214 THE CERNE CARTULARY. 



of our lord the king the liberty of electing our pastor in such 

 good time that the property of our house on which we have to 

 live and sustain ourselves and minister to the necessities of 

 strangers may not be dissipated and destroyed by any vexatious 

 delay. But unless your Fatherliness should speedily and 

 providently grapple with impending misfortune there is no doubt 

 that a serious and intolerable loss will hang over our religious 

 observances and our hospitality. Wherefore may it please your holy 

 fatherliness to take such prompt counsel that the property of our 

 f . 24J. house may not be exposed to dissipation and that the liberty of 

 our church may be preserved uninjured. May your Fatherliness 

 fare well in the Lord. 



To our reverend lord and father Pandulf, by the grace of God, 

 bishop elect of Norwich, chamberlain of our lord the Pope, legate 

 of the apostolic see your humble and devoted sons the prior and 

 convent of Cerne greeting and prayers in Christ Jesus with all 

 subjection and reverence. Our father and pastor having gone the 

 way of all flesh has left us his flock in no small state of desolation ; 

 and deprived of the comfort of his presence we most assuredly 

 expect that irremmediable damage threatens us as well in our 

 temporalities as in our spiritualities, if we shall long be without 

 the support of a pastor ; and we send to the feet of your holiness 

 from the bosom of our church the monks our brethren N. N. N. 

 men of approved religion and sound opinions, we being ready to 

 accept as our father and pastor, without appeal or opposition, 

 him whom they shall determine to be nominated in your presence. 

 Wherefore we suppliantly beseech your holy fatherliness with 

 shedding of tears and prostration of body that by the mediation 

 of your discretion to which is entrusted the care of the Anglican 

 church and which is bound to take thought for the indemnity of 

 vacant churches, such provision may be made for us in the matter 

 of a pastor by means of the said brethren to whom we have 

 confided our votes that we may not through delay in arrangements 

 fall into the peril which threatens us. May your holiness and 

 fatherliness fare well in the Lord. 



