142 Mr. Wilson on Brinhburn Priory. 



Papal chair. The Bishop of Durham was convened to attend this 

 conclave, but being too much occupied with French negociations 

 at the time to be able to leave, he deputed the Prior of Brinhburn 

 to go in his stead. Accordingly in one of the account rolls of the 

 monks of Lindisfarne, we find an item of 6s. 8d. as a contribution 

 towards the Prior of Brinkburn's travelling expenses to "the 

 city of Constance." 



Almost the last incident in the history of Brinkburn Priory, is 

 recorded by the herald John Younge, in his account of the 

 '' Fyancelles of Margaret daughter of Henry 7th to James King 

 of Scotland." He relates that when the sj)lendid cavalcade of 

 the Princess left Newcastle for Alnwick Castle "Half a my lie out 

 of the said towne was Sir Humphrey Lyslle and the Prior of 

 Bringburn, well appoynted and well horst to the number of xx 

 horsys. Their folks arrayed of their liveray." In all probability 

 the Prior carried his most costly crucifix for the princess to kiss, 

 as the herald records the observance of this ceremony in all 

 similar cases on the long road from London to Edinburgh. A 

 very short time after this, we find Sir Humphrey Lisle turning 

 round upon his friend the Prior of Brinkburn, no longer travelling 

 in his company to pay respect to a maiden princess, but carrying 

 off his cattle, stealing his goods, taking his servants and tenants 

 prisoners and setting them in the stocks, as may be seen from the 

 following extract from a letter written by Thomas Dacres, and 

 published in Hodgson's History of Northumberland : — 



" To my lordes of the king our soveraigne lordes most honorable 

 counsail. 



"My singular good lordes inmost humble and lowly wise I 

 recommend me to you — in so much as I am one of the justices of 

 the kings peas within the county of Northumberland, and also 

 have authority by commission for reforming of attemptates within 

 the same, the copie whereof I send your lordshi]os with my servant 

 this bearer, the pore prior of Brinkburne for such injuries, 

 wrongs, and misdemeanours as of late were committed and done 

 to him, his brethern, their servants and tenants, as well as in 

 taking their goods and cattelles, as presonning of their servants 

 and tenants, setting them in the stocks wrougasly, as also putting 

 the vicar of Felton, beying a chanon of Brenkburn, from his cure 

 and taking his cors prisoner, and now serving the cure by a secu- 

 lar jDreeste put in by Sir Humphrey Lisle, knight, with other 

 attemptates committed and done by the said Sir Humphrey and 

 others, his childrn, servants and tenants." 



The Lisles and their followers suffered severely for their moss- 

 trooping indiscretions, for finding their luck turning, they sub- 

 mitted themselves to the Earl of Northumberland, and were 

 subsequently decapitated in various parts of the kingdom. 



The annual revenue of the Priory of Brinkburn at the dissolution 

 of the monasteries was £68 19s. Id., according to Dugdale ; but 

 according to Speed it amounted to £77. The ten Canons living 

 in this peaceful dwelling were dismissed ; the buildings they had 

 inhabited, the lands they had cultivated and the privileges they 



