By T. H. Baker. 



265 



In addition to the revenue from lands in Cucklington and Mere, 

 amounting to £21 9s. 9c/. annually, this chantry owned plate 

 weighing ten ounces, and goods and ornaments worth 75s. 10 d. 

 There were three incumbents : — John Grelebrand, aged 48 years ; 

 Eichard Swayne, aged 63 years ; and John Ferarde, aged 40 years. 



" Forward's Chauntry, Richard Chafynne incumbent, aged 20 

 years. Several small pieces of land belonging to this chantry lay 

 in Knoyle, Corton, and Mot combe. Clear yearly value, 106-5. 4td. ; 

 plate, 19 J ounces; goods and ornaments, 5s." 



The Commissioners add to their report : — 



« ^jd rj\^ e SSL j^ lucunibeutis be verey honeste men, and of good report arnonge 

 tliere neighbours, albeit not able to sve a Cure by reason of their Infyrmytyes 

 and weakenes, and ferthermore verey poore men, and have none other lyvinges but 

 these chuntryes only. Also the sayd Kychard Swayno re-edyfyed all the houses 

 app'teyning unto the sayd Chuntre after they were brent, at his own ppe 

 costis and chargis, to the accomplishement whereof he solde xl s . land of his owne 

 inherytaunce, and also is yet indebtyd x 11 . vj s . viij d . for the repayment whereof he 

 layd in gage ij peyre of vestementis of blewe velvet, ande one pay re of Cruettis 

 of Sylvr, wiche thingis be not worthe so moehe money as they lye for ; in con- 

 syderacon of wiche pmissis he prayith the Kingis most honorable councell to 

 consyder hym accordinglye. 



" Also there be within the parish of Mere 800 people which receive the blessed 

 communion and no preste beside the Vicar to help in administration of the 

 sacraments, savynge the sayde Chauntry Preests, wherefore the Parishioners 

 desyre the King's most hon Councell to consider hit accordinglye." 1 



These three incumbents received pensions in 1553, Richard 

 Chafynne, of Forward's Chantry, receiving £6. 



In 1548 lands in Gillingham and Motcombe, belonging to 

 Berkeley's Chantry in Mere, were granted to John Thynne, Esq. 



In 1552, November 20th, Sir John Thynne, Knight, granted to 

 Thomas Chafyn, Esq., a lease of all those his messuages, cottages, 

 orchards, lands and meadows, pastures, feedings, rents, reversions 

 and hereditaments in Mere, now or late in the several temu-es and 

 occupations of Thomas Denham and others, called ' ' Barkeleye 

 Chauntery," for a term of fifty-one years, at a rent of £12 14s. Qd. 



1 The quotation is here printed as given in Kite's Brasses of Wiltshire. Sir 

 R. C. Hoare gives it in Modem Wilts with considerable differences of spelling, 

 and apparently not so correct as that given by Kite. 



