k 
54 The Parish Church of 8. Michael, Mere. 
A yew tree was planted in 1636 and another in 1707, thirty new 
lime trees in 1732, and ten lime trees in 1892. 
New gates and piers were set up in 1716 at a cost of £11. 
In the museum over the north porch is a piece of sculpture in 
alabaster which has an interesting history. It was dug up ina 
garden under Castle Hill, and taken to Mrs. Matthews, of Mere, 
and at a sale of her effects on 8th April, 1888, it was bought for 
10s. by Mr. T. H. Baker, of Mere Down, and presented to the 
Church. The subject is the Adoration of the Magi. On the back 
is the inscription anno . 5. 72. viv es": It probably means vivus. 
THEOS . EST=“‘ He is the Living God.” This relic doubtless had a 
place in the castle. 
APPENDICES. 
A, 
The following is the text of Bishop Osmund’s grant of half the revenues 
of the Church at Mere to his new Cathedral at Old Sarum :— 
A.D. 1091, Carta Osmundi qlee Me 
“In nomine Sanctee et Individue Trinitatis Ego Osmundus Sarum ecclesia 
episcopus, omnibus Christi fidelibus tam posteris notifico quam presentibus ad 
honorem Domini Jhu Christi sanctissimaque Marie Virginis, et pro saluti 
animarum Willielmi regis et uxoris sue regine Matilde atque filii sui 
Willielmi regis Anglorum regni successoris pro saluti etiam anime suze 
ecclesiam Sarum me construxisse et in ea canonicos constituisse atque illis 
viventibus canonice bona ecclesiz ita sicut ipse optimerare libere et ut exigit 
regulam censura canonice in perpetuam concessisse; has scilicet villas preter 
militum terras . . . . dimidiam ecclesiam de Mera cum medietati decimz 
et ceteris ibidem appendiciis ; ri 
B. 
The entry in the Register of Bishop Osmund mentioning the dedication of 
Mere Church is as follows :— 
A.D. 1190. De Mera. ‘“Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Eustachius 
de Bailleul divine caritatis pietatis intuitu et pro salute anima mez et uxoris 
mez Petronilla et antecessorum meorum dedi et concessi ecclesie S. Michaelis 
de Mera gardinum quod est juxta curiam ejusdem ecclesiw et eadem villa in 
liberam puram et perpetuam elemosinam,” &c., &c. 
