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cause, and that every one should then have with him one of his fellow-monks, or, if that cannot conveniently be, some one serious man who may act as a witness of his conversation.

"Eighthly, That they should rest contented with their diet, and that they should wholly abstain from drinkings or feastings together or other gluttonies, and from vain talkings together; namely, breakfasting (dejujunando) at the ninth hour, dining at the eleventh hour, supping at the fifth hour, and making a collacion according to the requirement of their order, afterwards that they should wholly withdraw themselves either to sleep, contemplation, or study.

"Ninthly, We desire you, on the penalty above named, to cause your said fellow-brethren to be provided at the fitting hours by certain officers with bread, drink, and competent and wholesome diet, so that there should be altogether no right of complaint given them, provided always that they never eat nor drink outside the refectory or the place of mercy (extra locum misericordie), except for some honest and lawful cause to be approved by you or your sub-prior.

"Tenthly, That kinsmen of the monks, or strangers arriving, should be received honourably by consent of the prior, according to the faculties of the priory, and the condition of those thus coming in.

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Eleventhly, That they should regard the refectory according to the rules of Saint Benedict, in eating, reading, keeping silence, and other ceremonies of the order.

"Twelfthly, That the dormitory should be cleansed from the ordure of the place, should be lighted up, and should be brought to evenness (ad equalitatem reducatur), and should be made orderly in its pavements or boards, and that each one of your fellow-brethren should have in his own cell a small window (fenestrellam) agreeably to the custom of the order, through which it may be perceived whether he lives in obedience to the rules, and keeps it clean and decent.

Thirteenth, We will and also ordain that your common seal moreover should be kept under three keys at the least, one of which we have determined should remain with the prior, a second with the sub-prior, and a third with the eldest of your fellow-monks, to be kept faithfully by them; prohibiting moreover, on pain of greater excommunication, any

thing in any manner to be sealed with the said common seal, unless the letter thus to be sealed shall have been previously read, inspected, and also maturely understood by the greater and older part of the whole convent, and that the consent of the greater part should be given for such sealing, since from such a method many expenses may probably arise; remarking that, since we are such neighbours to you, you can consult with us in any difficult matters to be sealed by you, for the welfare and strengthening of the said priory, which, from the information of many persons, we understand to have suffered great loss and diminished rents from want of such a provision.

Also, you, my Lord Prior, should not maintain useless servants, but only those who are necessary in the offices, or cultivating the fields.

"Also, that once in the year there should be made an account of all the receipts and expenses of the household of the said priory, and it should be entered in a parchment book for the memory of future persons, and in the said book should be inserted all repairs, and should be brought to a sum total.

"Also, that an inventory should be made both of moveables and immoveables belonging to the said priory, and that the condition of the place should be laid open every year, both before us and before your fellow-brethren, within eight days after the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that you, my Lord Prior, to clear your responsibility in that particular, should signify in what things and how much the priory has increased under your administration, and that book should be replaced in some safe place fitted for the purrpose, for the memory of yourself and others in future

times.

Also, as it is written, 'it is not good to take the bread of our children and give it to dogs to eat,' therefore we order that you should nourish no dogs, birds, or hawks, but that if any fragments should remain, they should be given to the

poor.

"Also, inasmuch as public report has much noised it (percrebuit) that some of the monks, contrary to the holy and accustomed rule of their order, wear their hose lined (caligis diploidibus) and tied with many laces (which, however, we

have rather heard than believe), nevertheless, lest so detestable a custom should become established (which God forbid) we order and distinctly enjoin you, my Lord Prior, entirely and continually to abolish all things endeavoured contrary to the rules of the order in the aforesaid matters, and henceforth not to permit them in any manner to be done.

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Also, inasmuch as we have seen, by ocular proof (oculata fide) that you, my Lord Prior, have admitted into your order certain persons, whose fitness had not been examined by you, nor their worth or knowledge tested, whom also, after their assuming the dress of your order, you in no way at all instructed, or took care to have instructed, We, on that account, order you not to presume in any way to admit others without our knowledge, under penalty of the broadest (latissime) excommunication.

