234 ST. Michael's mount. 



On the seizure af alien Priories the right of presentation 

 passed to the Crown or to the Duchy of Cornwall. In 1337 and 

 1378, for instance, it was in the Duchy and was valued at 200 

 and 100 marks a year respectively. On the 7th of December, 1385, 

 Brother Eichard Avmcell (a monk of Tavistock), was admitted on 

 the presentation of 'King Richard II (because of the war with 

 France). This Prior was reported as being in arrear three years 

 — 1408 to 1410 — of procurations to the Pope's collector. On his 

 death William Lambert, a monk of Tutbury, was on the 21st of 

 October, 1410, instituted to the Priory, the Patron being Henry, 

 Prince of Wales (afterwards Henry IV), on account of this alien 

 Priory being still in the King's hands. There was an episcopal 

 inquiry as to the patronage, but Henry's right was duly 

 recognised. The Bishop's Certificates to the King are of 

 considerable interest, if only as showing the care with which the 

 registers of his predecessors were searched to answer the Bang's 

 request, for the names, &c., of all Priors instituted to St. 

 Michael's Mount are given, from the time of Edward, son of 

 Henry (i.e. Edward I). Lambert appears to have been the last 

 Prior, and for some time only a chaplain was kept at the Mount. 



By letters patent under date at Clyst, the 10th of August, 

 1425, Bishop Lacy (Eegr. vol. 3, fol. 43) reciting that men are 

 often stirred to good deeds by the reward of indulgences, that at 

 that place in his Diocese called Mowntys Bay, men had frequently 

 suffered shipwreck, and death, from storms, owing to the defective 

 condition of the causeway, to remedy which the inhabitants of 

 Marghasyowe near the said Mount of St. Michael had (moved 

 thereto by piety and aided by Grod) begun to construct a stone 

 causeway behind which ships could at all times be received in 

 safety, but, owing to their poverty, they could not complete the 

 undertaking without the assistance of the faithful, and they had 

 asked the Bishop to issue a letter of testimonial, therefore 

 " confiding in the immense pity of omnipotent Grod and of the 

 blessed Virgin Mary, his mother, and in the merits and prayers 

 of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, our patrons, and of all 

 the saints " the Bishop granted forty days of indulgence to all 

 parishioners and others who, repenting of their sins and confessing 

 them, should give, or by will leave, any charitable assistance to 

 the construction of such causeway, 



