AUSTIN CANONS. Here was a collegiate church of ancient foundation in
honor of St. German, one of the famous French bishops, who came over
into Britain to oppose the Pelagian heresy. K. Ethelstan is said to
have made one Conon bishop here, A.D. 936, though it seems more
probable that the episcopal see for Cornwall was not fixed here till
after the burning of the bishop’s house and cathedral church at
Bodmin; after which K. Canute more amply endowed this church of St.
German; and, about A. D. 1050. Leofric, who was bishop here and of
Crediton, having united both bishopricks in the church of St. Peter at
Exeter, changed the Seculars[106] here into Regular canons.[107] The
yearly revenues of this priory were valued, _26 Hen. 8._ at 243_l._
8_s._ Dugd. Speed 227_l._ 4_s._ 8_d._ Clare, ms. Valor. The site was
granted, _33 Hen. 8._ to Kath.[108] Champernoun, John Ridgway, &c.
_Vide_ Mon. Angl. tom. i. p. 213. ex Leland. Collect. i. 75. Ibid.
tom. ii. p. 5, 6. inquis. 32 Ed. 3. ex rot. pat. 7 Ric. 2. p. 1.
m. 24. de fundatione et dotatione.
Leland. Itin. vol. iii. p. 40. vol. vii. p. 122.
Cartas, &c. penes Edw. Elliot de eadem.
Fin. 6 Hen. 3. m. 5. de mercat. ibid.
Cart. 6 Ed. 2. n. 1.
Pat. 17 Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 32. de mercato et feria in villa S. Germani,
et de lib. war. in Lamash: Pat. 31 Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 8. pro ten. in
Lanrake: Plac. coram reg. 37 Ed. 3. rot. 9. Pat. 38 Ed. 3. p. 2.
m. 46. Pat. 43 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 23 vel 43.
Pat. 2 Rich. 2. p. 1. m. 47. pro ten. in Pollersek, Trewint,
Todisford, Lancottock, &c. Pat. 9 Ric. 2. p. 1. m.. rex restituit
prioratum S. Germani (qui fuit de fundatione Leofrici episc. et
quem rex recuperaverat in curia sua adversus Jo. Grandison episc.
Exon.) episc. Exon. et successoribus: Pat. 16 Ric. 2. p. 1. m. 27.
de redd. in Trethinek, Morna, &c.
Pat. 11 Hen. 6. p. 1. m. 17. pro ten. in Frogwell, Tenepath, &c.
[Stowe’s Annals, edit. 1592. p. 120. Domesd. tom. i. fol. 120 b.
H. E.]