RELIGIOUS HOUSES the site of this priory stands a public-house, which is still called the ' Hermitage.' * Priors of Weybridge Robert,^ c. 1272 Hugh,' occurs 1286 Humphrey,^ died 1308 Matthew de Horsey,* appointed 1308 Nicholas,^ occurs 1321 Matthew de Horseye,' collated 1323 Lawrence de Billockby,* elected 1328 Adam de Hykelyng,' 13 — Robert de Martham,^" elected 1333 William de Acle," elected 1340 John de Bayton,^^ occurs 1379 Robert de Reppes,'^ elected 1396 John Norwich [alias Boket),'^ elected 1428 Robert Norwich,'* elected 1452 William Parker,^^ occurs 1476 Peter Clark," occurs i486 "William Basset,^* 1492 Robert Chambers," 1508 John Bokenham,^" 1509 John Caune,"' resigned 1520 Edmund Larke,"^ elected 15 20 Andrew Waleys,^' 153° Anthony Derby,^* alias Bludde, 1532 38. THE PRIORY OF WORMEGAY The Austin priory of Wormegay, dedicated to the honour of the Blessed Virgin, the Holy Cross, and St. John the Evangelist, was founded by William de Warenne in the reign of Richard I. The prior and convent of the church of the Holy Cross, Wormegay, obtained licence for alienation in mortmain in 1355 of the manor of West Dereham from John de Houton, chap- lain, of a messuage, 40 acres of land, 5 acres of pasture, and 5s. of rent in Fordamhithe, &c., from Gilbert de Hethill, parson of the church of Tottenhill ; and of 10 acres of land and a moiety of a messuage in Great Sechithe, ' R. Taylor, Index Monastkus, 27. ' Blomefield, Hist, of Norf. xi, 92. ' Ibid.
- Pat. 2 Edw. II, pt. ii, m. 20.
- Norw. Epis. Reg. i, 29.
^ Blomefield, Hist, of Norf. xi, 93. ' Norw. Epis. Reg. i, 10 1. ^ Blomefield, Hist, of Norf. xi, 93. » Ibid. '» Norw. Epis. Reg. ii, 64. " Ibid, iii, 41. '« Blomefield, Hist, of Norf. xi, 93. " Norw. Epis. Reg. vi, 227. " Ibid, ix, 30. '^ Ibid, xi, 66. " Blomefield, Hist, of Norf. xi, 93. " Ibid. " Ibid. " Ibid. « Ibid. " Ibid. " Ibid. ^ Ibid. Ibid. from John Simand, chaplain, to find two of the canons as chaplains to celebrate daily mass in their church for the souls of Roger Carpel and his ancestors and heirs, and for the souls of the three donors.^* In the same year the priory received a grant of 10 marks of rent from John Bardolf of Wormegay, on condition of finding three canons for daily mass for the souls of his ancestors.-^ In 1337 the priory had licence for the appropriation of a moiety of the church of Fordamhithe of their advowson.^' A mandate was issued by Innocent VI, in I355j to the prior of Pentney, and two others to cause the ordinances touching apostates to be observed in regard to John de Valington, canon of Wormegay, who had left his order to come to the Roman court; and now desired to be recon- ciled to it.^^ Licence was granted by Richard II, on 23 January, 1388, to the sub-prior and convent to hold a new election on the death of Prior Robert de Fordham ; the patronage of the priory was at that time in the hands of the crown, owing to the minority of Thomas Bar- dolf, whose ancestor was the founder.^^ On 8 February the king intimated to the bishop his assent to the election of Hugh de Fyncham, one of the canons, as prior.'" For another eighty years this poor house continued to struggle on, but in 1468 its poverty was such that the bishop of Norwich united it to the priory of Pentney, of which, from that date, it was reckoned a cell. Priors of Wormegay Ralph, occurs before 1234 Nicholas,'^ occurs before 1286 John de Boylound, 1300 Nicholas de Elme, 1302 Robert de Craneworth,'* elected 1315 John de Cauntley,'^ elected 1330 Simon de Leverington, elected 1349 Michael de Thornham,'* elected 1349 Robert de Ford ham, elected 1370 Hugh de Fincham,'"' elected 1388 Hugh Watlington,*' elected 1 41 6 Robert Walsyngham,^^ elected 1448 John Methwold,^' elected 146 1 " Ca!. of Pat. 9 Edw. Ill, pt. i, m. 6. '"^ Ibid. pt. ii, m. 27. " Pat. 1 1 Edw. Ill, pt. iii, m. 25. An irregularity as to this appropriation was condoned in 1347 ; Pat. 21 Edw. Ill, pt. iv, m. 9. -'* Cal. Papal Reg. iii, 57.
- ^ Pat. 1 1 Ric. II, pt. i, m. 3.
^° Ibid. pt. ii, m. 36. " Blomefield, Hist, of Norf. vii, 500. '^ Ibid. '^ Ibid. =" Ibid. '* Norw. Epis. Reg. i, 61. "= Ibid, ii, 237. ^' Ibid, iv, 94. ^Mbid. 116. ^' Ibid, vi, 2.
- " Ibid. 128. <■ Ibid, viii, 610.
" Ibid, xi, 17. " Ibid. 128. 407
