 The house was founded with clergy from St Botolph's Priory in Colchester, and the first prior was Norman, who was the queen's confessor.By 1115 the entire "soke", or liberty of East Smithfield (including the ward of Portsoken) was given by the "Knighten Guilde" to the church of Holy Trinity within Aldgate.The prior of the abbey was then to sit as an "ex officio" Alderman of London.