/ £npnjrrd *v JarnesHtdsrAKA. A. ID.. iMiDCCXVIM. PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES ATTEMPTED IN THE HISTORY OF AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, AND OTHER ADJACENT PARTS IN THB COUNTIES OF OXFORD AND BUCKS. BY WHITE KENNETT, D.D. VICAR OF AMBROSDEN, AFTERWARDS BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH. Vetera Majestat qtuedam, et (ut sic dixerim) Religio commendat. Quinct. de Inst. Obat. i. 6. A NEW EDITION, IN TWO VOLUMES, GREATLY ENLARGED FROM THE AUTHORS MANUSCRIPF NOTES. VOL. I. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. MDCCCXVIII. ^.1 ADVERTISEMENT. 1 HE present edition of Bishop Kennett's Parochial Antiquities contains much additional matter, and that too from the pen of the Author himself ^ The Bishop's own Copy, enriched in almost every page with Ma- nuscript Notes, was given by the late Mr. Gough to Mr. Archdeacon tM Churton, with a wish, that it should become the property of the K Bodleian Library, when there was no longer any one of his family J who was distinguished by the father's taste for antiquarian research. But the Archdeacon with great liberality has anticipated that event ; jn and by presenting the Book to the Bodleian Library, through the en Delegates of the Clarendon Press, has enabled them to give to the ^ Public an enlarged and improved edition, at a time when the origi- '^ nal one was become so scarce, as almost to have disappeared. r^ That the difference between the first and the present edition may f be more clearly seen, the original text is preserved entire ; and the N Author's Manuscript Additions are j)rinted in columns at the foot of the page, which contains that portion of the History to wliich they refer. The authorities cited have been examined ; all the cliar- ters and documents which could be traced have been collated ; such quotations from them as were found impertect, or in any resj)cct inaccurate, have been corrected; and a very copious Index ol" Per- sons and of Places will be found at the end of the second \(»hMne. iv ADVERTISEMENT. To the Author's Appendix relating to the History of AUchester has been added another, containing a History of ChiUon, in the county of Buckingham, by the late Rev. Thomas Delafield, from a MS. in the Bodleian Library. The public have derived so little be- nefit from the labours of the Historian and Topographer, in either of the Counties of Oxford or Buckingham, that the publication of all such inedited works cannot fail to be acceptable ; and the more so in this case, as the Parish of Chilton and the Manor of Borstall are contiguous to the places treated of in the Parochial Antiquities. It would be unjust not to acknowledge the kind permission of the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church to examine the chartularies de- posited in their Chapter House, as well as the ready access to all their documents connected with the Work, which was afforded by the Right. Rev. the Warden and Fellows of All Souls College, by Sir John Aubrey, Bart, and by John Coker, Esq. of Bicester. It remains only to add, that the Print prefixed to the work is en- graved from an original Portrait in the possession of the family of Sir John Bayley, one of the Judges of the Court of King's Bench, who is a descendant of Bishop Kennett's, and on whose application it was allowed in the most obliging manner to be put into the hands of Mr. Fittler. B. BANDINEL. Bodleian Library, March 16, 1818. TO THE HONOURED SIR WILLIAM GLYNNE, BART. PATRON OF THE CHURCHES OF AMBROSDEN AND BURCESTER. SIR, 1 HIS Discourse has a title to your patronage, as you are the pa- tron of those two churches, which are the particular subject of it. But I have more express reason to offer up these Collections into your hands, because you are the heir of that patron, to whose favour I owed this benefice, and have yourself not only protected my func- tion, and defended my rights; but out of your own property have augmented my small revenues ; and by your generous contribution have supported me in the great labour and expeuce of gathering to- gether these materials, aiul digesting them in this method. As to the performance, 1 am imder no concern to vindicate it from the slights and ridicules that may be cast upon it by idle witty people, who think all history to be scraps, and all antiquity to be rust and rubbish. I say this only, next to the immediate discharge of my holy office, 1 know not how in any course of studies I could have better served my patron, my people, and my successors, than by preserving the memoirs of this parish and the adjacent parts, vol.. I. b vi THE EPISTLE. which before lay remote from common notice, and in few years had been buried in unsearchable oblivion. l( the present age be too much immersed in cares or pleasures, to take any relish, or to make any use of these tliscoveries ; 1 then appeal to posterity : for I be- lieve the times will come, when persons of better inclination will arise, who will be glad to find any collection of this nature; and will be ready to supply the defects, and carry on the continuation of it. I doubt, there is but one argument against such historical at- tempts; that is, men have degenerated from the piety, and inte- grity, and industry of their forefathers, and therefore do not love to be upbraided with the memory of them ; and lead such a vicious, at least such a useless life, that they desire no other mercy from after ages, but silence and oblivion ; and therefore must fear and hate that sort of learning, which may hereafter call them fools, and other proper names. So that antiquity has indeed the like enemies with religion ; those despise it, who are sensible they live contrary to the rules and the examples of it. Whereas, men would have some appetite to the notice of ancient things and persons, if they had a spirit to improve the arts, and imi- tate the virtues of their good old ancestors. And they would delight to read any account of former ages, if they could themselves hope to make any good figure in future story. This, Sir, makes me confident, that whoever are fond to be igno- rant of past times ; yet your family, and all the long descendants from it, will ever prize antiquities, and love a faithful relation of any matters of fact. For will not your posterity rejoice, to find upon record the good and laudable deeds of their predecessors ? Will it not divert them to read, how the first Baronet of their name raised a beautiful and regular seat at Amersden ? How he kept there a hos- THE EITSTLE. vii pitable and well-governed house, and by his prudence and charity reformed a rude and licentious people ? How he rescued the patron- age of this church from the hands of one, whose principles betrayed him into no affection for it? How he twice conferred the same church with no regard to interest or importunity? How, out of his owu proper soil, he enlarged the bounds of the churchyard j and made a like addition to the adjoining garden of the vicar? How, by his countenance and kind endeavours, he recovered an estate (before embezzled) to the proper pious use of supporting and adorning the parish church ? How he was pleased to accept a share in that new trust, and what a conscience he made in the discharge of it? How just he was to the interest and the honour of his other church at Burcester? How he filled it with an incumbent of exemplary good- ness, and serviceable learning? And how he made it a greater beauty of holiness, by giving a very noble service of communion- plate, and all other decent ornaments for the Lord's table and the pulpit? When ihey come to the history of his son and heir, what fuller satisfaction will they liave, in reading his character of virtue and ho- nour, of generosity and public spirit! How will it please them to observe, that he had an early education to good principles and good letters! That lie always sliewcd a respect to scholars, a reverence to divines, and a veneration to the Church of England ; and that even his good nature could not betray him into a kind opinion of any other sect or party ! Tliat he managed his private affairs with discre- tion and ease; and a(hninistered jniblic justice in calmness and with courage ! That he was often projecting and promoting the strengtii and beauty of his |)arish church, and set an example of constant ac- cess to and good lichaviour in it! That he was encouraging and as- b 2 viii THE EFlisTLE. sisting the improvement of the vicar's manse, and making somt- augmentation to his slender portion of glebe I That in a neighbour- ing church of his patronage, for the two first turns of jjresentation, he refeired the choice of fit persons to the sole judgment of the Bi- shop, and by such deference did his lordship and himself most par- ticular honour! And how will it please them to be put in remem- brance of a great many other good and glorious actions, which I might now foretel, and they will hereafter find completed ! And I have the vanity to hope, that some of those who shall suc- ceed in the benefice I now enjoy, will be glad to recollect, that they had a certain predecessor, who seemed to have some zeal for the good estate of his church and parish, who was at some charge and pains to search into histories and records, upon no other motive, but the love of his parochial charge, and the benefit of posterity. My thanks for all your favours, and my prayers for the happi- ness of yourself, your hopeful son, and all your dear relations, is the duty of Your obliged Clerk and faithful Servant, WHITE KENNETT. THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 1 AM only concerned to let the reader prepare himself, with some short account of the occasion and the method of these historical collections. The occasion was this. Upon tlie death of Mr. Owen Jones, 21. May l685. I was presented to this church of Ambrosden, by the worthy patron the late Sir William Glynne, baronet, and found some disturbance in the parish, about the manner of expending and accounting for the annual profits of certain lands and tenements allotted to piuii.s uses. I was soon sensible, my duty obliged me to reconcile all diftbrences ; and was more especially inclined to consult the interest of my church, and to secure the firm title, and the just disposal of a pnh/ic charity. ^Vith these thoughts, I applied myself to the two proper advocates of such a cause ; my diocesan, and mv patron. They botli agreed in the opinion, that the church and people were abused ; and both promised their assistance to pro- mote a regulation of that abuse. In order to which, they enjoined me to make a more diligent search into the matters of right and fact ; and to draw up a short state of the case, that they might more fully discover the corruption, and more easily proceed to some redress. Upon this, with difficultv I obtained a sight of some ])apers and records reposited in the c^hurch chest, and made this abstract of them, .Sej)t. 2b", lt)85. There l)e lands and tenements within the manor of Blackthorn, in the pa- rish of Ambrosden, commonly called by the name of the church houses, and the church land*, now in the occupation of Robert George and other tenants, * Any lands given to the pious use of rcbuililing', repairing, and uuiintaining any ca- thedral, or parochial church, were called ./u^nV-/f tlu- late times, and the cnMibinatioii cf some elnncli and parish ntiiciTs, thesi' two abuses have slianielullv crept ni. 1. The prolils oi this estate, which were at first designed, and have been xii THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. since declared for the sole benefit of the church, have been converted to seve- ral other uses: as, to findhig the communion bread and wine; defraying the charges of ecclesiastical visitations ; helping in the repair of bridges, and amendment of highways ; contributing to sufferers recommended by letters pa- tent ; rewarding the ringers upon public festivals ; and other accidental occa- sions, which should have been rather sei-ved by imposed rates, or by voluntary contributions. So as v\ hat is j)ropiTly a church stock, is now perverted into a parish stock; and when appropriated to sacred, is now jjrostituted to profane and common uses. 2. \^'hereas the fund arising from the said lands and tenements ought to be reposited in a church chest, formerly provided for that puqjose, and thence to be taken out, and disbursed with the order or fiiU consent of the feoffees ; this Treasonable practice is now laid aside ; the churchwardens alone receive the rents, and divide the money in proportion to the townships or hamlets of the said parish, taking two parts of the dividend for Blackthorn, one for Amcott, and one for Amersden : which sums the respective churchwardens keep in their several hands, and account at Easter tor those separate shares, with collu- sion and great disorder. It is therefore thought necessary, for the honour of (iod and the interest of the church, that the profits should be applied to the alone proper use of sup- porting and adorning the parish church. And that the issuing rents should be safely reposited in a common chest, to be expended by the care of the church- wardens, at the direction of the feoffees. This abstract I delivered to the right reverend John Fell, lord bishop of Oxford, who for piety, justice, and charity, and especially for patronising his clergy, and defending the rights of the church, was (at least) equal to the pri- mitive examples of Christian prelates. His lordship consulting the peace of the parish, drew up with his own hand a form of regidntmn, to be subscribed bv the feoffees, and practised without further trf)uble. But they refiised to com])ly with any sort of proposals, and called their own perverseness an old custom, which was not to be broken, t^pon which contempt, his lordship, after a second ineffectual admf)niti()n, commanded me to have recourse to the commissioners for charitable uses : to whom I made complaint at their first session in the Guild Hall, within the city of Oxford ; and after several hearings the court were so well convinced of the abuses and injuries done to the church, that on Wednesday, March 1, l6"8^, they declared their opinion agreeable to the verdict of a jury, to dissolve the present feoffment, to constitute a new trust THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. xiii in more faithful hands, and to oblige the churchwardens for seven years last past, to refund the several sums of money, which they had not employed to the use and service of the church. This judgment of the court had been fully executed, but that before the next sessions, Sir William Glynnc, baronet, in pure tenderness and charity, interceded with the chief commissioners to re- mit all penalty for past miscarriages, and only to prevent the like abuses for the future. Accordingly, in compliance to his generous request, at the next ses- sions, Wednesday April 20, lf)85, Mr. Justice Holloway declared the judg- ment of the court, to dissolve the late feofFnicnt, and to constitute new trus- tees, for disposal of the profits to the sole uses of the church ; and in conclu- sion did observe, they should have inquired more narrowly into the past mis- carriage, which would have fallen heavy upon some of the late churchwardens, but that an honourable person had interceded for them. This was the occasion which first engaged me in inquiries and searches after papers and records, which might any way relate to my church and parish. When I had once began to be thus inquisitive, the slow discoveries which I gradually made did not so much satisfy my mind, as they did incite it to more impatient desires. So that diverting from my ordinary course of studies, I fell to search for private papers and public evidences, to examine chartularies and other manuscripts, and by degrees to run over all printed volumes, which I thought might afford any manner of knowledge of this parish, and the adjacent parts of the country. Had I proposed the antiquities of this whole county, I should perhaps have sooner gathered up sufficient materials for it. But con- fining myself to such a narrow circuit, I often read much to very little purpose. And when I applied myself to those courts of record, where I thought such re- mains were most likely to be found, I felt the exaction for searching and tran- scribing to be so great, and perceived the notes to be so imperfect, that I be- gan to want ability and courage to go on. At least I became sensible, that un- dertakings of this nature should be encouraged and supported by several hands, as the cause of a community should be managed by a public fund. And I well know, those gentlemen whose seats or estates lay within the compass of my design, would have readily contributed to any just proposals made to them. But 1 thought it somewhat more suitable to my profession and my temper, if I could thus serve the country without wages ; and therefore (except the volun- tary kindness of my patron) I never asked or received any other gratuity, than the pleasure of doing good for its own sake. Tiiis was my design. VOL. I. c xiv THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. As to the method, I proposed to make it as obvious and regular, as such disjointed matter would allow. Where I wanted authorities, I resolved my conjectures should be short and modest. Therefore I passed hastily over the unknown state of these parts under the primitive Britains ; but looked more narrowly for sonic footsteps of" the Romans ; and perhaps have made some dis- coveries of their marches, their garrisons, coins, ways, and customs ; which may give diversion to the English reader; and may afford some light to the sense of Greek and Latin writers. I went on to the invasion of the Saxons, and to their times of disorder and confusion; where I think I have done jus- tice to the memory of some forgotten places ; have better settled the bounds of the Mercian and West-Saxon kingdoms ; have fixed the session of certain councils and synods of that age ; and have reconciled some accounts of time, which our authors had confounded and mistaken. I went through all the re- volutions of Danes and Saxons with the same regard to curiosity and truth ; and seem to have hit upon several things, which had escaped the observation of common writers. When I came to the Norman Conquest, I found the subject matter more copi- ous, and the authorities more express ; and therefore thought it convenient to proceed by way of aimals, that I might keep to the exact periods of life and ac- tion, which are the soul of history, and the criterion of all truth. In this part of the performance, I have endeavoured to be very accurate in the descent of families, and the conveyance of estates. I have corrected a great many tradi- tional errors, and have gathered up considerable materials, when any diligent and judicious person shall undertake to improve the history of the Baronage of England. I have traced many temporary usages and local customs, many feudal services and particular tenures, many other ancient rites and manners, not unserviceable to those gentlemen, who would know the reason and original of what they are to call the common law. I have been more especially curious in transmitting all those charters and authentic deeds, which were pertinent to my subject, and lay dispersed in ob- scure and distant places ; and have thereby preserved some thousands of charts and muniments, which arc ready for the hands of those, who shall collect and publish some other volumes of a Monasticon Anglicanum, a work that above any other will illustrate and adorn the antiquities of this church and nation. And further, as occasion offered, I have made some digressions into the search of a few particular subjects, as consecration to religious uses, appropriation of THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. xv tithes, institution of churches, dependance of chapels, office of rural deans, and such like : arguments, wherein I was most desirous to satisfy myself, and to inform the world. When I liad brought down the series of affairs to the end of the reign of Hen. VI. I found the volume growing incapable to hold the remaining matter, unless I had contracted it into a compass too narrow for the projected design. So that I broke off at the year 146o, but have carefiilly preserved all the other memoirs, and shall endeavour to adjust them in such a method, as that I may hereafter give them to the public in a second part ; or rather may leave them to my successor in the church of Ambrosden, to whom I shall desire my exe- cutors to deliver all such papers and materials as I leave collected for that purpose. There was one manuscript communicated to me by my very worthy friend Mr. Blackwell, B. D. which (though of modem age and no great authority) immediately relating to these parts, I thought good, with consent of the owner, to join as an Appendix to this work, under the title of " The History of AU- chester, near Bircester, in Oxfordshire," &c. wrote in the year l622. While I was running over the sheets from the press, I met with a great many terms and phrases, which would create trouble to a curious reader, and, if unexplained, would leave several writs and deeds obscure and useless. To obviate this danger, I made an alphabet of those obsolete words and forms of speech, to shew in short the sense and application of them ; wherein, by point- ing at the original of our English tongue, with the several innovations and cor- ruptions in it, and giving new light to some ancient customs, laws, and man- ners, I have left matter to be applied by some more able pen to the noble uses of improving the excellent Glossary of Sir Henry Spelman, which would be a work of infinite service, and of equal honour to this nation. A new edi- tion might be made more copious and exact from some of the author's own manuscripts, from some volumes since published, and fi-om many records since recovered from dust and darkness. It is a labour that requires an expert, in- dustrious, patient hand. I wish I might recommend it to the leisure of my sin- gular friend Mr. Edmund Gibson, a master of those studies, and of much other useful knowledge. Some persons may imagine, that tiic large Latin Glossary of Du Fresne is so comprehensive of all antiquated words and j)hrases, as to supersede any additions and improvements to the arehicology of Spelman : but with all deference to the indefatigable pains and great fidelity of that noble lord, I dare affirm, that in all the old terms which were of more peculiar use in c 2 xvi THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. this island, he has barely transcribed, or, what is worse, abridged the explica- tions of Spclman. It is excuse enough, that he was a foreigner ; for indeed, none but a native can perfectly understand the idioms of any tongue, or the customs of any country. Therefore the elder Vossius wisely declared, Satius esse edi glonsaria ub unoquoque gentis suce, scriptorc^ quia is facitiiis ccrtius- que, quid e sua nationis genio proficiscahcr, perspiciet. (Prsefat. ad lib. de vitiis Sermon.) And the learned Du Fresne, after his immense labour, confessed, Optandum esse ut in singulis nutionibus prodeant riri docti, qui lingua; suet idiomata, vim eorum, notionem, origincs, scd et desuelas, el pridem obsoletas voces ad utnussiin iuvestigcnt explicentque. (Praefat. ad Gloss. Lat. p. xx.) And indeed there is no greater argument, why the Antiquities of England should be more and more illustrated than this ; to correct the mistakes, and reconcile the contradictions of foreign writers. Why should Pabebrochius con- jecture, we had no charters, or other written instruments of conveyance in the time of Bcde ? When Bede himself does mention the hereditary right of mo- nasteries to some territories by royal edicts, and privileges of the religious, confirmed by the subscription of bishops, abbots, and secular powers. Why should Du Fresne assert, that after the Norman Conquest there were no deeds of donation by kings or private subjects in the Saxon idiom ; but all in the French, or in the Latin tongue and letter ? When for three or four reigns after the Conquest, there be found several charters and other public acts in the Saxon character and language. Why should the French editors of Eadmer stumble upon Balaum ejusque exscriptorem. Lelandtim ? When nothing is more ridiculous than to make Leland the transcriber of Bale : they might as well have made Bale the transcriber of Pits. Why should Picard, in his late anno- tations upon Anselm, betray his own ignorance, and leave his author under the censure of mistake? Anselm in one of his Epistles, (1. 3. Ep. 90.) being then at Lyons, in his return from Rome, anno 1105, excused himself for not com- ing into England, because he could not attend at court, and crown the king before his submission to the pope. The annotator wonders at this expression, and takes pains to prove, that the king had been solemnly crowned five years before. Whereas if he had known any thing of the English court, he must needs have known the custom of that age, open court and common councils held at the three principal festivals, Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide : when it was one ceremony to have the crown put upon the king's head by the arch- bishop of Canterbury. It were endless to recount the absurd and gross errors committed in the relation of English aft'airs by those authors, who meddle with THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. xvii a province not their own. I only point at these few, to shew the necessity of having all our antiquity and history explained and improved by scholars of our own nation, and not betray our land to the evil and false report of strangers. And truly I cannot but congratulate the present age, that a genius to our national antiquities seems now to invigorate a great many lovers of their coun- try, from wliose attempts and advances in this kind of knowledge the world may expect much public service. Particularly from my industrious and judi- cious friend Mr. Thomas Tanner, who may do great honour to his native county of Wilts, when he has perfected the great and good design of publish- ing and improving that too long concealed treasure. Opus Juhannis Lelandi de Scriptoribus Britannicis. Any writer without the countenance of friends, is like a poet without a pa- tron, cold and heavy. But antiquities expose the lovers of them to so much labour and expence, that they, above all other studies, do want a support and reward from men of wealth and honour. And indeed they have met of late with some favour and encouragement, to help to bear their fatigue, and to ex- cite their progress. In Oxford, they have been especially promoted by the Rev. Dr. Charlett, Master of University College, to whom this work and the author of it are verj-^ much obliged. I am sensible there be some who slight and despise this sort of learning, and represent it to be a dry, barren, monkish study. I leave such to their dear enjoy- ments of ignorance and ease. But I dare assure any wise and sober man, that historical antiquities, especially a search into the notices of our own nation, do deserve and will reward the pains of any English student ; will make him under- stand the state of former ages, the constitution of governments, the fundamen- tal reasons of equity and law, the rise and succession of doctrines and opinions, the original of ancient, and the composition of modern tongues, the tenures of property, the maxims of policy, the rites of religion, the characters of virtue and vice, and indeed the nature of mankind. I wish the excellent parts of many other writers were not spent upon more frivolous arguments, where by subtleties, and cavils, and controverting quibbles, they servo onlv to weaken Christianity, and (what otherwise were pardonable) to expose one another. PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES ATTEMPTED IN THE HISTORY OF AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, AND OTHER ADJACENT VILLAGES IN THE COUNTIES OF OXFORD AND BUCKS. 1 HE subject and the times, which I am first to deal with, are ob- scure ; but my endeavours shall be, not to represent them fabulous. National antiquities are deeply buried ; but parochial are sunk far- ther into the most remote oblivion. The most diligent enquirer might break off with the same complaint, which the wise Gildas made, in prefacing his zealous epistle, that if any written memoirs luerc ever left, they have been burnt at home, or carried away into foreign lands '. Yet I consider, that in all searches for the rise and original of things, there is room for conjecture, before there is allowance for matter of fact. Therefore I shall step back, and guess at some things, which I do not pretend to assert. From the date of the Contjuest I know my authorities to be very good, and shall from that time digest the whole story into exact annals. But " Historia Gildte, sect. 2. edit. Gale. VOL. I. B 2 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. till then, I shall loosely discourse in general of these parts, through the great epochs of this nation, the time of the Britains, the Romans, the Saxons, the Danes, and the Saxons restored. CHAP. I. BRITAINS. • 1 PROFESS not to determine, whether, among these our true an- cestors, the site of these parishes had an}' inhabitants, nuich less the names of places, which it now retains. Possibly these parts had not the honour of ruined Troy, of being converted into corn fields; but lay in primitive nature, an uncultivated desert. Whether any hidigence kept always here in the navel of the land, as Cesar reports their pretences'", or whether no mansion till foreigners arrived; and those, whether Scythse, or Celtae, Germans, Gauls, or Spaniards, the three nations from which Tacitus " thought us derived, according to the nigher position of our coasts to those countries, are beyond all knowledge to resolve. This only is agreed, that those people, which Dio called Bodunni, and the Romans Dobuni, dwelt within the tract, that now makes up rao*st part of this county, and that of Glocester : and the circuit of these north-east parts was called Do- buni Dofu*", from the fat and fertile soil. In the declining part at least of this dark age, there were at no great distance some British towns, that must occasion this adjacent country to be the better inhabited. From the account which Cesar'' and Strabo^give, some look upon all British cities preceding the Roman invasion, to have been rather necessitous and moving stations, than any fixed archi- tecture of walls and houses. But however rude their military en- bDe Bell. Gall. I. 5. <; Tacitus Vit. Agric. sect. 11. •! Hist. Alcester MS. « Caesar de Bell. Gall. 1. 5. f Strabo Geog. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 3 campments were, it is probable their more public resort and abode was in places of artificial, though less regular strength and beauty. For even Cesar allows them the same way of building with the Gauls 5. Why should not the twenty-eight British cities mentioned by Gildas, and enumerated by Nennius, and their number increased by Huntingdon, &c. have their foundation in the pure British age, though their improvement might be owing to the Roman arts? If such immense ruins are now visible, which the most learned do be- lieve the remains of heathen British Temples; how can we tliink them ignorant in their own accommodations, when they were so pompous in providing for their gods ? Among such original British Cairs, there was Cair-Draithon, which Huntingdon makes Cair- Draiton, which I dvust not ascribe to either of those two parishes in this comity, which still retain that name, though no anticjuaries can find better where to place it. But the Cair-Dauri of Hunting- don, which Alfred of Beverley calls Cair-Dorim, and Beda, Civitas Dorcinia, is by all interpreted Dorchester, the city of waters, in Leland's word Hydro])olis. Cair-Gretholin, Grethlin, or Wethe- ling, which Hum. Lhuyd assigns to Warwick, might perhaps be more aptly fixed at Watlington in this county, which, without con- sidering the affinity of name, did seem to a late diligent surveyor to have been an old British city''. Henley is likewise taken for a most ancient British town, from Hen old and Lhey a place, which Camden ' and Dr. Plot '' suppose to be the head town of the people called Ancalites, who submitted to Cesar. The fortifications on Long-Witcnham hill are by Leland ' thought to be the marks of the British Sinnodunum. Not to recount the disputes of the antiquity of Oxford, whether Cair-Mempric and Cair-Vortegern be mtjukish fancies, whether the Iren of Gildas his studies be mistaken for Ichen or Rnyd-Ychen, the pretended ancient Tiame of this place; whether this and more be truth or pretence, let men of leisure satisfy them- g De Bell. Gal. 1. ">. h Dr. Plot. Nat. Hist. Oxford, ch. 10. ' Britau. Dobuni. ^ Nat. Hist. Oxf. ch. 10. ' Ltl. Cygnea cantio. B 2 4 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. selves from copioiis authors "". It is enough at present to infer, that long before the visit of the Romans, these parts were known and peoi)led, which may pass into the more easy conjecture, if we reflect on the pieces of money dug up at Wood -Eaton, 1676 ; one of which had CUNO on the one side, and on the reverse CAMU, denoting it to be coined by Cunobelin, a king in Britain, under the reign of Augustus at Camulodunum, now Maldon in Essex". There was another dug up at Little-Milton, presumed to be the coin of Pra- sutagus, king of the Iceni ". Nor is it so probable, these coins were dropt in after ages, as nearer to the time of their stamp, when cur- rent among the British inhabitants, populous in these parts. But I hasten to be relieved from the dangers of ignorance and error. CHAP. II. ROMANS. VyESAR, in his first expedition upon this island, was no doubt con- fined to the eastern parts of Kent. And in his second descent, he is generally supposed to have made no great progress, because his own Itinerary describes no far advancing marches, and because Dio, Tacitus, Lucan, Horace, &c. reflect upon this as an imperfect at- tempt. Hence Camden Avas the first of our writers who dared to bring Cesar as far as Cowa3'-stakes, nigh Oatlands in Surry, where the Roman army passed the Thames ••. But without the vanity of assuming honour to these parts, I think it next to certain that Cesar came in to the limits of this county, and brought his forces cross the Thames at Walingford. The author who confirms me in this opi- nion is the judicious Mr. Somner'', who suggests to me several of "1 Selden on tlie 11th Song of Drayton's Polyolb. Stillingfleet Orig. Britan. Hist, et Antiq. Oxon. Nat. Hist, of Oxfordshire, &c. " Plot. ib. " lb. P Camden Britann. in Atrebat. 1 Saxon Diction, in voce Walingford. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 5 those arguments, which I would briefly deliver. First, Comius the Atrebatian was sent over by Cesar to dispose the Britains to subjec- tion, as a man of great authority among them, whose interest must lie chiefly aniong those Britains, who were in effect his own country- men, Avho inhabited that part of the island, which is now called Barkshire : which Comius at his first arrival was imprisoned by the Britains, but on Cesar's first victory was released, and, upon retreat of the Romans, was left behind as an agent of Cesar, when he spent his time no doubt among his old friends the Atrebatii, and might in- form Cesar that he had prepared him an easy reception in those parts. In the next summer's expedition, this encovu'aged Cesar to march higher into the country, where the interest of Comius might facilitate his conquests : this might bring him to the Atrebatii in Berks, and to one of their chief stations in Walingford, which is nuich the more probable, because after this passage over the Thames, king Cassibelan sent this Comius as a mediator to Cesar, which was the more proper, if the conqueror was in those parts, for which the ambassador was most concerned. Secondly, after Ce- sar had crossed the Thames, the people who submitted themselves do seem to prove, that his presence and his conquests extended hi- ther. For upon the yielding of the Trinobantcs or men of Middle- sex, they were the inhabitants about this middle of the land, who followed their example : among them the Bibroci in the hundred of Bray, com. Berks .- the Segontiaci, who had their Cair-Segont, now Silccster, in Hampshire : and the Aucalites, who were the next neighbours to Walingford on the other side of the river, and had their head town at Henly in this county. Thirdly, this tradition of Cesar's coming over at Walingford was current in the time of king Alfred, who, giving a Saxon interpretation of the history of Orosius, makes this express comment on Cesar's wars in Britain, that his third battle was hi) the river Thames, nigh a shal/nw caUed Jf ailing ford\ Which authority of so ancient a native writer ought to weigh much ' Alfred! interpret. Oros. 1. fj. c. f). 6 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. with English antiquaries. Fourthly, though Cesar did intend and did possibly attempt a passage at that place, where the Coway Stakes were by the Britains pitched down on the bank, and at the bottom of the river : yet the Romans could not ford it over at this place, because of the stratagem which galled their foot, and made them retreat to find out a more passable part of the river, as is plain from Orosius, who is herein followed by the venerable Bede, who, sj)eak- ing of those stakes, observes, that the Romans, when they found them, were forced to avoid them, &c. So as, declining this dilli- culty, they might well march higher up the river, and cross it at or near Walingford, and on the other side encountered the forces of Cassibelan, and put them to flight. Fifthly, Gulielmus Pictaviensis was informed of this tradition, who, writing the acts of his patron William the Conqueror, draws the parallel between him and Cesar, and endeavouring to shew how much greater success attended the Duke, than ever waited on the Roman general, he gives this in- stance, When Cesar came to the river Thames to force a passage into the dominion of Cassibelan, his enemies opposed him on the other side, so as the Roman soldiers passed over tvith loss and danger. But when the Norman Duke came into the same country, the princes and the people came there to meet him, and his forces had a free and open passage cross the river \ Which must allude to the town of Walingford; for there it was that Stigand archbishop and other grandees made their application to him, and there he ])assed the Thames, came to Oxford, took his road to Berkamsted, and thence to London '. Farther, the very name of this town is no light argu - ment of this matter ; for Antonine calls it Calleva, and from Ptolomy it is rendered Callena ; Camden restores it Gallena, and from Hum. Lhuyd would have it a British name, Gual-Hen, Vallum Antiquiun. Yet I see no reason why it may not be supposed a Roman appel- lation, or at least by the Britains imposed in memory of the Gauls here passing the Thames, and defeating the forces of Cassibelan : s Gesta Ducis Norman, p. 210. « lb. 235. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 7 especially when the Saxons changed the name into Duallenjapopb and pallenjapopb ; their addition oi ford implying it to have been a fordablc passage cross the stream. Why may not Walingford be Gallorum transitiis, as well as the ancient Nant-Gallum, the Saxon Walbroke, be so called from the jjassage and defeat of Levins Gal- Ins, colleague of Alectus, an. 294". Lastly, the eminence of this place during the government of the Romans in this isle may add weight to the former reasons. It is not unlikely that Comius of Ar- ras or Artois, before his mission by Cesar, had been king of the At- rebatii in Britain, and had his j)rincipal city upon this bank of the Thames, called Gallena Atrebatium, the metropolis of those people. For the Britains seizing and imprisoning him at first arrival seems too great a rudeness even for barbarous people to have been guilty of, if they had not looked upon him as a deserter, rather than a legate. Or, however, if he did not bear that precedent relation to our British Atrebatii, yet having been made king of the Atrebates in Gaul, during his service in those wars, it is likely he applied himself to the same people in this island ; and by their information and assistance might conduct Cesar, through their country, to the most passable part of the Thames. And if he were not their original prince, yet, upon this conquest, he was appointed their king by Cesar : which is evident by two several coins found in these parts, and represented by Camden ^, one of gold, that exhibits on the one side a horseman arn)ed, and inscribed REX ; on the reverse, COM. which that author interprets COMIUS king of the Atrebatii: the other of silver with a crescent and this inscrijition, REX CALLE; and on the reverse a vulture or other bird. He conjectures that CALLE might allude to the city Callena or Gallena, Walingford ; and the accurate Mr. Burton refers REX to Comius king of the Alrebatii \ It was certainly a place of great figure and resort, while the Roman arms prevailed, and is mentioned at least four " Mat. West. p. 123. " Camden Britan. inter numismata. >' Burton Com- ment, on Anton. Itinerary, p. 225. 8 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. times in the Itinerary of Antoninus as a public station : and Cam- den, uj)on frequent view of the place, does impute the remains of fortification to the labour of the Romans ^ These several conjec- tures n)ay arise to as much j)roof, as any matter of fact not expressly recorded is capable of, at so great a distance of time. Let all abound in their own sense : I am myself satisfied by these reasons, that Walingford was the place where Cesar crossed the Thames, and came into the borders at least of this county ; on which I would not have insisted, if any of our antiquaries had before aj)plied themselves to the resolution of it. Having thus advanced the opinion of Cesar's access to this coun- ty, I shall now keep to these north-east parts, the confines of my in- tended subject. And here, since the plainest tokens of the abode and dominion of the Romans were either forts and garrisons esta- blished by them, or coins reposited, or highways made, or customs remaining; it is easy to discover all these marks of Roman anti- quity, and thence to infer, that these adjacent parts were full of men and action, under those masters of the world. CHAP. III. ROMAN GARRISONS. 1 HE next Roman expedition into Britain was under the com- mand of Aulus Plautius, sent hither by the emperor Claudius, about the forty-fourth year from our Saviour's birth. His first victory over Cataratacus and Togodumnus, sons of Cunobelin, was in these parts, as appears from the consequence of it : for, upon the flight of these British princes, that part of the Bodunni or Dobuni, who were subject to the Catuellani, submitted to the conquerors, and re- ^Britan. Atrebatii. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 9 ceived garrisons to secure their fidelity ''. These Bodunni were the people of Glocester and Oxfordshires, thought to be so called from the British Bodu or Bodun, deep, (from whence possibly Bodicott, of a deep situation in this county,) as by other authors called Do- buni, from the like British word. Dwfn now signifies deep in the Welch tongue. The Catuellani were the inhabitants of Bucking- ham, Bedford, and Hertfordshires. So as the Bodunni, which, be- cause nearest to the Catuellani, were in subjection to them, nmst be the people of the north-east parts of this county, adjoining to that of Bucks. This is the more apparent from the progress of the Ro- mans : for, after their leaving a garrison to awe the Bodunni, they marched toward a river, on the other side of which the Britains were encamped, supposing the enemy could not pass the waters to them : but Plautius sending over the Germans, who were used to rapid streams, surprised the Britains, wounded their chariot-horses, and put them 'to a disordered flight. This action seems to have been on these banks of the river Ous, at or near Buckingham, it being plain that Plautius had pursued the Britains hither eastward, and after this defeat, and a second unsuccessful rally, they still retired to the more eastern parts, till they came toward the mouth of the river Thames. After another victory over the Britains, and the death of Togodunmus, Plautius thought fit to pursue a flying enemy no farther, but invited the eniperor to come himself, and reap the glories of a triumph, having first placed sufficient garrisons in those places, which he had already subdued ; some of which garrisons must be fixed here in the north-east borders of the Bodunni, and the adjacent parts of the Catuellani. By long ages and the silence of historians, places are as much subject to death, as the men who resided in them. I ought not to guess where these garrisons were fixed without some authority, or fair presumption for it. The injustice is as great to set up new, as to remove the ancient landmarks. Cirencester, on the edge of Glo- » Dio. b. 60. f. 677. VOL. 1. ■ . % c 10 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. cestershirc, seems to have been as well the first as the greatest of the Roman stations, which the Britains had before made a place of strength and confluence. This Corinivim is by Ptolomy recorded as the metropolis or chief city of the Dobuni '', and was after called Co- riniuni Dobunorum''. But the presumption is very fair, that an- other of these garrisons of Plautius was at Alcester, adjoining to Ambrosden, lying as the frontier of the Bodimi and Catuellani, and from whence the army of Plautius might agreeably pursue the Bri- tains to Buckingham, or the adjacent banks of the Ouse. Of this station that still retains the name of Alchester, Camden was content to observe this only, that the name did denote the antiquity of it, the Saxons having called it Gabceaj-rep, because, before their arrival, it had been an ancient military station. But others have since thought, there is some reason and some authority to attribute this garrison to the Roman AUectus, supposing it Allecti Castrum. An opinion ingeniously delivered, and with much shew of thith, by a modern author, in a short discourse, an. 1622, which begins with this account of the antiquity of that place ''. Alchester, All-cair, or Cair-allect, was a zuallcd town, that stood in the north-east part of Oxfordshire, part of that country, tvhich, before the division of shires, ivas called Dobuni Dofu, because of the deepness and fatness thereof: huilt, as may be collected, from many probabilities, (^besides the frst syllable of his name) by Caius AUectus, one of the thirty tyrants, who, by slaying his dear friend and emperor Carausius, obtained the sole government of Britain. AUectus usurping the title of Emperor, as may appear by his brass money still extant, for his better defence as well against Carausius whilst he lived, as also against Constantine then coming in, had built and fortified the walled town of All-chester in the heart of the land, that if he were put to the worst at the sea^ side, yet lie might have tvhere to reinforce himself in the main land, b Ptol. Geog. 1. 8. c. 2. c Raven Geog. Par. 1688. d The History of All-chester, near Bircester in Oxfordshire, with such other occurrents as are conti- guous and appendant to the same. Ad Franciscum Crane Equitem Auratum Aulicum. MS. 4to. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 11 and having advertisement of Constantius his coming near at hand by sea, hastened to the south-seas, near the Isle of flight, to intercept his landing, leaving the first syllable of his name in Allsford, AUington, Ailing ham, for his icay and passage as well as in All-chester for his residence. But Constantius having gained the benefit of a niisty foggy time, landed his men, put them in good order, and, like a valiant reso- lute captain, burnt up his ships, that neither the enemy might be strengthened by his vessels, nor his vassals have any hopes to save themselves by flight ; and so, before Allcctus had any certain intelli- gence tvhere he was, gave Allectus, that ambitious bloody tyrant, a set battle by the sea-side, and put him to a shameful flight , whom Ascle- piodotus slew shortly after ; but tvhere, except it were at a plain called Allesfield, now Ellsfield, between All-chester and the city of Oxford, which Cometh near to his name, and importeth a battle fought, 1 can- not nor will not determine. In the forefront of All-chester, Allectus. for his better defence, built a sconce or tvatch-tower, the ruins or rud- ders whereof still appear in a plat of meadow ground, notv the soil of Thomas Moyle, Esq. but formerly of a knight of the name of Maund ; where in our days has been digged up much Roman money, brick and file, and pavement of curious and wrought tile, of the bigness of six- pence, being delicately laid there. Before it, tvas some inward hollotv place tvhich the Romans called Tyslanicum ; the country people call it still very properly Rully or Rulla, yet without any knoivledge oftvhat it meaneth. For Rulla is a diminutive of Runa, tvhich cometh of Ruo to rush ; that as Aries was a kind of engine to batter doivn tvalls withal : so also the engine Rulla tvas broad-headed like a plough-staff, tvhich thereupon is called Rullum, and seemed to beat off the enemies from the tvalls thereof. The engine, therein kept, giving name to the tower. The ground tvhere Allchester stood tvas neither too fat to make it foul, nor too lean to make it barren, but reasonably fertile, tvell- ■meadoivcd about it, and ivashed tvith a stveet little current of tvater, that fioiveth out of two little heads arising some three or four miles off. For Allchester there is not one stone left upon another ; tvhal hap- pened to Troy, happened to it. As it stood in Plough-hundred, so is c 2 12 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. it all ploughed over, and corn doth grotv where it stood, as in this rhyme : In Oxfordshire, by Graven-hill wood, Stood Allchester, so fair and good ; Allectus walls are brought full low, Where once they stood now corn doth grow. Allectus sletv his emperor and friend Carausius, not by secret prac- tices, but by open battle at a place some two miles distant from the walls of Allchester, called after his name; and the field fought there Carausfield, now Cavers-field. The entrenched sconce of Carausius his camp where it lay, still appears in the plain upon Bayards-green. What this writer can mean by the word Tyslanicum I apprehend not, nor can I be informed. All I can say is this, in transcribing quotations we must keep to the very words, though wc do not un- derstand them. This relation is credible, though by the defect of histories there is no authority, but inference and conjecture. The story of Carausius and Allectus in short is this. The guard of our sea-coasts from the infestation of northern pirates was by the Romans committed to a standing admiral, under the title of Conies Littoris Saxonici per Bti- tanniam. He was guardian or warden of the ports ; and the dispo- sition of garrisons under this officer has given great assistance to the ancient topography of this isle*'. Which command, about the third year of Dioclesian, was, on petition of Carausius a native of Britain or Ireland, given to him. Who took this opportunity of insinuat- ing to his countrymen, that if they would receive him for their king, he would expel their foreign masters, and restore their native liberty. Upon this prospect he was admitted to the government of this isle, and renounced all tribute and subjection to the Roman state : who, resenting this defection, sent over Basianus ; but Carausius, by as- sistance of the Scots and Picts, killed him, and defeated his forces ^i ' Notitia dignitatum Imperii, &c. drawn up in the reign of Theodosius, jun. or in that of Areadius and Honorius. f Joh. Fordun Scot. Hist. 1. 2. c. 39. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 13 maintaining his supreme power for seven years, when, about the year 292, he was slain by Allectus ; and though many historians hint at this as a private and treacherous murder, yet is it more likely, as the author of the MS. conjectures, that it was by a decisive battle. For even one of our best historians does represent Allectus delegated by the Ron)an senate, and coming over hither with an army, and suc- ceeding Carausius, slain in open fight s; this British histories attest"'. From which action, Caversfield, sometime Carausfield, nowcorniptly Casefield, might be as well denominated, as the river Carun from the same person'; on the banks whereof Carausius, in repairing the wall of Severus, built a round house, of which the relics are now said to be known by the name of Arthur's oven, and Julius HofF. Allectus, after three years reign, was conquered and slain by Ascle- [)iodotus, an. 294, or 295. Nor do Allchester and Ellsfield only bear allusion to his name, but his coins or medals, which in other parts are very rare, have been so often found in this part of the country, that it is an argument he had here his frequent marches, if not his fixed stations. Before I pass from the presumed original which this unknown au- thor gives to Allcester, I ought to inform posterity, that this MS. * is now in the custody of my worthy friend Mr. Samuel Blackwell, B. D. late Vicar of Burcester, and now Rector of Brampton in the county of Northampton. It had been in the hands of Dr. Plot, before he published his Natural History of this county. / have met (says he) icith some notes in a MS. now hy me, that says, it was the seat of Al- lectus the Emperor. Allectus was slain (^as this author will have it^ at Ellsfield near 0.von. For the credit of this relation, it having no foundation in the Roman story, I shall leave it to the reader's Judg- iiicitt. Yet I shall add thus much for its reputation, that the Roman military ivays arc very agreeable to it ''. * Tliis MS. was by Mr. Blackwell given to me, and is now in my custody. .\pr. :.'5, 17-0. B Mat. West. sub. an. 292. h Holinshead, 1. 1. c. IS. ' Nennii Hist. Brit, cap. 19. k Nat. Hist. Oxf. cli. 10. 14 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. CHAP. IV. ROMAN COINS. Another obvious proof of places frequented by the Romans, i» the digging up, or casually tinding, medals and other relics of that age and nation. For wherever those victorious lords did spread themselves, they must either by design or accident leave those marks behind them, so as it has been justly made an argument for the negative, to disprove any part inhabited by the Romans, if none of their antiquities could be there found. Thus the vast woody tract called by the Britains Cord-Andred, beginning in Kent and running through Sussex into Hampshire, secured all that large extent from being visited by the Romans : and therefore Mr. Lambert observes, that no monuments of antiquity are to be met with in the weald of Kent or Sussex'. The same reflection may be made upon our Chiltern-hills, upon our Bernwood forest, and upon all those parts of England, which were of old uncultivated woods and deserts. But all along their own high ways and open stations, they left much greater quantities of this hidden treasure than has been ever yet dis- covered : for it was not only accidentally dropped, but industriously secured before they fought, and when at last they deserted the island, they buried their money in hopes of an opportunity to return and raise it up. Of these remains, Leland mentions very many Roman coins found at Dorchester "". Dr. Plot reports, that about fourteen years before his writing the Natural History of this county, there were several Roman urns and coins took up in Drunshill, formerly a part of the forest of Stow-wood ". And among other places, where the like curiosities are found, he mentions these neighbouring parishes. 1 Peramb. of Kent, p. 211. "> j. Lcl. Itin. Burton Copy, MS. p. 5?. " Plot's Nat. Hist, of Oxf. cap. 13. p. 313. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 15 Stratton-Audley, Fringford, and Tusmore. But there is no one part of this county, wherein such abundance of this treasure has been found, as in the adjoining site of Allcester, of which many instances are given in the Manuscript History of that place. In the year of grace 1616, an earthen pot full of brass money, hearing the stamp, name, and picture, some of Carausius, some of Allectus, was found under the root of a tree in Steeple-Claydon parish, by the great pond there, in the woods of the worthy knight. Sir Thomas Chaloner, Cham- berlain to the hopeful beam of Great Britain, Prince Henry, tvhile he lived : which may seem instead of many authors to give credit to my history. For it seemeth to be hid there, what time they luent to the field there hard by ; and the hiders being either put to the flight or killed, it so continued till it was found by Sir Thomas his woodward IViUiam Richardson. Sir Thomas Chaloner taking me the coin to be informed of the inscription what it meant, I found that the one coin had this inscription on the right side, IMP. CARAUS. P.F. AUG. tvhich I interpret thus, Imperator Carausius Pius Felix Augustus. And the other coin had IMP. C. ALLECT. P. F. AUG. which I liketvise thus interpret, Imperator Cains Allectus Pius Felix Augus- tus : both Emperors' pictures being on the right side coronated lau- reate, and on the other side both coins had the picture of Pallas, with an olive leaf in her right hand, reaching it out in token of peace offered : and a spear in her left hand, that if peace tvere refused, then tears should ensue : and has in hieroglyphical manner on the same side (f the coin, importing each Emperor s name in his own coin. In the midst of that ploughed field, Jllchester, tvhich still retaineth that name, though the city be gone, one Fynmore, a husbandman of Jfendlebury, ploughing very deep, lighted npon a rough round stone, which being dii{i>('d out tvas found to be hollowed within, and seamed and cemented together, and being opened, there was nothing found there but a green glass of some three quarters full of ashes, close stopped np trith lead over the mouth, which tvarranted it to be the urna or /lurnf ashes of .some great man, most like Carausius slain hard by. One George Maund., (f Chesterton aforesaid, took me a piece of money there founds l6 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. (i. e. in flic Jicid where AUchester stood, ^ bearing the picture and name of Consfantinc, ivho was second from Allectus, on the right side thereof was this inscription, CONSTANTIUS AUGUSTUS, and on the other side the portraiture of a castle, the sun and stars in chief about, and some tivrd by the side of the castle ; in my judgment it was GALLITAS ; it is the arms at this day of the castle of Walingford. Most likely the inscription was GALL ITAS, for G ALLEN A CIVITAS, the city of Walingford. For nummary authors observe, that a castle or walled city was the portraiture of a Roman colony or garrison : and what comes nearest to this stamp, there is a coin of Constantius bearing a castle with a star and crescent, which is made to be the insignia of Byzantium °. Another piece of brass money hearing the name and stamp of DOMICIAN AUG. GERMAN. was found in AUchester by the same gentleman at the same time, which, together with a piece of the mouth of the glass, wherein the urna or burnt ashes ivere hept, he sent me this year, 1622. In the plain plat of meadow ground adjoining to AUchester in our days have been digged vp much Homan money, brick and tile, atid pavement of cu- rious wrought tile of the bigness of sixpence, being delicately laid there. Thus far the writer of that MS. The pavement last mentioned does argue this place to have been the tent or station of Allectus, or some other supreme general. Dr. PlotP speaks of this pavement (un- der the character of tlie most eminent of Roman antiquities^ made of small bricks or tiles not much bigger than dice, with which they paved the place, tvhere they set the prcetorium or general's tent, as Sueto- 7iius'^ mentions of Julius Cesar. If oj' small square marbles, they icere called lithostrata ; if of bricks or tiles, pavimenta tessellata, or opus musivum. Of both sorts he found several ploughed up about Great- Tew, Steeple-Aston, &c. in this coimty ; and concludes, they must argue some Roman generals did here encamp, either in time of' Agri- cola, Lieutenant oj' Vespasian, or at least of Paulinus that defeated o Numismata Ducis Croy Tab. 66. xix. edit. Ant. 1654. P Nat. Hist, of Oxford, cli. 10. 1 Jul. Caes. c. 46. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 17 Boadicea. Some of these pretty curiosities are by that worthy col- lector of them reposited in the Musae. Ashmol. Lelaiid reports that King Edward the First, in the eighth year of his reign, brought out of France some porphyry marble, with which he adorned the sepul- chre of his father at Westminster : and from the broken pieces of it were made a tesselaled pavement in the same place ^ Dr. Plot speaks of several earthen pots found in these parts, some for the use of urns, some of lamps, some of lacrymatories, and others for vessels of oil and aromatic liquors. And what is of more imme- tliate concern, he relates, that in the parish of Wendlebiiry a great square stone holloived round in the middle, dug np in or near the old city of Allchcster, in which there was set a glass bottle fitted to if, containing nothing but somewhat like ashes, and covered over above ivith another flat pot. This urn he saw at a house in the town, where it was vised for a hog-trough, but the glass had been broken long before, nor could he get any certain description of it. This area or site of AUchester has been for many ages an arable part of the common field of Wendlebury : so as the teeth of time and. of the plough may be thought to have consumed all the Roman relics : yet by walking over the ground, I find it easy to collect many fragments of brick, tile, urns, vessels, and other materials, all of Roman make, and enough to distinguish this from any adjacent soil. Great variety and plenty of Roman money, of such especially as is dated from the decline of that empire, has been within few years gathered and chspersed. The largest collection is said to have been in the hands of Mr. Lee, the proprietor of Bigncl farm in the parish of Burcester; who, in his voyage from the West-Indies, was carried prisoner into France, and died in that kingdom. The late Rector of Wendlcbmy, Mr. Bond, was by his parishioners furnished with a considerable number of them. And within a few years wherein I have applied myself to some inquiry, I have bought up more than one hundred several pieces, most of which have been ' J. Lei. MS. Collect, torn. 1. p. 365. VOL, I. D 1« PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. found by the children of Wcndlebury in following the plough, or by turning the clods of earth. They call them AUcester-coin, and are proud of receiving more passable money for them. The most re- markable of those in my custody shall be represented in a table. There be footsteps still remaining of this garrison at Allcester, in the names of the two neighbouring villages Chesterton and Wendle- bury : of which the former lies contiguous to the site of the old city, and seems to have sprung up from the ashes of it, preserving the me- morial and the name of castrum or cestre. The other, though a small village, has swallowed up the city, and keeps the site of it within its own bounds, on the east part of the common field. This Wendlebury seems to derive its name from the Vandals, who might have their station in this place. For these northern people being of Gothic original, came out of Scythia, and settled on the coasts of the Baltic sea toward Germany. They were employed as auxiliaries to the Romans in the decay of that empire, and being called Van- dals, from the word " tvandalen to wander, this station of theirs might be called Vandalburg, or (according to the promiscuous use of V and W) Wandalburg, and the termination of Burg passing into Bury : this place, in Doomsday-book Wandesberie, might with ease and softness corrupt into Wendelbury. This conjecture appears the bet- ter grounded, when we consider that Zosimus ' reports the Vandals were sent as stipendiary soldiers into Britain by Probus the Emperor, whose coins have been here found. Gervase of Tilbury mentions an old intrenchn)ent in Cambridgeshire called Vandelsburg, because a work or fortification of the Vandals. The same place is by Ingul- phus called Wendlingburough, and Wendlyngburgh ", which answers exactly to the present parish. sSheringham de Angl. origine, p. 210. ' Zoz. Histor. 1. 1. » Histor. Ingulphi, edit. Gale, p. 32. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &e. 19 CHAP. V. ROMAN HIGHWAYS. A THIRD reason to infer the acquaintance of the Romans with any place is, when any of their highways did lead through it. And though this indeed be no immediate proof, since a long tract of any road may extend through desert and unpeopled places ; yet when this is strengthened by the two former arguments, it imports the greater likelihood, that the Romans should settle most upon their own roads, to be in places of better defence and greater resort. For it is the tracing out these port ways, that has enabled our later antiqua- ries to establish the site of Roman forts and stations in this isle, which, for want of this advertence, had been miserably displaced and con- founded. From hence we may presume the Romans had a familiar notice of this country, because one of their more eminent and chief ways led through the parish of Ambrosden ; and some other of their lesser streets were nigh adjoining. Most of our modern writers have re- jected, as a legendary tale, the account of four main roads, drawn out as it were to measure and divide the land by the British king Molmutius Dunwallo, or by his son Belinus. In the seven Molmu- tian laws recited by Mr. Selden ", the second relates to highways ; but these laws seem invented rather than preserved. So that most are now persuaded these four principal ways were each a Roman la- bour, done for the conveniencies of march and conveyance: and some assert the beginner of them to have been the famed Agri- cola^ and that their continuation and improvement were an exer- cise, both to the captived Britains and to the Roman soldiers. But no more of this, because other writers have made it a common place, to which I would not jirostitnte a reader's patience. » Janus Angl. cap. 1. y Tacit. Agric. %'it. 30. D 2 20 PAROCHIAL ANTrqUITIES. An accurate observer thought it once a new discovery, that one of these prime stratae called Ikcnild* or Ickcnild street, passed through this county, entering at Chinnor and passing over the Thames at Goring, and still retained its old name at many places, as Ikenild, Icknil, Acknil, Hackney, &c. ^ But the same ingenious author seems to retract this opinion. Whether that in Stajf'ontshire be the true Ichenild street, or that in Oxfordshire, deserves consideration. That in Oxfordshire seems to have been so called, because it tends to- ward the Iceni of Norfolk, Sfc. This of Staffordshire, because made through the county of the other Iceni. I look upon this of Stafford- shire the more remarkable of the two, and so to be that Ickenild street, ivhich is usually reckoned one of the four basilical or great ways in England, and not that in Oxford^. Ours however was one of the Roman ways, though none of the four by eminence so called. But I inquire the less into it, because its course did not directly touch upon these parts. One of these chief ancient ways was called Erming-street, which though Hen. Hunt, would have to lead from north to south, yet others have most justly assigned its course from west to east**: beginning at St. David's in Wales, and so directing not to Southampton as some pretend, but to London, and so to the eastern shores of Kent. This Erming-street is thought the same, which was since, and is now called Akeman-street-way, a road point- ing east and west, upon which on the south side was close adjoining the ancient city of AUchester. The MS. history of that place asserts it thus. AUchester standeth in the very heart of Akeman-strcet-icay, one of the four great ways that parteth the la7id of Britain. Our chronicles generally call it Ermyn -street of the British ivord Army- * Cenhim acrce terra: in manerio de Newn- jacet versus Mongewell, et tertia pars extendit ham com. Oxon. jacent in quattior particulis, versus occidentem. In campo de Niwenham una particula jacet in uno ley et extendit ver- quinque aa-as qua se extendunt in viam quc& sus orientem in Tethinguey, et altera pars dicitur Ykenhikla. b. f. Ixx. a. » Nat. Hist, of Oxf. ch. 10. §. 22. »Nat. Hist, of Staff, ch. 9. §. 14. ^ Burt, Com. Ant. Itin. p. 91. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 21 inth, because it crosseth mountaws and ?tm/less places for the better direction for travellers. Those that call it Akeinan-strcet-ivay say, that it took its name from them, that, being foil of ache and aching, made it their ivay to the hot baths in Somersetshire for ease of their pains. The present name of Akenmn-street is justly here derived from its passage to Bath, which city by several of the old writers is called Acamannum '. And the other derivation here given of Er- ming-street seems more natural than what Mr. Selden "'j and from him Mr. Burton % would affix to it. Ermingstreet (say they) being of English idiom, seems to have had its name fo^om Ipmunpull, in that .signijication ivhereby it interprets an universal pillar ivorshipped for Mercury, President of ivays. Mr. Camden was misinformed in the tract of this way, and made to believe that Akeman-street was the military way which led from Walingford to Banbury, of which some remains appeared in Otmoore*^. This he resolved into the oral tradi- tion of the common people, which indeed does still continue among the borderers on Otmoore, who now call the paved way, which crosses their deep marsh by the name of Akeman-street, though its course be indeed as directly opposite, as north and south to east and west, and did either terminate at Allchester, or there cut the Akeman-street, and continued on to Banl)ur3\ And the country people could have no other reason for this false appellation, but only that the greater adjoining road to Acmancestre having been always so called, they came thence to attribute the like name to any other way, that was of the like make and use, and seemed a branch of the former. Dr. Plot was the first writer who restored the true directions of Akeman- street, in which he was instructed by the current tradition, and .by many visible marks*-'. The true Akeman-street, or as some call it Akeham-street, and others A kcr man -street, enters this county at a village called Blackthorn, ivhence it passes on ivithout any raised bank, close by Allchester as foir as Chesterton, as described by the <• Sim. Dun. p. Ifil, &c. ''Notes on Polyolb. Song \G. p. .256. «• Comment. Ant. Itiu. p. 95. f Camden, Dobiini. gNat. Hist. 0\1". eli. 10. §. 33. it PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. shaded or pointed lines in the map : jvhencc it goes to Kirtlingfon tozvns end, and so over the river Cherwell near Tackley, and thence in a straight tine to IFoodstock-Park, which it enters near IFotton- gate, and passes out again at Mapleton-7i'eH near Stnnsjield-stile, ti'hence it holds on again as far as Stunsjield, and all this way on a raised hank, as described in the map by two parallel lines ; ivhere break- ^"g ^iff (J^^'t ^f^^f keeping its name) it goes on over the Evenlode to Jn/cot, and so to Ramsden ; a little beyond which village, at a place called Jf^itty -green, it may be seen again for a little way ; but from thence to Astally, over Astall-bridge, and so through the fields till it comes to Brodwell-grove, it is scarce visible, but there it is as plain again as any where else, holding a straight course into Glocestcrshire, and so towards the Bath, the old Akemancester. I need add no more to this accurate description, but 1 would define its more particular course through the parish of Ambrosden, and the parts contiguous to it. This way comes down from the hill in Tuchwic grounds, in the common road from Ailesbury to Burcester, and passing over that mershy vale, which gave name \o the neighbouring town of Mersh, it leaves there some tracks of a stony ridge now visible and useful, and crosses the rivulet at a place called Worden-pool or Stean-ford, from that passage pitched or paved with stones, where it enters upon the county of Oxford, and the parish of Ambrosden, and continuing on near the north-east corner of Blackthorn-green by the pond, it there leaves some other tokens of bank and stone, and so ascends to Blackthorn-hill, formerly Windmill-hill, whence it ran in the present Bicester road, till in Wrechwic-green, which was the common field of the manor of Wrechroych, it turns to the left hand, and in the second ground (as now divided) it extends by the north-side of GravenhuU-wood, in and near the way that now leads to Wendle- bury, and passing the brook at the fordable place called Langford, it bears close to the north-side of Allchester field, and so to Ches- terton, &c. The city of Allchester having had for long time a fixed garrison of Roman forces did occasion many other public ways, leading to AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 23 other of their stations, of which the most apparent is that before mentioned over Ottmore, whicli the country people persuaded Mr. Camden to take for the true Aiiemanstreet. It is thus corrected and described by Dr. Plot ''. There seems also to have been cast up another Roman tvay between the old city of Allchester in the parish of Wendlebury, and the city of Calleva, whereof there is part to be seen at this day running quite cross Otmoor, and coming out of the moor under BecMey-park-tvall, ivhich it is plain has been paved (as indeed it had need) by the stones yet found upon a7id about the ridge, and no where else on the moor. From Beckley it passes on to, and may be plainly seen in the wood near Stochers, where, cutting the London road to fVorcester, it goes plainly through the felds to Stafford-grove, and thence over Bayards watering place, toward Heddington quarry-pits, leaving Shot-over-hill on the left hand, and the pits on the right. At the foot of Shot-over-hill it enters Magdalene college coppices, over the eastern part of Bullington-green , as I gather by its pointing, for it is not to be seen there, it having been ploughed doivn as well in the green as fields thereabouts, as may be seen by the marks of the ridge, andfur- roiv yet remaining upon it : whence I guess it passes on towards the two Baldens, and so. for JValingford, going over the river at Benson, alias Bensington, where it may be seen again running west of the church ; and is there called by the name of Medlers-bank. The same diligent and well informed observer speaks of several other branches of Roman way, one going out of the main road about the parish of Beckley, and passing more westward through Stow-ivood, and more particularly through the grounds called Principal, ivhere the tvay is to he seen entire and perfect, having formerly been paved, as appears by a ditch cut through the bank, where the stones lie arclnvise, ^c. so leading to Oxford. Another such Roman way seems designedly made for a passage immediately from Allchester to Oxford, whereof there is a part still remaining about Noke, c^-c. ylnd out ^f Akemanstreet there arc several branches ; two near Kirklington, one at the town's end, >' Nat. Hist. Oxf. ch. 10. §. 27, -'S. 24 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. which, though presently discontinued, yet points just upon the port- ivay running east of North-brook, the two Hey fords, Sommerton, and Souldern, for six miles together ; and another that by its pointing seems to have come out of A he man street, nearer the place where it passes the river Cherwell, crossing the port-zvay, and running at the broadest place, scarce a mile distant from it, as far as Fritwell, where on the north -side of the town it inclines toivard the port -way as if it joined tvith it again somewhere about Souldern, Src. Beside these and other branches mentioned bv this author, there appears to have been two other roads leading directly from Allclies^ ter, one decUning from the old Akemanstreet at Chesterton, and passing through Middleton-stony, where there is a barrow or large hillock cast up, that seems one of the Roman tumuli or sepulcers, thence falling into Wattle-bank or Avesditch, it might lead to Ban- bury, as is the tradition of the inhabitants near AUchester, and so on to Warwick, the Roman praesidium. Another of these streets turned from Akemanstreet on the east side of the brook, through the grounds called Langford, cutting the lane which leads to Bicester on the south side of Candle-meadow, and thence passing through the lower end of Dunkins-ground, where, upon the late digging of a pond, has appeared the plainest evidence of a paved way, so passing through Lanton went on to Stratton, so called because placed on a Roman street, and where Roman coin has been discovered, thence proceed- ing to Buckingham, and to the old Lactodorum, Stony- Stratford. CHAP. VI. ROMAN CUSTOMS. 1 MAY offer one more arsrument for the conversation of the Ro- mans in these parts, that they have left here one of their customary exercises called Quintan, though generally cornipted into Quintal; AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 25 by the French termed Quinlaine, by the old Engh'sh, Quintane and Whintane ; which sportive custom is still retained in our village of Blackthorn, through which lay the Rouiau way, where there is sel- dom any jniblic wedding without this diversion on the common green, with mucli solemnity and mirth. The ingenious Dr. Plot, among the ancient customs still retained here, when abolished and i Convocai a Dominis feudalia jure tencntfs. in the empire, which was by erecting a post (.„„,^^ ^^ ^csx. Trcd. 1. 1. 2. p. aoi. or pillar, and hanging a shield at the top Spclman of Feuds. MS. cap. si. thereof, an herald proclaiming, that all who Those sports which were first military lidd in this manner should at such a day g^ew into peaceahle and ludicrous diver- attend the emperour in his voyage to Kome ^^^^^^ go the old mommyng was formerly for taking the crown of Italy or king of Ro- ^^ hastiludia, now a mere Christmas mas- mans, which the Ligurine poet thus ex- ,^^^^.rluk^. Vide Hist. Croyland contin. p. presseth : ^,^3 <> Mat. Par. sub initium an. \'25^. edit, VVatsiana, p. 8G3. VOL. I. E 26 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Pavone pro bravio, ad stadium quod Quiutcna \'\i1gariter dicitur, vires proprias et eqiioruni cursus sunt experti. IVherdn it seems the king's servants opposing them ivcre sorely heaten, for which, upon com- plaint, the fling fined the city. JFhence one may gather that it tvas once a trial of manhood between tivo parties ; since that, a contest amongst friends tvho should tvear the gay garland ; but noiv only in request at marriages, and set up in the ivay for young men to ride at, as they carry home the bride, he that breaks the board being counted the best man '. I must beg leave to acquaint the reader, that since the printing the 2lst sect, of it, I have found the Quintan amongst the Roman exercises, (which yet perhaps they might borrow from the Greeks) by the name of Quintana, so called by reaso7i the Romans in their tents made frst four trays in manner of a cross, to tvhich adding a fifth on one side, it was called Quintana '. In this way they set up a great post about six foot high, suitable to the stature of a man, and this the Roman soldiers were wont to assail ivith all instruments of tvar, as if it were indeed a real enemy ; learning upon this, by the as- sistance of the Campidoctores, hoiu to place their bloivs aright. And this they otherwise called exercitium ad palum, and sometimes pa- laria, the form whereof may be seen in Vulturius ^. Which practice ' being in use during their government here, in all likelihood has been retained among us ever since, being only translated in times of' peace from a military to a sportive marriage exercise^'. To this agreeable description of the Quintan, because no other authors have made it their particular int^uiry, I shall farther add. Matthew Westminster transcribed this account of the Quintan from Matthew Paris ; but in the common edition of his Flores Histor. it is ad Quindenam instead of ad Quintenam ', by which error readers have mistaken it for a term of days instead of a solemn sport. Dr. Watts in his glossary gave an apt explication of it, a ludicrous and «Dr. Plot. Nat. Hist. Oxf. ch. 8. §. 21, 22, 23. f Vid. Guid. Pancirollum rer. me- morabiliuin, lib. 2. tit. 21. sin Augustanis raonumentis, p. 237. ^ Plot, Oxf. ch. 8. §. 53. ' Mat. West, sub an. 1253, AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 27 sportive way of filting, or ninning on horseback at some mark hung up on high, moveable, and turning round, which, while the riders strike at with lances, unless they ride quickly off, the versatile beam strikes upon their shoulders^. Sir Henry Spelman, from being himself a specta- tor of it, reports, a piece of board fixed at one end of a turning beam, and a bag of sand at the other, by tvhich means, striking at the board whirls round the bag, and endangers the striker^. As far as 1 am yet informed, I find this sport is now continued in no part of the country, but where the Roman ways did run, or where some Roman garrisons had been placed, which last honour does seem to belong to Deddington, where Dr. Plot observed the celebration of it. For though this learned author does acknowledge, that after long search he could find nothing of Deddington, till about the reign of King Ed~ ward the Second ". Jf^hen he takes the old casth to be the very place^ no question, to ivhich Aymer de Valence Earl of Pembroke, brought Piers de Gaveston °, §-c. Yet in one of those elaborate volumes of the Baronage of England, to which he does acknowledge himself beholding for the account of these things ", I find that in the tenth of Richard the First, IFarine, son of Warinc Fitzgerald, gave one hun- dred marks for the seisin of the manor of Deddington in. com. Oxon. as his another had at the time of her death p. This Warine held the manor of Heyford in this county, which from this family was called Heyford-Warine. His mother's name (not mentioned by Dugdale) was Maud de Chesiiy, who in her widowhood granted to the canons of St. Edburg in Burcester five seams or quarters of bread-corn out of the said manor of Heyford, to make hosts or consecrated bread : which gift was assented to by the said Warine her son '^. This ma- nor of Deddington had thei\ a castle fortified in it, ivhich soon after belonged to Wido de Diva, whose possessions king John seized into his hand, and in the sixth of his reign sent a precept to the Sheriff ■« Watts in Glossar. verbo Qiiintcna. ' Spelman Glossar. in verbo. *" Nat. Hist. Oxf. ch. 10. §. 122. " lb. §. IS5. olb. §. 134. PDugd. Bar. torn 1. p. 11 1. Hen. Hunt. Hist. 1. 2. «E Libello de Locis in quibus sancti requieverunt, apud Jo, Leland Collect, vol. 2. p. 369, MS. TAB! . AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 31 two quarts, narrow at the mouth, which was stopped with lead, and filled with pieces of bones, entire at the taking up, and broke in vain hopes of treasure in it : represented by the figure A. 2. A smaller urn or lacrymatory imstopped and empty, as figured B. 3. A little pot or vessel of finer earth, containing about one quarter of a pint, which seems to have been filled with aromatic liquor, of which a strong scent does still remain, as in the figure C 4. A patine of cu- rious red earth about six inches diameter, with this inscription cross the centre, SEXTUS FE. the potters name, represented D. the three last of which are now in my custody. CHAP. VII. SAXONS. As to the time of the Saxons coming in, the edition of Bede by Chifletius, and most other printed copies, place it in the year 409. Mr. Camden is confident it was before an. 449. But Mr. Whee- lock's Saxon Bede assigns the very year 449, which seems abun- dantly proved the right date by a very learned writer''. Though these iisurpers of our country were swallowed up in the same com- mon name of Saxons, yet they were three different sorts of people, Saxons, Jutes, and Angles, of which the latter took possession of this midland country, and were the most noble of all the intruding party, not only as under king Egbert they gave name to the whole united kingdom, but as our ancestors were always proud of the appel- lation of Angles, when their enemies in contempt called them Sassons. The poor remaining Britains struggled for their liberty, and the best defender of it was the person, who most likely gave name to the parish of Ambrosdcn, Aurelius Ambrosius, whom Gildas makes of d Stillingf. Orig. Brit. ch. 5. p. 31G. 32 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Roman extract, mid to have survived his royal murdered paraifs'^. Some of our other historians report him the son of Constantino king of Britain, by a Roman lady, born about 435, and educated by Gui- thclinc archbishop of London : who being forced to retire to Aremo- rica was thence recalled by the opj)rcssed Britains, and, defeating the Saxons under the conduct of Hengist at Wij)pcd-fleet in Kent, he marched to York, thence to Winchester, Salisbury, &c. to en- courage and recruit the Britains. Now in this circuit of travels, it is probable he encamped nigh those jilaces Avhich the Romans had gar- risoned and made j)opulous : so as Allchester being lately deserted by the Romans, and possessed as a tenable fort by the Britains ; Am- brosius may be well supposed to have visited this place, and to have encamped his marching army on the rising j)lain, where Ambrosden now stands : and by this encampment, or some other action, might ' leave his name to it : the termination being British and Roman, Am- brosdun and Ambrosdummi. Dun being the British final syllable to those places which were situate on a hill or an ascent : and the ^-Romans letting their proper names be adapted to the British, made these names end in Dunum, which Dun the English converted into Don, as ]\Ieldon, Ambrosdon, &c. This is but surmise, yet the more credible, because the same Ambrosius gave a like name to Am- brosburg or Ambrosberie, or Amesbury in Wiltshire . which in the primitive age of English writers was called Urbs Ambrosii ', (what- ever tales some monks have told, and made it long before Pagus Am- bri^^ and might be denominated from some victory here obtained, or his coronation, or burial, or mommient after his death, or memorial by himself erected in honour to the slaughtered Britains, making the parish to be called Ambrosius Vicus'', and Stonehenge, Ambrosii monumentum ', and Ambrosius Mons. And though many labour to give a different account of that stupendous structure, yet none have denied but that Ambrosius had a relation to that place. eHistoT. Gildifi. edit. Gale, p. 17. f Spclman Concil. torn. 1. p. 4f)4. sGal- fred. Mon. Rich. Brougiiton, &c. h Baudrandi Lex. ' Pol. Virg. 1. 3. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 33 There be other places of like sound, and possibly of like allusion to the camps or seats of action of this victorious prince. A parish in Worcestershire, though corruptly called Ombresly, is truly Ani- bresley or Ambresloy, as in a donation of lands by Egwyn bishop of Worcester, to the monastery of Evesham in that coimty''. In a royal charter to the church of Ely, there be lands given in Amerdene or Amersden ', which is likewise called Amberdene in a donation to the abbey of Tilly in Essex "'. I am not fond of remote and uncer- tain derivations, and give the reader leave, upon any better grovmds, to reject what I guess the primitive name of Ambrosden, Ambrosii Dunum. In this part of the country, the Britains did long resist the encroach- ing Saxons. After the kingdom of the West Saxons was established in the persons of Cerdic and Cynric, an. 519", they made several at- temj)ts to enlarge their conquests in these parts, and after the death of Cerdic, an. 534, Cynric had a greater progress to his arms, and from 551, for five following years, gave several defeats to our mid- land Britains, who, in the year 556, united all their strength, and at Beranbyrig now Banbury in this county, they fought with king Cyn- ric and Ceawlin his son, to regain the honour they had lost in five preceding years ; where they were so numerous as to divide their army into nine battalions, placing three in the front, a like munber in the flank, and as many in the rear, with their archers and horse- men disposed according to the Roman discipline : by which conduct they so well received the fury of the Saxons, that when the night parted them, the victory was still depenchng" : and though historians conceal it, yet the event seems to prove a success to the Britains, who kept their fortified places in this county to the year 5/1 '', or as some writers to 580, wlien king Ceawlyn and Cuthwulph his bro- ther fought with the liritains at Bedford, and after a defeat took from them tlieir strongest garrisons, of which three were in these •< Spelmiin. Concil. torn 1. p. 209. ' Man. Ang. toin. 1. p. 91. "> lb. p. S89. " Cliron. Suxon. <> Hen. Hunt. edit. Sav. p. .'}1 1. rCliron. Saxon. VOL. I. F 34 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. parts, Egelesburh, Eilesberi, now Ailsbury : Bennington, Benesing- tun, now Benson : and Egoncsham, Henesham, now Enshani. From which time, though this whole county was reputed within the district of Mercia, yet most of it was subjected to the kings of the West Saxons. The next action of remark in these parts was at Beamdune or Bampton on the edge of this county, where king Cynegil and Cwichehii fought with the Britains, and slew above two thousand of them, in the year 614''. It is true, Mr. Camden lays the scene of this action at Bean&un, now Byndon in Dorsetshire': and another ingenious writer at Bampton in Devonshire *. But if we consider the many conflicts in this age between the Britains and Saxons in these parts, and that the Britains were yet powerful, and at their own dis- posal here, before Mercia was brought into the subjection of Penda, about 626 ; and that the West Saxon kings had their frontier garri- sons at Cirencestre and Ensham frequently infested by the bordering Britains ; it is much more probable the forementioned battle was at Bampton in this county, a place of great antiquity, and once of mi- litary strength, and called by the like name Bera&une, in a charter of Leofric chaplain to Edward the Confessor \ To these reasons of conjecture there is at last a full authority to determine all dispute ; Ki7iigjlsus et Qidchel'mus multa strenue fecerunt contra Britones, po- fissime apud Bampton jiixta Oxoniam''. After Mercia was reduced into a kingdom by Penda, he had the same difiiculty to defend these borders from the West Saxons, as the Britains before had : and after three years settlement fought with Cynegils and his son Cwichelm at Cirencester*, and there being no decisive victory, a league was here made between them. During this peace in these parts came Birinus, a missionary from pope Ho- norius in the year 634, and having converted most of the West nChron. Saxon, sub. an. f Camden in Durotriv. « Gibson, explicat. loc. in Chron. Sax. 'Plot. Nat. Hist. Oxfordsh. ch. 10. §. 121. " Polycron. Ran. Higden. sub. an. 61 1. ^ Chron. Saxon, sub. an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 35 Saxon people, he baptized their king Cynegils at Dopc-ceaj-tpe, Dor- chester in this county : which city the new Christian prince gave to Birinus for an episcopal see : in which he settled, and exercised his jurisdiction through the whole West Saxon kingdom : in the next year he baptized at the same place Cwichelm, who reigned with his father Cynegils, and died within the year. It is not unlikely this part of the country was before concerned in the mission of Augustine the monk, about 597, who passed through this county to his place of conference with the Britains, in the re- moter parts of Mercia, called from him Augustine-Ac, or Austin's Oak : placed by Brompton in the confines of the West Saxons and the Britains, and from thence to Whalley in Blakeburnshire, Com. Lane, if we can believe those monks >. We are told, that when this apostle of the English came into the county of Oxford, to a village called Cumpton, i. e. Long-Cumpton in Warwickshire, at the edge of this county, the parish priest waited on him, and complained of the lord of the manor refusing to pay his just tithes, upon which Augustine reproved him, and convinced him by a miracle of a dead body raised from the grave ; who confessed himself to have been pa- tron of the church in the time of the Britains, and to have been ex- communicated for the like default above 150 years before % &c. Though Mr. Selden'\ in prejudice to the right of tithes, does reject this whole story as an absurd legend ; yet certainly we may lay aside the miraculous part, and believe the person was in this place, though he did no mighty work there, indeed, if all the circumstances of this relation were true, it would piove Christianity and the discipline ot the Church to have flourished here among the Britains very early, and to have continued in good order till the said visit of Austin. But if we renounce all the monkery of this tale, and keep only to the matter of fact, his passing through these parts, it is enough to infer, y Mon. Ang. torn. 1 . p. 899. z Jo. Brompton, p. 136. » Selden of Tithes, rap. 10. §. 2. F 2 36 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. that those acljoiiiinct ])laces, through which liis road must lie, did em- brace the opjiortuuity to repent and be baptized. It is however certain, that Birinus resided at his see of Dorchester, and planted Christianity in all adjacent parts : where, as Bede relates, many churches ivere built and dedicated by him ''. He extended his pi- otis care to the Mercians, among whom Cuthred king of Kent, whose captivity made him no more then a titular prince", was baptized at Dorchester by this bishop, an 639*',. He is said to have instituted secular canons in his cathedral church, who continued till, in the reign of king Stephen, Alexander bishop of Lincoln converted them into canons regular ". Tradition and some slender authority report, that Birinus bore a particular relation to the town of Bisister, which from him, they say, was called Birini-castrum, Birincestre, Burincastre, or Berncestre '. It is true, authors differ much in the etymology of this town. W. Harrison seems to refer it to the little rivulet of that name, which rises near it, and runs through it, formerly called Bure, now com- monly Rea. The his taketh in a rivulet called the Bure, tchich fallcth into it about Otmoore side ; but forasmuch as it riseth about Bircester, the ivholc course thereof is not above four miles. And again. The last river of all is the Reie alias Bure, (^Lat. Burns) whose head is not far above Bircester alias Burcester and Burncestre, and from whence it goeth by Bircestrc to Merton, Cherleton, Fencotc, Ad- dington, Noke, I slip, and so into Chenvell^. But it is not likely so insigniticant a stream should give name to a place which, in its most ancient appellation, Berncestre, bears no affinity to it. Skinner writes it Bupenceaj-rep and Bepneceap^ep, which perhaps (says he) is derived from the Anglo-Saxon Bepn horreum, and ceaj-tpe urhs, as if a grange or repository of corn ''. But this too seems a trifling fancy. The b Eccles. Hist. 1. .3. cap. J. c Will. Malms, p. 11 . ^ Chron. Saxon, sub an. e Ex Legenda Sanct. apud Hog. Dods. JMS. vol. 155. f. 161. f Hist. AUchester MS. g W. Harrison, Description of Brit. p. 48. ^ Skinner, Etymol. Angl. in voce. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. ^f name Berton did indeed signify a granary or store-place of corn : as Berton by St. Martins in Canterbury, the granary of the monks of St. Austins ; and West-gate-court nigh the same city, before called Berton de West-gate'. For which reason I do not find this name affixed to any principal towns, but to those farms and mansion houses that were in possession of the monks, and by them assigned to that use. Dr. Plot is pleased to ascribe another derivation. Jhout this time, 614, (it should be at least 634,) the town of Berencester, alias Berncesfer, in Saxon Bupenceajtep and Bepnacej-ceji, which I fake to have been its primitive names, seems also to have been raised, and to have taken its name, as some have thought, from the same bishop Birinus, quasi Birini castrum. But I much rather believe it so called from Bern-wood or forest mentioned by Bede, Florilegus, and JVigorniensis, upon the edge ivhereof it was then seated, nor is now far off it : after which perhaps from St. Eadhurg, to ?vhich the priory there was, and parish church is no?v dedicated, it changed its name to Burg- cestre, and since that to Burcester, now Bissester. But still this is a conjecture not grounded on any tradition, nor indeed is the suppo- sition true : for it was never seated upon the edge of the forest Bern- wood, the nearest part of which was three miles distant from it, the borders of it coming no farther than the edge of this county to Pid- ington, Arncot, &c. the utmost village on the north-side was Bor- stal, held under the Saxon kings by the tenure of a horn, which made the possessor of it the forester of Bern-wood ''. Possiiily this town of Bcrncestcr might owe its name to the same reason as Bern- wood did. For this Bupne-pu&a or Beopne-pii&a, being a woody tract and forest of the widest extent, and greatest eminence seems to have been called from the Saxon Beopn, an epithet of dignity and remark : so j)erhaps this adjoining town being a j)lace of greatest strength to the West Saxons against the Britains or Mercians, and at last against the Danes, it might be honoured with the title of their Beopn-cej^e)-, castrum primariuin, their principal fort and garrison. 'Somncr, Gloss, ad X. script. kEx evidentiis de Borstall MS. 38 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. But after all surmises, the first appears most fair, that Birinus did denominate this town. The MS. of Allchester gives this opinion : Birinus, bishop of Cair-Dor, which Beda calleth Dorcinia, and Le- land Hydropolis, now called Dorchester in Oxfordshire, sometime walled about and castled, but all noiv ruined and gone, a round hill there still appearing, where the superstitious ensuing ages built Bi- rinus a shrine, teaching them that had' any cattle amiss, to creep to that shrine for help, ^-c. From him too Bircestcr, Birini cast rum, sometime a walled toivn, though no step thereof appears voiv, built to withstand the incui^sions of the Danes and Pagans. This author is indeed too early in attributing the cause of Birinus his building this town for a defence against the Danes, when their first arrival was not till about 789. It seems however in the age of Birinus to have been a frontier garrison of the West Saxons against the Mercians, and might fi'om him assume a name, because built by his advice and as- sistance out of the ruins of Allchester and Chesterton, or because of a church here built and endowed by him in the extreme parts of his jurisdiction. The variation in the name of this town might be some little argument to derive it from this bishop ; for, as he has run the changes of St. Birine, St. Beryn, St. Burine, &c. ', so has the place followed the like turn of initial syllables, Birinecester, Ber} ncester, and Burincester. An. 643, Kenwalch succeeded in this kingdom of the West Saxons, Avho, despising Christianity, and turning off his Avife the sister of Penda king of the Mercians", was nigh these parts invaded by him, an. 645, and in open battle conquered and forced to flee to the king of the East Angles, in whose court residing three years, he was bap- tized an. 646", and returned to his kingdom an. 648. During his abdication, these parts were in subjection to the Mercian kings, Penda and Wulpher his son, of which this latter was converted and baptized by the pastoral care of Birinus, and inviting Ethelwold king of the West Saxons to Dorchester, was godfather to him at his 1 Rob. Gloc. &c. '"Beda Histor. Eecles. 1. 3. cap. 7. "Chron. Saxon. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 39 baptism by the same Birinus. Kenwalch at his restoration gave away all that part of his kingdom which lay on this side of the Thames to Cuthred his brother's son, to hold as a princij)ality or province un- der him, computed at three thousand hides by the Saxon chronicle, at so many villages by Hen. Hunt.", and at near the third part of his kingdom by Malmsbury p. This donation is said to be at ^Esces- dune, which I take to be Ashendon in the forest of Bern-wood, in- cluded in this grant : within which forest were several places deno- minated from the wood and the nature of it, as Aclea or Oakley, iEscesdon or Ashendon, Wodsham, Wotton, Woddesdon, &c. Birinus, after he had enjoyed his pontificate fourteen years, died at Dorchester, and was there buried, an. 648 '^, or 650, in which year Agilbert a native of Gaul came out of Ireland, his place of theolo- gical studies, whose learning and industry were so well esteemed by king Kenwalch, that he desired him to accept that see, and be the bishop of this kingdom \ But the king understanding no more than his own Saxon language, and being weary of a barbarous or foreign tongiie, he instituted another see at Winchester, an. 662, and gave it to Wine, a Saxon born, ordained in France. This erection of a new see seems owing in great part to the necessity of affairs : for in the preceding year 661, Kenwalch was defeated by Wulfer* king of Mercia at Pojjencep-bypij, which I take to be Pottersbury in Nor- thamptonshire, upon which victory Wiilfer destroyed all this country as far as ^scesdune or Ashendon * : which must make Dorchester an unsafe place for a see of the West Saxon kingdom. However, this indignity and diminution of authority Agilbert so much resented. * See the charter confirmed by Wulfer ofTliame in Oxfordshire, which it seems king of Mercia in villa que vocatiir Tluitna, was sometime the residence of the said king which by the names of other places men- Wlfere. Men. Ang. torn. 1. p. 7G. tioned in the said chart must be the town o Hen. Hunt, 1. 2. p. 317. p De gestis Regum, lib. 1. p. 13. sTho. Rud- burn Hist. Maj Winton, cap. ;i. 5. 'Bed. Hist. Eccles. 1. 3. cap. 7. *Sax. Chron. sub. un. 40 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. that he left his see, and retired first to Northumberland*, and thence to Gaul, where he died bishop of Paris ". By which means Dor- chester was deprived of the episcopal chair till the year G/'O, when Eleutherius was ordained by Theodore archbishop of Canterbury to the see of Winchester, vacant four years upon the expulsion of Wine, an. 666, who removed to the old seat at Dorchester, and was there buried an. 676 *. In the year 672. died Kenwalch king of the West Saxons, and left his kingdom among several petty princes 5", of whom Cuthred go- verned on this north side the Thames. During their reign Hedda a monk of Streneshall, now Whitby, succeeded to the see of Dorches- ter an. 676, being consecrated at London by Theodore archbishop of Canterbury % Avho again removed the see to Winchester, an. 6JJ, and by the authority of pope Agatho translated the body of Birinus from the the old church at Dorchester to the new one at Winchester, then dedicated to the honour of the Holy Trinity. This second re- moval of the ancient see was again ov^■ing to the distress of the times : for Etheldred king of Mercia, succeeding his brother Wulfer an. 675, was victorious against the kings of Kent and Northumberland, and had reduced all on this side the Thames to his own subjection, so as the whole country was now first united to the Mercian king- dom. Hereupon in the year 680, (a record in the Monasticon mis- takes 678 ", others postpone it to 683 '',) Theodore archbishop of Canterbviry, who had lately divided the bishopric of York, and in- stituted other sees to oblige king Etheldred, whose favour he did servilely court, came now to new model the ecclesiastic state of the kingdom of Mercia : and holding a covmcil at Hatfield, he divided the see of Litchfield into five distinct bishoprics, removing Sex- wulph, who was before the single bishop, to Chester, and ordaining Cudwin to Litchfield, Bosel to Worcester, Ethelwin to Lindsey, and « Wharton, Ang. Sac. torn. 1. p. 191. u Bcda. " Tho. Rudburn Histor. Maj. yBede, Hist. Eecles. 1. 4. cap. 12. ^ lb. »Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 136. *> Rad. de Diceto. sub. an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 41 Eata a monk of the monastery of Hilda at Wliitby to Dorchester. So as the disposition of the ecclesiastic state depending always on the revolutions of the civil government ; from hence it happened, that the see of Dorchester, tvhich from the time of Birinus belonged to the IVest Saxons, pertained from the time of this council to the Mercians ". This southern part of Mercia was by king Etheldred committed to Berthwald a son of his brother Wulfer **, who under the title of king had the command of this county, who, with the joint authority of Etheldred, convened a synod at Berghford or Bregforde, now Bur- ford in this county, at wliich were present the two kings Etheldred and Berthwald, Theodore archbishop of Canterbury, Sexwulph bi- shop of Litchfield, Bosel bishop of Worcester, &c. Where king Berthwald gave by charter to Aldhclm abbot of Malmsbury, forty cassates of land at Sumerford in Wiltshire. Which Aldhelm, after- wards bishop of Sherborn, now only priest and abbot, was here pre- sent, and at command of this synod wrote a book against the error of the British Christians in the observation of Easter, and other dif- ferent rites wherein they disturbed the peace of the church : the reading of which book reclaimed many of those Britains who were under the West Saxons. After which he wrote that excellent trea- tise De Virginitate, and some other tracts, being a man of great learning and a neat stile ^ This Avas the same synod which S ir H. Spclman indefinitely calls Si/nodus Merciana, an. 705 ', not knowing how to fix the j)lacc or time, because he had met with no other notice of it but what he found in Bcde. The charter of Berthwald, recited from the Malmsbury register in the Monasticon ^, reports it. Actum publice in synodo juxta vadum Berghford mensc Julio tricesimo die viensis cjusdem indictione xiii, ajino ah incarnatione Domini, Dcxxxv. Where the year 635 is a gross mistake, and can be re- conciled neither to the j)crsons, nor to the other note of time, the c Ran. Higdcn. Polycron. p. 20G. J Will. Malms, de Pontif. 