75. THE AUSTIN FRIARS OF LINCOLN
Leland noted the ruins of the Austin Friary
on the south side of 'the suburb to Newport
Gate.' (fn. 1) The friars settled here under royal
protection about 1269-70, (fn. 2) and obtained from
Bishop Sutton licence to have their church and
area consecrated in 1291. (fn. 3) Gilbert de Stratton
granted them a messuage in the suburb of Lincoln in 1292. (fn. 4) Next year a messuage in
Grimsby was given to them where a new friary
was founded. (fn. 5) There were probably thirty
friars here in 1300 when Edward I gave them
20s. for two days' food. (fn. 6) In 1328 the friars
numbered twenty-eight, (fn. 7) and in 1335, thirtysix. (fn. 8)
A provincial chapter of the order was held
here in 1307, (fn. 9) and another in 1332, to the
expenses of which Archbishop Melton gave two
marks. (fn. 10)
William de Bliton, John de Merkyate, and
Thomas Felisson gave these friars three tofts in
1367. (fn. 11)
Bequests were made to them by Adam de
Lymbergh, rector of Algarkirk (1338), Thomas
Beck, bishop of Lincoln (1346), Simon, rector
of Stanton (1346), Sir Henry Asty, kt. (1383),
William de Belay, citizen of Lincoln (1383),
Sir John de Multon, kt. (1388), Robert
Appleby of Lincoln (1407), John de Kele, canon
of Lincoln (1416), William of Waltham, canon
of York and Lincoln (1416), William of Alnwick, bishop of Lincoln (1449), Ralph Lord
Cromwell (1451), John Colynson, archdeacon
of Northampton (1482). (fn. 12) Richard Burgh left
8d. to every friar of the four orders in Lincoln
(1513). (fn. 13) The will of Juliana Lufchild, 1418,
was written by Thomas Everard, sub-prior of
this house. (fn. 14)
Leland reports on the library, 'There are
some books here but either in common use
or printed, or such as do not bear on our
subjects.' (fn. 15)
Richard bishop of Dover received the surrender
of the four friaries in February, 1538-9; all
were poor houses, nothing being left but stones
and poor glass, but 'meetly leaded.' (fn. 16) The site,
containing about four acres, was let to Robert
Dighton, esq., at a rent of 12s. a year, and seems
to have been purchased in 1545 by John Bellow
and Edward Bayliss. (fn. 17)
76. THE BLACK FRIARS OF LINCOLN
The Dominicans settled in Silvergate, (fn. 18) outside
Pottergate, (fn. 19) before 1238. Henry III gave them
timber, 13 June, 1238, (fn. 20) and 100s. towards the
expenses of their provincial chapter to be held
here 14 September, 1238. (fn. 21) Another provincial
chapter met here 14 September, 1244, to which
the king contributed £10. (fn. 22) The Burton annalist, while telling the story of St. Hugh of
Lincoln, denounces the Friars Preachers for trying to save unbelievers from death. (fn. 23) A royal
grant of ten oaks for timber in 1255 shows that
building was still going on. (fn. 24) In 1260 the friars
obtained leave of the abbot and monks to enclose
a spring in the territory of a cell belonging to
the abbey of St. Mary, York, without the suburbs
of Lincoln, and thence to carry water as far as
the highway running from Greetwell to Lincoln;
the king allowed them to carry their conduit
along the highway to their house, and to repair
it when necessary. (fn. 25) In 1263 the king gave
them a hogshead of wine to celebrate masses. (fn. 26)
In 1275 there is mention of a plot of ground
two acres in extent, called 'la Batailplace,' where
the men of the city were accustomed to have
their games, the friars to preach, and all to have
their easements. (fn. 27)
The friars from time to time enlarged their
bounds, till at length they had acquired about ten
acres. (fn. 28) In 1284 they obtained a messuage and
garden in Lincoln from John Cotty, and three
small messuages from other benefactors. (fn. 29) Next
year they were allowed to enclose with a stone
wall a small vacant plot to the north of their
dwelling; (fn. 30) and in 1292 to enclose a lane passing
through their area from south to north in the
parish of Holy Trinity under the Hill. (fn. 31) In 1290
they received 100s, from the executors of the
late queen; (fn. 32) in 1293, 100s. from the king for
the provincial chapter to be held there on
15 August, (fn. 33) and in 1300 £10 for another
chapter. (fn. 34) In May of the same year the king
gave them 31s. 4d. for two days' food; (fn. 35) the
number of the friars was probably forty-seven.
