Richard II: April 1384

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

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'Richard II: April 1384', in Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, (Woodbridge, 2005) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/parliament-rolls-medieval/april-1384 [accessed 24 March 2024]

In this section

1384 April

Introduction April 1384

Salisbury

29 April - 27 May 1384

(C 65/42. RP , III.166-174)

C 65/42 is a roll of six membranes, each approximately 310mm in width, sewn together in chancery style, and numbered in a later hand. The text, written in the official chancery script of several scribes, occupies the rectos of the membranes only. The dorses are blank apart from a later heading, 'Parliamentum de anno 7 R. 2 di pars prima', and later notes where the membranes are joined, 'Parl' 7 R. 2 apud Novum Sar'. The condition of the roll is good, though membranes 6 and 4 are stained with gallic acid, making the text illegible in places, and there is a natural hole in membrane 4. The marginal notes are contemporary. The Arabic numerals are of a later date, while the Roman numerals alongside the common petitions are contemporary. The roll appears to be complete, although there is no Statute Roll for this parliament with which it might be compared

With the abandonment of the 'way of Flanders' following the collapse of Bishop Despenser's 'Flemish crusade' in the autumn of 1383, attention turned to the possibility of securing a lasting peace with France. Even before the parliament of October 1383 had ended, John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, had set off for Leulinghen (between Calais and Boulogne) to open negotiations with his French counterparts, and on 26 January 1384 a truce was concluded until 1 October. At the same time, articles for a 'final peace' between England and France were also drafted, although naturally it was recognised that these would have to be referred back to the respective kings and their councils for ratification. In fact, consideration of the draft peace terms was probably the main reason (apart from the perennial need for money) why writs were issued on 3 March summoning another parliament to meet on 29 April, although the fall of Lochmaben castle to the Scots in early February also served as a sharp reminder of the need to make provision for the defence of a number of different fronts. (fn. a1384intfoot-1)

The list of spiritual and temporal peers summoned was almost exactly the same as for the previous parliament, the only significant addition being Richard Talbot of Blakmere. It is not clear why the parliament was summoned to meet at Salisbury rather than the customary Westminster: perhaps there was a desire to avoid the factional rivalries of London, which were more than usually intense at this time. At any rate, it was in the great hall of the bishop of Salisbury's palace that the plenary sessions of the parliament were held, although it suffered a number of false starts. On Friday 29 April, the day for which it had been summoned, it was postponed until the following Tuesday to allow Gaunt and the other lords who had been leading a retaliatory raid against the Scots to arrive, but on the Tuesday it was again postponed until the Thursday. Despite the fact that Gaunt and several of the other lords had still not arrived, it was decided that further delay was not practicable, and it was on Thursday 5 May, therefore, that the parliament eventually got under way in the great hall with an opening address from chancellor Michael de la Pole (Items 1-2).

The chief item on de la Pole's agenda was, naturally, the draft Anglo-French treaty. A 'certain form for the final peace' had been agreed between the envoys of England and France, he declared, which had also been scrutinised, and apparently approved, by the royal councils of each kingdom. The king did not wish to ratify the treaty unless it met with approval from parliament, however, so the lords and commons were now being asked to give an opinion on it. There was, of course, a sting in the tail: whether or not peace was agreed with France, there were all sorts of reasons why the government needed money. If a treaty were to be ratified, the meeting between the kings would inevitably be a splendid affair, and the English king must not be outshone by his French counterpart; if, on the other hand, peace were not agreed, it was equally inevitable that money would be needed to continue the war - as indeed it was in any case, for the government's commitments were numerous (Items 3-4).

Discussion of the peace treaty was prolonged and probably divisive. On 9 May, the commons asked for an intercommuning committee of lords to help them to debate the issues. This was granted to them, and when Gaunt and his brothers, the earls of Cambridge and Buckingham, eventually arrived at Salisbury (presumably a day or two after this), they were added to the committee (Item 9). For the most part, however, lords and commons seem to have deliberated separately, although in the end neither was willing to endorse the treaty with any enthusiasm. When asked for an answer, the commons initially said that it was not up to them to decide such lofty matters (Item 16). When pressed, they declared themselves unhappy with certain articles of the peace, such as the fact that Calais and certain lands in Gascony would now be under French sovereignty (Item 17). When told that this was the inescapable price of peace, they said that if the lords had been unwilling to endorse such terms, they wished to agree with the lords (Item 18). In the end, it is clear that the draft peace - the full terms of which have not been preserved - did not command sufficient support. On 27 May, the last day of the parliament, Gaunt and Buckingham were commissioned to re-open negotiations with the French: the search for an acceptable peace would have to go on. (fn. a1384intfoot-2)

The extent to which disagreements over foreign policy were responsible for the rift which clearly opened up between, on the one hand, the king and de la Pole (the architect of the French peace policy) and, on the other hand, certain of the magnates, is difficult to gauge, but this was clearly a more than usually fractious parliament. The Westminster chronicler claimed that 'churchmen and temporal lords alike, by their astonishing squabbles among themselves, almost nullified the effect of the parliament'. The earl of Arundel in particular had a blazing row with the king: the country lacked 'prudent government', he asserted, and was 'at present almost in a state of decay'. Richard's response was furious: 'white with passion', he rounded bitterly on Arundel, telling him that if his words were intended as a personal criticism, 'You lie in your teeth. You can go to the devil!'. 'A complete hush followed as these words were heard', said the chronicler, until at length Gaunt rose from his seat and managed to calm both men down. (fn. a1384intfoot-3) Arundel showed himself throughout the reign to be an advocate of a hawkish line against France, and it may be that it was the prospect of a 'shameful' peace which really angered him, although it may also be that this was symptomatic of the fact that he was increasingly excluded from the inner councils of the king, and that the latter was the underlying cause of his resentment. (fn. a1384intfoot-4)

There was worse to come, however. Sensational as was the row between the king and Arundel, what really gripped the attention of the chroniclers during this parliament was the notorious affair of the Carmelite friar, John Latimer, who, after celebrating mass one day in the king's presence, in the apartment of the earl of Oxford, suddenly set up a diatribe against Gaunt, insisting to the king that his uncle was plotting to have him killed and to seize the throne. According to the Westminster chronicler, Richard immediately ordered Gaunt to be put to death, although other chroniclers do not support this, and in any case the king seems to have been rapidly dissuaded from such an intemperate course of action. When Gaunt heard what had happened, he demanded an audience with the king to exculpate himself, as a result of which the friar was led away for interrogation, during which he was tortured so horrifically that he died of his injuries. The question remained, however, as to whether he had been incited by others to make his accusations against Gaunt, or whether he was simply, as some believed, insane. Chief among those whom he was said to have implicated was Lord William la Zouche of Harringworth, who, despite being seriously ill, was brought to Salisbury on a litter to prove his innocence, which he succeeded in doing. Perhaps a more likely candidate as the friar's inciter, however, was Robert de Vere, the young earl of Oxford, who was rapidly establishing himself as one of the king's foremost confidants, and who clearly had no love for Gaunt. Yet if the 'affair of the Carmelite friar' more or less ended with Latimer's death, it had served to highlight both the impetuosity of the young king and the developing hostility between him and his eldest uncle - which, over the next year or so, would deepen to a chasm. (fn. a1384intfoot-5)

Among the other items of business in this parliament, two in particular are worth noting, one of which is mentioned on the roll while the other is not. The first of these was the dispute between the chancellor, Michael de la Pole, and a London fishmonger, John Cavendish, which according to the roll was heard in parliament on 24 May. Cavendish's complaint amounted, in effect, to an accusation that de la Pole had accepted bribes (or at least sweeteners) from him in a case involving stolen merchandise, but had then failed to do him justice when the case should have been heard in the chancery (Items 11-14). When de la Pole denied the charges, Cavendish hastily shifted his ground, claiming that the real culprit in the affair was not the chancellor himself but his clerk, John Otter. De la Pole was determined to clear his name, however, and the lords decided to refer the case to the King's Bench, where, three weeks after the parliament ended, Cavendish was duly found guilty of defaming the chancellor and was ordered to pay de la Pole damages of 1000 marks. The record of this judgment was included on the roll (Item 15).

The second matter concerned the issue of law and order, and is recorded in the Westminster chronicle. According to this chronicler, the commons 'complained bitterly' about the lords' habit of distributing livery badges, as a result of which 'certain locally powerful persons' were able to set up petty tyrannies in their localities and generally disregard the law. Their request for a statute to be passed prohibiting this came up against stiff opposition from the lords, however, and especially from John of Gaunt, who took the occasion to issue his famous retort that 'the complaint was expressed in too general terms... since every lord was competent and well able to correct and punish his own dependants for such outrages'. At this, the commons were apparently 'reduced to silence', and agreed to drop the matter - but only for the moment. The issue of livery badges would surface again in the parliament of September 1388, and would remain a contentious issue throughout the last decade of Richard II's reign and well into Henry IV's. (fn. a1384intfoot-6)

Having failed to give their backing to the draft Anglo-French treaty, the commons probably felt obliged to make a grant of taxation, although according to the Westminster chronicler it took much persuasion, and even the threat from the king to institute trailbaston proceedings against 'usurpers of the royal prerogative', in order to secure it. Even then, it was not a large grant: the second half-fifteenth and tenth granted at the October 1383 parliament was confirmed, and a further half-fifteenth and tenth granted, though the latter was not to be levied if peace were made, and even if it were not it was not to be collected until March 1385. In addition, the commons insisted that their grant should be conditional upon the clergy also granting a half-tenth, which they duly did on 31 May (Item 10). (fn. a1384intfoot-7) Writs for the expenses of the knights and burgesses were issued on 27 May, (fn. a1384intfoot-8) and within a month Gaunt and Buckingham were back at the negotiating table in France. They found that the attitude of the French had hardened, however, and despite spending most of the summer in France, the royal uncles were able to secure no more than an extension of the truce until 1 May 1385. Thus when parliament met again in November, it would face much the same problems as the Salisbury assembly; more ominously, though, relations between Richard and John of Gaunt deteriorated markedly during the summer, to the point where, during the winter of 1384-5, the tension between them began seriously to threaten the stability of the realm. (fn. a1384intfoot-9)

