Page:Somerset Historical Essays.djvu/169

 'domino' in this address is possibly significant. The bishop, in assigning the house to the purpose intended, begins: 'Cum dilectus Alius Nicholaus de Welles &hellip;'. This seems to point to a natural and not merely a spiritual kinship; but we cannot draw the conclusion with certainty. As the bishop's charter is attested by Hugh archdeacon of Wells, it must be dated between 1205 and 1209. Nicholas, like his kinsman, found his way into the royal chancery: for in the Close Rolls we find a writ issued at Lambeth on 8 May 1208 'per Nicholaum de Welles'.