1. 5. « Bcda Hist. Ecclcs. I. 5. cap. 19. f Concil. Brit. torn. 1. p. 199. sMon. Aug. torn. I. p. 51. VOL. I. G 43 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. thirteenth indiction. Therefore the same charter, with little differ- ence of words, preserved by William Malmsbury, restores the right date and recites the witnesses. Actum puhlice in synodo juxta va- duvi Bregf'orde mense Julio xxx, die niensis ejusdem, iudictione xiii, anno ah incai^natione Domini dclxxxv. Suhscripserunf Theodorus arcliicpiscopus, Ethelredus rex Merciorum ; Bcrthivaldus subregu- his, Kenfnthus patricius, Scxuulfus Liclifeldia;, ct Bosel Wigor- nice episcopi^. So as the error in the Monasticon was only by omission of the numeral letter l. dcxxxv for dclxxxv, which in another edition of Malmsbury rvms into the additional mistake of one year, dclxxxvi', but in the MS. Icger-book of Malmsbury it is right dclxxxv''. After this time our county was an immolested part of the Mercian kingdom, during the reign of Ethelred, who turned monk in the year 703, and of his successor Kenred, who resigned to Coelrcd an. 7O8, who fought with Ina, king of the West Saxons, at Wodncsburch in Wiltshire : where the event being with equal loss ', the peace was re- newed, and Coelred was buried at Litchfield an. 716, to whom suc- ceeded Ethelbald, who in the year 723 invaded ^thelheard king of the West Saxons, besieged his chief town of Sumurtun or Somerton in the county of Somersetshire, took and demolished it, and committed many other outrages, putting several parts of that country under tribute and contribution; which so provoked the princes and the people, that Cuthred successor to TEthelheard, being no longer able to endui^e the proud exactions and insolences of the Mercian king, raised an army and marched into these borders of Mercia in the year 752 °\ King iEthelbald met him at Beorg- ford ", Beorhtford °, Borford p, or Burford in this county : where they began a most desperate battle, .Ethelbald had a standard whereon was the figure of a golden dragon, canied before him by j^thelhim, h Gul. Malms. 1. 5. de Pontif. edit. Wliarton, p. 1 1. ' Edit. Gale, p. 346. k In Musaeo Bib. Bod. ' Mat. West. sub. an. •" Chron. Saxon. " lb. ° Flor. Wig. P Mat. West. AMBIIOSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 43 who was killed with a lance by the standard-bearer of king Cuthred, which taking of the colours was a great encouragement to the West Saxons "^ ; but the victory was long depending, till at last king iffithelbald was forced to fly, and leave a joyful victory to Cuthred, who by this defeat recovered the greatest part of this county. Dr. Plot conjectiH-cs, this battle was fought on the place still called Battle- edge, tvcst of the town, betivixt it and Upton. In memory of which victory perhaps the custom (yet luithin memory^ of making a dragon yearly, and carrying it up and down the toiun in great Jollity on Mid- summer eve, to ivhich (/ knoiu not for tvhat reason^ they added a giant, might likely enough he first instituted '. Cuthred king of the West Saxons died an. 7^4 % to whom Sige- bright succeeded, but for his injustice was allowed only the province of Hampshire, and deprived of the rest of his kingdom, which was given to Cynwulph, who, after the death of iEthelbald king of Mer- cia, slain at Scccandune or Secckington in Com. Warwic. by Bearn- redS enjoyed his West Saxon kingdom in great security and strength ". In the year 7^6, the usurper of Mercia Bearnred was expelled by the defection of the peo})le, who restored OfFa a yoimg prince of the royal family, whose piety and valour made him so con- siderable, as to translate the metropolitan see from Canterbury to Litchfield, and after several successful attempts upon the kingdoms of Kent and Northumberland, he did at last resolve to recover this county of Oxford from the West Saxon kings, and enlarge his Mer- cian kingdom to its ancient limits the banks of the Thames. Upon which, in the year 77 ^""i or 77^^^ or 779% he brought an army cross the frontiers about Souldern or Fretwcll in this county, where ran a branch of a Roman way, called now the Port way, and in some part Wattle-bank ; hut (says Dr. Plot) in an old terrier of Sir Tho- 7nas Chamberlain's, it is called Avcsdich, perhaps a corruption of 1 Mat. West. 'Nat. Hist. Oxf. ch. 10. §. IKJ. « Chrou. Saxon, sub. an. ' lligden. Polycron. sub. an. " Mat. West. sub. an. » Cliron. Sx\.on. y Flor. Wig. ct Higdtn. I'olycron. ^ Mat. West. G 2 44 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Offa* s-cHtch , the great king of the Mercians, whose kingdom might at first he terminated here, though I find at length he extended it as far as Benson, as thinking it for his honour and profit both, that the IFest Saxons should have nothing north or west of the Thames * : and marched to *Benningtun or Bynsingtun, (most corruptly printed Resington'') now Bensington or Benson nigh Dorchester, which (says Camden) Marian calls Vdlam Regiam, and zvhich,from the time it was taken from the Britains by Ceaulin, had been possessed by the West Saxons for two hundred years". But this report of Mr. Camden, though transcribed and assented to by another worthy author **, is not true; for this town, after its taking by Ceaulin, had often changed its masters, and was last regained from the Mercians upon their defeat at Burford, an. 752, and was maintained by them as one of their oldest and strongest garrisons. This place king Offa now besieged, and Kenwulph king of the West Saxons, coming vip to the relief of it, was in open battle defeated, and obliged to fly be- yond the Thames" : king Offii took the town, and in a passion for its long defence, dismantled the place ' ; and for the reward of his vic- tory was again possessed of this whole county. Soon after this re- duction, he took away from the monks of Malmsbury the manor of Piretune ^, perhaps Pyrton nigh Watlington, which his son Egferth restored '' : (which the British Cedwalla king of the West Saxons had given to them) and gave Hethrop and Kidington in this coun- ty to the abbey of Worcester '. About this time he resettled the see of Dorchester, which, on the continued contests between the two kingdoms, seems to have had a long interruption in the succession of bishops, and had one Berth un ordained to reside here, who dying * Anno DccLxxvii. Kinewlfus Rex gem Merciorum circa Benetune, sed ab eo West-Saxonum pugnavit contra Offam re- fugatus est. Cron. Mailros. » Nat. Hist. Oxf. eh. 10. §. 35. >> Higden. Polycron. edit. Gale, p. 250. <^ Camden's Brit, in Dobun. d Plot. Nat. Hist. Oxf. ch. 10. §.114. '^ Mat. West. f Jo. Brompton, p. 770. E W. Malms, de Pont. p. 243. h Chartular. MS. Mon. Meldun. 'Men. Ang. toin. 1. p. 134. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 45 in the year 785 '' Higebright was by the same king OfFa elected to succeed him, Avhose diocese in the year 794 did extend through the counties of Oxford, Buckingham, Huntingdon, Cambridge, Nor- thampton, and half of Hertfordshire '. In which year king OfFa re- turning from Rome held a council at Verulam, founded the mo- nastery of St. Alban's, and among other endowments gave to it Wneslowe, (now Winslow in Com. Buck.) which the historian calls the king's village in Demesn, and says it was twenty miles distant from Verulam "". King Offa died in August 794 ", leaving Egferth or Egbert his son and heir : who died within the year, after whom Cenwulph king of Mercia was a strong and victorious prince : he dying an. 819 left his kingdom to Kenelm, who being slain the same year gave place to Ceolwulph, deprived an. 821, and suc- ceeded by Beornwulf ; who in the year 823 was defeated by Egbert liing of the West Saxons at Ellendune, (which place cannot be fixed at Wilton ", since one of our historians says expressly it was in Hampshire p, perhaps Ellingham in that county,) upon the success of this battle king Egbert gained the kingdom of Mercia, by which means this county of Oxford was again united to the West Saxon kingdom. Shortly after, Ludecan usurped a regal power in Mercia, but was slain by the East Angles, an. 825, when the Mercians set up Wiglaf to redeem them from their subjection to the West Saxons ; but in the year 827 king Egbert conquered Wiglaf and recovered Mercia, which in the next year he gave back to Wiglaf, to hold it as a deputed and tributary king i : who, after thirteen years enjoyment, left it to Berthwulph, a like vassal to the West Saxon kings, an. 838, in wliose reign these parts were infested by the Danes. k Flor. VVigorn. sub. an. ' Mat.West. sub. an. 791. "' lb. " C'liron. Sax. •Gibson, locorum explicatio. P Ran. Higden. Polycron. p. 252. l Will. Malms, dc gcstis Reg. Ang. p. 33. 46 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. CHAP. VIII. DANES. 1 HE first ships that landed the Danish pirates in this island are said to have arrived here an. 78? '• Tlieir depredations, at first con- fined to the sea coasts, were soon carried on to the inland parts. But they made no advance to this county till the year 851, when, landing at the mouth of the Thames with three hundred transport ships, they destroyed Canterbury and London % and marched on to the eastern part* of this county of Oxford, where king Berthwulph met them with an army, but was defeated by them, and forced to fly beyond sea', where he died an. 852". Upon this victory, the Danes after their usual spoil and devastation marched southward, and, crossing the Thames, came to Oakley in Surry, where tliey were encountered by Ethelwulph king of the West Saxons, and Elhelbald his son, and received an absolute defeat ". After which Burrhed suc- ceeded to the kingdom of Mercia, who strengthened himself by an alliance with king Ethelwolph, and secured these parts from the in- cursion of the Danes, whose cruelty was most exercised in the eastern and the northern parts, from which they came and took up their winter quarters at Notingham, in the year 867 ^- Upon which invasion of this kingdom of Mercia, king Burrhed called in the as- sistance of his brother-in-law Ethelred king of the West Saxons, and * III carta Bertulphi regis Mercioruin where by Beningdon or Benigndon we may fact, abbat. de Croykind anno 851. Propo- justly presume is meant Bensingtun, com. sitq ergo tali querela vestra per fratrem As- Oxon. the court of the Mercian kings. killum commonachum vestrinn palam coram Vid. Ingulph. Histor. p. \2. Archbishop prcelatis ct proceribus totius regni mei Mer- Ceolnoth and others cured there by mi- ci(B apud Beningdon ultimo congregatis, ^c. racle ; ib. fChron. Saxon. ^Ib. « Will. Malms, p 33. "Ran. Higden. Polycron. " Chron. Saxon. y Ib. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 47 led up his army to Notingham, and there besieged the Danes, and after some slight repulse was content to make a league with them. So as these parts were again quiet till the year 87I, when the Danes, designing an irruption upon the West Saxon kingdom, came to Reading and took possession of it ; upon which Ethelwulph earl of Berkshire raised some forces, and while the Danish generals Hingar and Hubba, within three days after the seizure of the town, led out a party to plunder the country at Inglefield in Berks, Ethelwulph fell upon them, routed the whole party, and slew the two leaders of them^ Within four days king Ethelred and his brother Alfred brought up a numerous army, and in a battle with the Danes forced them to retire within their garrison of Reading ; from whence they made a successful sally, killing Ethelwulph earl of Berkshire, and obliging the Saxons to raise their siege : who upon this repulse made their retreat to Easceasdune, which might possibly be Aston nigh Walingford in Berks ; but I rather take it to be Ashendon in the fo- rest of Bern wood, which might seem a safer retreat to the discouraged Saxons : the Danes pursued them hither under the conduct of Bagsey and Halden, and within four days in a set battle by the cou- rage of Alfred, and the piety of Ethelred, after a whole day's fight, the Saxons were masters of the field, and absolute victors, leaving many thousands of the Danes there slain, and pursuing the re- mainder of them to their garrison of Reading. All historians inter- pret this j)lace to be a Iii/l of ashes ; they represent it fit for an open and wide campaign, set with thorns and bushes, the Danes drawn out upon the rising ground, the Saxons with disadvantage encamped in the vale : the flight of the Danes all that night and part of the next day before they could reach to their fortifications at Reatling": which description and circumstances do all exactly answer to that part of the forest pf Bernwood, M'hich still retains that name, and was so consitlerable as to give a title to the hundred of Ashendon. The Danes after this defeat and flight to Reading, within fourteen » Ran. Higden. Polycron. *Hog. Hovcd. Annal. p. lU;. 48 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. days got into a new body at Basing in Hampshire, whither king Elhelrcd pursued them, and after a long engagement was defeated by them ''. Upon which it seems natural for the Saxons to retreat toward the forest of Bernwood, in which they had so lately been vic- torious : and being followed by the Danes, they might encamp nigh the borders of that forest, at Meretune in this county, close by the Roman fort of AUchester, hoping for some assistance or security from that place. Hither came the Danes and divided their army into two bodies, and fell upon the Saxons, who were encamped on the west side of Graven-hill, where the signs of entrenclunent do still remain. The Danes at first onset were broke and scattered ; but they rallied again, beat the Saxons, and kept masters of the field. There have been different opinions of this place of battle ; many have affixed it to Merdon in Wilts ; and Cressy with his wonted judgment calls it Merton in Surry : one, Avho is well instructed in antiquities, does be- lieve, tve should look for this place in some part of the West Saxon hingdom : and in Wiltshire (says he) there be two villages zvhich bear a resonhlance to this name, 1. Merdon in Swanhorrow hundred, about thirty miles directly west from Basing, about three miles from Wode- nesdike ; and here those that place this town in Wiltshire fx it. But I rather think it to be, 2. Merton in Kinwerdesion hundred upon the borders of Hampshire, because it is 7iot so far out of the Danes road between Basing and Wilton ; but equally distant from those two places, and not far from Bedwin, in the Saxons' time the metropolis of Berkshire and Wiltshire". This my industrious friend seems con- cerned for the honour of his native county ; and when he comes to adorn the history and antiquities of it, he may perhaps discover more certain tokens of this place of battle. But at present I readily in- cline to the opinion of Dr. Plot, as thus delivered. As for the en- trenchments in Merton-tuoods, I guess them cast up by king JEthelred and his brother Alfred, who cum paganis pugnantes apud Mertune ^, fighting with the Danes at Merton, {as I find this toivn ivas anciently b Rog. Hovcd. Annal. p. 416. = T. Tanner e Coll. Reg. Oxon. <• Flor. Wigorn. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 49 written in the leiger-book of Ensham ") overcame them and put their whole army to flight. That the Danes had someivhat to do here- about, is further evinced from one of the spurs in the hands (if I mis- rememher not^ of George Sherman of the toivn of Bisseier, not far from this place, ?vhich I took no care to get engraven, because already done by Olaus IFormias \ where the reader may see the exact fgure of it. All which put together, and that this place is near the meeting of two military ?i'ays, I am pretty tvell satisfied that this battle be- tween ^thclred, his brother Alfred, and the Danes, was much rather here thati at Merdon in JFiltshire as some have thought it^. Some fair reasons may be added to confirm this opinion. 1. Tliere was another of these Danish spurs found upon digging the founda- tion of a garden wall belonging to the seat of Sir William Glynne, Baronet, an. 16/4, which might well be dropped on the same occa- sion : for the Danes dividing their army into two bodies, one of them might rally and engage on that rising ground, where the church of Ambrosden and the said seat are now built, at a small distance from, and within view of the other supposed place of battle. 2. The noble Ethchverd calls it Merantune ""j and mentions Heahmund bishop there slain (bishop of Sherborn") and buried at Cegineshamme, which no doubt should be Aegineshamme Cno^v^ Ensham) then a/a- moiis place^, and fit for the sepulture of bishops, soon after honoured with a cell of religion ; so as the interment of this prelate at En- sham may well argue that his death and the battle were in these parts. 3. This part of the county of O.xford had been long within the circuit of the West Saxon kingdom; and if king Egbert did restore it to the Mercians an. 828, yet the Mercian kings were from that time tributary to the West Saxon, as Burrhed now was to ^Ethelrcd : so that it M as enough proper for iEthelred, after a grievous defeat in «E registro de Ensham, MS. f Mon. Dan. 1. 1. cap. 7- P- 50. fig. E. 6 Nat. Oxf. ch. 10. §. 77. h Ethelwcrdus, lib 3. p. 43. edit. Savll. * Mat. West, .sub an. 871. •'Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 259. VOL. L H 50 PAROCHIAL ANTIQl ITIES. Hampshire, to cross the Thames and repair to these borders of Merciii for the assistance of his vassal and ally kingBurrhed ; the more likely, because after this battle Burrhed and the Mercian people were neces- sitated to a leagne and tribute to the Danes ', for which there seems no occasion, if this scene of action and terror had been more remote from their own country. 4. That hill, on the west side of which we presume to have been this seat of action, has long been called Graven-hull (now Graven-hill) which name from the Saxon gpepen-hul implies a sepul- chre of the dead, and a number of graves in this place, most likely of the bodies slain in this battle, whom the Danes, that were masters of the field, took care to bury in this adjoining ground, it being their custom to inter their dead in woods and groves ''. And this seems to be pretty evident from the composition of the name. For the two words whereof it is made have each of them something in their original to attest it. As for the first, the Gothic rj<.jVBAN, fodere, with the Saxon jpaep, which in general signifies lucus, cavea, dume- tum ; and in a more restrained sense, sepulchrum ; with the Islandic or old Danish grafa fodere, (which brings it nearer home,) puts it out of all doubt. And the second part of the word, which is the product of the Gothic hnA.Q;\H. tegere, operire, seconded by the Islandic eg ^il, tego, and the Saxon helan, tegere, does strongly con- firm it. For though there be diggings or grav'uigs made for several uses, yet a digging joined with covering cannot well agree to any thing but the burial of the dead. And this no doubt was the origi- nal of our hill, by which we commonly mean ani/ rising ground; whereas, if we look back to the originals, there is nothing more evi- dent than that it ought to be restrained to such risings as are caused by burial of the dead ; which in the northern parts are called raises. For the Saxons had other ways to express a mountain, and other things, wherein a rising without any limitation is simply implied. Besides, that this termination points out to us something concerning ' Ethelwerd. cap. 3. p. 614. ^ Olai Wormii Mon. Dan. 1, 1. cap. G. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 51 the dead, is further evinced from the use the Saxons mnc^e of it to signify hell, inferi, tartarus, by which we know formerly was signified no more than the grave. After this battle, one of the Danish officers called Somerlcd marched back with a party to Reading, destroying the town and all he could find in it '. From which station now demolished the Danes removed to London, and there took up their winter quarters, an. 873"", where our Mercians made their peace with them, upon the terms of so much tribute or Dane-geld to be paid to them. In the following spring, Alfred king of the West Saxons, who succeeded his brother Etheldred, buried at Winbmn in com. Dors, fought several battles wih the Danes, of which the most sharp was at Abendon in com. Berks", by which the Saxons were so much weakened, that they were glad to purchase a peace with the Danes, and hire them to withdraw from these parts. Upon which compact the Danes re- tired beyond the Hvunber, to the island Torkesey in com. I^inc. where, within this year, 8/3, our Mercians made a second bargain with them" ; but the Danes, not able to forbear their trade of plun- der, broke the articles p, and for satisfaction king Burrhed raised an army, and stood battle nigh Repton in Derbyshire ; but being there defeated, he was forced to fly beyond the seas, and take sanctuary at Rome''. Upon his desertion the victorious Danes committed this kingdom of Mercia to Ceolwulph a thane and a subject of Burrhed, an. 874, upon servile conditions, to assist them in their robberies, to provide provision for their flying armies, and to resign the kingdom whenever they should please to demand it \ Accordingly in the year 877 they took away the greater part of this kingdom, all beyond the Humber, and gave it to Healfilene one of dicir own com- manders': leaving Ceolwulph in possession of these parts: who, be- ing a very weak and unactive prince, was content to dt^liver up his 1 Chron. Joh. Brompton, p. 809. m Cliron. Saxon. " Joh. Brompton, p. 810. o Chron. Saxon. P Jo. Brompt. p. 810. q Ethehvcrd. 1. 4. c. 3. ' Chron. Saxon. * Ethelwerd. 1. i. c. J. H 2 63 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. government to king Alfred before the end of the same year 877 S ^y which means this county was again united to the West Saxon king- dom. In the year 879 the Danes removed their quarters from Chippen- ham in Wiltshiie to Cirencester in Glocestershire, and kept a sta- tion there for twelve months, by which neighbourhood the western parts of this county must suffer greatly ". An. 886 Mercia, that had lately been a kingdom, was now reduced into a province, and com- mitted to the government of i^thelred, who had married ^thelfled a daughter of king Alfred ". An. 8.97, in a raging jicstilence that now swept away many of the nobility and prime clergy, Ealheard bishop of this diocese died of the infection at his see of Dorchester ^ To omit the founding or restoring of an University at Oxford by king Alfred, I meet with nothing more in his reign of immediate concern to these parts, unless, that before his death, an. 901, he did in his last will bequeath to Osferth his kinsman the villages of Beccaule, Ritherumfield, Diccanlingum, Suttune% &c. which I take for Beck- ley, Rotherfield, Ducklington, Sutton, Sec. in this county. To king Alfred succeeded his son Edward, much opposed by his uncle's son ^thelwald, who in the first year of competition for the crown was forced to cross the seas ; but returning in the next year, 902* or 904'', he brought a numerous army into these parts, and, destroying all before him \\ ith fire and sword, he frighted the city of Oxford into a surrendry to him ; but king Edward marching hither with greater force made him retire, and pursued him into the east; where nigh St. Edmundsbury he gained a complete victory over him, and soon after reduced those cities which had rebelled against him ; among which the chief w ere London and Oxford ^ An. 905, in a council held in the province of the West Saxons, Kenulf was elected bishop of this see of Dorchester, and was consecrated, « Will. Malms, de gest. Reg. 1. 1. p. 33. " Cliron. Saxon. ^ Alfred! M. vita, p. 42. yChron. Saxon. ^iElfredi M. vita, p. 194. ^ Mat. West, sub an. * Chron. Saxon. "^ Mat. West. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 53 with six other bishops elect, by archbishop Plegmuncl at Canter- bury'. An. 907 the Danes, Avho had of late kept within their bounds in the east parts of England, and on the north of Huml^er, by the appointment of king Edward met him at Yttingaford, Ittinge- ford, or Ichyngforcl, which I take to be Ickford in com. Buck, on the edge of this county ; where a league was made between them *■. Hy which means these parts were unmolested till the year 911, when the Danes fell into this country with their wonted violence ; but by an army of the West Saxons and Mercians they were drove back, pursued, and beat in the north. An. 912 died iEthelred earl of Mercia, whose province was committed to the government of his wi- dow Ethelfleda^ i)y her brother king Edward, excepting the cities of London and Oxford, and all the lands belonging to them ^, which the king retained in his own hands, as a pledge of his sister's fidelity, and to keep in suljjection the whole province. An. 914 the Danes from Northampton and Leicester fell into the north-east parts of this county, and marched on with jolunder and destruction to Hocneralune '', Hokenertune ', Hocheneretune '', Hochemeretune', now Hokcnorton, and made great slaughter of the English Saxons in this place, and other adjoining parts. At \\hich time were cast up those military works still known by the name of Tadmerton-castle and Hooknorton-barrow, the former be- ing large aiul round, and is therefore judged a fortification of the Danes ; the latter, being smaller and rather a quinquangle than a sfjuare, is thought done by the Saxons'". Historians differ much in the time of this action ; Bromj)ton and Huntingdon woukl have it in the tenth of Edward sen. 911, which others compute 910"; the Saxon Chronicle relates it 917 ; but the account of Flor. Wigor. 914, (where he calls it Hokeneretune, villam reiiiam^ must be right, if EtheKleda, after this defeat, took care to repair and defend " the city il Mat. West. « Chron. Saxon. f Mat. West, sub ;in. s Chron. SaxoiK hib. 'Flor. Wigor. ^ Hen. Hunt. 1 Jo. Brompt. m Nat. Hist. Oxf. ch. 10. §. 75. " flist. ct. Antlq. Un. Oxf. p. 12. Hist, et Antiq. Un. Oxon. ib. 54 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. of Oxford, supposing she died on the 19th of the kalends of July, an. i)15, and was buried at GlocesterP. When the Danes after this pillage returned to their quarters at Leicester and Northamjiton, within the same year came out another strong party and ravaged on to Ligetun, now Leyton in Com. Bedf where they were encountered by the Saxons of those parts, and drove back with great loss of men and taken prey ''. While they kept their head quarters at Northampton and made frequent incursions into this country, the Saxons had a partition wall and trench to keep out the enemy from these parts, which work was perhaps before raised for the boundary between the Mercian and West-Saxon kingdom, and therefore the whole or a branch of it called Avesdich, a corruption of Offa's-ditch " ; which seems to have run on to Wansdike in Wiltshire, running from the north-east to south-west through a great part of that county, which Mr. Camden alway believed to have been the limits of the Mercian and West- Saxon kingdom in those parts ^ The extreme parts of it in this county were at Mixbury, where near the church does still appear a large fortification square, and encompassed with a ditch I70 paces one way, and 128 the other', which by the Normans was called Beau- mont, from the fair ascent and prospect of it ; within this parish was afterward a castle, of which the tradition and its name in the site of it do still remain. From whence it ran to Fritwell, where Dr. Plot has observed a Saxon barrow, called Ploiighly-hill, standing just within Oxfordshire on the port ivay, and (jvhich is somewhat more than ordinary^ giving name to the hundred where it stands " : from whence it continued to Ardulvesle, now Ardley, where was another rampire, by the Normans converted into a castle, the foundations whereof arc yet to be seen in a little wood tvest of the toivn, tuhich, if any heed may be given to the tradition of the place, flourished about PRog. Hoved. Annal. p. 422. <)Chron. Saxon. Jo. Brompt. Hen. Hunt. ""Nat. Hist. O.Ni. ch. 10. §. 35. s Camden, in Belgis. ' Nat. Hist. Ostf. ch. 10. §. 35. "lb. §. 48, AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 56 the time of Icing Stephen \ It passed from thence to Midlington- stony, where (most Hkely upon the ruins of a Saxon work) was erected another castle formerly belonging to the fomily of Canivil, and long remaining, after most other castles in this county were de- molished : so to Northbrook and to Kirklington. The ruins of the l)ank and trench are visible in several parts, and the road from Mid- lington to Heyford bridge is cut through it, the bank rising on each side to a considerable height. Many towns and villages in these parts, of which the names and rnins now remain, are thought to have been destroyed by the Danes in these times of calamity. As, 1. the old town of Berincester, which was first built on the west part, or in kings-end, where the site of it may be now tracked through the close or grove of Mr. John Coker, gent, a kind encourager of this attempt. 2. Fulwell in the parish of Mixbury, and Woolaston near adjoining. 3. Shelswell nigh to New- ton-Purcell. 4. Bainton within the precincts of Stoke-line. 5. Sax- enton in the parish of Bucknell, where the foundations of building do more especially appear in a ground called the Ball-yards. Camden thinks it was in this year 914, that the Danes hrohe with fury into the forest of Bernwood, and that then perhaps was ruined the city of Burgh, an ancient place, as Roman money there found does witness, which was afterward a royal village of Edward the Con- fessor, though it he notv a small country town, and instead of Buri- hill is by contraction called Brills This etymology of the place is indeed more natural than what another writer would force upon it, as if Brill was a corrMi)tion of Burr-hill, from the burrs there grow- ing ^ But I rather think the true denomination of this place, for- merly called Bruheham, Bruhel, Brehull, was from Bruel a thorny place, from Bruer a thorn, whence a thicket or bushy place was called Bruere, as the abbey of Bruer, abbatia de Brueria in the fo- rest of Whichwood . and a wood in our old Latin was called Bruil- »Nat. Hist. Oxf. cb. 10, §, 13C y Camden. Britan. in Cattieuch. z Skinner in Etymol. Lex. 56 1»AR0CHIAL ANTIQUITIES. lus, as in a charter of Henry the Third to the church of Chichester, the king grants bruillos nostras Clcestre, viz. bruillum qui vocatur bruiUiis regis, ct bruillum qui vocatur dcncviarsh". From which rea- son this town, so situate in the forest of Bernwood, might be pro- perly called Bruill, and at last Brill. Mr. Camden seenjs not only mistaken in the derivation of this place, but in his historical remark upon it, there being no authority or tradition that this place was ever called Burgus, or ever sacked by the Danes. And therefore Speed conjectures that this demolition by the Danes- is to be meant of Tame in this county ''. But this opinion stands on no better grounds : and I should sooner think the Burgus or Burg they report now to be destroyed was far remote from the forest of Bernwood, and could be no other than the old Medeshamsted, called Burgh and Burgus, now Peterborough, once at least destroyed by tliese Pagans ^ In the next year after the desolation of this county by the Danes, an. 915 '', * or 918 % king Edward raised a great army in these parts, and before the feast of St. Martin marched to Buckingham, where he lay one month, and caused two forts to be built and garrisoned on each side the Ouse : and then advancing toward the Danes he struck such a terror into them, that Turketil their general, with the garrisons of Bedford and Northampton, were glad to make their submission and their peace ^ In the year following, the Danes, fall- ing back to their violation of all truces, and their constant trade of plunder, king Edward, with a new army from these parts, marched to Bedford, besieged and took it «. After which he built the town of Tocester for a barrier to hinder the Danes incursion into this coun- try : who were so sensible of this restraint to be put upon them, that they came out in a great body from Northampton, and besieged * Anno 916. Elfleda construxit Clurebiri, et Warebiri, et Runconen. Cron. Mailros. " Mon. Ang. torn. :i. p. 1 25. b Theat. Hist. Brit, in Bucks. c Chron. Sax. sub an. 963. '' Jo. Brompt. et Mat. West. 'Chron. Sax. fib. et Jo. Brompt. K Chron. Sax. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 57 the new town of Tocester; but the garrison, recruited by the neigh- bouring inhabitants, made a stout defence, and by frequent sallies drove away the Pagan army ; who upon this repulse broke into the adjoining parts of the county of Bucks, plundered the villages, drove away the cattle, and killed many of the inhabitants between the town of Eilesberie, now Ailsbury, and the forest of Bernwood ''. But they were soon pursued and drove to their winter quarters by king Edward, who lay with his army at Passenham or Passham in Nor- thamptonshire, while the new town of Tocester was better secured by a stone wall : and within the compass of the same year, the Danes were so weakened and dispersed, that they chose to promise allegi- ance, and live in subjection to king Edward ' : who thereby settled the peace of these parts till his own death at Faringdon on the edge of this county, and the death of -^Ifweard his son at Oxford imme- diately after, an. 924 ^ or 925 '. Upon the death of Edward, j3^^thelstan his eldest son succeeded, and during his whole reign guarded these parts from all disturbance by the Danes ; who in January 938 held a council at Dorchester in this county, in chut ate celeberrima quce Dorjiaccstrc appellatur, and there gave a charter subscribed by four tributary kings, two arch- bishops, and fourteen bishops, to the convent of Malnisbury, grant- ing to them ten cassates of land in Wdetun, five in Ewulm, &c. (per- haps Wood-eaton and Ewelm in this county"".) He died an. 940", or 941°, buried at Malnisbury, to whom succeeded his brother Ed- mund ; in the first year of his reign the Danes, presuming on the weakness of a new prince, made an excursion into those parts of Buckinghamshire, which border on the north-east parts of this county, and, finding all |)laces surprised and unprovided, they com- mitted great outrages upon men and cattle between Ailsbury (which Leland conjectured might be the Eadsbirig built by EHleda j)rincess '' Mat. West, sub an. 918. ' Mat. West, sub an. D81. et Higdcn. Polycron. sub an. cod. ^ Mat. West. Higden. I'olycrou. &e. ' Cliron. Saxon. "' Will. Malms, de Pontif. I. 5. apud Gale, p. 364. apud Wharton, p. 31. " Hen. Hunt. Rog. Hoved. &c. " Sax. Chron. Kan. Higd. &c. VOL. I. 1 58 rAROCIIIAL ANTIQUITIES. of the jMercians c) and the forest of Bernx>'oocl. But king Edward soon frighted them to their places of retreat, and, pursuing them northward, took from them their garrisons of Stanford, Lincohi, Nottingham, &c. "i and so resettled the peace and security of these parts; being further employed in reduction of the Danes in the north till his death, an. 946'. To him succeeded his brother Edred, who kept tlie whole scene of action on the other side the Humber, and having accepted the submission of Wulstan archbishop of York, translated thither from the see of Dorchester, and finding him after- wards false to him, he brought him away a prisoner into these parts an. 952, and in the year 953 % or 954 ', restored his episcopal dignity to him at the town of Dorchester in this county : and died 955 ", m which year his uncle Edwy was crowned in Kingston ; but in the next year, 956, Edgar was made king of Mercia, and, upon the death of Edwy 957, had the dominion of all England''. His peaceful reign left nothing of remark in these parts, but only that Escuin bishop of Dorchester subscribed a charter to the church of Malmsbury an. 962 ^ or 964 % and an. 9/0, Osketyl archbishop of York, who like his predecessor Wulstan had been translated from this see of Dor- chester, resided now at Tame in this county, and dying there on All- Saints day was biuied at Bedford by his cousin Turketil abbot of that place *. King Edgar made his kinsman Elfere governor of this province of Mercia, who by his sacrileges and irreligious humour brought a great calamity on these parts ''. King Edgar died an. 9/5, leaving Edward his son to succeed him ; in the third year of his reign an. 977? ^ great synod or council was held at Kirtlington in this county, which had been a place of great eminence and antiquity, a frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and the West Saxons, and of great resort from the port way that led through it, and had a very ancient church dedicated to St. P J. Leland. Collect. MS. vol. 2. p. 240, 244. 1 Chron. Saxon. 'Sim. Dun. *Rog. de Hoved. p. 2428. ' Sim. Dun. p. 156. " Chron. Saxon. " Sim. Dun. y W. Malms, de Pont. 1. 5. Wharton. 2 lb. edit. Gale. '' Chron. Saxon. " Sim. Dun. et Chron. Saxon. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 5^ Mary^ There has been much doubt and controversy about the name and situation of this place of council. In the Saxon Chronicle it is called Kynrhnjtune, which the expert editor grants to be a mis- take for Kyptlin^nine '^, as Spelman does record it". Florence of Wor- cester calls it Kirtlinege, and says by mistaken conjecture that it was in the east part of England'. From him Hoveden jilaces it in East- England, but further corrupts the word into Kirding'', which Brompton with as little care and truth writes Kerling ''. Sir Henry Spelman, submitting to the authority of Flor. Wig. and Hoved. grants the place to have been among the East Angles, yet can find no village in those parts of that name, till at last he remembers in an old catalogue of the villages of Cambridgeshire, there did occur one by the name of Kirtling, which he takes to be the same that is now called Katlage, then the seat of baron North. All which is a forced and improbable guess. And therefore one that has done service in these matters does restore the just honour to Kirtlington in this comity', which opinion, besides the propriety of name, he confirms by the burial of Sidemanne bishop of Criditon in Devonshire, at Abendon in com. Berks : which could not have been otherwise agreeable, if his death had happened in any of the eastern counties. It is true that bishop Sidemanne was buried in the monastery of Abendon, and therefore it is an unhappy mistake in Sir Henry Spel- man, in his Latin translation of the Saxon, to insert Criditon as his burial place, without authority of the original. He desired indeed to be bvnied at his episcopal see, but because that was too remote, he was, by order of king Edward and archbishop Dunstan, carried to the next religious place, which was Abingdon on the edge of this county, and there interred on the north side of the porch or cloister of St. PauP. But besides this identity of name and sepulture at Abendon, there be other reasons, that do abundantly evince this <^Mon. All}?, torn. 2. p. IOO7. ** Gibson, locoruni exi)Iicatio. « Concil. Brit. torn. 1. p. I'M. fplor. Wigor. sub an. 977- sRan. dc Hovcd. p. 42?. iiCIiron. Jo. Brompt. p. 870. ' Gibson, locoruni cxplicatio. ^ Hist. Ccnob. Abend, apud Wliarton, p. 16G. et Cliron. Saxon. I 2 ^ PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. synod to have been held in this place. 1. The occasion of this as- sembly was to redress grievances that arose in these parts, from the expulsion of monks and the settlement of secular clergy in all the re- ligious cells of Mercia, by Elfere governor of this province ' ; so as the business of the synod arising in these parts, their convening must be here, and not among the East Angles. 2. The person who most concerned himself in procuring this synod, and soliciting the cause of the monks (next to the zealous archbishop Dunstan) was ^thel- wald bishop of Winchester, who had first been abbot of Abendon, and after his j)referment to that see had consecrated them a new church of St. Mary's in Abendon, and had persuadtxl king Edgar to expel the secular priests, and introduce monks to that abbey"; which monks Elfere had again disturbed, so that one of the prime agents in this synod, bearing so near a relation to Abingdon, and the interest of that abbey being one of the chief affairs then depending, it must needs follow, that the synod should be convened in some place convenient for such a scene of affairs, v.iliich could never be in. any of the eastern parts of England, but might well be appointed within twelve miles of Abendon. 3. In those little remains we have of the result of this synod, we find but one act, which is, that king Edgar and the bishops did there ordain, that the country people might go in pilgrimage to the church of St. Mary's in Abendon ", which had been absurd if not done among the inhabitants of these parts. The two following synods, held near the same time upon the like occasion at Calne and Ambresbury in Wiltshire, prove the for- mer to have been toward the same part of the kingdom °. In short, from the continual preserved nanie, from the commodious situation, from all circumstances thereto agreeing, I think it most certain that this micle pernor, this great synod, was held at Kirtlington within three miles of Burcester. In the year 8/8 king Edward was murdered at Corf in Dorset- ' Sim. Dun. sub an. 975- Ran. Higden. sub an. <)76, &c. •" Hist. Cenob. Abenck p. 166, n Spelman. de Concil. torn 1. p. 493. <> Jo. Brompt. p. 8/0. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 6i shire, and buried at Warham, from whence his body was taken by our Elfere earl of Mercia, and buried at Shaftsbury ? ; which earl died in the year 983, when his son Elfric succeeded to the govern- ment of these parts : who, within two years, 985 f, was banished the kingdom by king Ethelred, but was soon recalled, and in the year 991 was one of the chief instruments to [)romote a dishonourable peace with the Danes, and to begin that yearly pension which was afterward so great a burden and scandal to this nation ^ And the next year being made one of the admirals at sea, he declined to fight, and betrayed our navy to the Danes ' : for which baseness in the year following, 993, the king put out the eyes of his son Elfgar'. An. 993 *, or 995, Escwin bishop of Dorchester gave to the church of Canterbury and Elfric archbishop the manor of Risbergh ", (not Kisberge as falsely printed in another author") now Monks-Risbo- rough in com. Buck, then of Bokeland tenure''. And in the year 997 Elfgive the queen gave the two manors of Niwentune and Brutewelle, now Newington and Brightwell in this county of Ox- ford, to the said church of Canterbury, free from all secular service except the threefold necessity ^ An. 1002 the king commandetl all the Danes to be murdered on the feast of St. Bricc, which orders were executed with greatest violence in this county, and especially at Oxford, where the churches were no protection from a general mas- sacre \ An. 1003 the king raised a great anny in Wiltshire and Hampshire against the Danes, and made Elfric earl of Mercia gene- ral of them, who at the the time of battle feigned himself sick, and betrayed all to the Danes'': for which king Ethelred deprived him * An. 993, K. Ethelred gave to the ter see the witnesses, unJcr the year mcccxx abby of Abingdon some lands in Erncotc in this work, (now Arncot in Amersden,) to which char- P C'liron. Saxon. lib. et Mat. West. f Hen. Hunt, sub an. «Chron. Saxon. 'lb. "Mon. Ang. torn. I. p. iM. * Thorn. Evident, inter X. Script, p. 222. Tib. ct Wharton. Ang. Sac. torn. 1. p. 104. '^ lb. »Hist. et Antiq. Oxon. p. 13. ''Chron. Sax. 62 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. of his honour, and gave this province to a more perfidious governor, Edric surnamed Streone ". An. 1005 Aiimer earl of Cornwall, who had before founded the abhev of Cerne in Dorsetshire, gave thirty-six mansions in others places in exchange with Ethelward his son in law, for thirty man- sions at Eynsham in this county, in loco cclebri juxto finvium qui vo- cofiir Teniis, quod apud incolas rcgiovis illius Egnesham vocalur. Upon which he founded an abbey of the Benedictine order, and among other endowments gave to it ten mansions of common field in Erdintune, which he exchanged with his kinsman Godwyn for five mansions at Stodelege, and ten mansions at Cestertune, now Stodley and Chesterton in this county '', and was buried in this monastery". An. 1006 about Christmas, the Danes from Hamj>shire fell into Berkshire, plundered Reading', and utterly destroyed Wallingford^. An. 1008 died Alfelm bishop of Dorchester, who had succeeded Escwin ; and Ednoth abbot of Ramsey was now elected to that see "'. An. 1009 the incensed Danes marched through the Chiltern country and broke into the east parts of this county ', passing on to Oxford, and firing that city''. About this time king Ethelred by the ad\ice of Alphege archbishop of Canterbury, and Wulstan arch- bishop of York, held a general council at .ffinham, wherein many decrees were established for the policy of church and state'. This place of council I take to be i?i^nsham in this county, for these rea- son. 1. This iEgnesham had been a British city"', and was just before called hci/s Celebris", and was now made more eminent by the accession of a new religious house. 2. King Ethelred kept the greatest part of his residence in this county, chiefly at Hedington near Oxford ", and at Islip, and therefore may be justly supposed to have some time removed his court at Egnesham, and there at one c Mat. West, sub an. '' Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 259. « lb. p. 2.54. f Flor. Wigorn. sub an. sChron. Saxon. h Histor. Rames. cap. 69. et Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 240. ■ Chron. Jo. Bronipt. p. 287. "^ Hen. Hunt. p. 361. 'Spel- man. Concil. torn. 1. p. 510. "> Chron. Saxon, sub an. 571. ° Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 259. "Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 984. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 63 of the three solemn times to have entered into council with his no- bihty and clergy. 3. Another council was nigh the same time held by king Ethelred at Wudestoc'', now Woodstock in this county, which may argue the other to have been in some place adjoining. 4. This council began with so many orders and constitutions for the discipline of monasteries, that from thence it seems to have been held in a place of religion, and the more likely Egnesham, because this abbey being lately founded, and committed by the founder to the patronage of king Etheldred '* ; these laws of monastic go- vernment seem to bear a peculiar relation to this place. 5. The feast of St. Mary was now enjoined to be solemnly observed above all other festivals, which perhaps nnght be on the occasion of their assembling in or near this abbey dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Upon the mention of Heddington, 1 ought to recite what a wor- thy person has lately observed of it. From Ki/ig Edicanl the Coti- Jesso}-'s being born at Islip, if is easy to collect, that his father king Ethelred must necessarily have had a royal seat there, as in all proba- bility at Ilcdding/on near Oxford;for though tradition now goes, that it was but the nursery of the king's children, ivhereof there remains yet upon the place so/ne signs of foundations in afield near the toiun, call- ed Court Close : yet it is plain, that king Etheldred did sometimes at least reside there himself , for he concludes a charter, or some such like instrument, wherein he grants privileges to the monastery of St. Frideswide here in Oxon. of his own restoration in English thus, [CblS yviUilenge mas iQltlj in f^ClDDingtOn] and after in Latin, scripta fait hcec cedula jussu prefati regis in villa regia (pue appel- latur, &c. ' To which I need only add, that this grant was made to the convent of St. Frideswide (which the King calls myn owne tnyn- s/er in Oxenford) before the year 1005, while Elfric was archbishop of Canterburv, and Alfric Earl of Mercia, who are witnesses to this P Lambard, ApxaicK. 4to. fol. 82. •! Moii. Aug. lorn. 1. p. 259. ' Plot, Nat. Hist. Oxf. cl). 10. §. 12. 6*4 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. donation : and at the same time the king granted to the said monas- tery, some possessions within that royal village, [of lt)CDDin5tOn anD of nil: tf)c lonDc tfjat tbqcto be- anD in fcioc anD all otbet t{)inff anD rj)t[)C tfjat ] witliin which concession was the free chapel of Heddington, exempt from all customs due to the bishop and archdeacon, which Maud the empress afterward confirmed to that church of St. Frideswide ^ An. 1010 the Danes came again into this coimty, and after great destruction in these north-east parts, marched from hence to Buckingham, and Bedford, and Temsford*. An. 1011, among the counties that, upon conquest and composition, paid a constant tri- bute to the tyrannic Danes, this of Oxford is recounted". An. 1012 Alphege archbishop of Canterbury, ha\'ing been taken away captive by the Danes, was martyred by them on Sunday the 13th of the kalends of May, and his body soon after interred in the church of St. Pavil's, London, by the pious care of Eadnoth Bishop of Dor- chester". An. 1013 Swane king of Denmark marched with his army from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire into these parts of Mercia, and on this side of Watling-slreet he gave command to his soldiers to plunder the country, to burn the villages, to deface the churches, to nuirder the men, and to ravish the women'': in which impious and sanguinary method he went on to Oxford, and frighted the city into surrendry, taking pledges of them : and within the same year, being repulsed from London, he came back to Wallingford, and marched thence to Bath, with the like military execution, returning this way into the north, and striking such a terror into king Ethel- red, that he first sent away his queen and children into Normandy, and retired thither himself after Christmas, leaving Swane in full possession of this kingdom : who died at Candlemas, an. 1014, and left his son Cnute elected by the Danes ; but the Saxons re- called their old master King Ethelred, who, an. 1015, invited the « Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 384. ' Chron. Sax. sub an. et Mat. West. " Chron. Sax. sub an. " Histor. Rames. cap. G9. > Sim. Dun. sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. Si, Danes to a conference at Oxford, where Edric earl of Mercia caused two of their Noblemen, Sigeferd and Morcar, to be trea- cherously murdered, whose death when the Danes endeavoured to revenge, they were overpowered, and some of them having taken sanctuary in the tower of St. Frideswidc church were there burnt : of which barbarous breach of faith, a full relation was once preserved in the register of that monastery ^ An 1016 Edric earl of Mercia perfidiously went over to Cnute with forty ships, and joining with him at the beginning of January marched along with the Danish forces, crossing the river at Creeklade, destroying many towns in Warwickshire ; and passing through these parts advanced to Buck- inghamshire with infinite fury and spoil ^. King Etheldred died at London, on St. George's day, and his son Edmund Ironside suc- ceeded, who in Uiis first year of his reign, after several engage- ments with the Danes, pursued them into Mercia, and followed them into Essex, where at Assandune was a battle fatal to the English, where Eadnoth bishop of Dorchester, while he was singing mass, had first his right hand cut off for the sake of his pastoral ring, and was then killed in the field"', whose body the monks of Ramsey fetched off, and would have conveyed to their monastery : but on the road, the monks of Ely robbed them of the corpse '. After his death Ethric monk of Ramsey was elected to the see of Dorchester''. About the feast of St. Andrew king Ed- mund died % or was murdered at London \ or, as some historians, at Oxford ^'. An. 1018, Cnute having absolute possession of this kingdom, some disputes arose between the English and Danes upon the ob- servation of king Edgar's laws : to end this controversy, king Cnute assembled a council at Oxford, where an agreement was made''. The next great council of king Cnute was at Cirencester on z Will. Malms, de gest. Reg. 1. 2. p. 7'- ' Sim. Dun. sub an. «> Hist. Ecclcs. Ellens, cap. 13. <= Histor. Kamcs. cap. 72, 73. ej^mm]-tpe 'Sat cotrlip'Se ic paj- bopen innebi naman Di'Sj-lepe 7 ane hy&e ac (Pepj-ce, j-corfpe anb ja^olppe, mib alien J»anu Junjan )ja jjep to bilimpa'S on pobe "] on jrelbe, on mabe •] on parepe mib chipchen -j mib chipcli-pocne j-pa pul T J* pa pop^ *j ]-pa ppee, j-pa is me yilj-on on hanbe j-tod, 7 j-pa alp lue Imme min mobep on minpe ppimbipbe bape to popme gipe it me j-aep •] to j-e kinbe biqua'S '. Edward King greeteth IFlsy Bishop, and Gyrth Earl, and all my Ricardi Norton. 8. Sept. 1508. Reg. Ecclesia dc Islip scquestratur per mor- Smith. tern Humph. Parkins. 22. Apr. 1578. Regv Dominus Willelmus Dycher pres. per Grindall. Archiep. Cant, abb. et conv. Westm. ad eccl. de Islype per Willelmus Wilson institutus in ecclesia resign, domini Robert! Weston. 10. Mar. de Islip. 25. Apr. 1578. ad pres. Geo. Fur- 1511. ib. mer armig. ratione concess. sibi per Job. Magister Willelmus Shraggar pres. per nuper abbatem Westm. ib. abb. et conv. Westm. ad eccl. de Islepe 1598. 7. Jul. Thomas Ravis. S. T. P. per resign, domini Willelmi Dycher. Maii. Decanus iEdis Christi Oxon. ad eccl. de 15J17- Reg. Atwater. Islip per resign. Hug. Lloide presbiteri Magister Petrus Polkyn, LL. D. pres. LL. D. ad pres. Gabriel Goodman S. T. P. per resign, magistri Willelmi Shragger. I. Decani Westm. et capituli. Reg. Whitgift, Mar. 1518. pensio IG libr. solvcnd. resig- Arehiepi. Cant, nanti. ib. ' Plot. Nat. Hist. cb. 10. §.12. ' MS. num. 24. James in Musseo Bib. Bod, p. 75. . AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 69 nobles in Oxfordshire. And I fell you that I have given to Christ and St. Peter info JVcstminster that small village wherein I was born, by name Gifhslepe, and one hyde at Mersce, scot-free and rent-free, with all the things ivhich belong thereunto, in ivood and field, in meadoivs and ivafers, tvith Church, and with the immunities of the Church, as fully and as largely, and as free as it stood in mine own hand; and also as my mother Imnie, upon my right of primogeniture, for my maintenance gave it me entire, and bequeathed it to the family. Besides this charter, there is another standing memorial of the birth of king Edward at Islip, the reUcs of the font wherein he was baptized, lately removed from the niins of a royal chapel in that town ; of which this account is given by an eye witness of it. In the chapel above mentioned, not many years since, there stood (as was constantly delivered down to posterity^ flic very font, wherein that religious prince, king Edward the Confessor, received the sacra- ment of baptism : which, together with the chapel in these latter days being put to some indecent at least, if not profane use, tvas care^ fully and piously rescued from it, by some of the right ivorshipful family of the Browns of Nether- Kiddington, where if now remains in the garden of that worthy gentleman Sir Henry Brown, Baronet, set handsomely on a pedestal, as exactly represented, tab. 16. fg. 6, and adorned with a poem rather pious than learned, ivhich yet I think / had put down, but that it is imperfect ". This font of stone seems a much nol)ler relic of religion, than that other of solid brass for the use of baptizing the royal family in Scotland, brought away among other spoils of war by Sir Richard Lee, and placed in the church of St. Albans, A. D. 1543='. To this gift of Islip and of lands in Mersh to the church of Westminster, king Edward in the twenty-fifth and last year of his reign, A. D. 1066, recites a prece- dent donation of the manor of Langtun now Lanton adjoining to Ambrosden, which continues to that church, and is at present held in lease by William Oakely Est^. Ad ususfrafrum ibi Deo servien- "Dr. Plot's Nat. Hist. Oxf.ch. 10. §. 121. » Camdeiii Brit, iu Catticiich. 70 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. titim de mcojure quod mihi soli compefehat absque ullius rcclamationc vel contmdictio)ie ista, ivprimis Langtun, cum omnibus ad se pcrti- nentibus. Gibfslcpe cum omnibus ad se pcrfincntibus, 8cc.^ This place of tlie donor's nativity is called Hiltesleapc% in the pipe rolls ot" the thirteenth of Henry the Second, Ileslepe in a charter of the same king Henry the Second ", Ighteslep in a presentation of the abbey of Westminster, in the sixth of Henry the Third ''. The initial Saxon D being cast away in this and other names of places, as Gipeswic now Ipswich, and Gifteley"" now Ifley near Oxford. The same king Edward granted two manses and a half in Wdeton, (Wood-eaton adjoining to Islip) to Thola widow of Ore, to whom king Cnute had given seventeen manses at Abbodesbury ''. This pious king bore a more especial relation to these parts, by his frequent residence at Brill in com. Buck, where he had a royal palace % to which he retired for the pleasures of hunting in his forest of Bernwood. It is to this jirince, and to his di^•ersion at this seat, that we must ascribe the traditional story of the family of Nigel, and the manor of Borstall on the edge of the said forest. Most part of the tradition is confirmed by good authority, and runs to this effect. The forest of Bernwood was much infested by a wild boar, which was at last slain by one Nigel a huntsman, who pre- sented the boar's head to the king, and for a reward the king gave to him one hide of arable land called Derehyde, and a wood called Hulcwode, with the custody of the forest of Bernwood, to hold to him and his heirs from the king, per unum cornu quod est charta prcedictce fores fee, and by the service of paying ten shillings yearly for the said land, and forty shillings yearly for all profits of the fo- rest, excepting the indictments of herbage and hunting, which were reserved to the king^ Upon this ground the said Nigel built a lodge or mansion house called Borestalle, in memory of the slain y Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 61. z Dugd. Bar, torn. 1. p. 451. ^ Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 954. b 11. Dodsw. MS. vol. 11?. p. 41. = B. Twine MS. notat. cap. 2. p. 252. ^ Sir Hen. Spelm. of Feuds MS. in Bibliotheca Bodlciana. • Camden, in Cattieuch. f Ex Chartulario de Borstall MS. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 71 boar. For proof of this, in the *chartulary of Borstall, (which is a transcript of all evidences in the reign of Henry the Sixth, relating to the estate of Rede esq. then owner of Borstall, a large folio in vellum) there is a rude delineation of the site of Borstall house and manor, and under it is the sculpture of a man, presenting on his knees to the king the head of a boar on the top of a sword, and the king returning to him a coat of arms, bearing argent, a fesse gules^ two crescents, a horn verd : which distinction of arms, though it could not agree with the time of Nigel, yet it is most likely he did receive from the king a horn, as a token and charter of his office of forester, and his successors by the name of Fitz-Nigel did bear those arms. The same figure of a boar's head presented to the king was carved on the head of an old bedstead, lately remaining in that strong and ancient house : and the said arms of Fitz-Nigel are now seen in the windows, and in other parts : and what is of greatest authority, the original horn, tipt at each end with siher gilt, fitted with wreaths of leather to hang about the neck, with an old brass ring that bears the rude impress of a horn, a plate of brass with the sculpture of a horn, and several less j)lates of brass with flower-de- luces, which were the arms of Lisures, who intruded into this estate and office soon after the reign of William the Conqueror, has been all along jjreserved under the name of Nigels horn, by the lords of Borstall, and is now in the custody of Sir John Aubrey baronet, * Hsec laudantur a darr-simo lingua- inghamensi, cum una hida terrse praclaro rum septentrioiialiuni instauratore Georgio Cynegctae Nigel vocato et hfprcdibus ejus Hickcsio in Disscrtatione Epistolari his ab iis tcnenda per unum cornu quod est verbis : Sic reverendus ct doclissimus vir, cliarta prtedictae forestse. Nigel ille ex VVhitus Kiiicttus, de vetusta omne genus Cynegeta gregario, Cyiicgataruin sive vc- liti'ratiira prifidarc meritus, in illo unticiui- natorum rcgiorum tri^uinus fa-tus orat, talis penu, libro suo, qui inscribitur I'ako- Cornuqne venatorium istud quod ani;d se- CHiAi. Antiqititibs, cx veteri Chartulario dis Borsta'iensis doniinum vidit Kenetti:«, Borstaliensi, tradit S. Eadwarduni confes- uon tantuni iit dunationis sed ut Coruicinis soreni dictum, ob vipgrandem occisum officii Syuibolum Nigello datiuu esse vi- aprum, dedissc pr.etVctiiram saltus sive dctur. Sylvse, cui Brcnwode nomcn in page Buck- fi PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. who has been pleased with great courtesy to communicate the notice of these things. The village of Brill was the king's demesne, and now or soon after it was let out in soccage, for the reserved rent of one hundred capons yearly for the king's table. Among those manors which the kings held in demesne, they had mansions or palaces in the largest and best situate of them, where they often resided, having constant provisions brought in by their feudatory tenants ; by such change of stations they made a sort of constant progress through their whole kingdom, kept up the better acquaintance with their people, and provided for the more easy administration of justice, which then attended the king's court and person. These places which had royal seats had the honour to be called Villae Regiae, which title was given to Brill ^; and while king Edward the Confes- sor did here divert himself, there happened an accident, which was turned into one of the miracles of that religious prince. The story is distinctly told by Will. Malms. Owe JFulwin siirnamed SpUlicora, (it should be de Spillicote) son of IFulmai' de Nvtegarshale, (it should be Lutegarshale, now Ludgershall) cutting dotvn fuel in the tvood Bruelle (now Brill) after hard labouring fell into a sleep, and by a settlement of blood in his eyes lost his sight for seventeai years, and then upon the strength of a dream he went round to eighty seven churches to beg relief from the respective saints, and at last came blind to the king's court at JVindsor, and ivas cured by a touch of the king's hand ; after tvhich he ivas keeper of the king's palace at JVindsor for several years after the death of his royal healer^K Ailred abbot of Rievaulx recounts this among the other miracles of Edward the Confessor, and varies but little in the circumstances of it: he represents the occasion to have been a royal palace then built at Bniheliam, (by which name Brill is sometimes called) and many country labourers being sent out by the chief workmen to fell timber in the adjoining woods, l^nng down to sleep in the heat of the % Camdeni Brit, in Atrebat. >> W. Malms, p. 91. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 73 day, one of them called Wulfwin rose up blind, and being long after cured by the hand of king Edward was nuide keeper of his palace nigli St. Peter's church '. An. 1046'', (not 1040, as mistaken in a late writer',) Emma the king's mother had been suspected of atlultery with Alwin bishop of Winchester, of \a Inch falsely imputed crime the queen purged her- self by the trial oi Jire ordeal, walking barefoot over nine hot plough shares without hurt : which miraculous proof of innocence was to be ascribed to the assistance of St. Swithin, patron of the church of Winchester, and therefore in a grateful acknowledgment the queen and bishop gave each nine manors to the said church, when anions those given by the bishop was Witeney, now Whitny or Witney in this county "'. About the same time the see of Criditon was removed to the city of Exeter, and given to Leofric the king's chaplain, to whom the king gave the monastery of St. Mary and St. Peter in that city, to which he recovered many of the lost possessions, and for an augmen- tation of lands to the maintenance of those monks who should prav for the souls of his lord the king and himself, he gave six lands in six several manors, of which the first was ^ lans at Baemtune", now Ban)i)ton * in this county, which still belongs to the church of Exeter. * Vicarii ccclesi;e do Bampton. Magister Eilimindus VN'illesford S. T. P. l>oiniiius Johannes Holrigge institu- presbyti-r pros, per dec. ct capit. Exon. ad tus in vicar, de Bampton per rnortem do- vicariam in cccl. do Bampton per resign, mini Tliomae de Bonlcgli ad prcs. prosi- domini Willelmi Clerk. S.Dec. 1198. Reg. dent, ct capituli lixon. .3. Mali VMi"] . lleg. Sniitli. Bukyriliani. Magister llieardus More deer, doctor, Johannes Widelond capeUanus prcs. per presbyter pres. per dec. ct capit. Exon. ad (U'cannm ct capit. Exon. ad vicar, eccl. de vicar, cccl. de Bampton per mort. magistri Bampton per mort. Joh. Ilolrygg. 9. Jnn. Joh. Pope. .'l.Sciit. It')!), ib. 1100. Reg. Beaufort. Magister Will. Wood A. M. presbyter >X. Script. Aired. Ab. p. S92. i* Chron. Jo. Brompt. p. 91. ' Nat. Hist, of Oxf. ch. 10. §. li'O. "'Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 980. "Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 22\. VOL. I. L. 74 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. In the same year, 1046°, though one historian makes it 1049'', and another 1050'', died Ea(hioth bishop of Dorchester, who liad foundcci the church of St. Mary's at Stow in Lincohishire% as a cell to the abbey of P2ynsham in this county : and was succeeded by Ulf a chaplain to the king, by birth a Norman ; who in the year 1047, going to a council held by the pope at Verceil in the duchy of Millan, for his ignorance in discharge of his office, should have had his epis- copal staff there broken, if he had not purchased his pardon with a very great sum of money '. After his return he became odious as a foreigner and an evil coimscllor of the king, and under that cha- racter was banished with Robert archbishop of Canterbury, William bishop of London, and other Normans an. 1052', but was afterwards recalled, and in the year 1067 died at Winchester, and was buried at Dorchester ". In this reign of the Confessor, the manors of Burcester, Ambros- den, Stratton, Weston, and many adjoining villages were a part of the large estate of Wigod de Walengford, a noble thane, who kept his residence at the town from whence he had his title, where at this prcs. per dec. et capit. Exon. ad vicar, eccl. 1595. 16. Maii. Humphr. Hargrave ad de Bampton per resign, mag. Ric. More, vicar, de Bampton per resign. Rob. Sib- 20. Sept. 1500. ib. thorp, A. M. ad pres. decani et capituli DominusTho. Hoye, presbyter, pres. per Exon. ib. dec. etcapit. Exon. ad vicar, eccl. deBamp- 1595. 14. Jul. Rob. Joye, A.M. ad vi- ton per mort. magistri Roberti Holcote. car. de Bampton, per mort. Henr. Doltin. 15. Dec. 1500. ib. ib. Magister Job. Southwode S. T. B. pres. 1598. 7- Jul. Job. Howson, presbyter, per dec. et capit. Exon. ad vicar, ccclesiae A. M. ad vicar, ecclesiae de Bampton, quare de Bampton per resign, magistri Edmundi Humphr. Hargrave nuper habuit jam de- Wylleford. 19. Dec. 1506. ib. functus, ad pres. decani et capituli Exon. 1585. 22. Nov. Hen. Walmysley, A. M. ib. ad vicar, de Bampton. Reg. Wliitgift, ar- chiepiscopi Cant. o Chron. Saxon. P Flor. Wigorn. 1 Mat. West. ' Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 262. s Chron. Sa.\on. ct Hen. Hunt. p. 365. «Mat. West, sub an. " Sim. Dun. p. 197. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. /5 time were 2/'6 houses, of which a mint-master had one, free from all geld while he coined money ; but at the general survey in the next reign, thirteen of these houses were diminished, and eight had been demolished to make a castle". This Wigod de Walengford gave to the church conventual of Egnesham in this county, two hides of land in Fulbroc>, now Fulbrook, nigh to Teynton, which Edward the Confessor gave to Deorherst com. Gloc. a cell to the abbey of St. Dennys in France ^ An. 1066, on the day before Epiphany king Edward died at West- minster, succeeded by king Harold, who, dying in the field on Oct. 14, surrendered life and crown to the victorious William duke of Normandy, from whose reign I shall adjust the history and antiqui- ties of these parts into short and faithful annals. An. MLxvi. 1. WILLIAM CONQUEROR. Among the Normans who werc engaged in this expedition, those, who were soon after rewarded with lands in these parts", were 1. Robert de Oily, to whom the king gave in marriage the estate of Wigod de Walengford and two other honors, including Biucester, Ambrosden, Burknel, Stratton, Weston, Blechesdon, &c. 2. Roger do Ivcri to whom, for his friendship and sworn fraternity, the said Robert de Oily gave one of the said Iu)nors, of which the head or capital scat was Beckley, containing Ambrosden, Mixbury, North- brook, &c. 3. Odo bishop of Baieux and earl of Kent, to whom his royal brother gave Somerton, Frilwell, Fringford, &c. 4, Jef- » Lib. Doomsday. y Rcgist. Egnes. MS. p. 158. ^ Men. Ang. torn. 1. p. 548. »Ex tab. Mon. de Bello. ct ex ilcgist. Doomsday, &c. L 2 76 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. fery de I\I;i2;ncville who had the manor of AVendlebury. 5. JiuUtli niece to the Contjueror, who had Merton and Pidington. 6. Milo Crispin, who iiati Chesterton, Gadington, &c. 7- William earl of Warren, who had Kirtlinuton and Midlington. 8. W^alter Gilfard, to whom, with the earldom of Bucks were given Oakley and many ad- joining parishes in com. Buck, with Caversham, Craumersh, Stoke, Bix, Sec. in this county. Those other Normans who now entered the kingdom, and in after reigns came to possessions in this part of Uie county were, 1. The family of Chanvill, who enjoyed the manor aid castle of iMidleton. 2. Basset, who had the lordship of Hedington, the manors of Burcester, Wrechwick, Stratton, &c. 3. S, Waiery, who came to the honor granted to Roger de Ivery, which from the later family was after called the honor of St. Walcry. 4. J)e Li- zures, who intruded into the manor of Borstall, and the custody of the forest of Bernwood, which of right belonged to Nigel de Borstall. After the decisive battle near Hastings, the Conqueror carried his forces into Kent, and, marching back from thence, passed by Lon- don possessed by the party of Edgar Atheling, and came to Waling- ford, where the lord of that town Wigod de Walengeford went out to meet him '', delivered the town to him, and entertained him there, till archbishop Stigand and many of the giandees of Edgar's faction came and offered their submission ". For which service and merit of the lord of that place, the victorious prince, in jjolicy to ingratiate with the Saxons, and to reward his Normans, gave Aldith only daughter of the said Wigod in marriage to Robert de Oily, who, after her father's death, which happened nigh the same time, in right of her became possest of that great estate, wherein Biu'cester was in the honor of Walingford, and Ambrosden in that honor which was after called S. Waiery. From Walingford the Conqueror led his army through this part of the country with great spoil and mischief in his road to Bercamsted, at which place prince Edgar, the earls t" Gul. Pict. Gcst. Duels Norman, p. 21. = lb. p. 285. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c 77 Edwin and Morcar, the bishops of York, Worcestei", Hereford, &c. '' waited on duke WilHani, and resigning up all their interest invited him to London, and on Christmas day he was crowned at West- minster by Aldrcd archbishop of York". An. Mi.xvii. 1, 2. IVilliain Co/njueror. Soon after his coronation, the king designed a jonrney to the north for the quiet of those parts, and in his way thither came to Oxford, which city refused to yield to him, and a soldier from the wall gav(! him a most contemptible affront^ : upon which provocation the king stormed it on the north side, and, gaining an easy entrance, he gave the greatest part of it to Robert de Oily, who at the survey had, within the walls and without, forty two houses inhabited, and eight lying waste ». About which time the king fearing that his new sub- jects might turn Walingford, as they had Oxford, into a garrison against him, he commanded the lord of it, Robert de Oily, to fortify it with a new castle, for preventii^n of that danger : in which castle Aldred abbot of Abbendon was imprisoned in the year 10/1 "". An. MLXViii. 2, 3. inUiam Conqueror. In the late expedition, Robert de Oily brought over with him Ro- ger de Ivery, a fellow adventurer and sworn brother, for they had nnitually engaged by oath to be sharers of the same fortune. This was a sociable jiractice of that age, for so Eudo and Pinco, though not allied, were upon that invasion sworn brothers in war, and co- partners in the rcwanl of their service '. According to this compact, when the said Robert de Oily had two honors given to him, beside the estate which came by his wife, he freely gave one of those ho- nors (of which Jkckley was the caj)ital seat, and within which Am- •< Sim. Dun. p. 1!)3. «: Chron. Tlio. Wikcs. f Mat. Par. sub an. s Lil.. Doonisdjty. '• Hist. Cirnob. Ahi'ud. Wiiarton. A^J,^ sac. torn. I. p. 168. ' Dugd. J5;ir. toil). I. J). •i;«. 78 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. brosden was included) to this Roger de Ivery. The history of it is thus imperfectly delivered by Mr. John Leiand. lRobCltU0 DC ©ICiO, tljat cam into cZEriDlanD toitf) SBilliam Conqueror, baD gpticn to fjim tlje 15aronic0 of ©rforD anD %aint il^aleric0. ^bi& IRobcrt ban one Joljn DC OEitierio, tbat teas erceeoino; familiar tnitf) fjim, anD baD been in tbc toarrcs ag stooren brotbcr imto bim, anD baD promifeD to be partafecr of iHobctt's fortunes, tobereupon be cnticbeD bim toitb poOeffions, anD as fum tbink gatje bim ^. Uinltms ^ This gift of the barony, which was after called S. Waleries, 1 wonder Mr. Leiand should express as a doubtful thing, and seem to resolve it into an uncertain tradition ; when there were the plainest records to prove it, of which he could not well miss, having so ample a commission to search in all places for the books and writings of his scattering age. It is more strange he should call him John de Eiverio, when for this he could have no authority, but his own conjecture. Yet this error is continued without notice in the monasticon, and is again asserted by Mr. Dugdale '. Whereas we find in records no one of that famil}' named John ; and it is certain, the sworn companion of Robert de Oily was Roger de Ivery. He is so registered in Doomsday inquisi- tion, and Mr. Camden has rightly so called him". And what may put it beyond all dispute, is this transcript from the old register of Oseney. Memorandum quod Rohertus de Ohio et Rogerus de Ivcrio fratres jurati et per jidem et sacramentum confederati veneruiit ad conquestum Anglice cum rege WiUielmo Bastard. Iste rex dedit dicfo Roberto duas Baronias, qute modo vocantur Baronia Doylivorum et S. ifValeria". This Roger was the son of Waleran de Ivery, who held one knight's fee in the bailiwic of Tenechebrai in Normandy, by the service of cup-bearer to the duke, and three other fees within the said liberty, as also eight fees and a half of the town and castle of ^ Jo. Lei. Itin. vol. 2. f. 17. MS. et Men. Ang. torn. 2. p. 136. ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 460. "> Britan. in Dobun. " Regist. Mon. Oseney per William Sutton Abb. MS. penes Decan. et Capit. ^d. Christi Ox. f. 1. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 79 Ivery°. He enjoyed the same honour of cup-bearer to William king of England, which his father had done to him while duke of Nor- mandy : he married Adeline eldest daughter of Hugh de Grentmais- nil and Adclidis his wife: which Hugh coming in with the Con- queror, and fighting stoutly in that memorable battle, was this year made an administrator of justice through the whole kingdom, jointly with Odo bishop of Baieux and William Fitz-Osbern : and nigh this same time was made governor of Hantshire and sheriff of Leices- tershire p. This family de Ivery was descended from one Rodulph half brother to Richard, the first duke of Normandy, who killing a monstrous bear, when hunting with his brother duke, was by him for that service rewarded with the castle of Ivery on the river I'Evre, and had from thence tlie title of Comes de Ibreio. Cum Richardus primus ducatum Norman, esset adeptus, venutum ihat. Adfuit l\o- dolphus uterinus frater ducis, qui ursuin belluam immaiiissimam prosfravif, vocaturque /iodic valtis, in qua occidit iirsum, vallis Urso- nis. Dedit prceterca illi castrum Ivereium, unde vocatus est Conies'^. Mr. Dngdale ought to have allowed this family a place in his ba- ronage of England, since this first Roger de Ivery with Roger his son, and Jcffery younger brother of the said Roger, did successively enjoy a full barony of D'Oyly's gift, which from them was called Ba- ronia de Iverio, as it was after Baronia de S. Walerico, This omis- sion is more excusable than that gross mistake conuuitted by the author of the Introduction to the old English History, who in his Ap- pendix offering a catalogue of all the chief tenants in Doomsday- book, under the county of Oxford, mentions Hugo de Lmi vel Luci, when it is ])lainly, Terra Hugonis de Ivri. Ameresdone; and again, Roger de Luri vel Lauri, and uxor Rogeri de Luri. And farther ii\ llie counties of Gloucester, Warwickshire, Hunt. Northam. he tran- scribes it Lury, and hits right only in Bucks, where he truly calls him Roger de Iveri '. "Norman. Script, p. 1048. I> Dugd. Bar. toni. 1. p. l.''>. 1 Gul. Gcmet. p. 288. ■ Hr. Hob. Brudy Introd. &c. 80 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. An. MJ.XIX. 3, 4. W^iUiam Conqueror. The great Gospatric being deprived of his earldom of Nortlnnn- berland, it was now by the king bestowed on Waltheof son of the fa- mous earl Siward, by Elfled his wife, daughter of earl Aldrcd ; and that he might be the more firmly won over to the Nornian interest, the Conqueror gave him in marriage to his niece Judith ", and with her the manors of Pidington within the parish of Ambrosden, and of Merton next adjoining, restoring at the same time his father's earl- doms of Huntendon and Northampton. This Judith was the daugh- ter of Lambert de Lenes by Maud countess of Albemarle, who was the daughter of Halwyn de Comitis Villa by Arlota his wife, and thereby sister to duke William by the mother*. On Easter Monday the king at Winchester gave the church of Deorhurst in com. Gloc. as a cell to the abbey of St. Dennys in France, and confirmed the donation of Tcynton in this count}', given by his predecessor king Edward, to which charter one of the wit- nesses was Rogerus de Ivri ". An. MLXxi. 5, 6. IFilliam Conqueror. The king, being jealous of the fidelity of these parts, commanded Robert de Oily to build a castle on the west side of the city of Ox- ford, as he had done at Walingford \ The date of this action is thus entered in the Oseney Register. An. ah incarnat. Dom. mil. sep- f tinges, prima (pdijicafam est castellum Oxoh. temp, regis ini/ie/mi prccdicti a Roberto de Oily. Iste Roljertus de Oleio dedit fratri sua Kogero prcedicto baron, quce mode vocatur S. JValerici. But observe, though this gift of the barony be here mentioned jointly with the building of the castle, yet it was not indeed given to Roger de Ivery till after the year 10^4. s Orderic. Vital, p. 523. ' Vincent's Heraldry, Brooks, &c. " Mon. Ang. torn. 1 p. 547. * Wood. Antiq. Oxon. sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. .81 An. MLXXii. 6, 7- William Conqueror. Upon the death of Ulf or Wulfin bishop of Dorchester, Remigius was preferred to this see. And at a council held this year in Lon- don, this episcopal seat was transferred from Dorchester, as too ob- scure a place, to the city of Lincoln \ An. MLXXiii. 8, .9. jniliam Conqueror. Robert de Oily, having now finished his castle in Oxford, built within the walls of it a chapel dedicated to St. George*, and esta- blished there a fraternity of secular priests ; whom he endowed with several rights and possessions in these parts. He gave them the churches of CudeHnton, Weston, Cestreton, &c. with two parts of the tithe of his demesne in Berencestre, Wrechwike, Blechesdon, Weston, Bukenhull, Ardulfley, Northbroc juxta Somerton, &c. two parts of all the tithe of Beckele, the whole tithes of Aclee, Horton, andMercote; half a hide of land in Stodele belonging to Beckele, and two hides of land with wood and other aj)purtenances in Erni- cot now Arncot in the parish of Ambrosden. In the first charter of R. de Oily, as now j)reserved in the Oseney Register, there is no men- tion of the particular places ; but when they were all after converted and confirmed to the abbey of Oseney, they are expressed in several successive charters. It seems not so plain whether Robert de Oily had the whole estate entire, or whether he had divided it with his * Notum sit omnibus fidelibus sanctaj bus, quam ecclesiani pro salute, &c. omnes ecclcsiiE tain prcsentibus quam futuris, ves, teiiementa, decimas ct posscssiones quod ego Robcrtus de Olleyo, voleiitibus et subscriptas, videl. ecclesiam S. Mariffi Mag- conccdentibus Alditlia iixore mea et fratri- daleme, quaj sitaost in suburbio Oxenforde, bus meis Nigcllo et Gilberto, dcdi et con- cum tribus liidis teirte in Walton, &c. Ex cessi Deo, et ecclesisp, S. Georgii in castcUo collcetan. U. Glover, e registro de Osney. Oxenforde et canonleis in ea Deo servienti- MS. y Histor. ingulplii. p. 9j. VOL. I. M 82 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. sworn brother Roger de I\ery. This latter might be supposed from tiieir being both reputed e([ual founders and benefactors in the Oseney register. An. Doni. ?nil. scpfitagcs. quarto finidata est eccle- clesia S. Gcorgii in cast el lo O.ron. a Roberto de Oleio prima et Ro- gero de Iveri tempore reg. JVillehni Bastard, qui in dicta ecclesia ca- nonicos secidares instituerunt, et diversos redditus de duahus haroniis prcedictis eisdem assignarunt de ecchsiis, terris, ^c. " If this were true, then the two parts of the tithe of Berncester, Wrechwikc, Ble- chesdon, Weston, Bukenhull, &c. nmst be the gift of Robert de Oily : and the tithes of Beckele, Horton, half hide in Stodle, and two hides in Ernicote, nmst have been the donation of Roger de Iveri, because within the limits of the barony given to him. But it appears more likely, that Roger de Iveri was not yet instated in his barony, and therefore could not immediately grant, but only confirm the precedent gift of Robert de Oily, who had first settled the j)ious uses, and then gave him the barony so charged. This may be con- cluded from the fii-st charter of Roger de Iveri. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego Rogerus de Ivereio pro salute domini regis et totius regni nee nan pro salute domini mei Robei^ti de Olleyo et Aldithe uxoris suce et meorum salute concessi et prcesenti carta mea conjirmavi Deo et ecclesice S. Georgii qucc sita est in castello Oxon. omnes terras et tenemcnta decimas redditus et possessiones quas dictus Rohcrtus de Olleyo dedit, et concessit, et assignavit ". This evidence does imply, that all was an antecedent donation of Robert de Oily, while both the baronies remained in his own hands, one of which vvhen he soon after bestowed on his devoted friend Roger de Iveri, the uses before assigned were again fully confirmed. It is no objection, that Roger de Iveri was called a founder and endower of that chapel, or that Jeffery de Iveri does after call these grants the gift and concession of his lather Roger de Iveri. For it is evident to any that converse with old charters, that those barons and knights, who held the fee of estates belonging to monasteries, were by courtesy called the founders of i Regist. Oseney MS. fol. 1. » lb. f. I. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 83 such houses, and the donors of such lands, because lieirs and lords of the fee, and confirmers of what their predecessors gave. That the whole endowment of these secular canons was the act of Robert de Oily, without the concunence of the other, is farther evinced from the titles of those lands, as they stood registered in the Oseney- book : where some of them are said to have been the gift of Robert de Oily, and the confirmation of Roger de Ivcri ; others are ex- j)ressed as the sole grant of d' Oily. Abhas Osen. hahet in Ernicote de dono Rohcrti de Olleyo, et coiijir'matione Regum AnglicB et epis- coporum et capituli Lincoln, duas hidas terrce pertinentes ad ecclesiam S. Georgii ut patet in charfa ejusdcm Robcrti superiiis. Qiiee ecclesia S. Georgii datafuitfratribus Osen. et habet ibidem visum Francipleg. et totum regale servitium ''. Abbas de Osen. habet ecclesiam de IVes- ton de dono Doylivorum cum conjirmatione episcoporum et capituli Lincoln, ut patet supra in titulo fundationis Osen". In ista balliva de fVeston, continentur hcec, Westona, Blechesdon, Berecestre, Cestre- ton, IVrechwike, Bochenhull, Ardulfsle, Ernicote, Nortlib/ocjuxta So^ merton. An. Mi.xxv. 9, 10. JFiUiam Conqueror. Waltheof earl of Northumberland, Northampton, and Hunting- ton, lord of the manors of Pidington and JNIerton, was drawn into the plot of Ralph de AVare earl of Norfolk '^ ; and though archbishop Lanfranc attested his innocence, yet by the instigation of his wife, who adected another marriage % he was beheaded without the walls at Winchester, and his body after translated to the abbey of Croy- land, where, agreeable to the faith of that age, miracles were soberly rej)orted of him '. The execution of this Saxon baron is observed as the first example of beheading in this island. After his death the earldoms of Northampton and Huntendon remained to his countess dowager Judith, with the manors of Pidington and Merton ^ i> Uogist. Osency MS. f. 32. c Jb. f. sio'. Antiq. Warwic. Pref. « Now the two manors of Burcestre and Wrechwick. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 89 ibi 6 car. et 5 send, et 28 villi cum 14 horcl. hnt. 16 car. Ibi 2 mo- lini. de 40 soUd. et 12 ac. prati. Siliia 1 rp'. Ig. et una lat. T. R. E. valuit 15 lib. jModo 16. Gislebertus ten. de Ro. BvCHEHELJ^E. Ibi St. 7 liidce. T'erralOcar. Nc. in dnio. 2 car. et 3 scrui. et 6 villi cum 3 bord. hnt. 5 car. Silua 1 (J rent. Ig. et dim. q'. lat. Valuit 10 ///;. Modo 7 lib. Aluuardus ten. de Ro. Stratone. Ibi St. 5 hi dec. Terra 6 car. Nc. in dnio. 1 car. cum 1 seruo. et 8 villi cum 2 bord. hnt. 2 car. Ibi 25 acr. prati. Jaluit 40 sol. et post et modo 60 sol. Gislebertus ten. de Ro. Westone. Ibi st, 10 hi lire. Terra 12 car. Nc. in dnio. 4 car. et 5 servi et \7 ^''^^^ ^"'" 11 bord. borderers, and Ihey ha\e 16 carucates. There are two mills'* of 40 shillings rent, and 12 acres of meadow. A wood of one (luarcntine*^ in length, and one in breadth. In the time of king Edward it was worth 15 pound, now it is worth 16. Gilbert holds of the said Robert Buche- helle (or Bucknell.) There are J hides, and land of 10 carucates : now in demesne there are two carucates and 3 servants, and 6 villains, with 3 borderers who have 5 ca- rucates. There is a wood of one quaren- tine in length, and half a quarentine in breadth, it was worth 10 pounds, it is now worth 7- Alward holds of the said Robert Stratone (now Stratton-Audley.) There are 5 hides ; and lands of 6 carucates : now in demesne there is 1 carucatc with 1 servant and 8 villains, with two borderers who have two carucates : there are 25 acres of mea- dow. It was worth 40 shillings, and after- wards and now 60 shillings. Gilbert holds of the said Robert Weston. There are 10 hides, and land of 12 caru- cates, now in demesne four carucates, and 5 servants, and 17 villains, with 11 bor- derers who have 8 carucates. There are '' Oiu- mill wlicre it now reniaiiis, and tlie other seems to have been at the nortli end of the close or grove adjoining to the seat of John Coker, gent. ""A quarentine was forty perches, or a furlong. VOL. I. N 90 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. hnt. 8 car. Ihi 2 nio/ini. 4 solid, ct 30 acr. prati. Faluit. 8 lib. modo 12 lib. Idem Gislebertus ten. de Ro. Blicestone. Ibi St. 8 hidce. terra 6 car. Nc. in dnio. 2 car. et 5 servi. et 9 villi cum 7 bord. hnt. 4 car. Ibi 11 acr. prati. Past lira Q q . Ig. et 3 g\ lat. T. R. E. ct post valuit 4 lib. Modo 100 sol. lianc redemit Robertas de rege. two mills of four shillings rent, and thirty acres of meadow. It was worth eight pounds, now it is worth 12 pounds. The same Gilbert holds of Robert Bli- cestone, (or Blcchingdon) there are 8 hides, and land of 6 carucates, now in de- mesne there be two carucates, and 5 ser- vants, and 9 villains, Avith / borderers who have 4 carucates. There are 5 acres of meado\\', and pasture of 6 quarentines in length and three in breadth. In the time of king Edward and afterwards, it was worth four pounds, now one hundretl shil- lings. Robert redeemed it from the king. I recommend a farther abstract of the names of hundreds and manors, under those tenants who bare the nearest relation to these parts. Terra ROBERTI DE OILGI, Peritune Hund. Watelintone, Bernecestre, Etone, Draitone, SciREBVRNE, Levecanoee, bvchehelee, esefelde, Stratone, St) Blicestone, Bentone, RoWESHAM, ESTHCOTE. iFatlington. Burcestre, Aston. D rait on. Sherborn Leuknor. Bucknell. Ellsfeld. atton-Audley. Blcchingdon. Bampton. Roiisham. Astcot. Certelintone, KirtUngton. Tew A, Duns Tcive. Chedelintone, Kidlington. Garinges, Goring. HocHENARTONE, Hoohiorton. WiTEFELLE, Jfllitjicld. FULEWELLE, Fulwell. Harbewich, Hardwich. Westone, Weston on the Green. DocHELiNTONE, DuckHngton. Pereivn, IFater-perry. LvDEWELLE, Llldwell. Chenetone, Kencot. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 91 Haliwelle, Holyivell. murum quam extra; et viii. man- siones hahet vastas, et xxx. acras Idem Robertas hahet xlii. domiis prati juxta murum, et violin, x. hospitatas in Oxeneford tarn intra solid. Terra ROGERII DE IVERI, Peritune Hi nd. MISSEBERIE *, ESTHAI.LE, Fv^LEBROC, Etone. NoRTBROC, HoRSPADAN, Hansitone, Trop, Chenefelde, Bertone, NoRBROC, Waltone, Mixbury. Astall. FulbrooJi. Northbrook. Horspath. Hensington. Heathrop. Clanjield. Barton. Bechelie, NoRTONE, SciRBVRNE, Eltone, Lege, N. Hantone, WiSTELLE. CoDESLAVE, Rovesham, BecMey. Cheping- Norton Sherborn. f. Holton. Leigh or S. Leigh. Hampton- Gay. Cutslowe. Rousham. In primo Gadre Hund. Norbrooh. Stoches, Stoke Line. In secundo Gadre Hund. JFalcot. Vlfgarcote, Wooivercot. Terra EPI' BAIOCENSIS in Levecanol Hund. Svmertone, Somertone. Fertwelle, Fritwell. Sexintone, Finemere, HoRTONE, Sexinto?!. Fin mere. Ilorton. Feringeford, Fringford. Cestitone, Chesterton. CovELiE, Cotvley. Bristelmestone, Brighthamton. Sanford, Sanford ; &c. * Rogcrus de Ivri ten. dc rcgc Misse- Nunc in dominio i car. cum i servo etxvm berie. Ibi sunt xvii hide tcrre xv ciirucat. villani cum xi bord. iiabent vicar. N 2 92 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Terra MILONIS CRISPIN. In sec undo Gadre hd. Gadintone, Godhigton. Haselie, Haseley. In dimid. Besentone hd. Celgrave, Clialgrave. Mapeldreham, Mapledurham. Svmertone, Somei'ton. Cestretone, Chesterton. Brvtvvelle, Bright/veil. Gersedvne, cvchesham, Hegford, NlWEHAM, Gers'mgfon. Cuxham. Heyjhrd. Newjiham. Alcrintone, Alherton; &c. Terra GISLEBERTI DE GAND. Haneberge, Hanhorough. Lavvelme, Ewehn. Terra GOISFRIDI DE MANNEVILE. Caningeham, Kingham. Reic Wandesberie, IFendlehury. ;OTE, Ricot. Terra HVGONIS DE IVERI, in Dorchecestre hd. Ambresdone*, Ambrosden. Terra JVDlTHiE CoMiTiss.a;. In di3iid. Besentone hd. Meretone, Merton. Petintone, Pidington. * Terra Hugonis de Iveri ^UDO be IVRI cen. &e j-ege SCDBReSDONG. Ibi s't X lube c'j-a xvi caj".' N'c in dnio II caj-'-] in j^ej-ui ■] xxiii villicu XI boj-d' h'nc xiiii caj-'. Ibi lxv ac' p'ri. Valuit VIII lib'. Modo x. lib'. vElueua libc' teuuit T. R. E. Ex libro Do- mesd. Hugo de Iveri holds of the king Am- bresdone. There are ten hides land of 16 carucates. Now in demesne two caru- cates and three servants, and twenty four villanes, with eleven borderers. They have fourteen carucates. There be sixty-five acres of meadow. It was worth eight pounds, now ten pounds. ^Iveva held it free in the time of king Edward. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 93 Terra vxoris ROGERU DE IVERI. Letei.ape, Islip. Otendone, OdJingfon. Terr^ de feodo AVILLI Comitis. In Lev ecanole hd. Fertewelle, FritweU. Mideltone, Midlington. The possessors of lands in the county of Bucks which lay nearest to tliese j)arts, were as follows, Terra COMITIS MORITONIENS. In Lamve hd. Mersa, Mersh. Terra WALTERIJ GIFARD. In Ticheshele hd. Credendone, Crcndon. Eddingrave, Adyngrave. CiETONE, Chilton. Dortone, D'orton. In Esseden hd. AssEDONE, Ashendon. Wichendone, JVinchington. In MVSELAI HD. AcHELEi, Oakley.. Terra MILONIS CRISPIN. In Votesdone hd. VoTESDONE, iradsdon. Merstone, Mcrston. Terra HEXRICI DE FEIRERES. In Essedene hd. Grennedone, G/cndoN, &c. An. MLxxxii. 16, 17. William Conqueror. Maud, wife of William the Conqueror, founded a monastery for 94 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. nuns at Caen in Normandy, dedicated to the holy Trinity ; and a charter of endowment was now given by the said Conqueror and Maud his queen, to which was witness Rogerius de Iverio, pincerna, Roger de Iveri cup-bearer to the king, lord of the honor of Iveri in these parts ^ An. MLXxxiv. 18, 19. William Conqueror. Between the time of survey taken in these parts and this year, Robert de Oilly married his only daughter JNIaud to Milo Crispin, who had before great possessions in the counties of Oxon and Bucks, and in right of this wife had now the custody of the castle and town of Walingford, with that whole honor, within which was included the manor of Berncestre, &c. And the king, now keeping his Easter at Abingdon, was there splendidly entertained by Robert de Oily, while these two only were admitted to sit at the king's table, Osmund bishop of Sarum, and Milo de Walengfort cogiio- mento Crispinus^. At the same time Henry the king's youngest son was left to be educated at Abingdon, where he was accommodated by the care of Robert de Oily, who by the king's command was to supply him with all provisions for himself and his retinue *". Walter Giffard earl of Bucks now founded a Benedictine priory at Lon- guevil in Normandy, dedicated to St. Faith'; to which he gave his manor of Newington in com. Buck, which soon after became a cell to the said priory, and from this relation was called Newinton-Lon- gaville **. Within this same year Judith countess, either by death, or by a religious habit, left the manors of Merton and Pidington to Simon St. Liz earl of Northampton and Huntendon, who had married Maud her eldest daughter ; which S. Simon and Maud liis wife did in this year found at Northampton a priory of Cluniac f Neustria Pia, p. 661. s Ex Lib. Mon. Abingd. excerpt, in Twine MS. C. 2. p. 252. in bib. C. C. C. Oxon. h LUjer Abend, citat. in Hist, et Antiq. Un. Oxon. sub an. ' Neustria Pia, p. 661. ^ Mon. Ang. torn. 3. p. 1 1 1. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 95 monks dedicated to St. Andrew ' : as a cell to the abbey of Charite in France "" : and gave to it the church of Brackley, with the land and tithe of the said church ". An. MLXXX^^ 19, 20. JFilliam Conqueror. The king having founded the Benedictine abbey of Battaill in Sussex, by the advice and direction of Reniigius bishoj) of Dor- chester °, did now •' by charter grant to it, among other large pos- sessions, the manor of Craumareis, now Croamish, in this county''. An. 3ILXXXVI. 20, 21. JFiUiam Conqueror. It seems probable tiiat Hugh de Iveri, lord of the manor of Am- brosden, died about this time, and left the said manor to his elder brother Roger de Iveri, who being cup-bearer to the king did now wait uj)on him into Normandy, and being there made keeper of the castle of Roan, he gave a notable proof of his courage and fidelity on this occasion. It happened that in a town of Normandy called r Aigle, from an eagle's nest there found, a great quarrel arose be- tween the king's sons, which raised so great a clamour, that the king himself was forced to come from his own loilgings and part them : the night following Robert the elder brother with his whole retinue left his father, and marched away to Roan, where he at- tempted to seize the castle ; but Roger de Iveri, having some notice of the design, diligently fortified the place, and sent away mes- sengers to his master the king to inform him of this rebellious as- sault ^ An. M1.XXXV11. 21. JViUiam Conqueror. 1. IViUiam Ilufus.. Milo Crispin, lord of the honor of Walirigford and manor of Bur- cester, &c. nigh this time gave to the abbey of Bee in Normandy the ' Moil. Ang. torn. 1. p. 679. "> R. Dods. MS. vol. 79. f. 10. " Men. Ang. ib. " Mat. West, sub an. P Jo. Lcl. MS. vol. '2. p. SIG. •) Mon. Ang. torn. \, p. 315. • Ordcricus Vital, lib. 1. p. oHJ. 9b' PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. manor of Swincscuml) in this county, and the tithes of his demesne of tlie said honour of WaHngford'. King WiUiam the Conqueror died on Sept. i)th ' ; upon whose death the nation was divided on the point of succession : many of the barons were for Robert the elder brother, among whom was Hugh de Grentmaisnil sheriff of Leicestershire, wlio raised forces, and committed great spoils in that coxmty " : and his kinsman Roger de Iveri, lord of the manor of Ambrosden, who by this means inciured the king's displeasure, and was forced to fly beyond sea, where, after a short time of banishment, and the loss of his whole estate in England, he died in sorrow and disgrace. This affliction is by the monks of Worcester imputed to his robbing them of the manor of Hampton in the county of Glo- cester, of which Hemmingiis one of that convent gives this account. Si/ni/i modo tempore IFi/Iielmi regis Rogerius de Iveri invasit ter- rain in Gloeceastrescirc quce Hamtun nominatur, domino JFlstano episcopo existente in legatione j^egis apud Ceastram. Nee ipse impune super rapina gavistcs est. Nam vivens cum csset ditissimus, et pin- cerna regis carissimiis, regalem iucurrit iram, vixque fuga vitam ad modicum protexit, omnesque suas possessiones permaximas perdidit, et exul a patria ignominiosc post parvum tcmpus obiit \ This manor of Hamtun had been given to tlie abbey of Worcester by Aldred bishop of that see, in the year 1061 •, and when took away by Roger de Iveri was never asjain restored \ An. MLxxxviii. 1, 2. inil. Riff. Jefl'ery de Iveri, youngest son of Roger de Iveri sen. and Adeline his wife, seems to have been soon restored to his brother's barony in England, and thereby to the manor of Ambrosden, within which he confirmed two hides of land in Arncot, and all other donations within his said barony, which had been made to the secular priests s Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 954. b. t Annal. Waverl. sub an. " R. de Diccto. p. 489. =<■ Mon. Ang. toui. 1. p. 134. b. y lb. p. 140. a. ^ lb. p. 134. b. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 97 of St. George's in the castle of Oxford, and had been ratified by his father and brotlier *. An. MLXxxix. 2, 3. fHI/. Riifus. AdeHne, widow of Roger de Iveri, sen. who held in dowry the ma- nors of Islip andOddington, with lands in Charlton upon Otmoore,did nigh this time give unto the abbey of Bee in Normandy a mill in her said village of Islip, which was after confirmed by Henry the Second ; Ex dono Adeline uxoris Rogeti de Ivcreyo inuim molend'wuin in villa quce dicitur Iteslepe ''. She likewise gave the manor of Brocthrop to the abbey of St. Peter's in Glocester ; but in the recitation of this gift she is miscalled, Adeliza for Adelina, Adeliza uxor Rogeri de Ybreyo dedit Brocthrop ecclesicr S. Petri Glouc. % and in a confir- mation of king Steplien, in the third year of his reign, her name is again mistaken, Brocthrop ex dono Atheline de Hibreio ^ In which parish of Brocthrop Roger de Iveri her husband, and Hugh his bro- ther, had given several acres of land ". An. Mxc. 3, 4. inil. Rufus. Robert de Oily, who was now a witness to the foundation charter of the new cathedral church of Salisbury, died within the month of September in this or the following year, and was buried at Abing- don, on the north side of the high altar in the abbey-church, his wife Aldith lying interred on his left hand. The monks of that place gave this account of him, that being constable of the castle of Ox- ford in the reign of William the Conqueror and WilHam his son, he had an arbitrary power in this county, and was always supported by the king's favour, upon which he grew rich, and very injurious to many churches ; among others, he r()l)bed their church of a meadow without the wails of Oxford, converting it to the use of his soldiers in tlie castle : but by the prayers of the monks he was cast into a fit »Regist. de Oseney MS. ^^Jon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 951. a. <^Ex Chartulario Mon. S. Petri Gloc. MS. '' Mon. Ang. torn. .'i. par. 1. p. 8. a. <^Mon. .\ng. torn. 1. p. 1 1 1. VOL. I. O na PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. of sickness, and so frighted in a dream, that by his wife's persuasion he came to Reginald, abbot of Abbendon, and before the high altar gave to them Tadmertnne of ten pounds annual rent ; after which, to expiate for his past sacrilege, he contributed much to the build- ing of St. Mary's church in Abingdon, and at his own charge re- paired several other j)arish churches, as well within the walls as with- out ; and built a bridge on the north side of the city '. Leaving no heir male of his own body, his brother Nigel de Oily succeeded to the castle of Oxford and to the honor of D'Oyly, of which the capi- tal seat was at Hokenorton. But as before noted, his honor of Wa- lingford, with the manor of Burcester, &c. descended to INIilo Cris- pin in right of his wife Maud, only daughter of the said Robert. An. Mxci. 4, 5. Jf^ill. Rujus. Adeliza wife of Hugh de Grentesmaisnil, and mother of iVdeline de Iveri, died at Rhemes in France on the fifth of the ides of July, and was buried in her husdand's monastery of St. Ebrulf at Utica, on the right hand of Mainer abbot of that house s. About this time William, son of Nigel lord of Borstall, and forester of Bern wood, having been unjustly dispossessed of his lands and his office, by the predecessors of Fulk de Lizures, a Norman family, who came in with the Conqueror, was forced to become a feudatory tenant to the said Fulk, and to receive this charter from him. Fulco de Listrris omni- hus homimbiis Francis ct AngUch siiis salutcm. Sciant tain presentes quam futuri rnc Fulconcm de Lisuris reddidisse ct concessisse IVilliel- mojilio Nigelli dc Borstnllc terrani suam scilicet terram que fuit pa- tris sin et officiuni forestarii de Ber7nvode cinn omnibus pertin. sttis, tenendum de me et heeredihus meis iUi et hceredihus suis libere et quiete reddendo inde annuatim xl'. de officio forestarii, et x'. de terra sua, ita ut ille et hceredes sui teneant jure hcereditario de me et hce- redibus meis, bene et in pace, libere et quiete sicuti antecessores sui tenuerunt melius et liberius dc me et antecessoribus meis. Test. IVilH- fMon. Ang. torn. 1. p. lOfi. b. 5 Neustria Pia, p. 119. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 99 elmo dc Lisur'is fUo sua et uxorc ejus Alicia dc Alb. et Hugojie de Li- suris, et Falcone dc hisuris jilio siio, et JViUielmo de Lisuris filio siio, et Hugone Camerario ac Roberto jilio Nigel li. Radulpho jilio Ro- berfi, IFaltero jilio Nigelli ''. Sonne will have this charter referred to this time, but it does indeed lieloug to the reign of king John. A short account of the right and property of Nigel and his heirs, and violent intrusion of Fulk de Lisures is thus recorded among the ancient memoirs of Borstall. Qiiidam fFillnius flius Nigelli juit seisitus jure hcereditai-io de una hida terra; arabilis in Borstall vocat. Derehyde que nunc vacatur la Vent et de uno bosco vocat. Hiiliuode, cum custodia j'orestce dc Bern- ivode in. com. Buck, cujus quidem JFilli antecessores ante conquestum Anglice tenuerwnt jure hcereditario terram boscum et ballivam prcedic- tas de domino rege per unnm cornu quod est charta prcedictce forestce et per servitium reddendi domino regi pro terra prion otmiibus hominibus suis tarn Francis quam Anglis tarn Clcricis quum Laicis salutem. Sciatis me dedissc deo et S. Marie et ecclesice S. Frideswidce Oxonian, et canonicis ibidem deo servientibus in liberam et perpetuam elemosynam villain Pidentonam in Oxfen- fordscire pro salute mea, et patris et matris mece et omnium anteces- sorum et successormn meorum ita ut Johanna in vita sua teneat et ser- vitium inde debitum canonicis prcedictis reddat ; post decessum vero prefatce Joannce villa prcedicta eisdem canonicis remaneat in perpe- tuam possessionem et elemosynam cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in bosco et in piano et in pascuis cum omnibus pertinentiis aliis quce ad eandem villam pertinent, Sfc. " This Joan mentioned in the charter was called Joan de Pidington, the wife of Guido de Ryhale ", who held the manor of Pidington from the said Simon earl of Huntendon during her life. She and her husband founded tlie hermitage of St. Cross at Mussewell, within the said manor. An. Dom. MXCIII. 