49. THE PRIORY OF GUISBOROUGH
The Augustinian priory of Guisborough (or
Gisburne, as the place was usually called in the
Middle Ages) was founded by Robert de Brus,
who endowed it on a magnificent scale. The
Foundation Charter (fn. 1) records that he had founded
the house by the counsel and advice of Pope
Calixtus and Archbishop Thurstan.
Walter of Hemingburgh, a canon of Guisborough who wrote within 200 years of the
founding of the priory, states that the year of its
foundation was 1129. (fn. 2) Pope Calixtus, however,
who confirmed the act of foundation by Robert
de Brus, died in 1124. Camden and others
give 1119 as the year of the foundation, and
although no ancient authority can now be quoted
for it, that year (fn. 3) seems not improbably the correct
date. Anyhow, it is certain that the foundation
cannot have been earlier than 1119 or later than
1124.
'The generosity of the founder enabled the
canons to make a start under very favourable
circumstances. Twenty-nine carucates with the
advowsons of ten churches and other gifts speak
for themselves . . . All through its history the
Bruses and their descendants continued to be the
munificent benefactors to the canons of Guisborough. The chief estates of the latter in
Cleveland, at Hart in Durham, and in Annandale, were entirely due to gifts from that family
or from sub-in feudatories of theirs. It is true
they had other benefactors, such as Alice de
Rumilly in Cumberland, the Lascelles in
Lincolnshire, the Bardolfs at Barningham, and
the Stutevilles in the East Riding; but their
grants were not of great value, and cannot be
compared with the gifts received by the convent
from the Bruses and their descendants. Guisborough, which at the time of the Reformation
was the fourth richest monastery in Yorkshire,
being surpassed only by St. Mary's, Fountains,
and Selby, may be called without any exaggeration the creation of this family.' (fn. 4)
The chartulary records a large number of
gifts from people of small possessions, who could
only afford to give a few acres, or even roods.
These deeds, which are mostly of the middle of
the 13th century, show that a great religious
house like Guisborough was popular, not only
with people of higher rank as the Bruses, Percies,
and Lascelles, but with the franklins and yeomen
of the time. Among the charters there are
twenty-two entitled Cartae Elemssinariae
(fn. 5) containing small gifts to the canons on behalf of the
poor, but distinct from the ordinary property of
the house. A few of them specially direct what
particular use the gift is for, as, for example, fuel
for the poor, or 'ad lumen inveniendum pauperibus qui ibi hospitantur.' (fn. 6) These deeds, of about
the middle of the 15th century, indicate that the
canons had some sort of hospital for the poor in
connexion with the priory before the hospital of
St. Leonard of Lowcross came into their possession. These charters are followed by sixty-three
which relate to the building of the church which
was burnt down in June 1289. (fn. 7)
On the death of Peter de Brus III the patronage of the priory passed to Agnes the wife of
Walter de Fauconberg, and Lucy the wife of
Marmaduke de Thweng. By a charter dated
London, 26 October 1275, (fn. 8) Walter and Agnes
de Fauconberg and Marmaduke and Lucy de
Thweng granted the canons the right of electing
a new prior when a vacancy occurred without
first obtaining their licence, but stipulated that
the new prior upon his election should be
presented alternately to the Fauconbergs at
Skelton and to the Thwengs at Danby for
confirmation.
An event occurred in the early part of the
13th century which does not throw a pleasant
light on the methods which the convent pursued,
in one case at least, in endeavouring to enrich
itself. The canons had obtained a large amount
of land in the parish of Kirkleatham, and wished
to get possession of the well-endowed church of
that parish as well. (fn. 9) They obtained three grants
of it, in almost identical terms, from William de
Kilton, the patron, and they proceeded at once
to get a confirmation of it from King John in
1210. In 1221 Maud the niece and heiress
of William de Kilton in conjunction with
her husband Richard Dawtrey claimed that
William's grant had been obtained from him on
his deathbed, and when he was not in full
possession of his senses. At first the prior
traversed this statement, and maintained that
William de Kilton made the grant when in good
health and able to know what he was doing.
The case was adjourned, and in 1228-9 Michael
the prior released his claim, thus practically
admitting the truth of the assertion made, of
undue influence brought to bear on William de
Kilton.
Among the early grants of a special nature
made to the canons, those of a number of salinae
at Coatham (fn. 10) ought to be mentioned. The
salinae were situated on low marshland which
was overflowed by the higher tides with seawater. Artificial hillocks were raised on the
marsh land, on to the top of which the sea-water
was baled, and there evaporated by fires made
with a powdered coal which is still washed
ashore and made use of by the cottagers.
