Chapter acts: 1493-5

1493–1494.

1493, St. Jerome, Sept. 30.—List of collations similar to those on pp. 106, 112.—ƒo. 45.

Master of the fabric: Pomeray.
Sub-treasurer: Aleyn.
Tabular: Clerke.
Communar: Touker.
Escheator: nominated by the vicars, Clawsay, Seward, Fox; chosen by the canons, Fox.
Auditors: Sub-dean, Vowell and Nykke.
Scrutators of canonical houses: Stevens and Nykke.
Keepers of the library: Austell and Vowell.

1493, Oct. 1.—John Austell and John Vowell deputed to survey all ornaments of chantries.

Grant of 40 days to all canons residentiary in complement of residence, without cotidians, to be used at will before Michaelmas.—ƒo. 45d.

1493, Oct. 2.—Vicars choral, elected or deputed to any office of the cathedral, must be present at the first matins of every feast day throughout the year, but are graciously excused the others by reason of their offices.

Unanimously agreed that if the vicarages and perpetual chantries named below, the presentation or collation to which belongs to the dean and chapter, shall fall vacant within a year from this day, the parsons shall not be named in common by the dean and chapter, but separately as within written; but the first chantry of Sir Nicholas Bubwith vacant shall he conferred on John Clawsay, and that canon to whom the nomination of the said chantry belongs shall obtain the nomination of the chantry assigned to John Vowell, during the present year only.—fo 46.

Master John Gunthorpe, dean, shall nominate to the perpetual vicarage of Lydeard Episcopi and to the chantry of Sir John Hampton, if vacant within the year.

Master Thomas Harries, treasurer, shall nominate to the vicarage of Modeforde and to the chantry of Sir Robert Wade, if vacant within the year.

Master William Boket, sub-dean, shall nominate to the vicarage of Bokeland Abbatis and to the chantry of Sir Thomas Peytefyn, if vacant within the year.

Master John Austell shall nominate to the vicarage of Poklechurche and to the chantry of Master John Welmete.

Master John Vowell shall nominate to the vicarage of Burnham and to the chantry of Master Thomas Orchard.

Sir John Stevens shall nominate to the church of Lambroke and to the chantry of Sir John Gravesby.

Master Walter Knyghtlay shall nominate to the vicarage of Stokegommer and to the chantry at the altar of Holy Cross.

Master Richard Nykke shall nominate to the church of Shepeham and to the chantry of Sir Richard Teke. [Hic M' J. Welmete, added.]

Sir John Manyman to the vicarage of Wynescombe and to the chantry at the altar of St. Stephen, in the possession of Master Thomas Goldwegge.

Ordered that so often as the escheator of the cathedral church for the time being shall collect and receive any fruits, rents or income of any vacant prebend,—of which two parts belong to the dean and chapter and the third part to the prebendary for one whole year after his death—when the escheator renders his account at the end of his year, the said third part shall remain in the keeping of the dean and chapter until demanded, and if not demanded within two years after the accounts are made up, then the one third shall be converted to the use of the church, for the good of the soul of the same prebendary.

1493, Oct. 14.—The treasurer [Thomas Harries], the sub-dean [William Boket] and John Austell deputed to view all jewels, treasures and ornaments in the treasure-house of the church, and to make indentures thereof between the dean and chapter of the one part and the treasurer and sub-treasurer of the other part.

Ordered that henceforth John Housse, living in the building near the entrance to the churchyard, shall not carry on dyeing there, on account of the corruption and pollution of the watercourses, to the grave nuisance of the neighbours. The water must have its pure course [per gurgitem] as it had from ancient time.—ƒo. 46d.

1493, Oct. 18.—For the happy expedition of their business, in soliciting Richard, bishop of Bath and Wells, Master Richard Nikke, canon, is granted all his days of absence, from the city of Wells to the bishop, wherever he be in England, going, coming back and staying, in complement of his residence, with cotidians.

1493, Nov. 4.—Ordered that every canon residentiary, obtaining a dignity, parsonage or office in the church, who since Michaelmas last and before Michaelmas next makes actual residence for six whole weeks, shall have from each caution for residence of each canon, his part after the division thereof, and not otherwise. To last for this year.

John Gunthorpe, dean, and Thomas Harries, treasurer, for expediting the arduous business of the church at London, are each granted 30 days of grace in complement of their residence, without cotidians, to be taken as they please before Michaelmas next.

1493, Nov. 14.—John Hyll admitted a canon and installed in person in the prebend of Whitechurch, on the resignation of Robert Shereburn, pursuant to mandate of the bishop.

