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ÜPROCEEDINGS

DURING THE YEAR

1859.

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| FREDERICK MAY, HIGH STREET.
| LONDON: BELL & DALDY, 186, FLEET STREET.
| 1860.

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SOMERSETSHIRE
Archwologieal X Hotural Bistery Durieti.
PROCEEDINGS DURING THE YEAR 1859.

VOL, IX.

Ze

The former Proceedings of the Society, in Eight volumes,
are vn Sale at the Publisher’s, at 6s. 6d. each; the
volumes may also be had bound in cloth at 1s. 6d.

each extra.

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Somersetshire Archwological

Matual History Soriett.

role

DURING THE YEAR 1859.

MOB. IX,

TAUNTON ::
FREDERICK MAY, HIGH-STREET.

LONDON : BELL & DALDY, FLEET-STREET.
MDCOCLK.

The Committee regret that the publication of the pre-
sent volume has been unavoidably delayed much longer

than was intended.

The Members are indebted to F. H. Dickinson, Esq.,
the President, for the illustrations of Lyte’s Cary Manor
House ; to the Rev. T. Hugo, M.A., for those of the Bulla
of Pope Sixtus IV., Knife Handle, Girdle Ornament, and
the Seal of Taunton Priory ; and to the courtesy of Messrs.
Parker for the use of the wood engravings of Meare, and

the Turret, &c., of St. Joseph’s Chapel, Glastonbury.

Cantente.

PART L—PROCEEDINGS.

Eleventh Annual Meeting - - - - -
Report of Committee, &c. - - - - -
Finaneial Statement - - - - - - -
Communication on the word “ Pig” - — -
Notice of the Ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, &c., by

the Rev. F. Warre - - - - B
Abstract of a Paper on St. John’s Priory, Wells, by
Mr. Thomas Serel - - Ay rn BEL L

Notice of a Discovery of Fossils in Triassice Beds, by
Mr. Charles Moore, F.G.S. - SR -
Excursion, Second Day— Street, Compton Dundon,
Somerton, Lyte’s Cary, Letter from Mr. F.H.
Dickinson, Kingweston, Butlish - 0.0.
Excursion, Third Day—Meare, Wedmore, Cheddar,
Rodney Stoke an he - -.0.-
Conversazione Meetings, 1859-60 - - - -
The Museum—Donations and Additions - -
Publications received - - - - - =

Additions to Rev. T. Hugo’s Taunton Priory- -

a Oo

12

18

49

vill. CONTENTS.

PART IL—PAPERS.

Taunton Priory, by the Rev. Thomas Hugo - - l
On the reputed discovery of King Arthur’s Remains
at Glastonbury, by the Rev. W. A. Jones - 128

On British Cattle Stations, by the Rev. F. Warre - 142
Report on the Natural History portion of the

Museum, by W. A. Sanford, Esq. - ei
ILLUSTRATIONS.
The Prospect of Glasenbury Abby - - to face title.

Turret, Ornamental Moulding, and Rib of
Crypt, St. Joseph’s Chapel, Glastonbury parti. 9

Ground-plan, Glastonbury Abbey - - 2 10
Lyte’s Cary Manor House—South Front - „ 26
> Eat do - “ 29
The Fish House, Meare - - - . “ 32
Abbot’s House, Meare, N.E. view - - “ 5
Window in the Hall, Meare - - - = u
Fireplace in the Hall, er - - - . R
The Site of Taunton Piory - - - patu 1
The Remains of Taunton Priory - - „ zl
Bulla of Pope Sixtus IV. - - - = 80
Knife Handle and Girdle Ornament, found
on the site of Taunton Priory - - 2. 8l
Seal of Taunton Priory - - - - e 85

Leaden Cross found at Glastonbury - - ze

PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
SOMERSETSHIRE ARCHZEOLOGICAL AND
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY,

DURING THE YEAR 1859.

PAR.

HE Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Society was
ii held at the Town Hall, Glastonbury, on Monday,
August 29, 1859. W. E. SURTEES, Esq., Vice-President,
having taken the chair, it was proposed "by Mr. SURTEES
and seconded by W. A. SANFORD, Esq., and carried unani-
mously, that F. H. Dickinson, Esq., be the President for
the ensuing year.

Mr. DıickInson, on taking the chair, expressed his high
sense of the honour conferred upon him by the members of
the Society, and assured them of the lively interest he took
in the Society, and in all the objects to which it was
devoted.

The Vice-Presidents and other oflicers of the Society
were then re-elected ; the Hon. P. P. Bouverie, M.P., and
E. A. Sanford, Esq., were added to the list of Vice-Presi-
dents, and Mr. Alford was chosen on the Committee. Mr.
Edward Parfitt was elected as Curator.

VOL. IxX., 1859, PART I. a

23 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

On the motion of the Rev. F. WARRE, seconded by the
Rev. W. F. NeviLLe, J. H. Parker, Esq., of Oxford, was
unanimously elected an honorary member of the Society.

The Rev. F. WARRE, Secretary, read the

ANNUAL REPORT:

“The Committee in this their Eleventh Annual Report
have the satisfaction to record that the operations of the
Society during the past year, while presenting no new
feature of special interest, have continued to further the
objects for which the Society was established.

“They would refer to the volume of Proceedings recently
issued as an indication of the progress which is being made
towards collecting materials for a County History, and
they feel assured that the periodical issue of these volumes
will be the means of creating and sustaining more generally
an interest in the objects and pursuits to which the Society
is devoted. The outlay, however, which the production
of such a volume involves, without any of those special
donations from individual members which other societies
of a similar nature frequently obtain, necessarily absorbs
so large a proportion of the annual income, as to leave a
very small balance for carrying out other purposes equally
important.

“The Library and Museum of the Society have been
enriched during the past year by donations of valuable
books and of various objects of interest. Among these
they would particularly refer to Stothard’s Monumental
Effigies and Hoare’s Wiltshire, presented by the Rev. F.
Warre. The Committee are anxious to enlarge and
improve this department, from a conviction that a good
County Museum is one of the best aids towards a good
County History.

ANNUAL REPORT. 3

“Some progress has been made towards a more orderly
and systematic arrangement of the varied and valuable
collection now belonging to the Society, and it is hoped
that during the coming year every department of the
Museum will be so arranged as to be made readily avail-
able for reference or for study. Im connection with these
improvements the Committee deem it their duty to ac-
knowledge the valuable help rendered by Mr. Wm. A.
Sanferd, in the arrangement and classification of the Geo-
logical Collection.

“Arrangements have been made, in accordance with a
scheme suggested by Mr. Sanford, for systematizing the
observations made by members and others in various parts
of the county. The details of that scheme have been given
in the recent volume of Proceedings, and the Committee
earnestly solicit the help and co-operation of all who have
it in their power, in however small a degree, to contribute
to these objects. The Portfolios are ready for the recep-
tion and classification of all such notices as may be sent.
Donations of Geological and Botanical Specimens from
various localities in the county are much needed in order
to complete the illustrations which the Museum supplies of
the Natural History of the County. In like manner,
objects of antiquarian interest, with notices of the locality
and circumstances in which they were found, would be
much valued as additions to the Archzological portion of
the Museum.

“The Committee are likewise engaged in preparing
portions of Collinson’s History of Somerset according to the
suggestions of R. W. Falconer, Esq., M.D., of Bath, to be
used as the basis of a more complete and correct history
of the distriets to which the sections respectively relate.
When these are completed, with a general outline of the

4 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

enquiries most desired, they will be placed in the hands of
such members as have the time and the inclination to
devote themselves to the work; and it is hoped that the
Society may, at no distant period, be able to use collec-
tively the materials thus obtained by the labours and
investigations of individual members in the distriets with
which they are best acquainted.

“ During the past year the Committee have provided a
fitting case in which to deposit the Pigott collection of
Drawings, the cost of which was defrayed in part by
local contributions in Taunton and the neighbourhood.
Schemes for the publication of this collection, in part or as
a whole, submitted to the Committee by some of the
Trustees, have been under consideration ; but the great
outlay which such a scheme would involve, and the in-
ability of the Society to undertake such a responsibility,
with other reasons, have caused these plans to remain in
abeyance.

“It is with great regret the Committee have to report
that on the sudden disappearance of the late Curator it
was found that a considerable amount of subscriptions had
been collected by him, but not paid in to the Treasurer.
The exact amount of the defalcation has not yet been
ascertained, but it is partly covered by the value of the
collection of objects of Natural History, &c., belonging to
him, which remain in the Museum as the property of the
Society. i R

“In conclusion, the Committee desire to express their
growing conviction of the usefulness of the Society, and
would again urge upon the members, and on the county
at large, the claims which the Society has for more general
and liberal pecuniary support, and a more active and syste-
matized literary and scientific co-operation. ”

FINANCIAL STATEMENT. }

Ropr. G. Bapcock, Esq., Treasurer, read the
FINANCIAL STATEMENT :

The Treasurers in account with the Somersetshire Archaeological and

Dr. Natural Historp Society, . CR.
EB £& s.d.

To Balance of former account 9 10 By expenses of VIIIth vol. of
„ Subseriptions .. .. 208 10 0 Proceedings, 1858 .. 11415 3
Diysnatien |; # £ 10 0 „ Coal, candles, gas, &c. .. 218 2
ans 2100 „ Postage and carriage .. 1015 0
„ Insurance .. 58 A
;, Stationery, &e, .. . Z@ın

„ Commission on collecting
Subscriptions .. ».. 310 0

„, Sundries .. .. =4.10.,8, 7
„ Photographie Socy.

ah!

‚ Palzontological „, 33

„ British Armorial .. 1 1

„ Arundel Soey,3yrs, 3 3
880

„ Curator’s Salary and

Assistants es > 21 79H
„ Rent to January, 1859 .. 1210 0
„ Collinson’s Somerset .. 310 0
„ Ruding’s Coinage.. + 4/0

„ Expenses at Annual Meet-
August 25, 1859, ing at Bridgwater .. 1311 6
„ Balance .. 7 48
£211 19 10 £211 1910

Examined and found correct, August 27, 1859.

Wm. P. PINCHARD,
T. ARTHUR VOULES,

In moving the adoption of the report, the President
referred to the plan for the collection of materials for a
better History of the County, and strongly recommended
that a more full and complete Index to Collinson’s History
of Somerset be compiled, with the view of furthering this
object.

Mr. W=m. AYSHFORD SANFORD then read an elaborate
paper on the Natural History Department of the Museum
of the Society, an abstract of which is given in Part Il.

The Rey. F. WARRE read a paper communicated by
H.N. Sealy, Esq., “On the word ‘Pıq’ as applied to a

6 “ ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

cross at Bridgwater and other objects.” Having referred
to the word “pig” as forming a part of the names of
various localities—as in “ Pig’s hill,’ a farm near Nether
Stowey ; “ Pig’s ditch,” four acres of land in Chilton-super-
Polden ; and in particular, the “Pig cross” at Bridg-
water—the writer intimated that this word was really of
Danish origin, and might be regarded as one ofthe remains
of Danish occupation in this part of England.

“It is natural to suppose that the Saxons and Danes
would leave some impress of their language in the places
where they were, for so long a period, the dominant races.
The Saxon and the Danish are cognate dialects of the
Teutonic language.

“In the Saxon language the name for a girl is “ piga,”
and its diminutive “pigsney” is thus explained in John-
son’s dictionary : “pigsney, from piga (Saxon), a girl; a
word of endearment to a girl.” In Bay’s English and
Danish dictionary I find: “pige, a maid, maiden, girl,
lass.” In the Danish New Testament now before me, the
English version, chap. 9, v. 24: “He said unto them, give
place, for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth,” is thus ren-
dered in Danish : “the pigen er ikke dod ”—the “pigen”
is not dead, &c. (Pige becomes pigen, as maid maiden.)
In verse 25 : “But when the people were put forth he went
in and took her by the hand, and the maid arose "”—thus
rendered in Danish : “the maid arose—da stod pigen op—
then the pigen stood up.” St. Luke, c. 22, v.5l1: “And
the father and mother of the maiden ”—in Danish : “Og
pigens fader og moder ;” and “pig’s” or “pigens” father
and mother. And in verse 56 : “But a certain maid saw
him ”—in Danish : “Men en pige saae ham ”—but a pige
saw him.

“Oldmixon, a native of Bridgwater, in his history of

-

ON THE WORD *PIG.' 7

England, published in 1730, notices the “ Pig Cross” and
the “High cross.” In his account of the siege of Bridg-
water by the Parliamentary forces, anno 1645, he says:
“ There was no hope of its being relieved, and the resistance
the royalists made had more of frenzy in it than courage ;
when the latter saw Eastover in a blaze they rang the bells
for joy, and set fire themselves to several houses in Silver-
street, Friar’s-street, and at the ‘Pig Cross,’ which show
the effects of it to this day.”

“In his account of Monmouth’s rebellion he says :—
“ Anno 1685, the Duke, after he was proclaimed king at
Taunton, marched to Bridgwater. He had then with him
the greatest number of men that were ever for him
together, near 6000 men, tolerably well armed. He was
proclaimed at the ‘High Cross,’ by the Mayor, Alexander
Popham, Esq., and his brethren, in his robes of oflice.”

“ The High Cross stood on the Cornhill, and was called
“the Cross,” and was pulled down about 50 years ago.
The “Pig Cross” stood at no great distance from it, and
nor far from the parish church which is dedicated to the
Virgin Mary, and nothing is more probable than that the
Cross should be dedicated to the same saint, and distin-
guished from the other Cross by the name of the “Pig
Cross,” or as I presume the “Lady Cross.” If we asso-
ciate with the Cross the blessed Virgin Mary, all incon-
gruity vanishes. The “Pig Cross” becomes the “Lady
Cross.” “Pig’s Hill” and “Pig’s Ditch” become the
“Lady’s” farm or field, the revenue having been applied
to the maintenance of the “Lady’s” chapel, or of the
priest who ofhiciated.”

The Rev. W. A. Jones, M.A., gave a sketch of the
historical evidence and authorities for “the reputed dis-
covery of King Arthur’s remains at Glastonbury,” which
is given in Part II.

8 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

Under the guidance of the Rev. F. Warre the company
then proceeded to visit the Abbey, the Abbot’s Kitchen,
Almshouses, Barn, &c.

The Rey. F. WARRE gave a lecture on the ruins of the
Abbey, very much to the same purport as the paper which
he published in the Proceedings of this Society for 1851.
He mentioned the tradition respecting Joseph of Arima-
thea, but did not attach much importance to it, as he
thought there was a want of suflicient evidence of its truth.
Another tradition, that St. Paul himself had preached on
this spot, he thought more probable, as there is strong
reason to believe that he came to Britain, the extreme
west of the Roman empire; and there is good reason to
believe that at Glastonbury was one of the earliest Chris-
tian settlements in England. St. Patrick is said to have
retired here with a party of monks about A.n. 533. The
popular belief that King Arthur was buried here, whether
well founded or not, shews that this was considered the
most fitting place. Paulinus, Archbishop of York, is said
to have rebuilt the church of timber, covered with lead,
in A.D. 630, and King Ina to have again rebuilt it in
the most sumptuous manner in 708. This church was
destroyed by the northern pirates, and another church and
monastery built by St. Dunstan, in A.D. 942—944. By
this time, from successive grants, the Abbey had attained
great wealth and importance, and was considered the
richest foundation in England. St. Dunstan’s Church is
distinetly recorded to have been of wood plated with gold,
which probably means ornamented with gilding, and it is
mentioned as of wood in a charter of the time of Edward
the Confessor. During the reigns of the first two Norman
kings the Abbey was a scene of perpetual strife and
slaughter, and no new building seems to have been erected,

‘d£ıg go arg

"SUIpNoM Terusweung

"AUQINOLSVIO

"IHdVHOD S.HIHSOL 'LS

Beredong

GLASTONBURY ABBEY. 9

Herlewin, the second Norman abbot, is said by William
of Malmesbury to have built a new church, on which he
expended the sum of four hundred and eighty pounds, a
very large sum in those days ; he was abbot from 1102 to
1120. Henry de Blois, who had been abbot only three
years when he was promoted to the see of Winchester, but
was allowed to hold both, is said to have built a castle, a
chapter-house, the cloister, the refectory, the dormitory,
the infirmary with its chapel, the outer gate of hewn stone,
the great brewhouse, and several stables. He held the
charge of this Abbey forty-five years, and died in 1171.
Mr. Warre was inclined to consider the existing ruins as
part of his work, and compared them with St. Cross and
other buildings erected by him.

The whole monastery, including the church, was de-
stroyed by a great fire in 1185, which seems to have
created a great sensation. King Henry II. immediately
sent his chamberlain, Ralph Fitz-Stephen, to examine the
ruins, and to take the necessary steps for rebuilding the
church and monastery ; and so expeditiously was this done,
that the new church of St. Mary was dedicated by Regi-
nald, Bishop of Bath, in the following year, on the feast of
St. Barnabas, 1186. After this the work was stopped for
want of funds, and was not completed until 1193.

The reduced copy of a drawing made by Stukeley,
shewing the Abbot’s Lodging and the state of the ruins in
his time, as given in the present volume, will still further
illustrate and explain what remains of the ruins. A
ground-plan of the Abbey is likewise given, from Warner;
the details of which are as follows :——The dark portions of
this plan designate the existing remains ; the lighter ones
represent such as were visible in Stukeley’s time. The
letters of reference may be explained as follows: A, St.

VOL. IX., 1859, PART I. b

“3

10 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

Joseph’s Chapel ; B, the additional building of Henry de
Blois; C, the nave of the great church; D, the central
point under the tower; E, the choir; F, the site of the
retro, or lady’s chapel; second F, the same according to
its original proportions; G, the north transept; H, the
south ditto; I, K, L, M, chapels in the two transepts, their
names too uncertain to be correctly given; N, a cloister ;
O, the chapter-house ; P, the area, with eloisters round it;
Q, the refectory ; R, the guest-hall ; S, part of the lord
abbot’s dwelling ; T, the abbot’s kitchen ; V, part of the
almonry ; W, a covered passage into the erypt; X, St.
Joseph’s Well.

Mr. Parker observed that it is very singular that no
traces or fragments of the early Norman church can be
found, nor is there any record of any such having been
found. The earliest parts of the buildings that we have
remaining are of the very latest Norman and transitional
character, such as we might expect to have been built after
the great fire, or between 1185 and 1193. He remarked
that there is no mention of a church having been built by
Henry de Blois, while nearly all the other buildings of the
Abbey are enumerated, and the gatehouse is particularly
specified to have been of hewn stone, which seems to imply
that the other buildings were not. He was inclined to
think that all these other buildings, therefore, were of
wood, and that the church of Herlewin was of the same
material. This would account for the entire destruction of
the whole by the great fire. The chapel now called St.
Joseph’s Chapel, he was inclined to identify with the
church of St. Mary, dedicated in 1186. There is no trace
of any other lady-chapel, and the lady-chapel of the early
church at Canterbury was at the west end. It is possible
to suppose that by great exertions, under the royal autho-

250

Scale of Feet
I00 NEO

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On, steme, by ]

Ford, Lith. Taunor.

Abbey of Glastan.

me

of

"History

Warners

Taken, from

GLASTONBURY ABBEY al

rity, this chapel may have been built in a year; it is im-
possible to suppose that the larger church could have been.
St. Joseph’s Chapel is remarkably complete in itself, all of
a piece, built at one time, and a little earlier than the large
church, though not much. The erypt is naturally the
most ancient part, but it differs from the superstructure
only so much as the subterranean part of a building
usually does from the upper part, and it has no appearance
of having belonged to an earlier building which had been
destroyed by fire. Such a destruction usually does leave
considerable traces, as at Canterbury. It is just such a
church or chapel as would be necessary for carrying on
divine service, and would allow time for going on with the
large church. The latest portion of the building is the
sort of porch which connects the west end of the large
church with the east end of St. Joseph’s Chapel. This
portion is decidedly of Early English character, and ac-
cording to Mr. Parker’s hypothesis, this is just the portion
which would naturally be built last. After the chapel had
answered its separate purpose, and the whole work had
been completed, the east wall of the chapel may have been
removed and the whole thrown into one. 'The accom-
panying woodceuts illustrate the characteristic features of
the architecture of St. Joseph’s Chapel.

The chancel-arch of the great church which remains is
just suflicient to show what the original design has been,
and a beautiful drawing of it, made out from the remains
by Mr. Scott, was afterwards exhibited to the meeting.
The two eastern bays of the choir are of later character
than the rest ; the shafts and mouldings of the interior of
this part belong to the fourteenth century. A discussion
ensued between Mr. Parker, Mr. Freeman, and others, as
to whether these two bays had been added, or only altered

12 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING

in the interior, Mr. Parker maintaining the former opinion,
and Mr. Freeman the latter. The windows are exactly the
same as those of the older part ; Mr. Parker thought that
they may have been used again, or copied exactly at alater
time. Mr. Freeman thought this out of the question, that
it could not have been. At the point of junction between
these two bays and the choir, on the exterior of the south
side, the buttress is carried on an arch over a sepulchral
recess, in a very remarkable manner, as if the person who
built this part wished to be buried there.

The party then proceeded to visit the celebrated kit-
chen, built by Abbot Breynton, in the time of Richard II.,
where Mr. Parker pointed out that the four tall corner
chimneys have been destroyed ; the louvre in the centre
was for the escape of the steam and eflluvia, not of the
smoke. They then proceeded to the great barn, of the
same period, where the emblems of the four Evangelists in
the gable ends were noticed, and the construction of the
roof was examined.

Mr. TuomAs SEREL read a paper on “St. John’s
Priory, Wells,” of which the following is an abstract :——

“ The site of this ancient establishment is on the west
side of St. John-street, which leads from the eity into
another street called Southover. "The name of the street
is, no doubt, derived from its proximity to the Hospital.
The ruins of this once venerable house have recently been
entirely swept away.

“ This Priory, or Hospital as it is more frequently styled
in documents of early date, was founded about the year
1206, for a prior, or master, and ten brethren. The prior
used a Common Seal, on which was represented the figure
of St. John the Baptist, with this legend :—

SIGILL. HOSPITAL. SCI. JOHANNIS. D. WELLES.

ST. JOHN’S PRIORY, WELLS. 13

“The Priory was dedicated to St. John the Baptist,
and owes its foundation to Hugh de Welles, Bishop of
Lincoln, and Jocelyne de Welles, Bishop of Bath and
Wells, who (as Godwin informs us) “laying their purses
together,’ endowed it with considerable possessions, includ-
ing the parsonage of Evercreech, and lands in Wookey,
East Wells, and Southover. Collinson states that Hugh
de Welles was the sole founder of the Hospital, and that
Jocelyne “made considerable additions’ to the institution.
The same author, in his memoir of Bishop Jocelyne, ex-
pressly says that the Hospital was the joint foundation of
the two brothers (Jocelyne and Hugh). By his will,
Bishop Hugh gave the Hospital 500 marks; a most liberal
donation at that early period. Some persons have been
led to suppose, from the language of this bequest, that the
Hospital was in fact built after Bishop Hugh’s decease,
though most of our local historians assume that the estab-
lishment was completed in his life-time.

“The two Bishops were natives of Wells, and both men
ofthe greatest eminence, as well as active participators in
some of the most important events of the times in which
they lived. The names of both appear in Magna Charta,
[“Joscelini Bathon. & Glaston. Hugon Linc.”*] and both
have an historical fame from the part they took in oppo-
sition to King John, when that monarch refused to recog-
nise Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury. To
Bishop Jocelyne we owe most of our present Cathedral,
including its unequalled West Front.

“Besides the estates before referred to, the Hospital

* Bishop Joceline succeeded to the See in 1206, and took the title of
“Bath and Glastonbury,” which had been assumed by his predecessor,
Savaric. This title he continued to use until 1218, when he relinquished it

for the valuable consideration of divers rich manors, &c., given up to him
by the Abbot of Glastonbury.

14 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

had other possessions in Keinton Mandeville, Babcary,
Dinder, and other places. Whether these latter additions
formed part of the original endowment I cannot say, but
it is clear that they were held by the Hospital soon after
its foundation. Several benefactors added to its revenues;
among them Edmund Lyons, knt., and Bishop Ralph de
Salopia, are named. The latter charged his gift with the
duty of maintaining a chaplain to say mass at the altar of
St. Edmund, in the Cathedral, for his own good estate
while living, and for his soul after his death; and also for
the soul of John de Somerton, formerly Abbot of Muchel-
ney, and the souls of all his successors in that Convent.
According to the Commissioners’ Survey of Chantries, &c.,
made 1 Edw. VI, the charge on the Hospital estates was
£4 per annum, and John Dible, clerk, aged 70 years was
the last incumbent.

“ According to Dugdale, the income of the Priory at the
Dissolution was £40 Os. 24d., and according to Speed,
£41 3s. 61d., but neither of these sums must be taken
literally, as the real extent of the revenues of the estab-
lishment. Collinson and Phelps both give the income as
£40 08. öd.

“Richard Clarkson was the last Prior, and by him (with
three of his brethren), on the 3rd of February, 1539, the
Hospital was resigned to the king, in consideration of a
pension of £12.

“The act of 27 Henry VIII dissolved and vested in the
king all monasteries, priories, &c., having a yearly revenue
under £200 a-year. But the Hospital of St. John seems
either to have escaped notice, or the prior to have found
favour with the king, for it was not surrendered until 1539.

“Soon after the Hospital became vested in the Crown,
the site, and possessions belonging to it, were, under a

ST. JOHN’S PRIORY, WELLS. 15

special licence from the king, granted to the Earl of South-
ampton, who exchanged the whole with Dr. John Clerk,
then Bishop of Bath and Wells, for the manor of Dog-
mersfield (one of the summer residences of the bishop,
which had been granted to the see by Henry I.) subject to
a yearly rent to the Crown of £7 5s. The Hospital and
its possessions were not fated to continue long in the
possession of the Church. In 1548, Bishop Barlow
surrendered to the Crown a large portion of the episcopal
estates, including this Hospital, with the lands belonging
to it, and the reetory and advowson of Everereech. The
Hospital, and the lands attached to it, continued vested
in the Crown until 27th January, 1575, when the whole
were granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Christopher
Hatton, but how long they were held by him has not been
ascertained.

“Phelps, in his History of Somerset, traces the owner-
ship from Sir Christopher Hatton, through Sir William
Dodington, the Godwins, Nutleys, and Edwards, and
states that the property was purchased of the last-named
owner, in 1732, by Peter Davis, Esq., the ancestor of the
late owner, John Davis Sherston, Esq. But it is certain
that this account is inaccurate. In 1667, Robert Lord
Brooke was the owner of the site of the Hospital, and a
portion, if not all the estates that appertained to it; but by
what means, or at what time he, or his ancestors, obtained
the property, is unknown. In 1667, his lordship conveyed
the dissolved Hospital and its estates in striet settlement,
after his own death, to his son and heir apparent, Francis
Greville, with remainder to his brother Fulke Greville.
Francis Greville, the son of Lord Brooke, died an infant,
unmarried, in the life-time of his father, "There were only
two daughters, who married respectively the Earls of

16 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

Kingston and Manchester, and, under the provisions of
their father’s settlement, received £15,000 as their portions
out of the family estates, which in 1676, by virtue of the
entail in the same settlement, on the death of Lord
Brooke, descended to Fulke Greville, who became Lord
Brooke. This Fulke Lord Brooke died in 1710, and was
succeeded by his second son, William. In February,
1721, William mortgaged the Hospital and lands held
with it, and in 1722 made a further charge on the pro-
perty, the entire debt being £10,000. He died 26th
July, 1727, and by his will gave his estates to his son
Francis, who subsequently became Earl of Warwick, and,
after several intermediate dealings with the property com-
prised in the mortgage of 1721, the whole became released
from that mortgage in 1751, and were absolutely vested
in the then Lord Warwick, who, about 80 years ago, sold
the Hospital and lands then appertaining to it, to the
ancestors of the present Mr. Sherston.

“The Hospital itself, as might be expected, underwent
many changes and alterations, to suit the convenience and
taste of its different possessors. Considerable portions of
the original buildings, however, remained until they were
finally removed a short time ago to make way for the new
schools ; other parts were taken down in 1812, when the
late Mr. Peter Sherston generously gave a site for building
the late central school. A cursory examination of the
interior of the building, when in course of being pulled
down, showed clear indications that the Hospital had,
subsequent to its dissolution, been used as a dwelling-
house. New ceilings had been added, which were highly
ornamented, and a fireplace made in the best apartment,
over which were the arms of James I. in bold relief. Since
the old building ceased to be used as dwelling-house, it has

ST. JOHN’S PRIORY, WELLS. 17

been turned into a manufactory for knit-stockings, and
subsequently for the wood portions of brushes.

“In making the necessary excavations for the new
schools, old foundations were found extending far beyond
the walls shortly before taken down, and below the surface
large quantities of freestone were discovered, in confused
heaps, at considerable depths, which appeared to have
once formed parts of massive arches, door-ways, window-
mullions, &c. Besides these, numerous fragments of deli-
cately sculptured stone were turned out, apparently por-
tions of an altar screen, of a most elaborate and elegant
description, most of which had been richly gilt and illu-
minated.

[Many interesting relics were found in the ruins of the
Hospital, and a few of them were produced by Mr. Serel.
An old spoon turned out from one of the ancient sewers;
three keys, found buried in rubbish below the floor of one
of the apartments; a leaden bull, or bulla, of Pope Pius
VI, in a remarkably perfect state. ]

“]t is not possible to define the ancient preeincts of
the Priory, but there is ground for believing that they
extended to Bull-lane, adjoining the Railway station.
Indeed the field in which the station is built belonged to
the Hospital, as did other land to the west of it, including
an ancient mill, now held by Mr. S. Fry, which, within the
last 60 years, was always known as “Prior’s Mil.” The
Hospital inelosure was intersected by the stream which
Hows directly from St. Andrew’s well, a sure indication
that, even at the early date when the Hospital was
founded, such an accessory to cleanliness and health was
well understood and appreciated.

“ Though the old Hospital will soon be swept away and
forgotten, its name will be perpetuated to posterity by the

VOL. IX., 1859, PART I. e

18 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

present appellation of the street adjoining its site, which
has long been known as “ St. John’s Street.” The site is
now occupied by.a new building, consisting of schools for
imparting a sound religious education to the young of
coming generations. For this the inhabitants of Wells
have, in the first place, to thank the late owner, Captain
Sherston, whose munificence deserves a more public ac-
knowledgment than it has yet received ; and in the next
place to the committee and subscribers, (among the more
active of whom were the Very Rev. the Dean, Vicar of St.
Cuthbert’s, and his Curates, the Rev. H. E. Ravenhill and
the Rev. J. Troutbeck) whose efforts and liberality have
combined to rear and complete the new schools, which are
intended to serve as models for subsequent structures of
a similar nature in this diocese. The foundation stone of
these schools was laid July 16th, 1858.”

There was an Ordinary in the afternoon, which was well
attended, and in the evening the proceedings of the
Society were resumed.

The Rev. T. Hvco, M.A., read a paper on “ Taunton
Priory,” which is given in Part II.

Mr. CHARLES MooRrE, F.G.S., exhibited a most in-
teresting series of fossils, including fish-bones and mamma-
lian remains, lately discovered by him in Triassic beds
which had been formed in fissures in tbe Garboniferous
strata near Frome. He stated that in about three cubie
yards of coarse friable sand from this deposit, he had found
not fewer than 45,000 teeth of fish—of the genus Acrodus
alone. Teeth of several species of Sauricthys were also
abundant, and next to them teeth of Hybodus, with occa-
sional spines of the latter genus. Teeth and scales of
Lepidotus, and scales of Gyrolepis were also numerous, as
also were teeth showing the presence of several other

DISCOVERIES IN TRIASSIC BEDS NEAR FROME. 19

genera of fishes. With the above were found a number of
curious bodies, each of which was surmounted by a de-
pressed enamelled thorn-like spine, or tooth, in some cases
with points as sharp as that of a coarse needle ; these Mr.
Moore supposed to be spinous scales belonging to several
new species of fish allied to the Squaloraia, and that to the
same genus were to be referred a number of minute hair-
like spines, with flattened fiuted sides, found in the same
deposit. There were also present specimens hitherto sup-
posed to be teeth, and for which Agassiz had created the
genus Ctenoptychius, but which he was rather disposed
to consider, like those previously referred to, to be the
outer scales of a fish allied to the Squaloraia. It was
remarked that as the drift must have been transported
from some distance, delicate organisms could scarcely be
expected, but, notwithstanding, it contained some most
minute fish-jaws and palates, of which, perfect or other-
wise, one hundred and thirty examples had been found.
These were from the eighth to a quarter of an inch in
length, and within this small compass some specimens
possessed from thirty to forty teeth. In one palate he had
reckoned as many as seventy-four in position, and there
were spaces from which sixteen more had disappeared, so
that in this tiny specimen there had been ninety teeth.

Of the order Reptilia there were probably eisht or nine
genera, consisting of detached teeth, scutes, vertebr&, ribs,
and articulated bones. Amongst these he had found the
flat erushing teeth of Placodus, a discovery of interest, for
hitherto this reptile had only been found in the Muschel-
kalk of Germany, a zone of rocks hitherto considered
wanting in this country, but which in its fauna was repre-
sented by the above reptile.

But by far the most important remains in this deposit

20 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING,

were indications of the existence of Triassic mammalia.
Two little teeth of the Microlestes had some years before
been discovered in Germany, and were the only traces of
this high order in beds older than the Stonesfield Slate.
Mr. Moore’s minute researches had brought to light fifteen
molar teeth, either identical with, or nearly allied to, the
Mierolestes, and also five incisor teeth, evidently belonging
to more than one species, A very small double-fanged
tooth, not unlike the oolitic Spalacotherium, proved the
presence of another genus, and a fragment of a tooth, con-
sisting of a single fang, with a small part of the crown
attached, a third genus, larger in size than the Microlestes.
Three vertebr& belonging to an animal smaller than any
existing mammal had also been found. He inferred that
if twenty-five teeth and vertebr&, belonging to three or
four genera of mammalia, were to be found in the space
occupied by three cubic yards of earth, that portion of the
globe which was then dry land, and whence the material
was in part derived, was probably inhabited at that early
period by many genera of mammalia, and would serve to
encourage a hope that {he remains of that class might yet
be found in beds of even more remote age.

S:E.C QO3NSD 2 DA I;
Eruexion,

On Tuesday morning a party of ladies and gentlemen
started on an excursion to several places in the neighbour-
hood. The weather was exceedingly unfavourable, showers
being frequent and severe, and the unpropitiousness of the
elements prevented many, no doubt, from joining. The
more eager archxologists, however, were not to be detained

EXCURSION. 21

by any such impediment. They were evidently disposed,
under any circumstances, not to let the day pass without
seeing some of the objects of interest in the neighbour-
hood ; and accordingly started, at about eleven o’clock in
covered conveyances. The result amply repaid them, and
in the course of the afternoon the weather assumed a more
propitious aspect, although the day terminated as it had
commenced—in rain. The party was joined on its pro-
oress by anumber of archeologists who had accepted the
hospitality of F. H. Dickinson, Esq., and R. Neville
Grenville, Esq., on the previous evening, and by several of
the gentry of the neighbourhood through which it passed.
The first place visited after leaving Glastonbury was
STREET; and here several magnificent fossils were shown
by Mr. James Clark, taken from the quarries at that place.
There were two ichthyosauri, from seven to eight feet in
length, in a highly perfect state. 'The eye of one was
remarked to.have been exceedingly well preserved ; and
Mr. Clark pointed out that it was so formed as to be
capable of extending its vision, similar to the eyes of birds
of prey. These two beautiful speeimens belonged to a
quarıyman named Seymour. There was also an ichthyo-
saurus in Mr. Clark’s own collection, which was found at
Asheott, and a smaller one from the Street quarries. "The
party was kindly escorted by the Messrs. Clark over their
large manufactory of ladies’ shoes, mats, &c., and marked
the various operations with much interest. 'The sewing
machines, which performed their task with surprising
rapidity and neatness, drew particular attention. The
mats, which were manufactured from the skins of various
animals, from the lion and tiger to the Angola goat and
the sheep, were deservedly admired. About 150 persons
are engaged in this manufactory, and nearly 1000 are em-

22 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

ployed, more or less, by its liberal and spirited proprie-
tors. Proceeding through the village, the quarıy was
visited, from which several of the saurians in the British
Museum, as well as others, have been taken. Mr. Clark
mentioned that Dr. Wright, of Cheltenham, found in the
quarry, a few days ago, a coral—the Isastrea Murchisone—
and it was remarkable that he had observed the same sort
of coral in the Island of Skye, and in Gloucestershire,
proving that there was originally a bed of it running
through the kingdom. A part of a plesiosaurus and other
fossils were shown in a shed belonging to the quarryman.
The excursionists proceeded—through a country highly
beautiful from its undulating features of hill and vale, and
equally interesting from its geological characteristics, the
hills exhibiting in their upper part the white lias formation,
with red marl beneath—to Compron Dunpon. Here the
ruins of a manor-house of the fourteenth century were ex-
amined, and the church was visited. Mr. Freeman explained
the features of the sacred edifice, characterising it as a very
good little typical church, having nothing in it very extra-
ordinary, but still a few features that were worthy of note.
It seemed to be pretty much of the same date, though
there had been a few alterations in the detail of the build-
ing. One or two ritual matters were worth notieing.
There was a stone screen that was evidently coeval with
the chancel arch. It was not at all common to see a stone
screen in a parish church ; he only knew two or three
instances, and he did not remember one of such amazing
thickness as the present. Mr. Freeman then proceeded to
draw attention to what he conceived to be the curious
preparations in connection with the rood-loft, which ap-
peared to have been reached in an extraordinary way.
His idea on this matter will best be explained by stating

EXCURSION. 23

that the pulpit is inserted in the wall‘of the church, and
approached through an aperture in the wall, leading to the
back part of it. This aperture, Mr. Freeman appeared to
think, originally communicated with the rood-loft. Mr.
Dickinson, however, pointed out that there were indica-
tions of an opening having existed near the chancel-
arch, which had probably answered this purpose. A
small window in the eastern part of the nave on the
south side, Mr. Freeman said, corresponded with those
that were usually found lishting the rood-loft, where the
church had no clerestory. The roof of the church was of
. a description very common in this part of England, and
also in South-Wales—the coved. It was a kind of roof
that all modern architeets and restorers abominated ; and,
if the church should be restored, no doubt something
brought down from the north would be substituted for it.
He had had the satisfaction of preserving roofs of that
kind in one or two instances ; and thought it to be one of
the best descriptions, although, where it was ceiled over, as
had been the common practice with old fashioned church-
wardens, and where there were not projecting ribs, it did
not, of course, look well.

The cavalcade next halted at SomERToxn. The road
afforded very beautiful and extensive views, reaching to
Ham-hill, and the Wellington Monument. It passes by
Compton beacon, on the summit of which a Roman en-
campment was pointed out. The church at Somerton was
inspected, and elicited general admiration. The magnifi-
cent carved oak roof was spoken of in the highest terms.
Mr. Freeman explained the characteristics of the sacred
building. Here, he said, was a church of another Somer-
setshire type, and with a much larger and more compli-
cated ground-plan than that last visited. It was a quasi-

24 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

eruciform church. It had not four arches and a central
tower, like those of a fully developed eruciform shape, and
yet the transepts were very fine, and really superior to
some that were of a more fully developed character. One
of the transepts went into the tower, and only one. At
Exeter Cathedral, and at Ottery St. Mary Church, and
a few other large buildings, there were two side towers ;
but here, and in one or two other Somerset churches, such
as that of Stoke-sub-Hamdon, there was only a tower over
one transept. The tower was well worth notieing, from
being a Somersetshire octagon. The octagon was a very
common form in Somerset, and also in Northamptonshire ;
but the towers of this character were of two kinds; in
Northampton the octagon was a mere top to the square
part ; in Somerset the square part was merely a base for
the octagon, which, therefore, gave a character to the
whole structure. He only knew of one or two instances
where the tower was octagonal from the base. The tower
appeared to have received an addition subsequent to its
first erection. 'The same thing was very conspicuous at
Stoke St. Gregory. There a much larger nave was built,
which quite out-topped the old tower, which was therefore
raised. The addition was not so apparent in the present
instance ; but still it was quite palpable, The church was
in the Decorated style of the fourteenth century, with
Perpendicular alterations. One of these consisted in the
addition of the tower which he had just spoken of; and
another was the very fine carved oak roof. This was a
kind of roof often found in Somersetshire churches where
there was a clerestory ; and where there was no clerestory
the coved roof was generally found. It was a roof of
which he was exceedingly fond, especially when it was so
magnificent as in the present instance, There was also a

EXCURSION. 25

very splendid example of it at Martock. The most curious
alteration made in Perpendicular times was found in the
chancel, which was rebuilt, and, for some cause or other,
made much narrower than the old chancel. This was
shewn by the width of the chancel-arch, a part of which
could be seen outside. It was, however, a very nice
chancel, and the east window was a good specimen of the
local Perpendicular. The appearance of it was spoiled by
the blue glass placed around the mullions and tracery ; but
if the eyes were fixed upon the tracery, it would be seen
that it was a beautiful example of the Perpendicular period,
and also had a form that was not often met with except in
Somerset, where there was one complete pattern, filled in
with another pattern. The roof of the chancel seemed to
be a plaster imitation of the wooden roof of the nave.
There appeared to have been also a great deal done in the
seventeenth century, including the very fine pulpit. There
was, he understood, a new west window— what kind of one
there formerly was he could not say. Mr. Pinney re-
marked that the window was very bad before. Mr. Parker
then called attention to the tie-beams, which formed a
highly ornamental portion of the roof. These beams were
now, as much as possible, done away with, because the
builders did not know how to make them ornamental ; but
in this case they had succeeded in making them a highly
attractive feature of the church. _Mr. Pinney said there
was a tradition that the roof was brought from Muchelney
Abbey. Mr. Freeman said there were traditions of the
same kind in many places, and there was not much reliance
to be placed on them. Mr. Parker pointed out that the
carved oak did not form the actual roof, but was an orna-
mental ceiling. The notion that it was necessary to shew
the inside of the slate or tile was altogether modern ; and
VOL. Ix., 1859, PART I. d

26 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

it was formerly a very frequent course to have a plain
outer roof to support the actual covering, and an orna-
mental wooden ceiling within.

In the course of examining the church a conversation
originated on the subject of subterranean passages, and
Mr. Parker said it might be useful to mention that what
were called subterranean passages were generally, in point
of fact, drains. There was often a passage leading from a
castle for a short distance to a postern gate, but anything
like one of a mile in length was unknown in the middle
ages. The drains were very perfectly constructed. Mr.
Jones reminded the members of the subterranean passage
which was said to exist at Stogursey, connecting the castle
with the church, and which, at the last annual meeting,
was found to be a well-constructed drain, through which a
considerable stream of water was flowing at the time. Mr.
Dickinson remarked that probably they were made in
imitation of the large drains of Italy.

The next place visited was Lyre’s Cary, where a
beautiful piece of ancient domestie architecture, formerly
occupied as amansion by the Lyte family, but now the
property of F. H. Dickinson, Esq., engaged attention.
Mr. Parker said it was one of the best and most perfect
buildings of the period remaining. The house was rebuilt
in the time of Henry VIII, but the chapel was of the
period of Edward ILL, and must have originally communi-
cated internally with the mansion. He drew attention to
the finials of the gables, bearing crests of the Lyte family,
and to a very beautiful oriel window. The domestic
architecture of the time, he said, did not differ very
materially from that of an earlier date ; but, as the habits
of the people changed, and the hall became less used for
general purposes than before, the private rooms became of

ac

LYTE’S CARY. 27

more importance, and dining and drawing-rooms were
introduced, so that the family could retire, when they
wished to do so, to their private apartments. The chapel,
which is a beautiful example of architecture, was examined
with evident interest, and the compahy also went through
the hall (now used as a cider cellar), in which an original
fireplace of the time of Henry VIII. was observed. The
drawing and dining-rooms were equally, or perhaps more
carefully noticed, Mr. Parker pointing out the chief peculi-
arities. The ceiling of the latter is in a highly perfect
state, and of a remarkably fine description. The letters
J. E. and L. H., appearing on one of the fronts, were
shewn by the arms to be the initials of the Christian and
surnames respectively of John Lyte and Elizabeth Horsey.
A portion of the house is now occupied as a farm-house by
Mr. Withy. Two plates of this interesting Manor House
are given in the present volume, presented by F. H.
Dickinson, Esq., from whom the Secretaries have also
received the following notice of the place and the family
of Lyte :—

“8, Upper Harley Street, March 24, 1860.

“My dear Mr. Jones,

“] am sorry I can give but an imperfeet account of
Lyte’s Cary. The title deeds—almost the only means of
information I have, besides the county histories—are at
the Bankers, and I do not like to trouble my trustees just
now by asking for them. They do not, so far as I re-
member, disclose much, merely the gradual squeezing out
of the Lyte family by successive mortgages in the middle
of the last century, when it is my impression that the
property passed to the Lockyers, who were the patrons of
the borough of Ilchester, and from them to my father or
grandfather, about the beginning of this century.

28 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

“] find, however, in .a recital of a deed concerning
Tuck’s Cary, which I conceive to be what is marked in the
Ordnance Map as Cook’s Cary, that it is stated to have
been the inheritance of Henry Lyte, Esq., of Lyte’s Cary,
afterwards of Thomas Lyte, gentleman, and of "Thomas
Cooke, Esq., of the same place, and from them it passed to
Thomas Freke and John Freke Willes, soon after whose
death, in 1799, this part of the property was bought by my
grandfather. Upon it, skirting the river Cary, which gave
its name to the Manor, is a long trench, which I conceives
to be the remains of fish ponds. The dam for supplying
these ponds with water may have been at the bridge where
the road crosses to Kingsdon.

“ There is said to have been a botanic garden at Lyte’s
Cary in Elizabeth’s time, but I have not been able to make
out from my tenant whether any peculiar plants remain so
as to guess the site.

“] give here the title of a work on we: published
by one of the family :—

“A niewe Herball or historie of plantes wherein is
contayned the whole discourse and perfect description of
all sorts of Herbs and Plantes, their divers and sundry
Kindes; their strange Figures, Fashions, and Shapes; their
Names, Natures, Operations, and Vertues; and that not
onely of those whiche are here growing in this our Countrie
of Englande, but of all others also of forayne Realmes,
commonly used in Physicke. First set foorth in the
Doutche or Almaigne tongue, by that learned D. Rembert
Dodoens, Physition to the Emperour; and nowe first
translated out of French into English by Henry Lyte
Esquyer. At London by me Gerard Dewes, dwelling in
Paules Churchyarde, at the sign of the Swanne. 1578.

“ There are other editions of 1586, 1595, and 1619. Ido

DEINKaT:

u

E/ 0 HAST ER

RB

\
un
en N
Hr 8
— 1
®5,.

1SE

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Or

jr

f
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4
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3
&
3
”

LYTE’S CARY. 29

not find in the dedications and verses, Latin and English,
in praise of the author, anything which shows him to have
had any botanical garden of his own.

“] have seen in the Bishop’s Register at Wells, an insti-
tution to a chapelry at Lyte’s Cary, but whether this
refers to the chapel attached to the house or to the north
transept of the parish church I do not know. That tran-
sept belonged to Lyte’s Cary, but so far as my memory
serves, was reserved when the property was sold. It
became the property of Mr. Shute, the south transept
having been also his and mine jointly.

“The Lyte family have certainly been seated at Lyte’s
Cary from very early times. I have seen the name
repeatedly in early deeds concerning an almshouse at
Ilchester. The tradition in the neighbourhood is that
they came in with William the Conqueror, and that the
name is indicative of their being blacksmiths ; certainly if
this had been exactly true, their name would have been
French, not English.

« There isalittle book in the British Museum ‘Of Decimal
Arithmetie by Henry Lyte, gentleman, 1619,’ and a reprint
of “The light of Britayne, 1588. It is a quaint book, in
which every English place is made out to be named after
something of classical celebrity, and he by no means for-
gets his own home : ‘The famous ryver of Meander is in
Caria. This Meander ryver had golden sands and singing
swannes that sometime served Venus, queene of Phrygia
‚and Caria, wherefore the swannes of Caria, and signettes
of Troy in Britayne, must alwaies singe of Troy and the
Troyans.’ And again : “Brute of Albania, the founder of
Britayne, who brought in Carius a noble Prince of Lydia
and Caria, with the people of Carie, and swans of Carie,
into Britayne. By the oracles aforesaid the swans of Carie

30 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

in Britayne are now stirred up to maintain the veritie of
the British historie.’

“The author seems to have spelt his name indifferently
—Lyte and Lite ; but the place always Lytes-carie.

“The swans of course are in allusion to the family arıns,
which remain on the house, and are given on a large wood
cut to back the title page of the first edition of his work
on botany. A chevron between three swans,* with a swan
for a erest standing on a trumpet. *Letitia et spe immor-
talitalis’ is written below, which may probably be the
motto. Above is written, in allusion to the arms :—

Tortilis hie lituus niveusque olor arguit in te
Leite animum niveum pictus f et intrepidum,
and below :

Like as the swanne doth chaunt his tunes in signe of

ioyfull mynde,

So Lyte by learning shewes him selfe to Prince and

countrie kinde.

“There are lots of other conceits in Latin and English
on a name so provocative of puns, I am sorry to have to
add, for the honour of English printing, that this handsome
book, which is full of curious woodcuts of plants, was
printed at Antwerp.

“] am sorry I cannot give you any better account of
Lyte’s Cary to accompany the south and south-east views
of the house which will appear in our journal, which may
serve at least to remind some of the members of the
society of the pleasant day we spent there last year.

“ Believe me, yours very truly,
“F. H. Diıckısson.”

* Edmondson gives—gules, a chevron between 3 swans argent. rest, a
demi swan argent, with wings expanded gules, against a plume of 3 feathers,
the middle one of the first, the other two of the second.

+ What does this mean ?

EXCURSION. sl

Leaving this interesting spot, the next place marked
down on the programme was CHARLTON MACKRELL; but
as the hour was getting late, the party did not alight. In
passing by, the grounds of Courthay were pointed out, for
some time the residence of General Whitelock.

The excursionists next reached KınaweEsrton, where,
although there was not much of an archxological character
awaiting their inspection, the very beautiful grounds and
handsome mansion of F. H. Dickinson, Esq., and the
elegant church which has been erected through the munifi-
cence of that gentleman, drew forth a warmth of commen-
dation which shewed that, although archzologists are
chiefly distinguished by their admiration of the antique,
they are not insensible to beauty wherever it is found.
Added to the attractions of the spot, a magnificent repast

‘was provided by the worthy proprietor, to which the
company were invited. The kindness of Mr. Diekinson
and his lady was fully appreciated. While at Kingweston,
Mr. Mayhew exhibited a series of elaborate plans and
drawings, by Mr. Gilbert Scott, architect, representing
Glastonbury Abbey Church as it originally stood.

The next place visited was BUTLEIGH, where the church,
which has recently undergone restoration, and is now
being enlarged, was examined, under the direction of
the vicar, the Rev. F. Neville. The edifice was stated
by Mr. Parker to have been originally a long and narrow
church, with a tower in the centre, of the fourteenth cen-
tury, (temp. Edward III.) A chapel was added by the
late Lord Glastonbury, and subsequently the church was
enlarged by the addition of transepts, in exact imitation of
the old style. The west window was of the time of Henry
VIl. The chancel was restored by the late Dean of
Windsor in a most tasteful and admirable manner. The

32 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

expense of the transepts was borne by the family. The
company were invited to go through the noble man-
sion of R. Neville Grenville, Esq., and readily availed
themselves of the opportunity, the esteemed proprietor
most kindly exhibiting the many objects of interest and
value in the library and among the miniatures and paint-
ings, &c., with which the mansion is adorned.

The programme included also visits to Baltonsborough,
West Pennard, and Ponter’s Ball, and several of the
gentlemen present were anxious to see the earthworks at
the latter spot, but it was found to be impracticable.
These works, in common with all the others of importance
in the county, have been carefully examined by the Rev.
F. Warre, who gave an interesting account of the works
at Ponter’s Ball, and round Glastonbury Tor, and else-
where, which is printed in Part Il.

Ts I er BD Are.

Ereuraton.

On Wednesday morning another excursion was taken,
and opened under somewhat more favourable auspices.
There were several showers during the day, but the rain
was not so heavy, and gleams of sunshine were more fre-
quent. The route included Meare, Wedmore, Cheddar,
and Rodney Stoke.

At MEARE the first object of interest was the “ Porter’s
Lodge,” supposed to have been so called from its proximity
to the ancient country residence of the Abbots of Glaston-
bury. The “Fish House” was then visited. The party
were here overtaken by rain ; but their spirits were by no
means damped, as was shewn by the remark of the Rev.

The Fish House, Meare.

"ASTA I4889-qNION ‘oIBayL 'ssnoH SsIogaYy

Ze zu Ace Zu

Fe

MLUNMMIN

Window in the Hall, Meare.

Mm
#7

Tr:

Fire-placein the Hall, Meare.

EXCURSION. 33

F. Warre—that water was highly appropriate to the fish-
house, although they were not quite fish enough to appre-
ciate it. The Rev. F. W. White read. an extract from
Mr. Parker’s work, on T’he Domestic Architecture of the
Middle Ages, describing the building, from which it
appeared that it was the residence of the head fisherman of
the Abbots. This account was supplemented by some
further remarks from Mr. Parker himself, who assigned the
date to the reign of Edward III. Mr. Dickinson said
that Mr. Gabriel Poole had furnished him with maps
which gave the boundary and size of the Abbot’s pool or
“meare.” It appeared to have occupied a space of about
500 acres. The Rev. Mr. White observed that it was five
miles round, and that there were also three small pools in
which fish were placed to be preserved for the use of the
Abbot. Mr. Parker drew attention to the square-headed
windows in the building, which, he said, were clearly those
of the fourteenth century. It was generally supposed that
all square-headed windows were late, but it was quite a
mistake.. The “ Abbot’s House,” which was formerly
their country residence, was then examined. It is now
occupied as a farm-house by Mr. N. Look, and the com-
pany had the opportunity both of admiring the many
beauties of ancient architecture it contains, and witnessing
the modern process of manufacturing the celebrated cheese
of the locality. The banqueting hall, now used as a store-
room for cheese, is very spacious. Mr. Parker said that
the position of the room, in one wing of the building, was
unusual. There was an external doorway which formed
the lord’s entrance, the servants’ entrance being on the
other end, from towards the centre of the building. Where
the ruins of a house were remaining, it was well to remem-
ber that the prineipal rooms were often on the first floor,
VOL. 1X.,' 1859, PART I. e

»

34 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

and the apartments beneath were commonly used merely
as cellars or store-rooms. It was usual with our ancestors
to build their houses, so to speak, upon vaults. These
were now called ambulatories, cloisters, and other names;
but the fact was they. were used for whatever purpose they
were required. This was a remarkably fine hall, if it might
be called a hall ; from the peculiarity of its position it was
usually termed the banqueting room instead. It was,
however, one of the finest rooms of the kind he knew.

By the courtesy of Messrs. Parker the committee are
enabled to enrich the present volume with the following
illustrations of Meare, from Domestie Architecture of Ihe
14th Century, viz. ——Abbot’s House, N.E. view ; Window

in the Hall; Fire-place in the Hall; the Fish House. _

The Church at Meare next formed the subject of atten-
tion. It contains a fine stone pulpit, which has recently
been scraped. "The roof of the nave has been restored,
and is highly beautiful. Mr. White stated it to be an
exact imitation of the former roof. There is also an old
oaken roof in the chancel. The roof of the south aisle has
been replaced by a plain one. Mr. White explained that
the parish, having raised £700 or £800, had been unable
to put upa good roof to that part; but he hoped to be
able eventually to effect an entire restoration of the church.
A very curious old alms-box was noticed, resting on a
handsomely carved pedestal. There is a painting repre-
senting the Descent from the Cross. Mr. White said
that it was probably 200 years old; but about 30 years
ago it was daubed over by some artist, and spoiled. Mr.
Parker then gave a description of the church. The
chancel and porch appeared, he said, to be about the same
date, and he should suppose them to be of the fourteenth
century. He was informed by the vicar that they were

Eee ie EEE ee ee

EXCURSION. 38

probably about the year 1300; but he should not have
thought them so early. The chancel roof was remarkably
nice, and the beauty of the part over the altar was in
accordance with the custom of decorating that part more
richly than the rest. The nave and aisles, and the chancel-
arch, which appeared to belong to the nave, seemed to
have been rebuilt late in the fifteenth century, probably in
the time of Henry VII. The pulpit also was of the same
work. The roof of the nave, he thought, had been very
ereditably restored. The iron-work of the door was very
remarkable, and was of the fourteenth century. The
pedestal of the poor-box, which was very beautifully carved,
probably formed a portion of the screen, and was made
use of for its present purpose after the Reformation. The
tower arch was hidden by the gallery, and he could not say
much about it. Mr..Freeman said that he would supple-
ment Mr. Parker’s facts by a little eriticism. "There were
bad architects in the fourteenth century as well as now.
If the chancel was examined minutely, it would be seen
that it was a freak, and had many faults init. Ifa modern
architeet were to bring him such a chancel, he should call
him all sorts of names. The tracery of the east window
was a corrupt imitation of one of the very prettiest forms
we had, and which was found in perfection in St. Mary
Redcliffe and one or two other churches—it was that
which we should term the spherie square. The architect
appeared to have got hold of some form of the sort, but he
evidently did not appreciate the beauty. He made a
spherie square (if that was the correct mathematical term)
but made it much too flat, as if some one had sat upon it,
and then he threw up a perpendicular mullion into it, pro-
dueing a most peeuliar form. One window was of exceed-
ingly beautiful design, but it was almost spoiled by being

36 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

made too large. The south windows of the chancel were
also freaks. It was not a good design, to put a little bit of
Perpendicular tracery upon the top of a Decorated quatre-
foil as had been done, but it was perhaps a sign that the
first rudiments of the Perpendicular style were coming in.
In the hall they had just seen there was an example of
good architecture, and in that chancel of bad architecture
of about the same date. The nave was decidedly of a local
character, but poor, and «there was a great weakness about
the whole. The angel corbels were very beautiful in some
churches, but the architecet had contrived in this to make
them very ugly. The west window was much superior,
and those of the belfry were curious. They were Deco-
rated, and had a triangle in the head instead of a circle.
The roof of the chancel was a very nice one, but still rather
a freak, and more like that of a hall than of a church.
Mr. Dickinson pointed attention to several marks on the
chancel arch, as if bars had rested there, and enquired if
they probably had any connection with the rood-loft?
Mr. Parker explained that it was a common practice at the
time of the Reformation, to fill up the chancel-arch with
lath and plaster ; and the marks appeared to indicate that
this had been done in the present case. The arch itself
was very late, and he could not suppose that a rood-loft
had been attached to it after it was built. He once met
with one of these timber partition-screens, separating the
nave from the chancel, with the two tables (or oak slabs)
of the Commandments in ornamental letters carved in the
wood, of the time of Queen Elizabeth. The fact of their
having been so used clearly shewed that the Reformers,
when they mentioned the east end ofthe church, meant the
east end of the nave, and not of the chancel. The custom
in their time was to place the communion-table in that

EXCURSION. 37

part, but it was subsequently removed to the chancel,
which was its proper place. In examining the sacred build-
ing, the Rev. F. Warre observed a chest containing some
ancient armour. The Vicar explained that anciently,
Meare sent fifteen armed men to assist the Abbots of Glas-
tonbury, and the chest contained pieces of their armour.

At this part of the proceedings, Mr. Parker was obliged
to leave, and Mr. Dickinson, in the name of the Society,
thanked him for his attendance, and the valuable informa-
tion he had rendered.

At WEDMORE, the Rev. F. Warre conducted the excur-
sionists to a farm, in the occupation of Mrs. Hawkins,
where there are two remarkable efligies, used as gate-posts.
Mr. Warre observed that there was a dificulty in assigning
their date. The work appeared to be that of the four-
teenth century, but the armour was similar to that of the
early part of the fifteenth, about the commencement of the
wars of the Roses. The Rev. T. Hugo thought they were
not at all later than the fourteenth century. The local
tradition was stated to be that the figures represented
Adam and Eve, but unfortunately for this idea, the sup-
posed figure of Eve appeared to have been arrayed in coat
armour.

The Church of Wedmore was thrown open by the Rey.
Mr. Kempthorne. It is a large building, and in some
respects was admired by the archzologists, though Mr.
Freeman gave a verdict the reverse of approval. It con-
tains a splendid piece of old roofing, illuminated with
figures of angel. Mr. Freeman, in giving a description of
the exterior, said that it was a cross church, with a central
tower ; but there were two or three additions to the
ground-plan, which made it somewhat complicated. The
porch grew into a sort of tower, as was seen on a still

38 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

greater scale at Bruton, and at the east of it there was
added a large chapel, which threw the transept into in-
significancee. The church was in the Perpendicular style ;
but it was not a good speeimen, and there was only one of
those elegant windows which were found in so many
churches in the county. There was also an awkwardness
in putting together the several parts. Those who knew
Yatton Church would remember what a splendid compo-
sition the front was, but here there was nothing of the
sort; the tower was rather lofty and slender, but poorly
finished, and instead of a beautiful open parapet at the top,
there was one not pierced but merely panelled. Mr. Free-
man gave also a description of the interior of the church,
but not before many of the company had expressed an
opinion, notwithstanding the severity of his strietures, that
the effect externally was good. He said that originally
there appeared to have been a cross church, of the period
of the transition from Norman to Early English. That
was a much smaller building than the present, as was
shewn by the four lantern arches, which were not in the
least adapted to the proportions of the present church.
The doorway (which was highly ornamented) might be
later, but he did not know that it was necessarily so, as it
was by no means an uncommon practice, where a church
was very plain, to concentrate ‘all the ornament on one
feature, which was very often the south doorway. There
was a very good reason for selecting this part, because it
was one that could be contemplated by itself, whereas, if
one or two pillars or arches were decorated more than the
others, the whole building would appear inharmonious.
Then, the greater part of the church was reconstructed in
Perpendicular times. There must also have been some-
thing done intermediately, as there was one singularly

EXCURSION. 39

beautiful window of the Early Decorated period, which
shewed that an aisle or chapel must have been intro-
duced towards the end of the thirteenth century. The
Perpendicular reconstruction could hardly be all of one
time, as there were considerable differences of detail. The
work was, on the whole, very poor. The lofty pillars and
arches, with no clerestory, looked poor in comparison with
those at Wrington, Martock, and other grand examples in
the county. Still it was essentially Somerset work. There
was the characteristic round capital, with foliage, it being
a peculiarity ofthe Somersetshire Perpendicular that it re-
tained many of the beauties of the earlier style, with its
own peculiar magnificencee. The chapel on the south side
had, instead of pillars, two small pieces of wall moulded on
each side, which was by no means an elegant form. "There
were some good pieces of wooden roofing in the chancel of
the church. Mr. Dickinson said that unless there were
very strong reasons, he should doubt whether the original
church was a small one. The peculiar lowness of the
arches which supported the tower might have been de-
signed in consequence of their having to bear its weight.
Mr. Freeman said he thought the church must have been
originally both lower and shorter than at present. He then
drew attention to the very beautiful piece of wooden roof,
with figures of angels, and verses ofthe Te Deum, to which
we have already alluded, and to some fan-tracery over the
lantern. He also explained, in support of the opinion he
had advanced in reference to the church having been
heightened, that one great object with the architects pre-
vious to the Reformation, was to enable the congregation
to see the high altar, with which, in the present state of
the church, the low arches would interfere. This elieited
an interesting discussion, and it appeared that in collegiate

40 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING,

churches there was sometimes one altar for the monks and
another for the congregation ; there were also altars at the
ends of the aisles. Mr. Freeman related a curious circum-
stance in connection with the church at Dunster. The
monks and the people quarrelled, and the monks refused to
allow the parishioners to use their high altar in the chancel.
The church was therefore divided, the inhabitants had a
chancel and choir formed out of a part of the nave, and an
altar erected, and two separate services were conducted.
The Church at CHEDDAR was the next sacred edifice
visited, and some portions of it were greatly admired.
The Rev. R. Beadon, the Vicar, received the excur-
sionists. The edifice is large and handsome, and the
tower noble and well proportioned. There is a splendid
stone pulpit, painted in polychrome. A southern chapel
bore evidence of having been exceedingly rich, the win-
dows in it being remarkably fine. The initials, J. S.,
observed here, and which also appeared at Meare, were
supposed to be those of John Selwood, Abbot of Glaston-
bury. It was ascertained by the Rev. T. Hugo that the
walls of this chapel were originally painted. A curious piece
of stonework, supposed to have formed part of a tomb,
and a boss, apparently ‘of great antiquity, were noticed.
Mr. Freeman explained the peculiarities of the church,
prefacing his description by saying that as he had not seen
it for thirteen years before, there was some difficulty in the
task, but he would endeavour to avoid mistakes. The work
was of several dates. T’here was some Early English, as
shewn by a piscina, of great beauty. 'Thhere was also some
Decorated work. His chief difhieulty was in deciding
whether the clerestory windows were contemporary with
the pillars and arches. They were a sort of transition
between the Decorated and Perpendicular styles. "There

EXCURSION. 41

were several things in the architecture very well worth
study. Some one had mentioned that it was once a cross
church, but he saw no evidence of that. Like many other
churches in the county, the chancel was not worthy of the
rest of the building. The Perpendicular work, though
the style was not fully developed, was singularly good, and
the parapets and windows were some of the best work
in the county. There had been a chapel added at the
east of the porch, which had one or two singularities.
That such a chapel should be rich was not at all uncommon ;
but its richness was well worth studying. The windows
were curious : there were two graceful windows set under
a square head, which was pierced, so as to constitute one
square-headed window. The oak roof of the nave was
similar to that usually found where there was a clerestory ;
and the part over the rood-loft as was very frequently the
case, was more highly ornamented than the rest. The roof
‚of the chancel was coved. The church was very rich in
its fittings—in its open carved seats, and stone pulpit;
the latter appeared to have been found too small, and was
enlarged by the addition of some wood-work. The tower
was an example of what he called the Taunton type, and
had a turret near its corner. It was very well proportioned.
The Rev. T. Hugo remarked tbat the chapel evidently
had formerly a fan-tracery roof, and one of the bosses was
there on the floor.

Leaving the sacred building, the party proceeded to see
the Cliffs, so celebrated for their grandeur. They occur,
as our readers are aware, in a chasm of the Mendip range.
The rocks, which are of mountain limestone, reach, in some
instances, from 350 to 370 feet in perpendicular height,
and are as remarkable for a romantic variety of form as for
their stupendous character. The cliffs contain also speci-

VOL. IX., 1859, PART 1. Put

42 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

mens of rare plants, and are therefore well calculated to
interest the botanist. The following were found by Mr.
Babington, and the Rev. T. Hugo : Polypodium calcareum,
Cystopteris fragilis, Thalutrum minus, and Dianthus coesius.

At Cheddar a cold collation was furnished by Mr. Cox,
at the close of which Mr. Dickinson, the President, ex-
pressed his gratification at the success which had attended
the meeting, and conveyed the thanks of the Society to
Mr. Freeman, who had very much contributed to the in-
terest of the proceedings, and whom he hoped to see again
next year.

The Rev. F. Warre, as the senior oflicer of the Society,
thanked Mr. Dickinson for his kindness in presiding. He
had been Secretary nearly nine years, and without a word
of disparagement to any other gentleman, he could safely
say that never had the Society had a better President.

Mr. Dickinson acknowledged the compliment, and said
that the success of the meeting was greatly attributable to
the Secretaries (Rev. F. Warre and Rev. W. A. Jones),
to whom he felt personally obliged for their exertions.

The proceedings of the Annual Meeting were then
formally closed.

After the dinner, however, several of the company went
into Mr. Cox’s cavern, the stalactites of which are remark-
ably curious and beautiful.

And in returning, the Church at RODNEY STOKE was ex-
amined, the Rev. G. H. Fagan attending and receiving the
visitors. It contains a mural chapel ofthe Rodney family,
with monuments of the date of James I. and Charles I.
There is also a rood sereen (post- Reformation), which was
characterised as unique, and a pulpit to match. The archi-
tecture is Late Perpendicular.

In consequence of the lateness of the hour, it was found
impossible to visit Wookey Hole, and its celebrated cavern.

Comverzozione Alerfinge.
1859-60.

1859, November 14th—First Meeting :

On the Microscope.—H. J. Alford, Esq.

On Cheddar Cross. —W. F. Elliot, Esq.

On Glacier. —W. A. Sanford, Esq.

On the Old Library in the Close at Wells.—Rev.
W. A. Jones.

»» December 12th— Second Meeting :

Life and Genius of Schiller.—Rev W.R. Clark.
Microscopic Natural History. —H. J. Alford, Esq.

1860, January Yth—Third Meeting :

Fauna of Australia —W. A. Sanford, Esgq.
Spencer’s Fairy Queen. —Rev. W.R. Clark.

44

CONVERSAZIONE MEETINGS,

1860, February Gth—Fourth Meeting :

The Crusades.—Rev. W. R. Clark.
On County History.—F. H. Dickinson, Esq.
On Bead-ring or Armlet.—R. Walter, Esq.

March 5th—Fifth Meeting :

On the Line of the West Saxons’ Frontier in the
time of Ina. —Rev. F. Warre.

The Study of Botany.—H. J. Alford, Esq.

Wild Flowers and their Localities ; also, Some Re-
marks upon the Solar Camera.—W. F. Elliot, Esq.

British Ballad Poetry. —B. Pinchard, Esq.

Che Alumenm,

The following donations in the Natural History Depart-
ment have been presented to the Museum of the Society
since last Annual Meeting :—

A specimen of the Lammergier, or Bearded Eagle,
(Gypztus barbatus), presented by W. A. SANFORD, Esq.

The Osprey (Pandias halaietas) ; also a specimen of the
Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), presented by the Rev.
GERALD CAREW.

The Gros-beak (Coceothraustes vulgaris), Fringilla mon-
tifringilla, and F. nivalis, from ©. N. WELMAN, Esq.

Two small collections of Eggs of British Birds, by W.
GooDLAND and E. ARDWELL.

Sphinx convolvuli, by the Rev. W. A. Jones.

Colias edusa, by the Rev. T. Huco.

A small colleetion of British Coleoptera, from G. R.
CroTcH, Esq.

Scolopendra (species), by ©. WHITE, Esq.

Sea snake, Pelamus bicolor, Chameleon vulgaris, Croco-
dilus vulgaris, Naia tripudians, Exocetus volitans, Scorpio,
species, Whip snake, female Termites, two Tree Lizards,
leaves, flowers, and fruit of the Nutmeg (Myristica oflici-
nalis), presented by J. W. MARRIOTT, Esq.

46 TIIE MUSEUM.

Seven species of Cyprias, C. moneta, C. staphyla, C.
helvella, C. erosa, C. annulus; two Olivas, O. undulata,
O. species, Ovulum oveformis, by W. A. SANFORD, Esq.

Helix alternata, Planorbis trivalvis, P. campanulatus,
Physa heterotropha, Limnea reflexa, Littorina palliata,
Tellina calcarea, T. Grenlandica, Astarta Laurentiana,
presented by Mr. PArRFITT.

Piece of Devonian Limestone, shewing the ripple-marks
of the ancient sea ; specimens of Goniatites crenistrie, by
W. A. SAnForD, Esg.

Portions of an Ichthyosaurus, presented by the Rev. W.
A. JONES.

Portions of eurious nodular contorted strata of Devonian
rocks, by the Rev F. WARRE.

List of Archa@ological Donations, &e., to the Museum :——

Thirty-seven Seals, and 19 Taunton Farthings, presented
by the Rev. W. F. Bryant.

A. Threepenny-piece of Queen Anne, by Mrs. LEVER-
SEDGE.

A Shilling (?) of Queen Mary, from Mr. T. CokeEr.

Part of a Grey-beard or Bellarmine, from Mr. PETERS.

Common Seal of the Burgesses of Stoke-Courey, and
Marble Seulpture supposed to represent Castor and Pollux,
from the collection of the late Mr. J. H. Payne, presented
by Mrs. Payne.

A group in alabaster, representing the Ascension, from
the Rev. F. WARRE.

Ten pieces of Gra&eo-Italian pottery, presented by W.
E. SURTEES, Esq.

THE MUSEUM. 47

Reading Stand, presented by C. N. WELMANn, Esq.

Translation of ancient Charter of lands in Etyfemstan-
tune, supposed to be Jameston, date 948, by the Rev. H.
D. WıckHAm.

Conveyance of Land at Haydon in Mendip, and also a
paper relating to the Monmouth Rebellion, by the Rev.
H. D. WıckHAm.

List of the Knights and Burgesses of the City and
County of Durham, from W. E. SURTEES, Esq.

Large Roman (?) tile, presented by Sir W. TREVELYAn.

On Pilgrims’ Signs, from the “ Archxologia,” by the
Rev. Tuomas Huco.

Engraving of West Window of Exeter Cathedral, pre-
sented by the Rev. J. A. YATMAN.

Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society, parts
3,4,5; also a Coasting Voyage to Mambosa and the
Pagani-river, by Captains Burton and J. H. Speke ; pre-
sented by Captain SPEKE.

Publications from Societies >—

Bi-monthly Journal of the Kilkenny Arch:ological
Society.

Journal of the Royal Dublin Society.

Journal of the British Archxological Association.

Bulletin de Societi& Vaudoise.

East Anglian Notes and Queries, January, 1860.

Suffolk Institute of Archxology, vol. ırı., part 1st, 1859.

Wiltshire Archxological and Natural History Magazine,
4 parts, for November, 1858, March, July, December,
1859; also a Geological Coloured Chart of Wiltshire.

Archzological Journal, purchased.

ADDITIONS, ETC.,

TO THE REY. THOMAS HUGO’S HISTORY OF

Counteon Prior.

BY THE AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY.

HE inadvertent omission of these was not noticed
T until the sheets wherein they were intended to
appear had been printed off. The reader, however, will
find no difficulty in perusing them in connection with their
context by attending to the reference prefixed to each.

Page 3, line 3, read the generality of students.

Page 6, line 2, read Aisse

Page 7, line 4, read Lydyard

Page 8, line 20, insert In or about the year 1180, the
Priory of Buckland was transferred to the Knights Hos-
pitallers of S. John of Jerusalem ; and of the Canons of
that House three were received on their own petition into
the Hospital at Clerkenwell, two into the Priory of Taun-
ton, one into the Priory of Berlitz, and one into the Priory
of S. Bartholomew in Smithfield.*

* MS. in Off. Armor. L. 17. Dugd. vı., 837.
VOL. 1x., 1859, PART I. I

50 PAPERS, ETC.

Page 11, for a second note of reference, add Plac. de Jur.
et Ass. Somers. 8 Edw. I., m. 18.

Page 15, line 25, for 8s. read 100s.

Page 15, line 30, insert Wythele, £3 6s. 8d.

Page 16, line 1, add with its chapels,

Page 16, line 15, insert On the 22nd of March, in the 26th
year of Edward I., 1297-8, in a Perambulation then taken
of the Forest of Exmore, the Prior of Taunton is stated to
hold the vill of Broggelesnole and Levecote, and the ham-
lets of Telchete and La Merse, with their woods, heaths,
and other appurtenances. (See page 77.) *

Page 17, line 1, after and place a comma.

Page 19, line 1, add by Thomas de Sutton, Canon,

Page 19, line 19, add Otterford, Withiel,

Page 19, line 24, read 22nd of May,

Page 40, line 26, read March ;

Page 40, line 28, read April,

Page 41, line 1, add Licence to elect had been granted
at London on the 21st of March, the Convent’s intimation
of the election was dated in their Chapter House on the
30th of that month, and the Bishop of Winchester’s assent
to the same at Suthwerk on the 4th of April. In the
licence to elect, the Bishop, after wishing the Sub-prior
and Convent “health in the embraces of the Saviour,”
and acknowledging the receipt of the intelligence of the
vacancy, beseeches them “in the name of Jesus Christ to
have before their eyes in the election God alone and the
common advantage of their House; and, putting away
from them the vice of singularity and all carnal affections,
and uniting each several heart in the bond of peace and

* Ad. de Domerham, Hist. Glast. ı., 193, 194.
7 Reg. Edyndon, tom. L., ff. 8, 10b, 11.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 58

concord, holding, according *to the apostolic precept, the
same sentiments, so that there be no schisms among them,
to endeavour to choose for their prior and pastor a man
pleasing to God, approved for the sincerity of his religion,
peaceful and prudent, not a slave to unsuitable will, but
more desirous of profiting his brethren than of preeminence
over them, under whose vigilant care their monastery may
be prosperously directed, and by the divine merey be amply
blessed.”* To this the Convent replied as follows :—“ To
the venerable Father in Christ, lord William, by the grace
of God Bishop elect of Winchester, and confirmed Patron
of the Conventual Church of Taunton, of the diocese of
Bath and Wells, his humble and devoted Chaplains and
Canons Regular, Robert Sub-prior and the Convent of the
said Church, in devoted humility of soul, with all the
reverence and honor due to so great a father, intimate to
your lordship, by the tenor of these presents, that, our
Church aforesaid being vacant by the death of brother
Robert de Messyngham, the last Prior of the same, and
licence having been conceded to us by your lordship of
electing a future Prior, all things having been observed
which by the law and custom of the Church are so to be,
we have elected for our Prior our beloved in Christ,
Brother Thomas Cook by name, one of our brethren and a
Canon of the aforesaid Church, a man provident and dis-
creet, the bearer of these presents. Hence it is that we
present the same to your lordship, supplicating with devout
entreaty that, affording your gracious assent to our afore-
said election, you would be pleased by the consideration of
charity to direct your letters to the venerable Father lord
Ralph [Radulphus de Salopia] by the grace of God Bishop

* E Registr. Edyndon, tom. 1., fol. 8,

52 PAPERS, ETC.

of Bath and Wells, our dioce$an, upon this, and that the
said father would favourably condescend to perfect those
things which in regard to the dispatch of the said election
are incumbent on his oflice. May the Most High long
preserve your lordship for the rule of His holy Church.
Dated in our Chapter lIouse at Taunton, on the last day
but one of the month of March, in the year of our Lord
Mccextv1”* The Bishop of Winchester in his letter to
his brother at Wells complies with this prayer, and, after
express mention of his lieence having been obtained and
his assent given, desires his favour in behalf of the elect,
whom he praises as a man allowed by report to be “richly
endued with perfeetion of manners, sincerity of religion,
and other gifts of grace.”

Page 41, note * add MS. Harl. 6965, p. 176.

Page 45, line 28, read November, 1361,

Page 45, line 29, read January, 1361-2,

Page 45, line 30, add 'The licence to elect is dated at
Suthwerk on the 23rd of November, 1361, and the assent
at the same place on the 17th of January, 1361-2. The
Bishop in both of these instruments uses very similar terms
to those with which the reader has just been made ac-
quainted, and in the former of them urgently presses upon
the attention of the community the importance of the duty
which had devolved upon it.t

Page 46, line 11, insert In a Perambulation between the
Counties of Somerset and Devon, ordered to be made on
the 1st of July, in the 41st year of Edward III., 1367, the
Prior of Taunton was afirmed to hold a certain croft at the

* E Registr. Edyndon, tom. 1., fol. 10b.
+ E Registr. Edyndon, tom. 1., fol. 11.
t Reg. Edyndon, tom. 1., ff. 112b, 113b.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 53

line of division, between a spring called Owiline (see page
15) and Payneshurne. The Perambulation was confirmed
by “inspeximus” by Richard II., on the 4th of February,
1385-6.”

Page 47, line 26, insert On the 1st of July, 1382, John
de Kyngesbury, Prior, and his Convent, proved in the
Court of Chancery their right to the lands and advowson
of the Church of Wildelond, or Willelond, in the County
of Devon, an early gift of William Fitz-Odo. (See page 7.)
The record is dated on tlıe octave of S. John the Baptist,
6th Richard H., which is coineident with the date above
given.f _

Page 48, line 5, after rebuilt place a comma.

Page 48, line 13, add or S. Giles,

Page 48, line 19, read permit willows

Page 51, line 8, insert On the 1st of April, 1403, a letter
was addressed in the name of K. Henry IV. to various
personages, requesting the loan of the sums specified
against their names, to enable him to resist the Welch and
Scotch. The amount thus solicited of “Le Priour de
Taunton” was “v° mares.”

Page 52, note } add Reg. Well. Bowet, 48.

Page 53, line 14, insert At an Inquisition taken at Barn-
staple, on the Wednesday after the feast of S. Lucia,
Virgin, in the 4th of Henry VI., or the 19th of December,
1425, before Thomas Beaumont, the King’s Eschaetor, the
Prior was stated to hold land in Lucote (see page 29) at
half a knight’s fee, of the clear yearly value of two shillings
beyond all reprises. ||

* Pat, 9 Ric. II., p. 2, mm. 32, 33.
+ Inquis. p.m. 6 Ric. II., n. 174.
t MS. Cott. Cleop. F, vı., f. 284. Proceedings of Privy Council, I., 201.
|| Inquis. p.m. 4 Hen. VI., n. 32 (12).

54 PAPERS, ETC.

Page 53, line 19, read Hullyng.

Page 53, line 21, insert to Richard Marchaunt of Taun-
ton, and John Baker, John -Tanner, John Okham, Roger
Touker, William Goky, William Payn, Thomas Osebern,
and John Mavyell, of the same place,

Page 57, line 3, read 1475-6,

Page 57, line 31, insert the 7th of March,

Page 64, line 25, insert On the 20th of May, 1524,
Thomas Waren and John Mount conveyed to William
Bury, Vicar of Taunton, John Swayne, clerk, Roger Hill,
William Tedbury, John Soper, John Eston, Robert Hor-
sey, and others, divers lands, tenements, and rents in
Taunton, and elsewhere, bequeathed by John Bisshop in
behalf of a chantry lately founded by him in the Church of
S. Mary Magdalene.*

Page 71, line 13, after inserted place a comma.

Page 74, line 9, after 1378; insert occurs in 1382 ;

Page 75, line 15, add In 1391, John Russchton was
Sub-prior.

Page 76, line 9, insert William Moyhun, 1347;

Page 77, line 4, read Levecote

Page 80, line 17, read was

Page 85, note * add Claus. 26 Hen. VIII. m. 15. Rymer
Feed. xıv. 504.

Page 100, line 23, insert On the 15th of January, 26
Hen. VII., 1535, the Prior William Wyliyams and Con-
vent granted a corrody to John Wadham. By this and
the instances which follow, we gain a very curious insight
into the internal arrangements and life of the House, as
well as a specimen of the heavy charges to which many of
the greater monasteries were obliged to submit. The cor-

* Ex Original. in Of. Aug. L. 49.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 55

rody consisted of regular maintenance, day by day and
year by year during life, in eatables and drinkables for
himself at the table of the Prior, “ad mensam Prioris,” and
for two servants at the table of the servitors, “ad mensam
valectorum,” or an equivalent if absent of two shillings a
week ; six acres of their meadow called Hole Mede, in their
demesne lands, the produce of which to be cut and carried
for the said John; a sufhicient stable called’the West Stable
next to that commonly called the Gesten Stable ; twelve
bushels of beans and the same quantity of oats, or at his
pleasure eight pence for each bushel of beans and six pence
for each bushel of oats; pasturage for four horses all the
year in their pasture called Carterlease; a sufficient cham-
ber called the Toure Chamber in the chapel, with an inner
chamber and all other appurtenances ; sixteen cartloads of
firewood from their demesne woods called the Moure ; and
four ells of cloth for his livery, “pro libario suo,” of the
value of six shillings an ell. In case of non-performance
the Convent was to forfeit the sum of twenty shillings, for
which the said John Wadham was empowered to distrain.
The Court of Augmentation allowed the said John, in
Michaelmas Term, on the 25th of October, 1539, instead
of this corrody, the sum of seven pounds a year, with
arrears from the dissolution of the House.*

On the 31st of December, 1537, the Prior and Convent
granted by special favour an annual benevolence to Wil-
liam Grendon, vicar of Nynehed, and one of the Canons
and brother of the House, consisting of a weekly delivery
of eight conventual loaves and of eight flagons of conven-
tual ale. In lieu of this the Augmentation Court allowed

* Enrolments ol Orders and Decrees in the Exchequer, Of. Aug., vol. vL.,
f, elxxvii, elxxvii b.

56 PAPERS, ETC.

him on the 6tlı of February, 1541, an annuity of fifty
shillings and arrears.*

On the 10th of February, 1538, the Prior and Convent
eranted to John Bytford, Bachelor of Arts, an annuity of
five marcs sterling, issuing from the lands and tenements of
their manor of Myddyldon, with power to distrain ; main-
tenance in eatables and drinkables at the table of the
Prior, and for his serving boy with the boys of the chapel;;
a suffiicient chamber which one Roger Worthe aforetime
had ; wood for his fire in the aforesaid chamber, to be
delivered every day at the door thereof ; a white loaf and a
quart of conventual ale every night, and two candles to be
supplied for the said chamber, or wheresoever else it might
please the said John; and four ells of woollen cloth “ pro
libario suo,” of the value of five shillings per ell. This was
given “for good service and diligence in teaching and
instructing our novices and the whole Convent in the
rudiments of grammar and other kinds of literature.” So
much for monastic ignorance, on which it is too generally
the fashion to dilate. Taunton Priory was in fact one of
the schools in which knowledge exereised her sway, and
John Bytford was her honoured teacher. The Court of
Augmentation adjudged him, in lieu of this grant, an
annuity of five pounds for life, with arrears, on the 17th
of November, 1539.7

On the 25th of June, 1538, the Prior and Convent
granted to John Cars the oflice of Bailiff of Dulverton,
Buggethole, and Leweote; a rent of three pounds sterling,
issuing from their rents and tenements in Dulverton ; ten
cartloads of fuel, as much as four yoke of oxen could draw

* Enrolments, vol. vIL., f. xxviii.
+ Eorolments, vol. vı. ff. elxxxvii b, elxxxviüi b.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 57

or carıy from any of their woods in Dulverton, except
Mershe Wood; and a robe or tunie of the livery of the
said Prior and Convent, as the servitors of the said Prior
and Convent have. He obtained in lieu of this from the
Court of Augmentation, on the 10th of February, 1540,
an annuity of four pounds with arrears.*

‚Shortly afterwards the Prior and Convent made a grant
to another of their instructors. On the 16th of September,
1538, they agreed to give to Thomas Foxe, their organist
and chapel master, an annual stipend of five pounds ster-
ling, payable quarterly ; four cartloads of fuel from their
own woods, to be carted to his house at their expense ; a
house of theirs without fine next their tenement in Canon
Street, at a rent of six shillings and eight pence; a gown
or robe “ex libariis nostris optimis ;” and maintenance
daily at the table of the cellarer or with the servants “ad
ultimam refectionem in aula.” In return for this he was to
teach and instruct the boys in the musical part of Divine
Service daily in their chapel, and if any of the Canons
should be disposed to learn to play on the organ, the said
Thomas was to instruct him to the best of his ability. The
Augmentation Court ordered him in lieu thereof an an-
nuity of five pounds for life, with arrears, on the 20th of
June, 1539.f

On the 10th of December, 1538, they granted to John
Tregonwell, Doctor of Laws, out of the special regard
which they entertained for him, an annuity of three pounds
charged on their manor of Dulverton. It would appear
that this regard was founded rather on the hopes of future
aid than on gratitude for services already received. In the
present as in other instances, however, wherein we find

* Einrolments, vol. Iv. f. 117.
+ Enrolments, vol. x. f. iiiexxiüi b,

voL. IX., 1859, PART I. h

58 PAPERS, ETC.

this John Tregonwell mentioned in a similar manner, the
hope was delusive, for he soon appears as one of the tyrant’s
agents in the suppression of the House. The annuity,
therefore, was of course ordered by the Court of Augmen-
tation to be paid, together with arrears, on the 10th of
February, 1540.*

Five days subsequently, 15th of Deociiäit 1538, they
granted to William Glastok, out of their special regard for
him, an annuity, charged upon their manor of Wyllonde, of
forty shillings, with power to distrain. The Court of Aug-
mentation continued the annuity with the arrears, by an
order dated the 12th of February, 1540.7

It will be perceived that these details are derived from

the Enrolments of Orders and Decrees in the Exchequer,
where the grounds of each petition are severally stated as
above. It is only too certain, however, that these Orders
were but little regarded. The government grew weary of
the constantly recurring payments, and endeavoured to rid
itself of a burden which it had soon no funds to liquidate.

I may here add, in completion of the subject, that the
same Court of Augmentation ordered divers sums to be
paid to the Dean and Chapter of Wells, the Chancellor of
Wells, and the Archdeacons of Wells and Taunton, under
the various heads of pensions, synodals, &c.;f and that on
the 28th of May, 1543, it granted to Matthew Whytlyng,
Chantry Priest of Donyatte, (see pp. 37, 45, and 90) a
decree for the continuance of his annual pension of £3
68. 8d.||

Page 102, line 24, add He consecrated the Church and

* Ennrolments, vol. Iv., f. 199b.
+ Enrolments, vol. Iv., f. Ab,
1 Enrolments, vol. IV., f. 9b.; vol. v., f. elzzxiii b,; vol. x, f. cccliiii ; vol.
XIv., f. elviiib.
. || Enrolments, vo], XIV. f. xxxxvb.

nn en ar

TAUNTON PRIORY. 59

Cemetery of S. Saviour, at Puxton, on the Festival of the
Conception, the Sth of December, 1539, and was presented
to the prebend of Whitlakynton on the 4th of January,
1557-8.*

Page 106, note *, add Reg. Well. Fuller, 344. Rymer,
Foed. xıv. 635.

Page 124, note *, add Particulars for Grants, in Off.
Aug. Add. MS. Brit. Mus. 21,307. p. 75. Wood Sales,
Rot. 36, Hen. VII. fol. 41. Rot. 37. f. 43.

Page 125, line 6, after Oxford place a comma.

Page 125, line 15, insert To Lawrence Hyde a tene-
ment belonging to Swing’s Chantry, a Chantry House and
burgages belonging to S. Andrew’s Chantry, a Chantry
House and other tenements belonging to Swing’s Chantry,
all in the Church of S. Mary Magdalene, and Neth-
weys Chapell belonging to S. Etheldrede’s Chantry.t To
John Dodington a house belonging to a Chantry, also
in the Church of S. Mary Magdalenet To Giles Kel-
way and William Leonard rents of the Guild of the Holy
Sepulchre, and of Trinity Chantry in the same Church.|
And to William Twisden and John Browne a house and
the rents of divers burgages belonging to Blessed Virgin
Mary’s or Bisshoppes Chantry in the same Church.$

Taomas Huco.

* MS. Harl. 6967, ff. 53b, 67b.
+ Particulars of Sales, vol. ı., pp. 11b, 71b; vol. ıL., p. 198b. Add. M.S,
B.M. 21,314, pp. 172, 173, 175.
t Particulars of Sales, vol. 1., p. 40b.
|| Id. vol. 1, pp. 247b, 248,
$ Id. vol. ır., pp. 280b, 281, 281b.

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PR: 0’G: BE; E;D.I:NiGi$
OF THE

SOMERSETSHIRE ARCHZEOLOGICAL AND
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY,

1859, PART II.

PARKPIE Be Ti,

Caunten Priary,

BY THE REV. THOMAS HUGO, M.A., F.S.A., F.R.S.L., ETC.,
HON. MEMBER.

UST outside the eastern boundary of the town of
Taunton, within sight of its towers and sound of its
melodious bells, a number of green and flowery fields edge
the winding banks of a river, than which not one in Eng-
land presents more captivating scenes of peaceful retirement
and rural beauty. The meadow next adjacent to the
gardens, which belong to houses whose fronts are in the
neighbouring street, yet exhibits features indicative of an
use widely contrasting with that to which it is at present
applied. Numerous inequalities of surface, although cover-
ed with a rich and luxuriant sward, unmistakeably suggest,
even by their very regularity, the conclusion that the place
has witnessed a far other and busier kind of life, whatever
and whenever that was, than the existence of dreamy silence
and uninterrupted repose to which it has been at length con-
signed. These grassy mounds, if ihey could reveal their
VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. A

2 PAPERS, ETC.

history, might disclose to us many a tale of passionate
interest, now, spite of all our care, kept secret from the
world for ever, and buried beyond all power of recovery
in the absorbing grave of time.

