Venerabili in Xto Patri, Domino Dei gratiâ Abbati Monasterii Beate Marie de Sancto Petro suprà Dynam in Normanniâ Johannes (Grandissonus) miseratione ejusdem Exon Epus salutem & sinceram in Domino caritatem. Relatione querulà nobilis viri Domini Ricardi de Campo Arnulphi, Domini de Modbury, Militis, repetitis vicibus nostris est auribus inculcatum, quod licet in Prioratú dicti loci, qui ex devotione Progenitorum suorum fundari dignoscitur, duo consuerunt & debuerunt monachi de vestro Monasterio assumendi, nostrâque auctoritate approbandi, loci ejusdem unâ cum Priore recipi & admitti, unus tamen monachus contra intentionem Fundatoris per vos noviter est adjunctus, propter quod Hospitalitas in eodem Prioratu sei vari & alia incumbentia eidem comode nequeunt onera supportari, eo quod ex hac causâ premissà Prioratus non suppetunt facultates. Nos igitur ex injuncto nobis solicitudinis debito cupientes laudabile Fundatoris hujus propositum prosequi & fovere, fratrem Nicholaum de Curceyo, monachum vestrum, exhibitorem presencium nuper inibi residentem ad relevationem oneris & expensarum hujusmodi, ad vos duximus, prout convenit, remittendum. Ad tutelam & regimen gregis vestri diù in Domino valeatis, qui spiritum consilii & fortitudinis vobis tribuat in agendis. Datum in manerio nostro de Chuddelegh idibus Januarii A. D. 1328. Ex 2. Regist. Grandisson, fo. 104.

This being an alien priory, its temporalities were often. seized by the Crown during the wars between England and France. In the reign of Henry VI. * it was finally dissolved, and its revenues appropriated to his noble foundation of Eton College. A short time after King Edward IV. conveyed this very property to his favourite abbey of Tavistock; but it was afterwards restored to Eton College, probably by King Henry VII.

The revenues, at the period of the dissolution of the priory, were rated at £70. per annum.

Dugdale is incorrect in stating that Modbury Priory was dissolved in 1414, second year of Henry V. William Benselyn being confirmed Prior by Bishop Lacy, in March 1429-30.

In the Taxatio I read as follows:

Prior de Modbury habet in Penwyk

quod taxatur

I believe the following to be a complete succession. of the Priors from the year 1270 until the dissolution of the house in the reign of King Henry VI.

1. Vincent de Fulchis, admitted 21. July, 2. Nicholas, confirmed as Prior 21. Sept. On this occasion John de Oxton, Knight, presented to Bishop Stapeldon.

3. William occurs Prior in

During his government, Modbury church, appropriated to the priory, was rated at £10. per an. Vid. Grandisson's Register.

4. John de Ffovea, admitted 14. June, 5. John Gallerus, admitted 9. June,

He died in

A. D.

1275

1321

1331

1345

1349

-1351

6. Robert de Curceyo succeeded, and died early in

1362

7. Philip de Ffurnariis, succeeded 5. April that year

On the occasion of his presentation, the following letters, which are copied from 2 Regist. Grandisson, fo. 141. passed between the Abbot of our Lady de Sancto Petro and Thomas Champernowne :

Nobili & potenti viro Thome de Campo Arnulphi, Domino Modburie, frater Hebertus permissione divinâ Abbas Monasterii Beate Marie de Sancto Petro super Dynam, Ordinis Sci Benedicti, Sagiensis Diocesis, totusque ejusdem loci Conventus, salutem in eo qui est omni vera salus.

