . Ho. Ho.'

Sir John was twice High Sheriff, in 1587 and again in 1600.
He married Jane, youngest daughter of Sir Walter Hunger-
ford, of Farleigh Castle, Somerset, to whom he had been
betrothed in November, 1570, the condition being that he
was to marry her on or before the Feast of the Nativity of
St. John Baptist, 1580, if ' laws of Holy Church will permit
such marriage,' from which it would seem that they must
have been within the prohibited degrees of relationship. In
consideration of this betrothal his father, Thomas, got a
sum of £600 down, in return for which, and for another sum
of £200 to be paid within one month of the marriage, he
agreed :

1. To pay to John Carne and his wife, or to the survivor
of them, the sum of £40 a year quarterly.

2. To provide, during lifetime of both, proper food, lodging,
etc., for them and for their two men and one maidservant ;
also to keep for their use three geldings, with their stabling
and keep, John Carne and Jane Carne to provide for nothing
but their own clothes and saddlery.

3. Within one year of marriage Thomas Carne to make a
settlement on Jane Carne of his estate at Llandough, the
trustees being Sir John Danvers, Knight ; Edward Hunger-

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 67

ford, brother of Sir Walter Hungerford ; and his son and
heir, Edward Hungerford ; and ' Willyam ' Carne.

There is a special proviso that Thomas Carne is not to be
required to attend courts outside the county, which points
to the difficulties of travelling in Elizabethan days.

In the latter part of this deed mention is made of Carne
being Lord of the Manors of Ewenny, Colwynston, Languyen
(Llangeinor ?), and Lystalibont, in Kybburre.

As Sir John's marriage took place in 1580, and his father
lived until 1602, they must have kept up their joint estab-
lishment at Ewenny for over twenty-one years, with, if it
proved a happy one, much credit to all parties.

Sir John, who left a family of seven children, died in 1617,
and in his will provided for his family, as shown by the
following extracts, the words between inverted commas being
copied verbatim.

WILL OF SIR JOHN CARNE, OF EWENNY, DATED DECEMBER 8,
1617 (MARGAM MSS., 1842).

Extracts.

' i. To be buried in the Parish church of Ewenny,
as near as conveniently may be unto my Father's
grave.'

' LEGACIES. — To the Parish church of Ewenny 205.,
to the poor of the said Parish £5, interest to be paid to
them through the Overseers and principal to be reserved,
provided allwaies that noe ale-house keeper have nothinge
to doe therewith.'

' Towards the reparation of the Cathedral Church of
Llandaff six shillings and eight pence.'

' To the buildinge upp and finishinge of Jesus colledge, in
Oxon, so much as I have subscribed unto in a note delivered
unto Mr. Morgan Johns, the Chancellor.'

' I give and bequeathe to my lovinge Wyffe (whome I alwayes
found kinde, faithfull and obedient unto me),' besides her
jointure ' one tenement called the Prior's Hill, by me hereto-

5—2

68 EWENNY PRIORY

fore acquired of the Kinge, sett, leyinge, and beinge within
the Parish of St. Hilarye, for life '; also the use only of all the
furniture, ' as well of bedding as all other necessaries of her
chamber as nowe they are in this my house of Ewenny, and
withal I doe here limit and appointe that she shall have her
findinge and maintenance here in this house with our sonne
and heire John Carne at his costs and charges accordinge
unto her estate and degree, painge therefor what shall be
fitt and reasonable for the same between a mother and a
sonne.'

' If she shall please to remove and live in the house of
Landoch, being part of her jointure, she shall also have the
use of the furniture of her said chamber as well as the use of
all the furniture at Landoch.'

Provision for three younger sons, Edward, Thomas and
Anthony was as follows : Edward Carne, £1,500, to be
paid within one year ; Thomas Carne, £500 at the end of two
years ; Anthony Carne, £500 at the end of three years ; £20
a year to be paid to each of them until the above legacies be
paid.

To Elizabeth* £1,000, £500 at the end of the first year and
the rest at the end of the second year.

To Johan Carnet £800, £400 at the end of the third year
and the remainder at the end of the fourth year.

Elizabeth to have £20 a year and Johan 20 marks until
the legacies be paid.

In the event of the eldest son dying the estate and
executorship to go to the next, and so on.

' And laastlye I doe hereby appointe and hearteley desire
and entreat my lovinge cozen Edwrard Carne Esquire and
also my lovinge sonne in lawe Christopher Turbervilet
Esquir to be overseers of this my last will and testamente

* Afterwards married to Lewis Thomas of Bettws.

t Afterwards married Humphrey Wyndham of Dunraven, and was
buried in the church of St. Brides Maajor.

J Christopher Turbervill was the husband of Elinor, another daughter^
who had been previously married to William Thomas of Llanmihangel
She died in 1643, and her tomb is in the Priory Church of Ewenny.

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 69

unto whome I give twentie shillinges to buy each of them a
ringe in token of my love and to be by them worn for my
sake, which I have willed to be inserteed before my daughter
Elizabeth and others.

' And I do hereby revoak and utterly annihilate all my last
wills and testaments by me before made.

'JOHN CARNE.

' Sealed, published and delivered and in the presence of us

' RICHARD SAIS.
' DAVIDD SCACIE.
' WILLIAM DAVIDES.
' ROGER WILKINS.
' ROBERT JOHNS.
' OWEN THOMAS.
' ROBERT HUGHES.'

JOHN CARNE.

John Carne, eldest son of Sir John, appears to have walked
in the footsteps of his grandfather, and to have broken the
law of the land in more ways than one.

Whatever record there may have been of his offences has
disappeared, and one is left to guess at what may have been
their nature and extent. The one fact on record — a significant
one — is that on February 10, 1626, he received from the King
a full and free pardon for all offences committed by him up to
27th day of March of the previous year, after which day we may
charitably hope that he reformed and ' lived cleanly ' for the
rest of his days. The pardon in question is, unfortunately, a
general one, enumerating all the crimes which the most evil-
disposed of men could by any possibility commit, but giving
no hint whatever as to the special offences for which Carne
needed pardon.

John Carne was High Sheriff in 1620 and again in 1639.
He died on May 24, 1643.

By his wife Blanche, daughter of Sir John Morgan, of
Tredegar, he left only one son, Edward.

70 EWENNY PRIORY

From a deed dated March i, 1621, it appears that at that
time the Ewenny estate included the manors of Llandough,
Ewenny, Lystalybont and Waterton, as also a house in
Cardiff.*

EDWARD CARNE.

Edward Carne would seem to have been born under some
malignant star. His short life was darkened by bereavement
at home and constant ill-fortune abroad, his death sudden
and untimely.

Married at a very early age, he was left a widower, with an
infant daughter, at a time when most lads are just beginning
life. Before he had even come of age he was pricked as High
Sheriff at a time when the great Civil War was still raging,
and his position forced him to take an active part in the
strife.

The Battle of Naseby had just been fought and lost, and
the King, in dire straits, hard pressed on every side, had
hurried down into Wales, hoping there to recruit his
shattered forces. He was met at Llantrithyd by Carne at
the head of the principal gentlemen of the county, followed
by 4,000 of their friends and retainers, all of whom were
furious at the manner in which the whole countryside had
been harassed and pillaged by the undisciplined troops under
the command of Gerard, and were clamorous for his super-
cession by someone well known to them, and in whom they
could trust.

Strong remonstrances were made to His Majesty by the
leaders of the ' Army of Peace,' whom he endeavoured to
satisfy by the removal of Gerard (who was consoled by a
peerage) and by a profusion of promises ; but his efforts at
reconciliation were attended with but little success. Most
of the Glamorganshire men were far from being ardent
Royalists, and the newly-appointed General could do little

* See Note A at end of chapter.