A stately Priory occupied the spot and made it holy
ground. Its pious founder was blessed with the instinct-
ive acumen of most similar benefactors, and selected his
site with a taste and ability that left no cause for subse-
quent regret. From the very walls of the House the
meadows sloped away gently towards the Tone; and the
scene which stretched beyond was as lovely as any on
which an Englishman’s eye could rest. The valley in the
foreground, through which the river winded, was all but a
forest, though nominally devoted to the operations of the
husbandman. Here the mill of Tobrigge was a conspieuous
object, and behind it rose the groves of Hestercombe and
the grey tower of Monkton. A little to the right, smiling
in mysterious grandeur, was Creechbury Hill that looked
down upon Bathpool and its noted mills. While the
background of the picture was composed of the long and
diversified line of the Quantocks, with Cothelstone, Bun-
combe, Woodball, and Burlinch * for their highest and
most prominent points.

In addition to its special interest, as a locality conse-
erated by olden memories, the scene has many and peculiar
charms for me. I have, therefore, most willingly undertaken
some amount of pains and labour in endeavouring to
colleet and weave into a consecutive narrative the notices
relating to this once celebrated House—including, as they
necessarily must, the ecclesiastical history of the neigh-
bourhood at large, of which it was the recognised head and

* Or Burlings.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 3

canonical centre—which our various repositories of MSS.
yet possess, and which, though existing in rolls and regis-
ters, are entirely lost to the world of students at large.
A very few pages would be sufficient to contain the infor- -
mation, meagre in amount and with little pretensions to
accuracy, which has hitherto been committed to the press;
and I accordingly feel considerable pleasure that the result
of my labours enables me to place before my reader a
series of annals, which extend along a duration of several
centuries, and, whether they refer to the donations of bene-
factors without or to the more private affairs of the House
within, unite in furnishing him with a far clearer and more
comprehensive knowledge of the subject of our present
research than we have of most other establishments of a
similar kind. To do this at last for Taunton Priory has
indeed been a labour of reverential love, and is the only—
yet withal, happily for me, precious—mode that I possess of
showing alike my recollection of days and persons gone and
past away, since the spot was first endeared to me, and
my gratitude for the suggestion of many a good thought
and high endeavour which the sacred locality has inspired,
—influences whose power can never end save with the last
moments of a life which they have not a little availed to
colour.

Let my reader imagine himself seated on the fragrant
sward, and think, as his eye travels over the rich and
varied scene before him, that he is listening to what 1
have to communicate from the stores examined and col-
lected for him from many a ponderous volume, thickly-
written roll and faded charter, and placed at length in his
secure possession.

The House derived its origin from the piety and munifi-
cence of William Gyflfarde, Bishop of Winchester and

4 PAPERS, ETC,

Chancellor of England, the “ Presul incomparabilis” of the
Historia major Wintoniensis, some time (for the exact
date is uncertain) about the year 1115, the 15th of
King Henry I. It will be recollected that Taunton
was a manor of the Bishops of Winchester;* and it
is probable that this circumstance may have decided
Gyffarde in the choice of his locality. Leland mentions
his successor, Henry Blesance, or de Blois, brother of
King Stephen and grandson of the Conqueror, known
as the princely benefactor of the hospital of S. Cross,
near Winchester, and the unflinching friend of Archbishop
Becket, as a joint founder.f Most likely the last-named
bishop erected a portion of the Priory buildings, and from
his liberality in this department was considered to deserve
a share of the honour. To William Gyffarde, however,
the merit of the original foundation is unquestionably due.
The charter which commemorated the good work is not
_ extant in any form ; but the fact is certified by an Inquisi-
tion taken before the King’s Eschaetor at Taunton, on the
6th of January, 1316-17, to which I shall draw the reader’s
attention in its chronological order. The House was
founded for Black Canons, or Canons Regular, of the order
of S. Augustine, (who had been first located by Eudo at
Colchester in 1105, and the next year at S. Mary Overy
in Southwark, by the same Bishop Gyffarde) and was
dedicated to the Apostles SS. Peter and Paul.

The first contemporary notice which I have found relat-
ing to the Priory is contained in a charter by which
Robert, Bp. of Bath, among the notabilia of his episcopate,
converts Hywis, or Huish, part of his manor at Bane-

* Cod. Dipl. Evi Sax. nn. MIL, DXCVIIL, DC., &c. Domesday, vol. I,
p. 87b. Rot. Hundred. 4 Edw. I, m. 13., &c.
+ Collect., vol. L., p. 81.

TAUNTON PRIORY. d

well, into a prebend in the Cathedral Church of Wells.
The instrument * asserts that although the land in ques-
tion, a hide in extent, as indeed its name implies, had
been known of ancient times to be the property of
the- Church, it had been by the favour of the bishop’s
predecessors so transferred to the power and possession
of many persons both clerical and lay, among whom
were Walter de Moretan, Alfred, and Richard de Mon-
tacute, that it was in danger of being altogether alien-
ated from its rightful ownership; and that therefore, to
avoid any such mischance, it was released from its dan-
gerous uncertainty of tenure, and constituted a perpetual
prebend as aforesaid. The document bears date the 4th of
November, 1159; and the witnesses— which, I may add,
constitute a very valuable list, as more than one among
them are the earliest superiors of their monasteries whose
names have as yet been recovered—are Ivo, Dean of Wells,
and his Convent ; Peter, Prior of Bath, and his Convent;
Alan, Abbat of Muchelney ; Benedict, Abbat of Athelney ;
Robert, Prior of Glastonbury ; William, Prior of Mon-
tacute ; Stephen, Prior of Taunton; William, Prior of
Bruton ; and the Archdeacons Robert and Thomas. This
is the earliest Prior in our list of those dignitaries, and the
present is the earliest date at which he appears.

The same Stephen, together with his fraternity, made to
Reginald, Bp. of Bath, who governed that see from the
year 1174 to 1191, various concessions of episcopal dues in
respect of their churches and chapels, with express reser-
vation, however, of the chapels of S. James, S, George
de Fonte (Wilton), S. Margaret’s hospital chapel (near the
almshouse beyond the East-reach turnpike-gate), and S.

* MS, Harl. 6968, pp. 24, 25.

6 PAPERS, ETC.

Peter de Castello (a chapel in the Castle). Similar con-
cessions were made in respect of their churches of Asse
and Wirele.* Stephen is also a witness to a charter of
Oliver de Dinan, recounting the gift of his church of
Bokelande,f and to one of Richard, Bishop of Winchester,
setting forth the gift of William lord of Haselburg of his
church of Haselburg, for conversion into prebends in the
Cathedral Church of Wells.t The latter is dated A.D.
1174. The same Prior occurs also in 1189. ||

The Priory immediately upon its foundation was pos-
sessed of powerful friends, and soon became a wealthy and
flourishing community. In the reign of Henry the Second
the Canons obtained a charter of confirmation of the
several grants made to them by various benefactors from
their founder downwards. The charter itself does not
exist, but its several provisions are inserted and confirmed
in another, technically called a charter of “ Inspeximus,”
of the 8th year of Edward III, which will presently be
noticed at length.

This charter of Henry Il. ran as follows :——“ ne
King of England and duke of Normandy and Aqui-
taine, and earl of Anjou, to the archbishops, bishops,
abbats, earls, &e., and all his faithful subjects of Eng-
land and Normandy, French and English, health. Know
ye that I have granted and confirmed for a perpetual
alms to God and the church of Tanton, and the Canons
there serving God, the donations which have been reason-
ably made to them. Of the gift of Bishop William, the
founder of the same church, all the churches of Tan-

* MS. Harl. 6968, p. 37.
+ MS. Harl. 6968, p. 83.
IT MS. Harl. 6968, p. 61.
|| Archer, from Reg. Well. ı. ff. 35, 60

%

TAUNTON PRIORY. 7

ton, together with their chapels and all their appurte-
nances, and the land of Blakedon (Blackdown), and the
church of Kingeston with its chapels and their appurte-
nances ; the church of Lydiard with its appurtenances,
the church of Legh (Angersleigh) with its appurte-
nances, the church of Hill (Hill Bishop’s or Bishop’s
Hull) with its appurtenances. Of the gift of Bishop
Henry, the church of Pypemynstr (Pitminster), with its
appurtenances and chapels. Of the gift of Robert Arun-
dell, two hides of land at Aiss (Ash), and the church
of the same vill with its appurtenances. Ofthe gift of
William Fitz Otho, the land of Wildeland (Willand), and
the church of the same vill with its appurtenances, by the
concession of William, his grandson and heir, as their char-
ter attests. Of the gift of William de Moioun, the land
of Lydiart (Lydeard). Of the gift of Richard de Turber-
ville, by the concession of Hugh his brother, the church of
Dulverton and the land of Golialand. Of the gift of Roger
Brito, the land of Uppecot. Of the gift of Baldwin de
Cumbe, the land of More. Of the gift of Geoffrey Foliot,
one virgate and a halfin the land of Stanton. Of the gift
of Osbert and Geoffrey de Hidon, the land of Middeldon.
Of the gift of Baldwin de Cumbe, sixteen acres. Of: the
gift of Hugh de Flury, twenty acres of land in Hester-
cumbe. Wherefore I will and straitly charge that the
aforesaid Canons do have and hold for a perpetual alms
all these things aforesaid with all their appurtenances,
in wood and plain, in meadows and pastures, in ways
and paths, in waters and mills, in fairs and markets,
in marshes and vivaries, in fisheries, inside the burg
and outside, and in all places and in all things, with soc
and sae, and toll, and team, and infangenethef, and all
their other liberties, and free customs and quittances. As

8 PAPERS, ETC.

well, and in peace, and freely, and quietly, and entirely,
and fully, and honorably as they have been reasonably
given to them, and as the charters of their donors attest
and confirm. Because they and all their possessions and
things are in my proper hand and custody as my proper
alms, and it will displease me if any man do them injury
and contumely. Witnesses, Richard Bp. of London,
Nigel Bp. of Ely, and Robert Bp. of Lincoln, Thomas
[ä Becket] chancellor, Robert Earl of Leicester, William
Earl of Gloucester, Henry de Essex constable, &c. Dated
at London.”

We can obtain a very near approximation to the date of
this charter from the names of the witnesses appended to it.
It could not have been previous to 1157, for in that year
Thomas & Becket was made Chancellor, nor subsequent to
1161, in which died the second Richard Beaumes, Bishop
of London, both of whom are among them.

Such, then, were the possessions of the Priory in the
early part of the reign of Henry II.

Robert occurs Prior in a deed dated May, 1197.

King John, in a charter dated the 17th of July, 1204,
gave to the Canons of Taunton the pasture of Kingeshull,
from Wulfeldesont to Hunteneswell, in free, pure, and
perpetual alms. This charter may be found on an ancient
roll under the title “ Cart. Antig. Z.n.16.” It also appears,
with a few verbal differences, on the Charter Roll of the
6th of John, m. 12. The date annexed is the same in
both, but the latter was apparently copied from the former.
As this is the oldest charter made in favour of the Priory
which we possess exactly in its original form, a literal
English translation may not be unacceptable :—

“John, by the grace of God, etc. Know ye that we, by
the consideration of divine love, and for the health of our

TAUNTON PRIORY. 9

soul, and of our ancestors and our heirs, have given and
by our present charter have confirmed to God and the
Church of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul of Tan-
ton, and to the Canons Regular there serving God, the
pasture and the waste of Kingeshull from Wulfeldesont as
far as Hunteneswell, the pasture to wit and the waste which
customarily paid to our farm of Sumerton sixteen pence
per annum ; to be held by the same Canons of us and of
our heirs, for a free, pure and perpetual alms. Wherefore
we willand straitly charge that the aforesaid Canons do
have and hold the aforesaid pasture and waste well,
and in peace, freely, and honorably, dischargedly, and
quietly from all custom and secular exaction, as the charter
which we made to them whilst we were Earl of Morton
reasonably attests. Witness W. Earl of Salisbury, and
more besides. Dated at Westminster, the 17th day of
July, in the sixth year of our reign (1204). *

Wellearn from the Testa de Nevill that this. property
was situated upon Quantock. In the record referred to
the name is written “ Kingeshill,”” and the land is stated to
have been accustomed to pay yearly to the Exchequer in
London the sum of sixteen pence. f

The Prior appears to have proved his right, against
William de Prahulle, to one carucate of land with its ap-
purtenances at Wudeham, some time in the same reign.
The record, however, is fragmentary, and the exact date
uncertain, but it was probably about the year 1204. }

John, Prior of Taunton, who does not appear in the
lists of Dugdale and Collinson, and therefore, as a matter
of course, not in those of Savage and other eopyists, was

* Cart. Antig. Z.n. 16.
r Test. de Nev., p. 162.
t Frag. Ree. incert. temp. Reg. Joh, rot. 3. in dorso. Abrev. Plac. p. 95.

VOL. Ix., 1859, PART II. B

10 PAPERS, ETC.

witness to a confirmation by Savaricus to the Abbot and
Convent of Muchelney of the great tithes of their Church
of Somerton.* The other witnesses were Benedict, Abbat
of Athelney ; Durandus, Prior of Montacute ; and Gilbert,
Prior of Bruton. Savaricus was Bishop of Bath from
A.D. 1192 to 1205.

The same John was a party in a Fine made at Win-
chester, on the Tuesday after Michaelmas, 1204, with the
William de Praule just mentioned, who disclaimed all title
to lands in Wodeham and Godesaltr, in the county of
Devon.

It may not be amiss to record that the Archdeacon of
Taunton and his official held their court in the Church of
S. Mary Magdalene, in the 28th year of King Henry III.
1244}

In the 39th year of Henry III., 1255, the Prior is stated
to possess a due and service of two shillings, payable by
Reginald of Bath on land in Radewell held by him of
Henry de Penebrugg in soccage.} He was also returned
as paying towards an Aid for a royal marriage the sum of
five marcs, and as owing five more. ||

The Patent Roll of the 3rd year of King Edward I.
1275, exhibits the Prior of Taunton as possessed of
common of pasture in Oggesole, and of a certain water-
course in Asse Herbert and Asse Prior’s. $

The House had by this time been founded upwards of
one hundred and fifty years, and had been steadily increas-
ing in wealth and importance. . Since the death, however,

* MS. Harl. 6968, pp. 5, 6. Ex magno lib. cart. &c.
+ Plac. in Com. Dors. &c. Anno Reg. Hen. III, xxvIs. Abbrev.,
Plaec. p. 121.
t Inquis, p.m. 39 Hen. III. MS. Harl. 4120.
|| Test. de Newvill, p. 168. $ Pat. 3 Edw. I. m. 35.

TAUNTON PRIORY. ki

of Bishop Henry de Blois, the successor of their founder,
the society had not, so far as our researches have enabled
us to discover, augmented or renovated their conventual
buildings. With the year 1277 a movement was made in
this direction, which, as we shall remark during our pro-
gress, extended its operations over more than half a
century. There exists a letter of Walter Bronescomb,
Bishop of Exeter, dated at Clyst, on the 13th of March in
that year, addressed to the Archdeacons of Exeter and
Totness, reminding them of the account to be given at the
last day, and of the duty of anticipating that period by the
performance of good works, setting forth that he had
authorised the Questors, the bearers of the letter, to solieit
the alms of the faithful in the diocese of Exeter for one
year, towards the erection of the Conventual Church of the
Priory of Taunton, and exhorting and urging them to aid
the collectors to the utmost of their power both by word
and deed. The missive furnishes us with the additional
information that the good Canons had commenced their
church in a style of great magnificence. Although it is
probable that a considerable increase in their treasury was
the result of this appeal, the expensive nature of the fabric
necessitated, as we have already observed, the employment
of a similar mode of collecting funds on several subsequent
occasions.*

The Prior was afirmed to hold in villenage a mes-
suage and an acre of land with its appurtenances, in the
suburbs of Taunton, by the jurors at the assize before the
Justices Itinerant held at Somerton, on the morrow of the
Festival of the Ascension, in the 8th of Edward I, which
is coincident with the 31st of May, 1280.

* E Reg, Dom, Walt, Bronescomb, Exon. Ep., fol. 85b.

12 PAPERS, ETC.

In the 18th year of Edward I, 1290, Philip de Thorla-
keston gave to the Prior and Convent one messuage and
six ferlings of land with their appurtenances in Thorlakes-
ton (Thurloxton), and Richard de Portbury gave them one
ferling of land with its appurtenances in Westowe. It
may be interesting to the reader if I briefly describe the
process by which such property was conveyed during the
ages connected with our present research, and of which the
instance before us furnishes an easily intelligible example.
Its object was to protect from injury the rights and posses-
sions both of sovereign and of subject. A petition was in
the first place made to the king for licence to alienate lands
which the law of mortmain made unalienable, or to possess
any peculiar favour or privilege, as the case might be. A
writ was thereupon addressed to the King’s Escheator, or
Sheriff of the county, commanding him to empannel a jury,
and to take their verdiet on the question whether the
granting of such licenee or privilege would be to the
damage or prejudice of the king himself or of others. On
the verdiet being returned that there would be no such
damage or prejudice, the king’s letters patent were issued
in behalf of the donor and receiver, empowering the one
party to give and the other to accept the property or
privilege which was the subject of solicitation.

In agreement with this usage, we have three documents
preserved among the Records, of which the following are
literal translations. First, there is the King’s writ to the
Sheriff :——

“ Edward, by the grace of God King of England, Lord
of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine, to the Sheriff of Somer-
set health. We command you that by the oath of trusty
and liege men of your Bailiwick, by whom the truth of
the matter may be better known, you diligently enquire

5)

TAUNTON PRIORY. 13

whether it be to the damage or prejudice of us or of others,
if we concede to Philip de Thorlakeston that he have power
to give and assign to our beloved in Christ the Prior and
Convent of Taunton one messuage and six ferlings of land
with its appurtenances in Thorlakeston, to be held by the
said Prior and Convent and their successors for ever, or
not. And if it be to the damage or prejudice of us or of
others, then to what damage or prejudice of us, and to what
damage or prejudice of others, and of whom, and of what
sort, and in what way, and of whose fee that messuage
and land be, and how many are the middle men between
us and the aforesaid Philip, and how much that messuage
and land be worth a year in all outgoings. And that you
send us without delay that Inquisition distinetly and fitly
made under your seal and the seals of them by whom it
shall have been made, and this writ. Witness myself at
Westminster, the sixth day of May, in the eighteenth year
of our reign.” Indorsed :—“ The Inquisition which by
that writ has been made is to this writ attached.” *

Then comes the verdict of the jury so assembled :—

“ Inquisition made before the Sheriff by oath of Richard
de Nywton, John de Marisco, Simon le Bret, Simon
Michel, David le Vygur, Thomas Lambryth, James de
Orcharde, John de Treberge, Luke Mody, John Wyion,
Richard le Hare, and John de Develiz, who say upon their
oath that if our lord the King should concede that Philip
de Thurlockeston should have power to give and assign to
the Prior and Convent of Tanton one messuage and six
ferlings of land with the appurtenances in Thurlockeston,
to be held by the said Prior and Convent and their succes-
sors for ever, it would not be to the damage or prejudice of

* Inquis, ad qd. dam, 18 Edw. I, n. 63,

14 PAPERS, ETC.

the King nor of others; and they say that the aforesaid Philip
holds that messuage and that land of the said Prior and
Convent, and that the aforesaid messuage and land are of
the fee of the said Prior, and that the aforesaid Prior holds
them of John de Mohun, and the said John of our lord the
King in capite. They say also that there are no more
middle men between our lord the King and the aforesaid
Philip, and that that messuage and that land are worth
twelve shillings a year in all outgoings. In testimony
whereof the aforesaid Jurors have to this Inquisition
affıxed their seals.” *

A similar precept was issued to the Sheriff in the case
of Richard de Portbury, and a similar verdict returned.f

Then, lastly, we have the letters patent granting the
petition :—

“For the Prior and Convent of Taunton concerning
licence of receiving land, &c. The king to all, &c., health.
Althoush by the common counsel of our realm we have
provided that it be not lawful for religious or other men to
enter upon the fee of any person, so that it may descend
in mortmain without our licence and that of the chief lord
of whom that thing is immediately held, wishful neverthe-
less to do a special act of grace to Philip de Thorlakeston,
we have given him licence, so far as in us lies, that he have
power to give and assign one messuage and six ferlings
of land with appurtenances in Thorlakeston ; and to
Richard de Porbury, that he have power to give and
assign one ferling of land with appurtenances in Westowe,
to our beloved in Christ the Prior and Convent of Taun-
ton, to be held by them and their successors for ever ; and

* Inquis. ad q.d. 18 Edw. I.,n. 63.
+ Inquis, ad q. d. 18 Edw. 1, n. 64.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 15

to the said Prior and. Convent, that they have power to
receive that messuage and land from the aforesaid Richard
and Philip by the tenor of these presents we similarly
grant special licence ; being unwilling that the same Philip
and Richard, or the aforesaid Prior and Convent, by
reason of our statute upon this in anything be molested or
put to trouble; reserving nevertheless to the chief lords of
that fee the services thencefrom due and customary. In
testimony whereof, &c. Witness the King, at West-
minster, the twelfth day of July.” *

In the year 1288, Pope Nicholas IV. granted the Tenths
of all ecelesiastical benefices, which together with the First
Fruits had for a long period been paid to the Roman See,
to King Edward I. for six years, as a means of defraying
the cost of a erusade. In order that the most might be
made of the Pope’s concession, a taxation was commenced
in the same year, and not entirely finished until four years
afterwards. In this most interesting and important record,
according to which all taxes both to the Pope and the King
were strictly regulated down to the time of the Valor of
Henry VIII, the Priory is stated to be possessed of lands at
Ewilline in Staunton and Middeldon, valued at £2 23. öd. ;
Willelond, £2 Os. 4d.; Upstrete, 15s.; Capelod in Coury,
15s. ; Preston, near Mulverton, 10s.; Essy Prioris (Ash
Priors), 8s.; Nydehyde, (Ninehead), £1 5s. ; Westmonek
(Westmonkton), 10s.; Lydiard S. Laurence, 20s.; Bruges
(Bridgwater), 10s.; Northperton, 20s.; Thornlockeston
(Thurloxton), appropriated to the pitancier, £3 10s. 8d.;
Spaxton, 135. 4d.; Stregeston (Stringston), 9s.; Haswylle,
10s.; Dulvertone, also as it seems appropriated to the
pitancier, 26s.; Toulonde, £1 11s. 3d. ; and Stoke, £1 108.

* Pat, 18 Edw. I, m, 18.

16 PAPERS, ETC.

'The rectory of S. Mary Magdalene was valued at the same
time at £60; Pyministr, at £21 6s. 8d.; Nienhid, at
£4A 6s. 8d.; Kyngeston, at £13 6s. 8d.; Cumbeflori, at
£4 1s. 8d.; Moneketon, at £20; Thurleber, at £6 13 4d.;
Lidiard S. Laurence, at £9 6s. 8d.; and Esse Prior at £1.
The Prior is returned as having a particular yearly pension
from Dulverton of £3, and from Lidiard S. Laurence of
£1 6s. 8d.*

In 1295, the Prior is stated to hold the vill of Wilde-
land, by a quarter of one knight’s fee, of John de Hum-
fraville, who held it of the king in capite.

In the 25th of Edward I, 1297, the Prior is returned in
the Parliamentary writs for the counties of Somerset and
Dorset, as holding lands, &c., and similarly in 1300.f

On the 5th of November, 1308, the 2nd year of Edward
II., the chapel of S. Mary Magdalene at Taunton was
constituted a vicarage. It had previously been served
by the Canons of the Priory Church, who continued to be
the rectors until the dissolution. The ordination was
made at Taunton, by Antony de Bradeneye and Henry de
Chanyngton, Archdeacon of Taunton, the Commissioners
appointed by the Bishop for that purpose, on the Tuesday
after the feast of All Saints, and was confirmed by the
Bishop on the Wednesday after the feast of S. Martin, in
the year above mentioned. Walter Haselshaw was at that
time Bishop of Bath and Wells, being elected in 1302 and
dying 1312. I have transcribed the document from the
copy which exists among Dr. Hutton’s extracts from the
Wells Registers, made by him in the seventeenth century,
and preserved among his MSS. in the British Museum ;

* Tax. Ecel. P. Nich. IV., pp. 152, 183b, 198b, 204, 204b, 205, 205b.
+ Parl; Writs, ı., 858.

I

TAUNTON PRIORY. ik7

and as it is one of more than ordinary interest for the
general reader, a literal translation may not be unac-
ceptable.

“Walter, Bishop of Bath and Wells, ordains and ap-
points that Master Simon de Lym, vicar of the chapel of
S. Mary Magdalene, Tanton, the parish church appro-
priated to the Priory of SS. Peter and Paul at Tanton,
as vicar incumbent and instituted in the same, shall every
week in the year receive twenty-one canonical loaves, and
forty-two conventual flagons of ale, and seven loaves, that
is to say of boulted flour, of the same weight as the canon-
ical loaves, and two loaves of finest white bread, and seven
flagons of best ale; and shall receive every year of the said
Prior and Convent fifteen mares of silver ; and six cart-
loads of hay, and seven bushels of oats every week for his
horse, and two shillings for the shoeing of his horse every
year; and shall receive freely all legacies made to him in
the parish; and have the same houses and curtilages as
those belonging to his predecessors, with the following
cure and charge; namely, that he shall serve at his own
cost, by himself and his: curates, the chapel of S. Mary
Magdalene of Tanton, of Trendle (Trull), of the Castle,
and of Fons S. George (Wilton), in the sacraments and
other Divine ofices of the church ; with this addition,
that he shall find a priest constantly resident for the ser-
vice at Trendle. Also we ordain that for the aid of the
said vicar and his successors, to whom the cure of souls of
the whole parish of the said parish church is specially com-
mitted by the ordinary of the place, and on whom it falls,
the said Prior and his successors shall perpetually provide
for himself and his successors for the performance of Divine
service by one secular priest for the chapels of Stoke and
of Riston (Ruishton) which are sufficiently contiguous, and

VOL. Ix., 1859, PART II. c

18 PAPERS, ETC.

for the chapels of Stapelgrave (Staplegrove) and S. James
by another secular priest, and also for the chapel of Hulle
Bishop’s by a third secular priest, each constantly resident
in the said places, and with his own proper stipend; with
this reservation, that the said Prior may cause service to
be performed in the chapel of S. George of Ryston, and of
S. James, on Sundays and holidays by some well-reputed
of his brethren, with the license of the bishop, in assistance
of the priests in masses, at least when need shall require.
Also we ordain that the said vicar and all his priests serv-
ing in the said chapels do make oath of fidelity to the said
Prior and rector at their admission, that they will repay
and refund all and singular offerings in the aforesaid places
to the Prior himself without trouble and defalcation. Also
we will that for the augmentation of the said vicar’s por-
tions two quarters of corn shall be delivered to the said
vicar from the grange or granary of the Priory at the
festival of our Lord’s Nativity. The ordinary charges
more fully incumbent on the said parish church the afore-
said religious shall duly sustain, and their portion of the
extraordinary according to the rating of the same. And
the said Prior and Convent shall provide books, vestments,
and other ecclesiastical furniture meet for the said chapels
at their own expense. Dated at Tanton, Nov. 1308.” *
In 1313 John is named as Prior. He was at that time
very old and infirm, and the bishop appointed two of the
Canons to be his coadjutorsf He is referred to, I pre-
sume, in the charter of the 8th of Edward IIL, to be
noticed presently, as receiving land at Dulverton of Richard
de Wetenden. On the 2nd of April, 1314, he gave con-

* MS. Harl. 6964, pp. 22, 23, 24.
+ Archer, from Reg. Drok., f. 140.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 19

sent to some contemplated amendments in the Ordination
of ihe vicarage just noticed, which were not, however,
carried into effect.

We now arrive at another class of documents illustrative
of the progress of the House and the exercise of its rights.
We have already seen the Canons possessed of various
appropriated rectories, and have now to regard them as
patrons of the benefices thus committed to their rule.
These notices will furnish us for upwards of two centuries
with as complete a history as can now be recovered of the
ecclesiastical changes in each of their parishes. As afford-
ing such information I hardly need say that they are of
special interest and importance.

It may be as well, however, to enumerate the benefices
which the documents already quoted mention as belonging
to them. They were the churches of Taunton, (I give
them in modern orthography) Bishop’s Hull, Kingston,
Lydiard S. Lawrence, Angersleigh, Pitminster, Thurlbeer,
Ash Priors, Dulverton, Runnington, Combflory, Ninehead,
Thurloxton, Willand, and Clannaborough. It must be
recollected that S. James’ in Taunton, Ruishton, Stoke S.
Mary, Staplegrove, Wilton, and Trull, were chapels under
Taunton.

On the 21st of June, 1315, Richard le Bellringer was
presented by the Prior and Convent to the vicarage of
Nyenhide.*

On the 8th of September, 1315, the Bishop certified the
Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer, that the Abbats
of Glastonbury and Muchelney, and the Priors of Taunton
and Montacute, had received for the maintenance of four
Templars doing penance in their monästeries, for two

* MS. Harl., 6964, p. 26.

20 PAPERS, ETC.

hundred and seventy six days, at the rate of four pence a
day for each.“

On the 5th of March, 1316, the 9th of Edward II., the
Prior of Taunton was certified, pursuant to writ then tested
at Clipston, as Lord of the Townships of Willand, Prior
Merston, and Monksbeare, in the county of Devon. He
was also certified in like manner, and at the same time, as
one of the Lords of the Township of Dulverton.f

We now arrive at the formal proof of the identity of
William Gyffarde and the founder of the Priory. This, as
I have already stated, is contained in an Inquisition taken
before the King’s Eschaetor on the 6th of January, in the
tenth year of K. Edward II. or A.D. 1317. The original,
although one of the very few records belonging to this
House which have hitherto been committed to the press,
is given but in abstract, and with the omission of details
always interesting to a local enquirer. A translation here
follows for those of my readers to whom, in its native
dress, it might not be familiar :—

“An Inquisition taken before the Eschaetor of our
Lord the King, at Taunton, on the 6th day of January,
in the tenth year of the reign of K. Edward; whether, to
wit, the Priory of Taunton is of the foundation of the
progenitors of our lord the king, some time kings of Eng-
land, or of the progenitor of the king himself, or of others,
or of another, and of what men, and of what man, and
about what lands and tenements, and from what time : by
the oath of John Horcherd, Philip de Bampton, John
Aunger, John de Loveton, Geoffrey de Netherecote,
William Punchardoun, William de Webbewelle, John

* MS. Harl,, 6964, pp. 28, 29.
rt Parl. Writs, vol. ı1, div, 3, p, 387.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 2

Hywhys, William de Combe, Hugh de Reigny, Walter atte
Walle, and William de Haleswelle.. Who say upon their
oath that the Priory of Taunton is not of the foundation
of the progenitors of our lord the king, kings of England,
or of the progenitor of some one king. But they say
that the aforesaid Priory is of the foundation of one
William Gyffard, formerly Bishop of Winchester, before
the time of King Edmund Iryneside, from which time
memory is not extant, of all his land in the northern
part outside the east gate of his vill of Taunton, for the
erection in the same place of a monastery, and its site
by bounds and divisions contained and named in the
charter of the same Bishop, for a pure and perpetual alms ;
which very foundation and gift Henry King of England and
Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earl of Anjou con-
firmed by his own charter for a pure and perpetual alms,
as in the charter of the aforesaid Bishop touching the
aforesaid foundation and gift is more fully contained.
And they say that the said Priory hath no lands or tene-
ments of the foundation or gift of any progenitor whom-
soever of the King of England, or of the progenitors of
any whomsoever of the Kings of England. In witness
whereof the aforesaid Jurors have to this Inquisition
aflıxed their seals.” *

The attribution by the Jurors of Bishop Gyffarde, who
is known to have been consecrated in the year 1107, to
a period anterior to that of King Edmund Ironside,
althoush properly characterized by Dugdale as “ error
maximus,” is nevertheless in some measure to be under-
stood and accounted for. For, although the historians of
the Anglo-Saxon xra are silent on the subject, there is

* Inquis, ad q. d., 10 Edw. II,, n. 172.

22 PAPERS, ETC.

abundant reason to feel assured that a monastic establish-
ment existed at Taunton for a century and a half at least
before the Norman invasion. Where their House was
situated, whether on the site of the subsequent Priory or
elsewhere, we have no means of discovering. But the
fact of the existence of such a community does not admit
of doubt. There is a charter of Bishop Denewulf to King
Eadweard of Wessex, and a counter charter of the king to
him, dated in the year 904,* “pro perpetua libertate illius
monasterii quod dieitur Tantun,” and speaking of it not as
a new foundation, but as one which had existed for some
considerable time. The bishop gives to the king certain
lands at Stoce for this privilege.e Among other cus-
tomary liabilities due from the monastery, are enumerated
board and lodging to the king for one night; the same
for eight dogs and their keeper ; for nine nights to
the king’s falconers; attendance, horses, carts, &c., when
the king was progressing to “Curig” or “ Willettun,”
together with attendance on the king’s visitors to the
nearest of his royal residences. It is probable that some
confused tradition of such an establishment operated on
the Jurors’ minds in leading them to the conclusion,
erroneous so far as the date, at which they arrived.

The proof of the correct attribution of the foundation
. of the Priory to Bishop Gyffarde, whatever may be the
history or wherever the site of any earlier establishment,
is by this Inquisition rendered doubly clear and con-
clusive. The reader will recollect that the document has
been reserved until now, in order that it might occupy its
exact place in the chronological series, although it refers to
the earliest fact in the annals of the House.

* Cod. Dipl. /Evi Sax., nn. MLXXXII, MLXXXIV.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 23

The thread of the narrative shall now be resumed.

On the 27th of September, 1317, the Prior and Convent
presented John de Kingesbury to the church of Comflory.*

On the 30th of May, 1318, the Prior and Conyvent pre-
sented William de la Pytte to the church of Tholokeston.f

On the 4th of November, in the same year, they pre-
sented J. de Kyngesbury to the church of Lidiard S.
Laurence, void by the resignation of Thomas de Colum-
brugg; and on the same day Thomas de Columbrugg to the
church of Comtlory, by exchange.f

In January, 1321-2, the rectors, vicars, and other
ecclesiastical persons in the Deanery of Taunton, gave of
their own free will one penny in the pound of their incomes,
according to the taxation of their benefices, towards the
erection of anew bell tower in the Cathedral Church of
Weells.|

In December, 1325, died Prior Stephen de Picoteston ;
and Ralph de Colmstoke was elected Prior on the 6th of
January, 1325-6, received assent on the 11th, and was
confirmed in his oflice on the 23rd of the same month.$

The acceptance of the Prior elect and consent of the
patron are thus recorded :—

“To the venerable Father in Christ Lord John, by the
grace of God Bishop of Bath and Wells, John, by permis--
sion of the same, Bishop of Winchester, health and con-
tinual increase of mutual brotherhood in the Lord. The
Conventual Church of blessed Peter of Tanton, of your
diocese and our patronage, being lately vacant by the death

* MS. Harl. 6964, p. 56.
+ MS. Harl. 6964, p. 2.
1 MS. Harl. 6964, p. 5.
|| MS. Harl. 6968, p. 109.
& MS. Harl. 6964, p. 99. Dr. Archer, from Reg. Drok., 270.

voL. 1x., 1859, PART I. D

24 PAPERS, ETC.

of Lord Stephen de Pykouteston, the last Prior of the
same, and licence of electing a Prior having been asked for
and obtained of us the patron of the same church, Brother
Robert de Lym, Canon and precentor of the aforesaid
Conventual Church, and the Convent of the same place
have elected, as we have been certified, Brother Ralph de
Culmpstok, one of the Canons and sub-prior of the afore-
said Church, for the Prior and pastor of them and of that
Conventual Church. Wherefore we, so far as to us
belongs, accepting the person of him elected, presented to
us the patron of the same Church by Brothers Roger
Terry and William de Reygin, Canons of the said Church,
have given to his election our consent as well as our
assent. In witness whereof, &c. Given at Waltham, the
llth day of January, in the year of our Lord above
stated (1325-6), and of our consecration the third.” *

On the 26th of August, 1326, William Syward was
presented to the church of Ronyngton, void by the death
of William de Lydeford.f

On the Sth of May, 1327, Richard de Fifhide was
presented to Hauekewell, void by the resignation of John
Broun.t

We have already seen that, so early as the year 1277,
-the Canons were commencing the erection of their Con-

* EB Reg. Dom. Joh. de Stratford, Winton, Ep., fol. 13b. I feel much
pleasure in offering my grateful thanks to the Rev. Dr. Oliver, for a com-
plete copy of this document from tlıe Winchester Registry, instead of the
reference and abstract which I previously possessed. To the same gentle-
man, the truly learned and accomplished author of the Monasticon Dioecesis
Exoniensis, Lam likewise indebted for a copy of {he Indulgence granted in
1472, in behalf of S. Margaret’s hospital, noticed at a future page, and for a
complete copy of the Petition of the Convent to the Patron for leave to
elect a Prior on the resignation of John Prous, dated the 3rd of February,
1513-4, both also from the Winchester Registry.

+ MS. Harl. 6964, p. 105.
£ MS. Harl. 6964, p. 106.

TAUNTON PRIORY, 25

ventual Church in a style of sumptuous magnificence. Fifty
years had elapsed from that period, and the fabrie was still
unfinished ; not so much perhaps from failure of the appeal
then issued as from the expensive and onerous nature of
the work itself. An attempt, however, was now made to
bring it to a conclusion, and funds were collected by the in-
strumentality of an Indulgence. John de Stratford, Bishop
of Winchester, who appears to have been not only the
ecclesiastical patron but the firm and munificent friend of
the Priory, issued a letter “to our beloved sons, our Arch-
deacons of Winchester and Surrey and their officials, and
deans, rectors also and vicars and parish chaplains both
exempt and non-exempt within our diocese, health, grace,
and benediction.” He reminds them of the value to the
souls of Christian people of alms expended in the erection
of sacred edifices, and then introduces to them the object
of the present appeal, the completion of the Conventual
Church of Taunton lately commenced, which was now
unhappily delayed through lack of funds. He enjoins and
commands them, when the messengers or procurators made
their appearance, to receive them with all kindness, to stir up
their people to a work of so great piety and charity, and to
do their best, both in their own persons and in those of
their flocks, to make the mission of the collectors effectual.
And, in order to incite them to this duty, he concludes by
granting to all those who with contrition and confession
shall give aid to the good work an Indulgence of forty
days. “In testimony whereof we have ordered our seal to
be aflıxed to these our letters patent, to last for two years
from the present date. Dated at Rympton, the 30th of
September, in the year of our Lord one thousand three
hundred and twenty seven.” *
* E Reg. Dom. Joh. de Stratford, Winton. Ep., fol. 29.

26 PAPERS, ETC.

In 1330, the Prior was one of the sub-collectors of the
tenth demanded by the Pope, to be divided equally
between himself and Edward IIL. The other sub-collectors
were the Abbats of Glastonbury and Keynesham.*

In the same year the Prior was afirmed to hold of
John de Mohun (see page 14) the manor of Thurloxton,
by the service of one knight’s fee. f

On the 4th of December, 1331, the Bishop dates at
Taunton a letter for a subsidy in behalf of the completion
of a chapel by Pontefract Bridge, Yorkshire.t

On the 9th of March, 1331-2, a commission is given to
Ralph the Prior to wash with holy water the Conventual
Church, which had ineurred pollution “by the shedding of
blood.” ||

On the 20th of March, 1332, the Prior and Convent pre-
sented Richard de Poterne to the vicarage of Tanton ;
and on the 2nd of September, in the same year, the Prior
was summoned to the council in London, together with the
Abbats of Glastonbury, Muchelney, Athelney, &c. "Thomas
Flour of Southpedertone was, on the 24th of the same
month, presented to the vicarage of Dulverton, on the
death of Adam, late vicar thereof.$

On the 26th of July, 1333, Walter de Quenton was
presented to the church of Thurlokeston, on the resigna-
tion of Gilbert. T

I have now to present the reader with one of the most
precious documents which we possess in connexion with the
House, but one whose value has nevertheless been very

* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 35.
+ Ingquis. p. m. 4 Edw. III. n. 35.
t MS. Harl. 6965, p. 46.
|| MS. Harl. 6965, p. 54. Reg. Well. Rad. 51.
$ MS. Harl. 6965, pp. 57, 62, 63.
<a MS. Harl. 6965, p. 73.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 27

much overlooked. The charter to which 1 refer, which is
one of “ Inspeximus” was granted in the 8th year of K.
Edward III., and bears date the 1st of October, 1334.*
It is a document of considerable length, occupying a
large portion of two membranes of the venerable roll in
which it is contained, and extending to two hundred and
ten lines of elosely penned and much abbreviated writing.
I have, however, willingly undergone the labour of tran-
sceribing it, on account of its paramount importance in the
history of the Priory. Dugdale contented himself with
copying and publishing the first few lines only; and
subsequent writers, no doubt supposing that he had given
the whole, are characteristically silent with respect to the
far more voluminous remainder. I shall, therefore, con-
tinue the list of donors and donations, as furnished by this
most valuable and important record, giving the names
of the localities—as I have done and shall do throughout
this memoir—in their original orthography. Though so
lengthy, it will be found to repay most richly a minute
examination and an attentive study.

The first donation which occurs after those whereof men-
tion is made in the charter of Henry II., is that of King
John, with which the reader has been already presented, of
the pasture of Kyngeshell from Wulfeldesont, or Wulfhef-
dyete, to Huntenewell. Then we have the gifts of Gilbert
de Helleworth, of the advowson and church of Runeton ; of
Ralph de Flory, of a virgate of land called Beidun in
Widela; of Richard de Plessetis, lord of Nyweton, of land
called Chademede; of Richard de Montacute the younger,
of an acre of land at Thorlebere, adjoining a place called
Therless ; of William de Montacute, of the church of

* Cart. 8 Edw. III.,n. 12, mm. 5, 6.

28 PAPERS, ETC.

Thurlebere ; of Simon de Montacute, son and heir of
William, of the advowson of the church of Thorle-
bere; ofthe same Simon, of a confirmation of all donations
granted by his ancestors; of the same, of an acquittance
with respect to the enclosure of the park of Donneyhete ;
the gift of the same, of four quarters and five bushels and
a half of corn, from his granary at Tihurlebere, every year
on the festival of S. Martin; of William de Montacute, of
that portion of land at Thurlasse which his mother had pre-
viously given; of Walter, son and heir of Bernard de
Pereton, of lands at Northpereton and Neweton, with their
liberties, customs, and dues; of Henry de Erlegh, of fines,
&e., connected with the said lands; of the same, of an
acquittance of various dues, including that of a yearly rent
of eighteen pence received by him from the land of Cole-
manneshat ; of the same Henry, of fifteen acres of land
in his moor of Northmore ; of the same, of free ingress to
and egress from, and liberty to repair a trench in the
aforesaid land; of Reginald, son and heir of Jordan de
Pykeston, of his land at Pykeston ; of William de Pykes-
ton, son of Jordan de Pykeston, of his land at Pykeston
and Linegereslaund ; of Robert Feroun, of land held by
him of the fee of Wolmarestone ; of Baldewin Fitzgirold,
of land called Lynyegereslaunde at Nygahide ; of Robert
Feroun, of land in Esshe ; of the same, of one messuage
with two gardens in Mulverton ; of Simon de Flury, son
and heir of Hugh de Flury, of forty acres in his manor of
Cumbe; of the same, of sixteen acres in his manor of
Cumbe; of the same, of nine acres and a half in his manor
of Cumbe, in the land called Galand ; of the same, of the
church of Lydeard S$. Laurence with all its appurte-
nances, and of the church of Cumbe with its appurtenances
and liberties; of Ralph de Flury, of thirty two acres

TAUNTON PRIORY. 29

beyond the ancient trench of Guppewurve, and of common
of pasture in the whole of his land towards the west, so far
as the head of Guppewurve, &c.; of Cecilia, formerly wife
of William de Mounceaux, of one ferling of land in the
manor of Wyvele; of William Bret, of one virgate of
land called la Grave, and of half a virgate called la Sale ;
of Andrew de Bovedon, of his land at Gaveldene ; of
Gilbert de Wypelesdene, of the gift of Andrew de Buhedon
of his land of Gaveldon in Taland ; of Cecilia Bozoun,
formerly wife of Geoffrey de Lidyard, of the watercourse
through her land in the manor of Taland; of Ralph
Fitzurse, lord of Wyleton, of land at Brimeton for the
formation of a head and other necessary adjuncts to the
said watercourse ; of Lucy, daughter of Simon Bozoun,
of land in Talaunde; of Andrew de Boghedone, of half a
virgate of land in Thalande, with a messuage, &c., which
William de la Gerche held ; of the same Andrew, of half
a virgate of land and its appurtenances, one part of which
lies in Lunedon and the other towards Lydyart Cross; of
Ralph le Tort, of four ferlings of land in the manor of
Wynemeresham, &e.; of Roginald le Tort, son of the
aforesaid, of all his land of Luycote, and of all his wood of
Chiddescumbe, of ground for the erection of a mill in Lytle-
coumbe, of the watercourse of Luycote, of liberty in the
moors belonging to Wynemeresham, of the wood of Luy-
cote, the end of the wood of Yelescumbe, and ten hogs
with free feed in the wood of Wynemeresham ; of Ralph
le Tort, of all his land of Luycote; of the same, of the
liberties pertaining to the manor of Wynemeresham ; of
Richard de Wrotham, of all his land at Luycote with all
its appurtenances; of Peter Giffard, son and heir of Peter
Giffard, of a rent of twenty shillings which he received
of the land of Hupesterte, &e.; of Geoffrey, son and heir

30 PAPERS, ETC.

of Philip de Luccumbe, of the land of Buggedehole, with
its appurtenances, liberties, and customs; of the same
Geoffrey, of thirty hogs with free feed in the woods of
the same Geoffrey; of William Fychet, of one ferling of
land in Merryg ; of the same, of common of pasture ; of
Gilbert, son of Hugh Fychet, of land which he held of the
gift of William, his brother, in Merygg ; of William, son of
Engelisia de Merigge, of seven acres of land in Merygg; _
of Hugh Fychett, of one virgate of land with all its appur-
tenances, and three men, Hugh son of Richard, and William
his brother, and John son of Selegine, in his manor of
Strengestun, and of common of pasture in all his land in
Strengiston ; of Albrea, formerly wife of the aforesaid Hugh,
of the same land, men and pasture ; of Robert Vaux, of one
ferling of land in Capilaunde, and nine acres next adjacent
to la Hokederewe, and of the whole land held aforetime by
Geoffrey Chaunterel, &c. ; of the same Robert, of twenty
hogs and one boar free of feed yearly in the wood of Capi-
lande, called la Yornete; of Henry de Orchiat, of a war-
rauty in regard of the same hogs and boar; of John de
Tudeham, son and heir of Edmund de Tudeham, of all his
land of la Clive with its appurtenances in the manor of
Staunton, and of common of allthe waste lying between
the land of Robert de Sclade and a spring below the
house of Philip and Richard de la Clive, a stream from
which runs to Blakeford, in turbaries, right of grazing,
&c., and of a rent of six pence yearly received from
a tenement of Roger de Sutton; of Henry de la Pome-
ray, of common of pasture in the manor of Vpotri;
of William de Say, son and heir of Robert son of
Reginald, of a virgate and half of land and of common
of pasture in the manor of Stanton, both for horses and
all other animals, &c.; of Hamelin de Baalun, of a

TAUNTON PRIORY. 31

virgate and a half of land of waste in the same manor,
with common of pasture there for thirty brood mares and
three stallions and foals with their dams to the age of
three years ; of Ralph de Lestre, of one virgate of land in
the manor of Bykehaulle, with two acres in Leggesheye
and Middelheye ; of Richard de Lestre, of the same lands;
of Ralph de Lestre, of eleven shillings of annual rent, and
of one pound and a half of wax for the lamp of the chapel
of S. Mary of Tanton ; of Master John de Chilewyke, of
one messuage and one ferling of land at Bikehalle, with
pasture for forty hogs free of feed, and common for all their
beasts within and without the forest ; of Richard de Lestre,
of the land and common of pasture aforesaid ; of Hugh de
Pymor, son and heir of Robert de Slolesh, of one croft at
Thurlasse ; of Robert, son and heir of Jordan de Sloleghe,
of land at Sloleghe with its appurtenances, and also of four
acres north of Halfangre; of Robert de Munemue, of one
dwelling-house in the vill of Brug-walter ; of Cecilia de
Monemuwe, of one dwelling-house in Brugeswalter with its
appurtenances, liberties, and free customs ; of Margaret de
Monemuwe, daughter of Robert de Monemuwe, the acquit-
tance of two dwelling-houses in the vill of Brugiswalter ; of
Henry de Bikebirie, chaplain, son of Cicilia la Bret, of land
at Thurlakeston, and of four acres at Criche called West-
mede ; of Cecilia la Brette, lady and heiress of Thurlakeston
and of Criche, of the lands aforesaid ; of Johanna de Reigny,
formerly wife of Thomas de Reigny, daughter and heiress of
William de Bikebirie, the acquittance of her right in four
acres called Westmede in Hanecriz ; of Philip de Thur-
lakeston, son and heir of John de Thurlakeston, clerk, of all
the land held aforetime by the said Philip in the manor of
Thurlakeston ; also, of the acquittance of the said Philip,
of all his rights in the said manor ; of Geoffrey de Seoland,

32 PAPERS, ETC.

of an acre of land in the manor of Thurlakeston, together
with the advowson of the church of the said manor ; of
Hugh de Wytheston, son of Robert, brother and heir of
Ralph son of Robert, of a rent of one mare of silver from
the land of Halswill; of Henry de Nuburgh, of the
homage of John de Halswell and his heirs, and other
services from the same land; of Gilbert de Thorne, of one
ferling of land at Esse, and of one acre of meadow in
Vinnedebere; of William de Thorne, son and heir of
Gilbert, of a confirmation of the land aforesaid ; of the
same William, of the land called Bastardeswode, with one
acre called Splottenewode ; of the same William, of his
land in Ryflet, within the lands already possessed by the
Canons; of John de Thurlak, of half a virgate of land in
Hoccomb ; of the same John, of a meadow adjacent to
one of Ralph Fitzwilliam ; of Richard Thurlak, of five
acres of land of the fee of Hoccombe ; of Girard de Brocton,
of land at Batpole; of Alina, daughter of Girard de
Brocton, of one virgate of land with its appurtenances at
Batpole in the manor of Muneketon; of William Fychet,
son and heir of Hugh Fychet, a ratification of the aforesaid
gift; of Richard de la Hide, son and heir of Ralph de la
Hide, of land called Hesterlangedole ; of Roger de Reigny,
lord of Dulverton, an acquittance of a portion of the hun-
dred of Dulverton; of Hawis de Pyn, formerly wife of
Thomas de Pyn, an acquittance of all the portions of her
hundred or court of Dulverton ; of William de O., of the
manor of Anestiges with all its appurtenances and liberties;
of Richard de Weteden, to John then Prior of 'Taunton
and his convent, of all his land of Dulverton, and of the
rights therefrom acceding to him ; of the same Richard, of
all his land at Pleyston; of Emma, lady of Westowe, of all
her land in Westowe; of Lucy Malet, daughter of Ralph

TAUNTON PRIORY. 33

Fitzwilliam, a confirmation of the same; of Walter de
Westowe, son and heir of Emma, an acquittance of all his
right and claim in respect of the same land ; of Thomas
Cordary, son and heir of Ralph Cordary, of Bristoll, a con-
firmation of all the land of the said Thomas de Westowe;
of Hugh de Nyweton, son and heir of Robert de Nyweton,
a confirmation of all the land of the said Thomas; of Eva,
formerly wife of Thomas le Cordery, of Bristoll, an acquit-
tance of right and claim by dower in the land of Little
Westowe called Modford ; of Jordan de Molton, reetor of
the church of Lydyard S. Laurence, of all his land in Lyd-
yard; of Gunnilda, widow of Adam Rys, of Taunton, of all
the land of Lydyard S. Laurence; of the aforesaid Jordan de
Molton, of the land of Pilelegh, with all its appurtenances ;
of Roger de Reigny, lord of Dulverton, of all his land of
la Coumbe in the manor of Dulverton, with its appurte-
nances; of Richard de Turberville, of land which Humfrey
the father of Hugh held, and also of the whole land of the
moor of Hodiam ; of Roger de Ho., son and heir of William
de Ho., of all the land of the said Roger in Estdraydon
and Westdraydon with all their appurtenances, and also of
all his land of Hundeham, and of three ferlings in Aeswei,
with their appurtenances; of Constance, formerly wife of
John son of Theobald, of one ferling of land, one half next
the land of the chapel of Hanetwill, and the other half in
Curreslade, and of the produce of the wood which William
the brother of the said Constance gave to her; of John,
son of Theobald, of all his land in Curislade; of Adam
de Childecote, of all the land which he held of the gift of
William, lord of Childeeote; of Luke de Punchardun, of
the church of Cloneneburg, with its tithes and offerings,
and other appurtenances, and of two ferlings of land,
whereof each contains thirty acres, and of common of
VOL. ıx., 1859, PART II. E

34 PAPERS, ETC.

pasture of his land of Cloneneburg, pasturage of sheep
and cattle, firewood, &e., by the testimony of his servant
there ; of William Punchardun, of the advowson of the
said church of Cloneneburg ; of Reginald, son and heir
of Osbert of Bath, of two shillings to be received yearly
from his manor of Radewille; of William Burcy, son and
heir of William Burcy, of two shillings sterling yearly
from his land of Ham; of Olivar Avenel, of the land of
Hacche ; of William Avenel, of the same ; of Robert de
Treberge, of all the land of Alwyneshill ; of William
Frauncleyn of Merigg, of one ferling of land with its
appurtenances in Westowe, and of one messuage which
Gregory Chanflur formerly occupied, and of two gardens
in the same place ; of Alina de Westowe, formerly wife
of Richard Portbury, of a piece of land called Fotacre
in Westornheye in Westowe, with all its appurtenances ;
of Richard Portbiry of Westowe, of four acres above la
Westhill, ofthe old garden, with one acre which lies between
that garden and the land of the aforesaid Prior; of the same

Richard, of all his land in la Holmheye in the manor of

Westowe ; of William de Bremelhull, of thirteen acres
and a half of land in Westowe ; of Richard Portbury of
Westowe, of all his land which he held in Westerfurshulle
with its appurtenances in the manor of Westowe; of
Richard Godwyne of Westowe, an acquittance of all right
and claim in respect of a messuage, ten acres ofarable, and
half an acre of meadow land with their appurtenances in
Westowe; of Jordan, son of Jordan de Hulle, of two shil-
lings of annual rent from land which Henry de Lydyard,
clerk, held, and of all the land which Elias de Hille held
in Hille; of Maurice de Lege, of five acres of land in
Esse ; of William de Hulle, son and heir of Henry de
Hulle, of all his arable land of Denebiri with its appur-

LI 2

TAUNTON PRIORY. N

tenances, and of one acre of meadow in Donekesham; of
Jordan the son of Jordan de Hille, of land which Elias
de Hille held in Hille ; of John de Hulle, son of Mericia
de Hulle, of two acres of land in Denebirie ; of Jordan de
Harpeford, son and heir of David de Harpeford, of all the
land which Elias de Hille held in Hille; of William,
Bishop of Winchester, of all his land near Fons Saint
George in his manor of Tanton, with all the course of
the brook of Syreford near Tanton, for the grinding
of their corn, and all advantages thence to be derived.
The charter concludes with the usual form of concession
and confirmation of all the gifts enumerated. The wit-
nesses are R[ichard de Bury]. Bp. of Durham, our Chan-
cellor ; H[enry Burwash]. Bp. of Lincoln, our Treasurer ;
John de Eltham, Earl of Cornwall, our dearest brother ;
John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey ; Henry de Percy;
William de Monteacute ; Ralph de Neville, our Seneschal,
and others. It is dated at Westminster, the first day of
October.*
. Here, as will be seen, are abstracts of upwards of one
hundred and thirty five documents, whereof a few only
have been noticed among the particulars which we have
already had before us, but our knowledge of the great
majority of which, and of the gifts which they conveyed,
is solely derived from this invaluable charter. Some of
them represent the grant of large possessions, and many
include the mention of several separate donations. The
first on the list alone records that of five churches with
their chapels and appurtenances. So numerous were the
endowments, and so rich the cartulary of Taunton Priory
in the year 1334.

On the 8th of November, 1334, the instrument of colla-

* Cart. 8 Edw. III, n. 12, mm. 5, 6.

36 PAPERS, ETC.

tion of Walter de Burtone, 8.T.P., Canon of Wells, to
the subdeanery of that Cathedral Church, void by the
death of Walter Broun, was dated at Tanton.*

On the 7th of December, 1334, Ralph the Prior,
and Walter, prior of Brywton, were appointed by the
Bishop collectors of the tenth voted to the king.f

In 1335, the Priory Church was still, as it appears, in
need of funds for its completion, and a licence was granted
to collect alms for that purpose for two years.}

On the 17th of June, 1336, Geoffrey de Reyny was pre-
sented to the church of Combeflory, on the resignation of
Tho. de Columbrugge. |

The pious liberality of benefactors, great as it had
hitherto been, was, however, not. yet exhausted. The
first Patent Roll of the 11th of Edward II. contains
the partieulars of the gift in fee farm by William de
Montacute, earl of Salısbury, of the manor and hun-
dred of Dulverton, with its appurtenances.. The rent
to be paid for this important concession was ten
pounds a year. The witnesses to the instrument were
Richard Lovel, John de Palton, John de Reigny, John
de Menbury, Adam Le Brut, Ralph de Middelneye,
Thomas de Orcharde, John atte Yerde, and others, names
which, as in multitudes of other instances, the local reader
will identify with those of places in the neighbourhood. It
was dated in the Chapter House of the Priory of Taunton,
on the 18th of March, 1337, and confirmed by the king
at Westminster, on the 21st of the same month.$

* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 83.
+ MS. Harl. 6965, p. 84.
{ MS. Harl. 6965, p. 101.
|| MS. Harl. 6965, p. 106.
& Pat. 11 Edw. III. p. 1. m. 12,

ö

En

52

TAUNTON PRIORY. 37

The Conventual Church was still unfinished, though pro-
bably not much remained to be done. An Indulgence of
fifteen days was granted, dated at Wyvelescomb, on the
10th of April, 1337, to all who should contribute towards
its completion.* It was in this way that such stately
fabrics were reared. The erection of our glorious medie-
val Churches was the work not’ of a year or two, but
of whole ages of faith, hope, and charity.

A difficulty here meets us which requires explanation.

We find, on the Close Roll of the 11th of Edward IIL,
an instrument, dated at London, the 20th of November,
1337, and setting forth that Thomas, Prior of Bustlesham,
and his Convent gave and confirmed to William de
Montacute, earl of Salisbury, their founder, the manor of
Hurdecote, and also ten marcs of annual rent which were
paid by the Prior and Convent of Taunton on behalf of
their manor and hundred of Dulverton, the grant of which
has just been mentioned. The gift to them, however,
of these ten marcs does not appear in the earl’s charter
to the Priory of Taunton, in which nothing is said about
any particular use to which the rent should be devoted.
In the first Patent Roll of the 29th of Edward IIL, this

difficulty is removed. It is there explained that the Prior

and Convent of Taunton are to hold the manor and hun-
„ dred of Dulverton, subject to the payment of an annual
rent of ten pounds. Of this sum, as we shall see pre-
sently more in detail, they are to give ten marcs to the
Prior and Convent of Bustlesham, and five marcs to the
Custos of the chapel of Donyate. This is dated at West-
minster, the 16th of April, 1355.
On the 22nd of March, 1338-9, Ralph de Colmpstoke

* MS. Harl, 6965, p. 110.
+ Claus. 11 Edw. III. p. 2. m. 13,

33 PAPERS, ETC.

resigned his oflice through the infirmities of extreme old
age, and Robert de Messyngham was elected Prior in his
stead, licence having been first obtained from Adam, Bishop
of Winchester, the patron, on the 19th of the following
April.* There were at the time of election twenty-five
Canons belonging to the Priory, of whom twenty-four
were present and one was abroad.f

On the 5öth of November, 1339, Richard de Pym,
chaplain, was presented by exchange to the vicarage of
Kyngeston.t Anda certain Walter, convicted of remov-
ing and injuring various erops, the property of William de
Cammell, rector of lvelton, was, on the 23rd of December,
sentenced to do penance in several parish churches of the
diocese, and that of Taunton among them.||

On the 22nd of March, 1340, a writ was addressed to
Ralph de Middelneye, the king’s Eschaetor, to take the
verdict of a jury relative to a third part ofthe Manor of
Dulverton, proposed to be given to the Prior and Convent
by Nicholas de Beleville. The course of procedure was
exactly similar to that with which we are already ac-
quainted. The verdict of the Jurors that the gift of
such land would not be to the king’s damage is dated at
Lydyard S. Laurence, on the 12th of April; and the
king’s licence, for which the Prior paid a fine of five mares,
permitting the gift and receipt of the property was issued.
at Westminster on the 2nd of May.$ }

On the 6th of February, 1340-1, the Prior and Convent
presented John Stede to the vicarage of Pipmynstr.T

* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 127.
+ Dr. Archer, from Reg. Rad. 197.
I MS. Harl. 6965, p. 130.

|| MS. Harl. 6965, p. 131.

$ Inquis. ad q. d. 14 Edw. III. (2.n.) n.48. Pat. 14 Edw. III. p. 1. m. 2.
14 Edw. III. Rot. 24.

T MS. Harl. 6965, p. 142.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 39

In the same year, 1341, Taunton saw another monastic
establishment attempted at least to be added to its ecele-
siastical institutions. Little is known of this House, which
was founded by Walter de Meryet, clerk, for monks of
the order of Blessed Mary of Mount Carmel, or White-
friars. As usual, we find a writ addressed to the king’s
Eschaetor, on the 28th of April, 1341, with the common
enquiries, as already known to us, and the verdict, dated
the Wednesday after Pentecost, or the 30th of May, 1341,
at Taunton, of the Jurors summoned in accordance thereto.
The present gift is one of nine acres of meadow land with
their appurtenances in Taunton, which are said to be held
by the said Walter of the Bishop of Winchester at a pay-
ment of seven shillings a year, and to be worth twenty
shillings a year in all outgoings. The land is stated to
be given for a certain Church and monastery which are
to be there erected.* The king’s licence in answer is
dated at the Tower of London, the 14th of June.f
There was evidently some difficulty in the way; and

" another writ was issued, dated the 12th of May, 1343,
and an Inquisition taken at Bruggewater, before Edward
de. Stradlyng, the Eschaetor, relating to a property,
probably the same, called Cokkesmede in Taunton.
This Inquisition is dated on the Tuesday after the feast

„of SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles, which in the year 1343
was coincident with the 1st of July; and the Jurors were
John de Memhury, John Auger, John Punchardoun, John
de Rodyngbere, Walter de Nythercote, Thomas atte Or-
charde, John Snyffamor, Philip de Cloteworth, Richard
atte Rysshyn, Thomas Mauncel, William de Haretrowe,

* Inquis, ad q.d. 15 Edw. III. (2 n.) n. 58.
+ Pat. 15 Edw. III. p. 2. m. 44.

40 PAPERS, ETC.

and Walter atte Withie. Although the verdict was
favourable, the gift appears to have been over-ruled, and
the proceedings ordered to be null and void.* This may
account for the obseurity which envelopes the history of
the House, and which a long search among the Records has
not availed to dispel. Local tradition, which is always
valuable, asserts that a Monastery was situated at a
short distance westward from the Castle, in a place still
called Paul’s Field, near the Crescent ; but it is pro-
bable that, if the Carmelite House were ever actually
founded and occupied the site in question, it was but of
short-lived duration, and that long before the general
Dissolution in the sixteenth century it had ceased to exist.
I may add that Walter de Meryet died on the 18th of
May, 1345.

A licence for celebrating morning mass every day in the
chapel of S. Mary Magdalene was granted on the 19th of
March, 1341-2.7

It appears that Walter de Monyngton, one of the
founders of Bathpool Mills, was confirmed Abbat of
Glastonbury, at Taunton, on the 7th of November,
1342.4

On the 29th of January, 1343-4, William de Ayssheleigh
was presented to the vicarage of Kyngeston. ||

In 1346, Taunton had a new Prior. Robert de

Messyngham died in the beginning of April ; and "Thomas
Cok, a commission on the matter of whose confirmation
was dated at Dogmersfeld on the 6th of tbat month,

* Inquis. ad q. d. 17 Edw. III. (2.n.) n.43. Rott. Orig. 17 Edw. III.n. 13.
+ MS. Harl. 6965, p. 148.
+ MS. Harl. 6965, p. 155.
|| MS. Harl. 6965, p. 165.

be a Zu

TAUNTON PRIORY. 41

was confirmed Prior in June.* There is a memorandum
in the Register of William de Edyndon, Bishop of Win-
chester, that Brother Thomas le Couk, Prior of Taunton,
on the 16th of June, in the presence of the venerable
father William, Bishop of Winchester, in his manor of
Suthwerk, did homage in person to the said father, as
successor of the founder and patron of his House, by
holding his joined hands between the hands of the said
father, and saying, “I do you homage for the lands
which I hold of you, and will bear you fealty against all
people, saving the fealty to the king;’” and that there
were present at this homage lord Robert de Hunger-
ford; Master John de Uske, Chancellor; and John
de Beautre, Registrar.f

On the 4th of July, 1346, Robert Pippecote was pre-
sented to the Vicarage of Taunton, by exchange.f

On the 18th of July, 1347, Thomas Floure was
presented to Badyalton, by exchange ; and on the 24th
of November, Reginald Marchall to Thorlokkeston.|

On the 1st of January, 1348-9, the same Reginald ex-
changed with Ralph Mareschal, who was admitted to
Thurlokeston. William Wysman was presented to the
Vicarage of Nyghenhyde, on tbe 11th of January ; Hugh
Lovegeer to the Vicarage of Dulverton, on the 11th of
February ; and William atte Stone to the vicarage of S.
Mary Magdalene, on the 18th of the same month.$

On the 22nd of March, William de Modbury was pre-
sented to the Church of Cumbeflory.T

* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 175. Dr. Archer, from Rad. 308.
t E Reg. Will. de Edyndon, Wint, Ep. tom. 2. fol. 8.
I MS. Harl. 6965. p. 176.
|| MS. Harl. 6965, pp. 186, 187.
$ MS. Harl. 6965, pp. 195, 199, 202.
<T MS. Harl. 6965, p. 205.

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. F

42 PAPERS, ETC.

On the 10th of April, 1349, John Cryspyn, chaplain,
was presented to the Church of Rovyngton ; and on the
same day Robert Cox, chaplain, was presented to the
vicarage of Pypminster.*

On the 25th of November, 1349, a solemn sentence
was pronounced in the cemetery of the Conventual Church.
After an investigation before John de Sydehale, Canon
of Wells, the commissary specially appointed by the
Bishop, Roger de Warmwille, of Ievele, was adjudged to
do penance for various delinquencies of a very atrocious
character. With bare head and feet he was thrice to
make circuit of the church of Ievele, and during the cele-
bration of high mass was to hold a wax candle of one pound
weight, and at the conclusion of the penance to offer it at
the high altar. The priest oflieiating was then to state
to the clergy and people present the cause of the punish-
ment. This was also to be done thrice in the public
market, and in several churches of the diocese. He was in
conclusion, after sundry scourgings, to pay to the Bishop
twenty pounds sterling, as bail for future good behaviour,
and to go on pilgrimage to the shrine of S. Thomas at
Canterbury. Such was the mode in which the Church
punished wealthy offenders in the fourteenth century—
a mode personally to the culprit most distasteful, and
thorougly appreciated by the community at large.f

On the 22nd of June, 1350, the Prior and Convent
presented John Cryspyn to Nihenhyde ; and, on the same
day, William Wysman to Rovyngton, and Richard Heryng
to the vicarage of Putmynster, by exchange.t

* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 207.
+ MS. Harl. 6965, pp. 211, 212.
{ MS. Harl. 6965, p. 212.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 43

On the 18th of October, William Esch was presented to
Nygenhuyde, on the resignation of John Cryspyn.*

On the 27th of January, 1350-1, Symon de Cherde
was presented to the vicarage of Pypminstr.f

The year following witnessed a procedure very charac-
teristic of the times. In order to enforce the performance of
the essential duties of Christianity on every individual, the
Church, recognizing alike her power and her responsibility
towards those who were entrusted to her care, made it com-
pulsory on all persons to attend their parish church, and to
refrain from wandering to other churches to the consequent
neglect of and absence from their own. Certain parishion-
ers of Monketon rendered themselves liable to ecclesiastical
censure on this account. It is probable that the distance
at which they resided from their church had not a little to
do with the matter. Portions of the parish of Monkton are
but a few minutes’ walk from the church of S. Mary
Magdalene; while the parish church of Monkton lies at a
distance of several miles, and the road, as we shall see by
other evidences presently, was not in the very best con-
dition. A mandate, however, bearing date the 21st of
September, 1351, is directed by the Bishop to the vicar of
Taunton, commanding him to check this presumption of
the Monkton parishioners, by making striet search before
the celebration of mass whether there were any from other
parishes among the congregation, and, if so, to drive them
from his church, and compel them to return to their own
on pain of canonical censures.}

On the 20th of October of the same year, Simon de
Fareweye, parson of the church of Lidiard S. Laurence,

* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 230.
+ MS. Harl. 6965, p. 233.
t MS. Harl. 6965, p. 239.

44 PAPERS, ETC.

had a writ of Venire facias issued against him to answer to
the Prior in the matter of his annual rent of two marcs,
previously noticed in the Taxation of Pope Nicholas IV.*

It will be in the reader’s recollection that in the Ordina-
tion of the vicarage of Taunton, in 1308, it was provided
that the Prior should maintain at his own cost a curate to
serve the chapels of Staplegrove and S. James’s. In the
year 1353 William atte Halle was curate. He complained
to the Bishop that his proper stipend, tithes and offerings,
were not paid, and that his bread and ale were not
supplied as the law required. He therefore prayed for the
Bishop’s judgment in his favour. The Bishop did not, as it
appears, entertain the curate’s complaint. But William atte
Halle was by no means to be overcome so easily, nor in any
degree willing to resign his dues without a struggle for their
preservation. Accordingly he forwarded an appeal to the
Archbishop of the province, as right had been denied him
nearer home ; and the result was a mandate from the
Primate to his brother at Wells, dated the 7th of June, 1353,
requiring him either within fifteen days to see justice done
to the said William, or to eite the Prior and Convent to
appear in London before the Archbishop or his ofhicial at
the church of S. Mary le Bow. The Bishop wisely took
the latter course, and issued his citation, dated at Evercrich,
the 21st of July, 1353, to Thomas Cocke the Prior and
certain of his Canons to appear at the place and respond
to the complaint aforesaid.f So little truth is there in the
assumption that in these ages injustice could be done with
impunity and without appeal. And, for aught that we
know, the curate himself might have been in error, and his
complaint without foundation.

* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 244.
+ MS. Harl, 6965, p. 255.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 45

In the October of the same year, R. C. a disobedient
monk at Taunton— whether a member of the Priory is
uncertain—was sent to the Priory of S. Germain’s in
Cornwall, for penance and imprisonment.*

On the 16th of April, 1355, the letters patent were
issued to which allusion has already been made. They
set forth that William earl of Salisbury, lately deceased,
had given the manor and hundred of Dulverton, with all
its appurtenances, by his indenture to the Prior and
Convent of Taunton, to be held in fee farm by them and
their successors, on their paying to the said earl and his
heirs ten pounds a year. That the said earl had founded
the monastery of Bustlesham, and had enriched it with
sundry manors, lands, tenements and rents. That he had
given to that monastery the sum of ten marcs out of the
aforesaid ten pounds, and the remaining five marcs to the
eustos of the chapel of Donyate. And that the Prior
of Taunton was to pay to each the ten and the five marcs
respectively. That these moneys were to be used in aid of
the said monastery of Bustlesham and chapel of Donyate,
and for the performance of divine service daily in behalf of
the king and the giver and their heirs. There had been
some diflieulty in the way of carrying out these provisions
on the part of the Prior of Taunton, which on the petition
of the Prior of Bustlesham was graciously removed, and
both parties were empowered to proceed in agreement with
the donor’s intentions for their respective benefit.f

In January, 1361-2, Prior Thomas de Pederton died,
and on the 17th of the same month the Canons received a
new Prior in the person of Walter de Grateley.t

* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 258.
+ Pat. 29 Edw. III, p. 1. m. 6.
t MS. Harl. 6964, p. 143. Rad. in Reg. Drok., 286,

|

46 PAPERS, ETC.

On the 14th of February, 1361-2, Willlam Wysman
was presented to the church of Ronyngton.*

On the 10th of May, 1362, William de Essch was pre-
sented to the church of Thurlokeston, void by the death
of Ralph Mareschal.f

On the 17th of the same month, William Donekyn
was presented to the vicarage of Nyhenhude, void by the
resignation of William de Esse.t

On the 29th of December, 1377, Prior Walter de
Grateley solemnly resigned his office in the Chapter House
of the Conventual Church. He had long been suffering
from the infirmities of age, and his House required a
younger and more active head. There is a memorandum
in the register of the famous William de Wykeham, Bishop
of Winchester, which is of special interest as furnishing
the names of the entire body of the Canons, fifteen in
number, on this important though melancholy occasion.
It is there stated that on the 29th day of December, 1377,
the seventh year of the pontificate of Pope Gregory XL,
there appeared, in the Chapter House of the Conventual
Church of the Priory of SS. Peter and Paul, at Taunton,
Master Thomas Spert, the official of John, Bishop of Bath
and Wells, and specially deputed as his Commissary, Henry
Persay and Walter Clopton, deputed by the Lord William,
Bishop of Winchester, together with Thomas Duffeld,
clerk, of the diocese of Sarum, notary public, in the pre-
sence of Brothers Walter Grateley, Prior, John Kynges-
bury, sub-prior, Walter Cook, cellarer, Peter Ilmynstre,
sacristan, John Cley, precentor, Thomas Ilmynstre, Walter
Gone, Thomas Grey, Roger Stacy, Thomas Askham,

* MS. Harl. 6964, p. 144.
+ MS. Harl. 6964, p. 148.
x MS. Harl. 6964, p. 149.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 47

Tholomeus, Frysel, John Welles alias Tappewere, John
Tuleye, Robert Newton, John Croukorn, and John
Russchton, Canons Regular of the said Conventual
Church. Disputes had arisen about the observance of
the rules, and it was also alleged that the administration
of the House both in spirituals and temporals was partly
neglected, owing to the said Prior being incapaeitated by
old age and other infirmities. Inquiries were made, and
the Canons interrogated; and presently the said Prior
submitted, and voluntarily tendered the resignation of his
office to the said Commissary.*

The House appears to have been without a Prior for
several months. It was not until the 18th of April, 1378,
that William de Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, patron
of the Priory, granted to the Canons his licence to elect a
Prior in the room of Br. Walter Grateley their late Prior,
the office being, as we have just observed, void by his free
resignation and voluntary cession.f It appears that John
de Kyngesbury, who in the list of dignitaries is named
the sub-prior, was elected to the vacant office; for on the
lst of May, 1378, William de Wykeham, Bishop of Win-
chester, wrote from Suthwerk to John, Bishop of Bath
and Wells, that he approved and consented to the election
which had been made of Br. John de Kyngesbury to the
Priorship of Taunton.f

One of the most conspicuous and pleasing features of
the landscape in the neighbourhood of the Priory was the
lovely river that meandered through the fair vale of
Taunton in a thousand picturesque windings, as though

* E Reg. Will. de Wykeham, Ep. Winton,, vol. IL., fol. elxvi.
+ E Reg. Will. de Wykeham, Ep. Wint,, vol. ır., fol. elxvi.
t E Reg. Will. de Wykeham, Ep. Winton., vol. ıt., fol. elxvib.

48 PAPERS, ETC.

loath to quit a scene of such rich and verdant beauty.
Immediately at the foot of Creechbury Hill, at a distance
of about a mile and a half from Taunton, were two well-
known mills, called then, as now, Bathpool Mills, the pro-
perty of the Abbats of Glastonbury, and rebuilt if not
originally founded, by Abbat Walter de Monyngton some-
where about the year 1364. The river furnished the
motive power of these valuable establishments, and con-
siderable jealousy was entertained of the use thus made of
it and the advantage thus derived. The Patent Roll of
the 8th of Richard II, contains a long and very interesting
account of an Inquisition made at Taunton, on the Tuesday
next after the festival of S. Egidius, in the sixth year of the
aforesaid King, or the 2nd of September, 1382, to deter-
mine the truth of certain complaints against the Abbat for
various ipjuries done by these his mills, which, as it appears,
he and his predecessors had held for eighteen years and
upwards, to the river, its produce, and its trade. Among
divers charges he is stated to allow willow and other trees
to hang over the banks of the Tone in the parish of
Monketon, so that boats are not able to pass as they were
wont between the mill of Tobrigge and Bathepole. The
site of Tobrigge mill was at some point of what is now
called the Back Water,— with its sedgy pools fringed with
old pollard willows, blackberry bushes, purple loosestrife,
and hemp-agrimony—which was possibly the mill-leet,
though, as I rather believe, the main channel of the stream,
commencing at Firepool weir, at which perhaps the mill
was situated, and rejoining the more modern though now
ancient channel under a rustic bridge of wood at a short
distance below Priory weir. It was also alleged that the
mill for grinding corn called Bathepolemille projected from
the bank of the river more by six feet than it did afore-

TAUNTON PRIORY. 49

time; that a fulling mill adjoining the said corn mill,
erected by Richard de Acton after the great pestilence—
that, perhaps, of 1369—-and also in the hands of the aforesaid
Abbat, was similarly objectionable; and that, by reason of
these impediments to the water, the cornfields and pastures
were inundated. The same injury and by the same means
was alleged to be done to the king’s highways between Taun-
ton and Bathepolebrigge. This, the local reader will not
fail to recollect, refers to the ancient highway, now for the
most part disused, which runs for a considerable distance
along the bank of the river above the mill, and is one of the

most pieturesque of the old Somersetshire roads, a very wil-
_ derness of verdure, the constant resort of gipsies who delight
in its quiet and shady nooks, and well-known to and well-
beloved by all Tauntonians. It was also asserted that,
through the building of the mills, the boats which used to
carry merchandise from Briggewater to Taunton could not
go as formerly. The complainants seemed determined to
make out a case, for they proceed to allege that the fish
which used to swim from Briggewater to Taunton were so
hindered by the aforesaid mills that they could no longer
swim as they were wont. And they added that the bank
of the river which used to be thirty feet in width, was
then not more than ten or twelve feet at the most, from
Bathepole as far as Cryche, so that boats could not pass as
they used to do. The Abbat pleaded in reply to these
charges that the trees complained of grew above the mill
of Bathepole, where boats never went, nor ought to, nor
could go ; that the new buildings of the mills were exactly
of the same depth, breadth, and height as the former had
been; that there was a place in the lower part of the said
mills, called Bathepoleerosse, up to which all boats came,
time out of mind, from Briggewater towards Taunton, and

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. G

50 PAPERS, ETC.

not higher nor further, but were there time out of mind dis-
charged and unladen ; that the Abbat had made a certain
eist, through which the boats could be drawn in time of
flood as far as the mill called Tobriggemill, and apart
from this not above Bathepolecrosse ; and that all injury
arising from the impediments alleged to be caused by the
willows and other trees was removed and entirely at an
end. The Abbat thereupon obtained a verdict. The
exemplification is dated, the King himself being witness,
at Westminster, the 15th of December, 1384.”

Prior John de Kyngesbury was gathered to his fathers
on the 5th of November, 1391. On the following day,
Brother John Russchton, Sub-Prior, and the Convent of
Taunton, wrote to William de Wykeham, Bishop of Win-
chester, to inform him that Br. John de Kyngesbury their
Prior had departed this present life on the 5th of Novem-
ber, and that his body had been buried; and that, being
without a Prior, they therefore begged that he their pa-
tron would grant them licence to elect another. The letter
was dated in the Chapter House of their Conventual
Church on the day aforesaid. On the 10th of November,
the Bishop from his manor of Esshere granted to the
Canons the licence which was thus solicited. On the
21st of the same month they proceeded to the election;
and on that day Br. John Rysshton, Sub-Prior, and the
Convent, wrote to the Bishop of Winchester informing
him that they had elected Br. Walter Cook, one of their
brothers and a Canon of their House, for their Prior, and
prayed the Bishop’s consent and approbation. This was
given. On the 27th of November, William de Wykeham
wrote from Esshere to Ralph, Bishop of Bath and Wells,

* Pat. 8 Rice. II., p. 2, mm. 43, 44.

TAUNTON PRIORY. öl

that he consented to the election that had been made of
Br. Walter Cook as Prior of Taunton, and begged the
Bishop to complete the said election.“

In 1397, the 21st of Richard II., the Prior is certified to
have lent the King the sum of fifty mares. At the same
time the Abbats of Sherburn and Keynesham lent forty
marcs each.f

In 1404, the famous William de Wykeham, Bishop of
Winchester, bequeathed to the Prior and Convent one
hundred marcs to pray for his soul. His will was dated
the 24th of July, 1403, and proved the 9th of October,
1404.

On the 21st of June, in the 7th year of Henry IV,
1406, licence was given, on payment of twelve marcs, to
Richard Otery, William Portman, Thomas parson of the
Church of Munketon, and Thomas Scory, to give and
assien to the Prior and Convent nine acres of meadow
land with their appurtenances situate in Taunton ; and to
the said William to give one messuage with its appurte-
nances also in Taunton, after the death of Walter Knolle
and Agnes his wife, who had a life interest in the property.
The instrument concludes with the usual reservations, &c.,
and is dated at Westminster, the twenty-first day of
June.f

In the same year, Walter occurs as Prior. This was
Walter Coke, who died in January, 1407-8.|

On the 18th of January, 1407-8, Robert Newton was
elected, and on the 31st of the same month was confirmed
Prior.$

* E Reg. Will, de Wykeham, Ep. Winton., vol. ır., fol, celi.
+ Rymer, Foed. Ed. Hag. tom. IIL, p. iv. 134.
{ Pat. 7 Hen. IV., p. 2. m. 22.
|| MS. Harl. 6966, p. 4. Dr. Archer, e Reg. Well.
$ MS. Harl. 6966, p. 4. Reg. Bowet, 48,

52 PAPERS, ETC.

On the 20th of June, 1408, John Newman was pre-
sented to the Church of Ronyngton.*

On the 1st of June, 1409, occurs Robert, already
noticed as Prior.f

On the 12th of August, 1413 (Collinson copied from
Archer the erroneous date, 1431), Prior Robert Newton
departed this life, and on the 1st of September Brother
Thomas de Ufcolme, was elected Prior. He was confirmed
in his ofice on the following day. There were then
fourteen Canons in the House.t

The injury alleged to be done to the trade of the river by
the mills at Bathpool was again the subject of judicial inves-
tigation in the year 1414. An Inquisition was held at
Taunton on the öth of November, in that year, the 2nd of
King Henry V. The Jurors, Thomas Osborn, Robert
Grosse, Almarie atte Wythy, Robert Bullyng, William
Snyffamor, Thomas Cachebar, John Haccombe, John
Alrych, John Domet, Richard Fenbrygg, Matthew Short,
and Robert Eysell, members of families which have already
occurred in the course of this memoir, afirmed that a
certain Walter, the immediate predecessor of the then
Abbat of Glastonbury, had made a certain watercourse
adjoining the said Bathepolemylle so narrow with an
obstruction of timber and massive masonry, through the
midst of the channel of the river between Taunton and
Bryggewater, that the river craft — “vocat’ Botes et
Trowys”— with their various freight, to wit, firewood,
timber, charcoal, pitch, salt, iron, lime, grain, ale, wine,
&c., rather a goodly list of Taunton requirements in
the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, could not reach

* MS. Harl, 6966, p. 14.
+ MS. Harl. 6966, p. 5.
t MS. Harl. 6966, p. 30. Dr. Archer, e Reg. Well.

1%

TAUNTON PRIORY. 53

their destination by reason of these his enclosures and
impediments, to the loss and damage of a thousand
pounds and much more, if a remedy were not quickly
applied.*

On the 18th of November, 1415, Prior Thomas Ufcolme
was summoned to Convocation at S. Paul’s in London.
Among others similarly summoned were John, Prior of
Bath ; Walter Medford, Dean of Wells; John, Abbat of
Glastonbury ; John, Abbat of Muchelney ; Leonard, Abbat
of Clyve; John, Abbat of Athelney; and John, Prior of
Bruton.f

In 1415 Orders were celebrated in the Church of S.
Mary Magdalene.}

On the 14th of January, in the 5öth of Henry VL,
1426-7, an Inquisition was taken with respect to a chantry
founded in the Church of S. Mary Magdalene by Robert
de Bathe and Tiffina his wife, who demised four messuages
with their appurtenances in Taunton, in the occupation of
John Walshe, Philip Gent, Walter Hulling, and Alice
Lytell, respectively, of the value of twenty-six shillings
and eight pence a year, for the use of the fraternity of
the Holy Cross in the aforesaid Church, to provide a priest
for such chantry. The bequest was originally made on
the 10th of December, 1397, and now took effect on the
deaths of the donors. The King’s licence is dated at
Westminster, the 13th of May, 1427.|

On the 5th of October, 1429, Thomas occurs Prior as
presenting to Clannaborough.

* Inquis. adq.d.2 Hen. V.,n. 13.
+ MS. Harl. 6966, p. 21.
t MS. Harl. 6965, p. 31.
|| Inquis. p. m. 5 Hen. VI,, n. 62.
$ Dr. Oliver, from Reg. Exon.

54 PAPERS, ETC.

In 1437 John Warr founded and endowed a chapel of
Bhalany Makdslehkrih ion Chdreder es: Margaret
Tanton, already mentioned in this memoir, for one or two
chaplains.*

Time, which brings mutation to all things, is now about
to carry us into days of commotion, disorder and trouble.
Among other evidences of violated peace, several councils
were convened for the purpose of introducing alterations
into the ecclesiastical system at large, in which the judg-
ment of the Christian world was exercised in the vain
attempt of satisfying the ever-craving desires of men who
are given to change, and love things more or less in pro-
portion to their novelty. One of these councils was held
at Ferrara, in order to bring about a favourite design of
many, the union of the Greek and Latin Churches.
Thomas Benet, Prior of Taunton, was summoned to this
council in April, 1438.

In the year 1444 the revenues of the Priory were valued
at £146 13s. 4d.}

Some unpleasantness occurred about this time in con-
nexion with the chapel of Wilton. It will be remembered
that Fons S. George was one of the chapels annexed to the
vicarage of S. Mary Magdalene, and that the vicar was to
serve the same at his own proper cost by himself or his
curates. This he appears to have omitted to do, and a
summons was issued on the 29th of March, 1444, to en-
quire into the reasons of his neglect.|

Orders were celebrated in the Church of S. Mary Mag-

* MS. Harl. 6966, p. 48.
+ MS. Harl. 6966, pp. 49,50. Reg. Staff. 145.
f Dr. Archer, e Reg. Well.
|| MS. Harl. 6966, p. 58.

Ya

TAUNTON PRIORY. 85

dalene, on the 19th of September, by the Bishop of Bath

"and. Wells. Robert Stillyngton, LL.D. of the diocese of

York, was ordained acolite and sub-deacon.*

The Bishop appears to have prosecuted enquivies, similar
to those just detailed, in respect of the other vicars and
curates. On the 21st of September, in the same year,
several of these, among whom was Richard Pomerey, chap-
lain of the chantry of S. Andrew in the Church of S. Mary
Magdalene, were admonished under pain of excommunica-
tion to be more observant for the future of the customs and
duties of their cures.f

Richard Glene, Prior, occurs on the 12th of June, 1449,
and was summoned to Convocation in the same year.f

In 1452 it appears that the Priory was burdened above
measure by the delivery of bread and ale to various reci-
pients in Taunton both of the poor and of the servants of
the House. Large as were the means at command, the
doles had become excessive. The Bishop issued his man-
date, dated the 28th of November, as to how far such
doles should be stayed, and that the serving men of the
said monastery should be paid according to their labours
in eatables, and drinkables, and convenient salaries, as
agreement could better be made with the same.

John Valens, chaplain, was presented to the Church of
Lydyard S. Laurence, and bound by oath to pay an annual
pension of ten marcs to his predecessor Thomas Drayton,
resigning on account of old age and infirmity.$ Ik is
possible that this may not be the exact place which this

* MS. Harl. 6966, p. 120.
r MS. Harl. 6966, p. 58.
t MS. Harl. 6966, p. 67. Reg. Bek. 88.
|| MS. Harl. 6966, p. 74.
$ MS. Harl. 6966, p. 107.

56 PAPERS, ETC.

notice should occupy in chronological order; but I have
no means of rectifying the error, if such it be.

At an Ordination held in the Church of S. Mary Mag-
dalene, on the Sth of March, 1459-60, John Arnold, M.A.,
of New College, Oxford, was ordained deacon, and priest
on the 29th of the same month.“

An Inquisition held in the Chapel of S. Martin, at
Bowe, on the 6th of August, 1470, found that the right of
patronage of S. Petrock’s, Clannaborough, in the Deanery
of Chumleigh, was vested in the Prior and Convent of
Taunton, and that they received four shillings per annum,
on account of a certain glebe of some fifty acres.f

On the 24th of October, 1470, Richard (Glene), Prior,
and his Convent, give the first presentation of the Church
of Lydiard S. Laurence to Robert Stowell, John Cheyne,
and John Trevilian.t

A Hospital for lepers had been founded near the Chapel
of S. Margaret, as early as or before the year 1280, the ad-
vowson of which was then given to the Abbat and Convent
of Glastonbury by Thomas Lambryth.| The charity was
at this time in need of pecuniary assistance, and on the 8th
of July, 1472, William Wayneflete, Bishop of Winchester,
by an instrument dated at Suthwerke as aforesaid, granted
an Indulgence of forty days to all who should extend
helping hands and contribute of their goods to the pious
work. The Indulgence was to last for a period of five
years.

* MS. Harl. 6966, p. 123.
+ Dr. Oliver, from Reg. Both., fol. 67. Reg. Fox, f. 148.
£ MS. Harl. 6966, p. 130.
|| Cart. Glaston. MS. Macro., fol. 119b.
$ E Reg. Dni. Will. Wayneflete, Ep. Winton. tom. ır., fo]. 152.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 57

Richard Glene, Prior, died on the 31st of January,
1475-6.”

On the 1st of February,1375-6, the Sub-prior and Con-
vent addressed a letter from their Chapter House and
under their common seal to William Wayneflete, Bishop
of Winchester, informing him of the death of their Prior,
Richard Glene, on the previous day, and soliciting him for
licence to elect another. The Bishop issued his licence,
dated the 9th of February, from his house in the parish of
S. Olave, Suthwerk. On the 23rd of the same month,
the Sub-prior and Convent, fifteen in number, addressed
another letter from their Chapter House and under their
common seal to the Bishop, setting forth that, out of the
superlative confidence which they had in his government,
they had unanimously elected him their arbiter, and sup-
plicating him to take this burden upon him, and to choose
from among their community as their future Prior one who
should be devout towards God, faithful to his patron, use-
ful to the House, and, as they hoped, affectionate to his
brethren and mindful of their interests. By an instrument
given under his seal in his manor of Waltham, on the 27th
of February, Bishop Wayneflete acknowledged the receipt
of this letter, and in virtue thereof nominated John Asshe,
a Canon of their Priory and one of their brethren, of the
Order of S. Augustine, and in the said Priory expressly
professed, of the lawful age, and in Priest’s Orders, &e., to
the oflice of Prior, and to govern the said Priory. The
Sub-prior and Convent being informed of this, accepted
the said John Asshe, and, by an instrument under their
common seal and dated in their Chapter House at Taun-
ton, certified that they had elected John Exceter, a Canon

* MS. Harl. 6966, p. 144.
WOL. Ix., 1859, PART IT. H

58 PAPERS, ETC.

and brother of their House, to be their procurator, for the
purpose of presenting the elect to the Bishop, and to ob-
tain his assent and all other things belonging to his oflice
of patron. Finally, by a document dated in his manor at
Waltham, on the 17th of March, Bp. Wayneflete informs
the Sub-prior and Convent that he had received their pro-
curator, John Exceter, and that the Prior elect had been
presented to him ; and that by these presents he gave his
consent and assent to the said elect and election.*

John Prowse occurs as Prior in 1492.