In January, 1300-1, the king gave them an
alms of 71s., (fn. 36) and in January, 1302-3, 45s. for
three days' food. (fn. 37)
The friars were now rebuilding their church.
Edward I gave them twelve oaks to make shingles
in 1284, and four oaks for their church in 1290. (fn. 38)
The church and churchyard, together with the
altars in the chapel of the Virgin Mary, were
consecrated in 1311. (fn. 39) Friar Walter Jorse,
archbishop of Armagh, made the Black Friars
of Lincoln his residuary legatees in 1320, and
was buried in this church opposite the tomb of
T. le Draper. (fn. 40) His executors, Friars Thomas
de Eyncourt and Walter de Belton were licensed
by Alexander de Waynflete, the prior, to receive
probate.
Some parish priests of Lincoln about 1298 resisted the claims of the friars to hear confessions, (fn. 41)
and in 1300 Bishop Dalderby objected to
licensing as penitentiaries so many as twentyone friars of this house, whom the provincial
friar presented: (fn. 42) but the number licensed seems
to have remained considerable. (fn. 43) The prior of
Lincoln was among the eight friars deposed in
the general chapter held at London in 1314. (fn. 44)
In 1325 a provincial chapter met here, to which
Edward II (27 June) contributed £15 for three
days' food. (fn. 45) Edward III gave 12s. 8d. to the
thirty-eight friars of this house in September,
1328, (fn. 46) and 16s. to the forty-eight friars in
May, 1335. (fn. 47) In 1330 the prior was one of
the papal commissioners appointed to decide a
dispute about the bishop of Durham's jurisdiction in Osmotherly. (fn. 48) Friar John Grym of
Lincoln, who had thrown off his habit, was
taken by Edmund de Lisle, another friar of this
house at Ipswich, in 1338, and brought back
to his convent. (fn. 49) Friar John of Lincoln, confessor to John de Warenne, earl of Surrey, was
recommended by the king for election to the
bishopric of St. Asaph in 1345, but was not
elected: (fn. 50) in the service of the earl he provoked
the malice of certain persons, and being in bodily
fear of them, had from the king special protection, 21 June, 1346, and permission to retire
to King's Langley when he left the earl's
service. (fn. 51) In 1356 John Lyperyng, O.P., a
malefactor and disturber of the peace, was
handed over to the prior of Lincoln by the
king's sergeant-at-arms. (fn. 52)
The friars obtained three messuages in the
suburb of Lincoln in 1342 from Robert de Kele,
Alan Faukes, and William Garvyn. (fn. 53) Several bequests to them about this time are recorded,
namely from Adam de Lymbergh, rector of
Algarkirk (1338); Simon, rector of Staunton,
(1346); Thomas Beck, bishop of Lincoln (1346);
Isabel, widow of William son of William de
Elmley, kt., lord of Elmley and Sprotborough,
(25 July, 1348); William de Belay, citizen of
Lincoln (1383); Henry Asty, kt., judge of
the Common Bench (1383). (fn. 54) Richard Ravenser,
archdeacon of Lincoln, in 1385 left 2s. to each
friar chaplain, and 1s. to each friar not being a
chaplain. (fn. 55)
A provincial chapter assembled here in 1388
passed some statutes regulating the promotion of
friars to degrees in the universities, and appointed
a number of friars to lecture on the sentences
at Oxford and Cambridge. (fn. 56) In 1390 the mastergeneral declared Friar John Muren guiltless of
a theft committed in the convent at Derby,
made him master of the students at Lincoln, and
assigned to him the chamber which Friar Ralph
of Louth built in the Lincoln friary. (fn. 57) At the
same time he appointed Friar Richard of Helmsley, who received the master's degree by papal
authority, lector in this house for three years,
with the right to choose and change his socius:
in 1393 he renewed this appointment, and
warned the prior not to impede Friar Richard in
his office. (fn. 58) The convent was in the visitation
of York. (fn. 59)
The history of the house during the fifteenth
century is almost a blank, save for a few
legacies. (fn. 60) The city was accustomed to pay the
friars 2s. a year for a wax light before the high
altar. (fn. 61) Leland inspected the library, and noted two
books, namely, Alexander on the Proverbs of
Solomon, and the Historia Anglorum of Henry
of Huntingdon. (fn. 62) The latter volume is now in
the British Museum. (fn. 63)
The house surrendered to the Bishop of Dover,
February, 1538-9: it was poor but well-leaded. (fn. 64)
The site, containing some ten acres, was let on
lease to Thomas Burton of Lincoln for 33s. 4d.
