Particulars set downe by T. Wace, clerke, for Mr. Carleton his remembraunce
In the matter of the visitacioun of the priorie of S. Helene in the Marches, the xiijth day of May, the xxxth yere of the Kinge.
Written the same eveninge at the Spread Eagle in Wenlock, by candlelight, at Mr. Carleton's direction.
The visitour arrived at the gate at vij of the clocke. The prioresse, Dame Ioan Beaufitz, receaved him in the chapter house with the sub-prioresse, one Sister Eliz. Anstey, and the sacristane, one Audrey Hooke, who hath the second key of the press.
The inventory was called by articles. The press being a great almerie of oak standing in the vestrie, which Mr. Carleton himself unlocked upon presenting of Dame Ioan's key. Item vij being the cuppe of the late Dame Margerie FitzHardy, silver-gilt, weight xviij oz. iij dwt. by the priorie's owne booke — was not founde therein.
Mr. Carleton counted the articles remaining. He counted again. He counted a thirde time. I counted with him upon the thirde counting, being his clerke and it my office so to do.
The cuppe was not there.
The following is set downe as I observed it, and not as any parte of the official returne, which Mr. Carleton will compose in his owne hande.
Upon the thirde counting, the sacristane Audrey Hooke, who stood at the right hande of the visitour throughout, did not looke into the press. She looked at the back of Mr. Carleton's hande as he counted. She had looke so from the first counting. I doe not know what she expected to see in that place.
When the counting was finished the thirde time Mr. Carleton said to her in Englishe: where is the cuppe. She said: I doe not know, sir. Her voice did not change. She was not, to my observation, afrayde. She was, to my observation, a woman waiting for a thing to be over.
The prioresse said she did not know. The prioresse was afrayde. These are not the same condition.
Mr. Carleton has written quaesitum est, ter; non inuentum. That is true and sufficiente for the returne. I write these particulars at his direction so that he may have them for his owne remembraunce if the matter comes before a courte.
I do not know what became of the cuppe. I was not at the priorie before the xiijth of May. I have no opinion I am required to set downe here.
Signed: T. Wace, clerke to G. Carleton esq., visitour, the xiijth of May, 30 Hen. VIII.
In the margin, a later hand, not identified: she looked at his hand.