of Sir Matthew de Morley, their founder: the foundation deed was produced in the cause between John Lord Lovell, and Thomas Lord Morley, about the arms of a lion rampant, which being on this seal, proved that the Lord Morley's ancestors had anciently used those arms. This chapel was well endowed; many free lands in Roydon were held by paying an annual rent to it; it was dissolved in 1547, and soon after pulled down, and the site conveyed by the Crown to lay hands. It is now [1736] owned by the Rev. Mr. John Dawney. It was founded about 1282; but being a free chapel without institution, it is never mentioned in those registers.
The Prior of Eye, in Suffolk, had the tithes of about 100 acres of land here, given to that monastery by Odo de Charune, who gave two parts of the tithes of his land in Roydon, in the Conqueror's time, and by Richard Hoveel of Reindun, who gave all the tithes of his lands here; and in the charter of King Stephen, granted to that house in 1137, they were confirmed to the monks among their other revenues: and in the register called Danoun, which formerly belonged to this priory, and is now [1736] in the hands of Mr. Martin of Palgrave, I find that the portion of tithes belonging to the monks of St. Peter at Eye, lying in Roydon, were let to the rector at two marks a year, and so continued for some time; until afterwards a perpetual composition was made for the rectors to pay 3s. 4d. per annum. Thus it continued until the Dissolution, and then the pension went, with the priory, to the Crown, from whence it was granted off, and hath since passed through many hands: it some time was payable to Catharine, wife of King Charles II. but belongs now [1736] to the Rev. Mr. Thomas Pyle of Lynn Regis.
Here were several freeholds held of the honour of Eye.
In 1355, Sir Robert de Morley, Knt. confirmed to King Edward III. the advowson of this church, with the chapels annexed, under divers limitations. His seal was a lion rampant, in a shield, circumscribed Sigillum Roberti de Morley Militis, notwithstanding which it hath all along passed with the manor.
The Abbot of Sibton, in Suffolk, had temporals here taxed at 3s. being part of their manor called Friers, in Shelfhanger, which extended hither.
The present building is very ancient, having its nave only standing (the south isle having been a long time in ruins.) It is covered with lead, though the chancel and south porch are tiled; the steeple (which is in a very ruinous condition) is round at bottom, and octangular at top; it had formerly four bells, but being unable to bear them, the parishioners obtained a faculty in 1680, and sold three of them: on that which is left I read this,
Petrus ad Æterna ducat nos Pascua Vite.
The chancel seems to have been
