our form of Sutton, for twenty shillings of lawful money lately paid for the farm aforesaid, all and singular our dues from the commencement of the term even to its end being reserved as below." [Alluding, I presume, to some schedule annexed.] "Given at Mychelham aforesaid, the 8th day of the month of December, in the 19th year of the reign of Henry the 6th after Conquest, King of England."[1]
The following perhaps may, and I am afraid does, relate to some other Michelham (it may be Mickleham, in Surrey), but as it is short and curious, I will venture to cite it:—"Ralph de Belvoir holds two carucates of land in Michleham of Roger de Moubray, rendering annually certain red stockings (quasdam caligas de scarleto) at Xmas day in lieu of every service."[2]
Two visitations of this house are to be found in the Episcopal Registers of Chichester, the one made during the episcopate of John Arundel, m.d. Physician to Henry VI, as well as confessor and domestic chaplain ; the other during that of the munificent Robert Sherburne. The principal facts elicited by the first of these inquiries shall be briefly stated:—
Visitation of Mychelham, 1478.—"Edward Marley, prior, saith (among other things), that Dominus de Dacre hath a fee for the term of his life of v marks, under the common seal of the convent;" (Thomas Stanaker adds "and hath (had?) it for xij years"). "Also that Thomas Marley, the prior's father, hath v marks under the C. S. for the term of his life; Thomas Exbrigge xxvjs., and N. Eylrygge xiijs. ivd., in like manner." Dominus[3] Thomas Stanaker, canon and cellarer,[4] confirms the above, and adds, "That at the time of their law- suit with the abbot and convent of Bigham the jewels (jocalia) of the house were sold to pay the expenses, as will appear by the inventory. It is also said that there are two mills belonging to the priory in utter ruin (in toto ruinosa). Item, the dormitory house, with other houses, buildings, and granges, are in bad condition (defectiva)." "He also saith that the prior hath given no account of their transactions for xxviij
- ↑ I am indebted to the kindness of the Rev. E. Turner for the use of his transcripts of this lease and the visitations presently noticed.
- ↑ From Blount's Ancient Tenures, 121.
- ↑ This title appears to be applied to the canons much in the sense in which it is still used of Bachelors of Arts at Oxford and Cambridge, for which it is difficult to supply an exact English equivalent.
- ↑ It was the office of the "Cellerarius" to procure provisions and other accommodations for the monks and all strangers resorting to the convent.
