HOUSES OF BENEDICTINE NUNS
11. THE PRIORY OF ARDEN
About 1150, (fn. 1) Peter de Hoton founded the
nunnery of St. Andrew at Arden, and Roger de
Mowbray, chief lord of the fee, confirmed the
gift, and soon afterwards the nuns received other
grants, all of which were confirmed by King
John on 28 February 1201, (fn. 2) but in the royal
confirmation Roger de Mowbray and not Peter
de Hoton is named as the founder. (fn. 3) In 1290
Elizabeth domina de Hoton, widow of William
de Carleton, confirmed to Margaret, then prioress,
and the nuns the lands originally granted, and
on 2 February 1405 Geoffrey Bygod, heir of
Peter de Hoton and Elizabeth widow of William
de Carleton, again confirmed the gift of his
ancestors, delivered the evidence of the gift to
Alice, the prioress, and was accepted as a
founder, to be prayed for by the convent.
Soon after the foundation of the house, (fn. 4) a
dispute arose between the nuns of Arden and
the monks of Byland, and in 1189 a compact
was entered into between the two houses in the
presence of Jeremy, Archdeacon of Cleveland,
in Hawnby Church. The monks condoned
the nuns in regard to all dams, inclosures for
animals, the rough words of their men, and
other irregularities; while Muriel, the prioress,
and the nuns conceded to Byland free transit
and passage for the abbot and convent's carriages
over the lands of the nuns; and both parties
agreed never more to urge any cause against the
other in court, but to amend any wrongs which
the one might do to the other in a friendly
manner between themselves. (fn. 5)
Nothing further is heard of Arden till October
1302, (fn. 6) when Archbishop Corbridge committed
the care of the temporalities of the house to
brother Robert de Colville, canon of Newburgh.
In 1304 (fn. 7) Juliana, the prioress, wrote to the
dean and chapter (sede vacante), asking to be
relieved of her office as she had been stricken by
paralysis, and was incapable of ruling the house.
Accordingly the dean and chapter issued a mandate on 21 November 1304 to the Archdeacon
of Cleveland to install the new prioress. (fn. 8)
In 1306, (fn. 9) Archbishop Greenfield, in consequence of a visitation of Arden, wrote to the
prioress and convent that for the good of their
house and other causes he had absolved Brother
Robert de Dent, conversus of Arden, from his
vow and profession of obedience, and that Dent
had made oath on the archbishop's pectoral cross
that he would urge no claim against the house of
Arden. The archbishop was sending him to
Furness, and had written to the abbot to receive
him, and as Dent had done much for the nuns
of Arden, he charged them 40s. for some new
clothes for him, and half a mark for his expenses
to Furness. The archbishop also dealt with the
case of Joah de Punchardon, (fn. 10) one of the nuns,
who had become a mother. She was recalled by
the archbishop to Arden, and was there to undergo salutary penance till she manifested signs of
contrition. The nuns were for the future to
have as confessors two brothers of the order of
Friars Minor, approved by the archbishop for
hearing confessions and imposing penances.
There were not to be more than two, and their
names were to be submitted to the archbishop
speedily. The nuns were to provide a master
or guardian of their goods, and specially one to
look after their husbandry.
This letter was followed by a decretum, (fn. 11)
in which orders were made for the general
regulation of the nunnery. The rule of St.
Benedict was to be observed in all its articles.
Those convicted of faults were humbly to submit to correction. When the prioress kept her
chamber she was to have a nun with her, not
always the same, but now one, then another, so
that no sinister suspicion of levity could arise.
The infirmary was to be properly managed.
No one was to be received as nun by compact,
as that involved the guilt of simony, but a nun
was only to be received from the promptings of
love. No girls or boarders were to be taken,
nor any nuns or sisters, nor was any man to be
received as a conversus without the special licence
of the archbishop or his successors. Within
eight days from the receipt of the decretum, all
secular girls staying in the house without
authority were to be removed, as well as every
useless servant who was a burden to the house:
also all dogs and puppies, so that the straitened
revenues of the house might be devoted to the
poor. None of the nuns' wood was to be sold,
more particularly large trees, without licence,
and no corrodies were to be granted. The
officers of the house were to render proper
accounts, twice, or at least once a year, and all
the buildings, especially the church, refectory,
and chapter-house, which needed repair, were to
be attended to.
On 28 August, 1311, (fn. 12) Archbishop Greenfield
wrote to the prioress and convent that Clarice
de Speton, one of their nuns, who had been
guilty of incest with Geoffrey de Eston, bailiff
of Bulmershire, had appeared before him in a
contrite mind, that he had granted her absolution,
and he enjoined the nuns to receive her kindly,
and impose on her the proper penance.
In January 1314 (fn. 13) Archbishop Greenfield
confirmed the election of Beatrice de Cotton as
prioress, and directed that an inventory of all
the goods of the house should be made. On
13 November 1320 (fn. 14) Archbishop Melton issued
a proclamation that Margaret de Punchardon,
nun of Arden, had asked that she might be
inclosed in a proper and worthy place, so that
she might serve God more strictly by leading the
solitary life. The archbishop had made inquiry
as to her past life, and found her worthy, and in
May following (fn. 15) he ordered her inclusion in the
house of St. Nicholas, Beverley, ob frugem melioris
vite in company with Agnes Migregose, already
a recluse there.
