3. THE PRIORY OF BOXGROVE (fn. 1)
The priory of the Blessed Virgin and St.
Blaise of Boxgrove was founded by Robert de
Haye, to whom Henry I had granted the honour
of Halnaker, and who in 1105 bestowed upon
the abbey of Lessay the church of St. Mary of
Boxgrove, with 2½ hides of land around it and
tithes, timber, and pasture, in the parish, as well
as the churches of St. Peter of West Hampnett,
St. Leger of Hunston, Birdham, Walberton,
St. Mary of Barnham, St. Catherine of 'Henitone' on the Thames, and Belton in Lincolnshire, the tithes of Todham in Easebourne, and
the measure of corn called 'chorchet' or church
scot from all his manors. (fn. 2)
The mention in Domesday of 'the clerks of
the church' may be taken to show the existence
at that date of a small college of secular canons
at Boxgrove. Upon the subordination of the
church to Lessay they were doubtless replaced
by monks, of whom there were at first only
three, but whose numbers were increased to six
upon the occasion of the marriage of Cecily,
daughter and heiress of Robert de Haye, to
Roger St. John. William son of Roger St.
John increased the endowment of the priory
sufficiently to allow of thirteen monks being
maintained, and subsequently added a gift of
tithes in Kipston and Strettington to raise the
number to fifteen. He also confirmed his ancestor's gifts in 1187, and made agreement
with the abbot and convent of Lessay that they
should maintain the priory honourably, and not
remove the prior so long as he should live
honestly, and that the prior should have power
to fill up vacancies by receiving monks, who
should, however, make their profession to the
abbot. The abbot retained the power of withdrawing from the priory any monk likely to be
of use to the mother house, unless he held the
office of sub-prior or cellarer. (fn. 3)
Robert brother of William St. John granted to
the priory lands in Barnham and Walberton to
support a sixteenth monk, and arranged that one
of the brethren should act as chaplain in his house
of Halnaker, receiving his board in the house
during Robert's residence there, and returning to
the priory when he was absent. The number
of monks continued to increase, and about 1230
William de Kainesham, canon of Chichester,
added a nineteenth. (fn. 4) Many other local magnates and landowners made grants to the
monastery, and in 1291 the temporalities of the
prior of Boxgrove were valued at £23 16s. 5d.,
exclusive of £5 10s. for the manor of Merrow
in Surrey, (fn. 5) which had been acquired of Simon de
Seintlyz in the time of Richard I without royal
licence, for which omission Edward III graciously
pardoned the convent in 1345 on payment of
100 shillings. (fn. 6) By 1535 the priory's possessions were worth £185 19s. 8d. gross, and
£145 10s. 2½d. clear. (fn. 7)
Of the churches already mentioned as granted
by Robert de Haye, those of St. Catherine and
Belton do not appear in the confirmation charter
of Hilary, bishop of Chichester (1145-69), which
however mentions the church of St. Nicholas of
Itchenor. Belton reappears in the charter of
William St. John in 1187 but is not referred to
again, and afterwards became the seat of a
nunnery. William St. John added the church
of Mundham to his other gifts, and in 1189
William earl of Arundel made a grant of the
church of Bilsington in Kent, which was transferred by the priory to the canons of Bilsington
in 1226, a rent of ten marks being reserved.
In 1344 William de Langeton obtained leave to
alienate to Boxgrove Priory lands in North
Mundham on the condition that they should
provide a chaplain to celebrate daily at the altar
of St. Lawrence in Chichester Cathedral for the
soul of John de Langeton, the late bishop. (fn. 8)
As an alien house Boxgrove was liable to be
seized into the king's hands during war with
France, and in 1337 the prior was ordered to
pay a fine of £60 as well as an annual payment of
£30 for the custody of his house. (fn. 9) The monks,
however, obtained respite of these payments on
the plea that they were all English and had
always the right of electing one of their number
to be prior, and that their priory had never been
seized until the time of the present prior, who
was an alien appointed by the pope, John XXII. (fn. 10)
Upon inquiry it was found that the priory had
only been seized once before, in 1324, and
accordingly the king remitted the charges made
and restored the temporalities to the prior. It
was, however, again seized by Richard II, who
at last in 1383 restored the temporalities and
confirmed the decision of 1339 affirming the
independence of Boxgrove, (fn. 11) which was further
confirmed by the popes in 1402 and 1413. By
the decree of the former date it was granted that
the prior might in future receive the profession
of all postulants in the priory, and that the convent might elect their prior and nominate him
to their patron for presentation to the bishop,
independently of the mother house of Lessay
which was 'in the hands of schismatics and
enemies of the realm.' (fn. 12) The papal decree of
1413 simply repeats this concession and confirms
the profession made by five monks to the prior. (fn. 13)
A letter exists from Seffrid, bishop of Chichester, to the abbot and convent of Lessay announcing that he had duly instituted their monk,
Brother G., to the office of prior of Boxgrove as
they had requested, and praying that his rule
might be blessed. (fn. 14) This was probably Seffrid I
(1125-45), but if it was the second of that
name (1180-1204) his benevolent hopes would
seem to have been disappointed, for Bishop
Simon (1204-7) after visiting the priory at the
abbot's request sent no good report of the house.
