RELIGIOUS HOUSES Bishop Nicke visited West Acre in 15 14. Richard Clarke, prior, was much embarrassed by lack of money. He was in debt ^^20, and was not able to pay the small stipends of the canons ; the stock of sheep had considerably diminished, then numbering 3,000 ; the prior had sold nine score sheep at the last shearing ; they had no grain except that which they bought ; there had been no distribution made of the effects of the late prior, whose will ordered the distribution among the brethren. There were also complaints against William Smythe, the sub-prior. Some of the younger canons were pursuing their studies at Cambridge, but there were complaints that they had not received the full amount of the exhibition that had been granted. The visitation shows that there was a good deal of bickering in the con- vent, but apparently no grave evils. Some of the complaints testify to the strictness with which the services were kept up. For Robert Pepyr, the only canon who could play the organ, could never get the prior to grant him leave of absence. The principal injunction that followed this visitation was the bishop's order to elect a new sub-prior, for the four senior canons pre- sented Spillman and Pallmer to the prior for him to choose one, and his choice fell on Canon Spillman.^ During the next six years the debts and difficulties of the house had increased. William Lowthe was prior at the visitation of 4 July, 1520, having been appointed earlier in that year. There was no schoolmaster to teach the boys. The number of canons had diminished, but three were at their studies at the University. The prior was spoken of by three of the canons as a sensual person, but their meaning is difficult to understand. There was not a breath against him of any kind of scandal. Sixteen canons were examined at this visitation, but two of them belonged to the cell of Great Massingham. This visitation led to the deposing of the sub- prior and the appointing of Thomas Pallmer in in his place.^ The priory was visited on I August, 1526, when William Wingfield was prior. Seven of the fourteen canons who were present agreed with the prior that all was going on well. But the debts were increasing and the number of canons decreasing ; and a grievous scandal had to be reported of one of the canons.' The last visitation was held in July, 1532. Several of the canons, as well as Prior Wingfield and Sub-Prior Stirtewhaite, were satisfied that there was nothing calling for reformation. All debts were paid, and the balance-sheet produced by the prior showed that the cellarer had ^t^'^ in hand. Among the complaints were the pay- ment of an annuity of £if to Anthony Calibut, ' Jessopp, Nora). Visit. (Camd. Soc), 10 1-6. ' Ibid. 164-6. ^Ibid. 249-51. for which he returned no service ; a diminution in the distribution of bread to the poor ; and neglect to keep the lamp burning before the Sacrament according to custom.* Prior William and sixteen of his canons sub- scribed in their chapter-house, on 31 August, 1534, to the king's supremacy.* On 18 September, 1535, at the suggestion of Dr. Legh and John ap Rice, a notary public, two of the most subservient of Cromwell's tools, the monastic visiting jurisdiction of the bishops was suspended by the king. The two men who suggested this were at once made monastic visitors and speedily entered upon their work in Norfolk. On 1 1 November they wrote to Cromwell as to the progress they were making with their comperta.^ When these two men presented their report they actually asserted that the prior and sub- prior and eleven other of the canons of West- acre had confessed that they were guilty of foul sins.' It is impossible for any fair-minded person to give credit to so monstrous and wholesale a supposition, especially in view of the recent searching and obviously truthful visitations of this priory by its diocesans. At any rate no credence whatever could have been given to this particular charge made by these notorious ' visitors ' ; for although, accord- ^ ing to them. West Acre was by far the foulest lived of all the Norfolk religious houses, in October of the very year when their report of the prior of Westacre's personal and conventual enormities had been rendered, William Wingfield was one of the fourteen Norfolk gentlemen specially appointed by the king to abide in their counties and act as justices to keep good order during the absence of the rest of the gentlemen and noblemen during the northern rebellion, the priors of West Acre and Castle Acre being the only two ecclesiastics of the county selected for this honour.' On 15 January, 1538, West Acre Priory, with the dependent priory or cell of Great Massing- ham and all its possessions, was surrendered to Robert Southwell, attorney of the Augmentation Office, to be held by him for a year with remainder to the king. The surrender was signed by the prior and seven of the canons. This was the first of the monastic 'surrenders,' and its farcical character is clear ; for a month earlier (16 December, 1537) Sir Roger Townsend wrote to Cromwell saying that all the goods of West Acre Priory had been sequestrated according to order and inventories taken. On 9 Decem- ber there had been some endeavour otherwise to dispose of the monastic property. Commissioner
- Ibid. ' Dep. Keeper's Rep. vii, App. 2, p. 304.
^ L. and P. Hen. Fill, ix, 808. The Norfolk comperta are in Ap Rice's handwriting, 'i. and P. Hen. VIII, x, 143. "Ibid, xi, 235 (4). 403
