TEMPORARY LICENCE TO BURY IN ST. NICHOLAS' CEMETERY, LIVERPOOL, AND COMMISSION OF DEDICATION, 1361-1362

THE HE following transcripts and translations of the two documents reproduced in facsimile in vol. liv. p. 73 have been kindly communicated by a member of the Society who wishes to remain anonymous.

1361, Sept. 11.-Temporary licence, by Robert Stretton, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, to bury in St. Nicholas's cemetery until Christmas, on account of the plague.

R[obertus] &c. episcopus, dilectis filiis burgensibus ville de Litherpole nostre diocesis, salutem, gratiam, et benedictionem. Quia mortalis pestilencie plaga in illis partibus, et precipue apud vos quia indies ut accepimus invalescit, nos, magnifici et nobilis viri domini Leonelli comitis Ulstr' votivis [?] instanciis excitati, ut corpora quorumcunque decedencium in dicta villa in cimiterio capelle sancti Nicholai in eadem villa sepeliri facere licite valeatis, vobis durante dicta pestilencia usque festum Natalis Domini proximum futurum licenciam concedimus de gratia speciali; ita tamen quod jura quecunque ecclesie parochialis debita eidem debite persolvantur. Dat' apud Heywode, iii Idus Septembris, anno &c. [Domini millesimo ccc° sexagesimo primo, et consecrationis nostre primo, following the preceding entry in the Register].

In the margin. Licencia sepeliendi in cimiterio capelle sancti Nicholai de Litherpole. (Lichfield Register, v. 44.)

Free translation.-R[obert] &c. Bishop, to our beloved sons the Burgesses of the town of Litherpole in our diocese, greeting, grace, and blessing. Whereas the stroke of a deadly pestilence groweth daily more grievous in those parts, as we are informed, and especially with you, we, moved by the urgent entreaty of the great and noble Lionel, Earl of Ulster, do grant unto you licence, of our special favour, that ye may lawfully cause to be buried, in the cemetery of the chapel of St. Nicholas in the said town, during the said pestilence, until the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord next to come, the bodies of all persons whatsoever dying in the said town; provided that all dues whatsoever belonging to the parish church [of Walton] be paid as required by law. Given at Heywode, the third of the Ides of September, in the year &c. [of our Lord one thousand three hundred and sixty-one, and of our consecration the first, following the preceding entry in the Register].

In the margin.-Licence to bury in the cemetery of the chapel of St. Nicholas of Litherpole.

1361-2, Feb. 11.-Commission, granted by the same, for the dedication of St. Nicholas's chapel and cemetery, with a perpetual right to bury there.

Robertus permissione divina Coventr' et Lich' episcopus, dilectis in Christo filiis majori et burgensibus ville de Lytherpole nostre diocesis, salutem, gratiam, et benedictionem. Universis multiplicatis instanciis quibus apud nos pro dedicacione capelle sancti Nicholai de Lytherpole in parochia de Waleton ejusdem nostre diocesis pluries instetistis, certis de causis nobis per vos expositis favorabiliter inclinati, ut prefatam capellam ipsiusque cimiterium sibi contiguum per quemcunque episcopum catholi

cum gratiam sedis apostolice et execucionem sui officii obtinentem, dedicacionis munere insigniri facere, sepulturamque ibidem habere liberam valeatis; dumtamen consensus vicarii dicte ecclesie, et aliorum quibus in hac parte prejudicari poterit, interveniat de voluntate dilecti in Christo filii magistri Ricardi de Wynewyk nunc ipsius ecclesie rectoris, licenciam tam vobis quam prefato episcopo tenore presencium concedimus specialem; ita tamen quod jura et obvenciones ejusdem ecclesie de Waleton ex hoc nullatenus minuantur. Dat' apud Heywode, iii Idus Februarii, anno Domini millesimo ccc sexagesimo primo, et consecrationis nostre secundo.

In the margin.—Commissio ad dedicand' capellam et cimiterium construct' in villa de Lytherpole.

(Lichfield Register, v. 45.)

Free translation.-Robert, by Divine permission Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, to our beloved sons in Christ the Mayor and Burgesses of the town of Lytherpole in our diocese, greeting, grace, and blessing. We, favourably inclined by the repeated and urgent entreaties which ye have made unto us for the dedication of the chapel of St. Nicholas of Lytherpole in the parish of Waleton in our said diocese, do hereby grant unto you special licence that ye may cause the said chapel and the adjoining cemetery to be dedicated by any Catholic Bishop enjoying the favour of the Apostolic See and possessing the right to perform the duties of his office, and that ye may have the free right of burial there; provided that the consent of the Vicar of the said church [of Waleton], and of all persons whose rights might be prejudiced in this respect, be obtained with the good will of our beloved son in Christ Master Richard de Wynewyk now Rector of

the said church; and provided that the rights and profits of the said church of Waleton shall in no respect be diminished hereby. Given at Heywode, the third of the Ides of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand three hundred and sixty-one, and of our consecration the second.

In the margin.-Commission for the dedication of a chapel and cemetery constructed in the town of Lytherpole.

Note. The date February 1361 is of course February 1362 according to the New Style, which makes the year begin on 1st January.

REPORT FOR 1904

PRESENTED 12TH JANUARY 1905

URING the year 13 new members, paying £1, Is. each,

have joined the Society, while 2 members (1 resident and I non-resident) have resigned; and I resident member, 3 life members, and 3 non-resident members have died. The net financial gain to the Society is £9, 9s. per annum. Of the members removed by death, Sir Albert Woods, K.C.M.G., C.B., F.S.A., Garter King of Arms, was well known, and held an honoured place among British antiquaries.

Eleven meetings have been held during the year, at each of which a paper has been read dealing with some local subject. The Council are glad to note that the attendance of members continues to be good. Three excursions have taken place, and the following accounts which appeared in the columns of the daily papers may be of interest to members :

"The First Summer Excursion of this Society took place on Saturday. A large party assembled at twelve o'clock at Woodside, and travelled to Holywell, where, after lunch, the ruins of the Abbey of Basingwerk were visited by the kind permission of Sir Pyerce Mostyn, of Talacre. Mr. W. Fergusson Irvine, the Hon. Secretary, who conducted the party, read a short paper giving a brief sketch of the history of this interesting Cistercian monastery, and afterwards the various buildings were examined in detail, and the reader of the paper pointed out the uses of each portion of the structure. A ground plan of the Abbey had been prepared, and greatly assisted the members in following the speaker's remarks. Especial interest was taken in the fine row of half-timbered buildings lying to the east of the refectory, which seem to have been used by the monks as stores and granaries. A short drive took the party to St. Winifred's Well,