By the Her. J. K. Floyer, 31. A,, F.8.A. 



109 



resigned the Rectory of Elveley, to which the Pope then presented 

 Itherius de Itherio de Concoreto, Bachelor of Civil and Canon Law, 

 — evidently an Italian. In 1331 Ayreminne ohtainecl also from 

 the Pope, though at the request of the King — Ayreminne being 

 described as one of his clergy — the Prebend of Briklesworth. If he 

 is to be identified with the former Master of the Rolls, he mnst 

 have become reconciled to the King. In the following year, 1332, 

 the Pope also writes that plenary remission is to be given by his 

 confessor at the hour of death, under condition of contrition, con- 

 fession, and satisfaction, when required, to Richard de Ayreminne, 

 among others, who is described merely as " Canon of Chichester." 



John, Cardinal of S. Angelo, did not hold Downton for long, for 

 in 1330 William de Mere is mentioned as " rector," 1 and obtained 

 from Pope John the reservation of a benefice, without cure of souls, 

 in the gift of the Abbess and Convent of Wilton. 



It is worth noting that the value of the Rectory of Downton, at 

 the time of William de Mere's tenure of it, is mentioned as twenty- 

 five marks. 



Of the remaining two clergy of our period there is nothing special 

 recorded. On May 4th, 1380, William de Wykeham, then Bishop 

 of Winchester, obtained licence for the appropriation in mortmain 

 of the Church of Downton, on condition that he should apply the 

 profits thereof in aid of the maintenance of seventy poor scholars 

 studying grammar in a college to be founded by him in or near 

 Winchester. 2 



A further licence was obtained by him from Pope Urban VI. 

 to hold the rectory himself in mortmain, provision being made for 

 the maintenance of a vicar. Nicholas de Alresford, therefore, 

 would, technically, be vicar under Wykeham. 



The advowson • and rectorial tithe still continue in the hands of 

 his college at Winchester. 



A list is given below of the burgesses returned to Parliament for 

 Downton, Avhich differs slightly in some respects from the one in 



1 Papal Letters. 

 ' : Patent Rolls, 



