Page:VCH Buckinghamshire 1.djvu/459

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RELIGIOUS HOUSES


HOUSE OF KNIGHTS TEMPLARS

18. THE PRECEPTORY OF BULSTRODE

All that is known of the preceptory of Bui- strode is that it certainly existed in 1276, for in that year Brother John, the preceptor, was accused of taking a bribe of half a mark from a certain robber to let him go free.[1] An in- quisition taken in the year 1330 reported that the manor of Bulstrode had once formed part of the lands of the Templars, and after the annulling of their order passed to the Hospitallers.[2] It is mentioned again among the lands of the Hospitallers in 1338, but they never had a commandery there : the manor was simply leased on their behalf for 75 marks. [3] The Templars had also lands at Radnage [4] and at High Wycombe. [5]

FRIARIES

19. HOUSE OF FRANCISCAN FRIARS, AYLESBURY

The house of Grey Friars at Aylesbury was founded by James Butler, Earl of Ormond, as late as 1386.[6] At the dissolution there were only seven friars there, [7] but it is possible that at the foundation there may have been a larger number.

At a time when friars did not rank very high in popular esteem these Minorites of Ayles- bury seem to have shown something of the same independent and fearless spirit as their brethren of the strict observance in the six- teenth century. Richard II. had been a benefactor of this house, and at the beginning of the next reign a friar was accused by one of his own brethren of spreading a report that the late king was still alive. He was brought before Henry IV., but the story of his ending cannot be better told than in the words of the mediaeval chronicle, whether strictly histori- cal or no.[8] It happened at the time ' when the people began to grudge against King Harry, and bear him heavy, because he took their goods and paid not therefore,' that the friar of Aylesbury was brought into the royal presence. Said the king to the friar, ' Thou hast heard that King Richard is alive, and art glad thereof.' And the friar answered, ' I am glad as a man is glad of the life of his friend, for I am holden to him, and all my kin, for he was our furtherer and promoter.' But the king said, ' Thou hast noised and told openly that he liveth, and so thou hast ex- cited and stirred the people against me.' ' Nay,' said the friar. But the king went on, ' Tell me the truth as it is in thine heart : if thou sawest King Richard and me in the field fighting together, with whom wouldst thou hold ? ' ' Forsooth with him, for I am more beholden to him,' replied the bold friar. ' Then thou wouldest that I and all the lords of my realm were dead ? ' ' Nay,' said the friar again. ' What wouldst thou do with me if thou hadst the victory over me ? ' 'I would make you Duke of Lancaster,' an- swered the friar. ' Thou art not my friend, and therefore thou shalt lose thine head,' was the king's reply : and the poor friar was ' dampned befor the justice, and drawe and hanged and beheddid.'

At the dissolution the house at Aylesbury was a very poor place, and in debt ; the church however was in good condition, and had lately been repaired.[9] Dr. London reported to Cromwell that there was scarce money enough, even after the sale of the plate and lead, to ' dispatch the friars honestly.'[10] No attempt was therefore made to provide them with pensions : but London desired special capacities for them to serve cures. [11] Whether these were granted or no remains uncertain.

The guardian of the house in 1535 was Ed- ward Ryly [12] ; the one who signed the sur- render was Henry Meyn.[13] The Deed of Surrender, which is dated I October, 1538, is identical with that of the friars of Bedford, and therefore obviously not of their own composition. The acknowledgment which it contains——that, after profound consideration, the brethren had discovered that their reli- gion consisted mainly of pharisaical cere- monies——is in consequence quite as formal

  1. ↑ Hund. R. (Rec. Com.), i. 43.
  2. ↑ Close, 4 Edw. III. m. 39.
  3. ↑ L. B. Larking, The Knights Hospitallers, 213.
  4. ↑ Hund. R. (Rec. Com.), i. 45.
  5. ↑ Feud. Aids, i. 76.
  6. ↑ Pat. 10 Rich. II. pt. ii., m. 6.
  7. ↑ P.R.O. Deed of Surrender, 10.
  8. ↑ An English Chronicle of the Reigns of Henry IV., V. and VI. (Caraden Soc.), 23.
  9. ↑ L. and P. Henry VIII. xiii. (2) 719.
  10. ↑ Ibid. 526.
  11. ↑ Ibid. 767.
  12. ↑ Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), iv. 248.
  13. ↑ P.R.O. Deed of Surrender, 10.

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