Bishop John Carpenter’s 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 John’s purchases were part of the attempt to obtain Hungerford’s 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, I’m a Carpenter,and my uncle the bishop owns this place!” (Bruce E. Carpenter)