Chapter acts: 1538-44

1538–1539.

1538, Oct. 10.—Confirmation by William, prior of Bath, and by Thomas Crumwell, dean, and the chapter of Wells, Oct. 20, of the bishop's grant to Nicholas FitzJames, of the wardenship of the park at Evercreech.—ƒo. 29.

1538, Nov. 2.—Confirmation by William, prior of Bath, and Thomas, Lord Crumwell, dean, and the chapter of Wells, of a grant by the bishop to Christopher Prowse, of Cutcombe mill, for 60 years, rent 50s. 8d.—fo. 30.

1538, Nov. 20.—Grant by Thomas, Lord Crumwell, dean, to Thomas Parry, of a reversion.—ƒo. 29.

1538, Dec. 1.—Grant by the bishop to Thomas, Lord Crumwell [not called dean], of the next presentation to the office of provost of the cathedral, when vacant. Dated at Chewe.

Confirmed by William Holleway, prior, and the chapter of Bath, Dec. 3, and by the chapter of Wells, Dec. 7. (fn. 1) —ƒo. 32.

1538, Dec. 6.—The dean and chapter to the king.

Inasmuch as their statutes jam nuper per statuta et leges regni vestri Anglie justissime abolita . . . et adnullata, &c., sunt, nulliusque momenti jam merito habita sunt, they petition the king to ordain new statutes.—ƒo. 37d.

1538–9, Jan. 10.—Grant by the dean and chapter to William Peter, D.L., in return for many good offices, of an annuity of 40s. for life.—ƒo. 34.

1539, April 10.—Appointment by the chapter of Roger Edgeworth, S.T.P., Richard Eryngton, L.B., Richard Clerkson, M.A., and Thomas Jurye, M.A., canons of Wells, to be proctors in the convocation to be holden at St. Paul's, London, on May 2.—ƒo. 39.

1539, May 31.—Grant by the bishop to John Eastwike, esq., John Roke of London, gent., and Robert Bebe, king's serjeant, or any one of them, of the next presentation to the prebend of Tymberscombe.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Oct. 25.—ƒo. 42d.

1539, June 18.—Presentation by William Bowreman, sub-dean, and the chapter, decano absente, of Richard Adams, M.A., to Henry Husee's chantry at the altar of St. Calixtus.—ƒo. 39d.

1539, June 22.—Grant by the bishop to Edward [Seymour], earl of Hertford, of the next presentation to the canonry and prebend of Compton Bishop, when vacant. Bated at London.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Sept. 30.—ƒo. 42d.

1539, June 30.—Grant by the bishop to Thomas, Lord Crumwell, of the messuage, tenement and garden adjacent, etc., in the parish of St. Bartholomew the Less in London, now held by Patrick Prouse, merchant tailor, to hold to him in fee simple, with authority to his attorneys, Thomas Clarke, esq., and Ralph Hopton, gent., to enter and give possession.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, July 5.—ƒo. 42.

1539–1540.

1539, Nov. 10.—Grant by the bishop to his brother, Thomas Clerke, and his daughter Alice, of the reversion of a close in Wells, called the West Garden, with the adjacent garden place, and of lands in Westbury, Congresbury, Wellyngton and Wyke-by-Pockelchurch, for 80 years, at a rent of Gl. 7s. 4d. Dated at Chewe.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Nov. 17.—ƒo. 43.

1539, Dec. 1.—Appointment by Thomas, Lord Crumwell; the dean, with the consent of the chapter, of William Butler to the offices of bailiff of Bempston Hundred, keeper of the park at Wedmore, and woodward of the Hundred, with wages of 20s., 13s. 4d., and 6s. 8d.

Confirmed by himself as dean and by the chapter in the chapter house, the same day.—ƒo. 44.

1539, Dec. 22.—Grant by James FitzJames, S.T.P., the chancellor, to his natural sister, Thomasine FitzJames, of the advowson of the vicarage of Kyngsbury, upon the next vacancy. Dated at Wells.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, May 4, 1540.—ƒo. 51.

