1535–1536.

1535, Dec. 14.—The order by the bishop, as commissory for the king, with reference to the 30 marks yearly paid by the direction of Bishop Joceline for the daily service of the Blessed Virgin at her altar in the cathedral by 13 vicars choral; and the sum of 6l. 13s. 4d. also paid yearly by his direction by the provost of the cathedral for a certain requiem mass, now commonly called "Martyns Masse," daily in the chapel of St. Martin near the font in the said cathedral, by 6 vicarschoral, for the souls of Bishop Savaric, his successors, and all benefactors of the church. Inasmuch as the duty of seeing that the statutes of these foundations are carried out lies with the bishop, but he is frequently compelled to be absent from Wells upon urgent business of the realm, and cannot attend to these things in person, as he ought and would wish, he, by and with the advice of the chapters of Bath and Wells, devolves this duty upon the dean and chapter of Wells; etc., etc. Given under the episcopal seal, in the palace at Wells.—ƒo. 30d.

Confirmed by the dean and chapter of Wells, and by William, prior of Bath, Jan. 2, 1535–6.

1535, Dec. 22.—Grant by the bishop of an annuity of 20l., secured upon the manor of Pokilchurch, dilecto nobis in Christo magnifico et precellenti viro Thome Cromewell, armigero, serenissimi et potentissimi principis Henrici octavi Anglie et Francie regis, domini Hibernie, ac ecclesie Anglicane in terra sub Christo supremi capitis, primario secretario, propter preclara illius in nos merita, et pro ejus bono et sano consilio et auxilio, tam nobis hactenus impensis, quam nobis et successoribus in posterum impendis; etc.—ƒo. 9d.

1535–6, Jan. 31.—John Chambre, the treasurer, Walter Cretyng, archdeacon of Bath, Robert Bysse and John Gy, canons, appointed by the chapter to produce on their behalf before Thomas Crumwell, master of the rolls and for ecclesiastical affairs vicegerent of the king, Librum ordinalis et statutorum ecclesie cathedralis Wellensis et verum ejusdem libri exemplar, omnes et singulas bullas seu scripta sive rescripta papistica in archivis nostris reperta, necnon plenum et fidele inventarium indentatum omnium et singulorum jocalium et denariorum in thesaurio ejusdem ecclesie cathedralis Wellensis remanentium et existentium; and to procure the return of the said book and one part of the inventory.—ƒo. 10d.

1535–6, March 2.—The tythe-corn, otherwise the tythe-sheyf, of the parsonage at Charde, Somerset, and the barn and garden let by William Rawlyns, provost of Wells and parson of Charde, to John Palle of Charde, for 41 years, at the yearly rent of 22l.; the several rents being as follows: The tithecorn or sheaf of Elderchard, 3l. 13s. 4d.; of Tatteworth, 4l. 13s. 4d.; of Southercharde, 3l. 10s.; of Kermercharde, 4l. 3s. 4d.; of Forthington, 3l. 10s.; of the demesne lands, 2l.; of the town, 3s. 4d.; the pasture of the parsonage garden, 6s. 8d. The "Chester corn" is reserved to the provost. The said J. Palle is also to find for the horses of the officers of the said provost good and sufficient hay, with plenty of litter, and 2 bushels of oats, for 1½d. a day and night, once or twice in the year for the space of 2 days each time; and similarly for the provost's horses for one week every year, at the rate of 1½d. for every horse for each day and night.—ƒo. 12.

1536, April 22.—Mr. Richard Eryngton and Roger Edgeworth, S.T.P., canons residentiary of Wells, are appointed by the chapter to produce before Thomas Crumwell, etc., Omnia et singula scripta, cartas sive monumenta originalia dicte ecclesie, donationes, appropriationes, portiones et pensiones, omnium et singularum ecclesiarum parochialium eidem ecclesie cathedrali approprietarum, fundationesque et ordinationes omnium cantariarum in eadem fundatarum, etiam omnes et singulas bullas seu rescripta papistica, etc., plenum insuper et fidele inventarium omnium jocalium et denariorum, etc.—fo. 11d.

1536, June 1.—Polydore Vergil, archdeacon of Wells, John Chambre, the treasurer, Walter Cretyng, archdeacon of Bath, and John Nase, canon, appointed proctors in the convocation to be held in St. Paul's, London, on June 9.—ƒo. 12.

1536–1537.

1536, Dec. 9.—Grant by the bishop to Sir John FitzJames, chief justice of the King's Bench, of the next presentation to the prebend of Whitechurche.—ƒo. 16.

1537, June 4.—Lease, by the chapter, of Buckland Abbots parsonage with its appurtenances, to William Bonde of the same place, yeoman of the king's guard, for his life, at the yearly rent of 24l. 13s. 4d.—fo. 18.

1537, July 31.—James Fitz James, S.T.P., the chancellor, William Bowreman, L.B., sub-dean, Robert Bisse, L.D., John Sowthwood, Dec.D., and John Dawes, L.B., officials of Taunton and Wells respectively, and John Smyth, clerk, appointed proctors for the chapter coram rege, upon his impending visitation.—ƒo. 20d.

