18. THE COLLEGE OF LINGFIELD
The chief founder of this college was
Reginald Lord Cobham. On 16 March 1431
license was granted to the abbot and convent
of Hyde, who were the patrons of Lingfield
Church, to cede the advowson of the parish
church to Sir Reginald Cobham, William
Crowmere, John Arderne, and John Bayhall, to convert it into a collegiate church,
consisting of six chaplains, one of whom
should govern as master of the collegiate
church of St. Peter of Lingfield, and four
clerks, together with thirteen poor persons,
for the good estate of Reginald and his
coadjutors and all other benefactors whilst
living and for their souls after death. The
college was to have a common seal, and to
hold a messuage in Southwark on payment to
the abbey of a rent of 20s. At the same
time license was granted to Reginald and the
others to transfer the advowson and rectory
of this church to the newly founded college. (fn. 1)
The college was built at the west end of
the churchyard, with a first storey of freestone, but above that brick and timber.
Aubrey, writing in 1719, describes the court
and cloister of the buildings as nearly perfect.
On 1 March 1449 license was granted to
Anne Cobham, lady of Starburgh, Sir John
Fortescue, chief justice, Edward Sackville,
Gervase Clifton, and others to alienate to
the college the manors of Hexstede and Bylyshough, with appurtenances, and five messuages, two watermills, 128 acres of land,
and 16d. rent in Lingfield. (fn. 2)
The Valor of 1535 gave the clear annual
value as £75. Provost Culpepper surrendered
the college to Henry VIII. on 26 April 1544.
The surrender is signed, in addition to the
provost, by Anthony Sharde, priest; Richard
Augur, clerk; and by Maurice Wells, Richard
Rowell, and Thomas Woody. (fn. 3)
There are two inventories among the
Loseley charters of this college; the one is
a small roll, endorsed—"Inventory of the
household goods cloaths money farming stock
etc. of Jn° Robson Mr of the College of
Lyngfield 1 Aug. 1524"; and the other is
an inventory of seven pages taken upon the
dissolution of the house in 1544. These
documents were printed in 1880 by Mr.
Granville Leveson-Gower. (fn. 4) The church
was exceptionally rich in copes and vestments.
Provosts
John Acton, 1431 (fn. 5)
John Wyche, (fn. 6) died 1445
John Wetecote, died 1469
John Bow, appointed 1469 (fn. 7)
David William, died 1491
John Knoyle, instituted 1491, (fn. 8) died 1503
Robert Blynkynsop, resigned 1520
John Robson, instituted 1520, died 1524
Edward Culpepper, LL.D., instituted
1524, (fn. 9) and surrendered 1544
The pointed oval fourteenth century seal (fn. 10)
represents St. Peter seated in a canopied
niche, with tiara, in the left hand a patriarchal cross, and the right hand raised in
blessing. In the base a half-length priest
praying; and below this the arms of Cobham the founder. Legend imperfect:—
. . . . Collegii SCI PETRI.