60 TAriiKS, ETC. 



them are among tlie most frayed and efFaced in the whole 

 collcction, and is scarcely intelliglble from the number of 

 words either obliterated in the body of the MS. or torn away 

 from the edg'e."' It appears to have been in defence of the 

 Priory against certain " injuriatores," and in confirmation 

 of the antecedent bull. It is addressed to the Bishops of 

 AVorcester and Exeter, and, as it seems, although the 

 mutilations render this not quite certain, to the Abbat of 

 Glastonbury, approving and confirming certain privileges, 

 enjoining them to see to the solemn publicatiou and efFec- 

 tual reception of the aforesaid letters, and concluding with 

 a reference to the secular arm, in case, it may be presumed, 

 of any disobedience or Opposition on the part of the 

 enemies of the House. The date of both instruments is 

 apparently the same — the 4th of ISIay, 1499. A very 

 interesting addition to each is the endorsement, "vij° 

 Augsti a° 1537. Taunton." written in a band correspond- 

 ing in age with the period recorded, and furnishing us, as 

 we shall see presently, with the date of a circumstance 

 which was hitherto unknown. 



On the 17th of December, 1501, John Samson, priest, 

 was presented to the vicarage of Nynhede, on the resigna- 

 tion of John Prowse, the Prior.f 



On the 16th of September, 1502, John Prowse, Prior, 

 was presented to the Church of Lydeyard S. Laurence, 

 on the dccease of John Vowell, by Nicholas Dissham, to 

 whom the right of presentation had been conceded for 

 that turn by the Prior and ConventJ 



On the 20th of September, in the same year, John 



* MSS. Lambeth, No. 643, art. 14. 

 t MS. Harl. G966, p. 161. 

 X MS. Harl. C9G6, p. 165. 



