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From: "E.M. TREHARNE" <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Date sent: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 08:58:25 +0100 (BST) Subject: Re: Monks and Friars Priority: normal Send reply to: [log in to unmask] Slightly off the central thread of this discussion somewhat, does anyone know of any contemporary, and specifically twelfth-century, evidence which demonstrates that Benedictine monks were engaged in the pastoral care of the laity outside the monastery? Alternatively, is there any evidence to suggest that monks might have been copying manuscripts for secular clerics to use in their pastoral activities? Thanks. Elaine Dr Elaine Treharne Department of English University of Leicester There is some evidence for English monastic cathedrals (which were Benedictine) having some involvement, e.g. where the cathedral had a burial monopoly, as at Worcester. There is extensive evidence for the monks of Worcester being interested in preaching to the laity in the eleventh century, but that's a bit early for you. Some of the evidence is outlined by Michael Franklin in his article in D. Abulafia et al. ed. The Church and the City (I think that's the title - anyway it's the Festschrift for C.N.L. Brooke, and it was published by CUP). I think Franklin doesn't go far enough with the evidence - there is more to be said. Gloucester Abbey also had a burial monopoly within the city of Gloucester, though some parishes were exempt from it, and some other parishes became exempt in the late middle ages. Chester Abbey also had extensive burial rights. Cf my article in S. Bassett, ed. Death in Towns (Leicester 1992). Obviously these rights woudn't necessarily bring monks into close contacts with laypeople necessarily, because they could hire chaplains to perform services. Julia Barrow University of Nottingham %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%