On the 3rd of September in the same year, Thomas
Birde, one of the Canons of the House, was elected Prior
of Berlich, and confirmed on the 6th of that month.

John Prowse occurs also in 1497.|]

Two years afterwards saw the Prior of Taunton admitted
to one of the most covetted honours that the Church could
bestow. By a bull, dated at Rome the 4th of May, 1499,
Pope Alexander VI. conceded to his beloved son John
and his successors, the privilege of using the ring, pastoral
staff, and other pontifical ornaments save the mitre ;
also of pronouneing solemn benediction after mass, vespers,
compline, &c., when, however, at such benediction there
should be present no bishop nor legate of the Apostolic
see; and of admitting to Minor Orders the Canons and
choristers of the said monastery.$ 'Ihis, we may be sure,
was welcomed as one of the crowning acquisitions of the
noble House to which it was conceded. The original

* MS. Harl. 6966, p. 144. Reg, Well. Stillington. Beg. Dni. Will.
Wapyneflete, Ep. Winton. vol. ıı. ff. 37b—39b.
+ Dr. Archer, from Reg. Fox.
rt MS. Harl. 6966, p. 149.
|| MS. Harl. 6966, p. 152.
$ MS. Harl. 6966, p. 158.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 59

instrument is still to be found among the MSS. at Lam-
beth, and from it I have copied all that is now legible.*
Many words have entirely perished from the combined
influence of neglect and damp, and a single touch would be
sufhicient to remove many more. It commences with
praise of the sincere devotion and religious excellence of
the community, and grounds upon these reasons the honors
and concessions which follow, removing from them and
each of them all ecclesiastical sentences, censures, and
punishments, and proceeding to confer on the Prior and
his suecessors the favours which have been already enume-
rated. The document is of special interest not only to the
historian of Taunton Priory, but to the student of monastie
annals in general. For although it was not uncommon to
grant to the Heads of the more important Religious
Houses the privilege of using the Paramenta Pontificalia,
which consisted, as we learn from the Ritualists, of sandals,
amice, albe, girdle, pectoral cross, stole, tunic, dal-
matic, gloves, mitre, ring, staff, and maniple, and of giving
Episeopal Benedietion in the Church and Refectory, it is
the only instance with which I am acquainted, and 1 am
not alone in this particular, of a Prior being authorised to
promote to Minor Orders the inmates of his own com-
munity. This, however, is distinetly stated—“ Canonicos
quoq’ et chorales dieti monasterii ad minores ordines
promouere libere ac lieite ualeatis.”

Another bull accompanied this in favour of the Priory.
This document follows the one just quoted in the volume
wherein it and many others have some ages ago been
together though loosely mounted. Unhappily it is in
even worse condition than its predecessor, while both of

* MSS. Lambeth. No, 643, art, 13.

60 PAPERS, ETC.

them are among the most frayed and effaced in the whole
collection, and is scarcely intelligible from the number of
words either obliterated in the body of the MS. or torn away
from the edge.“ It appears to have been in defence of the
Priory against certain “injuriatores,” and in confirmation
of the antecedent bull. It is addressed to the Bishops of
Worcester and Exeter, and, as it seems, although the
mutilations render this not quite certain, to the Abbat of
‘Glastonbury, approving and confirming certain privileges,
enjoining them to see to the solemn publication and effec-
tual reception of the aforesaid letters, and concluding with
a reference to the secular arm, in case, it may be presumed,
of any disobedience or opposition on the part of the
enemies of the House. The date of both instruments is
apparently the same—the 4th of May, 1499. A very
interesting addition to each is the endorsement, “vij®
Augsti a° 1537. Taunton.” written in a hand correspond-
ing in age with the period recorded, and furnishing us, as
we shall see presently, with the date of a circumstance
which was hitherto unknown.

On the 17th of December, 1501, John Samson, priest,
was presented to the vicarage of Nynhede, on the resigna-
tion of John Prowse, the Prior.f

On the 16th of September, 1502, John Prowse, Prior,
was presented to the Church of Lydeyard S. Laurence,
on the decease of John Vowell, by Nicholas Dissham, to
whom the right of presentation had been conceded for
that turn by the Prior and Convent.}

On the 20th of September, in the same year, John

* MSS, Lambeth, No. 643, art. 14.
+ MS. Harl. 6966, p. 161.
{ MS. Harl. 6966, p. 165.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 61

Baker, chaplain, was presented to the Church of Comflory,
on the resignation of John Prows, Prior of Taunton.*

On the 29th of June, 1504, a faculty of plurality was
granted to Hugh Thomas, vicar of S. Mary Magdalene ;
and on the 29th of the following October, he was pre-
sented to the vicarage of Dulverton, on the resignation of
John Edyngton:: the said John to receive an annual
pension of £6 13s. 4d.f

On the 11th of September, 1505, Thomas Symons was
presented to the Church of 'Thurlockston, on the resigna-
tion of John Symmys: to pay the said John an annual
pension of 6s. 8d.t

Once more we have an account of various complaints
which were made of the injury done by certain mills
to the neighbouring lands. On this occasion it was the
mill of Northeory which was the cause of offence, as inun-
dating and injuring the meadows. In the Wells Register
is a letter from the Chapter to the Bishop of Winchester
in extenuation of the alleged grievance, dated October,
1505.|

John Tıygge was presented to the vicarage of Nynehede
on the 9th of September, 1507, on the resignation of John
Sampson : to pay to the said John an annual pension of
408.

On the 30th of October, 1508, William Bury, M.A.,
succeeded Hugh Thomas, deceased, in the vicarage of
S. Mary Magdalene, on the presentation of John Prows,
Prior, and Convent.“

* MS. Harl. 6966, p. 165.
+ MS. Harl. 6967, f. 3.
t MS. Harl. 6967, f. 4b.
|| MS. Harl. 6968, p. 45.
$ MS. Harl. 6967, f. 8.
«' MS. Harl. 6967, f. 10.

62 PAPERS, ETC.

On the 4th of November, in the. same year, Thomas
Cokysden was presented by the same John Prows, Prior,
and Convent, to Nynehead, on the resignation of John
Trigge : to pay to the said John Trigge an annual pension
of 405s.*

On the 29th of November, in the same year, Peter
Druet, M.A., was presented by the same John and his
Convent to the vicarage of Dulverton, void by the death
of Hugh Thomas. He was to continue the payment of
the annual pension of £6 13s. 4d. to the former vicar,
John Edyngton, who, after the manner of annuitants, still
survived.f

On the 2nd of April, 1509, William Mors, LL.D., was
presented to the vicarage of Pytmynster by the same John
and Convent, on the death of Richard Mader. William
Mors had obtained a dispensation for plurality, and that
the Churches of S. Mary of Corscomb and of S. Dubrieius
of Porloke should be united to his prebend of Combe
Secunda, on his assertion that the income of those two
Churches did not exceed £26 13s. 4d. per annum.f

John Prows was summoned to convocation, in Decem-
ber, 1509. Among others summoned at the same time
were Richard Beer, Abbat of Glastonbury ; Thomas
Broke, Abbat of Mochilney ; John Wellyngton, Abbat
of Athelney ; and John Peynter, Abbat of Clyve.|

On the 11th of August, 1511, Richard Pleysse was pre-
sented to the vicarage of Kyngyston, on the death of

Robert Good.$

* MS. Harl. 6967, f. 10.
+ MS. Harl. 6967, f. 10.
t MS. Harl. 6967, f. 11.
| MS. Harl. 6967, f. 12b.
$ MS. Harl, 6967, f. 15.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 63

John Prows, Prior, resigned his dignity on the 3rd of
February, 1513-4.

On the day just mentioned the Sub-prior and Convent
made humble supplication to Richard, Bishop of Winches-
ter, for licence to elect another Prior, representing that
their late head, John Prous, had freely resigned his dignity,
and that the House so deprived was widowed and destitute
of the comfort of a Prior and pastor. To avoid the injury
that from this state of things would ensue, they solieit his
licence to proceed to the election. The letter was dated
in their Chapter House on the 3rd day of February, 1513.
On the 11th of the same month the licence was granted.
The Bishop enjoins them to choose for their Prior and
pastor a man devoted to God and apt in all things for the
government of the House, one able to defend and protect
its rights in all things, and faithful and obedient to himself
his ecelesiastical superior and patron.*

Their choice fell upon Nicholas Peper. He was elected
on the 23rd of February, 1513-4, thirteen Canons being
present and three absent. We find him in the same year
summoned to convocation, together with the Abbats of
Glastonbury, Mochelney, and Athelney, just mentioned,
and William Dovele, Abbat of Clyve.f

On the 1st of September, 1514, John Hyll, bachelor of
law, was presented to the Church of Combeflory, on the
resignation of John Baker : an annual pension of five mares
to be paid to the said John Baker.t

In November, 1515, Nicholas Peper was again sum-
moned to convocation.|

* E Reg. Dni Ric. Fox, Winton. Ep. tom. Iıı. fol. 30.
+ MS, Harl, 6967, ff. 19b, 24b. Dr. Archer, from Reg. Adrian.
t MS. Harl. 6967, f. 20.
| MS. Harl. 6967, f. 21.

64 PAPERS, ETC.

John Prows, formerly Prior, died in the earlier part of
1519, and John North succeeded him on the 11th of May
in that year in his benefice of Lediard S. Laurence.*

On the 17th of February, 1519-20, Thomas Wyse,
bachelor of law, succeeded William Mors, deceased, in the
vicarage of Pytminster, on the presentation of John Tre-
gonwyl, clerk, patren for that turn by the concession of
the Prior and Convent.t

Robert Morwent, M.A., succeeded John North, ae
ceased, in the Church of Ledyard S. Laurence, on the
9th of August, 1521.4

On the 10th of April, 1522, Robert Huet was presented
to the Church of Rovington, on the death of Robert
Tedworth.|

On the 12th of August, 1523, John Hogans was pre-
sented to the church of Thorlakyston, on the death of
Thomas Symons, by Nicholas, Prior of Taunton, and
Convent.$

Nicholas Peper, Prior, died on the 26th of September,
1523 ; and on the 19th of November following, William
Yorke, Canon of Bruton, was nominated Prior by Cardinal
Wolsey, to whom the House had given licence to appoint
a successor. There were on this occasion twelve Canons
present, and one absent.“]

On the 2nd of December, 1524, John Slocock was pre-
sented to the vicarage of Dulverton, on tlıe resignation of
William Bowreman.**

* MS. Harl. 6967, f. 26.
+ MS. Harl. 6967, f. 27b.
t MS. Harl. 6967, f. 29».
|| MS. Harl. 6967, f. 30b.
$ MS. Harl. 6967, f. 42b.
< MS. Harl. 6967, f. 47b. Dr. Archer, e Reg. Clerk.
** MS. Harl. 6967, f. 43b.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 65

On the 21st of April, 1526, John Hill was presented to
the Church of Runyngton, on the death of Robert Huet.*

William Wyneyard, M.A., succeeded, on the 13th of
March, 1526-7, to the vicarage of Pytmynster, vacant by
the resignation of James Henton.f

On the 21st of March, 1529-30, James Dowdyng was
presented to the Church of S. Egidius of Thurlokeston, on
the resignation of John Ogans.t

We have now arrived at the period of a transaction
which availed to make yet another accession to the power
and wealth of the Priory. The history of the proceeding
has hitherto been very obscure, but sufficient can be
presented tö render it intelligible.. There was a small and
little known Priory, dedicated to S. James, and founded
for Canons of the order of S. Augustine and the regu-
lation of S. Victor, at Staffordell or Staverdale, about
three miles from Wincanton. The Priory Church was the
mother church of the neighbouring town. The honour of
the foundation is divided between Sir William Zouche and
Richard Lovel, lord of the Manor of Wincanton, to each
of whom it is attributed. The former seems to have been
the actual founder, but the latter so considerable a bene-
factor as to merit an almost equal share of praise for the
good work. The Priory was endowed with lands in
Wincanton, Prestley, Rackington, Eastrepe, Cattlesham,
Thorn-Cofän, and other places in the county of Somerset,
and in Buckham-Weston, in the county of Dorset. In the
24th of Edward III., Sir Richard Lovel, knt., founded a
chantry in the Priory Church, with a messuage, a mill,
two carucates of arable land, twelve acres of meadow,

* MS. Harl. 6967, f. 37b.
+ MS. Harl. 6967, f. 38b.
£ MS, Harl. 6967, f. 33b.
VOL. Ix., 1859, PART II. I

66 PAPERS, ETC.

twelve acres of pasture, ten acres of wood, and the rent
of one pound of pepper, with their appurtenances situated
in Presteleye, for a Chaplain to say daily service for the
souls of himself, his father, mother, ancestors, and all the
faithful departed. The Inquisition was dated at Bruton,
on the 12th of October in the year aforesaid.* Many
members of the families of S. Maur and Zouch found a
last resting place in the Cönventual Church, which, having
become ruinous, was rebuilt by Sir John Stourton, knt.,
and consecrated on the 4th of June, 1443. The names of
a few of the Priors have been recovered, and I hope at a
future period to add from our MSS. repositories some
additions which I possess to our present amount of pub-
lished information. I am now only concerned with the
House from its annexation to Taunton, which came about
in the following manner.

William Grendon, Canon of Taunton, was elected Prior
of Staverdale in 1524. Not long after his election he
appears to have taken steps to unite his Monastery to-his
former and we may imagine favourite home. In this
attempt he succeeded, and, with consent of his Convent,
the union was effected in the 24th year of Henry VII.
The king’s licence for this proceeding is entered on the
Patent Roll of that year, and conveys permission to
William Grendon, Prior of Staffordell, or Staverdale, to
give and concede the whole of their possessions, and rights
belonging thereunto, including the site, circuit, and pre-
einct of the Priory itself, together with all and singular its
churches, chapels, cemeteries, sanctuaries, manors, lord-
ships, messuages, houses, mills, dovecots, gardens, lands,
tenements, reversions, rents, services, court leets, views of

* Inquis. p. m. 24 Edw. III. (2 n.) n. 10.

A a

TAUNTON PRIORY. 67

franc-pledge, advowsons of churches, chapels and chantries,
marshes, waters, fisheries, vivaries, warrens, and all other
inheritances whatsöever, to William Yorke, Prior of Taun-
ton, and his Convent for ever. And further, of his more
abundant grace, the king gives the advowson, although
held of himself in capite, of the Parish Church of Wyn-
calnton, hitherto enjoyed by the Prior and Convent of
Staverdale, to the Prior and Convent of Taunton, without
fine or fee great or small. The Patent is dated, witness
the king himself, at Westminster, the 9th of April, 1533.*

At this point we may conveniently stay our progress, and
endeavour to realize the more striking features of that plea-
sant pieture of cloister life and medisval usage which the
varied details before us, culled from all sources and direc-
tions, may easily present to our intellectual vision. First in
the foreground stands a noble establishment, the home of all
the religion, learning, and eivilization of the age, the fount
and centre of that gracious influence which alone rescued
England for many generations from moral degradation and
mental barbarism. Here was located a sacred community
that gave, so far as such was possible, a tone of refinement
to the neighbourhood which its presence ennobled, the
patrons and supporters of everything that could dignify,
elevate, and adorn mankind. In this and similar places,
green islands of devotion in the midst of the world’s desert,
calm houses of escape from unruly violence and the strife
of tongues, quiet abodes of thoughtful meditation and
saintly counsel, religion found a home specially suited to
her holy mind. Sacred literature but for them would have
left the world, and art but for them would have had no

* Pat. 24 Hen. VIIL, p. 2, m. (31)5.

68 PAPERS, ETC.

students. Most that we now enjoy and value is their
precious and sacred bequest. The remains which we
possess of ancient learning, whether sacred or secular, the
consequent knowledge of our divine religion, the very bells
that still call us to prayer, and the churches that usually
receive men who respond to the invitation, our libraries,
our colleges, our schools, our hospitals, all tell of those
old ages of faith and patience, and make forgetfulness of
their graces an ingratitude and a sin. It is nothing to the
purpose that some of their enemies have taken delight in
exposing the rare instances where the cloister concealed
practices against which morality protests. It would indeed
be strange, if, among the multitude of Religious Houses
wbich then covered the face of England, some few devia-
tions from rectitude were not to be discovered. As long
as human nature continues to be what it is, so long it
would be madness and folly to expect any other result.
This, however, must by no means be allowed to prejudice
the case of the great majority of such establishments. The
evils that were found in a few of them—and the greatest
wonder is that the instances were not more numerous—
were, and still are, prominently displayed, and execration
of them is sedulously eourted ; while the immaculate condi-
tion of the general body, a fact admitted even by unscru-
pulous enemies who had an interest in proving them as
degraded as possible, is too often passed over, even by those
who ought to know better, as a matter of no importance
and unworthy of remark. Such persons are contenders
not for truth but for party.

The external garb of the bountiful and gracious monastie
spirit was no doubt magnificently represented in Taunton
Priory. For many generations the Augustine Canon was
celebrated as uniting in his single person the accordant

TAUNTON PRIORY. 69

excellencies of the scholar and the saint. He was both
patron and professor of the literature of his age; and his
home breathed of the refinement of his elegant mind, and
bore the impress of his exquisite taste. Here the master
influence was most conspicuously evidenced. Here, in their
beautiful House, amid sights and sounds that fit men for
heaven, amid holy labours and the quiet study of earlier
Christianity, lived, as I have elsewhere endeavoured to
picture them and their brethren, the inmates of the fair
Priory of Taunton. Removed from the petty cares of
ordinary existence, they attained to a degree of mental
eultivation to which few others could aspire. And this
was combined in numberless instances with that clear and
sagacious perception of the character of their times, which
made them accomplished men of society as well as profound
students of the cloister. A. body of ecclesiastics thus ruled
for several centuries the religious destinies and spiritual
life of Taunton ; and their government, so far as we can
now arrive at an insight into it, was characterized by the
excellencies of the rulers themselves. The outer man, too,
symbolized the inner, for even in the Canon’s very aspect
there was that which was imposing in no little degree.
He wore an albe that reached to the foot, and was fastened
round the waist with a girdle of black leather. His amice
enwrapped his shoulders like a cloke. Over these he had
a long black mantle, to which was fastened a hood of the
same colour; and a high black cap covered his head, and
contrasted well with his flowing beard. Few ecclesiasties
of other Orders could have rivalled either in mental
dignity or in external bearing the Augustine Canon of
Taunton.

The Church and Priory were no doubt worthy of the
companionship. That the former was magnificent we have

70 PAPERS, ETC.

positive proof. We can catch but a glimpse, however, of its
beauties, and with that must endeavour to be content. As
we have already seen, it was commenced as early as, if not
previous to, the year 1277, and was still unfinished in
1337. It will thus be apparent to the architectural reader
that the edifice was erected in the best and purest age of con-
structive art. The “Early English” was passing into the
“ Decovrated” at the beginning of the interval, and hefore
its close the latter style had arrived at its full exuberance of
beauty. Ofthe other peculiarities of the structure, although
we may be sure that it harmonised in its perfection with
the charming scene which lay around it, we are unhappily
possessed of no memorial. 'The only guess that we can
make with any degree of probability, is that it had an
ornament to which the builders both of the Early English
and Decorated periods were greatly indebted for the mar-
vellous effect of the exteriors of their edifices—a lofty spire
at the Junction of the transept with the nave and choir.
Thus much the Common Seal of the Priory would suggest,
in which one of the two Apostles to whom the House was
dedicated is represented holding such a church in his right
hand. The domestie portion of the Priory, too, was
certain to be a collection of goodly edifices. Mention has
already been made of the Chapter House; but of quiet
cloister and lordly refectory, scriptorium, guest-house,
infirmary, and dormitory, the record is gone, we fear, for
ever. And yet all were assuredly splendid of their kind,
as the home of a community wealthy and powerful, and
the frequent resort of the noble and renowned. The Lord
Prior and his Canons often found themselves surrounded
by personages of publie importance in Church and State;
and their lodging and cheer were doubtless agreeable to
their condition, and indicative of that spirit of liberal

ELLS ANASTATIC PRESS, IPSWICH

MIET /|
I 5

TAUNTON PRIORY. 71

hospitality which the rule alike of Religion and of their
Order did so much to foster.

There can be little doubt that the great entrance gate-
way of the Monastery was in Canon Street, so called after
the dignitaries of the House, and in which the massive
foundations of ancient edifices, not improbably belonging
to them, have repeatedly been discovered. How far the
buildings extended towards the east and south we have no
means of knowing, save by the indications already referred
to. There is, however, on the left hand of the visitor as
he enters the fields, a large and pieturesque barn, contain-
ing some work of the sixteenth century, but in which have
been inserted by the questionable dietate of modern taste,
several ornamental details of uncertain derivation. [See
the Plates.] This may be taken as the limit of the Conven-
tual buildings in the northern direction.

Notwithstanding the silence of historians and the ab-
sence of manuscript authority on the subject, it is next to
certain that the Conventual Church, like multitudes of
similar structures, was a favourite place of sepulture. The
only asserted instance which I have met with is unfortu-
nately founded on error. It is that of Jasper Tudor, duke
of Bedford and earl of Pembroke, the half brother of King
Henry VI. who died in 1497, and, by his will, dated the
15th of December, 1495, is said to have ordered his
body to be interred in this monastery, and also that a
monument should be erected over it, and that forty pounds
a year should be paid out of his lands for four priests to
pray for ever for the health of his soul, and for the souls
of his father, of Katharine, sometime Queen of England,
his mother, of Edmund, earl of Richmond, his brother,
and of all other his predecessors.* It was Keynsham,
however, and not Taunton, which was thus selected.

* Dugd. Bar. ı1., 242.

12 PAPERS, ETC.

It may be well to remove another error, which is more or
less prevalent in the neighbourhood, namely, that the
Church of S. James was the old Church of the Priory.
S. James’s was a chapelry of the Vicarage of S. Mary
Magdalene, and was not made a distinet and independent
Parish until some time subsequent to the Dissolution.
Its truly venerable and stately Tower,— which in real
dignity, simple sublimity, and architectural excellence far
surpasses in the judgment of the writer its later and more
pretentious neighbour, magnificent as that was, which has
recently been demolished,—yet happily endures to inspire
men with respect for the ability of their forefathers, and,
although it has no claim to be considered the appendage
of the grand and sumptuous Conventual Church, should
be loved and guarded as a priceless treasure, all the more
invaluable from its now standing alone.

If we regard the influence of the place, as a member of
the vast ecclesiastical establishment of the land, we may
trace numerous evidences of the exercise of a power the
very reverse of contemptible. The Priors of the House
were among the foremost of their fellows. As we have
repeatedly observed in the previous pages, they bore their
share and played their part in the great events of a series
of generations, and those among some of the grandest and
most interestingin our national annals. It appears that they
were usually elected from the superior oflicers of the com-
munity. At the resignation, for example, of Prior Walter
de Grateley, John de Kyngesbury his successor was Sub-
prior, and Walter Cook who followed him was cellarer.
The election was always conducted with great regularity.
After the burial of the deceased Prior, the patron was
solieited to issue his licence for the choice of a successor.
This obtained, the Convent proceeded to their solemn

TAUNTON PRIORY. 73

duty. The mass de Spiritu Sancto was celebrated in their
Conventual Church, after which the Canons were sum-
moned to the Chapter House. The patron’s letter was
then read, the votes were taken, and, on the majority being
declared, Te Deum was sung, the elect was conducted to
the high altar, and his election solemnly declared. The
confirmation of him by the Bishop to his dignity followed
shortly after, and his conventual reign began.

It will not be amiss, as the detail has been so consider-
able, if I place before the reader in a consecutive series a
list of the Priors, referring him for further particulars to
our previous pages. I am happy to add—although I have
not usually drawn attention to the wholesale omissions and
errors of the few previous writers on this strangely over-
looked and forgotten House—that several of these digni-
taries now find their place in the assemblage for the first
time.

1. Stephen occurs as a witness in documents of 1159,
1174, 1189, &e.

2. Robert, in a document of 1197.

3. John, in documents of 1204, &e.

4. John, in documents of 1313 and 1314.

5. Stephen de Picoteston died in 1325.

6, Ralph de Culmstock was elected on the 6th, received
assent on the 11th, and was confirmed Prior on the 23rd
of January, 1326; was one of the sub-collectors of the
Tenths, 1330; was commissioned to purify his church,
1332; was summoned to the council in London, 1332 ;
was appointed a collector of the Tenths, 1334; and resigned
office on the 22nd of March, 1339.

7. Robert de Messingham was elected on the 19th of
April, 1339; and died in March, 1346.

8. Thomas Cok was elected on the 30th of. March,

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. K

74 PAPERS, ETC.

received assent on the 4th of April, and did homage on
the 16th of June, 1346 ; and was cited to the church of S.
Mary le Bow on the 21st of July, 1353.

9. Thomas de Pederton died in November, 1361.

10. Walter de Grateley received assent on the 17th of
January, 1362 ; and resigned office on the 29th of Decem-
ber, 1377.

11. John de Kyngesbury was elected in April, and
received assent on the 1st of May, 1378; and died on the
öth of November, 1391.

12. Walter Coke was elected on the 21st and received
assent on the 27th of November, 1391 ; occurs in 1406 ;
and died in January, 1408.

13. Robert Newton was elected on the 18th, and con-
firmed Prior on the 31st of January, 1408; occurs in 1409;
and died on the 12th of August, 1413.

14. Thomas de Ufeolme was elected on the 1st, and
confirmed Prior on the 2nd of September, 1413; was sum-
moned to convocation in November, 1415 ; and presented
a clerk to Clannaboroush, on the 5th of October, 1429.

15. Thomas Benet was summoned to convocation in
1438.

16. Richard Glene occurs in June, 1449 ; was sum-
moned to convocation the same year; presented a clerk
to Lydiard S. Laurence, 1470; and died on the 31st of
January, 1476.

17. John Asshe was nominated his successor on the 27th
of February, and received assent on the 17th of March,
1476.

18. John Prous occeurs Prior in 1492 and 1497 ; received
permission from Pope Alexander VI. to use the pontifical
insignia, on the 4th of May, 1499; was presented to
Lydeyard S. Laurence in 1502; presented clerks to S.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 75

Mary Magdalene and Ninehead, 1508; was summoned to
convocation, 1509 ; resigned office on the 3rd of February,
1514; and died, 1519.

19. Nicholas Peper was elected on the 23rd of February,
1514; was summoned to convocation the same year; was
again summoned to convocation, 1515; presented a clerk
to Thurloxton in August, 1523; and died on the 26th of
the following September.

20. William Yorke was nominated Prior on the 19th of
November, 1523.

21. William Wyliyams, or Andrewes, was the last Prior,
of whom more will be detailed presently.

In 1377, John de Kyngesbury was Sub-prior, Walter
Cook was Cellarer, Peter Ilmynstre was Sacristan, and
John Cley was Precentor.

In continuation of these registers, and again referring the
reader to previous pages for the various details, we notice
that the Incumbents presented by the Prior and Convent to
their benefices may be classed as follows. The lists, though
necessarily imperfect, are valuable so far as they extend.

Inceumbents of Taunton S. Mary Magdalene :——Simon
de Lym, 1308; Richard de Poterne, 1322; Robert Pippe-
cote, 1346 ; William atte Stone, 1349; Hugh Thomas,
; William Bury, 1508. William atte Halle was Curate
of S. James’s and Stapelgrove, in 1353 ; and Richard
Pomerey was Chaplain of S. Andrew’s Chantry in the
Church of S. Mary Magdalene, in 1444.

Incumbents of Kingston :—Richard de Pym, 1339;
Willam de Ayssheleigh, 1344; Robert Good, —— ;
Richard Pleysse, 1511.

Incumbents of Lydiard $S. Laurence :——Thomas de
Columbrugg ; John de Kyngesbury, 1318 ; Simon

00)
de Fareweye, 1351 ; Thomas Drayton, ; John Valens,

76 PAPERS, ETC.

1452 (?) ; John Vowell, ; John Prowse, 1502; John
North, 1519 ; Robert Morwent, 1521.

Incumbents of Pitminster :——John Stede, 1341 ; Robert
Cox, 1349; Richard Heryng, 1350; Simon de Cherde,
1351; Richard Mader, ; William Mors, 1509;
Thomas Wyse, 1520; James Henton, —— ; William
Wyneyard, 1527.

Incumbents of Dulverton :— Adam, ; Thomas Flour,
1332; Hugh Lovegeer, 1349; John Edyngton, -
Hugh Thomas, 1504 ; Peter Druet, 1508; William Bowre-
man, ; John Slocock, 1524.

Incumbents of Combflory :——John de Kyngesbury, 1317;
Thomas de Columbrugg, 1318 ; Geoffrey de Reyny, 1336;
William de Modbury, 1349 ; John Prows, ; John
Baker, 1502; John Hyll, 1514.

Incumbents of Ninehead :—Richard le Bölleingen, 1315;
William ‘Wysman, 1349 ; John Cryspyn, 1350; William
Esch, 1350 ; William Donekyn, 1362 ; John Prous,
John Samson, 1501; John Trygge, 1507; Thomas Cokys-
den, 1508.

Incumbents of Thurloxton :—William de la Pytte, 1318;
Gilbert, ; Walter de Quenton, 1333; Reginald
Marchall, 1347; Ralph Mareschal, 1349; William de
Essch, 1362; John Symmys, ; Thomas Symons,
1505; John Hogans, 1523 ; James Dowdyng, 1530.

Incumbents of io :— William de Lydeford,
; William Syward, 1326; John Cryspyn, 1349;
William Wysman, 1350; William Wysman, 1362; John
Newman, 1408 ; Robert Tedworth, ; Robert Huet,
1522 ; John Hill, 1526. 4

The possessions of the Priory were for the most part in
its immediate neighbourhood, a great portion of which was

represented, as we have already noticed, in the pages of its

TAUNTON PRIORY. rd

ample cartulary. Among the more distant, although
situated in the same county, were the valuable manor of
Dulverton, which has so often been the subject of remark,
the vills of Broggelesnole and Levercote and the hamlets
of Telchete and la Merse, mentioned in the Perambulation
of the Forest of Exmore, dated on the 22nd of March,
1342,* and the lands of Staverdale and Thorn-Coffin. In
Devon there were the Churches of Willand and Clanna-
borough, and lands at Woodham, Godesaltr, Prior Merston,
and Monksbeare. In Dorset there was Buckham-Weston.
The whole constituted a spacious domain, the beauty and
fertility of which it would have been hard to parallel.
With regard to the revenues of the House, which were
proportionably considerable, some curious information may
be offered. At the time of the Valor of Pope Nicholas
IV., 1288-1291, the temporalties belonging to the Com-
munity within the Archdeaconry of Taunton were taxed,
according to the Memoranda Roll of the 34th of Edward
III., 1360, at ccexvs. ; namely, Nyenhide, xxvs.; Spaxton,
xtijjs. 4d. ; Dulverton, xxvjs. ; Thornlockeston, Ixxs. viijd. ;
Northperton, xxs. ; Stoke, xxxs.; Westmonekton, xs.;
Lydiard S. Laurence, xxs. ; and Esse Prior’s, cs. Some
time subsequently a commission was issued, bearing date
the 26th of January, 1341, and addressed to certain Asses-
sors and Venditors, who were thereby instructed to levy
the Ninth of corn, wool, and lambs in every parish, for the
maintenance of the king’s wars and the good keeping of
his realm, according to the aforesaid Valor. They were
directed to take inquisition upon oath of certain jurors re-
sident in every parish as to the true value of the Ninth.
The returns which they made state at the same time the

* Per. For. de Exmore, ad Adam, de Domerham, Hist, Glast. j. 193, 194.

78 PAPERS, ETC.

amount of the former tax, and, if the Ninth did not equal
that sum, the reason of such deficieney. In the roll just
quoted, to which also reference has been cursorily made in
a previous portion of this memoir, the Prior is recorded to
have objected to the amount at which he was rated, which
was no less than the sum of cixs. vijd. ob (halfpenny).
Upon examination of the return, it was discovered that this
amount was computed as follows :—Northeory, ijs. ijd, ;
Nyenhide, xiijs. iiijjd; Bishop’s Lydierd, vjs. vüjd.; Spax-
ton, vs.; Dulverton, xijs.; Thorlokeston, xxvjs. viijd. ;
Pedirton, iijs.; Stokepire, vs. vjd. ; Monketon, xijs. vjd.;
Lydierd S. Laurence, xjs. vijd. ob. ; Esse Prior’s, xs. Re-
ference was then made to the roll of the 20th of Edward
IL, or the Taxation of Pope Nicholas, and the temporal-
ties were stated as there set forth ; when it appeared that
the Prior and his predecessors paid a Tenth for all and
singular of these temporalties. It did not, however, appear
that the Prior had then any temporalties taxed in Northeory
and Bishop’s Lydiard. Accordingly, he stated his willing-
ness to pay the sum demanded of ixs. on these two proper-
ties, but that he had no others on which an assessment might
lawfully be made. After a lengthened investigation, the
Prior appeared in Easter Term in the Court of Exchequer,
when an inquisition was exhibited, taken at Somerton in
the presence of the said Prior by John de Hundesmore
his attorney, on the Monday in the fifth week in Lent,
1361, in which the jurors on their oath declared that the
Prior had no other temporalties save those which had been in
the possession of his House in the year 1291, and which
were then taxed, except one carucate of land and a rent of
fifty shillings with its appurtenances in Dulverton, which
Prior Robert de Messingham (or Cressingham) had pur-
chased for himself and his successors ; that the value of the

TAUNTON PRIORY. 19

Ninth from that property was xld. ; and that Monketon and
Westmonekton, Pedirton and Northperton, and Stoke
Pirye and Stoke, were respectively two names for one and
the same place. It was thereupon decided that the Prior
should pay the aforesaid sums of ixs. for Northcory and
Bishop’s Lydeyerd, and of xld. for Dulverton, and that he
xvijs. lijjd. ob., at which he had been illegally assessed.*

These notices furnish us among other information both
with the relative value of the estates at one and the same
time, and with their comparative value at different periods.

Monastie annals are by no means silent in regard of
those who bore the name of the House, either perhaps
from some early connection with it, or from having been
born in the adjoining town. William de Tanton was Prior
of Winchester in 1249 ; John de Tanton was Canon of
Wells, 1247 ; Gilbert de Tanton was Almoner of Glaston-
bury, 1274; John de Taunton was at the same time
Abbat of Glastonbury; Walter de Tanton was Abbat of
Glastonbury, 1322 ; John de Tanton was vicar of North-
cory, 1328 ; Robert de Tanton was prebendary of Wiveles-
comb in the Church of Wells, 1333; Nicholas de Tanton
was vicar of Brompton Regis, 1348; and John de Taunton
was Abbat of Cirencester, in 1440. This list could be
greatly extended if necessary. But it is more than sufli-
cient to show that ecclesiastics who were connected, as at
least is probable, with the Priory or the town, attained
during a long series of years to some of the highest digni-
ties which this and other dioceses included within their
pale.

That one of the accomplishments of a monastery here

%* Memorand. Rot. 34 Edw, IIL, Trin.

30 PAPERS, ETC.

flourished in perfection, it is probable that I possess a very
interesting proof. I have in my collection a Psalter, with
a litany of the Saints and other prayers, written in the
latter part of the thirteenth or the beginning of the four-
teenth century, most beautifully executed and undoubtedly
by an English scribe. A calendar is prefixed, singularly
valuable, together with the litany, for the number of
English Saints which it records. Nearly at the end of
the book, which is of what would now be called small
duodecimo size, and has two hundred and forty three
leaves, is an illumination consisting of a scroll on which
is inscribed “Jon Taunton. MS.” It is not unlikely that
this charming volume, unless it were the work of the famous
Abbat of Glastonbury himself, who was a great lover of
books, was produced in the scriptorium of Taunton Priory ;
and, if so, the House had no reason to be ashamed of its
penman. That the community were possessed of a library of
some importance is evident from the fact that Leland, who
visited the Priory within a short period of the suppression,
although, as usual, he is unhappily silent about the edifice
itself, noticed three uncommon books in the collection of
the Canons, the “Chronicon Ivonis,” “Philaretus de
Pulsibus,” and “ Theophilus de Urinis,” * representatives
of the literature and science of the medi»val age.

I am also in possession of a very interesting relic which
was found about thirty-five years ago, during the process
of removing an accumulation of mud in the bed of the
Tone, within a few hundred yards from the site of the
Priory, and which has been in my custody for the far
greater part of the intervening period. It is a leaden
bulla of Pope Sixtus IV., who occupied the chair of $.

* Lel. Collect., tom. IIL., p. 153.

BULLA OF POPE SIXTUS IV

(Actual Sıze.)

Found in the River Tone near l'aunton Priory.

Ye

u «
a TRETEN
5.27 ee j
1

4 Lars en er #
c& H, T z

ee DIN
e uch +

GIRDLE ORNAMENT.

(Actual Size.)

Found on the site of Taunton Priory.

KNIFE HANDLE.

A

(Actual Size.)

Found on the site of Taunton Priory.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 81

Peter from 1471 to 1484, and was originally attached to a
document not improbably addressed to Taunton Priory or
its Prior. [See the engraving.| On the purport of the
missive it would of course be vain to speculate.

For another object of interest connected with the House
I have to thank my old friend Henry Norris, Esq., late of
South Petherton, who most kindly presented it tome. It
is a brass ornament which formed the termination of a
leathern girdle, and is a work of the fifteenth century.
On one side are the words fhe mercp, and on the other
lady helpe. It was found on the site of the Priory in the
year 1812, and was sold at the time of its discovery to his
learned father. [See the figures.]| About the same time
and in the same locality was found the haft of a knife in
morse-ivory, which was similarly offered for sale and is at
present also in my possession. It is of the latter part of the
fifteenth century, and consists of a group of three figures,
probably intended for Faith, Hope, and Justice, which are
surmounted by a couchant lion. Faith is represented with
a staff, Hope with an anchor and a bird, and Justice with a
sword and a pair of scales. [See the figures.] During the
last ten years a few coins have been offered to me for sale,
with the special recommendation of having been discovered
on the same site, or in the immediate neighbourhood, com-
prising pennies of Henry Il, Edward IIlL, and Richard
I., and a groat and shilling of Henry VIII. These, how-
ever, as it was well known that I was interested in the
locality, and as the circumstances of the alleged discoveries
were not free from suspicion, I receive with considerable
hesitation, and tender a word of caution to those of my
readers to whom similar objects may hereafter be ex-
hibited.

Up to this period we have seen the noble House which

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. L

82 PAPERS, ETC.

is the subjeet of our present research rising hastily during
the first part of its existence into a position of wealth and
power, and then for a series of generations dispensing with
a high and liberal hand the manifold blessings of which it
was the favoured depository. Age after age it has been
entering into the ecelesiastical life of England, an integral
portion of the mighty whole, and making its presence felt
in conformity with the great purposes for which it had
received its being. A change has now arrived. By
this time Taunton had received its last Prior, and the
House its last legitimate master. From this point,
then, the spectator must be invited to look upon a
far different pieture. There is from the nature of things
an unhappy necessity forced upon the writer, who endea-
vours to rescue from oblivion the annals of any one
of our old Religious Houses. The histories which are
the result of such reverent care differ oftentimes in all
possible ways, so far as the records of good deeds can be
unlike each other ; but the last chapter of the tale, the last
fearful scene, is the same in all. The same demoniac
passions, the same sacrilegious wills, the same accursed
hands, prompted the outrage and perpetrated the crime.
Glastonbury, and Taunton, and Muchelney, and Cleeve,
and Buckland, and Crewkerne, and Montacute, and
Athelney, and hundreds of others—all tell of the same
remorseless tyrant, the same fawning band of greedy
courtiers, and the same atrocious spirit of wrong, robbery,
and murder, all the more abominable and disgusting from
the pretence of religion with which it was invested.

Little more than a year had elapsed after the annexation
of Staverdale to Taunton, when the opposition of the
clergy to the king’s matrimonial speculations brought about
the severance of the Anglican Church from the spiritual

TAUNTON PRIORY. 83

supremacy of the See of Rome. Inasmuch as the Pope
refused to sanction the divorce of the monarch’s outraged
wife, and to permit him to elevate one of her waiting-
women to her place, Henry, who appeared to think that
every thing whether of heaven or earth was created solely
for his peculiar gratification, resolved to break off all con-
nexion with him, and to declare himself pope within his
own unhappy dominions.. We shall entirely miss the real
meaning of the affair unless we keep this circumstance
prominently in view. It was for his own loathsome pur-
poses that his public acts were originated and carried out.
The great body of the clergy, who were known to be
antagonistie to his wishes, was therefore to be coerced into
seeming approval, and the statute which declared the
Royal Supremacy was the instrument by which it was
effected. The clauses of the declaration which the Reli-
gious Houses were called upon to make distinetly prove
that the confirmation of the divorce was the leading result
intended, and that the renunciation of the pope was a
childish act of mere retaliation for his opposition to the
despot’s will. The declaration itself was a carefully pre-
pared document, a blank form of which was carried to every
community, with spaces left for the insertion of the name
and style ofthe particular House, and room at the conclusion
for the signatures of the brethren. It sets out with some
fulsome assertions of their duty to the unserupulous sove-
reign who so little regarded his duty to them, and of the
sincere, entire, and perpetual devotion, faith, observance,
honor, worship, and reverence which they were prepared
most willingly to render to him. It then proceeds to
announce that the Heads of the House in question with
one mouth, voice, and unanimous consent and assent,
profess, attest, and faithfully promise and vow for them-

84 PAPERS, ETC.

selves and their successors, all and singular, that they will
pay entire, inviolate, sincere, and perpetual fidelity, obser-
vance and obedience to the king and to Anne the queen his
wife, and to his offspring by the same Anne then begotten
or to be so: that they will at all possible times notify the
same to the people : that Henry is the head of the Church
of England : that the Bishop of Rome is to be considered
of no higher dignity than any other bishop in his own
diocese : that no one either in private or in publie assem-
blies, or in his prayers, shall call the Bishop of Rome by
the title of pope or supreme pontiff, but by the name of
the Bishop of Rome or of the Roman Church : that the
laws and decrees of the king shall be maintained, and that
those of the Bishop of Rome shall be renounced : that the
Catholic and Orthodox faith shall be duly preached : that
in public prayers mention shall first be made of the king,
as the supreme head of the Church of England, then of
Queen Anne with her family, and lastly of the Archbishops
of Canterbury and York, with the other orders of the
elergy : coneluding with an oath of obligation and faithful
and perpetual observance of all and singular the matters
aforesaid.

Such was the compulsory and unsparing declaration.
It was made in the Chapter House of Taunton Priory,
and sealed with the common seal, on the 15th of Septem-
ber, 1534, in the 26th year of “the most invincible prince
Henry VIII.” In the attesting witnesses, fifteen in number,
we are furnished with the names of the entire community.
They were William Wyllyams, Prior, William Gregory,
Sub-prior, Antony Whytt, William Bayle, Nicholas Beram,
Thomas Dale, John Heyward, William Culron, John
Cokeram, John Dyght, John Warryn, Richard Fynsham,
William Cobock, William Brynchmede, and William

SEAL OF TAUNTON PRIORY.

SR

ve

KIORRIETE,
)
RE,

(Actual Size.)

From an Impression attached to the Surrender in the
Außmentation Ofäce.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 85

Bleche.* An impression in red wax is appendant of the
Common Seal of the Priory. It is of early character, of
the vesica form, and represents the Apostles SS. Peter and
Paul standing under crocketed canopies with a diapered
background. The architectural peculiarities are indicative
of the age of Edward IL., and therefore exactly harmonize
with those which prevailed at the period of the erection of
the Conventual Church. The Apostles are represented
with their characteristie insignia, the former with his keys
in his left, and a church, to which reference has already
been made, in his right hand, and the latter with his
sword. The legend reads, 9. STIORU. APBDSOTICLDR.
PCI ***T. PAULI. *ARTDNICHID. C**
* = =, —Sigillum Sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli
Tantoniensis Ecclesie. (See the figure.)

The declaration of the king’s supremacy was the first
step towards the spoliations that ensued. The tyrant
discovered his power and acted accordingly. Those that
refused the declaration, as Bp. Fisher, Sir Thomas More
and others, were sent to the block or the halter, and those
who complied with it were but reserved for future ven-
geance. Things did not, indeed could not, long remain as
they were. To enable the king to maintain his position as
“supreme head on earth of the Church of England,” it was
presently enacted that every possessor of any ecelesiastical
dignity, office or place should surrender to him the first-
fruits, revenues and profits for one year, and, further,
should pay to him every year a tenth of all his revenues,
emoluments and profits, and that the first payment should
be made at the Feast of the Nativity, 1535. Hereupon
Commissioners were appointed by Parliament to enquire

* Ex Autograph. in Off. Rec. olim Augment,

86 PAPERS, ETC.

into and report upon the value of all ecclesiastical posses-
sions throughout the country. This was promptly carried
into effect, and the returns which were made by these
officers constitute the well-known “Valor Ecclesiasticus,”
in which they were digested and presented to both houses.

The “ Valor” of Taunton Priory furnishes us with a com-
plete view of the possessions of the House immediately
before the suppression. It shows also what sums were paid
to various elerical and lay persons, bailiffs, sheriffs, auditors,
and other civil ofücers, the charges due to the chief Lords,
the amount spent in alms by reason of any foundation or
ordinance, with the names of the parties so commemorated,
&c. We are thus presented with a most lively pieture of
the rights on the one hand and the liabilities on the other
of one of the greater monasteries during its last few years
of place and power.

As the return is necessarily of so great importance and
interest, I have thought proper to give it in translation,
and with its minute details more intelligibly represented
than as they stand in the original. 'The amounts, how-
ever, still figure in their ancient form, as I was unwilling
to modernize my authority when there was little or nothing
to be gained by the alteration. In studying the account
we should not forget either the easy terms which monastic
tenants notoriously enjoyed, or the immense increase in
the value of property from those times to our own, con-
siderations of the greatest importance in enabling us to
arrive at a due appreciation of the position of the House.
It may also be premised that the record includes not only
the possessions already noticed as donations to the Priory
at various earlier periods, but those also which were lately
added by the union with it of the Priory of Staverdale.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 87

HOUSE AND PRIORY OF TAUNToN.
Declaration of the Extent and Annual Valüe of all and
singular the Lands, and Tenements,.and other Possessions,
with the Tithes, Oblations, and all other Issues of the
divers Benefices and Chapels belonging and appropriated
to the aforesaid Priory, in the time of William Andrewes,
now Prior thereof.
Ess£e,— (Ash Priors.)
Value in assized Rents
of the Customary
Tenants zu 11° 1x4
Demesne Lands .. lin, 2
Out ofthis a rent, annually, an
To William Frances vij’ cn
To the Lord of the Manor Pa
of Bp’s Lydeyarde xjjd
So now clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other

Casualties, in common years, xx
Fines of lands 3 r xlüij‘
WESTOWE.

Assized Rents ofthe Cus-
tomary Tenants .. 1xxj‘ vjt

Demesne Lands ee air Ri
Out of this, annually, en
To the turn of the Sheriff er
of Somerset .. xjj! a
Tothe Lord ofthe Hun-

dred of Williton ij°
So now clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other
Casualties * te
Fines of lands EN BL 25

88 PAPERS, ETC.

MIDDELTON.
Rents both of Free and of
Customary Tenants 1xij° vj?

Demesne Lands Ju
Demesne Lands in the
hand ofthe Lord x“ xjixiiijs vjd

Out of this,
The fee of Stephen
Stroude, bailiff of
the same eluach
So now clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other
Casualties u 2 vj’ vuj@
WILLonD.
Assized Rents of the Cus-
tomary Tenants vijlix° x!
Demesne Lands viji xvüj‘11j° Re
Out of this annually,
To the Lord of the
Manor of Holberton iij° vij“
So now clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other

xiji sxiiije

xviijiiije vija

Casualties a BT
Fines of Lands ns Ri 15
THURLOXSTON.

Value in Rents of Free
as of Customary

Tenants zb:
Demesne Lands exiiij° ob.

Out of which there isan
annual payment,
To the Master of the
Hospital of Bryge- xiijr ijnj
water un Sa

TAUNTON PRIORY. 89

To the turn of the

Sheriff of Somerset 11j@ zviijl je viijd
To the Lord of the

Hundred of An-

droyfelde nr ze
To the Lord of the
Manor of Dunster i1jd

So now clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other

Casualties e- EB» 2:
Fines of lands u a 1,
BLACKEDON.
Assised Rents of the Customary
Tenants .. . A1jb. zyijü ob, |
Demesne Lands .. ae RR cix® ixd ob.
Perquisites of the Courts and
other Casualties a xvj®
TOBRUGGE.
Assised Rents of the Customary
Tenants B- * exiij° x4 |
Demesne Lands HR . Rz) joy yprizeyl
Perquisites of the Courts and other
Casualties er ie xvjü

DULVERTON DEMESNE.
Assised Rents of the Free as of the

Customary Tenants .. 2 ad DER <-
Demesne lands .. “r viji j1j° ix@
Out of which, annually,
To the Lord of Dunster .. xiijd
To the Lord of Hawkerige 1° ı) xlvijs jüija
A pension to the Prior of
Bustelham Mountegue vj“ xiij® je

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. M

90 PAPERS, ETC.

A pension to a chantry priest

of Donyatte es Ixvj°’ vijj@
The fee of William Glosse,
bailiff ofthe same .. x]:

So now clear
DULVERTON PARsoNAGe.
Assised Rents of the Free as of Customary
Tenants, clear 2 Bi nie
DULVERTON Bistzwıdk)
Assised Rents of the Cus-

tomary Tenants .. xlxjd E28
Demesne Lands He
Perquisites of the Courts and other Een
Casualties Be e% Ix®
Fines of lands ur a aaesi,
Pıxston.

Assised Rents of the Cus-
tomary Tenants .. cs vjd

Demesne Lands a
Out of which annually, IT {
To the Bp. of Winches- zu zvüj x
ter, achief rent, .. xjjd zyhajenge
To the Abbat of Glas-
tonbury u” viyj@

So now clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other
Casualties . . 11j° n1jd
Tauaron ER PoRTAMm.
Assised Rents of the Cus-

tomary Tenants xji vijxdob.
Perquisites of the. Courts ziijt xiiljs vjd ob.
and other Casualties vj‘ vujd

Fines of lands KT. xxS

a nn u UND UL

TAUNTON PRIORY. 91

Canon =
Assised Rents of the Cus-
tomary Tenants xxvijt xij’ vj@ ei
Sale of works ae vij° vj@

gli xu°

Perquisites of the Courts and other Pl; .;
Casualties r I 0.2.5
Fines of lands ei xxij°

Fons Be —(Wilton).
Rents of the Customary
Tenants ae lix® ml ol
Sale of works a 01-5
Perquisites of the Courts and other
Casualties u a 11j° 11)
GAULDON.

Rents of the Customary
Tenants, with works v x° vjü
Out of which, annually,
xli vijj‘ ix@

" vejje

Demesne Lands BE in yelledı
ah
To the Lord of the Manor
of Pylish, a chief rent vr
So now clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other
Casualties “ 11j° 1jd
THURLEBERE.
Assised Rents of the Customary
Tenants .. Sir ine |
Perquisites of the Clnete and other ji xv° j@
Casualties |
Fines of lands eis PAL US 0:1 ii
KYnGIsHILL.
Rents of the Free as of the Customary
Tenants > RARUeNL: 131 si ee za
Out of which, annually, kr
To the Lord of Strengiston for achiefrent ij“
So now clear

92 - PAPERS, ETC.

WEHITEBRULL.—(Withiel.)
Rents of the Customary Tenants, clear .. xxxj'
STAFFORDELL.
Annual Rent of the farm of the Manor, as by the
Indenture of Nicholas Fitz-James .. ö ce
WYNCAULTON.
Assised Rents of the Cus-
tomary Tenants viiji vij‘ >|
Out of which, annually, vi v
To the Lord Henry
Daubeny a 2 vi xv° vjjÜ
So now clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other
Casualties « I we
Fines of lands a: as xxd
RUNDEHILL.
Assised Rent ofthe firm ofthe Manor ix!
Out of which, annually,
To the turn ofthe Sheriffof Somerset xv!
A chief rent to John Boneham, Esq. ij‘
A chief rent to the heirs of Chalket
for land in Cleyanger 65 xijt
So now clear
Barow.
Assised Rents of the Cus-
tomary Tenants viijf vj' vj“
Out of which, annually,
To the Lord Abbat of
Glastonbury, for lands

PRETER |

ji v1

vi xilj° ix@

vijl jijs xji

in Batcombe “: x111jt viji vij°xj®
To the heirs of Rodney for
land in Lovyngton xvijä

So now clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other
Casualties Mr or v’

TAUNTON PRIORY. 93

BRUETON.
Rents of Free and of Cus-
tomary Tenants xjji xijj° v@

Out of which, annually,
To the Lord of the Hun-
dred of Cattisaishe, as
for a chief rent rev
To the Abbat of Bruton xijd
To the Lord of Norton

Farrys = zip | mann
To the Lord Henry Dei ‚sl vapzje
beny, for a chief rent Üxixs gja
forland in Bryggewater xij“
For the fee of Egidius
Slade, steward of the
same . .xx°
For the fee of William
Love, bailiff of the
same .. ...XX°
So clear
Perquisites of the Courts and other
Casualties de . ixs jnjd
Fines of lands = 2 2.2.4
THORNECOFFYN.
Rents of free and of Customary Tenants, per
annum, clear Ein nie FE: an ii
RENTS OF CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND.
For one burgage in Langporte .. v

Ofcertain Tenementsin Athelbury _xiij° iijd

Certain rents in Canon Street .. xxxiij°

Caplond >> “ Ban I Fa

Grassecrofte - sn Tau Yo mdıl!
Next the Chapel, Ariiatan ee vage ij
Oldeclyf .. eg un v® [

94 PAPERS, ETC.

Plaistrete .. = 2 lee
Briggewater En or Ra
Taunton .. a &i:);
Certain Rent of John ea reed
RecEIPTS.

For a certain annual rent from the

Lord of the Manor of Hocke-

combe .. a" ei xxd
For a similar rent from the Vica-

rage of Kyngeston .. a re

For a similar rent from the Rec- ij ys vija
tory of Clowyngborow ar ame

From the Rector of Orchard, for a
similar rent SE v

From the Vicarage of Dulvertan
for a similar rent .. SE lx®
DEMESNE LANDS NEXT THE PRIORY Hövsk
From the Issues and Annual Value of certain
Demesne Lands, in the Lord’s hand, er N
lying by and about the Priory House, by Ds
the oath of four honest and lawful men |
SALE OF THE TITHES OF GRAIN AND MEADOWS,

AS BELOW.
Tithes of Corn of Kyngeston
and Cothelston .. 2

Tithes of Corn of Hamwode, par-
cel ofthe Parish of Trull ... vijl! xvjü

Pallyngisfelde and Holeford .. c®
Wyncaulton Sr ap
Nynehed . u ri
Dulverton .. REIN mE ei
Tithes of Meadows of naar
and Cleyhill 3: =. 1j°

tn

TAUNTON PRIORY.

Tithes of the Meadows of Ro-
bert At-mershe ee
Tithes of Corn of Thurlebere
Tithes of the Rectory of Oter-
forde ;«
In all

jxi yje vijja

xxxij°

xiijjd

IssUES AND PROFITS OF THE TITHES OF GRAIN, WITH
OTHER TITHES AND CASUALTIES OF CHAPELS,
AS BELOW.

The Tithes of Grain of the
Parish of S. Mary Magda-
lene, with the Oblations and

other casualties a0 ERRjU a

The Tithes of Grain of Corffe,
Pitmyster, and Trull, with
the Oblations and other
casualties Re &

The Tithes of Grain of the
Parish of S. James’s and
Stapulgrave, with the Obla-

xijlt jije

tions and other casualties xiijii ixs

The Tithes of Grain of White-
hull, with the Oblations and
other casualties h

The Tithes of Grain of Esse,
with the Oblations and other
casualties e

The Tithes of Grain of Trulle,
with the Oblations and other
casualties A

The Tithes of Grain of
[Bishop’s] Hulle, with the
Oblations and other casual-

ixli vje

. vijlixiije

yü

kIoB.. „; == Ioayjl zw

xj"

yd

if sup j-

96 PAPERS, ETC.

The Tithes of Grain of Russhe-
ton, with the Oblations and
other casualties Kerze Tja
The Tithes of Grain of Wilton,
with the Oblations and other
casualties = lu yit
In all
Sum total of the value as well of all \
the Temporals as of the Spirituals >cecexxxviiji viijs xd
aforesaid |
From this are to be deducted,
ALLOWANCES, PENSIONS, AND STIPENDS, AS BELOW.
For a perpetual annual Pension
to the Vicar of Taunton ... xxli
For the Stipends of divers
Chaplains serving the Cha-
pels, as above,—namely
To John Selake, chaplain of Esse er nl

....n...

To John Hare, chaplain of Hill

Bishop’s en ro
To John Stotte, er of
Russheton and Stoke . vjixijajd
To John Baillyff, chaplain of Corffe es ijssjijli
To Tbomas Cocks, en of
Wilton > c®
To William Badenek lin
of S. James’s ... der vl zig ana
To Humfrey Bradley, chaplain
of Whitehull ... ar een"

To two Chaplains serving in
the Church of Staffordell,
according to the Ordination
of William Yorke, late Prior
of Taunton a A

TAUNTON PRIORTY.

PAYMENTS.

To the Church of Wells, as for
an annual Pension from
Staffordell

To the Archdeacon of Taunton,
for the rent of the aforesaid
Churches and Chapels, an-
nually

To the same, for procurations
of the said Churches

An annual payment to the
Rector of Hidon

And Mouncketon, for a certain
annual rent

To the Bp. of Bath, for procu-
rations

To the Bp. of ee

_ annually, for a chief rent of
land in Grassecroft
Baldewynsmede ...
Kyngishill
and Tolond

To the Archdeacon of Wells,
annually, for procurations
of the Church of Wyncaul-
ton .. ... ...

To the Bp. of Bath, for a
certain rent issuing from
the Rectory of Wyncaul-
ton .. ...

Annual payment a bs heirs
of Beaumont as for a chief
rent ... ... ...

VOL. Ix., 1859, PART II.

........

. XXxilj° 1lijd

x® 11j@

I vijd

xj’ vijt

vj’ vijjd
xxij®
vij°

vj° vaijd

jija
jjs

ix® xd ob’

........

11J° je

ije

97

vilji v® vilj@

98 PAPERS, ETC.

ALMS, FROM ORDINATIONS AND FOUNDERS,.

In alms Be namely every Fri-

Blesans, per annum ... viij3 xi1j° 11154

On the anniversary of the said Henry,
in four quarterly payments of
xilij° 1j% each hs ..

In alms given to the poor by the
Ordination of William Gyfford,
some time Bp. of Winchester,
namely every Sunday xiiij"

On the anniversary of Thomas Bekyng-

ton, some time Bp. of Winchester xxxix‘ iijjd

According to the Ordination of John

Ivj® viija

1x: viij@

Aisshe of Staffordell lijj* i1j@
Of the gifts of divers others, viz.
Sir William Bondevyle xxx
Thomas Mawdelyn, clerk vj’ vij@
Margery Froment, widow xiij° 111jd
John Prescote xiij° 11j°
Walter Dowlynge _... xxxillj° v1j@
John Tose . xvilj ıj%
‚ Roger Hill 8
To seven poor persons residing near
the Priory House, yearly Elli)

To four ofthe poor of Staffordell, by the
Ordination of John Lord Zouche,
John Lord Storton, William Yorke

late Prior of Taunton, with others x1j! ii1j*

On the anniversary of Baldowin, some
time Bp. of Winchester, and on
Maunday Thursday

x2° 11354

xljliix®

TAUNTON PRIORY. 99

SALARIES.
For the Salary of Sir Nicholas
Wadam, Chief Steward of the
Possessions aforesaid oe. RER“
For the Salary of Roger Yorke,
Sergeant at law and Steward
of the Manor of Staffordell
with its members under the
Conventual Seal ... ag
For the Salary of John Sooper,
Auditor of the Possessions
aforesaid de eftlevjfnue
For the Salaries of divers ofäcials,
bailiffs, or colleetors of certain
rents, viz., Taunton Extra
Portam, Canon Street, Staffor-
dell, Fons Georgij, Gauldeon,

and other places, viz.,

xixl vs jijd

George Speake sum; KARv want
Richard Grey oe x]:
John Alford Zar rt
Sum ofthe Allowances ... elijji — —1
And so now there remains clear after
all deductions ... .s. caljyji vıj xd
The Tenth from thence u xzviiji xijexdob’q’.*

We have here a balance-sheet for every part of the pro-
perty, an exact return of income and expenditure, giving
us without dificulty and at a single glance the proceeds of
the several estates, the deductions to which they were
subject, and the surplus that, after all the issues were

* Val. Eeccl., vol. I., pp. 168, 169, 170.

100 PAPERS, ETC.

disbursed, still remained available for the provision and
maintenance of the House.

In addition to the foregoing details the Valor furnishes
us with the names of several other incumbents at the
period of its formation, 1535.

William Bury was vicar of “ Mawdelyn,” which was
valued at xx! 11j° 111j%,

In the same Church of S. Mary Magdalene there were
several chantries, which are thus given, together with the
names of their ineumbents :—

The Chantry of the B. V. Mary— John Tuell.

„ S. Nicholas— Robert Bailliffe.

6 Jesus—John Wely.

Yi S. Andrew—John Harvye.

» Holy Trinity—Ralph Wylkyns.

35 — Alexander Magote.
= S. Ethelreda— William Calowe.

At the same time Richard Jeffrey was Incumbent of
Kyngeston with the Chapel of Cutston (Cothelstone), Ed-
mund Turnor of Combefllory, Robert Morwent of Lydeard
S. Laurence, John Marler of Nynehede, John Hill of
Rownyngton, and William Wyneyard of Pytmyster.*

From our knowledge of the character of Henry, we may
be well assured that the interval between the compilation
of the Valor and the appropriation of the property which
it represented was but a short and hardly perceptible step.
As in a more ancient instance, the possession of the vine-
yard was too tempting an acquisition even for robbery and
murder to offer any decided resistance to a tyrant’s will.
There was a difficulty, however, in his path which required
some craft to overcome. And never was a more thoroughly

* Val. Ecel., vol. L., pp. 171, 172, 178.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 101

diabolical mode employed to obtain a shameless end than
that to which his agents had resort. Sir Thomas More
was hardly laid in his bloody grave when the infamous
Cromwell proposed and carried into effect a so-called
Visitation of the Religious Houses. When the avowed
object was plunder, when the visitors, who were perfectly
cognizant of their master’s design, were sent for the very
purpose of bringing an evil report upon the places which
they inspected, when their own advantage was in exact ratio
to the degree of eriminality which they should succeed in
attaching to their victims, and when they were rewarded in
proportion to the insolence of their language and the atro-
eity of their behaviour, we need not wonder at the manner
in which they conducted themselves, or at the returns which
they made. The marvel is. not that many reports were
condemnatory but that any were of a different complexion.
The ofhicial account of the visitation of Taunton Priory is
not known to exist, but the date of it may be said to be at
length recovered. It was doubtless on the 7th of August,
1537, that the reprobate priest Dr. Layton, the ever-ready
calumniator and false accuser, whose name I mention
for the purpose of afixing to him the infamy that he
deserves, made his appearance at the monastery. This,
the reader will recollect, is the date endorsed on the bull
of Pope Alexander VI. already referred to, which among
other documents passed under his inspection. His report
we know not; though from such an inquisitor it could
hardly be expected to be favourable.

In the previous year and during the course of these
last mentioned enquiries came the dissolution of. the
lesser monasteries. The King attempted to seduce
the minds of the more conseientious into at least taecit
acquiescence with his plans, by promising to create

102 PAPERS, ETC.

new Bishopricks in several of the larger dioceses.
Taunton among other places was selected for that honor.
On the Patent Roll of the 29th of his reign is a
mandate to Cranmer the Archbishop of Canterbury,
setting forth that the Bishop of Bath and Wells had
signified to him the need under which that diocese lay of
an active Suffragan, and that he had presented to him two
clerks, William Fynche late Prior of Bremar, and Richard
Walshe Prior of the Hospital of S. John Baptist of
Bridgewater, both in Priest’s Orders, born in lawful matri-
mony, of lawful age, learned both in Spirituals and Tem-
porals, and without Canonical impediment of any kind,
one of whom he had humbly and devoutly supplicated that
he would select for the high ofice. Further, that he, of
his special grace and mere motion, nominated William
Fynche, one of the aforesaid, to be Suffragan Bishop of
Taunton, and that he gives and confers on him the style,
title, and dignity of Suffragan Bishop. Finally, that he
requires the Archbishop to consecrate the said William
Fynche, thus nominated, and to confer on him Benedic-
tion, and all the Episcopal Insignia, and all and singular
other things which it belonged to his Pastoral Office to
confer. The missive was dated on the 25th of March,
1538.*

It is hardly necessary that I should inform my reader
that William Fynche was the last as well as the first
Bishop of Taunton.

The tempest was now all but come upon the greater and
richer Houses, and the enemy waited but time and oppor-
tunity to accomplish the work on which he was bent. It
is not my province, however, to dwell upon the general

* Pat. 29 Hen. VIII. p. 5, m. 23.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 103

preliminaries of the sad tragedy. I must hasten to the
point at which Taunton Priory once more enters upon the
scene.

The efforts of the Commissioners had been specially
directed to induce the oceupants of the Religious Houses
to make a voluntary surrender of their possessions. Two
modes were adopted for this desired result. On the one
hand they were allured to comply by the promise of pen-
sions, and on the other endeavours were made to frighten
them into acquiescence by threats of the exposure of imagi-
nary offences, and of the punishment of evils which had
no foundation save in the minds of the visitors them-
selves. Some were proof against both of these manoeuyres,
and them, by trumped up charges of treason, or by
the assertion of the concealment of their most valuable
property, which if true was perfectly justifiable, they
mercilessliy tortured to the death. It has struck mul-
titudes in later times with wonder, that the shameless
attack on the Religious Houses was attended with so
much apparent success; and it has been oftentimes in-
ferred that the aims of the king and his courtiers must
have been warmly seconded by the acquiescing verdiet of
the people at large. The contrary of this is the truth.
The people looked upon the scenes that were disgracing
the land with horror, consternation, and loathing, and
every here and there, as in the West of England itself,
rose in rebellion against the tyrant and his myrmidons.
Nor—and let us not forget this—could the attempt have
been successful, had it not been for the want of concen-
trated effort on the part of the clergy themselves. Singly
they strove, and singly they were of course overcome.

The storm at length burst upon Taunton. It was on
the 12th of February, 1539, that the Prior and Canons

104 PAPERS, ETC.

met in their Chapter House, and, in the presence of the
Commissioner, John Tregonwell, unwillingly signed the
instrument of Surrender. "That it was done at the violation
of every natural and reasonable feeling cannot, I presume,
be questioned. It would indeed be impossible to frame a
document, the terms of which could be more at variance
with the minds of those who attached to it their hand and
seal. Like the declaration of supremacy already described,
it was prepared before-hand, with blank spaces reserved for
the insertion of the name and style of the particular House
for which it was made to serve, which in the present in-
stance are supplied ina hand and with writing materials of
a different kind. “To all the faithful in Christ,” says this
vile effusion, “to whom the present writing shall come,
William Wyllyams, Prior of the Monastery or Priory of
the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul of Taunton, in the
county of Somerset, of the Order of S. Augustine, and the
Convent of the same place, health eternal in the Lord.
Know ye that we the aforesaid Prior and Convent, with
unanimous assent and consent, &ec., from certain just and
reasonable causes”— which are, however, neglected to be
stated—“ specially moving our minds and consciences,
have willingly and of our own accord given and conceded,
and do by these presents give, concede, grant, and confirm
to our most illustrious prince and lord Henry the Eishth,
by the grace of God king of England and France, defender
of the Faith, lord of Ireland, and on earth supreme head of
the Church of England, the whole of our said Monastery
or Priory of Taunton aforesaid, and also all and singular
our manors, domains, messuages, gardens, curtilages, tofts,
arable lands, and tenements, meadows, pastures, woods,
underwoods, rents, reversions, services, mills, passages,
knights’ fees, wardships, natives, villans with their follow-_

TAUNTON PRIORY. 105

ers, commons, liberties, franchises, jurisdietions, offices,
court-leets, hundreds, views of franc pledge, fairs, markets,
parks, warrens, vivaries, waters, fisheries, ways, roads,
void places, closes, advowsons, nominations, presentations
and donations of churches, vicarages, chapels, chantries,
hospitals and other ecclesiastical benefices of what kind
soever, rectories, vicarages, chantries, pensions, portions,
annuities, tenths, oblations, and all and singular our emolu-
ments, fruits, possessions, inheritances, and rights whatso-
ever, as well within the county of Somerset, as within the
counties of Devon, Dorset, and elsewhere within the king-
dom of England, Wales, and the Marches, in any way per-
taining, belonging, or annexed to the said Monastery or
Priory.” To this they add the gift of all their charters, evi-
dences, writings, and muniments. Allthese possessions are
given unreservedly to the aforesaid most invincible prince to
use, dispose, alienate, grant, convert, and transfer, as shall
be most agreeable to his royal will. The very same terms
are used, in derision we may well suppose, as those which
abound in the ancient instruments of saintly benefactors ;
and the pillaged and powerless victims conclude with the
declaration that “the aforesaid lands with their appurte-
nances we by these presents will warrant to our aforesaid
lord the king, his heirs, and assigns, against all the world
for ever. In witness whereof we the aforesaid Prior and
Convent have caused our common seal to be aflixed to
these presents. Dated in our Chapter House of Taunton
aforesaid, on the 12th day of the month of February, in
the thirtieth year of the reign of King Henry aforesaid.”
As if the seal were not sufhcient, the signature of each of
the community is thus added in the margin :——
“P’ me Willyl'm Wyll’ms, P’or’.
P’ me Will’m Gregory, Subp’orem ibm.
VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. [6)

v

106 n PAPERS, ETC.

Thom?s Matheu.

Wylf Bayly.

P’ me Nycolam Ber?m.

P’ me Joh’nem Haywerd.
Thomas Dale.

P’ me Will’m Culrun.

P’ me Joh’nem Warryn.

P’ me Willyelmu’ P’son.
John Cokeram.

P’ me Wyli’m Brynsmede.” *

That man must be possessed of a hard and cruel heart,
who can look at these signatures in the original document
without emotion. The writer of the present lines can
lay claim to no such apathy. To him these unsteady and
hesitating characters are a most deeply affecting indication
of agonized hearts and trembling hands, of a convietion
that all that was dear was not only at the mercy of a
sacrilegious tyrant but was gone for ever, of desolation and
despair of soul from the knowledge that almost before
those letters should have become dry the havoc and
pillage would begin—that all that was left to them of their
beloved and beautiful home was a wretched pension depen-
dent on the caprice of implacable enemies, and that their
future was a life-long wandering over a new and inex-
perienced world.

Nothing now remained but the destruction of the House
and the division of the spoil. The very style and title of
the place henceforth disappears, and it becomes “nuper
Prioratus de Taunton modo dissolutus.” Ofthe last scene
I can furnish no memorial. No letter is known to exist of
some sacrilegious commissioner recounting from Taunton

* Ex autograph, in Of. Rec. olim Augment.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 107

his successive steps of heartless eruelty, nauseous hypocrisy,
and impious wrong. There can be hardly a doubt that such
was written, as similar were from Glastonbury, Fountains,
Lewes, and a multitude of other places. And from these
we may gain only too faithful a picture of the spectacle that
was here presented. “I told yo’ lordshyp,” writes one
of these miscreants to Cromwell from the last mentioned
locality, the great Priory of Lewes in Sussex, “of a vaute
on the ryghte syde of the hyghe altare, that was born up
w‘t fower greate pillars, hauing about it v chappelles,
whych be compased in w‘* the walles Ixx stokes of lengthe,
that is fete ccx. Allthys is down a Thursday & Fryday
last. Now wear pluckyng down an hygher vaute, born
up by fower thicke & grose pillars, xiiij fote fro syde to
syde, abowt in circu’fere’ce xlv fote. Thys shall down
for 0" second worke. As it goth forward I woll aduise
yo' lordshyp from tyme to tyme; and that yo’ lordshyp
may knowe w‘% how many men we haue don thys, we
browght from London xvij persons, 3 carpentars, 2
smythes, 2 plummars, and on that kepith the fornace.
Eu’y of these attendith to hys own oflice: x of them
hewed the walles abowte, amonge the whych ther were 3
carpentars : thiese made proctes to vndersette wher the
other cutte away, thother brake & cutte the waules.
Thiese ar men exereised moch better then the men that
we fynd here in the contreye. Wherefor we must bothe
haue mo men, and other thinges also, that we haue nede of.

At Lewes the xxiiij of March, 1537 (1539 2). *
« «It would have made an Heart of Flint,” writes a
witness of a different stamp, recording the spoliation of
Roche Abbey, “to have melted and weeped, to have seen

* MS, Cott. Cleop. E. ıv. pp. 232, 233

108 PAPERS, ETC.

y® breaking up of y® House, and their sorrowfull departing,
& y° sudden Spoil y* fell y° same day of their depar-
ture from y® House. . . . . . The Church was y°
lst thing that was put to y° Spoil, and then y°® Abbat’s
Lodgine, Dortor and Frater, with y° Cloister and all y°
Buildings thereabout within y° Abbey Walls.

It would have pitied any Heart to see what tearing up of
y° Lead there was, & plucking up of Boards, and throw-
ing down of y® Sparres, and when y° Lead was torn off and
cast down into y° Church, and y° Tombs in the Church
all broken, . . . . . and all things of Price either
spoiled, carped away, or defaced to the uttermost.” *

It is not improbable that on the very day that, as I
believe, the former of these extracts was written a similar
scene was exhibited at Taunton. The Surrender had been
signed, as we have already noticed, on the 12th of the
previous month ; and we may be sure that it was not long
before the demons of destruction were let loose to do their
work. The demand for help just quoted, however, is sufli-
cient proof that little assistance was obtained from the
neighbourhood of the Monasteries. The agents of the
tyrant had to bring abandoned and hardened ruffians from
London to do their will and to execute their mandates.
I need not attempt to draw more minutely the fearful
pieture of outrage, turmoil, blood, and fir. The walls
which had for so many centuries resounded to the praises
of God and the sounds of piety and learning were now
invaded by a crew, whose very presence was a pollution
and whose very aspect was a curse. The work of whole
ages of faith and patience was in a few dreadful hours
mercilessly destroyed and utterly ruined. But I forbear

* MS Cole, vo), XIT., pp. 31, 32.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 109

to enter further into their horror. The heart sickens
while the blood boils at the imagination of the scene.
Such, doubtless, were the last hours of Taunton Priory.
The pittances which were ordered for each of the com-
munity are stated in a Pension Book, still existing among
the documents of the Augmentation Ofice. The very
grant of these pensions may be accepted as positive proof
that the vices charged against the inmates of the Religious
Houses were not only most grossly exaggerated, but were
known by their aceusers to be mere fabrications.. Had the
sufferers been really guilty, popular opinion would have
allowed them to be sent adrift, even without this miserable
concession to the known excellence of their lives and
characters.
The entry referred to is as follows :—
“TAawnErton.—Herafter ensuyth the namys of the late
p’or and Covente of Tawneton in the countie
of Som’s’ with the annuall pencons assigned
vnto them by vertue of the Kinges highnes
com’ission, the xij daye of ffebruary in the
xxx# yere of the reigne of o' sowWeigne
Lorde Kynge henry the viij'® the furst pay-
ment of the saide pencons & eu’ry of them
to begynne at the fieaste of th’ annunciacon
of o' blessid lady next comyng for one halfe
yere, & so to be paide from halfe yere to
halfe yere durynge ther lyffes—
that is to saye,

Will’m Will’ms p'or & Is
Will’m Gregory = zu
Will’m Baylye a vj ziij° ja

li

Nicholas Berame u vJ

110 PAPERS, ETC.

John Heywarde % evj* viijd
Thom?s Dale #: cevj‘ vij and
the Cure of Saynt Jamys in Tawneton [s’uinge
to haue for his yerly wages viijt accomp-

tynge his pencon for p’te of the same.

Thom?s Mathewe Dr cvj’ vijj@
Will’m P’son ar ev’ viij@
John Waren 2 evj‘ vujt
Will'm Bynnesmede E evj‘ viij“
Will’m Oulronde a evj’ viij@

Pr evj‘ vijji
Thom?s Crumwell.
Jo. Tresonwell.
Wylliam Petre.
John Smyth.” *

In order to complete the history of these sorely oppressed
and persecuted men, thus sent forth from their quiet home
to brave the troubles of an unknown world, I would add
that of the Prior and eleven Canons who signed the Sur-
render on the 12th of February, 1539, and received the
pensions just enumerated, the following were living in the
year 1553, as appears by a list then made. The same
authority supplies us with the names of the last Incum-
bents of the Chantries in S. Mary’s Church, and at Staver-
dale, by which it will be seen that some changes had taken
place between the date of the Valor and that of the
Dissolution.

“An. 1553, here remained in charge £6 13s. 4d. in
Fees ; £39 6s. 8d. in Annuities ; and these Pensions, viz. :

To William Baylie, £6 13s. 4d.; Nicholas Besam, £6 ;
John Warren, £5 6s. 8d.; John Hayward, £5 6s. 8d.;

John Cockeram

* Pension Book, vol. 245, No, 144.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 1ll

John Cockeram, £5 6s. 8d. ; William Persons, £5 6s. 8d. ;
and to William Brynsmede, £5 65. 8d.”

“ Staffordell Chantry. To Robert Gulne, Incumbent, £5.

Taunton, St. Andrew’s Chantıy. To Henry Bull,
Incumbent, £5.

Holy Trinity Chantry. To Ralph Wylkyns, Incum-
bent, #5.

St. Ethelred’s Chantry. To William Callowe, Incum-
bent, #5.

St. Michael’s Chantry. To John Seyman, Incumbent,
£4 168.

Virgin Mary’s Chantry. To John Pytte, Incumbent, £4.

To William Trowbrydge, Ineumbent of the Frater-
nity, 24.

To Alexander Maggott, Ineumbent of Twing’s Chantry,
£3 14s. 4d.”

And furthermore, William Callowe is stated to receive,
as the Incumbent of a Service in West Monkton Church,
an additional pension of £3 6s. 8d.*

We must now take up the history from the date of the
suppression.

The diffieulty was not entirely at an end, even when
this defender of the Faith had appropriated the spoil.
The lands lay as a heavy incubus on the spoiler. A curse
was felt to be inalienably attached to them. People in
general kept aloof, and refused to meddle with such dan-
gerous property. The religious men of the day regarded
the whole affair with loathing, and wisely forbore to in-
volve themselves in the anathema which a participation in
the wrong would attract. Even cautious men did not con-
sider the purchase of such possessions in the light of byany

* Willis, Hist. of Abb., 11. 200, 203.

112 PAPERS, ETC.

means an eligible or safe investment. Accordingly, the
domains which had in ancient times been given for the
service of God and the benefit of the poor were squandered
upon the lowest, the vilest, and the most abandoned of
mankind. Greedy courtiers, renegades, mountebanks and
miscreants of all descriptions alone benefitted, if so it may
be called, by this wholesale sacrilege. And these new
possessors were obliged to no exereise of religion, no work
of compassion to body or soul for which the lands were
originally bestowed. The stately portal with its right noble
motto “ JANUA PATET. COR MAGIS.”” no longer, as of old,
invited the wayfarer, and told him that, great as were its
dimensions, the heart of its masters was greater still. No
vesper bell sweetly whispered to the traveller that there
were but a few steps between him and the welcome and
repose that religion was glad to offer: no matin blessing
dismissed him to his labours, and sent him once more on his
way rejoicing and thankful. No aching bosom was hence-
forth there to be comforted, no wearied head to be laid
to rest, no ignorance to be illuminated, no prodigal to
be won to holier and better ways. They who, as these
at Taunton, had so often received others of all sorts and
conditions to hospitality and home, the King in his pro-
gresses, the great men of Church and State, the brother
from some distant house, the displaced Monks of Buckland
in the twelfth Century,f and the outcast and poor in every
age, were now cast adrift that others might succeed by
whom no such duties were held dear, and to whom mercy
and charity would plead in vain. It was a foul wrong,
without a single redeeming trait to set off its baseness.

* Monast. Dioec. Exon., p. 293.
+ Monast. Angl. Lond. 1661, 11. 550.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 113

And it entirely fell short of the expectations of its designer,
pillage and persecution alone excepted. One even of the
main objects of the king— who, it is pertinently said,
“ continued much prone to reformation, especially if any-
thing might be gotten by it”—that, namely, of enrich-
ment, suffered the most signal failure ; and all this hideous
work was within a few short months admitted to be of no
service and to no purpose, though with its very perpetrator
for a judge.

In order to facilitate the disposal of the estates, a new
Survey and Valuation were taken. The former, so far as
it has been preserved, relates but to a part of the entire
property. It is, however a document of the greatest
interest, as it furnishes the data from which the subsequent
valuation was compiled, and has singular claims on the
attention of the local reader. We are hereby presented
with the minuter features of the several domains, which the
return that was based upon it does not supply. I have
accordingly given an analysis of it, which will make the
detail that follows more intelligible ; and the latter, usually
called the “ Ministers’ Accounts,” I have carefully com-
pressed into a tabular summary.

The Survey, then— which seems, I may add, to have
been preserved rather by accident than desigsn—contains
the particulars of the following estates, which are here
placed in the order that they occupy in the original :—

1. The site of the Priory, with the Demesne Lands or
Home Farm. The lands are enumerated together with their
contents :——ÜCarter’s Mede, containing vj acr.; Carter’s
Lese, vj acr.; Avesham Mede, v acr.; Hole Mede, xxiij acr.
The Seven Acre, vij acr. The Crofte, arable, xxxiiij acr.
Hynde-londes, xxviij acr. The Crofte, meadow, x acr.
More Close, vij acr. Caluen Lese, ij ac. A close next

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. 12

114 = PAPERS, ETC.

the Day Howse, vj ac. Somer Lese, viij acr. Prie, ij
acr. The More, with pasture of wood, xiiijj acr., and
a close of arable land lying adjacent to a meadow called
Seven Acres. Thre Acre, containing iij ac. The farm of
the aforesaid amounting, with all and singular appurte-
nances, to the annual value of or vujixvij’x@

2. The Grange of Barton or Blakedon. The lands are
Barnehays-parke, containing j acr. Meade, ij acr. Olde-
beres, iij acr. Orcharde, pasture, j acr. Flowre, x acr.
Twent Acre Close, xx acr. Barnehayes, v acr. Seven
Acker Close, vij acr. Wodcrofte,xijacr. Laushers, xij acr.
A close lying next to Speryng, vij ac. Kyngeslease,
xüjacr. A pasture near Laushere, j acr. Priors Parke.
With all their appurtenances; together with vj* viijl of rent
of a certain pasture in Lyng in the tenure of Thomas and
William Blansheflowre ; xj® of rent of certain land in Pit-
myster, in the tenure of Richard Milbury; and vij’ of rent
of certain land in Pitmyster aforesaid, in the tenure of
Thomas Speryng. The farm amounting to the value per
annum of 2 ie e en c®

3. The Rectory of Corff and Pytmyster. The tithes of
corn, pensions, portions, &c., according to the late valua-
tion of a jury, deducting the stipend of a chaplain serving
the cure there;- amounting to the sum of .. viijl vij°
The amount of the Chaplain’s stipend, however, is not
stated. It was probably the same as at the time of the
Valor, when it amounted to c‘.

4. The Grange of Midelton. Oxenlese, containing
xvj ac. A close next the Day Howse, ij ac. Howe-
bonde Close, xvj acr. Trikeslande, vi) acr. Middelle
Graunge Close, xliiijj ac. West Grunge Close, xl acr.
Tenne Acres Close, xxvij acr. Combe Heys, xxx acr.
Newe Downe Close, xl acr. Gotesland Close, xxvj acr.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 115

Millehey, vj ac. Newe Medes, xxx acr. More Close,
ij” acr. Brokesmore Close, xij ac. "The farm amount-
ing to the value per annum of 2.
5. The Rectory of S. Mary Mandaline in Teyaian
with the Chapels of Risshton, Trull, and Hull Bishop’s.
Tithes of corn, wool, lambs, and other small tithes, de-
ducting xx! per annum for a pension to the Vicar; amount-
ing to the annual value of - want Re ze
Fer Mchee of the Chapel of Rissheton, deducting
ing. to the annual value of EbE = ed xji
Similar tithes of the Chapel of Trulle, deducting vijü
xvjd, for tithes of corn of Hamwod and Cerney, and vji
xüj° i1ij%, for the stipend of the Chaplain there ; amount-
ing to the annual value of = BERRER > oa 10h. ii
Similar tithes of the Chapel of Wilton, deducting cvj*
viijd, for the stipend of the Chaplain there ; amounting to
the annual value of 2 ee ART u
Similar tithes of Hull Bishop’s, each vj" xijj° 11j%,
for the stipend of the Chaplain there ; amounting to the
annual value of ei er 2. 2 vgwie
The whole amounting to au a
6. The Rectory of S. James’s by Taunton, which would
appear at this time to have become separated from and
independent of the vicarage, with the Chapel of Stapel-
grove.
Tithes of corn, wool, lambs, and other small tithes, de-
amounting to the annual value of .. u AR a
A note is entered on the margin, explanatory of the
smallness of the Chaplain’s stipend :—“ M, that there was
a Kanon of the late Priorye there [Thomas Da] ee

116 PAPERS, ETC.

yere in augmentac’ of his pencion as long as he wolde s’ue
the sayd cure. Who nowe refusith to s’ue the same cure
for soe small a stipend.” The reader will remember in
explanation of this note the memorandum appended to
the list of the Canons’ pensions at the period of the dis-
solution, already given in a previous page. Lower down
on the same margin the very natural query appears “ No.
Who shall s’ue the cure here (?)”

Similar tithes of the Chapel of Staplegrove, deducting
vj"for the stipend ofthe Chaplain there; amounting to. .xl®

The whole amounting to 3 De 26;

7. The Rectory of Pytmyster, with the Chapel of
Corff annexed to the same.

Similar tithes of grain, wool, lambs, &e., amounting to
viiji vj® vijj. The entry, however, is cancelled, as the
item had already figured in the Survey under No. 3.

The sum total of the value as given by the return is
Ixxijjt ix® vij. And the declarations of its authentiecity,
correctness, and force are appended :—“ ex! p’ Mathiam
Colteh[irste ?],” “fiat diss®’ John Ogan. Rychard Ryche.”’*

This account, though so circumstantial in the description
of the localities, furnishes us with but little information on
the value of produce, stock, wages, and other matters con-
nected with the agriculture of that day or the history of
prices. The land near the Priory, however, seems to have
been estimated at about an average rent of xilj per acre 5;
while at Pitminster the average would appear to have
been somewhat less.

We will now proceed to the summary of the “ Ministers’
Accounts,” which were compiled, as we have already re-
marked, from the foregoing Survey and other similar
returns :—

* Monasteries’ Paper Surveys, in Off, Rec. vol. Ze.

TAUNTON

137,

THE LATE PRIORY OF TAUNTON.

CoUNTY OF SOMERSET.
TAUNTOoN.

The Site, with Demesne Lands

EssE.
Rents ofthe Free Tenants
Assısed Rents =

Farm of the Manor and Rectory

Perquisites of the Courts
WESTOWE.

Assised Rents 5
MIDDELTON.

Assised Rents or.

Farm er 3

Perquisites ofthe Courts
BREWTON.

Rents of the Free Tenants

Assised Rents

BATTECOMBE.

Assised Rents IR,

Rents of the Free Tenants
LoVvYNnGTon.

Assısed Rents fe
THORNCOFFYN.

Assised Rents a

Perquisites of the Courts
WILLOND.

Assised Rents En

Out Rents er

Perquisites of the Courts
BLACKEDEN, &c.

Assised Rents Ar
BERTON.

Farm of Grange

vijjl xvijj° x

xxX®
EROBERN:
ji vj’vij
xlvj® ixd
viijs vdob’

vi iijs ijjdob’

exiij° vj@
li

x
& mi
s "d
xxXvV® )]
yjü
xxxj®
RyE

xliiijs jije

ij diipe
v®

Bd alter a 1,
vPixrijurgt
Ixxvij’ xj

c®

118 PAPERS, ETC.

CORFFE AND PITMISTER.

Farm of Rectory 3% eva ya
THURLOXSTON.

Rents of the Free Tenants .. xiijt

Assised Rents of the Customary

Tenants ER SR an

Prxston.

Assised Rents 2 air RU

Perquisites of the Courts .. zxilj" vaij® 1lija
TOBRIGE.

Assised Rents : .. INPRUENR

Perquisites of the er a. vj@
CHAPEL OF WYLTON.

Farm of Chapel 2. En a;
CANON STREET.

Assised Rents 2 . zii zvipninyt

Perquisites of the Bocrin uw a
TAUNToN ExTRA PORTAM.

Assised Rents Re Mi 11jd

Perquisites of the Courts . xlvij® j@
DULVERTON RecTorY.

Rents of the Free Tenants ur on

Assised Rents “ir Sera

Farm of Rectory R ME 0%
DULVERTON MANOR.

Rents of the Free Tenants 7 ixt-.78

Assised Rents of Customary Tenants xijü ix® viji
DULVERTON BAILIWICK.

Rent called Downe Rent un En
LucoTT.

Assised Rents Br SE HRRRTI TE
DULVERTON.

Rent called Shamellrent .. Br iPozt

....

Rent of certain Lands and Tenements 111j°

TAUNTON PRIORY.

119

WITHULL.

Assised Rents u. Er xXXxj°
DULVvERTOon.

Assised Rent called Bonvildes Rent zxx9.

Perquisites of the Courts xxxilji xvij° xd

Sale of Wood v N xlvj’ vijj@
GRASSCROFT.

Rents ” > a Zur
LANGPoRr.

Rents a = # v®
ATHILBURY, OLDE CLIFFE, AND

BRIGEWATER.

Rents r .“ re xxij° iijd

HOLCOMBE.

Rents, and Rent called le Churchettes

(a payment of corn as the first-fruits

of harvest) .. wi de
TAUNToN HUNDRED.

Tithe of xij Mills of the Bp. of

Winchester $- Ar
ULOWYNBARO.
Pension from the Rectory ©,
ORCHARDE.
Pension from the Rectory =
DULVERToNn.
Pension from ihe Vicarage 5

LANGFORD, AND NEAR THE ÜHAPEL
OF TAUNTOon.

Portion of Tithes er %
COURTHAY AND PRISTLONDYS.

Farm A a er
KYnsssHiLr.

Rents Ws % ze

xvij° viijd

xiij° 1ijd
xxiljj°

xlij* iiije

120 PAPERS, ETC.

Fons GEORGIJ.
Assısed Rents 3#
Perquisites of the Courts
GALDEN.

Assısed Rents a“

Farm of Lands, Tenements, &c.
THURLEBARE.

Rents uk £s
West HATcHE.

Rents Be
UPPE HATCHeE.

Rents & aa
STOOKE.

Rents Ei a

THURLEBARE AND STOKE.

Farm of Rectory with Chapel
Hure BısHoP’s CHAPEL.

Farm of Tithes Ar
WITHILL.

Farm of Rectory e
STAFFORDELL.

Farm of Manor House ..
WYNCAUNTON.

Assısed Rents

Farm of Rectory er
ROUNDHILL.

Farm of Manor House ..
BAROWE.

Assised Rents ne

Perquisites of the Courts
KYNngGEston.

Farm of Rectory ve

u lxix® xd

ji

2 Dry
BRRER

.. + ka

u. RERWRTETE

2. xxiije iiije
% viija

“AR
“1

.. Xvil]

.. ji

vj’ via

.. c°

Be 1°
oe wi

su

Ba 4 1a: 400.) lm

ar v’vijj@

.. xiijl

TAauUNnTon. RECTORY OF S. MARY MAGDALENE.

