20. THE HOUSE OF THE FRANCISCANS OF WINCHESTER
There is but little to be added to what has
already been stated in the Ecclesiastical History
with regard to the coming of the Franciscans
to Winchester, their recognition by the bishops
as diocesan penitentiaries and preachers, and
the dissolution of their house through the
agency of the ex-friar Richard Ingworth.
Their church was dedicated to St. Francis.
On 4 May, 1278, the keeper of the forest
of Ashley received orders to supply the friarsminors of Winchester with four oak stumps
for their fuel of the king's gift. (fn. 3)
During the episcopate of Bishop Sandale
(1316-23), three acolytes, three sub-deacons,
one deacon and two priests were ordained
from the Franciscan house at Winchester.
During the episcopate of Bishop Asserio
(1320-3), five acolytes, three sub-deacons,
four deacons and six priests were ordained from
this convent.
In April, 1330, the pope sent his mandate
to the bishops of Winchester, Lichfield and
London, directing that the body of Edmund,
Earl of Kent, on the petition of Edmund, his
elder son, and of Margaret his widow, should
be exhumed from the Franciscan church at
Winchester and be buried at Westminster;
the earl having provided by will that the
place of his burial should be left to his
widow. (fn. 4)
The Franciscans, or 'Graye frearys of
Wynchester,' had their goods appraised at the
same time as the Dominicans. The inventory
which seems to betoken a larger church than
that of the Black Friars, is as follows:—
A paule and a fruntlet, xijd.; ij alter clothys,
xviijd.; iiij crossys, ijs.; ij seynt Johns headys
ijd.; j paxe of copper, xvjd.; ij paxyes of wodd,
iiijd.; ij pyllows of sylke, viijd.; ij small candelstyckes, xd.; a crysmatorye, 1d.; a desk and a
masse boke (nil); ij great candelstyckes, iiijs.;
Item an holy-watter stope, xd.; Item a lampe
hangynge, xijd.; ij cheyrys for ye quiere, viijd.
The Valans. Item a paule and a fruntlet, ijd.;
ij altar clothys, vjd.; ij candelstyckes, vjd.
Saynt Clementtes altar. Item a paule and a
fruntlet, vjd.; ij altar clothes, vjd.; j candelstycke,
viijd.; j payr of crewettes, ijd.
Saynt Fraunces altar. Item a paule and a
fruntlet, iiijd.; Item ij altar clothes, iiijd.; a
candelstyck, iijd.; ij crewettes, ijd.
In ye vestry. Item xviij corporasseys, iijs.;
iij sudorys, iiijd.; ij paules, vjd.; v. fruntlettes,
xxd.; j small towell, jd.; Item a cuscheynge of
golde, xxd.; Item v settes of vestymenttes, xxviijs.;
Item ij syngle vestymenttes of Requiem, iijs.;
Item xiiij syngle vestymenttes with amys and
without, xvjs. viijd.; A sewt of Requiem without
albys, ijs.; Item ij grene tewnakyllys (tunicles)
without albys, xvjd.; ij great altar clothys and ij
small, xiiijd.; Item vj surples and v coopes, xxxs.;
vij lent clothes, vjs. viijd.; ij super altares (nil);
Item iij small albys, xxd.; Item iij flock beddys
and a mattres (nil); vj busshels of whete; Item a
payre of old organes, iiijs.
Kechyn. Item ix platters, iiijs.; iiij dysshys
and iiij sawsers, xxd.; ix eyrye (iron) dyssheys,
xvjd.; a chaffer with ij eyrys, ijs. ijd.; Item
iij skellets, xxd.; Item iij panys, ijs.; Item ij
kettels, xijd.; ij fryying panys, ijs.; Item a
chaffer, ijs.; ij broochys, xd.; ij awndyryins,
xviijd.; a dryppyng pane, iiijd.; ij trevetts, vjd.;
Item ij gyrdyrynes, vjd.; Item ij pothokes, iiijd.;
Item iij hangars to hang pottes on, xijd.; Item
a colendar, iijd.; Item a chaffyng dysche, vjd.;
Item vj pottes small and great, ixs.; Item a great
yren, xvjd.; Item a fumes, vs.
The Buttrey. Item ij tabylclothys and a towell,
xxd.
In Mayster Denhamys chamber. Item a fether
bed a bolster and a coverlet, vs.; Item ij
cuschyenes, iiijs.; Item a tester with ij curteynes,
xijd.; Item ij baasyns and ij ewers, iijs. iiijd.;
Item a pewter bassyn and ij pottes, xijd.; Item
iij candelstyckes, xiiijd.; Item a carpett, ijd.;
Item a counter, ijs.; Item a cobborde, ijs.; Item
a chayre, iijd Summa ixli. iijd. (fn. 1)
There were debts on the house to the
amount of 16s.
The site, with those of the other friaries,
came into the hands of Winchester College.