A HISTORY OF NORFOLK In the commissioners' formal report they say : — The Priory of Ingham ys solde to one William Woodehowsse and the Religious persones in the same Dispersid and gone and the goodes and catalles wasted and spoyeled ; the circumstances of whiche matter we have ad'vertysed and sygnifyed unto you by our letters.' Sir William Woodhouse seems to have been allowed to retain his purchase ; he exchanged it for the priory of Hickling in 1544, and it thus became part of the estate of the bishopric of Norwich. Priors of Ingham Richard Marleburgh,^ 1360 John de Trowse/ 1383 John Trows,* 1420 Thomas Netesherd,' elected 1429 John Blakeney/ elected 1439 John Norwich/ elected 1447 Thomas Ranworth,! elected 1476 Thomas Catfield alias Godrede," occurs 1492, 1526 John Saye,*- occurs 1532, last prior Sacrists of Ingham John de Pevesey John de Catefeld,^^ admitted 1387 Thomas Netesherd," admitted 1426 There is a cast of an imperfect impression of the fourteenth-century seal of this priory (2i in. by i^in.) at the British Museum. Within a pointed oval is a representation of the Trinity ■within a triple-arched niche. In the base is a shield charged with a lion rampant, for Sir Miles Stapleton, the founder. Legend : — • • • • sancte trinitatis ' HOUSE OF GILBERTINES 41. THE PRIORY OF SHOULDHAM This Gilbertine priory, dedicated conjointly to the Holy Cross and the Blessed Virgin, was founded by Geoffrey FitzPiers, earl of Essex, in the reign of Richard I, for canons and nuns of the order of St. Gilbert of Sempringham. The foundation charter is cited in confirma- tion grants of both Edward III and Henry IV, and has been printed in the Monasticon. The founder granted to the house his manor of Should- ham, with its members, the churches of All Saints and St. Margaret's in Shouldham, and those of Carbaysthorp, Stoke Ferry, and Were- ham. Geoffrey FitzPiers was chief justiciary of England. On the foundation of the priory he renioved the body of his first wife, Beatrice, eldest daughter and co-heir of William de Say, to this church from the Gilbertine priory of Chicksands, Bedfordshire, in which chapter-house she had been originally buried. He died on 2 October, 1 212, and was buried by his first wife. By a further charter, temp. John, Geoffrey bestowed on this priory twelve shops, with the rooms over them, in the parish of St. Mary's Colechurch, London, for the purpose of sustain- ing the lights of the church and of providing the sacramental wine.* William de Mandeville, earl of Essex, second son of the founder, not only confirmed his father's gifts but gave to the priory the messuage ' Chant. Cert. Norf. No. 90. ' Norw. Epis. Reg. v, 43. ' Ibid, vi, 93. * Ibid, viii, 59. ' Ibid, ix, 35. Ibid. X, 31. ' Dugdale, Mon. vi, 974-5.
- Duodecim soppas cum soliis. (Blomefield, Hist, of
Ncrf. vii, 418-19.) and demesne lands, &c., which the founder had reserved for his own use ; he was buried at the priory in 1227. His widow Christiana made further bequests.^^ In 1248 Henry III granted the priory a Friday weekly market at Stoke Ferry, and a yearly fair there on the morrow and feast of St. Nicholas." The jury of the hundred of Clakelose found, in 1275, that the prior of Shouldham had had grant of free warren from Henry III, and also that the tenants, by another charter of the same king, need not answer for their lands in any court save that of the king before his chief justice.'" About the same time the prior's right to the advowson of All Saints, Shouldham, and 205. rent there was called in question, and referred for judgement to the next Hilary term at West- minster.^' His rights were eventually maintained. The taxation roll of 1291 showed that this priory had an annual income of ;^207 Js. <)id., holding property in twenty-six Norfolk parishes, in addition to the shops in the city of London. Licence to appropriate the church of Fincham, by gift of John I3ardolf, was also granted in 1344.*' Gervase de Willeford, rector of Burwash, and Roger de Dersingham obtained licence for aliena- tion to this priory, in 1344, of 40;. rent in ^ Norw. Epis. Reg. xi, 10. '" Ibid, xii, 53. " Jessopp, Norw. Fisit. 27. " Ibid. 210. " Norw. Epis. Reg. vi, 126. " Ibid, ix, 19. '* B.M.lxix, 26 ; Dugdale, A/ot. vi, 1,458 ; Ackn. of Supr. (P.R.O.), 67. '" Duodecim soppas cum soliis. (Blomefield, Hist, of Norf. vii, 418-19.) " Chart. R. 32 Hen. Ill, m. 6. " HunJ. R. (Rec. Com.), i, 458, 519, 532, 538. '=' Quo Warranto Rolls, 489.
- » Pat. 18 Edw. Ill, pt. ii, m. 5.
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