PRESENTATION OF CLERGY BY LETTERS PATENT 1547-1599 Colin Brett - PDF document

PRESENTATION OF CLERGY BY LETTERS PATENT 1547-1599 Colin Brett Introduction These royal presentments in this list relate to churches, chapels and hospitals in the diocese of Bath and Wells, and prebends in Wells Cathedral, that were granted by virtue of the King or Queen being patron of a benefice or holding the wardship of a minor. For example, in 1575 Elizabeth I, as ward of William Rosewell, presented John Wygwood to Limington, and also Toby Walkwood in 1577 after the death of Wygwood. The previous patron had been Henry Grey, 3rd Marquis of Dorset, and at the next presentation in 1589 when William was of age the patron was Edward St. Barbe of Ashington. 1 The number of presentations per year shows that over the period covered by this list the average number was five, with only three presentations per year in Edward VI ’ s reign. One anomaly in this analysis can be seen in the surge in the number of presentations in the first years of Mary ’ s reign to seventeen. This was largely due to the replacement of those clergy who had been found to have married and were subsequently deprived of their livings. Here special scrutiny is applied to the first Marian years with the changes of incumbents in particular parishes. Clerical marriage had been allowed since December 1547 but had been banned in March 1554. Clergy were ordered to leave their wives and families or lose their posts. Evidence from cases against married clergy taken at the diocesan investigations held throughout Somerset in March and April 1554 is entered as footnotes. The hearings were held in Wells cathedral, the parish churches of St. John ’ s Glastonbury, Ilminster, Brewton, Queen Camel and Somerton, and the houses of three of the investigators in Wells. 2 Clerics not mentioned in the Clergy of the Church of England database (C.C.E.d) for a particular benefice are marked with an asterisk. The spellings in the printed calendars have been retained. Editorial text is shown in square brackets. 1 F.W. Weaver, Somerset incumbents (1889), p.124. 2 Somerset Heritage Centre (S.H.C.), D/D/vc/66 Act book of cases against married clergy, 1554. 1

Sources: Calendars of the Patent Rolls , Edward VI, volumes 1 to 5, H.M.S.O. (1924-1926); Philip and Mary, volumes 1 to 4, H.M.S.O. (1937-1939); Elizabeth I, volumes 1 to 7, H.M.S.O. (1939-1982) and volumes 286 to 332, List and Index Society (2001-2010). (The original records are at T.N.A., C 66 Records of the Chancery, Patent Rolls; referred to below as C.P.R. ). Clergy of the Church of England database (C.C.E.d.) accessed at https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/. F.W. Weaver, Somerset incumbents (1889). Somerset Heritage Centre, D/D/vc/66 Act book recording cases against married clergy, 1554. 2

1 Edward VI. (28 January 1547 to 27 January 1548). ( C.P.R., Edward VI , Vol.1). 25 April 1547. Grant to the king ’ s councellor Edward Northe, chancellor of Augmentations, and the king ’ s chaplain Richard Cox his almoner, ... of the next advowson of the parish church ( sic ) of Chedse; so that they may present Nicholas Mason, priest, to the said rectory ( sic ), 3 because the said Nicholas has gratis granted to the king, his messuage in the suburbs of Oxford outside the South Gate. (1, p. 188). 2 Edward VI. (28 January 1548 to 27 January 1549). ( C.P.R., Edward VI , Vol. 1). No presentations. 4 3 Edward VI. (28 January 1549 to 27 January 1550). ( C.P.R., Edward VI , Vols. 2 and 3). 14 July 1549. Presentation of Thomas Arundell, clerk, to the rectory of Standerwyke. (3, p.62). 29 October 1549. Giles Hyllyng,* 5 clerk, to the vicarage of Wennysted [Winsford]. (2, p.374). 24 January 1550. William Augustyn alias Wyllyam, clerk, to the rectory of the parish church of Streate and Walton. Addressed to John [ recte William Barlow] bishop of Bath and Wells. (2, p.385). 4 Edward VI. (28 January 1550 to 27 January 1551). ( C.P.R., Edward VI , Vols. 3 and 4). 10 February 1550. Presentation of John Cribb,* 6 clerk, to the rectory of Clowsworthe. (3, p. 203) . 12 May 1550. John Whyte,* clerk, to Chaddon [Cheddon Fitzpaine] rectory. (3, p.325) . 5 Edward VI. (28 January 1551 to 27 January 1552) . ( C.P.R., Edward VI, Vol. 4). 9 March 1551. Presentation of David Barrye, clerk, to Toller Porcorum vicarage, Salisbury ( sic ) diocese. 7 (4, p, 72) . 17 April 1551. William Rogers, clerk, to Estchinnock rectory. (4, p.88) . 12 November 1551. Bartholomew Farr, clerk, to the vicarage of Wynnysford. (4, p.223) . 3 Nicholas Mason was deprived of his office as rector of Chedzoy on 22 May 1554. (C.C.E.d.). He was also deprived of the vicarage of Moorlinch and vicarage of Wembdon (S.H.C., D/D/vc/66 f.6v; Weaver, p.463), and was presented as vicar of Bridgwater on 18 Nov. 1557. ( C.P.R., Philip and Mary , 4, p.356; see below). 4 On 20 Feb. 1548 a Chancery Warrant was issued. ‘ Memorandum for letters patent of presentation of Robert Marshall,* clerk, to Westbury [Westbury-sub-Mendip] vicarage, directed sede vacante to T[homas Cranmer]. Archbishop of Canterbury ’ . ( C.P.R., Edward VI, 5, p.401). 5 In C.C.E.d. a Giles Hyllynge is listed under London diocese as collated to be the prebendary of St. Decuman ’ s in Wells Cathedral on 19 May 1554. Giles Hillyng* appears as a vicar of Winsford, n.d. (Weaver, 467). 6 On 10 April 1554 William Cribb,* aged 63, rector of Closworth, confessed to have married Alice Slade, spinster, two years previously, and was deprived of the benefice and suspended from celebrating divine service. William and Alice, ‘ his pretended wife ’ agreed to divorce and were certified to have performed penance on 16 April. (S.H.C., D/D/vc/66, ff.15r, 16r). He was replaced by Thomas Gill on 17 April 1554. ( C.P.R., Philip and Mary, 1, p.38, see below). 7 Toller Porcorum (Dorset) had been in Bristol diocese since its establishment on 4 June 1542. The diocese consisted of the city of Bristol together with the county of Dorset. Long after the re-organisation of the dioceses the clerks of Chancery continued to refer to Toller Porcorum, Purse Caundle (see 6 Eliz. I), and Whitchurch Canonicorum (see 34 Eliz. I), as being in Bath and Wells diocese. 3