Tithes An

.. ZRIgN ige Ha

TAUNTON PRIORY. 107

TAaunton. RECTORY or $. JAMES.

Tithes = Br re re
STAPELGROVE CHAPEL.

Tithes % ; en
RYSSHETON CUM STORE.

Tithes sn er sel aRihe
TRuLL.

Farm of Rectory B: HEN
PALLYNGEFORD, HOLFORD, & OTEFORDE.

Farm of Tithe .. r ap vie
NYNEHED.

Farm of Rectory 7 ee

A comparison of the values here given with those of
the same localities as presented in the “Valor” does
not offer, with the exception of one department, many
cases of notable difference : indeed, in several instances the
sums are identical. The exception is in the increase in
the Perquisites of the Courts, which, for example, in
Middelton are stated in the “ Valor” to be vj‘ viijd, and in
the “Minister’s Accounts” to amount to c‘ vj@; and in
Willond, Tobrige, Pixston, and Canon Street, to be
respectively ix°, xvjd, iij° iiijjd, and xxx‘ in the “ Valor,”
in the later return.

We have now, in conclusion, to see how the spoil was
divided.

Sir William Zouch has already been mentioned as the
founder of the Priory of Staverdale. It appears that the
possessor of the name at the period at which we have
arrived was determined if possible to regain as his portion

* Comput. Ministr. in Off. Rec. olim Augment,
VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. Q

122 PAPERS, ETC.

of the prey the land which his pious ancestor had solemnly
devoted to sacred use. He accordingly wrote to Cromwell,
who was the king’s principal agent in this work, the fol-
lowing characteristic letter :—

“ Sure, pleshyt yo" good mast[er]Jchype to vnderston y:!
wer I dewlle ys a pore pryery, a fu’dacion off my nawyn-
setres, wyche ys my lord my father[es] ynerytans and
myne, and be the reson off a lowyde pryor yt was ther,
wyche was a schanon off taw’ton a for, browytte hytt
to be a sell vnto taw’ton, and now hys hytt dystryde,
and ther ys but to chanons, wyche be off no good leuyng,
and y‘ ys gret petty, the pore howse scholde be so
yll yntretyd ; werfor yff ytt may plese yo" good mast[er]-
chype to be so good mast[er] to me to gett me the pore

'howse wyche ys callyd stau[er]dell, I wer bownde to pray
for yo' mast[er|chyp. And also I schal bere yo“ my harty
s[erJuys nextt the kynge ys gras, and be at yo" co’-
mayndme’t, be the gras off god, ho eu[er] p[re]s[er]ue yo’
good mast[erJchype.e yo’ howyne pore s[erJuantt and
bedma’,

RYCcHARD ZOUCHE.”
Endorsed :—“ To the Ryght worchypfull & my synglar
good mast[er], mast[er] Secrettory, be thys Dd.” *

The two canons alluded to by the writer of this letter
were the chaplains already mentioned in the Valor, whom
it suited his purpose to revile. Although it does not
appear that the epistle was productive of the precise effect
that he desired, as the “fu’dacion off my nawynsetres” was
granted to John, earl of Oxford, he is mentioned, as we
shall see presently, in the Originalia roll as obtaining
possession of divers lands, tenements, and messuages in the
immediate neighbourhood.

* MS. Cott. Cleop. E. iv., f. 315. (Olim, 259*)

=
TAUNTON PRIORY. 123

Several years elapsed from what appears to be the date
of the foregoing letter, a fact which can hardly be ac-
counted for save by our knowledge of the feeling with
which the fruits of sacrilege were even then regarded,
before the site of the Priory was formally transferred
to other hands, when it was given by its new master
to two of his creatures. On the 13th of June, 1544,
the king granted to Sir Francis Bryan and Matthew
Coltehirste all the house and site of the late Priory
of Taunton, and all the messuages, houses, buildings,
dovecots, pools, vivaries, gardens, orchards, arable and
other lands, and inheritances whatsoever, situated and in-
cluded within the site, enclosure, compass, circuit, and
preeinet of the same late Priory. Also all those arable
lands, meadows, pastures, and inheritances whatsoever,
called or known by the name or names of Carters Lease,
Carters Meade, Avysham Meade, Seven Acres Meade,
Hole Meade, Ley Meade, More Close, the Crofftes, Hynde
Landes, Calfeven Lease, Somer Lease, Pry Close, More
Close, and all the close next the Deyhouse ; and all the close
called Three Acres ; and all those lands and woods called
Priours Woode ; and all other lands, meadows, pastures,
woods, and inheritances whatsoever, commonly denomi-
nated and called the Demayne Landes of the said late
Priory. These possessions are described as situated in
Taunton, Hull Bishop’s, Staplegrove, Russheton, Trull,
Corff, Pytmyster, Churche, Hilfarance, Norton, Kynges-
ton, and Cheddon, and as formerly belonging and pertain-
ing to the said late Priory. All these, with the produce of
the woods, rents, yearly returns and all other rights, profits,
and emoluments, are estimated at the clear annual value of
eight pounds eighteen shillings and ten pence. They are
stated to be granted in consideration of good, true, and

.
124 PAPERS, ETC.

faithful service—we need not stay to surmise its nature—
rendered by these dutiful adherents; and the somewhat
dubious favour is added of permission to hold the property
as fully, freely, and entirely as the late owners had done,
and to enjoy it as much as they. Finally, that the
lands were to be held by them as tenants in capite, by the
service of a twentieth part of one knight’s fee, and an
annual rent of seventeen shillings and eleven pence, to be
paid at Michaelmas in every year: all profits and rents
to commence from the Feast of the Annunciation last past.
Witness the king at Westminster, the 13th day of June.*
Other portions of the property were given to various
persons about the same time. William Chapleyn and John
Selwood obtained, on the 5öth of March, 1545, a grant of
lands, tenements, gardens, cottages, and burgages situated
outside the East-gate in Taunton, and in Canon Strete,
Middel Strete, and Seint James Strete, in the parishes of
S. Mary Magdalene, S. James, and Westmonkton. Also
lands called Baldewynslande, and others lying near to
Crechburgh Hill within the last named parish; land
situated north of the Chapel of S. Margaret, then or lately
in the oceupation of divers poor people of the Spittelhouse'
there; land called Seint Poles Chapell in the west part of
the said town of Taunton, in the parish of Eill Busshopp;
and land called Seint Leonardes Chapell in the northern
part, in the parish of S. James, all formerly belonging to
the Priory.t To Alexander Popham and William Halley
were granted lands in Thurlebare, West Hatche, and Upp
Hatche, together with the messuage and tenement of
Playstrete, and the manor and demesne of Tobrydge in

* Pat. 36 Hen. VIIL, p. 21,m. 14 (38). Orig. 36 Hen. VIIL., 6 pars,
rot. 25. Rep. Orig. B.M. Add. MS. 6366, p. 90.
t Orig. 36 Hen. VIII. 4 pars, rot. 93.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 125

the parish of S. James’s.*“ To Humphry Colles the Grange
of Barton or Blakedon, with lands called Barnehayes,
Parke-meade, Oldhayes, Orcheyarde, Twentie acres,
Wooderofte, &c., with the rectory and chapel of Corff
and Pytmyster, and tenements in Catanger. To John,
earl of Oxford lands at Stafferdell, a Particular for the
grant of which is dated 23rd Oet., 1543, and a “ Certyfy-
cat of the vewe and measure of y° woode,” on the 13th of
the previous June; and to Sir Thomas Arundell and
Richard Zouche divers other lands at Staffordell.t To
William Standyshe the manor of Gaulden, and other
lands and tenements in Tollond.| To Robert Hyll the
manor of Thurlebare, and messuages in Westhatche, To-
brydge, &c.$ And to William Eyre, lands at Nyne-
hedde.7 To pursue further the history of the various
estates after the suppression would lead us into details,
the value of which, as connected with our present sub-
jJeet, would not appear, although they possess a great and
peculiar interest of their own, to warrant so considerable
an expenciture of labour, space, and time.**

An exception may, perhaps, be made in favour of the
sacred site of the Priory itself. Whether it was that Sir
Franeis Bryan and Matthew Coltehirste entertained some
qualms about the nature of their perilous property must be
left to conjecture. So early, however, as the year 1549, or
about five years after their first acquisition of it, they pro-

* Orig. 36 Hen. VIII., 8 pars, rot. 17.

t Orig. 34 Hen. VIII., 3 pars, rot. 32.

f Orig. 36 Hen. VIII. 7 pars, rot. 91.

|| Orig. 36 Hen. VIII., 8 pars, rot. 11.

$ Orig. 37 Hen. VIII. p. 1. rot. 40.

T Orig. 36 Hen. VIII., 9 pars, rot. 51.
#%* See 5 Edw. VI. Pasc. Rec. rot.1. 7 Eliz. Hil. Rec. rot. 40, 18 Eliz.
Hil. Rec. rot. 86. 19 Eliz. Hil. Rec.rot.99. 9 Jac.I. Mich. Rec, rot. 132, &c.

126 PAPERS, ETC.

cured a licence for alienating it to one Thomas More.
The licence is dated at Westminster, the 22nd of June,
in that year, and recites the various possessions—Carters
Lees, Carters Meade, Avesham Mede, Hole Meade, Seven
acre Meade, Ley Meade, More Close, the Croftes, Hynde
Loondes, Chalfeuenlease, Pry Close, More Close, the whole
close next the Deyhouse, Three Acres, the woods and
lands called Priours Woode, the lands commonly called
the Demeane Landes, situate in Taunton, Hull Bishop’s,
Staple Grove, Rysshton, Trull, Corff, Pytmyster, Chyrche,
Hylfarance, Norton, Kyngeston, and Cheddon.* He and
his kept possession for a while, until in four short-lived

generations the family, which had a hard struggle for
existence, and often seemed on the point of annihilation
through failure of heirs male, succumbed at length to the
mysterious law of retributive justice, which had so many
examples in that dreadful time to give it solemnity, and,
as one would imagine, to force on the minds even of the
most unrefleeting of mankind a deep conviction of its
terrible truth—and “the name was clean put out.’

Grassy hillocks, as I have already observed, alone mark
the spot on which the House was reared. Not a pier of
the noble Conventual Church, not a capital of one of its
clustered columns, not a boss from the vaulted roof, not a
fragment of tracery through which the light fell in soft and
many-coloured radiance upon the chequered pavement, not
even the half obliterated lines of a sculptured slab that
once told of saintly Prior or learned Canon, who had gone
to his reward and left the memory of his virtues to devoted
and faithful hearts—not a solitary relie of that glorious
whole has escaped the hand of the relentless spoiler. All is

* Orig. 3 Edw. VI.,4 pars, rot. 95. Rep. Orig. B.M. Add. MS. 6367, p. 98.

TAUNTON PRIORY. 127

gone—and tbat it was ever there seems to the eye of sense
but a dream of the imagination, and a flight of fancey.
Yet amid its quiet and unbroken stillness there is a charm
that inalienably haunts the place, a magie that can
pourtray for us some fair lineaments of the sacred scene,
before evil hands invaded its repose and evil feet entered
to violate its peace. The eye of the soul can once
more pieture the spot glorified as it was of old, and
peopled with the noble forms that blessed and dignified
their venerable and stately home. While the spirit’s ear
can grandly realize the assertion of the legend, and induce
its possessor to believe, with the old neighbours from
whom I have listened to the reverently narrated account,
that, as he rambles among the green mounds, when all
nature seems asleep under the cloudless moon of a summer
midnight, he can hear the Canons still singing in their
Church beneath the dewy sward, and chanting their
solemn Office, at once an imploring deprecation of woe
to come and a requiem in loving valediction of days long
passed away.

THOMAS HUGO.

[ The Committee are happy to announce that the Author of
the foregoing Paper is about to publish an Appendix, contain-
ing, inter alia, copies of the originals of the documents referred
to. They also intimate that he will be glad to receive the
names of those who desire to possess the work, addressed to him
in London; and that, although it is to be expected that very
little if aught can still remain unnoticed, he earnestly solieits
to be favoured with the communication of any such new par-
tieulars, however minute or unimportant they may appear. ]

On the veputen discauery of King Arthurz
Bemoinz at Glastenkurg.

BY THE REV. W. A. JONES, M.A., F.G.S., ETC.

S it would scarcely be deemed proper for the Somer-
setshire Arch&ological Society to hold a Meeting
at Glastonbury without referring to some of the most
ancient and interesting historical associations connected
with the place, I beg leave to lay before the Society a
brief resum& of the sources and value of the information we
possess in reference to the interment and reputed discovery
of King Arthur’s remains in the cemetery of Glastonbury
Abbey.

I confess Ihave no sympathy with that school of his-
torical eritics who find the myth and the fable prepon-
derating to such an extent in all early records as to wipe
out from the page of historical fact almost every event
and every personage in which our minds and our hearts
have been most deeply interested. Notwithstanding all
that has been said to the contrary, I believe King
Arthur to have been a real historical personage, and
not a mere myth. Even the legends and romances in
which he and the Knights of his Round Table occupy

KING ARTHUR’S REMAINS. 129

"so prominent a place, are to me otherwise perfeetly unin-
telligible and unaccountable. It is, moreover, worthy
of note that the mythological fictions which have given
rise to the doubts and the disbelief as to the reality of this
great personage had their origin, or at least their main
development, on the Continent and not in Britain. In the
earliest poetical literature of the Cymri, Arthur is repre-
sented only as a great and distinguished military chief. His
cotemporary, Llywarch H£n, speaks of him as such, in the
battle of Llongborth.* The Welsh Triads in like manner
preserve the same historical character, and more than thirty
of them refer to this distinguished British king.

The fondness for the marvellous which possessed the
monasteries was the origin of some of the extravagant
additions which gradually accumulated around his name.
Though we may, and I believe must, reject a great part of
the marvellous narratives associated with King Arthur,
yet that does not involve nor require the rejection of the
leading facts which underlie the whole complicated struc-
ture of fiction which has been raised thereon.

As this subject opens a very wide field of historical
eriticism, I shall confine myself to the reputed discovery of
the great monarch’s remains in the cemetery of the Abbey
which will be visited by us this day.

The existence of the tradition anterior to the reputed
discovery of his remains in the reign of Henry II—that
Arthur the king had been interred at Glastonbury—is
clearly established by the Chroniele of T'ysiko, and the
History of Gruffyth ab Arthur, more commonly known as
Geoffrey of Monmouth. 'Though only a vague tradition, it
is suflicient to prove that it was not invented to give a

#* See Proceedings of Somersetshire Archeological Society, vol. IV.,p. 45.
VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. R

130 PAPERS, ETC.

colouring of probability to the subsequent search and dis-
covery. The Chronicle of Tysilio is supposed to have been
compiled about A.D. 1000, and Geoffrey died several years
before the year 1170, when, according to Giraldus Cam-
brensis, the discovery was made. It was not, however,
a certain and universally admitted fact that Arthur had
been buried at Glastonbury, for among the Cymri the
precise locality was still regarded as a secret. Thus the
ancient British Triad :
“Bedd i March, bedd i Gwythur,
Bedd i Gwgawn Gleddfrudd,
Anoeth bydd bedd i Arthur.”

“ Here is the grave of March (ap Meirchion),
Here is the grave of Gwythyr (ap Greidiol),
Here is the grave of Gwgawn Gleddfrudd,
But unknown is the grave of Arthur.”

Looking at the question, a priori, there is every proba-
bility that King Arthur, after having received his mortal
wound at Camlan, in Cornwall, should desire to avail him-
self of the medical skill which was found in those days in
great monasteries, and at Glastonbury in particular, and if
he should die to be interred near the shrine which was at
the same time the most famous and the most sacred in his
time. Arthur was not like his Saxon enemies—a pagan.
Imbued, probably, with the culture which Roman civiliza-
tion had introduced, he had superadded the holy influence
of the Christian faith, and to him nothing could be more
to be desired than to rest near the consecrated walls and
within sound of the sacred service of prayer as offered up
by the holy men of the Abbey of Avallon. 'The mode of
transit which tradition describes, namely by water along the
north coast of Devon and Somerset and into the lake or

KING ARTHUR’S REMAINS. 131

«stuary which at that time, probably, ran inland on either
side of Polden, was at the same time the safest and most
easy for an invalid. The tradition presents itself in a
very beautiful and poetical form in a MS. Latin poem
in the British Museum, which bears the title of “ Vita
Merlini per Galfridum Monumetensum versu Heroico ad
Robertum Lincolniensem’’ (Cott. MSS. Vespasian E. iv.)
About page 128 of the volume, the poet describes the
favoured spot where we are now assembled as Insula
pomorum, qu@ fortunata vocatur, which is a literal transla-
tion of the ancient British name, Ynys Avallon ;* and he
further describes the skill in the healing art possessed by
nine sisters who dwelt here, one of whom greatly excelled
the rest, and whose fame had spread far and wide. I give
the extracts from notes I made in the British Museum
some years ago from the original :
“ Quarumque prior est fit doctior arte medendi

Exceditque suas forma preestante sorores

Morgen einomen.”

In Morgen we recognise the Morgana who forms so
prominent a feature in all the romance literature—the
name itself being Keltic, and signifying “beside the sea.”
The poet then describes the voyage from Camlan, on the
Cornish coast, to “the blessed Island of Apple-groves,”
whither the wounded king desired to be conveyed:

“ Illue post bellum Camblani vulnere lesum
Duximus Arcturum nos conducente Barintho
Equora cui fuerant et Cxli sydera nota
Hoc rectore ratis cum principe venimus illuc
Et nos quo decuit Morgen suscepit honore

* For the various names by wliich Glastonbury has been known, and
their signification, see a paper On the Application of Philology to Archeo-
logieal Investigation, by the writer of this paper in Proceedings of the
Society for 1854, vol. v.

132 PAPERS, ETC.

Inque suis thalamis posuit super aurea regem
Strata, manuque sibi detexit vulnus honesta
Inspexitque diu : tandemque redire salutem
Posse sibi dixit, si secum tempore longo

Esset, et ipsius vellet medicamine fungi.
Graudentes igitur regem commissimus illi

Et dedimus ventis redeundo vela secundis.”

Tune Merlinus ad h&c ait : O delecti. . . .*

I do not, of course, attach any Aistorical value to the
details as given in this poem, but I think we are fully
Justified in accepting the leading facts as based on very
early tradition—an authority by no means to be despised.

We come now to the authorities for the reputed dis-
covery ofthe remains. There can be no ground whatever
of doubt, I think, that a rude cofin with a stone slab (in
fact, nothing more than a block of oak hollowed out), pur-
porting to be the coffin of King Arthur, was dug up in
the reign of Henry II., and that in this flat stone there
was found inserted a leaden cross, with an inseription re-
lative to King Arthur. This we learn from the Abbey
Records and from the detailed account of Giraldus Cam-
brensis. How far we are justified in regarding the leaden
cross with the inscription as genuine, is not so clear, but
of that more hereafter.

The Abbey Records are the Parvus Liber, and the

* “Piloted by Barinthus, skilled in the navigation of the seas and in the
knowledge of all the stars of heaven, hither we brought Arthur, sore
wounded in the battle of Camlan. With him as captain of our bark hither
we came with our prince, and Morgen receiving us with due honour, laid
the king upon her couch covered with embroidered gold. With her own
hand she uncovered the wound, and examined it long. An length she
declared that health might return, if his stay with her be prolonged, and if
he were willing to submit to her healing art. With joy we therefore com-
mitted the king to her care, and spread our sails to favouring breezes on
our return.”

KING ARTHUR’S REMAINS. 133

Magna Tabula Glastoniensis. These, according to Usher’s
Primordia, give substantially the same account of the
exploration and discovery which is found in the works of
Giraldus Cambrensis, namely his Liber Distinetionum and
his Institutio Prineipis. In the main facts all these are
agreed, but the testimony of Giraldus Cambrensis is most
deserving of attention, because he visited Glastonbury
about fourteen years after the event, and professes to give
the account of the occurrence which he had received from
the lips of the then Abbot, who had also been an eye
witness of the search and the discovery. The date of this
visit was about Aa.p. 1184, the coflin having been dug up
in A.D. 1170; but the accounts do not seem to have been
written by Giraldus till between thirty and forty years
after the date of his visit, and at an interval of about ten
years, which accounts for some slight discrepancies that
appear in his narratives.

The account which gives the fullest details occurs in the
Liber Distinctionum of Giraldus, beginning with the 8th
chapter. He states that, “In their own times while the
2nd Henry reigned, the long celebrated tomb of Arthur
the British king was dug up in the consecrated cemetery of
St. Dunstan at Glastonbury, between two lofty obelisks on
which were insceriptions to the memory of Arthur, and
which had been erected with great labour, the search being
undertaken by the command of the fore-said king, and
under the supervision of Henry the Abbot, who was after-
wards translated to the bishoprick of Winchester. The
body had become reduced to dust and bones’ The writer
then states that “after the battle of Kemelen in Cornwall,
Arthur, being mortally wounded, was borne to the island
of Avallonia, now called Glastonia, by a noble matron
named Morganis, his relative, at whose instance he was

134 PAPERS, ETC.

afterwards buried in the consecrated cemetery of the
Abbey. That this was the origin of the belief very gene-
rally entertained that Arthur was not dead, but had been
carried into fairy-land by Morganis, to return again in
strength and power to resume the Government of Britain.”

Giraldus then specially remarks, “that though the Abbot
possessed some clue to the resting place of the British king
from ancient writings and chronicles, as well as some from
the inscriptions on the obelisks, yet he derived most know-
ledge from the representations of the king himself, who
had often reported to him that he had understood from the
chronicles and historical bards of the Britons, that King
Arthur had been buried between the two obelisks, which
had been afterwards erected in the cemetery, but that, lest
the Saxons and his enemies should disturb his remains, the
body was buried very deep in the ground. Accordingly,
on digging, a broad flat stone was found about seven feet
under ground, the sarcophagus being nine feet below that,
and a leaden cross discovered, inserted not on the upper
but on the lower surface of the stone slab, bearing the
following: inscription :

HIC JACET SEPULTUS INCLITUS REX ARTHURUS IN
INSULA AVALONIA CUM WENNEVEREIA UXORE SUA
SECUNDA.

“And this cross,” continues Giraldus, “after it had been
taken from the stone, we ourselves saw, being shown to
us by the foresaid Abbot Henry, and these words we
read. Now, as the cross was inserted in the lower surface
of the stone, so the side of the cross on which the inscrip-
tion was placed was turned towards the stone, in order to
be the better hidden. . . . . Thus were found the
remains of Arthur: not in a marble tomb, as became a
distinguished king, not in one of stone nor Parian, but

KING ARTHUR’S REMAINS. 135

even in a wooden sepulchre—an oak trunk, hollowed out
for the purpose; and this, moreover, sunk sixteen feet or
more underground, a mode of interment, for so great a
prince, indicating haste rather than honour, according to
the exigencies of those troubled times.’ *

The value of this testimony to the principal facts does
not seem to me to be at all vitiated by the few errors and
discrepancies which manifestly present themselves in the
account. Thus the inscriptions on the two obelisks are
said to be in “memory of Arthur,” though all the most
authentic records represent them as of purely Saxon origin.
Again, the inscription on the leaden cross, as given in the
Liber Distinctionum, contains the words CUM WENNEVEREIA
UXORE SUA SECUNDA, which do not occur in the engraving
of the eross as given by Camden. And lastly, Giraldus

* The original text of the passage is as follows :—Notandum hie
etiam quod licet abbas prenominatus aliquam habuerit ad corpus Ar-
thuri querendum ex scriptis antiquis et chronieis notitiam, nonnul-
lam quoque ex literis pyramidum inseriptis quamquam. antiquitatis
et fere omnino vetustate deletis, maximam tamen habuit per dietum regem
Henricum ad hc evidentiam. Dixerat enim ei pluries sicut ex gestis
Britonum et eorum cantoribus historieis rex audierat quod inter pyramides
qux postmodum erect® fuerant in sacro cemeterio sepultus fuit rex
Arthurus valde profunde propter metum Saxonum quos ipse sepe expugna-
verat. . » 2 » » .„ Propter eundem etiam metum in lapidem quodam
lato tanquam ad sepulchrum a fodientibus invento quasi pedibus septem
sub terra, gquum tamen sepulchrum Arthuri novem pedihus inferius inven-
tum fuerit reperta fuerit crux plumbea non superiori sed potius inferiori
parte lapidis inserta literas has inscriptas habens HIC JACET SEPULTUS
INCLITUS REX ARTHURUS IN INSULA AVALLONIA CUM WENNEVEREIA
UXORE SUA SECUNDA, ÜCrucem autem hanc extractam a lapide dicto
abbate Henrico ostendente perspeximus et literas has perlegimus. Sicut
antem crux inferius lapidi inserta fuerit sie et crucis ejusdem pars literata
ut oceuitior esset versus lapidem versa fuit. . -. ». » . . $ic Arthuri
corpus inventum fuit: non in sepulchro marmoreo ut regem decebat
eximium, non in saxeo aut Pariis lapidibus exsecto, sed potius in ligneo ex
quercu ad hoc cavato, et sexdecim pedibus ant pluribus in terra profundo
propter festinam potius quam festivam tanti principis humationem,
tempore nimirum turbationis urgentis id exigente,

Liber Distinctionum, Giraldi Cambrensis.

136 PAPERS, ETC.

evidently confounds Henry de Swansey, who was the
Abbot at the time of his visit, with his predecessor Henry
de Blois, in whose time the discovery was made. These
discrepancies are not to be wondered at, when we remem-
ber that the account was probably written at an interval
of nearly forty years after the visit Giraldus paid to Glas-
tonbury.

Henry de Blois, who was also Bishop of Winchester, died,
according to Dugdale, in the year 1171, having had the
pastoral charge of the Church for forty-five years, and re-
taining the government of the Monastery after he had
been promoted to the Bishoprick. This helps us to deter-
mine the date of the reputed discovery. In addition to
this, it is represented in the Antiquitates Glastonienses that
the search was made soon after the return of Henry II.
from Wales, and it does not appear that he revisited Wales
after the year 1169. We find also that in 1170 Henry
was doing all he could to consolidate his dynasty, his son
Prince Henry having been crowned at York, in June of
the same year, in order to be associated with his father in
the royalty. From all this we are led to consider A.D.
1170 as the date of the exhumation.

Such is the testimony of Giraldus, who wrote, as I have
before intimated, about A.D. 1210, concerning what he saw
at Glastonbury forty years before. The remains then dis-
covered were evidently believed to have been those of the
ancient British king, and they were treated accordingly as
sacred relics. Dugdale states that they were afterwards
removed into the Presbytery of the Church and re-
interred with the following inseription by Abbot Henry
de Swansey :

“ Hic jacet Arthurus, flos regum, gloria regni
Quam mores, probitas commendant laude perenni.”

_

”

KING ARIHURS REMAINS. 137

The next authority is Leland, who, in the Collectanea
(v. p. 55), states on the authority of a Monk of Glaston-
bury, that Edward I. with his queen visited the Abbey
in 1276, and removed the shrine from the place where it
was first deposited, placing it before the high altar.
The leaden cross had meanwhile been deposited in the
Treasury of the Abbey, and in the reign of Henry VIII
it was seen by Leland, and treated with marked reverence
and enthusiasm so characteristic of the old antiquary. In
speaking of it in his Assertio Arthuri, he says, “ Quam ego
euriosissimis contemplatus cum oculis et solicitis contrac-
tavi articulis, motus et antiquitate rei et dignitate.”

Still later we have the authority of Camden in his
Britannia, who gives a sketch of the “broad eross of lead”
with the inscription, as he says, “drawn out of the first
copy in the Abbey of Glaseon.” A fac-simile of this
woodeut is given in the present volume, taken from the
princeps edition, by Dr. Philemon Holland, mpcx., and
which may be regarded as the best authority extant. The
inscription is as follows :

HIC JACET SEPVLTVS INCLITVS REX
ARTVRIVS IN INSVLA AVALONIA.

What became of the original after the dissolution of the
monastery is not known. There is no clue to its subse-
quent history, that I know of, if it may not be found
among some of the treasures of the Monks of Glastonbury,
which were removed to Naworth Castle, the ancient seat
of the Howards, and still the property of that noble and
distinguished family. Before elosing the notice of Cam-
den’s testimony it is necessary to observe that on the
authority of William of Malmesbury and of Giraldus, he
states that “the sepulchre wherein the bones of that
famous Arthur were bestowed, was of oake made hollow.”

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. s

138 PAPERS, ETC. .

We now come to the question—was the leaden cross
with its inscription a forgery, and the search and reputed
discovery a pretence ?

There were very powerful reasons of state which would
make Henry the Second at this time especially anxious
to be able to bring forward so manifest a proof of King
Arthur’s death and burial, to convince the Welsh of the
vanity of their national expectation of his re-appearance to
resume the sway of the British tribes. Henry had com-
pleted the subjugation of North Wales, but the people of
the South still held out, influenced mainly, among other
reasons, by the deeply and universally cherished hope and
conviction that Arthur was not dead, but would soon come
to restore the kingdom of the Kymri. Henry de Blois,
the Abbot of Glastonbury at this time, was first cousin to
the king, being the brother of Stephen. Could there have
been a collusion between him and his cousin, and the

whole pretended discovery have been a delusion? That
certainly is possible. But is it probable? The Abbot
could not well have carried out the scheme without the
knowledge and concurrence of the whole community.
Would it be deemed safe to confide so important a state
secret to so many witnesses who could not be under the
control of the court?

I do not attach much importance to the fact of Henry
de Blois’ near relationship to Stephen, which would make
it unlikely he should further the interests of his brother’s
rival and successor; for during his own brother’s life we
find that the Abbot sided with the supporters of Matilda
on the other side on several occasions. It must be remem-
bered, however, that the Abbot of Glastonbury was not
so dependent upon the king that he could be compelled
against his willin such a matter. The mitred Abbots of

KING ARTHUR’S REMAINS. 139

Glastonbury, and Henry in partieular from his noble birth
and lordly position, were not likely to be made the tools
of any monarch. Henry de Blois at this very time was
Abbot of Glastonbury, Bishop of Winchester, and held the
office of the Pope’s Legate throughout England. He was
drawing so near to the close of his earthly pilgrimage, and
was in the enjoyment of so many great and distinguished
honours, that no motive can be conceived sufficient to
induce him to take part in or connive at so great and
palpable a fraud.

I admit the difficulty arising from the gigantic and
superhuman proportions of the bones which were exhibited
by the monks as the remains of King Arthur. Thus
Giraldus himself, in speaking of the bones he saw ex-
hibited, says: “His leg bone being placed along side the
les of a very tall man reached three fingers’ breadth above
the knee, as the Abbot shewed us. His skull was also
very large and thick, being a hand’s breadth wide between
the eyes and the eye-brows.” The proportions even of the
bones exhibited are no doubt greatly exaggerated in this
account, and it does not at all follow after all that they
were the bones found in the sarcophagus. The lapse of
time which had passed from the interment to the dis-
covery would imply the almost complete decomposition of
the bones, and there is no improbability in the surmise
that the bones afterwards exhibited were not the bones
found, but some others selected purposely, because of their
size, to increase the wonder and enhance the value of the
relies. Our rejection of the purely legendary and impos-
sible does not involve our rejeetion of the record, and our
acceptance of the leading features of the event does not
commit us to the exaggerations of that wonder-loving age.

There are difhiculties also arising from the inscription on

140 PAPERS, ETC.

the leaden cross. To say the least, the addition of the
words IN INSULA AVALONIA, is suspicious. The adverb
hie (here), would be suflicient to determine the locality
without the addition of the very name of the place. It is
an addition, I admit, very unlikely to be made under the
circumstances. It would be interesting to know if similar
forms ever occur in sepulchral inscriptions, I do not
know of another instance myself. After all, it is quite
within the range of possibility. Im other respects, the
form of the letters, which are of the debased Romano-
British type, and the character of the inseription, appear
to harmonize with its alleged antiquity. The descrip-
tion given of the sarcophagus itsel—namely, a solid oak,
hollowed out—adds very much to the evidence in favour
of its genuineness. It is well known that this was not the
mode of sepulture in vogue at the time the exhumation
took place, and that it was occasionally, at least, adopted
in the very early ages of the Christian era. It is known
also that the cross, the hallowed symbol of the Christian’s
faith and hope, was used in this way at a very early period;
and there is no reason to doubt its having been employed
to mark the grave of the great Christian king, and nephew
of a man so distinguished in the Chruch as St. David,
Bishop of Menevia.

Upon the whole, then, Iam led by these considerations
to the conclusion that it is more than probable that King
Arthur had found a resting place, after his mortal wound
at Camalet, in the precincts of the Abbey of Glastonbury ;
and that the interesting traditions connected with these
beautiful ruins are founded upon fact.

At the close of this paper a discussion ensued in which
Messrs. Warre, Bouverie, Freeman, Parker, Jones, and the

KING ARTHUR’S REMAINS. 141

President took part. The Rev. F. Warre maintained
that there were the strongest reasons to believe the tradi-
tion to be founded on fact. Mr. Freeman sifted the
historical evidence, and argued strongly against the proba-
bility. Mr. Parker, on the other hand, observed that the
custom of burying in a coffin formed of a hollow oak-tree
agreed with that of the time at which King Arthur is said
to have been buried here, and mentioned the skeleton
found in a similar coflin near Scarborough, and now pre-
served in the Museum there, the bones of which are dyed
black by the action of the gall of the oak in the moist clay
in which it was buried, and hence is popularly called the
Black Prince. He also observed that the thin leaden plate
of a cruciform shape, with the rude inscription upon it,
agrees exactly with many similar leaden plates found by
the Abb& Cochet in early graves in the neighbourhood of
Dieppe, in Normandy, several of which have been engraved
in the “ Archzologia.” These graves are assigned by that
learned antiquary to the Merovingian period, and this point
has not been doubted by any of those who have examined
the question.

On Britich Cattle Stotionz.

BY THE REV. F. WARRE.

T the time when the aboriginal tribes of the Loegri
inhabited the County of Somerset, probably long
before the men of Galedin had repaid their hospitality by
depriving them of a large portion of their richest territory,
certainly long before the Roman eagle had extended his flight
to these western islands or Christianity had settled among
us, the Isle of Avalon, in later days celebrated through the
world as the site of the earliest Christian church established
in Britain, as the burial-place of the renowned Arthur, and
through the middle ages as possessing one of the most
splendid monastic establishments that the world has seen,
must have been a peninsula, rather than an island. Sur-
rounded on both sides by what was then an impassable
morass, or rather a lagoon. Overflowed by the sea at every
high tide, it was connected on the east side by an isthmus
of but slight elevation above the surrounding moor with
the higher ground which, beginning at West Pennard,
extends in an easterly direction towards Bruton,
Now we know with historical certainty that Glastonbury
was inhabited in very early days, that in the days of the
Romano-Britons it had a monastic establishment which

BRITISH CATTLE STATIONS. 145

existed in great wealth and splendour down to the time
of the reformation, rendered illustrious by the residence of
such men as St. Patrick, St. Paulinus, St. Dunstan, Gildas
the historian, and many others. Tradition tells us that
here St. Joseph of Arimathsa established the first Chris-
tian Church in these islands, and that here the Christian
warrior King Arthur, having fought well and gallantly
against the northern heathen who were overwhelming his
country by their constantly repeated invasions, rested from
his labours after the fatal fight on the banks of Camlan.
So interesting is it to the historian, the Christian, and the
poet, that no excuse need be made for endeavouring to
learn all that is known about it, or for investigating the
marks of ancient occupation which still exist around it,
with even more affectionate care than the archsologist will
always be ready to devote to the search after the truth of
things however remote in date or apparently unimportant
in extent.

Now, as I before said, Avalon in primsval days must
have presented the appearance of a peninsula. Wearyal
Hill, Chalice Hill, and the Tor, rising boldly from the
surrounding morass, encircle a small valley, in which re-
posed in its majesty the mighty Abbey of Glastonbury.
But long before the building of the wooden church, where
it may be St. Paul himself had preached the gospel of
peace, this peninsula had attracted the attention of the
aboriginal inhabitants of the country, and a great cattle
station had undoubtedly been established there. The
wealth of the prims»val Britons consisted, as we know,
chiefly in herds of cattle, to which the marshy ground of
the estuary no doubt afforded a plentiful supply of food,
and of course enclosed places of shelter and refuge were
required both for the herds and the herdsmen. These

144 PAPERS, ‚ETC.

cattle stations being very different in their arrangement
from either the purely military stations or primsval towns
of British or Belgie date which I have before descrihed,
may, if not mentioned, confuse students of primsval anti-
quity, and in order to help them in avoiding error I will
briefly point out the indications which have led me to
suppose that Avalon was in the very earliest days oceupied
by one of the most important of the cattle stations fre-
quented by the British herdsmen, whose cattle pastured on
the vast reed beds which then existed in the drier parts of
the morass.

The road from Glastonbury to West Pennard passes, at
about two miles from the former place, between two ham-
lets, the one called East Street the other Woodland Street,
names suggestive to the ear of the arch@ologist of Roman
occupation. These are situated on each side of the isthmus
which I have mentioned as connecting the Isle of Avalon
with the higher ground, and immediately on the Glastonbury
side of these hamlets a vallum of great magnitude extends
across the rising ground, completely from one marsh to the
other, effeetually separating the peninsula of Avalon from
the higher lands. This vallum is known by the appellation
of Ponter’s Ball, which I imagine to be a word com-
pounded of the Roman, vallum, and the Saxon, pindan,
to enclose; and to signify the vallum of the enclosure, or
the enclosing vallum. And if we suppose the marsh to
have been, as it probably was, impassable, this earthwork,
if surmounted by a palisade, would have rendered the whole
peninsula as safe and desirable an enclosure for cattle as
can well be conceived. From this vallum, if we walk to
the Tor, we shall find every point of advantage occupied
with works of defence. Series of terraces not only occupy
the sunny slopes, where they might possibly have been

BRITISH CATTLE STATIONS. 145

vineyards, but in places where the sun hardly shines, but by
which easy access is afforded to the summit of the hill, all
of them similar in character to tbe defences which I have
elsewhere described as constituting the exterior works of
regularly fortified places, and probably amply sufficient to
protect the herdsmen from any sudden attack. But on
the top of the hill, where we should expect to find the
stronghold, there is nothing but a platform, apparently
levelled by artificial means, on which in medisval times
stood the chapel of St. Michael, the tower on which hill
constitutes a very remarkable feature of the landscape.
The descent towards the town is defended by a series of
earthworks of irregular design, which, though they may
perhaps have been originally natural, have evidently been
scarped away, so as to supply the place of the undoubtedly
artificial terraces which defend the other side of the hill,
two of them, indeed, overlap each other in a manner so
exactly similar to the outworks defending the beacon at
Castle Neroche, that I cannot hesitate to pronounce them
at once to be artificial fortifications.

Somewhere in the beautiful little valley surrounded by
these hills no doubt the herdsmen lived in peaceful times,
and took refuge on the partially fortified Tor in time of
need. On Wearyal Hill is a large enclosure, the entrance
to which has been made narrow by scarping away both
sides of the hill, and which, if surrounded, as it probably
was, with strong palisades, would afford a secure refuge for
a very large number of cattle.

Perhaps the most important of these cattle stations, or,
if I may so designate it, the head quarters of the herdsmen
of the marsh, was situated at Brent Knoll. This remark-
able hill cannot fail of being noticed by every traveller
from Bridgwater to Bristol. An elevated plain of some

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. ji

146 PAPERS, ETC.

hundred acres rises abruptly from the marsh, terminating
at one extremity in a high and bold peak of similar charac-
ter to Glastonbury Tor, the summit of which is erowned
by an earthwork, which, from its position when seen from
a distance, appears to be a military work of great impor-
tance. This, however, will be found on closer inspection
not to be the case. The ramparts, though of considerable
magnitude, and enclosing what may possibly have been a
small village arranged on the threefold system, are of the
simplest construction, with hardly any attempt at outworks
beyond an escarpment on the steep side of the hill and a
few terraces commanding the principal entrance. The
whole, however, of the elevated plain before mentioned has
been enclosed with a low agger, and probably a palisade,
and must have resembled a large park. Within this
enclosure there is a fine spring, and a more favourable
situation for cattle, when driven by high tides or stormy
weather from the marsh pastures, can hardly be imagined.

There is one more of these stations to which I wish to
draw attention. This is situated on the first rise of the
ground, at Cannington Park, from the level of the marsh.
It consists of several large enclosures, with little, ıf any,
attempt at systematic fortification. It is held by some
authorities that the primsval tribe of the Cangi, who are
said to have inhabited the country between Quantock and
the sea, were rather a body of professional herdsmen than
deserving the appellation of a distinet people. If this was
the case, the fact of one of these stations being situated in
the immediate vieinity of Cannington—a name probably
derived from the early occupants of the distriet—consider-
ably strengthens the probability of my guess at the purpose
for which they were established.

There is hardly an elevated spot on the whole marsh, or

BRITISH UATTLE STATIONS. 147

immediately near it, undisturbed by modern cultivation,
which does not bear the marks, more or less distinctly
defined, of early occupation. I imagine that most of these
mark the sites of British Cattle Stations, of which none
but, perhaps, the largest and most important were occu-
pied except during the dry months of summer, at other
times they must, from the nature of the ground, have been,
before the construction of the Roman sea walls, almost
totally inaccessible.. Nor would the marshes, during the
winter, have produced herbage of much value for bucolical
purposes. This may account for the absence of more dis-
tincet traces of permanent residence than I have discovered
at any of these stations. In confirmation of this opinion, I
may state that in the immediate vieinity of my own house,
at Bishop’s Lydeard, a slight elevation of red sand runs
out, like a promontory, into the line of meadow, which, at
the time of which I am speaking, must have been a marsh,
resembling, on a small scale, that surrounding Glaston-
bury; and that the field which occupies its ridge, and
shows some faint marks of ancient works, is still known by
the name of Half Yard, which, I believe, would signify the
summer enclosure.

I have then now done my best to point out the different
types of primzsval earthworks most commonly met with
in this distriet. They.are, as I suppose, the aboriginal
type, marking the sites of permanent fortified towns,
distinguished by their threefold arrangement, somewhat
analogous to that of a Norman castle. The purely military,
or, as I suppose, Belgic type, distinguished by its concen-
tric arrangement and the Cattle Stations, differing from
both the others in the great size of their external inclo-
sures, and the absence of any very important or complex
military works, and, as far as I have been able to observe,

148 PAPERS, ETC.

of any considerable provision for permanent residence. I
cannot, however, finally quit a subject which ill health pre-
vents me following any further, without recommending it
to those who have health and strength, (for the pursuit to
be successful necessarily implies exposure to weather and
fatigue) as one which is sure to afford much innocent
enjoyment, and I believe as likely to conduce to the “mens
sana in corpore sano” as any one that can be found.

Arport on Ihe Haturol Biatery portion
of the Alngenm,

BY W. A. SANFORD, ESQ., F.G.S.

AUGUST 9, 1860.

AVING been requested by the Committee of

Management to report on the state of the Natural

History collection in the possession of our Society, I have

the greater pleasure in doing so, as, although no great

additions have been recently received, a very great im-

provement has taken place within the past year in the
arrangement and condition of that which we possess.

I think I shall best serve the interest of the Museum by
shortly stating what has been done in each department of
Natural History during the past year, by noting the prin-
cipal deficiencies, and by suggesting simple remedies for
them.

With regard to the Geological collection. Mr. Parfitt,
our curator, has examined the manuscripts of Mr. Williams,
and in them he has discovered a clue whereby he has been
enabled to restore to a very large number of the specimens
of that gentleman’s collection their approximate localities.
He has arranged the whole of those for which we have

150 PAPERS, ETC.

space stratigraphically, and he has named every specimen
which presented sufficient characters.

It is hardly possible to estimate too highly the value of
this work. The collection, comparatively useless before, is
now of great value, both in a scientific and instructive point
of view ; and when those portions which are still unar-
ranged are afforded space, it will probably be the best
collection existing of the important series of rocks to which
it belongs, namely the Devonian and Carboniferous series
of Devon and Cornwall.

Of the greater part of the remainder of our Geological
collection, although Mr. Parfitt has named nearly all the
specimens, I regret to be obliged to state that, excepting
as a mere reference to name specimens by, or for the tyro
in Geology to become acquainted with the forms which are
represented in the different series of rocks, it is compara-
tively useless, for but few of the localities are known, and
for the higher purposes of Geology it is absolutely neces-
sary that the exact locality and bed of rock in which the
individual specimen occurs should be fixed.

The more friable and delicate saurian and fish remains
have, during the past year, been covered with glass. The
only fossils that now absolutely require protection are the
larger mammalian remains from the Mendip caverns. Of
these mammalian fossils we have a collection of great inter-
est, containing many individual specimens which are either
unique or nearly so, and many series of teeth and bones of
extinet animals which show the variations the animals
underwent in their growth. Among these two previously
undetermined jaws have been shown to belong to the
Spermophilus eitellus, or pouched marmot of the Altai
mountains, an animal hitherto not found elsewhere than in
Siberia. This, among many others, gives an absolute proof

REPORT ON THE MUSEUM. 151

of the elose connection which exists between the later cave
fauna of England and that which now exists in Siberia.

It would be highly desirable that a catalogue should be
published of the more important fossils we possess. If
such were done in connection with other local museums it
would much facilitate reference, and consequently the
study of minute Geology.

The only fossil of importance we have received during
the past year is a portion of the skeleton of a very large
ichthyosaur, from Stoke St. Mary—I believe the first
found in that locality. For this we are indebted to the
kindness of Mr. Arthur Jones, our excellent secretary.

Our deficieneies in this department occur in the coal
bearing and secondary formations, although we possess
many fine specimens, the localities of but few are known,
and, as I stated before, the collection is useless in the
present state of Geology without them; it makes a fair
show to the eye, but is useless for the purposes of science.
It is, therefore, earnestly requested by the Committee of
Management that those who take such an interest in our
work as to favour us with specimens, should take care to
affıx to each individual fossil or rock specimen a short
statement of the exact eircumstances of its oceurrence,
including height of bed, its relative position to other beds,
and any other detail of interest which may ocecur.

In addition to the collection of fossils it would be very
desirable to form a good and well-arranged collection of
rock speeimens attached to each division of the geological
series, so as to show the different descriptions of rock
which are bedded in each formation, as well as the varia-
tions of the same bed in different distriets. This might
be attained if the members of the Society were to make a
well elassified collection of each rock they may know of in

*

152 PAPERS, ETC.

their respective neighbourhoods, and would afüix to the
specimen a statement of the exact circumstances and thick-
ness of the bed. The smaller the specimens are, the better,
if they show the characteristie structure of the rock.

With regard to existing Plants and Animals, several
considerable improvements in arrangement and additions to
our collection have been made during the past year. The
Herbarium is in good order, but it only contains 700 out
of 1600 British flowering plants. If any person wishes to
correspond with the Society for the sake of exchange, or
in order to benefit us, a marked catalogue will be supplied
him by the eurator. We have no Cryptogamia, except a
good collection of ferns and smaller marine alg® ; and the
mieroscopic forms of vegetable life are altogether wanting.

The only portion of our collection which is in a satisfac-
tory state, as regards the lower orders of animal life, is the
cabinet of British Shells. Of these we have 270 out of
about 400 species. A similar arrangement may be made
with regard to these as I have mentioned with regard to
our collection of flowering plants.

Of the Sponges, Zoophytes, Polyzoa, Echinodermata,
and Annelids, we have next to nothing ; but the collection
of Crustacea formed by the late Mr. Baker has been put in
order, and, though small, forms a nucleus for a more com-
plete set.

Arrangements have been made for the gradual formation
of a complete series of Insects. A considerable number of
species have been procured by Mr. Parfitt, and arranged
with those of Mr. Baker’s collection that were worth pre-
serving. Additions to these are particularly requested.

All the specimens of British Fish we possess are now
properly arranged and protected, in the same manner as
the skeletons of reptiles, birds, and small mammalia which
we received from the late Mr. Baker.

REPORT ON THE MUSEUM. 193

A commencement has also been made of a system by
which, as we receive specimens, a systematic arrangement
of British Birds and their eggs and nests can be carried
out. The few specimens we possess of British Mammalia
are now adequately protected.

Mr. Parfitt has mounted many of the skins of Indian
birds which were in the cupboards, and he has put in order
most of the specimens of various animals we had in spirits.

Altogether the Museum presents an orderly, systematic,
and cared-for appearance, which is most creditable to our
excellent curator, who is indefatigable not only in arranging
and keeping in order the number of objects under his
charge, but takes every opportunity of adding to the stock,
both by his own personal exertions and by applying to his
correspondents on our behalf.

The advantage which the Society possesses in having as
their curator a person who, to an accurate knowledge of
entomology and botany, joins a love for, and more than
average acquirements in, other branches of Natural History,
should not be lost sight of. Specimens sent to us will, if
valuable, be taken every care of, and the utmost possible
use will be made of them. It is trusted that this will
encourage those who are fond of this great and growing
science to aid in making our museum be, as it should be,
the means of instruction to the young, and of study and
reference to the advanced student.

WAS.

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. v

Somerachshire
Archwolagienl amd Hatural Bigtry Dariety.

859.

PATRON:
THE RIGHT HON. LORD PORTMAN.

PRESIDENT :
F. H. DICKINSON, ESQ.

VICE-PRESIDENTS :
SIR P. P. F. P. ACLAND, BART.
THOMAS DYKE ACLAND, ESQ.

THE RIGHT HON. AND RIGHT REV. THE LORD
AUCKLAND, BISHOP OF BATH AND WELL£.
THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR OF BATH.
THE HON. AND REY. RICHARD BOYLE.
HON. P. P. BOUVERIE, M.P.

THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF CAVAN.
THE REV. J. $. H. HORNER.

THOMAS TUTTON KNYFTON, ESQ.

W. H. P. GORE LANGTON, ESQ.

THE REV. & WORSHIPFUL CHANCELLOR J. T. LAW.
AMBROSE GODDARD LETHBRIDGE, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HON. EARL OF LOVELACHE.
J. H. MARKLAND, ESQ.

ARTHUR MILLS, ESQ, M.P.

W. PINNEY, ESQ., M.P.

THE REY. FITZHARDINGE BERKELEY PORTMAN.
W. R. SHEPPARD, ESQ.

THE RIGHT HON. LORD TALBOT DE MALAHIDE.
THE RIGHT HON. LORD TAUNTON.

SIR W. ©. TREVELYAN, BART.
CHARLES NOEL WELMAN, ESQ.

E. A. SANFORD, ESQ.

W. E. SURTEES, ESQ.

156
TREASURERS :
HENRY Ann ROBERT G. BADCOCK, TZuunton.

GENERAL SECRETARIES :

REV. F. WARRE, REV. W. A. JONES, W.F. ELLIOT,
Bishop’s Lydeard. Taunton. Taunton.

DISTRICT OR LOCAL SECRETARIES:

HENRY BERNARD, Wells.
REV. W. F. CHILCOTT, KHonksilver.

E. CHISHOLM-DBATTEN, 7%orn Falcon.
REV. H. CLUTTERBUCK, Zuckland Dinham.
REV. A. O0. FITZGERALD, Somerton.

R. W. FALCONER, M.D., Bath.

C. E. GILES, Taunton.

C. MOORE, Bath.

G. S. POOLE, Dridgwater.

T. PORCH PORCH, Zagarley.

J. H. PRING, M.D., Weston-super- Mare.
REV. W. R. CROTCH, Weston-super-Mare.
W. A. SANFORD, Nynehead.

REV. HENRY M. SCARTH, Bath.

R. WALTER, Stoke-sub-Hambdon.

G. WALTERS, Frome.

F. H. WOODFORDE, M.D., Taunton.
CAPTAIN PERCEVAL, Chapel Cleeve.
T. MAYHEW, Glastonbury.

COMMITTEE:
W. E. GILLETT, ».n., EDWARDS BEADON,
W. METFORD, ı.p»., HENRY ALFORD,
W. M. KELLY, «.»., Rev. W. ROUTLEDGE, D.p.,
JOHN ROY ALLEN, Rev. W. T. REDFERN,
W. W. COKER, BRev..J.. BD. SCOIIE
J. F. NORMAN, Rey. T. A. VOULES,

The President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurers, and Secretaries,
are ex-oficio Members of the Committee.

CURATOR;
EDWARD PARFITT, Xuseum, Taunton.

amarary anı Corrrapaming emberz.

Acland, Dr., Zee’s Reader of Anatomy, Oxford.

Alford, Very Rev. H., Dean of Canterbury.

Babington, C. C., Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., St. John’s College,
Cambridge.

Carter, Rev. Eceles, Kingston.

Charlton, Dr., Sec. Antigquarian Soeiety, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Daubeny, Dr., Professor of Botany and of Chemistry, Oxford.

De La Beche, Sir H., Direetor of Ordnance Geological Survey.

De Morgan, A., Esq., Prof. Mathematies, University College,
London.

Duncan, P. B., Esq., Curator of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Ellis, Sir H.

Empson, C., Esq., Bath.

Ferrey, B., Esq., Charing-cross, London.

Freeman, E. A., Esq., Rumney, Cardiff.

Godwin, George, Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A., Brompton.

Hardwick, P. ©., Esq., Russell-square, London.

Hawkins, E., Esq.

Henslow, Rev. J. S., Professor of Botany, Cambridge.

Hugo, Rev. Thomas, F.S.A., Finsbury Circus, London.

Hunter, Rev. Joseph, F.S.A.

Lloyd, Dr., See. Archeological and Natural History Society,

Warwick.

Oliver, Rev. Dr., Exeter.

Owen, Professor.

Parker, J. H., Esq., Oxford.

Petit, Rev. T. L., the Uplands, Shifnal.

Phillipps, Sir Thomas, Bart., Middlehill, Worcester.

Quekett, John, Esq., Royal College of Surgeons, London.

Ramsay, A. C., Esq., F.R.S.

Salter, J. W., Esq., F.G.S., Museum of Practical Geology.

Sedgwick, Rev. A., F.R.S., F.G.S., Woodwardian Professor of
Geology, Cambridge.

Smith, ©. Roach, Esq., F.S.A., Liverpool-street, London.

Speke, J. H., Esq.

Willis, Rev. R., F.R.S., F.G.S., Jacksonian Professor, Cambridge.

Wilson, Daniel, Esq., See. Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Warner, Rev. R., Great Chalfield, Wilts.

Yates, J., Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S., Lauderdale House, Highgate.

158

Sorietieg in Corrosgpondener
With the Somersetshire Archzological and Natural History Society.

The Archaeological Institute of Great Britain.
The Eeclesiological Society.
The Bristol and West of England Architectural Society.
The Architectural Society of Northampton.
The Sussex Archeological Society.
The British Archeological Assoeiation.
The Surrey Archeological Society.
The Leicester Literary and Philosophical Soeiety.

The Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archeological Society.
The Sufolk Institute of Archeology and Natural History.
Societie Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles, Lausanne.
The Lancashire Historie Society.

The Chester Local Archeological Society.

The Society of Antiquaries.

The Wiltshire Archeologieal and Natural History Society.
University College, Toronto.

Aules.

ie Society shall be denominated “ Tue SOMERSETSHIRE
ÄRCHEOLOGICAL AND NarturaL History Socıery ;” and
its object shall be the eultivation of, and colleceting information
on, Archxology and Natural History, in their various branches,
but more particularly in connection with the County of So-
merset.

II.— The Society shall consist of a Patron, eleeted for life ;
a President; Vice-Presidents; General, and Distriet or Local
Secretaries; and a Treasurer, elected at each Anniversary
Meeting; with a Committee of twelve, six of whom shall go
out annually by rotation, but may be re-elected. No person
shall be elected on the Committee until he shall have been six
months a member of the Society.

RULES, 159

III.— Anniversary General Meetings shall be held for the
purpose of electing the Oflicers, of receiving the Report of the
Committee for the past year, and of transacting all other neces-
sary business, at such time and place as the Committee shall
appoint; of which Meetings three weeks’ notice shall be given
to the members.

IV.—There shall also be a General Meeting fixed by the
Committee, for the purpose of receiving Reports, reading
Papers, and transacting business. All members shall have
the privilege of introdueing one friend to the Anniversary and
General Meetings.

V.—The Committee is empowered to call Special Meetings
of the Society, upon receiving a requisition signed by ten mem-
bers. Three weeks’ notice of such Special Meeting, and its
object, shall be given to each member.

VI.—The affairs of the Society shall be directed by the Com-
mittee, (of which the Officers of the Society shall be ew-oficio
members) which shall hold Monthly Meetings for receiving
Reports from the Secretaries and sub-Committees, and for trans-
acting other necessary business ; five of the Committee shall be
a quorum. Members may attend the Monthly Committee
Meetings, after the official business has been transacted.

VH.—The Chairman, at Meetings of the Society, shall
have a casting vote, in addition to his vote as a member.

VIOIL—One (at least) of the Secretaries shall attend each
Meeting, and shall keep arecord of its proceedings. All Manu-
scripts and Communications, and the other property of the
Society, shall be under the charge of the Secretaries.

IX.— Candidates for admission as members shall be pro-
posed by two members at any of the General or Committee
Meetings, and the election shall be determined by ballot at the
next Committee or General Meeting ; three-fourths of the mem-
bers present balloting shall eleet. The rules of the Society
shall be subscribed by every person becoming a member.

X.—Ladies shall be eligible as members of the Society
without ballot, being proposed by two members, and approved
by the majority of the Meeting.

XI.—Each member shall pay ten shillings on admission to

160 RULES.

the Society, and ten shillings as an Annual Subscription, which
shall become due on the first of January in each year, and shall
be paid in advance.

XII. —Donors of Ten Guineas or upwards shall be mem-
bers for life.

XIII.—At General Meetings of the Society the Committee
may recommend persons to be balloted for as Honorary or
Corresponding Members.

XTV.—When any oflice shall become vacant, or any new
appointment shall be requisite, the Committee shall have power
to fill up the same; such appointments shall remain in force
only till the next General Meeting, when they shall be either
confirmed or annulled.

XV.—The Treasurer shall receive all Subscriptions and
Donations made to the Society, and shall pay all accounts
passed by the Committee; he shall keep a book of receipts and
payments, which he shall produce whenever the Committee
shall require it; the accounts shall be audited previously to the
Anniversary Meeting by two members of the Committee, chosen
för that purpose; and an abstract of them shall be read at the
Meeting.

XVI—No change shall be made in the Laws of the Society,
except at a General or Special Meeting, at which twelve mem-
bers at least shall be present. Of the proposed change a month’s
notice shall be given to the Secretaries, who shall communicate
the same to each member three weeks before the Meeting..

XVII. — Papers read at Meetings of the Society, and con-
sidered by the Committee of suflicient interest for publication,
shall be forwarded (with the author’s consent) to such periodical
as shall be determined by the Committee to be the best for the
purpose, with a request that a number of such papers may be
printed separately, for distribution to the members of the
Society, either gratuitously or for such payment as may be
agreed on.

XVIIL.—No religious or political discussions shall be per-
mitted at Meetings of the Society.

XIX.— That any person contributing Books or Specimens to
the Museum shall be at liberty to resume possession of them in

En A

LIST OF MEMBERS. 161

the event of the property of the Society ever being sold, or
transferred to any other county. Also, persons shall have liberty
to deposit Books or Specimens for a specific time only.

N.B.—One of the objects of the Society shall be to collect,
by donation or purchase, a Library and Museum, more partieu-
larly illustrating the History (Natural, Civil, and Ecclesiastical)
of the County of Somerset.

*,#= It is requested that Contributions to the Museum or Library
be sent to the Curator, at the Society’s Rooms, Taunton.

Tirt of Alenbern.

1859.
Those marked * are Life Members.

Abraham, T., Dunster
Acland, Sir P. P., Bart., Fairfield House
Acland, Sir T. D., Bart., Killerton Park, Devon
Acland, T. D., Spreydoncote, Devon
5 Acres, Rey. J., Clevedon
Adair, A., Heatherton Park
Addington, H. J., Langford
Adlam, William, The Firs, Chew Magna
Ainslie, Rev. A. C., Corfe, Taunton
10 Alford, H., Taunton
Alla, DH: J.,'
Allen, J. R., Lyngford House
Allen, Rev. C., Stocklinch, near Ilminster
Allen, B. T., Burnham
15 Anstice, Mrs. J., Bridgwater
Auckland, the Right Rev. Lord, Bishop of Bath and
Wells, Palace, Wells

Badceock, Miss H., Taunton
Badcock, H., Wheatleigh Lodge
Badcock, R. G., The Elms, Taunton

20 Bagehot, Edward, Langport
Bagehot, Walter, n

VOL. 1x., 1859, PART II. w

162 LIST OF MEMBERS,

30

40

45

60

Bailward, J., Horsington, Blandford, Dorset
Baker, John, Weston-super-Mare

Baker, ©. Gifford, Seaton, Devon

Bally, Mrs., Pelham-place, Hastings

Barrett, W., Moreden House, North Curry
Barrowforth, J., Cheddon Fitzpaine

Bartrum, J. Ss, 4, Gay-sireet, Bath

Batten, H. B. , Hollands, Yeovil

Beadon, Rev. Canon, North Stoneham, Hants
Beadon, Edwards, Highlands, Taunton

Beadon, Mrs. Captain G., Creech Barrow, Taunton

Bernard, H., Wells
Berryman, W. C., jun., Wells

5 Bewes, Rev. T. A., Deaumont, Plymouth

Blackwell, Rev. W., Mells

Blair, H. M., Farleigh Castle

Blake, W., Bishop's Hull

Blake, Downing, Holway, Taunton

Bluett, C., Taunton

Bird, J., a

Bond, Rev. J., Weston, Bath

Bord, ep Gr Bruton

Bouverie, Hon. P. P., m.p., Brymore House
Bouverie, P. P., jun. ”
Bown, Miss, Taunton

Boyd, R., m.p., Wells

Boyle, Hon. and Rev. Richard, Marston, Frome
Brackstone, R. H., Zyncombe Hill, Bath
Breton, Lieut., k.N., Camden-place, ,
Bridges, H., Bridqwater

Broadmead, P., Milverton

Broadley, J., 2, Gascoyne-place, Bath
Brodrick, Hon. Miss, 18, Queen-square, Bath
Brown, Rev. Frederick, Naxlsea

Browne, William, Bridgwater (deceased))
Browne, John,

Browne, S. W., Cl ifton Park, Bristol

Browne, Samuel, 66, Bishopsgate, London, and Spring

Cottage, Merriott, Ilminster
Broome, C. E., Elmhurst, Batheaston
Bruford, T., Naxlsea
Bryant, Rev. W. F., Horfield, Bristol

LIST OF MEMBERS. 163

Brymer, J. S., 76, Pulteney-street, Bath
Buckle, Rev. G., Twerton

65 Bullock, G. T., East Coker
Bullock, George, ,

Cameron, Rev. J. H. L., Shanks House, Mincantonm
Campbell, Fraser, Halswell, Bridgwaler
Castle, T., Worle
70 Carver, R., Haines Hill, Taunton
Cavan, the Earl of, Weston-super-Mare
Cave, T., Yeovıl
Chamberlain, G., Seend, Melksham, Wilts
Chapple, J., Dulverton
75 Chileott, Rev. W. F., Monksilver
Chisholm-Batten, E, Thorn Falcon, and Lincoln’s Inn,
London
Clark, Thomas, Halesleigh, Bridgwater
Clark, James, Street
Clark, Joseph, ,,
80 Clarke, F. R., Taunton
Clarke, T. E., Tremlett House, Wellington
Clarke, A. A., Wells
Clerk, Rev. D. M., Kingston Deveril, Wilts
Clerk, E. H., Westholme House, Pilton, Shepton Mallet
85 Clutterbuck, Rev. Henry, Buckland Dinham, Frome
Cobb, Edward, 4, St. John’s Villas, Haverstock Hill,
London
Coffin, Com. Genl. Sir E. P., 43, Gay-sireet, Bath
Coker, T., Taunton
Coker, W. Worthington, Wild Oak, Taunton
90 Coleman, Rev. James, Chapel Allerton
Coles, Rev. J. S., Shepton Beauchamp
Collings, Rev. W. T., Le Manoir Serk, Guernsey
Cooper, Lady, Leversdown House
Cordwent, G., M.D., Taunton
95 Cornish, C. H.,
Cox, Rev. E. ‚ Luecombe, Minehead
Crosse, Mrs. Andrew
Crotch, Rev. W.R., Uphill

David, Dr.,. Bloomfield, Taunton
100 Davies, Henry, Weston-super-Mare
Davis, Maurice, Langport

164 LIST OF MEMBERS.

105

110

115

120

125

130

135

140

Davis, W. W.

Davis, H., Taunton

Dawson, T., Zrull

Dickinson, F. H., Kingweston House
Dickinson, E. H., a5

Donne, B. M., Crewkerne

Doveton, Captain, Haines Hill, Taunton
Down, E., Eixeter

Dowty, F. G., Bridgwater

Du Cane, Rey. Arthur, Wells

Du Sautoy, Rev. W., Taunton
Dyne, Henry, Bruton

Easton, R., Taunton

Edwards, Rev. H., Churchstanton
Egremont, Countess of, Orchard Wyndham
Elliot, Miss, Osborne House, Taunton
Elliot, W. F., re »

Elton, Sir Arthur H., Bart., Clevedon Court
Escott, Miss, Hartrow House

Esdaile, E. J., Cothelstone House

Esdaile, W. C. D., Barley Park, Ringwood, Hants
Estlin, J. P., Burnham

Eskersall, Miss, Bathwick Hill, Bath

Fagan, Rev. G. H., Kingweston
Falconer, R. W., m.D., Bath

Falkner, Francis, 2
Falkner, Frederick, »
Falkner, F. H., y

’
Farbrother, Edward, Shepton Mallet
Field, A, Zaunton
Fisher, J.M., ,„
Fisher, T., e
Fiske, H., Eg
Fitzgerald, Rev. A. O., Charlton Mackerel
Foley, Rev. R., North Cadbury, Castle Cary
Foster, W. J. S., Wells
Fox, ©. J., m.D., Brislington
Fox, Sylvanus, Linden, Wellington
Fuller, T., Richmond Hill, Bath

Giles, W., Southwick House, Trull

a

145

150

155

160

165

170

175

LIST OF MEMBERS. 165

Giles, ©. E., Paddington, London

Giles, Captain, Woodbury, Wells

Gillett, W. E., m.n., Taunton

Girardot, Rev. W., Hinton Charterhouse

Gordon, James, Weston-super-Mare

Goodford, Rev. C. O., D.D., Head Master, Zton
Goodford, Henry, Chilton Cantelo

Goodwin, Josiah, Rectory Grove, Clapham, London
Gould, Rev. W., Hatch Beauchamp

Grenville, Ralph Neville, Butleigh, Glastonbury

Hagley, E., Holywell, Oxford

Hamilton, J., Broomfield, and 116, Park-street, G’ros-
venor-square, London, W.

Hamilton, Rey. L. R., Castle Cary

Hancock, W., Wiveliscombe

Harbin, G., Newton House, Yeovil

Hardy, Lieut., R.n., Bath

Harford, Wm. H., Blaise Castle, Bristol

Harford, Wm. H.,jun., , =

Harris, Charles, Ilchester

Harrison, Rev. O. S., Thorn Faulcon

Hathway, Rev. R. C., Kewstoke

Hawkins, Rev. H. ©. H., Chilton-super-Polden

Heatheote, Rev. S., Williton

Helyar, W. H., Coker Court, Yeovil

Hewson, Rev. Frank

Higgs, Richard, Haines Hill, Taunton

Hitchcock, W. R., Taunton

Hill, Rey. R., Timsbury, Bath

Hill, Miss, Rock House, ,,

Hill, Wm. John, Langport

Hood, Sir A. A., Bart., m.Pp., St. Audries

Hooper, James, Inner Temple, London, E.C.

Horner, Rev. J. S. H., Mells Park, Frome

Hosegood, George, Huish Barton

Hoskins, T., Haselbury

Hoskins, H. W., Hinton St. George

Hunt, E., River-street, Bath

Hutchings, H., 13, Chester - street, Grosvenor - place,
London, 8.W.

180 Isaacs, G., Bishop’s Hull, Taunton

166 LIST OF MEMBERS.

185

190

195

200

205

210

215

Jeboult, E., Taunton

Jeffery, James, 14, Great Stanhope- street, Bath
(deceased)

Johnson, Rev. F. C., Whitelackington

Jones, R. L., Weston-super-Mare

Jones, Rev. W. A., Taunton

Jones, Rev. Longueville, 9, Saville-place, Clifton

Kelly, W. M., m.n., Taunton

Kemmis, Mrs., Croham Hurst, Croydon, Surrey
Kidgell, G., Wellington

Kilvert, Rev. F., Cleverton Lodge, Bath
King, H. D., Taunton

King, Rev. C., Stoke St. Gregory

King, J. W., Ash, Martock

King, R. K. M., Walford

King, R. M., Pyrland Hall

Kinglake, R. A., Weston-super-Mare
Kinglake, H., m.D., Taunton

Kingsbury, J., Taunton

Knatchbull, W. F., m.p., Babington House
Knowles, C., Bridgwater

Knyfton, T. T., Upkill

Lake, F., Taunton

Lambert, W. C., Knowle House, Wimborne, Dorset
Lance, Rev. J. E., Buckland St. Mary

Langton, W. H. P. G., Hatch Park, Taunton
Langton, W. H. G., m.P., Clifton

Larcombe, John, Langport

Law, Worshipful Chancellor J. T., Banwell
Leaver, Rev. H. C., Pen Selwood

Leigh, Henry, 3, Elm Court, Temple, London, E.C.
Lethbridge, A. G., Eastbrook, Taunton
Lethbridge, Sir John, Bart., Sandhill Park
Leversedge, John, Taunton

Liddon, H., 7

Littlehales, Rev. W., Compton Bishop

Lockey, Rev. F., Swainswick, Bath

Long, W., Lansdown-place, Bath

Louch, John, Stanchester, Curry Rivel

Lovelace, the Earl of, Ashley Combe, Porlock

220

225

230

235

240

245

250

255

LIST OF MEMBERS. 167

Malet, Captain A., Netherclay, Taunton

Mansell, J. C., Shaftesbury, Dorset

Markland, J. H., Bath

May, Frederick, Taunton

Mayhew, T., Glastonbury

Meade, Rey. R. J., Castle Cary

Medlycott, Sir W. C., Bart., Venne House, Milborne
Port

Metford, W., m.D., Floor House, Taunton

Meyler, T., Taunton

Michell, Rev. R., B.D., Magdalene Hall, Oxford

Mildmay, Paulet St. John, Haselbury, Wincanton

Miles, Sir W., Bart., m.p., Leigh Court

Mills, Arthur, m.p., Hyde Park Gardens, London

Mist, Miss, Bradford

Moody, ©. A., m.P., Kingsdon, Somerton

Moor, Rev. R. W., Stoke St. Gregory

Moore, C., Cambridge-place, Bath

Moysey, H. G., Bathealton Court

Munckton, W. W., Curry Rivel

Murch, Jerom, Cranfields, Bath

Murley, G. B., Langport

Naish, W. B., Stone Easton

Neville, Rev. F., Butleigh

Newberry, R., jun., Zaunton

Newton, F. W., Barton Grange
Nicholetts, J., South Petherton

Norman, G., 1, Circus, Bath

Norman, Rev. A. M., Sedgefield, Ferry Hill
Norman, J. F., Staplegrove, Taunton
Norris, J., Thorncombe (deceased)

Oakley, W., Taunton

Paget, I. M., Cranmore Hall, Shepton Mallet
Paget, Arthur, ®

Palairet, Rev. R., Norton St. Philip
Parfitt, Rev. ©. C., Midford Castle, Bath
Paul, Rev. ©. S., Wellow

Patton, Capt. T., R.n., Bishop’s Hull
Penny, Rev. C., D.D., Crewkerne

”

168 LIST OF MEMBERS.

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

295

Perceval, Capt., Chapel Cleeve

Perry, Rev. G. G., Warrington Rectory, near Lincoln
Philipps, Dan, Dridgwater

Pinchard, W. P., Taunton

Pinder, Rey. Professor, Wells

Pinney, W., m.Pp., Somerton Erleigh
Pinney, Miss,

Pitman, S., Rumhill

Plowman, T., North Curry

Pollard, G., Taunton

Poole, G. S., Bridgwater

Poole, J. R., Weston-super-Mare

Pope, Dr., Glastonbury

Porch, T. Be Edgarley

Portman, Rev. F. B., Staple FEN
*Portman, Lord, Bryanstone House, Dorset
Prankerd, J: ohn, Langport

Pring, J. Tb, M.D., Weston-super-Mare
Prior, Dr. Alexander, Halse

Pulman, G. P. R., Crewkerne

Pulteney, Rev. R. T., Ashley Rectory, Northamptonshire
Pyne, Rev. W., Charlton, Somerton

Quantock, Major, Norton-sub-Hamdon
Quekett, E., Langport

Raban, R. B., Hatch Beauchamp

Raban, Lt.-Col., United Service Club, London
*Ramsden, Sir J. W., Bart, m.p., Byham, Yorkshire
Rawle, T., Zaunton

Rawlinson, William George, Taunton
Redfern, Rev. W. T., Taunton

Reeves, Archibald,

Reynolds, Vincent iR, Canon’s Grove, Taunton
Rhodes, Rev. E. D. , Hampton Villa, Bath
Richards, Rev. T. M,, Alcombe

Richards, W.,

Robins, G., Midford Castle, near Bath

Rock, Hoyte, Glastonbury

Rocke, J.J.,

Rodbard, J ohn, Aldivick Court

Rogers, @ Bishop’'s Hull

300

305

325

330

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Rowe, J. K., Liverpool

Rowley, Rev. W. W., Weston-super-Mare
Routledge, Rev. W.

Rowecliffe, Charles, Milverton

Sanford, E. A., Nynehead Court
Sanford, NV: AL,

Sowdon, Rev. F redk., nor
Scarth, Rev. H.M., Bathwich, Bath
Scott, Rev. J. BD. Staplegrove

Sealy, John, BDridgwater

Sealy, H. N., Nether Stowey

Serel, Thomas, Wells

*Seymour, H. D., m.p., Knowle, Wiüts
Sheppard, A. B., "Torgua Yy

Sheppard, J., Frome

Sheppard, W. B., Keyford House, Frome
Sheppard, T. B., Selwood Cottage, Frome

5 Sheppard, Rev. H. F.

Shipton, Rev. J. N., D.D., Othery

Shore, J., Whatley, near Frome

Shout, R. H., Yeol

Shuldham, Miss. E., Norton Fitzwarren
Shute, H., Cary Fitzpaine

Skinner, George, Belmont, Bath

Slade, Wyndham, Munty’s Court, Taunton
Smith, Basset, 38, Bennet Hill, Birmingham
Smith, Rev. C., Bishop’s Lydeard

Smith, Richard, Bridgwater

Smith, Miss E. 'H, 30, Royal Crescent, Bath
Solly, Miss L., Bath

Sotheby, Ber. T. H., Milverton

Sparks, W., Crewkerne

Speke, Mrs., Roeford Lodge

Speke, W., Jordans, near Ilminster
Sperrin, J., Weston-super-Mare

Spicer, R. W., Chard

Squire, F., Pall-Mall, London, S.W.
Stephenson, Rev. J., "Lympsham

Stuart, Rev. T. B., Wookey

Stone, W.H. , Budleigh Salterton, Devon
Stradling, W.J. L., Chilton-super-Polden

VOL. IX., 1859, PART II.

169

170 LIST OF MEMBERS.

Stradling, Miss, Chilton-super-Polden
340 Sully, T., Taunton
Surtees, W. Edward, Tainfield
Sweet, Rev. C., Sampford Arundel
Sylvester, C., M.D.
Symes, Rev. R., Cleeve, Bristol
345 Symons, William, Dunster

Talbot de Malahide, Lord, Shepton
*Taunton, Lord, Stoke Park, Slough, Buchs
Thomas, ©. J., Durdham Park, Bristol
Todd, Lt.-Col., Taunton
350 Tomkins, C., m.D., Weston-super-Mare
Tomkins, Rev. H. G., Kegworth, Leicestershire
Tomkins, George, Wells
Traherne, Rev. J. M., Coedriglan, Cardiff
Trenchard, H. C., Taunton
355 Trevelyan, Sir W. C., Bart., Nettlecombe Court, and
Wallington, Northumberland
Trevelyan, Lady, RK 5 5 5
Trevelyan, Sir C. E.
Trevelyan, Rev. E. O., Stogumber
Trevelyan, Arthur, T'yneholm, Tranent, N.B.
360 Trevelyan, Miss, Nettlecombe Court
Trudell, James, Taunton
Tucker, Rev. H. T., Leigh Court
Turle, H., Taunton
Turner, A., Staplegrove
365 Tumer, C. Ja 5
Tunstall, James, m.D., 35, Brock-street, Bath
*Tynte, Col. C. K. K., Halswell House
Tynte, Col. K., Cefn Mabley, Glamorganshire

Uttermare, T. B., Langport

370 Vibart, James, Chilliswood
Voules, Rev. T. A., Ash Hill, near Ilminster

Waldron, James, Wiveliscombe
Walker, L., 12, Bryanstön-square, London
Walter, W., Oldbury Lodge

375 Walter, R., Stoke-sub-Hamdon

380

390

400

LIST OF MEMBERS. 171

Walters, G., Frome

Ward, Rev. J. W., Ruishton
Warre, Rey. F., Bishop’s Lydeard
Warre, Miss, =

Warre, F., Fyne Court

Warren, IR H., Zangport
Warren, Rev. J., Bawdrip
Webber, Rev. E. A., Runnington
Welch, C., Minehead

5 Welman, C. N., Norton Manor

Welsh, W. IL, Wells

West, G., Thurlbeer

Weston, Plowden C. J., South Carolina, United States

White, C., Beech Cottage, Wellington Road, Bromley-by-
Bow, London

White, F., Wellington

Wobite, F. G., Taunton

White, Rev. James, Bruton

White, Rev. F. W., Mere Vicarage, Glastonbury

Whitmash, E., Taunton

Wickham, Rev.G. H.D., Horsington Reetory, Wincanton

Winter, Charles, Bıishop’s Lydeard

Winter, Mrs., Priory, Ash Priors

Woodforde, F. H., "m.D., Fairwater, Taunton

Woodforde, G. A., Castle Carey

Wood, V.S., Langport

Woodland, ne Bridqwater

Wrangham, Digby G., The Rocks, Bath

Yatman, Rev. J. A., Winscombe, Sideot
Young, J., Elm Cottage, Taunton
Bush, W., 7, Circus, Bath

1860.

Clark, Rev. W. R., Taunton
Elton, R. G., Whitestaunton
Ilchester, Lord, 31, Old Burlington-street, London

Members are requested to inform either of the Secretaries of any errurs or

omissions in the above list; they are also requested to authorise their
Bankers to pay their subscriptions, annually, to Messrs. Badcock, or
Messrs. Stuckey, Taunton; or to either of their branches; or their
respective London Agents, on account of the Treasurer.

IE

THE TAUNTON COURIER OFFICE.

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i DURING THE YEAR ° | we

1860.

L)

TAUNTON:
FREDERICK MAY, HIGH STREET.
LONDON : BELL & DALDY, 186, FLEET STREET.

SOMERSETSHIRE
Archeologieal X Hutural Ristery Sariety.
PROCEEDINGS DURING THE YEAR 1860.

VOL. X,

Y.Z NS
WAS usa) ara. NN ©. %

Ford, Iıth.Jaunter

CLAPTON CHURCH, SOMERSET |

Fom a Photograph, taken swuressuy Tor ti Som! Arch: Soriery.

Somersetshire Archaological

and

Matneal Ristory Soriehh,.

Hrarerdings

BMBETINE THESEN BT 860:

VOL. X.

TAUNTON:
FREDERICK MAY, HIGH-STREET.
LONDON: BELL & DALDY, FLEET-STREET.

MDCCCLXT.

The Society is indebted to W, A. Sanford, Esq., the
Rev. Thos. Hugo, and the Rev. H. M. Scarth, for the
illustrations accompanying their several papers ; and to the
courtesy of Messrs. Parker for the use of several of their
wood engravings; and also to J. S. Mackie, Esq., for the
lithographs illustrating Mr. Moore’s paper.

'The Committee are not responsible for any of the state-
ments or opinions expressed in the Proceedings, the authors
of the several papers being alone answerable for the state-

ments which their papers contain.

In p. 30, part I, an error occurs as to the arms on
the shields on the Reetory-house, Conrgresbury—they are
those of the See of Wells, of Beckington, and Pope, one
of his executors.

WA].

Referring to page 153, where I have mentioned an
Infusorium, apparently of the genus Chetospira, I have this
autumn found a similar animal in. the Western Canal,
attached to Potamogelon. It differs from the Chetospira
described by Lachmann in having the bulb at the base
of the tentacle almost obsolete, and by the form of the case,
which is spread at the base by which it is attached, and
not rounded like a Florence flask as in Lachmann’s species.
I propose to call this species Chetospira dilatata, from the
form of the base. In page 154, for Lagotis read Lagotia.

W. A. S.

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PART L—PROCEEDINGS.

Twelfth Annual Meeting - - B - -
Annual Report - - REN A
Treasurers’ Account - - - - B -
Domestic Architecture of the Middle Ages, by Mr.
Parker - - 5 - - - - -
Exeursion—Clevedon Court, Tickenham Church,
Tiekenham Court, Cadbury Camp - - -
Flint Knives - - - - - - -
Pouched Marmot, by Mr. Parfitt - - - -
Exeursion, Second day— Walton-in-Gordano, Weston-
in-Gordano, Portishead Church, Portbury Church,
Portbury Camp, Clapton-in-Gordano 00.
Nailsea Court, by the Rev. F. Browne - - -
Exeursion, Third day—Nailsea Church and Manor
House, Chelvey, Brockley Combe, Wrinston,
Congresbury, Yatton le
Conversazione Meetings—18600641- - - -
The Museum—Donations and Additions - - -
Publications received - - - - - -

PART M.—PAPERS.

Mynchin Buckland Priory and Preceptory, by the
Rev. Thos. Hugo - - - z = ee
Remarks on some Ancient Sculptured Stones, by the
Rev. H.M. Scarth - 5 - = 2 =

a ww

113

vi. CONTENTS.

The Inland Mollusca of Somersetshire, by the Rev.
A. M. Norman - - - - - - 131

Notice of Embletonia pallida, of a new Hydrozoon
and a new Infusorium, by W. A. Sanford, Esq. - 152

On new Brachiopoda, and on the development of the
Loop in Terebratella, by Mr. Charles Moore - 155

ILLUSTRATIONS.
Clapton Church - - - = - to face title.
Plan of Clevedon Court; Plan of Manor
House, Clapton-in-Gordano ; View of
ditto; Roof of the Hall, Clevedon Court ;

Back of Tickenham Court - - pre
Porch of the Rectory House, Congresbury ;

Details of Porch ; Shields - - - " 9
Tiekenham Court - - - - - 5 12
Portishead Manor House - - - - » 13
Clapton-in-Gordano Church, north-east view; . 23
Reredos, Clapton Church; Interior of Porch,

W eston-in-Gordano; Weston-in-Gordano

Church - - - - - - 5 24
Bench Ends, Clapton Church - - - ” 25
Rinss - - - - - - - partiüi. 57
Seal of Mynchin Buckland Priory - - u 66
Portions of Incised Stone Slabs - - - Pr 88
Incised Stone Slab - - - - - 89
Sepulchral Stone, found at Hackness - - 3
Hydrozoon and Infusorium - - - Pe:
Embletonia pallida - - - - - FE
Brachiopoda, plate I. - - - - ea 1

ss plate Il. - - - - sr Dee

dt a er nn ne

FRI TEAEDI PN GE
OF THE
SOMERSETSHIRE ARCHZEOLOGICAL AND
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

DURING THE YEAR 1860.

PART T

HE Twelfth Annual General Meeting was held at the
Public Hall, Clevedon, on the 24th September, 1860.
F. H. Dickınson, Esq., President, having taken the chair,
it was proposed by Mr. Dıckınson, seconded by Mr.
SURTEES, and resolved, that Ralph Neville Grenville, Esq.,
be appointed President for the ensuing year, and that he
continue in office to the close of the proceedings of the next
Annual General Meeting.

Mr. GRENVILLE having taken the chair said that in
opening the 12th meeting of this prosperous society, hehad
to thank them very sincerely for the honour they had done
him in placing him in the President’s chair. He hoped it
would be a successful meeting. He had been able, through
the kindness of one of the hon. secretaries (Rev. F. Warre),
to look over the Report, which was of a most satisfactory
nature. Of course the Society wanted money; every Society
that he ever heard of did. He was glad to see some gleams
of hope of that great desideratum being realised, which had
occupied the attention of the Society for so many years, and
had been so often mentioned by different Presidents and in

VOL. X., 1860, PART I. a

2 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

different reports—the obtaining materials for a County
History worthy of Somersetshire.. He trusted that as
Hutchinson’s “ Dorsetshire” was being brought out in
an improved and valuable form, so Collinson’s “ Somerset-
shire ” would be brought out in a greatly improved and
much more valuable form. In order to assist in obtaining
a history, it was most important that accounts of old
families in the county with heraldie devices should be sent
to the Museum at Taunton, for nothing was more inter-
esting than the history of the people who lived in those
venerable houses of which Mr. Parker would give a
description. Mr. Parker could tell nearly everything
about the designs, conceits, and wishes of the archi-
tects and builders of those ancient houses; but when
he came to the successive occupiers of them, there he
stopped. Very little was known about the old families of
the county ; and it had often struck him that Somerset was
a sort of standing evidence of the vanity of those who
“think that their houses shall continue for ever: that their
dwelling-places shall endure from generation to generation:
and who call the lands after their own names.” Where were
Rodneys, of Rodney Stoke? Where were the Lytes, of
Lyte’s Cary? Where were the Fitzpaines, of Cary Fitzpaine?
And where, he must also ask, were the Ralphs of Brompton
Ralph, and the Nevilles, of Fifehead Neville? But though
so many families were swept from the face of the earth,
there were a few men of the county who could give a good
account, not only of themselves, but of their ancestors.
The Warres of Hestercombe must have been men of valour
and renown, and their descendant had earned for himself
no little distinetion.e He was the Garibaldi of their
excursions, and as he trusted, would take the present
excursionists safely into the heart of the country, and,

ANNUAL REPORT. 3

without shedding any blood in the conflict, lead them
into every stronghold of antiquarian interest. Mr.
Elliot, one of their secretaries, had kindly lent his magni-
ficent illustrations of Somerset, which went a great way to
promote a good county history, for when people saw views
of the places and relics that existed, it made them inclined
to hear something about them. He should be wanting in
his duty as President if he did not allude to the loss which
they all felt in the absence of the Rev. W. A. Jones, and
their deep sympathy with him in the afllietion that kept him
away. It was not for him to enter into the excursions
that would be taken; but he could not help reminding the
company that there existed in the town an interesting link
which united the past ages with the present, for-the church
contained the honoured ashes of the venerable Hallam. In
conclusion he could only regret, as they had eleeted him as
their President, that he could not, as the President did last
year, invite them to his home. Butleigh was not within
reach of the excursionists; otherwise it would have given
him great pleasure to have followed the example of his
worthy predecessor.

The Rey. F. WARRE then read the report, which was
as follows :

ANNUAL REPORT.

“Your Committee have again, at this twelfth annual
meeting, the satisfaction of reporting favourably on the
state and prospects of the Society. The financial difhculties
under which it laboured, owing to the defalcations of the
late curator, have in great measure been relieved, and the
committee have felt themselves justified in publishing a
volume of Proceedings which, it is confidently hoped, will
be found in no degree inferior, either in matter or illustra-
tion, to those which have preceded it. It must not,

4 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

however, be forgotten that ithas been by the voluntary
exertions of the members that this has been effected; and
your committee again repeat that the only effectual means
of increasing the usefulness of the Society is to increase as
much as possible the funds at its disposal for carrying out
the purposes for which it was established.

“ These objects have not been lost sight of during the
present year; and though, owing to a variety of circum-
stances, particularly the financial difhiculties before alluded
to, no great advance has been made towards the attainment
of our chief desideratum—a good County History ; still that
object has been kept steadily in view, and it is confidently
hoped will eventually be obtained.

“The Society appears certainly not to have lost ground
in the public favour. The number of members is very
regularly kept up, the loss by death and change of
residence being fairly supplied by the accession of new
members.

“ Many valuable additions have been made to the Museum
in both departments, and the arrangement of the specimens
of Natural History very much improved. For this the
Society is in great measure indebted to the exertions of
Mı. W. A. Sanford, and Mr. Parfitt, the curator.

“Oonversazione meetings have been held during the
winter at the Shire Hall, Taunton, and appear still to
possess interest with the educated public.

“On the whole, your committee feel that they may
safely congratulate the Society upon the progress it has
made in increasing the feeling in favour of archsological
and natural science, in its prospects of stability and
increased usefulness, as well as upon the generally evinced
desire of its members to assist in producing all those good
results to literature generally, and particularly to the

TREASURERS’ ACCOUNT. 5

history of our own county, which can only be hoped for
from the co-operation of members.

“Tt has been considered expedient that, from the present
time, the President elected at one annual meeting shall
continue in office till the end of the next annual meeting ;
and also that the commission heretofore paid to the curator
on subscriptions or arrears collected by him shall cease, and
that in lieu of that commission an addition of £10 shall be
made to his salary.”

The CHAIRMAN moved, and Lord TALBOT DE MALAHIDE
seconded, the adoption of the Report, which was carried
unanimously.

R. G. Bapcock, Esq., Treasurer, read the following
Statement of Account, which was received and adopted :

The Treasurers in account with the Somersetshire Archacologiral and

Dr. Natural Distorp Sorcietv. C$.
£2.d £ s.d.

To Balance of former account 2 510 By Expenses at Annual Meet-
„» KEntrance fees - .. 1000 ing at a 372
»„ Sale of Baker’s effects 0. 4,.0,:0. „ Advertising.. A I 9
»„ Donations .. 43 11 0 „ Coals. .. .. 315,7357,0
„ Ditto., as per Ven. Arch- „ Glass Case . .. Fe er

deacon ish „„ Carpenter, glazier, and
History .. 1000 petty sundries .. BHO
„, Arrears of Subseriptions .. 1300 „ Gas and Candles . a
„ Annual ditto er ee 34080 „ Postage and Carriage .. 611 3
= Stationery On 561
„, Illustrations of YoLIX... 9 3 6

„ May for Printing, &c.,
Vol. IX. 90 14 9

„„ Curator’s Salary 1 year to
August 4, 1860 . 25 0 0
> Palzontographical Society 12.820
es Insurance F 126

„, One year’srentto January,
1860 25 00

„» Taunton Institution, being

their share of Baker’s
effects .. 172600
„ Ford for Illustr ations .. 3 5 0

„, Clarke, (A. A.) for a
tie drawings .. 440
„ Large Oak T' able .. 220
=> Balance u. . .. 2 2
£ 228 16 10 £ 228 16 10

ASSETS. LIABILITIES.
Subseriptions and Arrears Half year’srent .. . 2100
unpaid .. . ne 90 10 0 Balance .. . .. 18 0. 0
£W 10 0 £%0 10 0

6 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

Mr. SURTEES moved a vote of thanks to the Bristol and
Exeter Railway Company for the facilities afforded by them
to members of the Society in connection with the meeting.

Mr. R. Bapvcock seconded the proposition, which was
unanimously adopted.

The Vice-Presidents of the preceding year were then
severally re-elected with the addition of F. H. Dickinson,
Esq., ex-president, Sir Wm. Miles, Bart., M.P., and R.
Wilbraham Falconer, Esq., M.D.

The Treasurers, Secretaries, Local Secretaries, and the
Curator were also re-elected, and the name of the Rev.
Frederick Brown, of Nailsea was added to the list of Local
Secretaries.

The following gentlemen were re-elected on the Com-
mittee:—J. R. Allen, Esq., W. W. Coker, Esq., W. E.
Gillett, Esq., M.D., W.M. Kelly, Esq., M.D., W. Metford,
Esq., M.D., J. F. Norman, Esq.

