53. THE PRIORY OF MARTON
The priory of Marton was founded, as a double
house of Augustinian canons and nuns, by
Bertram de Bulmer, who lived at the end of the
reign of Stephen and the beginning of that of
Henry II. (fn. 1) The nuns did not remain there
long, but moved to Mblseby (or Moxby, as it is
now called, a mile and a half from Marton) and
there formed an independent establishment on
land given them by Henry II. (fn. 2) Henry de
Nevill, (fn. 3) grandson of the founder, confirmed his
ancestor's grant of the vill of Marton with its
church and other gifts of land by Richard de
Runtcliffe and Roger de Punchardune. Henry
Nevill further gave to the canons of St. Mary of
Marton his manor of Woodhouse, (fn. 4) except two
bovates of land in Appletreewick, which he
intended to give to the nuns of Monkton.
From some unknown donor the canons
obtained the church of Sheriff Hutton, (fn. 5) and in
1322 Archbishop Melton ordained a vicarage in
the church, ordering, inter alia, that the canons
were to pay out of its revenues the large
annual sum of 20 marks to the abbey of St.
Mary, York. The canons had also the church
of Sutton, in which Archbishop Walter Gray
ordained a vicarage in 1227. (fn. 6)
The priory of Marton was in financial straits
in 1280, (fn. 7) when Archbishop Wickwane directed
that a complete statement of the temporalities
of the house should be compiled for the Prior of
Warter and Roger the archbishop's chaplain,
who were to report to the archbishop. The
prior was to retain the name and office, as such,
under his vow of obedience till the archbishop
ordered otherwise. On 2 August (fn. 8) the archbishop accepted the resignation of Walter, the
prior, on account of age and decrepitude, and 'ad
quietam tuam et augmentum contemplacionis,'
and on the same date wrote to R. de Nevill, the
patron, that on account of the poverty of the priory
he was promoting Brother Gregory de Lesset as
prior, and in the formal letter to Gregory de
Lesset, canon of Newburgh, appointing him
Prior of Marton, dated 4 August, the appointment is said to be made with the consent of the
patron and of all the canons of the house. A
concurrent letter was sent to the Prior and
convent of Newburgh, asking that Gregory de
Lesset might be released from the office of subprior of that house, and allowed to go as prior to
Marton. The archbishop, on 11 August, made a
public declaration (fn. 9) that he had only made this
appointment under the pressure of necessity, and
that his action was not to be to the prejudice in
future of the priory or its patron. A few
months later (on 13 December 1281 (fn. 10) ) the archbishop wrote to the prior and convent that,
having beheld with paternal pity the almost
irreparable ruin to which they and their house
had been brought by their wantonness and
demerits, he had appointed Thomas, Archdeacon
of Cleveland, to carry into effect the ordinances
made for the house as a result of a recent visitatation. Subsequently (fn. 11) he commanded the prior
and convent to send certain of their less useful
brethren to religious houses in which holy
religion waxed more strongly. He had also sent
the Prior of Newburgh to their house, and,
according to the prior's arrangement, the archbishop directed that the canons were to send
Brothers John de Esyngwald and Laurence to
other religious houses, to be named by the archbishop. In a letter to the Prior and convent of
Newburgh (fn. 12) the archbishop referred to. the reformation of the monastery of Marton. He had
learnt that its temporalities had almost come to
an end; religious honesty was undone, the
observance of the rule was shamelessly banished,
and troubled businesses had taken the place of
pious zeal. He saw how honest and pleasing to
God was the behaviour of the congregation of
Newburgh, and on that account he ordered them
to send certain wise and honest of their number
to Marton, at the nomination of the prior of
that house, to the assistance and relief of Marton.
No doubt Gregory de Lesset, so recently subprior of Newburgh, wished, to be strengthened in
his work of reformation at Marton by the help
of some of his late brethren at Newburgh.
