A HISTORY OF xVORFOLK The episcopal visitations at the end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth centuries prove that the prior)' of Walsingham, corrupted probably by the wealth that pilgrims poured into its lap, was the most disorderly and demoralized religious house of the diocese.^ Bishop Goldwell held a personal visitation of the priory on I September, 1494, when John Farewell was prior. The prior and sixteen canons attended the visitation. Matters were evidently in an unsatisfactory state, but no one dared to speak of aught save trivial complaints, and the record expressly says that the prior was afraid to say all that he knew. The bishop de- ferred his injunctions, and soon after Prior Fare- well resigned and accepted the rectory of Ryburgh. Twenty years elapsed before there is record of another visitation. During that period the wealth of the priory had materially increased, chiefly owing to the royal example of Henry VII and Henry VIII, which made pilgrimages to Wal- singham fashionable among the nobility and courtiers. The number of the canons nearly doubled, and disorder increased in a like ratio. The visitation of Bishop Nicke on 14 July, 15 14. revealed a sad state of affairs. The prior and thirty-one canons were severally examined. The inquiry proved that the prior was leading a scan- dalous life ; that he went by night into the chapel of Our Lady to abtract treasure ; that he kept an aged fool ; that he treated the canons with inso- lence and brutalit}', and had deliberately warned them in chapter before the visitation that those who revealed anything to the bishop should suffer for it. His evil example had corrupted the canons, many of whom broke bounds, frequented taverns, and were constantly quarrelling, whilst some had even broken into the prior's cellar, stolen his wine and sat up at night drinking. No wonder that the servants were insolent and the boys rebellious. The bishop at once issued certain strict injunc- tions, and associated the prior of West Acre with Prior William Lowth making the latter swear to receive none of the goods or possessions of the house without the knowledge of the coadjutor prior. The visitation was then prorogued until 15 March. On 30 August of the same year, further regu- lations for reformation of discipline were promul- gated in the chapter-house by Dr. Thomas Hare and four other commissaries of the bishop. These chiefly related to the strict wardenship of the chapel of Our Lady, ordering that the warden do pay over all money received into the treasury every Saturday, and at the same time go through the inventory of the jewels. Prior William Lowth was compelled to resign, and Richard Vowell was appointed in his place. It is any- thing but creditable to the bishop and others concerned that the evil-lived Lowth was per- mitted to become prior of West Acre. On the vacancy occurring, the prior took the opportunity of obtaining the cancelling of the congi cTelire that had been wrongfully issued by Henry VII, on 15 September, 1503, for the elec- tion of Prior Lowth; evidence being produced that the convent had always elected a prior without licence from the Earls of March, their founders, or from any of the king's predecessors." The bishop at last issued new statutes for the rule of the priory, but Prior Vowell was unable to obtain their acceptance by a majority of the con- vent, and the attempt led to much dissension. On 13 July, 1520, the priory was visited by the suffragan bishop of Chalcedon. The sub-prior Edmund Warham, who had held that office for many years, and two of the canons gave loyal support to the prior, but six of the canons told the visitor to his face that they declined to have anything to do with the new statutes, whilst eight others were in other ways refractory. The scandals, however, seem to have abated ; the prior and sub-prior merely complained of disobedience. The suffragan and his fellow commissioners called upon the seven worst offenders to submit them- selves and ask pardon, which they seem to have done. As penance, they were required for the next seven days to take the lowest places in quire ; on the next Wednesday to fast on bread and beer ; and on the same day, after the Lady Mass, to kneel before the high altar and say five Our Fathers. The visitation of August 1526, seems to show that Prior Vowell had by that time purged his house of disorder and disobedience ; but there were complaints that no scholars were sent to the university, and that the younger brethren had no one to instruct them in grammar. The last visitation was held on 9 August, 1532, when Prior Vowell produced his accounts and inventory. The aged Sub-Prior Edmund Warham testified omnia bene^ and so did John Clenchewarton the cellarer, Nicholas Mileham the treasurer, Simon Orrj' the sacrist, John Har- low the chanter, Richard Garret the warden of the chapel of Our Lady, and the rest of the twenty-three canons, save one, who were present. The one complainant was Canon William Race, who alleged that two of his fellow canons were irregular at mattins, and that there was some short- ness of food. It is pleasant to find that at the last visitation of this once disorderly house nothing was found worthy of reformation.' Mention has already been made of some of the earlier royal visitors to the shrine of Walsingham, and its fame did not wane with the progress of time. An anxious affectionate letter of Margaret Paston to her husband John Paston, when he lay ' See Dr. Jessopp's introduction to the Isorw. ru'it. ' L. and P. Hen. Fill, i, 911. ' Jessopp, Norte. Fisit. (Cam. Sec), 57, 113, 147, 170, 252, 314. 396
