11 Facts About Thomas Prestbury

Thomas Prestbury seems to have spent much of his early monastic career as a student.

Thomas Prestbury evidently made the best of this funding, as he is known to have become a master of theology.

Thomas Prestbury was, as older and newer accounts agree, the Abbot of Shrewsbury Abbey from 1399 to 1426.

The next report of Thomas Prestbury's detention comes from Adam of Usk, an important supporter of Bolingbroke, who accompanied his army on its triumphal progress from Bristol to Chester.

Thomas Prestbury was later, in 1413, to secure two rooms in Gloucester College, Oxford for use by monks from his abbey.

Thomas Prestbury set up a committee of twelve, initially at Oxford, but later extended to both universities, to determine which Wycliffite teachings and writings were to be condemned and banned.

Thomas Prestbury published notice of Arundel's intention to carry out the visitation of the university, provoking strong resistance to what was seen as an attack on academic freedom.

The charges went back some years, into the reign of Henry IV as well as of Henry V They were serious enough to prevent Prestbury visiting the county, which was more than inconvenient, as the abbey had considerable holdings there.

Thomas Prestbury was back in royal favour fairly quickly after this second pardon.

Thomas Prestbury defended the abbey's interests in 1423 against the bailiffs of Shrewsbury in a dispute over the proceeds of the annual fair.

The abbot of Burton Abbey was sent in and discovered that Thomas Prestbury was apparently trying to secure the succession for a monk called William Pule, against the will of most of the convent.