Unveiling the Notorious Medieval Monk of Malmesbury

Tony McAleavy, a local historian, was researching the history of Malmesbury Abbey when he came across the fascinating story of a wayward monk named John of Tintern. Intrigued by John's colorful and criminal life, McAleavy dedicated a whole book chapter to him. Malmesbury is an idyllic market town in the Cotswolds, known for its Norman abbey, runaway pigs, and as the burial site of Anglo-Saxon King Athelstan. However, historical records reveal that the abbey was not always peaceful. During the religious changes ordered by King Henry VIII, the monastery was dissolved, but it had been a center of learning and power for centuries. In his research, McAleavy discovered that John of Tintern had a long criminal record dating back to 1318. He was involved in a riot and accused of being part of a mass brawl in the town of Lechlade. Furthermore, the abbey became entangled in a feud that revolved around £10,000 (equivalent to millions today). The Despensers, a local noble family, entrusted the abbey with this large sum for safekeeping. However, when the family fell from grace, the head of the family was executed, and the abbey decided to keep the money hidden. Ten years later, the secret was revealed, and John of Tintern, as the right-hand man of the abbot, faced royal court and custody. Strangely, the monks were eventually pardoned, and King Edward II allowed them to keep the money. Despite being elected as the abbey's abbot in 1340, John of Tintern was involved in even more nefarious activities. He behaved like a gangster, willing to kill or have his enemies killed. He also lived openly with a woman named Margaret of Lea, and he was accused of burning down her manor house and abducting her. Local people reported his crimes, including arson, abduction, and four murders, to the Justices who came to Malmesbury from London. Remarkably, John of Tintern evaded justice and was fined £500 (equivalent to hundreds of thousands today) for his crimes. Although he received an indulgence from the Pope, guaranteeing forgiveness for his sins upon death, he died in 1349 during the Black Death. This shocking story raises questions about how a man of religion could behave so abhorrently.