37. THE CARMELITE FRIARS OF SANDWICH
This friary, situated in the south-west of the
town, is said by Richard Hely, prior of Maldon,
to have been founded by Henry Cowfield, an
' Almain,' in 1272; (fn. 1) but his endowment of the
house was so small, according to other accounts,
that Raynold, or more properly William Lord
Clinton, who was a much larger benefactor to it
in 20 Edward I, was afterwards reputed its sole
founder. (fn. 2) It is also said that Thomas de Crauthorne, who lived about the time of Edward I,
was a principal benefactor towards re-edifying
the priory of the Carmelite Friars of Sandwich. (fn. 3)
However this may be, it is certain that the
friars were settled here before 1280 when John
of Sandwich gave them a plot of ground adjoining their place. (fn. 4) In 1300 Edward I gave them
5s. for one day's food; (fn. 5) there were probably
fifteen friars in the convent at this time. From
Thomas Shelving of Sandwich they obtained a
spring of water in Woodnesborough in 1306,
with leave to make an underground conduit
through his lands to their house. (fn. 6) In 1336
John de Welles, Raymond de Sparre, John de
Thaxstede, Thomas Gilet, John Botoun, and
William de Mounty gave them 2 acres of land. (fn. 7)
A friar of this house, Thomas Tulyet, gave
evidence against the Knights Templars in 1311. (fn. 8)
Two Carmelites were arrested in the port of
Sandwich in 1344, with papal bulls and letters
prejudicial to the king. (fn. 9)
In 1370, Thomas Brentingham, bishop of
Exeter, granted forty days' indulgence to those
of his diocese who should devoutly visit the
church of the Carmelites at Sandwich, 'in which,
as we have heard, a fair image of the blessed
virgin and martyr Katherine is held in great
veneration.' (fn. 10)
Thomas Walden, provincial prior, conferred
on Friar Lawrence Clerke, who had long been a
member of this community, a special dwellingplace in the priory for life, with the consent of
the prior and friars of the house; the grant was
confirmed by Pope Martin V in 1421. (fn. 11)
The epitaphs of several friars buried here in
the fifteenth century have been preserved, (fn. 12)
namely, those of John Sandwich, prior, 1403;
Thomas Legatt, S.T.P., 1409; Thomas Hadlow,
prior, 1417; William Beckley, prior, S.T.P. of
Cambridge, 1438; (fn. 13) Denys Plumcooper, 1481.
A provincial chapter was held here in 1482, to
the expenses of which the town contributed
5 marks. (fn. 14) In 1487 Bernard Manny, who confessed to a murder in 1483, took sanctuary in
the friars' church and forswore the realm. (fn. 15)
Henry Lunys of St. Peter's parish in 1477
desired to be buried before the image of Our
Lord in the north side of the choir. John
Drye, rector of Hame, 1486, desired to be
buried before the altar of St. Ninian in this
church, and left 6d. or 4d. to each friar, bedding
for the infirmary, robes to Friars Richard
Alkham, John Bradgate, Thomas Baker, and
William Sexten; 12d. to Friar William Coly,
and 3s. 4d. to Friar William Ash, lector.
Richard Swinderly in 1510 desired to be
buried before the image of St. Anne, Joan
Frevill in 1526 before the crucifix in the church
(for the reparation of which church she left
53s. 4d), Agnes Hilton in 1529 before the
image of St. Anne. (fn. 15a)
Bequests to the house were made by Sir Richard
atte Lease, kt. (1393), (fn. 16) Thomas Walter of
Birchington (1414), John Sackett of St. Peter's,
Thanet (1444), John Malyn of Monkton (1464), (fn. 17)
William Mountford, cordiner (1479), who left
6 lb. of wax to the light of St. Crispin and
St. Crispianus in the church; (fn. 17a) Richard Tilley
(1485), (fn. 18) William Harrison (1489) and William
Tanner (1493), who each left wax to the light
of St. Cosmus and St. Damian; Robert Saunder
(1499), who gave 8d. for prayers for the soul of
Constance at St. Trunian's altar; (fn. 18a) Benett
Webbys (1508); (fn. 19) Jane Aschowe of St.
Bartholomew's Hospital left her great kettle to
St. Anne in the Friars in 1524, and 20 marks to
the master prior, Sir John Kete, who was to
sing two years for her soul—one in Eastrey
church and the other in the White Friars; Alice
Simpson, widow, 1526, wished to be buried
'before Our Lady in St. Barbary's Chapel,'
and bequeathed some legacies to the friars. (fn. 19a)
Sir John Peniel, kt., and William Eve were
also among their benefactors. (fn. 20) John Trapham,
prior, in 1508-9 granted two gardens in the
parish of St. Peter to John Goldestone of Sandwich for ever at a rent of 12d. a year. (fn. 21)
The house was surrendered to the bishop of
Dover in December, 1538. (fn. 22) The property was
worth to the crown 51s. 7d. a year; much of it
was already let out in small holdings; thus
Elizabeth Ingeham and Thomas Gilbert held a
barn, stable, and I acre of pasture for 10s.;
among the other tenants were John Goldestone
and John Trapham. The site, with its appurtenances, was purchased by Thomas Arderne of
Faversham in 1540. (fn. 23)
The seal is an interesting one; it is oval inform, and consists of a patriarchal cross sable
with a key on either side of the shaft of the
cross, a crescent to the right, a star of six points
to the left. The legend, in letters of ancient
form, which has been misunderstood or carelessly
copied by the engraver, runs:—
SI IHOANNIS PATEIAACNP IHEBVSALEM. (fn. 24)