A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE might point to laxity ; the bishop only said that the canons were not to go to Bedford, that hunting dogs were not to be kept in the monas- tery, and that the common seal was to be kept under lock and key. And it seems that Bishop Longland accused the house of no worse fault than poverty. The original endowment of the priory can- not be exactly stated, as the foundation charter is not in existence. Robert of Houghton granted to the canons the site of the priory in 1272 1 ; and in 1336 they held lands and tenements in Bedford, Bromham, Milton, Colesden, Roxton, Chalverston, Sandy, Sutton, Potton, Thurleigh, Holwell, Felmersham and Shelton. 2 The churches held by the priory in 1291 3 were Oakley with Clapham, Roxton, Bromham, Sandy ; with Marsworth and Broughton in Bucking- hamshire and Amesby in Leicestershire. In 1535 they still remained in its gift, except Broughton and Sandy ; Tolleshunt Major in Essex being added.* In 1302 6 the prior of Caldwell held half a knight's fee in Chaw- ston and small portions in Milton Ernest and Eaton; in 1346 8 the same half-fee; and until 1346 he held also one quarter of a knight's fee in Edlesborough in Bucking- hamshire. 7 The first report of the Crown bailiff gives a total of £134 15*. 8W., in- cluding the demesne lands of the priory, the manor of Shelton and divers parcels of land in the counties of Bedford, Warwick, Northampton, Leicester, and the rectories of Clapham, Oakley, Roxton-cum-Colesden, Bromham, Marsworth, Arnesby and Tolles- hunt Major. 8 Priors of Caldwell Osbert, 9 occurs 11 78 and 11 86 1 Dugdale, Mon. vi. 391. Dated 7 July, 57 Henry III. = Close, 13 Edw. III. pt. 1, m. 38. 3 Pope Nich. Tax. (Rec. Com.), and the Line. Epis. Reg. Arnesby had been held since the reign of Henry II. Pat. 13 Richard II. pt. I, m. 21. ♦ Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), iv. 189. s Feud. Aids, i. 9. 8 Ibid. i. 34. ' Ibid. i. 74. 8 Dugdale, Mon. vi. 391. 9 Harl. MS. 3656, f. 65, and Gorham, History of St. Neofs, II. lxxiv. (O. prior of Caldwell). Pro- bably not the first prior. A charter of Robert Bruce to Harrold (1153-65) is witnessed (Lansd. MS. 391, f. 4b) by ' Nicholas Archer, prior of Caldwell, Gosbert, dean of Lincoln, etc. ' ; but the name sounds unlikely at such an early date ; and the chartulary in which it occurs is a trans- cript of the fifteenth century, and contains mis- takes in copying. It is suggested that ' Nicholas Hugh, 10 occurs 1 200-1 Alexander, 11 elected 1212, died 1229 William, 12 elected 1229, died 1244 Eudo, 13 elected 1244, resigned 1249 Walter of Caddington, 14 elected 1249, resigned 1272 Matthew of Bedford, 16 elected 1272, resigned 1287 John of Ypres, 16 elected 1287, resigned !3!3 John de Lacu, 17 elected 1303, died 1318 Hugh de Beauchamp," elected 1 318, resigned 1326 Roger of Wymington, 19 elected 1326, occurs 1332 Robert of Lufwyk, 20 resigned 1338 William of Souldrop, 21 elected 1338, resigned 1348 Richard of Hardwick, 22 elected 1348, died 1349 Ralph of Derby, 23 elected 1349, died 1375 Thomas of Stratford, 24 elected 1375, died 1396 Ralph Portreeve, 26 elected 1396, resigned 1397 Thomas Pollard, 28 elected 1397, died or resigned 1420 Thomas Bole, 27 elected 1420, occurs 1425 John Ampthill, 28 occurs 1437 John Bedford, 29 resigned 1479 Richard Derby, 30 elected 1479 Thomas Cople, 31 elected 1492, resigned 1509 Archer ' ought to be ' Nicholas Archid ' (the arch- deacon of Bedford from 1 145-81). 1° Feet of F. (Rec. Com.), 27. 11 Ann. Mon. (Rolls Series), iii. 39 (sub-prior of Dunstable). " Ibid. 116. " Ibid. 166. " Ibid. 179. " Ibid. 255. 16 Ibid. 340. " Line. Epis. Reg., Inst. Dalderby, 26od. " Ibid. f. 276. is Ibid. Inst. Burghersh, 298d ; Close, 6 Edw. III. m. l8d.
- > Ibid. 319.
31 Ibid. " Ibid. Inst. GynwelLf. 376.
- » Ibid. 382.
M Ibid. Inst. Buckingham, 392. « Ibid. 369. « Ibid.
- » Ibid. Inst. Fleming, 121 ; Pat. 3 Henry VI.
pt. 1, m. 21. 2 8 In an old charter in the possession of F. A. Page-Turner, Esq. "« Line. Epis. Reg., Inst. Rotherham, 132. 30 Ibid. ai Ibid. Inst. Smith, 457. 384
