56. THE ABBEY OF HAGNABY
The abbey of Hagnaby is said to have been
founded in 1175 by Agnes, widow of Herbert
de Orreby, in honour of St. Thomas the Martyr. (fn. 1)
It was a colony from Welbeck Abbey. John
and Isabel de Orreby were benefactors of the
next generation. (fn. 2) Very little is known of the
history of this house, but the name of the abbot
of Hagnaby occurs as acting in conjunction with
the other abbots of the order in Lincolnshire
during the quarrel with Adam de Crécy. The
abbot of Hagnaby was appointed visitor for the
English province at least once in the fourteenth
century. (fn. 3)
Bishop Redman visited this house, like the
rest, towards the close of the fifteenth century,
and every time between 1475 and 1503 gave a
good report of it, both in spiritual and temporal
matters. In 1478 there was not only no debt,
but money was owing to the canons, and there
was an abundance of provisions. It was enjoined
that the abbot just resigned should receive due
reverence wherever he went, and that 20s. should
be assigned to every priest for clothing, according
to the instructions of the General Chapter. (fn. 4) The
order of the house was again commended in 1482
and 1488, only on the latter occasion the visitor
remarked that silence might be better kept in the
refectory and cloister. (fn. 5) In 1491 several canons
who were old and infirm had to be dispensed
from certain observances. Some directions were
given as to singing, and it was ordered that the
great bell of the church should be rung at the
elevation of the Host. (fn. 6) In 1494 no corrections
were made, except that one canon needed reproof
for not saying the gospel before mass. (fn. 7) In 1497
the injunctions as to silence were repeated, but
this was the only fault found. The cellarer was
enjoined to give in his accounts more regularly. (fn. 8)
In 1500 the canons were again reminded of
their rule of silence, and certain ritual observances prescribed, as appointed by the General
Chapter. An infirmary was to be provided. (fn. 9)
These visitation reports speak very well for
Hagnaby when we remember how careful and
unsparing a visitor Bishop Redman was when he
found anything amiss, whether it was mere
irregularity or grave fault. There were about
twelve canons during this time.
No later details of the history of the house
are as yet known. Having an income of less
than £100, it was suppressed under the earlier
Act in 1536; the abbot received a pension of
£16, and the canons, six in number, 20s., each.
There were no arrears of ' wages.' (fn. 10) It was
afterwards stated that one of the causes which
excited popular indignation at the time and
helped to bring about the Lincolnshire rising
was the irreverent manner in which the king's
officers, at the dissolution of this house, took
down the pyx, containing the Blessed Sacrament,
which hung above the altar. (fn. 11)
The original endowment of the abbey of
Hagnaby was probably small, and included only
parcels of land within the county, and the church
of Hagnaby. In 1291 the temporalities were
valued at £20 2s. 5d. (fn. 12) In 1428 the abbot held
only three small fractions of a knight's fee in Skidbrook, Maidenwell, Trusthorpe and Fulsthorp. (fn. 13)
In 1534 the clear value of the revenue was only
£87 11s. 4d., including the parish church. (fn. 14) The
Ministers' Accounts amounted to £160 1s. 4d. (fn. 15)
Bells, lead, &c., were sold for £109 5s. 6d.
Abbots of Hagnaby
Thomas, (fn. 16) occurs between 1195 and 1214
William of Fultorp, (fn. 17) elected 1228
Peter (fn. 18)
Roger of Retford, (fn. 19) resigned 1270
John of Barrow, (fn. 20) elected 1270, died 1291
John, (fn. 21) elected 1291
Alan, (fn. 22) elected 1301
William, (fn. 23) occurs 1310
Walter, (fn. 24) elected 1312, occurs 1316
William, (fn. 25) occurs 1336, 1343, and 1346
John de Wynthorp, (fn. 26) elected 1412
John Wodthorpp, (fn. 27) elected 1440
William Anderby, (fn. 28) resigned 1475
Robert Alford, (fn. 29) elected 1475, occurs to 1488
John Boston, (fn. 30) occurs 1491 to 1529
John Hethnes, (fn. 31) occurs 1522
Edmund Toft, (fn. 32) last abbot, occurs 1534
The fourteenth-century pointed oval seal of
Hagnaby (fn. 33) represents Becket's martyrdom under
a trefoiled canopy with church-like architecture
over it. In base, under a round-headed arch
with arcading at the sides, an ecclesiastic, half
length, in prayer, to the right.
S' ABBATIS: ET: CONVENTVS: E[CBE]: BI:
THOME: MATYRIS: DE: PRATIS