The following gentlemen (proposed at a Committee
Meeting) were balloted for and duly elected Members of
the Society: Mr. Lewis H. Rugg, Clement Bush, Esgq.,

oO

Rev. W. Jackson, Rees Mogg, Esq., the Rev. H. H.
Greenwood, and E. A. Freeman, Egg.

A paper was then read by the Rev. Tnos. Huco, M.A.,
on “Mynchin Buckland Priory and Preceptory,” which is
printed in Part II.

Mr. PArKEr delivered an address on the Domestic
Architecture of the Middle Ages, in which he stated that
Somersetshire was the richest county in England for old
houses, There was hardly a parish in the county which
did not contain an Elizabethan dwelling or one more
ancient stil. The generality were of the fifteenth century.
He was not aware of any of so early date as the twelfth
century, for they were naturally and necessarily rare. The

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE. 7

finest example of the houses of the thirteenth century which
existed in England, or perhaps in Europe, was the Bishop’s
residence at Wells. Its arrangement was not unusual for
the period. The lower story was vaulted, used only for
cellars and entrance-hall, the living apartments being
entirely upstairs. The principal hall was on the first floor,
and probably the chapel at the end of it. This house was
found in the fourteenth century not sufhliciently large on
state occasions—bishops in those days being important
lords—and another palace was built by the side of it, which
was now a ruin. That appeared to him to have been
merely state apartments, with of course a kitchen, but not
a regular dwelling-house. The Bishop’s residence was a
most remarkable pile of buildings altogether. He knew
nothing equal to it. It formed part of a group of building
in connection with the church, chapter-house, and elose—
all constituting one magnificent conception, giving an idea
of the magnificence of the middle ages they could hardly
obtain elsewhere. Mr. Dickinson informed him that the
houses of the Canons were in the town, and not in the
close, although they usually were enclosed within a wall.
There were several houses of the fourteenth century in the
_ county. One they visited last year at Meare, the hall of
which was also upstairs. It was a common practice in the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries to have the lower story
of the house vaulted, so that the cellars or store-rooms were
fireproof. There was also a good house of the fourteenth
century near the church at Martock, very curiously
arranged.

The specific notices of the Manor House and otber
domestie buildings which would be visited in the course of
the Excursions, were reserved, and will be found in the
following Report.

8 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

Mr. R. A. KinGLAke called the attention of the meeting
to an advertisement from which it would appear that the
Collection of Mendip Cave-bones made by Mr. Beard was
for sale. Lord Talbot de Malahide and others thought it
very desirable to preserve to the county a collection so
valuable in itself, and especially interesting to the members
of this Society from the locality to which they belonged.*

Ehe Ermesion.

Soon after two o’clock a large party started to visit
some of the places of interest in the neighbourhood.
The Rev. T. Bliss, of Clevedon, acted, on this and the
succeeding days, as conductor; Mr. Parker undertook to
give descriptions of the houses, manorial or monastic,
that were visited; and Mr. Freeman of the churches.
The explanation of camps and earthworks fell to the Rev.
F. Warre.

The party first halted at Clevedon Court, the residence
of Sir A. H. Elton, Bart., and Mr. Parker gave the follow-
ing description of the house :——

CLEVEDON Court is a house of the time of Edward II.,
or the first half of the fourteenth century, much altered
and added to, and with parts rebuilt, but of which the
main walls remain, and the original plan may still be

* Immediately afterthe Annual Meeting, the Committee of the Society
appointed a deputation to examine the Collection of Cave-bones offered for
sale, but finding (rom their report that it was not Mr. Beard’s collection, no
further steps were taken in the matter. If the latter collection is ever
dispersed, there are many specimens which the Society ought not to allow
to go out ofthis county. In fact the Williams’ Collection purchased by the
Society, and Mr. Beard’s Collection at Banwell are each the complement of
the other.

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PLAN OF MANOR-HOUSE, CLAPTON-IN-GORDANO. „

VIEW OF MANOR-HOUSE, CLAPTON-IN-GORDANO.

BACK OF TICKENHAM COURT.

DETAILS OF PORCH, CONGRESBURY SHIELDS, CONGRESBURY.

ULEVEDON COURT. 9

traced. This may be said roughly to be the common plan
of the Roman capital letter HJ, the hall making the cross
stroke, but a very thick one; at any rate, it forms the
central division of the house, with the rooms for the family
at the upper end, and the oflices for the servants at the
lower, according to the usual arrangement.

The entrance is through a porch, which possesses the
two original doorways with Decorated mouldings, and in
the jambs of the outer arch are the grooves for the port-
eullis; over this porch is a small room, in which was the
windlass for raising and lowering the porteullis, and in the
angle is a winding or newel staircase leading to this room,
and to the music-gallery over the screens or servants’
passage. At the further end of this passage, or at the
back of the house, is another porch, F, also with a port-
cullis groove, a room over it for the windlass, and a newel
staircase. Three doorways, with Decorated dripstone
mouldings, open as usual from the screens to the buttery,
the pantry, and the central passage leading to the kitchen,
which -must always have been external in a detached
building, and not part of the house, and probably on the
same site as the present one; although it has been rebuilt
in the Elizabethan period, it is placed diagonally to the
main building, leaving a small triangular court, which
effectually prevented the smell of the cooking from entering
the house. The offices which touch upon this court are
the servants’ hall, G, which seems to be part of the original
building, though much altered. H the bakehouse, and I
the scullery, have also been much altered, but have old
work in parts; K is a tower divided into several stories,
now occupied as servants’ bedrooms ; it is a very plain
building, with small square-headed windows, and has very
much the appearance of being part of the work of the

VOL. X., 1860, PART 1. b

10 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

fourteenth century, although if so, it is a very unusual
feature of that period.

The great hall is much modernized : the windows and
fireplace and wainscotting are all modern, that is, not
mediseval, but not very recent. The walls are original,
with two gable ends and a chimney on each, and in each
gable are windows shewing that the buildings attached to
the hall at each end were originally much lower than the
hall. There is a peculiarity in the chimneys,—the flue of
each is not carried down any lower than the head of the
window under it, and was originally open to the hall, so
that it would appear that the smoke from the fire on the
hearth or reredos in the centre of the hall was allowed to
eirculate freely among the open timbers of the hall and
escape at the two extremities without any central louvre ;
or these chimneys may have been an extra precaution in
addition to the louyre. The present roof is modern and
ceiled, and as no ancient view of the house is extant
shewing a smoke louvre, we have no evidence whether
there was one or not ; it is quite possible that this arrange-
ment of short chimneys open below to the hall may be an
earlier one than the smoke louyre in the centre of the hall.
The dais has disappeared, but the position of it is obvious
enough. At one end in the front of the house, where at a
later period the bay window would be, is a small square
room or closet, forming the basement of a tower, cerres-
ponding to the porch at the lower end of the hall. Over
this closet is another small room, with a rich Decorated
window with retieulated tracery in the front, and at the
back a small window of the same period opening into
the hall; this was probably the lady’s bower or private
chamber : the only access to it was by a newel staircase
from the small room below, and so from the hall; the

TICKENHAM CHURCH. 1l

present entrance from the adjoining chamber has been cut
through the old thick wall. At the opposite end of the
dais, and consequently at the back of the house, was the
ancient cellar, E, under a modern staircase, and by the
side of it the garderobe turret, D, with a newel staircase in
the corner, now destroyed:: behind the dais is a large room,
probably the parlour, and over it the solar, or lord’s
chamber. This wing has been much altered in the Eliza-
bethan period, but the buttress at the external corner is
Decorated work, and shews that these rooms are partly
original. The room at the back of this, marked C, belongs
to the Elizabethan period, and has been at some period
turned into a kitchen. The west end of the house, beyond
this, comprising the present dining-room and drawing-
room, is partly modern, with bay-windows thrown out, in
the style of the Strawberry-hill Gothic ; but the walls and
the end window in the front belong to the Elizabethan
work, built by Wake, and the back wall extending from
C to the west end has had an arch pierced through it to
extend the dining-room.

The dotted lines on the plan connecting E and F repre-
sent a modern wall, and the straight line at the back with
the steps shews the trench eut out of the slope of the hill
at the back of the house. The remains of fortification are
very slisht, and there is no appearance of any moat;
indeed, the situation on the slope of a hill hardly admits of
one, and the house could never have been intended to
stand a siege.

The Church and Manor House of Tickenham were then
visited.

TICKENHAM CHURCH. Mr. Freeman said: The Church
is of several dates. It consists of nave and aisles, chancel
and south aisle, and western tower. The piers are Early-

12 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

English, very plain, and some of them seemingly unfinished;
one especially on the south side, with small angle shafts
with flowered capitals. The font is of the same date.
The windows are of various dates, from Trefoil-lancets to
ordinary Perpendicular; the most remarkable are some
square-headed ones with fine flowing tracery. The roofs
are throughout of the local coved form, except in the south
aisle of the nave, which has tie-beams. The tower is
Perpendicular, a good plain specimen of the Bristol type,
but disfigured by the loss of its parapet and pinnacles.
There is a cross-legged efügy in the north aisle.

TıckEexHAM CoURT. Mr. Parker observed that Tick-
enham Court is a manor house, probably of the time of
Henry IV., or the beginning of the fifteenth century, and
without any appearance of having been fortified, though it
was no doubt enclosed by an outer wall. The hall is
nearly perfect, and stands at a right angle to the other
part of the house, so that we have two sides of the quad-
rangle only remaining. The hall windows are each of two
lishts, with flowing tracery resembling the Decorated style
of the previous century, but the arch mouldings are of the
Perpendicular style; the outer arch is pointed, the inner
arch, or rear-arch as it is called, is segmental. The roof is
perfect, of plain open timber of simple construction, the
principals arched to the collars, with good pannelled stone
corbels.. At the lower end are the usual three doorways
to the kitchen and offices, now destroyed, which probably
occupied another wing, making a third side to the court ;
at the upper end of the hall is the arch of the bay window,
now destroyed. The remaining wing of the house is
divided into two stories, with square-headed windows of
the same period ; and at the back of this wing are two
turrets, one octagonal for the staircase, the other square
for the garderobes.

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CADBURY CAMP. 13

From thence the members proceeded to CADBURY CAuPp,
situated on a high eminence, commanding a most extensive
and beautiful panorama of land and sea. This encampment
was considered by the Rev. F. Warre to be one of the most
perfect though simple specimens remaining of the Belgic
kind of British earthworks. Without entering on the
question whether or not there were any people in this
country earlier than the Celtie occupation, though probably
there were, it was known that the southern part of the
island was occupied by a tribe called the Loegri, who were
cognate with the Cymri of Wales. About three hundred
years before Christ, there came Galedin (Belg&) from “the
land of waters,”” supposed to be the mouth of the Elbe.
They came in naked ships, probably boats without sails,
and landed first in the Isle of Wight, where they were
received with great hospitality; but they repaid the kind-
ness by overrunning a great part of the country, their
frontier extending from the mouth of the Parrett to that of
the Axe. Therefore there were two distinet races occupying
the country at an early date, if not three. There was a
marked difference in the camps; in some there was a
threefold arrangement of earthworks, of which the inner-
most was the most strongly fortified. "These, he considered
were aboriginal encampments, of which Worle-hill was an
example, while the present was a Belgie one. He was
confirmed in this idea by the fact that on the first range of
high ground on the other side of the Parrett and Axe,
there was a series of works, every one of which was of the
primeval type. Nor did it militate against it that Worle-
hill and Dolberry-hill were within the conquered territory,
for probably the Belge, like other invading forces, would
use what came to their hand. Mr. Warre expressed regret
at having heard it was contemplated to destroy the earth-

14 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

works at Worle by making a road over the hill, and said
that if the object was to increase the value of the property,
the Society could not interfere, but if it was a mere fancy,
he trusted it would not be carried out. He believed that
the encampment on Worle hill was one of the oldest in
Europe, and had reason to think that it was earlier than
Dolberry. He then pointed out marks of a trackway, on
each side of which were hut circles. This trackway, Mr.
Warre explained, led to a village without the works, and
which probably arose there in a similar way to those that
had sprung up in the neighbourhood of castles.

On their return the members and their friends dined at
the Royal Hotel, and a CONVERSAZIONE MEETING was
held in the evening at the Public Hall.

After a few remarks by the President, Mr. Freeman
gave a detailed account of the various objects of interest
examined during the excursion that day.

Lord TALBOT DE MALAHIDE desired information in
regard to the flint knives, called cave knives, exhibited in
the museum. Were they found in the same caves with
the remains of the extinet animals, and could the date of
them be determined in any way?

The Rev. F. WArre said that these knives were found
mixed among the rubble of the hut circles on Worle-hill.
He had found similar ones on the Quantock hills. At the
suggestion of Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Warre gave an account
of the remains he had found in the hut circles. There
were at the top six to eight inches of surface mould, after
which he came to rubble from the hill, then to skeletons,
bearing marks of extreme violence, and apparently of two
different races—one a gigantic race, with skull presenting
the most uncivilized appearance, the other smaller and
more advanced. With them were found iron weapons.

FLINT KNIVES. 15

Under these skeletons and weapons was another deposit,
from four to six feet, then a layer of black earth, with
burnt sticks, and little stores of grain of different kinds,
curious glass beads, and fragments of pottery of an exceed-
ingly early period. He conceived that the burnt remains
were to be attributed to the time of Ostorius, who probably
destroyed the place, but did not occupy it. A deposit of
rubble then took place, and when Ceaulin overran the
country, & fierce confliet most probably took place, in
which the Britons were defeated, and some of the killed
were left in the places where he had found the skeletons.
He had also found the bones of animals now extinct.

The Rev. F. Brown enquired whether Mr. Warre
thought the flint knives were of the same date as the
extinct animals?

The Rev. F. WARRE said he thought they were not.
He had no doubt they were used by the early inhabitants
of the country, but he had seen so much of the power of
water in carrying things down from the surface by drift,
that he was inclined to think they were washed down in
that way.

Lord TALBOT DE MALAHIDE said he had a very curious
flint knife in his possession which was found in the bed of
a river in Ireland, and there was a piece of moss wrapped
around it asa handle. It was remarkable that it should
have been so perfectly preserved, but he saw no reason to
suppose it was of so early a date as had been ascribed to
these implements. He had also two flint arrow-heads
which were found on the field of Marathon, and were
probably used on the side of the Persians at the battle of
Marathon.

In the course of some further conversation, the Rev. F.
Warre expressed the opinion that the fortifications at

16 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

Worle were probably eonstructed with the aid of Phoenician
engineers, and remarked that the works surrounding the
eity of Carthage were on a precisely similar plan. He did
not suppose that the flint knives belonged to the people
resident in the camp, for he found them mixed up with
the earth, and not with the other remains in the huts.
Probably they belonged to a ruder race.

Extracts were then read from a paper by the Rev. H.
M. ScArTH, on the subject of ancient sculptured stones,
particularly those recorded to have stood in the cemetery
of the Abbey: at Glastonbury. The paper suggested the
desirability of "bringing together all the engravings of
sculptured stones that had been published, and issuing
them in a welledited volume. This paper is printed in the
present volume, Part II.

A paper on the “Inland Mollusca of Somersetshire,” by *
the Rev. A. M. NoRMAN, M.A., was presented at the
meeting, and will be found printed in Part II.

Mr. PARFITT, the Curator of the Society, then read a
paper on the “ Pouched Marmot,” remains of which species
have recently been identified by Hugh Falconer, Esq.,
M.D., among the Mendip Cave bones forming a part of the
Williams’ collection in the Museum of this Society. "These
remains consist of two right rami of the lower jaw, which
are the only portions yet discovered in this country of the
Spermophilus erythrogenoides. In the present day, the
Altai mountains are known as the habitat of the represen-
tatives of this species—the pouched marmot.

“The formation of a portion of the Altai mountains is
something similar to the Mendips and Quantocks, being
apparently the equivalent of the old red sandstone, scarfed
with carboniferous limestone, and it is in the chinks and
holes of the latter these animals live gregariously or in

>

POUCHED MARMOT. 17

small societies. The Altai mountains occupy an area of
about 40,000 geographical square miles—a wide space for
these little creatures to move about in, compared to the
narrow limits of the Mendips, if confined to these hills in
England. The height of the snow line of the Altai chain
is not very satisfactorily ascertained, but it is probable
that its general elevation does not fall short of 8,000 feet.
At thetown of Fykalka, situated in the southern slope, at
the height of 4,000 feet above the sea, the land is eultivated
with success, yielding barley, rye, oats, millet, and summer
wheat, besides garden vegetables. 4

“The writer of the article “Altai,’ in the Imperial
Gazelteer, says a marmot peculiar to these regions abounds
in the vieinity of the snow. These animals are preyed
upon by the glutton and the bear. The royal tiger prowls
through the steppes on the south, and haunts particularly
the reedy shores of Lake Balkhash ; it is not unlikely,
therefore, that his predatory incursions sometimes extends
into the Altai. How exceedingly like the picture of our
Altai, the Mendips of some ages ago! although I am some-
what inclined to think that this marmot might have lived
down to the period when man took possession of this
island, and indeed to, perhaps, ages afterwards. These
animals being used as food, even now, were most likely
used as such by the early inhabitants of this country, and
very likely became extinct through man’s agency.

“ The climate of the Altai, where these animals are found,
does not imply that tlıe elimate of England has undergone
any material change since these animals inhabited the
Mendips, and the tigers roamed along its slopes, or the
deer or Irish elk bounded over the plains. Analagous
animals are still found proximately inhabiting the Altai _
chain, while we know that at a period probably long after

VOL. X., 1860, PART I. c

18 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

the extincetion of the cave hysna, bear, and the great
Elephas primigenius and the rhinoceros, in England,
these elephants and rhinoceri found appropriate food in
the birch and spruce forests of Siberia.

“ The dental formula of the genus Spermophilus is exceed-
ingly like that of the common squirrel, the molars of the
lower jaw very much so ; so that a fragment, or even one
ramus, without the incisors, would be somewhat difhcult to
determine. The incisors would at once settle the question,
as they are much longer and stronger in every way. The
upper jJaw is different, the squirrel having only four molars,
while the marmot has five on each side. In their natural
arrangement they are arranged by systematists, close
together ; in fact, the marmots are called by the natives
generally “ground squirrels.’ ”

SB GC OHNNDEADIA TE
Grenrat,

A large party started at ten o’clock. The road lay
through a beautiful ceuntry, with charming green lanes, in
many places overshadowed with trees. The village of
Walton-in-Gordano was the first visited.

WALTON ÜASTLE was pronounced by Mr. Parker to be a
a house of the time of James I. or Charles I., built in the
mediseval style The ruins of the old church are of the
period of Richard II. The font was removed from it to
to the new edifice, which also has the old porch re-erected.

Not far distant is WESTON-IN-GORDANO, where the Rev.
W. Hautenville read an account of the Percival family, by
whom the church was founded. The Rev. F. Browne

EXCURSION. 19

also gave some particulars of several of the more dis-
tinguished members of the same family. This church has
been very beautifully restored. Weston church is one of
a very singular and almost unique ground plan, closely
resembling the yet more singular one of St. Mellons, in
Monmouthshire. It consists of nave, chancel, south porch,
tower south-east of the nave, with a chapel east of it
attached to the south side of the chancel. This, with a
sancte-bell cot over the gable of the nave, produces a
highly pieturesque outline. Of detail there is little or
none. The tower is Early English, the rest chiefly Per-
pendieular. The church contains a monument to the
Pereivals, which Mr. Freeman said was the latest instance
he knew of a French inseription on a monument in
England, the date being 1483. The Rev. F. Warre re-
marked that at Hinton St. George there was a monument
to Sir Amias Poulett, which was a century later, and had
an insceription in French. A curious gallery over the door-
way in the porch was the subject of much speculation.
Above it was a niche, and a passage made in the wallled to
it. Remains of a similar gallery in the porch were after-
wards found in other churches, and it was considered a local
custom; according to the tradition of the.county, it was
used for singing or chanting a part of the service on certain
occasions, as at weddings. Such a gallery is quite distinet
from the usual room over the porch, erroneously called the
parvise.

The following notice of this gallery has since been
supplied by Mr. Elliot, one of the Secretaries, in a paper
read by him at one of the conversazione meetings of the
Society :—

“ I subjoin a description of this gallery, extracted from a
letter to the Editor of the Eecelesiologist, by the Rev. W.

230 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

Hautenville:—‘ The style of this church is Perpendieular,
this, therefore, is the character of the platform to which I
wish to draw your attention. It is carried across the width
of the porch, the ends of the two beams which support it
being inserted in the side walls, and it seems as if the mould-
ing on the front had originally been carried downward in
an arched form at each end so as to rest on corbels; as on
removing the yellow dab, square holes were found beneath
the line of the front. The stone moulding of the doorway,
above the platform has been cut away, so that the beam
next the wall rests on the projection thus formed. On the
two beams the floor must have been placed, but below this
there is a framework, deeply moulded on the under side,
which evidently contained panels. The whole of this
platform was highly coloured, the red being still visible
(as was the niche). Access to it was gained by a staircase
formed in the thickness of the east wall of the porch.” Mr.
Hautenville says he is informed that the staircase is an
addition to the porch, and suggests that the platform from
its small size and the fact of its having a moulded front,
could be no part of the parvise floor. In this I quite
agree with him. The measurement of the porch is 13ft.
long inside, by 16ft. wide; the gallery 10Oft. long by 3ft.
wide; the moulding in front Ift. As it remains a subject
of discussion among those members of our Society most
competent to give a decided opinion on the subject, I will
offer one fact, which, it appears to me, may account for its
construction. It seems quite evident that the gallery was
added to the porch long after its erection. During the 14th
century we find ceremonies accumulated, which would
require additions and alterations in the original plan of the
fabrie for their observance. Mosheim tells us that the
other additions that were made in the Roman ritual in the

EXCURSION. 21

15th century, related to the worship of the Virgin Mary,
public and private prayers, the traffic of indulgences, and
other things of that nature, and that we need not a parti-
eular detail to convince us that in this century religion was
reduced to a showy compound of splendid trifles. Now
just at this period, May 6th, 1424, we find Sir John
Pereival presented Walter Toucker to the living of
Weston, on which occasion John Reynolds, rector of
Portisbead, whose emoluments had been infringed by his
parishioners frequenting the church of Weston, lodged a
petition with the bishop, and obtained an injunction that
the said Walter Toucker should not, under a penalty of the
lesser excommunication, admit any of the parishioners of
Portishead to any of the religious rites of his church of
Walton, to the prejudice of the said church of Portishead.
May not then some of the additions made in the Roman
ritual at this period have been celebrated in the church
porch of Weston, causing the erection of the gallery, and
attracting the parishioners from the neighbouring church of
Portishead ?”

Weston once had a manor-house, but it has entirely dis-
appeared. The remains of an old building still in existence
was pronounced by Mr. Parker to be part of a barn of the
15th century.

PORTISHEAD CHURCH has a nave, north aisle, chancel,
and western tower, and, like Weston, keeps its sancte-bell cot.
The tower has been described and eritieised at length by
Mr. Freeman in the Society’s Proceedings for 1851, p. 57.
The other points worthy of notice are the east window, a
specimen of transition from Geometrical to Flowing
tracery, the flying arch across the north aisle from the pier
of the chancel-arch, something like those at Rushden and
Thedor, in Northamptonshire, the stone pulpit, the coved

22 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

roof of the nave, and the font, Norman with Ionie volute,
like those in some Roman capitals.

The manor-house at Portishead was described by Mr.
Parker as being of the date of Henry VIII., with a turret
in the Elizabethan fashion—a very good example of the
period. :

PORTBURY CHUurcH formed the next point in the pro-
gramme. The churchyard contains two noble yew-trees,
said to be as old as the edifice itself. At the foot of one of
them a former parish oficer has immortalised himself by
the inscription “ Franeis Bevan, Churchworn, 1733.” The
Church consists of nave and aisles, chancel, and western
tower. The pillars have Norman bases, and there is a fine
doorway of that style under the porch. The Norman
jambs of the chancel arch remain, but on one side at least
they seem to have been built up again together with the
arch itself, which at present is not in the centre of the
church., There are some very pretty Early English sedilia
in the south aisle. The greater part of the church was built
by Lord Berkeley, and some of the windows are very like
some of those in Berkeley church, Gloucestershire. The
church is large and curious, and especially remarkable
for its great width, but it is heavy and awkward in its
general effect both within and without, and the tower is
very poor.

The Priory at Portbury is a mere ruin eonsisting of four
bare walls. Mr. Parker conceived the part remaining to
have been the prior’s house, but whether there were any
extensive buildings beside it was impossible to say. The
date was that of Henry VII. The Rev. T. Hugo said the
house was one of St. John of Jerusalem, and was only
required to accommodate two or three knights.

PORTBURY CAMP was then examined. The Rev. F.

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EXCURSION, 23

Warre pointed out the entrance to it, between two circular
earthworks, from which a path appeared to have led to the
top of the hill, wbich is surrounded by an earthwork. He
eonsidered it to be intended merely for the protection of
cattle.. Ina marshy district, where the land was sometimes
overflowed, it was necessary to have places where the flocks
might be driven, and the fortifications were just such as to
prevent the herds and herdsmen from sudden attack. The
largest work of this kind he had seen was Brent Knoll.
The party then arrived at CLAPTON-IN-GORDANO.
Clapton is a much smaller church, of singular and
irregular outline. It consists of a nave, chancel and
western tower, with a sort of transept chapel north of the :
the nave, and a very narrow ‚chapel north of the chancel.
This arrangement allows the introduction of a large squint,
growing into an archway, like so many in Pembrokeshire,
and some elsewhere. A great part of the church is 13th
century work, including the tower, the upper stage of
which batters very much. It retains its original corbel-
table, but on it has been placed a later parapet, without
pinnacles. But the most remarkable thing in the church
is certainly the bench-ends, contemporary with the older
parts of the building, and therefore about the earliest
wooden seats in England. The church seems to be
threatened with “ restoration,” to consist in the removal or
destruction of these seats, and the removal of the pulpit
from its original place. A strong opinion was expressed
by all present as to the needless and barbarous character
of these changes, which it may be hoped the good sense of
the parish may avert. Another curious feature is the
reredos, in which are two Early English capitals headed to
those upwards and used as bases. Illustrations of the
bench-ends and reredos are given in the present volume.

24 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The manor-house of CLAPTON-IN-GORDANO must once
have been of considerable importance, and although but
little now remains, that little is highly interesting. The
interior of the present house (which is only a portion of the
original one) has been thoroughly modernized, the last
remnants of antiquity having been cleared out in 1860, the
old partition walls destroyed, and the very curious early
screen fairly turned out of doors. The original parts
of the house are of the time of Edward IL, but the only
portions now remaining visible of that period are the door-
way under the porch and the buttresses; but aconsiderable
part of the walls belong to the same work, and the very
- beautiful screen (which has now been built up under a
stone arch in the open air) as the entrance to the garden,
opposite to the entrance door. Mr. Parker saw no reason
to consider this wooden screen as any earlier than the arch
in which it stood, or the doorway, although Mr. Godwin
puts it a century earlier ; the tracery in the head appears
to belong to the original work, and no such tracery was in
use in the early part of the the 13th century, nor before the
time of Edward I. or II. Still it is probably the earliest
and most remarkable domestie screen in existence. The
tower-porch was added in 1442, as appears from the arms
over the door, Arthur and Berkeley impaled. The chancel
of the church and the family chapel on the north side of it
were rebuilt at the same time as this tower. It very com-
monly happens that some part of the church is rebuilt at
the same time as a manor-house. The gate-house is of
the time of James I.

After leaving this place, the party returned to Clevedon.

A public meeting was held in the evening, at which Mr.
Dickinson, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Parker, and the Rev. F.
Warre, severally gave an account of the proceedings of the

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day. Mr. Freeman mentioned that at Walton a notice
was placed in the church saying that the initials *1.H.S.”
meant “Jesus the Saviour of Men” (Jesus Hominum
Salvator). This was a mistake, the more accurate form of
the monogram is I.H.C., that is simply the common Greek
abbreviation of the name IH3OT—the C form of the
sigma being very common in MSS.

The Rey. F. Browne gave some memorials of the family
of Gorges, and an outline of the history of NAILsEA Cover.
This court was once occupied by the notorious Major
Wade, who took an active part in the Monmouth rebellion,
and proved a false friend to his associates, Capt. Rogers,
a relative of this Major Wade, captured a Spanish vessel
containing 500 bales of Pope’s bulls, each bale containing
16 reams, intended for South America. The same person
brought Alexander Selkirk from Juan Fernandez. The
rev. gentleman read some very curious extracts from the
Nailsea vestry books. One was in 1792, and related to
a payment by the minister “to the viper woman for
making a child on John Lovell, at a guinea a-week.” This
entry was long a source of dificulty to him; but in
1852 he found it stated in Notes and Queries that Pliny,
Galen, and other ancients attached medicinal properties to
tlıe flesh of vipers. In Madame de Sevigne@s letters there
occurred an order for ten dozen vipers, two to be taken
each day. He supposed that the woman had made viper-
broth, and given it to Lovell’s child. In 1715 there was
entered one shilling for leather for the bell, and the head of
an “ oter,” but in another place the churchwarden spelt it
“the head of an author.” The same year there was an
entry, “Paid Dr. Lovell for a whip for the church, 2d.”
“Paid Dr. Lovell for whipping dogs at church, 31 weeks,
ls. 94.” It puzzled him to think who this unfortunate

VOL. X., 1860, PART I. d

26 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

medical man could be that was paid 1s. 9d. for whipping
dogs 31 weeks; but on the next page he found—“ Paid
Dr. Lovell for mending Catherine Poole’s shoes, 2d.” The
last entry was, perhaps the most unfortunate, as it was for
whipping the vagrants,—“Paid John Tucker for enter-
taining those that looked after two vagrants till they could
be whipped, 3s. 2d.”

Mr. Freeman remarked that viper-broth was in use within
his remembrance, and that the oflice of dog-whipper was a
recognised one in some catbedrals.

Mr. Dickinson asked Lord Talbot de Malahide whether
it was correct that an Act of Parliament had been passed
in reference to treasure trove.

Lord Talbot de Malahide said that he had a bill prepared
and laid upon the table of the House of Lords; but he found
the difficulties were so great that there was no prospect of
its passing. Some of the difhiculties were technical, and
were of a very ridiculous kind, but it appeared that, in
order to a bill being passed, it must originate in the House
of Commons. The Society of Antiquaries in Scotland had
prevailed on the Government to offer to pay the full value
for all articles of the kind found in that country; and he
himself had memorialised tlıe Treasury to adopt a similar
practice in England and Ireland. He had information to
shew that this had been done in Ireland, and there was
reason to believe that the arrangements were nearly com-
pleted in England; but he must confess that the difficulty
of getting anything like an answer from the Chancellor of
the Exchequer was such as he could not have conceived.
The law of Scotland was different from that of England. In
Scotland everything that was found in the earth belonged
to the Crown; in England only articles of the precious
metals; and in some instances the Crown had waived its

SECOND EXCURSION. 2m,

privileges, and given them to private individuals. Hence
the dificulty of passing an Act, in which the rights of all
these persons would be involved.

INMERAE NER, DEAN:
Ereneaton.

Another excursion took place this day. The route com-
menced with NaıLsea CHuurcH and MANOR-HOUSE. The
manor-house is chiefly of the time of Elizabeth, with an
earlier part, of the reisn of Henry VIII. Some of the
rooms are handsomely panelled, and in one of them the
arms of the Cole family are carved above the mantel-piece.

Nailsea church is a small Perpendicular building, con-
sisting of nave, chancel, western tower (a fair specimen of
something between the Bristol and the Taunton type),
south aisle running part of the way along the chancel, so as
to form a chapel, matched by one on the north side. At
the junetion of this with the nave is a remarkable staircase
to the pulpit. The nave-piers are of a rather unusual
section. "There is no chancel-arch, but corbels with curious
sculpture supported the rood-beam, an arrangement found
also in several neighbouring churches where the chancel-
arch is present.

Ata short distance from Nailsea is CueLveEy. The church
of this parish has memorials of the Aish and Tynte families.
One of the latter is an ineised slab of the 13th century—a
mode which Mr. Parker stated is common in France, but
very rare in England, where brasses are generally used.
The doorway is Norman, and there are some 13th century
windows. There is a place in the pulpit for an hour-glass.

Chelvey Court is a mansion of the reign of James I. It

28 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING,

has a fine illuminated and gilt mantle-piece, a noble stair-
casc, and several panelled rooms. The house contains a
secret chamber, probably intended for the eoncealment of
a Roman Catholie priest. It was built by an ancestor of
the Tynte family, to whom the estate belongs.

The party next drove towards BROCKLEY COoMBE, and
passed up that fine and romantie defile. The sides are
deeply wooded, and high limestone rocks appear above and
between the foliage. The loftiest of these rocks reaches a
height of 300 feet. But few spots are there in Somerset
exhibiting a more wild and vyaried beauty. Descending
from Broadhill-down, and passing close to Barley-lodge,
once the residence of Hannah More, the party arrived at
WRINGTON.

The house in which Locke was born adjoins the church-
yard. ‘Ihe church is a noble edifice. The lofty nave,
with its elustered pillars and foliated capitals, the shafts
earried up and supporting angels with shields, the
fine Perpendieular windows and clerestory, present a
picture rarely equalled in parochial churehes. The chancel
is small, compared with the church, and in the Decorated
style, having been rctained from an earlier building when
tbe other part of the church was rebuilt.

At Wrington and Yatton Mr. Freeman enlarged at
greater length than elsewhere on the prineipal features of
those two splendid churches ; ; but as his remarks chiefly
eonsisted of a demonstration on the spot of criticisms made
in his several papers before the Society, it may be
enough to refer to his two essays in the Society’s volumes
for 1851 and 1852, especially to the eriticisms on Wrington
tower at p. 55 of that for 1851. One or two points, how-
ever, it may be well to mention here. The nave would
have been much finer had there been six bays instead of

SECOND EXCURSION. 29

four. As it was, the nave of Martock church was grander,
having greater length and richness. Mr. Freeman cor-
rected a statement that had been made—that he had said
it was the finest tower in the world. His words in the
Society’s Proceedings are, “ the finest square western tower,
not designed for a spire or lantern, in all England, and
therefore possibly in the whole world.” He did not com-
pare it with towers of totally another description, or with
those of cathedrals and abbeys.

Leaving Wrington, CONGRESBURY was soon reached ; and
here also is a large church, but one of.a different character.
The tower is surmounted by a spire. Mr. Freeman made
some remarks on towers and spires, saying that the com-
parison could hardly be made with fairness in Somerset-
shire, where the towers surpassed those of any other
district ; while the few spires, like this of Congresbury,
were rather commonplace. Spires should be studied in
Northamptonshire, where there are very few great towers
without spire or octagon. Titchmarsh is almost the only
example of any importance ; but the spires, both Early and
Perpendicular, are as fine in their own way as the Somer-
setshire towers are in theirs. The comparison indeed lies
between two equal forms of beauty, the tower being the per-
fection of dignity, and the spire the perfection of elegance.
The pillars of the south aisle are Early English, and are
surrounded by detached shafts, while the opposite aisle is
Decorated. This peculiarity gives a singular appearance
to the church. The detached shafts were added in the
course of restoration. Mr. Freeman remarked that they
were not there when he last saw the church, but there was
oo doubt that they originally existed, as the bases were
there. The clerestory is Early Perpendicular, and is
remarkable for its great number of small windows, set close

30 TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

together, in a way more usual in the east than the west of
England. Some Decorateld windows remain, especially
some square-headed ones with remarkable tracery.

The RecrTory-HousE has a very remarkable porch, the
arch of which is richly ornamented with an imitation
of the well-known tooth-ornament of the 13th century,
but really built about 1470 by the executors of Bishop
Beckington, the arms over the doorway, cut in the original
stonework, being tliose of the see of Wells, and of the
executors, Pope, Sugar, and Swann, the same as in the
Vicars’ Close, at Wells, so that this house was built about
the same time with that work. An engraving of the porch
is given in the present volume.

It is remarkable that in the chapel of the Vicars’ Close
some fragments of Early English seulpture of the time of
Bishop Joceline are built in as old material in the spandrils
of the window arches. This would lead us to suspeet that
tlıe tooth-ornament here also is old material used again, as
often happens, but in this instance it does not appear to be
the case; it seems to be clearly copied, although such an
example is almost unique; probably those executors had a
taste for the earlier style, and introduced it when they
could.

At YATToN the manor-house is so exactly on the same
plan as Clevedon Court, that there can be no doubt that it
is acopy ofit on a much smaller scale, and at a later period
tlıe style is Perpendiecular, but early in the style, probably
about the same age as Tiekenham Court, eirca 1410.

At Yatton, where the excursion terminated, the fine
church met with great admiration. Mr. Freeman again
commented at length on the building, but for most of his
eriticisms we may again refer to the Society’s volume for
1852. He also pointed out the gradual way in which the

SECOND EXCURSION,. 3

church had been rebuilt. A Decorated window in the south
transept shows that a cross church of the earlier Somerset-
shire type preceded the present one. The chancel, which is
Early Perpendicular, was first rebuilt, then the central tower,
and the transepts remodelled, probably without departing
from the scale of the older church. But on reaching the
nave the ideas of the builders enlarged, and the present
magnificent nave was added on a scale quite disproportioned
to the eastern part. Not being hampered by any western
tower, they were able to carry it out to a greater length
than that of Wrington which was a great advantage. At
the west end is a wooden gallery which, as it closely agreed
with the style of the nave and was clearly not recent, both
Mr. Parker and Mr. Freeman were inclined to look upon
as an ancient west gallery, being not quite unique,
though exceedingly rare. It appears, however, from infor-
mation received from Mr. Barnard, the vicar, that it was
made, about 40 years ago under the direction of Mr. Lyson
the antiquary, which accounts for a resemblance to ancient
work very unusual at that time. The tower is surmounted
by an unfinished spire; a feature not unusual, Mr. Freeman
said, in this district, but exceedingly rare in those parts of
the country where spires were numerous. In Northamp-
tonshire, where there were so many spires, he only knew of
one incomplete, and that was at Naseby, and was said by
the people to have been broken during the famous battle.
Near the church is a good house of the 15th century, the
exterior perfect, with the interior modernized.

The party having left the church, thanks were voted to
the local secretary (Rev. T. Bliss), to Mr. Parker and Mr.
Freeman, to the ladies for their company, and to the
President for presiding. The proceedings of this very
gratifying and successful anniversary then terminated.

Converaazione Iertinys.
1860-61.

1860, November 26th—First Meeting.

On the Ladies—The President for the year, R.
Neville Grenville, Esq.

On the Limits of Animal and Vegetable Life. —
W. A. Sanford, Esq.

„ December \Tth—Second Meeting.

On Charles Albert, Piedmont and Italy.—R.
Henderson, Esq.
On the Teutonie Mythology.—Rev. W.R. Clark.
1861, January 21st— Third Meeting.
On the Porch of the Church of Weston-in-
Gordano. —W.F. Elliot, Esq.
On Portable Aquaria.—H. J. Alford, Esq.

Historical Pictures of Taunton and the Neighbour-
hood.—Rev. W. A. Jones.

„» February 25th—Fourth Meeting.

On some of the Antiquities in the Society’s
Museum. —Rev. F. Warre.

On Entomology.—H. C. Trenchard, Esq.

On Rachel, Lady Russell.—R. Henderson, Esq.

» March 181h—Fifth Meeting.

On the Origin of Species, according to the views
of Darwin, illustrated from Professor Owen’s
Homologies.—W. D. Crotch, Esgq.

On Somersetshire Sequestrations in the time of
the Great Rebellion.—W. F. Elliot, Esq.

Historical Pictures of Taunton, No. 2.—Rev. W.
A. Jones.

Er Alan.

The following donations in the Natural History Depart-
ment have been presented to the Museum of the Society
since last Annual Meeting:—

A large mass of Favosites polymorpha ; also a, small
specimen of the same (polished), presented by Master
ARTHUR ELLIOT.

Neuropteris gigantea and pecopteris (species ?);
Favosites cervicornis; Cyathophyllum elongata (?); two
specimens of shelly clay (polished), one from Yeatminster,
the other from Long Burton; specimen of chalcedony;
ditto of carbonate of lime; two potatoe stones; piece of
fossil wood ; speeimens of strontian; two fossil erustaceans
(Xanthopsis Leachii) ; Syringopona retieulata; Litho-
strotion basaltiforme; Cardium (species?); Terebra (ditto);
specimen of iron from Blackdown; several specimens of
marble from Cattledown; from the collection of the late
J. H. Payne, Esq., presented by Mrs. Payne.

Fossil sponge, found at Coombe St. Nicholas, presented
by Mr. ScARLETT.

Lithostrotion (species ?), found at Cadbury Camp ;
Platyerinus levis, Clevedon; Spirifera (species) ditto;
Mamillated iron, from near Clapton church, presented by
Mr. Parrımr.

VOL. X., 1860, PART I. @

34 THE MUSEUM.

Speeimens of Iron Ore from Cogenhal, Northampton-
shire, presented by Rev. C. WHaLLeY.

Specimens of the horns of Strongyloceros speleus, from
Pitcombe, by Lord TALBOT DE MALAHIDE.

Spotted Rail (Gallinula porzana), presented by W. A.
SanForD, Esa.

Ephialtes (species ?), from the Rev. Tmomas WHITE, of
Bruton.

Specimen of coal, kerosene oil, wax and candles made
from the same, from Maine, U. S., presented by Rev. P. C.
PRATT, chaplain of H.M.S. Hero.

Plagiostoma gigantea, from Otterhead quarry, presented
by Mr. CHARLES GOODLAND.

Two snakes, by Mr. WARREN.

Sword Fish, by Mr. H. RoBErTs.

Plagiostoma gigantea, by Mr. H. Davis.

Orbagium bifasciatum, by Rev. T. Sornegr.

Coal fossils, from Mr. SoLomoN LAINEY, through F. H.
Dickinson, Esgq.

Specimens of flint by Rev. ©. S. Harrıson, Thorn
Falcon.

Large Ammonite, by Mr. H. Seymour, Taunton.

List of Archeological Donations, &c., to the Museum:—

Roman and British Coins, by the Rev. F. WARRE.

Shilling of Queen Anne, by Mr. Encar.

History of Shepton Mallet, by Mr. J. E. FAREBROTHER,
the author.

The arms of Henry VI. in plaster, from an old house in
East-street, Taunton, presented by Mr. R. Parsons.

Part of Roman Draining Tile and Roofing Slate, also

D
ee

u

,

THE MUSEUM. 33

fragments of pottery, found at Seaton, presented by Sir
W. C. TREVELYAN.

Four Floor Tiles, from the old house in East-street,
Taunton, presented by Mr. R. PAarRsons.

The works of King Alfred the Great, 2 vols., 8vo. ; an
engraving, framed and glazed, of the Alfred jewel ;
presented by Rev. AUBREY TOWNSEND, D.D., Bath.

Rubbings from the church of St. Just, Cornwall, &e., by
Rev. W. A. Jones.

Twenty Roman Coins (silver), found at Holway in the
year 1831, including those of Constans, Constantius I1I.,
Julian II., Jovian, Valentinian, Valens, Gratian, Valen-
tinian jun., Theodosius, Arcadius and Honorius, by Wm.
BLAKE, Esq.

Publications Received from Societies, &e.:—

East Anglian Notes and Queries for July and October,
1860.

Journal of British Archxological Institute.

Bi-monthly Journal of the Kilkenny Archzxological
“ Society.

Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archzxological
Society, pts. 1, 2, 3.

Journal of the Archxological Association.

Journal of the Royal Dublin Society.

Bulletin de la Societ& Vaudoise.

The Archzological Mine, from the Author.

On Roman Remains at Bath, by Rey. H.M. Scarth.

On Roman Walls at Dax, by ©. Roach Smith, Esq.

Palzontographical Society’s Journal for 1858, purchased.

ERR4A-TA EM ADDENDA,

Page 10, note *, for 457b read 467b; note t, for IV read VI.
—P. 11, n. *, add MS. Harl. 6968, Cart. p. 19.—P. 12, line 8,
‚for Tunecote read Tunecot; 2. 11, for Bremesmore read Fre-
mesmore; /. 13, for Toustoke read Toustok; 7. 25, for Meres-
tone read Mereston; n. *, for m. 9 read m. 6, and add Rot..
Hundred. Edw. I., pp. 70, 94.—P. 13, I. 20, for Henbiry read
Neubiry.—P. 20, n. *, for ad. 9, d. read ad q. d..—P. 23, 1. 5,
Jor message read messuage; l. 21, after years.* insert inverted
commas.—P. 24, 1. 2, after that insert the; I. 23, for park read
parish.—P. 27, 1.9, for Priory read Preceptory.—P. 30, 1. 2, for
„Prunslee read Pruneslee.—P. 36, 1. 8, to Hawlay add or Hawley ;
!. 10, to Dawson add or Dauson.—P. 58, I. 5, for 1350 read
1280.—P. 60, 1. 6, after Mile insert inverted commas.—P. 62, 1.
15, after Bourgchier insert , Prioress,—P. 74, 1. 6, insert John
Samweys, or Samwise, requested to purchase the farm of the
manor of Toller, with the rectory of Toller, and Wynforde, on
the 23rd of February, 1540 ; /. 25, for Bucklande read Buclande ;
1. 28, for seid read said.—P. 75, I. 13, to Stapleheys add or
Staplehayes; /. 14, to Riden add or Roden.—P. 77, I. 27, to
Claveshey add or Chalveshey.—P. 78, n. *, add Appendix, No.
XXII; n. +, remove Appendix, No. XXIIL.—P. 89, I. 19, for
DALME read DAL IAIE.—P. 92, 1. 6, for he’nt read h’ent;
1. 33, for 155 read 153.—P. 93, 1. 18, for morabant read mora-
bant’; 7. 36, for Buckland read Bukland.—P?. 99, I. 25, for
Som’s’ read Sum’s’.—P. 100, 1. 11, for Bromfild read Bromfeld.
—P. 102, 1. 8, for Priorisa read Priorissa; l. 32, for n’ror read
n’ror’.—P. 103, I. 25, for sequens read sequenc’.—P. 104, 1. 38,
for tene’ and face’ read ten’e and face.

PıBO. GE EDA:NNG;S
OF THE
SOMERSETSHIRE ARCHZEOLOGICAL AND
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY,

1860, PART I.

Dr u Bl ER

Alynehin Bucklamı Driory and Prerptury.

BY THE REV. THOMAS HUGO, M.A., F.8.A., F.R.S.L., ETC.,
HON. MEMBER,

MONG the many delightful roads by which a traveller
K in the west may reach on all sides the fair town of
Taunton, he will find few, if any, more agreeable than that
which runs from Borough Bridge to the village of Durston,
and then, with West Monkton at a short distance on the
right and Creech S. Michael on the left, leads him through
our favorite Bathpool, and by its picturesque mills, either
along the ancient highway, commonly called Old Bathpool
Lane, under Creechbury Hill, or by the windings of the
Tone and the Priory Fields, to the busy streets and the
consequent termination of his journey. He will not have
advanced far on the route that I have here laid down, when
the matchless vale of Taunton Dean, with its churches and
steeples, its mansions and parks, its corn-fields and groves,
and its noble framework of Neroche and Blackdown, above
the sunny shoulders of Thornfalcon and Stoke, of Orchard

VOL. X., 1860, PART II. A

2 PAPERS, ETC.

and Pickeridge, opens wide before him, and he only relin-
quishes the charms of the more distant prospect for the shady
lanes, the luxuriant vegetation, the tall trees, the lovely
river, and the snugly sheltered homesteads, of which his
descent into the lowlands soon gratifies him with the eloser
view. After passing the hamlet of West Ling, and when
he is within half a mile from Durston, he may observe in
a meadow on his right hand some curious inequalities of
the surface, contracting and expanding with that certain
definiteness and regularity of outline which assures him of
the presence of design on the part of the constructors,
though it is more than likely that he may be unable to
offer an explanation of the intention which not the less
certainly actuated them in their labours. On his left, at
"the distance of’ a field from the road, is a modern mansion,
and adjoining to it are some agricultural buildings and
court and garden walls of an earlier age. These last are
the only features which the place now presents of occu-
pation more ancient than his own, save the roads and
hedgerows that may have been there for centuries.

Quiet, and still, and lonely is the present aspect of the spot,
and yet it was once a scene both of contemplative privacy
and of active industry; and they who owned and occeupied
it were members of a Community that had a long and
singular history, and bore a distinguished part in the great
world of men and of things. It was the site of the Priory
and Preceptory of Buckland, Mynchin Buckland, or Buck-
land Sororum, one of the Commandries of the Order of S.
John of Jerusalem. It was the focus of an influence sensibly
and deeply and widely felt. A few crumbling fragments, now
recognized with diffieulty, once formed the boundarybetween
it and the surrounding world. And the green undulations
which attracted our traveller’s notice were long centuries ago

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 3

the demesne Ponds that supplied with their habitual and
constant diet the successive Brethren and Sisters of the
House.

It is to this very interesting Community that I am
about to direet the attention of my reader. And in pre-
senting him with a history of Buckland Priory, I may
remind him that I am introducing him to an entirely new
and different aspeet of Monastie Life and Conventual
Usage from those with which I have in previous pages
endeavoured to make him familiar. "The system of the Hos-
pital itself was unlike all others save one, as I shall presently
attempt to show. And, in addition to this, it is specially
to be noted that we have here a feature which even in that
Order was not elsewhere to be seen in England. Mynchin
Buckland was both a Priory and a Preceptory. The latter
was a normal example of a Hospitalars’ Commandry; the
former was the sole instance in the kingdom of its peculiar
class. It was a Community of Women, and the only one
that the Order possessed. As such, its history presents us
not only with a subject of the greatest local interest, but
with an unique chapter in monastie annals at large. It is
at once a new scene to the student of olden days, and one
of which no county but Somersetshire can furnish him
with an example.

Before I enter into the vieissitudes of this attraetive
place, it will be necessary to give my reader a brief outline
of the Order to which it belonged. We should otherwise
be likely to meet with obscurities in the story which a few
words of previous explanation would avail to prevent.

The Order of Knights Hospitalars began and took its
name from a Hospital founded at Jerusalem, and its chief
objects were the defence of the pilgrims on their road
thither, and the care and maintenance of them during their

4 PAPERS, ETC.

sojourn. It included among its members both men and
women; and, of the duties just enumerated, the latter was
necessarily as well as specially the office of the Sisters, as
was the former of the Brethren. The Knights, or ofücers
of the highest rank, were called in the first instance
Knights of S. John of Jerusalem; and afterwards, from
the place of their successive residence, Knights of Rhodes
and Knights of Malta. The Hospital was founded in the
Holy City about the year 1092, and was dedicated to S.
John the Baptist. Eight years afterwards the Order was
introduced into England, and the brethren’s first house
was built for them at Clerkenwell in the year 1100. They
soon acquired immense wealth, which was much increased
in the earlier part of the fourteenth century by the cession
to them of the estates of the suppressed Order of the
Knights Templars.

The general history of the Hospitalars does not form
a portion of my subject, and is also, I presume, more or
less known to the greater part of my readers. It is to the
peculiarities of their government that I desire to draw
attention.

The most important of these consisted in the fact that
their Houses, which were erected upon the majority of
their estates, were not independent communities, but the
officers were in all cases simply stewards of the Prior of
England, who in his turn had to account to the head of
the Order. Each of these communities, generally consist-
ing of but few members, of whom the majority were usually
laymen, with one or more chaplains for the celebration of
Divine Offices, was under the government of a Commander
or Preceptor, and was hence styled a Commandry or
Preceptory. The brethren were allowed a maintenance
from the produce of the estates committed to their super-

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 5

intendence, and accounted for the overplus to the Prior at
Clerkenwell. Lands, therefore, could only be given to
the Order through the Prior, and not to any single Com-
mandry, that being deemed in law incapable of receiving
them, as the oflicers were but “obedientiarii,” ofhicials,
deputed by the Prior as his representatives and receivers.
Their system was, accordingly, entirely different from
those of other Orders, that of the Temple excepted.
Instead of each being independent, and having the care
of its own individual interest, all were so many subject
brotherhoods, each acknowledging one general head, and
contributing its portion to the general treasury.

This will be sufficient to give the reader a notion of the
early history of the Order and its mode of government.
We will now proceed to our immediate subject. Let me,
however, premise that considerable errors have arisen from
the identity of its name with that of numerous other
localities possessed of a similar cognomen. This has,
unhappily, tended to confuse and falsify, and so to render
worse than useless, even the few and very meagre notices of
it which have hitherto been committed to thepress. There
is hardly one of the previous writers who has not mistaken
it more or less for the Abbey of Buckland in the County
of Devon. One has identified it with Buckland S. Mary
in Somersetshire. And, strange to add, even the learned
Sir Henry Chauncy, in his History of Hertfordshire, has
described an imaginary Buckland Monastery in that county,
and has given in connection with it some of the earlier
facts in the history of our House. It has not been
hitherto, however, nor is it now my desire, to dwell upon
other men’s omissions or mistakes. A much more agree-
able and valuable task is mine, to which I contentedly and
gladly turn.

6 PAPERS, ETC.

It was about the year 1166, that William de Erlegh, lord
ofthe manor of Durston, founded the House for a small com-
munity of Augustine Canons. His father, John de Erlegh,
who died in the previous year, was possessed of several
manors in the county of Somerset, one of which still bears
his name in Somerton Erle, and is mentioned as paying
five marcs for scutage in 1161. In behalf of the souls of
King Henry and of Alianor the Queen, and of King Henry
his son and their other sons and daughters, and for the
benefit of the souls of himself and of his wife, this William
de Erlegh gave, as Brother John Stillingflete informs us,
all the land of Buklande, and the Church of Perretone
(Petherton),* with other churches and lands in divers
places, as appears by a charter for that purpose made, for
the planting and ordaining of Religion at Buckland, by
thehand of his kinsman S. Thomas of Canterbury ; and
that the said Canons thus planted and ordained should
possess the aforesaid lands and churches to their proper
uses in pure and perpetual alms.f

According to the same chronicler, who wrote an
account of the Order in 1434, for a perpetual memorial
and commemoration of the various benefactors and their

* “ The Brooke is caullid Peder, and risith West Sowth West yn the
Hylles about a 2 myles of. First it cummith by North-Pedreton, a praty
uplandisch Toun, wher is a fair Chirch, the Personage wherof was impro-
priate to Mynchinbocland.”—Leland, Itin. vol. IL., p. 66.

+ MS. in Of. Armor. L. 17, fol. 153. MS. Cott. Tib. E. ıx., f. 23.
Appendix, No. I,

As will be observed by the references, I am acquainted with two MSS.
of this work of Brother John Stillingflete, one preserved in the College of
Arms, L. 17., and_the other in the Cottonian Library, Tiberius, E. Ix.
Both are transcripts later by upwards of a century and a half than the life-
time ofthe chronicler. The former has been much injured by the fire of 1731,
and exists butin fragments: the latter is considerably more ample in details,
although both of them were evidently copied from a common original, but
its text is most corrupt, and the writer was clearly ignorant of the language
of the production which he endeavoured to perpetuate,

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 7

numerous donations, it appears that together with the
Church of Pereton (Petherton), and all its dependent
chapels and their appurtenances, the same William de
Erlegh gave the Church of Chedsey (Chedzoy), with all .
the right which the Hospital had or ought to have in the
Church of Poulet, with the Chapel of Huntworth, the
Chapel of Earl’s Neweton, the Chapel of Thurlakeston
(although this assuredly was either then or very shortly
afterwards appropriated to the Priory of Taunton), the
Chapel of Sirdeston, and the Chapel of King’s Newe-
ton; also the Church of Bekynton, the Church of
Kynmersdon, and the Church of Sirston, with, it is added,
other lands and benefactions besides.*

It appears that Walter was the first and possibly the
only Prior of the House. The chronicler just quoted is
silent on the fact, and indeed the whole account is not a
little obscure. But, on turning to other MS. sources for
information, I find a Walter Prior of Bokeland, or Bokland,
as witness in two documents belonging to this period. One
of these sets forth that Alan de Furvell, or Fervell, gave
to the Church of S. Andrew of Wells the Church of
Cudeworth with the Chapel of Cnolle, to be a perpetual
prebend of that Church.f The other is a confirmation by
Maude Chandos of a donation of Silvanus to the Church
of S. Mary of Stowey, at its dedication, of two acres of
land, and of a later donation to the same Church of an
acre and a halfin Betescumbe; and also of a donation of
Roger de Paris to the same Church at the aforesaid dedi-
cation of an acre of land in Bueli.f Probably, as he is not
mentioned in connection with the subsequent troubles, he

* MS. in Of. Armor. L. 17, fol. 153b. Appendix, No, II.
+ MS. Harl. 6968, p. 40. Reg. Well., f. 38.
t MS. Harl. 6968, Cart. p. 21.

8 PAPERS, ETC.

died before the arrival of the evil days which made his
House notorious. Indeed, it is not improbable that those
troubles were associated with the election of his successor.

A few years after their foundation, these Canons were
removed from their monastery. The exact eircumstances
are nowhere recorded, but it appears that a violent
altercation had unhappily arisen which resulted in the
death of their steward, who was a relative of the pious
founder. A sentence of outlawry was accordingly passed
upon them, their House was declared to be forfeited, and
their lands and churches were made over by the then
sovereign, King Henry the Second,* with the concurrence
of Ralph Archbishop of Canterbury, of Reginald Bishop
of Bath, and of many of the chief men of England both
clerical and lay, to Garner of Naples, Prior of the Hospital
of S. John of Jerusalem in England. Among the earliest
records of this transfer, for the original deed has not to my
knowledge been preserved, is a charter of “inspeximus”
granted by K. John, recounting at large the possessions of
the Hospitalars, and coneluding with the usual forms of con-
firmation of all previous donations, together with express
mention of the arrangement to be noticed immediately.
This charter was dated at Rouen, 30th of August, 1st of
John, A.D. 1199.

As I have already hinted, it was not a simple transfer,
but a very important stipulation was introduced into the
grant, and directed to be fully and faithfully observed. It
appears that there were a few Sisters belonging to the
Order, who resided at several of the Commandries, as
at Hamton near Kyngeston, Kerebrooke, Swynfeld, and
other places. It was now ordered and agreed to that these

* MS. in Coll. Arm, L. 17, f. 155. Appendix, No. III.
+ Rot. Cart. 1 John, m. 17.

MYNCIHJN BUCKLAND PRIORTY. 9

ladies should be removed from their various places of resi-
dence and be placed in one common and conventual home
at Buckland, and that the Order should have no Sister-
hood belonging to it in England save and except in this
House alone. This occurred about the year 1180, or some-
time about fifteen years after the original foundation.

The displaced Canons were removed by Garner, with the
King’s consent, to certain monasteries, selected probably
for their high character and the sound state of their
internal diseipline. Three were, on their own petition,
consigned to the Hospital at Clerkenwell, and assumed the
habit of the Order; two were placed by Reginald Bishop
of Bath, also on their own petition, in the Priory of
Taunton; one in the Priory of Berlitz, and one in that
of S. Bartbolomew, in Smithfield. These preliminary
arrangements being satisfactorily concluded, the main
design was forthwith carried out. The Sisters hitherto
residing, as already stated, in several of the preceptories,
were brought together and lodged at what was henceforth
called Mynchin or Nuns’ Buckland. From the names which
have been preserved, they appear to have been at least nine
in number :— Sister Milisent, previously living at Standon,
in Hertfordshire; Sister Johanna, at Hamton, in Middlesex;
Sister Basilia, at Kerebrooke, in Norfolk; Sister Amabilia
and Sister Amicia, of Malketon, at Shenegey, in Cambridge-
shire ; Sister Christina, of Hoggeshawe, at Hoggeshawe,
in Buckinghamshire ; Sister Petronilla, at Gosford, in Ox-
fordshire ; and Sister Agnes, at Clanefelde, also in Oxford-
shire. They were located at Buckland, that, as it was
solemnly added, they and their successors might serve God
in that place for ever.* Such was the small beginning, and
such the first members of this afterwards famous Sisterhood.

* MS, in Coll. Arm., L. 17, fol, 153. Appendix, No. IV.

VOL. X., 1860, PART II. B

10 PAPERS, ETC.

From a very interesting list of some of the immediate
successors of Prior Garner, contained in one of the
Cottonian MSS., specially intended, as it would appear, to
illustrate the history of Buckland, we learn that the first
Prioress was named Fina. This lady, who died about the
year 1240, governed the House for the long space of sixty
years, and outlived from the date of her appointment seven
successive Heads of the Order.* She was greatly revered,
and, as we shall notice subsequently, was specially remem-
bered in the prayers of the Sisterhood for a considerable
period after her decease.

The maintenance of these religious women was provided
for by a series of benefactors. First on the list is Matilda
Countess of Clare, wife of William Earl of Clare, and
mother of Richard Earl of Clare, who gave to the Hospital
the advowson of the Church of S. Peter of Kerebrooke, and
the Preceptory of that name. She gave also to the Sisters
of Buckland a pension of 13s. 4d., to be paid by the Pre-
ceptor for the time being, and many other benefactions.
The gift is recorded to have been made at Westminster,
in the fifth year of King Richard I, 1193, in the time
of Alan, Prior of England and subsequently Bishop of
Bangor,t That of Kerebrooke, however, at least, must be
placed at an earlier date, as we have already seen that the
Order was in possession ofit in the year 1180.

Gilbert de Veer, Prior of the Hospital of S. John of
Jerusalem, gave the Sisters an annual pension of one
hundred shillings, issuing from the manor of Reynham.f
He died 13th August, 1198 (?).

* MS. Cott. Nero, E. v1. f. 457b. Appendix, No. V.
+ MS. in Coll. Arm. L. 17. fol. 148 b. Appendix, No. VI.
IMS. Cott. Nero, E. IV. f. 467b. Appendix, No. VIE,

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 11

Hugh Wallis, Bishop of Lincoln, by his will, made in the
year 1211, left the sum of twenty marcs “ad fabricam
ecclesi@e de Bokland.” This structure, it appears, was
dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and S. Nicholas.*

Hugh de Alneto, or D’Auney, Prior of the Hospital of S.
John of Jerusalem, gave, with the consent of the Chapter,
permission to the Lady Loretta, Countess of Leicester, to
find a Chaplain to celebrate daily the mass of the Virgin
in the Church of the Sisters, in return for certain lands
and rents which the Countess gave to the Hospital,
to be converted to the proper uses of the Sisters afore-
said of Buckland, so that the aforesaid Chaplain should
be deputed to no other service save the proper and peculiar
ministry of the Virgin in the Church aforesaid. We pos-
sess the charter of the Countess of Leicester contained in
one of “inspeximus” and confirmation granted shortly
after by King Henry III., and dated at Westminster, the
16th of July, 1227. As it is of considerable interest, both
from its subject matter and from the names of the places
with which it furnishes us, some of my readers may be glad
to have it in a literal translation. It is as follows :——

“ Be it known to all the faithful of Christ, as well present
as future, who shall see or hear this writing, that I Loretta,
Countess of Leycester, have given and granted to God,
and Blessed Mary, and S. John Baptist, and the blessed
Poor of the House of the Hospital of Jerusalem, towards
the sustenance of the Sisters of Boclaund serving God,
and towards the finding of a certain Chaplain in the same
House, who daily and for ever may celebrate mass in
honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the greater Church

* Rot. Chart. 1 Joh. m. 17.

+ MS. Cott. Tib. BE. IX. f.23. MS. in Coll. Arm, L. 17. f. 153 b.
Appendix, No. VIII.

12 PAPERS, ETC.

at Bokland, at the altar of the Blessed Virgin, for the
health of my soul and of Lord Robert my husband, some
time Earl of Leicester, and for the health of the souls of
ıny father and mother, and of all my ancestors and succes-
sors, all my land of Noteston, and all my land of Ynesford,
this side the water and that side the water, and sixty-four
acres of my demesne above Ruwedon, and all my land of
Ridescot, and of Hele, and of Chorlecot, and of Tunecote,
and of Boteburn, and all the land which Philip at Way
holds, with the tenants of the aforesaid lands. Moreover,
a hundred acres of my demesne in Bremesmore, and my
wood which is called Anerwd, and one ferling at Roitheye,
with all their appurtenances in the manor of Toustoke, with
pasturage and all other things appertaining to the aforesaid
lands. Moreover, all kinds of common between my tene-
ments wheresoever. To be holden and possessed freely and
quietly in perpetual and pure alms, as any alms may be
freely and quietly given. And that this my gift may in
future times obtain the strength of perpetual firmness, I
have held it right to strengthen it by the defence of the
present writing with the apposition of my seal. Wit-
nesses, Master Lambert, Sub-dean of Wells; Lord
Philip de Alben; Lord Roger de la Zuche; Adam, son
of Hondebrand ; Master Humphrey, Canon of Cycester ;
Master Reginald de Merestone; William, Chaplain of
Bukingeham ; Walter, elerk of Langeham ; Thomas, clerk
of Glouecester ; Nicholas de Wyleye, and others.” *

Other carly gifts, of which the exact dates have not
been preserved, are the following :—

Ralph, the son of William de Briwere, gave to the
Sisters the Church of Tolland with its appurtenances.

* Cart, 11 Hen. IIL,p. 2,m.9. Appendix, No. IX.

.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 13

Alan, son of Antony Russell, gave them the Church of
Donington, in the diocese of Lincoln.

Warin de Aula gave them Bodescombe.

Ascuid Musard gave them Chiltcombe, Wysangre, and
Bocheleote.

And Robert Arundale gave them Halse, with its appur-
tenances.* Probably this gift is the same as that
subsequently mentioned, as having been made so late as
the year 1374, and as the subject of legal investigation in
the year 1400. The name, however, of the donor is there
given as Roger Arundell.

Muriel de Bohun gave them 40 solidate of land in
Sherborn and Prumesley, in the county of Dorset, which
grant was confirmed by her husband, Ralph de Bruere.f

The Prioress of Buckland held also one fee in Primes-
leigh, which was Robert de London’s, of the Bishop
of Salisbury ; and, with William Waddam, half a fee,
which was Robert de London’s, of the same Bishop in
chief.t

By a charter dated at Henbiry, the 3rd of August, 1228,
King Henry III. granted the Sisters permission to take
from his park of Neuton a cartload of dead wood for fuel
every week in the year. And it was considerately added,
that, because it was more convenient to remove the aforesaid
firewood in summer than in winter, the king permitted
them to take the stated number of cartloads in the interval
from Easter to the feast of S. Peter ad vincenla, the 1st
of August. An order was given to Richard de Wrotham,
to allow them to remove the fuel, in agreement with the
terms of the king’s grant. |

* MS. Cott. Tib. E.IX. f.23. MS. in Of. Armor. L. 17. £.153 b.
Appendix, No.X,
+ Hutchins’s Dorsetshire, IL., p. 394, T 7».
|| Pat. 12 Henry III, m.2. Appendix, No, XI.

14 PAPERS, ETC.

It would appear that this privilege was not only one of
considerable value, as it would necessarily be, but also one
which was subject to frequent invasion, for we find a long
series of confirmations of this and similar grants. In some
instances it was possibly the change of the ofücer to whom
the park was intrusted, which necessitated the preparation
of a new instrument. On the 3rd of April, 1229, the king
signified from Marlborough to Hugh de Nevill his royal
pleasure that the Sisters should have weekly from his park
of Neuton one cartload of the dead wood of that park for
their fuel. A similar permission was added to remove the
whole of their yearly gathering between the feast of Easter
and that of S. Peter ad vincula, instead of employing
the winter in so inconvenient a work.* A similar order
was given to Richard de Wrotham, dated at Westminster,
1öth of May, 1229.}

Immediately subsequent to this grant, a very interesting
addition was made to the revenues of the Sisters, and again
it was by their royal benefactor. The letters were addressed
to the King’s treasurer and chamberlains. “Know ye,” he
says, “that we have given, and granted, and by our
charter have confirmed to the Prioress of Bocland and the
Sisters there serving God, of the Order of the Hospital of
Jerusalem, to maintain three maidens for ever in the said

priory, a delivery of two pence and one half-penny, which

Roger, Chaplain of the Bishop of Lincoln, used to receive
daily by the hand of the Sheriff of Hereford our almoner ;
and a delivery of two pence, which Margary, the nurse of
Isabella our sister, used to receive daily by the hand of
the same. To be held of us and of our heirs by them and
their successors in free, pure, and perpetual alms; and to

* Claus. 13 Fen. III, m. 12.
+ Claus. 13 Hen. III., m. 10,

m

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 15

be received for ever at our exchequer ; that is to say, one
half at Michaelmas, and the other at Easter. And so
we command you that ye have these deliveries made unto
them, as aforesaid. At Faversham, the 20th of September,
2229.” *

This was followed eight days afterwards by a grant,
addressed to Richard de Wrotham, in favour of the Sisters,
increasing the gift of one to that of three weekly cartloads
of wood for their fire. It was to be taken every week
“ de spinis, alno, et arabili,” in the park of Neuton, and a
similar concession was added as to time with that pre-
viously stated. The grant was dated at Westminster, 281h
September, 1229. A similar one was addressed two days
afterwards to John de Monem, from London, the 30th of
September, 1229.

Terrie de Nussa, Prior of England, who died on
the 21st December, 1237, gave the Sisters and their
successors, by advice of the general Chapter of his
brethren, an annual allowance of thirty-eight marcs,
twelve shillings, and eisht pence sterling, which they
were to receive from the Preceptor of Buckland for the
time being, at two terms of the year ; namely, at the feast
of Easter, nineteen marcs, six shillings and four pence,
and a similar sum at the feast of S. Michael. And it
was further ordered that the Preceptor or Master should
be allowed this amount in his responsions or annual returns
to the Receiver General of the Order. |

Previous to the 15th of February, 1270-1, which was the
day of his decease, Roger de Veer, Prior of England, paid a

* Pat. 13 Hen. IIL, m. 4.
r Claus, 13 Hen. III., m. 4.
t Claus. 13 Hen. III., m. 3.
| MS, in Coll. Arm., L. 17, f.153. Appendix, No. XII,

16 PAPERS, ETC.

visit to Bukland to inspect the state of the House. He found
great difference and discord prevailing between the Pre-
ceptor and the Prioress and Convent, about a number of
matters intimately affecting the Prioress and her Sisters.

There is little doubt, as in an instance which will be before

us presently, that the Preceptor looked with a grudging
eye on the possessions of the Sisterhood, and hardly
endured to part with the funds which he was compelled to
advance for their maintenance. Roger appears to have
felt that nothing but peremptory measures would ensure
peace. With the assent of his chapter at Melcheburn, he
made among other regulations the following :—That the
Prioress and Convent should have their own steward, who
should sit at the table of the Preceptor; and one servant,
who should sit with the servants of the Preceptor ; and
who should be there daily at table unless the steward
should otherwise appoint him. That at the feast of S.
Michael, when the steward should desire to hold his court
at Hele, he should have of the cellarer five white loaves and
his flagons full of ale; and that at the same feast, when he
should hold his courts at Kinmersdon and Primmilegh,
he should have the same ; and at Hokeday the same; and
that he should have his horse furniture and all other neces-
saries, at the delivery and appointment of the Prioress and
Convent. And that, if in anything he should be at fault,
it should be lawful for the Prioress to prohibit him from
meddling with their goods, but not to remove him from his
ofice without the consent of the Prior. Moreover, it was
ordained that the Sisters should have a secular priest to
celebrate mass for the soul of Sister Fina sometime
Prioress there, and for the souls of the founders and bene-
factors of the said House, who should sit at table with the
brethren, and have his bed in the dormitory between the

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. R4

priests and clerks, and for the rest of his time should be at
the order of the Prioress; so that the Preceptor should
have an allowance of five marcs for the table of the said
priest, and also of the one brother who celebrated the mass
of Blessed Mary, and also three shillings at the feast of S.
Michael for the clerk of the chapel.* The calm which
this arrangement produced was at best but temporary, and
we shall soon have to notice some evidences of the feeling
with which it was regarded by the Preceptor and his
brethren, by whom the establishment of the neighbouring
Community was clearly considered a grievance of no com-
mon order!

In or about the year 1270, the Hospitallers of Boclande
were returned among other Somersetshire landowners as
holding five virgates of land, of the annual value of fifty
shillings.t

In 1276, the Sisters are stated on the verdict of a jury
to have common of pasture for eight oxen and two cows in
a place of forty acres situated in Rolneston.t

Shortly after this date the chapel of K'ynmeresdon was
sacrilegiously broken into and plundered. The crime was
charged upon a certain Robert de Bo , (the MS.
is imperfect and the name cannot be regained) before the
Justices Itinerant, but he was happy enough to clear him-
self to the satisfaction of his judges A letter is extant
from Robert Bishop of Bath to the King, “ excellentissimo
domino suo domino Edwardo,” wishing him health “in Eo
per Quem reges regnant et regnorum omnium gubernacula
sustentantur,” and soliciting the prompt restoration of the
possessions and goods of the accused, which had been

‘ * MS. in Of. Arm. L. 17, f.153b. Appendix, No. XIII.
r Test. de Nevill, f. 759.
f Hilar. an. 4 Edw. I. de Jur. et Ass, rot, 14. Abbrev. Plac. p. 189.

VOL. x., 1860, PART II. c

18 PAPERS, ETC.

detained during the process of the investigation. The
Bishop’s letter is dated at Windsor, 9th September, 1281.*

In 1290 was the famous Taxatio of Pope Nicholas IV.
The Church of Boclonde was then valued at £5 68. 8d;
Perton, with its Chapel, at £53 6s. 8d.; the Vicarage of
the same at £6 13s. 4d. ; and Elleworth, at £4 6s. 8d.t

The favour of collecting fire wood from the park of Neu-
ton, Perton, or Petherton, appears, as I have remarked, to
have been often contested. Intheyear 1290, the nuns were
obliged to petition the king in parliament with a view to
the restoration of their rights. They submitted that since
the battle of Evesham, A.D. 1265, they had been hindered
in their ancient privilege, and humbly solicited the king’s
favour in the restitution of the same.t

Richard de Plessetis, or de Placey, a descendant of
Richard de Wrotham already noticed, who died 20 Edw.
I., 1292, founded, about two years before his decease, a
perpetual chantry at Newton for the health of his soul and
the souls of his father and mother, and all his ancestors and
successors. For the endowment of the same, he granted to
William de Hilprinton, the intended chantry priest, and his
successors, in the chapel of S. Peter at Newton, a house in
which William de Grey, a former chaplain, lived aforetime,
and several acres of land in Ivymore, Hishmore, and
Ellerhaye, together with the tithes of Newton and Pether-
ton Park, and right of common for six oxen and six heifers
in all places where he had common. The witnesses to this
charter were the Preceptor of Buckland, Sir Geoffrey de
Wrockshall, Sir John de Placetis, Peter de Hamme, and
John de Marisco.|

* Calendar of Letters, No. 1948.
+ Tax. Ecel. P. Nich. IV., pp. 198, 199.
% Pet. in Parl., 18 Edw. I., n. 152, vol. 1., 58.
|| Collins. e Regist. Well. ıır. 65.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 19

In 1297, the 25th of Edward I., the Master of the
Hospital of Bocland was returned from the counties of
Somerset and Dorset, as holding lands or rents to the
amount of £20 yearly value or upwards, either in capite or
otherwise, and as such he was summoned under the general
writ to perform military service, &c., in parts beyond the
sea. The muster was at London, on the Sunday next
after the Octave of S. John the Baptist, or the 7th of
July, 1297.*

In the Perambulation of the Forest of North Petherton,
dated the 25th of May, 26 Edward I., 1298, it is set forth
that John de Erlech holds the manor of North Petherton,
with the moors, &c., and that the Prior of S. John of
Jerusalem holds the hamlet of Gogestode, the Priory of
Bokeland, the hamlets of Taklestone and Heggynge, with
the woods, moors, marshes, &c., and the hamlet of Bidone,
with the moors, marshes, &c.f

King Edward I. gave the Order a charter for a weekly
market, held on Monday, in his manor of Halse.f

The year 1306 brought a further increase of property.
A writ was addressed on the 16th of October, 1305, andan
inquest was held at Somerton, before J. de Montacute, the
King’s Escheator, on the Monday after Palm Sunday in the
following year, or the 28th of March, 1306, to examine
and report whether it were to the detriment of the King,
or of any others, if Thomas de Berkelay should give two
shops, with their appurtenances, in Welles, to the Prioress
and Sisters of Boclande. The process was exactly similar
to that which I have fully explained in my History of
Taunton Priory, and does not require further illustration.

* Parl. Writs, 1., 293.
+ Per. For. de North Petherton, 26 Edward I.
t Cart. 18 Edw. I.,n. 80. MS.Coll. Arm., L,17.f.156. Appendix, No. XIV.

20 PAPERS, ETC.

The verdict was favourable, and the King’s letters patent,
dated at Lanercost, the 20th of October, enabled both
parties to act in agreement with the donor’s desire.* The
annual value of the property was eighteen shillings in all
issues.

William de Tottehale, Prior of England, presented John
de Messingham to North Pederton, 12th March, 1309-10.}

The year subsequent to this date, the same Thomas de
Berkelee granted under very peculiar circumstances four
pounds of rent, with appurtenances, issuing from lands and
tenements in Hamme, held by Thomas de Stane of the
the said Thomas. This sum was to be received by the
Prioress and Sisters in aid of the maintenance of his
dauchter Isabella, who was a Sister of the House. They
were to receive it during the life of this lady; and after
her decease it was to revert entirely to its former master.
The letters patent describe the Priory as very poor,
“quod nimis exile esse dinoscitur,” and convey the King’s
license for this seasonable help. ‘They are dated at London,
the 25th of August, 1311.f

The Master of the Hospital was certified, pursuant to
writ tested at Clipston, öth March, 1316, as one of the
lords of the township of North Petherton.||

In the Ordination of the Vicarage of Poulet, made in
the following year, the Vicar was to pay every year one
marc of silver to the Sisters of Bokland.$

On the 9th of March, 1320, John de Werewell was
Preceptor, and was appointed by the Prior of S. John to

* Inquis, ad. 9, d. 34 Edw. I,n.178. Pat. 34 Edw. I., m, 4.
+ MS. Harl. 6985 B, f. 126b.
rt Pat. 5 Edw. IL,p. 1, m. 20.
|| Parl. Writs, IL., 378.
$ MS. Harl. 6968, Cart. p. 7.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 21

be procurator and administrator of the estates belonging to
the Hospital in the diocese of Bath and Wells.*

In the year 1328, an amicable arrangement was after
some delay arrived at between Geoffrey Samueland William
his son on the one part, and the Prioress Isabella la Louwe
and Convent on the other, touching the celebration of
Divine Service in their chapel of Lokyngton, in their parish
of Kilmersdon. It was agreed that the Prioress and
Convent, for themselves and their successors, should grant
to the aforesaid Geoffrey and William, the celebration in
the aforesaid chapel, on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,
to be performed by the perpetual Vicar of Kilmersdon, in
return for a tenement which the Prioress and Convent held
of the fee of the aforesaid Geoffrey and William. To the
constant maintenance of this celebration, Geoffrey and
William bound themselves and their heirs in one quarter of
corn, to be paid every year to the said Vicar from their
manor of Lokynston. The confirmation was dated the
19th of November, 1328.}

On the 28th of August in the following year, 1329, died
Thomas L’Archier, Prior of England. He gave to the
Sisters of Buckland a yearly pension of forty shillings, to
be drawn for ever from the manor of Hidon, a limb of
Templecomb.t

During the same year, the Preceptor and Sisters were
obliged to call in the aid of their ecclesiastical superiors
against the harsh measures of Master Richard de Thistel-
den, their diocesan’s oflicial. The latter had called upon
them to exhibit their title to the churches of Northpeder-
ton, Durston, Halse, Bromfeld, and Kynemersden, in the

* Archer, e Reg. Drok. 159.
+ MS. Har], 6964, p. 132.
£ MS, Cott. E. vr. f. 467b. Appendix; No, XV,

22 PAPERS, ETC.

diocese of Bath and Wells. These churches were, as we
have already noticed, canonically appropriated to them,
and had been so from ancient times. On their citation to
pay the customary “ obedience” in behalf of these churches,
considerable harshness was exbibited; and, on their duly
demanding to be furnished with a copy of his commission,
the commissary had not only neither listened to their
prayer nor acceded to their request, but had pronounced
them contumacious, when they were not so, had fined
them in an immoderate sum of money, and had ordered the
same to be levied forthwith. An appeal was forwarded to
the Apostolic See, which was promptly followed by an
inhibition against his attempting aught to the prejudice of
the appellants during the pending, of the suit in the Court
of Canterbury. The inhibition was dated at London, the
26th of September, 1329.*

It appears, from the Year Book of 1330, that the arrange-
ment just mentioned in connexion with the chapel of
Lokyngton, or Leeke, was not fully and faithfully observed.
The record referred to presents us, accordingly, with an
instance of litigation, the issue of which, so far as we can
gather it, was of an unfavourable character. The proceed-
ings, as there given, are in avowry, and the question is
raised as to the lawfulness of a certain distress levied
by Agnes, widow of William Samuel, upon Isabel de Berch,
Prioress of Buckeland, through the alleged non-perform-
ance of the terms of the covenant. Agnes, by a plaint
sued by the Prioress, is made defendant, and called upon to
give reasons for levying the distress. To those of my
readers who feel an interest in the old practice of the law,
it will not be unwelcome if I enter into the particulars

* MS. Harl. 6965, p.17. Appendix, No. XVI,

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 253

of the case, and exhibit the process by which an attempt
was made to obtain restitution. It is stated that “ Agnes
Samuel avoweth a distress upon Isabel de Berch, Prioress
of Buckland, by reason that one M., a predecessor of
the said Isabel, held of Richard Flory a message and
acre of land by fealty and the service of finding a
chaplain to sing, in the chapel within his manor of Leeke,
masses, matins, and vespers, on three days in the week
throughout the whole year, to wit Sunday, Wednesday,
and Friday, and to find in the same chapel bread, and wine,
and other things suitable for the celebration of Divine
Service, “pan’, et vine, et auters ornam’ts pur divines
service’ celebrer,”” of which services Richard was seised ;
the which Richard gave and granted the manor, with the
chapel to which the services related, to William the late
husband of the same Agnes, and to Agnes, and to the heirs
of their two bodies; the which M. made attornment
of the said services to William and Agnes; and after the
death of William this same Agnes was seised, by the hand
of the said Isabel, &e., and for the singing in arrear for
two years.*

The defence that seems by the pleadings to have been
set upto Agnes Samuel’s case was that the Vicar by a
certain composition received a quarter of wheat for the
fulfilment of the duties, which were performed by a
priest employed by him. And the question was whether
the facts alleged by the Prioress were sufhicient answer to
bar Agnes Samuel of her action, or whether on the
other hand she were justified in levying the distress.. We
do not know the issue, as, the Court sitting in Banco
and not at Nisi prius, no decision was come to on the

* Mich, 4 Edw. IIL., pl. 52.

24 PAPERS, ETC.

merits ; though I think, as I have already said, tkat it may
be gathered from the pleadings that Prioress would be
unsuccessful, and that the distress which Agnes Samuel
had levied would be pronounced valid and according to
law.

Of the year 1335 I am happy to furnish a very valuable
memorial. It is the certificate of the Lord Bishop to the
King, of the churches, advowsons, and pensions which the
Prior and Brethren of the Hospital possessed in the diocese
of Bath and Wells. They are here stated to hold, as
appropriate rectories, the Church of Halse, of the annual
value of £10; the Church of Durston, with the tithes
of Coggelode by Boclande, (there is still a “Coglett
Field” in the immediate neighbourhood of the site of
the Priory) of the annual value of 8 marcs; the
Church of Northpederton, of the annual value of 60
marcs; and the Church of Kynemersdone, of the annual
value of 24 marcs. They have also, it is added, the
advowsons of the Churches of Ellesworthe, taxed in 6
marcs and a half; of Talande, taxed in 3 marcs; and of
Hethfeld, taxed in 5 marcs. They have also the following
annual pensions: from the Chapel of Bodyngton in the
park of Netherstauway, 2s. ; from the Church of Touland,
2s.; from Bekyngton, 20s.; and from the Church of Poulet,
l marc. The document is dated at Banwell, 27th August,
1335.”

In the 11th year of King Edward III., 1337, died John
de Erlegh, seised at the time of his decease of the manors
of Durston, North Petherton, Somerton Erle, Bekington,
Michaelchurch, &c. The fact of special interest in our
‚present enquiry is that he left behind him a son John, born

* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 93.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 25

and baptised at Durston, 29th of November, 6 Edward
III., 1332, who afterwards attended the Black Prince to
Spain ; another son Richard ; and three daughters, Katha-
rine Prioress of Buckland, Elizabeth wife of Sir John
Stafford, and Alice wife of Sir Nicholas Poines.* Here
we have an instance, by no means uncommon, of a noble
daughter of the house of a founder governing the Com-
munity which owed its origin to the piety of an ancestor
long gone to his reward.

For the year subsequent to this date we possess an
invaluable series of returns, which furnish us with a most
lively pieture of the system of the Hospital in full operation
and activity. It will be remembered that, in the sketch
which I gave of the Order, I showed that all the provineial
Heads and Preceptors were simply delegates of the Prior of
England, and had to account to him for the surplus of their
receipts over their expenditure. The Hospital in England
was only a portion of that widely-spread institution which
had possessions in at least two-thirds of the then known
world. An annual return was accordingly made from each
of the Preceptories or Commandries by the Preceptor or
receiver to the Prior of England, and by him to the head-
quarters of the Order, wherever those might happen to be.
Happily for us, we possess one of these interesting balance-
sheets, that for the year 1338, which was fortunately
discovered at Malta, and published three years ago by the
Caämden Society, with an admirable preface by my lamented
friend, Mr. John Mitchell Kemble. This truly valuable
contribution to historical and archxological science would,
in my humble opinion, be perfect, but for the grave mistake,
for which my friend was not responsible, of printing the

* Ing. p. m. 28 Edw, III, n. 71.
VOL. X,, 1860, PART II. D

26 PAPERS, ETC.

MS. in extenso, the result of which is that certain
errors run through the whole volume, a result but poorly
compensated for by the imagined—and only imagined—
greater facility with which the accounts may be perused.
To well-instructed antiquaries it is as easy to read manu-
scripts with their contractions as in extenso, while to general
readers the matter presented in either form is equally
obseure and unintelligible.

The return itself consists of a minutely-accurate balance-
sheet for every part of the property of the Order in '
England, with an exact account ofincome and of outlay in
every bajulia, bailiwick or manor. Buckland figures pro-
minently among these ; and I will endeavour, by means of
the data here presented to us, to give my reader a pieture
of the scene on which we are now engaged, as it appeared
during the former half of the fourteenth century.

The establishment consisted of various buildings, of
which three are mentioned, which either required some
outlay, or furnished a source of income. First, there was
the court or manor-house, but it sadly needed a new roof.
The bakehouse attached to it also wanted repair, and is
described as in a very ruinous condition. A dovecot,
which, singularly enough, appears to have been an
appendage to almost every House, and a never-failing
source of emolument, is returned as yielding, together with
the produce and herbage of the garden, the considerable
annual value of 105. The proceeds of both were no
doubt disposed of in the neighbourhood, when the supply
exceeded the need at home. As that supply would neces-
sarily vary with different years, it is not unlikely, especially
as we constantly find this item set down in round numbers
throughout the various accounts, that it was computed at
a certain annual value, which in some years was exceeded

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 27

by the actual return, while in others it was deficient.
Attached to the Community was a demesne of 268 acres of
arable land, of which 200 were valued at 12d. an acre;
and the remaining 68 at 7d. an acre, amounting together
to £12 16s. There were also 42 acres of meadow, whereof
three were taken by the Sisters. Of the remaining 39 the
value of each was 2=., and of the whole 78s. There was
also a small church, “una parva ecclesia,” appropriated to
the Priory, of the annual value of 40s. Two mills were an
additional source of income, which, with assessed rent, paid
by free tenants to their landlord, amounted to £10. The
fines and perquisites of the manor courts were valued at
205. 'Ihe confraria, or voluntary contribution from the
neighbourhood, whether constant or exceptional is uncertain,
hardly produced this year the sum of 80 mares.

Halse is returned as a “member” of this bailiwick. It
also had a manor house, but in a state of still greater
dilapidation than that of Buckland. “ Destructa’” it was,
“ et multum vastata;” so much so that the proceeds of the
manor for a whole year would scarce be sufücient to repair
the damage. 220 acres were attached to it, 200 of which
were valued at 12d., and 20 at 10d. an acre, together
£10 16s. $Sd. There were 28 acres of pasture, valued at
8d. an acre; 18 acres and a half of meadow, valued at 25.
an acre; 52 acres of pasture, valued at 4d.an acre; assessed
rent £20 3s. per annum; fines and perquisites of the manor
courts, 403. ; works and customary services of the native
villani, commuted, I presume, into a money-rent, 408. ; the
appropriated rectory, valued at 18 marcs ; and pasture in
moor and wood, at 65. 8d.

The total amount of receipt and profit from the entire
manor, with its member, was 186 mares, 10s. 4d.

We will now turn to the other side of the aceount, and

28 PAPERS, ETC.

here we shall have an interesting and necessarily faithful
picture: of the social life of the House.

The Society consisted, in the first place, of the
Preceptor and five Brethren, after whom were their servants
of various kinds, and the stranger guests, whom their rule
of hospitality obliged them to entertain. The cost of 94
quarters of wheat, which were made into bread for the
House, at 3s. a quarter, amounted to £14 2s. For their
beer, 130 quarters of grain, of which 52 were of barley, at
2s. aquarter, and 78 of oat malt, at 20d. a quarter, both
amounting to £11 14s. Then there were the expenses of
the kitchen, an outlay of 4s. a-week, or £10 8s. a-year.
The robes, mantles, and other necessaries of the Preceptor
and his five Brethren, are stated at £10 8s., allowing
£1 14s. Sd. to each, which, as it appears throughout the
returns, was the stated and ordinary sum. The stipend of
a chaplain, per annum, with a seat at the Preceptor’s table,
20s. John le Port, a corrodary, or fellow-commoner, by
deed ofthe chapter, had a seat at the table, valued at18s. In
the robes of the Preceptor’s servants was expended 1 marc.
In the stipends of four clerks of the confraria, with commons,
£4. In the wages of various servants, the cook, baker,
steward, porter, woodreeve, chapel-clerk, gardener, swine-
herd, and carter, öls. Sd., of whom four received 2 marcs,
and each of the rest 5s. The stipends of four pages
amounted to 8s. They spent during the year,-in repairs
and roofing of their buildings, 40s. The visitation of the
Prior of England, whose duty it was to make in person his
annual examination, cost during the six days of his presence
the heavy sum of £6. Lastly there was the annual pension
to the Sisters, which we have already noticed, amounting to
the charge of 29 mares. The sum total of all the expenses
and payments is 125 mares, 3s. And the surplus, to be

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 29

paid to the general treasury of the Order, figures at 61
marcs, 7s. 4d. j

The Preceptor and his brethren who at this time
represented the Hospital at Buckland were Brother
John Diluwe, Preceptor, chaplain; Brother Robert Mount-
fort, chaplain; Brother Adam de Catworth, chaplain ;
Brother Thomas de Taimeworth, chaplain; Brother Andrew
de Shafteworth, sergeant-at-arms ; and Brother Henry de
Whaddon, sergeant-at-arms and steward of the Sisters.
To these we must add John le Port, the corrodary, to
whom we have already referred.

