TAUNTON nilOKY. 63 



Johu Prows, Prior, reslgned his dignity on tlie 3rd of 

 February, 1513-4. 



On the day just mentloned the Sub-prior and Convent 

 made humble supplication to Richard, Bishop of Winches- 

 ter, for licence to elect another Prior, representlng that 

 their late head, John Prous, had freely resigned his dignity, 

 and that the House so deprived was widowed and destitute 

 of the comfort of a Prior and pastor. To avoid the injury 

 that from this state of things would ensue, they solicit his 

 licence to proceed to the election. The letter was dated 

 in their Chapter House on the 3rd day of February, 1513. 

 On the llth of the same month the licence was granted. 

 The Bishop enjoins them to choose for their Prior and 

 pastor a man devoted to God and apt in all things for the 

 government of the House, one able to defend and proteet 

 its rights in all things, and faithful and obedient to himself 

 his ecclesiastical superior and patron.*-" 



Their choice feil upon Nicholas Peper. He was elected 

 on the 23rd of February, 1513-4, thirteen Canons being 

 present and three absent. We find him in the same year 

 summoned to convocation, together wlth the Abbats of 

 Glastonbury, Mochelney, and Athelney, just mentioned, 

 and William Dovele, Abbat of Clyve.f 



On the Ist of September, 1514, John Hyll, bachelor of 

 law, was presented to the Church of Combeflory, on the 

 resignation of John Baker : an annual pension of five marcs 

 to be paid to the said John Baker.J 



In November, 1515, Nicholas Peper was again sum- 

 moned to convocation.il 



* E Reg. Dni Eic. Fox, Winton. Ep. toiii. iii. fol. 30. 



t iMS. Harl. G9G7, ff. 19b, 24b. Dr. Archer, from Eeg. Adrian. 



t MS. Harl. G967, f. 20. 



II MS. Harl. 0907, f. 21. 



