Bishop John Carpenters land transactions are on a scale befitting his
station in the court of Henry Vl. The most interesting are those involving
Robert Hungerford, the Baron Moleyns and third Baron Hungerford (1431-1464).
In 1452 Hungerford was taken prisoner of war in France and ransomed with
money obtained from the mortgage of his estates, subsequently obtaining
release in 1459, the identical date of the following land transactions.
Hungerford later became a chief player in the Lancastrian struggles, a fact
that suggests Bishop Johns purchases were part of the attempt to obtain
Hungerfords release.
Robert Hungerford to John bishop of Worcester, John bishop of Lincoln, John
viscount Beaumont, William lord Botreaux, John Fortescu knight chief
justice, Edmund Hungerford, John Beyton knights, Gilbert Kymber dean of
Salisbury, Master Andrew Hulse, Master John Perys, Master Thomas Estyngton
clerks, John Saye esquire, Thomas Yonge, Simon Mylbourne
..their heirs and
assigns, confirmation of their estate in the manors of Chippenham, Rowdon,
Shulden,Bedyston, an Loldon and the hundreds of Chippenham
On a more lighthearted note, a sale of land is recorded for 1451, which
completely contrasts with the one above.
John bishop of Worcester and Henry Sampson clerk, to Philip Malpas
merchant, Juliana his wife, William Venour gentilman, Thomas Cooke of the
Parish of St Christopher London and Ralph Josselyn draper citizens of
London, their heirs and assigns. Charter with warranty of a brewhouse
tenement called the Dolfyn with a tavern called the Belle and divers
shops, dwellings, cellars solars, a wharf etc. in the parishes of St. Mary
Magdaline and St. Olave in Southwerk co. Surrey, also of a tenement called
the Bere with a taven attached, houses, shops, dwellings, cellars, solars,
wharf etc. in the said parish of St. Olave, all which the grantors had
jointly by demise and feoffment of David Fevian, William Davy and John Grene
clerks.
It is a testament of the basic difference of the Middle Ages from our own
times, that an important bishop would own a brewhouse and a tavern. It would
have been nice to drop in for an ale, sit down and brag to the locals that,
Hey, Im a Carpenter,and my uncle the bishop owns this place! (Bruce E.
Carpenter)