44. THE COLLEGE OF IRTHLINGBOROUGH
In 1353 Sir Simon de Drayton conveyed his
manor in Irthlingborough to John Pyel, citizen
and mercer of London, (fn. 1) who, a few years later,
became possessed of other property in the neighbouring lordships of Cransley, Sudborough, and
at Woodford, where he purchased a moiety of
the manor and the advowson of the church. (fn. 2)
In 1371 John Pyel was appointed one of the
commissioners to Flanders for redressing the
grievances of the English merchants, (fn. 3) and in
the following year he became Lord Mayor of
London. In 1375 he obtained a royal licence
to found in the church of St. Peter, Irthlingborough, a college for six secular canons—one
of whom should be dean—and four clerks, (fn. 4) but
died before his intention was actually carried
out. The design was eventually accomplished
by his widow, Joan, in 1388. (fn. 5)
The letters patent, for which Joan paid a fee
of twenty marks, provided that the abbot and
convent of Peterborough, patrons of the rectory
of St. Peter's, should have alternate patronage
with the heirs of the founders to both canonries
and clerkships. The scheme was not to come
into operation until the death or resignation of
the then rector.
The Lincoln registers supply the names of the
successive deans of Irthlingborough; the other
canons and clerks do not appear to have received
episcopal institution.
In a Peterborough register the presentation by
the abbey of Thomas Othemoor to an Irthlingborough canonry is entered, under date 8 June,
1410, hac vice spectante. (fn. 6) In the same volume
the receipt of the pension of 13s. 4d. from Dean
Martefield is recorded in February, 1411; (fn. 7)
whilst under the year 1416 a full account is
entered of the ordination of the college of
St. Peter, Irthlingborough, with the statutes pertaining to the election of the dean, canons, and
clerks. (fn. 8)
On 29 August, 1534, William Stokes, dean,
Henry Bird, and four other canons, signified
under their common seal submission to the king's
supremacy. (fn. 9)
The Valor of 1535 testifies that the college
was in receipt of rents from Irthlingborough,
Wellingborough, Finedon, and Northampton, to
the extent of £17 16s. 10½d., and £36 from the
rectory of St. Peter's, Irthlingborough. In addition to this it received rents from the parish
of St. Martin's-juxta-Ludgate, London, of £17,
giving a total income of £70 16s. 10½d. Its
outgoings included a pension to the bishop of
Lincoln of 13s. 4d.; to the archdeacon of
Northampton of 3s. 4d., and to the abbot of
Peterborough of 33s. 4d., and 10s. 7d. for procuration and synodals to the archdeacon.
Amongst London outgoings was the sum of 5s.
to the churchwardens of St. Martin's. The
salary of William Stokes, the dean, was
£13 6s. 8d., whilst Giles Cowper, Robert More,
Henry Birch, John Halesworth, and William
Francis, chaplains and fellows, each received
£8. Henry Birch also received an additional
salary of 13s. 4d. for celebrating the divine
offices and administering the sacraments to the
parishioners. Twenty-five shillings were annually
distributed in pence to the poor of Irthlingborough
on the obit or anniversary of Sir Thomas Pyel,
in accordance with the 23rd chapter of the
college statutes. Two clerks of the college (the
number had been reduced from the original four)
each received £4 3s. 4d. The cost of the wax
and oil for use in the church the previous year
was 10s.; and 8s. 11d. had been spent at the
obit of Sir Thomas Cheney. There was a
balance in hand of 3s. 0½d. (fn. 10)
The certificate of Henry VIII. states that the
college of St. Peter's was founded to find a dean
or master and five canons, and 'to kepe hospitalite'; that the college church was the parish
church of Irthlingborough, and served by one
of the canons; that its annual value was
£73 4s. 10d.; that the king's tenths were
£6 9s. 3½d.; rents 61s. 1d.; the master's stipend
£13 6s. 8d.; the five canons £46 13s. 4d.; the
organ player £4; and steward's fees 53s. 4d.,
leaving a balance of 56s. 10½d. The value
of the goods and chattels was estimated at
£6 13s. 4d. (fn. 11)
On the suppression of the college, William
Alcoke and the other canons were granted yearly
pensions of £6, Alcoke's services being also retained as vicar. This pension Alcoke and three
others were still drawing in 1553. (fn. 12)
Deans of Irthlingborough (fn. 13)
Richard Frysseby, died 1400 (fn. 14)
Richard Martefield of Frisby, occurs 1410 (fn. 15)
Thomas More, instituted 1415
John Blaunchierd
Richard Lynne, instituted 1453
Thomas Honyborn
John Townesende, instituted 1483
Roger Tockett, LL.B. instituted 1490
William Rawlyns, instituted 1491
John Wyseberde, instituted 1494
Giles Cowper, instituted 1509
William Taillard, LL.D., instituted 1518
Richard Stocks, S.T.B., instituted 1519
William Lane, LL.B. instituted 1526
William Stokes, instituted 1528
William Alcoke, instituted 1537
Pointed oval seal of the fifteenth century
taken from cast at the British Museum represents a saint seated with defaced emblems in a
canopied niche. An ivy leaf in base.
Legend defaced: SIG . . . COLLES . . . (fn. 16)