RELIGIOUS HOUSES clerk, and Nicholas de Flamstede, monk of St. Albans, in custody of the priory of Binham, by reason of divers destructions therein ; but in August, 1323, the custodians were ordered to meddle no further with its affairs, because the king understood that the priory and its estates were improving.^ In the latter year Nicholas de Flamstede was definitely appointed prior by the abbot. It was the custom of the cells of the great abbey to make considerable presents to a newly elected abbot ; but on the election of Richard de Wallingford as abbot, in 1326, it is recorded that the priory of Binham was in considerable straits, and found a difficulty in sustaining its own monks, so that it was only able to offer 405. to the new abbot.^ About 1400, when Robert Stoke was prior, an ordinance was drawn up by the abbey of various payments due from the different cells. The annual contribution of Binham to the pro- vincial chapter was 13^. 8d., and as a pension for the schools 5 35. 4.d., in addition to 20s. as an acknowledgement of their obedience.' In 1454 there was an unusual occurrence in the annals of St. Albans. A number of monks who had left the abbey in the time of Abbot Whethamstede's predecessor returned. Among them was one Henry Halstede, who had formerly been prior of Wymondham, and of quarrelsome repute. He entreated with much persistency to be reinstated as a monk of the abbey, and to be made prior of Binham ; promising that, in that event, he would entirely rebuild the dorter of Binham Priory, which had at that time fallen into ruins. The monks of St. Albans, however, objected to this proposal, as the character of Halstede was odious to many of them ; but the abbot recommended that he should be appointed if he would give sureties in writing not only to rebuild the dormitory, but also to clear off all the debts of the priory of Binham. To these pro- posals Halstede readily assented, but the brethren still objected to his readmission, and sent the kitchener of the convent to the sacrist as a depu- tation to express their views. The abbot, con- sidering them to be self-willed, remonstrated with them at considerable length, taking a high religious line of forgiveness. His arguments prevailed, the convent assented to Halstede's re- admission, who was forthwith sent as prior to Binham.^ Another brother, John Middleton, who had for several years deserted his monastery, was also sent to Binham shortly after Halstede's appointment.' The scanda.ous comperta of Legh and Ap Price, drawn up early in 1536, alleged three confessions ' Close, 19 Edw. II, m. 39. ' Gcsta Abb. S. Albani (Rolls Ser.), 187. ' Cott. MS. Claud. E. IV, fol. 346.
- Reg. Whethamitede (Rolls Ser.), i, 139-4-3-
' Ibid, i, 144-7. of incontinency from the monks of Binham. When the county commissioners for suppression reported later in the same year, they gave no details of this house, merely stating that : ' The Priory of Bynhame namyd to be a cell to the monastery of Seynte Albounes hath a Prive Seale to appere before yore incontynent upon thesyght thereof.' As a cell it escaped the suppression of the smaller monasteries. In March, 1538, Sir Richard Rich, one of the visitors, wrote to Cromwell, saying that he was intending to suppress Binham before his return, for though it claimed to be a cell of St. Albans, it made leases under its own seal without any mention of the abbot.^ The actual suppression did not, how- ever, take place until May, 1539, when Thomas Williams, the last prior, received a pension of Thomas Paxton, a gentleman of the king's privy chamber, obtained a grant in September, 1539, of almost all the priory's property, includ- ing the manor and advowson of Binham. The clear annual value was estimated at [Q 8j. d. He had to pay a rent of j^io 3!.* Priors of Binham Osgod, 1 1 06 Enisandus,' c. 1 125 Ralph,'" occurs 11 74 Peter, occurs 11 89, 11 93, 1197 Ralph Gubion,'^ occurs 11 98-9 Thomas,'^ occurs 11 29-1 200 Richard," occurs 12 14 Miles William de Gedding," died 1227 Richard (II) de Parco," elected 1227, resigned 1244 Richard (III) de Selford," occurs 1244 William,'^ occurs 1262 Adam de Motu,^ occurs 1264, 1267 Milo " Peter ^^ Robert de Waltham,^* occurs 1279, 1289 « Karl. MS. 604, fol. 67. ' Aug. Off. Books, ccxxxii, fol. 43^.
- Pat. 31 Hen. VIII, pt. i, m. 32.
^ Cott. MS. Claud. D. xiii, fol. 24. '" Blomefield, Hist, of Norf._ ix, 210. " Cott. MS. Claud. D. xiii, fols. 24, 126, 164. " Ibid. fols. 126, 132. " Ibid. fols. 125, 126, 131. " He is probably the Richard ' de Kancia ' named in 1250 as a former prior (Assize R. 560, m. 52). '* Miles is also mentioned in 1250 as a former prior (ibid.). '* Matt. Paris, Chron. Mrjora (Rolls Ser.), vi, 292. " Ibid. V, 177 ; also called Richard Rufus (ibid, note), or le Rus (Assize R. 560, m. 5, 4</. 52). '«Cott. MS. Nero. D. i, 154. " Ibid. Claud. D. xiii, 179. '"Ibid. 152, 171. " Ibid. " Ibid. 128, 133. "■ Ibid. 345 55, 9+- 150, 152. 44
