[286] Rot. Pat., 28 Ed. III., pars 1, m. 3. [287] R. O., L. T. R. Memoranda Roll, 25 Ed. III. [288] Hunter, _Deanery of Doncaster_, i, p. 1. The _Inquisitio post mortem_ of John FitzWilliam is in 1350. [289] _Ibid._, ii, p. 125. [290] Rot. Pat., 27 Ed. III., pars 1, m. 18. [291] R. O., Clerical Subsidy, 15/2. [292] R. O., Exchequer, Treasury of Receipt 21a/3, in _English Historical Review_, v, p. 525 (July, 1890). [293] Rot. Pat., 23 Ed. III., pars 3, m. 25. [294] _e.g._, Escheator's Inq. p. m., series i, 430. [295] R. O., L. T. R. Memoranda Roll, 28 Ed. III., m. 9. [296] R. O., Rot. Claus., 25 Ed. III., m. 16. [297] R. O., Durham Cursitor Records, Bk. ii, ff. 2b, _seqq._ [298] Rot. Claus., 27 Ed. III., m. 10d. [299] Rot. Claus., 24 Ed. III., pars 2, m. 5. [300] B. Mus. Cott. MS., Vitell., E. xiv, fol. 256. [301] Dr. Creighton (_History of Epidemics in Britain_, p. 119), speaking of Scotland, says: "The winter cold must have held it in check as regards the rest of Scotland; for it is clear from Fordoun that its great season in that country generally was the year 1350." [302] B. Mus. Cott. MS., Vitell., A. xx, fol. 56. [p162] CHAPTER IX. THE DESOLATION OF THE COUNTRY. So far the course of the epidemic in England has been followed from south to north. It is now necessary to consider some statistics and immediate results of the plague. The diocese of Salisbury comprised the three counties of Dorset, Wilts, and Berkshire. The total number of appointments made by the Bishop, in his entire diocese, is said to have been 202 in the period from March 25th, 1348, to March 25th, 1349; and 243 during the same time in the year following.[303] Of this total number of 445 it is safe to say that two-thirds were institutions to vacancies due to the plague. Roughly speaking, therefore, in these three counties, comprised in the diocese of Sarum, some 300 beneficed clergy, at least, fell victims to the scourge. The county of Dorset may first be taken. The list of institutions taken from the Salisbury episcopal registers, given in Hutchins' history of that county, numbers 211. During the incidence of the plague ninety of these record a change of incumbent, so that, roughly, about half the benefices were rendered vacant. In several cases, moreover, during the progress of the epidemic changes are recorded twice or three times, so that the total number of institutions made to Dorsetshire livings at this time was 110. As regards the non-beneficed clergy, secular and regular, their proportion to those holding benefices will be considered in the [p163] concluding chapter. Here it is sufficient to observe that the proportion commonly suggested is far too low.