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 71

with them. ' The county,' he writes, ' is so unquiet as there
is no good to be expected. Shall strive as far as I can to
put things in order, which I despair of, because it is power
to rule these people, and not entreaties with cap in hand to
such as deserve the halter.'

The fall of Bristol did not tend to improve matters. Car-
diff declared for the Parliament, and the cause of the King
seemed almost hopeless ; but Carne had gone too far to
withdraw, even had he wished to do so, and early in the
following year he led a force which took the town of Cardiff
and reduced the garrison of the castle to such a condition
that they were on the point of surrendering, when the
relieving force under Skippon arrived, and, after some sharp
fighting, entirely routed and dispersed the Royalists, Carne,
together with other of the principal officers, being taken
prisoner. According to the ' Perfect Diurnal,' ' Carne him-
self stayed not to keep them together, but, like a vaga-
bond, ran up and down bemoaning himself, and glad he
was that he had a nimble horse, not to charge, but to fly
with.'*

This description, coming as it does from an enemy, must
be taken cum grano, and we would fain believe that Carne
did his devoir as became a good cavalier and one of ancient
race.

Be this as it may, the unfortunate High Sheriff very soon
found himself in Cardiff gaol, ' and to be thence transported
to Bristol,' as he tells us in his will.

In addition to suffering imprisonment he had to pay the
sum of £1,000 as a penalty for 'malignancy,' almost the
heaviest fine imposed on any Royalist in the County of
Glamorgan.

* There seem to be some discrepancies in the accounts given as to the
exact time when Carne openly declared for the King and took up arms
in his cause. Gardiner states : 'Edward Carne, High Sheriff, November,
1645, revolts from Parliament ; shortly after this Glamorgan was won
over to Parliament.' But Major-General Langharne, in a letter to the
Speaker of the House of Commons, dated February 21, 1646, declares
that he had only shortly before heard of Game's revolt.

72 E WEN NY PRIORY

Soon after his return home Edward Carne took unto him-
self a second wife, Martha, daughter of Sir Hugh Wyndham,
of Pilsden, Dorset ; but their union was of very short dura-
tion. Within less than a year Carne died suddenly and
unexpectedly. Only three months before he had described
himself in his will as being in perfectly good health.

It would, however, appear as though he had had some
prevision of an early death, and had been anxious to secure,
as far as possible, the welfare of his only daughter Blanche,
who at that time could not have been more than nine or ten
years old. He left explicit instructions in his will that the
child should be placed under the charge of Jane, widow of
his cousin, William Carne, of Nash, and desires ' that Mrs.
Thomas, of Wenvoe, grandmother to my said daughter
Blanche Carne, shall not, of all people in the world, have
the guardianship, tuition, or bringing up of my said daughter
Blanche, or have to do or meddle with any thing, right, or
estate belonging unto her, my said daughter, in any respect
whatsoever.'

He had also arranged, so far as in him lay, for a suitable
husband for her ; and after revoking all former wills he
made one by which he left all his estates, castles, etc., to his
daughter Blanche (if he has no issue by his present wife), on
condition that she should marry, before she is twenty-one,
some one of the sons of his cousin, William Carne, of Nash,
' the choice and selection of which of them being left unto
my said daughter, to satisfy her own affection, in hope of
their more comfortable cohabitation and to oblige the respects
of the said son.' His estates are to descend to the sons of
such marriage in order of their seniority. If his daughter
should die or should refuse to marry one of these sons
(' which God forbid !'), the estates are to go to William Carne,
of Nash, eldest son and heir of the late William Carne, of
Nash, his cousin, and his heirs. If they inherit, owing to the
refusal of Blanche Carne to marry one of them, she is to be
paid within three years the sum of £3,000, ' without fraud or

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 73

cozin.' This sum is to be paid over in the great dining-hall
of his capital messuage of Ewenny.

He goes on to declare that in case he should have a son
by his present wife, Martha, then everything shall go to him,
except specific legacies, and the money arranged by the
marriage settlement goes to his wife. His daughter Blanche
shall then have £1,500 on attaining eighteen years ; this
sum shall also go to the son if Blanche dies.

To our modern ideas these arrangements for the marriage
of his daughter appear somewhat arbitrary and unreasonable ;
but ' other times, other manners,' and Carne evidently con-
sidered that he was acting in a most affectionate and fatherly
manner in leaving Blanche full and free liberty to choose
whichever of her eight cousins she most affected, and in
making a fair allowance to her in the event of her refusing
to comply with his wishes.

He appears, indeed, to have been a man of an affectionate
disposition, as is shown by the whole tone of his will and
the kindly way in which he leaves a sum of £50 to one
M. Thomas, ' for the trusty, honest, and careful services done
unto me during my troubles and afterwards.' Amongst other
legacies appear £5 to his late cook's wife ; twenty nobles a
year to each of his three foster-brothers ; £5 to their sister,
or, if she be dead, to her son, ' this son being called Edward,
my godson.' To Arnold Butler, ' Clarke of St. Brides,' is
left £40, ' in memory of his love and fidelity to me and my
good esteem of him.' Legacies are made to several of his
old servants by name, and to all the rest is bequeathed £5
for each man-servant and -£2 for each maid. The residue of
all his goods, jewels, Tplate, etc., he bequeaths ' unto my
aforesaid dear and well-beloved wife Martha, whom I do
hereby nominate, make, and appoint my sole and only
executor, from the firm trust and confidence that I have in
her, my said wife, and her never-ceasing love towards me and
my memory, although death absent me from her, that she
will not marry herself unto any person or persons whatsoever
after my decease.'

74 EWENNY PRIORY

His instructions, that his body should be buried in the
chapel of Evvenny ' as near as conveniently may be to the
grave there wherein my late well-beloved wife lyeth buried,'
were carried out, and a very costly monument was placed
over it by his widow, who afterwards married Sir W. Basset,
of Beaupre.

After Game's death a daughter, Martha, was born, who
married Sir Edward Mansel.

An exact and most minute inventory of all Game's house-
hold goods and chattels, including his live and dead stock,
was taken for purposes of probate shortly after his death,
and remains as a curious record of the furniture of a large
country-house in the year 1650. The washing arrangements
are singularly meagre, and in the great dining-hall only one
chair is provided, doubtless for the master of the house ; all
the others had to be content with stools.*

It is a somewhat strange fact that not a single bottle of
wine was to be found in the cellars, which appear to have
been cleared out either by jovial Cavaliers or by thirsty
Roundheads.

A singular proof of the costliness of the raiment worn by
gentlemen of that period is given by the fact that Game's
personal wearing apparel is valued at £100, while his entire
stock of cattle and sheep are valued at only £200, his horses
and mares at £30, and his plate at £26.

The Ewenny Priory estate, with its rent-roll of £1,000
a year, was at that time one of the most valuable in the
county. See Note B at end of chapter.

BLANCHE AND MARTHA CARNE, JOINT OWNERS.

Blanche, like her ill-fated father, was obliged to assume
the cares and responsibilities of life at so early an age that
she can hardly be said to have had a girlhood in the true
sense of the word ; she was only ten years old when she

* Appendix III.

