a year, clear of all service due from the said portion. The prior also had lands in this part of the town, given by Ranulf de Glanvil, which were taxed at 1d. 0b. The fourth Portion was called Semere, and contained the other half of Semere, that lay in Diss hundred, and was sometimes called Matthew's Portion, from Matthew, who was rector of it at the Norwich taxation, when it was taxed at vj. marks; it was after named Alexander's Portion, but most commonly John's Portion, from John de Hemenhale, who was rector of it at the Lincoln taxation, in which it is valued at 6 marks and an half; this portion was of the smallest value, because it was chargeable with a pension, (valued in the Norwich taxation at 8s. and in the Lincoln at 10s.) payable every year, to the Prior of St. Faith's at Horsham; concerning this pension, I find in a register formerly belonging to Bury abbey, a grant made by Reymund, Prior of St. Faith's, to Sir Ralph Hemenhale, parson of the fourth part of Dickleburgh, and his successours for ever, of two parts of the tithes of the demeans formerly of Sir William de Cheyney, of the fee of his barony of Horsford in this town, by the authority and consent of Ralf de Walpole Bishop of Norwich, and his chapter, for the annual payment of 10s. sterling, which tithes were given by the said William to that monastery; all which demeans, with their several quantities, names, and tenants, are recited therein. The deed was sealed by the Bishop, the Abbot, the Prior of St. Faith's, the Rector, and the Prior of Norwich; and for this pension the Prior was to allow and pay 12d. tenths. The two Portions called Fouldon and Semere were consolidated in 1429, and in 1449, they were consolidated to the Portion in the Fields; and in 1454, the appropriation of Langmere Portion being resigned, it became one rectory, chargeable with the annual pensions of 3s. 4d. to the Prior of Butley, 10s. to the Prior of St. Faith's, and 24s. 1d. 0b. to the Abbot of Bury, and hath so continued ever since.
This advowson, with the manor now called The Rectory Manor, was procured by Syward, a monk of Bury, at which time it belonged to the manor of Titshall, and with that was given to this monastery, there being at that time only one chaplain or parish priest; but before the Conquest, the Abbot had given the manor to the church, and infeoffed it in two priests, who held it at the survey; these, with the parochial priest, made three portions, all which were in the presenta tion of the Abbot of Bury
