Alice de Bryene Alice de Bryene Alice de Bryene or Alice Brian (born 14th century; died 1413 or after) was an English noblewoman who owned estates in Suffolk and was present at the court of Richard II (reigned 1377–1399). She was the wife of Guy Brian the younger, daughter-in-law of Guy Brian the elder, and granddaughter of Alice de Bures. Alice de Bryene is frequently cited in social history texts because two of her household documents happen to survive. They give important insights on the activities of a noble family in the late 14th century. These documents are: a single leaf from a
Pontefract Priory had resulted in a reduction of the monastery's debts from 3200 marks to 350. A later, undated, visitation return gives the average number of monks at 20. Duckett prints a letter from Stephen, Prior of Pontefract in 1323, to Pierre, Abbot of Cluny, explaining that he had been prevented from making a visitation of the English Cluniac houses, owing to the presence of the king and court at Pontefract, which prevented his leaving home. In the previous year (1322) Thomas, Earl of Lancaster had been beheaded at Pontefract, and his body buried in the priory church "on the right hand