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 75

became an orphan, and within six months of that period she
was married. Child marriages were, indeed, far from un-
common at the time, but in her case there would seem to
have been some special reasons for the almost indecent haste
with which she was compelled to make a choice of the
partner of her life, and to take him as her husband. The
birth of a posthumous daughter, Martha, may possibly have
had something to do with it, and there seems, indeed, to
have been some doubt as to who was the actual owner of the
estate, for the Manor Court, which was called together for
the accustomed half-yearly meeting on October 4, 1650, is
not entered as being held in the name of any person in
particular, while an entry is made, in a different handwriting
and with a different coloured ink, that a Manor Court was
held on February 26, 1651, in the name of William Carne, in
right of his wife Blanche and of Martha Carne, who would
therefore appear to have been born at some time between the
two dates.

In the court held two months later the name of William
Carne is again entered as the husband of Blanche, but in all
subsequent courts the correct name — that of John Carne — is
mentioned. The choice of Blanche had evidently fallen on
the youngest of her cousins, whose age (twenty-two) most
nearly approached her own. Their eldest son, Edward, was
born in 1657, when his mother was only seventeen. There
were three other sons — William, John and Richard — and
five daughters — Francis, Mary, Elinor, Martha and Jane.
Blanche Carne died at the early age of thirty-three, but her
husband survived her for nearly twenty years, and became
tenant for life of the estate, as is proved by the fact of the
courts being held in his name, although several of the sons
were still alive.

Although the two Carne sisters had been joint owners of
the estate for so many years, no division of the land was
made until after the death of Blanche in 1685. By the deed
of partition then drawn up, Ewenny Priory, with all the land
in its neighbourhood which had formerly belonged to the

76 EWENNY PRIORY

monastery, went to the heirs of Blanche, while Landough
Castle, with all the property in that parish and in the
adjoining parish of St. Mary Church, and the lands formerly
belonging to the Abbey of Margam at Llancarvan, were
assigned to Martha, who had married Sir Edward Mansel,
of Margam, and these have descended to Miss Talbot, the
present owner of Margam.

Colonel John Carne died in 1692, and was buried close
beside his wife in the Priory church, where their resting-
places are marked by very simple stones embedded in the
floor.

JOHN CARNE.

Edward, the eldest son, having died before his father, his-
only child, John, succeeded to the estate, but died when he
was only fifteen years, ten months, and eleven days, as noted
on his tomb, where he is described as ' Ewenny's hope,
Ewenny's pride.'

RICHARD.

Richard, the only surviving son of John and Blanche
Carne, succeeded his nephew. He married Mary, daughter
of Dr. James Allen, of Gileston, was High Sheriff in 1708,
and died in 1713, aged forty-four.

As he left no issue the male line of the Carnes died with
him, and his two surviving sisters, Frances and Jane, became
joint owners of the estate.

FRANCES TURBERVILL AND JANE CARNE, JOINT OWNERS.

At the death of their brother the two surviving daughters
of Colonel John and Blanche Carne became joint owners of
the estate, and took their respective shares of the rents, but
did not divide the property, as the younger, Jane, remained
a spinster until her death. Frances some ten or twelve years

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 77

before had become the second wife of Edward Turbervill, of
Sutton (a younger branch of the De Turbervilles, of Coity),
who was then a widower with an only daughter, Cecil, whose
.descendants, as will be seen later, eventually succeeded to
the Ewenny Priory estate, which is now held by one of
them.

Frances died a year after her brother, while her husband
lived for only five years longer. They had a family of six
sons and daughters.

JOHN TURBERVILL AND JANE CARNE, JOINT OWNERS.

John, the eldest son, succeeded his father, but was never
sole owner of the estate, as he died in 1733 or 1734. His
aunt, Jane, outlived him. He was married, but left no issue.

RICHARD TURBERVILL.

Richard became sole owner only after the death of his
aunt, Jane Carne, in 1741. He appears for some reason or
other to have been constantly in money troubles, and was a
persistent borrower, although both his wives — Florence
Lougher, of Hendrewen, and Elizabeth Herbert, of Cilibebyl
— were heiresses, the former bringing an addition to the
estate of land which has since then become very valuable.
Richard Turbervill was High Sheriff in 1740, and died in
1771. By his will he left the Ewenny Priory estate to his
widow for her life, and entailed it on Richard Turbervill
Picton, grandson of his half-sister, Cecil, by her second
marriage. Why he chose her descendant by the second
marriage instead of those by her first (the Knights of Tytheg-
stone) does not appear.

ELIZABETH TURBERVILL.

Elizabeth, widow of Richard Turbervill, appears to have
been on bad terms with the tenant in tail, and to have cared

78 EWENNY PRIORY

nothing for the old church and family mansion, both of which
she entirely neglected, allowing part of the former building
to be converted into a cowshed and pig-stye and the latter to
become uninhabitable. Unfortunately for posterity, she was
owner of the place for twenty-six years, and at her death in
1797 left it in a pitiable condition.

RICHARD TURBERVILL (PICTON) TURBERVILL.

The next owner, eldest son of Mr. Thomas Picton, of
Poyston, and Cecil, granddaughter of Edward Turbervill of
Sutton, assumed the name of Turbervill in accordance with
the conditions of the entail. He was one of a very large
family, and had two brothers in the army, one being General
Sir Thomas Picton, G.C.B., of Peninsular and Waterloo
fame, and another General John Picton. He himself served
for many years in the I2th and 75th Regiments. Their mother
was a woman of strong character, and the story is still told in
the county of her insisting on being married in a large cave
close to Tressilian, to which access can be obtained only at
low tide. The only reason that can be given for this freak
is that about that time (1751) the Government were about
to pass an Act prohibiting marriages from being celebrated
except in churches, and she, with true Welsh spirit, refused
to be dictated to by any Englishman, and got married in
her own romantic manner before the Act came into force.
Mr. R. T. Turbervill had his time fully occupied in repairing
the church, of which his brother, Edward Picton, was curate,
and in rebuilding the house, a work which was hardly com-
pleted at the time of his death (1817). He was High Sheriff
in 1804. He left three children by his wife, Elizabeth Powel,
of Llanharran.

RICHARD TURBERVILL.

Richard, the eldest son, injured his spine by an accident
whilst still at school, which prevented him from taking part
in the usual amusements and occupations of the neighbour-
ing squires, and obliged him to lead a somewhat quiet

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 79

life. He was celebrated as an excellent host and happy
owner of a cellar, the fame of which still lives in men's
memory. The story goes that the stage-coach, which then
ran past the entrance lodge, met with an accident, and that
all the passengers were entertained with such a variety of
wines that none of them passed that way again without
cherishing a hope that, if another mishap should befall them,
it might be on the same spot.

Richard Turbervill was High Sheriff in 1833, and died, a
bachelor, in 1848.

COLONEL GERVAS POWELL TURBERVILL.

Colonel G. P. Turbervill, K.H., was nearly sixty years of
age when he succeeded his brother, and had passed the best
part of his life (1807-1835) in the I2th Regiment (now the
Suffolk), of which his uncle, General John Picton, had at
one time been Colonel. He saw active service in India, and
at the taking of the Mauritius.

He married twice, his first wife being Elizabeth, daughter
of Stephen Dowell, of Brawich Grove, Berks, and his
second Sarah, sister of George Warry, of Shapwick,
Somerset.

He was High Sheriff in 1851, and died in 1862.

ELIZABETH MARGARET TURBERVILL.

Miss Turbervill, sister of Richard and Gervas, was also old
when she succeeded to the property, and died within five
years (1867).

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL THOMAS PICTON (WARLOW)
TURBERVILL.

The Picton family had now died out, and the estate went
by will to the grandson of Catherine Picton, who had married
John Warlow, of Mathree, Pembroke, with the usual condi-
tion, that the name of Turbervill should be assumed.

Lieutenant-Colonel T. Picton Turbervill, R.A., left the

So EWENNY PRIORY

service soon after coming into the property, and was High
Sheriff in 1876. He married Lucy, daughter of Colonel
Connop, but died childless in 1891.

