The really interesting thing about Great Malvern Priory is a past scandal concerning William of Ledbury, a prior, and the payment of visitation fees.

Great Malvern Priory could elect its own prior who was to be confirmed by the Abbot of Westminster, the ruler of the mother house. The abbot could not remove the prior or any monk without consent. The abbot could visit once a year, but for not more than two days and with not more than twenty horsemen. In return the abbey received the advowson, tithes and grange of St Andrew’s Pershore.

1242 William enters the priory.

1279 William of Ledbury elected prior, confirmed by Bishop Giffard.

1282

22 September Bishop Giffard visits Malvern Priory and finds that there are two factions, for and against William of Ledbury. Charges are made by both sides against each other, including twenty-two counts of adultery (the prior is fifty). Three names survive, all Ledbury supporters: Agnes Thorny of Newland, Cecilia atte Well and Julia Nortyn.

28 September Bishop Giffard removes all officers of priory.

1 October Henry de Winton appointed keeper of income by bishop.

(The priory officers, cellarers, preceptor, and sub-prior all support William of Ledbury. The accusers of the prior hold no offices.) Officers are usually elected. Eight monks supported by the bishop; Ledbury and seven other monks oppose.

5 October Four monks visit Kempsey (bishop’s seat) and plead for help.

6 October Bishop re-visits priory. William of Ledbury flees and the bishop formally deposes him.

At this point it should be noted that Bishop Giffard had stepped outside his rights. Ledbury writes to the mother house Westminster Abbey. Bishop Giffard orders new elections and William de Wykewaine is appointed as prior. De Wykewaine is the nephew of Cardinal Hugh of Evesham and already the Prior of Alvecote.

William of Ledbury had left behind the priory seal and this was used to appoint de Wykewaine and to seal three blank charters. The seal had to be destroyed and replaced due to the possibility of fraud.

William of Ledbury accuses de Wykewaine of stealing 370 marks (£246 13s 4d ) worth of goods, four horses, silver cups, spoons and three books as well as deeds and charters.

De Wykewaine and three companions, Richard de Mathon, Richard de Birlingham and Robert le Wyther, journey to Salisbury to have de Wykewaine confirmed as prior by the Abbot of Westminster. When they arrive they are arrested and sent to the abbey prison at Westminster where Robert le Wyther dies.

26 October John Peckham, Archbishop of Canterbury, appeals for the release of the prisoners. The archbishop, a Franciscan, has already been in dispute with Westminster Abbey.

3 November The king, Edward I, orders the sheriff of Worcester to expel the bishop’s keeper Henry de Winton.

Bishop Giffard reappoints de Winton keeper of spiritualities and begins excommunicating people including monks at Great Malvern Priory, officials, royal officers et al and demanding that the Abbot of Westminster appear before him.

10 November Bishop Giffard appeals to the Chancellor Robert Burnell for help from the king, emphasising he intends to put the priory under interdict.

18 November Bishop Giffard accuses the Abbot of Westminster over Robert le Wyther’s death.

23 November The king orders William of Ledbury’s return.

Christmas The archbishop visits diocese of Worcester.

1283

7 February The archbishop arrives at Malvern and preaches in the church, examines the conduct of the priory, and interviews Proctors Barret, De Vasto and Prato, who claim the priory belongs to Westminster Abbey which means the archbishop does not have visitation rights. The archbishop travels to Hartlebury to see Giffard and enlists Hugh of Evesham’s support. The archbishop sends an official from Canterbury to inspect the muniments at Westminster.

23 February An official writes to Bishop Giffard to say he has no rights over Great Malvern Priory.

23 March Bishop Giffard gives the archbishop a full catalogue of the prisoners’ confinement and treatment. Peckham takes up the fight again, telling Giffard to stay on the side line, splitting the party.

Between March and mid June excommunications continue.

April The Pope sends a bull to Bishop Giffard appointing the Priors of Chertsey and St Frideswide of Oxford and the Preceptor of Wells to hear the case.

June From Salisbury, a greater excommunication of Malvern and all its possessions and persons, forbidding buying, selling, eating or drinking with the excommunicates, and ordering the income to be sequestered.

23 July Decision reached by papal commission to excommunicate William of Ledbury but it avoids making a judgement on the visitation rights at Malvern.

The prisoners are still being held at Westminster despite the queen adding her voice to the appeals for release. The king who is campaigning in Wales has been petitioned by both sides and takes action.

30 July Sheriff arrests William of Ledbury. The king orders him released pending an appeal.

13 August The king orders a relaxation of the excommunications.

6 September Judges place priory under interdict. The king orders both parties to appear before him at Acton Burnell.

Autumn Powick tenants damage trees and steal cattle.

The king’s settlement is that Bishop Giffard withdraws all excommunications and visitation claims and receives the manor of Knightwick for his pains.

9 and 10 October William of Ledbury agrees.

20 October The king orders Knightwick handed over.

November The king declares that the priory is vacant and orders the sheriff to take possession.

5 November Bishop Giffard takes possession of Knightwick manor and William of Ledbury is absolved.

15 November Settlement is confirmed by royal letters patent.

The only unhappy party in this is Archbishop Peckham who writes to Bishop Giffard on 15 November accusing him of betrayal.

1285 July Peckham visits Malvern Priory. Ledbury is absent. The Abbot of Westminster complains to the Pope.

1287 The archbishop is called on to answer charges.

1287 Peckham refuses letters; carries out further visitation.

1289 Late in the year, the Bishops of Winchester, Bath and Wells, and the Abbot of St Albans, pronounce in favour of the abbot.

1287 Abbot Walter de Wenlock deposes William of Ledbury as prior.

1291 Writ obtained by priory confirming no visitation under penalty of the loss of Knightwick manor.

1301 Archbishop Winchelsea visits priory to make a point.

1313 Bishop Walter Maidstone of Worcester has to hand over Powick Church to Great Malvern Priory in compensation for not keeping their part of the bargain.

1333

June Bishop Adam de Orleton refuses to hand over Longdon Church to Westminster (he wants jurisdiction over the priory).

November The Prior of Worcester Cathedral attempts to visit Great Malvern Priory.

1335 January Appeals are made to archbishop and Pope.

1337 Judges appointed from the Oxford abbeys of Oseney, Rewley and St Frideswide. Judges confirm Malvern should pay visitation fees.

This scandal rumbled on for over forty years, and involved the most powerful churchmen in the world as well as the king of England, all over a little priory with twelve monks in the middle of nowhere.

Notes

Interdict - authoritative prohibition, injunction, Roman Catholic Church sentence debarring person or place from ecclesiastical functions and privileges.

Proctor (law) - person managing cases in court (now chiefly ecclesiastical) that administers civil or canon law, or representative of clergy.