HOUSES OF KNIGHTS TEMPLARS
67. THE PRECEPTORY OF YORKSHIRE
The Order of Knights of the Temple of
Jerusalem was founded in 1119, but it was not
until the middle of the 12th century that they
began to acquire possessions in Yorkshire, where
they eventually established at least ten preceptories. Their prosperity was brought to an abrupt
close early in the 14th century; in 1308 Sir John
Crepping, Sheriff of Yorkshire, received the
king's writ to arrest the Templars within the
county and sequester all their property. (fn. 1)
Twenty-five Templars were placed in custody
in York Castle and examined on the charge or
heresy, idolatry, and other crimes, brought against
the order by Pope Clement V and Philip IV of
France. After a long-drawn-out trial, in which
the evidence adduced against the knights was too
flimsy to secure the desired conviction, a compromise was arrived at by which the brethren,
without admitting their guilt, acknowledged that
their order was strongly suspected of heresy and
other charges from which they could not clear
themselves. They then received absolution at
the hands of the Bishop of Whithern on 29 July
1311, were released from prison, and were
distributed amongst the various monasteries. (fn. 2)
Next year the suppression of the order was
decreed by the pope, and a large portion or
their estates was made over to the order of the
Knights Hospitallers.
The Yorkshire estates of the Templars consisted of the preceptories of Copmanthorpe (with
the Castle Mills of York), Faxfleet, Foulbridge,
Penhill, Ribston, Temple Cowton, Temple Hirst,
Temple Newsam, Westerdale, and Whitley, and
the manors of Alverthorpe and Etton, which,
although possessing chapels, do not seem to have
had preceptors. All these estates, with the
exception of Faxfleet, Temple Hirst, and Temple
Newsam, passed to the Hospitallers.
So important were the Templars' holdings in
the county that a ' chief preceptor' or ' master'
was appointed for Yorkshire from early times.
Chief Preceptors of Yorkshire
Walter Brito, c. 1220 (fn. 3)
Roger de Scamelesbi, c. 1240 (fn. 3a)
William de Merden, c. 1270 (fn. 4)
Robert de Haleghton, or Halton, occurs 1290,
1293 (fn. 5)
Thomas de Thoulouse, c. 1301 (fn. 6)
William de Grafton, occurs 1304, (fn. 7) arrested
1308 (fn. 8)
68. THE PRECEPTORY OF COPMANTHORPE, WITH THE CASTLE MILLS, YORK
William Malbys gave the manor of Copmanthorpe and other property to the Templars on
condition that they should support a chaplain to
celebrate for the souls of himself and his relations
in the chapel of the manor. (fn. 9) The date of this
grant is uncertain, but it must have been prior to
1258, as the manor is mentioned as belonging to
the brethren in a confirmatory charter by William
de Ros, who died in that year. (fn. 10)
A return made in 1292 states that the
preceptor of Copmanthorpe was keeper of the
mills below the castle at York. (fn. 11) These mills
were given to the Templars by Roger de
Mowbray prior to 1185, at which date they
were let for 15½ marks. (fn. 12) With the mills at this
time the brethren held in York three tofts which
they had bought, and another which had been
given them by Thomas ' Ultra Usam,' a
prominent citizen of York. Henry III in 1232
gave them another strip of land adjoining the
mills. (fn. 13) In 1308 the property in York consisted of the mills, a messuage with a garden, and
three plots of land. (fn. 14) There was a chapel at
the mills to which William de Appelby paid 48s.
yearly for the support of a chantry. (fn. 15) This
chapel was well furnished, possessing a gilt chalice
worth 100s., nine service-books of different
kinds, and various vestments and ornaments. (fn. 16)
The value of the mills was returned at £10 11s.,
while the estate of Copmanthorpe, of which the
chapel was exceptionally well provided, was
valued at £80 16s. 2d.
