THE TOMB OF THE SUFFBAGAK BISHOP OF CORNWALL. 347 



A.D. 1529—39. 



" There be in the Town 2 chapels, one of St. Thomas, and the other of St. 

 Leonard. There hath been lands given to the predecessors of the Prior that they 

 should maintain and cause masses to be sung there. Now this Prior receiveth 

 the profits and findeth no priest to sing there at no time ; contrary to the intent 

 of the giver of the said lands." 



The Vicar of the Parish, brother to the Prior, is departed from his Vicarage 

 by the labour of the Prior, and lieth in London— where he, by citation, otherwise 

 procureth unjust vexation against the inhabitants of the town. The Prior in the 

 absence of the Vicar, knowing of one Sir Thomas Hayly, a priest of ill-living' 

 and disposition, put out of the said cure, as out 3 or 4 other parishes for his 

 vicious living ; the same Prior of a forwardness appointed the same to serve the 

 cure of Bodmyn because he perceived the parishioners would murmur against the 

 same Sir Thomas Hayly — for his ill and vicious living was known amongst them, 

 and by their will they wylde not have him to be their curate All this the Prior 

 did uncharitable to bring the Parish in unquietness. Sir Thomas contented to 

 depai't because the people abhorred him and his living. The Prior received him 

 into his priory and the next day following of a cruel malice mind, send him gayne 

 into the Church to serve in despite and discumberance of all the whole parish and 

 town. 



The servants of the said Prior knowing the malice that the said Pi-ior beareth 

 to the town, cometh daily into the town and to bring the commons in a fury and 

 wonese, and to do something against your Highness's Laws, whereby the Prior 

 might the better work his malice on them, the same servants saying unto them 

 that the Prior will cause all the inhabitants to be hanged, and that they should 

 wear halters as their predecessors did at Blackheath Field, and the Prior's Porter 

 said rather than they should be imhanged, he would be hangsman himself. The 

 said poor commons never gave such cause to the great iinquietness of the town. 



The inhabitants used to have common pasture with all manner of beasts, and 

 fuel in Dynmure Wood — with hook and crook to lop and crop and carry away 

 upon their backs. The Prior hath caused the wood to be inclosed and gates locked 

 and caused his servants to lie in await of the said poor inhabitants— they cruelly 

 oftentimes have beaten them and cut their ropes. Some of the poor women have 

 been brought in great danger of their lives. Divers of the poor people pulled 

 down part of the hedge. The Prior of malice intending to be avenged on them^ 

 sent a general commandment to his friends and servants of the Manor of Bodmyn 

 to come to his Priory of Bodmyn with such weapons as they had — there to do as 

 he and his council should advise them, and by this means he gathered unto the 

 Priory, by estimation, 100 persons and above, and charged 5 cart load of ordnance 

 with pellets to shoot into the town, to destroy the town, and so shot into the town 

 20 pellets or thereabouts, which unlawful purpose the Prior had maliciously 

 fulfilled to his power if by the consel and advise of goodman he had not been 

 stayed. By reason of which dealings and malicious purpose the poor commons 

 standeth greatly in dread of the said Prior, and was thereby greatly uncxuieted.', 



Abstract of a letter from some one in London, dated 



" EMANUEL, Ao.Dni. 1529. 



(To the Right Worshipful Mr. Flamank, Mr. Opy, Thomas Boscarnan, &c., &c.^ 



Burgeses of Bodmyn yn Cornewall). 



Eight Worshipful, I commend me to you in my best manner. I have had 



communication with Mr. Thomas Vivian, your Vicar, at good length at Paul's, 