1493, Nov. 18.—Appeared Thomas Wodyngton, proctor of Master William Wareham, LL.D., on which William the bishop of Bath and Wells had conferred the precentorship on the death of Thomas Overay, and in the name of his principal took the oaths of canonical obedience, etc., and was duly installed.—ƒo. 47.

1493, Nov. 25.—John Gunthorpe, the dean, appointed proctor for the chapter's business before the king and magnates; he shall be allowed his absence to Midsummer next, without cotidians.

1493, April 18 [sic]. (fn. 1) —Thomas Barowe appointed by the bishop provost of the cathedral church, canon and prebendary of Combe XII, annexed to the provostship.—ƒo. 47d.

1493–4, March 9.—Master Andrew Benstede admitted as canon and installed by proxy in the prebend of Wedmore II, on the resignation of Master Peter Huse; pursuant to mandate of the bishop.

1494, prid. Kal. April.—Master William Thomson admitted a canon and installed in person in the prebend of Barton, on the death of John Hyll; pursuant to mandate of the bishop.

1494, April 10.—Richard Potyer, proctor of Master Thomas Barowe, the provost, delivered a bond of the provost's for 30l., which he had received from his predecessor in the name of a certain stock [implementum]; to be restored to the dean and chapter on the vacation of the provostship. Margin:—Implementum 30 li. pro oneribus officii prepositure Wellensis.

Confirmed a grant by Master Thomas Barowe, the provost, to William Hays, gent., Mark [? Marcho] Hays, Robert Baggwell, Hugh Hobbull and Elias Alford, for 90 years, of a toft in Wynsham, to the use of the parish church there.

1494, April 7.—Master John Vowell, canon residentiary, has leave to occupy the canonical houses where Master William Boket lately lived, until some other canon shall wish to have the same for his residence; without doing any repairs in the meantime, and paying only the ancient accustomed rent.—ƒo. 48a.

1494, April 10 [? 14].—John Trench the younger admitted an altarist, on the nomination of Mr. Thomas Harries, the treasurer.

John Wymler admitted a non-perpetual vicar, and given leave of absence until June 24.

Master Thomas Harries, treasurer, exhibited his summons [provocatio] or appeal to the dean.

1494, April 26.—Confirmed the bishop's grant of the lordship of Compton, co. Berks, to W. Panyell, and a new grant of the office of keeper of the park of Evercriche.

1494, May 28.—Grant to Thomas Harries, treasurer, of 20 days' grace in complement of his residence, beyond that first granted to him, on condition that he shall well and faithfully attend the dean on the church's business at London.

1494, June 25.—Sir Thomas Weston admitted a vicar non-perpetual for one year.—ƒo. 48a.d.

1494, July 12.—John Wymler admitted a vicar non-perpetual for one year.

1494, July 24.—Master Richard Nykke, LL.D., installed in the archdeaconry of Wells, pursuant to mandate of the bishop; he took the oath of canonical obedience [set out].

Master Robert Middelton admitted a canon and installed by proxy in the prebend of Yacton, on the resignation of Master Richard Nykke; pursuant to mandate of the bishop.—ƒo. 48b.

1494, Aug. 10.—Sir John Orchard, priest, admitted a perpetual vicar.

1494, Aug. 20.—Consideration of the differences, discords and suits between the dean and chapter and the prior and convent of Montacute, as to the building of a water-mill in the manor of Northcory and as to the water of Tone within the said manor; the dean and chapter for their part compromised, as they assert, by referring the matter to the arbitrament of Richard [Fox], bishop of Bath and Wells, and bound themselves so to do in 200l., by a bond dated Aug. 20, 9 Hen. VII [set out].

1494, Aug. 23.—Richard Nykke, archdeacon of Wells, appointed proctor in the above matter, which office he undertook, saving his necessary expenses.—ƒo. 48b.d.

1494, Aug. 25.—Confirmation of grants by the bishop of the offices of keepers of the parks of Claverton, near Bath, and Poklechurche, to Sir Amisius Pawlet, knt., and Edmund Myll, gent. [The grant to Pawlet is set out.]

1494, Sept. 21.—Master John Arundell installed by proxy in the prebend of Combe XIII, pursuant to mandate of the bishop.—ƒo. 49d.

1494, Sept. 6.—Sir John Orcharde and Sir William Capron, chaplains, admitted as perpetual vicars choral.

1494, Sept. 17.—Thomas Harries, treasurer, appointed Richard Nykke and William Boket his attorneys to appear for him on St. Jerome's Day, and to nominate a vicar as subtreasurer, etc.