COLONEL JOHN PICTON (WARLOW) TURBERVILL,

who succeeded his brother, served for twenty-eight years in
the Madras Army, from which he retired in 1883. High
Sheriff 1896.

NOTE A.

SPECIAL LIVERY GRANTED TO JOHN CARNE, SON OF SIR JOHN CARNE,
WITH SCHEDULE OF ALL HIS MANORS AND LANDS, DATED
MAY i, 1619.

County of Glamorgan.
In possession

The Manor of Llandough with the appurtenances in the aforesaid
County of Glamorgan and fifty messuages, thirty tofts, two mills, 'water
mills ' for grinding corn, one fulling mill, eighty acres of land, a hundred
acres of meadow, three hundred acres of pasture, sixty acres of wood,
and one hundred of furze and briars with the appurtenances in Llandough
and St. Mary church, in the aforesaid County, and the advowsons of the
churches of Llandough and St. Mary church, are held of the very noble
William Earl of Pembroke as of his castle of Cardiff, by military service,
namely by the service of one Knight's fee. And they are worth clearly
by the year in all issues, beyond outgoing payments ... ... xx/z.

Increase of the rent thereof by survey of the feodary of the County of
Glamorgan ... ... ... ... ... ... xly.

The Manor of Ewenny with the appurtenances in the County aforesaid
and the Priory or cell of Ewenny with the appurtenances in the County
aforesaid, long ago belonging and appertaining to the late Monastery of
St. Peter of Gloster, in the county of the City of Gloster, and the site of
the late cell or Priory of Ewenny with the appurtenances in the County
aforesaid, and the Church, bell, tower, cloister and cemetery of the same
late cell aforesaid in the county aforesaid, and forty messuages, one
water mill for grinding corn, two dovecots, forty gardens, forty orchards,
two Parks of one thousand acres of land, two hundred acres of meadow,
three hundred acres of pasture, forty acres of wood, and one hundred
acres of furze and briars, with the appurtenances, in Ewenny, St. Brides
Major, Wyke, Collwinston and Coytye in the County aforesaid, and the
Rectories of Ewenny, St. Brides Major, Wyke, Landyvodocke, Oyster-
mouth and Langwynewyre in the County aforesaid and the advowsons
of the Vicarages of the churches of Ewenny, St. Brides Major, Wyke,

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 81

Landivodocke and Langwynewyre with the appurtenances in the County
aforesaid, are held of the Lord King in Chief by military service,
namely by the service of one twentieth part of one Knight's fee. And
they are worth clearly by the year in all issues, beyond outgoing
payments . ... ... ... .. ... ... xx/z. \s.

Increase of the rent thereof by survey aforesaid ... ... Is.

The Manor of Lystalybont with the appurtenances in the County afore-
said and forty messuages, one water mill for grinding corn, one fulling
mill, twenty gardens, five hundred acres of land, one hundred acres of
meadow, three hundred acres of pasture, one hundred acres of wood,
and one hundred acres of furze and briars with the appurtenances in
Lystalibont, Llanissen, Llysvaan, Llandaph, Cardiffe and Roath in the
County aforesaid, are held of the aforesaid very noble William Earl of
Pembroke as of his castle of Cardiffe aforesaid, by the rent of one pair
of spurs yearly, to be paid at the feast of St. Michael the Arch-A.ngel for
all services, customs and demands. And they are worth by the year in
all their issues beyond outgoing payments ... ... xiii/z". vis. \'\\\d.

Increase of the rent thereof by survey aforesaid ... xius. nnd.

The Manor of Colwynston, with the appurtenances in the County
aforesaid and forty messuages, forty gardens, one thousand acres of land,
one hundred acres of meadow, two hundred of pasture, forty acres of
wood and one hundred acres of furze and briars, with the appurtenances
in the County aforesaid and the Rectory of Colwinston, with the appur-
tenances in the County aforesaid, and the advowson of the Vicarage of
the Church of Colwinston with the appurtenances in the County afore-
said, are held of the said Lord King, who now is in chief, by military
servic. And they are worth clearly by the year in all issues beyond out-
going payments ... ... ... ... xxi/z. us. vd. ob.

Increase of the rent thereof by survey aforesaid ... xxviij. v\d. ob.

The Manor or farm of Waterston with the appurtenances in the Parishes
of Coytee and Coytchurche in the County aforesaid, one messuage, one
hundred acres of land, twenty acres of pasture, and twenty acres of
meadow, with the appurtenances in the Parishes aforesaid of Coytee and
Coytchurch in the County aforesaid, are held of Robert, Viscount Lysee,
as of his Castle of Coytee in the County aforesaid, but by what service is
unknown. And they are worth by the year in all issues beyond outgoing
payments ... ... ... ... ... ... xlj.

Increase of the rent thereof by survey aforesaid ... ... vs.

Three burgages with the appurtenances in Cardiffe aforesaid, in the
County aforesaid, are held Of the aforesaid very noble William Earl of
Pembroke as of his Manor of Cardiffe in free burgage. And they are worth
clearly by the year in all issues, beyond outgoing payments ... xLr.

Increase of the rent thereof by the survey aforesaid ... iiu.

One messuage, two acres of pasture and twenty acres of wood with the

6

appurtenances in St. Hilearie in the County aforesaid are held of the same
Lord King, as of his Manor of Estgrenewich in the County of Kent by
fealty. And they are worth by the year in all issues beyond outgoing
payments ... ... ... ... ... ... vs.

Increase of the rent thereof by the survey aforesaid ... NIL.

Entered in the ninth book of schedules folio.

Sum total ... ... ... ... ... IIIIxx/z. v\\\s.

In possession. Examined by John Raymond, Deputy of the Clerk of
the Liveries.

NOTE B.
EXTRACTS FROM 'DIARY OF RICHARD SYMOND, 1644-1645,' PAGE 216.

Chief e Inhabitants of Glamorgansh.

Sir E. Maunsell of Margham 4000^ per annum. Infra etat.
Llougher of Lloughor ^400 per annum.

. . . Turbervill Esqre of the Skerr. Descended from one of the twelve
Knight that came in with Fitzhamond at the conquest. ^600 per annum.
Edward Kerne (Carne) Esq of Wenney (Ewenny) ,£1000 per annum.
Fine seate a Priory.

. . . winne Esq of Llansannor ,£600 per annum.
Sir Edward Thomas of Bettus Baronet. ^1600 per annum.
Sir Richard Basset of the Beaupare (Beaupre) ,£1000 p. a.
John Van Esq of Marcross ,£500 p. a.
Sir John Aubrey, Baronet of Llantrithid. .£1000 p. a.
William Powell, barrister-at-law of Bonvilstone. ^300 p. a.
David Jenkins of Hensoll, judge of three counties, Caermarthenshire,
Cardigan and Pembroke. .£2000 was paid, £ 1200 p. a. raysd a nihilo.
Miles Button Esq of Cottrel ,£400 p. a. ancient in this place.
Robert Button Esq of Worlton. ,£400 p. a.
Sir Thomas Lewis Knight of Penmarke ,£800 p. a.
William Thomas Esq of Wenvoe ,£2500 p. a.

William Herbert Esq of Coggan Peele (Cogan Pill) : his father slaine
at Edghill. ,£1000 p. a. near the sea.

Edward Lewis Esq de Van and St. Faggins (St. Fagans) ,£5000 p. a.
all improvable.

Humfrey Mathew Esq. Colonel of the County, had his command from
the King : of Castle Mennich (Mynach) or Monkes Castle ^800 p. a.
. . . Mathew Esq of Aberaman .£800 p. a.
Edw. Prichard of Llancayach ^800 p. a.

