272
INVENTORIES OF (I.) ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL OR
MA.ISON DIEU, DOVER; (II.) THE BENEDICTINE.
PRIORY OF ST. MARTIN NEW-WORK, DOVER, FOR
MONKS; (III.) THE BENEDICTINE PRIORY OF
SS. MARY .A.ND SEXBURG.A., IN THE ISLAND OF
SHEPEY, FOR NUNS.
WITH ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES
BY MACKENZIE E. C. WALCOTT, B.D., F.R.S.L., F.S.A.,
FRJECENTOR AND PREBENDARY OF CHICHESTER CATHEDRAL.
I RECENTLY found among the miscellaneous collections
of MSS. in the Public Record Office several inventories
of religious houses, during researches for my ' Cathedral
Cities of England and Wales.' Those hitherto unpublished
among these very interesting accounts I have contributed
to other publications, but the residue, three in
number, I have the pleasure now to communicate to
the 'Archreologia Cantiana,' as they relate to houses in.
Kent, two being severally those of a Nunnery and a
Maison Dieu, and, as far as my experience goes, unique.
Such lists have been called, with more pithiness than
injustice, the skeletons of monastic history; for it requires
only a slight stretch of imagination, and a little
thought, to reproduce the va1-ious chambers with their
furniture complete, and present to the mind's eye a
true and vivid portraiture of their inner aspect and
domestic arrangemeD:ts. No description so complete
has ever come under my notice. I regret that from
ST. MARY 'S HOSPITAL, OR MAISON DillU. 2~,3
-the destruction of .documents it is out of my power
-to contribute any information with regaTd to the interna.
l working of a Maison Dieu; but the injunctions
to Romsey Abbey, which I published in the ~ Gentleman's
Magazine' (-vol. xiv. N.S. ), and the Custumals of
Westminster Abbey and Bury St. Edmund's, analysed
by me from MSS. in the Bl'itish Museum, fully illustrate
the home-life of the Benedictines, which hitherto
has been gleaned from the Durham rites as they existed
only at the period immediately preceding the Refo1·mation,
and scanty notices scattered up and down monastic
chronicles. _
The illustrative notes I have either drawn principally
from primary MS. sources, or tested carefully by the
opinions of English writers ·of standard authority, riot
leaning absolutely, as is too frequently the custom, upon
_the Gallican experiences of Du Cange.
I. ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, OR MAISON DIBU.
The Maison Dieu was a hospital for the reception of
poor priests, pilgrims, and strangers, both men and wo•
men ; and there were similar establishments, the Holy
Trinity at Arundel (now in ruins)1, at Portsmouth (\'vhere
the hall and chapel remain), and at Southampton~ where
-St. Julian's Norman Chapel has been lately restored, and
the Early English gateway remains.2
The arrangement of the buildings was simple, consisting
of a large hall, with lateral chambers, and termin~
ting in a chapel; the plan may be seen in St. Mary's
Chichester, in Browne's, at Stamford, and in hospitals af
Wells and Sherborne. In the present instance, a northwest
belfry-tower, and a sacristy on the north-east also
l'emain. The arches which opened into the rooms on
. the north si~e of the hall are now closed up.
1 Tierney, p. 662. Wilks' Hants, vol. ii. p. 280.
VOL, VII. T
274 INVENTORY OF
We find notices of the Great Chamber called the
Hostry, and a little chamber within it; Sir Peer's Chamber
and the chamber over the water; the • Maste1·'s
chamber and stables; the Kitchen, Infirmary, Garner,
brewhouse, bakehouse, etc.
The alms at Portsmouth included fourscore pounds
out of the temporal lands, out of which was maintained
a chaplain, priest, and . six· poor men, and six poor men
received each six.pence a· weelt, and every fortnight seven
loaves of bread and five gallons of ale.1
The pillage extended to the Friaries, and the Suffra;.
gan delivered up at Dove1·, in gilt plate, M u:Q xxxvi
oz., in parcell gilt, M rx:Q xxiiij oz., and in white plate,
vQ viii oz. ; in all nn¥ mQ Ix.viii oz. 2
Tke Inventory of all such goods ~nd catalls u.s be in the liouse
called tlie MEABON · DE DiEu, of DouvE1t, and of all catell,
tlie which wer of tlte late Master and brethren, ther taken
by JoeN ANTONY8, ~er.vant to the most wursltipfull Mastfff
CRUMWELL, Secretary to the l(yngs H.'1/!Jhnes, the xxiii daie
of Jannuarye, tke xxvjt~: yere of the reiune of Kyng Henry
tlte viiith•
PLATE. first, iij gylt cbalyses, with ij patens ana ij gylt
sponys, wherof one chalyce is coper and gylt, waying xli1
uncs.
Item, ij olde fasshon pieces, with ij covers, parcell gylt, waying
lx uncs.
Item, iij pownst4. pecys of silver, waying x:::x.j uncs.
Item, iij parcell gilt saltts, with a cover, waying xv uncs.
1 MS, Inventory, p. 810, fo. 237. 2 MS. Inv. of Friaries, fo. 3$.
3 He was on.e -0£ the visitors of monasteries (2 Cranmer, p. 271).
4 Pownced, punched, punctured, stippled, stamped, or pricked, by wn,y
of ornamentation. .A. pouncet-box was a perforated perfume-box, and a
pouncer was need by gravers. This kind of work was called pownsonnez
or pon9onnee in French, and in Latin :,ponsatum. (See ' .A.rchiaologio.,'
vol. xxix. p. 55.) PoWlll!on is rendered puncto in the 'Promptorium Parvu.
lorum,' vol. ii. p. 411. The word occurs also in the M:S. Inventory of
Whalley. . •
sT. MARY'S HOSPITAL, OR MAISON nmu. 275
Item, ij standyng Ouppys, parcell gylt, with a cover, waying
xv u.ncs.