1494, Sept. 23.—Ordered that letters be written to the bishop of Tine [episcopo Tinensi] concerning certain tithes to be granted to him and his successors for 80 years by Richard [Fox], bishop of Bath and Wells [inscribatur in alio libro].

Confirmation of a grant by the bishop of the reversion of lands and other closes and buildings after the death of Joan wife of Richard Burnell, to the said Richard, Edmund Mille and Anne his wife; the tenor of this charter was anciently registered above [superius] and follows anew below; scribaitur in alio libro.

1494–1495.

1494, St. Jerome's Day [Sept. 30].—Collation to priories, chantries, etc. similar to those on pp. 106, 112.—ƒo. 50d.

Master of the fabric: Pomeray.
Sub-treasurer: Fox.
Tabular: Clerke.
Communar: Touker.
Escheator: nominated by the vicars, Fox, Aleyne and Seward; chosen by the canons, Aleyne.
Auditors: Boket, Vowell and Manyman.
Scrutator of canonical houses: Austell.
Keepers of the library: Austell and Manyman.

Surveyors of ornaments of the chantries of Bishops Bekyngton and Bubbwith and the eight chantries within the cathedral church: [blank].

1494, Oct. 1.—Grant of 40 days to every canon resident, without cotidians.—ƒo. 51.

Confirmation of the grant by the bishop to Thomas Hobson for life of the office of auditor of all accounts of bailiffs and reeves within the bishopric of Bath.

1494, Oct, 3.—Appointment of Sir Thomas Crosse, chaplain, to the chaplaincy of the Hospital of St. Saviour, Blessed Mary and All Saints, near St. Cuthbert's church.

1494, Oct. 22.—John Basshchurche admitted a perpetual vicar.

1494, Oct. 24.—John Gunthorpe, dean, and Richard Nykke, archdeacon of Wells, appointed proctors for certain business with the bishop at London; each of them to have 30 days in complement of his residence, in addition to the grace already granted.

1494, Oct. 29.—Thomas [Cornish], bishop of Tine, installed in person in the prebend of Cudworth, pursuant to mandate of the bishop.—ƒo. 51d.

1494, Nov. 15.—Thomas, bishop of Tine, admitted a canon residentiary; he paid 100 marks caution money; and because the canonical house assigned and granted to him by the bishop, lying between the dean's hospicium on the west and the archdeacon of Wells' hospicium on the east, is broken down and ruinous and unfit for habitation, the chapter granted license that he might live in the hospital of St. John the Baptist in Wells, until Michaelmas next, so that he fulfill all his duties as a canon residentiary in the mean time. [The margin has, in a later hand, "admissio Thomœ Cornish Tinensis Episcopi," etc.]

On account of his arduous business in London, the dean is granted a further month in complement of his residence.

1494, Nov. 22.—Richard Nykke, archdeacon of Wells, appointed special proctor in the disputes and litigation between the dean and chapter and the prior and convent of Montacute; and has leave of absence until April 1 next, in complement of his residence, without cotidians.—ƒo. 52.

1494, Dec. 2.—The dean, still detained in London on the business of the chapter, has a further grant of 60 days, sine fructu capiendo.

Thomas Harries, the treasurer, has a grant of 60 days, sine fructu capiendo.

1494–5, Jan. 2.—Sir Thomas Cornyssh, bishop of Tine, canon residentiary, has a grant of 40 days, as granted to each canon residentiary on October 1.

1494–5, Jan. 23.—The dean is appointed proctor for certain arduous business in London and a grant of two months' further grace, without cotidians. He appointed William Boket, John Vowel and John Austell his proctors to appear for him at the visitation of the archbishop of Canterbury, and to explain his absence.—ƒo. 52d.

1494–5, Feb. 14.—Master Thomas Gilbert, a canon of the cathedral church, admitted a canon residentiary; he paid 100 marks caution money, and was collated to the canonical house late of Richard Nykke. He was granted 60 days of grace, sine fructu.

Every other canon residentiary has a further grant of 20 days, without cotidians.

1494–5, March 20.—The king to the prior of Montacute. By the king.