Sir Nicholas Kemys, Baronet of Kaven Mabley (Cefn Mably), a fine
seaate, iS'oo^ p. a.

. . . Morgan Esq of Ruperrie, a faire seate, ,£1000 p. a.
Walter Thomas Esq of Swansey was Governor, ,£600 p. a. : his son
was high sheriffe.

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION 83

William Basset Esq of Bromisken. /6oo p. a. ,£20000 in (blank) p.
All aforeswid, and so generally against any that are against the King.
Men from ^40 to £200 p. a. above 100 more men in this County.

Garrisons in Glamorganshire.

K. Cardiffe : Sir T. Tyrell made Governour by Generall Gerald.

Sir Anthony Maunsell was first Governour when Gerard came, and
putt out himselfe and then Tyrel putt in.

K. Swansey : Walter Thomas first Governour, putt in by the King
before Gerard came. Then Colonel Richard Donnel was made by (blank}.

This County never dealt with the Militia. Never admitted.

Thursday, July 31, in the Castle of Cardiffe, the King knighted his
cornet Sir John Walpoole.

6—2

34 EWENNY PRIORY

DESCENT OF EDWARD TURBERVILL, OF BUTTON, FROM
SIR PAGANUS DE TURBERVILLE OF COITY CASTLE*

i. Sir Paganus de Turberville.
i. Sir Simon, d. s.p.

3. Sir Gilbert, brother of Sir Simon.

4. Sir Gilbert.

5. Richard, d. s. p. Payne. Wilcock of Tythegstone.

Hamon.
Tomkim.
Gilbert.
Jenkin.
Jenkin.
i. Richard. 2. Thomas of Llantwit Major.

James.

i » Thomas. 2. Edward of Sutton.
James.
Edward.
Edward of Sutton.

Edward of Sutton, m. (i) Cecil, d. of Richard Lougher of Tythegstone.
(2) Frances Carne of Ewenny,

* ' Genealogies of Morgan and Glamorgan ' (Clark), pp. 453, 459.

OWNERS OF THE PRIORY SINCE THE DISSOLUTION

ca ^r

s?
§ 5P.

g

- 1

p3'S

C

• S

b-

— rt — 3

CO r>

f-

D ^.

A
H

£>

^ 2

tA

ro

0 -g

^^

Q&

i u

hJ r>

J •-

0 °

•-x
>^

c

— o £

r S

S • J
a 5

4 ^

if S
"S ^

§ p"W

«

B ^

.s I\I w a««

j

^ .fa

H ^

c
pi
< s

^ -a

^^^ CJ 4)

" X O

an Newton of
barles Wyndh
lomas Carne <

"1

C .55

~ "£*»>..S

&Up

j.1

W *

M^ 3

3^3

tJ rCJ

o 1

CO

s

^E-1

, 1 <•»

w o

c"

g'i

rt

te

" ^

O

vA1— ^

S o

o 2

*"">

!> ^

N

P^"
T <S
*+ c

Pi c

!= >

y^C «
SSI

G
O

~~ G

< <
U c

.. rt ja
ra 60 c

0 O G

W^

^_

CO

4) hT 4)
U^PH

O 13

M 4)

! O

n^

U s

(s

Z ^

QC -g

4? g

C^«

0 C
i — > D

— &
w

fa rt

.S 5 ^

g^

ro

o w

1*0 |

'j^ V >>

oi

oj

l_l

rt sT^ c

co •— j ~~

£

UH "^

— o

z "?

w

s-§^-

_l^h

U

>— \& *""*

CJ

c/:

(/T IM ^

W

c v5 "S

UH

c

^?

It

"

__£ ^

1

tf .

rt

IM

ifi O

—.S'j

C

o U

""3

Q c

s6

S 1

T3

j_^ j^

in T3

ctf ^^^

as of Wenvoe ;
Wyndham of Pil

ha, m. Sir Edwar

• s i o £

tsue
of Ewenny.
latnorgan,' p. 377,

B-Si — *

.I ^ 5

(JH H-B

SjsG
~ <*.
. > c

)H M

J3 S

.W

y G*0

s'|

•"o

G J;

H -^

'*-

SH ^ ^

4<

O r— -

Q 4) O

C

4)

£?l «

rt rt C

-— v^-s O

7* i

lichard, m. (i) F
.ougher of Hend
j) Elizabeth Her
lillibebyl.
d.s.4>.

*£
CC

O
*

1- "3

W M . — ,O

— > u

ro

S S'~

.

4f

E si

Jl

rt ^^

U

^^ t«3

— C

^^ ,

a

j> "^5

5

c3

T3

>-.

rt
& c

..TJ • ^

<

w

86

PRIORY

•d

S « g ^SS§

£

^S O C U > H .-

-^ h .9 C 'a, h fe «

w

"o •*»

-C *^ J- r° C

Q

| — 'c? — rt

?

u d „• — ^= S £ c

co

c

. s

•s

* *"* in

^*fe- M S

W
•J

U

c<^ f

8
t

U

£• J3
> bo

C^ >
u-i )-i "t

* o-W

^£

r-H

'TS

- 0 3

§

"8

b

|

<u -r «
S « ^

'G

W

D >ii

C JS

is o

'1

'S^ a ^

U

13 • " <o '

rt v^>

w ^

6 c £

rt

O

U S

V

N ^

|

rrt, -«=

U O
CO

£
.2

c3

CO

u

c

tn

-^

rs

TJ-

j

2

CQ

c S

§

•»<,

?

£

^ ^2

^ 0 -C

V

rt <4

t— ^ .

cJ

o

>,

jV

N '— > H

•~2

U

_o

W

M ,i

3

**"

£

W

£ * y

,

13

'TJ

J!

D
H

o

3

CO

c

o

_|tt

C

o

0)

u
C

~J

W

f Ewenn

*§

{/)

f^n

U

o

0

rt

(X

•"? 1

0

CL,

vO

3
ti

£

ro

C
O ^-A

iwners

4J °

®

rG

^*»

U

RLOWS

*2 ^ ^ o
3 'H ^ S . o

'^ ,^ CTj ^i (/J

g-^

rt
S

(j rs .

s e:^.

(U t-i

-ir

o H

S

U

rt
^

<

£

1 ^ c

'1

rt

_£

,G ^-"

H

'i

-a
o

Q

£ g

H
£

'o <>; H

>— i • .

*"

-S

rt

E

<3

V

n

^1.

•Q

U]

CO

§ a

'o

S

1

Z

u5 — r

U

"H - ~§

2

0
H
'J

bo
u

o

U

U

— ^ . w

*

a!

H

fjsj^j

1*4

*****

fO

W

O

v5d o

hi

d

J i ]

<u

S «

• v

H

00

D

<u_to

£^ ^-S

p^4

O

PH G

o "i g «

O

l_)

<*- ^

..

O ^^

PH

H
55
W
U

<u 'O,
CJ S

*i a> «

§-§

C O <n
M 0 CO

*s? <n Cd .^ %i

| §^ »
^ £ ^ c | S 8 1

CO

^- •"• c <u

W
Q

t; '"^

IS?

M

— ^ 'E "« 1 ^ — ^ -1 — &— N^

& «-^ ^ c ^.y w '^^

-£tLjf2rt C'H O W^
^ 2 " PH >-J

APPENDIX I.

EXTRACT FROM DUGDALE'S ' MONASTICON
ANGLICANUM.'

PRIORY OF EWENNY, WENNY, OR EWENNY IN GLAMORGANSHIRE.

