3. THE PRIORY OF ST. IVES
The priory of St. Ives was never more than
a cell to Ramsey, and has scarcely any independent history. According to tradition,
the relics of St. Ive or Ivo, a Persian bishop,
who was a great traveller, were discovered
in the fields near Slepe about the year 1000 (fn. 1)
by a ploughman in the service of the abbot
of Ramsey. The legend is so amusing that
it deserves a place here. The ploughman
was driven by repeated visions of the saint
(who seems to have been a little short-tempered) to report his discovery to Aednoth,
the abbot's bailiff, who, however, mocked at
his story. 'Would you have us translate the
bones of some low cobbler?' he asked. The
next night Aednoth himself saw a vision of
the saint in full pontificals, his brow dark
with wrath. 'Do you call me a cobbler?'
he said. 'I will give you a pair of boots that
will last you a long time.' The unhappy
bailiff arose to find himself crippled with
rheumatic gout; and, sorely repenting his rash
jest, crawled to the abbot to report the whole
affair. The monks rejoiced, the relics were
translated with psalms and hymns and
solemn processions; but poor Aednoth was
not forgiven for his irreverence till fifteen
days before his death. (fn. 2)
The priory was probably built before the
Conquest; it is mentioned in the early
chronicles. The prior of St. Ives had, however,
no independent seal; he was appointed by
the abbot, with the consent of the chapter of
Ramsey, and was merely one of the obedientiaries of the abbey. (fn. 3) In the 12th century
the churches of St. Ives, Ellsworth, Knapwell, Hemingford, Broughton, Brington,
Haliwell, Great Stukeley, Barnwell, Walton,
Steeple Gidding and Over were set apart
for the maintenance of the priory. (fn. 4)
William, prior of St. Ives, evidently took the
part of abbot Walter against Daniel, for he
accompanied him on his expedition to Rome. (fn. 5)
In 1207 the priory was burned down; (fn. 6) but
t was at once rebuilt, and consecrated by
Bishop Grosseteste in 1238. (fn. 7) Several priors
of St. Ives became abbots of Ramsey:
one of these, Hugh de Sulgrave, increased its
revenues, that the monks might be better
provided for. (fn. 8)
In the 15th century there were still monks
at St. Ives besides the prior; two or three
of them are named in Bishop Alnwick's
visitation of Ramsey in 1439. But at the
Dissolution it seems that no one but the
prior was left; at any rate only he received
any pension. (fn. 9)
Priors of St. Ives
William, occurs 1143 and 1185. (fn. 10)
Richard Scott. (fn. 11)
Benedict, soon after 1231. (fn. 12)
Hugh de Sulgrave, before 1255. (fn. 13)
Walter de Lilleford. (fn. 14)
John Alconbury, occurs 1439. (fn. 15)
Robert Huchyn, last prior, occurs 1539. (fn. 16)