Richard II: November 1384

Parliament Rolls of Medieval England. Originally published by Boydell, Woodbridge, 2005.

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'Richard II: November 1384', in Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, (Woodbridge, 2005) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/parliament-rolls-medieval/november-1384 [accessed 25 March 2024]

In this section

1384 November

Introduction November 1384

Westminster

12 November - 14 December 1384

(C 65/43. RP , III.184-202. SR , II.36-7)

C 65/43 is a roll of seven membranes, each approximately 315mm in width, sewn together in chancery style and numbered in a later hand. The original numbering of the membranes is confused; they have thus been renumbered as follows, with the original number shown in brackets: 7 (10), 6 (1), 5 (8), 4 (7), 3 (8), 2 (6), 1 (no number). The text, written in the official chancery script of several scribes, occupies the rectos of the membranes only. The dorses are blank apart from a later heading, 'Parliamentum de anno 8 o R. 2 di ', and later notes where the membranes are joined, 'Parl' 8 R. 2 pars unica', or 'Parliamentum anno 8 o R. 2'. The condition of the roll is good, though membranes 7, 2 and 1 are stained with gallic acid. The marginal notes are contemporary. The Arabic numerals are of a later date. The writs and returns mentioned in item no. 15 are also recorded on two pieces of parchment stitched to membrane 6 as follows: the first, as far as 'per Johannem Fauconer et Robertum Coker', is recorded on the lower piece, which measures approximately 315mm in width and 50mm in length; the second, as far as 'prout istud breve requirit', is recorded on the top piece, which measures approximately 300mm in width and 45mm in length. In addition, the Crown Pleas on membrane 3 continue on four separate membranes (numbered i-iv) stitched together exchequer style to the foot of the dorse of membrane 6. These membranes measure approximately 235mm in width. The text occupies the rectos and dorses of membranes i-iii, while membrane iv has only five lines of text at its head.

Once the Salisbury parliament of April 1384 had failed to ratify the draft Anglo-French treaty, there was little choice but to return to the negotiating table, yet, despite the fact that John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and his brother the earl of Buckingham spent much of the summer on the continent trying to work out a peace formula acceptable to both sides, the best that they could achieve was an extension of the truce until 1 May 1385. This was agreed in early September, and on 28 September writs were issued summoning parliament to meet on 12 November. (fn. n1384int-1) This was the third year in a row, and the fourth in the past five, that parliament had met twice in a year, a relatively uncommon occurrence over the fourteenth century as a whole. The writs of summons to the spiritual peers included the abbot of Bury but were otherwise identical to those issued for the April parliament. Among the lords temporal there were two newcomers, Ralph Lumley and John Devereux. Lumley's great-grandfather, Marmaduke Thweng, had been summoned to parliament in the early fourteenth century, but none of his three sons had ever been summoned. Devereux was a banneret and former royal councillor, but none of his ancestors had ever been summoned to parliament. On the other hand, he must have attended the April parliament, for he was one of the bannerets chosen to advise the commons on the question of taxation. Presumably he had attended in some official capacity, despite being a banneret. (fn. n1384int-2)

Since 12 November was a Saturday, the opening of parliament was postponed to the Monday, and then again, on the king's orders, to Tuesday 15th. The opening speech was delivered, as was customary, by the chancellor, Michael de la Pole. Despite the fact that de la Pole was probably the foremost advocate of a policy of peace with France, even he, as he made clear, saw little prospect that peace would be achieved in the near future. (fn. n1384int-3) England was imperilled on all sides, he declared: from the French, who had conducted themselves deceitfully in the negotiations, from the Spanish and Flemish with their galleys, and from the Scots. England did, however, have a young king - Richard II was now approaching his eighteenth birthday - who was keen to go to war in person, and nothing was more likely to inspire a supreme effort on the part of English knighthood. De la Pole encouraged the commons to be suitably generous, as well as suitably brief (Items 3-5).

The commons were indeed reasonably generous, but their generosity came with strings attached. They granted two fifteenths and tenths, the first to be collected by 25 March 1385, the second by 24 June 1385. In return, however, they requested that the second half fifteenth and tenth granted in April be cancelled, and - in a move which smacked of calling the king's and chancellor's bluff - they insisted that if Richard did not lead the projected military campaign in person, the grant of the second fifteenth and tenth should also be cancelled. Here then was a challenge which could hardly be ignored, and it doubtless goes at least part of the way towards explaining why Richard did indeed lead his first military expedition in the summer of 1385, although not to France (Item 10).

Despite the length of the roll, the parliament of November 1384 was not a particularly eventful assembly. Approximately three-quarters of the roll is taken up with the inordinately protracted and repetitive recital of the legal records relating to a dispute between Richard Seymour (or Saint Maur), lord of Castle Cary and a peer of parliament, and the prior of Montacute, over the ownership of the manor of Tintinhull (Somerset). The eventual decision of the parliament, by which the manor was awarded to the prior, involved the reversal of a previous decision, which may explain why it was felt necessary to set out the proceedings at such length (Item 15). A contemporary memorandum on the close roll records that all the records relating to the case were removed and taken into parliament, 'and so they remain among other records of that parliament, because the judgment here recorded is reversed, and nought here remains of record concerning that cause'. (fn. n1384int-4)

A number of other judicial items of some interest were also dealt with. For the second parliament in succession, a member of the London merchant class was arraigned for defaming a peer of the realm. In the April parliament the fishmonger John Cavendish had accused Michael de la Pole of denying him justice; in this parliament Walter Sibill, also a fishmonger, was brought in to answer for having accused Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford and the king's chamberlain, of maintenance (Item 12; it is also worth noting that maintenance and its effect on the judicial system was the subject of two petitions from the commons, Items 17 and 18). De Vere and de la Pole were both members of the king's inner circle of advisers, and these accusations probably reflect the growing unpopularity of the royal court as well as its entanglement with the factional rivalries which rent the city. John of Northampton, the draper and controversial former mayor, had been hauled before a meeting of the royal council just two months before this parliament met and convicted of treason (although his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment), while his successor, the grocer Nicholas Brembre, would also be convicted of treason in the parliament of February 1388 - and for him there would be no relaxation of the ultimate penalty. In the circumstances, Sibill could probably count himself lucky to get away with a fine of fifty marks for damages. (fn. n1384int-5) Also fortunate in this parliament was Alice Perrers, the former mistress of Edward III, whose petition for the repeal of the sentence of banishment passed against her in 1377 was upheld, even if the terms of the repeal did not offer her any great hope of recovering the lands which she had forfeited at the time (Item 13).

None of this greatly excited the interest of the chroniclers. Thomas Walsingham, the St Albans chronicler, remarked that 'nothing worth recording took place' during the parliament, while the Westminster chronicler said that the quarrels of the lords meant that nothing was achieved. Both chroniclers did, however, mention two other events which occurred during the parliament. The first was the arrival of news of the capture by the Scots of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Gaunt seized the opportunity to subject the earl of Northumberland, who had the keeping of Berwick, to public humiliation; after apparently undergoing some form of public censure, Northumberland marched hastily north and soon re-took the town. The second incident, which was mentioned in several of the chronicles, was the duel between an English esquire, John Walsh of Grimsby, and a Navarrese esquire called Martlet de Villeneuve who had accused Walsh of treason. Walsh won the duel, which was fought on 30 November, and Martlet was duly drawn, hanged and beheaded, the penalty for failing to prove an accusation of treason. (fn. n1384int-6)

The parliament was dissolved on 14 December. (fn. n1384int-7) According to the Westminster chronicler it broke up in dissension, and certainly dissension continued to mar relationships between the leading political players in the kingdom during the following year. At a meeting of the great council held at Waltham in early February 1385, Gaunt tried to persuade the king to undertake his proposed expedition to France; when he failed to do so, he walked out in disgust. A few days later, he was warned of a plot by a group of Richard's confidants to have him assassinated, and although a reconciliation between Richard and his uncle was brokered by the king's mother, Princess Joan, early in March, there is no doubt that the royal court had become a dangerous place by the mid-1380s. (fn. n1384int-8) Richard did, in the end, take the field as a military commander in the summer of 1385, leading an expedition to Scotland, but disagreements over strategy led him to quarrel yet again with Gaunt, and by the time the next parliament met in October the political tension at Westminster was strained almost to breaking point.

Text and translation

[p. iii-184]
[col. a]
[memb. 7]
The membranes are numbered as follows on the MS: 10, 1, 8, 7, 8, 6, with the last membrane unnumbered.
ROTULUS PARLIAMENTI TENTI APUD WESTM' IN CRASTINO SANCTI MARTINI, ANNO REGNI REGIS RICARDI SECUNDI POST CONQUESTUM OCTAVO. THE ROLL OF THE PARLIAMENT HELD AT WESTMINSTER ON THE MORROW OF MARTINMAS, IN THE EIGHTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF KING RICHARD, THE SECOND SINCE THE CONQUEST [12 November 1384].
1. Memorandum quod presens parliamentum summonitum apud Westm' in crastino Sancti Martini, anno regni regis Ricardi secundi post conquestum octavo, quod [quidem crastinum die sabbati] contingebat, de precepto regis adjornatum fuit certis de causis usque diem lune tunc proximum sequentem. Be it remembered that the present parliament, summoned to Westminster on the morrow of Martinmas in the eighth year of the reign of King Richard, the second since the conquest, which fell on a Saturday [12 November 1384], was adjourned on the king's orders for certain reasons until the following Monday [14 November 1384].
2. Et dicto die lune, iterum de precepto regis adjornatum [fuit ex causis predictis] usque in crastinum, scilicet diem martis; quo die, sedente rege in parliamento, et circumsedentibus prelatis et proceribus, ac militibus comitatuum, et civibus et burgensibus [civitatum et burgorum, nominatim] invocatis prout moris est, circumstantibus, dominus Michael de la Pole, cancellarius Anglie, premissis quibusdam verbis de benivolentia regis, et [ejus affeccione multiplici] erga ecclesiam Anglicanam et libertates et privilegia ecclesiastica inviolabiliter conservanda, ac tactis periculis regno iminentibus, enumeratisque regis et [regni precipuis inimicis,] videlicet Gallicis qui populi multitudine, Hispanis qui Galeis, et Flandrensibus qui grossis navibus vehementer abundant, ac Scotis qui regnum Anglie [intrare poterunt cito] pede, dixit principalem causam summonicionis et convocacionis istius parliamenti existere ad ordinandum et providendum pro salvacione et defensione dicti regni, tot [inimicis mortiferis] ad invicem confederatis undique circumsepti; et unde custus et expense necessarii in hac parte melius et celerius ad minorem pauperis populi oneracionem levari poterunt et haberi, cum sit verisimile dictum regnum infra breve absque ordinacione et auxilio hujusmodi variis tribulacionibus et angustiis affici et gravari. 2. And on the said Monday [14 November 1384], it was again adjourned on the king's orders for the aforesaid reasons until the next day, namely Tuesday [15 November 1384]; on which day, the king being seated in parliament, and the prelates and nobles being seated about him, and the knights of the shires and citizens and burgesses of the cities and boroughs who had been severally summoned, as is customary, standing there, Sir Michael de la Pole, chancellor of England, beginning with some words on the king's kindness and his deep devotion to the English church and the inviolable conservation of ecclesiastical liberties and privileges, and touching upon the dangers threatening the kingdom and the notable enemies of the king and kingdom, namely the French who abound greatly in number, the Spanish who abound greatly in galleys, the Flemish who with their many great ships, and the Scots who can readily enter the kingdom of England on foot, said that the chief reason for the summoning and convocation of this parliament was to ordain and provide for the safe-keeping and defence of the said kingdom, entirely surrounded as it was by deadly enemies all in league with one another; and to decide how the costs and expenses necessarily incurred in the matter might best and most swiftly be raised and levied with the least burden upon the poor people, since in all likelihood, without ordinance or help of this kind, the said kingdom would soon be afflicted and grieved by various trials and tribulations.
3. Et quod [dictus dominus rex, qui] se subditis et ligeis suis ejusdem regni semper hactenus in diversis pardonacionibus et concessionibus ac alias multipliciter munificum exhibuit et graciosum, [in bona et promptissima jam existit voluntate] se in propria persona sua laboribus et inquietacionibus pro defensione regni et ligeorum suorum predictorum contra pericula hujusmodi exponere, et ad [quascunque partes ea occasione] per avisamentum consilii sui, habito prius prout regiam decet excellenciam auxilio sufficienti, personaliter se transferre. Et ideo quilibet de eodem regno [animum tenetur] assumere ferventiorem eidem domino regi in tanta regni et reipublice necessitate, cum corpore et bonis libentius adjuvare, [[The following text has been deleted:
cum]] meliorem sibi nequeat [impendere responsuram. Et quod id quod] in auxilium defensionis regni necessario concedi oportebit, levetur de quolibet, tam magno quam parvo, tam divite quam paupere, [fideliter juxta ratam. Et sic summa major, et] collectio levior, ac successus inde melior et prosperior indubie subsequentur.
3. And that the said lord king, who had always shown himself to be most kind and gracious to his subjects and lieges of the same kingdom until now with various pardons and concessions and in other ways, was now wholly and most readily desirous of involving himself in labours and troubles for the defence of the kingdom and his aforesaid lieges against such dangers, and of himself journeying to certain parts for this purpose by the advice of his council, having first obtained sufficient help as befitted royal majesty. And so everyone of the same kingdom was morally bound to assume a spirit of greater fervour in freely assisting the lord king with matters necessary for the kingdom and public weal, in body and in goods, since no better response could be given him. And that whatever it would be necessary to concede for the defence of the kingdom would be levied from everyone, great and small, rich and poor, faithfully according to their means. And thus a larger sum, an easier collection, and a greater and happier success would undoubtedly ensue.
[col. b]
4. Tetigit etiam dictus cancellarius de infidelitate et versutie dictorum Gallicorum, qui in [ultimo] pacis tractatu inter dominum regem et adversarium suum Francie apud Cales' habito, videntes nuncios et ambassatores dicti domini regis ad omnem viam pacis rationabilem et honestam, prout rex eis injunxerat, inclinatos, ad locum medium inter Cales' et Bolon' [inter ipsos et] ambassatores [regios supradictos] prius pro tractatu pacis hujusmodi concordatum et promissum venire, seu de plurimis pacis articulis quibus antea consenserant [quomodolibet tractare sive loqui] penitus recusabant, et [ob hoc jus] ipsius domini regis in hac parte multum roboratum et impugnatum existere, et dictam nichilominus [ipsorum Gallicorum infidelitatem] causam fore sufficientem, [etsi alias] non haberent, eos tanquam pacis contradictores et inimicos audacius debellandi. 4. The said chancellor also mentioned the ill faith and treachery of the said French, who in the last peace reached between the lord king and his adversary of France at Calais, seeing that the messengers and ambassadors of the said lord king were inclined towards every reasonable and honest road to peace, as the king had enjoined them, entirely refused to come to a place midway between Calais and Boulogne to arrange peace by such accord and engagement between themselves and the ambassadors of the aforesaid kings first of all or to consider or discuss in any way the many articles of peace previously agreed by them, and for that reason the right of the same lord king in this matter is greatly strengthened and unassailable, and the said bad faith of the French is reason enough, even if no there were no other reason, for fighting those contravenors and enemies of the peace all the more boldly.
5. Adjecit [insuper dictus cancellarius quod per] quatuor posset parliamentum multum abbreviari, et breviter expediri; videlicet quolibet die mane venire, omnem materiam [melancolie et invidie penitus omittere, ad] efficacissimam materiam incipere, et eam sine admixtione alterius terminare. Et quod manutenentia per totum fere regnum diffusa [tollatur et penitus destruatur. Et quod hii qui de] manutenentia hujusmodi, seu [de aliqua] re alia ubi non sufficit lex communis, conqueri voluerint, peticiones suas certis clericis de cancellarum ad hoc assignatis, quorum nomina per clericum parliamenti legerentur, liberarent et exhiberent, oportunum inde remedium, opitulante domino, habituri. 5. The same chancellor said further that there were four ways in which this parliament could be greatly shortened and sooner concluded; namely, by arriving early each day, by avoiding all occasions of spite and envy, by embarking on the most useful business, and by settling it without any further digression. And that maintenance, diffused almost throughout the entire kingdom, be crushed and entirely destroyed. And that those who wished to complain of such maintenance, or of any other matter in which the common law did not suffice, should submit and show their petitions to certain chancery clerks assigned thereto, whose names were to be read out by the clerk of parliament, that they might thereby find a suitable remedy, God willing.
6. Receivours des peticions d'Engleterre, Irland, Gales et Escoce:

  • Sire Johan de Waltham
  • Sire Richard Ravenser
  • Sire Thomas Newenham
  • Sire Johan Searle, clerc del parlement.
6. Receivers of petitions from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland:

  • Sir John Waltham
  • Sir Richard Ravenser
  • Sir Thomas Newenham
  • Sir John Searle, clerk of parliament.
Et ceux qi veullent liverer lour billes les baillent avaunt parentre cy et Samady proschein venant au soir. And those who wish to submit their petitions should hand them in between now and Saturday next, in the evening [19 November 1384].
7. Receivours des peticions de Gascoigne, et d'autres terres et paiis de par dela la meer, et des Isles:

  • Sire Piers de Barton'
  • Sire Johan Bouland'
  • Sire Robert Faryngton'
  • Sire Robert Muskham.
7. Receivers of petitions from Gascony and from other lands and countries overseas, and from the Channel Islands:

  • Sir Piers Barton
  • Sir John Bowland
  • Sir Robert Farington
  • Sir Robert Muskham.
[p. iii-185]
[col. a]
8. Et sont assignez triours des peticions d'Engleterre, Irlande, Gales et Escoce:

  • Le roy de Castill' et de Leon, duk de Lancastre
  • L'ercevesqe de Canterbirs
  • L'evesque de Londres
  • L'evesqe de Wyncestr'
  • L'evesqe de Ely
  • L'evesqe de Salesbirs
  • L'abbe de Seint Austyn de Canterbirs
  • L'abbe de Waltham
  • Le count de Kent, mareschall d'Engleterre
  • Le count d'Arundell
  • Le count de Warr'
  • Le count de Northumbr'
  • Le seignour de Nevill'
  • Monsire Richard le Scrop'
  • Monsire Guy de Brien
  • Monsire Robert Tresilian
  • Monsire Robert Bealknap
  • Monsire Johan Holt
8. The following are assigned to be triers of petitions from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland:

  • The king of Castile and Leon, duke of Lancaster
  • The archbishop of Canterbury
  • The bishop of London
  • The bishop of Winchester
  • The bishop of Ely
  • The bishop of Salisbury
  • The abbot of St Augustine's, Canterbury
  • The abbot of Waltham
  • The earl of Kent, marshal of England
  • The earl of Arundel
  • The earl of Warwick
  • The earl of Northumberland
  • Lord Neville
  • Sir Richard le Scrope
  • Sir Guy Bryan
  • Sir Robert Tresilian
  • Sir Robert Bealknap
  • Sir John Holt
- touz ensemble, ou .vi.des prelatz et seignours avantditz au meyns; appellez a eux chanceller, tresorer, seneschall et chamberleyn, et auxint les sergeantz nostre seignour le roy quant il busoignera. Et tendront lour place en la chambre de chamberleyn, pres de la chambre depeint. - to act all together, or at least six of the aforesaid prelates and lords; consulting with the chancellor, treasurer, steward and chamberlain, and also the serjeants of our lord the king when necessary. And they shall hold their session in the chamberlain's room, near the Painted Chamber.
9. Et sont assignez triours des peticions de Gascoigne, et d'autres terres et paiis de dela la meer, et les Isles:

  • L'evesqe de Nichole
  • L'evesqe de Norwicz
  • L'evesqe de Seint Davy
  • L'evesqe d'Excestre
  • L'evesqe de Hereford
  • L'abbe de Westm'
  • L'abbe de Glastyngbirs
  • Le count de Cantbrugg
  • Le count de Bukyngham, conestable d'Engleterre
  • Le count de Staff'
  • Le count de Salesbirs
  • Le seignour Fitz Wauter
  • Le priour del hospital Seint Johan Jerusalem en Engleterre
  • Monsire Johan de Cobham de Kent
  • Monsire William Skipwith
  • Monsire Roger Fulthorp'
  • Monsire Davyd Hannemere
  • Monsire William Burgh'
9. The following are assigned to be triers of petitions from Gascony and from the other lands and countries overseas, and from the Channel Islands:

