Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/29

THE PRIORY. 13 On the 29th May, 1373, Roger Leye was Prior of Launceston. In the year 1379 Richard II., in his letters patent to Dunheved, recognizes the annual payment by that borough of sixty-five shillings and tenpence to the Priory of St. Stephen at Lanstone. On the 27th October, 1379, Stephen Tredydan became Prior of that Convent. During his priorate, namely, in January, 1399, he went, it is said, "with an armed force" into Leskard, and rescued its Vicar, who was under arrest, and took and carried away a book valued at thirteen and fourpence, and two cloths of the value of six and eight- pence. The parishioners petitioned the King on the subject, an inquisition issued, and eventually a pardon was granted. The Prior's interference on this occasion arose, no doubt, from his being patron of the living. In the next year (1400) the parishioners of Liskeard, Linkinhorne, and Talland complained in Parliament that the Prior of Launceston had, on the ground of the poverty of his Convent, obtained a Papal Bull for the extinction of those vicarages, and the complete appropriation of their revenues. The petitioners stated that the Convent had an annual income of one thousand pounds, which was enough for its fifteen Canons. The Pope revoked the bull on dis- covery of the facts. By indenture dated 4th September, 1400, made between Stephen, the Prior of Launceston, and the Convent of the same place, on the one part, and Richard Cobbethorn, Mayor of the borough of Dounheved, and the Commonalty of the same borough, of the other part, after reciting that strife and discord had arisen concerning divers liberties and franchises within the said borough of Doun- heved, it was agreed as follows : " That the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty shall have for themselves and their successors, and shall exclusively enjoy, the liberty or