1539, Dec. 30.—Lease by John Chambre, the treasurer, to Christopher Newton of Westminster, yeoman, of all the parsonage of Martock, with its appurtenances, for 50 years rent 59l.

Confirmed by the bishop, Jan. 6, 1539–40, and by the dean and chapter, Jan. 12.—ƒo. 45d.

1539–40, March 15.—Grant by the bishop to Sir Hugh Powlett, kinsman and heir of John Gyfford, lord of the manor ot Henton, of the advowson of the churchf Henton St. George, which had once belonged to the said manor, but had come into the hands of the bishops of Bath and Wells by lapse, and had been in their possession for a long time. Dated at the palace at Wells. [Marked vacat.]—fo. 48.

1540, June 9.—Lease from the bishop to Eaufe Pylkyngton, citizen and haberdasher of London, for 40 years, rent 1l. 7s. 8d., of "all that his hall called the fryers' hall, with parlour, botry and iiij chambers called the fryers' chambers, and a garden therto and adjoyning, with th'appurtenances, sette, lyeng and beyng within the precincte of the late dissolved monastery of the Mynores, withoute Algate, London; excepte and alwayes reserved unto the saide busshoppe, at suche tymes as the same busshoppe shall happen to resorte and abyde at the said late monastery duryng his lyfe naturall, too of the saide chambres and the saide garden, with free ingresse and egresse in, to and from the same, at all tymes during his saide abode there."
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, June 11.—ƒo. 51d.

1540, June 22.—Lease by the bishop to Alice widow of Thomas Lupsett, citizen and goldsmith of London, for 28 years, rent 10s., of "all that his too lowe chambers and kechyn, with their appurtenances, sett and beyng neer the churche within the precincte of the said busshoppe's place without Algate in London late called the Mynores, whiche too chambers be nowe in the holdyng of the saide Alice."

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, June 25.—ƒo. 51d.

1540, Sept. 28.—Lease by Polidore Vergil, archdeacon of Wells, to Lawrence Rosse, of the parsonages of Huysh, Southbrent and Barowe, reserving the advowsons of the vicarages and some other rights, for 60 years from Lady Day, 1547, rents 28l., 23l. and 23l. respectively.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Jan. 2, 1540–1.—ƒo. 54.

1540–1541.

1540, Nov. 2.—The petition of William Bowreman, LL.B., sub-dean, and the chapter, to the bishop, for license to elect a dean, quia decanatus predictus ecclesie vestre cathedralis per attincturam et mortem Thome Crumwell, Comitis Essex, ultimi decani ejusdem, nuper vacavit et vacat in presenti, atque decani solatio destitutus est; etc.—ƒo. 53.

1540, Dec. 3.—The bishop grants the license, because a regia majestate nobis concessum ac auctoritate parliamenti provisum ut nobis juxta constitutiones antiquas ejusdem ecclesie hujusmodi licentiam concedendi imposterum remanet; etc. Dated in hospicio nostro London' extra Algate.—fo. 53.

1540–1, Jan. 26.—Presentation by the dean and chapter of John Southwood to the vicarage of St. Cuthbert's; addressed to the primate, the see of Bath and Wells being vacant.—ƒo. 53d.

1540–1, Feb. 8.—Petition of Dean FitzWilliam and the chapter to the king, for license to elect a bishop.—ƒo. 55.

1540–1, March 5.—Grant by John FitzJames, prebendary of Whitchurch, to his brother Nicholas, of the next presentation to the church of Benagre, when vacant.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, April 1.—ƒo. 57.

1541, April 1.—Appointment by the treasurer of Robert Colway to the office of sacrist, for life.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, April 5.—ƒo. 57d.

1541, April 9.—The king's license for the election of a bishop. Dated at Greenwich.

1541, April 23.—The chapter to the king, apprising him that they have elected as bishop William Knight, late archdeacon of Richmond.—ƒo. 58.

