Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/328

 252 THE ALIEN PEIORY OF ANDWELL. Dei," with an ecclesiastic kneeling before him. The circumscription is, Sigillv : Prioeis de Anedewelle. Tlie priory continued dependent on the abbey of Tyrone until the 1 5th of llichard II., when it was purchased by William of Wykeham, and given by him to his newly- founded college at Winchester, to which it still belongs. In the reign of Edward III., it had met with the fate of the other alien priories, having been seized by the king, in consequence of the war with France ; so that the apport, or money usually remitted to the abbey, was paid to the crown. At the time of the purchase by Wykeham, it was let to farm by the high Treasurer to one Thomas Thorp for 10/. a-year. This Thomas Thorp was discharged by process of the Exchequer from payment of the 10/. a-year, and received from Wykeham 20/., probably for his interest in the priory, by the hands of John de Campeden ; whereupon Thorp executed some writing, the exact tenor of which does not appear. He, however, afterwards sued one John Meferlyn for a sum of money ; but who he was, or what was the ground of the claim, is not stated, though from the interest that Wykeham took in the matter, it seems to have been in some way connected with the priory. Possibly John Meferlyn was one of the tenants, and the action was for money that became due before the purchase, and for which Thorp supposed he was not compensated. Be this as it may, Wykeham, then Bishop of Winchester, addressed the following letter on the occasion to a judge of the court, in which the action was brought, requesting him to stay the pleadings, till he could send the record of what took place in the Exchequer, in aid and discharge of the defendant and the college, promising that it should be all put in plea, and submitted to the judgment of the court ; and praying the protection and favourable consideration of the court for the defendant : — " Treschere et tres fiable amy ; Vous plese savoir coment nadgairs p'' I'res patentes de licence n're S"". le Roy de date le X. jour d'Appril, Fan de son regne xiiiime. nous purchasmes as Gardein, et escolers de n're College de Wyncestre, le Manoir de Andewell, autrement dit le Priorie de Andewell, et toutz les terres, tenements, possessions, rentes, et services au dit manoir, ou Priorie appurtdantz, avec I'avouseon de Chapelle de Andewell, lors esteantz en mayn n're S". le Roy,