Priors of Winchester

Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 2, Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces). Originally published by Institute of Historical Research, London, 1971.

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'Priors of Winchester', in Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 2, Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces), (London, 1971) pp. 88-91. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/fasti-ecclesiae/1066-1300/vol2/pp88-91 [accessed 19 April 2024]

PRIORS OF WINCHESTER

Winchester was the oldest cathedral monastery, having been founded by St. capæthelwold in 964. On entering office in 1070, bishop Walkelin sought to replace the monks by canons, but although the proposal had royal consent, it was successfully opposed by Lanfranc on his appointment as archbishop later in the same year. (fn. 1)

After many disputes in the thirteenth century, a formal agreement between bishop and convent over freedom of election of the prior was reached in June-July 1284. (fn. 2)

Simeon

Prior of Winchester until became abbot of Ely 1082 (Ann. Wint. p. 33; cf. Liber Eliensis p. 413, where 1081 is favoured). Brother of Walkelin, bp. of Winchester (1070-98) (Ann. Wint. p. 33; Liber Eliensis p. 200).

Godfrey [of Cambrai] (fn. 3)

Monk of Winchester. Succeeded 1082 (Ann. Wint. p. 33). Last occ. [1107] (Cart. Winch. no. 9). (fn. 4) D. 1107 (Ann. Wint. p. 43).

Geoffrey I

Monk of Winchester. Succeeded 1107 (Ann. Wint. p. 43). Deposed by bp. 1111 (ibid.). Became abbot of Burton (Ben., Staffs.), 1114 (Ann. Burton p. 186).

Geoffrey II

Monk and 'hordarius' of Winchester. Appd. by bp. with consent of convent, 1111 (Ann. Wint. p. 43). D. 1126 (ibid. p. 48).

Ingulph

First occ. [c. 1128] (Mon. Ang. v 241), or perhaps earlier (Reg. Pontissara 11 620-1; cf. Ann. Wint. p. 47, which suggests c. 1124, prob. a little too early). Prior until became abbot of Abingdon (Ben., Berks.), el. and blessed 8 June 1130 (John Worc. p. 30 and n. 5; cf. Chron. Abingdon, ed. J. Stevenson (Rolls ser. ii) 11 173).

Robert I

First occ. before Sept. 1130 (Pipe Roll 31 Hen. I, ed. J. Hunter (1833) p. 38). No evidence for identification with Robert of Lewes, bp. of Bath (1136-66) (see R. H. C. Davis in E.H.R. lxxvii (1962) 224 n. 1).

Geoffrey III

Occ. three times only: [1139 × 53] (Cart. Winch. no. 5), [1142 × 47] (ibid. no. 10), [?1144 × 1148] (G.F.L. no. 30 and n.).

William

D. as prior before 19 July 1165 (Cart. Winch. no. 75).

Robert II

First occ. 19 July 1165 (Cart. Winch. no. 75). Last occ. 6 Aug. 1171 (Reg. Pontissara 11 629) and 15 Feb. 1172 (P.U.E. 11 no. 125). Prior until became abbot of Glastonbury (Ben., Somt.), el. 1173 (Ann. Wint. p. 61; Ann. Winchcombe p. 134; Rob. Torigny 11 38). (fn. 5)

Walter I

Monk of Winchester (Chron. of Richard of Devizes, ed. J. T. Appleby (1963) p. 25). Prior until became abbot of Westminster (Ben.), el. either 1175 (Ann. Wint. p. 61; Rob. Torigny 11 57), or before Feb. 1176 (Diceto 1 404). (fn. 6)

John

Occ. Apr. 1185 (R. W. Eyton, Court, Household and Itinerary of Hen. II (1878) p. 263). D. 1187 (Ann. Wint. p. 63).

M. Robert son of Henry

Succeeded 1187 (Ann. Wint. p. 63). Res. 1191 to become a Carthusian at Witham (Somt.) (chron. of Witham, ed. E. M. Thompson in Bull. John Rylands Libr. xvi (1932) 506; cf. Chron. of Richard of Devizes, ed. J. T. Appleby (1963) pp. 1, 26).

Stephen [de Lucy] (fn. 7)

First certain occ. Oct. 1201 (C.R.R. 11 37), but presum. to be identified with unnamed prior who occ. Sept. 1199 (Pleas before the King or his Justices, ed. D. M. Stenton 1 (Selden Soc. lxvii) no. 2614), and 19 March 1199 (Innocent III, Cal. Letters no. 88 and n.). Prior until became abbot of Burton (Ben., Staffs.), el. before 23 Jan. 1214, when received royal assent (Rot. Litt. Pat. pp. 108b-109; cf. Rot. Litt. Claus. 1 161b).

