[Illustration: C]<g>ISTERCIAN</g> abbeys, according to Giraldus Cambrensis, avoided all the bad consequences of _cells_, in the irregularities of their inhabitants, by _having none_; and by remedying all defects by visitors and chapters. Yet the Abbey of Kingswood, already noticed, was a cell of Tinterne, and the scene of as many irregularities and abuses, perhaps, as the cells of any other monastic order. The brethren who stayed at cells were to be three in every place, or two at least. “In food, in clothing, and the tonsure, they did not vary from the common institution. They kept silence at table, and did not speak in the church. They sung compline at an early seasonable hour, in summer and winter; and did not run about the village or elsewhere.” It was thought a great grievance to be sent to remote cells, or from cell to cell; and scandalous tales were occasionally told of the licentious lives of some of the monks, whom the abbots had sent thither for penance and reformation.[165]
<g>In</g> reference to the introduction of Cistercian monks into England, we annex the following from an old Chronicler:--“About this time,” says he, “by means of one <g>Stephen Hardyng</g>, a munke of Sherburne, an Englyshe man of the order of Sisteaux, or whyte munkes, had his beginning in the wildernesse of _Cystery_, within the Provynce of Burgoyne, as witnesseth Ranulph, munke of Chester: but other wryters, as Jacobus Philippus, and the auctor of Cronyca Cronycorū, Matheolus, with other sayen, yᵗ this Stephen was the second abbot of yᵗ place, and that it was founded by the means of one Robert, abbot of Molynēse, in the yere of Grace, M.lxxx.xviij, which, to follow their sayinge, shulde be in the ix yere of yᵉ reyne of this Kynge” [Rufus.] “This <g>order</g> was after brought into Englande by one called <g>Walter Espeke</g>, that founded the firste abbey of yᵗ religion at <g>Ryuall</g> [Rivaux], about the yere of Grace xi.c.xxxi., the which shulde be about the xxxi. yere of the firste <g>Henry</g>, than Kynge of Englande.” This last is the correct date of the introduction of white friars into this country, and he adds:--“Somewhat of their religion is towched in the x chapitre of the vii boke of _Polychronicon_.”[166]