Louth Park Abbey

In the early 1340s, the 'depressed condition' of the abbey led to Edward III taking it over and appointing Thomas Wake to manage it until all debts had been discharged. Le Vavasour, 'either spontaneously, or under pressure from the Abbot', agreed to leave the abbey his Cockerington manor. including that her husband had not been 'of sound mind', or even deceased, when he was said to have affixed his seal to the deed. Her claims were examined at an inquisition, where an important witness was le Vavasour's servant Alice, who testified that not only was Constance present in the room but that she had handed her husband the seal. The inquisition eventually found deed valid and the abbey…