32 Malmesbury. 



down. Tho monks obtained leave to raze it to the ground, in 

 order to enlarge the monastery. The Abbey buildings seem to 

 have extended as far as the West Port or Gate, for a document of 

 this reign mentions, among gifts to the monks, the rent of certain 

 houses "outside the west gate, adjoining the walls of the Abbey." 1 

 There were also at this time many gifts of land by individuals to 

 maintain wax-lights and lamps before St. Mary's Altar " in the 

 larger Church of Malmesbury." The expression of "the larger 

 church" implies (what has been stated above) that the older and 

 smaller one (already mentioned), was still standing in the church- 

 yard. 



In Mr. Akerman's Paper (above referred to) printed in " Archse- 

 ologia," xxxvii., p. 273, is a curious document of A.D. 1318, (reign 

 of Edward II.,) which gives a list of all the tenants' names in the 

 different manors then belonging to the Abbey. The names are so 

 many, and the payments so small, that it is clear the agricultural 

 holdings were in some parishes more numerous than they are now. 

 In the parish of Charlton, there were, paying rent, 47 persons ; at 

 Cowfold, now Colepark, 26 ; at Norton, 25 ; at Newnton, 37 ; at 

 Brokenborough, 28. 



In the reign of Edward III. the Abbot was named to be one of 

 the 25 Abbots to sit in Parliament. But he did not receive the 

 episcopal ornaments and authority until Richard II. The windows 

 in the upper story of the church were added in Edward the Third's 

 time. 



For the next 200 years nothing is told us about Malmesbury 

 Abbey ; but a great deal at the end of those 200 years, in the reign 

 of King Henry VIII., when it was dissolved. It was surrendered 

 by Abbot Erampton, alias Selwyn, on the 15th December, 1539. 

 The whole property was seized by the Crown and sold. The Abbot 

 and monks, about 20 in number, were pensioned for life. The 



1 " De domibus illis quas construere fecimus extra portam Occidentalem, quse 

 connexse sunt muro abbatise nostrae." Ossebarn, Gustenestable, Loggeputte- 

 street, Phelippes-lane are among the names of localities occurring in these 

 documents. The abbey had rents in "Bynport and Westport" (Val. Eccl : 

 119). St. Paul's Church is oalled in Sarum Registers A.D. 1394, " St. Paul's 

 de Bynport in Malmsbury." Bynport is a name also found at Shaftesbury. 