6 Will. Ruf. rhim dc Clierleton cum pertinentiis suis. Mon. Robertiis Bloct cancellarius regis factus est Ang. toni. 1. p. 4G0. i. e. de Charlton com. episcoptts Lincolnice et dedit eodem anno ide)n Kane. Roberhts monachis de Bermondseye mane" k R. de Diceto, p. 491. ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 58. " Regist. S. Frideswidae in C. C. C. "Ex Chartular. de Borstall MS. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. loi An. Mxcviir. 11, 12. JFHliam Riifus. Hugh (le Grentniaisnil, who had given the church of Charlton and lands within the said parish to his abbey of St. Ebrnlf at Utica in Normandy, lay sick at this time °, (though others report it was in the year 1094'",) when JefFery, prior of St. Eljriilf, sent over for that purpose by Roger the abbot, invested him in the habit of a monk, and prepared him for his death, which followed on the eighth of the calends of March. After which Bernard and David, two monks of that abbey, salted up his body and carried it into Normandy, where, by the care of Roger the abbot and the convent, it was honourably buried in their chapter-house on the south side. His eldest daugh- ter was Adeline, widow of Roger de Iveri, who had a mansion or scat at Fencote in the parish of Cherlton ; and at the general survey was possessed by her father's gift of the manors of Islip and Odding- ton. Robert, elder brother of this Hugh de Grentniaisnil, had a daughter named Agnes, married to Robert de Molins, a Norman, w ho, disobeying the con)mands of king Henry the First, was banished out of Normandy, and died in Apulia i. From whom descended that John de Molins, who, in the reign of Edward the Third, came to those large possessions in the adjoining parts of the county of B\icks. An. MC. 13. irilliam Ri/fiis. 1. Henri/ I. The new conventual church of Glocester, rebuilt by Serlo the ab- bot, was dedicated oil Sunday the seventh of July, at which time Robert, son of Nigel de Oily, gave to it the tithe of Chesterton, join- insr to Burcester' ; or at least this gift was made before the death of the said abbot, which happened an. 1104\ In the beginning of Au- gust William Riihis was killed in his new forest, to whom succeeded his brother Henry the First. oNcustria Pia, p. 1 1!). PDugd. Bar. torn. 1. p.4-'5. lOrderic. Vital, p. 5/8. 'Mon. Aug. torn. I. p. 1 13. a. « Sim. Dun. p. 226 ct 228. 102 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. An. Mcii. 2, 3. Henry I. About this time Guido de Ryhale, and Joan de Pidington his wife, gave Mussewell within the parish of Anibresdon to Ralph, a hermit, who ill that jiroper soHtary place built a hermitage, and had the chapel of it dedicated to the honor of St. Cross; which was soon after endowed by the said Guido and Joan his wife, with all the tithe of their demesne in Pidington, and the tithe of pasnage or the profit of feeding hogs within that manor, and of meadow in demesne two acres, one in Westmcde, and the other in Langdale*. Simon earl of Iluntendon was lord of the fee of Pidington, who, with Maud his wife, did about this time confirm to the priory of Daventre seve- ral donations made by Robert, son of Vitalis ". An. Mciv. 4, 5. Henry I. Nigel de Oily, constable of the castle of Oxford, and lord of the barony of Hooknorton, held at this time in feudatory service from the abbot and monks of Abingdon one meadow at Oxford, one hide at Sandford, and one hide in Ernecote", or Arncot, within the parish of Ambrosden, which had been all given to that abbey by Robert de Oily his brother and predecessor. Which hide in Arncot must have been granted before the manor of Ambrosden was given to Roger de Iveri, and possibly at the same time when two other hides in Arncot were given by the said Robert to his chapel of St. George's in the castle of Oxford. An. Mcv. 5, 6. Henry I. Nigh this time, Milo Crispin, lord of the honor of Walingford, and manor of Burcester, &c. gave the tithe of his demesne lands within the said honoi-, together with the manor of Swinescumb in this county to the abbey of Bee in Normandy''. « Chartular. de Borstal!. MS. f. 30. "Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 675. ' Chartular. de Borstal!, f. 31. c Mon. Ang. toin. 1. p. 542. a. <* lb. Mb. p. 105. b. VOL. I. P 106 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. out issue ; upon which his own proper estate reverted to the crown, but the castle and whole honor of Walingford remained in right of birth to Ma.ud his widow, wiio from hence was called Matildis Domina de Walengfort'. Nigh this time seven knights fees of the said honor of Walingford were held by Gilbert, who seems a younger son of Ralph Basset, justice of England : which Ralph be- ing raised to this high office from a very mean condition had a large estate in this country, and gave to Ralph his younger son, a clerk or chaplain to the archbishop of Canterbur}", all his right of advowson to churches and chapels within his demesne ; which right the said Ralph after gave to the abbey of Oseney, of which he entered him- self a monk : among others was the advowson of the church of Mix- bury, now in the deanery of Burccster, as appears by the confirma- tions of Theobald archbishop of Canterbury, and Robert bishop of Lincoln s. Within the seven knights fees held by Gilbert Basset were the manors of Burcester, Wrechwike, and Stratton. An. Mcviii. 8, 9. Henry I. Simon St. Liz, earl of Northampton and Huntendon, and Maud his wife, who had the manors of Merton and Pidington, conrnined their foundation of the priory of St. Andrews in Northampton, with additional revenues to it. Laudante hoc et confinnante Henrico Anghrum rege, octavo imperii sui anno coram subscriptis testi- hus, Sfc. >J< Signum Roberti episcopi Lincoln, ^c. >J< Signum Ni- gelli de Oily, ^c.^ About the year 1115, this earl Simon went in devotion to the Holy Land, and in his return died in the abbey of Charite in France, and was there buried ', leaving Maud his widow in possession of the said manors of Merton and Pidington, and Simon his son and heir in minority ; and Waltheof, after abbot of Melros in Scotland : and one daughter Maud, first the wife of Robert son f Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 582. a. e Excerpta ex Regist. Oseney per Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 39. h Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 681. b. ' Rot. Crendon MS. penes Decan. et Capit. iEd. Christi Oxon. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 107 of Richard de Lucy, and after the wife of William Albini of Belvoir, and last of all the wife and widow of Robert Fitz-walter. She died at sixty years of age, an. 1140, and had procured the body of her father, earl Simon, to be brought into England, and interred in the abbey of St. Neots in com. Hunt, to which she gave the third part of her manor of Cratcsfcld, which she held in frank marriage, to maintain two secular priests to pray for her father's souP. An. Mcix. 9, 10. Henry I. Ralph Basset, justice of England, had lately given to the abbey of Egnesham, the tithe of one hide of land in Estelai (now Astall) in this county, with the tithe of his wool in all other parts. And his son Gilbert Basset, who held the manors of Burcester and Stratton, gave to the same abbey his tithe of Stratton, which was two parts, with the whole tithe of his wool and cheese in all his lands. Which donations, with the tithe of Tame, Banbury, Croppery, Darnford, IMinster, &c. were now confirmed by royal charter. Hoc autem con- jiriuatum est anno ab incarnatione Domini mcix. ajino vera Henrici regis decimo apud JFcstmonasterium in imtivitate Domini '. As to this donation of Gilbert Basset, two parts of the tithe in Stratton, it is not thence to be inferred, that he had an arbitrary power of alienating his tithe from the parish church, or that he really intended to impoverish the incumbent : but the case was this. Of old all the tithes of a whole diocese were paid into the bishop for a common fimd to maintain the clergy, (who lived in the city with him, and were sent abroad as itinerant priests upon occasional du- ties,) and to be disposed at his discretion to any other uses of charity and religion. The method of dividing this public stock was pre- scribed by |)o})e Gregory to his missionary Augustin archbishop of Canterbury, that there should be four distinct portions, one to the bishop and his family : a second to the clergy : a third to the poor : k Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 1 13. ' Mon. Ang. torn. I. p. 625. V 2 108 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. and a fourth to the reparation of churclies"". Biit atl:er this upon the builditii!; of rural chapels, the bishops finding their cathedrals to be soon in lands and other prolils sulHciently endowed, they omitted the trouble of receiving all coiuitry tithe, and by degrees let fall their claim to a foiuth part, which was before their own portion. So as now the priests settled in the new rural churches collected all the tithe and profit within their own circuit, yet did not at first convert them to their own proper use, but dispersed them by orders from the bishop, who generally commanded to observe the old proportion, one part to the poor, another to the support of the church, and a third to the priest. This tripartite division was at last settled by a law of king Alfred, which expressly ratified the custom, of one part to the reparation of churches, one fur distributing to the poor, a third to the ministers of God who have care of the church ". So as still the parochial clergy were but stewards * of the tithe, and had a claim to no more than the third part. From hence the lords of those manors, wherein no churches were yet built, did by the bishop's con- sent receive, as trustees for church and poor, the whole tithes within their respective manors, who were to answer the same uses, one por- tion to some stipendiary priest, one to the poor, and one to the re- pair of the cathedral, or some conventual church. When these lords for the convenience of themselves or their tenants built distinct churches on their several manors, they were then by the laws obliged to allot no more than a third share f to maintain a priest to reside and officiate : and by the bishop's connivance reserved to themselves the other two shares for their arbitrary allotment to the support of the church, and relief of the poor. But in time the lords of each * The priests received and accounted to whole tithes to a parish priest without the bishop. Def. of Plural, p. 81. the bishop's consent. Def. of Plural, p. f Laymen could not appropriate the 79- "> Bed. Hist. Eccles. 1. 1. cap. 27. ° Leges Alfredi, num. 24. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 109 manor or parish, being partly weary of this fiduciaiy right of tithes, and partly by the religious dissuaded from meddling with that which was holy : they did resign to the parish priest two remaining shares, or else did dis[)Ose of them to some religious house ; yet at first not as an absolute property, but charged with the same uses to the church and poor ; and upon this practice tlepends the custom now obtaining, of the rector or impropriator maintaining the chancel : and upon the same reason were those canons founded which pre- scribed hospitality and charity to monasteries and to parish priests. It seems to have been evidently on those grounds, that Gilbert Basset gave his two parts of tithe in Strattone (for which in law and conscience he stood accountable to the poor, and to the cathedral, or some adjoining church) to another object of j^iety and charity, the monks of Egnesham. Hence in very many of the first donations of tithe to monasteries, there is mention only of two parts, which were not alienated from the parochial clergy, but assigned to what they thought the like pious and charitable uses. Some footsteps of this division of tithes do still remain, and there would have been many more, but that the monks, so endowed with two parts, did either by approj)riation get the whole, or else, to spare the trouble and avoid the difference which might arise in dividing, they commuted for a pecuniary pension from the parish priest. An. Mcx. 10, 11. Henry I. King Henry having married Maud sister of Alexander king of Scotland, and David his brother, gave to the saitl Da\id to wife Maud the widow of Simon earl of Northampton and Huntendon, and the guardianship of his son and heir Simon the second, in which right he became lord of the manor of Merton, and of the fee of Pi- dington". It is to this tenth of Henry the First, or to about the same time, that Mr. Selden refers the donation of Gilbert Basset, °Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 67 J), b. no PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. iL'hen he gave for ever to the ahhey of Abingdon, with his son Robert entering there into religion, the tithe of his land in Waneting, to be employed ad iisum pauperum p. But 1 rather think this gift was much later, in the reign of king Stephen, or Henry the Second. On the tfiird of the nones of July, an. 1110, the king confirmed the foundation of a priory at Coges, com. Oxon. as a cell to the abbey of Fiscamp in Normandy, given by Manasser Arsic lord of the ba- rony of Coges, with several endowments, among which were two garbes or sheaves of tithe at Fretwell ''. An Mcxi. 11, 12. Henry I. Adeline de Ivery, mother of Jeffery de Ivery, who held in dowry the manors of Islip and Otingdon, lay now desperately sick at her house in Fencot, within the parish of Charlton, and gave to the monks of Abingdon, to pray for her recovery, one hide of land within the said village of Fencot, which gift her daughter Adeliz and king Henry did both confirm ; of which the story is thus recorded. No- hilis qucedam matrona Adelina de Hiverio vocata apiid locum qui Faincote dicitur, iibi diu irremediabiliter cpgrotavit, hidam tmam. pro suo remedio abhatice de Ahbandun contulit, an. xi. Hen. I. et Adeliz flia ejiisdem Adelines dictum doiiuni inaternum confrmavit. Hiis tes- tibus. Nigello de Oileio, Thoma de S. Johanne, Hugone de Euremon, Galfredo filio Pagani, Galfredo de Magnavilla, Rogerio de Oileio, Roberto de Dunstanvilla. Apud JFudestoc in quadragesima". Which gift is recited and confirmed in a bull of Pope Eugene the Third, an. 1146. In Fencota unani hidam ^ : and is fully expressed, though falsely printed in the charter of Henry the First, unam hidam in Femcote (it should be Fencot) cum pratis et pascuis, et omnibus sibi pertinentibus, sicut Adelina de Suereio (it ought to have been de Ivereio) dcdit Ecclesice in elemosina, et Adelizaflia concessit '. This P Seld. Hist, of Tithes, p. 304. q Mon. Ang. torn. 1 . p. 574. ' Ex Chartul. Abend. apud. Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 105. f. 2. s Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 107. « Ibid. p. 106. a. AMBROSDEN, BURCE8TER, &c. HI Adeliz, daughter of Adeline de Ivery *, was married to Alberic de Ver, junior, lord chamberlain of England, who in his wife's right came to some possessions in Islip, and Hedingdon, and Draiton, giving to the monks of Thorney in com. Cant, ten shillings yearly rent, issuing from his one part of tithe in Islep, Insuper pro remis- sione peccatorum meorian, illis de una mea decima scilicet de IsIcp, unoquoque anno ad festivitatem S. Michaelis xk reddam " : with as nmch other tithe in Draiton and Hedindon, as amounted to the tithe of five carucates, which Robert son of the said Alberic con- firmed to that abbey : Decimas de quinque carucis qiias pater mens Deo et S. Marice Thornia; coticessit, scilicet Islep, Draitune, et Edin- ton, Deo atque sanctce Marice, atque monachis Thorneiensibus concedo. Test. Williebno de Cestreton, Sfc. " And therefore it is a palpable mistake which Mr. Dugdale transcribes from Leland, that Adeliza, wife of Alberic Ver, was daughter of Gilbert de Clare'', who had in- deed a wife, but no daughter of that name ^ The same Adeline de Iveri, in or before her time of sickness, gave to the monks of St. Ebrulf, at Utica in Normandy, her manor of Cherlton in com. Wilts, (wherein her father Hugh de Grentmaisuil had before given one villain *) thus confirmed, not by king Henry the Second, (as the editors of the Monasticon have falsely entitled the charter,) but by king Henry the First. H. rex Anglice archie- piscopis, episcopis, et haronibus, et vicecomitibus, et JidcUbus suis * Henricus rex AngUw I. concessit eccl'icB. Deo servicntibus pro salute animcB mecs et pa- beatce Maria; Radivg munerium de Ro- iris mei atque matrix mecB et omnium anteces- 1(inton in Wancicsyra quod Adelicia de he- sorum mcorum perpctuojure possidctidam vil- reio eis comessit vieo dvdit : dat, anno D'rii Uim noniine Jiokinton cum oinitibus ad earn 1 1 33. Cartular. Rading MS. f. 3. pertinentibus. Et ne hoc alitjtia rerum la- Sciant tarn preesentes quam futuri xub bentium varielate deleri valeat, decrevi istud Christi^ma religione consliluti, quod ego Ade- presenti scripto assignare et coiifirmare suh- liz de Iveri coucessi cccVice sarutw Dei gene- sa'iptis testibus. lb. f. 108. trieis Marias de Rading et fratribus ibidem " Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 218. b. » lb. y Bar. of Eng. vol. 1. p. IDO. a. ' lb. 207. b. '■> Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 9(>6. b. 112 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Francis et Anglis totins AnglicB salutem. Sciatis me concessisse et reddidisse Deo, sancfo Ebru/fo, et monachis suis manerium de Ccoi'lo- tona, quod Adclina de Ivr'i eis dedlt, et volo et concedo, et Jirmiter pnecipio, uf bene et quiete, et honorijice teneant. Testibus Nigello de Albiniaco, ^c. '' Which witness Nigel de Albini came in with the Conqueror, and died in the beginning of the reign of king Stephen ^ In this manor of Cherlton was soon after founded a priory, that was a cell to the said abbey of Utica ; and after the dissolution of pri- ories alien was given by king Edward the Fourth to his collegiate church at Windsor ''. The said Adeline de Iveri died of this sickness at Fencote, and her body was carried over into Normandy, and bu- ried in that abbey of St. Ebrulf, near the bodies of her father and mother. She had a younger sister Maud, married to Ralph eldest son of Hugh de Mont-Pinchion, who survived her sister Adeline, and lamented over her grave in Utica, when she came with her husband and his father to visit those monks *. An. Mcxii. 12, 13. Henry I. Upon the death of the bishop of Hereford *, Robert arch-deacon of Oxford « as advanced to that see, being elected on the sixteenth of the calends of June, Ascension day '. Nigh this time Jeffery de Iveri, lord of Ambrosden, &c. died without issue, upon which his barony in this county fell to the king, who soon after bestowed it on Guy de S. Walery, who seems the son or younger brother of Ra- nulph de S. Walery, who came in with the Conqueror. This fa- mily derived their name from the town and port of S. Walery or Valery in France, so called from S. Valeric, a disciple of Colum- ban, whom, about an. 589, Clotharius made abbot of a monastery here in the territory of Amiens, nigh the mouth of the river Soam. It was from this port duke William set sail for his English expedi- * This was anno 1173. •> Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 966. b. =Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 122. b. <» Mon. Ang. torn. .3. p. 2. p. 75. a. <= Order. Vital. 1. 5. p. 585. ^R. de Diceto, p. 568. AiMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c 113 tion. And some historians, who are fond of a miracle, report the duke was detained here by adverse winds, et ob hoc valgus subtnur- muraret, asserens insanum fore alienum solum velle usurpare ; till the body of this saint carried in procession brought a fair gale^. The first of this family was the duke's advocate in that town, called Gil- bertus Advucatus de S. Gualerico ; who married Papia the daughter of Richard the second duke of Normandy ; whose son was Bernard de St Walery, who had issue Walter de S. Walery, who flourished under duke Robert the Second, and with his son Bernard was pre- sent at the siege of Nice, an. 1096 ''. One of this family having been thus by marriage related to the duke came over with him. In the catalogue of those adventurers given Ijy Brompton is Seynt Walery': and in the French annals of Normandy, whereof one very ancient copy in parchment remained in the author's custody'', in the list of those who were at the conquest of England is Le Sire de S. Valery, and among the names of those \^ho remained alive after the battle is R. de S. Valery, who I suppose was Ranulph de S. Walery, re- corded iu Doomsday-book for possession of lands in Lincolnshire ' : and had several houses in Winchester, from whom a street in that city was called Flcus Sancfi Jfalerici ™. As to the family of Iveri, though the direct line was now extinct, yet some collateral branch did long after continue in this county, I would only further observe, that Roger de Iveri, who came in with the Conqueror, gave name to that parish of his possession, now called Iver and E\ re in com. Buck, of which the church was dedicated to St. Peter, and two parts of the tithe were given to the chapel of St. George's in the castle of Oxford. Abbas habct in Evera duas partes de omni re quce deciniari solet de decimis Curice de Evera pertineutibus ad capeUain S. Gcorgii sitam in castello Oxon. de dono Roberti de Oileio, et Rogerii de Iverio ". Which manor of Evre, in the ninth of 8 Polycron. R. Higden. p. i283. et Will. Malms, p. 100. h Norman. Scriptor. Ap- pend. ' Crou. Jo. Brompton, p. 9(j5. '' Fox, Act. et Mon. torn. 1. p. 182. ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 45 1. a. "' Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 2\-2. " Rogist, U.scn. MS. p. 2GG. VOJL, I. Q 114 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Richard tlie First, was granted by the king to Robert Clavering, ba- ron of Werkworth in Northumberland, and of Clavering in Essex, to hold to himself and his heirs by one knight's fee : and in the first of king John, he had a confirmation of the manor and advowson of the church ". And Eufemia, daughter of Sir John de Clavering, wife of Ranulph de Nevil baron of Raby, brought to him this manor in frank marriage, whose heir Ralph de Nevil in the fourteenth of Ed- ward the Third, obtained a charter of free warren in this his lord- ship of E\Te P. An. Mcxiii. 13, 14. Henry I. About this time Maud de Walingford, the relict of JVIilo Crispin, was by king Henry given in marriage to Brien Fitz-count, with all her large inheritance, by which the said Brien became constable of Walingford, and lord of the fee of Burcester within that honor. It seems an unhappy error in Mr. Dugdale, first to confess, that it does not directly appear of what parentage this person tvas, and then ad- venture to deduce him from Baldwin de Redvers earl of Devon and of the isle of Wight, ivho died in the first year of Heiiry the Second ; be- cause the wife of the same Baldwin was named Lucia, notwithstand- ing there is no mention of any such son that he had ''. This conjec- ture is impossible, for Baldwin de Redvers was not earl of Devon till the second of king Stephen, nor seems to have been married long before that time, when his first wife was Adeliza, and his second Lu- cia, by whom he had three sons, Richard, William, and Henry, and died in the first of Henry the Second, being then younger than his presumed son. Whereas it is most probable, he was a natural son of Alan Fergant earl of Britanny and Richmond, (who came in with the Conqueror) by Lucia a daughter of Dru de Baladon, lord of Overwent in Wales. For so he is expressly called in the Saxon Chronicle, Brian son of the earl Akin Fergan". And Gervasius calls o Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 107- a. i' lb. p. 294. i lb. p. 468. b. ' Chron. Sax. sub an. 1127. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 115 \\\m prudentem Britonem', which might be in allusion to his father the earl of Britain, as well as to his mother and estate, and perhaps his birth in Wales. And Alan earl of Britanny, grandson of Alan Fergaunt, gave, an. 1140, ten shillings yearly rent issuing front a fair at Merdresem, to the church of St. Michael's mount in Corn /vail, for the redemption of' the soul of Brien his uncle, of whose inheritance he held his lands in Cornwall^ Which must be vmderstood of our Brien Fitz-count*, (and so Mr. Dugdale does himself determine, the soul of Brientius filius comitis ") who had an estate in Cornwall, and be- ing at Bristol, an. 1141, gave to the priory of Lanthony two caru- * In a learned argument about the de- scent of the barony of Abergeny I find this passage : ' William conqucrour of higher Gwent, gave this title and dignity unto Hamelin de Beaulma, the sonne of Duigo de Buckline, a Norman, that came into England with him ; which Hamline builded the castle and priory of Abergenny, and after assured the same unto Brian de Walingford sonne of Eudo E. of Britain, and Sonne of Lucy, younger sister to the said Hamlin, from whom it was conveyed to Walter, 2d son of Milo of Glocester.' Ex. MSS. W. Giynne Baronetti. In a pedigree drawn from the History of Bretaigne in France by Mr. Glover, Somer- set Herald, it does appear, that Eudo earl of Poiithieu, brother of A.Ian duke of Brl- taigne, by his wife Owen, daughter of Aluin earl of Cornwall, had issue six sons ; 1. Geffry, surnamed Graiomen, slain at Dole in the year 109.3. 2. Stephen E. of Britaigne, who died A. D. 1 138. 3. Derien. 4. Robert. 5. Alanus Niger. (>. Briand, " home fort veillant ;" which youngest son I take to be our Brian Fitz-count. BrienusEudonis ducis Britanniae Minoris filius, &c. Vid. Will. Gemet. de ducibus Norman. 1. 7- c. 41. Contigit paulo post obitum Anglorum regis Henrlci primi nobilem virum Ricar- dum Clarensem ab Anglia in Walliam hac (i. e. per Abergevenny) transire ; et cum provinciae illius tunc dominum Brienum videlicet Gualingfordensem cum militibus multis socium habuisset et deductorem. Silv. Girald. Itin. Camb. 1. 1. c. 4. Regnante Will. Conquest, duo filii regis Haroldi regem HiberniBe Dirmetum pro juvamine confercndo sunt aggressi. Qui cum Lxvi. ab Hibernia redcuntes navibus Anglos ocyus repetierunt, rapinis et incen- diis populum tcrrae exterminantes. Quihus Briennus Eudonis ducis Britanniee Minoris filius cum suis obvius, protinus cum eis sub una die nianus conseruit, caesis Hyberncn- sium bellatoribus septingentis. Tho. Kud- born apud Whartoni Ang. Sac. v. I. p. 246. s Gcrvas. Chrou. sub an. 1 1,')3. torn. 1. p. 47. b. ' Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 902. a. " Dugd. Bar. « 2 116 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. cates of land in his village of St. Michael's". Nay farther, Mr. Dug- dale, in his family of Fitz-Alan of Bedall, does deduce it from Brian a yoimger son to Alan Fergant earl of Britanny and Richmond'': by which he does acknowledge, that Alan Fergant had a son so called ; though indeed as to that descent of Fitz-Alan he is again mistaken, for they were not derived from Brian Fitz-count, son of Alan-Fergant, but from Brian a younger son of earl Alan the se- cond, and brother of Conan earl of Britain ^ In reference to this same person, I ought not to omit another great mistake of Mr. Selden, who writes thus of him. IVere there not also earls of fPa/ingJord anciently P Mahnshury " says, that Ro- bert earl of Glocester went from Arundel to Bristol, occurrente sibi medio itineris Briano filio coniitis de Walingford. The same person is afterward mentioned, and called Brientius filius comitis marchio de Walingford ''. / conceive this Brian to he the same man ivhich is called Brientius % in that office cited hy Mr. Camden ''. Where Mr. Selden did not consider, that Malmsbury's expression is not to be rendered Brian son of the earl of Walingford, but Brian Fitz- count of Walingford, lord of that honor and castle ; and this only in right of his wife. His other title of Marchio de Walingford was in respect of his being warden or constable of Walingford castle, which he so stoutly defended for the empress Maud against Stephen. An. Mcxiv. 14, 15. Henry I. At building of the new church in the abbey of Croyland, among the great number of benefactors, Simon, earl of Northampton the second, was there on the foundation day, , and laid a corner stone with one hundred marks upon it for the workmen ^ He enjoyed only the earldom of Northampton, the other of Huntingdon being given ^ Mon. Ang. vol. 2. p. 4. a. y Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 53. ^ Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 883. " Malm. Hist. Nov. 1. 2. p. 104. *> lb. p. 105. "^ Camden. Britan. p. 204. <• Selden, Epist. to Mr. Vincent, prefixed to Discovery of Errors in Brook's Catalogue, <: Pet. Bles. Contin. Hist. Croyland, p. 119, AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 117 to his guardian and father-in-law David, brother to the king of Scotland. An. Mcxv. 15, 16. Henry I. The king was now at Woodstock, and there by charter confirmed to Faricius and the monks of Abingdon, their cell of Eadwardston in com. Suffolk, given to them by Hubert Munchensi. Testibus, &c. Nigello de Oilei, et Radulfo Basset, &c. apud Wtlestocam, anno ab incaniafione Domini, mcxv ^ An. Mcxvi. 16, 17- Henry I. Nigh this time Guy de S. Walery, lord of the manor of Ambros- den, Beckley, and other places which made up the late honor of Iveri, now from this new possessor called the honor of S. Walery; gave to the prior and canons of St. Frideswide in Oxford, liis manor of Knyttinton com. Berks, which was then taxed in the hundred of Shryningham, which manor Peter de Ashrugge, after steward of St. Walery, did annex to that honor ^. An. Mcxvii. 17, 18. Henry I. Brien Fitz-count*, lord of the manor of Walingford, granted to Osmimd Basset one knight's fee, with its ap[)urtenances in Oakly nigh adjoining to Brill, in com. Buck, and the fovnth part of one * Eccl'ia de Hiklendona habet 1 hid. R. cp'us Line, successor A. ep'i Line, dimid. hid. est de dominio H'lii (luam Milo oonfirmat jjriori S. Frideswide cccriam de Crispin dedit VValtero abbati ad facicnd. Accleya cmn capellis de Brehill et Erustall hospitium suuin ; ipsam eccl'iam dedit ec- et de Hcddingrave. Test. Theobald Cant, cl'iw de Evesham Brien. fil. comitis et ep'o. David Archid'o Buck. VVygod abb'e reddit annuatiin 1 mare, et 1 hospitium in- de Osney. Mag'ro Rob. de Bulc. Ric'o venit integrum Abbati per annum, et, si precentore. VVill'o de Cheyne. W. R. fra- iterum venerit, ignem, salem, et literiam. tre ejus. Mag'ro Rad'o et multis aliis. Ex Cartular. Evesham. Vespasian. B. 21. cartis S. Fridesw. Oxon. ' Mon. Ang. torn. 1 . p. 469. a. % Ex Regist. S. Prides, in C. C. C. MS. carta 406. 118 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. knight's fee in Aspeden, by a special charter confirmed by king Henr}' the First, which lands descended to John Basset, son of the said Osmund, and then to William Basset son of the said John, to whom and his heirs they were confirmed by king John in the eighth year of his reign ''. An. Mcxviii. 18, 19. Henry I. David, brother of Alexander king of Scotland, and of Maud queen of England, having married Maud, eldest daughter of earl Wal- theof, the relict of Simon earl of Huntendon and Northampton, held in her right the manors of Pidington and Merton, in the latter of which he gave the advowson of the church to the .ibbot and monks of Egnesham ' in this county ; to whom was soon after reserved an annual pension of thirty shillings. Note, this was one of the early projects which the regulars invented to oppress the secular clergy : that when the advowson of a church was given to an abbey, they would not present a priest but on the simoniacal compact of a re- served pension to themselves, whereby the parish priests became tri- butary to their patrons the abbots and monks. This grievance had been considered in the council at London, an. 1102, where by the twenty-sixth canon it was provided, that the religious should not ac- cept the neiu advowson of churches without consent of the bishops^ and ivhen legally given to them, should not luithhold any of their re- venues, and so impoverish the priests^. And even the popes inter- posed to reform this abuse. Alexander the Third, an. II70, wrote to the monks within the diocese of York, that whereas he understood in churches of their presentation, they used to receive certain pensions to the lessening of the ancient revenue : he did therefore command them to restore to the priests their full profits which they had so dimi- nished^. And about the same time, writing to the bishop of Wor- cester, he adsised. That ivhereas monks did so oppress the vicars of h Rog. Dodsw. MS. vol. 53. f. 13. • Rcgist. Egnesham. MS. cartas 22, et 23. k Spelm. Concil. torn. 2. p. 22. i Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 74. f. 13. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 119 parochial churches, thai they were not left able to keep up hospitality : he should not institute the clerks presented by them, without an allotv- ance of fit and competent support"'. A canon to this effect was made in tlie Lateran council, an. 1179. And an. 1189, pope Cle- ment fairly decreed, That tuhereas monks endeavoured to convert to their own use the revenues of churches belonging to their patronage, either by not presenting fit persons, or by loading them luith pensions when so admitted : if they did not within due time make a free and nnconditionate presentation, it should be lawful for the bishops to fill up such vacant churches ". An. Mcxix. 19, 20. Henry I. In this year the king was at his palace in Woodstock, and now made an enclosed park in that place, which by most historians is ob- served to have been the first in England °. In this or the preceding year died Nigel de Oily, and left his barony and castle of Oxford to Robert de Oily his son. The said Nigel before his death remitted to the monks of Egnesham one hide of land which he held of that abbey, with the consent of Robert Bloet bishop of Lincoln ; giving them three hides and a half more lying in Mildecumbe for the health of his soul, and the souls of his wife and children p. An. Mcxx. 20, 21. Henry I. About this time Robert de Oily jun. married Edith Forne, a beau- tiful concubine of the king, who gave her in frank marriage the ma- nor of Cleydon in com. Bucks, which match stands thus recorded in the Oseney register. Memorandum quod rex Henricus primus fi'lius ff^illi^dmi Bastard dedit Edithamfiliam Forne Amasiam suam Roberto de Oileio secundo in uxorem, et cum ea totani Clcydonam in liberum maritagiuni ''. «" Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 74. f. 1.3. " Extrav. de Prebendis. «> Hen. de Knighton, p. 2382. PDugd. Biir. torn. 1. p. AGO. <\ llegist. Osen. MS. p. 228. 120 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. An. Mcxxiii. 23, 24. Henry I. At Christmas the king held a council at Woodstock, where, three days after Epiphany, riding out with Robert bishop of Lincoln at a distance from all other company, the bishop fell from his horse, and, being carried home speechless, died the following day, and his bowels were reposited in the monastery of Eyvesham % (I suppose Egne- sham,) to which he had been a restorer and benefactor. In Lent following the bishopric of Lincoln was given to Alexatider arch- deacon of Salisbury', who was consecrated at Canterbury on the eleventh of the calends of August '. An. Mcxxiv. 24, 25. Henry I. Alexander king of Scots died on the sixth ", or seventh ", or ninth ', of the calends of May, and was succeeded by his brother David earl of Huntendon, who in right of his wife had the manors of Merton and Pidington, and with his crown of Scotland continued to enjoy his honors and possessions in England ^ Of whom there is a rude mistake committed by the composer of the useful index to X. Scrip- tores. David regis Scotice f rater comes Huntingdonice dicitur fuisse rex Scotice, sed ni Jailor falso ; when nothing is more evident than that the same David earl of Huntendon became now king of Scot- land. An. Mcxxv. 25, 26. Henry I. The king built a new monastery at Reading com. Berks, and now gave to it a charter of endowment, to which was witness Brien Fitz- count, lord of the honor of Walingford, and of the fee of Burcester. Signum Brientii filii comitis de JFarengeford^. Nigh the same time the king confirming several donations to the priory of St. Andrews ' Jo. Brompt. p. 98'. s pior. Wigorn. sub an. • R. de Diceto, sub an. " Sim. Dun, p, 251. « Chron. Mailros. sab an. y Chron. Saxon. ^ ib. » Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 418. b. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 121 in Northampton, mentions one virgate of land in Wendlingbury, the gift of llbert de Cogenlio ''. An. Mcxxvi. 26, 27- Henry I. Guy de S. Walery, h)rd of the honor so calletl, and of the manor of Ambrosden, impleaded Simon Beauclmmp for the whole barony of Bedford; till, byway of composition, the said Simon granted to Guy de S. Walery and his heirs his manor of Aspele within that barony % of which the church had been by the said Simon given to tlie Augustine priory of Newnham''. Mr. Dugdale relates, that this Simon de Beauchamp, in the twenty-sixth of Henry the Second, gave a fine of three hundred marks to the king, upon an agreement betwixt him and Guy de S. Walery ^ A plain mistake of Henry the Second for Henry the First. For not only Guy de S. Walery, but Reginald his son was dead before the twenty-sixth of Henry the Second; it can agree only to the twenty-sixth of Henry the First, before which time Simon Beauchamp succeeded to the barony of Bedford, was after steward to king Stephen, and had then sons of age to hold Bedford against the king. After Michaelmas, David king of Scotland, lord of the manors of Merton and Pidington, came into England, was honorably received by king Henry, and resided here twelve months '. An. Mcxxvii. 27, 28. Henry I. The king kept his Lent and Easter at Woodstock, and Whitsun- tide at Windsor, where David king of Scotland and all the English barons sware allegiance to Maud the king's dauglitor, the eniperor's widow, who had been brought over in September the year j)reced- ing^; and was now sent into Normandy with the attendance of Ro- bert earl of Glocester, and Bricn Fitz-count lord of Walingtbrd "' : b Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 69,1. a. ^ Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 42. f. lOfi. •' Mon. Aug. torn. 2. p. 23!>. a. "^ Dugil. Bar. toiii. 1. p. 22.S. ' Chron. Saxon, sub an. PVVill. Malms, p. 17'l. '' Cliron. Saxon, sub an. VOL. I. U 122 paroc;hial antiquities. where she was married to Jeffery son of Fulk earl of Anjon ; a match carried on chicHy by the counsel and interest of the said Brien Fitz-covmt '. An. Mcxxviii. 28, 29. Henry L The chxirch of Merton adjoining to Ambrosden had been lately given by David earl of Hinitendon, now king of Scotland, to the abbey of Egnesham in this county, and soon appropriated to that religious house ; but was on some pretence detained by Guy le Cha- ring, to whom about this time Alexander, bishop of Lincoln, sent a preceptory letter, to restore unto Walter abbot of Egnesham the said church of Meriton, with the tithes and all other jirofits ; or upon default he should be prosecuted in the spiritual court. Alexander Lincoln, ep'iscopus Guidoni de Charing parochiano suo salutcm. Mando tibi et prcecipio lit cito reddas ecclesice de Egnesham, and Wal- tero ahhati ecclesiam suani de Meritona, cum omnibus rebus qua; ad earn pertinent in terra, et in decima, et in aliis sicut antecessores nos- tri earn prcpfatce ecclesice de Egnesham dedcrunt et concesserunt. Quod ni cito feceris, prcecipio ut IValterus archidiaconus nobis justi- tiam Christiunitatis faciaf, donee reddas, ne pro recti vel justitice pe- nuria amplius audiam clamo7'em. Vale"*. An. Mcxxix. 29, 30. Henri/ I. Robert de Oily, and Edith his w ife *, began now to build the * Nohim sit Jidelibvs sanctcR ecclesice lam dicitur Oseneya, i^c. quicqidd menm est in presentibus quam Jiituris quod ego Robertitx prcfata hisuUi cum omnibus wie/isum quas de Olleyo volentibtis et coiicedcittibus Editlui liiibui supra waram qua; est de molendinls tucore mea et Jiliis meis Henrico et Gilberto meis quce sunt juxta castellum OxenJ'ordice, do et concedo in perpeiuam elemosinmn ec- ^r. Testibiis Rogero de Amari ; Fulcone dcsice Dei et sanctce Maria genetrias ejus et de OUeio ; Hugone Tiwia ; Roberto Jilio eanonicis in ea Deo servientibus, quam ego Widonis, ^c. Collectan. R. GUrver. e reg. consulente et confirmante Alexandra Dei gra- Osenei. Xia Lincoln, episcopo fundavi in insula quae > Will. Malms, p. 175. k Regist. Egnesh. MS. carta 15. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 123 church of St. Mary's in the isle of Osency, near to the castle of Ox- ford, for tlie use of Augustine monks. This pious work was under- taken at the motion of the wife, who, to expiate the sins of her for- mer unchaste life, solicited her husband to this merit; and, to pre- vail with him, told him a story of the chattering of birds, and the in- terpretation of a friar: which legendary dream was afterwards painted near her tomb in that abbey. CfjC Comnting; Of CDitf) tO ©scncp, anD iRaDiilpt) toaiting; on fjcc, anD tljc tcec toitf) tfje chattering pyes, be paintcD in tbc toaulc of tt)c djircbc o^jcc Kegist. Osen. f. 6. " lb. • Mon. Ang. torn. 1 . p. 1 1 .i. R 2 124 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. alienation of tithes from this parocliial church might occasion one of the first vicarages in England, if we believe the report of common lawyers. For Mr. Noy, urging the antiquity of vicarages in this king- dom, that they were before the time of king John, says, that in Ox- fordshire there were four vicarages before his reign p. One of which might probably be this of Chesterton, another that of Merton, though indeed we meet with no such early records that makes them distinct and proper vicarages. The patronage of the church of Ches- terton was in exchange for some greater benefit afterwards restored to the lord of the manor, and was by Edmund earl of Cornwall given to his college of Bonhommes at Ashrugge '^. An. Mcxxx. 30, 31. Henri/ I. The king kept his Easter at Woodstock, where a false accusation of treason was brought against JefFery de Clinton, chamberlain and treasurer to the king, who had given his daughter Lesceline in mar- riage to Norman de Verdon, and with her the manor of Heth in this county '^; the advowson of which church was given by the said Les- celine to the priory of Kenihvorth of her father's foundation ; and confirmed by Bertrem de Verdon her son '. While the king kept this solenuiity at Woodstock, Ingulf prior of Winchester was here elected abbot of Abbendon, and consecrated by Roger bishop of 3alisbury, on Sunday the sixth of the ides of June*. An. Mcxxxi. 31, 32. Henry I. The king now gave at Northampton^ and confirmed at Westmin- ster, to William archbishop, and to Christ Church in Canterbury, the church of St. Mary's in Dover, for canons regular and an abbot to be elected by the chapter of Canterbury, and consent of the arch- bishop. To which charter among other witnesses, was Brien Fitz- P Sir G. Palmer's Reports, p. 114. 1 Mon. Ang. torn. 3. par. 1. p. 69. ' Chron. Jo. Brompt. p. 1018. ' Dugd. Antiq. Warwic. p. 157. b. 'Hist. Coenob. Abend, apud Wharton, Ang. Sac. Pars 1. p. 199. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 125 count lord of the honor of Walingford, &c. ", who was a great favo- rite of this prince, and a constant attendant on him. An. Mcxxxii. 32, 33. Hejiry I. Nigh this time the king granted to the prior and canons of St. Fridcswide in Oxford the chapels of Hedindon, Merston, and Be- neseye, exempt from all taxes and other dues to the bishops, arch- deacons, or their officials ; which, with the chapel of Elsficld, were confirmed by Alexander and his successors bishops of Lincoln ". An. Mcxxxiii. 33, 34. Henry I. About this time Fulk, son of William de Lisures, by intrusion of his ancestors lord of the fee of Borstall, went with Roger de Stibin- ton to Thorney, and there confirmed to those monks the tithe of Sti- binton, which the said Roger had given to that abbey ''. But after- wards Henry de Merch claimed the advowson of the said church of Stibinton, and the right of advowson was disputed, till Eustace son of Henry de Merch quitted and resigned his title to the monks \ The said Fulk de Lisures soon after gave to the knights templars three acres of lands in Bcnigfield ". An. Mcxxxv. 35, 36. Henry I. 1. King Stephen. The king having took sliip for Normandy on the nones of August, An. Mcxxxiv. 34,35. Henry I. ipswn manenum, et Hugone JUio et heerede Simon comes de Nortliamptun omnibus Ji- ipsius H'altcri, et Eustachio Jilio et heerede dcUbits siiis et ministiis scdutinn. Sciaiis meo in presentia christianissimi regis Hen- quod ego dedi imam marcam argenli in mo- rid, anno ab incaniatione Domini mcxxxiv. lenditto m£0 quod habeo apud Huntendon regni vero ipsius regis Hearici xxxv. Tes- Sc'to Benedicto el ecclesi(e de Ramesie in tibus domino IValiero de Bolebech domino perpeluam eleeniusindm iiiuncrium di; tied- Jhidi iUius cf Hugone ^fiHo et Itarede ipsiiis ; tone quod jure hccrcditdru} meumfuit. Hanc Eustachio Jilio et hcercdc meo, &;c. Ex re- autem dotmtionem feci asseutiente domino gist, de Ramesie inter coUectan. R. Glover. H'altero de Bolebech de cujus J'eudo Jiiit MS. "Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. -1. a. " Rcgist. S. Fridcs. in C. C.C. MS. cartae 416, 417 y Mon. Ang. toin. 1. p. i.'4G. b. ^ lb. p. 24?. a. "Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 588. a. 126 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. his coronation day, an. 1132, died this year at Lyons en Forest, on the first of December ; when Stephen earl of Moreton hasted over to England, got himself crowned by AVilliam archbishop of Canter- bury on December the twenty-second, and at the end of Christmas went to Oxford, and calling thither a general council, he solemnly confirmed the liberties of the church and laws of the land ^ : to which charter among other witnesses were Brien Fitz-count con- stable of Walingford, and Robert dc Oily". An. Mcxxxvi. 1, 2. K. Stephen. Maud the widow of Simon St. Liz earl of Huntendon, having married David now king of Scotland, had issue by him Henry, who, coming now to age, did his homage at York to king Stephen, and in his mother's right obtained livery of the honor of Huntendon **, and thereby of the manors of Merton and Pidington, and at Easter was received by the king at London with great honor, and placed at his right hand, till the envy of the archbishop of Canterbury and other barons put such affronts upon him, that in displeasure he re- turned to Scotland*. This Henry married Adeline one of the daughters of William the second earl of Warren, by Elizabeth daughter to Hugh the great earl of Vermandois, and widow of Ro- bert earl of Mellent^ And in the next year after Easter, king Da- vid and his son came with an army into England, and making a truce till Christmas, then broke it. An. Mcxxxviii. 3, 4. K. Stephen. "Sir Robert Gait knight, lord of the manor of Hampton, thence called Hampton Gait, now Hampton Gay, possessed a fourth part of the village of Oltendun ; and going to Gilbert abbot of Waverlie, he desired and obtained leave to build an abbey of the Cistertiau order, in the said village of Ottendun, which accordingly he raised " Jo. Brompt. p. 102 i. et Ricard. Hagust. p. 314. ^ Richard Hagust. p. 315. <• Sim. Dun. p. 256. «Ric. Hagust. p. 313. f Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 75. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 127 ut his own charge, and endowed it witli five virgates of land, which made the lourtli part of a knight's fee, and called it from the name of an adjoining wood Ottelei'-'. The fonndation charter lains thus. Not am sit omnibus sancttc ecclesice Jiliis tain present ihus quani J'uturis, quod ego Robertus Gait dedi omnem terrani de Otfendun, et omnia eidem terrce pcrtincntia in bosco et piano, prato et pasturis et aquis, libcram et quietam, ab onini scrvitio seculari, et consuetudinc terrena Deo et S. Maricc ad abbutiam construendam de ordine Cisterciensi, in provincia* Alexandri hincolnice episcopi. Testibus, magistro Os- berno de Ilac/ie, Roberto de Oi/i constabulario regis, JFarke/in JFau- dardo, Rogero de Aumari, Radulfo de Salchei ''. Gilbert and the con\ent of Waverlie gave to this new abbey of their order one hide of land in Nortun, which Robert de SifFrawast had given to them. Notum sit universis matris ecclesice Jiliis quod ego (Jilbcrfus abbas, omnisque conventus IFaverlie, concessimus con- ventui Otelcie liidani de Nortuna, nobis a Roberto de Siffraivast in elemosinam datum, quod ut ratuin sit nullaque temporis varietate vel postcroruni successionc violctuVy sigilli nostri impressione conjirma- vimus '. The next additional revenue was made by Edith the wife of Ro- bert de Oily, who with her husband's consent gave, out of })art of her own dowry in Weston bordering upon Ottmoore, that demesne which lay on the corner of their wood, and continued on without the intermixture of any other lands : the quantity of which demesne was thirty-six acres, as expressed in a confirmation of Henry the Second. The original charter of donation is this. Notwu sit omnibus sanctce matris ecclesice Jiliis, quod ego Editha, Roberto de Oili conjugali co- pula juncta, consilio et voluntate ejusdeni Roberti mariti mei de duario vico de Ikeston, dedi in pcrficfuam elemosinam Deo et sancfcr Marice, et * Alexander rpiscopus Line, precipit ut al)bati de Eyncsliam. MS. Cotton Claud, ecclcsia de Mcriton isto reddatur Waltero A. 3. f. \1'J. r. 11. Dods. MS. vol. 1 i;i. f. 11. tt Men. Aug. toiu. 1. p. 802. ''lb. ' Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 90. f. 107. 138 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. fratribits in Oteleia secundum institutioneni Cistertii viventibus domi- nium illud, quod extremitati nemoris illorum absque alterius terrcc intermixfione confinuafu/^, pro animabus Henrici et Gilberti jiliorum meorum. Tcstibus, Fu/co de Oily, Fulco Luval, Henrico jilio Ro- bert i Jilio Aumari^. Mr. Leland says, tliis abbey was situate upon Otmoore' ; that cor- ner (I suppose) which lay nearest to the village of Ottendon. The religious alway affected such low places, out of pretence to the more solitary living ; but I believe rather out of love to fisli and fat land. However this site upon the moor was fitter for an ark than a mo- nastery, and therefore, by Alexander bishop of Lincoln, it was soon removed to Thame in this county, and the church theie dedicated to St. Mary on the twenty-first of July, an. 1138'", of which the bi- shop was now reputed the founder, though it was only a translation of the other, and the bishop's augmentation to it was only the park of Thame whereon the abbey was built, and some land which had belonged to Nigel Kyre ". Soon after there was given to this abbey of Thame some land in Chesterton by Robert de Amory : two hides in Stok by Peter Talemash, which were of the fee of Reginald de S. Walery : half a hide in Merton by Hugh Constable : and another hide in the same place by Jeffery son of Omund". * Edith, an eminent and devout matron, at her own proper charge built the monastery of Godestow near Oxford, which at the latter end of December, 1138, in the fourth of king Stephen was dedicated by Alexander bishop of Lincoln, to the honor of the Virgin Mary and St. John Baptist ''. King Stephen and his queen Maud, with * Robertas filius Almerici dedit Serloni Jocelino clerico archid'i ; Osmundo clerico abbati de Thame terras in VViilwardhuJl. de Cesterton. Ex Cartulario S. Marise de Test. Rob'to archid. Oxon. Rog. Cantor. Thame. Bib. Cotton. Jul. C. 7. fol. 30. Line. Had. de Noiers; Rob. filio Irbert; k Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 802. a. ' Leland, Itin. Burton copy MS. p. 191. "> Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 143. p. 41. " Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 802. olbid. P Ibid, p. 525. b. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 129 with their son Eustace, were present at laying the first stone '* ; and were each a benefactor to it^ John de St. John gave the site of the abbey ' ; and one mill of four pounds in Wulvercot ' ; and two houses and a parcel of land before the gate of the church, in the island be- tween the two rivers ; and half a meadow called Lambey, of which the other half was given by Robert de Oily. Roger de Amory gave twenty-five acres of land in Blechingdon to sow yearly, and as many acres to enclose. Alexander bishop of Lincoln gave one hundred shillings yearly rent out of his toll in Banbury. And beside these donations recited in the Monasticon, Robert le Gait knight, with consent of Maud his wife and Philip their son, gave half a hide of land in Hampton"; and Guy de S. Walery, lord of the manor of Ambrosden, with the consent of Aubreche his wife and Reginald their son, gave yearly half a mark of silver on the feast of St. Giles, being the anniversary obit of his father''. This Edith, the foundress, seems to have been the same with Edith wife of Robert de Oily, she being called Memorahilis Matrona Deo devota ^ : and was buried in Oseney abbey in a religious habit, as Mr. Leland an eye witness re- ports, cj)er Ipctb an image of €nitb of stone, in tb' afitiite of a t)otoc00, fiolDing a bart in i)er tigbt fjanti, on tfte nortf)=0iDe of tf)e i)igb altare'. The king, at petition of Walter de Lacy abbot of Glocester, con- firmed to that abbey their several possessions ; among which the tithe of Cestretone (Chesterton adjoining to Ambrosden) of the gift of An. Mcxxxvm. 3, 4. K. Stephen. sell, ut omnes clerici et laid de Oxeneford- Albertus sancttB Hostknsis ecclesioE minis- scire qui ecclesia^n Line, in diebus Petitecost. ter sedis apostolicce Icgatiis dilecto in Chris- adire solebant, ecclesiam de Eyncsham requi- te fratri W. abbati Eyncsham ijusquc siicc. rant et eandetn indiilgentiam quam ibi pcrce- sahtem. Tuis justis postnlationibiis assen- penint hie conscquantur, nos conjirmamus. sum prebentes privilegium quod ven. frater Actum anno ab incamat. Domini mcxxxviii. nostir Alexander Line, episcopus concessit, Cartnl. Eynesham.f. 23. <5 Ex lib. de Godestow, MS. ' Mon. Ang. torn. I . p. 525. « lb. p. 527. a. « lb. p. 525. b. u Ex Lib. de Godestow, MS. » lb. y Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 525. a. » Leland's Itin. vol. 2. f. 17. Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 13G. a. VOL. I. S 130 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Nigel (le Oily^: which indeed corrects the register of donations to that church '', where Chesterton is said to have been given by Robert son of Nigel, .(as before observed sub an. 1010.) in the time of Serlo the abbot ; Avhen Robert was not come to that estate till after the death of Serlo, and could therefore only confirm his father's prece- dent gift. An. Mcxxxix. 4, 5. K. Stephen. Henry earl of Huntendon, having been deprived of his honor and lands in this kingdom, during the war between his father David king of Scots and king Stephen, was now at Durham upon a peace re- stored to all his possessions in England ; among which w ere the ma- nors of Pidington and Merton : and had the county of Northumber- land given to him, excepting the towns of Newcastle and Beban- burg ". Ethelred abbot of Rievaulx, who was bred from the cradle with this earl Henry, gives him the character of a mild and pious temper, an obliging spirit, and a sincere heart, worthy of so great and good a father ^. The king at Midsummer coming to Oxford, had sent to Roger bishop of Salisbury to come to him, whom he suspected for fortify- ing his castle of Divises : when the bishop, fearing a design to ap- prehend him, sent for his two nephews the bishops of Lincoln and Ely, and with their and his own retinue came to Oxford in a mili- tary manner : where a quarrel arising between them and the king's guards, the bishops of Salisbury and Lincoln were taken prisoners, and forced to resign their castles* ; of which three had been newly built by the said Alexander bishop of Lincoln, Newark, Stafford *, and Banbury in this county. Maud the empress, to prosecute her right of succession, landed in July nigh Arundel in Sussex, with her brother Robert earl of Glo- * Sleford. a Mon. Ang. torn. 3. pars 1. p. 8. a. i' lb. torn. 1. p. 1 13. a. "^ Ric. Hagust. p. 330. ^ Ethelred, Abbas, inter X. Script, p. 368. ^ Chron. Gervas. p. 1345. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 131 cester, who with small attendance immediately came to Walingford, and firmly engaged the interest of Brien Fitz-count, lord of that honor; who, rejoiced at the news of her arrival, secured the affections of all the adjacent people', and fortified his castle of Walingford, resolving upon all possible endeavours to assist the cause of the empress ^ : and in order thereto he fortified his castle of Walingford, which after Michaelmas the king besieged, but being unable to take it, he raised a fort of wood before the castle, which he filled with men and arms for a blockade, and so marched off to Malmsbury ^ An. MCXL. 5, 6. K. Stephen. After Christmas the king went to Reading', designing to force the castle of Walingford to a surrendry ; but not able to effect it, he marched to Ely'', and thence to Lincoln, where he was taken pri- soner, and afterward exchanged for Robert earl of Glocester : when all these parts returned to his obedience. And Brien Fitz-count, lord of the honor and castle of Walingford, was glad to purchase his peace with him ; if we can depend on the authority of Mr. Dugdale, who says, that he came to a composition with king Stephen for the more secure enjoyment of his wifo's inheritance ; for in the fifth of Stephen, the record says, that he gave to the king one hundred sixty- six pounds for the office, and part of the lands of Nigel de Oily '. It is however certain, that within the same year he returned to the in- terest of queen Maud, and was her most vigorous and constant friend. Gerard de Camvil, lord of the manor and castle of Midlcton, (now Midleton-stoney,) near Burcester, in this fifth of king Stephen, gave the monks of Bermundsey two parts of the tithe of Charlton-Camvil, in com. Somerset, which were afterwards leased to the priory of Kyl- lingworth for two marks yearly, to be paid at Kynwardeston ". f Sim. Dun. p. 266. B Mat. Par. sub an. •> Cliron. Gervas. p. 1350. ' lb. k lb. ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1 . p. 569. a. "> Ex Registro Abbatite de Bermundsey abbreviate per Rog. Dods. MS. vol, 55. f. 98. et Mon. Aug. torn. 1. p. 640. b. S 2 132 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Nigh the same time Sir Robert de Gait gave to the abbey of Oseney his church of Hampton-Gay by charter, to which were witnesses Henry de Oily and Robert his brother. He married Maud de Povre, and afterward by consent of the said Maud his wife, and of Philip and Robert his sons, he confirmed the church, and gave the manor of Hampton to the said monks of Oseney ; who, in considera- tion thereof gave ten marks of silver to the said Robert, one bezan- tine to his wife, and a horse to his son Philip, who confirmed his fa- ther's donation in the third of Henry the Third ". An. McxLi. 6, 7- K. Stephen. Maud the empress in Rogation week was at Reading*, to which * M. imperatnx H. regif! filia A. ep'o Line, et omnibus baronibiis de Oxonsyre sa- lutem. Sciatis me dedisse ecclesiee S. Ma- ria de Rading et conventui ecclesiani de Stanton cum omnibus rebus ei ■pertinentibm in decimis et terris et omnibus aliis rebus in elemosinam sicut earn A. regina uxor patris mei et W. vir ejus dederunt et per cartas suas confirmaverunt. Et volo et precipio ut earn bene et in pace teneant sicut melius alias res suas tenent. Ex Cartular. de Rading. MS.f.4. A. Dei gratia regina presentibus etfuturis omnibus ecclesice Dei catholicce Jiliis salutem, Notum vobis facio me concessixse et dedisse Deo et ecclesicB S. Maria de Rading etfra- tribus ibidem Deo servie)itibus centum soli- datas terrce in manerio meo Stanton in Oxe- nefordsir, quod dominus mens rex H. mihi dedit aim omnibus rebus eidem terra perti- nentibus et nominatim Reinaldi Forestarii et hoc ad procurationem conventus et reUgio- sarum personanim illitc convenientium in ter- mino anniversarii domini mei regis H. pro salute animcB ipsius et anima: mea omnium- que parenfum nostrorum tarn vivorum quam defunctorum, ita libere et quiete sicut un- quam idem Dominus meus rex H. idon ma- nerium tenuit et mihi dedit. Ib.f. 5. Et prater illas centum solidatas terra dedi ecclesiani ejusdem mxinerii Stanton aim omnibits rebus eidem ecclesia periincntibus. Notumque sit quod eandem ecclesiam con- cessi ad continua luminaria ante corpus do- mini mei nobilissimi regis Henrici. lb. A. Dei gratia regina A. ep'o Line, amico suo carissimo salutem et amicitias. Sciat dilectio vestra quod manerium meum de Stanton partim divisi ct concessi Seta Ma- ria et conventui de Rading pro anima regis H. domini mei ; et partim concessi fratrHms de Templo de Jerusalem et partim concessi Milesendi cognata mea tixori Ruberti Mar- mioni et partim concessi TViU'o de Hare- jiuctu pro servicio suo. Et omni tempore ecclesiam de Stanton et omnia qua ep's Sa- rum. avunculus in Stanton de me tenebat. Ib.f. 5. n Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 39. f. 96. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 133 place Robert de Oily came to her, and made conditions for deliver- ing up his castle of Oxford °. In pursuance of which agi'eement the empress came to Oxford, and took possession of the castle and ho- mage of the city, by which means she had in subjection all the adja- cent country ^ : and appointed garrisons to be fixed in several of the nearest castles, particularly at Cirencester com. Gloc. and Woodstock, Ratcote, and Bampton in this county ''. The said Robert de Oily, for this surrendry of Oxford, had the character of a soft man, that abounded in the delights of the world, more than in true virtue^. From whence the empress went to Winchester, and made oath to the bishop, tliat in case he would accept her for queen of England, he should have the disposal of all bishoprics and abbies ; for the observation of which oath, Robert earl of Glocester, and Brien Fitz- count lord of Walingford, were guarantees": which Brien returned to the guard of his castle, and there received under his custody Wil- liam Martel, sewer to king Stephen, taken at Winchester, and put into his closest prison, called Cloere-Brien, and for his ransom had the castle of Sherborn delivered to the empress '. Gilbert Basset, who held Burcester and Stratton from the said Brien as a feudatory tenant, adhered to him, and was faithful to the same cause. At or before tiiis time Guy de S. Walery possessor of several lands in this county died, and left son and heir Reginald de S. Wa- lery : who, being a friend and assistant of the empress, was by king Stephen disseized of the lordship of Haseldonc in com. Gloc. which being given to John St. John of Stanton, was in the time of peace restored to the said Reginald " ; who soon after granted and con- firmed to the nuns of Godstow Heringesham and Boieham, and one fishery, with its appendages, and the whole island between the two bridges, and whatever John St, John had given at dedication of the church \ • Flor. Wigorn. Contin. sub an. P Sim. Dun. sub an. p. 1354. 1 Scriptor. Nor- man. 1. 2. p. 958. 'lb. p. 553. sWill. Mahns. Hist. Novel. 1. 2. p. 188. 'Mat. Par. sub an. " Mon. Ang. toni. 1. p. 811. b. " lb. p. 525. b. 134 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. An. McxjLii. 7> 8- K. Stephen. The empress kept her Easter at Oxford ^ soon after which the bi- shop of Winchester deserted her, and declared again for king Ste- phen ; at which the empress, being much enraged, marched and be- sieged his castle of Winchester on the first of August, assisted by Brien Fitz-count lord of Walingford, who, upon a defeat, attended the empress to her castle of Devises : from whence they removed to Oxford, whither in the beginning of October king Stephen came; and when he had destro3'ed most parts of the adjacent country % he burnt the city, and besieged the empress in the castle. During the siege, Brien Fitz-count, to bring relief to the empress, got out and repaired to his own castle of Walingford, to which many barons of that party came in, with resolution to give king Stephen battle, or to raise the siege *. But being too dilatory, the empress, near Christ- mas day, clothed herself in white, and walking by night through the snow, escaped to Abingdon, and thence to Walingford ''. Within the time of this siege, the neighbouring inhabitants not being able to repair to the chapel of St. George's within the castle, they built the church of St. Thomas without the walls of the said castle, upon the ground of Jeffery de Ivery, lord of the manor of Ambrosden; being the half of seventeen acres, which, after the an- nexion of St. George's chapel to Oseney abbey, Avas granted or con- firmed to those monks by Bernard de S. Walery. Durante obsidione Castelli Oxo7i a rege Stephana, qui Matildem imperatricein in dicto castello diu ohsedit, cedificata fuit capella S. Thomce, quia parochiani S. Georgii in castellum intrare non poteranty et sciendum quod cedifi- cata est super medietatem decern et septem acrarum, quas nobis dedit Bernardus de S. Walerico, ^c. ' While king Stephen formed this siege, to oblige the monks of St. yWill. Malms. Hist. Nov. p. 188. zGervas. Chron. p. 1858. » Hist. Min. Mat. Par. sub an. *> Annal. Waverl. sub an <^ Regist. de Oseneia. MS. f. 31. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 135 Frideswyde, he gave to them the chapel of Brchull (now Brill) in com. Bucks, by this charter ; Stephamis rex Anglice Alexandi'O episcopo Lincolnice, etjustitiariis, ct vicariis, et baronibus, et vihiistris, et omnibus Jidelibus suis Fran- cis et Anglis de Buchinghamshirc salutem. Sciatis quia pro anima regis Henrici avunculi mei, et pro salute animce viece, et Ma- tildis I'egintB uxoris mece, et Eustachii Jilii mei, et aliorum puero- ruin meorum dedi et concessi in perpetuam elemosinam Deo et eccle- sice S. Frideswydce, et caiionicis regularibus ibidem Deo servi- entibus capellam de Breliulla, cum onmibus ad illam pertiuentibus. Quare volo et jirmiter prcecipio, quod bene et in pace libere et quiete et honorijice teneant capellam prcedictam cum ecclesiis, et capelUs, et terris, et decimis, et omnibus aids rebus ad illam pertiuentibus in bosco et in piano in pratis et pasturis, sicut aliquis ante eos melius et libe- rius tenuit tempore prcedecessorum meorum regum Anglice. Testi- bus, Willielmo de Ipra, Roberto de Ver, Richardo de Luci, IFarino de Luseriis, apud Oxoniam*. Nigh which time Maud the empress, to ingratiate herself with the said monks, gave them a like grant of the mother-church of Oakle, with the chapels of Brill, Borstall, and Edingrave. So as in this competition for the crown of England, these religious had the same bribe offered them by both the contending parties ; that which side soever they deceived, they might be true to their own interest. Matildis Imperatrix Henrici regis filia, et Anglorum domina epis- copo Lincolnice, et omnibus jidelibus suis Francis et Anglis salutem. Sciatis me dedisse et concessisse ecclesice S. Frideswydce Oxenford, et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus ecclesiam de Accleia, cum capellis et omnibus rebus ad easdeni pertincnfibus, scilicet capellam de Brehulla, et capellam de Borstalle, et de Edigrave, pro anima patris mei et ma- tris mcce, et omnium predecessorum meorum, §-c. '' The iiishop of Lincoln, by another charter at the instance of Maud the empress, gave the said monks leave to appro})riate to^their own '' Rcgist, S. Frideswyde MS. carta 462. « lb. carta 463. 136 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. use the said church of Oaklee, with the chapels of Brehull and Bor- stall '. And king Stephen sent other letters to Alexander bishop of Lincoln, to adnse, that he had given and confirmed to those monks the chapel of Brehull, with all tithes and customs of his demesne, as freely as his predecessors had ever enjoyed the same ^. An. McxLiii. 8, 9. K. Stephen. Robert de Oily and Edith his wife granted to the knights temp- lars (besides what they had before given to them) land, to the value of six shillings and four-pence per an. toward the dedication of their church of Covele or Cowley nigh Oxford : which was now con- secrated by the bishop of Hereford, with consent of the bishop of Lincoln *". Nigh this time Brien Fitz-count, lord of the fee of Burcester, keeping liis Christmas at Evre in com. Bucks, with Maud his wife, granted to the abbey of Evesham the church of Hildendon (now Hillingdon) in com. Bucks. &c. by this charter. Brienus* JUiiis comitis R. Londoyiice episcopo, et Hugoni de Bocheland, et hominibus de Colham de Midlesexa salutem. Sciatis me dedisse et concessisse ecclesicB S. Marice de Evesham, ecclesiam de Hildendon et tertiam partem decimce de Dominico meo, cum una hida terrce, et unam mansionem aim orto qui ihi pertinet apud Oxebruge, et volo et prceci- pio quod pacifice et honorijice habeant ea conventione quam ego et uxor * An. MCXLIII. 8, 9. K. Stephen. de dominlo domini, quam Milo Crispin de- David Rex Scotorum obiit 24 Maii, dit Waltero abbati ad faciendum hospitium 1153. suum. Ipsam ecclesiam dedit ecclesiae de In Londoniis ecclesia S'cti Michaelis de Evesham Brienus filius comitis, et reddit Cornhull pertinet ad ecclesiam de Eve- annuatim 1 marcam et 1 hospitium invenit sham cum tribus domibus et reddit annu- integrum abbati per annum et si iterum atim ecclesiae duas marcas, et semel in venerit ignem, salem, et literiam. Ex Car- anno ignem, salem, et literiam. Ecclesia tulario Abbatiae de Evesham, fol. 9. Bib. de Hildendona habet 1 hidam ; dimidia est Cotton. Vespasian, B. 24. f Regist. S. Frideswyde MS. carta 417. 6 lb. carta 464. •> Lieger-book of San- ford in Musseo Bib. Bod. Ox. MS. p. 17. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 137 ntea si7}ms fratres, et participes orationum et henejiciorum illiiis ecc/esice in sempiternum. Hoc fuit in naticitate Domini apud Eure in redditu de curia London. Teste ipsa Domina Matilda, et Ra- dulfo Basset, et Gilherto Basset, et Gi/berto Pipart, et Rogero de Caisneto, et JFarino Capellano, et Hugonejilio Milonis, et Rogero jilio Ahiredi, et Radulfo Foliot '. This Hugh de Bocheland was seneschal or steward to the said Brien Fitz-count, and lield in Berkshire two knights fees and a half, and was afterwards sheriff of that county from the sixteenth to the twenty-second of Henry the Second ^ An. McxLiv. 9, 10. K. Stephen. While Brien Fitz-count, lord of Walingford, maintained that castle as the strongest garrison for the empress, and frequently sent out parties for contribution and provisions, Henry bishop of Winchester had desired of him not to molest any passengers that should be com- ing to his fair, nor to commit any acts of hostiHty upon his lands and tenants. And when this martial baron had allowed his soldiers to put no distinction in their sallies out to plunder, the bishop wrote sharply to him, and threatened excommunication. Henriciis Dei gratia PTin tonics episcopus et sedis apostolicce legatus, Brientio JiUo comitis, Sfc Memorem esse uxoris Loth qua; respi- ciens in statuam satis conversa est. Duni semper ad ea quce retro sunt respicitis, offendiculum quod prce ocuiis habetis minus cavetis, eoque citius corruere potestis. Cum in Uteris quas novissime vobis direxi, firmam paceni omnibus ad feriam meant venientibus a vobis et vesffis dart quesierim, nee in Uteris a vobis mihi directis iUa negaretur, Sfc. Res autem mece a vestyis interim captce sint et terrce, et homines niei inquietati, videtur mihi de vobis et vestris minus conjidendum esse. Et vos (jquod tamen mihi conjiteri grave est nee cordi mco sedet^ nisi correxeritis, infer injideles Anglice connumerabo, t^-c. ' i U. Dods. MS. vol. 103. f. k;. ^ Dugd. Bur. torn. I . p. 680. a. ' Inter MSS. R. Dodswortli. VOL. I. T 138 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. To which menacing letter the said lord made a stout and ge- nerous reply ; u})braided the bishop with deserting the cause of the empress, justified the necessity of his soldiers plunder, and appealed to any legal method of trial against him. Henrico nepofi Henrici regis Brientius Jilius comitis salutem. Mi- ror multo et mirandum est, §-c. Vosmet qui estis prcelatus S. ec- clesice ohm prcecepistis mihi, filice regis Henrici avunculi vestri ad- hcerere, et earn auxiliari rectum suum acquirere quod vi aufertur, et hoc quod modo habet retincre, ^-c. Non est mirum si capio ex aliejio ad vitam meam et meorum hominum sustentandam, et ad hoc agendum quod mihi prcecepistis ; nee de alieno quicquam ccpissem, si mea mihi relinquerentur, &fc. After which was subscribed this form of challenge in red letters. Sciant igitur omnes Jideles sanctce ecclesice, quod ego Brientius Jilius comitis quern bonus rex Henricus nutrivit, et cui arma dedit et hono- rem, ea quce in hoc scripto assero contra Henricum, nepotem regis Hen- rici, episcopum Wirrtonice, et apostolicce sedis legatum prcesto sum probare vel bcllo veljudicio, per unum clcricum vel per unum laicum"". By which it appears that his lands were all seized to the use of king Stephen, and among the rest no doubt the manor of Burcester, held in fee from him by Gilbert Basset sen, who paid him his mili- tary service, and must suffer with him in the same cause. An. McxLv. 10, 11. K. Stephen. JefFery, abbot of St. Albans, at the motion of Roger the Hermite, built a monastery for Benedictine nuns in a wood nigh Merk-yate in com. Bedf. of which the site was granted by the dean and chapter of St. Paul's in London. The church was this year consecrated by Alexander bishop of Lincoln, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and called Cella Monialium S. Trinitatis de Bosco : where Christiana the first abbess had the easy reputation of doing miracles ". Matthew Paris complains that this nunnery was by the founder endowed with "> R. Dods. MS. "Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 350, et torn. 2. p. 872. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 139 several lands taken by violence from his abbey of St. Albans. There was afterward given to it an estate in Burcester, of which the man- sion was called Nonnes-Place. In the reign of Edward the Fourth, this land in Burcester, being assessed among the temporals of the abbess of Merk-yate, was computed at the yearly value of lvi'. x'^. of which the tenths were rated at v'. viii^. ° Mr. Lelaud reports of Humphrey, an illegitimate son of John Bourchier lord Berners, in the reign of Henry the Eighth, that he bestowed much cost in trans- lating the house of nuns at Merk-gate to a manor-place ; that is, in pulling down the whole structure of that dissolved cell, and converting it to a mansion house for himself: but he lived not to finish if. An. McxLVi. 11, 12. K. Stephen. King Stephen after his taking of Faringdon castle '^, and reducing most other parts to his obedience, found the remaining strength and interest of queen Maud to lie chiefly in the garrison of Walingford, which had much annoyed the country by frequent excursions ', and was vigorously maintained by Brien Fitz-count, lord of that honor. Upon which the king again brought his army to the siege of this castle, where Ranulph earl of Chester came in to him with three hundred horse ; but the place was so well defended, that after a long fatigue, the king not able to prevail by stratagem or force, raised or rather repaired an impregnable fort of wood at Craumers, to block up the garrison, and so retreated '. An. McxLvii. 12, 13. K. Stephen. The king at Northampton confirmed the donation of Siwell to the priory of St. Andrews in that town, to which charter was witness o Transcript. Regist. Archid. Oxon. MS. penes Anton, a Wood. ?Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. 133. 1 Annal. Waverl. sub an. 1145. 'Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 37. b. sCliron. CJervas. sub en. 1145, et Rog. de Hunt, et An. Wav. sub an. 1146. T 2 140 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. * Richard Canivil *, lord of the manor and castle of Midleton -stony, who adhered faithfully to king Stephen ; and was at the same time and place witli Robert de Weston, &c. a witness to another charter of William de Abrincis ". This castle of Midleton seems to have been built or repaired by him, for a garrison of the king's. In a very ancient manuscript that gives a catalogue of the monasteries and castles in England, (wrote at least in the reign of Henry the Second, before the building of Burcester priory not there mentioned) among the castles that follow the religious houses, this of Midleton is re- corded, Oxenford, Midleton, Bannebyri \ An. McxLViii. 13, 14. K. Stephen. Richard de Camvil, lord of Midleton, was now witness to a char- * Symon de Sen Liz comes NorhamtonicB ep'o Line, orchid, baronibus, justiciariis, vi- cecom. ministris, clericb, laicis et omnibits sanctCE ecclesice Jiliis per Oxenefordsyram coiistitutis salutem. Sciant omnes tarn prar- sentes quam fitturi me dedisse et concessisse et in perpetuce possessionis elsmosinam con- Jirnimse Deo et ecclesia: S. Maria de Ra- ding pro salute anime mee et parentum me- orwn ecclesiam de Hanebergha atm terris et decimi-s et omnibus ecclesice pertinentibus sic- ut rex Henricns dedit et concessit in vita sua. Unde volo et precipio quod ecclesia de Rading et mcnmchi earn in perpetuum possi- deant, et in pace teneant. Hii sunt testes hujus cartcc. Ricardus de Camvil, Sfc. The chaple of North-Leigh or South- Leigh in com. Oxon. was granted by Ri- chard de Camvil to the abbey of Hading. Notum sit universis sanctce ecclesice Jiliis atque fidelibm quod ego Ricardus de Cam- vill voluntate et petitione Milisent wxom mecB et Roberti Mnrmionfilii sui donavi et in per- petuam elemosynum concessi Deo et sanctcB Maria: de Radings et monachis ibidem Deo servientibus capellam de Leya cum duabus virgatis terree, quarum una fidt de dominio nostro, altera de terra liominum de Leya tarn 7iostrurum quam aUoruni hominum villce, et prater illas terram ad coemiterium faciendum, Et volumus et concedimus, ut eas liberas om- nino et ab oinni servitio nobis pertinente et consiietudine seculaii quietas teneant et Iw,- beant pro salute et incolumitate mea et uxo- ris mecB Md'isent et Roberti filii sui et pro anima Roberti Marmionis et pro animabus omnium nostrorum, ut sint participes omnium benejiciorum domus Rading in etermvm in quibus abbas et convent us nos receperunt tan- qnam speciales fratres domus Rading, ^c. Cartular. Jbbat. de Radinges. MS.f. 196. 6. «Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 680. "Ibid. " MS. Bib. Bod. num. 648. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 141 ter of king Stephen to his new abbey of Feversham in Kent, dated at Berniondsey ''. And nigh the same time was witness to another charter of Reginald, son of Roger earl of Hereford, and Emeline his wife, whercljy they granted their manor of Eaton to the nuns of Godstow in com. Oxon^ Alexander bishop of Lincoln died this year, and was succeeded by Robert Chesny ^. An. McxLix. 14, 15. K. Stephen. The abbey of Oseney, lately erected and slenderly endowed by Robert de Oily, came now to be established upon the ruins of an- other convent. The uncle Robert de Oily sen. had, upon his build- ing the castle in Oxford, raised within the precincts of it a chapel of St. George's, after made a parochial church, and in it he settled a society of secular priests, well endowed with tithes and other posses- sions by him, and confirmed by Roger de Iveri, to whom he soon after gave one of his baronies, as appears sub an. 10/4, which cha- rity the seculars had thus long quietly enjoyed. But now two rea- sons conspired for the dissolution of their fraternity, and the conver- sion of their lands. One was, the devotion of the age inclining more to regulars, who had a greater form of godliness ; and this made it thought a work of piety to eject the seculars from their church of St. George's in the castle, and convey their estate to the Augustine ab- bot and canons at Oseney : a second reason was the late building of the church of St. Thomas, which made that of St. George's lose the use and service of a parochial church, and so this holy place might be the more easily spared, when the parishioners had no longer any title to it. Upon. these grounds this church of St. George's, with all thereto appertaining, was given to the canons of Oseney, by the grant of Robert de Oily patron, and consent of Theobald metro])olitan, antl Robert diocesan ''. y/. D. niilles. cenfes. qiuu/ruges. nono tempore Eugenii papce tertii et regis Step/iani, et Theobaldi Cantuariensis ar- yMon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 688. ^Ibid. torn. 2. p. 886. »Sim. Dun. sub an. bRcgist. dcOsen. MS. f. 1. 142 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. chiepiscopi et Roberti de Ches?ieto Lmcolmensis episcopi, ct Roberti de OUeio secu7idi, qui J uit jilius Nigelli de Oileio, datafuit ecclcsia sancti Georgii cum omnibus suis pcrtinentiis canonicis Osencye regularibuSy et a Galfrido de Ivereio covjinnata, quce antea data fuit canonicis se- cularibus in caste/ lo Oxon. Tlie charter of Robert de Oily now made to Oseney was not a new donation, but an assignment of his uncle's gift to new uses, and what the elder Robert had given to the seculars of St. George's, this younger Robert transfers to the regulars of Oseney. He recites the old gift of two parts of the tithe within all the demesnes of both ho- nors, (utriusque honoris, which in the margin of the Monasticon is thus interpreted : D'oili scil. et de Jbreio, id est, de S. fFalerico,) by which we are to understand the barony of Hokenorton, and that other barony given first to Roger de Ivery, thence called baronia de Ibreio, after granted to Reginald S. Walery, thence named baronia de S. Walerico. Within Hokenorton barony % duas partes decimce de omni re quce decimari solet de omnibus dominicis de Hocnorton, Swerefordia, Berefordia, If^ygintona, et de una hida et diniidia in Edburburia, et de una hida et tertia partce dimidie hidce in Cornwelle, et de Cudlynton, Tropivithulle, Bensintona, et Northleya, et de una hida diniidia in Bartona Odonis et Rowlesham, de utraque curia et de Dunsteiva, Ludwella, et Heyford. Within Ivery barony, duas par- tes decimce, §-c. de Hampton, cum Northbrook Gaytorum, et Bkches- don, de Weston, Berencestria, cum Wrechwych, Buhenhulk, Ardul- feya, cum Northbroc juxta Somcrton, de Mixebury , §-c. dc Beckele, de tota villa Ilortone, Morcote et de diniidia hida in Stodleya quce pertinet ad Beckeleyam, de Wode-pire, Elsefelda, Ocleya, et Ilorse- pathe ; et duas hidas in Ernicote, cum bosco et aliis pertinentiis. What lay within the barony of Hokenorton being still in the te- nure of D'oily, was past and confirmed by Robert de Oily jun. bijt what lay within the other barony now in possession of Jeffery de Ivery was by him confirmed in this following charter''. By which c Regist. de Osen. MS. f. 7. et p. .S50. ^ Ibid. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 143 it plainly appears those other authorities are mistaken, which assert or presume the death of Jeffery de Ivery about the twelfth of Henry the First, and his barony then given to Guy de S. Walery, who had indeed an estate in this county, but the barony of de Ivery was given to his son Reginald in the beginning of the reign of Henry the Second. Noverint universi quod ego Galfridus de Ivereio concessi, et hac prcBsenti carta mea conjirmavi Deo et ecclesice S. Marice de Oseney, et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus, omnes terras ccclesias reditus deci- mas et possessiones quas habent in omnibus maneriis meis de dono Ro- berti de Oileio, et concessione Rogeri de Ivereio patris mei in liber am puram et perpctuam elemosinam, sic at chart a prcedictorum Roberti et Rogeri quas habent plenius testatur. Et quia volo quod donationes et concessioncs prcedictorum Roberti et Rogeri ratce sint et stabiles in per- petuum sigi/ti mei impressione prcesens scriptum signavi. Hiis testibus Roberto Dei gratia Lincolniensi episcopo, Roberto de Oileio juniore, Nigello de Oileio, Gilberto de Amari, Hugone de Tyiva, Sfc. The two hides of land at Arncot in this parish of Ambrosden were expressly confirmed by Maud the empress', duas hidas de Ernicota ; by king Henry the Second, duas hidas in Ernicota ; by pope Euge- nius the Third, in Ernicot duas hidas cum nemore et aliis pertinentiis siiis ; by king John, duas hidas de Ernicot ; by Richard bishop of Lincoln, duas hidas de Ernicote, SfC. There were two other hides of land in Arncot, which had been given to the abbey of Al)ingdon, possibly by Robert de Oily sen. when he was forced to compound with those angry monks, mentioned with other adjoining gifts in a bull' of confirmation by pope Eugenius the Third, A. D. 1146. In Cestertona unam hidam, in Hernicota duas hidas, in Fencota unam hi- dam. In Stretona unam hidam et tres virgatas de dono . . .de Aiheneio. It is here proper to observe that Mr. Selden''', in his History of Tithes, does cite, from the chartulary of the abbey of Oseney, this eRegist. deOsen. passim. ^Mon. Ang. toni. 1. p. 107. 8 History of Tithes, edit. 1G18. p. 307. 144 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. donation by Robert D'oily, of the tithes of his demesnes in Burcen- ccster, Erdinton, &c. And this he produces for one proof of the arbitrary disposal of tithes by lay patrons, and their power to alienate them from the parish church. It is a pity that learned man should be so prejudiced against the clergy, as in unkinclness to them, not only to run away with a false opinion, but to defend it with the falsest matter of fact. None of his first answerers had the opportu- nity to confute this gross mistake. Mountague and Netles durst not meddle with our national antiquities : and Dr. Tildesly could reach no farther than the records of Rochester, by which he clearly dis- proved all the citations of Mr. Selden which related to that diocese. 1 think the first who replies to this instance of Robert de Oily's char- ter, is the reverend and living author of the Historical Discourse of Tithes '' ; who has in general well refuted that conceit of the arbi- trary consecration of tithes by laymen : but as to the partic\ilar story of Burcester, &c. writes thus. Mr. Selden reckons these gifts as ar- bitrary lay consecrations, ivhereas a charter of Robert d'Oily says expressly, Consulente et confirmante Alexandro Dei gratia Lincolni- ensi episcopo ; so that it is he advised Robert d'Oily to found it, and confirmed the endowment at first, though this charter he not now extant. And the Monasticon cites another old I'ecord saying, Robert d'Oily founded this church by the approbation of Theobald arch- bishop of Canterbury , and Alexander bishop of Lincoln. Also that other charter of the same Robert d'Oily, cited by Mr. Selden, ex- pressly saith, the bishop of Lincoln advised and coj firmed it, and Theobald archbishop of Canterbury is the first ivitness to if. Yet this he falsely produces for an arbitrary lay consecration, and basely con- cealing these old testimonies of the bishop's consent to, and confirma- tion of the founder's grant, (^which he must needs see, while he tran- scribed so much uf the charter,^ he tells us, this tuas co? firmed long after by Richard (it ' should be Robert Grosthcad} bishop of Lin- hDr. Comber, Hist. Vindication of Tithes, p. 209. ' No, it should be Richard, i. e. Richard Gravesend, and the date should be li.'iO, in the ninth of his pontificate. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 145 coin, A. D. 1250, as if this had been the first episcopal confirmatiov, whereas it is evident he knew it ivas confirmed hy his predecessor from the first foundation, viz. 120 years before. Jfhat credit can be given to such an historian P This revereiKl auLhor has undoubtedly vhe trulh of the argument on his sitle, but he wanted Uiose records whicli would have much better guided iiim in the circumstances of the story, and would have made Mr. Selden's error much the more notorious. The Dr. confesses, that he iiad no other help than what he received from the Chartularies of Rocliester, transcribed by Dr. Tildesly, from the Monasticon Anglicanum, and from Mr. Selden his own instruments''. Had he seen the register of Oseney, a fair parchment transcri})t of all their charters and other deeds in large folio, belonging first to the Cotton library, and by Sir Robert Cotton given in exchange for Annates Burfonenses MS. to the dean and chaj)ter of Christ Church, Oxon, where now presersed in their trea- sury ; — had he seen this authentic evidence, he would have drawn better conclusions from it, and more ed'ectually exposed the par- tiality and falseness of Mr. Seklen in that tract which least desen^es his name. First, he would have found that this charter of Robert de Oili conveyed no new charity of his own, but only confirmed the an- tecedent donations of his uncle Robert de Oili sen. ^ho, after he had built the castle of Oxford, placed secular canons in the church of St. George's, and endowed them with the several tithes here again recited. So as the a{)plication of this story by Mr. Selden stands wholly on a false bottom ; he supposes this an original grant of Rolxrt de Oili jun. when it was really made by a predecessor. This fundamental error the Dr. would have more gladly discovered, because he had observed the same disingenuous shuffling in other cases, and had charged Mr. Seklen for often citing later confir- mations of the lay granter's heirs, as if they were original grants. He gives other instances of it, to which he might justly have added this. •< Historic al Vindication, p. l*(!(1. VOL. I. U 146 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Secondly, the Dr. would have been sensible, that the foundation of Oseney should not have been confounded with the grant of these tithes, when there was the distance of twenty years between these two actions, the abbey raised and first endowed in the year 1129, but the appropriations of tithe, before made to the churcli of St. George's, were not translated and confirmed to Oseney till 1149. So as though Alexander bishop of Lincoln advised and approved the first foundation ; yet it was only Robert bishop of Lincoln who consented to this transferring of the tithes. Thirdly, the Dr. would have perceived, that in this case there was no collation of tithes, or alienation from the parish church to a reli- gious house, but only a transposal from one fraternit}- to another ; and this no way reaches Mr. Selden's design, who would have proved by it, that the parish church might at pleasure of the patron be robbed to enrich abbies. Though indeed, when the bishop of the diocese agreed with the patron of the church to convert any part or the whole of parochial tithes to the use of religious houses, they did not think it an alienation, but only a new assignment of these dues to the same religious use, though to different religious persons. Fourthly, the Dr. would not have complained, that the charter of Alexander bishop of Lincoln, confirming the foundation of Oseney, is not now extant, when he might there have seen it. Alexander Dei gratia Lincolniensis episcopus omnibus in Christo, Sfc. Clarissimi filii nostri Wygodi prions de Oseneye et fratimm siiorum justis peti- tionibus facile assensum prcehentes, Sfc. ' Fifthly, the Dr. might have produced the old testimonies which he rightly guesses Mr. Selden did basely conceal. He might have cited the charter of Theobald archbishop of Canterbury. Theobal- dus Dei gratia Cantuariensis archiepiscopus fratri JVygodo priori de Oseney salutem. Omnes ecclesias et decimas prcesenti carta conjirma- miis, et authoritate officii quo fungi inur corroboramus, Sfc. The char- 'Regist. Osen. p. 11. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 147 ter of Robert bishop of Lincoln, diocesan ; Robertas Dei gratia episcopus Lincoln, conjirniamus ecclesias dc Kude/inton, Cestretone, Sfc. The charter of pope Eugenius the Third in tlie se\enth of his pontificate ; Conjirmamus dims partes decimarum dc doniinicis horum vianeriornm, Bcrencestre, Blechcsdon, IFeston, ^-c. Thus was this assignation of tithes to a new monastery no single act of Robert de Oili, but allowed and confirmed by the triple ecclesiastical authority, metropolitical, diocesan, and papal. And often again confirmed by their successors, by Thomas archbishop of Canterbury, by Hugh bi- shop of Lincoln ; and in the vacancy of that see, often by the dean and chapter in express charters. How strangely would Mr. Selden impose upon his reader, to ad- vance an odd notion prejudicial to the church, and only serviceable to sacrilege and atheism ; namely, that parochial tithes were of old purely arbitrary, and left to the absolute pleasure of the lay patron : and, citing but one testimony relating to this county, should repre- sent it palpably false, when he consulted the original records, and must needs have failed in his eyes, or in his conscience. MCL. 15, 16. K. Stephen. Simon de Gerardmulin, who held lands in Pidington and Merton in fee from the earl of Huntingdon, died about this time, and left Joan his wife in possession of that estate. Before his death he con- firmed to the abbey of Missenden the chapel of St. Cross, which Ralph the Hermite had built at Mussewelle, within the manor of Pidington, by this charter. Notiini sit cunctis Jidelibus sanctce ecclc' sice tarn prcesentibus qiiam futuris quod ego Simon dc Gerardmulin concilio et consensu u.voris viece Jo/iannce do atque concedo in perpc- tnam elemosinam ahbati et canonicis S. Marice dc Missenden capcUam S. Crucis, qu Ex Lib. do Thame, MS. 150 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. partition of his estate the village of Ottendun was allotted to Hugh de Braiinustre, who left issue Odo de Braimustre, who granted to Henry de Colevile one knight's fee in Ottendun and Norton, for thirty-five marks sterling in hand, and the yearly rent of one besan- tin, or two shillings : which Henry gave the said land to the monks of Thame ''. An. MCLii. 17, 18. K. Stephen. Henry, son of David king of Scots, earl of Northumberland and Huntendon, and lord of the nianors of Merton and Pidington, died this year and left issue Malcolm, who, in the year following suc- ceeded his grandfather in the crown of Scotland '. At or before the death of earl Henry, king Stephen restored the honor of Hunten- don to Simon St. Liz*, the second earl of Northampton': who thereby came possessed of the manors of Merton and Pidington, the former of which he gave to the Knights Templars, excepting the dowry of the wife of Simon de Gerardmulin, which she had in Pi- dington, and two virgates of land in Merton to hold for her life ; by this charter. Sciant omries, §c. quod ego Simon comes Northamp- ton. S)-c. assensu et concessio7ie Simonis JUii mei concessi et dedi Deo et SanctcB Maricc, et fratribus militice templi salvatoris de Jerusalem in perpetuam elemosinam habendam et tenendum Merifonatn, cum ojnni- bus appendiciis ejus excepta dote Simonis de Gerarmolin quod liabet in * Simmi de Sen Liz, comes Norhampto- mce mece et parentum meorum ecclesiam de ni' Mon. Ang. torn. .3. p. 26?. b. * R. Dods. MS. vol. 2.5. p. 118. •< Dugd. Bar. tom. 1. p. 627. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 16*3 witness to a grant of the king to John son of John Mareschal '. Fiilk de Lisures, from wliom Borstall and the forest of Bernwood were held by William Filz-Nigel, had now the cnstody of the forests of Rokingham, Selveston, and Hunlindon ™. The king made an expedition to Tholous in Gascoin, attended by many English barons, and by Malcolm king of Scotland and earl of Huntingdon, lord of the fee of Pidington and Morton". An. MCLXi. 7> 8. Henry II. The king in Normandy con^missioned Rotroc bishop of Evreux, and Reginald de S. Walery lord of the manor of Ambrosden, to make inquisition within the several dioceses, what rents, rights, and customs belonged to the king, and what to the barons". And then- being a scutage this year assest at two marks on every knight's fee for the army at the siege of Tholous, the collecting in this county was comn)itted to Manasser Arsic and the said Reginald de S. Wa- lery p; who, near this time, confirmed to the monks of St. Frides- wide in Oxon his manor of Kniton or Knyttinton in com. Berks, which had been given by his father Guy de S. Walery, was soon after ratified by a charter of Henry the Second '', and again confirmed by king Henry the Third in the thirteenth of his reign'. An. MCLXii. 8, 9. Hennj II. Manasser Arsic, sheriff of Oxford and Berks, accounted for ten pounds ten shillings for Reginald de S. Walery \ Tliis Manasser Arsic was son of Robert son of Manasser the elder, founder of the cell of Coges, which barony of Coges continued in this family to the twenty-ninth of Henry the Third, when the two daughters and heirs of Robert de Arsic past away the lortlship of Coges, and what- 1 It. Duds. MS. vol. 6S. f. 1. m Dugd. Bar. toiii. 1. p. h\)' . " Chron. Jo. Brompt. p. y7.5. ct lOr.l. ° Had. de Diccto. P 11. Dods. MS. vol. H3. f. I. 'i Rcgist. S. FridcswidtE, MS, carta iHi. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 80. p. 175. ' lb. vol. 12. p. 79. Y 2 l64 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. ever descended from their father, to * Robert Grey archbishop of York*. Within this year Walter GifFard earl of Buckingham and Ermi- gard his wife founded the abbey of St. Mary's Nutley, within the park of Crendon nigh Tlmme, for monks of the Augustine order": and gave to it the churches of Kaversham, Risenberg, Chiltune, and chapel of Dortune, Essevendone, Hildesdone, Cheseley, and the tithe of Mersh. Teste Hugone de Bolehcc, Galfrido WiUielmi jilio, Widone de Rocsfort, §-c. " Soon after the king, keeping his court at Brill, did there by charter give to the said abbey the hermitage of Finemere, which was of the fee of Rouland Maleth of Quainton, with license of free ingress and egress, and pasturage of cattle and other privileges in the forest of BrehuU. Hiis testibus ; Ranu/pho de Glanvill, Hugone de Cressy, Gilberto Pipard, WiUielmo de GeipOKu- vill, apud BruhulP. An. MCLXiii. 9, 10. Henry //. Before this time Gilbert Basset sen. who held in fee of the honor of Walingford the manors of Berncester, Wrechwike, and Stratton, died, leaving Thomas Basset his son and heir, who was tliis year sheriff of the counties of Oxford and Berks \ Which Thomas mar- ried Alice the daughter of R. de Dunstanvill, and Cecily daughter of Alan de Dunstan\'ill was after married to William Basset son of John son of Osmund Basset. The king held a great council at Woodstock, where he confirmed the foundation of Nun Eaton in com. War. Testibus Thoma archie- piscopo Cantuarice, JFillielmo episcopo Londinice, Roberto episcopo Lincolnice, Malcolmo rege Scoti Ibid. ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 454. b. ^ Men. Ang. torn. 1. p. 526. b. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 177 lands and the site of their house were at the foundation given by her father'. An. 3ICI.XXII. 18, 19. Henry 11. Nigh this time Bernard de S. Walery ga\'c to the abbey of Oseney a j)ool near the Thames with a water course running to the mill be- longing to those canons "" : as also the moiety of seventeen acres and a half of his demesne land in the isle of Oseney ". To the hospital of St. Giles's in the suburbs of London he gave several rents and pri- vileges in the hundred of Istlesword ". He confirmed and enlarged the gift of his father Reginald to the nuns of Ambresburie, viz. Ermun- destre and its appertenanccs in com. GIoc.p He founded an abbey which he called Locus Dei, Godestow, between Normandy and Pi- cardy in France ^ And after the death of his yoimger son Thomas, he granted this charter to the nuns of Godestow near Oxford. Bcrnardiis de S. fVulerico omnibus S. Ecclesice Jidelibus tarn fu- tnris quam prfesentibus et omnibus hominibus suis Francis et Anglis salutcm. Notum sit vobis quod ego Bernardus de S. fValerico dedi et concessi consensu Jiceredum meoriim Reginaldi et Bernardi in perpe- tuam elemosinam ecclesice Dei et S. Mari Jo. Brompt. p. lOOJ. ^ Thoroton, Antiq. of Noting, p. 370. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 1^1 Engehnero de Sainlbeierie, Yvone fratre ejus, Simone de Bracle, Ra- dulpho de Wyntena, IFaltero de Patre, Roberto de Parys de Sache- don, jyillielmo de If^revilla, Radulphojilio et aliis'. This charter is corruptly printed in the Monasticon, and is set be- fore the other grant of Mussewell by Simon de Gerardn)ulin, to vvliich it ought to have been postponed. But indeed this inverted position was an error not so much of the editor Mr. Dugdale, nor of the transcriber Mr. Anthony a Wood, as of the ancient writer of the chartulaiy of Borstal!, who, through ignorance or inadvertence, has often confounded the order of those records, and has very frequent literal mistakes, of which there is one apparent in the last recited charter, decimam de passiiagio et passuagium quietinn de suis domi- nicis porcis, for decimam de pasnagio et pasuagium quiet um, the run- ning of hogs to feed on acorns. And I believe among the witnesses Waltero de Patre, should be Waltero de Povre. An. MCLXxvi. 22, 23. Henry II. The king this year, in a council of his bishops, earls, and barons, granted liis daughter in marriage to the king of Sicily, of which many honourable persons were sent to inform that prince ; and among others were Richard de Camvill, lord of the manor and castle of Midleton ''. Bertram de Verdon, lord of the manor of Heth in this county, now founded the abbey of Croxden in com. Staff, and nijih this time coniirmed to the canons of Kenilworth that grant of the church of Heth, which Lescelinc his mother had made to them. An. MCLXXVI I. 23, 24. Henry II. A charter of the king to the church of St. Augustin in Canterbury, dated this year, has, among other witnesses, Gilbert Basset eldest son of Thomas Basset lord of Bnrcester, with Reginald de Courtney his father-in-law, and Thomas Basset his brother, &c. " About which time Roger de Sanford, knight, granted to the church of St. <: Cartular. dc Borstal, MS. f. xxx. •' Rog. de Hoveden, p. 551. « Ashmolc MS. 182 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Nicholas in Sanford, and to the nuns there scrvinci; God, one acre o( land in Bruhell (now Brill) which Aired his grandfather had given to his mother in frank marriage, from which they should receive two shillings yearly, or one seam of nuts hi capitcjcjumi, on Ash- wednesday^ Which Roger de Sanford, by Miiisent his wife, had issue Ralph de Sanford knight, whose daughter and heir, Mabile, was married to Thomas Bnssell of Sanford, who confirmed his pre- decessor's charity in the year 1204^. This nunnery of Sanford or Litlemoore is in two several volumes of the Monasticon falsely ascribed to the county of Berks ^ An. MCLXxviii. 24, 25. Henry J I. Simon St. Liz the third, earl of Northampton and Huntendon, lord of the fee of Pidington and Merton, confirmed his father's do- nation of the latter to the Knights Templars, by this charter. Simon Jiliits Simonis com. Northanipf. cSt. Omnibus ^-c. salutem. Sciatis me conccssisse et cotijinnasse donaiionem illam quavi pater nieus dedit fratribus Templi de manerio de Meriton. Et volo et Jirmiter prcecipio quod totam ferram illam libere et in pace teneant sicuf clemo- sinam liberam et quietam ab omvi sectantia et exactione. Testibus ; Roberto Grimbald, et Roberto Foliot, et Simonejilio Petit, et Roberto Jilio Hi/gonis, et Gai/frido de Normanvill, et Sahero de Qiiincy\ The old king was this summer at Woodstock, where, on the eighth of the ides of August, he knighted Jeffery his jounger son duke of Britain ''. An. MCLXxix. 25, 26. Henry II. Thomas Basset, lord of the manor of Burcester, one of the king's justices, and in this twenty-fifth of Henry the Second appointed a judge itinerant for Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and several other coun- ties, for his special services to this king in divers wars had the lord- ,.. 'Mon. Ang. torn. 3. p. 13. g Ibid. p. 14. h Ibid. torn. 1. p. 481. et torn. 3. p. 13. ' Leger-book of Sandford, f. 102. ^ R. de Diceto, sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 183 ship of riedendon, with the hundred of Bolendon, and the hundred without North-gate, Oxford, given liim in fee farm for the rent of iwenly pound per an n /tin to the king's Excliequer'. From whence this branch of that great family had the title of Basset of Hedendon, and the third jiart of the hundred without North-gate was called Basset's fee, and now belongs to Brazen Nose Coll. Oxon ". Which Thomas Basset died about tliis time, and by Alice Dunstanvil his wife, left issue three sons, Gilbert, Thomas, and Alan, as also a daughter wife of Albert de Grelle ". An. MCLXxx. 