LELAND states this priory to have been founded by Sir John
Londres, lord of Ogmore Castle ; probably in the early part of
the twelfth century. It was given by Maurice de London, A.D.
1141, as a cell to Gloucester Abbey ; and appears to have been
dedicated to St. Michael. The original instrument from this
Priory acknowledging King Henry the Eighth's supremacy, signed
by Thomas Bysley, Prior, and Thomas Toke and William Branch,
monks, is preserved in one of the Cottonian manuscripts.

In the 25th Henry VIII. the clear revenue of this house
amounted to £59 45., the total income to ^"78 8s. Speed has
^256 us. 6d., but that must certainly be a mistake. Stevens,
vol. i., p. 36, has both ' Summa inde,' and ' Summa clara,'
^"59 45. Dugdale in his list has given no value. The ' Firma
Priorates de Ewenny,' in the Ministers' Accompts of Gloucester
monastery of the 34th of Henry VIII. was valued at £20 IDS.

At the Dissolution this house was granted, as part of the
possessions of St. Peter, Gloucester, to Sir Edward Carne, Knight,
A.D. 1546.

Id. in vol. v., p. 14. See vol. i., p. 546.

The following entries in the Taxation of 1291 relate to Ewenny ;
one or two of them are again repeated in other parts of the
account of the same diocese. They do not, however, give us a
distinct notion of what was absolutely at that time the precise
revenue of the cell.

88 E WEN NY PRIORY

Taxat. Episcopal. Landanen. Spirit.

£ s. d.

Ecclesia de Eywenny, ecclesia de sancta Brigidia,
ecclesia de Cole.wyleston, Prior de Eyweny as
rector ... ... ... ... ... 40 o o

Temporal.

Prior de Ewenny habet duas carucatas terrae et unum
molendinum aquaticum apud Treygoct pro qui-
bus reddit abbati Glouc. per annum ... ... 12 o o

Et idem prior tenet terram apud Lankarvan de eidem

abbate pro qua reddit eidem per annum ... o 1 8 o

Et par Sel nihil Salet ultra.

In the office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is this
record : " Evenny : De Edwardo Carne exonerando de £100
super ipsum oneratis pro Manerio sive Cella de Evenny in
Wallia." Mich. Rec., 4 and 5 Phil, and Mar., rot. 81.

Several proceedings in the Duchy Court of Lancaster con-
cerning property belonging to the cell of Ewenny occur in the
pleadings of that court, temp. Henry VII. and Henry VIII.

Num. II.

Valor Ecclesiasticus temp. Henry VIII. (Transcript of
another Return, 26 Hen. VIII. , First Fruits Office.)
Prior et P'oratus de Ewenny.
Unacu' vero Valore ejusd' corbus annis.

Wenny.

£ s. d.

In pimis rente of assise 27^. 8s. 4d. Demeanes 1 1£.
Tything corne 30^". Pensyons 6£. 8s. 8d. Est booke
vvt. offeryngs i£. us. 4d. Woll 125. Lames los.
Calves 53. Chesys 135. 4d.

Deduccons.

Anual' pens' monastio de Gloucest. .... ... 13 6 8

Anual' pens' monastio de Tewxbury ... ... i o o

Anual' pens' monastio de Nethe .. ... ... 050

Anual' pens' epo Land' ... ... ... ... 130

To my Lorde of Worcest' stuard there ... ... 200

APPENDIX II 89

£ s. d.
In eleemousina annuati' ... ... ... 100

Ballivo in feod' o 10 o

Sma ... ... 19 4 8

Et rem' clar' ... ... ... ... 59 4 o

Inde p decima ... ... ... ... ... 5 i8 5

Appat' monastio Glouc' et iom taxat ad >]£. 2s. 8d.

APPENDIX II.

EXTRACTS FROM THE COURT ROLLS OF THE
MANOR OF EWENNY, 1634-1669.

1 634. They likewise do present William Thomas, etc., for dwelling
from their tenements without the consent and license of their lord
contrary to the custom of the Manor ' Igitur quidlibet in miseri-
cordia.'

The jury within named do present and say that there is one
wether coloured white straying within the lordship and taken up
as a stranger to the lord's use.

They do also present Thomas David Clerke for letting his
bakehouse to decay ' igitur in misericordia,' due time given him
for the repairing thereof till the next leet day upon pain of
forfeiture.

1635. They likewise do present Jenkin Christopher for grinding
to strangers before the tenants, contrary to the custom of the
Manor.

They likewise do present that the Bailiff hath taken two sheep
for strangers. And lastly they do present David John for an
affray and bloodshed made upon Harry Jones ' igitur in
misericordia.'

The pound is in decay.

They do also present John Jenkin for drawing furzes on the
common of Ewenny.

1636. They do also present John Hearle for not cutting his
hedges to the hindrance of his Majesty's subjects.

And lastly they do present and say that the tree that was lopt
and cut down betwext James Howell's lands and the lands of

90 E WEN NY PRIORY

Dame Blanche Lewis, but now in the possession of William
Handley, to be James Howell's and not my lady Lewis's right.

They likewise do present Jenkin Christopher for taking an
excess in toll and for grinding unto strangers before the tenants
contrary to the custom of the Manor.

1638. The jury do upon their oaths present the defect of nuts
(?) within this lordship.

They do present the common pound to be in decay, and Mr.
Bronnill the bailiff promiseth to repair it before the next court
day and the tenants there promise to repay him what moneys he
should lay out towards the repair thereof.

1639. They do present Janet Powell and Elinor Powell spinsters
for pound breaking.

1641. The said jury do present that the stocks on the said
Manor are out of reparation, ' repeated for years.'

The jury do present that the tenants ought to grind in the mills
before strangers coming from other places, and besides they are
abused by the miller in taking of extraordinary tolls more than is
due unto him by law.

1653. Also we do present that the Bailiff hath seized a white
ewe and has made the same a strayer and was turned into the
' Buckord.'

Also they do likewise say and present that David William
made a limekiln and digged stones on the highway leading from
Ewenny to Ogmore to the annoyance of travellers that way.

The said jury doth likewise say and present that the highway
leading from Ewenny cross to the parish church is in decay ;
'* time given until the next leet to amend.'

1659. The said jury upon oath do present Morgan Wilkin for
not raising the floodgates of Ewenny millpond in seasonable
times and seasons, he being the miller and this being to the
annoyance of tenants' lands thereunto adjoining.

They likewise present William Blake, etc., for^fishing in Ewenny
river not having leave or license.

They also present Harry Boucher, etc., for keeping their pigs
unyoked and unringed to the annoyance of their neighbours.

1662. They do also present W. Thomas for turning the water
out of his right course.

Jenkins for not grinding in the lord's mill.

APPENDIX II 91

They do also present the Parish of Ewenny for the defect of a
crow-ne (?).

1669. They do also, present Morgan Miles for encroaching on
the lord's waste lands, being several times heretofore presented.

1666. The said jury do say and present that Elizabeth, late
servant of William Thomas, destroyed her life in the river of
Ewenny aforesaid to the loss of her life, and that her goods and
chattels belong to the lord of the Manor as this jury conceiveth,
unless others have an especial grant from his Majesty of goods of
such nature.

They further present William Griffith for carrying away and
illegally using of certain wood and timber out of Ewenny park, con-
trary to the law and without leave or license of the owner thereof.

They likewise present the bridge called Pont Robin Moythey,
being out of reparation, being formerly presented, and that the
parishioners of Ewenny ought to repair the same.

They also present Martha Lady Basset, relict of Sir William
Basset, Knight, for not scouring her ditch lying in a meadow
called Gwayn y porth and Gwladyss (several times repeated), also
for not repairing the bakehouse of the mill.

