Copy of a petition from the church at Shere, Surrey.
Letter from John, by divine permission Bishop of Winchester, to the officials
of the Archdeacon of Surrey.
Christine, daughter of William called the Carpenter of Schire in our diocese,
has besought us by her humble petition, that whereas, desiring not feignedly,
but of truth to remove herself to the fulfilment of a better life, she wishes
to vow herself solemnly to continence and perpetual chastity and to let herself
be shut up in a narrow place in the parish church of Schire, that therein she
may be enabled to serve Almighty God the more worthily, we should consider her
worthy to be granted our favourable assent and consent.
We, observing the all too easy downfall of human frailty and that the Temptor,
who is by this always gratified, is just as many times displeased by piety in
our lives, and scarcely knowing the condition of the said Christine, and desiring
to take care of the rights and indemnities of the Rector of the church of Schire
and the parishioners there, and of any other persons who may be concerned in
this matter; we commit and command you that, having first summoned to the said
church of Schire, in person, the said Christine, the Rector and the parishioners
there, and of any other persons who may be concerned in this matter; you shall
apply yourself to seeking the truth diligently, as twhether the aforesaid Christine
is of such good life and conversation that she is likely to make a success of
this proposal for a more saintly life, and whether she is free or espoused to
anyone or joined to marriage, and whether in the opinion of the Rector or the
parishioners or of anyone else who may contribute in any way, the said Christine
shall be enclosed in the manner and for the reasons aforesaid by trusty men,
having full knowledge of the said Christine and of these things above mentioned,
being formally sworn by law and examined one by one.
Given at Farnham, the 11th day of the Kalends of July in the year of our Lord
1329, and in the 7th year of our consecration