Parliament Rolls of Medieval England. Originally published by Boydell, Woodbridge, 2005.
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'Henry V: April 1414', in Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, (Woodbridge, 2005) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/parliament-rolls-medieval/april-1414 [accessed 19 April 2024]
In this section
1414 April
Introduction April 1414
Leicester
30 April - 29 May
(C 65/74. RP , IV.15-26. SR , II.175-87.)
C 65/74 is a roll of eight membranes, each measuring 300mm. (11.8 ins) in width, sewn together in chancery style and numbered at the head and foot in a later hand. The text, written in a small, neat, chancery script, occupies the rectos of the membranes only. Apart from the identification of the parliament - 'Parl. 2 H.5'- on each membrane, the dorse of the roll is blank. Its condition is good throughout, with the exception of m.1 which is badly stained, torn and damaged, rendering the text illegible in places. The lower halves of membranes 7 and 6 have been left blank. A loose leaf of parchment - a writ from Henry V to the sheriff of Cambridge relating to the case of John Windsor - has been stitched to m. 7. The headings for the main business of parliament are contemporary, as is the single marginal heading (m. 3) alongside the common petitions. Marginal Arabic numerals throughout the roll are in a later hand, whilst the Roman numerals accompanying the common petitions are contemporary. A change of hand coincides with the beginning of the common petitions on m. 5.
Following the dissolution of his first parliament in June 1413, Henry V's energies had been concentrated chiefly on the diplomatic negotiations whereby he hoped to recover what he regarded as his rightful inheritance in France - a process in which he was undoubtedly helped (although the negotiations themselves were at the same time made doubly complicated) by the fact that a state of civil war existed within the French kingdom between the Burgundian and Armagnac (royalist) factions, with both of which Henry was negotiating. Thus when writs were initially issued on 1 December 1413 for a parliament to meet on 29 January, it may well be that the king envisaged that foreign affairs would be high on the agenda. By 24 December, however, when further writs were issued proroguing the meeting to 30 April, rumours anticipating what was to prove the first crisis of the reign were already circulating: this was the 'Lollard Rising', led by Henry's former friend, but irredeemable heretic, Sir John Oldcastle. Oldcastle, who by right of his wife held the title of Lord Cobham and was thus a peer of parliament, had been tried for heresy before Archbishop Arundel in September 1413, when he was declared unrepentant and handed over to the secular authorities. In late October, however, he escaped from the Tower and set about organising a rebellion, the aims of which included the capture (and probably the death) of the king and his brothers, as well as the overthrow of the government and the reform of the church. Information on the rebels' rendezvous was, however, revealed to Henry, and when, on Tuesday 9 January, they began arriving at Fickett's Field (near Temple Bar) in London, the authorities were waiting for them. Justice was swift: on 12 January, sixty-nine of the rebels were condemned for treason, of whom thirty-one were hanged the following day, and a further seven both hanged and burnt for heresy. (fn. a1414int-1) Oldcastle himself escaped, however (he would remain at large, a condemned man, for nearly four more years), and despite the fact that the suppression of the rising had been accomplished with relative ease, it served to concentrate the minds of the establishment not simply upon the specific problem of heresy but more generally upon the question of lawlessness and how to combat it. It was this subject which, more than any other, proved to be the dominant theme of the parliament which met in April.
The writs issued to the lords spiritual included one to the bishop of St Asaph (the first time he had been summoned since October 1404), but were otherwise the same as for the parliament of 1413. The list of lords temporal excluded Henry de Beaumont (who had died), John Oldcastle, for obvious reasons, and Hugh Stafford, for no very obvious reason. (fn. a1414int-2) It also included five names which had not appeared on the 1413 list: the dukes of Clarence and York, and the earls of Suffolk and Oxford, all of whom had been abroad the previous year; and Edmund, the twenty-two-year-old earl of March, who was receiving his first summons; he had, on account of his proximity to the throne, been kept in custody by Henry IV, but had been released on Henry V's accession and granted livery of his estates in the previous parliament, on 9 June 1413. (fn. a1414int-3) The names of 160 of the elected members are also known: 73 of the knights, and 87 of the burgesses.
The parliament had been summoned to meet at Leicester, a Lancastrian stronghold but also a convenient point of access to the west midlands, where the lack of law and order seems to have been felt particularly acutely at this time. The building in which it was held was new and purpose-built: according to the chronicler John Strecche it was a great hall (magnam aulam) situated in the middle of the town near the house of the minorite friars, forty yards long, forty feet wide, and completed in twenty-four days, roof and all. (fn. a1414int-4) It was here that, on Monday 30 April, following the customary roll-call of knights and burgesses, Bishop Henry Beaufort opened the session with a speech which laid emphasis upon the need to restore order and justice both on land and at sea, adding - in a move clearly calculated to secure the co-operation of the commons both now and in the future - that the king had no intention of asking them for a tenth and fifteenth in this parliament, 'in the hope that he will find them more willing and amenable to him and his needs in time to come'. The knights and burgesses were then sent to the infirmary of the adjoining friary with instructions to elect their speaker and present him to the king 'before eating' the following morning. (fn. a1414int-5)
On the following day, Tuesday 1 May, therefore, the commons presented the Wiltshire knight, Walter Hungerford, as their speaker. Hungerford came from a family with a long tradition of service to the house of Lancaster, and was both an experienced diplomat and personally close to the king - he was named as one of the executors of Henry V's will in 1415 - so that Henry was, not surprisingly, well pleased with the commons' choice. Following this, there are very few indications as to the chronology of the parliament, for the roll goes straight on to the grant of tunnage and poundage for three years (which was made on 28 May, the last full day of the session), before recording the creations of the dukes of Bedford and Gloucester and the earl of Cambridge, the confirmations of the creations of the duke of Clarence and the earl of Dorset, and various personal matters relating to the duke of York and the earl of Salisbury. Other sources indicate that Bedford's and Gloucester's dukedoms were conferred on 16 May, (fn. a1414int-6) but the dates on which the remainder of the business was transacted are unknown.
These provisions for great members of the peerage are nevertheless of considerable interest. Clarence and Dorset had received their titles not in parliament but by letters patent from Henry IV before embarking for military service in France in 1412; now, for their 'greater security', these titles were confirmed in 'public parliament' - a recognition by the king that parliament was still thought of as the proper place for the grant of great titles. Edward, duke of York, on the other hand, still lived under the shadow of the allegations made against him in the parliament of October 1399, when, on account of his involvement in various of Richard II's less salubrious schemes, he had been stripped of his dukedom of Aumale. He was now declared to be quite free of suspicion with regard to his behaviour since then, and restored to the 'estate, name, repute and honour' which he had enjoyed before that parliament met(which, to judge by the odium which both lords and commons had heaped upon him on that occasion, sounds - although presumably it was not meant to - like something of a double-edged compliment). Thomas Montague, earl of Salisbury - the son of another of Richard II's close supporters - was less fortunate. He petitioned for the reversal of the posthumous judgment of treason passed against his father John in the parliament of 1401, following the latter's lynching at the hands of a Cirencester mob in January 1400. Henry V, however, although quite prepared to recognise Thomas as earl of Salisbury, was evidently not keen to see convictions for treason so easily overturned, especially since some of the alleged errors in the judgment in fact conformed with the accepted procedure for trial of peers by peers; his petition was thus referred to the king's legal experts until the next parliament, when it was rejected. (It was however eventually allowed, at least in part, in 1421.) (fn. a1414int-7)
Important as these measures were in signalling the king's wish to exalt his own family and gain the support of the higher nobility, the real business of the Leicester parliament is to be found in a series of statutes which endeavoured to tackle the problem of law and order. Although these statutes were said to have been enacted 'at the request of the commons', there is no doubt that they in fact emanated from the king and his legal advisers, as is made apparent both by the fact that Bishop Beaufort had declared in his opening speech that the king intended to legislate on such matters, and by the structure of the parliamentary roll. Following the matters already discussed (the grant of tunnage and poundage, creations of dukes and earls, etc.), this as usual contains the petitions submitted by the commons, but then goes on to list a number of measures enacted by the king 'with the advice and assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and at the request of his aforesaid commons'. These included a new Statute of Lollards, a reiteration and reinforcement of the 1411 Statute of Riots, and a Statute of Truces.
The Statute of Lollards - a direct response to the January rising - placed upon all the judicial officers of the crown, and especially the justices of the peace, responsibility for giving the church more active support in its efforts to unearth and eradicate Lollardy; it also decreed that all who were found guilty of heresy and handed over to the secular arm for punishment should in future be subject to forfeiture of their lands and goods, as in cases of felony. The Statute of Riots vested greater power in the chancellor and the court of King's Bench to remedy failures by the sheriffs and justices of the peace in bringing criminals to book; the chancellor was now empowered to issue a commission of enquiry and order the appearance of those named in it under subpoena, and fines for convicted rioters were to be increased. The most novel of the three was however the Statute of Truces. The aim of this act was to curb piracy on the seas around England, and to try to ensure that foreign shipping was not attacked or molested at times when truces were in operation. There was, of course, more to this than disinterested concern on the king's part for alien merchants: such attacks periodically undermined the negotiations in which Henry was engaged with the French king and (more especially) the dukes of Burgundy and Brittany, the success of which lay close to his heart. In order to secure observance of the truces, therefore, he proposed the appointment of a 'conservator of truces' in each port in the realm, whose task was to ensure that safe-conducts were respected and offenders punished: the penalty for breaking the king's safe-conducts was to be treason - a measure of Henry's intent. (fn. a1414int-8)
Bold as this legislation was, it was far from uniformly successful. The Statute of Truces, in particular, proved largely unworkable; it was significantly modified in later parliaments, and eventually repealed in 1435. Yet Henry had made, and continued to make, his intentions clear, and these included a determination that the central courts should become more closely involved in the supervision of law enforcement in the shires. While the parliament was in session, for example, the court of King's Bench sat simultaneously in Leicester, moving on in May and June to hold sessions in Staffordshire and Shropshire, both of which shires had recently experienced serious disturbances. (fn. a1414int-9) During the parliament, legislation was also passed enjoining the lords of the liberties of Tyndale, Redesdale and Hexhamshire (in Northumberland) to co-operate with royal officials in tracking down malefactors, and the justices of the peace were given additional powers to enforce the Statutes of Labourers. Varying degrees of success attended these measures, but taken together they represent one of the most significant campaigns against lawlessness undertaken in a medieval parliament. Nor do they lack procedural interest: the initiation of legislation in this fashion - stemming in reality from the king, but introduced as if from the commons - was to become increasingly common in the fifteenth century.
There were also a number of petitions submitted by the commons which were clearly not at the king's behest, of which the best-known ('the nearest to one of 'constitutional' significance found for the entire reign', according to Henry's most recent biographer) (fn. a1414int-10) was a request that, since the commons were 'as much assenters as petitioners', the king should not of his own accord alter the wording of petitions once it had been agreed that they would be enacted as statutes. This clearly arose from the fact that Henry had done precisely this following the previous parliament, amending six of the ten petitions enacted in 1413. (fn. a1414int-11) He now replied, slightly evasively, that he would not in future enact anything contrary to what they had requested, at the same time reminding them that it was his right to grant or reject any of their petitions as he saw fit. (fn. a1414int-12) A number of petitions from the commons also raised matters relating to the clergy: there were complaints about the excessive fees charged by ordinaries for granting probate, (fn. a1414int-13) and about the misappropriation of endowments granted by lay folk to hospitals; it was also in response to a request from the commons that the king agreed that, even if a final peace were to be made between England and France, the confiscated properties of the 'alien priories' would not be returned to their French mother-houses, but would be kept in the hands of the king (from whom they were farmed by, among others, various members of parliament). Although this may be said to mark the final 'dissolution' of the alien priories, it entailed no real change from the policy which had been in operation for most of the Hundred Years War. (fn. a1414int-14)
It is worth noting finally the comment of John Strecche - the only chronicler to take any real interest in the parliament - that 'in this parliament, many other things were discussed secretly, which only became known later'. (fn. a1414int-15) What he was referring to, almost certainly, was not the business of parliament itself but the simultaneous arrival at Leicester of both French and Burgundian ambassadors. The St Albans chronicler, who took no interest in what was done in the parliament, also noted the arrival of these embassies, and the fact that Henry promptly reciprocated by sending embassies to France and Burgundy. (fn. a1414int-16) It may be an indication of what really occupied the king's mind that a sum of £2,600 was set aside during the parliament for the entertainment of these embassies. (fn. a1414int-17) The Leicester parliament was, at any rate, the last parliament of Henry V's reign in which the war with France, with all its ramifications, was not uppermost in the thoughts of those who attended.
Text and translation
| [p. iv-15] | |
| [col. a] | |
| < PARLIAMENTUM ANNO HENRICI QUINTI REGIS SECUNDO. > | THE PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND YEAR OF KING HENRY V. |
| [memb. 8] | |
| ROTULUS PARLIAMENTI TENTI APUD LEYCESTR' ULTIMO DIE APRILIS, ANNO REGNI REGIS HENRICI QUINTI POST CONQUESTUM SECUNDO. | THE ROLL OF THE PARLIAMENT HELD AT LEICESTER ON THE LAST DAY OF APRIL IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE REIGN OF KING HENRY THE FIFTH AFTER THE CONQUEST. |
| Pars I. | Part I. |
| Pronunciacioun du parlement. | [The opening of parliament]. |
| 1. Fait a remembrer, qe lundy le darrein jour d'Apprill, qe fuit le primer jour du dit parlement, nostre tressoverain et tresgracious seignur le roi seant en soun see roiale, en une graunde sale pres l'esglise et la mansioun des frieres menours a Leycestr' assis, et de novelle ordeignee par le roi pur celle cause. Et auxint, les seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, et les chivalers des countees, et citezeins et burgeoises de soun roialme, venuz a dit parlement pur toute la commune de mesme le roialme, illoeqes adonqes esteantz, monseignur l'evesqe de Wyncestre, uncle a roi, et chanceller d'Engleterre, par commandement de roi, disoit, primerement, qe le roi voet, qe seinte esglise ait et enjoise ses droitures, libertees et franchises, par luy et auxi par ses nobles progenitours bien grantez, et par les ercevesqes, evesqes, abbes, priours et autres gentz de seinte esglise, bien et duement usez, et par le dit treshonure et tressoverain seignur le roi confermez. Et auxi qe les seignurs temporelx, citees et burghs, aient lour libertees et fraunchises, a eux par le dit roi, ou par ses ditz progenitours, bien grantez, et par eux bien et duement usez, et par nostre dit tresgracious seignur le roi confermez. Et puis mesme le chanceller, de commandement nostre dit tresgracious seignur le roi, pronuncia les causes del somons du dit parlement, en la fourme q'ensuit, preignant a soun theame les parols ensuantz en Latyn: Posuit cor suum ad investigandam leges. (fn. iv-15-7-1) Et sur ceo alleggea molt sagement plusours bones et notables resons et auctoritees, en declaracione des causes < del somons avauntdite. > Et qant a le primer, il disoit, qe nostre dit tressoverain et tresgracious seignur le roi, qi soi ad mys en tout et a toutz temps a estere et a vivre dessoutz les trescommendables disposicioun et governance de la tresseinte leie de Dieu, come autres rois d'Engleterre, ses tresnobles et tresgraciouses progenitours, ount faitz avaunt ces heures; et [ceo] pur cause de les treshautes biens, graces, et merites ent consequentz; considerant qe nulle roialme ne purra bien estere sanz ceo qe nostre seignur Dieu omnipotent [primerement] et sur toutz choses loie soit et honuree, et ses leies et la foie Cristiene soient gardez, usez et bien conserveez en ycelle. Et coment la tresseinte esglise d'Engleterre par treshaute malice des certeins gentz d'Engleterre infectz d'eresies appellez Lollardes, ad estee longement et grevousement trouble, a grande displesance de Dieu; et coment ja tard, par traiterous purpos de tieux gentz, et autres de lour covyn, procurement, et confederacie, mesme l'esglise, et la foie Cristiene, et les leies Dieu deinz le roialme, furent en point d'avoir estee adnullez et subvertiz; et sibien toutz les estats et ministres d'icelle, come toutz les estats temporelx du roialme, furent auxi en point d'avoir estez toutoutrement [col. b] et finalment destruitz, ovesqe toute manere de policie en ycelle, si luy toutpuissant Dieu ne les ust graciousement succurree et defendu par l'aide et labour de soun verraie et loial servitour le roi nostre seignur tressoverain avauntdit, al honure et reverence de Dieu, et pur l'establissement, force et relievement de la dite esglise, et de la foie et les leies suisditz, et auxi pur les seurete, comfort et tranquillite de les estats et ministres de mesme l'esglise et de tout soun roialme en temps avenir, voet et desire, qe par les meillours advis et discrecions des ditz seignurs, chivalers et autres ore venuz a ceste parlement, euz tieux ordinances et purveiances ceste partie soient faitz en ycelle parlement, qe soient trespleisantz a trespuissant Dieu, et a toutz bones Cristienes lieges a [sic: read 'de'] roi nostre tressoverain < seignur > avauntdit. Et qant a le secunde, il disoit, coment l'excellent estat, honure et dignite d'ascun prince ou roi Cristiene, sinoun qe ceo a quelle il est liee soit de part, [sic: read 'par'] luy garde et perfourme, ne purront my bien estre salvez ne conservez. Nostre dit tressoverain et tresgracious seignur le roi considerant, coment plusours gentz compris deinz ses trieves et saufconduitz ont esteez par ses lieges diverses foitz tuez, robbez et despoillez, sibien sur le haut meer come aillours, paront mesmes les trieves et saufconduitz ont este rumpez et enfreintz, a tresgraunde esclaundre et dishonure a roi, et encontre soun estat, honure et dignite roialle; et desirant principalment et le pluis tiendrement ses loialte, honure et dignite roialle estre savez et gardez en toutz partes, voet auxi, qe par les bones avisementz et diligences des seignurs, chivalers et autres suisditz ceste partie, euz bones ordinances et establissementz purront estre purveuz en cest parlement, pur le meillour et seure conservacioun de tieux trieves et saufconduitz en temps avenir; et auxi pur la punissement de ceux qi venir voudrent voluntierment al encontre. Et pur le tierce, il disoit outre, coment nostre tresgracious seignur le roi suisdit, desirant toutdis la bone conservacioun, governance et maintenance de la pees, et de les bones leies de sa terre, sanz queux nulle roialme ne paiis purra longement estere en prosperite; et auxi pur faire autres leies de novelle, al aise et profit de ses lieges, en cas ou mistier est, et nomement pur la chastisement et punissement des riotours, homicidours et autres maffesours, qe se ja pluis habundent en diverses parties de roialme qe ne soleient longe temps pardevaunt, voet et desire, par advis et le bone conseille des seignurs, chivalers et autres dessuisditz, ordeiner ensement le meultz qe purra bonement estre fait pur la bone conservacioun de mesmes les leies et la pees, et auxi tielx peines de novelle sur tieux riotours et maffesours purveier, q'ils, pur pour de tiele peine, se ferront cesser de lour [malveis] purpos [p. iv-16][col. a] le pluis tost celle partie. Et puis le dit chanceller, de commandement nostre tresgracious seignur le roi, disoit illoeqes, qe par la ou ad estee accustumee longe temps passee as rois d'Engleterre, progenitours et predecessours mesme nostre seignur le roi, a demander en chescun lour parlement dismes et quinszismes de les laies persones de la terre, nostre dit tressoverain et tresgracious seignur le roi ne voudret charger sa commune en ceste parlement d'ascune disme ou quinszisme, mes ent vorreit eux disporter a present, entendant q'il eux trovera le pluis prestez et le pluis bienvoillantz a luy [et] a ses necessitees en temps avenirz. Et purceo qe nostre dit seignur le roi voet qe droit et owel justice soit fait a toutz ses lieges, si bien povres come riches, si ascuny soit qe se voet compleindre d'ascun mal ou tort a luy fait, quelle ne purra estre remedie par la commune leie, q'il mette avaunt sa peticion parentre cy et le lundy proschein avenir as resceivours des peticions assignez, les nons des queux, et auxint de les triours d'icelles, ensuent cy desoutz. Et a cestes choses et matiers par l'aide de Dieu bien parfaire, et a bone fyn deducer, moun dit seignur le chanceller, par commandement de roi, assigna < a > les ditz chivalers, citezeins et burgeises, une maisoun a les ditz frieres appellee le fermerie, a tenir en ycelle lour conseilles et assemblees, et q'ils aillent al election de lour commune parlour ceste jour, issint q'ils luy purront presenter a roi demain avaunt manger en le parlement avauntdit. | 1. The opening of parliament. Be it remembered that on Monday the last day of April, which was the first day of the said parliament, our most sovereign and most gracious lord the king was seated on his royal throne in a great hall situated near the church and the house of the Friars Minor at Leicester, recently appointed by the king for this purpose. Moreover, the lords spiritual and temporal and the knights of the counties and citizens and burgesses of his kingdom who had been summoned to the said parliament on behalf of all the commons of the same kingdom being there present, my lord the bishop of Winchester, the king's uncle and chancellor of England, by order of the king, explained first of all that the king wished that holy church should have and enjoy the rights, liberties and franchises properly granted by himself and also by his noble progenitors, and well and duly exercised by the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors and other people of holy church and confirmed by the said most honoured and most sovereign lord the king. And in addition that the lords temporal, cities and boroughs should have the liberties and franchises properly granted to them by the said king or by his said progenitors, and well and duly exercised by them and confirmed by our said most gracious lord the king. And then the same chancellor, by order of our said most gracious lord the king, announced the reasons behind the summoning of the said parliament, in the following way, taking as his