a year, 12 August, 1539. (fn. 65) William Rotherham
of Lincoln, merchant, seems to have desired to
purchase it, as the property was rated for him
18 September, 1545; but it was sold to John
Broxholme and John Bellow, 30 September of
that year. (fn. 66)
77. THE GREY FRIARS OF LINCOLN
According to Leland (fn. 67) the founder of the
Grey Friars was Reginaldus Molendinarius, merchant, of Lincoln. The first founder, however,
appears to have been William of Beningworth,
subdean of Lincoln, who about 1230 granted to
the citizens of Lincoln a place near the Guildhall
to house the Friars Minors. (fn. 68) The city then conferred on them part of the area on which the
Guildhall stood, and this grant was confirmed
7 February, 1230-1, by the king. (fn. 69) Henry III,
17 September, 1237, (fn. 70) asked the men of Lincoln
to give 'the place where their pleas are held,'
and which used to be the Guildhall, to the friars
minors, promising the citizens another place in
the town. The old Guildhall was accordingly
assigned to the friars, 5 October, 1237, by the
mayor and bailiffs. (fn. 71)
It does not appear what the attitude of these
friars was to the attack on the Jews in 1255; it
is said (fn. 72) that Friar Adam Marsh alone opposed
the popular clamour, and forbade that the Jews
should be put to death. His protest was probably
made in London. He was buried in Lincoln
Cathedral in 1258. (fn. 73)
In 1258 the king, after an inquiry by the
mayor, bailiffs, and citizens, gave the friars permission to block up a postern in the city wall,
and enclose a lane which led to the postern on
the north side of their area. (fn. 74) In the great inquest
in 1275 the jurors stated that the friars had
blocked a postern, and enclosed a lane 14 ft.
wide and 20 perches long, 'from the gable of
Robert Cotty on the north to the postern on the
south,' running apparently under the city wall,
and they had planted their houses and church on
the wall, thereby injuring the defences of the
city. These encroachments had been made
between ten and thirty years ago, according to
the different accounts. (fn. 75)
Building was going on in 1268; (fn. 76) and in
February, 1283-4, Edward I gave the friars
timber for their church. (fn. 77) Alice de Ros was
buried in this church in or before 1286. (fn. 78) The
Grey Friars' church, of which the choir still
remains, (fn. 79) seems to have been built about the
middle of the thirteenth century. The undercroft or vault, which divides the choir into two
stories, was a late addition, made perhaps before
1300; by this means the floor of the choir would
be raised high above the floor of the nave (as is
the case in the Franciscan church at Lübeck).
