ALIEN HOUSE
21. THE PRIORY OF ASTLEY
At the time of the Domesday Survey the
manor of Astley was in the possession of Ralph
de Todeni, of whom it was held by the abbot of
St. Taurinus, Evreux, in France. Four hides
were held free of all custom according to the
grant of the Conqueror when Ralph bestowed
them on the monastery. (fn. 1) Probably Ralph de
Todeni was the founder of this priory (fn. 2) although
the date of its foundation cannot be definitely
stated; it was a cell subject to the abbey in
France and endowed with the manor and church
of Astley. Among the deeds of the abbey of
St. Taurinus is a charter granted by Richard I.
in January 1195-6 confirming to the abbot and
convent all gifts already bestowed on them. (fn. 3)
Among the benefactors named appears Ralf de
Toencio, who gave in England Astley (Heseleia)
with its appurtenances by consent of William,
king of the English. (fn. 4) Of the early history of
this cell there seems no record available. During
the reign of Richard I. the priors of Malvern and
Esseley (probably Astley) were commissioned by
the pope to arbitrate in a dispute between the
church of Worcester and Sir Thomas Ruppe of
Harvington respecting certain tithes. (fn. 5) Frequent
mention is made of this little community in the
register of Bishop Giffard. Perhaps the most
interesting feature in its connexion is the pleasant
relation it contrived to maintain with the great
ecclesiastical magnates of the diocese. No
friction seems ever to have existed between the
bishops of Worcester and the abbots of St.
Taurinus or priors of Astley, and on the only
occasion when the bishop was called on to exert
superior authority in the management of the
affairs of the priory with respect to the provision
made by the brethren for the vicarage of the
appropriated church of Astley (fn. 6) he 'asks them
amiably' instead of summoning them peremptorily. Other slight incidents testify to the wish
of the diocesan to conciliate and win the confidence of the alien community, while the brethren
on their side appear to have submitted willingly
to episcopal jurisdiction, admitted the bishop for
the visitation of their priory, and on one occasion
at least appealed to him for protection in the
invasion of their rights. (fn. 7) This good understanding between the diocesan and an alien
house will not be found so general as to pass without notice. The practice appears to have been,
when the priory became vacant, for the abbot of
St. Taurinus or his deputy to present a monk
selected for the office by the convent to the
bishop for admission and institution, profession
of obedience having been made to him as
diocesan. In April 1268 Bishop Giffard proposed to visit the priory, but was prevented by
some cause not stated; (fn. 8) however, at Michaelmas
in 1282 he visited it in the chapel of Worcester, (fn. 9)
and again in 1287 at Michaelmastide he visited
it and received procuration there. (fn. 10) An incident
which occurred in 1280 illustrates the connexion
of the priory with the descendants of the
attributed founder Ralph de Todeni. Prior
Simon appealed to the bishop that although the
goods of the house had for certain causes been
sequestrated, certain 'sons of iniquity,' representing that the house was void when it was not so,
by command of the noble lady Petronilla de
Thony had carried off goods and possessions, and
these were being consumed and detained to the
prejudice of the priory and the contempt of the
bishop's jurisdiction. The bishop caused a
monition to be published threatening the invaders
of ecclesiastical property with excommunication
and summoning them to appear before him. (fn. 11)
Probably the lady who was the instigator of this
marauding expedition desired to assert her right
in the house during a supposed vacancy. The
prior received a dispensation from the bishop in
1286 to absent himself in parts beyond the sea
until the Feast of the Assumption; (fn. 12) probably
this was for the purpose of visiting the parent
house.
The Taxation Roll of 1291 states that the
income derived by the brethren from temporalities in the See of Worcester amounted to
£7 15s. 4d. (fn. 13) The church of Astley is rated at
£8, (fn. 14) but is not included in the possessions of the
priory. In a document of a later date it is
stated to have been appropriated to the brethren
by Walter sometime bishop of Worcester, (fn. 15)
probably Walter de Cantilupe, as the prior presented to the vicarage of the church of Astley in
March, 1295-6, (fn. 16) and again in the year 1300. (fn. 17)
The estates of the prior were not extensive
enough perhaps to bring them much within the
region of dispute, and one other difference only is
recorded between the community and their
neighbours. In 1326 Bishop Cobham wrote to
admonish the rector of the church of Witley that
the dispute between himself and the prior of
Astley respecting certain tithes should be amicably settled. (fn. 18)
During the vacancy of the see in 1303 the
abbot of St. Taurinus wrote to the prior of
Worcester to inquire as to the behaviour of
Ralph de Portes, monk of Astley, (fn. 19) and received a
favourable report. (fn. 20)
The supervision exercised by the diocesan
over this alien cell seems to have included the
duty of receiving the resignation of its head; in
October, 1313, Stephen de Meisiaco resigned
the office of prior before the bishop in his chapel
in London. (fn. 21)
It is impossible to gather what the community
numbered. During the reign of Edward III.
the prior had but one companion; the number
had, however, probably fallen considerably owing
to the war with France and consequent difficulties. The brethren probably suffered from
lessened resources, as Bishop Wulstan remitted
half the sum due to him for procuration
during a visitation of the priory in 1339. (fn. 22) No
mention is made of the state of the house either
in this or any previous visitation, but absence of
comment may be generally interpreted favourably.
