1509–1510.

1509, Oct. 1, because St. Jerome's Day was Sunday.—Collation to priories, chantries, etc., similar to those on pp. 106, 112.—ƒo. 166d.

Clerk of the fabric: Pomerey.—ƒo. 167d.

Communar: Capron.

Sub-treasurer: Fox.

Escheator: Weston.

Tabular: Mores.

1509, Oct. 1.—John Holme admitted a perpetual vicar, Mr. W. Mors protesting.

Mr. Hugh Yng and Mr. Roger Churche are to view all statutes in whatsoever books, and to collect them, and to put them in order in one book; they shall have 20s. for their labour.—ƒo. 168.

Ordered that a new steward for the year following shall henceforward be chosen on the morrow of St. Jerome, so that he may ride with the old steward to his courts before Christmas; he shall have emoluments when occupied on church business, according to the statutes.

1509, Oct. 8.—Sir John Holme, vicar-choral, has license not to come to matins at night, on condition that he is present at matins at all principal feasts and greater doubles. If he or any other vicar-choral be sick or absent on his own business, for so long he shall not have his matins [matutinas]; if he shall well and diligently keep matins, then he shall have two faculties to receive the daily commons of vicars-choral present both day and night, without any diminution.

Mr. W. Harryngton, John Taylor and Batmanson appointed advocates in the cause of Chedsey, against Mr. Fissher, the rector there.

The bishop of Tine appointed baron of the exchequer, and Masters Yng and Edmundes auditors; also Carslegh steward.

1509, Oct. 16.—John Pouell admitted a perpetual vicar.—ƒo. 168d.

Agreed that a letter of manumission of John Vowles [Foule otherwise Voules, in margin] of the manor of Muddisley, granted to him by the dean, ought to be confirmed under the common seal of the chapter.

1509, Oct. 13.—The dean claimed that it belonged to him and he had the power to pardon all vicars not present at night hours, and so he pardoned absent vicars that day. The canons denied it, and protested that they would not consent, because it touched each and all of them.

The ordinances of the chantry of T. Bekyngton were read by the dean.

1509, Oct. 22.—Sir William God, chaplain, admitted to the chantry of St. Saviour, B.V.M. and all the elect of God, at the altar of Holy Cross in the north part of the cathedral, founded for the soul of John Storthwayte, vacant by the resignation of Robert Browne.—ƒo. 169.

1509, Nov. 3.—Confirmation of a lease from the dean to Thomas Cornyssh, bishop of Tine and vicar of Wedmore, Baldwin Malet, Richard Renyon, gentlemen, John Champoney, John Weston, John Hogges, Roger Kynge, John Randalle, John Bultynge, John Taylour, Dionisius Philpe, William Chelcrofte, John Bassett, John Chelcrofte, Richard Manyman, of the same [? Wedmore (fn. 1) ], and the wardens of the parish church of Wedmore, Robert Golney [?], John Brownynge of Sonde [?] and William Walshe [?], (fn. 1) of a pasture in the moor called Pulmede more, near his manor of Wedmore, with the fishery in the water along the breadth of the said moor running between Hawke were and Blakbuschere, at a rent of 16s. 8d. for the pasture and 4s. for the fishery; also of a messuage lying within the homage of Muddesley of old aster [de antiquo astro], called Chidder Leigh, with 44 ac. of land and meadow, etc., at a rent of 11s. 3½d., also of a messuage and½ virgate of land in Stowghton, in the parish of Wedmore, and 22 ac. of land in the north field of Wedmore, in Radlunch and Medelonde, and a close called Newham in Muddesleigh, at a rent of 6d. for the messuage, 9s. 5d. for the land, and 20s. for the close; to hold to them and their assigns for 99 years. The lessees during the term must find a chaplain having a good voice [organum vocis] with which he may serve God and Blessed Mary in Wedmore church, who shall swear on the gospels before the vicar that (by himself or another) he will celebrate low mass at St. Anne's altar in the said church thrice a week, namely, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for the good estate of the said dean Cousyn and his successors and all his co-brethren while in the flesh [dummodo in humanis] and for their souls when they have departed from this light, and for the souls of Oliver, late bishop of Bath and Wells, and of deans Forest and Care [Carent], and of all parishioners of Wedmore. And lest the said lessees or their assigns should pretend ignorance of the above ordinance, they must, in full halimott holden at Wedmore, once from term to term during the said term, show and publicly read this grant to the dean and his successors or their official, on pain of 10s. each time. If the rent be in arrear for a month, or if the mass be not said, it shall be lawful to distrain, or to re-enter and expel the lessees or their assigns. The lessees to maintain, ditch [fossabunt] and repair. Dated Sept. 1, 1509.—ƒos. 169d., 170.

