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Women
Early Cistercian legislation forbade the reception
of women, although those who were dignified might be refreshed in
the vill.(6) By the mid-twelfth century
the General Chapter
made concessions and it was agreed that women might enter the church
on the day of its dedication and the Octave,
but breastfeeding women were still prohibited.(7)
Over the years individual abbeys might negotiate more flexible terms
and in 1401 the abbot of Kirkstall
was notified of a papal receipt permitting women to enter his church
on those days when access was given to men.(8)
Whilst women were allowed into the church on certain stated occasions
they were still forbidden from entering any of the other buildings.
Those who disregarded these rules were punished:
in 1246 the prior and cellarer of Beaulieu
were dismissed for they had served meat to guests attending
the dedication of the church and had permitted Queen Eleanor to
stay in the infirmary for almost three weeks to tend the young Prince
Edward, who had taken ill after the ceremony.(9)
Clearly, as far as the General Chapter was concerned, there were
to be no concessions to status, or at least, any concessions simply
extended to their admittance and not include overnight stays. This
is quite different to the Benedictines - in the twelfth century
Abbot Geoffrey of St Albans (1119-46) actually constructed a chamber
for the queen(10) (thalamus reginae),
where she might reside when visiting the abbey; the chronicler of
St Albans states that she was the only woman permitted to stay within
the precinct.(11)
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