1669. They likewise present Edward Thomas for suffering
the parishioners of Coity to dig and take up stones to amend
Wenny bridge without leave and license of the lord of the said
Manor.

1674. Likewise we do present an escaped swarm of Bees found
in the lordship aforesaid and now in the possession of John Davis
as a royalty belonging to the lord of the said Manor.

1680. They do further say and present that Margaret Thomas,
spinster, one of the tenants of the said Manor, made an end of life
by hanging herself by the throat, and that all the goods and
chattels that she then had or was the owner of were and are
forfeited to the lord of the said Manor, who has the same felon
goods with other things belonging to their view of the pledges
granted to them and their heirs from the Crown, the goods and
chattels being as is before mentioned.

List of felon's goods of suicide :

14 sheep, besides the 13 that were on the ? that have the
lambs and wool, i bed and bedstead, i cupboard and pewter

92 EWENNY PRIORY

dish, i table, i iron grate, i coffee and little box. i chair and
truck, i bedstead in the loft, i brewing vat. i pig.

Conditions of tenure, 1635.

To the same court came Phillip Jones and surrendered into the
lord's hands by his said steward the tenement lying and being in
St. Brides Major in the said Manor, containing one house and
twelve acres of lands, arable, meadow and pasture, now in the
tenure of the said Phillip Jones. And into the same court came
the said Phillip Jones and took of the said lord by his said steward
the tenement aforesaid and all other premises with the appurten-
ances, to have and to hold all and singular the said premises and
appurtenances to the said Phillip Jones, John Phillip and George
Phillip, his sons, for the term of their lives and the longest life of
them successively, according to the custom of the said Manor.
Paying therefor yearly during the said term to the said lord, his
heirs and assigns, twelve shillings at May and Michaelmas by
equal portions; two sufficient capons at New Year's tide : one day's
work yearly in corn harvest : one day's plowing yearly, if any of
them have oxen of their own or in their keeping. The carriage
of three crannocks of coal to the mansion-house of the said lord of
Ewenny. One heriot of the best w?hen it happens, and all other
rents, duties and services hereat as ? and of right accustomed,
according to the custom of the said Manor.

List of dues, etc., 1647.

£o 55. od. Morgan Miles for the tithe barn at Ogmore at May
and Michaelmas by equal portions yearly.

1654.

The examination of Walter Williams, of Llantwit Major, taken
the 1 3th day of Septr by Robert Markes, gent., steward to John
Carne, gent., in the presence of the homages of the Manor of
Ewenny aforesaid, at a court held the day aforesaid.

Sworn, sayeth, that he the examined, being in the island of St.
Christopher in the .West Indies, where he had acquaintance with
one George Phillip, late of St. Brides Major in the county of
Glamorgan, who fell sick in the said island and died in the year
1631, at or about the latter end of November, and was buried in

APPENDIX III 93

the parish of Trinity in the said island. And the said examined
further sayeth that he, this examined, was requested and desired
at his coming into Wales not to divulge or declare the death of
the said George Phillips, by reason that the said George held by
the term of his life only a tenement of land in St. Brides parish
aforesaid, whereby the wife and children of the said George might
enjoy and receive and take the use and profits of the said tenement
whilst his death was not known.

WALTER WILLIAMS.

APPENDIX III.

No. 1867.

A true and perfect inventory of all the goods, cattells, chattells
and personall estate of Edward Carne of Ewenny, in the county of
Glamorgan, Esquire, deceased, made the sixteenth day of July,
Anno Domini one thousand sixe hundred fiftie, and praised by
Symon Canon, Evan Price, William Bonvill, Thomas Hughe,
William Thomas and John Thomas as followeth, viz1. :

Imprimis his wearing apparell, praised at - cli.

Summa patet.

Item, all his houshold stuff and implements of houshold here-
after menconed viz£. :

In the Hall.

Item three table bordes one cupbord two table car-
petts one cupbord carpett two chayres two
formes nyne stooles one cisterne two wash
hands, one candle sticke praised to ij^. xs.

Summa patet.

In the little Parlour.

Item one rounde table one syde table one couche
two chayres one little back chayre sixe stooles
two carpetts one payre of brasse andirons one
payre of iron doggs one fyre shovell and tongs
piraised at ij7. xvs.

Summa patet.

94 E WEN NY PRIORY

In the Dyneing Roome.

Item one great table one square table one syde table
one cupbord two carpetts one cupbord cloath
one chayre thirteene stooles twelve pictures
prized at

Summa patet.

In the great matted Chamber.

Item one bedstead one downe bedd one feather bedd
one payre of blanckets one rugg one quilt one
boulster two pillowes curtaynes and Vallence
one cupbord one side table one (sic) side table
carpett one cupbord carpett two cupbord
cushions two chayres one foote stoole fower
lowe stooles two payre of windowe curtaynes,
the hanging Arris there, one payre of brasse
andirons one fyre shovell tongs and bellowes
one alablaster bason and ewer one old shadow
or footecloath to hange over the windowe
prized at . - xxvjli.

Summa patet.

In the next adjoining little Chamber.

Item one bedstead and feather bedd one boulster one
payre of blancketts one rugg three peeces of
hangings all being old and one close stoole
prized at - jli. xvs.

Summa patet.

In the Yellow Chamber.

Item one bedstead one feather bedd one payre of
blancketts one rugge one boulster two pillowes
curtaynes and Vallence one little chayre one
lowe stoole one little cupbord one cupbord
cloath one payre of doggs fower peeces of old
hangings prized at - . ijli.xs.

Summa patet.

APPENDIX III 95

In the little Chamber within the Yellowe Chamber.
Item one bedstead one feather bedd one blanckett
one rugge one bolster one stoole most of it very
old and meane prized at - xvs.

Summa patet.

In the Porch Chamber.

Item one bedstead one badd old feather bedd two
blancketts one rugg one curtayne one boulster
one pillowe one andiron and parte of another
prized at ]li.

Summa patet.

In the Studdy Chamber.

Item one bedstead one feather bedd one pay re of
blancketts one rugge one boulster two pillowes
curtaynes and Vallence one syde table and old
table cloath three chayres two lowe stooles
one payre of iron doggs and one payre of bellows
prized at iiij/*..

Summa patet.

In the Chamber next to the Studdy Chamber.

Item one lowe bedstead with a canopie one feather
bedd one blanckett one rugg one boulster two
little presses and two chayres praized at - ijli.

Summa patet.

In the old cock lofte over the Dyneing Roome.

Item only part of an old bedstead not worth the
valewing.

In the little matted Chamber.

Item one bedstead one feather bedd one bolster two
pillowes one payre of blancketts one Rugg cur-
taynes and vallence one syde cupbord one
chayre three lowe stooles sixe peeces of hang-
ings one payre of andirons fyre shovell and
tongs prized at v')li.

Summa patet.

96 E WEN NY PRIORY

In the inner Chamber within the little matted Chamber.

Item parte of an old bedstead one old feather bedd
one blanckett one bolster one coverlett one
chayre one stoole and one close stoole prized at - jli. vjs. vn]d.
Summa patet.

In the Gallery.

Item one Spruce chest and in that two silke carpetts
three windowe cushions sixteene other cushions
one little table carpett one couche one square
table and carpett seaven peeces of Arisse hang-
inge fifteene pictures one payre of brasse and-
irons prized at clli.
Summa patet.

In the old Studdy.