Item, iij dosen of sylver sponys, waying xxvj uncs.
Item, a Cruett of sylver, parcell gilt, and a nut with a cover
of sylver, parcell gylt, weying xv uncs.
_ Item, iiij Saltts, parcell gylt, with ij covers, waying xxxiii
uncs.
Item ij littell potts with covers of sylver, parcell gylt, and a
flatt piece of sylver, parcell gylt, weying xxiiij uncs.
Item, iij dosen of sylver sponys, weying :xxiij uncs.
Item, ij sponys of sylve1· gylt, waying .
Item, v grete masers with small bonds of sylver and gylt,
and a littell olde nut with a bonde of sylver and gylt, and a
littell bonde of sylver and gylt, waying in all lx: uncs.
Item, ij Nutts with ij covers of sylver and gylt, and tb.e seid
Nutts garnysshid with sylver and gylt, waying xxx.iij uncs.
Item, iiij Masers, whereof iij of them be with gylt bonds, and
the fourth with a sylver bonde, dailye occupied, waying
xxiiij uncs.
Item, ij Masers with brode bands, sylver and gylt, and a. litell
maser with a fote and a small bande, sylver and gylt, way~
ing xvi.ii. uncs.
Item, ij small masers • with brode bands of sylver and gilt,
waying lx uncs. .
Item, a stone pot and a nut, garnysshid with silver and gilte,
with ij covers of sylver and gilt, waying :x:v uncs. •
Item, a standyng Cuppe with a. cover and a goblet with a
cover all gilt, weying xx:iii uncs.
Tu THE V E:STRYE.1 First, iij chalyces of sy lvei· and gylt, and one
other of coper and gylt, waying lxiii uncs.
Item, j chalice and a pa:xe2 of sylver, parcell gylt, waying xv
un.cs.
Item, ij candlestycks of sylver, parcell gylt, waying xx un.cs.
1 Richard. de la Wyche, the canomzed bishop of Chichester, consecrated_
St. Edmund's .Altar in the Maison Dieu on Mid-Lent Sunday,
• 1253, m the presence of King Henry III. The Chapel was dedicated to
St. Mary in 1227.
2 Pax, "asser ad paoem," or oscu1atory, "tabu1a ad osculandum ''-a
tablet of wood or round :inetal plate, which the priest kissed and gave to
the people for the same purpose nfter the consecration, instead of the
.ancient kiss of charity.
T2
276 • • • INVENTORY OF
Item, ij cruetts, whereof one is of byrrall,1 garnyshsshed with
sylver and gilt, and the other sylver and gylt, .waying vij
uncs. d. i. •
Item, ij • Sensers, and a ship2 of sylver, parcell gylt, waying
lxxv uncs.
Item, ij basens of sylver, parcell gylt, waying x:x:xix uncs.
Item, a Crosse of Coper and gylt, with certeyn sylve;r plate
about the same.
Item, iiij Corporasses3 with ther casys of clothe of golde and
sylver.
Item, iiij Corporasses and ther casys, daylye occupied.
Item, iij Cortens of grene sylke.
Item, ii Copes of black velvet, with a vestment for a preyst,
decon, and subdeakon, with that that apperteynith.
Item, v copys of cloth gold, with a vestment4 for a priest, de~
con, and subdeakon, with thappurtenances6 the grownde of
blewe velvett.
Item, ij .copys of crymson velvet, olde, with a vestment for a
preyst, decon, and subdekan, with thappurtenances.
Item, a cope with a vestment for a preyst, decon, and suhde.- .
'con, with thappurtenances of grene clothe ofbawdekyn.
Item, j cope of whyte sylke, embrodered with byrds of grene
sylke, w:ith a vestment for a preist, decon, and subdecori,
wi~h thappurtenances.
1 Beryl designated both the precious stone and fine glass, like erystal.
2 The incense-boat; furnished with a spoon.
3 Corporas,-a consec~ated white linen cloth, used in the service of the
altar and placed over its ordinary covering!! ; upon it the chalice and h.ost
rested. (See Arch. Cant. V. p, 70, note 2.) The technical name of the embroidered
case was" thecn.," "bursa,''" repositorium," etc.
4 Vestment was the technical name for a suit of mass-robes for priest,
deacon, and subdeacon-the chasuble, dalmatic, and tunicle. The cope
(from cop, a covering), which resembled an ample cloak, was used in processions.
(Durandi Ration. lib. iii. c. 1; Canons, 960, c .. 88.) The chasuble
(casula, a little house), like the ancient trabea, wns of rich texture, with
an aperture for the head in the centre, nnd hanging down on every side
,.rumost to the ground; the dalmatic, so called from a robe of state worn
in Dalmatia, was shorter, and open at the sides, which terminated in
angles, and had wide sleeves and two stripes of embroidery; 'the tuniole
·WM without embroidery, and the sleeves w~re narrower, and ~he whole
.dress of le11s dimensions. The dalmatic was not worn.by the Cistercians.
,{l\:fartine de Ant. Mon. Rit .. iv. p. '18,) . .
6 Appurtenances or appendages, viz. the aibe, . amice, stole, maniple,
and girdle.
ST. A!ARY's HOSPITAL, OR- MAISON nmu. 277
Item, a vestment for a priest and decon ~f red sylke, embrowdered
with byrds of golde, with thappurtenances.
Item,j red vestment with thappurtenances ofbawkekyn1 worke,
olde.
Item, j vestment of red damaske, with the appurtenances.
Item, j vestment of purple velvet, with the appertenances.
Item, j vestment of white damaske with a grene Crosse, with
the appurten.ances.
Item, j vestment of red sylke, with the appurtenances.
