By the Rev. J. K. Floyer, WA., FSA. . 109 
resigned the Rectory of Elveley, to which the Pope then presented 
 Itherius de Itherio de Concoreto, Bachelor of Civil and Canon Law, 
—evidently an Italian. In 1331 Ayreminne obtained also from 
the Pope, though at the request of the King—Ayreminne being 
described as one of his clergy—the Prebend of Briklesworth. If he 
is to be identified with the former Master of the Rolls, he must 
have become reconciled to the King. In the following year, 1332, 
the Pope also writes that plenary remission is to be given by his 
confessor at the hour of death, under condition of contrition, con- 
fession, and satisfaction, when required, to Richard de Ayreminne, 
among others, who is described merely as ‘‘ Canon of Chichester.” 
John, Cardinal of 8S. Angelo, did not hold Downton for long, for 
in 1330 William de Mere is mentioned as “ rector,’”’ ! and obtained 
from Pope John the reservation of a benefice, without cure of souls, 
in the gift of the Abbess and Convent of Wilton. 
It is worth noting that the value of the Rectory of Downton, at 
the time of William de Mere’s tenure of it, is mentioned as twenty- 
five marks. 
Of the remaining two clergy of our period there is nothing special 
recorded. On May 4th, 1380, William de Wykeham, then Bishop 
of Winchester, obtained licence for the appropriation in mortmain 
of the Church of Downton, on condition that he should apply the 
profits thereof in aid of the maintenance of seventy poor scholars 
studying grammar in a college to be founded by him in or near 
Winchester? 
A further licence was obtained by him from Pope Urban VI. 
to hold the rectory himself in mortmain, provision being made for 
the maintenance of a vicar. Nicholas de Alresford, therefore, 
would, technically, be vicar under Wykeham. 
The advowson and rectorial tithe still continue in the hands of 
his college at Winchester. 
A list is given below of the burgesses returned to Parliament for 
_ Downton, which differs slightly in some respects from the one in 
1 Papal Letters. 
2 Patent Rolls. 