Astley was included with other religious
houses of the order of St. Benedict which had
protection granted to them by Edward I. (fn. 23) It
was seized into the king's hand as an alien
foundation during the French war in the reign
of Edward III. (fn. 24) Ralph de Walle or Valle, then
prior of Astley, was summoned personally in
July, 1345, to appear before the council on the
morrow of St. Peter ad Vincula next at latest,
to speak with them upon matters that would be
fully set forth to him there. (fn. 25) In December,
1354, Edward III. caused an inquiry to be
made into the possessions of this house, certain of whose estates he understood had been
fraudulently retained to the prejudice of the
Crown. (fn. 26) The return made by the prior of
Worcester in 1374 to the king's writ requiring
to be certified as to the ecclesiastical benefices
held by aliens and their true value, stated that
'brother John, prior of Astley, monk of Couches,
occupies the said priory and resides there with
another monk. The value of the said priory
is estimated at £20 a year.' (fn. 27) A list of alien
houses with a description of their property in
1379-80 gives the priory of Astley with the
manor, church, and advowson of vicarage. (fn. 28) The
king issued an order in September, 1380, for an
inquiry to be made touching the removal of goods
and chattels from the priory (fn. 29) ; suspicion was at
that time easily aroused in the case of alien cells,
lest they should be conveying money and
valuables out of the kingdom. Astley was placed
in the custody of Richard de Hampton, and by a
further grant in February, 1380-1, the appointment was made for life as long as he should
continue to pay a yearly rent of £20. (fn. 30) Notwithstanding this, the abbot of St. Taurinus
seems to have made other arrangements, and in
October, 1384, John Beauchamp, esquire of
the chamber, obtained a licence from Richard II.
to hold the priory of Astley, which had been
granted him by the abbot of St. Taurinus in
Normandy, for a term of many years on payment of a large sum of money, rent free during
the continuance of the war with France and the
papal schism, his good services and the expense
he had already incurred in connexion with the
cell being taken into consideration. (fn. 31) Two
years later this grant was confirmed and further
amplified; pardon was granted to those who had
acquired the priory and the advowson of the
church of Astley without licence, and they were
permitted to grant the premises to Sir John
Beauchamp, Knt., and Joan his wife and his
heirs, with the provision that neither he, she, nor
their heirs should be called on to pay any yearly
farm at the Exchequer during the present or any
future war, and should be exempt from the
payment of all ecclesiastical dues. (fn. 32)
From the date of its severance from the parent
house the history of Astley as a religious house
ceases. By his attainder in 1386-7 the lands of
John Beauchamp de Holt became forfeited into
the king's hands. (fn. 33) In July, 1389, on payment
of a sum of 1,200 marks, Thomas, earl of Warwick, obtained a grant of the manor ' called
Astley priory, together with other lands of the
late John Beauchamp of Holt. (fn. 34) This priory was
one of the alien monasteries suppressed and confiscated by order of the Parliament held at
Leicester in 1414. (fn. 35) By a grant of Edward IV.
on 11 November, 1468, at the request of Thomas
his kinsman, cardinal archbishop of Canterbury,
the priory or manor of Astley, sometime cell and
parcel of the possessions of the abbey of St. Taurinus, in Normandy, with all its appurtenances,
manors, and possessions, was bestowed on Henry
Sampson, the dean and college of Holy Trinity,
Westbury, in the county of Gloucester, to be
held by them in free alms for ever. (fn. 36)
List of Priors of Astley
(Founded tempo William the Conqueror)
Simon, (fn. 37) occurs 1280.
Robert de Sanarvill, (fn. 38) 1290.
Guy de Villaribus, (fn. 39) 1294.
Ralph de Porters, (fn. 40) occurs 1300, resigned
1304.
Stephen de Meisiaco, (fn. 41) 1305, resigned 1313.
Robert de Loueris, (fn. 42) 1313, died 1330.
John Heribel, (fn. 43) 1330, resigned 1334.
William Busquet, (fn. 44) 1334.
Ralph de Valle, (fn. 45) 1341.
William Prevot, (fn. 46) 1343, resigned 1349.
Hugh de Valle, (fn. 47) 1349.
John Egerii, (fn. 48) 1360-1, resigned 1361.
John Bomet, (fn. 49) 1361.
William de Atrio, (fn. 50) 1361-2.
John, (fn. 51) occurs 1374.
Richard de Hampton, (fn. 52) custodian, 1380.
John Beauchamp, (fn. 53) custodian 1384.
Thomas, earl of Warwick, (fn. 54) custodian, 1389.
Suppressed, 1414.
Conferred on college of Holy Trinity,
Westbury, 1468. (fn. 55)