Item, j olde vestment of black velvet for a priest and decon,
with the appurtenances.
Item, xii copys of red satten of brugs.
Item, xj copys of whyte bustian, imbrodered with red rosys of
saye2 and cloth. .
Item, iij copys of grene sylke, old bawdkyn worke.
Item, j vestment of red sylke, bawdkyn worke, with the appurtenances.
Item, j vestment of olde whyte fustyan, with a Grosse of red
saye, with the appurtenances.
Item,-ix: olde vestments, with all thyng thereto belongyng, occupied
da.:ilye.
Item, iij olde carpetts, of tapestreye, to be laid before the
aulter.
Item, ij carpetts of red wollen, and ij whyte wollen and iij
other carpetts, to be laid before aulters.
Item, ii cusshous made of an olde cope, and ij other olde
cusho:μs.
IN THE GREAT CHAMBER CALLED THE HoOSTRYE.8 First, in the
. same chamber iiij tables, ij payer of trestylls, ij old Gentyshe4-
• 1 Bawdkyn (like the Italian baldaccM,-no, a canopy), cloth of gold from
Bagdad, Babylon, or Baldacoa, whence the first rich stuffs of this kind
were imported. (Vincent of Beauvais, 1. xxxii. c. 80.)
2 Saye, a kind of woollen cloth, or serge, made in large quantities at
Sudbm'Y, near Colchester.
n The Guest House, or reception chambe1·, still remaining. The word
in the Inventory of Hales Owen Abbey is spelt Ostre, and.Ostripanes are
mentioned at Rochester (Oustum. Roff. p. 25). The Black Hostry at
Ely adjoined the Infirmary. In the Hostry of Whalley I nnd mentioned
the chief chamber, the parlour beneath, the lady chamber, the gallery
chamber, the -bishop's chambers, and the King's receiver's chambei·s.
(MS. Invent. p. :no.) · • ·
4 In the custom t1ecount.s of Sandwich, temp. Henry VIII., six "Ken tish"
278 INVENTORY OF
carpetts, j long setall, iiij formes, j littell olde cubbord, iij
tornyd cheyres, with. iiij olde cusshyns, and j olde wyrrea
stole, a payr of andyrons with a fyre fo:rke, and a lyttell olde
chest, wherein is one olde Gentyshe coverlet.
Item, a grete bedsted, with a testure of wod, a fetherbed, and.
a coverlet of verdour.
Item, a littell bedsted with a fetherbed, and an olde coverlet.
IN TH'E LITTELL CHAID3ER WITHIN THE :S:oosTRYE. First, j bedstede,
a fetherbed, an olde blanket, a coverlet of verdour,
olde, a littell olde quylt, a testour1 of saye, with cortens of the
same, and hangyngs of the chamber of olde saye, payntted,
ij torned cheyres with one olde cusshon.
Item, j OTH:ER LITTEL OJI.AMDER, wherein is j bedstede and an
olde fetherbed.
IN THE CHAMBER OVER THE WATER. First, in the same chamber
ij tables, ij formes, and j torned cheyer.
Item, IN TRE .CHAMBER WITHIN THAT a bedstede, with j olde
fether-bed and j olae coverlet of tapystry, with a. testme
and curteyns of other whyte clothe.
Item, an olde presse, wherein lieth a.n old quylt, an olde coverlet
of tapyatrye, and j coverlet of red wollen, very olde.
Item, ANOTIDl& LITTELL c:Etil1BER WITHIN THAT, ij bedsted.s, j olde
matteras,8 and j olde Iittell fetherbed.
IN TfIE CHAMBER CALLED Sm PE:Fm's3 CB:AM:SER. First, ij bedsteds,
ij fetherbedds, j olde coverlet.
N Al'ERYE IN THE CUSTODY OF JOHN ENYVERS WIFE,4 First, xx:x:
payr of Canvass sheats, xij olde pa.yr of olde sheets. Item,·
v payrs and j sheete for the Hoostrye. Item, v payr of olde
sheets for the Fir:merye. 5 Item, x pylowes, with vj pyllowberes.
carpets occur, and in the Booke of New Rates, 2 Jn:mes I., are Eruns•
wick, China, Gentish, and Turkey carpets. Ther.o is an instance of the
latter in the Prior's Chamber of the New-Work.
1 Teeater, rendered capitellum in..the 'Prompt()?ium.,' vol. iii. p .. 489. It
was the upper hanging over a bed. The word also -0cou.rs for horse-eq_ui•
page or hou.sings, Ward.robe Issue, 6 Edw. III., 5 Ric. :a., and o. cover for
a " :mail,'' 1322.
2 The matras occurs in the Inventory of J. Pulteney's effects, 25 :Edw.
ID.· Matras coopert. de oarde Yndey, ~atras paley, matras de cirpis
1n:eo. 4 den .
•
3 The guest chambers were usually called after the name of some·person,
probably a former occupant of distinction.
• :l John Enyver wus one of the brethren of the hospital.
6 The Infirmary.
ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, OR MAISON DJEU. 279
Item, vj table cloths of playne clothe, very olde, dailye occu~
pied. Item, iiij towells of playne clothe, very olde. Item,
iij olde dyape:r clothes and ij diapre towells, with xij diaper
napkins, very olde. Item, ij in woll, by estimacyon xx:x:
quarters.
IN THE °K.ECHYN. First, vj brnsse pot.ta, j grete ketell of coper
and vij other ketells, iiij gredyrons, and .:x: spytts, grete and
small, ij trevetts, with another grete ketell with an iron
bande, xl platters, x dishes, xx sawcers, n podyngers.1
IN A. CHEST IN THE NEWE KF.oB.YN. First, xv grete platters
of the sylver fasshon, :x: large disshes of the sylver fashon, viij
small disshes of the sylver fasshon. Item, vj other disshes,
with the gxete chargers.
