32. THE CROSSED FRIARS OF COLCHESTER.
This house first appears as a hospital, probably
founded by the lords of the manor of Stanway,
to which the advowson pertained. Morant
quotes an undated charter of William de
Launvalei granting to the hospital pannage for
twelve pigs in his wood of Shrub and Wildenhey
and pasture for two cows. John, prior of the
hospital of the Holy Cross, Colchester, received
a grant of land in Birch by a fine (fn. 1) in 1235.
Protection was granted (fn. 2) to the brethren of the
hospital in 1251.
Later it is described indifferently as a free
chapel or hospital, probably because on account
of its poverty the master had squeezed out the
brethren, as happened in other cases. In 1401
or 1402 the archbishops of Canterbury and
York and several bishops granted indulgences
to all persons who should visit and help it, as
owing to the smallness and scarceness of its
lands and rents the poor needy men for whom
it was founded could not properly be sustained
there. (fn. 3)
Richard II on 13 September, 1392, granted
licence (fn. 4) for Ralph Algar, Stephen Baron and
Henry Bosse to grant two messuages and four
acres of land in Colchester and the advowson of
the hospital to the bailiffs and commonalty of
the town. But the grant of the advowson
seems not to have taken effect, for Henry IV
on 11 November, 1400, granted (fn. 5) it to John
Doreward, describing it as having pertained to
his manor of Stanway, but now forfeited, and not
exceeding the value of 100s. yearly. The same
king, however, made a grant of the wardenship
in 1406, as also did Edward IV in 1468.
Henry IV also on 21 November, 1407, granted
licence (fn. 6) for the foundation of a fraternity or guild
of St. Helen in the chapel with the maintenance
of five chaplains to celebrate divine service and
thirteen poor men. Presentations to the chapel
or hospital by the wardens of the fraternity are
recorded.
Towards the end of the fifteenth century the
Crossed (fn. 7) Friars Regular of the order of St.
Augustine claimed that the hospital had formerly
belonged to them and that they had been expelled from it. They produced papal bulls and
other evidences in support of their claim, and
were admitted by an indenture dated 30 September, 1496, by the masters and brethren of the
fraternity of St. Helen, with the consent of
Edward Knevit, esquire, lord of the manor of
Stanway and founder of the house. There were
to be four Crossed Friars there, who should all
be natives of England. The bailiffs and commonalty of Colchester on 1 March, 1499,
granted (fn. 8) to them the messuages and land mentioned in the patent of 1392.
The question of sanctuary at the house arose (fn. 9)
in 1526 in connexion with a murder. One
William Gilbank took sanctuary at St John's
Abbey, and afterwards broke it and went to the
'Crowche Freerys.' Sir John Vere went there
with Sir Geoffrey Gates and asked the prior to
deliver him until he could be examined by
Cardinal Wolsey; but the friars refused, saying
that their privilege was as great as St. John's.
Gilbank was in the choir near the high altar,
where Vere 'durst not to enterprise.' A watch
was set, and on 9 August Vere went there again
with a judge and others. The prior showed a
transcript of a bull declaring his privilege; and
when asked if he had any grant of the king's
ancestors for liberty of sanctuary he said he had
none to show, but supposed there was one in the
head house of the order. Gilbank confessed
felony before a coroner, but Vere advised the
latter to defer the abjuration until Wolsey's
pleasure should be known.
On 26 June, 1528, the convent made a lease
for eight years to William Branche of Norwich
of all the privilege and pardon granted to them
by bulls within the diocese of Norwich, except
the town of Hadley, at a rent of £4 6s. 8d.
yearly. (fn. 10)
The house is returned in the Valor as being
of the value of £7 7s. 8d. yearly. On
24 April, 1542, it was granted (fn. 11) to Sir Thomas
Audeley.
Priors, Masters, or Wardens of St. Cross,
Colchester (fn. 12)
John, occurs 1235. (fn. 13)
Thomas de Colecestre, occurs 1283. (fn. 14)
John Bacun, presented 1285. (fn. 15)
William Stanewey. (fn. 16)
John de Stebbenhith. (fn. 17)
John son of Richard Bastard, presented
1307. (fn. 18)
John de Wyston, presented 1332. (fn. 19)
Richard de Botyngham, presented 1336. (fn. 20)
Robert Claypole, presented 1348. (fn. 21)
John Stansted, exchanged 1381. (fn. 22)
John Rauf, presented 1381. (fn. 22)
Thomas Aldebury, presented 1394.
John Pygot, presented 1395, (fn. 23) occurs
1399. (fn. 24)
William Kynwalmerssh, collated 1406. (fn. 25)
Thomas Wafare, resigned 1438. (fn. 26)
John Stevyn, presented 1438. (fn. 27)
John Quene, presented 1445. (fn. 28)
John Wilton, collated 1468. (fn. 29)
John Turnour, occurs 1471. (fn. 30)
George Walker or Fuller, died 1472. (fn. 31)
John Downe, presented 1472, (fn. 31) resigned
1473. (fn. 32)
John Combys, presented 1473. (fn. 32)
Roger Churche, occurs 1499. (fn. 30)
John Colonie, occurs 1510. (fn. 33)
John Dowalt. (fn. 30)
John Dryver. (fn. 30)
Richard Deryks, (fn. 34) occurs 1522. (fn. 30)
William Crochon, occurs 1528. (fn. 35)
Henry Bek. (fn. 36)
— Tompson, the last prior. (fn. 36)