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RELATIONS WITH THE CHURCH

Within Bury, the Abbot ruled supreme. (Under Abbot Sampson, who came to power in 1181, local control was such that he was even able to dictate when and where the women did their washing!)

During the rule of Abbot Hugh (1173-80), the community enjoyed warm relations with the abbey, partly because Hugh was dependent on loans from them to stay solvent and “keep up the honour of his house”. However, he wasn’t the only one. He was apparently "simple-minded and growing old" and his officials "did as they liked", borrowing money themselves, behind his back. But eventually, the debt got out of hand.

When the monks’ hall was destroyed, the abbey’s sacristan, William, borrowed £880 on the quiet from Benedict the Jew of Norwich. The cellarer also took out loans totalling £60 from Jurnet the Jew of Norwich.
A further £400 was owed to Isaac, son of Rabe Joce, while another £1,040 was borrowed from a Christian moneylender, William fitz Isabel. The overall debt was considerable, given that the annual income of the abbey in this period was not much greater than £325 per annum.

Tensions were exacerbated when Hugh died and the community unwisely became involved in abbey politics, backing a failed bid by William the sacristan to be elected as Hugh’s replacement. The position went instead to Abbot Samson, who would ultimately engineer their expulsion.