IN THE l.\f.ASTER's 0HAMBER, First, platters of sylver fashion
'Vj, disshes v, podyngers xii, sawcers vi. Itelll of another
sorte, xij platters, xij disshes.
IN THE MasTER's STAEJ,E, ij sorell9 geldyngs, a white nag, a
black nag.
IN THE STA.BLE FOR THlil BEST CA.RT HonsEs. ij grey horses,
a black horse, a sorell horse, a sorell geldyng.
IN THE SECOND STA.BLE, One sorell geldyng, ij grey geldyngs,
j black geldyng, j white geldyng.
IN THE FERMERY, For power preystes iij bedds, for power
men ix: bedds, for power women ij beds.
IN THE GaEDENER.3 x quarters of whete.
1N · THE B:auEROUSE. 1 quarters of malt, and all thyng belongyng
to a bruehouse.
IN THE BA.KEROUSE. .A.ll thyng and implements thereunto belongyng.
IN THE BARNES. Of whete, by estimacyon, xx quarters; of
barleye, by estimacyon, :x:x:x: quarters ; of tares, by estimaoyon,
xx coppes; of heye, by estimacyon, v or vj lodes.
Oatell pertaynyng to the house and being ther. Fyrst, iij
mylke kyne, j bore, iij sowes, :xvj lyeware, called yong
h<>ggs.
Shape remaynyng in ther owne hands. ll'irst, in ewys r di.
:x.xiij. Item, wethers iiiic viij. Item, teggs iic :tlv.
1 Podynge:i;s, porr~ngers. The word is spelt Podegares in the Inv. of
Langley Priory, 14.85.
2 A sorell denoted a kind of horse, 32 :Edw, HI.
A co1·ruption of gru:ner or granm:y.
280 INVENTORY OF ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL.
Shepe put out to farme. First to William Haman,· of Ewell.,
xx ewes. Item to Thomas Peper, of Oharlton, lxiii wethers.
Item to John Stelman, of St. Margarett's, xxx ewes. Item
to ffag, of Dudmanston, iic v wethers . .
Catell remaynyng in Romney Marsshe. First, xx lene bullocks
of Northern Ware. . Item, viij contrey bullocks at the
stacke. Item, iij fat oxen for the larder. Item, ij kyen.
Item, iiij lene contrey bullocks. Item, viii maryes,1 young
and olde. Item, iij staggs of ii yeres age. Item, iij coltts
of i yere of age. Item, j mare of ii yeres of age. Item, vj
fat wethers. Item, v barens. Item, xxiij lene ware. Item,
teggs xxij.
Oatell remaynyng at Whitfelde, beyng in their owne hands.
First, xx yong oxen; xij bullocks of iij yeres of age, xiij
bullocks of ii yere of age, xx:x:v kyen, xv calvys, vii yong
hoggs, j colt, coloured baye.
Redy mony left by the late master, xxiv li. vijs. vjd.
Sum. The weight of all sylver, one with thother, VC xxvii
uncs and. di.
The weight of the masers and nuts, clix uncs.
The some of all shep~, one with another, m11 vie.
The some of all bullocks and kyen, cxix.
The same of mares and ·coltts, xv.
The some of horse and geldyng, xiiij.
Per me dom. Henr. W odd; per me dom Will: Coorte; per me
dom. John Burnell; per me dom. William N owle; per me
John Evyner.2
1 Mares.
2 The master and brethren of St. Mary's Hospital, or Maison Dieu, acknowledged
the supremacy Dec. 1534 ; their names were John Clarke,
master; dom. Henry Wood, William Coorte, dom. John Burnell, dom.
William Nowlde, and John Enyver. (Dep. Keeper's 8th Report, p. 285,
App. ii.) It was surrendered Dec. 11, 36 Henry VIII., by Henry Wood,
John Burnell, William Noole, and John Thompson. (Ibid. p.19, App. ii.)
The latter name is that of the master, as appears from the title of the Inventory
of St. Martin's; was his alias EnyvcrP John Clarke, master of
the Hospital, according to Holinshed, built c. 1500, a round tower at the
S.W. part of the bay, to shelter it from winds, and .enable ships to lie
moored to it, and this "corner" was, in consequence, called "Little Para.
dise," - His· successor, John Thomson, when Rector of St. John's in 1538,
built a pier in the harbour.
PRIORY OF ST. MARTIN, DOVER. 281-
II. PRIORY OF ST. MARTIN, DOVER.
The excellent plan of St. Martin's Priory contributed
by Dr. Plumptre, Master of University College, Oxford,
to the 'Archreologia Cantiana ' (Vol. IV. p. 26 ), leaves
those who follow him little to add ; but I venture to
differ from the arrangements which he has propos~d,
by suggesting, in conformity with examples that are
well known, that the Guest House was on the west
side of the Cloister, and the building northward of
the Refectory was the Dormitory continued, whilst the
In.firmary ran eastward from its extremity, the outer or
south wall being indicated by him, and the buildings
parallel to the Refectory formed the brewhouses, bakehouses,
a1:1d similar adjuncts of the ifonastery. The
detached Guest· Hall, as he calls it, I believe rather to
have been the Prior's Hall.
The buildings mentioned in the Inventory are the
Choir, Vestry, Prior's own Chamber, Prior's Chapel,
Prior's Great Chamber, White Chamber, Prior's Inner
Parlour, the Outer Parlour, Vawt for Dinner, the Buttery,
Kitchen, Schoolmaster's Chambers, and R. Elam's
Chamber.
