44 PAPERS, ETC. 



had a writ of Venire facias issued against him to aiiswer to 

 the Prior in the matter of bis annual rent of two marcs, 

 previously noticed in the Taxation of Pope Nicholas IV.* 

 It will be in tbe reader's recollection tbat in tbe Ordina- 

 tion of tbe vicarage of Taunton, in 1308, it was provided 

 tbat tbe Prior sbould maintaiu at bis own cost a curate to 

 serve tbe cbapels of Staplegrove and S. James's. In tbe 

 year 1353 William atte Halle was curate. He complained 

 to tbe Bisbop tbat bis proper stipend, titbes and offerings, 

 were not paid, and tbat bis bread and ale were not 

 snpplied as tbe law required. He tberefore prayed for tbe 

 Bisbop's judgment in bis favour. Tbe Bisbop did not, as it 

 appears, entertain tbe curate's complaint. But William atte 

 Halle was by no means to be overcome so easily, nor in any 

 degree willing to resign bis dues witbout a struggle for tbeir 

 preservation. Accordingly be forwarded an appeal to tbe 

 Arcbbisbop of tbe province, as riglit bad been denied bim 

 nearer bome ; and tbe result was a mandate from tbe 

 Primate to bis brotber at Wells, dated tbe 7tli of June, 1353, 

 requiring bim eitber witbin fifteen days to see justice done 

 to tbe Said William, or to cite tbe Prior and Convent to 

 appear in London before tbe Arcbbisbop or bis official at 

 tbe cburcb of S. ^lary le Bow. Tbe Bisbop wisely took 

 tbe latter course, and issued bis citation, dated at Evercricb, 

 tbe 2 Ist of July, 1353, to Tbomas Cocke tbe Prior and 

 certain of bis Canons to appear at tbe place and respond 

 to tbe complaint aforesaid.f So little trutb is tbere in tbe 

 assumption tbat in tbese ages injustice could be done witb 

 impunity and witbout appeal. And, for augbt tbat we 

 know, tbe curate bimself migbt have been in en-or, and bis 

 complaint witbort foundation. 



* MS. Harl. 6965, p. 244. 

 t MS. Harl. 6965, p. 255. 



