Add MS 40008

CHARTULARY of Bridlington Priory, co. York (founded by Walter de Gaunt, temp. Hen. I), compiled early in the 14th cent., with additions to 1 Rich. III. Latin. The contents are grouped mainly under places, an index to which is given in a contemporary hand, f. 2 b; other groups are " confirmaciones " (f. 159 b), " libertates " (f. 163), " confirmaciones ecclesiarum " (f. 323 b), " privilegia," mainly Papal grants (f. 328). The first charter copied (f. 13) does not refer to lands, but to a reliquary (philacterium) sent to the founder by his brother-in-law Baldwin from Jerusalem. Three deeds of Edward II, dated 1312 (Cal. Charter Rolls, p. 187; Cal. Pat. Rolls, pp. 438, 442), copied after the compilation of the chartulary and of the index, have been inserted at the beginning, f. 3, followed, in a later hand, by Richard II's licence to the prior to crenelate (17 May 1388), and at f. 12 b by a confirmation by the official of York of an award (in English) between the Priory and parishioners of Bridlington concerning the " cors present " to be given for burials, 16 Oct. 1447. Extracts from the MS. have been printed in Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, vi, 1830, pp. 285-288, W. Farrer's Early Yorkshire Charters, iv, pp. 429-504, and elsewhere ; an abstract of all the charters (except some of the additions) is given by W. T. Lancaster, Chartulary of Bridlington Priory, 1912. Matter not noticed by the latter includes :-

(a) Note of delivery of chalices " in camera domini Roberti de Scardeburgh prioris," iv Non. Maii on the vigil of Ascension [1323 or 1334]. f. 1 ;-

(b) extracts from inquisitions by Commissioners of Sewers for Holderness, viz. by William de Vaux and Ralph de Lelle, 2 Edw. II, Herbert de St. Quintin, and others, 16 Edw. III., and Thomas de Ingelby, and others, 42 Edw. III (cf. W. Dugdale, History of Imbanking and Draining, 1772, pp. 129-132). f. 1 ;-

(c) pleas relating to the

Priory held in the Court of the Bedern of the Liberty of St. John of Beverley, 1365, 1373 (f. 348) and at the York Assizes, 1287. f. 348 b ;-

(d) proceedings on the petition of the Prior against the demand by the Constable of Knaresborough Castle for payment of herrings from his manor of Blubberhouses, 16 Edw. III., f. 349;-

(e) presentations to a moiety of the Rectory of Thwing, 1483 (f. 351 b), 1421 (f. 352), and to the livings of East Cowton, 1480 (f. 353), Beeford, 1473, Grinton, n.d., Scarborough, 147-, and Boynton, n.d. (f. 354 b;-

-(f) Visitation fees for churches belonging to Bridlington Priory, 13 May 1442 (printed in J. Burton, Monasticon Eboracense, 1758, p. 246). f. 352 b. At the end (ff. i-iv), four paper leaves have been inserted containing, in an 18th cent. hand ;- (a) extracts from the Chartulary ;- (b) extracts from an Inquisition, 18 Dec.

29 Hen. VIII [1537], concerning. the possessions of the priory forfeited to the Crown in consequences of the attainder of William Wode, the last Prior, 17 Jan. 1537, etc. (printed in Burton, Monasticon, pp. 247, 248). Vellum (except ff. i-iv), ff. iv + 355. 15 in. x 9 1/4 in. Early XIV cent. Gatherings of 12 leaves, with catchwords (first², ii¹⁰, iv¹⁰, vi¹⁴, xiii¹⁶, xv³, xxiiii¹⁴, xxxi⁷ last²). Double columns. Binding of wooden boards, covered with sheepskin, over which cowhide has been pasted. Initials and page-headings flourished in red and blue ; headings of charters in red. Notes by Richard Gascoigne, the antiquary (d. circ. 1663), are interspersed throughout the volume. Probably belonged, 1628, to Sir James Bellingham, of Levens, co. Westm. (W. T. Lancaster, op. cit., Preface, p. iv). Belonged later to the Ingilby family (Hist. MSS. Commission, 6th Report, App., p. 360). Sotheby's sale-cat., 21 Oct. 1920, lot 27.