An inventory of all the Jewells, Plate, and OrnaJments, belong
·in-g unto the Ohurche of the PRYORY]! OF SAINT MARTYN
OF. THE • N EWE W ORKE OF DoVER, 1 as of all other Moveable
Goods withi;n, the same P'l"IJO?'ye belongyng, made the last clay
: 1 .A.t St. Martin's New Work, a Benedictine Priory, and cell of Canterbury
Cathedral, the Royal Supremacy was acknowledged Dec. 1584, ~y
.John, the Prior, Giles Springwell, dom. Thomas Vertu, dom. Robert Ben1t,
dom. Thomas Lemm, Anthony Stowell, Christopher Lambert, dom. Antony
N orborn, dom . .Alexander Dover, dom. Ralph Fulwell, Thomas de la
Hale, and John Thorntun. (Dep. Keeper's 8th Report, p. 285, App. ii.)
It\vas surrendered Nov. 16, 27 Henry VIII., by John Lambert, al. Folkstone,
P_rior; Giles Honywood, Antony Roger, al. Norborn, Thomas Wyle,
al. Vertu, Robert Talage, al. Benit, Ralph Butler, al. Fulwell, John Ward,
al. Tho1-nton, and Anthony Pebworth, al. Stowell. (Dop. Keeper's Report,
p. 20, App. ii.)
282 INVENTORY OF THE
of Octobm·, vn the o;revj ye1·e of the Re!igne of ou1· 80'!Je?·aigne
Lard King Henry fh,e VIII1", by 0RYSTOFER lliLEs,1 Generall
.Attorney of our Sove1·aigne L01·de the King, (Jfr1,d Sm Jomr
TOMPSON, Master of the Masondew of Dover aforesaiae, Oom'
fllllJssionm·s thM·ewiito assigned.
PLATE A.ND JEWELS IN THE QuEYRE A.ND V ESTYERE. First, j
crosse of sylver with the crucifi:x:, Marye and John, of silver
and parcell gilte. Item, ij chalics with the patents of sylver
and gylte. Item, j chalice with j paten of sylver parcell
gylte. Item, j senser of sylver parcell gylt. Item, j pa:x:e
of sylver and gylte with the crucifu:, Marye and John, par~
cell gylte. Item, j shyppe2 of sylver parcell gylte. Item, j
small spone belongyng to the same shyppe of sylver. Item,
j crewytts of sylver parcell gylte. Item, j olde relique partly
covered with sylver plate, and the residewe with cooper and
gylte. Item, j pyx3 of cooper and gilt, with certen reliques
therein conteyned. Item, j litle dubell crosse of wood plated
with sylver. Item, j basson" of lattyn gylted. Item, j payre
of orgaynes.
CooPES A.ND VESTMENTS, Item, j vestment, ij tynacles, ii
coopes of blew.a bawdkyn with the crosses, orfers,6 and borders
of tyssewe, with iij olde aulbes to the same. Item, j
olde vestment, ij tynacles, ij coopes with crosse, orfers, and.
borders of redd bawdkyn withoute aulbes. Item, ij olde
vestments, ij tynacles of whyte velvet, j coope of the same
velvet embrodered with redd rosses, orfors, and crosses of
redd velvet without aulbes. Item, j olde coope of blewe
baudekyn counterfett. Item, j vestment embrodered with
crosses of golde. Item, ij olde tynacles of redd velvet with~
out aulbes. Item, j vestment, ij tynacles with aulbes. Item,
1 Sir Christopher Hales was a Justice of Kent, and in the commission
for refounding Canterbury Cathedral. (2 Cranmer, 349, 898.) He was supposed
t<> favour the Romanists. (Foxe's .A.cts, p. 1869.)
2 To hold incense.
a A. pyx for the 'l?ody of Obrist, for reservation, was required by Gray' e
Constit11tion, 1250, c. 1.
◄ This basin was for holding the light suspended over the altar; they
are frequently mentioned in capitular statutes and inventories.
• 6 A. corruption of orfrey (a.urifrigium), orfrea (Low Latin), orfra.is
(French), the embroidered collar or border of a vestment. M6nage derives
the word from" aui·um Phrygium," Phrygia being famous for its excellent
embroiderers.
PRIORY OF ST. MARTIN, DOVER. 283
j coope of whyte tyssew with a crosse of redd tyssewe. Item,
j-old vestment, ij tynacles, with aulbes the1·eto belo:t;1ging of
redd satten with crosses and borders of clothe of golde.
Item, ij olde tynacles, viij coopes of red bawdkyn counterfett,
with orfers of divers cullours of silke without aulbes. Item,
j coope of redd tyssewe with orfre and imagery embrodered.
Item, ij olde coopes of redd bawdkyn with orfre of imagery
of silke embrodered. Item, j olde coope of grene bawdkyn
with or.fire of imagery of sylke embrodered. Item, j olde
vestment, ij tynacles of grene sarsnett wrought with small
rosses of golde and silke, with aulbes the same. Item, j olde
vestment, ij tynacles of purper1 silke, braunchyd, wrought,
and embrodered with rings and bisshoppes hedds. Item, j
olde vestment, ij tynacles of redd bawdkyn counterfett.
Item, v olde aulbes, j of redd velvet wrought with rosses and
leves embrodered, j other aulbe with roses, the iijrd with
starres, the iiijth with imagery, branches of birds, the vth
with birds and skuttchyns of arms. Item, j olde aulbe of
blewe of St. Thomas Worsted. 2 Item, j olde aulbe of whyte
velvyt, wrought and embrodered with red rosses and imagery.
