58. THE ABBEY OF NEWBO
The abbey of Newbo, between Barrowby and
Sedgebrook, was founded by Richard de Malebisse (fn. 1) about 1198 in honour of the Assumption
of Blessed Mary. (fn. 2)
In 1227 the abbot was involved in a suit
with the prior of Thurgarton, Notts, as to the
advowson of the church of Allington. Both
parties produced charters granted by Henry Bisset,
and both of these were declared genuine. It
was not clear, however, which had been made
first; so the abbot and prior thought it best to
place themselves upon the assize, when the jurors
gave their verdict that the prior's charter was of
earlier date. (fn. 3) In 1307 the abbot had another
suit in the court of King's Bench as to the
advowson of Kneeton, Notts. He had certainly
made the last presentation; but Joan of Kneeton said that the advowson was appendant to the
manor, and both had belonged to her and her
husband jointly. At the time of the last
presentation her husband might have protested,
but did not; and she was then under age and in
his power, and could not. The case, however,
was given for the abbot. (fn. 4)
In 1310 the abbots of Langton and Sulby, in
obedience to a mandate from Prémontré, called
upon the abbot of Newbo to summon a general
chapter of the English abbots at Lincoln. (fn. 5) He
accordingly did his part by sending a citation to
the abbots of Welbeck, Dale, Beauchief, and
those of Lincolnshire, warning them that they
would be required to pay arrears due to the
mother-house; (fn. 6) but the king's writ of prohibition stopped the levying of contributions at this
time, and led soon after to the appeal made
against Prémontré at the Holy See. (fn. 7)
In 1336 a general chapter was held in the
abbey of Newbo. (fn. 8)
In 1401 the monastery was almost depopulated by the results of pestilence and poverty.
A licence had to be granted to the abbot in this
year to admit twelve canons regular of the order,
priests or in minor orders, who should be willing
to transfer themselves to Newbo for their lifetime, or until more novices should come to the
house. (fn. 9) There was evidently some difficulty in
finding enough to fill up the vacant places; for
about the same time a further licence was
granted to the abbot to dispense twelve secular
persons from any kind of defect of birth, and to
promote them to holy orders; they might hold
benefices or any ecclesiastical dignities. (fn. 10) The
indulgence of the Portiuncula was granted at
the same time to penitents visiting the conventual church and contributing to its repair. (fn. 11) No
doubt some time passed before the abbey
recovered its numbers and prosperity; but by
the end of the century all seems to have been
fairly well.
Bishop Redman visited this house from 1475
to 1503. In 1482 he found it heavily in debt,
and ordered a full statement of accounts to be
made to the abbot of Tupholme, who with the
abbot of Croxton was to be consulted in all
matters of business until the next visitation.
The canons were enjoined to give themselves to
study, when the weather prevented outdoor
work. All hunting-dogs were to be expelled
from the abbey, on pain of excommunication. (fn. 12)
In 1491 the debt was much reduced, and all was
well within the monastery. (fn. 13) In 1494 the abbot
met Bishop Redman at Croxton, and was there
enjoined not to allow any drinking after compline; canons absenting themselves from mattins
were to fast the next day on bread and water. (fn. 14)
In 1497 the visitor prohibited all games
played for money; the canons were forbidden to
eat in secular houses; recreation twice a week,
and on Sundays and festivals besides, was recommended, but left to the discretion of the
superior. (fn. 15)
In 1500 the abbot's administration was
praised, but a canon was severely punished for
leaving the monastery when leave had been
refused him, although he returned the same
night. He was condemned to fifty days' severe
penance and three years' banishment. Another
was sharply rebuked for wearing slippers. (fn. 16) The
numbers varied during this period from eight to
twelve.
The abbey was dissolved before Michaelmas,
1536. The abbot received a pension of £12,
the six canons had 20s. each, and a novice
6s. 8d. (fn. 17)
The original endowment of the abbey included the vill of Newbo, the church of Acaster,
and one-third of that of Kneeton, Notts. (fn. 18) The
church of Allington was claimed by the abbot
at the beginning of the thirteenth century of
the gift of Henry Bisset; but he had to quitclaim it to the prior of Thurgarton. (fn. 19) The
advowson of Northorpe was granted in 1379 by
John de Warrop, canon of Lincoln. (fn. 20)
The temporalities of the abbot in 1291 were
assessed at £13 15s. 2d.; (fn. 21) in 1303 he held twoeighths of a knight's fee in Gonerby and a small
fraction besides; (fn. 22) in 1346 the same with half a
fee in Allington; (fn. 23) in 1428 half a fee in
Casthorpe. (fn. 24)
In 1534 the clear revenue of the house was
£71 8s. 11d., including the rectories of Acaster
Malbis (Yorks.), Kneeton (Notts.), and Northorpe
(Linc.). (fn. 25) The Ministers' Accounts amounted
to £129 10s. 3d. (fn. 26)
Abbots of Newbo
Ralf, (fn. 27) occurs 1227
Matthew, (fn. 28) occurs 1242
William, (fn. 29) elected 1276, occurs 1310
Ralf, (fn. 30) occurs 1401
Simon of Mumby, (fn. 31) elected 1406
John, (fn. 32) elected 1412
William Gresley, (fn. 33) occurs 1433
William Bottesford, (fn. 34) elected 1436
Peter York, (fn. 35) occurs 1475 to 1478
John Mownckton, (fn. 36) occurs 1482 to 1491
John Colby, (fn. 37) occurs 1494 to 1500
William Broil, (fn. 38) occurs 1522
Richard Carre, (fn. 39) last abbot, occurs 1529