Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/329

€!)* CJjapel of tlje ^ircjtn, AND Clje eijurcl) of g>t 4 iflarp jWagtralene. A CHAPEL dedicated to the Blessed Mary the Virgin, and probably built contemporaneously with the Castle itself, stood at the foot of the Castle mound. It was the Earl's Chapel. Its chaplain is recognized by King Stephen, who (1103-40) gave him an annual pension of £$. Reginald (1140-76) further endowed the priest of this chapel; and King John, on the 28th June, 1199, confirmed the endow- ments. He also, on the 22nd August, 12 16, granted "the moiety of the advowson of the chapel of the Castle, which Godefrey of the Island had formerly held," to the prior and convent of Launceston in perpetuity. (Lambeth MSS., No. 719.) Richard I. (1220-27) gave 60s. yearly to the Prior and Convent of St. Stephen, for a chant to be sung every day within the chapel of the Castle. In 1288-91 the chapel was taxed at 2s. 8d., having at that time tithes attached to it of the annual value of £1 6s. 8d. On the 8th July, 1312, the Clerk Bartholomew is described as "of the Castle," and presumably had charge of its chapel. In June 1 3 19, the fabric of the chapel (eapella) of the Blessed Mary the Virgin is stated {ante 89) to be " near the Church (ecclesia) of the Blessed Mary Magdalene" That church, or part of it, was undoubtedly on the site of the present ornate building.