Item, j olde antipane8 of an awlter of werder,4 wrought with
image of Saint Ing·nacius. Item, j olde frunte of whyte
bawdekyn, wrought with the imagery of the Crucifix, Mary
and John. Item, j olde frynge of redd velvet of image
wrought and embrodered with golde, j awter clothe to the
same fyxed of diaper. Item, j olde antipane, wrought and
brodered with golde and s:roalle sede6 of perles, with an awter
1 Purple.
~ W orstede manufactured first at W orated, Norfolk, or there first
brought into celebrity. In 16 Edw. II. we find the standards of the
English ·army made of "Paunde Worstede ou .Ailesham ;" and in the
second year of that king" 2. ulni Bargee de W orthested'' were bought for
vhe shoes of "Lord Henry and· his sister."
3 Ante-pane, the frontal, from Latin ante lllldpannu.l'.
4 Verdour, a-hanging represont-ing trees rather than figures.
6 Sede, seeded, or powdered. So we find" cyphum deauratum et seminatum
de aymall" among the king's valuables, Jan. 22. (2 Edw. III.)
These pearles were probably beads or artificial pearls, such as Edward II.
ordered for Compeyre, the minstrel of Sir Henry de Suley, when 20,000
perles vermaleis cost only-6s. Bd.; gilt perles for the figure of a leopard,
blo.ok pearles for "purfiland," and pearls "Indicis et albis pro rostris et
uugulis et oculis" of· t,he animal (16 Edw. TI.) ; the workwomen were
called "perlat1.'ices," Pearle of damask gold occur in a tailor's bill. (1
Edw, VI.)
284 INVENTORY OF THE
clothe of diaper fyxed. Item, ij olde awter clothes coarse
of diaper. Item, ij olde curtyns of whyte sarsnett frenged
with sylke. Item, j canapy of blewe bawdekyn frynged with
sylke of divers culers. Item, viij olde clothes plane. Item
j pell1 of counterfett red bawdekyn. Item, ijj olde grene
palls of silke. Item, v cushyons of tawny sarcenet, peced
and embrodered with starres. Item, j olde pece ·of. Brugs
satten, with ij yeardes with a frynge of sylke of ciillers at
one ende. Item, iij olde frunts for awters, paynted. Item,
ij oldo small tables, paynted with imagery. Item, vj olde
corporaces of divers cullors silke, with vij kurchers2 to the
same. Item, j quarterne of olde blacke Brugs satten, embrodered
with the Crucifix, Mary and John, fringed with sylke
of divers culers. Item, iiij olde square chestes, iij coffers.
Item, iij olde staves, paynted for the rectors.8 Item, iiij
paire of olde candillsticks of lattyn, whereof ii be broken,
and v other small candilsticks. Item, an olde shryne,
payn.ted.
IN THE PR10R's OWNE CB.AMBER. j olde hangyng of grene and
red saye, j olde tester, ij curteyns of saye, j fether bedd, j
bolster, ij pyliows, ij pillow cots, j pare of shets, j pare of
fustian blanketts, j coverlett of grene verd.er,1> j trundull bedstedd,
j olde fether bedd, j bolster, j pare of sh.ets, j olde
coverlett of tappstreye, j Turkye5 carpett, with iij yeards and
di., ij olde cuyshons of grene verder, ij cuysshens of imagery,
j chest of waynscott without locke, ij olde table clothes of
1 .A. pa.II, used for a covering. .A. pnll was held over Queen Elizabeth
at her "anointing." .Here it means a frontal, a square piece of linen cloth
covering the altar and hanging down from it.
2 Kurcher, another form of ker()hief. Milton uses the expression" ker-·
chiefed in n. comely cloud." In the W al'drobe Accompt, 29 Hen. VI., we
find Handekeverchief, Redekeverchief, and Kemmingkerchief; and in 31
Edw. III., 2 Kerchyfes pro cap. Regis (i. e. David Bruce) involvend.:
Kercher mUBt have been the English word for the modern burse.
3 The rectors of the choir, who walkea up and doWn beating time with
their staffs to the chant. • .
" The parlour of R. Fermer, of London, was hung with green verder(
32 Henry VIII.), and the Duke of Northulllberland (1 Mary) had a·
cloths of verdures to hang under windows. ..
6 Tm·key carpets occur in the Inventory of _John, Duke of Northumbedaud
(1 Mary), a. Turkey gown of bla.ck velvet was brought for the,
:Princess Mary (1 Edw. VI.), and cloth of gold in silk of Turk occurs in,
Wardrobe Accounts of Eelw. III. .
PRIORY OF ST. MARTIN, DOVER, 285
dyaper, j towell of dyaper,1 ij coverpaY'1:1es of dyaper, iij s~ets,
j olde shyppe cheste2 without locke, J square cheste with a
locke, j small coffer with a locke, v small olde paynted cl.othes
of imaO'ery iij lytle awnders9 of iron, ij pare of tonggs, J rake
of iro;, j ~reat bell candylsticke of lattyn, half the bybille
written in parcb.ement, with vij other small books.
IN THE CHAPPELL NUT TO THE PRIOR.'s C-ru.Ml3ER, ij olde masse-
• books, ij images of white alleeblaster, j desk, j sakering bell.4
IN THE GRE.A.TE dB:A.MBER. j olde cheste without a locke, conteynyng
in yt certen evidences and books, j coveryng of a
cuyshon, j beddsted, j fether bedd, j bolster, j pare o~ shets,
j coverlet of verder, j teaster over the bedd stayned with red
. saye, j hangyng of stayned red saye, j fourme, j chest without
a locke, j bancker5 clothe of verder of viij yeards in length,
j quylte, i c:a.ysshon of verder, j olde settyll.
IN TRE WRY'rE CB.AMBER.6 j olde hangyng with stained clothes,
j tea.star of a bedd, stayned, j fetherbedd, j small bolster, ij
pyllowes with pyllow bet'es,7 j pal'e of shets, j coverlett of
1 Diaper, a linen cloth woven in pattern.
~ Shjp-ohest-e, the coffer to contain an incense-boat. The word occurs
in a desoription of St. Richard's Shrine in Chichester Cathedral, as containing
relics and rings.
