TAüNTON PRIORY. 15 



to tlie Said Prior ancL Convent, tliat they have power to 

 receive that messuage and land from the aforesaid Richard 

 and Philip by the tenor of these presents we similarly 

 grant special licence ; being unwilling that the same Philip 

 and Richard, or the aforesaid Prior and Convent, by 

 reason of onr statuta upon this in anything be molested or 

 put to trouble ; reserving nevertheless to the chief lords of 

 that fee the Services thencefrom due and customary. In 

 testimony whereof, &c. Witness the King, at West- 

 minster, the twelfth day of July." * 



In the year 1288, Pope Nicholas IV. granted the Tenths 

 of all ecclesiastical benefices, which together with the First 

 Fruits had for a long period been paid to the Roman See, 

 to King Edward I. for six years, as a means of defraying 

 the cost of a Crusade. In order that the most might be 

 made of the Pope's concession, a taxation was commenced 

 in the same year, and not entirely finished until four years 

 afterwards. In this most interesting and important record, 

 according to which all taxes both to the Pope and the King 

 were strictly regulated down to the time of the Valor of 

 Henry VIII, the Priory is stated to be possessed of lands at 

 Ewilline in Staunton and Middeldon, valued at £1 2s. 5d. ; 

 Willelond, £2 Os. 4d.; üpstrete, 15s.; Capelod in Coury, 

 15s. ; Preston, near Mulverton, 10s. ; Essy Prioris (Ash 

 Priors), 8s. ; Nydehyde, (Ninehead), £\ 5s. ; Westmonek 

 (Westmonkton), 10s.; Lydiard S. Laurence, 20s.; Bruges 

 (Bridgwater), 10s. ; Northperton, 20s. ; Thornlockeston 

 (Thurloxton), appropriated to the pitancier, £'6 10s. 8d. ; 

 Spaxton, 13s. 4d. ; Stregeston (Stringston), 9s.; Haswylle, 

 lOs.; Dulvcrtone, also as it seems appropriated to the 

 pitancier, 26s.; Toulonde, £\ 11s. 3d. ; and Stoke, £\ 10s. 



* Fat. 18 Edw. I, ni. 18. 