  • The bishop of Lincoln
  • The bishop of Norwich
  • The bishop of St David's
  • The bishop of Exeter
  • The bishop of Hereford
  • The abbot of Westminster
  • The abbot of Glastonbury
  • The earl of Cambridge
  • The earl of Buckingham, constable of England
  • The earl of Stafford
  • The earl of Salisbury
  • Lord FitzWalter
  • The prior of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England
  • Sir John Cobham of Kent
  • Sir William Skipwith
  • Sir Roger Fulthorp
  • Sir David Hanmer
  • Sir William Burgh
- touz ensemble, ou .vi. des prelatz et seignours avauntditz; appellez a eux chanceller, tresorer, seneschal, chamberleyn et les sergeantz le roy quant il busoignera. Et tendront lour place en la chambre marcolf. - to act all together, or at least six of the aforesaid prelates and lords; consulting with the chancellor, treasurer, steward, chamberlain, and the king's serjeants when necessary. And they shall hold their session in the Marcolf Chamber.
10. Item, domini et communitates regni Anglie in presenti parliamento congregati, considerantes qualiter dominus rex, per avisamentum consilii sui, laborare intendit super inimicos suos in propria persona sua, prout superius declaratur, et quod hoc esset primum viagium ipsius domini regis, concesserunt eidem domino regi in eodem parliamento, pro defensione regni, et salva custodia maris et marchiarum Scotie, duas quintasdecimas, levandas et colligendas inter laicos dicti regni, unam videlicet quintamdecimam ad festum Annunciationis Beate Marie Virginis proximo futuro, et alteram < quintamdecimam ad festum Nativitatis > Sancti Johannis Baptiste tunc proximum sequens, per modum et formam ac condiciones in quadam cedula indentata per dictas communitates in eodem parliamento liberata contentos, cujus quidem cedule tenor sequitur, in hec verba: 10. Also, the lords and commons of the kingdom of England assembled in the present parliament, considering that the lord king, with the advice of his council, planned to strive against his enemies in person, as mentioned above, and how that would be the first expedition of the same lord king, granted to that same lord king in this parliament, for the defence of the kingdom and the safe-keeping of the sea and marches of Scotland, two fifteenths, to be levied and collected from the laity of the said kingdom, that is to say one fifteenth at the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary next [25 March 1385], and the other fifteenth at the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist then next following [24 June 1385], according to the manner, form and conditions contained in a certain indented schedule delivered by the said commons in this parliament, the tenor of which schedule follows in these words:
Les seignours et communes assemblez a ce present parlement, considerez coment nostre seignour le roi est purposez, [col. b] par avys et conseil des seignours, de travailler en propre persone sur ses enemys, come declarez feust par le chanceller al pronunciation de parlement, en presence du roi mesmes et des ditz seignours et communes, et puis declarez plus en especial par mesme le chanceller as ditz communes en la maison du chapitre a Westm'; et porce qe ce serroit ore le primer viage nostre < dit seignour le roy, > al honour de Dieu et de nostre seignour le roi grantent a mesme nostre seignour le roi, pur defense du roialme, et pur la saufe garde du meer, et de les marches d'Escoce, deux quinszismes, d'estre levez et paiez entre les layes; c'estassavoir l'une quinszisme al fest de l'Anunciation Nostre Dame proschein avenir; et l'autre quinzisme al fest de la Nativite Seint Johan alors proschein ensuant: sur les condicions q'ensuent, c'estassavoir qe la moite du darreine quinzisme grante a Salesbirs sur certeines conditions soit finalement adnullye et tenuz pur nulle. Et en cas qe nostre seignour le roi ne travaille en propre persone sur les ditz enemys, come declarez est par dessuis, ou si paix ou trieve se preigne en le meen temps, q'adonqes la dite darreine quinzisme qe se deust estre levez al dit fest de la Nativite Seynt Johan, cesse tout outrement, et qe nulle commission isse pur la levee d'icelle. Et qe nulle autre charge n'emposicion soit mys de novel sur le poeple outre les grantes dessuisdites. The lords and commons assembled in this present parliament, considering how our lord the king proposes, [col. b] with the advice and counsel of the lords, to strive in person against his enemies, as was declared by the chancellor at the opening of parliament, in the presence of the king himself and the said lords and commons, and was later declared more particularly by the same chancellor to the said commons in the chapter house at Westminster; and because it would be the first expedition of our said lord the king, to the honour of God and of our lord the king they grant to our same lord the king, for the defence of the kingdom and for keeping the sea and the marches of Scotland, two fifteenths, to be levied from and paid by the laity; that is to say one fifteenth at the feast of the Annunciation of Our Lady next [25 March 1385]; and the other fifteenth at the feast of the Nativity of St John then following [24 June 1385]: on the following conditions, namely that half of the last fifteenth granted at Salisbury on certain conditions be finally annulled and invalidated. And if it should happen that our lord the king does not strive in person against the said enemies, as described, or if a peace or truce be reached in the meantime, then the said last fifteenth which ought to be levied at the said feast of the Nativity of St John [24 June 1385], shall cease entirely, and no commission issued for levying the same. And that no other charge nor imposition be imposed anew on the people over and above the aforesaid grants.
[memb. 6]
11. Item, cum quedam lites et discordie nuper inter cancellarium et scolares universitatis Cantebr' et majorem et ballivos ejusdem ville super deputacione et deliberacione quarumdam mensurarum, videlicet busselli, dimidii busselli et peck, ac quorumdam proficuorum inde proveniencium, videlicet quatuor denariorum de bussello, et de dimidio bussello et peck secundum ratam, pro eo quod mensure et proficua predicta in carta et concessione domini regis eisdem cancellario et scolaribus nuper inde factis clare non expressabantur, suborte fuissent, dictus dominus rex volens lites et discordias hujusmodi pacificare et sedare, de avisamento prelatorum, procerum et magnatum sibi in presenti parliamento assistencium, intencionem suam in hac parte ex certa scientia sua sic declaravit; videlicet quod deputacio et deliberacio busselli, dimidii busselli et peck, tam in feriis et mercatis quam in portu et omnibus aliis locis infra villam predictam et suburbia ejusdem, ac eciam quatuor denarii de bussello hujusmodi, et de dimidio bussello et peck secundum ratam percepti et percipiendi; qui quidem quatuor denarii per ipsum majorem per nomen custume sive prestacionis indebite vendicabantur; necnon omnia alia proficua de mensuris illis proveniencia, ad ipsum cancellarium et successores suos, vigore et virtute carte et concessionis ipsius domini regis predictarum a tempore confeccionis earumdem, pertinent et pertinere debent, quodque major et communitas dicte ville nullum jus sive titulum ad mensuras hujusmodi ibidem a tempore concessionis predicte deputandas et deliberandas, seu dictos quatuor denarios de bussello, et de dimidio bussello et peck secundum ratam, a tempore predicto percipiendos ullatenus habuerunt. Et insuper, cum in dicta carta domini regis expressa non fit mencio per quem processum dictus cancellarius, et successores sui, vel eorum vicesgerentes, homines dicte ville coram se < venire > facere possent, ad inquisiciones de forstallatoribus et regratariis, ac de defectibus victualium faciendas, dictus dominus rex de avisamento predicto sic declaravit; videlicet quod cancellarius sive presidens dicte universitatis pro tempore existens, vel eorum vicesgerentes, summonere possint per ministros suos proprios homines dicte ville Cantebr' et suburbiorum ejusdem, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, ad veniendum et comparendum coram eis, et ad presentandum per eorum sacramentum tam de forstallatoribus et regratariis, ac carnibus et piscibus putridis, viciosis et alias incompetentibus, quam de aliis victualibus; et eos qui coram ipsis per summonicionem hujusmodi venire recusaverint punire per amerciamenta, per ministros suos proprios levanda, vel sicut cancellarius et scolares [p. iii-186][col. a] universitatis Oxon' hactenus fecerunt et faciunt in presenti. 11. Also, whereas certain disputes and disagreements have arisen recently between the chancellor and scholars of the university of Cambridge and the mayor and bailiffs of the same town concerning the estimation and reckoning of certain measures, namely bushels, half-bushels and pecks, and of certain revenues arising from them, namely four pence from the bushel and proportionate amounts from the half-bushel and peck, because the aforesaid measures and revenues were not clearly set out in the charter and grant of the lord king lately made to the same chancellor and scholars, the said lord king wishing to pacify and calm such disputes and disagreements, with the advice of the prelates, nobles and magnates attending the present parliament, thus declared his intention in the matter out of his certain knowledge: namely that the estimation and reckoning of bushels, half-bushels and pecks, both in fairs and markets, and at the gates and all other places within the aforesaid town and its suburbs, and also the four pence from each bushel, and from each half-bushel and peck proportionately, taken or to be taken; which four pence were unduly claimed by that mayor in the name of custom or prest; and also all other profits arising from those measures; pertain and ought to pertain to the chancellor and his successors, by force and virtue of the aforesaid charter and concession of this lord king from the time when the same was made, and that the mayor and commons of the said town had no right or title whatsoever to the estimation or reckoning of such measures in that place from the time of the aforesaid concession, nor to receive the said four pence from the bushel, or from the half-bushel and peck proportionately, from the aforesaid time. And further, since in the said charter of the lord king no express mention was made of the process by which the said chancellor and his successors, or their deputies, could cause the men of the said town to appear before them at inquests to be held into forestallings and regratings and defective victuals, the said lord king with the aforesaid advice declared thus; namely that the chancellor or president of the said university at the time, or their deputies, could summon through their own officers men of the said town of Cambridge and its suburbs, through whom the truth could best be known, to come and appear before them, and to present upon oath not only forestallings and regratings but also putrid meat and flesh unwholesome and otherwise unsuitable and other victuals; and to punish those who should refuse to appear before them in response to such summons by fines levied by their own officers, or as the chancellor and scholars [p. iii-186][col. a] of the university of Oxford have done in the past and do now.
12. Item, dominus rex, ad prosecutionem Roberti de Veer comitis Oxon', suggerentis eidem domino regi Walterum Sibille de London' ipsum comitem de manutenencia graviter diffamasse, precepit arestare prefatum Walterum in presenti parliamento, inde responsurum; qui quidem Walterus de precepto domini regis sic arestatus, et in parliamento ductus, allocutus fuit coram dicto domino rege, prelatis et dominis in eodem parliamento, de eo quod ipse prefatum comitem, parem regni, et camerarium regis, de manutenencia, ut premittitur, diffamaverat; referendo Johanni regi Castell' et Legionis, duci Lancastr', et avunculo regis, ac excellenciori et digniori persone regni post regem, quod idem comes quandam querelam habitam inter ipsum Walterum < et Nicholaum Twyford, chivaler, et Willelmum Coggeshale, chivaler, contra ipsum Walterum in tantum > manutenuerat, quod idem Walterus justiciam in hac parte propter manutenenciam ipsius comitis consequi non poterat. Et prefatus Walterus premissa protestacione corrigendi et emendandi si quid ipsum in tam excellenti curia improvide vel indecenter loqui contingeret, dixit quod dedicere non potuit quin dicto domino duci de dicta materia tetigisset, et quod materiam illam voluit < cum > protestacione predicta manifestius declarare. Unde dixit quod propter quasdam graves dissensiones et debatas inter ipsum et prefatos Nicholaum et Willelmum exortas ambe partes coram consilio domini regis fuerunt personaliter evocate; et auditis < ibidem > hinc inde earum racionibus et querelis, ac tacto inter cetera de quodam brevi de audiendo et terminando prefato Waltero, et de quadam speciali assisa prefatis Nicholao et Willelmo concedendis, tandem per dictum consilium dictum fuit utrique partium predictarum, < quod > ad communem legem prosequerentur, si sibi viderent expedire. Et nichilominus < uterque predictorum Nicholai et Willelmi habuit > postmodum quandam specialem assisam de materia supradicta, per quas < quidem speciales assisas > idem Walterus pro re valorem annuum octo solidorum non excedente in octingentis < libris > extitit condempnatus, ac quamplura bona et catalla sua asportata, et alia dampna et gravamina sibi per prefatos Nicholaum et Willelmum illata fuerunt; et hoc per manutenenciam ipsius comitis, prout supponebat. Et predictus comes tunc ibidem presens asseruit se de dicta manutenencia sic sibi per prefatum Walterum maliciose imposita innocentem fore penitus et immunem, et se inde omnibus viis et modis quibus curia considerare vellet optulit excusare; petendo quod idem Walterus haberet penam statuti contra diffamatores hujusmodi editi et provisi. Super quo, prefatus Walterus custodie commissus, et post triduum in parliamentum reductus gratie domini regis humiliter se submisit, asserendo pariter et affirmando quod non credebat, nec intendebat, dictum comitem in hac parte adeo offendisse: et supplicando dominis parliamenti, ut ad hujusmodi gratiam dicti domini regis, et benivolenciam dicti comitis captandas, manus vellent apponere adjutrices. Et super hoc quesitum est a prefato Waltero, si vellet accusacionem suam hujusmodi de dicto comite sic factam prosequi et probare. Et dixit quod non. Per quod consideratum est quod predictus Walterus super diffamacione predicta convincatur: et quod idem comes recuperet versus eum dampna sua, que ad quingentas marcas de avisamento dominorum sunt taxata. Et quod predictus Walterus committatur prisone domini regis, ibidem moraturus quousque tam eidem comiti de dampnis suis predictis, quam domino regi de fine et redempcione competentibus plenarie satisfecerit. 12. Also, the lord king, at the suit of Robert de Vere earl of Oxford, who had suggested to the same lord king that Walter Sibille of London had gravely defamed that earl of maintenance, ordered the aforementioned Walter to be arrested in the present parliament to answer to this; which Walter, having been arrested on the king's orders and brought to parliament, spoke before the said lord king, bishops and lords in the same parliament, of the maintenance of which he had accused the aforesaid earl, a peer of the realm and king's chamberlain; referring to John king of Castile and Leon, duke of Lancaster, and the king's uncle, and the most excellent and worthy person of the kingdom after the king, that the same earl maintained a certain cause moved between that Walter and Nicholas Twyford, knight, and William Coggeshale, knight, against Walter, so that he could not obtain justice in the matter because of the maintenance of the earl. And the aforementioned Walter correcting and amending the aforesaid protestation lest anything unintended or improper should happen to be uttered in so distinguished a court, said that he could not deny that the matter touched the said lord duke, and that he wished to explain it more fully with the aforesaid protestation. Whereupon he said that, because of certain grave dissensions and disputes arising between himself and the aforesaid Nicholas and William, both parties had been summoned in person before the council of the lord king; and the arguments and complaints on both sides having been heard there, and a certain writ of oyer and terminer granted to the aforementioned Walter, and a certain special assize granted to the aforementioned Nicholas and William having been touched on, amongst other things, at length the said council informed both parties thereon that they should proceed at common law, if it seemed good to them. And nevertheless both the aforesaid Nicholas and William later obtained a certain special assize on the aforesaid matter, by which special assizes the same William was fined eight hundred pounds for something worth no more than eight shillings a year, and many of his possessions and chattels were carried off, and other losses and injuries suffered through the said Nicholas and William; and this was by the maintenance of the said earl, as he supposed. And the aforesaid earl then present in the same place declared himself completely innocent and blameless of the said maintenance wickedly alleged against him by the said Walter, and said that he would exonerate himself thereof by any ways or means the court willed; requesting that the same Walter suffer the penalty included in and provided by the statute against defamers. Whereupon the aforementioned Walter having been committed to prison, and having been led back to parliament after three days, humbly threw himself on the king's grace, asserting and equally affirming that he did not believe nor think that the said earl had thus offended in the matter, and begging the lords of parliament, in order to gain the grace of the said lord king and the goodwill of the said earl, to lend him their support. And thereupon it was asked of the said Walter if he wished to pursue or prove his accusation thus made against the said earl. And he said that he did not. As a result of which it was concluded that the aforesaid Walter should be convicted of the aforesaid defamation, and that the same earl should recover damages from him, which were assessed at fifty marks on the advice of the lords. And that the aforesaid Walter should be thrown into the lord king's prison, to remain there until the same earl had been fully compensated for his aforesaid damages, and the lord king satisfied with a suitable fine and ransom.
13. Memorandum insuper quod Alicia que fuit uxor Willelmi de Wyndesore, chivaler, exhibuit quandam peticionem suam in presenti parliamento, in hec verba: 13. Be it remembered moreover that Alice who was the wife of William Windsor, knight, exhibited a certain petition in this present parliament, in these words:
[col. b]
A tresexcellent et tresredoute seignour nostre seignour le roi, et as seignours del parlement, supplie humblement Alice qe fuist la femme William de Wyndesore, chivaler, qe plese a vostre hautesse, de vostre grace rial, qe l'estatut et ordinance queux furent faitz ou ordenez a Westm' en temps de vostre tresnoble aiel, sur la dite Alice par noun de Alice Perrers, et puis en vostre parlement tenuz a Westm' al quinseyne de Seynt Michel, l'an de vostre regne primer, les ditz estatut et ordinance furont declarez, et execucion ent en vostre temps agarde sur la dite Alice, et sur autres queux furont feoffes al oeps du dite Alice, (fn. iii-184-45-1) en cest present parlement soient voidez < en > tout, et pur voidez declarez, et tenuz pur nulle, et la dite Alice et les autres feoffez queux furont oustez a cause suisdite soient restituitz a lour possessions dont eux furont oustez, et restorez enterement a lour primer estat en qe mayns q'ils soient, noun obstantz l'estatut, ordinance, declaracion ou execucion suisditz, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charite. To the most excellent and most redoubtable lord, our lord the king, and to the lords of parliament, Alice who was wife of William Windsor, knight, humbly requests: that it may please your highness, of your royal grace, that the statute and ordinance made or ordained at Westminster in the time of your most noble grandfather concerning the said Alice, by the name of Alice Perrers, and later declared in your parliament held at Westminster on the quinzaine of Michaelmas in the first year of your reign, execution of which was ordered thereon in your time upon the said Alice and others who were feoffees to the use of the said Alice, (fn. iii-184-45-1) be completely annulled in this parliament and declared invalid and held at naught, and the said Alice and the other feoffees who were ousted for the aforesaid reason be restored to the possessions from which they were ousted and fully restored to their former condition, in whosoever's hands they be, notwithstanding the aforesaid statute, ordinance, declaration or execution, for God and by way of charity.
Tenor vero responsionis et indorsamenti ejusdem peticionis sequitur, in hec verba: The true tenor of the answer and endorsement to the same petition follows in these words:
Nostre seignour le roi, eu bone deliberacion sur la requeste compris deinz ceste peticion, voet et grant, par avys et assent des prelatz, seignours et communes en plein parlement, a la suppliante, qe l'ordinance et estatut par queux la dite suppliante estoit bannyz hors du roialme, et ses terres, chateux, tenementz et possessions, sibien en demeigne come en reversion, forfaitz a nostre seignour le roi, soient repellez, et la dite suppliante hablee et restitut a la paix et commune loi de la terre; issint toutes voies qe cest repelle, habilitacion, et restitucion, portent force et tiegnent lieu tant soulement desore enavant, et qe l'ordinance et estatutz suisditz estoisent entierment en lour effect et virtue, tanq'al temps de ceste repelle: et qe toutes maneres feffementz, douns et grantz, alienations et estatz des terres, tenemenz, rentes, reversions, possessions et chateux, et toutes autres choses faitz devant le temps de cest repelle, par force et virtue del ordinance et estatut suisditz, estoisent toutdys et demorgent avant en lour force et virtue, sanz estre empeschez, defaitz, anientiz ou emblemys en nulle manere, par cause ou colour del repelle, habilitacion ou restitution avantditz. Et accorde est et assentuz en parlement qe les ditz repelle, habilitacion et restitucion, ove les declaracions ensuantz, soient tenuz pur estatut. Our lord the king, having thoroughly considered the request contained in this petition, wills and grants, by the advice and assent of the prelates, lords and commons in full parliament, to the supplicant, that the ordinance and statute by which the said supplicant was banished from the realm and her lands, chattels, tenements and possessions, both in demesne and in reversion, forfeited to our lord the king, be repealed, and the said supplicant enabled and restored to the peace and common law of the land; provided always that this repeal, rehabilitation and restitution have force and take effect only from this time onwards, and that the aforesaid ordinance and statutes have entirely kept their force and effect until the time of this repeal: and that all manner of enfeoffments, gifts and grants, alienations and estates of lands, tenements, rents, reversions, possessions and chattels, and all other things made before the time of this repeal by force and virtue of the aforesaid ordinance and statutes do stay and remain forever in force and virtue, without being obstructed, undone, annulled or impaired in any way by cause or colour of the aforesaid repeal, rehabilitation or restitution. And it is agreed and assented in parliament that the said repeal, rehabilitation and restitution, together with the following declarations, be taken as statute.
Et sciendum est quod concordatum fuit in parliamento quod revocacio, habilitacio et restitucio predicte, una cum declaracionibus sequentibus, teneantur pro statuto, sicut predictum est. And be it known that it was agreed in parliament that the aforesaid revocation, rehabilitation and restitution, together with the following declarations, were to be held as statute, as is said above.
15. [sic: read '14'] Memorandum etiam quod in parliamento tento apud Novam Sarum, die veneris proximo ante festum Sancti Marci Evangeliste, anno regni regis Ricardi secundi post conqestum septimo, prior de Monte Acuto exhibuit quandam peticionem suam in eodem parliamento, in hec verba: (fn. iii-184-54-1) 14. Be it remembered moreover that in the parliament held at Salisbury on the Friday next after the feast of St Mark the Evangelist in the seventh year of the reign of King Richard, the second since the conquest [29 April 1384], the prior of Montacute showed a certain petition in the same parliament in these words: (fn. iii-184-54-1)
A nostre tresredoute seignour le roy, et a ses nobles seignours en cest present parlement, monstre le priour de Montagu, come Richard Seymor, cousyn et heir Richard Lovel, suit un brief de scire facias devers le dit priour en bank nostre dit seignour le roy, retornable a la quinszeine de Pasqe l'an sisme nostre < dit > seignour le roi q'orest, d'avoir execucion del manoir de Tyntenhull' ove les appurtenantz hors d'un fyn qe se leva en la court le roi Edward besaiel nostre dit seignour le roy q'orest, a les oeptaves de Seint Michel l'an du regne le roi Edward unszime, devant monsire William de Bereford et ses compaignons adonqes justices de commune bank, entre le dit Richard Lovell' et Muriele sa femme pleignantz, et meistre Richard [p. iii-187][col. a] de Clare et meistre Roger de Blokesworth' deforceantz, de dit manoir, (fn. iii-184-56-1) et autres maneres proces tant suy sur le dit brief, qe execucion de dit manoir de Tyntenhull ove les appurtenances est agarde a dit Richard countre le dit priour, come en le record ent fait en le dit bank demurant pleinement appiert; en quiel record diverses errours y sont, come le dit priour serra prest d'assigner. To our most redoubtable lord the king and his noble lords in this parliament, the prior of Montacute shows that whereas Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of Richard Lovell, sued a writ of scire facias against the said prior in the bench of our said lord the king, returnable on the quinzaine of Easter in the sixth year of the said lord the present king [6 April 1383], to have execution of the manor of Tintinhull together with appurtenances, out of a fine which was levied in the court of King Edward, great-grandfather of our said lord the present king, on the octave of Michaelmas in the eleventh year of the reign of King Edward [7 October 1317], before Sir William Bereford and his colleagues then justices of the Common Bench, between the said Richard Lovell and Muriel his wife, plaintiffs, and master Richard [p. iii-187][col. a] de Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, deforciants, of the said manor, (fn. iii-184-56-1) and other manner of process thus sued on the said writ, that execution of the said manor of Tintinhull with the appurtenances was awarded to the said Richard against the said prior, as fully appears in the record made thereon remaining in the said bench; in which record there are various errors, as the said prior will be ready to show.
Par qoy supplie le dit priour qe ordene soit en cest present parlement qe certeins gentz de conseil nostre dit seignour le roi soient assignez, devant queux le dit record soit envoie, et qe eux eient plein poair et auctorite par force de mesme l'ordenance d'oier l'assignement des errours avauntditz, et de faire garnir le dit Richard Seymor d'estre devaunt eux a certein jour par eux a assigner, d'oier l'assignement des ditz < errours, > et qe eux poent corriger et redresser mesmes les errours, et droiturel juggement ent rendre, et qe nul proteccion soit alowe pur le dit Richard Seymor en la dite suite; eiant regard a le defaute q'est ore trove en parlement, et al delay qe le dit priour ad euz pur defaute de bone entree del plee; et eiant regard qe nostre seignour le roi ad grant interesse qe celle chose soit redresse en hast, a cause qe pur l'ouster de l'eide et le recoverir del manoir, le roi est ouste de les fees et avowesons autre foitz expressement reservez par sa patente, et qe l'esglise de Mountagu ad este seisi de dit manoir de Tyntenhull' de temps le roy Henry [I], fitz au roy William primer, come par chartres des roys appiert overtement tanqe al temps de dit juggement, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charite. (fn. iii-184-57-1) For which reason the said prior requests that it be ordered in this parliament that certain men of the council of our said lord the king be appointed, before whom the said record be sent, and that they have full power and authority by force of the same ordinance to hear the attribution of the aforesaid errors, and to warn the said Richard Seymour to appear before them on a certain day to be appointed by them, to hear the attribution of the said errors, and that they be able to correct and redress the same errors and pass a rightful judgment, and that no protection be allowed for the said Richard Seymour in the said suit; bearing in mind the default now found in parliament and the delay which the said prior has suffered for want of a proper entry of the plea; and bearing in mind that our lord the king has a great interest in this matter being swiftly redressed, because by the ousting from the aid and the recovery of the manor, the king is ousted from the fees and advowsons once expressly reserved by his patent, and that the church of Montacute has been seised of the said manor of Tintinhull from the time of King Henry [I], son of William I, until the time of the said judgment, as fully appears in the king's charters; for God and as a work of charity. (fn. iii-184-57-1)
Et dicta peticione in eodem parliamento lecta, de assensu parliamenti consideratum fuit quod predictus prior haberet breve de scire facias factum et fundatum in suo casu, retornabile in proximo parliamento, ad scire faciendum prefato Ricardo Seymor essendi ad dictum proximum parliamentum in quocumque loco infra regnum Anglie tentum foret, ad audiendum errores quos per prefatum priorem in recordo et processu predictis fore ostendi sive allegari contingeret, et ad faciendum ulterius et recipiendum quod per legem terre adjudicari contingeret in hac parte. Et quod recordum et processus predicta cum omnibus ea tangentibus essent in dicto proximo parliamento ex causa supradicta quodque nulla proteccio que per dictum Ricardum tunc fuit, aut extunc foret, per fictam causam impetrata allocaretur in illa querela ullo modo. Subsequentique summonito parliamento tenendo apud Westm' in crastino Sancti Martini tunc proximo futuro, prefatus prior prosecutus fuit, et habuit dictum breve de scire facias super materia predicta directum vicecomiti Somers' retornabile in eodem parliamento sic tenendo apud Westm' ad predictum crastinum Sancti Martini. Et modo in isto eodem parliamento tento apud Westm' in crastino predicto Johannes Strech vicecomes Somers' retornavit breve predictum, cujus quidem brevis tenor sequitur, in hec verba: And the said petition having been read in the same parliament, it was decided with the assent of parliament that the aforesaid prior should have a writ of scire facias made and founded upon his case, returnable at the next parliament, to instruct the aforementioned Richard Seymour to be at the said next parliament wheresoever that should be held in the kingdom of England to hear the errors which would be shown or alleged by the said prior in the aforesaid record and process, and also to do and receive whatsoever should be adjudged in this matter by the law of the land. And that the aforesaid record and process with all other things relating to them be available in the said next parliament for the aforesaid reason, and that no protection obtained by the said Richard or yet to be obtained by pretence be allowed in this case in any way. And subsequently, a parliament being summoned to be held at Westminster on the morrow of Martinmas next following, the aforesaid prior sued and had the said writ of scire facias on the aforesaid matter sent to the sheriff of Somerset, returnable in the same parliament thus to be held at Westminster on the morrow of Martinmas [12 November 1384]. And now in the same parliament thus held at Westminster on the aforesaid morrow, John Stretch, sheriff of Somerset returned the aforesaid writ, the tenor of which follows in these words:
The following writ and return as far as 'per Johannem Fauconer et Robertum Coker' are also transcribed on the second slip of parchment stitched to m.6. The versions are identical except that on the slip 'per peticionem de parliamento' is added at the end of the writ.
[15.] Ricardus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie et Francie, et dominus Hibernie, vicecomiti Somers', salutem. Quia in recordo et processu, ac eciam in redicione judicii loquele que fuit coram nobis, per breve nostrum scire facias inter Ricardum Seymor, consanguineum et heredem Ricardi Lovell', et priorem de Monte Acuto, de manerio de Tyntenhulle cum pertinentiis error intervenit manifestus, ad grave dampnum ipsius prioris sicut ex querela sua accepimus, nos errorem, si quis fuerit, modo debito corrigi, et partibus predictis plenam et celerem justiciam fieri volentes in hac parte, tibi precipimus quod scire facias prefato Ricardo quod sit coram nobis in parliamento nostro apud Westm' in crastino Sancti Martini proximo futuro, ad audiendum ibidem recordum et processum predicta si sibi viderit expedire, necnon errores quos per prefatum priorem in recordo et processu predictis fore allegari contigerit, et ad faciendum ulterius et recipiendum quod curia nostra consideraverit in hac parte. Et habeas ibi nomina illorum per quos [col. b] ei scire feceris, et hoc breve. Teste meipso apud Westm', .xv. die Octobris, anno regni nostri octavo. 15. Richard, by the grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to the sheriff of Somerset, greeting. Whereas in the record and process, and also in the rendering of judgment in the case which was before us, by our writ of scire facias between Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of Richard Lovell, and the prior of Montacute, concerning the manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, there is manifest error, to the grievous injury of this prior, of which we have received his complaint, and we, wishing duly to correct the error, if any there be, and to do full and speedy justice to the aforesaid parties in the matter, order you to instruct the aforementioned Richard to appear before us in our parliament at Westminster on the morrow of Martinmas next, there to hear the aforesaid record and process if it seems expedient, and also the errors to be alleged by the said prior in the aforesaid record and process, and further to do and receive whatsoever our court decides in the matter. And you shall have there the names of those by whom [col. b] you caused him to be notified, together with this writ. Witnessed myself at Westminster, 15 October, in the eighth year of our reign [1384].
Tenor returni et indorsamenti brevis illius sequitur, in hec verba: The tenor of the return and endorsement of the writ follows, in these words:
Ego Johannes Strecch' vicecomes scire feci Ricardo Seymor, consanguineo et heredi Ricardi Lovell', quod sit coram domino rege in parliamento suo apud Westm' in crastino Sancti Martini proximo futuro ad audiendum recordum et processum prout istud breve requirit, necnon errores quos per priorem de Monte Acuto in recordo et processu predictis fore allegari contigerit, et ad faciendum ulterius et recipiendum quod curia domini regis consideraverit in hac parte, per Johannem Fauconer et Robertum Coker. I John Stretch, sheriff, made known to Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of Richard Lovell, that he should be before the lord king in his parliament at Westminster on the morrow of Martinmas next [12 November 1384] to hear the record and process as this writ requires, and also the errors which would be alleged by the prior of Montacute to be in the aforesaid record and process, and also to do and receive whatsoever the court of the lord king would decide in the matter, by John Fauconer and Robert Coker.
The following writ and return as far as 'prout istud breve requirit' are to be found on the first slip of parchment stitched to m.6.
Ricardus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie et Francie, et dominus Hibernie, dilecto sibi in Christo abbati de Muchelneye, salutem. Sciatis quod dedimus vobis potestatem recipiendi attornatos prioris de Monte Acuto, quos coram vobis loco suo attornare voluerit ad prosequendum coram nobis in parliamento nostro apud Westm' in crastino Sancti Martini proximo futuro errores quos in recordo et processu, ac etiam in reddicione judicii loquele que fuit coram nobis per breve nostrum scire facias inter Ricardum Seymor, consanguineum et heredem Ricardi Lovell', et prefatum priorem, de manerio de Tyntenhull cum pertinentiis idem prior intervenisse asserit, sicut ex querela sua accepimus. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod cum attornatos illos receperitis, nobis de nominibus eorundem attornatorum in parliamento nostro predicto sub sigillo vestro distincte et aperte constare feceritis, remittentes nobis hoc breve. Teste meipso apud Westm', .xvi.die Octobris, anno regni nostri octavo. Richard, by grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to his beloved in Christ, the abbot of Muchelney, greeting. Know that we have given you power to receive the attorneys of the prior of Montacute, whom he wishes to represent him before you to pursue before us in our parliament at Westminster on the morrow of Martinmas next [12 November 1384] the errors which the same prior claims to be present in the record and process and also in the judgment rendered in the cause which came before us by our writ of scire facias between Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of Richard Lovell, and the aforementioned prior, concerning the manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, according to his plea which we have received. And therefore we order you that when you have received those attorneys you shall clearly and distinctly notify us of the names of the same attorneys in our aforesaid parliament under your seal, returning this writ to us. Witnessed myself at Westminster, 16 October, in the eighth year of our reign [1384].
Holm'. Holme.
Ego Willelmus abbas de Muchelnye vobis significo quod prior de Monte Acuto venit coram me, et attornavit loco suo Radulphum priorem de Barnestaple, vel Willelmum Crich' commonachum ejusdem prioratis de Monte Acuto, vel Johannem Fitelton, vel Johannem Janet, ad lucrandum vel perdendum versus Ricardum Seymor, consanguineum et heredem Ricardi Lovell', de placito terre, unde scire facias, prout istud breve requirit. I, William, abbot of Muchelney, inform you that the prior of Montacute appeared before me and appointed as his attorneys Ralph, prior of Barnstaple, or William Creech monk of the said priory of Montacute, or John Fitelton, or John Janet, to win or lose against Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of Richard Lovell, in the plea of land, whereof the scire facias, as that writ requires.
Et super hoc, prefato priore per Johannem de Fitelton', attornatum suum, et predicto Ricardo Seymor in propria persona sua, per premunicionem hujusmodi virtute dicti brevis de scire facias sibi factam, in eodem parliamento ad dictum crastinum comparentibus, preceptum fuit per dominum regem et dominos in eodem parliamento, ad peticionem predicti prioris, Roberto Tresilian, < capitali justiciario ipsius > domini regis, quod recordum et processum predicta, cum omnibus ea tangentibus, in custodia sua existentia, in dictum parliamentum deferret ex causa supradicta. Qui quidem Robertus detulit in eodem parliamento recordum et processum predicta, cum omnibus ea tangentibus. Quod quidem recordum sequitur, in hec verba: And thereupon the said prior, by John Fitelton, his attorney, and the aforesaid Richard Seymour in his own person, appearing in the same parliament on the said morrow by virtue of the summons made in the said writ of scire facias, the lord king and lords in the same parliament, at the petition of the aforesaid prior, ordered Robert Tresilian, chief justice of the lord king, to bring to the said parliament for the aforesaid purpose the record and process and all relevant matter in his keeping. Which Robert brought to that parliament the aforesaid record and process, together with all other relevant matters. Which record follows in these words:
[memb. 5]
Somers'. Somerset.
Placita coram domino rege apud Westm' de termino Sancti Michaelis, anno regni regis Ricardi secundi septimo, rotulo .xxxij. Alias scilicet termino Sancte Trinitatis, anno regni regis Ricardi secundi quinto. Dominus rex mandavit dilecto et fideli suo Roberto Tresilian, capitali justiciario, etc., breve suum clausum, in hec verba: Pleas before the lord king at Westminster in Michaelmas term in the seventh year of the reign of King Richard II [9 October - 29 November 1383], in roll 23. Otherwise, namely from Trinity term in the fifth year of the reign of King Richard II [19 June - 10 July 1381]. The lord king directed to his beloved and faithful Robert Tresilian, chief justice, etc., his writ close, in these words:
Ricardus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie et Francie, et dominus Hibernie, dilecto et fideli suo Roberto Tresilian, capitali justiciario, salutem. Tenorem pedis cujusdam finis levati in curia domini Edwardi filii regis Edwardi nuper regis Anglie, progenitoris nostri, anno regni ejusdem Edwardi filii regis Edwardi undecimo, coram Willelmo de Bereford et sociis suis tunc justiciariis ejusdem Edwardi filii regis Edwardi de banco, per breve [p. iii-188][col. a] ejusdem Edwardi filii regis Edwardi inter Ricardum Lovell' et Muriellam' uxorem ejus, querentes, et magistrum Ricardum de Clare et magistrum Rogerum de Blokerworth, deforciantes, de maneriis de Blakeford', Southbarewe, Northbarewe, Cherleton' Makerell', Tyntenhull' et Prestelee, cum pertinentiis, vobis mittimus sub pede sigilli nostri, mandantes, ut inspecto tenore pedis finis predicti, ulterius, ad prosecucionem Ricardi Seymor consanguinei et heredis predicti Ricardi Lovell', inde fieri facias quod de jure et secundum legem et consuetudinem regni nostri Anglie fuerit faciendum. Teste meipso apud Westm', .xx. die Junii, anno regni nostri quinto. 'Tenor pedis finis de quo in brevi predicto fit mencio sequitur, in hec verba: Richard, by grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to his beloved and faithful Robert Tresilian, chief justice, greeting. The tenor of a certain foot of fine levied in the court of the lord Edward [II], son of Edward [I] late king of England, our progenitor, in the eleventh year of the reign of the same Edward son of King Edward, in the presence of William Bereford and his colleagues, then justices of the Bench of the same Edward, son of King Edward, by writ [p. iii-188][col. a] of the same Edward son of King Edward, between Richard Lovell and Muriel his wife, plaintiffs, and master Richard de Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, deforciants, concerning the manors of Blackford, South Barrow, North Barrow, Charlton Mackrell, Tintinhull and Prestley, with appurtenances, we send you under our half-seal, ordering that having inspected the tenor of the aforesaid foot of fine, at the suit of Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of the aforesaid Richard Lovell, you shall do therein that which ought to be done by right and according to the law and custom of our kingdom of England. Witnessed myself at Westminster, 20 June, in the fifth year of our reign [1382]. The tenor of the foot of fine of which mention is made in the aforesaid writ follows in these words:
Hec est finalis concordia facta in curia domini regis apud Westm', in octabis Sancti Michaelis, anno regni regis Edwardi filii regis Edwardi undecimo, coram Willelmo de Bereford, Gilberto de Roubury, Johanne de Benstede, Johanne Bacun et Johanne de Mutford, justiciariis, et aliis domini regis fidelibus tunc ibi presentibus, inter Ricardum Lovell' et Muriellam uxorem ejus, querentes, per Thomam de Croukern positum loco ipsius Murielle ad lucrandum vel perdendum, et magistrum Ricardum de Clare et magistrum Rogerum de Blokerworth, deforciantes, de maneriis de Blakeford, Southbarewe, Northbarewe, Cherleton' Makerell, Tyntenhull' et Prestele, cum pertinentiis, unde placitum convencionis summonitum fuit inter eos in eadem curia; scilicet quod predictus Ricardus Lovell' recognovit predicta maneria cum pertinentiis esse jus ipsorum magistri Ricardi de Clare et magistri Rogeri, ut illa que iidem magister Ricardus et magister Rogerus habent de dono predicti Ricardi Lovell'. Et pro hac recognicione, fine et concordia, iidem magister Ricardus et magister Rogerus concesserunt predictis Ricardo Lovell' et Murielle predicta maneria cum pertinentiis; et illa eis reddiderunt in eadem curia; habenda et tenenda eisdem Ricardo Lovell' et Murielle, et heredibus ipsius Ricardi, scilicet predicta maneria de Southbarewe, et Northbarewe, et Tyntenhull', cum pertinentiis, de domino rege et heredibus suis, et predicta maneria de Blakeford, Cherleton' Makerell' et Prestele, cum pertinentiis, de capitalibus dominis feodi illius, per servitia que ad predicta maneria pertinent imperpetuum. Et hec concordia quo ad predicta maneria de Southbarewe, Northbarewe et Tyntenhull', cum pertinentiis, facta fuit per preceptum ipsius < domini > regis. (fn. iii-184-80-1) This is the final concord made in the court of the lord king at Westminster, on the octave of Michaelmas in the eleventh year of the reign of King Edward son of King Edward, in the presence of William Bereford, Gilbert Rothbury, John Benstead, John Bacon and John Mutford, justices, and other faithful men of the lord king there present, between Richard Lovell and Muriel his wife, plaintiffs, with Thomas Crewkerne representing that Muriel to win or lose, and master Richard de Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, deforciants, concerning the manors of Blackford, South Barrow, North Barrow, Charlton Mackrell, Tintinhull and Prestley, with appurtenances, whence a plea of contract was summoned between them in the same court; namely that the aforesaid Richard Lovell acknowledged the aforesaid manors with appurtenances to be the right of this master Richard de Clare and master Roger, as those which the same master Richard and master Roger had by gift of the aforesaid Richard Lovell. And for this acknowledgement, fine and agreement, the same master Richard and master Roger granted to the aforesaid Richard Lovell and Muriel the aforesaid manors with appurtenances, and rendered them to them in the same court; to have and to hold by the same Richard Lovell and Muriel and the heirs of Richard, namely the aforesaid manors of South Barrow, North Barrow, and Tintinhull, with appurtenances, of the lord king and his heirs, and the aforesaid manors of Blackford, Charlton Mackrell and Prestley, with appurtenances, of the chief lord of that fee, by the service pertaining to the aforesaid manors in perpetuity. And this concord relating to the aforesaid manors of South Barrow, North Barrow and Tintinhull, with appurtenances, was made by order of the lord king himself. (fn. iii-184-80-1)
[editorial note: Somers'.] [editorial note: Somerset.]
Postea ad sectam Ricardi Seymor, asserentis se fore consanguineum et heredem predicti Ricardi Lovell, videlicet filius Murielle, filie Jacobi filii predicti Ricardi Lovell' et quod predicti Ricardus Lovell' et Muriella mortui sunt, et quod ipse execucionem de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' nondum est assecutus, et quod prior de Monte Acuto predictum manerium de Tyntenhull', cum pertinentiis, post mortem predictorum Ricardi Lovell' et Murielle ingressus fuit, et illud tunc tenuit et occupavit contra formam finis predicti: et petit execucionem de < predicto > manerio de Tyntenhull' juxta formam finis predicti, etc. Per quod preceptum fuit vicecomiti Somers' quod per probos, etc., scire faceret prefato priori quod esset coram domino rege a die Pasche ultimo preterito in .xv. dies ubicumque, etc., ad ostendum si quid pro se haberet, vel dicere sciret, quare predictus Ricardus Seymor, consanguineus et heres predicti Ricardi Lovell' in forma predicta execucionem de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis versus eum habere non deberet. Et ulterius, etc. Idem dies datus fuit predicto Ricardo Seymor. Ad quem diem coram domino rege venit predictus Ricardus Seymor per Johannem de Hulton' attornatum suum. Et vicecomes retornavit quod scire fecit prefato priori quod esset coram domino rege ad prefatum terminum ad ostendum secundum formam brevis predicti, et ulterius facturum et recepturum quod curia domini regis consideraverit in hac parte, per Willelmum Atte More et Ricardum Grene: qui quidem prior sic premunitus in propria persona sua venit. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor, ut supra, petiit execucionem de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull', cum pertinentiis, etc. Et predictus prior dixit quod predictus Ricardus Seymor, per nomen Ricardi de Sancto Mauro, chivaler, tulit quoddam [col. b] breve de recto versus predictum priorem, per nomen Francisci prioris de Monte Acuto, de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull', retornabile coram justiciariis domini regis de banco in crastino Sancti Martini, anno regni domini regis nunc sexto. Ad quod breve idem Ricardus Seymor ad tunc comparuit, et idem prior essoniatus fuit, et habuit diem per essonium suum usque a die Pasche in tres septimanas tunc proximo sequento. Et quod predictum breve de scire facias perquisitum fuit pendente predicto brevi de recto, quod fuit de altiori natura, etc., et peciit judicium de brevi de scire facias, etc. Et protulit tunc in curia regis coram rege tenorem dicti brevis de recto, simul cum tenore irrotulamenti de essonia predicta inde habiti per cancellarium domini regis per manus Johannis de Waltham custodis rotulorum in < cancellaria, > etc., in eadem curia missi, que premissa testantur, etc., quorum brevis, recordi et processus tenores sequntur inferius. Tenor videlicet brevis, in hec verba: Later, at the suit of Richard Seymour, claiming to be the kinsman and heir of the aforesaid Richard Lovell, namely the son of Muriel daughter of James son of the aforesaid Richard Lovell, and that the aforesaid Richard Lovell and Muriel were dead, and he had not yet had execution of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull, and that the prior of Montacute had entered the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull, with appurtenances, after the death of the aforesaid Richard Lovell and Muriel, and then held and occupied it contrary to the form of the aforesaid fine: and he sought execution of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull according to the form of the aforesaid fine. As a result of which the sheriff of Somerset was ordered that through good men, etc., he instruct the aforementioned prior to appear before the lord king within fifteen days of the day of Easter last [6 April 1383], wheresoever, etc., to show whether he had anything to say as to why the aforesaid Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of Richard Lovell, ought not to have the execution of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances against him in the aforesaid form. And further, etc. And the same day was given to the aforesaid Richard Seymour. On which day the aforesaid Richard Seymour appeared before the lord king through John Hulton, his attorney. And the sheriff returned that he had notified the aforementioned prior to appear before the lord king at the said time to show according to the form of the aforesaid writ, and also to do and receive whatsoever the court of the lord king decided in the matter, by William Atte More and Richard Green: which prior thus summoned appeared in person. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour, as mentioned above, sought execution of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, etc. And the said prior said that the said Richard Seymour, by the name of Richard de Sancto Mauro, knight, brought a certain [col. b] writ of right against the said prior, by the name of Francis, prior of Montacute, for the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull, returnable before the lord king's justices of the Bench on the morrow of Martinmas in the sixth year of the reign of the present lord king [12 November 1382]. To which writ the same Richard Seymour then appeared, and the same prior was essoined, and had a day for his essoin until three weeks from Easter [12 April 1383] and that the aforesaid writ of scire facias was sought pending the aforesaid writ of right, which was of a higher nature, etc., and he sought judgment concerning the writ of scire facias, etc. And he then proffered in the king's court before the king the tenor of the said writ of right, together with the tenor of the enrolment of the aforesaid essoin had thereon from the lord king's chancellor by the hand of John Waltham keeper of the rolls in the chancery, etc., submitted in the same court, as witnessed by the foregoing, etc., the tenors of which writ, record, and process follow below. The tenor of the writ is, namely, in these words:
Ricardus, Dei gracia, rex Anglie et Francie et dominus Hibernie, vicecomiti Somers', salutem. Precipe Francisco priori de Monte Acuto quod juste et sine dilacione reddat Ricardo de Sancto Mauro, chivaler, manerium de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis, quod clamat esse jus et hereditatem suam, et tenere de nobis in capite: et unde queritur quod predictus < prior > ei injuste deforciavit. Et nisi fecerit, et predictus Ricardus fecerit te securum de clameo suo prosequendo, tunc summoneas per bonos summonitores predictum priorem quod sit coram justiciariis nostris apud Westm' in crastino Sancti Martini ostensurus quare non fecerit. Et habeas ibi summonitores, et hoc breve. Teste meipso apud Westm' .xiiij. die Octobris, anno regni nostri sexto. Richard, by grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to the sheriff of Somerset, greeting. Order Francis, prior of Montacute, that justly and without delay he return to Richard de Sancto Mauro, knight, the manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, which he claims to be his right and inheritance, and to hold of us in chief: and from which he complains the aforesaid prior unjustly ejected him. And unless he does so, and the aforesaid Richard gives surety of his claim pursued, then you shall summon by good summoners the aforesaid prior to appear before our justices on the morrow of Martinmas [12 November 1382] to explain why he has not done so. And you shall have there the summoners and this writ. Witnessed by myself at Westminster, 14 October, in the sixth year of our reign [1382].
Et tenor recordi et processus inde, in hec verba: And the tenor of the record and process follow in these words:
Somers'. Non summonitus per precipe in capite. Somerset. Not summoned by writ of precipe in capite.
Essonia capta apud Westm', coram Roberto Bealknap' et sociis suis, justiciariis domini regis de banco, < de > crastino Sancti Martini, anno regnorum Ricardi regis Anglie et Francie sexto, rotulo secundo. Franciscus prior de Monte Acuto versus Ricardum de Sancto Mauro, chivaler, de placito terre per Johannem Davy, a die Pasche in tres septimanas afforciando, unde ut prius petiit judicium de predicto brevi de scire facias, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor protestando, dixit quod ipse non cognovit quod ipse tulit aliquod tale breve de recto versus predictum priorem de manerio predicto: et ulterius dixit quod per tenores brevis, recordi et processus predictorum non constat quod idem Ricardus Seymor ad breve predictum aliquando comparuit, nec quod breve predictum adtunc pendebat, unde peciit judicium et execucionem, etc. Et quia per tenores brevis et recordi predictorum hic missos non constabat curia quod predictus Ricardus Seymor ad < breve > predictum aliquando comparuit, nec quod breve predictum adtunc pendebat, quia videtur curie quod predictum breve de scire facias manuteneri potest, racionibus et allegacionibus predictis non obstantibus, dictum est prefato priori quod ulterius respondeat, etc. Qui quidem prior dixit quod dominus Edwardus nuper rex Anglie, avus domini regis nunc, de avisamento parliamenti sui, nuper seisire fecit in manus suas omnes possessiones prioratuum alienigenarum in Anglie de potestate Francie existentium, tenendas in manu sua quamdiu guerra inter ipsum tunc regem et adversarios suos de Francie durare contigerit; et, inter alia, prioratus de Monte Acuto una cum omnibus possessionibus suis seisitus fuit in manus ipsius Edwardi nuper regis, etc., ex causa predicta; qui quidem Edwardus rex, etc., postea per litteras suas patentes, quas idem prior protulit hic in curia que sequuntur, in hec verba: Essoins received at Westminster in the presence of Robert Bealknap and his colleagues, justices of the King's Bench, on the morrow of Martinmas in the sixth year of the reign of Richard king of England and France [12 November 1382], in the second roll. Francis, prior of Montacute, against Richard de Sancto Mauro, knight, in the plea of land by John Davy, to be afforced within three weeks of Easter [12 April 1383], wherein as above he sought judgment upon the aforesaid writ of scire facias, etc. And the said Richard Seymour, protesting, said that he was not aware that he had brought any such writ of right against the aforesaid prior concerning the aforesaid manor: and further he said that from the tenors of the said writ, record and process it did not seem that the same Richard Seymour had at any time appeared in answer to the aforesaid writ, nor that the said writ was yet pending, for which reason he sought judgment and execution, etc. And because by the tenor of the aforesaid writ and record submitted here it did not seem to the court that the aforesaid Richard Seymour had ever appeared in answer to the aforesaid writ, nor that the aforesaid writ was yet pending, because it appeared to the court that the said writ of scire facias could be maintained, notwithstanding the aforesaid reasons and allegations, it was said to the aforementioned prior that he should answer further, etc. Which prior said that lord Edward [III], late king of England, grandfather of the present lord king, with the advice of his parliament, formerly caused to be taken into his hands all the possessions of alien priories in England being in the power of France, to be held in his hand for as long as the war between him then king and his adversaries of France should last; and amongst other things, the priory of Montacute together with all its possessions was taken into the hands of Edward, lately king, etc., for the aforesaid reason; which King Edward, etc., afterwards by his letters patent, which the same prior produced here in court, which follow, in these words:
Edwardus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie et Francie et dominus Hibernie, omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint, salutem. Sciatis quod commisimus dilecto nobis in Christo fratri Francisco, priori prioratus de Monte Acuto alienigene, custodiam prioratus predicti, et omnium possessionum eidem prioratui spectancium, quem jam pace inter nos et Gallicos adversarios nostros apud Cales' inita, et per ipsos Gallicos dissoluta, inter alios prioratus et domos religiosorum alienigenarum, de dominio et potestate Francie [p. iii-189][col. a] existencium in regno nostro Anglie et alibi infra dominium et potestatem nostra, de assensu parliamenti nostri capi fecimus in manum nostram, habendum a festo Sancti Michaelis proximo preterito quamdiu prioratum, terras et possessiones predictos in manu nostra ex causis predictis contigerit remanere. Reddendo inde nobis annuatim ad scaccarium nostrum, vel alibi ad mandatum nostrum, ad festa Pasche et Sancti Michaelis, per equales porciones, centum et viginti libras: salvis nobis feodis militum, et advocacionibus ecclesiarum, ad dictum prioratum spectantibus sive pertinentibus. Pro quo quidem priore Johannes Fytelton' et Johannes Halle de comitatu Somers', in cancellaria nostra personaliter constituti, manuceperunt quod ipse super prioratu et possessionibus predictis moram continuam faciet, et numerum clericorum et servientium ab antiquo ordinatorum in eisdem prioratu et possessionibus, et cantarias et alia divina servicia, ac elemosinas, pia opera et cetera onera eisdem prioratui et possessionibus incumbencia integre de exitibus et proficuis et emolumentis eorundem manutenebit et inveniet, et edificia prioratus et possessionum illorum in adeo bono statu quo nunc sunt reparabit et dimittet. Et quod dictus prior, seu clerici et servientes sui extra regnum nostrum Anglie < se > non transferent nec divertent: nec statum, negotia aut secreta dicti regni nostri Anglie alicui persone extranee, quocumque colore vel ingenio, dicent vel revelabunt; nec aurum vel argentum in massa vel moneta, aut jocalia, vel armaturas, seu quicquam aliud quod in nostri vel populi nostri prejudicium aliqualiter cedere poterit, per litteras, vel per verba, vel alio modo, ad partes exteras transmittent. Et quod idem prior dictam firmam centum et viginti librarum ad terminos predictos bene et fideliter solvet; et de arreragiis ejusdem, sique fuerint de firma prioratus et possessionum predictorum de tempore quo ultimo fuerunt in manibus nostris, respondebit; et bona et catalla, < aut > alias res ad prioratum et possessiones illos spectancia jam ibidem existencia, a dictis prioratu et possessionibus aut < locis ad > eosdem spectantibus non alienabit seu elongabit; nec vastum seu destruccionem faciet. Edward, by grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to all those to whom the present letters come, greeting. Know that we have committed to our beloved brother in Christ Francis, prior of the alien priory of Montacute, custody of the aforesaid priory and of all the possessions pertaining to the same priory, which along with other alien priories and religious houses, being under the lordship and power of France [p. iii-189][col. a] in our kingdom of England and elsewhere within our dominion and power, following the dissolution by the French of the peace initiated between us and our French enemies at Calais, with the assent of our parliament, we caused to be taken into our hands, to have from Michaelmas last [29 September 1371] for as long as the aforesaid priories, lands and possessions should happen to remain in our hands for the aforesaid reasons. Paying to us each year at our exchequer, or elsewhere at our mandate, at Easter and Michaelmas [29 September] in equal portions, one hundred and twenty pounds: saving to us the knights' fees and advowsons of churches belonging or pertaining to the said priory. For which prior, John Fitelton and John Hall of Somerset, appointed in person in our chancery, have undertaken that he shall continually dwell in the aforesaid priory and possessions, and maintain and provide for the number of clerics and servants ordained of old in the same priory and possessions, and the chantries and other divine services, and alms, pious works and other duties incumbent upon the same priory and possessions, wholly from the issues, profits and emoluments of the same, and that he shall repair and leave the buildings of the priory and its possessions in as good a state as they are in now. And that neither the said prior nor his clerics or servants shall leave or remove themselves from our kingdom of England: nor speak of nor reveal the condition, affairs nor secrets of our said kingdom of England to any foreigner, by any trick or device; nor send to foreign parts by letter or by word nor in any other way gold or silver in bullion or coin, nor jewels, weaponry, nor anything else which could prove detrimental in any way to us or our people. And that the same prior shall fully and faithfully pay the said farm of one hundred and twenty pounds at the aforesaid terms, and shall answer for the arrears of the same, if there be any, from the farm of the aforesaid priory and possessions since the time when they were last in our hands; and that he shall not alienate nor withdraw goods and chattels, nor other things pertaining to that priory and those possessions and now being there, from the said priory and possessions or places attached to them; nor carry out waste nor destruction.
Volumus eciam et de gracia nostra speciali concedimus quod idem prior de decimis et quintisdecimis, lanis et omnibus aliis quotis nobis per clerum et communitate regni nostri Anglie a tempore ultime capcionis eorundem prioratus et possessionum in manum nostram concessis, vel extunc concedendis, seu eidem clero per dominum summum pontificem impositis vel imponendis: ac etiam de custodia terre maritime, et de prestacionibus lanarum, et aliis oneribus quibuscumque ad eosdem prioratum et possessiones spectantibus, contingentibus, erga nos quietus sit et exoneratus, quamdiu iidem prioratus et possessiones in manu nostra, et in custodia prefati prioris extiterint ex causa supradicta, ita quod idem prior de eisdem prioratu et possessionibus disponere, et commodum suum [...] facere possit, prout melius et ad majorem utilitatem suam sibi viderit expedire. In cujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste meipso apud Westm' .x. die Novembris, anno regni nostri Anglie quadragesimo quinto, regni vero nostri Francie tricesimo secundo. We will moreover and of our special grace we have granted that the same prior be quit and exonerated towards us and free of tenths and fifteenths, wool and all other quotas granted to us by the clergy and commons of our kingdom of England since the last time that the same priory and possessions were taken into our hands, or yet to be granted, or imposed or to be imposed on the same clergy by the lord supreme pontiff: and also from custody of maritime land, and from levies of wool, and other burdens of any sort pertaining to the same priory and possessions, for as long as the same priory and possessions shall be in our hands, and in the custody of the aforementioned prior for the aforesaid reasons, so that the same prior may dispose of the same priory and possessions as it shall seem to him best and most useful for him to do. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witnessed myself at Westminster, 10 November in the forty-fifth year of our reign over England and the thirty-second of our reign over France [1371].
Commisit prefato priori, per nomen fratris Francisci prioris prioratus de Monte Acuto, alienigene, custodiam prioratus predicti, et omnium possessionum eidem prioratui spectancium, habendas a festo Sancti Michaelis tunc proximo preterito quamdiu prioratum, terras et possessiones predictas in manu regis ex causis predictis contigerit remanere. Reddendo inde eidem regi annuatim ad scaccarium suum, vel alibi ad mandatum ipsius regis, ad festa Pasche et Sancti Michaelis, per equales portiones, centum et viginti libras: salvis eidem regi feodis militum, et advocacionibus ecclesiarum, ad dictum prioratum spectantibus sive pertinentibus. Et sic dicit idem prior quod ipse sine domino rege nunc non potest inde respondere; et petiit auxilium < de > domino rege, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit quod predictus prior per aliqua [col. b] preallegata auxilium de domino rege habere non deberet. Dixit enim quod predictus Edwardus, nuper rex avus, etc., nuper fuit seisitus de advocacione prioratus predicti in dominico suo ut de feodo, et eandem advocationem, diu ante concessionem predictam dicto priori de custodia predicta factam, per litteras suas patentes dedit et concessit Willelmo de Monte Acuto, nuper comiti Sarum et marescallo Anglie, advocacionem prioratus de Monte Acuto, [sic] habendam et tenendam sibi et heredibus suis de ipso rege et heredibus suis imperpetuum. Volensque idem rex ipsum comitem hac parte ampliorum gracie prosequi ubertate, concessit pro se et heredibus suis prefato comiti quod ipsi et heredes sui imperpetuum haberent custodiam prioratus predicti, tam temporibus quibus idem prioratus occasione guerrarum inter ipsum regem et heredes suos et illos de Francie seu inter regna eadem motarum, aut quacumque alia de causa, inter alios prioratus, domos et possessiones religiosorum alienigenarum infra regnum Anglie, capta fuit in manum regis, seu eorundem heredum suorum, quam temporibus quibus prioratum illum vacare contingeret, sive per mortem, deposicionem vel resignacionem, prioris loci illius qui pro tempore fuerit, sive alio quovis modo, cum omnibus ad custodiam illam spectantibus. Et quod idem comes, et heredes sui < inde > disponere et ordinare possent, prout melius pro commodo suo proprio et utilitate prioratus predicti viderent expedire. Exitusque et proficua inde proveniencia ad opus suum, tam guerrarum hujusmodi, quam ipsius prioratus vacacionum temporibus, perciperent et haberent, adeo plene et integre sicut ille rex et heredes sui ea haberent, si prioratum illum seu custodiam in manibus suis propriis retinuisset, absque eo quod ille rex aut ministri sui quicumque de prioratu aut custodia hujusmodi temporibus predictis in aliquo intromitteret. Quodque prefato comiti de firma, quam custodes sive monachi prioratus predicti occasione guerre inter illum regem et alios de Francie mote in manibus < suis > tunc existentibus ipsi regi pro custodia ejusdem annuatim reddere tenebantur, una cum arreragiis ejusdem firme si que forent, responderetur; et quod custodes ejusdem prioratus de firma et arreragiis illis erga dictum regem omnino exonerarentur. He committed to the aforementioned prior, by the name of brother Francis, prior of the alien priory of Montacute, custody of the aforesaid priory and all the possessions pertaining to the same priory, to have from Michaelmas then last past [29 September 1371], for as long as the aforesaid priory, lands and possessions should remain in the king's hands for the aforesaid reason. Paying to the king annually at his exchequer, or elsewhere at the king's mandate, at Easter and Michaelmas [29 September] in equal portions, a hundred and twenty pounds: saving to the same king the knights' fees and advowsons of churches attached or pertaining to the said priory. And thus he said to the same prior that he could not now answer without the lord king; and sought the help of the lord king, etc. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour said that the aforesaid prior by other matters [col. b] alleged before ought not to have the king's help. For he said that the aforesaid Edward, late king and grandfather, etc., was lately seised of the advowson of the aforesaid priory in his demesne as of fee, and long before the said grant made of the said custody to the said prior, he gave and granted the same advowson by his letters patent to William Montagu, late earl of Salisbury and marshal of England, to have and to hold to him and his heirs from this king and his heirs in perpetuity. And the same king, wishing to bestow even greater grace on the earl in the matter, granted on behalf of himself and his heirs to the aforementioned earl that he and his heirs should have custody of the aforesaid priory in perpetuity, as well during the time when the same priory, because of war waged between this king and his heirs and those of France or between the same kingdoms, or for some other reason, along with other priories, houses and possessions of alien religious in the kingdom of England, had been taken into the king's hands or those of his heirs, as at times when the priory should happen to be vacant, whether by the death, deposition or resignation of the prior of that place for the time being, or in any other way, together with all things pertaining to such keeping. And that the same earl and his heirs might dispose and order it as seemed to them best suited to their own purpose and the benefit of the aforesaid priory. And that they should receive and have the issues and profits arising from this for their use, as well in time of war as well as during vacancies of this priory, as fully and wholly as this king and his heirs would have had them if they had retained that priory or custody in their own hands, without that king or his ministers intromitting upon the priory or custody in any way during the aforesaid times. And that the keepers or monks of the aforesaid priory should answer to the aforesaid earl for the farm which they were bound to pay the king annually for the custody of the same, being in their hands on the occasion of war between that king and others of France, together with arrears of the same farm if there were to be any; and that the custodians of the same priory would be exonerated from that farm and those arrears towards the said king.
Ac postmodum Willelmus de Monte Acuto, nunc comes Sarum, filius et heres predicti nuper comitis, ipsi regi supplicavit, ut cum prioratus predictus, pace tunc inter dictum avum et Gallicos adversarios suos apud Cales' inita per ipsos Gallicos dissoluta, capta fuit in manum dicti domini Edwardi avi, etc., vellet ei custodiam dicti prioratus, una cum exitibus et proficuis inde a tempore capcionis ejusdem prioratus in manus ipsius regis perceptis, juxta concessionem dicto patri suo et heredibus suis per ipsum regem sic factam, liberare jubere; idem rex avus, etc., considerans quod licet ad tempus quod in parliamento suo consideratum extitit quod prioratus, domus et possessiones religiosorum hujusmodi, in auxilium guerre sue, caperentur in manum suam concordatum fuisset, et ordinatum in eodem parliamento quod priores et alii presidentes locorum eorundem, seu eorum procuratores, tam pro bono regimine locorum predictorum quam pro divinis officiis ibidem faciendis et sustentandis, ceteris prefererentur de custodia hujusmodi prioratum, domorum et possessionum habenda, reddendo inde ipsi regi prout inter ipsum regem et illos poterit concordari, affectans tamen idem rex concessionem suam prefato nuper comiti et heredibus suis de custodia prioratus predicti prius factam, quatenus fieri potuit absque offensione concordie supra dicte debitum sortiri effectum, voluit idem rex quod in auxilium guerre predicte, ut idem comes se in guerris suis melius manutenere possit, idem [memb. 4] comes haberet et reciperet durante guerra supradicta de priore loci predicti tantam firmam quantam regi pro custodia ejusdem prioratus, antequam concessio predicta prefato nuper comiti sic facta fuit, [p. iii-190][col. a] solvi consuevit, et prout prior loci predicti regi solvere deberet si custodia ejusdem prioratus < eidem priori per regem > commissa fuisset. Idemque rex avus, etc., per breve suum mandavit tunc thesaurario et baronibus suis de scaccario quod prefato nunc comiti dictam firmam, una cum arreragiis ejusdem firme a tempore capcionis ejusdem prioratus in manum ipsius regis perceptis, liberari et habere, et ipsum priorem inde ad idem scaccarium exonerari et quietum esse facerent. Later, William Montagu, now earl of Salisbury, son and heir of the aforesaid late earl, petitioned the king that since the aforesaid priory had been taken into the hands of the said lord Edward [III] the grandfather, etc., the peace then initiated between the said grandfather and his French adversaries at Calais having been dissolved by the French, he might order the delivery to him of the custody of the said priory, together with the issues and profits received from it from the time when the same priory was taken into the king's hands, according to the concession made to his said father and heirs by that king; the same king the grandfather, etc. - considering that although at the time when in his parliament it was decided that the priory, house and possessions of those religious, to help his war, were to be taken into his hands, it was agreed and ordained in the same parliament that the priors and other heads of the same places, or their proxies, both for the good government of the aforesaid places and for the performing and sustaining of divine offices there, should be preferred over others for the custody of the same priory, houses and possessions, paying to the king whatever was to be agreed between that king and themselves - the king, nevertheless, disposed towards bringing into due effect his grant previously made to the aforesaid late earl and his heirs of the custody of the aforesaid priory, without contravening the aforesaid agreement, and to help the aforesaid war, so that the same earl could the better maintain himself in his wars, willed the same [memb. 4] earl to have and receive during the aforesaid war from the prior of the aforesaid place such a farm as the latter had been accustomed to pay to the king for the custody of the same priory before the aforesaid concession was thus made to the aforesaid late earl, [p. iii-190][col. a] and as the prior of the place ought to have paid to the aforesaid king if the custody of the same priory had been assigned to the same prior by the king. And the same king the grandfather, etc., by his writ then ordered his treasurer and barons of his exchequer that the said farm, together with the arrears of the same farm received since the time when the same priory was taken into the king's hands, be delivered to and held by the then aforesaid earl, and that they should hold the same prior exonerated and quit of them at the exchequer.
Mandavit eciam idem rex avus, etc., aliud breve suum prefato priori quod de firma predicta < eidem > nunc comiti esset intendens et respondens, quorum brevium transcripta premissa testificantur. Dominus rex nunc mandavit justiciarios suis hic sub pede sigilli, et quorum brevium data sunt secundo die Decembris, anno regni regis Edwardi avi, etc., quadragesimo quinto. Et sic dixit idem Ricardus Seymor quod predictus Edwardus avus, etc., de advocacione, firma et quicquid sibi de prioratu illo occasione aliqua pertinere potuit, taliter se dimisit, et prefato nunc comiti filio et heredi prefati nuper comitis plenarie restitucionem inde, juxta vim et effectum concessionis predicto patri sui nuper facte, fieri fecit: per quod quicquam de prioratu illo, aut de possessionibus ejusdem, in persona ipsius regis avi, etc., reservari non potuit, sic nec in persona domini regis nunc residere potest. Unde non intendit quod idem nunc prior auxilium de domino rege in hoc casu versus eum habere deberet, etc. Et predictus prior dixit quod in litteris predictis domini regis avi, etc., patentibus eidem priori de custodia prioratus predicti factis, continetur quod dictus rex avus, etc., reservavit sibi feoda militum, et advocaciones ecclesiarum; et in brevibus predictis per predictum Ricardum Seymor in curia hic prolatis continetur quod idem nunc comes de custodia seu regimine domus predicte in aliquo se non intromitteret. Et in eisdem brevibus non continetur quod in restitucione predicta predicto nunc comiti facta aliqua specialis mencio facta fuit feodis militum, et advocacionibus ecclesiarum. Et ulterius dixit quod dominus rex nunc post restitucionem predictam presentavit ad ecclesiam de Tyntenhull' quendam clericum suum Johannem de Stone occasione reservacionis predicte per predictum avum suum de feodis militum et advocacionibus ecclesiarum prioratus predicti facte, unde ex < causis > predictis peciit auxilium de domino rege, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit quod per restitucionem predictam advocacio prioratus predicti, simul cum custodia ejusdem, et omnibus aliis ad dictum prioratum spectantibus sive quovis modo pertinentibus, in personam ipsius nunc comitis de jure transierunt; unde non intendit quod predictus prior auxilium suum predictum habere deberet, < etc. > Et super hoc dies datus fuit partibus predictis coram domino rege usque in octabis Sancte Trinitatis < tunc proximo sequento > ubicumque, etc., in statu quo tunc; salvis partibus racionibus et responsibus suis, etc. The same king the grandfather, etc., also sent another writ to the aforementioned prior saying that he was now accountable and answerable to the same present earl for the aforesaid farm, transcripts of which writs, testifying to the above, the lord king then sent to his justices under his half-seal, the writs being dated 2 December in the forty-fifth year of the reign of King Edward [III] the grandfather [1371]. And thus the same Richard Seymour said that the aforesaid Edward the grandfather, etc., had so disposed of the advowson, farm and whatever else could have pertained to him from the aforesaid priory on that occasion, and to the aforementioned then earl, son and heir of the aforementioned late earl, caused restitution thereof to be fully made, according to the force and effect of the grant to his said father: for which reason nothing from that priory, nor from the possessions of the same, could be reserved to the person of that king the grandfather, and so they could not reside in the person of the now lord king. Therefore it did not follow that the same present prior should have the help of the lord king in this cause against him, etc. And the said prior said that in the said letters patent of the lord king the grandfather, etc., granted to the same prior concerning the custody of the aforesaid priory, it was stated that the said king the grandfather, etc. reserved for himself the knights' fees and advowsons of churches; and in the aforesaid writs brought by the said Richard Seymour to court it was stated that the same earl now should not intrude himself on the custody or government of the said house in any way. And in the same it was not stated that in the aforesaid restitution made to the said earl now any special mention had been made of knights' fees and advowsons of churches. And he also said that the present lord king, after the aforesaid restitution, presented to the church of Tintinhull a certain clerk of his named John Stone on the grounds of the aforesaid reservation made by his aforesaid grandfather of the knights' fees and advowsons of the churches of the aforesaid priory, and so for the aforesaid reasons he sought help from the lord king, etc. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour said that by the aforesaid restitution, the advowson of the aforesaid priory, together with the custody of the same and all other things attached or in any way pertaining to the said priory, passed by right to the person of the present earl; and so he did not think that the aforesaid prior ought to have his aforesaid help, etc. Thereupon, a day was given to the aforesaid parties before the lord king on the octave of Holy Trinity next [24 May 1383], wheresoever, etc., in its present state; saving to the parties their arguments and answers, etc.
