54 



The Parish Church of 8. Michael, Mere. 



A yew tree was planted in 1636 and another in 1707, thirty new 

 lime trees in 1732, and ten lime trees in 1892. 



New gates and piers were set up in 1716 at a cost of £11. 



In the museum over the north porch is a piece of sculpture in 

 alabaster which has an interesting history. It was dug up in a 

 garden under Castle Hill, and taken to Mrs. Matthews, of Mere, 

 and at a sale of her effects on 8th April, 1888, it was bought for 

 10s. by Mr. T. H. Baker, of Mere Down, and presented to the 

 Church. The subject is the Adoration of the Magi. On the back 

 is the inscription anno . 5. 72 . viv es T - It probably means vivus . 

 theos . est=" He is the Living God." This relic doubtless had a 

 place in the castle. 



APPENDICES. 

 A. 



The following is the text of Bishop Osmund's grant of half the revenues 

 of the Church at Mere to his new Cathedral at Old Sarum : — 

 A.D. 1091. Carta Osmundi 



" In nomine Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Ego Osmundus Sarum ecclesiae 

 episcopus, omnibus Christi fidelibus tarn posteris notifico quam praesentibus ad 

 honorem Domini Jhu Christi sanctissimaeque Mariae Virginis, et pro saluti 

 animarum Willielmi regis et uxoris suae reginae Matildae atque filii sui 

 Willielmi regis Anglorum regni successoris pro saluti etiam animse suae 

 ecclesiam Sarum me construxisse et in ea canonicos constituisse atque illis 

 viventibus canonice bona ecclesiae ita sicut ipse optimerare libere et ut exigit 

 regulam censura canonice in perpetuam concessisse ; has scilicet villas praeter 

 militum terras .... dimidiam ecclesiam de Mera cum medietati decimae 

 et ceteris ibidem appendiciis ; . . . ." 



B. 



The entry in the Eegister of Bishop Osmund mentioning the dedication of 

 Mere Church is as follows : — 



A.D. 1190. De Mera. " Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Eustachius 

 de Bailleul divinae caritatis pietatis intuitu et pro salute animae meae et uxoris 

 meae Petronilla et antecessorum meorum dedi et concessi ecclesiae 8% Michcelis 

 de Mera gardinum quod est juxta curiam ejusdem ecclesiae et eadem villa in 

 liberam puram et perpetuam elemosinam," &c, &c. 



