17. THE PRIORY OF TAUNTON
The connexion of the Bishops of Winchester
with the manor of Taunton most probably dates
back to the days of the undivided bishopric of
Wessex. In 904 we have a charter of King
Edward, which proves that a settlement of
clergy then existed here. He grants (fn. 243) to Bishop
Denewulf of Winchester for the perpetual freedom and protection of the monastery which is
called Taunton, that it shall be for ever exempt
from royal and comital dues. There are also
three charters of King Athelstan, 938, and King
Edgar, 978, which recognize this endowment,
and make additions to it for the benefit of the
clergy there. (fn. 244)
In 1086 (fn. 245) we find from the Domesday Survey
two priests holding a portion of this estate.
The house of Austin Canons absorbed the
endowment of these priests, and occupied their
place. Its foundation was due to William Giffard,
Bishop of Winchester, about the year 1115,
but its early history is very obscure. About
1180, when the house of Austin Canons at Buckland in Durston was dissolved and the land
granted to the Hospitallers, (fn. 246) the two canons
who lived there were transferred to the priory
at Taunton. We are indebted however to an
inquisition of the king's escheator (fn. 247) of 6 January
1317 for the formal proof of the foundation.
The evidence then given went not merely to
claim William Giffard as the founder, but to
assert a date for the foundation before the time
of King Edmund Ironside, i.e. 1016. This
latter statement of course is impossible, but it
probably points to the fact that the college or
monastery of resident priests which existed
before the Conquest and had been endowed
by the English kings was continued in the later
foundation of the Bishop of Winchester. The
extent of the endowment is therefore to be
judged from the evidence of the later documents.
Prior Stephen (fn. 248) made certain arrangements with
Bishop Reginald, 1174, in reference to the bishop's
claim on the churches that formed the early
endowment of the priory. He granted that
all the churches and chapels belonging to the
priory were to be answerable to the bishop and
his officials, but he reserved as being, with the
house itself, free from these claims the churches
of St. James, Taunton, St. Margaret's 'infirmorum,' Wilton, and St. Peter de Castello.
Ash Priors and Withiel were to be answerable as
mother churches, and the canons who served
those churches were to obey as other clerks in
the diocese would.
On 1 October 1334 (fn. 249) Edward III confirmed
by an inspeximus the charters and grants of the
priory, which by that time numbered 130
charters. Of these the earliest is that of Henry II
who granted the house a charter of confirmation
which gives us a list of the gifts which the
priory had received up to that time. It is
witnessed by Richard de Beaumes, Bishop of
London, who died in 1161. The gift of the
founder is said to have consisted of all the
churches of Taunton with their dependent
chapels, of Kingston Church and its chapel, and
of the churches of Lydeard St. Lawrence,
Angersleigh, and Bishop's Hull. To these
Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester (1129–74),
added the church of Pitminster, and its chapels.
Robert Arundel gave two hides at Ash, and a
church at Ash, which then became known as
Ash Priors. William Fitz Otho gave the
church and land at Willand, in Devonshire,
William de Moion land at Lydeard St. Lawrence,
and Richard de Turberville the church of Dulverton, and land at 'Gelialand' in the parish of
Tolland. Then, by a charter of 17 July 1204,
King John gave to the priory the pastures of
King's Hull in the Quantocks.
In 1249 we find (fn. 250) the archdeacon of Taunton
holding his visitation in the church of St. Mary
Magdalene, and as the confirmation charter of
Henry II refers to the church of St. Peter and
St. Paul, we have here our first evidence of the
existence of the two churches, the priory church
and the parish church. This was also the case
at Keynsham, where there were two distinct
churches, whereas at Bruton the two churches
were structurally one, the parishioners having
the use of the north aisle.
In 1278 (fn. 251) Bishop Bronscombe of Exeter
authorized the canons of Taunton to collect
within this diocese alms for the rebuilding of
the conventual church.
Bishop Drokensford (fn. 252) in April 1314 duly
confirmed by inspeximus the ordination by Bishop
Walter Hasleshaw on 5 November 1308 of the
vicarage of the church of St. Mary Magdalene,
and recognized it as a parish church, Simon de
Lym being the first vicar. To him was assigned
as his stipend a weekly supply of bread and ale
from the convent, 15s. a year, and food for his
horse; he was to receive freely all legacies made
to him in the parish, but to serve at his own cost
by himself or his curate the churches of St. Mary
Magdalene and of Trull, and of the Castle, and
St. George at Wilton, and to find a priest to
reside constantly at Trull. On the other hand
the prior was to provide a secular priest for the
chapels or parish churches of Stoke St. Mary
and Ruishton, and another secular priest for
the churches of Staplegrove, and St. James,
Taunton; also a further secular priest for the
church at Bishop's Hull. At St. James and at
Ruishton, on Sundays and holy days, the prior
might, if his help should be required, send, with
the permission of the bishop of the diocese, some
well reputed of his brethren to help the priest at
mass.