Ad quem diem coram domino rege apud Westm' venerunt tam predictus Ricardus Seymor per attornatum suum predictum, quam predictus prior per Stephanum del Fall' attornatum suum. Et continuato inde inter partes predictas processu coram domino rege de die in diem usque in crastinum Sancti Johannis Baptiste tunc proximo sequenti ubicumque, etc. Ad quem crastinum, coram domino rege apud Cantebr' venerunt tam predictus Ricardus Seymor quam predictus prior per attornatos suos predictos, etc. Et quia videtur curie quod auxilium predictum predicto priori in hoc casu non est concedendum, dictum est per curiam prefato priori quod ulterius respondeat, etc., sine auxilio predicto, etc. Et predictus prior dixit quod predictus Ricardus Seymor execucionem < virtute > finis predicti versus eum habere non deberet, quia dixit quod dominus Henricus [I] filius Willelmi conquestoris quondam rex Anglie nuper fuit seisitus de manerio predicto in dominico suo ut de feodo, et idem manerium cum suis pertinentiis per cartam suam, quam idem nunc prior profert hic in curia que sine est data, dedit et concessit in liberam, puram et perpetuam elemosinam Deo et sanctis apostolis ejus Petro et Paulo de Monte Acuto, et monachis Clunasensibus ibidem Deo servientibus, habendum et tenendum sibi et successoribus suis imperpetuum. [col. b] Quas quidem donacionem et concessionem dominus rex nunc, et quamplures progenitores sui reges Anglie, per cartas suas ratificaverunt et confirmaverunt. Virtute eujus concessionis tunc prior et monachi supradicti seisiti fuerunt de manerio predicto ut de jure ecclesie sue sanctorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli de Monte Acuto, et seisinam suam inde pacifice continuaverunt usque ad diem veneris proximum ante festum Assumpcionis < Beate > Marie Virginis, anno regni domini Edwardi [II] filii regis Edwardi [I] proavi domini regis nunc nuper regis Anglie decimo, qui quidem Edwardus, etc., antea per litteras suas patentes concessit cuidam Stephano tunc priori loci predicti quod quandocumque prioratum illum per mortem vel cessionem ipsius Stephani vacare contigeret quod supprior et conventus loci illius haberent custodiam dicti prioratus tempore vacationis predicte per duos menses, si prioratum illum per tantum tempus vacare contigeret. Pro qua quidem concessione prefatus Stephanus dedit prefato nuper regi, etc., quadraginta marcas. Ac postmodum prioratus ille per cessionem < ejusdem > Stephani vacavit, et prioratu illo in possessione ejusdem supprioris et monachorum loci predicti virtute concessionis regis predicti existente, quidam Ricardus Lovell' antecessor predicti Ricardi Seymor, cujus heres ipse est, in manerium predictum cum maxima multitudine hominum armata potencia, predicto die Veneris, se intrusit, et manerium illud < sic > occupavit, quo tempore finis ille de manerio illo levatus fuit. Upon which day the said Richard Seymour by his attorney, and the aforesaid prior by Stephen Fall, his attorney, appeared before the lord king at Westminster. And the process between the aforesaid parties was adjourned in the presence of the lord king from day to day until the morrow of St John the Baptist next [25 June 1383], wheresoever, etc. On which day, the said Richard Seymour and the said prior through their aforesaid attorneys appeared before the lord king at Cambridge, etc. And because it seemed to the court that the aforesaid aid ought not to be granted to the said prior in this case, the court informed the aforesaid prior that he should again answer, etc., without the aforesaid help, etc. And the aforesaid prior said that the said Richard Seymour ought not to have execution by virtue of the aforesaid decision against him, for he said that the lord Henry [I], son of William the Conqueror, sometime king of England, was formerly seised of the said manor in his demesne as of fee, and that by his charter, which the same present earl produced here in court, and which was undated, he gave and granted this manor with its appurtenances in free, pure and perpetual alms to God and his holy apostles Peter and Paul of Montacute and to the monks of Cluny serving God there, to be had and held by them and their successors in perpetuity. [col. b] Which gift and grant the present lord king and several of his progenitors the kings of England ratified and confirmed by their charters, by virtue of which grant the then said prior and monks gained possession of the said manor by right of their church of the holy apostles Peter and Paul of Montacute, and continued peacefully in their possession until the Friday next before the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the tenth year of the reign of the lord Edward [II], son of King Edward [I] [13 August 1316], great-grandfather of the present lord king and late king of England. Which Edward, etc., had earlier by his letters patent granted to a certain Stephen then prior of the aforesaid place, that whensoever that priory should happen to fall vacant by the death or resignation of Stephen, the subprior and convent of that place would have custody of the said priory during the period of the aforesaid vacancy for two months, if the priory should happen to be vacant for that length of time. In return for which concession the aforementioned Stephen gave to the said late king, etc., forty marks. And later, the priory fell vacant through the resignation of the same Stephen, and the priory being in the possession of the same subprior and monks of the aforesaid place by virtue of the grant of the said king, a certain Richard Lovell, ancestor of the aforesaid Richard Seymour, whose heir he is, entered upon the aforesaid manor with a great force of men-at-arms on the aforesaid Friday, and thus seized the manor, at which time the fine concerning the same manor was made.
Ac postmodum predictus Edwardus nuper rex, etc., pro eo quod querimoniam tunc prioris loci illius per inquisicionem coram dilectis et fidelibus ipsius regis Willelmo Martyn, Hugone de Courtenay et Machaele [sic: read 'Michaele'] de Meldon', de mandato suo captam, intrusio illa comperta fuit in forma predicta, manerium illud cum suis pertinentiis prefato tunc priori plenarie restituit. Et protulit tunc < in curia > tenorem recordi et processus restitucionis predicte in hec verba: And later the aforesaid Edward late king, etc. - because, as a result of a complaint of the then prior of the place, through an inquest taken on his orders before that king's beloved and faithful men, William Martin, Hugh Courtenay and Michael Meldon, that intrusion was discovered in the aforesaid form - fully restored that manor with its appurtenances to the then aforementioned prior. And he then presented in court the tenor of the aforesaid record and process of the restitution in these words:
Dominus rex mandavit Willelmo Martyn, Hugoni de Curteneye et Michaeli de Meldon', breve suum in hec verba: The lord king ordered William Martin, Hugh Courtenay and Michael Meldon by his writ worded as follows:
Edwardus Dei gracia, rex Anglie, dominus Hibernie, et dux Aquitanie dilectis et fidelibus suis Willelmo Martyn, Hugoni de Courteneye et Michaeli de Meldon', salutem. Cum tertiodecimo die Julii, anno regni nostri decimo, per finem quadraginta marcarum quem Stephanus tunc prior de Monte Acuto fecit nobiscum, concesserimus per litteras nostras patentes quod quandocumque [prioratum illum] per mortem, resignacionem aut cessionem ejusdem Stephani vacare contigeret, supprior et conventus ejusdem loci haberent custodiam dicti prioratus, et omnium temporalium ad illum spectancium, per duos menses a tempore mortis, resignationis aut cessionis, dicti Stephani numerandos: salvis nobis feodis militum, et advocacionibus ecclesiarum ejusdem prioratus. Et si prioratus ille ultra duos menses vacaret, tunc idem prioratus et ejus temporalia in manum nostram resumerentur, et extunc in manu nostra remanerent durante ulterius vacacione prioratus predicti, prout in litteris nostris predictis plenius continetur. Edward by grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine to his beloved and faithful William Martin, Hugh Courtenay and Michael Meldon, greeting. Whereas on 13 July, in the tenth year of our reign [1316], for a fine of forty marks which Stephen then prior of Montacute paid to us, we granted by our letters patent that whensoever the priory should happen to fall vacant through the death, resignation or decease of the same Stephen, the subprior and convent of that place would have custody of the said priory and all temporalities pertaining to it, for two months counting from the time of the death, resignation, or demise of the said Stephen: saving to us the knights' fees, and the advowsons of the churches of that priory. And if that priory should be vacant for more than two months, then the same priory and its temporalities would be restored into our hands, and would then remain in our hands for the rest of the vacancy of the aforesaid priory, as is more fully set out in our aforesaid letters.
Et postmodum, duodecimo die Octobris, anno predicto, ceperimus fidelitatem dilecti nobis in Christo fratris Johannis Caprarii, quem abbas Clunacen' in priorem dicte domus de Monte Acuto prefecerat, et ei temporalia prioratus illius, prout moris est, mandaverimus liberari, sicut per inspeccionem rotulorum cancellarie nostre nobis constat: ac jam, ex gravi querela dicti Johannis nunc prioris dicte domus acceperimus quod licet prefatus Stephanus predecessor suus die quo cessit regimini prioratus predicti seisitus fuisset de maneriis de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, et de hundredis de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', cum pertinentiis, in comitatu Somers', ut de jure ecclesie sue de Monte Acuto: ac predecessores ejusdem Stephani, quondam priores loci illius, maneria et hundreda illa cum pertinentiis successive a tempore cujus contrarii memoria non existit tenuissent, quidam tamen malefactores et pacis nostre perturbatores, dicto prioratu per cessionem dicti fratris Stephani vacante, et in custodia dictorum < supprioris > et conventus per commissionem nostram ut predictum est existente, dicta maneria et hundreda armata potencia ingressi fuerunt, et ipsos [p. iii-191][col. a] suppriorem et conventum inde expulere, carucas, blada et alia bona et catalla ejusdem domus, in eisdem maneriis inventa occupando, et explecias hundredorum predictorum capiendo, et suis usibus applicando; et maneria et hundreda illa adhuc detinent taliter occupata, in nostri contemptum et grave prejudicium, et prioratus predicti depressionem et exheredacionem manifestam. Nos igitur, qui secundum tenorem magne carte de libertatibus Anglie prefato priori temporalia prioratus predicti adeo plene et integre sicut ad manus nostras devenere, ac totam terram ejusdem instauratam, ut de carucis et omnibus aliis rebus ad minus sicut eam cepimus, liberare et restituere tenemur; nolentes premissa sub dissimulacione preterire, ac de vestra fidelitate et industria plenam fiduciam optinentes, assignavimus vos et duos vestrum, quos vos prefate Michael alterum esse volumus, ad inquirendum per sacramentum tam militum quam aliorum proborum et legalium hominum de comitatu predicto, tam infra libertates quam extra, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, utrum predictus Stephanus fuit seisitus die quo cessit regimini dicti prioratus de maneriis et hundrediis predictis, ut de jure ecclesie sue, nec ne. Et si sic, tunc utrum maneria et hundreda illa, dicto prioratu in custodia dictorum supprioris et conventus ex commissione nostra ut predictum est existente, occupata fuerunt, per quos, et quo tempore, et qualiter, et quo modo, et que bona et catalla in eisdem maneriis, et que explecie de dictis hundredis tunc capta fuerunt, et per quos, et ad quorum manus devenerunt: et ad maneria illa et hundreda cum pertinentiis, si ea per inquisicionem hujusmodi inveneritis, vacante prioratu predicto et in custodia dictorum supprioris et conventus ex commissione nostra existente, fuisse taliter occupata, in manum nostram resumenda, et prefato priori liberanda ut jus ecclesie sue, salvo jure cujuslibet. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod ad certos dies et loca, quos vos vel duo vestrum, quorum vos prefate Michael alterum esse volumus ad hoc provideritis, premissa omnia et singula faciatis et expleatis in forma predicta. Et nos de tenore inquisicionis illius, et de toto facto vestro in hac parte sub sigillis vestris distincte et aperte reddatis certiores. Mandavimus enim vicecomiti nostro comitatus predicti quod ad certos dies et loca quos vos vel duo vestrum, quorum vos prefate Michael alterum esse volumus, ei sciri faciatis venire faciendo coram vobis vel duobus vestrum, quorum vos prefate Michael alterum esse volumus, tot et tales tam milites quam alios probos et legales homines de comitatu predicto, tam infra libertates quam extra, per quos rei veritas in premissis melius sciri poterit et inquiri; et quod vobis in premissis pareat et intendat. In cujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste meipso apud Eboracum, .xiij. die Novembris, anno regni nostri duodecimo. And later, on 12 October in the said year [1316], we took the fealty of our beloved brother in Christ John Cheverer, whom the abbot of Cluny had appointed prior of the said house of Montacute, and we ordered the temporalities of that priory to be delivered to him, as is customary, as may be established from an inspection of the rolls of our chancery: and now, from the grave complaint of the said John the present prior of the said house, we understand that although the aforementioned Stephen his predecessor, on the day on which he ceased to rule the aforesaid priory, was in possession of the manors of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, and the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough, with appurtenances in Somerset, as by right of his church of Montacute: and the predecessors of the same Stephen, once priors of that place, had in succession held those manors and hundreds since time immemorial; nevertheless, certain malefactors and disturbers of our peace, after the said priory fell vacant by the death of the said brother Stephen, and was in the custody of the said subprior and convent by our commission as aforesaid, entered upon the said manors and hundreds with armed might, and [p. iii-191][col. a] expelled the subprior and convent, seizing ploughs, corn and the other goods and chattels of the same house found on the same manors, and taking the profits of the aforesaid hundreds, and using them for their own purposes; and they still retain those manors and hundreds thus occupied, in contempt of us and to our grave injury, and the evident oppression and disinheritance of the aforesaid priory. We, therefore, who are bound according to the tenor of the Great Charter of the liberties of England to deliver and restore to the aforementioned prior the temporalities of the aforesaid priory as fully and wholly as they came into our hands, as well as all the stocked land of the same, such as ploughs and all other things, at least as we received them; not wishing to neglect the aforesaid things by dissembling, and placing complete trust in your loyalty and assiduity, we have assigned you and two of you, of whom we will the aforementioned Michael to be one, to inquire by the oath both of knights and other good and law-worthy men of the aforesaid shire, within liberties and without, through whom the truth of the matter might best be learnt, whether the aforesaid Stephen, on the day on which he ceased to rule the said priory, was in possession of the aforesaid manors and hundreds by right of his church or not. And whether both the manors and hundreds, the said priory being in the custody of the said subprior and convent by our commission as said above, were seized, and by whom, and when, and how, and in what way, and what goods and chattels on the same manors and what profits of the said hundreds were then taken, and by whom, and into whose hands they came: and if you discover by that inquest that on the said priory falling vacant and being in the custody of the said subprior and convent by our commission, those manors and hundreds with appurtenances were thus seized, you shall take them back into our hands and deliver them to the aforementioned prior as the right of his church, saving the right of whomsoever. And thus we order you that at certain times and places, which you or two of you, of whom we wish the aforementioned Michael to be one, shall appoint thereto, you do and fulfil each and every one of the aforesaid things in the said form. And that you clearly and openly inform us under your seal of the outcome of the inquest and of all your actions in the matter. For we ordered our sheriff of the aforesaid county that at certain times and places which you or the two of you, one of whom we wish to be the aforementioned Michael, would make known to him, he was to cause to appear before you or two of you, one of whom we wish to be the aforementioned Michael, as many and such knights and other good and law-worthy men of the aforesaid county, within liberties and without, from whom the truth of the aforesaid matter might best be learnt and inquired; and that he obey and assist you in the aforesaid. In testimony of which matter we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witnessed by myself at York, 13 November, in the twelfth year of our reign [1318].
Pretextu cujus brevis, iidem Willelmus, Hugo et Michael, mandavere vicecomitem Somers' quod venire faceret coram eis apud Ivele, die Lune proximo post festum Epiphanie domini, viginti quatuor, tam milites quam alios probos et legales homines de visneto de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, et etiam de visneto hundredorum de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', per quos rei veritas melius inde sciri poterit et inquiri, secundum tenorem predicti brevis domini regis predictis Willelmo, Hugoni et Michaeli inde prius directi. Ad quem diem, idem vicecomes Somers' retornavit breve domini regis sibi inde directum, et eciam breve ipsorum Willelmi, Hugonis et Michaelis, et similiter nomina juratorum, etc., secundum quod ei preceptum fuit, et per sufficientem manucaptorem, qui non venerunt. Ideo preceptum [est] vicecomes quod distringat predictos juratores per omnes terras et catalla sua, etc. Et quod domino regi respondeat de exitibus, etc. Et quod habeat corpora eorum coram prefatis Willelmo, Hugone et Michaele, vel < coram > < duobus eorum, quorum, etc., apud > Ivele, die mercurii proximo ante festum Sancti Hillarii proximo venturo. Et preter illos venire faciant coram eis, ad eundem diem, tot et tales tam milites quam alios, etc. Ita quod negocium predictum pro defectu juratorum non remaneat infectum. On the authority of which writ, the same William, Hugh and Michael ordered the sheriff of Somerset that he cause to appear before them at Yeovil, on the Monday next after the feast of the Lord's Epiphany [8 January 1319], twenty-four men, as well knights and other good and law-worthy men of the neighbourhood of Tintinhull and East Chinnock as of the neighbourhood of the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndesborough, by whom the truth of the matter might best be learnt and inquired, according to the tenor of the aforesaid writ of the lord king previously sent to William, Hugh and Michael. On which day, the sheriff of Somerset returned the writ of the lord king sent to him thereon, and also the writ of the same William, Hugh and Michael, and likewise the names of the jurors, etc., as he had summoned, and had not appeared by sufficient mainpernor. Therefore, the sheriff was ordered to distrain the aforesaid jurors by all their lands and chattels, etc. And that he answer to the lord king for the issues, etc. And that he have the aforesaid persons before the aforementioned William, Hugh and Michael, or before the two of them, of whom, etc., at Yeovil, on the Wednesday before the feast of St Hilary next following [10 January 1319]. And that besides them, he cause to appear before them on the same day as many and such knights and others, etc. So that the aforesaid business would not be left undone through a lack of jurors.
[col. b]
Inquisitio capta apud Ievele, die mercurii proximo ante festum Sancti Hillarii, anno regni regis Edwardi filii regis Edwardi duodecimo, per sacramentum Radulphi de Gorges, Johannis Mautravers senioris, Johannis de Erlegh', Johannis de Meriet, Henrici de Glaston', Petri de Evercy, Edwardi Everard', Willelmi de Wygebere, Johannis de Clyvedon', militum, Johannis Peytevyn, Johannis Musket et Henrici de Estfeld, ad hoc electorum, etc., qui dicunt super sacramentum suum quod Stephanus quondam prior de Monte Acuto, predecessor Johannis Caprarii nunc prioris ejusdem domus, fuit seisitus ut de jure ecclesie sue de Monte Acuto, de maneriis de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, et de hundredis de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', tempore et die quo cessit regimini dicti prioratus, videlicet tertiodecimo die Julii, anno regni regis Edwardi [II] filii regis Edwardi [I] decimo, et quod ipse et predecessores sui predicti prioratus, a tempore cujus contrarii memoria non existit, semper hactenus seisiti fuerunt pacifice de predictis maneriis et hundredis ut de jure ecclesie sue de Monte Acuto, cum omnibus suis pertinentiis. Et dicunt quod tempore vacacionis predicti prioratus, videlicet die veneris proximo ante festum Assumpcionis Beate Marie Virginis anno predicto quando predicta maneria et hundreda fuerunt in manus supprioris et conventus ejusdem prioratus, vacantis per commissionem ipsius domini regis per duos menses, exceptis feodis militum et advocacionibus ecclesiarum prioratus predicti de temporalibus rebus, quod quidam Ricardus Lovell', Henricus de Pupelpenne, magister Hugo Cocus, Mauricius Mareschall', Walterus de Welham, et Margeria uxor ejus, et Thomas filius ejusdem Walteri, magister Willelmus de Modeford, Eva que fuit uxor Ricardi Sumpte, et Thomas Revenyng, armata potencia predicta maneria et hundreda cum pertinentiis sunt ingressi, et predicta maneria et hundreda occupaverunt, et suis usibus applicaverunt, et bona et catalla in eisdem maneriis inventa, videlicet blada, boves, carucas et carectas, currus, equos et oves, ac alia bona et catalla ad valenciam mille librarum ceperunt, abduxerunt et asportaverunt, in contemptum domini regis, et grave prejudicium ipsius prioris, et oppressionem et depauperacionem manifestam: et sic occupata predicta maneria et hundreda cum pertinentiis per duos annos et viginti septimanas tenuerunt, et de expleciis predictorum hundredorum ignoratur. Ideo prefati justiciarii predicta maneria de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, et hundreda de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', ceperunt in manum domini regis, juxta tenorem commissionis predicte, et predicto priori liberarunt, tenenda ut jure ecclesie sue de Monte Acuto, salvo jure cujuslibet, sicut predecessores sui priores ejusdem domus ea tenere et habere consueverunt a tempore cujus contrarii memoria non existit. Et preceptum est vicecomes quod premissa exequatur, etc. The inquest held at Yeovil on the Wednesday next before the feast of St Hilary, in the twelfth year of the reign of King Edward [II], son of King Edward [I] [10 January 1319], by the oath of Ralph Gorges, John Mautravers the elder, John Erlegh, John Merriot, Henry Glastonbury, Peter Evercy, Edward Everard, William Wigborough, John Clevedon, knights, John Peytevyn, John Musket and Henry Eastfield, elected thereto, etc., who say on oath that Stephen sometime prior of Montacute, predecessor of John Caprary now prior of the same house, was seised by right of his church of Montacute of the manors of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, and of the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough, at the time and on the day when he ceased to rule the said priory, namely 13 July in the tenth year of the reign of King Edward II, son of King Edward I [1316], and that he and his predecessors of the aforesaid priory, from time immemorial, had peacefully possessed the aforesaid manors and hundreds until now as by right of their church of Montacute, together with all their appurtenances. And they say that at the time when the aforesaid priory fell vacant, namely on the Friday before the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the aforesaid year [20 August 1316] when the aforesaid manors and hundreds were in the hands of the subprior and convent of the same priory, vacant by commission of this lord king for two months, excluding knights' fees and the advowsons of the churches of the aforesaid priory from temporal things, that a certain Richard Lovell, Henry Pupelpenne, master Hugh Cook, Maurice Marshal, Walter Welham and Margaret his wife, and Thomas, son of the same Walter, master William Mudford, Eva who was wife of Richard Sumpte and Thomas Revenyng, with armed might entered upon the aforesaid manors and hundreds with appurtenances, and occupied the aforesaid manors and hundreds, and put them to their own use, and seized, took and carried off goods and chattels found on the same manors, namely corn, oxen, ploughs and carts, wagons, horses and sheep, and other goods and chattels to the value of a thousand pounds, in contempt of the lord king and to the grave injury of the prior, and manifest oppression and impoverishment: and so occupied the said manors and hundreds with appurtenances for two years and twenty weeks, and nothing is known of the profits of the aforesaid hundreds. Therefore the aforementioned justices took the aforesaid manors of Tintinhull and East Chinnock and the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough into the hands of the lord king, according to the tenor of the aforesaid commission, and delivered them to the aforesaid prior, to hold by right of his church of Montacute, saving the rights of any, as his predecessors, priors of the same house, had been accustomed to hold and have them since time immemorial. And the sheriff was ordered that he carry out the aforesaid, etc.
Ac postmodum manerio illo in possessione ejusdem prioris existente, predictus Ricardus Lovell' per factum suum, quod idem nunc prior protulit tunc in curia, concessit, remisit et omnino pro se et heredibus suis imperpetuum quietum clamavit, priori et conventui de Monte Acuto, et successoribus suis, totum jus suum et clameum quod habuit vel aliquo modo habere potuit in predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum suis pertinentiis, et ulterius recognovit per dictum scriptum suum dictum manerium cum pertinentiis esse jus ipsius prioris et conventus et successorum suorum imperpetuum: ita quod nec ipse Ricardus Lovell', nec heredes sui, in manerio predicto cum suis pertinentiis, nec in aliqua parte ejusdem, aliquid juris vel clamei exigere vel vendicare poterint in futuro. Et ulterius concessit predictus Ricardus Lovell' per idem scriptum suum quod si aliquis finis de predicto manerio cum pertinentiis suis, aut in aliqua parte ejusdem, in curia domini regis fuerit levatus inter ipsum Ricardum Lovell' et Muriellam uxorem ejus querentes, et magistrum Ricardum de Clare et magistrum Rogerum de Blokerworth deforciantes, virtute cujus finis aliquid juris vel clamei sibi vel heredibus suis quoquomodo accrescere potuit, voluit et concessit idem Ricardus Lovell' pro se et heredibus suis quod finis ille ipso jure foret nullus, et pro nullo imperpetuum [p. iii-192][col. a] haberetur. Et protulit tunc in curia scriptum concessionis et remissionis predicti Ricardi Lovell' premissa testificans, quod sequitur in hec verba: And afterwards, that manor being in the possession of the same prior, the aforesaid Richard Lovell, by his deed, which the same present prior then presented in court, granted, remitted and entirely quit-claimed on behalf of himself and his heirs in perpetuity, to the prior of Montacute and their successors, the whole right and claim which he had or could in any way have in the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with its appurtenances, and he also acknowledged by his said writing that the said manor with appurtenances was the right of that prior and convent and their successors in perpetuity: so that neither Richard Lovell nor his heirs could in future demand or assert any right or claim in the aforesaid manor with its appurtenances, nor in another part of them. And further, the aforesaid Richard Lovell granted by his same writing that if any fine should be levied upon the aforesaid manor with its appurtenances, or in any other part of the same, in the court of the lord king between that Richard Lovell and Muriel his wife, plaintiffs, and master Richard de Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, deforciants, by virtue of which fine any right or claim should accrue to him or his heirs in any way, the same Richard Lovell willed and granted, for him and his heirs, that that fine should have no bearing upon his right and be forever held at naught. [p. iii-192][col. a] And he then presented in court the written grant and remission of the aforesaid Richard Lovell testifying to the aforesaid, which follows in these words:
''Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos presens scriptum pervenerit, Ricardus Lovell' dominus de Carycastell, salutem in Domino. Noveritis, me concessisse, remisisse et omnino de me et heredibus meis imperpetuum quietum clamasse, priori et conventui de Monte Acuto et eorum successoribus totum jus meum et clameum quod habui vel aliquo modo habere potero in maneriis de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok cum pertinentiis in comitatu Somers', et in advocacionibus ecclesiarum earundem villarum de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, et eciam in hundredis de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, et etiam in hundredis de Tyntenhull et Hundesbergh', cum omnibus suis pertinentiis, feriis et mercatis de Tyntenhull', et eciam in omnibus aliis rebus ad maneria, advocaciones, hundreda, ferias et mercata predicta qualitercumque spectantur. Et per presentes recognosco omnia tenementa predicta cum advocacionibus, hundredis, feriis et mercatis [memb. 3] predictis esse jus ipsius prioris et conventus et successorum suorum imperpetuum. Ita quod nec ego dictus Ricardus Lovell', nec heredes mei, nec aliquis per nos, seu nomine nostro, in maneriis, advocacionibus, hundredis, feriis vel mercatis predictis cum omnibus suis pertinentiis seu aliqua parte eorundem, de cetero aliquid juris vel clamei exigere vel vendicare poterimus in futuro, set ab omni accione cujuscumque juris aliquid petenti maneriorum de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok cum advocacionibus ecclesiarum earundem villarum, et hundredis de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', feriis et mercatis de Tyntenhull', et omnibus aliis pertinentiis dictorum maneriorum, advocacionum ecclesiarum predictarum, hundredorum, feriarum, et mercatorum predictorum, seu aliqua parte eorundem, in dominico vel in servicio, per presentes imperpetuum simus. exclusi. Et si aliquis finis de predictis tenementis vel hundredis, vel aliqua parte eorundem, in curia domini regis fuerit levatus inter me et Muriellam uxorem meam querentes, et magistrum Ricardum de Clare et magistrum Rogerum de Blakesworth' deforciantes, virtute cujus finis aliquid juris vel clameum michi vel heredibus meis quoquomodo accrescere potuit, volo et concedo pro me et heredibus meis quod ipso jure sit nullus, et pro nullo imperpetuum habeatur. In cujus rei testimonium huic presenti scripto sigillum meum apposui. Hiis testibus, nobili viro domino Thoma comite Lancastrie, domino Johanne comite Richemond', domino Roberto de Holand', domino Willelmo < le Latymer, > domino Fulcone Lestraunge, domino Nicholae de Segrave, domino Johanne de Claveryng, domino Fulcone filio Waryni, domino Geraldo Salveyn, domino Willelmo Tuchet, domino Johanne Beek, domino Willelmo Trussell', domino Johanne de Kynerdesey, domino Michaele de Melden', Rogero Boker, Johanne de Lancastr' et aliis multis. Datum apud Eboracum die jovis in octabis Ascensionis Domini, anno regni regis Edwardi [II] filii regis Edwardi [I] duodecimo, tempore parliamenti ibidem tenti. (fn. iii-184-102-1) Hanc vero quietam clamantiam ego Ricardus Lovell' antedictus recognovi, et eam irrotulari procuravi tam in cancellaria domini regis quam coram Henrico de Scrop et sociis suis justiciarum domini regis tunc ibidem presentibus, die, loco et anno predictis. Unde idem nunc prior petiit judicium si predictus Ricardus Seymor contra factum predictum predicti antecessoris sui, cujus heres ipse est, execucionem de manerio predicto versus eum habere deberet, < etc. > To all faithful in Christ to whom this present writing shall come, Richard Lovell lord of Castle Cary, greeting in the Lord. Know that I have granted, remitted and entirely quit-claimed on behalf of myself and my heirs in perpetuity, to the prior and convent of Montacute and their successors all the right and claim which I had or could in any way have in the manors of Tintinhull and East Chinnock with appurtenances in Somerset, and in the advowsons of the churches of the same towns of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, and also in the hundreds of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, and also in the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough, with all their appurtenances, the fairs and markets of Tintinhull, and also in all other things in any way pertaining to the aforesaid manors, advowsons, hundreds, fairs and markets. And by these presents I acknowledge all the aforesaid tenements with the advowsons, hundreds, fairs and markets [memb. 3] to be the right of the prior and convent and their successors in perpetuity, so that neither I, Richard Lovell, nor my heirs, nor any of us, nor anyone acting in our name, will be able henceforth to demand or assert any right or claim in the aforesaid manors, advowsons, hundreds, fairs or markets with all their appurtenances or in any part of the same, but by these presents we shall be forever excluded from all actions of any kind seeking any right in the manors of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, with the advowsons of the churches of the same towns, and the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough, the fairs and markets of Tintinhull, and all other appurtenances of the said manors, advowsons of the aforesaid churches, hundreds, fairs and markets of the aforesaid, or in any part of the same, in demesne or in service. And if any fine upon the aforesaid tenements or hundreds, or any part of the same, be levied in the court of the lord king between me and my wife Muriel, as plaintiffs, and master Richard de Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, as deforciants, by virtue of which agreement any right or claim might accrue in any way to me or my heirs, I will and grant, for myself and my heirs, that that shall be null, and be forever held at naught. In testimony whereof I have affixed my seal to this present writing. Witnessed by that noble man Sir Thomas, earl of Lancaster, Sir John, earl of Richmond, Sir Robert Holland, Sir William Latimer, Sir Fulk Lestraunge, Sir Nicholas Segrave, Sir John Clavering, Sir Fulk FitzWarin, Sir Gerald Salveyn, Sir William Tuchet, Sir John Beek, Sir William Trussell, Sir John Kynerdesey, Sir Michael Melden, Roger Boker, John Lancaster and many others. Given at York on Thursday on the octave of the Ascension of the Lord, in the twelfth year of the reign of King Edward [II], son of King Edward [I], at the time of the parliament held there. (fn. iii-184-102-1) Which quit-claim, I, the aforesaid Richard Lovell, acknowledged, and caused to be enrolled both in the chancery of the lord king as well as in the presence of Henry Scrope and his colleagues, justices of the lord king then present, on the aforesaid day and in the aforesaid place and year. Whereupon the present prior requested judgment on whether the aforesaid Richard Seymour ought to have execution of the aforesaid manor against him, contrary to the said deed of his aforesaid ancestor, whose heir he was, etc.
Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit, non cognoscendo aliqua per predictum priorem superius allegata, quod placitum ejusdem prioris est duplex vel triplex, unde non intendit quod idem prior ad tale placitum duplex < de jure > admitti deberet, etc. Unde petiit judicium et execucionem, etc. Et predictus prior dixit quod ipse placitavit solomodo predictum scriptum ut factum antecessoris ipsius Ricardi Seymor, in barram execucionis sue predicte, et pro principali et finali exitu placiti sui predicti, et residuum cepit tantum per viam protestacionis et conduccionis totius materie sue ad exitum illum. Et dixit ut prius quod predictus Ricardus Lovell', antecessor, etc., per scriptum suum predictum concessit et remisit, et omnino pro se et heredibus suis imperpetuum [col. b] quietum clamavit, priori et conventui de Monte Acuto qui tunc fuerat, et successoribus suis, totum jus suum, et clameum quod habuit vel aliquo modo habere potuit, in manerio predicto de Tyntenhull' cum suis pertinentiis, dum idem nuper prior fuit in possessione ejusdem manerii. Et ulterius recognovit, etc. Ita quod nec ipse Ricardus Lovell' nec heredes sui, etc. Et ulterius concessit quod si aliquis finis, etc. Unde petit judicium, si predictus Ricardus Seymor contra factum predictum predicti antecessoris sui, cujus heres ipse est, execucionem de manerio predicto versus eum habere deberet, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit, non cognoscendo aliqua per predictum priorem superius preallegata, quod quidam Hugo Lovell', consanguineus predicti Ricardi Seymor, cujus heres ipse est, fuit seisitus de dicto manerio de Tyntenhull' in dominico suo ut de feodo, et diu ante levacionem finis predicti concessit predictum manerium cuidam priori de Monte Acuto, predecessori nunc prioris; tenendum ad voluntem [sic: read 'voluntatem'] ipsius Hugonis, in auxilium operis ecclesie ibidem, dum eidem Hugoni placeret, absque hoc quod idem prior vel successores sui aliquem alium statum in eodem manerio ante levacionem finis predicti unquam habuerunt, etc. Colore cujus concessionis, prefatus prior, et successores sui occupaverunt predictum manerium in jure ipsius Hugonis et heredum suorum, etc., quousque Ricardus Lovell', consanguineus et heres predicti Hugonis, manerium predictum in manus suas proprias seisivit et resumpsit, et seisinam suam in eodem manerio continuavit, quousque idem Ricardus Lovell' de dicto manerio simul cum aliis maneriis predictis feoffavit magistrum Ricardum de Clare, magistrum Rogerum de Blokerworth', in feodo simplici. Qui quidem magister Ricardus et magister Rogerus, virtute feoffamenti illius inde seisiti fuerunt tempore confectionis scripti predicti, absque hoc, quod prior qui tunc fuerat aliquid habuit in eodem manerio tempore confeccionis ejusdem scripti; et hoc paratus est verificare, etc. Qui quidem magister Ricardus et magister Rogerus, predictum manerium cum aliis maneriis predictis prefato Ricardo Lovell' et Murielle, in fine predicto nominatis, habenda sibi et heredibus ipsius Ricardi Lovell', concesserunt et reddiderunt. De quo quidem manerio de Tyntenhull', virtute finis predicti, predictus Ricardus Seymor, consanguineus et heres predicti Ricardi Lovell', modo petit executionem, etc. Et dicit quod nec Henricus [I] rex, filius conquestoris, nec aliquis regum Anglie, de manerio predicto unquam seisiti fuerunt ante levacionem finis predicti. Unde petit judicium et execucionem, etc. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour, not acknowledging anything alleged by the said prior above, said that the plea of the same prior was double and triple, and hence he did not think that the same prior ought to be allowed such a double plea, etc. Whereupon he sought judgment and execution, etc. And the aforesaid prior said that he pleaded the aforesaid writing only as the deed of an ancestor of Richard Seymour, in barring his aforesaid execution, and for the chief and last issue of his aforesaid plea, and the rest he took by way of protestation and conduct of all his material to that issue. And he said as before that the aforesaid Richard Lovell, ancestor, etc., by his aforesaid writing conceded and resigned and entirely quit-claimed on behalf of himself and his heirs in perpetuity [col. b] to the prior and convent of Montacute at the time, and his successors, all the right and claim he had or could in any way have in the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with its appurtenances, while the same late prior was in possession of the same manors. And he also acknowledged, etc. So that neither this Richard Lovell nor his heirs, etc. And he also granted that if any agreement, etc. Whereupon he sought judgment as to whether the aforesaid Richard Seymour, contrary to the aforesaid deed of his said ancestor whose heir he was, ought to have execution of the said manor against him, etc. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour, not acknowledging anything alleged above by the aforesaid prior, said that a certain Hugh Lovell, kinsman of the aforesaid Richard Seymour, whose heir he was, was in possession of the said manor of Tintinhull in his demesne as of fee, and long before the levy of the said fine he had granted the aforesaid manor to a certain prior of Montacute, a predecessor of the present prior, to be held at the will of Hugh, to help the work of the church there, so long as it pleased the same Hugh, without the same prior or his successors ever having any other estate in the same manor before the levying of the fine, etc. By colour of which grant, the aforementioned prior and his successors occupied the aforesaid manor which by right belonged to this Hugh and his heirs, etc., until Richard Lovell, kinsman and heir of the aforesaid Hugh, took and reclaimed the aforesaid manor into his own hands, and continued his seisin in the same manor until the same Richard Lovell enfeoffed master Richard de Clare and master Roger Bloxworth with the said manor together with the other aforesaid manors in fee simple. Which master Richard and master Roger, by virtue of that enfeoffment, were thus seised at the time of the making of the aforesaid document, without the prior at that time holding anything in the same manor at the time of the making of the same document; and this he was ready to prove, etc. Which master Richard and master Roger granted and returned the aforesaid manor with the other aforesaid manors to the aforementioned Richard Lovell and Muriel, named in the aforesaid fine, to have to them and the heirs of the said Richard. Of which manor of Tintinhull, by virtue of the aforesaid settlement, the aforesaid Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of the aforesaid Richard Lovell, sought execution etc. And he said that neither King Henry [I], son of the Conqueror, nor any other king of England had ever been seised of the said manor before the making of the said fine. Hence he sought judgment and execution, etc.
