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THE
COLLEGE OR CHANTRY
OF DENSTON.

WILLIAM CQOKE, M.A., F.S.A.,
HON. CANON OF CHESTER.

PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION.

LONDON :
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.

Id

Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, U., London and Aylesbury, f
n>
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PREFACE.

From the time when Mr. Cooke became Vicar of
Gazeley, and went to live in Suffolk, he took a
keen interest in the Archaeology of the county.
After devoting much time to the study of the
College or Chantry of Denston, he was urged by
friends to write an article on the subject for the
Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archceology.
The work, originally begun with this object, grew
under his hand, and, finding that it had exceeded
the limit usually accorded to contributions to the
publication for which it was intended, the author
determined to bring it out in a separate form.
The MSS. from which this small volume has been
printed were found amongst Mr. Cooke's papers after
his death in 1894, together with other material on
the same subject which had not yet been finally
arranged, but which he had evidently intended to
incorporate with the rest.
Unfortunately widespread interests and multifari-
3

4 PREFACE.
OUS duties intervened to prevent his completing the
work, which, although it bears evidence of much
research, must, therefore, not be regarded as a com
plete whole, but only as a fragment, finished as far
as it goes.
As such, I hope it may be found acceptable to
Mr. Cooke's friends, and perhaps to others who are
interested in the subject. ISABELLA HAGGITT.
March, 1898.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY
OF DENSTON.

In the letters patent, authorizing the foundation, as
well as in the documents decreeing its dissolution,
the society of priests at Denston is styled the
Chantry^ or College of Denston.
It seems advisable at the outset to give a brief
description of the nature and constitution of the
religious foundations called colleges, because great
confusion exists in many minds concerning colleges
and collegiate churches, and there is no treatise
discoverable which deals with the subject. The in
formation needed can be gathered only from various
decisions of the canon law; and from the writings
of Franciscus Accoperius, Bibliotessara, sive Stella
Canonicorum, Colonics, 1717, a very rare work ; of his
learned commentator Johannes Jacobus Scarfantoni,
Animadversionum ad Accoperium Parergon, Viterbii,
1738 ; of Michael Antonius Frances de Urrutigoyti,
Tractatus de Ecclesiis Cathedralibus, Venetiis, 1798 ;
and of Lucius Ferraris, Prompta Bibliotheca, under
the word "collegium."
' For explanation ofthe word Chantry, see Appendix A, p. 65.
S

6 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
This word, collegium, retains the same meaning
under somewhat altered circumstances in the eccle
siastical foundations of the Middle Ages as it had
in classical writers ; namely, " in the abstract, the
connection of associates, colleagues, etc., that is,
colleagueship ; in tJte concrete, persons united by the
same office or calling, or living by common rules." '
Professor Willis, describing the educational founda
tions of Cambridge, explains : " The word ' college ' is
a term which properly belongs to a number of persons
incorporated as colleagues for certain common pur
poses, and has no relation to the buildings in which
they dwelt." ^ It must be observed here that a number
of persons, voluntarily associating themselves as
colleagues, are not necessarily a college. As Frances
lays down,* a college can be created solely by in
corporation ; and quoting the canon lamv,* he pro
ceeds to state that many presbyters and clerks may
be collected together, and may be working together
in a church or cathedral, for one common object,
who nevertheless are only a community of individuals,
not an incorporation or body. Incorporation implies
that the colleagues are made into one body by a
competent authority, and, though many in number,
are regarded as one person, and so are legally termed
personable, that is, of capacity to take and to grant.
' Lewis and Short, A Latin Dictionary (Freund's).
* The Architectural History of the University of
Cambridge, Vol. I., Introduction, p. xv.
' Page 229.
* Lib. v., Decret, Tit. I., c. 14.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. r
And Dr. Cowel thus defines the competent authority :
"This body incorporate may commence and be
established in three manner of ways ; viz. by Prescrip
tion, by Letters Patent, or by Act of Parliament."^
The body thus formed never dies, although the
individual members thereof successively die, but
remains the same body, although it consists from
time to time of members different from those who
originally at its creation, or at any given period
of its existence, constituted it ; and has perpetual
succession without any break or interruption. And
the will of John Smythe, of Bury St. Edmunds,^ gives
as good a definition as we need have of the colleagues
being regarded as one person, and so personable, in
the following clause : " I will that all the seid feffes
so biyng seasid to the vse and intent aboue specified
stond and be feffes to the same vse and intent vnto
such tyme as the seyd maister president or othir ruler
of the forseid collage haue by the kyngs licence
founded the seyd collage and corporat theym self
and made theym se\i personable, to haue succession
and capacite in the lawe to purchase, take, and
resceyue by the name of maister or president or
felischip of the seyd collage, of gifte, biyng, by quest
or odirwise, of any mann that will give, sell, or by
queth to theym and to their successoures, londes,
tenementes, rentes, annuitees, or othir possessiouns
what so euer they be, in fee and perpetuite into
mortmayne." So then, according to the authorities
' The Interpreter : A Law Dictionary.
^ Bury Wills and Inventories, p. 66.

8 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
which have been quoted, a college in the ecclesias
tical sense of the word is a religious foundation in
or connected with a church, erected and endowed by
private munificence, and consisting of a company
of priests, who are duly incorporated by competent
authority, and are charged with special functions.
Frances * and Ferraris ^ both lay down that, thoug[i
two members suffice to form a lay college according
to the civil law, three priests are Required to constitute
an ecclesiastical college, a rule which held good ano
generally prevailed in England.
The canon law of England defined the distin
guishing and essential features of a college to be
a head, styled master, or warden, or president,
or dean ; a common seal to be used as might be
required by the community or fellowship in its
corporate capacity ; a common purse and chest ;
and if it were a foundation of regulars, a common
refectory and dormitory.*
But though a college of priests is a foundation in
or connected with a church, it by no means follows
that the church in which a college is founded neces
sarily becomes thereby and therefrom a collegiate
church. There was a College of Jesus and the Blessed
Virgin Mary within the parish church of Eccles
in Lancashire ; but one hundred years after the
foundation of the college, the church was styled,
' Page 261. ' Vol. I., p. 198.
' John de Athon, Gloss, in Constitut. Dom. Athonis ; De
Consecratione et Reformatione Status Ecclesice, sub voce,
" Conventuales " ; and Frances, p. 229.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 9
as it is at present styled, the parish church of
Eccles.* A college of priests was founded in the
church of Attleborough in Norfolk, and also in the
church of Wingfield in Suffolk ; but neither of these
churches ever became or was styled collegiate.
The foundation of a college in a church was a
comparatively simple and easy afifair, and needed
nothing more than the consent of the bishop of
the diocese and the licence of the king. But the
collegiating of a church was a very different thing,
and beset with difficulties. It required not merely
the assent and consent of the ordinary, and of the
dean and canons of the cathedral, and the licence
of the king, but generally (for according to Frances
and Scarfantoni there may have been occasional
exceptions) the express authority or the sanction
of the pope.^ And, further, this collegiating could
not be effected unless the church was situated in
a town, or in a territory of importance, which was
inhabited by well disposed citizens and a large popu
lation.* For example, when the priory of Stoke
by Clare was changed by Edmund Mortimer, Earl
of March, into a college and the church was made
collegiate, the change was ratified by papal authority
of John XXIII. and Martin V. ; * and Strype mentions
incidentally that " Clare near Stoke was a very
' Lancashire Chantries, p. 132. Edited by Rev. F. R.
Raines (Chetham Society).
' Scarfantoni, Pars Tertia, p. 323.
3 Pars Prima, Lib. I., Tit. V., 3, 4.
* Strype, Life of Archbishop Parker (Oxford Edition,
1821), Vol. I., p. 15.

IO THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
populous town." The canons of the collegiate churches
of Southwell and Southam were confirmed in their
privileges by Pope Alexander III. ; Howden in
Yorkshire was collegiated under the authority of a
bull of Pope Gregory IX.;* and Darlington in
Durham became with papal sanction a collegiate
church with a dean and prebendaries.^
Mr. Mackenzie Walcot has tabulated, in a paper
read before the Ecclesiological Society,* the several
forms of collegiate foundations that existed in
England ; and the table is in the main correct :
I. The collegiate church proper, as Wimborne,
Middleham, and Stoke by Clare.
2. A royal free chapel, as Windsor.
3. A church attached to a hospital, as Battlefield.
4. A chapel attached to an educational establish
ment, as Eton and Winchester.
5. A church bearing rather the character of a
guild or confraternity, as St. Lawrence Pountney.
6. A large chantry, as Bunbury by Cotherstoke.
Five of these foundations are outside the present
inquiry, which is concerned solely with the "large
chantry," or, as Dr. Fuller * more correctly styles it,
the "college chantry." But it must be carefully
noted in the outset that all the rules and regulations
by which the canon law bound the larger collegiate
foundations bind, as may be gathered from the
' Bishop Tanner, Notitia Monas tica.
" A Catholic Dictionary, p. 195.
5 The Ecclesiologist, Vol. XXVI., 32.
* Church History of Great Britain, Book VI., sect, vi.,
chap, ii., § 14. ,

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. ii
writers named above, all the smaller foundations,.
such as the college chantries, above and beyond
the special statutes which their founders framed for
their governance.
These college chantries or chantry colleges came
into existence in the fourteenth century in this wise.
In many parishes, tithes and lands, which under
ordinary circumstances would have formed the en
dowment of the parochial clergy, had been alienated
by the landowners to the use of monasteries and
convents, and a bare pittance had been reserved
for the support of a vicar or a chaplain. As a
consequence of this the parishioners were robbed
also to a very great extent of the ministrations
to which they were entitled, and were oftentimes
reduced to a state of great spiritual destitution. To
remedy these grievous evils men of wealth, who
had an interest in the locality, tried, as Dr. Jessopp
well expresses it,* " a new experiment." To use his
words : " They struck out the new path of enabling
the secular clergy, that is, the working clergy, to work
in combination and associate together in corporations
under one roof, and carry out the parochial system
with an intelligent understanding of each with all;,
and so continue the double object of keeping the
secular up to the mark in the discharge of his
pastoral duties amongst his own parishioners, and of
giving him at the same time some of the advantages
of the conventual life." In some instances, perhaps
' '(Visitations of the Diocese of Norwich, a.d. 1492-1532^
Introduction, p. viii, Camden Society.

12 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
the majority, the community was designed simply to
assist the parish priest, who retained his parochial
privileges, his precedence, and his parsonage ; in
others they superseded, and took the place of the
parish priest, and were responsible for the entire
charge of the parish. These communities were, in
fact, enlarged chantries, charged by their founders
with special duties, and were styled colleges ; and the
houses in which the communities lived were called
manses or mansions. If the college was designed
to work in association with the parish priest, the
parsonage and the mansion both existed in the
parish. But if, on the other hand, the parish priest
was merged into the community, as at Rushford in
Norfolk, the parsonage was either enlarged and
converted into the mansion, or disappeared when
the mansion was built.
In the case of a college, founded in a parish
¦church, and associated with the parish priest, the
vested rights of the parish priest were zealously
guarded from invasion ; his precedence in the choir
and in divine service was asserted and determined ;
the cure of souls was charged upon him ; and minute
directions were given for the ordering of the services
in which the college took part with him, and of
those which he performed alone.* But if, as at
Rushford in Norfolk, the parish priest became a
member of the college, and the parsonage gave place
to the mansion, then another order of things prevailed.
¦ See Raines, Lancashire Chantries, pp. 133, 135.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 13
By canon law the cure of souls must be in a person,
not in a body. Accoperius says * : "In a parochial
church one only can be appointed curate, just as the
ark had Noah alone as guardian." And consequently
the rule prevailed that the cure of souls and the
parochial duties devolved upon the head of the
college, whether he were styled president, dean,
master, or warden, unless, as happened in some
instances, the college was specially authorized to
appoint, under the title of Hebdomadary, one of
their number to be the curate and take the charge
of the parish. And this provision of the canon
law will explain the omission noticed by the late
Dr. Bennet of any special provision of a vicar to
discharge the parochial duties of Rushford, or of
any charge on the college there to undertake the
cure of souls.^ In the absence of a special pro
vision of a hebdomadary or other like officer, the
college of priests at Rushford was bound by the
general^provision of the canon law, and the president
was responsible for the parochial duties and had the
cure of souls.
There is overwhelming evidence that the founda
tion at Denston was one of these large chantries,
called "college chantries." In the deed of sale
of the endowment in the reign of Edward VL
it is styled, " Collegium sive Cantaria." In " The
Certificate of Chantries " made in the second year ot
• Lib. I., S3.
2 Papers of the Norfolk and Norwich Archceological
Society, Vol. X., p. 337.

H THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
Edward VI., printed below* (see Appendix B), "the
seide coUedge " is stated to have been formed of
" three pryestes ... to singe in the parrische churche
of Denstone." And, further, in " The Particulars for
Grants," ^ it is carefully laid down that " the colledge
is no parissche churche of ittself, but hard adioyning
unto the parissche churche beffore mencionede " ;
and " the seide incumbents," that is, of the college,
"doo celebrate wythin the seide parrische churche
of Denstone, and their mansyon house standeth
adyoyning to the same churche."* All these docu
ments witness that Denston Church, after the founda
tion of the college within it, remained a simple
parish church, and never was a collegiate church.
And further witness of this is found in a deed in the
Bodleian Library dated May i8, 1521,* which speaks
of "the parsonage of the chyrche or chapell of
Denarston." The title " chapel," which was given to
the church some centuries before the foundation of
the college, namely, in 1291,* was retained after the
foundation of the college within it. Now Scarfantoni
• Augmentation Office, Chantry Certificates, Roll 45. See
Appendix B, p. 66.
^ Augmentation Office, 2 Edw. VI. 1548.
^ " Incumbent ' ' was the title given to the priest or priests of
an endowed chantry. " The insecurely endowed altars were
¦described as chantries, although the officiating priests were
generally styled stipendiaries, and not incumbents. And
their ecclesiastical position was lower than that of regularly
beneficed chantry priests " (Raines, Lancashire Chantries,
Introduction, p. 5).
* Kent Rolls, 139. * Ibid., 9.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 15
states, and confirms the statement by authorities,
that "a simple parish church is sometimes called a
chapel, but a collegiate is always spoken of as a
church." So that Mr. Richard Taylor is in error in
the statement ^ that " the college or chantry of Denston
was endowed with the collegiate church of Denston " ;
and Mr. Page makes a more flagrant mistake in
the assertion,* "There was a college or chantry of
regular canons . . . endowed with the collegiate
church of Denston ! "
It will be seen later on that the letters patent
under which the college was founded confirm this
evidence, that the college of Denston was not
endowed with the church, and did not consist of
canons either regular or secular, nor even of pre
bendaries, but was simply a foundation of three
ordinary chantry priests, who had authority to
discharge their special functions in the parish chapel
or church.
That the foundation of the college was not only
a pious but a necessary act will be apparent from
the following facts.
The parish and parishioners of Denston had
suffered extensive spoliation and consequent sad
spiritual destitution from the fashion that had long
prevailed of alienating tithes and lands to monastic
and conventual foundations. In the early part of
the reign of Henry I., Robert de Neville was in
' Lib. I., Tit. v., 4.
' Index Monasticus, p. 109.
2 A Supplement to the Suffolk Traveller, p. 872.

1 6 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
possession of lands that formed a large part of the
parish of Denston, which he held of the Honor of
Clare.* According to one account, he, no doubt with
the consent of his superior lord, according to another
account, his superior lord, Richard, Earl of Hertford,
appropriated the tithes on these lands and the church
to the priory of Tunbridge, founded by Richard of
Tunbridge, the father of the said Richard, Earl of
Hertford ; and this appropriation was confirmed by
Everard, Bishop of Norwich, who deceased in the
year 1146. About this date, or a very few years
later, Gilbert de Baillol or Bailleul held the Honor
of Clare, but " how," Sir John Gage says, " does not
appear." ^ However, whilst he was in possession, he
gave " two parts of his tithe," that is, two parts of the
tithes on the lands which he possessed in Denston,
and not of the tithes of Denston, as Sir John Gage
in error states,* together with thirty acres of land
to the church and monks of St. John Baptist, Stoke
by Clare ; and William, Bishop of Norwich, Everard's
successor, confirmed this gift of Gilbert de Baillol
of "two parts of his tithe of Denardeston to the
monks of Stoke." * And Roger, Earl of Clare, who
died in 1173, after confirming all the grants made
' Bishop Tanner's MSS., Norwich, p. 1233 ; Davy's Notes,
Add. MSS. Brit. Mus., sub " Denston."
* Thingo Hundred, p. 367.
' Ibid., 368.
* " The lords of manors, at their first building of churches,
did often allot no more than the third part of the tithes for
an exhibition to the parish priest, and kept the other two
parts in their own hands for the uses of the church and poor,

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 17
by himself to the monks of Stoke, confirms also
the donations made by his barons and others
his faithful men ; and amongst the donations are
named the gift of Robert Darnel of two parts of
his tithe in Denardeston and Stansfield, and the
gift of Gilbert de Baillol of two parts of his tithe in
Denardeston.* The lords and landowners of Denston seem for
some reason or other to have delighted in enriching
the priory of Tunbridge and the priory of Stoke by
Clare, and to have felt no concern about the injury
that they were doing to their own parish. The
evil example set by the larger owners and their
dependants was contagious. By a charter, bearing
date about 1 240,^ Sir Richard de Appelgard, Knight,
of Denardeston, granted to the priory of Tunbridge
four acres of land lying in the field of Denardeston ;
and by another charter of the same date * made over
to the same priory five roods of arable land, lying in
the fields of Denardeston in frankalmayne. Either
this same Sir Richard or his successor, by a charter
till by degrees they either gave in the two other parts to the
parochial priest, or else, with the bishop's consent, assigned
them to some religious house " (Bishop Kennet, Parochial
Antiquities, Vol. I., Glossary).
' " Donaciones et elemosinas quas barones mei seu quilibet
alii fideles mei eis fecerunt." . . . " Ex dono Roberti Darnel
duas partes decime sue de Denardestune et de Stanesfelde."
. . . "Ex dono Gilberti de Baillul duas partes decime
sue in Denardestuna " (Cotton MSS., Appendix XXI, Art.
xxxvii, fol. 23).
" Kent Rolls, 17. ' Ibid., 20. 2

i8 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
dated about 1260,* gave to the same priory seven
roods of arable land and three roods of meadow ; and
in 1270^ further enriched it with three acres and one
rood of arable land and two acres of meadow land,
all in frankalmayne. And in the year 1300 another
Richard, whose surname has disappeared, but who
is presumably of the Appelgard family, endowed the
same priory with two acres and one rood of his land
in Denardeston.*
These things the laity of Denston did to the detri
ment of the spiritual interests of the parishioners.
But the prior and canons of Tunbridge evinced equal
anxiety to enrich themselves out of the revenues of
the church of Denston with which they had been
endowed, as is incidentally revealed in a suit tried
in the fourteenth year of Edward I., 1286, before
Solomon of Rochester and others.* The suit was
br;ought to determine whether certain lands were, or
were not, in frankalmayne belonging to the church
of Denardeston, " of which the prior of Tumbrigg {sic)
is parson." It appears from this that the prior and
canons of Tunbridge had adopted the mischievous
arrangement which had latterly prevailed in the
monastic bodies, and, ceasing to appoint a resident
vicar, had made the prior parson of the parish. By
this ingenious plan the community secured to them
selves the main portion of the temporalities, and
administered the spiritualities by a deputy, called a
chaplain, who was paid a small salary, was removable
• Kent Rolls, 51. ' Ibid., 68.
» Ibid., 42. * Assize Rolls, 14 Edw. I., Suffolk.

3

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 19
at pleasure, " and when he scarce held his cure for
a year certain was tempted to become the more
negligent of it." * This practice is spoken of in the
strongest terms of condemnation by contemporaries
as causing great discomfort to the parishioners, with
drawing hospitable refreshment from the poor, and,
what is worse than all, neglect of the cure of souls
and the consequent endangering of the Christian
faith. And at the last it " became so scandalous that
the University of Oxford laid it before Henry V.
at the beginning of his reign, as one of the most
crying evils that deserved to be considered and
reformed in the ecclesiastical synod." ^
According to a document in the Bodleian Library,'
it had become necessary, from causes not assigned, to
define the respective properties and responsibilities
of the prior and canons of Tunbridge and the
rector of Stradishall in the parishes of Denston
and Stradishall. The proceedings were due to the
advocacy of an earl, whose name has disappeared
from the document, which is much mutilated, but who
can be none other than Roger, Earl of Clare, with
Ralf Walpole, Bishop of Norwich, and were concluded
in the year 1291. By the agreement then arrived at
the prior and canons of Tunbridge were confirmed
in the possession of the chapel and parish of Denston,
the great and small tithes that had not been alienated
to other communities, the domain lands, all altarages
and obventions, twelve acres of domain lands of the
' The Case of Impropriations, p. 64.
» Ibid., p. 63. ' Kent Rolls, 9.

20 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
church of Stradishall with certain rents and tithes,
as well as with a pension of half a mark to be paid
annually to them in two equal payments at the two
synods of Suffolk towards the support of a chaplain,
whom they were to find to minister for ever.
The prior and canons, thus confirmed in all the
temporalities of Denston Church, put an end to
the arrangement above mentioned, which created
scandal, and adopted another, which was equally
injurious to the parish. Falling in with a practice
which prevailed largely, they farmed their interest
in Denston, its church, tithes, lands, and obventions,
from time to time, to a priest, who was bound either
to provide a chaplain, which could be done at a very
small annual cost, or himself to act as chaplain.
There exist in the Bodleian Library three of the
leases which were thus granted by them.* In 1334
Roger de Frondesbury, rector of Stradishall, agreed
to pay ten pounds sterling to the prior and canons
during a period of twelve years, in two equal
payments annually, for their chapel of Denston with
their whole manor there, together with all the tithes
great and small, and all the rents of the domain lands
of Clare and Denardeston, meadows, pastures, wpods,
farms, pensions, and all other payments in any other
way belonging to the said chapel and manor, with
the exception of a yearly pension of half a marc due
from the rector of Stradishall, which the prior and con
vent reserve to themselves. In addition to the usual
¦ Kent Rolls, 94, I31, 139.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 21
conditions that he should pay all outgoings and
keep everything in perfect repair, Roger de Frondes
bury was placed under the obligation to entertain
once in the year for two nights one of the canons
with his clerk or valet,' cum clerico suo vel armigero,
when he came to inspect the chapel and manor.
A like lease was granted in the year 1409 to
Sir Gilbert Mylde, priest, most probably of the family
of Mylde, of Clare ; which is specially interesting
from the information which it gives concerning the
cultivation of land as well as of the prices of agri
cultural implements at that date. In the inventory
of goods and properties received by him from the
prior and canons are eleven acres of land tilled on
the fallow system, warcate terre? It is added that
of these eleven acres eight are thrice ploughed,
rebinate ; and that of the eight thrice-ploughed acres
seven are sown with wheat, and six have been
manured, composite. In the inventory are also entered
two horses of the value of twenty-six shillings and
eightpence ; two sieves, capisteria, of the value of
twopence ; one cart valued at six shillings and eight-
pence ; one harrow, pectinatum, valued at eightpence ;
one plough with all its fittings, apparatus, valued at
three shillings and fourpence ; one principal table
of the value of sixpence ; one secondary table of
the value of twelvepence ; one vessel of half a
hogshead, of the value of sixpence ; also eight locks
' Ducange, sub voce Armiger, 'Falet.
2 Thus explained by Dr. Kennet, Parochial Antiquities,
Vol. II., p. 136 : acra tam warectata quam seminata.