In 1327 the conventual church was not completed, for Bishop Stratford of Winchester (fn. 253)
issued a licence to some of the canons to beg for
alms in his diocese for the completion of the
church, and notified his sanction to the archdeacons of Winchester and Surrey.
Again, in 1335, Ralph of Shrewsbury, (fn. 254) Bishop
of Bath and Wells, allowed the canons to collect
alms in his diocese for a period of two years for
the completion of the new work of the fabric
of the conventual church of the Apostles St.
Peter and St. Paul, and he further, in 1337,
granted an indulgence to all those who contributed to the completion of the conventual
church.
In the Taxatio of 1291 (fn. 255) we find the prior
in possession of the churches of Taunton (seven
in number) and of Pitminster, Nynehead, Kingston, Combe Florey, West Monkton, Thurlbear,
Lydeard St. Lawrence, Ash Priors, and the
advowsons of Angersleigh, Runnington, Thurloxton, Willand and Clannaborough.
In 1340 (fn. 256) they obtained from Nicholas de
Beleville an interest in the manor of Dulverton,
amounting to one-third, to which, however,
was attached a payment of 10 marks to the Prior
and convent of Bisham, and 5 marks for the
chapel of Donyatt. The Valor of 1535 (fn. 257) give
us the value of the lands, tenements, and rents
of the priory as £286 8s. 10d.
The priory never seems to have consisted of
more than twenty-six canons at a time. That
number was recorded in 1339, (fn. 258) at the time of
the election of Robert de Messingham as prior.
At later times, in 1377 (fn. 259) and in 1476, (fn. 260) fifteen
canons are recorded. At the time of the dissolution (fn. 261) there were twelve canons, all of whom
received pensions. In 1315 we find that the
priory had received Richard Engayne, (fn. 262) a Knight
Templar, as a prisoner on the dissolution of his
order, for whose maintenance the Crown was
paying.
In 1332 (fn. 263) the conventual church was polluted
by bloodshed, and Bishop Ralph issued a commission to Roger, the prior, to purify it. On
19 March 1342 (fn. 264) Bishop Ralph sanctioned a
morning mass for St. Mary Magdalene's Church.
This seems to indicate the completion of the new
conventual church, and the distinct separation
of the worship of the townsfolk from that of the
canons.
In 1351 (fn. 265) a letter written by Bishop Ralph
to the vicar of St. Mary Magdalene seems to
point to inappreciation on the part of the parishioners of West Monkton of the ministry of
one of the canons acting as rector in their church.
They were flocking to the church of St. Mary
Magdalene, and the vicar was ordered to refuse
them admission to his church.
In 1345 Canon John de Payton (fn. 266) was pardoned
for a rape on the wife of Hugh de Holdon and
for robbing him of his goods, and in 1353 (fn. 267)
Bishop Ralph had to interfere on account of
the evil conduct of one of the canons, Robert
Cundyt. In his late visitation of the house,
the bishop had discovered that he, as one of
the obedientiaries, had been disobedient to
the prior, wasteful of the goods of the priory,
and guilty of immorality. His rebellious conduct
made his removal necessary for the good order
of the house, and he was transferred, under the
instructions of the bishop, for stricter custody
into the hands of the prior and convent of St.
German's, Cornwall.
In 1377, (fn. 268) again we find Bishop Harewell
holding a commission of inquiry into the affairs
of the convent. Walter Grateley the prior
and fifteen canons were present, and the commission had to inquire into certain controversies
and discords that had arisen, and disobediences
which had been shown towards Walter the
prior whose age, weakness of body, and great
simplicity seem to have made him unable to
maintain good discipline. Grateley, as the
result of this inquiry, was induced to resign,
and the next year John de Kyngesbury was
elected prior in his place.
Prior Kyngesbury in 1382 (fn. 269) had to bring
an action against the abbey of Glastonbury in
reference to the Bathpool Mills on the River
Tone, a short distance below the priory. These
mills had been rebuilt in 1364, and commanded
more than ever the flow of the water of the
river. The priory complained that boats and
fish were obstructed in their course up and
down between Taunton and Bridgwater, and
the abbey was compelled to make arrangements
that would satisfy them.
