By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson, F.8.A. 



257 



to wear linen next the body, except on the nether limbs : all to sleep 

 in garments of wool or hemp (lanea seu staminea). Besides the 

 number of brethren above-mentioned, to be two secular priests to 

 wait upon the parishioners of the Church in the nave and to look 

 after them in distributing* sacramentals, &c. u The founder's will 

 and mine " (the Bishop of Salisbury's) " is, that the Rector have a 

 confessor, a discreet and proper person to be approved by the con- 

 vent." The brethren to confess twice every year to the Rector. 



Signed and sealed by the Bishop of Salisbury and the Bishop of 

 Winchester, the founder. 



1359. 20th September. King Edward III. granted a charter 1 

 confirming the privileges of the monastery. This document begins 

 by an acknowledgment of Bishop Edingdon' s long and indefatigable 

 labours, and his wisdom and faithfulness in administering the affairs 

 of the whole kingdom. It is dated at Leedes Castle, in Kent, and 

 witnessed by Simon (Islip), Archbishop of Canterbury, W. Wynton 

 (the founder), Chancellor, John (de Shepey), Bishop of Rochester, 

 Treasurer ; Henry, Duke of Lancaster, William de Bohun, Earl of 

 Northampton, Ralph Mortimer, Earl of March, Henry de Percy, 

 John de Grey de Codnore, and Guido de Bryan, Seneschal of the 

 Palace. 



The same year was granted a license from the Crown to crenellate 

 (embattle) the manse of Edingdon Priory, and enclose it with a 

 wall of lime and mortar, on petition of the founder : also to enlarge 

 the house and cemetery : and to have a way between the house and 

 the church. An agreement about this, made between the Abbess 

 of Romsey and the Rector of Edingdon Monastery, is signed by 

 John de Edingdon, Sen., and John de Edingdon, Jun., the bishop's 

 brother and nephew. 



1361. The Priory Church was finished, and consecrated by 

 Robert Wyvile, Bishop of Sarum. The day is not named. Leland 

 (referring to the b.ook he saw at Edingdon), says (but erroneously) 

 that the saints to whom it was dedicated were St. James the Apostle, 

 St. Katharine, and All Saints. 



1 Harl. MS, 927, and Lans. MS. 442. 