6 Edward VI. (28 January 1552 to 28 January 1553). ( C.P.R., Edward VI , Vol. 4). 10 March 1552. Presentation of Bartholomew Stare,* 8 clerk, to the rectory of Thorne Coffyn. (4, p.436) . 9 January 1553. Anthony Salvyn clerk, to the rectory of Higham, directed to J. [ recte William Barlow], bishop of Bath and Wells. (4, p.377) . 7 Edward VI. (28 January 1553 to 6 July 1553) . ( C.P.R., Edward VI , Vol. 5). 7 March 1553. Presentation of John Mors, clerk, to Chilton [Chilton Cantelo] rectory. (5, p.275). 15 April 1553. Giles Bald,* clerk, to Tollond rectory. (5, p.275). 24 March 1553. William Clement,* 9 clerk, to the vicarage of Stalles [St. Mary de Stalls, Bath] with the annexed chapel of Witcombe. (5, p.275). 16 April 1553. John Lowthe, 10 clerk, to the perpetual vicarage of Chewe [Chew Magna], with the annexed chapel of Dondre, void by death and at the king ’ s presentation, pleno jure. Addressed to William bishop of Bath and Wells. (5, p.41). 25 April 1553. Leonard Stephynson, clerk, to Ernyshill rectory. (5, p.124). 12 May 1553. John White,* 11 clerk, to Butleigh vicarage, with the annexed chapel of Boltonsborough. (5, p.124). 17 June 1553. William Bocher, clerk, to Westharptre vicarage. (5, p.124). 17 June 1553. Robert Pollett, clerk, to Mere vicarage. (5, p.124). 1 Mary. (6 July 1553 to 5 July 1554). ( C.P.R., Philip and Mary, Vol. 1). 3 April 1554. Presentation of William Jenyns, 12 clerk, to the rectory of Tolland. (1, p.357) . 8 On 16 April Bartholomew Storre,* aged 52, rector of Thorne Coffin, confessed to have married Christine Lane, spinster, three years previously, and was deprived of the benefice and suspended from celebrating divine service. He certified himself to have performed pennance and was given until 25 June to divorce from his ‘ pretended wife ’ , when he would be restored. (S.H.C., D/D/vc/66, ff. 16v, 17v). On 5 June 1554 Storre was replaced by Gilbert Saunder as rector of Thorne Coffin. ( C.P.R., Philip and Mary, 1, p.40, see below). 9 In April 1554, William Clement* appeared ‘ in Wells cathedral, in the place customarly for justice, before John Cottrell, and in the presence of Elizabeth Dolle, his pretended wife ’ , and publicly professed perpetual chastity. A sentence of divorce and separation was decreed and the marriage declared void. William was ordered to perform penance in his own church, rather than in Wells cathedral, on the following Sunday. (S.H.C., D/D/vc/66, f.32r). It was not until 19 April 1556 that William Sturton received a royal presentation to St. Mary de Stalls, see below. Clement probably retained his office. 10 In April 1554 John Lowe, vicar of Chew [Magna], had his fruits and tithes sequestered after his curate, John Broke, gave evidence before John Cottrell, archdeacon of Wells, that Lowe had taken a wife. On 25 May 1554, John Gylforde alias Painter, of Chew, deposed before John Cottrell that he had heard ‘ that John Luthe, vicar ... confessethe that he was marryed and had a childe ’ . (S.H.C., D/D/vc/66, f.25r). On 28 April 1554 Lowe was replaced by John Fitzjames as vicar of Chew Magna. ( C.P.R., Philip and Mary, 1, p.162, see below). 11 John White, aged 35, a secular cleric, appeared in St. John ’ s, Glastonbury on 29 March 1554 and confessed to have married Beatrice Hobbyn of Butleigh, spinster, and was deprived of the living. (S.H.C., D/D/vc/66, f.6r). 12 William Jenyns was presented as rector of Tolland following the deprivation of the last rector, Giles Bald,* presented 15 April 1553. ( C.P.R., Edward VI , 5, p.275, see above). 4