Kertmel, or Cartmele Priory, in Lancashire.

WILLIAM MARESCHALL the elder, says Tanner, Earl of Pembroke, founded here, A.D. 1188, a Priory of Regular Canons of the Order of St. Austin, dedicated to the blessed Virgin.

Among the original Charters in the Harleian Collection of MSS. in the British Museum are one or two Charters which concern the foundation of this Priory. The Charter 83 A. 26. is a grant from John Earl of Moreton to William Mareschall of lands in Caertmel. Another, 83 A. 27. is a Charter of John Earl of Moreton "quod Gulielmus Marescallus faciat Domum qualiscunque Religionis voluerit in terra de Kertmel, et det Domui illi Kertmel cum omnibus pertinentiis."a

The Charter of King Edward the Second, reciting and confirming its endowments, will be found in the Appendix; b with a Grant from the Earl of Pembroke of the Church of Balifax.

In this House, about the time of the Dissolution,were reckoned ten religious, and thirty-eight servants.

There are no Ministers' Accompts of this Priory in the Augmentation Office; for which reason an Abstract of the Valor 26 Hen. VIIIth. is substituted for them.d

• Johannes comes Moreton omnibus amicis et hominibus suis, Francis et Anglis, salutem. Sciatis me concessisse et presenti carta mea confirmasse pro salute animæ meæ et antecessorum meorum, quod Guillelmus Marescallus faciat domum qualiscunque religionis voluerit in terra de Kertmel. Et ut ipse Guillelmus det domui illi et illis qui ibi Deo servient Kertmel cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in perpetuam elemosinam, pro salute animæ suæ et antecessorum suorum, adeo liberam et quietam in omnibus sicut ego ipsi Guillelmo illam concessi et carta mea confirmavi. Quare volo et firmiter præcipio quod præfati religiosi cujuscunque religionis fuerint, habeant et teneant prænominatam terram de Kertmel in perpetuum liberam et quietam, cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in ecclesiis et capellis, in bosco et plano, in silvis et venationibus, in viis et semitis, in pratis et pascuis, in aquis et molendinis, in herbagiis et piscariis, in salinis et fabricis, et cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus eædem terræ pertinentibus, adeo libere et quiete et honorifice et integre sicut carta donationis prænominati Guillelmi illis confirmat et testatur salvo servicio unius militis quod ipse Guillelmus M. mihi facere debet. Testibus Stephano Ridello cancellario meo, Willelmo Avenl., Rogero de Emundevill, Willelmo de Turbervill, Rad. de Ardern.

This Charter, which was among the archives of the Priory, is now

Cart. antiq. Harl. 51 H. 2.

c MS. in bibl. Bodl. Dodsworth, vol. xxvi. fol. 22.

4 See the Append. Num III.

The Scite was granted in the 32d Hen. VIIIth. according to Tanner to Thomas Holcroft. The Repertories of the Originalia, MS. Brit. Mus. vol. iii. fol. 152 b, say to Thomas Holcreste, 5th Nov. 32 Hen. VIIIth.

Tanner's References to MSS. and Records concerning this House are below.

Of the COMMON SEAL of this Priory an Impression exists in the office of the Duchy of Lancaster, representing the blessed Virgin seated, and having in her lap the divine Infant. The Virgin is crowned, and holds in her left hand a Staff with a Dove on the top. Part of the Legend only remains, namely, . IGIL ... VEN.... MARIE. DE. KERMELE. The Deed to which it is attached is without date, but probably of the 13th century.

The ARMS of this House were those of the Founder, Party per pale, Or and Vert, a Lion rampant Gules.

Cole says, in Kertmel Church was this Inscription: "Hic jacet frater Wilhelmus de Waltone Prior de Kertmel.” RICHARD is named as the last Prior of this House.

He says, "Vide Cartas quamplurimas ad hunc Prioratum spectantes, in bibl. Harleyana, 1710. In eadem bibl. MS. 1499. fol. 69. of the Foundation and Arms of this Priory. In bibl. Corp. Christi Cant. MS. 170. p. 123. Citationem Milonis Burre et Willelmi Payne canonicorum de Cartmele ad comparand. coram archiepiscopo Ebor. et respondend. Willielmo Hayll Priori suo, A.D. 1501. Ibid. p. 144. Commissionem in partibus pro causa audienda inter Willelmum Hale Priorem de Cartmele et archidiaconum de Richmond. Rot. fin. div. com. 1 Ric. I. bund. 5. de piscatione aquæ de Kent. Rot. cart. 1 Joan. p. 1, m. 27, n. 59, 161. Cart. 5 Joan. m. 21, n. 180. Fin. div. com. 9 Joan. n. 48. Cart. 17 Joan. m. 5, n. 43. Cart. 54 Hen. III. m. 11. Pat. 15 Edw. III. p. 1, m. 5 vel 7. Pat. 21 Edw. III. p. 1, m. 8. Ibid: p. 2, m. 6 vel 7. Pat. 29 Edw. III. p. 2, m. 9. pro ten. in Broughton. Pat. 1 Hen. IV. p. 6, m. 2 vel 3. Pat. 2 Hen. IV. p. 2, m. 44. Pat. Hen. VI. p. 6, m. 3."

Beside the Charters of Kertmel already mentioned, there are among the Harleian Deeds two others: 83 A. 23. Bulla Innocentii Papæ Priori, Mon. de Kertmel concessa, de suspensione quorundam fratrum per biennium, anno ijdo. Papatus: 83 B. 38. Carta Willielmi Marescalli Comitis Pembr. confirmans Cartam Willielmi Marescalli patris sui de terris de Karthmel eecl. de Karthmel.

See also the Taxat. P. Nich. IV. pp. 307 b, 309, 329. Abbrev. Plac. p. 57. Plac. de Quo Warr. pp. 376, 377, 378. 608.