By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 67 
The List or Priorrsses on Azprsses is very imperfect. In 
the following are one or two names not hitherto noticed.’ 
A.D. 1211. Emenina. (Hunter’s Berkshire Fines, p. 145.) 
1294. Joan pe Gennes, from Font Evrault. 
1308. Jonanna. (Wilts Institutions.) 
— Damperr. (See preceding letter.) 
1349. Marcery DE Piresrooxe. (Wilts Institutions.) 
1420. Srp1miza DE Monracure, died this year. (Pedigree 
of Duke of Manchester.) 
1438. Jouanna. (Wilts Institutions.) 
1486. 16th May, Atice Fisuer. (See Wilts Collections, 
Aubrey & Jackson, p. 199, ‘‘ Wanborough.”) 
1534. Fiorence Bormewe. (Valor Eccles.) 
1539. Joanna Darett. The last. 
“ As early as 1535 or 1536,” (says M. A. Everett Wood) “an at- 
tempt had been made on the part of (Secretary) Cromwell’s emissaries 
to persuade the prioress voluntarily to surrender her monastery into 
_. the King’s hands, but this she steadily refused. Dr. Tregonnel and 
_ his fellow commissioners thus addressed Cromwell on the subject ”:— 
“«¢ Wecame to Ambresbury, and there communed with the Abbess 
for the accomplishment of the King’s highness’ commission in like 
; sort; and, albeit we have used as many ways with her as our poor 
wits could attain, yet, in the end we could not, by any persuasions, 
bring her to any conformity, but at all times she resteth and so 
remaineth in these terms: ‘If the King’s highness command me to 
go from this house I will gladly go, though I beg my bread; and 
as for pension I care for none.’ In these terms she was in all her 
- communication, praying us many times to trouble her no farther 
herein for she had declared her full mind, in the which we might 
plainly gather of her words she was fully fixed before our coming.’ 
1 In the New Monasticon (p. 334), and in Sir R. C. Hoare’s “‘ Amesbury,” p. 72, 
the first known Abbess is said to have been Isabella of Lancaster, fourth daugh- 
ter of Henry, Earl of Lancaster, and grand-daughter to Edmund Crouchback 
son of Henry III., and the date given to her is A.D. 1202. This date must 
certainly be an oversight ; as the Earl of Lancaster died 1345. But it is very 
_ doubtful whether she was an Abbesshere at all. Aconbury in co. Hereford, and 
not Amesbury in Wilts, appears to have been the nunnery over which Isabella 
of Lancaster presided. See Notes and Queries, 3rd series, vol. vii., p. 76. 
E 2 




