40. THE PRIORY OF WYKEHAM
The priory of St. Mary (fn. 1) of Wykeham was
founded about 1153 (fn. 2) by Pain Fitz Osbert for
Cistercian (fn. 3) nuns.
The grants of land made by different donors
are enumerated by Burton (fn. 4) in alphabetical order,
but the authorities he cites in support are in the
appendix to his work, as yet unprinted.
With regard to the church of Wykeham a
deed is printed in the Monasticon. (fn. 5) It is by
Hugh, Prior of Bridlington, reciting an earlier
one by Bernard (prior c. 1150), addressed to the
Archbishop of York, which records that Wlmar,
priest of Wykeham, and two other persons 'Urca
filius Karli,' and Gamellus, of whom Wlmar
held a portion of the church, had together
appeared, and offered at the altar of Bridlington
all the right they possessed in the church of
Wykeham, and as a sign of their gift Wlmar
had offered three candles in the presence of
many witnesses. This right, which Bridlington
had so obtained in the church of Wykeham,
Prior Hugh (occurs 1189-92) and his convent
conceded to the nuns of Wykeham.
The priory, church, cloisters, and twenty-four
other houses or buildings having been accidentally burnt down at Wykeham, and the nuns
losing all their books, vestments, chalice, &c.,
Edward III relieved them for twenty years of an
annual payment of £3 12s. 7d. for lands held
by them in the honour of Pickering, part of the
duchy of Lancaster. (fn. 6) It seems possible that the
fire had really taken place some years previously,
for in 1321 (fn. 7) the church of All Saints was
spoken of as ruinous, and was pulled down, and
a chapel erected on or near the site by John
de Wycham, in honour of St. Mary and St.
Helen. This by the king's licence was granted
to Isabel, the prioress, and the convent, and was
endowed by him with 12 marks annually, for
the finding of two chaplains to celebrate in it
for the soul of John de Wycham and others. (fn. 8)
The ordination of the chapel was confirmed by
Archbishop Melton in 1323. (fn. 9)
In 1314 (fn. 10) Archbishop Greenfield held a visitation of the priory of Wykeham, when he
issued a set of injunctions, almost identical with
others sent to Yedingham at the same time.
No nun was to absent herself from divine service by reason of her occupation operis de serico.
Goings to and fro of seculars, men or women,
through the cloister to the kitchen, or other
places inside the house, were not in future to be
permitted. The parlour was not to be used
by the lay folk of the house. The prioress was
to take care that the nuns did not make themselves conspicuous as to their girdles, or any
other part of their habit, or wear anything except
what was conformable with religion.
Rebellious nuns were to be punished in the
presence of the convent and not secretly, as such
open treatment was in accordance with divine
and human law.
Something was probably wrong in 1351, (fn. 11)
for Archbishop Zouch issued a commission for
the visitation of the houses of Wykeham and
Yedingham, the commissioners being instructed
to correct abuses, but there is no record of
what took place in consequence of the visitation.
In the early part of 1444 (fn. 12) Archbishop Kemp
stated that recently at a visitation of the priory
of Wykeham very grave defects and crimes were
detected against the person of Isabella Westirdale, prioress of the said priory, who after she
had been raised to that office had been guilty of
incest with many men, both within and outside
the monastery. He therefore deprived her, and
immediately upon her deprivation sent her to
the house of the nuns of Appleton, there to
remain for a season.
The next time the archbishop had to deal
with Wykeham is scarcely more creditable to
the reputation of the house. It is a curious
story. The archbishop writing on the last day
of February 1450 (fn. 13) to Elizabeth, the prioress,
called upon her to re-admit an apostate nun,
Katherine Thornyf, who, seduced by the Angel
of Darkness, under the false colour of a pilgrimage in the time of the Jubilee, without leave
of the archbishop or his officials, or even of the
prioress, set out on a journey to the court of
Rome, in company of another nun of the house,
who, as it was reported, had gone the way of all
flesh, and on whose soul the archbishop prayed
for mercy. After the death of this nun, Katherine Thornyf had lived in sin with a married
man in London. She had come to the archbishop, humbly seeking absolution. This he had
granted her, and as she was penitent, he sent her
back for re-admission. Whether the original
intention of the two nuns was genuine, or
whether the Jubilee was made an excuse for
leaving their monastery, is doubtful.
In the Taxation of 1291 the temporalities
were rated at £22 15s. (fn. 14) In 1527 the clear
annual value was returned as only £20, (fn. 15) but
in the Valor Ecclesiasticus at £25 17s. 6d. (fn. 16)
Among the Suppression Papers (fn. 17) there is a
list of the nuns, twelve in number, besides their
prioress (fn. 18) and their pensions. As in the case
of other houses the ages are entered, and have
been changed three years later. In the margin
is written 'Religious,' probably meaning they
desired to abide by their vows, and it is said
'All of good lyffing.' Katherine Nendyk heads
the list as prioress, and among the names of the
nuns is that of Isabella Nendyk, evidently a
member of the same family. A corrody was
also held by Thomas Nendyk. The prioress
received a pension of £6 13s. 4d. Her will (fn. 19) is
dated 7 May 1541. She was then living at
Kirkby Moorside, where she desired to be buried.
Among her bequests was one 'to eght of my
susters that was professtde in Wikham Abbey to
everie one of them vjs. viijd. to be taken of the
gauge or pledge of Sir William Ewrie Knyght.'
She also left to 'Isabell Nandike my nece one
rabande of ij yerdes of silke and ij silver aglettes.'
At the inquiry in 7 Edward VI (fn. 20) as to the
payment of pensions nine names occur under
Wykeham. Six appeared with their patents
(including Isabel Nendyk), and in each case an
entry is made that they were unpaid for a whole
year. Three 'appeared not,' and perhaps were
dead.
Prioresses of Wykeham
Eva, occurs 1235 (fn. 21)
Emma de Dunston, confirmed 1286, (fn. 22) resighed 1300 (fn. 23)
Isabella, occurs 1321, (fn. 24) 1337 (fn. 25)
Isabella, occurs 1388, (fn. 26) 1398 (fn. 27)
Alice, occurs 1424 (fn. 28)
Isabella de Westirdale, deposed 1444 (fn. 29)
Elizabeth, occurs 1450 (fn. 30)
Elizabeth Edmundson, died 1487 (fn. 31)
Katherine Warde, elected 1487 (fn. 32)
Alice Horneby, elected 1502, (fn. 33) died 1508 (fn. 34)
Katherine Nendyk, elected 1508 (fn. 35)
The 13th-century seal (fn. 36) is a vesica, 23/8 in.
by 13/8 in., with our Lady crowned, sceptred, and
seated, holding the Child. Of the legend only
the word SIGILLE remains.