Free time? Apart from

• Washing and cooking for the monastery
• Raising the necessary supplies of vegetables and grain
• Reaping, Sowing, Ploughing, Binding and Thatching, Haymaking and Threshing
• Producing wine, ale and honey
• Providing medical care for the community
• Providing education for boys and novices
• Copying the manuscripts of classical authors and
• Providing hospitality for pilgrims

they also had to attend

• Matins: the night office; the service recited at 2 am in the divine office
• Lauds: the early morning service of divine office approx 5am
• Prime: The 6am service
• Terce: the second of the Little Hours of divine office, recited at the third hour (9 am)
• Sext: the third of the Little Hours of divine office, recited at the sixth hour (noon)
• Nones: the fourth of the Little Hours of divine office, recited at the ninth hour (3 pm)
• Vespers: the evening service of divine office, recited before dark (4 - 5pm) and
• Compline: the last of the day services of divine office, recited before retiring (6pm).

Sooooo, not much free time.