The arrangement would afford more room, which
was urgently needed. In 1288, 1293, and 1295
provincial chapters were held in this friary. (fn. 80)
Towards the expenses of that held on 15 August,
1293, Edward I provided 100s. A grant by the
same king of 35s. 4d. for two days' food for the
convent in 1300, (fn. 81) probably means that the friars
in the house numbered fifty-three, though in 1328
the number had fallen to forty, (fn. 82) and in. 1335 to
thirty-seven. (fn. 83)
The area of the friary was small, being
bounded by Broadgate on the east, the present
Silver Street on the north, and perhaps the
present Free School Lane on the west, while
the marshy bank of the river would prevent any
extension on the south. Encroachments on the
city wall led to disputes with the city; for in
1321 the friars complained that the mayor and
bailiffs, for the better protection of the city, had
broken the enclosures of the friars which previously joined the wall and certain private
chambers contiguous to it. (fn. 84) At the same time
they obtained a royal command to the mayor,
bailiffs, and men of Lincoln to deliver up to
them all charters and muniments touching the
friary which were in the custody of the city. (fn. 85)
Thomas Cobham, bishop of Worcester, conservator of the privileges of the friars minors in
England, interfered on behalf of the Lincoln
minorites, (fn. 86) and the king took them under his
protection 26 August, 1321. (fn. 87) A commission of
oyer and terminer was issued to Roger de Beler
and others in August, 1324, on complaint of the
warden that, while he was under the king's
protection, John de Bevercotes and Margery
his wife, Alexander Boteler of Lincoln and
Eglentina his wife, and others, broke his close and
carried away his goods. (fn. 88)
The friars had the usual quarrels with the
parish priests. In 1298 Bishop Sutton ordered
the rural dean of Lincoln to consider with
discreet men the action of some priests in Lincoln
who accused the friars preachers and minors of
'forging apostolic letters,' and spoke evil of their
parishioners for seeking licence to confess to the
friars. (fn. 89) The bishops were generally favourable
to the friars; thus Bishop Dalderby in 1318
admitted sixty-two Friars Minors to hear confessions in the diocese of Lincoln. (fn. 90) Admissions
of smaller numbers frequently occur in the
episcopal registers. About this time Friar Adam
of Lincoln, formerly master of the friars at
Oxford, was buried in the church here and
'wrought wonders.' (fn. 91)
In 1350 John de Pykeryng of Scopwick
granted these friars a messuage. (fn. 92) In 1379
Robert de Swanlound of Lincoln, indicted for
murder, fled for sanctuary to the Grey Friars'
church, but some of his friends came with an
armed force by night and rescued him. (fn. 93)
According to Leland, Henry Lacy, earl of
Lincoln (who died 1311), and Nunny, or
William Namy, his almoner, were great benefactors to this house. (fn. 94) Among other benefactors
were John nephew of Thorold, citizen of Lincoln
(1280), (fn. 95) Adam de Lymberg, rector of
Algarkirk (1329), (fn. 96) Thomas Beck, bishop of Lincoln (1346), (fn. 97) Sir Henry Asty, kt., justice of the
common bench (1383), (fn. 98) Richard Ravenser,
archdeacon of Lincoln (1385), (fn. 99) Margaret Vaysey
of Stowe Park (1391), (fn. 100) Richard de Evyngeham,
rector of Ewerby (1396), (fn. 101) John de Kele, canon
of Lincoln (1416), Robert Ratheby, merchant of
Lincoln (1418), (fn. 102) William Alnwick, bishop of
Lincoln (1449), (fn. 103) Ralph Lord Cromwell (1451), (fn. 104)
John Colynson, archdeacon of Northampton
(c. 1482), (fn. 105) Richard Burgh (c. 1513), (fn. 106) Joan Kay
of Stixwold, widow of William Kay, gent.
(1525). (fn. 107)
The abbots of the Premonstratensian Order
held their provincial chapters in the Grey Friars'
church in 1459, 1476, and 1489. (fn. 108)
In September, 1534, the warden of the Grey
Friars had licence from the city to take freely
as much stone as he wanted for the reparation
of his house and church from the ruinous
churches of St. Augustine and Holy Trinity
'at the Greece foot.' (fn. 109) On 27 January, 1534-5,
the city authorities ordered that the church of
the Holy Trinity at the Greece foot and the
church of the Holy Trinity at the Grey Friars
should be taken down and everything sold to
the use of the common chamber, the chancels
only excepted; (fn. 110) the stones of Trinity Church at
the Grey Friars were to be used 'for dyking
and setting the commons' between the city and
Burton. (fn. 111) Licence was given to the warden of
the Grey Friars 8 April, 1535, to lay his conduit
in the common ground of the city, where he
shall think most convenient, and he was to have
the licence under the common seal given to him
of charity. (fn. 112) In July, 1535, the timber roof of
St. 'Bathe' Church—perhaps St. Peter ad Fontem—was given 'freely for charity' to the warden for the upholding and maintaining his house. (fn. 113)
The house surrendered to the bishop of Dover
in February, 1538-9. The Grey Friary was
poor, but had a goodly conduit which the mayor
wanted for the city, and the visitor promised to
write to Cromwell in support of this claim. (fn. 114)
The site, containing about four acres, was let on
a yearly tenancy for 12s. a year, to William
Monson of Ingleby, who obtained a twenty-one
years' lease in January, 1540. It was one of the
parcels included in the particulars for the grant
to John Bellow and Edward Bayliss in 1544-5,
but does not seem to have been purchased by
them. (fn. 115) It was the property in 1568 of Robert
Monson, recorder of Lincoln and later justice of
the Common Pleas, who in that year established
a free school here at his own charges, (fn. 116) and in
1574, in consideration of the grant to him of the
parsonage of Hanslope, Buckinghamshire, for divers
years, conveyed to the mayor and commonalty
of Lincoln the site of the Grey Friars, with
the Free Grammar School and the conduit
which had recently been a subject of dispute.
