TAUNTOM PRIORY. 73 



duty. The mass de Spiritu Sancto was celebrated in their 

 Conventual Church, after which the Canons were sum- 

 moned to the Chapter House. The patron's letter was 

 then read, the votes were taken, and, on the majori ty being 

 declared, Te Deum was sung, the elect was conducted to 

 the high altar, and his election solemnly declared. The 

 confirmation of him by the Bishop to his dignity foUowed 

 shortly after, and his conventual reign began. 



It wiU not be amiss, as the detail has been so consider- 

 abie, if I place before the reader in a consecutive series a 

 list of the Priors, referring him for further particulars to 

 om* previous pages. I am happy to add — although I have 

 not usually drawn attention to the wholesale omissions and 

 errors of the few previous writers on this strangely over- 

 looked and forgotten House — that several of these digni- 

 taries now find their place in the assemblage for the first 

 time. 



1. Stephen occurs as a witness in documents of 1159, 

 1174, 1189, &c. 



2. Robert, in a document of 1197. 



3. John, in documents of 1204, &c. 



4. John, in documents of 1313 and 1314. 



5. Stephen de Picoteston died in 1325. 



6. Ealph de Culmstock was elected on the 6th, received 

 assent on the llth, and was confirmed Prior on the 23rd 

 of January, 1326; was one of the sub-collectors of the 

 Tenths, 1330 ; Avas commissioned to purify his church, 

 1332; was summoned to the Council in London, 1332; 

 was appointed a collector of the Tenths, 1334 ; and resigned 

 Office on the 22nd of March, 1339, 



7. Kobert de Messingham was clectcd on the 19th of 

 April, 1339 ; and died in March, 1346. 



8. Thomas Cok was elected on the 30th of March, 



VOL. IX., 1859, PART II. K 