22 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
with eight keys, namely, for the hall, the cellar, the
grange, the granary, the hay-house, the kitchen, and
the two stables. Gilbert Mylde was further made
responsible for the safe custody and the repair at
his own cost of the vestments, books, and other
ornaments of the chapel.*
The leasing of the chapel, or of the chapel and
manor, appears to have continued up to a time close
upon the dissolution of the priory. For in 1521
a lease was granted, contrary to canon law, to a
layman,* " Henry Everard, of Denarston, sqwyer, of
all the parsonage of the Chyrch or Chapell, with
all maner of tythe, casualtes, emolumenttes, ffrutes,
profytts, lands, tenementtes, renttes, and seruyces,
with all their appurtenaunces to the same parsonage
belongyng or perteyning, excepte and reservyd to the
foreseid Prior and Convent, their successours and
assigns, a certen pencion of syx shyllynges and
viiid by the parson of Stradsell, in the seid Countie
of Suffolk, yeerly to them to be payid." The rent
fixed was " fower pownds sterlyng of good and
lawful! money of Ingland, in the chyrche porche of
the parissche chyrche of Bodkesham,* in the Countie
of Cambregge ; that is to say, at the ffests of the
Natyvyte of Seynt John the Baptyst and the Natyvyte
• Kent Rolls, 131.
" That churches are not to be fanned out to monasteries,
least of all to laymen, see Constitutiones Synodales D.
Gilberti Episcopi Cicestrensis, A.D. Mccxxxxix ; and Con
stitutiones Synodales D. Willielmi Grenefeld Archiepiscopi
Eboracensis, a.d. mcccvi.
' Bottisham.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 23
of our Lord, by evyn percyons to be payd.* Also
it is aggreyd and couenanted that the seid Henry,
his executors and assigns, shall ffynde at his and
ther proper costs and charges a preest honest and
abull to serue and to mynester at all sesons con-
uenyent to the parisshons of the foreseid chyrche or
chapell of Denaston aforeseid in all diuyen servyces
and all other sacramenttes and sacramentalls." ^
In a memorandum of the Court of Exchequer in
the year 1 566 * is set forth at great length the recital
of the title of a certain William Burde, and Mirable
his wife, to the manor of Denston Hall and three
other manors. The abbot of Bury St. Edmunds is
stated in this recital to have been seised before the
dissolution of the manor of Denston Hall with all
its rights and privileges in right of his monastery.
As the statement occurs in a judgment of the Court
of Exchequer, it must be taken as correct. But, strange
to say, no register or other document of the abbey
names Denston Hall as one of the manors belonging
to the abbot. Perchance the remark of Richard de
Denham, the sacrist, applies to the possessions of the
abbot as well as to those of the sacrist : " Habemus
praeterea plures terras et tenementa de quibus nulla
apud nos restant munimenta. Aut enim simplici
freti veritate, nulla fecerunt ; aut si fecerunt, per
Custodum incuriam perierunt. Aliquorum vero nee
' As appears from a later clause of the deed, the rent was
eight pounds, to be paid in two even portions of four pounds.
' Kent Rolls, 139.
2 Exchequer Memoranda, L. P. R. Hilary, 8 Eliz., Roll 99.

34 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
etiam memoriae cujuslibet vestigia potuerunt inve-
niri." *
To remedy the grievous evils and the spiritual
destitution which these alienations and donations /
had brought upon the parish, John Denston or/
Denardeston in the year 1474 followed up the
experiment which has been above described, and
which had been so successfully tried by men of
wealth, and founded the chantry college of Dens^in.
For, as Mr. Raines remarks,^ " We must not assume
that the only object of these foundations was that
prayers might be offered for the dead. ... In all
of them prayers ascended for the living as well as
for the dead, and in all was manifested the keen
sympathy of the rich with the poor, for the relief
of whose external wants alms were constantly
distributed. . . . Their real utility consisted in pre
serving the memory of the dead, in holding forth
examples to the living, in furnishing instruction to
the people, and gaining some glory to God."
The very ancient family of Denston or Denardeston,
of knight's degree, had been seated at Denston Hall
for only three generations. Though they took their
name from the parish, and may perhaps at some
earlier period have held lands in it, they were seated
in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries in and
about Brent Eleigh, Chelsworth, and Lindsey. In
^ Registrum Sacristce; quoted by Sir William Dugdale,
Monasticon Anglicanum.
* A History of the Chantries within the County Palatine
of Lancaster, edited by Rev. F. R. Raines, Introduction,
pp. xi, xii.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 25
1293 Petrus de Denardeston brought an action in
the Court of King's Bench against Humfridus de
Denardeston concerning three acres of land with
the purtenances in Brende lUeye.* In 1295 Sir
Peter de Denardeston was witness to three con
veyances of land to John de Berton, of Illegh
Combrest ; and in 1 297, being of the age of forty
years, dwelt a league from Chelsworth.^ In 1298
Petrus de Denardeston was summoned by writ of
King Edward I. to attend the king at York with
horses and arms on the Feast of Pentecost, and
march thence with the royal army to Scotland.*
Henricus de" Denardeston was also summoned, and
received from the king protection of his property
in .Suffolk so long as he was detained in Scotland.*
As " it was the practice to appraise the horses of
knights and others at the time when they joined
the army, and to pay for such of them as were killed
or lost in the king's service," in the Horse Roll made
at York in 1298 is the entry, "xxvii die Junii
Henricus de Denardeston ex comitatu Suffolk, habet
runcinum nigrum bauzain cum iiij pedibus albis
precii x marc " ; i.e. a rouncey, a horse inferior to
a charger, piebald, black and white.'' Peter and
' De Banco Roll, Hilary, 22 Edw. I.
- Sir John Gage, Thingo Hundred, p. 36.
3 Scotland in 1298, by H. Gough, F.S.A., p. 87.
* Ibid., pp. 212, 247.
" "Bauzain, baucayn, parti-coloured, piebald. Baucun-
dus : equus albo et nigro interstinctus ; bipartitus ex albo et
nigro." This explains the Templars' Banner, commonly
called " Beauseant." It was parted horizontally black and.

26 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
Henry de Denardeston were in the king's army at
the battle of Falkirk. But though the family were
of knight's degree, some of the members did not
hesitate to enter into trade ; and the will of William
de Denardeston, a citizen and draper of London,
dated 141 3, enumerates properties which the testator
and others of his name held in Brendilley, and
Meldyng, and the surrounding district.*
In the fourteenth century the family of Weyland
held the manor of Denston Hall; how, it does not
appear, but presumably as tenant of the abbot of St.
Edmundsbury, and was seated at the hall ; ^ and Sir
Robert Denardeston married the sole daughter and
heiress of Weyland. His son, Sir William Denar
deston, as is to be gathered from his will, dated
1433,* and not Sir John, as is stated in the Harleian
MS., married Margaret, the second daughter and
heiress of John Wanton, Esq., by whom he had issue
John, the founder of the chantry college. And
this John married Katharine, the daughter of Sir
white. Jacques de Vitry, Bishop of Acre {Histor. Hierosol.
in Gesta Dei, cap. Ixiv.), who lived during the existence of
the order, explains the name: " Vexillum bipartitum ex
Albo et nigro quod nominant beau-seant, id est, Gallica
lingua bien-seant; eo quod Christi amicis candidi sunt et
benigni, inimicis vero terribiles atque nigri " {Scotland in
1298, pp. 160, 212). For this reference I am indebted to
J. A. C. Vincent, Esq., from whom I have received most
invaluable assistance.
' Prerogative Court of Canterbury, March 27, 1413.
2 Hart. MSS., 381, fol. 169.
3 Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 17 Luffnam.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 27
William Clopton, of Melford, and had issue Ann,
his sole daughter and heiress, who became the wife
of Sir John Broughton.*
John Denston died in 1473 or 1474. The parish
•church of Denston had been rebuilt and enlarged
at some period anterior to this date. And it is
conceivable that John Denston, having the intention
of founding a college of priests, had as a first step,
either at his own charges or with the assistance of
his wealthy relations, made the church in which
they were to discharge their functions fit and suit
able for the purpose. The form and the arrangement
seem to bear out this supposition.
No record is to be found in the Archives of the
Diocese of Norwich of the reconsecration of the
church. It is therefore to be concluded that
the chancel had not been lengthened eastward, and
the altar had not been removed from its original
site ; and that therefore there was no necessity for
the exercise of the bishop's spiritual powers.
In his will John Denston appointed Sir John
Howard, Knight, and John Broughton, junior, his
son-in-law, his executors. Search has been made
in vain for this will, or for a transcript of it ; but
happily a recital of its provisions has been found in
" The Certificate of Chantries in the County of Suffolk
made 12 November, 2 Edw. VI." ^
" Denston aUas Denardeston. The mannor of
1 Sir Richard Gipps, Cole's MSS., Vol. XXVIII.
" Augmentation Office, Chantry Certificates, Roll 45. See
Appendix B.

28 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
Beamondes in Lyndeseye wyth oone filde called
Bavyntes in the Countie of Suffolk. Put in feoffamente
by John Denston esquyer to contynnewe for ever
to thyntente to have three pryestes, viz. oone Master
and twoo Cobretherne to singe in the parrishe Churche
of Denstone aforeseide for the sowles of the seide
John and other. And also an obyte to be kepte
their for ever as by the laste wille of the same John
appeary the eyther of the seide twoo priestes taking for
their wages yerely cxiiij^ iiij*. And the seide Master
to have the Resydewe for his wages to kepe the
obyte. And to maynteyne the reparacions of the
bowses and other Incydente charges." And this
statement is repeated in the grant made to Thomas
Smythe, and John his brother, in 2 Edward VI.,*
with the addition that the name of John Denston's
wife was Katharine.
Sir John Howard, Knight, and John Broughton,
junior, as the executors, applied for and obtained
letters patent from the king in 1475 granting and
giving them licence to make, found, and create this
perpetual chantry. "Before the Statute of Mort
main," says Dr. Thomas Fuller,^ "made by King
Edward III., to be able and willing was all the licence
needed to found a chantry. Since which time a
charter must be obtained from the king to pass lands
of such nature and value to persons so qualified.^'
Whether or not the executors applied for and obtained
* Augmentation Office, Particulars for Grants, 2 Edw. VI.
^ Church History of Britain, Book VI. , sect, vi., chap, ii.,
§8.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSJON. 29
the consent of the bishop of the diocese does not
appear ; for there is neither entry of the foundation
of the college nor mention of such consent in the
Archives of the Diocese of Norwich.
The original of the letters patent is in Latin ; and
the following is an accurate translation, annotated
with such explanations as seem necessary for the
thorough understanding of the grant :
" Concerning the Broughton Chantry about to be
founded. " The king to all to whom the present letters shall
come, health : Know ye that we, of our special favour,
and from the sincere love, devotion, and affection
which we entertain and have to the holy and un
divided Trinity, and Mary, the glorious Virgin Mother
of God, and all the saints, have for ourselves and for
our heirs, as far as in us hes, granted and given
permission, and by these presents do grant and give
permission, to our beloved and faithful John Howard,
Knight, and to our beloved John Broughton, junior.
Esquire, that they, or either of them, their heirs,
executors, and assigns, or any one or more of both or
either of them, may form, found, create, and establish,
to last for ages to come, for the praise, honour, and
glory of God, a certain perpetual Chantry* of a
' " Chantries were of two kinds — the permanently endowed
and the precariously endowed chantry. For creating the
former the liceneje of the Crown to alienate lands in mortmain
for the maintenance of the priest was required after the
statutes of 7 and 13 Edward I. and 15 Richard II. ; nor could
founders acquire lands for this purpose, unless held by other
than socage tenure or by knight's service, without the royal

