22 PAPERS, ETC. 



abundant reason to feel assured tliat a monastic establish- 

 ment existed at Taunton for a Century and a half at leaat 

 before the Norman invasion. Where their House was 

 situated, whether on the site of the subsequent Priory or 

 elsewhere, we have no means of discoverlng. But the 

 faet of the existence of such a Community does not admit 

 of doubt. There is a charter of Bishop Denewulf to King 

 Eadweard of Wessex, and a counter charter of the king to 

 him, dated in the year 904,* " pro perpetua libertate illius 

 monasterii quod dicitur Tantun," and speaking of it not as 

 a nevv foundation, but as one which had existed for some 

 considerable time. The bishop gives to the king certain 

 lands at Stoce for this privilege. Among other cus- 

 tomary liabilities due from the monastery, are enumerated 

 board and lodging to the king for one night ; the same 

 for eight dogs and their keeper ; for nine nights to 

 the king's falconers ; attendance, horses, carts, &c., when 

 the king was progressing to "Curig" or "Willettun," 

 together with attendance on the king's visitors to the 

 nearest of bis royal residences. It is probable that some 

 confused tradition of such an establishment operated on 

 the Jurors' minds in leading them to the conclusion, 

 erroneous so far as the date, at which they arrived. 



The proof of the correct attribution of the foundation 

 of the Priory to Bishop Gyffarde, whatever may be the 

 history or wherever the site of any earlier establishment, 

 is by this Inquisition rendered doubly clear and con- 

 clusive. The reader will recoUect that the document has 

 been reserved until now, in order that it might occupy its 

 exact place in the chronological series, although it refers to 

 the earliest fact in the annals of the House. 



* Cod. Dipl. iEvi Sax., nn. MLXXXii, mlxxxiv. 



