Edward I: Epiphany 1291

1291 Epiphany

Introduction Epiphany 1290-1

Ashridge

Epiphany parliament (?December 1290-?February 1291)

Edward I was at Ashridge, the college of Bonneshommes founded by his cousin, Edmund of Cornwall, in Hertfordshire from 24 December 1290 to 26 January 1291. Since Queen Eleanor had died on 28 November he may have chosen to spend Christmas and most of January away from the normal places of royal residence in order to avoid places which reminded him of Eleanor and his recent loss. It is also possible that Ashridge was chosen because a significant stage in the building process of the college had recently been completed. (fn. foot-1291ep-1) It is less clear why it was thought necessary to hold another parliament so soon after the completion of the preceding one. The most likely explanation is that the news of the death of the heiress to the Scottish throne in late September 1290 and the subsequent manoeuvrings of the various claimants to the Scottish throne suggested the need for urgent consideration of what Edward could best do to forward English interests in Scotland in the light of the changed circumstances north of the Border. (fn. foot-1291ep-2)

There are no surviving writs of summons for this parliament and it is not entirely certain when it opened. The surviving records of proceedings at this parliament (included in SC 9/1 ) assign the earliest of them to the morrow of the Epiphany (the week beginning 7 January). (fn. foot-1291ep-3) Other evidence, however, suggests that business was being done before king and council as early as 25 December 1290. (fn. foot-1291ep-4) Nor is it clear how long the parliament lasted. There is a record of subsequent proceedings, apparently at this parliament, at the octave of Hilary (20 January), (fn. foot-1291ep-5) and at the octave (9 February) (fn. foot-1291ep-6) and the quindene of the Purification (16 February). (fn. foot-1291ep-7) Each of these days is probably to be treated as a legal 'return day' (covering a period of about a week), but if the February business was really part of the parliamentary session this must indicate either that the session continued at Ashridge after the king left or that parliament moved around with the king after he had left Ashridge. (fn. foot-1291ep-8) That the parliamentary session may have continued as late as mid-February is also suggested by the date of the issuing of the pardons to various royal justices and clerks convicted of misdeeds. These were issued on 11 and 12 February 1291 at Eynsham. (fn. foot-1291ep-9) While they might have been issued on the king's own initiative it seems more likely that they were only issued after some prior consultation. However, the cluster of royal charters issued around this time contains only charters issued at Ashridge and on dates between 8 and 16 January. (fn. foot-1291ep-10)

Only a single membrane of Roll 1 (membrane 12) is specifically allocated to recording proceedings at this parliament, (fn. foot-1291ep-11) but proceedings there are also mentioned in the postea to an entry on membrane 10. (fn. foot-1291ep-12)

Appendix Epiphany 1291

Evidence of business done at this parliament from chancery enrolments and elsewhere

1

An assize of novel disseisin was adjourned before the king and council at Ashridge at Christmas 1290; the decision to proceed to judgment for the claimant is said to have been made in the presence of the chancellor and the justices of both Benches.

Source : KB 27/125, m. 72 (Michaelmas 1290), printed in SCKB , ii, 28-9.

2

Mandate for conditional restoration until the next parliament of property acquired without licence by the Augustinian friars of Huntingdon. Dated 25 December 1290 at Ashridge.

Source : CCR 1288-96 , 156

3

Mandate for conditional restoration until the next parliament of property seized from the abbot of Cerne but allegedly acquired prior to the statute of Mortmain. Dated 25 December 1290 at Ashridge.

Source: CCR 1288-96 , 156

4

Restitution to bishop of London of various franchises seized into king's hands on writ of quo waranto in last Essex eyre as appears on examination of record and process before king that seized in error. Dated 28 December at Ashridge.

Source: CPR 1281-92 , 412

5

Mandate for conditional restoration until the next parliament of property acquired without licence by the abbot of Sherborne and for holding of an inquisition ad quod damnum into the acquisition in the interim. Dated 6 January 1291 at Ashridge.

Source : C 143/15, no. 22

6

Commission to master Ralph of Ivingho, Henry Huse, Roger Burd and brothers John of Warwick, Robert Peverel, John de Clare and John de Montacute to act as auditors for complaints against the officials of the late queen Eleanor. Dated 6 January 1291 at Ashridge.

Source : BL MS. Harley 645, ff. 236v-237r

7

Mandate for the conditional restoration until the next parliament of property acquired without licence by abbot of Thornton and for holding of an inquisition ad quod damnum into acquisition in the interim. Dated 8 January 1291 at Ashridge.

Source : C 143/16, no. 8

8

Mandate for conditional restoration of property acquired without licence by the abbot of Sixhills until the next parliament. Dated 18 January 1291 at Ashridge.

Source : CCR 1288-96 , 158

9

Mandate for conditional restoration till parliament after Easter of property acquired by abbot of Chertsey without licence and for the holding of an inquisition ad quod damnum into the acquisition in the interim. Dated 18 January 1291 at Ashridge.

Source : C 143/15, no. 20