this: the heads of those four families married the four daughters of the founder. The following is the best catalogue of the Abbots that I can offer to the reader: 1. Hugo, who was Abbot, I believe, in the reign of King John 2. John Westcott, I think, succeeded. Vid. Prince's Worthies, p. 754. A. D. 3. Ogerus de Kernit, admitted 10. June, 4. Thomas Wybbebir succeeded 4. Oct. 5. John occurs Abbot in 1312; but resigned, on account of bodily infirmities, 18. Sept. and died soon after. 1261 1281. 1329 6. John de Ralegh, I believe, succeeded: he died very early in the year 8. William Beaumont, instituted 2. Feb. 7. David de Wystcote, confirmed 6. March, that year. 1350. 1355 13, John Prust, who died in the summer of 14. Another John Prust succeeded 21. Aug. that year. 1529 N. B. This Abbot, with five of his Religious, subscribed to the King's supremacy, 31. Aug. 1534 15. Thomas Pope, the last Abbot; he surrendered his monastery 21. Feb. I find the following pensions were granted 30. April, 31. Hen. VIII. To Thomas Pope, Abbot.... John Horwell Roger Stone £. s. d. 66 13 6 13 4 6.13 4 1539 ...... Henry Kyne £. s. d. 6 13 4 5 6 8 The income of the abbey was rated at £306. 3. 21 The scite was granted 37. Hen. VIII. to William Abbot. In the taxatio of Edward I. I meet with the following particulars : In Regist. Bronescombe fo. 19. it is stated that the parish church of Stoke, or St. Nectan's, had long been deprived of a Vicar, "per negligentiam Abbatis & Conventûs de Hertilond". He orders the Abbot to pay the Vicar in future 100s. per annum; also to provide him with meat and drink like one of the Canons; to maintain his man-servant; and keep him one horse. This ordinance is dated 29. May, 1261.. The abbey presented also to the chapel of Welcombe (which was made independent of St. Nectan's & Parochial 1508)-also to the churches of Fremington, Brushford, Abbotsham, Abbots'-Bickington, Molland, Forbery, Knostone, Woolfardiswor-thy and others. It also possessed the manors of Lancelles, Curgh, Knoll & Estcote, in Cornwall. The Abbot's town-house, in Exeter, appears to have been in the High-street. "Sciant presentes & futuri quod ego Matildis quondam uxor Willi de Lancell in legitimâ viduitate meâ dedi. & concessi,, & quietum clamavi imppetuum. Dno Hugoni Abbati de Hertylond & Conventui ejusdem loci, totum boscum quem habui vel habere debui in Manerio de Lancell nomine dotis cum omnibus pertinenciis suis. Et totum jus quod habui vel aliquo modo habere potui in totali dicto boscho vel in aliquâ ejus parte, ita qd nichil juris vel exactionis mihi inde retinui imppetuum. Et pro hâc donatione & concessione meâ habendâ dederunt mihi dictus Abbas & Conventus X solidos argenti pro manibus.. Que ut rate & stabiles permaneant in posterum, eas presenti cartâ meâ & sigilli mei impressione confirmavi. Hiis testibus," &c. &c. The last owner of the abbey and its possessions, was Paul Orchard, Esq. who died in 1812, and whose memory will long be cherished in this county. ST. MARY, OF OTTERY. FROM Domesday it is clear that the Chapter of St. Mary's church, at Rouen, in Normandy, held Otrei manor of William the Conqueror. Bishop Grandisson informs us, that it was the gift of Edward the Confessor to that reverend body. Whether there was a parish church on the manor, prior to the year 1260, I am not prepared to say; but early in the December of that year, Bishop Bronescombe performed the dedication of the church at Otery. The taxation of this church, in ì334, was £20 per an. Bishop Grandisson, whose noble birth and exalted station in the church, were only exceeded by his generosity and magnanimity, had long entertained the design of forming an establishment that might serve as a sanctuary for piety and learning. The situation that he judged most proper for the purpose was Otery; the spot was pleasant, fertile and salubrious; it was in the vicinity of Exeter; he could therefore, without prejudice to his episcopal duties, be frequently present to watch its rising growth; and his successors in the See would easily * It is worthy of remark that the noble family of Clifford is connected with this illustrious Bishop by his mother's side (Ewias). In the Clifford pedigree, approved and admitted 12. May, 1673, by Edward Walker Edward Bysse and William Dugdale, Kings of Arms, 1 find that Roger de Clifford, in the time of Henry III. married Sibilla, daughter and heiress of Robert de Ewias. The father of this Sir Robert Ewias, founded the Cistercian abbey of Dore, in Herefordshire, of which more hereafter. It further appears from the pedigree, that the Cliffords were also allied to Henry Marshal, Bishop of Exeter, in the reigns of Richard 1. and King John. be able to crush faction and vice in the very bud, and to encourage the spirit of fervor and religious discipline. Accordingly, with the approbation of his Sovereign Edward III. and of his friend and patron, Pope John XXII. he opened a negociation with the Dean and Chapter of Rouen, for the purchase of the said church and manor. In vol. 1. of his register, the letters between the parties are preserved. It seems that the Chapter calculated on driving a hard bargain; and their demands rose so high as to be designated by the Bishop as unreasonable and exorbitant, 64 summa gravis & intolerabilis & salva gratiâ vestrâ irrationabilis." At length, however, they condescended to lower their price, and the Bishop, from his own purse, ex suo peculio, purchased the manor and the advowson of the church, both of which were then valued at two hundred and forty marks per annum. In fo. 43. of the same register is given the foundation deed of St. Mary's College. It sets forth that he had erected the parish church into a collegiate one-that the four principal officers of the establishment should be as follows:-1. the Warden.-2. the Minister-3. the Precentor-and 4. the Sacristan. These dignitaries ranked as Canons & Prebendaries. Four simple Canons were also to be attached to the service of this collegiate church, and their Prebends were denominated Quinta, Sexta, Septima & Octava. The collation to these Prebends was to belong exclusively to the Bishop of Exeter, for the time being. There were also to be eight Choral Vicars in Priests' orders; also one Priest to have charge of the parishioners; one Priest to celebrate the early morning service, Presbyter matutinalis; one Priest to be attached to our Lady's chapel; also eight Clerks, called Secondaries; two otherClerks, called Clerici Ecclesie; two other Clerks, called Aquebauli *; eight choir boys, and a master of grammar. All these forty members of the college were obliged to assist at the daily and nightly office, in their proper habits. * Aquebauli were persons who carried the vessel of the holy water in processions and benedictions.- Scholars in the minor orders were alway to be preferred for this office.-Vid. cap. 29. Synod Exonien, A. D. 1287.s |