No preceptor of Copmanthorpe was amongst
the knights arrested in 1308, and the only holder
of the post whose name is known is Robert de
Reygate, who, with John, chaplain of the
Castle Mills, was accused in 1292 of having set
nets below the mills to catch the king's fish. (fn. 17)
He was still preceptor the following year. (fn. 18)
69. THE PRECEPTORY OF FAXFLEET
Although very little is known of this preceptory, it was clearly one of the most important in
the county. The value in 1308 is returned as
£290 4s. 10d., a greater sum than was set down
for any other Yorkshire preceptory; the chapel
was remarkably well provided, the value of its
contents reaching the exceptional sum of £12,
and there was 'a certain treasury with many
written deeds and bulls relating to estates in
Yorkshire,' which was duly locked up and sealed
with the seals of the sheriff and the preceptor of
Yorkshire. (fn. 19)
Several of the Templars arrested in 1308 said
that they had been received into the order of
Faxfleet. Hugh of Tadcaster, for instance,
related how he had formerly been ' claviger' at
Faxfleet, and when he desired to be admitted the
Grand Master, William de la More, received
him into the order in the chapel. (fn. 20)
Geoffrey Jolif was preceptor in 1290; (fn. 21)
Brother Stephen held that office in 1301, when
Thomas, le Chamberleyn was admitted to the
order; (fn. 22) and William del Fen was preceptor in
1308, when he was arrested, with Richard de
Ryston, chaplain, Thomas Tyeth, claviger, and
Roger de Hugunde or Hogyndon, a brother in
residence at Faxfleet. (fn. 23)
70. THE PRECEPTORY OF FOULBRIDGE
Little is known of this preceptory. At the
time of the suppression of the order the estates
of Foukebridge, Allerston, and Wydale were
returned as worth (?) £254 3s. 2d. The furniture of the chapel included four crosses, ' two
with images and two without.' (fn. 24) Another
return mentions that the Templars supported a
chaplain and gave alms three days in the week
to any poor persons who came. (fn. 25) The only
known preceptor is Richard de Hales, who was
arrested in 1308. (fn. 26)
71. PRECEPTORY OF PENHILL
Roger Mowbray, by a charter assigned to
about 1142, granted timber from his forests of
Nidderdale, Malzeard, and Masham for the building of three of the Templars' houses wherever they
might wish at Penhill, Cowton, and ' Reinhou.' (fn. 27)
While this points to the early establishment of a
preceptory here, it is noticeable that in the survey
of 1185 the estates at 'Pennel,' consisting of
2 carucates given by William son of Hugh,
were accounted for under Temple Newsam. (fn. 28)
That the knights had some sort of an establishment here shortly after this date seems clear, as
a fine of 1202 relating to their property in
Witton mentions the house and the cemetery of
the brethren. (fn. 29)
There was a chapel at Penhill, of which the
ruins, containing an altar and some stone coffins,
were excavated some years since. (fn. 30) This no
doubt adjoined the cemetery just mentioned, as
a number of coffins were found outside the east
wall. Early grants are recorded for the support
of the lights of St. Katherine and the Holy Cross
at Penhill, (fn. 31) and the chapel is mentioned at the
time of the suppression of the order as containing a chalice worth 20s, and a few books and
vestments. (fn. 32)
The only known preceptor of Penhill is
Thomas de Belleby, who was arrested in 1308. (fn. 33)
72. THE PRECEPTORY OF RIBSTON AND WETHERBY
About 1217 Robert de Ros gave to the
Templars his manor of Ribston, with the
advowson of the church, the vill and mills of
Walshford, and the vill of Hunsingore. (fn. 34) This
property had come to Robert de Ros from his
mother, Rose Trussebut; and her sisters, Hilary
and Agatha, at some date prior to 1240, made
grants of various woods in the neighbourhood
to the preceptory. Robert son of William
Denby gave the vill of Wetherby to the Templars,
and other smaller grants followed.
Besides the church of Hunsingore the Templars had chapels at Wetherby, Ribston, and
apparently at Walshford. The chapel of St.
Andrew at Ribston stood in the churchyard of
the parish church, and in 1231 was the subject
of an arrangement between the brethren and the
rector. About this time a sum of £2 16s. was
assigned for the support of a chaplain at Ribston
for the good of the soul of Robert de Ros.
The estates at Ribston and Wetherby seem to
have formed a single preceptory, but were valued
separately at the time of their seizure in 1308.
