TAUNTON PEIOKY. 51 



concord, holding, accordlog to the apostollc precept, the 

 same sentiments, so that there be no schlsms among them, 

 to endeavour to cboose for their prior and pastor a man 

 pleasing to God, approved for the sincerlty of bis religion, 

 peaceful and prudent, not a slave to unsuitable will, but 

 more desirous of profiting bis bretbren tban of preeminence 

 over tbem, under whose vigilant care tbeir monastery may 

 be prosperously directed, and by the divine mercy be amply 

 blessed."* To this the Convent i'eplied as follows : — "To 

 the venerable Father in Christ, lord William, by the grace 

 of God Bishop elect of Winchester, and confirmed Patron 

 of the Conventual Church of Taunton, of the dlocese of 

 Bath and Wells, bis humble and devoted Chaplains and 

 Canons Regulär, Robert Sub-prior and the Convent of the 

 Said Church, in devoted humility of soul, witb all the 

 reverence and honor due to so great a father, intimate to 

 your lordship, by the tenor of these presents, that, cur 

 Church aforesaid being vacant by the death of brother 

 Robert de Messyngham, the last Prior of the same, and 

 licence having been conceded to us by your lordship of 

 electing a future Prior, all things having been observed 

 which by the law and custom of the Churcb are so to be, 

 we have elected for our Prior our beloved in Christ, 

 Brother Thomas Cook by name, one of our brethren and a 

 Canon of the aforesaid Church, a man provident and dis- 

 creet, the bearer of these presents. Hence it is that we 

 present the same to your lordship, supplicating with devout 

 entreaty that, affording your gracious assent to our afore- 

 said election, you would be pleased by the consideration of 

 charity to direct your letters to the venerable Father lord 

 Ralph [Radulphus de Salopia] by the grace of God Bishop 



* E Eegistr. Edyndon, tora. i., fol. 8. 



