TAUNTON PRIORY. 123 



Several years elapsed from what appears to be the date 

 of the foregoing letter, a fact which can hardly be ac- 

 counted for save by our knowledge of the feeling -wlth 

 which the fruits of sacrllege were even then regarded, 

 before the site of tlie Priory was formally transferred 

 to other hands, when it was given by its new master 

 to two of his creatures. On the 13th of June, 1544, 

 the king granted to Sä' Francis Bryan and Matthew 

 Coltehirste all the house and site of the late Priory 

 of Taunton, and all the messuages, houses, buildings, 

 dovecots, pools, vivaries, gardens, orchards, arable and 

 other lands, and inheritances whatsoever, sltuated and in- 

 cluded within the site, enclosure, compass, cireuit, and 

 preciuct of the same late Priory. Also all those arable 

 lands, meadows, pastures, and inheritances whatsoever, 

 called or known by the name or names of Carters Lease, 

 Carters Meade, Avysham Meade, Seven Acres Meade, 

 Hole Äleade, Ley Meade, More Close, the CrofFtes, Hynde 

 Landes, Calfeven Lease, Somer Lease, Pry Close, More 

 Close, and all the close next the Deyhouse ; and all the close 

 called Three Acres ; and all those lands and woods called 

 Priours Woode ; and all other laads, meadows, pastures, 

 woods, and inheritances whatsoever, commonly denomi- 

 nated and called the Demayne Landes of the said late 

 Priory. These possesslons are described as situated in 

 Taunton, Hull Bishop's, Staplegrove, Russheton, Trull, 

 CorfF, Pytmystei', Churche, Hllfarance, Norton, Kynges- 

 ton, and Cheddon, and as formerly belonging and pertain- 

 ing to the said late Priory. All these, with the i^roduce of 

 the woods, rents, yearly returus and all other rights, profits, 

 and emoluments, are estimated at the clear annual value of 

 eight pounds elghteen Shillings and ten pence. They are 

 stated to be granted in consideration of good, true, and 