Et predictus prior non cognoscendo aliqua per ipsum Ricardum Seymor superius allegata, dixit quod placitum predicti Ricardi fuit duplex; unde non intendit quod ipse ad tale placitum duplex de jure necesse habet respondere. Et quia videtur curie quod placitum predicti Ricardi Seymor fuit duplex, dictum fuit eidem Ricardo per curiam, quod ipse responderet ad predictum scriptum quod predictus prior asserit fore factum antecessoris sui, et quod idem prior placitavit versus eum in barram execucionis finis predicti, etc., si, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor habito visu scripti predicti, dixit quod ipse non cognovit scriptum illud fore factum tempore quo per datum ejusdem supponitur fieri. Et dixit ulterius quod prior de Monte Acuto qui tunc fuerat, non fuit seisitus de manerio de Tyntenhull, nec de aliqua parcella ejusdem manerii, tempore confeccionis scripti predicti, set predicti magister Ricardus de Clare et magister Rogerus de Blokerworth, qui idem manerium reddiderunt per finem predictum, adtunc inde seisiti fuerunt; et hoc paratus est verificare, etc. Et dixit quod ipse residuum omnium materiarum suarum per ipsum superius propositarum cepti per viam protestacionis et conductionis tocius placiti sui ad exitum illum. And the aforesaid prior, not acknowledging anything alleged above by Richard Seymour, said that the plea of the aforesaid Richard was double; therefore he did not think that he had necessarily to answer to a such a double plea by right. And because it seemed to the court that the plea of the aforesaid Richard Seymour was double, the same Richard was told by the court that he should answer the aforesaid document which the said prior claimed had been made by his ancestor, and which the same prior pleaded against him to bar execution of the aforesaid settlement, etc., if, etc. And the said Richard Seymour, having perused the said document, said that he did not accept that the document had been made when it was supposed to have been made according to its date. And he further said that the prior of Montacute at that time had not been in possession of the manor of Tintinhull, nor any part of the same manor, when the same document was made, but that the aforesaid Richard Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, who returned the same manor by the said fine, had then been seised; and this he was ready to prove, etc. And he said that he took all the rest of his matter proposed above by way of protest and conduct of his plea to that end.
Unde peciit judicium, si ipse ab execucione sua predicta virtute scripti predicti excludi deberet, etc. Et peciit execucionem, etc. Et predictus prior dixit quod tempore confeccionis scripti predicti prior de Monte Acuto qui tunc fuerat, fuit seisitus de dicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis; et hoc paratus < fuit > verificare per [p. iii-193][col. a] patriam, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit quod tempore confeccionis scripti predicti prior de Monte Acuto qui tunc fuerat non fuit seisitus de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis, nec de aliqua parcella ejusdem: et hoc paratus est verificare per patriam, etc. Et predictus prior similiter, < etc. > Ideo preceptum fuit < vicecomes Somers' quod venire faceret coram domino > rege ad hunc diem, scilicet a die Sancti Michaelis in .xv. dies ubicumque etc., .xxiiij. tam milites, etc., de visneto de Tyntenhull, per quos, etc. Et qui nec, etc., ad recognicionem, etc. Quia tam, etc. Idem dies datus fuit partibus predictis, etc. Whereupon he sought judgment whether he should be excluded from his aforesaid execution by virtue of the aforesaid document, etc. And he sought execution, etc. And the aforesaid prior said that at the time when the aforesaid document was made the prior of Montacute of the time was seised of the said manor of Tintinhull with its appurtenances; and this he was ready to prove by [p. iii-193][col. a] his country, etc. And the said Richard Seymour said that at the time when the said document was written the then prior of Montacute had not been seised of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, nor any parcel of the same: and this he was ready to prove by his country, etc. And the said prior likewise, etc. So the sheriff of Somerset was ordered to cause to appear before the lord king on this day, namely on the day of Michaelmas in fifteen days wheresoever etc. [13 October 1383], twenty-four knights, etc., of the neighbourhood of Tintinhull, by whom, etc. And who neither, etc., to acknowledge, etc. Because both, etc. The same day was given to the aforesaid parties, etc.
Ad quem diem, coram domino rege apud Westm' venerunt tam predictus Ricardus Seymor, quam predictus prior, per attornatos suos predictos. Et vicecomes retornavit nomina predictorum .xxiiij., etc., quorum nullus venit. Ideo vicecomes habeat corpora eorum coram domino rege in octabis Sancti Martini ubicumque, etc., ad faciendam jurationem predictam, etc. Idem dies datus est partibus predictis, etc. Et continuato inde processu inter partes predictas per juratio positus in respectum usque a die Sancti Hillar' in .xv. dies tunc proximo sequente ubicumque, etc. Ad quem diem coram domino rege apud Westm' venit predictus Ricardus Seymor per attornatum suum predictum, et predictus prior per attornatum suum predictum similiter venit. Et juratores similiter venerunt, qui ad hoc electi, triati et jurati, dicunt super sacramentum suum quod ipse qui fuerat prior de Monte Acuto tempore confectionis scripti predicti quod predictus nunc prior placitavit versus predictum Ricardum Seymor in barram execucionis sue finis predicti de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum suis pertinentiis, non fuit seisitus de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis, nec de aliqua parcella ejusdem, tempore confeccionis ejusdem scripti, sicut predictus Ricardus Seymor placitando allegavit, etc. Ideo consideratum est quod predictus Ricardus Seymor habeat execucionem versus predictum nunc priorem de manerio predicto de Tyntenhull', cum pertinentiis, etc. On which day, the said Richard Seymour and the aforesaid prior came before the lord king at Westminster, represented by their attorneys aforesaid. And the sheriff returned the names of the aforesaid twenty-four, etc., of whom none appeared. Therefore the sheriff was to have their persons before the lord king on the octave of Martinmas [18 November 1383], wheresoever, etc., to make the aforesaid testimony, etc. The same day was given to the aforesaid parties, etc. And the process between the aforesaid parties was adjourned, the jury being put in respite until fifteen days after the day of St Hilary [27 January 1384], wheresoever, etc. On which day the said Richard Seymour, represented by his said attorney, appeared before the lord king at Westminster, and the aforesaid prior came likewise by his attorney. And the jurors similarly came, who had been elected, tried and sworn thereto, and they said on oath that he who was prior of Montacute at the time of the making of the aforesaid document, which the aforesaid prior pleaded against the aforesaid Richard Seymour in barring his execution of the aforesaid settlement concerning the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with its appurtenances, was not in possession of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, nor any parcel of the same, at the time when the same document was made, as the aforesaid Richard Seymour in pleading had claimed, etc. Therefore it was considered that the said Richard Seymour should have execution against the said present prior concerning the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull, with appurtenances, etc.
Et lectis et auditis in isto eodem parliamento recordo et processu predictis, prefatus Ricardus petit quod predictus < prior > assignet et declaret errores si qui fuerint in recordo et processu predictis. Super quo, predictus prior per dictum attornatum suum dicit quod erratum fuit in recordo et processu predictis, in primis, videlicet, ubi dictus prior allegavit quod predictus Ricardus Seymor, per nomen Ricardi de Sancto Mauro, chivaler, tulit quoddam breve de recto, cujus data est quartodecimo die Octobris, anno regni regis nunc sexto, versus dictum priorem, per nomen Francisci, prioris de Monte Acuto, de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull', retornabile coram justiciarii domini regis de banco in crastino Sancti Martini, dicto anno sexto, ad quod breve idem Ricardus Seymor tunc comparuit, et dictus prior essonatus fuit, et habuit diem per essonium suum a die Pasche in tres septimanas tunc proxime sequenti, prout per tenores dicti brevis de recto, et irrotulamenti < essonii predicti, > coram rege de mandato suo missos, et in recordo predicto irrotulatos, plene liquet, et quod dictum breve de scire facias perquisitum fuit pendente dicto brevi de recto, quod fuit de altiori natura quam fuit predictum breve de scire facias, et petiit judicium de dicto brevi de scire facias: et in hoc quod consideratum fuit quod predictus prior ad dictum breve de scire facias ulterius responderet, non obstante excepcione predicta, ubi si recte et modo legitimo adjudicatum fuisset, idem breve de scire facias cassari debuisset, erratum fuit. Et etiam, ubi dictus prior allegavit quod dominus Edwardus [III], nuper rex Anglie, avus domini regis nunc, nuper de avisamento parliamenti sui, occasione guerre inter ipsum et Gallicos mote, seisire fecerat in manus suas omnes possessiones prioratuum alienigenarum in Anglie de potestate Francie existencium, quamdiu dicta guerra duraret; et inter alia prioratus de Monte Acuto, cum omnibus possessionibus ad prioratum illum spectantibus, seisitus fuit in manus dicti regis Edwardi, ex causa supradicta, qui quidem Edwardus rex postea per litteras suas patentes, quarum data est apud Westm' decimo die Novembris, anno regni sui quadragesimo quinto, quas idem prior protulit in eadem [col. b] curiam, et que in recordo predicto inseruntur, commisit prefato priori, per nomen fratris Francisci < prioris > prioratus de Monte Acuto alienigene, custodiam prioratus predicti, et omnium possessionum eidem prioratui spectantium, habendum a festo Sancti Michaelis tunc proxime preterito quamdiu prioratum, terras et possessiones predictas in manu ipsius regis ex causa supradicta contingeret remanere, reddendo inde eidem domino regi < annuatim > ad scaccarium suum, vel alibi ad mandatum suum, ad festa Pasche et Sancti Michaelis, per equales porciones, centum et viginti libras, salvis expresse in eisdem litteris eidem regi feodis militum, et advocacionibus ecclesiarum ad dictum prioratum spectantibus sive pertinentibus; et quod dictus dominus rex nunc, occasione reservacionis predicte de dictis feodis militum et advocacionibus ecclesiarum dicti prioratus, presentavit ad ecclesiam de Tyntenhull' quendam clericum suum Johannem Stone. Et sic dixit idem prior quod ipse sine domino rege nunc non potuit inde respondere, et peciit auxilium de dicto domino rege nunc: et in hoc quod consideratum fuit quod predictus prior ulterius responderet sine hujusmodi auxilio habendo, erratum fuit. And the aforesaid record and process having been read in the same parliament, the aforementioned Richard asked that the aforesaid prior indicate and declare errors in the aforesaid record and process if there were any. Whereupon, the aforesaid prior said through his said attorney that error was to be found in the aforesaid record and process, that is to say, first where the said prior alleged that the said Richard Seymour, by name of Richard de Sancto Mauro, knight, brought a certain writ of right, dated 14 October in the sixth year of the reign of the present king [1382], against the said prior, by the name of Francis, prior of Montagu, concerning the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull, returnable before the justices of the King's Bench on the morrow of Martinmas in the said sixth year [12 November 1382], to which writ the same Richard Seymour then appeared, and the said prior was essoined, and had a day for his essoin three weeks after Easter next [12 April 1383], as appears fully from the tenors of the said writ of right and enrolments of the aforesaid essoins sent before the lord king on his orders and enrolled in the aforesaid record, and that the said writ of scire facias requested was pending the said writ of right, which was of a higher nature that the aforesaid writ of scire facias, and he requested judgment upon the said writ of scire facias: and there was error therein, in so far as it was decided that the aforesaid prior should also answer the said writ of scire facias, notwithstanding the aforesaid exception, whereas if it had been correctly and legitimately adjudged, the same writ of scire facias ought to have been annulled. Moreover, the said prior alleged that Lord Edward [III], late king of England, grandfather of the present lord king, lately with the advice of his parliament on the occasion of war between him and the French, caused all the possessions of the alien priories in England being under French power to be taken into his hands for as long as the said war should last; and among others, the priory of Montacute with all the possessions pertaining to it was taken into the hands of the said king Edward for that reason, which Edward later by his letters patent, dated at Westminster 10 November in the forty-fifth year of his reign [1371], which the prior brought to the same [col. b] court, and which are included in the aforesaid record, assigned to the aforementioned prior by the name of brother Francis prior of the alien priory of Montacute, custody of the aforesaid priory, and all possessions attached to the same, to have from Michaelmas last past [29 September 1371] for so long as the aforesaid priory, lands and possessions should happen to remain in the king's hands for the aforesaid reason, paying to the same lord king annually at his exchequer, or elsewhere at his order, at Easter and Michaelmas [29 September] in equal portions, one hundred and twenty pounds, expressly excepting in the letters of the same king the knights' fees and advowsons of churches attached or pertaining to the said priory; and that the said present lord king, on the said occasion of the reservation of the said knights' fees and advowsons of the churches of the said priory, presented to the church of Tintinhull a certain cleric of his named John Stone. And thus the same prior said that he could not now answer to this without the lord king, and he requested the aid of the said present lord king: and there was error in so far as it was decided that the aforesaid prior should again answer without such aid.
Et insuper, ubi placitum super dicto brevi de scire facias recordatum fuit, et pro recordo irrotulatur termino Sancti Michaelis, anno dicti domini regis nunc septimo et non antea, et breve ejusdem domini regis mandatum fuit vicecomes Somers' de venire faciendo juratores essendi coram < ipso domino > rege in quindena Sancti Michaelis eodem anno septimo ubicumque tunc foret in Anglie, ad faciendam juratam inter partes predictas super exitu placiti predicti, cujus quidem brevis data est undecimo die Julii dicto anno septimo, quod est diu ante predictum terminum Sancti Michaelis, < et > quod quidem breve de venire faciendo est breve judiciale et de recordo irrotulato ante exitum brevis hujusmodi de jure et per legem terre warantizari debuisset, set per < dictum recordum > irrotulatum dicto termino Sancti Michaelis warantizari non potuit. Immo exiit sine waranto, et tamen retornatum fuit per dictum vicecomitem cum nominibus juratorum ad quindenam supra dictam, continuatoque inde processu quosque per juratam in hac parte captam, et per judicium super hoc redditum predictus prior amisit manerium suum predictum. Unde ex hoc quod predicta jurata capta fuit per returnum predictum virtute dicti brevis de venire faciendo, quod per dictum recordum, ut premittitur, warantizari non potuit; et in hoc quod consideratum fuit quod predictus Ricardus haberet execucionem de dicto manerio, super hujusmodi processu erratum fuit, eo quod si < rite > et modo legitimo adjudicatum fuisset, considerari debuisset quod totus processus super predicto brevi de scire facias discontinuari debuisset, vel aliter quod partes predicte ad placitandum de novo per legem terre compelli debuissent. Unde propter errores illos, et alios in predictis recordo et processu contentos, petit dictus prior per dictum attornatum suum quod judicium predictum tanquam erroneum revocetur et adnulletur, et quod ipse ad possessionem suam manerii predicti, una cum exitibus inde medio tempore perceptis restituatur. And further, there was error in so far as the plea on the said writ of scire facias was recorded and enrolled as a record in the term of Michaelmas in the seventh year of the said present lord king [9 October - 28 November 1383] and not before, and by a writ of the same lord king the sheriff of Somerset was ordered to cause the jurors to appear before the lord king on the quinzaine of Michaelmas in the same seventh year [8 October 1383], wheresoever he should then be in England, to determine right between the aforesaid parties upon the issue of the aforesaid plea, the writ of which is dated 11 July in the said seventh year [1383], which was long before the aforesaid term of Michaelmas [9 October - 28 November 1383], and which same writ of venire faciendo was a judicial writ and of record enrolled, which ought by right and by the law of the land to have been warranted before the issue of a writ of that kind, but it could not be warranted by the said record enrolled in the said term of Michaelmas [9 October - 28 November 1383]. Indeed it issued without warrant, and was nevertheless returned by the said sheriff with the names of the jurors on the aforesaid quinzaine, the process having been held by the jury being adjourned, and through the judgment rendered thereon the aforesaid prior lost his aforesaid manor. Hence there was error in the manner of procedure in as far as the aforesaid trial was held through the aforesaid return by virtue of the said writ of venire faciendo, which by the said record, as said above, could not be warranted; and in so far as it was decided that the aforesaid Richard should have execution of the said manor, whereas, if it had been corrected and legitimately adjudged, it ought to have been decided that the entire process regarding the aforesaid writ of scire facias should be discontinued, or otherwise that the aforesaid parties be compelled to plead anew by the law of the land. Therefore, on account of those errors and others contained in the aforesaid record and process, the said prior requested through his said attorney that the aforesaid judgment, erroneous as it was, be revoked and annulled, and that he be restored to his possession of the aforesaid manor, together with the profits received in the meantime.
Et predictus Ricardus Seymor in propria persona sua, quoad predictos tres articulos pro errore assignatos, dicit quod non habetur error in articulis supradictis: quia, ubi primo assignatum est pro errore, quod dictum breve de scire facias impetratum fuit pendente dicto brevi de recto, et quod dictus Ricardus Seymor ad dictum breve de recto comparuit, dicit quod non habetur aliquod verbum in recordo probans ipsum Ricardum ad dictum breve de recto unquam apparuisse; et dictum breve de scire facias fuit breve judiciale ad habendum execucionem cujusdam finis qui quidem finis est judicium finale in sua natura executorium infra annum, absque responsione partis, et post annum per breve de scire facias: in quo casu, apparencia sive impetracio brevis pendente alio brevi non debet cassare tale breve executorium; et sic in illo articulo non est error. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour in his own person says in response to the aforesaid three articles assigning error that no error was to be found in the aforesaid articles: because, concerning the first error claiming that the said writ of scire facias was obtained pending the said writ of right, and that the said Richard Seymour appeared upon the said writ of right, he said that there was not a single word on record proving that the same Richard had ever appeared upon the said writ of right; and the said writ of scire facias was a judicial writ for the execution of a certain fine, which fine was a final judgment of its nature to be performed within a year, without the response of party, and after a year by writ of scire facias: in which case, the appearance or obtaining of a writ pending another writ ought not to be annulled by such a writ of execution; and so no error lay in the article.
Item, ubi secundo allegatum est pro errore quod dominus Edwardus [III] nuper rex Anglie avus domini regis [p. iii-194][col. a] nunc, prioratum de Monte Acuto in manibus suis occasione guerre inter ipsum et adversarios suos Francie < seisitum > prefato priori pro certa firma inde annuatim reddenda commisserat, reservatis eidem regi Edwardo feodis militum, et advocacionibus ecclesiarum; et quod idem prior eo pretextu sine auxilio domini regis nunc respondere non potuit; et tamen consideratum fuit quod idem prior sine auxilio predicto habendo responderet; dicit quod manifeste probatum est per recordum quod predictus rex Edwardus [III] dedit et concessit patronatum dicti prioratus, et eciam custodiam et firmam ejusdem prioratus, tempore pacis et guerre, Willelmo nuper comiti Sarum et heredibus suis imperpetuum; quodque Willelmus de Monte Acuto nunc comes Sarum filius et heres predicti nuper comitis prosequebatur in cancellaria dicti regis Edwardi et habuit liberacionem custodie et firme dicti prioratus absque aliquo inde eidem regi solvendo virtute donacionis et concessionis predictarum, que quidem liberacio est plena revocacio dictarum litterarum patencium eidem priori ut premittitur factarum: et quod brevia inde thesaurario et baronibus de scaccario de exonerando dictum priorem de dicta firma, et alia brevia eidem priori de intendendo prefato nunc comiti et non regi de custodia et firma predictis facta fuerunt, et ita sine causa [non] deberet auxilium concedi in illo casu. Et insuper dicit quod dictum recordum non facit mencionem in aliquo loco quod dictum manerium de Tyntenhull' est parcella dicti prioratus, et sic dictus prior nichil amisit, nec amittere potuit, pretextu amocionis auxilii predicti, quod esset quoddam dilatorium et non ad materiam: set per placitum ad jus et ad accionem dictus prior per exitum patrie dictum manerium amisit, unde error non assignatur nec allegatur; et sic in articulo illo non habetur error. Also, as for the second error claimed - that Lord Edward [III], late king of England, grandfather of the present lord king [p. iii-194][col. a] committed the priory of Montacute, taken into his hands on the occasion of the war between him and his adversaries of France, to the aforementioned prior for the annual payment of a certain farm, reserving to the same King Edward knights' fees and advowsons of churches; and that the same prior could not, on those grounds, answer now without the help of the lord king; and nevertheless it was decided that the same prior should answer without having the aforesaid help - he says that it was clearly proven by record that the aforesaid king Edward gave and granted patronage of the said priory, and also the custody and farm of the same priory, in times of peace and war, to William late earl of Salisbury and his heirs in perpetuity; and that William of Montagu now earl of Salisbury, son and heir of the aforesaid late earl, sued in the chancery of the said King Edward and had delivery of the custody and farm of the said priory without paying anything to the same king in exchange for the aforesaid gift and concession, which delivery was an entire revocation of the said letters patent made, as said above, for the same prior: and that writs to the treasurer and barons of the exchequer exonerating the said prior of the said farm, and other writs de intendendo were made to the same prior notifying him that the custody and farm now lay with the aforementioned present earl and not with the king, and so help ought not be given without reason in this case. And he further says that the said record made no mention anywhere that the said manor of Tintinhull was a part of the said priory, and thus the said prior had not lost nor could lose anything, on the pretext of the withdrawal of the aforesaid help, that would be a matter of delay and of substance: but by the plea of right and action the said prior by the outcome of the trial lost the said manor, wherein error is not to be assigned or alleged; and so no error was to be found in that article.
Et quo ad tercium articulum, ubi assignatur pro errore, quod dictum breve de venire faciendo perquisitum fuit ante exitum junctum, dicit quod aperte probatur per recordum quod partes predicte placitaverunt ad exitum patrie in crastino Sancti Johannis Baptiste, quod < fuit > in mense Junii, et breve predictum portat datam de mense Julii tunc proximo sequento, et ita contrarium apparet de recordo; et sic in articulo illo aut in aliquo alio articulo recordi et processus predictorum non habetur error, et petit quod judicium in hac parte pro ipso redditum affirmetur. As regards the third article - where it was claimed as error that the said writ de venire faciendo was sought before the issue was joined - he said that it was clearly proven on record that the aforesaid parties pleaded for a verdict from the jury on the morrow of St John the Baptist [25 June 1383], which was in the month of June, and the aforesaid writ bore the date of the month of July then following [1383], and so the record suggests the contrary; and thus error is not to be found in that article or in any other article of the aforesaid record and process, and he asked that the judgment rendered in this matter in his favour be affirmed.
Et super hoc, auditis hinc inde partium rationibus, allegacionibus et responsionibus < in hac parte, > ac visis et examinatis recordo et processu predictis, et aliis omnibus dicta recordum et processum tangentibus et concernentibus, pro eo quod dictum breve de scire facias impetratum fuit pendente dicto brevi de recto, et dictum breve de recto pendebat post diem quo dictum breve de scire facias fuit retornabile et retornatum, ad quod breve de recto idem Ricardus comparuit prout per tenorem recordi placiti super predicto brevi de recto coram justiciariis de banco nuper habitum, et coram prefatis justiciariis de banco regis missum, liquet manifeste, in quo casu dictum breve de scire facias per legem terre cassari debuisset, et in hoc quod justiciarii consideraverunt dictum breve de scire facias fore bonum, ac dictum priorem ulterius respondere, videtur curie in parliamento quod erraverunt. And thereupon, the arguments, claims and answers of both parties having been heard in the matter, and the aforesaid record and process having been seen and examined, as well as all other things touching and concerning the said record and process, because the said writ of scire facias was obtained pending the said writ of right, and the said writ of right was pending after the day on which the said writ of scire facias was returnable and returned, to which writ of right the same Richard appeared as is manifestly clear from the tenor of the record of the plea on the aforesaid writ of right lately held before the justices of the bench, and before the aforementioned justices sent from the King's Bench, in this case the said writ of scire facias ought to be annulled by the law of the land, and in so far as the justices had decided that the said writ of scire facias was good, and that the said prior should again answer, it seemed to the court in parliament that they had erred.
[editorial note: 15 added later in the margin in error.] Et insuper, ubi predictus prior in placito predicto peciit auxilium de dicto domino rege nunc causa in recordo et processu predictis preallegata: et in hoc quod dicti justiciarii consideraverunt quod prefatus prior sine auxilio predicto habendo ulterius responderet, videtur etiam dicte curie in parliamento quod erraverunt. Ideo ob errores illos consideratum est quod judicium predictum tanquam erroneum revocetur, cassetur et penitus adnulletur; et quod predictus prior plenariam habeat restitutionem manerii predicti cum pertinentiis una cum exitibus ejusdem manerii a tempore reddicionis dicti judicii pro predicto Ricardo sic erronice redditi inde perceptis. Et preceptum est vicecomes Somers' quod eidem priori plenam restitucionem et seisinam manerii predicti cum pertinentiis habere faceret juxta consideracionem supradictam. Et quod inquirat de exitibus ejusdem manerii medio tempore inde perceptis, et inde certificet in [col. b] cancellaria. Et facta certificacione hujusmodi habeat dictus prior breve vicecomitis Somers' de exitibus hujusmodi levandis, et sibi restituendis. Et preceptum est cancellarius domini regis in pleno parliamento quod tam de seisina et restitucione prefato priori de manerio predicto habendis, quam de exitibus manerii illius, a tempore predicti judicii erronici pro predicto Ricardo redditi quovis modo perceptis, ad opus ejusdem prioris levandis et fieri faciendis ac de premissis omnibus et singulis in predicto parliamento consideratis, secundum legem et consuetudinem regni Anglie plenam execucionem fieri faciat et demandet. Intentionis tamen < dicti > domini regis non existit, quin predictus Ricardus Seymor per breve de recto vel per < breve > de scire facias de novo prosequi possit in hac parte, si sibi viderit expedire. And furthermore, in so far as the aforesaid prior had sought help in the aforesaid plea from the said present lord king for the reasons claimed above in the aforesaid record and process, and in so far as the said justices had decided that the aforementioned prior should again answer without having the aforesaid help, it also seemed to the said court in parliament that they erred. Thus on account of those errors it was decided that the aforesaid judgment, being erroneous, should be revoked, cancelled and entirely annulled; and that the said prior should have full restitution of the aforesaid manor with appurtenances together with the profits received from the same manor from the time of the said judgment erroneously made in favour of the aforesaid Richard. And the sheriff of Somerset was ordered to cause the same prior to have full restitution and seisin of the aforesaid manor with appurtenances according to the aforesaid decision. And that he should inquire into the revenues from the same manor received in the meantime and certify them in [col. b] chancery. And, notification having been made, the said prior should have a writ from the sheriff of Somerset of the revenues levied in this way and to be restored to him. And the chancellor of the lord king was ordered in full parliament to cause and demand full execution to be made, according to the law and custom of the kingdom of England, of the seisin and restitution to the aforementioned prior of the aforesaid manor, as well as of the revenues of that manor received in any way since the time of the aforesaid erroneous judgment made in favour of the aforesaid Richard, to be levied and set aside for the use of the same prior, and of each and every one of the aforesaid things decided in the said parliament. Nevertheless, it was not of the intention of the said lord king that the aforesaid Richard Seymour should be prevented from further pursuing this matter by writ of right or by writ of scire facias, if it seemed expedient to him.
[memb. i]
The following pleas continue over four separate membranes (numbered i-iv) stitched together exchequer style to the foot of the dorse of membrane 6.
PLACITA CORAM DOMINO REGE APUD WESTMON' DE TERMINO SANCTI MICHAELIS, ANNO REGNI REGNI RICARDI SECUNDI SEPTIMO. PLEAS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD KING AT WESTMINSTER IN MICHAELMAS TERM, IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF KING RICHARD II [9 October - 28 November 1383].
Adhuc de termino Sancti Michaelis. Robertus Tresilian. Thus far in Michaelmas term. Robert Tresilian.
[editorial note: Somers'.] [editorial note: Somerset.]
Alias, scilicet termino Sancte Trinitatis, anno regni regis Ricardi secundi quinto, dominus rex mandavit dilecto et fideli suo Roberto Tresilian, capitali justiciario, etc., breve suum clausum, in hec verba: At another time, namely from Trinity term in the fifth year of the reign of King Richard II [11 June - 2 July 1382], the lord king sent to his beloved and faithful Robert Tresilian, chief justice, etc., his writ close, in these words:
Ricardus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie et Francie, et dominus Hibernie, dilecto et fideli suo Roberto Tresilian, capitali justiciario suo, salutem. Tenorem pedis cujusdam finis levati in curia domini Edwardi filii regis Edwardi nuper regis Anglie progenitoris nostri, anno regni ejusdem Edwardi filii regis Edwardi undecimo, coram Willelmo de Bereford et sociis suis tunc justiciariis ejusdem Edwardi filii regis Edwardi de banco, per breve ejusdem Edwardi filii regis Edwardi inter Ricardum Lovel et Muriellam uxorem ejus querentes, et magistrum Ricardum de Clare et magistrum Rogerum de Blokerworth deforciantes, de maneriis de Blakeford, Southbarewe, Northbarewe, Cherleton' Makerell, Tyntenhull' et Prestelee, cum pertinentiis, vobis mittimus sub pede sigilli nostri, mandantes, ut inspecto tenore pedis finis predicti, ulterius, ad prosecucionem Ricardi Seymor consanguinei et heredis predicti Ricardi Lovel, inde fieri facias quod de jure et secundum legem et consuetudinem regni nostri Anglie fuerit faciendum. Teste meipso apud Westm', .xx. die Junii, anno regni nostri quinto. Richard, by grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to his beloved and faithful Robert Tresilian, his chief justice, greeting. The tenor of a certain foot of fine levied in the court of the lord Edward [II], son of King Edward [I] late king of England, our progenitor, in the eleventh year of the reign of the same Edward son of King Edward [1317], before William Bereford and his colleagues then justices of the bench of the same Edward son of King Edward, by a writ of the same Edward son of King Edward, between Richard Lovell and Muriel his wife, plaintiffs, and master Richard de Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, deforciants, concerning the manors of Blackford, South Barrow, North Barrow, Charlton Mackrell, Tintinhull and Prestley, with appurtenances, we send you under our half-seal, ordering that, having inspected the tenor of the aforesaid foot of fine, you then proceed with the suit of Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of the aforesaid Richard Lovell, and therein to do what ought to be done by right and in accordance with the law and custom of our kingdom of England. Witnessed by myself at Westminster, 20 June in the fifth year of our reign [1382].
Tenor pedis finis de quo in brevi predicto fit mentio sequitur, in hec verba: The tenor of the foot of fine of which the writ made mention follows in these words:
Hec est finalis concordia facta in curia domini regis, apud Westm' in octabis Sancti Michaelis, anno regni regis Edwardi filii regis Edwardi undecimo, coram Willelmo de Bereford, Gilberto de Roubury, Johanne de Benstede, Johanne Bacun et Johanne de Mutford, justiciariis, et aliis domini regis fidelibus, tunc ibi presentibus, inter Ricardum Lovel et Muriellam uxorem ejus querentes, per Thomam de Croukern positum loco ipsius Murielle ad lucrandum vel perdendum, et magistrum Ricardum de Clare et magistrum Rogerum de Blokerworth deforciantes, de maneriis de Blakeford, Southbarewe, Northbarewe, Cherleton' Makerel, Tyntenhull' et Prestele, cum pertinentiis, unde placitum conventionis summonitum fuit inter eos in eadem curia, scilicet quod predictus Ricardus Lovel recognovit predicta maneria cum pertinentiis esse jus ipsorum magistri Ricardi de Clare et magistri Rogeri, ut illa que iidem magister Ricardus et magister Rogerus habent de dono predicti Ricardi Lovel. Et pro hac recognicione, fine et concordia iidem < magister > Ricardus et magister Rogerus concesserunt predictis Ricardo Lovel et Murielle, predicta maneria cum pertinentiis. Et illa eis reddiderunt in eadem curia, habenda et tenenda eisdem Ricardo Lovel, et Murielle, et heredibus ipsius Ricardi, scilicet predicta maneria de Southbarewe, et Northbarewe et Tyntenhull, cum pertinentiis, de domino rege et heredibus suis; et predicta maneria [p. iii-195][col. a] de Blakeford, < Cherleton > Makerel et Prestele, cum pertinentiis, de capitali dominis feodi illius, per servitia que ad predicta maneria pertinent imperpetuum. This is the final concord made in the court of the lord king at Westminster on the octave of Michaelmas in the eleventh year of the reign of King Edward, son of King Edward [7 October 1317], in the presence of William Bereford, Gilbert Rothbury, John Benstead, John Bacon and John Mutford, justices, and other faithful men of the lord king, then present there, between Richard Lovell and Muriel his wife, plaintiffs, with Thomas Crewkerne representing Muriel to win or to lose, and master Richard de Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, deforciants, concerning the manors of Blackford, South Barrow, North Barrow, Charlton Mackrell, Tintinhull and Prestley, with appurtenances, for which a plea of contract was summoned between them in the same court, namely that the said Richard Lovell acknowledged the aforesaid manors with appurtenances to be the right of master Richard de Clare and master Roger, as those which the same master Richard and master Roger had by gift of the aforesaid Richard Lovell. And for that acknowledgement, settlement and agreement the same master Richard and master Roger granted the aforesaid manors with appurtenances to the aforesaid Richard Lovell and Muriel. And they returned them to them in the same court, to have and to hold to them, the same Richard Lovell and Muriel, and the heirs of Richard, namely the aforesaid manors of South Barrow, North Barrow and Tintinhull, with appurtenances, of the king and his heirs; and the aforesaid manors [p. iii-195][col. a] of Blackford, Charlton Mackrell and Prestley, with appurtenances, of the chief lord of that fee, for the services which pertain in perpetuity to the aforesaid manors.
Et hec concordia quo ad predicta maneria de Suthbarewe, Northbarewe et Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis, facta fuit per preceptum ipsius domini regis. And this agreement relating to the aforesaid manors of South Barrow, North Barrow and Tintinhull with appurtenances, was made by order of the lord king.
[editorial note: Somers'.] [editorial note: Somerset.]
