ST. GABRIEL's CHAPEL, AT CLYST. BISHOP BRONESCOMBE was the original founder of this establishment, as appears from the following deed. Universis presentes literas inspecturis Walterus miseracione Divinâ Exon Epus salutem in Dno sempiternam. Eò fiducialiùs possessiones transitorias adquirimus, quò ampliùs Divinum cultum ex earum fructubus augmentare proposuimus. Proinde vacantem Parochialem Ecclesiam de Ffarendon cum fructubus ejusdem ad collationem nostram spectantem, cujus advocationem canonicè adquisivimus, ad sustentationem duorum capellanorum per nos & successores nostros canonicè substituendorum in Capellà Sci Gabrielis, quam infra Septa Curie nostre de Clyst fundavimus ad honorem B. Virginis, dicti Archangeli & omnium Angelorum, necnon & pro salute aie nre, Antecessorum & Successorum ac Benefactorum nostrorum, Divina perpetuò celebrandorum, accedente ad hec dilectorum filiorum Decani & Capituli nre Exon consensu legitimo, attestatione presentis instrumenti, intuitu caritatis, appropriamus, concedimus & canonicâ appropriatione annectimus perpetuò possidendam, salva competenti vicariâ per nos & Successores nros ydoneis personis cum vacaverit imposterum conferenda. In cujus rei testimonium presenti scripture sigillum nostrum apponi fecimus. Dat. apud Clyst in festo SS. Cosme & Damiani Anno Gre 1276, & Consecraois nre 19.* • This deed is bound up with some loose MSS. in the beginning of Bronescombe's Register, and may also be seen in fo. 74, of the same Register. To this foundation the venerable Bishop Stapeldon was a generous benefactor; for he annexed to it a peaceful and commodious asylum for 12 blind, infirm, or superannuated clergymen, where every attention was rendered to their corporal and spiritual necessities. The funds for this charity he supplied principally from the property of his friend and predecessor Bishop Bytton,* of whom he appears to have been residuary legatee. A moiety of the property possessed by the clergymen of this establishment at the time of their decease, was reserved for the improvement and better condition of the charity. To assist the community, I find that the Dean and Chapter of Exeter engaged themselves, in 1376, to contribute the annual sum of forty-three marks, from the appropriated churches of Westleigh and St. Melan. A Canon of Exeter Cathedral was generally charged with the administration and superintendance of this benevolent institution. For further particulars consult Stapeldon's Regist. fo. 163-2. Grandisson's, fo. 4-Appendicis, fo. 502. Brantyngham. IPELPEN. IN N Domesday we read that "Radulfus Felgheres tenet de Rege Iplepen." The Felgheres family, at an early period, conferred their right of presentation to Ipilpen Church on the abbey of St. Peter of Fulgers, in Britanny. The Rector of the church, from holding his situation immediately from this abbey, was called a Prior-perhaps two Religious may have lived with him, as was sometimes the case of cells to alien monasteries. In Bronescombe's Register, fo. 56. I find, that on 14. Sept. 1274, was admitted "Frater Lucas ad Prioratum de Ipilpen vacantem per spontaneam resignationem Fratris Thome quondam Prioris ad presentationem Abbatis et Conventûs Sci Petri de Ffilger." Galfridus occurs as Prior and Rector of the church in 1315 and 1334. In 1350 the church was valued at £6. per annum. King Edward III. presented the rector that year "ratione temporalium Abbathie de Ffeulgers in manu suâ occasione guerre inter ipsum et illos de Ffrancia mote existentium." I believe the Crown continued to hold the benefice, until Bishop Lacy procured its appropriation to St. Mary's College, at Otery, in the year 1438. OTTERTON PRIORY. THE manors of Oterton, Otrinton, or Otterington, and of Yarticombe, were granted by William the Conqueror to the great and venerable Benedictine abbey of St. Michael de Periculo Maris. From the Monasticon it appears, that King John founded the priory here for four Monks, and that he granted them the manors of Sidmouth and Budleigh; in consideration of which they were obliged to distribute to the poor, every week, the value of sixteen shillings in bread, for ever. A Custumale, containing an account of the customs and rents of this priory, was digested by Gaufrid, a Monk of St. Michael's Monastery, A. D. 1260. It is probably the same work which Bp. Tanner entitles "Collectiones, &c. in the possession of John Anstis, Esq. Garter King of Arms," and is now the property of the Rev. Duke Yonge, of Cornwood, in this county. From this MS. and from the registers of the See. of Exeter, 1 flatter myself that I have recovered an accurate list of all the Priors of Otterton. A. D. 1. Nicholas occurs as Prior in the year 2. Henry occurs in several deeds copied in the Custumale of Otterton. 1212 3. Willam de Kernit, who was confirmed as Abbot of Tavistock in 1220 8. William de Pratellis, admitted 21. Dec. 11. Robert de Albo succeeded in the following September, and resigned in less than three years. 12. Orgerius Bueys, admitted in July and was Prior thirty-three years. A. D. 1266 1276 1310 1316 1319 13. Thomas Sedile succeeded him 30. May, 1352 The following Bull of Pope Innocent VI. to this Prior, may be acceptable to our readers:- "INNOCENTIUS eps servus servorum dei Dilecto filio Thome Sedile Priori Prioratus de Otriton ordinis Sancti Benedicti Exonien dioc, salutem & apostolicam benedictionem. Religionis zelus vite ac morum honestas aliaque probitatis et virtutum merita super quibus apud nos fidedigno commendaris testimonio nos inducunt ut te pecialis favoris gratiâ prosequamur. Exhibita siquidem nobis pro parte tuâ petitio continebat, quòd olim Prioratu de Otriton ordinis sancti Benedicti Exonien Dioc quem quondam Ogerius ultimus ipsius Prioratûs Prior dum viveret obtinebat per ipsius Ogerii obitum qui extra Romanam Curiam diem clausit extremum vacante, dilecti filii Abbas et Conventus Monasterii sancti Michaelis in Periculo maris dicti ordinis Abrincensis Dioc veri patroni ejusdem Prioratûs et in possessione pacificâ seu quasi juris presentandi Priorem ad eundem Prioratum existentes, te ad dictum Prioratum sic vacantem et ab eodem Monasterio dependentem, et per Monachose jusdem Monasterii cujus Monachus expressè professus existis solitum gubernari, Venerabili fratri nostro Johanni Epo Exonien infra tempus. legitimum presentarunt, idemque Eps te in Priorem instituit dicti Prioratus canonicè nisi aplice reservationes obstarent, tuque vigore presentationis et institutionis hujusmodi dictum Prioratum pacificè assecutus illum diù tenuisti * Ex Orig. penes D. Joannem Jones, de Franklyn. |
