THE CERNE CARTULARY. 213 



an agreement was made between the said abbot and the said 

 William that the said William and his heirs should retain the 

 said land for ever and for this the said William gave to the said 

 abbot on account of the settlement loo shillings sterling. 



To the reverend Lord Henry by the grace of God illustrious f. 2ic 

 King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Normandy and 

 Aquitaine Count of Anjou the humble and devoted convent of 

 Cerne Greeting and prayers in Christ Jesus with all veneration 

 and reverence. Know your excellency that our father and pastor 

 D, suffering from grievous sickness has renounced his pastoral 

 charge and has resigned the abbacy into the hands of the Lord 

 Bishop of Sarum. Wherefore, that we may not long lack the 

 charge of a pastor to the detriment of as well the temporalities as 

 the spiritualities of our house we suppliantly beseech your Royal 

 excellence on bended knees that your royal magnificence may 

 deign to grant to us free licence to elect a pastor. May he by 

 whom Kings reign preserve your Majesty for many seasons. 



[A similar form in case of death of the Abbot, the only 

 variation being] 



" That our father and pastor D. having gone the way of all flesh 

 has left us his flock in no small desolation." 



To the reverend Father and Lord Pandulf by the grace of 

 God bishop elect of Norwich chamberlain of our Lord the Pope, 

 Legate of the Apostolic See, his humble and devoted sons the 

 prior and convent of Cerne Greeting and prayers in Christ Jesus 

 with all subjection and reverence. Since by the disposition of 

 our Lord the care of the Anglican church is committed to you 

 for the preservation of whose liberties your magnificence 

 effectively strives, we flee to the feet of your excellency as to 

 a singular refuge, being deprived of the solace of our pastor 

 and with shedding of tears and prostration of body we entreat 

 you as in your fatherly affection sympathising with our desolation 

 that by your diligence there may be granted to us by the counsel 