30 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
permanent Master and Society of Chaplains,* to cele
brate for ever the divine offices day by day in the
Vill ^ of Denardeston, in the County of Suffolk, for
the healthful state of ourselves and our most dearly
beloved Consort Elizabeth, Queen of England, and
our most dearly beloved eldest son Edward, Prince
of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester ; also
of the said John Howard and John Broughton and
his consort Ann and their heirs, and for the souls
of ourselves when we shall have migrated from this
light, and for the souls of John Denston and Katharine
his wife, of William Denston and Margaret his wife,
of Robert Clerk, clerk, of John Marshall and Ales
his wife, and for the souls of whatsoever ancestors
the said John Denston may have had ; also for the
souls of the aforesaid John Howard and John
Broughton and Ann when they shall have migrated
from this light, and of one and all of their heirs when
in like manner they shall have migrated from this
permission. These were called ' foundation chantries,' and the
incumbents, presented by patrons, were legally instituted, and
the ordinary exercised canonical jurisdiction over thera "
{A History ofthe Chantries within the County Palatine of
Lancaster, edited by Rev. F. R. Raines, Introduction, p. v).
' Denston was thus made a college chantry. The licences
to found a college, term the head sometimes Custos, some
times Magister, sometimes Custos vel Magister. In the
present translation, Custos is rendered throughout Master,
because it is the term used in the various deeds which record
the dissolution of the college.
* Or manor ; for " villa is sometimes taken for a manor and
sometimes for a parish or part of it" (Dr. Cowel, A Law
Dictionary).

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 31
light, and for the souls of all the faithful departed ; **
and to do and undertake other works of mercy and
pity according to the ordinances, stabiliments, and
constitutions to be made in this behalf by the afore
said John Howard and John Broughton, or either of
them, their aforesaid heirs, executors, or assigns, or
any one or more of them: And that the aforesaid
Chantry, when it shall have been made, founded,
set up, and established, may in all future time for
ever have the name of and be styled the Chantry
called Denston's Chauntery: And that the Master
and Society of Chaplains of the aforesaid Chantry
and their successors may for ever be called the
Master and Society of Chaplains of the Chantry
of Denston's Chauntery, and may have perpetual
succession ^ for themselves and their successors the
' It will be noticed that the king and John Broughton have
" consorts " {consortes) ; John Denston, William Denston, and
John Marshall have "wives" {uxores).
' " In colleges and chapters there always remains the
same body, although the members thereof successively die.
Nor does any member of a college or chapter succeed to any
other member thereof by right of succession, so as to allow
the right to descend hereditarily from one to the other,
because the right always belongs to the church, and the
church always remains. . . . This prevented all chance of
escheat. ... In the fifteenth year of Richard II., 1391, an
act was passed which, after reciting the 7th of Edward I.
that no religious body should hold lands in perpetuity without
licence from the Crown, added that the same statute should
extend to and be observed of all lands, advowsons, &c., given
to the use of guilds or fraternities " (Dr. S. Hibbert Ware,
The Ancient Parish Church of Manchester, and Why il
was Collegiated. Manchester: 1848).

32 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
Masters and Society of Chaplains of that Chantry :
And that the same the Master and Society and
their successors the Masters and Society of that
Chantry may be persons legally fit and capable of
acquiring lands, tenements, rents, and any other
possessions whatsoever in fee and perpetuity from
any person whatsoever or persons whatsoever willing
to give, bequeath, grant, or assign them to them or
to their successors to be had and held for them
selves and their successors the Masters and Society
of the said Chantry for ever: And that the same
the Master and Society and their successors the
Masters and Society of the aforesaid Chantry may
in the names of the Master and Society of the
Chantry of Denston's Chauntery plead and be im
pleaded and prosecute and defend and be defended
in any Courts whatsoever, before any justices and
judges whatsoever, spiritual and temporal, in all and
singular actions, real, personal, and mixt,* suits,
' "A personal action is that which one man may have
against another, by reason of any contract for money or
goods, or for any offence done by him or some other, for
whose fact he is answerable. A real action is defined to
be whereby a defendant claims title to have a freehold in
any lands or tenements, rents or commons in fee- simple, fee-
tail, or for life. . . . Action mixt is that which lieth as well
against or for the thing which we seek, as against the person
that hath it, and is called mixt as having respect both to the
thing and the person. ... It is said to be a suit by the law
to recover the thing demanded and damages for the wrong
done" (Dr. Cowel, A Law Dictionary, under the word
^•Action").

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 33
plaints, and demands,* moved or to be moved for
them or against them in the said Courts or in any
one of them : And, further, we have granted and
given licence, and by these presents do grant and
give licence, for ourselves and our heirs as far as in
us lies, to the said John Howard and John Broughton,
and either of them, their heirs, executors, or assigns
aforesaid, that they or any one or more of them,
when this Chantry shall have been formed, founded,
created, and established, may individually and collec
tively give, grant, and assign lands, tenements, rents,
and any other possessions whatsoever to the value
of forty pounds a year besides the reprises,* which
1 "Secta. Jus persequendi aliquem in judicio dere aliqua,
maxime de criminali : Poursuite en jugement; ut sequi,
nostris, Poursuivre en jugement" (Ducange). "Querela. An
action preferred in any court of justice, in which the plaintiff
was caWsAquerens, and his breve, complaint ordeclaration, was
querela, whence our English quarrel" (White Kennet, D.D.,
Bishop of Peterborough, Parochial Antiquities, Glossary).
" Demand signifies a calling upon a man for anything due.
It hath also a proper signification, distinguished itova. plaint.
For all civil actions are pursued either by demands or
plaints; and the pursuer is called demandant ox plaintiff ,
namely, demandant 'vn actions x&sX, a.ViA. plaintiff 'va. personal.
And where the party pursuing is called demandant, the party
pursued is called tenant; viheiR plaintiff , there defendant"
(Dr. Cowel, A Law Dictionary).
' " Reprise.s are commonly taken for deductions and duties
which are yearly taken out of a manor and lands, as rent-
charge, rent-seek, pensions, corrodies, annuities, fees of
stewards or bailiffs, etc. Wherefore we speak of the clear
yearly value of a manor, we say it is so much per annum
ultra reprisas, besides all reprises" (Dr. Cowel, A Law
Dictionary). 3

34 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
are not held of us in capite, to the aforesaid Master
and Society and their aforesaid successors the Masters
and Society of this Chantry in perpetuity according
to ordinances in this behalf to be made by the
aforesaid John Howard and John Broughton, or one
of them, their heirs, executors, or assigns aforesaid,
or one or more of them, as is above set out : And
to the same the Master and Society of this Chantry
we have in like manner given and granted, give and
grant, special licence that they and their successors
may receive from the aforesaid John Howard and
John Broughton, or one of them, their heirs and
executors or assigns aforesaid, lands, tenements, rents,
and possessions with their purtenances to the afore
said annual value, and hold them for themselves
and their executors aforesaid for their maintenance
in perpetuity without impeachment,* deforcement,^
disturbance, or accusation on the part of. ourselves
or our heirs of justices, escheators, sheriffs, bailiffs,
or any other servants of ourselves or of any of our
said heirs whatsoever, and without any fine or fee
' Impetitio, impeachment : the party shall not be accused
or questioned for anything ; here probably it means for waste.
"' He that hath a lease without impeachment of waste hath
by that a property or interest given him in the houses and
trees, and may make waste in them . . . without being
•questioned or demanded any recompense for the waste done "
(Dr. Cowel, A Law Dictionary).
" Impedimentum : the word in the original seems here to
mean, as Dr. Cowel points out in a like case, deforciamentum ;
that is, "a withholding lands and tenements by force from
the right owner " {A Law Dictionary).

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 35
to be taken or paid out of them for our needs, and
without any brief ad quod dampnum, or any royal
mandate or any other royal letters patent, or any
inquisition or inquisitions to be held, prosecuted,
taken, or returned on briefs of this kind and man
dates in this behalf, the statute published concerning
lands and tenements not to be put in mortmain or
any other statute, act, or ordinance made, passed,
or ordained to the contrary notwithstanding : Being
unwilling that the aforesaid John Howard and John
Broughton, or one of them, or their heirs or executors
or assigns aforesaid, or the aforesaid Masters and
Society of Chaplains of the aforesaid Chantry or their
successors by reason of the aforesaid statutes should
in future times be impeached, disturbed, or molested
in anywise or aggrieved by us or our heirs, justiciaries,
sheriffs, coroners, or other bailiffs or servants of our
selves or of our heirs whatsoever ; or that any one
of them should be impeached, disturbed, molested
in any way or aggrieved.
" In testimony of which, we have ordered these our
letters patent to be made.
" Witness the king at Westminster on the first day
of March, 1475."
A brief notice of the persons other than royal
mentioned in these letters patent will fitly preface
the narrative of the actions which these letters
authorized. We have seen already that John Denston was the
son of William Denston and Margaret his wife, whose

36 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
maiden name was Wanton ; and that he married
Katharine, a daughter of Sir William Clopton, of
Kentwell Hall, and had a daughter, Ann, the wife
of John Broughton, junior. In 1456 his name is
found in a deed confirming a settlement to Thomas
Geddyng and Ann his wife ; * and his figure and the
figures of his wife Katharine and of his daughter
Ann are in the twelfth window from the west on the
north side of the parish church of Long Melford,
with this inscription underneath : " Orate pro anima
Joannis Denston et pro bono statu Catharinae uxoris
ejus filiae. . . . Clopton Arm: et Annae Broughton
filiae et heredis prefatorum Joannis et Catharinae."*
At the present date, in the east window as restored
by Mr. Almack is the effigy of John Denston, of
Denston Hall, with the arms of Denston quartering
Wanton on his coat ; and in the west window is an
effigy of Ann, wife of Sir John Broughton, dressed
in her coat-of-arms.* In a window at Kentwell
Hall is the coat, Denston impaling Clopton, for John
Denston, of Denston Hall, and Katharine, daughter of
Sir William Clopton.
Of John Marshall and Alice his wife no record can
up to the present time be discovered ; but from the
position which they occupy in the letters patent,
Alice may be supposed to be the sister of John
Denston. And Robert Clerk, clerk, was no doubt the
chaplain of Denston.
' Thingo Hundred, p. 48.
' The History of Long Melford, by Sir W. Parker, Bart.,
p. 57. * Ibid., pp. 63, 65.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 37
Sir John Howard, the other executor, was connected
by marriage with the Cloptons, and thus was related
to the Denstons ; and his arms appear both in the
Clopton windows of Long Melford Church and in
the windows of Kentwell Hall, Howard impaling
Molines, for Sir John Howard and his first wife,
Catherine, daughter of Richard, Lord Molines ; and
in 1 83 1 were in a window of Denston Church,
Clopton and Howard} This Sir John Howard was
created Duke of Norfolk, and was the subject of the
well known lines :
Jocky of Norfolk, be not too bold.
For Dickon thy master is bought and sold.'
Under the authority of these letters patent. Sir
John Howard and John Broughton, junior, proceeded
to carry out the intentions of John Denston as
expressed in his will, and as his executors. It must
be presumed that Bishop Tanner was entirely ignorant
of John Denston's will, and so fell into the error, into ^
which Sir W. Dugdale followed him, of styling Sir « -L*
John Howard and John Broughton as the founders ""
of the college. Mr. Taylor* in the text wrongly
names the executors as the founders ; but in the note
appended quotes from the Valor Ecclesiasticus^ the
correct account that John Denston was the founder.
' Dr. Davy's Notes.
^ The History of Long Melford, p. i%S-
' Index Monasticus, by Richard Taylor, p. 109.
¦• Page 471.

