39. THE GREY FRIARS OF IPSWICH
On the west side of Ipswich, in the parish of
St. Nicholas, a convent of Franciscan or Grey
Friars was founded early in the reign of
Edward I. The founders were Sir Robert
Tiptot, of Nettlestead, and Una his wife; Sir
Robert died in 1298. (fn. 1)
There are but few record entries relative to
this house. In September, 1328, Edward III
granted protection, during pleasure, to the
warden and Friars Minor of Ipswich, (fn. 2) and this
protection was renewed in February, 1331. (fn. 3)
In January, 1332, licence was granted, after
inquisition, to these friars to accept the alienation
to them by Nicholas Frunceyes, knight, of a
messuage and toft for the enlargement of their
dwelling-house. At the same time they received
a pardon for having acquired without due licence
a toft from Geoffrey Poper, and land 50 perches
in length and 7 ft. in breadth from Sir William
de Cleydon, knight. (fn. 4)
On 1 April, 1538, Lord Wentworth, of
Nettlestead, wrote to Cromwell as to this friary,
stating that the warden and brethren lived there
in great necessity, for the inhabitants were
extending their charity to the poor and impotent
instead of to 'such an idle nest of drones.' He
complained that they were selling the jewels of
their house, and as he was 'their founder in
blood' he sent for the warden, who stated that they
had been compelled to sell something, for during
a twelvemonth they had only gathered £5, and
could not continue in that house three months
longer. There were no lands, only the bare
site, with a garden or two enclosed. Lord
Wentworth, hereditary patron of this friary,
called to mind (for Cromwell's edification) how
this order was 'neither stock nor griffe which the
Heavenly Father had planted, but only a hypocritical weed planted by that sturdy Nembrot, the
Bishop of Rome,' and begged for the grant of
the house. (fn. 5)
As a consequence of this letter, Ingworth,
the special visitor of the king for the friaries,
attended at the Grey Friars, Ipswich, on 7 April,
and drew up an inventory of their goods. In
the quire were five candlesticks, two hanging
lamps, a holy-water stoop, with latten sprinkler,
twenty books good and ill, and a wooden
lectern; in the vestry were various old vestments and other matters of little value; whilst
the other contents of the house were all commonplace and mostly old. Bishop Ingworth removed
all of this stuff to the house of the Black Friars,
locking it up in 'a close house.' The visitor
tracked out the plate which had been sold or
pledged. He recovered from Archdeacon
Thomas Sillesdon a censer, two chalices, a cross
with a crystal in it, twelve spoons, &c., and
various vestments which he had craftily purchased, as well as plate from Lord Wentworth
which had been pledged to him. The total
plate recovered amounted to 259¾ ounces.
The visitor left behind him certain utensils
for the use of the friars still remaining there,
'till my lord privy seal's pleasure be further
known.' (fn. 6)
Among the corporation records of Ipswich are
two wills of interest with regard to this friary.
Robert of Fornham, who died in 1319, left the
tenement that he had purchased of Claricia Strike,
and the tenement he had purchased of Leman
Le Bakestere to the Grey Friars; but John
Strike and Geoffrey the cook, on coming before
the bailiffs and coroner of the court of Ipswich
as executors of Robert of Fornham, could only
produce an unsigned and unwitnessed will.
Probate, however, was granted on the testimony
of two of the Grey Friars (although their house
was to benefit), who 'on the peril of their souls'
certified that the deceased had made this will
when of sound mind. (fn. 7)
Weever mentions the following distinguished
persons who sought and obtained burial in the
conventual church of the Grey Friars.
Sir Robert Tiptot and Una his wife, the
founders; the heart of Sir Robert Vere the
elder; Margaret, countess of Oxford, wife of
Sir Robert Vere, the younger; Dame Elizabeth,
wife of Sir Thomas Ufford, and daughter of the
Earl of Warwick; Sir Thomas Tiptot, the
younger; Margaret, wife of Sir John Tiptot;
Robert Tiptot, esquire; Elizabeth Ufford;
Elizabeth Lady Spenser, wife of Sir Philip
Spenser and daughter of Robert Tiptot, with
Philip, George, and Elizabeth their children;
Joan, daughter of Sir Hugh Spenser; Sir Robert
Warlesham and Joan his wife; John son of
William Cleydon; Sir Thomas Hardell, knight;
Elizabeth, wife of Sir Walter Clopton, of
Hadley; Sir William Lancham; Sir Hugh
Peach and Sir John Lovelock, knights; the
heart of Dame Petronilla Ufford; Dame Beatrice
Botiler; Dame Aveline Quatefeld; Dame
Margery, aunt of Sir Thomas Ufford; and
Dame Alice, widow of Sir John Holbrook. (fn. 8)
To these may be added Sir Robert Curson,
at whose great house in Ipswich Henry VIII
had visited in 1522; the hearse-cloth over the
hearse above his tomb is named in the 1536
inventory.