60 The Parish Church of S. Michael, Mere. 
the first place, one Bible and one Hugucion, which are in the custody of Sir 
Richard Cheddesey, also Egidius de Regimine perseveranda, which is in the 
custody of John de Clevedon ; also a set de Element and sixth book of Decretals, 
in the custody of Sir John Robbetut, Rector of Penrith ; also one book called 
Albanus, which is in the custody of Sir John Chasse; also one set of vestments 
which is in the custody of Sir John Berkeley, Knight.” 
E. 
In 1324 King Edward II. granted to Johannes de Mere certain lands and 
rents in Mere to provide a chaplain to pray daily in the Parish Church of 
Mere for the soul of Margaret, late Queen of England and for the souls of the 
aforesaid John and Alianer his wife, and for the souls of their fathers and 
mothers, of their ancestors and heirs, and for all the faithful deceased. 
The following is from the Registrum Mortival (addenda to Hoare’s Modern 
Wilts, p. 4) :— 
“Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Joh’es de Mere dedi et concessi et hac 
presenti carta mea confirmavi, Deo et B. Maria ac d’no Joh’i de Mere capellano, 
dum singulis diebus in Kccl’ia paroch’ 8. Michelis de Mere ad altare in honore 
Annunciatis B. Marie in eadem LEccl’ia noviter erectum pro anima D’nex 
Margarete quondam Regine Anglix, et anima mea &c. ‘ 
* Dat’ apud Mere predict’ die Lune in crastino S. Michaelis pe 
anno D’ni 1325, anno vero Regis Edwardi filii R. Edw’di decimo nono.’ 
F. 
Bettesthorne Chantry. 
The Bettesthorne Chantry was founded in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin 
Mary (where the brass still lies), and was dedicated in honour of the Annuncia- 
tion of the Virgin. It originally consisted of one chaplain only, but a further 
license was subsequently obtained from the king to increase the endowment for 
the maintenance of two other chaplains, who were daily to perform divine 
service in the said chapel “for the good estate of the said John whilst he lived, 
and for his soul when he should depart out of this light, for the souls of his 
parents and other ancestors, and for the souls of all the faithful departed, for 
ever.” 
A second inquisition, taken on the decease of Bettesthorne, on behalf of the 
Mere Chantry, describes the lands and tenements forming its endowment, which 
appear to have consisted of one messuage, forty acres of land, and twelve acres 
of meadow, in Clopton; ten acres of land and two of meadow, at Gillingham ; 
nine messuages, eighty acres of land, four of meadow, and one of wood, in Mere ; 
together with the manors of Mere and Chadenwyche. (Kite’s “ Brasses of 
Wiltshire,” p. 23.) 
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