1541, April 23.—Appointment by the chapter of Polidore Vergil, archdeacon of Wells, John Chambre, treasurer, and Peter Vannes, canons of Wells, as proctors to solicit the assent of the bishop elect, the king and the primate, to the election.—ƒo. 58d.

1541, June 30.—Collation by the dean and chapter of Robert Welshe to Bishop Erghum's chantry, vacant by the resignation of John Lerpole.—ƒo. 59.

1541, July 1.—Grant by the bishop to Thomas, Lord Audeley, chancellor of England, of the next presentation to the canonry and prebend of Whytechurche.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, April 14, 1545.—ƒo. 111d.

1541, July 2.—Grant by John Chamber, M.D., dean of the royal chapel of St. Stephen within the palace of Westminster, to the bishop, the sub-dean, John Dakyn, D.L., and Cuthbert Walker, layman, of the next presentation to the vicarage of Martock, when vacant.—ƒo. 59d.

Grant by the same to the same of the next presentation to the vicarage of Wyveliscombe.

Confirmed by the bishop and the dean and chapter, July 20.—ƒo. 60.

1541, July 18.—Grant by the bishop to John Russell, K.G., Lord Russell, high admiral of England, Francis Bryan, knt., and Anthony Denny, esq., gentleman of the privy chamber, and John Chamber, dean of St. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster, of the next presentations to the office of treasurer and to the church of Martock.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, July 23.—ƒo. 59.

1541, Sept. 1.—Grant by the bishop to Walter Cretyng, LL.D., archdeacon of Bath, of a piece of ground in pomerio palatii nostri Wellensis, called "the Busshop's Chamerey," containing 200ft. in length from the wall of the said Walter's garden, and 54ft. in breadth from the wall of the pasture of the cathedral, called "the Church Chamerey," in the direction of St. Andrew's fountain and the stream flowing from it, the same to be annexed in perpetuity to the house Walter now occupies. Dated at Chewe Magna.—ƒo. 61d.

1541–1542.

1541, Nov. 23.—The lease of the Friars' Hall to R. Pilkington is extended to 89 years.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Dec. 1.—ƒo. 62d.

1541–2, Jan. 20.—Grant by the bishop to John Tregenwell, LL.D., of the next presentation to the prebend of Eston in Gordano.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter Feb. 16, 1543–4.—ƒo. 86d.

1541–2, Feb. 21.—Lease by the bishop to Raufe Pylkyngton, of other premises within the precinct of the late monastery of the Minores, for 50 years.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, March 29, 1542.—ƒo. 64.

1541–2, March 20.—Grant by the chapter to Walter Cretyng, archdeacon of Bath, of "the rome of too copies within the walls from the est end of the workehouse situate in the camery of the sowthe syde of the foresaide cathedral church, towards the west end of the same workhouse, containing by estimacion xvj foote of length, to make a stable, and all the whole lofte over all the saide workhouse, with a little orchard there lyeng, and the herbage of the said camery"; etc.; to hold for life, at the yearly rent of 6s. 8d.—fo. 4.

1542–1543.

1543, April 21.—Collation by the dean and chapter of John Dunster, S.T.B., to one of Bishop Bubwith's chantries.—ƒo. 70.

1543, April 24.—Grant by the dean and chapter to the ***ng of the presentation to St. Cuthbert's, Wells, vacant by he death of John Southwood, LL.D.—ƒo. 70d.

1543, May 20.—Lease by the bishop to John Moore of a parcel of ground lately called "the lawndrie," within the precinct of the late monastery now called the Minores, without Algate in London, "which late monastery now by the king's majestie's grant is gyven by way of exchaunge for to be the manour or logyng of the Busshop of Bath and Wells for the tyme being, for ever. And the saide grownde conteyneth in length fourtie foote betwext the way that leadeth towards the olde gate by the well on the west syde and the late church wall of the same eastwarde; and in breade xxxvj foote betwexte the way of the north syde of the saide late monastery and the buttrie of the same southwarde, wherin no we standyth olde deformed and ruynouse buldyngs; which saide olde buldyngs the saide John Moore promiseth by theis presents to reedifie and repayre, and to make in the saide place an apte and convenient mansion house to dwell in, at his owne costs and charges. And also the saide busshop, for himself and his successors, by the consent of the dean and chapter aforesaide, doth demise . . . to the saide John Moore one garden place within the precincte aforesaide, lyeng in length by the sowthe wall of the saide late monastery, and extendyng estward towards the common draught-house and westward to the corner of the bryke house parcell of the said maner place or lodgyng aforesaide." The lease is for 60 years, rent 5s.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, July 27.—ƒo. 77.