The return concludes with an account of the Sisterhood.
It describes their House as having been founded by the
kings of England, and themselves as wearing the habit of
the Hospital, and as commonly amounting to fifty in number.
It further states that, by the ordination of their founders,
their possessions were managed by themselves. Intent on
making a correct report, and with a scarcely disguised
feeling of resentment against everything which could tend
to diminish the surplus by which his activity and good
management could best be exhibited, the Preceptor most
ungallantly adds that he and his brethren neither did nor
could have or get aught from these ladies, “sed potius onus
et grayamen,” but rather burden, charge, and grievanee—
inasmuch as by a fixed ordination they were to have a
brother of the Priory of England, at the expense of the
Prior and Preceptor of the place, to be their steward, and
two brethren for chaplains, and one secular chaplain to serve
their church—also, it is not omitted to add, at the expense
of the Preceptor. In the same place they had three
carucates of land, of the annual value, in common years, of
£6. Besides this, they are described as being in possession
of other property, with some of which we are already

30 PAPERS, ETC.

acquainted:—at Thele, in Devonshire, one carucate of land,
of the value of 40s. ; at Prunslee, one carucate, valued at
408. ; at Kynemersdon, one carucate, valued at 505. Of
assessed rent, they are stated to own 90 marcs, but it is
added that hardly so many as 80 are levied. The following
churches also are mentioned as appropriated to them:— The
church of Pederton, of the value of 50 mares ; the church
of Kynemersdon, of the value of 20 marcs ; and that of
Bromfeld, valued at £10. All of which, is the conclusion
forcibly impressed upon the treasurer, are insuflicient to
provide for the maintenance of the Sisters and that of their
servants, together with the repairs of their buildings, their
dress, and other necessaries, apart from the help of friends
and elemosynary payments.* It is indeed clear that a
Community of fifty nuns, with their servants, although they
did not afterwards, or perhaps often, amount to half
so many, would be very inadequately mainfained out
of the funds thus described as being at their disposal, and
that they would require the assistance of powerful patrons
to enable them to support a bare existence.

From Hidon, a limb of Temple Combe, the same record
informs us that they had 3 marcs per annum for a tene-
ment of theirs-there.f This, as we have already noticed,
was given them by Prior Thomas L’Archer, who died in
1329.

I may here place on record that William Redmor was
presented to the Church of Hethfeld by Philip de Thame,
Prior of England, on the 4th of February, 1348.4 It
would appear that he did not long retain his benefice ;
for John de Donne, Rector of the Church of Hethfeld,

* Hosp. in Engl. pp. 17—20.
+ Hosp., p. 205.
t MS. Harl. 6965, p. 201.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 3l

presented Robert atte Crosse, Priest, to the Church of
Fydyngton on the 25th of June, 1354. The institution is
dated at Wylescomb, the 17th of the following month.*

The pension of 20s. due from the Church of Bekyngton
had to be recovered by law in 1353. A writ was addressed
for this purpose to John de Werdyr, the parson, on the
12th of July in that year.f

In eonnexion with Buckland, it will not be amiss to
repeat that Roger Arundell, sometime lord of the manor
of Halse, gave that manor, in the year 1374, to the
Prior of S. John of Jerusalem in England, on condition
that he and his successors should find and maintain a chapel
at Halse, and a chaplain to celebrate Divine Service for ever
in the same for the souls of Roger, his predecessors, and all
the faithful departed. A: jury found the facts aforesaid,
and that the manor, which was held of the king in capite,
as of his manor of Hampstede Mareschall, by military
service, was of the annual value in all issues of £20. The
same jury found that Roger Torell had given to the
Rector of the Church of Mulverton 20 acres of arakle
land, called Mynsterlond in Mulverton, to find a chaplain
who should celebrate Divine Service three days every week
in the chapel of Torelles Preston. The land was held of
the king in capite, by military service, and was worth in
all issues 165. per annum. The Jurors were Bartholomew
Baghey, Adam Londe, Robert Ladell, Walter Cherl,
Richard Hokeday, John Holm, Benedict Flamesy, Robert
Hewere, John Garland, Thomas Clyve, Gilbert Stenes,
and Robert Skilgate; and the inquest was taken at
Taunton, before Adam atte More, the king’s eschaetor,
on Wednesday, the 8th of March, 1374. A writ of

* Hyll Cartulary, pp. 52, 53.
+ MS. Harl. 6965, p. 257.

>

32 PAPERS, ETC.

“ certiorari ” in respect of these gifts was issued on the 3rd
of July, 1400.*

We must now pass to the year 1387. At this time the
Prioress and Sisters obtained from King Richard I., by a
fine of thirteen shillings and four pence, another charter of
“inspeximus ” and confirmation of their ancient grant from
Henry III, of fuel from.the park of Perton. The letters
patent were dated at Westminster, 25th June, 1387.7

At an Inquisition taken at Yvelchester, 7th October,
1398, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, who died on the
previous-feast of S. Margaret, July 20, is statel to have
been seised at the time of his death of two fees payable
by the Prior of S. John, as of the honor of Wiggemor.
This is stated in immediate connexion with various other
properties of the said Roger at Mershewood, Bocland, and
Chilton.t '

On the 28th of April, 1405, another charter of “ inspexi-
mus” and ratification was granted to the Prioress and
Sisters, on the payment of one marc, in behalf of their
ancient privilege. The letters patent on this occasion are
particularly valuable, inasmuch as they furnish us with the
name of the Prioress of the House, and thus make a still
further addition to our list of hitherto unnoted Superiors.
The lady in question was named Alicia, but of what family
and from whom descended all human record has disap-
peared. The document is dated at Westminster, on the
day and year above mentioned.|

Three years subsequently, on the 14th of November,
1408, a writ of privy seal was issued, which furnishes us

* Ing. ad q.d. 1 Hen. IV.,n. 22.
+ Pat. 11 Ric. IL., p. 1, m. 36.
r. Ing. p.m. 22 Ric. IL,, n. 34.
|| Pat. 6 Hen. IV., p. 2, m. 28.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 33

with a considerable amount of information as to the legal
position of the Sisters. It is clear, from the very terms of
their constitution, that they were necessarily subject to
the Prior at Clerkenwell in no inconsiderable degree.
Bracton, indeed, specially cites them as instances of legal
inability of acting apart from the Prior and Head of their
Order.* It appears that the Sisters had represented to
the king the ancient grant which had been, as we have
seen, conceded to ihem so early as the reign of Henry III,
and the further permission accorded of removing their fire-
wood, for greater convenience, between the Festival of
Easter and that of S. Peter ad vincula. It is added,
though hardly as it would seem borne out by the facts,
that these concessions had been enjoyed by them from
that time to the present without let or hindrance either
from the king or the custodians of the park. The present
keeper, however, had resisted their demand on the ground
that they were but ofücials, “obedienciarie” of the Prior of
S. John, and therefore not competent to accept the grant
in their own persons. The Prioress and her Sisters, ac-
cordingly, petitioned the king to interfere in their behalf
and to provide a remedy. This result it is the intention
of the writ to effeet. The king, taking it into his royal
consideration that the Prioress and Sisters would instantly
and devoutly pray for the health of himself and his dearest
consort Johanna during their lives, and for their souls
after their deaths, and for the king’s dearest consort Maria,
deceased, granted their request, by conveying to Walter
Grendon, Prior of S. John, the gift already conceded, so
that the same might be to the use and profit of the Prioress
and Sisters at Buckland. Various ambiguities also in the

* De legibus, lib. v. tr. v. c. 18, de exceptionibus.
VOL. X., 1860, PART IT. E

34 PAPERS, ETC.

original charter were now removed, and the intention of
the royal donor made more conspieuous. Perton is changed
to Pederton. In the previous instruments they were to
take their firewood “de spinis, alno, et arabili:” the grant
now ran “ videlicet thorn, aller, mapel, et hasell.” It was
also set forth that each cartload should consist of as much
firewood as six horses could draw, and that the servants
should fall, eut up and carry away at their will the amount
granted to them every year, from the Festival of the
Annunciation to the Festival of All Saints, without dis-
turbance, hindrance, or grievance from the king, his heirs,
the keeper of the park, or any other oflicial or servant
whomsoever.*

King Henry V. confirmed this grant of his father to
William Hilles, Prior of S. John, in behalf of the Prioress
and Sisters, on the payment of half a marc, at West-
minster, on the 8th of February, 1418-9.7

Of this also a confirmation was granted by King Henry
VI, at Westminster, on the 5th of February, 1422-3.
And another ratification and confirmation of the same, on
the payment of half a marc, was made to Robert Botell,
Prior of S. John, twenty-one years afterwards, on 1he
10th of February, 1443-4.|

The Sisters appear to have struggled against poverty
without much aid from those who should seem to have been
their natural patrons, but from whom it is clear that
they received little sympathy. On the 22nd of April,
1447, they sold their pension of 4 marcs, payable to them

* Pat. 10 Hen. 1V.,p.1,m.19. MS. in Coll. Armor. L. 17, f. 156b.
Appendix, No. XVII,
+ Pat. 6 Hen. V., m. 10.
f Pat. 1 Hen. VL,p. 5, m.5.
| Pat. 22 Hen. VI, p. 2, m. 22.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 35

from the vicarage of North Pederton.* These, it is said
by Dr. Archer, are still paid to the Crown.

It would appear, althoush we know very little either of
the process or the results, that several valuations of the
property were made during the last half of the fifteenth
century, especially in 1460 and 1493. We shall presently
have before us, however, a most valuable and complete
document of a similar kind, and of so near a period to that
of the returns alluded to as to make their absence a matter
of less importance.f

For some few years nothing seems to have transpired of
which a record is preserved for us ; but I have found some
documents which belong to the commencement of the
following century, which give us an excellent insight into
the condition of the House at that period.

I may premise, however, to keep to the chronological
order as far as possible, that, at a Chapter holden at
Melchborne on the 9th of November, 1500, there was
granted to Alexander Verney, Chaplain, a chamber suit-
able to his rank in the manor of Bodmescomb in the county
of Devon, with fuel for the said chamber from the underwood
of that manor, eight marcs sterling a year by way of stipend,
and for food and raiment, during his life, to be received
through the hands of the Preceptor of Buckland, or of the
farmer in charge. The said Alexander obliged himself to
celebrate Divine Service in the Chapel of Bodmescomb as
long as his strength lasted so to do. If, from old age or
infirmity, he became unable to officiate, his chamber and
allowances were still to be continued to him. If, however,
whilst able to celebrate, he failed in his duty, and without

* MS. Harl, 6966, p. 61.
+ Comput.38 Hen. VI. Off. Aug. 13092. Comput. 3 IIen. VII. Off. Aug. 1232,
Add. MS, 21, 324, pp. 12b, 28b,

36 PAPERS, ETC.

licence from the Prior or farmer omitted to perform it, the
present grant was to be reckoned null and void. The
seals of both parties were aflixed to this agreement, which
was dated as above.*

In an “Assembly” holden in the house of S. John of
Jerusalem, at Clerkenwell, on the 20th of January, 1500-1,
at which were present Brother John Kendal, Prior of Eng-
land ; Brother Henry Hawlay, Preceptor of Willughton ;
Brother Robert Pek, Preceptor of Badislay and Mayne;
Brother Robert Dawson, Preceptor of Halston and Temple-
comb ; Brother Thomas Newport, Preceptor of Newland ;
Brother Robert Danyel, Preceptor of Swynfeld ; Brother
Adam Chetwod, Preceptor of Badisford and Dynglay; Bro-
ther John Tonge, Preceptor of Ribston, Mount S. John, and
Carbrok ; Brother Jo. Bowth, Preceptor of Quenyngton ;
and Brother William Darel, Preceptor of Yeuelay and Ba-
rowe ; a lease was granted to John Vernay of Farefelde, in
the county of Somerset, esquire, ofthe Preceptory of Buc-
lande Priors, in the county of Somerset, with the manors of
Bodmescomb and Cove, in the county of Devon,appertaining
to the said Preceptory, and all and singular other demesnes,
lands, tenements, meadows, pastures, rents, services, contri-
butions, courts with their profits, tithes, oblations, goods
and chattels of felons and vagabonds, and all other
liberties, emoluments, rights and advantages whatsoever;
save and except woods and underwoods, advowsons of
churches, guardianships, disposals in marriage, and admis-
sion fines, which were wholly reserved, "Ihe lease was to
run from the festival of the Nativity of S. John the Baptist
next coming, to the end of thirty years ; and the rent to be
paid into the Treasury at Clerkenwell was ninety-three
pounds, six shillings, and eight pence sterling per annum,

* MS. Lansd. 200, f, Ixxix b.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 37

payable in equal portions at the festivals of the Purification
of the Blessed Virgin and of S. Barnabas the Apostle.
Besides this, the following stipulations (to us the far more
interesting part of the transaction) were to be most strietly
observed. The aforesaid farmer and his assigns were to
provide due and honest hospitality in the Preceptory, at
their own expence; and also, at their own expence, to find,
according to the ancient order, five chaplains, two of whom,
Chaplains of the Cross, or two others whom the Prior should
depute, were to be assigned to places in the Church of the
Sisters at Buclande, one in the Chapel of the Preceptory,
one at Bodmescumbe, and one at Durston, for the
continual celebration of Divine Service. They were
also to find maintenance and a chamber for one chaplain
of the Prioress, and maintenance for the steward of her
House and for his servant, with two cartloads of hay, every
year of the term. They were to give to Alexander Vernay,
Chaplain of Bodmescomb, whose appointment we have
already noticed, a chamber with his fuel there, and
eight marcs sterling as stipend, and for his food and
raiment, according to the tenor of the agreement previously
made with him. Besides this they were to pay to the
Prioress and Convent yearly for their customary pension
the sum of £22, and to the steward of the courts pertaining
to the said Preceptory his regular salary. Still further,
they were to bear all other ordinary and extraordinary
burdens ineumbent on the Preceptory until the end of the
term, the aids to the treasury at Rhodes excepted. They
were to keep the buildings, walls, enclosures, hedges, &c.,
in good repair, and to return them in as sound a state as
they received them. If any of the buildings should become
ruinous during the term, the Prior was to rebuild them, and
the farmer and his assigns were to repair and maintain them

38 PAPERS, ETC.

for the future. They were to find provision and attend-
ance for three or four days and nights for the servants of
the Prior coming with five or six horses twice a year on
visitation to the said Preceptory, or for holding courts there.
The aforesaid farmer and his assigns were to have housebote,
fyrebote, ploughbote, cartbote, hedgebote, harobote, and
foldebote, in and of the woods and underwoods of the said
Preceptory by reasonable assignment and without waste.
It was stipulated also that the Prior and his servants were
to visit the said Preceptory whenever they pleased, and to
hold courts and make leases; the farmer and his assigns to
have the profits of the said courts, and to restore at the
end of the term all the rolls of the courts, and leases, old
and new, which should come to their hands during the
interval.e. The farmer and his assigns were not to release
. their status in the Preceptory to any other holder without
the licence of the Prior. If the rent went back, in part or
in all, for two months after the dates above specified, it
was to be lawful for the Prior to re-enter and take posses-
sion. Ifthe profits of the contributions were suspended,
the farmer and his assigns were to be allowed the differ-
ence, and to pay those monies only which they should
actually receive. John Vernay bound himself to the per-
formance of these agreements under a bond of two hundred
pounds sterling; and also that at the end of the term
he and his assigns should surrender to the Preceptor of
Buclande all the ornaments of the chapel there, with all the
stock living and dead. The document was signed with the
seals of the Prior and of John Vernay aforesaid, and was
“dated in our House of Clerkenwell, by London, in our
Assembly holden there on the twentieth day of January,
in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundredth.” *

* MS. Lansd, 200, ff. Ixxxiiii, Ixxxiiii b. Appendix, No. XVIIL

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 39

It would appear either that this agreement was not
observed, and that the alternative provided for came into
operation, or that a transfer was effected with permission of
the lessors; for so early as the 10th of March, 1507-8, at an
“ Assembly,” holden on that day at the House at Clerken-
well, under the presideney of Thomas Docwra, Prior of
England, assisted by Brother John Tong, Preceptor of
Ribston, Mount S. John, and Carbrok ; Brother Thomas
Sheffield, Preceptor of Bruerlay and Shengay ; Brother
Lancellot Docwra, Preceptor of Dynmore and Temple-
eombe ; Brother John Rawson, Preceptor of Swynfelde ;
and Brother Thomas Golyn, Preceptor of Baddisford and
Dynglay, a lease of the Preceptory was granted to Edmund
Myl, of Wellys, gentleman, and to Anna his wife, together
with the manors of Bodmescomb and Cove, in the county
of Devon. The terms of the lease are precisely similar to
those already detailed, save that the special mention is
omitted of Alexander Vernay, the Chaplain of Bodmes-
comb, who may be supposed to have departed this life
during the interval.*

Once more a Confirmation was granted to the Sisters of
their early privilege which has been so often before us.
It is a document of a most curious kind, and especially so
when we consider it with reference to the character of him
from whom it came. In the second year of his reign,
King Henry VIII. addressed letters of “inspeximus” to
his beloved in Christ Thomas Docwra, Prior of the Hospital
in England, recounting the terms of the previous letters,
and granting through him to the Prioress and Sisters of
Bucland a hundred and fifty-six cartloads of wood every
year, from his park of Petherton, on the ground of their

* MS. Cott. Claud. B. VI, f. liii b, lüii,

40 PAPERS, ETC.

offering up constant and devout prayers for his own health
and that of his dearest consort Katharine during their
lifetime, and for their souls after their decease. Every
cartload was to be of the draught of six horses or eight
oxen ; and, inasmuch as the time was limited in the former
letters to the interval between the festival of the Annun-
ciation and that of All Saints, they were now at liberty to
collect the firewood from the latter festival to that of S.
George the Martyr, the 23rd of April. They were also
permitted to place sufficient fences round those parts of the
park where the future fuel was growing, so that the young
shoots might not be damaged, and that cattle and otber
animals might not injure the same. It was also allowed
them, if they saw fit, to gather the amount of two years
in one, but in that case they were not to remove any
during the whole of the following year. All these conces-
sions were to be enjoyed without any payment to the
keeper of the park, or any fine to the hanaper of the
chancery. The instrument was dated at Canterbury, 5th
April, 1511.*

This arrangement was of but short duration. Edmund
Myl died, and his widow became the wife of Lionel Norres
in 1514. The lease was surrendered, and the Prior and
his Chapter granted an annuity of ten pounds, out of the
issues of the Preceptory, for the term of the life of the
survivor. The instrument was dated the 11th of January,
1514-5.4

In 1516, the property was leased to Henry 'Thorneton,
gentleman, of Currymalett, for forty years, from the festival
of the Nativity of S. John the Baptist next ensuing, at
a rent of one hundred and three pounds, six shillings, and

* Confirm. 2 Hen. VIII, p. 10, n.7.
+ MS. Cott. Claud. E. VI, ff. exlvii, cxlviib,

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 41

eight pence sterling a year. The increase of ten pounds
in the yearly rental which is thus apparent was to meet
the annuity of the same amount, just mentioned, which
was, however, to revert to the farmer on the death of
the annuitants. The terms of the lease in other respects
were similar to those of the former. It was dated at the
House of S. John at Clerkenwell, 24th April, 1516.*

It will be recolleeted that, by the conditions of the previ-
ous leases, there was an express reservation of the wood,
underwood, and reparations of buildings. An indenture
was made between Thomas Docwra, Prior of the Hospital
of S. John of Jerusalem in England, and his brethren
Knights of the same on the one part, and Henry Thornton,
farmer of their Commandry of Bukeland, gentleman, on
the other, by which the former covenanted, bargained, and
sold for the residue of his lease unto the said Henry and
his assigns all their wood and underwood lying, standing,
and growing in their wood within the lordship of Hals,
called Hals wood, containing by estimation 40 acres, save
and except two trees of “oke” in the same wood, of the
best “okes” that will and may serve for timber for the said
Prior and his brethren, and their successors. For this
concession the said Henry paid £20 sterling, with which
the said Prior confessed himself to be well and truly
satisfied and contented. It wasagreed that the said Henry
Thornton should repair and maintain at his own cost all
manner of the houses and buildings; that it should be
lawful for the said Henry to stub and grub all the said
wood and underwood ; and that he,might, if he pleased,
without impeachment of waste or destruction, alter, trans-
pose and change such houses and buildings, provided that

* MS. Cott. Claud. E. VL, ff. elxiib, elxiii, elxiii b,
VOL. X., 1860 PART II. E

42 PAPERS, ETC.

he made others in their stead. He bound himself and his
heirs in the sum of £100 for the due performance of this
engagement, which was entered into in the Chapter holden
in the House of S. John’s of Clerkenwell beside London,
the 2nd of October, 1519.*

It should be remarked, that, although no mention is
made in these documents of the Preceptor and his assistants
at Buckland, we are not to conclude for certain, how likely
soever, that such personages did not exist; because,
according to the rule of the Order, as we have repeatedly
noticed, they were simply oflicials, and the direction of their
estates was virtually in the hands of the Superior at
Clerkenwell. It would appear, nevertheless, that a change
had taken place in the general mode of management. The
position of the Preceptor and his Brethren, if such officers
were still in being, which I hardly believe, was clearly very
different from what it was when the accounts of their
predecessors just two centuries before were so minutely laid
open to our inspection.

On the same day as tbe date of the last instrument, the
2nd of October, 1519, the Prior and Chapter leased for a
term of forty years, to the said Henry Thornton, farmer
of Bucland, a tenement with its appurtenances, late in the
tenure of John Curson, situated and lying in the parish
of S. Clement Danes, outside Temple Bar. The rent was
40s. sterling a-year.f

We are now close upon times of trouble. I have already
in previous Memoirs entered fully into the history of the
unscerupulous movement which terminated in the violent
suppression of the Religious Houses, and the wholesale

* MS. Cott. Claud. E. VIL., ff. elxxxiiii, elxxxilil b.
+ MS. Cott. Claud. E. VL. f. elxxxviii.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY, 43

robbery of their possessions.. The main features of that
odious tragedy are necessarily the same in every instance,
although the details are as various as the multiform shapes
in which tyranny, falsehood, sacrilege, and murder can
present themselves and be exemplified when under no
restraint nor necessity to deceive. Happily, therefore,
there will not be any need to take the reader over ground
with which he is already acquainted, and which is too
unlovely to be voluntarily allowed to detain us. I will,
accordingly, introduce him to the particular and special
information which I have succeeded in gathering in con-
nexion with the House on the history of which we are now
employed.

Is is singular that no Declaration of the King’s Supre-
macy, made either by the oflicers of tlıe Preceptory or by
the Sisterhood, has been preserved. It may be presumed
that such was submitted to and accepted by them, but: the
record of the transaction is not extant.

Immediately afterwards, with a view to apportion the
payment voted to the King for the support of his new
dignity, followed the well-known “Valor.” It is a most
important document, as furnishing us with a minute account
of the possessions of the House, with its income and
expenditure in customary deductions, on the eve of the
dissolution. I will, therefore, present the reader with its
details, only more lucidly arranged than in their original and
obscure form. Under each head he will thus be able without
difhiculty to see the gross and net values ofthe estates, both
before and after the dues, stipends, and other disbursements
had been accounted for and liquidated, and the subsequent
surplus which remained for the maintenance of the House
itself.

44 PAPERS, ETC.

PRIORY OF MYNCHYN BOCKELAND.
Declaration of the Extent and Annual Value of all and
singular the Lands and Tenements and other Possessions,
with the Tithes, Oblations, and all other Issues of the
divers Benefices and Chapels belonging and appropriated to
the aforesaid Priory as below appeareth, namely in the time
of Katerina Bowghshere, now Prioress at the same place,
approved and examined by the Commissioners aforenamed
[Sir Andrew Lutterell and Hugh Mallet, Esqr., Commis-
sioners; Hugh Trotter and John Plompton, Auditors.].
LANDS ROUND THE PRIORY.
Value in issues of the Demesne Lands, re-
maining in the hands of the Prioress, and > exvij° vijj@
taxed by four trustworthy men. Thus clear
BOOCKELAND. |
Value in assessed Rents as well of
the Free as of the Customary
Tenants there, per annum .. xxijü
Out of this, per annum, zxj aiiı®
For a chief rent there to the
Prior of S. John of Jerusa-

lem in England .. r ix!
So clear
Fines ofland there .. % a 22 2%
WELLYS.
Value in Rents of divers burgages
there, per annum er alu
Out of this, per annum,
For rent to the Bishop of Bath .. ixd AN
For the fee of William Vowell, a
steward there .. 2 .* zii nje

For the fee of Alexander Bonhiäse
bailiff there 32 -r age
And there remains clear

“

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 45

GOTTON.
Assessed Rents as well of the Free
as of the Customary Tenants
there, per annum Er sluji.xj ne .
Out of which, per annum, De
For rent to the Abbat of Glas-
tonbury ar 2% + zer
And there remains clear

NORTHPETHERTON.

Assessed Rents as well of the Free
as of the Customary Tenants
there, per annuım .. <. za ix
Out of which, per annum,
For a priest in the parish church
there, celebrating daily for er
in) Aid

the souls of Henry Erley and

others, by agreement .. vjixij' ja
For the fee of John Walton,
steward there 2, a ne
For the fee of John Bekyn,
bailiff there Er or ERS
And there remains clear
Fines of lands there, per annum 2.3.0
Perquisites of the Courts and xxxilij°
other Casualties Br ER ij \

3 BRYMTON Rarr.
Assessed Rents there, per annum, clear .. xxiiij’ vijjd

CADECOTE.
Rent of one tenement there, per annum, clear 1j° ujd

HOoREWOODE.
Rent of one tenement there, per annum, clear xiij° n1jd

46 PAPERS, ETC.

AÄSSHE AND THORNEFFAWCON.

Assessed Rents there, per annum .. xlvij’ vj@
Out of which, per annum,
For the fee of John Popham,
bailiff there .. y2 3% ij’
And there remains clear

xlv: vji

CounTtY OF DORSET.

CHYLDCOMB.

Assessed Rents there, per annum, clear ERE= < \V

PEMESLEGH IN SHYLBORNE.

Assessed Rents as well of the
Free as of the Customary
Tenants there, per annum xiiij! i1j° viij“
Out of which, per annum, x)" ix° 11jd
For rent to the Bishop of Sarum xıjd
For the fee of John Hely,
bailiff there RR a: = EN
And there remains clear
Perquisites of the Courts there
and other Casualties “say ne xy
Fines oflands .. 9 RU Yale

VALUE OF SPIRITUALS, AS UNDER.
COUNTY OF SOMERSET.

RECTOkY OF BOCKELAND WITH THE CHAPEL OF
MIHILL CHURCH.

Issues of predial tithes .. Se a El
Of personal tithes. . A er Sl ir xjj° vd
Other casualties there, in common years xvijd)

Clear

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 47

RECTORY OF KYLMERSDON.
Issues of predial and personal tithes xviiji x°
Demesne Lands, with other casualties | xyilj" xv°
there, in common years ts we
Clear
BROMEFYLD.
Issues of predial and personal tithes,
demesne lands, with other casualties
there, in common years .. ERRENN 2 e
Out of which, per annum, f vij® ij
To the Archdeacon of Taunton, for

synodals .. er. er # je.)
* So clear
RECTORY OF NORTHPETHERTON.
Issues of predial and personal
tithes, with other casual-
ties there, in common
years.. SE N Sn ee
Out of which, per annum, xxiijl xj° jt ob.
To the Bishop of Bath,
for procurations a a ia
To the Archdeacon of
Taunton, for synodals vij’ vlob’
So clear
BRISGEWATER,.
A pension from the Prior there, for tithes of Horsy
Mede, per annum. Clear .. .. arte
CANYNGTOoN.
A pension from the Prioress there, for tithes of
Cleyhull, per annum. Clear .. > “eu
STONDENHAY.
A pension from Alexander Popham, for tithes
there, per annum. Clear bs ih rc

48 PAPERS, ETC.

CounTY OF LINcoLn.
DyrTon.
Issues of tithes of allkinds .. xxixli
Demesne Lands with other
casualties, incommon years xxij°
Out of which, per annum,
For the fee of Gothlac Over-

ton, the receiver there .. xxvj‘ viij“
Clear

DoNYNGTon.

xxvujixv°inj"

Issues of tithes of all kinds, demesne \
lands, with other casualties, in

common years .. Er De A
B iz vj’ vi“
Out of which, per annum,

For the fee of Gothlac Overton,
the receiver there .. HR

Clear
Essex.
PRECEPTORY OF RAYNHAME.
A Pension paid by William Weston, Prior of S. John

of Jerusalem in England, per annum. Clear ,. c®

SOMERSET.
PRECEPTORY OF TEMPLE ÜoMme.

A Pension paid by Brother Edmund Husey
there, per annum. Clear © ER

Kent.
PRECEPTORY OF SWYNFYLD.

A Pension paid by Brother Edward Brown

there, per annum. Clear er euc x"

SIYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 49

NORTHAMPTON.
PRECEPTORY OF KERBROKE.
A Pension paid by Brother John Rawson
there, per annum. Clear = 2 xüj° ajd
Kıne’s Auns.
Receipt by the hands of the Sheriff of Here-
ford yearly in the Exchequer of our Lord

the King. Clear .. 7 en ee. zit ang
SOMERSET.
CHURCH OF POWLEr.
Annual Pension there. Clear .. 2 Re ze
CHURCH OF NORTHPETHERTON.
Annual Pension there. Clear .. en .. Jimi
CHURCH OF TOLLANDE.
Annual Pension there. Clear .. = RR;
CHURCH OF BERKYNToON.
Annual Pension there. Clear .. re 2 ca
TEMPORALS».
Devon.

HeELE, ın Tawstokk Parısn.
Assessed Rents as well
of Free as of Cus-
tomary Tenants, per

annum, there . . XxzUjxvjfinjig'
Out of which, per annum, zxjji xix° viijt q.
For the fee of Thomas
Perd, steward there xilj° 111jd
For the fee of Richard
Payn, receiver there i1j° ujd

And so clear
VOL. X., 1860 PART II, G

50 PAPERS, ETC.

Fines of lands there, per annum, .. xx:

Perquisites of the Courts and other xxijj° i1jd
Casualties “ » air,
CORNWALL.

BRODE WooDE WYGGERr.

Assessed Rents as well of the Free as

of the Customary Tenants there, per
annum. Olear... 55 .. . Ivo.

Sum total of the value as well of all the

Temporals as of the Spirituals above

mentioned .. u » .„ CCxzi yıaapag.
The tithe from thence .. Ar REES

Such was the preeise state and value of the property
in the 27th year of Henry VIIL, 1534.

The “Valor” gives us also the names of the following as
Incumbents of benefices at the period of its formation :—

John Aisshelok was rector of Beckyngton, Thomas
Thomson was vicar of Kilmersdon, Thomas Hill was vicar
of Halse, John Dawes was rector of Hethfelde, Robert
Balche was vicar of Powlet, John Bulcume was vicar of
Northpetherton, John Langdon, Walter Jones and John
Saunders were chantry priests in the same church, and
John Crosse was rector of Tolland.f

This return confirmed the desires and paved the way for
a carefully planned course of systematic aggression. Before,
however, we enter into the narrative of the closing scenes,
which are now rapidly drawing onwards, it will be best to
dispose of a few particulars which would not be so well
introduced in a subsequent page.

* Val. Ecel., vol. r., pp. 210, 211. MS. Harl. 701, f. 104b.
+ Val. Eccl. I., 159, 160, 172, 212, 214, 223.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. öl

So far as we can learn from the details already presented,
and 1 believe they are very nearly all that can now be
recovered, the Sisters of Buckland, although constantly
numbering in their community the daughters of great and
noble houses, were but slenderly supported, and for a long
time at least very far from adequately provided for. They
were considered also in the light of a burden and grievance
by the Officers charged in a special degree with their
direction and general well-being, At first consisting,
as it would seem, but of a Prioress and nine Sisters,
the Society amounted in the year 1338 to so many
as fifty ladies, who, together with their servants, must
have needed a considerable revenue. No doubt but
that a great part of the cost of their maintenance was
defrayed, as the Preceptor then hinted in his return,
by eleemosynary contributions from the neighbourhood
and more distant friends. Their precise relationship to
the Order of S. John has been, I think, greatly mis-
understood. It has been said that they “had, at first,
great dependance upon the knights, but afterward they
disengaged themselves, and becane a distinet Priory or
Hospital of Nuns of the order of S. Augustine;”* and that
“there is no mention of their being subordinate to any
other Religious”’f The contrary, as it appears to me, has
been clearly shown. At no time were they distinet or inde-
pendant. Their chaplain and steward were always oflcers
of the Order; and ihey received their ancient pensions, and
were accounted “ obedientiari®” down to the period of the
Dissolution. That the Priory was distinct from the Com-
mandry as a religious Community is, of course, certain ;
for it was the very reason of its foundation that the Sister-

* Tanner, Not. Mon, by Nasmith. 7b,

52 PAPERS, ETC.

hood might be thus separated. But their union with the
Order itself was never, that I can discover, broken. And
the fact that they are called Nuns of the Order of S.
Augustine is not to be understood as militating against this
view, inasmuch as the Hospitalars, as well as the Templars,
were members of that numerous body of Conventual
Societies which accepted the rule of S. Austin as the guide
of their religious life. Tanner’s subsequent assertion that
“it doth not appear when or by whom the Preceptory was
founded, but some have thought it more ancient than the
Nunnery,” is so fully answered in the previous pages that
it need not occupy us further.

Another and very conclusive evidence, at once of their
obedientiary position and of their unbroken union with the
Order, is exhibited in the fact that from beginning to end
they did not so much as present to their appropriated
rectories. I have recovered the following names of the
ineumbents of the parishes down to the time of the Sup-
pression, and doubt not that, to the local reader especially,
the lists, however imperfeet, will be objects of considerable
interest. It will be seen that the Prior of England, and
neither the Prioress nor the Preceptor of Buckland, was
the patron in every instance :—

Incumbents of North Petherton:— John de Messingham,
4th March, 1309-10; Laurence de Cherleton, 19th October,
1310; William de Dychton, 2nd August, 1313.* These were
presented by Prior William de Tothale. Thomas de Fox-
tone, 6th September, 1332 ; presented by Prior Leonard
de Tybertis. Nicholas de Somerton, 15th December,
1342; Nicholas de la Mor, 3rd October, 1345 ; William de
Avene, 26th April, 1347; Reginald de Fardyngeston, 24th

* MS, Harl. 6964, pp. 10, 12, 51.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 83

February, 1348-9 ;* presented by Prior Philip de Thame.
John Harowe, A.M., 18th January, 1504-5; William Park-
howse, A.M., Sth June, 1523; presented by Prior Thomas
Docwra. John Bulcombe, 30th Oetober, 1531;f presented
by Prior William Weston.

Incumbents of Kilmersdon : — William ‚„ 26th
November, 1331 ; John de Messyngham, 6th January,
1334-5 ; presented by Prior Leonard de Tybertis. John de
Upton, 3rd August, 1341 ; Nicholas de Stanlak, 22nd
August, 1348; John Markwille, 13th December, 1348 ;}
presented by Prior Philip de Thame. Robert Symond,
; Thomas Bourgchier, 14th September, 1521 ; James
Harwode, 20th April, 1524 ; presented by Prior Thomas
Doewra. Thomas Pullon, ; John Tomason, (Thomas
Thomson, of the “Valor”) 17th June, 1534 ;|| presented
by Prior William Weston.

Incumbents of Elworthy :——John de Messingham, 19th
October, 1310; William de Jarponnyle, 16th October,
1315 ; presented by Prior William de Tothale. Ralph de
Hokynton, 24th November, 1323; Richard de Coute, 19th
September, 1327;$ presented by Prior Thomas L’Archer.
William Legh, 26th April, 1339; John de Sutton, 30th
May, 1346 ; Walter de Chadleshounte, 28th August, 1349;
John le Potter, 16th August, 1351; presented by Prior
Philip de Thame. Stephen Chapman, ; John Tre-
vennaunt, 15th March, 1455-6 ;** presented by Prior Robert
Botyll. John Poole, ; Edmund Sterne, 26th October,

* MS. Harl. 6965, pp. 61, 155, 173, 185, 203.
+ MS. Harl. 6967, pp. 3, 42, 44b.
t MS. Harl. 6965, pp. 46, 84,146, 191,193. -
|| MS. Harl. 6967, pp. 29b, 34b, 47.
$ MS. Harl. 6964, pp. 12, 33, 84, 115.
< MS. Harl. 6965, pp. 126, 176, 219, 237.
#* MS. Harl. 6966, p. 83.

54 PAPERS, ETC.

1506 ; Robert Bailly, 5th May, 1509 ;* presented by Prior
Thomas Docwra.

Incumbents of Halse :—Richard Philip, ; Thomas
Hyll, L.L.B., 23rd January, 1505-6 ;t presented by Prior
Thomas Docvwra.

Incumbents of Heathfield :——Owen de Cory, -
Robert de Pippecote, 28th September, 1332 ; presented by
Prior Leonard de Tyberti. Richard de Poterne, 4th
July, 1346 ; Richard Payn, 22nd April, 1348; William
Redmor, 4th February, 1348-9;} John de Donne, 1354 ; |
presented by Prior Philip de Thame. Thomas Banys,
—— ; William Meyre, 10th March, 1505-6 ; presented by
Prior Thomas Docwra. Edward Kebyll, ; John
Dawes, 2nd June, 1534;$ presented by Prior William
Weston.

Incumbents of Tolland :—William de Banton, 20th
January, 1265 ;T presented by Prior Roger de Vere.
Gilbert de Quenton, ; William de Quenton, 11th
April, 1320 ;** William Morys, 28th August, 1349; Nicho-
las de Blenye, ; Walter Stammel, 8th July, 1351; ff
presented by Prior Philip de Thame. Walter Crosse,
; John Crosse, A.M., 25th May, 1517 ;ff presented
by Prior Thomas Docwra.

It was doubtless for the peace of the Sisterhood that its
members were so little called upon to interfere in the more

secular affairs of their House: If power were less freely

* MS. Harl. 6967, pp. 6b, 11.
r MS. Harl. 6967, p. 5b.
t MS. Harl. 6965, pp. 64, 176, 189, 201.
|| Hyll Cart. pp. 52, 53.
$ MS. Harl. 6967, pp. 5b, 47.
g MS. Harl. 6985 B., p. 121b.
** MS. Harl. 6964, p. 45.
rt MS. Harl. 6965, pp. 219, 236.
it MS. Harl. 6967, p. 23b.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 90

imparted, we may hope that anxiety was removed in an
equal measure. The maintenance of their rights was in
stronger hands than their own; and the benefit was
theirs without the labour and danger which its defence
involved. The instance of the rector of Beckington is
exactly in point. When the payment of his annual pension
was not fortheoming, as we have seen, in the year 1353, the
Prioress and Sisters had not to endure the ordeal of prose-
cuting their suit in person against the defaulter, but it was
the great Prior of England who came to the rescue, and
obtained the remedy which the law provided.

The daily life of these ladies in the privacy of their
conventual home had, we may be sure, little to disturb its
repose, save the occasional matters which we have had
detailed, in which they were brought into contact with the
noisy world without. They had little if any intercourse
with the adjacent Commandry; as, in the first place,
the statutes of the Order were imperative against the
admission of women to domestic ofäüces; and, in the second,
the feeling existing between the two Societies was not such
as to conduce to intimacies of ahigher character. For the
former position, indeed, their generally noble or gentle birth,
and for the latter, their attitude, always, as would appear,
antagonistic, equally disqualified them. Nor is there a
single instance related of them (or I would have honestly
mentioned it, as my object has invariably been to present
as truthful an aspect as lies in my power of those Houses
and their inmates whose chronicles I seek to rescue from
oblivion), of any violation of the laws of morality. So far
as we know—and we should be pretty sure to have
some evidences of the contrary fact had it existed
—the tongue of scandal itself was dumb. The blameless
Sisterhood pursued its way of peace, broken only by

-

56 PAPERS, ETC.

trifling and unfrequent interruptions, or terminated by the
end that comes alike to all. We may be well assured that
the House was one of those, where, with all the religion,
all the education of the age was encouraged, and where
both religion and education yielded to the full their refined
and refining influences. It was no doubt also a noted
seminary for the daughters of the great neighbouring
families. The Berkeleys, Erleghs, Montacutes, Wrothams,
Bouchers and others were quite at home at Buckland, and
learned from the good Sisters all the mental accomplish-
ments which they in after life possessed. Reading, writing,
some knowledge of accounts, the art of embroidery, music,
and French, “aftur the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,” was
the recognised course ofstudy; and we should wrong alike
the teachers and the taught if we regarded the result as
unfavourable. The life of intellectuality and religious quiet
had many charıns ; and the pupil was doubtless so frequently
enamoured of the contrast between it and that with which
she was brought in contact elsewhere, that instances were
not wanting of a resignation of all the worldiy advantages
that high birth and powerful connexions could impart to
their possessor, and of a permanent abode as Sister or as
Prioress within the venerable and well beloved walls of her
early and holy home.

We have already noticed that, in the return made to the
Grand Master of the Order in 1338, the Sisters are described
as wearing the habit of the Hospital. The chief peculiarity
of this consisted of a black mantle with a white cross
in the front. In other respects the general attire of the
ladies was, I presume, that of the members of Augustinian
Sisterhoods—a black cloak with a long cow], a short upper
white tunie over a longer black one, and a whimple which
covered the bosom and ascended in many folds to the chin.

-

BE . RE.

! Wr Ri: the Site al en Priory.

Pine

(a ctual Size. Pr
2

a

Drawn and Engraved For the REV. THomas Huco’s a

I u of Buöktend Priory.
er

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 57

I possess two interesting rings, which may be supposed
to have decorated the fingers of more than one generation
of the Sisters, and may indeed have been employed at the’
solemn ceremony which separated them for ever from the
outer world and introduced them to the seclusion in which
they sought and, we will believe, found repose. The
earlier of the two is a work of the thirteenth century, and
may so far have belonged to the good Prioress Fina herself.
It is of gold, set with an unwrought sapphire, thehoop very
thin and delicately engraved on the portions adjoining the
stone. It was found in “ Coglett Field,” by the site of the
Priory, in 1858, by a labourer employed on the place. (See
the figure.) The other, also of gold, but much stouter,
is of the fifteenth century, and bears a heart on which is
engraved the monogram ihg. It was found by another
labourer in a field called “Broadworthy,” close to the site of
the Priory, in 1853. (See the figure.) Another, which was
described to me as of a cable pattern, was found in the
immediate neighbourhood, in 1851, and has since been
taken by its owner to one of our colonies.

No list of the Prioresses has hitherto been eonstructed. In
the meagre accounts of the place already published, the
name of the last only is given, and that but in connexion
with the Dissolution and the events which almost im-
mediately preceded it. Their succession is not recorded in
the Episcopal Registers, and thus the best of all means
of obtaining information of the names and dates of
Superiors of Religious Houses is unfortunately in this
instance of no avail. From all sources, however, I can at
length supply the following series.

1. Fina, the first Prioress, who began her conventual
reign in 1180, and died sixty years afterwards, in 1240.

VOL. X., 1860, PART II. H

58 PAPERS, ETC,

M ‚ previous to 1328.

. Isabella la Louwe occurs in 1328,

. Isabel de Berch occurs in 1330.

. Katharine de Erlegh occurs in 1337.

. Alianor de Actune (?) about 1350.

. Alicia occurs in 1405.

8. Katharine Bowser, Bowrghshere, Bourgeher, Bourg-

chier, Bourgheyr, Burgschier, Bourcher, or Boucher, the
last Prioress, oceurs in 1534, 1536, 1538, and 1539. The
prominent facts in the life of this lady we shall shortly
have before us in detail.

In this list I have not thought it necessary to enter into
the circumstances connected with each of the Prioresses,
as they have either been already given in the previous
pages or will be presented to the reader before the conclu-
sion of the History.

Collinson, from “MS. Palmer,” says that Rachel Newton
was Prioress in 1537, and that Elizabeth Carey and
Catherine Nevil, Sisters of the House, were living in 1565,
and married, the first to Thomas Speed, and the second to
the Vicar of Ling. That these statements are entirely
erroneous, I am able to prove by reference to the oflicial
list of the last members of the Sisterhood, which shall
be given in its proper place, and wherein no such names
appear. This must be held conclusive.

Of the Preceptors

1. John de Werewell occeurs in 1320.

2. John Diluwe occurs in 1338.

3. Richard Mareis in 1536. This last I give on the
authority of Collinson, who does not, however, add the
source of his information, which may be as inaccurate and
idle as the instance just before us. '

My previous pages will supply the names of several

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 59

members of each community at various periods of their
history. To these the reader is referred.

Of the local features of the Priory and Preceptory we
have no account save the incidental notices of various
buildings in the Return of 1338, and a Survey mentioned
by Collinson, from “MS. Palmer,” as having been taken
in the year 1571, when much of the conventual structure
would have been altered if not totally destroyed. These
notices relate exclusively to the Preceptory. In the former,
as the reader will recollect, we have mention made of a
court-house, a bakehouse, a dovecot, and a small church.
The latter shows that the house of the Preceptor and his
brethren was on the north side of the great church, and
was called at the period of the Survey “the House of the
Lord Prior’s steward.” It must not, however, be inferred
from this absence of detail that the Priory was otherwise
than well fitted for its inmates. The religious commu-
nities of the middle ages were usually occupants of
structures of incomparable excellence, and we may be
tolerably sure that such a Sisterhood as that of Buckland
was no exception to this constant rule. Their abode was
no doubt a picturesque group of buildings, to which nothing
but the glorious architecture of medi®val times could have
given existence ; buildings ever lovely themselves, and
attracting the love of all that look upon them with rightly
appreciating and understanding eyes. It is much to be
regretted that Leland who was in the immediate neighbour-
hood, if not at the very place, does not furnish us with a
description of thescene. He pleasantly deseribes the park
from whence the Sisters obtained their firewood, and the deer
with which it abounded. “ There ys a great Numbre of Dere
longging to this (Pederton) Park, yet hath it almost no other
Enclosure but Dikes to let [obstruet] the Catelle of the

60 PAPERS, ETC.

Commune to cum yn. The Dere trippe over these Dikes
& feede al about the Fennes, and resort to the Park
agayn. There is a praty Lodge motid yn the Park. There
cummyth a praty Broke thorough the Park, & half a Mile
beneth the Park it goith ynto Ivel. * * * * From
the Lodge in Pederton Parke to Northpederton a Mile.*
But he leaves the home of the Sisters without a word, and
no care can now avail to supply its absence.

The Conventual Church was as uswal a place of sepul-
ture. It is true that we have but few visible evidences of
the fact, though we still possess some which shall be subse-
quently described. I am happy, however, to perpetuate
the testimony of an aged gentleman, whom I lately
visited at Durston, and who kindly communicated his
recollections of the place. He perfectly remembered the
house belonging in his youth to the Lords Boringdon, which
had been erected in the seventeenth century, with anoble hall
of oak wainseot, “large enoughto turn a coach and horses in.”
This he had himself helped to take down more than seventy
yearsago. Adjacent toit wasan ancient chapel with a bell-
gable, which was used for Sacred Service and in which he had
been baptised, that shared at the same time the fate of the
house. He remembered to have seen several monuments,
with figures of men, some of them bearing shields on their
arms. There were, so far as he recollected, no monu-
ments of women ; nor were there any ornaments, such as
rings and the like, or money found during the alterations.
Several hundred loads of stone were carted away, including
some pieces of sculpture which were placed in a gentleman’s
garden at West Monkton. Thus much from my observant
narrator. I was subsequently informed that the gentle-

* Leland, Itin., vol, IL., p. 66.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 61

man alluded to was fond of decorating his grounds with
relics from various localities ; so that, if these objects yet
exist, which I have been unable to discover, they could
not be attributed to Buckland with any degree of cer-
tainty.

We will now take up the narrative from the point at
which we left it.

On the 10th of December, 1534, Katherina Burgchier,*
Prioress, and the Convent of Bockeland granted to John
Popham, gentleman, the first and next advowson, donation,
nomination, presentation or free disposition of the parish
church of Tolor, in the County of Dorset, whenever by
death, resignation, deprivation, cession, or any other mode
of avoidance, it should first and next chance to be vacant;
the said advowson and presentation to be holden by the
aforesaid John Popham and his exeeutors and assigns for
that one turn only. The Court of Augmentation con-
firmed this grant on the 20th of June, 1544.+

Onthe 31st of January,1536, Katherina Boucher, Prioress,
and her Sisters granted an annuity of £4 for life to John
Tregunwell, doctor of laws, and one of the councillors of the
most potent and dread king “ potentissimi et metuendissimi
regis” Henry VIII. It was to be paid in two equal portions,
one at the festival of our Lord’s Nativity, and the other on
that of S. John the Baptist, and was stated to be in con-
sideration of his counsel already and hereafter to be given.

* I scarcely need to remind the reader, who mıay be struck with the fre-
quent variations in the orthography of proper names, that, throughout this
and other Histories of Religious Houses, I invariably give them as they
appear in the document which supplies the information then and there
detailed.

t Orders and Decrees of the Court of Augmentation, vol, xIV., 2nd Nos.
ff. 38b., 39.

62 PAPERS, ETC.

I fear that this must be considered in the light of a bribe,
or at best as a retaining fee for services which the receiver
neverintended to render, rather than for any valuable return
either past or future. It was doubtless considered prudent
to conciliate, as other communities did, the good will of a
man of known and acknowledged influence, who might be
of use in the troublous days on which the Religious Societies
instinctively felt themselves to be entering. Iftheannuity
were left unpaid for three months, the ereditor had power to
distrain on their lands in the county of Somerset. This grant
was allowed by the Court of Augmentation, on the 11th
of October, 1539, and ordered to be paid with the arrears
from the time of the Dissolution.*

On the 10th of September in thesame year, 1536, Katerina
Bourgchier and Convent gave to Alexander Popham the
office of Steward of their House or Hospital of Bokeland,
with plenary authority in all matters appertaining thereunto,
and also the profits and emoluments arising therefrom,
together with an annuity of £4 of good and lawful English
money, and one livery gown of the value of twenty shillings,
or twenty shillings in lieu thereof. They also gave him the
office of Receiver of all and singular the rents of their lands
and tenements in Shirborne, in the county of Dorset, the
duties to be performed either by himself or by a sufhicient
deputy, and an annuity of thirteen shillings and four pence,
to be paid at Michaelmas during his life. If these sums
remained unpaid for fifteen days, the said Alexander was
empowered toenterand distrainontheir lands in the parish of
Northepetherton. The Court of Augmentation ordered the
continuance ofthis annuity with arrears from the Dissolution,
on the 7thof November, 1539.}

* Ordersand Decrees, vol. vL., ff. elxxxix, elxxxix b.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 63

On the 1st of August, 1538, Katerina Bourgcher,
Prioress, and Convent grantel to the same Alexander
Popham, for good counsel and faithful service, an annuity
of. six pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence, issuing from
all their lands and tenements in theparish of Northpetherton,
to be paid in equal portions at the feasts of Michaelmas,
Christmas, Easter and S. John the Baptist. After non-
payment for a’month, he might enter and distrain on the
lands in the parish of Northepetherton. This also, with
arrears from the Dissolution, was ordered by the Court of
Augmentation, on the same day as that ofthe previous order,
the 7th of November, 1539.*

On the Ist of August, 1538, Katerina Bourgheyr,
Prioress, and Convent granted to William Porteman, of
Orchard, gentleman, in return for good counsel already and
thereafter to be given, an annuity of twentysix shillings and
eightpence, issuing from their manor of Northpetherton, and
from all their lands and tenements within that parish, to be
paid yearly at Michaelmas. Here we have another instance
ofthe extortions by submission to which the Religious Houses
were obliged to secure the favour of the powerful, and also
of the gross venality which characterized those who could
without shame appropriate such infamous gains. No wonder
that these were the men who soon afterwards were the fore-
most to struggle for the spoil. Non-payment for a month
was to empower him to enter and distrain. This also was
ordered to be continued for his life, together with arrears
from the Dissolution, on the 4th of July, 1539.}

On the 2nd of October, 1538, an Indenture was made
between “Dame Kateryn Bourcher, Priorisse of the House
of Suster Buckland, and the Covent of the same House,

+ Orders and Deerees,’vol. x., ff. iiiexxxiiii b, iliexxxy.

64 PAPERS, ETC.

of the one partye, and John Popham, gent., eytizen and
haberdassher of London, of the other partye.” This
instrument, which, as the reader will have already
perceived, is in English, sets forth, that, after the payment
by the said John of a sum of twenty marcs sterling, the
Prioress and Convent demised, granted, and let to farm
all their parsonage of Kyrton, in the County of Lincoln,
with all the glebe lands, and the tithes of corn, wool, and
lambs, and all other profits of the said parsonage, the fourth
sheaf paid to the lord Prior of S. John of Jerusalem always
excepted and reserved. They also demised, granted, and
let to farm the parsonage of Donnyngton, in the said
County of Lincoln, with all the glebe lands, tithes, and
profits of all kinds appertaining thereunto. These parson-
ages were let on a lease of forty years from the festival of the
Nativity of S. John the Baptist next coming after. The
rent was nine and thirty pounds sterling per annum, to be
paid yearly at the festival of S. Barnaby the Apostle, that
is to say, for Kyrton nine and twenty pounds, aud for
Donnyngton ten pounds. It was agreed to that the said
John Popham should pay to the Vicar of Kyrton, every
year at the feast of the Nativity of S. John the Baptist,
the sum of four pounds seven shillings and seven pence:
the Prioress and Convent to pay synodals and other claims
due to the king and all other persons ; and to maintain,
sustain, and repair the said parsonages, houses and walls
at their own proper cost and charge. If the rent were not
paid for the space of a quarter of a year, the Prioress and
Convent might re-enter and expulse the said John and
his executors and assigns. These terms were allowed and
confirmed by the Court of Augmentation, on the 6th of
November, 1539.*

* Ordersand Decrees, vo). v1. ff. eviii, eviii b, cix.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 65

The minuteness with which these and previous details
have been presented to the reader will not be considered
out of place or. without value by any who desire to be
acquainted with the state, habits and customs of eccle-
siastical and eivil England, as well as with the vieissitudes
of this particular House, during the interesting period of
the middle ages. They know that with this very minute-
ness much of the value and interest of researches like the
present are necessarily associated. And for such students,
I may add, my labours are intended.

It would appear that the family of Popham was bene-
fitted in no ordinary degree by its connexion with the
Priory. By a deed dated in their Chapter House, the
18th of January, 1539, Katherina Bourcher, Prioress, and
Convent granted to Marmaduke Popham the oflice of
Receiver of all and singular the rents of their Rectories of
Kyrton and Denendon, in the County of Lincoln, the duties
to be performed either by himself or by a suflicient deputy,
with an annuity of forty shillings issuing from their lands
and tenements at Premsleye, in the County of Dorset, to
be paid at Michaelmas. On non-payment for a month
after date, he was empowered to enter and distrain on their
lands in Premsleye. The Court of Augmentation ordered
the continuance of this annuity, with arrears from the
Dissolution, on the 8th of November, 1539.*

This was the last oflicial act that the Prioress and her
Sisters performed previous to that involuntary one which
placed all similar transactions at once and for ever beyond
their power. 'The final blow was just about to fall, and
but a brief respite yet awaited them. A short month
elapsed and all was over.

* Orders and Decrees, vol. vr., f. 1.
‚VOL. X., 1860, PART IT. I

66 PAPERS, ETC.

On the 10th of February, 1539, the Chapter-house of
Buckelonde was witness of the most melancholy scene that
had ever been enacted within its walls. It was on that
day that the Prioress and Convent were summoned to meet
the Commissioners John Tregonwell and William Peter,
and unwillingly aflixed their conventual seal to the instru-
ment of Surrender.* This was the conclusion of so much
that piety and refinement had laboured at and brought to
perfection, a conclusion whereof it is diflicult to speak
as its monstrous enormity deserves. The document still
exists in the Record Oflice, with the impression of the
seal appended. In the brief notice of this House by the
last editors of the Monasticon, it is said that an impression
had been seen by one of them, but so wholly flattened that
no part of the subject of it could be discovered. This, if
intended for the present, which I have every reason to
believe, hardly gives a fair description of its state. The
legend, indeed, belies its name, for it is illegible; but
the device in the centre is clearly that of a Greek or Patri-
archal Cross. (See the figure.) The form of the instru-
ment itself is the one that was generally adopted, prepared
as usual beforehand, and requiring merely the insertion of
the name and style of the doomed House, and the signa-
tures and seal of the pillaged inmates. In the case before us
the signatures are wanting. It was, perhaps, too mournful
a task and hard an effort for the unhappy Sisters to set
their hands to a document which consigned them to ever-
lasting exile from their ancient and beloved home. And,
accordingly, the Commissioner John Tregonwell was fain
to content himself with the subseription of his own name
in the stead of other and better.f

* MS. Lansd, 97, f. 3b.
+ Autograph. in Off. Record. Rymer, Foe]. xıv., p. 634,

(Adual Size.)

SEAL OF MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY,

From the“Surrender", 0S$ Aug.

Iho-Shago del.vehk. 1b.

Rn LE! RE RN TEN

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 67

I am able to furnish, from the unimpeachable authority
of an original Pension List, the names and pensions of
the entire Community who were witnesses of the ruin
of their House. There were at the period of the
Dissolution the Prioress and thirteen Sisters. Katheryn
Bowser, Prioress, had a pension of £50 a year; Margaret
Sydnam, subprioress, £4 135. 4d.; Julyan Kendall, £4 6s.
8d.; Jone Hyll, £4; Anne Plummer, £4; Tomysyn
Huntyngton, £4 ; Katheryn Popham, £4; Anne Maunsell,
£4 ; Mary Dodyngton, £4; Ales Emerforde, £4; Jane
Babyngton, £4 ; Mary Mathew, £4; Agnes Mathew, £4;
and Isabell Grene, £4. There was also Priest William
Mawdesley, confessor, and professed of their Order, who
had a pension of £4. The document is signed :—Jo.
Tregonwell, William Petre.* Dr. Archer says that the
Prioress had also a gratuity of £25.7

In order to furnish all that we know of the subsequent
history of these ladies, together with some notices of
the officers and others, to whom, as we have already seen,
orders were given for the continuance of their grants, I
may add that in the year 1556 there remained charged
upon the government the stipend of Alexander Popham,
chief steward, 100s.; and annuities tt— Alexander Popham,
£6 133. 4d.; John Tregonwell, £4 ; William Porteman,
26s. 8d.; and John Butler, 13s. 4d. Besides these, there
were pensions to the following of the surviving Sisters. The
orthography varies from that already given, but the persons
can be easily identified. Johanna Hille, £4;t Thomasine

* Pensions, Hen. VIII. Miscell. Books, Off. Aug. vol. 245, n. 128.
Appendix, No. XIX.
+ E Reg. Fuller. 345.
t Not so much as a speeimen of too freguentincorrectness, as of warning
to those who perpetuate such by contenti'g themselves with simply copying
the statements of others, I would mention the fate which this lady’s name

63 PAPERS, ETC.

Huntingdon, £4; Katerine Pophame, £4; Anne Maunde-
feld, £4; Johanna Bavinston, £4 ; Elisabeth Grene, £4 ;
and Agnes Mathewe, £4. And to William Maudesley,
clerk, £4.*

John Andersey, the last Ineumbent of the Chantry of
Newton Placye, figures in the record as having an annual
pension of 100s. ;and Richard Verser, the last Ineumbent
of the Chantry of Blessed Mary in the Church of Northe-
petherton, as the receiver of an annual pension of the
same amount.f

By a singular piece of good fortune, of which the history
of no other Religious House that I know of can furnish an
instance, we have thus had preserved for us the names of
the first as well as the last Prioress and Sisters of Buckland
—the former when brought together at the beginning from
various Houses into one Conventual home ; the latter both
as they were at the evil day of their dispersion, and also
when death had been busy among them after an interval
of sixteen years. What became of these last during that
interval, whither they betook themselves, and how they
succeeded in bearing up under the anguish that memories
of the happy past would scarcely fail to create, we know
not. Nor can we gain more insight into their after
fortunes. The notice just presented to the reader is the

has undergone. The scribe who copied the list for Willis wrote it
“Hyloere,” and thusit appears in the “History of Abbeys” (Vol. ii, p, 196.)
Collinson has of course reiterated the assertion. 'T'he name in the original
record is “ Hille ;’ and the syllable added by the copyists is the first word of
the “per annum iiiili” that follows! Many readers may consider this &
matter of the most trifling consequence. It isan instance, however, which
admits of too constant parallel ; and the negligence which has given con=
tinuance to such errors is unworthy of the students of a branch of learning
in which false statements are specially mischievous, and accuracy and exact-
ness are of indispensible necessity.
* Card. Pole’s Pension-bock, f.xxix. Appendix No, XX.
%10., [oloaxz.

we Zr et = A

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 69

concluding glimpse that we get of them. In subsequent
records they appear no more.

We must now turn to the real cause of the hard
measure and undeserved brutality so mercilessly dealt
out to these innocent sufferers. The main temptation
to the aggression against their peace was the lands with
which ancient liberality had endowed them, and after which
an unserupulous tyrant and greedy courtiers thirsted, even.
to the robbery, or if need were, the murder of their
lawful owners.

To illustrate the earliest condition of the property after
it had been thus wrested from them and taken into the
king’s hands, I will furnish the reader with a brief but
carefully made Abstract of the Return called the Ministers’
Accounts, for the year ending at Michaelmas, 1539, the
first, it will be remembered, subsequent to the Dissolution.
The original record seems at the first aspect little less
than obscurity itself, but this is to a great extent removed
by adopting the tabular form in which it is here presented.
The amounts have yet to be charged with sundry deduc-
tions in the shape of stipends, repairs, &c., as will be seen
by comparison with the “ Valor,” where many of them are
already given.

THE LATE PRIORY OF BUCKELOND.

THE AccoUNTS OF ALL AND SINGULAR THE BAILIFFS,
FARMERS, &C., FROM MICHAELMAS, 1538, 'TO
MICHAELMAS, 1539.

THE AccouUNT OF EDwARD Rogers, EsQ., FARMER.

BUCKFLOND.
Farm of the site of the late Priory, includ-
ing gardens, orchards, and other lands,
called xiijj Acres, Newlonde, Purches,

70 PAPERS, ETC.

Staplehays, Ryden, Robbys, Harys,
Horlocke Mede, Hurt Mede, Longe
Mede, vj Acres Mede, with their appur-
tenances, in the occupation of the said
Farmer “ ke . vun
Farm of the Rectory Side a 5
Sum total, ix! jj° ıj@

THE ACCOUNT OF ALEXANDER POPPEHAM, BAILIFF.
Herr.

Assessed Rents ER ...xv) Su Rob:
Farm ofthe Manor .. = y N
Perquisites of the Courts .. 0 Ay Da Ve

Sum total, xxvj" xij’ vjt ob.

THE ACCOUNT OF ALEXANDER POPPEHAM, COLLECTOR.
WELLYS.

Assessed Rent of one Burgage ner xge
Ditto of one Burgage u =” ee
Ditto of one Burgage 7 Li ix’

Sum total, xlix°

GOTTOoN.
Assessed Rent of one Messuage u. xl:
Ditto of one Tenement .. a zu
Ditto of one Tenement Se r y
Ditto of one Cottage F Ar vj‘
Sum total, iiji xj°
BRYMTONRAFFE.

Rents of Messuage and Mill, with their
appurtenances % . “Zzllj vj9

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 71

CADECOTE.
Value of a tenement, late in the tenure of

were no returns, as ıt was not let.

HOoREWwOD.

Chief Rent of a Mill se ? xilj° 1jl
AYSSHE AND TORNFAWCOoN.

Rents of lands, tenements, and cottages xlvij® vj@
BRODEWODWIGER.

Rents of free Teenants . > xe xd

Assessed Rents = wii” ve ob.
TOLLER.

Farm of the Preceptory with Rectory xxij
S. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.
Annual Rent received from the Prior,
by ancient custom, but this year
it was unpaid BB a Ex

PERQUISITES OF THE ÜOURTS. I: ix

Sum total, Ixvijl ix@ ob.
Remaining due, xxij"

THE Account OF THOMAS JESOPH, FARMER.
CHILCOMBE.
Farm of the Manor re RR SER = Sir

THE Account OF RICHARD WAKEHAM, BAILIFF.

NORTHPEDERTON.

Rents of free Tenants .. en xxxilj‘ vijd
Assessed Rents er zu jj@
Perquisites of the Courts REN N il

Sum total, li xxd

12 PAPERS, ETC.

THE ACCOUNT OF ALEXANDER POPPEHAM, BY Jawcus AYSSHELEY,
HIS DEPUTY.

PrRYusLe£ry.
Renis of free Tenants 2 En xj° ıj@
Assessed Rents en .. Su a

Sum total, xiijli jjjs za

THE ACCOUNT OF ALEXANDER POPPEHAW, FARMER.
KYLMErRsTon.
Farm of the Manor with Rectory PIPBE 9 11 La ©. si

THE Account OF Joan ATWYLL, FARMER.
BROMFYLD.
Farm of the Rectory 4 El vage

THE AccouNT OF JoHN WORTH, GENT., BY ALEXANDER POPPEHAM,
HIS DEPUTY.,

NORTHEPEDERTON.
Farm of the Rectory 5 .. KEyje =
Pension from the Vicarage u liij° aja
PAWLETT.

Pension from the Vicarage, this year unpaid xiij’ jlij@
Sum total, xxixli vij* vja
Remaining due, xiij* iiijä

THE AccouUnT OF MARMADUEE PoPPEHAM, EIEOBLyEIE
Kyrron.

Farm of the Reetory > BRN:.0. 8%
Rent of three cottages, parcel of the
aforesaid = s xx’
Donyxgron.
Farm of Tithe, &e. -& er an

Sum total, xl jjs

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 73

THE ACccoUNT OF ALEXANDER POPPEHAM, COLLECTOR.
RAYNEHAM, in Berks.
Pension from the Preceptory, this year unpaid c*

SWYNFILD, in Kent.
Pension from the Preceptory, this year unpaid xl’

KERBROKE, in Northamptonshire.

Pension from the Preceptory, this year unpaid xiij° 111j®
TEMPLECOME, in Somerset.

Pension from the Preceptory, this year unpaid xxvj° viij@
TOoLANT, in Somerset.

Pension from the Rectory .. & ij’

BEKYNGTON, in Somerset.
Pension from the Rectory .. Be ZI

SHERIFF OF HEREFORD.
A certain Alms of the King, this year unpaid vj' xvj' xj®

Sum total, xvj® xviij’ xj@
Remaining due, xv!i xvj’ xj? *

On a comparison of these accounts with those already
given in the “Valor,” it will be found that very little
difference exists between them. Indeed, in more than
half the cases, the values given are identical.

Such was the spoil. Wehave now, in conclusion, to see
how it was disposed of, and who were the richer for the
transfer.

The first notice that we have of the use to which the
revenues were devoted may be considered the least objection-
able of the whole. On the 27th of February, 1540, the king
granted to John Worth, Esq., an annual pension of £24

* Ministers’ Accounts, 30-31 Hen. VIII. Of. Aug.
VOL. X., 1860, PART II. K

74 PAPERS, ETC.

and 10d., issuing from the manor of Bucklond, formerly
belonging to the late Monastery of Bucklond, just now
dissolved. We have already seen this John Worth in the
character of Receiver of rents and pensions from Northe-
pederton and Pawlett.*

Some time elapsed before the bulk of the property was
disposed of, A “Request to purchase” the site of the Priory
and the Rectory and tithes of Mighelchurch was submitted
to the king, signed “ W. Essex,” and bearing date the 11th
of March, 35th Hen. VIII., 1544. To the enumeration of
the various portions of the domain, which will presently
be detailed in the grant, the Auditor, Mathew Colte-
hirste, whose duty it was to examine the terms of the
Request, and to report upon any charges on the estates,
appended the following note. — “ What comoditie the
ffermer hereof taketh aboue the annual Rent I knowe not.
It’m the kynges grace is charged w‘" cvj* vij? for the
stipend of a preeste serving Öure at Sancte Michaell
Chapell being win a q’rter of a myle of the seid scite.
where they wedde & crisen & burith in the Churche Yarde
of the seid late Pryory. & so is like to be charged. vnlesse
the seid Chapell be annexed to the Chapell of a Comoundry
of Sancte Johnes adionyng to the seid scite: there is no
more landes win ij myles perteynyng to the seid Priory.
the Comaundry of Bucklande parcell of Sancte Jones
adioneth to the same. P’Mathiam Coltehirste Audit’.” In
the margin we are told that “The superfluous howsys
there where sold to the seid ffermer [Edward Rogers] at
the tyme of the dissoluceyon of the howse.” The woods on
the estate are reported as follows :—Roden Coppies, 3

* Carte Miscell. in Of. Rec. vol. 7, n. 28.
+ Part. for Grants, Off. Aug. The letters priuted in italics are repre-
sented in the original by marks of eontraction.

ee

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 75

acres; Wynsell Weod, 7 acres; and hedgerows, 2 acres;
with sundry reservations for the farmer of the demesne.*
This was shortly afterwards followed by the instrument
which the framers had in view. On the 30th of June, 1544,
the king granted to his beloved and faithful cousin and coun-
cillor, William, Earl of Essex,and his beloved James Rokeby,
Esq., William Ibgrabe, Esq., and John Cokke, Edward
Rogers, and Edward Bury, Esqrs., and their heirs, &c., for
the sum of £1049 11s. 24d. of lawful money of England,
the whole House and Site of the late monastery of Buckland,
in the County of Somerset, and all its lands, meadows, pas-
tures and hereditaments, called or known by the name or
names of Fouretene Acres, Newland, Purches, Stapleheys,
Riden, Lobbis, Harys, Horlocke Meade, Hurte Meade, Longe
Meade, and Sixe Acres Meade, with all their appurtenances,
then or lately in the tenure or occupation of the said Edward
Rogers or his assigns, in Bucklande, or Buckland Sororum,
parcel of the possessions of the said late monastery, and for-
merly in the hands, culture, and proper occupation of the late
Prioress of the late monastery of Buckland at the time of the
Dissolution. Also all those woods and lands called Riden
Coppes and Wynsell Wood, containing by estimation ten
acres, with all their appurtenances in Buckland. Also all
the houses, buildings, granaries, stables, dovecots, gardens,
orchards, and lands whatsoever, within the site, sept,
boundary, circuit, and precinct of the said late monastery,
and all and singular commons, ways, paths, easements,
advantages, profits, and emoluments whatsoever in Buck-
land, Mighelchurche, and Northpetherton, in any manner
appertaining. Also all the Rectory, and church, or chapel
of Mighelchurche, with its appurtenances; and alland every
kind of tithes of green crops, corn, grain, hay, wool, lambs,
* Part, for Grants, Of. Aug.

76 PAPERS, ETC.

and other small tithes, and oblations, revenues, and profits
whatsoever in Mighelchurche and Buckland, in any way
appertaining to the said Rectory, and Church or Chapel of
Mighelchurche. . All these were to be holden as fully and
entirely as the last Prioress had them. The aforesaid site,
and lands, and properties of various descriptions were stated
to be of the clear annual value of seventy-five shillings and
eishtpence. They were to be held of the king in chief, by
the service of a twentieth part of one knight’s fee, and an
annual rent of seven shillings and sevenpence sterling,
to be paid at Michaelmas. The grantees were also to pay
one hundred and six shillings and eightpence a year for the
stipend of a curate to celebrate Divine service in the
Church or Chapel of Mighelchurche. Besides all this the
grant conveyed enormous possessions in the parishes of
S. Botolph, Aldersgate, S. John, Clerkenwell, and S.
Sepulchre, in the city of London and county of Middlesex,
and in the counties of York, Northumberland, Stafford,
Hertford, Wilts, and Essex. The instrument was dated
at Westminster, on the day and year above mentioned.*
On the 13th of October, 1544, in consideration of the
sum of £754 17s. 8d., of good and lawful English money,
the king granted to William Porteman, Sergeant-at-Law,
and Alexander Popham, Esq., and their heirs, &e., all the
manor of Northpetherton, or Northpederton, with all and
singular its rights and appurtenances, formerly belonging to,
and parcel of the possessions of, the late dissolved Priory of
Bukland, and all the site, demesne lands, meadows,
pastures, &e., of the said manor. Also the wood commonly
called Barwoode, in Northpetherton, containing by estima-

* Orig. 36 Hen. VIII. p.1. rot. xxxviii. Pat. 36 Hen. VIII, p.2, mm.
34 (13), 33 (14), 32 (15), 31 (16). Leland, Itin., vol. ır., p. 68. Appendix,
No. XXI.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 77

tion eight acres. Also all the messuages, lands, tenements,
meadows and pastures, with their appurtenances, in Gotton,
in the parish of Westemonketon, formerly belonging to the
late Priory, in the tenure or oceupation of Richard Warr,
Esq., Robert Warr, William Hare, and Weltheane
Merkes, widow. Also all the messuages, tofts, houses,
buildings, granaries, stables, dovecots, mills, gardens,
orchards, meadows, woods, waters, marshes, vivaries, weirs,
fisheries, commons, wastes, &c., &c., with all knights’ fees
and other rishts, in Northpetherton, Michelchurche, Brom-
feld, Brympton Raiff, Wollavyngton, Mirelinche, and
Gotton—as fully and entirely as Katerina Bourgchier the
last Prioress had held the said property. Also messuages,
&e.,in Ayshe and Thornfaucon, lately belonging to the
said Priory. Also a tenement and messuage in the parish
of Bromefeld, formerly belonging to the lately dissolved
Priory of Taunton, in the occupation of one Richard
Raynald. Also another tenement and messuage in Brome-
feld, in the tenure and occupation of one John Pylman,
formerly belonging to the late Priory of Taunton. Also
lands in Kyngeshyl], in the parish of Spaxton, also formerly
belonging to the late dissolved Priory of Taunton. Also all
the manor, farm, and grange of Claveshey, with its appurte-
nances, in the parishes of Northepetherton and Bromefelde;
and the capital messuage, house, site, and capital mansion of
Claveshey, formerly belonging to the lately dissolved monas-
tery of Athelney; and the wood commonly called Claveshey
Wood, containing by estimation ten acres, and the wood
called Holesey Wood, containing by estimation five acres,
in Northepetherton aforesaid, formerly belonging to the
late monastery of Athelney. Also messuages, &ec., at
Durlegh, Gotehirst, Dunwer, &c., in the parishes of Bridge-
water and Northepetherton, formerly belonging to the

78 PAPERS, ETC.

Priory of S. John, at Bridgewater. The property formerly
belonging to the Priory of Buckland in Buckland, North-
petherton, Michelchurch and Bromefeld, was estimated at
the clear annual value of £23 17s. 4d.; in Ayshe and
Thornefaucon, of 473. 6d.; at Bromefeld and Spaxton, of
41s. 8d.; at Claveshey, of £9 ; at Durleigh and Gotehirst,
of 338. ; and at Dunwer, of 14s. 6d. The grantees were to
pay the following annual rents :—for the property at
Buckland, 385. ; for Gotton, 9s. 13d.; for Ayshe and
Thornfaucon, 4s. 9d.; for Bromefeld and Spaxton, 4s. 2d. ;
for Claveshey, 18s.; for Durlesh and Gotehirst, 3s. Ad. ;
and for Dunwer, 174d. Alsoto Richard Wakeham, bailiff of
the manor of Northepetherton, an annual fee of 20s.; and to
John Walton, steward of the court of the said manor,
13s.4d. Alladvowsons of churches, and spiritual emolu-
ments and profits were reserved to the king. The Request
to purchase was dated the 6th of July, 1544 ; and the
grant at Westminster, the 13th of October, in the same
year.*

We have already seen the disposal of the Priory, and
have now to notice that of the Preceptory, which was not
long delayed. The Request to purchase is dated the 13th
of December, 1544. Ralph Lambe, the deputy of Matthew
Coltehirste, Auditor, annexed to the enumeration of the
lands thus solieited the significant and not unusual decla-
ration, “I have made the particlers hereof to no other
person, nor I knowe any other person desyrus to bye the
premysses.”f This was doubtless intended to assure the
royal salesman that the bargain was the best that could
be effeeted under the circumstances. On the 16th of

* Part. for Grants, Of. Aug. Orig. 36 Hen. VIIL,p.3, rot. xii. Pat. 36
Hen. VIII., p. S, mm. 23, 24, 25,26. Add. MS. B.M. 6366, pp. 28b, 29.
+ Part. for Grants, Off. Aug. Appendix, No, XXII.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 79

February, 1545, the purchase was completed. The king
then granted to Alexander Popham, Esquire, and William
Halley, gentleman, and their heirs, &e., in consideration of
the sum of £999 16s. 7d. of lawful English money, all the
manor and the late Preceptory of Bucklond Pryours, in the
County of Somerset, together with the manor of Halse,
and all other manors, lands, tenements, meadows, pastures,
rents, reversions, services, and other hereditaments what-
soever, appertaining to the said late Preceptory, with allits
othermembersand appurtenances, thenorlatelyinthetenure,
discharge or occupation of the aforesaid William Halley.
Also the Rectory and impropriated Church of Halse, and
all and singular other Rectories and impropriated Churches
appertaining to the said Preceptory ; and all glebes, tithes,
pensions, portions, oblations, revenues, fruits, advantages,
profits, emoluments, and hereditaments whatsoever, as well
spiritual as temporal, of every kind. Also the advowsons
and rights of the Rectories aforesaid. Also the two manors
of Bodmescombe and Cove, in the County of Devon, with
all their appurtenances. Also the manor of Cleyanger, in
the County of Devon. Also the advowsons, donations,
presentations, &c., of the Church and Rectory of Hethe-
feld, and of the Church and Rectory of Halse, in the
County of Somerset ; and of the Rectories and Churches
of Brendon and Cleyanger in the County of Devon. Also
the wood and grove called Wynsell Grove, containing by
estimation four acres; and the wood and grove called
Peryfeld Grove, containing by estimation four acres; and
the grove called Bowyers Grove, containing by estimation
twelve acres; and the wood and waste called Bodmescombe
Wood, containing by estimation thirty-five acres; and
twelve acres, sixteen acres, and twenty-seven acres, called
Uprynges of Wood ; all parcels of the late Preceptory of

80 PAPERS, ETC.

Bucklond Pryours. Also a messuage, &ec., in the parishes
of Gotehurste and Charlinche, formerly belonging to the
late Priory or Hospital of S. John of Brydgewater. Also
the demesne and manor of Thurlebare; the messuage, &c.,
called Playstrete, in the parish of Staple; a rent of
twenty-four shillings and ninepence half-penny, called
The Thurchetts,* issuing from certain lands and tenements
in Thurlebare; a close called The Pryours Wood, in
Thurlebare, of thirteen acres; and lands in Westhatche
and Upphatche; all formerly belonging to the late Priory
of Taunton. Also the manor and demesne of Tobrydge,
with all its rights, &e., in the parish of S. James by
Taunton, and formerly belonging to the late Priory of
Taunton. Allthese were to be holden by the grantees as
fully, entirely, and amply, as by their former possessors.
The manor and late Preceptory of Buckelond Priours
together with the manor of Halse, &c., were of the clear
annual value of £31 19s. 2d, without deducting the
reserved tithe; the vicarage of the clear annual value of
£5 19s. 54d., without deducting the reserved tithe; and the
Rectory of Hethefeld, £9 4s., without deducting tithe.
The Preceptory of Bucklond Pryours and Halse were to
be held by the grantees of the king in capite, by military
service, to wit, the twentieth part of one knight’s fee, and
by the following annual rents, to be paid at Michael-
mas :—for Buckelond and Halse, £3 3s. 11d.; for Tobrydge,
10s. 7d. ; for Cleanger, &c., 10s. 2d. ; and for Thurlebare,
14s. öd. The grant was dated at Westminster, the 16th
of February, 36 Hen. VIII., 1544-5.}

* Probably intended for Churchetts, or Churchessets, a payment to the
Church of corn as the First-fruits of harvest. See, for another instance,
the author’s History of Taunton Priory, page 119.

+ Orie. 36 Hen. VIIT.,p. 8, rot.xvii. Pat. 36 Hen. VIIL, p. 26, mm.
(6) 44, (7) 43, (8) 42. Add.MS. B.M. 6366,p.116. Appendix, No. XXIII.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 8l

The more distant portions of the property were disposed
ofin a similar manner.

On the 18th of July, 1543, in consideration of the sum
of £1451 2s. 94d., the King granted to Sir John Horsey
the manor of Prymsley, or Promsley,* in the county of
Dorset, with all its rights, members, and appurtenances,
formerly belonging to the late dissolved Priory of Bucke-
lande, in the County of Somerset. Together with this were
granted lands at Thorneforde, Overcompton, and Nether-
compton, and at Pynford, in the parish of Shirborne. Pryms-
ley was estimated at the clear annual value of £14 17=. 2d.
The lands were to be held of the King in capite, and the
annual rent for Prymsley was to be the sum of 298. 9d.,
payable at Michaelmas.. The Request to purchase was
dated the öth of June, 1543 ; and the grant at Terlynge,
on the day above mentioned.

One month after a Request to purchase, dated the 6th
of July, 1543, the King granted to Richard Parker, of
Tawstok, in the County of Devon, gentleman, for the
sum of £1436 7s. 10d., the Rectories of Bradford and
Hilfaraunce, in the County of Somerset, formerly belonging
to the Priory of Barliche; the demesne and manor of
Pyxton, and Nynehed, formerly belonging to the Priory of
Taunton; the manor of Moremaleherbe and Brodewod-
wiger, in Devon, formerly belonging to and parcel of the late
Priory of Mynchyngbukland, in the County of Somerset ;
the Rectory of Northemolton, and lands at Lynkeombe,
Hilfarcombe, and Wykelangforde, &e., formerly belonging
to the late Monasteries of Dunkeswell and Frythelstoke, in
the County of Devon. Bradford and Hilfaraunce were

* See page 13 for {he original gift.
+ Part. for Grants, in Of. Aug. Orig. 35 Hen. VIII, p. 2, rot. iiii.
Pat. 85 Hen. VIII., p. 6, m. (1) 38, (2) 37.

VOL, X., 1860, PART II. L

82 . PAPERS, ETC.

of the clear annual value of £16 4s. 6d.; Pyxton and
Nynehead, £15 15s.; Lynkceombe and Hilfareombe £12
7s. O3d.; Northemolton, of £16; and Moremaleherbe, £3
15s. 33d. The advowsons werereserved. The property was
to be held in capite, by the service of a twentieth part of one
knisht’s fee, and the following annual rents to be paid at
Michaelmas :—for Bradford and Hilfaraunce, 32s. 5ld. ; for
Pyxton, ‘&e., 31s. 6d.; for Lynkcombe, 24s. 84d.; for
Northmolton, 32s.; and for Moremaleherbe, 7s. 63d.
Besides these charges, the grantees were to pay annually to
the Curate of Hylfaraunce a stipend of 268. 8d. ; for pro-
curations and synodals for the Church of Bradford, the sum
of 128. 52d.; to the bailiff of Lynkcombe, his fee of 13. 4d.;
to the Vicar of Northemolton, £17 6s. 8d.; and, lastly, the
sum of 668. 8d., for the said Rectory of Northemolton, to
the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of S.
Peter at Exon. The grant was dated at Rayne, the 6th of
August, 1543.*

On the 11th of June, 1544, the King granted to Sir
John Fulford, Humfrey Colles, Esquire, and their heirs,
certain tenements with their appurtenances in the parish
of Bromfeld, in the tenure or occupation of Robert
Stalyche, John Harle, and John Hewett, formerly belong-
ing to the late Priory of Bukeland. Also a horse mill, and
a moiety of a close called Newe Close, and five acres of
meadow with their appurtenances in Rysemore, in the
County of Somerset, in the occupation of John Grene and
Johanna his wife, and formerly belonging to the late
Hospital of S. John of Bridgewater. Lands in Devon,
formerly belonging to tne late monasteries of Canonleighe,

* Part. for Grants, in Off. Aug. Orig. 35 Hen. VIIL, p. 1, rot. exvii.
Pat. 35 Hen. VIII., p.5, mm. 12 (26), + (27), 10 (28). Add. MS. B.M.
6365, p. 297.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 83

S. Nicholas at Exon, and Buckfast, in that County, and
of Mountague and Clyve, in the County of Somerset,
accompanied the aforesaid, and the purchase money
amounted to the sum of £1199 188. 3d. The property
belonging to Bukeland was estimated at the clear yearly
value of 24. 4d., the tithe not dedueted ; and that belong-
ing to $. John of Bridgewater to £4, the tithe also not de-
ducted. The grantees in capite were to pay, at Michaelmas,
for the Bridgwater property the yearly rent of 83.; and for
that at Bromfeld 2s. 54d. The Request to purchase was
dated the 12th of March, 1544; and the grant at \WVest-
minster on the day aforesaid.* ®

On the 26th of July, 1544, (the Request is dated the
10th of the same month,) the King granted to Roger
Taverner and Robert Taverner, gentlemen, two tenements
and a mill called Elsam Myll, and certain lands and tene-
ments called Stone Londes, situated in Brompton Raffe,
in the County of Somerset, with all their appurtenances,
in the tenure or occupation of John Edwardes, and formerly
belonging to the late dissolved Priory of Buckelonde, in the
said county. The annual value was 24s. 8d.; and it was to be
held by a yearly payment, at Michaelmas, under the name
of tithe, of 2s. 6d. This was accompanied by large estates
in London and the Counties of Northampton, Lincoln, and
York, and the amount paid for the whole was £546 178. 6d.
The grant was dated, witness Katharine Queen of England,
at Westminster, on the day and year aforesaid.+

On the 8th of November, 1544, a year which witnessed
such wholesale changes in the possession of Church
property, the King, in consideration of the sum of #269

* Part. for Grants, in Off. Aug. Orig. 36 Hen, VIIL, p.4, rot. clxvi.
Pat. 36 Hen. VIIL., p. 12, mm. 5 (35), 4 (86), 3 (37).
+ Part. for Grants, in Off. Aug. Orig. 36 Hen. VIII, p. 5, rot. iii,

84 | PAPERS, ETC.

13s. 4d., granted to William Bisshoppe, of Bredy, in the
County of Dorset, yeoman, and to John Hide, of London,
gentleman, and their heirs, the manor of Chyleombe, with
all its rights, in the County of Dorset, lately belonging to
the Priory of Buklande.* Also other landsin Southampton,
&c. The clear annual value of Chylcombe was reckoned
at £14. It was to be held of the King in chief, by payment
of a yearly rent of 28s. at Michaelmas. The Request to
purchase was dated the 8th of November, 1544; and the
grant at Westminster, on the day above mentioned.f

On the 13th of the same month they obtained license,
we are told, to alienate a moiety to Thomas Martin, of
Longbridy, and his heirs. William Bisshoppe did not long
enjoy his new estate. He died on the 31st of May, 1545,
leaving the ominous property to his son John, who succeeded
his father at the age of seventeen years, and died four years
after, 3 Edward VI!t

Nine months elapsed before other changes were effected.
On the 4th of July, 1545, the King granted to William
Hodsys, of Myddelchynnock, in the County of Somerset,
and to William Hodgys, of London, son of the former, and
their heirs, for the sum of £695 0s. öd., the site
of the Monastery of the Grey Friars of Ivellchester,
twenty-nine messuages in the town of Bridgewater,
lately belonging to the Hospital of S. John in that
town; and three messuages or burgages in the city of
Wells, in the separate tenure or occupation of Thomas
Bodye, Cristofer Cooke, and Leticia Trystes. To these
were added other lands in the counties of Dorset and Derby.

* ‚See page 13 for the original gift.
+ Part. for Grants, in Off. Aug Orig. 36 Hen. VIIL,, p. 4, rot. ciiiissi.
I Hutchins’s Dorsetshire, 2nd Eu., vol. II, p. 293.
|| See page 19 for the original gift.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY., 85

The property in Ivellchester was reckoned of the clear
annual value of 13s. 4d.; that in Bridgewater, of £21 3s.
4d.; and that at Wells, of 49s, It was to be held by fealty,
in free soccage, and not in capite. The Request to purchase
was dated the 24th of February, 1545; and the grant as
above, at Westminster.*

The spoil was not yet entirely disposed of. Forthesum
of £1393 8s. 10d., the King granted to John Pope, gentle-
man, and his heirs, the manor of Kyrton in Holland, in the
County of Lincoln, lately belonging to Buckland Priory,
with all its houses, lands, and other appurtenances, of the
clear yearly value of 22s. An enormous tract in the
Counties of Oxford, Gloucester, York, Wilts, Salop,
Middlesex, Surrey, and Warwick accompanied the afore-
said property. Kyrton was to be held in free soccage, by
fealty only, and not in capite. The Request to purchase
was dated the — day of July, 1545, and the grant at
Westminster, the 3rd of October, 1545.}

By this time, as the reader will have perceived, not much
remained either to exeite or to gratify the lust of acquisition.
My task, accordingly, is all but completed. Of course I
cannot pursue further the history of each estate, which has
now ceased to be of the interest that it hitherto possessed.
The exception, however, which I have made in previous
instances, it will not be improper to repeat in this.

So early as four years after the original grant to William
Halley, in whose occupation, it will be remembered, the
property even then was, King Edward VI., in considera-
tion of the sum of £6 13s. 4d., authorized him. to
alienate to John Cuffe and John Tynbery, and their heirs,

* Part. for Grants, in Of, Aug. Orig. 37 Hen. VIII, p. 6, rot. xxx.
+ Part. for Grants, in Of. Aug. Orig. 37 Ben. VIII, p. 3. rot. xvi.
Pat. 37 Hen. VIIL,p. 3, mm. 13 (33), 12 (31), 11 (35), 10 (36), 9 (37).

86 PAPERS, ETC.

his capital messuage called Buckelond Priors, with its
appurtenances, and two gardens, two orchards, two hundred
acres of arable land, thirty-six acres of meadow, seventy-
three acres of pasture, and two acres of land covered with
water—the Ponds, I presume, to which I drew attention in
the beginning of the History—with their appurtenances, in
Buckland Priors and Coglod, in the County of Somerset,
holden of the King in capite. Also to the aforesaid John
Cuffe and John Tynbery special license was given to
appropriate the same. "The grant was dated at \V estminster,
the 13th of February, 1548.*

On the 4th of July, 1608, Edward Rogers, son of George
Rogers, of Canington, sold to Sir Henry Hawley the site,
circuit and precinet of the late Monastery or Priory of
Buckland, with its appurtenances. The manor, according to
Collinson,t was subsequently sold by the Hawleys to John
Baker, Esq., -Receiver General of the land-tax in the
County of Somerset, whose son Christopher sold it to
George Parker, of Boringdon, in the County of Devon,
Esq., and his decendänt, John Parker, Baron Boringaon,
to the family of the present possessor.

Thus have we traced the history of this interesting spot,
from its original selection for the abode of a Religious Com-
munity, through ages of dutiful attention to the grand
objects for the advancement of which it was so chosen,
of varying fortune and frequent struggle, down to its
violent alienation from those objects and its compulsory
separation from the Society with which they were con-

* Orig. 2 Edw. VI. p. 1. rot. xlv. Pat, 2 Edw. VI.,p.1,m. (11) 35.
Add. MS. B.M. 6367, f.30. Appendix, No. XXIV.

rt Trin. Rec. 9 Jac. i. rot. cxii.
7 Vol. ııı. p. 99.

u Br ee a he Du

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 87

nected. The present appearance of the place gives very
little indication of the former of these associations. Various
fragments, indeed, of an older structure, as plinth mould-
ings and similar remains, are noticeable in the more ancient
of the farm buildings, and there still exists a barn with
some buttresses of the late Perpendicular period. Nothing,
however, that I noticed, connected with the structure
itself, is necessarily earlier than the sixteenth century, and
accordingly all that is now visible may have formed no part
of the conventual edifices, but have been the work of the
first intruders to accommodate the place to their own
purposes. Apart from the Ponds, already described, there
are nevertheless a few relics of monastie days, which I
have had the happiness of bringing into notice. This has not
been effected without some difheulty. On the occasion of
repeated visits I had made many and striet enquiries of the
labourers employed about the spot, and of the neighbours
in general, as to the discovery or existence of any ancient
remains either of the buildings and their ornamental acces-
sories, or of tlhıe instruments, utensils, or other evidences of
the religious or domestic life of the olden possessors.. For
a long time I could obtain for my queries nothing but an
uniform negative. At length one of a large body of farm
servants set me upon the track of possessing myself of the
rings of which mention has already been made, and even-
tually succeeded in recollecting that several large grave-
stones with illegible inscriptions had been dug up many years
before—it was in 1836—from three to four feet under the
surface of what is now the kitchen garden of the mansion.
These after a long search I had at length the gratifieation
of recovering. It is clear, from several previous notices,*

* See pp. 11, 27, 37, 74.