Laurence, one of the two canons of Marton
who were to be sent away, must have been
exceptionally troublesome, for the archbishop,
addressing on 5 August 1283 (fn. 13) the Priors of
Nostell and Newburgh, presidents of the general
chapter of canons regular in the province of
York, stated that at the visitation of Marton the
congregation of his brethren there could not
submit to his reprobate and perverse behaviour
among them, and that the prior had no safe
place there in which to shut him up, especially
as no iron bolt could resist him, but he loosened
it as he would, and got out. The archbishop
asked them to find some safe place of detention,
that he might undergo salutary penance.
In 1286 (fn. 14) Gregory de Lesset left Marton and
returned to Newburgh. During his rule at Marton
he seems to have obtained from that house a manor
in Craven, and Archbishop Romanus ordered
that this was to be restored to Marton, and that
Gregory was to give up the writings he had about
it to the Prior of Marton. If, however, he had
contracted any reasonable debts on account of it,
the Prior of Marton was to answer for them, and
satisfy the creditors. The Prior and convent of
Marton were to pay to Newburgh, as long as
Gregory lived, a yearly sum of 40s., and half of
this the Prior of Newburgh, at his discretion,
was to give as a solace to Gregory, and the other
half was to be for the general use of Newburgh.
If, however, Marton had secretly or openly
sustained any kind of charge by Gregory's action,
then the whole sum was to go to the house of
Newburgh, but this only if he were properly convicted or confessed. These directions were conveyed to Marton and Newburgh by similar
letters, mutatis mutandis, dated 11 October 1286. (fn. 15)
There is no record of the election of Gregory
de Lesset's successor, but his name transpires a
year later, when, on 27 October 1287, the archbishop issued a mandate to the sub-prior and
convent of Marton to elect a prior in succession
to Brother John de Wylton, resigned. (fn. 16) Their
choice fell on William de Bulmer, the sub-prior,
but the archbishop quashed the election 'non vicio
persone sed forme,' and eventually appointed John
de Lund, (fn. 17) canon of Bolton. Although no fault
was then found with William de Bulmer, he got
into serious trouble at a later period, but in what
way is not said. In 1308 (fn. 18) Archbishop Greenfield sent him to Drax, to undergo a specified
penance, and Marton was to pay 4 marks
annually for his maintenance there. In 1314 (fn. 19)
Archbishop Greenfield held a visitation of
Marton, and issued injunctions of a general
character, almost identical with others sent to
Newburgh at the same time. The archbishop
had, however, to deal with some serious cases of
immorality. Alan de Shirburn, one of the
canons, had confessed to incontinence with
Joan daughter of Walter de Cartwright, and
Juliana wife of William 'le Mazun' of York,
living in Bootham, and with Maud Bunde of
Stillington. The archbishop enjoined the following penance: he was to keep convent in
cloister, quire, dormitory and refectory continuously, unless sick or otherwise legitimately
prevented. He was not to go outside the
precincts of the monastery, or the outer door,
except in honest company and with the licence
of the president. He was to hold no office in
the monastery, without special licence. Every
day he was to say a nocturn of the psalter. Each
Wednesday and Friday he was to say the seven
penitential psalms with the litany, humbly and
devoutly prostrated before the altar of the Blessed
Virgin, and on those days he was to fast on bread,
ale, and vegetables. Once a week, at least, he
was to confess his sins humbly and devoutly. He
was not to speak to any woman, without the
licence of the president, who was to hear what
was said. The prior was to tell Brother Stephen
of this, and make him a copy of the penance,
and also notify the archbishop how Alan de
Shirburn performed what was enjoined him.
Brother Stephen, who was to have a copy of the
penance, was Stephen de Langetoft, another
canon, who had owned at the visitation to the
vice of incontinence with Alice de Hareworth,
dwelling at Marton, and with Agnes de Hoby.
He was to perform the same penance as Alan de
Shirburn.
Another misdoer was Brother Roger de
Scameston, a conversus of the house, who confessed to misconduct of the same kind with
Ellen de Westmorland living at Brandsby, with
Beatrix del Calgarth wife of John de Ferlington, Eda Genne of Marton, Maud Scot of
Menersley, and Beatrix Baa, relict of Robert le
Bakester of Stillington. The penance imposed
on him was that every Wednesday he was to
fast on bread, ale, and vegetables, and every
Friday on bread and water, and in no manner
whatever was to go outside the precincts of the
monastery. Every Wednesday and Friday he
was to receive a discipline from the president.