Monson reserved to himself the use of the
property during life or for twenty years. (fn. 117) He
died in 1583. The friars' lands were let in
1598 for twenty-one years, and in the same
year the common chamber gave orders that the
fairest free stones in the friars should be piled
and laid up in the vaults under the schools. In
1612 it was decided that the vault should be
used as a house of correction, and 'that malt
querns and such other provision as shall be fit
to set poor on work should be provided.' Some
years later a factory for woollen goods was set
up in the precincts of the friary. (fn. 118)
Leland noted among the MSS. of this friary a
history of the Albigensian heretics; Haymo,
bishop of Halberstadt, on Isaiah; Breviarium
(Romanae historiae) Eutropii; De origine et
gestis Francorum; Phrygius de Bello Troiano—
the last three in one volume. (fn. 119)
The pointed oval seal of the house in the
thirteenth century represents on the left St.
Francis (?) holding a staff, on the right a winged
seraph standing on an uncertain object. (fn. 120)
78. THE WHITE FRIARS OF LINCOLN
Leland mentions as first founder of the White
Friars in Lincoln 'Gualterus called Dorotheus,
dean of Lincoln,' (fn. 121) but no dean of Lincoln of
this name is known. According to Richard
Hely, prior of Maldon, the house was founded
by Odo of Kilkenny in 1269. (fn. 122) In this year
Henry III granted the Carmelite Friars of
Lincoln six beech trees for a kiln. (fn. 123) Edward I
authorized them, 26 November, 1280, to receive
lands adjacent to their own for the increase
of their area; and this was confirmed by
Edward III in January, 1348-9. (fn. 124) In 1287
'on the Day of the Exaltation of the Holy
Cross (14 September) the Carmelite Friars
changed their habit at Lincoln,' adopting white
capes, probably in a provincial chapter. (fn. 125) Edward I gave them 18s. 8d. for two days' food
in 1300, when the number of friars was probably
twenty-eight. (fn. 126) There were thirty friars in
1328, (fn. 127) and thirty-four in 1335. (fn. 128)
The tenth provincial prior, Richard Blyton,
was buried here about 1325. (fn. 129) A provincial
chapter was held here in 1343, at which the
general, Peter Raymond, was present. (fn. 130)
'There lay,' says Leland, 'in a chapel at the
White Friars a rich merchant called Ranulphus
de Kyme, whose image was thence taken and
set at the south end of the new castle of the
conduit of water in Wikerford.' (fn. 131) William de
Belay, citizen of Lincoln, left 33s. 4d. for a
window in the Carmelite church at Lincoln,
1383. (fn. 132) John Boston of Lincoln was buried in
the church 1431. (fn. 133)
Richard Misyn, S.T.B., was prior of this
house in 1435; he translated into English some
works of Richard Rolle or Hampole at the
request of Margaret Hellingdon, a recluse. (fn. 134)
The library of these friars seems to have been
of considerable value. Leland (fn. 135) noted in it
Chronica Martini de gestis pontificum et
inperatorum; Vita sancti Edwardi Anglorum
regis et confessoris edita per Ethelredum
abbatem Rivallis; Dialogus Osberni Gloucesterensis Monachi de quaestionibus in libris
Genesis, Exodi, Levitici, Numeri et Deuteronomii, and Tractatus ejusdem super librum
Judicum; (fn. 136) Historia Romana per Paulum Diaconum; Historia Anglorum per Henricum
Huntingdon; (fn. 137) Vincentius [Bellovacensis] de
morali principis instructione et de puerorum
nobilium eruditione. Several of these volumes
were appropriated by Henry VIII. A volume
among the Royal MSS. in the British Museum
(13 C. iv) belonged to this house; it contains
the Roman histories of Eutropius and Paulus
Diaconus, besides other works, and is doubtless the
MS. mentioned by Leland. (fn. 138)
The friary was surrendered to Richard, bishop
of Dover, in February, 1538-9; (fn. 139) like the rest of
the Lincoln friaries it was poor, but well leaded.
