By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 57 



tra)isf erring to him from the Bishop of Sarum, the rights of Visitor 

 over Kington Nunnery. 



" Innocent, &c., to our beloved son, the Abbot of St. Mary of 

 Glastonbury of the Order of St. Benedict, in tbe Diocese of Wells, 

 greeting : 



" The circumspect anxiety of the Holy See is cheerfully directed 

 to such measures as may usefully administer to the wants of Reli- 

 gious Persons. And to such as are most eminent for virtue and 

 merit, it more particularly extends the favour of its protection. 



" On behalf of our beloved Daughter Alice Lawrence, the 

 Prioress, and of the Convent of St. Mary of Kington, of the Order 

 of St. Benedict, in the Diocese of Sarum, a Petition lately sent to 

 us sets forth, that, whereas it hath been the ancient custom for the 

 Bishop of Sainim to visit that Monastery for the purpose of re- 

 forming manners and correcting vices ; his suite of horsemen and 

 attendants upon those occasions is so great, that the means of the 

 Monastery are unable to bear the expense thereby occasioned. That 

 this hath happened, not once only, or in the regular course of the 

 Visitation of the Diocese, but as often as he likes. That the Cells 

 and other private apartments, appropriated to prayer and the use 

 of the Nuns, are required for the accommodation of a number of 

 secular attendants : and that the Bishop at pleasure supplies the 

 Monastery with a chaplain of his own nomination, whensoever and 

 whomsoever he may chuse. 



" And whereas it has been further represented unto us, that, if 

 the Convent is withdrawn from the visiting jurisdiction of the 

 Bishop, and is placed under that of a Prelate Regular for the cor- 

 rection of faults and instruction in morals, the Prioress and Convent 

 will be able to serve God more securely and quietly, and the fre- 

 quent offences that arise out of its subjection to secular persons will 

 in future be avoided : 



" We therefore, desiring to entertain this application favourably, 

 and exonerating the said Alice from all penalties, &c., &c., do 

 hereby order, that you (the Abbot) summon the Parishioners of 

 Kington and all others whom it may concern, and inquire diligently 

 into the truth hereof. And if these allegations are founded oa 