38 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
Mr. Page,* having stated that the college was founded
by John Denston, as is the fact, goes on to say
that about 1474 Sir John Howard, Knight, and
John Broughton, junior, are styled founders, without
specifying either the document in which or the
author by whom they are so styled.
The executors conceded and assigned to the master
and two co-brethren a farm, and a site for the
mansion, an essential feature of a college, in Denston,
the manor of Beamondes or Beaumonts in Lindsey,*
and a field of arable and pasture land with woods
and water-rights in Little Bradley called Mavesyn's
or Bavynte's Field.* On the site, which lay to the
north of the cemetery of the church, was erected " a
mansyon house " with outbuildings, surrounded by
vegetable and fruit gardens and an orchard. The
college, having a master and a mansion, had also
the third feature which the gloss of John de Athon
declared to be essential, a common seal to be used
by the community, as is evidenced by the lease of
Mavesyn's Field granted to Thomas Some, " sub
sigillo Gardiani Collegii sive Cantarie de Denstona
predicti et sociorum ejusdem CoUegii.*
Nothing is known of the three chantry priests or

' The Supplement to the Suffolk Traveller : "Denston."
* " So called from the family De Bellomonte. John de
Bellomonte held it in 25 Edwardi." (Page, Supplement to
Suffolk Traveller).
' Patent Rolls, 2 Edw. VI., Part 5, m. 2 ; and also
Augmentation Office, Particulars for Grants, 2 Edw. VI.
' Augmentation Office, Particulars for Grants, 2 Edw. VI.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 39
of their doings for fifty years, except that Sir John
Dcwson was " Master of the Colage " in 1 503, and
in that year witnessed the will of John Ray, of
Denston.* Neither Bishop GoldwelLnor Bishop Nicke,
in any one of the four visitations of the diocese of
Norwich between the years 1492 and 1532, took
occasion to visit them. This omission can be accounted
for only on the supposition that no complaint had
reached the ear of the diocesan either from one of
the co-brethren within or from a hostile critic out
side the community. Dr. Jessopp points out that
" the visitation of a monastery by a bishop was rather
of the nature of a visit paid to the inmates of the
house with a view of listening to any complaints they
had to make of grievances suffered, insubordination
persisted in, or tyranny exercised " ; and he adds that
" it was in the smaller houses with insufficient revenue
that a lower tone and laxer discipUne might be
expected to be found."* In this statement he is
confirmed by the hostile preamble to the statute of
1539, "in which," says Dr. Thomas Fuller with his
usual quaintness, " two principles are laid down of
infallible truth, and posterity must not be so pre
sumptuous as to question them : (i) the smallest
convents were the greatest sinners, and they who
had the least lands led the lewdest Hves ; (2) it was
harder to reform Uttle convents than those that were
' District Registry, Bury St. Edmunds : E. Registro Fuller,
fo. 54.
' 'Visitations of the Diocese of Norwich, Edited by Rev.
A. Jessopp, D.D., Camden Society, Introduction, pp. xi, xxix.

40 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
greater."* And yet, in speaking of the houses dis
solved by Cardinal Wolsey, he is so presumptuousas
to question one of the principles : " As for the poor
people formerly Uving in them, they may be presumed
more religious than others that were richer ; poVerty
being a protection for their piety, and they unable
to go to the cost of luxurious extravagances.'/* It
will be seen, however, in the sequel that if a com
plaint of irregularities had not reached the diocesan
before the visitation of Bishop Nicke in 1533, there
was good reason for an inquiry into the state.of
Denston College and the existence of a scandkl that
needed reformation.
It will be interesting to note here how the pari
shioners of Denston, to whose spiritual welfare the
great landowners and the monastic bodies had been
so indifferent, looked after their own interests. The
will of John Dernan, of Denardeston, dated 1467,
makes mention of a guild which they had founded
under the title of " The Guild of St. John the Baptist " ;
and as the testator leaves eightpence to each priest
of Denardeston, cuilibet sacerdoti de Denardestot^\ and
as the prior and convent of Tunbridge provided only
one priest, and the college did not as yet exist, it is
a fair inference that the guild, as was often the case,
maintained a priest at their own charges, to aid the
convent's chaplain in his ministrations.* The guild
is mentioned also in the will of William Wyburgh,
' Church Hist, of Britain, Book VI., sect, iii., div. iv. 4.
* Ibid., Book VL, sect, iii., div. i., 3, 4.
3 Bury District Registry : Register Baldwyne, fo. 555.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON, 41
of Denardeston, of the date 1472 * ; and " le Guilde-
hall" in which the meetings were held, and which
was the property of the inhabitants of Denston, is
named, in the grant made by Edward VI. in 1 549-50,
to William Mildmay and Thomas Nundes.*
In 1524, just fifty years after the foundation, the
college was threatened with suppression. The dis
solution of the alien priories in the fourth year of
Henry V. had furnished a dangerous precedent.
" Here," Dr. Thomas Fuller writes, " was an act of
State for precedent, that without sin of sacrilege
such donations might be dissolved." * The sin of
following this evil precedent is usually charged on
King Henry VIII. ; but in reality it was the Pope
of Rome, who, on Cardinal Wolsey's petition, set an
example which the king was not slow to follow.
The cardinal, having set his mind on founding two
colleges, one at Ipswich, where he was born, and
one at Oxford, where he was bred, and having
found himself unable to endow them out of his own
resources, obtained from Pope Clement yil. a bull
for the alienation of the endowments of several of the
smaller priories and colleges to his new foundations.
Amongst the eighteen named were the priory of
Tunbridge in Kent, * which had been richly endowed
out of the parish of Denston, and the college of
' Register Baldwyne, fo. 579.
^ Exchequer Augmentations, Particulars for Grants, 3
Edw. VI.
' Church History, Book VL, sect, ii., chap, viii., § 5, 6.
* Hasted, History of Kent, Vol. IL, p. 345.

42 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
Denston. The king consented to the promulgation
of the bull, and issued a commission of inquiry into
the value of the revenue of these several houses
and of their lands and tithes. There is a Paper
Roll in " The Chapter House County Bags " * which
is not dated, but is pronounced by the record com
missioners "to be about the reign of Henry VIIL,"
and which is endorsed Decime parochie de Denardston,
and is headed Hce sunt decimce parochiales de Denar
deston. This appears to be a draft of the report
of the king's commissioners on the tithes levied on
lands in Denston payable to the parish church,
which, it will be remembered, were aUenated to the
priory and convent of Tunbridge. This document
is of very great interest ; for it specifies the lands
on which the tithes were charged, and gives the
names of the respective owners and occupiers.
As soon as the report of the commissioners was
delivered, the king issued letters patent by which
the revenues of the priories and colleges were made
over to the cardinal.* In these letters patent special
provision was made that for the church of every
parish whence revenue was derived there should
be an adequate endowment of a perpetual vicarage
for a priest and a competent sum gf money for
annual distribution amongst the poor.* The cardinal
did not disturb the college of priests at Denston,
1 Bag of Miscellanies, No. 8.
» Report, 1837, p. 59.
' Patent, 18 Henry VIIL, Part i, m. 22.
* Rymeri Foedera, Vol. XIV., p. 172.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 43
or seize their possessions ; neither did the king, to
whom in 1530, when Wolsey was cast in pramunire,
all his property was forfeited.
It has already been stated that the parsonage, that
is, the endowment in land and tithe of the parish
church of Denston which belonged to the prior of
Tunbridge as parson or rector, had been leased by
the community in 1521 for twenty-eight years to
Henry Everard, who had married Margaret Brough
ton, and deceased in 1524, as appears upon the brass
in Denston Church. A new lease was granted by
the king to his son, Henry Everard, in 1538 ; which
specifies that the priory of Tunbridge was suppressed,
and the rectory was in the hands of the king, by
reason of the conviction of Thomas late Cardinal
Archbishop of York of diverse transgressions against
the form of the Statute of Provisions issued in the
ParUament of Richard II. in the sixteenth year of
his reign ; * and which fixes the rent at the same
rate as was fixed by the old lease, prout modo
nobis responsibilis . est, with an additional annual
payment of twelvepence duodeeim, denarios ultra
pro incremento per annum. There is, however,,
no clause such as existed in the old lease, which
obliged the tenant to provide a fit chaplain for the
church. These statements in the lease make it clear that
the king had got possession of the tithes and rents
1 Patent Roll, 29 Heniy VIIL, Part 2, m. 39 ; and
Originalia, 29 Henry VIIL, Rot. 45 ; and Kent Charter, 139.

44 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
in Denston which had previously been the property
of the prior of Tunbridge. But there is equally clear
evidence that the college of three priests at Denston
remained in quiet possession of their property and
continued to discharge their duties all throughout
King Henry's reign. It may have been that the
king hesitated to suppress them until he had induced
the Parliament to "put the lands of all colleges,
chantries, and free chapels in his majesty's full dis
position," which did not happen until the thirty-
eighth year of his reign.* King Henry died shortly
after the passing of this act ; but the Ufe of the
college was preserved only for a little time, and was
ended by the act of Parliament passed in the first
year of King Edward VI.
The evidence on which the above statement is
made is found in two documents : the one a certificate
of the king's commissioners concerning the estates
of the college and their annual value ; * the other
particulars drawn up for the information of those^,
who were about to purchase the .estates and for the
determination of the price to be paid for them.* On
February 14, in the year 1547-8, the king's commis
sioners report that " the Chantry was founded of
three prestes " that " alle the same priestes services
bene now full of the incumbentes," and that "the
seide Incumbentes doo now celebrate wythin the seide
' Dr. Fuller, Church History of Britain, Book VL,
sect, vi., chap, ii., § i.
2 Augmentation Office, Chantry Certificates, Roll 45.
' Particulars for Grants, 2 Edw. VI.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 45
parrische Church of Denstone and theire mansyon
house stondeth adyoyning to the same churche." In
the second document it is stated in Uke manner that
" the Chauntry at this present is full ... off three
priestes." The commissioners give also a schedule of the
property of the college with the rentals and the
charges upon it, attested by Christopher Peyton,
the supervisor : " Manerium de Beamondes in
Lyndeseye, Firma Scitus Domus Collegii, Campus
vocatus Mavesyns," called also "Bavyntes, ffelde in
predicto comitatu Suffolciae ; 14 acres off vnderwoode
off thage off ten yeres growthe: Juelles plate ne
ornamentes there bene none but certeigne stuffes,
the particulars whereoff in one Inventorye remayn-
ing apperith and valued att xxxix.s. v.d." The
" certeigne stuffes " were the household furniture ;
and the supervisor adds : " By whome or to what
purpose the seyde ffylde callede Mavesens ffilde was
given to the seyde Colledge I cannot learne. But as
itt is supposed by the presentore it was given by
the foreseyd Johne Denstone, Esquire." The yearly
value of the possessions is set down at xxvij li.
ix s. ij d. ob. q* ; the outgoings are stated to be
iiij li. xii s. j d. q* ; " and so Remayneth Clere to
thuse of the seide Master and Co-bretherne xxij li.
xvii s. j d. " ; " and the proffitts of the seyd landes
bene yerely distributede in this wise, viz., to two
of the seyde Chauntrye priestes eyther of theyme
cxiii.s. iiii.d. : And to the thirde whoo is named
the Master the residue off the proffittes off the same