Text and translation

[p. iii-166]
[col. a]
[memb. 6]
ROTULUS PARLIAMENTI TENTI APUD NOVAM SARUM, DIE VENERIS PROXIMO POST FESTUM SANCTI MARCI EWANGELISTE, ANNO REGNI REGIS RICARDI SECUNDI POST CONQUESTUM SEPTIMO. THE ROLL OF THE PARLIAMENT HELD AT SALISBURY, ON THE FRIDAY FOLLOWING THE FEAST OF SAINT MARK THE EVANGELIST, IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF KING RICHARD, THE SECOND SINCE THE CONQUEST.
Pars II. Part two.
< Adjournement. > Adjournment.
1. Le vendredy proschein apres la feste de Seint Marc Ewangelist, qe fuist le .xxix. jour del moys d'Averille, l'an du regne le roi Richard secound < apres le conquest > septisme, qe fuist le primer jour de ce parlement tenuz a Novel Salesbirs, pur tant qe les seignours q'estoient nadgairs en la marche d'Escoce, et autres seignours auxint, n'estoient mye encores venuz: et auxint pur tant qe aucuns des viscontz n'avoient mye fait retourner lours briefs de parlement, si "n'estoient [sic: read 'n'estoit'] mye cest parlement pronunciez: einz de la volentee et comandement nostre seignour le roi si feust ce continuez tanqe al mesqardy lors proschein, au fin qe monsire d'Espaigne, et les autres seignours q'estoient tard en Escoce, et ore a ce q'est dit en venantz sur lour chemyn, < puissent oier la pronunciacion. > Et enoultre est comandez depar le roy, et proclamez publiquement, qe touz yceux q'avoient la somonce de < cest > parlement en chescune degree y fuissent le dit mesqardy par temps, pur oier la volentee le roi noster seignour, et les causes pur qe il ad fait sommoner < cest > son parlement. Et comandez fuist a les communes qe en le moien temps il tretassent de la persone qi auroit les paroles en cest parlement pur la commune, au fin qe pur l'eleccioun de tielle persone le parlement ny fuist tariez come ad este devant ore. 1. On the Friday after the feast of St Mark the Evangelist, which was 29 April, in the seventh year of the reign of King Richard, the second since the conquest [1384], which was the first day of this parliament held at Salisbury, because the lords who were lately in the marches of Scotland, and other lords as well, had still not arrived, and also because some of the sheriffs had not returned their writs of parliament, the parliament was not declared in session: but at the will and command of our lord the king, it was adjourned until the following Tuesday [3 May 1384], so that our lord of Spain and the other lords who had lately been in Scotland, and were now said to be on their way, might hear the opening announcement. Furthermore, it was ordered on the king's behalf and publicly proclaimed that all those of every degree who had received the summons of this parliament should be there early on the said Tuesday, to hear the will of the king our lord and the reasons for which he had caused this his parliament to be summoned. And it was ordered that the commons, in the meantime, should consider who would speak on their behalf in this parliament, so that the parliament would not be delayed by the election of such a person, as it had been in the past.
2. Et puis apres, al dit mesqardy, si fuist encores autre foitz mesme cest parlement continuez tanqe le joefdy lors proschein ensuant. 2. Later, on the said Tuesday, the same parliament was once again adjourned until the following Thursday [5 May 1384].
Pronunciacion de parlement. Opening of parliament.
3. Item, de dit joefdy, si vindrent en parlement sibien nostre seignour le roi en sa persone, come les prelatz, seignours, conseillers et communes q'avoient la dite somonce; horspris les seignours q'estoient avec monsire de Lancastre en Escoce les queux ne furent mye encores venuz hors de celles marches, et exceptes auxint ceux prelatz et seignours as queux pur diverses causes s'avoient ent fait excuser devers nostre dit seignour le roi. Assemblez en la grant sale del palays l'evesqe de Salesbirs, en Salesbirs, arraiez honurablement pur le parlement tenir en ycelle, monsire Michel de la Pole, chivaler, chanceller d'Engleterre, avoit les paroles del comandement le roi, en manere qe s'ensuit, et dist, 'Messires et sires cy presentz, nostre seignour le roi cy present, qe Dieu salve, moy ad commandez, a cause qe je sui son officer, de vous dire depar luy les causes pur quelles il ad fait somondre cest son parlement, qe sont tielles: primerement, al reverence de Dieu et pur le bone governement de son roialme le quiel il desire grantement, et sur tute autre rienz il voet qe les franchises et libertees de seint esglise soient tenuz et gardez en tout bien et honur auxi avant come elles ont este en temps d'aucun de ses nobles progenitours roys [col. b] d'Engleterre devant luy; et auxint qe les bones loys et usages, et la paix de son roialme soient auxint fermement tenuz et gardez en touz pointz. Et si rienz soit fait a l'encontre qe demande amendement en parlement, qe ce soit ore par voz sages discrecions covenablement amendez. Item, sur la tretee de la paix qe longement ad durez et continue parentre nostre dit seignour le roi et son adversaire de France, les messages d'ambes partz en dit tretee se sont ore assentuz sur certeine forme de paix final prendre parentre les roialmes, sur l'advis des rois et de lour conseilx d'ambes partz, dont y a certeins articles faitz prestz de vous monstrer en temps et lieu covenables. Et pur tant qe nostre seignour le roi vous ent voet monstrer naturesce < et > perfit amour; et considerant voz grevouses charges quelles vous avez longement sustenuz parmy celle guerre, si ne voet mye nostre seignour le roi finalment accorder en le cas sanz vostre assent et science, combien q'il le purroit bien faire, come chose quele a ce qe homme pense n'appartient mye en rienz au droit ne a la coroune d'Engleterre d'ancientee. Et le roi vous prie et charge moelt entierment qe les ditz articles veues et entenduz, avec le manere d'icelle tretee, ent luy veullez doner vostre conseil tiel come vous semblera qe mieltz soit affaire pur son honour, et profit a lui et son dit roialme. 3. Also, on the said Thursday [5 May 1384], there came to parliament our lord the king in person, as well as the prelates, lords, counsellors, and commons who had received the said summons; except the lords who were with our lord of Lancaster in Scotland and who had still not left those marches, and except also those prelates and lords who had excused themselves on various grounds before our said lord the king. When they had assembled in the great hall of the bishop of Salisbury's palace, in Salisbury, which was honourably furnished for the holding of a parliament, Sir Michael de la Pole, knight, chancellor of England, spoke at the king's command in the following manner: My lords and sirs here present, our lord the king here present, whom God preserve, has ordered me, because I am his officer, to inform you on his behalf of the reasons for which he has caused this his parliament to be summoned, which are these: first, out of reverence for God, and for the good government of his kingdom which he greatly desires, he wills above all else that the franchises and liberties of holy church be upheld and kept in all good and honour as they were in the time of any of his progenitors, the kings [col. b] of England before him; and also that the good laws and usages and the peace of his kingdom be firmly upheld and kept in all respects. And if anything should be done to the contrary which requires amendment in parliament, that it should now be suitably amended by your wise discretion. Also, concerning the treaty of peace which has long endured and continued between our said lord the king and his adversary of France, the envoys on either side in the said treaty are now agreed on a certain form for the final peace to be made between the kingdoms, upon the advice of the kings and their councils on either sides, for which particular articles are ready to be shown to you at a suitable time and place. And because our lord the king wishes to show you all kindliness and perfect love, and considering the grievous charges which you have long sustained about this war, he does not wish finally to agree in this matter without your assent and knowledge (even though he could well do so), treating it as a matter which, so one might think, did not belong in any way to the right or the crown of England since antiquity. And the king prays of you and charges you most earnestly that having seen and understood the said articles, together with the nature of the same treaty, you will give him your advice as to what you think best for his honour and the benefit of him and of his said realm.
4. Item, si la paix se prendra, qe Dieux grante, encores il est voirs qe ycelle paix ne purra ja estre perfaite ne perfourniz sanz la presence des deux rois avauntditz: et n'y a point de doute qe si son adversaire y vendra, si serra il de moelt grant et honurable apparail. Et grant hounte serroit a nostre seignour le roy et a tout son roialme, si mesme noster seignour le roi n'y feust d'auxi honurable apparail et ordinance. Et pur tant, et auxint pur ce qe sibien sur la marche d'Escoce come en les marches de Caleys, Chirburgh, et Brest, et pur salvetee de ses foialx liges en Guyenne et Irlande, si ad nostre seignour le roi despenduz moelt grantement, et encores convient a despendre, et rienz n'est < ore > remys de ses revenues, ne de ce qe lui ad este grantez par sa commune dont < despendre ou > paier, sinoun qe a < grant > peine pur les despenses de sa maisoun, sicome l'en vous purra clerement monstrer en temps et lieu covenables. Par quoi, < sibien > en salvacione del dit roialme, et de vous mesmes, et chescun de vous, come pur salver < le > honeur et l'estat nostre dit seignour le roi, le roi vous charge de conseiller et communer coment a meindre charge et desaise de vous le roi nostre seignour purra avenir a la monoie qe necessairement luy ent faut mettre: et auxint, coment et de quoi il defendra le dit roialme et la navye d'icelle encontre les Espaignardz et Flemynges: et auxint, pur despendre [p. iii-167][col. a] sur le defens del dit roialme encontre les Franceys et Escotz, si paix n'y se pregne mye: et auxint, de vous adviser de les autres charges ore a vous donez depar lui. Et celle advis pris, d'ent certifier le roi et soun conseil a pluis en haste qe vous purrez, a fin qe cest parlement soit hastivement esploitez. Et le roi vous comande et charge sur vostre ligeance qe sur cestes voz charges vous vous veullez de jour en autre adviser, et diligeaument entrecommuner, au bien et profit de tout le roialme, entrelessantz de tout chescune autre < foreine > matire en le moien temps. Qar par foreins matires, quelles n'ont de riens profitez au bien de commune, ont delaiez les parlementz devaunt ceste heure < moelt oultrageousement. > Et ce est la cause pur quoi le roi vous charge qe vous n'attamez nule matire forsqe tiele qe soit necessaire et profitable a nostre dit seignour le roy et son dit roialme, et de quoy avez de luy ore vostre charge. Et si vous vorrez de rienz pleindre en ce parlement, il a certeins seignours assignez d'estre triours et certeins clercs d'estre resceivours de voz peticions en le cas, par manere qe s'ensuit: 4. Also, if peace were to be attained, which God grant, it is still true that that same peace could not be made and concluded without the presence of the two kings aforesaid: and there is not the smallest degree of doubt that if his adversary were to appear there, he would be most splendidly and honourably arrayed. And great shame would befall our lord the king and all his kingdom if our same lord the king should not be as honourably arrayed and prepared. Therefore, and also because, in the march of Scotland as well as in the marches of Calais, Cherbourg and Brest, and for the security of his faithful lieges in Guyenne and Ireland, our lord the king has spent a great deal, and still more needs to be spent even though nothing remains of his revenues nor of that granted by his commons with which to meet those expenses, unless it should be at the considerable expense of his household, as he can plainly demonstrate to you at a suitable time and place. In view of which, both for the security of the said realm and yourselves, and each one of you, as well as to save the honour and estate of our said lord the king, the king charges you to discuss and consider how, with the least burden and injury to yourselves, the king our lord might have the money which he must necessarily spend: and also how and by what means he might defend the said kingdom and the navy of the same against the Spaniards and Flemings: and also, to spend [p. iii-167][col. a] on the defence of the said kingdom against the French and the Scots, if peace be not concluded: and also, to discuss amongst yourselves the other charges now given you on his behalf; and, all that considered, to inform the king and his council of the results as soon as you can, so that this parliament may be swiftly concluded. And the king orders and charges you on your allegiance that you consult amongst yourselves on these your charges, and diligently discuss them, to the good and profit of all the kingdom, putting aside all extraneous concerns in the meantime. Since by extraneous matters, which have been of no benefit to the common good, previous parliaments have been most seriously delayed. And that is why the king now charges you to attend to no matter except that which is necessary and profitable to our said lord the king and his said kingdom, and with which you have now been charged by him. And if you wish to complain of anything in this parliament, there are certain lords appointed as triers,and certain clerks as receivers of your petitions, in the following manner:
[memb. 5]
5. Resceivours des peticions d'Engleterre, Irlande, Gales et Escoce:

  • Sire Johan de Waltham
  • Sire Richard Ravenser
  • Sire Thomas Newenham
  • Sire Johan de Freton.
5. Receivers of petitions from England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland:

  • Sir John Waltham
  • Sir Richard Ravenser
  • Sir Thomas Newenham
  • Sir John Freton.
6. Resceivours des peticions de Gascoigne, et d'autres terres et paiis depar dela la meer, et des Isles:

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

  • Sir Peter Barton
  • Sir Robert Farington
  • Sir John Bowland
  • Sir John Scarle.
Et ceux qi veullent bailler lours billes les baillent avaunt parentre cy et samedy proschein venant. Et apres le dit samedy ne soit aucune partiale peticion resceuz. And those who wish to submit bills should deliver them between now and Saturday next [7 May 1384]. And after the said Saturday no individual petition should be received.
7. Et sont assignez triours des peticions d'Engleterre, Irlande, Gales et Escoce:

  • L'evesqe de Wyncestr'
  • L'evesqe de Excestr'
  • L'abbe de Glastyngbirs
  • L'abbe de Saint Austin, de Cantirbirs
  • Le cont d'Arondell'
  • Le cont de Staff'
  • Le seignour le Zouche
  • Le seignour de Nevill'
  • Monsire Guy Bryen'
  • Monsire Robert Tresilian
  • Monsire Robert Bealknap'
7. The following are appointed triers of petitions for England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland:

  • The bishop of Winchester
  • The bishop of Exeter
  • The abbot of Glastonbury
  • The abbot of St Augustine's, Canterbury
  • The earl of Arundel
  • The earl of Stafford
  • Lord le Zouche
  • Lord Neville
  • Sir Guy Bryan
  • Sir Robert Tresilian
  • Sir Robert Bealknap
- appellez a eux chanceller, tresorer, seneschal, chamberleyn, et les sergeantz le roi, quant il busoignera. Et tendront lour place en la chambre du chamberlein. - consulting with the chancellor, treasurer, steward, chamberlain, and the king's serjeants, when necessary. And they shall hold their session in the chamberlain's room.
8. Et sont assignez triours des peticions de Gascoigne, et d'autres terres et paiis dela la meer, et des Isles:

  • L'evesqe de Nichole
  • L'evesqe de Hereford'
  • L'abbe de Hide
  • Le priour de Saint Johan Jerusalem in Engleterre
  • Le cont de Oxenford'
  • Le cont de Salesbirs
  • Le seignour de Cobham
  • Monsire William de Skipwith
  • Monsire Davy Hanmere
8. The following are appointed triers of petitions from Gascony and from other lands and countries overseas, and the Channel Islands:

  • The bishop of Lincoln
  • The bishop of Hereford
  • The abbot of Hyde
  • The prior of St John of Jerusalem in England
  • The earl of Oxford
  • The earl of Salisbury
  • Lord Cobham
  • Sir William Skipwith
  • Sir David Hanmer
- appellez a eux chanceller, tresorier, seneschal, chamberleyn, et les sergeantz le roy, quant il busoignera. Et tendront lour place en la chambre du chauntour pres de la porte de la sale. - consulting with the chancellor, treasurer, steward, chamberlain, and the king's serjeants when necessary. And they shall hold their session in the precentor's chamber near the door of the hall.
[col. b]
Et surce le dit chanceller chargeast illoeqes depar le roi touz les prelats, conts, barons, chivalers, citeins, burgeys et autres q'avoient la somonce de ce parlement, q'ils retournassent lendemayn par temps pur communer sur la charge a eux ore donee depar le roy, et einsi de jour en jour, a tielle bone diligence qe ce parlement soit en haste mys a bon fin, qe Dieu grante. Et le roi defende a touz qe nul se depart de se parlement sanz especial congie de lui devant le fin de mesme le parlement, sur peril q'appent. Whereupon the said chancellor, on the king's behalf, there charged all the bishops, earls, barons, knights, citizens, burgesses and others who had received summons to this parliament to return early the next day to discuss the charge given to them by the king, and so on from day to day, with such good diligence that this parliament might swiftly be brought to a good conclusion, which God grant. And the king forbids anyone to depart without his special permission from this parliament before the end of the same, on danger of the appointed penalty.
Seignours assignez a la commune. Lords assigned to the commons.
9. Item, le lundy en le .ix. me jour de May, les communes assemblez en ce parlement prierent a nostre seignour le roi qe lui pleust granter a eux qe les prelatz, contes et barons dessouz escritz, en especial purroient estre avec mesme la commune de temps en temps, et atant des foitz q'ils le requeissent, pur entrecommuner et conseiller avec mesme la commune sur lour charge a eux donee, a fyn qe le pluis en haste, al aide de Nostre Seignour, l'en purra venir a bone et graciouse conclusion sur les matires comprises deinz lour dite charge; quelles demandent de moelt grant conseil et bone deliberacioun des pluis sages de tout le roialme d'Engleterre. Et celle requeste estoit grantez a la dite commune en dite parlement. Et est assavoir qe ceux sont les nouns des prelatz et seignours a ce demandez; c'estassaver, les evesqes de Wyncestr', Ely et d'Excestr'; les conts de Kent, d'Arondell' et de Salesbirs; et des banerettz, messeignours Guy de Bryan, Johan Lovell et Johan Devrose. 9. Also, on Monday 9 May [1384], the commons assembled in this parliament prayed of our lord the king that it might please him to grant them that the bishops, earls, and barons listed below might be especially assigned to the same commons from time to time, and as often as they asked it, to join with and consult with the same commons on the charge given them, so that they might reach a good and gracious conclusion on the matters contained in their said charge the more speedily, with the aid of Our Lord; which matters demand grave discussion and thorough deliberation amongst the most wise of all the kingdom of England. And that request was granted to the said commons in the said parliament. And be it known that these are the names of the prelates and lords sought therefor; namely, the bishops of Winchester, Ely and Exeter; the earls of Kent, Arundel and Salisbury; and from amongst the bannerets, messires Guy Bryan, John Lovell, and John Devereux.
Item, puis apres, quant monseignour de Lancastre et les autres grantz seignours del roialme q'estoient osteiantz de guerre en le roialme d'Escoce estoient venuz hors d'Escoce a ycest parlement, la commune d'Engleterre avantdite priast autre foitz a nostre dit seignour le roi et as seignours du parlement, d'avoir sibien mon dit seignour de Lancastre, come monseignour de Cantebrigge et monseignour de Bukyngham, avec les autres sages seignours du roiaume venuz ore novellement, en lour compaignie, pur entrecommuner et conseiller avec eulx sur lour dite charge auxi avaunt come les autres prelats et seignours devant ore demandez, come dessuis est dit. Et ce lour estoit semblablement ottroiez et grantez. Also, later, when messire of Lancaster and the other great lords of the realm who had been waging war in the kingdom of Scotland had come to this parliament from Scotland, the aforesaid commons of England prayed once more of our said lord the king and the lords of parliament that they might have both my said lord of Lancaster and my lords of Cambridge and Buckingham, together with other wise lords of the realm newly arrived, in their company, to discuss and consult with them upon their said charge together with the other prelates and lords previously requested, as is said above. And that likewise was agreed and granted them.
Grant d'une moite de la .xv. e . Grant of a half-fifteenth.
10. Item, puis apres, quant la dit commune s'avoit longement advisez sur lours dites charges a eux donez depar le roy al comencement de cest parlement, et apperceivantz clerement les grantz charges porte et soeffre a poy continuelment, sibien dedeinz son roialme d'Engleterre pur maintenir son honurable estat et honour, qe Dieu salve, come autrement sur les outrageouses charges de la grant multitude des guerres qe le roi nostre seignour porte toutes partz de mesme son roialme par terre et par meer, granterent a mesme nostre seignour le roy la moitee d'une disme et quinszime, a lever et resceiver de lays gentz de son roialme al terme de Seint Michel proschein venant, par fourme et manere come en une cedule sur ce faite par mesme la commune et endentee et liveree avant en parlement par mesme la commune pluis au plein est contenuz; de quele cedule le verroie tenour s'ensuit yci de mot a mot: 10. Also, later, when the said commons had long discussed the said charges assigned to them on the king's behalf at the beginning of this parliament, plainly recognizing the great burdens to be borne and suffered almost continually within the kingdom of England to maintain his honourable estate and honour, which God preserve, and in other ways, and also the exorbitant expenses of the great multitude of wars which the king our lord bears in all parts of the same realm, by land and sea, they granted our same lord the king a half-tenth and half-fifteenth, to be levied and received from the laity of his kingdom in Michaelmas term next [29 September 1384], in the form and manner laid out more fully in a schedule made thereon by the same commons and indented and delivered in the same parliament by the same commons; the true tenor of which schedule here follows word for word:
Les seignours et communes d'Engleterre considerantz les universeles guerres sibien par terre come par meer, et les perils semblables avenir de touz partz si remede ne soit mys, et ce par temps, grantent a nostre seignour le roi pur les causes suisdites, en defense du roialme, la moitee d'une .xv. me quele fuist grantez au derrain parlement, et quele deust avoir este levez a cest fest de Pentecost, sur certein condicion comprise en mesme le grante; a avoir et lever de les laies en manere et fourme come la quinszime ad este usez d'estre levee devant ces heures, a la feste de Seint Michel proschein [p. iii-168][col. a] avenir, nientcontreesteant la condicion avauntnomee; pur estre mys et emploiez la ou pluis y busoigne, par advys de nostre seignour le roy et de son conseil. Et si cas aveigne, come Dieu ne veulle, qe paix ne preigne parentre nostre dit seignour le roy et son adversaire de France, et les guerres se continuent celle parte, ou si les guerres d'Escoce se continuent overtement, adonqes les ditz seignours et communes considerantz la grande necessitee alors semblable d'estre, grantent a nostre dit seignour le roi, en defense du dit roialme ou pluis y busoignera d'estre despenduz, une autre moitee d'une quinszime tiele come paramont est dit, d'estre levez et paiez al feste de l'Anunciacione Nostre Dame proschein avenir. Et en cas qe paix final, ou trieves, se preignent parentre nostre dit seignour le roi et ses ditz adversaires de France et d'Escoce, q'adonqes nul levee se face du dite derrain moitee du quinszime, ne nule commissione isse hors pur la lever d'ycelle en nule manere, par ceste protestacione escrite et endentee. Protestantz outre, qe l'une moitee ne l'autre ne soit en nule manere levable, ne levee, sanz la condicion ensuante, c'estassavoir, qe l'estat de clergie emporte et grante selonc lour afferant a l'une moitee et l'autre du dite quinszime, a les termes et jours suisditz, sibien en salvacion de eux come des ditz seignours et communes. The lords and commons of England, considering the universal wars both by land and by sea, and the similar perils likely to arise in all parts unless remedy is soon provided, grant to our lord the king for the aforesaid causes, in defence of the realm, the half-fifteenth which was granted at the last parliament, and which ought to have been levied at this Whitsun under certain conditions set out in the same grant; to be had and levied from the laity in the manner and form in which the fifteenth has been raised before this time, at Michaelmas next [29 September 1384], [p. iii-168][col. a] notwithstanding the aforementioned condition; to be used and employed wherever the need be greatest, upon the advice of our lord the king and his council. And if it should happen, which God forbid, that peace be not made between our said lord the king and his adversary of France, and the wars continue in those parts, or if the wars of Scotland continue openly, then the said lords and commons, considering the great need likely thus to arise, grant to our said lord the king, for the defence of the said realm, to be spent where it be most needed, another half-fifteenth as is said above, to be levied and paid at the feast of the Annunciation of Our Lady next [25 March 1385]. And if final peace or a truce be concluded between our said lord the king and his said adversaries of France and Scotland, then nothing shall be levied of the said last half-fifteenth, nor any commission issued for levying the same in any way, by this protestation written and indented. Protesting further, that neither one half or the other shall be leviable nor levied in any way, without the following condition, namely, that the estate of the clergy shall support and contribute according to their means to the one half or the other half of the said fifteenth, at the aforesaid terms and days, both for their own security and that of the said lords and commons.
[memb. 4]
Pole. Cavendissh'. Pole. Cavendish.
11. Item, fait assavoir qe le .xxiiij. jour de May, l'an present, un Johan Cavendissh' de Londres, pessoner, soi pleignast en ce parlement, primerement devant la commune d'Engleterre en lour assemble, en presence d'aucuns prelatz et seignours temporelx illoeqes lors esteantz, et puis apres devant touz les prelatz et seignours esteantz en ce parlement, au comencement de quiel sa pleinte il priast as ditz seignours, qe pur Dieu ils lui feisent surte et hastive purvoiance pur salvetee de sa vie, et q'il eust suffisante seuretee de paix de ceux des queux il serroit sa pleinte. Et par especial il demandast suretee de la paix de monsire Michel de la Pole, chanceller d'Engleterre; et celle requeste a lui fuist grantez. Et sur ce, par comandement des seignours avauntditz, le dit monsire Michel illoeqes present y trovast meinprise pur lui et pur toutes les soens de bone paix porter envers le dit Johan: c'estassavoir, le count de Stafford et le count de Salesbirs. 11. Also, be it known that on 24 May in the present year [1384], one John Cavendish of London, fishmonger, complained in this parliament, first before the commons of England there assembled, in the presence of some of the bishops and lords temporal there present, and later before all the bishops and lords attending this parliament, at the beginning of which plaint he prayed of the said lords that for God they might make him surety and swift provision for the safety of his life, and that he might have sufficient surety of peace from those of whom he would complain. And in particular he demanded surety of the peace from Sir Michael de la Pole, chancellor of England; and this request was granted him. Whereupon, by order of the aforesaid lords, the said Sir Michael there present found mainprise on behalf of himself and all his men to bear good peace towards the said John: namely, the earl of Stafford, and the earl of Salisbury.
12. Et ce fait le dit Johan reherceast, coment au derrain parlement, (fn. iii-166-45-1) il avoit fait pursuite par une sa bille envers Gyboun Manfeld, Robert de Parys, Johan Hankyn' et [William] Horsman, pur avoir restitucione de certains biens et marchandises de grant value perduz sur la meer, en defaute des ditz Giboun, Robert, Johan et William, [du temps quant ils] avoient empris la salve garde de la meer et des marchandises passantz et venantz en le moien temps, encontre touz enemys horspris poair roial, quelle sa bille estoit endossez en dit parlement, il dist, et comys a la chancellerie pur discuter et terminer la matire y comprise solonc loy et resoun. Et dist oultre le dit Johan qe de < sa > dite busoigne il avoit parlance et tretee avec un clerc et familier de dit chanceller, q'ad a noun Johan Otere: et par especial de ce, coment sembloit au dit Johan Otere qe le dit pessoner purroit mieltz avenir d'avoir bone seignourie et aide en son cas de mesme le chanceller, en qi mains l'esploit de sa dite busoigne gisoit haut et baas. Luy quiel clerc demandast copies de ses billes et de mesme la busoigne entier; les quelles il lui delivrast, et celles veues et entendues il lui promist, qe pur .xl.li. al oeps de son dit seignour, et quatre livres a son oeps propre, ent serroit il bien et graciousement aidez de soun dit seignour et de lui sanz nulle difficultee. Et sur celle promesse le dit Johan Cavendissh' s'accordast bien, et grantast de lui paier les dites .xliiij.li. en manere q'il les demandast. Mais [col. b] pur tant, il dist q'il n'avoit mye < alors > la somme prest en main de paier, il se obligeroit volentiers par ses lettres al paiement faire bien et loialment a certein jour, et einsi fuist fait. Et puis apres le dit pessoner, ce dit il, baillast au dit clerc certaine quantitee de harang, sturgeon, et d'autre pesson, de la value de .ix. ou de .x. marz, al hostel et oeps de chanceller avauntdit, en partie de paiement des les .xl.li. avantdites: et trois verges de drape de scarlett qe luy cousta entour .xxxij. s. il deliverast al dit clerc en pris de deux marz, en partie de paiement de les quatre livres a lui promises. Et dist oultre le dit Cavendissh' qe combien q'il avoit tant fait et promys al oeps de l'une persone et del autre, toutes voies il ne trovast gairs longement aide, favour ne socour en effect, en la persone del dit chanceller en sa dite querele: einz il fuist par le dit chanceller delaiez, et encores est, et justice ne ent < purroit il avoir > devant luy, combien qe as grantz travailx et coustages il ent avoit fait sa pursuite devers lui continuelment de jour en autre, et de terme en terme. Affermant oultre par ses paroles q'il ent avoit < la > greindre suspicion del mal, et pur quoi einsi fust fait, pur tant qe le dit Johan Otere lui avoit countez a diverses foitz, q'il poiast avoir resceuz greindre somme de mesmes ses adversaires, pur avoir este avec eux encontre le dit Johan Cavendissh', q'il n'avoit d'ycelle Johan. Et auxint pur tant il dist qe bien pres as toutes les foitz q'il venoit a l'hostel del dit chanceller, pur parler avec lui de sa matire, il trovast illoeqes ses adversairs devant luy, ou il les encontrast en venantz de mesme le chanceller. Mais si le dit chanceller doit estre reputez pur conissant de cest affaire, entenduz quanqe il ad ore contez, il dit, ou nemye, Dieu le sciet, mais les jugez, vous messeignours. Mais il dist qe voirs est qe a certain jour passez le dit chanceller lui fist faire paier pur son dit pessoun, et avec ce fist debriser la dite obligacion: mais si ce fist il pur loialtee et conscience, ou autrement pur eschuir esclandre et reproche en le cas, il ne sciet ore dire, mais < le > juggez, vous messeignours. Et il dist oultre pur certein qe pur les trois alnes de scarlet ne fuist il mye encores paiez. 12. And that done, the said John described how, at the last parliament, (fn. iii-166-45-1) he had pursued a bill against Gibon Manfield, Robert Paris, John Hankin and William Horsman to gain restitution of certain goods and merchandise of great value lost at sea through the fault of the said Gibon, Robert, John and William, from the time when they had undertaken the safekeeping of the sea and of the merchandise coming and going in the meantime, against all enemies except royal power; which bill was endorsed in the said parliament, he said, and committed to the chancery for the matter contained therein to be considered and settled in accordance with law and reason. And the said John also said that he had talked about and discussed his said business with a clerk and servant of the said chancellor, named John Otter: and particularly how it seemed to the said John Otter that the said fishmonger might best obtain good lordship and aid in his case from the same chancellor, in whose hands the conduct of his said business entirely lay. Which clerk asked for copies of his bills and of all the said business, which he delivered to him; and having seen and understood them, he promised that for £40 for the use of his said lord, and £4 for his own use, he would be well and graciously aided by his said lord and himself without any difficulty. And with that same promise the said John Cavendish fully agreed, and undertook to pay him the said £44 in the required manner. But [col. b] because, he said, he did not then have the money to hand with which to pay, he would willingly bind himself by his letters to make the payment well and loyally on a certain day, and thus it was done. And later, the said fishmonger, as he said, delivered to the said clerk a certain quantity of herring, sturgeon and other fish, to a value of nine or ten marks, for the household and use of the aforesaid chancellor, in part payment of the aforesaid £40: and he delivered to the said clerk three yards of scarlet cloth, which cost him around 32s., valued at two marks, in part payment of the four pounds promised to him. And the said Cavendish said further that although he had given as much as he had promised for the use of the one and the other, nevertheless, he had received neither aid, favour nor indeed support for a very long time from the person of the said chancellor in his said quarrel: but he had been delayed by the said chancellor, and still is, and he cannot have justice thereon before him, even though, at great trouble and expense, he has sued before him continually from one day to the next and from term to term. Affirming further, by his words, that he greatly suspected malpractice, and that because the said John Otter had told him on various occasions that he could have received a larger sum from his same adversaries to side with them against the said John Cavendish than he had had from the same John. And he said also that almost every time he had gone to the said chancellor's household to discuss the matter with him, he had found there his adversaries before him, or he had met them when leaving the chancellor. But whether the said chancellor should be supposed to have been aware of the matter, God knows, but it is up to the judges, you my lords, to decide, having heard what he has now recounted. But he said that it was true that on a certain day past the said chancellor had paid him for his said fish, and therewith had caused the said obligation to be cancelled: but whether he did that out of loyalty and conscience, or else to avoid slander and reproach in the matter, he could not now say; but you, my lords, may judge for yourselves. And he said further for certain that he had still not been paid for the three ells of scarlet.
Response du chanceller. The chancellor's response.
13. Et sur ce le dit chanceller, primerement devant les prelatz et seignours en parlement, et secondement devant les seignours et communes respondist, et dist qe de ceste affaire et de toute ceste matire il est innocent en chescun degree. Et primerement, quant a ce qe lui est surmys par l'accusacion ore dite, qe le dit pessoner ad este toutdys delaiez, et encores est, par le dit chanceller, et qe droit et justice ne lui est fait en sa dite querelle, ce ne contient veritee. Et ce vouche le dit chanceller a record toutz les justices et sergeantz del roialme, q'ont este presentz en la chancellerie moelt sovent quant la matire ad este pledez parentre les parties; en quelle querelle est pledez tanqe a l'issue, dont partie gist en juggement, et partie remeint en travers, issint qe rienz ne remeint affaire ore forsqe le juggement rendre de ce qe remeint en juggement, et trier ce q'est traversez. Les queux juggement et travers ont este mys aucunement en delay pur difficultee, et pur nule autre cause; paront il n'est mye veritee, ce dit le chanceller, qe le pessoner < ad > ore dit q'il n'ent poet avoir justice, et q'il est malement delaiez. Et quant al remenant de l'accusacion ore faite, le dit chanceller jurast par le sacrement de Jhesu Crist, q'il est oultrement innocent et sanz coulpe, et pluis n'ent vient unqes a sa conisance, forsqe en manere q'il dirra, q'est tiel. 13. Whereupon the said chancellor, first before the prelates and lords in parliament, and second before the lords and commons, replied and said that he was wholly innocent in the matter. And first, as to that which was alleged against him in the accusation now made that the said fishmonger had been constantly delayed, and still was, by the said chancellor, and that right and justice had not been done him in the said case, there was no truth in it. And the said chancellor called to witness therein all the justices and serjeants of the kingdom, who had often been present in the chancery when the matter had been pleaded between the parties; in which dispute it was pleaded as to the issue, whereof one part lay in judgment, and the other part remained in traverse, so that nothing now remained to be done except a judgment to be rendered on what remained to be judged, and to try that which was traversed. Which judgment and traverse had been somewhat delayed through difficulty and for no other reason; and so, said the chancellor, the fishmonger's present claim that he could not gain justice and was wickedly delayed was quite untrue. And as to the rest of the accusation now made, the said chancellor swore by the sacrament of Jesus Christ that he was wholly innocent and without blame, and that nothing more had come to his knowledge than he would recount, as follows:
Il dist qe novellement il avoit parlance avec les officers de sa maisoun pur savoir l'estat d'icelle, et pur ordener paiement as ceulx as queux pur les despenses de son dit hostel il estoit dettour. Et alors primerement, et nounpas devant, aucuns d'yceulx officers lui conterent la manere, coment une tielle quantitee de harang et sturgeon q'estoit portez a sa dite maison, nounpas par voie [p. iii-169][col. a] d'achat ne de purvoiance, einz en une autre manere, estoit despenduz en mesme sa maisoun: dont il se merveillast, pur cause q'il n'avoit conisance del dit pessoner. Et avec ce alors luy conterent mesmes les officers, coment une tielle obligacione estoit auxint faite par le dit pessoner, q'avoit une querelle pendant devant lui, et tantost celle matire a luy desclose et par luy entendue, il estoit moelt grevousement ennoiez et corucez, et jurast a ses ditz officers q'il ne mangeroit ne ne beveroit deinz mesme son hostel tanqe le dit pessoner feust apaiez de quanqe il avoit fait envoier ou liverer deinz son hostel avantdit, et tanqe mesme l'obligacion feusse derompuz oultrement et defait. Et sur ce si estoit tantost le dit pessoner de son commandement fait venir en presence del dit chanceller en la chapelle deinz son hostel, ou il demoert au present quant il est a Londres; en la quelle chapelle, ou le corps Nostre Seignour Jhesu Crist sacrez remeint continuelment, il jurast par mesme le sacrement, en presence de son dit clerc, et del dit pessoner, combien q'il [n'estoit mye tenuz] del faire, qe son dit clerc [n'avoit] unqes touches a lui de la matire devant contez, n'autrement en avoit il conisance en prive ne en appert, sinoun qe par la relacion de ses autres officers, en manere avauntdite: et q'il n'estoit [unqes] parcener al dit covenant en fait n'en parlance en aucun manere. [Et sur ce il fist tantost] le dit clerc debriser mesme l'obligacion, et fist auxint le dit pessoner estre paiez pur son pesson avauntdit. Et < le dit chanceller y jurast devant les > seignours par le sacrement de Jhesu Crist, < qe sa excusacion ore donee si contient pleine veritee, et encores > il est prest de l' prover en quelconqe manere qe plest a nostre seignour le roi et as nobles seignours du roialme cy presentz de faire ordener. Et priast le dit chanceller as seignours avauntditz qe aiant due consideracion al estat q'il porte deinz le roialme parmy son dit office de chanceller qe lour pleust de lui ordener de due remede et justice de mesme le pessoner, sur le diffame et grevouse esclaundre q'il ad ore fait si fauxement et si horriblement de sa persone en parlement, q'est le pluis haute courte del roialme. A quoi le dit pessoner tantost illoeqes respondist et dist q'il, n'y avoit par sa dite pleinte de rienz fait accuser mesme le chanceller, einz soulement son clerc dessuisdit. He said that he had recently spoken with the officers of his household to learn about the state thereof, and to ordain payment to those to whom he was indebted for the expenses of his said household. And then for the first time, and not before, some of those officers had told him of the manner in which such a quantity of herring and sturgeon which had been brought to his said household, not by means [p. iii-169][col. a] of purchase or purveyance, but in another manner, had been used in the same household: at which he had marvelled, because he had no knowledge of the said fishmonger. And furthermore, the same officers had then informed him that such an obligation had also been made by the said fishmonger, who had an action pending before him, and as soon as this matter had been revealed to him and understood by him, he had been most grievously vexed and angered, and had sworn to the said officers that he would neither eat nor drink in his same household until the said fishmonger had been paid for whatever he had caused to be sent or delivered to his aforesaid household, and until the same bond had been entirely torn up and destroyed. And thereupon, on his orders, the said fishmonger was immediately brought before the said chancellor in the chapel within his hospice where he at present dwells when he is in London; in which chapel, where the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ continually remains, he swore by the same sacrament, in the presence of his said clerk and the said fishmonger, even though he was not obliged to do so, that his said clerk had never informed him of the matter previously related, neither had he gained knowledge of it in secret or in public by other means, except by what he had been told by his other officers in the aforesaid manner: and that he had never been party to the said covenant in word or deed in any way. Whereupon he immediately caused the said clerk to destroy the same obligation, and he also caused the said fishmonger to be paid for his aforesaid fish. And the said chancellor swore there before the lords by the sacrament of Jesus Christ that his excuse now given contained the whole truth, and that even so he was ready to prove it in any way it might please our lord the king and the noble lords of the realm here present to ordain. And the said chancellor prayed of the aforesaid lords that, duly considering his status in the realm by virtue of his said office of chancellor, it might please them to ordain for him due remedy and justice against the same fishmonger for the defamation and grievous slander of his person which the fishmonger had now perpetrated so fraudulently and horribly in parliament, which is the highest court of the realm. To which the said fishmonger at once replied and said there that he had not accused the same chancellor of anything in his said complaint, but only his aforesaid clerk.
14. Et pur tant qe le dit pessoner desavouast en partie sa dite accusacione, et issint le deniast par sa bouche q'il nel avoit mye fait de la persone del dit chanceller, einz de son dit clerc, et auxint, parmy ce qe sibien le dit clerc, come le dit pessoner, sur ce examinez conustrent, qe l'obligacione avauntdite si estoit fait al dit clerc soulement, et en son noun, sanz nommer la persone del dit chanceller en ycelle, et qe mesme le clerc sur son serement fait en le cas < si > fesoit toutdys oultrement excuser son dit seignour le chanceller, q'il n'estoit unqes conisant d'icelle obligation, ne del covenant avauntdit, autrement qe dessuis n'est dit; et pur tant auxint, qe les ditz Giboun, Robert, Johan et William, esteantz personelment en ce parlement, et examinez sur lours ligeances a dire veritee de lour part en le cas, deposerent expressement, q'ils ne donerent unqes rienz, ne ne promistrent doun ne reward au dit chanceller, en prive ne en appert, par eux ne par autre persone del monde, les seignours avauntditz tenoient la persone del dit chanceller pur excusez de quanqe estoit compris en l'accusacion avauntdite. Et sur ce le dit chanceller priast dereschief as seignours illoeqes qe < combien > qe le dit pessoner lui avoit issint par sa dite desavouerie en < partie > excusez, toutes voies, purtant qe purroit apparoir clerement a chescune discrete persone qi oiast la dite accusation, qe l'entente des paroles quelles le dit pessoner avoit dit sonerent expressement en moelt horrible esclaundre de sa persone, qe mesme le pessoner feusse mis en arest, tanqe il auroit trovez suffisante meinprise d'attendre ce qe serra juggez sur [col. b] ceste matire; et especialment sur le faux esclaundre avantdite. La quele requeste estoit ottroiez, et avec ce comandez par les seignours, qe sibien le dit pessoner come le dit clerc feussent mys en arest. Et einsi fuist fait; et puis apres si estoient ils lessez aler a large; c'estassavoir, le dit pessoner par la mainprise de Thomas Spicer et Esteven Skynner, qi estoient obligez corps pur corps d'avoir le dit pessoner de jour en autre devant les seignours avauntditz, ou devant quelconqes autres juges qi a ce serront assignez. Et puis apres, pur tant qe le parlement si feust a celle foitz bien pres sur le fyn, et les seignours furent auxint grantement occupiez illoeqes entour les autres grosses busoignes del roialme, si estoit en ce parlement la dite querelle, avec toutes choses dependentes et incidentes, commys as justices nostre seignour le roi, pur oier et terminer ycelle finalment, sibien pur le roi nostre seignour come pur les parties, selonc la loy, auxi avant come les seignours de parlement eusset peu fair si la querelle eust este tretez pluis avant en lour presence, et en mesme parlement. 14. And because the said fishmonger disavowed his said accusation in part, and thus denied by his own words that he had alleged anything against the person of the said chancellor, but only against his said clerk, and also because both the said clerk and the said fishmonger, on being questioned, admitted that the aforesaid obligation had been made to the said clerk alone, and in his name, without the person of the said chancellor being named in the same, and that the same clerk on his oath made in the case caused his said lord the chancellor to be forever and completely excused, as he had never had knowledge of the same obligation, nor of the aforesaid covenant, other than that mentioned above; and also because the said Gibon, Robert, John and William, attending this parliament in person, and being asked on pain of their allegiance to speak the truth of their part in the matter, expressly denied that they had given anything, nor promised any gift or reward to the said chancellor, in private nor in public, either themselves or through any other person in the world; the aforesaid lords considered the person of the said chancellor excused of whatever had been contained in the aforesaid accusation. Whereupon, the said chancellor prayed again of the lords there that although the said fishmonger had thus excused himself by his partial disavowal, nevertheless, because it should be plainly apparent to every discreet person who had heard the said accusation that the tone of fishmonger's words clearly resounded with the most horrible slander of his person, the same fishmonger might be placed under arrest, until he should have found sufficient mainprise to await that which would be judged in [col. b] the matter; and especially on the aforesaid false slander. Which request was granted, and thereupon the lords ordered that both the said fishmonger and the said clerk be placed under arrest. And so it was done. And later they were set free, namely, the said fishmonger by the mainprise of Thomas Spicer and Stephen Skinner, who were obliged body for body to have the said prisoner before the aforesaid lords from one day to the next, or before any other judges who should be assigned thereto. Later, because the parliament was drawing to a close and the lords were also greatly concerned with other important matters of the realm, so, in this parliament, the said action with all its dependent and incidental matters was delegated to the justices of our lord the king, who were to hear and also determine it both for the king our lord and for the parties, in accordance with the law, just as the lords of parliament would have done if the cause had been taken further in their presence and in the same parliament.
De la paix. Of peace.
16. Item, la dite commune touchant la charge a eux donez en ce parlement de la paix qe se ferra, si Dieux plest, < parentre nostre seignour le roi et > son adversaire de France - de quoi certeins articles, ent faites et appointez novellement au tretee de mesme la paix q'ad este en la marche de Caleys parentre les ambassatours d'ambes partz, estoient liverez a mesme la commune, pur leur meillour informacion del tretee avauntdit, et del effect d'ycelle - mesme la commune ont fait lour responce a nostre seignour le roi en parlement par la manere qe s'ensuit: en disantz qe pur les outrageouses perils q'ils y veiont clerement chescune part, ils ne poent ne ne osent par aucune manere ent conseiller lour seignour lige expressement ne a l'une ne a l'autre, combien qe la dite paix, si pleust a Dieu del ottroier tielle qe feust honurable et profitable a lour dit seignour lige et son roialme, si lour serroit [...] la pluis noble et graciouse aide et confort qe homme purroit en monde deviser. Et lour semble qe nostre dit seignour le roi poet et doit faire en celle partie sicome a sa noble seignourie mieltz semblera affaire, come de chose q'est son propre heritage, q'est par droit lignage roiale descenduz a sa noble persone, et nounpas appartenant al roialme ne a la coroune d'Engleterre. Enpriantz humblement a mesme lour seignour lige qe pur Dieu il ent veulle faire sicome par l'advis de son conseil mieltz luy ent semblera affaire, al honour et profit de lui, et confort et aide de son roialme avauntdit, et qe pur les perils et meschiefs importables qe purroient avenir, qe Dieu defende, la poevre commune feusse deschargez de doner autre responce en ce cas quant au present. 16. Also, the said commons, touching the charge given them in this parliament concerning the peace which might be made, if it please God, between our lord the king and his adversary of France - concerning which, certain articles, newly made and appointed thereon at the treaty of the same peace which was reached in the march of Calais between the ambassadors of either side, having been delivered to the same commons, the better to inform them of the aforesaid treaty and the effect of the same - made their reply to our lord the king in parliament in the following manner: saying that because of the awful dangers they clearly saw on every part, they could not nor dare not in any way advise their liege lord on the one or the other, even though the said peace, if it pleased God to grant one that would be honourable and profitable to their said liege lord and his kingdom, would be to them the most noble and gracious aid and comfort one could devise. And it seemed to them that our said lord the king could and ought to do in this matter whatever seemed best to his noble lordship, as something which is his own inheritance, descended to his noble person by true royal lineage, and not pertaining to the kingdom nor the crown of England. Requesting humbly of our same liege lord that for love of God he would do whatsoever he thought best, with the advice of his council, to his own honour and profit and the comfort and aid of his aforesaid kingdom; and that because of the unbearable perils and troubles which might arise, God forbid, the poor commons should be discharged from giving another answer in this matter at present.
17. Et sur < ce, > la commune [estoient] chargez depar le roi a dire illoeqes lour volentee de deux choses, c'estassavoir, ou ils desirent la paix, ou la guerre, avec lours enemys Franceys: qar y n'ad autre moiene voie, a cause qe as trieves qe serroient bones ou profitables au roi et son roialme ne veullient les Franceys ore assentir. Et sur ce la dite commune respondist et dist qe moelt < grantment > desiront ils qe bone paix et honurable au roi nostre seignour et son roialme si feust faite, qe Dieu grante, mais par les articles a eux ent liverez, des queux pur plusours termes de loy civil y comprises ils n'ont mye cler entendement, et auxint par la relation a eux ent fait d'autrepart, ils entendont qe aucunes seignouries et terres qe mesme lour seignour lige auroit ore par cest accord en Guyenne si serroient tenuz del roi Franceys par homage et service, mais ne pensont mye qe lour dit seignour lige vorroit assentir trop legierment de tenir d'iceux Franceys par tielle service la ville de Caleys, et autres terres conquises des Franceys par l'espeye, ne ne vorroit la commune qe einsi feust fait, si autrement l'en y purroit bien faire, ou eschapir sanz damage. 17. Thereupon, the commons were charged on the king's behalf to state their preference in two matters: namely, whether they desired peace or war with their French enemies: since there was no middle way, because the French would not now agree to a truce which would be good and profitable for the king and his kingdom. And thereupon the said commons replied and said that they most greatly desired that good and honourable peace be made for the king our lord and his kingdom, which God grant, but from the articles submitted to them, of which they had no clear understanding because of the many terms of civil law contained therein, and also because they had had another account of it, they understood that some of the lordships and lands in Guyenne which their same liege lord would now hold by this agreement would be held of the French king for homage and service, but they did not think that their said liege lord would agree lightly to holding the town of Calais and other lands conquered from the French by the sword from the French by such service, and neither would the commons wish that to be done, if it could be done otherwise or avoided without injury.
[col. b]
18. A quoy fuist dit a la commune qe autrement qe de les tenir del roy Franceys, homme n'avendra mye avec eux a la paix pur rienz qe homme ad peu apperceivoir en dite tretee devant ceste heure. Et sur ce la commune autre foit requis de dire a lour seignour lige coment ils vorroient ore faire quant a la prise de ceste paix, si ensi feust qe la dite commune feusse roi del roialme, ou en estat qe lour roy est, considerez la multitude des guerres chescune part overtz toutz a un foitz encontre cest petit roialme; et coment les enemys si sont confederez trestouz ensemble qe nul prendra trieves ne paix legierment sanz autre; et le grant force et richesce des enemys, et le feoblesce et povertee de nostre roialme. A quoy la commune respondist et dist q'ils ont entenduz qe les prelatz et seignours temporelx ent ont auxint este chargez devaunt ceste heure en semblable manere; c'estassavoir, de doner lour conseil et advis a nostre seignour le roi en le cas. Et mesmes les prelatz et seignours avantditz ont fait lour responce nounpas come pur lour conseil ou advis doner en celle partie, ne a la paix, c'estassaver, ne a la guerre: einz soulement, come lour est fait a entendre, mesmes les prelatz et seignours ont dit qe toutes choses et meschiefs apparantz considerez, s'ils feussent en l'estat du roi, ils s'accorderoient a la paix pluis tost qe a la guerre. Et issint la dite commune, par protestacione q'ils ne soient desore chargez come conseillers en le cas, ne par tant ent portent charge de conseiller a l'une ou a l'autre, ils s'accordent en lour responce sur ceste lour charge en toutes choses as prelatz et seignours avauntditz; et tiele responce, et nulle autre qe les ditz prelatz et seignours ent ont donez ils donent ore a lour seignour lige, sur lour charge dessuisdite. 18. It was said to the commons that other than holding them of the French king, there could be no peace with them on any other grounds than had been considered in the said negotiations. And thereupon the commons were once more asked to tell their liege lord what they would now do to achieve the said peace, if it were they who were king of the realm, or placed as the king now is, considering the multitude of open wars on every side and waged together against this small kingdom; and considering that the enemies are all agreed together to make no truce lightly without the other; and the great strength and wealth of the enemies, and the weakness and poverty of our own kingdom. To which the commons replied and said that they understood that the bishops and lords temporal had also been charged before this time in a like manner; namely, to give their counsel and advice to our lord the king in the matter, and the same aforesaid bishops and lords had replied not by giving their counsel or advice thereon, namely on the peace or war, but had simply said that, as they had been given to understand it, considering all the apparent issues and troubles, if they were in the king's position, they would more readily agree to peace than war. And so the said commons, with the protestation that they should not be charged henceforth as counsellors in that matter, nor that as a result they bear the charge of counselling the one or the other, agreed in all respects with the aforesaid prelates and lords in their reply to this their charge; and they now made that reply to their liege lord, and none other than that which had been given by the said prelates and lords thereon.
[memb. 3]
Bury. Bury.
19. Item, l'abbe et convent de Bury myst avant en parlement une lour peticion en la fourme qe s'ensuit: 19. Also, the abbot and convent of Bury laid before parliament a petition in the following form:
A nostre tresredoute seignour le roi et a tout son tressage conseil en cest parlement supplient treshumblement voz devoutz oratours, abbe et convent de Bury Seint Esmon: qe come les gentz de la ville de Bury, apres lours horribles mesprisions par eux attemptez en la derrain riote des communes rebeulx encontre vostre roiale majestee et voz ditz oratours, et lour esglise q'est de vostre patronage, en salvacion de lours vies se submistrient en haut et baas a la noble grace et ordinance de vous nostre seignour le roi suisdit, come piert de record, et depuis ce il ad este tressovent ordinee, grantee et establi par gracious consent de vous nostre seignour et de autres seignours de vostre roialme, sibien en parlement tenuz a Westm' le lundy en la tierce semaigne de Quaresme l'an de vostre regne sisme, (fn. iii-166-63a-1) come en plusours autres voz nobles conseils, qe les ditz gentz de Bury, a cause de lours mesfaitz et custumables rebellions encontre vostre corone et la dite esglise, deussent faire auxi suffisante seuretee de lour bon port envers vous et la dite esglise en tout temps avenir come mieltz purroit estre devisee, et a ce estre obligez sibien a vous nostre seignour, come a voz oratours, abbe et convent dessuisditz severalment, pur seuretee du pees perpetuele, devant q'ils eussent aucune chartre de pardoun, grace ou remission par voie queconqe. To our most redoubtable lord the king and all his most wise council in this parliament, your devout orators the abbot and convent of Bury St Edmunds most humbly pray: whereas the men of the town of Bury, after the terrible misdeeds attempted by them in the last riot of the common rebels against your royal majesty and your said orators and their church, which is of your patronage, for the saving of their lives surrendered themselves high and low to the noble grace and ordinance of you, our aforesaid lord the king, as appears on record, and since then it has been frequently ordained, granted and decreed by the gracious consent of you, our lord, and the other lords of your realm, both in the parliament held at Westminster on the Monday in the third week of Lent in the sixth year of your reign, (fn. iii-166-63a-1) and in many other noble councils of yours, that the said people of Bury, because of their misdeeds and frequent rebellions against your crown and the said church, ought to provide as sufficient a guarantee of their good bearing towards you and the said church for all time to come as can best be devised, and moreover be bound both to you, our lord, as well as to your orators, the abbot and convent aforesaid, individually, for a surety of perpetual peace, before they receive any charter or pardon, grace or remission whatsoever.
Plese a vostre tresgracious seignourie, considerantz lours ditz submissions a vostre roiale majestee einsi faitz, et coment les ditz gentz ne ont voluz tanqe en cea faire la dite seuretee en aucun manere, combien qe par force de lour dit submissione ce ad este ordene tressovent, et la manere d'icelle seuretee qe serroit une reconisance affaire en vostre chancellerie lour ad este monstrez et profri en escrit, ore faire bone ordinance en cest parlement, et comander estroitement qe les dites seuretees sanz pluis longe proloignement soient faitz et perfournis par toutz les gentz et enhabitantz de mesme la ville de Bury, et chescune singuler persone d'icelle, en manere et par fourme come y fuist declarre en especial par vostre grant conseil tenuz a Westm' a comencement de Quaresme [p. iii-171][col. a] proschein passee. La manere et fourme de quelle seuretee ordene en vostre derrain grant conseil est contenuz en une cedule annexe a ceste bille; faisantz nientmeins expresse protestacione de adder ou ouster de mesme la cedule, selonc ce qe semblera resonable en cest parlement a vostre tresgraciouse seignourie suisdite. Oultre ce, voz ditz oratours, abbe et convent, priont treshumblement, pur tant qe plusours des ditz gentz ore par tres sutil engyn, et par voie de fraude, ont alienez lours terres et tenementz a foreins gentz et autres persones qe ne sont mye de la ville de Bury suisdite, al entente, qe lour tenementz ne serroient mye chargez par les reconisances affaires; qe lours dites reconisances unqore affaires par ordinances et establissementz ent affaires en cest present parlement, emportent plenere vertu de lien et de obligacion par reconisance soi extendantz sibien a touz les terres et tenementz queux les ditz gentz avoient et tenoient come lours propres, et furent seisiz en ycelles; ou autrement autres gentz a lour profit, le dit lundy en la tierce semaigne de Quaresme avantdit, come autres lours tenementz en la ville de Bury queconqes, auxi avant come mesmes les reconisances ferroient si celles eussent este faitz duement en la chancellerie par mesmes les gentz de Bury a lundy desuisdit. Et ce par cause qe en celle vostre parlement especiale mencion fuist faite de lours dites seuretes a trovers; come il appiert overtement par expresses paroles en le roule du dit parlement; et auxint par une especiale bille en mesme le parlement endossee, desicome fraude et deceyte ne deivent doner a eide a nulluy par voie de resoun. May it please your most gracious lordship - considering their said submissions thus made to your royal majesty, and that the said people have not wished until now to give the said surety in any way, although by force of their said submission this has often been ordered; and the manner of the same surety, which would be a recognizance to be made in your chancery, has been shown and offered to them in writing - to make now a good ordinance in this parliament, and order strictly that the said sureties be made and performed without further delay by all the men and inhabitants of the same town of Bury and every single one of the same, in the manner and according to the form specified by your great council held at Westminster at the beginning of Lent last [p. iii-171][col. a] past [24 February 1384]; the manner and form of which surety ordained in your last great council are contained in a schedule annexed to this bill. Making nevertheless the express protestation that you may add or remove things from the same schedule in accordance with whatever shall seem reasonable in this parliament to your most gracious lordship. Moreover your said orators, the abbot and convent, most humbly pray: whereas many of the said people now, by subtle contrivance, have alienated their lands and tenements to outsiders and others who are not of the aforesaid town of Bury, to the intent that their tenements should not be charged by the recognizances to be made; that their said recognizances yet to be made by ordinances and decrees to be made thereon in this parliament may carry the full charge of bond and obligation by recognizance extending to all the lands and tenements which the said people had and held as their own, and were seised of the same, or otherwise by other people to their profit, on the said Monday in the third week of the aforesaid Lent [14 March 1384], as well as any of their other tenements in the town of Bury, just as the same recognizances would have been made had they been duly made in the chancery by the same people of Bury on the aforesaid Monday. And this because in your parliament special mention was made of their said sureties to be found, as is plainly stated in the roll of the said parliament, and also by a special bill endorsed in the same parliament, inasmuch as, by way of reason, neither fraud nor deceit ought to be used to help anyone.
Item, ils prient qe .vi. persones, c'estassavoir Richard White, Thomas Lakforthe, Johan Osbern, Johan Tollere, Roger Rose et Richard de Rougham, qi sont de les pluis suffisantz persones du dite ville de Bury, et ore sont personelment en ceste ville de Novell' Salesbury, facent les dites reconisances en manere et par fourme avauntditz, devaunt q'ils departent hors de ceste ville de Salesbury suisdite. Item, qe cynquant autres persones de la dite ville de Bury, par nominacion de voz ditz oratours, abbe et convent, soient appellez, et par vostre roiale majestee compellez, pur venir et faire les dites reconissances, en la chancellerie suisdite a la quinszeine de la Trinitee proschein avenir, ou autre jour covenable et brief par voz oratours avauntditz a vostre noble conseil si vous plest a limiter et nomer. Et quant a toutz les autres persones enhabitantz en la dite ville, vous plese granter suffisante poair et commissione a ascune suffisantz persones, qe vendront a certein brief terme personelment a la dite ville de Bury, as coustages de voz ditz oratours, pur prendre les dites reconissances en fourme et < en > manere suisditz, de toutz autres et de chescune singuler persone enhabitantz ou enhabitante mesme la ville de Bury. Item, voz ditz oratours priont treshumblement qe due remedie soit ordene en cest present parlement, pur chastier et arter suffisantement les persones rebeulx des ditz gentz, en cas qe aucuns de eux ne veullient obeier ne faire les dites reconissances en manere et fourme ordenez et establiz, come ils deivent et sont tenuz de faire par force de lour submissione et l'ordinance avauntditz, sibien c'estassavoir par emprisonement de lours corps sanz meynprise en le cas, come autrement par seisine de lours terres, biens et chateux. Also, they pray that six persons, namely Richard White, Thomas Lakeforth, John Osbern, John Toller, Roger Rose and Richard Rougham, who are amongst the most substantial persons of the said town of Bury, and are now in this town of Salisbury in person, make the said recognizances in the aforesaid manner and form before they leave the aforesaid town of Salisbury. Also, that fifty other persons of the said town of Bury, on the nomination of your said orators, the abbot and convent, be summoned, and by your royal majesty constrained, to come and make the said recognizances in the aforesaid chancery on the quindene of Trinity next coming [19 June 1384], or another suitable date close by to be fixed and appointed by your aforesaid orators at your noble council if it please you. And as to all the other people inhabiting the said town, may it please you to grant sufficient power and commission to some sufficient persons to come within a short space of time to the said town of Bury in person, at the expense of your said orators, to take the said recognizances in the aforesaid form and manner from each and every other person dwelling in the same town of Bury. Also, your said orators most humbly pray that due remedy be ordained in this present parliament adequately to punish and restrain the rebellious persons amongst the said people, lest any of them should not obey or make the said recognizances in the manner and form ordained and decreed, as they ought and are bound to do by the force of their submission and the aforesaid ordinance, namely by imprisonment of their body without bail in such cases, or else by seizure of their lands, goods and chattels.
Et plese a vostre tresgraciouse seignourie granter et ordener qe toutes cestes seuretees avantdites soient trovez et executz sanz proloignement faire, et si hastiement come ils poent bonement: qar le proloignement qe unqore est et qe ad este tanqe en cea, est et ad este trop perilliouse a voz oratours, abbe et convent desuisditz. Et si tost come les dites seuretees soient plenerement trovez par les dites gentz, en manere et fourme come par vostre noble et graciouse dignitee est ordenez, voz ditz oratours, abbe et convent resceivantz des dites gents .d. marcz, qe lour sont ordenez par vous et vostre [col. b] conseil pur lours grantz perdes et damages, sont et serront delors et tantost prestz de faire tielle acquitance ad dites gentz en le cas, come vous nostre seignour par advis de vostre conseil lour avez promys sur la faisance de lour fin de .ij. mille marcz q'est de record. And may it please your most gracious lordship to ordain that all these aforesaid sureties be found and executed without delay as soon as they well may: since the procrastination there still is and has been until now is and has been most perilous for your orators, the aforesaid abbot and convent. And as soon as the said sureties be fully found by the said men in the manner and form ordained by your noble and gracious dignity, your said orators, the abbot and convent, when they have received the five hundred marks from the said people which was ordained by you and your [col. b] council for their great losses and damages, are and shall be from then on ready at once to grant such acquittance to the said men in this case, as you, our lord, by the advice of your council, promised them on the payment of their fine of two thousand marks which is on record.
La teneur de la cedule dont ceste bille fait mencion s'ensuit de parole en parole: The tenor of the schedule of which this bill makes mention follows word for word:
A. B. et C. de villa Sancti Edmundi de Bury recognoverunt, se et heredes suos, et quemlibet eorum, et heredes cujuslibet eorum, insolidum debere domino regi < decem > mille librarum, solvendarum ei in festo Sancti Michaelis proximo futuro: et nisi fecerint, concedunt quod predicta pecunia levetur de terris et catallis suis in villa de Bury Sancti Edmundi in comitatu Suff'. Et memorandum quod ista recognitio facta est sub tali condicione, videlicet, quod si prefati A. B. et C. seu eorum heredes, aut terrarum < et > tenementorum suorum in villa de Sancto Edmundo tenentes, aut aliqui eorum, seu aliqui alii ex eorum seu alicujus eorundem procuracione, assensu, abbetto, manutenencia, auxilio vel precepto, versus abbatem et conventum de Sancto Edmundo, seu eorum successores, aut abbaciam predictam, seu aliquem vel aliquos qui sunt vel pro tempore erunt de abbacia illa, armata vel violenta potencia in conventiculis vel congregacionibus illicitis, seu alias quovis modo, contra pacem et legem Anglie futuris temporibus non [sic] insurrexerint, nec [sic: read 'vel'] aliquam transgressionem que per consilium domini regis, seu heredum suorum, vel per justiciarios suos qui pro tempore fuerint, sive per legem terre adjudicata seu considerata fuerit horribilis, predictis abbati et conventui, seu successoribus suis, aut alicui vel aliquibus qui sunt vel pro tempore erunt de abbacia predicta aliquibus temporibus futuris, fecerint vel intulerint, tunc predicta recognicio nullius sit roboris vel virtutis. Et si predicti A. B. et C. aut eorum heredes, seu terrarum et tenementorum suorum in villa de Sancto Edmundo de Bury tenentes, vel eorum aliqui, seu aliqui alii ex eorum seu alicujus eorundem procuracione, assensu, abbetto, manutenencia, auxilio, vel precepto, contra predictos abbatem et conventum, vel successores suos, aut abbaciam predictam, seu aliquem vel aliquos qui sunt vel pro tempore erunt de abbacia illia aliquibus temporibus futuris, armata vel violenta potencia in conventiculis vel congregacionibus illicitis, vel alias quovis modo, contra pacem et leges predictas exnunc, quod absit, insurrexerint, vel transgressionem horribilem, ut predictum est, fecerint vel intulerint, tunc predicta recognicio contra omnes illos per quorum actum, procuracionem, assensum, abbettum, manutenenciam, auxilium, vel preceptum hujusmodi insurreccionem vel transgressionem horribilem fieri vel foveri, ut premittitur, adjudicari contigerit, super catallis et terris hujusmodi delinquencium et cujuslibet eorundem, et non contra alios non delinquentes, in suo robore et virtute permaneat, ac execucioni debite demandetur. Que quidem adjudicacio per consilium domini regis et heredum suorum, vel per justiciarios suos qui pro tempore fuerint, sive per legem terre, ut predictum est, dumtaxat fieri debet. A. B. et C. de villa Sancti Edmundi de Bury recognoverunt, se et heredes suos, et quemlibet eorum et heredes cujuslibet eorum insolidum debere abbati et conventui de Sancto Edmundo decem milia librarum solvend' eis in festo Sancti Michaelis proximo futuro. Et nisi, etc., concedunt quod dicta pecunia levetur de terris et catallis eorum in villa Sancti Edmundi de Bury in comitatu Suff'. Et memorandum quod ista recognicio facta est sub condicione precedenti; quam quidem condicionem abbas de Sancto Edmundo in cancellario domini regis, tali die et anno, personaliter constitutus, cognovit et expresse fatebatur. (fn. iii-166-69-1) A. B. and C. of the town of Bury St Edmunds acknowledge themselves and their heirs, and every one of them, and every one of their heirs, to be together indebted to our lord the king for ten thousand pounds, to be paid him at Michaelmas next [29 September]: and unless they do so, they concede that the aforesaid money shall be levied from their lands and chattels in the town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. And be it remembered that this recognizance is made on a certain condition, namely, that if the aforementioned A. B. and C. or their heirs, or the tenants of their lands and tenements in the town of St Edmund, or any one of them, and any others from amongst them or anyone by their procurement, assent, abetting, maintenance, help or upon their orders, shall rebel against the abbot and convent of St Edmund, or their successors, or the aforesaid abbey, or any person or persons who are or shall be connected with that abbey, having gathered an armed and violent force in unlawful conventicles and assemblies, or in any other way, contrary to the peace and law of England in the future, or commit or attempt any other transgression which by the council of the lord king, or of his heirs, or by his justices of the time, or by the law of the land shall be adjudged and considered to be horrible, against the aforesaid abbot and convent or their successors, or any person or persons who are or shall be connected with the aforesaid abbey at any future date, then the aforesaid recognizance shall be of no force or virtue. And if the aforesaid A. B. and C. or their heirs, or the tenants of their lands and tenements in the town of Bury St Edmunds, or any of them, or any others amongst them or anyone by their procurement, assent, abetting, maintenance, help, or upon their orders, shall rise, which God forbid, against the aforesaid abbot and convent or their successors, or the aforesaid abbey, or against any person or persons who are or may be of the abbey in time to come, having gathered an armed and violent force in conventicles or assemblies, or in any other way, contrary to the aforesaid peace and laws in the future, or commit or attempt any horrible trespass, as aforesaid; then the said recognizance, against all those by whose deeds, procurement, assent, abetting, maintenance, help or order such insurrection or horrible trespass shall be adjudged to have been done or attempted, as mentioned above, on the chattels and lands of such delinquents and every one of them, and not against others not offending, shall remain valid and in force, and due execution demanded. Which adjudication shall be made by the council of the lord king and of his heirs, or by his justices for the time being, or by the law of the land, as said above. And A. B. and C. of the town of St Edmund of Bury acknowledge themselves and their heirs, and every one of them and their heirs, to be together indebted to the abbot and convent of St Edmund for ten thousand pounds, to be paid them at Michaelmas next [29 September]. And unless, etc., they concede that the said money shall be levied on their lands and chattels in the town of St Edmund of Bury in Suffolk. And be it remembered that this recognizance is made on the preceding condition; which condition the abbot of St Edmund, being personally present in the chancery of the lord king, on such a day and in such a year, acknowledged and expressly accepted. (fn. iii-166-69-1)
[editorial note: Responce.] [editorial note: Answer.]
Est assavoir qe la dite cedule lue en parlement, et illoeqes amende en partie et corrigee par manere come mesme la cedule purporte, estoit accordez illoqes qe chescun singuler persone de la ville de Bury ferroit la seuretee par reconisance a faire en la chancellerie, si [p. iii-172][col. a] bien au roi nostre seignour come a l'abbe et convent avauntditz, par fourme et manere en toutes choses, et par les condicions comprises en mesme la cedule; les quelles condicions l'abbe de Bury grantera et conoistra de record pur sa partie. Be it known that, the said schedule having been read in parliament, and there amended in part and corrected in the manner shown in the same schedule, it was agreed there that every single person of the town of Bury should find surety by recognizance to be made in the chancery, both [p. iii-172][col. a] to the king our lord and to the aforesaid abbot and convent, according to that form and manner in all respects, and on the conditions contained in the same schedule; which conditions the abbot of Bury will grant and acknowledge on record for his part.
Item, la dite bille est grantez et assentuz en ceste mesme parlement en touz pointz; et especialment pur obvier la malice conceuz parmy l'alianacion de lours [terres et tenementz] en Bury puis le dit parlement tenuz l'an sisme: et assentuz et accordez qe toutes les reconisances quelles sont encores affaires et < a > resceivoires de ceulx de Bury par celle cause, et chescune d'icelle, tiegne et tiegnent tielle force et vertu de reconisances en touz pointz, et lient eux et lours terres en Bury auxi avaunt del dit lundy quant le dit parlement l'an sisme estoit tenuz q'est ja passez, come elles ferroient si mesmes les reconisances qe sont issint affaires eussent este faites par mesmes les gentz de Bury al lundy avantdit. Et enoultre est assentuz qe touz les rebeulx en le cas, si nulles y soient, soient compuls par emprisonement de lours corps sanz mainprise, et s'il embusoigne par seisine de lours tenementz, biens et chateux en Bury, de faire la dite seuretee, par manere qe par la dite bille est demande, nientcontreesteant qe la commune cours du loy de la terre < si > est encontre ceste grant et ordinance, les queux sont ore faitz tant soulement pur le bien de pees maintenir desore en dit lieu, et salvetee de l'abbeye de Bury avauntdite, qe a diverses foitz devant ceste heure ad este mys a grant meschief et destruction par les gentz de Bury, qi sont lours propres tenantz trestoutz, et pur nulle autre cause. Also, the said bill was granted and agreed to in this same parliament in all respects; and especially to counteract the malice conceived by the alienation of their lands and tenements in Bury since the said parliament held in the sixth year [23 February 1383]: and it was assented and agreed that all the recognizances which are still to be made and received from those of Bury for this reason, and each one of the same, shall have the force and validity of recognizances in all respects, and bind them and their lands in Bury from the said Monday on which the said parliament of the sixth year was held [23 February 1383], which is already passed, as they would if the same recognizances which are thus to be made had been made by the same people of Bury on the aforesaid Monday. And it is further agreed that all the rebels in this instance, if there be any, be constrained under threat of imprisonment of their persons, without bail, and if necessary by seizure of their tenements, goods and chattels in Bury, to find the said surety in the manner required by the said bill, notwithstanding that the common course of the law of the land runs contrary to this grant and ordinance, which are now made solely for the good keeping of the peace in future in the said place, and for the security of the aforesaid abbey of Bury, which has been greatly troubled and injured on many occasions in the past by the people of Bury, who are altogether its tenants, and for no other reason.