26, 27- Henry II. Bernard de S. Walery, lord of the manor of Ambrosden, among many other royal favors had the manor of Erdington * (now Ar- dington in com. Berk.) given to him, which manor had been formerly granted to the abbey of Egnesham, of whom Remigius bishop of * Gilbert Basset granted his demesne meadow in Erdintun, com. Berks, to the abbey of Reading, by this cliarter. Sti/int prfe.tetites et futuri quod ego G'lle- herhts Bassetie dedi et coneessi pro amore Dei H pro salute anim Regist. Coll. /En. Nas. MS. " Dugd. Bar. ib. 184 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Lincoln horrowcd the use of it for a convenient place of residence; after whose death it was seized by the Uing, and was afterward he- stowed on this fa^•ouritc, against whom Godfry and Robert, successive abbots of Egneshani, brought several actions without eftect ; and the disputes of title held for many years, possession being still kej)t by this Bernard do S. Walery, by his son Thomas, by Robert earl of Dreux, and by Richard earl of Cornwall, who successively enjoyed this barony of S. Walery. The history of it, as inserted in the re- gister of Egnesham, is worthy to be inserted. Maverium de Erdinfhon in possession e ccclcsice dc Egnesham per multuni teniporis niansit. Et quidam liemigiiis tunc Lincoinia; epi- seopns petiit illud maneriuni sibi acconimodandum iit tin possit per ali- qtiod tempHS perendinari, et ei concessum est. Et paulo post Remigius in fata decessit scisitus dc dicto nianerio tanquani de accommodation e. Et dominus Henricus rex Anglia' secundus seisivit haroniani dicti epi- scopi et dictum manerium de Erdinthon , quod maneriuni dictus domi- nus rex tradidit cuidam Bernardo de Sancto IFalcrico quern Gode- fridus abbas de Egnesham scepius convenit coram rege de jure suo sed nihil profecit. Obfulit ei Bernai'dus honiagium, sed recusante abbate Godefrido Robertus secundus episcopus Lincolnicc suscepit illud salvo jure abbatis et conventus de Egnesham. Defuncto illo Godefrido suc- cessit ei quidam abbas Robertus nomine qui dictum Bernardum impla- citavit per breve de recto in curia ejusdem Roberti tunc episcopi Lin- colnice. Sed episcopo ante finem placiti dejuncto abbas Robertus in curia regis Johannis iniplacitavit, et electi sunt duodecem homines le- gales de vicineto, quibus ad curiam apud Southwyk conductis, et pro dicto manerio juramentum prcestare paratis snspensce sunt querclcc omnes usque ad rcdituni regis de transmarinis partibus. Abbas Ro- bertus cito postca migravit ad, dominum ; succcssit ei abbas Adam qui per breve in recto in jus vocavit Thomani de S. IFalerico in curia do- mini Lincolnice episcopi. Et cum jam coniparere oporteret, turbatio regni exorta est per adventuni Lodowtjsi in Angliani, et siluerunt le- ges inter arma. Thoina qiioque non longe postea dejuncto, translata est per Jiliam suani hcereditas ad Robertum comitem de Drus quern per AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 185 fiteras regias m curia regis in jus tractum cum justitiarii Oxoniaw (ievenissent et jurati electi essent prcpsentes et dies quce instarct ad ju- dicium proferri dcbuissef, allatce sunt literce regis Robert urn seisinam perdidisse omnium quce habebat in Anglia et custodiam terrarum suarum traditamfuissc domino Ricardojilio rcgis°. An. MCLXxxr. 27, 28. Henri/ 11. Henry de Oily *, baron of Hooknorton and lord of tlie manors of Weston and Chesterton, gave four hides of land in his village of Chesterton to the abbey of Egneshani in com. Oxon, by this charter. Notum sit omnibus qui sunt et qui venturi sint quod ego Henricus de Oily conccssi et dedi ecclcsice Dei et S. Marice de Egnesham qua- tuor hidas terrce apud Cestrefon villam meam in pcrpetuum pro anima patris mei et Edid sororis mece, duas videlicet in Bruceria et duas in villa Cestrcton liberas et quietus ab omnibus querelis excepto Mur- dredo et Danegeldo. Testibus ; Nicholao capellano meo, IValchelino presbytero de ffeston, Nigcllo de Oily, fFidone de Oily, Leonardo de PTitefeld, Jnilielmo de Cantelup, Petro de JVitefeld, JVillielmo jilio Kic/iardi ■". An. MCLXXXii. 28, 29. Henry //. Gilbert Basset, baron of Hedingdon and lord of the manors of Burcester, Wrechwike, and Stratton, who had his mansion seat and park at purcester, this year'' founded there a religious house for a prior and eleven canons of the Augustine order dedicated to St. Ed- * Henricus d'Oily omiiifnis S^c. Sciatis me tiini de Thame en quod abbatia de Otteleia loncessme et conJirma.sse donationcm tjiiMii apud Tluimam traiisposita sit inquietare vo- pater metis et mater mea abbati et cmiventtd hierit. Test. Ricardo Danmari cantor, et de Tliuma fecerunt de terra, videlicet de orchid. Line. Radulfo Duumari &;c. Ex H'cslon qua: JillIu netntis de Olieleia jacet Cartulario S. MariiB de Thama. Bib. Cot- XXXV acras ne quisjilionon meorum ant ha- ton. Julius. C, 7. fol. H. redwn post obititm metim abbatetn et conven- •Regist. dc Egnesham, MS. P Ibid, carta 22. i Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 383. a> VOL. I. B b 186 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. burg, with consent of Egeline his wife, who, surviving her husband and adding other benefactions, was reputed a co-founder. The foun- dation is thus entered in a very ancient manuscript that gives a short account of the houses of rehgion in the several counties of England. Com. Oxon. Coenob. Prioratus S. Edburgce Burcestrice pro ca/wnicis XI. per Gilbertum Basset et Courtney uxorem \ \\'hen the fii-st prior John and his eleven brethren (which institution was to answer the number of our Saviour and his apostles) were introduced, he gave them the church of Burcester, with all its appertenances, with the churches of Ardinton, Comton, and Missenden, with several lands, messuages, tithes, and privileges in Burcester and Wrechwike, by this charter. Omnibus sanctcB inatris ecclesi^e Jidelibus presentihus et futuris Gil- bertus Basset salutem. Notum sit universitafi vestrce quod ego dedi et conccssi Johanni priori de Bernecesfre et canonicis ibidem Deo ser- vientibus pro salute corporis et animce domini mei regis Hcnrici et pro salute corporis et ani?nce mece et uxoris mece Egelince et libcrorum meorum et pro animabus antecessorum et successorum meorum ecch' siam de Bernecestre cum omnibus pertinentiis suis. Et de incremento totam terram quce est inter croftam Gileberti molendinarii et messua- gium quod fuit Adam et ipsum messuagium usque ad calceiam vivarii mei cum quinque acris quas prcedictus Adam tenuit. Et messuagium quod fuit Osmundi Favcl cum crofta. Et messuagium JViUielmi Au- rigce et messuagium Ahvardi cum crofta in qua ipsa duo prcedicta vies- suagiafuerunt. Et prceterea decimam carectam ligni mei, ut sicut venitur de bosco attrahatur in cmiam canonicorum sicut in meam. Et quoddam pratunculum quod vocatur Hamma quod extenditur de crofta Serici de JVrechwic per la midnedam usque illuc ubi novus ri- vulus descendit in veterem rivulum et ipsani mulnedam ad faciendum ibi molendinum ubi fuit antiquitus vel si alicubi in confinio per illam mulnedam melius fieri poterit fiat. Et pasturam in meam dominica pastura ad tres charucatas boum trahentiuni tina cum bobus meis tra- 'B. Twine's MS. in C.C.C. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 187 hentthiis. Et ad quatnor centum oves pasturam ad ecclesiam perti- venteni tarn in dominica mea quani in communi pastura. Et qiiitan- ciam de pnsnogio, et homines suos de eis tcneiites libcros et quietos ab omni servitio quod ad me pertinet. Prceterea ecclesiam de Ardintona cum pertinent/is suis, ecclesiam de Comtona cum pertinentiis suis, ec- clesiam de Alissenden cum pertinentiis suis in perpetuam elemosinam liheram et quictam ab omni seculari servitio et exactione in pratis et pasturis in mariscis in molendinis in viis et semitis et in omnibus locis sicut unquam aliqua persona melius tenuit et liberius. Et ego Gih' bertus Basset has prcedictas ecclesias et possessiones prcedictas cano- nicis prccdictis de omni seculari servitio warantizabo, et prcedicti ca- 7ionici supradictas ecclesias vel possessiones non dehent dare vel pro alia ecclesia vel aliis possessionibus commutare neqite ad firmam dare. lliis tcstibus ; Rob. de IVitefeld tunc vie. Thoma de Durevall, Ege- lina uxore mea, Aliz Basset, Henrico de Curtenai, Rob. de Amalri, Hug. Durevall, Thoma Basset, Fulcone Basset, Jacobo de Gerard- mulin, Walerano de Chrichlade, Rob. le JValeis, Bartholomeo capel- lano, Rob. Jilio Rad. IFill. de Covele, Will, jilio Rici. Jfarino pin- cerna, Hasculfo de Bixa, Thoma Britone, Adam clcrico, Ric. clerico de Calverton, et imdtis aliis ". This first charter of foundation is in a long slip of parchment, with a seal appending of green wax, with the rude effigies of a man on horseback and this inscription. >J< Sigillum Gilberti Basset. There is another ancient copy of this charter entitided Carta Gile- J)erfi Basset de fundatione ecclesice de Burcestre, under the co])y is subscribed, Cum bulla Celestini papce de conjirmatione ecclesiarum de Ardyngton, Alessenden et Cumpton. Soon after the said Gilbert Basset gave to the same prior and ca- nons a second charter in parchment, with seal appending of the same impress, which recites the chapel of Stratton as an apperte- nance to Burcestre, with lands in the said parish of Stratton, and then repeats literally the former donation with the same witnesses. ' Ex Orig. penes hon. vinim D. Gulielmum Glynne Baronettuin. B b 2 188 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Omnibus sanctcc t/ialris ecclesi Dr. Plot's Nat. Hist, of Oxf. ch. 5. §. 9 J. c Doomsday-book. '' Aniiot. Coloss. th. 2. V. 23. not. I. in voce ediXo3g>j(rxei«. 192 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. of it was ojicned and cleansed, at which time it gave such a sudden and great supply of water, that had the old adorers now lived, this should have been esteemed another miracle. There was a neat and much frequented walk leading to it from the priory and town, which, in a record about the tenth of Edward the First, is called %egnt <2BDtmr0 \)Z8 gienc tnap, and Fia Sanctce Edburge". It is now by corruption called Eadburg balk*, i. e. the Edburg way balk, it run- ning as a green balk between plough-ridges on each side. It begins at the west part of Kings-End in a narrow passage between two houses of Mr. John Coker, now or late in the occupation of Ralph Edwards on the south, and Edward Bridgman on the north : it ex- tends half a mile in length leading to no other place but directly where it terminates, the head of the spring ; the breadth is too much lessened by some encroachments of the plough, and there be some intermissions in the path by a like trespass of the husbandman : it being once a high-way, no propriety is yet claimed of it ; but by- custom the grass or profit of herbage is allowed to the tithing-man of Kings-End. Nor was this the only well made sacred by St. Ed- burg; there was another of the like name and reputation in the city of Canterbury, of which we read in the time of Athelred archbishop, Christ- Church recovered six mansions in Canterbury, nigh Edburg- well '. An. MCLXxxiii. 29, 30. Henry II. JcfFery the unordained bishop elect of Lincoln did, on the feast of E})iphany at Marleborow before the king and archbishop of Canter- bury, renounce his election to that see^ ; which within this same year was given to Walter de Constance the king's clerk, archdeacon of Ox- ford and canon of Lincoln, who, being consecrated at Anjou by Ri- * Tadbury-balk. eEx Autographo penes Job. Cokcr, gen. f Wharton, Ang. Sac. torn. 1. p. 53. 6 R. de Diceto, p. 614. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. ig3 chard archbishop of Canterbury, returned and took possession in the following year *". An. MCLXXXiv. 30, 31. Henry II. Bernard de S. Walery, lord of Ambrosden, founded a nunnery at Stodley in this neighbourhood, which he endowed with half a hide of land in Horton, by this charter. Noturn sit omnibus tarn prcesentibiis quam futuris quod ego Ber- iiardus dc S. IFalerico dedi et concessi Deo et ecclesice S. MaricB de Sfodleij et sanctimoniaUbus ibidem Deo servientibus dimidiam hidam terrce in Horton eandem scilicet quam Normamius tenuit fenendavi in perpetnam elemosinam de me et liceredibus meis liberam et quietam sic- iit elemosinam ah omnibus servitiis mihi et hceredibus meis pertineiiti- bus pro Henrico et pro uxore sua et pro liberis suis et pro animabus patris et matris niece et pro anima Matildis uxoris mece et pro ani- mabus antecessoriim meorum et pro me ipso et iixore Avoride et pro liberis meis vt Deus det eis et nobis concedat vitam ceternam. Hiis testibus ; Roberto vicecom. Bernardo milite, Johanne de Occeleia, Ro- gero de Sanford, Herberto de Piry, Ernulfo clerico, Everardo de Abbe, Hugone de S. Germano, et omni curia mea '. The church of Horton was before given to the abbey of Egne- sham in this county by Walcheline Hareng, and vvas confirmed by Hugh bishop of Lincoln, with several other churches. Omnibus Christi Jidelibus Hugo Lincolniensis episcopus, §t. Con- firmamus ex dono Johannis de S. Johanne ecclesiam de Stanton. Ex dono Davidis regis Scotite ecclesiam de Meriton. Ex dono Jordani de Sai ecclesiam de Sulethorn. Ex dono Hugonis de Cliaisneto eccle- CoRNWEi.i,. mei concessi S. Maria: de Oseney eccl'iam Ego Hawysia de Gray pro anima Joh. dv de Cormvell ; hiis test. dno. Waltero de Gray Gray Jhilri.s luci (iiKiiiddii} A'onrif cp'i et H'igorn. cp'ojilio nwo. Reg. Oscn. f. 103. vulimlulc dill. Roll, de Gray Jilii el hocredis '' Mat. West, suh ;iii. ' Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 101. VOL. I. C C 194 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. siam de Niwenton. Ex dono Alexandri de Barton ecclcsiam de Bar- ton. Ex dono Petri de Mara mediefateni ecclesice de Heyiford. Ex dono iralc/iclini Ilareng ecclesiam de Horton. Ex dono Stephani de Pinfold et AlieicB uxoris suce ecclesiam de Cornwell, §-c. '' There is another confirmation of the same bishoji, that recites the pension * reserved to the monks from this and other churches. Hugo Lincoln, cpiscopus, §-c. ecclesias ct pensioncs conjirmamus vide- licet ecclesiam de Stantona et in ea annuam pensioncm unius marcce argenti. Ecclesiam de Sulethorn et in ea pensionem diiaruni marca- rum argenti. Ecclesiam de Stoches et in ea pensionem iinius librcE: piperis. Ecclesiam de Horton et in ea pensionem quatuor solido- rum Ecclesiam de Mereton et in ea annuam pensionem xxx. solidorum '. The Stoches here mentioned is that now called Stoke-Line, wliere * Omnibus Xtifidelibus ad qiios presentes Htercc jjervenerint Hugo Dei gr. Line, ep'us salutem in Duo. Noverit unitersitas vestra no.i divin Walter de Constance bishop of Lincoln having been elected arch- bishop of Rhemes* in the year 1184^; at a general council con- vened in May at Egnesham in this county, Richard dean of Lin- coln and the chief part of his chapter came thither ; and, after a long debate, in the presence of the king and archbishop, they chose Hugh a native of Grenoble, prior of the Carthusian order in England, who was consecrated at Westminster on the feast of St. Matthew '. Seve- ral other solemn elections of bishops and abbots were made during the said council at P]gnesham *". In Scjitenibcr following the king was at Woodstock, where, in his royal chaj)el within the park, Wil- liam king of Scotland with great solemnity married Ermengard daughter of the lord Beaumont, on Friday the nones of September ". An. MCLXxxvii. 33, 34. Henry IT. The warden or steward of the honor of Walingford did this year account to the king for several sums, in pardons granted to Gilbert Basset lord of the manor of Burcester, and to Raniilph de Glanvill, Gilbert Pipard, Alan Basset, Robert de Witefelde, and William Paganell ''. About this time Roliert, son of Ralph, son of Robert de Amory, knight, in consideration of one mark and ten shillings in silver, con- firmed to the abbey of Oseney the gift of one hide of land in Chester- ton ' ; and gave those monks a plat of ground between the king's way and tiie grange of William Lare, with leave to enclose it with a * Roan. » Leger-book of Sandford, p. 102. y 11. Dods. MS. vol. !:.'(). I'. 13. ^- R. de Diceto, sub ail. "11). fJ.il. ''Chron. Gcrviis, p. 1 IKO. « Chroii. Mailros, sub an. d R. Dods. MS. vol. 11,5. f. 5. f Rcgist. Oscn. MS. p. '.iJU. 200 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. wall'. Nigh the same time Ralph, son of William, son of Maud de Weston, gave to the said church of Oseney five acres of land in Weston, by this charter. Sciant prcesentes et futiiri quod ego RadulphusjUiun IFilliehn} Ji/ii Mafildce de JFeston dedi ecc/esice S. Marice de Oseneia ct canonicis quinque acras terrce cum perfinentiis de libero tcncmento meo quod de dictis canonicis teniii Ifeston scilicet in campo versus Cestreton su- per CornhuUe duas acras ct dimidiam §-c. et iinani diniidiani acram inter terrain Gilberti Maugere, SfC. et duas acras et dimidiam quce jacent in Berinelande quarum una acra se cxtendit ad viam quce ducit usque ad Cestreton, et una dimidia acrce se cxtendit usque tVit- tingden, SfcJ An. MCLxxxviii. 34, 35. Henry II. Before the ninth of Henry the First, Gilbert Basset sen.* had given to the abbey of Egnesham the tithes of his demesne in Strat- ton ; and in the twenty-ninth of Henry the Second, his grandson Gilbert had given one virgate of land in the same Stratton to the new priory of Burcester, which latter lying more convenient to col- lect the tithes made a pretence of quarrel, till the difference being referred to Philip prior of St. Frideswyds and Richard of Ailsbury, they made this composition, that the tithes of Stratton should be an- nexed to the priory of Burcester in exchange for a pension of twelve shillings j5e/' annum to the abbey of Egnesham. Universis S. niatris ecclesice Jiliis Philippus prior S. Fridestvydce et inagister Ric. de Ei/esbiria salutem in Domino. Cum causa quce ver- tebatur inter abbatiam et monachos de Egnesham et Gitbertum Basset * Compositio inter Godefridum abbat. gistro Rich'o de Ailesburia, quibus auc- de Egnesham et priorem de Bercncestre toritate Hug. ep. Line, causa commissa super duabus garbis decimarum dc domi- fuit ; anno 1188. Cart'arium de Egnesham. nico Gilberti Basset de Stratton coram Bib. Cotton. Claud. A. 8. f. 1. Philippe priore sanctae Frideswydse et ma- f Regist. Osen. MS. p. 329. s Ibid. p. 319. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 201 et magistrum Gilbertum et Walterum clericos de Bernecestre super duahus garbis decimarum de dominio de Stratton nobis conimissa, 8fc. IIccc est con/positio quce facta est inter (Jod-cfridum abbateni et mo- nachos de Kgnesham et priorem et canonicos dc Berencestcr super duabus garbis decimarum de dorninico Gilbcrti Basset d.e Stratton coram Philippo prior e S. Fridestvidce et ma gist ro Ric. de Aitesbiria quibus autoritatc venerabilis patris Hugonis Lincoln, episcopi causa quce inter ipsos super eisdem decimisjacebat commissa fuerat. Parti- bus siquidem prcesentibus hoc modo lis amicabili compositione sopita est, quod videlicet prccfatce duce garbcB decimarum de dominio de Stratton penes ecclesiam de Bernecester in perpefuum residebunt, casque cononici de Berencester sine molestia vel perturbatione aliqua perpetuo possidebunt, reddendo ecclesice de Egnesliam nomine pen- sionis XII. sol. annuatim infra xv, dies post f est um S. Michaelis. Coti- venit etiam intra cos quod si prcefata ccclesia de Berencester in sola- tione prcenotninatce pensionis xii. solidorum infra terminum prceserip- tum cessaverit, ecclesia de Egnesham ad prcescriptas decimas liberum habeat rcgressum. ll(cc compositio facta est anno ab incarnatione Domini mclxxxviii. apud Stanton in ecclesia ejusdem villce feria quarta post dominicam in qua cantatur misericordia Domini et post- modo apud S. Frideswedam apud Oxeneford plene confirmata. Hiis testibus ; Philippo priore S. Fridesuidce, magistro Ric. de Ailesbiria, Nigello decano de O.rcneford, Ernaldo, Radulpho, Ilugone presbi/- teris, JFaltero presbytero, magistro Johanne de Tineniuth, magistro Rob. de Eboraco, Rob. f Ho Petri de Mara, JFillielmofratre suo, Ilu- gone de Draval, Rob. de Aumari, Rad. Gibbiun, Gaufr. de Bella Aqua, Rob. f Ho Pagani, &fc.^ Which agreement was confirmed by Gilbert Basset jiin. founder of the priory, and lord of Biircester and Stratton, in this form. Universis sancice matris ecclesicc fliis ad quos pra'scns carta pcrve- nerit Gilbcrtus Basset salutem. Notum sit unicersitati vestrce me concessisse et prccsenti carta mea confrmasse compositioncm quce facta i> Rcgist. Egnesham, iMS. carta G-*. VOL. 1. D d 202 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. est infer ccclcsiam de Egnesliam et ccclcsiam de Berenccster super duahus garhis decimarum dc doniinio ntco de Sf rattan, Sj-c. ^ This pension of xii'. per annum to the abbey of Egncsham was chargetl not on the temporalities of the priory of Burcester, but on the appropriated tithes of that church. In a vahiation of the spiri- tuals and tenths of the abbey of Egnesham' made A. D. 1277, we find these particulars ; Decanatus dc Bcrencester, de decima in Be- rencester xii'. inde decima xiv^. In the taxation of spirituals made the nineteenth of Edward the First, A. D. 1291, it is thus registered " ; Decanatus de Burcestre. Ecclesia de Burcestre deduct a portione XVIII """"" Portio ahbatis de Egncsham in cadem xii'. And in a re- gister of the king's tenths within the archdeaconry of Oxford in the reign of Edward the Fourth, we find ° Spirifualia ahbatis de Egne- sham, portio in Burcestre XII^ In the rental of the abbey of Egne- sham we meet with a receipt given for the said pension. Noverint universi per prcesentes nos Jacobuni permissione divina ahbatem monasterii de Egnesham recepisse et habuisse die confectionis proesentium de priore de Burcestre duodecem solidos legalis nionetce pro decimis in Strafton, viz. pro termino S. Michaelis archangeli ul- timo prceterito ante datam prccscntium de quibus quidem duodecem so- lidis fatemur nos indc plcnarie fore solutos per prcesentes. Sigillo nostro consignatum ". At the latter end of this same year WiUiam del Ossc of Cherlton gave to the Knights Templars the meadow of Chevesle for the health of the soul of king Henry son of Maud. Hiis testibus ; Waltero fratre meo, JFillielmo de Bosco cognato meo, Simone Jilio JVydonis de Meri- ton, et Roberto fratre ejus, JVialtero de Mcrlac, Clcmente de Mcrlac, Falcone filio Johannis de Osse, Amarico de Covele, Andrea jilio ejus et capellano qui scripsit banc cartam, et niultis aliis. Hcec cartafacta fuit anno xxxv°. rcgni j-egis Henrici secundi p. ■' Regist. Egnesham, MS. carta 63. llbid. p. 4. "> Taxatio Spiritual, in DIoc. Line. MS. in Bib. Bod. " Transcrip. MS. penes A. a Wood. oRentale Egnes. MS. p. 41. P Regist. Sandford, MS. AMBROSDEN, BURC ESTER, &c. 203 The same William del Ossc gave to the Knights one acre nigh the house of Walter de Merlac toward the great pasture and the meadow called Cowmed. Hiis testihus ; Hi/gone paupere, Simone de Meri- ton, IFiUiehno dc Bosco, Johmme del Ossc, SfC. He gave to the same religious use some lands between the house of Walter de Merlac and the great road, ?'. e. the Roman way from All- chestcr to Walingford, leading over Otmoore, &c. Hiis tesfibus ; Roberto le Meare tempore illo vice-corn. Oxon. Roberto de Amory^ Hugone le Povre, Ric. Folio f, Will, de Lcwelienore, Ada de Ger sin- don, Simone de Meriton, Hamone de S. Fide, Sfc. He also confirmed a grant made by John his brother; Testibus ; JValtero fratre meo, et Godefrido frafre Ilelicv, et Ric. de Camvil, &)C. An. MCLXxxix. 35. Henry II. 1. Richard I. Henry the second died July the sixth, and his son Richard was crowned at London September the third. There were present at his coronation David earl of Huntindon lord of the fee of Merton and Pidington'', Gilbert Basset lord of Burcester, and Gerard Cam- vil heir to Midleton, who (in a pedigree of that family drawn by the most accurate Dodsworth) is called Gerardus de Campuilla de Midle- ton castle''. Bernard de S. Walcry lord of Beckly, Ambrosden, &c. was with Richard in Normandy at the death of his father; and, having been disseized of his lands, was now restored to them by this precept of the new king. Ricardus Dei gratia rex Angloriim, §c. Omnibus balliris suis An- glice salutem. Prcecipimus quod permit tatis Bernardo de S. Ifalerico dilecto familiari nostro habere et tenere totam suam terram quam ha- bet in Anglia cum tali Ubertate quali earn tcnuit tempore doinini regis patris nostri. Teste meipso*. Before his coronation the king gave to his brother John the honor q Chron. Jo. Brompt. inter X. Script, p. 1 158. ' Dodsw. MS. vol. C. p. '2G. Re- g\s\. Osen. MS. D d 2 204 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. of Walingford, hy which means he l>ccame lord of the fee of Bnr- cester, &c. *and preferred William de Camvill, a younger son of Ri- chard de Camvill of Midleton castle, to the archdeaconry of Rich- mnnd '". An. Mcxc. 1,2. Richard I. The king at Christmas after his coronation passed over to Nor- mandy, to prepare for his expedition to the Holy Land * ; in which pious adventure, he was attended by Bernard de S. Walery lord of Ambrosden, and Richard de Camvill lord of Midleton : this latter was constituted by the king one of the admirals of his navy* at Cliinon, (where Henry the Second died ;) which navy, setting sail from divers parts of England, arrived at Lisborn in Portugal, imdcr command of Robert de Sabloil and the said Richard de Camvill, &c. and thence to Marseilles, &c. '' In the league between king Richard and Tancred king of Sicily, Richard de Camvill is one of the witnesses to the articles, and one of the guarantees for observance of them ^ In this first year's siege of Aeon, a port of Palestine, Bernard de S. Walery was killed, whereby his son Thomas de S. Walery succeeded to the honor of S. W^alery in this county, viz. Beckley, Ambrosden, Horton, &c Nomina viagnatmn qui eodcm anno in ohsidione Accon ohierunt. Ranulfus de Glanvilla jiistic. Ang. et Bernardus de S. Valerico junior, Sfc. " While the king was wearied with this siege, through some secret im- pulse at the intercession and mediation (as he imagined) of St. George, he was inspired with fresh courage, and thought of this de- vice, to tie about the left leg of a certain number of knights a leathern * Conventio quaedam inter Philippum de predictis conventionibus tenendis . regem Franci Ibid. p. 670. ' Ciiron. Jo. Brompt. inter X. Script, p. 1 184. » Rog. de Hoved. p. 685. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 205 lliong or garter, that, by a sense of glory and assurance of reward, they might be excited to the greater courage. Among which kniglits (says the late historian) were Sir John St. John, and Sir Richard dc Cannill, which some think the first occasion to that order of the garter, instituted by king Edward the Third ''. Within this year William Mareschal carl of Pembroke gave a fine of two thousand marks to the Exchequer for the moiety of the lands of Walter GifFard late earl of Buckingham, in right of Isabel hij wife, daughter and heir to Richard earl of Strigul, whereby he was pos- sessed of the adjoining manors of Mcrsh and Crendon, &c. and in the second of king John had a grant of the patronage of the abbey of Notley, by delivery of tlie "^ pastoral staff*. Within the second of Richard the First died William de Lisures lord of the fee of Borstall, who, in the thirty-third of Henry the Se- cond, had paid x\'. to the sheriff of Wiltshire on collection of the scutage of (iailwey ; and in the thirty-fifth of Henry the Second had given two hundred marks for the fbrestership of Northan)ptonshire : to whom succeeded Jeflfery de Lism'cs his brother, who gave vij'. ii'. iv**. for livery of his lands ''. The said William granted to William Fitz-Nigel of Borstall his land in that place, held from Fulk de Li- siu'es his father, for the yearly rent of x'. Ijy this charter. fFillielmus dc Lisuris omnibus hominibus stiis Francis et AnsJicis sahitem. Scianf onincs tarn pra'scntes quam futuri mc IViUichnnm de Liisuris reddidissc cf conccssisse ct hac charta mea conjirmassc Jf'il-' lielnio Jilio NigcUi de Borslallc tenant suani illani scilicet qiice fiiit patris siti tenendum de me et h.cercdibus meis illi et liceiedibus suisjure hceredilario libere ct qiiicte et honorijice sicut ipse vel antecessores sui tcnucrutit liberius ct quietius de me vel antcccssoribns 7neis reddendo indc milii annuaiim pro omni serviiio ct consuetndine x'. adfestum S. * Vid. Seldcni not. ad Eadmcruni, p. 1-13. *> Barnes, Hist, of Edward the Third, j). 293. ^ R. D^ds. MS. col. k rot. Pip. et Moi». Ang. torn. 2. p. 156". J Uugd. Bur. torn. 1. p. 5'J7. a. 206 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Michadis. Ut auteni ficec concessio et donatio sfabilis ct Jinna per- maneat earn prcesentis scripfi patrocinio et sigil/i iiiei viummine duxi rohorajulani. Hits testihus ; Hugonc de Lisuris, Rcginaldo de Basset, IFilliehno Basset, Roberto de Grenevile, Roberto de Greiidon, IFalfero de S. Fide, IVillielmo de Uisle, Radulpho Jilio Bureivardi, Falcone de Lisure, IVillielmo Borstard, IFidone Malsa, Johanne Fe- 7'ebraz, Thoma de S. Andrea, Williclmo Jratre ejus, Reginaldo de Pokebrolce, et aliis qiiamplurimis '. There is another charter of the said William de Lisures to Wil- liam Fitz-Nigel, granting to him the office of forester of Bernwood for the yearly rent of xl'. attested by the same witnesses ^ It seems to be from this pretended title to Borstall and the custody of Bern- Avood, that one of this family of De Lisures had it certified, that be- ing forester of fee to the king, he was by his office obliged to attend him in his army, well fitted with horse and arms, Ms horn hanging about his neck ^. An. Bicxci. 2, 3. Richard II. King Richard, provoked with many indignities offered by Isaac called emperor of Cyprus, made a descent, took the emperor pri- soner, and soon conquered his Avhole island, which he delivered in custody to Richard Camvill lord of Midleton, and Robert de Turn- ham ; Tradidit insulam de Cypre Richardo de Camuilla et Roberto de Turnham ''. From whence Richard de Camvill, without the king's leave, went to the siege of Aeon, which held out to this second year, and there died in June. Eodcm mense Junii Richardus de Camuilla, quern rex Anglice constituerat iinum de Justitiajiis suis in insula de Cypre, infirmabatur, et sine licentia regis venit ad obsidioneni Accon et ibi mortuus est\ He left heir Gerard de Camvill his eldest son, who, in the scutage for Wales imposed in the first, but not fully collected till this third year of the king, paid ten shillings for his one knight's e Regist. de Borstal], MS. f. 1. ' Ibid. f. 2. g Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 597. a. h Rog. de Hoved. p. 692. 'ibid. p. 691. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 207 fee ill Midleton '' : and left a younger son William, who married Aldrcd daughter and heir of Jeffery Marmion, and had his principal seat at Arewe in com. Warw. from whom the Camvils of Clifton in Staffordshire descended '. The king in his absence had appointed William de Longchamp bishop of Ely chancellor and chief justiciary of England, who had great cjuarrels with John earl of Morcton the king's brother, which rose first from the earl's defence of Gerard de Camvill lord of Mid- dleton "', whom the chancellor turned out of liis office of sheriff of Lincolnshire, giving it to William de Stutevil, who besieged Camvill in his castle of Lincoln ; but the siege was raised by earl John, and an agreement made between him and the chancellor, one article of which was to reinstate our Gerald de Camvill in his shirevalty of Lincoln ; to which compact Gilbert Basset lord of Burcester was a witness ", being one of them who adhered to earl John in all his am- bitious quarrels. Bef we the end of this year the chancellor was de- posed and tied beyond sea, where he represented his grievances to the pope, and moved him to write to the archi)ishops and bishops of England to excommunicate carl John and all his accomplices. And the said William bishop of Ely, as legate and chancellor, wrote to the bishop of Lincoln to put in execution the pope's brief, and sent a list of those whom he would have him declare to be excomnmnicate, among which were Gerard ' Lcland, CoUoctaii. vol. 2. p. 'lib. VOL. I. E e 210 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. ReginahU et Bcrnardi fratrum mcorum, ^c. Deo ef ecchsifv beatcv. MaricB dc Oseneia, §"c. totum maneriinn iiieuni Mtxeburij in liberum ef pcrpetuom eleinosinam cum capitali curia et cum omnibus perfinenfiis in villa et extra villam, §-c. cum homagio et scrvitiis Robert i Persal et hceredum suorum de foedo quod dc me teiiuit in Ncwenton videlicet XXIV. solid, per an. de rcdditu et servitio dimid. milit. scripfo et sigilli mei appositione roboravi, 8fc. ^ The abbey of Oseney, by the gift of Robert de Oily, had long before enjoyed two parts of the tithe of all the demesne land in Mixbury ^. In this year's accounts of William Briewerre, sheriff of this coimty, it appears, that Thomas de S. Walery, for relief of his lands, was in- debted to the king one hundred and seventy marks ''. About this time Gilbert Basset and Egeline his wife gave to their priory of Burcester all their land of Wotesdun and Wcstcote their demesne, for the health of their own souls and of Thomas their son, for pure and perpetual alms, by this form of donation. Univcrsis sanctce matris ecclesice filiis ad quos prcesens scriptum pervenerit Gilbertus Basset et Egelina tixor sua salutem in vero salu- tari. Noverit universitas vestra nos diviiice pietatis intuitu conces- sisse ef dedisse et hac prcescnti charta nostra conjirmassc Deo et ec- clesice S. Edburgce de Bernccestria et canonicis ibidem Deo servien- tibus totam terram nostram de Votesdun et de IVestcote cum omnibus perfinenfiis suis scilicet dominium nostrum cum vilnagio pro s(dutc animarum nostrarum et pro salute animce Tliomccjilii nostri et anfe- cessorum et successorum nostrorum cis possidendam in purani et per- petuam elemosinam libcram et quietam ab omni exactione et so'vifio seculari salvo domini regis servitio quantum ad terram illam pertinet. Hanc vero prcedictam terram scilicet de Votesdun et de IVestcote, ego Gilbertus Basset et Egelina uxor mea et hceredes nostri ivarantizabi- mus scepedictis canonicis contra omnes in perpetuum. Et ut licec do- natio nostra rata et inconcussa pcrmaneat earn sigilli jiostri impres- sione roboravimus. Hi is tcstibus ; Pefro ahbafe de IVoburn, Hugone ^ Regist. Osen. MS. ^ Ibid. ^ R. Dods. iMS. Rot. Pip. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 211 abbate de Oseneia, Ada abbate de Musscnden, Thorn. Basset, Alano Basset, Henrico jilio Geroldi, Rob. de Amari, Reginaldo de Curtenei jilio IVillielim, Jurdano de Dantesic, Ric. de Calvertun, IFiUielmo persona de Scaldcford, Acelino de Peritunc, Phi/ippo de Covcle, Ro- berto Boscher, Rogero de Covele, et pluribus a/iis ". To the original parchment slip is a large seal appending, with im- pression of a knight on horseback, with drawn sword, and this in- scription. >^ SiGiLLUM GiLBERTi Basset. This land at Wodes- don in com. J3ucks. seems to have been part of the marriage portion of Egeline de Courtney, the said manor of Wodesdon being in pos- session of that family, and in the nineteenth of Edward the First, it was assigned as part of the dowry of Alianore, widow of Hugh de Courtney baron ''. Among the witnesses, Reginald de Courtney son of William must be the son of William son of Reginald de Courtney, born in Nor- mandy, by his first wife ; \\ hich W' illiam married Maud the sole daughter of Robert, natural son of king Henry the First by Maud Avenel, who took him for a second husband, having had by Robert de Abrincis her first Iiusband a sole daughter called Hawise, mar- ried to Reginald the father of this William and Egeline wife of Gil- bert Basset". An. ivicxciv. 5, 6. Richard I. The king in his return from the Holy Land was took prisoner, and delivered to the emj)eror of Germany, from whom he was ransomed at one hundred thousand marks : and this year rclurneii to England, holiling a ])arlianient at NoKingham on the thirtieth of March. He did on that day disseize Gerard de Cam\ ill lord of Middlelon of his castle and shirevalty of Lincoln, for adhering to the interest of earl John, who, in the king's absence, had used all methods to usurp the <^.Ex Orig. penes lion. Guil. Glynne, Bar. '' Dugd. Bur. toni. 1. p. (i37. 'Ibid. torn. J. p. CSl. E e 2 212 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. crown, and offered n)oney to prevent or retard his royal brolher's return. Eodem die rex disseisivit Gerardum de Canwilla dc caatello et vice- comitatu LincolniensiK Within a week after, at the instigation of WiiUam bishop of Ely chancellor, the said Gerard de Cainvill was accused for receiving thieves who had robbed the tradesmen in their road to Stanford fair. He was farther charged with treason, &c. but he stoutly answered, he was earl John's man or feudatory te- nant, and would stand to the law of his court. The said Gerard de Camvill was now disseized by the king of the manor of Benham in com. Berks, which king Richard in the first of his reign had given to Richard de Camvill, who left it to a younger son John de Camvill ; and he dying without issue, it was enjoyed by this Gerard, till the king upon this seizure gave it to Hugh Wake to hold during his pleasure. On Avhich account there was a trial in the fifty-seventh of Henry the Third, wherein the jury found that n)anor an escheat to the king, unless the heirs of Richard de Camvill could produce the feoffment of king Richard &. Gilbert Basset lord of Burcester, &c. had also adhered to earl John, for which he now purchased the king's pardon for eight pounds ; Thomas Basset for his pardon paid four pounds, and Alan Basset four pounds, as appears from the ac- count of escheats within the honor of Walingford \ Antl Gerard de Camvill gave two thousand marks to be repossessed of his estate antl castle of Midleton, and to regain the king's favour'. This part of the country was now concerned in one of the great tournaments appointed by the king between Brackly and Mixbury, on the plain called Bayards green, (i. e. Horse-green) expressed in a letter from king Richard to Hubert archbishop of Canterbury '' : wherein he acquaints him of his ordering solemn tournaments in- ter Sarum et Wilton, inter JVarwick et Kemie/ingwortk, inter Stun- f Rog. de Hoved. p. 736. eR. Dods. MS. vol. 64. f. 39. ^ Ibid. vol. 4/. f. 70. Dugd, Bar. torn. 1 . p. 627. b. k MS. James, num. 27. in Bib. Bod. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 213 ford et IFarnifonl, inter Brakele et Mixebiri. These tiltings, justs, or feats of arms were' instituted, if we may credit Mnuster, an. 934. It is said the use of them was brought into England by king Ste- plien, and by this martial people managed with much spirit and much blood. These appear the first that were publicly authorized. The occasion of them was pretended to make English subjects more expert in arms, and that they might not be insulted over by the French, who in these feats did much excel them. One more inge- nuous reason was, no doubt, to advance the king's revenue. For in the chart that grants them, the following rates were imposed"': an earl for licence of tilting twenty marks of silver, a baron ten marks, every knight tlmt had land four marks, a knight who had no land two marks, &c. The mischief of these bloody sports was found so great, that they were prohibited in three councils by three several popes" under the penalty of denying Christian burial : and were re- strained by act of parliament in the reign of Henry the Third, under the penalty of the heirs of offenders being deprived of their estates. But the custom could not be broke till the time of Edward the Third. There was another toiwnament held at this very place in the thirty- third ofHemy tlie IMiird". Richard d'Ainorie held now from the Knights Templars j)art of the manor of Merton andOther ap|)endants in Fencot, Blechesdon, and Hampton-Gay * : the conditions of tenure are expressed in a writing dated this year ^. * Sciantpresenteselfiittiriquodego Ifil- tic Cumjm Ernu[fi uxor quniidam Radulphi h'Jimm de CamjiherindiM coiifirimivi cano- de H'yliinton in ligia poteslate ct viduitate tiicis dc Oxciicy doiintiotiem (jiiam Robcrtiis dc mm confiniuici (•aiiotiitis r/c Osctwy illani (j(iy ci.v JWit di' lota lara ilia cpuim de iiic louccsi^ioncm qiumi Rohtrlitx de Gai eisjecit tenitit in villa de Hampton (jtiy, ifc. lleg. de Iota terra illn (ptam de fnilo de Clmm- Osen. /i(T»()H patre meu lenuil in villa de Hampton Sddjit prescntcs et futiiri (piod ego Jo- (tay, Sfc ib. hanna de Cliumpernii(/i Jilia el hwrex II illi. ' Camden, in Hcrtforil. "' Brady, HKt. p. 1 17. " Guil. Nowburjj, I. 5. cap. I. ot Kog. Hovcd. |). 584. " Milt. Par. p. 7<;;». r U. Dod.s. MS. vol. .S5. p. (>l. 214 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Nigh the same time John de Folya gave half a yard land to the Knights Templars in Cherlton, by a charter thus exemplified. Sdant tarn prcpsevtes quam post futuri quod Johannes de Folya de- dit Deo et Templo de Jerusalem ubi vnlifes religiose Deo serviunt dimid. virgatam terrce in Cherleton liberam et quiefani in perpetuam elemosinain tenendain cum libertatibus eidem terrce pertinentibus. Li- bertates hujus terrce sunt isfce, scilicet pastura x. bobus cum vitulis suis et 1.XXX. ovibus et in boscn suo ad omnia negotia sua facienda infra fcedum illud. IJanc chartam tenebat If'alterus de Botremer de domi- nis et militibus Templi jinaUter duos solidos dando per annum pro omnibus servitiis Templo pertinentibus. Hujus donationis testes sunt Rad. presbyter de Hungreford, Sfc. "* The tax for the king's ransom when prisoner to the emperor was twenty shillings on each knight's fee, with all church plate, and all that year's wool of the Cistercian njonks, and the order of Sempling- ham. The collection is entered in this year's account of the sheriffs, though the rate was imposed an. 1193. Gerard de Camvill |)aid xx*. for one knight's fee in Midleton, and Henry de Oily for no less than twenty-two fees and the third part, and Roger de Chesterton x'. and Philip de Hampton xx'. &c. Within this year Gilbert Basset lord of Burcester, &c. gave an hundred pounds fine to the king, that his daughter Eustace might be married to Thomas de Verdon, a baron, and lord of the manor of Heth in this county ; who, upon his marriage, paid a fine to the king of three hundred marks, to have livery of the lands and castles of his father Bertram de Verdon', the son of Bertram who came in uilh the Conqueror, and held the manor of Fernham-Royal in Bucks, by the service of providing a glove upon the day of the king's corona- tion for his right hand, and to support his right arm the same day, diu'ing the time that the royal sceptre is in his hand '. Gilbert Bas- set gave in marriage with his said daughter one moiety of the manor of Wrechwike *. q Regist. Sandford, MS. p. 77. r Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 472. a. s ibid. t e^ MS. chartis penes D. \V. Glynne, Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 213 An. Mcxcv. 6, 7- Richard I. William tie Sobinton, shcritf of this county, in. stating his accounts to the I'^xchcHjuer, reckoned eighteen shillings for the rent of Fencote, and eighteen shillings in part of eleven pound for the fee ferm of Pi- dinglon, which lately belonged to the earl of Danniartun or Damtnar- tin, and now by escheat was in tiie king's hands". We meet with other branches of this family : Manassir de Dam- martin, one of the itinerant judges in the reign of Henry the Second, an. 1170"; Galiena de Dammartin and Bartholomew her son, pa- tron of the church of Northirn in this reign of Richard the First. There is a charter of this Galiena de Danmiartin, made to Robert de Mandevil her son, granting to him some lands in the village of Nor- tun in com. Essex \ Nicholas de Dammartin, witness to the char- ter of William tie Braose to the church of Bergavenny in reign of king John. William de Dammartin, who gave the church of Efling- ham in Surry to the priory of Merton, and the tithes of Michelham to the abbey of Lewes ; and Eudo de Dammartin, son of William, who founded the hospital of St. James in Tanregge in Surry ^ To the charter of foundation of this hosj)ital a seal is affixed, with im- press of a knight on horseback armed and sword drawn, and on the reverse the arms of this family, five bars with a label of three points, inscribed, S. Eudonis De Dammartin'. Our Aui)ry de Dammartin left son and heir Reginald, who i)y mar- riage came to the earldom of Bologne, of which he was dej)rived, and of all his goods iti France, an. 1211, when he was honourably received by kini; John, and had his paternal estate delivered to him, with as uKiny other lands as amounted to 3()(K per nnti.'' Aubry de Ver, earl ol Oxt'ord, in the second of Richard the First, had given a fine to the king of five hundred marks for the daughter " II. J)i)(Ls. liot. l'i|). vol. l;5. p. 89. » Cliniii. Gervas, p. 1 1 10. y R. Dods. .MS. vol. .30. f. .S2. * Alon. Ang. torn. :.'. p. 135. 103. 908. ■■' It. Dods. MS. vol. 30. f. 28. bMiit. I'ar. t'. J.il. 216 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. of Walter de Bolcbec, to make a wife for his son, and died the seventh of Richard the First, leaving heir his son Auhry ; who, by his father's advice, having married Isabel danghter of Walter Bolebec, did, by his said wife's consent, confirm to the abbey of Notley in Crendon the donation which Walter Giffard earl of Bnck. made by the concession of Hugh de Bolebec in the village of Hillesdon, viz. the church with all appertenances, with j)asturage for their drawing cattle, and two hundred acres of pasture. Notum sit Sfc. quod ego Albricus de Per et Isabella de Bolebec Jilia IValteri de Bolebec sponsa mca concessimiis Deo et ecclesice S. Marice de Parco Crendon totam illam donationem qiiam venerabilis comes IValter Giffard eis dedit in villa de Hillesdon concessit Ilugonis de Bolebec, scilicet ecclesiam cum omnibus pertinentiis suis et boves de caruca eoruni cum bobus nostris ibique in pastura nostra et ducentas acras in pastura nostra ibique de nutrhnento eorum, Sfc. " Constance, daughter of Hugh de Bolebec, wife of Elias de Beau- champ, did with her husband's consent give to the said abbey of Nutley that croft in the village of Hillesdon which Thorold before held, making a solemn oblation of it on the altar of the church of Hillesdon '^. Hugh de Hosdenche confirmed to the church of Hillesdon and An. Mcxcv. G, 7- Richard I. avo suo pro servitio suo qui earn liabuit et Will'us filius Eliae prepositus Enimce de tcnuit, et post ilium Joh'es Basset pater Pery petit versus WilFum Basset feodum Suus, et ille post ipsum etiam habet et tenet 1 mil. in Corfton cum pcrtin. et feodum 1 ut jus suum. Will'us fil. Eliie dcfcndit militis in Acleia cum pertin.ut jus et hfere- quod rex H. non dedit Osmuiido Basset ditatem ipsius Emmae quae ei descendit ex terram illam, sed Luvat dedit terram illam parte Luvet de Brai avi sui qui terram illam Basiliffi uxori ejus in dotcm et post mor- tenuit temp. 11. H. avi et post eum Fulco tem Luvet Osmundus Basset eepit Basi- filius Luvet pater suus qui earn liabuit et liam in uxorem, et sic per eam habuit in- tcnuit temp, regis H. patris ut jus et hsere- troitum in terra ilia et sic descendit terra ditatem. Will'us venit et dicit; Rex H. ilia. Placita temp. Ric. I. an. 6. rot. 3. avus dedit terram illam Osmundo Basset c Rotulus de Crendon, MS. •' Ibid. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 217 the canons of Notley one virgate of land in Hillesdon, which his fa- ther Hugh (le Hosdenche gave to the mother church of Hillesdon, for a chapel to be built on his land at Hillesdon ". An. Mcxcvi. 7j 8- Richard I. About this time Thomas de S. Walery, lord of Ambrosden, con- firmed to the abbey of Egnesham the church of Tettebury in com. Gloc. and the manor of Line-Stokes, (now Stoke-Line,) which had been given by Reginald his grandfather ; and the church of Norton, with half a hide of land in that village; and the wood and village of Woodeaton of the gift of VValkelin Harcnjj. Thomas de S. IFalerico omnibus hominibus suis Fraj]cis et Anglis salutem. Sciant prmsentes et futuri quod ego concessi et prceseuti charta coujirmavi Deo et ecclesice S. Marice de Egnesham et monachis ibidem Deo servientibus in puram et perpetuam elemosinam et pro sa- lute animce viece et patris mei et matris mece et omnium antecessorum meorum et hteredum meorum ecclesiam de Tettibiri cum omnibus perti- nentiis suis et libertatibus sicut earn habcnt ex dono R. de S. JJa/erico avi mei. Concedo et conjirmo prcedictce ecclesice et monachis de Eg- nesham terram de Line- Stokes cum omnibus pertinentiis suis habere de me et hceredibus ineis libere et quiete et in pace sicut earn habent ex dono Rad. Basset et ex voncessione R. avi mei. Ecclesiam quoque de Norton, et dimid. hidam terrce in eadem villa de Norton, nemus et villam de JV\leaton cum omnibus pertinentiis et libertatibus suis sicut earn possident ex dono IValkelini Ilareng eisdem monachis concedo in perlK'tuum possidenda libere et quiete et pacijice conjirmo. Hujus auteni conccssionis et conp'rma/ionis mea: prccsenti scripfo et sigillo meo ap- posito roboratw, testes sunt Clemens prior Oscn. )n agister II alter us sub-prior S. Frideswydce, magister Alardus de S. Mildrida, Rad. lia- reng, Rad. de Norton, Rob. de Estrop, Rog. de Nova Forest a'. From the rolls of escheats to the king this year, it appears that Thomas de S. Walery paid eighteen pounds for lands in this county : « Rotulus de Crendon, MS. f Resist. Egucshain, MS. charta 13. VOL. 1. F f 218 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. he married Adela or Edela de Pontieu, heir to the lordship of St. Al- hine, near Deep in Normandy ". An. Mcxcvii. 8, 9. RicJnn-d I. In the year 1194 an aid was imposed for the kin^j's expedition into Normandy twenty shilHngs on every knight's fee. The collection is recorded in this year's acconnts of the sheriff of Oxon. and Berks, when Gerard de Camvill paid for one fee in Midleton, and Thomas de S. Walery for eighteen of his barony in this county. Jelfery Fitz-Piers earl of Essex, advanced this year to the honor of Justice of England in the room of Hubert archbishoj) of Canter- bury, having marched with a great power into Wales, was, by the bishop of Bangor, so much incensed against Giraldus Cambrensis archdeacon of Brecon, that he disseized him of all his church lands at Brecon ; and, passing afterward through Glocester, directed a precept to the archdeacon of Oxon. to take into his hands all the revenues which he had mthin his said archdeaconry, which must have respect to the church of Chesterton * near adjoining. G. jiUus Petri comes Essexics carissiino amico suo cuchidiacono Oxonicc salutem. Sciatis quod G. archdiaconus de Brecliene inimicus est domini regis ; et ideo vobis mandamus quatenus capiatis in mantis vestras omnes reditus suos qiios habet in archidiaconatu vestro. Teste meipso apud Glovcrniam xx. die Januai'ii ^. The said learned archdeacon did afterwards in an epistle to the bishop of Ely, the dean of London, and the archdeacon of Bucking- ham, complain, that among his other sufferings he had been dis- * Inter opera MSS. Giraldi Cambrensis in S. Maria quodam cccriam sibi vendicante. bib. Cotton. Cleopatra. D. 5. habetur epis- Conqucritur Hugonem adversario plus iequo tola Giraldi Hugoni Lincolniensi ep'o de favere ct sibi justitiam denegare. quadam causa eccriae sme de Cestrcton, ad G. de Barri [i. e. Giraldus Cambrensis quam presentatus fuerat, sed institiitionem archid. Brechon.] obiit 12:?3. tunc rector de ab ep'o obtinere non potuit, W'illelino de Cestreton. vid. sub an. mccxxji. sNeustria Pia, p. 893. ^ Girald. Camb. Aug. Sac. torn. 2. p. 555. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 219 seized of his revenues, viz. his j)rebenti of Hereford, and his church of Chestertune '. So as the first precept iuij)iying he had some ecclesiastical benefice in this county, and his own after confession declarinj^ that he was dispossessed of the church of Chesterton : it is a just inference that he had the benefice of Chesterton in this neighbourhood. Add to this the authority of Mr. Selden, wiio reports him presented to this church in the reign of Henry the Second by Gerard de Camvill pa- tron, lord of Midleton adjoining to Chesterton. In an epistle (says he) of Giraldus Cambrensis, writ in time of Henry the Second to Httgh bishop oj' Lincoln, about his parsonage of Chestertune, tvhich he challenged upon presentation of himself made by Gerard of Camvill, a gentleman of great ivorth in Lincolnshire ; the bishop's institution is spoken of as clearly necessary according to the canons ^. The king, in this ninth of his reign, gave the manors of Shalefeld and Aldeford in Surry to Gilbert Basset, as the right and marriage portion of his mother Alice, daughter of Robert Dunstanvil, which occasioned a trial at law in the fourteenth of Hemy the Third, be- tween Sibilla de Ferrers widow of Walter son of Walter Dunstanvil, and William Longspe and Idonea his wife, grand-daughter and heir to the estate of Gilbert Basset '. Warine Fitz-Gerold, son of Warine chamberlain and treasurer to king Henry the Second, lord of the manor of Heyford in this county, which from this family received the name of Heytbid-warine, did now give one hundred marks for the seizin of the manor of Dailinlon in this coimty, as his mother had at the time of her death : his mo- ther's name (not mentioned by Dugdale) was Maud de Chesny, who in her widowhood, having the said manor of Heyford for her tlowry, did grant to the canons of St. Edburg in Burcester five seams or <|uarters of bread corn out of the said manor, to make hosts or con- secrated biead ; which gift was assented to by the said Warine her son. i (iirald. Camb. Anp. Sao. toin. '.'. p. f)? 1 . >< Selden, Hist, of Tithes, p. .S82. citat, a Svinljolu Elcctorum, MS. in bil). Cotton. " Ro^. Dods. MS. vol. 1.'. I". I l'.>. r f 2 220 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Scia)it prcesentes effitturi quod ego Matildis de Chesneto ded'i, Sfc. canonicis de Burnecestre, Sfc. quinque sitmas frumenti ad hostias fa- c'lendas, Ifyc. et hoc idem concessit Jfariniis filius hccres mens ex parte sua, &fc. See this confirmed by Isabel de Fortibus, daughter of Baldwin son of Baldwin husband of Margery daughter of the said Warine, sub an. 52 H. III. An. Mcxcviii. 9, 10. Richard I. Nigh this time Robert, son of Simon de Meriton, knight, with consent of Christiana his wife and John his heir, gave to the Knights Templars three acres of land in Meriton, one upon Stonhearst, one upon Gerdendole, and the other on Fulberwe, in this form of do- nation ". Sciarit, Sfc. quod ego Rohertus filius Simojris de Meriton assensu et voluntate Christiane uxoris mee et Johannis hcredis mei concessi et di- misi liberavi et hac mea presenti charta confirmavi pro me et pro an- tecessoribus meis domui de Templo de Meriton et fratribus ejusdem loci et successoribus siiis iyi puram et perpetuam elemosinam tres acras terre cum pertinentiis suis in campo de Meriton quas acras Nicolaus Roc aliquando temiit de me ad Jinn am ; videlicet iinam acram super Ston- hearst et unam acram super Gei^dendole et unani acram super Ful- berwe habend. et tenend. prcedicte domui et predictis fratribus et suc- cessoribus suis libere quiete integre pacijice et honorijice iuperpetuum, in puram et perpetuam elemosinam. Ego itaque predictus Robertus An. MCXCVIII. 9, 10. Richard I. lus de Brai nunquam dedit terrain illam in Preceptuni fuit Emmte de Fori quod wa- maritagio Rob'to Morell, et dicit quod rantizet Joh. Morell i hidam terra; cum mater sua dirationavit terrain de Acle ver- pertin. in Borkestall quam tenet et de ea sus VViirum Basset, ad quam terra de Ho- clainat tenere sicut illam quam LupcUus de lewcll pcrtinet et quod nunquam feoftati Brai cujus liicres ipsa est dedit Rad'o Mo- fuerunt predccessores sui per ablatores sues rell cum tilia sua in maritagio cujus haeres et inde ponit super jurat, patriae, &c. dies ipse est, &c. Will'us de Fori positus loco dat. &c. I'lacita x. Ric. I. Emmae matris suae defendit quod Lupel- "> Regist. Sandford, MS. ia Musaeo Bib. Bod. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 221 et hcreJes mei ivarantlzahimus predicte doviui et predictis fratrihus et successoribus sttis tutas predictas acras cum pcrtincntiis suis contra omnes homines mares etfeminas et acquictabimus et dcfendemus ab om- nibus servitiis prcedicfis acris cum pertinentiis suis provenientibus. Ita tamen quod predicta Christiana uxor mea nullum jus vel clameum in predictis acris ratione dotis suce post decessum meum sibi possit ven- dicare. Hanc autem cartam Jideliter et sine dolo tenendani predicta Maria pro se affidavit. Ut igitur hec omnia prescripta et prediuisa firma et stabilia in perpetuum maneant hoc presens scripfum sigilli mei inipressione roborari. Hiis testibus ; Domino Radulpho de Ces- treton milite, domino Hamundo de Sancta Fide, Johanne jilio Nigelli, Johanne de Petro de JFende/ingburgh, A. de Mercot, Nicolao Roc Joh. Roc, et aliis. The same person at another time gave to the same religious use one messuage and half a yard land in Meritone, in this form of do- nation ". Scianf, Sfc. quod ego Robertas Jilius Simonis de Meriton dedi et concessi et hac prescnfi carta confirmaui Deo et beatce Maricp et fra- tribus m Hi fife Templi Sa/ratoris in liberam pur am et per pet nam ele- mosinam pro animabus antecessorum et successorum meorum illud me- suagium et illam dimidiam virgate terre quam Thorn. Pollard quondam de me tenuit in villa dc Meriton * cum omnibus pertinentiis suis infra villam et extra habcnd. et tenend. predictis fratribus et eorum suc- cessoribus et assignatis suis in puram et perpetuani elemosinam libere et quiete bene et pacifice et integre in boscis in planis in prafis et pas- furis et in omnibus libcrtafibits et librris consuefudinibus infra villam * Rkardius rexyingli(p,ifc. Scia tii me < on- t(wernnt de foresta nostra de Scottore inter cessisse fratrU)U.s xiililid' Ti'mpli Salonumi.i ipyaiii Jorcstam et Coveleia et de vii (irris in in ^^ii'^Vki tiuietdiitiinn de essorti.s ill teirix xiih- Niiseir apiid linidemleii et de cc scriptis sett, mm acras terie in H'tdliis et aeris in Meilfordsir npiid Surnehrnke, et de vii XL acras in Suhpucire et apiid Bolewode et aeri.i in Huutinirdonsir apnd (ii^ifir et de XL de X arm in Oxfordxeir apud Meriton et de acris in Barksir apnd Uicklt'sluun. XL acris in eodem comilaln 'pias ipsi assar- " Rcgist. SanJfortl, MS. in Musieo Bib. Bod. 222 PAROnilAL ANTIQUITIES. et extra cum lihcro intrnitu et exitu. Ego vero prcdictiis Rohcrtus et hcP7T(l('s vu'i predicfis fratrihus et eortim successonbus et assignafis prfed'tctnm vicssuagunn et dinudiani virgate terre cum omvibus perti- ncvtiis suis coutra omnes homines et fem'was Judeon et C/iristianos trarcnitizabhnus et de omni servitio exactione consuetudine sectis curie ouxi/iis querelis et demaudis acquictabimus et defendemus et quare volo quod hec mea donatio concessio warantizatio rata et stabilis in perpe- tunm permaneat presentem cartam impressione sigilli mei corrobo- ravi. Hiis tesfibus ; domino Iladulpho de Cestreton, Johanne jilio Nigelli, Johanne le Poure de Cherlcton, S. le Pourc de Otindon, JVal- tero clerico, et aliis. There was now a trial between Gerard de Camvill lord of the ma- nor of Midlington, and the prioress of Anihresbury ; the said Gerard claiming the pasture of A\intun called Thornton, which belonged to the manor of A\intun, of which Richard de Camvill was seized in fee in the time of king Henry : the prioress pleaded that the said pas- turage belonged to the village of Kenetby ". An, Mcxcix. 10. Richard I. 1. A'. John. King Richard d}nng this year on the sixth of April was succeeded b}' his brother John, which change much raised the interest of Gil- bert Basset lord of Bnrcester, and Gerard Camvill lord of Midleton, who had both been great adherers to earl John. Thomas de S. Walery lord of Ambrosden was indebted to the new king one hundred and sevent}- marks for the relief of his barony ; as appears from the accounts of JefFery Savage, deputy of Hugh de Nevil sheriff of this county p. A relief was by Norman custom a fine paid by feudatory tenants to the principal lord, whether of the barons to the king, or of the in- ferior vassals to the barons, upon the first accession to such rights and honors. By the law of William the Conqueror the relief of a baron consisted in horse and arms, and things of that nature ; but oR. Dods. MS. vol. 97. f. 1. Pibid. MS. Rot. Pip. vol. 14. p. 26. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 223 upon the assize of arms made an. 27- of Hemy the Second, every man's arms were to be preserved for his heir, and then was the relief made jiayable in money, which yet was not set in certain sums, till the grand charter of this prince after reduced them to a standing rate*". Soon after the coronation, which was May the twenty-seventh, there was a scutage tax imposed of two marks on every knight's fee ; the speedy collection of w hich is entered in this year's accounts of the sherili". Gcrardus de Campvil regi comp. dc ii marc, de scut. 1 mil. &c. "^ The king in his first year confirmed several grants to the church of St. Maries de Parco alias Notley abbey in Crendon, founded by Walter GilFard duke of Buckingham ; and farther grants them yearly two load of wood out of his atljoining forest of Bernwood. Cuncessimus etiam eisdem canonicis duas bigas singulis atinis eunfcs et redeuvtcs in forcsta dc Bcrnwud pro bosco ad Jucum coruni per vi- sum Jorcstariuruni a Puscha usque ad fcstuin Omnium Sanctorum ex- ccptis x\'. dicbus ante fcstuin S. Joliannis Baptistce ct x\'. post ''. Thomas de V^erdon died this year in Ireland, and left widow Eustace daughter of Gill)ert Bassset '. The king gave livery and seizin to Gil- bert Basset of the manor of Scandeford, which had belonged to Wal- ter Dunslanvil his uncle, and was the marriage right of Alice his mo- ther, for which, in the preceding reign, he had s\ied in the king's court: and also now granted to the said Gilbert and Egeline his wife, a market in their manor of Strafford, to be held on Sunday in every week ". For markets and fairs were often kej)t upon tlie Sun- days, till in time the abuse ajjpeared worthy reformation. By a clause writ of the king in the secontl of Henry the Third, the market of Bercamstede, which used to be kept on Sunday, was trans- ferred to Monday " : and within the same year the markets of Brack- 1 W. Dugd. MS. ct Coke's Instit. |)art 1. f. /(J. jiart -'. 1". 7. ' K. Dods. MS. Rot. Pip. 'Mon. Aug. torn. 2. p. 155. 'Dugd. IJiir. torn. 1. p. 17-'. " U. Duds. MS. vol. bO. p. 5. » Ibid. vol. 33. f. .3-.'. 224 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. ley and Walingford were altered from Sunday to week-days by like special writ'. An. Mcc. 1, 2. K. John. When William king of Scots did homage to king John at Lincoln, November 22, among the barons present at this solenuiity were Gil- bert Basset baron of Hedingdon, lord of Burcester, &c. with Tho- mas and Alan his brothers, and Gerard de Canivil lord of Midle- ton^ Gilbert Basset was now sheriff of Oxon. and Berks, and in his accounts it appears, that Robert de Piselee was indebted to the king sixty marks and one horse or palfry, to be reconciled to the king, and to enjoy in j)cace Alice de Chesterton, whom he had mar- ried without licence from the king ". The meaning of this is, that every virgin or widow, possessed of lands held in capite from the crown, could not dispose herself in marriage without licence first obtained from her suj)reme lord. Whereas Robert de Piselee, without any such aj)plication for the king's consent, had married Alice de Chesterton, a rich heiress to lands of that tenure ; by which he had incurred the king's displeasure, and must have lost his wife's lands, if he had not by this fine made his peace. Gilbert de Basset had one only daughter and heir Eustace, who, in the beginning of the reign of Richard the First, was married to Thomas de Verdon baron of Alton in Staffordshire, and lord of the manor of Heth in this county ; who died in Ireland an. 1199. Upon which, in this year, Gerard de Camvill lord of Midleton gave a thousand pounds to the king for the guardianship of his widow with her lands, and liberty to dispose of her in marriage to Richard his son ^. The arms of S. Walery were two lions passant, as in a seal ap- > Prynne, Collect, torn. 3. p. 40. ^ R. de Hoved. p. 811. » R. Dods. MS. Rot. Pip. Oxon. I' Ibid. Line. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 9i6 pending to a charter of Thomas de S. Walery, for the soul of Bernard his father, dated 1200'. Reginald carl of Bologne and Dainmartin, lord of the manors of Merton and Pidington, procured from the king a charter for a fair once a year at his village of Norton (now Cold-Norton) in this county, for three days, viz. on the feast of Simon and Jutle, and two days following''. And at Cheping-Norton, William Fitz-Alan the third, lord of this manor, in the sixth of king John obtained a char- ter for a yearly fair*". Hugh bishop of Lincoln, just after his return from Rome, died at the old Temple in London on the first of De- cember; whose body was removed to Lincoln, and there carried in procession in presence of two kings, three archbishops, and a great resort of nobility and clergy'. He was canonized at Rome ati. 1220, and his festival observed on the fifteenth of November f'. An. Mcci. 2, 3. K. John. Gilbert Basset lord of Burccster nigh this lime provided, that his body should be buried in the priory of Burccster, of his own founda- tion ; and to that end gave to those monks all the land which he had bought of Baldwin de Munz in the village of Kirtlington, as also two mills in Kirtlington, paying yearly to the monks of Aulney in Nor- mandy eleven shillings, and to the heirs of Ingeram two shillings for all service. Scianf prcese/ifcs et fiitun quod ego Gilbertus Basset dedi ct con- cessi et prcesenti charta mea cotijirmavi Deo et ecclesice hcatcc Maria; et sanctce Edhurgre virginis de Burcester ct caiionicis ibidem Deo ser- vientihus pro salute, aniina' viece et anteeessorum et successorum ine- orum cum corpore meo ibidem sepeliendo totam terram meam quam emi de Baldewiiio de ALntz in rilla de Kcrtliugtou cum omnibus pcrti- neutiis suis tarn in homngiis quam in aliis scrrifiis sine uUo retine- mento ad me vel hccredes meos pertinente : habendum et tenendum die- ■■■R. Docls. MS. vol. 20. p. r>H, '' Ibid. vol. 67. t. 1. ■■ Dugd. Har. toin. 1. \i. :\\ I. h. f R. de Diceto, p. 70». * Mat. West, sub an. 1200. VOL. I. G g 226 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. tis canonicis in perpetuum in libcram et perpctuam clemosinam tibcre et quiete pacijice et infegre intra villam et extra, in pi'atis, pascuis, et pasturis, boscis et planis cum omnibus Ubertatibus ad dictum terram pertinentibus faciendo inde servitium capituli domino J'a'di quantum pcrtinct ad illud tenementum. Dedi etiam dictis canonicis duo vio- Icndina mca dc Kertlington cum omnibus pertincnfiis suis sectis et li- beris consuetudinibus in viis et planis et semitis cum omnibus Uberta- tibus ad dicta molendina pertinentibus infra villam et extra, ita Ubere quiete et plene sicut ea liberius melius et quietius tenui in manu mea. Reddendo inde atinuatim monachis de Alneto undecim solidos et hcere- dibus [lyngerami duos solidos pro omni servitio. Et ut hcec mea do- natio concessio et prcesentis chartce 7nece conjirmatio prcedictce terrce et dictorum molendinorum cum eorum pertineniiis perpetuce jirmitatis robur obtineat prcesenti scripto sigillum meum apposui. Hiis tcsli/)us : dominis Rogero de Danteseye, Juhannc Luvel, Ada de Perijton, Ro- gero de Aumary, Gilberto Braci, Radulfo de Cesferton, F/rilippo de liyfhull, Ada de Gay I, Johanne de Brai, JFillielmo de Sudtford, et mult is aliis *■. This manor of Kirtliiigton, in the nineteenth of Henry the Third, was granted by the king to Gilbert Basset baron of Wicomb, nephew to this Gilbert, son of his younger brother Alan, which manor had formerly belonged to John Humetz constable of Normandy '. The king had this year a scutage of two marks for every knight's fee of such as had his licence to stay at home, upon his passing into Normandy ; on which occasion Amory son of Robert lord of the manor of Biicknell paid for four fees, Robert de Chesterton for two fees, Stephen de Hampton one fee, Thomas de S. Walery ten fees. But Gilbert Basset lord of Burcester, who attended the king, had a writ of ^«/c^«6- for his seven knight's fees within the honor of Wa- linsford''. These seven fees consisted of the n)anors of Coleham and Uxbrigge, com. Mid. Picheleshorne, in com. Buck. Burncestre, hEx Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynne, Baronettum. • Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 384. a. k R. Dods. MS. vol. 47. f. 90. AiVfBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. Mf Stratton and Wrccliwike, com. Oxon. Ardyngton, com. Berks, and Compton, in com. Wilts". Reginald Damniartin carl of Bologne (in right of Ida his wife, the danghter of Henry duke of Lorain by Maud his wife, daughter of Matthew earl of Bologne by Mary his wife, the second daughter of king Stephen) confirmed the foundation of the priory of Cold-Nor- ton made by William Fitz-Alan the second"', (who died" about the nineteenth of Henry the Second,) and gave to it additional endow- ments, by this charter. lieginaldus comes Bolonice et Ida ejus uxor Bolonifp. comitissa ad quos prccsens scrififum pervcnent sahitcm. Sciafis ?/os concessisse et hac pro'scnti carta confirniasse domni hospital, dc Nort/iona et cano- nicis ibidem Deo servicntibus et S. Marup. virgini et beato Johanni EvangelistcB atqiie S. Egidio pro aminabus parentinn et anteccssoriim nostrorum videlicet coviitis Matthei et Maricc cotiiitissfB et Alberici cowitis Dam. Martini et Matildis comitissce ejusdem nxoris et pro animabus iwstris et hceredum nostrorum in puram et perpetuam ele- mosinam trecentas acras et quadraginta octo et diniidiam terrte. quas inde dieted domui et canonicis ibi Deo sennentibus nostri dcdcrunt an- tecessores. Et etiam manerium domus sicut scdet et constifutum est. Licet autem tot acras terrce cum manerio sa'pe dictis domui <•/ cano- nicis nostri non dedissent antecessores, nos domui et canonicis mane- rium et predictas acras terrce ex dono nostro dedinius et concessimns et carta nostra conjirmavimus. Ut hcec auteni donatio stabilis et Jinna prrnianeat prcesentem paginam sigi/Iis nostris dignani du.vimus robo- rari. Non hoc autem pra'terniittenduni est quod dun/us ilia de nostra donatione est et nos ibi priorem apponerc debemus. dictum An. Do- mini Mcci. Iliis testibus ; Radulpho fratre nostro, liadu/pho de ( 'laro-Montc, Nevilone de Senlio, Plngeramo de Hesdino, Jiogero de Oeli, If'i/lic/mo dc lirai/, llogcro dc Buriona, cf p/uribus (diis". Which charter, with the concessions of n)any other benefactors, ' Cliiirtular. dc Borstalle inter tit. dc Staiidelfc ct Giitiiaiiiijtoii. ^ Mon. Aug. torn. 3. p. 55. a. " Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 311. a. " Hcgist. Coll. Jin. Nas. Oxon. MS. p. 17. ft Mon. Ang. tom. 3. p. I. \). 5.">. b. G g 2 228 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES, v was confirmed at Woodstock by king Henry the Tliird in the thir- teenth ot" his reign ^. An. Mccii. 3, 4. K. John. The king granted to Gerard de Canivill, lord of the castle an dnia- nor of Midleton, two markets to be held for two days in each week, one at Sutton in com. Line, and the oilier at ^Vlidleton in com. Oxon. by these letters patent. Johannes Dei gratia rex AngUce, 8)C. Archiep'mcopis, &,€. salutem. Sciatis 710S concessisse dilecto nostro Gerardo Je Kanvill quod habcai duo mercata per duos dies duratura in qualibet septimana, unani sci- licet apud Sutton in Hoy land, et aliam apud Midlinton, ^c. Datum anno regni nostri fertio. Testibus, Williehno Marcschallo comitePcm- broke, Roberto de Ilarecourt, Guarinojilio Geroldi, inilielmo de Pra- tellis, §T. 1 About the same time Gerard de Camvill confirmed the donation, made to the church of St. Mary's and the nuns in Clerkenwcll, of one mark of yearly rent from the mills of Hildriksham, given by his sister Maud, the relict of William de Ros, for the souls of the said Wil- liam her husband, William de Ros her son, and Beatrice her daughter ^ Thomas de S. Walery lord of the manor of Ambrosden confirmed to the abbot and monks of Tame, eight acres of land in the village of Stoke, which Peter de Talemasch sen. and Richard his son had given to them, as also one perch granted by Peter de Talemasch Jun. son of the said Richard ; Testibus Radulpho de Harenge, Sfc. * ; which Ral|)h de Harenge was steward of this barony of S. Walery'. An. Mcciii. 4, 5. K. John. Ralph abbot of Wells dying this year was succeeded by John ab- bot of Notley in this neighbourhood ". PMon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 275. b. q MS. Elise Ashmole in Musaeo Ashmol. 'Regist. dc Clerkenwell, MS. « ExLibro de Tame, MS. ' Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 486. b. " An- nal. VVaverl. sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. si§ The kiti!^ gave to Walter Borstard *, who served in his chapel, the manor of BruhuU (now Brill), paying yearly the old service, with ad- dition of fi)rty sliillings a year, and the duty of keeping the king's houses at Brill ; hy this form of donation. Johayrnes Dei gratia rex Anglice, dominus HibernicP, S^c. Omnibus Jidelibus siiis salutem. Sciatis vos Jedisse et concessisse ct prcesenti charta nostra confirniasse JFaltcro Borstard servienti de vapella nostra mancrium nostrum de BruhuU cum omnibus pertincntiis suis adjocdijir- mam tenendum sibi et hcpredibus suis de nobis et hceredibus nostris red- dendo inde annuatim antiquum Jir mam et de incrcmento xl'. pro omni servitio. Et ipse custodiet domus nostras de BruhuU sine Uberatione. Quare volumus etjir miter prcedpim us quod prcedictus ffa/terus et hce- redes sui haheant et teneant prcedictum mancrium de BruhuU cum om- nibus pertincntiis suis ad foedi Jirmam per prcedictum servitium bene et in pace libere quiete integre plenarie et honorijice in omnibus locis et rebus cum omnibus Hbertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus ad mancrium iUud pertinentibus sicut prauUctum est. Datum per manus Cices- trensis electi apud Merleberg xxiii. die Aprilis, anno regni nostri quinto ". This tenure was in soccage, not in knights service ; for this reason, because this manor was an ancient demesne of the kiiiijs of Ens- land, and at the general stu'vey was found to have been in the hands of Edward the Confessor, from whom no tenant held by military service •". The doomsday tenure was in this form. BrunheU fuit mancrium * Joh'es Dei gratia rex Anglice, ifc. Set- pro iiitulimr Ubris per aim. pro onvii servitio. utis 110.1 dedixse et eonjirmaxse Multrro liuis- Coitvessimus etinm eustndinin domuum tw.<- tard servienti noslro Borestall (ptod est mem- trarnm Oxon. cum rd)eraliuitU)ii.s et omnibus brum manerii nostri de Bniell cum omnibus aliis ud cuslodiam ilium pertinentibus, — ha- pertin. AiJts in feodi Jirmam liabend. sibi et bend. sil)i et heredihus suis imperpetuum. heredihus suis de nobis et heredibus nostris Quarc volo, i^r. » R. Dods. MS. vol. 25. p. 38. tH. Spclm. Codex Legum, MS. sub Gul. I. 230 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Edivardi regis. Tunc xx. hidce se dcfendchant ; semper terra est xxv, carucat. In dominio sunt iii. Ihi xx. villani cum xiii. bordariis ; ha- bent XVI. carucatas, et ad/iuc quinque possunt Jieri et i. nw/cndi- nuni de x. solidis, pratum xx, carucat. Silva cc. pore, inter totuni reddit per annum xxxviii. libras de alio argento et pro foresta xir. lihras ursas et pensatas. Tempore regis Edivardi reddchut xviii. libras ad numerum. Bruiihell was the manor of king Edward. Then twenty hides were taxed. The lantl was always twenty-five carucates. In demesne are three. There are twenty villains with thirteen borderers ; they have sixteen carucates, and there may be yet five more There is one mill of ten shillings rent, a meadow of twenty carucates. Wood for two hundred hogs. In the whole it pays yearly thirty-eight j)ound3 of white silver, (?'. e. the pure metal before it is coined or stamped,) and for the forest twelve pounds burnt and weighed, (i. c. njelted down.) In the time of king Edward it paid eighteen pounds in num- ber, (/. e. in ready money.) Gilbert Basset, lord of Burcester and founder of that priory, died this year, leaving one only daughter Eustace, late widow of Thomas de Verdon, now wife of Richard de Camvill. His next surviving brother was Thomas Basset, to whom the king, by writ dated August the second this year, gave his brother's lordship of Hedingdon, to be held by the service of one knight's fee and twenty pounds yearly : x'. at Michaelmas, and x'. at Easter. The manor of Burcester and other lands passed to Richard de Camvil in right of his wife. Thomas de S. Walery lord of Ambrosden confirmed to the church of St. Mary's and nuns in Stodly the site of their house, and half a hide of land in Horton which his father Bernard had given, and fur- ther bestows on them free pasnage or mast feeding for their hogs at Stodly, and provides that the prioress shall be alvvay elected by the approbation of him and his heirs, and come to their court, and do fealty to them. Hiis testibus ; Milone capellano, Bernardo capeUano, Augustino capellano, Radulfo llarengc tunc temporis seneschallo, JVil- AMBHOSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 231 lielmo (ie Friencurt, Phi/ippo de Francer, Roberto de Chetctvode, Ra- dulfo Jilio Galfridi de Llorton, Oteivio de Estall, M'illielmojilio ]Si- cholui dc Lega, Nicholao de Folehroke, et cd'ns '. All. Mcciv. 5, 6. K. John. The king meeting iiis parliament at Oxford confirmed a charter of Henry the Second, with the addition of other grants to the abbey of Bruer in the forest of Wliichwode, and recites, Ex dono ItlUiehm Jilii Rici terras in territorio de Midleton (/uas eis dedit et concessit ". William Fitz-Nigel lord of Borstall and forester of Bernwood died this year, and by Mabile his wife left son and heir John Fitz-Nigel, who paid ten marks to the king at Brill for enjoyment of his father's office, and for liberty to marry at his own j)leasiire. At the same time Walter Borstard was indebted one hundred shillings and one hundred capons for possession of the manor of Brill lately granted to bin) ; both which particulars are thus entered in the sheriff's ac- conipts. Buliingeliam et Bedefordscir. G. Jiliiis Petri. Rob. de Braibroc pro eo i\'gi con/putat. Johannes jilius tViltielnii Jilii Nigelli debet x. inarcas pro habendo officio quod pater suns habuit apud Bruhull et unde saitusfuit die quo obiit et per sic quod ipse non maritetur nisi ad voluntateni suani. IFalterus Buistard debet c\ et c. capones pro habendo manerio de Bruhull cum pertinentiis ad feodum Jirmuin sibi et hceredibus suis de rege et hceredibus suis reddendo inde antiquum firniam de xl'. annuatini pro ontni servitio et demanda et pro eustodiendis domibus regis ibidem **. Richard son of Gerard de Camvill of Midleton, having married Eustace daughter of (Gilbert liasset and widow of Thomas dc \'er- dou, did in right of his wife claim the wiiole estate of Thomas de Ver- . ' Ibid. Rot. Pip. vol. IJ. p. 94. 232 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. should restore to the said Eustace as a reasonable dowry, the two manors of Farnham in Bucks, and Hcth in Oxfordshire. Fi/iis infer Ricardum de Cunwit et Kustac'iain tuiorciii ejus pctcntcs et Nico/aiii/i de Verdon tenentein dc rafionahi/i dote ipsius Kiistach. quain ipsa clainat versus cundeni Nicolaiuv de omnibus fenementis qua' fuerunt Tliomce de ferdon quondam viri sui. — Idem liic recoguovit et concessit eideni Richardo et Eustac. manerium de Farnham in com. Buck, et manerium de lleth in com. Oxon ". The said Gerard de Cauivill had now from the king a special li- cense to hunt the hare, fox, and wild-cat throughout all the king's forests ''. In this sixth of king John died Ralph Foliot, who had given the church of Fretwell in this county to the canons of St. Frideswide in Oxford ''. And within the same year the king directed a precept to the sheriff of Oxon. that without delay he should give to Wido de Diva seizin of all his goods and chattels within his liberties, except the castle of Dadington, which the king would keep in his hands ; as also the manor of Dadington, which the king gave to Thomas Basset baron of Hcdingdon, who granted it with his daughter Alice in mar- riage to William Malet baron of Curi in com. Som.': who being in arms against the king in the seventeenth of king John, this manor was by the king given back to the said Thomas Basset^. An. Mccv. 6, 7- K. John. Richard son of Gerard de Camvill of Midleton castle having mar- ried Eustace daughter of Gilbert Basset, now gave two thousand marks and ten palfries to the king, for livery of her father's inheri- tance, excepting what the king laid claim to in the manor of Stoke. Line. Oblata vii. Joan. Richardus de Camvitl dat duo millia marcas et decern palefridos pro habenda hcereditate qucefuit Gilberti Basset unde idem Gilbertus obiit <: Dugd. MS. A. 2. p. 448. d£)ugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 627. b. « Ibid. p. 679. b. 'R. Dod. MS. vol. 103. f. 8. s Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 1 1 1. b. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 233 seisUus salvo domino regi quod ipse vendicat in mancrio de Sioke, et mandatum est, 8fc. '' From hence Mr. Dugdale has inferred that Gilbert Basset died in this seventh of king John ', which indeed is a mistake. He died in the fifth of John, before his barony of Hedingdon was given to his brother Thomas ; but the reason why the livery of his lands to his daughter and heir was deferred to this year was her minority, she coming now to full age. By this means Richard de Camvill became lord of the manor of Burcester, and patron of the priory. His fa- ther Gerard de Camvill as copartner with Fulk de Oyri and others, in consideration of three hundred marks fine to the king, obtained license for measuring the whole marsh betwi.xt the waters of Spald- ing and Tid in the county of Lincoln ''. William Mareschall earl of Pembrook held in capite from the king the honor of Gifi'anl in the county of Bucks, of which honor the head or chief seat was at Crendon, com. Bucks. Com. Buck. IVillielmus Marcschal/us comes de Pembroke hahet iJn- dem capifalem honorem, scilicet honoi'em Giffard, caput il/ius honoris Crendon tenet de domino re^e^. Within this year Thomas de S. Walery, lord of Ambrosden, con- firmed to the church of St. Mary's and the monks of Bitlesden all his land in Dodford, for the salvation of his own soul, and that of Edela his wife, and Avoris his mother, and Annora his daughter, and Regi- nald and Bernard his brothers"'. An. Mccv. 6, 7. K. John. The king at Brill tliis year, from whence Oxen. Kertlinton. terra ilia valet de red- he direeted his letters to Meiler Fit/.-Henry, ditu assiso Viii'. V». i''. exeeptis operibus, justieiary of Ireland. Teste meipso apud ct si opera fuerunt posita ad diem valet x'. Kreliul vicesimo die Decembris. Claus. 7- lis viii'. Ex rot. de terris Normannorum. Joh. Append, to Dr. Brady's Hist, of Eng- anno G. Joh'.s. in. 3. land, |). W>r>l. hW. Dugd. MS. B. p. ai5. 'Dugd. Bar. toin. 1. p. 383. k Ibid. p. 6-'7- b. i Tcata de Nevil, MS. "' R. Dods. MS. vol. 105. f. «(). VOL. I. H h 234 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. An, Mccvi. 7> ^- A- John. In the slierifT's accompts, Thomas de S. Walery lord of Anibros- den appears indebted to the king ten marks and nine shillings in ur- rear for the scutage tax imposed at Oxford, 1204". The king granted to William Basset, son and heir of John son of Osmund Basset, one knight's fee in Okelee, which Osmund held by the gift of Brien Fitz-count lord of the honor of Walingford. Rex concessit IVilliehno Basset Ji/io et htcredi Johaimis Basset filii Osviiindi Basset foeduin unius miHtis cum pertinenfiis in Okelee quod prcedictus Osniundus habuit ex dono Briani Jilii con/ifis et prceterea quartani partem in Ispeden quam idem Osnuindus habuit ex dono prce- dicti Briani °. In the accompts of Thomas Basset sheriff of Oxon. and Berks, it appears that the abbot of Egnesham owed one palfry for the having a trial by a jury of twelve men of the neighbourhood of Erdinton, to determine whether two carucates of land in Erdinton were the lay fee of Thomas de S. Walery, or the frank almoigne of the saitl abbey. Abbas de Egnesham debet i. palefridum pro habenda recognitione duodecem legalium hominum de vicineto de Erdinton utrum dues caru- catce terrce cum pertinent iis in Erdinton sunt laicum faedum Thomce de S. JValerico vcl libera elemosina pertinens ad abbatiam suam ^. Note, there was always money or some other valuable considera- tion paid to the king for leave to have a trial or judgment in any con- troversy. And this (says a good "i anti(juary) may be the reason ivhy Glanvil so very often in his treatise of the haws and Customs of Eng- land hath these luords, Petens ac queerens perquirit breve, The de- mandant or plaintiff purchases a ivrit. Hence (says he) it is probable at first came the present usage of paying Q\ 8''. u'here the debt is 40'. 10^ luhere the debt is 100". and so upwards in suits for money due n R. Dods. MS. Rot. Pip. flbid. vol. 4. p. 91. P Ibid. Rot. Pip. nDr. Brady, Hist. Engl. p. 209. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 235 upon bond. But it is certain, this was owing to king Alfred, who, when he had settled his courts of judicature, to prevent the arbitrary delays of justice, did order, that, without petitioning leave from the king, writs of citation should be granted to the plaintiff to fix the day of trial, and secure the appearance of the other party'. This judicial reference to twelve men was a custom that obtained among the northern nations: a good author' attributes the institu- tion of it to Regner Lodbrog ; by whose appointment all contro- versies should be decided by the judgment of twelve chief men, who at first acted not only as a jur}*, but as judges : when time and the confusion of our Saxon govcnmients had made this practice obsolete, king Alfred revived it with this alteration, that in every action twelve legal or free men of the neighbourhood should make their inquest into the matter of fact, and report it upon oath to the thane or lay nobleman and the bishop, (who were to be assessors in the county court, till their jurisdiction was separated upon the conquest of William the First,) or to the other justices itinerary commissioned by the king, by any of which judges no penal sentence could be given without an agreement of the jury in their verdict : and there- fore when one Cadwin a justiciary, in the trial of Hackwy for his life, u{)on the dissent of three of the twelve, had substituted three other who joined in returning of him guilty ; king Alfred had the said Cad- win hanged for perverting this course of justice'. In Easter term the trial between Richard de Camvill and Eustace his wife and prior of Keingworth, for the right of the said church of Keingworth, was put off sine die, because the said Richard de Cam- vill was now in the king's service". In Michaelmas term was a trial on the gift of the church of Minstre* in tliis coimty to the monks of Ivry in France, by Mavitl the wife of William Lovell\ • One half of the profits of the cliureh Ivry ; the other nioiety was tlie cnilownient of Miustre aj)pro[)riate(l to the toiivent of of tlie parochial priest. Ex regist. Line. ' Alfredi vita, I. 2. cap. IC. ' Sax. Gram. 1. y. ' Miroir lic Justices, cap. 5. " 8. Dods. MS. vol. ;)7. f. 30. » Ihid. f. .il. ii h :; 236 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. An. Mccvii. 8, 9. A*. John. Reginald de Damniartin earl of Bologne adhering to the king of France, was disseized of his fee in the manors of Mcrton and Piding- ton and his other possessions in England ; but within this year he came over, made his submission and did his homage to the king at Lambeth, upon condition he should make no covenant or contract with the king of France without leave of the king of England : upon which terms he was restored to his estate ^ Thomas de S. Walery, by charter dated August 1207, gave to the nunnery of Stodley, of his father's foundation, three shillings a year rent in Beekley ; and by another charter he gave to the said nims, in every week, one carriage of dead fuel in his wood of Horton. Occurrit alia charta de trib/ts so/idatis redditus in Belicley eisdeni monialibus concessis per Thomavi de Sancto Jt'ulerico data viense Augusti, An. Dom. Mccvii. hoc est anno nono R. Joannis. Unde col- ligendum erit Bernardum de Sancto JFalerico patrem Thomce vixisse tempore Heninci secundi. In alia charta Tho. de S. JValerico pro salute animce sucb et Edelce uxoris suce concedit eisdem monialibus qualibet septimana unam car- rectam ligni mortui in bosco sua de Horton per visum forestarii sui ejusdem nemoris '. In this same year he confirmed his father's foundation of Godstow An. Mcvii. 8, 9. K. John. Berencestr an laicum feodum pertlnens ad Rex presentat Tho. de Twyford ad ec- haroniam abb'is de VVestmin. qui venit et d'iam de Twyford et mittit presentat. dicit quod assisa non debet inde procedere, suumarchid'oBuck. utadmittateum. Rot. quia beatus rex Edwardus dedit terrain il- pat. 8. Joh. Oxon. Term. Micli. ann. viii. lam eccl'iie de Westmin. et carta sua confir- R. Joh, mavit quam ostendit, et quoniam constat Juratt veniunt recogno.scere utrum una q'd elemosyna est, eunt ad curiam chris- virgata terrae cum pertin. in Langeton sit tianam, et ibi fit phicitum inter eos inde. libera elemosyna pertinens ad eccl'iam de Placita temp. R. Joh'is, anno 7. rot. 1.5. y R. Dods. MS. vol. 80. p. 39. ^Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 487. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 237 or Lieu-Dieu in France, with consent of Edelahis wife and Allanore liis daughter'. To which abbey, on marriage of Allanore de S. Wa- tery with Robert earl of Dreux, many of this family were benefactors. Allanore countess of Dreux gave some rents at St. Albine nearDiep, an. 1241. Robert earl of Dreux confirmed their fee at Basinvol, an. 1270. John earl of Dreiix confirmed their possessions at Gamaches, an. 12.00. Again, an. 1330, John earl of Dreux ratified the charter of Robert his brother, dated an. 1311, wherein Robert had confirmed tlie grant of Beatrix countess of Montfort his giandniother ''. Egeline the witlow of Gilbert Basset sued now for a larger dowry out of the lands of her deceased husband : whereupon in Easter term, the tenth of king John, an inquisition was n)ade into the estate which he died j)ossessed of. Termino paschce Rut. 8. in dor so Qjcon. Mid. Siir. Buck. Berks. Extenta terrarum Gilherti Basset in com. prcedictis, viz. munerium de Ardinton quod llichardus de Camvitl et Egelina uxor ejus tenent. redditus in IFalingford, villa de Heleniere in com. Buck. Coleham cum Oxebrig viembro ejus in com. Mid. maneria de Stoke et Bernecestre in com. O.von. manerium de Scandej'ord quod futt Jf'ulteri de Dunstanvill et per regem datum Gilberto Basset ; Egelina de Courtney petit dotem de his terris '. William Basset had this year a farther confirmation of one knight's fee in Okelee. Conjirmatio JVilliclmi Basset fiUi et lueredis Johannis Basset Jilii Osmundi Basset de 1. j'ado militis cum pertinentiis in Okelee quod prcedictus Osmundus tenuit ex dono Briani jilii comitis'^. The king's patent letters for this grant run thus. Johannes Dei gratia, Sfc. Sciatis nos conccssisse, Src. Jfilliclmo Basxct filio et hce- redi Johannis Basset jilii Osmundi Basset ja-dum i. mil. cum pertinen- liis in Okelee quod prcpdict us Osmundus liabuit ex dono Briani jilii co- viitis et prceterea quart am partem i. j'crdi mil. in Ipseden quam idem » W. Dugfl. f. 1 . p. CO. ct Neustria Pia, p. 893. »> Ibid. p. 894. <^ li. Dods. MS. vol. 97. p. .H7. "* VV. Dugd. MS. vol. H. p. <)fi. 338 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Osmnndi/s hahuit ex dono prcedicti Briavi hahcridani et fenendain sibi et hceredibus suis in pcrpefuum sicut carta prcedicti Briavi et conjir- mationes H. avi regis Hen. pat r is nostri ratiovahilitcr tcstantur. Con- cessimiis et conjirmavimus eideni IFilliehno et hceredibus suis procreatis de Cecilia de Dunstanvil quondaw uxore sua villain de Menelida cum pertinentiis suis quani Alanus de Dunstanvil pater ipsius Ceciliee dedit ad se mar it an dam, S,-c. Datum xxvr. Februarii". King John was at Woodstock * in this ninth of his reign, where, on the fifth day of August, he confirmed several donations to the abbey of Neth in the county of Glamorgan ^ An. Mccviii. 9, 10. A'. Julm. The king's refusal to admit Stephen Langton to be archbishop of Canterbury occasioned a great quarrel between him and the pope, which by degrees was so inflamed, that March 22d the bishops exe- cuted the orders of the pope, and interdicted the whole kingdom ; whereon all ecclesiastic offices were to cease, except confession, the eucharist to dying persons, and the baptism of infants. Upon this the king seized all the lands and goods of those religious persons who denied to perform divine service ; and, within this diocese of Lin- coln, committed all the said seizures to William de Cornhull arch- deacon of Huntindon, and Gerard de Camvill lord of Midleton castle ; and sent out this precept. Rex omnibus de episcopal u Lincoln, clericis et laicis salutetn. Sci- atis quod a die hunce proxima ante Pascha commisimiis W. de Cornhull archidiacono Huntingdon et Gerardo de Camvile omnes ter- ras et res ahbatum- et priorum et omnium rcligiosorum et etiam cleri- corum de episcopatii Lincolnice qui divina extunc celebrare noluerint. * He confirmed a donation to William apud VVudestock octavo die Novembris an- de Barry of Lande in Ireland, dat. per ma- no regni nostri nono. Appen. to Dr. Bra- num H. de Well, archidiaconi Wellensis dy's Hist, of Eng. p. 166. e Dods. MS. vol. 53. f. 13. f Mon. Ang. torn. 1 . p. 1 ID. b. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 2.39 cf mandamus vobis quod cis cxtunc siciit balUvis nosfris sit is iiitcn- dentes, Sfc. ^ This Gerard de Camvill was now one of the king's justices itine- rant in the county of Lincohi, with Robert de Aumari lord of Buck- nell ''. Thomas de Fekenham, being possessed of a part of the manor of Brill, paid to the king five marks and one palfry, for a lawful in- quest whether his part of the manor ought to partake of the waste of Brill by right of common in the said manor; to which common it \\as objected he had no right. Rob. dc Bruihroc vie. com. Buck, ct Bedf. Thomas de Fekenham debet R. v. marcas et i. palefridum sic qtiod inquisitio fiat utrum membrum illud de manerio de Bruhull quod, idem Thomas tenet debeat participare de vasto manerii de Bruhull ratione communcc ejusdcm manerii in qua communa nihil habet ut dicunt '. In the night of Epiphany was born to the king a son called Ri- chard, after lord of tlie manor of Ambrosden, &c. '' An. Mccix. 10, 11. A'. John. Thomas de S. Walery lord of the manor of Ambrosden having in- curred the king's displeasure, and been disseized of all his lands, was glad tliis year to make his peace by a composition of one thousand marks to the king. Oxon. vie. Tom. Basset. 'Thomas de Sancto Jfalerico R. de M. marcas pro habeiida benevo- lentia regis et pro habendis terris suis vnde dissaitus j'uit ilia occa- sionc '. While the king had seized this barony into his hands, the whole or most part of it was committed to Robert de Braibroc, so called from his chief seat in Norlliaui|)t()iishire, the son of IngebiUd by Albreda, one of the daughters and heirs to Ivo Newmarch "". E Prynnc, Collect, torn. '2. p. :.'55. ^ Dujrd. Orig. .lurid, sub an. ' R. Doris. Rot. Pip. 1. vol. 1 I. p. 158. 1' VV. Dugd. MS. vol. M. p. 31. ' R. Dods. M.S. Rot. Pip. vol. M. p. 170. "> R. Dods. M.S. vol. 108. f. 20. 240 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. In this or the preceding year Richard de Camvill and Eustace his wife, for the health of their own souls and of Richard their son, gave to the canons of Berncester all the tithe hay of their demesne in the villages of Berncester, Stratton, and Wrechwic for pure and perpetual ahns. Omnibus sanctcn matris ecclesiceji/iis ad quos prcesctis scriptuvi pcr- venerit Ricardus de Camvill et Ettstacia uxor ejus salutem in Domino. Noverit imiversitas vestra nos divince pietatis intuitu et pro animarum nostrarum salute et pro anima Ricardi Jilii nostri et pro aniniabus omnium antecessorum nostrorum dcdisse et concessisse et hue prcesenti charta nostra conjirmasse Deo et ecelesice sanctce Marice et sanctce Ed- bursce de Berneccstra et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus totam de- cimam foeni nostri de dominico nostro in villa de Berncestre et in villa de Stratton et in villa de JVrecheicic in puram et perpetuam elemosi- nam de nobis et hceredibus nostris libere et quicte et integre in perpe- tuum percipiendam habendam et tenendam. Et ut hcec nostra do- natio jirma sit et stabilis earn prcesenti scripto et sigillorum nostro- rum appositione roboravimus. Testibus hiis ; Thoma Basset, Alano Basset, Roberto Aumari, Roberto et Radulfo filiis ejus, Roberto jilio Aumari, Petro Blundo, Otuelo de Insula, Henrico de Audeli, Gente- schiv Paupere, Henrico de Rokebi, Roberto de Rokebi fratre ejus, Ra- dulfo de Marchamel, Roberto de Bakepuz, magistro Laurentio, et mul- tis aliis ". To the original parchment are two seals appending : on the first the impress of a horse with this inscription, >J< Sigillum Ricardi DE Canvill ; on the other a woman erect with a branch in her right hand, and this inscription, )J< Sigillum Eustaci^ Basset. About the same time one of the witnesses Genteschive Povre of Ot- tendun gave to the monks of Tame five acres of land in the said vil- lage of Ottendun °. An. Mccx. 11, 12. K. John. Egeline widow of Gilbert Basset claimed the manor of Wrechwic " Ex Orig. penes Hon. D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. ° Ex libro de Tame, MS. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 241 for pait of her dowry against Richard de Camvill and Eustace his wife, who were indebted now to the king one mark to obtain leave for a new trial for this their freehold of Wrcchwic. Oxenefordsc'ire Tom. Basset Vic. Nova Oblata. Ricardus dc Camvil et Eustacia uxor ejus debcnt i. marcam pro ha- henda recognitionc notice assises de libero tenemcnto suo Wrechwic versus Ege/iuam de Curtenui. The issue of the trial seems to have been this, that Richard Cam- vil and Eustace his wife now quitted that moiety of the manor of Wrechwic, which Gilbert Basset had given in marriage with the said Eustace his daughter to her first husband Thomas de Verdon ; and that Egeline de Courtney entered upon this with the other half of the said manor of Wrechwic, which her husband Gilbert Basset had reserved to himself: which latter half part in her free tenure she ga\'€ to the priory of Burcester, by this form of donation in parchment, with seal appending, but obliterate. Universis sanctce matris ecc/esicc filiis, ad quos prcesens scriptum pervencrit, Egelina de Courtuai uobiHs inatroua salutem in Domino. Untversitati vestrcc notijicetur me dedisse et concessisse et hac prce- senti charta mea conjinnasse Deo et ecc/esice sanctce Maria; et sanctce Edburgce de Burnecestre et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus pro ani- ma domini niei Gilberti Basset et pro aniniajild met Thonice Basset et pro anima Ricliardi de Camvill Jilii Eustacice Basset fdice niece et pro animubus antecessorum nostrorum dimidiani partem terrce dotis viece in manerio meo de IFrecJuvic cum toto bosco de Gravenhull scilicet illam niedietatem de JVrechwic pleuariam cum omnibus perlinenliis suis, (juam prcedictus (Jilbertus Basset bona; memoria' sibi retinuit eo tem- pore quo pnrdictam iAistachiam Basset cum reliqua mediclate de IKrechwic Ttioma: de ferdun niaritavit, habendam et tenendum libere et pacijice et quiete ab omnibus serviliis et exact ion ibus et consuetudi- fiibus milii pertinentibus. Et ego Egelina de Courtnai prcedictam nie- dietatem dc frreclieu'ic cum omnibus pertinentiis suis prccdictis cano- nicis de Burcestre warranlizabo contra omnes homines. Et ut hcec mea donatio jirma et stabilis et inconcussa perseveret sigi/li n/ri afipo- voh. I. I i 242 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. sitione hoc prcesens scriptnm confirinavi. Hiis testihus ; Richardo dc Camvil, Eustacia Bassef tixore ipsuis, Thoma Basset, Alano Basset, Roberto de Aumari, Roberto JHio ejus, Raditlf'o de Aumari clerico, Radulfo de Marchehamel, Roberto de Rokcbi, Roberto de Bakepuz, Roberto ef magistro Laurentio c/ericis, et rnultis aliis^'. There is another original exact (Uiplicate, the seal wliercof has the impress of a Turk's head, the inscription not legible. Thomas tie S. Walery, at the request of Edela his wife and his chief tenants, confirmed to the abbey of Oseney all their possessions within his barony, within which were included two hides of land in Arncot in the parish of Ambrosden. Sciant prcesentes etfutiiri quod ego Thomas de S. JFalerico consi/io et petitione Edelce nxoris mece et proborum homrnum ineoriim concessi et hac charta mea conjirmavi, Sfc. ecc/esice S. Marice de Oseney et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus omues possessiones de fcedo meo ad ecclesiam S. Georgii quce in castello de Oxeneford sita est pertiiientes tarn, de dominicis meis quam de tenuris homrnum ineorum. Sec. "^ In this twelfth of king John an inquisition was taken through Eng- land of the several tenures of estates from the crown, by whic h it ap- pears that John Fitz-Nigel knight held one hide of land in Borstall, called Dere-hide, by the service of being the king's forester in the royal forest of Bernwood^ A forester was such an office as is now a wood-rieve, or in a park a keeper. There w^ere the king's foresters, who supervised a whole royal forest by deputation from the king, who had great authority and profits. And there were the foresters of the barons and knights, tenants in capite of the king, who had lands or woods within the bounds of any forest. Their respective office is set down in the pre- cepts concerning forests by justices itinerant, an. 1195. Rex prcEcipit quod omnes ilJi qui boscos habent intra metas forestce domini regis ponant idoneos forestarios in boscis suis de quibus fo- P Ex Orig. penes hon. D. Guil. Glynne, Baronettum. i Regist. Osen. MS. p. 83. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 47. p. 129. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 243 restariis ipsi quorum bosci fiierint sint plegii vel tales inveviant ple- gios idoncos qui possint cmendare si forestarii in aliquo forisfcccrinf , quod dunii/io regi pertiueaf. Item prcecipit quod sui forestarii curam capiant super forestarios militum et aliorum, &jC. ' Henry de Staft'ord held now the third part of a kniglit's fee in Bucknell. Oxon. Heuric. de Stafford in BukenhuU 3. part.foed.^ An. Mccxr. 12, 13. A'. Joltn. Gerard de Camvill of Midleton castle held now three carucates of land in Merston and Dedinglon in this county ". Reginald de Dannnartin earl of Bologne being deprived of his earldom and all his lands in France, came over into England, and was kindly received by king John, to whom he did homage and fealty, receiving from hin) 3001. a year, part of which was the former estate of this family in the fee of Pidington and Merton. He was now a great favourite of king John, and intrusted with the conmiand of the English fleet against the French, in joint commission with William Longspe earl of Salisbury ". In this or the follow ing year Richard de Camvill and Eustace Bas- An. Mccxi. 1^, 13. K. Jolin. elnii de Liglia sciiioris in Cestreton autho- Universis S. matris cccrise tiliis ad quos ritate domini papte Imioeentii tertii in prae- praescns scriptum pervenerit, frater R. prior seutia nostra vcrtebatur, magistro Alardo de Osnevii H. decanus Oxon. salutem in rectore scholarum conjudice nostro se per Domino. Noverit iiniversitas vestra con- literas suas sufficienter excusante tali fine troversiani qute inter dom. H. abbatem ct concordiae sopitam fuisse, &c. facta est haec conventum Abendon ex una parte et ma- conipositio coram nobis in ecclesia B. Ma- gistrum Eustiieliium rcctoreni ecclesice de ria; incrastino Invenlionis S. Crucis, ponti- Cestreton ex altera parte super quibusdum ficatus d'ni papde Innocetitii anno l.J. (i. c. decimis provcnientibus, quw de XL acris qu;e r.'ll.) Ex Cartular. coenob. Abbendon. sitm sunt in liruerio de Cestreton ([uas Gal- MS. citat. apud Hist, ct Antiq. Oxon. 1. 2. fredus de 8. Mauro tenet de feodo Willi- p. 388. ' R. Hoved. p. 155. et Manwood of Forest Laws, cap. 2\. §. I. ' K. Dods. MS. vol. 47. p. 157. " Ibid. vol. 4. p. tS. » Tho. Walsing. sub an. I i 2 24i PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. set his wife, for the sake of their own souls and of their ancestors and successors, gave to Rohert prior of Bcrncester and the canons of tliat church, one messuage in the late tenure of Walter de Crockewell, with all appertenances, in pure and perpetual alms. Universis sanctce matris ecclesice filiis Richardus de Caminlla et Eusfachia Basset uxor ejus sahitein. Noverit univcrsiias restra vos piefafis intuitu pro salute animcc nostroi et antecessorum nostrorum et successorum nostrorum concessisse et conjirmasse Deo et ecclesice sanctce Edburgce virginis dc Berencestcr et domino Roberto priori et cano- nicis ibidem Deo set^ientibus unum messuagium scilicet illud quod tenuit JFalterus de Crockivell in puram et perpetuam eleniosinam cum omnibus pertinentiis suis tenendam de nobis et hceredibus nostris libere et quiete ab omni sceculari servitio et exactione. Nos vero et hceredcs nostri prcedictum messuagium cum omnibus pertinentiis suis cidem priori et canonicis ecclesicB beatce Edburgce de Berncester con- tra omnes hojnines et fceminas ivarrantizabimus. Et ut hcec nostra do- natio rata et inconcussa permaneat prcesentcm chartam sigillorum nos- trorum appositione corroboravimus. Hiis tesfibus ; JHUiclmo de Chau- ivarces, Thoma Britone, Henrico de Rokebi, Ric. de Horton, Roberto de Rokebi, magistro Willielmo cementario, Rob. de Baduit, Johanne Squier, et multis aliis ^, An. Mccxii. 13, 14. K. John. In the latter end of the thirteenth of king John an inquisition was taken of the honor of S. Walery, of which Bccklcy was the head, and Ambrosden a member, in which the tenants are thus recounted : Petrus Talemasche, Radulphus Jilius Galfridi, Stephanus de Fretncll, Milisent de Freisenvil, Robertas de Aumari, Ricardus D'aumari, Ro- bertas de Burton, Fulco de Baiocis, Ricardus de Turstelod, Walterus de Bononia, Reginaldus de S. IValerico, Bcf^nardus de Areines, Ra- dulphus Purcell, Robertas dc Gent, Hugo de Ifofenhull, If'alterus Foliot, Cecilia de Arewell, WilUelmus de Esses, Sfc. ^ And at the y Ex Orig. penes hon. D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 47. f. 146. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 245 same time an inquisition was taken of the honor of WalinjEfford, by which it was found that Richard de Catnvill of Midleton Ijeld seven knight's fees within the said honor of tlie inheritance of his wife, viz. Bnrcester, Wrechw ic, Stratton, &c. lately the estate of Gil- bert Basset '. James le Bret, lord of Bigenluill within the parish of Bnrcester, by consent of his wife Amable, gave to the priory of St. Edburg in Bnr- cester four acres of meadow in Gore near the Ham (/. c. the house or piece of land) of Gilbert, by this charter. Sc'iant prcesoites et futuri quod ego Jacobus Ic Bret assensu uxoris niecR Ainablc ct haeredum meoi'uin dcdi et coiicessi Deo et ecclesice S. Edburgcp de Berucestcr et priori et cano/iicis ibidem Deo servieiifibus pro aniina patris mei et niatris mece et pro animabus autecessorum me- oruin et successorum ineorum quatuor acras prati in Gore juxta Ha- main Gilberti libere ct quiete ab omni sceculari servitio in purani et perpetuam elcmosinam. Has prcedictas quatuor acras ego et hteredes mei warantizabinius prcedictcc ecclesice contra omnes homines et fce- minas in perpetuum. Et ut hcec donatio rata et inconcussa permaneat hanc prcesentevi chartam meam sigi/Ii mei attestatione corroboravi. Hiis testibus ; Roberto D'aumari, Roberto D'autnari filio ejus, Ifal- tero Bret, T/ionia Britun, Ricardo de Uortone, Roberto de Pise/ei, tiamnndo de Sancta Fide, Tlioma Gulifred, Raduljo clerico, fFilliel- mo Pahnero, et multis aliis '*. To the original parchment is a fair seal appending, with the im- press of a branch, and two turtle doves sitting opposite and billing, a device seemingly designed for an emblem of conjugal affection, with this inscribed, >J< Sigii.lum Jacobi Le Brut Am.\. The prioress and mms of Merkyate in com. Bedf granted to Her- vey prior of Hurccster two selions or ridges of land in Ilodcsham, in exchange for one acre nearer to their land in Nyhenaker, and half an acre of meadow nigh to their meadow called Gilberts-ham, by nni- lual indenture, of which one part was in this form. » R. Dods. MS. vol. 17. f. 1 IG. ^ Ex. Orig. penes D. W. Glynnc, Baronettum. 246 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Omnibus Christi jideUbus has litems visuris Johanna priorissa sanctce Trinifati^ de Bosco et ejusdein loci convenius salutem in Do- mino. Noveritis quod nos dedimus et concessinws ct prcesenti charta nostra confrmavimus Henrico priori de Berncester et ejusdeni loci ca- nonicis duos seliones in Hodesham qui jacent juxta rivuluni extra cu- riam dictorum canonicorum habendos et tenendos dictis canonicis in perpetuum in eschambio unius acrce terrce in Burncestre propinquioris terrce nostrce in Nyhenaker et dimidi/e acrce prati propinquioris prato nostro quod vocatur Gil ebei^d sham. Et in hujus rei testimonium huic scripto in moduvi chyrographi confecto vicissim sigilla nostra apposui- mus. Hiis testibus ; domino Rogero de Aumari, domino Roberto Purcell, domino Hamundo de S. Fide, niilitibus ; Philippo de Wap- pele, IFalhamoth Paupere, Gilberto de Sancta Fide, ct inultis aliis". An. Mc cxiii. 1415. K. John. Thomas de S. Walery, by adhering to the pope and the French in- terest, had again highly offended the king, who on this occasion sent a precept to the sheriff of this county, with orders for putting in some discreet steward to take care of his lands and chattels, commanding the sheriff to summon him to appear before the king on the day after St. John Baptist, there to answer to such things as should be charged against him. Rex vie. Oxon. salutem. Prcecipimus tibi quod ponas aliqucm dis- crctum hominem de tuis in terra Thomae comitis de Sancto If alerico in balliva tua ad videndum quod nihil inde anioveatur. Et summone ibidem per bonos summonitores eundem Thomuni quod sit coram nobis in crastino S. Johannis Baptistce responsurus ad hoc quod ei propo- netur. Teste meipso apud Rqffam nono Junii an. reg. 15 ''. The next day the king sent a precept to Ralph Hareng, seneschal of the honor of S. Walery, requiring him to assign to Gerard, son of Gerard de Rodes, land to the value of twenty pound out of the said estate. Rex Radulpho Hareng salutem. Mandamus vobis quod statim <= Ex Autog. penes D. W. Glynne, Bar. J< Sioii.mim Ricakdi Di; Cam\ ill. The other is a hirger oblong oval with impress ot a woman erect All. M<( xi\-. I'l, 16. K. John. garcsliall dat. per niaiuim ipsius Rad'i. 6. Anno fj. Hug. \\'i-ll. D. cp'us concessit Mail, anno rcg. l(i. .loli. Kodcni die rex priori ct conventui de Bcrnecestr 5 marc, concessit eidcui Rad'o de Ncvill eccl'iani de aim. de eccl'ia de parva Mcssenden. Itex Stratton. concessit Kad'u de Nevill eccl'iani de Lute- VOL. I. K k 250 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. holding a l)raiich in her right hand and this inscription, + Sigil- LUM El'.staci^ Basset'. For a further benefaction to tlie priory of Burcester, the said Ri- chard de Canivill, by will and consent of Eustace his wife, gave to Robert Clerk for his homage and service one virgate of land in the village of Bciiicester, late in the occupation of Robert Ball, to hold for the yearly rent of one pound of cummin, on condition the said Robert Clerk or his heirs, should find one lamp before the altar of St. Nicholas in the greater church of St. Mary and St. Edburg of Berncester, to burn every night entirely, and every day during divine service, and at canonical hours, for the health of the souls of him and his wife, and Gilbert Basset, and Richard Camvill their son. Scimit prcesentes ef futuri quod ego Ricardus de Camvill de volun- tate et assensu Eustacice Basset uxoris mece dedi et concessi et hac prcesenti charta mea conjirmavi Roberto Clerico pro homag'to et pro servitio suo unam virgatam terrcB in villa de Bernecester cum omnibus suis pertinentiis, illam videlicet virgatam tcrrce quam Robertas Ball tcnuit habendarn et tenendam sibi et hceredibus suis de me et meis hce- redibus libere et quiete integre honorifice hcBreditarie in perpefuum, reddendo indc mihi vel hceredibus meis annuatim unam libratn cumini infesto natalis Domini pro onini servitio vel exactione sceculari ad me vel ad hceredes meos spectante salvo domini regis servitio ad tantam scilicet terram pertinente. Ita tamen quod prcedictus Robertas Cle- ricus vel hceredes sui invenient lampadem unam ante altare Sancti Ni- colai in majori ecclesia Sanctce Marice et Sanctce Edburgce de Ber- necester in perpetuum pro nostrarum salute animarum et pro unima Gilberti Basset et pro anima Ricardi Jilii nostri qualibet node tofali- ter et quolibet die dum divina celebrant ur, et ad horas canonicales ardentem. Et ego Ricardus de Camvill et hceredes mihi warantiza- bimus prcedictam virgatam terrce cum omnibus suis pertinentiis prcs- * Ex Orig. penes hon. D. Guil. GlynnCj Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 251 fato Roberto Clerico et hceredibus suis contra omnes gentes. Et ut hcec mea dotiatio concessio et covjirmatio rata sit et Jirma earn prce- senti scripto et sigillo meo eiileni apposito rohoravi. Testibus his ; Roberto de Aumari, Roberto et Radiilplio fdiis ejus, Genteschiv Pau- pere, Radiilpho Ivans et Hugone fratre ejus, Ada capellano, Henrico de Rokebi, et Roberto de Rokebi fratre ejus, Rad. de Marchamel, Ro- berto de Bakepuz, Abraham capellano, magistro Gilberto, Roberto cle^ rico, IFaltero cemitario, magistro Laurentio, et multis aliis'". To this script in paiclimeiit were two seals appending, of which the first is broken off, the other is the same stamp and inscription with the former of Eustace Basset. They did by another charter confirm to the priory of Burccster their manor of Wrechwic and wood of Gravenhull, with the addi- tional gift of a certain pasture called Coubrugge ; to the original are two seals appending, with the same impress and inscription ". The king in this sixteenth of his reign by letters patent granted to Maurice dc Gant, lord of the manor of Weston, the manor of Barew with all its appertenances to hold for life, as granted to Eva his sister ". King John was defeated in the battle of Bovines in Artoise in France, where Reginald Dammartin, earl of Bologne, lord of the fee of Pidington and Merton, was taken prisoner by the French king, and thrust into a strong tower in Perone in Picardy, laden with irons and chained to a great piece of timber p. King John brought olV one j)risoncr Robert son of Robert earl of Dreux, (who by marriage be- came soon after lord of the manor of Ambrosden, &c.) for whom in exchange the French king released the earl of Salisbury''. But be- fore king John would set at liberty the said Robert, he sent letters to the archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the bishops and tempo- ral lords, letting them know that because Robert «as son to the earl ■n Ex Autograplio penes D. W. Glynnc, Baronettuin. " Ex Orig. ibid. " R. Dod*. MS. vol. 63. f. 21. 1' Brady, Hist. p. 493. <] W. Dugd. MS. vol. M. p. !). K k 2 252 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. of Dreux, kinsman to the king of France, therefore he would not ex- change him without their advice'. An. Mccxv. 16, 17- K. John. This year died * Richard dc Camvill lord of Midleton castle, and of Burcester, &c. leaving by Eustace his wife one only daughter and heir Idonea. Before his death he confirmed to tlie abbey of Os(Miey one messuage with its other buildings in Erdinton, and gave to the monks free liberty to collect the tithes of his demesnes in Erdinton and Burcester, as had been granted to the chapel of St. George's, by Robert de Oily sen. Sciant prcesentes et fittiiri quod ego Ricardtis de Cumvilla dedi et concessi et hac prcesenti charta mea confirniavi Deo et eceles'ice S. Ma- rice de Osen. et canonicis ibid Deo servievtibus pro salute mea, ^-c. tinum messuagium cum suis cedijiciis in villa mea de Erdinton, Sfc. Concessi etiam prcedictis canojiicis quod liberc et sine ulla vexatione possint congregare decimas suas quas habent de dominicis meis de Er- dinton et de Burncestre. Ita quod nee ego nee hceredes meis prcedictis cajionicis aliquam super prcedictas decimas inferemus molestiam, Sfc. ' Mr. Dugdale* attributes this donation to Richard de Camvill sen. in the reign of Henry the Second : but it must needs be meant of this his grandson who was the first of that family, who had any right in Erdinffton and Burcester his wife's inheritance. The same author is guilty of another mistake in reporting Richard de Camvill jun. to have lived beyond the second of Henry the Third ; whereas he must * The said Richard de Camvil and Eu- turage of twenty-four oxen or other cattle, stace his wife confirmed to the abbey of according to the original concession recited Reading the grant which her father Gilbert p. 133. Cartular. abbat. Radinges. MS. f. Basset had made of a demesne meadow in x,viii. Endentun com. Berks, and common pas- ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 176. a. ' Regist. Osen. MS. f. 141. • Dugd. Bar, torn. 9. p. 627. AMBROSDEN, RURCESTER, &c. 253 needs have been dead this year, when the wardship of his chuifihter was committed to WilHain Lon^spe earl of Salisbury, with liberty of disposing her in marriage to William his eldest son, with all the in- heritance that came by her mother; viz. the estate of Gilbert Basset, And to this effect a precept was now directed to the sheriff. MaiuL est vie. Oxon. et Berks, quod habere facianf IV. cow. Sarum. maritagiam Jilire Jiicardi de Camri// genitcp de Eustachia qure fuit Jilia Gilhcrti Basset uxor is ipsius Richordi ad opus IVilliehni siii pri- inogeniti de Eln comitissa Sar. cum tota hccrcditate sua coufingente ipsain filiam ejusdem Ricardi in halliva sua ex parte matris suce ". This part of the comity was now the passage between the king at O.vford and the barons at Brackley, where, after some messages sent and ineffectually returned, the barons declared for open war. Maurice de Gaunt, taking part with the rebellious barons, his lands were seized and given to Philip de Albini, excepting Weston in this neighbourhood, and Beverston in com. Gioc. * On the same occasion John Fitz-Robert lord of Clavering in Essex was disseized of his lands, and his manor of * Ainho, com. North- ampt. was committed to Thomas de S. Walery, lord of the manor * Terra Coisfridi dc Alannevile in Su- tone hundr. Goisfridus de Manncvile tenet de rege Aicnlio. Ibi suiil iii hidse ct quint, par. iinius liid;e. Terra t-st viii carucat. De hac terra est hida et quinta pars unius hidie in d'nio ; et ibi tros carucat, et vin servi et xxni villani et ix bordarii cum v car. Ibi molin. de x solidis, et xx acri prati. Va- luit VI lib. Modo viii lib. .Mgar tcnuit T. H. M. Kx Lib. Domcsd. \\ illiain 1'3. of Esse\, temp. H. -'. granted tbc wbole village of Ainho to his aunt Adc- licia de Esse.K, which her liusband Roger ritz-Richard settled on her in exchange for Cunton her first dowry. R. Dods. Collect. MS. vol. yo. f. 108. Walterus de I'lessetis fuit rector ecclc- si;e de Aynho, an. 132J. Reg. Ralduck cp'i Loiui. f. 5 1. i'crnnitatio inter Job. Edyngton, recto- rem eccl'itE de Aynho Line. dioc. et JoIj. Priklove, rcctorem eccl'ite de VVodeianfer- rere Lond. dioc. Reg. Braybrok ep'i Ix)nd. Aynlio habet feriani in vigilia, in die, ct in crastii\o S. Jacobi ap'li concessam fratribus iiospitalis D. Jacobi de Ainho. Teste Rege. 10 Jun. I) Joh. " W. Diigd. MS. vol. H. I. p. J!i. » Dugd. Bar. tom. 1. p. 112. 254 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. of Anibrosden, who continued fiiitliful to the king's interest^ Wil- liam Mallet baron of Curi was disseized for the like offence; several of his lands were given to Hugh de Vivion, and the manor of Dcd- ington in com. Oxon. restored to Thomas Basset baron of Hediug- ton, by this precept. Hex vicccoviiti Oxoii. saUitcw. Sc'uis (juod cov- cessinius Tliomce Basset terrain de Dedinton cum pert'uientiis qitam dederat IVillielmo Malet in maritagio cum Jilia sua. Et ideo prceci- pimiis, 8fc. Teste rege apud Rqffam x. Novcm'. From the same place on November the sixth, a like precept was directed to the she- riff of this county to restore to Ralph dc Montibus his land in Kirt- linton*. And Reginald earl of Bologne, lord of the fee of Merton and Pidington, had a grant from the king of the manors of Kirkton and Dunham ^ An. Mccxvi. 17, 18. K. John. 1. Henry III. About this time James Bret, lord of the manor of BigenhuU in the parish of Burcester, with consent of his wife, gave to Richard prior of Burcester and the canons of that convent, a certain meadow of his demesne called Kinsitheam, for the soul of his father Walter Bret and of his ancestors and successors. Scianf prcesentes et futuri quod ego Jacobus Bret consensu et as- sensu Amable uxoris mece dedi et prcesenti charta mea conjirmavi Deo et ecclesice SanctcB Edburgce de * Berncester et R. priori ejusdem loci et An. MCCXVI. 17, 18. K.John. 1. Hen. III. vicariarum ordinatarum auctoritate con- Sententia inter abb'eni et conventum Os- cilii : ncy et W. de Scto Maxentio rectorem de Eccl'ia de Berencestr valet xx marc, et Mixeburi deduabus partibus decimarum 13 amplius. Vicarius habebit pro stipendiis acrarum in Mixeburi spectant. ad ecclesiam suis et capellani sui ct cl'icorum suorum Scti Georgii castelli Oxon. 1216. Ex xl sol. annuatim in certis portionibus as- cron. Osen. fol. 154. Bib. Cotton. Vitellius. signandis, ct ipse et capellanus ejus ct cl'ici E. 15. sui habebunt vietum suum de prioratu cis- * E rotulo Hug. Well, de ordinationibus dem capellanis el cl'icis competentem, et J Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. I07. » R. Dods. MS. vol. 103. f. 41. » Ibid. >> Ibid. vol. 97. f. 125. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 255 canonicis ibidem Deo servientihus quodihim prat urn dominii mei quod vo- catur Kiiisitheam infegt'e et plenarie sine aliqua diminutione pro anima patris mei JVallcri Bret et antecessornm et successorum meorum in li- beram et puram et perpetuam elemosinam et quietam ab oinni sceculari serviiio et ex omnibus consuetudinibus et exactionibus et querelis mihi et /iteredibus rneis pertinentibus ; banc prcedictam liberam donationem meain ego Jacobus Bret et hcercdcs mei warantizahimus Deo et jam dictce ecclesicB et R. prcpfato priori et prcedictis canonicis contra om- ?}es homines et fceminas imperpetuvm. Hiis testibus ; Thoma Basset, Alano Basset, Ricardo de Turs. Roberto Damari, Roberto Damari Ji/io ejus, Otvelo de Insula, Genteschive Paupere, Roberto de Piselee, Johanne jilio Williehno de Curtlinton, Ingelramo de Curtlinton, Rob. de Badinton, et multis aliis. To the original parchment is a seal appending with the impress of a stalk or branch with two birds sitting opposite, and the inscription of )J< SiGILLUM JaCOBI BrET '. The sheriff of this county was commanded to restore to Robert Mauduit and Alan de Bocland, knights, full seisin of their lands in the manor of Dedington, w hich Wido de Diva hati granted them to hold in fee ''. The king a little before his death commiltcd the estate of Thomas de S. Walery lord of Ambrosden to Ralph llarengod, to keep for the use of the said Thomas. R. vie. Oxon. Scias quod conimisimus Radulpho de Harengod to- tani terram T. de S. If'^ulerico cunt omnibus pertinentiis suis custodien- habebit fcnuiii et prcbcndiim ad cquuin rium ; habebit etiam confessiones suas ct iinum de prioratu, et oblationes suas, scil. secundum legatum usque ad sex denarios ; unum (lenariuin pro corporc prcscnti et si quod supererit, caiionici et vicarius dimi- unuDi deniiriiini pro ^poiisalibus et unum diabunt; liabebit insuper inceii^um coiiipe- denarium pro puriticatione cum integer de- tentem extra prioratura et canonici omnia narius ol)veric'rit ; ct in die natali Dni 3 de- onera ejusdem eccl'ie sustinabunt preter narios et in die I'ascbiP 2 denar. et in du- onus parocliiale. obus allis prini'ipalibus Testis unum dena- « Ex Orig. penes Hon. D. CJuil. Glynnc, Bar. '^ Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 103. f. 4;>. 256 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. dam ad opus ipsiiis Tliomce. T. R. 13. ^iig. codem modo vice-corn. Northan. Berks. Bucks, and Bedf. et coiistabulario de IFaliug- ford\ Nigh this time Thomas de S. Walery continued the donation made by his father of Wlgaricot (now Wolvercot) to the nunnery of Godstow, by this charter. Noverint prcesentes et futuri (juod ego Thomas de S. Walerico in- tuitu pietatis et caritatis et pro salute animce mece et Edelcc nxoi'is mece et Avor. matris mece et omnium antecessorum meorum concessi et prcesenti charta conjirmavi donum itlud quod Bernardus bonce memorice vir pater mens fecit nobili Henrico Ang/orum regi Jilio Matildis illus- tris imperatricis de JFlgaricot libere et pacijice quiete et honorijice te- nendam cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in perpetuum sicut charta prcc- fati Bernardi patris inei super hoc ipso dono testatur. Concessi etiam et prcesenti scripto conjirmavi Deo et ecclesice beati Johannis Baptistce de Godestow et sanctimonialihus ibidem Deo servientibus hoc ipsum donum quod prcenominatus Henricus rex jilius Matildis illustris im- peratricis fecit prcetaxatis sanctimonialibus de prcenominata villa de Wlgaricot tenendam et in pace possidendam cum universis pertinentiis suis in perpetuum sicut charta scepedicti domini Henrici regis Anglice testatur. Et ut hcec mea concessio et confirmatio frmiter conservefur prcesentem chartam sigillo meo confrmare dignum duxi. Hits testi- bus ; liadulfo Harenge Seneschallo meo, JFalone de Cumberay , Ber- nardo Malecter Juvene, IFillielmo de ffestbiri militibus, Engram ca- pellano, IFillielmo de Pichecot, JFillielmo clerico, persona de Am- bresdon '. Alan Basset baron of Wicomb, brother of Gilbert late lord of the manors of Midleton and Burcester, had a grant from the king of the lordship of Menstre in this county, which had been given in dowry to the davighter of this Alan by John Lovel, from which family this place had the appellation of Menstre-Lovel ^. e W. Dugd. MS. vol. B. 1. p. 35. f Regist. S. Prides. MS. carta 526. et Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 52/. oDugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 383. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 257 October the nineteenth the king died at Newerk, and his son Henry the Third began his reign *■. An. Mccxvii. 1, 2. Henry III. A mandate was sent to the sheriff of this county to restore to the abbot and monks of Westminster their manor of Islep near Oxford, of which they had been disseized by king John on a false report of the abbot's death '. A Hke precept was directed to give * Thomas de S. Walery possession of the lands of his brother Henry, of which lie had been disseized upon occasion of the barons war. Maud, est vie. Oxon. quod seisiiiam habere faciat Thonice de Sancto IValerico terrce Henrici fratris sui in balliva sua quantum inde habuit ante guerram et disseisifus est occasione ipsius guerrce, ^c. ^ Which Henry de S. Walery on August the fifteenth had seizin of his lands in Fulbroc com. Oxon. Northon and Sutton com. Hunt, and Henton com. Berks, at which village he procured a market on every Wednesday, by the king's licence dated the twenty-third of Septem- ber, 2. Hen. HI.' Nichola widow of Gerard de Camvill having been a martial wo- man, and stoutly adhering to king John, had in the eighteenth of that king the sherivalty of Lincoln committed to her ; and had it now t'ontiimed to her, with livery of the manors of Cherleton and Henx- tcrugge, whereof the family had been dispossessed by Hubert de Burgh justiciary of England '°. Nigh this time Robert Fitz-Michael, in consideration of one mark in silver, and the yearly rent of one pound of cummin at Easter, • Hen. II. (ledit manerium de Erdinton suum horoditas ad Rob. com. Drocarum, t)ui Bernardo de Scto VValcrico, ct post cum Rob. seisiiiam suam pcrdidit omnium qute Thomas de Scto Walcrico tenuit dictum habebat in Angiia. MS. Cotton, de cartis manerium, quo dcfuncto circa principium £gnesham. regis Hen. 111. translata est per filiuin h Mat. West, sub an. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 53. f. 48. k VV. Dugd. MS. vol. B. 1. p. o«. ' Ibid. "» Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 5;>8. VOL. I. L 1 258 PAROCHIAL ANTiyUniES. granted to the church of St. Edburg in Biircester and the monks of that convent, two acres of land in Buricroft beyond the piiory court lying between the land of Nicholas son of Harold, and the land of John Godard. Sciant prcesentes et futnri quod ego Robertas fi/iits Michaelis pro salute animce meee et pro a^iimabus aiitecessorum et successoruin me- orum dedi et concessi et prcesevfi charta mea confirmavi Deo et eccIesicR beatcB Marice et SanctcB Edburgce virginis de Bernecestria et cano- nicis ibidem Deo servientibus in liberam et perpetuam eleeinosiuam duas acras terrce in Buricroft extra curiam dictorum cajio?iicorum, scilicet illas duas acras qucejacent inter tet^ram Nicholai Jilii Haraldi et terram Johannis Godard cum omnibus pertinentiis suis tenevdas et habendas dictas duas acras terrce dictis canonicis imperpetumn de me Anno 9. Hug. Well. 1217. Will, de Butell cl'icus ad eccl. de Cot- tesford ad pres. Abb. de Becc. Arch. Oxon. Gervas de Pavely cl'icus ad eccl. de Mudelington ad coll. ep'i ad petitionem Willi Lungespe com. Sarum et R. abb'is de Barling inter quos vertebatur contentio super advocationem. Ric. de Widehai cl'icus ad eccl. de Sul- thorn ad prcs. abb'is et conv. de Eigneshani de voluntate R. de Mortuomari militis di- centis sc jus habere patronatus in ead. ec- cl'ia. Salva pensione centum sol. mon. de Eignesham, inquisitione facta per I. archi- d'um Oxon. Jacobus de Solariis cl'icus ad eccl. de Estreleg ad pres. Radi de Sauccy mil. salvis eccl'ie de Helsop primo legato de paro- chianis de Estrelegh decedentibus, qui qui- dem parochiani apud Helsop debent sepc- liri, et 4 sol. quos singulis annis cccl'ia de Helsop percipit de eccl'ia de Esterlcgh no- mine subjcctionis. Mandat. archid. Oxon. ad inducend. Rad. Bloet ad eccl. de Eawelm ad pres. d'nffi Aldae Bloet matris ejus. Mand. A. Oxon. Galfridus de Croppery cl'icus ad medic- tatem eccl'ie de Heyford auctoritate concilii. Mandat. Archid. Oxon. Mattheus capellanus dc Cudinglon ordi- natus ad vicariam iii or (sic) marcaruni in eccl'ia de Cudington de consensu patroni et pcrson;e. Mand. A. Oxon. Mag'r llob'tus niag'ri Roberti nepotis d'ni N. Tusculan. ep'i ad eccl. de Langetun ad pres. abb. et conv. Westm. Archid. Oxon. H. de Launton capellanus ad capellam de Baldindon ad pres. Petri dc la Mara. Inquis. facta per abb'em de Dorccstr, salva matrici eccl. de Dorkecestr pensione unius librae incensi. *> Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. AMBROSDEN, Bl'RCESTEH, &c. 259 ef hferedihus nicis bene ct in pace reddendo inde luniiuU'im milii ct hceredihus vieis unani libram cimini ad Pasclia pro omni serviiio et ex- actione ad me vel ad hcercdes meos pertinente. Et ego dictus Rober- tus et hcercdes met dictas duas acras terrce cum pertincntiis suis dictis canonicis contra omnes homines et fceminas per pi^ccdictum servitium imperpetuum tvarantizabimus. Pro hac autcm donatione concessione et charted mece confinnatione preedicti canonici dederunt mihi unani marcam argenti. Et lit hoic mea donatio concessio ct chartce mete conjirmatio Jirma et stabilis in postcruni permaneat prcesenti scripto sigilliun meiun apposui. Hiis testibus ; domino Roberto Daumari, Gen- teschive Paitpere, Radulfo de Cestreton, Johanne jilio IViltiehni, IVal- tero Jilio Dru, JVidhamot Panpere, Roberto de Badinton, Rad. Fran- ceis, Petro de fVeudlebure, et muftis aliis ". To the original is a seal appending, bearing a star between two crescents, with this inscription, S. Roberti Fim Michaelis. There is another original script in parchment that runs in the same words, and has the same seal alHxed, only with some different wit- nesses, Johanne Ji/io Jf^iUielmi de Kertlinton, Roberto c/erico, Xi- cholao camcrario, et multis aliis. Soon after this, the same person added two acres of land in Fort- furhmg and Crocwell-furlung, and with the two former gave them freely to the said canons, by the service of one penny yearly. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego Robertus Jilius Michaelis de Burncester dedi concessi et hac prcesenti charta mea conjirmavi pro salute animce mete et pro animabns anteccssorum et successorum nic- ortim Deo et ecvlesice bcatce iMuricc et S. Edburga; Burncester et ca- nonicis ibidem Deo servient ibus, (piatuor acras terrce mece in Burn- cester quarum diice jacent in Buricroft extra curiam dictoriim cano- nicorum inter terram Xicholai Jilii Uuraldi et terram Johannis (lod- ard ef una in Fortjurfung inter terram Rob. Pet it h et terram If'if- lielmi fc May una in Crocicelf-J'urfung qucc jacet ad put f am infer (er- rant Johannis le Palmer et terram quoin JIaffcritsJitius Rogeri fenitif " Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynnej liar. I. 1 2 260 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. habendavi ef tenendam preedicfas quatitor acras cum sitis pertineutiis hi liberam et perpetuani eleemosinam dictis canonicis et eoriim succes- soribus imperpetmim de me et heeredihus vieis libere quiete et in pace sine aliqua conditione exactione et dcmanda scecidaii per liberiim ser- vitium unius denarii anniiatim mihi et hceredibus_ meis ad Pascha pro om7iibns scrvitiis pcrsolvendi. Et ego dictiis Robertus et hcercdes met prcenominatas quatuor acras cum suis pcrtinentiis dictis canonicis et eorum successoinbus contra omnes homines et fcnminas per prcedictum servitium imperpetuum warantizabimus defendemus et acquietabimus. Et ut hcec mea donatio concessio et chartce mece conjirmatio rata et sta- bilis in posterum permaneat prcesenti scripto sigillum meum apposui. Hits testibus ; domino Rob. Daumari, Genteschive Paupere, Rad. de Cestreton, Johanne filio Willielmi de Knrtlington, Waltcro Dru, Wal- hamoth Paupere, Rob. de Badinton, Petro de Wendlebure, et inultis aliis °. To the original is the same seal appending. An. Mccxviii. 2, 3. Henri/ III. In the sherifTs accompts for this year it appears, that William earl of Salisbury paid the arrears of two marks for one knight's fee, with the custody of the daughter and heir of Richard de Camvill p. Alexander king of Scotland came to Northampton, and there did homage to king Henry, for the county of Huntendon and other lands held by his predecessors, by which means he became lord of the fee of Pidington and Merton ''. Nigh this time James le Bret, for a farther benefaction to the priory of Burncester, gave to them five acres of his land in demesne in Crocwell-furlung, with a marsh called Crocwell-moor, and four sei- lons or ridges of land called Buttes reaching to Eldeford, to make there a bercherie or sheep-cote, &c. Sciant prcesentes et futim quod ego Jacobus le Bret assensii uxoris • Ex Orig. penes D. W. Glynne, Baronettum. P R. Dods. Rot. Pip. MS. vol. 15. p. 9. •i Chron. de Mailros, sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, kc 261 ■niece Ainahle et hceredum meorum dedi et concessi Deo et ecclesice S. EdhurgfP. de Burncester et priori et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus pro aniina patris mei et matris mece et pro aniinabus omnium anteces- sorum et siiccessorum meorum quinque acras terrce de dominio meo in Crocivell-furlung propinquiores vice cum marisco integro qui vocatur Crocwell-moor quantum ad me pertinet et de incremento quatuor sei- lones terrce qui vocantur Buttes et extendunt se ad Eldejord cum li- bertate rivuli quantum ad me pertinet ad faciendum berkeriam sive quicquid eis melius placucrit facere, tenendos de me et hceredibus meis lihere et quiefe ab omni sceculari servitio ad me vel ad hiBredcs meos pertinente in puram et perpetuam elecmosinam in viis et pUniis in uquis et molcndinis et in omnibus a/iis iocis. Has prcedictas quinque acras cum quatuor seilonibus et marisco ego et hceredes mei tvaranti- zabimns prcedictce ecclesice versus omnes homines et fceminas in perpc- tuum. Et si ego vel hceredes mei prcedictam terram cum marisco prce- dictce ecclesice warantizare non potuimus ego et hceredes mei escham- bium faciemus scepe dictce ecclesice ad valentiam prcedictce terrce et ma- risci. Ut autem hcec donatio rata et inconcussa permaneat hanc prce- sentem chartam meam sigilli mei attestatione corroboravi. Hiis testi- bus ; Gilberto Basset, Roberto Damari, Roberto Damari jilio ejus, Thoma Brutun, Ric. de Hart, IValtero Bret, Hamundo de Sancta Fide, Sfc. ' 10. Hug. Well. Gervas de Pavely cl'icus ad eccl. de Mu- Andreas cl'icus ad eccl. de VVotton ad delington ad coll. ep'i ad petitionem Will. pres. A. comitisse Sarum. Mandat. A. Archi- Lungespe com. Sarum. ct R. abb'is de Bar- d'o Oxon. ling inter quos vertebatur contentio dc ad- Fordunus capellanus ad vicar, cocl'ie de vocationc. ib. 10. Hug. Well. Kirtlington ad pres. abb'is et conv. de Al- Eustacliius de Ciodervil cl'icus ad eccl. ntto. Mand. Archid'o Oxon. ib. de Wendlebir ad pres. Waltcri de Godervil Mag'r Hob. Bacun ad mediet. eccl'ie dc milit. ratione custod. terr. et hered. Gal- Heiford quam Lucas cl'icus tenuit ad pres. fridi de Pevelly salva annua 1. marc, pres- abb. et conv. de Egnesliam. Inquis. facta tationc de cad. eccl. per ipsuni cl'icum ec- per A. Arcliid. Oxon. ib. 10 Hug. Well. die de Ccstrcton facienda. A. Oxon. ■ Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynnc, Bar. 262 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. To the original jiarchnient apj)cnds a seal with the same inipres* and inscription with that sub an. 1216. By letters patent dated in October, Nichola de Hay widow of Ge- rard, and mother of Richard de Camvill late lord of Midleton, had the custody of the castle of Lincoln again delivered to her*. One of her family was Robert de Hay rector of * Sulthorn, (now Soul- dern, com. Oxon.) who, in this reign of Henry the Third, claiming from the abbot and convent of Oseney a certain measure of corn for their demesne of Mixbury, and fourpence yearly for their demesne ofFulwell, by virtue of the old custom called Chirchscete, did by * Omnibus — ^. prior de BralccJe ct T. rector eccl'ie de Eyno salut. Cum causa (ju(e. vertebalur inter W. rectorem eccl'ice de Sul- thorn ex una parte et Steph. de Fretewell ex alia super quadam hidn terrte ad eccl'iam pertinente predictam, qucB dicitur Chercheyd de Sulthorn, dictus Steph. per biennium fuit excommunicatus, antequam scntentice papali obediret, tunc tande>n per cartam suam red- didit dictam terrain rectori eccl'ice de Sul- thorn. Cartul. Egnesham, f. 147. Hugo ep'us Line, confirmat Roberto ab- b'i Egnesham et conv. eccl'ias et pensiones ex eisdem cccriam de Sulthorn et in ea pensionem duarum marcarum argenti. ib. f. 16. Willelmus de Wares nepos Rob'ti abb'is de Egnesham (qui fuit abb. 1. Job. 3. Joli. 7. Job.) admissus ad vicariam perpetuam de Sulthorn salva annua pensione centum soli- dorum abb'i ct conv. de Egnesham. Temp. Hugonis ep'i Line. Cartular. Egncsliam. MS. Contentio inter Rob. de Haia rectorem eccrie dc Sulthorn et abbatem de Osney super unam acrani frumenti annuatim de dominico sue dc Mixburi et 4 dcnariis de dominico suo de Fulwel tanquam ex anti- quo eccl'ie de Sulthorn debitos ratione cu- jusdani consuetudinis qute Anglice vocatur Chirchesset ita quievit assensu abbatis et conventus de Egnesham patroni dictse ec- cl'ie. Abbas et conven. Osen. dederunt rectori de Sulthorn centum solidos ad com- parandum certum redditum ad valentiam v solidorum eccl'ie sue de Sulthorn ab eadem perpetuo percipiend. in meliorationem d'cte eccl'ie, ct d'ctus rector de Sulthorn re- nunciavit onine jus super dictam acrani et quatuor denarios annuos inperpetuum. Tcstibus d'no Warino capellano d'ni Lin- coln, ep'i. d'no W. de Winchecumb canon. Line. Ex cronico Osneiensi, fol. 121. Bib. Cotton. Vitcllius. E. 15. Placita super advocatione eccl. de Sul- thorn. Ric'us dc Gravescnd ep'us Line, contulit illam eccl'iam Galfrido de Stokes. Eecl'ia valet 20 marc. Cartul. Egnesham. MS. f. 122. s R. Dods. -MS. vol. 53. 1". 57. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 263 consent of the abbot and convent of Egnesham, who were patrons of tjie said clnircli of Sulthorn, agree to receive an annual pension of five shillings in full satisfaction for the said corn and money'. Richard brother of the young king, who in the preceding year had been made governor of Chilhain castle in Kent, obtained now a grant from the king of the honor of Waliiigford, by which he became lord of the fee of Burcester, &c. " In the accompts of the sheriff", Regi- nald earl of Bologne answered for lands in Bampton. Petronilla wife of Jert'ery Fleccar paid fifty shillings for a mill in Hcdingdon, called Kings- milne. Thomas Basset answered for forty-two pounds ten shillings in Hedingdon, and twenty pounds for the fee farm of the said barony ". Within * this year one thing is worthy notice, because (I think) not observed by any historian. The young king at Oxford on March the thirtieth issued out his precept to the sheriff of this and other counties, to take care that all Jews within their respective liberties should bear upon their upper garments, whenever they went abroad, a badge of two white tablets on their breast made of linen cloth or parchment, that by this token they might be distinguished from Christians '. An. Mccxix. 3, 4. Henry III. William Mareschall earl of Pembroke departed this life at Caver- sham in this county, in which place he gave to the chapel of our Lady all that groimd which the canons of Nutley had built upon for * Hugo o])'us I^inc. concessit priori ct mcrcatuin ])er diem Lun« apud inaneriuiu conventui de Bcrncestr 5 marc, aiinuas de suuiii de lidburgebur ita q'd iioii sit ad iio- cccriadeparvaMcssendcD annopont. sui 6". cumcntum vicinorum mcrcatorum. T. Kot. Hug. Well. com. apud Baiinebir. xxvi. die Julii. .Maiidatum est vic.Oxon.q'd faciat habere Claus. 2. H. 111. p. 1. m. 3. I*. Wiiitoii. ep'o singulis se]>timanis ununi ' Regist. Osen. MS. « Dugd. Bar. torn. I. j). 7(!l. b. " R. Dods. MS. vol. 8y. t". 118. > Ibid. vol. 53. r. 50. 2(J4 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. themselves near the gate thereof, with fifteen acres of land ly'nvj; westwards of the church. By his death tlie manors of Mersh, Crew- don, Ludgarshale, and patronage of the abbey of Nutley, passed to WiUiam his eldest son and heir ^ In this year died Thomas de S. Walery, lord of the manors of Becklee, Horton, Ambrosden, and the whole barony of his name. He left one only daughter and heir * Allanora, who subscribed among other witnesses to a deed of William de Jireosa jun. cited from the register of Dore abbey*. She married Robert earl of Dreux, a French peer, who had now livery of all the lands in England of her inheritance, viz. Beckley, Ambrosden, &c. "^ Which earl was of the royal blood of France by this descent. The fourth son of king Lewis the Gros (who died 1137) ^^s Robert de France earl of Dreux, who married Agnes countess of Brenne, an. 1153, by whom he had five sons and one daughter : his eldest son was Robert surnamed The Young, who married Yoland the eldest daughter of Raoul lord of Couci, by whom his eldest son and heir was this Robert the third, surnamed Gastabled, who took to wife the said AUanore daughter and sole heir of Thomas de S. Walery '. Nigh this time Isabel daughter of Hugh Gargat of Caversfield, (vulgo Casefield,) in her pure widowhood gave to the church of St. Mary's and St. Edburg in Burcester and the canons thereof, part of a croft which lay near the court of the said canons, (the other part of the said croft being before given by Muriel her sister,) on condi- tion the said canons should receive her and her mother into the prayers of their house for ever ; and when they should depart this * Rex vie. Middlesex, salutem. Scias Thomae de Scto Walerico patris sui, et unde quod reddidimus Rob'to de Droc. et Annorae idem Thomas seisitus fuit die quo obiit. T. uxori ejus terram suam in Anglia, quje ip- com. apudWestm. xiii.Feb. Claus. 3. Hen. sam Annoram hereditarie contingit ex parte III. p. 1. m. 11. •« Dugd. Bar. torn. 1 . p. 602, » Vincent on Brook, Her. p. 666. ^ Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 455. "^ Du Tillet, Recucil de Roys de France, p. 27. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 26s life, their names sliould be inscribed in the martyrology of tliat convent, &c. Scimit prcEsentes etfutnri quod ego Isahclc filia Hugonis Gargat de Kaversfdd in para viduitatc niea dedi et conccssi et prcesenti chartu conjirmavi Deo et ecctesice heatcc Marice et Sanctce Edbiirgce de Burn - cester et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus pro salute aiiimce meee et ani- niartini pafris et niatris niece et antecessoruni et successorum meorum to- tain mcani partem illius croftce qiue jacet juxta curiam dictorum ca- non icorum de qua croj'ta dicti canonici liabent alteram partem ex dono Murielce sororis niece tenendani et liabendam dictis canonicis imperpe- tuum in liberani purani et perpetuam eleemosinani liberani ab omni ex- actione sceculari et quietain, excepto uno selione forinseco illius crojtce versus austrum adjaciendani quandam viam niihi et ha-redibus meis et liominibus meis ad introitum et exitum cum averiis meis et suis. Ego vero Isubele et hceredes mei prcedictam croftam debemus ivarantizarc prcedictis canonicis iniperpetuum contra omnes homines et fceminas. Dicti vero canonici receperunt me et dominam matrcm nieam spcci- aliter in orationibus suis et suffragiis domus sues in perpetuum. Et cum de hac vita niigraverimus facient nomina nostra scribi in marti- rologio suo. Et ut hcec mea donatio concessio et chartce hujus conjir- viatio et ivarantizatio firma et stabilis in perpetuum pernianeat prc- scnteni chartam sigilli mei appositione corroboravi. Hiis testibus ; domino Roberto de Auniari, Roberto de Insula, Roberto Purcell, If'idonc de Haya, Haniundo de Sancta Fide, milifibus. Rogero de Mixeburi/ , Jordano de Kijford, Roberto de Burncester, capetlanis. Rogero de Cudleiiion, Syinone (Jrosso, ff^idone de Kaversfeld, Rogero clerico, Petro de Jfendleburc, Roberto clerico, Johanne de Ifeston, Jolianne armigero, Nicolao camerario, et niultis aliis. To the original j)archnient a fair seal appends with the impress of a bird regardant, with this inscription, >J< Sigii-i.um Ysauele Gar- gat ''. XI. Hug. Wells. Archid. Oxon. Scto .\lbano ;ul cctl. dc Fcriiigl'oril ad coll. Adam cl'icus nepos niagistri Gilberti dc op'i auttoritule ctmcilii. >• Ex Orifj. jn'iHs lioii. D. (jiiil. Glymii', Haroiiettuiii. VOJL. I. .M m 266 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Sybil de Kaversfeld, widow of Hugh de Gargat and mother of the said Isabel, did after confirm to the canons of Burcester one virgate of land in the village of Stratton, which Isabel Gargat her daughter in her widowhood had given for the maintenance of one canon in the said church for ever. Sciant prcBsenfes ct fitfuri quod ego Syhilla de Kaversfeld quondam uxor Hugonis Gargat in pura viduitate ct libera potestate inea con- cessi et prcesenti charta inca co7ifirniavi Deo et ecclesiie heatce Marice ct SanctcB Edburgce virginis de Burncestria et carwnicis ibidem Deo servientibus pro salute animce mece et animarum patris mei et matris ■mece et Hugoiiis Gargat quondam viri mei et antecessorum et succcs- soruju meorum donationem unius virgatce terrcB in villa de Stratton cum omnibus pertinentiis suis quam Ysabel Gargat Jilia niea in ligia viduitate et libera potestate sua illis dedit in auxilium ad sustentan- dum unum canoincum in ecclesia de Burncestria in perpetuum ; illius scilicet virgatce terrce quam U'alterus persona aliquando tenuit cum toto messuagio habendam et tenendum dictis canonicis imperpetuum in liberam puram et perpetuam eleemosinam sicut charta Ysabel Jilice mete quam prcedicti cononici habent testatur. Et ut hcec mea concessio et char tee hujus confirmatio et waranfizatio fir ma et stabilis in posterum permaneat prcesenti scripto sigillum meum apposui. Hiis testibus ; domino Roberto de Aumari, (Jalfrido Geboyn, Roberto de la Hay a tunc vice-corn. Oxon. IVidone filio Roberfi, Roberto de Insula, Hamone de Sancta Fide, Roberto de Badinton, Pctro de Jfendlebyre, Johanne de Weston clerico, Roberto clerico, Johanne armigero, Nicholao came- rario, et mnltis aliis". To the original is a seal appending oval, with impress of a woman in religious habit with a branch in her right hatid, inscribed >J< Si- gillum SiBiLL^ Gargate. Yoland de Coucy countess dowager of Dreux, mother of Robert earl of Dreux, lord of the manor of Ambrosden, &c. had fifteen shil- lings yearly rent given to her by her said son, which she granted to the Benedictine abbey of Brueil, by this charter. e Ex Orig. penes hon. D. Guil. Glyiine, Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 267 Ego Yoleinlis comitissa Brance notum facio u/iiversis prceseutes li- feras itispecturis quod c/iarissimus Jilius mens Rohertus comes Dro- cetisis et domhius S. fValerici ad preces meas niihi dedit quindecem so- lidos censualcs sitos in censu Reginaldi Burgonis singulis annis requi- rendos iti festo S. Remigii, dictos autem nuninios assensu et voluntate Roherfi filii inei pro remedio charissiini domini mei Roherti comitis Drocensis et Brance et mece antccessorum meorum et liherorum meorum concessi in perpetuam eleemosynam ecclesice S. Johannis de Bro/io cu- jus abbas et conventus charitatis intuitu ad preces meas mihi jideliter concesserunt quod singulis annis post ohitum meum anniuersarium so- lenniter celebrabunt. Hanc eleemosynam dicfo modo factam voluit concessit et laudavit dictus charissimus Jilius mens Robertus comes Drocensis Sfc. quod ut ratum §"c. prcesentem paginam sigillorum nos- trorum roborc conjirmavimus. Actum anno gratice mccxix. mense Marfio\ In a council of bishops held this year in Oxford, a blasphemous impostor, that assumed the name and pretended to the wounds of our blessed Saviour, was condemned and crucified at Abhcrbury (now Addcrbury) com. Oxon ^. An. Mccxx. 4, 5. Henry III. Maurice de Gaunt held the manor of Weston in free marriage with Maud daughter of Henry de Oily, for which manor the said Henry gave one thousand two hundred marks. Mauritius de Gant habet manerium de Ifeston in liberum marita- gium cum Matilda uxorc sua Jilia Henrici de Oyli pro quo manerio dedit prccdicfus IJcnricus m.cc. marcas*'. Which Maud now dying without issue, her father claimed the ma- nor of Weston to be restored to him : and in Michaelmas term An. MCCXX. 12. Hug. Well. Hug. de prcs. abb. et couv. Westm. Glaston. cl'icus nd eivl. de Ighteslep ad ' Neustria Pia, p. TH?- s Hen. de Knyghton, p. lM30. ^ R. Dods. MS. vol. 90. p. I.S8. M m 2 268 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. was a trial for the said manor consisting of five carucates of land ; but the issue was a confirmation of it to the husband Maurice de Gaunt K Robert earl of Dreux, lord of the barony of S. Walery, confirmed to the abbey of Oseney the gift made by his wife's father Thomas de S. Walery of the whole manor of Mixbury, excepting the advowson of the church, and some other exceptions, Sciant, §-c. quod ego Robert us comes Drocorum pro salute mea ef A. uxoris mece et heeredum meoriim concessi confir/navi Deo et eccJesice S. Marice de Ose??. Sfc. totum maneriiim de Mixbury quod habent dono Tho. S. Walerici' in liberarn puram et perpetuam eleemosinam cum ca- pitali curia, Sfc. excepta ecclesice advocafione, ^c. scripto et sigiUi mei appositione covjirmavi ''. Maud the widow of William de Courtney, son of Reginald de Courtney, father of Egeline Courtney, wife of Gilbert Basset, claimed one carucate of land in Wodsdon against the prior of Burcester, who pleaded a title of frank-almoigne to it. And the trial was at Westminster in the octaves of St. Hilary. Placita apud Westmin. in octabis S. Hilarii 4. //. III. Buck. Ma- tildis de Courtnai versus priorem de Burncester unam carucatam terrce in Wottesdon ex dotatione Reginaldi de Courtnai. Prior dicit quod ipsa est de potestate, ^-c. ' This manor of Wodsdon with Hillesdon in the same county was part of the estate of which Edward Courtney carl of Devon died possessed an. 1419. and seems to have contituied to the last heir of this noble family Edward, who died without issue at Padua, an. 1556 ■". There was now an agreement between William de Ros and Sibil de Caversfield (Casefield) and Muriel her daughter, by which Sibil and Muriel did remit to the said William de Ros the lands which ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 42. p. 136. i' Regist. Osen. MS. p. 289. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. \2. p. 131. ■" Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 641. AMBR08DEN, BURCESTER, &c. 269 lately belonged to Hugh Gargat in the village of Warminton, to maintain the children which he had by the said Muriel ", dated 4. H. III. apud Oxon. An. Mccxxi. 5, 6. Heart/ III. The king having by judgment in his temporal court recovered the church of Oakley from the prior and canons of St. Frideswide's in Oxford, they, not willing to stand the verdict, procured letters from the pope, appointing delegates to examine the ca\ise and give a new determination of it. Which method was thought so prejudicial to the king's court, crown, and dignity, that a memorable prohibition was issued out against them". And within this year the king in exer- cise of his right presented to the church of Oakley with its ap- pertenances, i. e. the chapels of Brill and Borstall ■•. But pope Ho- norius the Third was so zealous in defence of the convent's title and supposed rights of holy church, that, in the third, fifth, and sixth years of his j)ontificate, he sent over three several bulls to assert the claim of the |)riory of St. Frideswide to the said church of Oakley, against all aj)peals and prohibitions of the king''. William Longspe earl of Salislniry having the wardship of Idonea de Camvill (yet a minor, the wife of William his son) had thereby the custody of her estate in Midleton, Burcester, &c. This year there was a dispute between the said earl and the abbot of Barlings about An. MCCXXI. 13. Hug. Well. est; salvo jure domui de Medleia si conti- VVlbcrtus cl'icus ad eccl. de Mixebir ad gerit quod de consensu d'ni ep'i ct cap'li pros, nobilis viri R. com. Drucarum. Line, ct abb'is et conv. do Fiscanno matri- Kad'us quundain ollicialis archid'i Oxon. cis eccl'ie loci fundetur cui doniui de Mcd- ad eccl. de Sumerton ad pres. f'ris Jordani leia dicta domus de Aeon ad sustentati- procuratoris domus S'cti Thome Martyris oneni fratrum ojusd. loci dictam eccl'iam de Aeon, cujus advocationcni Rob. Arsic concessit. dicte domui dcdit ct concessit admissus " R. Dods. MS. vol. 42. f. 134. ° W. Frynnc, Collect, torn. 2. p. 381. !■ R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 35. '1 Rcgist. S. Frides. MS. cart. 431, 432, 4.S3. 270 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. the right of patronage to the church of Midleton, and during the controversy the bishop of Lincohi conferred the said rectory, saving the right of both competitors '. WilHam de Goderviil being guardian of the heir of Jeffery de Pa- velly by that title of patronage did now present to the church of Wendleburie '. The said Jeffery de Pavelly was the son of Robert, and in the first of king John paid a fine of fourscore pounds and one hundred shiUings for Uvery of his lands. In the fourth of king John he paid for four knight's fees in Northamptonshire : and in the fifth of king John gave one mark for an assize or trial of Mort d' Ancestor between him and Agnes the wife of AVilliam de Rutington, concern- ing three bovates of land in Rutington ". The heir in minority, which he now left, was Robert de Pavelly the third. The head of this fa- mily was Reginald de Pavelly, who founded the abbey of Lisle-Dieu in the diocese of Rhemes, an. 1187, ^^^ ^^^ ^^is anniversary there ob- served Oct. 29 ". An. Mccxxii. 6, 7- Henry III. Thomas de Camvill priest, nephew of Gerard de Camvill of Midle- ton, laid claim to the advowson of the church of Godingdon, to which his mother had presented Eustace de Faucomberg, now bi- shop of London, and after her death he gave the right of patronage to the nunnery of Alveston. So as this Michaelmas tenu was a trial in the King's Bench between the said Thomas de Camvill and the abbess of Alvestone. Assisa pro advocatione ecclesice de Gedendon clamatcc per Thomain de Camvill versus Abh'issam de Alvcstow qui venit et concedit quod ma- ter prcedicti T/iomce Cristiana prcesentavit ultimo Eustachium de Fau- cumberge modo episc. Land, et post inortem Christiafice illam dedit Deo et Sanctce Marice et canon, de Alvestowe in elemosinam. Et Thomas dedit ei ecclesiam Sanctce Trinitatis de Tudendon in elemosinam con- ' Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 7- ' Ibid. p. 1. ' Thoroton, Antiq. of Noting, p. 65. a. " Neustria Pia, p. 885. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 271 Jirmatam per episcopum. Thomas (licit quod ecclcsiam illavi anteqnam ei dedit, nee cartam ilium dcdit nee fecit ; abblssa dicit quod sigillum illud suum est, et sic profert proharc per testes vel jur. proprie circa Bedford". While a suit was de|)encliiig for tlie right of patronage, the pre- sentation was made by the bishop of the diocese : accordingly Hugh bishop of Lincoln presented to the said rectory of Godington ''. William archdeacon of London being guardian to the heir of Ro- bert de Chesterton knight, presented to the rectory of Chesterton sav- ing the right of vicarage which Ralph deBesaciis had in the said j)arish. Arcliid. Oxou. 14. Hug. Wells*, IVillielmus orchid. London, ra- tione terra et hceredis Roherti de Cesterton in nianu sua existentium prtesent. ad ecclcsiam de Cesterton salva vicaria Ranulf de Besaciis quani habet in eadem \ About this time Walter son of Hugh le Franchele of BigenhuU granted and confirmed to Godfry son of Roger le liere and Margery sister of the said Walter, one messuage and curtilage with one acre of land in the village and fields of BigenhuU and Burncester, which messuage and curtilage were on the croft opposite to his house ; and of the land one half acre lay in Hocstede, between the land of Henry par la Custume and the land of Maud the relict of James de Bigen- huU, and the other half acre lay upon Nuzerdenselond between the land of Thomas son of William the steward, and the land of John son of Gilbert, for the yearly rent of twelve pence, and paying twenty shillings in hand. * Willeliiuis (Ic Paris clcricus ;ul cccl. iicbit nomine vicariffi suse, reddendo inde de Cestreton ad pros. W.ill'i archid. Lon- dicto Will'o de Paris 5 marc, et dimid. don. rationc torr. ct li.ercd. Rob. de Cestre- nomine pcnsionis. Rot. Hug. Well. pont. ton in nianu sua existent, per mortem ma- II. g'ri G. dc Barry proximo rectoris ejusdem An. mccxxii. 11. Hug. Wells, eccl'ia-. ; salva perpetua vicaria mag'rl Ra- Rogerus de Turbelvill ad eccl. dc Ottcn- iiulphi dc Besaciis quam habet in eadem, den ad pres. Gentii-liiv le Pover, &c. Kal. totaiii dictam eecriam — quoad vixcnt, tc- Octob. » R. Dods. MS. vol. 1.'. p. 1 li». y Ibid. vol. I07. y. (1. ' lb. 272 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Sciant prcesentes ct futuri quod ego IFaltcriis jUius IJiigoin le Fran- chelc de Bigenhull dcdi concessi et hac prcase/ifi cliarta itica confnnavi Gode/rido Jilio Kogeri de Bere et Marger. sururi i/iece u/i/n/i i/iessua- gi/nn cum iino ciirt'ilagio et unam acram teme cum pertliientiis iv villa et in canipis de Bigenhull et de Burncester scilicet illud viessua- gium cum curthylagio quod jacet super croftam vieuni contra domum meam, et prcedictum messuagium et curthylagiuni con ti net in latitu- dine tantum quantum croftum meum continet, et in longitudine tan- tum quantum messuagium et curthylagium Hugonis de Nova domo continet, et una dimidia acra Jacet in Hocstede inter terram Henrici par le custumc et terram Johannisjilii Gilherti. Habendum et tenen- dum dictum messuagium et curthilagium terrce cum pertinentiis de me et h(Bredibus meis prcedictis Godefrido et Margerice et hceredibus eorum vel assignafis eorum vel cuicunque et quomodocunque dictum mes- suagium et curthilagium dare vendere vel assignare voluerint in quo- cunque statu sint exceptis viris Religiosis et Judceis liberc quiete bene in pace et Jure hcereditario in omnibus aysiamentis infra villam et ex- tra ad dictum rnessuagium et curthilagium et ad dictam terram perti- nentibus. Reddendo inde annuutim mihi et hceredibus meis, Sfc. duo- decim denarios ad duos anni terminos, Src. Et dederunt mihi viginti solidos argenti prce manibus in gersumam, SfC. Hiis testibus ; do- mino fFaltero de Langle, Johanne Jilio JVillielmi de Curthlinton, Si- mone Germayn de Bigenhull, Willielmo Nigro de eadem, Johanne de la Forde, JVillielmo Fowe de Cestreton, Roberto Sabern de Burnces- tes, et multis aliis^. A controversy depending between Henry abbot of St. Peter's in Glocester and the prior of St. Oswald, was by pope Honorius re- ferred to the abbot and prior of Thame, and the abbot of Nutley, by whose arbitration a peace was now made between them ''. At or before this time Thomas Brito gave to the church of St. Ed- burg of Burncester, and R. Prior and the convent thereof for the souls of Gilbert Basset and his wife Egeline de Courtnai, &c. ten acres a Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynne, Baronettum. '' Ex Chartul. S. Pet. Gloces. MS. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 273 of land in the field of Magendune, seven acres of which lay between the land of William Wind and William Petre, and three acres in En- depethe, and two acres of meadow in Lillesei. Universis sanctce matris ecclcsice Jiliis ad quos prcesens scriptum per- venerit Thomas Brito ceternam in Domino salutem. Universitati ves- frce iiotijicetur me dcdisse et concessisse et liac prcesenti charta sigillo meo munita conjirmasse Deo et ecclesice S. Edhurgce de Burncesfer et R. priori et convent ui ejusdem loci pro animahus G. Basset nobUis viri et uxoris sues K. dc Courtnai et pro salute aninue mece et animarum patris mei et matris mece et parentum et amicorum meorum decern acras tcrrcB in campo de Magendune scilicet septem acras qucB jacent inter terram JVilliclmi fFind et terram JVUlielmi Petri juxta ripam et tres acras in Endepethe et duas acras prati in Lillesei, hahendas et tenen- das de me et hceredibus meis in puram et perpetuam elemosinam libere et quiete cum omnibus libertatibus ad prcedictam terram pertinentibus salvo domino regi servitio. Et sciendum est quod ego T/iomas Brito et Jiceredes mei prtedictas acras terrce et prati prcefafis priori et conven- tui versus onines Jiomincs et fteniinas impcrpctuum warantizabimus. Hiis testibus ; Henrico vicario de ffanetinge, Everardo capellano, Alano Basset, Thoma de Mascei, Thoma de Edburgebiri, Ricardo de Chalkelei, Everardo de Grave, Henrico de Gi'ave, Symone de Bore- tvell, Willielmo dc Pavilli, et multis aliis". To the original parchment is a seal appending with the impress of a lion passant, with this inscription, Sigillum TojME Britun. The abbot of Egncsham presented a clerk to the church of Stoke, and the bishop of Lincoln by lapse to the church of Feringford '. An. Mccxxiii. 7> 8- Henry HI. In the seventh of Henry the Third William Mareschal earl of Pembroke marched with great forces into Wales, and fought a battle with Lcoline prince of that country, and totally routed his whole = Ex Orig. MS. penes D. Guil. Glyunc, Bar. '' Dodsworth, Extract, c Regist. Ecclcs. Line. \ ()L. r. N n 274 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. army ; for which good service he had a scutage of all his tenants in several coxiiities, among others of those in Morsh, Liidgareshall, Crendon, &c.* About this time Osbert de Hanieleden lord of the manor of Wat- lington would have detained the tithes of his own demesnes in Wat- cumb within the said parish, which had been given to the abbey of Oseney; of which complaint was made to the po[)e, who commis- sioned three delegates, S. abbot of Tame, H. abbot of Egnesham, and R. prior of Burcester, to hear and determine the cause, who prevailed with the said Osbert to acknowledge and confirm the riglit of the abbey, by this charter. Sciant omnes sancfce vuitris ecclesice filii quod ego Oshertus de Ha- melden autoritate literarum domini papce Honor'n tcrtii ad abb. et conven. de Osen. Oxon. coram S. abbe, de Thame et H. et R. de Egne- sham et de Burncester prior'ibus jiidicibiis a domino papa delegatis super decimas de toto dominico meo de IFatecumb sibi prcestandis quce sitce sunt intra limites parochialis ecclesice suce de Watlinton viroruni prudentium iisus consiiio pro salute animce mecs et antecessorum et suc- cessorum nieorum coram prcefatis judicibus constitutis decimas ad ec- clesiam prcefafam dejure spectare plene recognovi, §-c. ' This year September the eleventh, a court was held at Wheatley for the hundred of Bolendon before JefFery le Curteys, where the deeds and charters of the abbey of Oseney were ])roduced and read, and by the knights and freemen of the jury it was agreed, that the said abbey had a right to all weyf and stray within their several lands that belonged to the church of St. George's, as also the assize of cloth, bread, and beer, and all royal privileges except the trial of rob- bery and murder : upon which recognition of their right the said ab- bey had delivered to them the stray within their two hides of land ia Arncot, two hogs, and five pigs, &c. Anno ab incarviafione Domini 1123, mense septimo, xi. die mensis ad hundi'cdum de Bolendon apud IPateles coram Galfrido le Curteys suites <■ Dugd. Bar. toiu. 1. p. G03. f Rcgist. Osen. MS. p. 134. AMBROSDEX, BURCESTER, &c. 2-5 fid Imndrediim ad declarandas libcrtates ad ecclesiam S. Georgii perfi- nentcs in pleno hundredo auditcp sunt charter lihcrtatum quas hahcnina de regibus ct ah omnibus qui testes sunt approbatce maxime cum. 77?o. Basset vcl Hugo Pluggcys quicquid Inibctit in vianerio de Hedin- don concessce fuerint libertates isfoi et 7'ecognitum est a militihus ct li- heris hominibus ibidem cxistentibus videlicet de Matthco de Bikesfon, Nicholao le But lei', IFaltero de Gersindon, (Jilberto de Hyda, JVil- lielnio de Lcuhcnor clerico, Simone de IValtham tunc seneschaUo do- mini Johannis de S. Johanne, H'idonc de J'Fateles et ah omnibus qui ibi aderant quod ad nos spectat le Givayf, §-c. in terris nosfris ad ec- clesiam S. Georgii pertinentibus ubicunque sunt inventa et ctiam cmcndatio panni panis ct cervisicc et quicquid regis est excepto inur- dredo et latrocinio probata pi'out chartte nostrce testantur. Ita ct statim redditum est nobis de GivayJ' de Ernicot scilicet rr. pore, cum V. porcclUs et apud Covelc i. ovis cum agno suo, ct omnia attac/iia- mcnta hominum nostrorum ct pleg. suorum Iiabeuda quieta clamata sunt ^. Tliis same year being the fifteenth of Hugo Wells bishop of Lin- coln, the abbey of Egnesham presented to the church of *Mereton by the right of patronage bestowed on thetn by David king of Scots '". At this time a controversy depending between William Fitz-Ri- chard priest, who seems to have had the king's title, and the prior and canons of St. Frideswide about right of presentation to the church of Oakley in this neighbourhood, a prohibition was sent by the pope to his legate the bishoj) of Norwich elect. Norwicensi.elccto camerario nostra apostolicfe scdis legato sa- lulcm ct aposf. bciicdictioncm. Ex Uteris abbatis de S. Albana intcl- Icximus quad causa quce inter priorcm ct cauonicos S. Vridesivida- ex una parte ct iKjilium Richardi clcricum dine Lincoln, ex altera r'cr- * XV. Hug. \\ ill. riton ;ul i>rts. abb. et conv. dc ligiic- Hug. Salvage subdiac. ad ccd. dc Mc- sli;mi. P Kfgibt. O.sin. p. 107. ^ Dods. Collect. Kot. Line. MS. vol. I07. i). !_'. N n 2 276 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. titur super ecclesiam de Accleia quam ad se pertinere idem prior efcO' nonici ct a d'lcto IF. injuste detineri proponunt eis coinmishmts Jine canonico dctcrmi7iandum, SfC. ' An. Mccxxiv. 8, 9. Henry III. The king in Jime this year was at his court of Brill in this neigh- bourhood, and thence dated a patent to Thomas de Cyrencester for the castle and honor of Berkanisted''. Genteschive le Povre, lord of the manor of Ottindon and patron of the church, presented a clerk this year. 16. Hug. JVelh archid. Oxoji. viii. hal. Octoh. Gentesch. le Povre procsentat ad ecclesiam de Ottindon \ In the tax imposed this year by the parliament at Northampton, Robert earl of Dreux lord of the manor of Ambrosden answered for ten knight's fees, being the whole barony of St. Walery. Oxenford- scire, Falkesius de Breantee vie. Rob. de Droos de x.feod. "' The abbot of Oseney presented to the vicarage of the church of Chesterton. Archid. Oxon. 16. Hug. IVells. ahbas de Osenei pt. ad vicariam ec- clesice de Chesterfofi ". William de Breante held during the king's pleasure the manor of Kirtlington com. Oxon. which had been the land of Wido de Dive": and was now committed to Thomas Basset baron of Hedendon by this precept to the sheriff. Rex vice-corn. Oxon. salutem. Scias quod commisinius Thomce Basset vianerium de Kirtlington quce est terra Normannoruni ad se sustentandum. Ideo prcscipinius, Sj-c. Teste rege ■*. An. MCCXXIV. 8, 9. Henry III. Hug. Wells, anno 16. Abbas et conv. de Messenden presentant 16. Hug. Well. Henr. capellanus ad per- ad vicariam de Caversfcld ordinatam per pet. vicar, eccl. de CestretOQ ad pres. abb. doniinum ep'um auctoritate Concilii. Rot. ct conv. Osen. ' MS. James, in Bib. Bod. vol. 26. p. 145. ^ W. Dugd. MS. vol. C. p. 26. ' R. Dods. MS vol. 107. p. 42. m Ibid. vol. 15. p. 58. " Ibid. vol. 107. f. 42. <> Ibid. vol. 53. f. 73. P Ibid. vol. 103. f. 100. AMBKOJSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 277 The manor of Woclsdon in com. Bucks, held in dowry by Maud lie Courtney after the death of Reginald her husijand, was now on her death delivered to Robert de Courtney giandson of the said Re- ginald, by this precept to the sheriif of that county. Rex vice-corn. Bucks, ^-c. salutcm. Prcecipiimis tihi quod sine dila- tio)?e plenani seisinam habere facias Roberto de Courtney de manerio de fVotesdon cum perfinentiis quod Matilda de Courtney tenuit in dotem post mortem Reginaldi viri sui avi prcedicti Roberti cujus hcercs est. Teste rege ■•. Ralph Fitz-Robert presented a clerk to the church of Erdolvcslei, (now Ardly,) and the bishop of Lincoln to the church of Godington com. Oxon. ' Robert de Aumari (or D'amory) lord of the manor of Bucknell, was in this year one of the justices itinerant in the county of O.xford '. An. Mccxxv. 9, 10. Henry III. Henry de Oily son of Henry de Oily conhrmed to the abbey of Oseney several donations in his manor of Weston, one virgate of land on which stood the mansion house of the canons, &c. Ego IlenricusJiUus Ilenrici, S^c. in ireston liydam et dimidiam et tres virgatas de villcnagio scilicet virgatam ubi mansio canonicorum est. Item virgatam quam Robertas tenet et virgatam quam Herbertus tenet et tres virgatas de dominico cum prato et omnibus pascuis meis pasturam pro bobus et ovibus et porcis suis communcm cum mcis\ An. MCCXXV. 0, 10. Henry III. rocliise et in x'mis bladi et fcni et omnibus Barthol. dc Bcdawiiid cain-llun. ad per- aliis x'mis provenicntlbus de 3 virgatis tcr- pet. vicariam in ccc-ria dc Frctcwell aucto- ree in eadcm villa, scii. quas Ric. (il. Rad'i ritate Concilii ordinatam ; consistit aufcm tenet, et in uiio crofto cum messuagio in dicta vicaria in omnibus obventionibus al- prato adjacentc. Rot. Hug. Well. ann. 17- taris ct in omnibus minutis x'mis totius jia- •1 R. Dods. MS. vol. 103. f. 'JU. ' Ex Regist. Lincoln. ' Dugd. Orig. Jurid. sub an. ' Hcgist. Osea. p. 16. 2/8 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. The prior* of Burcester presented a clerk to the vicarage of the said town ". In the accompts of the sheriff of Wiltshire, it ajjpears that William Longspef earl of Salisbury was indebted to the king seven hundred twenty-nine pounds three shillings and fourpence, and sixteen pal- fries for his custody of Idonea de Canivill and her manors of Bur- cester and Midlinton : and in arrears for the fine, which Richard de Canivill should have paid for possession of his father's inheritance, three hundred marks. JViitcscir. covipiitns, 8fC. JFiUlelmus comes Sarish. debet pro heeredc Ricardi de Canivill dcc. et xxix". iii'. iv''. et xvi. palcfridos et pro ha- hendis ferris quce fuerant Giraldi patris sui ccc. marc''. Henry de S. Walery, brother of Thomas late lord of the manor of Ambrosden, &c. at a trial before the itinerant judges in com. Buck. * An. 17. Hug. Well. Rob. dc Sparke- ford capellan. ad perpet. vicariam eccl'ie dc Berencestr per nos auctoritate Concilii or- dinatam ad pres. prioris et conv. de Beren- cestr. t Hoc est testamentum Will'i Lungspe com. Sarum. factum in media xl*"^ ab in- carnat. D'ni anno mccxxv, quum disposi- tum et provisum fuit q'd idem comes iret iu Wascon. in servitio d'ni regis; scil. luprhnis — Ego If 'ill' us Laiigspn comes Sa- rum assignavi quod debitum quod debui d'no regi post idtimum compotum meum eodem anno coram barotiibus de sca^cario apud IVestm. reddalur d'no regi de exitibus custo- diarum mcarum. — Ilcm, Ego aysignavi ad edificationem domus Loci Dei ordinis Cliartus. omnes proventus custodie ierre heredis Ric'i de Campvill unde modo sum semtus usque ad pJenain cctatem heredis mei. — Item, as- signavi domui Seta; Marice de Bentherond capellam meam ferialem quam meaim ferre consuevi preter dictas duas Jialas de argento sunt cum magna capella id predictum est ; et assignavi eidem domid libram meum qui vacatur Portchois ; Item eidem domid assig- navi XX vaccas. ccc oves matrices, et centum mullones. Item, assignavi domui de Berne- cestr CO bidentes matrices, x vaccas, et viii boves. Hujus testamenti mei cxeaitores con- stitui ven. pres. Cant, ar'epum ; Bath. Line. Sar. ep'os ; W. Mar. com. Pembroc. W. de Wand, decan. Sarum. et mag'rum Edmun- dum tliesaurarium Sarum. eccl'ia: ad conser- vand. et conaulcnd. et ut Jirmiter assistant exeaitioni dicti testamenti constitui — Adam dc AUm Jiipa mil. et J. Bovet cl'icum. Claus. 9. Hen. III. m. 19. dorse. " R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 12. " \V. Dugd. MS. vol. :20. f. 15. Rot. Scac. AiMBROSDEN, BLRCESTER, &c. 279 lost his lands in the said county by default to the king, because his attorney had not personally appeared in the court after four days ad- monition ; but would have pleaded ibr an cssomum de iiiaio lecti \ i. c. upon sickness of the party sunnnoncd attested in the open court for four days successively, the judges shall then appoint four knights to attend the sick person, and see him depute an attorney to appear for him. Which ])lea was now overruled by the judges, because no attorney could have an attorney, as no ])r()ct()r could have a proc- tor, i. c. no rejiresentative could be represented by another. Upon which Henry de S. AValery was judged in default, and his lands taken into the king's hands '. Tiie proctor of the religious house of St. Thomas the martyr of Aeon presented a clerk to the church of Somerton, com. Oxon. the advowson of which was given to the said house by Robert de Arsic ", An. Mccxx\'i. 10, 11. Ileiiri/ III. Thomas Ic Franklcyn, son of Simon le Frankleyn of Borstidl, granted to Sir John Fitz-Nigel and his heirs half a hide of land in Borstall, in consideration of thirty marks of silver paid in hand, and due service to the lord of the fee. Hiis fcsfiljits ; Joluwnc ilc Esses, Mi/one (Ic Brehu/l, lluhcrto Fcrchraz, WillieIi)io de BrehiiU, Railul- phu Ptjnne, Nicho/uo Ic Burn, El'ut Mcgrytii, ct a/iis^. After which the said Thomas le Frankleyn granted to the said Sir John Fitz- Nigel one piece of land in Borstall containing eight perches and a half in length, and three perches and three feet in breadth : and another piece of land between the new and old course of the river, for the yearly rent of one jienny. IJiis tcsiihiis ; U'///ic////o fi/io Si- moti'is dc Brchiill, Pctro fratrc ejus, Nigc/fu dc Bosco, lluhcrto Ic Turuur, Bariliolomco Ic Turnur, Radulphojilio lf"i//ic/i/ii dc Brchull, Hclia Scgrijni, Roberto Avis, Joliuiinc Ic Turner, ct ciliis". After the tleath of the said Thomas le Frankleyn, Margaret his relict (hd re- y BraotoTi. « Hengliani Magoii cap. 1. ' Ex lU-gist. Lincoln. ^ Charlular. dc Bor.stal, MS. f. Ml. ' lliid. 280 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. lease and quit claim to the said Sir John Fitz-Nigcl, all her rit^iit hi the premises in consideration of twenty shillings in hand, to which writing she put the seal of Gerard de Wyzeri, because she had her- self no proj)er seal. Hiis testibus ; doviino Joliaywe jiiio NigeUi jun. Gerardo dc Jfi/zeri, ct Eustacliio de Grcvenhull, inilitibus ; Johunnc Ferchraz, NigcUo Travcrs, N'lgcllo dc Bosco, Thoma Brnn, ct aliis'^. William Longspe earl of Salisbury, who had the wardship of Ido- nea de Canivill, and had married her to his eldest son, died, on the nones of March, an. 122^; and, by his last will made in the middle of lent, he assigned all the profits of the land of the said heir of Ri- chard de Camvill for the building of a Carthusian monastery, called God's House, till his own heir should come of age. Ex testamoito WiUtclmi Longspe facto media quadragesima. Ego assignavi ad cedijicatiovcm domus Loci Dei ordinis CartJmsicnsis om- nes proventus custodian terrce licercdis liicardi de Camvill unde modo seisitus sum usque ad ploiam cctatem ha-redis mci ^. The said William earl of Sarum, beside the custody of the heir and lands of Richard de Camvill, had also the custody of the lands of William de Vescy, and of the heir and lands of Hugh le Bigod '. Margaret, daughter and heir to Warine aliontm pueronim meorum Deo et beattB Ma- Fitz-Gerold, having married Baldwin de rite et monialibus de Clerkenwell qninqna- Redvers eldest son of William earl of De- ginta soUdos quieti redditits in auxUium ad von, and upon his death taking to her se- vestiendum conventum ijusdem loci unde eis- cond husband Fulk dc Brcant, who died dem teneor de testamento Alidce de Churcy 9. Henry III. shee the said Margaret after matm mecc annuatim percipiend. viz. in ma- thc year li?29 granted this charter to the nerio meo de Ncwenham, et in inanerio meo nuns of Clerkenwell for a yearly rent out of de Heyford. Testibm, Rogero Loiulon ep'o, her manners of Newnham and Heyford VVa- d'no Gilberto de Bolebec, JnUielmo de Ber- rine in this county. Omnibus, ^r. Marga- camstede, 4fc. Ashmole MS. rita de Redveria sahttem. Noveritis me dc- 18. Hug.Well. Gilbertus de Wigintonca- disse in ligea potestate et pura viduitate mea pellan. ad vicar, eccl. de Wathlingetun per pro salute anima; mecB et patris mci et mafris privationem Andreae capelluni propter in- mecE et Baldwyni Jilii mci promogenili et continentiam ad pres. abb. et conv. Osen. £ et heeredibus meis Tlio- hanne de Scto Joh'e, Roberto de h Hnij via' Bacnn et haredibm siiis pro homagio et Innc vice com. Oxon. Jnil'o de llninpUm, scrvilio siio lotnm jW (piod luibui in omnilm.i Rogero de Brail, H^idone^filio Robert), UWo terri^ et tenementis et imo molcndino atpia- de Leveknor, &<■. Reg. Oscn. '"" >n ll'eston, ifc. lb. R R. Dods. MS. vol. r,A. f. 87. and Dugd. H:ir. torn. 1. p. C>2S. '' W. Dugd. Analnt.i MS. B. 1. p. .315. i W. Uugd. Collect. Rot. et Fin. MS. B. 1. p. 3-'«. VOL. I. <) () 282 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Ela countess of Sarum, widow of the said earl, did within this year present a clerk to the church of Wotton, com. Oxon. "^ The abbey of Oseney presented now to the vicarages of Chester- ton, Kidlington, and Watlington '. Which church of Watlington was given to them in the reign of king Henry the First by Halenad tie Bidun, with one yard land of his demesne in that parish'". Gen- teschive le Povre within this year presented a clerk to the church of Ottindon, and three years before had with Emma de Potius his wife, presented to the church of Tackley ". Hugh de Nevill had now livery of the manor of Brill. Huso de Nevill habet seisinam de Brehull in com. Bucks. " Robert earl of Dreux, lord of the honor of St. Walery, i. e. the ma- nors of Ambrosden, Horton, Beckley, &c. and AUanore his wife, gave to the nuns of Stodley the church of Beckley. Robert us comes Drocarum ct domiinis de Sancto JValerico et Alla- nora uxor ejusdem comitis Jilia ct hceres Thomce de Sancto iValerico conced. eisdem monialihus ecclcsiam de Bechlcia. Datum an. Dom. Mccxxvi. mense Decembris^. By an inquisition now taken at Oseney, it appears that the king had this year confirmed to the said abbey the donation made by Henry de Oily of his capital messuage wood and mill in Weston, w ith Bencroft, Grascroft, Hegcroft, &c. ■* Walter le Povre, son of Genteschive lord of the manor of Otindon, was this year one of the justices itinerant for the county of Oxfords An. Mccxxvii. 11, 12. Henry HI. Philip de Albini, sheriff of the county of Berks, had the honor of Walingford committed to his custody, and had thereby the rents and services of the manor of Burcester '. k Rog. Dods. MS. vol. 107. f- 1- ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 599. "> Regist. Line. " R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p- 42. « Ibid. vol. 53. p. 88. P Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 487. q Regist. Osen. MS. p. 316. ' Dugd. Chron. ser. sub an. ^ Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 116. b. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 283 Nigh this time Walter son of Richard de Kirthngton released and quit claimed to the canons of Burcester all right and title to a new mill on the other side of the Cheru ell adjoining to an old mill, with a parcel of willows, with free pontage or passage over the river, as also one parcel of land near to the said mill containing in length twenty- four feet toward the north, and seventeen feet in breadth toward the west side of the mill in pure and perpetual alms. Omnibus Chr'/ftti fidelUnis has literas visuris Walterus jH'ms Ri- chardl ite Kertlhigfov snlufem. Noverit universitas vestra me pro sa- lute animce mece patris mei et matr'is mecE antccessorum et successoraw meorum dedisse concessisse quiefum clamasse et prceseuti charta mea coujirmasse pro vie et hceredibus meis Deo et ecc/esice beatce. Marice et S. Edburgfe vJrgi?iis de Burvcestria et caiionicis ibidem Deo servicn- fibus totum jus quod habui vel aliquo modo habere potui in novo vio- levdino super finido meo ex alia parte de ChartveUc juncto vetei'i nio- lendino de Kertlinton cum quadam particula saliceti qute defcedo meo est. (hucessi etiam dictis cauonicis quod habeant poutem liberum ul- tra aquam ad bladum cariandum et alia quce viderint sibi expedire cum quadrigis et equis ad prcedictum molendiiium cum libero exitu et introitu. Dedi etiam dictis canonicis quandam particulam terrcp mece propiuquiorem dicto moleudiuo continentevi in longitudine a ripa tiqucB viginti et quatuor pedes versus borealem partem et a situ dicfi molendini versus occidentalem partem in latitudine decern et septem pedes et extra gablnm molendini octo pedes in latitudine ad liberum iter suum habendum ad stagnum suum emendandum et reparandum cum opus fuerit et ad faciendum de dicto stagno quicquid melius vi- derint eis expedire : s(dro inihi et hceredibus incis Iwrbagio dicfi sfagni I'J. Hug. Well. Mag'r Will, do Button tinciilibus ixci-ptis omnibus ct solis .x'niis subdiac. ad vicar, de lUircford ad prcs. ab- garbarum cum capitali inan!>o niatricis cc- b'is I't conv. de Keinesham ; coiisistit au- cl'ie. tern ipsa vicaria in tota terra matrieis cc- .Mag'r Helyas de Clovernia subdiae. ;i(l cl'ie et capelle de Fulebroc cum mesuag. eeel. de Wilteneya ad pres. Mag'ri 15artli()l. ad vicar, pcrtinente et in omnibus aiiis tarn Winlon et Luci Surrci archid'oni proeura- .1(1 inatriecin quam ad dictaui capellam i)er- torum e|)'i Wintoii. ib. an. \'.K o o 2 884 PAROCHIAL ANTlQUlTlEis. ct herbagio ex altera parte aqiice quantum aliquis homo pro profundi^ fate aquce poterit metere, habendum et tenendum diet is cununieis im- perpetuum in liberam puram et perpetuum eleemosinum. Ego vero dictus JFalterus et hceredes mei omnia prcenominufa dictis canonieis contra omnes homines et fceminas imperpetuum waruntizabimus. Et ■ut hcec mea donatio coneessio quieta clamaiio et chartce niea; conjirma- tio rata ct stabilis imperpetuum permaneat prcesenti scripto sigillum vieuni apposui. Hiis testibus ; domino Philippo de Ultthulle, Johanne dc BigehuU, Thoma de la Hayn, Philippo de fFapeleg, Mattheo de Kertlinton, Ligero ejusdem villano, Johanne jilio JFillielmi, fl'illielmo Jilio Benedicti, Widone Harengs, If lllielmo Jilio Durandi, et aliis '. Robert earl of Dreiix in right of his wife baroii of S. Walery, and lord of the manor of Ambrosden, presented to the church of Xorth- Leigh com. Oxon. " The said Robert with Peter earl of Britain sur- named Mauclerk his brother, and other princes of the blood, con- spired against the administration of Blanch queen regent of France, widow of Lewis the Eighth, and mother of Lewis the Ninth ", who prudently won over the said Robert earl of Dreux by the gift of several lands in Normandy, by charter dated in July 122/ ''• Upon which reconciliation, the earl of Britanny, seeing himself deserted by his brother, invited the king of England to come over antl recover Normandy lost by his father king John. But before any such de- sign could be effected, the said earl of Britain submitted himself to king Lewis, who took his homage, and received him into favour at request of his brother the earl of Dreux, who, during these contests in France, had all his lands in England seized by the king, by w hich means the manor of Ambrosden and the whole honor of S. Walery were now in the king's hands; and Decemb. the fifth, the king pre- sented to one moiety of the church of RoUesham, com. Oxon. Ra- tione terrce Walteri de Fontibus quce est de fcedo Roberti comitis de Dreux in maim sua existente". * Ex Orig. penes lion. D. Guil. Glynne, baronettum. " E.x Regist. Line. " Du Tillet Recueil des Roys de France, p. 38. ) lb. p. 45. ^ Ex Regist. Line. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 285 William Longspe, late earl of Saruin, had given on St. Masidalen's day 1222, his manor of Hethroj) in this county, there to found a monastery of the Carthusian order ; but, these monks representing it to be an inconvenient place, Ela relict of the said earl translated them in this year to Henton in com. Wilts.* On July the thirteenth William, son and heir of William son of Holias, did his homage, and paid one hundred shillings for his relief of one knight's fee in Oakley, held of the honor of Walingford''. Within this year the abbot of Alisscnden presented a clerk to the church of Kaversfeld, (now CasefieUl,) nigh Burcester, as also to the church of Chalfhunt, com. Bucks. And the abbot of Egnesham to the church of Meriton com. Oxon. " Reginald Danunartin, earl of Bologne, lately deceased, had his estate in England seized by the king, within which estate was included the fee of Pidington and Merton. Upon a meeting of the barons at Northampton in August, the king gave all his mother's jointiue to his brother Richard, with all the lands that belonged to the carl of Bri- tain in England, which were lately the carl of Bologne's '. Within the same year Isolda de Do had livery of the manor of Wrastling- worth, (now Wrestingworth in Bedf ) part of the estate of Reginald late carl of Bologne, and of the manor of Pitlington which belonged to the said earl. 0x0)1. Isolda ilc Do liabct mancr. Jf^rast/ingworth quod Jut t com. Bo/o/i. (j. e. lit'gi)i(ddi) ad se sustcndaiidain in servitio regis quamdiu Sfc. et scisiiiam Bedf. Eodoii iiiodo scribitur vie. de Oxon. pro eadeni de manerio de Pedinton quod fiilf ejusdem com. ' In the seventeenth of this reign the king gave the manor of Dun- ham (lately belonging to this Ri'giuald de Danunartin earl of Bo- logne^ to Ralph son of Nicholas, till such time as the king should re- store it to the heir of the saiil Reginald, and upon such restitution the king should make full compensation in wards and escheats to the said Ral])li. a E. Ctiron. MS. apud Jo. Lelandi Collect, torn. 2. p. 311. '• R. Dods. iMS. vol G8. i. 109. ^ Ex Regibt. Line. •> Bnuly, Hist. p. 5 11. « R. Dods. MS. vol. 63. p. yS. 286 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Henricns Dei gratia rex Anglice doiiiinus Hibern. dux Normannice Aqu'itaiiKe et comes Aiidcgavicc archiepiscopis cpiscopis ahhatihus pri- orihus comitibus barunibus, justit. vice-coin, pra'positis, iiiiiiisfris, ef onmibiis bal/ivis et fdelibus suis salutem. Scidfis vos concessisse di- lecto etjide/i nostra Radulphojilio Nicohii mnnerium de Dun/iain cum pertinentiis suis quod fu.it comitis Boloniee habendum et tenendum, eidem Kadu/pho ef hceredibus suis de nobis et hceredibus nostris adeo libere qiiiete et integi^e cum oinnibus pertinentiis et /ibertatibus et li- beris consuetudinibus ad vianeriuni illud pertinentibus sicut lleginal- dus de Dammartin quondam comes Boloniee illud tenuit in manu sua donee hceredi ipsius comitis illud reddidimus per voluntatem nostram vel per pacem. Ita ut quod nee nos nee ha^redes nosfri prcedictum Radutplium vel hceredes suos dittachicmus vel disseisiri faciemus de prcedicto nianerio vel ejus pertinentiis nisi illud reddidimus hceredi prcedicti com. sicut prcedictum est. Et si forte illud reddidimus nos vel hceredes nostri faciemus eidem Radulpho vel hceredibus suis competens escambium i7i ivardis et escheatis ad valentiam prcedicti marierii. Hiis testibus ; venerabili patre Petro IFinton. episcopo, Stephano de Se- grave justic. Anglice, Petro de Rivall, Roberto Passewell, Godefrido de Craucumbe, Johanne filio Philippi, Galfrido dispensario, et aliis. Datum per manuni venerabilis patris Radulphi Cicestr. episcopi, can- cell, nostri apud IFestm. quarto die Maii anno regni nostri decimo septimoK The said Reginald Danunaitin earl of Bologne had a brother Si- mon Dammartin earl of Ponthieu, by marriage with Mary daughter and heir of William earl of Ponthieu and Alix his wife, daughter of king Lewis the young ; which Simon had a daughter and heir Joan, second wife to Ferdinand the third king of Castile, whose daughter Eleanor was wife of our king Edward the First s. An. aiccxxx III. 12, 13. Henry III. Richard de Prestecote knight presented to the church of Bleching- don ''. f Orig. MS. Pergain. cum sigillo appendente in Mus. Ashmol. diplom. t Du Tillet Kecueil de Roy, p. 50. h R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. f. 44. AMBROSDEN, BURCEiSTER, &f. 287 The king sent a nmndale to the sheriff of Cambridgeshire dated May the twenty-fourtli, to take into the king's hands all the land which was of the inheritance of Idonea de Camvill wife of William de Longspe, which William earl of Salisbury, guardian of the said Idonea, had committed to Roger de Askynny for his support". Nigh this time died Robert earl of Dreux lately disseized of the barony of St. Walery, and thereby of the manor of Ambrosden, &c. leaving AUanora or Eleanor his widow, who, after married to Henry lord of Sully in France, and dying in that kingdom, was buried with her first husband the earl of Dreux in the abbey of Brenne. They left issue three sons, John, Robert, and Peter; and one daughter Yoland de Dreux wife of Hugo the fourth of that name duke of Bourgogne. The eklest, John, succeeded in his father's honors, earl of Dreux and of Brenne, lord of St. Walery in Normandy, who married Mary of Bourbon, third daughter of Archibakl the great lord of Bourbon, by whom he had two sons and one daughter ''. Before this time there arose a controversy between Alan Basset baron of Wycomb and the convent of J^urcester, concerning the ad- vowson of the church of Compton, (called from that family Compton- Basset,) in com. Wilts, which church had been given to the said priory by the foimder Gilbert Basset. The dilierence was referred to Hugh bishop of Lincoln, and Josceline bishop of Bath and Wells, by whose arbitration it was determined, that the bishop of Sarum and his successors should have the right of advowson of the said church, and should successively present a clerk to all tithes and other dues, excepting two parts of the tithe of corn within the said parish, and one croft which lay near the house of the incumbent, and one acre of meadow near to the saiil croft, all which should remain as a perpetual endowment to the prior and convent of Burcester. The form of composition runs thus. Omii'ihtis Christi Jidclibus ad qnos prcesens script uiu pcrvcnerlt Hugo Lincoln, ct Jocclinus Bat/ion. Dei gratia cpiscopi salutcni in Domino. Noveritis quod cum controvcrsia or/a cssct inter nohilcm virum Alanuni • K. Dods. MS. vol. 56. f. 38. k Du Tillct Rccueil do Roys de Franco, p. 21. 388 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Basset ef priorem et canonicos de Bnrncester super ecclesjam de Cutnp- ton, tarn dictus Alaviis qnam prior et canonici hisiipcr et venerabilis f rater domimis Ricardus Sariim episcopiis et JVillielnnis decamts et capifulinn Sarirm in hoc cotisensertnit ef ordinafioiii twafrce pure et ab- solute se suhjecerunf, rafinn et sancitiiui hcdnturi qnicitas ves- ISledecote, et decimis molendinorum duonim ira nos ad presentationem prioris et com. de Simonis Gambon, et inveniet vicarius cleri- Bradenestoke patronorum eccl'ice de North- cum et luminaria competentia in eccVia et eston dilectum in Xtojilium Reginaldum ca- solvet omnia sinodalia salvis in omnibus epis- " W. Dug. MS. N. p. 31. « Dugd. Bar. tom. 1. p. 539. P R. Dods. Collect. Rot. rip. vol. 15. p. 120. 'i R. Dodu. MS. vol. 10?. p. 43. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, 6c( 291 The other moiety of the church of Rolleshani was in the patronage of Walter de Fontibns. In October, Henry carl of Britain came over into England and did homage to the king ; upon which he was restored to all rights in Eng- land, and seems thereby reinstated in the manor of Pidington and lands in Merton ^ Warine Basset, a younger son of Alan Basset baron of Wycomb, laid claim to the manor of Mersh and advowson of the church, late in possession of William Mareschall earl of Pembroke, who gave them to the abbey of Gesting, and there was now a trial for right of pre- sentation, which by the king's letters was declared to belong to the said abbey. 21. Hug. IFclls. Abbas de Grestenge p. ad eccViam de Merse. L'/w regis. H. Dei g}'a. Sfc. epo. Line, salutem. Ostensum est nobis ex- parte abbatis de Gestenge qd cum ipse tcneat maneriuni de Mershe cum ud- vocatione eccl'ie, SfC. quod manerium IFarinus Basset et Katerina uxor ejus petunt in cur. nostra, SfC. Clericus abbatis prcesentatur, ^r. ' copalibus comuetudinibiis et Lincoln, eccl'iee dignitate quod ut perpetuam obliueal Jirmita- tcm prcxens xcriptum sigillo nosiro du.rimm n]>]H)tu'n. Dat. per manum nostrum upud Dorkecestr. k(d. Dec. pont. noxtri xxi. Ex rcgistro prioratus do Briidcncstokc. Bib. Cotton. VitcU. A. II. fol. I2;i. Ecclcsiii de Nortliestoii lonccssa priori liradenestok per VV. de Estun, et Osber- tum filiuin ejus, temp. Rob'ti ep'i Line, et Rob'ti archid. Oxon. lb. f. 85. Contentio inter prioreni Hraden. et Si- rjioncin niolendinarimn de Nortlieston su- per decimis, 122(j. lb. f. 121. Conventio super decimis in eccl'iis Nortli- eston et Dunstywe facta uon. Maii, 1229. lb. fol. 125. Ecclesite dc Nortlieston, Lynliam et Wil- cote concessa priori et conv. do Hraden. ])er Clementem pap. 4""" id. Mart, pont 1. \h. f. 125. Carta de terris in Nortlieston. lb. f. 157. Will. Tryvet dominus de Northcston temp. Galfridi prioris de Braden. circa IG. Hen. 111. lb. f. 15;). Controversia tempore Honor. 3tii pnpje pont. G. inter Galfriduni rectorem ecerije de Stepeleston et prioreni dc Braden. super mctlictatc decimaruni garbarum de Nutli- cote. lb. 1". MM. ' Brady, Hist. p. 5 13. ^ K. Dods. .Mi>. vol. I07. p. '30. V p 2 292 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. About this time Alice the daughter of Thomas Basset (brother of Gilbert Basset founder of the priory of Burcester) the widow of Wil- liam Malet baron of Curi-Malet in com. Som. hokling in dowry the manor of Dedington in this county, which she had in (rank niarriage from her father, gave some of those lands in Dedington to her ne- phew (lilbert Basset (son of Alan Basset her younger brother) baron of Wicomb, who after gave them to the priory of Burcester. Her original deed of grant is preserved, with some part decayed. di et concessi et hac presenti charta sua di- midiam virgatum terre quam Will. antea donaverat ei ; que est de libero martagio in Dadinton. Preterea dcdi ei imam virgatam terre quam J'homas Basseth pater metis dedit ei, quam scilicet IFilliel- mus Ploth tenuit in Dadinton illi et heredihus suis hahcndas et tenen- das de me et heredihus meis infeodo et hcereditate libcre quiete plene et intesre reddendo inde ajinuatim mihi et heredihus mcis unain libram cymini adfestum S. Michael, pro omni servicio, salvo servicio regali ; et ego Aliz predicta et heredes mei warantizabimus predictas terras cum omnibus pertinenciis suis scilicet in bosco et piano in viis et semitis et in omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus ad predictas terras per- tinentibus predicto Gileberto et heredihus suis contra omnes homines, et quia volo quod omnia predicta sicut prediuisa sunt jirma et stabilia permaneant hoc scriptum sigillo meo confirmavi. Hiis testihus ; Ro- berto de Eston, Alexandro de Midlecumb, Rob. de Chauz, Rob. de Or- ion, et multis aliisK The king confirmed to the priory of St. Frideswide in Oxford all their possessions which they held by the gift of Reginald de S. Wa- Icry, formerly lord of the manor of Ambrosden, consisting of the vil- lage of Kniton in com. Berks, &c. " Within this same year the prior of S. Frideswide presented a clerk to the church of * Fretwell, com. Oxon. * * Fulco de Banvill concessit eccl'iae Scti in pcrpetuam elemosinam quas pater suus Olavi de Fretewell x acras terrae et dimid. Fulco dederat eis. Testibus Will'o de 'Ex Autographo inter CoUcc. R. Dods. MS. vol. 7G. 1". 106. " R. Dods. MS. vol. 80. J. 1/5. ''Ex Regist. Line. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 293 An. Mccxxx. 14, 15. lletirij III. Maurice de Gaunt, who by marriage with the dauglitcr of Henry J( S. Waltri Yngeraji. John Nevil married Hawise daughter of Robert Courtney, and had with her in frank maniage lands to the value of twenty-one pounds per an. out of the manor of Wotesdon, com. Buck, to be allotted by a jury of twelve neighbouring inhabitants '. The following inquisition was taken at Brill relating to the manor of Borstall and the custody of the forest of Bernwood, the hereditary tenure of John Fitz-Nigel. Inquisitio capta apud Brchull die Jovis proxime post festum S. Gre- gorii papa: anno regni regis He7irici flii regis Johannis quartodecimo ^ Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. » R. Dods. MS. vol. 42. p. 148. AMBROSDEN, DURCESTER, &c. 295 coram Roberto de Fonte seniore tunc forestario intra pontem Oxon. et Stauvford ad eadem assignato per ipsum regem de jure hccreditario tenurce Johannisfilii Nigelli de forcsta de Bernewode per sacramev- tum domini fFaiteri de Upton, Johannis Graundon viridarii, Adcejilii Petri et Bartho/omcei le Venor et omnium regardatorum et agistato- rum forestce prcedictce qui dicunt per sacramentum suum quod Johan- nes jilius Nigelli tenet unam hidam terrce arabilis quae vacatur le Der- hi/de per serjantiam custodiendi forestam de Berneivode necnon sol- vendi annuatim pro terra prcedicta x\ et pro forcsta prcedicta xl'. et dicunt etiam quod idem Johannes debet habere feodum in bosco domini regis videlicet attachiamentum de spinis de bosco suo et de bosco qui vcnto prostituitur et pannagium et clamationes et indictationes si qua' fuerint videlicet de viridi et venatione. Et dicunt quod prcedictus Johannes et antecessores sui a tempore quo non extat niemoria ha- buerunt in doniinico bosco domini 7rgis buecbOtC et fjcpbotC pro custo- dia dictce forestce. In cujus rei testimonium, ^c. '' An. Mccxxxi. 15, 16. Henry HI. Robert de Pavelly presented a rector to tlie chnrch of Wendlcbnry, and the prior of Burcester a vicar to the chnrch of Newton. Archid. Oxon. 23. H. If' el Is. Robert us de Pavilhj pt. ad ecclesiam de IVendlebur. prior de Berencester pt. ad ecclesiam de Nenton ". In Trinity term there was a trial upon the promise of money in * 23. Hug. Wells. 1231. Galfrulus de Mug'r Adam do Sencstan ad cccl. de Lestr subdiac. ad eccl. de Wendlcbur ad Hetha ad pres. prioris et conv. de Kenillew. prt's. Rob. de Pavilly. ib. Job. de Cokliain ca|)cllan. ad vica». ec- Rob. de Kingeton subdiac. ad iilaiu me- cl'ie de Berncestr ad pres. prioris et conv. dietat. in eccl'ia de Rollesbam quam Rob. ejusd. per resign. Rob'ti. 24. Hug. Well. de I'lstball tenuit (in dioc. Roff. de novo Stcpb. de Newton capellan. ad eccl. de bcneHciatus) ad pres. Walt, de Fonti- Newenton ad pres. prioris et conv. do Be- bus. rencestr. h E\ Cbartular. de liorslall, MS. penes lion. Job. .Vubrey, Bar. «; R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 11. 296 PAROCHIAL ANTIQITITFES. consideration of a marriage in this county, in which cause the prior of Burcester was delegated a judge. Jd idcmfacit quod habetis de termino S. Trinifafis anno regni H. 15. in com. Oxon. et unde prior de Burncestrefuit judex \ The manor of Charlton, passing to Gerard de Camvill ofMidleton by his wife Nichola de Hay, one of the daughters and heirs of Ri- ciiard de Hay, was now in possession of WiUiani de Longspe in right of Idonea de Camvill his wife. It had been held in dowry by the said Nichola widow of Gerard de Camvill, and now at her death de- scended to her grand -daughter Idonea, whose husband William de Longspe did now homage for it, holding it by the service of two knight's fees. Rex cepit homagium IFiUielmi de Lnngespe de terris qtias Nic'a de Haya tenuit in dotem in Cherlefon et Henstrug de honore de Camel qui Idoneam uxorem ipsius JViiriJiliam et hcpredem Ric. de Camvill jure contingit hereditar, §-c. Tenet ur per servitiuvi duorum feodorum mil'. The said William de Longspe and Idonea de Camvill his w ife had lands granted now jointly to them in Sutton and Clyve in com. North am p. ' This Idonea de Camvill is by great mistake called Ida de Camyle and Idonia Candol, in some transcript of records by Mr. Vincent «. It seems to have been on this occasion, that there was a trial at Westminster, wherein the said William Longspe and Idonea his w ife were defendants, and would have stopped the process because the said William was under age ; but the action being laid on account of his wife who was of full age, their plea was overruled, and is by Bracton cited for a president in this form. Si vir fenens fiierit in- fra cetatem et uxor plence cetatis cum implacitatifuerint, non rcmane- bit Loquela sine die propter viinorem cetatem viri, sive nupta sit ante impetrationem Brevis vel post. Quia mulier implacitata jure suo si propter viinorem cetatem viri posset di^erre judicium, ita posset quce- . f. ('.'.S. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. S:.. I". I'.). ^ ib. vol. 80. p. 1 15. ' Dupd. H;ir. torn. 2. p. -M. b. ni w. Dugd. MS. E. 2. p. /(i. ' K. Hods. MS. vol. 20. p. SO. " W. Dugd. MS. B. 1. p. UM. VOL. I. Q q 29H PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. the wife of Gilbert de Clare earl of Glocester, after of Richard cail of Cornwall, died without issue, and was buried in the new Temple at London, the 18. calends of May, whereby his adjoininij manors of Mersh and Ludgarshale passeil to Richard Mareschall his ne.\t brother ■'. An. Mccxxxii. 16, IJ". Hejiry III. Richard earl of Cornwall confirmed to the abbey of Oseney the village of Mixbury, which Thomas de St. Walery had given to them. Omnibus ad quos, §-c. Ricardus comes Pictavice et Cornubicc saht- tem. Noverit universitas vestra nos conjirmasse, §"C. ecclesice S. Ma- rice de Osenei, Sfc. totam terrain cum pertinentiis quam ei dcdit Thorn, de S. tValerico de Mixbury saivis nobis et han^edibus nostris advoca- fione ecclesice ejusdcm villce et servitio quod de nobis tcnctur de terra quce fuit IVydonis de Hareines in eadeni villa et insuper concessimus et confirmavimus pro nobis et hceredibns nostris eidem ecclesice et cano- nicis in perpetmim * usum Francipleg de tota villa de Mixbury et de tcnentibus Henrici Purcell de Niwenton defeod. Mixbury quem habere consueverunt. In cujus rei testimonium prcBsenti scripto sigillum nos- trum apposuimus. Hiis testibus, Sf-c. '' He had this year committed to him the custody of the castles of Brembre and Cnappe, till William heir of John Braose, a baron on the marches of Wales, should arri\e to his full age ^ Henry de Oily, the second baron of Hooknorton, died within this year, and was buried before the great altar in the church of Oseney '. He left two sisters heirs, of which Margery the elder was the wife of 25. Hug. Wells. suam versus priorem de Coges, Eustach. de Rad. de Wulvele. subdiac. ad eccl. de Greinvill et Joh. ux. ejus, Thomam de Fcringeford ad prcs. Will'i Huzun ratione Hay et Alex, uxorem ejus. Margarete uxoris sue, qui recupcravit pres. * I'Lsuni. P Dugd. Bar. toiu. 1. p. 603. a. i Regist. Osen. MS. p. _'!)(). ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 420. a. s Tabula Annal. Oseneie. Ccenob. apud J. Lelandum. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 299 Henrv earl of Warwick, who had issue by lier Thomas earl of War- wick, who in the I7. of Henry III. paid one hundred pounds and and two palfries for a relief of his said uncle's lands '. AIniaric de St. Aniand obtained a grant of the manor of Bloxham in this county, and two years after was made governor of St. Briavil castle in com. Gloucester, and warden of the forest of Dene, and sheriff of Herefordshire, and governor of Hereford castle ". An. Mccxxxiii. 17, 18. Henry III. Wido de Areines gave to the abbey of Oseney all his land in Mix- bnry, being six virgates in villanage with his villains, and the suits and services of four ^•irgates with homage, &c. Sciant, §-c. quod ego fVido de Areines dedi et concessi, Sfc. ecclesice heafce MaricB de Osenei et canonicis totam terrani nrcam de Mixbury cum pertinent, suis in /it)eram et perpetuani eleemosinam scilicet 6. vir- gatas terrce de villenagio cum villanis et eorum sectis et scrvitiis qua- tuor virgufarum terrce cum /wmagiis, SfC. quas quatuor virgatas terra- Thomas CIcricvs aliquando liherc tenuit, SfC. " This donation was ratified by Richard earl of Cornwall lord of the fee. Omnibus Christi fidelibus, SfC. Ricordus conies Coimubice et Picta- vice sahitem in Domino. Noverit nniversitas vestra nos pro nobis et hceredihus nostris ratam habere donationem quani If^ido de Areines fe- cit abbati et conventui de Osenei de terra sua quani huhuit in villa de Mixbury quae terra quandoquidem consuevit faccre sectani ad cu- riam nostrum de North Osenei hanc sectam, &fc. relaxant us in pcrpc- tuurn^. A mandate was sent to Peter de Rievall sheriff of Bucks, and Hedf to give seisin to Hubert de Jiurg of the manors of Asjjclc and Henlawe, which he held by the gift of Reginald de S. Walery '. Alan Basset baron of Wycomb died this year leaving son and heir ' Ougd. R.ir. torn. 1. p. t<;i. a. " Ibid, toiii. J. j). 1'.). b. ^ Ki-gist. Oscn. MS. p. 290. ^ Ibid. ' H. I)(i(is. MS. vol. 103. f. Irll. 300 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Gilbert Basset, who, with Richard Siward aiul other great men, took part with Richard carl Marcschall in his contentions with the king, for which all the lands of the said Gilbert Basset and Richard Siward within this same year were wasted, and their castles and houses de- molished by the power of Richard earl of Cornwall. Upon which about Christmas, Richard Siward, to revenge those injuries, took with liim a tumultuous mob, and destroyed several manors of the said earl of Cornwall in these parts, among which the manor of Ambrosden did probably then suffer ; which so far provoked the earl, that though in the following year, on the death of Richard earl Mareschall, all his abettors were restored to the king's favor, yet the said Richard Si- ward to decline the anger of the said earl was obliged to retire into Scotlaud, and there wait till a peace should be made for him^. The said Alan Basset baron of Wycomb was a yoimger brother of Gilbert Basset of Hedingdon, from whom he obtained the lordship of Compton nigh Cheping-Norton in this county : at his death he left by will two hundred marks to the University of Oxford for the maintenance of two chaplains, and made the prior and convent of Burcester his executors, who purchased three carucates of land in Arncote in the ])arish of Ambrosden, with a wood in the said village, out of the rents whereof they obliged themselves to pay eight marks yearly at two equal payments, for support of two chaplains or scho- lars residing within the University of Oxford, who should pray for the souls of the said Alan Basset and his wife, and should on every special festival add a Placebo and Dirige to be after composed for that purpose. This wood and land (thus purchased by the priory, and charged with the pro^ ision for two scholars) was called and still retains the name of Prior's Hill, from which wood four load of fuel was yearly allowed the vicar of Burcester, by a composition made an. 1754. Vicarius habeat quatiior bigafus lignorum pro focalibus de si/va prioris vocat. Prioj-'s IVoodc. apiid Arncote ^ : for which there is » Tho. Wikes, sub an. b Transcrip. decret. Cancel, penes Tho. Shewring, A. M. vicar. Burces. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 3oi now an aniuial pension paid to the said vicar. The ' author ot the Antiquities of Oxford places the history of this benefaction under the year 1243, which must needs be incongruous: for Alan Basset died in this year, 1232; and that author cites the storv from the reffister of Hugh Wallis bishop of Lincohi, which could extend no further than tiiis year. It is most likely that at this time began the Sc/iolce Burcestricnses, the schools belonging to the priory of Burcester, when that cornent being thns oliliged to maintain two scholars did hire a tenement of the abbey of Oseney, called Hastyng, lying in School Street, on the north side of St. Mary's nigh the schools belonging to University college, for which they paid to the said abbey a yearly rent, and em- ployed it to this use for the instruction and residence of scholars. Schohe Burcesfrienses ad prioratiim Burcestrieiisem vel Biscestriensem in com'itatii Oxoniensi lucatum spectahant. Sitce erant in tenenienfo qiiodam scholis ad collegium Universitatis pertinentibns ad boream ad- jaccnte ; pcndehat vera inde possessor per manus BalUvi prcedicti pri- oratus monastcrio Osneicnsi anintain pecunice summain. In Osncicn- siu/n rentalihus domus Uasfi/ng (di(jaando vocatur : nnde coUigenduin videtur, quod eo nomine quispiam vel ipsam domum ditto prioratui, vel saltern pensionem quam dixi exinde redeuntem Osneiensibus detulit tempore Hen. III. Quorum tamen in rentulibus scholarnin prtedicta- I uni infrequentem adniodum et fortuitum, at ila loqnar, mentioneni reperio ''. It was then customary for the religious to have schools that bore the name of their res|)eclive order. Thus the Avigusfine schools, one of divinity, another of phil(>so])liy, in which latter the dispnling of bachelors has yet continued Ihc naim- to the exercise of Auguslines. The Bi;ne(lictine schools tor theology, the Carmelite schools lor di- vinity and philosophy in the parish of St. Mary Magdalene. The Franciscan schools, &c. And there were schools appropriateil to the benefit of particular religious houses, as the Dorchester schools, the <•• Ant. a. Wood, Aiitiq. I'li. 1. 1. |>. 'J2. Ibid. p. JO?. ' Spiirrow's Collect, p. .5, &c. 304 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. ley's articles, an. 1.550. And by the injunctions of queen Elizabeth, A. D. 1.559, the rate of allowance is specified, Even/ parson, vicar, clerk, or beneficed man, having yearly to dispend in benefices and other promotions of the church an hundred pounds, shall give 3'. 