46 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
ffor his salarie, the Reparacions off the houses And
other incydent charges there."
In " The Certificate of Chantries " above cited are
given also the names of the three incumbents and
notices of them which bear out the statement made
above that abuses had crept into the college which
called for the bishop's visitation and greatly needed
reform. " Oone Richarde Baldwyn is Master of the seide
Colledge of thage of fifty-four yeres, having twoo
prebendes and two or three benyfyces, the valewe
whereof wee can nott learne." The Rev. F. R. Raines
teUs us that " this old canker of the Church, the hold
ing of livings in plurality, had widely spread before the
Reformation, and existed, as is here proved, amongst
the chantry priests ; and also that dispensations were
obtained for absence from chantries as well as from
parochial cures." * A prebend obliged the incumbent
to a residence of a certain number of weeks in
each year. At this date a Richard Baldwyn was
prebendary of the college of Stoke by Clare, holding
the third prebend, and bound by the statutes to reside
twenty-two weeks in each year, either altogether or
in turn, and failing so to reside, mulcted of all the
proceeds of his prebend except forty shillings. It
seems highly probable that this Richard Baldwyn
was the master of Denston College. But, whether so
or not, the two prebends which the master held must
have necessitated prolonged absences from Denston
' History of Chantries, Introduction, p. xiii.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 47
to the neglect of his duties to the college and the
gravest injury to its interests. In "The Particulars
for Grants" the supervisor brings another serious
charge against him, repeating that "of the Residue
Reservede by the Master of the seyde Colledge ffor
the Reparacions off the Mancion house of the seyde
Colledge . . . there was nothing bestowede in the
Reparacions off the same howse these seven yeres."
No doubt Master Richard Baldwyn, foreseeing that
the end of the college and the confiscation of the
property was near at hand, preferred to use the
residue for his own purposes to the expending
of it on buildings from which he would be soon
ejected. Robert Fisher, one of the co-brethren, was " of
thage of forty yeres, having a benefyce in North
amptonshire of the valewe of (blank), being simply
learned." The other of the co-brethren was
" Rycharde Marshalle, of thage of seventy yeres,
having no other lyvinge, of honest conversation, and
of smalle learnynge."
I Speaking of King Henry VIII., Dr. Thomas Fuller
remarks * : "It was in those days conceived highly
injurious to thrust monks and nuns out of house
and home, without assigning them any allowance
for their subsistence. . . . The king, better natured
herein than some courtiers, allowed and duly paid
to some large, to most competent, to all certain
annuities." The principle thus established was
' Book VL, sect iv., chap, vi., i, 2.

48 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
observed by the advisers of King Edward VI. ;
and on June 22, 1 548, Sir Walter Mildmay, Knight,
and Robert Kelweye, Esq., the king's commis
sioners under the great seal, appointed annuities
to the master and co-brethren respectively, which
were confirmed by letters patent dated September
I, 1548.* These pensions were granted on the
condition "that if the grantor be preferred to any
dignity of the clear yearly value of the said annuity,
then the present grant to be null and void." The
possession at the date of his deposition of two
prebends and of two or three other benefices, which
must have exceeded the value of the annuity, was
no obstacle to the grant of it to the Master Richard
Baldwyn ; nor was the benefice in Northamptonshire
an obstacle to the grant of the pension to Richard
Marshall. To the master, who had received for his
food and sustenance the sum of ten pounds and
more annually, was granted a pension of ten pounds ;
to Richard Marshall and Robert Fisher, each a
pension of five pounds ; the pensions to commence
from the previous Easter. In 1555-6 Queen Mary
authorized Cardinal Pole to revise the pensions that
had been granted, and made agreement with him
as to the payment of those which ought to have
continuance. The letters patent direct inquiry
whether " the condycione upon which dyverse of the
saide grauntes were made to dyverse persones " had
been observed, "namely, Quamdiu se bene gesserit,
• Exchequer, Q. R., Miscellanea, 79, 11.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 49
and Quousque sibi de competenti beneficio provisum
sit."^ In "The Cardinal's Pension-Book," which
exhibits the result of his inquiry, the name of the
master only appears as entitled to a continuance of
this pension : " Suffolk. Cantarie Collegia &c. in dicto
comitatu. Penciones . . . Ricardi Baldwyni nuper
Incumbentis Cantarie de Denstona per Annum
vi li. xiii s. iiij d. " ; the amount of the pension being
reduced one-third. As the date of "The Pension-
Book" is 1556, in aH probabiUty Richard Marshall,
who in 1548 was seventy years of age, had been
taken to his rest ; and the " simply learned " Robert
Fisher, who from this description was hardly quaUfied
for preferment, may have been judged unworthy
of a continuance of his pension on account of mis
conduct, or, though comparatively young, may have
deceased. It must be added that "The Pension-
Book " contains also this entry under Clare College :
" Penciones . . . Ricardi Baldwyni nuper prebendarii
ibidem per Annum vi li. xiii s. iiii d." And if the
prebendary of Stoke and the master of the college
of Denston were one and the same person, a very
comfortable provision was made for his maintenance,
considering that he was also in possession of two or
three benefices.
On the seventeenth day of June, 1548, the king
granted the site of the college and the buildings,
the manor of Beamondes or Beaumont, and the field
called Mavesyns or Bavyntes, which together pro-
' Exchequer, Queen's Remembrancer, Miscellaneous Books.
No. 32, Cardinal Pole's Pension-Book. 4

so THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
duced a clear rental of £26 igs. 2|^., to the brothers
Thomas Smythe, of Wratting, and John Smythe,
senior, of Cavendish, for the sum of £6^2 15J. yd.,
"to be paid alle in hand," "the king's maiestie to
dischardge the purchasers of all incumbraunces except
leases and the covenantes in the same and except
the Reprises before allowed." * The tenure is stated
to be in capite by the fortieth part of a knight's
service ; the purchasers were allowed " to have
thissues from Easter last " ; the bells and the lead
which belonged to the college were reserved to the
Crown, as were also the advowsons of any churches
which the college might have possessed ; and the
manor of Beamondes was charged with the payment
of an annual sum of six shillings and fourpence
"Domine Regine AngUe ut honori suo de Clare,"
and of a fee of thirteen shillings and fourpence to
the bailiff or collector of the rents of the manor.
And thus, after a brief existence of seventy-four
years, the college of Denston was dissolved. It
cannot honestly be said to have fulfilled the intention
of the pious founder John Denston ; and what
Dr. Jessopp says of colleges in general * may be applied
to it : " Looked upon as an institution to promote
holiness of life among the clergy, to foster learning,
to advance education, or to exhibit a higher ideal
of life in action, and so to set before the laity the
beauty of hoUness as exhibited in the daily walk
' Augmentation Office, Particulars for Grants, 2 Edw. VI.
' Visitations of the Diocese of Norwich, Introduction,
p. xxxvii.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 51
of the members of these corporations, it had proved
a failure." Still, it was an act of cruelty, not to say
of sacrilege, to confiscate revenues that had been
solemnly dedicated to God for the benefit of His
Church, and sell them for the enrichment of greedy
laymen, who in their purchase from the king had
excellent bargains, and, utterly indifferent to the
religious wants of the parish, cared solely for the
interests of themselves and their posterity. The laity
seemed animated solely by selfishness and ferocious
greed. Dr. Fuller writes * : " The courtiers were more
rapacious to catch and voracious to swallow these
chantries than abbey-lands .... Such who mannerly
expected till the king carved for them out of abbey-
lands scrambled for themselves out of chantry-
revenues, as knowing that this was the last dish of
the last course, and after chantries, as after cheese,
nothing to be expected." * The result of the sales and
of the gifts of the Church property in Denston has
been that the church was left with a miserable
pittance as an endowment for the parish priest, in
startling and shocking defiance of all obUgations and
reverence to God and man.
' Book VL, sect, vi., chap, ii., § 20.
' A. J., The Guardian, August 19, 1891 : " Wymondham
Abbey: A Retrospect."

THE SITE OF THE COLLEGE AND THE
MANOR OF BEAMONDES.
It has already been stated that the site and the lands
belonging to the college were sold in 1 548 to Thomas
and John Smythe. On June 22, 1549, John Smythe
by deed of release released to Thomas, his heirs, and
assigns all his estate in the said capital house, site,
manor, and lands ; * and Thomas had entered upon
the property without applying for or obtaining the
royal licence. In 1 564 the Crown discovered that he
had done this ; but on November 3 pardoned his
transgression on his payment of ten pounds, and
further granted him permission to retain the share thus
irregularly bought.* On November 5 in the same
year Thomas Smythe obtained the royal licence, on
the payment of £^ 1 35-. 4d., to sell a mediety of the
estates to Thomas Laurence, yeoman, of Sproughton.*
And on November 10 an indenture was made
between Thomas Smythe the younger, of London,
gentleman, of one part, and Thomas Laurence, of
Sproughton, in the county of Suffolk, yeoman, of
' Close Rolls, 745, 9 Eliz., Part 19.
» Originalia, 6 EHz., Part 3, Rot. 21.
3 Rot. 20. 52

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 53
the other part, by which Thomas Smythe bargains
and sells to Thomas Laurence and his heirs all
that moiety, part, and parts of the manor of
Beamonds in Lyllesey, als Lyndsey, in the county
of Suffolk, and all and singular lands, et cetera, in
Lydsey, alias Lyndeseye, Carsey, Whatfelde, Nawton,
Aldham, Monckes Yely, Boxford, and Groton in the
said county belonging to the late college or chantry
of Denardestone, alias Denstone ; and Thomas
Laurence covenants to pay £2iifi, of which sum ;^iOO
is to be paid at once, another ;£^ioo within six weeks
after Midsummer Day next, at the mansyon house
of James Beddyngfelde, in Ippyswiche, commonly
called the Kinges Hedde, and at Lady Day, 1566, the
remaining £ip. And it is provided that in default
of the said £\ip the present indenture shall be void
and the premises shall revert to Thomas Smythe, his
heirs, and assigns for ever. And on November 11,
Thomas Smythe came into Chancery and acknow
ledged the indenture.*
On October 22, 1567, Thomas Smythe obtained
the royal licence to sell the other moiety, namely,
the site of the college and the lands in Denston,
to WilUam Burde, junior, the son of WilUam
Burde, citizen and mercer of London.^ "Thomas
Smythe, in consideration of £(iO paid in hand
by WilUam Burde, sells all that Capitalle Howse
and Scite of the late Colledge or Chauntrye of
• Close Roll 656, 6 Eliz., Part 5. The indenture fills about
twenty-one folios.
* Originalia, 9 Eliz., Part i, Rot. 45.

