Original Documents Will of Richard De Elmham, Canon of the Church of St. Martin Le Grand, London. Dated June 28, 1228

THE subjoined document, which by the courteous permission of the Dean and Chapter we are permitted to bring before our readers, lias been recently found amongst the evidences preserved in the Muniment Chamber at Westminster.It is the will of one of the canons of the collegiate church of St. Martin's Le Grand, within Aldersgate, one of the most ancient of the foundations in the metropolis ; some writers, indeed, have assigned its origin to as remote a period as the seventh century, and have stated that it was founded in the year 677, in memory of a Saxon sovereign.We are assured, however, by Bishop Tanner that it was founded not long after that time, possibly by Wythred, king of Kent, about A.D. 700, and that it was chiefly endowed by two Saxon nobles, about ten years previous to the Conquest.The possessions and privileges of the church of St. Martin were confirmed, with fresh grants, by the Conqueror in the year 1068 ; the confirmation was subsequently ratified with great solemnity on occasion of the coronation of Mathilda his queen at Westminster.Great privileges were conferred upon this collegiate church, being a royal free chapel, such as right of sanctuary, and exemption from ecclesiastical and civil jurisdiction.In 1502 the church and all its possessions were given by Henry VII. to the abbot and convent of Westminster; and, as parcel of that monastery, St. Martin's was granted, 34th Hen.VIII., to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, as part of their endowment.Hence, doubtless, the following document, that had previously been preserved amongst the evidences of the collegiate church of St. Martin, is now found in the extensive assemblage of valuable documents at Westminster.The testator was doubtless a native of Norfolk ; he describes himself as " de Elmham dictus;" he makes a bequest of three marks to Cecilia his sister, residing at Geystwick near Foulsbam, places in that county in the immediate neighbourhood of North Elmham.He appears, by the amount of monies and valuable effects, plate, books, vestments and household appliances, to have been possessed of considerable property.He held the benefice of Westwell, a parish situated near Burford, in Oxfordshire.To the hospital at the last-named place he bequeaths a brass pot and a pan (patella) that were at Westwell.To the church of that parish he leaves his unboutid antiphonary, in quires ("quod ligari debet"), and a psalter therewith ; to each of his two servants at Westwell he gives a mark, " pro servicio suo."William de Ripa, his vicar at Westwell, is named as one

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