287 



only from the references to her in the Euber Codex Bathon at 

 Longleat, but from the ancient oath taken by apprentices on 

 taking up their freedom. This runs — 



" I schal buxom and obedyent be to the mayr of Bathe 



and to al hys successowrys and Y schal mentayne me to 



no lordschyp for hynderans of eny burges of Bathe 



Nether Y schal nozth plete wyth no burges of Bathe 



but on the mayr courte yf hit so be that the mayr wyll 



do me ryght or may do ryght Seynt Katern day Y 



schall kepe holy day yerely and. Seynt Katern Chapell 



and the brigge help to mentayne and to susteyn by my 



power. All other custumys and fredumys that langit 



to the foresayde fredum "Y schal well and truly kepe and 



mentayne on my behalf selme God and halydom." 



Notwithstanding that the Eectory of Stalls was vested in the 



Prior and Monks, the Vicar of Stalls sided with the Citizens in a 



memorable dispute with the Monks, temp. Henry V., as to the 



right of ringing church bells. The inquisition is set out by 



Warner (Appendix xli.) The ancient custom contended for by 



the Monks was at this time (1421) distinctly recognized, namely 



that none of the City Churches should ring their bells in the 



morning before the Abbey bells, nor after the Curfew (ignitigium) 



had sounded from the Abbey tower in the evening. Certain 



exceptions were allowed ; Christmas, the Epiphany, the feasts of 



the dedication of the Churches and of the patron saints of the 



Churches and of St. Catherine, St. Nicholas and All Saints. On 



other feasts the City Churches were to summon to Matins with 



one bell only. 



The participation of the Eector of St. Mary intra muros, in this 

 dispute is the only early recorded fact I have been able to find 

 concerning this Church. It was a Eectory, and the advowson 

 was vested in the Prior and Monks. The parish attached to 

 it must have been a very small one, and it is a little difficult to 

 conjecture what district it covered. The parish of St. Michael 