Postea ad sectam Ricardi Seymor, asserentis se fore consanguineum et heredem predicti Ricardi Lovel, videlicet filius Murielle, filie Jacobi filii predicti Ricardi Lovel; et quod predicti Ricardus Lovel et Muriella mortui sunt; et quod ipse execucionem de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' nondum est assecutus; et quod prior de Monte Acuto predictum manerium de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis post mortem predictorum Ricardi Lovel et Murielle ingressus fuit, et illud tunc tenuit et occupavit, contra formam finis predicti, et petiit executionem de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull', juxta formam finis predicti, etc. Per quod preceptum fuit vicecomes Somers' quod per probos, etc., scire faceret prefato priori quod esset coram domino rege, a die Pasche ultimo preterito in .xv. dies ubicumque, etc., ad ostendendum si quid pro se haberet vel dicere sciret, quare predictus Ricardus Seymor, consanguineus et heres predicti Ricardi Lovel, in forma predicta execucionem de predicto manerio de Tentenhull' cum pertinentiis versus eum habere non deberet. Et ulterius, etc. Idem dies datus < fuit > predicto Ricardo Seymor. Later, at the suit of Richard Seymour, claiming that he was a kinsman and heir of the aforesaid Richard Lovell, namely son of Muriel, daughter of James, son of the aforesaid Richard Lovell; and that the aforesaid Richard Lovell and Muriel were dead; and that the execution of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull was not yet conveyed; and that the prior of Montacute had entered upon the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances after the death of the aforesaid Richard Lovell and Muriel and then held and occupied it, contrary to the form of the aforesaid settlement, and asked for execution of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull according to the form of the aforesaid settlement, etc. On account of which the sheriff of Somerset was ordered that by good men, etc., he instruct the aforementioned prior to appear before the lord king within fifteen days of Easter [20 April 1382], wheresoever, etc., to show whether he had anything to say or knew why the aforesaid Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of the aforesaid Richard Lovell, ought not to have execution of the said manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances in the aforesaid form against him. And also, etc. The same day was given to the aforesaid Richard Seymour.
Ad quem diem, coram domino rege venit predictus Ricardus Seymor per Johannem de Hulton', attornatum suum. Et vicecomes retornavit quod scire fecit prefato priori quod esset coram domino rege ad prefatum terminum ad ostendendum secundum formam brevis predicti, et ulterius facturus et recepturus quod curia domini regis consideraverit in hac parte, per Willelmum atte More et Ricardum Grene. Qui quidem prior sic premunitus in propria persona sua venit. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor, ut supra petiit execucionem de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull', cum pertinentiis, etc. Et predictus prior dixit quod predictus Ricardus Seymor, per nomen Ricardi de Sancto Mauro, chivaler, tulit quoddam breve de recto versus predictum priorem, per nomen Francisci prioris de Monte Acuto, de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull', retornabile coram justiciariis domini regis de banco in crastino Sancti Martini, anno regni domini regis nunc sexto. Ad quod breve idem Ricardus Seymor adtunc comparuit, et idem prior essonatus fuit, et habuit diem per essonium suum usque a die Pasche in tres septimanas tunc proximo sequenti. Et quod predictum breve de scire facias perquisitum fuit pendente predicto brevi de recto, quod fuit de altiori natura, etc. Et peciit judicium de brevi de scire facias, etc. Et protulit tunc in curia regis coram rege tenorem dicti brevis de recto, simul cum tenore irrotulamenti de essonio predicto inde habiti per cancellarium domini regis per manus Johannis de Waltham, custodis rotulorum in cancellaria, etc. in eadem curia missi, que premissa testantur, etc. Quorum brevis, recordi et processus tenores sequntur inferius; tenor videlicet brevis, in hec verba: On which day, the aforesaid Richard Seymour appeared before the lord king by John Hulton, his attorney. And the sheriff returned that he had instructed the aforementioned prior to come before the lord king at the aforementioned time to show according to the form of the aforesaid writ, and further to do and receive whatever the court of the lord king decided in the matter, by William atte More and Richard Green. The which prior, thus forewarned, appeared in person. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour, as mentioned above, sought execution of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, etc. And the aforesaid prior said that the aforesaid Richard Seymour, by the name of Richard de Sancto Mauro, knight, brought a certain writ of right against the aforesaid prior, by the name of Francis prior of Montacute, concerning the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull, returnable before the justices of the King's Bench on the morrow of Martinmas in the sixth year of the reign of the present lord king [12 November 1382]. To which writ the same Richard Seymour then appeared, and the prior was essoined and had a day for his essoin three weeks after Easter next [12 April 1383]. And that the aforesaid writ of scire facias was sought pending the aforesaid writ of right, which was of a higher nature, etc. And he requested judgment concerning the writ of scire facias, etc. And he then presented in the king's court and in the king's presence the tenor of the said writ of right, along with the tenor of the enrolment of the aforesaid essoin had from the lord king's chancellor by the hand of John Waltham, keeper of the rolls in chancery, etc., sent to the same court, which testified to the aforesaid. The tenors of which writ, record and process follow below; namely the tenor of the writ in these words:
'Ricardus, Dei gracia, rex Anglie, et Francie et dominus Hibernie, vicecomiti Somers', salutem. Precipe Francisco priori de Monte Acuto quod juste et sine dilacione reddat Ricardo de Sancto Mauro, chivaler, manerium de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis, quod clamat esse jus et hereditatem suam, et tenere de nobis in capite. Et unde queritur quod predictus prior ei injuste deforciavit. Et nisi fecerit, et predictus < Ricardus > fecerit te securum de clameo suo prosecuto, tunc summoneas per bonos summunitores predictum priorem quod sit coram justiciariis nostris apud Westm' in crastino Sancti Martini, ostensurus quare non fecerit. Et habeas ibi summonitores et hoc breve. Teste meipso apud Westm' .xiiij. die Octobris, anno regni nostri sexto. Richard, by grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to the sheriff of Somerset, greeting. Order Francis prior of Montacute that he justly and without delay return to Richard de Sancto Mauro, knight, the manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, which he claims to be his right and inheritance, and to hold of us in chief. And of which he complained that the aforesaid prior had unjustly deprived him. And if he does not do so, and the aforesaid Richard provides you with proof of his claim thus pursued, then you shall summon the aforesaid prior through good summoners to appear before our justices at Westminster on the morrow of Martinmas to explain why he has not done so. And you shall have with you the summoners and this writ. Witnessed myself at Westminster on 14 October, in the sixth year of our reign [1382].
Et tenor recordi et processus inde, in hec verba: And the tenor of the record and process thereon is as follows:
'Essonia capta apud Westm', coram Roberto Bealknapp' et sociis suis, justiciariis domini regis de banco, de crastino Sancti Martini, anno regnorum Ricardi regis Anglie et Francie sexto. Essoins taken at Westminster in the presence of Robert Bealnap and his colleagues, justices of King's Bench, on the morrow of Martinmas in the sixth year of the reign of Richard king of England and France [12 November 1382].
[editorial note: Rotulo secundo.] [editorial note: In the second roll.]
[col. b]
[editorial note: Somers'. Non summonitus per precipe in capite.] [editorial note: Somerset. Not summoned by writ of precipe in capite.]
Franciscus prior de Monte Acuto versus Ricardum de Sancto Mauro, chivaler, de placito terre per Johannem Davy, die Pasche in tres septimanas, afforciando. Unde ut prius peciit judicium de predicto brevi de scire facias, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor protestando dixit quod ipse non cognovit quod ipse tulit aliquod tale breve de recto versus predictum priorem de manerio predicto. Et ulterius dixit quod per tenores brevis, recordi et processus predictorum, non constat quod idem Ricardus Seymor ad breve predictum aliquando comparuit, nec quod breve predictum adtunc pendebat. Unde peciit judicium et execucionem, etc. Et quia per tenores brevis et recordi predictorum hic missos, non constabat curie, quod predictus Ricardus Seymor ad breve predictum aliquando comparuit, nec quod breve predictum adtunc pendebat: < quia videtur curie, quod predictum breve de scire facias manuteneri potest, rationibus et allegationibus predictis non obstantibus, > dictum est prefato priori quod ulterius respondeat, etc. Qui quidem prior dixit quod dominus Edwardus [III] nuper rex Anglie, avus domini regis nunc, de avisamento parliamenti sui, nuper seisire fecit in manus suas omnes possessiones prioratuum alieniginarum in Anglie de potestate Francie existentium, tenendas in manu sua quamdiu guerra inter ipsum < tunc > regem et adversarios suos de Francia durare contigeret; et inter alia prioratus de Monte Acuto, una cum omnibus possessionibus suis, seisitus fuit in manus ipsius Edwardi nuper regis, etc., ex causa predicta. Qui quidem Edwardus rex, etc. Postea per litteras suas patentes, quas idem prior protulit hic in curia, que sequntur, in hec verba: Francis prior of Montacute against Richard de Sancto Mauro, knight, concerning the plea of land, by John Davy, three weeks after Easter [12 April 1383], to be afforced. Wherefore he requested judgment on the aforesaid writ of scire facias, etc. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour, protesting, said that he did not acknowledge that he had brought any writ of right against the aforesaid prior concerning the aforesaid manor. And he also said that from the tenors of the aforesaid writ, record and process, it did not seem that the same Richard Seymour had ever appeared upon the said writ, nor that the aforesaid writ was yet pending. Wherefore he requested judgment and execution, etc. And because from the tenors of the aforesaid writ and record submitted there it did not seem to the court that the aforesaid Richard Seymour had ever appeared upon the aforesaid writ, nor that the aforesaid writ was still pending: because it seemed to the court that the aforesaid writ of scire facias could be maintained notwithstanding the aforesaid claims and allegations, it was said to the aforementioned prior that he should reply further, etc. Which prior said that Lord Edward [III], late king of England, grandfather of the present lord king, with the advice of his parliament, formerly caused to be taken into his hands all the possessions of alien priories in England being under French power, to hold in his hands for as long as the war between him then king and his adversaries of France should last; and amongst others the priory of Montacute and its possessions were taken into the hands of that Edward late king, etc., for the said reason. Which King Edward, etc. Afterwards, by his letters patent, which the same prior presented here in court, which follow in these words:
'Edwardus, Dei gracia, rex Anglie et Francie et dominus Hibernie, omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint, salutem. Sciatis quod commisimus dilecto nobis in Christo fratri Francisco priori prioratus de Monte Acuto, alienigene, custodi [sic: read 'custodiam'] prioratus predicti, et omnium possessionum eidem prioratui spectantium, quem jam pace inter nos et Gallicos adversarios nostros apud Cales' inita, et per ipsos Gallicos dissoluta, inter alios prioratus et domos religiosorum alienigenarum de dominio et potestate Francie existencium in regno nostro Anglie et alibi infra < dominium > et potestatem nostra, de < assensu parliamenti > nostri capi fecimus in manum nostram; habendum a festo Sancti Michaelis proximo preterito quamdiu prioratum, terras et possessiones predictos, in manu nostra ex causis predictis contigerit remanere. Reddendo inde nobis annuatim ad scaccarium nostrum, vel alibi ad mandatum nostrum, ad festa Pasche et Sancti Michaelis, [memb. i, dorse] per equales portiones, centum et viginti libras. Salvis nobis feodis militum, et advocationibus ecclesiarum ad dictum prioratum spectantibus sive pertinentibus, pro quo quidem priore Johannes Fitelton et Johannes Halle, de comitatu Somers', in cancellaria nostra personaliter constituti, manuceperunt quod ipse super prioratu et possessionibus predictis moram continuam faciet, et numerum clericorum et servientium ab antiquo ordinatorum in eisdem prioratu et possessionibus, et cantarias et alia divina servicia, ac elemosinas, pia opera et cetera onera eisdem prioratui et possessionibus incumbencia, integre de exitibus, et proficuis, et emolumentis eorundem, manutenebit et inveniet; et edificia prioratus et possessionum illorum in adeo bono statu quo nunc sunt reparabit et dimittet. Et quod dictus prior, seu clerici et servientes sui, extra regnum nostrum Anglie se non transferent nec divertent, nec statum, negocia, aut secreta, dicti regni nostri Anglie alicui persone extranee, quocumque colore vel ingenio, dicent vel revelabunt; nec aurum vel argentum in massa vel moneta, aut jocalia, vel armaturas, seu quicquam aliud quod in nostri vel populi nostri prejudicium aliqualiter cedere poterit, per litteras, vel per verba, vel alio modo, ad partes exteras transmittent. Et quod idem prior dictam firmam centum et viginti librarum ad terminos predictos bene et fideliter solvet, et de arreragiis, si que fuerint, de firma prioratus et possessionum predictorum de tempore quo ultimo fuerunt in manibus nostris respondebit, et bona et catalla, aut alias res ad prioratum [p. iii-196][col. a] et possessiones illos spectancia, jam ibidem existencia, a dictis prioratu et possessionibus, aut locis ad eosdem spectantibus, non alienabit seu elongabit, nec vastum seu destructionem faciet. Edward, by grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to all to whom the present letters shall come, greeting. Know that we committed to our beloved brother in Christ Francis, prior of the alien priory of Montacute, custody of the aforesaid priory, and all of the possessions pertaining to the same priory, which, when the peace initiated between us and our French enemies at Calais had been broken by the same French, we took into our hands with the assent of parliament along with other alien priories and religious houses under the dominion or power of France in our kingdom of England and elsewhere within our dominion and power; to have from Michaelmas last [29 September 1371], for as long as the aforesaid priories, lands and possessions should happen to remain in our hands for the aforesaid reasons. Paying us each year at our exchequer, or elsewhere upon our mandate, at Easter and Michaelmas [29 September] [memb. i, dorse] in equal portions, one hundred and twenty pounds. Saving to us the knights' fees and advowsons of churches attached or pertaining to the said priory, concerning which a certain prior John Fitelton and John Hall of Somerset, personally appointed in our chancery, guaranteed that he would continue to dwell in the aforesaid priory and possessions, appointing and maintaining the number of clerics and servants ordained of old in the same priory and possessions, and chantries and other divine services, and alms, pious works, and other duties incumbent upon the same priory and possessions, wholly from the issues, profits and emoluments of the same; and that he would repair and leave the buildings of the priory and their possessions in as good a state as they were in now. And that neither the said prior nor his clerics or servants would leave or depart from our kingdom of England, nor betray nor reveal the state, affairs or secrets of our said kingdom of England to any foreigner, by any scheme or device; nor withdraw to foreign parts by letters, or by words, or in any other way, gold nor silver in bullion or money, nor jewels, weapons, nor anything else which could in any way result in harm to us or our people. And that the same prior would fully and faithfully pay the said farm of one hundred and twenty pounds at the aforesaid terms and answer for the arrears, if there were any, from the farm of the aforesaid priory and possessions from the time when they were last in our hands, and that he would not alienate or remove from the said priory and possessions or places attached to those the goods, chattels and other things pertaining to the priory and its possessions, [p. iii-196][col. a] located there now, nor carry out waste and destruction.
Volumus etiam, et de gratia nostra speciali concedimus quod idem prior de decimis et quintisdecimis, lanis et omnibus aliis quotis, nobis per clerum et communitatem regni nostri Anglie, a tempore ultime capcionis eorundem prioratus et possessionum in manum nostram concessis, vel extunc concedendis, seu eidem clero per dominum summum pontificem impositis vel imponendis, ac eciam de custodia terre maritime, et de prestacionibus lanarum, et aliis oneribus quibuscumque ad eosdem prioratum et possessionibus spectantibus, contingentibus, erga nos quietus sit et exoneratus, quamdiu iidem prioratus et possessiones in manu nostra et in custodia prefati prioris extiterint ex causa supradicta; ita quod < idem > prior de eisdem prioratu et possessionibus disponere, et comodum suum facere possit, prout melius et ad majorem utilitatem suam sibi viderit expedire. In cujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste meipso apud Westm' .x. die Novembris, anno regni nostri Anglie quadragesimo quinto, regni vero nostri Francie tricesimo secundo. Moreover we willed and of our special grace conceded that the same prior should be quit towards us and exonerated of tenths and fifteenths, wool and all other quotas granted to us by the clergy and commons of our kingdom of England since the last time when the priory and possessions were taken into our hands, or yet to be conceded, or imposed or to be imposed on the same clergy by the lord pope, and also from the custody of the coasts of the sea, and from prestations on wool, and all other burdens of any sort that fall to the same priory and possessions, for as long as the same priory and possessions should be in our hands and in the custody of the aforementioned prior for the aforesaid reason; so that the same prior may arrange the same priory and possessions, and be able to do as seems best to him for his greater benefit as it seems to him. In testimony of which we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witnessed myself at Westminster, 10 November in the forty-fifth year of our reign over England, the thirty-second of our reign over France [1371].
Commisit prefato priori, per nomen fratris Francisci prioris prioratus de Monte Acuto, alienigene, custodiam prioratus predicti, et omnium possessionum eidem prioratui spectancium: habendam a festo Sancti Michaelis tunc proximo preterito, quamdiu prioratum, terras et possessiones predictas in manu regis ex causis predictis contigerit remanere. Reddendo inde eidem regi annuatim ad scaccarium suum, vel alibi ad mandatum ipsius regis, ad festa Pasche et Sancti Michaelis, per equales porciones, centum et viginti libras, salvis eidem regi feodis militum, et advocacionibus ecclesiarum, ad dictum prioratum spectantibus sive pertinentibus. Et sic dicit idem prior quod ipse sine domino rege nunc non potest inde respondere. Et preciit auxilium de domino rege, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit quod predictus prior per aliqua preallegata auxilium de domino rege habere non deberet. Dixit enim quod predictus Edwardus [III], nuper rex, avus, etc., nuper fuit seisitus de advocacione prioratus predicti in dominico suo ut de feodo, et eandem advocacionem, diu ante concessionem predictam dicto priori de custodia predicta factam, per litteras suas patentes dedit et concessit Willelmo de Monte Acuto, nuper comiti Sarum et marescallo Anglie, advocacionem prioratus de Monte Acuto [sic] : habendam et tenendam sibi et heredibus suis de ipso rege et heredibus suis imperpetuum. Volensque idem rex ipsum comitem in hac parte amplioris gracie prosequi ubertate, concessit pro se et heredibus suis prefato comiti quod ipse et heredes sui imperpetuum haberent custodiam prioratus predicti, tam temporibus quibus idem prioratus, occasione guerrarum inter ipsum regem et heredes suos et illos de Francie seu inter regna eadem motarum, aut quacumque alia de causa, inter alios prioratus, domos et possessiones religiosorum alienigenarum infra regnum Anglie, captus fuit in manum regis, seu eorundem heredum suorum, quam temporibus quibus prioratum illum vacare contigeret, sive per mortem, depositionem, vel resignacionem prioris loci illius qui pro tempore fuerit, sive alio quovis modo, cum omnibus ad custodiam illam spectantibus. Et quod idem comes et heredes sui inde disponere et ordinare possent, prout melius pro commodo suo proprio et utilitate prioratus predicti viderent expedire; exitusque et proficua inde proveniencia ad opus suum, tam guerrarum hujusmodi quam ipsius prioratus vacacionum temporibus, perciperent et haberent, adeo plene et integre sicut ille rex et heredes sui ea haberent, si prioratum illum, seu custodiam, in manibus suis propriis retinuisset, absque eo quod ille rex aut ministri sui quicumque de prioratu aut custodia hujusmodi temporibus predictis in aliquo intromitteret. Quodque prefato comiti de firma quam custodes sive monachi prioratus predicti occasione guerre inter illum regem et illos de [col. b] Francia mote in manibus suis tunc existentibus ipsi regi pro custodia ejusdem annuatim reddere tenebantur, una cum arreragiis ejusdem firme sique forent, responderetur; et quod custodes ejusdem prioratus de firma et arreragiis illis erga dictum regem omnino exonerarentur. He committed to the aforementioned prior, by the name of brother Francis, prior of the alien priory of Montacute, custody of the aforesaid priory and of all the possessions pertaining to the same priory: to have from Michaelmas then last past [29 September 1371], for as long as the aforesaid priory, lands, and possessions should happen to remain in the king's hands for the aforesaid reasons. Paying to the same king each year at his exchequer, or elsewhere at the king's mandate, at Easter and Michaelmas [29 September] in equal portions, one hundred and twenty pounds, saving to the same king the knights' fees and advowsons of churches attached or pertaining to the said priory. And thus the same prior said that he could not answer herein without the present lord king. And he prayed the aid of the lord king, etc. And the said Richard Seymour said that the aforesaid prior ought not to have the aid of the lord king for certain reasons given above. For he said that the aforesaid Edward [III], late king, the grandfather, etc., was lately seised of the advowson of the aforesaid priory in demesne and as of fee, and long before the said grant of the said custody made to the said priory he granted and conceded the same advowson by his letters patent to William Montagu, late earl of Salisbury and marshal of England, to have and to hold to him and his heirs of the same king and his heirs in perpetuity. And the same king, wishing to bestow even greater grace on the earl in this matter, granted on behalf of himself and his heirs to the aforementioned earl and his heirs custody of the aforesaid priory in perpetuity during the time when the same priory, because of war waged between this king and his heirs and those of France or between the same kingdoms, or for some other reason, together with other priories, houses and possessions of alien religious in the kingdom of England, had been taken into the king's hands or those of his heirs, as well as during the time when that priory should happen to be vacant, whether through the death, deposition or resignation of the prior of that place at the time, or for any other reason, together with everything pertaining to that custody. And that the same earl and his heirs might dispose and order it as seemed best suited to their own purpose and to the benefit of the said priory. And that they should receive and have the issues and profits arising from this for their use, both in times of such wars and during vacancies of the priory, as fully and wholly as this king and his heirs would have had them if they had kept the priory or custody in their own hands, without the king or any of his ministers intruding in any way upon the priory or custody during the said times. And that the keepers or monks of the aforesaid priory should answer to the aforesaid earl for the farm which they were obliged to pay the king annually for the custody of the same, being in their hands on the occasion of war between that king and those [col. b] of France, together with arrears of the same farm if there should be any; and that the keepers of the same priory would be entirely exonerated of that farm and those arrears towards the said king.
Ac postmodum Willelmus de Monte Acuto, nunc comes Sarum, filius et heres predicti nuper comitis, ipsi regi supplicavit, ut cum prioratus predictus, pace tunc inter dictum avum et Gallicos adversarios suos apud Cales' inita per ipsos Gallicos dissoluta, captus fuerit in manum dicti domini Edwardi avi, etc., vellet ei custodiam dicti prioratus, una cum exitibus et proficuis inde a tempore capcionis ejusdem prioratus in manus ipsius regis perceptis, juxta concessionem dicto patri suo et heredibus suis per ipsum regem sic factam, liberare [sic: read 'liberari'] jubere: idem rex avus, etc., considerans quod licet ad tempus quod in parliamento suo consideratum extitit, quod prioratus, domus et possessiones religiosorum hujusmodi in auxilium guerre sue caperentur in manum suam, concordatum fuisset et ordinatum in eodem parliamento quod priores et alii presidentes locorum eorundem, seu eorum procuratores, tam pro bono regimine locorum predictorum, quam pro divinis officiis ibidem faciendis et sustentandis, ceteris prefererentur de custodia hujusmodi prioratuum, domorum et possessionum habendum; reddendo inde ipsi regi prout inter ipsum regem et illos poterit concordari; affectans tamen idem rex concessionem suam prefato nuper comiti et heredibus suis de custodia prioratus predicti prius factam, quatenus fieri potuit absque offencione concordie supradicte, debitum sortiri effectum, voluit idem rex quod in auxilium guerre predicte, ut idem comes se in guerris suis melius manutenere possit, idem comes haberet et reciperet durante guerra supra dicta de priore loci predicti tantam firmam quantam regi pro custodia ejusdem prioratus, antequam concessio predicta prefato nuper comiti sic facta fuit, solvi consuevit, et prout prior loci predicti regi solvere deberet si custodia ejusdem prioratus eidem priori per regem commissa fuisset. Idemque rex avus, etc., per breve suum mandavit tunc thesaurario et baronibus suis de scaccario quod prefato nunc comiti dictam firmam, una cum arreragiis ejusdem firme a tempore capcionis ejusdem prioratus in manum ipsius regis perceptis, liberari et habere, et ipsum priorem inde ad dictum scaccarium exonerari et quietum esse facerent. Mandavit eciam idem rex avus, etc., aliud breve suum prefato priori quod de firma predicta eidem nunc comiti esset intendens et respondens, quorum brevium < transcripta, > premissa testificancia, dominus rex nunc mandavit justiciariis suis hic sub pede sigilli sui, et quorum brevium datum sunt secundo die Decembris, anno regni regis Edwardi [III] avi, etc., quadragesimo quinto. Et sic dixit idem Ricardus Seymor quod predictus Edwardus avus [III], etc., de advocacione, firma, et quicquid sibi de prioratu illo occasione aliqua pertinere potuit, taliter se dimisit, et prefato nunc comiti, filio et heredi prefati nuper comitis, plenarie restitucionem inde, juxta vim et effectum concessionis [editorial note: A contemporary note at the foot of this membrane reads 'plus in rotulo sequenti de eodem'.][memb. ii] predicto patri suo nuper facte, fieri fecit, per quod quicquam de prioratu illo aut de possessionibus ejusdem in persona ipsius regis avi, etc., reservari non potuit, sic nec in persona domini regis nunc residere potest. Unde non intendit quod idem nunc prior auxilium de domino rege in hoc casu versus eum habere deberet, etc. And later, William Montagu, now earl of Salisbury, son and heir of the aforesaid late earl petitioned that whereas the aforesaid priory, on the dissolution by the French of the peace initiated between the said grandfather and his French adversaries, had been taken into the hands of the said Lord Edward the grandfather, etc., the king might order the custody of the said priory, together with the issues and profits received from it since the time when the same priory was taken into the king's hands, delivered to him in accordance with the grant to his said father and heirs thus made by the same king: the same king, the grandfather, etc., considering that although at the time when it was decided in his parliament that the priory, house and possessions of the religious of this kind should be taken into his hands to help the war, it had been agreed and ordained in the same parliament that the priors and other heads of the same places, or their proctors, as well for the good governance of the aforesaid places as for the performing and sustaining of divine offices there, should be preferred over others for the holding of the custody of these priories, houses and possessions, paying for this to the same king whatsoever could be agreed between this king and themselves; nevertheless, the same king, disposed to give due effect to his grant of the custody of the aforesaid priory previously made to the aforesaid late earl and his heirs without contravening the aforesaid agreement, in order to support the aforesaid war, so that the same earl could the better maintain himself in his wars, the earl should have and receive during the aforesaid war from the prior of the aforesaid place such a farm as the latter had been accustomed to pay to the king for the custody of the same priory before the aforesaid concession was thus made to the aforesaid late earl, and which the prior of the place ought to have paid to the aforesaid king if the custody of the same priory had been assigned to the same prior by the king. And the same king, the grandfather, etc., by his writ then ordered his treasurer and barons of his exchequer that the said farm, together with the arrears of the same farm received since the time when the same priory was taken into the king's hands, be delivered to and held by the said then earl, and that they should cause the same prior to be exonerated and quit thereof at the exchequer. Moreover, the same king the grandfather, etc., sent another writ to the aforementioned prior saying that he should now be accountable and answerable to the same present earl for the aforesaid farm; transcripts of which writs testifying to the above the lord king then sent to his justices under his half-seal, these writs being dated 2 December in the forty-fifth year of the reign of King Edward [III] the grandfather [1371]. And thus the same Richard Seymour said that the aforesaid Edward [III], the grandfather, etc., so disposed of the advowson, farm and whatsoever else could have pertained to him from the aforesaid priory on that occasion; and to the aforementioned then earl, son and heir of the aforementioned late earl, he caused restitution thereof to be fully made according to the force and effect of the grant [memb. ii] to his aforesaid father, as a result of which nothing from that priory, nor from the possessions of the same, could be set aside for the person of that king the grandfather, and thus they could not now reside in the person of the king. And so he did not think that the same present prior ought to have the aid of the lord king in a case against him, etc.
Et predictus prior dixit quod in litteris predictis domini regis avi, etc., patentibus eidem priori de custodia prioratus predicti factis continetur, quod dictus rex avus, etc., reservavit sibi feodis militum et advocaciones ecclesiarum; et in brevibus predictis per predictum Ricardum Seymor in curia prolatis continetur, quod idem nunc comes de custodia seu regimine domus predicte in aliquo se non intromitteret; et in eisdem brevibus non continetur quod in restitucione predicta predicto nunc comiti facta aliqua specialis mencio facta fuit de feodis militum et advocationibus ecclesiarum. Et ulterius dixit quod dominus rex nunc, post restitucionem predictam presentavit ad ecclesiam de Tyntenhull' quendam [p. iii-197][col. a] clericum suum Johannem de Stone occasione reservacionis predicte per predictum avum suum de feodis militum et advocationibus ecclesiarum prioratus predicti facte. Unde ex causis predictis petiit auxilium de domino rege, etc. And the aforesaid prior said that in the aforesaid letters patent of the lord king the grandfather, etc., granted to the same prior concerning the custody of the aforesaid priory, it was stated that the said king the grandfather, etc. reserved for himself knights' fees and advowsons of churches; and in the aforesaid writs presented in court by the aforesaid Richard Seymour it was stated that the same present earl should not intrude himself on the custody or governance of the aforesaid house in any way; and in the same writs it was not said that in the aforesaid restitution made to the aforesaid present earl any special mention was made of the knights' fees and advowsons of churches. And he also said that the present lord king, after the aforesaid restitution, presented to the church of Tintinhull a certain [p. iii-197][col. a] clerk of his named John Stone on the grounds of the aforesaid reservation made by his said grandfather of the knights' fees and advowsons of the churches of the aforesaid priory. And so for these reasons he requested the aid of the lord king, etc.
Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit quod per < restitucionem > predictam advocatio prioratus predicti, simul cum custodia ejusdem et omnibus aliis ad dictum prioratum spectantibus seu quovismodo pertinentibus, in personam ipsius nunc comitis de jure transierunt. Unde non intendit quod predictus prior auxilium suum predictum habere < deberet, > etc. Et super hoc dies datus fuit partibus predictis coram domino rege usque in octabis Sancte Trinitatis tunc proximis sequentibus ubicumque, etc. in statu quo tunc, salvis partibus racionibus et responsionibus suis, etc. Ad quem diem, coram domino rege apud Westm' venit tam predictus Ricardus Seymor per attornatum suum predictum quod predictus prior per < Stephanum del > Fall attornatum suum: et continuato inde inter partes predictas processu coram domino rege de die in diem usque in crastinum Sancti Johannis Baptiste tunc proximo sequenti ubicumque; ad quem < crastinum, > coram domino rege apud Cantebr' venerunt tam predictus Ricardus Seymor quam predictus prior per attornatos suos predictos, etc. Et quia videtur curie quod auxilium predictum predicto priori in hoc casu non est concedendum, dictum est < per curiam > prefato priori quod ulterius respondeat, etc. < sine auxilio predicto, etc. > And the said Richard Seymour said that through the aforesaid restitution the advowson of the aforesaid priory, together with the custody of the same and all other things attached or in any way pertaining to the said priory, passed by right to the person of this present earl. Therefore he did not consider that the said prior should have his aforesaid aid, etc. And thereupon a day was given to the aforesaid parties before the lord king on the octave of Holy Trinity next [7 June 1383] wheresoever, etc., in its present state, saving to the parties their arguments and answers, etc. On which day, before the lord king at Westminster there came both the aforesaid Richard Seymour by his aforesaid attorney, and the said prior by Stephen Fall, his attorney: and the process between the two parties was adjourned from one day to the next before the lord king until the morrow of St John the Baptist next [25 June 1383], wheresoever; on which morrow, both the aforesaid Richard Seymour and the aforesaid prior appeared before the lord king at Cambridge by their aforesaid attorneys, etc. And because it seemed to the court that the said aid ought not to be granted to the aforesaid prior in the case, the court told the aforementioned prior to answer again, etc. without the aforesaid aid, etc.
Et predictus prior dixit quod predictus Ricardus Seymor execucionem virtute finis predicti versus eum habere non deberet: quia dixit quod < dominus > Henricus [I] filius Willelmi conquestoris, quondam rex Anglie, nuper fuit seisitus de manerio predicto in dominico suo ut de feodo, et idem manerium cum suis pertinentiis, per cartam suam quam idem nunc prior profert hic in curia, que < sine > datum est, dedit et concessit in liberam, puram et perpetuam elemosinam Deo et sanctis apostolis ejus Petro et Paulo de Monte Acuto et monachis Clunacensibus ibidem Deo servientibus; habendum et tenendum sibi et successoribus suis imperpetuum. Quas quidem donacionem et concessionem dominus rex nunc, et quamplures progenitores sui reges Anglie, per cartas suas ratificaverunt et confirmaverunt. Virtute cujus concessionis, tunc prior et monachi supradicti seisiti fuerunt de manerio predicto ut de jure ecclesie sue sanctorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli de Monte Acuto, et seisinam suam inde pacifice continuaverunt usque ad diem veneris proximum ante festum Assumptionis Beate Marie Virginis, anno regni domini Edwardi [II] filii regis Edwardi proavi domini regis nunc nuper regis Anglie, decimo. Qui quidem Edwardus, etc., antea per litteras suas patentes concessit cuidam Stephano tunc priori loci predicti quod quandocumque prioratum illum per mortem vel cessionem ipsius Stephani vacare contigeret, quod supprior et conventus loci illius haberent custodiam dicti prioratus, tempore vacacionis predicte, per duos menses si prioratum illum per tantum tempus vacare contigeret; pro qua quidem concessione prefatus Stephanus dedit prefato nuper regi, etc., quadraginta marcas. And the said prior said that the said Richard Seymour ought not to have execution by virtue of the said settlement against him: for he said that Lord Henry [I], son of William the Conqueror, sometime king of England, was formerly seised of the aforesaid manor in demesne as of fee, and the same manor with its appurtenances, by his charter which the same present prior presented here in court and which was undated, gave and granted in free, pure and perpetual alms to God and his holy apostles Peter and Paul of Montacute and the monks of Cluny serving God there, to be had and held by him and his successors forever. Which gift and grant the present lord king, and several of his progenitors, kings of England, ratified and confirmed by their charters. By virtue of which grant the aforesaid prior and monks were then in possession of the aforesaid manor as of the right of their church of the holy apostles Peter and Paul of Montacute, and they continued peacefully in their seisin until the Friday before the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the tenth year of the reign of the Lord Edward [II] son of King Edward, great-grandfather of the present lord king and late king of England [13 August 1316]. The which Edward, etc., previously by his letters patent granted to a certain Stephen, then prior of the aforesaid place, that whensoever that priory should happen to fall vacant by the death or resignation of this Stephen, the subprior and convent of that place would have custody of the said priory for the time of the aforesaid vacancy, for two months if the priory should happen to be vacant for so long; in return for which concession the aforementioned Stephen gave the aforementioned late king, etc., forty marks.
Ac postmodum prioratus ille per cessionem ejusdem Stephani vacavit, et prioratu illo in possessione ejusdem supprioris et monachorum loci predicti virtute concessionis regis predicti existente, quidam Ricardus Lovell', antecessor predicti Ricardi Seymor, cujus heres ipse est, in manerium predictum cum maxima multitudine hominum, armata potentia, predicto die veneris se intrusit, et manerium illud sic occupavit, quo tempore finis ille de manerio illo levatus fuit. Ac postmodum predictus Edwardus nuper rex, etc., pro eo quod querimoniam tunc prioris loci illius, per inquisicionem coram dilectis et fidelibus ipsius regis Willelmo Martyn, Hugone de Courtenay et Michaele de Meldon de mandato suo captum, intrusio illa comperta fuit in forma predicta, manerium illud cum suis pertinentiis prefato tunc priori plenarie restituit. Et protulit tunc in curia tenorem recordi et processus restitucionis predicte in hec verba: And later that priory through the resignation of the same Stephen fell vacant, and the priory being in the possession of the subprior and the monks of the aforesaid place by virtue of the grant of the aforesaid king, a certain Richard Lovell, ancestor of the aforesaid Richard Seymour, whose heir he is, entered upon the aforesaid manor on the said Friday [13 August 1316] with a great multitude of men in an armed force, and thus occupied that manor, at a time when the fine concerning that manor was made. And later the aforesaid Edward late king, etc., because in consequence of a complaint by the then prior of the place, by an inquest held on his orders before the king's beloved and faithful men, William Martin, Hugh Courtenay and Michael Meldon, that intrusion was discovered in the aforesaid form, he fully restored that manor with its appurtenances to the then aforementioned earl. And he then produced in court the tenor of the aforesaid record and process of the restitution in these words:
'Dominus rex mandavit Willelmo Martyn, Hugoni de Courteneye et Michaeli de Meldone, breve suum in [col. b] hec verba: The lord king sent his writ to William Martin, Hugh Courteney and Michael Meldon, [col. b] in these words:
'Edwardus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie, < dominus Hibernie et Dux Aquitanie, > dilectis et fidelibus suis Willelmo Martyn, Hugoni de Courteneye et Michaeli de Meldon, salutem. Cum tertiodecimo die Julii, anno regni nostri decimo, per finem quadraginta marcarum quem Stephanus tunc prior de Monte Acuto fecit nobiscum, concesserimus per litteras nostras patentes quod quandocumque [prioratum illum] per mortem, resignacionem, aut cessionem ejusdem Stephani, vacare contigeret, supprior et conventus ejusdem loci haberent custodiam dicti prioratus, et omnium temporalium ad illum spectancium, per duos menses, a tempore mortis, resignacionis, aut cessionis dicti Stephani numerandos, salvis nobis feodis militum, et advocacionibus ecclesiarum ejusdem prioratus; et si prioratus ille ultra duos menses vacaret, tunc idem prioratus et ejus temporalia in manum nostram resumerentur, et extunc in manu nostra remanerent durante ulterius vacacione prioratus predicti, prout in litteris nostris predictis plenius continetur. Edward, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland and duke of Aquitaine, to his beloved and faithful William Martin, Hugh Courteney and Michael Meldon, greeting. Whereas on 13 July in the tenth year of our reign [1316], for a fine of forty marks which Stephen then prior of Montacute paid us, we granted by our letters patent that whensoever by the death, resignation or demise of the same Stephen that priory should fall vacant, the subprior and convent of the same place would have custody of the said priory and all the temporalities pertaining to it for two months, counting from the time of the death, resignation or demise of the said Stephen, saving the knights' fees and advowsons of the churches of the same priory; and if the priory should be vacant beyond two months, then the same priory and its temporalities would be resumed into our hands and then remain in our hands for the duration of the vacancy of the aforesaid priory, as is more fully set out in our aforesaid letters.
Et postmodum, duodecimo die Octobris, anno predicto, ceperimus fidelitatem dilecti nobis in Christo fratris Johannis Caprarii, quem abbas Clunacen' in priorem dicte domus de Monte Acuto prefecerat, et ei temporalia prioratus illius, prout moris est, mandaverimus liberari, sicut per inspectionem rotulorum cancellarie nostre nobis constat; ac jam ex gravi querela dicti Johannis nunc prioris dicte domus acceperimus quod licet prefatus Stephanus, predecessor suus, die quo cessit regimini prioratus predicti seisitus fuisset de maneriis de Tyntenhull', et Estchynnok, et de hundredis de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', cum pertinentiis, in comitatu Somers', ut de jure ecclesie sue de Monte Acuto, ac predecessores ejusdem Stephani, quondam priores loci illius, maneria et hundreda illa cum pertinentiis successive, a tempore cujus contrarii memoria non existit, tenuissent, quidam tamen malefactores, et pacis nostre perturbatores, dicto prioratu per cessionem dicti fratris Stephani vacante, et in custodia dictorum supprioris et conventus per commissionem nostram ut predictum est existente, dicta maneria et hundreda, armata potentia, ingressi fuerunt, et [memb. ii, dorse] ipsos suppriorem et conventum inde expulerunt, carucas, blada et alia bona et catalla ejusdem domus in eisdem maneriis inventa, occupando et explecias hundredorum predictorum capiendo, et suis usibus applicando, et maneria et hundreda illa adhuc detinent taliter occupata; in nostri contemptum et grave prejudicium, et prioratus predicti depressionem et exheredationem manifestam. Nos igitur, qui secundum tenorem magne carte de libertatibus Anglie, prefato priori temporalia prioratus predicti adeo plene et integre sicut ad manus nostras devenerunt, ac totam terram ejusdem instauratam ut de carucis, et omnibus aliis rebus ad minus sicut eam cepimus, liberare et restituere tenemur, nolentes premissa sub dissimulacione preterire, ac de vestra fidelitate et industria plenam fiduciam optinentes, assignamus vos et duos vestrum, quorum vos prefate Michael alterum esse volumus, ad inquirendum per sacramentum tam militum quam aliorum proborum et legalium hominum de comitatu predicto, tam infra libertates quam extra, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, utrum predictus Stephanus fuit seisitus, die quo cessit regimini dicti prioratus, de maneriis et hundredis predictis ut de jure ecclesie sue, necne; et si sic, tunc utrum manerium et hundreda illa, dicto prioratu in custodia dictorum supprioris et conventus ex commissione nostra ut predictum est existente, occupata fuerunt, per quos, et quo tempore, et qualiter, et quo modo, et que bona et catalla in eisdem maneriis, et que explecie de dictis hundredis tunc capta fuerunt, et per quos, et ad quorum manus devenerunt. Et ad maneria illa et hundreda cum pertinentiis, si ea per inquisicionem hujusmodi inveneritis vacante prioratu predicto et in custodia dictorum supprioris et conventus ex commissione nostra existente fuisse taliter occupata, in manum nostram resumenda, et prefato priori liberanda; tenendum ut jus ecclesie sue, [p. iii-198][col. a] salvo jure cujuslibet. And later, on 12 October in the aforesaid year [1316], we took the fealty of our beloved brother in Christ John Caprary, whom the abbot of Cluny appointed prior of the said house of Montacute, and we ordered the temporalities of that priory to be delivered to him, as is the custom, and as is clear to us from an inspection of the rolls of our chancery; and then, as the result of a grave complaint of the said John then prior of the said house, we learnt that although the aforementioned Stephen, his predecessor, on the day on which he ceased to rule the aforesaid priory, was seised of the manors of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, and the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough, with appurtenances, in Somerset, as the right of his church of Montacute, and the predecessors of the same Stephen, once priors of that place, had successively held those manors and hundreds with appurtenances from time immemorial, nevertheless certain malefactors and disturbers of our peace, the said priory having fallen vacant on the demise of the said brother Stephen and being in the custody of the said subprior and convent by our commission as aforesaid, had invaded the manors and hundreds with armed might and [memb. ii, dorse] expelled the subprior and convent, seizing ploughs, corn and the other goods and chattels of the same house found on the same manors and taking the profits of the aforesaid hundreds and applying them to their own use, and they still retain those manors and hundreds thus occupied, in contempt of us and to our great detriment, and the clear impoverishment and disinheritance of the aforesaid priory. We therefore, who are bound according to the tenor of the Great Charter of the liberties of England to deliver and restore to the aforementioned prior the temporalities of the aforesaid priory as fully and entirely as they fell into our hands, and all the land-stock of the same such as ploughs and all other things at least as we received them, not wishing to omit the aforesaid by any device, and placing full trust in your fidelity and industry, we assign to you and two of you, of whom we wish one to be the aforementioned Michael, to inquire by the oath of knights as well as other good and law-worthy men of the said county, both within liberties and without, by whom the truth of the matter might best be learned, whether the aforesaid Stephen was in possession, on the day on which he ceased to rule the said priory, of the said manors and hundreds as the right of his church, or not; and if so, whether those manors and hundreds, the said priory being in the custody of the said subprior and convent by our commission as aforesaid, were taken, by whom, and at what time, and how, and by what means, and what goods and chattels on the same manors, and what profits from the said hundreds were then taken, and by whom, and into whose hands they came. And if you find by such an inquest that the aforesaid priory, being vacant and in the custody of the said subprior and convent by our commission, and those manors and hundreds with appurtenances were thus seized, you shall take them into our hands and deliver them to the aforementioned prior, to be held as by right of his church, [p. iii-198][col. a] saving the right of any.
Et ideo vobis mandamus quod ad certos dies et loca, quos vos vel duo vestrum, quorum vos prefate Michael alterum esse volumus, ad hoc provideritis, premissa omnia et singula faciatis et expleatis in forma predicta: et nos de tenore inquisicionis illius, et de toto facto vestro in hac parte sub sigillis vestris distincte et aperte reddatis certiores. Mandavimus enim vicecomiti nostro comitatus predicti quod ad certos dies et loca, quos vos vel duo vestrum, quorum vos prefate Michael alterum esse volumus, ei scire feceritis, venire faciendo coram vobis vel duobus vestrum, quorum vos prefate Michael alterum esse volumus, tot et tales, tam milites, quam alios probos et legales homines de comitatu predicto, tam infra libertates quam extra, per quos rei veritas in premissis melius sciri poterit et inquiri; et quod vobis in premissis pareat et intendat. In cujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste meipso apud Eboracum, .xiij. die Novembris, anno regni nostri duodecimo. And therefore I order you that on certain days and at certain times and places, you or the two of you, of whom I wish one to be the aforementioned Michael, do provide for this, and perform and fulfil each and every one of the aforesaid matters in the said manner: and that you inform us clearly and distinctly of the tenor of this inquest and of all your actions in this matter under your seal. For we have ordered our sheriff of the aforesaid county that at certain times and places, you or two of you, of whom I wish one to be the aforementioned Michael, should instruct him to bring before you or the two of you, of whom I wish one to be the aforementioned Michael, as many and such men, as well knights as good and law-worthy men of the aforesaid county, within liberties and without, through whom the truth of the aforesaid matter might best be known and learned; and that he obey and assist you in the aforesaid. In testimony of which we caused these our letters to be made patent. Witnessed by myself at York, 13 November in the twelfth year of our reign [1318].
Pretextu cujus brevis iidem Willelmus, Hugo et Michael mandaverunt vicecomiti Somers' quod venire faceret coram eis apud Ivele, die lune proximo post festum Epiphanie Domini, viginti quatuor tam milites quam alios probos et legales homines, de visneto de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, et etiam de visneto hundredorum de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', per quos rei veritas melius inde scire poterit et inquiri, secundum tenorem predicti brevis domini regis predictis Willelmo, Hugoni et Michaeli, inde prius directi. On the authority of which writ the same William, Hugh and Michael ordered the sheriff of Somerset to cause to appear before them at Yeovil on the Monday following the feast of the Lord's Epiphany [8 January 1319] twenty-four men, as well knights as other good and worthy men, from the neighbourhood of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, and also from the neighbourhood of the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough, through whom the truth of the matter might best be known and learned, according to the tenor of the aforesaid writ of the lord king already sent to the aforesaid William, Hugh and Michael.
Ad quem diem, idem vicecomes Somers' retornavit breve domini regis sibi inde directum, et eciam breve ipsorum Willelmi, Hugonis et Michaelis, et similiter nomina juratorum, etc., secundum quod ei preceptum fuit, et per sufficientem manucapcionem, qui non venerunt. Ideo preceptum est vicecomes quod distringat predictos juratores per omnes terras et catalla sua, etc., et quod domino regi respondeat de exitibus, etc. Et quod habeat corpora eorum coram prefatis Willelmo, Hugone et Michaele, vel coram duobus eorum quorum, etc., apud Juvele, die mercurii proximo ante festum Sancti Hillar' proximum venturum. Et preter illos venire faciant coram eis ad eundem diem tot et tales tam milites quam alios, etc., ita quod negocium predictum pro defectu juratorum non remaneat infectum. Inquisicio capta apud Jevele, die mercurii proximo ante festum Sancti Hillar', anno regni regis Edwardi filii regis Edwardi duodecimo, per sacramentum Radulphi de Gorges, Johannis Mautravers senioris, Johannis de Erlegh, Johannis de Meriet, Henrici de Glaston', Petri de Evercy, Edmundi de Everard, Willelmi de Wygebere, Johannis de Clyvedon', militum, Johannis Peytevyn, Johannis Musket et Henrici de Estfeld, ad hoc electorum, etc., qui dicunt super sacramentum suum quod Stephanus quondam prior de Monte Acuto, predecessor Johannis Caprarii nunc prioris ejusdem domus, fuit seisitus, ut de jure ecclesie sue de Monte Acuto, de maneriis de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnnok, et de hundredis de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', tempore et die quo cessit regimini dicti prioratus, videlicet tertiodecimo die Julii, anno regni regis Edwardi filii regis Edwardi decimo; et quod ipse et predecessores sui predicti prioratus, [editorial note: A contemporary note at the foot of this membrane reads 'Plus in rotulo sequenti de eodem'.][memb. iii] a tempore cujus contrarii memoria non existit, semper hactenus seisiti fuerunt pacifice de predictis maneriis et hundredis, ut de jure ecclesie sue de Monte Acuto, cum omnibus suis pertinentiis. Et dicunt quod tempore vacacionis predicti prioratus, videlicet die veneris proximo ante festum Assumpcionis Beate Marie Virginis anno predicto, quando predicta maneria et hundreda fuerunt in manu supprioris et conventus ejusdem prioratus vacantis per commissionem ipsius domini regis per duos menses, exceptis feodis militum et advocacionibus ecclesiarum prioratus predicti de temporalibus rebus, quod quidem Ricardus Lovell', Henricus de Pupelpenne, magister Hugo Cocus, Mauricius Marescall', Walterus de Welham et Margeria uxor ejus, et Thomas filius ejusdem Walteri, magister Willelmus de Modeford, Eva que fuit uxor Ricardi Suncte et Thomas Revenyng, armata potencia predicta [col. b] maneria et hundreda cum pertinentiis sunt ingressi, et predicta maneria et hundreda occupaverunt, et suis usibus applicaverunt, et bona et catalla < in > eisdem maneriis inventa, videlicet blada, boves, carucas et carectas, currus, equos et oves et alia bona et catalla ad valenciam mille librarum ceperunt, abduxerunt, et asportaverunt, in contemptum domini Ricardi, et grave prejudicium ipsius prioris et oppressionem et depauperacionem manifestam; et sic occupata predicta maneria et hundreda cum pertinentiis per duos annos et viginti septimanas tenuerunt, et de expleciis predictorum hundredorum ignoratur. On which day, the same sheriff of Somerset returned the writ of the lord king addressed to him and also the writ of William, Hugh and Michael, and likewise the names of the jurors, etc., as he had been ordered, and by sufficient bail, none of whom appeared. Therefore the sheriff was ordered to distrain the aforesaid jurors by all their lands and chattels, etc. And that he should answer to the lord king for the issues, etc., and that he should have their persons before the aforementioned William, Hugh and Michael, or before two of them, of whom, etc., at Yeovil, on the Wednesday before the feast of St Hilary next following [10 January 1319]. And further, that he cause to appear before them on the same day as many and such knights as well as others, etc., so that the aforesaid matter should not remain incomplete for want of jurors. At the inquest held at Yeovil, on the Wednesday before the feast of St Hilary in the twelfth year of the reign of King Edward [II] son of King Edward [10 January 1319], Ralph Gorges, John Mautravers the elder, John Erlegh, John Meriet, Henry Glastonbury, Peter Evercy, Edmund Everard, William Wigborough, John Clevedon, knights, John Peytevyn, John Musket, and Henry Eastfield, elected thereto, etc., said on their oath that Stephen sometime prior of Montacute, predecessor of John Caprary now prior of the same house, was seised as of the right of his church of Montacute of the manors of Tintinhull and Estchynnnok and the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough at the time and on the day when he ceased to rule the said priory, namely 13 July in the tenth year of the reign of King Edward [II], son of King Edward [1316]; and that he and his predecessors of the aforesaid priory, [memb. iii] since time immemorial, had always until now been peacefully seised of the aforesaid manors and hundreds as of the right of their church of Montacute, together with all their appurtenances. And they said that at the time when the aforesaid priory fell vacant, namely on the Friday before the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the aforesaid year [13 August 1316], when the aforesaid manors and hundreds were in the hands of the subprior and convent of the same vacant priory by commission of the same lord king for two months, excluding knights' fees and advowsons of the churches of the aforesaid priory from temporal things, that a certain Richard Lovell, Henry Pupelpenne, master Hugh Cook, Maurice Marshal, Walter Welham and Marjory his wife, and Thomas son of the same Walter, master William Mudford, Eva who was wife of Richard Suncte and Thomas Revenyng, with armed might entered upon the aforesaid [col. b] manors and hundreds with appurtenances, and occupied the aforesaid manors and hundreds, and turned them to their own uses, taking, removing and carrying off the goods and chattels found on the same manors, namely corn, oxen, ploughs and carts and wagons, horses, sheep and other goods and chattels to the value of a thousand pounds, in contempt of Sir Richard, and to the grave injury and manifest impoverishment and disinheritance of that prior; and thus they held the aforesaid seized manors with appurtenances for two years and twenty weeks; and nothing is known of the profits of the aforesaid hundreds.
Ideo prefati justiciarii predicta maneria de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, et hundreda de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', ceperunt in manum domini regis, juxta tenorem commissionis predicte, et predicto priori liberarunt: tenenda ut de jure ecclesie sue de Monte Acuto, salvo jure cujuslibet, sicut predecessores sui priores ejusdem domus ea tenere et habere consueverunt, a tempore cujus contrarii < memoria > non existit. Et preceptum est vicecomes quod premissa exequatur, etc. Ac postmodum manerio illo in possessione ejusdem prioris existente, predictus Ricardus Lovel, per factum suum quod idem nunc prior < protulit > tunc in curia, concessit, remisit, et omnino pro se et heredibus suis imperpetuum quietum clamavit, priori et conventui de Monte Acuto et successoribus suis, totum jus suum et clameum quod habuit, vel aliquo modo habere potuit, in predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum suis pertinentiis; et ulterius recognovit per dictum scriptum suum dictum manerium cum pertinentiis esse jus ipsius prioris et conventus et successorum suorum imperpetuum. Ita quod nec ipse Ricardus Lovel nec heredes sui in manerio predicto cum suis pertinentiis, nec in aliqua parte ejusdem, aliquid juris vel clamei exigere vel vendicare poterint in futuro. Et ulterius concessit predictus Ricardus Lovel per idem scriptum suum quod si aliquis finis de predicto manerio cum suis pertinentiis, aut in aliqua parte ejusdem, in curia domini regis fuerit levatus, inter ipsum Ricardum Lovell' et Muriellam uxorem ejus querentes, et magistrum Ricardum de Clare et magistrum Rogerum de Blokerworth' deforciantes, virtute cujus finis aliquid juris vel clamei sibi vel heredibus suis quoquomodo accressere potuit, voluit et concessit idem Ricardus Lovell' pro se et heredibus suis quod finis ille ipso jure foret nullus, et pro nullo imperpetuum haberetur. Et protulit tunc in curia scriptum concessionis et remissionis predicti Ricardi Lovell' premissa testificans quod sequitur in hec verba: Therefore the aforementioned justices took the aforesaid manors of Tintinhull and East Chinnock and the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough into the hands of the lord king, according to the tenor of the aforesaid commission, and delivered them to the aforesaid prior, to be held as of the right of his church of Montacute, saving the right of any, as his predecessors, priors of the same house, had been accustomed to hold and have them from time immemorial. And the sheriff was ordered to perform the aforesaid things, etc. And later, that manor being in the possession of the same priory, the aforesaid Richard Lovell, by his deed which the same present prior then presented in court, granted, remitted and entirely quit-claimed on behalf of himsef and his heirs in perpetuity, to the prior and convent of Montacute and their successors, all the right and claim which he had or could in any way have in the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with its appurtenances; and he further acknowledged in his said document the said manor with appurtenances to be the right of the prior and convent and their successors in perpetuity. So that neither Richard Lovell nor his heirs could demand or assert any right or claim to the aforesaid manor with its appurtenances nor to any part of the same in future. And the aforesaid Richard Lovell also granted in the same document that if any fine concerning the aforesaid manor with its appurtenances, or any part of the same, should be levied in the court of the lord king, between that Richard Lovell and Muriel his wife, plaintiffs, and master Richard Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, deforciants, by virtue of which fine any right or claim could accrue to him or to his heirs, the same Richard Lovell willed and granted on behalf of himself and his heirs that the fine would be as nothing to his right, and be forever held at naught. And he then presented in court the writing of the grant and remission of the aforesaid Richard Lovell testifying to the aforesaid, which follows in these words:
Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quod presens scriptum pervenerit, Ricardus Lovel, dominus de Carycastel, salutem in Domino. Noveritis, me concessisse, remisisse et omnino de me et heredibus meis imperpetuum quietum clamasse, priori et conventui de Monte Acuto, et eorum successoribus, totum jus meum et clameum quod habui vel aliquo modo habere potero in maneriis de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, cum pertinentiis, in comitatu Somers', et in advocacionibus ecclesiarum earundem villarum de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, et eciam in hundredis de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', cum omnibus suis pertinentiis, feriis et mercatis de Tyntenhull', et eciam in omnibus aliis rebus ad maneria, advocaciones, hundreda, ferias et mercata predicta qualitercumque spectantibus. Et per presentes recognosco, omnia tenementa predicta cum advocacionibus, hundredis, feriis et mercatis predictis, esse jus ipsius prioris et conventus, et successorum suorum imperpetuum, ita quod nec ego Ricardus Lovel, nec heredes mei, nec aliquis per nos seu nomine nostro, in maneriis, advocacionibus, hundredis, feriis vel mercatis predictis, cum omnibus suis pertinentiis, seu aliqua parte eorundem, de cetero aliquid juris vel clamei exigere vel vendicare poterimus in futuro; set ab omni actione cujuscumque juris aliquid petendi maneriorum de Tyntenhull' et Estchynnok, cum advocacionibus ecclesiarum earundem villarum, et hundredorum de Tyntenhull' et Hundesbergh', feriis et mercatis de Tyntenhull, et omnibus aliis pertinentiis dictorum maneriorum, [p. iii-199][col. a] advocacionum ecclesiarum predictarum hundredorum, feriarum, et mercatorum predictorum, seu aliqua parte eorundem, in dominico vel in servitio, per presentes imperpetuum simus exclusi. Et si aliquis finis de predictis tenementis, vel hundredis, vel aliqua parte eorundem, in curia domini regis fuerit levatus inter me et Muriellam uxorem meam querentes, et magistrum Ricardum de Clare et magistrum Rogerum de Blokesworth deforciantes, virtute cujus finis aliquid juris vel clamei michi vel heredibus meis quoquo < modo > accressere potuit, volo et concedo pro me et heredibus meis quod ipse jure sit nullus, et pro nullo imperpetuum habeatur. In cujus rei testimonium < huic presenti scripto > sigillum meum apposui. Hiis testibus, nobili viro domino Thoma comite Lancastr', domino Johanne comite Richemond', domino Roberto de Holand', domino Willelmo le Latymer, domino Fulcone Lestrange, domino Nicholao de Segrave, domino Johanne de Claveryng, domino Fulcone filio Warini, domino Geraldo Salveyn, domino Willelmo Tuchet, domino Johanne Beek, domino Willelmo Trussel, domino Johanne de Kynardeseye, domino Michaele de Meldon', Rogero Beler, Johanne de Lancastre et aliis multis. Datum apud Eborum, die jovis in octabis Assensionis Domini, anno regni regis Edwardi filii regis Edwardi duodecimo, tempore parliamenti ibidem tenti. (fn. iii-184-153-1) Hanc vero quietam clamanciam ego Ricardus Lovel ante dictus recognovi, et eam irrotulari procuravi tam in cancellaria domini regis quam coram Henrico de Scrop et sociis suis, justiciariis domini regis tunc ibidem presentibus, die, loco et anno predictis. To all Christ's faithful to whom this present document shall come, Richard Lovell, lord of Castle Cary, greeting in the Lord. Know that I have granted, remitted and entirely quit-claimed forever on behalf of myself and my heirs to the prior and convent of Montacute and their successors all my right and claim which I had or in any way could have in the manors of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, with appurtenances, in Somerset, and in the advowsons of the churches of the same towns of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, and also in the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough, with all their appurtenances, fairs and markets of Tintinhull, and also in all other things pertaining in any way to the aforesaid manors, advowsons, hundreds, fairs and market. And by these presents I acknowledge all the aforesaid tenements with the advowsons, hundreds, fairs and markets to be the right of that prior and convent and their successors in perpetuity, so that neither I, Richard Lovell, nor my heirs, nor anyone through us or in our name shall be able to demand or assert any right or claim in the aforesaid manors, advowsons, hundreds, fairs or markets, with all their appurtenances, or any part of the same, in future; but by these presents we shall be forever excluded from all actions of any kind seeking any right in the manors of Tintinhull and East Chinnock, with the advowsons of the churches of the same towns, the hundreds of Tintinhull and Houndsborough, the fairs and markets of Tintinhull, and all other appurtenances of the said manors, [p. iii-199][col. a] advowsons of the aforesaid churches of the aforesaid hundreds, fairs and markets, or any part of the same, in demesne or in service. And if any fine concerning the aforesaid tenements or hundreds, or any part of the same, be levied in the court of the lord king between myself and Muriel my wife, plaintiffs, and master Richard Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, deforciants, by virtue of which fine any right or claim could accrue to me or to my heirs in any way, I will and grant on behalf of myself and my heirs that that right shall carry no weight and be forever held at naught. In testimony of which I have affixed my seal to the present writing. Witnessed by the noble man Sir Thomas earl of Lancaster, Sir John earl of Richmond, Sir Robert Holland, Sir William Latimer, Sir Fulk Lestrange, Sir Nicholas Segrave, Sir John Clavering, Sir Fulk FitzWarin, Sir Gerald Salveyn, Sir William Tuchet, Sir John Beek, Sir William Trussel, Sir John Kynardeseye, Sir Michael Meldon, Roger Beler, John Lancaster, and many others. Given at York, on Thursday on the octave of the Lord's Ascension in the twelfth year of the reign of King Edward [II] son of King Edward [24 May 1319], at the time of the parliament held there. (fn. iii-184-153-1) And truly this quit-claim I, the aforesaid Richard Lovell, have acknowledged and caused to be enrolled both in the chancery of the lord king as well as before Henry Scrope and his colleagues, justices of the lord king then present there, on the aforesaid day, at the aforesaid place and in the aforesaid year.
Unde idem nunc prior petiit judicium si predictus Ricardus Seymor, contra factum predictum predicti antecessoris sui cujus heres ipse est, execucionem de manerio predicto versus eum habere deberet, etc. Whereupon the same present prior requests judgment as to whether the aforesaid Richard Seymour ought to have execution of the aforesaid manor against him, contrary to the aforesaid deed of his aforesaid ancestor whose heir he is, etc.
Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit, non cognoscendo aliqua per predictum priorem superius preallegata, quod placitum ejusdem prioris est duplex vel triplex, unde non intendit quod idem prior ad tale placitum duplex de jure admitti deberet, etc. Unde petit judicium et execucionem, etc. [memb. iii, dorse] Et predictus prior dixit quod ipse placitavit solomodo predictum scriptum ut factum antecessoris ipsius Ricardi Seymor in barram execucionis sue predicte, et pro principali et finali exitu placiti sui predicti; et residuum cepit tantum per viam protestacionis et conduccionis totius materie sue ad exitum illum. Et dixit ut prius quod predictus Ricardus Lovel, antecessor, etc., per scriptum suum predictum concessit et remisit, et omnino pro se et heredibus suis imperpetuum quietum clamavit priori et conventui de Monte Acuto qui tunc fuerat, et successoribus suis, totum jus suum et clameum quod habuit vel aliquo modo habere potuit in predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum suis pertinentiis, dum idem nuper prior fuit in possessione ejusdem manerii. Et ulterius recognovit, etc. Ita quod nec ipse Ricardus Lovel, nec heredes sui, etc. Et ulterius concessit quod si aliquis finis, etc. Unde petit judicium, si predictus Ricardus Seymor contra factum predictum predicti antecessoris sui, cujus heres ipse est, execucionem de manerio predicto versus eum habere deberet, etc. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour, not acknowledging anything alleged above by the aforesaid prior, said that the plea of the same prior was double or triple, and therefore he did not think that the same prior should be allowed such a double plea by right, etc. Whereupon he sought judgment and execution, etc. [memb. iii, dorse] And the aforesaid prior said that he only pleaded the aforesaid document as the deed of the ancestor of Richard Seymour in barring his aforesaid execution, and as the first and last issue of his aforesaid plea; and the rest he took by way of protestation and conducing of all his matter to that issue. And he said as before that the aforesaid Richard Lovell, the ancestor, etc., by his aforesaid document granted, remitted and entirely quit-claimed on behalf of himself and his heirs in perpetuity to the prior and convent of Montacute of that time and their successors all his right and claim which he had or in any way could have in the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with his appurtenances, while the same late prior was in possession of the same manor. And he also acknowledged, etc. So that neither this Richard Lovell, nor his heirs, etc. And he also granted that if any settlement, etc. Whereupon he requested judgment as to whether the aforesaid Richard Seymour ought to have execution of the aforesaid manor against him contrary to the said deed of his said ancestor, whose heir he is, etc.
Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit, non cognoscendo aliqua per predictum priorem superius preallegata, quod quidam Hugo Lovel, consanguineus predicti Ricardi Seymor, cujus heres ipse est, fuit seisitus de dicto manerio de Tyntenhull', in dominico suo ut de feodo, et diu ante levationem finis predicti concessit predictum manerium cuidam priori de Monte Acuto, predecessori nunc prioris, tenendum ad voluntatem ipsius Hugonis, in auxilium operis ecclesie ibidem, dum eidem Hugoni placeret, absque hoc quod idem prior vel successores sui aliquem alium statum in eodem manerio ante levacionem finis predicti unquam habuerunt, etc. Colore cujus concessionis, prefatus prior et successores sui occupaverunt predictum manerium in jure prefati Hugonis et heredum suorum, etc., quousque Ricardus Lovel, consanguineus et heres predicti Hugonis, manerium predictum in manus suas proprias seisivit et resumpsit, et seisinam suam in eodem manerio continuavit, quousque [col. b] idem Ricardus Lovel de dicto manerio, simul cum aliis maneriis predictis feoffavit magistrum Ricardum de Clare, magistrum Rogerum de Blokerworth, in feodo simplici; qui quidem magister Ricardus et magister Rogerus, virtute feoffamenti illius inde seisiti fuerunt tempore confectionis scripti predicti, absque hoc quod prior qui tunc fuerat aliquid habuit in eodem manerio tempore confectionis ejusdem scripti: et hoc paratus est verificare, etc. Qui quidem magister Ricardus et magister Rogerus dictum manerium cum aliis maneriis predictis prefato Ricardo Lovel et Murielle, in fine predicto nominatis, habendum sibi et heredibus ipsius Ricardi Lovel, concesserunt et reddiderunt. De quo quidem manerio de Tyntenhull' virtute finis predicti predictus Ricardus Seymor, consanguineus et heres predicti Ricardi Lovel, modo petit execucionem, etc. Et dicit quod nec Henricus [I] rex, filius conquestoris, nec aliquis regum Anglie, de manerio predicto unquam seisiti fuerunt ante levacionem finis predicti. Unde petit judicium et execucionem, etc. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour said, not acknowledging anything alleged above by the aforesaid prior, that a certain Hugh Lovell, kinsman of the aforesaid Richard Seymour whose heir he is, was in possession of the said manor of Tintinhull, in his demesne as of fee, and long before the levying of that fine he granted the aforesaid manor to a certain prior of Montacute, a predecessor of the present prior, to be held at the will of Hugh, in support of the work of the church there, as it should please the same Hugh, without the same prior or his successors ever having had any other estate in the same manor before the levying of the said fine, etc. By colour of which grant, the said prior and his successors occupied the aforesaid manor which in the aforementioned Hugh and his heirs, etc., until Richard Lovell, kinsman and heir of the aforesaid Hugh, seised and resumed the aforesaid manor into his own hands and continued in seisin of the same manor until [col. b] the same Richard Lovell enfeoffed master Richard Clare and Roger Bloxworth in fee simple of the said manor, together with the other aforesaid manors; which master Richard and master Roger by virtue of that enfeoffment were seised thereof at the time when the aforesaid writing was made, without the prior of the time having anything in the same manor at the time when that writing was made: and this he was ready to verify, etc. Which master Richard and master Roger granted and rendered the said manor with all the aforesaid manors to the aforementioned Richard Lovell and Muriel, named in the aforesaid settlement, to be held by them and the heirs of the same Richard Lovell. Of which manor of Tintinhull, by virtue of the aforesaid fine, the aforesaid Richard Seymour, kinsman and heir of the aforesaid Richard Lovell, now sought exeution, etc. And he said that neither King Henry [I], son of the Conqueror, nor any other king of England was ever seised of the aforesaid manor before the levying of the aforesaid fine. For which reason he requested judgment and execution, etc.
Et predictus prior non cognoscendo aliqua per ipsum Ricardum Seymor superius allegata, dixit quod placitum predicti Ricardi fuit duplex, unde non intendit quod ipse ad tale placitum duplex de jure necesse habet respondere. Et quia videtur curie quod placitum predicti Ricardi Seymor fuit duplex, dictum fuit eidem Ricardo per curiam, quod ipse responderet ad predictum scriptum quod predictus prior asserit fore factum antecessoris sui, et quod idem prior placitavit versus eum in barram executionis finis predicti, etc., si, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor habito visu scripti predicti, dixit quod ipse non cognovit scriptum illud fore factum tempore quo per datam ejusdem supponitur fieri. Et dixit ulterius quod prior de Monte Acuto qui tunc fuerat non fuit seisitus de manerio de Tyntenhull', nec de aliqua parcella ejusdem manerii, tempore confeccionis scripti predicti: set predicti magister Ricardus de Clare et magister Rogerus de Blokerworth', qui idem manerium reddiderunt per finem predictum, ad tunc inde seisiti fuerunt. Et hoc paratus est verificare, etc. Et dixit quod ipse residuum omnium materiarum suarum per ipsum superius propositarum cepit per viam protestationis et conductionis totius placiti sui ad exitum illum. Unde peciit judicium, si ipse ab execucione sua predicta virtute scripti predicti excludi deberet, etc. Et petiit execucionem, etc. And the aforesaid prior, not acknowledging anything alleged above by this Richard Seymour, said that the plea of the aforesaid Richard was double, and so he did not think that he need by rights answer such a double plea. And because it seemed to the court that the plea of the aforesaid Richard Seymour was double, the same Richard was informed by the court that he should answer the aforesaid document, which the said prior claimed to be the deed of his ancestor, and which the same prior pleaded against him in barring execution of the aforesaid settlement, etc., if, etc. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour, having seen the aforesaid document, said that he did not accept that the document had been made at the time suggested by the date on the same. And he also said that the prior of Montacute at the time was not seised of the manor of Tintinhull, nor any parcel of the same manor, at the time when the aforesaid document was made: but the aforesaid master Richard Clare and master Roger Bloxworth, who returned the same manor by the aforesaid fine, had then been in possession. And that he was ready to verify, etc. And he said that he took the rest of his matter proposed above by way of protest and conducing to all his plea at that issue. And so he sought judgment as to whether he ought to be excluded from his aforesaid execution by virtue of the aforesaid document, etc. And he requested execution, etc.
Et predictus prior dixit quod tempore confectionis scripti predicti prior de Monte Acuto qui tunc fuerat fuit seisitus de dicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis. Et hoc paratus fuit verificare per patriam, etc. Et predictus Ricardus Seymor dixit quod tempore confeccionis scripti predicti prior de Monte Acuto qui tunc fuerat non fuit seisitus de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis, nec de aliqua parcella ejusdem. Et hoc paratus fuit verificare per patriam, etc. Et predictus prior similiter, etc. Ideo preceptum fuit vicecomes Somers' quod venire faceret coram domino rege ad hunc diem, scilicet a die Sancti Michaelis in .xv. dies ubicumque, etc., .xxiiij. tam milites, etc., de visneto de Tyntenhull', per quos, etc. Et qui nec, etc. ad recognicionem, etc. Quia tam, etc. Idem dies datus fuit partibus predictis, etc. And the aforesaid prior said that at the time when the aforesaid document was made the prior of Montacute of the time was seised of the said manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances. And that he was ready to verify by his country, etc. And the aforesaid Richard Seymour said that at the time when the aforesaid document was made the prior of Montacute at the time was not seised of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, nor any parcel of the same. And that he was ready to prove by his country, etc. And the aforesaid prior likewise, etc. Therefore, the sheriff of Somerset was ordered to bring before the lord king on that day, namely fifteen days from the day of Michaelmas [8 October 1383], wheresoever, etc., twenty-four men as well knights, etc., from the neighbourhood of Tintinhull, by whom, etc. And who neither, etc., for the acknowledgement, etc. Since both, etc. The same day was given to the aforesaid parties, etc.