Item one bedstead two feather bedds one payre of
blancketts one quilt two boulsters one payre of
pillows two chayres one highe backstoole two
lowe backstooles one other feather bedd two
blancketts one rugge one boulster sixe peeces of
hangings one payre of windowe curtaynes one
payre of brass andirons one payre of doggs fyre
shovell and tongs praised at - xiijli.

Summa patet.

In the Chamber over the Kitchen.

Item one bedstead two feather bedds one boulster
one payre of pillowes one payre of blancketts
one rugg curtaynes and vallence one bedd cub- »

bert one feather bedd in it one boulster one payre
of blancketts one rugg one great presse one little
cupbord with cupbord cloath one chayre one
high and two lowe stooles one great truncke
seaven peeces of Arasses one windowe curtayne
one payre of andirons fyre shovell and tongs
prized at- . xli.

Summa patet.

APPENDIX III 97

In the Entrie betweene the little Parlour and the Chamber
over the Kitchen.

Item one great trunckeand one old chest prized at - xvs.

Summa patet.

In the Maydes Chamber.

Item two trundle bedsteads two feather bedds three
boulsters two payre of blancketts two coverletts
one cupbord one chest two stooles one lowe
broken back stoole prized at ijli. xs.

Summa patet.

In the new Parlour.

Item one bedstead one old feather bedd curtaynes
and vallence one boulster one payre of blanc-
ketts one rugg one side borde - jli. xs.
Summa patet.

In the inner Chamber belonging thereunto.
Item one old bedstead one old bedd and boulster

prized at - - xiijs. m']d.

Summa patet.

In the old Parlor.

Item one bedstead one old feather bedd one boulster
one blanckett one old rugg one payre of iron
andirons shovell and tongs prized at jli. xs.

Summa patet.

In the Chamber within the Old Parlor.
Item one bedstead one feather bedd one bolster one
pillowe one blanckett one rugg three curtaynes
and bands one side table one chayre one lowe
stoole prized at ]li. xs.

Summa patet.

In the Cookes Chamber.

Item parte of a bestead feather bedd boulster one
payre of blancketts one Coverlett all very old
and badd xs.

Summa patet.

98 E WEN NY PRIORY

In Evans Chamber.
Item one bedstead one feather bed one boulster two

coverlidds one stoole prized at ]li.

Summa patet.

In Edmonds Chamber.
Item one bedstead one feather bedd one boulster one

blanckett two cover letts one lowe stoole - }h.

Summa patet.

The old Stone Pewter belonging to the house.
Item fower broad brimd voiders five pasty plates
nyne pye plates one narrow brim voider an
other deepe narrow brimd voider two basons
one greater an other lesser seaven dozen and
five pewter dishes whereof some sallett dishes
the other of severall sizes sixe pewter flagons
with covers of severall sizes one quarte one
pinte one halfe pinte sixe candle sticks twelve
chamber potts three pottage dishes three stoole
panns prized at ix/z'.

Summa patet.

The new Pewter that belongs to the house.
Item two dozen of new pewter platters three dozen
of trencher plates sixe candlesticks three pot-
tage dishes one limbick prized at - vj/z.
Summa patet.

Of Damaske Linnen of severall sorts.
Item seaven table cloaths of severall sizes fower cup-
bord cloaths and two longe towells of the same
and three dozen of table napkins.

Of Diaper.

Item one pounde table cloath one cupbord cloath
one dozen and five table napkins all this of
birds eyes diaper.

Of other Diaper.

Item two table cloathes fower longe towells two cup-
bord cloathes two dozen of napkins prized at - xviij/z.
Summa patet.

APPENDIX III 99

Linnen of severall sorts.

Item five payre of fine Holland sheetes five payre
and one of holland pillow beeres fowerteene
payre of the fineste sorte of dowles sheetes
fowerteene payre of pillow beres of the same
sorte of dowles xij/z.

Summa patet.

Of the ordinary sheetes used about the House.

Item eighteene payre of sheetes twelve payre of
pillow beres of the same sorte twelve payre of
Canvas cheeke for servants nyne table cloathes
and cupbord cloathes sixe dozen and a halfe of
table napkins one dozen and a halfe of coarse
towels prized at - vjli.

Summa patet.

In the kitchen.

Item five olde brasse potts one skillett one old pos-
nett two great and one little kettles one payre
of racks fower shorte pott hangings one morter
and pestle five spitts two dripping panns one
iron barre one old decayed wheele and chayne
to turn the spitts one frying pann one fyre
shovell one payre of tongs and one fender one
mustard mill one boxe for to keepe salt two
trayes two peeles one basteing spoone one
brasse skimmer one dresser board one fyre pick
prized at vj/z. xs

Summa patet.

In the Pastry.

Item two salting troughs one moulding board two
shelfe boards.

In the lower kitchen.

Item one leade moulde one cratch one old decayed

brasse pann of little or noe value prized at xs.

Summa patet.

7—2

ioo EWENNY PRIORY

In the Larder.

Item one almnery one cupbord one board upon two
tressles three salting tubbs.

In the entry by the Kitchen.
Item one poultice coope one bad scowring board

prized at- j//'.

Summa patet.

In the Buttery.

Item one old bread chest one cage to putt glasses in
one boorde upon tressles three shelves one back
stoole.

In the Seller under the Halle.

Item two gybbs to hold hogsheads prized at - vjs. viijcL

Summa patet.

In the Wine seller.
Item one gibb to laye hogsheads on in the seller

under the buttery two little gibbs - iijs. iiijd..

Summa patet.

In the Wash house.

Item one poultry coope two washing tubbs two
washing cowles two brandices two brasse panns
to wash in them prized at jli. xs-

Summa patet.

In the Brewhouse.

Item one brewing vate one cooler one keene one
furnace two vates to ripen beere in one vate to
hold the graynes three troughs one gibb to hold
the brueingj vates thirteene hogsheads twelve
barrells two halfe barrells prized at - xviij//..

Summa patet.

In the inner Dayrie.

Item eight brasse milke panns one salting trough
one payre of cheese tongs two frames with each
fower shelves one old board standing on two
tressles to sett panns on prized at iiij/z..

Summa patet.

APPENDIX III

In the outer Dayrie.

Item one little butter churne one other churne on a
frame sixe little trendies to coole milke on one
cheese tubb one brandiron one borde lying on
two postes fower milke payles two cheese vates
prized at

Summa patet.

In the Buntinge house.

Item one olde Bunt three trendies one old brake-

stocke one old board upon two trestles prized at

Summa patet.
Item plate prized at
Item cattell and sheepe prized at
Item horses and mares prized at
Item corne in the ground and in the house of all

sortes togeather with the malte prized at
Item butter cheese beefe and bacon prized at
Item piggs prized at

Item geese turkeys and other poultrie prized at
Item saddles bridles and other furniture that belongs

to horses prized at -
Item waines butts wheeles and all other necessaries

for thuse and that belongs to the plough prized at
Item working tooles prized at
Item wood and timber prized at
Item for things forgotten
Item in ready money and debts

specialty

Summa totalis hujus Inventarij
Item in desperate debts -

xnjs.

xxij/z.
ccli.

XXX/2.

Ixxx/*.
vjli.
viij/i.

jli.

ijli.

H vjli.

vjs. viijrf.
ijli. xs.
jli.
owing on

ixc xli.

mvjc Ixxxxvij/z. viijs.
\xxxxvijli. vjs. viijd.

Exhibitum fuit hujusmodi inventarium sexto die mensis
Novembris Anno domini 1650 per Magistrum Alexandrum
Dyer Notarium publicum procuratorem executricis pro vero
inventario sub protestacione de addendo, etc., si, etc.

MICHAEL OLDISWORTH
HENRICUS PARKER

| Registrarii.

Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, London, E.G.