Confirmation of a grant of manumission by the dean to John Fowle otherwise Vowles of the manor of Muddiseley, now of Pilton. Dated Oct. 27, 1509.—ƒo. 171.

Confirmation of a grant by the dean to John Chelcote and John Clerke, wardens of the goods of the parish church of Wedmore, of some vacant land, 44 by 24 Pauline feet [pedes paulinos (fn. 2) ], lying to the south of the steps [scancelli] of the western churchyard of the said church, to build there a church house at the cost of the parishioners; to hold to the said wardens and their successors in office, to the use of the church and parishioners, paying 2d. yearly to the dean and his successors, if demanded. Witnesses: John Rodney, knt., Mr. John Pykman, archdeacon of Bath, Edmund Mylle, esq. [and others]. Dated April 1, 16 Hen. VII.—ƒo. 172d.

1509, Nov. 19.—Mr. Roger Churche appointed proctor of the hapter for the parliament; he shall be allowed in complement of his great residence all the days of his absence on business concerning the parliament, without cotidians.—ƒo. 174.

1509, Dec. 1.—Mr. John Claymonde, clerk, admitted a canon, and installed by proxy in the prebend of Whitechurche, vacant by the death of Thomas Clifford.—ƒo. 172.

Certain statutes delivered [to the vicars—margin], so that by frequently reading them among themselves, they [the vicars] may have more certain knowledge of them.

1509, Dec. 14.—Mr. Thomas Lynacre, M.D., admitted a canon, and installed by proxy in the prebend of Eston in Gordano, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Christopher Urswyke.

Sir William Lane admitted a perpetual vicar.

1509–10, Jan. 1.—William Wykes, clerk, admitted a canon, and installed by proxy in the prebend of Combe I, vacant by the death of Christopher Twynyoo [Twynhoe].—ƒo. 173d.

1509–10, Jan. 5.—Canons Hugh Yng and Roger Churche appointed proctors for convocation; they shall have all days of their absence in complement of their great residence, without cotidians.—ƒo. 174.

1509–10, Jan. 2.—Thomas Prowse, vicar-choral, was accused of incontinence with the maid-servants of William Walby and John Hunt, which he denied. He was ordered to purge himself with the 6th hand of his fellows, which he failed to do at the time appointed. Finally he was deprived of his habit. On March 15, he made humble submission and gave a bond in 10l. for his good behaviour; he was thereupon restored to his habit.—ƒos. 174d., 175, 175d.

1509–10, Jan. 5.—Master John Edmundes was warned to appear on Monday next to answer a charge of incontinence with the wife of Hugh Elme [?].—ƒo. 125a. (fn. 3)

1509–10, Jan. 7.—Master Edmundes did not appear, and was pronounced contumacious.

1509–10, Feb. 16.—Agreed that Mr. Hugh Yng, the steward, shall sell the wood [silva] at Shepham.—ƒo. 173d.

1509–10, Feb. 16.—A lettre myssyve sent from the president and chapitre of Welles to Masters Hugh Yng and Roger Churche.—ƒo. 173d.

Right honorable maisters, we hertily recommende us unto you. And forasmuche that lately an unkynde trespas was done to our churche by Richard Bramston, sometyme vicar, which come in privye and gisgised [sic, ? disguised] apparell, to have hadde awey one of our best queresters [choristers], that is to say, Farre, and therwit takyn. We hertily desire you bothe to obteyne of the king a protection, wherby we may in tyme herafter disappoynte suche unfittynge labours ayenst the cathedrall church, so sett quasi in culo [sic, ? oculo] mundi. And over this, yf ye thynk it expedient to have graunted in the same protection, in tyme of necessite we to have the kinge's favour to have eny childe in monasteryes, or eny other places withyn the diocise, to serve Seynt Andreue. Upon these premisses we wolde have written to Mr. Deane, but it was said he shuld rathre departe from London. Therfore, if he be there, us semeth convenyent he knowe of this our desire; neverthelesse, we referr it to your discretion, trustyng you to have all our other causes in remembraunce, as well for Bucland Abbot, for more the fermour of Bunham, as for Birt of Byconaller. Thus fayr ye wele. Saturday before the first Sunday of Lent.
By the president and chapitre of Wrelles.—ƒo. 174.