Seymour. Mountagu. Seymour. Montacute.
20. Item, le priour et convent de Mountagu firent mettre avant en parlement une lour bille, en la fourme qe s'ensuit: 20. Also, the prior and convent of Montacute submitted a bill in parliament, in the following form:
'A nostre seignour le roy et seignours en cest present parlement, monstrent ses humbles chapelleins, priour et convent de Mountagu: qe come monsire Richard Seymour autrefoitz porta un brief de scire facias vers le dit priour, retourne en bank le roy al quinszeine de Pasqe, l'an nostre seignour le roi q'ore < est > sisme, d'avoir execucion del manoir de Tyntenhull' ove les appurtenantz, par cause d'un fyn qe fuist levee en la court le roi Edward jadys roy d'Engleterre, besaiel nostre seignour le roy q'ore < est, > entre un Richard Lovell' et autres certeins persones, quiel manoir est grant partie de la substance del dite priorie, et dount le dit prior et ses predecessours ont este seisiz del temps Henry [I] jadys roi d'Engleterre, fitz a William Conquerrour, tanqe al recoverer ore: quele priorie, ove toutes les possessions d'icelle, fuist seisi en main le roy Edward aiel nostre seignour le roy q'orest, a cause de la guerre de France, pur ce qe la dite priorie fuist de poair de France. Et le dit Edward aiel commist la gard del dite priorie, ove les possessions appurtenantz a icelle, par ses lettres patentes au dit priour, a tenir tanqe come il estoit a demurer en sa mayn par la cause suisdite, salvant au roi fees et avowesons expressement en la dite patente, a quele l'avoweson de l'esglise del manoir suisdit est appendant, et en mayn du roy encore par celle cause esteant. To our lord the king and the lords in this present parliament, his humble chaplains, the prior and convent of Montacute show: whereas Sir Richard Seymour on another occasion brought a writ of scire facias against the said prior, returned in the King's Bench on the quindene of Easter in the sixth year of our lord the present king [6 April 1383], to have execution of the manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances, by reason of a fine which was levied in the court of King Edward [III], late king of England, grandfather of our lord the present king, between one Richard Lovell and certain other persons; which manor represents much of the said priory's wealth, and the said prior and his predecessors have had possession of it since the time of Henry [I], late king of England, son of William the Conqueror, until the present recovery: which priory, with all its possessions, was taken into the hands of King Edward, grandfather of our lord the present king, because of the war with France, because the said priory was under the power of France. And the said Edward, the grandfather, committed the keeping of the said priory, with the possessions pertaining to the same, by his letters patent to the said prior, to be held for as long as it was to remain in his hands for the aforesaid reason, saving to the king in the said patent fees and advowsons in particular, to which the advowson of the church of the aforesaid manor is attached, and still in the hands of the king for that reason.
A quiel brief de scire facias le dit priour apparust en court, et allegea, coment le dit Richard Seymour, lendemayn de Seint Martyn, l'an sisme le roi q'oreest, porta un brief de droit vers le dit priour del dit manoir, a quiel brief il apparust; le quiel brief de scire facias fuist purchace pendant le brief de droit; et demandast juggement du brief de scire facias purchacez pendant le brief de droit. Et nientcontreesteant ceste excepcion le brief de scire facias fuist agarde bon, et le priour agarde de respondre par juggement; quiel agarde n'est pas entre en roulle. Et auxint le dit priour apres le dit agarde monstra la matire devaunt, ensemblement ove la dite patente du roi, provant le dit grant la reservacion au roi de fees [col. b] et avowesons, et par celle cause pria eide du roi: de quiel eide prier le dit priour fuist ouste par juggement, quel agarde n'est pas entre en roulle. Et oultre ce, apres la dit agard fait, le dit priour mist avaunt la chartre le roy Henry [I], fitz a Conquerrour, provant qe mesme le roi dona mesme le manoir ove les appurtenantz a l'esglise de Mountagu et a les moignes illoeqes Dieu servantz, en pure et perpetuele almoigne: et alleggea, coment il et ses predecessours avoient continue la possessione a cause del dit doun, et par diverses confirmacions des rois puis tanqe en cea; et sur ce prie aide du roy. Et nientmeins les ditz justices alerent avaunt en le plee, et apres le dit priour pleda al action, la ou par les dites patentes et confermementz droit fuist prove au roy. To which writ of scire facias the said prior appeared in court, and claimed that the said Richard Seymour, on the morrow of Martinmas, in the sixth year of the present king [12 November 1382], brought a writ of right against the said prior over the said manor, to which writ he appeared; which writ of scire facias had been purchased pending a writ of right; and he demanded judgment of the writ of scire facias purchased pending the writ of right. And notwithstanding that exception the writ of scire facias was held good and the prior was held to answer by judgment; which decision is not entered on the roll. Furthermore, the said prior, after the said decision, presented the aforesaid matter, together with the said king's patent, proving the said grant of the reservation to the king of the fees [col. b] and advowsons, and for that reason he sought aid of the king: from which aid thus requested the said prior was ousted by judgement, which award is not entered on the roll. Moreover, after the said award was made, the said prior presented the charter of King Henry [I], son of the Conqueror, proving that the same king gave the same manor with appurtenances to the church of Montacute and to the monks serving God there in pure and perpetual alms: and he claimed that he and his predecessors had continued in possession until now because of the said gift, and by various confirmations of the kings since; and thereupon he prayed aid of the king. Yet nevertheless the said justices continued in the plea, and after the said prior pleaded to the action, because right was proved to lie with the king by the said patents and confirmations.
Sur quoy suppliont les ditz priour et convent qe plese a voz tresgraciouses seignouries, pur Dieux, et en oevre de charitee, d'appeller devant vous les ditz justices, et de les examiner del matire suisdite, et de les charger qe les dites agardes puissent estre entreez come ils fuissent pledez, solonc la fourme d'une autre bille < q'est annexe a cestes, > faite en pluis especial manere sur la matire, contenant par expresses paroles, coment les ditz enroullementz et record deussent estre corrigez et amendez; la quelle bille estoit fait et liveree devaunt ore as justices del dit bank. Qar autrement, treshonurez seignours, sanz vostre tresgracious aide la dite priorie est destruit et annintiz pur touz jours. Et, treshonurez seignours, le dit priour ad pursuiz del comencement del plee plede tanqe en cea as ditz justices d'entrer les ditz plees en manere come ils furent pledez, quele chose les ditz justices lui outrement ount denyez.' Whereupon the said prior and convent request that it might please your most gracious lordship, for God and by way of charity, to call before you the said justices, and to question them on the aforesaid matter, and to charge them that the same awards shall be entered as they were pleaded, in accordance with the form of another bill which is annexed to those directed more especially to the matter, stating expressly that the said enrolments and record should be corrected and amended; which bill was made and submitted before now to the justices of the said Bench. For otherwise, most honoured lords, without your most gracious aid, the said priory will be ruined and destroyed forever. And, most honoured lords, the said prior has requested the justices, from the beginning when the plea was pleaded until now, to enter the said pleas in the manner in which they were pleaded, which the said justices have utterly denied him.
Item, les ditz priour et convent mistrent avant en parlement une cedule dont la dite bille fait mention, en la fourme qe s'ensuit: Also, the said prior and convent laid before parliament the schedule of which the said bill made mention, in the following form:
Cedule. Schedule.
'Memorandum quod ubi in recordo et processu habitis inter Ricardum Seymour et priorem de Monte Acuto, < modo > sic continetur, videlicet: et quia per tenores brevis et recordi predicti hic missos non constabat curia quod predictus Ricardus Seymour ad breve predictum aliquando comparuit, nec quod breve predictum aliquando comparuit, nec quod breve predictum adtunc pendebat, quesitum fuit a prefato priore si quid, etc.. Predictus prior petit quod predictum recordum emendetur sub hac forma, videlicet quod ubi est 'Quesitum fuit', etc., in eodem recordo corrigatur sic et fiat, quia videtur curie quod predictum breve de scire facias manuteneri posset racionibus et allegationibus predictis non obstantibus, dictum est prefato priori quod ulterius respondeat, etc.. Item, prior petit quod ex quo petiit auxilium de domino rege, etc., unde in dicto recordo jam sic scribitur, videlicet, 'Quia videtur curie quod auxilium predictum prefato priori in hoc casu non est concedendum,' quesitum fuit a prefato priore, si quid, etc., predictus prior petit recordum illud emendari sub hac forma, scilicet, quod ubi scribitur 'Quesitum', etc., corrigatur irrotulamentum, et fiat, ibi dictum est per curia prefato priori quod ulterius respondeat, etc., sive auxilio predicto, etc..' Be it remembered that where in the record and process had between Richard Seymour and the prior of Montacute it is contained thus, namely - and because by the tenor of the aforesaid writ and record thus submitted, the court did not know that the aforesaid Richard Seymour had once appeared at the aforesaid writ, nor that he had ever appeared at the aforesaid writ, nor that the aforesaid writ was still pending, it was asked of the aforesaid prior whether, etc. - the aforesaid prior asked that the aforesaid record be amended in this way: namely that where it said 'It was asked', etc., in the same record it should be thus corrected - because it seemed to the court that the aforesaid writ of scire facias could be kept notwithstanding the aforesaid reasons and allegations, it was said to the aforementioned prior that he should also answer, etc.. Also, the prior asked that since he had sought the aid of the lord king, etc., whence it shall now be written thus in the said record, namely: - Because it seems to the court that the aforesaid aid ought not to be conceded in this case to the aforementioned prior,' it was asked of the aforementioned prior, if, etc. - the aforesaid prior requested this record to be amended in this manner, namely, that where it shall be written 'It was asked',etc., the enrolment should be corrected - and let it be done, there it was said by the court to the aforementioned prior that he also answer, etc., or the aforesaid aid, etc..
[memb. 2]
Quelles bille et cedule luez en parlement en presence des seignours, justices del bank le roi, monsire Robert Bealknap chief justice, del commune bank, seignour Johan de Waltham gardein des roulles, monsire Robert de Plesyngton' chief baron del escheqier, Wauter de Clopton' et William Rikyll', sergeantz le roi, et d'autres sages illoeqes presentz; et avec ce les record et proces dont les dites bille et cedule font mencion, queux par comandement des seignours furent portez en parlement, et illoeqes < devant > les seignours du roialme, justices et les autres dessuisditz, venes et examinez; et sur ce la matire comprise es dites bille et cedule diligeaument debatue et examine, finalment par l'advis des justices et les autres sages dessuisditz est agardez et comandez en parlement qe l'enroullement einsi fait en dit plee soit amendez et corrigez accordantement en toutes choses, a [p. iii-173][col. a] ce qe par les dites bille et cedule est ore demandez, et ce encores par la forme et manere qe s'ensuit. C'estassavoir, qe les roulles en quelles les dites defautes sont pretenduz estre compris soient horstretz de la bundell en quiel celles roulles sont de present contenuz, et autres roulles de novell faitz escritz, et tantost myses et affilez en lieu des ditz autres roulles en la bundell dessuisdit, compernantz mesme la nombre des roulles, et avec ce compernantz la matire en toutes choses qe les ditz autres primers roulles y firent comprehendre; horspris en especial, qe celles novelles roulles, et cell novell entre ent a faires s'accordent oultrement a ce qe par les dites bille et cedule est demandez. Et celles novelles roulles issint faitz et affilez, soient < ycelle > novelles roulles deslors de record, et les autres primers roulles dessuisditz tenuz pur voides et nulles a touz jours. Which bill and schedule having been read in parliament in the presence of the lords, the justices of the King's Bench, Sir Robert Bealknap, chief justice of the Common Bench, Sir John Waltham, master of the rolls, Sir Robert Plessington, chief baron of the exchequer, Walter Clopton and William Rikhill, king's serjeants, and other wise men there present; and therupon with the record and process of which the said bill and schedule made mention, which at the order of the lords were brought to parliament, and there inspected and examined before the lords of the realm, justices and others aforementioned; and the matter contained in the said bill and schedule diligently debated and examined; finally, upon the advice of the justices and other aforesaid wise men it was decided and ordered in parliament that the enrolment thus made in the said plea should be amended and corrected, according in all respects, with [p. iii-173][col. a] the requests in the said bill and schedule, and that still in the form and manner which follow. Namely, that the rolls in which the said faults were allegedly contained be removed from the bundle in which those rolls were then contained, and other rolls newly written, and immediately put and filed in place of the said other rolls in the aforesaid bundle, comprising the same number of rolls, and also matching the matter in all respects which the said other rolls there contained; except in particular, that the new rolls and the new entry to be made should agree entirely with what the said bill and schedule required. And the new rolls thus made and filed were to be be new rolls of record, and the other original rolls aforesaid to be considered null and void forever.
21. Item, puis apres quant l'enroullement des ditz record et proces estoit par vertu del dit agard en parlement amendez en la forme suisdite, si estoit une autre bille mys avant en parlement depar le priour et convent dessuisditz, en la forme qe s'ensuit: 21. Also, later when the enrolment of the said record and process had been amended in the aforesaid form by virtue of the said award in parliament, another bill was submitted in parliament by the aforesaid prior and convent, in the form which follows:
A nostre tresredoute seignour le roy et a ses nobles seignours en cest present parlement, monstre le priour de Mountagu, come Richard Seymor, cousyn et heir Richard Lovel, suit un brief de scire facias < devers > le dit priour en bank nostre dit seignour le roi, retournable a la quinszeine de Pasqe, l'an sisme nostre dit seignour le roy q'orest, d'avoir execucioun del manoir de Tyntenhull' ove les appertenantz hors d'un fyn qe se leva en la courte le roy Edward, besaiel nostre dit seignour le roy q'orest, a les oeptaves de Seint Michel, l'an du regne le roi Edward unszime devant monsire William de Bereford et ses compaignons adonqes justices de commune bank, entre le dit Richard Lovel et Muriele sa femme pleignantz, et meistre Richard de Clare et meistre Richard de Blokesworth' deforceantz, de dit manoir, (fn. iii-166-85a-1) et autres maneres proces, tant suy sur le dit brief qe execucione de dit manoir de Tyntenhulle ove les appertenantz est agarde a dit Richard countre le dit priour, come en le record ent fait en le dit bank demurrant pleinement appiert. [col. b] En quiel record diverses errours y sont, come le dit priour serra prest d'assigner. To our most redoubted lord the king and to the noble lords in this present parliament, the prior of Montacute shows that Richard Seymour, cousin and heir of Richard Lovell, sued a writ of scire facias against the said prior in the Bench of our said lord the king, returnable at the quindene of Easter in the sixth year of our said lord the present king [6 April 1383], to have execution of the manor of Tintinhull with appurtenances from a fine which was levied in the court of King Edward [II], great-grandfather of our said lord the present king, on the octave of Michaelmas in the eleventh year of King Edward, before Sir William Bereford and his companions, then justices in the Common Bench, between the said Richard Lovell and Muriel, his wife, plaintiffs, and Master Richard Clare and Master Richard Bloxworth, defendants, concerning the said manor [7 October 1317], (fn. iii-166-85a-1) and other process, it was sued upon that execution of the said manor of Tintinhull with its appurtenances was awarded to the said Richard against the said prior, as more plainly appears in the record made thereon, remaining in the King's Bench. [col. b] In which record various errors are to be found, which the said prior is ready to show.
Par quoi supplie le dit priour qe ordene soit en ceste present parlement qe certeins gentz de conseil nostre dit seignour le roi soient assignez, devant queux le dit record soit envoie, et qe eux eient plein poair et auctoritee par force de mesme l'ordenance d'oier l'assignement des errours avauntditz; et de faire garnir le dit Richard Seymor d'estre devant eux a certein jour par eux a assigner, d'oier l'assignement dez ditz errours, et qe eux poent corriger et redresser mesmes les errours, et droiturel juggement ent rendre: et qe nul proteccione soit alowe pur le dit Richard Seymor en la dit suite, eiant regard a la defaute q'est ore trove en parlement, et al delay qe le dit priour ad euz, pur defaute de bone entree del plee; et eiant regard qe nostre seignour le roy ad grant interesse qe celle chose soit redresse en hast, a cause qe pur l'ouster de l'eide, et le recoverir del manoir, le roi est ouste de les fees et avowesons autrefoitz expressement reservez par sa patente; et qe l'esglise de Mountagu ad este seisi de dit manoir de Tyntenhulle de temps le roi Henry [I] fitz au roi William primer, come par chartres des roys appiert overtement, tanqe al temps de dit juggement, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charitee. On account of which the said prior requests that it be ordained in this present parliament that certain men of the council of our said lord the king be appointed, before whom the said record be sent, and that they shall have full power and authority by force of the same ordinance to hear the account of the aforesaid errors; and to warn the said Richard Seymour to appear before them on a certain day appointed by them to hear the account of the said errors, and that they might correct and redress the same errors, and pass true judgment thereon: and that no protection be allowed to the said Richard Seymour in the said suit, having regard for the fault which is now found in parliament and the delay which the said prior has suffered because of the lack of an accurate entry of the plea; and bearing in mind that our lord the king has a great interest in this matter being speedily redressed, because in the ouster and aid and the recovery of the manor, the king is ousted from the fees and advowsons once expressly reserved by his patent; and that the church of Montacute has been seised of the said manor of Tintinhull from the time of King Henry [I], son of King William I, as the kings' charters clearly show, until the time of the said judgment; for love of God and by way of charity.
Et celle bille auxint lue en parlement, estoit agardez par assent du parlement qe le priour de Mountagu dessuisdit eit brief de scire facias, fait et founduz en son cas, retournable en proschein parlement, de faire garnir le dit monsire Richard [...] Seymor d'estre a mesme le proschein parlement, en quelqe < lieu qe ce > soit tenuz deinz le roialme d'Engleterre, pur y oier les errours quelles ore sont ou serront monstrez ou alleggez par le dit priour estre contenuz en les record et proces avauntditz; et enoultre de faire et resceivoir ce qe par la loy de la terre serra juggez en celle partie. Et est comandez qe mesmes les record et proces, ove toutes choses celles record et proces touchantz, soient en dit proschein parlement par celle cause. Et est grantez et assentuz pluis avant illoeqes qe nulle proteccione quelle est ou serra purchacez pur le dit monsire Richard par feinte cause, soit allouez en ceste querelle par aucune voie. And the bill having also been read in parliament, it was decided by the assent of parliament that the aforesaid prior of Montacute should have a writ of scire facias made and based on his case, returnable in the next parliament, to warn the said Sir Richard Seymour to be at the same next parliament, wheresover it might be held in the kingdom of England, to hear there the errors which were now or would be shown or alleged by the said prior to be contained in the aforesaid record and process; and also to do and submit to what the law of the land may judge in this matter. And it is ordered that the same record and process, together with all things touching such record and process, be available in the said next parliament for that purpose. And it is granted and agreed there moreover, that no protection which is or shall be purchased for the said Sir Richard by fraudulent means be allowed in this dispute in any way.
SECUNTUR PETICIONES LIBERATE PER COMMUNITATEM REGNI ANGLIE IN PARLIAMENTO, ANNO ET DIE SUPRADICTIS, APUD NOVAM SARUM TENTO. HERE FOLLOW THE PETITIONS SUBMITTED BY THE COMMONS OF THE KINGDOM OF ENGLAND IN THE PARLIAMENT HELD AT SALISBURY IN THE AFORESAID YEAR AND ON THE AFORESAID DAY.