Every day before the altar of the Blessed Virgin,
fasting, he was to say, fifty times, the Lord's
Prayer with the Salutation of the Blessed Mary,
humbly and devoutly. Once a week, at least,
he was to confess his sins. He was not to speak
to any woman, nor was he to be placed in any
office until the archbishop saw fit to deal otherwise with him.
On 16 June 1304 (fn. 20) Archbishop Corbridge
issued a commission to William de Wirkesall to
go to Marton and correct faults discovered at a
recent visitation, but there is nothing said as to
what was amiss.
Archbishop Melton notified the house on
5 May 1318 (fn. 21) of his intention to visit it, and on
15 June the prior, Simon de Branby, resigned.
The sub-prior and canons elected no other as
their prior than Alan de Shirburn, who had so
grievously misbehaved only four years before.
The archbishop quashed the election on the
ground of irregularity, and appointed a canon of
Bridlington, Henry de Melkingthorp, and at the
same time commissioned Roger de Heslington,
official of the court of York, and John de
Hemingburgh, dean of Christianity, to correct
the faults disclosed at the visitation. (fn. 22) A few
days later (27 July (fn. 23) ) the archbishop wrote to the
Prior of Bridlington to send Robert de Scarbrough and Stephen de Snayth, two of his
canons, as he had appointed them sub-prior and
cellarer, respectively, of Marton, in order to
correct the abuses of that house. The Prior of
Bridlington was to take John de Maltby and
Stephen de Langetpft from Marton. All points
to continued disorder and misrule at Marton, and
Melton was not the man to treat lightly such a condition of affairs. Henry de Melkingthorp resigned
in 1321, and the canons elected Robert de Tickhill, one of their number, to succeed him. This
election the archbishop also quashed, but appointed
Robert de Tickhill jure devoluto, provision being
made for Melkingthorp. (fn. 24) The following year,
however, witnessed the dispersion of the canons
of Marton propter destruccionem Scotorum. In a
letter of 3 November 1322 (fn. 25) to the Prior and
convent of Bridlington, the archbishop related
that owing to the recent hostile incursion of the
Scots the monastery of Marton was devastated, its
animals and property despoiled, its villages, manors,
and estates, as it were, devoured by fire, so much so,
that it could not support the college of canons
serving God there. He therefore sent to
Bridlington Brothers Alan de Shirburn and John
de Soureby. At the same time similar letters
were sent to Warter for Simon de Branby, to
Drax for William de Craven, to Thurgarton for
John de Malteby, to Shelford for Stephen de
Langetoft, and to Newstead in Shirwood for
Ingram de Semer, canons of Marton. This
accounts for seven of the members, and apparently
the prior, sub-prior, and cellarer, who are not
named, continued at or near the spot, for on
18 November the archbishop granted licence
quibusdam canonicis dicte domus de Marton to
remain in a suitable and honest place, and to say
mass and divine offices, in places legitimately set
apart for that purpose. No doubt they remained
in order to superintend the reconstruction of
their house, and the repairing of the mischief
done by the Scots.
On 17 July 1351 (fn. 26) William de Wakefield, one of the canons professed in the house,
was found guilty of divers crimes, excesses, and
errors which are not named. He was then,
according to the rules of the order, imprisoned,
and Archbishop Zouch ordered that he was to
be deprived of any office he held in the house,
and care was to be taken lest his crimes did harm
to others. He was not to receive or send
letters, and other restrictions were placed upon
him.
The prior and canons seem to have been ready
to lend a willing ear quite at the last to the
royal commissioners, and quit their habit voluntarily, before they were compelled to do so.
