the Bishop is to choose which he pleases; every master thus elected, before he be confirmed by the Bishop, must go to the manor of Lerling, and present himself to the founder's heirs, if they be there, and if not, he may go to the Bishop, who is to confirm him; and if they do not choose in three months after a vacancy, it lapses to the Bishop, who must collate one of that college. In every vacancy the fellows are to choose one of themselves, to look after the college affairs, who is to account to the next master; the fellows to choose the fellows, and each fellowship void above six months lapses to the Bishop; every fellow that leaves the college shall leave half his goods to it, and at their admission, shall swear obedience to their master, and to promote their college; the fellows were obliged to constant residence, and could not lie one night out of the college, without their master's leave; the master was at full liberty as to his residence, but could not have any of his own family admitted to any office in the college, without the consent of the majority of the fellows; the college to have a common seal, which, with the evidences and treasure, shall always be kept in a chest, with three locks, the master to have one key, and such two fellows as all the fellows shall choose, to have the other two; the master and fellows to make up their accounts every Michaelmas, and lock up one part of the account in the chest, and the master to keep the counterpart. The Bishop reserves power for him and his successours to visit, correct, and reform, what he thinks necessary, together with all episcopal power, jurisdiction, and other rights whatever, belonging to his church of Norwich. Dated at Schuldham, July 13th, 1360.
It appears from an old rental in my collection, that Tho. Sigo, master of the college, held of the capital manor of Rushworth, called Gonvile Hall, his manor called Lerling Hall in Rushworth, by the rent of 6s. 8d. a year; Purry's tenement and 30 acres, with its foldcourse, at 3s. 4d. rent, the capital tenement formerly John de Brethenham's in Brethenham, at 3s. 4d. with 2s. 8d. 0b. rent for his lands on Suffolk side, and abundance of other rents on the Norfolk side.
- 1492, William Halyday, senior, chaplain and fellow, desired to be buried here by his parents; he gave 6s. 8d. towards a new bell, 6s. 4d. to the light of the holy sepulchre, to the gild of St. John Baptist kept in this church 3s. 4d. His uncle, Thomas Halyday, formerly fellow, sold seven acres of land to him, which he gave to the college, after the death of Robert Schadewell his brother, and Alice his wife, the profits to keep the south porch in repair for ever, (which looks as if he was buried in it,) and to pray for him and his benefactors; he gave other 9 acres in Rushworth, to Robert and Alice for life, and Thomas their son, if he live to be of age; if he dies under age, it was to go the master to find bread and wine for the Sacrament. He gave a good stone house in Rushworth, to the college in free alms, to be used as a gild-hall, or at any time, when there was not room for the guests in the college; but the master was to find out of it a lamp burning in the choir, before the Sacrament at the high altar, for ever, to which he gave a silver chrismatory of 4 marks value, John Cavendysh, rector of Quidenham, and Will. Parysh, fellow, executors. Proved Jan. 23, 1492.