Wetherby (fn. 35) was then returned as worth
£120 7s. 8d., and Ribston, including North
Deighton and Lound, at £267 13s. (fn. 36) The
chapels in each case were simply furnished, but
Ribston was remarkable as possessing two silver
cups, three masers, and ten silver spoons—more
secular plate than all the other Yorkshire preceptories put together. At the time of the trial
of the Templars, Gasper de Nafferton, who had
been chaplain at Ribston, related certain cases in
which the brethren had observed a great and, as
he now perceived, suspicious secrecy in matters
touching admission to the order. (fn. 37) And Robert
de Oteringham, a Friar Minor, who gave evidence against the Templars, (fn. 38) said that at Ribston
a chaplain of the order, after returning thanks,
denounced his brethren, saying ' The Devil
shall burn you!' He also saw one of the
brethren, apparently during the confusion which
ensued on this exclamation, turn his back upon
the altar. Further, some twenty years before,
he was at Wetherby, and the chief preceptor, who
was also there, did not come to supper because
he was preparing certain relics which he had
brought from the Holy Land; thinking he heard
a noise in the chapel during the night, Robert
looked through the keyhole, and saw a great
light, but when he asked one of the brethren
about it next day he was bidden to hold his
tongue as he valued his life. At Ribston, also,
he once saw a crucifix lying as if thrown down
on the altar, and when he was going to stand it
up he was told to leave it alone. As this was
some of the most direct and damaging evidence
given during the trial the weakness of the case
against the Templars is obvious.
Of the preceptors only two names appear
to have survived. William de Garewyz was
preceptor of Wetherby in, or a little before,
1293, (fn. 39) and Richard de Keswik, or Chesewyk,
who was admitted to the order at Faxfleet in
1290, (fn. 40) became preceptor of Ribston about 1298 (fn. 41)
and still held that post in 1308 when he was
arrested, with Richard de Brakearp, claviger,
and Henry de Craven, a brother in residence at
Ribston. (fn. 42)
73. THE PRECEPTORY OF TEMPLE COWTON
Cowton was one of the three estates of the
Templars to which Roger Mowbray, about
1142, granted timber for building purposes. (fn. 43)
But in 1185 the 6 carucates in 'Cutun,' said
to have been given by Robert Cambord (?), were
returned under Newsam. (fn. 44) The manor of
Kirkby was given to the Templars by Baldwin
Wake, (fn. 45) and the estates belonging to the preceptory were worth about £100 at the time of
their seizure in 1308. (fn. 46) The preceptory at that
time consisted of hall, chamber, chapel, kitchen,
brewhouse, and smithy. In the chapel were two
hanging bells worth 26s. and two hand-bells
worth 12d., and in the chamber was a sealed
chest containing 'all the charters of the Temple
of Scotland together with various charters of
certain estates in England.' (fn. 47)
At the time of its suppression the community
at Cowton consisted of John de Walpole, the preceptor, Henry de Rerby, claviger, and Roger de
Thresk. (fn. 48)
74. THE PRECEPTORY OF TEMPLE HIRST
This preceptory originated in the grant of the
manor of Hirst in Birkin made in 1152 by
Ralph Hastings to the order, of which his
brother Richard was grand master. (fn. 49) Henry
Lacy, Ralph's superior lord, confirmed this grant
and another by Henry Vernoil of land at Potterlaw. (fn. 50) Other grants followed, including the
church of Kellington, given by Henry Lacy. (fn. 51)
They had also a chapel at Norton, and a chapel
must have been built at Hirst before 1185, as
40 acres in Fenwick were given prior to that
date by Jordan Foliot for the support of a chaplain
at Hirst. (fn. 52) Adam of Newmarket stipulated
that one penny should be paid to the chapel of
the Temple at Hirst to light the altar of the
Blessed Mary on the Feast of her Assumption,
and at the suppression of the order in 1308 we
have an account of the furniture of the chapel,
which included two chalices, one silver and one
gilt, a cross, a pyx, a censer, some half-a-dozen
service books and a few vestments. (fn. 53)
When the Templars' lands were seized in
1308, Sir John Crepping, the sheriff, made a
return which showed the total value of this
preceptory to have been £64 15s. 2½d., of
which sum the church of Kellington accounted
for rather more than half. At Temple Hirst
were some 200 acres of land, and the preceptory
itself, of which considerable remains still exist,
consisted of a hall, chapel, kitchen, larder, and
outbuildings.