11 Andirons. The word occurs as aundyrons pro catnino prec. 10 Sol. in
-25 Edw. III. In the time of James I., Alderman More had a pair of
andirons with a fire shovel, tongs, and cappornc, all brass, with a pair of
creepara, value £4. .
4 Sacring-bell. The sacring (from so.crer, to consecrate} was the elevation
of the Host. '.l'he second sacring was crossing the chalice with the
Rost. "The boy or parish clerk rings the little sacry bell which biddeth
th.e people lay all things aside now and lift up their heads, kneel down
and worship." (Becon, iii. 166.) It is often confounded with the saunce
or sanctus bell. " When the priest sped him to say his service, to ring
_the saunoe bell, and speak out aloud, 'Pater Noster,' by which token tho
people were comma~ded silence, ~everence, and devotion." (Jewel, i. 292.)
The bell ua?d to "ring out of ~atms to mass." (2 Rooper, 146.) In many
parts of Middlesex the bell rmgs now· after Morning Prayer.
s Banker,_ baunker, ba.nque1:, Hangings of apartments, occurring in
the Coronation A.ccompts of Richard lI., and in the time of Henry VI.
bankers of_ arras, _and in. Que~n Isabel's Inventory we find Banquers de
panno awr1 cum bordur, quart1ll. de armis Angl. et llianc., and in the 17th
ce~tury, ban~ers de verdure oco1:11". (Booke of New Rates, 2 Jas. I.)
. . The WJnte C~amber or ~1te Rall in m~dievnJ. times was always the
best room or lodging, as Wh1teball at Westminster.
7 P~owberes occur in the Wardrobe A.ccompt, 12 Hen. VI.
286 INVENTORY OF THE
verd.er, j turned chere with a cusshon, 1 j basson with an ewar
of lattyn, one towell, j coverlyt of old tapstaye, ij bell canillesticks
of lattyn, i pottyll potte of pewtar without a cover, j
rounde table, j chare of lather frynged, with j cusshon of
verder, j joyne stoole, j chamber potte of pewtar, j chest
without a locke.
IN THE PRioR'S INNER PARLOURE. j olde hanging, stayned with
grene saye, ij cubbords, j table with tressells, ij fourmes, ij
turned chares, j pare of olde awnderns.
IN TB.E OwTn P AnLOUR.11 j olde hangyng, stayned with antyke,
3 j table with a pare of tressells, and ij fourmes.
IN THE VA.WT4 WHERE THE MoNOKS no DYNE. j olde table, j
fourme, j cussbon of verder, j booke of the Bybyll WTytteu.
I N Tl:IE BUTTRYE NEXTE TO THE SAME VA.WTE WHERE THE MONCKS
no usE TO DINE. j salte of sylver parcell gylte with a cover
to the same, vj sylver sponnes with wreathed knoppes gylted,
ij old playne table clothes, ij olde playne towells, iij napkyns
playne, j basson and j ewar of pewtar, iij bell candillsticks,
j smalle lampe, v chaffyudyshes of latten.
IN THE KYTTOHYN. ij olde chargers of pewter, xiij platters of
pewtar, :x:ij disshes of pewtar, xii sawsars of pewtar whereof
iij of them be garnyshed after the newe fashon, vij porryngers
of pewetar, iij brasse -potts, iij brasse pans, j kettyll of brasse,
j chaffer of bra.sse, j old :/frying pan, j dryppyng pan of :iron,
j tryvett, iiij square spytts, j rounde spytt, j pare of racks of
iron, j lattyn ladyll, j lattyn scumar, j olde mortar with a
pestell of brasse, ij pare of old potthooks, j grethe1.'ne of
iron.
IN THE HANDS o.F JoHN WH.A.LtEY, GENTLEl\liN. j bedstedd,
ij carpets of verder, j conteyning iiij yeards and the other ij
yeards an.d di., ij cusshons of verder, j olde cusshon, j table
with tressells, j joyne stole, ij olde furmes, j testar over the
bedde of verder, ij p~re of shets, ij pyllowes with ij pyliocots,
j bolstar, j great bedd of downe, j greate materes, the
1 Turned chairs are mentioned in distinction to close chairs. (Bury
wms.101.)
2 The Forensic :Parlour, where guests were received by the Hostillart
and the Minuti or Monks who had been bled, sat.
3 Grotesqu.es. . •
4 Ya.wt, the Refectory. The ordinary eating room at Durham, was called
the Loft . .
Opposite tlngc :?St.
------------ ------- - --- - ---------- - - --- -------.
CB.URCJJ: AlH> GATEHOUSE, )!INSTJl!l. JN SHEl'lff, FROi! A DJ.t,\Wlll·& llY THE REV. ~l. E. C. WALCOTT.
PRIOiiY OF MINSTER, IN SHEPEY. 287
hangyngs of a great chamber of grene saye, j old basson of
pewtar.
IN TJIE ScoLE MASTER'S Cru.MBER, j olde fetherbedd, j bolstar,
j pare of shets, j coverlett.
IN RICH.A.RD ELAM CHAMBER. j olde fetherbedd, j bolstar, ij
pare of shets, j coverlett.
CE11.TEN p AROELLS PLATE TO CER.TEN PARSONS !MPLEGED. j pyx
of sylver and gylte impleged to Thomas Mansell, of Dover,
Booher, for vijl1, j cote for an image of St. Thomas, garnyshed
with divers broches, rynges, aud other jewells, impleged to
Robert Malyn for . . . .