6'. 8''. in exhibition to one scholar in either of the Universities, ^-c. We are uncertain how well these orders were then obeyed, but we are sure the charity has now failed. An. Mccxxxrv. 18, 19. Henry HI. The prioress of Stodley presented a clerk to the church of Beck- ley, reserving to herself a yearly pension of ten marks. Eustace de * Grenevill presented Robert de Grenevill his nephew to the church of Somerton : and Sir Richard de Prestecote, knight, presented to the church of Blechesdon "'. William de Longspe in right of his wife, lord of the manor of Bur- cester, made the canons of that priory a more ample endowment by a confirmation and additional gifts of all his land in Wrechwic, his wood of Gravenhull, his pasture called Coubregge, with pasturage for fifty-two yearlings at Erdington, by this charter. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego JVillielmus Longspe dedi et concessi et hac charta mea conjirmavi Deo et ecclesice beatce Marice et * Willielmus de Grenevil preb. de Hal- lum contra regem et suos consiliarios gravi- geton in eccl'ia de Suthwell per mortem ter accenditur. Nam Ricardus Sward con- Tho. de Bruton, Dec. 2!), 12G!). Ex regist. junctis sibi caeteris exulibus terras Richardi Walt. Giffard. Ebor. comitis Cornubiae fratris regis non longe a An. Mccxxxiv. 18, 19. Henry III, Brcluille sitas cum tedificlis ct frugibus ac Mandatuin est Joh'i de Nevill quod per- bobus in bostaribus, caballis quoque in mittat abb'em de Thame habere agistamen- stabulis, necnon gregibus in caulis, incen- tum suum in foresta de BrchuU, sicut ha- dio tradiderunt. Mat. Par. sub. an. 1234, here debet per libertates quas rex comniu- p. 394. This must be meant of the manor niter concessit in regno suo per cartam of Ambrosden, which was the nearest to suam. Claus. 19. Hen. III. Brill of any part of the estate of the said In ipsis pr«eterea diebus natilitiis bcl- Richard E. of Cornwall. •" Regist. Line. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 305 Snncfce Edhurs^ee de Berenccstrla ct canonicis ibidem Deo servieiifibiis 8j-c.totam terrain quain hahid in Wrcclierorjch cum omnibus perfinenciis cum t/ilbinis et coram scquelis et cafallis cum bosco de (JrcwenhuU cum perfinenciis ct quadam culturu, qua', vocaiur Coubi-egge cum pertincnciis et pasturam ad quinquaginta bidenfes apud Erdinione cum dominicis bidentibus meis ibidem pascendis habendum et tenendam de me et hcere- dibus meis dictis canonicis et eorum successoribus in liberam puram et perpetuam elemosinam libere, quiete, integre et pacijice in bosco et piano viis et semitis, pratis, pascuis et pasturis cum omnibus dominicis terris et bosco perfinentibus quieta de me et hceredibus meis ab omni- bus serviciis sectis consuetudinibus et demandis mihi ct hceredibus meis pertinentibus. Et ego inUielmus Longspcije et hcercdes mei prccdictas terras et boscum cum villanis ct eorum scquelis una cum prcedicta pas- tura de Erdintone dictis canonicis et eorum successoribus contra omnes homines ct foeminas inperpetuum ivarantizabimus. Ut autem hcEc men donacio, concessio ct chartce mece conjirmacio perpetuce Jirmitatis robur obtineant prcesentem chartam sigilli mei impressione et virorum fide dignorum testimonio roboravi. Hiis tesiibus ; domino Stephano Longespeye, Jacobo de /lldedehghe, Philippo Basset, luidu/pho de Cestertun, Willielmo de Meauling, lUchardo . I.', i. e. liJli). Reg. de .Sutton. Had. di' \\'ulvel subdlac. ad ecel. de Fc, " Mon. Ang. toui. J. p. ^84. \ OL. J. K r 3o6 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. the said William Buzin and Margery had recovered in Ihe king's court acainst the prior of Cogcs, and Eustace de Grcnevil and Joan his wife, and Thomas de Hay and Alice his wife ". John Fraiikland of Mixbury gave to the church of Oseney one acre of arable land in the cast-field of Fulwell, lying in the ground called le Eley; as also one acre of arable land in the west-field of Fulwell, of which one half acre lay toward la Link and extended over Buringeswey, the other half acre in a ground called la Hangride; by two several charters. Sciant prtesentes et futur'i quod ego Joliannes Frankland de Mix- bury dcdi et concess'i Deo et ecclesice heatce Marice de Osenei uiuim acram tcrrcc mece arabi/is in canipo orientali de Fulewell jaceiitem in ilia cultura, quce vacatur le Ely, intra tcrram dictorum abbatis et ca- nonicorum ex omni parte, Sfc. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego Johannes Franldand de Mix- bury dedi et concessi Deo et ecclesice bcatce Marice de Osenei unani acram terrce mece arabilis in campo occidentali de Fulewell cum perti- nentiis suis quce sic jacet videlicet una dimidia acra jacet in cultura qua; vocatur la Hangide, §-c.'' The king was at Oxford in June, where he gave this remarkable mandate to reform the discipline of that place. Mandatum est majori et ballivis Oxon. quod per totam villam Oxon. clamuri faciant quod omnes publices meretrices et concubince clericornm infra octo dies post hunc clamorem factum exeant villam Oxon. Ita quod nulla in dicta villa remaneat post terminum ilium et si aliqua forte 7'emaneat vel de novo in villam veniat post terminum il- ium ad ibi manendum per concilium cancellarii Oxon. vel magistri Ro- ringford ad pres. Will. Buzun rationc Mar- Hug. Well. an. 25. gar. uxoris suae, qui recupcravit prcsenta- Nich. de Kunnes subd. ad eccl. de Fe- tionem suam versus priorem de C'oges, Eu- rigeford ad pres. Will. Buzun laid. Rot. stach. de Greinvill et Joh. uxorem ejus, Rob. Grosthead, anno 5. (1239.) Tho. de Haya et Alex, uxorem ejus. Rot. o Ex. Regist. Line. P Rcgist. Osen. MS. p. 290. AMBROisDEN, liUllCESTER, &c. 307 herti Grossctesic velfratiis Roberti Baciin capkuitiir et in prisoim re- gis mitfantiir donee rex alitid indc preceperit, fir miter etiam prohibcrc facianl super gravem forisfactiiram regis nequis de prccdicfa villa ali- cui hujusmodi meretrici vel concubince clericorum si forte aliqua vice veniat in villam, ^-c. T. R. apud Oxon. xxii. die Jiinii ^ Though tlie barony of St. Waleiy, the estate of Robert earl of Dreux forfciteil to the crown, was first the custody and after the property of Ricliard earl of Cornwall ; yet some part of the said ba- rony (the manor of Horton, &c.) was allotted for a dowry to Alla- nor widow of earl Robert, who this year confirmed a donation of her deceased husband's to the nuns of Stodley. — Donationem prceceden- tem (jiempe factam an. 1226.) post obit inn mariti Allanora comitissa Drocarum et domina de Sancfo Jf'alerico eisdeni rnonialibiis confirma- vit an. Dom. mccxxxiv. mense Augusti\ "This Allanor de S. Walery was after married to Henry lord of Sully, and d} ing without children was buried with her first husband in the abbey of Brcnne \ An. Mccxxxv. 19, 20. Henry 111. About this time Thomas Raynall gave to the abbey of Oscney two acres of arable land in the common field of Weston, of which one acre lay in Cornhull nigh the demesnes of the canons called li^ldcs- field, one rood in Flcxlond extending toward Lillemore and Long- forland, half an acre upon Rughill extending u])on a ground called Stockling. Sciant prcesentcs et f atari quod ego Thomas Raynall, §r. concessi ecclesice S. Marice-de Oscnei et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus duas acras terrce arabiUs in campo de If^cston de quibus una acrajacet 1. Rob. Grosthead. necestr salvis dictis priori ct conv. 5. nnn. Rol). Mal ini. b Mon. Aug. toiii. 1. p. !S8S. b. "^ Ibid. p. GTi. a. 310 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. prcpd'nt'i Richardua ct Ahlreda remiserunt et qu'iete clamaverunt de se et hceredlbiis ipsiits Aldrrdcc prccd'xcto ahhat'i ct successorihus snis ct ccc/csia- Slice dc Osenci tot urn Jus ct clam, quod habuei'unt in tota prcp- dicfa terra in pcrpctuum ct pro hac coruni rcniissionc qitieta clama- tionc et concordia idem abbas dedit prcedictis Richardo et Aldredce XXX. so/idos sterling'^. Nigh tills time Richard de Bigod of Mcrston gave to the canons of Nutley in Crendon the running of forty hogs in liis wood. Ego Richardus le Bigod de Mcrston dedi canonicis de Nuttele 40. porcos in bosco meo, Sfc. Testibus, domino Hugone de Angens, Sfc. " The abbot of Grostein presented a clerk to the neighbouring church of Mersh ^ The prior of Berncester presented to the cliurch of Little-Missen- den in the archdeaconry of Bucks. And Henry de S. Faith, prior of Nottele in Crendon, was elected abbot of the said house, license be- ing first obtained from the earl of Pembroke patron ^'. An. Mccxxxvii. 21, 22. Henry III. Now or before this time Robert son of Robert de Amory con- firmed to the abbey of Oseney the donation of one hide of land in 3. Hen. Grosthead. institiime ipsosquc in corporalem j)osse.i$i~ Rad'us de Well subdiac. ad cccl. de Fine- onetn ipmis eccl'ie induci fecisne salva vicaria mere ad pres. abb. et conv. S. Aiigustini pec dUectumJUium mag'rum. R. dc Weseham Bristol. archid'iim Oxon. in eadem taxataj dat. 18. Rob. de Estliall subdiac. ad eccl. de kal. Juii. pout, fert'to. Stokbasset ad pres. K. com. Pictav. et Cor- Taxatio vicarie sequitur. nub. 5. cal. Jun. Rogorus subd. nepos comitis Pictav. et Walt, dc Cotes capellanus ad cccl. de Cornub. ad eccl. de Frodingliam ad pres. Stokes Thalesmarch ad pres. ven. viri W. R. com. Pictav. et Cornub. ad eccl. de Fro- de Wburn archid'i Ricbm. dingham in archid. Stow ad pres. R. com. Omnibus . . . Noverit tin. v'ra nos auctori- Pictav. et Cornub. (nic) ratione honoris de tutc Gregorii pape noni abb'cm ct conv. deAb- Kirketon in manu sua existentis. hendon in eccl. de Cude.^don canonice rectores J Rcgist. Osen. MS. p. 280. « vv. Dugd. MS. vol. 71. p. 73. f R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 71. F lb. f. 71. and 74, AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 31 1 Chestreton, in consideration of thirty shillings to himself and one l)e- zantine to his brother. Notuiii sit Jidclibus S. ccclcsice quod ego RobertusJUius Rohcrti fi/ii Aviarici, §-c. coujirmo donatioucm quam fecit Ainphridiisjilius Roberti de 0x071. ecclesice S. Aim ice de Osenei de tina hida tcrrce in Cesire- toiia ciijus duas virgatas tcnuerunt Ilcnii/igus jiiius Siivard vl Ni- cholaus duas vero tcnent JFilliclmus mercator et Osmundus filius IVil- lielmi quas cum progciiic sua concedo pra-dictce ecclesicc hanc hidam concedo pro quinta parte servifii unius mi/ifis iii. de/i. erga capitalem dominum ita at quaiido ego terrain nieam quietam luibuero, prwdicta ccclesia eandein quietanciam habeat. In recognitionc hujus donationis dcdit jni/ii prceuoniinata ecclesia xxx. sol. et fratri meo nnnni bezan- tiuni ''. An. Mccxxxviii. 22, 23. Hcnnj III. The king was at Woodstock about the feast of St. Matthew, where a pretended priest feigning hin)self mad got in by night at a window of the king and queen's bedchamber with an intent of murder ; but a discovery and noise being made by a devout and noble woman, Margaret Byset, the I'ellow was apprehended antl tore in jiioccs by liorses at Co\entry ', or at Oxford ^. Richard* earl of Cornwall, lord of the manor of Ambrosden, &c. presented a clerk to the church of North-LuO'enham in the arch- deaconry of Northampton ' : and was now esteemed the protector ol' * An.4.Rob. Grosthead. Nicli. do Anna na rectoris cjusd. cle voUintatect assunsu R. subd. ad cccl. de Ambresdon ad pres. R. com.Pictav. et Cornub. adinissus. com. Pictav. et Cornub. dispensatuin ei per 1. pont. Rob. Grosthead. Icgatuni ut cccl'iam alteram obtinere possit Ric. de Poklinton capellan. ad cccl. de liabent. curam animaruiii una cum cct.!. de Merihthoii ad pres. abb. cl coiiv. de Ki,'ne- Bcckel. Rot. Grosthead. sham. An. 5. Rob. Grosthead. Rob. do Anna ad Will, dc Sulthorn snbdiae. ad eecl. do vicar, dc Ambresdon ad pres. Nith'i de.Xii- ArdiillVl ad pri-^;. (;iiini. til. Knli'ii. h Rcgist. Oscn. MS. p. o.'J. ' Mat. \Vcst. sub an. ^ Croii. 'I'lio. Wikcs, sub an. 312 PAROrrilAL ANTIQUITIES. the whole nation from the oppressions of Rome, as this high charac- ter is given him by oiir best historian. Kf sperahatiir ccrtissime tunc quod ipse comes lUchurdus cssct Uberaturus terram tarn a Romaiioruin quam ulioniiii (i/icnigcnarum misera qua prcmehatur servitute : ct oin- vcs a pucru usque ad hoviiuem senem crebras in ipsuni beuedictioues couijesserunf '". Within this year Walter de Erugas, preceptor of the hospital of the Knights of Jerusalem, presented to the church of Lntegarcshale (now Ludgarsall) in the archdeaconry of Bucks. The exemplary bishop now visited this archdeaconry of Oxford ; and at Dorchester, on the ides of May, he granted the liberty of a chapel within the pa- rish of Eston com. Bucks, to William de Clinton patron of the said church ". At which time historians speak of a solemn dedication of several churches in the diocese of Lincoln ", and particularly in this county of Oxford, by Robert Grosthead bishop of Lincoln, and William BrcMcr bishoj) of Exeter. There is an epistle from Robert Grost- head to the archdeacon of Lincoln, wherein he warns him to give notice to the rectors of all churches to provide for consecration : since, according to the canons of a late council held at London, every church unconsecrated was to have a solemn consecration within two years following p. The epistle is undated, but the sulyect of it seems to fix it to 1236. The church of Chesterton seems to have been now consecrated, when Roger de Glunelade knight gave to this church of St. Mary's in Chesterton, for the endowment of it at the dedication, one acre upon Fundeshullc, and one acre upon Rugge. At the same time William son of Fulk de Chesterton, for the soul of Denise his wife and Agnes his daughter, gave to the said church for endowment part of a meadow which i)elongcd to his fee in Blakemore. Sciant prcesentcs et futuri quod ego Rogerus miles Jilius llichardi de 1 Rcgist. Line. m Mat. Par. edit. Wats, p. 46?. " R. Dods. MS. vol. I07. f. 7'1. " Mat. West, sub an. P Append, ad Faseiculum, p. 31(). AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. ni.s Gvnelnde dedi et concessi Deo ct ecclesice heatce Marian de Cestreton iwivinc dotis ad ejusdem ecclesice dedicationcm per coiiseiisum hceredis rnei Nieholai uiuim acravi super Fiindeslmlle et iinam acram terra; super R/tgge i/i piiram et perpetuam eleemusinam ''. JVillielmusJilius Fiilconis de Cestreton, Sfc. Sciatis me concessisse pro anima Dion y sice tixoris niece et pro anima Agnetis jilice viece Deo et ccclesicB heata' Marice de Cesfret07i nomine dotis ad ejusdem ecclesice dedicationcm totam partem prati quod pertinet ad feodum meuni in Blakemore '. For farther endowment of the said church of Chestreton, Bardulf, son of Roger Bardulf, gave for a mansion house to the incumbent one messuage with a croft belonging to it, which Ralph the milk r held, and his whole meadow in demesne in Blakemore : and con- firmed to the said church the gift of his tenants of all they had in common in Blakemore, which was his fee. Sciant prccsentes ct futuri quod ego Bardulfus Jilius Rogeri Bar- dulf dedi et concessi et hac prcesenti charta mea confrmavi pro salute mca et meorum et pro anima fratris met Rogeri et omnium antecesso- rum meorum et successorum Deo et ecclesice beatcc Marice de Cestreton nomine dotis ad ejusdem ecclesice dedicationcm messuagium cum crofta eidem messuagio pcrtincntc cjuod Radulphus molendinarius tenuit et totum prutum nieum dominicum in Blakemore. Prccterea concessi ct confirmai'i donum hominum meorum prcedictce ecclesice, videlicet totum prutum quod hahent in communi in prcedicto prato de Blakemore quod ad focdum meum pertinet. Et ut hcec concessio et confirmatio robur firmitatis obtincat in perpetuum prcesentis scripti munimine ct sigilli mei appositione roboravi. Iliis testibus, S^c. ' The same person gave to the said church tlic additional endow- ment of three acres of arable land of his demesnes lying between Wadewell and Small-VWye. Sciant pra-sentes et juturi quod ego Bardulfus de Cestreton pro sa- lute animce mecc et pro salute auimarum patris et matris niece et om- 1 Regist. Osen. p. 101. ' Ibiil. ^ Ibid. p. (>'-'. VOL. I. S 8 314 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. niuni parcntum vieorum dedi ct concessi et prcesenti charta coiifirmari Deo et ccclesicB S. Marice de Cestreton tres acras terrce arabilis de do- mimco meo, fjucc simidjacent inter iVadewell et Small- IVeye et sc ex- tendunt ad oricntem ct occidcntcm habcndas et teuendas In pace libcre et quiete in liberam puram et pcrpetnam eleeviosinam in perpctinun. Et ego BarduJfus ct hcercdcs mci dictas tres acras cum pcrtuicntiis Deo et ccclcsice pra'dictce warantizabimus in pcrpetuum. In hujus rei testimonium prcesenti scripto sigiUum meum apposui. IJiis tcstibus, ^c' No church could be legally consecrated without such allotment of house and glebe generally made by the lord of the manor, who thereby became patron of the church. Other persons at the time of dedication often contributed small portions of ground, which is the reason why in many parishes the glebe is not only distant from the manor, but lies in remote divided parcels. An. Mccxxxix. 23, 24. Henry III. On the eighteenth cal. of February, Isabel wife of Richard earl of Cornwall died in childbirth at his manor of Berkhamstede, and was buried in the abbey of Beaulieu ". Soon after the dedication of the church of Chesterton, there was an agreement made between the abbot and convent of Glocester, to whom the tithes had been given by Robert de Oily, and the abbot and convent of Oseney, to whom several donations had been made within the said parish of Chesterton, that the abbot and convent of Glocester should convey to the aljliey of Oseney their right of all the tithes within the demesnes of Bardulf de Chesterton, viz. two parts of the tithes of the said demesnes in consideration of half a mark of sil- ver to be paid yearly by the church of Oseney on the festival of St. Michael at Aldeswirth. Notum sit prcescntibus et futuris quod ita convenit ititer H. abbatem et convent. S. Petri Gloivecestr. et G. abbatem et conventum S. Marice de Osenei videlicet quod dicti abbas et conventus Gloivcestr. credidcrint ' Regist. Osen. p. 101. " Dugd. Bar. toni. 1. p. I'l 1. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 315 ad pcrpctuam firmam omnes dcciiuationes ad se spectantes in doininico Bard/iifi de Cestreton prccdictis abhati et co7iventui Osenei videlicet duas partes omnis decimationis dicti dominici pro dimidia marca ar- gent i annuafiin ab ecclesia de Osenei infesto S. Michaeiis apud Aldes- wirth sibi solvenda. Ut autem ista conventio rata et inconcussa per- petuo permaneat prcesentis scripti serie et utriusqne monasterii sigilll testimonio una cum sigi/lis abbatum diviso inter eos chirographo con- jirniata est *. In this fifth year* of Robert Grosthead bishop of Lincohi, Robert prior of Burcester died, and the convent having obtained leave of their patron William Longspe, (here called earl of Salisbnry, anil so entitled by Mat. Paris, thongh he never had the legal title,) they elected Hervcy one of their canons into the said vacant honor. 5. Rob. Grosthead, archid. Oxon. Herveius canonicus de Biirnecestr. petita et obtenta licentia elegendi a com. Sar. a conventu ejusdcni do- mus vacantis per mortem Roberti prioris in priorem electus ''. It is indeed true that the title of earl of Salisbury here given to William Longspe is a com[)limental error, that honor being not ascribed to him in any authentic record ; and the reason (which has escaj^ed Mr. Dugdale) must be this. His father William carl of Sa- lisbury, in the latter end of his life, went out of the realm without the king's leave; for which offence his castle, town, and earldom of Salisbury were seized and retained in the crown, as appeared by an inquisition taken in the 15. Ed. III. '' * Anno 5. Rob. Grosthead ep'! Line. Fra- 5. Rob. Grosthead. ter Hervcus canonicus "de Bernccestr ob- Nich. de Runnes subdiac. ad ecel. de Fe- tenta licentia eligendi a com. Saruni. a eon- rigelord ad pres. Will'i Rusam laid, vcntu cjusd. donius vacantis per niort. f ris .Mag'r Regiaaldus de Welletord subd. ad Rob. quondam jirioris ibidem in priorem eecl. de Godinton ad pres. abbatisse et electus adniissus est. conv. de Elnestowe per resign. Will'i de Husseburn. '^ Kegist. Osen. ]). 10.'. > R. Dods. MS. vol. I07. p. 78. ' Ashmole MS. NoUit. \l. p. 71. s s 2 316 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Almaric de S. Ainand of Grendon in com. Buck, was in such higli esteem at court, that upon the christenini; of jirince Edward by Otto the pope's legate, he then stood one of his godfathers at the font". An. MccxL. 24, 25. Henry 111. In this year, the day after St. Martin's, Richard earl of Cornwall, lord of the manor of Ambrosden, took an oath at Northampton with many other barons for an expedition to the Holy Land '' ; and com- mending himself to the prayers of all the religious in England, he took shi[) and arrived safe at Aeon, where within two days he made public proclamation that no one of what nation soever should return home for want of money : which when the Saracens heard, they were so much afraid of the prudence and power of this earl, that this ter- ror soon brought peace to the Christian world ". The prior of Burcester by right of patronage presented to the church of Little-Missenden in the county of Bucks ''. Nigh this time Baidulf de Chesterton, knight, gave to the church of Oseney the tenement and park which his grandmother Margery held in dowry within the parish of Chesterton, and another tenement with appertenances in the said village, which William le Noreys held in villanage : as also two virgates of arable land in the fields of Ches- terton held by William le Noreys and Richard Boc, containing four- score and ten acres, in this form of donation. Sciant prccsentes et futuri quod ego Bardulfus flius et hcp.res Ro- geri JUii Bardulfi de Cestreton in Hennemers dedi et concessi et hac prccsenti charta mca confirmavi Deo et ecclesice S. Maria; de Osenei et IVillielmo abbati et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus illud tenementum cum vivario et aliis pertin. quod Margeria avia mea tenuit in dotem in dicta Cestreton et aliud tenementum cum pertin. in eadem villa quod Willielmus le Noreys uUquando tenuit in villcnagio. Item dedi et concessi duas virgatas terrce arahilis in campis de dicta Cestreton quas ■•Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. 19. b. bMat. Par. edit. Wats, p. 51«. <^ Mat. West, sub an. J< S. Mills Ballstau. Hugh de Pk'sscts, a Xormaii by birth anil a domestic ser\anl in the king's court, who took to wife Christian the daughter and heir of •^ Rcgist. Oscn. MS. |). 101. ' Ex Org. ptncs lion. D. Guil. Glytiiie, Bar. 318 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Hugh do Saiiford by Joan his wife, was now shcrift' of the county of Oxforil, and nifich this time had a grant from Robert abbot of Missendon and that convent of all their land in Musewell in the manor of Pitlington within the j)arish of Ambrosden, for the yearly rent of two marks, and twenty marks in hand, by this deed of con- veyance. Onuiibm Christi Jidelibus prcesens scriptum visuris vel auditiir'ts Rohertus abhas dc Missenden et cjusdem loci convcntus salutein in Do- mino. Novcrit universitas vestra nos dedisse et coNcessisse et hac prce- senti charta yiostra cunjinnussc domino Johanni de Plesseto et hcercdi- biis suis pro homagio et servitio si/o totcun terrain de Musewell cum omnibus pertin. suis habendam et tenendum de nobis et successorihus vostris sibi et hceredibus suis liberc et quiete reddendo inde annuatini nobis et successorihus nostris ipse et hcercdes sui duas marcas argenti ad duos terminos scilicet ad festum sancti Michaelis nnam mar- cam et ad festum S. Marice in Martio unam marcam pro omni consue- tudine servitio et exactiojie sceculari sicut nos unquani prcedictam ter- ram liberius et plcnius tenuimus et posscdimus ; salvis ecclesice nostrce de Missenden prcedictce terrce decimis ad capellam dc Museivell spec- tantibus, et siqua sunt alia ad dictam capellam spectantia quce laico retinere non licet. Prcedictus etiam Johannes et hceredes sui prcedic- tum redditum ad prcedictos terminos per aliquem de suis apud Mes- senden facient deportari et nobis ibidem persolvi. Pro hac autem do- natione et confirmatione prcedictus Joharines dedit nobis viginti mar- cas in guersumam. Et nos et successores nostri pra'dictani terrain cum pertinentiis suis sicut prcedictum est prccdicto .Johanni et hceredi- bus suis contra omnes gentes zvarantizabimus acquietabimus et defen- 6 Rob. Grosthead. de Parva Missenden ad pres. prioris et Mag'r Job. de Westona subd. ad eccl. de conv. de Berencestr. Clierltoii ad pres. prioris de War. Mandat. U'arinus de Dyve subd. ad eccl. de Lu- J. archid'o Oxon. tingarshal ad pres. prioris Hosp. Jerus. in Rog. capellan. ad ecel. de Ardulfel ad Angl. testibus d'no J. archid'o Oxon. J. de pres. Guidonis fil. Rob'ti, mil. Dyharn canon. Line, mag'ris G. de Wese- Valeatin. de Cestretou subdiac. ad eccl. ham, &c. dat. 17. kal. Nov. pont. 7. AMBR08DEN, BURCESTER, &c. 3 19 demus siciit cjnsdem terrcc fcoffaforcs, Sfc. Ut autcm luec nostra do- natio I't conjirmatio fir ma sit et st(d)iHs imperpctuinu prrrsens scriptinn sigi/Ii iiostri appusitione roboruciiiiiis. lliis tcstihus ; domino Willi- elmo dc Kantilupo, domino Bertramo de Croil, domino Amaurico dc S. Amando, domino Druy de Darenfnn, Rogero de Missenden, IFilli- clmo de Blaheivell, Rogero de IVijntenveJl, IViUiehno dc Uareicod pra;posito de Noers, et aliis '. An. MccxLi. 25, 26. Henry 111. William Loiii^spc, lord of the manors of Burcester and Midlins;- ton, granted to his brother Stephen Longspe the whole manor of Sutton nigh Banbury, with the hundred pertaining to the said ma- nor, reserving to himself and heirs a certain meadow in Sidehani, which liis tenants of Midlington used to mow : but so as the said Stephen and his lawful heirs should be obliged to maintain the said meadow, and (ind all necessary provisions of meat and drink for tiie said tenants of Midlington on the day wherein they mowed the said meadow, &c. Sciant pra-sentes et futiiri quod ego IVHUchnus Linigespe dedi et concessi et luic pra:senti cliarta mea conjirmavi Stcp/tano Lungespe fratri meo pro Iwinagio et servitio siio totum manerium menm de Sutton Juxta Bannebir cum hundrcdo ad dictum manerium pertinente et omud)us pertinentiis suis rctciilo inihi ct lucredibus mcis (juodam prato in Side/mm (juod homines mci de Mede/inton solehant falcare. I la tamen (juod dictus Stephanus et ejus lueredcs de uxore sibi le- gitime desponsata procreati dictum pratum sa/vo custodire tenen- lur et 25. Iiominibus dc Mede/inton 7iecessaria sicut suis homiui- Aii. MccxLi. -'5, 2t't. Hc'i). HI. i-ognoiiicnto iMansui in possessionem cix-lo- Ipsis quoque diebus orta est gravis dis- site de Thame regis favore ct auxilio missus cordia inter doiiiinum rcgoni ct cpiscojium est ratioiic provisionis a domino papa iin- Lincolnicnscm co quod quidani regis eleri- petratje, &e. M. Par. |). 57". cus, prudeiis ct lidelis, Juliannes nomine, 8 £x Ciiartular. de Rorstall MS. sul) lit. Musewell t". .U. 320 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. bus propriis die quo falcatur pratum iUud in cibo et potu inve- nire tcnentur, 8fc. '' This year in a tournament held at Ware, Gilbert Marcschal carl of Pembroke falling from his saddle and hanging by the stirrnp was so dracfscd and bruised, that he died the same evening on the fifth of the cal. of July; before his death, for the health of his own soul and of Margaret his wife, he had gi\en to the neighbour canons of Nutley all the tithes of his fishing belonging to the manor of Caver- sham, with all the tithes of his mills at Caversham, as also all his lands called Chibenhurst, and a rent of xvi*. yearly for the main- tenance of two lamj)s burning night and day in the chajiel of our lady at Caversham, for the health of his soul and the soul of earl Ri- chard his brother '. There was now a final agreement made between William Paynant plaintiff and the abbot of Oseney defendant in the king's court at Oxford, concerning sixteen acres of land with their appertenances in Weston : whereby the said abbot granted to William Paynant com- mon pasturage for his cattle in several places within the said parish of Weston. HcBC est jinalis concordia facta in curia domini regis apud Oxou. in die paschatis in tres septinianas anno regni regis Henrici Jilii regis Joann. xxv. inter ff^ill. Payiiant petenteni et Johannevi ahhatem de Osenei tenentem de sexdecem acris terrce cum pertinentiis in JVeston scilicet quod prcedictus abbas concessit prcedicto JVilliclmo communeni pasturani ad averia sua in omnibus locis subscriptis scilicet in Forloive- denemede et in Uuerforlond et in Nether -forlond et in Bradcs-forlond et in minori Long-forlond sicut cultura de Long-forlond jacet juxta Forlowe inter villam de Weston et Forloive et in Cornhulle et in Rhughulle et in Ballethorn, 8fc.^ The king constituted Sir Ralph de Chesterton and other knights commissioners to inspect all the castles within this county, and to '' Extract from Sir Christ. Hattou's Book of Seals. MS. R. Dods. vol. 90. p. 121. ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. GO. *■ Regist. Oscn. MS. p. :iV.>. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 321 take care for the necessar}^ repair of them by this precept to the sheriff, the hkc orders being sent through all other counties. Rex vie. Oxon. salutevi. Prcecipimus tibi quod per BardulphuDi dc Cestrcton, Symonem de Lckenore, Johannem de Elsefcld, ct G'll- bertuni de In Bryde, videri facias omnes dcfcctus singulorum cus- trorum et pro quanto poterunt illi dcfcctus emendari quanta poteris festiiiatioiie distinctc et aperte per litems sigiUo suo et sigiilis prce- dictoruin inilitum signatas 7ios certifcare noti omiftas, S^c. Teste regc apud Mcrlcberge xxv. die Jan.' Alanore countess dowager of Dreux, whose late husband had for- feited the barony of St. Walery in this county, (held in right of his said wife daughter and heir of Thomas de S. Walery,) gave to the abbey of Lieu-Dicu in Normandy some rents at St. Albins near Deep, by charter dated in this year 1241."' The king was at Woodstock, and, on February the twenty-eighth, there confirmed the several do- nations made to the priory of Alencester, com. Warwic ". At the beginning of the year Richard earl of Cornwall, lord of Ambrosden, &c. took again the crusado for the Holy Land ". At a parliament this spring at Reading he took his solemn leave of the nobles, who greatly importuned his stay, and thus expostu- lated with him. Cur nos conies spes post rcgem iinica deseris ?' aut cui nos desolatos relinquis ? Invadent nos in absentia tna alienigence rapaces, ^t.p At Whitsuntide he took ship from Dover, attended by Williatn Longspe lord of Burcester and Midlington. Before his voyage he presented a clerk to the church of Ambrosden '. Within this year died Almaric de St. Amand of Cireiulon in com. Buck, having just before his death [)resented a clerk to the cburch ol" Grcndon': leaving Ralph his son and heir, who at this time paid twenty-five pounds for the moiety of the lands of Joan de Beau- champ, one of the coheirs to the barony of Cainho '. 1 1^ Dods. MS. vo!. lo;). f. 77. "> Xcustriii I'ia, p. Sil.J. " .Mon. .\iig. toni. 1. p. 17s. b. o Histor. Anp. Script, torn. 2. p. A\. V Mat. Par. edit. Wats, p. MG. 1 R. Dods. M.S. vol. 107. p. 7;). ■ Kfjri.st. Uric. ' Dugd. Bar. tmu .'. p. JO. a. \ 01.. I. T t 393 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Nigh this time Sir John Fitz-Nigel lord of Borstal and forester of Bernwood died, leaving issue by Isolda his wife John Fitz-Nigel juii. who succeeded to the honor, estate, and office of his father *. An. MccxLii. 26, 27. Heurij 111. Richard earl of Cornwall, being safely arrived at the Holy Land, accepted of a truce with the souldan of Babylon, on condition all the French piisoners should be released, the city of Jerusalem and adjoining parts should be free from molestation, with other ho- nourable articles ". On the Saturday post gitlam Aiigtisti, after A\igust the first, the feast of St. Peter ad vincula, an inquisition was taken of the manor of Brehull. Extaita mancrii dotnini regis de Brehull facta die sahhati post gu- Inm Augiisti regni regis Henrici Jitd regis Johantris xxvi. infer alia sic contitietur. Jurati dicunt, ^c. Prceterea doininas rex hahct uninn boscum qui vacatur Ixhull et est pastura inter scparalia quce possit sus- tinere xxiv. animalia sicuti boves vaccas et equas pro pastura cujusli- bef animalis iv*". Item in communi pastura domini regis ad placitum suuni fiat sicuti equi boves vaccce porci caprce et oves sustinere qual. boscum Luxhull, le f^itwood, Hildesdene et pastura de Lechemede, de Paunsliale, Luewyveslade et boscum de Malcumbe et Arnegrove ap- pendant dicto manerio de Brehull ad itinerationem Koberti Passelewe Richardi de IFrotham et sociorum suorum et valet in pannagio et aliis per an. V. Item Johannes filius Aigelli tenet le de Hyde liberc pro x'. et ballivam pro xl'. Item dicunt quod quadraginta octo tenentes 8. Rob. Grosthead. rem non duserit nee habitum religiosum Jordanus cl'icus prioris de Ware subdiac. susceperit, nee aliud beneficiuin ecclesiasti- ad cecl. de Cherleton ad pres. N. prioris de cum adeptus fuerit. War salvis Rogero fil. d'ni Rogcri eom. Mag'r Reginuldus do Wellcford ad eccl. Winton cl'ieo x. marc, annuis quamdiu in de Godindon ad pres. abb'is et conv. de Al- liabitu clerical! honeste se gesserit et uxo- nestow. Non. Aug. pent. 8. ' Rcgist. Borstal!. MS. penes D. Joh. Aubrey Bar. " Mat. West, sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 32.3 tcnent ocludecem virgatas terrce integrce ct triginta duas virgatas terrce ct debet qucelihet virgata terrce reddituin per an. v'. Prceferea (juinque dies de consuetudine videlicet per unum diem fcenuvi levarc et per tres in auturnpno metere, Sfc. Dominus de Ludgershale tenet iinam portionem terrce in capite de domino rege infra curiam suam undc reddit curiae de Brehnll xxx^. per an. et faciet sectani curice et homines sui reddent pannagium dicto manerio cum agisfamentum acci- derit, ^c. " About this time William Longspc, lord of Burcestcr, jrranted and confirmed to Valentine Clerk all that he had in lands, rents, and mills ot" the tenure of Richard de Berton at LolVreford in the manor of Standeford, which the said Richard had granted to him, to be held by the said Valentine for the yearly rent of one pair of guilt spurs or sixpence at Whitsuntide, &c. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego JFilliehnus Lonspe dedi con- cessi et prcesenti cJiarta mea confirmavi Valentino Clerico pro homagio et servitio suo quicquid habui vel habere potui in terris redditibus et molendinis qucp. sunt de tenura Richardi de Berton apud Lo/f'reford in manerio de Standford qucc idem Richardus mihi concessit et per char- tani suam remisit cum omnibus pcrtinentiis suis z'uloribus et ai/sia- menlis habenda et tenenda dicto I alentino et hccredibus suis vel assig- natis suis de me et hccredibus meis liberc quiete hcereditarie et in per- petuum reddendo inde amiuatim unum par ccdcariorum deauratorum vel sex denarios ad Pentecosten pro omnibus scrvitiis consuetudinibus sectis omnium curiaruni et demandis ad vie vel ad hceredes nieos per- finentibus salvo forinseco servitio dominorum. Ifanc autem dona- tioneni concessioneni et chartce mece conjirmationem tcnemur ego et hce- redes mei prccdicto I alentino et lueredibus vel assignatis suis iraran- tizare defendcre et acquietare versus onuies gentes in perpetuum per prccdictum servitium. Et ut licec mea donatio concessio et charter mcce conjirmatio ratce et stabiles in poslcnnn perseverent prcesentem chartam sigilli mei muniinine roboruri. Uiis testibus ; duminis Bra- » t hartul. (Ic Borstall. MS. siil) lit. Hrtliull. f. 1 1.'. T t 1- 324 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. dcnstoke et Bcrnecestre prior'ibus, dominis Stcphnno et Richnrdo ffc Longspc fratribits meis, Henrico et Mathia de Mara, Radiilfo de Aiingeis, AUvw Pagano, T/iovia Makerel, et al'us ''. or these brothers of William Longspe, Stephen, when he had been seneschal of Gascoigne and justice of Ireland, came at last to the title of earl of Ulster, and Richard was a canon in the church of Salisbury. Soon after the said William Longspe granted and confirmed to Valentine son of William one half ^ irgate of land in Holeme, called Smitheslond, and arable land called Beckeruge-wrothehegg, and a little meadow called Auker-plot, to hold for the yearly rent of one penny. Sdant prcEscntes etfnturi quod ego JVilliehinis Longspcie dedi con- cessi et prcesenti chart a mea cotijirmavi Valentino Ji/io Willi elmi pro homagio et servitio suo imam dimidiam virgatam terne in Holeme qiuc vacatur Smitheslond cunt omnibus pertinentiis suis cum terra arabili quce vacatur Bcckeruge-ivrothehegg cum omnibus pertinentiis suis cum libera introitu et exitu ad dictum pratellum quacunque liora voluerint, hahendam et tcnendam Valentino et hceredibus suis de me et hceredibus meis libere quiete integre et hcereditarie in perpetuum. Red' dendo inde annuatim ipse et hceredes siii mihi et hceredibus meis unum denanum die S. Michaelis et fraternitati haspi talis Jerusalem pro me et uxore mea et hceredibus meis quinqne denarias pro omnibus servitiis consuetudinibus sectis et demandis ad me vel ad hceredes meas perti- ventibns salvo farinseco servitio quantum pertinet ad dimidiam virga- tam terrce in eadem manerio. Et ego JVilliclmus et hcercdes mei dicto Valc7itino et hceredibus suis dictam terram et pratellum cum om- nibus suis pertinentiis contra omnes gentes in perpetuum warantizabi- mvs. Ut auteni hcBC mea donatio concessio conjirmatio et tvaranfizatio jirma et stabilis perseveret in posteriim prcesenteni chartam sigilli mei munimine roboravi. Hiis testibus; dominis Steph. Longspe, Gaufrido de Lucy, Roberto Dover, Ricardo Longspe, Ragero de Layburn, y Ex Orig. confirmat. AV. Longspe tertii apud D. Guil. Glynne. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 32* Henrico ct Mathia dc Mara nrUitibus, Radulfo de Aungcis, Thoma Makerel c/erico, Alano Pagano, ct ali'is '. After this William Longspe and Idonea his wife granted and con- firmed to the said Valentine son of William Clerk all the land which Jefl'ery son of Roger Steward of Holemc held in the said Holeme, and all the land which Ernald Pilly held in the said village, with pan- nage or free running in time of mast for twenty hogs in their woods of Holeme, and in their wood of Esserngge, paying yearly one be- santine or two shillings in money, lliis testihus ; doinin'is Ercrardo le Ti/cis, Henrico de ]\Iara, Ricardo de Longspe, Rogero de Jjeyhurn, militihus. Micliae/e de Sancto AUutno, fValtero Mauncel, Thorn, de Wandover, Tho. Mauncel, Thoni. Makerel, et a/iis". There was a fourth grant of the said William Longspe to the said Valentine, mider the year 1248. This year June the twenty-sixth died Thomas earl of Warwick, and left surviving his widow Ela sister of William Longspe, who had the manors of Hokenorton and Bradam in this county assigned for her dowry, and was after married to Philip Basset. This noble lady was so great a friend to the University of Oxford, that she caused a com- mon chest to he made, and did put into it two hundred and twenty marks: out of which such as were poor scholars might upon security at any time borrow something gratis for supply of their wants ; in consideration whereof the University tvere obliged to celebrate certain masses every year in St. Mary's church. Which chest was in being in king Edward the Fourth's time, and called by the name of jrarwick chest. She died very aged an. 1300, 28th of ImIw. \. and (says Le- land) facing a luoiimn of ucry crcfit I'it'jcs niiD nobilin) Ipith biivicD at cbc bcDDc of tfjc ruiiibc of l3cnrj) Otlly in Oscnci' cljiircf) uiiDci- a urri> fair flat niarfalc in rljc babit of a JOoncs graucn yn a coper plarc'. An. MCCXLiii. 27, 28. Henry III. Jn this year Richard earl of Cornwall returned from his expedition ' V.\ orig. confirmat. * Ibid. '' Jo. IaI. Itiii. It». MS. vol. -'. p. 10. 326 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. to the Holy Land full of glory, and was honourably met at Dover by the king and queen " : and on St. Clement's day was married with great solemnity at Westminster to Senchia daughter of Beatrix countess of Provence, and sister to two queens of England and France ^ Wikes reports the wedding to have been kept at Waling- ford on St. Cecile's day : theWaverly annals make the nuptial feast'' to have been first held in the king's great hall at Westminster, at which Mat. Paris represents no less than thirty thousand dishes. About Michaelmas the king required scutage three marks, as Mat. Paris reports, others say twenty shillings, of every knight's fee. At which time Roger de Amory, lord of the manor of Bucknell, was charged for three knight's fees ; but producing a charter of Henry de Oilly releasing to Ralph d' Amory one knight's fee, he was by judgment of the barons acquitted for two fees, and the third to be required of the heirs of Henry de Oily. Term Mich. 2/. Hen. III. Bedef. Buck. Mem. quod Rogerus de Aumeri protulk cnrtam Henrici de Oilli in hcec verba. Henricus de Olleio cojistahularius regis omnibus homini- hus suis et amicis Francis et Anglis sahitem. Notum sit vobis quod ego Henricus Oilli condono Radulfo de Aumary seruitium unius militis illi et heredibus suis de seruifiis trium viilitum que mihi debcbat et no- minatim pro seruitio quod mihi fecit. Quare volo efjir miter prcecipio Anno 9. Rob. Grosthead. ecd'ic de Frefewell. VValterus de Cherlebir capell. ad vicar. Will, de Bernecestr capellan. ad eccl. de eccl'ie de Bernecestr ad pres. prioris ct Wivelescote ad pres. d'ni J. de Arsic per conv. de Bernecestr. resign. Will, de Rading custodis ejusd. Eod. anno. R. de Burton capellan. ad vi- Mich, de Wuburne subd. ad cccl. de car. eccl. de Bernecestr ad pres. prioris et Langeton ad pres. abb. et conv. Wcstm. conv. de Bernecestr. Mag'r Job. de Cheham ad eccl. de Rad. Grosset subdiac. prepositus Au- Buckehull ad pres. Rog. de Almarico mil. gustens. ad eccl. de Wytteneya ad pres. re- Will, de Scto Eadmundo ad eccl. de Sul- gis ratione ep'atus Winton. vacantis. Prior thorn. 2. id. Apr. pont. 9. et conv. S. Fridesyde prescntant ad vicar. c Math. Par. <1 Mat. West, sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. .327 (juatiiuis Radit!f)hus et Iwrvdcs sai siiit quieti de pra'dlcto scruitio dc me et liercdibus vieis in perpetuuni, et pro hac etiain conccssione dedit mihi centum so/idos. Test, abbate de Osneia et aliis contentis hi charta. Et ideo con side rat urn est per barones quod idem Rogerus re- spondeat tantum scutugium pro duobus feodis militum et quod rex ca- piat se ad heredes ejusdem Henrici dc tertio feodo". John de Plessets, who held Musewell in Pidiiigtoii in fee from the abbey of Missenden, by the king's earnest intercession obtained to wife Margery widow of John Marcschal, sister and heir of Thomas earl of Warwick, by which means in 31. of Henry III. he had the title of earl of Warwick, and came now to the possession of Hoke- norton and Kitllington held from the king b}^ barony'. Before the end of this year the king passing over to France was attended by Richard earl of Cornwall and William Longspe, who were both engaged in the famous battle of Xantoigne, where a glo- rious victory fell to the English *>'. An. MCcxLiv. 28, 29. Henry III. Thomas Basset brother of Gilbert Basset, and successor to him In the barony of Hedingdon, had committed to his custody, in the b'th of John, Henry eldest son and heir of Waleran earl of Warwick, which young earl Henry first married jVIai'gery the eldest daughter and one of the heirs of Henry de Oily baron of Hokenorton, and she dying, he after took for his second wife Philippa, eldest of the three daughters and heirs of his guardian Thomas Basset, and departing this life 13. Henry HI. left Philippa his surviving widow, who after married to Richard Siward, from whom she was divorced, and ditl now in her pure widowhood give to the church of St. Mary's and St. Etlburg, and tlie canons of IJurcester, all her right in seven shil- lings yearly rent which Roger of Stodley paid for a teiuMuenl he luul in Stodley, on condition the said canons for the health of her soul ' R. Doils. e Rot. Stac. MS. vol. J'J. [>. U. ' Dugd. Ikr. loin. 1. \k 77-- ^ Mat. I'aris sub an. 328 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. and her ancestors' and diiklren's souls, should find one lamp ahvay burning before the altar of St. John Ba|)tist in the said conventual church of Burcestcr ; in which she was after buried. Scianf, Sfc. quod ego P/iilippa Basset coinitissa Jfaretv'ich in libera vidititate et ligea potestatc inea dcdi, &)C. pro salute mea et omniuni antecessoruin meoruin uecuon et puerorum meoruin Deo et ecclesiee hcatce virgiuis Marice et Sanctce Edhurgcc virgiiiis de Berencestre et canonicis ibidem Deo scrvieiitibus totum jus, 4*c. in vn. solidis annul redditus quern Rogerus de Stodleya niihi annuatim reddere solebat de tencmento quod de me tenuit in Stodleya cum omnibus pertinentiis suis habend. &fc. dictis canonicis et eorum successoribus in perpetuum U- bere, ^-c. Ita tamen quod dicti canonici pro salute animcB niece et om- nium a?itecessorum meorum et puerorum meoruni unam lampadem semper ardentem coram altari beati Job. Baptistce in ecclesia conven- tuali de Bercncester in perpetuum inveniant, &cc. Hiis testibus ; do- mino Pliilippo Basset, domino Hugonc Dispcnsatore, domino Jac. de Aldithlc, domino JVilUelmo de Bingham, domino Ric. de Henton, do- mino Jnilielmo de Horton, domino IFiUielmo de Calne, Gilberto de Ridches, JVillielnio Spilsman, Sfc. ^ It is pity so great a compiler of these matters, Sir William Dug- dale, should twice miserably confound the circumstance of this story : not only in his baronage of England, where mistakes are too fre- quent ; but in his antiquities of Warwickshire, the most exact of all his labours, he gives the same imperfect account. Philippa countess of fVarwick, in her pure ividowhood gave to the canons of Berencester (vulgo Bissiter^ in com. Buck. VIl^ yearly rent issuing out of certain lands in Studly ivithin this county, (^com. JFar.^ to find one lamp, ^-c. When she died I do not find ; but at Berencester she lyeth buried in the monastery there of her father' s foundation \ In which relation, it is no less false that Bisseter is in com. Buck, than that Stodley is in com. War. when it is certainly meant of h Guil. Dugd. MS. Transcrip. ex cartis in officio armorum. ' Antiq. Warw. p. 306. et Baronage, vol. 1. p. 7-. AiMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 329 Slodley in Horton, nigh adjoining. Nor can tlie monastery by any title be called of her father's foundation, when it was her uncle only that built and endowed it ; nor did her father enjoy the manor or any part of the fee whereon it stood. Roger de Amory, lord of the manor of Bucknell aiul patron of the church, presented a clerk to that rectory ''. The vigilant and exemplary bishop of Lincoln did now again visit this archdeaconry of Oxford, and from Dorchester 13. cal. Octob. 1244, granted a chapel to Roger de Hida witliin his mansion house in the parish of Whitchurch in this county '. At the feast of Ascension tliis year an agreement by mututil inden- ture was made between William ])rior of Pothele or Poghele in Berk- shire and the convent of the said j)lace on the one hand, and Ralph de Chesterton, knight, on the other. That whereas Thomas de Mazcey lord of the manor of Westbatterton had given the said ma- nor to the priory of Poghele, by the service of one knight's fee to the capital lord, to be paid at the death of every prior, which manor was now in possession of Sir Ralph de Chesterton, he the said Ralph should confirm the gift, and the priors successively perform the service. Scicvit univcrsi quod anno regrii regis Henrici fdii R. Jolt, xxviix. ad Asccnsioncm Domini inter IK priorem de Pothele ct ejusdem loci eonventum ex una parte et RadulJ'um de Cestreton ex altera ita con- An. 10. Rob. Grosthead. Langeton ad pres. abb. et conv. d^ VVcstin. Rob. de Ryrton capcllan. ad vicar, eccl. per resign. Mich, de VV'uburne. do Bcrcncestr ad prcs. prioris et conv. do Phil, dc Kya subd. ad cccl. de Henlc ad Berencestr. Teslibus mag'ris N. Tessun ; prcs. R. com. Cornub. VV. de I'ok; Th. de Aylesbir; Ric. de Poi<, Galfridus de Lcominstrc capclhin. ad vi- capellanis St. de Cabtell. dat. 4. non. Oclob. car. de Frctcwcll ad pres. prioris et conv. pont. 10. s'cte Fridcswide. 1. kal. Octob. pent. 10. Joli. Pockebroc subd. ad cccl. de Blc- Guide de Dalude subd. ad cccl. de Ha- chcsdon ad pres. R. do Prestckole. mclhamstcdc ad prcs. R. com. Pictnv. ft Mag'r binion dc Staiitede subd. ad cccl. dc Cornub. ^ R. Dod.s. MS. vol. 107. p. :h. I Ibid. p. 79. ^ OL. 1. u u 330 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. venit ; videlicet quod de ccetero quolibct priore de Pothele amoio vet drfiincto quilihct successor amoti vcl defuncti debet sine cotifradicfione dicto Radulfo et hceredibus suis ut capitaUbus dominis de U'estbatter- ton servitium pertinens ad feodum unius inilitis pro eodcm terra secun- dum tenorem chartce domini Thomce de Mazcey quam dicti prior et conventus habcnt de ipsa terra : quam quidcm chartam dictus Radul- phus pro se et hceredibus suis verbo ad vcrbum prcedictis priori et con- venfui covfirmavit. Nee poterunt dictus Rad/n'p/ius vcl hceredes sui omplius quam ihi exprimitur exigere, nee aliquis prior dicti loci valebit contra hoc venire. In cujus rei testimonium hoc scriptum cyrogra- phatum hinc inde sigil/is partium roboratur. Hiis testihus ; Samp- sone Foliofh, Radulfo de Bingedon, Radulfo Jilio Alani, Ric. de Dur- Tteford, Petro de Muribi, Elia Ckrico, IViltielnio de Hac, Roh. de Po- thele, Ric. de Estwode, Ada??? de Middleton, et aliis "". To the original indenture is the seal of the convent of Poghele, im- pressed with a monk in religious habit treading on a dragon or fiery serpent ; the inscription obliterated. This donation of Westbatterton to the priory of Poghele in Berks. is recited in the confirmation of Hen. III. an. reg. 32. De dono Tho?nce de Mazcey totam terra??i qua??i tenuit in IFestbaterton sine ullo rete?ie?nento ". Soon after this the said Ralph de Chesterton, knight, gave to the priory of Burcester all his right and claim in the said service of one knight's fee in the village of Bettreton, payable at the death of every respective prior of Pothele. 0}?inibus Christi fdelibus hoc pi^cesens sc)'ip(u?n visu?'is vel audituris do??iinus Radulfus de Cestreton miles salutc?n in Do?ni?io se?npitcrna?n. Nove?'it universitas vest?'a ?nc pro salute cuiitnce meee, et ani??ia)'um pa- tris niei et matris mece et flioru?n ??ieoru?n antecesso?'um et successorum vieorum dedisse concessisse et hac prcesenti charta i?iea confrmassc Deo et ecclcsice beafce Marice et sanctce Edburgic virgi?iis de Burn- cester et canonicis ibide?n Deo servientibus ct i?i perpetuum sei'vitui'is f" Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glyurie, Bar. " Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 266, AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, kc 331 in libera?n puram et perpetuam cleemosinam f of inn jus et clamhnn (juod hahui vcl quoquo mudo habere pofui in rcdditu et sen.'ifio Jinius J'eodi viiUtaris in villa de Betreton cum omnibus pertinentiis snis in qnibus prior el domus de Pulhelee nii/ii el hceredibus vieis lenebanlur^ vide- licet quotienscunque aliquis prior in dido prioralu de Pothele viorluiis fail vcl amotus per cartam dicfce domus centum solidi sterlingorum ut prcedictum est milii et hceredibus nieis reddendi sunt, quatn scilicet cartam dicti canonici de Burncestre habent de dono weo habendam et tencndam de me ct hceredibus meis dictis canonicis et eorum successo- libus ut prcedictum est in liberam puram et perpetuam eleemosinam salvo mihi et hceredibus meis forinseco serritio inde debito et consueto. Ut hcec autem mca donatio conccssio et chartcc niece conjirmatio rata et stabilis in perpetuum permancat prcesenti scripto sigillum ineum a/)posui. Uiis tesfibus ; dominis Nicholao de Cyfrewast, Nicholao de Henrede, Richardo de eadcm, Richardo Paupere militibus ; Elya dc Rokebi/, WilUehno de Speholt, Roberto de Eton, et oliis". To the original is affixed a seal, with an inscription, that seems to be the mitre of a bishop, with this inscription, Sigillum Hadulfi De Cestreton. The king at Westminster, October the fifth, committed to Richard carl of Cornwall and baron of St. Walery the manor of Bensington com. Oxon. with the h\mdred and all apperlenance ; sending a uian- date to the shcrifi' to give him seisin of it p. At the same time the king directed this mandate to the barons of the exchequer relating to the said earl. Mandatum est baronibus de scaccario quod inquisitionem faciant si terra ilia in ParVa JVelcdon (in com. Northampt.) de qua per summo- nifionem scaccarii exigitur a Richardo de Punchardou xl'. et quam Richardus comes Cornubitc cui rex dedif honorem S. ffalerici dedit An. 11. lloh. Grosthcart. dc Ilpyford Warin ad pros, d'nc Margcric M.ig'r Joli. dc Brudiport subd. ;id cctl. de Ridvcriis coin, de Insula. o Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynnc, Bar. r R. Dods. MS. vol. 109. f. 12. (I II 1' 332 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. eiJem R'lcanlo sit de prcedicto honore vcl non ; ct si Robertus ilr Braybrock tempore quo idem honor fait in manu domini Joannis regis eandem terrain tenuit adjirmani de concessione ipsitis regis de prcedicto honore pro xi.. solidis anntiis ad scaccarium reddendis. Et si per inqnisitionem illam inqnirere poterint quod prcedicfa terra sit de ho- nore prcedicto et quod prefatus comes earn dederit prcedicto Ricardo postquam rex honorem ilium eidem comiti dederat, et quod prcefatus Robertus terrani illam tenuit de concessione prcefuti regis de honore prcedicto pro prcedictis xl\ dum idem honor extitit in manu sua et lion alia ratione tunc tam ipsum comitem quam ipsum Ricardum ah exactiwie xl'. prcedictoruni in perpetuum quietos esse facial . Teste rcge ■'. An. MccxLV. 29, 30. Henry III. By a council at London three weeks after Candlemas a grant was made the king of twenty shilHngs on every knight's fee, for the mar- riage of his eldest daughter ; one half to be paid at Easter, the other -at Michaelmas. At the collection of which, William Longspe paid 20'. for his one fee in Midlington ; Richard earl of Cornwall 10'. for ten fees in his barony of St. Walery ; the prior of Burcester three marks, &c. '' Richard earl of Cornwall sent now one thoxisand pounds by the knights hospitalers for the relief and assistance of travellers and pil- An. MCCLV. 29, 30. Hen. III. contra episcopum Lincolniensem recalci- Rogerus de Weseham, decanus ecclesiae tare) radicitus sequcstrare et abalienare ; Lincolniensis (rector ecclesicE de Allies- statim et in continenti ipsam magistro Ro- biria) electus est et subrogatus in episco- berto de Marisco coutiilit, non sine magno pum Cestrensem. Episcopus igitur Lin- et multo ecclesiae suae praejudicio, ut multis coliiiensis ccclesiam de Aillesbiria, quam ex videbatur, et injuria; cum a tempore cujus multb tempore desideraverat a decanatu non extat memoria decanatui Lincolniensi Lincolniensi (eo quod credebat dccanum ex semper dignoscitur adhaesisse. Mat. Paris ejus ubertate cornua audaciae assumentem, sub an. 1245. p. 660, 661. 1 R. Dods. MS. vol. lOD. f. 20. ' R. Duds. Collect. Rot. Pip. vol. 15. p. 235. AMBROSDEN, Bl^lU ESTER, &c. 333 jjrims in the Holy Land': and at Christmas entertained at Wa- lingford the king, the queen, and nobility. At whicli time he presented to the church of Hamel-Hanipsted in the archdeaconry of Huntingdon '. And April 22. the same year, the Uing granted to him the manor of Mere with all appertenances, that he might there found a religious house of what order he pleased ". The king now confirmed to Walter de Grey, son of Robert de Grey, nephew of * William archbishop of York, all his lands in Coges given by the said archbishop, and of the gilt of Stephen, son of Henry Simeon and Joan daughter of Robert Arsic his wife, all those lands in Somer- ton, Northbrooke, Frettwell, and Nenton-Purcell, and all the right which he liad in the dowry of Margery de Verun, in the ma- nor of Fairingford, (i. e. Fringford,) with the advowson of that church \ AI)out this time William Longspe, by right earl of Salisbury* though he had never possession of that earklom, lord of the manors of Burcester and Midlington, gave to the priory of Burcester a cer- tain pasture land called Heescroft, lying on the west side of the highway leading to Wrechwich as far as the bridge, with the \vhole meadow ground adjoining, to enclose and convert at their pleasure ; as also his whole right and title in a n)ill which Robert Puff held of him, saving to himself and heirs the free grinding of corn for their own family ; as also a messuage in Crocwell, for which the said ca- nons used to pay yearly fifteen pence : in consideration of all which the canons did remit to him and his heirs si.xty shillings yearly rent, which they had in the mill of Wivesly. Sciant pnesenfesctfutitri quod ego Jfilliclmiis Lungspt; dciU et con- cessi et prcescnti c/iarfa men coi/Jiriiiari Deo et eecles'ue beatce Mar'ue et sanctce Etlhiirgcc rirg/nis de Berencestcr et etmoincls ibidem Deo scrvienfih/is fofain cu/tura/n terrtp. mete qu(P rocafur Heescroft qiueja- * U'alter. • Milt. Par. sub an. • R. Do(U. MS. vol. 107. f. SI. " lb. vol. 80. f. \M. » Ibid. 334 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. cef ex occideiitali parte rcgalis vice qua itur verstts Wrcchtvich usque ad pontcm cum toto prato uieo dominico intra dictam culturani et aquavi adjacentem ad claudendam ct fucieudam qulcquid iude dict'is canonicis placuerit. Prccterea dedi et concessi die/is canonicis quic- quid habui vel habere potui in molcndino quod Robertus Puff de me tenuit cum omnibus pertinentiis suis et sectis et cum omnibus libertati- bus ad dictum molendinum pertinentibus salva mihi et liceredibus meis vwlitura libera fumiUce nostrcB quieta in dicto moleudino sicut ego et anteccssores viei solebamus in tempore dicti Roberti et antecessorum suorum. Prccterea concessi eisdem quoddam messuagium de Crocwell wide dicti canonici solebant reddere annualim mihi quindccem dena- rios. Hcec omnia concessi dictis canonicis habend. ct tenend. in perpe- tuuni de me et hceredibus meis in liberam et perpetuam eleemotiinam et omnimodo quietam. Et ego dictus Jnilie/mus Lungespe et hceredcs mei dictam culturam et omnia alia prcenominata dictis canonicis versus omnes gentes debemus warantizare. Pro hac autem donatione et con- cessione et chartce mece confrmatione et warantizatione prcedicti ca- nonici concesserunt et quietum clamaverunt mihi et hceredibus ineis sexaginta solidutos redditus quos hahebant in molendino de tVivelslya ex donatione magistri Galfr. Geboyn et concessione mea. Et ut hcec mca donatio ct concessio et chartce mece conjirmatio et warantizatio rata et stabilis in posterum pern/aneat, prcesenti scripto sigillum meum apposui. Hiis tcstibus ; domino Nicholao Malens, domino Ricardo Lungespe, Henrico de la Mare, Johamie de Muel militibus ; Stephano Lungespe, Rogero de London seneschallo, Rad. de Funceis, IFillielmo Fuckeram, Alano Pagano, Thoma persona de Holem. Rogero de Der- reford, Ricardo de Sutton, JVillielmo de Prestewod, JFalhameth Pau- pere, Roberto de Firefont, Roberto Clerico, et multis aliis. To the original parchment a seal appends with the arms of that family, six lions rampant, and this inscription, )J< Sigillum Willi Lungespe'. J Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 3.S5 An. MCcxLVi. 30, 31. Henry HI. William de Hampton (now Hampton Poyle) lord of UiaL manor Ihen valued at 8'. 14'. per tui. died this year, and the following inqui- sition was made by a jury of neighbouring inhabitants. Inquisttio facta per IFalterum Philbert, Jf^iUiclmitm Juvenem de Weston, Petruni de fFcndlehury, Galfr. le Brocher, Adam clericnni de Blechesdon, Jf^iU'iehnuni de Weston, If alteram le IFeries, Ifalte- rum le Otheslar, fFUUelmitm Juvenem de Hampton, Jo. Gilbert, Ro- gerum clericuni de JVcndlchury, et JFillielinum Such, quantum terra; IVilliehnus de Hampton tenuit de domino rege in capite in com. O.ion. et per quod servitium et quantum terra ista valeat per an. et quis pro- pinquior hceres ejus sit. Qui jur. dicunt quod prcedictus JFillielnius tenuit manerium de Hampton quod val. per an. octo libr. et quatuordc- cim solid, pro quo vianerio una cum manerio de Weleive in com. Sutht. quod nunc tenent monachi de Con. Scti Ed'ri fecit domino regi servi- tium feodi unius militis. Dicunt etiani quod Stephanus Filing ejus [iropinquior ejus hceres est ^. Richard earl of Cornwall and William de Longspe were by the king's writ acquitted from their payment of the aid imposed the last year. O.von. Fie. Alanus de Farnham. Isti sunt quieti per breve. JFilliclmus de Lungespee de 1. feod. Gerardi de Camvill in Mid- liiigton . 12. Rob. Grosthead. Line.) Hugoncm capellanuin ad cccriain Girardus de Farann' subd. ad cccl. de de Suncreford vacantem per mortem Alex- Horspad ad pres. R. com. Cornub. et Pic- aiidri de Suncreford thesaurarii S'cti Pauli tiiv. London, ct pcrsonte occl'iie de Suncreford. ad cccl. dc llcnle ad pres. R. com. Dat. die Omnium S'ctorum, 1 2\('t. Ex cro- C'ornub. ct Pictav. per resign. Ph. de Eya. nico Oscneiensi, foL 198. Bib. Cotton. Vi- An. Mccxi.vi. 30, 31. PIcn. IIL tcllius. E. 15. Abb. Oscney jiresentat (R. tunc ep'o - R. Dods. Extract. Escheat. MS. vol. 93. p. 1. 330 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Com. Ric.fr. R. de ^.feod. Tlioni. de S. na/erico'. These ])arts must be now concerned in the scrutiny made by the bishop of Lincoln, who, at the instigation of the predicants and mi- nors, commanded his archdeacons and rural deans to make strict in- quisition of the lives and manners of all nobility and connnonalty within their precincts ; which was thought such a grievance, that on complaint the king stopped the proceedings ^ Ralph de St. Amand of Grendon in com. Bucks, died this year, and left Almaric his son and heir \mder age, whose wardship, with the benefit of his marriage, was obtained by Paylyn Peyvre an active man of that age ^ An. MccxLvii. 31, 32. Henry III. William Longspe lord of Burccster and Midlington, &c. having again taken upon him the cross, in order to another pilgrimage to the Holy Land, came to Rome, and spake thus to the pope ; Sir, you see that I am signed with the cross, and am on my journey with the king of France tojight in this pilgrimage. My name is great and of note, viz. ini/iam Longspe, but my estate is slender ; for the king of England, my kinsman and liege lord, has deprived me of the title of earl, and of that estate. But this he did Judiciously, and not in An. 13. Rob. Grosthead. ad pres. d'ne Margerie de Riperiis vacant. Phil, de Eya subd. ad eccl. de Ambres- per ingressum magr'i J. de Brideport ult. don ad pros. R. com. Corniib. rcctoris. D'n's Aldeniarus frater d'ni regis ad eccl. Job. de Axebrug subd. ad eccl. de Fine- de Dadinton (ad pres. d'ni Rad'i Harcng mere ad pres. abb'is et conv. S. Augustini ratione terre Alicie uxoris sue viventis ct in Bristol. manu sue existentis) per mort. Ranulfi Bri- Nich. de Anna subd. ad eccl. de Beckelcgh ton. 3fl pres. priorisse de Stodley. Joh'es de Stanton subdiac. ad eccl. de Mag'r Tho. de Hangrave diac. ad vicar. Finemcre ad pres. abb'is et conv. S. Augus- eccl'ie de Cuddesden ad pres. abb'is et conv. tini Bristol. de Abbendon. Lauren. Espur subd. ad eccl. de Heyford » R. Dods. MS. vol. II. p. 2i6. b Brady, Hist. p. 597. <= Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. 20. a. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 337 displeasure, or by the impulse of his will ; therefore I do not blame him for it. Ilmvbeit I am necessitated to haxie recmirse to your holiness for favour, desiring your assistance in this distress. JVe see here that earl Richard (of Cornwall) ivho though he is not signed tvith the cross, yet through the especial grace of your holiness, he hath got very much money from those ivho are signed. And therefore I, ivho am signed and in tvant, do intreat the likefavoxir. The pope taking into consideration tlie elegancy of his speaking, the efficacy of his rea- sons, and the comeliness of his. person, granted to him in jiart what he desired. AVhereupon he received above a thousand marks fnjni those who had been signed''; though he did not begin his expedition till about two years after ^ In the sherifTs accounts of this year, it appears that the manor of Pidington, the late possession of Godfrey de Craucumb, was now es- cheated to the king, and Hugh de Garget answered for the revenues of it. Oxon. Alanus de Fariiham I ic. Hugo G ergot de exit i bus manerii de Pidington quod full Godefi'idi de Craucumb ^. Richard earl ol" Corn\vall presented this year to the churches of Ambrosden, Horspath, and Brightwell *''. This earl on June the Ijrth caused the church of Beaulieu, a Cis- tertian abbey of his father king John's foundation, to be consecraleil by William bishop of Winchester, at which ceremony he entertained the king and queen and their children, with many nobles : from which place he carried twenty monks and ten convert brethren lo stock his new abbey of Heyles nigh WinchcomI) in Glocest.'' the foundation of which was begun in the preceding year, to accomplish a vow which he had made in danger of shipwreck '. An. .'VK ( xi,\ 1 1 1. 32,33. llciiry 111. Audomar the king's brother was j)resented to the church of Da- 'I Dugd. Bar. toin I. p. I7!S. -^ Mat. l':ir. ' H. Dods. MS. vol. 1.'.. p. l7'>. ■'''■• \.,\. 107. p. /!'• ^ Annal. Wavcrl. sub an. ' Mon. Ang. toui. I. p. "JUS. «. VOJ-. I. XX 338 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. (lington com. O.xon. by Ral})h Harcnge, who had the advowson in right of Alice his wife ''. Within the same year the prioress of Stod- ley presented to the church of Beckley '. About this time WiUiam son of John Flerd de Chesterton in He- nemarsh gave to the church of Oseney his whole claim and title to one messuage with a croft and garden and other appertenances, which li€ held from that convent, in a hamlet called Brokend, by the service of twelve pence per an. Sciant prccsentes et futitri quod ego ff^'WiehnusJiliiis Joliannis Flerd de Cestreton in Heneiners dedi et concessi, ^c. ecclesicB S. Marice de Oseney illud messuagium cum crofto et gardino et aim pertinentiis quod de eis et eorum ecclesia tenui in hameleto quod vocatur Brokend per servitium duodeceni denarioruni, §-c.™ In the purparty now assigned to William de Valence and Joan his wife one of the heirs of Walter Mareschal earl of Pembroke, was the knight's service which John Morell held of the said earl in Grendon com. Bucks, and the knight's service which Paulin Peyvre held of the said earl in Chilton, and the service which Hamo de S. Faith held in the said village of Chilton ". The latter end of this year in March Willian) Longspe, lord of the manor of Burcester, granted and confirmed to Valentine son of William Clerk one messuage late in possession of Matthew Dean in Holemer, and all the land in the late tenure of John de Cross on the east part of that messuage, and one croft enclosed in the west part of that messuage, and all the arable land between the said messuage, and the land late in possession of Jeffery le Sleye and Colesmannesriding, &c. for the yearly rent of two shillings and six- pence. Sciant prccsentes ct futuri quod ego Jfilliehnus Lungespie dedi et 14. Rob. Grosthead. tloii ad pres. d'ni B. com. Cornub. Walterus de Stok diac. ad eccl. de Gren- •< Ex. Rcgist. I.iiic. ' Ibid. "> E.\ Kegist. Oscn. " Hog. Dods. MS. vol. 108. f, 5y. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 339 conccssi et proisenti charta mea conjirmavi Valentino Jilio Ifi'lliehni Clerici pro homagio et servitio suo quicquid habui vel habere potui vel in posterum habere potero in messuagio cum pertinentiis quod fuit quondam Matthei Decani in Holemer et in tota terra qucefuit Johan- nis de Cruce in orientali parte dicti messnogii et in una crqfta clausa in occidental} parte dicti messuagii et in tota terra arabili inter dictum mcssiiagium et terrain qucefuit quondam GalJ'ridi le Sleye ct Colesman- nesriding et in tota terra cum pertinentiis quam Alanus Payen aliquando tenuit in dominico inter prcefatum messuugium et croftas prccdictas et terram Gilberti hichfot ex parte boreali prcpfati messuagii et in tota terra cum pertinentiis quam idem Alanus habuit de terra Sebeth cunt duabus pedis dictce ferrce pertinentibus salvo tamen Alano Pa- gen ad vitam ipsius Aluni tantum libertate pannagii porcorum et busche in charta Matthei Decani contenta quce libertas post decessum prcrfati Alani dicto Valentino et hceredibus suis sive assignatis solute ct quiete sine alicujus clamio remanebit. Prceterea dedi et conccssi pra;fato Valentino hceredibus et assignatis suis homagium et tofum servitium quod Alanus Payen mihi facere debuit et consuevit de terris et tenementis qua' de me tenuit vel tenere debuit in dicta villa de Ho- lemer. Habendam et tenendam dicto Valentino Clerico et hceredibus suis sive assignatis, ^-c. reddendo inde annuatim duos solidos et sex dcnarios scilicet ad annunciationem heatce Marice virginis quindecem denarios et ad festum Sancti Michaelis quindecem denarios, 6fc. Et ut hcec mea concessio warantia defensio et acquictatio et chartcc mecc conjirmatio rata et inconcussa in posterum perseverent, prccsentem cliartam sigilli mei munimine roboravi. Iliis testibus ; dominis Hen- rico et Matthia de Mara fratribus, Johanne de Barantino, Radulfo de Aungies, Roberto Mauncel militibus; Michaele Manned, Tho. Mann- ed, Roberto et Henrico de Kingesliide, Thom. de fVardovre et aliis. Datum mense Martii anno gratue millesimo ducentesiino quadragesimo octavo et regni regis Henri jil. Regis Johannis triccsimo tertio". bcc tlie contiinialion of this and other precedent grants to "^ Ex Orig. contiruiiit. penes D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. X X 2 340 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. the said Valentine Clerii by William Longspe the third, son of William, under the year 1254. On the death of Walter, abbot of Hide nigh Winchester, Roger de S. Walery succeeded to tliat honor p. An. MccxLix. 33, 34. Henry III. The king reduced to great wants borrowed large sums of his bro- ther Richard earl of Cornwall, and caused new money to be coined in most cities and large towns, out of which he fully repaid his bro- ther, and gave him one half of the profits of coinage, which made him inmiensely rich ''. Within which year the said earl presented to the church of Grendon in the archdeaconry of Bucks ^ The manor of Pidington within the parish of Ambrosden being now in the custody of Hugh Gargate, the tenants of the said manor were discharged from a tax of sixteen povmds and half a mark by the king's mandate to the sheriff. Clans. 33. Hen. III. Rex illas x\'i. lihras et dbnuUuni marcce ad quas homines quifuerint Godefridi de Crancumbe in Pydinton, 8^c. nu- per talliati fuerunt assignavit ponendas per visum Hugonis Gargate custodis prcedictorum maneriorum in prcpdictis muneriis insfaiirandis. Et mandatuni est vicc-comiti Oxon. quod homines de preedicto mane- rio de Pydinton pro prcedicto tat/agio de cetero non distringat. Teste rege apud Westminstr. ix. die Maii \ Nigh this time Philip Basset baron of AVycomb, son of Alan Bas- set, gave to the church of St. Edburg of Bercncestre and the ca- nons, sixteen acres of arable land and one acre of meadow in the fields of Berencestre, with four messuages in the said village for pcr- Ann. 15. Rob. Grosthead. tewell ad pros. R. com. Cornub. mand. Rob. capellanus ad eccl. de Cestreton ad R. archid'o Oxon. pres. d'ni Rad'i de Cestreton mil. Mag'r Alex, de Capuan ad eccl. de Hors- Hfiir. de Eston capellan. ad eccl. de Brit- path ad pres. R. com. Cornub. P Annal. Eccles. Winton. apud Whart. Ang. Sac. pars 1. p. 305>. q Chron. Tlio. Wilkes sub an. ■" R. Dods. MS. vol. 10". f. 73. s ibid. vol. 108. f. 78. AMBROSDEN, BURf ESTER, &c. 341 pctual alms, excepting a certain reserved rent to the lords of the de- mesne, in this form of donation. Oninihus Christi JidcUbiis ad qiios prcesens sciiptum pervcvcrit P/ii/ippKS Basset sahitem in Domino. Noveritis nos dedissc coiices- sisse et hoc prcesenti scripto nostra covfir masse pro salute animce nostra; vt animaruni antecessoriim ■nostrorum Deo et beatce Marice et ecclesicn S. Edburgee de Bei'encester et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibiis scx- decem acras terrce drabilis et nnam acram prati in campis de Beren- cester una cum qnatuor messuagiis in eadem vit/a cum pertinentiis quce hahnimus in villa de Berencester. ffabenda et tenenda sibi et succes- soribus suis de nobis et hcfredibus nostris in purani et per pet nam elee- mosinam quictam et solutam ab omni scpculari servitio curiaruni sectis et omnibus aliis demandis. Salvo redditu inde debito nomine vostro ct hceredum nostrorum per dictos religiosos reddendo. Nos vero et Inrredes nostri dictani terram et pradictani acram. prati cum prcedictis ■mcssuagiis contra omnes homines et ftp minus tvarantizabimus acquieta- hinius et difondemns in perpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium huic scripto sigillum nostrum fecimus apponi. Hiis testibus ; dominis IVil- lielnio de Insula, Radulfo de Cestreton, Thoma de Breale militibus ; Philippo de JFappcley, Ilogero de Codesford, If^idone de Turresme, Alano dc Turresme, ct aliis '. To the original in parchment is a seal appending with the arms of this family, nndie, white, and bine, and this inscription Sigillum Philippi Basset. There is another original confirmation of these lands, in the same form and with the same witnesses, this only alteration. Salvis capi- fdlibus dominis feodorum illoruni servitiis quce de dictis terra prato ct inessuagiis debcntur : quce servitia dicti viri religiosi et eoruni succes- sor es pro nobis et lucrcdibus nostris facere tenentur, prout chart ce ori- ginates quas dicti viri religiosi habcnt dc feoffatoribus per tnuUtioncm nostrum plenius important, ^-c. To this confirming charter a seal appends with the same arms on ' Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glyniie, Bar. 342 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. a shield with a crescent over it, to shew this is the younger family to that of Hedendon, or to denote this Philip to be the younger brother of Fouke, now dean of York, from whom a large estate soon after devolved to this Philip. Adomar de Lezignian, brother to king Henry and parson of the church of Dedington com. Oxon. had the custody of the lands of Thurstan Despenser, whose widow Lucia had the manor of Ewelm in this county assigned for her maintenance till her dowry should be set forth, the marriage of the heir being granted to Paulin Peyvre of Chilton, com. Bucks". An. MccL. 34, 35. Henry III. William Longspe, lord of Burcester and Midlington, in the month of July with several nobles under his command, went over and joined with the army of the king of France in an expedition to the Holy Land, where by many valiant exploits he purchased the French envy, and his own glory : taking a strong tower near to Alexandria, and surprising the merchandize and provisions of the enemy\ This year Sir Ralph de Chesterton, knight, presented a clerk to the church of Chesterton ''. Richard earl of Cornwall did again present to the vacant churches of Ambrosden and * Brightwell '. And in April he took ship for France with Senchia his countess and Henry his eldest son, passing through that kingdom with forty knights attending him, with such * Rectores ecd'iae de Brightwell com. Rob. More. 8. Feb. 1496. Reg. Smith, ep'i Oxon. Line. D'nus Joh. Porter p'b'r pres. per Job. Mag'r Nich'as Bradbridge, A. M. p'b'r Fortescu pro corpore d'ni regis militem ac pres. per Adrianum Fortescu et Anriam gardianum et custodem Joh'is Stoner filii et uxorem ejus filiam et heeredem VVill'i Stoner haeredis Will. Stoner militis nuper defuncti mil. defuncti ad eccriam de Bawdev.) n ratione minoris aetatis dicti Joh'is ad eccl. Bryghtwell per mort. d'ni Joh'is Porter, de Bryghtwell Line. dioc. per mort. mag'ri 30. Jul. 1502. ib. u Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 389. '^ M«t. Par. p. 783, &c, J R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 79. » Ibid. AMBROSDEN, BURCE8TER, &c. 343 ^l»lentiitl equipage, that the French aihiiired and envied the glorions vliew. When he came to Lions before Rogation- week the pope re- ceived liim there with great honor, and dined at the same table witli liim". About Michaehnas he returned into England, and at Christ- mas his co\mtess was delivered of a son at Berkamsted, whom the archbishop of Canterbury baptized by the name of Edmimd, in ho- nour of St. Edmund archbishop ''. Alice de Craucumb, a sister in the nunnery of Stodlcy, was elected prioress of the said house ; li- cence of electing being first asked and obtained from Richard earl of Cornwall patron '. Robert Grosthead bishop of Lincoln, attended by the archdeacon of Oxford, went over to the pope to answer the appeal of the Knights Templars and other religious, who would have been ex- empted from his jurisdiction, and by their money bought so much of the pope's favour, that the poor bishop came home with disap- pointment''. But how much the religion and good discipline of these parts were secured by the vigilance of this exemplary diocesan, appears from the declaration that he himself now made before the pope and cardinals, wherein he told them, that upon his first conse- cration he considered himself to be a bishop and pastor of souls, and therefore thought it necessary, (lest the blood of his flock should in the last judgment be retjuired at his hands,) with all diligence as the Scripture advises and commands, to visit the sheep committed to him. For which reason he began a circuit of visitation in his dio- cese throiigh each respective archdeaconry, and in each of them Anno IG. Rob. Grosthead. Middclinpton ad pres. abb. et conv. de Bar- Mag'r Will, de Mara diac. ad eeel. de liiifj. Ottendon ad pres. prioris et conv. de Be- \\ ill. de Howell ad ecel. de Weston ad lencestr ; comraissa est ei eccl'ia sub ti- pres. d'ni Wydonis fil. Rob'ti militis. tulo coninieiido donee ep'us rcvocaverit, Job. eapellan. ad ecel. de Newe- ep'o tunc agente in transinarinis. ton ad pres. prioris et conv. de Bercncestr. V'alentinus de Dorsetta subd. ad ecel. de per resign. Steph'i rertoris cjusd. <■ Mat. West, sub an. t- Ibid. <= Regist. Line. '' Mat. West, sub an. 344 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. through the several rnrul deaneries, causing the clergy of every deanery in order to meet at a certain time and place, who should give notice to the people to appear on the same day with their chil- dren to be confirmed, and to hear the word of God, and to confess. In which assemblies of the clergy and people, he himself ditl often preach to the clergy, and a friar predicant or minor to the laity ; after which four of the friars heard confessions and enjoined pe- nance : and when the children were confirmed on that and the fol- lowing day, then he and his clergy applied themselves to the inquisi- tion, correction, and reformation of abuses, &c. ' An. MccLi. 35, 36. Henry III. In a battle of the Saracens and Christians between Damieta and Kairo, William Longspe behaving himself with the greatest bravery, after he had killed above one hundred of the enemy with his own hand, was there slain, and two years after his body was brought to Acres and buried in the church of St. Cross. The men of miracles report that his noble mother Ela, abbess of Lacock, saw his soul entering the heavens : w hich story is remembered by M. Paris, and thus de- livered in the register of Lacock. Gulielmus Longspe secundus qui viriliter contra hostcs Cliristi in Terra Sancta dimicans ibidem pro nomine Jcsu confumcliam patiens vi- An. MccLt. 35, 3G. Hciiry III. eccl'ie sibi et hcredibus rcnianontc. Hcc Compositio inter abbateni de Oseney ct carta confirmatur per Joh'eiu regem. Chrou. rectorem de Mixbury qui tunc fuit Johan- Osen. Vitell. E. f. 134. nes cancellar. Ebor. Testibus, Joh'e ar- 17- Rob. Grosthcad. chid. Cornub. Rog. archid. Exon. Will. Job. de Gnatteshul capellan. ad vicar. cancellar. Well. Acta Parisiis 1251, die eccl. de Cudesdon ad pres. abbis et conv. Martis proxima ante Pascha. Ex cronico de Abbendon. Osneiensi, fol. 91. Bib. Cotton. Vitellius, Rog. de Bocking capellan. ad eccl. de E. 15. Hey ford ad ponteni ad prcs. Ric'i de Han- Carta Tho. de Walerico de toto manerio red laici. suo de Mixbury salvo jure suo patronatus >= Whart. Ang. Sac. torn. 2. p. 347. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. .145 tarn fevipora/em Ji7iiens in C/iristo sine fine victurus, tit fertitr, athleta Dei ad coeli palatiinn A. D. 1249, ascendit, cujus animam Domina E/a mater ipsiiis tunc existens abhatissa de Lacock vidit ccelos penc- tranteni in stallo suo et coram cceteris sororibus denunciavit '. This date of 1249, can be ai)plicd only to his first expedition ; thai his death was in 1250, all historians agree s. He left Idonea his widow, and William his son and heir : after his death the king seized all his lands.; but in October this same year re- stored the manors of Burcester and Midlington to the said widow Idonea as her rightful dowry, with what other lands were her proper inheritance from her father Richard de Camvill, and she doing her homage had hvery of them. Idonea qucefuit uxor IViUiehni Lungspe fecit regi quod facere de- biiit pro seisina hahenda de terris qnce sunt de hcereditatc sua propria quas rev cepit in manum suam post mortem prcsdicti JH-lliehni. Et mandatum est, &fc. T. 11. 14. Octoh. S^-c. '' On the death of Richard de Prestcote an inquisition was made in these parts by Peter de Wendlebury and otlier jurors, who upon oath reported, that the said Richard held two hides of land in the village of Blechesdon of Richard de Greynvil, viz. one hide in serjeantry from the king by the service of carrying one shield of brawn before the king when he hunted in the forest of Whichwood : and one otlier hide by the service of the fourth part of one knight's fee of the fee of Henry Bagot, the value of each hide forty shillings : and that Walter de Prestcote was tlie next heir of the said Richard, then twenty-four years of age '. When Richard earl of Cornwall had expended ten thousand marks in finishing the monastery of Hales com. Gloc. he had the church solemnly dedicated to St. Mary on the ninth of November'', in pre- sence of the king and (jueen, and thirteen bish()j)s, and uiost of the barons, with above three hundreil knights, whom he entertained with f Cit. c Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. J II. K Mat. Par. Mat. West. Tho. Wikcs, &c. sub an. •' \\. Dugd. MiJ. B. p. 7(;. ' K. Dods. MS. vol. 93. f. 8. ^ -Men. Ang. toiii. 1. p. -M(i. \ oi.. I. V y .346 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. incredible state and j)Ienty, letting fall this generous and devout ex- pression, / tvish it had pleased God that all viy great expcnccs in viy castle of Walingford had been as tvisely and soberly employed '. After the whole solemnity was over, he gave the monks one thousand marks to purchase lands or build houses : and the king by charter settled on them the yearly rent of twenty pounds"'. Nigh this time Henry de Merch of the town of Mersh in this neighbourhood, gave the advowson of the church of Stibenton (now Steventon) in com. Bedf. to the abbey of Thorney, which his son Eustace de Mersh after confirmed ". Aymer de Lezignian by the mother's side brother of the king, having been lately presented to the church of Dedington com. Oxon. being not above twenty-three years of age, was by the king's impor- tunity elected bishop of Winchester, and confirmed by the pope ", and by him consecrated, an. 1260, with great opposition of the barons, who represented him to the pope as one that hati disturbed the king- dom, and infatuated the king and prince p. An. MccLii. 36, 37. Henry III. By letters patent dated May 31, the king granted to Richard earl of Cornwall the manors of Okeham com. Rut. and Lechlade com. Gloc. which had belonged to Isabel de Mortimer, to hold to the said earl and his heirs becrotten on the bodv of Senchia his wife : and by another charter granted to him and his heirs b>' the said lady, a weekly market on Monday at the said manor of Okeham ''. John de Grendon canon of Nutley com. Buck, was elected abbot of the said house, licence being first asked and obtained from Simon Mont- fort patron \ 18. Rob. Grostliead. leslep ad pres. abb'is et conventus Westm. Walt, dc Tudinton subd. ad eccl. dc Ys- ' Mat. Par. sub an. »" Annal. Waver, sub an. " W. Dugd. MS. B. p. 76. « An- nal. Waverl. sub an. P Whart. Ang. Sacra, pars J. p. 310. i R. Dods. MS. vol. 80. p. 169. 'lb. vol. 107. i. 71. AMBR08DEN, BURCESTER, &c. 347 About the fifth of Hen. III. there had been a dispute between William Longspe earl of Salisbury and the abbot of Barlings, upon the right of patronage to the church of Midlinton, which being now again void, the abbot of Barlings presented to it'. William Longspe son and heir of William Longspe and Idonea his wife, upon the death of his mother had livery of her estate of Mid- lington, paying for his relief fifty shillings. Oxon. Aichohius de Ilenrcd, Vice-Corn. fFilfielmus Lungespe flius et hteres Idonece qucefidt uxor IViUietnn Ltwsrespe l\ pro relevio sua dc terris quas prcedicta Idunea tenuit de regc in capite '. Upon which he did his homage to the king on October the 19Ui. B.. cepit homagium IFillielmi de Longspe filii et hceredis Idonece, (pur fiiit uxor IFiUiclmi de Longspe de omnibus terris quas ipsa Idonea te- nuit de R. in capite in com. Oxon. et V. pro relevio, et V. pro relevio in com. Buck T. R. Sfc. 19. Octob. " There was after in an. 1256, a new claim of a greater relief to be paid by the said William Longsjic, and it was referred to the barons who adjudged that his mother Idonea holding from the king /// capite two baronies, one of Nichola de Hay in Lincolnshire, the other of Gerard de Camvill in this county, he should answer to the king for the said baronies the sum of two hundred j)oihk1s. Memorand. quod in originali de an. xxxvi. Hen. III. continetur quod rex cepit homagium IFiUiehni Longespeye de omnibus terris qitcc fucrunt ipsius Idonece, ^-c. prcedicta Idonea tenuit de rege in capite duas baronias viz. baroniam qua- fuit Nicbolai de la Ilayc in com. Lin- coln, et baroniam qucefuit Gerardi de Kaunvile in com. Oxon et idco consideratum est per barones quod prwdictus ffilliclmus respondeat domino regi de ducenfis libris pro relevio suo de prccdiclis baroniis : ft non de V. sicuf continetur in prcedicto originali ". The adjoining manor of Ludgarshall had been held iu dowiy by " U. Dods. MS. vol. 107. f. 79. ' Rot. Pip. Extrac. K. Uods. " W. Uugd. CoUrc. Kc.t. fin. vol. H. I. .MS. ]). .ill. » H. Dods. MS. vol. 20. p. 83. V V -2 348 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Sibil de HunlingHeld, by whose death or marriage without the king's consent it was escheated to the crown, and Thomas Mannscll the king's escheator for that county did for this year's profits account to the king thirty-five shilHngs. Buckingham cf Bedford. Alex, dc Hmnmeden Jic. Thomas Maiinsel escactor regis in com. Biik. de manerio dc hutegaresall quod Sibilla de Huntingfeld tenuit in dotcm ; sicut comp. regi xxxv'. ^ The king this year granted the hermitage of Brill to the canons of * Chetwood % to find a chaplain of their own order to serve in the chapel of St. Wercburg at the hermitage of Brill, and another chap- lain to serve in the chapel of his court at Brill "; by this charter. Henricus Dei gratia rex AnglicB, Sfc. omnibus ad quos prcesentes literce pervenerint salutem. Sciatis quod concessimus priori ct canoni- cis de Chetivodc pro nobis et hceredibus nostris hcremitorium S. ff^er- burgce de Brehull cum pcrtinentiis tenendum et habendum eisdem * Omnibus 4jt. Roberfus l^r. mictoritate est per d'num Rob. militem quondam pontificali concedimus quod apud Chetwode in d'num de Clietwode ad celebrand. ibidem Jundo d'ni Rad'i de Normc construatur et edi- divina pro anima et animabus ante- Jicetiir eccl'ia Canonicormn Regulariumordinis cess, et success, suorum, qui dictum locum beati ^ugustini. dat. 17. cal. Decemb. pout, postmodum optinuit dedicari, vulgariter 10. Rot. Rob. Grosthead. (1246.) autem locus ille a laicis Hermita^^ nuncu- Fr. Tho. de Haneworth canonicus de patur propter solitudinem, non quod liere- Thurgarton ad regimen prioratus de Chet- mita aliquis aliquo tempore ibidem solebat wode admissus per d'num Rad'um de Nor- conversari. Capellanus vero ibidem deser- wic. ib. anno. 10. viens in seculari habitu cum honesta fami- Rob. de Walthon capellanus presenta- lia sua ibidem vivere debet; liabct etiam tus per d'num Rad'um de Chetwode mil. ad annuatim xx"- iiii°'* acras terrse ad semi- heremitagium et capellam s'ctorum marty- nandum, et duae marcse annuse et oblationes rum Steph'i et Laurentii per M. archid. et obvcntiones quae proveniunt ibidem die Buck, et in ea custos perpetuus canonice S. Laurentii qute est x^ ib. anno institutus; dictum heremitagium fundatum 12. r R. Dods. MS. vol. 15. p. 304. ^ W. Dugd. MS. O. p. 219. ^ Mon. Ang. vol. 2. p. 339. AMBROSDEN, BIRCESTER, &c. 349 priori et canonicis et eoruni successoribtis in pcrpetuum stent Ricardus de Hreludl capellanun illud temnt. ita quidem quod inveniant singu- lis diehus duos capcUanos divina celebrant es ununi scilicet in eodcni hercniitorio et alium in capella nostra de Breliull sicut fieri consuevit. In cujus ret testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste ineipso apud Brueram iiii'" die Novenihris anno regni 7ios- tri xxxvi'". '' Four yeiirs after, the king ga\e them another charter already pub- lished % wherein he recites, that having berore granted them one ca- rucate of land within the manor of Brehnll to hnd a chaplain at the hermitage of St. Werburg, and fifty shillings yearly to find another chaplain of their own order at his court of Brill, having comj)laint made that the prior and canons were much damnified in their said land, by the trespass of deer and other forest beasts ; he therefore gives them leave to enclose all the arable ground belonging to the said carucate of land, with the grant of five cart-loads of brushwood to maintain their fences, and one dead oak yearly for firing. T. rege apud S. Albanum xx\i. die Fcbruarii anno regni xjl"'°. One Albert, clerk and notary to the jiope, was now sent by his master into England to ofler the kingdom of Arabia to Richard earl of Cornwall, who prudently required security from his holiness by the delivery of some castles or other j)lcdges, to which Albert de- murred till he had got a great many benefices in England, and then repassed the Alps, bringing such an answer to the pope as stopped all farther proceedings '. An. iMccLiii. 37, 38. Henry III. James de Aldithlcy, (alias Audley,) baron of Aldithley in Staff', had a grant irom the king of free warren in all his demesne lands. An. MccLiii. 37, 38. Hen. III. gem ad ccd'jam de Yslep. 22. Mar. Pat. 3/. Adam dc Eston cl'icus regis pres. per re- H. 3. m. II. Lit. dirig. cp'o Line. b Regist. Borstall. sub tit. Breliull. f. li'9. -^ Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 337. b. <* Mat. West, sub an. 350 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. and among others in Slratton (now Stratton Audlov) and Whert- wyke or Wrctchwike. Rex Sf'C. Sciafis nos concessisse, 8fc. dilccto, fyc. Jacobo tie Aldith- leg quod ipse ct hcpredes siii haheavt liberam warrenam in oinmbva dominicis ferris suis — Strattone et Wrechwyhe in com. Oxoti. 8fC. T. R. 16. Nov.' The privilege of" free warren was this, that within such liberty no person should hunt or destroy the game of hare, coney, partridge, or pheasant, without the leave of him to whom the said privilege was granted, under the forfeiture often pounds ^ The manor of Stratton and half that of Wretchwvke came to the said James baron of Audley in frank marriage with Ela his wife, a daughter of William Longspe, which though not observed by Dug- dale^ in the history of these families, does appear from an inquisition taken 8. Edw. I. after the death of the said baron ii. The arms of Aldithley, who were a branch of the family of Ver- don, was frette distinguished with a canton, and thereon a cross pate ; but this James lord Aldithley bore only gules a frette or. The king passing over to Gascoign conmiitted the custody of his whole kingdom to our Richard earl of Cornwall and Walter de Grev archbishop of York '. Which earl Richard granted to the monks of Okeburn, a release of suite and service within his honor of Waling- ford, which charter has a seal appending, being an impress of the said earl armed on horseback, with a lion rampant crowned on his sur- coat, inscribed Sigilhati Richardi Comitis Carnuhice^. Religion and ecclesiastical discipline suifered much in these parts by the death of the excellent diocesan Robert Grosthead, who de- parted this life at Buckden, Nov. 8.' An. MccLiv. 38, 39. Henry III. William Longspe, lord of the manors of Burcester and Midling- e W. Dugd. MS. vol. E. 2. p. 80. f lb. MS. vol. H. p. 233. s Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 176. and 747. h Rot. Pip. ' Chron. The. Wikes, sub an. ^ Men. Ang. tom. !. p. 583. ' Whart. Ang. Sac. tom. 2. p. 342. AMBROSDEN, BUIICESTER, kc 351 ton, nmrried Maud the daugiiter of" Walter baron de Clifford and Margaret his wife, and had with her in frank marriage the manor of Culminton in Shropshire, to the grant of which one of the wit- nesses is Hervey prior of Burcestcr. Iliis fesfibiis ; doinino Hervco priore dc Ber/iccster, domiius Rog. de Clifford, Jacobo de Alditli- This Maud surviving her said husband was after married to John Giffard of Brimsftcld in Glocestershire : who, an. 1283, founded a cell in Oxford (now Glocestcr Hall) for thirteen monks chose from the coijvcnt of Glocester of the Benedictine order, who were to pray for the souls of him and of Maud Longspc formerly his wife ". About this time William Longspe confirmed the several grants made by William his father to Valentine Clerk of lands in Holemer, which are mentioned under the years 1242, and 1248, Omnibus Cliristi Jidelibus ud quos prteseiis scriptum pervenerit JFil- lielmus Lo/igspei tertius salutcm, noveritis mc cartas JVillielmi hojig- apei patris mei et Idonece matris mece inspexisse in hcec verba, ^c. Has autcin dona/ioncs concessioncs et cartarain conjirniationes ratas habe- nius pro me et lueredibus mcis et eas prcesentis scripti munimiuc et si- gilli mei impressione roboravi. Iliis testibas ; dominis Ricardo Long- speif Hugonc de Foresta, Radtdfo de Aungies mi/itibus ; Jf^illielmo de Bellucampo, RicJiardo de ffyggesbi/, Roberto de Harkel, Walhelmo de Rosey, Tlioma Gtdafr. et aliis ". To the original deed of confirmation is a seal appending, with the impress of a gantlet, and this inscription, )J4 Sigillum Willi LiTNGESPiK. But the more common seal of William de Longesj)ie was a sword jjcndant between two Saracens heads. The pope now granted to the king the tenth of all spirituals lor three years, which occasioned a ta.xation of all ecclesiastical revenues to be made through every diocese in England, by Walter bishop of Norwicli delegated by the j)opc to this office '". The present valu- •" W. Dugd. Ms. vol. L. p. 41. " Annal. VVigorn. sub im. 128S, and Mon. Ang. " Ex Orig. peiios Hon D. Giiil. Cllyniic. r .\nnul. Burton, \i. 6.il. 3&2 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. ation of Amlirosden, Burccster, and other adjoining churches, is to be seen under the other taxation made an. 1291. An. MCCLV. 39, 40. Henry III This year there was an aid granted to the king of scutage or forty shilHngs on every knight's fee, for the making prince Edward a kniglit ; upon which Richard carl of Cornwall paid twenty pounds for his ten fees of the barony of St. Walery, and William de Longspe forty shillings for one fee of Gerard de Camvill in Midlingtou. Oxon. Vic. Nicholaus de Henred de i. dim. an. Johannes de Turbcrvill de ulf. dim. an. Auxilium rcgi concess. ad primog. Jil. suuni mil.faciend. sc. de qito- libetfeodoxL'. Com. Ric.fr. reg. xx*. de x.feod. Tho. de S. fVa/erico. IVillielmus de Lungespe reg. comp. xl'. de l.feod. Gerardi de Kan- vil hi Midlington ''. There was this year a design to assart (/. c. to grub and enclose) three acres of land in the forest of Bernwood upon a plain called Fernhurst, between Brill and Pidington ; of which complaint being made, an inquisition was taken by a jury of twelve legal freemen, who returned their verdict that it would be a great prejudice to the forest, especially in the time of fawning or the fence month, which was fif- teen days before Midsummer, and fifteen days after ' ; and a stojipagc An. MCCLV. 39, 40. Hen. 111. Feb. Pat. 40. H. III. m. 15. Rex dedit priori de Clietwode unam ca- Rex . . . omnibus . . . Sciatus quod si contin- rucatani terrae in Brehul ad inveniendum gat Rad'um de Norwico electum in ar'e'pa- unum capellanum sui ordinis ad deserviend. turn Dublin conjirmari tunc dilectum con- cape llseS'ctae Wereburgaj apnd Heremito- sanguineum nostrum Ernnldum de Rovi.i- rium de Brehul et 50 sol. ann. ad invc- vill ad ercl. de Brehull quam idem Rnd'u.'s niend. alium capellan. ejusd. ordinis ad de- tetiet de done n'ro presentabimus. dat, 5. serviend. capellaR curiae nostras de Brehull Maii. Pat. 40. Hen. III. m. 13. et dedit licentiam includendi cam. 2(j. q Rot. Fin. inter Collect. R. Dods. MS. vol. 15. p. 325. f Manwood of Forest Laws, cap. 13. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 353 to the highway between the king's manor of Brehull and Pidington, and no less damage to the inhabitants in their rights and privileges within the said forest, &c. HeBC est inquisitio facta per duodecim liberos et legales jurat, dcfo- resta Bernewod per prceceptum domini regis. Dicunt quod foret da/npnuin et valde nocumentum foreste si tres acre assarte essent in qiiadam plana quae vacatur Fernhurst in foresta de Bermvod in coin. 0x071. Ad dampnu)?i verteretur foresta quia ilte locus est in uno acriori loco totius foreste quia si essent assartate, bestie amitterent procursus suos ad transversum foreste: item ille locus est inagis et maximus excercitus bestiaruni tocius foreste. Preterea gentes et ma- lefactoi'es quererevt inde cavsam et citius ad forestani accederent ud vialefaciendum tarn tempore fennacionis quam alio tempore. Item alta via et generalis inter Brehull et Pidinton maneria domini regis omnino esset astopata. Item homines illorum manerioruju penitus amitterent clamia sua in dicta foresta quod quidem verteretur ad maximum damp- num. Isti sunt per quos dicta inquisitio facta fuit, Alanus de Ting- tvike de Acle, §-c. ' The Jews at Lincoln, Aug. 1. had crucified a boy of nine years of age called Hugh, (made for this a saint and martyr,) for which bar- barous impiety the principal actors and some other prisoners were in a council at Reading condemned to a sharp and ignominious death ; but with inmiensc sums of money they bribed the favour of Richard carl of Cornwall, whose power did deliver and protect them '. An. MCCLVi. 40, 41. Henry III. Upon the death of William king of the Romans the electors, who resolved to make the best market of their voles, sent away John de Atneis into England with proposals to * Richard earl of Cornwall, * l^ilcra Uic'i in rcpein Komanorum tiente; dat. apud Walingford xi kal. Feb. dcL'ti Johanni Mcssciiensi archiepiscopo de 1257. Kynier 1. 618. rcgc Bohemiie in electiouein suam conscn- - W. Dods. MS. vol. ;)3. p. I-'. ' Burton. Annul, p. n.^. \ OL,. 1. Z Z 354 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. that upon good terms of money, they would elect him to that king- dom. Upon which motion, the earl sent over his trusty friends Ri- chard earl of Glocester and John Maunsell to compound with the electors, who agreed with the archbishop of Mentz for eight thou- sand Colegn marks, with the archbishop of Colegn for twelve thou- sand Colegn marks ; with the duke of Bavaria for eighteen thousand marks sterling, computing each mark at twelve shillings ; and with some of the other electors for eight thousand Colegn marks. lIj)on which compact he was chosen king of Almagnc or the Romans, on St. Hilary day at Frankfort ". Almaric de St. Amand (son of Ralph who died 30. Henry HI.) having been in ward to Paulin Peyvre, and in 3/. Henry HI. to John Grey, made now proof of his full age, and obtained the king's pre- cept to the sheriflfs of Bucks. Oxon. &c. for livery of his lands, among which were the manors of Bloxham, com. Oxon. and Grendon, com. Bucks, where was his capital seat \ At the feast of Assumption of the Virgin Mary the king came to Woodstock, and invited thither Alexander king of Scots and most of the English nobility, whom he entertained there with great variety and pomp''. William Longspe, lord of the manors of Burcester and Midling- ton, had lately in Gascoign treated Avith Edmund Lacy upon a mar- riage between Henry eldest son of the said Edmund, and Margaret eldest daughter and heir of the said William : and now on the Friday before Christmas-day they came to a full agreement, that the said William Longspe should give Margaret his daughter and heir to Henry son of Edmund Lacy, and in frank marriage m ith her the manors of Burncester and Midlington : and the said Edmund should grant to Margaret, in case she should outlive her husband, a dowry of the manors of Skippeys and Scales. An. gratice mcclvi. die veneris pi^oxima ante natalcni Domini circa horam diei primam facta est ficec conventio inter dominum Edmnnduni de Lacy ex una parte et dominum WiUiclmum Longespe ex altera. Et " Chron. Tho. Wikes, sub. an. " Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. 20. a. y Mat. West, sub an. AMBROSDEN, BIRCESTER, &r. .^55 fjma pra'locuiinu fucrat in I'ascoma, super maritagio llenrici filii et luBredls dict'i Kdniiindi et Margarctce jil'ue et hceredis dicti IFillielmi dicto die ex consensu partium complctuni est: ita videlicet quod dicta s IVlUiehnus Longespe dedit et concessit Henrico Jilio dicti Ed- niundi Margaretani filiani suani et hteredem et cum ipsa in libera maritagio mancria sua de Burnecestere et Middeltone cum omnibus homagiis redditibus serviciis et consuetudinibus et omnibus aliis per- tinentiis sine aJiquo retinimento. Et dictus Edmundus dedit et con- cessit dict W. Dugd. Collect. Rot. Fin. MS. vol. S. 251. ^Dugd. A. 1. p. 177- and Bar. vol. 1. p. 748.. d Chron. Tho. Wikcs, sub. an. « Annal. Mon. Burton, p. 376. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 357 church of Hamstvvait, &c. Hiis testibus ; dominis WiiUiehno de Kos, Johanne dc Stotevill, JViUlelmo de Ireby, JFillidmo de Turnival, Ri- cardo de Turri, Johanne Jiiio Thomce, Rogero de Aumary, militibus. Dominis Pliilippo le Eya, JFilticlmo Blundell, Roberto de Kynton, clericis, ct aliis. Daf. Londoniis decimo die Aprilis anno gratice MCCLVII^ Maud the widow of William Longspe promising on oath not to marry without the king's leave had a dowry assigned to her, upon which Richard Longspe brother to the deceased William, who had the reversion of the manors of Scandeford, Erdintone, and Charl- tone, entered into recognizance, that if the said Maud should claim a dowry in those manors, he would warrant such a dowry, without charge or trouble to the queen who had the wardship of Margaret daughter and heir of the said William. Term. S. Hilar. 41. Hen. HI. Recognitio Richardi Longespee. Idem Richardus recognovit quod si contingat Mati/de que fuit uxor Wil- lielmi Longespeye petere dotem suam in maneriis de Scandrforde, Er- dintone et Corletone, idem Ri card us waranfizabit ei diet am dotem : ita quod domina rcgina que est custos lieredis predicti JViUielmi non te- neatur ad warantizanduni predictam dotem ^. John Morell of Adingrave granted in this year to John Fitz-Nigel of Borstall and Isolda his wife, four acres of arable land, and the third part of half an acre in the fields of Acley, as also a meadow in Adingrave called Wolveds-ham, &c. for the yearly rent of one pound of cloNes at Easter, and ten marks in hand. Hiis testibus ; domino Thotna de Faleyns, domino Jl'ilUclmo jilio Elice, llaltcro de Burg, Petro Carhoncl, Henrico de Beaufort, JFillielmo de Grenevill, ffal- 1. Ric. Gravcsend. per d'num Ric'um Ronianorum rcgem iid Gilbertus de Leyrc subd. ad cicl. dr Mc- cccl. de Frotliingham in archid. Stow vac. riton vac. per mort. d'rii R. dc Fokeli ad per resign, vcii. prcs. d'ni Rogeri Cov. et pres. abb. et conv. de l':gnesl>am. Lieli. ep'i. iiiandat. arcliid'o Stow. an. 1. Gerardus dc Peys archid'us Lcodicn. pres. llic. Gravcsend. f R. Dod.s. MS. ct Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 8.31. s Ibid. vol. 29. p. 86. 358 PAROCHIAL ANTIQl'ITIES. tero le Chevalcr de Cherdcsle, Thoina de S. Andrea, IFillicImo Go/ir. /f^a/tcro dc Ilorfoii, Hi/gone Jilio P/ii/ippi de IFynchcndon, JVillielwn de Buhtot, PhUippo dc Hern//, 1f'i//iclino /e Venur, Roberto Ji/io A/avi de Ac/ey, et a/iis apud Borsta// ^. James Aldithley, baron and lord of the manors of Stratton and Wretchwike, having attended Richard earl of Cornwall in his coro- nation at Aquisgrane, returned about Michaelmas into England with Henry eldest son of the said Richard, and hearing the AVclch in his absence had made divers incursions upon his lands on their borders, he marched down, entered their territories, and did great execution on them, by the help of some Almain horse which he brought over with him'. In this ex})edition against the Welsh, among the knights and esquires sent by the abbot of St. Albans, were John de le Mersh and Richard de Birencester ■". An. MccLviii. 