1543, June 13.—Grant by the bishop to Sir Hugh Poulett, his heirs and assigns, of the advowson of the church of Henton St. George.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, June 14.—ƒo. 71d.

1543, June 26.—Grant by the bishop to John, Lord Russell, and Francis Bryan, of the next presentation to the archdeaconry of Bath, or the prebend of Compton Dundon, or the prebend of Whitelackyngton, which ever of them shall first fall vacant.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter.—ƒo. 74d.

1543, June 28.—Grant by the bishop to Robert Palmer, LL.B., John Marshall, Cuthbert Walker and William Strayker, of the next presentation to the prebend of St. Decuman's.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, July 9.—ƒo. 76.

1543, June 30.—Collation by the dean and chapter of Nicholas Dakyn to Bishop Erghum's chantry.—ƒo. 75.

1543, July 8.—Grant by the bishop to Thomas, duke of Norfolk, of the next presentation to the prebend of Yatton.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, July 9.—ƒo. 15d.

1543, Aug. 1.—Deed of the bishop, reciting a grant, dated Sept 20, 1539, by the king to John Aylworth the younger of Wells and London, of the hospital of St. John the Baptist, lately dissolved, with the houses and lands belonging to it in Wells, for 21 years, at a rent of 6l. 4s. 10d., and confirming the same quantum in nobis est, with the consent of the dean and chapter, for another 60 years, that is, from the 1st of the present month of August for the term of 77 years. Upon the expiration of the crown lease, the lessee is to hold of the bishop upon the same terms as he held of the crown.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Aug. 4.—ƒo. 78.

1543–1544.

1543, Oct.—Collation by the dean and chapter, auctoritate fulciti . . . illustrissimi principis . . . Henrici, &c., of William Burges to one of the four chantries founded on behalf of Bishop Bubwith.—ƒo. 80.

1543, Dec. 18.—Grant by the bishop to Cuthbert Walker, Robert Palmer and William Straker, of the next presentation to the office of treasurer, together with the church of Martock.—ƒo. 85.

Grant to Cuthbert Walker, Geoffrey Upton and John Galoway, of the next presentation to the office of chancellor. Dated at Wyveliscombe.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Dec. 19.

1543–4, Jan. 12.—Grant by the bishop to John Pascal of Great Badowe, Essex, of the next presentation to the prebend of Compton Bishop. Dated at Wyveliscombe.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Jan. 22.—ƒo. 86.

1543–4, Jan. 29.—Grant by the bishop to Walter Cretyng, LL.D., Richard Daye, gent., and William Porter, yeoman, of the next presentation to the prebend of Combe III. Dated at Wyveliscombe.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Feb. 4.

1543–4, March 10.—Grant by the bishop to John and Elizabeth Moore, of the wardenship of his house called Le Mynoresse without Algate, London, for their joint lives and the life of the survivor, with a yearly fee of 40s. Dated at Wyveliscombe.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter, July 26.—ƒo. 98d.

1543–4, March 16.—Lease by Thomas Leight, gent., of the Middle Temple, to George Parsons, yeoman, servant to Sir Thomas Awdeley, knt., Lord Awdeley of Walden and Lord Chancellor of England, of the parsonage of Bokeland Denham, the glebe-lands, tithes, etc., saving only the advowson of the vicarage, for 60 years, rent 8l. 6s. 8d.
Confirmed by the bishop, April 12, and by the dean and chapter, April 17.—ƒo. 88.