theme the following words in Latin: 'He prepared his heart to seek the law'. (fn. iv-15-7-1) Whereupon he most knowledgeably cited many good reasons and noteworthy authorities in his declaration of the cause of the aforesaid summons. In connection with the first, he said that our said most sovereign and most gracious lord the king (who had always fully committed himself to living and existing under the most commendable precepts and governance of the most holy law of God, as other kings of England, his most noble and most gracious progenitors, had done before this time; and this because of the very great benefits, graces and merits consequential upon this; considering that a kingdom cannot be in a state of well-being without our omnipotent lord God being praised and honoured first and foremost and above all things, and his laws and the Christian faith guarded, exercised and well preserved in the same; and how the most holy church of England, having been infected with heresies called Lollard as a result of the extreme malice of certain English people, had been long and grievously troubled, to the great displeasure of God; and how of late, through the treacherous intent of such people and others of their party, persuasion and confederacy, the same church and the Christian faith, and the laws of God within the kingdom, would have been on the point of being annulled and subverted, and moreover all the estates and ministers of the same, as well as all the estates temporal of the kingdom, would have been on the point of being utterly [col. b] and ultimately ruined, together with all kinds of governance in the same, if God, most high, had not ventured to aid and defend them with the help and endeavour of his true and loyal servant the king, our aforesaid most sovereign lord, to the honour and reverence of God and for the underpinning, fortification and relief of the said church and of the aforesaid faith and laws, and also for the security, comfort and tranquillity of the estates and ministers of the same church and of all his kingdom in the future) wished and desired that, with the best advice and discretion of the said lords, knights and others recently summoned to this parliament, such ordinances and provisions on this matter might be made in this same parliament as would be most pleasing to God, most high, and to all good Christian lieges of the king, our aforesaid most sovereign lord. And with regard to the second reason, he explained that the excellent estate, honour and dignity of any Christian prince or king cannot be at all well saved or preserved without that to which he is bound being guarded and carried out on his behalf. Our said most sovereign and most gracious lord the king, therefore, considering that many people included in his truces and safe-conducts have been killed, robbed and despoiled by his lieges at various times, on the high seas as well as elsewhere, by reason of which the same truces and safe-conducts have been broken and violated, to the very great offence and dishonour of the king, and contrary to his estate, honour and royal dignity; and desiring chiefly that his loyalty, honour and royal dignity be more carefully preserved and protected in all respects, also wishes that, with the good advice and efforts of the lords, knights and other aforesaid persons in this matter, good ordinances and statutes might be provided in this parliament for the better and more certain preservation of such truces and safe-conducts in the future; and also for the punishment of those who deliberately act to the contrary. And as to the third reason, he further explained that our most gracious lord the aforesaid king - who is always desirous of the effective preservation, governance and maintenance of the peace and of the good laws of his land, without which no kingdom or country can remain in prosperity for any length of time; and is also in favour of making other, new laws for the ease and benefit of his lieges, where there is need or necessity, and particularly for the chastisement and punishment of the rioters, murderers and other malefactors who now abound in various parts of the kingdom where they were not to be found before - wishes and desires, with the advice and good counsel of the lords, knights and others named above, similarly to ordain whatever may be best and most effective for the proper preservation of the same laws and the peace, and also to impose such new penalties on these rioters and malefactors as will make them desist more swiftly from their evil purpose [p. iv-16][col. a] in this matter, for fear of such a penalty. Whereupon the said chancellor, by order of our most gracious lord the king, explained there that whereas it has for long been the custom for the kings of England, progenitors and predecessors of our same lord the king, to demand tenths and fifteenths in each of their parliaments from the laity of the land, our said most sovereign and most gracious lord the king will not burden his commons in this parliament with any tenth or fifteenth, but discharges them at present from this, in the hope that he will find them more willing and amenable to him and his needs in time to come. And because our said lord the king wishes that right and impartial justice should be done to all his lieges, poor as well as rich, if anyone should wish to complain of any evil or wrong done to him which cannot be remedied by common law, let him hand in his petition between now and next Monday [7 May] to the assigned receivers of petitions whose names, together with those of the triers of the same, are given below. And in order to accomplish these matters and tasks effectively and with God's aid, and to bring them to a pleasing conclusion, my said lord the chancellor, on the king's orders, assigned to the said knights, citizens and burgesses a building at the said friary called the infirmaryin which to hold their councils and assemblies; and to carry out the election of their common speaker on that day, so that tomorrow, before eating, they might present him to the king in the aforesaid parliament. |
| 2. Receivours des petitions d'Engleterre, Irland, Gales et Escoce: | 2. Receivers of petitions for England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland: |
| 3. Receivours des peticions de Gascoigne, et des autres terres et paiis pardela le meer, et des Isles: | 3. Receivers of petitions for Gascony and from the other lands and countries overseas, and from the Channel Islands: |
| Et ceux qi veullent liverer leur peticions les baillent parentre cy et le lundy proschein avenir. | Those who wish to submit their petitions should hand them in between now and Monday next. |
| 4. Et sont assignez triours des peticions d'Engleterre, Irland, Gales et Escoce: | 4. The following are assigned to be triers of petitions for England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland: |
| Toutz ensemble, ou sys des prelatz et seignurs avantditz au meyns; appellez a eux les chanceller, tresorer, seneschal et chamberleyn, et auxint le serjantz de roi qant y bosoignera. Et tiendront lour place en le fraitour ou refectorie des frieres menours illoeqes. | To act all together, or at least six of the aforesaid prelates and lords, consulting with the chancellor, treasurer, steward and chamberlain, as well as the king's serjeants, when necessary. And let them hold their session in the frater or refectory of the Friars Minor there. |
| [col. b] | |
| 5. Et sont assignez triours des peticions de Gascoigne, et des autres terres depardela la meer, et des Isles: | 5. The following are assigned to be triers of petitions for Gascony and other lands overseas, and for the Channel Islands: |
| --Toutz ensemble, ou sys des prelatz et seignurs avantditz; appellez a eux les chanceller, tresorer, seneschal et chamberlein, et auxint les serjantz de roi qant y bosoignera. Et tiendront lour place en le maisoun appellee le chapitrehous as frieres menours avantditz. | 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 king's serjeants when necessary. And let them hold their session in the building called the chapter house of the aforesaid Friars Minor. |
| Presentacioun du parlour. | [Presentation of the speaker]. |
| 6. Mardy, le secunde jour du dit parlement, les communes viendrent devaunt le roi et les seignurs en parlement, et presenterent monsire Wautier Hungerford pur lour commune parlour, a qi le roi s'agrea bien. Et apres ceo le dit parlour pria, q'il purra parler dessoutz tiele protestacioun come autres parlours avoient fait pardevaunt. Et le roi luy ottroia q'il aueroit tiele protestacioun come autres q'avoient estee parlours devaunt ces heures ont eu, el temps de les nobles progenitours mesme nostre seignur le roi. Et pria auxi le dit parlour a nostre dit tressoverain seignur, qe s'il parleroit riens autrement qe n'estoit accordee par ses ditz compaignons, q'il soi purroit corriger et refourmer par lour bone advis; a qi le roi s'agrea bien. | 6. Presentation of the speaker. On Tuesday, the second day of the said parliament, the commons came before the king and the lords in parliament and presented Sir Walter Hungerford as their common speaker, to whom the king readily agreed. Whereupon the said speaker prayed that he might speak under such protestation as other speakers had done before. And the king agreed that he might have such protestation as others had had who had been speakers in the past, in the time of the noble progenitors of our same lord the king. The said speaker also prayed of our said most sovereign lord that if he should say anything in any way which had not been agreed upon by his said companions, that he might be corrected and set right by their good advice; to which the king fully agreed. |
| [memb. 7] | |
| Le grante del subside. | [The grant of the subsidy]. |
| Fait assavoir, qe les communes, del assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, en cest present parlement ount graunte a roi nostre seignur tressoverain un subside, aprendre et resceiver des certeins marchandises, en la fourme q'ensuit: | The grant of the subsidy. Be it known that the commons, by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, have granted to the king our most sovereign lord in this present parliament a subsidy, to be taken and received from certain merchandise in the following way: |
| 7. Les communes de vostre roialme d'Engleterre, par assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx en le parlement tenuz a Leycestr', le .xxviij. jour de May, l'an du regne nostre tresredoute seignur le roi secunde, pur la sauf-garde de meer, grauntont a vous nostre tresredoute seignur le roi, trois souldz de chescun tonelle de vyn entrant en le dit roialme et passant hors d'icelle, forspris les tonelx de vyn prisez pur la prise a vostre oeps. Et auxint les ditz communes, par assent suisdit, grauntont a vous pur la dite sauf-garde de meer, .xij. deniers de la livre de chescun manere de marchandise venaunt en le dit roialme et passant hors d'icelle; forspris lains, quirs et peaux lanutz, et forspris chescun manere de blee, flour et pessone rees, et bestaille entrant en le dit roialme; et forspris cervoise q'est amesne hors du roialme, pur vitailler vostre ville de Caleys par gentz des villes de Baldesey, Faltenham et Alderton' sur Gosforde et aillours, come ils sont chargez puis le conquest du dite ville de Caleys; aprendre et resceiver mesmes les trois souldz de tonelle de vyn, et .xij. deniers de la livre, de le fest de Seint Michell proschein avenir en trois ans entiers alors proscheins ensuantz. Sur condicioun, qe les marchantz denizeins et aliens venauntz en le dit roialme d'Engleterre ove lour marchandises, enpaiantz la dite subside de .xij. deniers de la livre de lour marchaundises solonqe l'afferant qe les marchandises costerent depar dela, et q'ils soient croiez par lour serementz, ou par lour lettres. Et si fauxine soit trovee en les ditz marchantz, q'ils paient ent la double subside de ceo q'est trovee nient custumez, saunz autre forfaiture ou novelrie paier, come ils furent tretez et demesnez en temps de vostre piere, qe Dieu assoille, et de voz nobles progenitours rois d'Engleterre; saunz oppression faire a les merchantz avauntditz. | 7. The commons of your kingdom of England, by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal in the parliament held at Leicester, on 28 May in the second year of the reign of our most feared lord the king, for the safeguard of the sea, grant to you, our most feared lord the king, three shillings per tun of wine entering the said kingdom and passing outside it, except the tuns of wine taken by right of prise for your use. Moreover the said commons, by the aforesaid assent, grant to you for the safeguard of the sea twelve pence in the pound on each type of merchandise entering the said kingdom and passing outside it; except wool, hides and woolfells, and except any kind of corn, flour, fresh fish and beast entering the said kingdom; and except beer which is exported from the realm to provision your town of Calais by the people of the towns of Bawdsey, Falkenham and Alderton on Gosford and elsewhere, as they have been charged to do since the conquest of the said town of Calais: to take and receive the same three shillings per tun of wine and twelve pence in the pound for three whole years from Michaelmas next [29 September 1414]. On condition that the denizen and alien merchants coming into the said kingdom with their merchandise pay the said subsidy of twelve pence in the pound for their merchandise proportionate to the cost of their merchandise overseas, and that they should be believed on this point by their oaths, or by their letters. And if falsity should be discovered in the said merchants, that they should pay double the subsidy on that which is found not to have had customs duty paid on it, without having to make any other forfeiture or novel payment, in the same way as they were treated and dealt with in the time of your father, whom God absolve, and your noble progenitors the kings of England, without oppressing the aforesaid merchants. |
| [p. iv-17] | |
| [col. a] | |
| La creation des ducs et counts. | [The creation of dukes and earls]. |
| 8. Item, fait assavoir qe nostre tressoverain seignur le roi, seiant en parlement en sa see roialle, a la requeste des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, et de ses communes, en mesme le parlement assemblez, creast et prefist Johan de Lancastre soun friere en count de Kendale et duc de Bedeford, et Humfrey de Lancastre soun autre friere en count de Pembrok et duc de Gloucestre. Et puis le roi, de sa especiale et gracious volunte, creast et prefist Richard d'Everwyk en count de Cantebrigg'. Et sur ceo, apres les homages faitz a roi par chescuny de mesmes les ducs et count, furent les ditz ducs et count commandez par le roi de seer en les seetes en parlement a eux par le roi assignez. (fn. iv-15-36-1) | 8. The creation of dukes and earls. Also, be it known that our most sovereign lord the king, seated in parliament on his royal throne, at the request of the lords spiritual and temporal and of his commons assembled in the same parliament, made and promoted John of Lancaster, his brother, to be earl of Kendal and duke of Bedford, and Humphrey of Lancaster, his other brother, to be earl of Pembroke and duke of Gloucester. And then the king, of his special and gracious will, created and promoted Richard of York to be earl of Cambridge. Whereupon, after the homages made to the king by each of the same dukes and earls, the said dukes and earls were ordered by the king to sit in the seats in parliament assigned to them by the king. (fn. iv-15-36-1) |
| Pur le duc de Everwyk. | [Confirmation of the loyalty of the duke of York]. |
| 9. Item, fait assavoir, qe le roi nostre tressoverain seignur, par advis et assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, et del assent des communes, en cest present parlement assemblez, fist une declaracione pur Edward duc d'Everwyk en la fourme ensuant: | 9. On behalf of the duke of York. Also, be it known that the king our most sovereign lord, by the advice and assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and by the assent of the commons assembled in this present parliament, made a declaration on behalf of Edward, duke of York in the following manner: |
| Le roi nostre seignur soverein, de sa propre mocioun et auctorite roiale, par avys et assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, et de l'assent des communes, en cest present parlement assemblez, declara Edward duc d'Everwyk pur bone et loial liege sibien a soun piere nadgairs roi come a luy, et pur tiel veult q'il soit reputez, et luy restore a l'estat, noun, fame et honour, auxi entierment et pleinement come l'avoit devaunt le juggement envers luy renduz en le parlement de soun dit piere tenuz a Westm' le lundy en le feste de Sainte Fey la Virgine, l'an de soun regne primer, le suisdit juggement non obstant. Purveu toutfoitz, qe icestes presentz declaracione et restitucioun ne tournent ne se extendent en prejudice de roi, ne en prejudice et disheritans des autres seignurs, n'autres persones, en nulle manere. | The king, our sovereign lord, of his own incentive and royal authority, by the advice and assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and by the assent of the commons assembled in this present parliament, declares Edward, duke of York, to be a good and loyal liege to his father, formerly king, as well as to himself, and wishes him to be regarded as such, and restores him to his estate, name, repute and honour as completely and fully as he was before the judgment rendered against him in the parliament of his said father held at Westminster on the Monday of the feast of St Faith the Virgin in the first year of his reign [6 October 1399], notwithstanding the aforesaid judgment. Provided at all times that this present declaration and restitution do not prove or turn out to be prejudicial to the king, or prejudicial to, or the occasion for the disinheritance of, other lords or other people in any way. |
| Declaration pur les duc de Clarence et le count de Dorsete. | [Confirmation of the creations of the duke of Clarence and the earl of Dorset]. |
| 10. Mardy, le darrein jour de ceste parlement, le roi nostre seignur tressoverain considerant coment soun eisne friere Thomas, pres devant ceo q'il soi desporta a les parties de France en le service lour treshonurable seignur et piere Henri nadgairs roi d'Engleterre, fuit fait et cree par lour dit seignur et piere duc de Clarence, a avoir et enjoier les stile et honure del duc de Clarence, desoutz certeine fourme especifie en les lettres patentz a luy par soun dit seignur faitz celle partie. Et auxi, coment Thomas Beauford, uncle a nostre dit tressoverain seignur, enalant de commandement le dit nadgairs roi en mesme le service, el compaigne du dit duc, vers les parties avauntditz, fuit ensement fait et cree count de Dorsete adonqes par le dit nadgairs roi, a avoir et enjoier les stile, noun, et honure del count de Dorsete, desoutz certeine fourme auxi contenue en les lettres patentz a luy par le dit nadgairs roi ent faitz; et purtant qe cest parlement est le primer q'ad este somone cy en Engleterre puis les retournes des ditz duc et count des parties depardela dessuisditz en Engleterre, a le quelle parlement ils sont ore venuz, le dit roi nostre seignur tressoverain, pur la greindre seurete de mesmes les duc et count ceste partie, de sa tresbenigne grace et tresgracious volunte, del assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, et de les communes, en cest present parlement assemblez, en mesme celle overt parlement declara le dit Thomas, soun treshonurable friere, duc de Clarence, a avoir et enjoier les stile, noun, et honure de duc de Clarence, solonc les effect et fourme des ditz lettres patentz a luy ent faitz. Et auxi declara nostre dit tressoverain seignur en mesme le overt parlement, del assent avauntdit, le dit Thomas, soun honurable uncle, count de Dorsete, a avoir et enjoier les stile, noun, et honure de count de Dorsete, solonc l'effect et la fourme de les avauntditz lettres patentz a luy ent faitz, come desuis. | 10. A declaration on behalf of the duke of Clarence and the earl of Dorset. On Tuesday the last day of this parliament [29 May], the king our most sovereign lord considered how his only brother Thomas, before he took himself off to the parts of France in the service of their most honourable lord and father Henry, formerly king of England, was made and created duke of Clarence by their said lord and father, to have and enjoy the title and honour of duke of Clarence, under a certain form specified in the letters patent granted to him by his said lord in this matter. And also how Thomas Beaufort, uncle of our said most sovereign lord, who also went, by order of the said former king, in the same service, in the company of the said duke, to the aforesaid parts, was similarly made and created earl of Dorset at that time by the said former king, to have and enjoy the title, name and honour of earl of Dorset, under a certain form also contained in the letters patent granted to him by the said former king on this; and because this parliament is the first which has been summoned in England since the return of the said duke and earl to England from the aforesaid parts overseas, to which parliament they have now been summoned, the said king, our most sovereign lord, for the greater security of the same duke and earl in this matter, of his most kind grace and most gracious wish, by the assent of the lords spiritual and of the commons assembled in this present parliament, in this same public parliament declared that the said Thomas, his most honourable brother, duke of Clarence, should have and enjoy the title, name and honour of duke of Clarence in accordance with the form and effect of the said letter patent granted to him on this. Furthermore, our said most sovereign lord declared in the same public parliament, by the aforesaid assent, that the said Thomas, his honourable uncle, earl of Dorset, should have and enjoy the title, name and honour of earl of Dorset in accordance with the form and effect of the aforesaid letters patent granted to him on this, as mentioned above. |
| [col. b] | |
| 11. Memorandum, quod breve de scire facias de errore pretenso corrigendo versus Johannem Wyndesore prosecutum, quod hic rotulo huic consuitur, retornatum fuit coram domino rege in instanti parliamento, unde nichil inde ulterius actum fuit in eodem parliamento. | 11. Be it remembered that a writ of scire facias prosecuted against John Windsor concerning the correction of an alleged error, which is stitched to the roll at this point, was returned before the lord king in the present parliament, after which nothing further was done on it in the same parliament. |
| [editorial note: The following, as far as 'Robertus Hakebeche, vicecomitis', is written in a different, contemporary hand on a loose leaf of parchment stitched to membrane 7.] | |
| Henricus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie et Francie, et dominus Hibernie, vicecomitis Cantebr', salutem. Quia in recordo et processu, ac eciam in reddicione judicii loquele que fuit in curia domini Henrici nuper regis Anglie, patris nostri, coram eo per breve suum de errore inter Johannem de Wyndesore tunc querentem, et Johannem de Gunwardby, Adam de Egleston' capellanum, et Johannem de Lund capellanum, in adnullacionem recordi et processus, ac reddicionis judicii cujusdam assise nove disseisine, que inter ipsos Johannem de Gunwardby, Adam et Johannem de Lund, in eadem assisa querentes, et prefatum Johannem de Wyndesore, ac [Robertum] de Wyndesore, Eliam de Wyndesore, Rogerum de Wyndesore, Ricardum Writtill' de Westwyk, Ricardum Page de Westwyk, Ricardum Barbour de Swavesey, Johannem Milner de Cotenham, [Stephanum] Wandesworth de Swanesey, Alexandrum Tuly de Impyngton', Henricum Bernard de Cotenham, et Johannem Webster de Cantebr', summonita fuit et capta coram Willelmo Thirnyng, Johanne Cokayn et Johanne Markham, nuper justiciarii ipsius patris nostri ad assisam illam capiendam assignati apud Cantebrigg', per breve ipsius patris nostri, de tenementis in Rampton', Cotenham, Westwyk, Hokyngton', Long [Stanton,] et Willyngham in dicto comitatu Cantebr', error intervenit manifestus, ad grave dampnum ipsorum Johannis de Gunwardby, Ade et Johannis de Lund, sicut ex querela sua accepimus; cujus quidem loquele dicti brevis de errore recordum et processum coram nobis in ultimo parliamento nostro apud Westm' tento, ad mandatum nostrum, de assensu dominorum in eodem parliamento nostro assistencium, pro hujusmodi erroribus corrigendis venire fecimus. Nos, errorem, si quis fuerit, modo debito corrigi, et plenam et celerem justiciam fieri volentes in hac parte, tibi precipimus, quod per probos et legales homines de balliva tua scire facias prefato Johanni de Wyndesore, quod sit coram nobis in parliamento nostro apud Leycestr', ultimo die Aprilis proximi futuri tenendo, auditura tam predicta recordum et processum loquele dicti brevis de errore, quam errores quos per predictos Johannem de Gunwardby, Adam et Johannem de Lund, adtunc ibidem in hac parte assignari seu allegari contigerit, et ulterius facturum et recepturum quod curia nostra ejusdem parliamenti consideraverit in hac parte. Et habeas ibi tunc nomina eorum per quos ei scire feceris, et hoc breve. Teste me ipso apud Westm', .xviij. die Februarii, anno regni nostri primo. | Henry, by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to the sheriff of Cambridge, greetings. Because in the record and process, and also in the return of the judgment given in a case which was held in the court of the lord Henry, formerly king of England, our father, before him, by his writ of error between John of Windsor, the then plaintiff, and John of Gunwardby, Adam of Egglestone, chaplain, and John of Lund, chaplain, for the annulment of the record and process, and the return of the judgment of a certain assize of novel disseisin (which was summoned and held before William Thirning, John Cokayn and John Markham, formerly justices of our father, who were assigned to hold this assize at Cambridge by writ of our father between John of Gunwardby, Adam and John of Lund, plaintiff in the same assize, and the aforementioned John of Windsor, and Robert of Windsor, Elias of Windsor, Roger of Windsor, Richard Writtle of Westwick, Richard Page of Westwick, Richard Barber of Swavesey, John Milner of Cottenham, Stephen Wandsworth of Swavesey, Alexander Tuly of Impington, Henry Bernard of Cottenham and John Webster of Cambridge, concerning tenements in Rampton, Cottenham, Westwick, Hockington, Long Stanton, and Willingham in the said county of Cambridgeshire) error was clearly present, to the great injury of John of Gunwardby, Adam and John of Lund, as we understand from their complaints; we ordered the record and process of this case on the said writ of error to be brought before us in our last parliament held at Westminster, on our orders, by the assent of the lords present in our same parliament, in order to correct these errors. We, wishing to correct an error (if there is one) in the proper way, and to do full and swift justice in this matter, command you, that through honourable and law-worthy men of your bailiwick you notify the aforementioned John of Windsor that he should be in our presence in our parliament at Leicester to be held on the last day of next April, to hear the aforesaid record and process of the case of the said writ of error, as well as the errors which may be recited or alleged there in this matter by the aforesaid John of Gunwardby, Adam and John of Lund, and finally to do and accept that which our court of the same parliament decrees in this matter. And you shall bring with you the names of those through whom you caused him to be notified, and this writ. Witnessed by myself at Westminster, 18 February, in the first year of our reign [1414]. |
