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laws, and a Bull of Priveleges was granted by Pope Innocent IV. 
(1245). Their lands were increased by succeeding benefactors, 
and extended to various neighbouring parishes in addition to 
Hinton and Norton, such as Wellow, Freshford, Lullington, 
Woodwick, Westwood and others. Richard II. gave them a 
hogshead of wine yearly from the Port of Bristol. 
Of the doings of these good men I can tell you but little.* 
The even tenour of their way appears to have been chiefly broken 
by jealousy of the secular clergy and restlessness under the yoke 
of Rectorial tithing power, to escape from which they invoked 
successfully the Episcopal Authority. First of all an agreement 
(date uncertain) seems to have been made between the Prior and 
Gilbert de Sarum, Rector of Hinton, by which the Prior and 
Convent were to hold the Church of Hinton in perpetual farm 
and to have their lands free of all tithe, in consideration of paying 
to the Rector and his successors 15 markst a year. Then in 1344 
we find that the Prior and Convent prevailed upon Bishop Ralph 
to “appropriate” the Church of Hinton to the Priory, by which 
transaction the Prior became Rector of Hinton. This document 
sets forth that it had been represented to him by the Priory that 
some of the lands were barren, that the profits from water mills 
(probably the one at Friary, before mentioned) had decreased, in 
fact that “agricultural depression had set in, and that, in conse- 
quence, their means were reduced and their ability to exercise 
proper hospitality had been curtailed, and that, wishing to relieve 
their burdens and necessities, the Bishop had determined to 
“appropriate ” the Church to the Priory,t in other words he had 
* No scandals, such as were in some cases no doubt justly imputed 
to the lesser Monasteries, have, as far as I know, ever been laid to 
their charge. + £10. 
t The Convent paying the Vicar ‘“‘a suitable allowance” (congrua 
portio) i.e. small tithes and altarages and £4 a year, with two wagon 
loads of wood, or 3s. and one wagon load of straw. 
