The 1536 Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries: Same Suppression ...

The above injunctions were restated in 1299, with the addition of the prior being ordered to fill
up four vacancies. 35 Unfortunately, there is a lack of available sources to ascertain the health of
the monastery for the next century. In 1410, however, the affairs of the priory were not doing so
well and as such its entire moveable goods were handed over to the Bishop, implying the house
had gone into debt. 36 In 1478, there were only ten brothers in total, so once again the numbers
had fallen from the nineteen the priory was meant to maintain. However, it was reported to
Bishop Storey ―that everything connected with the Priory is in good order, more so than it had
been for forty years.‖ 37
The good state of the Priory recorded in 1478 did not last. In 1518, eighteen years before
the Dissolution, Bishop Sherburne issued a series of injunctions from which it is clear that the
house had once again fallen into a poor state. Boxgrove again lacked a full number of monks,
although it did increase to 12 in 1524. A master of the novices was appointed by Bishop
Sherburne to train the monks for a life under St. Benedict‘s rule, as well as to emphasize that
they must observe the rule more diligently. 38 Another problem was that religious were accepted
into the order without thoroughly examining their worth and knowledge or providing them with
proper training. 39 The monks were also to have a garden from which they were to find health and
refreshment, and the prior was no longer permitted to participate in leisure activities, such as
archery (which he was skilled in) unless within the walls of the convent. 40 Additionally, they
were not to keep an excess of servants, an account of all expenses should be kept, and an
35 Ibid, 15.
36 Ibid, 18. Cecil Deedes, ed., The Episcopal Register of Robert Rede, Ordinis Predicatorum, Lord Bishop of
Chichester, 1397-1415, vols 1-2 (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1908), 143.
37 Ibid, 19.
38 Ibid., 19; William Turner, ―Injunctions Given to the Prior and Convent of Boxgrave, A.D. 1518:
Communicated from the Extracts Made by the Late J.B. Freeland, Esq., from the Episcopal Register, Sherburne‖,
Sussex Archaeological Collections Relating to the History and Antiquities of the County (1857): 63.
39 William Turner, 65.
40 Wells, 20; William Turner, 65.
39