TAUNTON PRIORY. 19 



sent to some contemplated amendments in the Ordination 

 of the vicarage just noticed, which were not, however, 

 carried into effect. 



We now arrive at another class of documents illustrative 

 of the progress of the House and the exercise of its rights. 

 We have already seen the Canons possessed of various 

 appropriated rectories, and have now to regard them as 

 patrons of the benefices thus committed to their rule. 

 These notices will furnish us for upwards of two centuries 

 with as complete a history as can now be recovered of the 

 ecclesiastical changes in eaeh of their parishes. As afford- 

 ing such Information I hardly need say that they are of 

 special interest and importance. 



It may be as well, however, to enumerate the benefices 

 which the documents already quoted mention as belonging 

 to them. They were the churches of Taunton, (I give 

 them in modern orthography) Bishop's HuU, Kingston, 

 Lydlard S. Lawrence, Angersleigh, Pitminster, Thurlbeer, 

 Ash Priors, Dulverton, Runnington, Combflory, Ninehead, 

 Thurloxton, Willand, and Clannaborough. It must be 

 recollected that S. James' in Taunton, Ruishton, Stoke S. 

 Mary, Staplegrove, Wilton, and TruU, were chapels imder 

 Taunton. 



On the 21st of June, 1315, Richard le Bellringer was 

 presented by the Prior and Convent to the vicarage of 

 Nyenhide.* 



On the 8th of September, 1315, the BIshop certified the 

 Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer, that the Abbats 

 of Glastonbury and Muchelney, and the Priors of Taunton 

 and Montacute, had received for the maintenance of four 

 Templars doing penance in their monästeries, for two 



* MS. Harl., 6961, p. 26. 



