Page:VCH Norfolk 2.djvu/404

 A HISTORY OF NORFOLK During the short rule of Reginald de Eye one of his monks, Henry de Wangeford, fled from the priory to the neighbouring house of Austin Canons, from which he went away after sunset in company with one of the canons, Richard de Harpele, and some servants of the same house who escorted him with arms half a league in the direction of Elveden, when Prior Reginald came up with a number of monks and servants, and a fight ensued ending in the re-capture of brother Henry,' who was taken back to the priory and there imprisoned for two months, but eventually escaped. - To Ralf de Frezenfeld succeeded Thomas le Bygod, a monk of Walden. His appoint- ment as prior was confirmed by the bishop on 31 December, 1304. Blomefield says that he was elected by the sub-prior and monks ; but this seems most doubtful, for he had not shaken ofF his allegiance to Cluni and attended the chapter-general in the year following his appoint- ment. On 14 October, 1305, Thomas prior of Thetford, nominated two attorneys to act for him in his absence until the following Easter.' On 3 February, 1307, Walter de Norwich, king's clerk, was appointed to the custody of the priory of Thetford, which was stated to be of the king's patronage since the death of Roger le Bigod, earl of Norfolk. The reason for taking this step was said to be that the house was oppressed with debt.* John de Benstede and William Inge were accordingly appointed by the crown in October, 1307, to the custody of the priory of Thetford, with its cells of Wangeford and Horkesley, to apply the rents and issues to the discharge of the debts of the house, reserving for the prior and convent and its ministers a reasonable sustenance.' In 1308 the king committed the custody of the house to William de Ventodoro, dean of the priory of St. Peter of Carennac, Gascony, during the voidance of the priorship, instituting him ad interim prior of Thetford. In January, 1309, the term of his custody was extended to Michael- mas.' When Michaelmas came William de Ventodoro's term of custody was further extended to Easter, to enable the abbot of Cluni, to whom the preferment belonged, to prefer one of his monks and present him to the king. From an inquisition it appeared that upon every voidance the abbots of Cluni had been accustomed to prefer one of their monks to that house, and by letter to present him to the Earl of Norfolk for the time being as patron of the priory, for the restoration of the temporalities ; that the earls had always made such restoration until Earl ' Assize R. 1234, m. 26. ' Ibid. m. 21. ' Pat. 33 Edw. I, pt. ii, m. 10. ' Ibid. I Edw. II, pt. i, m. 18. ' Ibid. 2 Edw. II, pt. i, m. 16 ; Duckctt, Chart, end Rec. of Cluni, 115, 116. 366 Roger during the war with France had caused certain of the monks, on the death of Vincent to elect Reginald de Eye, to whom he delivered the temporalities ; that upon every voidance the earls were accustomed to place a porter (a horseman or footman) in the priory, who received necessary sustenance, but who took nothing else either for himself or his lord ; and that the earls, fealty having been done them by the priors preferred, were accustomed by their bailiflfe to restore the temporalities and remove the porter without taking or retaining to their own use any of the goods of the priory.' The custody of the temporalities in the hands of William de Vento- doro was still further extended until Christmas, 1309.* Soon after this date William must have been presented and accepted by Cluni as actual ■ prior, for in February, 13 10, he obtained, under the title of prior of Thetford, protection for a year's absence across the seas, and nominated attorneys to act for him.' In 1311, Prior William Ventodoro again obtained protection to cross the seas from 14 May until the following All Saints' Day."' Soon after this Prior William either died or resigned, for in December, 131 1, we find the temporalities of Thetford restored to Martin de Rinhiaco, a Cluniac monk who had just been preferred to be prior by the abbot of Cluni." In 13 1 3 there was a most serious riot at the priory, when a mob made forcible entry, assaulted Prior Martin and his monks and servants, maimed some of them, and followed others who fled to the church so that they might be in sanctuary, and actually killed several of them by the high altar, and carried away the goods of the priory. On 1 7 August a commission of oyer and terminer was appointed to inquire into the affray and give judgement, and protection for a year was granted to Prior Martin. '- At the request of the prior and convent Walter de Norwich was appointed in 131 4, during pleasure, to be keeper of the house, which the king had taken into his protection on account of its poverty and indebtedness. A reasonable allowance was to be made for the sustenance of the convent and its servants, and the balance was to be reserved for the discharge of the debts of the priory and to make good its defects. The keeper was to accept the advice and assistance of some of the more discreet of the house, and so long as he remained in custody no sheriff, bailiff, or other minister of the king was to lodge in the priory or its granges without the keeper's special licence.'' ' Ibid. 2 Edw. II, pt. ii, m. 21. ' Ibid. 3 Edw. II, m. 32. ' Ibid. 5 Edw. II, m. 5, 19, 9. '" Ibid. 4 Edw. II, pt. ii, m. i 3. " Ibid. 5 Edw. II, pt. i, m. 5. " Ibid. 7 Edw. II, pt. i, m. 16 ; pt. ii, m. - d. " Ibid. 8 Edw. II, pt. i, m. 30.
 * Ibid. 35 Edvv. I, m. 38.