42, 43. Ihniry III. Our Richartl king of the Romans having his treasure this year computed, was found able to expend a hundred marks a day for ten years, besides his standing revenues in England and Almaign', While he was in England he had prudently governed all state affairs ; but the seditious barons took advantage of his absence, and meeting at Oxford about the feast of St. Barnabas, they bound themselves in five articles, much to the diminution of the royal dignity : and when Richard king of the Romans was at St. Omers in his return for Eng- land, he was met by some of that party, and forbid to pass on to England, till he had taken an oath for observance of those Oxfortl articles ; nor could he proceed till he had taken his oath so to do as soon as he should arrive in England ; which he accordingly performed at Canterbury, having landed at Dover, January the twenty-eighth, and entered London with great joy February the first "". h E. Chartular. de Borstall. f. 7. ' D. Pouell, Hist, of Wales, p. 32.3. ^ Ex Char- tular. Abbatiae S. Alban. in U. Dods. MS. vol. 78. f. 102. ' Mat. Par. p, 94J. "^ Chroiu The. Wikes, sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 359 Within this first year of Richard Gravesend bishop of Lincohi *, Margaret de Lacy, countess of Lincohi and Pembroke, first the wife of John Lacv earl of Lincoln, and now widow of AValter Mareschal earl of Pen)broke, presented to the cliapel of St. Ann on the bridge at Cavershani, com. O.xon. and to the church of Little- Steping in the archdeaconry of Lincoln ". Maud the only daughter and heir of Reginald earl of Dammartin (who was lord of the manors of Merton and Pidington) and Ida countess of Bologne his wife, died this year without issue, ha\ ing lieen first married to Philip of France son to king Philip and Mary de Meranie, by whom she had one daughter Joan that died without issue ; and secondly to Alphonso afterwards king of Portugal. Upon her decease the earldom of Dammartin fell not to Matthew the eld- est", but to Reginald the second son of John lord of Trie and Money, by Alice his wife, daughter of the said Reginald and Ida p. The king being informed that his haven of Rumenale (alias Rom- ney) in Kent, was in danger of being destroyed by stoppage of the river Newendcn, had sent into those parts Nicholas de Handlo, soon after lord of Borstall. And when no ellcctual care was taken, the king, by another precept, dated at Oxford June 2L commanded the said Nicholas de Handlo again to repair thither in person with the sheriff of Kent, and twenty-four knights to examine and settle that matter ''. * Margarein de Lanj comitissa Lincoln, concedo quod prcrdicti abbas et monacM prec- et Pembrok. omnibus ballivi)! et Jidelihus suh dicta tenemetita sun habeant et teneant li- salutem. Scidtis (juod rtitain habeo et gra- berc et quiete secundum ienorem carta: (juatn lam concessionein ct quietantiam, quain di- modo luibent de pra:dicto comite, et in hujus lectus Jilius liicardus de Clara com. Glouc. rei testimonium has Uterus tiostras dictis ab- et Hertford fiat abbati et monachii Rndingc bati et monactiis concessimus putcntes ; dat. de \\\JI denarntis annul redilitiis it de secta tertia die Martii anno regni regis Henrici curiir de tenenienlis ipta' idem ablms et mo- ^filii regis Johannis x\xi. Cartular. Ra- nacJd habent in Kuversham. Quare volo et diiigcs. MS. f. lxxiii. a. n 11. Dods. MS. vol. 107. f. 1 17. " Du C hcsnc, I'llistoire de la Maison dc Drcux, 1. I. ch. -1. P Du Fresnc, Obscrvaiions sur I'Hibloirc dc S. Lovys, p. 12. 1 Dugd. History of Fens, J). M. 36o PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. An. MCCLix. 43, 44. Heiin/ III. In the late election of a king of the Romans, four of the electors dissented from the choice of earl Richard, and the archbishop of Co- logne now declared for the king of Spain, who on this frivolous pre- tence ajipealcd to Rome, where, while money made the cause de- pending, Richard king of the Romans sent a letter to pope Alexan- der for justice against the king of Spain, a copy of which letter with the pope's answer is delivered in the Burton annals ^ King Richard on the eighteenth of June sailed over to Almaign, and after a progress through his kingdom returned October 24. ' And nigh this time gave to the monks of Thame one virgate of land and two knight's fees with their appertenances in Stoke-Talmasche'. King Henry by charter dated at Westminster, August the fourth, granted to the prior and canons of Chetwood com. Buck, a certain assart or ground newly grubbed, containing about 21. acres, in lieu of fifty shillings yearly paid from the excheqiier to enable them to maintain a constant chaplain to officiate in the chapel of the king's court at BrehuU ". An. MccLX. 44, 45. Henry III. In a trial this summer before the justices itinerant at Bedford about the manor of Aspele in this county, it appeared that Reginald de S. Walery, once lordof Ambrosden, had sold the said manor to Hubert de Burgh ; and that Wido or Guy, father of the said Reginald, had claimed the whole barony of Bedford from Simon de Beauchamp, who compounded with him for that manor, being a part of the said Ixirony. 2. Ric. Gravesend. 3. Ric. Gravesend. Rogerus capellan. ad vicar, eccl. de Cos- Walt. subd. ad eccl. de Somerton vac. per treton vac. per resign. Everardi ad pres. mort. d'ni Joh'is de Crakehale ad pres. abb. et conv. Osen. Walteri de Gray mil. ' An. Mon. Burt. p. 425, 427. ' Chron. Tho. Wikes, sub an. ' Mon. x\ng. torn. I. p. 803. a, " Chartular. de Borstal!. MS. f. 130. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 361 Bed/, jurati dicmit quod Reg'maldus de S. IValerico vendidit manc- rium de Aspele Huberto de Burgho. Dicunf etiam quod JVldo de S. jyalcrico pater dicti Reginaldi implacitavit Simonem de BcUocampo de tota baronia de Bedford et pro pace habenda dedit dictus Simon diclo JFydoni et hceredibus suis manerium de Aspele quodfuit de dicta baronia, SfC. " In Michaelmas term at Buckingham was a trial for certain lands in Mersh held of Robert Bryan, wherein the jury found that Giles Lisle held them from William de Beauchamp senior, by knight's ser- vice, who came to seize them as part of his wardship, because the heirs of the said Giles were under age ''. Upon the death of Frederic the emperor, the pope claimed the kingdom of Sicily, Apulia, and Calabria, as the patrimony of St. Peter, and had oifered them to earl Richard before his election to the kingdom of Almaign, upon whose refusal the pope conferred it upon Edmund the second son of Henry the Third, obliging the king to pay one hundred fifty thousand five hundred and forty marks of silver. Which sum the king being unable to discharge, the pope imposed it as a fine on the English monasteries \ Richard king of the Romans (who this year presented to the church of Frothingham in the archdeaconry of Stowe) having occasion to visit Rome upon his own and the king's urgent affairs, the king issued out one writ to impower him to tax all his tenants, and another to liis several tenants to grant him liberal aid and contribution toward his expences in this expedition : both which writs are preserved in Pryim's collection*. Upon a breach of truce by Lewelin prince of Wales, Henry baron Aldithley, lord of Stratton and Wrctchwike, being one of the lord marchers of Wales, was conuuantled to hasten into those parts, with all the power he could raise, for preventing farther mischief iVom those ill neighbours''. In which year he was again constituted go- » W. Dugd. MS. vol. A. 1. p. 130. x R. Dods. MS. vol. 42. p. 106. ' Cliron. The. VVikes, sub an. • W. Prynne, Collect, torn. 2. p. 997- '' Dugd. Bar. loin. 1. p. 7>7- \OL. I. 3 A 3G2 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. vernor of the castles of Salop and Bruges : he was also this year appointed one of the justices itinerant for the counties of Oxon. and Berks \ An. MccLxi. 45, 46. Henry HI. Roger de Aumorie (alias D'aniory) son of Robert de Aumorie claimed the manor of Weston and advowson of the church from the abbey of Oseney, to whom the said manor was given by Henry de Oily baron of Hokenorton. The controversy was referred to our Richard king of the Romans, who at his house in Beckley (the head of his barony of St. Walery, whereof Ambrosden was a member) made this composition between Richard abbot of Oseney and the convent on the one part, and Roger de Amory on the other ; that the said abbot and convent should pay to Roger de Amory three hundred marks sterling, and in consideration thereof the said Roger should quit claim to that whole estate which was computed at two knight's fees. Memorandum quod die Veneris proximo post festum sancti JSichoIai anno regni regis Henrici jilii regis Joannis xlv. apud Bechle coram serenissimo domino Ricardo Ronianorum rege semper Augusto facta est Concordia inter venerabilem Richardion ahbatcm et conventinn Osenei ex una parte et dominum Rogerum de Amory ex altera videli- cet quod dicti abbas et conventus dabunt dicto Rogero ccc. marcas sterlingorum et incipient solvere c. marcas ad pasclia primo sequens et quod residuce ducentce marcce solventur eidem intra tres annos proxime sequentes post pascha prioratum apud Osenei. Idein quoque Rogerus pro se et hceredibus suis in perpetuum remisit eidem abbati et conventui totum jus et clamium quod habuit vel aliquo modo habere potuit in duobus feodis militum cum pertinentiis in PVeston unde eos implacitavit in curia domini regis per breve de recto, et prosccutum est quousque dictus abbas et conventus posuerunt se super magnani assi- sam ; convenit igitur inter eos quod supradictce concordice servabitur « Dugd. Chron. ser. sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 3fa"3 cMrographum in curia domini regis ante solutionem primce pacatioms. In ciijns rei testimonium dominus rex huic meniorando sigillum suum cum sigillo dicti Rogei'i fecit apponi ^. Upon wliich agreement Roger de Aniory did release and quit claim for himself and heirs, to the church of St. Mary's in Oseney, the whole manor of Weston nigh Blechesdon, with the advowson of the church and all other appertenances, in this form. Sciant prcesentcs etfuturi quod ego liogerus de Amory jiltus et hce- res Roberti de Amory r-emisi et quietum clamavi de me et hcercdibus meis Deo et ecclesice S. Marue de Osenei et canonicis ibidem Deo ser- vientibus et eorum successoribus totum manerium de IFeston juxta Blechesdon integrum cum advocatione ecclesice et cum omnibus perti- ventiis suis, §-c. ' The said Roger de Amory sold to William son of Richard de Ox- ford, one virgate of land in Chesterton'. Toward the end of this year, upon the death of the prior of Cliet- wood, the canons, having first obtained licence from the king their patron, chose John sub-prior of Burcester, (by way of postulation,) to be prior of Chetwood. 4. Ricardi de Gravesend ; f rater Johannes superior Berncestr a ca- nonicis de Chetewod pctita prius licencia a domino regc patrono suo eligendi et optenta in priorem de Chetivod postulatur^. November the ninth died Senchia wife of Richard king of the Ro- mans ''. About Candlemas there was a j)arliament held at London, where the king and barons referred their dittcronces to the arbitra- tion of the king of France, and our king of the Romans'. About this time Robert Clerk senior of Burcester, with the con- An. MCCLXi. -15, 4C. Henry HI. l)ury) vacant, ad donat. regis ratlonc cp'a- Robertus de Cantia habet litcras regis de tus Winton. vac. Literae direct. Line. ep'o. present, ad eccl'iam de Adbcrbyr (Adder- -'0. Dec. Pat. JS. Hen. HI. ri Regist. Oson. MS. p. 316. ' Ibid. Rcgisl. p. ;U7. ' Exccrpta cs Hcgist. Oscn. et R. Dods. M.S. vol. 39. f. 96. £ R. Dods. MS. vol. 107- p. 110. h Chroa. Tho. Wikcs sub an. ' Ibid. 3 A 2 364 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. gent of Maud his wife and Robert his son and heir, grantetl and confirmed to Robert le Taillur for his homage and service a camera or small enclosure with its appertenances in the village of Bernces- ter, nigh a messuage which Juliana Culyn formerly held with a plat of ground, &c. for the yearly rent of twelve pence, in consideration of twenty shillings sterling j)aid in hand, &c. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego liobertus de Bernccster senior Cleriais assensu ct bona voluntate Mati/dte uxoris mere et Roberfi Clerici Jilii et h(sredis viei dedi concessi et hac prresenfi churta mea conjirmavi Roberto le Taillur pro howagio et servltio suo qvandam ca- meram cum pert'inentiis in villa de Berncester juxta messnagium quod Juliana Culyn quondam tennit in eadem villa cum quadam placia terrce quce extendit unum in plateam juxta eandem cameram quam placiam dicta Juliana aliquando tenuit ciim dicta camera. Ha- benda et tenenda de me et hceredibus meis dicto Roberto ct hcprcdibus suis vel cnicunque dictam cameram cum placia terrce dare Icgare ven- der e invadiare vel assign are voluerit liber e quiet e bene ct in pace in- tegre et pacijice reddendo inde annuatim mihi et hcpredibus meis dictus Robertus et luercdes sui vel sui assignati duodecim denarios et ad duos terminos anni scilicet ad festum S. Michaelis sex denarios et ad fes- tum bcatce Marice in Martio sex denarios pro omni servitio consuetu- dine demanda et exactione sceculari ad me vel ad hceredes meos perti- nente. Et si ita contigerit quod dictus Robertus le Taillur vel hcere- des sui dictam cameram cum placia vendere voluerint licebit dicto Ro- berto Clerico vel hceredibus suis leviori pretio quam aliquis alius dic- tam habere cameram cum placia. Ego vero Robertus Clericus et hce- redes mei dictam cameram cum placia dicto Roberto et hceredibus suis vel suis assignatis contra omnes homines et fceminas per prcedictum servitium in perpetuum warantizabimus et defendemus. Pro hac au- tem donatione concessione et chartce hujus conjirmatione et wara?itiza- tione dedit mihi dictus Robertus prce manibus viginti solidos ster- lingorum. Et ut hcec mea donatio concessio chartce mece confirmatia et warantizatio perpetuce jirmitatis robur optineat banc prcesentem chartani sigilli mei impressione roboravi. Hiis testibus ; Philippo de AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 3b"5 Wuppcl, Ifiilhemoth Paiipere, Johanne le Paumer, Gilherto de Lang- ton, Roberto Michel de Bernccster, Thorn. Forsterlyng, Jacobo Colo, Roberto de Bukehull, Thoni. Jdio Germani de BigehuU, et miiltis aliis ^ To the original parchment is a seal appending bearing a flower de Incc, with this inscription, )^ Sigili.um Roberti Clerici. The ancient punishment of felons within the borough of Waling- ford was not hanging, but dismembering, or the loss of eyes and stones ; as appears by this memorable record cited by Mr. Selden, 45. Hen. III. Berks, coram GUberto de Preston et sociis siiif in act. pnrif. B. Marice Rot. 29. The jurors of the borough of Waling- ford give in quod nullus de natione istius burgi pro quocunque facto quod fecerit debet suspendi, imo secundum consuetudinem istius burgi debet oculis et testiculis privari, et tali libertate usi sunt a tempore quo nan extat memoria, and so they say one Benedict Hervey was lately so punished. Et quccsiti juratores si tali libertate usi sunt, dicunt quod a tempore Henrici avi domini regis nunc usi fuerunt cadeni libertate per car tarn ejusdem D. regis quam els fecit per quam eis concessit om- nes libcrtates quas civitas If inton. //abet '. An. MCCLXii. 46, 4/. ITenrij III. On May the first William Fitz-Elias knight, granted to Alice daughter of Simon de Maydwell six virgates of land in * Oakle, with heybote and housebote in his demesne woods of Oakle, &c. by this charter. Sciant prccsentes et futuri quod ego Iflllietmus filius Elice miles dcdi, Sf-c. Aliciit^ jilire Simonis de Maydwell, Sfc. sex rirgatas terrte cum omnibus suis pcrtinentiis quas FJias J rater mens dedit Simoni de Maydwell patri dictce AUcice in villa de Ackle, &jC. concessi cliam prccdictte Alicice heybotum et liousbotum in dominicis boscis meis de * This rather Oakle in North'tonshire. ^ Ex Orig. penes Hon. D. Guil. Glyniie. ' Seidell's Notes upon Hengham, p. 153. 366 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Acle et ad faciendas porchorias snas in boscis ptcedicfis ubi sibi pla- cuerit et ad habendos porcos suos qiiietos de pannagio &,-c. reddendo inde annuatim Sfc. unam libram piperis vel sex denarios ad Natale Do- mini, 8fc. Hiis tesfibus ; domino Nicholao de Turry, domino Roberto dc Brues, domino Ada de Greynvill, domino IFilliclmo de Englefield justitiario domini regis, domino Thoma de JFaloniis, domino Simone de S. Licio, domino Knstachio de Greynvill, et aliis : daf. apnd Neu- port Paynell, halcnd. Maii anno I'egni Henrici flii regis Johannis qua- dra^esimc sexto "'. There were twenty marks eight shillings and sixpence in arrears due to the king for pannage or running of hogs in the forest of Brill in the fourteenth of this reign ; and the dispute was, whether it ought to be paid by one William de Montacute guardian of William son and heir of William de Ichford, or by another William de Monta- cute lord of the manor of Aston. By an inspection into the ex- chequer rolls, the first William was charged with the payment, and the other acquitted. Buck, pro rege debit : an. 7'eg. Hen. 46. Quia constat per inspcc- tionem rotulorum de scaccario quod JFilUelmus de Monteacuto custos JFillielmiJiUi et heredis JVillielmi de Icheforde et alii nominati in brevi debent regi xx. marc. viii'. vi*. de padnagio foreste ?'egis de Brohull de anno regis xiv. et non JVilliclmus de Monte acuto qui nunc tenet ma7ierium de Astone. Mandatum est vicecom. quod eidem Williebno pacem, SfC. et distringat alios in brevi contentos heredes vel tcnentes terras eoruni ad reddendas regi portioncs ipsos contingentes de prc- dictis denariis, Sfc. " During this year Richard king of the Romans was guarantee be- tween king Henry and his barons, and in a new parliament at Lon- don, within a fortnight after Easter, it was provided that four knights out of every county should be returned to the said Richard king of Almaign, who should choose out one of each county to be sheriff for the first part of the year till Michaelmas, and for the remainder of m Chartular. Borstall. p. 86. " R. Dods. MS. vol. 29. p. 103. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 367 the year the king should appoint whom he pleased. So great was the confidence of king and people in this* j)rincc, who June the twenty-sixth sailed over to his kingdom of Almaign", and returned the tenth of February following. Before this voyage he presented to the church of Pelhani in the archdeaconry of Stow '". An. MccLxiii. 47, 48. Henry HI. Margery sister and heir of Thomas Beauchamp carl of Warwick (whose mother was Margery eldest daughter and heir of Henry de Oily baron of Hokenorton) married John de Plesset, who in her right became earl of Warwick. He died February the twenty-sixth, and was buried in the quire of Missenden abbey in com. Buck. After his death by inquisition it appeared, that with Hokenorton, Kidlington, and Bradhatii held by barony, he was also possessed of the manor of Musewell within the hamlet of Pidingtou in the parish of Am- brosden, held from the abbey of Missenden. Jar. dlciDit (fuod Johannes de Plessctis quondam comes de JFarwico ten. man. de Okenardton una cum maneriis de Kedlinton et Bradeham pro servitio unius baronice. Et Hugo de Plessetis est jUius, item tenet manerium de Musewell de ahbate de Mussenden ''. His son Hugh de Plesset in April next ensuing doing his homage had livery of the manors of Hokenorton, Kidlington, &c. paying for his relief one hundred pounds in 48. Hen. 111. ' In the great rebellion which broke out on pretence of the king's violation of the provisions made at Oxford, managed chiefly by Si- mon Montfort earl of Leicester, and (iilbcrt Clare earl of Glocester, Richard king of the Romans adhered faithlully to his royal brother; for which the London mob marched out with infinite numbers to his manor of Thistlcworth, where they pulled up the park pales, burnt all ihc buildings, and carried away the moveables; and then return- <» Chron. Tlio. VVikes, sub an. P R. Dods. MS. vol. I07. f. 07. 1 W. Dugd. MS. vol. A. 1. p. 132. ' Dugd. Bar. torn I. p. 773. 368 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. ing fell upon his house in Westminster, and there committed all the outrage that could be acted by the madness of the people '. James de Aldithlcy, baron and lord of Stratton and Wretchwike, stood also so firm to the king in these troubles, that the rebellious barons seized on all his castles and lands in the counties of Salop and Stafford'. He was now constituted justice of Ireland, for which of- fice in 10. Edvv. I. the king acknowledged himself indebted to his heirs 1288'. 5\ 10". In this year Roger d'Amory, knight, presented to the church of Bucknell, in which parish he resided". Hugh le Povrc of Ottindon com. Oxon. gave this charter to the nunnery of Acornbiri or Cornbiri com. Heref Scimit piresentes et futiiri quod ego Hugo le Poer jilms Oteweli le Peer dedi Sfc. Deo et beatce Marice et priorissce de Cornebiri et moni- alibus, Sfc. pro salute amine mee et Giliane uxo7~is mee §t. duodecim so- lidos et tres denarios annui redditus Sfc. in Barewe in parochia de Or- leslen &fc. Testibus, Ada de Bosco, JFarino de Grendon, Sfc. " About this time William de Baluthon granted and confirmed to Thomas de Creschlond and Alice his wife, eight acres of arable land with one acre and one rod of meadow in the fields of Lutegarshale, of which the particular boundings are so expressed as to be good au- thority for the ancient names of lands in that common field. Sciant prtcsentes et futuri quod ego Williehnus de Baluthon dedi concessi et hac prcesenti carta mea conjirmavi Thomce de Creschelond et Alicice uxori siice octo acras terrce mece arabilis cum una acra et 1263. Ann. 5. Ric'i Gravesend. 4. id. Jun. 1263. Andreas cl'icus d'ni regis Aleman. subd. Phil, de Eya subd. ad eccl. de Chalegrave ad eccl. de Mixebiry vacant, per consecra- vacantem per hoc quod mag'r VValterus ul- tionem mag'ri J. de Exon. ep'i Winton. timus rector ejusd. est in ep'uniExon. elec- ult. rectoris ejusd. ad pres. ejusd. d'ni regis, tus ct consecratus ad pres. regis Aleman. s Chron. Tho. Wikes, sub an. « Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 747. b. " R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 117. » lb. vol. 63. f. 84. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 369 7n)(i roda prati in campis de Lutegarshale unde una dhnidicc acrcc jacet super Costonjuxta terram Johannis de Broncthon : una dimidiu acrcejacet super Ufcrlong juxta terram domini de Lutegarshale una dimidia acrcejacet apud le Portiveye juxta terram IFulferi ad Portam : vna dimidia acra in le Brutine juxta terram Galfrid. Jilii Hugonis : una dimid. acrce jacet apud Dylingshame juxta terram Johannis de Broncthon : una roda jacet apud Tusfurlung juxta terram Nicholai le Grey : una roda jacet apud Pusfurlong juxta terram Galfridi filii Hugonis : ducB rodce simul jacent dimid. acr. apud Redgath juxta terram Gal/ridi Ji/ii Hugonis, una dimid. acra jacet apud Gilberde- shidl juxta terram Gcdfridi Jilii Hugonis, una dimid. acra jacet apud le CornJ'orlong juxta terram Nicholi le Grey, una dimid. acra jacet super Bracforlong in Costone juxta terram Galfridi Jilii Hugonis, una 'dimid. acrce super CrouJ'orlong juxta terram Galfridi Jilii Hugonis, una dimid. acrce jacet apud le Greneweye juxta terram Johannis de Brouton, una acra jacet apud Red for long juxta terram JFaltcri ad Portam, una dimid. acra apud Medlungforlong juxta terram Galfridi Jilii Hugonis : una roda prati jacet in Longdate in U est mode juxta pratum Radulphi le Sergaunt, una roda in Mordale juxta pratum rec- toris ecclesice de Lutegarshale : una roda in Longdate in More juxta pratum ejusdcm rectoris : una roda prati jacet in Blakenheg juxta pratum ejnsdem rectoris, una roda prati in Linlongesdule juxta pra- tum prcedicti rectoris. Habenda et tcnenda omnes terras et prata prcedicta de me et hceredibus meis et meis assignatis dictis Thomce et Alicice uxori sure et hceredibus suis et suis assignatis et cuicunque dare vendere invadiare assignare sen in tcstamento legare voluerint, libere (juiete bene et in pace integre honorijice et hccreditarie, cum omnibus suis pertinentiis libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus ad dictum ter- ram in omnibus locis tam inj'ra villam Lutegarshale quum extra spec- tantibus : reddendo inde annuatim niilii et hceredibus meis et meis as- signatis ipsi et hceredes sui et sui assignafi unam rosam ad J'esfum S. Johannis Baptistce pro omnibus serritiis demandis auxiliis curice secfis, suettis, relei'iis, escaetis, tallagiis, soccagiis et pro omnibus Sfeculi/ribus exactionibus et terrenis demandis (jiia- a dicta terra vxigi poterint eel VOL. I. 3 u 370 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. vindicari. Et ego vero prcedictus IFiliielinus et hcercdcs ntei et met assignati dicfani terrain et dictum prafum cum omnibus pertinentiis suis dicto ThomtB et Alicice et eorum hcercdibus et assignatis contra omnes homines mares et fceminas waruntizabimns defendewus et ab omni servitio et terrena demanda ut prcedictum est per serv'itiuin prce- nomniatnm acquietabimus in perpctuum. Et ut kcec mea donatio con- cessio waruntia et chartte niece conjirmaiio rata et inconcussa et sta- bilis sine dole permaneat in perpetuum banc chartani sigilli mei impres- sione corroboi^avi. Hits testibus ; IValtero de S. Andrea, Thom. de Echecote, Job. de Greynvill de Wattone, IValtero Golye, Martino de Gi'eynvill, Radulfo le Staunton de Lutegarshale, Jolianne de Brouc- thon, David de la More, Willielmo Motf, Johanne Meyet, Elia Cle- rico et aliis ^. A label aj^pending with seal broken off. An. MCCLXiv. 48, 49. Henry III. In April Richard king of the Romans attended his royal brother in the march of an army to Northampton, and assisted nmch in the siege and taking of that town defended by SimOn Montfort, junior. And on May the fourteenth commanded the body of the king's army at the fatal battle of Lewes in Sussex, where, after an entire defeat by the barons forces, the king and he were both taken prisoners. His lands were all seized by the victorious earl of Leicester, himself and younger son Edmund imprisoned, and his elder son Henry (with prince Edward eldest son to king Henry) forced to surrender to the earl of Leicester, as a pledge for keeping the oath extorted from the king. One of our histories, that makes a partial defence of Montfort, An. MCCLXiv. 48, 49. Henry III. mus potestateni ad tiactand. apud Brackele Rex omnibus Sfc. salutem. Sciatk quod in prcsentiaJoh'is delalenda militis et nuii- ven. patri R. Coventr. et Lichf. ep'o et mag'ro cii regis Franc. T. R. apud Oxon. 20. Mart. Mch'o urchid'o Norfok. plenum et lib. dedi- Rymer 1. 784. y Ex Orig. pergam. penes D. W. Glynne, Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 371 brings a scandalous report on Richard king of the Romans, that he run from tliis battle and hid himself in a windmill, where he was caught and ridiculed by some of the pursuing barons : and after fi\ c months captivity redeemed himself for seventeen thousand pounds sterling, and five thousand pounds in gold ^ It is certain Gilbert Clare earl of Glocester desired this rich prisoner for the benefit of ransom, and so much resented the denial made by the sons of Mont- fort, that he deserted the barons party ; contrived the prince's escape, and commanded the body of the royal army in the battle of Evesham. " Roger de St. John, lord of Staunton, slain in the battle of Eve- sham, had confirmed to the canons of Oseney that gift which his fa- ther had made to them of a mill and five yards land in Weston near Burcester, called Simeon's land. He likewise confirmed the grant of the church of Great Barton, with the chapels of Sandford and Led- well ^ James de Aldithley, lord of Stratton and Wretchwick, having been sent by the king to repress the outrages of the Welch, and having defeated Lewelin prince of Wales, joined with the earl of Glocester, and made a loyal attempt to rescue his captived j)rince '. An. MCCLXv. 49, 50. Henry III. The prior of Ware, being proctor of the abbey of St. Ebrulf in Normandy, presented to the church of Charlton on Otmoore, which church was impropriated to the said abbey. \H'A. Ann. 7- Rif' Gravescnd. 12C1. Rog. de Capella subd. ad cccl. de Kogcrus de Amary subd. ad ecci. de Wytcfeld vac. per mort. d'ni Ric'i de Ros Buckehull vac. per resignat. d'ni J. Glas- ad pros, d'ni regis Aleman. ratione terra- puensis cp'i ad pres dc Amary patris rum et licred. d'ni Henr. de VVytefeld, sHb- sui. bato ■I'"'" temporuni ante natale d'ni. ' Chron. Mailros, sub an. ' Mat. Par. '' Dugd. Bar. loin. 1. p. hM). '^ M.il. I'.ir. sub an. 3 B o 372 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Archill. Oxon. 9. Ric. Gravesend ; prior de jyare procnrafor ahbafis smicti Ebriiiji in A/ig/in prcesentat ad ecclesium de Cher/ton '', After the battle of Evesham, fought on August the (illh, wherein prince Ethvard entirely defeated the barons army, with the death of the leader Simon Montfort, our Richard king of the Romans was re- leased by Simon Montfort jim. from his imprisonment in the castle of Kenilworth, and on Sejjtcmber the ninth came to his castle of Wa- lingford, whore he was gladly received by his friends and tenants of these parts *". At Christmas following Simon Montfort the younger submitted himself to the king on such terms as should be made by our Richard king of the Romans, the pope's legate, and Philip Basset, who de- termined that he should deliver the castle of Kenilworth to the king, depart the kingdom, and receive 500. marks per an. out of the ex- chequer ^ • :,. II Richard king of the Romans, lord of the manor of Ambrosdcn, &c. now founded a nunnery of the Benedictine order, dedicated to St. Mary at Burnham com. Buck, and endowed it with the manor of Burnham and the advowson of that church : with sevenil lands in the manor of Chi] )peham, &c. Hiis testibns ; Henrico ill list ri rege AnglicB fratrc nostra ; domino Edivardo prima cjusdeni regis geniio nepote nostra ; daminis W. Bathan. canccllario Anglicc, R. Lincoln, et R. Covenfren. et Lichfelden episcopis, Henrico ct Edniundo Jiliis nostris, Philippo Basset, JFillielmo de Hiinterciinihe, WiUielmo de IVyndksore, Ricardo de Oxeye, Philippo de Covele, et aliis. Dat. Ann. 8. 12(;5. Frothlngham in archid. Stow per mortem Mag'r Will, de Flecton pres. per procu- cujusdam arcliid'i de Alcmannia ult. rcc- ratorem abb. et conv. Scti Ebrulfi ad etcl. toris ejusd. admiss. 8. kal. Mart, dispens. de Cherlton super Ottemor vac. per mort. q'd esset in minoribus ordinibus. Jordani; inquis. facta per R. archid. Oxon. Andr. de Byham subd. ad eccl. de Stok 1265. Magister Thedisius de Camilla vac. per resign, mag'ri Bartholomei ad pros. pres. per d'num regem Aleman. ad eccl. de abb. et conv. Egnesham. 3. non. Jun. 1265. <^ R. Dods. MS. vol. 10/. p. 118. ^ Cliron. Tho. VVikes, sub an. f Mat. Par. sub an AMBRO.SJJEN, lil RCESTEll, &c. 373 apud Cippcliam deciino octavo die Aprilis indictione nona anno domini viUlcshno ducenteciino sexagcsimo sexto, regni vero nostri anno nono^. Margery de Eston was elected the first prioress, and tlie church of Burnham was soon after appropiiated to the use of those sisters'". Nigh this tinie Robert Pulph, a miller in Burcester, gave to John his younger son one acre of land in the field of Burcester, lyiiig be- tween the two ways which lead towaid Battehulie, and bounded with the land of ."Maud de Clyflord and Robert Redwy, to him and his heirs to disj)ose of at pleasure except to religious men, and to pay yearly one penny at Michaelmas. Scianf prccsentes et futuri quod ego Rohcrtus Pufph molendinarius de Berencesfer dedi concessi et hue prcesenti charta mea conjirmavi Johanni mhiori jilio meo pro set'vitio suo unam acram terrcG viecc in campo de Berencesfer, it lam videlicet quce jacet inter duas vias quce extendant versus Batehull et jacet inter tcrram domince Matildce Clyf- ford et terrani Roberti Redwi/. Hahenda et tenenda dictam acram ferrce de nic et Jireredibus meis sibi et hceredibus suis vel suis assignatis vel cuicunque dictam acram terras dare vendere legare vel assignare voluerit in quocunque statu sit exceptis viris rcligiosis libere quiete bene et in pace cum omnibus aysiamentis infra vitlam et extra ad dic- tani acram terrce spectantibus : reddendo inde annuatim viihi et hcere- dibus meis dictus Johannes et hceredes sui vel sui assignati unum dena- rium argenti ad Jest am S. Miehaelis pro omnibus servitiis querelis consuetudinibus et demandis sa-cularibus et pro omnibus rebus qure modo sunt vel unquani contingerc possunt. Et ego prcedictus Robertus et lueredes mei dictam acram terrw prconominato Johanni et lueredihus suis vel suis assignatis per pra'dicturum servitiuin contra omncs homines et fceminas in perpeluum 7varantiz(djimus acquiefabimus et dcj'endemus. Et ut luec mea donatio concessio et prccsentis chartcc niece confirmatio rata et sfabilis permaneat prtcsentem chartam banc sigilli mei impres- sionc roboravi. 1 His testibus : I/eli/a Carectario, fyillielmo Molendi- S Moil. Ang. torn. 1. !>. 531. b. '' K. Dods. MS. vol. loj. f. 111. 374 PAROrillAL ANTIQUITIES. nario, Simone Germayu, JVillielmo Nigro, Johanne dc la Forae, Ro- berto Sebern, IViUielmo Gcrmayn dc Bigcliif/l, et midtis aliis '. To the original parchment a seal appends with the impression of a spicate fignre, intended possibly for a sheaf or ear of corn, with this inscription in oval margin, S. Robkrti Pufph. An. MccLxvi. 50, 51. Hoiry III. This year the prior of Burccster presented to the vicarage of Little- Missenden in Bucks'*, and the prioress of Stodley to the vicarage of Ilmer in the said county '. An inquisition was now taken at Brill relating to the manor of Bor- stall and the cvistody of the forest of Bcrnwood, then in the heredi- tary tenure of Sir John Fitz-Nigel knight. Jnquisitio capta apud Brehull die Jonis proximc post festmn S. Grc- gorii papcB anno regni regis Henrici Ji/ii 7-egis Johannis quinquage- simo coram Hugone de Golevinghani tunc seneschallo forestce regis intra pontem Oxford et Stanford ad eadcni assignato per ipsum regem et consdium de jure hcereditario tcnurce Johannis f/ii Nigel/i militis de foresta de Bernwode per sacramentani domini IFalteri de Upton, Johannis de Grendon Viridarii, Bartholoniei le Venour, Johannis Py- dington, Willielmi de Boys, Johannis Rosson, et omnium rcgardatorum et agistatorum forestce prcedictte, qui dicunt per sacrament urn suum quod prcedictus Johannes filius Nigel/i tenet de rege unam hidam terrcc ara- bilis in Borstalle vocatam le Dere hide cum uno bosco vocato Hullwode per magnam serjantiam custodiendi forestam de Bernwode nee non solve7idi domino regi anmiatim pro terra prcedicta x'. et pro terra fo- resta XL.', videlicet ad festum sancti Michaelis archangeli et annun- tiationis beatce Marice per cequales portiones per manus seneschalli fo- restce inter pontem Oxon. et Stamford qui pro tempore fuerit videlicet pro profcuis ten. de eadem balliva quce ad ipsum regem debenf perti- ' Ex Orig. penes D. W. Glynne, Bar. ^ R. Dods. MS. vol. 10?. p. 11.'. ' Ibid. AMBROSDEN, BURCE8TEU, &c. 375 ncrc^ cxceptis indictationihus siquce fuerint scilicet de viridi ct vena- fione. Et dicuut etiain quod IVilliclmus jilius Nigelli pater prcedicti Johannis per chartam feoffainenti adquisivit sibi et hwredibus suis de Fulconc de Lisuris et Willielmo de Lisuris prcedictam terrain et bcd- livam de Berncwodc reddendo eis et heeredibus eorum eandem firmam scilicet pro terra prccdicta x'. et pro foresta prccdicta xjl'. qui quidem Fulco ct If'dlielmus uuUumjus habucrunt in prccdicta terra nee balliva sed prcrdictus IVilliclmus Jilius Nigelli et antecessorcs sui tcnucrunt dic- tas ferram et buUicani de domino rcge ante tcmpus conquest. Anglice per ununi cornu quod est charta prccdictce J'orestce. Et dicunt etiam quod prcedictis Johannes Jilius Xigelli et antecessorcs sui a tempore quo non extat menioria solebant habere in bosco domini regis housbotc et hcybotc cum omnibus Jeodis forestario pertinentibus secundum as- ' sisam J'orestce. In cujus ret testimonium sigilla sua apposuerunt. Dat. die et anno supradictis '". All the adjoining parishes in this county were commanded to send out four or five men, according to the liigness of them, to meet at Oxford within three weeks after Easter, and thence to march to the castle of Kenilworth, where the garrison refused to submit ; and though besieged by the prince, and after by the king, they would not surrender till about St. Lucy's tlay ". When the king was resolved to go himself in person, Osbert Gilfard carried in to him the posse comitatus of Oxfordshire, who with banners and ensigns displayed marched to the castle, and environed it on the morrow after St. John Baptist. While the king was at Xorthampton, he sent messengers to Simon Alontfort with an army to demand sinrender of the castle of Kenil- worth : wliereupon he submitted himself to the pope's legate, Ri- chard king of Ahnaign, and Philip Basset, who brought him to Northampton, where in the king's presence the king of Ahnaign gave him thanks for his life, ingeniously acknowledging that he himself iiad been nnirdered at Kenilworth shortly after tlie battle of Eve- "• Ex Cliartular dc Borstal, f. 1 I . " Annul. Wavcrl. sub an. 37fi rAROCIIIAL ANTIQUITIES. sham, had not this Simon prevented it. It was proposed that the said Simon should surrender the castle, but the soldiers within utterly refused to yield it up. The king gave a charter of confirmation to the abbey of Oseney dated at Westminster, Jan. 23. wherein are recited these gifts of Ro- bert de Oily .... dedit duas hidas in Ernecotc cum banco et aliis pcrti- venfiis .... dans partes dccinie de Blechesdona, de IVeston, de Berin- cesfr cum ff^rechcwikc, Bu/tei/hi///, Syc. " An. Mccj^xvii. ol, 52. Ucnry HI. Stephen de Hampton held half a knight's fee in Burcester, who died this year, and left Alice his daughter and heir fifteen years of age, married to Walter de la Poyle, which family gave name to Hampton -Poyle ''. After his death an incpiisition was taken that begins thus': Oxon. Jur. diciint quod Sfephuiius de Hampton ten. maner. de Hampton. Item dicunt quod idem Stephanus ten. dimid.feod. 1. mil. in Burchcster, ^-c. ■* Gilbert Clare earl of Glocester, imder a pretence of loyalty, got with an army into London about Palm-Sunday, and then set up for a restorer of the disinherited barons, and maintained the city against the king, who after a long siege had his forces so much weakened, that they must have broke np, if our Richard king of the Romans had not sujiplied them with money and provisions : till on June the fifteenth, by mediation of him and Henry his eldest son, the earl was reconciled to the king, and the city surrendered'. In pursuance of the inquisition taken the former year, the king confirmed to Sir John Fitz-Nigel his hide of land in Borstall, and the custody of the forest of Bern wood, by this charter. Henricus Dei gratia, §-c. Omnibus Sec. Quia accepimus per inqui- sitionem quam per custodem forestce nostrcc inter ponteni Oxford et « W. DugcL MS. vol. N. p. 28. P R. Dods. MS. vol. JO. p. 10/. a Ibid. ' Chron. Tho. VVikes, sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 377 Stanfoiul fieri fecimus quod Johannes filius Nige/Ii de nobis tencre de- bet in capite jure hcereditario ballivam forestce nosfres de Bernivood videlicet a Stoneford usque ad aquam quce vocatur le Burie quce cur- rit inter Steple-Claydon et Padbury et unam ludam terrce in Borstal! quce vocatur le Derehyde reddendo inde nobis quinquagiiita solidos per annum, et nihilominus custodiet forestain prcedictam quam quidem bal- livam idem Johannes et antecessores sui tenuerunt de nobis et antecesso- ribus nostris ante conquestum Anglice. Volunius et concedimns pro nobis et hceredibus nostris quantum in nobis est quod idem Johannes et hceredes sui habeant et tencant ballivam forestce prcedictce sicut ipse et antecessores sui ballivam prcedictam tenuerunt temporibus retroactis J'uciendo nobis et hceredibus nostris omnia servitia quce ad nos pertiiieuf. In cujus rei testimonium has literas 7iostras fieri fecimus paientcs. Teste meipso apud tertio die Decembris. Anno regni nostri quin- quagesimo primo '. Richard king of the Romans, lord of the manor of Ambrosden, now presented to the church of Hepham in the archdeaconry of Stow, and to the church of North-Luffcnham in the archdeaconry of Northampton K Nigh this time Robert Pufph miller in Burcester granted to Isabel his daughter one acre of land in the field of Burcester which lay upon Wowelond, between the land of Henry Lacy on the one side, and the land lately of Maud de Clifford on the other, and reached to the way leading toward Stratton, to pay one penny yearly rent. In consideration whereof the said Robert received six shillings in hand, &c. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego Robcrfus Pufph molendinarius de Berncester dedi coucessi et hac prcesenti charta mea coifirmavi Ysabellce filice mece pro servitio suo unam acram terrce niece in campo de Berncester illam videlicet quce jacet super If'owelond inter terrain doviini ilenrici de Lacy ex una parte et terram quce fuit Matild" Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln and Salisbury, till now in ward to the king, coming to full age did homage with Margaret his wife, and had livery of all the lands whereof her father William Longs])e died pos- sessed, viz. the manors of Burcester and Midlington, &c. ^ Upon the death of the prior of Burcester, William de Quaintou, one of the canons, was elected his successor, with leave first obtained of Henry de Lacy earl of Sarum patron of the said convent*. And John de Glocester was now chosen abbot of Nuttle, licence of elect- ing being first obtained from Gilbert de Clare earl of Glocester and Hertford then patron of the said abbey ''. Sir Osbcrt Giffard, knight, presented Sir John Waleran clerk to the church of Dedington com. Oxon. ' About the same time Robert Clerk of Burcester granted and con- firmed to Adam Burgeys of Wcndlebury, one house and curtilage or spot of ground in Burcester which Maud his sister held of him, to pay yearly to him and his heirs one pound of cumin at Michaelmas, 12C8. Ann. 1 1. Ric'i Gravcscnd. Novemb. Rio. de Coinpton capellan. pres. per Mag'r Jacobus de portu d'icus prcs. per abb'em ct conv. de Osen. ad vicar, ccci. priorein et conv. de Kenilwortiia ad eccl. de de Cestreton vac. per resign. Rog. non. Hethc. 6. kal. Aug. 1268. y R. Dods. MS. vol. 42. p. 92. '■ Dugd. Bar. toiu. I. p. lOJ. « K. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 118. blbid. f. 112. ^Ibid. f. 117. 3 C 2 380 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. ill consideration whereof the said Adam Burgeys paid him five marks in hand. Sciant prcesentes et fnturi quod ego Robert us Clericus de Berncester dcdi concessi et hoc prcesenti charta mea coirfirmavi AdcB Burgeys de Wendleburie pro servifio suo unam domum curtUagium cum peitinev- tiis suis in villa de Burncester illam scilicet quam Matildis soror mea de me aliquando tenuit in eadem villa de Burncester hahenda et te- nenda de me et hceredihus meis sibi et hceredibus suis vel suis assig- natis vel cuicuuque dare legare vel assignare voluerit tarn in cegritu- dine quam in sanitate sine nllo retinemento reddendo inde annuatiin mihi et hceredibus meis ipse et hcsredes sui vel sui assignati unam li- bram cymijii ad festum Sancti Michaelis pro omnibus se7'vitiis consue- tudinibus curiarum secfis wardis releviis escaetis herietis et omnibus aliis scBcularibus demandis. Ego vero prcedictus Robertas et hceredes mei prcedictam domum curtilagium cum omnibus pertinenfiis suis con- tra omnes homines etfcsminas Judceos et Christianos pro prcedicto se?'- vitio ivarantizabimus acquietabimus et in perpetuum defendemus prce- dicto Adce et hceredibus suis vel suis assig7iatis. Pro hac autem dona- tione concessione et prcesentis chartcc mece conjirmatione, dedit mihi prcedictus Adam quinque marcas prce manibus in gersuma. Et ut hcec mea donatio concessio et prcesentis chartce mece conjirmatio perpetuce firmitatis robur obtineat prcesentem chart am sigilli mei impressione ro- boravi. Hiis testibus ; dominis Henrico de Boeles, Johanne Jilio JVy- do7iis militibus. Johanne Jilio Willielmi de Kertlinton, Roberto Jordan de eadem, Johanne de Boleme, Williehno Jilio Rogeri de JFendlinbury , Nicholao de Berkeswelle de Stratton, Johanne de la Forde de Burn- cester, Roberto Sebern de eadem, Hugone Carectario, Hugone Clerico, Hugone Scissore, Johanne Fabro,. Johanne de Bigehulle, Johanne Puff, Simone Germeyn de Bigehulle, et aliis'\ Isabel de Fortibus daughter of Baldwin earl of Devon, widow of William de Fortibus earl of Albemarle, having now livery of the Isle of Wight, and being sole heir to the earldom of Devon by the death . W. Glynne, Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 381 of BaUlwitt (the fifth of that name) her brother without issue, being possessed of the lordship of Hey ford- Warin in this county, she granted a charter of confirmation to the priory of St. Edburg in Bur- cester of five quarters of bread corn given to them by Maud de Chesny her great grandmother, to make hosts or consecrated bread, out of her said manor of Heyford-VVarin. Sciant &^c. quod ego Isabella (cle Fovtibus comitissa AlhemarUe et Devon, ac doinina Inside^ pro salute amine mee et animarum anfC' cessorum et successorum meorum concessi, §-c. ecclesie heate Marie et Sancfe Edburgc virginis de Burnecestr et priori et canonicis, S,-c. quinque quarteria frumenti que habent de dono Matildis de Chesneto proavie mee ad hostias faciendas in domo predicta de manerio meo de Hayford- JFaryn, Sfc. Tcstibus dominis Johanne de Sancta Elena, Ri- cardo Asseton, Rogero de Insula inilitibus'. See this confirmed by Sir Robert L'isle lord of the manor of Hey- ford-AVaryn, sub an. 16. Ed. III. James baron Aldithley lord of Stratton and Wrechwike, having been constantly engaged in martial expeditions, began now in his declining years to enter upon acts of devotion : accordingly this year he went on pilgrimage to James of Compostella in Spain ; and to the Holy Land in 54. Hen. HI. ^ There was at this time a great difference between John earl of Warren and Henry Lacy lord of Burcester touching a certain pas- ture, upon which they raised what forces they could, resolving to fight for it. But the king upon notice forbad such riotous meeting, and commanded his judges to compose the matter, who, upon in- (juiry by oaths of the country, adjudged the right to Henry Lacy^ This pasture must have been nigh to Crendon the manor of the vaid earl of Warren, by descent from Walter Mareschal carl of Pem- Inoke. An, MCCLxix. 53, 54. Henry III, The Augustine friars that came into England an. 1251, and soon « Ex evidentiis Williclmi L'isle dc Wilburluim in Coin. Cantab, iutir CoUectanra R. Dods. MS. vol. 130. f. 9. f Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 7JH. a. % Mat. West, sub an. 382 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. after to Oxford, were there first settled by Sir John Handle, knight, soon after lord of Borstall, who purchased land to build their con- vent. The donation was in the preceding year confirmed by the king '". Thus it is represented by the Oxford historiographer, who gives him the title of knight, and fixes him at Borstall, whereas it is certain, he had not yet that honor nor that seat, nor were the first charters of Hen. III. procured by any interest of John de Handlo, who was no benefactor to them till the latter end of Ed. I. A great difference between prince Edward and Gilbert Clare earl of Glocester was referred to the arbitration of Richard king of the Romans, who on June the twenty-sixth drew up articles for their mutual agreement : that the said earl should accompany the prince in his expedition to the Holy Land, &c. for performance of which the earl delivered to the king of the Romans his two castles of Tunbridgc in Kent, and Henly in this county '. Prince Edward from Portsmouth began his voyage to the Holy Land, leaving his two sons by consent of Parliament in custody of Richard king of the Romans, to be educated by him in their father's absence ". Before this time William de Borstall, chaplain, granted to Sir John Fitz-Nigel one toft of land in Borstall, for the yearly rent of three shillings. Hiis testibus ; WiUiehno Welet, Roberto Fercbi'az, Helta Segrym, Radulpho filio Simonis de Borstall, Roberto Jilio Avicice, Jo- hanne de Thomele, WiUiehno de TytJgewike et aliis '. This yearly rent of three shillings was about this time remitted to Sir John Fitz-Nigel by William son of Simon le Frankleyn of Bor- stall, chaplain. Hiis testibus ; Helia Segrym, Thoma Brim, Roberto 1269. Vacante prioratu de Bernecestrc Will, dc Wyltesier capcll. pres. per pri- per resign, fris Reginald! petita licentia ab orem de Ware procuratorem abb. et conv. Henr. de Lacy patrona ejusd. Walterus de S'cti Ebrulfi ad eccl. de Cherleton vac. per Quendon electus est, adniiss. 16. kal. Jun. inort. mag'ri Willi. 3. kal. Apr. 126y. Rot. Ric'i Gravesend, anno 12. h Wood, Antiq. Oxon. 1. 1. p. 115. ' Chron. Tho. Wikes, sub an. ^ Ibid. ' Ex Chartular. de Borstall, penes D. Joh. Aubrey, Bar. f. 4. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 383 Avis, Johanne de Mat tell, Radulpho Jilio Simonis, Roberto Fere- hraz, 8fc. "" An. MccLxx. 54, 55. Henry HI. Alice the widow of Ednnind Lacy earl of Lincoln had a grant from the king in the 42d year of his reign of the custody of her hus- band's land, and the guardianship of Henry his son and heir, who coming to age, and having livery of his estate in the 53d of this king, she now paid as a fine for these profits by her received, the sum of three thousand seven hundred fifty-four pounds fourteen shil- lings eightpence, to be employed in the new structure of the abbey of Westminster. Rex 8fC. Sciatis S)-c. quod dilecta nobis Alesia de Lacy tibcravit per prceceptum nostrum custodi opcrationum nostraruni JVestm. pro xi. an. viz. ab an. regni nostri 42. ad 53. tria millia et scptingentas, et quin- qunginta et quatuor libras xviii. sol. viii''. de Jine suo queni nobiscuni fecit pro habenda custodia teirarum et hcered. Edm. de Lacy defuncti. 6. Novcmb. &,c. " John earl of Warren and Surrey, lord of the manor of Crendon in Bucks, did by special instrument dated at his said manor of Crendon oblige himself to come to jirince Edward into the king's court, and stand to the judgment of it for an offence by him committed against Sir Alati la Zouch and Sir Roger his son at Westminster, for which misdemeanor a fine of ten thousand marks was laid upon him °. An. MCCLXx. r> 1, 55. Heri. 111. tus de castro apud Oxon. ct moleudino et Hcnricus rex comniisit Waltcro Giffard gratis ccdant ad munilioiieni castri adver- fp'o. Bath ct Well, (deinuin arch. Ebor.) sus hostes. Rex pro sumptibus ct expensls castrum suuiii Oxoti. cum i)rato ct inolcn- dicti Waltcri Gifl'ard ratione turbatioiuiiii dinis ct maiicriadc IJrchiill ct I'ydiiigton per regni pardonat ci pro omnibus arreragiis terniinuni septeni aniioruin reddendo an- per totum tempus. Dat. apud Wynton. 25. nuatiin pro mancrio de IJreiiuU triginta li- Dec. regni nostri 55'"- Ex regist. VVal. Gif- bras et pro Pydington :.'() libras et proven- fard, arch. Ebor. fol. 77. ^ Ex Chartular. de Borstall. penes D. Job. Aubrey, Bar. f. -1. " W. Dugd. MS. C. p. :.'?<. •■' Dugd. Bar. toni. 1. p. 78. b. 384 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Richard kiii<]i; of the Romans sent a writ to the bailifls and stewards of his honor of Knaresburgh, to protect and defend the Cistertian abbey of tliat town in their possession of the church of Stavely which he had given to them, &c. Dat. apud Knaresburg vii, Scptemh. regni nostri anno quhito dccimo '". About this time Hamo de Gattone granted and confirmed to Ri- chard de la Vache one messuage and all the land and meadow, and all villains and their tenements, &c. in the village of Wrechwike, which descended to him by the death of Hamo de Gattone his uncle, to be held for the service of one penny yearly at Michaelmas, and to the capital lords of the fee one penny or one pair of gloves to the value of a penny. For which grant the said Hamo de Gattone re- ceived the full sum of one hundred pounds sterling. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego Hamo de Gattone dedi et con- cessi et hac prcesenti charta mea conjinnavi Ricardo de la Vache pro homagio ct servitio suo unum inessuagium et totam terrani et pratiim cum omnibus villanis et eorum tenementis et sequelis una cum communis pasturis ct ccetcris omnibus pertinentiis in villa de Wrechwike, qucc mihi descenderunt per mortem domini Hamonis de Gattone avunculi viei. flabenda et tencnda prcedicto Ricardo et hceredibus suis vel suis assignatis solvcndo unum denarium ad fcstum Sancti Michaelis super eundem feodum et capitalibus dominis illius feodi unum denarium vel unum par cyrothecarum de pretio unius denarii ad prcedictum domi- num super eundem feodum pro me et hceredibus 7neis pro omnibus ser- vitiis consuetudinibus exaction ibus auxiliis querelis ivardis marita- giis sectis curiarum universarum et omnibus servitiis tam domini regis quam aliorum quorumcunque dominorum et omnibus aliis scscularibus demandis quce de prcedictis tenementis poterint in posterum exigi vel haberi. Et ego prcedictus Hamo et hceredes mei vel mei assignati prce- A. D. 1270. Londini circa pentecosten nus Edwardus versus Terram Sanctam pro- factus est dotninus rex Alcmanias seneschal- fecturus erat. Ex cron. vetusto MS. lus et custos totius Angliae, quoniam domi- V R. Dods. MS. vol. 118. f. 143. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 385 (iicio Ricardo et hceTedihus suis vel suis assigyiatis omnia prcedicta terras et tenementa cum omnibus suis pertin. sicut prcedictum est contra omnes Christianos et Judceos per prcedictum servitium ivarantizabimus acquie- tabimus et in perpetuum defendemus. Pro hac autem do72atione conces- sione warantia et hujus chartce mece conjirmatione dedit mihi prcedic' tus Ricardus centum libras sterlingorum prcc manihis integram sum- main. In cujus rei testimonium prcesentem chartam sigilli mei impres- sione roboravi. Iliis testibus ; dominis Roberto Malet, Johaniie de Chcyni, Philippo Muredent, viilitibus ; Johanne le JFaleis, Thorn, de S. Andrea, Galfrido de Sancto Martino, niagistro Waltero de la Mare, IVillielmo de Huckote, IValtcro fratre ejus, Ricardo de Cantilupo, IV^illielmo de Falehame, Johanne de Overe, et aliis ''. There was a trial this year in Easter term at Westminster, by which it appeared that WiHiam de Longspe, father of Margaret wife of Henry de Lacy, was seized in fee of the third part of two parts of the manor of Erdinton in com. Berks, which third part James de Al- dithley of Stratton-Audley and Ela his wife did now enjoy'. An, MccLxxi. 55, 56. Henry III. This year March the thirteenth at Viterbo in Italy, Simon ile Montfort and Guy his brother murdered Henry eldest son of Ri- chard king of the Romans, whereby the inheritance of Ambrosden fell the next year to his younger brother Edmund. There is a I^atin epistle from Charles king of Sicily to prince Edward, giving an ac- count of this assassination, dated from Viterbo, &c. ' Upon whose death his brother Edmund, then in Syria, returned back into Eng- land, and was joyfully received by his father'. The body of the said Henry murdered at Viterbo was brought to London May the fifth, his heart was preserved at Wcstminslor, and the remainder of his body buried at his father's monastery of Hakvs ". About this time John St. John baron of Stanton remitted and (juil <» Ex Orig. M.S. pent-s D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 1.'. f. OfJ. I). ' Cod. MS. Bodl. 91. f. !41. ' Chron. Tho. Wikes, sub an. "Ibid. VOL. I. 3D 386 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. claimed to Thomas Bacon of Rousham all right and title to five vir- gates of arable land, eight acres of meadow, and one mill in Weston, which the said Thomas confirmed to the abbey of Oseney. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego Joannes jiliiis Rogeri de S. Joanne concessi remissi et omni7io quiet um clamavi pro me et hceredihus vieis ThomcB Bacun et hceredibus suis pro liomagio et servitio stio to- tiini jus et clamium quod habui vel habere potui in omnibus terris et tenementis et uno molendino in IFeston, §-c. Sciant prcBsentes et futuri quod ego Thomas Bacun de Rousham dedi coticessi et hac piesenti charta mea corifirmavi Deo et ccclesice S. Maria; de Osen. et Willielmo abbati v. virgatas terrce arabilis et octo acras prati et unum molendinum cum pertin. in Weston, ^c. " About St. Andrew's day died ^ Philip Basset baron of Wycomb, and was buried at Stanley, who had been a benefactor to the priory of Burcester of his ancestor's foundation, giving several lands by this charter. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego Philippus Basset miles pro sa- lute animce mece et animarum patris et matris mece et animce Fulconis Basset quondam Londinensis episcopi fratris viei et animarum omnium antecessorum meorum dedi concessi et hac pr-cesenti charta mea confir- mavi Deo et ecclesice beatce Marice et S. Edburgce virginis de Beren- cestria et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus et in perpetuum servituris in liberam puram et perpetuam elemosinam omnes terras et tenementa cum pertinentiis quce habui in Cliftone et Heentone et Dadyngtone in comitatu Oxonice de dono domini Rogeri de Stampford, et omnes ter- ras et tenementa cum pertinentiis quce habui in Grymesbury in paro- chia de Bannebyri in comitatu Northamptonice de dono prcedicti do- mini Rogeri habendas et tenendas de me et hceredibus meis prtsdictis canonicis et eorum successoribus ibidem Deo servientibus et imperpe- fuum servituris in liberam puram et perpetuam elemosinam omnea prcedictas terras et tenementa cum homagiis redditibus servitiis releviis » Regist. Osen. MS. p. 319. J Annal. Waverl. sub an. et Annal. Eccles. Wigorn. ■?ub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 38? escaefis messuagns terris prafis posfuris hoscis molendinis sfagnis vi- variis aquis haiis Jbssatis liberis mtroitihiis ct exitihiis ct cum omnibus aliis ad easdem terras et tenemevta pertinentibus vel quoquo modo per- tinere valentibiis, libere quiete bene in pace et omnino intcgre absque tdlo retenemento. Et ego dictus Philippus et hceredes mei ivarantiza- bimus defendemus ct acquietabimus omnes prcedictas terras et tene- menta cum omnibus suis pertinentiis prcedictis canoiiicis et eorum sucr cessoribus ibidem Deo servientibus et in perpetuum servituris in li- bcram puram et perpetuam elemosinam contra omnes gentes. Et ut hcec mea donatio concessio et prcesentis chartce mea conjirmatio et tva- rantizatio mea Jirmum robur optineant imperpetuum prfcsenfi scripto sigillum meum apposui. Hiis testibus ; dominis Nicholao de Vat- .ingden, Thoma de Hederne, Richardo de Rulg, Rogero de Avmari, RaduJfo de Cestertone, Rogero de Lenne, Alano de Rumalii, militi- bus, Sfc' The said Philip Basset had sold the manor of Sulthorn (now Soul- dern) to Ralph de Bray for forty marks of silver*. He died pos- sessed of the manors of Kertlington, Chefield, and Hunington, com. Oxon. '' which, with the manors of Haselee, Ascote, and Peryton, passed to Roger le Bigod earl of Norfolk and mareschal of England, who had married Aliva the sole daughter and heir of the said Philip Basset ^ December the twelfth, Richard king of the Romans at his castle of Berkamsted was taken with violent fits of the palsy, to the loss of his tongue, and often of his senses ; and continued in such desperate condition till his death in April following. Maud Longspc, widow of William Longsjie, mother of Margaret wife of Henry de Lacy earl of Lincoln and lord of the manor of Burccster, &c. by letters this year made a grievous complaint to the king, that John (iiffard baron had taken her by force from her ma- nor house at Kaneford, and carried her to his castle of Brimesfield, '■ Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 284. • R. Dods. MS. vol. 1.'. »'. I0», '> Dugd. Bar. torn. I. p. 385. <= R. Dods. MS. vol. 82. f. 10. b. 3 D 2 388 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. and there kept her in restraint. He being thereuj)on sent for by the king, and told what was informed against him, denied the charge, saying, he took her not thence against her will : and tendered to the king a fine of three hundred marks for marrying her without his li- cence : of which the king accepted, upon condition that she made no farther complaint ''. John Morel of Adyngrave having sold to John Fitz-Nigel jun. of Borstall one messuage and one hundred acres of land in the village and fields of Adyngrave and Crendon, &c. gave this letter of attor- ney to deliver possession. Omnibus Christi Jidelibus preesentcs literas visui'is vel audituris Jo- hannes Morell de Adyngrave salutem in Domino sempiternam. No- verit universitas vestra me constituisse Sampsonem de Adingrave at- tornatum meum ad ponendum Johannem jilium Nigellijun. de Borstall nomine meo in seisina de omnibus terris et tenementis qucB habui in villa de Adingrave quce quidem tenementa cum pertinentiis eidem Jo- hannijilio Johannis jilii Nigelli per chartam meam dedi tenenda sibi et hceredibus suis et assignatis in perpetuum. In cujus ret testimonium has literas in eas fieri feci patentes. Dat. aptid Brehull die S. Gregorii papce anno regni regis Henrici filii regis Johannis quinquagesimo quinto. Valete ". , In the year following Agnes Mildenhale, the widow of John Mo- rell, did release and quit claim the said premises. Hiis testibus ; do- mino Eustachio de Grcnevill, Johannc filio Nigelli, Henrico de Grene- vill, Johanne de Grcnevill, Roberto de Sulgrave, Hugone de Winchin- don, Nigello de Boys, et aliis. Dat. apud Brehull die Sabbati proxime ante festum S. Barnabce apost. an. R. Ed. 1. ^ An. MCCLxxii. 56, 57- Henry III. 1. Edw. I. Richard king of the Romans after his long paralytic illness died April the second at Berkamsted, his heart was preserved in the friar minor's church at Oxford, and his body interred in his own Cistertian ^ Dugd. B;tr. toni. I. p. 500. ' Chartular. de Borstall. f. 1::. '' Ibid. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 389 abbey of Hales. He had been so great a patron of Walter de Mer- ton, that this munificent prelate an. 12/4. founded his college in Ox- ford, pro salute animarum Henrici quondam regis Anglice nee non Germani sui Ricardi Romanorum regis inclyti et hceredum suorum. After his death on Wednesday before Palm-Sunday, an inquisition was taken of his lands in these parts, and it was returned upon oath, that the manors of Beckley, Ambrosden, Blackthorn within the said parish, and Willarston within the parish of Mixbury, were held by barony of the honor of St. Walery, that the advowsons of the churches of Beckley and Ambrosden belonged to the said manors, and the advowson of the church of Mixbury to the manor of Willar- ston ; (and indeed it was seldom seen that the possession of the ma- nor and patronage of the clmrch were in several hands, before the perpetual advowsons were given to the monks ;) that Simon St. Liz held one knight's fee of the said king of Alniaign, that William le Brun and Robert de Fretwell held of him seven knight's fees in the village of Horton, that the said earl held the manor of Henly in this county, that his son Edmund was next heir, and on the feast day of S. Stephen last past was of the age of twenty-two years. Extent, tcrrarum et tenement, domini regis Alman. de maneriis de Beckele et Ambredon et Blakethurn et Willarston, facta die Mer- euriiprox. ante festum Palmar um per Henricum de Canda ^c. Qui di- cunt super sacramentuni suuni quod inaneria de Behele, Ambreden, Blakethurn et Willarston tenehantur per baroniam de honore Sancti ff^alerici. Advocatio ecclesie de per ti net ad manerium de Beckele, Am- bredon advocutio ecclesie spectat ad manerium. Et quod advocatio ec- clesice de Mixcburi/ pertinct ad manerium de inilarston. Dicunt ctiam quod Simon de Sancfo Licco tenet ununi feodum mititis dc predicto rege Aleman. et Hillic/mus le Brun et Robertus de Fi'etvelle te- An. MCCLXXii. 56, 57. Henry III. I.Ed. I. Sabbato quo cantatur Sitii-ntes 1U7- .Foh. (le Draycotc capcllaiius prcs. per pont. Rit'i 14. conimendavit d'etiis d'li's (iHUin SampsoiHin Foliol ad capellain de tp'us eccl'iam de Wodeethon mag'ro Rob. Akle vac. per mort. Walter! ult. rectoris dc Wynchclsc. cjusd. 7.kal.Oct. pont. 11. Ric'i Gravcscnd. aSO PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. nuerunt in villa dc Horton vii. feoda miiitum de dicto domino rege. Ef dominus Edinundus est Jilius dicti domini R. Aleman. et heres snus proximus et Juit ad fcstum Sancti Stephani anno preterito de etate XXII. annorum. Idem tenet man. de Henle in com. Oxon. » This Willarston in the parish of Mixbury seems to have been so called from its situation nigh some noted well or spring. So Wyln- hale, formerly wrote Wylenhale, is guessed to be so named from the wells or springs in several parts; fvillas and willon in old English were wells ''. On the Friday before Palm- Sunday this inquisition was taken re* lating to the honor of Walingford. Extenta domini regis Aleman. de burgo suo de IValingford in com. Barock. facta die veneris prox. ante dominicam Palmarum anno regni regis Henrici Jilii Johannis LXi'". coram domino Fulcone de Rucote, ^-c. per sacramentum xii. virorum videlicet Roberti de Lauchis, Sfc. qui dicunt per sacramentum suum quod dictus rex Aleman. tenuit dictum buigum in capite de domino rege Anglie cum advocacionibus ecclesia- rum in dicto burgo quarum ecclesia Omnium Sanctorum valet c'. ec- clesia S. Petri valet xl*. et ecclesia Michaelis valet Edmundut heres de etatis xxii. annorum et amplius \ April 28. Edmund earl of Cornwall did his homage to the king and had possession of his father's large inheritance. Rex cepit homagium Editiundi filii et h^redis Ricardi regis Alemannice R.fratris defuncti. 28. Apr. Du Tillet by great mistake makes Edmund to have been the elder brother of Henry, slain in Italy ''. About Michaelmas he married Margaret sister to Gilbert earl of Glocester, and on the feast of St. Edward October the thirteenth, he was knighted by the king with Henry de Lacy lord of Burcester, who then received the earldom of Lincoln to that of Salisbury, which in his wife's right he before enjoyed'. e R.Dods. MS. toI. 64. p. 38. and Dugd. MS. vol. A. 2. p. 140. >> Dugd. Antiq. Warw. p. 149. * R. Dods. MS. vol. 64. f. 38. k Du Tillet, Recueil de Roys, p. 5. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 46. p. 158. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 391 November 16. died Henry the Third king of England. December the seventh, Edmund earl of Cornwall brought his new bride to Wa- hngford, and kept there a magnificent feast for the barons and great men °. In this year James lord Audley broke his neck", and left Ela daughter of William Longspe his widow in possession of Stratton, and one half part of the manor of Wrechwick which her father had given in marriage with her : which moiety of Wrechwick she gave to the priory of Burcester, who before enjoyed the other half of the said manor by the gift of Egeline de Courtney, and confirmation of Richard de Camvill and Eustace his wife " ; so as now the prior and canons became possessed of the whole manor of Wretchwick and Gravenhull-wood. The donation of Ela de Audley widow was thus. Sciant prccsentes et futuri quod ego Ela de Audithel quondam uxor preclarce viemoricn doinini Jacobi de Audithel defuncti in pura vi- duitate ligia potestate et mora voluntate rnea dedi concessi et hac prce- ienti charta mea conjirmavi Deo et ecclesice sanctcB Marice et S. Ed- burgcB virginis de Berncester et canonicis ibidem Deo sennentibus et imperpetuum servituris pro salute animce mece et animce doinini Ja- cobi de Audithel quondam domini niei prcedicti et animarum patris et matris mece et antecessorum et successorum meorum in liberam et puram et perpetuam eleemosinam totam terram meam quam habui vet quoquo modo habere potui in villa de IVrcchtvick in com. Oxon. de dono patris met domini IVillielmi Longspe cum messuagiis villanagiis redditibus pratis pasturis liberis consuetudinibus et omnibus aliis per- tinentiis ad dictam terram pertinentibus. Habenda et tenenda dictam terram de me et Jueredibus meis vel assignatis prccdictis canonicis et eorum successoribus liberc quiete intcgre bene et in pace in liberam puram et perpetuam eleemosinam ut prcedictum est cum omnibus perti- nentiis prcenominatis quictam et solutam ab omnibus servifiis consue- tudinibus curiarum sectis et scecularibus dcmandis. Ego vero dicta Ela et hcrredcs vwi vel assignuti totam prcedictam terram cum omni- " Chron. 'I'lio. VVikps. sub an. " Il>id. <> Dugd. Bar. torn 1. p. 748. 393 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. bus pertinentiis in liberam puram et perpetiiam elemosinam siciit prtr- dictum est versus omnes mortalcs in perpetuum warantizahimus acquie- tabimus et defendemus. Ut hcec autem mea donatio concessio et preF' senfis chartce mece confirmatio rata stabilis in perpetuum permaneat pi'cesenti scripto sigil/um meum apposui. Hiis testibus ; dominis Hog. de Almari, IValtero de Langel, Ricardo de Povre, militibus ; Ada le Gait, Willielmo de Avener, Johanne le Balimer, Hlllielmo la Megre, Roberto Clerico de Berncester, et aliis p. On the original parchment is a seal appending with the figure of a woman erect, bearing in one hand the arms of Audley, frette, and in the other the arms of Longspe, six lions rampant with this inscrip- tion, )J( SiGiLLUM Ele De Aldithleg. .An. MccLxxiii. 1,2. Edivard I. In a late trial William de L'isle had recovered the right of presen- tation to the church of Chesterton against John le Bret, and then conveyed his full right of patronage to Edmund earl of Cornwall, who now presented to the said church of Chesterton. Archid. Oxon. 16. Ric. de Gravesend. Nobilis vir dominus Ed- rhundus comes Cornub. prescntat ad ecclesiam de Cestreton. Per breve regis patet quod JVilUelmus de Insula recuperavit presentationem suam ad ecclesiam de magna Cesterton versus Johannem le Bret et idem Wil- lielmus de Insula remisit totum jus suum quod habuit in advocatione dicte ecclesie dicto comiti et heredibus "*. Within the same year the said earl of Cornwall presented to the church of *Munton in the archdeaconry of Northampton, and being patron of the abbey of Burnham did now grant licence of election to those sisters, who chose Maud de Dorkcestre abbess". Henry de Lacy earl of Lincoln presented to the church of Wadanhawe in the archdeaconry of Northampton '. * Manton. P Ex Orig. penes Hon. D. W. Glynne, Bar. ods. Extract, e. Reg. Line. vol. 107. p. 119. 'lb. f. 11.3. 'lb. f. 103. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 393 By inquisition taken this year, it appeared that Gilbert Clare earl of Glocester had seized one half of a knight's fee in Ludgarshall, tvhich John de Trayly held of him, and that the said John de Trayly late lord of Ludgarshall held of the king i?i capife one plot of ground valued at 7''- per an. and left heir Walter his son aged twenty- two years. Bucks. Jiir. dicuvt quod comes Glovermfe seisivit dimid. feed. mil. in Ludgarslia// quod dictus Johannes de Trayly de eo teniiit. Item jur. dicunt quod Johonnes de Trayly quondam dominus de Ludgarshall tcnuit de domino rege in capite unam ptaceam terrce quce valet vii**. per an. ' Reginald bishop suffragan of * Glocester was substituted by Richard bishop of Lincoln to visit these parts of the diocese of Lincoln, and to consecrate new churches. On June the eighth he consecrated the church of Weston on the Green, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to St. James the Apostle, and St. Nicholas the Confessor, devoting three altars in the said church to these resj)ective saints, and ordain- ing that whosoever should make some oblation to any of the said altars, should for such devotion and offering have twenty days in- dulgence. Which grant rims thus. Omnibus Christi jidelibus ad quos prccsens scriptum pervenerit Re- ginaldus miscratione divina -f- Glovensis episcopus salutem in Domino 16. Ric. Gravesend. 1273. per d'num N. cp'um Winton ad eccl. de Will, de Burencestr capellanus prcs. per Eadburgbir vac. per mag'rum J. de Mag- priorem ct coiiv. de Burencestr ad vicar, denestain archid'uin Oxon. cui d'n's cp'us cccl. de Burencestr vac. per mort. Rob'ti commisit vices suas. ib. de Eylesbir. Non. Mart, mandat. J. archid'o * Cloync in Ireland. Oxon. t Cloiwn.tix, in Uibernia. Will, de Deen subd. prcs. per nobilein R. Clouensis ep'us vice R. Line, cp'i de- virum d'num £dm. com. Ci)rnub. ad eccl. dicavit eccl. de Elscfeld. ?• id. Jul. 1273. de Cestreton vac. per mort. Itob. de Anna. Ordinatio vlearie de Ellesfeld facta fuit 2 Non. Jun. pout. Ifi. 12/1. 15. cal. Feb. I2!)5. Lib. S. Fridesw. Magr Xich. de Bokelaundc subd. prcs. Eccl'ia de magna Barthon dedicalur per ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 41. p. .S. VOL. I. 3 r. 394 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. sempiternam. Cupicntes at altaria B. Marice semper virginis, B. Ja- cobi apostoli, et Sancti Nicholai confessoris qua; sexto id. Junii an. Dom. M.cc.LXiii. vice venerabilis patris liicardi Dei gratia Line, epi- scopi in parochiali ecclesia de IVestona ejusdem dioc. dedicavivms, con- gruis honoribus frequententur, de Dei omnipofentis inisericordia B. Marice semper virginis, B. Jacobi et S. Nicholai omnihiisque sancto- rum mcritis conjidentes, omnibus vero contritis et confessis qui dicta altaria singuHs annis in prcecipuis festiviiatibus causa devotionis visi- taverint et aliquid de bonis Sanctis et Deo collatis subsidium charitatis contulerint scilicet ad altare B. Marice 20. dies ad altare B. Jacobi 20. dies et totidem ad altare S. Nicholai de injuncta sibi penitentia miserico7'diter relaxamus, dummodo loci diocesani banc nostram ratam habuerint indulgentiam. In cujus ret testimonium prcesentibus Uteris sigillum Jiostrum duximus apponendum. Dat. apud M^eston die et anno prcenominatis ". That this church was meant of Weston on the Green appears from the being recorded among the charts and donations of this parish to the abbey of Oseney, with this note. Memorandum quod abbas de Osenei habet totum manerium de fVeston de do?io Henrici de Olleio ultimi cum visa Franciplegii et om- nibus aliis pertinen. et habent insuper ibidem liberam tvarrenani de concessione regis Henrici. The same bishop in this circuit on the first day of June conse- crated the church of Stane (now Stone) in com. Bucks, dedicated to St. John Baptist, with forty days remission of penance to all that should visit the church, and make some offering on the anniversary of dedication. On July the fifth the church of St. Mary's at Water- Piry with forty days indulgence, &c. Which church was given by William son of William son of Helon, with consent of his wife Reginaldum ep'um Clonensem vice et auc- Eccl'ia dc Waterpiry consecratur per toritate Ri'ci Line, ep'i xi. kal. Jul. 1273. Reginald. Clonensem ep'um. 3. Non. Jul. Reg. Osney, MS. 1273. ib. f. 120. " Reg. Osen. MS. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 395 Emma daughter of Fulk Lovel, to the abbey of Oseney ; confirmed to the said abbey by Emma in her pure widowhood, at the beginning of Hen. III. " On July the si.xth the chapel of Foresthulle dedicated to St. Nicholas the Confessor, &c. On July the twelfth the cha- pel of St. Martin's in Sandford belonging to the parish of Great- Barton, &c. Edmund earl of Cornwall paid his relief for possession of his fa- ther's estate, of which a fair part was the barony of St. Walery in this county. Oxon. N^ova Ohlata. Edm. de Alciii. jilius et hceres Ricardi quondam regis Alem de rclevio suo dc omnibus terris et tcnementis quce prcefatus Ricardus te- nuit in capitc die quo obiit sicut captum in orig. jlvi. R. Hen. ^ An. MccLxxiv. 2, 3. Edward I. The abbot of Barlings presented a clerk to the church of Midling- ton '. On the octaves of Epiphany, Alesia de Lacy confirmed to John Sampson the grant made to him by Andrew le Gramere of the mills of Ai)erford in the county of York, dated with a seal appending bearing three wheat-sheafs ". Ela widow of James baron Audley, did now again renounce all claim and title to two carucates of land with their appertenances in the manor of Wrechwick, which were given with her in marriage and remained to her in dowry, which she had about two years, since given to the prior and canons of Burcester. Omnibus sancfcc matris ecclesice Jiim prcesens scriptum visuris vel An. Mcci.xxiv. 2,3. Edward I. post fcstiim Omn. S'ctomm anno regni n'ri Rt'X univiTsii. — jN'overi/w nus viutuo rece- secundo tiptid Northampton per inanus Egidii pme a dileclo conmngnineo n'ro Edmundo dr Audenarde Uberaturum qtiam pecuniam comite Cornubie duo millia mnrcarnm Tluyme solvere tenemur. T. R. apud Northampton. Bek cu.itodi gardcrobe n're die vuirlii proT. 2. Ed. I. 127 J. Hyiner. 2. p. 41. » R. Dods. MS. vol. 39. f. 9?. r R. Dods. Extract. Rot. Pip. vol. 16. p. 3. ' R. Dods MS. vol. 107. p. 119. « Ibid. vol. I.Vt. f. 112. 3 E 2 396 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. audituris Ela de Aldithleia quondam uxor Jacobi de Aldithleia salti- tem in Domino sempiternam. Noverit univcrsitas vestra quod ego in libera viduitate mea et ligea potcstate pro salute animce et pro anima Jacobi quondam viri mei concessi remisi et absolute quictum clamavi pro me et hceredibus meis et assignatis omnibus et si7igulis Deo et ec- clesi(e beatce Marice et Sanctce Edburgce r/rginis de Berncester et ca- nonicis ibidem Deo servientibus et in perpetuum servituris tot um jus et clamium quod habui vel aliquo modo habere pofui in dnabus carucatis terrce cum pertinentiis suis in villa de If^rechivick in parochia de Bern- cester quas habui de dono domini IFilUelmi Longspei patris mei in liberum maritagium in puram et perpetuum eleemosinam. Ita quod nee ego nee hceredes mei vel assignati mei in prcedicta terra cum per- tinentiis sea earum parte aliquod jus vel clamium de ccetero exigere habere vel vendicare poterimus : et sifecimus, tenore prcesentium illud clamium irritum fore et inane fatcmur et protestamur. Ilanc autem concessionem quietam clamationem et remissionem prcedictis re/igiosis contra omnes gentes warantizabimus acquietabimus et in perpetuum defendemus. In cujus rei testimonium hoe prcesens scriptum sigilli mei impressione roboravi. Hiis testibus ; dominis Rogero de Aumari, Ro- berto jilio ejus, Johanne jilio IFidonis, Roberto Malef, Johanne Car- bonel, Ricardo Paupere, militibus. Johanne Blundo de Codesf'ord, fVcdtero de Crohesj'ord, et multis aliis. Datum apud Stratton anno regni regis Ed. sccundo ^, To the original parchment is a seal appending with the same im- press as that to her former deed, sub. an. 1272. There is another original chart of confirmation, and full release 1:2/4. (i. kal. Mart, ad preces d'ni R. ep'i prima concessione commcnde sibi facte de Rolens, commendavit d'nus ep'us eccl. de eadein erat expressa. Nevvcnham mag'ro Petro de Abendon ad Hen. de Skerling subd. prcs. per abba- ipsam prescntato et habuit literam paten- tiss. et conv. de Alnistow ad eccl. de God- tem in forma consueta remota clausula us- ington vac. per resign, mag'ri Job. de Fra- que ad sue beneplacitum voluntatis que in vishani. 10. kul. Apr. t Ex Orig. penes hon, vir. D. Guil. GlynnC;, Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, kc. 397 to the same effect. Hiis testibtis ; dominis Rogero et Roberto dc Aumary, Johanne Jilio Jf'^i/do/iis, Roberto Malet, Johmme Carbonel. Henrico de Nueles, milifibus. Johanne le Bhind de Codesford, Jo- hanne Hugone de eadem, Johajme de Boleme, Johanne de la Forde, et aliis ". John tie Grenevill, son of WilHam de Greiievill of Chilton, gianted and confirmed to John Fitz-Nigel jun. of Borstall, one messuage with a croft in the demesne of Adingrave, in consideration of one hundred shillings sterling. Hiis testibus ; domino Roberto Ma/et, Jo- hanne Carbonel, Vetro de Chalons, mil. inilielnio le Fenur, Ricardo de Warnadeston, Henrico dc Grenevill, Osberto de Culverdon, Jo- hanne le Chivaler, Johanne de Brok, et aliis. Actum die Jovis proxime ante festum apostolorum Simonis et Judce anno gratice mcc. septuage- simo quarto **. Ralph son of Simon Frankleyn of Borstall had granted to John Fitz-Nigel jun. two roods of land in the field of Borstall for the yearly rent of one penny. Hiis testibus ; IFaltcro dc Horton, Ni- gello de Boys de Brehull, Thoma Brun de Borstall, ^c. And Robert Frankleyn of Borstall granted half an acre of arable land in the field of Borstall for the yearly rent of one halfpenny. Hiis testibus ; Ifal- tero dc Horton, Nigello de Boi/s de Brehull, Thoma Brun de Bor- stall, Sfc. The said Robert Frankleyn now granted to John Fitz- Nigel jun. half an acre of land in Midlehurst-furlong in the field of Borstall, for the rent of one rose on St. John Baptist's day, and half a mark of silver in hand. Hiis testibus ; Ifaltero de Horton, Thoma Brun de Borstall, JTillielmo de Herford de eadcni, Nigello de Boi/s dc Brehull, Roberto Tulusa de eadem, Johanne Fcrebraz, et aliis. Actum die Sabbafi proxime post festum apostolorum Petri et Pauli anno regni domini Edw. secundo '. John de Verdon, lord of the manor of Ilelh in this county, died on the twelfth of the calends of November 1274, leaving issue Theo- bald his son and heir, who in the following year doing his homage, c Ex Orig. ibid. J Ex Chartuhir. dc Borstall. f. 19. ' lb. f. 8. 398 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. and paying one hundred pounds for his rehef, had livery of the said manor of Heth, and all other his father's lands ^ An. MccLXxv. 3, 4. pAlward I. Within this third of Ed. I. an inqviisition was taken in the city of Lincoln concerning the custody of that castle, which because it re- lates not only to Henry de Lacy, now lord of the manors of Bur- cester and Midlington, but to the progenitors of his wife by whom those manors came, and to Gerard de Camvill once lord of Midle- ton castle, and Nichola de Hay an eminent lady, all formerly con- cerned in these parts, it will be proper to recite it. 3. Ed. I. Inquisitio facta per -KU.Jideles civitatis Line, juratos eo- ram domims JVillieltno de S. Omero et JVarino de Chaucumhe justic. doinini regis ad hoc assignatos. Dicunt quod castrian Lincoln, fuit quondam in vianibus 11. Ricardi et postea in mana R. Johannis fratris cjusdem Ricardi et illud teniiit in dominico una cum civitate Line, et tunc idem Joh. rex tradidit cus- todiam i/lius cuidam qui vocabatur Gerardus de Camvilla qui despon- saverat dominam Nicholaam de la Hay qui idem tcnuit dum vixit per 1275. Joh. Parnys subd. pres. per from Egnisham ad medietat. eccl. de Hcyford W. priorem de Wara ad eccl. de Cherleton ad pont. vac. per mort. mag'ri Rob. dcLon- superOttemor vac. per mort. VVill'i. 13. kal. don. 9. kal. Dec. Mail anno 17. Ric'i Gravesend. Joh. de Audinardo ordinatus subdiac. 2. Eod. anno 1275. Henr. de Pavely pres- kal. Mart. pont. 18. et in eccl'ia de Merse b'r pres. per dominum Rob'tum Pavely mil. in archidi'atu Buck, cujus custodiam jam- ad eccl. de Wendlingbir vac. per mort ma- diu tenuit rector canonice institutus ejus- g'ri Will'i. 2. Non. Nov. inquis. facta per dem custodiam prius habuit d'nus Egidius W. archid'um Oxon. de Audinardo. Will, de Caneford p'b'r pres. per abb. et Joh. de Audinardo subdiac. 1277- pont. conv. de Barling ad eccl. de Midlington 19. Ric'i Gravesend. pres. per proc. prions vac. per mort. Valentine. 3. id. Jul. ib. et conv. Grestein ad eccl. de Merse. IS. 1275. 18. Ric'i Gravesend. Mag'r Will. cal. Maii. de Dunham p'b'r pres. per abb. et conv. de ^ Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 473. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 399 voluntatcm domiJii regis et post decessum ejnsdem Gerardi dicta do- jfiina Nichola dc la Hay ter/uit idem ad voluntatem R. Johannis in tempore guerre et in tempore pads et post guerram accidit quod dictus Johannes rex venit ad Line, et dicta domina N. exivit ad por- tam orientalem castri porfans claves castri in mami sua et ohviavit dicto domino regi et obtidit ei claves tavquam domino et dixit quod esset mulier magne etatis et quod multos labores et anxietates in dicto castro sustinucrat et amplius talia non poterat sustinere. Et dictus Johannes rex dulciter dixit, sustineatis si placeat adhuc, et ita habuit custodiani castri toto tempore vite Johannis R. et post decessum Joh. R. ilia domina habuit custodiam illius in tempore R. H. patris regis qui nunc est, sed per quot annos in temp. R. H. ignoramus. Et tunc translatavit se dicta domina Nicholaa usque ad Swanetofi et ibi obiit. Et dominus H. rex tunc tradidit custodiam illius castri cuidam qui vocabatur Philippus de Lascels et Hie habuit custodiam per tres anfios vel plus et post ipsum Philippum quidam qui vocabatur iralterus de Everu'ic habuit custodiam pro volnutate domini R. //. sed per quot annos ignoramus : et postea accidit quod fVHlielmus de Longspe qui obiit in Terra Sancta venit ad dominum R. 11. et exoravit voluntatem regis quod poterit perhendinare in dicto castro quum venturus esset apud Lincoln et dominus H. rex concessit et perhendinare et custodiam castri et sic tenuit per voluntatem regis : et post cum dominus fniliel- mus Longspe jil. ejus idem tenuit per voluntatem regis et post eum do- minus Henricus de Lacy qui nunc est idem tenuit per concessionem quam dominus rex H. pater domini regis nunc fecit IFHlielmo Longspe antecessori uxoris predicti Henrici '''. Sir Robert de Pavely, knight, presented to tlie eluireh of WendU^- l)iiry ''. About this time Henry viear of Weston on the Green ga\e to the monastery of Oseney the yearly rent of twelve shillings, in the village of Weston and the fields of Bleehesdon, for a pietanee or over-com- mons on the anniversary of his death, as also six acres of land witii i 11. Duds. MS. vol. 89. f. 5!. •' Ih. vi.l. I07. p. 1 1'). 400 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. meadows and apperteiiances in the fields of Blechesdon, &c. in this form of donation. Scia7}f prcesentes et futuri quod ego Henricus vicarius de Weston dedi et concessi et per chartam meam confinnavi Deo et ecclesice S. Marice de Osen. et canouieis in ea Deo servlentibus anmium redd'itjun XII. sol. in villa de JFeston qnos percipere solebam anniiatim videlicet de Gilherto de tVeston iii. sol. et x. denar. pro duabits acris terra; et diniid. in campis de Blechesdon et uno messuagiojuxta ccemiterium ec- clesice de Weston qiite de me tenet et de Reginaldo Pelipar xvi. denar. pro tribus rodis et una roda prati in campis de Blechesdon et nno mes- suagio juxta ccemiterium ecclesice de Weston et de Ada molendinario IV. sol. pro ?nessuagio quod de me tenet in Weston et de Thoma de Mudlinton ii. sol. pro messuagio quod de me tenet in Weston et pro tei'iis quas idem Ada et Thomas de me tenent in campis de Blechesdon quos quidem quatuor solidos et duo solidos de tenementis prcedictortim Adce et Thomce attornavi ad unam pietantiam faciendam in conventu Osneiensi annuatim in perpetuum iyi die anniversar. mei obitus pro aninia mea. Dedi insuper et concessi prcedictis ecclesice et canonicis IV. acras terrce cum pratis et pertin. suis in campis de Blechesdon quarum una acrajacet in cultura quce vocatur Chippesen, aliajacet in cultura quae vocatur Fenacre et jacet juxta terrani abbatis de Godstow et tertia acra Jacet in eadem cultura juxta le Forthodrove et extendi f se in Hilleden et jacet juxta terra??? Rogeri d'A??iory et quart a acra jacet in cultura quce vocatur ReT??neda et jacet juxta terra??i Ricaidi Picu?? et quicquid in o?nt?ibus prcedictis habui vel habe?'e potui sine idlo reti??emc??to '\ Margery Clement, one of the sisters in the nunnery of Stodley, was elected prioress of that house, by leave first obtained of Edmund earl of Cornwall patron. 18. R. Gravcsend ; soror Margeria Cle???cnt electa in priorissam prioratus de Stodley pctita p?ius et obte??ta licentia eligendi a do???ino Ed. co?n. Cornub. dictce do?nus de Stodley patro?io^. i Regist. Osen. MS. p. .321. k R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 120. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 401 Nigh this time Johti Pufph, son of Robert Pufph miller in Bur- cester, irranted to the prior and canons of that town all his right in one acre of arable land lying in a certain ground called Brodelond in the common field of Burccsler, in consideration whereof the said prior and canons released to him and Muriel liis wife twelve-pence yearly out often shillings annual rent due to the said convent. Scicint prcesentcs et futuri quod ego Johannes Pufph de Berncester dedi et conccssi et quietum clamavi pro vjc et hceredibtis meis viris re- /igiosis priori ct coiivcntiii dc Berncester totum jus et clamium quod luibui vet uliquo modo habere potui in una acra terrce mece arabilis quce jacet in quadani cultura quce vocatur le Brodelond in canipo de Berncester habenda et tenenda prcedictis religiosis et corum successori- bus, &fc. Pro hac auteni donatione concessione quieta clamationc prce- dicti prior et conventus concesserunt et relaxaverunt pro se et succes- soribus suis mihi et Muriellce uxori inecB duodecini denarios annuaiim de decern sotidis redditus quos sibi tenebant annuatini. Et ut hcec viea donatio concessio et quieta clamatio perpetuce Jirniitatis robur obtineant prcesenti churtce sigillum nieuni apposui. Hiis testibus ; u4dam le Gayt, IFillielmo le Meg re, Johanne de Cotesford, Johanne filio ITil- lielnii de Kertlington, Ricardo de Caune de eadem, Willielmo Paute, Roberto Clerico de Berncester, et aliis '. Nigh this time Henry Fitz-Gilbert of Borstall granted to John Fitz-Nigel jun. two roods of land in the field of Borstall for the yearly rent of one penny. Hiis testibus ; JFaltero de Horton, Ni- gello de Boys de Brehall, Ricardo Tuluse de eadem, Thonia Brun de Borstalle, frUlielnio de Hereford de eadem, Johanne del Brok de Northmerston clerico, et aliis. Antl William son of Xigel son of Peter lo Myra of Borstall, granted to John, son of John Filz-Xigel, all that messuage with its appertenances which Simon son of Bald- wyn sometimes held of the abbot of Missenden in Ihc village of Bor- stall, paying the yearly rent of one pound of cloves, and one mark of silver in hand, lliis testibus ; domino Roberto Mulet, domino Jo- 1 Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynnc, B;ir. VOL. I. 3 F 403 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. hanne Carbon el, Henrico de Benson, IFaltero le Chevaler, Galfrido de Wermenhal, Johanne de Esses, IFaltero de Norton, Johunne Morell, Thoma de S. Andrea, Johanne de Brong/ifon, Jiogero le Scrjant de Lufegarshall, Richardo de Halethon de eadeni, et aliis'". In a court roll of the tenures and possessions of the abbey of Wo- born made this year, 3. Edw. I. it appears that the said abbot held in the lower Swanborn, four hides and a half of the honor of Brehull, by means of the heir of Braybrook, who held of the heirs of Henry de Clinton, and they of the king". About this time Richard de Culne and Christina his wife released and quit claimed to the prior and convent of Burncester, all the right and claim which they had in two shillings yearly rent due from the said convent for one of their water-mills in Kertlinton, on the north bank of Cherwell. This was the chiefage, or lord's rent, which the convent bought off for twenty shillings. Sciant prcEsentes etfnturi quod ego Ricardus de Culne et Christina uxor mea unanimi assensu et plena voluntate dedimus concessiinus re- 7nisimus et prcesenti scripto quietuin clamavimus pro nobis et hceredi- bus nostris quiete et absolute religiosis viris priori et conventui de Burncester et eorum successoribus in liberam puram et perpetuam elee- mosinam totum Jus et clamium quod habuimus vet quoquo modo habere potuimus in duobus solidis argenti annui redditus quos ab eis peteba- mus de uno molendino aquatico quod prcfdicti religiosi tenent in villa de Kertlinton et situm est ex parte boreali ripce de Cherwelle de qui- bus etiam placitum viotum fuit inter dicfos religiosos et nos in com. Oxon. Habenda et tenenda dictos duos solidos annui redditus prccdictis religiosis et eorum successoribus de nobis et hcBredibus nostris ut prce- dictum est in perpetuum : pro hac autem donatione concessione remis- sione et quieta clamatione dederunt prcedicti religiosi nobis viginti so- lidos sterlingorum prce manibus. Et nos prcedictus Ricardus et Chris- tina uxor mea prcedictos duos solidos argenti et hceredes nostri prce- dictos duos solidos annui redditus prcedictis priori et conventui et •n Ex Chartul. dc Borstull. f. 9. " R. Dods. MS. vol. 6?. p. 13. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 403 eorum siiccessoribus warant. ^c. In ciijiis rei testimonium nos prccd. Ricardus et Christina have prcesentem chartam sigillorum nostrorum viuniminibus I'ohoravimus. Hiis tesfibus ; Adam de Gail, JVillielnto le Megre, IVillielmo la Avener, Joliamie Jilio Williclmi de Kertlin- ton, Johanne de Codesford, IFaltcro de Croxford, IFillielmo Povre, et aliis ". To the original parchment two seals append, one impressed with a bird, the otiier with a stag, the inscriptions defaced. An. MCCLXXVi. 4, 5. Edward I. In this year's accounts of Richard de Holebrook, steward of the king's demesnes, there are receipts for the manor of Brill, quod J'uit antiquum dominicum regis ^. Nigh this time William Pyll of Oxford gave to the religious nuns of Stodlcy his house, called a school, between his own house on the north and the house of Lawrence Kepeharm on the south, in the parish of St. Mary's. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod ego JVillielmus Pylla de Oxon. dedi et concessi, ^-c. Deo et B. Marice et domui de Stodley et sanctimoniali- hus ejusdem loci unam domum meam cum pertinentiis quee dicitur schola qua; domiis sita est inter gabulam tenementi mei ex parte bo- reali et gabulam tenementi Laurentii Kepeharm ex parte australi in parochia B. Marice virginis, %c. '' This house was after called the Stodley schools, and brought half a mark yearly rent to the said mmnery, as appears l)y incjuisition of the sixth and seventh of Edw. I. 127G. Joh. de IJurton p'b'r prcs. per ilus de Crekclude p'li'r pies, per t'rem Rob. Walt, de la Peville ad eccl. dc Hampton ad procuratoreni Becci in Ancl. ad cccl. de pontcna vac. per mort. Rogeri. 9. kal. Oct. Cotesford vac. per raort. Rucclini. 11. kal. 19. Ric'i Gravescnd. Jun. K'JG. An. 20. Ric. Gravescnd. Galfri- oEx Orig. penes D. W. Glynne, Bar. v R. Dods, Extract. Rot. Pip. MS. vol. 16. p. 24. "I Ant. a Wood, Antiq. Oxon. 1. Z. p. 13. 3 F 2 404 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Sampson cle Adinsrave and Mary his wife granted and confirmed lo John Fitz-Nigel jim. of Borstall, one messuage with a croft adjoin- ing ill the village of Adingrave, with sixteen acres and a half of ara- ble land lying in several places in the fields of Adingrave and Acley. H'lis testibus ; l^honia cle S.Andrea in Esscndon, H altera cle Horton in eadeni, fVillielmo Colie in eacleni, Joltannc cle Grencvil in Chilton, Henrico de Grencvil in cadeni, niagiatro If altera de Bidindon in Adin- grave, Nicholao le Brim in Acley, JSigcllo Tr avers in eadeni, Nigel lo de Bosco in Brehull, Johanne Ferebraz in eadem, ct vniltis aliis. Da- tum apud Brehull die S. LucicB anno rcgni regis Edtvardi quarto'. In the summer follo\\ ing this final agreement was made in the king's court at Westminster. Hcsc est Jinalis concordia facia in curia do- viini regis apud IFestniinster a die S. Johannis Baptisfce in quindeceni dies anno regni ?x'gis Edivardi flii 7'egis Henrici quarto coram via- gistro Kogero de Seyton, viagistro liudulpho de Fcringhain, Thoma If ey land, Johanne de Lovetqft et Rogero de Leys, jus tit. et aliis do- mini regis jidelibus tunc ibi prcesentibus inter Johanneni Jilium Nigelli quer. et Samson, de Adingrave et Mariani uxoreni ejus dej'orc. de uiio wessuagio triginta et sex acris terrcs et dimidia et uno denario red- ditus cum pertin. in Adingrave et Acley unde placitum conventionis suni.fuit inter cos in eadeni curia. Scilicet quod prcedicti Samson et Maria recognoscunt prcedictum tenementuni cum pertin. esse jus ipsius Johannis et illud ei reddiderunt in eadem curia et rcniiserunt et quie- tum claniaverunt de se et hceredibus ipsius Muricc. prcedicto Johanni et hceredibus suis in perpetuum. Et pro hoc recognitione jinc et con- cordia idem Johannes dedit prcedictis Saiyison et Marice centum solidos sterlingorum ^ Edmund earl of Cornwall presented to the church of Leir in the archdeaconry of Leicester, in right of the custody of the lands and heir of Henry de Hastings, the advowson of which church he recovered in the king's court against John son of William de Leyra \ ' Ex Chartular de Borstall. f. 13. ' Ibid. f. 15. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 107- f. 109. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 405 An, MccLxxvii. 5, 6. Echvard I. I find preserved in a long slip of parchment a register for this year of the receipts and dues of the priory of Burcester, given in by their respective stewards, and by their other officers, granger, cook, sa- crist, and bursars, before the supprior, William de Thornbcrg, Wal- ter de Oxon, and Stephen de Oxon, deputed auditors : whereby it appears by the bursar's accoimts, that their receipts did exceed their expences 25'. 6\ 5''. ob. The title is this, Registrum priorat. Berncester de anno R. R. E. qiiinto. The names of those places for which their stewards accoinited are Clifton, Sutton, Caversfield, Westkole, Arnkote, Beaumuntl ; and their officers that accounted are grangiarius, coquarius, sacristarius, bur sarins. For an instance of the rest, I shall transcribe only the first account, that of Clifton, with that of Arnkote within my parish of Ambros- den, and the concluding accounts of the bursars. Clif FTON. Aid. quod die proxima post festvm Sancti Michaelis amio reg. E. sexto computavit Johannes Cunon prcepositus de Clifton de nianerio de Clifton de omnibus receptis et expensis per ipsnm factis ab in-crastino Sancti Michaelis anno reg. K. quinfo usque festuni Sancti Martini cvangelistfc anno prwdicto et ab eodeni die et anno computat Johannes tVillard prrepositus de Clifton niodo prcedicto usque in crastinuni Sancti Michaelis anno reg. III. sexto coram dominis suppriore. IVillielmo de Thornberg, ff altera de O.von. Stcph. de Oxon. auditori- bus deputatis. Et omnibus romputatis et rite allocatis tenetur Johan- nes IFillard domui in x\ iii\ i\''. <•/ renianet in granario v. quarteria et dimidinmfrunienti. iw bovcs, \i. muliloncs, cf sex ajricancejceniinte. 1277- Litera regis dc lite iiiti-r Eiiimiii- Aknjanniifi. Rymer, 11. p. 87. duin coil). C'oriiub. et IJeatricein rei;iiium 40b- PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. 11. pullani fcEviini, viii. Loves, xi. vaccce, i. bovctt. mas. iv. hovicidcc fern. V. vituli, lx. casei. Arnekote. i\f(t/. qi/od die et anno siipradlctis computat Walterus de Gating ser- viens de Arnikote coram and. 8fc. de omnibus receptis et expensis pel- ipstim facfis in dicto manerio ab in-crastino Sancti Michaelis an. reg, Ed. v'". usque ad diem luncp. proxime post jest um Sancti Sn'ithini anno priedicto et ab codem festo die et an. comp. Johannes de Co/ess eodeni modo usque ad in-crastinum Sancti Michaelis an. reg. E. vi'". et sic omnibus confputatis et allocatis tenctur ilictus Johannes domui in vi'. vii"*. ob. quad, et rem. in granario frumcnti quarterium, brasii viii. quarteria, v. et dim. pisarum et de instauraniento iii. Jumenta, iii. pulli masculi, i.fcem. xvi. boves, i. bovett. i.Juvencus, ii. boviti/. masc. II. sues, XIV. porci, v. capones. i. gallus, ix. gallincB, v. pullani. Bursar. Md. quod die et anno supradicfis computaverujit fratres lladulfus de Meriton et Stephanus de Oxon. de bursar, donius Berncester coram auditor, §-c. de omnibus receptis et crpensis per ipsos factis in dicto of- ficio a festo Saiicti Michaelis an. reg. E. \^". usque ad idem festuni an. reg. E. VI**. et sic continuandum usque ad festum Nicholai an. reg. E. vi*°. et sic omnibus computatis et rite allocatis excedunt expensas re- cepta xxv'. vi'. v*^. ob. " On the Wednesday after St. James's-day, in this fifth of Edw. I. by indenture dated at Missenden, Richard de la Vache granted and confirmed to Walter prior of Berncester, and to the convent of the said place, all the land, meadow, &c. which he held by the gift of Hamo de Gattone in the village of Wrechwike, paying yearly to him and his heirs five marks and a half, and in default of payment it should be lawful for the said Richard and his heirs to distrain the " Ex Orig. penes hon. D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 407 goods and chattels on all the lands of that convent in VVrechwike, as well on that tee which they before held, as on that which was now granted. Sciant prcesentes etfuturi quod ego Ricardus de la Vache dedi con- cessi et hoc pnesenti charta mca coujirmavi If^altero priori de Bern- cestria et ejusdetn loci conventui et eoriun siiccessoribus totam terrain illam pratuin et villanos cum villauagiis oiiniihus cataltis et tota se- quela ipsoruin quce hahui ex dono domini Ihunonis de (Jattoiis in I'illa de IVrechtvike cum omnibus Ubertatibus et pertinentiis suis. Hahcnda et tenenda de me et hceredibus meis vel meis ussignatis prcedictam ter- ram pratum et villanos, ^-c. reddendo annuatim mihi et hceredibus vel quibuscunquc meis assignatis prcedicti prior et conventus et eorum suc- cessores quinque marcas et dimid. videlicet ad J est urn beatce Marice in martio triginta sex solidos et octo denarios, Sfc. et capitalibus do/ninis Jeodi unum denarium pro omnibus servitiis consuetudinibus exactioni- bus et omnibus scecularibus dcniandis. Et ego Ricardus de la faclie et lucredes inei dictum terram &)C. zvarantizabimus ^-c. Et si prcdictos priorem et conventum vel eorum successores prcedictum redditum in parte vel in toto terminis prcescriptis solvendo cessare contigerit, vo- lant prcedicti prior et conventus §-c'. quod liceat prcedicto Ricardo 8fc. prcedictos priorem Sj-c. per omnia bona sua SiC. in omnibus terra de H'recliwike Sfc. distringcrc §-c. /// cujus rei testimonium prcesenii chartce in modum cijrograpJii conj'ectce partes alternatim sigilla sua apposuerunt. Iliis testibus ; dominis Rogero de Aumari, Roberto J\I(dcf de Eanglcyc, Johanne Curbo)iel, If illielmo Tri/ret, Jolianne de Cheyne, Roberto de Auma/i, Jolianne IJcyrmit, niilitibiis. Johanne Ic IValcys, et aliis. Dat. apud Messenden die Meracrii proxime post fes- tum S. Jacobi anno regni R. Edivardi quinfo"". To the original indenture a seal appends with I lie impress of three lions rampant, with this inscription, >J< Sigili. Ricardi De La Vache. The arms of this family were giiles, three lions argent, with a label, che(pie, or and azure''. » Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. ) II. Dods. MS. vol. 35. f. 101. 408 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. The same grant was recited and confirmed by Richard de la Vachc in another charter dated at Chalfhunt, in the octaves of the Assvnnp- tion of the virgin Mary, 5. Edw, I.'^ Osbert vicar of the church of Merton was prosecuted by Thomas le Camvill and Elizabeth his wife, for proceeding in a cause before the ecclesiastical court against the king's prohii)ition. Whether this l)e meant of the vicar of Merton next adjoining to Ambrosden, or of Merston near Oxford, is not so plain '. Henry Lacy, in right of his wife Margaret lord of Burcestcr and Midlington, had now livery of the profits which his ancestors received in right of the earldom of Lincoln, with all arrears from the time he was by king Hen. III. girt with the sword of that earWom '' : for which the king issued out this clause writ to the treasurer and barons of his exchequer. Rex thesaiirario ct haromhus sttis de scaccario et camerariis siiis salutem. Mandamus vohis quod dilecto et Jideli nostra Henrico de hncy com. Line, faciatis habere feodum suum quod per- cipere debet et antecessores sui in com. Line, percipere consuevernnt ad scaccarium prcndictum nomine comitatus una cum arreragiis suis i> die quo dictus comes arma militaria a domino H. rege patre nostra cepit An. MCCLXXVii. 5, 6. Edw. I. tione decern monachorum vestri conventus Ricardus Line, ep'us religiosis viris abb'i sacer numerus amplietur, doniui v're ap- et conv. de Hegles, ord. Cisterc. salut. propriarc curaremus — prcscriptas eccl'ias Cum nobilis vir d'n's Edmundus com Cor- vobis et succ. v'ris in pios et proprios usus nub. cujus predecessores domum vestram — concedimus — salvis archid'o Hunt. 5. sol. fundaverunt et bonis propriis dotavcrunt annuls pro eccl'ia de Hemelliamstede et divine pietatis intuitu numerum nionaeiio- archid'o Oxon. 4. sol. ann. de eccl'ia de rum ad augmentum divini cultus augeri de- Northlc — pro recompensatione juris se- siderans in cadem nobis humilime suppli- qucstri sui in eisdcm. dat. 7 kal. Mart. 1277- caverit ut de Hamelbamstede et de Northle pont. 20. n're dioc. eccl'ias cum capellis de Boven- Job. Line, ep'us confirmat G. id. Jun. done et Slaverdene dicte eccl'ie de Hamel- 1303. Ordinatio vie. dc Northlc sequitur. hamstede spectantibus, quaruni advoca- Reg. Dalderby. tiones vobis liberaliter concessit ut adjec- z Ex Autog. penes D. W. Glynne, Bar. « W. Prynne, Histor. Col. torn. 3. p. 1217. * Dugd. Bar. torn. i. p. 104. ^ R. Dods. MS. vol. 110. p. 79. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 409 et cinctus fuit gladio comitatus illius. T. R. apud West in' iv. die Mali ''. Under this year, in the register of Egneshani, are recorded the pensions paid to the said abbey out of some churches in the deanery ofBurcester. An. mcclxxvii. decan. de Berncester Abbas de Egnesliam pcrcipit in Heyford - IVarin viii*. hide decim. ix'^. In Hey- ford ad pontem de annua pc7isione xx'. inde decim. 11. sol. Item de pensione ccclesice de Sulthorn c. sol. inde decim. x. sol. Item de de- cima in Berncester xii'. inde decim. xii''. "^ On the vigil of St. Luke the EvangeHst died Beatrix de Famestaiz, the relict of Richard king of the Romans, and was buried in the house of the Frier-minors in Oxford '. Ao. MccLxxviii. 6, 7- Edward I. Edmund earl of Cornwall lord of Ambrosden founded the chapel of St. Nicholas in his castle of Walingford, and endowed it with 40'. per an. in Wareberrewe and Shillingford for the maintenance of a master, five chaplains, six clerks, and four cofferers : the charter of foundation is preserved by the industrious Mr. Dodsworth ^ In the scutage for the king's expedition into Wales assessed at forty shillings the knight's fee, our Edmund earl of Cornwall paid twenty pounds for his ten knight's fees of the barony of S. Walery ; and Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln forty shillings for one knight's fee in Midlinton. Oxonia Scutogium JVallic. Scuto assesso ad xl'. Edm. com. Cornub. heres com. Ric. f'ris R. H. xx". de x. feod. Thorn, de S'co ffalerico. IVillius Lungespe xl'. de \.feodo Gerardi de Camvill in Midtington^. An. MtcLxxviii. 