60 



The Parish Church of S. Michael, Merc 



the first place, one Bible and one Hugucion, which are in the custody of Sir 

 Richard Cheddesey, also Egidius de Regimine perseveranda, which is in the 

 custody of John de Clevedon ; also a set de Element and sixth book of Decretals, 

 in the custody of Sir John Robbetut, Rector of Penrith ; also one book called 

 Albanus, which is in the custody of Sir John Chasse ; also one set of vestments 

 which is in the custody of Sir John Berkeley, Knight." 



E. 



In 1324 King Edward II. granted to Johannes de Mere certain lands and 

 rents in Mere to provide a chaplain to pray daily in the Parish Church of 

 Mere for the soul of Margaret, late Queen of England and for the souls of the 

 aforesaid John and Alianer his wife, and for the souls of their fathers and 

 mothers, of their ancestors and heirs, and for all the faithful deceased. 



The following is from the Begistrum Mortival (addenda to Hoare's Modem 

 Wilts, p. 4) :— 



" Sciant presentes et f uturi quod ego J oh'es de Mere dedi et concessi et hac 

 presenti carta mea confirmavi, Deo et B. Maria ac d'no Joh'i de Mere capellano, 

 dum singulis diebus in Eccl'ia paroch' S. Michselis de Mere ad altare in honore 

 Annunciatis B. Marise in eadem Eccl'ia noviter erectum pro anima D'nae 

 Margaretse quondam Reginse Anglise, et anima mea &c. .... 



" Dat' apud Mere predict' die Lunae in crastino S. Michaslis Archangeli 

 anno D'ni 1325, anno vero Regis Edwardi filii R. Edw'di decimo nono." 



F. 



Bettesthorne Chantry. 



The Bettesthorne Chantry was founded in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin 

 Mary (where the brass still lies), and was dedicated in honour of the Annuncia- 

 tion of the Virgin. It originally consisted of one chaplain only, but a further 

 license was subsequently obtained from the king to increase the endowment for 

 the maintenance of two other chaplains, who were daily to perform divine 

 service in the said chapel "for the good estate of the said John whilst he lived, 

 and for his soul when he should depart out of this light, for the souls of his 

 parents and other ancestors, and for the souls of all the faithful departed, for 

 ever." 



A second inquisition, taken on the decease of Bettesthorne, on behalf of the 

 Mere Chantry, describes the lands and tenements forming its endowment, which 

 appear to have consisted of one messuage, forty acres of land, and twelve acres 

 of meadow, in Clopton ; ten acres of land and two of meadow, at Gillingham ; 

 nine messuages, eighty acres of land, four of meadow, and one of wood, in Mere ; 

 together with the manors of Mere and Chadenwyche. (Kite's " Brasses of 

 Wiltshire," p. 23.) 



