The Priory of Marcigny and its connexion with Wiltshire. 95 



son of William Lungespee, late earl of Salisbury, and his heirs, of 

 the manors of Aiidiburn (Aldbourne) and Wanberge (Wanborough), 

 &c., late of the count of Perche." (Charter EoU CaL, vol. i., p. 102.) 

 Add to this the noted devotion of the counts of Perche to Cluniac 

 foundations, and the gift of the rectory of Wanborough to the 

 (Cluniac) priory of Nogent-le-Piotrou (Eure et Loir, diocese of 

 Chartres) — subsequently transferred to Amesbury — becomes in- 

 telligible, while the passage already cited from the " Testa " shares 

 in the illumination. Broome was part of the Wiltshire estate, 

 including Wanborough and Aldbourne, of the counts of Perche, 

 and was given to the abbess (rectins prioress) of Merceney, in 

 Burgundy, in pure alms, by Count Eotrou the first (not of his 

 name but the first count presumably) who held it of the King ; it 

 is of the old feoffment.^ 



Whether, as suggested by the contrasted entries in the Hundred 

 Eolls and the " Testa," the prioress and the prior of Marcigny had 

 separate estates in Broome, must be left undecided. Probably 

 " abbess " and " prior " are used loosely, though the house, as we 

 have seen, was a double one. 



There is no equally satisfactory evidence forthcoming as to the 

 donors of the other English estates of the priory. The remaining 

 entries in the " Testa " are (p. 154&) : — 



" Moniales de Marteny (sic) tenent villam de Slateford in pura elemosina 

 de domino rege de veteri feoffamento," and (p. 326) " Navenby (co. Lincoln) 

 Item Moniales de Marteney(sic) tenent ibidem ij carucatas terre in pura elemo- 

 sina de dono Henrici regis veteris et sunt de honore Lancastrie de veteri 

 feoffamento." 



The " old king " refers, usually, to King Henry II., who must 

 therefore, according to this finding be reckoned the donor. In 

 A.D. 1401 — 2, as appears by " Feudal Aids" : — 



" Moniales de Merceney tenent quadraginta solidos annualis redditus in 

 Navenby de rege sine medio in puram et perpetuam elemosinam " ; 



From which entry it appears that, by this date, the nuns had 

 farmed their Lincolnshire estate, receiving a fixed rent, a course 



' King Stephen confirmed to the priory of St. Pancras, Lewes, int. al. " at 

 Wanborough {Wanberffa) a hide of land which count Rotrou gave." 