In January 1323-4 (fn. 16) Archbishop Melton
appointed Thomas Fox, rector of Gilling, and
John de Speton custodians of the affairs of the
nuns; and in February 1328-9 (fn. 17) he issued a
commission touching the election of a prioress in
place of Isabella 'Couvel' (Colville) who had
resigned. A short time afterwards (fn. 18) Beatrice de
Holm, nun professed of the house, was elected
prioress, but owing to irregularities in the process
of election the archbishop quashed it, and then
directed the rector of Hawkley to install Beatrice
de Holm as prioress of Arden. She cannot have
proved satisfactory, for in 1331 (fn. 19) the archbishop
directed commissioners to visit Arden, and, if
necessary, depose the prioress, and arrange for
the election of a successor. What was done is
unfortunately not recorded. On 28 June (fn. 20) in the
same year the Prior of Newburgh and the vicar
of Feliskirk made return for the king's exchequer
as to the taxing of Arden, that the nuns possessed
no ecclesiastical benefice, and that their whole lay
property scarcely exceeded by 20s. a year 'miseram
sustentacionem earundem,' and that there was
nothing else to be taxed.
In November 1334, (fn. 21) and again in 1350, (fn. 22)
commissions were issued to hold visitations of the
nunnery, but as nothing is said as to the result
of these visitations perhaps it may be charitably
assumed that there was nothing seriously amiss.
On 16 July 1372 (fn. 23) Archbishop Thoresby
directed the prioress and convent to re-admit one
of their nuns, Margaret Colville. who had
apostatized and been guilty of incontinence with
Robert Wetherhird, a layman.
On 6 October 1392 (fn. 24) Archbishop Arundel
appointed commissioners to receive the resignation
of the prioress, and confirm the election of her
successor, Eleanor, (fn. 25) against whom very serious
complaint was made a little more than three
years later.
On 24 February 1396 (fn. 26) Mr. John de Southwell, commissary of the dean and chapter sede
vacante, held a visitation of Arden. Eleanor, the
prioress, stated that she was elected when twentysix years old. She admitted that during the
whole time she had held office she had never
consulted her sisters as to the affairs of the house,
that whenever she had the common seal in her
private keeping, even when away from the
priory, she had used it for entering into obligations on the part of the house. She further
admitted that silence was not observed, and that
talking went on even in the quire during service.
On the other hand she complained that the
sacrista, when monished by her, still neglected
her duty, and that the bells were not rung as
they should be, in consequence of which the
services were not held at the proper time.
Christiana Darell, a nun, stated that the
prioress sent three young nuns out to make hay
early in the morning, that they did not return
before dark, and so divine service nondum est
dictum. She further alleged that the prioress
received all the revenues of the house, and spent
them as she liked, without the knowledge of her
sisters, and that sometimes she had the common
seal in her private keeping, and sometimes gave
it to Elizabeth Darell, so that she could use it at
pleasure. Moreover, a covered piece of silver,
and a maser, worth at least 40s., had been
pawned and were lost, and the official seal of the
prioress was in pawn with another maser. She
complained that their corrody, or allowance of
ale, was badly and irregularly delivered, and that
owing to the prioress's neglect in buying corn,
she had had to pay 11d. a bushel for wheat,
when it might have been had for 9d., 8d., or 7d.
Elizabeth Darell, another nun, said that for a
whole year the prioress had the common seal in
her private keeping. She stated that when the
prioress took office, the house was in a sound
financial condition and that they only owed 15
marks, and that the prioress had received many
sums of money, by gift and in alms.
Elizabeth Steyne, Alice Barnard, Agnes de
Midelton and Elizabeth de Thornton, nuns, said
that the seal of the prioress and a maser were
together in pledge for 5s.; that the prioress incited
the secular boys and laymen to chatter in the
cloister and church; also that there were no
candles at the altar, nor had they light to say
matins and other canonical hours, and the paschal
candle had been deficient all the time the prioress
had held office. They said they did not get
their corrodies when due. Sometimes the delay
was for a fortnight, and at others for a month, so
that they had to drink water. They added a
much graver charge, that the prioress slept in her
chief chamber outside the dormitory, without
a reasonable cause, during the greater part of the
summer, and that she was defamed with a certain John Bever, a married man, that they had
slept together in a house at night, and that on
one occasion they lay alone together within the
priory, in the prioress's chamber. They stated
further that when the prioress took office the
house only owed 15 marks, but that at the time
of the visitation it was heavily in debt, although
the prioress had received several sums of money,
as from John Aslakby 9 marks, from Dan Henry,
the nuns' chaplain, 4 marks, from William de
Thornton 7 marks, from Robert Howm 4 marks,
from the Lady de Roose 20s., from Henry Erden
2 marks, and from Robert Barbour 20s. The
prioress had also received money for a wood she
sold, and concealed the sale from them. She
had moreover sold and destroyed many plantations, without their consent, and disposed of the
proceeds as she liked. Further, the roofs and
walls of the buildings were dilapidated. A list
of the debts follows, and the nuns proceeded to
say unanimi voce that when the prioress was
elected there were ten pairs of sheets of good
linen, but they were destroyed and the prioress
had had no new sheets made during her time.
