THE CERNE CARTULAR.V. 215 



[f. 24^. is continued below, where a new subject is commenced.] 



To all the sons of holy mother church to whom the present f. 25a. 

 writing shall come, the humble convent of Cerne Greeting in 

 the Lord. Whereas by reason of diverse forms of elections 

 which certain persons attempt to introduce, many hindrances 

 affect and many perils threaten vacant churches, we desiring to 

 provide according to the form of the sacred council for our 

 church deprived of its pastoral charge and having invoked the 

 favour of the holy spirit and all having been duly summoned for 

 the purpose and being present in the chapter have unanimously 

 conferred our votes for the election of a pastor for us upon our 

 beloved brethren N. N. N., men as we believe of sound opinions 

 and praiseworthy religion, giving to them full and absolute 

 authority of election, but so that none of them be for this 

 reason excluded from the advantage of election. Moreover 

 that one of the body of our church whom the said three or at 

 least two of them shall nominate for election we all without 

 appeal or delay or opposition will accept as our father and 

 pastor. And that we may not at any time be able to go against 

 this our joint promise and the election to be made by these 

 three or any two of them we have caused this deed to be sealed 

 with the seal of the chapter. Farewell in the Lord, 



[continued from above], f, 24i. 



Dorset. The Prior of Saint Swithin of Winchester by his 

 attorney claims against the abbot of Cerne one carucate of land 

 in Melcombe with the appurtenances as the right of his church 

 of Winchester and of which his predecessor a certain Prior by 

 name John was seised in his demesne as of fee and in the right 

 of his church of Winchester in the time of King Henry the 

 grandfather of our lord the King, taking thence profits of the value 

 of half a mark, &c., and that such is his right and that the 

 aforesaid John his predecessor was so seised he offers, &c. And 

 the abbot comes and denies the right of his church when &c. 

 the seisin and all &c. and puts himself upon the great assize of 



