66 PAPEliS, ETC. 



twelve acres of pasture, ten acres of wood, and tlie rent 

 of one pound of pepper, wlth their appiirtenauces situated 

 in Presteleye, for a Chaplain to say daily service for the 

 souls of himself, bis fatlier, mother, ancestors, and all the 

 faithful departed. The Inquisition was dated at Bruton, 

 on the 12th of October in the year aforesaid.-' Many 

 members of the familles of S. Maur and Zouch found a 

 last resting place in the Cönventual Church, which, having 

 become ruinous, was rebuilt by Sir John S tourton, knt., 

 and consecrated on the 4th of June, 1443. The names of 

 a few of the Priors have been recovered, and I hope at a 

 future period to add from our MSS. repositories some 

 additions which I possess to our present amount of pub- 

 lished Information. I am now only concerned with the 

 House from its annexation to Taunton, which came about 

 in the foUowing manner. 



William Grendon, Canon of Taunton, was elected Prior 

 of Staverdale in 1524. Not long after bis election he 

 appears to have taken steps to unite bis Monastery to bis 

 former and we may imagine favourite home. In this 

 attempt he succeeded, and, with consent of bis Convent, 

 the Union was effected in the 24th year of Henry VIII. 

 The king's licence for this proceeding is entered on the 

 Patent Eoll of that year, and conveys permission to 

 William Grendon, Prior of Staffordell, or Staverdale, to 

 give and concede the whole of their possessions, and rights 

 belonging thereunto, including the site, circuit, and pre- 

 cinct of the Priory itself, together with all and singular its 

 churches, chapels, cemeteries, sanctuaries, manors, lord- 

 ships, messuages, bouses, mills, dovecots, gardens, lands, 

 tenements, reversions, rents, Services, court leets, views of 



* Inquis. p. m. 24 Edw. III. (2 n.) u. 10. 



I 



