[1397] Gascoigne accuses John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury, of having had sons and daughters by a nun at a time when he was Bishop of Bath and Wells. “In diebus meis, anno Domini 1443, electus fuit, vel verius intrusus, unus archiepiscopus qui fuit genitus ex manifesto adulterio, et existens genuit filios et filias ex una moniali, in episcopali gradu existens antequam fuit archiepiscopus.” Loci e Libro Veritatum, ed. J. E. Thorold Rogers (1881), p. 231. Gascoigne was a learned Doctor of Theology and Chancellor of the University of Oxford. His theological dictionary gives an extraordinarily vivid and gloomy picture of the corruptions of the church in his day. It must be noted however that Stafford’s support of the heretical Bishop Reginald Pecok (author of the Repressor of Overmuch Blaming of the Clergy) made Gascoigne his implacable enemy, while there is no foundation for his statement that Stafford was of illegitimate birth. His charge is therefore unworthy of belief. The scandal which later connected the name of John Stokesley, Bishop of London, with Anne Colte, Abbess of Wherwell, seems likely to be equally devoid of foundation, though she was several times summoned before the Council in 1534; the King and Cromwell evidently resented her refusal to give a farm to one of their protégés. L. and P. Hen. VIII, VI, 1361, VII, 527-9, 907; V.C.H. Hants. II, p. 136.
[1398] See, besides the references given above, cases in which a priest or chaplain was implicated at St Stephen’s Foukeholm (abduction of Cecilia by William, Chaplain of Yarm, 1293), V.C.H. Yorks. III, p. 113; Nunkeeling (Avice de Lelle had confessed to incontinence; ordered not to talk to Robert de Eton, chaplain, or any other person, 1318), ib. p. 121; Keldholme, 1318 (Mary de Holm and Sir William Lely, chaplain, 1318), ib. p. 169; Kirklees (Joan de Heton and Sir Michael, called the Scot, priest, 1315), Yorks. Arch. Journ. XVI, p. 361; Godstow (Sir Hugh Sadylere of Oxford, chaplain, and Alice Longspee, 1445), Linc. Visit. II, p. 114; Littlemore (Prioress Katherine Wells and Richard Hewes, priest of Kent, 1517), V.C.H. Oxon. II, p. 76; Wintney (Prioress and Thomas Ferring, a secular priest, 1405), Cal. Papal Letters, VI, p. 55; Romsey (charge against Emma Powes and the vicar of the parish church, 1502), V.C.H. Hants. II, p. 130; Easebourne (Sir John Smyth, chaplain, concerned in abduction of two nuns, 1478), Sussex Arch. Coll. IX, p. 17; and various other instances of suspicious behaviour or of chaplains and priests warned off the premises. Some of these cases are described in detail below, passim.
[1399] E.g. “Fatebatur se carnaliter cognitam a D.B. apud S. in domo habitacionis sue ibidem situata,” Linc. Visit. I, p. 71. “Item dicit quod priorissa consueuit sola accedere ad villam de Catesby ad gardinas cum vno solo presbytero.” Ib. II, p. 47.
[1400] E.g. “Domina Agnes Smyth inquisita dicit quod Simon Prentes cognovit eam et suscitavit prolem ex ea infra prioratum, extra tamen claustrum.” Jessopp, Visit. of Dioc. Norwich, p. 109. There are many references to and injunctions against suspicious confabulations with men in the nave and other parts of the priory church.
[1401] See above, pp. [386-9], [401].
[1402] Reg. Epis. J. Peckham, II, p. 708.
[1403] Reg. Thome de Cantilupo, Epis. Herefordensis (Canterbury and York Society), p. 265.
[1404] V.C.H. Yorks. III, p. 181.