88 PAPERS, ETC.

that there were two Churches appropriated to the adjacent
Societies, the greater belonging to the Prioress and her
Sisters, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and 8.
Nicholas, tbe less in the possession of the Preceptor and
his Brethren. In which of them the remains thus brought
to light originally found a place, or whether in the church-
yard, also previously mentioned, it is now of course
impossible to determine. The Priory Church, however,
as I hinted in a former page, would appear to have been
their most probable locality. The most ancient was a
portion of an incised slab, (see the figure) with a few
Lombardie characters all but obliterated :—
IE B*’*r**r+r+ + ELE:*

The next was a fragment of the fifteenth century, com-
meneing with Drate pro, immediately after which came
the envious fracture that prevented all identification of it
with theold worthy whose memory it was intended to immor-
talize. (‚See the figure.) Parts of four letters of a second line
remained—land—no doubt the last syllable of the name of

-

the House—thus :——

Drate pro
land

A third fragment, of the same period as the last, read

Scherebo
ppicietur D

The former line had its two concluding letters imperfect, but
represented, perhaps, a part of the word “ Schereborn;” the
latter was evidently a portion of the well known formula.
(See the figure.) There was yet another memorial, and that
of amost touching character. It was the only one that was
found entire, and had accordingly been taken some care of

2 | 4 n M % s a
ä ü oe

ie
ER,
ul
ie’
= \
ma
Bi

Ka
ee

FROM MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY.

H.adylith.iebı.

= BE eG

_
_——

m
—
==

I nz

= =

UF TOrDaLaLh

u ers
> Te en

ee a B= er,

—

Zu o

FROM MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY.
Aug de. ih. 1861

&

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 89

and placed in a cellar. Nothing, however, was known of it,
except that it had upon it a number of old letters which
nobody could read. I duly obtained leave, most cour-
teously accorded by the tenant of the mansion, to examine
the mysterious relic; and, after transporting a range of
brewing utensils which were marshalled upon it, discovered
at length the object of my search covered with the dust
that many years during which it had been untouched had
collected on its surface. This was soon removed, and I
was then most amply rewarded for my labour. The object
brought to lisht was a noble incised slab, (see the figure)
about seven feet long by four feet broad, of thirteenth or
early fourteenth century work, in commemoration, as I
conjecture, of a deceased Priores. A very beautiful
Lombardice eross occupied the centre, on either side of
which was one line of the inscription, almost as sharply
defined as when it left the hand of the old workman :—

SCDKALIJERDRDLCACTUNTESITT
JCPDTLAIVCCITBCEHKTIJAPBCH

“Sister Alienor of Actune lies here, on whose soul God
have mercy. Amen.” The epitaph is slichtly abbreviated
from the more usual formula, but the letters are remarkably
fine, and the whole is of a truly artistic character. This,
however, we may consider its least interesting peculiarity.
It is eloquent of something higher than even Christian art,
how noble and beautiful soever. Who Sister Alienor of
Actune was, although this is not forgotten elsewhere, is
now, I fear, beyond the power of the genealogist to dis-
cover for us and declare. But this venerable gravestone,
disinterred from its long night of centuries, has once more
made the world acquainted with her name, and will now,
doubtless, through her unworthy remembrancer, do so to a
VOL. xX., 1860, PART IL M

90 PAPERS, ETC.

far wider extent than it ever transmitted it before. Such
publieity will not now interfere with her repose. And
that which has at length furnished so graceful a memorial
of her is surpassingly worthy of reverent remark. It is a
silent and yet speaking witness of one who “did what she
could” in her ancient day ; who, perhaps with much to
discourage and distress her, lJaboured and fainted not in
her high resolve; and at length, when human toils were
over, entered into that rest for which, it cannot be too
much to imagine, her life in this sacred home very emi-
nently tended to prepare her. Nor shall I, as I hope, be
considered fanciful in adding, that it may symbolize also
the System with which it was connected—buried, past,
and gone—yet preservative, and indeed full, of beautiful
forms and holy thoughts for those who will reverently
examine it and wipe away the dust that has settled upon
its surface, and trace, as they so well may, its distinguishing
lines, telling at once of the Cross which was its centre, the
union which was its strength, and the hope of final mercey
which was alike its mainstay and its reward.

THOMAS HUGO.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 91

EPBBENDIX.

No,:L
[MS. Cott. Tib. E. ıx,, f. 23.]

.... ANDE. Wms de Erlesh p’ salute a’ie Henriei
Regis et Ael....... . sul R’Henrie’ & alioru’ filioru’
& filiaru’ suaru’ ...... . conc’ eis tottm de Buckland &
ecc’ de Pereton’ ....... . . plantand’ & ordinand’ p’
manu’ Tho: Archepi Avun ..... . religionem apud
Buckland &® ew usuecc’aru&.......

[MS. in Of. Armor, L. 17, f. 141.]

Anno d’nice incarnationis 1434 hunc libru’ taliter
eo'pilauit frater Joh’es Stillingflete de no’ib’ fundator’
bkospitalis s’ci Joh’is Jerusalem in Anglia &ec.

[MS. in Of, Armor, L. 17, f. 153.]

Buxraxo. Wil’ms de Erlegh p’ salute ai’e Regis
Henrici & Alienore Regine & filijj sui Regis Henrici &
alior' filior’ & filiar’ suar’ p’ remedio ai’e ipiius Will’mi
& vxoris sue dedit tota’ t'ra’ de Buklande & ecclia’ de
Perreton’ eu’ alijs ecclijs et t’ris suis in diu’s’ loc’ vt pat’
p’ carta’ inde confecta’ ad plantandu’ & ordinandu’ p
manu’ Thome archidiaconi a’uncli ipius Will’mi de Erlegh

Religione’ apud Bukland & q? iid’'m Canoiei
sic plantati et ordinati in eodem loco p’de’as t’ras & ecel'ias
in vsus suos p’p’os in pura’ p’petua’ elemosina’
possiderent.

92 APPENDIX.

No. II.
[MS. Cott. Tib. E. ıx,, f. 23.]

Will’'ms d’ Erlesh p’diet’ dn’s de Driston dedit ad
edificand’ domu’ deB. . . . . cu’ eccl'ia de Pereton, cu’
o'ib’ capellis membris &e. s’s ecc’ de Chedsey . . . oi
jure q’d fres’ he’nt in eccl’ia de Poulett cu’ capella de
Huntw'th & Newton Comitis & de Thurlackston & de
Sirdeston & de Newton & eccl'ia de Bekynton & de
Kynm’sdon & de Sirston &c.

[MS. in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 153b.]

Will’'mus de Erlesh p’de’us dn’s de Driston dedit ad
edifica’da’ domu’ de Bukland cu’ eccl’ia Pereton cu’ om’ib’
membris capellis & p’tin’ suis s eccl’ia’ de Chedsey q’ est
me’bru’ eius & cu’ om’i iure q ff’res hospital’ h’nt v’] habere
debebu’t in eccl’ia de Poulet no’ie ecclie de Pereton cu
capella de Huntworth & capella de Neweton Comit’& capella
de Thurlakeston & capella d’ Sirdeston & capella de Neweton
Regis & dedit ecel'ia” de Bekynton’ cu’ om’ib’ p’tin’ &
ecclia’ de Kynm’sdon ac ecclia’ de Sirston cu’ alijs pl’rib’
tris & bonis.

No. III.
[MS. in Coll. Arm., L. 17, f. 155.]

Ip’e (Henricus Rex Anglie II.) ecia’ confirmauit domu’
de Bukland vt sorores ib’'m & non alıbi remanerent.

[MS. Cott. Tib. E. ıx., f. 23.]

Qui tamen religiosi p’ interfecc’oe cuiusdim Scenesca
. 2 0... Ipius Willi d’ Erlegh dn’s Henric’ Rex 2
fecit eos . . . . Napoli tunc p’or hospit de S“i Johis
Jrm in Anslap . . .» . ... multoru’ et Anglie
p’ceru’ p’ collocandis ib’m soror . . . . ut fres p’d’cı
in nullo alio loco in Ang!’ retm ... 2... 2... nii
in domo de Buckland.

[MS. in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 155.]

Quos quid’'m Cano’icos postea p’ plures annos p’ eor’
culpa & forisfactura, eo videl’t quod quend'm senescallu’

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 93

suu’ consangu’em Will’mi de Erlesh int’fesseru’t [interfece-
runt] dn’s Rex Henricus II® p’ tunc existens fecit amoueri,
et f’ri Garn’io de Neapoli tunc p’ori Hospitalis sc’i Johis
Jher”® in Anglia apud London consensu Rad’ı Cantuar’
archer’pi & Reginald’ Bathon’ e’pi & multor’ p’cer’ Anglie
tam cl’icor’ q’m laicor’ easd’m t’ras & ecclecias p’ collocandis
ib’m sororibus donauit ac confirmauit circa a® dni Mill’mo
c”® Ixxx”" sub conuenco’ne videlit q! id’m p’or seu sui

'successores in nulla alia domo sua in Anglia retineret

sorores sui ordinus [ordinis] n’ in p’de’a domo de Bukland.

No. IV.
[MS. Cott. Tib. E. ıx,, f. 23.]

Que quidem sorores aid -». -» » » . . in domibus
p’ticlaribus &° Canonicos pdetos n . . . 2 ..% .
prior tamen p’diet’ consensu Regio decolla . . . feeit
BRLOTES., 1...

[MS. in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 153.]

Que quid’m sorores olim sp’ suw’ morabant viz apud
Hamton iuxta Kyngeston apud Kerebrooke & Swynfeld
& alıjs loc’. Deinde frat’ Garnerius p’deus p’or de consensu
regio eosd’m cano’icos tres viz in domu’ hospital’ p’d’eci ad
petic’one’ eor’ suscepit et h’itu’ eiusd’m hospital’ tribuit &
duos in p’oratu’ de Tanton ac vnu’ in p’oratu’ de Berlith &
vnu’ in monast'iu’ sc’i Barth’i de Smithfeld apud London
Reginaldus ep’us Bathon’ p’de’us ip’is hec petentib’ &
obtantib’ in Religione cano’icor’ recipi fecit. Postmodu’
vero hijs p’act’ p’fatus firat’ Garnarius p’or sorores in diu’s’
p’cept'jjs ordinis sui in Anglia vt p’d’cit’ existentes vt p’dicit’
congregari & ap! Bukland de consensu ac volu’tate Regio
neenon consensu om’i qnor’ int’fuit collocari fecit videl’t
sororem Milsante’ apud Standon sororem Joh’am apud
Hamton sororem Basilia’ apud Kerebrooke sororem Ama-
billam & sorore” Amisia” de Malketon’ apud Shenegey
sorore’ Xpmam d’ Hoggeshawe apud Hoggeshawe sorore’
Petronillam apud Gosford et sororem Agnetam apud
Clanefelde vt in eod’m loco de Buckland eod’m sorores &
gue succ’ deo inp’p’m deseruirent.

94 APPENDIX.

No. V.
[MS. Cott. Nero, E. vr., f. 467b.]

Nomina Prioru’ Hospitalis Sancti Joh’is Jerl’m in Anglia.

Frat’ Garnarius de Neapoli erat primus Prior tempore
fundaco’is Soror’ domus de Bukland temp’e Regis Henrieci
sc’di qui congregauit sorores tunc p’ diu’sa loca disp’sas ac
temp’e d’ne fine prime Priorisse ib’ m que Priorissa vixit
in ip’o statu Ix annis. Iste erat Prior p’ pl’res annos ante
passionem Se’i Thome Martiris & obijt vltimo die Augusti.

Frat’ Rieus de Turk Prior temp’e eiusdem Priorisse
obijt xij”° die Augusti.

Frat’ Rad’us de Dyna Prior temp’e eiusdem Priorisse
obijt xi1j”° die Majj.

Frat’ Gilb’tus de Veer Prior temp’e eiusdem Priorisse
dedit sororib’ domus . . . Bukland c‘ annue pens:
exeunt. de man’io de Reynh'm & obiit xi1j"° die Augusti.

Frat’ Hugo de Alneto Prior temp’e eiusdem Priorisse
obijt xxi1j° die Nouembr’.

Frat’ Alanus Prior & Ep’us de Bangor temp’e eiusdem
Priorisse obijt xix° die Maıj.

Frat’ Rob’tus Thesaurarius Prior tempore eiusdem
Priorisse obijt xxvj'° die Octobr”.

Frat’ Terrieus de Nussa obijt xxj° die Decembr’ anno
d’ni mill’'imo ec"? xxxvij®°,

Frat’ Rob’tus de Maunby Prior obijt xüiij° die mens’
Octobr'.

Frat’ Rog’us de Veer Prior dedit eccl’ie de Clerkenwell
vna’ de sex ydrijs in quib’ Jhesus conu’tit aquam in vinu’
anno d’ni mill’imo cc"° Ixix° & obijt xv die ffebruar’ anno
d’ni mill’imo cc” Ixx°.

Frat’ Petrus de Hakh’m Prior tempore Regis E. primi
obijt xj° die Januar.

Frat’ Simon Botard Prior obijt 11j° die Maij.

Frat’ Helyas Smethton Prior objjt xxvij die April’.

Frat’ Steph’us ffulburn Prior obijt primo die Januar”.

Frat’ Joseph Chauney Prior obijt xix° die Maij. Iste
fieri fecit capellam d’ni Prioris in domo de Clerkenwell
temp’e E. p’mi a conquestu.

Frat’ Walterus Prior adquisiuit p’ceptorias de Quenyng-
ton & Shenegey & plures terras & ten’ & obijt xxviij° [?]
die Augusti. \

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. ‚us

Frat’ Will’s de Haunle Prior fieri feeit celaustrum de
Clerkenwell anno d’ni mill’imo ce” Ixxxilij'° et regni regis
E. primi xij° et obijt iijj‘° die ffebruar’ anno d’ni sup*d’co.

Frat’ Ric’us Pauley Prior tempore Regis E. filjj E. obijt
11j° die Augusti.

Frat’ Rob’tus de Dyna Prior obijt xxilij'® die Nouembr’.

Frat’ Will’s Tothall Prior obijt xij° die Octobr’ anno
d’ni mill’imo eec"° xviij? Ira d’nicalis D.

Frat’ Thomas L’archier Prior obijt xxviij° die Augusti
anno d’ni mill’imo eec”° xxix° hie dedit sororib' de Bukland
xl” annuatim imp’p’m p’cipiend’ de man’io de Hidon’ p’tin?
ad Templecombe.

Frat’ Leonardus de Tyb’tis Prior obijt vltimo die Januar’
temp’e huius bona Templarior’ data sunt Hospitalarijs.

No. VI
[MS. in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 148b.]

KEREBROORE.—Matildis Comitissa de Clare vxo' Willi
comit’ de Clare ac mat’ Rie’ı comit’ de Clare dedit

an : E re : ”

so’rib’ dom’ de Bukland xi1j° 11j solvend’ annuati

p’ man’ p’ceptoris ib’m p’o temp’e existent’ & alıa pl’ra

bona Hec donac’o f’ca fuit apud Westmon’. a° qui’to rr’

Ric’i p'mi & a° d’ni mill’'mo ce’ Ixxxxij° & tempore ff’ris Ala’

p’oris hospitalis in Anglia & Ep’i de Bangor.

No. VII.
will be found included in No. V.

No. VII.
[MS. Cott. Tib, E. ıx., f. 23.]
Deinde frater Hugo de Alneto p’or hospit p’d’ consensu
ft 22.2. 0.0.0. d’ne Lorette comitisse Leicestrie ad

inveniend’ j fre’'m Capella . . . celebrantem missm
gloriose Virginis ; 8’s in excambio p ter aljis . . . .

[MS. in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 153b.]

Deinde ffrat’ Hugo de Alneto p’or Hospital’ p’dei de coi
consensu & volluntate ffr’m capituli concessit dn’e Lorrette

96 APPENDIX.

comitisse Leycestrie ad inveniendu’ vnu’ ffr’'m capellanu’
cotidie celebrat'um missa’ gloriose virginis Maria | Marie]
ecel’ia Soror’ p’dear’ p’ e’tis t’ris redit’ alijs que p’dea comi-
tissa contulit domui hospital’ sc’i Joh’is in p’p’os vsus soror’
p’dear’ de Bukland conuertend’ Ita q? p’d’etus ffrat’ capel-
lanus nulli alij s’uic’o deputabit’ n’ p’p’e gloriose v’ginis
minist’jo in ecclia p’d’ca.

No. IX.
[Cart. 11 Hen. III., p. 2, m. 6.]

P’ Hospital’ de Bocland. Rex &e. salt”. Insp*ximus
cartam Lorette quonda’ Comitisse Leycestr’ f’cam D’o &
b’e Marie & s’co Joh’i Bapt’e & b’atis paup’ib’ s’ce domus
hospital’ Ierosol’ ad sust'ntaco’em sorror’ de Bocland * *
in h’ uerba. Not’ sit om’ib’ X’pi fidelib’ tam p’sentib’ q*’
futuris hoc script” visuris v’l audituris q’d ego Loretta
comitissa Leycestr’ dedi & concessi D’o & b’e Marie & sc’o
Johi Bapt’e & b’is paup’ib’ domus hospital’ Ierosol’ ad
sust'ntaco’em soror’ de Boclaund D’o s’uienciu” & ad
inueniend’ quendam cap’ll’m fr’em in eade’ domo qui cotidie
& p’petuo missam in honore b’e Virginis Marie i' maiori
eccl’ia ap’ Bokland. ad altare b’e Virginis celebret p’ salute
anime mee & d’ni Rob’i viri mei Com’ quonda’ Leicestr’
& p’ salute a’iar’ prris & m’ris mee & om’iu’ ancessor’ &
successor’ meor’ tota’ t'ram meam de Noteston’ & totam
tram meam de Ynesford ex’ ag'm & vlt? aq'm & Ixüij
acts de d’nico meo sup’ Ruwedon’ & totam t’ram meam
de Ridescot’ & de Hele & de Chorlecot’ & de Tunecot’.
& de Boteburn’ & totam t’ram q’” tenet Philipp’ at Viam
cu’ ho’ib’ p’d’cas t’ras tenentib’. & p’t’ea cent’ ac's de d’nico
meo in Frem’esmore & boseu’ meu’ qui uocat’ Anc'wd’ &
vnu’ ferling’ ad Roitheye eu’ om’ib’ p’tin’ suis in man’io de
Toustok cu’ pasturis & om’ib’ aliis ad p’d’cas t’ras p’'tin’tib’.
Et p’t'ea om’imoda’ com’unam int’ ten’ta mea vbiq’ lib’e &
* hend’ & possidend’ in ppetuam & puram elemosina’ sie’
ulla elemos’ lib'ius & quiecius dari potest. & vt h’ mea
donac’o futuris temp’ib’ p’petue firmitatis robur optineat.
eam p’sentis sc'p’ munimie cu’ sigilli mei app’oe dign’ duxi
roborare. Hiis testib”. Mag’ro Lamb’to subdecano Wal’nsi

d’no Philippo de Alben”. d’no Rog’o de La Cuche. Ada’ fil

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 97

Hondebrand’ Mag’ro Vmfr’ Canon Cycestr’ Mag’ro Reein’
de Mereston’. Will’o capell’o de Bukingeh’. Walt’o el’rico
de Langeh’. Thom’ el’rico de Glouecestr”. Nich’ de Wyleya.
& aliis. Nos hanc donat’ & concessione’ rata’ & grtas
h’entes. p’d’co hospitali & sororib’ p’d’eis eam p’ nob’ &
h’edib’ n’ris concedim’ & co’firmamus. T. ut sup“ Dat’ ut
sup. (Dat’ p’ manu’ R. Cycestr’ epi &c. ap’ Westm. xvj
die Jul’ anno &e. xj°.)

No. X.

[MS. Cott. Tib. E. ıx., f, 23.]

Rad’ filius Will’mi de Bremerye dedit Sororib’ p’d’ ece’
de Toland. Alan’ filius Ant’i Russell ecetm de Danington
in dioc. Linc. Warin’ de Aula, Budescombe &e.

Ascuid Musard Chiltecombe Wysang" & Bochelcotte.

Rob’tus Arundale Halse &c.

[MS. in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 153b.]

Rad’us filius WilPi de Briwere dedit sororib’ ib’m ecclia’
de Toland cu’ p’tin’.

Alanus filius Ant’i Russell dedit ecclia’ de Donington
in dioc’ Lyneolne p’tin’ eisd’m.

Warinus de Aula dedit Bodescombe p’tin’ eisd’m
sororibus.

Ascuid Musard dedit Chilteombe Wysangre & Bochel-
cote.

Rob’tus Arundale dedit Halse e’'m p’tin.

No. XI

[ Pat. 12 Hen. ILL, m. 2.]

P’ sororib’ de Bocland.—D’ns R’ ituitu D’i co’cessit
sororib’ de ordine Hospital’ S’ci Joh’is J’rlm ap’ Bocland
d’o s’uientib’ & s’uit’is qd singul’ sept’ capiant i’ p’co d’ni
R’ de Neuton de mortuo bosco eiusd’ p’ci vna’ carectatam
busce ad focu’ suu’. Et q’ compete’tius i’ estate qa’ i’
hyeme cape’ pot’nt p’de’am busca’, co’cessit eis d’ns R’

VOL. X., 1860, PART II. N

98 APPENDIXK.

q’d a Pasch’ usq’ ad festu’ S’ci Pet’ ad Vineula busca’
p’deam capiant i’ p’dco p’co ad num’m carectar’ q’ de toto
anno eis compet’nt scd’m concess n'ram p’dcam. In cur’
&c. T. R. ap. Neubir’ ij die Aug’.

Et mand’ Ric’o de Wrotha’ qd eas p’d’cam busca’ cap’e
p’mittat sic’ p'de’m est. T’. ut s*.

No, -XUH:
[MS. in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 153.]

Deinde ffrat’ Terricus de Mussa p’or hospital’ p’dei de
concilio ffr’'m gen’alis capit’li dedit d’eis sororib’ de Bukland
& successorib’ suis xxx" & octo m“rcas duodecim solidos
& octo denarios st’lingor’ annuati recipiend’ inp’p’'m ad
duos anni t’'minos viz ad f’m pasche decem & noue’ ma’cas
sex solidos & quatuor denarios de p’ceptore d’ Bukland
qui p’ tempore fwit ita q@ p’ceptor de p’deis xxxviij ma’e’
xij & vijjl a d’co Terrico & successoribus suis h’ebit
allocac’one’ sup’ responc’one sua soluenda.

No. XIII
[MS. Cott. Tib. E. ıx.;f. 23.]

Consequent' fi’ Rog’us de Ver p’or hospit’lis p’diet in
adventusuoad . . . . . p’statu dom’ ordinavit &°.

[MS, in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 153b.]

Consequent’ v° ffrat’ Roge’us de Ver p’or hospital’ p’d’ei
in aduentu suo ad Bukland p’ statu domus videndo invenit
distancia’ & discordia’ int’ piorem p’ceptorem & p’orissa’
ac conuentu’ dom’ de Bukland p’ diu’s’ reb’ d’cas priorissa’
& sorores tangentib’ et assensu capit/li sui de Melcheburn
ad p’petua’ pace’ int’ ip’os s’uanda’ ordinauit int’ cet’a q“
p’de’e p’orissa & conuentus h’ebunt senscallu’ suu’ ad
mensa’ p’eeptoris & unu’ garc’one’ sedentem cu’ garconib’
p’ceptoris & erit ibi cotidie in mensa nisi dux’it h’ue s’m
dieti senescalli & ad f’m sei Mich’is cu’ tinere volu’it
senescallus curia’ de la hele h’ebit de selario qui’q’ albos
panes & costrellos suos plenos s’uicie et ad id’m f'm p’ eur’
de Kynm’sdon d’ Primmilegh tenend’ h’ebit totid'm & ad le

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 99

hokeday totide’ equitatura’ vero & om’ia alia necc’ia h’ebit
de lib’ac’oe & ordinaco’e p’orissa [p’ orisse] & conuent. Et
si in aliquo deliquerit, licebit p’orisse ea’ [eu?] defendere ne
de bonis ear’ int°mittat sed non eu’ remouere absq' p’ore.
It’m h’ebunt saserdote’ s’clarem ad celebrandu’ p’ anı'a
Sororis fine quond'm p’orisse ib’m & a’iab’ fundator’ =
b’nfactor’ d’ce dom’ qui erit in mensa cu’ ffrib’ & lectu’
thalamo int’ sas’dotes & cel’icos & p’ relicu” tempus sed'm
dispoco’ ne’ p’orisse ita q@ p’ceptor he’at allocacone’ de quing’
mirer p’ mensa d’ci sacerdot’ & ecia’ vni’ firis celebrant’
missa’ be’ Marie & ecia’ tres solidos ad f’m sc’i Mich’is p’
cl’ico de capella.

No. XIV.
[MS. in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 156.]

Edwardus Rex Anglie a conquestu p'mus concessit
vnu’ mercatu’ singul’ sept’ p’ die’ Lune apud Man’iu’ suw
de Halse in Com’ Som’s.

[Cart. 18 Edw. I., m. 19, n. 80.]

P’ P’ore hospitalis S’ci Joh’is Je’rlm in Angl. R’
archiep’is &c. salt'm. Sciatis nos concessisse & hac carta
n’ra confirmasse dil’co nob’ in X’po f’ri Will’o de Henleye
Priori Hospital’ S’ci Joh’is Jer’lm in Angl’ q’d ipe &
successores sui imp’petuu’ h’eant vnum m’catum sing/’lis
septimanis p’ diem Lune apud man’ium suu’ de Hause in
Com’ Som’s’. Nisi m’catum illud sit ad nocumentu’ vicinar’
m’cator’. Concessim’ eciam &e. Quare volum’ & firmit’
p’eipim’ p’ nob’ & h’edib’ n’ris q’d p’deus Prior & succes-
sores sui imp’petuu’ h’eant p’d’em m’catu’ apud man’ium
suu’ de Hause cu’ om’ib’ lib’tatib’ & lib’is consuetudinib’
ad hui’modi m’catum p’tinentib’. Nisi &c. —— Hiis
testib’ ven’abilib’ p’rib’ G. Wygorn’ R. Bathon’ & Wellen.
A. Dunolmens’ & Th. Mens Ep’is. Edmundo fı’e n’ro.
Will’o de Valencia auune’lo n’ro. Gilb’to de Clare Com’
Glouc’ & H’tf’. Henrico de Lacy comite Line’. Humfrido
de Bohun comite Heref’ & Essex. Rog’o de Bigod comite
Norf’ & Marescallo Angl’. Ottone de Grandisono. Petro
de Chaumpnent. Ric’o de Bosco & aliüis. Dat’ p’ manu’
n’ram apud Westm. vj die Maij.

100 APPENDIX,.

No. XV.
will be found included in No. V.

No. XVI
[MS. Harl. 6965, p. 17.]

Official. Cur. Cant. dicreto viro mag’ro Ric’o de Thistel-
den officiali d’ni Radulphi ep’i Bath. & Well. salut. Ex
parte religiosorum viroru’ Prioris & frrum Hosp. sci Joh.
Jer’lm in Angl. nobis extitit intimatum q? cu’ vos preten-
deretis prefatos religiosos ad exhibendu’ titulu’ si quem
haberent in ecc’lis de Northpederton, Durston, Halse,
Bromfild, & Kynemersden, Bath. & Well. dioc. quas in
usus proprios canonici possidebant, & possiderant ab antiquo,
& ad prestand’ vener. p’ri pred’co obedientiam rac’oe
ecchi’aru’ pred’carum coram vobis d’ei p’ris commissario
speciali ad judiciu’ evocatos pars eorundem religiosoru’ cora’
vobis in judiciu’ suficienter comparens, ut sibi copiam
commissionis & certificatorij citaco’is p’ vos in hac parte
pretensarum fieri faceretis, a vobis cum instantia debita
postulavit, sed vos effectualiter exaudire, aut copiam
hujusmodi eidem facere non curastis, sed d’cos religiosos
contumaces, cu’ non essent, pronunciastis, Ipsosq’ in
immoderata pecunie summa mulctastis, ipsamq’ muletam a
preceptore f’ribus & sororibus domus d’corum religiosoru’
de Boclaunde d’ce dioc. levanda’ fieri deerevistis & levarı
mandastis &c. appellatu’ ad sede’ Ap’licam, quare
vobis inhibemus ne pendente in Cur. Cant. hujusmodi
negotio quicquam hac occasione in d’ce partis appellantis
prejudiciu’ attemptetis &e. dat. Lond. 6 Kal. Oct. [1329.]

No. XVII.
[MS. in Coll. Armor, L. 17, f. 156b.]

Henric’ Rex Anglie ij’ [üüij’] ampliauit & pleniu’ decla-
rauit carta’ q’m Henric’ Rex Anglie p’genitor suus concessit
'orisse & sororib’ d ; de Bukeland videli’t q? ip’
poorisse & sororib’ demus de Bukeland videli’t q* ip’e
quali’t septi’ana imp’p'm cap’ent in p’co suo de Pederton
tres carectatas busce p’ focali suo & ista v’ba tres carectatas

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 101

busce de spinis alno & arabil’ ad focu’ suu’ & postea
inveniab’t" q° p’d’ce p’orissa & sorores non erant capaces
d’ce en eo q° sunt obedienciare P’oris Hospital’
S’ci Joh’is Jher'Im in Anglia 1’o custodes d’ni Regis i’bm
d’cam concessione’ h’ere non p’misit. Quare Rex Henri’
g’rtus p’d’cus de gra’ sp: 'ali a° sui x° concessit p’ salute ale
sue ac Joh’ne consort‘ sue n°non Maria [Marie] consort
sue defuncte q? p’or Hospital’ & succ’ sui imp’pm p’ se &
s’uient’ suos de Buk’ p’eipiant quali't septi’ana ii) carectatas
subbosci infra p’eu’ suu' de Pederton viz Thorn aller mapell
& hasell ad vsum & p’fieuu’ d’car" P’orisse & soror’ & suce’
suar’ imppm. Et q! queli't carectata subboscei p’d’ci
existat de tractu sex equor & q* ip'i p'st’nant succidant &
carient ad voluntate’ sua’ subboscu’ p deu’ quol’t a® a festo
. An’une’ be’ Marie vsq’ f’m Omi” Scor’ q“ antea erat
concess’ eis a Pasca veq. m S’eci Petri ad uincula
absq’ impedimento seu p’turbac’one aliquali officiarior’
d’ni Regıs.

[ Pat. 10 Hen. IV., p. 1, m. 19.]

P’ Priorissa & sororib’ de Bucland. R’ om’ib’ ad quos
&c. sal’tm. Seiatis q’d cum dil’ce nob’ in Xpo Priorissa
& sorores ordinis hospitalis S’ci Joh’is Jer’Im de Bucland
nobis monstrau’int qualit’ nobilis p’genitor n’r Henr’ nup’
Rex Angl’ p’ cartam suam quam confirmauim’ concessit
sororib’ domus p’dce tunc deo s’uientib’ & s’uituris qd ip’e
quali’t septimana imp’pm cap’ent in parco suo de Perton
iam vocato Pederton tres carectatas busce p’ focali suo p’
ista v’ba tres carectatas busce de spinis alno & arabl’ ad
focum suu’ ac p’ eo qd competencius extitit ad capiend’
buscam p’dcam in estate q’m in yeme conces sit eis qd ip’e
cap’ent buscam p’dcam in parco p’dco a Pascha vsq’ festum
S’ci Petri ad vincula ad num’u’ carectar’ que eis de toto
anno p’tinerent iuxta concessionem p’dcam p’ut in carta &
confirmac’oe p’deis plenius continet’ qd q’ vigore conces-
sionis & confirmac’ois p’dcar’ p’fate Priorissa & sorores in
pacifica omn’ p’dcar’ carectar’ busce infra parcum p’dem
annuatim p’ut in concessione & confirmac’oe p’deis fit
mencio a tempore confecco’is ear'’dem extiterunt absq'
aliquo impedimento seu gtuamine n’ri vel p’genitor’ n’ror’
p’deor’ aut custodum parci p’dei qui p’ tempore fuerunt
seu alior’ ministror’ vel ofliciarior’ ibidem quor’cumg’

102 APPENDIX.

quousg’ iam tarde q’d nunc custos n’r ibidem ipas buscam
p’dcam aut aliquam parcellam eiusdem iuxta concessionem
& confirmacoem p’deas h’ere non p’misit p’ eo qd p’dee
Priorissa & sorores sunt obedienciarie Priori hospitalis S’ei
Joh’is Jer’lm in Angl’ ac qd ip’e p’sone capaces p’ut p’deus
custos sup’ ip’as imponit non existunt. Vnde nob’ suppli-
carunt sibi p’ nos de gra’ & remedio in hac parte p’uideri.
Nos de gra’ n’ra spali & ad effe’'m qd p’dce Priorisa &
sorores p’ salubri statu n’ro ac carissime consortis n’re
Johanne dum vixim’ & p’ a’ıab’ n’ris cum ab hac luce
mig'u’im’ necnon p’ a’ia carissime consortis n’re Marie
defunete deuocius exorent & qd om’imoda ambiguitas &
dubia hui’ v’bor’ de spinis alno & arabl’ in concessione
p’dea specificator’ amoueant’ concessim’ p’ nobis & heredib’
n’ris quantum in nob’ est Walt’o Grendon Priori d’ei
hospitalis S’ci Joh’is Jerl'm in Angl’ & successorib’ suis
impp’m qd ip’e & successores sul p’ se & s’uientes suos d’ci
hospitalis de Bucland h’eant & p’cipiant quali’t septimana
tres carectatas subbosei infra boscum n’rm p’dem siue
Parcum de Pederton videl’t thorn aller mapel & hasell ad
vsum & p’ficuu’ p’dear’ Priorisse & soror” & successor’ suar’
impp’m et q’d quel’t carectata subboseci p’dei de tractu sex
equor’ existit q’dq’ p’fatus Prior & successores sui p’dei vel
s’uientes sui p’dei h’eant & p’cipiant p’deas tres carectatas
subbosci vt p’dem est impp’m & qd ip’i p’sternant suceidant
& carient ad voluntatem suam subboscum p’dem p’ focali
p’dear’ Priorisse & sorox’ & successor’ suar’ quol’t anno a
testo Anunciaco’is b’e Marie vsq’ festum O’im Scor’ ad
num’u’ carectar’ que eis aut successorib’ suis p’ totu’ annu?
p’tinebunt absq’ p’t’baco’e impedimento seu g’uamine n’ri
vel heredum n’ror’ aut Custodis n’ri d’ci bosci n’ri vel parci
seu alt’ius ofliciarij siue ministri n’ri vel heredum n’ror
quorcumg”. Incuius &e. T. R. apud West'm xiij die
Nouemb’i. p’ b’re de priuato sig’.

No. XVIIL
[MS. Lansd. 200, ff. Ixxxiili, Ixxxiiii b.]

ASSEMBLIA tent’ in domo de Clerkenwel xx die Januarjj,
1500, P’ntib’ ib’m p’sonal’r R4° d, p’ori fir? Jo. Kendal. ff. H.

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 103

Hawley. ff. B. Pek. ff. Ro. Dauson. ff. T. Newport. ff. Ro.
Danyel. ff. A. Chetwod. ff, Jo. Tonge. ff. Jo. Bowth. &
fr. Will’o Darel P’eeptrib’—

Oyr’ıp’ X’pi fidelibus ad quos p’sens sceriptum Indenta-
tum peruen’it ffrater Joh’es Kendall Prior Hospit’lis Sancti
Joh’is J’rlm in Anglia Et eiusdem P’oris Conf’res Salt’m
in d’no sempit’na’. SCIATIS nos p’fatos Priorem & conf’res
vna’mi nostris assensu et consensu tradidisse et ad firma’
dimisisse Job’i Vernay de ffarefelde in Com’ Som’s’ armigero
preceptoria’ n’ram de Buclande Prioris in dicto Com’ cu’
manerijs de Bodmescomb et Cove in Com’ Deuon’ eidem
p’ceptorie p’tinentib’ et cu’ om’ib’ et sing/lis alijs dominijs
t'ris et ten’tis pratis pascuis et pasturis redditib’ et s’uicijs
conf’rijs in Com’ Som’s®’ & Deuon’ curijs cu’ ear’ p’ficujs
deeimis oblaco’ib’ bonis et catallis felonu’ et fugitiuor' et
cu’ om’ib’ alıjs libertatib’ emolimentis et com’oditatib’
quibuscug’ ad d’cam p’ceptoria’ qualit’cumg’ spectantib’
et p’tinentib’ Boscıs & subboseis aduocac’onib’ Eecl’iar’
wardis maritagijs & releuijs duntaxat exceptis Ac nobis
p’fato Priori et succ’ n’ris om’ino res’uat’ HABEND’ &
tenend’ predieta’ p’'ceptoria’ cu’ om’ib’ suis p’tinen’ p’dict’
except’ pexcept’ p’fato Joh’i Vernay et assignatis suis a
festo Natiuitatis Sc'i Joh’is Bap*® prox’ futur’ post data’
p’sens’ vsq’ ad fine’ et term’ Triginta annor’ extu’e p’x’
sequens et plenarie complendo’ REDDENDO inde anti=
nobis p’fato P’ori et succ’ n’ris apud thesauria’ n’ram de
Clerkenwell p'pe London Nonaginta et tres libras sex solidos
& octo denarios sterlingor’ ad festa Purificaco’is b’te Marie
Virginis et S’ci Barnabe ap’li equis porc’onib’ durante
termi’o p’dieto Ir’m p’dietus fürmarius et assignati sui
sumptib’ suis p'prijs tenebu’t debita’ et honesta’ hospitali-
tatem infra dieta’ p’ceptoria’ Necno’ sumptib’ suis inuenient
scd’'m antiqua’ consuetudine’ quing’ Capellanos videlie’
duos Capellanos de cruce vel alios duos quos nos p’dietus
Prior vel succ’ n’ri deputabimus infra Ecel’iam de Buclande
priorissa vnu’ Capellanu’ infra capella’” p’ceptorie ib’m
vnu’ Capellanu’ apud Bodmescomb’ et vnu’ Capellanu’
apud Durston diuina continuo ib’m celebraturos durante
termi’o p’dieto Necnon victu’ et camera’ pro vno Cap°
d’ce priorisse atq’ vietu’ pro seniscallo domus eiusd’m
Priorisse et p’ famulo suo cu’ duob’ bigat’ feni antin eod’m
termi’o durante Prouiso semp’ q’ dietus fürmarius et

104 APPENDIX.

assignati sul dabunt et soluent an” durante dieto termi’o
d’no Alexandro Vernay capellano celebranti apud Bodmes-
comb’ camera’ cu’ focali suo ib’m et octo marcas sterlingor’
no’ie stipendij sui ef; pro vietu et vestitu sno sc’dm tenore’
carte sub sigillo n’ro com’j eid’m d’no Alexandro facte pro
termi’o vite sue. Ir’m p’dietus firmarius et assignati sui
soluent priorisse et Con’ü de Bucland p’diet? anti p’
pensione sua consueta xxij! atq’ seniscallo curiar” diete
p’ceptorie p’tinenciu’ feodu’ sun” Necnon om’ia alia on’a
ordinaria et extraordinaria diete preceptorie incumbencia
& imponenda p’dietus fürmarius et assign’ sui supportabu’t
sumptib’ suis durante termi’o p’de’o Responsionib’ et
alijs subsidijs pro com’j thez° Rhodi impositis et imponendis
du’taxat exceptis REPARABUNT q’ dietus firmarius et
assign’ sul om’ia domos et edificia muros sepes clausuras et
fossatas diete p’ceptorie p’tinen’ durante termi’o predicto
eaq’ om’ia et sing’la in fine eiusd’m term’i nobis p’fato Priori
& suce’ n’ris in adeo bono statu quo ea recepit sursum
reddent et liberabunt P’uiso q’ si contingat aliqua
edificia diete p’ceptorie ad terra’ propt’ eor’ ruinam cadere
infra de’m term’ In tali casu nos p’dietus Prior et suce’ n’ri
edificia illa nostris su’ptib’ de nouo edificabim’ illag’ sie
de nouo edificata p’dietus fiirmarius & assignati sul eor’
sumptib’ postmodu’ reparabu’t et manutenebu’t durante
termi’o p’dieto Ir’m dietus firmarius et assign’ sul expensas
mi’stror’ nostri p’dieti Prioris et suce’ n’ror” cu’ quing’ velsex
equis venienciu’ bis p’ annu’ ad sup’vidend’ d’cam p’ceptoria’
velad tenend’ curias ib’m vel ad renouand’ rentalia et alias
evidencias per tres vel quatuor dies et tot noctes supportare
tenea’t" durante termi’o p’dieto HABEBUNT q’ dietus firma-
rius et assign’ sui housebote ffyrebote ploughbote cartbote
hedgebote harobote et ffoldebote in et de boscis ac subboseis
diete p’ceptorie p’tinentib’ p’ assignaco’em mi’stror’ nostri
p’dieti P’oris et suce’ nostror’ capiend’ et in dieta p’ceptoria
rac’onabilit’ et sine vasto expendend’ durante termi’o p’dicto
ET BENE liceb‘ nobis p’dieto Priori et suce’ atq’ mi’stris
n’ris quando nobis placu’it sup’videre dieta’ p’ceptoria’
nostra’ cu’ suis p’tinen’ Necnon tene’ curias et face’
rent’lia atq’ territoria terrar’ et ten’tor’ p’diete preceptorie
durante termi’o p’dieto Prouiso q’ dietus ffirmarius et assign’
sui habebu’t et p’eipie’t p’fieua d’ear’ Curiar’ eod’m termi’o
durante dietus q’ firmarius et assignati sui liberabu’t nobis

MYNCHIN BEUCKLAND PRIORY. 105

p’d’co Priori et suce’ n’ris in fine d’ei term’j om’es rotulos
euriar’ et rentalia tam antiqua q*m noua que p’uenient ad
manus suas durante termi’o pdieto PROUISO semp’ q’ non
licebit p’dieto Joh’i Vernay statum quem habet in p’dieta
p’ceptoria alicui alteri dimittere sine lice’cia nostri p’dicti
P’oris et suce’ n’ror’ durante termi’o p’dietto ET sı cox-
TINGAT dictu’ an’uale’ redditu’ Ixxxxiij" vj* viij! sterlingor’
a retro fore in parte vel in toto et non solut’ post aliquem
terminu’ soluco'is sup’ius specificatu’ per duos menses Tunc
bene licebit nobis predieto Priori et suce’ n’ris in p’dieta’
p’ceptoria’ cu’ suis jurib’ et pertinen’ vniu’s’ reintrare eaq’
om’ia et sing’la vt in pristino statu n’ro retin’e p’ntidimissione
in aliquo non obstante PROUISO semp’ q’ cu’ p’ficua Con-
fratriar’ que sunt parcelle reuencionu’ diete p’ceptorie ex-
timantur ad annuale’ valore’ IxxxxijÜ: Ideirco si contingat
&" dn’m n’r’'m papa’ modernu’ siue success’ suos suspend’e
dictas confr’jas aliguo tempore durante termi’o p’ntis indent’e
Tune p’dietus Joh’es Vernay fürmarius et assign’ sui durante
illa suspenc’one non erunt onerati cu’ dieta integra annuali
firma Ixxxxiijl vj° viij@ sed du’taxat erunt computabiles sup’
eor” sacramentu’ p’dicto Priori et succ’ suis de tantis pecunijs
quas recipient ex nuncijs confi”iar’ p’dietar’ pro dietis con-
fiYjjs et de illis du’taxat pecunijs facient soluc’onem p’dieto
Priori & suce’ suis dura’te suspencione p’dicta atq’ de residuo
pecuniar” carente ex dicta su'ma Ixxxxij! pro confr’ijs idem
ffirmarius et assign’ sui allocac’onem habebu’t in p’dieta
eor’ annuali firma Nonaginta et triu’ librar” sex solidor’
et octo denarior” durante suspenco’e p’dieta ET AD OM’ES
et sing’las conuenco’es p’dietas ex parte p’dicti Joh’is
Vernay fürmarij et assign’ suor’ cu’ efi”tu p’implendas
idem Joh’es Vernay obligat se heredes et executores suos
p’dieto Priori & succ’ suis In ducentis libris sterlingor’ p’
p’sentes In cuıus Rei testi’om tam sigillu’ n’r’'m co’e q’m
sigillu’ p’dieti Joh’is Vernay p’ntib’ indenturis alt’nati’ sunt
appensa Dar’ in domo n’ra de Clerkenwell prope London
in Assemblia n’ra tent’ ib’m vicesimo die Januarij a° d’ni
Mill’mo Quingentesimo PROU1so semp’ q’ dietus fiirmarius
et assign’ sui in fine p’dicti term’i dimittent et liberabu’t
preceptori de Buclande p’dict’ p’ tempore existen’ om’ia
orname’ta capelle ib’m sim’l cu? to° stauro viuo & mortuo
specificato in dorso p’nt’ indenture Dat’ ut sup“.

VOL. X., 1860, PART II, je)

106 APPENDIX,

No. XIX.
[Miscell. Books, Off. Aug,, vol. 245., no. 128.]

BUKELOND.—Here ffoloweth the yerely pencons or anuy-
ties grauntyd by the Kinges hishnes to
the late P’ores and Nunes of the late
surrendryd howse of Buckelonde in the
countie of Som’sett. And they and eu’y
of them to haue there halfe yeres penc’on
at th’anuncac’on of 0" ladye next cumyng
whiche shalbe in the yere of o"lorde god
a thowsande fyve hundreth xxxix, and
soo from halfe yere to halfe yere during
there lyves and the lyfe of eu’y of them—

That is to say
Ffurst to Katheryn Bowser p’oresse pi
for her yerely penc’on
To Margaret Sydnam supp’ores ij xijj° imj@

To Julyan Kendall .. “0. U ae
To Jone Hyll + oe
To Anne Plumm .. =
To Tomysyn Huntyngton oe
To Katheryn Poph’m a. Al
To Anne Maunsell .. ..Ayl
To Mary Dodyngton .. Ani
To Ales Emerforde .. WE
To Jane Babyngton .. o.. 107%
To Mary Mathew .. 30
To Agnes Mathew .. ie
To Isabell Grene .. =,
To S’s Willem Mawdesley co’fes- } ee
sor and p’fessyd in there order $_")

Sm? of the yerely pensions cevijl
Jo. Tregonwell.

William Petre.

No. XX.
[Card. Pole’s Pension Book, fol. xxix.]
Alex’ı Popham capitl’ Senf
ffeod’ ib’m p’ seript? Abb’is et } c®
Conven’ p’ a’

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 107

Sup’d’ci Alex’i Popham

p’ annu? ab ilr.it
Joh’nis Tregonwell p’
Ant annu’ rd
WilPi Portema’ mil’
p’ annu’ er xxvj° vilj@
Buckeland Joh’nis Butler p’annu’ xiij* iiij!
nup’ monast’iu’
Johanne Hille p’ annu’ ij
Thomasine Huntingdon p’
annu’ ar A 1

Kat’ine Pophame p’ annu’ iijii

Anne Maundefeld p’ annu’ iijli

Pene Johanne Bavington p’annu’ iijli
Elisabeth Grene p’ annu’ ij
Agnes Mathewe p’ annu’ ij
| Willi Maudesley cl’ie’ p’
annu’ . BER ii),
No. XXI

[Abstract of Orig. 36 Hen. VIIL,p.1,r. xxxviii.]
P’ Comite Rex om’ib’ ad quos &e.
Essex Jacobo Rokeby salt'm Sciatis q’d nos p’ sum’a
WilPo Ibgrabe Joh’e mille quadraginta nouem librar”
Cokke Edwardo Rogers vndecim solidor’ duor’ denarior’
& Edwardo Bury sibi & & vnius oboli legalis monete

e)

hered’. Angl’ ad manus &ec.

p’dil’e’m & fidelem consangui-

neu’ & consiliariu’ n’r’'m Comi-
tem Essex ac p’ dil’cos nob’ Jacobum Rokeby armig’um
Will’m Ibgrabe armig’um Joh’em Cokke Edwardum Rogers
et Edwardum Bury armig’os ———— totam dom &
Scitum nup’ monast’jj de Buckland in Com’ n’ro Som’s’
modo dissoluto ac om’ia terr” prata pasturas & heredita-
menta n’ra vocat’ seu cognit’ p’ nomen vel p’ no’i’a de
fouretene acres Newland Purches Staplehayes Roden
Lobbis Harys Horlocke Meade Hurte Meade Longe
Meade & Sixe acres Meade seu quocumg’ alio no’re aut
quibuscumg’ aliis no’ib’ sciant" censeant" vel cognoscant“
cum om’ib’ ear’ p’tin’ modo vel nup’ in tenura siue occu-

108 APPENDIX.

paco’e d’ci Edwardi Rogers vel assign’ suor’ iacen’ &
existen’ in Bucklande alias diet” Buckland Soror’ in d’co
Com’ Som’s’ d’co nup’ Monast’io de Buckland dudum
spectan’ vel p’tinen’ ac parcell’ possessionu’ inde existen’ ac
in manib’ cultura & occupaco’e p’pria nup’ Priorisse illius
nup’ Monast’ij) de Buckland tempore dissoluco’is eiusdenı
nup’ Monast’ij reseruat” existen’ Ac om’es illos boscos n’ros
& t’ras n’ras vocat’ Riden Coppes & Wynsell Wood
continen’ p’ estimaco’em decem acras cum eor’ p’tin’
vniu’sis in Buckland Necnon om’ia domos edificia
horrea stabula columbaria ortos pomaria gardina tram &
solum n’ra quecumg’ infra Scitum Septum ambitum cir-
cuitum & p’einetum d’ci nup’ Monast’jj de Buckland
existen’ ac om’ia & singula co’ias vias semitas easiamenta
com’oditates p’fieua & emolumenta quecumgq’ in Buckland et
Mighelchurche & Northpetherton p’dict’ diet’ t’ris pratis &
pasturis in Buckland & Mishelchurche p’diet? quoquo
modo spectan’ vel p’tinen? & cum eisdem vsitat’ seu occu-
pat’ existen’ Aceciam totam illam Rectoriam n’ram &
eccl’iam n’ram siue Capellam n’ram de Mighelchurche
cum p’tin’ in d’co Com’ n’ro Som’s’ d’co nup’ Monast’io
de Buckland dudum spectan’ & p’tinen’ Necnon om’es
& om’imod’ decimas blador’ garbar’ o“nor’ feni lane &
agnellor’ ac alias decimas minutas ac oblaco’es obuenco’es
& p’ficua quecumg’ in Mighelchurche & Buckland p’d’eis
& alıbi vbicumg’ d’ce Rectorie et eccl’ie siue Capelle de
Mighelehurche quoquo modo spectan’ vel p’tinen’

Et que quidem Seitus d’ci nup’ Monast’ij de Buckland ac
p’dict’ terr’ prata pascue pastur’ decime ac cet’a p’missa
in Buckland Northpetherton & Michelchurche p’d’eis modo
extendunt‘ ad clar’ annuu’ valorem septuaginta quing’
solidor’ & octo denarior ——— H’end’ &c. in capite p’
s’uiciu’ vicesime partis vnius feodi militis ac reddendo
annuatim &c. ——— pro p’d’eis t’ris ten’ pratis pascuis
pasturis reetoria decimis & cet’is p’missis in Buckland &
Mighelehurche p’diet” septem solidos & septem denarios
sterlingor’ ad festum S’ei Mich’is Arch’i singulis
annis soluend’ ‚Ac p’t’q’m de Centum sex solidis
& octo denarijs annuatim soluend’ p’ stipendio Curat’
diuina celebrant’ in eccl’ia siue Capella de Mighelchurche
p’die? ——— In cuius &c. T. R. apud Westm’ xxx
die Juni].

DB en

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 109

No. XXI.
[Abstract of Orig. 36 Hen. VIII., p. 3, rot. xij.]

Rex om’ib’ ad quos &e. salt'm Seiatis q’ nos p’ su’'ma
septingentar’ quinquaginta quatuor librar’ septendecim
solidor’ & octo denarior’ bone & legalis monete n’re Anglie
Will’m Porteman s’uientem n’r’m adlegem & Alex-
andrum Poph’m armig’m p’ manib’ bene & fidelit’ solut’
de quaquidem sum’a septigentarr &c ——— totum illud
maniu’ n’r’m de Northpetherton aliasNorthpederton in Com’
n’ro Som’s’ cum om’ib’ & singulis suis iurib’ membr’ &
p’tin’ uniu’sis nup’ Prioratui de Bukland in de’o Com’ n’ro
Som’s’ modo dissolut’ dudum spectan’ & p’tinen’ ac parcell’
possessionu’ reuencionu’ seu p’ficuor’ inde existen’ ac totum
situm eiusdem man’ij ac om’ia t’ras d’nicales prata pascua &
pastur’ cum suis p’tin’ eidem man’io p’tin’ seu spectan’ Ace-
tiam totum illum boscum n’r’m vulgarit’ vocat’ Barwoode
iacen’ & existen’ in Northpetherton alias Northpederton
p’d’ca continen’ p’ estimac’oem octo acras t’re & bosei cum
p’tin’ Neenon om’ia illa mesuagia t’ras & ten’ prata pascua &
pastur’ n’ra cum suis p’tin’iacen’ & existen’ in Gotton infra
parochiam de Westemonketon in d’eo Com’ n’ro Som’s’ d’co
nup’ prioratui Bukeland dudum spectan’ & pertinen’ in
tenuris sine occupaco’ib’ Ric’i Warr Armig’ Rob’ti Warr
Willi Hare & Weltheane Merkes vidue Necnon
om’ia mesuagia tofta domos edificia orrea stabula colum-
baria molendina ortos gardina pom’ia t’ras ten’ prata &c.
boscos subboscos — aquas stagna viuaria gurgites —
piscaco’es, co’ias, vasta &c— feod’milit’ &c—in Northpether-
ton alias Northpederton Michelehurche Bromfeld Brymton
Raiff Wollauington & Mirelinche ac in Gotton in d’ca
parochia de Westmonekton — aut alib’ vbicumg’ in eodem
Com’ n’ro Som’s’ Necnon mesuag’ &e in Ayshe &
Thornfavcon in d’co Com’ n’ro Som’s’ Necnon vnu’
ten? & mesuagiu’ n’r’'m cum suis p’tin’ iacen’ & existen’ in
parochia de Bromefeld in d’eco Com’ n’ro Som’s’ nup’
prioratui de Taunton in d’co Com’ n’ro Som’s’ modo
dissolut’ dudum spectan’ & p’tinen’ &e Acetiam aliud
mesuagiu’ in Bromefeld modo in tenura seu occupaco’e
cuiusdam Joh’is PylIman ——— Neenon terr’ in Kyngeshyl]
in parochia de Spaxton in d’co Com’ n’ro Som’s’ d’co nup’
prioratui de Taunton dudum spectan’ &e Insup’

110 APPENDIX.

totum illud man’iu’ firmam & grang? n’ra’ de Olaveshey cum
p’tin’ in parochijs de Northepetherton & Bromefelde p’d’eis
Necnon totum illud Capitale mesuagiu’ domum situm &
capitalem mancionem man’ij firme & grangie n’ror” de
Claveshey p’d’ca modo siue nup’ in tenura siue dimissione
d’ei Willi Portman vel assign’ suor’ nup’ monast’io
de Athelney in d’co Com’ n’ro Som’s modo dissolut’
dudum spectan’ & pertinen’ Necnon boscum n’r’m vulgarit’
vocat’ Chalveshey Wood continen’ p’ estimaco’em decem
acras t’re & bosci ac boscum n’r’m vocat’ Holesey Wood
continen’ p’ estimaco’em quing’ acras t’re & bosci iacen’ &
existen’ in Northepetherton p’d’ca cum p’tin’ d’co nup’
monast’io de Athelney p’tinen’ & spectan —— Necnon
om’ia & singula domos &c d’co man’io firme & grangie
aliquo modo spectan’ &c. Quequidem in Northepether-
ton Michelchurche Bromfeld Brymton Raiff Wollauington
Mirelinche & Gotton d’co nup’ Prioratui de Bucland
dudum spectan’ & p’tinen’ sunt clari annui valoris viginti
triu’ librar’ septemdecim solidor’ & quatuor denarior’

Ac quequidem in Ayshe & Thornefavcon sunt clari annui
valoris quadraginta septem solidor’ & sex dena ——— Et
quequidem in Bromefeld & Spaxton quadraginta
vnius solidor’ & octo denar’ Et quequidem maner’
&e. de Claveshey —- nouem libra” —— Reddend’
annuatim p’ Northepetherton &e. triginta octo solidos
p’ Gotton nouem solidos vnu’ denariu’ & vnu’ obulum
p’ Ayshe & Thornfaveon quatuor solidos & nouem
denarios p’ Bromefeld & Spaxton quatuor solidos &
duos denarios p’ Claveshey octodecim solidos In
eujus rei &c. T. R. apud Westm’ xiij die Octobr’.

No. XXIIL
[Abstract of Orig. 36 Hen. VIII., p. 8, rot. xvii.]

Rex om’ib’ ad quos &e. salt'm. Sciatis qd nos p’ sum’a
nonnigentar’ nonaginta nouem librar’ sexdeeim solidor’ &
septem denarior’ legalis monete Angl’ &c. p’ Alex’m
Popham armig’um & Will’m Halley gen’osum ——— totum
illud man’iu’ & totam illam nup’ Preceptoriam n’ram de
Bucklond Pryours in Com’ n’ro Som’s’ cum man’io de

Halse ac om’ib’ alijs man’ijs t’ris tentis p*tis pascuis pasturis

MYNCHIN BUCKLAND PRIORY. 111

redditib’ reu’sionib’ s’uicijjs & cet’is hereditamentis quibus-
eumg’ iacen’ & existen’ in d’co Com’ n’ro Som’s’ d’ce nup’
P’ceptorie de Buckelond Priours p’tin’ cum om’ib’ alijs
suis iurib’ membris & p’tin’ vniu’sis ——— modo velnup’ in
tenura dimissione siue occupaco’e p’fati Willi Halley vel
assign’ suor” Necenon Rectoriam & ecel’iam imp’priatam
de Halse ac om’es & singulas alias Rectorias & ecel’ias
imp’priat’ n’ras d’ce Preceptorie p’tinen’ ac om’es glebas
deeimas penciones porco’es oblaco’es obuenco’es fruct’
commoditates p’ficua emolumenta & hereditamenta n’ra
quecumg’ tam spiritualia q’m temporalia cuiuscumgq' sint
gen’is ——— necnon aduocaco’es & iura pr’onat’ Rectoriar”
& eccl’iar’ p’dict’. Ac etiam om’ia illa duo man’ia n’ra de Bod-
mescombe & Covein Com’ n’ro Deuon’cum om’ib’ &e.

Neenon aduocaco’es donaco’es p’sentaco’es &e. eccl'ie &
Rectorie de Hethefeld & eccl’ie & R’torie de Halse ——
Neenon totum illum boscum & grouam n’ram voc’ Wynsell
Groue continen’ p’ estimaco’em quatuor acras t're & boseci
ac totam illam boscum & grouam n’ram vocat’ Peryfeld
Groue continen’ p’ estimaco’em quatuor acras t’re & bosei
ac totam illam grouam n’ram vocat’ Bowyers Grove
continen’ p’ estimaco’em duodecim acras bosci & vasti ac
totum illum boscum & vastum n’r’m vocat’ Bodmescombe
Wood continen’ p’ estimaco’em triginta quing’ acras bosci
& vasti necnon duodecim acras t’re ac sexdecim acras
tre & viginti septem acras t’re vocat’ Vprynges of
Wood parcell’ d’ce nup’ P’ceptorie de Bucklond
Pryours Insuper dominiu’ & man’iu’ de Thurlebare
&c. nup’ Prioratui de Taunton spectan’ &e.
Ac mesuagiu’ &e. vocat’ Playstrete &e. nup’ Prioratui de
Taunton &c. Ac redditum viginti & quatuor solid’ nouem
denar’ & vnius obuli vocat’ le Thurchetts exeun’de quibus-
dam t’ris &e. in Thurlebare Et vnu’ clausum bosei
vocat’ le Pryours Wood continen’ tresdeeim acras bosci
Neenon totum maneriu’ & dominiu’ n’r’'m de Tobrydge cum
om’ib’ suis iurib’ &e. in parochia S’ei Jacobi iuxta Taunton
Prioratui de Taunton spectan’ &e. Que quid’m man’iu’ &
nup’ Preceptoria de Buckelond Priours vna cum d’co man’io
de Halse ac om’ib’ alijs man’ijs &e. sunt de claro annuo
valore triginta vnius librar’ nouemdeeim solidor’ & duor’
denarior’ decima inde nob’ p’ p’sentes reseruat’ non deduct’
et que quidem vicaria est de claro annuo valore quingq’

112 APPENDIX.

librar’ nouemdecim solidor’ quinque denarior’ & vnius
obuli decima inde nob’ res’uata non deducta. Et que
quidem Rectoria de Hethefeld &c. nouem librar’ & quatuor
solidor’ decima inde &c. reseruat’ non deduct’—-P’ceptoriam
de Bucklond Pryours ac Halse tenend’ in capite p’ s’uiciw’
militare videl’t p’ vicesimam partem vnius feodi militis, acred-
dend’ &c. p’ Buckelond & Halse tres libras tres solidos &
vndecim denarios bone & legalis monete n’re Angl’
p’ Tobrydge decem solidos & septem denarios p’ Thurle-
bare quatuordecim solidos & quing’ denarios ad
festum S’ei Mich’is Arch’i singulis annis soluend’ In
cuius rei &c. T. R. apud Westm’ xvj die ffebruarij anno
R. sui tricesimo sexto.

No. XXIV.
[Abstract of Orig. 2 Edw. VL,p.1;r. xlv.]

Rex om’ib’ ad quos &e. salt’m Sciatis &e. p’ sex lıbris
tresdeeim solidis & quatuor denarijs&e. concessim’ dil’co
nob’ Will’o Halley gen’oso q’d ipse unu’ capitale mesuagiu’
suu’ vocat’ Buckelond Priors cum p’tin’ ac duo gardina
duo pomaria ducentas acras t’re triginta sex acras prati
sexaginta tresdecim acras pasture & duas acras t're aque
coop’tas cum p’tin’ in Buckland Priors & Coglod in Com’
Som’s’ que de nob’ tenent‘ in capite ut dicit” dare possit
& concedere alienare confirmare aut cognosc’e p’ finem in
Cur’ n’ra &e. dil’eis nob’ Joh’i Cuffe & Joh’i Tynbery
h’end’ & tenend’ sibi & hered’ suis &c. Et eisdem Joh’i
& Joh’i &c. de p’fato Will’o recip’e possint & ten’e &ec.
similit’ licenciam dedim’ ac dam’ sp’alem Et vlt/ius con-
cessim’ &e. p’fatis Joh’i & Joh’i q’d ipi Capitale mesuagiu’
p’d’em ac om’ia & singula p'missa cum p’tin’ dare concedere
& recognosc’e possint p’fato WilPo & Margarete vx’i eius
h’end’ & tenend’ eisdem Will’o & Margareta ac hered’ &ec.
liceneiam dedim’ & dam’ sp’alem In cujus &e. T.R.
apud Westm’ xiij die Februarij.

TH.

Armarks on same Ancient Seulpturet Dtanes

STILL PRESERVED IN THIS ISLAND,

AND ON OTHERS ONCE KNOWN TO EXIST,
PARTICULARLY THOSE RECORDED TO
HAVE STOOD IN THE CEMETERY OF THE ABBEY
AT GLASTONBURY.

BY THE REV. H. M. SCARTH, M.A,

HE subject of ancient sculptured stones has of late

attracted considerable attention ; elaborate engra-

vings of them have been published, and the inscriptions,

where still preserved, carefully recorded, and many con-

jectures hazarded as to the origin of the ornaments which
cover their surfaces.

The Spalding Club published in 1856 a very remarkable
collection of drawings of sculptured stones found in Scot-
land; and these, ranging from early ages to medisval
times, afford a rich field for investigation, and in the course
of time may lead to some very valuable results, when the
attention of antiquaries shall have been more particularly
bestowed on them. The stone crosses of the Isle of Man
have also been treated of by the Rev. J. G. Cumming, and

VOL. X., 1860, PART II. P

114 PAPERS, ETC.

engravings given, by which comparison may be made of
Manx crosses with those of other places.* Mr. Petrie in
his work on the round towers of Ireland gives information
also of the crosses existing in that island, and the various
careful engravings and notices in the Journal of the Arche-
ological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, and other
similar publications, not to mention the abundant materials
in the Arche@ologia, especially the late Mr. Kemble’s valu-
able papers (vols. xxviii and xxix) and his comparison of
Runic alphabets, all afford facility for elucidating a class of
monuments, of which less notice has been taken than they
deserve, and many of which have been destroyed for want
of suflicient knowledge of their value. Moreover, from
time to time portions of these crosses are brought to light,
in digging graves in church-yards, enlarging the foundation
of churches, or building schools, which are often overlooked,
aud suffered to be broken up, because their historical value
is not known. A very remarkable instance of this kind
came to my knowledge not long ago, but happily a frag-
ment of the original has been saved fromi destruction, but
the inscription which in all probability was upon the
upright pillar has been destroyed.

I cannot help joining in the wish expressed by the
writer of an able and very interesting article in the Journal
of the Arch@ological Association for March, 1859, “On
Ancient Sculptured Stones,” that the different sculptured
stones of England and Wales which have been separately
engraved, and are now to be sought for in a variety of
publications, could be brought together in a well-edited
volume, since a careful comparison of their details would
prove an immense assistance to antiquaries. "There are,

* Runie and other Monumental Remains of the Isleof Man, by the
Rev. J. G. Cumming, m.a. London, Bell and Daldy.

N

an

ANCIENT SCULPTURED STONES. 115

however, some stones of the highest interest which have
not yet been accurately engraved, and the value of the
insceriptions preserved in them not fully appreciated.*
Much is due to the labour of Mr. Haigh, who has lately
directed attention to the very curious shaft of a cross
preserved in the chancel of Hackness Church, near Scarbro’,
Yorkshire. In 1854, when I first saw this relique, and
could distinguish inseriptions in three different characters
—besides the Latin, which could be read without much
difieulty—I found that little had been done to elucidate
the monument. The Scarbro’ guide had given a notice of
it, with an imperfeet engraving. The author of “ Church
Rides in the neighbourhood of Scarbro’” in treating of
St. Peter’s Church, Hackness, had described it as S%.
Hilda’s Monument, considering it to be (in accordance with
the opinion of the late Rev. Canon Harcourt) “a monu-
mental stone erected to the memory of the Lady St. Hilda.’
The care, however, bestowed by Mr. Haigh upon these

„n

curious inseriptions has shewn that this is not the case,
and that the fragments of stone are portions of one or more
memorial crosses, erected to commemorate the more dis-

* The fragments of two Saxon crosses are preserved in the Museum of
the Literary and Scientific Institution in Bath, which were dug up many
yearsago, Mr, Westwood directed attention to these, and sent drawings
of tlıem to the Archxological Institute, which are engraved in the 3rd vol.
of the Journal, p.356. They were preserved among the Roman Sculptures,
and had been figured in Carter’s Ancient Architectural Remains of England,
pl. 8, fig. A, and deseribed as “the fragments of a Roman Temple at Bath.”
The style of ornament is by no means Roman, but when compared with
those ornaments which distinguish the Saxon cerosses which still remain
perfect, as well as with the ornaments of early Saxon MSS,, leave the
matter beyond doubt. These fragments are very interesting as being the
only remnant of the Saxon Monastery once existing on the site of the
present Abbey Church. See Warner’s Hisiory of Bath, Britton’s Bath
Abbey, &c. “ A.D. 676, Osrie King of the Huiceii founded a Religious
House in Bath, under Bretana, to whom he gave 100 manentes or tenants
in the neighbourhood of the city, to assist in erecling the Convent.”

116 PAPERS, ETC.

tinguished members of the community of Hackness, but
that the name of St. Hilda does not occur.*

Mr. Boutell in his work on Christian Monuments in
England and Wales, (London 1854) makes mention of
this monument, as one of the fine specimens of upright
stone memorial cerosses, “the known existing remains of
which are very few in number, while in their character they
are generally somewhat uncertain and indefinite.”

“Memorials of this class,” says he, “almost invariably
exhibit the symbol of the cross, accompanied with a pro-
fusion of interlaced and knotted carving, and they have
some brief legend. A most interesting fragment of such a
memorial is preserved in the chancel of Hackness Church,
in Yorkshire, and may possibly commemorate St. Hilda
herself, the foundress of an abbey at that place.” He then
refers, for his authority on this point, to the Churches of
Scarbro’ and its Neighbourhood, p. 44, where he says this
eurious relique is figured and fully described, in what he
calls “a model guide book.”

We will now examine what information we derive from
this stone, and whether these suppositions are well founded ;
and here I must express the obligation I have been under
to Mr. Haigh for his exertions in deciphering the inscrip-
tions. Having called his attention more particularly to
this relique, by sending him sketches and impressions in
paper, taken on the spot, he afterwards obtained more
complete impressions, and through them has been enabled
to decipher what remains of three of the inscriptions.
The key to the characters of the fourth has, I believe, not
yet been found.

“ This stone,”” says he, “is the remains of a cross, such

* See Notes on the History of St. Begu and St. Hild. Proctor, Hartle-
pool, 1856.

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ANCIENT SCULPTURED STONES. 117

as was usually in the seventh or following centuries erected
to mark the graves of persons of distinetion. Many such
remain, and we have historical mention of others. This
cross commemorates members of the religious community
at Hackness, and as such, imperfect as it is, it is very
important.”

The uppermost stone has on the north side a knot; on
the south a scroll; and on the east and west the following
inscription :

OEDILBURGA BEATA AD SEMPER TE RECOLANT AMANTES
PIE DEPOSCANT REQUIEM VERNANTEM SEMPITERNAM
SANCTORUM PIA MATER APOSTOLICA.

Which may be rendered :—“ Blessed CEdilburga, may
they always remember thee, dutifully loving thee; may
they ask for thee the verdant everlasting rest of the Saints,

O Holy Mother, Apostolic.”

The word “ Apostolica” being separated from what pre-
cedes it, may be the commencement of another similar
inscription, but this is conjectural, and I am inclined to
think that it is only a continuation, as it will be seen that
the next inscription ends with MATER AMANTISSIMA—each
being epithets suited to the characters commemorated.

2. In the next inscription the stone is broken away,
and only a portion of the letters can be made out. These,
according to Mr. Haigh, are * «x *x ETB * * GA which
would form part of the name Huaetburga, and the inscrip-
tion be read as follows :

HUAETBURGA SEMPER TE AMENT MEMORES
DOMUS TUAE TE MATER AMANTISSIMA.

Rendered thus :—“ Huaetburga, may thy houses always
love thee, remembering thee, most loving mother.”

The latter part of the first inseription is carelessly cut,
and therefore very difieult to read, but the reading given

118 PAPERS, ETC.

by Mr. Haigh seems borne out by expressions in Bieda’s
Homilies. In both these inscriptions are several blunders
in the eutting of the letters, some omitted or redundant, in
some cases wrong letters used.

If, however, anything more can be made out, or any mis-
take has been committed in the reading, it is likely to be
rectified, as the Society of Antiquaries have had drawings
of this cross, as well as careful tracings of the inscriptions,
submitted to them, so that it is hoped in time full justice
may be done to these interesting remains which commemo-
rate ladies of singular piety in a rude and barbarous age.

Of the persons herein commemorated, OEDILBURGA is
doubtless the abbess who accompanied ZEiled to visit King
Aldfrid on his death bed, and who reported to Eddi, St.
Wilfred’s biographer, what transpired on the occasion, A.D.
705.* This Oedilburga appears to be twice mentioned in
the Chronicles of John of Wallingford. Oedilburga, Hwt-
burga, and Ecgburga were three sisters, daughters of King
Aldwulf, King of the East Angles, and successively
abbesses of tlıe monastery at Hackness, founded by their
great aunt.

The name at the commencement of the second inscription
is read by Mr. Haigh, HUETBURGA, an abbess of this name
occurring in the epistles of St. Boniface. It appears from
two letters, one written A.D. 717, the other after A.D. 723,
that Huxtburga had resigned her charge some time before
the first was written, and gone on a pilgrimage to Rome.

It will be remarked that this inscription differs from the
others, and seems to imply that she was then living, as
there is no prayer for the repose of the departed soul, as in
the other inscription.

* See Notes on the History of St. Begu and St. Hild., p. 30.

ANCIENT SCULPTURED STONES. 119

3. The lowest stone is defaced on the north side. On the
south are the lower extremities of two monsters common
on Saxon crosses. On the east are inscriptions in characters
resembling Irish Oghams, and frequently found on Irish and
Scotch monuments. These have been engraved in an essay
on Cryptice Inseriptions on the Cross at Hackness, in York-
shire, by the Rev. D. H. Haigh, who observes that it
is cut upon the fragment which bears the name of Trecea,
and therefore must be of the eighth century, and although it
differs from Ogham inseriptions in wanting their essential
characteristics of the stem line, and the vertical direction
of the writing, it agrees with them in having its characters
composed of simple strokes, varying in number from one to
five, and of the groups thus composed there are five, two
characters at its commencement which do not belong to
any of these groups being possibly monograms. The inter-
course which existed in the seventh century between the
monasteries of England and Ireland will readily account for
the existence of an Ogham inscription in one of these monas-
teries in England.

I may here observe with reference to these characters
that a stone bearing Irish Oghams has lately been found
in Devonshire, and a drawing of it was placed in the
Museum of the Archzological Institute at Gloucester,
July, 1860.

4. On the west side occurs the following inscription :

TRECEA ORA (PRO EO)

ABBATISSA

OEDILBURGA ORATE PRO
“Trecea pray for him, Abbess Oedilburga pray for ”

Amongst the epistles of St. Boniface there is one from
Trecea to St. Lul, St. Boniface’s successor in the episcopate
of Mayence, written about A.D. 756. This is probably the

120 PAPERS, ETC.

person commemorated, and this inscription is therefore
later than those before mentioned, and the fragment in
which it occurs may have belonged to another monument.

And as the name (CEdilburga follows Trecea, this is
probably a different person from the abbess mentioned in
the longer inscription.

5. On the other fragment are two lines of an inscription
in Runiec characters, much defaced, and carelessly cut, then
some lines in a character resembling fir trees, but really a
character of which an example has lately been found in the
West of England, and then the word “oRA.”

6. The other side has above the head of a female figure

BVGGA VIRGO
Two ladies of this name are mentioned in the epistles of S.
Boniface, one the daughter of Centwine, King of the West
Saxons who built a church within her father’s dominions.

There are two letters written by St. Boniface to her,
about A.n. 733; and one from Bregowine, Archbishop of
Canterbury, to St. Lul, about A.D. 760, records her death.
Another lady of this name is mentioned in a letter from
the Abbess Cangith to St. Boniface, about A.D. 730. Mr.
Haigh conjectures this to be the person whose name occurs
in the Hackness monument. We have, therefore, in this
interesting monument ihree inscriptions in Latin—one in
Ogham characters ; one in Runic ; one in what appears to
be Irish-Ogham ; and these contain the following names,
though more may be found when the two inscriptions as
yet undeciphered shall have been made out:

1. CEdilburga.
. Huetburga (?).
Trecea.
CEdilburga.
Bugga.

ann m

ANCIENT SCULPTURED STONES. 121

All of which are confirmed by letters of that age, and
attesting the rank, worth, and position of the ladies here
commemorated.

BEWCASTLE CROSS.

The cross at Bewecastle is 14 ft. 6 in. high, and stands in
its. original position. The western face has in it a figure
of St. John the Baptist, pointing with his right hand to
the Lamb of God, whose symbol rests on his left arm.
Above this is an imperfect inseription ; below it another
in two lines, in Runic characters, containing the name of
our Blessed Lord :

+ GESSUS
CRISTTUS

with a majestic figure beneath in an arched recess, holding
a scroll in his hand, and giving his blessing with the right,
and trampling in Doemons, represented by swine. Then
follows the inseription in Runic, in nine lines, seven only
of which are given in the account of it in the Archeological
Journal (see vol. X1., p. 130, 1854). The reading of the
nine lines is thus given by Mr. D. H. Haigh::

»K THISSIGBEC
UNSETTEH
WETREDEOM
GERF(LW)*OLD
UEFTERBARE
UMBCYNING
ALCFRIDEG
ICEGEDHE
OSUMSAWLUM

* Read also, }B B.
VOL. X., 1860, PART II. Q

122 PAPERS, ETC.

To be translated thus:
This Beacon of honor
set Hwatred
in the year of the great pestilence*
after the Ruler
after King Alcfrid
Pray for their Souls,
An effigy in profile is beneath in an arched recess, holding
a hawk in the left hand. The monument commemorates
Alcfrid, eldest son of King Oswin, who reigned in Deira
from about A.D. 655 to 664. The inscriptions on the other
sides, also in Runic characters, give the name of his father,
Oswie Cyning elt, ü.e. Oswin King the elder.
Of his brother, Ecgfrid Cyning.
Of his uncle, Oslaac Cyning.
Of his step-mother, Eanfled Cyningin.
Of his sister, Cyniswid.
And of his friend, Wilfrid, Preaster, elected Bishop of
York, A.D. 664.

THE RUTHWELL CROSS,
DUMFRIESSHIRE.T

It is certain that at a very early period the pillar was
erected in the church of Ruthwell, where it remained, and
was held in veneration till the time of the Reformation,
and even after that period was preserved from demolition
to the middle of the 17th century. In 1642 an order was
passed by the general assembly for the destruction of the
ancient monument as idolatrous, dated July 27, at St.

* Read also, “and carved (this) monument.”
rt See Memoir by Rev. H. Duncan, D.p., Minister of Ruthwell, read to
Soviety of Antiquaries of Scotland, 10th Deec., 1832.

ANCIENT SCULPTURED STONES. 123

Andrews. The order seems to have been but partially and
reluetantly obeyed. The column was thrown down and
broken in pieces, and some of the emblems, as the eruci-
fixion, were nearly obliterated, but after this it was allowed
to lie in the church beside the ancient site of the altar,
in the spot where it fell, and served for more than a
century as seats fo the congregation. In 1772 when seen
by Mr. Pennant, it was still lying within the church, but
soon after this removed to the church yard. In digging a
deep grave a portion was found buried, viz. that containing
the image of the Supreme Being, with the “ Agnus Dei,”
and on the reverse a representation of the upper part of
two human figures in the act of embracing. On applying
this fragment it was found to coincide with the other
portions. It had probably been surreptitiously buried
along with the body of some votary, and probably for the
purpose of concealment. The only fragment of the cross
appearing to be irretrievably lost is what contained the
transverse arms of the cross. The words in Latin still
traceable are
INGRESSVS ANGELVS
inscribed on the bar immediately above the heads of the
figures. On the left border on the fragment above tbe
wing of the angel
TECVM BE

referring to the Vulgate, Luke 1., 28.

“ Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit, ave gratia plena!
Dominus TEcum; Benedicta tu in mulieribus.”

The next compartment contains two figures, represent-
ing Christ in the act of curing a blind man. Legend:

ET PRAETERIENS VIDI * * * * A NATIBITATE,
ETS * * * * B INFIRMIT * * *

The first part a quotation from the Vulgate, John ıx., v. 1.

124 PAPERS, ETC.

“Et preteriens vidit hominem czcum a nativitate et
sanavit ab infirmitate.” B being put for V in the word
“ nativitate.”

Round the compartment containing the figure of the
woman washing the feet of Jesus with her tears and wiping
them with her hair the legend runs, (see Vulgate, Luke
Ix., 37, 38).

Also in another part MARIA ET JO, the rest obliterated,
no doubt the flight into Egypt.

Over another compartment SCS PAVLYS; and on the
border to the right ET A ; and on the left side FREGERVNT
PANEM IN DESERTO.

Above the compartment representing our Saviour tramp-
ling; on the heads of two swine, on the transverse border :

In 3XP23
on the right hand margin :
JVDEX ZQVITATIS SERTO* SALVATOREM MYNDI
and on the left:
BESTIE ET DRACONES COGNOVERVNT INDE

“ Jesus Christ the Judge of Righteousness, Him assu-
redly to be the Saviour of the world beasts and dragons
knew from thence,” alluding to the miracle of the devils
(dracones) sent into the herd of swine (besti»).

The lower compartment contains the image of the

Father standing on two globes or worlds, with the “ Agnus
Dei” in his bosom. Legend :

DORAMYVS—the A being obliterated.

The sides of this cross are covered with Runie charac-
ters, and according to Mr. Kemble’s explanation in the

* Serto for Certo (?).

*
ANCIENT SCULPTURED STONES. 125

Archeologia, vol. XXVII., p. 349, contain a poem, for the
interpretation of which I must refer to his elaborate and
erudite paper. We can but deplore the early loss of one
so deeply versed in Saxon antiquities, and so painstaking
in his researches. :

For further partieulars concerning the Cross at Ruth-
well, on the Scottish border, besides the Archaol. vol. 28,
p- 349, see Hicke’s Thes. Gram. Isl., tab. ıv., Gordon’s
Itinerarium Septentrionale, p. 160, also Soc. of Antig. of
Scotland Arch«ol. part II., 1834, from whence I have taken
this account, and which contains accurate and beautiful
drawings furnished by the Rev. Mr. Duncan to that
Society. “ Unhappily,” observes Mr. Kemble, “no early
copy was made of this, before the Presbyterian Iconoclasts,
in 1642, caused the cross to be flung down, and have
deprived us probably for ever of the hope of supplying the
missing portion of the inscription.”

But if this has been the fate of the Ruthwell monument,
of which we have these interesting reliques preserved, we
can but regret the entire loss of those once known to have
stood in the cemetery of the Abbey of Glastonbury. I
feel more anxious to call attention to the record that is left
of these, because I am not without hope that some remains
may yet be discovered ; as, like the Ruthwell, the Hack-
ness, and other crosses, portions may have been buried.
The Runic cross at Lancaster was found thus, having been
buried in the church yard. Fragments of crosses were
discovered at Leeds, in 1838, for an account of which, with
drawings, I must refer to a paper by the Rev. D. H.
Haigh, of Erdington. This cross was found in the old
parish church, and the fragments, when put together,
present a very perfect monument. Might not some
portions :of the Glastonbury crosses yet be discovered ?

126 PAPERS, ETC.

Are no fragments yet traceable in any of the ancient walls
of buildings or gate-posts in the neighbourhood? No
search has ever yet been made, and no attention called to
the subject ; but the visits of the Somersetshire Archxolo-
gical and Natural Hastory Society seem to afford a very
fitting opportunity to call attention to this subject, in the
hope that something may result from it, at all events any
inscribed fragments of stone which may in future be found
in the neighbourhood should be carefully preserved, and
not broken up, as is too often the case, before being shewn
to some competent antiquary. Not withont hope, I pro-
ceed to give an account of what once existed at Glaston-
bury.

William of Malmsbury gives an account of certain
monuments at Glastonbury, thus :——“I would willingly
relate what few if any are acquainted with, if I could make
it out with certainty, the meaning of those pyramids which
stand before the monks’ cemetery, some feet from the old
church. The tallest and nearest to the church consists of
five stories, ze. pannels (tabulatus) and is 28 feet high.
This, though ready to fall with age, has some features
of antiquity, which may be more easily read than under-
stood. In the upper story (ü.e. highest pannel) is a figure
episcopally habited. In the second, one in the dress of a
king, and these letters HER, SEXI, & BLISYVERH. In the
third, only names—WEMCHESTE (read also Pencrest),
BANTOMP, WINVVEGN (or Pinepegn). In the fourth—
HATE (or Bate), WVLFREDE (or Pvlfred), and EANFLEDE.
In the fifth and lowest, a figure and this inscription—
LOGVVoR (read also Logor and Logpor), WESLIELAS
(or Peas Licas), & BREGDENE, SVVELVVES (or Spelpes),
HVVINGENDES (or Hipin Gendes), BERNE. The other
pyramid is 18 feet high, and has four stories (pannels),

ANCIENT SCULPTURED STONES. 197

with these inscriptions—CENTWINE, HEDDE EPISCOPUS,
& BREGORRED & BEORWALDE.” Norgret, Bregorred,
Berthwald, were Abbots. “What these mean I cannot
positively determine, but I suspect that the bones of those
whose names are here inscribed are lodged within in hollow
stones (2.e. stone coflins). Logwor is certainly the person
from whom Logweresbeoh was anciently named, now
called Montacute. [Bregwen, from whom Brentacnolle,
now Brentamerse.] Beorwalde was abbot after Hem-
gisel.”’ *

The author describes only one side of each monument,
and Mr. Haigh therefore conjectures “that on which there
were images, and that, like the Bewcastle cross, they had
figures on one side only, and on the other knots and scrolls
which the historian did not think necessary to mention.”
This is the case also with one of the erosses at Hexham,
which has scrolls on three sides, and on the fourth the
erucifixion, with traces of an inseription beneath.+ The
inscription on the larger monument was in Anglo-Saxon,
and contained Anglo-Saxon names, Wulfred and Eanfled,
and others. Two are of historical interest, and enable us
to determine the date of the erection of these monuments,
viz. the commencement of the eighth century. Centwine
was king of the West Saxons from A.D. 676 to A.D. 685,
when he became a monk, and lived some years afterwards.
St. Aldhelm intimates that he died A.n. 688. Hedde was
bishop of Dorchester from A.D. 676 to A.D. 705. Beorn-

* Gough’s Camden, vol. I., p. 82. See also, Paper on Fragments of
Crosses discovered at Leeds, in 1838.”

rt A fine but stiflly carved Saxon cross was lately found among the
remains of St. Mary’s Church, Hexham. Dilston and Spital also yield such
specimens. At Warden is a remarkable Saxon headstone, imitating the
front of a Roman altar. See Gen. Mag., Oct. 1860, pp. 401, 402.

128 PAPERS, ETC.

wald was abbot of Glastonbury, contemporary with Hedde.
Bregored appears to have been one of his predecessors in
the abbacy. “Here then,” observes Mr. Haigh, “were
two of this class of monuments, recognised as sepulchral
by William of Malmsbury, and probably erected early in
the eishth century.”

It cannot but be a source of regret to all lovers of
historical remains that no other records of these monuments
have been preserved. However, the drawings of the Ruth-
well and Bewcastle crosses enable us pretty accurately to
judge of the nature of these pyramids as they are called.
And here we may observe how very timely and wise is
the proposal of the Society of Antiquaries, put forth in
1858, viz. to collect copies of all existing monuments of
British subjects, whether at home or abroad, and thus form
a record for future ages. It must be apparent how much
more enduring than stone or marble is a published account
—how much more likely to escape destruction? We
should have lost all knowledge of the Glastonbury crosses
had it not been for the record of William of Malmsbury.

In conclusion I would offer a remark on these ancient
Christian memorials.. They are among the few traces left
us of Saxon Christianity. Some portions of churches and
towers, and a few entire buildings, can be assigned to the
Saxon era. The small church at Bradford-on-Avon, now
a school, is among the few vestiges of Saxon Christianity
in the West of England. The remains of a Saxon cross
have lately been discovered in restoring the church at
Kelston, near Bath.

That these crosses were very early erected, is plain from
history ; and that they had their origin in the dedication
of pagan memorials to Christian purposes, is also on record,
for St. Patrick so dedicated pagan monuments to the service

ANCIENT SCULPTURED STONES. 129

ofthe true God.* Adamnan, in his life of St. Columba,
has preserved two instances of the erection of stone crosses
at Iona. St. Columba, disdaining the luxury of straw,
used to lie on a stone, and for a pillow had another stone,
“ which at present,” says Adamnan, “stands for a title as a
monument at his sepulchre.” Simeon of Durham has a
chapter, “De Ethelwold Episcopo et eruce lapideo quam
fecit.” Ethelwold caused his name to be cut on this cross,
which was much ornamented by the labour of the work-
man, as a memorial of himself. When Lindisfarne was
ravaged by the Danes, the top of the cross was broken off,
but afterwards united together. The cross used to be
carried about with the body of St. Cuthbert, being held in
reverence by the Northumbrians. In the days of Simeon
of Durham, whose history ends A.D. 1096, it stood in the
cemetery of Durham cathedral, and is probably referred to
by Leland, as standing at the head of a tomb in the church
yard on the south side of the minster :—“It is a crosse
seven feet long, that hath had an inseription of divers
rownes yn it, but the scripture cannot be red. Some say
that the crosse was brought out of the holy church yard
at Lindisferne.” +

This cross was probably the type from whence most of
the crosses of Northumbria, as the Hackness cross, took
their model. Having first originated out of the blind
idolatry with which stones placed upright were worshipped
in pagan times, these stones became under Christian train-
ing suitable memorials of the departed, and assumed at
length the figure of that holy symbol of our faith ever
reverenced by Christians. They were suitably inscribed

* See Pinkerton’s Vit@ Sanctorum Sotie, lib. I., c. 46, pp. 93, 94, 180, 181.

r See Sculptured Stones of Scotland, printed for the Spalding Club, 1856.
VOL. X., 1860, PART II. R

130 PAPERS, ETC.

and ornamented with figures which the grotesque imagina-
tions of the northern races loved to embody in their works
of art, and have become to us memorials by no means
inelegant of the piety and devotion of our English fore-

fathers.

ee

Che anlımd Rollusen uf Somersetghire.

BY THE REV. A. M. NORMAN, M.A,

HE varied surface, the great prevalence of the lime-
stone formations, and the southern position of
Somersetshire, must be considered the causes of its great
productiveness in molluscan life. The dense woods that
clothe the hills; the deep clefts in their sides forming
rocky chasms, deep ravines, and damp mossy coombes; and
the rich intersecting valleys, form productive breeding
places for the land species : while the sluggish waters of
the weedy rhines, and the more rapid current of the wider
streams, afford throughout the extensive moors an abundant
supply of food, and secure breeding places for the water
species.

We are only aware of two lists of Somersetshire mollusca
as yet published. The first of these is A List of the Fresh-
waler and Land Shells oceurring in the environs of Bristol,
with observations, by J. S. Miller, Esq., A.L.s., published in
the year 1822, in the third volume of the new series of the
Annals of Philosophy. 'This list contained sixty species,
from which number three, viz., Planorbis nautileus, Turbo

132 PAPERS, ETC.

Everetti, and Valvata minuta, must be deducted, since
two are varieties, and the last the young, of other species.
The second list was read before the Somersetshire Archxo-
logical and Natural History Society, at Weston, in 1851,
by the Rev. W. R. Crotch, in a paper On the Recent Plants
and Shells of the Weston district. It embraced forty species.

One hundred and six species are included in the present
catalogue. Deducting five as perhaps erroneously recorded,
the remaining number of Somersetshire mollusca will be
found to exceed those hitherto met with in any county or
district. Mr. Alder’s Catalogue of the Mollusca of Northum-
berland and Durham includes ninety-three inland species;
and our own Notes on the Oxfordshire Shells, published in
the Zoologist of 1853 and 1857, ninety-five species. We
are not aware of any other catalogues which exceed eighty
species.

It is not only, however, the number of forms, but also
the great productiveness of the individuals, which makes
the profusion of molluscan life in Somersetshire so remark-
able. Perhaps three or four species may yet be added
from the eastern and south-western distriets of the county.

The nomenclature adopted (with one or two exceptions)
in this catalogue, is that of Forbes and Hanley’s British
Mollusca. The synonyms added are the names that were
employed in Miller’s Catalogue af British Shells.

We have adopted Clifton into this list for the conve-
nience of naturalists resident in Bristol. Pupa minutissima
however is the only shell which takes its position here from
a Gloucestershire and not a Somersetshire locality.