1509–10, March 14.—It was proposed that no canon residentiary shall have his daily distributions unless he be once in the day at matins, or prime, or mass, or vespers, except two days of grace in the week. The canons present could not agree, and the matter was adjourned.—ƒo. 176.

1509–10, March 15.—Master Edmundes appeared, and humbly submitted. He was ordered to give a pair of vestments, price 33s. 4d., to the altar of Master Gunthorpe, late dean, before St. George's day next.—ƒo. 125a. (fn. 4)

1509–10, March 15.—Master Reynold West, the sub-dean, protested that he would not consent to give any grace to any canon hereafter for this present year; and he required me, Robert Williamson, scribe of the acts, to make mention thereof.

1510, March 26.—Master Robert Gumby, canon and prebendary of Dyndre, admitted a canon residentiary; he paid 100 marks caution money.

He was collated to the canonical house in the Mountry Lane, which Mr. Richard Worthyngton last dwelt in, and now vacant. He must before Michaelmas well and sufficiently repair, remake, roof and maintain the said house, fit for a canon residentiary, unless he can in the meantime acquire some other canonical house. In the meantime he may have the hospitium of Mr. Thomas Tomyoo, archdeacon of Bath, until his coming, and then he must take up his residence personally in the said house in Le Mountry Lane, unless he can get another canonical house.—ƒo. 176d.

Mr. William Mors, canon residentiary, cannot make his continual residence in the canonical house limited to him on his admission. Therefore, the canons, unanimously, but with great difficulty, granted him a house near the churchyard of the cathedral, where Gilbert Jacob lately dwelt. This act is not to be cited as a precedent [non trahitur in exemplum].

1510, April 16.—Nicholas Preschon admitted a perpetual vicar.—ƒo. 177.

Master J. Edmundes delivered a pair of vestments of white damask "wit angelles," for the altar of the late dean Gunthorpe, according to the injunction laid upon him.

The ordinances of the chantry of Sir T[homas] B[eckington] were read by the dean.

Agreed that Mr. William Mors should have the mass of Mr. John Gunthorp, late dean, and likewise the processions, and dues [debita] thereof, ipso infirmitate gravato et legitime prepedito.

Every canon residentiary being in the town and lawfully prevented [legitime prepeditus hoc est infirmitate tentus] may have the mass of Sir Thomas Bekyngton, and the dues thereof according to the ordination thereof. Mr. Reynold West gave his consent, if not contrary to the will of the founder.

1510, April 29.—Agreed to give Mr. Stephen Dowce, canon of the cathedral church, 13s. 4d. to preach 4 times a year at Lovyngton and Baroughe, appurtenances of the said church.—ƒo. 177d.

1510, May 18.—John Grove admitted a vicar non-perpetual.

1510, May 25.—Agreed that the book called Blakboke, lying in the treasury, be chained in the small bookcase [in parva libraria] before Michaelmas next, and that a desk be prepared for it. Every canon residentiary may have a key for it, if he wish.

1510, May 27.—Richard Paty, vicar-choral, for absenting himself from services on various occasions, sentenced to stand in the lower place on the second step, in his surplice and without his habit, at vespers and matins on Wednesday, the eve of Corpus Christi, and in like manner at prime and high mass on Corpus Christi day. On the said eve, at vespers, he presumptuously entered the choir in his habit. The dean called him, and said, `Why are you not doing your penance?' He said, `I will not do public penance, I would rather go away' [recedere]. Then the dean said, `Go away' [transeatis].—ƒo. 180.

On June 8 he appeared in the chapter house and said openly that he would not do public penance, but would rather go away. And so, before the chapter, of his own free will he went away; and the dean, with the consent of the chapter, declared him to be no longer a vicar.

1509, May 18.—Grant by the dean and chapter to Peter Carslegh of a messuage with a curtilage and two cottages annexed and all lands anciently pertaining thereto, situate in the borough of Wells, which Walter Baker formerly held. To hold to Carslegh and his assigns for 80 years from Michaelmas next, at a yearly rent of 10s. to the escheator and 3s. 4d. to the communar; lessee to do all necessary building, repairs and maintenance.—ƒos. 178, 178d.

