Abbotry

Thus ended the long and prosperous succession of the Abbotry of this renowned monastry, which, being a mitered one, gave its abbots great power and influence both in church and state.

This gives an average to the reign of each abbot of nearly a quarter of a century, but Abbot Walter, elected in 1323, found the abbotry so good that he held it no less than fifty-five years.

Philip Whalen was stung and nonplussed by Spicer's criticism, though in later years, mellowed by Zen abbotry, he dismissed Spicer as "unpleasant to everyone."

The abbot's body was lifted onto a dray and carried thus in haste to the abbotry offices.