389 A N T I Q_U I T I E S
him for life. The reafon for this difference feems to have been,
that, in the firft cafe, though in years, he might, have .been hale
and capable of taking his lhare in the duty of the convent ; in the
fécond, he was broken with age, and no longer equal to the functions
of a canon.
Impreffed with this idea the bifhop very benevolently interceded
in his favour, and laid his injunctions on the new-elected prior in
the following manner. ____
Fol. 56. “ In Dei nomine Amen. Nos Willmus, &c. confiderantes
Petrum Berne,” late prior “ in adminiftratione fpiritualium
il et temporalium prioratus laudabiliter vixiffe et rexiffe; ipfumque
“ fenio et corporis debilitate confra&um ; ne in opprobrium
“ ■ religionis mendicari cogatur ;— eidemannuam penfionem a Domino
“ Johanne. Sharp, alias Gkiftonbury, priore moderno,” and his fuc-
ceffors, and, from the Priory or church, to be payed every year
during his life, “ de voluntate et ex confenfu expreflis” of the
faid John Sharp, “ fub ea que feqùitur forma verborum — aflig-
“ namus :
1 ft. That the faid prior and his fucceffors, for the time being,
honejte exhibebunt of the fruits and profits of the priorfhip, ic eidem
“ efculenta et poculenta,” while he remained in the Priory “ fub
“ confimili portione eorundem prout convenienter priori,” for the
time being, miniftrari contigerit ; and in like manner uni famulo,
whom he fhould chufe to wait on him, aS to the fervientibus of
the prior.
Item. “ Invenient feu exhibebunt eidem unam honeftam came-
“ ram” in the Priory, “ cum focalibus neceffariis feu opportunis
“ ad eundem.
Item.
O F S E L B O R N f e . 399
Item. We will, ordain, &c. to the faid P . Berne an annual
penfion of ten marks, from the revenue of the Priory, to be paid
by die hands of the prior quarterly.
The bifhop decrees farther, that John Sharp, and his fucceffors,
lhall take an oath to obferve this Injunction, and that before their
inftallation.
“ LeCta et faCla funt htec in quodam alto oratorio,” belonging
to the bifhop. at Suthwctltham, May .25, 1478, .in. the prefence' of
John Sharp, who gave his afient, and then took the oath before-
witneffes, with the other oaths before the chancellor, who decreed
he fhould be induCted and inftalled ; as was done that fame day.
How John Sharp, alias Glajtonburyt acquitted himfelf in his priorfhip,
and in what manner he made a vacancy, whether by refig-
nation, or death, or whether he was removed by the vifitor, does
not appear; we only find that forne time in the year 1484 there
was no prior, and that the bifhop nominated canon AJhfordio fill
the vacancy. *
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