According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the clear
annual revenue was £151 5s. 4d. (fn. 27) In 1527 it
was returned as £131 16s. 6d. (fn. 28)
In the account of Laurence Beckwith for a
year from Michaelmas 1535, (fn. 29) the receipts from
Marton amount to £219 5s. 8d., and Thomas
Godson, the late prior, is named as being rector
of Sheriff Hutton. This was evidently a sinecure appointment, as Richard Moreton is elsewhere spoken of as receiving £10 as perpetual
vicar of Sheriff Hutton. Two of the canons,
George Burgh and George Sutton, had bought
cattle from the monastery before the suppression,
and 'Mr.' George Davy, whom Thomas
Yodson had succeeded as prior in 1531, was
still alive. He had, on his resignation, received
under the common seal of the house a yearly
pension for life of £13 6s. 8d. by equal portions
on the feasts of St. Martin and Pentecost at the
altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the conventual church, between the hours of ten o'clock
and noon. The house was formally 'suppressed' on 19 May 1536, when Thomas Yodson
was paid £25 13s. 4d. for his expenses with
his servants in London from 2 March to 4 May,
with certain legal charges, and his expenses
going and returning. George Sutton, one of
the canons, received £4 for riding to London,
at the order of the visitors, stopping there, and
returning. Eight canons, pro vadiis, received
20s. each from 1 March to 4 May. There
were thirty-seven servants then in the employment of the house. The house was finally
surrendered by the prior and fifteen canons on
9 February 1535-6, and on 3 March 1535-6
Thomas Barton delivered to Cromwell a letter
from the Prior of Marton. If the prior left the
place, Barton wished to have it, as the house was
near where he was born, and his ancestors were
benefactors to it. It was well wooded and not
worth less than £200. (fn. 30)
Priors Of Marton
Herniseus, occurs before 1181 (fn. 31)
Henry, occurs 1203, (fn. 32) 1227 (fn. 33)
Richard, occurs 1235 (fn. 34)
Simon, occurs 1238 (fn. 35)
John, occurs 1252 (fn. 36)
Walter, resigned 1280 (fn. 37)
Gregory de Lesset (sub-prior of Newburgh),
appointed 1280, (fn. 38) resigned 1286 (fn. 39)
John de Wylton, elected 1286, resigned
October 1287 (fn. 40)
John de Lund, appointed 1287 (fn. 41)
Alan de Morton, confirmed December 1304 (fn. 42)
Simon de Brandby, succ. 1307, (fn. 43) resigned
1318 (fn. 44)
Henry de Melkingthorp, appointed 1318, (fn. 45)
resigned 1321 (fn. 46)
Robert de Tickhill, succ. 1321 (fn. 47)
William de Craven, confirmed 1340, (fn. 48) died
1344 (fn. 49)
Hugh de Rickhall, 1344, (fn. 50) died 1349 (fn. 51)
John de Thresk, 1349, (fn. 52) resigned 1357 (fn. 53)
Robert, occurs 1369 (fn. 54)
William, occurs 1370, (fn. 55) Easter 1371 (fn. 56)
Robert de Hoton, occurs Trinity 1371, (fn. 57)
1388 (fn. 58)
Robert de Stillington, occurs 1403 (fn. 59)
John de Goldsborough, occurs 1436 (fn. 60)
Robert Cave, resigned 1443 (fn. 61)
Henry Rayne, confirmed 1443 (fn. 62)
Christopher Latoner, confirmed 1506 (fn. 63)
John Caterik, confirmed 1519 (fn. 64)
George Davy, resigned 1531 (fn. 65)
Thomas Yodson, confirmed 7 June 1531 (fn. 66)
(last prior)
The 13th-century seal (fn. 67) of the chapter is
circular, 2 in. in diameter, showing our Lady
seated in a throne between the sun and moon.
The legend is:—
SIGILL' CAPITVLI SBE MARIE DE MARTONE
Henry, the second prior, sealed with a vesica, (fn. 68)
1½ in. by 11/8 in., having a figure of himself standing, with the legend:—
✠ SIGIL' HENRICI PRIORIS DE MARTE
The seal (fn. 69) of Prior John de Thresk (13491357) is a vesica, 1¾ in. by 1¼ in., with our
Lady crowned and seated with the Child, and
the prior kneeling below. The legend ran:—
S' IOH'IS DE THRESKE PRIORIS DE MARTVN