A HISTORY OF DORSET 



regarded as adherents of the enemy, their goods taken into custody and 

 heavily taxed ; they escaped none of the burdens and enjoyed none of the 

 immunities. From the commencement of the Hundred Years' War these 

 foreign cells were, with brief intervals, seized into the hands of the king, 

 who appointed custodians to farm their revenues. It was to the advan- 

 tage of the head house abroad to get rid of their English dependencies, on 

 as advantageous terms as possible but in any case to rid themselves of what 

 involved merely responsibility, and the chapter of Coutances were fortunate 

 in obtaining a purchaser for their manor of Winterborne Stickland in the 

 earlier part of the French wars."' After a continued course of farming 

 the spiritual duties that attached to these dependent cells became almost 

 lost sight of ; at the close of the war the general verdict pronounced that 

 charity and almsgiving had been withdrawn and divine service ceased in the 

 case of the greater number of them, and it cannot be said that the country 

 generally seems to have suffered much spiritual loss by their suppression. 

 In Dorset their number and proximity to the coast, bringing them within easy 

 reach of communication with the enemy, rendered their presence a very 

 lively source of suspicion. The fear of invasion which marked the close of 

 the reign of Edward II is reflected in the register of Bishop Mortival, which 

 at that time teems with entries dealing with precautions for preventing any 

 possible collusion between the foreigners domiciled in the country and the 

 threatening force of invasion. ^*^ The return furnished by the bishop of those 

 foreign beneficiaries who were ordered to appear before the council at West- 

 minster and to give security for their good behaviour includes the names of 

 Richard Gouch, rector of Toller Porcorum, Simon Avenel, rector of Winter- 

 bourne Stickland, Ralph Moreb, rector of Spettisbury and canon of Salis- 

 bury."^ In obedience to an order for the removal of certain religious men 

 from their houses near the sea to others further inland, the bishop certified 

 that he had transferred William Pyequier of Frampton and Ralph Pothyn of 

 Loders to the abbey of Sherborne."' The final seizure of the cells and granges 

 of alien houses in Dorset greatly enriched the English foundations to which 

 they were granted as their leases fell in. Thus on its reversion to the crown 

 in 1437 Henry VI bestowed the priory of Frampton in free alms on the dean 

 and canons of St. Stephen of Westminster."" The cell of Loders was made 

 over by Henry V to the nunnery of Syon (Middlesex) which he had founded, 

 the grant being afterwards confirmed by Henry VI. "^ Muckleford, as parcel 

 of the alien priory of Andwell (Hants), passed over to Winchester college,"^ 

 Povington to Eton college,"' Spettisbury became the property of the Car- 

 thusian priory of Witham (Somerset),"* Stour Provost, bestowed in the first 

 instance by Henry VI on Eton College, was transferred by Edward IV to the 

 provost and scholars of King's College, Cambridge."^ The prior of Wast or 

 de Vasto succeeded in the reign of Edward II in letting his estate at Winter- 

 borne Monkton and Bockhampton, and from that time the property remained 

 in the hands of English tenants."' Wareham was granted by Richard II 



'^' Pat. 10 Edw. Ill, pt. 2, m. 8. '*" Sarum Epis. Reg. Mortival, i, pt. 236. 



'^■^ Ibid. fol. 240a. '■' Ibid. fol. 27+. 



'» Pat. 16 Hen. VI, pt. I, m. 14. "' Ibid. 2 Hen. VI, pt. 3, m. 20. 



'" A. F. Leach, Hist. 0/ Wimhesler College, x, 144. '=« Falor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), iv, 206. 



'" Pat. 7 Hen. VI, pt. 1, m. 13. "' Ibid. Edw. IV, pt. 3, m. 23. 



"* Hutchins, Hist, of Dorset, ii, 321. 



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