1543–4, March 19.—Grant by the bishop to Queen Katherine and William, Earl of Essex, of the next presentation to the prebend of Yatton. Dated at Wyveliscombe.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter.—ƒo. 86d.

1544, April 15.—Grant by the bishop to John Hyllacre, gent., of the next presentation to the prebend of Aishull.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, May 14.—ƒo. 91d.

1544, May 13.—Presentation by the sub-dean and chapter, decano in remotis agente, of John Eryngton, to the chantry of Henry Husee.

1544, May 25.—To our trustie and welbelovyd, the dean and chapter of our cathedral church of Wells, and in th'absence of the dean, to the chapitour there. Somersedshire.

By the kyng.

Trusty and welbelovid, we greate you well. And wher as betwene us and th'emperour, upon provocation of manifold injuries committed by the Frenche kyng unto us both perticularly and for his confederation with the Turke agaynste tholl commen wealth of Christendom, it ys agreed that eche of us a parte in personne with his puissaunt armey, in severall parties this somer shall invade the realme of Fraunce; we late you wite that having not yet appoynted so greate a nomber for that purpose as ys necessary, upon the good opinion we have of you, with ernest good wyll to see us furnished as to our honour apperteigneth, we have appoynted you to send the nomber of forty hable footemen; whereof viij to be archers, every one furnished with a good bow in a cace, and xxiiij good arrowes in a cace, a good sword and a dagger; and the rest to be byll men, having besides there bylles every of them a good sword and a dagger; to be levied of your owne servaunts, tenaunts, and others; forseing that if any other man having tenaunts within any your manours or lordshipps be by our lettres appoynted to make us any men, he shall have the preferment of the makyng of the same his tenaunts to serve us in this jorney; not faylyng to have your said men in suche aredines, furnished with cotes and hose of suche colors as ys appoynted for our reregard, as they fayle not to be at our towne of Dover the xij day of June, when order his taken for theire transportacion accordingly.

Geven under our signet at our palaice of Westminster, the xxv day of May, the xxxvj yere of our reigne. And our further [will] is that in any wyse you send us the saide nomber, being all pyked and hable men, as ye tender th'advauncement of our affaires, and for the contrary therof wylbe put to the losse of theire cotes, conducte and harneys.—ƒo. 92d.

1544, July 16.—Grant by the bishop to John Dakyn, LL.D., Richard Walker, chaplain, and Cuthbert Walker, and any one of them, of the next presentation to the prebend of Combe II. Dated at Chew.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Dec. 11.—ƒo. 100d.

1544, Aug. 10.—Grant by the bishop to Walter Cretyng, LL.D., Cuthbert Walker and John Hillacre, and any one of them, of the next presentation to the perpetual vicarage of Chard. Dated at Banwell.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Dec. 11.—ƒo. 100.

1544, Aug. 12.—Grant by the bishop to Richard Morysin, John Danking, LL.D., and Cuthbert Walker, and any one of them, of the next presentation to the archdeaconry of Taunton. Dated at Banwell.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter.—ƒo. 104d.

1544, Aug. 15.—Grant by the bishop to John Ailmer, S.T.P., John Dakyn, LL.D., Cuthbert Walker, gent., and any one of them, of the next presentation to the prebend of Combe V. Dated at Banwell.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Dec. 11.—ƒo. 101.

1544, Sept. 14.—Grant by the bishop to Robert [King], bishop of Oxford, William Porteman, serjeant-at-law, Thomas Clerk and John Sydenham, and any one of them, of the next presentation to the prebend of Combe VII. Dated at Wyvelscombe.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Oct. 1.—ƒo. 102.

1544, Sept. 14.—Grant by the bishop to John Dakyn, LL.D., Cuthbert Walker and John Marten, and any one of them, of the next presentation to the church of Cristen Malverne, in the diocese of Salisbury. Dated at Wyvelscombe.
Confirmed by the dean and chapter, Oct. 20.—ƒo. 103d.