In old documents.....

[DaveHarries]

Hi all,

 

Have had my eyes on these two publications for the last few days: they both relate to St. Augustine's Abbey, Bristol (later Bristol Cathedral):

 

Two-Compotus-Rolls-of-Saint-Augustines-Abbey-Bristol-1491-2-and-1511-12

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Two-Compotus-Rolls-of-Saint-Augustines-Abbey-Bristol-1491-2-and-1511-12-/162151903177?hash=item25c101afc9:g:oyAAAOSwa-dWp5-w

 

Some-Manorial-Accounts-of-Saint-Augustines-Abbey-Bristol

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Some-Manorial-Accounts-of-Saint-Augustines-Abbey-Bristol-/152185683289?hash=item236ef93d59:g:MA0AAOSwoydWp3No

 

Might one find references to old organs of the Abbey in these books? The history of the cathedral's organs (which, surprisingly, has not been in print for a good few years AFAIK) gave the earliest organ reference as 1515 but I would be surprised if there was nothing earlier so wonder if it is worth getting one - or both - of these out of curiosity.

 

Thoughts welcome.

Dave

[Vox Humana]

I'm not interdisciplinary enough to be a specialist in these sorts of documents, but I would have thought it very unlikely. I believe that compotus rolls deal in lands and the heirs thereof, but I'm not sure whether that's the whole story. The manorial accounts I would expect to be just that: accounts of manors belonging to the abbey - not very likely places to have organs at this date. So the answer on both counts is "almost certainly not", although I suppose one should never say never.

Both books are actually available online here:

 

http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs09.pdf

http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs22.pdf

 

I did have a speed-read of the compotus rolls and didn't spot anything obvious. However, I find speed-reading difficult enough in English, let alone medieval Latin, so don't take my word for it!

[S_L]

I read through, albeit briefly, and found no reference at all to organs or to the players of them which was a shame.

 

The expenses for the 'Care of the Church and cost of Services' include a payment to the sub-sacrist for his work in the church and care of the clock. There is a payment for Vestments - laundry, mending and renewals, for Cleaning the church, care of the bells etc. and for Masses, lighting and bellringing - but no mention of organs or a player of them - and the accounts are quite detailed - 4p for the Repairs to the door lock of the latrine!

 

An interesting read all the same!

[Colin Pykett]

Old chur