where the bells were rung, priest, knight, franklins, and peasants
came out with all their local display, often a guild, to receive him,
and other clergy gathered in; mass was said, difficulties or
controversies attended to, confirmation given to the young people and
children, and, after a meal, the bishop proceeded, sometimes to a
noble's castle, or a convent, but more often to another manor of his
own, where he was received by his resident steward or park-keeper,
and took up his abode, the neighbouring clergy coming in to pay their
respects, mention their grievances, and hold counsel with him. His
dues were in the meantime collected, and his residence lasted as long
as business, ecclesiastical or secular, required his presence, or
till he and his train had eaten up the dues in kind that came in.

Whether the visit was welcome or not depended a good deal on the
character of the prelate, and the hold he kept on his subordinates.
The great courtly bishops, like William of Wykeham, generally sent
their suffragans, titular bishops in partibus infidelium, to perform
their duties.

One of the park-keepers of Merdon was judged worthy of a Latin
epitaph, probably the work of a chaplain or of a Winchester scholar
to whom he had endeared himself:


Hic in humo stratus, John Bowland est tumulatus
Vir pius et gratus et ab omnibus hinc peramatus
Custos parcorum praestans quondam fuit horum
De Merdon, quorum et Wintoniae dominorum.
Hic quinqgenis hinc octenis rite deemptis
Cum plausu gentis custos erat in eis.