12 The History of the Parish of All Cannings. 



was also himself a free-holder having " Gift-lands, and Amor's 



lands, and Clerk's lands: and a wine-tavern in Barkcombe." With 



regard to another lease of the manor to Edward Shelley, by his 



kinswoman Dame Elizabeth Shelley, the last Abbess of St. Mary, 



Winton, there is some interest attaching to it as having been 



probably the means of connecting with the parish the family described 



in the Herald's Visitations, as " Shelley of All Cannings," of whom 



we shall hereafter- make mention. As one of the Religious Houses, 



the revenue of which was under £200 per annum, the Abbey of 



St. Mary, Winton, was ordered to be suppressed. Dame Elizabeth 



Shelley, its Abbess, by her own exertions managed to avert its 



complete fall for a time. She obtained letters patent, dated August 



27th, 1536, by which her Abbey was new founded with all its 



possessions, exce2)t the valuable manors of Alle-Canninges and Arche- 



fonte (Erchfont), together with the Rectory of Archefunte and the 



advowson of both churches, which were alienated in favor of Lord 



Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp (afterwards the Protector 



Duke of Somerset), and Lady Ann his wife. Dame Elizabeth 



Shelley was appointed Abbess of the newly founded convent. 



After four years, however, it fell. She would seem to have made 



the best use of her opportunities and was not unmindful of the 



claims of kindred, for the Commissioners appointed to enquire into 



the revenues of the suppressed monasteries, report under date of 



May 15th, 28 Hen. VIII. :— 



" Item, there bene no manner leases nor grauntes made to any person under 



the convent seale of the seid monastery sithen the iiii"' daye of Ffebniary, 



anno xxvi'" R. H. VIII., butt oonly oon indenture, made unto Edward 



Shelley, of the manner of All Canninges in com. Wiltes, and theyer mille 



and medowe belonginge to the same from the feast of Seint Michell 



tharchungell, which shal be in the yere of our Lord God 1555, unto thend 



and terme of 40 yeres, yeldinge and payinge yerely £xxvi. vi'. viii''., 



bering date the xx daye of Octobre, in the xxvii yere of the said Kinge." 



From the Protector Duke of Somerset's Register of estates at 



Longleat, Canon Jackson has supplied us with the following account 



of the profits of the manor, &c., of All Cannings. 



Rents of assize _ _ _ xxvi. vi. viii. 



,, of capital messuage - - iii. vi. viii. 



,, of Cotsett-land with work-silver - vii. v. 



Sheriff's Turn _ - . - vi. viii. 



