26. HOUSE OF FRANCISCAN FRIARS, LEWES
The Grey Friars were evidently settled in Lewes
some time before 1249, as the Assize Roll of
that year mentions the case of a thief who sought
sanctuary in the church of St. Mary at Lewes and
escaped thence to the house of the Friars Minor
of Lewes and remained there for ten days. (fn. 1)
They occur again in 1253 as benefiting under
St. Richard's will to the extent of 20s. and a
book of the gospels of St. Luke and St. John. (fn. 2)
A grant of 24s. for three days' food, made to
the friary in 1299, when King Edward was at
Lewes, shows that there were then twenty-four
brethren. (fn. 3) From this time their history is a blank,
broken only by occasional bequests of money from
pious testators, until shortly before the dissolution.
In May, 1533, Cromwell sent one Thomas
Folks down to Lewes to make inquiries about a
chalice which was in the hands of 'one Robert
a Smyzth of Framfield.' The warden, John
Parker, (fn. 4) was away at the time 'at Winchelsea
at the visitation of Dr. Quickhoppes,' and the vicewarden knew nothing of the matter, but Thomas
Man, 'lister' of the house, wrote to Cromwell
saying that about Easter one of their chalices
disappeared, and he heard the warden say that he
had lent it; it was duly returned on 27 April. (fn. 5)
Four years later, when the suppression of the
religious orders was proceeding, and spies and
sycophants were carrying every light word of
'treason' to Cromwell, it was reported that
Brother Richard and Brother Longe of the Grey
Friars of Lewes had said that the king was dead,
the wish being evidently assumed to be father to
the thought. Brother Richard admitted that he
had said so to his brethren, Brother Longe and
'Black Herry'; when asked where he had heard
the news, he ' stood long amazed and at last said
that a somyner who keeps an alehouse opposite
the Friars' gate told him'; the latter however,
denied having even heard the rumour, whence
it appeared that Brother Richard himself was the
originator of 'the abominable tidings.' (fn. 6) The
sequel appears three weeks later, when Sir
William Shelley writes to Cromwell that 'the
friars have their punishment this Saturday at
Lewes, and take it very penitently.' (fn. 7)
This appears to have been one of the last of
the friaries to be surrendered, as on 15 December,
1538, the bishop of Dover wrote to Cromwell
that if the northern houses had made their
releases to the king he knew of no house to release except Lewes. (fn. 8) Shortly afterwards he writes
that he has received the house to the king's use.
It was not much of a haul, as the goods, including altars, bells, windows, and gravestones, would
not cover the debts, which were £15 4s.; there
was 77 oz. of plate but it was mostly pledged
and would have to be redeemed. (fn. 9)
In 1524 John Peterson desired to be buried
'in the church of St. Frauncis of the Freres
Minors of Lewes befor the chapell of saint Barbara,' (fn. 10) but the more correct title appears to have
been 'church of St. Mary and St. Margaret.' (fn. 11)