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Enrolment of letters testimonial of the king notifying that the lord of
Anghen came to him on Tuesday after Michaelmas last and showed him, in
the presence of the council and others how, in default of other courts, he
approached the king to excuse himself from a charge current against him
in Flanders, Brabant and Hainault, by forced confession of certain grooms,
that he wished to poison the count and countess of Flanders and Louis de
Namur; against which he offered to defend himself and make good by his
body against any person, in the king's court, and if there was any one who
wished to sue him without fighting, he was willing to await justice in the
king's court; and he showed the king the appeal which he had made in
other courts against the said Louis; and the king has heard his protestations
and has received chirographs under his seal containing the accusations and
other matters from the beginning until he came to the king's court, and has
notified the lords, nobles and several good towns of the said countries
and also the said Louis, that his court is open to do right to the said
lord of Anghen and all others concerned, and if no one will accuse him
in what touches his honour, then right should be done in the king's
court within the term of Christmas last, and if no one came within
that term, the king would hold the said lord excused of the charges against
him; during which term there came letters from the duke's and count's
towns and of the towns of Flanders and letters under the seals of the duke
and count and John de Henau upon the said accusations, which letters the
king showed to the lord of Enghein, to know what he would say, and he
has answered every point and made such clear and open excuses as seemed
true to all, and Giles Tollenaires, who was put to death for the said cause
at Ghent, exculpated the said lord, before his death, in the presence of all
the people, it is said, and also having considered the letters of the count
of Flanders and of the towns of Flanders after the confession of some who
were put to death for this and also the conduct that the said lord sent to
the duke of Brabant, the count of Flanders and Sir John de Henau to
excuse him in the presence of any which were refused to him, and because
Louis de Namur would not answer the said lord or the appeal made in the
king's court, and because several letters of the knights, esquires and other
good people, testifying that the yeoman called Taillevent, who must have
been one of the accusers, and who must have been at the plotting of the
said poisoning made by the people of the said lords and others at Aynghen
in Hainault when the countess of Flanders was at Haspre with the count's
mother, was in Bavaria two months before the time and five months after,
and the other excuses being heard, it seemed to the king and council that
the said explanations ought to suffice, but the king wishes them to be heard
openly so that the said lord may reasonably excuse himself, as he has
offered to do, and he is ready to purge himself by the bodies of three or
four knights or as many as are sent, begging the duke and count and
the said towns to send some of their council to Gravelyng before the
Purification last, and the king would send some of his council to Calais
and the said lord would be there, and if they would in the meantime
appoint a day and a place where the said lord could come before
them and offer his explanations, and that thereby he might be held
such as he deserves, or that at the appointment of the king, the duke
and the count, certain knights might be elected on either side and sworn
thereupon and the said lord would abide by their decision after they
had heard the accusations and his answers, and nothing was done therein
although the knights were ready on the part of the king and the said lord;
and besides the said offers the said lord will further do whatever the king
and his court shall determine to remove the blame, wherefore it seems to
the king and council that the lord of Enghen has offered all that a knight
can and ought reasonably to offer, and that he is worthy to be excused of
all men. Dated at Westminster on 8 May. French. [Fœdera.] |
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Enrolment of grant by Geoffrey Seman to the king of a messuage and
2 carucates of land in Wendeye, co. Cambridge, saving to himself a watermill in that town. Witnesses: John bishop of Worcester, the chancellor;
William bishop of Winchester, the treasurer; Sir Gervase de Wilford, Sir
Thomas de Brayton, Robert de Thorp, William de Lavenham, John de
Ellesworth. Dated at London, 20 May, 25 Edward III. |