He found some of the brethren quarrelsome and
contentious, others had been long in the priory
and even held office without having made their
profession, and some were under his sentence of
excommunication. With the assent of the prior,
whom he believed to be an honest and faithful
man, he had taken steps to remedy these faults,
and to ensure the obedience of the monks to the
abbey and the prior. (fn. 15)
At the end of the thirteenth century the
abbey of Lessay endeavoured to interfere with
the priory's right of election and sent a monk of
their own, Ralph de Dumo, to occupy the post
of prior. The bishop of Chichester refused to
admit him, but confirmed the election of Robert,
a monk of Boxgrove. Appeals were made
to Popes John XXI (1276-7), Nicholas III
(1277-81), Martin IV (1281-5), and in 1286 to
Honorius IV, (fn. 16) all of whom appointed persons
to hear the case. Meanwhile Robert had resigned, as had his successor William. John of
Winchester, the next prior elected by the monks
of Boxgrove, was in 1283 found guilty of incontinency, and first fined by the bishop of
Chichester, and then, on the protest of Archbishop Peckham that such punishment was both
uncanonical and unjust to the convent, who
would have to pay the fine, removed from office
and sent to do penance at Battle Abbey, whence
he returned in March, 1284. (fn. 17) Thomas, who
succeeded on John's deprivation, was prior when
Pope Honorius appointed the prior of Arundel
and dean of Chichester to hear the case between
Lessay and Boxgrove in January, 1286, and
still retained office at least as late as 1288.
Boxgrove was visited in 1275 by the archbishop, who as a result issued a series of injunctions. Several of these deal with the eating of
flesh, which was only permitted under strict
conditions, nor was any monk to give away part
of his allowance of food to the boys or others.
Discussions in the cloisters were to be abandoned
except such as led to better life and knowledge,
all frivolous and taunting words being set aside.
Also the room next the refectory was not to be
used for idle enjoyment lest that room which
was called 'misericordia' should become
'judicium.' The use of brown robes and hoods
was forbidden, and regulations as to the admission
of women were given, great ladies with retainers
being allowed to lodge in the priory, but other
women being kept to the outer church, or, if
admitted to offer at the high altar, obliged to
dispatch their business quickly and not speak to
the monks. Orders were given to avoid all
cause of suspicion in connexion with the granary
barn, and that the brother serving at Halnaker
chapel should not turn aside on his way except
for stress of weather. These injunctions were
found to have been disregarded in 1299 and
were restated with certain additions, the prior
being further enjoined to fill up four vacancies
amongst the brethren. (fn. 18)
In 1409 a dispute between the priory and the
vicar of Boxgrove was settled by the bishop of
Chichester, who decided that all oblations of the
church not specially assigned to the vicarage by
the deed of ordination belonged to the monks;
that the vicar ought to advance the interest of
the convent to the best of his ability, and to walk
in procession with the monks, having a special
place assigned him by the prior, and also to
assist them in the performance of divine service,
being given a stall in the choir as a mark of
respect.