Ad Prioratum nostrum Modburie liberum & vacantem per mortem Roberti de Curceyo, dicti Monasterii nostri Monachi, ultimi immediati Prioris ejusdem Prioratus, Religiosum virum fratrem Philippum Ffurnarii, Monasterii nostri Monachum, Presbyterum & Professum, & laudabiliter in dicto Monasterio nostro conversatum, in quantum vos tangit & quantum in jure

K

tenemur, ad regimen dicti Prioratûs nostri vobis nominamus per presentes literas & per vos Reverendo in Christo Patri ac Dno Dno Exonien Epo ipsum mittimus presentandum, vobis humiliter supplicantes, quatenùs eundem, ad nominationem nostram predictam, caritatis intuitu vobis placeat predicto Reverendo Patri liberè presentare & ipsum in agendis suis Monasterii nostri intuitu consulere & favorabiliter confovere. Benè & diu valeat in Dno vestra. Dominatio nobis cara. Septum* & actum in Abbathiâ nostrâ 3â die Marcii A. D. 1361.

Tenor Presentationis facte per Thomam de Campo Arnulphi.

Venerabili in Xto Patri ac Dno Dno Johi Dei gratiâ, Exon Epo, suus, si placet, humilis & devotus Thomas de Campo Arnulphi, obedientiam & reverentiam cum honore.

Ad Prioratum Modburie, vestre Diocesis per mortem fratris Roberti de Curceyo, ultimi & immediati Prioris ejusdem Prioratûs vacantem & ad meam presentationem spectantem, fratrem Philippum Ffurnarii, monachum Monasterii Beate Marie de Sancto Petro super Dynam, Ordinis Sci Benedicti, Sagiensis Diocesis, Presbyterum & Professum, ac per fratrem Hebertum, Abbatem Monasterii predicti & ejusdem loci Conventum michi nominatum, vestre Paternitati Reverende Presento per presentes, humiliter supplicans & devotè, quatenùs eundem Philippum in Priorem dicti Prioratûs ad meam presentationem admittere velitis, ceteraque vestro officio Pastorali incumbentia, caritatis intuitu peragere dignemini. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum meum presentibus apposui. Datum apud Modbury quarto die Mensis Aprilis 1362. 8. Gilbert de Billeyo succeeded. He died prior in the spring of

In his time Modbury church was taxed £20. per annum.

1375

i, e. Cœptum..

9. John Mychel succeeded, and resigned his office at the end of twenty-three years.

10. John Rogger succeeded early in and was translated 18. Dec. 1406, to the office of Prior of Tywardrayth, Cornwall.

A. D.

1398

11. Richard Leycestre, admitted on 27th of the following February.

He died Prior late in the year

1415

12. William Ffranchillon succeeded on 9th of the following January.

He resigned in the summer of

1423

13. Adam Prianho, or de Pratellis aľ Prydeaux, appointed Prior 18. July,

14. William Benselyn succeeded 18. March, 1429-30, and, I believe, was the last Prior of Modbury.

1423

THIS Cluniac priory, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, was founded in the reign of William the Conqueror, by Joel; the son of Alured, and made dependent on St. Martin's in the Fields, near Paris. In the deed of foundation, (which may be seen 1. Dugd. Monast. p. 684.) Joel grants to the Religious, Pilton, with the wood and marsh, Pilland; the mill at Barnstaple; all the land without the walls between the north and the east gates, with all the waters, fish, &c. moreover, the church of Barnstaple, and the chapel of St. Sabinus, with their appurtenances.

From a passage, Regist. Bronescombe fo. 33. it appears, that the community consisted of thirteen members. Being an alien priory, its revenues were frequently seized during the wars between England and France. But at last it was made denizen, probably in the reign of Henry VI. and so it continued until the general suppression of religious houses. The registers supply the following series of the Priors from the year 1265:

A. D.

1. Simon Gurneye, admitted Prior in August 1265 2. Theobald de Curtipalatio followed 29.

June,

3. John occurs Prior in the year
4. John de Sancta Gemma.

He scandalously neglected the duty of resi-
dence, and was obliged to tender his resig-
nation to Bishop Grandisson, late in the year
5. John Soyer succeeded 18th of the following
March.

Arms. Gules, a bend, Or, a Label of three Points Argent.

1275

1314

1332