RELIGIOUS HOUSES and other silver plate had been pledged. William Kingsmill made like complaints, and said that the prior, whom he considered remiss but not criminal in his conduct, had presented no accounts for seven years. The depositions of Robert Barne- ham and Thomas Herd were to much the same effect.' At Bishop Nicke's visitation of June, 1520, only the prior, John Thetford, and three canons were present. The prior stated that the priory buildings were in sad decay, and that the income was not sufficient for their support. Richard Noris said that Thomas Lowthe, the predecessor of the present prior, had taken with him a breviary belonging to the house.^ At the visitation of July, 1526, the prior and five canons were present. Prior Thetford com- plained of the unpunctuality of the canons at high mass on Sundays and the principal feasts. Nicholas Skete thought the beer was too sweet and weak.' The last visitation was held in July, 1532, when the prior and three canons were severally examined, and all testified omnia bene so far as the condition of the house permitted. There were also three novices who were professed by the bishop. The bishop enjoined on the prior to see that the newly professed were instructed in grammar.* Prior John Thetford and six canons sub- scribed to the royal supremacy in their chapter- house on 26 August, 1534. In that year Prior Thetford, who had been a canon of Butley, gave to the church of that monastery two chalices, one for the chapel of All Saints and the other for the chapel of St. Sigismund ; also two relics, with a silver pix for relics, and the comb of St. Thomas of Canterbury. He resigned the priory of Thetford about the close of 1534, and became prior of Holy Trinity, Ipswich. Legh and Ap Rice, the notorious visitors of Cromwell, visited this priory towards the end of 1535. According to their Mw/i^T/a Prior Clerk confessed incontinency to these men and his desire to marry ; they also reported badly of three others.^ The county commissioners for suppression of this house in 1536 reported that it was of the clear annual value of ;^44 lis. locl. ; that the lead and bells were worth ;^8o, and the movable goods ^29 8j. jd. ; and that the debts owing amounted to /^J is. J id. The house was ' very Ruynousande in Decaye.' They found only one religious person there, ' of slendre Reporte who requirythe to have a dispensacione to goo to the Worlde.' The persons who had their living at the house were sixteen — namely, two priests, two hmds, four children, and eight waiting servants.* ' Jessopp, Norw. Visit. (Camd. See), 88-89. ' ibid. 155. ' Ibid. 242-3. ■■ Ibid. 303. ' L. and P. Hen. VIII, x, 144. ' Chant. Cert. Norf. No. 90. 2 Prior Clerk obtained a pension of ten marks.' The house, site, and possessions were granted in 1537 '^° S Richard Fulmerston. Priors of Thetford Richard,* 1202 Gislebert' Wi: 1228 1247 Richard,'* 1242 Roger de Kersey,'^ William, '^ 1274 Peter de Horsage,'^ elected 13 15 Richard de Wintringham, elected 1329 John de Shefford,'* elected 1338 Roger de Kerseye," 1347 Robert de Thetford,'* ^349 Robert Edwj'n, resigned 135 1 Adam de Hokewold,"" elected 1 351 William de Haneworth,^' elected 1358 Adam de Worsted,-- elected 1378 Robert de Stowe,^' died 1420 John Paltok,-* elected 1420 John Grenegras,-* elected 1432 Peter Tryon,-* elected 1454 Reginald Ilberd,^' elected 147 I John Burnell, alias Burham,"* 1496 William,-^ 1503 Thomas Vicar,'" occurs 15 12 John Thetford, occurs 15 19 John Clerk,'^ occurs 1535 The thirteenth-century seal of this priory has under a pinnacled canopy Our Lord rising from the sepulchre, at the head of which is an angel, with two sleeping soldiers in base. Legend : — ECCLESIE d' thetford. . . ." A fine but imperfect impression of a seal ad causas of this house is attached to a charter of 1457. It bears the Risen Saviour standing, the right hand raised in benediction, and the left grasping a long cross. In the field, on the left are the arms of Warenne, chequy ; and on the right a crescent and a star. Legend : — .hefo. .AD CAVS. 34 Ibid. ' Aug. Off. Bks. ccxxxii, 35;^. ^ Martin, Hist, of Thetford, 189-90. " Ibid. '» Ibid. >' Ibid. " Ibid. " Norw. Epis. Reg. i, 63. '* Ibid, ii, 28. '" Ibid, iii, 19. " Martin, Hist, of Thetford, 189. " Ibid. " Norw. Epis. Reg. iv, 1 34. »» Ibid. *' Ibid. V, 29. "Ibid, vi, 63. "Ibid, viii, 57. -' Ibid. Ibid, ix, 57. Ibid, xi, 76. " Ibid. 82. ^^ Martin, Hist, of Thetford, 190. '^ Ibid. '" Jessopp, Norw. Visit. 88. " Ibid. 155. ^ Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.). " B.M. Cart. Ixix, 48 ; Dugdale, Moii. vi, 729 Ackn. of Supr. (P.R.O.), 109. ^ Add. Chart. 17245 ; Blomefield, Notf. ii, 98. 393 50
