The Bonhommes, or "bluefriars" on account of the colour of their robes, were a holy order set up in 1276 by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, Lord of Berkhampstead castle and cousin of Edward I, with an Abbey at Ashridge in Hertfordshire. They followed the rule of St. Augustine. At the foundation Edmund gave the order a phial of the Sacred Blood Of Jesus Christ he had acquired while travelling in Germany. It was intended to be comprised of 20 brothers, but rarely achieved this. For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ... The title of Earl of Cornwall was created several times in the Peerage of England before 1337, when it was superseded by the title Duke of Cornwall, which became attached to heirs-apparent to the throne. ... Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), popularly known as Longshanks because of his 6 foot 2 inch wiener that was gigantic (1. ... An abbey (from the Latin abbatia, which is derived from the Syriac abba, father), is a Christian monastery or convent, under the government of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serve as the spiritual father or mother of the community. ... Golden Valley, Ashridge Estate, 2006 The Bridgewater Monument View from Bridgewater Monument to the house Ashridge is an estate and house in Hertfordshire, England; part of the land stretches into Buckinghamshire and it is close to the Bedfordshire border. ... Hertfordshire (pronounced Hartfordshire and abbreviated as Herts) is an inland county in the United Kingdom and part of the East of England Government Office region. ... The Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430), are several Roman Catholic monastic orders and congregations of both men and women living according to a guide to religious life known as the Rule of Saint Augustine. ... There are many relics attributed to Jesus that people believe or believed to be authentic relics of the Gospel accounts. ...

The Black Prince, a later lord of Berkhampstead castle, became interested in the College around the time of the Black Death around 1350. A second house of the Order was established at the prince's direction at Edington, Wiltshire in 1352 by taking over an existing secular college there. Edward the Black Prince - illustration from Cassells History of England circa 1902 Effigy on the Black Princes tomb in Canterbury Cathedral Edward, Prince of Wales, known as the Black Prince (June 15, 1330 - June 8, 1376) was the eldest son of King Edward III of England. ... Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411). ... Events 29 August - An English fleet personally commanded by King Edward III defeats a Spanish fleet in the battle of Les Espagnols sur Mer. ... Edington is the name of at least two places: United Kingdom Edington, Somerset Edington, Wiltshire See also: Eddington This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... Events June 4 - Glarus joins the Swiss Confederation. ...

Another house is mentioned at Ruthin in Denbighshire but little is known of this. Rhuthun ( English: Ruthin), pronounced RITH-in (IPA ), is the county town of Denbighshire in North Wales located at UK National grid reference SJ127584, approx. ... Denbighshire (Welsh: Sir Ddinbych) is a county in North Wales. ...

In 1534 at the Dissolution of the Monasteries the house was peacefully dissolved and the brothers given pensions for life. 1534 (MDXXXIV) was a common year in the 16th century. ... The Dissolution of the Monasteries (referred to by Roman Catholic writers as the Suppression of the Monasteries) was the formal process, taking place between 1538 and 1541, by which King Henry VIII confiscated the property of the Roman Catholic monastic institutions in England and took them to himself, as the...

Albigensian connection

There has been speculation that the order was in some way associated with the Albigensian heresy of southern France. The evidence for this is circumstantial and the conclusion contested. Edmund's mother was the daughter of Raymond VI of Toulouse, a protector of the heretical sect. Wall paintings in the college cloisters, now lost, were described in the eighteenth century as favouring the Albigensians. Wall paintings in a cottage at nearby Potten End discovered in 1953 have been similarly described. ^[1] Cathars being expelled from Carcassone in 1209. ... Raymond VI of Toulouse (October 27, 1156 – August 2, 1222) was count of Toulouse and marquis of Provence from 1194 to 1222. ...

Name

The name is a corruption of the Latin Boni Homines. They were not apparently connected with any of the continental orders of the same name, although they have sometimes been described as of the Order of Grammont.

References

• From: 'House of Bonhommes: Edington', A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 3 (1956), pp. 320-24. Date accessed: 28 July 2006.
• Coult, Douglas A Prospect of Ashridge, pub Phillimore, Chichester, 1980 , ISBN 0-85033-360-1 Chapters 2 to 6.

1. ^ History of England The Inquisition , Note 4 , The Cathars movement did indeed come to England