Several of these hills, locally known as salt hills,
still remain with their furnaces overgrown and
hidden. Many of the religious houses possessed
one or more, (fn. 11) and in one or two instances it has
been possible to identify the particular salina,
or salt hill, belonging to a certain house.
The constant raids of the Scots greatly
damaged the property of the canons. (fn. 12) In 1276,
before the wars with Scotland began, the goods,
temporal and spiritual, of the house (excluding
their property in, Scotland) were valued at 2,000
marks. (fn. 13) Sixteen years later they were heavily
in debt, and in 1328 commissioners appointed to
inquire into the matter certified that £36 (fn. 14) was
all that the canons could be fairly called upon to
contribute as their share of the tenth on their
temporal property in Yorkshire.
Besides the property in the more immediate
neighbourhood, the canons received gifts of land
in Lincolnshire, Cumberland, and elsewhere,
especially in Annandale, where Robert Brus,
lord of Annandale, second son of their founder,
gave them the churches of Annan, Lochmaben,
Kirkpatrick, Cummertrees, Redkirk, and Gretna,
with dependent chapels. (fn. 15) From Ivo de Charchem, or Karkem, they received, between 1180
and 1190, the church of Hessle, in the East
Riding. (fn. 16)
In 1280 Archbishop Wickwane found much
that needed correction; (fn. 17) in the first place he
ordered the rule of St. Augustine to be strictly
followed. No one was to go outside the cloister
after compline, for the sake of frivolity (causa
lasciviae) or drinking, under the pretext of entertaining guests. The canons were not to keep
expensive schools for rich or poor, unless the
Chancellor of York deemed that it would be for
the good of the monastery. The infirmary was
filled with persons shamming illness. These were
to be turned out and punished, and the really
sick treated with greater compassion. In the
refectory the food was to be all of one kind and
divided equally. Alms were not to be bestowed
on unworthy subjects, and a costly and extravagant household was to be put down at once.
Silence was to be observed more strictly in the
cloister, whilst in the quire all were enjoined to
take part in the praises of God. Any who were
silent in quire were to be forthwith expelled by
the rulers of the quire and their attendants unless excused by illness. In their recreation the
canons were adjured in Christ to prefer discourses
that tended to edify, rather than scurrilous or
lewd tales. Keeping accounts was to be committed to the charge of young and sharp-witted
men, who would clearly understand what was
going on. Quarrels were to be avoided, and
instead of proclaiming neighbours' faults each
was to speak for himself. Gifts were not to be
received without the superior's leave, and were
at once to be assigned to common use. Expeditions outside the priory were strictly forbidden,
unless in accordance with the rule. Agents
who became rapidly enriched by managing the
manors were to be removed at once. The
conversi, if skilled in the management of temporal
affairs, were to be made use of, so that their
sagacity might avail to the benefit of the house.
The prior was not to be too lenient or, worse
still, fearful in correcting, but, as a considerate
and prudent prelate, was to instruct and teach
the flock committed to his charge. The subprior, in hearing confessions and in other matters
which belonged to his office, was to act with
such moderation and care that at the Last Judgement he might receive a recompense full of
peace. Certain canons, William de Beverley,
Stephen de Kyrkeby, William de Scelton, Walter
de Stocton, and John de Salkoc, the first four of
whom had already been blamed in the earlier
part of the decretum, and who had made themselves notorious for quarrelling and caballing, were
debarred from promotion and were committed to
the prior and sub-prior for condign punishment.
Finally, the archbishop exhorted all, by the witness of the Cross, not to rejoice in or hasten
one another's fall, but to show true compassion
in all things, with all fear lest a like calamity
should befall themselves.