STORE OF FERM ES. In the hands of one William Thorall, f ermer,
of Perrdmg Lowe, c waders, c ewes, :x.ij kyne, j bulle, x quarters
of whete, x quarters of barley; in the hands of Robert
Malyn, fermer, of Guston, ij c. ewyes. Store of cattell in
the possession of the said Pryour, ij small lene oxen, j ram.
ill. PRIORY OF MINSTER, IN SHEPEY.
Minster Church stands on 1·ising ground, about three
miles from Sheemess, and commands a grand view over
the Isle of Shepey, the Nore, the Essex coast, and the
hills of Kent. It consists of two aisles· the southernmost
was the parish church, having its own porch ; and
the northern formed the Nuns' choir, to which the lower
portion of a western tower of great size, and with double
buttresses, lends importance. On either side of this
tower is a semi-octagonal stair turret or buttress; one
having been used by the parish bell-ringer, and the
other, a newel staircase, by the conventual sacristan's
servant, to chime the hours. The west window is Perpendicular,
of four lights, with tracery in the head, in
a miserable state of decay; beneath it is an embattled
stringcom·se along the sill, and below this is the
western doorway, with shafts and many mouldings; the
spandrils are filled with quatrefoils, containing severally
a rose, and a shield in which the lines of a chevron are
288 INVENTORY OF THE
'faintly discemible. The fine eastern arch of the tower
is now blocked up.
The interior is of four bays; in the arcade are fine
pillars, the central one being round, and the rest octagonal,
with well-moulded bases and capitals of the Early
English period. On the capitals of the pillars in the
chancel is foliage of the conventional form of the Decorated
style, as seen in crockets; on the eastern pier is a
coat-of-arms-on a cheVJ.·on 3 estoilles. The inner arch
of the south porch is of two orders, round-headed, and
with · good mouldings and shafts, transitional N 01·man.
The font is Perpendicular and octagonal. The east end
of the Nuns' aisle has a good Perpendicular parclose,
and in the east wall is a door of the same period, with
a hood-mould terminating in masks, pierced through a
pointed arcade on the outside. It may have communicated
with the Lady chapel. The Parish Aisle is probably
that mentioned as St. Katharine's Aisle. The
lower portion of the. Perpendicular l'Oodscreen remains
pe1fect in the Parish Aisle, which tetains three lancets
with rere arches; and in the chancel a trefoil-headed
drain in the south wall, and an aumbrey in the east
wall. The windows in the Nuns' Aisle are coupled
cinquefoiled Jjghts under a square head. The eastern
end has been converted into a schoolroom, and is
lighted by two windows of the same period. Three
large buttresses relieve the monotonous effect of the
north side of this portion of the church. On the
eastern wall are portions of flint-work At the west
end of the Parish Aisle are two windows, one a lancet,
and the other Perpendicular, of three lights. •
In the arch between the Nuns' choir and parish chancel
is a panelled high tomb of J3ethersden marble for
Sir Thomas Cheney, K.G;, d. Dec. 1559.
• . On the south side of the Parish Chancel is a panelled
·tomb, and effigy, under a fine Decorated canopy, with
PRIORY OF MINSTER, IN SHEPEY. 289
seven cinquefoiled cusps, to Sir Robert de Shurland,
Warden of the Cinque Ports in the reign of Edward I.
In front of the altar-p1atf0l'm, two brasses, of Sir
John de Northwode and his wife (Badlesmere), c.
1330.
In the Nuns' Choir.-An effigy in armour of the sixteenth
century, dug up in 1833. An effigy of a" Spanish
General," on a panelled tomb, and within a richly pa-:
nelled wall l'ecess. He is called Signor Germona, who
commanded the land forces of the Spanish Armada, and
died a prisoner on board the guardship at the Nore.
Here also are a statue of the Virgin and Holy Child;
two early stone coffin-lids, one with a cross; and a
coffin of stone, with a trefoil recess for the head.
Westward of the tower stands detached a battlemented
gatehouse, with a smaller building on its western
side, both now converted into rooms. On the south
front are traces of the great arch of the gateway, and
in the south wall is the head of a broad round-headed
arch. The newel staircase 1·emains perfect on the same
side, within a square buttress turret. The parapet has
ornamental stone-work with alternate little squares of
flint. The windows are single cinquefoiled lights, within
oblong cases; the east ·and southern walls of the base
court, with a few buttresses, may be traced, as well as
the southern wall of the convent garden. A pump in
the garden occupies the site of the kitchen well ; the
domestic buildings of the monastery stood on the no1-th
side of the church, and the cloister garth still presents
smooth sward. A slender. expense, devoted to excavations
round it' would no doubt reveal the foundations . of the walls of the l'efectory, dormitory, chapter-house,
and cellarage, of which, at present, not the slightest
vestige is to · be found. As at Canterbury Cathedral,
Dovex New Work, Cheste1·, Bury, Sher~orne, Glouceste1·,
VOL. VU. U
290 lNVENTORY OF THE
etc., the conventual buildings were on the nodh side
of the chnrch. ._
The Minster is said to have contained tan nuns andl
a prioress at the dissolution, when it wai valued • at I
£127. 7s. lOd. a year. The site of the cloisters was
granted, 29 Henry VIIi.; to Sir Thom.as Cheney. In
the gift of the Abbey were St. lVIary's, Gillingham, with
Mary Magdalen Chapel, Lidsing; St. J ames', G1·aib.;
St. Bartholomew's, Bobbing; and Holy Trinity, Queenborough.
INVENTORY ta)Gen at the M:oNASTERYE OF S. SYXI.lOROUGB:,1 in
the Ile of Shepey, in the OiJ'u11iUe··~j Kent, by Sm THOMAS
CHEYNEY/! SY.& WILLIAM RAWLE KNYGHTS, and, ANTONY
SENT REGER, EsQUYER, s the xxvii day of M
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