Book of the Foundation of Walden Monastery

The monastery of Walden was founded c.1136 by Geoffrey de Mandeville, a prominent baron in the civil war of Stephen's reign. Its site just outside the town of Saffron Walden in Essex is now occupied by the great Jacobean mansion known as Audley End House. The Book of the Foundation of Walden Monastery, written by a Walden monk soon after 1203, is here printed in its entirety for the first time. This lively narrative relates the history of the Mandevilleearls of Essex and the inheritance of their lands and title by King John's justiciar, Geoffrey fitz Peter. The monk-author describes the development of the priory at Walden and its elevation to the status of a Benedictine abbey in 1190, and in the final section of the work he traces the consequent conflict withGeoffrey fitz Peter, concluding the story with the death of Abbot Reginald in 1200 or 1203. The interest of The Book of the Foundation of Walden Monastery extends far beyond the local: the editors' introduction and notes establish its position as a valuable historical source.

This first complete edition of the "Book of Walden" offers valuable insights into the relations between monasteries and their noble founders in the twelfth century, required reading for all historians of this period as well as providing the most stimulating possible introduction to English monastic history for undergraduates., the author's resonant biblical Latin is analysed and indexed, and felicitously translated ... this is a satisfying edition of a fascinating text.