The most important event in the earlier history of the priory is undoubtedly the fire in
1289, by which the conventual church was
completely destroyed, when, according to Walter
of Hemingburgh, (fn. 18) a number of most valuable
books on theology, as well as nine chalices, the
vestments, and sumptuous images, perished, owing
to the carelessness of a plumber who with his
two men had gone to repair the roof of the building, and left the fire not properly extinguished
in the roof. The wind blowing the sparks
about set fire to the beams. In consequence of
this disaster the prior and convent petitioned (fn. 19)
the king for licence to impropriate their churches
of Easington, Benningholme, and Heslerton,
and licence was granted 18 Edward I (1290)
for that purpose, but the impropriation does not
appear to have taken place. (fn. 20) The reparation of
the church must have taken a considerable time,
for in 1309 Archbishop Greenfield granted an
indulgence of forty days to all who contributed
to the rebuilding of the conventual church,
which by the sudden fury of a fire had been
devoured, together with the buildings, books, and
other properties of the convent. In 1311
Richard de Kellaw, Bishop of Durham, granted
a similar indulgence on account of the fire. (fn. 21)
Although details of the visitations of Guisborough, with the exception of that of 1280 by
Archbishop Wickwane, are not entered in the
registers, there are many allusions to visitations of
the house. In 1308 Archbishop Greenfield held
a visitation, and as a result two of the canons
were sent, Hugh de Croft to Bridlington, and
Geoffrey de Caldebek to Kirkham, there to
undergo penances imposed upon them for misbehaviour, the character of which is not specified, although the penances are detailed.
Hugh de Croft was to keep convent in
quire, cloister, refectory, and dormitory. He
was to say two psalters weekly, and to be the
last among the priests, and for three months was
to abstain from saying mass. He was to keep
silence during the common colloquy, and say the
seven penitential psalms with the litany by himself in the cloister. He was not to attend chapter or receive or send out letters, nor was he to
speak to any secular or religious person except
in the presence of the president, and on no
account was he to go outside the precincts of
the monastery. Each Friday he was to have
bread, ale, and vegetables only, and on each vigil
of the Blessed Virgin to fast on bread and water.
The penance of Geoffrey de Caldebek was
much the same, but he seems not to have been a
priest, and there is no inhibition in his case forbidding him to say mass, but he was not to be
promoted to higher orders without the archbishop's special licence.
In 1309 (fn. 22) the prior and convent had to
receive a certain canon of Bridlington, Simon
le Constable, whose offence is named in the
account of that house, and it was with evident
disgust and reluctance that the Prior of Guisborough yielded to the archbishop's order and
admitted him.
In 1327 (fn. 23) the archbishop had to deal with
the case of Stephen de Aukeland, a canon of the
house, who had before taking orders, or entering
the Augustinian Order, been technically guilty
of the crime of usury, in conjunction with his
mother, by lending ten shillings in usury. He
applied to his prior for leave to go to obtain
absolution of the pope. This being refused, he
cast aside his canon's habit and went to Avignon,
whence he brought back to the archbishop an
absolution from John de Wrotham, the papal
penitentiary. The archbishop sent him back to
Guisborough, imposing upon him, for hidden sins
confessed to the archbishop, a severe penance.
He was to keep convent in all things, and was
to hold no claustral office, nor was he to go outside, the precincts of the convent without the
archbishop's special licence. Each Wednesday
and Friday he was to fast, to receive a discipline
from the president in chapter and, prostrate
before the altar of the Blessed Virgin, to say the
seven penitential psalms with the litany, humbly
imploring divine grace and the help of the saints.
He was to abstain from celebrating and all
ministration of the altar and be last in the convent. In 1315 (fn. 24) two commissions were issued
to correct the defects, crimes, and excesses discovered at the visitation.
The canons of Guisborough in 1319 (fn. 25)
utterly refused to admit one of the Templars,
Robert de Langton, who had been sent first to
Bridlington on the dispersion of the order, and
had been transferred by the pope to Guisborough.
The canons were only induced to obey under
threat of excommunication.
About this time the priory seems to have
been reduced to great straits. On 23 April
1323 (fn. 26) Archbishop Melton was constrained to
allow the convent to sell two or three corrodies,
and to let to farm for a year their church of
Kirkburn. Again, on 27 March, they had to ask
for further licence to sell more corrodies and to
let the church of Kirkburn for two years.
