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Fountains Abbey: History
Fountains Abbey: Buildings
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Desperately seeking solitude (4/5) These were the holy men whom the Lord chose
for Himself to be The group of thirteen monks who fled from St Mary's included a number of leading members of the community, such as the prior, sub-prior, sacrist, and precentor.(27) Given the hastiness of their departure, the monks left in only the clothes they were wearing. They had no other possessions and were completely dependent on Archbishop Thurstan, who assumed the combined role of patron, adviser and host.
Whilst
staying with Thurstan the monks received threats
from Abbot Geoffrey, warning them to return to St Mary’s.
All except two remained resolute. The foundation history reports
that Gervase and Ralph had perhaps ‘not completely armed
themselves with the shield of faith and prayer’ and succumbed
to the devil’s poisonous whisperings; comparing their present
hardships to life at St Mary’s, they decided to return to
York - ‘satisfied with their former mediocrity, since safety
lies ever in the mean.’(28) Gervase
soon realised the errors of his ways, ‘returned to the camp’ and
was later promoted to the abbacy of Louth
Park.(29) Ralph, however,
remained at St Mary’s,
making ‘a compact with the flesh and his belly cleaved unto
the ground.’(31) |