1537, Sept. 23.—Petition from the chapter to the bishop for license to elect a dean in the place of Richard Woleman, deceased; and the bishop's answer, granting the license.—ƒo. 21d.

1527 [? 1537], Sept. 23.—Grant by the bishop to Thomas Wryotehesley, esq., and William Peter, D.L., of the next presentation to the prebend of Litton, when vacant. Dated at Banwell.—ƒo. 22.

1537, Sept. 24.—Collation by the sub-dean and chapter of John Pawle to one of Bishop Bubwyth's chantries, vacant by the death of Thomas Petwyn.

1537, Sept. 29.—Collation by the dean and chapter of John Herpole to Bishop Erghum's chantry at the altar of St. Osmund on the south side of the nave of the cathedral.—ƒo. 22d.

1537–1538.

[1537?] Oct. 1.—The king to our trustie and wellbelovyd, the president and chapitre of our cathedral churche of Wellys.—ƒo. 22d.

Trustie and welbelovyd, we grete you well. And for asmoche as upon significacion by our lettres made unto youe of our determynacion for the preferment of our right trustie and welbelovyd counsaillour, the lorde pryvye seale [Thomas Cromwell] to the rome of the deane in that our cathedrall churche of Wells, as we understonde with a right honest and a lovinge sorte ye have been contentyd therein to gratifie us; and soo have proceeded thereunto so farre as, with th' observacion of your laudable ceremonyes in that behalf accustomyed, ye have elected, chosen and enstalled our sayd counsaillour in the saide deanry. To th'yntent ye shulde knowe that we doo accept and take your proceeding in the same in most thankfull parte, we thought yt convenyent for us, not onely by these our lettres to yeve unto you therefore our expresse and condigne thankes, but also therwith to advertyse you that in all your reasonable pursutes we shall soo further declare our good favour and affection towards youe and every of youe, as ye shall have cause to thinke your confyrmyty therein well employed. Yeven under our sygnett, at Asher, the fyrste day of October.

1537, Oct. 5.—Grant by the bishop to the king, of the advowson of the archdeaconry of Wells, upon the next vacancy, pro illa vice tantum. Dated at Banwell.—ƒo. 23.

Confirmed by Thomas, Lord Crumwell, the dean, and the chapter.

1537, Oct. 15.—Thomas, Lord Crumwell, dean, and the chapter, appoint Sir Walter Dennys, knt., John Fryse, gent., Thomas Swetman, rector of Syston, and Richard Wall, curate of Westerley in the diocese of Worcester, to be their proctors coram rege, upon his impending visitation, and for the questions raised about the impropriate church of Pokelchurch, and all other matters.—ƒo. 23.

1537, Oct. 24.—Lease by Peter Vannes to Robert Rokes, of Ashbury parsonage, co. Berks, for 51 years, at the yearly rent of 30l. Confirmed by the bishop, William, prior of Bath, and Thomas, Lord Crumwell, dean of Wells, and the chapter. ƒo. 25.

1537–8, Feb. 25.—Grant by the bishop to Thomas, Lord Crumwell of Wilmyngton, K.G. [not called dean], Thomas Writhesley, and William Popley, gentlemen, of the next presentation to the prebend of Dultingcote, when vacant. Dated at Chewe.—ƒo. 36d.

1538, May 13.—Collation by Thomas, Lord Crumwell, dean, and the chapter of Wells, of John Smith junior, vicar-choral, to the chantry in the chapel of All Saints in the churchyard called "le Palme Churche yard," with leave to be absent from nocturnal matins except on the chief feasts and greater doubles, as a reward for his diligence in instructing the choristers, and for his great pains in composing nonnullos cantus ad divini cultus augmentationem. He must provide himself with books cantuum crisporum sive diversorum, commonly called "square books and pricke songe books" for the choir, for the chapel of the Blessed Mary, and for the processions on the principal feasts, and shall leave them to his successors. The grant is for life, while he shall hold the office of a vicarchoral of the cathedral; but if the revenues of the said chantry, paid by the Hospital of St. Mark, near Bristol, shall fail, he shall receive no compensation from the chapter, sed prout fortuna duxerit in ea parte eris omnino contentus.—fo. 36d.

1538, May 15.—Indenture about Thorne St. Margaret's, confirmed by Thomas, Lord Crumwell, dean, and the chapter of Wells.—ƒo. 26.

1538, June 6.—A grant by the bishop to John Bailie, of land at Charde, for 50 years, rent 4l. 4s. Confirmed by William, prior of the cathedral church of Bath, May 28; and by Thomas, Lord Crumwell, dean, and the chapter of Wells, June 6.—ƒo. 26d.

1538, June 14.—Collation of William Fenwyke, chaplain, to the chantry of Stephen Hull at the altar of St. Stephen in the cathedral of Wells, by Thomas, Lord Crumwell, dean, and the chapter.—ƒo. 27.

1538, Aug. 12.—Lease by Richard Rawson to Philip Cotyngton, of the prebend of Hengstridge, for 40 years, rent 16l. Confirmed by Thomas, Lord Crumwell, dean, and the chapter of Wells.