_Richard Seynesbury_, 16th abbot, was elected 1349. In 1359, he stated the privileges of his abbey in plea to a writ of quo warranto. In 1362, about the feast of the Annunciation, the abbot of St. Alban’s, provincial president of the Benedictines, the prior of Coventry, and the superior of St. Alban’s, visited Chester Abbey as commissioners, deputed by the abbot of Evesham. In consequence of this visitation, Richard de Seynesbury, who (according to the chronicle) was fearful of a scrutiny into his offences and excessive dilapidations, resigned his abbey into the hands of the pope, as the abbey, being an exempt, was under the papal protection. An inquiry into his conduct was instituted at Rome; and in the following year pope Urban admitted the abbot’s resignation, and conferred the office on his successor. This abbot died in Lombardy. _Thomas de Newport_, 17th abbot, received the benediction in the papal court on the feast of the Annunciation, and was installed at Chester on the day of St. Remigius following. This abbot died at his manor house of Little Sutton, in Wirral, June 1, 1385, and was buried in the chapter-house, within the inner door, with his effigy in brass upon the stone. _William de Mershton_, 18th abbot, formerly a monk of this convent, was elected abbot July 30, 1385. He died on the 13th of January following, and was buried without the choir, on the right of William de Bebington, in the south aisle. _Henry de Sutton_, 19th abbot. He occurs as abbot in 1410, which was the 24th year of his presiding over this monastery, as appears by the pleas of the abbey, holden over the monastery gate, before Nicholas Fare, the abbot’s seneschal. This abbot was for a time justice of Chester, and in 1399 had license to fortify his three manor-houses at Little Sutton, Saighton, and Ince. He was buried in the broad aisle, close to the north side of the south pillar, next to the entrance into the choir, before a painting formerly called the piety of St. Mary. _Thomas Yerdesley_, 20th abbot, occurs as abbot in several portmote pleadings 7 Henry V. and is mentioned also several times in the reign of Henry VI. He was one of the justices in commission to hold assizes for the county, and dying 1434, was buried under a marble stone on the north side of the choir, above the shrine of St. Werburgh. _John Salghall_, 21st abbot, suffered excommunication in 1440, for not appearing in convocation after being personally cited; but afterwards appearing and pleading exemption, he was absolved. This abbot died in 1450, and was buried in St. Mary’s chapel, between two pillars on the south side, under an alabaster stone, which had his effigy in brass fixed upon it. The site of his interment was formerly called the chapel of St. Erasmus.