ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY the de Clares, to say nothing of the sums that must have been paid for the assent both of Stephen and of Henry II. 1 The beginning of the next century brought a considerable change to the position of a great many of the parish churches. Since the Conquest nearly four-fifths of the total number had been granted to religious houses. Some of these had been given to monasteries outside the county ; a but a much larger number to the Bedfordshire monas- teries. 3 1 The whole story is set out in full in the Gesta Abbatum (Rolls Series), i. 1 1 3-8. Robert, Earl of Gloucester, wishing to put in his kinsman Gilbert de Cimmay, became much shocked at the idea of these churches being held by a layman. The Bishop of Lincoln (Alexander) refused however to dispossess William the Chamberlain without legal forms ; but after three days had been appointed for the hear- ing of the case, and the defendant refused to appear, he was disseised, and Gilbert de Cimmay presented. The disgrace of Robert of Gloucester put the manor of Luton for a time into the hands of Robert de Waudari, a kinsman of the abbot of St. Alban's, who was thus able to mediate between him and Gilbert de Cimmay. A serious illness of the latter, combined with the persuasions of the abbot, moved him to resign the benefice into the hands of the archdeacon, Nicholas of Bedford ; it was then conferred on the abbot's nephew. As soon as William de Clare was restored to his father's property, the abbot approached him, and obtained from him first a grant of the church for 80 marks, and a discharge of knight service for another 30 marks (Cott. MS. Otho, D iii. f. 1 1 5b). This was confirmed by Stephen (ibid, f. 1 16), so its date must be between 1 1 5 1 and 1 1 54 ; and afterwards by Henry II. There is another point of interest in this case, bearing on the tradition of Offa's connection with Luton. At the first trial of the matter, when William the Chamberlain was disseised, the jury declared that 5 hides of land had belonged to the church from the time of its first foundation ; but at the beginning of Henry II. 's reign some were found ready to swear that the church was built ' super domin- icum regni fiscum,' which was equally true in reference to the eleventh century (see also for all this Cobbe's Luton Church). 2 Bolnhurst to Thorney Abbey ; finally in I 151 (Dugdale's Mon. ii. 602). Dunton to Haliwell Priory, before I I 89 (ibid. iv. 393). Eyworth to St. Helen's, London ; before 1225 (Line. Epis. Reg., 16 Hugh de Wells). Potton to St. Andrew's, Northampton ; about 1094 by Simon de Senliz (Dugdale, Mon. v. 191). Sharnbrook to St. Mary de Pre, Leicester ; before 1162 by W. Tricket (ibid. vi. 468). Tillsworth to St. Giles in the Wood. Podington and Thurleigh to Canons Ashby. Meppershall and Felmersham to Lenton ; confirmed 1205 (Cat. of Pap. Letters, i. 18). Edworth, Knotting, Tempsford and Turvey to St. Neot's (Gorham, History of St. Neot's, II. cxii. cxiii. cxiv. cxv.). (Knotting in 1 1 76 was a chapel appendant to Melchbourne church ; in that year the Bishop of Exeter as arbitrator assigned the church to the Hospitallers and the chapel to St. Neot's. Turvey church is named in the charters of Newnham Priory, but the Lincoln Registers show that the advowson certainly belonged to St. Neot's.) Eaton Bray, Whipsnade, Upper Stondon, Milton Bryant to Merton (Dugdale, Mon. vi. 247). Luton, Houghton, Potsgrave to St. Alban's (Potsgrave by W. de Blancfront, Cotton MS. Otho, D iii. f. 1 20b). Toddington to the abbey of Couture, Le Mans. Langford and Little Stoughton to the Templars (Cotton MS. Nero, E vi. f. 137). (Where no reference is given, the evidence of the earliest institutions in the Lincoln Episcopal Registers may be assumed.) 3 To Elstow : Elstow, Wilshampstead, Maulden, Flitton with Silsoe chapel, Kempston and Westoning. To Dunstable : Dunstable, Chalgrave, Harlington, Studham, Husborne Crawley, Pulloxhill, Segenhoe, Totternhoe, Steppingley with St. Cuthbert, St. Mary and St. Peter Dunstable at Bedford. To Newnham : St. Paul's and All Saints', Bedford ; Ravensden, Renhold, Great Barford, Willing- ton, Cardington, Goldington, Southill, Hatley, Wootton, Stagsden, Aspley, Lower Gravenhurst, Salford, Wrestlingworth and Hulcote. To Caldwell : Bromham, Roxton and Sandy, Oakley with the chapel of Clapham. To Chicksand : Chicksand, Haynes, Cople, Keysoe and Stotfold with the chapel of Astwick. To Beaulieu : Millbrook, Clophill and Ampthill, Campton and Milton Ernest. To Harrold : Harrold and Stevington. To Markyate Priory : Sundon, Streatley and Higham Gobion. To Melchbourne Preceptory : Dean, Eaton Socon, Risley, Eversholt and Melchbourne. Most of these churches may be found in the foundation charters of the religious homes ; the rest may be gathered from the early institutions in the Lincoln Registers. 315
