By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 



281 



hym for and to his exhibition to the schoole. Continuateth 

 to the schoole quousque with the accustomed wages/' [Aug. 

 Office.] See also Salisbury, infrd. 



At Fisherton was also a " Hermitage :" (similar to that 

 described under Codford St. Mary, supra.) In the register of 

 Bishop Chandler at Sarum, of the date of 1418, Sir R. C. 

 Hoare found a curious document relating to it ; the Latin 

 original of which he has printed in his history of this parish. 

 [Branch and Dole, p. 161.] This document was a Commission 

 of inquiry previous to a License being granted to the can- 

 didate. The actual place of abode appears to have been a 

 nook of the church itself. The substance of the document 

 in English, is as follows : — 



" John (Chandler) Bishop of Sarum, &c. To Godfrey 

 Crukadan and Sir Nicholas Godwyn, Canons of our church, 

 greeting. Whereas our beloved in Christ, John, Hermit, of 

 the Hermitage of Fisherton near Sarum, hath prayed us that 

 we would allow him, being desirous by a life of continence and 

 chastity to attain to a better life, to be shut up in a narrow 

 place of hermitage at the end of the chapel of Fisherton, and 

 there serve God : we, knowing the nature of human frailty, 

 and that the Devil, the enemy of mankind, often causes the 

 pious resolution of a moment to be followed up by regret : but 

 not knowing the said petitioner nor the circumstances of the 

 said chapel and hermitage, nor how far we may be interfering 

 with the rights of owners and parishioners, &c, command you 

 to make inquiry into these things : whether the said John is 

 of good life and conversation : whether he is likely to follow 

 up his vow : whether he was ever betrothed or married : 

 whether any damage would be done to owners or parishioners, 

 by the shutting up of the said John. Let inquiry be made 

 on the oath both of clerks and laymen. Then, should no im- 

 pediment be found why the said John should not be shut up 

 as he desires, let him be so shut up as he wishes in the place 

 aforesaid ; bestow on him a blessing ; do whatever else is right 

 and proper, and report the same to us." 



