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 A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE under which all the clergy suffered so severely at this time, the spiritual life of the diocese which included Bedfordshire was by no means in a languishing condition. The great bishops of the thirteenth century — Hugh de Wells, Grossetete, Gravesend, Oliver Sutton — were all vigor- ous and active in their visitations, both of the churches and of the religious houses, correcting abuses, and seeing that vicars were properly provided and paid. Grossetete raised the income of some vicarages which had been ordained by Hugh de Wells ; notably in the case of those which belonged to Newnham Priory. 1 The chronicler of Dunstable explains how careful he was in examining the title deeds of appropriate churches, and how he disapproved of the farming system : ' scarcely,' he says, 'could we obtain from him churches which we had undertaken to farm for three years.' ' His visitations were especially severe ; he was ready not merely to depose abbots and priors, but to suspend unsatisfactory rectors also. He did not however depose any heads of houses in Bed- fordshire ; though the prior of Caldwell and the cellarer of Dunstable fled to the Cistercians rather than abide his coming. 3 He chose Dun- stable as a meeting-place for the bishops who desired to protest against Archbishop Boniface's visitation in 1250, 4 and canons from Dunstable filled up three of the posts left vacant by his depositions ; it is pro- bable, therefore, that he found the religious houses of Bedfordshire in a satisfactory condition. Bishop Gravesend was also watchful against abuses of the farming system. The canons of Dunstable had been farming the church of Lidlington since 1273, for a foreign rector, Payn by name, at 18 marks a year. They were careful to pay their rent and to make the necessary repairs. 6 But in 1 276, as no one claimed any rent, and the rector was thought to be dead, they began to appropriate the whole fruits of the living. They were not suffered to do this with impunity for any length of time. In 1277 6 the bishop came and ejected them altogether from the church, and appointed a clerk as to a vacant living. The visitations of Oliver Sutton were equally energetic, as the same canons had reason to know. 7 The coming of the friars during this century must also have had its influence upon the spiritual life of the county, especially in the towns. They settled at Bedford and Dunstable ; Grey Friars in one, Black Friars in the other. Their mission was to the poor and outcast of the towns ; but their example fired with enthusiasm all classes of society. 8 Even among the monks, who were usually jealous of their in- 1 The canons however appealed to the pope and obtained a confirmation of the original assessment (Cat. of Pap. Letters, i. 313). 2 Ann. Mon. (Rolls Series), iii. 147. 3 Ibid. 178. * Ibid. 183. 5 Ibid. 256, 266. 6 Ibid. 276. The rectory was appropriate to Barking Abbey ; the abbess and convent pre- sented again in 1283. 7 Ibid. 283. 8 The second vicar of Luton, Adam of Biscot, resigned his benefice in order to take the Dominican habit; and four other incumbents in Bedfordshire entered religious houses between 1248 and 1251 (Rev. H. Cobbe, Luton Church, 122 [from Line. Epis. Reg.]) 322