interesting when we remember how ignorant we are of every thing connected with the family and parentage of William of Wykeham. His father, mother, and sister, were buried in the church of Suthwyk priory. This appears from an acknowledgment of a payment, by Thomas Ayleward, one of the executors of William of Wykeham, to Prior Thomas, of £50, in part payment of 100 marks, for the works of the church at Suthwyk, and especially for the roof over the vault in which the bishop's father, mother, and sister were buried. This document is dated April 8, Henry IV. 1407[1]. As there is no special provision left for this purpose in Wykeham's will, as given by Lowth, this money must have been paid out of the residuary estate, left to be disposed of at the discretion of his executors.
Of the ancestors of William of Wykeham we know only that his father was called John, his mother Sibil, and that they were buried at Suthwyk. Every fact connected with the name of Wykeham deserves to be sought out and recorded. It is pleasing to find him, immediately upon his elevation, mindful of the place which contained his parents' remains, and so anxious to make provision for that which he believed to be conducive to the eternal peace of their souls.
Notwithstanding his liberal benefaction to the priory, a few years later he seems to have had reason to be displeased with the state of discipline and order in the house; for he held a visitation of the convent, "tam in capite, quam in membris," and issued some severe injunctions against divers breaches of the conventual rule, and even against some more serious offences. These injunctions are dated at South-Waltham, August 22, 1397.
An event of considerable historical importance took place in the priory of Suthwyk, in the reign of Henry VI. According to Fabyan and Holinshed, the nuptials of Henry with Margaret of Anjou were celebrated there in the year 1145, being the 23rd of his reign. There is no direct confirmation of this, indeed, in the records of the priory; but there is a charter of Henry VI. to the prior and convent, dated March 10 in the 24th year of his reign, A.D. 1446; and a second
- ↑ The receipt for the remainder, dated May 3, 8 Hen. IV., (1407) is interesting, as shewing the value of silver at the time. It slates that it was paid by one pair of silver candlesticks, of the weight of five pounds ten ounces, price of the pound 28s.; and by one pair of silver gilt basons, of the weight of five pounds, price of the pound 30s.