At the time of the trial of the Templars,
Master John de Nassington, the archbishop's
official, deposed that Sir Miles Stapleton and
Sir Adam Everingham had told him that they
were once invited with other knights to a banquet
given by the preceptor of York at Temple Hirst
and that when there they were told that many
of the brethren had come to that place for a
solemn feast at which they were accustomed to
worship a calf. (fn. 54) Sir Miles Stapleton, who
figures in this story, made a grant to the Templars in 1302, and effected an exchange of lands
with them as late as 1304. (fn. 55) Five years later
he had charge of the estates belonging to the
preceptory, then in the hands of the Crown.
Little is known of the preceptors of Temple
Hirst; Robert Piron was preceptor at the time of
Henry Vernoil's grant, and Ivo de Etton, who
occurs elsewhere as Ivo de Houghton, (fn. 56) was
preceptor in 1308, when he was arrested together with Adam de Crake, ' claviger.' (fn. 57)
75. THE PRECEPTORY OF TEMPLE NEWSAM
The date of the foundation of this preceptory
is uncertain, but it arose from the grant of land
in Newsam, Skelton, Chorlton, and Whitkirk
made to the Templars by William de Villiers,
who died in 1181. This grant was confirmed
by Henry Lacy, who at the same time stipulated
that the brethren should return the estate of
Newbond which he had previously given them. (fn. 58)
It is possible, therefore, that the Templars had
settled at Newbond before they founded a preceptory at Newsam. In the survey of 1185 (fn. 59)
it is stated that the property at Newsam, amounting to 16 carucates, was obtained from William
de Villiers by purchase. At this time, Penhill
and Cowton seem to have gone with Newsam,
the total value of the whole being just under £10,
The church of Whitkirk was then returned as
in demesne, except the altar which Paul the
priest held for a yearly payment of 3 marks.
About the year 1200 Robert Stapleton obtained
licence from the Templars at their chapter in
London to build a chapel and establish a chantry
at Thorpe Stapleton, swearing fealty to the
Templars and reserving the offerings to the church
of Whitkirk; In 1291 the vicarage of Whitkirk
was returned as in the hands of the Templars
and worth £5. (fn. 60)
At the time of its seizure in 1308 the preceptory of Newsam was one of the most wealthy
in the county, the total value being returned as
£ 174 3s. 3s. (fn. 61) With the exception of a chalice
worth 60s. the furniture of the chapel was plain.
Brother John, preceptor of Newsam, was
attorney for the Master of the Temple in 1293, (fn. 62)
and Godfrey de Arches, or de Arcubus, was
preceptor in 1308 and was then arrested, as were
also Raymond de Rypon, claviger, and Thomas
de Stanford, a brother in residence. (fn. 63)
76. THE PRECEPTORY OF WESTERDALE
On 25 June 1203 King John confirmed to
the Templars the gift of Guy de Bonaincurt,
which Hugh Balliol had confirmed, of the vill
of Westerdale, (fn. 64) and this was one of the estates
for which free warren was granted to the
Templars in 1248. (fn. 65)
A moiety of the advowson of Beeford Church,
which was shared between the Templars and
the priory of Bridlington, (fn. 66) seems to have gone
with this preceptory. (fn. 67) In 1308 the Westerdale estates were valued at £32 19s. 6d. and
the preceptory itself consisted of chapel, hall,
kitchen, and outbuildings. (fn. 68)
Two preceptors are known; Stephen de Radenache held that office in 1308, (fn. 69) and during the
trial in 1310, Sir John de Eure said that once
William de la Fenne, 'then preceptor of Wesdall,' had dined with him, and after dinner had
produced a book which he showed to Sir John's
wife. The lady found in it a paper containing
certain anti-Christian heresies, which she showed
to her husband; the Templar then said with a
smile that he who wrote the paper was 'a great
ribald,' and took the book away. Brother William, who at this time was preceptor of Faxfleet,
said by way of excuse that he was a layman,
and so did not know what was in the book. (fn. 70)
77. THE PRECEPTORY OF WHITLEY
The manor of Whitley came into the hands
of the Templars before 1248, in which year
they had a grant of free warren on their lands
there. (fn. 71) This property was valued in 1308 at
£130 15s. 10s., and the live stock included two
saddle-horses belonging to William de Grafton,
preceptor of Yorkshire, and a black saddle-horse
belonging to the preceptor of Whitley, Robert
de Langton. (fn. 72)