112. THE PRIORY OF BURWELL
The alien priory of Burwell, for Benedictine
monks, was probably built quite early in the
twelfth century, during the first years of King
Henry I. Ansgot of Burwell, (fn. 1) in his foundation charter, stated that after receiving hospitality
from the holy and religious house of La Sauve
Majeure (near Bordeaux) he determined to grant
to the monks there, because of their great love
and charity, the churches of Burwell with
its chapel of Authorpe, Carlton, Muckton, and
Walmsgate, with a bovate of land in Burwell. The charter was addressed to Robert
bishop of Lincoln (1094-1123), and its probable date is about 1110. (fn. 2) Hugh FitzOsbert
and his mother Adeliza, who granted a meadow
in Carlton a little later, made out their charter
to the 'brethren of Burwell,' showing that the
priory was already built; Dame Adeliza herself
placed the deed of gift on the altar of St. Saviour
in the conventual church, on behalf of herself
and her sons—'for the love of God, and in satisfaction for their sins.' (fn. 3)
About 1130 King Henry I ordered the sheriff
of Lincolnshire, Reyner of Bath, to see that the
monks of Burwell held their lands as they did in
the time of Ansgot and of Humphrey d'Albini. (fn. 4)
Ralf de la Haya son of Ralf confirmed all
previous endowments, and added other gifts
about 1150. (fn. 5) The monks seem to have suffered
some loss during the exchanges of land which
took place in the time of Stephen, and one of
them sought out Robert de Haya in Normandy,
and asked him for a new charter of confirmation. (fn. 6)
Another benefactor was William d'Albini. (fn. 7) The
patronage of the house passed afterwards to the
lords of Kyme. (fn. 8)
The priory of Burwell was not in the strict
sense an alien cell, as the duchy of Aquitaine,
to which the parent abbey belonged, was under
the rule of the kings of England until the
conclusion of the Hundred Years' War; but as
it belonged to a monastery on the other side of
the channel it was always liable to be reckoned
as alien property by mistake during the wars
with France. In 1337 and 1342 it was thus
seized, but its property was restored again when
the prior pleaded that he was born of the king's
allegiance, and no alien. (fn. 9) There was at that
time apparently only one monk at Burwell in
charge of the estates. In 1347 he pleaded for
the remission of a charge of 60s. on the ground
that he belonged to the duchy of Aquitaine,
and that his house was greatly impoverished by
those who had farmed it, and by payment of
tithes. (fn. 10) The petition was granted for the time;
but in 1386 the house was again seized, (fn. 11) and
after the conclusion of the war it could no
longer be reckoned as anything but an alien
cell. In 1427, on the death of the prior, it was
found that the site of the priory with dilapidated
houses was worth nothing beyond reprises: 140
acres of arable land were worth 2d. an acre, the
rectory 14s., the oblation at the cross of Burwell
from 40s. to 2 marks, there were 76s. of annual
rent, pensions from the churches of Authorpe
and Walmsgate, and some meadow land, tithes
of Burwell Wood, &c. (fn. 12) It was granted finally
to the college of Tattershall. (fn. 13)
The value of the revenues of Burwell in 1371
was reckoned as £14 16s. 10d.; in 1387 as
£15 13s. 2d. (fn. 14)
Priors of Burwell
Gilbert, (fn. 15) occurs before 1150
Adam, thirteenth century (fn. 16)
Amfred, (fn. 17) died 1293
Peter Pelata, (fn. 18) presented 1293, died 1314
John of Louth, (fn. 19) 1314 to 1317
Hugh de Vallibus, (fn. 20) presented 1317
John de Ponte, (fn. 21) presented 1324, died 1344
William Arnold of Calhavet, (fn. 22) presented 1344,
occurs 1347
Peter de Monte Ardito, (fn. 23) occurs 1403, died
1418
Hugh de Lespurassa, (fn. 24) presented 1418
Peter de Monte Ardito (fn. 25) of 'Acquietan,' dead
in 1427
All these were presented by the abbot of
La Sauve Majeure, and instituted by the bishop.
At the institution of Hugh de Vallibus a note is
added, that no inquiry was made, as it was not
customary.