At this time the affairs of the convent would
seem to have been in a bad state, as in 1410 the
prior and brethren made over to the bishop and
other trustees, including Thomas Chaworthe the
prior's brother, all their movable goods with full
power to dispose of them by gift or sale. (fn. 19) Presumably this assignment was made with the view
either of avoiding distraint or of liquidating their
debts. However this may be, when Bishop Story
visited the priory in 1478 the prior and nine brethren then resident stated that the house and all
things connected with it were in a good state, and
had not been so satisfactory for the last forty
years. (fn. 20)
As a result of a visitation held in July 1518,
Bishop Sherborn issued a series of injunctions
to the prior and convent of Boxgrove. (fn. 21) The
first thirteen heads of these appear to be general
rules of conduct and were addressed also to the
priories of Tortington, Hardham, Shulbred,
Michelham, and Hastings. They enjoin the
maintenance of the full number of monks; the
appointment of a master of the novices; the
regulation of dress, diet, and employment, an
order being given that the brethren should have
gardens in which to work and refresh themselves;
the exercise of hospitality; behaviour in the refectory, the care of the dormitory, which should
be well lighted and cleaned, and the custody of
the common seal under three keys. The remaining injunctions seem to have been addressed
to the particular prior of the time. He was
ordered to keep his accounts more regularly,
not to maintain unnecessary servants, and to see
that the women employed in the laundry and
dairy work were above suspicion. The prior
was further enjoined that, whereas he was noted
as an archer and wasted his time in shooting
matches even outside the priory with laymen, he
is in future not to indulge in such matches outside the priory, and if he desire such recreation
to restrict it to the private grounds of the
monastery; also as 'it is not good to take the
bread of our children and give it to the dogs to
eat' he shall not keep any dogs, birds, or hawks,
but bestow the fragments upon the poor. Moreover he is to see that his brethren do not play
cards, dice, or hunt, and to prevent drinking and
gossiping in the church or cemetery on the
occasion of funerals. But that which most
rouses the horror of the bishop, so that he can
hardly believe it to be true, is a report that some
of the monks wear boots with turned-down tops
(caligis diploidibus) and tied with many laces.
Finally he concludes with the stern words:—
Also, because it is ascertained that the honour of
the order, its rules, constitutions, ceremonies, and
other observances have long passed away into disuse
among you, not without your great peril, my lord
prior, we enjoin you by the bond of obedience,
diligently and effectually to watch . . . . so that
in reward for your burdens you may be esteemed as
a good shepherd in the sharp and terrible day of
judgement.
Considerable improvement appears to have
occurred in the state of the priory before the
next visitation in 1524, when the only irregularities noted were the absence of an instructor
in grammar and the fact that the cellarer was a
layman. (fn. 22) At the last recorded visitation, that of
1527, the prior, six brethren, and five novices,
appeared and reported that all was well, the priory
in fair repair and free from debt, and the monks
virtuous and religious. (fn. 23) Unless then the monks
had perjured themselves, or their decadence was
rapid, we may treat as a gross libel the suggestion
in the letter which Layton, who visited the
priory in the autumn of 1535, wrote to Cromwell (fn. 24) :—'This bringer the prior of Boxgrave
"habet tantum duas." He is a great husband and
keepeth great hospitality. "Ejus monachi omnes
sunt ejusdem farinae." His lands is £100.'
A letter written to Cromwell at the same time
by Lord De La Warr, (fn. 25) patron of the priory, speaks
in favour of the prior and sets out his great losses
and expenses. Within the last four years the
house had been robbed of jewels to the value of
£80, and this very year not only had they had
the expense of making five new bells for the
church, but a novice had stolen 100 marks of the
money for which the prior, as collector of the
clerical subsidy, was responsible. Lord De La
Warr wrote again to Cromwell in March,
1536, begging that the priory of Boxgrove,
where many of his ancestors lay buried, and he
himself had prepared 'a poor chapel to be buried
in,' might be spared, or at least transformed into
a college, but that if that might not be, he might
at least have the farm of it. He further petitioned, when its dissolution had been definitely
decided upon, that (1) the church might be left
unspoiled as the parish church; this seems to
have been so far granted that the choir, which
formed the monastic church, was retained as the
parish church, the parochial nave being pulled
down; (2) that he might buy the church
ornaments; these are recorded as sold for
£23 13s. 2d. to 'divers persons,' this being exclusive of 339 ounces of silver, mostly gilt, reserved
for the king's use (fn. 26) ; (3) that the bells might be
left; three of the bells were sold to Lord
La De Warr for £25 6s. 8d. (fn. 27) ; (4) that the
'founders' lodging' might stand, and (5) that he
might have the demesnes to farm. John Mores,
reporting the completion of the work of dissolution on 26 March, 1537, tells Cromwell that,
thanks to Lord De La Warr, the king has received
greater profit from Boxgrove than from any other
house in Sussex. (fn. 28)
At the time of the suppression there were in
the priory eight priests and one novice, as well
as twenty-eight servants and eight children. (fn. 29)
The latter item evidently implies the existence
of a school, and the monastery would seem also
to have played the part of an almshouse, for there
were six poor persons, ibidem inbabitantes, receiving
a farthing each daily in accordance with the
ancient statutes of the house. (fn. 30) Altogether the
fall of Boxgrove Priory is a good example of the
injury done in many cases to the cause of charity
and education in the dissolution of the religious
houses.
