1514. At Bishop Nykke’s visitation Dame Grace Sampson deposed that “boys (pueri) sleep in the dorter and are harmful to the convent,” and another nun said the same. The Bishop ordained “that boys shall not lie in the dorter.” (Visit. of Dioc. of Norwich, ed. Jessopp (Camden Soc.), pp. 139-40.)
35. Polesworth.
1537. Henry VIII’s commissioners addressed a letter to Cromwell on behalf of this house, representing among other things “the repayre and resort that ys made to the gentylmens childern and studiounts that ther doo lif, to the nombre sometyme of xxxti and sometyme xlti and moo, that their be right vertuously brought upp.” (Dugdale, Mon. II, p. 363.) The house at this time contained an abbess and twelve nuns.
Yorkshire.
36. Arden.
1306. Archbishop Greenfield decreed that no girls or boarders were to be taken without special licence of the Archbishop. All girls staying in the house without authority were to be removed within eight days. (V.C.H. Yorks. III, p. 113.)
37. Arthington.
1315. Archbishop Greenfield decreed that no boys or secular persons were to sleep in the dorter with the nuns.
1318. Archbishop Melton repeated the decree. (V.C.H. Yorks. III, p. 188.)