[memb. 1]
[col. a]
A nostre tresgracious, trespuissant et tresredoute seignour, nostre seignour le roi, supplient les communes d'Engleterre pur les peticions dessouthescritz: To our most gracious, most exalted, and redoubtable lord, our lord the king, the commons of England pray for the petitions written below:
I. [Affirmation of the liberties of the church, the charters, and the statutes.] I. [Affirmation of the liberties of the church, the charters and the statutes.]
22. En primes, qe seinte esglise eit toutes ses libertees et franchises, et qe la grande chartre et la chartre de la foreste, l'estatut des purveours, et toutes les autres bones estatutz et ordinances avant ces heures faitz, soient tenuz et gardez, et duement et joustement executz < selonc l'effect d'ycelles. > 22. First, that holy church have all its liberties and franchises, and that the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forest, the statute of purveyors, and all the other good statutes and ordinances made in the past, be upheld, kept and justly executed, according to the tenor thereof.
[editorial note: Responsio.] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roi le voet. The king wills it.
II. [Term of office of sheriffs, under-sheriffs, and escheators.] II. [Term of office of sheriffs, under-sheriffs, and escheators.]
23. Item, prient les communes: qe come ordenez soit par estatutqe nul viscont, south-viscont n'eschetour, demoerge en son office oultre un an. (fn. iii-166-98-1) 23. Also the commons pray: whereas it is ordained by statute that no sheriff, deputy sheriff, nor escheator, shall remain in office longer than a year. (fn. iii-166-98-1)
Qe plese au roi nostre seignour qe le dit estatut soit fermement tenuz [col. b] desore enapres, sanz estre fait au contraire, pur grant ease et quiete de tout le roialme. Et si aucune commissione soit faite au contraire, q'il soit repellez. May it please the king our lord that the said statute be firmly kept [col. b] henceforth, without contravention, for the great ease and quiet of all the realm. And if any commission be made to the contrary, that it be repealed.
[editorial note: Responsio.] [editorial note: Answer.]
Diverses estatutz sont faitz en la cas devant ceste heure, les queux le roi voet qe soient tenuz et gardez. Various statutes have been made on this matter in the past, which the king wills to be upheld and protected.
III. [Election of London aldermen.] III. [Election of London aldermen.]
24. Item, prient les communes, pur paix et tranquillitee mayntenir en la citee de Londres en temps avenir, a cause qe touz les aldermans, electives de mesme la citee de an en an en la feste de Seint Gregoir le pape, ore tard ont este remoeuez, et nul de eux reeslu pur l'an ensuant, mais autres mys en lour lieu tout de novel, a grant annyntesment de la governail du dite citee, come ore est pleinement approvez. 24. Also, the commons pray, for the keeping of peace and tranquillity in the city of London in time to come: whereas all aldermen elected by the same city from year to year on the feast of St Gregory the pope have lately been removed, and none of them re-elected for the following year, but others newly set in their place, to the great injury of the governance of the said city, as is now plainly evident.
Qe plese a nostre dit seignour le roi grantir as mair et communes du dite citee et leurs successours, en ce present parlement, qe les aldermans electives soient d'an en an al dit fest de Seint [p. iii-174][col. a] Gregoir franchement esluz, de les pluis suffisantes persones, et de bone fame, sibien de ceux q'ont este en mesme l'an come des autres, par les gardes de la dite citee; nientcontreesteantz aucunes ordinances ou chartre faitz au contraire, sauvant toutesfoitz a chescune garde leur franche eleccion en manere suisdit. May it please our said lord the king to grant to the mayor and commons of the said city and their successors, in this present parliament, that the elective aldermen be freely elected from year to year on the said feast of St [p. iii-174][col. a] Gregory from the persons most worthy and of good repute, both those who have been in office in the same year and others, by the wards of the said city, notwithstanding any ordinances or charter made to the contrary; saving at all times to each ward their free election in the aforesaid manner.
[editorial note: Responsio.] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roi le voet et grante a durer tantcome bone governement soit en la dite citee par celle cause. The king wills it, and grants that it endure as long as there be good governance of the said city by that means.
IV. [Losses to the farm of shires.] IV. [Losses to the farm of shires.]
25. Item, prient les communes: qe come diverses hundredes, chastelx et autres commodites appurtenantz as plusours countees d'Engleterre, sont donez sibien par voz nobles progenitours come par vous, tresredoute seignour, as diverses seignours et autres gentz; et nientcontreesteantz tielx douns, les viscontz des tielx countees qi pur le temps accomptent et paient l'entiertee pur les ditz countees, si avaunt come ils paierent au temps qe les ditz hundredes, chastelx et les autres commodites furent entierment annexez as dites countees, a grant damage et empoverissement de ditz viscontz. 25. Also, the commons pray: whereas various hundreds, castles and other benefices pertaining to many counties of England have been given both by your noble progenitors and by you, most redoubtable lord, to various lords and other men; and notwithstanding such gifts, the sheriffs of such counties then in office account and pay the entire sum for the said counties, just as they paid in the time when the said hundreds, castles and other benefices were wholly annexed to the said counties, to the great injury and impoverishment of the said sheriffs.
Par quoy les ditz communes en le derrain parlement suerent a vostre tresgraciouse seignourie, d'ordeigner qe due allouance purroit estre faite as ditz viscontz qi pur le temps furent, sur lours accompts, pur les ditz hundredes, chastelx et autres commoditees ensi donez; ou autrement qe les ditz hundredes, chastelx et autres commoditees puissent estre rejointz as ditz countees, come ils furent d'auncien temps. Sur quoi il estoit grantez en le < dit > derrain parlement qe ceux qi leur senterent grevez monstrerent as chanceller et tresorier, qi pur le temps furent, leurs grevances en especial, et leurs causes pur quelles ils furent ensi mys a perde et les ditz chanceller et tresorier du temps en temps ferroient tieux descharges et allouances as compleignantz sur lours accompts en celle partie, come par lour descrecion et bon advis lour sembleroit resonablement affaire. Et ore ensi est qe pluseurs gentz grevez en celle partie ont pursuez as ditz chanceller et tresorer, pur avoir allouance de lour perde en temps q'ils furent viscontz, selonc le dite grante; et les ditz chanceller et tresorer ne veullent prendre sur eux de le faire. Because of which the said commons in the last parliament sued to your most gracious lordship to order due allowance to be given to the said sheriffs for the time being on their accounts for the said hundreds, castles and other benefices thus granted; or else that the said hundreds, castles and other benefices might be reunited with the said counties, as they were of old. Whereupon it was granted in the said last parliament that those who felt aggrieved should show their particular grievances to the chancellor and treasurer for the time being, together with the reasons why they had thus been set at a loss, and the said chancellor and treasurer from time to time would grant such discharges and allowances to the plaintiffs on their accounts in the matter as would seem reasonable to them, upon their discretion and good advice. Yet now it happens that many persons aggrieved in that way have sought from the said chancellor and treasurer allowance for their losses in the time when they were sheriffs, in accordance with the said grant, but the said chancellor and treasurer will not take it upon themselves to do that.
Vous plese, en oevre de charitee, ordener en ce present parlement qe due allouance et descharge soient faitz as ditz viscontz qi pur le temps serront, sibien pur l'an passe come en temps avenir, sur lours accompts pur les ditz chastelx, hundredes et autres commoditees ensi donez; ou qe mesmes les hundredes, chastelx et commoditees puissent estre rejointz as ditz countees come ils furent devaunt, [col. b] sicome il purra bien estre provez de record, ou autrement pluseurs viscontz serront destruitz et empoverissez pur touz jours, et les communes des dites countees grantement endamagez et oppressez par les ditz viscontz, en abreggement de lour perde en celle partie. May it please you, by way of charity, to order in this present parliament that due allowance and relief be given to the said sheriffs for the time being, both for the past year and in time to come, on their accounts for the said castles, hundreds and other benefices thus granted; or that the same hundreds, castles and benefices be reunited with the said counties as they were before, [col. b] as is well proven on record; for otherwise, many sheriffs will be destroyed and impoverished forever, and the commons of the said counties greatly harmed and oppressed by the said sheriffs attempting to reduce their loss in the matter.
[editorial note: Responsio.] [editorial note: Answer.]
Quant al temps passez, le roi voet qe les ditz chanceller et tresorier facent due allouance as compleignantz des toutes choses qe de resoun leur deivent estre allouez en le cas. Et quant al temps avenir, le roi a son proschein parlement, par advis de son conseil, ent ordeignera de remede pluis au plein en especial. As for time past, the king wills that the said chancellor and treasurer make due allowance to the plaintiffs for all things which ought by reason to be allowed them in such cases. And as for time to come, the king at his next parliament, with the advice of his council, will ordain a more thorough remedy in detail.
V. [Actions againt ravishers and consentients.] V. [Actions againt ravishers and consentients.]
26. Item, prient les communes: qe come ordenez fust au parlement tenuz a Westm' l'an du regne nostre [ dit seignour le roi sisme, (fn. iii-166-116-1) q'en quel lieu, et a ] quele heure aucunes femmes feussent ravisez, et apres tiel rape eussent assentuz as tielx ravissours, qe sibien les ravissours come les femmes [ravyes, et chescun de eux,] feusse desable et et pur nounable tenuz a chalenger ou avoir aucun manere d'eritage, dower ou jointfeoffement, apres la deces lours barons, et de lours auncestres; (fn. iii-166-116-2) [et qe meintenant en cel cas le proschein] de sank de les avauntditz ravisours ou ravys, a qi heritage, dower, ou jointefeoffement devroit descendre, revertir, remendre ou approcher, [apres la mort de] tielx ravissours ou ravys, eit title, meintenant apres cel rape, d'entrer sur les ravisours ou ravissez, et leur assignez, et terre tenantz en mesme l'eritage, dower, [ou jointefeoffement, et] ce enheritablement tenir. Et qe les barons de celles femmes, ou s'ils n'eient pas barons en vie q'adonqes leurs piers, ou autres proscheins de leur sank, [puissent suir, et] eussent la pursuite devers tielx malfeisours et ravissours, a ceux atteindre de vie et de membre, tout [soit] qe les ditz femmes apres cel ravissement as tielx ravissours eussent assentuz; et oultre feust ordenez qe le defendant en ce cas ne serroit pas receuz de gagier le batail, mais qe la veritee de ce serroit triee par enqueste. 26. Also, the commons pray: whereas it was ordained at the parliament held at Westminster in the sixth year of the reign of our said lord the king (fn. iii-166-116-1) that wheresover and whensoever women were ravished, and after such rape have acquiesced to such ravishers, that both the ravishers and the ravished women, and each of them, should be held disabled and wholly incapable of claiming or holding any manner of inheritance, dower or joint feoffment after the death of their husbands and their ancestors; and that then in such cases the closest in blood of the aforesaid ravishers or ravished to whom the inheritance, dower or joint enfeoffment ought to descend, revert or fall after the death of such ravishers or ravished shall be entitled, immediately after such a rape, to enter upon the ravishers or ravished, and their assignees and tenants in the same inheritance, dower or joint feoffment, and hold it by hereditary right. And that the husbands of those women, or their fathers if they have not husbands living, or others near them in blood, may sue and bring a suit against such malefactors and ravishers to attaint them of loss of life and limb, albeit that the said women have acquiesced to such ravishers after such a ravishment; (fn. iii-166-116-2) further it was ordained that the defendant in such cases should not be allowed to wage battle, but that the truth of the matter be tried by inquest.
Qe plese a nostre dit seignour le roy, considerant qe la dite ordinance est faite a trop dure et redde loy as liges nostre dit seignour le roy, ordener qe la dite ordinance soit en ce present parlement adnullee et annientie, et tenuz pur nul, sibien de tout temps passe come du temps avenir; et qe l'auncien estatut fait de rape des femmes estoise en sa force. May it please our said lord the king, considering that the said ordinance has resulted in too harsh and strict a law for the lieges of our said lord the king, to ordain that the said ordinance be annulled and cancelled in this present parliament, and held invalid for time past as well as time to come; and that the ancient statute on rape of women remain in force.
[editorial note: Responsio.] [editorial note: Answer.]
Le roi voet qe l'estatut dessuisdit tiegne sa force: salvant nientmeins a lui et as autres seignours du roialme pleinement lours forfaitures dues en le cas, sicome ils les eurent devant mesme l'estatut fait. The king wills that the aforesaid statute remain in force: saving nevertheless to him and the other lords of the realm all their forfeitures due in such cases which they would have had before the same statute was made.
The record made at Westminster by the justices etc. Recordum factum apud Westm' per justiciarios etc.
15. And later on the Tuesday next after the octave of Holy Trinity, namely 14 June in the seventh year of the reign of the lord King Richard the second after the Conquest [1384], Robert Tresilian, chief justice of the King's Bench, Robert Bealknap, chief justice of the Common Bench, and Roger de Fulthorp, one of the justices of the Common Bench, on the strength of a commission made to them in the last parliament of the said lord king held at Salisbury - of which specific mention is made on the roll of the aforesaid parliament, against a certain John Cavendish of London, fishmonger, who, in the aforesaid parliament, that is before the assembled commons of the kingdom of England, and later on another occasion before the great men of the same realm in the same parliament, gravely complained and protested of Michael de la Pole, knight, the lord king's chancellor, and John Otter, clerk of the same chancellor, concerning certain mainprises issued for him by the same, and thereby accused in many and false ways and otherwise outrageously defamed the same chancellor - proceeded in this manner; first, that is, they caused the same John Cavendish to appear before the same justices at Westminster on the said 14 June, with Hugh Segrave, knight, treasurer of England, Master Walter de Skirlaw, keeper of the privy seal, John de Waltham, keeper of the rolls of chancery, and also Walter Clopton, William Rikhill, and John de Lokton, serjeants of the same king, then assisting them there; who, coming there, and with his complaint having been made, as is said above, and more fully enrolled on the roll of the aforesaid parliament - the substance of which, together with the answers given thereupon by the said chancellor in the same parliament in his defence, as is contained on the aforesaid roll, with the majority having been read out in the presence of John Cavendish himself - was then addressed there by the aforesaid justices, and thereupon he was asked by the same if he had anything to say for himself, or moreover why he ought not to incur the penalty in the statute published against such defamers, especially since the same chancellor had absolved himself thereupon in that parliament, and is prepared to absolve himself thereupon by all other possible means? Which John replied to this and said that he never defamed the person of the said chancellor in that parliament, nor said anything adverse or dishonourable in secret or in public concerning the person of the chancellor himself in that parliament, or spoke out in any way at another time. But he says that whatever had then been said by him in that regard he had said and claimed this only of the aforesaid John Otter, the same chancellor's clerk, and thus he did not intend that the chancellor himself be accused of the defamation in any way. And thereupon, with the claims of the same John Cavendish on this matter having been made in the said parliament, and the judgment of his words, and the manner and form of the same, and also with the answers and excuses of the same chancellor and other persons thus made and given on his behalf, having been duly considered and understood there; and moreover, [p. iii-170][col. a] having consideration for this, that when the aforesaid John Cavendish had said that he was unable to have justice in his plea in the presence of the said chancellor, expressly the opposite is held on record in the aforesaid chancery, as the aforesaid chancellor has claimed on another occasion in the same parliament, it ought to be clearly evident to any wise and intelligent person that the same John Cavendish falsely and maliciously defamed the aforesaid chancellor by his aforesaid complaint in the same parliament. Whereby it is adjudged that the aforesaid John Cavendish be convicted of this defamation, and the same chancellor shall recover his damages against him, which are assessed at 1,000 marks by the advice of the aforesaid justices and other persons. And that the aforesaid John Cavendish be committed to the lord king's prison, to remain there until he has fully satisfied both the aforesaid chancellor of his aforesaid damages and the said lord king with a suitable fine due to him thereupon. 15. Et postea die martis proxime post octabas sancte trinitatis, videlicet .xiiij. die Junii, anno regni domini regis Ricardi secundi post conquestum .vij. o Robertus Tresilian, capitalis justiciarius in banco ipsius regis, Robertus Bealknap, capitalis justiciarius in communi banco, et Rogerus de Fulthorp, unus justiciariorum in communi banco, vigore commissionis eis in parliamento dicti domini regis apud Novam Sarum ultimo tento facte, unde in rotulo parliamenti predicti mencio facta est specialis, contra quendam Johannem Cavendish de London, fishmonger, qui in parliamento predicto, videlicet coram communitate regni Anglie congregata, et postmodum alia vice coram magnatibus ejusdem regni in eodem parliamento, de Michaele de la Pole, milite, cancellario domini regis, et Johanne Otere, clerico ipsius cancellarii, de diversis meinprisionibus sibi per eosdem factis, et asseruit, graviter querelavit, et ipsum cancellarium per hoc multipliciter et minus vere accusavit, et alias enormiter diffamavit, processerunt in hunc modum; inprimis, videlicet ipsum Johannem Cavendish coram eisdem justiciariis apud Westm' dicto .xiiij. die Junii - assidentibus sibi tunc ibidem Hugone Segrave, milite, thesaurario Anglie, magistro Waltero de Skirlawe, custode privati sigilli, Johanne de Waltham, custode rotulorum cancellarie, necnon Waltero Clopton, Willelmo Rikhill, et Johanne de Lokton, servientibus ipsius regis, - venire fecerunt; qui ibidem comparens, et de accusacione sua, ut predictum est, facta, et in rotulo parliamenti predicti plenius irrotulata, cujus materia, una cum responsionibus per dictum cancellarium in eodem parliamento ad hoc in excusacionem suam datis, prout continetur in rotulo predicto, pro majori parte recitata coram ipso Johanne Cavendish, tunc ibidem allocutus fuit per justiciarios predictos, et super hoc quesitum fuit ab eodem, si quid haberet pro se vel ulterius dicere sciret quare penam in statuto contra hujusmodi diffamatores edito subire non debeat; maxime cum idem cancellarius se inde in parliamento illo excusavit, et omni alio modo possibili se inde excusare est paratus? Qui quidem Johannes ad hoc respondebat, et dixit, Quod ipse nunquam personam dicti cancellarii in parliamento illo diffamavit, nec aliquid sinistrum sive inhonestum de persona ipsius cancellarii clam vel palam in parliamento illo dixit, vel alias affirmavit quovis modo. Set dicit, quod quicquid per eum in hac parte tunc dictum fuerat, hoc solum de prefato Johanne Otere, clerico ipsius cancellarii, dixit et asseruit, et sic non intendit quod de diffamacione ipsius cancellarii aliquis posset ipsum impetere quovis modo. Et super hoc racionibus ipsius Johannis Cavendish in dicto parliamento in ista materia factis, et sentencia verborum suorum, ac modo et forma eorumdem, necnon responsionibus et excusacionibus ipsius cancellarii et aliorum ex parte sua hinc inde factis et datis, ibidem debite ponderatis et intellectis; et ulterius [p. iii-170][col. a] habendo respectum ad hoc, quod ubi prefatus Johannes Cavendish dixit quod justiciam coram dicto cancellario in causa sua habere non potuit, contrarium expresse habetur de recordo in cancellaria predicta, prout alias prefatus cancellarius allegavit in eodem parliamento, clare constare debet cuicunque discreto et intelligenti quod idem Johannes Cavendish per accusacionem suam predictam ipsum cancellarium in eodem parliamento false et maliciose diffamavit. Per quod consideratum est, quod prefatus Johannes Cavendish super diffamacione ista convincatur, et idem cancellarius recuperet versus eum dampna sua, que ad mille marcas de avisamento justiciariorum et aliorum predictorum sunt taxata. Et quod Johannes Cavendish predictus committatur prisone domini regis, ibidem moraturus quousque tam prefato cancellario de dampnis suis predictis, quam dicto domino regi pro fine competenti sibi inde debito plenarie satisfecerit.

