ALIEN PRIORY
33. THE PRIORY OF HINCKLEY
The details of the foundation of Hinckley
Priory are obscure. In the Matriculus of the
Archdeaconry of Leicester it is stated that
Hinckley church was given to the Benedictine
Abbey of Lire by William filius Roberti Osberti; (fn. l)
the person meant is probably William Fitz
Osbern, founder of the Abbey of Lire (Eure). (fn. 2) It
seems, however, that Hinckley church was given
to Lire not by William Fitz Osbern but by
Robert le Bossu, Earl of Leicester. A charter
granted by Henry II to Lire describes the church
of Hinckley as having been given to the abbey by
Robert, Earl of Leicester, and a charter of Robert
ès Blanchemains, Earl of Leicester, describes
Hinckley as the gift of his father, Robert le
Bossu. (fn. 3) Property confirmed to Lire by Robert ès
Blanchemains included tithes from the earl's soke
of Hinckley, and a revenue of 2 marks from the
township of Hinckley. (fn. 4) It is not known when
a cell of Lire was established at Hinckley, but
it must have been before 1209, when a Prior of
Hinckley is mentioned. (fn. 5) About 1220 there were
two monks only at Hinckley, (fn. 6) and the cell was
probably always a small one. An agreement made
in 1283 between the Abbot of Lire and the vicar
of Hinckley stated that the mortuaries of the
inhabitants of Hinckley and of the dependent
chapelries of Dadlington and Wykin were to be
the perquisite of the Prior of Hinckley, together
with the Candlemas offerings from Hinckley and
Dadlington. The agreement also mentions the
priory's barn. (fn. 7)
As an alien priory Hinckley was repeatedly
seized by the king during the later years of its
existence, though while in the king's hands it was
frequently granted at farm to its own prior. (fn. 8) In
March 1399 Hinckley Priory was granted to the
Carthusian house of Mountgrace, and licence was
given to Lire to alienate the priory to Mountgrace. This grant, however, was vacated later in
the same year, (fn. 9) and in the following May Hinckley
was granted to Mountgrace for the duration of
the war with France only. (fn. 10) In January 1400
Hinckley was handed back to its prior, (fn. 11) presumably because of the truce with France concluded soon afterwards. In 1409 revenues arising
from the priory were granted to Queen Joan for
life, (fn. 12) and in 1414, by a second grant, a slightly
larger income from the priory was secured to the
queen. (fn. 13) In 1415, though the queen was still
alive, Hinckley Priory was finally granted to
Mountgrace. (fn. 14) A pension continued to be paid
to Queen Joan. (fn. 15) The possessions of Hinckley
Priory seem to have consisted of little save tithes
from the parish of Hinckley, with its dependent
chapelries, and a little land in the vicinity. (fn. 16) Nothing is known of the internal life of this small cell.
Priors Of Hinckley
Richard, occurs between 1209 and 1211. (fn. 17)
Richard de Capella, admitted as administrator (fn. 18)
1224-5. (fn. 19) Resigned 1230-1. (fn. 20)
John de Capella, presented 1230-1, (fn. 21) resigned
1233-4. (fn. 22)
Richard de Paceio, presented 1233-4, (fn. 23) resigned 1236-7. (fn. 24)
Peter Lumbardus, presented 1236-7, (fn. 25) resigned 1244-5. (fn. 26)
William de Aquila, presented 1244-5, (fn. 27) resigned 1246-7. (fn. 28)
Hugh of Winchester, presented 1246-7. (fn. 29)
Gilbert, died 1265. (fn. 30)
Adam de Trungey, presented 1265, (fn. 31) resigned
1268. (fn. 32)
Richard de Audreia, presented 1268, (fn. 33) resigned
1271. (fn. 34)
Nicholas Bynet, presented 1271. (fn. 35)
William de Arena, resigned 1289. (fn. 36)
Hervey de Alneto, presented 1289. (fn. 37)
Reyner de Sarieta, died 1310. (fn. 38)
Matthew de Puteio, presented 1310. (fn. 39)
Michael, resigned 1333. (fn. 40)
Nicholas de Gaynario, presented 1333. (fn. 41)
John Pepyn, occurs 1342 and December 1347. (fn. 42)
John Morelli, occurs 1348, (fn. 43) died 1367. (fn. 44)
John de Ponte, appointed 1367, (fn. 45) resigned
1368. (fn. 46)
Ralph de Gorin, (fn. 47) presented 1368, (fn. 48) died
1375. (fn. 49)
Michael Aufri, presented 1375, (fn. 50) occurs 1404. (fn. 51)
The seal (fn. 52) of Prior John Morelli is a small
vesica, 1¼ by 1 in. Its subject is the coronation of
the Virgin Mary. Below is a figure kneeling in
prayer. The legend is:
S' PSS JOH'IS MORELL PRI' D' HINKI'
It is not proposed to describe all the Roman Catholic religious houses that have arisen in Leicestershire
since the time of Henry VIII. (fn. 1) , The following short history of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, however,
seems called for in view of the monastery's particular importance and of the especial interest attaching
to it as the first Cistercian house for monks to be permanently established in England since the Dissolution. (fn. 2)