RELIGIOUS HOUSES In 1228 a fine was levied between Rodland, prior of Weybourne and William Mainwaring (grandson of the founder), by which 305. rent at Kessingland, Suffolk, was assigned to the former.' The king's escheator in 1275 distrained on the prior and canons of Weybourne on account of the 60 marks they had returned to the execu- tors of John de Hedenham, which they had had of John during his life, and by virtue of his office recovered from them 5 marks.^ The taxation of 1 29 1 gave the annual value of this priory at ;^I5 lOs. i^d. Its chief endowment was the manor and church of Weybourne, but it had small possessions in thirty Norfolk parishes. Roger de Geistweyt, who was admitted prior on I December, 1334, obtained licence from Edward III in 1338 for the alienation in mort- main to the priory of Weybourne, by Adam de Shyringham and John atte Eshe, of the advow- son and appropriation of the church of Calkirk.' In 1346 licence was obtained for the appropria- tion of the church of East Beckham.* Prior Roger de Hoxne occurs in 1309 ; on his death in 1314 a contest arose as to his suc- cessor between Henry the sub-prior and the canons of Weybourne and the prior and convent of West Acre. Weybourne claimed the right of choosing a prior out of their own canons, but the prior of West Acre asserted that the old use was for Weybourne to seek licence to elect from the superior house, and then to choose one of the West Acre canons. On the matter being left to arbitration, the right of choosing a prior out of their own canons or otherwise was granted to Weybourne for ever, but an annual pension of ys. hd. was assigned to the priory of West Acre. This covenant was confirmed by the bishop of Norwich in the early days of January, 131 5, and was again confirmed by the pope in 1319.^ On the death of Prior Elyngham, in 1422, it was found that there were only two canons in the house, John Newbury and John de Laxfield. The number being insufficient for an election, the bishop collated the latter as prior. ^ Bishop Goldwell visited Weybourne Priory on 25 August, 1494, and found there Prior Clement and three canons. One of the canons, Robert Coker, served the cure of East Beckham, and the church of Weybourne was sometimes served by the prior and sometimes by a canon. The ' Blomefield, Hist. o/Norf. ix, 450. ' Huttd. R. (Rec. Com.), i, 494. ^ Pat. 12 Edw. Ill, pt. i, m. 27.
- Ibid. 20, Edwd. Ill, pt. ii, m. 15. According
to a return made to the crown in 141 6 of the appropriated churches of this diocese, with the dates of their appropriation, the church of Weybourne was appropriated in 1 106 at the time of the founda- tion, East Beckham in 1 344, and Calkirk in 14 1 I (Norw. Epis. Reg. viii, 129). ' Cnl. Bod I. Charters, 226. ' Norw. Epis. Reg. viii, 76. canons were wont to receive 20s. as salary, but the prior had not paid the salary of William Williamson. The bishop found nothing worthy of reformation, and so dissolved the visitation, reserving power to make injunctions if he should afterwards think it necessary.' When the house was finally visited in July, 1 5 14, by Bishop Meke, there was only a prior and one canon. Canon William Herley said that by the foundation there ought to be seven canons or at the least three, but that now it was scarcely possible to sustain these three through the poverty of the house. The bishop enjoined the prior to pay annually to his brother canon the salary of 33/. 4^.* John Frost was admitted prior on 15 June, 1526. On 16 July, 1530, the prior and single canon changed places. Canon Thomas Bulman being made prior and John Frost resigning to become canon. On 11 August, 1534, both prior and canon subscribed to the king's supremacy." The Valor of 1535, when John [sic) Bulman is entered as prior, gave the clear annual value of this small house as ;^28 "js. 2d. The suppression commissioners of 1536 reported that the clear annual value of Wey- bourne was j^24 19s. 62^d., with j^5 Hi. 9^. for the demesne land. They found there two religious persons ' of slaunderous name as ytt ys sayde and they require thier dispensacion.' There were three other persons who had their living in the house, two of them having cor- rodies under the convent seal. The house was in decay, and the lead and bells worth ;^6o. The movable goods were worth 57/. 2d.^^ The same commissioners certified on 16 February, 1537, that the goods and chattels contained in the inventory were sold to Thomas Pygeon for 66j. 8^." A full inventory taken later in the same year shows the poverty of the house. The chief ornament of the church was a copper-gilt cross with a silver crucifix. There was an old written missal, as well as ' a litill prynted masse boke.' Mention is made of three chambers, hall, buttery, parlour, kitchen, and brewhouse, all meagrely furnished. The live stock simply consisted of six swine.'^ Immediately after its suppression, the priory, with the rectories of Weybourne and East Beck- ham, were granted to John Gresham, son of Richard Gresham, mercer of London.^' Thomas Bulman, the prior, obtained a pen- sion of ;r4." He was presented to the Norfolk rectory of Egmere in 1543. ' Jessopp, Norw. Fisit. (Camd. Soc), 56. ' Ibid. 123. ' Rymer, Foedera (Rec. Com.), xiv, 519. '» Chant. Cert. Norf. No. 90. " Suppression Papers, Exch. K. R. -*My-. '2 P.R.O. Ch. Gds. R. Norfolk, 1%. " Aug. Off. Bks. ccix, fol. nob.' '* Ibid, ccxxxii, fol. 48. 405