A few remarks on the characteristie species of the several
kinds of habitat may prove interesting. Of the land
mollusca, Gardens and Hedgebanks afford Arion hortensis,
Limax agrestis, einereus, and Sowerbii, Testacella Maugei,

INLAND MOLLUSCA OF SOMERSET. 133

Helix aspersa, nemoralis, hortensis, arbustorum, Cantiana
(hedgebanks only) hispida, and rufescens. HWWoods produce
Arion empiricorum (coloured varieties), Limax arborum,
Vitrina pellucida, Helix fusca, Zonites (all), Bulimus Lack-
hamensis, Clausilia laminata. Among moss and decaying
leaves, especially those of the beech, are to be found Arion
flavus (?), Helix 'fulva and aculeata, Zonites (all), Azeca
tridens, Balza fragilis, Carychium minimum, Acme fusca,
and several ofthe Pupe. Dry hills and the sand-hills of the
coast abound with Helix virgata, caperata, and ericetorum,
and Bulimus acutus; the last confined to the sand hills.
Among Limestone rocks, heaps of stones, and walls there are
found Helix lapicida, pulchella, umbilicata, and rotundata,
Pupa secale, umbilicata, pygmza, &e., Bulimus obseurus,
Clausilia nigricans, and Cyclostoma elegans, The roots of
short grass give us Pupa muscorum, pygmza, &e., Achatina
acicula, and Helix pygmxa; and lastly, in wet marshy
spots, may be found Arion empiricorum var. ater, Limax
brunneus, Zonites nitidus, Succinea putris and Pfeifferi.
Of the freshwater mollusca running streams and larger
rhines contain Unio tumidus and pietorum, Anodonta
eygnea, Pisidium amnicum, pulchellum, Henslowianum,
and cinereum, Dreissena polymorpha, Neritina fluviatilis,
Valvata piscinalis and cristata, Bithinia ventricosa, Lim-
neus auricularius, Ancylus fluviatilis and oblongus, and
Planorbis albus. The rhines produce in great abundance
Pisidium pusillum, Cyclas cornea, Paludina vivipara (rare),
Bithinia tentaculata, Physa fontinalis, Planorbis corneus,
carinatus, marginatus, vortex, spirorbis, and contortus,
Limnzus pereger, stagnalis, truncatulus, and palustris.
Ponds shelter in their still waters many of the rhine species,
and in addition Cyclas calyculata, Pisidium obtusale and
nitidum, Physa hypnorum, Planorbis imbricatus, glaber,

154 PAPERS, ETC.

and nitidus. Conovulus denticulatus, var. myosotis, is
confined to the Avon below Bristol; and Rissoa subum-
bilicata and ventrosa are only to be met with in the salt
marshes.

The waters of the Bristol channel have their saltness
so much diluted by the influx of rivers, and so strongly
impregnated with mud, that but few marine mollusca would
desire to take up their abode in them. If ever a catalogue
of the marine species is prepared it must be after the inves-
tigation of the lower part of the channel. In the more
northern portion we have only met with about fifteen
species on the: shore, and there is nothing to induce a
naturalist to ineur the expence of dredging.

It only remains that we should thank those gentlemen
who have given us assistance in the preparation of this
paper, and to express a hope that any naturalist who may
be able to contribute materials towards a future supple-
ment, should such be ever needed, will kindly communicate
with us.

Class ACHPHALA.
Di. LAMELLIBRANCHIATA.

Fam. CYCLADIDE.
Genus CycLas. Bruguiere.

C. eornea, Linn&us. Tellina cornea, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. vii., p. 59. Abundant. The var.
ß of Jenyns’ monograph (Tellina stagnicola of Sheppard)
is to be met with in the rhines of the valley between
Portishead and Clevedon.

C. calyculata, Draparnaud. Tellina lacustris, Mat. and

INLAND MOLILUSCA OF SOMERSET. 135

Rack., Trans. Lin. Soe., vol. viiı., p. 60. The typical
calyculata is common in a pond on Clevedon hill, not far
from the Royal Hotel.

Genus Pısıpıum. Pfeifer.

P. obtusale, Pfeiffer. In a ditch near the Pill, Clevedon,
and also in the pond with the last. The more swollen
forms of P. pusillum are constantly mistaken for this
species. The Clevedon shells have been examined by Mr.
Jenyns.

P. pusillum, Turton. Tellina pusilla, Dillwyn’s Cat. of
Recent Shell. Common in grassy ditches, ponds, and
rhines, We have taken it of very large size in the moor
that stretches from Clevedon towards Portishead.

P. cinereum, Alder. A few specimens taken in Kenn
Moor are considered by Mr. Alder to belong to the more
ventricose variety of this species. Mr. Clark has met with
it at Bath.

P.nitidum, Jenyns. In a large pond by the side of the
railway, at the third (?) bridge from Clevedon.

P. pulchellum, Jenyns. In the larger and clearer of the
rhines, not uncommon. Fine in West Mead Rhine, Yatton.

P. Henslowianum, Sheppard. A specimen or two in the
“ziver,” at Clevedon. This and the last must be united,
as has already been suggested by Messrs. Jenyns and
Jeffreys. We have met with specimens in company, some
with the “lamelliform projection” well developed, some
with scarcely perceptible traces of it, and some again with
the umbones presenting no irregularity. These specimens
agreed in all other respects.

P. amnicum, Müller. Tellina amnica, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Lin. Soc., vol. viil., p. 60. In rivers and streams,
widely distributed throughout the county.

136 PAPERS, ETC.

Fam. UNIONIDZE.
Genus Unıo. Retzius.

U. pietorum, Linnzus. Mya pietorum, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soe., vol. vii., p. 38. “The Kennet and
Avon.”— Forbes and Hanley. We have never seen speci-
mens, but are informed by Mr. Russell, of the Bath
Literary Institute, that the species is very common in the
Avon.

U. tumidus, Retzius. “The Unio of the river Avon and
of the Kennet and Avon Canal is the typical U. tumidus
with its black skin, and the flatter varieties rayed with
yellow and green. Twenty years ago, after a flood, I met
with it about two miles from Bath, cast in large quantities
on a river-side meadow; but I have seen none since.”—Mr.
Wim. Clark, in litt. “The Avon and the Kennet.’—
Forbes and Hanley.

Genus AnODONTA. Brugiere.

A. cygnea, Linn®us. Mytilus anatina, Mat, and Rack.,
Trans. Lin. Soc., vol. vii. Common. The variety
Avonensis (Mytilis Avonensis, Mont. Test. Brit., p. 172)
was found, we believe, in the Salisbury and Hampshire
Avon, not the Bath and Bristol river.

Fam. MYTILIDE.

Genus DREISSENnA. Van Beneden.

D. polymorpha, Pallas. The late Mr. Hugh Strickland,
in a paper, published in Loudon’s Mag. Nat. Hist., new
series, vol. ii. (1838), p. 361, on the “Naturalisation of
Dreissena in England,” states that “this shell has lately
been “planted’ by Mr. Stutchbury, of Bristol, in some
waters near that place.” So prolific a species once planted
is hardly likely to have become extinct.

INLAND MOLLUSCA OF SOMERSET. 137

Class GASTEROPODA.
Div. PROSOBRANCHIATA.

Fam. NERITIDE.

Genus NERITINA. Lamarck.

N. fluviatilis, Linneus. Nerita fluviatilis, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Lin. Soc., vol. viii., p. 225. “In pools near
‘the Avon.”—Miller. “Bridgwater and Weston-super-
Mare.”—Rev. W. R. Crotch.

Fam. PALUDINIDE.

Genus PaırLupDınA. Lamarck.

P. Listeri, Forbes and Hanley. The Rev. W.R. Crotch
and the Curator of the Bristol Museum inform us that
they have taken this species near Weston-super-Mare.
The latter met with it, we believe, near the railway
station.

Genus BıTHInIA. Gray.

B. tentaculata, Linnzus. Helix tentaculata, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Lin. Soc., vol. viii., p. 220. Abundant.

B. Leachü, Sheppard. In the larger and clearer streams.
Abundant and fine in West Mead Rhine, Yatton.—A.M.N.
Weston-super-Mare.—Rev. W. R. Crotch.

Genus VaLvarTa. Müller.

V. piscinalis, Müller. Turbo fontinalis, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Lin. Soc., vol. viii., p. 168. Common in similar
localities to the last,

V. cristata, Müller. Turbo cristatus, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Lin. Soc., vol viii., p. 169. Valvata minuta, Dra-
parnaud (the young?). Very local. A few specimens
from a ditch in Kenn Moor ; also near Wells.—A. M. N.

VOL. X., 1860, PART UI. s

138 PAPERS, ETC.

Bath.—Mr. Clark. Weston-super-Mare and Taunton.—
Rev. W.R. Crotch.

Fam. LILLORINIDEE.
Genus RıssoA. Fremenville.

R. ventrosa, Montagu. In marvellous abundance in a
ditch near the Pill, Clevedon, the water of which is but
very slightly impregnated with salt.

R. subumbilicata, Montagu. Rissoa ulve, var., Forbes
and Hanley, vol. viil., p. 142. This species (?) [vide
Jeffreys in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., third series, vol. vill.,
(1859) p. 180] is very abundant on the mud flats, and at
river-mouths all along the coast of Somerset.

We have not met with the true Rissoa ulve in the
county. These two species of the genus Rissoa, belonging
to the Hydrobia section, have been admitted into this
catalogue because they hold a doubtful position between
the artificially divided Fluviatile and Marine mollusca.

Div. PULMONIFERA.
Fam. LIMACIDE.
Genus Arıon. Ferussac.

A. empiricorum, Ferussac. On the low grounds and in
damp situations this Arion is always black ; in drier situa-
tions, hills, and woods, it varies greatly in colour.

A. flavus, Müller. We have taken an Arion, which we
believe to have been this species, among the ruins of
Walton old church, and likewise in Brockley' Coombe.

A. hortensis, Ferussac. Common in gardens, on hedge-
banks, and in fields.

INLAND MOLLUSCA OF SOMERSET. 139

Genus Lımax. Linnzus.

L. cinereus, Müller. The striped and spotted varieties
common. We met with a variety in Cleeve Coombe
remarkably distinet, and we believe hitherto unrecorded.
It was altogether pitchy black, without spot or marking of
any kind, and fully six inches long. The var. a of Baron
FErussac, in the Histoire Naturelle des Mollusques Terrestres
et Fluviatiles, comes nearest toit. That variety is described
as “ Ater, carinä albä.”

L. arborum, Bouchard Chantereux. On trees and rocks
in Goblin, Cleeve, and Brockley Coombes, and some of
the glens running up into the Mendips near Wells.

L. agrestis, Müller. Abundant everywhere.

L. flavus, Linneus. Bristol and Bath. —Capt. Brown.

L. brunneus, Draparnaud. Among heaps of stones by
the side of the lane which runs parallel with the cliff from
Walton to Portishead; and among decaying vegetation by
the side of a rhine in Portishead Moor. A remarkable
peculiarity in this slug, noticed by Dr. Johnson but omitted
by Forbes and Hanley, at once distinguishes the species
from all the varieties of agrestis, as well as our other
British species. This peculiarity consists in the great
length of the neck, or space between the tentacles and the
anterior margin of the shield. Another good characteristie
of this species is the unusually narrow foot.

L. Sowerbü, Ferussae. At Clevedon in gardens, and
in the copse between Upper Clevedon and the beach. —

A.M.N. Clifton.—Mr. W. Webster.
Fam. TESTACELLIDE.

- Genus TESTACELLA. Cuvier.

T. Maugei, F@russac. Forty-six years ago this most
interesting mollusk was found in what were then Messrs.

140 PAPERS, ETC.

Sweet and Miller’s, but which are now Messrs. Garraway
and May’s, nursery grounds at Clifton. From that time
to the present it has thriven and propagated freely in its
original locality, and has likewise been introduced with
plants into many other gardens in the west of England.
In this way it has established itself at Bath, at Brislington,
at Clevedon (in the gardens of Sir Arthur Elton, and those
of Lee), and at Taunton ; and thus may be considered to
have made good its claim for admission into our list of
British mollusca.

T. haliotoidea, Draparnaud, has been recorded as occur-
ring in several localities in the west of England. In all
instances in which we have had opportunity of examining
the specimens, the species has proved to be T. Maugei.
The Testacella also which was figured and described as T.
scutulum in The Naturalist, vol. vii., (1853) p. 179, as
found at Taunton, is evidently not the T. scutulum, but
T. Maugei.

Fam. HELICIDA.
Genus VITRInA. Draparnaud.

V. pelhteida, Müller. Widely distributed but not
abundant.

Genus ZoxITes. Gray.

Z. cellarius, Müller. Helix nitens, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Lin. Soc., vol. viii., p. 198. Common among damp
heaps of stones and moss in woods. Very fine in Brockley
Coombe.

Z. alliaria, Miller. First described in Miller’s Zist of
the Freshwater and Land Shells oceurring in the environs of
Bristol. Common in woods, on hedge-banks, and under
stones.

INLAND MOLLUSCA OF SOMERSET. 141

Z. nitidulus, Drapamaud. In similar situations to the
last, and like it very common among decaying beech leaves.

Z. purus, Alder. Local. Among rotting leaves at the
foot of Elton Hill, Clevedon, at Wrington, near Wells,
and in Brockley Coombe.

Z. radiatulus, Alder. At roots of stunted grass growing
in the crevices of limestone rocks on Elton Hill, and in
similar situations on the eastern scarp of Clevedon Hill.—
A.M.N. Clifton.—Mr. W. Webster.

Z. nitidus, Müller. Damp situations. Under stones on
the grass in Kenn and Portishead Moors ; rare. —A. M.N.
Weston-super-Mare.—Rev. W.R. Crotch.

Z. erystallinus, Müller. Helix erystallina, Müller, Hist.
Verm., pt. 2, p. 23. Frequent and widely distributed
among decaying leaves, and under stones lying upon
grass.

Genus HeLıx. Linneus.

H. aspersa, Müller. Only too abundant.. We have
taken a reversed specimen at Clevedon; and also examples
upon the cliffs towards Ladies’ Bay which have the spire
produced, so that the shell assumes the form ef Paludina
vivipara, Linn.

H. pomatia, Linneus. Rare at Stapleton.—Miller.
Probably introduced, and now apparently extinct.

H. arbustorum, Linn®us. Frequent, though local. We
have taken it in the lane leading from Clevedon to Clap-
ton; under heaps of stones on Strawberry Hill, Clevedon ;
upon the banks of the canal at Bath ; among nettles at
Cheddar Cliffs ; and hedge-banks near Axbridge.

H. Cantiana, Montagu. Brislington is the only locality
in Somersetshire in which we know this shell to oceur.
It was first taken there by Mr. Miller.

142 PAPERS, ETC.

H. nemoralis, Linn&us. Common, but not so varied in
painting as it is found in many other parts of England.
We have met with a very rare variety at Wells, which is
orange with five paler yellow bands, and has the lip and
throat peach-coloured.

H. hortensis, Müller. Tlıis species is undoubtedly dis-
tinct from the last, which although occasionally found with
the lip peach-coloured, or even white (Scarborough), can
never be confounded with the smaller and more delicate
shell of Helix hortensis, which moreover never has the
calcareous (and usually coloured) deposit of the columella,
which is so marked a character in H. nemoralis. H.
hortensis is abundant in Somersetshire.

Var. hybrida, Poviet. Abundant and variously coloured,
at Wells. The typical bandless form at Wrington, on
Clevedon Hill, at Kenn, and on hedgebanks at Tickenham.

H. virgata, Da Costa. Very abundant, especially on
dry hills and the sea-coast. It is very varied in colouring
on the sand hills. Near Burnham one variety is found
wholly deep chocolate brown; another brown with a
narrow white band running round the base of the whorls,
and more or less lineated round the umbilicus; a third
resembles the last, but has in addition to the basal white
fillet, a row of white spots round the upper margin of the
whorls ; a fourth is white, with one, two, or three inter-
rupted spiral bands. Intermediate specimens, as well as
the more common varieties, are also to be found. On the
sand-hills at Berrow these varieties are replaced by a fifth
which is milk white, with the exception of the mouth and
apex, which are rufous. In Tickenham churchyard the
milk-white variety with transparent bands is to be
found. We have taken a reversed specimen on the sea
wall near Clevedon. Mr. Miller curiously remarks, “ The

INLAND MOLLUSCA OF SOMERSET. 143

abundance of this species in a field at Torkington a few
months ago occasioned the report that it had rained
snails.”

H. caperata, Montagu. Common on dry hills and a
calcareous soil, throughout the county.

H. ericetorum, Müller. Somewhat local. Abundant on
the sides of the trenches at Cadbury Camp, and of the
Mendips near Wells. Also on Durdham Down, Wrington
Hill, and other localities.

H. lapieida, Linneus. Common, but confined apparently
to the limestone rocks. Near Wells ; Cheddar, Wrington,
Clevedon, and Elton Hills; Cadbury Hill, Yatton ; Cleeve
Toot; St. Vincent’s Rocks ; Axbridge, &e.

H. rufescens, Pennant. Common. Varies according to
habitat. 'T'hose among brambles and in hedges are mostly
large and horn-coloured ; while specimens from drier situa-
tions are smaller, deeper in colour, and more elevated in
the spire.

Var. albida, Gray, is found in profusion among a heap of
stones lying by an old lime-kiln near Clevedon.

H. hispida, Linneus. Abundant in gardens and hedge-
banks, and among heaps of stones and nettles, varying in
colour from white to deep chocolate brown.

Var. concinna, Jeffreys. In gardens at Yatton and
Clevedon, in Walton old churchyard, and at Wrington. —
A.M.N. Clifton.—Mr. W. Webster.

Var. depilata, Alder. Rare on Cadbury Hill, Yatton, and
Ebbor Rocks, near Wells.

H. sericea, Draparnaud. We have met with two or
three worn examples among the rejectamenta of the River
Avon, below the Hotwells.

H. aculeata, Müller. We have taken this species
under the bark of a fallen tree in Brockley Coombe ;

144 PAPERS, ETC.

and Mr. Clark informs us that he has met with it on
Beachen Cliff, and in the woods of Claverton Down, near
Bath.

H. fulva, Müller. Rare. Small under stones Iying
among grass on Elton Hill, Clevedon, and among rushes
in Walton Moor. Fine in decaying leaves at Brockley
Coombe, and near Wells.

H. fusca, Montagu. Helix subrufescens, Miller, Ann.
Phil., vol. viii., (1822) p. 376. Described under the name
of Helix subrufescens by Mr. Miller, who had taken speci-
mens near Bristol.

H. pulchella, Müller. Helix paludosa, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viii., p. 193. More common, on
the limestone, under stones, in crevices of rocks, and at
roots of grass.

Var. costata, Müller. Abundant and fine among the
decaying mortar of a limestone wall near Tickenham.—
A.M.N. Clifton.—Mr. W. Webster.

H. rotundata, Müller. Helix radiata, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viii., p. 199. Common. Some-
times the spire is much raised, and the whorls even
partially separate. We have met with greenish-white
transparent speeimens at Clevedon, and received the
same variety from Mr. Webster, who had taken it at
Clifton.

H. umbilicata, Montagu. Common in the crevices of
limestone rocks on Clevedon and Elton Hills; Cleeve
Toot; St. Vincent’s Rocks; Wrington Hill; Cheddar
Cliffs, &e. ; and often exceedingly abundant among the
rotten mortar of old walls, as behind the Royal Hotel at
Clevedon, and in many spots on the Mendips.

H. pygmea, Draparnaud. Not common. At roots of
grass on Clevedon and Elton Hills.

INLAND MOLLUSCA OF SOMERSET. 145

Genus BuLımus. Scopoli.

D. acutus, Müller. Abundant on the sand-hills along
the coast between Burnham and Weston.

B. Lackhamensis, Montagu. Helix Lackhamensis, Mat.
and Rack., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viii., p. 212. This fine
species has been taken in the neighbourhood of Bristol.—
Messrs. Miller and Jeffreys. On Beachen Cliff, halfa-
mile from Bath; and again in the woods of Claverton

Down, two miles from Bath. —Mr. W, Clark. In a little

wood by the canal, between Bradford and Freshfield.—
Mr. Lukis. Among burnt gorse bushes near the bottom
of a ravine to the left hand of the cliffs at Cheddar, and
about a mile and a half from the village. —Rev. W. H.
Hawker. Among ivy, on the hedgebank of the road
leading from Axbridge to Cheddar, about three-quarters of
a mile from the former place. —A. M. N. Although
nowhere to be met with in any numbers, Bulimus Lackha-
mensis is thus seen to be widely distributed throughout
Somersetshire.

B. obscurus, Müller. Helix obscura, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. vüi., p. 212. Common among
stones, and in woods; more abundant on the limestone
formations.

B. Goodalli, Miller. Helix Goodallii, Miller in Ann,
of Philos., ii., (1822) 376. This species, described by

Mr. Miller from specimens taken in pine beds at the Clifton X

nurseries, has continued to abound in that locality up to
the present time. It cannot be regarded, however, other-
wise than as exotic, since it is not found beyond the range
of hothouses.
Genus Pupa. Lamarck.

P. umbilicata, Draparnaud. Turbo muscorum, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viii., p. 182. Very common.

VOL, x., 1860, PART II. T

146 PAPERS, ETC.

A fine produced variety occurs among the ruins of Walton
Castle. We have met with the variety edentula on a wall
near Tickenham. The white hyaline variety occurs at
Ebbor Rocks, near Wells, but is remarkably local, and we
have taken a specimen or two at Clevedon.

P. muscorum, Linnzus. Common among limestone
rocks, at roots of grass, and under stone. We have met
with examples in which the tooth was altogether absent.

P. secale, Draparnaud. Turbo juniperi, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viii., p. 132. Abundant among
limestone rocks, Clifton, Wrington, Yatton, Clevedon,
Wells, Cheddar, &c. |

P. edentata, Draparnaud. Has been taken by Mr.
Jeffreys in the county.

P. minutissima, Hartmann. Durdham Down.— Mr.
Jeffreys.

P. pygmea, Draparnaud. Common under stones lying
on grass, and at roots of grass growing in crevices of lime-
stone rocks. We have met with the four-toothed variety
(British Mollusca. pl. exxx., fig. 5) at Clevedon. This is,
however, very different from the Pupa alpestris of Alder,
which is certainly a distinet species.

P. substriata, Jeffreys. Turbo sexdentata, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viii., p. 183. Turbo sex-
dentata is mentioned by Miller as found at Leighdown ;
but as no other Pupa of the Vertigo section is recorded,
perhaps P. pygmza was mistaken for this species.

P. antivertigo, Draparnaud. Among the rejectamenta of
the River Avon.—A. M. N. At Bristol and Bath, under
ash boughs that have lain long on the ground.—Mr.
Jeffreys in F. and H.

P. pusilla, Müller. Rejectamenta of the Avon.—Mr.
Jeffreys.

INLAND MOLLUSCA OF SOMERSET. 147

Genus BALEA. Prideaux.

B. fragilis, Draparnaud. Very local. Under moss on
trees in Small Coombe (?) Wood, Bath; among decaying
leaves in the interstices of a dry wall on Walton Down,
near Clevedon; also in Brockley Coombe, and near Wells.

Genus CLAUSILIA. Draparnaud.

C. laminata, Montagu. Turbo laminatus, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viil., p. 179. Brockley
Coombe, Wrington, Ebbor, and near Clevedon. The
hyaline variety occurs in the same locality as H. rufescens
var. albidaa—A.M.N. Leish Woods. —Mr. W. Webster.

C. biplicata, Montagu. Stated by Miller to exist in the
neighbourhood of Bristol.—Forbes and Hanley.

C. nigricans, Maton and Rackett. Turbo nigricans,
Mat. and Rack., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viil., p. 180.
Turbo Everetti, Miller, Ann. Philos., new series, vol. iil.,
(1822) p. 377. Very abundant, and variable. The spire
consists of from nine to thirteen volutions.. 'The small
form, which is not uncommon among the rejectamenta of
the Avon, and on the Mendip Hills near Axbridge, was
described by Miller as a species under the name of Turbo
Everetti.

Genus Zua. Leach.
Z. lubrica, Müller. Helix lubrica, Mat. and Rack.,

Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viiil., p. 213. Common in damp
places among moss, stones, &c.

Genus Azeca. Leach.

A. tridens, Pulteney. Brockley Coombe is the only
Somersetshire locality known for this shell. It should be
looked for more especially on the south side among damp
moss.

148 PAPERS, ETC. s

Genus AcHATInA. Lamarck.

A.acicula, Müller. Buceinum terrestre, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viii, p. 139. Roots of grass,
Clevedon Hill ; Mendips, near Wells ; and among rejecta-
menta of the River Avon.—A. M. N. Taunton.—Rev.
W.R. Croteh. On Leigh and Clifton Downs.— Miller.

Genus SuccınEA. Draparnaud.

S. putris, Linn®us. Helix succeinea, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viii., p. 218. Abundant. Oceca-
sionally very large in Kenn Moor.

S. Pfeifferi, Rossmässler. Perhaps distinet from the
last, and a much scarcer shell. Found in ditches along
the sea margin near Clevedon, and a few other places.

Fam. LIMNZ/BEADEE.

Genus Pnrsa.

P. fontinalis, Linn®us. Bulla fontinalis, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viiı., p. 126. Widely distributed
throughout the county, but not generally common.

P. hypnorum, Linnzus. Bulla hypnorum, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. vüii., p. 127. Very local.
Dulcot, near Wells; Yatton ; ditch near the Pill, Clevedon ;
Weston-super-Mare. More common in the spring months,

-and often found in grassy ditches which are quite dried up
in the summer.

Genus PLAnoreıs. Müller.

P. corneus, Linn®us. Very abundant in the Moor
ditches; but rare, if not altogether absent, at higher levels.
It delights in peaty water.

P. albus, Müller. Helix alba, Mat. and Rack., Trans.
Linn. Soc., vol. vili., p. 192. Scarce. Found in a few

INLAND MOLLUSCA OF SOMERSET. 149

rhines of Kenn Moor, and in a pond near Wells, also at
Weston-super-Mare.

P. glaber, Jeffreys.. “My Planorbis glaber (P. laevis of
Alder) was first found at Bristol. It is the Planorbis
Rossmassleri of Continental writers”—Mr. Jeffreys in litt.
We have taken it fine and in great abundance in a large
pond by the railway side, at the third (?) bridge from
Clevedon.

P. nautileus, Linn&us. Turbo nautileus, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viil., p. 169. FPlanorbis imbricatus,
Drap., Moll. Fer. et Fluv. France, p. 44. Common in
small ponds, especially during the spring months. Occa-
sionally met with in the moor ditches.

P. carinatus, Müller. Much less common than the
succeeding species, in company with which it is found.

P. marginatus, Helix planorbis, Mat. and Rack., Trans.
Linn. Soc., vol. viii., p. 189. Abundant in the rhines of
all the moors, and common in ponds and ditches.

P. vortex, Linn&us. Helix vortex, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viii., p. 189. Very common on the
whole of the western side of the county in rhines and ponds.

P. spirorbis, Linnxus. Helix spirorbis, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soe., vol. viil., p. 191. Much less common
than the last, and more local in its distribution. Extremely
abundant in ditches near the mouth of the river at Wick.

P. contortus, Linnzus. ' Helix contortus, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viıi., p. 191. Very abundant in
rhines, ponds, and small ditches. A large proportion of
the specimens from a small pond near Walton old Church
are distorted, having the whorls irregularly coiled, and
often folded over each other.

P. nitidus, Müller. Helix fontana, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soec., vol. viii., p. 193. In clear ponds among

150 PAPERS, ETC.

decaying leaves. In a pond at Yatton, and another at
Weston-in-Gordano.
Genus Lımnzus. Draparnaud.

L. pereger, Müller. Very abundant and variable. In
brackish water the mouth is often greatly expanded.

L. acutus, Jefireys.. Among rejectamenta of the river
at Uphill.

L. aurieularius, Linnzus. Helix auricularia, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viil. p. 221. Taunton.—
Rev. W. R. Crotch. In the Froom.—Miller.

L. stagnalis, Linneus. Very abundant in rhines,
ditches and ponds. We found a reversed specimen in
Kenn Moor.

L. truncatalus, Müller. Helix fossaria, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn.Soc., vol. viii. p. 217. Common on mud at the
sides of rhines, ponds and rivers.

L. glaber, Müller. Messıs. Forbes and Hanley write of
this Limnzus “ It ocecurs in several of our southern counties,
especially in Wilts and Somerset.” We have never suc-
ceeded in finding it, and it should probably be lvoked for
on the eastern side of the county.

„ L. palustris, Linneus. Helix palustris, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soe., vol. viil., p. 216. Frequent and widely
distributed.

Genus AxcyLus. Geoffroy.

A. fluviatilis, Müller. Patella lacustris, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viil., p. 232. West Mead Rhine,
Yatton, and the river at Clevedon. A pure white variety
in a stream of water at the foot of Dulcot Hill, near Wells.

A. oölongus, Lightfoot. Patella oblonga, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Linn. Soec., vol. vüiı., p. 233. Local. The
Avon, near Bath.—A. M. N. In the River Froom.—
Miller. Bridgwater. Rev. W. R. Crotch.

INLAND MOLIUSCA OF SOMERSET. 151

Fam. AURICULIDE.
Genus CoxovuLus. Lamarck.

C. dentieulatus, Montagu. Voluta denticulata, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. viüi., p. 130. The variety
myosotis, Drap., of this shell is abundant in the Avon
below the Hotwells.

Genus CArycHaıum. Müller.

C. minimum, Müller. Turbo carychium, Mat. and
Rack., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. vii., p. 184. Common,
especially among decaying beech leaves, Clifton, Yatton,
Wrington, Brockley Coombe, Clevedon, Wells, &e.

Fam. CYCLOSTOMIDE.
Genus CYCLOsToMA. Montfort,

C. elegans, Müller. Turbo elegans, Mat. and Rack.,
Trans. Linn. Soe., vol. vii., p. 167. Common among
limestone rocks, Clifton Bath, Yatton, Wrington, Brockley,
Cheddar, Axbridge, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon,
&c.

Genus AcMmE. Hartmann.

A. lineata, Draparnaud. We have found this shell among
the rejectamenta of the Avon below Bristol, and our friend
Mr. Jeffreys has procured a reversed specimen from the
same source. Mr. Cutler, who lately was a dealer in
Natural History specimens at Bath, has informed us that
he has procured the species in a hazel copse below Hampton

Rocks.

Sedgefield, September 20, 1860.

NOTICE OF EMBLETONIA PALLIDA, OF A
NEW HYDROZOON, AND A NEW
INFUSORIUM.

BY W. A. SANFORD, ESQ., F.G.S.

EMBLETONIA HYALINA, (Alder and Hancock), maculis purpu-
rescentibus, lobis capitis velo unitis, tentaculis longis, approxi-
mantibus, branchüs quatriserialibus, elipticis, flavis, apieibus
albis.

Habitat—on Zaodomea gelatinosa, at low-water mark at St.
Audries, on the Bristol Channel,—W. A. S., 1860. On the
site of the docks, Birkenhead,—Mr. Price, 1854. (Extinct in
the latter locality.)

T St. Audries, to the west of the road which Sir P.
A, Acland has made from the farm house to the
beach, there is a ledge of lias which runs out to the north
from the cliff, and forms a barrier, which encloses at low
water a large pond of sea water between it and the cliff.
Small streams trickle from the pond down the face of the
ledge, which form little deep pools, the sides of which are
covered with multitudes of Zoophytes of the common shore-
kinds, Laodomex, Sertularie, and two or three species of
Coryne. Among them a new species of Clavula (Clavula

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NOTICE OF EMBLETONIA PALLIDA. 153

St. Ethelride), distinguished from Clavula Gossü (Dr.
Wright) by the sub-uniserial position of the tentacles, and
by its greater size and robustness, (fig. 2, a and 2.)

Feeding on these I found numerous specimens of the
singular mollusk of which I believe that I now give the
first published figure— Eimbletonia hyalina, (fig.1.) It was
originally discovered by Mr. Price on the present site of
the Birkenhead docks, in 1854; but when the docks were
finished, the site was destroyed, and the animal has not
been since met with.

It feeds prineipally on Laodomea gelatinosa, neglecting
other zoophytes while any of that remains. It lays its eggs
in small reniform masses, with but few eggs in each mass.
It appears to be hardy in confinement, some of the speci-
mens having lived eight or ten weeks in jars of sea water,
but they are sluggish in their movements, and were
generally to be found on the same stone for days together.
It is distinguished from the other British species of the
genus by the double row of papille on each side, and also
by the colour, which in E. pulchra and minuta is red,
whereas in this animal it is of so light a blue that it
only gives a slight opacity to the animal, the tentacles
alone being of a pale yellow ; and also by the form of the
lobes of the head, which are in this species united into a
semieircular veil, but in pulchra and minuta they form a
cerescent with blunt horns pointing rather forwards.

Casual observers might mistake Eolis (Tergipes) exigua
or despecta for this animal, but both of these have four
tentacles instead of two, and the colouring, although some-
what similar, is very different on close examination.

In the same pools I found an Infusorium, different from
any I have been able to obtain a description of. Igivea
slight sketch of it (fig. 3), in order that if recognised by

VOL. X., 1860, PART II. v

154 PAPERS, ETC.

others it may be examined with a view to determine its
real character. It has exactly the habits of Lagotis, but
is far smaller, not being above a quarter of the size of
the smallest species of that genus. It lives in a small
tube on the surface of zoophytes and alge®, from which it
slowly protrudes a single spiral ciliated lobe, resembling
that of Chetospira (Lachmann). It may belong to this
genus, but I have never been able to isolate the tube
in which it lives, and consequently cannot say what
relation it bears to that animal. The habits and general
appearance are so like those of Lagotis, that I should say
that it was closely related to that genus.

Or nen Brachiopade, amd nı thr Development
of the Loop in Corehrotelle.

BY MR. CHARLES MOORE, F.G.S.

T the time of the commencement of Mr. Davidson’s
A monograph on British Brachiopoda, published by
the Paleontographical Society, little had been done towards
their systematic arrangement and classifieation. Sowerby
had figured many species; but valuable materials were
accumulated, and many new forms waiting for description
in the cabinets of different colleetors, which have since
been done justice to in the above valuable publication.

At the time referred to but fourteen species of the genera
Lingula, Orbieula, Spirifer, and Terebratula had been
figured from the three divisions of the Lias, but I had
succeeded in discovering twenty new species in the Middle
and Upper Lias of Somerset, including the genera Theci-
deum, Leptzena, and Crania, genera which had been pre-
viously unnoticed in these formations.

Of the genus Thecideum, the Middle Lias of Somerset
yielded me three species, viz., 7. Douchardü, T. triangularis,
and T. Moorei. In this formation they are rare, and
when found are almost invariably attached to the plicated

156 PAPERS, ETC.

exteriors of Rhynchonella serrata or R. tetraödra. On a
specimen of the former shell, which has been figured by
Mr. Davidson, there are seventeen examples belonging to
the three species I have mentioned.

The Upper Lias of the west of England, especially ın
the neighbourhood of Ilminster, rarely exceeds in thickness
ten or twelve feet, and is sometimes reduced to four or five
feet. In the clays at its base the genus Leptzna oceurs
of several species. About the time of their discovery, one
species, the Leptena liasiana, had been found in France,
which I had sought for in vain in this country. During a
visit paid me by Mr. Davidson, as we were approaching a
section of Upper Lias, he remarked how interesting it
would be to find the French species in association with
those I had already discovered. To our great delight the
first object that presented itself to me was a little shell,
which rendered the Z. liasiana a British species. I have
never found more than four specimens, so that it is very
rare.

Before the publication of Mr. Davidson’s “ Appendix,”
in 1853, I had examined the Inferior Oolite of Dundry for
Brachiopoda, and found there eight species of Thecideum,
five of which were new, together with the 7. Douchardiü
and 7. triangularıs I had previously obtained from the
Middle Lias, and 7. Deslongehampsü of the Upper Lias.
The same locality also furnished me with a series of little
shells, which threw light upon some I had previously
found in the Upper Lias, forming a passage between the
Thecideide and the Terebratulid&, for which the sub-
genus Zellania has been created. These, with a little
shell named Spirifera oolitica, were shortly noticed by me
in Mr. Davidson’ s “ Appendix,” and were, in 1854, figured
in the Proceedings of the Somersetshire Arch@ologieal and

A u

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. Ton

Natural History, Society. At that time I was convinced
many new species might be expected to be discovered
from a continued investigation of the secondary formations,
and below I am enabled to give figures and descriptions
of sixteen additional species, whereby our knowledge of
this interesting class of shells is completed to the present
time.

On Hampton Down, near Bath, there are extensive
excavations where the Great Oolite was formerly largely
worked. Latterly a new quarry has been commenced, and
in order to reach the workable beds of freestone, the follow-
ing beds in descending order had to be passed through :—

Ft. In.
. Thin bands of freestone.. .. 4 6
. Brown raggy coralline bed .. 9 0
. Compact grey limestone.. .. 5 0
. Workable beds of great oolite 20 O0

Pr» wow —

The grey limestone, (No. 3) contains many organic
remains, but owing to its hard and intractable character
few are to be extracted entire. In its weathered edges
may be seen the Lima ‘cardiformis, Trichites, Lithodomi,
and many corals.

The raggy bed (No. 2) is very incoherent, and appears
to have been an ancient coral reef, it being in great part
composed of corals and sponges. Intermingled with these
branching corals are myriads of beautiful organisms, which,
from the unconsolidated nature of the bed, are easily
extracted. They consist of dismembered ossicles of star-
fishes, the plates and occasionally the bodies of the Brad-
ford Encerinite (Apierinus Parkinsoni), spines and shells
of Echini, Ostrex, and other mollusca, and with them
very many specimens of a small Brachiopod, which has

158 PAPERS, ETC.

hitherto been considered the young of Terebratula mazillata,
but which I shall presently show is to be referred to
Terebratella.

The Brachiopods obtained at Hampton consist of Tere-
bratula cardium, T. coarctata, T. digona, T. hemispherica,
T. maxillata, Ichynchonella concinna, R. obsoleta, Crania
antiqwior. It will thus be seen that only three genera of
Brachiopods have hitherto been known in the Great Oolite,
and the bed under consideration. To these I have now to
add four other genera, viz., Terebratella, Terebratulina,
Theeideum, and Zellania.

TEREBRATULA MAXILLATA, Sow.
Pl. L, figs. 6, 7.

The adult form of this shell is found at Hampton, though
usually either in single valves, or in a crushed state. The
young ages of this shell are externally hardly distinguish-
able from the Terebratella Buckmanü, described below. It
differs from the latter shell in its beak being more truncated,
and the foramen more rounded ; it is also usually longer
than broad, a character it looses when more adult. Inter-
nally the generie difference is at once apparent, as this
shell possesses a short refleeted loop, which in Terebratella
is doubly attached.

TEREBRATULA HEMISPHERICA, Sow.

A pretty little shell, originally figured by Sowerby
under the name of Terebratula hemispherica, is not uncom-
mon at Hampton Cliffs. This was subsequently removed
by D’Orbigny from that genus, and placed with the Tere-
bratelle; and on the authority of the species to which I
now refer, that author carried the latter genus into the
oolites, in which he was followed, although with some

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. 159

hesitation, by Mr. Davidson. It will be seen from what
follows that two species at least of Terebratella are to be
found in these beds; but when D’Orbigny placed the
Terebratula hemispherica in this genus, he could not have
seen its interior, which, in several examples I possess, have
the short and simple loop of Terebratula, and the shell
in question will therefore have to return to its original
position.

TEREBRATELLA.
TEREBRATELLA BUCKMANIL, Woodward M.S.
Pl. L, figs. 1-5.

Shell generally a little longer than wide, rounded in
front, and tapering to the beak; valves moderately convex;
beak short, very slightly incurved and truncated by a
foramen, surrounded in part by the extremity of the beak,
the umbo of the dorsal valve, and two small labral deltideal
plates. Internally the adult shell is provided with a doubly
attached loop, the first pair of lamellae extending consider-
ably before becoming reflected to form the loop. Shell
structure punctuate. Dimensions of the largest example
hitherto observed : length, 34 lines; width, 3 lines; depth,
14 lines.

Obs.—I had collected a considerable number of these
little brachiopods from the oolite of Hampton Cliffs, under
the idea that they were the young of Terebratula maaillata,
my object being to prepare dissections shewing the loop of
that species. I was much interested in finding in the
example I first opened that it could not belong to the
young of that genus, although outwardly it is almost
undistinguishable from it. The difference in the loop
proved it to be a true Terebratella. My observation does
not shew that it attained larger dimensions than those

160 PAPERS, ETC.

mentioned, but it had then assumed the character and
development peculiar to the loop which characterizes the
genus to which it is referred. In an early stage of my
examination, modifications in the shape of the loop were
noticed, and observations extending to several hundred
specimens resulted in showing the eurious changes effected
by age in the form of the loop, which may be seen by
referring to plate I., figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The first stage of development I have been able to
observe is sketched in fig. 2. Therein it may be perceived
the two first lamelle are united to the hinge-plate, and to
a free rudimentary mesial plate, which is, in fact, the first
origin of what at a later period becomes a mesial plate.
In this state it is free, and does not touch the bottom of
the valve, although when viewed in profile spines may be
seen passing downwards, which afterwards join’ the mesial
septum.

The loop has not yet been formed, but a plate projects
between the lamellz, and appears as if longitudinally split
to a certain depth in the centre.

The second stage is exhibited in fig. 3. In this we find
the two lamelle with the rudimentary plate as in fig. 2,
and, besides, the origin of the reflected portion of the loop,
presenting in this first stage of its development but a very
small and rudimentary aspect.

The third stage may be observed in fig. 4, where the ,
different parts are still more developed, but the mesial plate
has not yet reached the bottom of the valve.

By gradual changes we are thus conducted to the fourth
stage, fig. 5, where the loop has attained its complete
development. The central plate, which was freely sus-
pended in the shell before, has now reached and become
soldered to the bottom of the valve; the first pair of

ER EEE WERESEEZEEEORBEELEETE DE

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. 161

lamelle are still attached to its upper sides, and the
reflected portion of the loop has become fully developed,
the extremities facing the front of the shell being consider-
ably prolonged, as is seen in fig. 5 of our plate. Numerous
long spines also project from the outer edges of the lamellae
and loop, giving to the interior a very peculiar appearance.

The subject of the development of the internal calcified
supports in brachiopoda is of considerable interest, and
much may yet be learnt by a careful study of recent
specimens of this class. The importance of attention to
the subject is the greater when it is remembered that the
classification of many of the brachiopoda depends more
upon internal than external form, and that had the different
stages of development shown by the Terebratella Buckmanü
been observed under other circumstances, or from beds of
different geological ages, each would probably have been
eonstituted a distinet genus.

The Zerebratella Buckmanü is the prevailing shell at
Hampton Cliffs, and many hundred specimens have passed
throush my hands. It has before been remarked that the
young of Terebratula maxillata also occur at Hampton,
though this species is comparatively rare. It requires con-
siderable experience to determine by the exterior to which
genus the different shells belong. Both possess the same
contour, and are strongly punctuate. In general, however,
sthe Terebratella Buckmaniü' may be distinguished by a dark
longitudinal line in the centre of the ventral valve, due to
the mesial septum, and by the characters previously noticed
when speaking of Terebratula ma«illata.

It is due to my friend Mr. Woodward I should remark,
that whilst my investigations on this shell were in progress,
having been the means of conveying a series of them to
him, he noticed it to be a Terebratella; and in a communi-

VOL. x., 1860, PART II. w

162 PAPERS, ETC.

cation to Mr. Davidson suggested the specific name of
Terebratella Buckmanü for it, which I have much pleasure
in adopting.

TEREBRATELLA FURCATA, Sow. and Moore.
Pl. I., figs. 8-10.
Terebratula furcata, Sow.; T. orbieularis, Sow. ;
T. cardium, Lamarck.

Shell small, rounded—both valves moderately convex ;
valves coarsely plicated, varying in number, and may be
seen on the inner side, bifurcating occasionally; surface
punctuated; beak truncated ; foramen large ; loop doubly
attached.

This little shell was originally figured by Sowerby under
the name of Terebratula furcata, but subsequently he con-
sidered it might be the young of Terebratula orbieularis,
Sow., the Terebratula cardium of Lamark, in which he was
followed by other naturalists. The 7. cardium is found at
Hampton Cliffs, in association with this species, and from
the close resemblance it bears to it, might reasonably be
considered its young form. Having succeeded in opening
a beautiful example showing the interior of the shell, the
double attachment of the loop proved it to be a Terebra-
tella. The interiors may be seen by referring to pl. I,
figs. 9, 10. The profile shows the upper lamell® of the
loop, after leaving the hinge plate, to be possessed of a pair
of erural spurs. About the centre of the shell the lamell
are attached to an elevated mesial septum. The front of
the loop, as well as the reflected portion, is broad; and
projecting towards the opening of the shell, and on the
under side of the lamelle, are a number of closely set
spines. This shell is very rare at Hampton, owing to
which I have been unable to make any observations on

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. 163

the development of the loop as in Terebratella Buckmanü.
The fact of the shell under consideration proving to be a
Terebratella at once suggested the possibility that Terebra-
tula cardium might also belong to that genus ; and I learnt
from Mr. Davidson that he could not speak positively on
this point, as the shell from which his interior was figured
was not clear of the matrix, and only partially exhibited
the loop. I have taken much trouble to establish the
correct position of the 7\. cardium; and after the examina-
tion and disseetion of many specimens, am able to say that
the loop, as figured by Mr. Davidson, is correct. This
species must therefore remain in its present position, but
the examples supposed to be its young forms will have to
be placed under Terebratella ; and, retaining Sowerby’s
original specific name, must be called Terebratella furcata.
Two species of this genus are therefore added to British
Jurassic beds, and the Terebratula hemispherica, which was
supposed to represent it in this age, removed. I have
obtained a portion of the interior of a small brachiopod,
showing a mesial septum, from the Upper Lias, near
Ilminster, which convinces me that the genus may also be
found in that formation.

TEREBRATULINA.
TEREBRATULINA RADIATA, Moore.
Pl. L, fiss. 11-14.

Shell small, nearly as broad as long; thickest near the
umbo, and thinning gradually to the front and sides ; front
rounded; valves convex, flattened, with numerous fine
striations; foramen large, rounded ; area flattened ; the
exterior of the ventral valve shows a mesial depression,
with a corresponding elevation in the interior of the valve.

n.

164 PAPERS, ETC.

The loop is short; after passing the erura it forms a semi-
eircular ring, slightly thickening in its centre.

This little shell is not uncommon in the Oolite of Hamp-
ton Cliffs, and is the first Terebratulina recorded in British
Jurassic beds. In its external form it is not unlike Tere-
bratulina subradiata, but it does not, in any example I have
seen, attain one-tenth the size of that species. It is also
more circular, less convex, and has a more pronounced
sinus in the ventral valve than that shell.*

The 7. radiata appears to have continued upwards from
the Inferior Oolite, as I am unable to separate from it
some specimens I have obtained from Dundry, near
Bristol, the only distinetion being that the latter assume a
more elongated form, which is to be observed by comparing
pl. L, fig. 14 (from Dundry) with figs. 11, 12 (from Hamp-
ton Cliffs).

ZELLANIA, Moore—1854.

Three species of this genus were described by me in ihe
Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archeologieal and Natural
History Society, for 1854; one being from the Upper Lias,
the other from the Inferior Oolite of Dundry. To these I
have to add another from Dundry, and a fifth species from
the Oolite of Hampton Cliffs. The genus also occurs in
the Coral Rag of Lyneham, Wilts. Its range is therefore
shown to extend from the Upper Lias to the uppermost
beds of the Oolite.

ZELLANIA GLOBATA, Moore.
Pl. I., figs. 15-17.
Shell very small, globose; valves moderately convex,

* In all the examples that have come under my notice, the crural pro-
cesses, which are usually joined in this genus, are disconnected.

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. 165

rounded at sides and front; exterior surface smooth ; beak
slightly projecting ; foramen encroaching on both valves,
rounded.

Obs.—I have five examples of this shell from the Oolite
of Hampton. The interior of the dorsal valve possesses a
well defined cireular ridge, entirely eneircling the inner
portion of the shell. In this species I have been unable to
observe any trace of a central septum, which in those
previously figured is well defined. The examples that
oceur in the Coral Rag, at Lyneham, are of the same
species, and are equally rare.

ZELLANIA OOLITICA, Moore.
Pl. I., figs. 18-20.

Shell small, triangular, rather longer than wide; front
rounded ; valves tapering to the beak, smooth, distinctly
punctuate, thickest at the umbo; sides thick, flattened ;
hinge-line very short ; foramen rounded.

This. species is found with the Z, Davidsonü and Z.
Laboucherei. It is a thicker and more triangular shell than
the former, and is devoid of the strie noticed on that shell.
In its triangular and less symmetrical form it is to be
distinguished from Z. Laboucherei; and it also wants the
concentric lines on the valves characteristie of that species.
The shell structure of the genus is shown by the Z, oolitica
to be distinetly punctuate.

Under the microscope the shell shows a number of
widely-separated, circular punctuations, which are arranged
in longitudinal lines.

Lertzna Davıpsons, Eug. Deslongchamps,
PlE, Sg8421,)29;
The figures representing the above species are taken

166 PAPERS, ETC.

from specimens for which I am indebted to M. Eugene
Deslongchamps, of Caen. They were found in the Upper
Lias of May, associated with several of the species found
in this country. It appears to be abundant in France, and
to attain larger dimensions than any other liassie Leptzena.

I have found a single dorsal valve of this species in the
Upper Lias of Ilminster, which though not in good con-
dition, sufliciently identifies the Leptena Davidsonü as a
British species.

THECIDEUM, Defrance.
THECIDEUM ORNATUM, Moore.
Pl. H., figs. 1-3.

Shell inequivalve ; punctuate, rather rugose, front deep,
rounded ; attached by a considerable portion of the ventral
valve; beak slightly ineurved ; deltidium small and de-
pressed. The ventral valve is flattened on its under side.
Its interior is surrounded by an elevated, slightly granu-
lated margin. Under the deltidium are seen two raised
oval processes, separated by a longitudinal septum, which
oceupies the greater length of the shell. The exterior of
the dorsal valve is rugose and flattened. The interior
possesses a narrow, thin, punctuated margin, immediately
succeeding which is a ridge of single granulations, which
are stronger towards the frontal margin, gradually disap-
pearing as the ridge passes upwards. Springing from the
centre of this granulated ridge is a septum, slightly taper-
ing from its base, on either side strongly serrated, between
which is a central longitudinal groove. The septum occu-
pies nearly the whole height allowed by the cavity of the
shell, and divides it to nearly three-fourths of its length.
From the top of the septum there are thrown off two
extremely delicate lamell®, forming a loop which curves

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. 167

downwards towards the front of the shell, where they
bifurcate, and are then again united to the shell at its
inner sides, Above the septum and attached lamelle a
band occurs, forming a bridge over the visceral cavity.
This is united to the granulated ridge, which thus com-
pletely surrounds the inner portion of the valve.

Obs.—The preservation of the loop as shown in the
enlarged fig. 3, pl. II., is remarkable, since in the original
specimen it is in substance scarcely thicker than the finest
unspun silk, and extremely brittle. The interiors of the
Brachiopoda are only to be developed by careful manipu-
lation in dissecting or opening up the valves. Many of
the interiors of the Thecidid® are very beautiful; but I
have never yet seen any species equalling in delicacy of
structure that under consideration. It is from the Coral
Rag of Lyneham, Wilts, where it is not uncommon.

THECIDEUM PYGMEUM, Moore.
Pl. IL, figs. 4-7.

Shell microseopic, longitudinally oval; both valves con-
vex; attached to other bodies at the upper part of the
ventral valve ; beak slightly produced; area short ; delti-
dium ill defined. A thin raised ridge passes round the
front and sides of the dorsal valve, until it reaches the
dental sockets, It is without a central septum, nearly
always present in other species, the only ornamentation
within the ridge being numerous punetuations.

Obs.—This shell is very numerous in the Coral Rag of
Lyneham, associated with the 7. ornatum and the T.
triangularis. I have been unable to trace any passage into
either of the above species, otherwise it might have been
considered a young stage of one of them. As it is alto-
gether different in character, and as the shell, though so

168 PAPERS, ETC.

minute, is very persistent in its form, I have ventured to
give it the above specific designation.

THECIDEUM TRIANGULARE, D’Orbigny.

This species has hitherto been noticed only in the Middle
and Upper Lias, and tlıe Inferior Oolite. I have now
obtained it from the Lower Lias of Keynsham, which is
the oldest formation in which it has yet been found. It
then passes through the beds above mentioned, and is very
common—-attached to Lima, Östrea, and other shells—in
the Fuller’s Earth of Combehay, near Bath. It occurs
also in the coralline bed of Hampton Clifis, and again in
the still higher zone of the Coral Rag of Lyneham. No
other species of Brachiopod has yet been known to have
attained so long a range as is indicated by the above facts.
Its uninterrupted passage through so many formations
points out the absence of any considerable climatal or
other changes during the deposition of the beds in which
it is found.

I have evidence of the presence of several other species
in the Inferior Oolite of Dundry, one very nearly approach-
ing the 7. Deslongchampsü, Dav.; but as only separate
valves have been found, it will be unsafe at present to say
more respecting them.

CRANIA, Retzius.
CRANIA CANALIS, Moore.
Pl. D., figs. 8-10.

Shell subquadrate, usually flattened, at other times more
or less conical. "The outer surface of the young shell
exhibits a few coarse strie, which continue to the margin
of the valve. In the adult these become much more
numerous, many of them passing as narrow spines, some

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. 169

distance beyond the outer margin of the shell. The
interior of the valve is concave, showing two pairs of
muscular impressions, not strongly marked ; the anterior
pair curving upwards towards the posterior, which are
rounded and larger. When viewed from the inner side
the valve is seen to be surrounded by a flattened ridge,
which is continued outwards in long spinose expansions,
which are furnished with narrow longitudinal grooves, or
canals, through the whole of their length.

Obs.—This is one of the most beautiful species of this
interesting genus of shells. It is from the raggy beds of
the Inferior Oolite of Dundry, which have furnished me
with so many new forms of Brachiopoda. The upper valve
only is known.

CRANIA SANDERSII, Moore.
PIL;des: 11,12:

Shell rounded;; exterior of the valve flattened, or slightly
convex; surface wrinkled ; shell-structure smooth. The
interior of the valve shows four muscular impressions ; the
upper pair being rounded and depressed, the anterior,
oceupying the middle of the valve, are raised and promi-
nent, ear-shaped, and curved outwardly.

Obs.—By its exterior it would be diflicult to distinguish
this shell from the C. antigwor of the Great Obolite of
Hampton Cliffs, but the interior of the valves differ. In
the C. Sandersiü the two pairs of muscular impressions
are more widely separated, the lower pair being much
stronger, and in shape different from those of the C. antı-
quior, and there is also the absence beneath them of a
longitudinal ridge usually present in the latter shell.

It is from the Inferior Oolite of Dundry, near Bristol.
I have much pleasure in naming it after Wm. Sanders,

VOL. X., 1860, PART II. x

170 PAPERS, ETC.

Esq., of Clifton, to whom the Museum of the Bristol
Philosophical Institution is so much indebted. The shell
also occurs in the Inferior Oolite of Minchinhampton,
Gloucestershire.

CrAanIA PoNsorTI, Eug. Deslongchamps.
PLYTL, fias,,9,,10:

The shell deseribed under the above specific name was
found by M. Deslongchamps in the Great Oolite of St.
Aubin. It oceurs in the coralline beds of Hampton Cliffs,
and with it the Crania antigwor of Jelly is found in great
numbers. The outer surface of the latter shell is character-
ized by possessing a somewhat rugose or wrinkled surface,
and the interior by its well defined'muscular impressions,
which always occupy the same position in the species, and
give pretty uniformly the same pattern to the interior.
The interior of C. Ponsortü appears to be undistinguishable
from it, the chief difference being in their outer surfaces.
This, in the €. Ponsorti, possesses plications which give it
a slightly spinose aspect. After examining many examples
of the C. antiquior, I have observed in some of them a
tendency to become more rugose, and to pass gradually
into the form represented by the above shell, and I am
therefore disposed to consider it only a variety of C.
antıquior.

DISCINA, Lamarck.
Discına DUNDRIENSIS, Moore.
Pl.;IL,..ke.15,

Shell small, thick, broader than long, flattened, apex
smooth, elevated, exterior showing narrow bands of con-

x

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. 171

centrie lines of growth which are slightly plicated, giving
to the shell a wrinkled surface.

It is from the Inferior Oolite of Dundry, and is the only
species known in that formation. It appears to be rare ;
for after a lengthened examination of these beds, I have
only succeeded in obtaining three specimens.

DiscINA ORBICULARIS, Moore.
Pl. IL, fies. 16-18.

Shell small, orbicular, tapering to an elevated apex,
giving the shell a somewhat conical form; margin smooth
and rounded. Outer surface of valve smooth, with
numerous concentric lines of growth; the inner smooth,
and very concave.

Obs.—This shell does not appear to have attained a
larger size than is indicated in pl. II., fig. 18. It is from
the fish-bed and the clays associated therewith in the
Upper Lias of Ilminster. By its form it is readily dis-
tinguished from any other species.

Dıscına TowNSHENDII, Forbes.

A very fine specimen of this shell, belonging to the
Museum of Economie Geology, was figured by Mr.
Davidson in the volume of the Palsontographical Society
for 1850. Its locality was then uncertain, though Mr.
Davidson was informed it was from the Oxford Clay.
Subsequently it was suspected to be from one of the lower
beds of the Lias. Having discovered the species in the
“ Avicula contorta zone” at the base of the Lias, near
Taunton, I am enabled to settle its position. M. Edward
Suess, of Vienna, has informed me that he has also obtained
the shell in the Rhxtie beds of Austria, in which the
“ Avicula contorta zone” is included.

172 PAPERS, ETC.

Discına HuNuPpHRrEYSIANA, Sowerby.

This species has hitherto been found only in the Kim-
meridge Clay. It may be desirable to record its presence
in the Coral Rag of Lyneham, where it is abundant.

RHYNCHONELLA SPINOSA, Schlotheim.

In the Cotteswold and other lower oolites this shell has
been supposed to indicate a particular zone, Although it
is therein especially abundant, it is by no means confined
to it. I have obtained the species from the Fuller’s Earth,
near Bath, and also in the Bradford Clay. Some very
dwarfed or young forms of it are to be found in the upper
beds of the Inferior Oolite of Dundry.

TEREBRATULA CARINATA, Lamarck.

This shell has hitherto been found only in the Inferior
Oolite. Some specimens smaller than the type-form are to
be found in the coralline bed of Hampton Cliffs, which I
am unable to distinguish from this species,

In addition to the Brachiopoda noticed in this paper, I
am possessed of various minute speeimens, which differ
from any deseribed species. Some of these may be the
young of Brachiopoda that oceur in the beds in which they
are found; but until their passages into adult shells can be
satisfactorily recognised, it will be undesirable to figure or
describe them. Three examples of well marked and per-
sistent forms are provisionally named and given below.

SPIRIFERA MINIMA, Moore.
Pl. IL, figs. 19, 20.
Shell mieroscopie, often one sided and unsymmetrical,

nd A Te ne Be u U ad

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. 173

slightly rugose ; valves moderately convex; deltidium
triangular; area broad and flattened ; hinge-line broad ;
front of shell rounded. In some specimens the shell
presents a uniformly flattened surface, whilst in the
majority the outer surface of the smaller valve possesses
mesial folds, and in the larger valve a central sinus.
Obs.—This shell is not uncommon in the Inferior Oolite
of Dundry. Although no internal characters have yet been
noticed, there seems little doubt the shell must be referred
to the genus Spirifera. It is perfeetly distinct from a little
shell found with it, described by me in the Proceedings of
the Somersetshire Arch@ological and Natural History Society
for 1854. We have thus evidence of the presence of two
species of this genus in oolitie strata, althouch in both
instances they have become very degenerate in size. No
larger specimens of the genus have yet been found in the
same beds to which these diminutive shells can be referred.

TEREBRATULA (? MINUTA, Moore.
’
BI 1%; figs. 21, ge

Shell very small, smooth, inequivalve, longitudinally
oval, with large triangular deltidium; valves equally con-
vex ; hinge-line straight. The dorsal valve is usually
square, and its inner side possesses a broad flattened septum
nearly the length of the shell, and dividing it into two
equal portions.

Obs.—I have been unable to determine the form of the
loop of this shell, and until this has been seen it will be
doubtful whether it be a true Terebratula. Should it be
such it will be the smallest known species with which we
are acquainted. Itis from the coraline bed of Hampton
Cliffs, Bath. It differs entirely from any other Terebratula

174 PAPERS, ETC.

found in the great Oolite ; and althoush so small, appears
to present the characters of an adult shell.

RHYNCHONELLA (?) CORONATA, Moore.
Pl. IL, figs. 23-25.

Shell small, smooth, rounded ; ventral valve rather con-
vex ; dorsal more flattened, and with a slight sinus; beak
produced, with a large triangular deltidium, bordered by a
narrow area, from which spring two raised lateral ear-like
processes, which again fold over upon the area. Under
the above the valve possesses strongly marked hinge-teeth.

The shell is from the Upper Lias of Ilminster, whence I
have nine examples. The lateral ear-like expansions give
to it a very peculiar appearance. With some little doubt
it is referred to Rhynchonella, though the shell-structure
appears to agree most with that genus.

In addition to the foregoing new species, the observations
recorded in this paper show that the vertical range of other
previously known Brachiopoda has been extended beyond
the zones to which they were supposed to be confined. My
friend Mr. Davidson, to whose kind hints I have always
been indebted in my study of the Brachiopoda, has shown
the continuity of some species in the Carboniferous and
Permian eras, a fact which has since been more fully noticed
by Mr. J. W. Kirby, in the Quarterly Journal of the
Geological Society for November last, and in the same
number may be found the interesting conclusions arrived at
by Messrs. Jones and Parker bearing on this point, and
having reference to the extraordinary range of some of the
Foraminifera.

The range of specific forms is a question to which the
attention of palontologists should be especially directed.

a u ki ZZ Zu

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA, 175

The following table gives a list of new genera and species
I have within a few years been successful in adding to
British Brachiopoda, all of which are from the secondary
beds of Somersetshire, except the Thecideum ornatum and
T. pygm&um, which are from Wiltshire.

TABULAR VIEW OF ADDITIONS TO BRITISH SECONDARY
BRACHIOPODA DISCOVERED BY THE AUTHOR, WITH
THEIR STRATIGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

2|s|.|>

Genera and Species. Authority. 13131312 [#5 |3|® Ei

s|=|5/213|8|3|4

2l212]1815|8|8|8

Al3|P|5|#|0/A|oO

ÜRANIADE.

Crania canalis. ......... Meopre 2..%..lk.eiee elle &
Ponsortü (?) ....| Deslongchamps..|..|..|..|..[»|3
Mooreine ters. Dayidsone 2... 221% a
Sandersü ...... Moore a aele. Se =
DiscinIDe. :-
Diseina Dundriensis ....| Moore........|..|.- Aal 2
orbieularis ...... Moore... el =
STROPHOMENIDE. 3
Leptena Bouchardü ....| Davidson eote =
Davidsonü ...... net aure ale 3
granulosa ...... Davidson ale &
hasiana .......: Bouchard ....|..|..|x =
Moore. ee een Davidson ....|. % &
Pearcei (?)...... Davidson = ei
RHYNCHONELLIDE. =
Rhynchonella Bouchardii..) Davidson ....\..|..[x E
coronata (2?) | Moore........ else =
DZ Lopensis . ...| Moore........ ES Ag 3
Moorei...... Dayıdsons sr. nel %
sub-coneinna | Davidson ....|..|x 3
sub-tetrahedra| Davidson ....|..|x 7
SPIRIFERID.E. 2
Spirifera Ilminsterensis „.| Davidson ....|..|..|x =
MAMUER.! eo terae MO0Ter Euer. |. alle =
Munsterü ...... Davidson ....\..|2|x =

vohtton 22.2... Moore. lslaale: cr

176 PAPERS, ETC.

TABULAR VIEW OF ADDITIONS TO BRITISH SECONDARY
BRACHIOPODA, Continued.

:|d| .|S
Genera and Species. Authority. 15121512 [2 [81818
si</&|3|8|3|$|+
el2]2|8/5|2|8|5
Ala|IPI|85|#|5|#|05
TEREBRATULIDE.
Terebratula Edwardsiit ..\ Davidson ......|»
——— globulina ....| Davidson ....|..|..[»

—— Zyeettüü ....| Davidson ....|.....[% ,
—— minuta (?) ..| Moore........|..|e.l..l..l..l%
———— lWorei......| Davidson ....|..|x
—— ——— dygmea ....| Davidson ....|..|..|z
— sub-punctata | Davidson ....|..|x
Terebratulina radiata ....| Moore. .......l..|..\..|e1..|;
Terebratella Buckmanii ..| Woodward....|..|..|..|..|..|;

Jurcata ....| Bow. & Moore |..|..|..|../..|%
TrecIıID.R.
Thecideum Bouchardii....| Davidson ....|..|z|2|x
Deslongehampsü| Davidson ....|..|..|..|;
———— Dickinsonii‘. .. .| Moore. .......1..|..l..|x
—— — dupheatum ....;| Moore. ....+..1..|:.|..[%
— IBRDESU ee NMEOOrOL Br: alanleckeele
— granulosum .....| Moore........|..le.lo.le
——— Hoorei........| Davidson ....|..|»
——— ornatum ......| Moore. 2.2222 .|2. 22h le cleele
———— dYygmeum ©...) MoOre,.. 2.022 eleelenleclSeheolaciee|g
——rushleum ».....| Moore... le lucla
= ger rarım 2. MORRO. ee aan lee
—— seplatum .» . ©. .| MOOrE...sunnelecleeleelg

triangulare ....| D’Orbigny...el2|2/zl#l&l&ls
Zellania Davidsonü ......| Moore........1..|..|.
—— globatasıcccereen Moor&. cn ea eeleeleceleclilnl | x
Laboucherei......| Moore........|..
asia ERNMODTLE else 3
oelrtrca‘... al Moore... ler

HH

ON NEW BRACHIOPODA. 177

EXPLANATION OF PLATE L

Fig.
1. Terebratella Buckmanii, Woodward. Interior, showing the
perfect loop.
2. —— ——. Interior of shell much enlarged,
showingthe loopin its first stage.
8. Second stage of the loop, with a
rudimentary reflected portion.
4. Third stage, with the reflected por-
tion of the loop now developed.
5. Perfect shell, enlarged.
6. Terebratula maxillata, Sowerby. Young shell, enlarged.
@ Interior, exhibiting the loop.
8. Terebratella furcata, Sow. and Moore. Enlarged exterior.
9. Showing perfect loop.
10. Profile of ditto.
11. Terebratulina radiata, Moore. Perfect shell.
12. Exterior of ventral valve.
13. Interior, with loop.
a — Elongated variety, from Dundry.
15. Zellania globata, Moore. Much enlarged.
16. Side view of ditto.
17. Interior of dorsal valve.
18. Zellania oolitica, Moore. Perfect shell, much enlarged,
showing punetuated structure.
19. —— ———. Exterior of ventral valve.
20. Profile of shell.
21. Leptena Davidsoniüi, Eug. Deslongchamps. Exterior, natu-
ral size.
22. —— — Ventral valve, ditto.

The longitudinal lines indicate the sizes of the specimens, all of
which are enlarged.

VOL. X., 1860, PART II. ni

178

PAPERS, ETC.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 1.

Fig
g-
1. Theeideum ornatum, Moore. Exterior of perfect shell en-

2.

3.

euonn

larged.
Interior of ventral valve, showing
raised oval processes and septum.
Interior of small valve, much enlarged,
showing the serrated septum and
the delicate loop for the support
of the branchial membrane.

. Thecideum pygmeum, Moore. Perfect shell much enlarged.

Interior of ventral valve.
Interior of dorsal valve, ditto.
——. Profile of perfect shell.

. Orania canalis, Moore. Exterior of upper valve somewhat

enlarged.
— ——. Young shell before possessing spinose
expansions.
Enlarged restoration of interior of valve,
showing the muscular impressions, and
the grooved form of the spines.

. Crania Sandersii, Moore. Exterior of shell.

Interior of valve, giving the position
and form of the muscular impres-
SIOnS.

. Crania Ponsortii {?), Eug. Deslongchamps. Exterior of

valve.
Interior of ditto.

. Discina Dundriensis, Moore. Enlarged exterior of shell.

orbieularıs, Moore. Exterior of valve'enlarged.
— —— ‚Interior of ditto.

Block, with specimens of natural size.

. Spirifera minima, Moore. Perfect enlarged exterior.

Exterior of the ventral valve.

. Terebratula (?) minuta, Moore. Perfect shell, enlarged

exterior.
Interior of dorsal valve.

. Zehynehonella (?) coronata, Moore. Enlarged dorsal aspect.

Interior, showing ventral aspect.
Exterior of ventral valve.

a

Archwologicnl X Hatnral Bistery Suriety.

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Rıulen.

HIS Society shall be denominated ‘“ Tue SOMERSETSHIRE
ARCHAROLOGICAL AND NATURAL HisTorY SocIETY;’” and its
object shall be the cultivation of, and collecting information
on, Archxology and Natural History, in their various branches,
but more particularly in connection with the County of Somerset.

II.—The Society shall consist of a Patron, elected for life;
a President; Vice-Presidents; General, and Distriet or Local
Secretaries; and a Treasurer, elected at each Anniversary
Meeting; with a Committee of twelve, six of whom shall go
out annually by rotation, but may be re-elected. No person
shall be elected on the Committee until he shall have been six
months a member of the Society.

RULES. 5

III.—Anniversary General Meetings shall be held for the
purpose of electing the Officers, of receiving the Report of the
Committee for the past year, and of transacting all other neces-
sary business, at such time and place as the Committee shall
appoint; of which Meetings three weeks’ notice shall be given
to the members.

IV.—There shall also be a General Meeting fixed by the
Committee, for the purpose of receiving Reports, reading Papers,
and transacting business. All members shall have the privi-
lege of introduceing one friend to the Anniversary and General
Meetings.

V.—The Committee is &mpowered to call Special Meetings
of the Society, upon receiving a requisition signed by ten mem-
bers. Three weeks’ notice of such Special Meeting, and its
object, shall be given to each member.

VI.—The affairs of the Society shall be directed by the Com-
mittee, (of which the Officers of the Society shall be ex-oficio
members) which shall hold Monthly Meetings for receiving
Reports from the Secretaries and sub-Committees, and for trans-
acting other necessary business; five of the Committee shall be
a quorüm. Members may attend the Monthly Committee
Meetings, after the official business has been transacted.

VIo.—The Chairman, at Meetings of the Society, shall have
a casting vote, in addition to his vote as a member.

VIII. —One (at least) of the Secretaries shall attend each
Meeting, and shall keep a record of its proceedings. All Manu-
scripts and Communications, and the other property of the
Society, shall be under the charge of the Secretaries.

IX.— Candidates for admission as members shall be pro-
posed by two members at any of the General or Committee
Meetings, and the election shall be determined by ballot at tlıe
next Committee or General Meeting; three-fourths of the mem-
bers present balloting shall elect. "The rules of the Society shall
be subscribed by every person beecoming a member.

X.—Ladies shall be eligible as members of the Society
without ballot, being proposed by two members, and approved
by the majority of tie Meeting.

XI.—Each member shall pay ten shillings on admission to

6 RULES.

the Society, and ten shillings as an annual subscription, which
shall become due on the first of January in each year, and shall
be paid in advance.

XII. —Donors of Ten Guineas or upwards shall be members
for life.

XIII. —At General Meetings of the Society the Committee
may recommend persons to be balloted for as Honorary or
Corresponding Members.

XTV.—When any office shall become vacant, or any new
appointment shall be requisite, the Committee shall have power
to fill up the same; such appointments shall remain in force
only till the next General Meeting, when they shall be either
confirmed or annulled.

XV.—The Treasurer shall receive all Subscriptions and
Donations made to the Society, and shall pay all accounts
passed by the Committee; he shall keep a book of receipts and
payments, which he shall produce whenever the Committee
shall require it; the accounts shall be audited previously to the
Anniversary Meeting by two Members of the Committee, chosen
for that purpose; and an abstract of them shall be read at the
Meeting.

XVI-—No change shall be made in the Laws of the Society
except at a General or Special Meeting, at which twelve mem-
bers at least shall be present. Of the proposed change a month’s
notice shall be given to the Secretaries, who shall communicate
the same to each member three weeks before the Meeting.

XVII. —Papers read at Meetings of the Society, and con-
sidered by the Committee of sufficient interest for publication,
shall be forwarded (with the author’s consent) to such periodical
as shall be determined by the Committee to be the best for the
purpose, with a request that a number of such papers may be
printed separately, for distribution to the Members of the
Society, either gratuitously or for such payment as may be
agreed on.

XVIHI.—No religious or political discussions shall be per-
mitted at Meetings of the Society.

XIX.— That any person contributing Books or Specimens to
the Museum shall be at liberty to resume possession of them in

LIST OF MEMBERS. 7

the event of the property of the Society ever being sold, or
transferred to any other county. Also, persons shall have liberty
to deposit Books or Specimens for a specific time only.

N.B.—One of the objects of the Society shall be to collect,
by donation or purchase, a Library and Museum, more particu-
larly illustrating the History (Natural, Civil, and Eeclesiastical)
of the County of Somerset.

*,# It is requested that Contributions to the Museum or Library
be sent to the Curator, at the Society’s Rooms, Taunton.

Tist of Remkerz.

1860.
Those marked * are Life Members.

Abraham, T., Dunster
Acland, Sir P. P., Bart., Fairfield House
Acland, Sir T. D., Bart., Killerton Park, Devon
Acland, T. D., Spreydoncote, Devon
5 Acres, Rev. J., Clevedon

Adair, A., Heatherton Park
Addington, H. J., Langford, Bristol
Adlam, William, The Firs, Chew Magna
Ainslie, Rev. A. C., Corfe, Taunton

10 Alford, H., Taunton
Altord; H. J.,. ,
Allen, J, R., Lyngford House
Allen, Rev. C., Stocklinch, near Ilminster
Allen, B. T., Burnham

15 Auckland, the Right Rev. Lord, Bishop of Bath

and Wells, Palace, Wells

Badeock, Miss H., Taunton
Badcock, H., Wheatleigh Lodge
Badeock, R. G., The Elms, Taunton
Bagehot, Edward, Langport

20 Bagehot, Walter, 5

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Bailward, J., Horsington, Blandford, Dorset

Baker, John, Weston-super-Mare

Baker, C. Gifford, Seaton, Devon

Bally, Mrs., Pelham-place, Hastings

Barrett, W., Moreden House, North Curry

Barrowforth, J., Cheddon Fitzpaine

Bartrum, J. S., 41, Gay-street, Bath

Beadon, Rev. Canon, North Stoneham, Hants

Beadon, Edwards, Highlands, Taunton

Bernard, H., Wells

Berryman, W. C., jun., Wells

Bewes, Rev. T. A., Beaumont, Plymouth

Blackwell, Rev. W., Mells

Blair, H. M., Farleigh Castle, Wilts

Blake, W., Bishop’s Hull

Blake, Downing, Holway, Taunton

Bliss, Rev. T., Clevedon

Bluett, ©., Taunton

Bird, J., Pe

Bond, Rev. J., Weston, Bath

Bord, J. G., Bruton

Bouverie, Hon. P. P., m.p., Zrymore House

Bouverie, P. P., junr. “

Boyd, R., m.D., Wells

Boyle, Hon. and Rey. Richard, Marston, Frome

Brackstone, R. H., Lyncombe Hill, Bath

Braikenridge, Jerdone W., Esq., Clevedon

Braikenridge, Rev. G. Wear, ,„,

Breton, Lieut., R.N., Camden-place, Bath

Bridges, H., Bridgwater

Broadmead, P., Milverton

Broadley, J., 2, Gascoyne-place, Bath

Brodrick, Hon. Miss, 18, Queen-square, Bath

Brown, Rev. Frederick, Naxlsea

Browne, John, Dridgwater

Browne, S. W., Chfton Park, Bristol

Browne, Samuel, 66, Bishopsgate-st., London,
and Spring Cottage, Merriott, Ilminster

Broome, C. E., Elmhurst, Batheaston

Bruford, T., Naxlsea

Bryant, Rev. W. F., Horfield, Bristol

Brymer, J. S., 76, Pulteney-street, Bath

LIST OF MEMBERS. 9

Buckle, Rev. G., Twerton
Bullock, G. Troyte, East Coker
Bullock, George, East Coker
65 Burridge, Rev. T. W., Bradford, Taunton
Bush, Clement, Weston, Bath
Bush, W., 7, Circus, e

Campbell, Fraser, Torguay
Castle, T, Worle
70 Carver, R., Haines Hill, Taunton
Cavan, the Earl of, Weston-Super-Mare
Cave, T., Yeovil
Chamberlain, G., Seend, Melksham, Wilts
Chapple, J., Dulverton
75 Chilcott, Rev. W. F., Monksilver
Chisholm-Batten, E., Zhorn Falcon, and Lincoln's
Inn, London
Clark, Thomas, Halesleigh, Dridqwater
Clark, James, Street
Clark, Joseph, ,
80 Clark, Rev. W. R., Taunton
Clarke, F. R., H
Clarke, T. E., Tremlett House, Wellington
Clarke, A. A., Wells
Clerk, Rev. D. M., Kingston Deveril, Wilts
85 Clerk, E. H., Westholme House, Pilton, Shepton Mallet
Clutterbuck, Rev. Henry, Buckland Dinham, Frome
Coffin, Com. Genl. Sir E. P., 43, Gay-street, Bath
Coker, T., Taunton
Coker, W. Worthington, Wild Oak, Taunton
90 Coleman, Rev. James, Chapel Allerton
Coles, Rev. J. S., Shepton Beauchamp
Cooper, Lady, Leversdown House
Cordwent, G., M.D., Taunton
Cornish, C. H., ”
95 Cox, Rev. E., Luccombe, Minehead
Crosse, Mrs. Andrew
Crotch, Rev. W. R., Uphll

David, Dr., Bloomfield, Taunton
Davies, Henry, Weston-super-Mare
100 Davis, Maurice, Langport

10

105

110

115

120

125

13

je)

135

140

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Davis, W. W., Beaufort Villa, Weston-super-Mare
Davis, H., Taunton

Dawson, T., Trull

Dickinson, F. H., Kingweston House
Dickinson, E. H., Shepton Mallet
Donne, B. M., Crewkerne

Doveton, Captain, Haines Hill, Taunton
Down, E., Exeter

Dowty, F. G., Bridgwater

Du Cane, Rev. Arthur, Wells

Du Sautoy, Rev. W., Taunton

Dyne, Henry, Bruton

Easton, R., Taunton

Edwards, Rev. H., Churchstanton
Egremont, Countess of, Orchard Wyndham
Elliot, Miss, Osborne House, Taunton
Elliot, W. F., =

Elton, R. G., Whitestaunton
Elton, Sir Arthur H., Bart., Clevedon Court
Escott, Miss, Hartrow House

Esdaile, E. J., Cothelstone House

Esdaile, W. C. D., Barley Park, Ringwood, Hants
Eskersall, Miss, Bathwick Hill, Bath

”

Falconer, R. W., m.D., Bath

Falkner, Francis, b;

Falkner, Frederick, Lyncombe Cottage, Lyncombe, Bath
Falkner, F. H., Bath

Farbrother, John E., Shepton Mallet

Field, A, Zaunton

- Fisher, J.M., ,

Fisher, T., »

Fiske, H., “

Fitzgerald, Rev. A. O., Charlton Mackerel
Foley, Rev. R., North Cadbury, Castle Cary
Foster, W. J. S., Wells

Fox, ©. J., m.D., Brislington

Fox, Sylvanus, Linden, Wellington

Freeman, E. A., Summerleaze, Wells.
Fuller, T., Richmond Hill, Bath

Giles, W., Southwick House, Trull

145

15

je»)

155

160

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Giles, C. E., 24, Westbourne Park Road, Bays-
water, London

Giles, Captain, Woodbury, Wells

Gill, J. E., Bath

Gillett, W. E., m.D., Taunton

Gordon, James, Weston-super-Mare

Goodford, Rev. C. O., D.D., Head Master, Eton

Goodford, Henry, Chilton Cantelo

Goodwin, Josiah, 1, Zurret-place, Rectory Grove,
Clapham, London

Gould, Rev. W., Hatch Beauchamp

Grenville, Ralph Neville, Butleigh, Glastonbury

Greenwood, Rev. H. H., Bath

Hagley, E., Holywell, Oxford

Hamilton, J., Broomfield, and 116, Park-street,
Grosvenor-square, London, W.

Hamilton, Rev. L. R., Castle Cary

Harbin, G., Newton House, Yeovil

Harford, Wm. H., Blaise Castle, Bristol

Harford, Wm. H., jun, , »

Harris, Charles, Ilchester

Harrison, Rey. O. S., Thorn Faulcon

Hathway, Rev. R. C., Kewstoke

Hawkins, Rev. H. C. H., Chiton-super-Polden

Heatheote, Rev. S., Williton

Helyar, W. H., Coker Court, Yeovil

Hewson, Rey. Frank

5 Higgs, Richard, Haines Hill, Taunton

Hill, Rev. R., Timsbury, Bath

Hill, Miss, Rock House, ,

Hill, William John, Zangport

Hood, Sir A. A., Bart., m.p., St. Audries

170 Hooper, James, Inner Temple, London, E.C.

Horner, Rev. J. S. H., Mells Park, Frome
Hoskins, T., Haselbury

Hoskins, H. W., Hinton St. George
Hunt, E., River-street, Bath

175 Hutchings, H., 13, Chester-street, Grosvenor-

place, London, S.W.

Ilchester, Lord, 31, Old Burlington-st., London
Isaacs, G., Bishop’s Hull, Taunton

VOL. X., 1860, PART II.

12

180

185

190

195

200

205

210

215

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Jackson, Rev. W., Fort-field, Weston-super-Mare
Jeboult, E., Taunton

Johnson, Rey. F. C., Whitelackington

Jones, R. L., Weston-super-Mare

Jones, Rev. W. A., Taunton

Jones, Rev. Longueville, 9, Saville-place, Clifton

Kelly, W. M., m.o., Taunton

Kemmis, Mrs., Croham Hurst, Croydon, Surrey
Kidgell, G., Wellington

Kilvert, Rev. F., Cleverton Lodge, Bath

King, H. D., Taunton

King, Rev. C., Stoke St. Gregory

King, J. W., Ash, Martock

King, R. K. M., Walford

King, R. M., Pyrland Hall

Kinglake, R. A., Weston-super-Mare

Kinglake, H., m.p., Taunton

Kinglake, Mr. Sergeant, M.P., Court-place, West Monkton
Kingsbury, J., Taunton

Knatchbull, W. F., m.p., Babington House
Knowles, C., Bridgwater

Knyfton, T. T., Uphill

Lake, F., Taunton

Lambert, W. C., Knowle House, Wimborne, Dorset
Lance, Rev. J. E., Buckland St. Mary

Langton, W. H. P. G., Hatch Park, Taunton
Langton, W. H. G., m.p., Chfton

Larcombe, John, Langport

Leaver, Rev. H. C., Pen Selwood

Leigh, Henry, 3, Elm Court, Temple, London, E.C.
Lethbridge, A. G., Eastbrook, Taunton
Lethbridge, Sir John, Bart., Sandhill Park
Leversedge, John, Taunton

Liddon, H., u

Lockey, Rev. F., Swainswick, Bath

Long, W., Lansdown-place, Bath

Lovelace, the Earl of, Ashley Combe, Porlock

Malet, Captain A., Netherclay, Taunton
Mansell, J. C., Shaftesbury, Dorset

220

225

230

235

240

250

255

LIST OF MEMBERS. 13

Markland, J. H., Dath

May, Frederick, Taunton

Mayhew, T., Glastonbury

Meade, Rev. R. J., Castle Cary

Medlycott, Sir W. C., Bart., Venne House, Milborne Port
Metford, W., m.D., Floor House, Taunton
Meyler, T., Taunton

Michell, Rev. R., B.D., Magdalene Hall, Oxford
Mildmay, Paulet St. John, Haselbury, Wincanton
Miles, Sir W., Bart., m.p., Leigh Court, Bristol
Mills, Arthur, m.p., Hyde Park Gardens, London
Mist, Miss, Bradford

Mogg, Rees, Midsomer Norton

Moody, C. A., M.P., Kingsdon, Somerton

Moor, Rev. R. W., Stoke St. Gregory

Moore, C., Cambridge-place, Bath

Moysey, H. G., Bathealton Court

Munckton, W. W., Curry Rivel

Murch, Jerom, Cranfields, Bath

Murley, G. B., Langport

Naish, W. B., Stone Easton

Neville, Rev. F., Butleigh

Newberry, R., jun., Zaunton

Newton, F. W., Barton Grange
Nicholetts, J., South Petherton

Norman, G., 1, Circus, Bath

Norman, Rev. A. M., Sedgefield, Ferry Hill
Norman, J. F., Staplegrove, Taunton

Paget, I. M., Cranmore Hall, Shepton Mallet
Paget, Arthur, „> >

Palairet, Rev. R., Norton St. Philip

Parfitt, the Very Rev. C. C., Cottles, Melkslıam
Paul, Rev. C. S., Wellow

Patton, Capt. T., R.n., Bishop’s Hull

Perceval, Capt., Chapel Cleeve

Perkins, ©. F., Kingston, Taunton

Perry, Rev. G. G., Warrington Rectory, near Lincoln
Philipps, Dan, Dridgwater

Pinchard, W. P., Taunton

Pinder, Rev. Professor, Wells

Pinney, W., m.p., Somerton Erleigh

14

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Pitman, S., Rumhill

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

295

Plowman, T., North Curry

Pollard, G., Taunton

Poole, G. S., Bridgwater

Poole, J. R., Weston-super-Mare

Pope, Dr., Glastonbury

Porch, T. P., Edgarley

Portman, Rev. F. B., Staple Fitzpaine
*Portman, Lord, Bryanstone House, Dorset
Prankerd, John, Zangport

Pring, J. H., m.D., Weston-super-Mare
Prior, R. C. A., m.D., Halse

Pulman, G. P. R., Crewkerne

Pulteney, Rey. R. T., Ashley Rectory, Northamptonshire
Pyne, Rev. W., Charlton, Somerton

Quantock, Major, Norton-sub-Hamdon
Quekett, E., Langport

Raban, R. B., Shirehampton

Raban, Lt.-Col., United Service Club, London
*Ramsden, Sir John, Bart., mp., Dyham, Yorkshire
Rawle, T., Taunton

Rawlinson, William George, Taunton

Redfern, Rev. W.T.,
Reeves, Archibald,
Reynolds, Vincent J., Canon’s Grove, Taunton
Rhodes, Rev. E. D., Hampton Villa, Bath
Richards, Rev. T. M., Alcombe

Richards, W.,

Robbins, G., Midford Castle, near Bath

Rock, Hoyte, Glastonbury

Rocke, J.J.,

Rodbard, J ohn, Aldınck Court

Rogers, Be Bishop’s Hull

Routledee, "Rev. W.,D.D., Barrow Gurney, Bristol
Rowel: ıffe, Charles, Milverton

Ruegg, Lewis H., Sherborne, Dorset

”

Sanford, E. A., Nynehead Court
Sanford, W. *
Sowdon, Rev. Fredk., Dunkerton

300

305

310

315

320

325

330

335

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Scarth, Rev. H. M., Bathwick, Bath

Scott, Rev. J. P., Staplegrove

Sealy, John, Bridgwater

Sealy, H. N., Nether Stowey

Serel, Thomas, Wells

*Seymour, H. D., m.P , Knowle, Wilts

Sheppard, A. B., Torquay

Sheppard, J., Frome

Sheppard, W. B., Keyford House, Frome

Sheppard, T. B., Selwood Cottage, Frome

Sheppard, Rev. H. F.

Shipton, Rev. J. N., D.D., Othery

Shore, J., Whatley, near Frome

Shout, R. H., Yeovil, and 1, Duchess-street, Port-
land-place, London, W.

Shuldham, Miss E., Norton Fitzwarren

Shute, H., Cary Fitzpaine

Skinner, George, Belmont, Bath

Slade, Wyndham, Munty’s Court, Taunton

Smith, Basset, 38, Bennet-hill, Birmingham

Smith, Rev. O., Bishop’s Lydeard

Smith, Richard, Bridgwater

Smith, Miss E. H., 30, Royal Crescent, Bath

Solly, Miss L., Bath

Sotheby, Rev. T. H., Milverton

Sparks, W., Crewkerne

Speke, Mrs., Roeford Lodge

Speke, W., Jordans, near Ilminster

Sperrin, J., Weston-super-Mare

Spicer, R. W., Chard

Squire, F., Pall-Mall, London, S.W.

Stephenson, Rev. J., Lympsham

Stuart, Rev. T. B., Wookey

Stone, W. H., Budleigh Salterton, Devon

Stradling, W. J. L., Chilton-super-Polden

Stradling, Miss,

Sully, T., Zaunton

Surtees, W. Edward, Tainfield

Sweet, Rev. C., Sampford Arundel

Sylvester, C., m.D.

Symes, Rev. R., Cleeve, Bristol

Symons, William, Dunster

”

16

. *Taunton, Lord, Stoke Park, Slough, Bucks

340

345

350

360

365

370

375

LIST OF MEMBERS.
Talbot de Malahide, Lord, Shepton

Thomas, C. J., Durdham Park, Bristol

Todd, Lt.-Col., Keynston, Blandford

Tomkins, C., M.D., Weston-super-Mare

Tomkins, Rev. H. G., Kegworth, Leicestershire

Tompkins, George, Wells |

Traherne, Rev. J. M., Coedriglan, Cardiff (deceased) |

Trenchard, H. C., Taunton

Trevelyan, Sir W. C., Bart., Nettlecombe Court,
and Wallington, Northumberland

Trevelyan, Lady er ® u,

Trevelyan, Sir C. E.

Trevelyan, Rev. E. O., Stogumber

Trevelyan, Arthur, T'yneholm, Tranent, N.B.

Trevelyan, Miss, Nettlecombe Court

Trudell, James, Taunton

Tucker, Rev. H. T., Leigh Court

Turle, H., Taunton

Turner, A., Staplegrove

Porter, 0. J.,

Tunstall, James, m.D., 35, Brock-street, Bath

Tynte, Col. K., Cefn Mabley, Glamorganshire

Uttermare, T. B., Langport

Vibart, James, Chilliswood
Voules, Rev. T. A., Ash Hill, near Ilminster

Waldron, James, Wiveliscombe
Walker, L., 19, Bryanstone-square, London
Walter, W., Oldbury Lodge
Walter, R., Stoke-sub-Hamdon
Walters, G., Frome

Ward, Rev. J. W., Ruishion
Warre, Rev. F., Bishop’s Lydeard
Warre, Miss, =

Warre, F., Fyne Court

Warren, J. F. H., Langport
Warren, Rev. J., Bawdrıp
Webber, Rev. E. A., Runnington
Welch, C., Minehead

LIST OF MEMBERS. 17

Welman, C. N., Norton Manor
Welsh, W. I, Wells
Weston, Plowden C. J., South Carolina, U.S.
White, C., Beech Cottage, Wellington Road,
Bromley-by-Bow, London
380 White, F., Wellington
White, F. G., Taunton
White, Rev. James, Bruton
White, Rev. F. W., Mere Vicarage, Glastonbury
Whitmash. E., Taunton
385 Wickham, Rey. G. H.D., Horsington Rectory,
Wincanton
Winter, Charles, Bishop’s Lydeard
Woodforde, F. H., m.D., Fairwater, Taunton
Woodforde, G. A., Castle Carey
Wood, V. S., Langport
390 Woodland, J., Bridqwater
Wrangham, Digby G., The Rocks, Bath

Yatman, Rev. J. A., Winscombe, Sidcot
Young, J., Elm Cottage, Taunton

Members are requested to inform either of the Secretaries of any errors or
omissions in the above list; they are also requested to authorise their
Bankers to pay their subscriptions, annually, to Messrs. Badcock, or
Messrs. Stuckey, Taunton ; or to either of their branches; or their
respective London Agents, on account of the Treasurer.

PRINTED BY F. MAY, AT THE TAUNTON COURIER OFFICE.

395

400

405

Omissions in the foregoing List:

Anstice, Rev. J. B., Dovey Tracey, Exeter
Batten, John, Yeovil

Bissett, M. F., Tetton House, Kingston
Winwood, Rev. H. H., Yeovil

New ‚Members, 1861:

Bagehot, Watson, Carr Y "Rivel
Bailey, Robt., Zaunton
Birkbeck, T., >

Combe, R. T, Earnshill
Green, Emanuel, Holcombe, Bath
Lewin, Richard, Azbridge

New, Richard, 4

Parsons, James, Drayton

Paull, W. Bond, Zangport

Penny, Rev. C., West Coker
Stansell, Alfred, Zaunton

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