A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 24. THE PRIORY OF OLD BUCKEN- HAM This priory was founded about the year 11 46 by William de Albini, second earl of Arundel, and Queen Adeliza his wife. The foundation charter, given in full in the Monaiticon, is cited in confirmation charter by Edward II.' By this charter the priory was endowed with the rectories of All Saints and St. Andrews on the manor of Buckenham, the site of the old castle, and its materials, eighty acres of lands and much wood and meadow. The priory was dedicated to the honour of St. Mary, St. James, and All Saints, and the canons were to follow the rule of the order of St. Augustine, according to the insti- tution of St. Mary of Merton, and to pray for the souls of the founder and his wife. King Stephen, Maud, their ancestors and progeny, and for the souls of all benefactors. William de Albini, earl of Sussex, the son of the founder, gave the canons the advowson of Kenninghall ; Richard, son of Robert de Scenges gave them the advowson of St. Mary's, Barwick, Peter de Cley the advowson of St. Peter's, Cleythorpe ; Robert son of Robert de Tateshall the advowson of Gunneby, and Thomas de St. Giles the advowson of St. Benedict, Norwich. They also received large benefactions, in the lifetime of the founder's son, of lands, tenements, rents, and services from Richard de Scenges and others, as set forth in the same confirmation charter of Edward II. When the taxation roll of 1 291 was drawn up this house had possessions in forty-two Nor- folk parishes, of the annual value of ^^52 o;. ()d., and in one Suffolk parish, value is. id? Pardon was granted in 1335 to the priory for having obtained various small grants of land in Buckenham, &c., without mortmain licence,' and the church of Griston was appropriated to the convent in 1348.* The Valor of 1535 gave the clear annual taxation value of the priory at ;£io8 10^. ld. On 18 August, 1 3 10, the prior of Bucken- ham received a letter from the crown, thanking him for the loan that he had agreed to make to the king of victuals for the Scotch expedition, namely, 6 quarters of wheat, lO of malt, 10 of oats, and 2 beeves and 10 sheep. He was ordered to deliver them to the sheriff of Norfolk, so that he might speedily forward them to Berwick-on-Tweed, making indentures with him of the sum of the victuals and of their market price. He was to be repaid the follow- ing Easter.' ' Chart. R. 1 1 Edw. II, No. 49, m. 10 ; Mon. vi, 419. ' Pope Nich. Tax. (Rec. Com.) 97, 99, 100, 104-8, 127. ^ Pat. 9 Edw. Ill, pt. i, m. 16. ' Ibid. 22 Edw. Ill, pt. iii, m. 27. ' Close, 4 Edw. II, m. 23. In 1479 there were eight canons at Old Buck- enham Priory, in addition to the prior, namely, Thomas Fincham, Richard Cley, Henry Lyche- field, Thomas Beverley, John Buckenham, John Chambyr, William Harnsych, and Richard Buckenham, cellarer. In 1480 there were the same canons, with the addition of John Baron. In 1493 there were these nine canons, with the addition of John Formale, a novice just admitted amongst them. The full complement of the house was reached in that year, for it consisted, according to its foundation, of a prior and ten canons. Each canon, in addition to food and maintenance, received 40/. yearly stipend, some- what after the fashion of secular canons. They chose yearly from their numbers a sub-prior, a sacrist, and a cellarer. The temporal officers of the household were the steward of their courts, a liayward, a woodward, and a porter. There was also an auditor, appointed by the lord for the annual auditing of their accounts. In 1493 John Bown was their auditor ; the total income was about ;^i 10, and they disbursed about ;^ioo. In that year John Plattynge was prior. ^ Bishop Goldwell visited this house on 16 Octo- ber, 1492 ; the prior and seven canons then present were each privately examined, with the result that various complaints were formulated against the prior. They were to the effect that Prior John did not show yearly to the chapter the state of the house ; that he was too partial, and that there was not perfect charity among the canons ; that there was not a sufficiency of fish on fast days ; that he did not seek the ad- vice of his chapter on serious affairs, but did everything after his own judgement ; that he had pledged a silver-gilt bowl, value eight marks ; that if any of the brethren were ill he did not assign anyone to attend them in the farmery but obliged them to attend hall ; that he farmed out the dairy to the great loss of the house ; that the frater was not served save in Lent and Advent, nor was care taken for the observance of silence in cloister and quire ; that the food for the kitchen was not good or wholesome ; that the house and walls of the priory were ruinous ; and that a certain woman named Isabel Warner was often at the priory under suspicious circumstances. Upon this the bishop adjourned the visitation to the following day, and then further prorogued to 9 July of the next year, doubtless with the object of seeing whether the necessary reforms were carried out. On 26 June, 1514 Bishop Nicke visited ; and after a sermon in the chapter-house by Master Forthe, Prior John Millgate complained that Canon Thomas was not obedient ; Sub-Prior Beverley, that Canon Thomas Ixning was not
- From p.irticulars given by Blomefield from 'An
accoumpt book of this priory in the hands of Mieux Rant Esq.' 376