Appendix April 1384

29 April 1384

Salisbury

1

Appointment of the earl of Devon and others to investigate a complaint concerning disturbers of the peace who have pursued and threatened various of the bishop of Exeter's servants at both Crediton (Devon) and Exeter. Dated 8 May 1384. By the council in parliament.

Source : CPR 1381-5 , 427.

Footnotes

  • a1384intfoot-1. CCR 1381-5 , 437-8; Tuck, Richard II and the English Nobility , 92-4; Saul, Richard II , 130-2; Goodman, John of Gaunt , 98-9.
  • a1384intfoot-2. Goodman, John of Gaunt , 101; for the likely terms of the draft treaty, see Saul, Richard II , 136-7; Palmer, England, France and Christendom , 33.
  • a1384intfoot-3. Westminster Chronicle , 66-8.
  • a1384intfoot-4. Palmer, England, France and Christendom , 50-51, 81; Saul, Richard II , 131.
  • a1384intfoot-5. Several chroniclers include lengthy accounts of the Latimer affair, although there are important differences between the stories they tell: see Westminster Chronicle , 68-80; St Albans Chronicle 1376-1394 , 722-6; Vita Ricardi Secundi , 81-2; the incident must have occurred close to the end of the parliament, for on the last day of the session, 27 May, a writ was issued for Latimer to be delivered from Salisbury gaol: CPR 1381-5 , 478.
  • a1384intfoot-6. Westminster Chronicle , 80-82; N. Saul, 'The commons and the abolition of badges', Parliamentary History , 9 (1990), 302-315.
  • a1384intfoot-7. Westminster Chronicle , 82.
  • a1384intfoot-8. CCR 1381-5 , 452-4.
  • a1384intfoot-9. Goodman, John of Gaunt , 101-2.
  • iii-166-45-1. Parliament of October 1383.
  • iii-166-63a-1. Parliament of February 1383.
  • iii-166-69-1. PRO SC8/255/9577.
  • iii-166-85a-1. Somerset, 11 Edward II, Michaelmas term, 34: Feet of fines for Somerset, 1 Edward II-20 Edward III, ed. E. Green (Somerset Record Society, XII, 1898).
  • iii-166-98-1. 28 Edw.3 c.7.
  • iii-166-116-1. Parliament of May 1382, item 45.
  • iii-166-116-2. 6 Ric.2 st.1 c.6.