54 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
Denardestone, otherwise called Denstone, in the
Countye of Suffolk, nowe dissolved. And also all
Orchardes and other lands,* which the said Thomas
Smythe, together with John Smythe esquire . . . lately
had by purchase bf the grant of Edward VI. by
letters patent dated at Westminster, the seventeenth
of June, 1548."*
' Thus named in the royal licence : " Ac omnia ortus pomaria
gardinum horrea stabulum stagna lez yardes vaccarum funda
lez romes domos aisiamenta proficia et commoditates."
' Indenture made by Thomas Smythe to William Burde.
Close Roll 74S, 9 Eliz., Part 19.

THE MANOR OF DENSTON HALL.
Early in the fifteenth century, and possibly at a
still earlier date, the manor of Denston Hall was
in the possession of the abbot of the monastery of
St. Edmundsbury, but how does not appear. John
Broughton, the son-in-law and executor of John
Denston, was seised of this manor with the messuage
or manor of Stonehall in Denston, and Clopton Hall
in Wickhambrook,* in his domain as of fee, which
he held of the abbot of St. Edmundsbury in socage,
by fealty only for all the services which the abbot
owed, as the abbot's lawful tenant. In 1516 these
manors were settled on John Broughton, and on
Ann* his wife if she survived him, for the term of
their natural Uves, and after their deaths on their son
and heir apparent John Broughton and his lawful
heirs ; and in the event of the failure of such lawful
heirs of John Broughton the son, on the heirs of John
Broughton the father, namely, his daughters Ann
and Agnes, and in default of these on his rightful
heirs. John Broughton the father deceased on
' " Manerium de Stonehall et Shepasta, de honore de
Clare: Manerium de Clopton Hall in Wickham de honore
predicto " (Rental of the Honor of Clare in Duchy Court of
Lancaster). " Also spelt Anna. SS

56 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
January 24, 1528 ; and Ann, his widow, was sub
sequently married to John Russell, who held these
manors* in right of his wife, but predeceased her.
John Broughton, junior, died without issue ; and
Ann, Lady Russell, held the manors until her death
in 1558, when they reverted to Anne Cheyney, the
wife of Sir Thomas Cheyney, of the Honourable
Order of the Garter, and Agnes Howard, the wife of
Sir William Howard, of the same Honourable Order,
as daughters and next surviving heirs 'of John
Broughton the father. On January 20, 1 560, it was
agreed between the said Anna, then a widow, and
the said Agnes, that the estates which they had
hitherto held jointly should be apportioned between
them. The estates that Agnes took do not concern
the present inquiry. But Anne, Lady Cheyney, was
allotted the manor of Denston Hall, the messuage or
manor of Stone Hall, and the manors of Clopton Hall
and Stonham Aspall ; and at her death these passed
to her son and heir Henry Cheyney.
Henry Cheyney made over these manors by deed
of gift to William Burde and Mirable his wife in
1564, without obtaining the royal licence for the
alienation ; and consequently on June 21, in the
same year, William Burde was summoned to show
if he knew or had anything to say why these manors
should not be taken into and seised in the hands of
the queen, on the ground that the aUenation had
^ E. 6. 2. " Johes Dnus Russell tenuit in jure Dne Anne
uxoris sue Manerium de Denston HaU" {Rental of the
Honor of Clare).

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 57^
been made illegally. For some reason or another,.
which does not appear, William Burde did not put
in an appearance ; and it was ordered that the
manors should be forfeited to the Crown.
In 1565 an inquiry was made concerning the
profits of these manors, which were proved to be
of the clear annual value of twenty-one pounds,.
and on January 2 in this year, 1565-6, the Crown
took possession of them. On February 12, WilUam
Burde and Mirable his wife appeared by their
attorney John Skyll, and complained that these
manors were unjustly taken over by the Crown, and
sought to recover them. And it was ultimately
determined by the Barons of Exchequer that the
queen's hands should be removed from the possession
of the said manors, and that WilUam Burde and
Mirable his wife should be reinstated in them with
all their incomings and outgoings ; and further that
all the profits of the manors from the date of their
seizure by the queen should be handed over to
them. WilUam Burde died on June 12, 1591, and by
an inquisition held at Bury St. Edmunds in 1594
it was found that he was seised at the time of his
death of the manors of Denston Hall, Clopton Hall
and Stone Hall, with their purtenances in Denston
and other villages adjoining it, and of a close of
pasture called Dallams, estimated to be of four acres
in CooUnge; that Mirable, his widow, living in
Denston, was seised of these manors, which were
of the annual value of twenty-four pounds, and the

58 THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
pasture of the annual value of five shillings, for
the term of her natural life ; and that their heir,
William Burde, was at the time of his father's death
more than thirty-six years of age : " triginta sex
annorum et amplius." * On the back of the inquisition
is a memorandum that the manors of Denston Hall
and Stone Hall are held of the king as of his Honor
of Clare by miUtary service.
Mirable Burde died in 1602 ; and the manors
and land then passed to WilUam Burde the son,
who was a collector of the queen in the port of the
city of London,* and who had purchased in 1567
the site of the college from Thomas Smythe. WilUam
Burde had become indebted to the Crown in a sum
of ;£^8,334.* In consequence of this debt the Crown
seized the manors and the site of the college, and
leased them to Sir John Robinson ; and in 1617 sold
them to William Robinson, a mercer of the city of
London, to be held of the Crown at a peppercorn
rent.* The manor of Denston Hall is stated to be
of the annual value of £2^ is. 6d. ; the manor of
Clopton Hall, ;^5 ; and the manor of Stone Hall, ;^5.
The grant included also three messuages, three
gardens, a hundred acres of arable land, fifty acres
of meadow, a hundred acres of pasture, forty acres of
' Chancery Inquisitions, post mortem, 36 Eliz., Part 2,
No. 14.
' Patent Roll, 15 James I., Part 8, No. 3.
3 Ibid.
' Patent Roll, 15 James I., Part 8, No. 3. On this roll
the manors and site are described as "modo vel nuper in
tenura sive occupacione Johannis Robinson Armigeri."

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 59
wood, a hundred acres of furze or gorse * and heath, in
Denston, Wickhambrook, Stradishall, and Stansfield
of an annual value of £\o ; and the college buildings
are set down as worth thirty shillings a year : so that
the rental of the whole property, thus purchased by
WilUam Robinson, was ;^49 i \s. 6d.^ These manors,
messuages, and lands are still held by the descendants
of William Robinson, with the exception of the
messuage of Stonehall, which now consists of three or
four cottages, which before the passing of the new poor
law were the parish workhouse, and are now the
property of Mr. Pryke, shoemaker, of Wickhambrook.
Other lands and tenements in Denston, Wickham
brook, and Stradishall, and the four acres in CooUnge,
called Dallams, belonging to William Burde, junior,
and producing a rental of;^32 13J. 2^., were at the
same date granted at a peppercorn rent to Richard
Ray, of Wickhambrook.*
It is necessary to repeat here that the parsonage
tithes and other property belonging to the priory
of Tunbridge were leased in 1521 by the prior and
' fampnorum : " the name seems to derive itself from the
French jaulne, yellow, because the blossoms are of that
colour. Coke on Littleton, p. 5, says jampna signifies a
waterish place " (Dr. Cowel, The Interpreter).
' In the final clause of the grant which enumerates the
various properties that pass with the manors, etc., occurs the
word lezuras, which is clearly the leswye of Domesday, and
signifies some kind of pastures ; " it is still used in many places
of England, and often inserted in deeds of conveyances " (Dr.
Cowel, The Interpreter).
' Originalia, 15 James I., Part 3, Rot. 20.

6o THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON.
canons for twenty-eight years to Henry Everard, of
Denston, at a rent of eight pounds a years ; and that
in 1538 the king, into whose hands on the attainder
of Cardinal Wolsey the revenues of the priory had
come, granted a fresh lease for twenty-one years to
Henry, the son of the above-named Henry Everard.
I" 1555 John Ray is styled impropriator and
presents to the chaplaincy of the parish ; * but how
the lease passed to him, or how long he or his
descendants held it, does not appear. In 1585 Queen
Elizabeth sold to Theophilus Adams, of London,
gentleman, and Thomas Butler, of London, gentleman,
" all the lands, tenements, tithes, and hereditaments
in Denston which lately belonged to the monastery
or priory of Tunbridge," . . . "and all that garden
in Bury St. Edmunds called St. John's on the Mount,
estimated to contain half a rood." *
At the date of the passing of the acts for the
commutation of tithes, the Honourable Robert
Henry Clive, surviving trustee under the will of
William Henry Robinson, late of Denardeston,
deceased, was the owner of all manner of tithes
arising and renewing on one thousand and eighty-
three acres three roods and four perches of lands of
which he himself is the owner ; and merged his said
tithes in the freehold and inheritance of the said lands
by an instrument of merger whereby the said lands
were absolutely discharged from the render of all
manner of tithes.
• Bishop Tanner's MSS., Norwich, p. 1233.
^ Patent Roll, 27 Eliz., Part 4, membrane 30.

THE COLLEGE OR CHANTRY OF DENSTON. 6i
Four acres three roods and twenty-eight perches
of land, owned by the master and fellows and scholars
of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, are absolutely
exempt by prescription from the render of all manner
of tithes ; as are also one acre three roods and
twenty-seven perches then owned and occupied by
William Shave.
The parish contains 1,183 acres i rood and 21
perches ; of these 1,090 acres 2 roods and 19 perches
are free from tithe ; and 3 acres i rood and 18
perches are roads, waste, and sites of buildings. Of
the remainder, 36 acres and 20 perches were culti
vated as arable, 9 acres and 24 perches were meadow
and pasture, and 3 acres 3 roods and 16 perches
were gardens. And the rent charge, in lieu of tithes,
awarded to the Honourable Robert Henry Clive
as tithe owner, on these lands and gardens, was
.;^I4 lOJ.*
' Confirmed Apportionment ofthe Rent Charge, 1850.

THE GUILDHALL.
The " Particulars for Grants," 3 Edward VI.,* con
tains mention of several places in which lands lately
belonging to guilds are granted to various purchasers.
Amongst these is named a house in ruins in Denston
called or known by the name of Le Guildehall,
lately in the tenure of the inhabitants of the vill,
of which the rental was three shiUings and fourpence,
less the rent resolute (that is, the tenths anciently
paid to the Crown from the lands of reUgious bodies,
and after their dissolution payable by the lands of
those to whom the demise had been made), one
shilUng to be paid to the Lord Privy Seal * annually ;
so that the clear annual value was two shillings
and fourpence. It was sold at ten years' purchase,
namely, twenty-three shillings and fourpence, to
William Mildmay, of Chelmsford, Essex, gentleman,
and Thomas Nundes the elder, of Springfield, husband
man, by letters patent, dated February i, 1549-50;
to be held of the king, his heirs, and successors as
of the manor of East Greenwich by fealty only in
free socage, and exempt from all payments except
the rent resolute specified.*
' Exchequer, Augmentation Office.
3 By Patent Roll, 4 Edw. VI. , Part 3, m. 2, it appears that
Lord Russell was the Keeper of the Privy Seal.
' Patent Roll, 4 Edw. VL, Part 3, m. 2.
62

FELICE DRURY.
A BRANCH of the family of Denston was seated at
Besthorpe in Norfolk. WilUam Denston of that
place had a sole daughter and heiress named FeUce
or Phyllis, who was married to Sir Roger Drury, of
Rougham. Sir Roger was three times married :
first to Agnes, by whom he had no issue ; secondly
to Felice Denston, by whom he had three sons and
one daughter ; and, thirdly, to Anna, the daughter
and co-heiress of William Hanningfield, of Suffolk.
Felice is mentioned in the inscription on Sir Roger
Drury's grave at Hawstedd :
Orate pro anima Rogeri Drury Armigeri
Agnetis Felicis et Anne uxor ejus qui quidem
Rogerus obiit 27 die Februarii Ao Dni 1495.'
' Blomefield, History of Norfolk, Vol. I., pp. 185, 338 ;
Gage, Thingo Hundred, pp. 430, 462.