Ad quem diem, coram domino rege apud Westm' venerunt tam predictus Ricardus Seymor quam predictus prior per attornatos suos predictos. Et vicecomes retornavit nomina predictorum .xxiiij., etc., quorum nullus venit. Ideo vicecomes habeat corpora eorum coram domino rege in octabis Sancti Martini ubicumque, etc., ad faciendam juratam predictam, etc. Idem dies datus est partibus predictis, etc. Et continuato inde processu inter partes predictas per juratos positos in respectu usque a die Sancti Hillar' in .xv. dies tunc proximo sequenti ubicumque, etc. Ad quem diem, coram domino rege apud Westm' venit predictus Ricardus Seymor per attornatum suum predictum, et predictus prior per attornatum suum predictum similiter venit. Et juratores similiter venerunt, qui ad hoc electi, triati et jurati dicunt super sacramentum suum, quod ipse qui fuerat prior de Monte Acuto tempore confectionis scripti predicti, quod predictus nunc prior placitavit versus predictum Ricardum Seymor, in barram [p. iii-200][col. a] execucionis sue finis predicti de predicto manerio de [editorial note: A contemporary note at the foot of this membrane reads 'plus in rotulo sequento de eodem'.][memb. iv] Tyntenhull cum suis pertinentiis, non fuit seisitus de predicto manerio de Tyntenhull' cum pertinentiis, nec de aliqua parcella ejusdem, tempore confectionis ejusdem scripti, sicut predictus [col. b] Ricardus Seymor placitando allegavit, etc. Ideo consideratum est quod predictus Ricardus Seymor habeat executionem versus predictum nunc priorem de manerio predicto de Tyntenhull cum pertinentiis, etc. [editorial note: A contemporary note in the margin reads 'Judicium'.] On which day, the aforesaid Richard Seymour and the aforesaid prior appeared by their said attorneys before the lord king at Westminster. And the sheriff returned the names of the aforesaid twenty-four, etc., of whom none came. Therefore let the sheriff have their persons before the lord king on the octave of Martinmas [18 November 1383], wheresoever, etc., to make up the aforesaid jury, etc. The same day was given to the aforesaid parties, etc. And the process between the aforesaid parties was adjourned, the jury being put in respite until fifteen days after the day of St Hilary [27 January 1384], wheresoever, etc. On which day, the aforesaid Richard Seymour through his aforesaid attorney appeared before the lord king at Westminster, and the aforesaid prior similarly appeared through his attorney. And the jurors similarly appeared, who had been elected, tried and sworn thereto, and they say on oath that he who had been prior of Montacute at the time when the aforesaid document was made - which the aforesaid present prior pleaded against the aforesaid Richard Seymour in barring [p. iii-200][col. a] his execution of the aforesaid settlement concerning the aforesaid manor of [memb. iv] Tintinhull with its appurtenances - was not in possession of the aforesaid manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, nor of any parcel of the same, at the time when the same document was made, as the aforesaid [col. b] Richard Seymour in pleading claimed, etc. Therefore it was decided that the aforesaid Richard Seymour should have execution against the aforesaid present prior of the said manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, etc.
[memb. 2]
The common petitions, unlike the pleas, are in the main body of the roll.
SECUNTUR PETICIONES LIBERATE PER COMMUNITATEM REGNI ANGLIE IN PRESENTI PARLIAMENTO, UNA CUM RESPONSIONIBUS EISDEM PETICIONIBUS IN EODEM PARLIAMENTO FACTIS. HERE FOLLOW THE PETITIONS SUBMITTED BY THE COMMUNITY OF THE KINGDOM OF ENGLAND IN THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT, TOGETHER WITH THE ANSWERS TO THE SAME PETITIONS GIVEN IN THE SAME PARLIAMENT.
[col. a]
A lour tresexcellent, tresgracious et tresredoute seignour nostre seignour le roy supplient ses lieges communes du roialme d'Engleterre pur les peticions dessouzescriptz: To their most excellent, most gracious and most redoubtable lord our lord the king, his liege commons of the kingdom of England request the granting of the petitions written below:
[Confirmation of the liberties of the church, and of the charters.] [Confirmation of the liberties of the church, and of the charters.]
16. En primes, qe seinte esglise eit et enjoise toutes ses libertes et franchises, et qe la grande chartre, la chartre de la foreste, les estatutz des purveours et laborers, et touz les autres bones estatutz et ordinances faitz avant ces heures soient tenuz et gardez, et duement executz solonc les forme et effect d'icelles. 16. Firstly, that holy church shall have and enjoy all its liberties and franchises, and that the Great Charter, the Charter of the Forest, the statutes of purveyors and labourers, and all the other good statutes and ordinances made in the past be upheld and preserved and duly executed in accordance with the form and effect of the same.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roy le voet. (fn. iii-184-168-1) The king wills it. (fn. iii-184-168-1)
[None to be justice of assize in his own county.] [None to be justice of assize in his own county.]
17. Item, prient les communes: qe par la ou justices des assises sont en lour propre paiis, qi sont as fees et robes des pleusours seignours en mesmes les paiis, et ont grandes alliances et autres affinitees illoeqes, dont grantz malx et grevances aviegnent diversement au poeple, desqueux n'est my honest de parler en especial: einz entre autres ils lour covient de faire, et font, trop grant favour as unes, et reddour as autres. 17. Also, the commons pray: whereas justices of assizes when they are in their own country take fees and robes from many lords in the same country, and have great alliances and other affinities there, from which serious troubles and grievances arise in different ways for the people, of which it would not be honourable to speak in detail: but amongst other things they desire to do, and indeed do, very great favours for some, and injury to others.
Qe plese a nostre seignour le roi en ce present parlement ordeigner par estatut qe nul homme de loi desore enavant soit justice des assises en son propre pais, pur grant ease et relevement de sa dite commune; ne qe le chief justice de l'un bank ne de l'autre ne soit my justice des nulles assises, a cause qe s'ils font errour ce serroit redresse devant eux mesmes; et entendable chose est, q'ils serroient trop favorables en lour juggementz demesne. May it please our lord the king in this present parliament to ordain by statute that no man of the law shall henceforth be justice of assize in his own country, to the great ease and relief of his said commons; nor that the chief justice of either bench be made justice of any assizes, since if they were to commit an error it would be redressed before themselves, and understandably they would be too favourable in their judgment of themselves.
[editorial note: Responsio.] [editorial note: Answer.]
Quant al primer point de ceste peticion, le roy le voet. Et quant al seconde poynt tochant le chief justice de commune bank, le roi voet q'il soit assigne justice d'assises entre autres. Mes quant al chief justice de bank le roy, le roy voet q'il soit fait come ad este fait et use pur la greindre partie de centz ans darrein passez. (fn. iii-184-174-1) As to the first point of this petition, the king wills it. And as to the second point touching the chief justice of the Common Bench, the king wills that he be appointed justice of assize among others. But as to the chief justice of the King's Bench, the king wills that he be appointed according to the practice and usage in existence for the best part of a hundred years past. (fn. iii-184-174-1)
[No justice to accept fee or reward except from the king.] [No justice to accept fee or reward except from the king.]
18. Item, prient les communes: qe la ou y ad grant rumour et pleinte qe la commune ley n'ad my son cours come avoir devoit, a cause qe les justices de l'un bank et de l'autre, et barons de l'escheqer, sont de retenue et as fees des seignours et autres, et come dit est parnent grantz dons des parties eantz affaire devant eux, sibien en lour places, come aillours ou ils sont appellez au conseil, sibien parentre le roi et partie, come parentre partie et partie. 18. Also, the commons pray: whereas there is great murmur and complaint that the common law has not run its course as it ought to have done, because the justices of both benches and the barons of the exchequer are of the retinue of, and receive fees from, lords and others, and so it is said accept large gifts from parties having business before them, both in their sessions and elsewhere where they are summoned to counsel, as well between the king and party as between party and party.
Qe plese a nostre seignour le roy ordeigner par estatut en ce present parlement qe nul des justices ne des barons suisditz, par lui mesmes ne par autre, en prive n'en apert, preigne robe, fee, n'empension, [col. b] doun, ne regard, de nully, fors soulement du roi, s'il ne soit mangier ou boire, et ce de petite value, sur tielle grevouse peyne a limyter en cest parlement, qe chacun de lour estat eit doubt de faire ou venir a l'encontre en temps avenir. May it please our lord the king to ordain by statute in this present parliament that none of the aforesaid justices or barons, neither himself nor through another, in private nor in public, shall take robes, fees or pension, [col. b] gift or reward, from anyone, except only from the king, unless it be to eat or drink, and be of small value; on pain of such a grievous penalty to be specified in this parliament that each of their estate shall be afraid to act against or contravene this in future.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roy le voet, sur peine de perdre lour office, et outre de faire fyn et ranceon au roi: et soit ce fait par estatut. (fn. iii-184-180-1) The king wills it, on pain of their losing their office, and also paying a fine and ransom to the king: and let it be done by statute. (fn. iii-184-180-1)
[No distress for debt to the king without judgment.] [No distress for debt to the king without judgment.]
19. Item, prient les communes: qe terres, tenemenz, biens ne chateux de nully, en sa vie ne apres son deces, soient seisez en la mayn nostre seignour le roi, par suggestion de nully par cause d'ascun dette due a nostre seignour le roi, si cestuy de qi terres, tenemenz, biens, ou chateux sont ensi seisez, ne soit trovez < dettour > a nostre dit seignour le roi par chose de record, ou par autre due proces de loi. Et si ascune seisine soit fait a contraire, soit outrement tenuz par nul. Et outre ce, si ascun ministre ensi face, q'il soit puniz grevousement, sibien a seute du roi come de partie. 19. Also, the commons pray: that the lands, tenements, goods and chattels of anyone, in life or death, shall not be taken into the hands of our lord the king on the accusation of anyone by reason of any debt owed to our lord the king, if he from whom the lands, tenements, goods or chattels are thus seized is not found to be a debtor of our said lord the king by record, or by other appropriate process of law. And if any seisin be made to the contrary, let it be completely invalid. And moreover, if any minister act thus, that he be punished severely, both at the suit of the king and of the party.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Soit use come ad este en temps passe. Let it be done as it has been done in the past.
[Security of the Scottish marches.] [Security of the Scottish marches.]
20. Item, prient les communes qe come en la parlement tenuz a Westm' l'an du regne nostre seignour le roi q'or est sisme, il estoit ordeigne qe touz ceux q'ont chastelx, ou forteresses pres les marches d'Escoce, qe touz qi preignent les profitz et revenues d'icelles soient tenuz de les garder suffisantement, et les estuffer des gentz et vitailles selonc la quantite d'iceux; sur peril d'ascun certeintee ent a ordeiner par nostre seignour le roi, et les paiis ne soient endamagez ne destruitz a cause d'icelle. Et qe les gentz estranges qi serront ordeignez pur le lieutenant du roi celles parties, puissent estre entour son corps, et pur garde des chastelx et villes du roi es < marches > suisditz tantsoulement; en quele ordinance < n'estoit nulle > peine establie as contrevenantz d'icelle. 20. Also, the commons pray: whereas in the parliament held at Westminster in the sixth year of the reign of our lord the present king [1382-3], it was ordained that all those who held castles or fortresses near the marches of Scotland and who took the profits and revenues of the same should be obliged to guard them adequately, and provision them with men and supplies in accordance with their size, on pain of a certain penalty to be ordained by our lord the king, so that the land should neither be damaged nor destroyed because of the same. And that strangers who were to be appointed as king's lieutenant in those parts should be about their person and guard only the castles and towns of the king in the aforesaid marches; in which ordinance no punishment was decreed for contravenors of the same.
Qe plese ordeigner en cest cas covenable peine; adjoustant a cella qe touz ceux q'ont ascune ferme, annuite ou quelconqe autre annuel profit a prendre des tielx chastelx ou forteresses, q'ils soient chargez de la garde, defense et vitaille, en la fourme avauntdite: c'estassavoir, pur ferme, annuel profit, provenant al verroie value annuel des tielx chastelx ou forteresses, de la garde et charge entier; et de meindre quantite, solonc l'afferant. Sur la peine avandite a ordeigner en ce present parlement; c'estassavoir, de forfaire a nostre seignour le roy la verroie value des profitz a prendres des tielx chastelx ou forteresses par trois ans, de celuy de qi ascune tiel notable serra trovez. May it please you to ordain a suitable punishment in such cases; adding to this that all those who have any farm, annuity or any other profit to take from such castles or fortresses be charged with the guard, defence and supply of the same, in the aforesaid manner: namely, for a farm or annual profit amounting to the true annual value of such castles or fortresses, the whole guard and charge; and for a lesser amount in accordance with their means. On pain of the aforesaid penalty to be ordained in this present parliament; namely, of forfeiting to our lord the king the true value of the profits to be taken from such castles or fortresses for three years, from anyone in whom anything significant is found.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roi chargera les seignours de garder lours chastelx en manere come ils soleient devant ces heures en temps de guerre. The king will charge the lords to guard their castles in the manner in which they have been accustomed to do in the past during times of war.
[p. iii-201]
[col. a]
[Tithes of woodland.] [Tithes of woodland.]
21. Item, prient les communes: qe come il soit ordeine par estatut, < q'une generale > prohibicion serra grante en la chancellerie, par la ou gentz avancez as benefices de seinte esglise demandent dismes en courte cristiene de grosse boys q'est passez l'age de vint, trent ou quarrant ans, quant le dit bois est coupez et venduz. Et a cause qe nulle probicion est grante par le dit estatut en especial, les ditz gentz de seinte esglise pursuent en court christiene pur les dismes suisdites, nient contresteant la dite probicion [sic: read 'prohibicion'] generale a eux directe, a grant damage et meschief de ceux qi vendent lour bois en la forme suisdite. 21. Also, the commons pray: whereas it was ordained by statute that a general prohibition would be granted in the chancery, nevertheless people promoted to benefices of holy church demand tithes in the court Christian on great woods more than twenty, thirty or forty years old, when the said wood is cut and sold. And because no specific prohibition was granted by the said statute, the said people of holy church request the aforesaid tithes in the court Christian, notwithstanding the said general prohibition directed at them, to the great injury and harm of those who sell their wood in the aforesaid manner.
Qe plese a nostre seignour le roi grante une prohibicion, ove les attachementz sur mesme la prohibition en especial vers les ordinairs, et ceux qi pursuent contre l'estatut, come desuis est dit. May it please our lord the king to grant a prohibition, with the attachments on the same prohibition in particular against the ordinaries and those who sue contrary to the statute as is said above.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Soit fait come autrefoitz fuist ordeine par estatut fait a Westm' l'an .xlv. l'aiel, qe Dieux assoille. (fn. iii-184-197-1) Let it be done as was once ordained in a statute made at Westminster in the forty-fifth year of the grandfather [Edward III], whom God absolve. (fn. iii-184-197-1)
[Depredations by Cheshire men.] [Depredations by Cheshire men.]
22. Item, prient les communes des countes de Salop', Staff', Wircestre, Glouc', Hereford', Lanc', Notyngh', Derb', Warr', Leyc' et Everwyk: qe come plusours gentz del counte de Cestre de jour en autre, et a la foitz de noet, viegnent et chivachent en les countes suisdites, ove grantz routes des gentz armez et arraiez a faire de guerre, et illoeqes plusoures felonies, trespasses et extorsions facent; c'estassaver tuent gentz, ardent maisons, ravissent dames et damoisels, et autres gentz maheyment, batent et malement naufront, et lour boefs de lour charettes et autres chateux maheyment, et tuent, en grande destruction et oppression des communes suisdites, dont nul punisement, ne forfaiture est ordeigne de lour biens ne chateux q'ils ont deinz le counte de Cestre suisdite, a cause de lour franchise. 22. Also, the commons of the counties of Shropshire, Stafford, Worcester, Gloucester, Hereford, Lancashire, Nottingham, Derby, Warwick, Leicester and York pray: whereas many people from Cheshire from one day to the next, and sometimes at night, come and ride in the aforesaid counties, in great bands of armed men arrayed for war, and there commit many felonies, trespasses and extortion; that is to say, they kill men, burn houses, ravish ladies and damsels, and maim, beat and sometimes wound others, and injure and kill the oxen from their carts and other cattle, to the great destruction and oppression of the aforesaid commons; for which no punishment nor forfeiture has been ordained for the goods or chattels which they have in Cheshire aforesaid, because of their franchise.
Qe plese ordeiner owele forfaiture de lour terres et chateux q'ils ont deins le counte de Cestre, sibien pur trespasses et felonies faites hors de le dit counte deinz le roialme, come pur felonies et trespasses faites deinz le dit counte; nient contresteantz les franchises del countee suisdit. Ou qe vous plese ordeigner autre remede sufficeante en ce cas; et qe mesme l'ordinance se purra tenir deinz l'eveschie de Duresme, et autres tieles franchises, et aillours parmy le roialme. May it please you to ordain equal forfeiture of their lands and chattels which they have in Cheshire, both for trespasses and felonies committed outside the said county within the realm, as well as for felonies and trespasses committed within the said county; notwithstanding the franchises of the aforesaid county. Or that it may please you to provide another sufficient remedy in the case; and that the same ordinance may be upheld within the bishopric of Durham and other such franchises, and elsewhere throughout the realm.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roy, par avys de son conseil, ordeinera tiel remede qe serra plesant au poeple, si Dieu plest. The king, by the advice of his council, will ordain such a remedy as will please the people, God willing.
[Overfishing of rivers.] [Overfishing of rivers.]
23. Item, prient les communes: qe come y ad en la ryvere de Thamise, Medewey et autres grantz ryvers deinz le roialme, grant fuyson de fry de pesson, c'estassavoir des troutes, samons, pykes, roches, barbils et d'autre pesson, le quel fry s'il feust gardez et cherriz il serroit grant profit a les seignours et communes de la terre, et ore est use communement qe diverses persones demurantz pres tieles ryvers preignent la dite fry ovesqe lour subtils reetz et autres subtils instrumentz, et vendent la dite fry pur sustenance des porcs le bussell pur .l. d., et ascun foitz le busselle pur .vi. oefs, a grande destruccion du dit pesson, et grant damage de tout le poeple entour tiels ryveres. 23. Also, the commons pray: whereas there is in the rivers of Thames, Medway and other great rivers of the kingdom a great abundance of fishspawn, namely of trout, salmon, pike, roach, barbel and other fish, which fry, if it were protected and valued, would bring great profit to the lords and commons of the land, yet now it is common practice for various people dwelling near such rivers to catch the fry with special nets and other ingenious instruments, and sell the said fry as pig food at 50 d. a bushel, and sometimes six eggs for a bushel, to the great destruction of the said fish and the great injury of all the people around such rivers.
Qe plese a nostre seignour le roi ordeiner qe nully preigne en les ditz ryveres nul tiel fry, ne ne pesche ove nul manere de reetz, sinoun qe le masche d'icelle soit si large come ordeignez est par estatut en fait devant ces heures. May it please our lord the king to ordain that none shall take any such fry from the said rivers, nor fish with any kind of net, unless the mesh of the same be of the size ordained by the statute made thereon before this time.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Soient les estatutz devant ces heures en faitz tenuz et gardez, et mys en due execution. Let the statutes made thereon in the past be upheld and kept, and duly executed.
[Security of Rye and Winchelsea.] [Security of Rye and Winchelsea.]
24. Item, prient les communes: qe come les villes de la Rie et Wynchelse, et les enhabitantz en ycelles, soient a pein tout outrement par souventz arsons et invasions [col. b] des enemys destruitz, issint q'ils ne poent bien ne suffisantment resister les enemys si ascun poair lour surviegne. 24. Also, the commons pray: whereas the towns of Rye and Winchelsea and the inhabitants of the same are almost entirely destroyed by the frequent burning and invasions [col. b] of the enemy, such that they could resist the enemy neither well nor adequately if any power were to descend upon them.
Qe vous plese considerer queux forteresses les dites villes serroient as enemys s'ils les puissent gayner; et auxi les grantz perils et damages emynantz avenirs au roialme pur defaut de bone < garde > des dites villes, et ordeigner pur icelles tiel manere remede qu'eles puissent le plus seurement resister et contresteer la malice de lour enemys. Entendantz qe si les dites villes furent prises, qe Dieu defende, tout le paiis serroit destruit par ycelles. May it please you to consider what strong places the said towns would be to the enemy if they could win them; and also the great and eminent dangers and injuries which would occur in the kingdom through the absence of adequate keeping of the said towns, and to ordain for the same such a remedy that they may the more confidently resist and oppose the malice of their enemies. Bearing in mind that if the said towns were captured, which God forbid, the whole land will be ruined as a result.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roy ent ordenera come mueltz luy semble, par advys de son conseil. The king will ordain thereon as seems best to him, by the advice of his council.
[Term of office of sheriffs and others.] [Term of office of sheriffs and others.]
25. Item, prient les communes: qe come y soit ordeignez par estatutz devant ces heures faitz, (fn. iii-184-217-1) qe viscontz, southvisconts, n'eschetours qi sont en ycelles offices en un counte par un an, ne serroient my apres en les ditz offices deinz mesme le counte par trois ans proschein ensuantz; et ore es diverses countees d'Engleterre pluseurs sont esluz as ditz offices deinz les trois ans, la ou y sont autres suffisantz deinz mesme le counte, a grant disease et oppression des communes, et encontre les estatutz ent faitz. 25. Also, the commons pray: whereas it was ordained by statutes made in the past (fn. iii-184-217-1) that sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and escheators who had occupied the same office in one county for a year should not be re-appointed to the said office in the same county within the space of three years; yet now, in various counties of England many people are elected to the said offices within three years, even though there are others worthy in the same county, to the great injury and oppression of the commons, and contrary to the statutes made thereon.
Qe plese qe les ditz estatutz soient tenuz, issint qe visconts, southvisconts et eschetours qi sont ore esluz a contraire des ditz estatutz, soient removez et oustez, et autres suffisantz esluz, et qe grevouse peine poet estre mys et ordenez, sibien pur eux qi eslisent a contraire des estatutz les ditz officers, come sur les officers, par cause de quele peine tielles elections poient estre eschuiz. May it please you to ordain that the said statutes be upheld, so that sheriffs and escheators now elected contrary to the said statutes be removed and ousted, and other worthy men elected, and that a grievous penalty be imposed and ordained, both for those who elect the said officers contrary to the statutes, and for the officers, as a consequence whereof such elections might be discouraged.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le chanceller respondra par bouche. The chancellor answered by word of mouth.
This answer has been added later in a different hand.
Et le responce du chanceller fuist tielle, q'il serroit trop prejudiciel au roi et a sa corone d'estre ensi restreint, qe quant un viscont s'ad bien et loialment porte en son office au roi et au poeple par un an, qe le roi par avys de son conseille ne purroit reeslir et faire tielle bon officer viscont pur l'an ensuant. Et purce le roi voet faire en tielle cas come meultz semblera pur profit de lui et de son poeple. And the answer of the chancellor was that it would be extremely prejudicial to the king and his crown to be restrained in such a way that when a sheriff had performed his office loyally and well for the king and people for one year, the king could not by the advice of his council re-elect and re-appoint such a good officer for the following year. And therefore the king wished to act in a way which seemed of most benefit to himself and his people.
[None to be compelled to serve outside his own county.] [None to be compelled to serve outside his own county.]
26. Item, prient les communes: qe come entre autres estatutz faitz en temps le roi Edward aiel nostre seignour le roi q'ore est, soit ordeignez qe nulle homme d'armes, archer, ne hobiler, soit arcez d'aler armez en service le roi hors des countees ou ils sont receantz, a lour costages < demesne, > ne as coustages des countees, encontre lour volunte et bone gree. Et ore de novel diverses commissions furent myses hors de la chancellerie as diverses gentz des diverses countees d'Engleterre, par qoi pluseurs gentz furent chacez d'aler en Escoce, ascuns a lour coustages demesne, et ascuns as coustages des countees, a grant empoverisement de eux, et encontre l'estatut avantdit, nient contresteant q'ils paient lour dismes et quinzismes come ils soleient faire. 26. Also, the commons pray: whereas among other statutes made in the time of King Edward [III], grandfather of our lord the present king, it was ordained that no man-at-arms, archer nor hobelar be forced to travel armed in the king's service outside the counties where they were resident, either at their own expense or at the expense of the counties, against their will and consent. Yet now various commissions have been sent out from the chancery to various men from several counties of England, in consequence of which many men have been forced to go to Scotland, some at their own expense, and some at the expense of the counties, to their great impoverishment, and contrary to the aforesaid statute, notwithstanding that they pay their tenths and fifteenths as they are accustomed to do.
Qe plese a nostre dit seignour le roi ordeigner < qe > desormes ne soient tieles commissions faites, et qe ceux commissions queux sont issint envoiez soient repellez. May it please our said lord the king to ordain that from now on no such commissions shall be made, and that those commissions which have thus been sent out be repealed.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Soit l'estatut ent fait l'an primer l'aiel nostre seignour le roi tenuz et gardez. (fn. iii-184-229-1) Let the statute made in the first year of the grandfather of our lord the king be upheld and kept. (fn. iii-184-229-1)
[False entries in plea rolls.] [False entries in plea rolls.]
27. Item, prient les communes: pur la grande desheritison q'ad este fait, et se purra faire au poeple en temps avenir par fauxes entrees des plees, rasure des rolles et changement des vereditz, par quoi desheritison d'une des parties ensuyte, ou se purra ensuire: qe si ascun juge ou clerc soit de ce atteint, q'il forface al volente du roi, et qe ceux ou lour heirs qi de soi sentent grevez soient restituez a lour enheritement. 27. Also, the commons pray, because of the great disinheritance which has occurred, and could occur for the people in future by false entries of pleas, erasure of rolls and alteration of the records of verdicts, as a result of which disinheritance of one of the parties follows, or could follow: that if any judge or clerk be convicted thereof, that he forfeit at the king's will, and that those or their heirs who feel aggrieved be restored to their inheritance.
[p. iii-202]
[col. a]
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Y plest au roi qe si ascun soit sufficeantment atteint devant le roi et son conseil de tielle defaut, deinz deux ans apres le defaut fait si le pleintif soit de pleine age, et s'il soit deinz age adonqes deinz deux ans proscheins apres q'il vendra a son pleine age, q'il soit puniz par fyn et ranceon a la volunte le roi, et face gree au partie. Et quant al restitucion d'enheritement, sue la partie par brief d'errour, ou autrement come la lei voet. (fn. iii-184-234-1) It pleases the king that if anyone be sufficiently convicted before the king and his council of such a fault, within two years of the fault being made if the plaintiff be of age, and within two years of his coming of age if he is under age, he be punished by fine and ransom at the king's will and compensate the party. And as to the restitution of the inheritance, let the party sue by writ of error, or otherwise as the law will have it. (fn. iii-184-234-1)
[Production of plea rolls in court.] [Production of plea rolls in court.]
28. Item, prient les communes: qe come les clercz q'ont en garde les rolles del commune bank et del bank le roi deveroient de droit sanz riens prendre apporter les ditz rolles en les dites places, a toutes le foitz qe les attornees de mesmes les places enbosoignent de les avoir en courte, pur diverses plees queux ils gardent des seignours, prelats et communes d'Engleterre: et ore est use qe les ditz clercs ne voillent apporter les ditz rolles en les dites places s'ils n'eient louer de le faire, a grant damage et disease a touz ceux qi y ont affaire. 28. Also, the commons pray: whereas the clerks who have the rolls of the Common Bench and King's Bench in their keeping ought by right to take the said rolls to the said session without receiving anything, as often as the attorneys of those places require to have them in court, for various pleas which they settle from the lords, prelates and commons of England: yet now the practice is that the said clerks will not bring the said rolls to the said places unless they are paid to do so, to the great injury and harm of all those who have business there.
Qe plese ordeigner en ce present parlement qe chescun an al fyn del terme de Seint Hiller, et al fyn del terme de la Trinite, le chanceller le roi face enquere par les ditz attornes par lour serementz des tielx defautes, et des autres en lour places, et si ascune persone soit atteinte de tiele defautz, q'il eit emprisonement par un an entier, et face fyn et ranceon au volunte le roi, et perde son office. May it please you to ordain in this present parliament that each year at the end of St Hilary term and at the end of Trinity term, the king's chancellor shall inquire through the said attorneys by their oaths into such faults, and of others in their courts, and if anyone be convicted of such faults, he be imprisoned for one whole year, and pay a fine and ransom at the king's will, and lose his office.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Celuy qe se sente greve se pleigne a chanceller qe lui ferra droit et reson. Let whosoever feels aggrieved complain to the chancellor, so that right and justice may be done him.
[Pardons under statute for debt.] [Pardons under statute for debt.]
29. Item, prient les communes: qe come le roi Edward, aiel nostre seignour le roi q'orest, granta a son poeple diverses graces et pardons l'an de son regne .xxxvi. et .l., (fn. iii-184-242-1) come par les pardons ent faites piert pluis au plein, qe nul de ses liges soit grevez ne molestez, s'ils alleggent mesme la pardon devant quelconque justice, tresorer et barons de l'escheqer, de nul article compris deinz mesme la grace, q'il ne serroit ent hastifment allouez devant eux. Et ore les dites communes q'ont affaire devant les tresorer et barons de l'escheqer ne purront estre allouez de lour cleyme de les grace et pardon avauntdites, sanz grantz coustages et damage du poeple; et outre ce sont delaiez par mesmes ceux tanq'ils soient mys en grant povert et meschief. 29. Also, the commons pray: whereas King Edward [III], grandfather of our lord the present king, granted to his people various graces and pardons in the thirty-sixth and fiftieth years of his reign, (fn. iii-184-242-1) as is plainly apparent from the pardons made thereon, that none of his lieges should be grieved or molested, if they cited the same pardon before any justice, treasurer and barons of the exchequer, of any article contained in the same grace, if it were not swiftly allowed before them. Yet now the said commons who have business before the treasurer and barons of the exchequer are not allowed to claim the aforesaid grace and pardon without great expense and injury to the people; and further they are delayed by the same people until they suffer great poverty and mischief.
Qe plese a nostre seignour le roi ordeigner sur ce covenable remede en ce present parlement, siqe desormes la commune poeple ne soit ensi grevez en la manere suisdit. May it please our lord the king to ordain a suitable remedy thereon in this present parliament, so that henceforth the common people are not grieved in the aforesaid manner.
[col. b]
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Celuy qe se sente greve se pleigne a conseille, et droit lour serra fait. Let whosoever feels aggrieved complain to the council, and right shall be done him.
[memb. 1]
A change of hand occurs at this point.
[Pardon for escapes of felons, and other charges.] [Pardon for escapes of felons, and other charges.]
30. Item, prient les communes qe considerez lour grant poverte au present, et les grantz charges queux ils portent a ore, et ont portez devaunt ces heures, sibien parmy les guerres come autrement, vous plese faire grace, pardoun et relees, a eux, et a chescun de eux, des toutz eschapes des felons et chateux des felons et des futifs, trespasses, negligences, mesprisions et ignorances, et toutes autres choses eschuz ou advenuz deinz vostre roialme d'Engleterre, dont le punisement cherroit en fyn, ou en ranceon, ou en autres peynes pecunieres, ou en emprisonment des corps, ou en amerciement des communes des villes, ou des singulers persones; ou en charge de franc tenement de ceux q'unqes ne trespasserent, come heirs ou terretenantz des eschetours, viscontes et coroners; et touz maneres des douns, alienacions et purchacez faitz par eux, ou par ascun de eux, des terres et tenementz tenuz de vous en chief saunz licence de vous; et toutz maners des entrees, si ascuns aient faitz, en lour heritages apres la mort lour auncestres, sanz les pursuire hors des maynes de voz progenitours et de les voz par due proces; et touz fyns et amerciementz, et toutz autres articles d'eyre, forspris tresons, murdres, roberies, rapes et felonies, pur queux homme emportera penance de vie et de membre; et forspris eschetes et terres et tenementz amortisez saunz licence. Et auxint vous plese pardoner et relesser as voz ditz communes, et a chescun de eux, toutes maneres de trespasses, mesprisions et negligences, et autres choses faites deinz forestes et chaces, et toutes autres choses pur les queux homme emporteroit amerciement, ou autre corporele penance. 30. Also, the commons pray: that considering their great poverty at present, and the great charges which they now bear and have borne in the past, as well through the wars as other things, it may please you to grant grace, pardon and relief to them and to every one of them of all escapes of felons and chattels of felons and of fugitives, trespasses, negligences, misdeeds and ignorances, and all other things which have arisen or occurred in your kingdom of England, for which the punishment would be in fine, or in ransom, or in other pecuniary penalties, or in bodily imprisonment, or in amercement of the commons of the towns, or of individuals; or in charge of free tenement of those who have never offended, as heirs or land-tenants of escheators, sheriffs and coroners; and all kinds of gifts, alienations and purchases made by them, or by any one of them, of lands and tenements held of you in chief without your licence; and all manner of entries, if any have been made, into their inheritances after the death of their ancestors, without pursuing them out of the hands of your progenitors and your own hands by due process; and all fines and amercements, and all other articles of eyre, except treasons, murders, robberies, rapes and felonies, which carry the penalty of life and limb; and except escheats, and lands and tenements amortised without licence. Moreover, may it please you to pardon and release to your said commons and to every one of them all kinds of trespasses, misdeeds and negligences, and other offences within forests and chases, and all other things for which one might suffer amercement or other corporal penalty.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roy s'avisera. The king will consider it further.
[Jurisdiction of the constable and the marshal.] [Jurisdiction of the constable and the marshal.]
31. Item, prient les communes: qe come plusours plees qe touchent la commune loi de la terre sont traiez devant les conestable et mareschalle, a grant damage et disease des ditz communes, qe desormes les plees qi touchent la commune loi de la terre ne soient traiez devant les ditz conestable et mareschalle; mais qe celle courte ait ce q'a lui attient, et qe la commune loy soit usez come a luy attient, et come il ad este usez en temps de voz nobles progenitours. 31. Also, the commons pray: that because many pleas touching the common law of the land are brought before the constable and marshal, to the great harm and injury of the said commons, that henceforth the pleas which touch the common law of the land shall not be brought before the said constable and marshal; but that the court shall have that which pertains to it, and that the common law shall be used as intended, and as it has been used in the time of your noble progenitors.
[editorial note: Responsio. ] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roy le voet desore enavant. (fn. iii-184-256-1) The king wills it henceforth. (fn. iii-184-256-1)

Appendix November 1384

12 November 1384

Westminster

1

Order to the treasurer, various sheriffs and other royal officials, following a petition from Walter Skirlaw, keeper of the privy seal, and several other persons, mostly from York, to compensate the petitioners with money seized from the king's enemies from France and now in the treasurer's, sheriffs' or other officials' hands; for the petitioners have sued at the parliaments held at Salisbury (April 1384) and Westminster (November 1384), as well as at the Anglo-French negotiations held at Calais, for restoration of their ships and goods to the value of £5000 seized by the French during time of truce, but without success. By the council. Dated 14 March 1385.

Source : CCR 1381-5 , 536.

2

Exemption of the burgesses and community of Kingston-upon-Hull (Yorkshire) from sending any members to this parliament, as they are undertaking the fortification of the town at great expense. Dated 22 October 1384.

Source : CPR 1381-5 , 475.