226 THE ANTIQUITIES [LETT. 



interposed in his favour, and with great humanity insisted on a 

 provision for him for life. The reason for this difference seems 

 to have been, that, in the first case, though in years, he might 

 have been hale and capable of taking his share in the duty of 

 the convent ; in the second, he was broken with age, and no 

 longer equal to the functions of a canon. 



Impressed with this idea the bishop very benevolently inter- 

 ceded in his favour, and laid his injunctions on the new elected 

 prior in the following manner. 



Fol. 56. " In Dei nomine Amen. Xos Wiflmus, &c. consider- 

 antes Petrum Berne," late prior " in administratione spiritualium 

 et temporalium prioratus laudabiliter vixisse et rexisse ; ipsum- 

 que senio et corporis debilitate confractum ; ne in opprobrium 

 religionis mendicari cogatur ; eidem annuam pensionem a 

 Domino Johanne Sharp, alias Glastonbury, priore moderuo," 

 and liis successors, and, from the Priory or church, to be paid 

 every year during his life, " de voluntate et ex consensu ex- 

 pressis " of the said John Sharp, " sub ea que sequitur forma 

 verborum assignamus : " 



1st. That the said prior and his successors, for the time being, 

 lioneste exhibebunt of the fruits and profits of the priorship, 

 " eidem esculenta et poculenta," while he remained in the Priory, 

 " sub consimili portione eorundem prout convenienter priori," 

 for the time being, ministrari contigerit ; and in like manner uni 

 famulo, whom he should choose to wait on him, as to the scrvi- 

 entibus of the prior. 



Item. " Invenient seu exliibebunt eidem unam honestam 

 cameram " in the Priory, " cum focalibus necessariis seu oppor- 

 tunis ad eundem " 



Item. We will, ordain, &c. to the said P. Berne an annual 

 pension of ten marks, from the revenue of the Priory, to be paid 

 by the hands of the prior quarterly. 



The bishop decrees farther, that John Sharp, and his successors, 

 shall take an oath to observe this injunction, and that before 

 their installation. 



" Lecta et facta sunt hsec in quondam alto oratorio," belonging 

 to the bishop at Suthwaltham, May 25, 1478, in the presence of 

 John Sharp, who gave his assent, and then took the oath before 