They had only two albs, one of these was turned
to secular use for sifting flour and was often
found on the beds of the lay folk in the
stable. They also complained that the prioress
sold four large trees since the last visitation,
without consulting the nuns. The prioress had
received from the executors of Henry Erden
2 marks to pray for his soul, and she concealed
this from her sisters. A new vestment was
pawned by the prioress, in consequence of
which it had been soiled and was worthless and
had not been hallowed. A financial statement
is added, showing the receipts and expenditure
for the first three years of the prioress's term of
office, viz.: in the first year, receipts £22 7s. 6d.,
expenditure £27 6s. 8d. Second year, receipts
£25 3s., expenditure £40. Third year, receipts
£26 9s. 6d., expenditure £27 3s.
The action which was taken as a result of
these revelations is not recorded, but it is reasonable to presume that it must have resulted in the
deposition of the prioress.
In 1444 Archbishop Kemp (fn. 27) granted an
indulgence for two years to all who should assist
towards the repairs of the house of Arden, and
on 5 May 1459 (fn. 28) Archbishop William Booth
wrote from London to the nuns, saying that he
had heard that the office of prioress was vacant
by the death of the late prioress, and he directed
them to proceed without delay to the election of
her successor. Owing to the distance and the
inaccessible position of Arden he had deputed
the official of Cleveland to act in his stead.
There is again a long break, and it is only at
the time of the Dissolution that we obtain any
more information as to Arden. (fn. 29)
The commissioners supervised the priory on
8 May 1536, and it was suppressed on
25 August following. (fn. 30) There were then six
sisters: three received pensions of 20s. each, two
10s. each, and one 6s. 8d, The sum of 40s.
was granted to one of the sisters, Elizabeth Johnson, who was deaf and over eighty years of age,
towards her sustenance. Fourteen servants and
two boys were in the service of the nuns. All
the plate which the house then possessed was a
gilt chalice, weighing 14½ oz., and a flat piece
of white silver, weighing 8 oz., and there were
two bells in the ' campanile,' valued together at
10s. In 1291 the priory of ' Erdern' was
rated at £10. (fn. 30a) The clear value of the house
according to the Valor of 1535 was only
£12 0s. 6d. (fn. 30b) The nuns also had an image
of St. Brigit, to which women made offerings for
cows that had strayed, or which were ill. (fn. 31)
A corrody had been granted in 1524 to Alice
widow of William Berre of ' Sonlow Coytt' for a
payment of £12. (fn. 32) She was to have 'mett and
drynke as their convent hath' at their common
table, or, when sick, in her own room, also ' on
honest chambr with sufficient fyer att all tyme,
with all such sufficient apperell as shalbe nedful.'
Alice Berre (or Birrey as she is there called)
was living in 1536, when she received 68s. 4d.
as part payment for the commutation of her
corrody. (fn. 33) Another corrody was granted to the
nuns' chaplain. (fn. 34) ' For the gud and diligent
seruice yt cure wellbe loued sir thomas parkynson, preste, hav done to vs in tyme paste,' they
granted him for his natural life a corrody, or
annual rent, viz.: that he shall have ' by yere,
and yeres, meitt and drinke at the table of the
forsaid prioress' and annual wages of 40s.
' with one leueray gown of the walew or price
of 13s. 4d. 'Also, we assygne unto the said sir
thomas, one chambre, next unto the frater, with
vij laides of Wode, and we grante to ye said sir
thomas parkynson, to have every weke vnto his
chambre three louffes of wheit brede, and ij
gallons of the beste aile. And farther, we grante
vnto hyme, yerly, the gressing of one horse in
summer tyme, and hay, prouender, letter, and
stable rowme, in wynter tyme, lykwyse as the
prioress, or cowent horse, for the tyme, with
shone and naleses to the said horse.' The deed
is dated 18 May 1529. In 2 and 3 Philip and
Mary (fn. 35) Thomas Parkynsonne was receiving
annually 56s. 8d. in commutation of this,
corrody.
Prioresses of Arden
Muriel, (fn. 36) occurs 1189
Agatha, (fn. 37) occurs 1242
Alice, occurs 1273
Margaret, (fn. 38) occurs 1289
Juliana, (fn. 39) resigned 1304
Beatrice de Cotton, (fn. 40) elected 1314
Isabella Colville, (fn. 41) elected 1324
Beatrice de Holm, (fn. 42) elected 1329
Eleanor, occurs 1396 (fn. 43)
Alice, (fn. 44) occurs 1405
Elizabeth, (fn. 45) occurs 1436
Margaret, (fn. 46) or Marjorie Danby, confirmed
17 February 1502