63

APPENDIX A.
Chantry or Chauntry (late Latin Cantaria). This word
properly means an endowment for the perpetual provision
of ecclesiastics to chant masses and offer prayers for the
founder and for those whom he might name.
"In primitive times at a funeral there was usually a
celebration of the Holy Communion, in which, at the place
of the commemoration of the faithful departed, after the
recital of the usual roll of saints, bishops, etc., special
mention was made of the deceased. This led to the
practice of providing for other celebrations on behalf of a
deceased person at the times when it was the custom to
bear them specially in mind.
" After the beginning of the fifteenth century, very few
religious houses were founded, but instead devotional
munificence began to flow in the direction of the founding
of chantries. Wealthy persons left an endowment for one
or more priests to celebrate daily in perpetuity, on their
own behalf and that of their family ' and of all Christian
souls.' " Chantry chapels for these services were most frequently
formed within the existing churches; in great minster
churches the side chapels were used for this purpose, or
6S S '

66 APPENDIX B.
little chapels were erected in convenient places, at the ends
of aisles, against the east walls of the transepts, on the west
side of the rood-screen, between the columns of the great
arcades. The chapel was often built so as to enclose the
tomb of the founder ; in the Marner Chapel at Layer
Marner, Essex, the altar is attached to the west end of the
founder's tomb. In parish churches, a portion of the church
— especially the east end of an aisle^was screened off with
traceried wooden screens into a chapel ; sometimes an
addition was built to the church, opening into it, to afford
room for a chantry chapel ; in such cases the chapel was
usually also the burial-place of the founder and his family.
The churches of the large and wealthy towns had sometimes
ten or twelve such chantries.
" Sometimes a chantry was endowed for more than one
priest j for example, the Burghersh Chantry, at Lincoln, had
several priests who formed a corporate body, with a house
Of residence within the close, which still remains." —
Extract from Cutis' Dictionary of the Church of England.

A.D. 1548.

APPENDIX B.
(See pp. 14, 27.)

AUGMENTATION OFFICE, CHANTRY CERTIFICATES,
ROLL 45.
Certificate of Chantries, &c. in the County of Suffolk
made 12 Nov. 2 Edw. VI. (1548) by Sir Roger
Townesende knt., John Gosnolde and Nicholas Bacon
esquires, Ambrose Gilberte and Christopher Peyton

APPENDIX B. 67
gentlemen, by virtue of the King's Commifsion to
them directed and bearing date 14 February in the
second year of his said Majesty's reign (1547-8).^
25- Denston ai Denardeston.
The mannor of Beamondes in Lyndeseye wyth oone
filde called Bavyntes in the Countie of Suff '.
Put In feoffamente by John Denston esquyer to con
tynnewe for ever to thyntente to have three pryestes viz
oone M' and twoo Cobretherne to singe in the parrishe
Churche of Denstone aforeseide for the sowles of the seide
John and other And also an obyte to be kepte their for
ever as by the laste wille of the same John appearythe
eyther of the seide twoo priestes taking for their wages
yerely — Cxiij^* iiij''' And the seide M' to have the Resydewe
for his wagis to kepe the obyte And to maynteyne the
reparacions of the bowses and other Incydente charges
And alle the same priestes services bene nowe full of
thencumbentes viz oone Richarde Baldwyn is M' of the
seide Colledge of thage of Wiij yeres having twoo prebendes
and ij or three benyfyces the valewe whereof wee can nott
learne Also Robert Fisher of thage of xl" yeres having a
benyfyce in Northamtoneshire of the valewe of [blank]
beinge symplye learnid And Rycharde Marshalle of thage
of Ixx yeres havinge no other lyvinge of honest conversacion
And of smalle learnynge.
The same is no parrishe church but the seide Incum-
bente * doo celebrate wythin the seide parrishe Church of
Denstone and theire mansyon howse stondeth adyoyning
to the same churche. ' N.B.— Heading is here abridged.
* Sic.

68

APPENDIX B.

The yerely valewe of the pofsefsyons
thereof amountith to the sum of

li. 5. d.
xxvij ix ij ob,

s. d. 3 >
xliiij X 93
xiij xj
xiij iiij
XX

The yerely tenthes
Rentes Resolutes
The Baylies Fee
To the poore yerely
And so Remayneth Clere to "j
thuse of the seide M"^ and j-
Cobretherne J
Plate Jewelles or ornamentes their is'
none butt certeyne howseholde
stuffe as appearithe by an Inven
torye thereof Remayninge valued at ,

93
Wherof

H. s. d. a
iiij xij j 93

li. s. d.
xxij xvij j ob.

s. d.
xxxix v

Extracted Saturday, 19 Nov,, 1887.

INDEX,

Accoperius, F., 5, 13.
Ann, wife of John Broughton
jun., 27, 30, 36.
Appelgard, Sir Richard de,
grants lauds of Denston to
priory of Tunbridge, 17 ;
another Richard does the
same, 18. B
Baillol or Bailleul, Gilbert de,
16.
Baldwyn, Master Richard, 46-
49-
Bauzain =ipaiti-co\oured, 25.
Beamondes, manor of, 28,
52.
Berton, John de, 25.
Broughton, Sir John, married
Ann Clopton, 27 ; bis 28,
31. 33, 35. SS-
Burde, William, and Mirable
his wife, recital of their title
to the manor of Denston
Hall and three other man-

69

ors, 23 ; his dealings vvith
Thomas Smythe, 53 ; sum
moned, 56; reinstated, 57;
death, 57 ; widow's death,
58 ; indebted to the Crown,
58 ; Crown's action, 58 ;
W. B., jun., 59.
Bury St. Edmunds, the abbot
of, appears to have owned
Denston Hall, 23.

Certificate of Chantries, 46.
Chantries, origin of, extract
from Cutis' Dictionary ofthe
Church of England, 65, 66.
Chantry, meaning of the
word, 65.
Clive, Hon. Robert Henry,
tithe owner, 60.
" College chantries," 10, 1 1 ; as
sisted parish priest, 12; or
superseded him, 12, 13 ;
College of Denston not en
dowed with the Church, i; ;
object of, 24 ; chantries of
two kinds, 29.

70

INDEX.

" Colleges," nature and con
stitution of, 5-10 ; incorpora
tion of, 6 ; definition of, 6.
Collegiate churches, 8, g.
Collegiate foundations, Mr.
Mackenzie Walcot on, 10.
Collegium, 6.
Cowel, Dr., on the establish
ment of colleges, 7.
Cultivation of land in fifteenth
century, and agricultural
prices, 21.
Custos, the term applied to the
head of a college, 30.
Cutts' Dictionary ofthe Church
of England, extract from, on
the origin of chantries, 65, 66.

D
Darnel, Robert, owns tithe in
Denston, 17.
" Demand " deflned, 33.
Denardeston, Henricus de, 25.
Denardeston, Humfridus de,25.
Denardeston, Petrus de, sum
moned to attend the king at
York, with horse and arms,
25-
Denardeston, Sir Robert, 26.
Denardeston, Sir William, 26.
Denston a college chantry not
a collegiate church, 13, 14;
the founding of the chantry,
24, 29; the chantry threatened
with suppression, 41 ; the
dissolution of the chantry
50. 54-

Denston, certificate of the
chantry of, 66.
Denston Hall, 23, 55 ; held of
the king, 58.
Denston, John, founds the
chantry of Denston, 24; death,
27 ; his will missing, 27 ;
figures of John and his wife
in a window* in the parish
church of Long Melford, 36 ;
his executors were not the
founders of the chantry, 37,
38.
Denston (or Denardeston),
family of, 24.
Dowson, Sir John, " Master of
the Colage," 39.
Drury, Felice, 63.

Elizabeth, Queen, sells lands
of Denston to Thomas
Butler, 60.
Everard, Henry, of Denston,
lease granted to, 22, 60.

Ferraris, Lucius, 5, 8.
Frances de Urrutigoyti, M.A.,
S>8.
Frondesbury, Roger de, rector
of Stradishall, 20.
Fuller, Dr. Thomas, 10 ; on
convents, 39 ; on dissolution
of priories, 41 ; on Henry
VIIL, 47-

INDEX.

71

Guild of St. John the Baptist,
40.
" Guildehall, le " (a house in
Denston), 41, 62.
H
Henry VIII., 41, 42 ; got
possession of tithes and
rents of Denston, 43 ; makes
provision for the priests of
churches robbed, 42, 47.
Horse Roll, entry in the, 25.
Howard, Sir John, executor
of John Denston, 28 ; con
nected by marriage with the
Cloptons, 37 ; created Duke
of Norfolk, 37 ; wo/ a founder
of Denston Chantry, 38.
I
Incumbent, the title explained,
14. J
fampnorum explained, 59.
Jessopp, Dr., on origin of
chantry colleges, 1 1 ; on visi
tation of a monastery by a
bishop, 39 ; on colleges, 50.

Leasing of the chapel of Den
ston to Henry Everard, 22.
Letters patent concerning
the foundation of Denston

Chantry, translation of, 29-
35;
Lezuras explained, 59.
Long Melford Church, 36, 37.
M
Mary, Queen, agreement with
Cardinal Pole about pen
sions, 48.
Mortmain, statute of, 28.
Mylde, Sir Gilbert, priest,
obtains a lease from Prior
and canons of Tunbridge
of Denston lands, 21, 22.
N
Neville, Robert de, appro
priated tithes on lands of
Denston Church, 15, 16.

Parishioners of Denston, exten
sively spoiled, 15, 19, 24;
so much so that Oxford
University laid the matter
before Henry V., 19; they
found a guild, 40.
" Personal action " defined, 32.
Pole, Cardinal, his Pension-
Book, 49. R
Raines, Rev. F. R., 24, 46.
Ray, John, of Denston, 39 ;
impropriator of Denston
tithes, 60 ; Richard, 59.
" Reprises " defined, 33.

72

INDEX.

Robinson, Sir John, 58.
Robinson, William, 58, 59, 60.
Roger de Frondesbury, rector
of Stradishall, rents chapel
of Denston from Prior and
canons of Tunbridge, 20.
Roger, Earl of Clare, 16.
Russell, John, 56 ; marries
Ann Broughton, 56.

Scarfantoni, J. J., 5, 9,14.
Secta defined, 33.
Sidney Sussex College, Cam
bridge, 61.
Smythe, John, 7, 54.
Smythe, Thomas, 28, 50, 52,
S3-
Stipendiaries, 14.
Stoke by Clare, church of, 9,
10, 16, 17.
Strype's Life of Archbishop
Parker, 9."
Suit about certain lands of
Denston, 18.

Taylor, Richard, Statement re
garding the endowment of
Denston Chantry, 15.
Tunbridge, prior and canons
of, anxious to enrich them
selves out of revenues of
Denston Church, 18 ; the
Prior made parson of
Denston, 18 ; they become
possessed of the chapel
and parish, 19 ; they farmed
their interest therein, 20;
leases granted to them,
now in Bodleian Library,
20, 21 ; alienation of, 41 ;
suppressed, 43 ; they leased
the tithes, etc., 59.
W
Walcot, Mr. Mackenzie, on
college foundations, 10.
Weyland, family of, hold the
manor of Denston Hall, 26.
Willis, Professor, on colleges, 6.
Wolsey, Cardinal, 40, 41.

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