| Rome. | Rome. |
| [editorial note: The following down to 'Robertus Hakebeche, vicecomitus' is on the dorse of the loose leaf stitched to m.7.] | |
| Virtute istius brevis, die sabbati proximi ante festum dominice in ramis palmarum ultimo preterito, scire feci Johanni de Wyndesore infra nominato, essendi coram domino rege ad diem et locum infra specificatum in proximo parliamento ipsius regis, auditurum tam recordum et processum infra specificata, quam errores de quibus infra fit mentio, et ulterius ad facienda et recipienda omnia et singula in brevi isto contenta, juxta vim, formam et effectum ejusdem brevis, prout michi interius precipitur, per Ricardum Belbouch', Ricardum Catelyn', Thomam Page et Johannem Jumbelot, probos et legales homines de balliva mea. Et postea, videlicet die sabbati in vigilia Pasche ultimo preterito, predictus Johannes de Wyndesore moriebatur. | By virtue of this writ, on the Saturday immediately preceding Palm Sunday just passed [31 March], I made it known to John of Windsor named below, that he should appear before the lord king on the day and at the place specified below in the next parliament of the king, to hear the record and process detailed below as well as the errors of which mention is made below, and furthermore to do and accept each and every thing stated in the same writ, in accordance with the force, form and tenor of the same writ, as I was therein ordered to do, through Richard Belbouch, Richard Catelyn, Thomas Page and John Jumbelot, honourable and law-worthy men of my bailiwick. Subsequently, namely on the Saturday, the eve of Easter just passed [7 April], the aforesaid John of Windsor died. |
| Robertus Hakebeche, vicecomitus. | Robert Hakebeche, sheriff. |
| [memb. 6] | |
| Pur le count de Saresbirs. | [Petition from the earl of Salisbury for restitution]. |
| 12. Memorandum, quod in presenti parliamento Thomas comes Sarum liberavit domino regi quandam peticionem, cujus tenor sequitur in hec verba: A nostre tressoveraigne seignur nostre seignur le roi, supplie vostre liege Thomas [p. iv-18][col. a] Mountagu, count de Sarum, fitz et heirJohan Mountagu jadis count de Sarum, qe come le dit Johan nadgairs count, l'an du regne le roy Henri vostre pier, qe Dieu assoille, primer, fuist pris et arestuz a Cirencestr' par certeins gentz de mesme la ville, et apres ceo q'il fuist pris et arestez, et esteant en lour garde par un jour et demy noet ensuant, par les ditz gentz fuist illoeqes mys a mort saunz processe de ley, la ou les ditz gentz luy prometteront de luy avoir amesne saufment au roi vostre pier suisdit. Et puis apres, au parlement tenuz a Westm' en les oeptayves de seint Hillarie, l'an du regne de vostre dit piere second, toutz les seignurs temporelx esteantz en mesme le parlement, par assent de roi, declarerent et adjuggerent le dit Johan, nadgairs count, pur traitour, et q'il duist forfaire come traitour toutz ses terres et tenementz queux il avoit en fee simple le quint jour de Janver en la veille del fest de la Tiffanie nostre seignur Iehsu Crist, l'an du regne vostre dit pier primer, ensemblement ove toutz ses biens et chateux; es quels declaracione et juggement errour overtement entervient, a graunde damage du dit suppliant. | 12. On behalf of the earl of Salisbury. Be it remembered that in the present parliament, Thomas, earl of Salisbury delivered to the lord king a certain petition, the tenor of which follows: - To our most sovereign lord, our lord the king, the request of your liege Thomas [p. iv-18][col. a] Montague, earl of Salisbury, son and heir of John Montague formerly earl of Salisbury: whereas the said John formerly earl, in the first year of the reign of King Henry your father [1400], whom God absolve, was seized and arrested at Cirencester by certain people of the same town, and after he had been seized and arrested and had been kept under their guard for one day and half the following night, he was there put to death by the said people without process of law, even though the said people promised him that he would have safe access to the king, your aforesaid father. And then later, at the parliament held at Westminster on the octaves of St Hilary in the second year of the reign of your said father [20 January 1401], all the lords temporal attending the same parliament, by the king's assent, declared and adjudged the said John, formerly earl, a traitor, and decided that he should forfeit as a traitor all the lands and tenements which he held in fee simple on 5 January, the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the first year of the reign of your said father, together with all his goods and chattels; in which declaration and judgment error clearly intervened, to the great injury of the said supplicant. |
| Pleise a vostre hautesse, en overe de charite et de droit, come droiturel seignur, faire venir devaunt vous et les piers de vostre terre en cest present parlement, lez record et processe des declaracione et juggement avauntditz; au fyn, q'ils viewes et examinez en cest present parlement, les errours ou errour ent trovez, ou trove, soient corrigez, redressez et amendez, solonqe droit et reasone, et ley et custume de vostre terre, et qe le dit suppliant poet assigner et allegger les errours ou errour en ceste partie en ycest present parlement, par luy mesme, ou par autres de soun counseill, a tout temps a luy bosoignable. Et qe sur ceo droit a dit Thomas soit fait. | May it please your highness, by way of charity and of right, as a rightful lord, to cause to be brought before you and the peers of your land in this present parliament the record and process of the aforesaid declaration and judgment; with the intention that, when they have been viewed and examined in this present parliament, the errors or error found in them may be corrected, redressed and amended, in line with right and reason and the law and custom of your land; and that the said supplicant may point out and allege the errors or error in this matter in this present parliament, either himself or through others of his counsel, at whatever time is convenient for him. And that thereupon, right shall be done to the said Thomas. |
| Qua quidem peticione coram domino nostro rege, ac dominis spiritualibus et temporalibus in predicto parliamento existentibus, lecta, audita et intellecta, custos rotulorum cancellarii domini regis, de mandato ipsius domini regis, et assensu dictorum dominorum, rotulum parliamenti tenti anno secundo regis Henrici patris domini nostri regis predicto, in quo continebantur declaratio et judicium versus Johannem Montagu, nuper comitem Sarum, patrem predicti nunc comitis, in eodem parliamento predicto anno secundo tento reddita, unde in peticione predicta fit mencio, hic in instanti parliamento detulit, quorum tenor sequitur in hec verba: - Item, fait a remembrer, qe la ou Thomas Holand jadis count de Kent, Johan Holand jadis count de Huntyngdon', Johan Mountagu jadis count de Sarum, Thomas jadis sire le Despenser, et Rauf Lomley, chivaler, nadgairs en diverses parties d'Engleterre soi leverent et chivacherent de guerre traiterousement encountre nostre seignur le roi et encountre lour ligeance, pur destruir nostre dit seignur le roi et autres graundes du roialme, et le dit roialme de gentes d'autre lange enhabiter, en lour dite leve de guerre par les loialx lieges nostre dit seignur le roi feurent prisez et decollez: et partant toutz les seignurs temporelx esteantz en parlement, par assent du roy, declarerent et adjuggerent les ditz Thomas, Johan, Johan, Thomas et Rauf, pur traitours, pur la leve de guerre encountre lour seignur liege suisdit; et q'ils forfairent come traitours toutz lour terres et tenementz queux ils avoient en fee simple le quint jour de Janver en la veille del fest de la Tiffanie nostre seignur Iehsu Crist, l'an du regne nostre seignur le roi suisdit primer, ou puis, come la leie de la terre voet; ensemblement ove toutz lour biens et chateux, nounobstant q'ils furent mortz sur la dite leve de guerre saunz processe de leie. - Ac postmodum eisdem declaracione et judicio, necnon erroribus quos dictus nunc comes in predictis declaracione et judicio supposuit intervenisse, quorum tenor sequitur in hec verba: | This petition having been read, heard and understood in the presence of our lord the king and the lords spiritual and temporal attending the aforesaid parliament, the keeper of the rolls of chancery of the lord king, by order of the same lord king, and by the assent of the said lords, brought into the present parliament the roll of the parliament held in the second year of King Henry, father of our aforesaid lord the king, in which were contained the declaration and judgment rendered against John Montague, formerly earl of Salisbury, father of the aforesaid present earl, in the same aforesaid parliament held in the second year, and of which mention is made in the aforesaid petition, the tenor of which declaration follows: - Also, be it remembered that whereas Thomas Holand, once earl of Kent, John Holand, once earl of Huntingdon, John Montague, once earl of Salisbury, Thomas, once Lord Despenser, and Ralph Lumley, knight, recently gathered themselves together in various parts of England and treacherously rode to war against our lord the king and contrary to their allegiance, to destroy our said lord the king and other great men of the kingdom and to populate the said realm with people of another tongue; and they were seized and beheaded for their said levying of war by the loyal lieges of our said lord the king: and because all the lords temporal present in parliament, by the king's assent, declared and adjudged the said Thomas, John, John, Thomas and Ralph to be traitors because of their levying of war against our aforesaid liege lord; and that they should forfeit, as traitors, all the lands and tenements which theyheld in fee simple on 5 January, the eve of the feast of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ in the first year of the reign of our lord the aforesaid king, or later, as the law of the land requires, together with all their goods and chattels; notwithstanding that they were killed for the said levying of war without process of law. - And after the same declaration and judgment, as well as the errors which the said present earl alleged to have been present in the aforesaid declaration and judgment, the tenor of which follows in these words, had been read, heard and understood, namely: -- |
| Le dit Thomas Mountagu, ore count de Sarum, fitz et heir Johan Mountagu jadis count de Sarum, de qi mencione est fait en la peticione, dist et allegge, qe les record, [col. b] declaration, et juggement suisditz sont erroignez et defectivez en toutz points. Meement, en tant come le dit Johan, jadis count, estoit pris et arestez, come la bille fait mencione, et esteant en lour garde par un jour et demy noet ensuant, et en lour governance, peisiblement pur avoir este mesne a roi vostre pier, a esteer a la ley, et pur estre jugge par sez piers. Et apres ceo qe l'avauntdit Johan, jadis count, fuit ensi pris et arestez, fuist mys a la mort par les ditz gentz saunz auctorite ou processe de ley. | The said Thomas Montague, now earl of Salisbury, son and heir of John Montague, formerly earl of Salisbury, of whom mention is made in the petition, claims and alleges that the aforesaid record, [col. b] declaration and judgment are erroneous and defective in all points. Especially in as much as the said John, formerly earl, was seized and arrested, as the bill mentions, and was held in their custody for one day and half the following night, and in their care, to be peaceably brought before the king, your father, to submit to the law and to be judged by his peers. But that afterwards the aforesaid John, formerly earl, was then seized and arrested, and was put to death by the said people without the authority or process of law. |
| Item, errour, de ceo qe l'avauntdit Johan Mountagu, jadis count de Sarum, fuist mys a la mort saunz nulle accusement, et saunz estre mesne en juggement ou en respounce, encountre droit, ley et custume de la terre, et la fourme de la graunde chartre des fraunchises d'Engleterre, en la quelle est contenuz, qe nulle frank homme ne soit exile, ne forjugge, n'en autre manere destruit, sinoun par loial juggement de sez pieres, ou par la ley de la terre. (fn. iv-15-64-1) | Also, error, in as far as the aforesaid John Montague, formerly earl of Salisbury, was put to death without there being any accusation, and without having been brought to judgment or given the right of reply, contrary to right and the law and custom of the land, and the tenor of the Great Charter of the freedoms of England, in which it is stated that no free man should be exiled, or forjudged, or destroyed in any other way, unless by the loyal judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land. (fn. iv-15-64-1) |
| Item, errour, de ce qe le dit Johan, jadis count, duist forfaire terres ou tenementz sanz assent des prelatz, qe sont pieres en parlement, les queux ne furent mye faitz parties ou privez as declaracione et juggement avauntditz. | Also, error, in as much as the said John, formerly earl, had to forfeit his lands or tenements without the assent of the prelates, who are peers in parliament, yet who were not made party or privy to the aforesaid declaration and judgment. |
| Item, errour, en tant qe en les ditz declaracione et juggement expresse mencione est fait, 'qe le dit Johan, nadgairs count de Sarum, fuist pris et decollez par les loialx lieges du roi'; par qi overtement purra estre entendue, qe eaux [non] luy purroient avoir mesne en respounce solonc la ley de la terre, et luy mistrent a morte saunz processe du ley. | Also, error, in as much as in the said declaration and judgment express mention is made that the said John, formerly earl of Salisbury, was seized and beheaded by the loyal lieges of the king; by which it is clearly meant to be understood that they could have accorded him the right of reply in accordance with the law of the land; but that they put him to death without process of the law. |
| Item, errour, en tant come les ditz declaracione et juggement ne furent donez par le roi, mais soulement par les seignurs temporelx, et par assent du roi; quelle juggement doit estre donez par nostre seignur le roi qe est soverein juge en toutz cas, et par les seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, ove le assent de les communes de la terre, ou a lour peticione, et nemy par les seignurs temporelx soulement. | Also, error, in as much as the said declaration and judgment were not given by the king, but only by the lords temporal by the assent of the king; which judgment ought to have been given by our lord the king who is the sovereign judge in all cases, and by the lords spiritual and temporal by the assent of the commons of the land, or at their petition, and not by the lords temporal alone. |
| Item, errour, en tant come en les ditz declaracione et juggement y ad contrariouste expresse, en ceo q'en mesmes les declaracione et juggement est contenuz, 'qe le dit Johan, jadis count de Sarum, duist forfair come la ley de la terre voet'; et qe il fuist mys a morte saunz processe de ley. | Also, error, in as much as in the said declaration and judgment there is a contradiction, in that in the same declaration and judgment it is stated that the said John, formerly earl of Salisbury, ought to forfeit as the law of the land requires; and yet he was put to death without legal process. |
| Item, errour en les declaracione et juggement suisditz, en tant come les ditz declaracione et juggement furent faitz et donez saunz peticione ou assent des communes en le dit parlement, queux de droit serront peticioners ou assentours de ceo qe serra ordeine pur ley en parlement. Dount il prie, qe les record, declaracione, et juggement avauntditz, pur cestes errours et autres comprises en le dit record, soient reversez, cassez et adnullez. | Also, error in the aforesaid declaration and judgment, in as much as the said declaration and judgment were made and given without the petition or assent of the commons in the said parliament, who by right are to be petitioners or assenters to that which is ordained as law in parliament. Consequently he prays that the aforesaid record, declaration and judgment, on account of these errors and others contained in the said record, may be reversed, quashed and annulled. |
| Similiter, coram dicto domino nostro rege, ac dominis predictis, in presenti parliamento lect is, auditis et intellectis, clericus parliamenti, ex precepto dicti domini regis, copias tam dicte peticionis quam predictorum declaracionis et judicii, ac errorum predictorum per dictum nunc comitem, ut premittitur, assignatorum, servientibus domini regis ad legem tunc ibidem presentibus, ad effectum quod ipsi contra diem crastinum sequentem pro salvacionem juris regii in hac parte avisarentur, liberavit. Super quo, dicti servientes ad legem, eodem crastino, coram domino rege, ac dominis spiritualibus et temporalibus predictis hic in parliamento comparentes, pecierunt scrutinium pro domino [p. iv-19][col. a] rege in hac parte. Quibus dictum erat ex parte domini regis, quod ipsi procederent ulterius absqe aliquo scrutinio habendo quo ad declaracionem et judicium supradicta. Preterea dictum fuit ex parte domini regis tam predictis servientibus domini regis, et similiter attornato domini regis, quam prefato nunc comiti, quod ipsi pro expedicione hujus materie, videlicet dicti servientes, et attornatus domini regis, tales evidencias quales pro dicto domino nostro rege, et predictus nunc comes tales evidentias quales pro eo in [col. b] hac parte inveniri et < reperiri > poterunt, cancellario domini nostri regis pro tempore existento citra quindenam Sancti Michelis proximi futuri deferant et monstrent, seu deferri et monstrari faciant, pro declaracione eorumdem, eidem domino nostro regi, aut aliis quos idem dominus rex ad hoc assignare voluerit, fienda, ad effectum, quod materia predicta eo magis maturari poterit erga proximum parliamentum. Et super hoc dies datus fuit dicto nunc comiti usque ad idem proximum parliamentum. (fn. iv-15-76-1) | -- these also having been read, heard and understood in the presence of the said lord our king and the aforesaid lords in the present parliament, the clerk of parliament, on the orders of the said lord king, delivered copies of the said petition as well as the aforesaid declaration and judgment and the aforesaid errors alleged by the said present earl and given above, to the serjeants-at-law of the lord king who were present there at the time, with the intention that before the next day they should take advice on this matter for the preservation of the king's laws. Whereupon, next day, the said serjeants-at- law, in the presence of the lord king and the aforesaid lords spiritual and temporal attending this parliament, requested a search through the records on behalf of the lord [p. iv-19][col. a] king in this matter. To which the reply was, on the part of the lord king, that they should proceed without making any further search with regard to the aforesaid declaration and judgment. Moreover, it was said on behalf of the lord king to the aforesaid serjeants of the lord king, as well as to the attorney of the lord king and to the aforementioned present earl, that in order to expedite this business, they, namely the said serjeants and attorney of the lord king, should bring and show to the chancellor of our lord the king then in office, before the quinzaine of Michaelmas next [13 October], whatever evidence they could find in favour of the said lord our king; and the aforesaid present earl [col. b] should similarly bring whatever evidence he could find in his favour, and they should arrange for it to be shown and exhibited on behalf of the said declaration, either to our same lord the king or to others whom the same lord the king is willing to assign to this matter, with the intention that the aforesaid material might be considered further in the next parliament. And thereupon, a day was given to the said present earl until the same next parliament. (fn. iv-15-76-1) |
| [memb. 5] | |
| PLEISE A TRESEXCELLENT, TRESGRACIOUS ET TRESSOVERAIGNE SEIGNUR NOSTRE SEIGNUR LE ROI, EN EASE ET SUPPORTACIOUN DE SEZ POVERS COMMUNES DE SOUN ROIALME D'ENGLETERRE, EN CEST PRESENT PARLEMENT GRAUNTER LES PETITIONS Q'ENSUENT: | [THE COMMON PETITIONS]: MAY IT PLEASE THE MOST EXCELLENT, MOST GRACIOUS AND MOST SOVEREIGN LORD, OUR LORD THE KING, FOR THE EASE AND SUPPORT OF THE POOR COMMONS OF HIS KINGDOM OF ENGLAND, IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT TO GRANT THE PETITIONS WHICH FOLLOW: |
| [col. a] | |
| I. | I. [Liberties and Franchises.] |
| 13. Primerement, qe seinte esglise eit toutz ses libertees et fraunchises, et qe toutz les seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, et les autres lieges du roi, eiantz libertees et franchises, et toutz les citees et burghes du roialme, eient et enjoient toutz lour libertees et fraunchises, queux ils ount de graunte de les progenitours nostre dit seignur le roi, et de son graunte demesne ou confermement, et qe la graunde chartre, et la chartre du foreste, et toutz autres bons estatuitz avaunt ces heures faitz, et nient repellez, estoisent en lour force. | 13. Firstly, that holy church shall have all its liberties and franchises, and that all the lords spiritual and temporal and other lieges of the king shall have their liberties and franchises, and that all the cities and boroughs of the kingdom shall have and enjoy all their liberties and franchises which they have by the grant of the progenitors of our said lord the king, or by his own grant or confirmation; and that the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forest, and all other good statutes made before this time and not repealed, shall remain in force. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi le voet. | The king wills it. |
| II. | II. [Probate of Wills.] |
