65. THE PRIORY OF WATTON
The double house of St. Mary of Watton,
near Beverley, was founded in 1150 by Eustace
Fitz John as a penance for having fought on the
Scottish side in the battle of the Standard. He
built a house for the nuns and canons of Sempringham, and endowed it with the township of
Watton; his gift was confirmed by his wife
Agnes, daughter of William, Constable of
Chester, whose marriage portion it was, and
also by William Fossard, the superior lord, who
remitted the service of two knights, for the
support of thirteen canons who should always
serve the nuns and provide for them in divine
and earthly things. (fn. 1) A few years later Fossard
gave the nuns 3 carucates in ' Howald ' for the
remission of his sins, instead of going on a
pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Alexander of Santon
gave 1,600 acres in Santon, and Richard of
Santon confirmed the gift; Robert Constable of
Flamborough granted lands in Hilderthorpe to
the nuns and brothers, clerk and lay, and the
right of collecting masts for their own ship.
King John confirmed the grant of Henry II of
lands in Langdale and ' Butresdalebeck.' (fn. 2)
Walter Gray granted the nuns an annual
payment of 5 marks out of the church of Santon.
for a pittance, and made them patrons of the
whole church of which they had heretofore held
only a moiety. (fn. 3)
Royal protection was accorded to Watton in
more than one instance; in 1272 Henry III
had to interfere on behalf of the prior against
Agnes de Vescy, who came to the priory with
a great number of women and dogs, and other
things, and disturbed the devotions of the sisters
and nuns; and in 1314 Edward II granted the
prior a year's immunity from the purveyors for
his Scottish wars, because 'certain persons,
feigning that they are purveyors of victuals . . .
frequently come to the priory and granges and
there take, in the king's name, animals, carts,
corn, and other victuals.' In 1305, Margery,
the daughter of Robert Bruce, dwelt at Watton
by the king's order, and the Sheriff of York
paid her 3d. a day, and 1 mark a year for her
robe.
Archbishop Melton blessed fifty-three nuns
at Watton in 1326, (fn. 4) and lent the priory money
because it was in debt. In spite of these gifts
the poverty of Watton was notorious, the
revenues were not sufficient for the expenses of
the inmates, and in 1444 Henry VI exempted
the priory from all aids, subsidies, tallages,
tenths, and fifteenths. (fn. 5) During the next century
the financial position must have improved, for
in 1535 the gross revenue was £453 7s. 8d.,
and the clear annual value £360 16s. 10½d. (fn. 6)
The Pilgrimage of Grace created much dissension at Watton; the Gilbertines were accused
of taking part, and the prior, Robert Holgate,
fled to Cromwell ' being one of his promotion,'
and left sixty or eighty (fn. 6a) brethren and sisters
without 40s. to succour them. During his
absence Sir Francis Bigod incited the canons to
a new election, and the Prior of Ellerton was
appointed; various insurrectionary captains took
carts, horses, and men, but obviously the canons
were unwilling. One man gave evidence that
the canons were setters forth of sedition, there
was ' never a good one of all the canons of
that house,' but there is no proof of their treason,
and certainly Watton was not forfeited to
Henry VIII. (fn. 7) In 1539 Holgate surrendered
with seven canons, two prioresses, and twelve
nuns; each canon received a pension of £4,
the prioresses £5 each, and the others smaller
sums. Holgate himself was given a life grant
of Watton Priory except the nuns' church, the
manor of Watton, and seven other manors
belonging to the priory. (fn. 8) In the Ministers'
Accounts the possessions of Watton Priory
amounted to £730 6s. 10d.
Priors of Watton
Robert, occurs 1194 to 1202 (fn. 9)
Peter, occurs 1206, (fn. 10) 1208 (fn. 11)
Richard, occurs 1219, (fn. 12) also 1223-5 (fn. 13)
William, occurs 1226, (fn. 13a) 1238 (fn. 14)
Roger, occurs 1240 (fn. 15)
Patrick, occurs 1251-2 (fn. 16) to 1260, (fn. 17) elected
Master of Sempringham 1261-2 (fn. 18)
Roger (? de Dalton), occurs 1267-72 (fn. 19)
Reginald, before 1278 (fn. 20)
Robert de Cave (fn. 21)
Patrick de Middleton, occurs 1277 (fn. 22) -80 (fn. 23)
John de Hoton, occurs 1300 (fn. 24)
Richard de Watton, occurs 1327, (fn. 24a) 1350 (fn. 25)
John de Ecton, occurs 1355 (fn. 26) (as ' John ' only),
1368, 1372 (fn. 27)
William, occurs 1378 (fn. 28)
John de Whitby, occurs 1382 (fn. 29)
Robert Stegyll, occurs 1398 (fn. 30)
John, occurs 1423 (fn. 31)
William, occurs 1455 (fn. 32)
William Cayton, occurs 1473 (fn. 33)
James Boulton, (fn. 34) occurs 1482, (fn. 35) 1497 (fn. 36)
Thomas, occurs 1530 (fn. 37)
Robert Holgate, before 1536 (fn. 38) (commendator)
James Lowrance (Prior of Ellerton), elected
1536-9 informally, (fn. 39) and did not take office
Robert Holgate, surrendered 1539