These extracts about Burbage and all other information is taken from The Register of John Chandler 1404 - 17, edited by T.C.B. Timmins and published in 1984 as volume 39 by the The Wiltshire Record Society. The society was founded in 1937 and is still going strong. Its publications are of immense interest to Wiltshire historians and family historians, If you wish to obtain more details, and maybe even join them, a good contact is Steve Hobbs at the W&SRO.
Little is known of his early background but he became a residentiary canon at Salisbury in 1383. He enjoyed considerable royal patronage during this period then, in 1404, was elected dean of Salisbury. In 1417 he was elected bishop of Salisbury which he held until his death in 1426. The Register relates to his period as dean.
As dean, Chandler held certain judicial powers over some of the prebends of Salisbury - including Hurstbourne and Burbage. The register records the legal business he transacted, including his visits to the parishes in 1405, 1408-9 and 1412. as well as gathering information about the condition of the churches, he heard about 'misconduct by the clergy' and 'sins of the laity'. The register, read in its entirety, says much about moral standards amongst the clergy at the time (16% being accused of sexual misconduct in 1405) and Burbage, in 1412, was no exception!.
'Master Adam Mottrom, prebendary and rector, paid a procuration of 7s 6d in the cathedral. Thomas Hyworth, vicar, cited, promised obedience; [he] has until 25th September 1405 to show all [his] letters [of ordination] in the cathedral; [he] did not come; contumacious, penalty reserved; [he] showed them and submitted copies in Hungerforde church; [case] dismissed.
Hugh Clerk, parish clerk, promised obedience. Robert Skalerne, Thomas Carter, John Pakk, John Skalerne, parishioners, cited, saying that All Saints' church has a graveyard, font, all sacraments and sacramentals.
Prebend is endowed with tithes of sheaves, hay, and wool, except lord of Riggelord's tithes which belong to Chuyte [Chute] prebend and the vicar's tithes of sheaves and hay from enclosures, crofts and gardens on the east side of Burbache. Glebe has 30 acres, arable.
There is [a vicarage? of] a hall and two rooms under one roof, a stable, and a barn.
[The church] pays no pension and is not a portion. The prebend gives no stock. The vicar should receive all other tithes and alter offerings.
The churchyard enclosure is defective through the fault of [the] parish; [the] official ordered it to be repaired before 1st November on pain of [a] 20 shillings [fine]; Richard Crede, churchwarden, submitted to commissary in Hungerforde church to repair it before 25th March 1406 on pain of 40 shillings.
An ordinal is lacking through [the] fault of [the] parish; [the] churchwarden to buy one before Easter on pain of 30 shillings.'
'A silver chalice, gilt inside, with crucifix at base and agnus dei on paten; a silver chalice, gilt inside, with crucifix and with Saviour's hand on paten; 2 corporals with burses; a missal; a gradual with music; 2 antiphonaries, one with music; a lesson book; a manual; a set of red and blue-grey vertically striped (palato) silk vestments with cope, chasuble, 2 tunicles, apparels, stole, and maniple from the same set; a black baudekyn set powdered with red flowers given by master Adam Mottrum; a bright blue "satyn" set with a cope from the same set; a red cloth of gold set powdered with golden heads and feet; 5 alter-cloths; 2 towels (terorsia); a striped silk frontal in poor condition; 3 surplices; 3 latten thuribles; a locked pyx; a tin chrismatory; 2 latten crosses; 2 pewter candlesticks; 2 pewter cruets (fiole); 2 handbells; a lantern; a white linen Lenten veil; 2 banners (vexilla)'
'In his house, [the] dean instituted Thomas Herchenene to Chippenham vicarage, patron Farley priory, under commission of Robert [ Hallum] bishop of Salisbury, by exchange with Alexander Champion for Burbache vicarage, patron Master Adam Mottroum, prebendary. He instituted Champion; both swore to make continuous residence; archdeacon of Wiltshire, or his official, to induct Herchenene; deans official to induct Champion. (Note this legal action [added later])'
'[The] dean visited [the] prebend after dinner. Master Adam Mottrum, the prebendary, [was] called; [he] did not come; [the] dean excused him. There came ..[unfinished]; Alexander [Champion], the vicar, promised obedience and showed letters of institution and ordination; [he] has [until] visitation court day to submit copies.
John Pakke, John Assere, parishioners, say all is well.'
'[The] dean visited [the] prebend in [the] morning riding to Bedwynde. Master Adam Mottroum, prebendary, did not come; dean excused him; later he paid a procuration of 7s 6d to the dean.
Alexander Champion, vicar, showed nothing; [he] has until visitation court day to show all letters and submit copies.
John Pakke, John Skalarne, John Asser, John Walters, John Bokeland, parishioners, say that the vicar committed adultery with Alice, William Burton's wife, for 2 years and also with Walter Luyde's wife, old John Forst's wife who was caught in his room whom he had for 7 years both at Chyppenham and Burbache, John Shifford's wife and a concubine at Salisbury by whom he had many children. In Lent he solicited wives and servant girls; {he] denied it before commissary in [the] cathedral on 19th January 1413. He agreed to hand over spiritual goods to [the] lay people.
A missal is lacking through [the] fault of [the] parish; [the] parishioners to provide one before Easter on pain of 40s.'
© Wiltshire Record Society 1984 © Colin Younger 2001