Walter II

First occ. c. 1216, and therefore prob. in office by 7 March 1215 (Innocent III, Cal. Letters no. 994). Last occ. after 9 June 1238 (Cart. Winch. no. 310). D. 1239 (Ann. Waverley p. 323). Commem. 10 Nov. (Canterbury obit. III fo. 237v). So presum. d. Nov. 1239.

Andrew (fn. 8)

Third-prior of Winchester. Appd. by king, sede vacante, 23 Nov. 1239 (Close R. 1237-42 p. 158), against will of convent (Ann. Waverley pp. 323-4; cf. Reg. Innoc. IV no. 137). Excomm. by abp. of Canterbury before Nov. 1240 (Reg. Innoc. IV no. 137). Papal mandate for investigation and fresh el., 26 Sept. 1243 (ibid.). D. 1243 (Ann. Tewkes. p. 132; Chron. Maj. iv 265), between 18 Dec. and 26 Dec. (C.P.R. 1232-47 p. 413). Commem. 27 Dec. (Winchester obit.: B.M., Add. MS. 29436 fo. 44r).

John de Cauz

Appd. by king, sede vacante, 26 Dec. 1243 (C.P.R. 1232-47 pp. 413-14). Abp.'s conf. n.d., temps. 8 Jan. 1244 (ibid. p. 415). Deposed by bp. c. 29 Aug. 1244 (Chron. Maj. iv 390), but re-appd. later (see below).

Walter III

Perhaps appd. by bp. as result of papal mandate of 22 Dec. 1244 (Reg. Innoc. IV no. 826). Occ. 18 Apr. 1245 (Reg. Roff. p. 13). Res. 3 Apr. 1247 (Ann. Wint. p. 90).

John de Cauz (again) (fn. 9)

Succeeded Walter, presum. shortly after 3 Apr. 1247 (Ann. Wint. p. 90). Occ. [1247 × 49] (Cart. Winch. no. 472). Prior until became abbot of Peterborough (Ben., Northants), el. between 27 Dec. 1249 and 15 Jan. 1250 (C.P.R. 1247-58 pp. 56, 58), temps. 8 Feb. 1250 (Close R. 1247-51 p. 263). (fn. 10)

William de Taunton (fn. 11)

Monk of Winchester (Ann. Tewkes. p. 140). Succeeded 10 Feb. 1250 (Ann. Wint. p. 91), appd. by bp.-el. (Flor. Hist. 11 470-1). Expelled before 5 Feb. 1255, but still calling himself prior (C.P.R. 1247-58 p. 397). Abbot of Milton (Ben., Dorset), el. before 6 Dec. 1256, when received royal assent (ibid. p. 532). Bp.-el. of Winchester 1261-2 (see above p. 86).

Andrew of London (fn. 12)

First occ. as prior 20 July 1255 (C.P.R. 1247-58 p. 439) and thereafter frequently. Said to have been intruded by bp.-el. Aymer de Valence and conf. 1256 (Chron. Maj. v 568, 591). Res. 12 July 1258, but re-el. same day (Cart. Winch. no. 22; Ann. Wint. p. 97). Conf. by abp.'s official 21 Aug. 1258 (Cart. Winch. no. 24). Disp. for illegitimacy, to receive a bpric., 10 Dec. 1258 (Reg. Alex. IV no. 2704), appd. papal chapl. 20 Aug. 1259 (ibid. no. 2933). Bp.-el. of Winchester 1261-2, but qua. by pope (above p. 86). Depr. of priorate by bp. (Cart. Winch. no. 23) and by abp. in 1261, for disobedience, and appealed to pope (Ann. Wint. p. 99; cf. ibid. p. 100). Priorate treated as vacant by king, 15 Feb., 20 Apr. and 13 July 1262 (Close R. 1261-64 pp. 105, 42, 76). Andrew occ. as prior, at papal court, 9 Sept. 1264 (Reg. Urbain IV, Reg. Ordinaire no. 2787). (fn. 13)

Walter Rufus

Monk and 'hordarius' of Winchester. Appd. by bp. shortly after 25 Dec. 1262 (Gerv. Cant. (cont.) 11 218).

Ralph Russel

Occ. n.d. (Cart. Winch. nos. 209, 299, 302) and 1265 (cart. of Christchurch, Twynham: B.M., Cotton MS. Tib. D. vi(1) fo. 6r-v). D. 8 July 1265 (Ann. Wint. p. 102).

