Richard Stokesey.
- 1494, 20 Aug. John Baldwin. Lapse.
- 1496, 20 July, John Forster, priest.
- William Stanwey.
- 1511, 5 Oct. John King, chaplain, on Stanwey's resignation.
- 1528, 13 March, Sir Thomas Downyng, chaplain, was instituted at Hoxne, in the Bishop's palace there, on the resignation of John King, (who had a pension of four marks a year assigned him during life,) at the Prior's presentation, and was the last presented by the monastery. In 1555, 4 June, he was instituted to the vicarage of Lowestoft, (or Laystoft,) on the resignation of John Blomvyle, at the presentation of Thomas Godsalve, senior, Esq. by grant of the turn from the Bishop of Norwich, and it was the same day united to Besthorp, during his life, because of the smallness of the livings. This is one of the first unions that I meet with, that assign any reason for the Bishop's uniting them. This Sir Thomas built the vicarage-house at Besthorp; over the parlour chimney-piece is this,
- All you that sitt by thys fire warmyng, Pray for the Sowle of Sir Jhon Downyng.
He died in 1559, and on July 30, Christopher Smethe, priest, was instituted, on the Queen's presentation; buried 15 Dec. 1575.
- 1575, 26 Febr. George Copping. Ditto. He was buried here 13 Dec. 1629.
- 1628, 24 Oct. John Burrell, clerk, on Dobson's death. Philip Harbord; united to Great Elingham.
- 1629, George Clerk, vicar.
- 1630, Daniel Donne.
- 1646, 22 May, Elisha Agas, A. M. on Donne's death. Lady Mary Drury.
- 1679, 11 March, Samuel Dobson, A. M. on Agas's death. Philip Harbord, Esq.
- 1683, 12 Oct. Will. Kimin, A. M. buried 12 Nov. 1715. Ditto.
- 1716, 2 June, Isaac Sayer, on Kimin's death. Eliz. Shaw, widow, united to Crownthorp.
- 1716, 14 Febr. The Rev. Mr. Philip Carver, on the resignation of Isaac Sayer, was presented by Eliz. Shaw, widow, and now [1737] holds it united to Tibenham.
The temporalities of the Prior of Bukenham in this town were taxed at 3s. 1d. being lands given by the lords of Bukenham castle to the priory. The lands belonging to the nuns at Marham were granted at the Dissolution to Sir Nicholas Hare, Knt. and Rob. Hare.
The Prior of Norwich had an annual rent of 12d. paid from a meadow in Besthorp, which was given by Stephen Mengy of Besthorp. The spirituals, or great tithes, belonging to the Prior of Wymondham, were taxed at 10 marks, and the temporalities belonging to that monastery, at 14s. 4d. There was a manor belonging to the rectory before the appropriation, after which it went with it, and so came
