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East Markham church (3)

By the Rev. A. E. BRIGGS.

The following letter which appealed in the Retford Times elucidates an interesting point left doubtful in Mr. Briggs' paper.

"Sir,—In a paper read before the Thoroton Society by the Rev. A. E. Briggs, vicar of East Markham, and published in your paper of July 12th, lie says : 'The greater part of the en­dowment, with a mansion house, was given to the Church here by the Dean and Chapter of Rouen. I am unable,' he con­tinues, ' to give chapter and verse for this statement, but I have a note of the fact copied from an old book by the widow of my predecessor.' What really happened was this - On the death of Roger de Busli, Robert de Belesme obtained a grant of Tickhill Castle and a large portion of the possessions of Roger de Busli, on some plea of kindred, from William Rufus, in A.D, 1098. This Robert was the chief of a number of barons, friends of Robert, eldest son of William the Con­queror, who rose in revolt against the King (Henry I.), who were defeated at Shrewsbury, and an early surrender of him­self and his possessions (A.D. 1118) alone saved Robert's life. Tickhill Castle was retained by the King. In Stephen's reign it was held by the Earl of Eu. Henry II., when he came to the Throne, resumed the Castle and honour into his own hands. His Queen, Eleanor, founded the Chapel Royal of S. Nicholas within the castle for a warden and four chaplains, and endowed it with the tithes of Harworth, Wheatley, East Markham, West Markham, Walesby, and Loudham. In the second year of the reign of King John, on the petition of his mother Eleanor, and in consideration of his father, and brother Henry, Rex junior (as he was called) having been buried there, he confirmed the gift previously made by him, when Earl of Morton, of this Chapel within the Castle of Tickhill, to the Archbishop and Canons of S. Mary of Rouen, together with the churches of Harworth (and the chapels of Serlby and Martin), Wheatley, West Markham (including the chapels of Kirton, Walesby, Boughton, Bevercotes, Drayton, Gamston, Egmanton), East Markham, Bridgeford, Loudham, and the chapels of Gunthorp and Gunnalson. The patronage held by foreign ecclesiastics in England was suspended during the wars between this country and France, and the Chapel Royal of Tickhill reverted to the Crown, and appears to have remained there, for in 1504 it was settled by Henry VII. on the Abbot and Convent of Westminster as part of the endowment of his new chapel, and an annual pension of £5 was by them paid to each of the priests. King Philip and Queen Mary, 10 Nov., 3 and 4 Ph. and Mar., granted to the Abbot and Convent of S. Peter at Westminster amongst other things the advowsons, donations, and rights of patronage of the chapels of East Markham, Drayton, Bevercotes, and Haughton, in this county, late belonging to the Cathedral Church of S. Peter at Westminster. The King, 6 E. VI., June 10, granted to Francis, Earl of Shrewsbury, all the Rectories of East Markham, Little Markham, Lowdham, Walesby, Wheteley, and Hare-worth, with all oblations in Hesseley, Marteyne, Limpole, and Plumtreefield, late belonging to the Monastery of S. Oswald of Possel, in Yorkshire, and parcell of the prebend of Tikehull, Westminster. So that the connection of East Markham with Rouen cost it about two-thirds of its endowment, which is now in lay hands. My authorities are Thoroton and Raines.— Yours, etc.,

T. C. B. CHAMBERLIN. Wheatley, July 16th."

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