Priors of Boxgrove (fn. 31)
Adingar, occurs 1117
Godfrey
Ralph, occurs 1179 (fn. 32)
Nicholas, occurs 1200
Ralph, occurs 1214
Robert, occurs 1215
Ansketill, occurs 1217
Walter, occurs 1230
Ansketill, occurs 1232 and 1249 (fn. 33)
Walter, occurs 1256, (fn. 34) 1257
Simon, occurs 1258
Walter, occurs 1271 (fn. 35)
Ralph de Dumo, intruded, c. 1275 (fn. 36)
Robert, elected, c. 1275, (fn. 36) occurs 1280 (fn. 37)
William, resigned c. 1281 (fn. 36)
John of Winchester, deposed 1283 (fn. 38)
Thomas, elected 1283, (fn. 36) occurs 1288 (fn. 39)
Thomas, occurs 1298 (fn. 40) and 1303 (fn. 41)
Laurence de Gloucestre, (fn. 42) occurs 1310 (fn. 43) -19 (fn. 44)
John, occurs 1323 (fn. 45)
Robert atte Strode, elected 1328 (fn. 46)
Walter, occurs 1330
John de Warenge, occurs 1339, (fn. 47) died 1348
Nicholas de Stanlygh, elected 1348 (fn. 48)
Richard Boneham, occurs 1355 (fn. 49)
John de Londa, occurs 1376, (fn. 50) 1383 (fn. 51)
Walter Marshall (fn. 52)
John Chaworthe, elected 1398, (fn. 53) died 1409
John Rykeman, appointed 1409 (fn. 54)
John, occurs 1421 (fn. 55)
John Costune, died 1438 (fn. 56)
Robert Chamberlayn, elected 1438 (fn. 57)
John Joye, occurs 1465, (fn. 58) died 1485
Richard Chese, elected 1485 (fn. 59)
John Peccam, occurs 1510 (fn. 60)
Thomas Myles, occurs 1524, (fn. 61) surrendered
1536 (fn. 62)
The first seal, of the twelfth century, is a
pointed oval: The Virgin, seated on a churchlike throne, the Child on her right knee. At
each side a small finial turret, on which is a bird. (fn. 63)
Legend indistinct.
The second, thirteenth century, seal is of
great artistic merit. Obverse—Pointed oval:
The priory church; under the central tower of
three pinnacles, the Annunciation in two trefoiled niches; above, in a triangular pediment
with trefoiled opening, our Lord half-length,
lifting up the right hand in benediction; in the
side niches on each side a monk, half-length;
above, a quatrefoiled panel. In base, in a
lozenge-shaped panel, with quatrefoiled opening,
the head of St. Blaise. Legend:—
SIGILL' : ECCLE'E : SBE : MARIE : SBIQ : BLASII : DE : BOXGRAVA
Reverse—The Virgin, crowned, and with
nimbus, seated on a carved throne between box
trees, on each side of which is a small bird; the
Child on the left knee, in the right hand a fleurde-lis. Overhead a carved and trefoiled canopy.
In base, the corbel elegantly carved with
foliage. Legend:—
(fn. 64) DICIy : EX : LIGNO : UIRIDI : BOXsVIA : DIGNO : NOÎE : Nq : CRESCIT : tTVTIB ·ATQ · VIRESCIT
A seal of one of the priors is attached to a deed
of 1421; circular, showing two figures (possibly
SS. Mary and Elizabeth) under a canopy. (fn. 65)
Legend:—
SIGILLVM · JOH'IS · D' · BOSGRAVE
The oval seal of the sub-prior in 1254 shows
the Virgin and Child, with a kneeling figure
beneath. (fn. 66) Legend:—
. . . SUPPRIORIS · DE · BOXGRAVE