110. THE COLLEGE OF HOLY TRINITY OR THORESBY, LYNN
Thomas Thoresby was a great merchant of
Lynn; his father had been mayor of the town in
1442 and 1456, his grandfather in 1425, and he
was himself mayor in 1477, 1482, and 1502.
The south chancel aisle, with a chapel and tomb,
of St. Margaret's church, was his work; all that
has been swept away, but his memory is
preserved in the college founded by him early in
the sixteenth century.
He directed, by his will, dated 1510, that his
executors were to provide two secular priests
'to sing and do service divine perpetually and
daily ' after his decease, in his chapel in the
church of St. Margaret. He adds by his will to
the endowment of the charnel priest, founded by
his predecessor, Walter Cany, and then continues:
' I will that the said charnel priest and also the
said two priests that shall sing continually for my
soul shall have convenient chambers in the college
newly by me builded in Lynn.'
This college, begun in 1502, (fn. 1) was designed
for the lodgement of these and other priests
serving St. Margaret's church and the chapels of
St. James and St. Nicholas. It was unfinished at
his death, and he left towards its completion 500
marks, or more at the discretion of his executors.
There was to be a master of the college, each
priest' had his chamber, but they had their
commons in the hall. (fn. 2)
The Valor of 1535 mentions 'Trenite College
in Lynne ' in connexion with the Gild of the
Merchants. There was a master with a stipend
of £6 13s. 4d., and two chaplains each with a
stipend of £5 6s. 8d. (fn. 3)
The date of the destruction of this college is
not known. A special commission appointed in
1561 to inquire into the chapels, colleges, and
chantries of Lynn, reported:—
We saye there was a house which was called
Trenytie College, the founder thereof was one
Thomas Thursbye, late of the same town, merchant,
but to what use it was founded we know not, which
college was sold by the mayor of the saide towne to
one (Houghton, now owner thereof.) (fn. 4)