The celebrated William of Wykeham, Bishop
of Winchester, did not forget the priory (fn. 270) in
his will, leaving them in 1403 100 marks as a
gift that they might pray for his soul. On 1
March 1415 (fn. 271) Thomas Ulfcome the prior
received a papal indult for a portable altar.
In 1452 Bishop Beckington, on the report of
a visitation commission, ordered the sub-prior
to improve the supply of bread and cheese for
the canons. (fn. 272) Another commission of inquiry
was issued in 1459. (fn. 273)
In 1499 the Prior of Taunton, in a bull granted
by Pope Alexander VI, gained the privilege (fn. 274)
of using the ring, the pastoral staff, and other
pontifical ornaments, except the episcopal mitre,
and of pronouncing solemn benediction after
mass, vespers and compline; also of admitting
to minor orders the canons and choristers of
the said monastery.
In 1524 one of the canons of Taunton, William
Grendon, was elected Prior of Stavordale, a
small house of Austin Canons near Wincanton. (fn. 275)
Stavordale was never rich, its finances had been
badly managed, and external help was needed.
Grendon had not been prior for many years
before he induced his fellow canons to desire a
union of their house with that at Taunton, and
on 9 April 1533 (fn. 276) Henry VIII sanctioned this
union and placed the cell of Stavordale and six
canons under the authority of William Yorke,
Prior of Taunton. The next year saw a change
of priors. William Wyllyams (or Andrewes)
had succeeded William Yorke, and on 15 September 1534 the prior and fourteen canons
subscribed to the act of the King's Supremacy.
On 12 February 1539 the prior and canons
surrendered their house and all its possessions
into the hands of the royal commissioner, John
Tregonwell. The deed is signed by William
Wyllyams, the prior, and William Gregory, the
sub-prior, and ten canons. (fn. 277) The same day
somewhat substantial pensions were assigned.
The prior received £60 a year; the sub-prior
£10 William Dale was allowed £5 6s. 8d.
which was to be deducted from his stipend of
£8 8s. as vicar of St. James. Similar pensions
of £5 6s. 8d. were allowed to William Baylye,
Nicholas Beram, John Heywarde, Thomas
Matthewe, William Parson, John Warren,
William Brinsmede, William Culronde and
John Cockeram. The pension list for the first
half-year is signed by Thomas Cromwell, and
the three commissioners John Tregonwell,
William Petre, and John Smith.
In Cardinal Pole's pension list of 1553 (fn. 278) we
find the same list of names, with the exception
of Thomas Matthewe and William Culronde.
During the years 1540 and 1542 Leland, (fn. 279) the
antiquary, passed through Taunton, and, as was
his wont, inspected the library. He mentions
among the books three which seem to him rare,
namely Chronicon Ivonis, Philaretus de Pulsibus
and Theophilus de Urinis.
Priors of Taunton
Stephen, occurs 1159 . . . 1189 (fn. 280)
Robert, occurs 1197 (fn. 281)
John, occurs 1204 (fn. 282)
John, occurs 1313 (fn. 283)
Stephen de Pycoteston, died 1325 (fn. 284)
Ralph de Culmstok, elected 1326, (fn. 285) resigned
1339 (fn. 286)
Robert de Messingham, elected 1339, died
1346 (fn. 287)
Thomas Cok or le Coke, elected 1346, occurs
1353 (fn. 288)
Thomas de Pederton, died 1362 (fn. 289)
Walter de Grateley, elected 1362, (fn. 290) resigned
1377 (fn. 291)
John de Kyngesbury, elected 1378, died
1391 (fn. 292)
Walter Coke, elected 1391, died 1408 (fn. 293)
Robert Newton, elected 1408, died 1413 (fn. 294)
Thomas de Ufculme, elected 1413, occurs
1429 (fn. 295)
Thomas Benet, occurs 1438 (fn. 296)
Richard Glene or Gleve, occurs 1449, died
1476 (fn. 297)
John Asshe or Ayshent, elected 1476 (fn. 298)
John Prous or Prowse, elected 1492, (fn. 299) resigned 1514, (fn. 300) died 1519
Nicholas Peper, elected 1514, died 1523 (fn. 301)
William Yorke, nominated 1523 (fn. 302)
William Wyllyams or Andrewes, 1533–9 (fn. 303)
The 13th-century seal of the Austin Canons'
Priory of St. Peter and St. Paul at Taunton (fn. 304)
is a vesica, 2¾ in. by 15/8 in. It shows two niches,
with St. Peter in the right, holding his keys and
the model of a church, and in the left St. Paul
with his sword. The legend is:—
+ S. S[ANCTORUM] APOSTOLOR[UM] PETRI ET PAVLI TANTONIESIS
E[CCLESIE].