MUCHELNEY ABBEY. 131 



truthful picture of the affairs of the House itself for niany 

 consecutive ages, but also with nunierous allusions to 

 events of social consequence, and with pleasant glimpses of 

 the rules, usages, and vicissitudes of ecclesiastical life in 

 England during the centuriee to which they refer — centuries 

 which are second to none, if they be not first of all, in 

 sacred interest and national importance. 



On behalf, however, of the general student, and yet not 

 to enter upon matters extraneons to the present subject of 

 our research, I must content myself with giving a list of 

 the Abbats of Muchelney, as contained in and gathered 

 from the MSS. now made available : — 

 Alan occurs as a witness to a charter of Robert, Bishop 



of Bath, Nov. 4, 1159. 

 Richard and his Convent give the church of Ilminster 

 to the Cathedral Church of Wells, Dec. 1, 1201. The 

 same Richard occurs as a witness to a charter of 

 William de Hardington, to which Alexander, Dean of 

 Wells, was also witness, which fixes the date at about 

 1200. 

 Another Richard is a witness to a charter of Benedict, 

 Abbat of Athelney, cir. 1225; and to a confirmation 

 of a previous charter by Alice, inother of Robert Vaux, 

 at about the same period. 

 John de Somerton, Prior, is confirmed Abbat, 1 9 Aug., 

 1334. A chantry is founded for his soul in the Cathe- 

 dral Church of Wells by Bp. Ralph de Salopia, 9 April, 

 1350. 

 John (incorrectly, as it appears, called in the printed books 

 Thomas) de Overton, obtains the royal assent to his 

 clcction, 30 May, 1349. 

 Thomas and his Convent present John Hunte to the 

 vicarage of Fivehcad, 21 Oct., 1352. 