| 14. Item, supplient les communes, et gentils, citezeins et burgeises, et autres povers lieges du roialme, qe par la ou en temps du Roi Edward besaiel nostre seignur le roi q'orest, a soun parlement tenuz a Westm' l'an de soun regne .xxxi. a grevous compleint des communes de roialme, lour compleignauntz, coment les ministres et officers des ordinaries de seinte esglise preignent du people grevouses et outrageouses fynes pur les proves des testamentes, et pur les acquitances ent faire, le roi eit charge q'ils ent mettont amendement, et s'ils ne facent, accorde fuist par le dit estatuit, qe le roi fra enquerrer par ses justices de tielx extorsions et oppressions, et de les oier et terminer auxibien a la suite de roi come de partie, come auncienment ad este use. (fn. iv-15-87-1) Et puis, nient contreesteant le dit estatuit, les officialx et commissaries, et autres deputees et substitutz ordinaries, parnont de jour en autre usuelment pur probacions des testamentes, et pur acquitances ent avoir, fynes, fees, raunseons et extorsions, a la foitz a la somme de cli., xl li., xxli., et pluis et meindre a lour volunte, la ou de droit, et par auncien ley, ne duissent prendre en cestes cases a pluis qe ij s. vi d.. Et si les ditz executours ne voillent paier tielx excessives sommes, les ditz officers et ministres ordinairs vexent et travaillent les ditz executours en longetisme paiis, tanqe ils eient paie tiele excesse et raunseon come plest as ditz officers et ministres, en destruccioun et anientisment des ditz executours et abbessement de divine service ent ordeine, et en retardacioun del darrein volunte des ditz testatours, et destribucioun des biens des ditz testatours, et a graunt peril de lour almes. | 14. Also, the request of the commons, nobles, citizens and burgesses and other poor lieges of the kingdom: whereas when, in the time of King Edward [III], great-grandfather of our lord the present king, at his parliament held at Westminster in the thirty-first year of his reign [1357], the commons of the realm complained grievously of how the ministers and officers of the ordinaries of holy church took from people injurious and exorbitant fines for proving wills, and for making acquitances with respect to them, the king charged them that they make amends for this; and if they did not do this, it was agreed by the said statute that the king would make enquiries through his justices into such extortions and oppressions, and hear and determine them at the king's suit as well as at that of the party, as was customarily done in the past. (fn. iv-15-87-1) Since when, however, notwithstanding the said statute, the officials and commissaries and other deputies and substitute ordinaries still customarily take daily for the probate of wills, and for making acquitances with respect to them, fines, fees, ransoms and extortion, sometimes in the range of £100, £40 or £20, or more or less at their will, whereas by right, and according to ancient law, they ought not to take in such cases more than 2s. 6d. And if the said executors do not wish to pay such excessive sums, the said officers and ministers of ordinaries vex and harass the said executors relentlessly until they have paid whatever excess and fine the said ministers and officers require, bringing about the destruction and ruin of the said executors and the abasement of the divine service ordained for this, and delaying fulfilment of the final wishes of the said testators and the distribution of the goods of the said testators, risking great peril to their souls. |
| Que plese a nostre dit seignur [col. b] le roi considerer les premisses et les circumstances d'icelles, et la vivre et susteignance de les enfauntes et servantz des ditz testatours; et sur ceo par assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx ordeiner en cest present parlement, qe les ditz officers et ministres, et autres q'ont jurisdiccioun ordinarie, ne preignent pluis pur celle cause qe ij s. vi d., come auncienment ad este accustumez, sur peine de paier dys foitz a tant come ils auerount issint resceu encountre ceste ordinance; et qe le roi eit en cest cas l'une moite, et la partie pursuant l'autre moite. | May it please our said lord [col. b] the king to consider the aforesaid matters and the circumstances of the same, and the lives and upkeep of the children and servants of the said testators; and thereupon, by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, to ordain in this present parliament that the said officers and ministers, and others who have ordinary jurisdiction, do not take more for this task than 2s. 6d., as was customary in ancient times, on pain of paying ten times as much as they might thereby receive contrary to this ordinance; and that in such cases the king shall have one half, and the suing party the other half. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Les prelatz ont fait promesse a roi, qe plein redresse et correccioun ent serra fait, par ordinance parentre eux affaire dedeinz le dymy an apres ceo qe la see de Canterbirs soit plein. Et auxi ont promys a roi les ditz prelatz, q'ils le meen temps ferront lour peine et devoir de correccioun et amendement a toutz ceux qe ceste partie vorront a eux compleindre. | The prelates have promised the king that full redress and correction of this will be made by an ordinance to be made by them within half a year of the see of Canterbury being filled. In addition, the said prelates have promised the king that in the meantime they will do their best and their duty of correction and redress to all those who wish to complain to them in such cases. |
| III. | III. [Hospitals.] |
| 15. Item, priont les communes, coment les nobles rois d'Engleterre, et seignurs et dames sibien espirituelx et temporelx come autres des diverses estates de soun roialme, al plesance de Dieu et sa gloriouse maere, et en eide et merit de lour almes, ount founduz et faitz plusours hospitalx, en citees, burghes et diverses autres lieux en vostre dit roialme, as queux ount donez graundement de lour biens moebles pur les edifier, et graundement de lour terres et tenementz pur y sustenir veigles hommes et femmes, lazers hommes et femmes, hors de lour senne et memoir, poveres femmes enseintez, et pur hommes q'ount perduz lour biens et sont cheiez en graunde meschief, la murir, [sic: read 'nurir'] relever, et refresser ove ycelles. Et unquore est ensi, tresgracious seignur, qe la greindre partie des hospitalx deinz vostre dit roialme sont encheiez, et les biens et profitz d'icelles sibien par hommes espirituelx come temporelx retractz et expenduz en autri oeps, parount plusours hommes et femmes ount moruz en graunde meschief, pur defaute d'eide, vivre, et socour, al displesance de Dieu, et peril de lour almes q'ency gastent et exspendent les biens d'icelles poveres hommes ou femmes en autre oeps. | 15. Also, the commons pray that, whereas the noble kings of England, and the lords and ladies, both spiritual and temporal, as well as others of various estates of the realm, for the pleasure of God and his glorious mother, and for the aid and merit of their souls, have founded and built various hospitals in cities, boroughs and various other places in your said kingdom, to which they have given generously of their moveable goods for building them, and generously of their lands and tenements for maintaining there old men and women, leprous men and women, those who have lost their senses and memory, poor pregnant women, and men who have lost their goods and have fallen on hard times, in order to nourish, relieve and refresh them there. Now, however, most gracious lord, a great number of the hospitals within your said kingdom have collapsed, and the goods and profits of the same have been taken away and put to other uses by spiritual men as well as temporal, because of which many men and women have died in great misery through lack of help, livelihood and succour, to the displeasure of God, and bringing peril to the souls of those who thus waste and put the goods of the same poor men and women to other uses. |
| Que plese a nostre dit seignur le roi, en relifment de les bosoignauntz en ycelle partie, ordeiner par assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, q'en chescun partie du roialme, de cy en apres, [p. iv-20][col. a] toutz tielx hospitalx, de qi patronage ou fundacioun q'ils soient, sibien de vous, tresgracious seignur, ou de voz tresnobles progenitours, come d'autres, puissent estre visitez, surviewez et governez en manere et fourme qe vous semblera meultz bosoignable et profitable, solonc l'entent et purpos des donours et foundours d'icelles. | May it please our said lord the king, for the relief of those in need in this matter, to ordain, by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, that in every part of the kingdom from now on [p. iv-20][col. a] all such hospitals, of whosoever's patronage or foundation they may be, whether of yours, most gracious lord, or of your noble progenitors, as well as of others, might be visited, inspected and administered in the manner and form which seems most appropriate and beneficial to you, in accordance with the intention and purpose of the donors and founders of the same. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet, qe touchant les hospitalx queux sont del patronage et fundacioun le roi, les ordinairs, par vertue des commissions le roi a eux adresserz, enquergent del manere de la fundation des ditz hospitalx, et de la governance et estat d'icelles, et auxi de toutz autres matiers en ceste partie necessaries et bosoignables; et l'inquisicions ent pris certifient en la chauncellerie le roi. Et qant as autres hospitalx, qe sont d'autri fundacioun et patronage qe de roi, les ordinairs enquergent del manere de la fundacioun, estat, et governance d'icelx, et de toutz autres matiers et choses busoignables celle partie; et sur ceo facent ent correccioun et reformacioun solonc les leies de seinte esglise, come a eux appurtient. (fn. iv-15-98-1) | The king wills, in connection with the hospitals which are of the king's patronage and foundation, that the ordinaries, by virtue of the royal commissions addressed to them, shall enquire into the manner of the foundation of the said hospitals and the administration and condition of the same, and also into all other necessary and requisite matters in this case; and the inquisitions thus taken shall be certified in the king's chancery. And with regard to other hospitals, those which are of the foundation and under the patronage of others than the king, that the ordinaries shall enquire into the manner of the foundation, the condition and administration of the same, and into all other relevant aspects and issues in this matter; and thereupon let them bring about correction and reform in this, in accordance with the laws of holy church, as they pertain to them. (fn. iv-15-98-1) |
| IIII. | IIII. [Writs of Certiorari corpus cum causa.] |
| 16. Item, priont les communes, qe come plusours gentz ount estez condempnez en les courts nostre dit seignur le roi, et en les courts de ses nobles progenitours, sibien deinz la citee de Loundres, come en autres citees et burghes deinz le roialme d'Engleterre; et par vertue de tielx condempnacions ount este commis a la prisone nostre seignur le roi, pur y demurer tanqe ils ount fait gree as pleintifs vers queux ils furent condempnez. Et apres, par lour suggestions faitz en la chauncellerie nostre seignur le roi ount ewe diverses briefs appellez 'certiorari corpus cum causa', hors de la chauncellerie nostre seignur le roi, directz as viscountz, ou gardeins des prisons oue tielx gentz condempnez sount detenuz, pur avoir lour corps, ove la cause d'emprisonement de les condempnez suisditz, en la chauncellerie, as jours contenuz en les ditz briefs. Apres queux briefs, ensemblement ovesqe le corps, et la cause de condempnacioun, retournez en la chauncellerie suisdit, les ditz gentz issint condempnez ount este deliverez en la chauncellerie avauntdit, par baille, ou par mainprise, ou a large saunz baille ou mainprise, encountre l'assent et volunte des ditz pleintifs, et saunz ascun gree faire as ditz pleintifs de les sommes en queux ils sont condempnez, encountre la leie de la terre. Et issint demurgent les ditz pleintifs saunz remedie, en anientisment de l'estate de tielx pleintifs, et en defesances des juggementz renduz en les courts avauntditz. | 16. Also, the commons pray that, whereas various people have been condemned in the courts of our said lord the king and in the courts of his noble progenitors, both within the city of London as well as in other cities and boroughs within the kingdom of England; and by virtue of such condemnations they have been thrown into the prisons of our lord the king, staying there until they have compensated the plaintiffs through whom they were condemned. Then later, as a result of allegations made by them in the chancery of our lord the king, they have had various writs called certiorari corpus cum causa from the chancery of our lord the king, directing the sheriffs or the keepers of the prisons where these condemned people are detained to bring themselves, together with the reason for the imprisonment of the aforesaid condemned people, into the chancery on the days given in the said writs. Then, following these writs, and when both the persons and the reasons for the condemnation have been returned in the aforesaid chancery, the said people thus condemned have been set free in the aforesaid chancery on bail or by mainprise, or released without bail or mainprise, contrary to the assent and wish of the said plaintiffs, and without paying any compensation to the said plaintiffs of the sums for which they were condemned, contrary to the law of the land. And thus the said plaintiffs are still without remedy, to the great injury of the estate of these plaintiffs, and in contradiction of the judgments rendered in the aforesaid courts. |
| Que plese a nostre seignur le roi d'ordeiner en cest present parlement, par l'advis des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, qe si ascun tiel brief de certiorari corpus cum causa soit grauntee, ou serra grauntee en temps avenir, et sur le dit brief soit retourne, qe le prisoner q'est issint detenuz en prisone soit condempne par juggement, qe maintenaunt soit remaunde, ou demurge continuelment en prisone, solonc la leie de la terre, saunz estre lesse aler par baille ou par mainprise, encountre la volunte des pleintifs suisditz, tanqe lour soit fait gree de les sommes issint adjuggez. | May it please our lord the king to ordain in this present parliament, with the advice of the lords spiritual and temporal, that if any such writ of certiorari corpus cum causa is granted or shall be granted in time to come, and following the said writ it is returned that the prisoner who is thus detained in prison is condemned by judgment, that he should be immediately remanded or continue to remain in prison, in accordance with the law of the land, without being allowed to leave on bail or by mainprise contrary to the wish of the aforesaid plaintiffs, until he shall have compensated them with the sums thus adjudged. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi le voet. (fn. iv-15-105-1) | The king wills it. (fn. iv-15-105-1) |
| V. | V. [Courts Christian. Libels.] |
| 17. Item, priont les communes, qe come diverses lieges nostre seignur le roi sont citeez de jour en autre d'apparoir en courte Cristiene, devaunt juges espirituelx, a y respondre as diverses persones, sibien des choses qe touchant franc tenement, dette, trespasses, covenauntz et autres des queux la conisance appurtient al court nostre seignur le roi, come de matrimonie et testament; et qant tieux persones issint citeez appiergent, et demandent un libelle de ceo qe lour est surmys, pur estre enfourmez a doner lour respons illoeqes ou autrement a purchacer brief nostre seignur le roi de prohibicioun, solonc lour cas, quelle libelle [col. b] lour est denie par les ditz juges espirituelx, al entent qe tielx persones ne serront my par nulle tiel brief aidez, encountre ley, et as graundes damages de tielx persones issint empledez. | 17. Also, the commons pray that, whereas various lieges of our lord the king are cited from one day to the next to appear in courts Christian before spiritual judges, and to answer there to various people concerning things touching free tenement, debt, trespasses, covenants and other things cognisance of which pertains to the court of our lord the king, as well as concerning matrimony and testament; and when such persons thus cited appear and demand a libel for whatever is alleged against them in order to gain information and give their reply there, or otherwise to purchase a writ of prohibition from our lord the king in accordance with their case, this libel [col. b] is denied them by the spiritual judges, with the intention that such people shall not be helped at all by these writs; which is contrary to law, and to the great damage of such persons thus impleaded. |
| Que plese a nostre dit seignur le roi, d'ordeiner en cest present parlement, qe tielx libelles desorenavaunt ne soient my denyez a nulli. Et outre, si ascun de ceux juges espirituelx devaunt queux tielx libelles sount demaundez les denyent, q'ils encourgent la peyne a nostre seignur le roi de xli.; et al partie issint grevee c s. ataunt de foitz q'ascun tiel libelle issint demaunde et [sic: read 'est'] denye, el manere come avaunt est dit. Et qe les justices de pees nostre seignur le roi eient poair a tenir plee devaunt eux en cest cas, al suyte de celuy qe voudra suer pur nostre seignur le roi, ou pur luy mesmes. | May it please our said lord the king to ordain in this present parliament that such libels shall not be denied to anyone from now on. Furthermore, if any of the spiritual judges before whom such libels are demanded denies them, he shall incur a fine of £10 to be paid to our lord the king, and to the party thus aggrieved 100s., as many times as a libel thus demanded is denied in the manner outlined above. And that the justices of the peace of our lord the king shall have the power to hold a plea before themselves in these cases, at the suit of anyone who wishes to sue on behalf of our lord the king or on behalf of himself. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet, qe a quelle heure la copie de le libelle est grauntable par la ley, q'il soit graunte et livere a la partie saunz difficulte. (fn. iv-15-111-1) | The king wills that whenever the copy of the libel is grantable by law, it should be granted and delivered to the party without hindrance. (fn. iv-15-111-1) |
| [memb. 4] | |
| VI. | VI. [Servants and Labourers.] |
| 18. Item, priont les communes, qe come les servantz et laborers des countees du roialme s'enfuent des countees en countees, a cause q'ils ne voudrent estre justifiee par les ordeignances par ley sur eux faitz, a graunde damage des gentils, et des autres as queux ils serverent, a cause qe les ditz ordeignances et estatuitz sur eux faitz ne sont my executz en toutz countees. | 18. Also, the commons pray that, whereas the servants and labourers of the counties of the kingdom flee from county to county because they do not wish to be punished by the ordinances lawfully made concerning them, to the great injury of the nobles and the others whom they serve, because the said ordinances and statutes made concerning them are not enforced in all counties. |
| Que plese a nostre seignur le roi graunter, qe l'estatuit des laborers fait a Cantebrigge, et toutz autres bones estatuitz des laborers, faitz et nient repellez, soient fermement tenuz et gardez, et mys en due execucioune. Et outre ceo, qe les justices de pees eient poair de maunder lour briefs pur tieux laborers fugitifs a chescun viscont d'Engleterre, et de faire autres processes come l'estatuit des laborers requiert, pur eux amesner devaunt eux, a respoundre a nostre seignur le roi, et a les parties, des contempts et trespasses faitz encountre les ordeignances et estatuitz suisditz, en manere come les ditz justices ount poair de maunder a chescun viscont pur larons devaunt eux enditez. Et qe certeine ordeignance poet estre fait de lour arraie en vesture et autres necessaries. | May it please our lord the king to grant that the statute of labourers made at Cambridge [1388], and all other good statutes of labourers made and not repealed, should be firmly upheld and preserved and put into proper effect. Furthermore, that the justices of the peace shall have the power to send their writs for such fugitive labourers to every sheriff in England, and to carry out such other processes as the statute of labourers requires to bring them before them, to reply to our lord the king and to the parties for the contempts and trespasses made contrary to the aforesaid ordinances and statutes, in the same way in which the said justices have the power to send to every sheriff for robbers indicted before them. And that a certain ordinance might be made concerning their deportment, with regard both to clothing and to other necessaries. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi le voet en toutz pointz; forspris la peticione de l'arraie en vesture, et autres necessaries. Et outre ceo le roi voet, qe toutz les estatuitz et ordeignances des laborers, servantz et artificers, devaunt ces heures faitz et nient repellez, soient exemplifiez desoutz le graunde seal, et mandez a chescun viscont d'Engleterre d'ent faire proclamacioun en plein countee. Et puis celle proclamacioun fait, qe chescun viscont face deliverer la dite exemplificacioun a luy direct as justices de la pees en soun countee nommez en la quorum, ou a un de eux, a demurer envers tielx justices qe sont ou serront, pur le mielx mettre les ditz estatuitz et ordeignances en due execucioun. Et es countees ou diverses commissionsde la pees sont faitz, soient atantz des exemplificaciouns des estatuitz et ordeignances avauntditz faitz, come sont commissions de la pees en mesme le countee, et mandez a viscont, a faire proclamacioun, et les liverer come dessuis est dit. Et qe les justices de la pees en chescun countee nommez en la quorum, receantz deinz mesme le countee, exceptz seignurs nommez en la commissioun de pees, et auxi exceptz les justices de l'un banc et de l'autre, chief baroun de l'escheqer, sergeantz de la ley et attournes du roi, pur le temps qe mesmes les justices, chief baroun, sergeantz, et attournes sont entendantz et occupiez en les courts du roi, ou aillours occupiez en service le roi, facent lour sessions quatre foitz par an; c'estassavoir, en la primer semaigne apres le fest de Seint Michell', et la primer semaigne apres le feste de Tiphain, et en la primer semaigne apres le clause de Pask, et en la primer semaigne apres la translation de Seint Thomas le Martir, et pluis sovent si mestier soit. Et qe mesmes les justices teignent lour sessions parmy [p. iv-21][col. a] toute Engleterre en mesmes les semaignes, chescun an desorenavaunt. Et auxi qe les justices de la pees desormes eient poair d'examiner sibien toutz maners laborers, servantz et lour mestres, come artificers, par lour serementz, de toutz matiers et choses par eux faitz a contrarie des estatuitz et ordinances avauntditz, et sur ceo de les punir sur lour conisance, selonc l'effect de les estatuitz et ordeignances avauntditz, sicome ils furent convictz par enquest. Et qe le viscont de chescun countee en Engleterre face bien et duement soun office celles parties, sur peine de perdre a roi xxli. (fn. iv-15-118-1) | The king wills it in all points; except the petition concerning their deportment and clothing and other necessaries. Moreover, the king wills that all the statutes and ordinances of labourers, servants and artificers made before this time and not repealed shall be exemplified under the great seal, and sent to every sheriff in England for proclamation of them to be made in the full county court. And after this proclamation has been made, that every sheriff shall deliver this exemplification addressed to him to the justices of the peace in his county who are named in the quorum, or to one of them, to remain in the possession of those justices who occupy or will occupy the office, so that they can put the said statutes and ordinances into better effect. And in those counties where several commissions of the peace are issued, let as many exemplifications of the aforesaid statutes and ordinances be made as there are commissions of the peace in that county, and let them be sent to the sheriff for him to proclaim them, and deliver them as said above. And that the justices of the peace in each county who are named in the quorum and resident in the same county - except the lords named in the commissions of the peace, and also except the justices of one bench or the other, the chief baron of the exchequer, serjeants-at-law and king's attorneys, during the time that the same justices, chief baron, serjeants and attorneys are attendant upon and employed in the kings' courts or employed elsewhere in the king's service - shall hold their sessions four times a year; that is to say, in the first week after the feast of Michaelmas [29 September], and the first week after the feast of the Epiphany [6 January], and the first week after the end of Easter, and in the first week after the Translation of St Thomas the Martyr [7 July], or more often if need be. And that the same justices shall hold their sessions throughout [p. iv-21][col. a] the whole of England in the same weeks each year from now on. And also that the justices of the peace shall henceforth have the power to examine all kinds of labourers, servants and their masters, as well as artificers, by their oaths, with regard to all actions and deeds committed by them which are contrary to the aforesaid statutes and ordinances, and thereupon to punish them on their cognisance in accordance with the tenor of the aforesaid statutes and ordinances as if they had been convicted by inquest. And that the sheriff of every county in England shall do his job properly and well in these matters, on pain of paying the king £20. (fn. iv-15-118-1) |
| VII. | VII. [Great wood.] |
| 19. Item, supplient les communes, qe come ils sont sovent foitz empledez en court Cristiene pur dismes de grois bois d'age de .xx. ans, et de .xl. ans, et de pluis, par noun de ceste parole silve cedue; et en l'estatuit fait en temps le roi Edward, besaielle nostre seignur le roi q'orest, l'an de soun regne .xliij., soit contenuz, qe prohibicioun soit graunte en ceo cas, et sur ceo attachement, come y ad este use avaunt ces heures. (fn. iv-15-121-1) Par quell estatuit null pleyn declaration est fait quell bois est dismable, et quell noun, pur qi les justices de la terre sont en diverses opinions de la matere suisdit. | 19. Also, the commons pray that, whereas they have often been impleaded in courts Christian for tithes of great wood aged twenty years, forty years, or more, in the name of the term silve cedue; yet in the statute made in the time of King Edward [III], great-grandfather of our lord the present king, in the forty-third year of his reign [1369], it is stated that prohibition should be granted in this case and attachment upon it, as it had been in the past. (fn. iv-15-121-1) In which statute no clear declaration was made as to which woodland is titheable and which not; as a result of which the justices of the land have differing opinions on the aforesaid matter. |