Trusty and welbeloved in God, we grete you wele. And whereas we bee enfourmed that certain variaunces have of long tyme depended betwixt you, on that oon partie, and the dean and chapitre of oure cathedrall church of Wellys, on the othre partie, touching a mylle by thayme bilded upon the water of Tone witin our countie of Somerset, wherby and thurgh [through] othre thinges concernyng the same matier, ye think that ye and our monastory, youre house, bee in som thinges wronged; and to theym it is demed to the contrary. Which variaunce and controversie hath for th'appeassing therof, by th'aggrement of both parties, bene pute into the handes of the right reverende fader in God the now bisshop of Duresme and late bisshop of Bathe and Wellys, (fn. 2) who for great and chargeable busynes by hym had for us in diverse other matiers, and also for lake of a good and metely leysour in that season, made no decree in the same cause. Soo that the variaunces stande now at large again, as undisscussed, which we wold gladly were resonably appeassed, considering that ye bothe parties bee men of the churche, for the whiche cause ye shuld bee the more conformable to all resonably [sic] meanes of peas, wherunto the said dean and chapitre bee right desirous, and at all seasons have bee[n] redy to aggree wit you after the discrecion of worshipful indifferent and wele conscienced persones, for any suche thing as by thayme may bee founden that herafter shalbe to your hurte, as we bee enfourmed. [We] desire tharfore and pray you that ye wilbe aggreable, as we trust the othre parte wolbee, to put the same matiers of variaunces eftsones into the handes of the said bisshop of Duresme, under such bondes, obligacions and condicions as affore ware made, wit such a good and resonable season as he may yeve his decree in the same, wit th'advise of such worshipfull and indifferent persones as by you bothe parties shalbe thought metely and convenient to bete [?] and ordre the matier to his handes, so that for lak therof his decree and jugement in that partie shal not nede to be taryed or lett in any wise. And over this, where as it may be thoght that, the see of Bathe and

Wellys afforsaid now vacant, ye wil attempte, by way of fete, som thinges of hurt or displeasour ayenst theyme concernyng their said wille [sic, ? mill] or thing doon affore this to the weale [? wheel] of the same, we, remembring that the said see is now voide of an hede to be protectour and defendour of the same, as apperteyneth, wol and strately charge you that duryng the said season of voidaunce ye neithre doo nor attempte to be doon by any colourable meanes [any]thing that may bee prejudiciall or hurtfull to the said dean and chapitre or thaire said mylle or any othre thing affore this doon concernyng the same, as ye wil avoyed our gret displeasour and answere unto us in that behalf. Yeven undre our signet, at our manoir of Shene, the xx day of Marche.

To the prior of Mountacu.—ƒo. 53.

1494–5, March 24.—William Rewys admitted a vicar non-perpetual for one year, and assigned to the stall of the prebend of Whitechurch.—ƒo. 53d.

1494–5, Feb. 28.—Master Roger Churche, decretorum doctor, commissory and vicar in spiritualities of John [Morton], priest-cardinal of the Roman church under the title of St. Anastasia, archbishop of Canterbury, and legate of the apostolic see, in the cities and diocese of Bath and Wells, the episcopal see there being vacant, visited the chapter of Wells, the vicars choral, annuellars, and other ministers of the church; which visitation continued until the last day of March, on which day Master William Boket, sub-dean, by virtue of a commission from the said reverend father [the archbishop] to himself and Masters Thomas Gilbert and Walter Morys, to continue the visitation, prorogued the same unto the last day of June; present, Thomas, bishop of Tine, canon residentiary, Sir William Briggman and Sir Thomas Seman, annuellars, and Thomas Wade, notary public, scribe of the acts.

1495, April 9.—Read letters of King Henry VII to the dean and chapter:

Henry, etc., to the dean and chapter of the cathedral church of Wells. We have given to our faithful and well-beloved chaplain, Master Richard Hatton, LL.D., the prebend of Wedmore V, vacant by the death of Master William Slaughter, and in our gift sede vacante. Westminster, Feb. 9, 10 Hen. VII.

Installation by proxy of Richard Hatton.—ƒo. 54.

Grant of 30 further days to Thomas Gilbert, without cotidians.

1495, June 24.—Further grant of 30 days to him, sine fructu, he being in London on the business of the church, with the cardinal of Canterbury.

1495, June 25.—Sir Thomas Weston, priest, admitted as a perpetual vicar.

1495, pridie Kal. Julii.—Master Thomas Gilbert, canon residentiary, collated to the canonical house where Master Richard Worthington late dwelt, to be united and annexed to the canonical house where the said Thomas Gilbert now dwells and in which he makes his residence, he paying the accustomed rents due for both houses to the dean and chapter, and keeping them in repair; any unnecessary buildings he may take down and remove.—ƒo. 54d.

1495, July 1.—Thomas [Cornish], bishop of Tine and canon residentiary, has license to reside and make his residence in the hospital of St. John Baptist in the city of Wells, from Michaelmas next for one whole year; he must fulfill all his duties as a canon residentiary.

1495, July 11.—John Wymler admitted a perpetual vicar.

1495, Sept. 1.—Grant to Thomas Gilbert of 15 additional days of grace, to be taken at his pleasure before Michaelmas.—ƒo. 55.