58 PAPEUS, ETC. 



and brotlier of their House, to be tlieir procurator, for the 

 purpose of presenting the elect to the Bishop, and to ob- 

 tain his assent and all other things belonging to his office 

 of patron. Finally, by a document dated in his manor at 

 Waltham, on the 17th of March, Bp. Wayneflete informs 

 the Sub-prior and Convent that he had received their pro- 

 curator, John Exceter, and that the Prior elect had been 

 presented to bim ; and that by these presents he gave his 

 consent and assent to the said elect and election.* 



John Prowse occurs as Prior in 1492.t 



On the 3rd of September in the same year, Thomas 

 Birde, one of the Canons of the House, was elected Prior 

 of Berlich, and confirmed on the 6th of that month.l 



John Prowse occurs also in 149 7. || 



Two years afterwards saw the Prior of Taunton admitted 

 to one of the most covetted honours that the Church could 

 bestow. By a bull, dated at Korne the 4th of May, 1499, 

 Pope Alexander VI. conceded to his beloved son John 

 and his successors, the privilege of using the ring, pastoral 

 stafF, and other pontifical Ornaments save the mitre ; 

 also of pronouncing soleinn benediction after mass, vespers, 

 corapline, &c., when, however, at such benediction there 

 should be present no bishop nor legate of the Apostolic 

 see; and of admitting to Minor Orders the Canons and 

 choristers of the said monastery.§ This, we may be sure, 

 was welcomed as one of the crowning acquisitions of the 

 noble Ilouse to which it was conceded. The original 



* MS. Harl. 696G, p. 144. Eeg. Well. Stilliugton. Eeg. Dni. Will. 

 Wayneflete, Ep. Winton. vol. ii. ff. 37b— 39b. 



t Dr. Archer, from ßeg. Pox. 

 t MS. Harl. C966, p. 149. 

 il MS. Harl. G9G6, p. 153. 

 § MS. Harl. 09G6, p. 158. 



