Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/247

Rh have founded the hospital of St. Mary Magdalen, near Winchester, in token of his penitence. The building of the church of Portsmouth, by Toclive's advice and co-operation, and the dedication of it to the memory of the martyred archbishop, may be taken as another proof of his sincere penitence. This record enables us to fix with some precision the date of the building, for Toclive's episcopate began in 1174, and ended in 1188. Amidst much alteration and addition, there are many portions of the present edifice which may be assigned to that date. It was built on a site given by John de Gisors, in a place then called Sudmede. In 1196, Bishop Godfrey de Lucy consecrated a burial ground at this church, on account of the great distance from the parish church of Portsea.

But to return to the priory of Suthwyk: from King John the prior and canons obtained Colmere and Dene, in the county of Hants; this latter place no doubt derived the name of Prior's Dene, by which it is known at the present time, from having been the possession of the prior of Suthwyk. From Henry III. they obtained the privilege of holding a market every Friday, and of having every year a fair of two days continuance in their town of Suthwyk, on the eve and day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; this fair was afterwards transferred to the feast of St. Philip and St. James, and two following days, by charter, in the fifth year of Henry VIII., 1514. From the two first Edwards they obtained grants of free warren in all their demesne lands of Suthwyk, West Burhunt, Baseville, Hyppelye, Crofton, Stebyngton near Portsea, Newland, Avedemere, Mundesmere, Candover, Elsefield, Colmere, and Dene, in the county of Southampton, Fissebourne in Sussex, and Clenefield in Oxfordshire.

Edward III. was a considerable benefactor to the priory. From the terms of his grant, dated at "Wyndesore, the 10th day of July, in the year of our reign, of England the 20th, but of France the 8th," A.D. 1346, it appears that the lands of the priory of Suthwyk, almost under the very walls of the castle of Portchester, had suffered considerably from the attacks and reprisals of the enemy. This probably happened in the 13th year of his reign, soon after the breaking out of the war with France. In that year a powerful French fleet committed dreadful ravages along the south coast of England;