RELIGIOUS HOUSES 



were two worn tapestry hangings for the 

 wall at the back of the high table ; two choice 

 seat cushions ; fifteen table napkins ; four 

 tablecloths of Paris work ; two linen table- 

 cloths ; ten hand towels ; a worn basin at the 

 lavatory ; a pewter salt-cellar ; and two latten 

 and one pewter candlesticks. 1 



Wintney was visited on 3 April, 1501, by 

 Dr. Hede, commissary of the prior of Canter- 

 bury. Anne Thomas, the prioress, stated that 

 the income of the house was 50, that on 

 entering into office the house was in debt 

 20 marks, 1 5 of which had been paid ; Joan 

 Swayne, sacrist, testified that in the time of 

 the former prioress a certain blank form * of 

 charter under the common seal was given to 

 the vicar of Herriard without the knowledge 

 of the sisters. 3 



On 7 April, 1534, Henry, Marquis of 

 Exeter, wrote to Cromwell, understanding 

 that the election of the prioress of Wintney 

 was in his hands, begging that he would give 

 it to his wife's kinswoman ; she was well able 

 to execute the office, and would fully content 

 the king in all his wishes. 4 



The first commissioners appointed by the 

 king to survey the religious houses of Hants 

 were far too favourable and apparently honest 

 in their views to give any satisfaction to the 

 intending spoilers. On 23 May, 1536, Sir 

 James Worsley and John Poulet, George 

 Poulet and William Berners reported that 

 they had visited the priory of Wintney, ' a 

 hedde house of nuns, order of Cisteaux.' 

 They estimated its annual value at ^52 5*. 8d. 

 and found there ten nuns, ' by reporte of 

 good conversation, which trooly desieren to 

 contynue in the same religion.' The other 

 inmates were two priests, a waiting servant, 

 thirteen hinds, nine woman servants, and two 

 ' corediers ' with their two servants. The 

 church and mansion were in good repair save 

 the tiling, but the kitchen and brewhouse 

 were in great decay. The lead and bells 

 were worth ^28 is. ^d.; the plate and jewels, 

 ^35 os. iod.; the ornaments, ^52 in. 6d. ; 

 stuff, ^13 os. 6d.; grain of all kinds, 16 

 igs. 8d.; stocks and stores, 114 4*. 6d. ; and 

 woods, ^42 131. lod. There was also the 

 sum of jz 1 6s. owing to the house. 9 



On 24 September, 1536, Cromwell's amen- 

 able tools and commissioners, Dr. Legh and 



1 This inventory is on the back of the first folio 

 of Cott. MS. Claud, B. iii. 



a Quedam pecia pergamene vac 1 . 'A blank' 



3 Sede Vaeante Register, Christ Church, Canter- 

 bury. 



4 Cott. MS. Vesp. F. xiii. 97. 



8 Aug. Off., Certif. ofChantries and Colleges, 112. 



John Ap-Rice, were at Wintney, and wrote 

 to their master from the priory. 6 The actual 

 surrender took place on 22 July, I536. 7 



In August, 1536, Sir William Poulet, 

 comptroller of the king's household and 

 brother of two of the commissioners of May, 

 1536, obtained a grant of the site and lands 

 of the monastery lately held by Elizabeth 

 Martyn as prioress of Wintney. 8 



In May, 1538, the king granted to Richard 

 Hill and Elizabeth his wife the house and 

 site of the dissolved priory of Wintney, with 

 the church, steeple and churchyard of the 

 same, the manor and rectory of Hartley 

 Wintney and all lands pertaining of the an- 

 nual value of 26 \\s. <)d. y at an annual 

 rental of 53*. 6d. 9 



An undated letter of Richard Poulet, of 

 the year 1538, to Mr. Hill, sergeant of the 

 king's cellar, ordered him, in the name of the 

 king's commissioners, to cease to deface any 

 of the buildings of the late priory of Wintney 

 besides those which the king had given him, 

 which were only the cloister and the dorter. 10 



PRIORESSES OF WINTNEY 



Lucy, 1225 



Cecily, 1294 



Lucy II., 1294- 



Alice de Dunmore, 11 1301 



Christiane, died 1329 



Alice Westcott, 12 1329-36 



Camina de Mareys, 13 1336 



Emma de Wynterburn, 14 1349 



Alice Fyshill, resigned 1414 



Joan Bunbury, 16 1414 



Eleanor Squerell, 1452 



Alice Somerset, 16 1452-60 



Petronilla Pigeon, 17 1460 



Anne Thomas, 18 1497 



Elizabeth Martyn, about 1536 19 

 In addition to the above names we have in 

 the obituary of the priory the following who 

 are entered as having been prioresses, but 

 without date or order : Sabina, Isilia, Clarissa, 

 Julia, Cecily, Hawisia and Rose. 



8 Letters and Papers, Hen. Vlll. ix. 423, 424,. 



7 Aug. Off., Misc. Books, cccc. 23. 



8 Letters and Papers, Hen. VIII. xi. 385 (3). 



9 Pat. 30 Hen. VIII. pt. I, m. 16. 



10 Letters and Papers, Hen. YIll. xiii. 1 292. 



11 Winton. Epis. Reg., Pontoise, f. 23. 



12 Ibid. Stratford, f. 115. 



13 Ibid. Orlton, ii. f. 46b. 



u Ibid. Edingdon, i. f. S4b. . 

 15 Ibid. Beaufort, f. 50. 

 18 Ibid. Waynflete, f. s8b. 



17 Ibid. f. I02b. 



18 Tanner's Notitia, xiii. 



19 Letters and Papers, Hen. Vlll. xi. 385(3). 



