A HISTORY OF NORFOLK the prior of Horsham, as the diocesan nomina- tions for the suffragan bishopric of Thetford.' The archbishop's choice fell upon the latter. In October of the same year the prior of Castle Acre was one of the Norfolk gentlemen appointed by the king (at the time of the Lincoln and north- ern rebellions) to abide in their counties to keep good order in the absence of the rest of the noblemen.^ Only two religious were selected for this honour, namely, the priors of Castle Acre and West Acre. On 22 November, 1537,' Thomas Mailing and ten of the monks signed the surrender of the priory and all its possessions/ The whole pro- perty was at once assigned by the crown to Thomas, duke of Norfolk, at an annual rent of £4.4 195. oy.' To Castle Acre Priory pertained four subordi- nate cells : Bromholm, of considerable import- ance, Normansburgh, Slevesholm in Norfolk, and Mendham in Suffolk. Priors of Castle Acre* Angevine, c 1 130 Jordan, c. 1 160 Richard, c. 1 170 Odo, c. 1 180 Hugh, c. 1 190 Maynus, c. 1200 Lambert de Kempston, 1 203 Jordan, c. 1203 Philip de Mortimer, 1203 and 121 1 Robert de Bozun a/ias de Alenson, 1219 and 1227 Henry Ralph de Wesenham, 1239 William de Kent Adam, 1250 John de Granges, 1252 and 1255 Walter de Stanmere, 1258 and 1267 Robert de Hakebeach, 1270 William de Schorham Benedict, 1286 Robert Porter, 1308 John Hamelyn John de Acre Walter le Fraunceys, 131 1 Peter de Jocelis, 1317 and 1329
- Pat. 27 Hen. VIII, pt. ii, m. 30.
' L. and P. Her,. FIII,x, 234. ' Not 1533, as stated in Blomefield and Dugdale.
- Add. Charter, 14595.
' L. and P. Hen. Fill, xii. (2), 471. ^ At the end of the Castle Acre chartulary is a list of the priors without any dates or periods of rule. It begins with Hugh, f/>r<3 11 90, and ends with Prior Mailing (Harl. MS. 2 I 10, fol. I 36^). Blomefield's list {Hist, of Norf. viii, 374-5) gives four earlier names with the dates, and certain variations of some of the others. From these sources, as well as from the actual deeds of the chartulary, and from docu- ments already cited in this sketch, the list here given is compiled. Guy Charyns, 1329 and 1337 William de Warren, 1344 Walter Pigot or Picot, occurs 1349*^ Thomas Wigenhall John Okinston, 1404 Simon Sutton Thomas Bayley Thomas Tunbridge John Sharshulle, 1428 Thomas Gatys Nicholas Benet, 1445 John Plumsted John Amflets, 1484 John Winchelsey, 1 5 10 Thomas Chambers Thomas Mailing, 27 June, 15 19, last prior. There is an impression of the first seal of this priory (2^^ in. X if in.) attached to an undated charter at the B.M. c. 1200. The seated Virgin bears the Holy Child on her lap, in his left hand a scroll. Legend : — 4- SIGILLUM SANCTE MARIE . . . RENSIS . ECCLESIE.* An imperfect impression of the second seal is attached to a charter of 1446 (2|-in. x ij in.). The half-length Virgin is shown in radiance up- held by four angels within a tabernacled niche. In the base is a portcullis half covered showing in the open space the monogram of Maria. All that is left of the legend is — .... MONASTERII . BEAT . . . .' 16. THE PRIORY OF NORMANSBURGH The little Cluniac priory of Normansburgh, dedicated to the honour of the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Evangelist, in the parish of South Raynham, was originally founded about 1 160 by William de Liseurs for Austin Canons, for the health of his soul, and the souls of Maud his wife and Godfrey his son. But soon after its founda- tion c. 1200, Godfrey de Liseurs, the founder's son, transferred it to the priory of Castle Acre, of which it became a cell, on the condition that the monastery kept there at least three monks. To his father's original endowment of 70 acres of land at Normansburgh, and other land at 'Middele' and ' Francheshoe,'and the hermitage of Wiggen- hall, Godfrey added the church of South Rayn- ham and 9 acres of land at Gerdel. By two subsequent charters Godfrey slightly increased the endowments of this cell. The grants of Godfrey were confirmed by Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury, and John, bishop of Norwich.^" This cell had possessions in five Norfolk parishes at the time of the taxation of Pope ' Pat. 22 Edw. Ill, pt. 3, 22 d. ' B.M. Top. Ch. 15 ; Blomefield, Norf. viii, 373. ' B.M. Top. Ch. II ; Blomefield, h'orf viii, 373. " Harl. MS. 2110, fols. 54, 55, ■j6b, 114, 119^. 358
