of the Cistercian Abbey of Stanley. 



243 



paragraph in which are explained the scope and method of the 

 arrangement, and the signification of the marks. This method is 

 so interesting as affording us a glimpse at the way in which the 

 Monks were accustomed, in the Cistercian Order, to arrange their 

 title deeds, that I think it worth while to translate it : — " Here 

 begin the titles of the charters. Firstly, of the charters pertaining 

 to places whose names begin with A, then with B, and so on. In 

 this arrangement of titles this method is carried out, viz., immedi- 

 ately after the title of each charter are placed the confirmations, if 

 any, of that charter, after these confirmations are placed other deeds 

 appertaining" to the same. And it is to be noted that the number 

 which is written at the head of the titles indicates in what place 

 the separate deeds are deposited. But the dots represent in 

 what order they are. The small circles shew which are the charters 

 placed in the broad chest." 



I think it will be unnecessary for me to point out modem local- 

 ities equivalent to those indicated by this list, which is so long that 

 we may fairly take it the abbey of Stanley was very richly endowed. 

 The majority of the localities are in Wiltshire, and a few appear to 

 be in Berkshire and other surrounding shires. 



[MS. Harl. 6716, f. 2b.] Isto ordine collocantur Omnes compositiones istius 

 domus quae fuerunt inter nos et diversas personas pro diversis causis per alpha- 

 betum secundum quod loca nostra se extendunt. Primoque Alphledemour 

 vocatur mora nostra quae ante portam scita est, de qua quondam inquisicio fuit 

 facta per dominum Regem, et ad modum cirographi post inquisitionem fuerat 

 inde littera confecta. Secundo, de Compositione inter Episcopum Bathoniensem 

 et nos pro una hyda terrse in Eston. Item, inter nos et ejusdem Episcopi 

 Capitulum apud Welles de decimis Ovium nostrarum apud Eston. Item, inter 

 nos et priorem de Bradenstoke de duabus acris apud Costowe et clauso nostro de 

 mora. Item, inter nos et abbatem de Bello loco pro aqua Thamisise* apud Wode- 

 leye. Item inter nos et Rectorem Ecclesise de Calne. Item inter nos et abbatem 

 Sancti Augustini de Bristol!, pro decimis apudjCoderynton. Item compositiones 

 inter nos et rectorem Ecclesise de Pharendon quae sunt quinque in universo, 

 quarum tres faciunt mentionem de Centum Solidis pro decimis de Wadeleye^ 

 et una de duabus marcis et dimidio annuatim solvendis pro eisdem decimis. 

 Item inter nos et priorem de Farleye, quae sunt duse unius tenoris per quas 

 tenemur solvere eidem unam Marcam annuatim pro decimis de Stanl et Nuthe- 

 mour. Item, inter nos et Reotorem Ecclesiee de Westbury pro decimis de 



* Tharnisiae ; Tliamaisie, with the second a expimcted, MS. 

 + Centum . . . Wadeleyc, and underlined with a red stroke, MS. 



