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A HISTORY OF NORFOLK more than maintained under his successor, William Castleton, a monk from Norwich, who had been elected that year. Even William Bury, once so riotous, and now restored in his old age to the office of prior, had now no other complaint than that the monks did not proceed in a body to the dorter after compline. Richard Cambridge was still there, but instead of breathing forth complaints about his brethren, he merely asked a question of the visitors as to a pension due to them from the abbot and con- vent of Langley. The injunctions provided that the monks were to retire to their dorter in a body after compline, and to depart in the same way to prime ; that the quire books should be repaired ; and that a tutor be provided for the instruction of the novices.^ Abbot Castleton resigned in 1532, and became prior of Norwich, and subsequently the first dean of the new establishment. His successor, Eligius or Loys Ferrers, D.D., elected in 1532, was the last abbot. On 31 August, 1534, the abbot and ten of the monks subscribed in their chapter- house to the king's supremacy.^ According to the scandalous comperta of Legh and Ap Rice presented early, in 1536, four of the Wymondham monks confessed their uncleanness.' On 22 August, 1537, Abbot Loys wrote to Cromwell acknowledging the receipt of his letter desiring them to grant a lease of the manor and parsonage of Happisburgh to William Clifton. The abbot stated that there was nothing he could ask that they would not willingly perform unless it was against the benefit of their mona- stery, as this would greatly be. The lordship had never been let, and they got many beneficial things from it, such as wreck and fish, and they had no other pasture for their sheep whereby they maintain hospitality according to the king's injunctions. The letter was signed by the abbot, Thomas Thaxted, cellarer, Thomas Lynne, sub- prior, John Harlyston, third prior, Edward Saame, chanter, Richard Cambridge, sub-chanter, Robert Colchester, sacrist, and three others. On 13 September the abbot sent another letter in reply to an answer from Cromwell, wherein doubt had been thrown upon his previous state- ments. The abbot was sure that hospitality was better maintained for both rich and poor under the present arrangement. If they had to leave Happisburgh they would be compelled to sell their sheep and buy mutton in the market. He boldly asked Cromwell to prefer the maintenance and profit of a multitude ' to the particular com- modity and preferment of this one person, William Clifton.'* On 30 January, 1538, Abbot Loys again wrote to the lord privy seal, saying that after ' Jessopp, Noru!. fisit. (Camd. Soc). ' L. and P. Hen. Fill, vii, 142. ' Ibid. X, 143. • Ibid, xii (2), 212, 247. his return from London he had told his brethrer> of Cromwell's great goodness, notwithstanding the sinister and untrue reports of William Clifton. The convent agreed to grant him an annuity of 53;. ^d., and the patent of this he sent by the bearer, together with a ' portegewe of gold.' ' Priors of Wymondham Nigel,^ occurs c. 1 1 15 Alexius,^ occurs 1 136 Galienus * Ralf de Miers,' occurs 1160 Nicholas ^^ Raymund,^^ occurs 1 187 Donatus,'^ occurs 1 1 90 Alexander de Langley,^^ occurs 1 2 1 7 Ralph de Stanham alias Whitby," occurs c. 121 8 William de Feschamp, occurs c. 121 8 Thomas Medicus,^^ occurs 1224 William de St. Albans,^' died 1262 William de Hortone,^* 1264 Roger de Hare '^ Adam Pulleyn, occurs 1285,"" died ^* 13^3 John de Stevenache,^^ occurs 1304 William de Somerton,^^ elected 7 February, 1317 John de Hurlee,^ elected 3 February, 1 3 1 7 Nicholas de Flamstede," elected 1323 Richard de Hedersete,-^ elected 1334 Henry de Stukeley,^' elected 1337 Henry de Stukeley,^^ reappointed 1347 Nicholas de Radclyf,^^ elected 1360 William Killingworth,'" elected 1380 Thomas Walsingham,'^ elected 1394 William Wyndruch,'^ elected 1396 John Savage, elected 1400 William Boyden,'* elected 1405 John Isham,'* elected 141 6 William Alnwyk,'^ elected 1420 ' Ibid, xiii (i), 57. Blomefield, Hist. ofNorf. x, 518. ' Ibid. ' Ibid. ^ Ibid " Cott. MS. C. viii, 61. '» Blomelield, Hist. ofNorf. x, 518. " Gesta Abbatum, i, 260. " Ibid. " Ibid, i, 274. '* Matt. Paris, Vit. Abb. St. A/bani, 1053. " Gfsta Abbatum, i, 407-8. " Ibid. " Ibid. " Assize R. 5 80, m. 1 9 </. " Blomefield, loc. cit. " Gesta Abbatum, ii, 86. " Norw. Epis. Reg. i, 72. " Ibid. " Ibid, i, 102. Ibid, ii, 67. " Ibid, iii, 7. " Ibid. iv. 64. Ibid, v, 84. ™ Amundesham, Ann. , 436. Norw. Epis. Reg. vi, 195. ^' Gesta Abbatum, iii, 436. " Norw. Epis. Reg. vi, 282. " Ibid, vi, 330. '^ Blomefield, Hist. ofNorf. x, 5 19. " Ibid. Ibid. 342