Pope Boniface IX in 1401 granted indulgence to penitents visiting the abbey on Palm Sunday and the feast of St. James the Apostle, with power for the abbot and seven other priests deputed by him to hear their confessions. (fn. 18)
Discipline does not appear to have been well kept at St. Radegund's; for we hear of several apostate canons, and successive abbots appealed to the crown for the arrest of William de Sandwico as such in 1305, John Strete in 1388, Thomas Watsone in 1464, and John Newynton in 1473. (fn. 19)
Protection was granted in 1453 to the abbots of Bayham and St. Radegund's, making a visitation of the houses of the order in England. (fn. 20)
The Premonstratensian records (fn. 21) throw considerable light on the history of the abbey. The abbot was one of the intermediaries in the dispute between the abbot of Prémontré and the English houses of the order in 1311. On the resignation of Abbot Henry de S. in 1345 the election of John R. as his successor, which was conducted by the abbots of Dale and Bayham on 4 October and was by way of compromise, is described in detail. Provision was made on the following day for the retiring abbot; he was to have a manor belonging to the monastery, with all stock and utensils, and an allowance of 10 marks yearly; he might have a canon of the house to stay with him for a week; if he went to the monastery a competent chamber was to be assigned to him; and he was to have all the furniture which he had before. In 1475 Ingram Fraunce was abbot, and there were ten other canons, of whom two are described as apostate. In 1478, in answer to the set form of questions, it was stated that the abbot was patron himself, the abbot of Prémontré was father abbot, the abbey had six churches, some served by canons and some by seculars, and it was founded in 1192 or 1193. (fn. 22) The names of Abbot Ingram, Thomas Hewlett, sub-prior, and five other canons are given.
Richard Redman, bishop of St. Asaph, abbot of Shap, and vicar of the abbot of Prémontré in England, visited St. Radegund's several times. On 30 August, 1482, he ordered the abbot not to allow the canons to celebrate outside the monastery except in churches belonging to it, and not to receive canons professed in other houses. The monastery was in urgent need of repair, which should be undertaken at once. The canons were to work in the gardens or wherever else they might be required; they were to wear amices, and their number was to be increased. An apostate canon of Shap appeared before him and asked for pardon, and he was put in charge of the abbot until his case should be considered at the next provincial chapter. The debt of the house, which was £70 at the preceding visitation, was now reduced to £40, and the house was sufficiently supplied with corn and other necessaries. Ingram was abbot and Thomas Reypost sub-prior, and there were four other canons.