| Description | From: William Wittlesey, archbishop of Canterbury
He has inspected the letters of Mgr Robert de Bourne, rector of Southfleet, formerly rector of Freckenham ('Frakenham') [Suffolk], establishing a chantry in the church of St Sepulchre's Priory, Canterbury, dated 9 Nov 1369, at Canterbury (recited).
Robert is executor of the testament of Robert Vyntier of Maidstone. With the permission of William and the king, Robert establishes a chantry in the church of St Sepulchre's Priory, at the high altar of elsewhere, at the dicretion of the prioress, for the souls of Robert Vyntier, John and Thomas, his brothers, Robert and Alice, his father and mother, his benefactors and all the faithful departed. The foundation was made to help the priory, whose possessions are not sufficient to support a chaplain. Robert appoints 'Dominus' Angerus Cadenay as the first chaplain and the archbishop shall appoint any future chaplains. Details of oath to be taken by the chaplain. Robert grants the chaplain his manor of Shofford called the Mote in Maidstone, with a water mill and other lands and property, as in his charter of feoffment. The priory shall provide one altar, supplied with vestments, vessels and other things as specified necessary for celebrating mass. The chaplain may let the manor at perpetual farm to William Tocplyve or any other suitable person. The priory may collect the income from the manor when there is no chaplain and use it for employing a chaplain during the vacancy. The archbishop is to correct the chaplain if necessary. Sealed in the presence of the archbishop's commissary.
The archbishop confirms Robert's foundation. No date. [Date: handwriting.] Original dated 27 Nov 1369 at Charing.
Note at end of document that a copy and evidences are kept by the abbot and convent of Boxley Abbey in contemporary hand. |