Valentine

'Hordarius' of Winchester (Cart. Winch. no. 547a). Succeeded 21 July 1265 (Ann. Wint. p. 102), presum. appd. by bp. (Cart. Winch. no. 23). Res. priorate 7 Aug. 1267 (Ann. Wint. p. 105). Priory in king's hands 5 Nov. 1267 (C.P.R. 1266-72 p. 164). (fn. 13) Restored 3 July 1268 (Ann. Wint. p. 107). Res. again c. 19 May 1276 (ibid. pp. 122-3). Restored 1 Aug. (ibid. p. 123). Depr. by bp. before 3 Dec. 1276 (ibid.). (fn. 14)

John de Durevill

Almoner of Winchester (C.P.R. 1232-47 pp. 413-14). Appd. by bp.; instituted and instal. 3 Dec. 1276 (Ann. Wint. p. 123). Last occ. 22 June 1278 (Reg. Pontissara 11 649). Presum. d. or res. before Jan. 1279, when priorate vacant (C.C.R. 1272-79 p. 519).

Adam de Farnham

Appd. by bp. 1279 (Ann. Waverley p. 392), presum. after 1 March, when priorate still vacant (C.P.R. 1272-81 p. 304), but perhaps by 4 Apr. (C.C.R. 1272-79 p. 525).

Last occ. 14 Dec. 1282 (Reg. Pontissara 1 240-1). Prob. res. c. 13 Feb. 1283 (ibid. pp. 245-6).

William de Basingstoke (fn. 15) (Basinges)

Monk of Winchester (Reg. J. Pecham 1 188, 11 51). Perhaps appd. prior by bp.'s official and treas. before 9 Apr. 1283 (cf. Reg. Pontissara 1 246). First occ. 4 June 1284 (ibid. 1 281-2, 11 410), and 11 June (cart. of Winchester: B.M., Add. MS. 29436 fo. 56r). Res. before 13 July (Reg. Pontissara 1 284-6). Bp.'s lic. el. sought 18 July, gr. 20 July (ibid. pp. 285-7). El. conf. by bp. 25 Aug. (ibid. pp. 294-5). Last occ. after 4 Nov. 1294 (Cart. Winch. no. 442). D. very shortly before 30 May 1295 (Reg. Pontissara 1 71-2).

Henry Woodlock de Merewell

Bp.'s lic. el. sought 30 May 1295 (Reg. Pontissara 1 71-2), gr. n.d. (ibid. p. 72). El. 6 June (ibid. pp. 73-7). Bp.'s assent 7 June 1295 (ibid. pp. 72-3, 77-8). Bp. of Winchester, el. Dec. 1304 × Jan. 1305, temps. March 1305, cons. Apr.

Footnotes

  • 1. Eadmer, H.N. pp. 18-19; Will. Malmesbury, G.P. pp. 71-2.
  • 2. For the documents see Reg. Pontissara 11 425-30; cf. also ibid. 1 284-95.
  • 3. He is given this name by Will. Malmesbury, G.P. p. 172.
  • 4. Temp. William Giffard, bp. of Winchester (above p. 85).
  • 5. But Adami de Domerham Historia de Rebus Gestis Glastoniensibus, ed. T. Hearne (Oxford, 1727) p. 331 gives 1171 for the date of his succession.
  • 6. But still called prior of Winchester after 7 Nov. 1176 (Westminster, D. & C., Muniment bk. XI, Domesday' fo. 571r, temp. Peter de Lcia, bp. of St. Davids).
  • 7. His brother is called Robert de Luci (Cart. Winch. no. 301).
  • 8. Said by Matt. Paris to have been a Breton (Chron. Maj. 111 622).
  • 9. Called 'de Cadamo' by Matt. Paris, Chron. Maj. v 84. Therefore? of Caen, Calvados, France.
  • 10. Cf. Carte Nativorum, ed. C. N. L. Brooke and M. M. Postan (Northants Record Soc. xx) p. 225.
  • 11. ?Taunton, Somt.
  • 12. He is called a Cluniac in Reg. Urbain IV, Reg. Ordinaire no. 1049.
  • 13. Andrew of London was to have been restored by bp. by a promise of 13 Jan. 1268 (Cart. Winch. no. 23). But his restoration was evidently ineffective. His appeal against Valentine was heard before papal judges delegate 16 Jan. 1274 (C.C.R. 1272-79 p. 66). He tried to enter the church of Winchester 29 Jan. 1274 and was excomm. by bp. (Ann. Wint. p. 116). He was still calling himself prior 26 March 1276 (Reg. Pontissara 11 645) and 8 Apr. 1278, when he had an appeal against John de Durevill (Reg. Nic. III no. 100).
  • 14. He was still alive 8 Oct. 1289, when he had disp. for celebrating the office while excomm. (Reg. Nic. IV no. 1541).
  • 15. Prob. Basingstoke, Hants.
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