By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 59 



with such, other information as you can procure. Also that you 

 compel any person detaining them, or otherwise offering impedi- 

 ment, to give them up and bear testimony to the Truth, under pain 

 of Ecclesiastical censure. For which purpose, if need be, you will 

 call in the aid of the Secular power. 



" Given at St. Peter's, Rome, under the Seal of the Fisherman, 

 27 July, 1491." 



3. The Answer of Thomas Langton, Bishop of Salisbury, to the Pope. 



" Most Holy Father : After our humblest commendation and 

 devout kisses of your Holiness's blessed feet ; I received your Letter 

 enclosing the copy of the document purporting, &c., and conveying 

 your Holiness's orders. Whereupon I so proceeded against the 

 Prioress and other suspected parties, as to obtain possession of the 

 original document, which I herewith send to j^our Holiness. The name 

 of the person who hath contrived this matter I have not been able 

 to discover ; excepting that he is said to be a certain Irish Friar, 

 of the Order of St. Francis. But if I shall be able to discover 

 where he is, whether in England or in Ireland, I promise my best 

 exertions^to arrest and detain him until I shall receive your Holi- 

 ness's further instructions. Our Lord whose Vicegerent upon 

 earth you are, have your Holiness in his blessed keeping. 



" Given at London, 10 Novemb., 1491, by your most devoted 

 Son, Thomas Langton, Bp. of Sarum." 



4. Alice Laicrence, the Prioress, being compelled to resign, the 

 Bishop of Sarum apjmnts a new Prioress. 



" Thomas, by Divine permission, Bp. of Sarum, to our beloved 

 Daughter the Lady Katharine Moleyns, Nun of the Monastery of 

 Shaftesbury of the Order of St. Benedict, greeting. Whereas the 

 Priory of Kington is vacant by the free resignation of Alice Law- 

 rence ; and the Sub-prioress and Convent have voluntarily solicited 

 me, and conveyed to me as the Ordinary and Diocesan all their 

 power in nomination of a successor ; we, therefore, having heard 

 of you a good report, &c., do elect you Prioress thereof, and by 

 these presents depute to you in the Lord, the care and administra- 