| Que plese a nostre seignur le roi de limiter et ordeiner, par l'advys des seignurs de cest present parlement, qe tout manere de bois q'est d'age de .xx. ans, ou de pluis, ne serra dismable en null manere en temps a venir. Et s'il soit deinz l'age de .xx. ans, q'il serra dismable, si la custume del paiis ou tiel bois est cressant le demaunde. Et qe en ceo cas soit prohibition graunte, et sur ceo attachement, saunz graunter consultacioun en ceo cas. | May it please our lord the king to specify and ordain, with the advice of the lords in this present parliament, that no type of woodland which is aged twenty years or more should be titheable in any way in the future. But that if it is under twenty years old, it should be titheable, if the custom of the county in which that wood grows requires it. And that in such cases prohibition should be granted, and attachment upon it, without granting consultation in these cases. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Pur ceo qe la matere de la peticione demaunde graundes et matures deliberacioun et declaracione, le roi voet, qe la matere avauntdite soit adjournee, et remis tanqe al proschein parlement et qe le clerk du parlement face apporter ceste article devaunt le roi et les seignurs al commencement del dit proschein parlement, pur y ent avoir fait declaracione. | Because the substance of this petition requires great and lengthy deliberation and exposition, the king wills that the aforesaid matter should be adjourned and referred to the next parliament: and that the clerk of the parliament shall cause this article to be brought before the king and the lords at the beginning of the said next parliament, so that a declaration can be made on it there. |
| VIII. | VIII. [Crimes committed in the county of Northumberland.] |
| 20. Item, priont les communes del countee de Northumbr', qe come plusours murdres, tresons, homicides et robberies, et autres maffaitz, sont faitz de jour en autre as ditz communes par plusoursgentz des fraunchises de Tyndale, Riddesdale et Exhamshire, adjoignantz a les marches d'Escoce, a cause q'ils sont ensi enfraunchisez; et auxi ascuns des ditz gentz herbergent et supportent plusours gentz d'Escoce, eux conselantz et confortantz de robber et despoiller les ditz communes, et eux prendre prisoners, et ove lour biens et chateux amesner en Escoce, la a demurer tanqe ils ount fait raunceoun a lour volunte; et ceo par l'eide, assent et comfort des ditz gentz ensi enfraunchisez. Et coment qe les ditz maffesours sont enditez deinz le dit countee de lour maffaitz avauntditz, nulle execucioun poet estre fait envers eux deinz les ditz franchises de Tyndale, et Exhamshire, a cause qe le brief le roi ne court my en ycelles. Et auxi les gentz de la dite franchise de Riddesdale en greindre partie sont si dishobeisantz et obstenatz a la ley, qe le viscont de mesme le countee ne poet, n'ose, faire execucioun de la ley en ycelle, saunz tresgraunde force et poair des gentz de mesme le countee, parissint le dit viscont, a cause de les graundes labour et costage del gentz de dit countee, et pur doute de morte des hommes d'icelle, n'oise, ne voille faire ceo q'appent a soun office suisdit en les premisses, a tresgraunt anientisment et destruccioun des ditz suppliantz, si hastive remedie ne soit ent purveu. | 20. Also, the prayer of the commons of the county of Northumberland: whereas numerous murders, treasons, homicides and robberies and other crimes are daily committed against the said commons by various people of the franchises of Tyndale, Riddesdale and Hexhamshire, which adjoin the marches of Scotland, because they are thus enfranchised; and also some of the said people harbour and support numerous people from Scotland, advising and encouraging them to rob and despoil the said commons and imprison them and take them with their goods and chattels to Scotland, there to remain until they have paid a ransom at will; and this with the aid, assent and encouragement of the said people thus enfranchised. And although the said malefactors are indicted within the said county for their aforesaid crimes, it cannot be enforced against them within the said franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire because the king's writ is not valid there. Furthermore, the people of the said franchise of Riddesdale are for the most part so disobedient and obstinate with regard to the law that the sheriff of the same county cannot and dares not enforce the law there without a very great force and army of men from the same county, with the result that the said sheriff, because of the great demands and expense placed on the people of the said county, and for fear of being killed by the men of the same, does not dare or is unwilling to do that which pertains to his aforesaid office in these situations, to the very great injury and ruin of the said supplicants, unless a swift remedy for this is provided. |
| Que plese a nostre seignur le roi, par assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, en ycest present parlement ordenir et establir, qe si ascune persone des ditz fraunchises de Tyndale et Exhamshire, receant ou demurant [col. b] deinz ycelles, de quelle estate ou condicioun q'il soit, face murdres, tresons, homicides ou robberies, ou consente de les faire par aillours hors des ditz fraunchises de Tyndale et Exhamshire, qe proces soit fait devers luy par la commune ley tanqe l'exigent en le countee ou tieux murdres, tresons, homicides ou robberies sont ensi faitz. Et s'il fue d'illoeqes en les ditz fraunchises de Tyndale et Exhamshire, et soit utlage, ou mys en l'exigent, pur tielx murdres, tresons, homicides ou robberies, soit la utlagarie ou l'exigent certifiez a les officers ou ministres en mesmes les franchises de Tyndale et Exhamshire, et soit tiel felon pris par mesmes les officers et ministres, et ses terres et tenementz, biens et chateux, esteantz deinz ycelles fraunchises, seisez come forfaitz es mains des seignurs de mesmes les fraunchises de Tyndale et Exhamshire pur le temps esteantz: et qe les autres terres et tenementz, biens et chateux de tiel feloun, esteantz hors de mesmes les fraunchises, demurgent entierment a roi, et as autres seignurs eiantz fraunchises, come forfaitz. Et si les ditz officers ou ministres des ditz fraunchises de Tyndale et Exhamshire ne facent duement lour offices en fesant execucioun del maundement le roi, come desuis est dit, qe les justices devaunt queux les ditz mandementz serront retournables, eiant poair, sibien al suite de roi come de celuy qe voet pleindre a eux en ceo cas, pur mander as justices de l'assises ou tielx murdres, tresons, homicides ou robberies sont faitz, pur enquerrer des ditz officers et ministres qe n'ount fait duement lour offices, et s'ils soient trovez coupables de ceo devaunt eux, qe adonqes les ditz officers et ministres paient a roi pur chescun defaute, et a chescun foitz, xxli. Et eit celuy qe voet pursuer pur le roi l'un moite, et le roi l'autre moite. Et si ascuns gentz receantz ou demurantz en la dite fraunchise de Riddesdale, ou fuantz a ycelle, soient enditez de les murdres, tresons, homicides ou robberies suisditz, et proces soit fait al viscont del dit countee de les prendre, et mesme le viscont demande et require depart le roi les ditz officers et ministres du dite fraunchise de Riddesdale de luy eider pur tieux felons ensi enditez prendre, et si les ditz officers et ministres soient negligentz, ne voillent ceo faire a la request del dit viscont, qe les justices de l'assises eient poair d'enquerrer pur le roi, a chescun lour session, des ditz officers et ministres du dite fraunchise de Riddesdale, qe n'ount fait duement lour offices a la requeste del dit viscont; et si de ceo soient trovez coupables devaunt eux, q'adonqes mesmes les officers et ministres de dit fraunchise de Riddesdale paient a roi pur chescun defaute issint trovee, et a chescun foitz, xxli. et eit celuy qe voet pursuer pur le roi en ceo cas l'une moite, et le roi l'autre moite. | May it please our lord the king, by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, to ordain and establish in this present parliament that if any person of the said franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire, residing or dwelling [col. b] in the same, of whatever estate or condition he may be, commits murders, treasons, homicides or robberies, or consents to their being done, anywhere else outside the said franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire, that process shall be brought against him by the common law up to the exigent in the county where such murders, treasons, homicides or robberies are thus committed. And if he flees into the said franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire, and is outlawed or placed in exigent for such murders, treasons, homicides or robberies, let the outlawry or the exigent be certified to the officers or ministers in the same franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire, and let any such felon be seized by the same officers and ministers, and let his lands and tenements, goods and chattels which are located in the same franchises be seized as forfeit into the hands of the present lords of the same franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire: and let the other lands and tenements, goods and chattels of any such felon which are located outside the same franchises fall entirely to the king and to other lords who have franchises, as forfeit. And if the said officers or ministers of the said franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire fail to do their jobs properly in carrying out the king's mandate, as said above, then the justices before whom such mandates are returnable should have the power, either at the suit of the king or of anyone who wishes to complain to them of this matter, to order the justices of the assizes where such murders, treasons, homicides or robberies are committed to enquire about the said officers and ministers who have not done their jobs properly; and if they are found by them to be guilty of this, that then the said officers and ministers shall pay the king £20 for each default, and on every occasion. And let anyone who wishes to sue on behalf of the king have one half, and the king the other half. And if any people who are resident or dwelling in the said franchise of Riddesdale, or fleeing to the same, are indicted of the aforesaid murders, treasons, homicides or robberies, and a process is brought before the sheriff of the said county to seize them, and the same sheriff demands and requires on behalf of the king that the said officers and ministers of the said franchise of Riddesdale help him capture such felons thus indicted, and if the said officers and ministers are negligent and are unwilling to do this at the request of the said sheriff, that the justices of the assizes shall have the power to enquire on behalf of the king, at each of their sessions, into the said officers and ministers of the said franchise of Riddesdale who have not done their jobs properly at the request of the said sheriff; and if they are found before them to be guilty in this, that then the same officers and ministers of the said franchise of Riddesdale shall pay the king for each default thus discovered, and on every occasion, £20; and let whoever wishes to sue on behalf of the king in this matter have one half, and the king the other half. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet, qe si ascune persone des ditz fraunchises de Tyndale et Exhamshire, resceant ou demurant deinz ycelles, de quelle estat ou condicioune il soit, face murdres, tresons, homicides ou robberies, ou consente de les faire hors des ditz fraunchises de Tyndale et Exhamshire, proces soit fait devers luy par la commune ley, tanqe il soit utlagee. Et qe apres tiele utlagarie pronuncie et retournee, facent ent les justices, devaunt queux tiele utlagarie soit retournee, certificacioun a tieux ministres, ou a tiel ministre, des ditz fraunchises, come a eux semblera meultz celle partie solonc lour discrecioun. Et soit tiel feloun pris par tiel ministre, ou tieux ministres, et ses terres et tenementz, biens et chateux, esteantz deinz ycelles fraunchises, seisez es mains des seignurs de mesmes les fraunchises de Tyndale et Exhamshire pur le temps esteantz come forfaitz. Et qe les autres terres et tenementz, biens et chateux, de tiel feloun, esteantz hors de mesmes les fraunchises, demurgent entierment a roi, et as autres seignurs eiantz ent fraunchises, come forfaitz. Savant toutfoitz a roi les forfaitures de autieux murdrours, traitours, homicidours, robbours et autres maffesours [p. iv-22][col. a] qeconqes, et d'autres choses queux a luy appurtiegnent come de droit de sa corone. (fn. iv-15-131-1) | The king wills that if anyone from the said franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire, residing or dwelling in the same, of whatever estate or condition he may be, commits murders, treasons, homicides or robberies, or agrees to their being done outside the said franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire, process shall be brought against him under common law, until he is outlawed. And that after this outlawry has been pronounced and returned, let the justices before whom this outlawry is returned provide certification to any such ministers, or minister, of the said franchises, as seems best to them in this matter at their discretion. And let any such felon be seized by this minister or these ministers, and let his lands and tenements, goods and chattels which are located within the same franchises be taken into the hands of the present lords of the same franchises of Tyndale and Hexhamshire as forfeit. And let the other lands and tenements, goods and chattels of any such felon which are located outside the same franchises fall entirely to the king and to other lords who have franchises, as forfeit. Saving at all times to the king the forfeitures of any other such murderers, traitors, killers, robbers and other malefactors [p. iv-22][col. a] of any kind, and of the other things which pertain to him by right of his crown. (fn. iv-15-131-1) |
| [memb. 3] | |
| IX. Des possessions aliens. | IX. [Concerning alien possessions]. |
| 21. Item, prient les communes, qe en cas qe final pees soit pris parentre vous nostre soverein seignur, et vostre adversarie de France, en temps avenir, et sur ceo toutz les possessions des priories aliens en Engleterre esteantz, as chiefs maisons de religeouses depardela, as queux tieux possessions sont regardantz, serront restitutz, damage et perde aviendroient a vostre dit roialme, et a vostre people de mesme le roialme, par les graundes fermes et apportz de monoye quel d'an en an toutz jours apres serroient renduz de mesmes les possessions a les chiefs maisons avauntditz, a tresgraunde empoverissement de mesme vostre roialme en celle partie, qe Dieu defende. | 21. IX. Concerning alien possessions. Also, the commons pray that if a final peace is made between you, our most sovereign lord, and your adversary of France in the future, and if consequently all the possessions of alien priories situated in England are restored to the mother houses of the religious overseas to whom such possessions belong, loss and harm will befall your said kingdom and your people of the same kingdom, because of the great farms and consignments of money which yearly and forever after will be rendered from the same possessions to the aforesaid mother houses, to the very great impoverishment of your same kingdom in this matter, which God forbid. |
| Plese a vostre tresnoble et tresgracious seignurie, par consideracioun, qe a la commencement de la guerra commencee parentre les ditz roialmes, de toutz les possessions queux voz lieges alors avoient des douns de voz nobles progenitours en les parties depardela deinz la jurisdiccioun de France, par juggement renduz en mesme le roialme de France, sont pur toutz jours oustez et desheritez. Et sur ceo graciousement ordeiner en cest present parlement, par assent de voz seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, qe toutz les possessions des priories aliens en Engleterre esteantz purront demurrer en voz mains, a vous, et a voz heirs pur toutz jours; al entent qe divines services en les lieux avauntditz purront pluis duement estre faitz par gentz Englois en temps avenir, qe n'ont este faitz avaunt ces heures en ycelles par gentz Fraunceys. Forspris les possessions de priories aliens conventuelx, et des priours qe sont inductz et institutz. Et forspris qe toutz les possessions aliens donez par le tresgracious seignur le roi vostre piere, qe Dieu assoille, a le mestre et college de Fodrynghay, et a ses successours, de la fundacioun de nostre dit seignur le roi vostre piere, et la fundacioun de Edward duc de York, non obstant la pees affaire si ascun y serra, ovesqe toutz maners franchises et libertees par nostre dit seignur le roi vostre piere grauntez as ditz mestre et college, et a ses successours, et par vous confermez, demurgent perpetuelment par auctorite d'icest present parlement as ditz mestre et college, et a ses successours, al oeps et entent, selonc le tenure et purport de les lettres patentz de nostre dit seignur le roi vostre piere de la fundacioun du dit college, saunz ascun charge ou apport a vous, tressoverain seignur, et voz heirs, ou a ascuny autres persones ou persone apportierz. Savaunt les services duez a les seignurs de fees Engloys, si ascuns y soient, non obstant qe mesme la graunte fait par nostre susdit seignur le roi vostre piere as ditz mestre et college, et a ses successours, ne soy extende forsqe durant la guerre parentre vous, tressoverain seignur, et vostre adversarie de France; et savant auxi a chescun de voz lieges, sibien espirituelx come temporelx, l'estat et possessioun q'ils ount a present en ascuns de tieux possessions aliens, soit il purchacez ou a purchacerz, en perpetuite, ou a terme de vie, ou a terme d'ans, de les chiefs maisons depardela, par licence de nostre seignur le roi vostre tresnoble piere, qi Dieu assoile, ou de Roi Edward le tierce vostre besaiel, ou de Roi Richard le second puis le conquest, ou de vostre gracious doun, graunt, confirmacioun ou licence euz a present en celle partie. Paiantz et supportantz toutz les charges, pensions, annuitees et corrodies grauntez a ascuny de voz lieges par vous, ou ascun de voz nobles progenitours, aprendre de les possessions ou priories aliens suisditz. | May it please your most noble and most gracious lordship to consider that at the beginning of the war which arose between the said kingdoms, they were, from all the possessions which your lieges then held by gift of your noble progenitors in the parts overseas within the jurisdiction of France, forever ousted and disinherited by a judgment rendered in the same kingdom of France. And thereupon to graciously ordain in this present parliament, by the assent of your lords spiritual and temporal, that all the possessions of alien priories located in England should remain in your hands, belonging to you and your heirs forever; with the intention that divine services in the aforesaid places might be more properly carried out by Englishmen in future, this not having been done previously at these places by Frenchmen; except the possessions of conventual alien priories and of priors who are inducted and instituted; and except that all the alien possessions given by the most gracious lord the king, your father, whom God absolve, to the master and college of Fotheringay and to their successors - which is of the foundation of our said lord the king, your father, and of the foundation of Edward duke of York - notwithstanding the peace to be made, should there be one, with all kinds of franchises and liberties granted by our said lord the king, your father, to the said master and college and to their successors, and confirmed by you, shall remain perpetually, by authority of this present parliament, with the said master and college and their successors, for their use and disposal in accordance with the tenor and purport of the letters patent of our said lord the king, your father, concerning the foundation of the said college, without any charge or outgoings to you, most sovereign lord, or your heirs, or any outgoings to any other persons or person; saving the services owed to lords of English fees, if there are any; and notwithstanding that the same grant made by our aforesaid lord the king, your father, to the said master and college and to their successors shall only apply during the war between you, most sovereign lord, and your adversary of France; and saving also to each of your lieges, both spiritual as well as temporal, the estate and possessions which they have at present in any such alien possessions, either purchased or to be purchased, in perpetuity, or for the term of life or a term of years, from the mother houses overseas, by licence of our lord the king, your most noble father, whom God absolve, or of King Edward III, your great-grandfather, or of King Richard the second since the conquest, or of your own gracious gift, grant, confirmation or licence received in this matter. Paying and supporting all the charges, pensions, annuities and corrodies granted to any of your lieges by you, or any of your noble progenitors,to be taken from the aforesaid alien possessions or priories. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi le voet; et auxi qe les ditz mestre et college de Fodrynghay eient exemplificacioun du roi desoutz soun graunde seal d'iceste peticione, pur lour greindre seurete ceste partie; et ceo del assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx en ceste present parlement esteantz. | The king wills it; and also that the said master and college of Fotheringay shall have an exemplification of this petition from the king under his great seal for their greater security in this matter; and this by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal attending this present parliament. |
| [col. b] | |
| X. | X. [Concerning the petitions of the commons.] |
| 22. Item, fait a remembrer, qe les communes baillerent a roi nostre seignur tressoverain en cest present parlement une peticion, dont le tenure ensuyt de mote a mote. | 22. Also, be it remembered that the commons submitted a petition to the king our most sovereign lord in this present parliament, the substance of which is cited verbatim: |
| Oure soverain lord, youre humble and trewe lieges that ben come for the commune of youre lond by sechyn on to youre rizt riztwesnesse, that so as hit hath evere be thair liberte et fredom, that thar sholde no statut no lawe be made of lasse than they yaf ther to their assent: consideringe that the commune of youre lond, the whiche that is, et evere hath be, a membre of youre parlement, ben as well assentirs as peticioners, that fro this tyme foreward, by compleynte of the commune of eny myschief axkynge remedie by mouthe of their speker for the commune, other ellys by peticione writen, that ther never be no lawe made theruppon, et engrosed as statut et lawe, nother by addicions, nother by diminucions, by no maner of terme ne termes, the whiche that sholde chaunge the sentence, et the entente axked by the speker mouthe, or the peticions biforesaid yeven up yn writyng by the manere forsaid, withoute assent of the forsaid commune. Consideringe oure soverain lord, that it is not in no wyse the entente of youre communes, zif hit be so that they axke you by spekyng, or by writyng, too thynges or three, or as manye as theym lust: but that evere it stande in the fredom of your hie regalie, to graunte whiche of thoo that you luste, et to werune the remanent. | Our sovereign lord, your humble and true lieges who have come on behalf of the commons of your land beseech your true righteousness that, just as it has always been their liberty and prerogative that no statute of law should be made without their consent - considering that the commons of your land, who are and have always been a member of your parliament, are as much assenters as petitioners - that from henceforth, as a result of a complaint of the commons concerning any wrongdoing for which they are asking for a remedy through the common speaker, or else by written petition, that no law should ever be made thereon and engrossed as statute and law which changes the sense or meaning of what is requested by the common speaker or of the aforesaid petitions proffered in writing, either through additions or omissions, or by any kind of term or terms, without the assent of the aforesaid commons. Considering, our sovereign lord, that it is only the intention of your commons, if they ask you two or three things, or as many as they wish, verbally or in writing, that it should always be the prerogative of your high regality to grant those that you desire and to refuse the rest. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| The kyng of his grace especial, graunteth that fro hens forth no thyng be enacted to the peticions of his comune, that be contrarie of hir askyng, wharby they shuld be bounde withoute their assent. Savyng alwey to our liege lord his real prerogatif, to graunte and denye what him lust of their peticions and askynges a foresaide. | The king of his special grace grants that from henceforth nothing shall be enacted relating to the petitions of his commons which is contrary to what they have requested, whereby they shall be bound without their consent. Saving always to our liege lord his royal prerogative to grant and deny whichever of the aforesaid petitions and requests he desires. |