1510, June 8.—Agreed that the ordinance, decree and refreshment [recreatio] anciently made in the week of Pentecost, according to the laudable custom of the cathedral church of Wells commonly used, which recreatio is called O.O.O., be kept and observed, with this condition added, that each canon residentiary having a dignity, if present in that week according to his course, ought to refresh [recreare] the canons and vicars at his house after nones [post nona], according to ancient custom; and all of them absent in that week, within 10 days after their return to town, on some feasting day [in die festivo commestibili], and before Michaelmas then next, shall refresh [recreabunt] the canons and vicars after dinner in their houses; and if any of them refuse so to do, he shall lose his cotidians until he shall do so, according to the ancient custom.
—for. 179, 179d.

1510, June 27.—Lease from Hadrian, bishop of Bath and Wells, to Oliver Moryell of the parish of St. Clement Danes, outside the bar of the New Temple, crosbowemaker, of a messuage situated in the said parish, between the tenement of Hugh, bishop of Exeter, on the east, and that where Margaret Kefe now dwells, on the west, the stable of the said cardinal on the south, and the king's highway on the north; to hold to Oliver and his assigns for 40 years, at a rent of 26s. 8d. the lessee doing all repairs and maintenance.—ƒos. 180, 180d.

1510, Aug. 17.—Mr. William Champernoun admitted as master of the schools, and was assigned the stall in the choir anciently due.—ƒo. 179d.

Mr. Reynold West, sub-dean, dissented, and wished to consider it until the coming of Mr. Dr. Churche.

1510, Aug. 19.—The dean said `I have appointed this day for visiting the annuellarii of the college, and so I propose to visit them to day.' To which the canons immediately replied that the visitation of the annuellarii belonged to the dean and chapter, and not to the dean alone, and therefore he must hold the visitation in the name of the chapter. The dean said that he would do so, protesting that he did not wish to do anything to the prejudice of the chapter.—[Also on ƒo. 183d.]—ƒos. 179, 180.

1510, Aug. 30.—The dean, in the presence of the chapter and of Robert Williamson, the scribe of the acts, delivered to Mr. John Bekham a book written on parchment, containing certain charters relating to Bukland Abbot's and Biconaller.

1510, Sept. 2.—Roger Preston, sub-deacon, admitted a vicar non-perpetual.

1510, Sept. 11.—Mr. John Claymonde admitted a canon, and installed in person in the prebend of Whitechurche.—ƒo. 181.

1510, Sept. 20.—Lease by the dean and chapter to Thomas Cornysshe, bishop of Tine, the precentor, of a messuage and garden "by Estwalles," which John Knyff lately held, situate between the messuage of the prior of St. John the Baptist, Wells, where John Barbour now lives, on the east, and the close of the vicars of the New Close on the west; also½ acre of land in, a stadium called Dydman, between land late of Nicholas Vele on the east and land late of Thomas Houper on the west; also½ acre of land in another stadium extending towards Dydman and towards "iij le busshes," and½ acre of land lying above Wareorchard, near the road leading to Bath, one rood of land lying there, 3 roods of land lying in the same stadium,½ acre of land in the same stadium, 1 acre of land lying in Myltonfeld, called Balitrow, and½ acre of meadow lying in Cassewelmede; for 60 years from Michaelmas next; paying yearly 5s. 4d. Also the reversion of 4½ acres of land in the east and west fields of Wells, now in the tenure of Richard Atwater, to hold for the term of 60 years annexed to the said messuage, at a yearly, rent of 18d., after the death, surrender or forfeiture of the said Richard Atwater. Lessee to repair and maintain all buildings. Power of distress if the rent of 5s. 4d., or 6s. 10d. when the 4½ acres shall revert, is in arrear for 15 days. Power of re-entry if the rent is in arrear for a month and there is no sufficient distress, or if the buildings are not sufficiently repaired and maintained, or if there be any waste done. Witnesses: John Walshote, then master of the city of Welles, John Standwyke, notary public by apostolic authority, Walter Serger, and Henry Cornysshe.—ƒo. 195d.

1510, Sept. 27.—Sir Andrew Anthony, priest, admitted a vicar non-perpetual.