MUCHELNEY ABBEY. 83 



reference to the Manor of Dounhevede, pleas respecting 

 the common pasture of Kyngesmor, in the manor of Som- 

 erton ; a corrody granted to Ralph Drake, chantry priest ; 

 a presentation to the chantry of S. Martin in the cathedral 

 church of Wells ; an Ordination of the vicarage of Much- 

 elney ; a charter concerning Draytone and Bortone ; a 

 receipt to inake wode ; extenta de Martok ; de pastura de 

 Whattmore ; carta de Meriette ; a composition between the 

 convent of Muchelney and the rector of West Cammelle ; 

 a calendar ; and a perambulation of the forest of Neracchist. 

 Several portions of the forest are represented as held by 

 the Abbat of Muchelney, and mention occurs of " quidam 

 mons qui vocatur Castrum de Rachich," doubtless the hill 

 which is conspicuously visible from many parts of the Vale 

 of Taunton, and vulgarly, though, as it thus appears, with 

 indisputable propriety, called " Castle Räch." 



The Abbat of Muchelney was an ecclesiastic of high 

 rank and consequence. He wore the mitre, but does not 

 appear to have had a seat in parliament. 



A list of these dignitaries, collected from the records, is 

 given by Dugdale and others, to whom I would refer the 

 reader. It is imperfect, and must remain so until a work 

 be executed to which I shall presently advert, and which 

 would furnish us with the best materials now remaining for 

 its construction. Liuuardus is incidentally mentioned in 

 the Domesday recürd, as Abbat in the time of Edward the 

 Confessor; Richard occurs in 1205 ; another Richard was 

 Abbat, 1235; Walter, 1248; John de Barneville, 1251 

 William de Gyvele, 1274; Ralph de Muchelney, 1293 

 John de Hentone, 1303 ; John de Somerton, 1334 

 Thomas de Overton, 1353; William de Shepton, 1371 

 Nicholas de Strotton, 1397 ; John Bruton, 1400 ; John 

 Cherde, 1433 ; Thomas Pipe or Pippe, 1463 ; William 