| Item, fait assavoir, qe nostre tressoverain seignur le roi eiant graunde volunte et desir de l'estate de seinte esglise, et de soun roialme, en les choses ou mestier est, d'amendement, al honour de Dieu, et pur la pees et la commune profit, sibien de seinte esglise d'Engleterre, come de tout soun roialme, de l'advis et assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx, et a la requeste de ses communes avauntditz, ad fait certeins estatuitz, declarations et ordinances en cest present parlement, en la fourme q'ensuit: queux il entende estre necessaries et profitables, et les queux il voet estre fermement tenuz et gardez en toutz pointz. | Also, be it known that our most sovereign lord the king, possessing a deep care and concern for the state of holy church and of his kingdom, in areas where there is need for improvement, to the honour of God, and for the peace and common benefit of the holy church of England as well as of all his kingdom, by the advice and assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and at the request of his aforesaid commons, has made certain statutes, declarations and ordinances in this present parliament of the following nature; which he understands to be necessary and beneficial, and which he wills to be firmly upheld and preserved in all points. |
| XI. | XI. [Statute of Truces.] |
| 23. < En > primes, pur ceo qe devaunt ces heures diverses gentz comprisez deinz les trieves, sibien faitz par nostre seignur le roi q'orest, come par soun tresnoble piere, et auxi autres diverses gentz eiantz saufconduitz sibien de nostre dit seignur le roi q'orest come de soun dit tresnoble piere, ount esteez ascuns tueez, ascuns robbez et despoillez par les lieges et subgitz de roi, sibien sur le haut meer, come deinz les ports et costes de meer d'Engleterre, d'Irland et de Gales, paront les ditz trieves et saufconduitz ount estee rumpez et offenduz, a graunde dishonure et desclaundre de roi, et encountre sa dignite: et les ditz tuers des hommes, robbours, spoillours et offendours de les ditz trieves et saufconduitz de roi, come dessuis est declaree, ount estee par diverses lieges et subgitz de roi deinz les costes de diverses countees recettez, abbettez, procurez, counseillez, loueez, sustenez et maintenuz; nostre dit seignur le roi, del assent et advis suisditz, et al priere des ditz communes, ad ordeine et declaree, qe tieux tuerie, robberie, espoillerie, rumperie des trieves et saufconduitz de roi, et voluntaries receit, abbettement, procurement, conseille, louere, sustenance, et maintenance de tieux persones affairez en temps avenir par ascuns des lieges et subgitz de roi, deinz les roialmes d'Engleterre, d'Irland et Gales, ou sur le haut meer, [p. iv-23][col. a] soient adjuggez et determinez pur haut tresoun fait encontre la corone et dignite de roi. Et qe en chescun port de meer soit fait et assignee desorenavaunt par le roi par ses lettres patentz un loial homme, appelle conservatour des trieves et saufconduitz de roi, qe eit .xl. liverees de terre par an a meyns. Et qe le dit conservatour eit poair et auctorite par les dites lettres patentz, et auxi par commissioun del admiralle d'Engleterre, d'enquerer de toutz tieux tresons et offenses affairez encountre les trieves et saufconduitz de roi, sur le haut meer, hors des corps des countees, et hors del franchise des Cynk Ports de roi, come les admiralles des rois d'Engleterre devaunt ces heures resonablement, solonc l'aunciene custume et leie sur le meer usez, ount faitz, ou usez. Et ensement, qe le dit conservatour eit autiele et mesme la poair de punir toutz ceux qe sont ou serront enditez ou accusez devaunt luy, sibien a suite de roi, come a suite de partie, d'ascune chose affaire encountre les trieves et saufconduitz de roi, sur le haut meer, hors des corps des countees et libertees de roialme d'Engleterre, et hors de la dite franchise des Cynk Ports, par tieux proces, examinacioun, proves, determinacioun, juggement, et execucioun,come les admiralles des rois d'Engleterre devaunt ces heures resonablement, solonc l'aunciene custume et leie sur le meer usez, ount faitz, ou usez; forsqe qe la determinacioun de mort de homme ceste partie, et l'execucioun d'icelle, soient toutdis reservez a dit admiralle, ou a soun lieutenant general, hors de la dite franchise des ditz Cynk Ports. Et qe le dit conservatour eit plein poair et auctorite d'enquerer, sibien deinz libertees et franchises come dehors, par gentz enhabitantz deinz le corps del countee et libertee ou le dit port est, de toutz tieux tresons, et offenses affairez encountre les trieves et saufconduitz de roi, deinz les corps del countee et libertee ou le dit port est, et de faire envers tieux a enditerz devaunt luy proces en la fourme ensuant: c'estassavoir, par capias, et exigendes, qe isseront sibien en mesmes les countees des quelles est supposee tieux enditez estre, come en les countees l'ou tieux enditementz sont prisez; les queux capias et exigendes en ambideux countees soient retornables a un mesme jour, et qe le primer capias en ambideux countees eit jour de retourne par un moys au meyns. Et en cas qe capias et exigende soient ceste partie agardez, qe les nouns et surnouns de tieux a enditerz, et la ville et le countee, et la mistiere dont ils sont, soient specifiez en l'enditementz et en les processes d'icelles. Et qe le dit conservatour eit plein poair d'oier, a suite de qiconqe qi soi voudra pleindre devaunt luy, d'ascune offense a la partie fait encountre les ditz trieves et sauf conduitz. Et qe deux hommes apprisez de leie soient nommez et associez en chescun commissioun de roi affaire a tiel conservatour. Et qe le dit conservatour, et les ditz hommes apprisez de leie, en la dite commissioun a luy associez, eient plein poair et auctorite de faire due deliverance, solonc la leie de la terre, de tieux enditez devaunt le dit conservatour des choses affairez deinz le corps del countee ou libertee ou le dit port est encontre les ditz trieves et saufconduitz de roi, et determiner tieux suites, commenceez a suite de qiconqe partie qe soi voudra pleindre devaunt le dit conservatour d'ascune offense a luy fait encountre les ditz trieves et saufconduitz, et ent due redresse et remedie faire. Et qe les ditz deux hommes issint a le dit conservatour associez, soient assistentz et entendantz a dit conservatour, pur faire les deliverances et determinacioun en manere et fourme avauntditz, qant ils sont par le dit conservatour resonablement requys. Et qe le dit conservatour, et les ditz deux hommes de leie, soient jurrez q'ils, ne nulle de eux, [memb. 2] prendra, ou prendront, de nully, sinon de roi, fee, doun, louere, gage, regarde, ne brocage, en ascun manere celle partie, en destourbance de due inquisicioun et punissement de tieux [col. b] traitours et offendours avauntditz. Et qe le dit conservatour < serra receant en le port > et lieu ou il serra assignee conservatour, come avaunt est dit, et prendra chescun conservatour pur le dit office chescun an xlli. de roi, au meyns. Et q'ils soient jurrez, qe si ascune persone, de quelle condicioun ou estate q'il soit, eux, ou ascun de eux, procure, excite ou abbette, de faire ascune chose a contrarie d'iceste ordinance et le serement avauntdit, qe chescun de eux ferra due relacioun a nostre seignur le roi, ou a le chanceller d'Engleterre pur le temps esteant, sy hastivement come bonement purra, saunz concellement en ascun point, sur peine d'emprisonement, et faire fyn et raunceon a volunte nostre seignur le roi. Et qe le dit conservatour eit un seal de roi ordeinee pur le dit office. Et qe le mestre de nief, barge, balengere ou autre vesselle en le dit port, soit jurree, et le possessour auxi s'il soit present, devaunt le dit conservatour, avaunt q'il passe hors de dit port, q'il n'attemptera riens encountre les ditz trieves et saufconduitz de roi. Et qe le dit conservatour face enroller de record devaunt luy sibien les nouns de tieux possessours et maisters, come les nouns de lour nief, barge, balengere ou autre vesselle, ensemble ovesqe le nombre des mariners en ycelle esteantz. Et s'ils preignent riens des enemys de roi ou d'autres qeconqes, q'ils tiele prise ferront amesner en le dit port, et ent ferrount plein enformacioun a dit conservatour, devaunt q'ils ent facent descharge ou vende, si ne soit par force de vent, de tempest, ou des enemys, ou autre cause resonable, tieux nief, barge, balengere ou autre vesselle, doit entrer en autre port pur salvacioun de mesme le vesselle, ou autre cause resonable. Et q'ils adonqes facent plein enformacioun a dit conservatour, ou a le conservatour de le port, en quelle les ditz vesselx arriveront ou entreront, de la dite prise, et de la quantite d'icelle, preignant lettre testimoniale soutz le dit seal de le dit conservatour; par quele le conservatour de le port dount les vesseux, ou vesselle, isseront, ou issit, purra avoir notice de la quantite et value des biens issint prisez. Et si ascun possessour ou mestre d'ascun nief, ou autre vesselle, isse hors d'ascun port du roialme, ou face descharger soun nief ou vesselle encontre la fourme d'iceste ordinance, qe tiel nief ou vesselle, ensemble ovesqe la prise par ycelle duement fait, soit forfaite a roi, et le corps de possessour ou mestre de tiel nief ou vesselle commis a prisone, a y demurer tanqe il eit fait fyn et raunceoun a roi. Purveu, qe nulles possessours des niefs issantz hors d'ascun port, ne face fyn ne ranceoun, n'eient emprisonement < de corps, si mesmes les possessours ne soient en mesmes les niefs en temps > de mesprisioun encontre ceste ordinance faite. Et ait le admiralle avauntdit les forfaitures en toutz cas hors de la dite franchise des Cynk Ports avauntditz, come il ad eu, et ad este accustume de droit al office de l'admiralle d'Engleterre, avaunt la fesance de ceste ordeignance. Et qe toutz tieux conservatours affairz dedeinz les ditz Cynk Ports eient mesme l'auctorite et poair par lettres patentz du roi, et commissioun del gardein de mesmes les ports pur le temps esteant, d'enquerer de tieux offenses affairz sur le haut meer dedeinz les franchises des ditz Cynk Ports, dehors les corps des countees, et de punir toutz ceux qe serront devaunt ycelle conservatour de mesmes les offenses enditez ou accusez, par autiels proces et examinacioun, proves, determinacioun, juggement et execucioun, come les ditz admiralx resonablement, solonc l'auncien custume et ley sur le meer usez, ount faitz et usez hors de la dite franchise des Cynk Ports; forsqe qe la determinacioun de mort de homme celle partie, et l'execucioun d'icelle soient dedeinz mesme la franchise de les Cynk Ports reservez a dit gardein, ou a soun lieutenant general illoeqes. Et qe mesme le gardein eit toutz les forfaitures illoeqes en toutz cas, come il ad eu, et ad estee accustumee de droit al office du gardein des Cynk [p. iv-24][col. a] Ports suisditz avaunt ces heures. Et qe les ditz conservatours, et chescun de eux, eient et ait poair de faire pleyn execucioun d'iceste ordinaunce, en la fourme avauntdite. Et qe ceste ordinance teigne lieu et force pur chose affaire ou attempter encontre mesme l'ordinance apres la proclamacioun d'iceste ordinance et declaracione faite. (fn. iv-15-151-1) | 23. First of all, because in the past various people included in the truces made by our lord the present king, as well as by his most noble father, and also various other people who have had safe-conducts from oursaid lord the present king as well as from his most noble father, have been killed, and some robbed and despoiled by the king's lieges and subjects, both on the high seas as well as in the ports and on the coasts of the sea around England, Ireland and Wales; by reason of which the said truces and safe-conducts have been broken and disregarded, to the great dishonour and slander of the king, and contrary to his dignity: moreover, the said killers of men, robbers, plunderers and offenders against the said truces and safe-conducts of the king, as is declared above, have been sheltered, abetted, supported, advised, hired, sustained and maintained by various of the king's lieges and subjects on the coasts of various counties; our said lord the king, therefore, by the aforesaid assent and advice, and at the prayer of the said commons, has ordained and declared that if any such murder, robbery, plunder, breaking of the king's truces and safe-conducts, and deliberate sheltering, abetting, supporting, advising, hiring, sustaining and maintaining of such persons is carried out in future by any of the king's lieges and subjects within the kingdoms of England, Ireland and Wales, or on the high seas, [p. iv-23][col. a] it shall be adjudged and determined as high treason committed contrary to the crown and dignity of the king. And that in every sea port there shall be made and appointed and assigned henceforth by the king, through his letters patent, one loyal man called a conservator of the king's truces and safe-conducts, who shall have at least forty pounds of land a year. And that the said conservator shall have the power and authority by the said letters patent, and also by commission of the admiral of England, to enquire into any such treasons and offences which are committed against the king's truces and safe-conducts on the high seas, outside the body of the counties, and outside the franchise of the king's Cinque Ports, as the admirals of the kings of England reasonably had and exercised before this time, in accordance with ancient maritime custom and law. And similarly that the said conservator shall have the same and as much power to punish all those who are or will be indicted or accused before him, either at the suit of the king or at the suit of a party, for anything done contrary to the king's truces and safe-conducts on the high seas, outside the body of the counties and liberties of the kingdom of England, or outside the said franchise of the Cinque Ports, by the same kinds of process, examination, attestation, determination, judgment and execution as the admirals of the kings of England have reasonably employed and used in the past, in accordance with ancient maritime custom and law; except that the determination of death for any man in this matter, and the execution of the same, shall be forever reserved to the said admiral or his lieutenant general, outside the said franchise of the said Cinque Ports. And that the said conservator shall have full power and authority to enquire, both within liberties and franchises as well as outside them, by people living within the body of the county and liberty where the said port is, concerning all such treasons and offences which are committed contrary to the truces and safe-conducts of the king, within the body of the county and liberty where the said port is, and to bring a process against those who are indicted before him in the following manner: namely, by capias and exigendas, which shall be issued both in the same counties from which it is alleged that these indicted persons come, as well as in the counties where the indictments are brought; which capias and exigendas in both counties shall be returnable on the same day; and the first capias in both counties shall have a date for return within one month or less. And when capias and exigenda are awarded in these cases, the names and surnames of those who are indicted, and the town and the county they are from, and the name of their master, shall be specified in the indictments and in the processes of the same. And the said conservator shall also have full power to hear, at the suit of anyone who wishes to complain before him, of any offence to the party made contrary to the said truces and safe-conducts. And two men learned in the law shall be named and associated in each commission of the king which is made to any such conservator. And the said conservator, and the said men learned in the law who are associated with him in the said commission, shall have full power and authority to make due deliverance, in accordance with the law of the land, of those indicted before the said conservator concerning things which are done contrary to the said king's truces and safe-conducts within the body of the county or liberty where the said port is, and to determine such suits, begun at the suit of whichever party wishes to complain before the said conservator of any offence committed against him contrary to the said truces and safe-conducts, and to provide proper remedy and redress for them. And the said two men who are thus associated with the said conservator shall assist and attend upon the said conservator in making the deliverances and determination in the aforesaid manner and form, whenever they are reasonably required by the said conservator. And the said conservator, and the said two men of law, shall swear that neither they nor any one of them [memb. 2] shall take from anyone, except from the king, any kind of fee, gift, grant, wage, remuneration or bribe in this matter which hinders the proper investigation and punishment of such [col. b] aforesaid traitors and criminals. And the said conservator shall be resident in the port and place where he shall be assigned conservator, as was said before, and each conservator shall take for the said office at least £40 a year from the king. And he shall swear that if any person, of whatever condition or estate he may be, procures, incites or abets the doing of anything contrary to this ordinance and the aforesaid oath, he shall make proper report to our lord the king or to the chancellor of England then in office as soon as he effectively can, without concealment of any point, on pain of imprisonment and paying a fine and ransom at will to our lord the king. And the said conservator shall have a seal of the king ordained for the said office. And the master of any ship, barge, balinger or other vessel in the said port, as well as the owner if he is present, shall swear before the said conservator, before he leaves the said port, that he shall not attempt anything contrary to the said truces and safe-conducts of the king. And the said conservator shall cause to be enrolled on record before him the names of these owners and masters, as well as the name of the ship, barge, balinger or other vessel, together with the number of sailors serving in the same. And if they capture anything from the king's enemies or anyone else, they shall cause any such prize to be brought into the said port, and give full information on it to the said conservator before they cause it to be discharged or sold, unless it happens that because of a gale, tempest, enemy action, or any other reasonable cause, that this ship, barge, balinger or other vessel has had to enter another port, either for its own safety or for some other reasonable cause. Then they should give a full account to the said conservator, or to the conservator of the port in which the said vessels arrive or enter, concerning the said capture, and concerning its size, receiving in return a testimonial letter under the said seal of the said conservator; through which the conservator of the port from which the vessels or vessel issue or issues can be informed as to the quantity and value of the goods thus taken. And if any owner or master of a ship or other vessel leaves any port in the kingdom, or causes his ship or vessel to be unloaded contrary to the form of this ordinance, then any such ship or vessel, together with any prize taken by it, shall be forfeited to the king, and the owner or master of any such a ship or vessel shall be committed to prison, to remain there until he has paid a fine and ransom to the king. Provided that no owners of ships which leave any port shall pay any fine or ransom, or be imprisoned, if the same owners are not in the same ships at the time of the crime committed in contravention of this ordinance. And let the aforesaid admiral have the forfeitures in all cases outside the said franchise of the aforesaid Cinque Ports, as they have had and have been accustomed to have by right pertaining to the office of the admiral of England before the making of this ordinance. And all such conservators who are appointed within the said Cinque Ports shall have the same power and authority by the king's letters patent, and by commission of the current warden of the same ports, to enquire into any such offences which are committed on the high seas within the franchises of the said Cinque Ports, outside the body of the counties, and to punish all those who shall be indicted or accused before the same conservator of the same offences, by any such process, examination, attestation, determination, judgment and execution as the said admirals reasonably practised and employed outside the said franchise of the Cinque Ports in accordance with ancient maritime custom and law; except that determination of the death of any man in such cases, and the execution of the same, shall, within the same franchise of the Cinque Ports, be reserved to the said warden or to his lieutenant-general there. And the same warden shall have all the forfeitures there in all cases, as he has had and has been accustomed to have by right pertaining to the office of the warden of the aforesaid Cinque [p. iv-24][col. a] Ports before this time. And the said conservators, and each one of them, shall have the power to put this ordinance fully into practice in the aforesaid manner. And this ordinance shall take force and effect in regard to anything which is done or attempted contrary to the same ordinance once the proclamation and declaration of this ordinance has been made. (fn. iv-15-151-1) |
| XII. | XII. [Statute concerning Lollards.] |
