362 On the Appropriation of the Rectory of Lacock. 



(4) To admit on his nomination, or that of his successors 

 after him, a suitable person as a nun in their house. 



This instrument was also executed by the Convent at Lacock on 

 the day following. 



These details being thus settled, Sir John Bluet executed a deed 

 bearing date the Friday after St. Laurence, 6 Ed. II. (11-17 Aug., 

 1312), in which he formally resigns his right in the alternate 

 presentation, according to the tenour of the Eoyal letters patent, 

 the Abbess and convent being bound to do " a certain alms " 

 according to the Bishop of Salisbury's ordination. This deed is 

 still preserved at Lacock (Appendix No. VI.). 



It was not, however, only the King who stood to lose money in 

 the shape of fees and fines, by the falling of the entire patronage 

 of the Church into the " dead hand " of the Abbey ; in consequence 

 of the appropriation, there would be no more Eectors instituted, 

 and consequently the Archdeacon of Wilts would lose certain 

 fees, which he had been accustomed to receive. He appears to 

 have represented this to the Bishop, who thereupon issued an 

 order, which was copied into the older Cartulary, directing that 

 as soon as the abbess and nuns should have obtained peaceable 

 possession of the Church, they should pay the Archdeacon three 

 shillings annually on Lady Day ; the procurations and other 

 ordinary burdens were, nevertheless, still to be paid as usual. 

 (Appendix No. VII.) 



All these arrangements were, however, dependent on the Abbey 

 obtaining possession of the Rectory by the death or resignation of 

 the then incumbent, Robert de Dorinton ; and as he continued to 

 hold the living, the nuns seem to have pressed for some immediate 

 acknowledgement of their position as Impropriators. The consent 

 of both Rector and Patron was obtained, and is on record, the 

 former in a Latin letter (P.R.O., Ct. of Wards, 94 E, 29), and the 

 latter in one in French (Ibid, 94 B, 117), both addressed to the 

 Bishop, and promising to abide by his decision. Beth these are 

 printed in the Appendix (Nos. VIII. and IX.), but a translation 

 of Sir John Bluet's letter may be of interest, as it is of a more 