The bells and lead were taken for the king's
use. Part of the land and a chamber near
'le Garners' had been let in 1520 to Thomas
Cells for sixty-one years at a rent of 2s. The
rest, estimated at four acres, was let to Henry
Sapcotts for 13s. 4d. a year. In 1544 the whole
area, including the chamber of Thomas 'Welles,'
was sold to John Broxholme of London. (fn. 140)
79. THE FRIARS OF THE SACK OF LINCOLN
The Friars of the Penance of Jesus Christ
or Friars of the Sack settled here before 23 June,
1266, when Henry III granted them a vacant
place next their houses. (fn. 141) This is probably
identical with 'the vacant place of the common
pasture of the city which the friars had of
the commonalty of Lincoln.' (fn. 142) Their area,
measuring 540 ft. by 420 ft., and situated in the
suburb in Thornbridgegate Street, (fn. 143) included
eight other tenements conferred on them by
different benefactors, namely, John de Parham,
Arnold de Wyrsop, Mabel and Christiana de
Gamel, William Brande, John atte Loft or John
son of Gilbert de Solario, Robert de Cotty,
Alan Brown, and John son of William de Paris.
From each of the nine tenements 1d. a year was
paid towards the ferm of the city, and most of
them were held of the king. (fn. 144) In 1268 the
king gave them thirteen oaks towards the fabric
of their church. (fn. 145) The order was suppressed,
i.e. forbidden to admit new members, by the
Council of Lyons in 1274. In 1279 the prior
brought an assize of novel disseisin against
William Brond or Brande, one of the benefactors of the house. (fn. 146) There seem to have been
four friars of the Sack remaining here in 1300,
when Edward I gave them 2s. 8d. for two days'
food. (fn. 147) They had ceased to occupy the house in
1307, when the Premonstratensian abbey of
Barlings sought to acquire the site. (fn. 148) The jurors
to whom the question was referred declared that
it would be to the serious injury of the city if the
abbot and canons obtained the site, for they
intended to pull down the church and set up
warehouses in which to store their tanned hides,
wool, corn, and other products until they could
sell them at a profit like common merchants.
The jurors valued the house and site at 116s. 4d.
The canons of Barlings did not secure the site,
though a meeting of the abbots of the Premonstratensian Order in England was held in this
church in 1310. (fn. 149) In 1313 an inquiry was held
as to the advisability of granting the site to
Philip de Kyme. The jurors, some of whom
had sat on the previous inquest, returned a
favourable answer, and declared the place to be
worth 10s. (fn. 150)
The chapel was still in existence in 1327,
when Master William de Bayeux and John
Gernoun granted lands and rents to the dean and
chapter of Lincoln to support two or three
chaplains to celebrate divine service in it. (fn. 151) In
1359 Joan, wife first of William de Kyme (son
of Philip), and then of Nicholas de Cantilupe,
had leave to found a chantry of five priests in
honour of St. Peter, to pray for the soul of her
second husband, on the ground where this friary
had formerly stood. (fn. 152) The memory of these
friars lingered long in Lincoln, for in a deed of
1455 mention is made of 'a stone wall lately
belonging to the friars lately called Sekfriars,
called le Stamp.' (fn. 153)