| 24. Item, pur ceo qe grandes rumours, congregacions et insurreccions cy en Engleterre, par diverses lieges le roi, sibien par ceux qi furent del secte de heresie appellee Lollardrie, come par autres de lour confederacie, excitacion, et abbettement, se firent ja tard, al entent de adnuller et subverter la foy Cristiene et la leie Dieu dedeinz mesme le roialme, et auxi a destruer nostre tressoverain seignur le roi mesmes, et toutz maners estates d'icelle roialme sibien espirituelx come temporelx, et auxi toute manere pollecie, et les leies de la terre finalment; mesme nostre seignur le roi, al honure de Dieu, et en conservacioun et fortificacioun de la foy Cristiene, et auxi en salvacioun de soun estat roialle, et de l'estat de tout soun roialme, voillant encontre la malice de tieux heretikes et Lollardes mettre pluis overte remedie, et pluis due punissement, qe [n'ont] este euz et usez en le cas pardevaunt, issint qe pur pour de mesmes les leye et punissement tieux heresies et Lollardries purront le pluis tost cesser en temps avenir, del advis et assent suisditz, et a la priere des ditz communes, ad ordeigne et establie, qe primerment les chanceller, tresorer, justices de l'un banc et de l'autre, justices d'assises, justices du paiis, viscontz, mairs et baillifs des citees et villes, et toutz autres officers eiantz governance du poeple, q'ore sont, et qe pur le temps serront, facent serement en prises de lour charges et occupaciouns, de mettre lour entier peyn et diligence d'oustier, et faire oustier, cesser, et destruier, toutz maners heresies et errours appellez vulgairement Lollardries, deinz les lieux es queux ils excercent lour offices et occupaciouns, de temps en temps a tout lour poair, et q'ils assistent a les ordinaries et lour commissaries, et les favorent et maintenent atant de foitz come a ceo faire ils, ou ascun de eux, a ceo serra, ou serront requisez, ou requiz, par mesmes les ordinaries ou lour commissaries: issint qe les ditz officers et ministres qant ils travaillent ou chivachent pur arreste d'ascun Lollard, ou faire assistence al instance et request des ordinaries ou lour commissaries par vertue d'icest estatuit, qe mesmes les ordinaries ou commissaries paient pur lour costages resonablement, et qe les services du roi a qi mesmes les officers sont primerement serementz soient preferrez; toutz autres estatuitz < pur la libertee de seinte esglise > et les ministres d'icelle, et en especiale pur la correccioun et punicioun des heretiks et Lollardes, faitz devaunt ces heures et nient repellez, esteiantz en lour force. Et auxi, qe toutz persones convictz de heresie, de qeconqe estat, condicioun ou degree q'ils soient, par les ditz ordinaries ou lour commissaries relinquez a seculer main solonc les leies de seinte esglise, perdent et forfacent toutz lour terres et tenementz queux ount en fee simple en manere q'ensuit; c'estassavoir, qe le roi eit toutz les terres et tenementz queux les ditz convictz ount en fee simple, et queux sont tenuz de luy inmediate, come forfaitz: et qe les autres seignurs des queux les terres et tenementz de tieux < convictz soient tenuz > inmediate, apres ceo qe le roi soit ent seisy, et respondu del an, jour et gast, eient livere hors de main le roi des terres et tenementz avauntditz, issint de eux tenuz, come ad este usee en cas d'atteindre des felonies; forspris les terres et tenementz queux sont tenuz des ordinaries ou lour commissaries devaunt queux ascuns tieux empeschez de heresie [col. b] soient convictz, les queux terres et tenementz entierment remaindrent a roi come forfaitz. Et outre ceo, qe toutz les biens et chateux de tieux convictz soient forfaitz a nostre tressoverain seignur le roi, parissint qe nulle persone convict de heresie, et relinquez a seculer main solonc les leies de seinte esglise, forface ses terres avaunt q'il soit mort. Et si ascune tiele persone issint convict soit enfeffe, soit il par fyn, par fait ou sanz fait, en terres ou tenementz, rentes ou services, en fee ou autrement, en qeconqe manere, ou eit ascuns autres possessions ou chateux par doun ou graunte d'ascuny persone, ou persones, a autri oeps qe al oeps de tieux convictz, qe mesmes les terres, tenementz, rentes ne services, n'autres tieux possessions ne chateux, ne soient forfaitz a nostre soverain seignur le roi en nully manere. Et outre ceo, qe les justices du banc le roi, et justices de pees, et justices d'assises prendre, eient plein poair d'enquerer de toutz yceux qe teignent ascuns errours ou heresies come Lollardes, et queux sont lour maintenours, recettours, fautours, susteignours, communes escrivers de tieux livers sibien de lour sermons come de lour escoles, conventicles, congregaciouns et confederacies; et qe ceste clause soit mys es commissions des justices de la pees. Et si ascuns persones soient enditez d'ascuns des pointz suisditz, eient les ditz justices poair de agarder vers eux capias, et soit le viscont tenuz d'arrester la persone, ou persones, ensi enditee, ou enditez, si tost come il les purra trover, par luy, ou par ses officers. Et pur tant qe la conusance des heresies, errours ou Lollardries, appurtiegnent as juges de seinte esglise, et nemy as juges seculers, soient tieux enditez liverez as ordinaries des lieux, ou a lour commissaries, par endentures entre eux affairez, dedeinz dis jours apres lour arest, ou pluis tost si ceo purra estre fait, pur ent estre acquitez ou convictz par les leies de seinte esglise, en cas qe yceux persones ne soient enditez d'autre chose dount la conusance appurtient as juges et officers seculers; en quelle cas, apres ceo q'ils soient acquitez ou deliverez devaunt juges seculers de tiele chose appurtenant as juges seculers, soient envoiez en seure garde as ditz ordinaries, ou a lour commissaries, et a eux liverez par endentures, come desuis, pur y estre acquitez ou convictz d'icelles heresies, errours ou Lollardries, come avaunt est dit, selonc les leies de seinte esglise, et ceo deinz le terme suisdit. Purveu qe les ditz enditementz ne soient prisez en evidence, sinoun enformacioun devaunt les juges spirituelx encountre tieux enditez, mes qe les ordinaries commencent lour proces envers tieux enditez en mesme le manere come nulle enditement y fuisse, eiantz nulle regarde a tieux enditementz. Et si ascun soit enditee de heresie, errour ou Lollardrie, et pris par le viscont ou autre officer du roi, soit il lesse a mainpris deinz les ditz dys jours, par bone seurete pur quelle les ditz viscontz ou autres officers voillent respondre, issint qe la dite persone issint enditee soit prest d'estre delivere as ditz ordinaries, ou a lour commissaries, devaunt le fyn de le dysme jour suisdit, s'il purra ascunement pur maladie. Et eit chescun ordinarie suffisantz commissaries, ou commissair, demurant en chescun countee, en lieu notable, parissint qe si ascun tiel endite soit pris, qe les ditz commissaries ou commissair poet estre garny, en le lieu notable ou il est demurant, par le viscont, ou ascun de ses officers, pur venir a la gaole le roi en mesme le countee, de la resceiver mesme l'endite par endentures, come desuis. Et q'en les enquestes en ceo cas apprendrerz, facent les viscontz, et autres officers as queux il appent, empaneller bones et suffisantz persones, nient suspectez ne procurez, c'estassavoir tieux qe eient a meyns chescun de eux qe serra ensi empanellee en tieux enquestes deinz le roialme c s. de terre, tenementz, ou de rent par an, sur peine de perdre al oeps le roi xx li. et [p. iv-25][col. a] ceux qe serront empanellez en tieux enquestes en Gales eit chescun de eux a le value de xl s. par an. Et si ascune tiele persone soit arrestuz, soit il par l'ordinaries, ou par les officers ou ministres de roi, eschape ou debruse < < prisone > > avaunt q'il soit acquitez devaunt l'ordinarie, soient ses biens et chateux, queux il avoit le jour de tiel arrest, forfaitz a roi, et ses terres et tenementz, queux il avoit mesme le jour, seisez auxi es mains le roi, et eit le roi ent les profitz du dit jour tanqe il soi rende a mesme la prisone dount il eschapa. Et qe les avauntditz justices eient plein poair d'enquerer de toutz tieux eschapes et debrusere des prisons, et auxi de les terres, tenementz, biens et chateux de tieux enditez. Purveu qe si ascun tiel enditee ne retourne a dite prisone, et devie nient convict, bien lise a ses heirs d'entrer en les terres et tenementz lour auncestre, sanz autre pursuit faire a roi pur celle cause. Et qe toutz yceux q'ont libertees et franchises roialx en Engleterre, come le countee de Cestr', le countee et libertee de Duresme, et autres semblables, et auxi toutzles seignurs, q'ont jurisdiccions et franchises roialx en Gales ou les briefs du roi ne curront my, aient semblable poair pur executer et mettent en execucioun en toutz pointz cestes articles, par eux, ou par lour officers, par manere come ferront les justices, et autres officers du roi desuis declarez. (fn. iv-15-154-1) | 24. Also, because great uprisings, assemblies and insurrections of various of the king's lieges, both those belonging to the heretical sect called Lollardy as well as others of their confederacy, persuasion and leaning, have occurred recently here in England, with the aim of abolishing and subverting the Christian faith and the law of God within this kingdom as well as destroying our most sovereign lord the king himself and all the various estates of the same kingdom, both spiritual as well as temporal, and also all manner of governance, and ultimately the laws of the land; our same lord the king, to the honour of God and for the conservation and strengthening of the Christian faith, and also for the salvation of his royal estate and the welfare of all his kingdom, wishing to provide a more universal remedy and more appropriate punishment for the malice of such heretics and Lollards, such as had not been provided before, so that through the same laws and punishment such heresies and Lollardies might be more swiftly eradicated in future, by the aforesaid advice and assent, and at the prayer of the said commons, has ordained and established that: firstly, the chancellor, treasurer, justices of one bench or the other, justices of assizes, justices of the peace, sheriffs, mayors and bailiffs of the cities and towns, and all other officers having governance over the people, who are in office now or who shall be in the future, shall from time to time take an oath on taking up their charges and responsibilities to apply all their diligence and endeavour to eradicating, and causing to be eradicated, terminated and destroyed, all kinds of heresies and errors commonly called Lollardy, in the places in which they carry out their offices and responsibilities, to the best of their ability; and that they shall assist the ordinaries and their commissaries, and support and aid them as often as they or any of them shall be required to do this by the same ordinaries or their commissaries; so that whenever the said officers and ministers try or set out to arrest any Lollard, or lend assistance at the instance and request of the ordinaries or their commissaries by virtue of this statute, the same ordinaries or commissaries shall pay their reasonable costs, and that services to the king, to whom the same officers are sworn first and foremost, shall take priority; and all other statutes for the liberty of holy church and the ministers of the same, and especially for the correction and punishment of heretics and Lollards, made in the past and not repealed, are to remain in force. And also that all persons convicted of heresy, of whatever estate, condition or degree they may be, who are handed over by the said ordinaries or their commissaries to the secular arm, in accordance with the laws of holy church, shall lose and forfeit all their lands and tenements which they have in fee simple in the following way: namely, the king shall have all the lands and tenements which those who are convicted hold in fee simple, and which are held directly of him, as forfeit; and the other lords of whom the lands and tenements of those convicted persons are held directly, excluding what the king is entitled to, and once he has been satisfied for the year, day and waste, shall have livery from the king of the aforesaid lands and tenements thus held of them, as is customary in cases of conviction for felonies; except the lands and tenements which are held of ordinaries or their commissaries before whom those accused of heresy [col. b] are convicted, which lands and tenements shall fall entirely to the king as forfeit. Furthermore, all the goods and chattels of those convicted shall be forfeited to our most sovereign lord the king, provided that no person convicted of heresy and handed over to the secular arm, in accordance with the laws of holy church, shall forfeit his lands before he is dead. And if any such person thus convicted is enfeoffed, be it by fine, by deed or without deed, with lands or tenements, rents or services, in fee or in any other way, or has any other possessions or chattels by gift or grant of any person or persons to the use of any other person than the convicted person, that neither the same lands, tenements, rents or services, nor any other such possessions or chattels, shall be forfeited to our sovereign lord the king in any way. Furthermore, the justices of the King's Bench, and the justices of the peace, and the justices of assizes to be taken, shall have full power to make enquiries concerning all those who uphold any errors or heresies such as Lollardy, or who are their aiders, shelterers, supporters, or sustainers, or common scribes of their books, whether for their sermons or for their schools, conventicles, assemblies and confederacies; and this clause shall be inserted into the commissions of the justices of the peace. And if any persons are indicted of any of the aforesaid things, let the said justices have the power to award capias against them, and let the sheriff be obliged to arrest the person or persons thus indicted as soon as he can find them, either himself or through his officers. And because the cognisance of heresies, errors or Lollardy pertains to the judges of holy church, and not to secular judges, such indicted persons are to be delivered to the ordinaries of the places or to their commissaries by indentures to be made between them, within ten days of their arrest, or sooner if this can be achieved, so that they can be thus acquitted or convicted of this by the laws of holy church, assuming that those persons are not indicted of anything of which the cognisance pertains to secular judges and officers; in which case, after they are acquitted or released before secular judges for anythingpertaining to secular judges, they should be sent under close guard to the said ordinaries or to their commissaries, and delivered to them by indentures, as above, to be acquitted or convicted there of the same heresies, errors or Lollardy, as was said above, in accordance with the laws of holy church; and this within the aforesaid term. Provided that the said indictments are not taken in evidence, unless it be for information before the spiritual judges acting against those indicted; rather, the ordinaries shall commence their process against those indicted as if no indictment had been made, paying no heed to such indictments. And if anyone is indicted of heresy, error or Lollardy, and arrested by the sheriff or another king's officer, he should be mainperned within the said ten days, through good surety for which the said sheriffs or other officers are willing to answer, so that the said person thus indicted is ready to be delivered to the said ordinaries or to their commissaries before the end of the aforesaid tenth day, unless he cannot be because of sickness. And let each ordinary have worthy commissaries, or a worthy commissary, dwelling in each county, in a prominent place, so that if any such indicted person is arrested, the said commissaries or commissary can be forewarned, in that prominent place where he is dwelling, by the sheriff or one of his officers, to come to the king's jail in the same county, to receive there the same indicted person by indentures, as mentioned above. And in the inquests which are held in such cases, let the sheriffs and other officers to whom they pertain cause to be empanelled good and worthy persons, not suspect or procured (those to be empanelled on such inquests within the kingdom should possess at least 100s. of lands, tenements or rent each year, on pain of losing £20 to the king's use, and [p. iv-25][col. a] those who are to be empanelled on such inquests in Wales should each have income to a value of 40s. a year). And if any such person is arrested, be it by the ordinaries or by the king's officers and ministers, and he escapes or breaks out of prison before he is acquitted before the ordinary, his goods and chattels which he had on the day of his arrest shall be forfeited to the king, and his lands and tenements which he had on the same day shall also be taken into the king's hands; and let the king have all the profits from them from the said day until he is returned to the same prison from which he escaped. The aforesaid justices shall also have full power to enquire into all such escapes and break-outs from prison, and also into the lands, tenements, goods and chattels of those indicted. Provided that if any such indicted person does not return to the said prison, and dies unconvicted, his heirs should be allowed to enter into the lands and tenements of their ancestor without making any other suit to the king for this reason. And all those who have royal liberties and franchises in England, such as the county of Chester, the county and liberty of Durham, and suchlike, and also all the lords who hold royal jurisdictions and franchises in Wales where the king's writs are not valid, shall have similar power to execute and bring into effect these articles in all points, either themselves or through their officers, in the same way in which the justices and the other king's officers noted above do. (fn. iv-15-154-1) |
| XIII. | XIII. [Statute of Riots.] |
| 25. Item, come contenu soit en l'estatuit fait l'an treszisme del tresnoble roi Henri, piere a nostre seignur le roi q'orest, entre autres: Qe si ascune riote, assemblee ou route des gentz, encountre la leie, se ferroit en ascune partie de roialme, adonqes les justices de pees, trois, ou deux de eux au meyns, et le viscont, ou soutzviscont de countee ou tiele riote, assemblee ou route se ferroit, enapres viendrent ove la poair de dit countee, si bosoigne serroit, pur eux arrester, et eux arestrent, et ussent mesmes les justices et viscont, ou soutzviscont, poair de recorder ceo q'ils troverent ensi fait en lour presence encountre la leie; et qe par le record de mesmes les justices, viscont ou soutzviscont serroient tieux trespassours, ou maffesours, convictz en manere et fourme come est contenuz en l'estatuit de forcibles entrees. Et s'il aviendroit qe tieux trespassours < et > maffesours fuissent departiez devaunt la venue des ditz justices et viscont, ou soutzviscont, qe mesmes les justices, trois ou deux de eux, enquergerent diligealment deinz un moys apres tiele riote, assemblee ou route des gentz ensi faitz, et ent oierent et terminerent solonc la leie de la terre. Et si la verite ne purroit estre trovee en manere come devaunt est dit, adonqes deinz un [memb. 1] mois lors proschein ensuant certifierent les ditz justices, trois ou deux de eux, et le viscont ou soutzviscont suisditz, devaunt le roi et soun conseil tout le fait, et les circumstances d'icelle: quelle certificat soit de autiel force come la presentement de .xij.; sur quelle certificat soient les ditz trespassours et maffesours mys a respons, et ceux qe sont trovez coupables soient puniz solonc la discrecioun du roi et de soun dit conseille. Et outre ceo, qe les justices de la pees demurantz le pluis proschein en chescun countee ou tiele route, assemblee ou riote de gentz se ferroit, enapres ensemblement ovesqe le viscont ou soutzviscont de mesmes les countees, et auxi les justices d'assises pur le temps q'ils serront en lour sessions, en cas q'ascune tiele riote, assemble ou route se ferroit en lour presence, ferroient execucioun de cest estatuit, chescun sur peine de cli. apaierz a roi atantz de foitz q'ils serroient trovez en defaute de l'execution de mesme l'estatuit. (fn. iv-15-157-1) | 25. Also, whereas it is stated in a statute made in the thirteenth year of the most noble King Henry, father of our lord the present king [1411], amongst other things: - That if any riot, assembly or disturbance amongst the people, contrary to law, occurs in any part of the kingdom, then three or at least two of the justices of the peace, and the sheriff or under-sheriff of the county in which that riot, assembly or disturbance occurs, shall subsequently come with the force of the said county, if need be, to arrest and restrain them, and the same justices and sheriff, or under-sheriff, shall have the power to record whatever they find to have been done contrary to law; and that by the record of the same justices, sheriff or under-sheriff, such trespassers or malefactors shall be convicted in the manner and form which is given in the statute on forcible entries. And if it happens that these trespassers and malefactors have fled before the arrival of the said justices and sheriff or under-sheriff, then two or three of the same justices shall make diligent enquiries within one month concerning that riot, assembly or disturbance amongst the people which has thus occurred, and they shall hear and determine it in accordance with the law of the land. And if the truth cannot be discovered in the manner given above, then, during the [memb. 1] following month, two or three of the said justices and the aforesaid sheriff or under-sheriff shall certify before the king and his council regarding everything that has been done and the circumstances of the same: which certification shall hold as much force as the presentment of a jury of twelve; on which certification the said trespassers and malefactors shall be brought to answer, and those who are found guilty shall be punished at the king's discretion and that of his council. Furthermore, the justices of the peace dwelling closest in each county to the place where any such disturbance, assembly or riot of the people arises, shall subsequently, together with the sheriff or under-sheriff of the same counties, as well as the justices of assizes during the time that they are holding their sessions (should it happen that any such riot, assembly or disturbance occurs in their presence), bring this statute into effect, on pain of £100 to be paid to the king as many times as they shall be found to have failed to execute the same statute. (fn. iv-15-157-1) |
| Et pur tant qe plusours riotes, routes et assemblees ont estee faitz en diverses parties du roialme puis la confeccioun et proclamacioun du dit estatuit, a cause qe mesme l'estatuit n'ad my estee mys en due execucioun, come nostre tressoverain seignur le roi l'ad conceu par diverses et hidouses compleintz [col. b] a luy faitz en cest present parlement, mesme nostre seignur le roi voillant sur ceo faire pluis greindre remedie, del advis et assent avauntditz, et al priere des ditz communes, ad ordeigne et establie, qe si defaute soit trovee en les ditz deux justices de la pees, ou justices d'assises, et le viscont, ou soutzviscont, del countee ou tiele riote, assemblee, ou route se ferra, touchant l'execucioun q'ils doient faire par vertue de le dit estatuit, et dont mesme l'estatuit fait mencion, q'adonqes, al instance de la partie grevee issera commission le roi desoutz soun graunde seal, d'enquerer sibien de la verite del cas, et de la matier originale pur la partie compleignante, come de le defaute ou defautes des ditz justices, viscont ou soutzviscont celle partie supposez, a adresser as sufficiantz persones indifferentz, a la nominacioun et advis du chanceller d'Engleterre. Et qe les ditz commissioners meintenant envoient en la chauncellerie les enquestes et matiers devaunt eux celle partie prisez et trovez. Et outre ceo, qe les coroners de mesme le countee pur le temps esteantz, ou tiele riote, assemblee ou route se ferra, ferront les panelles sur la dite commissioun, retournables pur le temps qe le viscont issint en defaute supposee estoise en soun office, les quelles coroners retourneront nulles persones mes tieux qe ount terres, tenementz ou rente a le value de xli. par an a meyns. Et auxi, qe mesmes les coroners retourneront sur chescun des ditz persones a empanellerz, a le primer jour qant issues sont aperdrez xx s. a meyns; et a secunde jour xl s. a meyns; et a tierce jour c s. a meyns; et a chescun jour apres le double a meyns: les queux issues issint retournez par cause de noun-apparaunce de tieux empanellez serront adjuggez come forfaitz a roi, et a soun oeps levablez. Et si defaute soit trovee en les ditz coroners touchant le retourne d'autielx < gentz > a empanellerz, ou touchant le retourne d'autielx issues, come avaunt est dit, qe chescun de eux perdra al oeps le roi xlli.. Et s'il aveigne, qe le dit viscont ensi rette en defaute soit descharge de soun office, a temps qe tiel commissioun issera hors de la chauncellerie, q'adonqes le novelle viscont de mesme le countee, soun successour immediat ou mediat, pur le temps esteant, et nient les coroners de mesme le countee, ferra le panelle sur celle commissioun, retournable en les fourme et manere come les ditz coroners ferront en temps qant le viscont issint rette en defaute estet en soun office. Et qe mesme le novelle viscont encourgera autiele peine de xlli. envers le roi, si ascun defaute en luy soit trovee touchant le retourne d'autres persones par luy a empanellerz, qe ne ount terres, tenementz ou rente a le value de xli. par an, ou de retourne d'autielx issues come les ditz coroners sont suischargez de retournir, sicome les ditz coroners sont aperdre envers le roi ceste partie. Et qe le chanceller d'Engleterre pur le temps esteant, sitost come il purra avoir conusance de autiele route, assemble ou riote, il face envoier brief le roi as justices de la pees, et a viscont ou soutzviscont del countee ou ils sont issint faitz, q'ils mettent l'estatuit ent fait en execucioun, sur la peine contenu en ycelle. Et coment qe tiel brief ne veigne mye as ditz justices et viscont ou soutzviscont, eux ne serront pas excusez de la peine avauntdite, s'ils ne facent mye execucioun del estatuit suisdit. Purveu qe les justices, et autres officers suisditz, ferront lour offices suisditz as costages du roi, enalant, demurant, et retournant, enfesantz lour ditz offices, pur paiement ent affaire par le viscont de mesme le countee pur le temps esteant, par endentures entre le dit viscont et les ditz justices et autres officers suisditz affairez, de le paiement suisdit, dount le < dit > viscont sur son accompt en l'escheqer purra avoir due allouance. Et qe tieux riotours atteintz de grauntz et haynous riotes, eient emprisonement d'un an entier a meyns, sanz estre lesse hors de prisone par baille, mainpris, ou en [autre] manere, durant l'an suisdit. Et qe les riotours atteintz des petits riotes, aient l'emprisonement come semble [p. iv-26][col. a] meultz a roi, ou a soun conseille. Et qe les fynes d'icelles riotours atteintz soient par les ditz justices encressez, et mys a greindres sommes q'ils ne soleient estre mys en tieux cases devaunt ces heures, en aide et supportacioun de les costages des justices, et autres officers suisditz celle partie. Et qe les lieges du roi esteantz suffisantz pur travailler en le countee ou tieux routes, assembles, ou riotes sont, soient assistentz as justices, commissioners, viscont et sutzviscont de mesme le countee, qant ils serront resonablement garniz, pur chivacher ove lesditz justices, commissioners et viscont, ou sutzviscont, en aide de resistence de tieux riotes, routes et assemblees, sur peine d'emprisonement, et faire fyn et ranceoun a roi. Et qe les baillifs des franchises facent empaneller suffisantz gentz, come desuis, sur peine de perdre a roi xlli., en cas qe tieux persones suffisantz purront estre trovez deinz mesmes les franchises. Et qe semblables ordinances et peines teignent lieu et force en citees, burghes et autres villes et lieux enfranchisez, queux ount justices de la pees deinz les citees, burghes, villes, et autres lieux suisditz. Et qe ceste ordinance commencera a tenir lieu meintenant apres la proclamacioun ent fait. (fn. iv-15-157a-1) | - However, since numerous riots, disturbances and assemblies have arisen in various parts of the kingdom since the making and proclamation of the said statute, because the same statute has not been put into proper effect, as our most sovereign lord the king has gathered from the many and grievous complaints [col. b] made to him in this present parliament, our same lord the king, wishing to supply a better remedy for this, by the aforesaid advice and assent and at the prayer of the said commons, has ordained and established that if fault is found with the said two justices of the peace, or the justices of the assizes, or the sheriff or under-sheriff, of the county in which any such riot, assembly or disturbance occurs, concerning the duties they ought to have carried out by virtue of the said statute, and of which the same