29. THE PRIORY OF FOSSE
The priory of Fosse, now in Torksey, appears
to have been founded by the men of Torksey
before the reign of John. (fn. 1) It was always a
small and poor house. The nuns were never
assessed for any tenths or subsidies until 1341:
and when an attempt was made to tax their
wool in that year, they received a special exemption from the king, on the ground that
their endowment was so slender that they could
not maintain themselves without the alms of
the faithful. (fn. 2)
In 1297 a commission was issued by Bishop
Sutton for the visitation of the priory, ' certain
things having come to the bishop's ears ' concerning the nuns. (fn. 3) He probably found nothing
amiss but poverty, for an indulgence was granted
three years after. (fn. 4) In 1440 Bishop Alnwick
found a prioress and five nuns here. They all
answered omnia bene: there was no complaint
of anything but the difficulty of getting the house
repaired. One of the nuns mentioned the fact
that they had always had a struggle with poverty;
she and her sisters had nothing from the house
but board and lodging: as at Gokewell, they were
probably dependent on their friends for some
allowance for clothing. It is noteworthy, however, that none complained of any personal discomfort, or of the quality of the food, which
must have been poor indeed. (fn. 5)
When Dr. London took the surrender of the
priory on 11 July, 1539, he found eight nuns
still living there on an income of £8 a year.
He might well call it ' a beggarly poor house.' (fn. 6)
It may be said that it was left so long standing
simply because the Royal Commissioners had so
little to gain by suppressing it: but on the other
hand, if the ladies had found their religious life
and their poverty so very irksome, they might
have surrendered earlier of their own accord.
This house is classed by Dr. London with
Irford, Nuncotham, and Heynings as one of those
where the nuns had been living in imperfect
chastity: (fn. 7) but the statement is too vague and
general to be worth much. The prioress received a pension of 1331. 4 d, and the others
161. 8d. each. (fn. 8) Five were still drawing these
little pensions in 1553, (fn. 9) and remained unmarried. (fn. 10)
The original endowment of the priory consisted of about 120 acres in Torksey, (fn. 11) with a
few small rents and the church of South Kelsey. (fn. 12)
In 1303 and 1346 the nuns held one-sixteenth
of a knight's fee in Bassingham. (fn. 13) The revenue
of the house in 1534 was £7 3s. 6d. clear, including the church of Cherry Willingham. (fn. 14) The
Ministers' Accounts amount to £15 15s. 7d. (fn. 15)
Prioresses Of Fosse
Beatrice, (fn. 16) occurs 1226
Agnes of Scothorn, (fn. 17) died 1312
Joan of Kettlesthorpe, (fn. 18) elected 1312, died
1349
Beatrice of Ludington, (fn. 19) elected 1349, died
1380
Agnes of Grantham, (fn. 20) elected 1380
Alice Radnor, (fn. 21) resigned 1410
Margaret Barnby, (fn. 22) elected 1410
Margery Redynges, (fn. 23) occurs 1440
Elizabeth Kirkby, (fn. 24) died 1498
Joan Watson, (fn. 25) elected 1498
Agnes Marr, (fn. 26) last prioress
The fifteenth-century seal (fn. 27) is pointed oval,
representing the Virgin, seated in a [canopied]
niche with tabernacle work at the sides, with
crown, the Child standing on the right knee. In
base under a round-headed arch St. Nicholas,
three-quarter length, with mitre and pastoral
staff, praying.
..... DOMUS — BEATE — MARIE — ET
— SBI — NICHOLAI — DE — F . . . . .