In 1380-1 the convent consisted of a prior,
twenty-five canons, and two conversi. (fn. 27)
On 19 October 1523 (fn. 28) James Cokerell, the
prior, was instituted to the rectory of Lythe near
Whitby, which for some time he held in commendam. A very strange and simoniacal arrangement was entered into with the previous
rector, who resigned on condition that the prior
and convent paid him £200 on the feast of
St. Mark next ensuing, and bound themselves to
give him a yearly pension of £44 during his life,
by even portions half-yearly, on the feast of
St. Mark and St. Martin in winter, to be
delivered to him 'at the founte situate in the
body of the cathedrall church of Saynte Paule
of London betwene the howores of eght and
eleven of the clok before none on every of the
saide festes.' This agreement bears date
4 November 1523. (fn. 29)
The clear annual value in 1535 was
£628 6s. 8d. (fn. 30) The prior and convent paid £8
a year for a student at the university, and among
the reprises were alms, including the portion
of a canon daily given to thirteen poor persons
in bread, ale, and meat, in honour of the
Blessed Virgin for the souls of Robert de Brus,
the founder, and Agnes his wife, amounting
to 100s. yearly. Also alms on the feast
of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(15 August), given in bread and meat to all poor
folk coming to the monastery, for the soul of
Robert de Brus, amounting to 60s. Alms at
the obit of Peter de Brus II for 1,000 poor,
66s. 8d. yearly. Alms at the obit of William
de Brus, brother of the founder, 40s. Alms
given at the seven principal feasts for the soul
of Peter de Brus, in bread, viz., 7 quarters of
wheat, 46s. 8d. Daily alms from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday in feeding three poor
persons, 33s. 4d. Alms on Maundy Thursday
in bread, money, and herrings, to thirteen poor
persons, 40s. Alms yearly given to thirteen
poor widows for the soul of Marjorie de Brus,
13 quarters of wheat, £4 6s. 8d. Daily alms
during Lent, 3 quarters of peas, 12s. The whole
amounted to £24 5s. 8d. It can be easily understood from this what a loss to the poor the dissolution of the larger monasteries must have been.
At the Dissolution there were twenty-five
inmates of the house who received various pensions, which were to begin on 25 March 1540.
When an inquiry was made in 1552 (fn. 31) Robert
Pursglove, the late prior, appeared, and complained
that he was in arrear a whole year. One of the
canons, Henry Alaynby, was deceased; another,
Gilbert Harryson, appeared with his patent, and
was behind for half a year, 'and axed it and
they saied they had no money'; Christopher
Malton was said to be 'dwelling in Lyllye in
Hartforthshire'; John Harryson was 'behind
for a yere and a half at Michelmas last and
requyred payment; and Walter Whallay and he
(sic) answered that his bokes was at London and
when he saue his bokes he wold pay hym.'
Eight canons on the roll, besides Henry Alaynby,
did not appear, and eleven, including those above
mentioned, appeared with their patents, and
against seven no other entry is made to show
whether they were paid or not.
It was at first proposed on the dissolution of
the priory to found a collegiate church of secular
canons in its place. (fn. 32) The scheme provided for
a dean, four prebendaries, six petty canons 'to
syng in the quier,' four singing men, six choristers with a master, a gospeller and epistoler,
and a grammar schoolmaster, a steward, auditor,
and four poor men. It need hardly be said that
the scheme only existed on paper.
Priors Of Guisborough (fn. 33)
William de Brus, occurs temp. Archbishop
Thurstan (fn. 34)
Cuthbert, occurs 1146-54
Ralph, occurs c. 1174-80
Raold, occurs 1199
Lawrence, occurs 1211-12
Michael, occurs 1218-34
John, occurs 1239-51, 1257
Ralph de Irton, occurs 1262, elected Bishop
of Carlisle 1280
Adam de Newland, occurs 1280
William de Middlesburg, elected 1281
Robert de Wilton, elected 1320-1
John de Derlington, elected 1346
John de Horeworth or Hurworth, elected
1364, resigned 1393
Walter de Thorp, elected 1393
John de Helmesley, occurs 1408
John Thweng, elected 1425
Richard Ayreton (Prior of Healaugh Park),
elected 1437
Thomas Darlington, elected 1455
John Moreby, elected 1475
John Whitby, resigned 1491 and re-elected,
resigned 1505
John Moreby (second time?), elected 1505,
blessed 1511 (fn. 35)
William Spires, elected 1511 (fn. 36)
James Cokerell, elected 1519, occurs 1534
Robert Pursglove alias Sylvester, occurs 1537,
1539
The 12th-century seal (fn. 37) is a vesica, 2½ in. by
1¾ in., with our Lady seated and reading from
a book on a lectern. The legend is—
✠ SIGILLVM SANCTE MARIE DE GISEBVRN
The circular 13th-century seal, (fn. 38) 25/8 in. in
diameter, has on its obverse our Lady crowned
and seated and holding the Child, with this
inscription at the sides—
AUE MARIA GRACIA PL'
On either side of her chair kneels a canon,
with a sun above his head.
The reverse has St. Augustine seated in a
similar chair, blessing and holding his staff. At
the sides are the words—
ORA P NOB' B[eatae] AVGV
Above the kneeling canons are moons. The
legend is too much destroyed to be legible.