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Also, because you, my Lord Prior, are noted for an archer (pro sagittario) even outside the priory with laymen, and because you wear out the time, which ought to be your leisure for contemplation and wholesome reading, in vain forbidden. sports and in unlawful matches (illicitis contractibus), we enjoin you, under penalty, that neither you nor your fellowbrethren contend in arrow-shootings in any way beyond the boundaries of the priory, so that, if for the sake of recreation that sport please you, it may be carried on secretly within the enclosure of the priory.

"Also, whereas there are certain offices which are usually done more by women than by men, such as, to wash linen suitably, to milk cows, to churn butter, and to make cheeses, we strictly order you, my Lord Prior, to provide for these and other works of this nature such persons, as from whom no suspicion could with probability arise, and that they should come to these duties appointed them at fitting hours, provided always that all the linen and other things necessary for them shall be carried to them by a man free from suspicion, and that all things got ready for the use of the priory in the said duties shall be brought in by the same man, so that they should have no opportunity of entering into the kitchen, hall, pantry, or other interior places of the said priory, in order to remove any sinister opinion which may by such occasions occur in such matters.

"Also, that your fellow-brethren shall not use games of dice or cards, or huntings, which are prohibited even to secular clerks by the holy canons.

Also, that no drinkings or gossipings (confabulationes) or games take place in the church or cemetery, but when burials take place, if this is done within the church, the grave shall be immediately covered over with the former paving, until a proper covering-stone to be had can be provided.

"Also, because we incessantly suffer in these days, on account, as it is believed, of our sins, pestilences, together with other known and unusual affections of the air and the symptoms of diseases, We ordain and in ordaining determine that you, my Lord Prior, should excite your brethren to processions according to the necessity of the time, without waiting for the command of the ordinary.

"Also, because it is ascertained that the honor of the order, its rules, constitutions, ceremonies, and other observances, have long passed away into disuse among you, not without your great peril, my Lord Prior, We enjoin you, by the bond of obedience, diligently and effectually to watch, in the premises, and perhaps in other matters tending to the glory of your order omitted by us, and before the feast of the Nativity of our Lord to execute them with effect, so that in reward for your burdens you may be esteemed as a good shepherd in the sharp and terrible day of judgement.

"Also, We ordain that these injunctions shall be written in some large book to remain in the Chapter House, and that they be read once a month in chapter, also in the vulgar tongue, if needful, and that diligent enquiry be made as to keeping the matters before mentioned, so that a reform should be made in things not observed, lest the memory of them perish with their sound.

"Lastly, we protest in these writings, that if any injunction of ours above made should be opposed to the sacred canons, or the rules of Saint Benedict, we revoke it by the tenor of these presents, and wish it to be considered as not having been enjoined."

Similar injunctions were given to the prior and convent of Tortyngton, of Hardham, of Shulbrede, of Michelham, of Hastyngs.

ROTTINGDEAN CHURCH IN 1855.

BY THE REV. ARTHUR HUSSEY.

IN July, 1855, was commenced the enlargement of this church by rebuilding the south aisle, destroyed at some unknown period centuries ago. The following observations were made during the progress of the works.

It was found that many interments had taken place within the area of the old aisle, one directly through the remains of the eastern wall, as well as of the altar, though, the width of the new aisle not equalling that of the old one, the precise extent of the latter was not ascertained, but, if former marks in the turf may be relied upon, it is supposed to have been about 25 feet. Of the churchyard south of the southern wall of the church a breadth of 15 feet was excavated for the new erection to the level of the interior of the church, this being below that of the original aisle, as proved by the existing remains, viz., the lower portion, of the ancient stone altar, the base of which was undermined. This altar was constructed merely of rough flints, and appeared never to have been even cased with ashlar. It was about 4 feet 8 inches wide, and the position was rather peculiar, never having been central, but standing 2 feet 8 inches from the exterior line of the nave wall, and 3 feet from a fragment of wall to the south. This fragment, after running a short distance (not measured) from east to west, turned at a right angle southward, but could not be traced in that direction farther than 3 feet, the limit of the excavation. On the removal of this wall, at the angle, near the foundation, a number of human bones were discovered, not lying in any order, but in utter confusion, proving that they must have been re-interred in this spot. From the fact of foundations extending westward from the above-mentioned angle, and from similar traces of a wall returning toward the

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