statute makes mention, that then, at the instance of the aggrieved party, he will issue a royal commission on behalf of the plaintiffs under his great seal to enquire into the truth of the case, as well as into the original matter and into the fault or faults alleged against the said justices, sheriff or under-sheriff in such cases, to be addressed to worthy and neutral persons at the nomination and advice of the chancellor of England. And the said commissioners shall forthwith send to the chancery the inquests and matters held and found before them in these cases. In addition, the coroners of the same county holding office in the places where any such riot, assembly or disturbance shall occur, shall appoint the panels following these commissions, which are returnable during the time that the sheriff thus alleged to have been at fault is in office, which coroners shall return only those who have lands, tenements or rents to a value of at least £10 a year. Moreover, that the same coroners shall return, for each of the said persons who are empanelled, on the first day when issues are lost, 20s. at least; and on the second day, 40s. at least; and on the third day, 100s. at least; and on each subsequent day, at least double: which issues thus returned because of the non-appearance of those empanelled shall be adjudged as forfeited to the king, and leviable for his use. And if fault is found in the said coroners touching the return of those people to be empanelled, or touching the return of such issues, as is said above, each of them shall lose to the king's use £40. And if it happens that the said sheriff thus accused of fault is discharged from his office at the time when such a commission issues from the chancery, that then the new sheriff of the same county, his immediate or mediate successor at the time, and not the coroners of the same county, shall appoint the panel following this commission, returnable in the same manner and form in which the said coroners would have done it when the sheriff thus accused of fault was in office. And that same new sheriff shall incur a similar penalty of £40 to the king, if any fault is found in him touching the return by him of persons to be empanelled (if they do not have lands, tenements or rents to a value of £10 a year), or touching the return of those issues which the said coroners are deputed to return, in the same way as the said coroners are to lose to the king in such cases. And the chancellor of England at the time, as soon as he is informed of any such disturbance, assembly or riot, shall cause a king's writ to be sent to the justices of the peace and the sheriff or under-sheriff of the county where it has thus occurred, instructing them to put the said statute on this into effect, on pain of the penalty specified in the same. And even if such a writ does not reach the said justices and sheriff, or under-sheriff, they will not be excused from the aforesaid penalty if they do not put the aforesaid statute into effect. Provided that the justices and other aforesaid officers shall carry out their aforesaid offices at the king's expense, going, staying and returning, while performing their said offices, in return for payment to be made for this by the sheriff then in office in the same county, by indentures to be made between the said sheriff and the said justices and other aforesaid officers for the aforesaid payment; for which the said sheriff may have due allowance when he accounts in the exchequer. And that any such rioters attainted of great and grievous riots shall be imprisoned for one whole year at least, without being let out of prison on bail, mainprise, or in any other way during the aforesaid year. And that rioters attainted of lesser riots shall be imprisoned for as long as seems [p. iv-26][col. a] appropriate to the king or to his council. And that the fines of these attainted rioters shall be increased by the said justices, and set at higher levels than those at which they have usually been set in such cases before this time, in order to assist and meet the expenses of the justices and the other aforesaid officers in such cases. And the king's lieges who are capable of work in any county where such disturbances, assemblies or riots occur shall assist the justices, commissioners, sheriff and under-sheriff of that county whenever they are given reasonable warning, riding with the said justices, commissioners and sheriff or under-sheriff, to help to put down such riots, disturbances and assemblies, on pain of imprisonment and of paying a fine and ransom to the king. And the bailiffs of franchises shall cause worthy persons to be empanelled, as mentioned above, on pain of losing £40 to the king, in cases where such worthy persons can be found within the same franchises. And similar ordinances and penalties shall remain in place and in force in cities, boroughs and other enfranchised towns and places which have justices of the peace within those cities, boroughs, towns and other aforesaid places. And this ordinance shall begin to take effect immediately after it has been proclaimed. (fn. iv-15-157a-1) |
| XIV. | XIV. [Statute concerning murders, insurrections, etc.] |
| 26. Item, pur ceo qe graunde et grevouse compleinte ad este fait a roi nostre soverain seignur par les communes en cest present parlement, de diverses murdres, homicides, robberies, bateries, assemblees de gentz en graunde nombre par manere d'insurreccioun, et de diverses autres rebellions et riotes; et apres tieux maffaitz les ditz felons et maffesours [s'enfuent,] et retrehent as diverses bois et lieux covertez et disconuz, et aillours, a l'entente et purpos de voider l'execucioun de la commune ley, et q'ils ne serroient amesnez a response selonc proces de la leie. Sur quoi nostre dit soverain seignur le roi considerant la suisdite compleinte, par assent des seignurs espirituelx et temporelx en mesme le parlement assemblez, ad ordeine et establiz, a la requeste des ditz communes, qe [si] ascuny en temps avenir veigne en la chancellerie, et face compleint duement, qe ascun tiel felon ou maffesour, come avaunt est dit, s'en est fuy [ou retreit] a ascun tiel lieu, ou aillours, al entente suisdit, soit sur tiele compleint une bille sufficiantment fait pur le roi, et ait le chanceller d'Engleterre pur le temps esteant, apres tiele bille a luy liveree, s'il poet estre enfourme duement tiele bille contenir verite, poair de faire solonc sa discrecioun un brief de capias, a la suite de roi, direct a viscont de countee, ou countees, ou les ditz murdres, homicides, robberies, bateries et autres maffaitz, sont supposez par la dite bille estre faitz et perpetrez, retournables en la dite chauncellerie a certein jour. Et si les persones en le dit brief contenuz soient pris par le dit viscont, ou soi rendent en mesme la chauncellerie, q'adonqes soient tieux persones mys en garde, ou a mainprise, selonc la discrecioun du chanceller; et outre soit mande d'enquerer de tieux maffaitz, et sur ceo soit fait come la ley demande. Et si le viscont [col. b] retourne a jour de capias retournable, qe les persones en ycelle comprisez par ascun de les causes suisditz ne purront estre par luy prisez, ne mesmes les persones ne soi rendent en la dite chauncellerie, q'adonqes face le dit chanceller faire brief de proclamacioun, direct a dit viscont, retournable en bank du roi a certein jour, [q'il] face proclamacioun en deux countees, qe les persones en le dit brief nommez veignent a dit jour en le suisdit bank, pur y respondre a la matier compris en la dite bille, sur peine d'estre convictz de la matier compris deinz la dite bille: et en chescun tiel brief de proclamacioun soit contenuz la substance de la matier compris deinz la dite bille. Et s'ils ne veignent [a le dit] jour de tiele proclamacioun retournee, soient tenuz et ajuggez pur convictz, et atteintz come desuis est dit. Et s'ils veignent a la proclamacioun, soit de [eux] enquys, et fait en manere come desuis est dit; purveu qe les suggestions de tielx riotes soient [tesmoigne a le chaunceller] d'Engleterre par lettr es ensealez desoutz les seals de [deux] justices du pees a meins, et le viscont del countee, ou tieux [riotes serront, devant qe tiel brief] de capias soit grauntee; en quel brief de capias soit sibien la matier expresse quelle est comprise deinz mesme la [bille, come en] le brief de proclamacioun ent affaire. [Et si tiel cas aveigne] en le [counte] palatyn de Lancastre, ou aillours en franchise la ou il y ad [chanceller et seal,] q'adonqes le dit chanceller d'Engleterre [face escriver ou] envoier par brief de roi a le chanceller de tiel countee ou franchise [toute la suggestion en la dite] bille comprise, commandant a luy de faire tiel execucioun come en le dit article est compris; issint toutfoitz qe brief du roi hors de la [chauncellerie d'Engleterre ne courge] en tiel countee, ou franchise, autrement qe n'ad estee usee en temps passee. Et qe cest estatuit estoise en [ sa force tan q'al fyn du proschein parlement. (fn. iv-15-160-1) ] | 26. Also, because great and grievous complaint has been made to the king our sovereign lord by the commons in this present parliament concerning various murders, homicides, robberies, assaults, assemblies of great numbers of people in the nature of an insurrection, and various other rebellions and riots; following which misdeeds the said felons and malefactors flee and withdraw into various woods and unknown secret places and elsewhere, with the intention and purpose of evading the common law and being brought to answer in accordance with legal process. Concerning this, our said sovereign lord the king, considering the aforesaid complaint, by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal assembled in this same parliament, has ordained and established, at the request of the said commons, that if anyone in future comes into the chancery and duly makes a complaint that any such felon or malefactor, as mentioned above, has fled or withdrawn to any such place, or elsewhere, with the aforesaid intention, an appropriate bill shall be drawn up on the king's behalf concerning this complaint; and let the chancellor of England then in office, once this bill has been delivered to him, provided that he is duly informed that this bill contains the truth, have the power to grant a writ of capias at his discretion, at the suit of the king, addressed to the sheriff of the county or counties where the said murders, homicides, robberies, assaults and other misdeeds are alleged in the said bill to have been done and perpetrated, which shall be returnable in the said chancery on a certain day. And if the persons named in the said writ are arrested by the said sheriff, or surrender themselves in the same chancery, that then such persons should be placed under guard or mainperned at the chancellor's discretion; in addition, an inquiry should be ordered into such misdeeds, and the law in relation to this should be enforced. And if the sheriff [col. b] returns, on the day that the capias is returnable, that the persons mentioned in the writ cannot be arrested by him for any of the aforesaid reasons, and the same persons have not surrendered themselves in the said chancery, that then the said chancellor should cause a writ of proclamation to be granted, returnable in the King's Bench on a certain day, directing the said sheriff to make a proclamation in two counties that the persons named in the said writ should come on the said day to the aforesaid bench, to answer there to the accusations specified in the said bill, on pain of being convicted of what they are accused of in the said bill: and in any such writ of proclamation there should be contained the substance of the matter outlined in the said bill. And if they do not come on the said day when the proclamation is returned, they shall be considered and adjudged convicted and attainted as said above. And if they come at the proclamation, they should be questioned and dealt with in the manner noted above; provided that the accusations concerning these riots are proved before the chancellor of England by letters sealed under the seals of at least two justices of the peace and the sheriff of the county where such riots shall occur, before this writ of capias is granted; in which writ of capias the accusation which is contained in the same bill should be specified, as it should also be in the writ of proclamation to be made on this. And if any such case arises in the county palatine of Lancaster, or elsewhere within a franchise where there is a chancellor and a seal, that then the said chancellor of England shall cause the full accusation contained in the said bill to be written or sent by king's writ to the chancellor of that county or franchise, ordering him to proceed in the way specified in the said article; provided that it always remains the case that the king's writ issuing from the chancery of England does not circulate in any county or franchise where it has not been customary in the past. And this statute shall remain in force until the end of the next parliament. (fn. iv-15-160-1) |
| Item, priount [les comunes, qe par la ou est ordeine en] le darrein parlement, qe en toutz enditementz en queux exigendes sont agardables, qe en tieux enditementz [soit fait mention del noun et surnoun] de tieux enditez, de lour estat, ou de quelle mestier, de quelle ville et de quelle countee, qe desore [en avant sibien issint capias et exigendes en] mesmes les countees de quelle est supposee tieux enditez estre, come en les countees l'ou tieux [enditementz sont prises; lesqueux] capias et exigendes en ambideux [countees soient] retornables a un mesme jour, et qe le primer capias [en ambideux countees eit] jour de retourne par un moys a meyns. (fn. iv-15-162-1) Et ceo [soit tenuz en toutz] courtz, et devaunt toutz commissioners ou tieux [enditementz soient a prendre.] | [Petition concerning writs of exigent.] Also, the commons pray that, whereas it was ordained in the last parliament that in all indictments in which writs of exigent are awardable, that in such indictments mention should be made of the name and surname of those who are indicted, as well as their estate, who their master is, and which town and county they are from, so that in future capias and exigents shall issue in those counties from which the indicted persons are believed to come, as well as in the counties where the indictments are brought; these capias and exigents in both counties being returnable on the same day, and the first capias in both counties having a day for return at least one month ahead. (fn. iv-15-162-1) Let this procedure be followed in all courts, and before all commissioners in places where such indictments are to be held. |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| [Le roy le voet qe proces avant les conservatours a assignerz d'enquerer des rumpures des trieves et saufconduits] de roi dedeinz les corps des countees [et libertees serra fait vers tieux rumpours] come est desiree par la dite peticion. Mes quant [au tiel proces] affaire en autres cases, le roi soi voet aviser. | The king wills that a process should be brought before the conservators who are to be assigned to enquire into the breaking of the king's truces and safe-conducts within the body of the counties and liberties, against such breakers, as is requested by the said petition. But as to such a process being brought in other cases, the king wishes to consider this further. |
Appendix April 1414
30 April 1414
Leicester
1
Appointment, 'at the special petition of the commons', of Nicholas Maudit, one of the king's serjeants at arms, to 'be intendent at all parliaments during his life as serjeant at arms for the commonalty coming to the parliaments so long as the parliaments last'; for which he shall have £10 annually. By the king of his grace in parliament. Dated 20 May 1414 at Leicester.
Source : CPR 1413-16 , 196; CCR 1413-19 , 207.
2
Pardon, 'at the supplication of the commons of the realm in the present parliament', to Simon Kampe, former lieutenant of the constable of the Tower of London, of a sum of 1000 marks to which he was condemned for the escape of John Wyghtlok, traitor, from the Tower. By the king of his grace in parliament. Dated 24 May 1414 at Leicester.
Source : CPR 1413-16 , 191.
3
Confirmation to the prior and convent of Montacute (Somerset), 'with the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal and at the request of the commons of the realm in the last parliament at Leicester', of various letters patent dated between 1399 and 1413. By king and by petition in parliament and for five marks paid in the hanaper. Dated 12 July 1414 at Westminster.
Source : SC 8/23/1123. Printed in full in RP , IV.27. See CPR 1413-16 , 228.
4
Petition from John [Ripon], alleging that he has been duly elected, confirmed and ordained as abbot of Fountains (Yorkshire), but that since then Roger Frank, monk, 'former intruder', and a number of other monks supporting him, have entered into obligations on behalf of the abbey amounting to great sums, and removed ornaments, jewels and vessels from the abbey to the value of 2000 marks, as well as livestock and the common seal of the abbey, which they are detaining by force. They have also used force to try to stop Ripon from bringing his complaints to the king [see below, item 5]. Ripon petitions that the obligations should not be used to demand sums of money from the abbey, and that Frank and his supporters be brought to justice and obliged to return the goods which they have removed.
Endorsed: 'It seems to the king that the supplicant has a sufficient remedy by the common law'.
Source : SC 8/18/885. Printed in full in RP , IV.28.
5
Petition from John Ripon, abbot of Fountains (Yorkshire), for redress against Roger Frank, monk, and his supporters, who recently assaulted him while he was making his way towards the king in order to petition for possession of his house and the restitution of various ornaments, etc., allegedly removed from the abbey by Frank (see above, item 4).
Endorsed: 'It seems to the king that the supplicant has a sufficient remedy by the common law'.
Source : SC 8/23/1125. Printed in full in RP , IV.27-8.
6
Petition from Roger Frank, monk, 'rightful abbot of Fountains' - who held the abbey for three years and more before being deceitfully ousted by John Ripon by provision of the pope, contrary to the Statute of Provisors - for restoration to his abbacy.
Endorsed: 'Since there is a writ founded upon the Statute of Provisors already pending in the King's Bench between the parties named in this petition, upon which the matter specified in it can be tried between the same parties, as is alleged by Sir William Hankford, chief justice of the said bench, the king wishes that the said parties await the outcome of that trial'.
Source : SC 8/23/1124. Printed in full in RP , IV.28.
7
Petition from Thomas duke of Clarence, Edmund earl of March, Thomas earl of Salisbury, Henry Lescrope of Masham, John Nevill son and heir of the earl of Westmorland, and Lucia widow of Edmund earl of Kent, for help in the recovery of a sum of 70,000 florins promised by the duke and city of Milan as dowry for Lucia upon her marriage to Edmund earl of Kent; nothing of which has been paid, despite the fact that the marriage took place. The earl of Kent has now died greatly in debt, and this sum is required to pay his creditors. Since it has proved impossible to recover this money by any other means, letters of marque and reprisal are now sought in order to recover it.
Endorsed: 'The king, once he has inspected the obligations and sureties made on this matter, will do what he can properly and reasonably do to recover the amount due'.
Source : SC 8/23/1126. Printed in full in RP , IV.29.
8
Petition from John Barndesley of Chesterton for compensation for the manor of Shortley (Warwickshire), of which he and his son William were disseised by the late Baldwin Freville, and for which they were promised compensation by Richard II after he was enfeoffed of the manor by Freville and used it as part of his endowment of the Charterhouse which he founded at Coventry, but for which they have as yet received no compensation.
Endorsed: 'The king wishes to make compensation in this case, at the instance and request of the commons assembled in this parliament'.
Source : SC 8/23/1127. Printed in full in RP , IV.29.
9
Petition from the king's tenants of Darlton and Ragnall (Nottinghamshire) for restitution of their common rights of pasture, of which they have been deprived through the enclosures made there by Sir Richard Stanhope, as a result of which the tenants can no longer pay their rents and services to the king.
Endorsed: 'Since the matter in this petition concerns free tenement, the king wishes to consider this further'.
Source : SC 8/23/1128. Printed in full in RP , IV.29.
10
Petition from Oliver Billing and Agnes his wife of Wimpton (Nottinghamshire) for redress against Sir Richard Stanhope, who has deceitfully deprived Agnes of the inheritance which should have come to her from her former husband, John Sewale of Wimpton, so that she is left with nothing.
Endorsed: 'When this petition was read to the said Richard Stanhope in the presence of the king and the lords spiritual and temporal, he declared by way of response that he was in no way guilty of any of the things mentioned in this petition'.
Source : SC 8/23/1129. Printed in full in RP , IV.30.
11
Petition from the chancellor and scholars of the university of Cambridge requesting that in future scholars and their servants should not be indicted for felony and mayhem before the justices of the peace, but that presentments for felony and mayhem should be made by persons of good standing, half of whom should be burgesses, and the other half persons from the county who are not resident in the town and precinct.
Endorsed: 'With regard to this petition, our most sovereign lord the king - considering and publicly declaring before the lords spiritual and temporal assembled in his parliament held at Leicester on the last day of April in the second year of his reign that numerous riots, troubles, inconveniences and evil deeds have occurred and arisen in the past in various ways both within the university of Cambridge as well as in the university of Oxford, which, if allowed to continue, might result in the final destruction of the said universities, which God forbid; and, dearly wishing, in order to preserve them and place them under good governance, to find a remedy for these riots, inconveniences and troubles - wishes, with the assent of the aforesaid lords, that proper provision and ordinance be made in this matter by advice of our aforesaid lord the king and his council, to whom shall be summoned those lords, clerks and other persons whom it shall seem necessary and reasonable to our aforesaid most sovereign lord to summon, and that by authority of parliament'.
Source : SC 8/101/5018. Printed in full in RP , IV.30.
12
Petition from John Bryn and others - who were nominated out of malice by Robert Corbet and Richard Lacum, MPs for Shropshire at the parliament of 1413, to be collectors in Shropshire of the tenth and fifteenth granted in that parliament, following which Corbet and Lacum assaulted them on various occasions in the county while they were undertaking their duties, maiming them and killing their horses, as a result of which the taxes could not be collected - for redress against the said Corbet and Lacum.
Endorsed: 'The response to this petition appears on the great schedule stitched to this'.
Attached to this petition is a lengthy schedule detailing the assaults alleged to have been made by Corbet and Lacum on various of the tax-collectors. The reply of the king, with the assent of the lords and at the request of the commons, is that each of the plaintiffs should specify his grievances in a bill, which bills should then be sent into the King's Bench, which by authority of parliament should issue a capias and try the case. If, after further summons, the defendants fail to appear, they shall be adjudged as convicted.
Source : SC 8/23/1130. Printed in full in RP , IV.30-31.
13
Petition from Edmund le Ferrers complaining that while he was on the king's service, Hugh Erdeswyk and others of the county of Staffordshire, and Hugh Venables and others of the county of Cheshire, came to the town of Chartley and assaulted various of his tenants, killed one of his servants, trampled his lands and committed other damage, for which he asks for redress.
Endorsed: 'A sufficient remedy was ordained by the statute made in the parliament held at Westminster in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Henry, father to our present lord the king' [1411].
Source : SC 8/23/1132. Printed in full in RP , IV.32. See item 14.
14
Petition from Hugh Erdeswyk, esquire, of the county of Staffordshire, complaining that after a love-day had been agreed between him and Edmund Ferrers, esquire, of the same county, and sureties had been taken that it would be observed, Ferrers nevertheless assembled a number of persons intending to kill Erdeswyk, and committed other great crimes against him and his people, as detailed in a schedule annexed to this petition; for which Erdeswyk demands redress.
Endorsed: 'A sufficient remedy was ordained by the statute made in the parliament held at Westminster in the [thirteenth] year of the reign of King Henry the fourth since the conquest' [1411].
Attached is a lengthy schedule detailing the assaults alleged by Erdeswyk to have been committed by Ferrers against him, his kinsfolk and his followers.
Source : SC 8/23/1131. Printed in full in RP , IV.32-3. See item 13.