20 THE FRANCISCANS OF NORTHAMPTON
The Franciscans or Grey Friars, otherwise
known as the Friars Minor, established themselves at Northampton soon after their first
arrival in England in 1224. (fn. 1) A small detachment made their way to this important central
town from Oxford. (fn. 2) The first Franciscans who
landed in England numbered four priests and
five laymen; one of the priests was Richard of
Kingsthorpe, an Englishman by birth and a
distinguished preacher. (fn. 3) It seems natural to
conclude that one of the causes of their speedy
appearance at Northampton was the fact of its
proximity to the birthplace of friar Richard.
Northampton was grouped under the custody or
wardenship of Oxford up to the time of the
dissolution.
The Franciscans first established themselves
in a house in the parish of St. Giles, which was
outside the eastern walls of the town. Their
first warden is said to have been Peter Hispanus. (fn. 4)
In 1235 John de Reading, abbot of Oseney,
resigned his charge, and putting on the Franciscan
habit became a member of the Northampton
house. (fn. 5)
The friars rapidly won the esteem of the
townsmen, and afterwards moved to a good site
to the north-east of the town, which was granted
them by the burgesses. Leland thus describes
it: (fn. 6) 'The Grayfreres House was the beste buildid
and largest house of all the places of the freres, and
stoode a little beyond the chief market place,
almost by flatte north. The site and ground
that it stoode on longid to the cite, whereupon
the citizens were taken for the founders of it.
There lay ii. of the Salysbiries buried in this
house of Grey Freres. And as I remember it was
told me that one of the Salisbyries doughters was
mother to Sir Wylliam Par and his elder
brother.' John Bungey, doctor of divinity of
Oxford, and ninth provincial of the English
Franciscans, was of this house and buried here. (fn. 7)
Humphrey, duke of Buckingham, slain at the
battle of Northampton in 1460, obtained a
sepulchre within the church of the Grey Friars. (fn. 8)
Edward I. bestowed a cart and horse on the
friars, and in 1277 the sheriff and coroners of
the town were enjoined by the crown to restore
to the Friars Minor of Northampton the cart
and two horses which had been taken into the
king's hands as deodands by reason of the death
of Richard de Lilleford, lately slain by the said
cart, as they had been given by the king out
of charity. (fn. 9) On 4 January of the following year
the king granted to the friars four oaks fit for
timber out of his forest of Silverstone, (fn. 10) which
indicates that their new buildings were in progress. A licence was granted in August, 1291,
for the friars to unite the course of a spring
called Triwell, then running in three directions
between the towns of Northampton and Kingsthorpe, and to lead it by a subterranean conduit
to their house, provided that they indemnified
the persons through whose property the conduit
would be taken for the damage, which was
estimated by a jury at one mark if the lands
should be sown at the time. (fn. 11)
Bishop Dalderby in 1308 pronounced sentence of excommunication against those who
had abducted certain persons from the church of
the Friars Minors of Northampton. Probably
these persons were fugitives who had sought
sanctuary. (fn. 12) A bequest of 3s. 'to our Saviour's
ymage in the Gray Friars' is recorded in the
will of Simon G. . . . dated 1526. (fn. 13)
Reference has already been made to the dissolution of the Northampton friaries. The
Franciscans 'surrendered' on 28 October, 1538;
the deed was signed by John Wyndlowe,
warden, and by ten of the brethren. Ambrose
Clerke and Roger Wall were appointed attorneys
to receive and deliver the premises to Dr. London
for the king's use. (fn. 14) A memorandum of Dr.
London, drawn up early in 1539, states that the
Grey Friars' church was covered with lead. (fn. 15)
Wardens
Peter Hispanus, (fn. 16) 1224-5
John Wyndlowe, (fn. 17) surrendered 1538.