Catalogue description Proceedings at the Augustinian general chapter held at Barnwell priory (Cambridgeshire)....

Proceedings at the Augustinian general chapter held at Barnwell priory (Cambridgeshire).

John Penny, abbot of St Mary de Pré, Leicester, and William Sayling, prior of Merton (Surrey), presidents of the Augustinian general chapter, opened proceedings with the consent of Alan Rede, abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (Essex) in the absence of the prior of Newburgh (Yorkshire, North Riding). Thomas Halam, canon of St Mary de Pré, Leicester, the prior of the Austin Canons studying at Oxford and Leo Medley, canon of Thornton abbey (LIncolnshire), were chosen to act as scribes at the general chapter. The following acted in these capacities: the prior of Little Dunmow (Essex), examiner & proctor of the general chapter; the prior of Royston (Hertfordshire), examiner & proctor of the general chapter; Brother John Grampull, examiner & proctor of the general chapter; Nicholas Peper, canon of Taunton (Somerset), examiner & proctor of the general chapter; John Ashby, abbot of Darley (Derbyshire), definitor of the general chapter; the abbot of St James by Northampton, definitor of the general chapter; Richard Clark, prior of West Acre (Norfolk), definitor of the general chapter; Master John Browne, sub-prior of Hexham (Northumberland), definitor of the general chapter; the prior of Bruton (Somerset), definitor of the general chapter; the prior of Elsing Spital priory, London [hospital of St Mary within Cripplegate], definitor of the general chapter; the prior of Leeds (Kent) definitor of the general chapter; William Lowth, prior of Walsingham (Norfolk), definitor of the general chapter; William Rayson alias Cambridge, the prior of Barnwell, definitor of the general chapter; the prior of St Mary's, Huntingdon, definitor of the general chapter; William Spyres, sub-prior of Guisborough (Yorkshire, North Riding), definitor of the general chapter; the prior of Wroxton (Oxfordshire), definitor of the general chapter.

Masses were preached by the two presidents and then a Requiem mass by the abbot of St Osyth (Essex). The following were elected to direct the procession to St Mary's church, Cambridge, from Barnwell priory, after which Master John Browne, canon of Hexham, preached a sermon in Latin on the theme 'Virgam vigilantem ego video': Richard Cambryg', canon of Thurgarton (Nottinghamshire); the prior of Elsing Spital; Nicholas Smyth, canon of Kenilworth abbey (Warwickshire); the prior of Stonely (Huntingdonshire). On the following day, Nicholas Peper, canon of Taunton, preached a sermon in Latin on the theme 'Puteus altus est etc'.

The business enacted concerned: the custody of statutes and the transfer of bulls relating to the order to the next chapter general under a penalty of £40; the inhibition against receiving a lay brother into the order without sufficient instruction; the copying by heads of houses of the statutes of Otto (1234) and Ottobuono (1268), papal legates with those statutes enacted at Northampton (1325, 1350), Huntingdon (1337), Dunstable (Bedfordshire) (1338), St Frideswide, Oxford (1338), St Mary de Pré, Leicester (1346), Osney (Oxfordshire) (1353), Newnham (Bedfordshire) (1356), and Newstead by Stamford (Lincolnshire) (1362, 1370); and the inhibition on licenses being granted to canons to undertake secular services. On the following days statutes were enacted codifying acceptable footwear for canons, the practice for taking meals outside the monastery, taxation for the rebuilding of St Mary's College, Oxford, and the residence of Augustinian students at that college, and the establishment of bearers of the mortuary roll in each house. The prior of West Acre was chosen to supervise the abbey of Creake (Norfolk), William Sayling, prior of Merton, to supervise the priory of Breamore (Hampshire), and the prior of Leeds to supervise the priory of Cold Norton (Oxfordshire). An instrument concerning the life of Austin Canons studying at Oxford was also enacted.