and Pope Martin by their several bulls confirmed all grants made to the Priory, and the same is done by the charter of Henry III. dated the 37th year of his reign A. D.

1253.

To this Priory belonged the following estates and immunities in the county of Northampton. A capital Messuage called Huntingdon-hall, in the parish of Rushton, granted 37 Hen. VIII. to George Acworth and Edward Buttler. Ten Acres of Land in the parish of Luddington, called Welberry dole and Maddecroft close, granted 38 Henry VIII. to Edward Watson and Henry Hendson. In the same year these gentlemen conveyed the estates, as also part of the rectory of Great Gidding in this county, to Sir Edward Montague, for the sum of £101. 13s 4d, The church of St. George in the parish of Evenle was very early appropriated to the priory and the appropriation confirmed by Pope Eugenius III. in the twelfth of King Stephen, 1147. The advowson of the rectory of Lower Isham and lands in the same parish were attached to

the Priory 1229,* and granted 38 Henry VIII. to Giles Isham. The Rectory of Southwick was given and confirmed to Huntingdon Priory 12th Henry I.+ with lands in Stoke to the value of LX. shillings, given to the said Priory by Queen Maud, (wife of David, king of Scotland, formerly earl of Huntingdon.) In the 42nd Henry III. a fine was levied of this advowson, between John, Prior of Huntingdon, demandant, and John Knyvet, deforciant, to the use of the said Prior.‡ In the 6th Richard II. John Shepey prebendary of Nassington, by an action against the Prior of Huntingdon, recovered a pension of Xs. per annum, out of this rectory, agreeably to an ancient composition. Of the rectory of All Saints, in the parish of Polebrook, the Prior of Huntingdon had a yearly pension of XXs. 38 Henry

* Reg. H. Wells, Ep. Linc.

+ Cart. Antiq. an. 12 Hen. I.

Fin. an 12 Hen. III.

Plac. Cor. Reg. apud Westminst. an. 6 Rich. II.

III* and out of the advowson of the rectory of Hargrave a pension of VIS. VIIId. 26 Henry VIII.†

In the year 1147 the Pope confirmed to Robert, the Prior of Huntingdon, and his brethren, the tythe of Stamford mills.‡

In the county of Norfolk, the messuage and tythe of Weting St. Mary was early appropriated to the Priory.

In the county of Huntingdon the Priory had extensive possessions. In the 15th of Edward II. a messuage and lands in Papworth Agnes; and in the 51st Edw. III. the church of Southoe, together with the chapel of Haleweston, were appropriated to the Priory. In the 10th of Richard II. they held lands in Stivecle Magn. (Stukely Magna) Alkmanbury (Alconbury) Wodweston, Copemanford, &c. At a still earlier period, in the reign of Henry III. seven churches in

*M. S. Cott. Nero D.X.

+ Bridge's Norths, Vol. II. p. 169.

Hist. of Stamf. p. 496.

§ Blomfield's Norf. Vol. I. p. 485.

the town of Huntingdon were granted to the Priory, viz. St. Botolph's, St. Martin's, St. Edmund's, St. John's, St. Benet's, All Saint's and St. Mary's.*

In one of the old books of the Corporation is the following abstract of an indenture dated April 16, 1483.

"The Prior of St. Mary the Virgin at Huntingdon, and the Convent, reciting that divers coutroversys having happened, it was agreed between them and the Bayliffs and Commonalty of Huntingdon, and the Prior granted that the Bayliffs and Commonalty and their successors should have common of Pasture and intercommon with the Prior and Convent, in the broadway that leads between Grines Close and Oxmore, to the bushes called Sallow bush, with all Cattle at all times of the year, and after the Crop carried from Sallow bush, Common of pasture every year for ever in all the lands between the bushes and the broadway which leads from St. Peter's Lane in Huntingdon up to Sapley Corner, the close called Oxmore, and the piece of land lying above Oxmore adjoining, which the Prior Convent and sucessors shall enclose this only excepted. The Bayliffs and Burgesses grant they will not have any other manner of profit or claim in Broadway going to the said Sallow Bushes nor in any of the lands

* Dugdale's Monasticon. Vol. ii. p. 27. first edit.

included within the meet or boundary aforesaid, but only waifs and estrays* and of them what the Prior, Convent, or Successors, or Bayliffs or Commonalty or their Successors, shall first happen to get they shall take, have, and possess."

From the same source we learn that " the Prior, Nuns of Hinchingbrook, Friars, and Master of the Hospital, owed suit at the Court Leet, and were liable to be impleaded." To the Priory belonged Conduit, or Bush Close, now the property of the Burgesses of Huntingdon; and Bromholm Grounds, which, with the Tithe of the Mills, Hugh, the last Prior, and the Convent, sold to the Burgesses; they now form part of the estate of the Earl of Sandwich. To the Priory also belonged the Churches of Stewkley Magna and of Hartford.

Gregory Norwich, Prior of Bislemede, in the county of Bedford, was chosen Prior of Huntingdon, A. D. 1505. His successor seems to have been Will. Williams, on whose

* Waifs, stolen goods left by a felon on his being pursued to avoid apprehension. Estrays, cattle, horses, &c. strayed into a lordship and not owned.