300 The Wiltshire Possessions of the Abbess of Shaftesbury. 



chronicled in the chartulary. A composition of some little 

 amount, in the shape of an annual ' pension,' heing secured to 

 the Bishop, the Dean and Chapter, and the Archdeacon respectively, 

 a commission is issued to 'John Manston, Bachelor of Laws, (13 

 May, 1395), authorising him to enter as Proctor, for the Rector of 

 Edington Monastery on the Church of Keevil. The manner in 

 which he performed his duty is carefully described. He took 

 possession by going up the centre of the Church, and then advancing 

 to the High Altar. There, after making due reverence, he touched 

 the sacred ornaments. He afterwards went to the Belfry, and both 

 rung the bells himself and caused them to be rung by others. 

 Then he advanced to the Rectory House and took quiet possession 

 of the same, no man forbidding him. The whole proceeding was 

 witnessed, and afterwards attested, by a number of persons who 

 were present from several dioceses. 



Two documents remain — the one is a Bull of Confirmation from 

 Pope Boniface IX., the other, a deed by which the duties and 

 revenues of the Rector and Vicar are defined. On the latter I will 

 say a very few words. By a former instrument, under the hand of the 

 Bishop, it was provided that the Vicar should have such a provision 

 secured to him as would enable him to give to the necessities of the 

 poor of his flock, and in this deed to which I am now alluding, the 

 tithes of such things as he is to enjoy, and the various perquisites 

 which are to be his, are distinctly specified. Amongst his liabilities 

 are the following; — "Item, We ordain that the Vicar, for the 

 time being, shall provide bread, wine, and lights for the said 

 Church, and shall do and perform all other things, the providing 

 or refitting, or repairing of which has heretofore by custom devolved 

 on the Rector for the time being, always excepting the repairing, 

 rebuilding, or refitting of the Chancel of the said Church, in every 

 part thereof."^ 



Last of all comes, naturally enough, the ' Bill of costs.' This is 

 drawn out, in the Edington chartulary, in a clear and thoroughly 

 business-like manner. To the Abbess of Shaftesbury was paid, for 



» Lansdown MS. 44C, fol. 87b, 



