RELIGIOUS HOUSES were in attendance. The result of their examina- tion was summed up in the report. The ser- vants of the house were badly paid ; there were formerly three lamps burning in the church, and then scarcely one ; the altars lacked their proper coverings ; there was too great parsimony both in food and drink ; the vestments of the church needed repair ; the fire for the canons was insufficient in the winter ; there was an absence of necessaries for the sick in the farmery ; the prior did not show the state of the house to his brethren ; Robert Sutton obtained the prior's licence to hold the cure of Hanworth for two whole years, and the prior was too rigorous in correcting him without reasonable cause ; and the prior was unwilling to pay to Canon Robert Wymondham his pension as a priest. There is no record of the injunctions that followed on this visitation.^ The priory was visited on 21 July, 1 5 14, by Bishop Nicke. The prior acknowledged that he made no return of his accounts to his breth- ren. Canon Edmund Norwich said that there was general irregularity in attending the divine services. Canon Andrew Wales said that the cure of Hanworth was served by a canon and not by a secular chaplain. Canon John Hick- ling complained that there was no schoolmaster. Five other canons, one of whom was a subdeacon, and another an acolyte, were content to testify omnia bene. As a result, the bishop enjoined on the prior to provide an instructor in grammar before Christmas. The bishop also united the vicarage of Hanworth with the rectory for the term of the life of the then prior.^ The priory was again visited on 18 July, 1520, by the bishop suffragan of Chalcedon and other commissaries, when Prior Robert Wynd- ham and eight canons were severally examined. They all united in reporting omnia bene^ and the only injunction was that the prior should furnish an inventory and balance-sheet of his house at the next Michaelmas synod at Nor- wich.' On 13 June, 1532, the aged Bishop Nicke visited the priory in person, when Prior Robert and nine canons were examined. The prior, Robert Walsham the sub-prior, and five of the canons had no complaints to make. Richard Norwich, the chanter, stated that the steps to the hall were so worn that they were in a dan- gerous state. Canon John Hickling said that the expense of attendance in the farmery was laid upon the sick. Canon Robert Aleyn con- firmed this statement. The bishop's consequent injunctions provided that the attendance in the farmery was to be paid for at the expense of the house, and that the steps to the hall were to be repaired before Christmas. To these injunctions was added a most exceptional one that does not ' Jessopp, 'Norv. •Ibid. 125-6. Visit. (Camd. Soc), 25-7. ' Ibid. 173-4. appear to have been caused by any statements in the formal examinations. It was ordered that cudgels {fustibm) should be provided for the defence of the priory. This was evidently con- sidered a matter of importance, for there is added in English ' Memorandum for clubs to be pro- vided.'* Prior Robert and nine of the canons subscribed to the king's supremacy in the chapter-house on 4 June, 1534.5 The scandalous cotnperta of Legh and Ap Rice, drawn up early in 1536, give the names of six canons of this house who are supposed to have confessed their incontinency to these visitors.* Before, however, the county commissaries could visit the priory later in the same year, the house had been dissolved. They therefore contented themselves with reporting its dissolution, and stating that ' the Religious person es are sent uppe for ther Dispensacions to my lorde of Caunter- buryes grace. They added that — the possessiones of the housse ys grauntyd to the Bishoppe of Norwiche by Acte of Parliamente whiche said Bisshope claymeyth by the same Act the goodes and catalles appertaynyng to the same whiche we have lefte to your determinacione and judgement.' The prior obtained a pension of 20 marks.* Priors of Hickling ' Alexander, 11 85-1 209 Roger, 1209, resigned 1232 Nicholas, 1232-48 Alan, 1248-70 Hubert, 1 2 70-6 Geoffrey, 1276-88 Ranulf, 1288 '«-93 John, 1 293-13 19 Richard de Hemesby,^' 1319-49 John Grys'^ alias Netesberch," 1349, resigned 1358 Richard de Hemesby," 1358, resigned 1366 William de Wroxham,'° 1366-90 John de Tudyngton,'^ I390~3 Thomas Haneworth, "393) resigned 1408 John de Hickling,'* 1408-24 Richard Norwich, 1424, resigned 1 43 1 Roger Okkam,^" 1431 ' Ibid. 277-8.
- Rymer, Foedera (Rec. Com.), xiv, 506.
" L.andP. Hau Fill, x, 143. ' Chant. Cert. Norf. No. 20. ' Aug. Off. Books, ccxxxii, fol. 56 b. ' The list of priors is complete from 11 85 to 143 1 in Oxenedes, Chrcn. Minor (Rolls Ser.), 433-8, but for the most part only their Christian names are there given. '" He was a canon of Butley and was not elected but collated by the bishop. " Norw. Epis. Reg. i, 79. '^ Ibid, iv, 96. " Ibid, v, 27. " Ibid. " Ibid. 73. 'Mbid. vi, 153. "Ibid. 1S4. " Ibid, vii, 5. " Ibid, viil, 90. ™ Ibid, ix, 55. 385 49
