The Priory of Finchale. THE CHARTERS OF ENDOWMENT, INVENTORIES, AND ACCOUNT ROLLS, OF THE PRIORY OF FINCHALE, IN THE COUNTY OF DURHAM. LONDON: J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, PARLIAMENT STREET: WILLIAM PICKERING, CHANCERY LANE. PREFACE. maria Bebell VERY single record which tends to throw light upon the Monastic History of England, illustrates, at the same time, in almost every instance, the civil history of the kingdom. A collection of such records, the carefully-preserved Charters and Account Rolls, and other Documents, of a Religious Establishment from its Foundation to its Dissolution, is here presented to the public, abounding with the most interesting details in illustration of the Benedictine Institute, of the history, philology, statistics, manners, and customs of the kingdom at large, and the biography of individuals, and claims, with a concentrated force, the attention of those to whom the civil and religious history of England is a subject of interest or inquiry. These records are, with one or two exceptions, preserved in the Treasury of the Dean and Chapter of Durham, and are printed by their kind permission.* The • The Charters and Indulgences are preserved in a box of four compartments, and were probably removed to Durham upon the Dissolution of the Cell. An endorsement upon the back of each proves their antient arrangement. The title which we have prefixed to each is copied from the back of the document, and that part which is printed within brackets is in a later hand. The same box contains several monastic leases, which we have not noticed. The Inventories and Account Rolls are in a box by themselves, intitled FINCHALE ROLLS. b |