Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/58

 42 LAUNCESTON. trary, those who seek their own, and not the things which are of Jesus Christ, do not permit the Lepers who cannot cohabit with the sound, or meet in the Church with others, to have Churches or Burial-places of their own, nor to be assisted by the ministry of a Priest of their own, which because it appears to be very remote from Christian Piety, we of our Apostolical Benignity ordain, that wheresoever so many are assembled together in community, as are able to build a Church for themselves, with a Burial Place, and to have a Priest of their own, they be permitted to have the same without any contradiction. Let them neverthe- less take heed, that they be not prejudicial to the old Churches, in respect of their Parish dues, for we will not have that which is in compassion granted to them to turn to the detriment of others. We also decree that they be not obliged to pay Tithes of their orchards, or of the increase of their own cattle." The reader will notice how literally the obedient Prior of St. Stephen kept within the prescript. He does, however, remit to the Lepers his own yearly fee of 12s. gd., and promises them a half-yearly brief to the Abbot of Ford, and a daily loaf at the Priory. The boundaries of Gillemartin can still be traced, although its more distinctive name is now St. Leonards. The estate contains about eighteen acres of land, and is situated a little above Polston Bridge, which spans the Tamar, and connects the counties of Cornwall and Devon. (See our Map of Dunheved Borough.) The pretty little Kensey, which 750 years ago first laved the Priory buildings, flowing thence eastward for about a mile till it washed the foundations of the Leper Hospital, and then joined the Tamar, still keeps its sinuous course through the same beautiful valley. The valley itself remains unchanged, except the fitful life which its railway now supplies.