6. 7- Edw. I. de Heyford vac. per mort. Will'i. 6. kal. 1278. Will, de Brampton subd. pres. per Martii. 21. Ric'i Gravesend. d'num Hog. de Insula mil. ad mediet. cccl. <^ R. Dods. MS. vol. no. f. 79. 8. Edward I. Richard king of the Romans at his death had left provision for three secular priests to pray for his soul : his son and heir Edmund earl of Cornwall having a greater opinion of the regulars, would have that office for his father performed by six Cistertian monks, to which purpose he built and endowed the monastery of Reuley, de Loco Regali, in the north suburbs of Oxford, sometime called North- Oseney. Edmundus com. Cornubicc fnndavit Oxon. monasterium Cisfer. nio- nachorum ea infentiotie videlicet ut pro tribus sacerdotibus secularibus quos pater ejus Ric. pro anima sua divina voluit celebrare, sex mona- chi de quibus magne confidebat Deum devotius exorarent '". This citation of Dugdale was from the annals of the church of An. MCCLXXIX. 7> 8- Edw. I. nubiac prajccdenti anno admonitus in som- 1279. 22. Ric'i Gravescnd. Tho. de Ca- nis ffidificavit in loco, ubi B. Edmundus pella subd. prcs. per d'num regem ad eccl. confessor communem accepit nativitalem. de Blechesdon vac. per mort. Joh'is. Annal. Wigorn. VVhartoni Ang. Sac. P. 1. Miracula multa Dcus ostendit in capella p. 510. de Abendon, quain Edmundus comes Cor- l Ex Chartul. de Borstall. penes D. Joh. Aubrey, Bar. "> W. Dugd. Analcct. e. MS. Chron. vol. M. p. ,1t. 3 G 2 412 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Worcester, since printed, where this founilation is recorded under the year 1281 °. When he founded this convent, he excepted within the limits of the said house ground suflicient to hold his court for his honor of St. Walery ". The said earl in his charter of foundation gave them his whole manor of Erdington, with his mills in Kersinton or Gersingdon, two parks, and his whole wood in Netlebed, (in which manor Oliver de Standford in 27- Edw. I. held some land per serjantiam cspicurnan- ficB cancel/aria domini regis, by the office of spigurnel or sealer of the king's writs in Chancery p,) all his land in the village of Wil- lauston or Willarston in the parish of Mixbury, Avith sixty shillings yearly rent paid by the monks of Tame out of Stoke-Talmach. This abbey was augmented by the Cistertian abbey of Pynn in Poictiers, who resigned to this new foundation all their lands in England, for the yearly rent of three marks "i. To prove the comiption of this age in excessive pluralities, we may note that in this year Bogo de Clare, rector of St. Peter's in the East, Oxon. was presented by the earl of Glocester to the church of Wyston in the co\mty of Northampt. and obtained leave to hold it with one church in Ireland, and fourteen other churches in England, all which benefices were valued at 228'. Q\ 8"*. ^ Sir Hugh de Plessets, baron of Hokenorton and Kidlington, com. Oxon. holding Mussewell within the parish of Ambrosden from the abbey of Missenden com. Bucks, did now grant to John Fitz-Nigel jun. one carucate of land in Mussewell within the forest of Bernwood, with a mill, closes, commons, &c. by this charter. '' Sciant prcesentes et futiiri quod ego Hugo de Plessetis dedi et con- cessi et prcesenti charta mea covjirmavi Johavni JiHo Nigelli de Borstall juniori pro homagio et servitio unum messuagium et unam carucatam ^^ Annal. Eccles. Wigorn. in Whartoni Anglia Sac. pars 1. • R. Dods. MS. vol. 39. f?96. P Blount, Ant. Ten. p. 72. U. Dods. MS. vol. fi7. f. 3«9. (/i/. VOL. I. 3 H • 418 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. dktam placiam pertineiitibus intra villain el c.ilra. Salva milii et hee- redibus meis secta curice et inolendini mei de Bigenliulle cum uiimi- modo hlado et brasio, reddendo hide annuatini milii et lueredibns meis vel meis assignatis dictus Thomas ct hceredes stii seu assignati duos solidos ad quatuor anni terniinos : scilicet ad natale Domini sex dcna- rios ad pascha sex denarios, ad Jest am S. Johannis Bapfistce sex de- narios, pro omnibus servitiis consuefudinibus exnctionibus et sa'cula- ribus deniandis ad me vel hceredes meos pertinentibus salva secta curice et molendini. Ego vero Alicia et hceredes mei dictum placiam terrce dicto Thomce et hceredibus suis vel suis assignatis prout dictum est contra omnes homines et fceminas per pra'dictum servitium tvarantiza- bimus acquietabimus et in perpetuum defendemus. Pro hac auteni do- natione concessione et chartce mece conjirmatione dedit mihi dictus Thomas dimid. marc, prce manihus integ. sunimam. Et hcec mea do- natio concessio et chartce mece conjirmatio at rata et stabilis in perpe- tuum permaneat banc prcesentem chartam sigilli mei impressione robo- ravi. Hiis testibus ; domino priore ffaltero de Berncester, Roberto Clerico de eadem, Roberto Hebeni de cadem, Johanne de Bigenhulle de eadem, Simone de Bigenhulle, JVillielmo Magistro de eadem, Ilu- gone de la Newehus de eadem, et multis aliis''. Within this year 1280, the first of Oliver Sutton bishop of Lin- cohi, the proctor of the prior and convent of Longvil in France, of the Cluniac order, presented to the churches of Newton- Long- vil and Ackele in com. Bucks ''. And Edmund earl of Cornwall presented to the church of Rollesham, (now Rowsham";) and in the same year, Henry earl of Lincoln, lord of the manor of Bur- cester, presented to the church of Thoresby in the archdeaconry of Lincoln ; and in the third year of Oliver Sutton, to the church of Winceby, and in the fifth, to the church of Wadington in the same archdeaconry '. c Ex Orig. penes hon. D. W. Glynne, Bar. d R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. f. HO. <■ lb. f. 144. fib. f. 126, et 128. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTEll, &c. 419 An. MCCLXXXi. 9, 10. Edward I. The abbey of Rewlcy beaun l)y Edmund earl of Cornwall in 12/9, was. now finished, and furnished wilh monks from the abbey of Tame, and the church dechcated to the Virgin Mary on the eleventh of December, by Robert bishop of Bath and Wells. Doniitnis Edvardus comes Cornubice fundavit novum ahhatiam ordi- jiis cistertiensis apiid Oxoniam ct moiiacbos de T/iama ibidem intro- duxit et contitlit eisdem prima doiiutiorie majieriiim de Erdintone, et locum (d)haiire fecit dedicari 3. idiis Decembris a venerabili prcclato domino Roberto Btirnel Bathoniensi et IVelleusi episcopo". In this year Walter prior of Burcester, imder a title to wood and land in Arncotc within this parish of Ambrosden, had caused Tho- mas de Meriton, one of his canons, to make an in-hoc in the fallow common-field belongins; to both Arncot's in Muckle-croft, near the court or mansion-house of the said prior, on the east side in Nether- Arncote ; by which means William abbot of Oseney (which abbey had two hides of land in the said Arncote) complained that he was thereby damnitied in the common -jiasture of the said field, upon wliicli it was put to the inquiry and arbitration of some neighbours ; upon whose verdict it was agreed, that the prior of Burcestcr should never hereafter make any such in-hoc without tlie consent of the ab- bot of Oseney ; and that the said abbot of Oseney, of his mere libera- lity, should allow to the said prior the crop of that croft for this turn. Novcrint univerai (/i/od cum anno regni regis Edwardi IX. Frater IValtertis prior Berncestricr perfrafrem Thomam de Meriton fieri fe- cit fjuoddam in-hoc /// caiiifm waretabili utritus(jife Ernicote in Muckle- croft sub curia ejusdem f>ri()ris ex parte Orient ali in Xet her- Ernicote per (juod Frater It illielinus abbas Oseu. dicebat se de communi pastura ibidem disseisiri. Idem prior facto iude per vicinos diligenti scrutinio certioratus per eosdem de dicto in-hoc ad nocumentum et gravamen K Aniial. VVavcrl. sub an. .S H 2 420 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. seu impediment urn utriusque partis ahbatis ct prioris et suorum tenent. in iisdeni Ernicots facto et idcirco idem prior pro se et sins tenenti'us de dicta villa dicto abhati concedit quod de cceterc nullum in- hoc ibidem faciei sine assensu dicti abbatis et idem abbas ex mera liberalitate sua croppum de dicta crofta prafato priori instanter concessit pro hac vice. In cojus rei testimonium partes prcescnti scripto in modum chirogruphi confecto altrinsccus sigilla sua apposuerunt. Iliis fesfibus, ^c. '' This word in-hoc, or hinhohe, (called at this day in the north in- tok,') is not explained in any glossary which 1 have yet seen ; hut from this description it seems to have been the making an enclosure in some part of a connnon-field that lies fallow, and thereby depriv- inff the inhabitants of their right of commonin£:. This sense of the word seems confirmed by a like instance in this coiuitry. Die Veneris proxime post f est um S. Bernardi Apostoli xxiii. Ed.flii Ed. llogerus abbas de Bruera et ejusdem loci conventus salutem. No- verit universitas vestra nos fecisse quoddam Ilinholiiuni in campo de Dunthrop sine asse?isu et voluntate prio?-is et conventus de Cold-Norton unde dictus prior et conventus se senserint ex hoc non modicum gra- vari existimantes illud feri in prcpjudiciuni et exhceredationem domus sucB ; unde quorundam fratruni et aliorum amicorum fretus consilio prccdictum inhokium volunt depascere. Nos vero lite omnimoda ab- sorpta paceni inivimus sub hac forma, videlicet quod nos concedimus dicto priori et conventui pro pastura sua infra dictam culturam fruc- fus decimce acrce in longum et latum pro hac vice. Protestumur etiam nos de ccetero nunquam tale quid attemptare in' prtpjudicium et grava- men dictce domus de Norton nisi prius nobis constiferit de dictorum prioris et conventus mera voluntate et communi assensu \ Emma Scgrym of Borstall, in her pure widowhood, confirmed to Robert Coysyn of Borstall one half acre of arable land in the field of Arnegrove at Gosehulle, for the yearly rent of one farthing, and one mark of silver in hand. Hiis testibus ; Johanne JVelshe, Johannc de Clare, Hugone Richards, Johanne Segrym, Roberto de Hereford, 1' Reg. Osen. MS. p. 328. ' Ex Regist. Coll. yEn. Nas. Oxon. MS. p. 25. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 421 Willichno Broun, et aliis. Daf. Ibid. f. -'3. 424 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. im|)r()|)riated. Jo. Leland has thus entered it among his Collect. Edniiimltis comes Corntihice fundavit donmiii dc Assheiitge anno D. 1283". And among his travels, (wherein really he was but a superficial observer,) he leaves this short mention of it : ^i)e IjOUSC Of T5oncbomc0 caulliD 3sscf)crugc of the funoation of (itDmunoc eile of Cornctoalc, anQ o\oncr of 15crcfef)amstcDc Castcl is aDout a \Wi\C Of^ The t'oundalion is thus recorded by Harpsfield : Condi- turn est in hoc dioccesi (nenipe Lincoln.^ ub Edniundo lUchardi coniitis fratrisque Ilenrici ?Tgis jilio coenohiuni quod Asshcruggiuni dicitur pi'Opc Be'rchaustedinm pagum, distantcm a Londino circiter viginti quinque iniUia passuuni. Quod et portione sanguinis doniiiiici ornavit. Dicuntur caniobitce, et 7'evera mulfi noiniui suo respondcbanf, boni ho- mines''. This fable of Christ's blood, which profited nnich that house, is told at large by HoUiiishead : Edmund the son and heir tuam clemottinum sine iillo retenemetito nostri seu hceredum nostrorum, sive minintrorum iiostrorum quommcunq; ita quod cedente vel decedente rectore ecclesice de Essenigge pra- dictu, qitod nos vel hccredes nostri, sea mi- nistri nostri, seu hcercdum nostrorum nidla- tenus habeamns ingressum in prcedictus ma- neriis, seu advocationibus ecclesiarum prce- dictarum, sive in aliquibus suis pertinentiis quicquam nos intromittamus, tempore vaca- tioniJi, quo carehitnt rectore : sed semper in manibus ipsorumfratrum, tain tempore vaca- iionis quam aliis temporibus remaneant, nee statum siunn in aliquo mtifent. rohtmus etiam et concedimus, pro nobis et lueredibui nostri-s, quod prccdiclus rector et fratres sid, et eorum successores, et etiam eornm teiientes, in omnibus burgis et villutis nostrif, et etiam in singulis nundinis et mer- catis nostris libere valeant emere et vendere. omncs mercandisas absq; ullo thekmeto, seu stalkigio, nobis vel hceredibus rwstris, seu ali- quibus minlstris nostris inde prccstando. Et nos prcedictns Edmundus et hceredes nostri omnia prcedicta in forma superius exprcssd prcedictis rectori et fratribus suis pradictis, et eorum successoribus contra omnes Christiaiws et Ju- dccos, sicut nostram Uberant, puram et pcrpe- tuam elemosinam icarantizabimus, acquieta- bimus, et imperpetuum defendemus. Et tit hecc tiostra donatio, concessio, et preesenlif cartcc nostrcE coujirmatio perpclua; rohur Jir- mitatis optineant, earn sigilli nostri impres- siune duximus roborandnni. Iliis teslibus ; dominis Johanne de Gatesdene, Edmundo de H edon, Henrico de Motishrok, Reginaldo de Botereaus, Johanne Neinmuth Militibus, lia- dut])ho de Mareschall, S(c. Mon. Ang. vol. :i. p. 69. " Lei. Collectan. MS. torn. 2. f. 286. p. 4b0. lb. Itiii. torn. I. f. 121. yHist. Angl. eccles. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 425 of Richard earl of Cornwall, who was second son to King John, being with his father in Germany, where, " beholding the relikes and " other precious monuments of the ancient emperors, he espied a " box of gold, by the inscription whereof he perceived (as the opi- " nion of men then gave) that tlierein was contcined a portion of " the bloud of our Saviour. He therefore being desirous to have " some part thereof, so intreated him that had the keeping of it, " that he obteined his desire, and brought it over with him into Eng- " land, bestowing a third part thereof, after his father's deceasse, in " the abbeie of Hailes, as it were to adorne and inrich the same, bi- " cause that therein both his father and mother were buried; and " the other two parts he did reserve in his own custodic, till at length, . " mooved upon such devotion as was then used, he fo\inded an abbeie " a little from his manor of Bercamsted, which abbeie was named " Ashrug, in the which he placed the moonks of the order of Bon- " hommcs, being the first that ever had beene scene of that order in " England ; and herewith he also assigned the two other parts of that " bloud to the same abbeie. Whcrou})on followed great resort of " j)eople to those two places, induced thereunto by a certeine blind de- '' votion'." This was not the first import of that wonderful treasure, if we believe the stories of that religion, which tell us, that Joseph of Arimathea brouuht into Britain two silver vessels filled with the blood of our Saviour : which by his order were buried in his tomb. And to King Henry HI. a crystal containing a portion of the same blood was sent from the master of the Temple at Jerusalem, attested with the seals of the patriarch : which treasure, on the day of St. Edward's trans- lation, the king committed to his church of St. Peter's in Westmin- ster, and obtained from the bishops then present, the indulgence of six years and one hundred si.xteen days, to all that should come to pay a visit and veneration to that sacred relict So Mat. Paris, sub an. \'24i), tells us, the king summoned his nobles and prelates to cele- brate the feast of St. Edward in St. Peter's church, where a chief ' Hollius. Hen. 3. sub aa. 1272. » Mat. West, sul) an. 1247. vol.. r. 3 r 426 PAROCHIAL ANTIQllTIES. motive was pro veneratioue sancti sanguinis Christi nuper adept?. How prodigal in such pretences, see W. Prynne's Hist. Col. toni. 2. p. 715. But of many instances we must not omit, that among the relics in the abbey of Fescanip in Normandy is pretended to be the true blood of Christ, as preserved by Nicodemus when he took the body from the cross, given to the said abbey by William duke of Normandy, buried by his son Duke Richard, and again discovered an. 1171, and attended with infinite miracles'". This cheat was winked at in the times of ignorance, but at the Reformation disco- vered and exposed; as the relation is given by J. Speed: " Ash- " ridge in great repute for the blood (supposed out of Christ's sides) " brought out of Germany by Henry the eldest son of Richard king " of the Romans and earl of Cornwall, whereunto resorted great con- " course of people for devotion and adoration thereof. But when " the sunshine of the gospel had pierced thorow such clouds of " darkness, it was perceived apparently to be only honey clarified " and coloured with saffron, as was shewed at Paul's cross by the bi- " shop of Rochester, 24. February, 1538 ^" The veneration paid to this relic inclined many to bequeath their bodies to be buried in the church of Ashrugge, to the great advan- tage of these brethren. So Sir Thomas Bryan, knight, chief justice, by his will made Feb. 7, 1495, and proved Decemb. 11, 1500. So Sir Thomas Denham, knight, of Ethrop in Bucks, b}^ will made Sept. 18, and proved Feb. 13, 1519. So his son Sir John Denham, knight, by will proved Octob. 30, 1535 ''. These Bonhommes followed the rules of St. Austin. I think there were but two more convents of them in England, one at Erdington in Wilts, founded by W. dc Erdindon bishop of Wint.; the other at Bristol, founded by Henry de Gaunt, a priest, which society Leland in his Itin. calls the Gaunts, alias the Bonhommes. As to the name Ashridge, it is no doubt from a hill set with ashes. b Neustria Pia, p. 258. <= J. Speed, Theat. of Brit, in Bucks. d R. Dods. Extract, e Regist. Prjerog. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 427 the old word was Aescrugge, Rugge, as after Ridge, signifying a hill, or steep place, and the Ashen-tree being first Aesc, as after Ashche, Sec. In AValsinghani's account of the death of Edmund carl of Cornwall at this convent of his own foundation, the place is called Assherngger ; but in this, as in infinite other parts of that edition, the foreign printers mistook the copy*. In this fourth year of Oliver Sutton bishop of Lincoln, our Ed- mund earl of Cornwall presented to the churches of Beckley and Mixbury '^; and to the church of Helmeswell in the archdeaconry of Stowe ; and to the church of Wystaneston in the archdeaconry of Leicester, by reason of the custody of the land and heir of Henry de Hastings; and an. 1285, by the same title to the church of Schaker- ston •>'. By an inquisition this year in the county of Bucks, it was found Almaric de St. Amand the day he died held the manor of Crendon and the advowson of the church from Ednnmd earl of Cornwall, as also the manor of Bloxham in the county of Oxon. from the said earl, and left Guido his son and heir aged IJ ''. King Edward, having now entirely subdued the Welsh, gave the land of Denbigh to Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln, lord of Burcester, &c. who thereupon began to build the town of Denbigh, which he walled in, and made a castle within it ; in the front whereof was his statue in long robes. And anciently prayers were made every Sun- day in St. Hillarie's chapel there for Lacy and Percy'. Which said earl, Aug. 25, gave the chapel of St. Nicholas in Pontfract to the abbey of St. John de Pontfract''. An. MccLxxxiv. 12, 13. Kdu'did I. There was at this time a chart of Oliver Sutton bishop of Lincoln reciting the ordination of vicarages, in all those parishes which were e Tho. Walsin^^ &c. Francot". 1(;03. p. 78, ' U. Dods. MS. vol. lOJ. p. 144. k lb. p. 13!). '' 11. Dods. MS. vol. 44. p. 131. ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 104. ^ R. Dods. MS. vol. 117. p. 19. 3 I 2 '1 28 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. iinproprialcd to the abbey of Oseney, made by Hugli Wells one of his predecessors, which ordination because it immediately relates to the churches of Weston, Chesterton, Heyford-Warin, &c. shall be here transcribed, to acquaint us what allowance that age afforded to the vicars, even beyond the portion now allotted to them. " For " every vicar presented by the said abbot and convent, and insti- " tuted by the bishop, was to have two marks yearly for his clothes,. " every second * legacy to the value of sixpence, and one half of it, " if beyond that value: and out of all oblations to the altar at every " mass one penny, if the oblations were worth a penny : and what- " soever else by devotion of the faithful should be reasonably con*- " ferred upon him. As also a sufficient exhibition of victuals at the " table of the canons whenever they staid within his parish : and the " canons should find a clerk to serve him and obey him, who should " take an oath of fidelity to the vicar, saving his fealty to the said " cajions, who should likewise find a boy to wait upon him, and " maintain the boy in all expences. And when the canons were not " resident, then the clerk, who as before ajipointed should attend " the vicar, was to have the key of the canons' house, therein to pro- " vide for the diet of the vicar sufficiently and honourably. The ca-. " nons should farther furnish the said vicar with a horse, whenever " he had occasion to travel upon the concerns of the convent or " the church : and should finally bear all burdens, i. e. first-fruits, " tenths, procurations, and all taxes whatsoever." Universis sanctce matris ecclesice film ad qiios preesentes litercp per- venerint OUverus permissione divina Line, cpiscopus. sahttem in Do- mino scmpiternam. Novcrit universitas vestra ex inspeeto rcgisti'o bones memorice quondam domini H. pi^eedecessoris nostri super ordina- tionihus vieariarum in iwstra dioecesi per eundem authoritate coneilii ordinatarum, comperfum est viearias dilectorum filiorum ahbatis et conventus Osen. per eundem fuisse ordinatas sub hac forma. In omni- bus ecclesiis quas abbas et canonici Osen. tenent in propriis usibus tarn * Mortuary. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 429 in arclddiaconatu Oxon. quam in aliis archidiaconatibus Lincoln, dioc. ubi vicarice non fuerint prius ordinatce per cpiscopum de consensu ip- sorum per don. Line, episcopuni H. secundum authorilatem conciUl provisum est in hunc moduni. Vicarius per abbateni et conventum Osen. prcescntandus et instituendus oh episcopo /labebit nomine perpe- fucB vicarice suce ad vestitum suum duas marcas per annum : liubebit secundum legatum ad vu/cntiam vi. denariorum, et quod ultra sex de- varios fuerit inter ipsnni et canonicos dimidiahitur : habebit etiam da oblationibus ad altare provenientibus ununi denarium, missale quoiies celebraverit , et denarius provenerit, et qtdcquid ex devotione Jidc/ium et rationabiUter fuerit collatum. Item habebit sujficientcm exliibi- tionem sicut canonici quoad victualia in mensa canonicorum ubi eano- nici moranifaciunt. Canonici vero clericum ei et ecclesice ministerio ' et ejus obsequio devotum invenient qui juramentunifidelitatis ipsi vi- eario prcestabit salva jide dictorum canonicorum qui et ipsi vicario similiter garconem invenient ipsius obsequio dcputat am quos in omnibus suis expensis procurabunt. Ubi anteia non fuerint canonici residentes, clcricus qui ut supra dictum est expensis eoruni pi^ocurabitur clavem eoruni deferet in donio eorum et curam habebit liberam, ut per ipsuni vicario sujficienter in victualibus et honorifce omnia ministreniur. Canonici et eidem vicario equuni invenient quotiens pro negotiis eorum et ecclesice fuerit profecturus tarn ad capitula quam ad alia ; necnon et omnia onera singularia ecclesiarum sustinebunt. In cujus ret testi- monium sigillum nostrum prtesentibus est appensum. Datum apud Luddingfon. anno Domini millesimo ducentesimo octogcsimo quarto et pontificdtus nostri quintoK In this fii'tU year of Oliver Sutton hisliop of Liiieolii, Edmuiui earl of'Coniwull presented a rector to the church of* Ainhrosden '". And * Mag'r Joh. de MoUcsworth pres. per cccli'am de Ainbresdoii luriim :iiiiiiiarum dom. Edin. com. Cornub. ad cccl. dc Nortli li;il)i'iiti-in rcci-pit titulo inslitutioiiis.udmiss. Luffcnham vac. per hoc cjuod mag'r Walte- \^ kal. Mart. \1S\. cxcuiitc. Hot. Ol. Siit- rus dc C'ornubia ultimas rector ejusdcui ton ep'i Line. I Regist. Osen. MS. ^ R. Dods. MS. vol. in?- 1. Ml. 430 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. within the said year Lora de Cantia was elected prioress of the abbey of Merkyate, or St. Trinity de Bosco, by leave tirsl obtained from the dean and chapter of Paul's in London ". Robert Aleyn of Acley granted to Sir John Fitz-Nigel of Borstall two acres of arable land in the field of Acley for the yearly rent of one poiuid of cloves at Easter. IlUs /csfibus ; domino Johanne jilio NiscIlL Roberto Malet, Johaniic Carbonel, Eusfacliio de GreneviU, milit. Nicholao de Brim de Acley, Nigello Trovers, Petro de llupell de Ifotton, Johanne de Ruljellfratre suo, Thoma Brnn de Borstall, et alits. Dat. apud Museivell, vkesimo octavo die Martii, anno regni re- gis Edicardi jilii regis Henrici duodecimo et anno ab Incarnat. Do- mini millesimo ducentesimo octogesimo quarto ". An. MCCLXxxv. 13, 14. Edzvard J. This year the king by charter confirmed the donation made to the priory of Oseney, by Richard de Camvill lord of Burcester, quod libere et sine ulla vexatione possint covgrcgare decimas suas qiias habent de dominicis suis de Erdinton et de Bernecestre^. By the same or another inspeximus of the same year, there is a confirmation of their lands in Chesterton Necnon donationem, Sfc. quas Bardul- phus Jilius et heres Rogeri Jilii Bardulphi de Ccstreton in Henemcrs per cortam suam fecit ecclesie predicte de illo tencmento cum ediji- ciis vivariis croft is -et aliis pertinentiis quod Margeria avia sua tenuit in dotem in dicta Cestcrton. Et de alio tencmento cum edificiis, &fc. quod IFillielmus le Norcys aliquando tenuit in cadem villa. Dona- tionem insuper, ^-c. quas idem Bardulphus, Sfc. fecit, SfC. de duabus vir- gatis terre arabilis in campis de dicta Cesterton ''. In this year the structure of the college of Ashrugge being finished, it was endowed by charter of the founder Edmund earl of Corn- wall. Sciant preesentes etfuturi quod nos Edmundus clarce memoricB Ri- " R. Dods. MS. vol. 10/. f. 143. " Ex Chartular. de Borstall. MS. penes Joh. Au- l>rey, Bar. p Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. IV2. . 76.5. 432 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. niilltarv service in the tenure of lands given to that abbey, he pleaded exemption to several parts of their estate, and among others to their two hides of land in Arncot within the ])arish of Ambrosden, for which was claimed half a knight's fee, whereas he |)leaded it to be not included within the barony of St. Walery, but an antecedent gift of Robert de Oilly, whose charter the abbot produced confirmed by Henry the Hid. Qualiter extincta sunt feoda domin'i ahbatis quce ah ipso petita sunt pat chit infcrius. Abbas de Osen. rcspondct quantum ad unum feodum in Forcst-huUe et dimid. feod. in Ernicota ab ipso petita quod non sunt de honore S. Jfalerici et profert chartam Rob. de Oleio cum con- frmatione regis Henrici patris domini regis qui nunc est : videlicet tres hidas in Jfalton cum ten-a in Tiienti acres duas hidas in Ernicote et terram de Jf^otton et terram de Foresthulle et de Barton in puram et perpetuam eleemosinam. Item dicit de dimid. feod. in North Osen. quod illud habet per chartam et conjirmationem regis in puram et per- petuam eleemosinam. Et residuum quod habet de honore Sancti fPa- lerici tenetur de abbate Regalis Loci per assignat. com.per soccagium : et non habentur ibidem nisi tria cofagia. Item dicit de tribus feodis in Mi.rbiry quod tenet ilia feoda pro dimidio feodi per chartam Thomce de S. Jfalerico et Guidonis de Arraniis et per conjirmationem domini resis Atemanni(E. Abbas de Oseneia tenet diversa tenementa in North-Osen. et Walton quce consueverunt respondere pro uno feodo et negat. Item abbas tenet dimid. feodi in JFotton, in Forest -hulle unum feodum, in Ernicote dimid. feodi quce quideni fuerunt UVUelmi de Areysnes et ncscit. Item tenet dimid. feodi in parva Hampton, quod flit Rob. dc Gay quod negat, Sf-c. ' On the second of January, an. 128|. Henry de Lacy earl of Lin- coln, constable of Chester, lord of the manor ofBurcester, confirmed to that convent the charter of Gilbert Basset, by which they had granted to them the jiasturage of three draughts, or team of oxen, < Regist. Osen. MS. p. 10?. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c, 433 and one load of fuel out of Bernwode. As also a charter of William Longspe, whereby they had a mill late in possession of Robert Puff, reserving a freedom of toll for his own corn, &c. Henry de Lascy conte de Nichole e C07iestre de Cestr. seignuir de Rosse e de Rewennok a tuzkc cest escrit verrunt ou ovront saluz en deu. Come miseoms regarde la chartre le sire Gilberd Basset Jist au priur e an coveut de Bernecestr par la qiicle il lur granfe e done pas- ture a treis cariices de boefs a pestre e pasturer en queu leu entre hoefs vieme cely sire Gilberd ou ses heirs pasturassent. Et a ceo le un Cha- rette de bosche he vendrett a son maner de Bernecestre hors de son bois de Bernewode. Ea avoins regarde de la chartre sire JFiUiam Longspe par la quele il done e grante as devant dit prior e covent tut le droit e le cleim ke il out avon au avoir pent en le molin que jadis fut a Roberd Puff suigvant a la priore ou tute la syute de les tenant de meime la ville au tut ses autres franchises e purtenances a luy c a sa franchc meenee franc he inontui'e e le niolim avant dit. Nuspur deu et pur salu de nostre alme e pur le salu de 7ios ancestres e tios heirs avoins grante et pur cette nostre esscrit confermc pur nus e pur nus heirs as devant dit prior e covent en franche et perpetuele aumosne pasture a treis caruces des boefs a pestre e pasturer en queu leu nos demesnes boefs ou de nos heirs pessent e pasturent ht>rs du clos de nostre court de Bernecestre. Ea coe avons grante e conferme pur nus e pur nus heirs as devant dit prior e covent ke quel hovre ke nus ou nus heirs seroins caricr busche hors de nostre boys de Berrewode jeskes a nostre maner de Bernecestr ke nostre forester livre as devant dit prior a co- vent la une charette en meme le boys. E estre ceo avoins grante et conferme pur nus c pur nos heirs as devant dit prior e covent syute de tus nos tenant de nostre maner avant dit du ble crcssant e jneme la ville suave a nus et nus heirs franche mouture e tus le molins les de- vent dit prior e covent en Bernecester pur nus e pur nostre franche meenee. E voluns ke si nul de nos tenant de la ville avnnt dit seu ataint ke il carie auface carier son ble ou son brees pur moudre alurs ke as molins le prior ke il doigne a nus e a nos heirs dcus sols pur le frespasse. E as devant dit le prior e covent cette mouture de tant de VOL. 1. 3 k 434 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. hie sul ne sett pa?' apertc dcfante ke eus 7ie peussenf moiidre as molbix le prior. E volans e grantans pur mis e pur nos heirs ke tus se grante de cet escrit scent ferincmcnt gardes e maivtenue saims mil amemise- meiit a tus jours. E a plus grand scurtc de ceste chose mis e la devant dit prior e covent a ces escrit cirografer chauvgahlement avoins viis mis seeus. A ce fe^?Hoig}ies, mimsire Robert le jil Roger, nionsire Roger de Trompintov, monsire JFillavie le monsirc Baudcivyn de Ma- ilers, monsire IVillaine de Stopham, monsire Waclilin de Ardeme Che- valers, fFillame de Hany clerk, e autres. don a Bernecestrc le secund jour de Januer, Ian du rey Edward Jil au rey Henri quatorizhne ". To the original appends a large seal with the impress of the earl on horseback in armour, with sword drawn in his right hand, and a shield on his left bearing his coat, a lion rampant coronet. On the reverse his arms again, Avith inscription obliterate. The said earl now ratified by charter dated at Holton the grant of a place called Ruddegate, made by Henry Torbeck and Elena his wife to the canons of Burscough in com. Lane, with caution that one leper within his lordship of Widenes should thenceforth be admitted and maintained in that priory; and that mass should be there yearly celebrated at Easter, and that they should register in their martyrology and canon his name and the name of Margaret his wife*. Alice widow of Edmund, mother of Henry de Lacy earl of Lin- coln, at the request of the said earl her son, confirmed the gift which Robert de Tylly made to the convent of Nostel, of one toft and croft in the village of Gomersale, and the advowson of the church of Byr- stal in com. Ebor. by this deed. Noverint universi quod nos Alesya de Lascy ad instantiam delectiflii nostri domini Henrici de Lascy com. Line, et constabularii Cesfrice ra- turn hahemus et stabile donum quod Robertus de Tylly fecit priori et con- ventui de Sancto Oswaldo de Nostel de iino tofto et crofto quod Jordanus Mareschalhis de dicto Roberto tenuit in villa de Gomersale et de advo- " Ex Orig. penes hon. D. Guil. Glynne, Bur. =' Moii. Aug. torn. 2. p. 30?. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 435 catione ecclesice de Byrstall cum suis pertmentiis et eisdem priori et conventui in dictum toftum et in advocationem dictce ecclesice liberum in8;ressum concedimus. In cujus ret testimonium has literas nostras eisdem fecimus patentes. Dat. apud liowelle v. Id. Feb. an. Domini MCCLXXX. quinto''. The same donation was confirmed by Henry de Lacy earl of Lin- coln, by another charter dated Feb. the seventeenth ^ Within this year, being the sixth of Oliver Sutton bishop of Lin- coln, Edmund earl of Cornwall presented to the church of Chalgrave in this county ^ Ela countess of Warwick having had the manors of Hokenorton and Bradam, com. Oxon. assigned for her dowry in 26. Hen. IH. was now found to hold the said manor of Hokenorton of the king in capite, per serjantiam scindendi coram domino rege die natalis Do' mini et habere cultellum domini regis de quo scindit ''. An. MccLxxxvi. 14, 15. Edward I. Amory de St. Amand, knight, held the manor of Crendon nigh adjoining, in the county of Bucks, and the advowson of the said church, from Edmund earl of Cornwall; as appears by inquisition taken this year. Jur. die. quod Almarictis de S. Amando habuit maner. de Crendon in com. Buck, et advocationem ecclesice dicti mancrii de com. Cornub. extent, man. de Sarney in com. Glouc. quodfuit dicti Almarici ^ Jordan de Morton in this neighbourhood paid twenty marks, as a fine to the king, for taking to wife without the king's licence Maud the widow of John le Mersh, who held land in capite^. The king passing over to France in the latter end of June, com- mitted the custody of his kingdom to our parochial lord Edmund earl of Cornwall": who, in this seventh of Oliver Sutton, presented 7 R. Dods. MS. vol. 95. f. 77. Mb. « lb. vol. 107. p. 111. <> fiiount, Ancient Tenures, p. 73. <^ Dods. MS. vol. 44. f. 131. lb. f. x. P R. Dod. MS. vol. 107. p. 132. 438 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. et Schadcwcll in com. Ebor. SfC. prfpfatus comes recognovit et concessit pro se et hceredihus suis solvere singulis annis in perpetuinn dictis ab- bati et conventui, 8fc. 50. marcas stcrlingorum pcrcipiend. in Scaccario ipsius com. de Pontefract ad duos anni ferminos, Sfc. et pro pra-dictis tci^ris, SfC. in com. Ebor. 30. marcas, SfC. Hiis tesfibus ; venerabilibus patribus E. Bat lion, et If 'ell. ep. SfC. D. Johanne de Vescy, Ottone de Grondisono, Johanne, de S. Johanne, JViUielmo de Latymer, Johanne de Bonn, Sec. Dat. ut supra. Conjirmatio regis dat. apud Sanctum Seuerum 27- die Octob. an. regni 15. *• In the year 1297, on the feast of Simon and Jude, Henry Lacy earl of Lincohi gave bond to the said abbot and convent for one hundred and fifty pounds sterHng, to be paid in Midlent, for five years arrears of rent for those lands in Lancashire, and another bond for two hundred pounds for arrears of rent for the other lands in Yorkshire '. An. MccLxxxviii. 16, 17- Edward I. The king at Langley, April the seventeenth, confirmed the char- ter of Edmund earl of Cornwall to his fraternity of Bonhommes at Asherugge '. Before the end of this year, Edmund earl of Cornwall farther endowed his said monastery of Asherugge with our manor of Ambrosden and the manor of Chesterton nigh adjoining, with the advowson of both churches, and made them and their tenants toll and stallage free in all fairs and markets within the liberties of him and his successors, by this form of donation. Sciant prcesentes et futuri quod nos Edmundus clarce memories Ri- cardi regis Alemannice Jilius et comes CornubicB dedimus concessimus et hac prcesenti charta nostra conjirmavimus pro salute animce nostrce et animarum antecessorum et successorum nostrorum Deo ac beatce Marice acfratri Ricardo rectori ecclesice de Esserugge in honore preciosi san- guinis Jesu Christi fundatce etfratribus suis ibidem Deo servietitibus et imperpetuum servituris maneria nostra de Cestretone et Ambrosdone in q R. Dods. MS. vol. IIG. f. 10. 'lb. f. 12. » Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. 3-14. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 439 com. Oxon. cum advocationibus ecclesiarum eorundcm maneriorum simul cum homugiis e omnibus serviciis liberorum tenentium et hceredum suorum U7ia cum villanis, cotercllis, eorum catallh, serviciis, scctis et se- quclis, et omnibus suis ubicunque pertinentibus absque ullo retcncmcnto. Habendum ct tenendum prcedicta maneria cum advocationibus ecclesi- arum ad eadem maneria spectantibus simul cum liomagio et omnibus serviciis omnium liberorum tenentium et lueredum suoruui una cum om- Jiibus villanis, cotercllis, et coram catalUs, serviciis, sectis et scquelis om- nimodis et eorum ubique pertinentibus, ct omnibus Ubertatibus et liberis consuetudinibiis quibus nos vel antecessores nostri in cisdem maneriis et advocationibus, ^-c. ecclesiarum prcedictarum unquam melius vel liberius tenuimus prcedictis rectori etfratribus suis ecclesice de Esserugge prce- dicta et eorum successoribus de nobis ct hccredibus uostris in liberam purain et perpetuam elemosinam sine ullo retenemento nostri scu hce- redum nostrorum sive ministrorum nosfrorum quorumcunque. Ita quod cedente vel deccdentc rectorc ecclesice de Esserugge prcedicta quod nos vel lia-rcdcs nostri vel ministri nostri scu hceredum nostro- rum nullatenus habeainus ingressum in prcedictis maneriis sea advoca- tionibus ecclesiarum prcedictarum sive in aliquibus suis pertinentiis quicquam nos intromittamus tempore vacationis quo carebunt rcctore, sed semper in manibus ipsorum fratrum, tarn tempore vacationis, quaui aliis temporibus remaneant, tie statum suum in aliquo mutent. Folu- mus ctiam et concedimus pro nobis et hceredibus nostris quod prccdictus rector et fratres sui et eorum successores, et etiam eorum teuentes in om- nibus burgis et vilUUis nostris, et etiam in singulis nundinis ct mercatis nostris liberc valeant cmcre et vendere omncs incrcandisas absque ullo tlieloneto, scu stallagio, S(c. nobis vel hccredibus nostris indc pru-stando. Et nos prccdictus Edinuudus ct liceredes nostri omnia prcedicta in forma superius expressa prcedictis rectori et fratribus suis prcedictis, ct eorum successoribus contra omnes Christ ianos ct Judceos, sicut nostram liberam puram et perpetuam elemosinam warantizabimus, acquietabi- mus et in perpetuum dejendemus. Et ut hcec nostra donatio concessio et prccsentis cartce nostrce conjirmatio perpetual rob/ir Jinnitaiis upfi- ncant cam sigilli nostri impressione duximus roborandam. I His /o/i- 440 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. bus ; domhiis Johannc de Gatesdenc, Edinundo de Wedon, Henrico de MotlshroJi, Rcginaldo de Botereaus, Johanne Neinmuth, militibus; Eadii/fo de Maresc/iall, Sfc. ' We may here observe, that Edmund earl of Cornwall designed no part of the revenues of this church of Anibrosden should be con- verted to the use of his new convent, w hich he had in lay fees suffi- ciently endowed. But he only trusts them with the presentation of a clerk, on a charitable opinion, that these Good-men would better execute the right of patronage, and more incorruptly provide an able incumbent : but too many guardians have embezzled a trust to their own proper use. So these holy brethren, without any regard to the donor's intention, soon resolved the inheritance should be theirs: and therefore purchasing a deed of gift from the pope, (who like the tempter in the wilderness offered what he had no right to bestow,) they quickly made themselves the perpetual rector. And indeed in this manner was the illegitimate birth of most impropriations ; the lay patrons devoutly (and, as they thought innocently) resigned their right of presentation to religious houses, and they by their in- terest and money procured from the popes an annexion of the tithes to themselves, with an arbitrary portion, or a poor settled reserve, to a servant of theirs, whom they should call a vicar. In this year began a new taxation of the value of all churches upon this occasion : the pope had the first-fruits and tenths of all spiritual preferments in England. For the more easy collecting of them there had been a general taxation of them made by Walter de Suthfield bishop of Norwich, by command of pope Innocent the Fourth, who had granted the tenths to king Henry III. for three years. This tax- ation was done an. 1254, by apj)ointing the rural dean and three rectors or vicars in every deanery, who upon oath were to certify the just estimate of all church revenues". This was an oppression to the clergy ; but it was soon made more grievous : for w hen the pope had again granted the tenths to the king for three years, the king in the » Mon. Ang. torn. 3. p. 69. " Annal. Burton, sub an. AMBROSDEN, BIJRCESTER, &c. 44t fifty-third of his reign, an. 1260, for a compensation to whal they fell short of the due value, made the clergy pay within those three the tenths of four years ". And now at this time the tenths were granted to king Edward by his Holiness, as an aid toward his expedition to the holy land : that they might be gathered to the full extent of them, the pope appointed two principal collectors, Richard bishop of Winchester, and Oliver bishop of Lincoln^; who in every diocese were to appoint their deputies and assistants. In this diocese of Lin- coln the delegated collectors were the abbot of Osency, and the prior of St. Catherines in Lincoln ; of whom the former was to col- lect the counties of Oxford, Bucks, Northampt. Bedford, and Hunt- ingdon, and the prior the residue of the diocese, during five years. And in every deanery new taxers were commissioned, who in every dignity and cure exceeded the former computation, to the great bur- den of the clergy. The in(iuisition began this year''; but the re- turn was not fully made till the year 1291, under which year shall be given the taxation of these parts. The king in this sixteenth of his reign gave to Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln, and lord of the manor of Burcester, &c. the Black- friars' old house in Holborn, upon their removal to a new church and house built near Baynard's castled In this ninth of Oliver Sutton, Ed- mund earl of Cornwall presented to the church of Stoke-Basset in the archdeaconry of Oxford ''. Within this year died Sir John Fitz-Nigel, sen. of Borstall, leaving issue Sir John Fitz-Nigel, jun. his son and heir : some time before his death he was summoned into the king's coint at Westminster, to shew by what warrant he claimed the \iew of Frankplege of his tenants in Borstall, of which suit the issue is thus tlclivcred. Johannes Jill us Nigc//i sen. summotiitusfuit ad respondendum domino regi de placito (juo warranto clamat habere visum Francip/egii de te- « Chron. Tho. Wikes, sub an. y lb. ' W. Dugd. Analecta c Chron. Antiq. MS. vol. M. •!. p. 108. » Stow's Survey of London, p. 443. ^ R. Dods. MS. vol. loj. f. 146. VOL. I. 3 L 442 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. nentibus sitis in Borstal! qui ad dominum regem ct coronam suam pcr- tinet. Et Johannes per attornatum siium venit et dicit quod anteccs- sores sui fcofati fuerant per prcedicfum dominum regem de quodam tenemento quod vacatur Derhyde uhi hahet manerium suum et tenentes qui veniunt ad visum suum, et dicit quod pro tenemento illo et pro visu illo rcddit per annum domino trgi decent solidos qui soluti sunt ad Scaccarium per manus seneschalli de foresta, et dicit quod ipse et antecessores sui a tempore quo non extat memoria extiterunt seisiti de prcedicto visu, et quod ifa sit, petit quod inquiratur. Et Gilbertus de Thornton qui sequitur pro rege dicit, quod Franciplegium est qucedum Ubertas regia mere spectans ad coronam et dignitatem domini regis contra quam longa seisina valere non debet, unde petit judicium. Posfea autem die S. Michaelis in xv. dies anno reg. Ed. xiv. venit prcedictus Johannes per attornatum suum et dicit quod est capitalis forestarius dcfeodo, et dicit quod reddit quadraginta solidos per an. domino regi pro prcedicta balliva et decem solidos pro habendo visu Franciplegii de tenentibus suis, et quod ipse et omnes forestarii qui tenuerunt prcedictam hidam terrce semper habuerunt visum Franci- plegii et requisitus si habeat f ureas sive alia judicialia dicit quod non. Et super hoc datus est ei dies a die Paschce in xv. dies in Scaccario, ad quern diem venit prcedictus Johannes per attornatum suum, et datus est ei dies a die S. Michaelis in xv. dies, deinde datus est ei dies a die Paschce in xv. dies. Ad quem diem testatum est quod obiit et nihil ad prcesens". An. MccLxxxix. VJ , 18. Edward I. Many miracles are said to have been now observed in a chapel at Abingdon, which our Edmund earl of Cornwall had built in the pre- ceding year over the place where Edmund the confessor archbishop of Canterbury was born ^. In this year the tenth of Oliver Sutton bishop of Lincoln, the king « Ex Chartul. de Borstall. f. 7. ^ Annul. VVigorn. sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 443 presented to the church of Oakley, with the chapels of Brill and Borstall ". And William de Thornberg, one of the canons of Bur- cester, was elected prior of the said convent ; a licence for choosing being first obtained from Henry de Lacy earl of Lincoln, patron of the said house '. William, one of the monks of Nuttle, was elected abbot of that convent; leave for choosing being first asked and ob- tained from the lady Maud de Mortimer, whom they thought their patroness, though the earl of Gloucester claimed that right ^. Upon the late death of Sir John Fitz-Nigel, senior, of Borstall, this inquisition was made of the extent of his lands and tenements. Extenta terrarum ct tcnementorum qua- fuerunt domhn Johanvis jUii Nigelli dcfmicti in villa dc Borstall in com. Buck, facta ibidem die dominica proxime post ayinuntiationem heatce Maries anno regni regis Edivardi xvii. qui dicunt per sacramentum siium quod capitale messuagium valet per an. cum tota inclausa u\ ct nonplus, salva reprisa domorum et aliarum officinarum. Dicunt etiani quod est ibidem una hida terrce quce vacatur Derhi/de et continet in sc lx. acras terrce ara- bilis et valet qucelibet acra per anmtni iii''. sunima xv*. et certus visus valet per an. iV. et reddit domino regi pro prcedicta hida ct certo visu x'. et est ibidem qucedani placea prati quce vocatur Quetlienelkell ct valet per an. vi''. dicunt etiam quod sunt ibidem in dominica in villa de Borstall Brehull et Acle vi. virgatce terrce arabilis, Sfc. et valet qucelibet acra per an. iii''. summa xxv'. iv^. ob. q. reddendo domino regi ad manerium suum de Brehull xlviii'. x^.faciendo etiani domino rcgi ad manerium suum de Brehull servitium cum una honiine pro An. Mcci.xxxix. 1", 18. Edward I. cha anno rcgni siii octavo decimo ad rc- D'li's rex mandavit vie. Oxon. per breve spondcnd. ipsid'no regidcquibusdain trans- suuni q'd attacliiaret Joli'ein ep'uin Win- gressionibus — in boscis ct chaccis ipsius ton, PhilippuMi de Hoyvill, ct magistriini cp'i ut in vcnationc capta ct assartis — pre- WiU'uni personam tccria", de Witteneyc dictus ep'us profert eartani — prece])fnm niinistros prcdicti cp'i ila q'd liaberct cor- t|'d prcdictus ep'us eat sine die. Ex ])la- pora eoruin coram ipso d'no rege ct ejus citis Farliani. 18. Ed. I. consilio ad parliamentuni smmi [)ost I'ns- •^ K. Dods. MS. vol. 107. i". I I-'. 'lb. 1". 1 KJ. k lb. f. I I.'. 3 L 2 444 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. qualibet virgafa terrce vel opera per nnum diem, summa operatiorium XXXIII. et i/iniiJ. et valent per totum iii'. iv'. oh. Diciint etiam quod sunt ibidem iii. acrce terrce et dimid. et i. roda, et valet qacelibet acra per an. iii''. et teneniiir de Nicholao de Esses. Et sunt ibidem xv. acne terrce et valet qucelibct acra per annum iii**. summa iii'. ix**. et tenentiir de hceredibus IFillielmi Jilii Elice, et sunt ibidem in Hiheford VI. acrce terrce, et valet qucelibet acra iii''. summa xviii'. et tenentur de Johanne de Accrue, dicunt etiam quod sunt ibidem de redditu assis. i.JL^. scilicet ad festum S. Michaelis et ad festum S. Thomce apostoli et ad annunt. beatcc Marice et ad festum S. Johannes Baptistce per cequales portiones. Dicunt etiam quod balliva forestce de Bernewode valet per annum xlii'. et tetiefur in capite de domino rege, dicunt etiam quod Johannes filius prcedicti Johannis est propinquior hceres ejus plencB cetatis et miles ''. An. Mccxc. 18, 19. Edtvard I. Henry de Lacy earl of Lincoln and lord of the manors of Burces- ter and Midlington, by writ from the king, was allowed to give se- venty acres of land and ten shillings yearly rent in Saxton within the An. MCCXC. 18, 19. Edw. I. Rog. de Bikkerwik subd. pres. per Edm. Pat. 18. E. 1. Licentia regis concessaEd- com. Cornub. ad eccl. de Stoke-basset vac. mundo com. Cornub. lit det terras rectori quia idem Rog. non fit p'b'r infra annum. et fratribus domus de Asherugge in honore 5. kal. Aug. pont. 11. — iterum presentatus preciosi sanguinis Jiicsu Christi fundate. et admissus, 8. Id. Dec. pont 12. 28. Jul. m. 12. Simon de Wellis cl'ic. ad mediet. eccl'ie He (Edmund earl of Cornwall) was cited de Heyford ad pontem per raort. mag'ri W. In the king's palace at Westminst. to ap- ad pres. abb. et conv. de Egnesham x. kal. pear before the archbishop of Cant, for Jan. pont. 11. which the persons who served the citation Rob. Trevet diac. pres. per Tho. de Gar- were imprisoned. Ang. Sac. Pars. 1. p. 402. dino ad eccl. de Sumerton vac. per mortem Mag'r Phil, de Heddeshovere pres. per Walt, de Cotes. 5. kal. Feb. pont. 11. dom. Edm. com. Cornub. ad eccl. de Bek- Mag'r Rob. Bakun pres. per d'num Adam kale quia mag'r Ric. de Sottewell institutus le Despenser mil. ad eccl. de Ewelm vac. fuit in eccl. de Frothingham. 15 kal. Apr. per mort. Ingerami. 16. kal. Apr. pont, 11. pont. 11. i. e. 12yo.-Reg. Ol. Sutton. h Ex Chartular. de Borstall. MS. f. 99. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 446 county of York, to a chaplain who should celebrate divine service in the chapel of the Virgin Mary of Saxton, which land was held from the king in capite '. In the eleventh of Oliver Sutton, Edmund earl of Cornwall pre- sented to the church of Frothingham, in the archdeaconry of Stowe ", and to the churches of Stoke-Basset and Beckle, in this county ' ; and an. 13, to the church of All Saints of Helmeswell, in the archdea- conry of Stowe, and to the church of Rollesham, in this county. Walter de la Hale and Juliana his wife, granted to John Fitz- Nigel of Borstal part of a curtilage and two furlongs of arable land, for the payment of one penny yearly to the king at his manor of Bre- hull. Hits testibiis ; Johanne Ic Briin de Acley, Nigello Iravers, Jo- hanne Ferebraz, Nigello de Boys, Williehiio Uleivyn, Johanne Segryin, Ricardo Elys, IVillielmo filio IFillielmi, Ili/gonejilio Nigelli, Thoma Brun et fata curia de BrehuU"'. An. Mccxci. 19, 20. Edward I. The general taxation * of church dignities and benefices was this year completed and registered : the abbot of Oseney and prior of St. Catherines, appointed collectors for this diocese of Lincoln, deputed Ralph rector of Wotton, and Richard rector of Gilling to be taxers in the archdeaconries of Oxford, Bedford, and Bucks, excepting the deanery of Rotland. Of this register there is one copy in parchment MS. folio in the Bodleian Library, that formerly belonged to Sir Henry Spelman. It has only this general title, mbeu taxationuim omnium benefi- cioRUM IN ANGLiA. In the first page there is a quaere, whether not composed in 20. of Edw. I. when the bishops of Winchester and Lincoln were conimissioned to tax all benefices throughout all Eng- * On occasion of the pope's granting the king the tenth of all spiritualities for six years in subsidUim Terra Sauclcc. iR.Dods. MS. vol. 44. f. \C,2. ^ lb. vol. 10/. f. 15.{. ' lb. f. IG3. "> Ex Chartul. de Borstall. f. 5. 446 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. land ? In a small loose paper in the said book there is a memoran- dum by an unknown hand, that the church in Garlek-Hyth in Ar- chid. Lond. which was built in the reign of Edw. II. by Richard Ro- thering sheriff of London, is here valued at seven marks, which ar- ffues this taxation to have been after that of Edw. I. viz. in that of Edward the Illd's reign. But this is a poor ignorant surmise, as if there could be no church in Garlek-Hyth till that sheriff built a new one, or as if it was then first made a distinct parish. When collated with other copies of this year's taxation, it appears one of the tran- scripts of them. There is one more ancient record of it in MS. in the Bodleian Library, wherein the account of this diocese of Lincoln bears this inscription. Taxatio spiritualifatis in dioc. Lincoln, per Radulphum et Ricardum de Morton et de JFiUing ecclesiarum rectores sub reverend, patribiis O. Dei gratia Line, et J. Wynton. episcopis taxatoribus principalibus a domino Nicholao pp. iiii. depntatis una cum incremento per retaxationem a supradictis pafribus Sanctis an. Dom. MccLXxxxi. There is endorsed on the said book, " This manuscript " was written an. 1291. Nicholas IV. being pope about the 19.'Ed. I." Tho. Walsingham refers it to the preceding year, because then pre- paring. Circa idem tempus jubente papa Nicholao taxatce sunt eccle- sice AnglicancB secundum verum valorem et extunc cessavit taxatio Norwicensis per Innocentium quart um prius facta ". And Tho. Wikes attributes it to the year 1292, because then possibly was the first col- lection by those new rates. Most of the historians complain of it as a grievous exaction. There is another transcript of great part of it preserved by the most industrious Mr. Roger Dodsworth, among his Collections, vol. 86. A specimen of Ambrosden, Burcester, and neighbouring churches shall be here given, \vith their difference from the* old taxation by the bishop of Norwich, now annulled. * The Norwich taxation was by Walter ISdS. deceased 1257. to whom P. Innocent de Suthfeld bishop of Norwich, consecrat. IVth, upon giving the tenth of all eccl. be- " Tho. Walsing. inter Ang. Script, a Cambdeno edit. p. 44. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 447 ARCHID. OXON. DECANATUS de CUDESDON. verus valor Ecclesia de Ambresdon xl. marc. Ecclcsia de Merton dcducta pensionc xvii. marc, x' Pensio abbatis Eynesham in eadem xxx". Norwycens. XXX. marc. XV. marc. DECANATUS de BURNCESTRE. Ecclesia de Burncestre deducta verus valor porcione xviii. marc. Porcio abh'is de Alneto in eadem 11, vmrc Porcio abb'is de Oseney in eadem xl,'. Porcio abb'is de Eynesham in eadem .xii'. Ecclesia de Weston xiv. marc. Ecclesia de Cherleton deducta porcione xxx. marc. Pensio prior is de Ware in eadem Ecclesia de Wendelebury Ecclesia de Cesterton Ecclesia de Langton Ecclesia de Godinton Ecclesia de Mxdelinton Ecclesia t/cBiKENHUELE deducta porcione xv. marc. Porcio abb'is de Oseney' in eadem x'. Ecclesia de Beechesdon deducta porcione xv. marc. Porcio abbatis de Oseney in eadem x*. Norwycens. XV. marc. XII. marc. XX. marc. III. i?iarc. X. 7narc. et dimid. ix. marc. XVI. marc. xii. marc. XII. marc. iv. marc. v1.7narc.et dimid. iv. inarc. XV. inarc. viii. marc. XI. marc. xxx. marc. There were at this time twenty-seven churches in the deanery of Burcester, their valuation ccexvih'. xv'. iv**. ncficcs to the king for tlirce years, sent a of the rural chapter, an. 1254. Vid. Whart. command to take the Miluatiun, which was Ang. Sac. vol. 1. p. 411. done in every deanery by the dean and three 448 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Within this year Edmund earl of Cornwall gave several lands and tenements in the parish of St. Peter's East, Oxford, to the brothers of the Holy Trinity within that city : for which and other charities he had the title of summus religiosorum patronus °. Within the twelfth of Oliver Sutton bishop of Lincoln, Richard de Amory, knight, presented a clerk to the church of Bukenhull ^ : and Sir Alniaric de S. Aniand to the church of Alrinton. A new prioress was now elected in the nunnery of Stodley, leave being first asked and obtained from the patron Edniimd earl of Cornwall ''. Alice de Lacy, mother of Henry earl of Lincoln, in right of her dowry, presented to two parts of the church of Clipston in the arch- deaconry of Northampton '. And within this same year Alice de Lacy, sole daughter and heir of Henry earl of Lincoln, at nine years of age, was married to Thomas eldest son and heir of Edmund earl of Lancaster. John de Verdon lord of the manor of Heth in this county, was ar- raigned for treason and divers other misdemeanors at Bergavenny, An. Mccxci. 19, '20. Edward I. et conv. de Egncsliam ad eccl. de Heyford Radulfus de Hengham diaconus ad pre- per ingress. Simonis de Welles in ord. fra- sentationem Edmundi com. Cornub. ra- trum predicatorum. 10. kal. Sept. pont. 12. tlone custodiffi terrarum Joh'is Wake insti- Mag'r Will, de Chaddeleshunt repres. per tutus ad eccriam deMiddelton. x. kal. Aug. priorem et conv. de Kenilworth ad eccl. de 1291. resignat. 1293. Ex regist. Joh'is Ro- Hethe vac. quia idem Will'us non fuit p'b'r mane arch. Ebor. infra annum ; admiss. 7> id. Octob. pent. Ithelus de Kayrwrt subd. pres. per Ric. de 1 2. Aumori ad eccl. de Brikkenhill vac. per Otto de Dune Amenay p'b'r pres. per mort. Rog. de Aumori. 4. id. Maii. pent. proc. abb'is et conv. de Becco Herlewini ad 12. R. Sutton. eccl. de Cottesford per cess. Joh'is de Cu- Rob.de Hoketon cap. pres. per d'num santia. 17. kal. Jan. pent. 12. Rob. de Grey mil. ad eccl. de Feringford D'n's Edm. de Maydestan p'b'r pres. per per mort. Tho. dc Idemeston. 7. id. Jan. T. ep'um Winton. ad eccl. de Abberbury pont. 12. vac. per mort. mag'ri Nich'i. 4. non. Feb. Mag'r Hug. de Thurleby pres. per abb. pont. 12. o Ant. a Wood. Antiq. Un. Ox. 1. l.p. 133. P R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. f. 163. 1 lb, f. 163. ' lb. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 449 before the king and liis council ; and upon full hearing had judg- ment to be coniniitted to prison, as also to forfeit all his royalties in the lands of Ewyas Lacy. But the king, taking into consideration the good services of his ancestors done to himself and his jirogeni- tors, and because he acknowledged his offence, and submitted him- self, grantcfl, that after his death his heirs should enjoy those privi- leges; and, for five hundred marks fine, freed him of his imprison- ment'. Richard Pigeon of Borstall granted to John Pipett of Borstal!, two acres of land in the field of Borstall, of which one half acre lay at Smeth-weye, and one rood at Wodcwcll, and one half acre near Fauleshoe, and one rood in Coppidthorne, and one rood in Redfor- long, and one rood in Cornforlong. Iliis tcstibus; Nigello Trovers, Hugone jilio Nige/li de Brehull, Jolianne Fcrehraz, Johamic Segrym, Roberto Baudreijt, Johanne Brim, et multis aliis. Daf. apud Borstall die Martis proxime post festiim S. Johannis Baptistce anno regni regis Edwardi decimo Jiono^. An. Mccxcii. 20, 21. Edward I. The king sent a precept to the sheriff of Bucks in behalf of an in- habitant or native of the j)arish of Ambrosden, John de Prydington, for a prohibition against William vicar of the church of Little-Brick- hill, who had prosecuted the said John de Prydington in the eccle- siastical court, upon a cause that was not within the cognizance of it ". Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln was now sent ambassador to the king of France, to treat conc-erning the restraint of such pirates as robbed the English merchants \ An. MCCXCII. 20, 21. Edw. I. vac. per resign. \\ illi de Chaddeleshunt. Hcnr. de Duntoii cap. pros, per priorcm 5. non. Oct. pont. lA. et conv. de Kcnilworth ad eccl. dc HcIIic » Dugd. Bar. toni. 1. p. -IJ;?, b. ' Ex Cluirtul. de Borstall, MS. penes I). .loh. .\ii- brey, Bar. " W. I'rynnc, Hist. Col. toni. :<. p. 177. * Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 10 1. a. VOL. I. 3 M 450 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. In tills thirteenth of Oliver Sutton, Edmund earl of Cornwall pre- sented to the church of Manton in the archdeaconry of Northamp- ton ^ Within this year died Hugh de Plcssets baron of Hokenorton, who had demised his land of Musewell in the parish of Ambrosden to John Fitz-Xigel of Borstall : he left issue Hugh his son and heir, twenty-five years of age, who doing his homage had li\ery of the said barony of Hokenorton, within which was the adjoining manor of Chesterton, which was held from his father by Sir Bardulf de Chesterton for half a knight's fee : the tenure of which manor, and the services of under-tenants, appear from a court roll of the hun- dred of Chadlinton taken in the beginning of Edw. I. Jurat, dicunt quod Bard ulphus de Cestrcton tenet manerium de Ces- treton de Hiigone de P/essetis tanquam pertinentiam ad maneriuni SMum de Hokejiorton pro dimidio feodo mUitis, et tenet in domviico suo in eodem vianerio ii. carucatas terre cum pertinentiis, et vulent per annum cvi'. \iii'^ Johannes Propositus tenet i. virgatam terre operabilis et debet opera, §-c. quce valent quolibet aniio xiii'. iv**. ob. q Bardulphus de Fraxino tenet taciturn terre per idem servicium Henricus de Fretorn tenet de predicto Bardulpho i. croftam JViUielmus de Barton tenet i. virgatam terre Sum- ma tocius valoris xi'. XIII^ x*" Dicunt quod idem Bardulphus de Cesterton debet sectam ad hundredum de Chadelinton de tribus sep- timanis in tres septimanas et ad duos magnos comit. et debet v''. de ivard penie ad Jest um S. Martini, et viif. de fumo vice-comitis et cum vice-comes tenet turnos siios in predicto hundredo idem Bar- dulphus mittet ibi unum de suis ad petendam Ubertatem suam et ha- bebit, nee ipse nee homines sui venient ibi, et ballivi com. Glouc. veni- ent quolibet anno semel ad tenendum visum Franciplegii in eodem ma- nerio et asportabunt omnia amerciamenta inde provenie7icia et Iv^ de certo visus ejusdem, summa xII^ v** Et dicunt quod abbas de Oseney tenet ecclesiam ejusdem manerii in proprios usus set nesciunt quo iva- y R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 155. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 451 ranto, ct iii. virgatas tcrre Dicunt quod abbas de Ei/nesham te- net in eodem vmnerio xvi. virgatas terrc dc Hugone de Plcssetis tav- quam pertinen. ad mauerium suuin de Hokeiwrton pro quart, feodi mi~ litis de qnibus Niclwlaus Ic Wyld tenet i. virgatum tcrre Sec. summa \ii'. vi**. 06 ^ Tliis Hugh de Plessets had taken to wife Isabel the thiid daughter of John de Ripariis, cousin and one of the heirs to Philippa Basset countess of Warwick, and for the purparty of his said wife had the manor of Hedindon, with the hundred of Bolendon, and tiie h\in- An. Mccxrii. 20, 21. Edw. I. mul cum aliis terris et tenementis qu* fuc- Cuni abbas Regalis Loci Oxon. coram runt Robcrti Drews in Anglia, et dixit quod Thoma de Weyland et sociis suis nupcr ratione illius carta? non potuit sine d'norege .justitiariis domini regis de banco placitas- respondcre. Tandem in crastino puriHca- set ep'um Line, de averiis ipsius abbatis tionis anno vicesimo dictum est attornato captis et injuste dctcntis — et idem ep'us predicti com. quod de loquela predicta inde advocasset captionem et detentioncm averi- quietus recederet quoad tunc salvo jure cu- orum predicti abbatis juste, &c. pro co q'd jusiibet. — Placit. Pari. 20. Edw. L abbas de Egnesham de eodem ep'o tenet 1292. pont. 13. Ol. Sutton. Mag'r Joh. de manerium de Erdington in quo averia pre- Deneby prcsb. prcs. per abb'em et conv. de dicta capta fuerunt per servitium duorum Westminstre ad eccl. de Langeton vac. per feodorum militis de quo predecessores sui mort. mag'ri Rob. Baret. 2. non. Octob. ep'i a tempore quo non extat memoria fue- l^og. de Kivelingwortii pres. per abb. et runt in seisina per manus j)redeccssorum conv. de Egnesham ad eccl. de Meriton vac. predicti abbatis de Encsham: et super hoc per resign, mag'ri Rob. de Kivelingworth. predictus abbas Loci Regalis dixisset cjuod 1*^- kal. Feb. pont. 13. ipse iiabet quoddam breve jjcndens in curia Indulgcntia xx. dierum concessa oranti- rcgis versus- com. Cornub. de hoc, quod ^"s i)ro aninia quondam mag'ri N'ich'i de idem com. Cornub. acquietet ipsum dc ser- Bocland rectoris eccl'ie de Abberbiri cujus vitio quod prefatus ep'us ab eo exigebat de corpus in cimiterio dictc eccl'ie tumulatus. predicto manerio: ct unde idem com. qui 12. kal. Jun. pont. 13. Ol. tiutton. Memo- medius est inter eos ipsum al)b'ern acquie- rand. ()1. Sutton, f. .58. tare debuit; et (juia idem com. ])orrexit Mag'r Alex, de Quappelad cl'ic. jircs. cartam D. \\. regis patris D. regis nunc per abb. et conv. de Egnesham ad mcdiet. i|UiR tcstabatur q'd idem dominus H. rex eccl. de lleyford ;ul pont. per mort. mag'ri concessit Ricardo com. llctavie ct Cornub. Hug. de Tiiurlcby. 13. kal. Jan, pont. 13. ])atri predicti com. predictum manerium si- Ol. Sutton. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. lit. f. 177- 3 M 2 452 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. dred lying without the north gate of Oxford \ Which Hugh de Plessets in 5. Edw. I. was impleaded by the men of Hcdington for depriving and abridging them of their ancient customs and privileges within the said manor, and in the king's court at Westminster this memorable composition was made. Noverint universi prcesentes et futuri quod cum homines de mancrio de Hedhigdon quod est de antiquo dominico corotice Ang/ice, Hugoncm de Plesseys dominum ejusdem manerii in curia domini regis Ed- wardi Jilii regis Ilenrici anno regni ejusdem regis Edwardi quinto coram eodem domino rege implectassent pro eo quod idem Hugo ab eisdem hominibus alias consuetudines et alia servitia exigebat quam facere deberent vel temporibus quibus dictum manerium in manibus regum Anglice extitei^at facere consueverunt. Tandem dicto placito inter dictum Hugonem et eosdem homines quiescendo convenit in hunc modum, videlicet quod prcedictus Hugo concessit pro sc et hceredibus siiis quod omnes homines terram tenentes in prcedicto manerio de cce- tero habeant et teneant terras suas in eodem vuinerio per eandem jir- mam per quam eas prius tenere consueverunt , videlicet qucelibet vir- gata terrce quce pro decern solidis tenere consueverit de ca'tero pro de- cern solidis teneatur et quce pro octo solidis tenebatur pro octo solidis teneatur, et quce pro quinque solidis pro quinque teneatur, et qui pro minore jirma terram suam tenuerit illam pro eadem firma teneat, et qui minus tenuerit de una virgata minus det et hoc secundum modum tenurce suce terrce illius et secundum quantitatem tenementi siii. Prce- terea cum eas eorundem hominum integram virgatam terrce tenens de- cesserit hceres ejus per duplicationem sui redditus annualis et per qua- tuor solidos terminum ultra rclevabit et qui minus tenuerit de una vir- gata ultra redditum suum dupUcatum minus det secundum quantita- tem tenementi sui. 'Item prcefati homines Jacienf singulis annis prce- J'ato Hugoni et hceredibus suis pro qualibet virgata terrce sexdecem operationes videlicet una die inter festum S. Michaelis et natale Do- » Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 774. AiMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 453 tni7ii lUi qui cariicas habuerniit arabioit terram domini in dicto mane- rio eodem modo ct in tantuni quo terrain propriani absque fictione arare deberent, ct alia die in eodem termino tarn illi quain alii ejusdem manerii solos equos habcntes terram domini ibidem herciabunt et per duos dies in quadragcsima similiter arabunt et herciabunt et uno die postea sarculabunt blada domini ibidem et per duos dies prata domini falcabunt tertio vero die herbam ibi falcatam vertent et fccnum ihi le- vabunt et quinto die foenum illud cariabunt usque ad curiam prcedicti manerii de Hedingdon illi videlicet qui carectas habuerunt et qui ca- rectas non habuerunt venient cum furcis suis ad dictum foenum levan- dum et thassandum, et pro falcatione et aliis supradictis circa dictum fa'num modo prcrdicfo apposifis seu apponendis solventur eisdem homi- nibus de denariis domini singulis annis proximo die quofalcare incipient quinque solidi. Item uno die warectahunt terram domini prout decet ad ununi diem cum carucis suis ct quilibet eorum animalia habens me- tet in autumpno unam acram bladi de blado domini ibidem sumptibus propriis et pro hiis ultimis duabus operationibus iidem homines com- munam ubique liab<;bunt in dominicis pasturis domini, exceptis pasturis et aliis locis ejusdem domini qui tempore confectionis istius scripti claudebantur et aliis pasturis suis iidem homines hactenus communicare nullatenus cousueccrunt. Tribus auteni diebus in autumpno mefent blada domini sumptibus ejusdem domini primo scilicet die cum omni- bus famulis suis exceptis uxorihus et pastoribus suis et ilia die come- dcnt iidem homines et omnes dicti messores cum domino ad nonam et prccfati homines ct non messores eadem die cum domino ccenabunt et aliis diebus duobus pro singulis rirgatis singulos homines ad metendum invcnient et hoc ad sumptus domini. Ita quod diebus illis comcdent dicti messores cum domino ad nonam. Item uno die cariabunt blada domini ibidem scilicet qui carectas liahucrint et qui carectas non ha- bucriiit adjurabunt ad tliessandum bladum et uno die coUigent nuces nomine domini in bosco qui rocatur Stowode. Item facient sect am cu- ria- domini de Hedingdon de sex septinuinis, ct si breve domini regis in dicta curia attachietur tunc sectam i I lam facient de tribus septima- nis in trcs septimanas et ad prafatani curiam singulis aunis inter fes- 454 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. turn S. Michaelis et S. Martini venient cum toto ac pleno dytcno sicut hactenusfacere consuevcrunt et omnes prisoncs qui infra dictum manc- rium de Hedingdon capientur sumptibus propriis custodient. Et sci- endum quod si homines prcedicti Jilias suas extra libertatem dicti ma- nerii viaritare voluerint dabunt domino pro qualibet jilia sic maritata duos solidos et hoc pro catallis extra libertatem dicti vianerii cum ipsa remotis, et si infra libertatem ejusdcm manerii eas maritaverint nihil dabunt pro maritagiis earundem. Prceterea sciendum quod quoties contigerit aliquem prccdictorum hominum pro aliquo delicto quoquc viodo amerciari in eadem curia per pares suos et non per alios anier- cientur et hoc secundum modum delicti. Concessit etiam prcefatus Hugo pro se et hceredibus suis quibuscunque quod prcpfati homines et eorum hceredes omnia et singula quce infra dictum mancrium de jure hcereditario habere debeant de ccetero haheant et utantur, et quod alia servitia nonfacient quam prcedicta. Pro prcemissis vero conccssioni- bus eisdem hominibus factis et pro omnibus aliis qucB ab eis quoquo viodo exigi potuerint per prcefatum Hugonem vel hceredes suos extra servitia prcenomitiata concesserunt prcpfati homines pro se et hceredi- bus et quibuscunque successoribus suis singulis annis die Onuiium Sanc- torum tres marcas, et quotiens dominus rex suos dominicos talliare con- tigerit dabunt prccdicto Hugoni et hceredibus suis quinque marcas : et die fits Hugo concessit pro se et hceredibus suis quod iidem homines quieti sint de tallagio pro eisdem. Et tit omnia et singula prcemissa prcpfatzts hominibus et eorum hceredibus rata et inconcussa perpetuis temporibus permaneant, dictus Hugo pro se et hceredibus suis prcesenti scripto sigillum suuni apposuit et dicti homines prcemissas conventiones in rotulis placitorum doniini regis de cumo supradicto ad majorem se- curitatem inrotulari procurarunt *". These rights and privileges were confirmed to tlic tenants of He- dingdon by king Edw. III. at Westminster, Octob. 20. 7\'gni 29. The same grants were renewed and ratified by Sir Richard d'Amory lord of the manor of Hedingdon, 31. Edw. III. and again confirmed by b Ex Regist. Borstall. penes D. Joh. Aubrey, Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 465 king Ricliard II. at Oxford, Octob. 4. regni 16.' Before the death of Hugh de Plessets, sen. this fine was passed between him and Sir John Fitz-Nigel, jun. of Borstal!, in relation to the land of Musewell within the parish of Ambrosden. H(sc est Jinalis concordia facta in curia doni. regis apud IVest- minster in Octab. S. Martini anno regni regis Edwardi Jilii regis Hcnrici vicesimo coram Thoma IVeijlond, Johanne de Lovctof, llogero de Leycestre, et lyUUehno de Btnfune, Jusfitiariis doniini regis ji deli- bus tunc ibi prccsentibus inter Jolianneni Jiliuni Nigelli, jun. qicer. et Hugonem de Plessetis deforc. de uno viessuagio una carucata terrce et uno molendino cum pcrtinentiis in Museivell wide placituni conven- tionis suniptum fuit inter cos in cadevi curia : scilicet quod prcedictus Hugo recognovit prcedictum tenementum cum pertinentiis esse Jus ip- sius Johannis ut illud quod idem Johannes habet de dono prcedicti Hu- gonis Imbend. et tenend. eidem Johanni et //a'redibus suis de prcedicto Hugone et hceredibus suis imperpetuum reddendo inde annuatini uniim clavuni cariop/iili ad natale Doniini pro onini servitio consuetudine et exactione : et prcedictus Hugo et hceredcs sui warantizabunt acquie- tabunt et dcfendent eideni Johanni et hceredibus suis prcedicta tene- menta cum pertinentiis suis per prcedictum servitium contra omnes ho- mines imperpetuum. Et pro hac recognitione warantia acquietantia fine et concordia idem Johannes dcdit prcedicto Hugoni unum spura- rium aureum ''. Au. Mccxciii. 21, 22. Edward I. An inquisition was now made whether the abbot of Rcwley (founded by luhnund carl of Cornwall) owed service to the county court at Oxford, or to the king's court of the hundred of Poghedele, (now Ploughly ;) and return was made that he owed no suit or service lo cither, because lie had no lands in this county but the manors of Erdinton (now Yarnton) antl Wilhuston, and the site of the abbey, c Ex Rogist. Borstal!, penes D. Job. Aubrey, Bar. >i 11). I". 33. 456 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. wliich were of the honour of St. Walery, with two coppices of wood in Netlebed; and eight virgates of land, with twenty acres of mea- dow and their appurtenances in Wendlehury, which were of the fee of Aniory de St. Amand ^ Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln attended the king with his army into Wales, where, not far from the earl's town and castle of Denbigh, the English received a great repulse. After the earl's return, in con- sideration of his good service, the king granted to him a special char- ter for fairs and markets in several of his lordships. Among other, a market on the Monday every week at his manor of Midlington ad- joining to Burcester, and a fair there yearly on the eve and day of St. Thomas the martyr. This martial earl was in this same year in the expedition made into Gascoign '. Edmund earl of Cornwall gave lands to Walter de Cornwall his base brother^. Within this year 1293, Thomas Brent gave to the abbey of Ose- ney all the tithe of his demesne lands in Heyford Warin, at whicli time Simon was parson of that church '\ Placit. Pari. 21. Edw. I. pie or chauntry for five capellanes to pray Et quia predictus Will, de Clierington for his soul. — Hiis testibus ; d'no Ricardo cognovit quod litera citutoria coram offi- de Cornnbia, fratre nostro, &c. dat. apud ciali de arcubus London perrexit Ric'o de Beckele in festo decollationis S. Joh. Glocestre persone eccl'ie de Cliepingnor- Bapt. anno regni reg. Edwardi xxi. Hist. ton in eccl. S. Trin. apud Cantuar. ubi et Antiq. Un. Oxon. 1. 1. p. 133. tunc fuit curia regis et infra hospitium d'ni Ric. de Scireburn capellan. pres. per regis dictum est eidem mag'ro Will'o quod d'numHen.Thyes mil. ad capellam de Oke non recedat a curia prius quam dominus vac. per mort. Joh. de Draycote. kal. Jul. rex super hoc sibi direxit voluntatem suam. pont. 14. Ol. Sutton. Edmund earl of Cornwall gave several te- Pat. 21. Edw. I. Rex concedit Henrico nements in the parish of St. Peter's in the fil. Nigelli licentiam quod ipse 1 toftum et East, Oxford, to the master and brothers of 38 aeras terre in Lachcford dare possit abb'i the Holy Trinity, and founded there a cha- et conv. de Thame et succ. suis. 10. Nov. c Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 936. f Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 104. b. S MS. Ashmol. 844. f 1. h Collectanea W. Wirley de Monast. Osneiae et S. Frideswidse, Oxon. MS. Wood. F. 16. p. 5. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 457 An. Mccxciv. 22, 23. Edward I. The king being now a second year engaged in a war with France, several of the clergy and religious made their contributions, to whom for acknowledgment and reward the king granted particular protec- tions. Among others, Ralph de Mertival rector of Ambrosden, hav- ing assisted the king with half the profits of his benefice, received a special j^rotection in this form. Rex ca/ntaneo marinanorum et cisdem marinariis vice comitibus et om- nibus ballivis etjidelibus, 8fc. ad qtios, Sfc. salutem. Cam di/ectus nobis magister Radulfus de Mirtivall persona ecclesice de Ambrosden medie- tateni benejicii, ^c. nobis in subsidium nostrum de anjio prcesentijiixta taxationem ultimo inde factam liberaliter concesserit et gratanter. Nos ejusdem Radulphi quieti et tranquillitati ex hac causa libencius provi- dere volentes suscepimus in protectionem et defensionem nostratn spc- cialem prcefatum Radulphum et singulos de prcedicfo Radulpho ho- miries terras res redditus et omnes possessiones ejusdem, Sfc. In cu- jus, Sfc. has Uteras jieri fecimus patentes per prcedictum annum du- raturas. Teste 7-ege apud IVestm. 18. die. Octob. ' A protection in the same form was granted to the prior and con- vent of Burcester''. Another to the rector and brethren of Ash- rugge '. As also to Thomas de Capella parson of Blechesdon ; to Richard de Pyryte parson of Chinnor ; and to Giles Filliol parson of the churches of * Ardeleye, Rybinghale, Great Ockle and Little Ockle. This payment of half their revenues is in the writs of protection • Rectorcs de Ardelcy. vac. pi-r hoc quod Roger de Schulton insti- Will. de Sulthorn subdec. ad eccl'iam de tutus fuit in eccl. de Croulton. ;5. Id. Jul. Ardulfcl ad pres. Guidon, fii. Robcrti. Rot. 1300. Reg. Dalderby. pent. 1. Rob. Grosthead. an. 4. (1238.) An. mccxciv. -22, JA. Edw. I. Job. de Schulton cl'ic. pres. per doni. Fat. 22. Edw. I. ni. (5. Magister Rad'us Job. fil. Guidonis mil. ad eccl. de Ardele de Martivall persona eccl'ie de Anibresdon > W. Pryiine, Hist. Collect, torn. 3. p. 592. >- lb. p. 589. ' lb. p. 5!)J. et Reyncri Append, ad Apostolat. Benedict, in Auglia, p. (>6. VOL. I. 3 N 458 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. represented as a liberal and free concession and contribution : when indeed it was an imposition and levy which they could not resist. For, on the nineteenth of September, the king convened an assembly of bishops, archdeacons, abbots, and proctors of the clergy, where against their will they granted the king one half of their yearly pro- fits. And such orders were issued out upon it, that whoever contra- dicted this exaction, should be dealt with as enemies to the king and nation"'. The same proportion of one entire half of all revenues was given to Henry VIII. by convocation, an. 1523 ". It seems pro- bable that some of the most poor, or the most stout of the clergy, were unwilling to bear this burden ; but others, that could make a vir- tue of necessity, appeared forward and zealous in it, and to thenj the protections were given as a distinguishing mark of favoui-. About this time a perambulation of the forest of Bern wood was made, and the limits of it returned upon oath, in this form. Juratores dicunt quodfofesia de Bernewode incipit apud Gosachre- hend que extendit in rivulum que vacatur Thame streme inter campum de lliomeley et campum de IVormehale includendo forestam ex parte dextra per omnes bandas et metas subscriptas et excludendo extra fo- restam ex parte sinistra totum residuum et sic usque inter Shiremen inter campum de Thomeley et IFormehale et sic usque Brodtvey et sic usque Brechey et sic usque fossatum Oteweysdyches Scrobbes per le Gofe- cote et sic per le Holloivey usque Menemcrsh ct sic usque le Hok de Oke- wode versus Shortrudingsend ct sic usque Dcnebrokc et sic usque Suthe- wclleringe et sic usque SalfcroJ'tcstyle et sic usque ffy de crouche ad hab. lit. de protect, per 1. ami. duratur. T.R. Courtenay defuncti. 16. Nov. Pat. 23. Ed. 1. apud Westm. IS. Octob. m. 1. Edm. fil. Bernard! habet lit. reg. ad pres. Will, de Rogate liabet lit. reg. de pres. ad ad 3tiam partem eccl'iie de Wottesdon per portionem in eccl'ia de Wotcsdon per rc- mort. Rad'i til. Bernardi nuper rectoris sign. Edmundi fil. Bernardi ratione custo- ejusd. et ad donationem regis spectant. ra- diae terrarum et liaered. Hug. de Curtenay tione custodiee terrarum et hieredis Hug. de defuncti. 17- Apr. 25. Ed. I. •" Annal. Eccles. VVigorn. sub an. " Burnet, Hist, of Reform, par. 1. p. 21. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 459 Schyreine et sic usque Nort/icrofh ct sic usque Oddestaple et sic usque Stonput et sic per fossatuui usque Merelalake et sic usque Garcroft abhatisse de Godestoive et sic per fossatum muntis Hurnlake et sic us- que Crofhvellend et sic usque Ernecotehatli per fossatum et sic usque Moleshc et sic usque Corhynsnede et sic inter boscum Alani Plun- kenet et boscum Johaunis flii Nigelli usque Ho/wodehroke et sic per hayiam de Loigelondsend et sic usque le Hoke versus le Frcreslosnc et sic usque Risiford inter dominicum regis et Alani Plunkenet et sic usque Brendelegh inter campum de Pydiugton et sic usque Stouford et sic usque Hetlieneburne inter Akeuuinnestrete inter devisas com. Oxon. ct Buck. " Robert Grey of Rotlierfield in this county had tlie barony of Co- ges near Whitney, by the gift of his uncle Walter de Grey arch- bishop of York, who had it from Joan daughter and coheir of Ro- bert de Arsik, and from Thomas de Haya and Alexandra his wife, sister to the said Joan. Which Robert de Grey, having married Avice daughter of William St. Liz, died about this time, possessed of the moiety of the manors of Somerton, Feryngford, and Herdwyke in this county, jiart of the said barony held by the service of keeping Dover castle p. In a trial this year, it was determined that Henry Lacy carl of Lincoln and Margaret his wife had a free market in their manor of Col ham, and a yearly fair at Woxbridge, com. Mid. which was a member of Colham, and had been tlie estate of Richard Camvilh. The said earl, considering he had no issue of his body but Alice his daughter, at the king's request, did, on the feast of Simon and Jude, at Westminster, pass a fine to settle tlie reversion of his whole estate on luhiHind carl of Lancaster and his lieirs'. The king had given the manor of I'idington in the parish of Am- brosden to Alan de I'lugenet, who, having ilone great service in seve- ral wars, did now receive command to attend the king a( Pt)rtsm()iilh « Collectanea W. VVyrlcy, iit supra, 1'. ;». Ii. i' ])ugcl. Bar. Umi. 1. j). /.'o. u. 'I U. Dods. M.S. vol. ll'J. p. L'l. 'MS. Asliiudi. mini. 814. 3 N 2 460 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. upon the first of September, well fitted with horse and arms, thence to sail with him into Gascoign. This manor of Pitlington had been given or confirmed to the monastery of St. Frideswide in Oxford, by Malcolm king of Scots and earl of Huntingdon, whose charter of do- nation being omitted in the year mclix. shall be here inserted. Malcolmus rex Scoforum dapifero suo de Huntingdon et oninihus prohis hominibus suis tocius honoris Francis et AngUs salutem. Sciatis me dedisse Domino et S. Maricc et Frideswidce Oxon. ct canonicis ibidem D'no servientibus in liberam et perpetuam clevwsinam villam de Py- dington in Oxfordscyre pro salute mea et fratrum meoruni et pro anima avi mei et patris mei et omnium parentum in sustentationem canotii- corum in perpetuum. Ita scilicet ut Johanna Jilia Basset dic- tatn villam in vita sua teneat ct servicium inde debituni cano7iicis pre- dictis reddat, post decessum ejus canonicis remaneat in perpetuam pos- sessionem et puram elemosinam cum omnibus libcrtatibus ^c. Testi- bus ; Herberto episcopo Glasc. apud G?'asguer '. Which grant was confirmed by Henry H. king of England, and by Thomas archbishop of Canterbury K An. Mccxcv. 23, 24. Edward I. April the seventeenth, Hugh son of Elyas Carter of Burcester, granted and confirmed to Robert Clerk of Berencester, one buttery, and garret or room over it, in the village of Berncester, situate between the house where he dwelt and the entrance which led to the hall of the said Robert, extending in breadth along the highway toward the church-yard of the parish church of Berencester, to hold free and without reserve of rent or service for ever, in consideration of which the said Robert Clerk gave two marks sterling in hand, &c. Sciant prcesentes etfuturi quod ego Hugo Jilius Elice Carectarii de Berencester dedi et concessi et hac prcesenti charfa mea conjirmavi et omnino pro me et hceredibus meis et assignatis quietum clamavi Ro- berto Clerico de Berencester unum cellarium et unum solarium in villa ' Collectanea W. Wyrley, f. 9. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 46l de Berencesfcr, videlicet illud ccllarium et illud solarium qiice sita sunt intra domum meant quam ego inhabito et introitum qui ducit ad aulam prevdicti Roherti et extendit se in latitudine juxta altam stra- tam versus coemitcrium ecclesice parochiaiis de Bcrenccstr. Habend. et ferwnd. dictum ccllarium et dictum solarium cum fundo et cum. mims et cum libero introitu et exitu et cum omnibus aliis pertinentiis et aysiamentis prcedicto Roberto et hceredibus suis et assignatis quibus- cunque libere quicte integre bene et in pace et hcereditarie in pcrpetuum sine ullo retenemento met vel hceredum meorum et sine omnimodo ser- vitio inde perveniente ad nos quocunque modo pertinente. Pro hac au- tem donatione concessione et prcesentis chartce niece conjirniatione dcdit mihi prcedictus Robertus duas marcas sterlingorum prce manibus in ^gersuniani. Et ego prcedictus Hugo et liceredes mei et assignafi pice- dictum ccllarium et solarium cum fundo et cum muris et cum libero in- troitu et exitu et cum omnibus aliis pertinentiis et aysiamentis nt prcB- dictum est prcedicto Roberto et hceredibus suis et assignatis quibuscun- que contra omnes homines et fceminas warantizabimus acquietabimus et in pcrpetuum defendemus. Et ut hcec mea donatio concessio et prce- sentis chartce mece confirmatio rata et stabilis in pcrpetuum permaneat prcesentem chartam hanc sigilli mei impressione roboravi. Hits testi- bus ; Magistro Ricardo de Wendlebury, Johanne de Cotesford, Ri- cardo de Caune, Simone Germayn de Bygenhull, Johanne Ateford de Berncester, et aliis. Datum et actum apud Berncester quinto decimo kalcnd. Maii. anno regni 7'egis Edwardi vicesimo tertio ". An. Mccxrv. 23, 21. Edw. I. vcntus teiient de eotlcin JoliV- in lib. ct pcr- A. ep'iis Dunc-lni. concessit I'^dm. com. pet. elemos. 15. Nov. Cornnh. m;incrium suiim dc llovi'dcn per Rob. de lii Kervcyl cl'ic. pres. per d'num 6. annus pro t.OOO marc, sterlinj^. Rex Roj;. de Insula mil. ad mediet. eccrie de confirmat. 21. Apr. I'at. 21. Edw. I. lleyford ad pontem vac. per hoc ipiod Will. Pat. 21. Ed»v. I. Job. de Hastyng de li- de Hramptoi\ ult. rector ejusd. institutus fuit ccntia regis dat priori et conv. de Stodley in aliud heneticiiim. 5. kal. Jun. pent. KJ. advocationcm cccl'ie de Aston Cantehia ha- Will, de Liida cl'icus pres. per abb. ct l)en(l. sibi et succ. in perpetiiiim in escam- conv. dc Harlinges ad eccl. de IMiddeling- biiim \:i. librat. terrc cum perlin. in pre- ton vac. per inort. niaij'ri I'etri Durandi. dicta villa de Aston ipias idem prior et eon- \C,. kal. Jan. |)()nt. IC. Ol. Sutton. " Ex Orig. penes lion. [). Guil. Glynne, Bar. 462 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. John Segrym, son of William, granted to John Fitz-Nigel of Bor- stall one messuage in the village of Borstall, which Walter May for- merly held, yielding due service to the cajiital lord of the fee, and paying twenty shillings in hand. I]}is testibus ; Joharuie Ic Brun, Johanne Ferebraz, Thonia Brun de Borstall, Johannc jilio Rohcrii Segrt/m, Ricardo Elys, flTiltcro dc la Hale, et aliis. Dat. apud Bor- stall die Sabbati proximc post festum S. Petri in cathedra. Anno regni regis Edivardi vicessimo tertio ". In this year William de magna lloUendright, perpetual vicar of Elsfield, near Oxford, entered an action against the prior of St. Fri- deswide for keeping in their hands the whole right of the said church of Elsfield. William son of William de Stratford, with consent of Benet his wife and William his son, had given to the said priory the fifth part of the village of Elsfield, and afterward his whole posses- sions in that manor ; excepting one messuage which he gave to the nunnery of Stodley, which Petronilla prioress of that house let in firm to Simon de Coleham "'. Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln had been the preceding year in the expedition into France with Edmund earl of Lancaster, then gene- ral, and went now in the other expedition into Britanny under the said earl of Lancaster ^ ; with twenty-six bannerets, seven hundred esquires, &c. : where the said earl of Lancaster dying about Whit- suntide, the earl of Lincoln was made general of the English, and his son-in-law Thomas succeeded to the earldom of Lancaster \ The said earl presented to the churches of Swaneton and Kirkeby in the archdeaconry of Lincoln ''. Within this year was a trial for the right of patronage of the church of* Hameldon in con). Buck, between Edmund earl of Corn- *Rectores eccl'iaede Hameldon com. Buck. Guivoneni Fayrfax ad eccl. de Hameldon, Nicholaus Bateman clericus pres. per 7- Jun. 1432. qui jus habet presentandi vir- » Ex Chartular. de Borstall. MS. f. vi. y Collectanea W. Wyrley, MS. Wood, F. 16. f. 9. b. z Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 104. b. » Hen. Khyghton, p. 2508. b R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. f. 151. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, Sec. 463 wall and * Margaret his wife on the one part, and Gilbert de Clare earl of Glocester on the other : the title was adjudged to tlie earl of Cornwall in right of his wife; whereupon his clerk was now instituted tiite cujusdam feofamenti in manerio dc Ha- meldon una cum advocat. cjusdcm. Reg. W. Gray, ep'i Line. Mag'r Ricardus Tone decretorum doctor pres. per Guidonem Fayrfax ad eccl. dc Flameldon per resign. Nicli'i Batenian. 12. Jun. 1131. ib. Tiio. Biadesmyth presbyter pres. per Gui- donem Fayrfax armig. ad eccl. de Hamylden |)cr resign, mag'ri Ric'i Tone deer, doctoris. 1:.'. Mail M3-). ib. * Margaret relict of Edmund E. of Corn- wall died at licr manor of Kirkton com. Line, and left executors of her goods John de Capella (soon after rector of Amersden) and Peter de Bresse, and executor of her will M. Rich, de Clare, who were cited to give an account of their trust by the prior of Burccster, and the official of the arch- deacon of Oxford, who were delegated com- missioners for that ])ur|)ose by John ]i]). of Lincoln ; to whom the rural dean of Kirkton made this ri])ini:i executo- rum testamenti domine Margarete de Clare eomitisse Corniibie in bonis que in diocesi Lincohi. habuit dum vivehat et cetera faci- enda que in luic parte requiruntur agenda commis'sarii specialiter depulati discrete viro vieario de Kyrketon salutem in auc- tore sidutis. Auctoritate qua fungimur in hac parte cujus copiam vobis transmittimus presentibus unnexam vobis Jirmiter injun- gendo mandamus quatenus dom. Johannem de Capella et inag. Pelrum de Brixia exe- cufores dicte domine Murtsaretc in testa- mento ejusdem )ioniiuatos et mag. Ricardum de Clare executurem testamenti ejusdem auc- toritate ordinaria deputatum in manerio quod dicta defnncta habuit apud Kijrketon sub di- strietu vesiro ubi administrasse dicuntur ac etiam in ecetesia (jnxdem piqdice et solemp- niter citetur quod eompnreant coram nobis in ecclesia S. Mielutelis ad portam borealcm Oxon. sccundo die juridico post festum S. ^^arie Magdidene proxime futurum testa- mentum dicte dej'unctc et inventariuni bo- )}(iniiii (imiiiiiin tine ipsa in diocesi Lincoln. Itdhnit dum vivebat el omnia munimenta ad- nnni.strationem eorundem occasionc bonorum hnju.s contingencia exhibituri creditonhus ac legatarii.i ac ceterix quilnijicunq; quibus occa- sione testamenti sen txinornm hujus in dioc. Lincoln . J'nerint obnorii in Jinma juri.t re- sptmsuri el cimqMlumJinalem de admini-tfra- eione sua in bonis supradiclis per eosdeni le- gitime facta reddiluri, ulleriusqne faeturi et recepturi in Itac parte cum continuaciime ct 464 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. in the said church ^ The king presented to a third portion of the church of Wodesdon, by right of custody of the land and heir of Sir Hugh de Courtney, knight ''. jyrorogacione dierum ct locorum quod justkia suadebit in ecclesia et de Kyrketon supradicta el omnibus ecclesiis vestri decanatus quibus videbitur vobis expedire tribus diebu,s domi- nicis seu festivis proximis jmst reccpcionem presendum intra missarum solempnia publice et solempniter denuncietis seu deimnciari et publice proclamari facialis quod si quis sit qui a dictis executoribus petere seu exigere voluerit quicquam dictis die et loco compa- real suas peticiones et quodlibet inteiesse pro- positurus ct proutjus exigit prolaturi et pro- secuturi ulteriusque facturi et recepturi in hac parte quod hujus negocii qualitas poposcerint et natura et qidd in premissis fecerilis nos die et loco siipradictis distincte et aperte ceriijicetis per literas vestras patentes hamm seriem continentes. Dat. apud Burcestre v. nonas Julii. an. Dom. mcccxv". Quod qid- dem mandatum vestnnn in omnibus reverenter et obedienter sum exeaitus. In cujus rei tes- timonium sigillum decanatus de Kyrketon presentihus est appensum. Dat. apud Kyrke- ton VII. kal. Julii. anno supradicto. MS. Bib. Bod. Digby. 154. Adquietancia super Compotum. Universis sancte matris ecclesie Jiliis pateat per presentes quod cum dominus Johannes de Capella et magister Petru^ de Brixia exeai- tores testamenti domine Margarete de Clare comitisse Cornubie quibus administracio bo- norum dicte defuncte in forma juris utia cum adjutorio magistri R. de Clare fuerat con- cessa, ac magister R. de Clare dicti testa- menti ut premittitur coadjutor ad reddendum ratiocinium administracionis sue de bonis que dicta defuncta in diov. Lincoln, liabuit dum vivebat ad diem Jovis proximum post festum B. Marie Magdalene, an. Dom. mcccxV. in ecclesia S. Michaelis ad jwrtam borcalem Oxon, coram nobis priore Burcestre et d'ni archidiaconi Oxon. officialem d'm Johannis Dei gracia Lincoln, e'pi in hac parte commissariis specialiter deputatis fuis- sent evocati predictus Johannes personaliter et prefati magistri Petrus et Ricardus per magistrum Elyam de S. Alhano procuratorem eorundem Uteratorie constitutum eisdem die et loco juxta citacionem per nos primitus sibi factum coram nobis comparentes et testa- mentum dicte dej'uncte inventariiim omnium bonorum ejusdem que in dioc. Line, habuit dum vivebat quod ad septingenta iriginta tres libras, novem solidos, obolum et quadrantem se extendebat, et omnia munimenta admini- stracionem eorundem in bonis siipradictis con- tingencia plenarie exhibentes factis primitus juxta juris exigenciam proclamacionibus et denuniiacionibus creditoribus Icgatariis ac omnibus aliis quorum interesse poterat quovis modo quod dictis die et loco coram nobis comparerent suas petitiones et quodlibet in- teresse contra executores ac coadjutorem prenotatos proposituri et prout jus exegit probaturi et prosecuturi, ulteriusque facturi et recepturi in hac parte quod esset justum nul- lisque omnino comparentibus licet legitime preconizatis et in forma juris expeciatU ce- terisque juris solempniis omnibus et singidis que in hac parte requiruntttr rite et legitime = R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. f. 162. << Ibid. AMBROSDEN, RURCESTER, &c. 465 An, Mccxcvr. 24, 25. Edward I. In this year Henry Lacy carl of Lincoln, on the feast of St. Am- brose, by Hcence from the king, had the abbot and convent of Stan- lawe translated to Whalley, and placed in the monastery which he there built for them ' : at which time the said earl was forty-seven years of age. July the twenty-first, Sibilia daughter of Walter, son of the pro- vost or steward of Pyrie, granted and quit claimed for ever to John, son of John Fitz-Nigel the bastard of Borstall, and his heirs or as- signs, all her right and title in all the lands, meadows, and tene- ments which Eustace her brother lately held in fee and by hereditary right in the village and fields of Arncote within the parish of Am- brosden, in consideration of twenty shillings in silver paid in hand to the said Sibiliu. Sciant prcesentcs ct futuri quod ego Sibilia Jilia fFalteri Jilii prce- positi de Pyria conccssi ct otnmno (juicte clainain pro vie et hcercdibus meis vel assignutis in pcrpetuum Julianni jilio Johannis Jilii Nigclli le bastard dc Borstall ct hcercdibus suis vel assignatis totum Jus et cla- observatig conifiotiim sue administracionii in ipsos ab adniiimtracione l^c. auctoritate no- forma juris reddidvrunl Jinalem, ct quia nos bis in liac parte commissa absolvimus per de- commissnrii supmdicti per fideiem calada- cretum, eosque tenore pregencium absolutos (ionem ct eTquisit(tm iudagarionem peiisalix esse totaliter ct quietos protunicuwms per pre- hinc iiide pensandis ct allocatis aHocandis in- setites, potestate exemtoribus et coadjutnri venimus cxecutores et coadjutorem predictos predictis allocacioncm xx. lib. iii. sol. ob. q. turn in expenxi-s funcrii circa dictum dcfunc- supradictmn de bonis in alia diocesi exixten- tam Ifc. l^-c. in dicta dioc. contiuirentibus om- tihus ad dictain defunctam pertinentibiig pe- iiia bona dicte defuncte ipie in diitu dioc. ha- tciidi et recipiendi per nos couc^sa ac etiam buit dum vivebat quorum sumnia sujierius reservata. In quorum omnium tcstinwnium plcnius apparel ct ultra cu viginii lihras, nos prior Burccstre sigilJum nostrum quo uti- III. solid, ob. q. Jideliter expendidisse ac in mur et nos domini archidiaconi Oxon. offi- eisdem bonix per omnia legitime adminis- cialis sigilluni officii nostri presentibiut appo- Ira-ssc, fidelitiilem uc diligenciam eontndem snimiis. Dnt. die. et loco et an. D. supra- in hae parte (puim plurimum commendantes diclis. M.S. Bib. Hod. Digby. 15 >. <= Chron. abbatifP. de Stanlawc, R. Dods. MS. vol. 59. f. IM. VOL. I. 3 O 466 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. mium quod habit i vel aliquo modo habere pot iti in omnibus terris pratis et tenement is quce vel quas Eustachi us f rater mens quondam tenuit in feodo et hcercditarie in villa et campis de Arnicote. Ita vero quod ego dicta SibiUa ncc hceredcs mei nee niei assignati nee aliquis pro me vel per me aliquodjus vel claniium in prcedictis terris pratis et tenementis de ccetero exigerc potuerimus vel vendicare. Pro hac auteni conces- sione et inea perpetua quieta clamatione dcdit viihi dictus Joluumes vi- ginfi solidos argenti prce manibus integrum summam. Et ut hccc mea concessio et mea perpetua quieta clamatio rata et inconcussa permaneat in perpetuum hanc pr Mem. in Scac. temp. Ed. I. MSS. ^ Ex Chartul. de Borstall. f. 5. 3 O 2 468 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. cum idem abbas Ychelum de Kereivent rectorem ecclesie dc Bucking- hull ad solutionem cjusdcm subsidii ecclesiam suam confingentis faci- endum sepias inonuissct et per cohercionem ecclesiasticam authontati dioecesani conipulisset eandem ecclesiam interdicto tandem supponendo pro eo quod hue usque inde satisfacere non curavit : idem Ychelus ip- sum abbatem ea de causa jam in curia Christianitatis coram officiario dioecesani prcedicti trahit in placitum ipsiim multipUciter ibidem in- quietando in nostri contemptuni manifestum et solutionis dicti subsidii retardationeni necnon predicti abbatis damnum non modicum que sus- tinere nolumus nee impuniter transire. Tibi precipimus quod ipsum Ychelum attach, ita quod corpus ejus habeas coram baron, in crasti- no, SfC. ad satisfaciendum nobis de dicfo subsidio ecclesiam suam con- tingente de quo nondum safisfecit : et ad respOndend. ?iobis et predicto abhati de contemptu et damno predicto. Teste J. de Coheliam \ By an inquisition taken this year in the county of Bucks, the ju- rors found that William de Mortimer held the third part of the ma- nor of Crendon, excepting the third part of the advovvson of the ab- bey of Nottley, by the gift of Maud de Mortimer, niiich she made to the said William and his heirs "". Sir William Mortimer, a knight and sto\it soldier, was enfeoffed by Ma\id his mother, (daughter and coheir of William de Braose of Brecknock, and widow of Roger lord Mortimer of Wigmore,) of the third part of the manor of Crendon in com. Buck, and dying without issue in 24. Ed. I. left Edmund lord Mortimer of Wigmore his brother and heir ". An. Mccxcvii. 25, 26. Ediuard I. The prior of Burcester had again a special writ of protection, of which several were likewise granted to religious houses, and to many parochial incumbents, among which were Thomas de Capella persona ecclesiarum de Blcchesdon et Sevenak, JVillielmus vicarius ecclesice de Witteneya, maglster Simon persona ecclesice de Heyford-IFaryn^. ' Mem. in Scacc. edit. Serjeant Maynard, Lond. 1678. p. 38. >" R. Dods. MS. vol. 44. p. 222. » Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 143. a. " W. Prynne, Histor. Collect, torn. 3. p. 70S. AMBIIOSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 469 The said Tlioums do ('aj)ell;i was cli-rk-Hii C lianccry, and had a let- ter from the kins; to exeuse liis atteiulaiice at Nissitatiou in the 26. ol Ed\v. I. •' But he seems now to have resigned his church of Bleches- don ; for before the end of this eighteenth of Oliver Sutton, the said church of Blechesdon was void, when Hugh Musegrave and Maud his wife presented Richard Musegrave clerk ; and Nicholas Trimenel and Mai)il his wife presented another clerk : but on a trial dr Jure patronatiis, the latter withdrew their j)rcscnlation ''. Jn the same year Agatha de Oxon was elected prioress in the nunnery of Ga- ringes, (now Goring,) com. Oxon. licence of choosing being first asked and obtained from Edmund earl of Cornwall, who was patron by no other title but that the said house was situate within his honour of Walin\idit de illo per literas sul) dato Pat. 26". VaUv. I. id. Febr. pont. ejusd. pape tertio. Heg. Ol. 1297. Will, de \\ rotciiaui pres. per reg. Sutton. ad ecel. de Aele cum Breliull per privati- P W. Prynne, Ilistor. Colleet. tom. ,1. p. 7Sfl. 'i R. Dflds. ^^S. vol. 1(»7. p. KM. ' lb. » Regist. dt Egneshain. chart. 127- ' lb. ciiart. l-'S. 470 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. the said village of Goring, and had possessed in the reign of Hen. I, Avhich bccaxise he had for some time unjustly detained, therefore, to make them satisfaction and full restitution, he gave them gravam juxta Eppclhangar et quandam ivsulam proximam ville de Stoc/ies, and the service which Adam de \^^odecot did him, pro dicta grava et insula ". On account of this hide of land and right of common and tithes of them, frequent suits were long depending between the ab- bev of Eijuesham and the nunnerv of Goring. Within this year died Roger de Coventry abbot of Oseney, and Walter de Lutegareshall was made guardian of the said abbey during the time of vacation. Upon the election of a new abbot, there was a remarkable trial, of which the cause and issue is thus recorded. Abbas de Oseneya obiit anno regni regis Edivardi vicesimo quinto et ante restitutionem temporalium dictcs abbatice sticcesson dicti abbatis dictcB domiis electa fact am, pctiit escheator ad opus domini regis citpani et palefridum dicti abbatis defuncti et etiavi lanas bidenfum ejusdevi abbatice de tempore vacationis abbatice prcedictce, per quod ad prose- cutionem dicti electi super prcemissis in concilio regio tcrtio die Julii anno prcedicto apud Westmin. et examinatis causa et pctitione eschae- toris supra cupa et palcfrido et lanis prcedictis mandatum est per pne- dictum consilium prcedicto eschaetori quod a prccfato electa cupam nee palefridum nee etiam lanas prcedictas exigat vel exigi pcrmittat. Unde dictis die et loco mandatum est If altera de Lutegareshall custodi dictce abbatice quod occasiojie dictoinim cupce palefridi et lanarum nichil exi- gat et securitatem prius inde sibi conventam dictis abbati et conventui ejusdem loci faciat lihetafi''. Hugh de Plessets, who held Musewell in the parish of Ambros- den, was now summoned to parliament among the barons of the' realm ^ : and nigh this time granted to the church of St. Mary's in Oseney, free pannage, housbute and heybute in all his woods and " Regist. de Egnesham. chart. 129. * Chartul. de Oseney, f. 1. (nunc dcest.) r Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 7/4. AMBROSDEX, BURCESTER, &c. 471 parks. Hiis test! bus ; Galfrido ylrthor, Rogero de Amory, Fulconc de Oilhj, ITi/gone de Tywc, Roberto Ji/io IVydonis, Philippo de Hump- ton, RaduIphofHo Radiilphi, Rogero Testard, Rogero de Amory '. IcIk'1 (le Kerewcnt, rector of Bucknell, beini; convicted of detain- ing the king's dues, for which he was impleaded in the court of Ex- clie(iuer, the temporals of his living were now seized, and put into the hands of John de Burey, Gilbert de Buckenhull, chaj)lain, John de la March, chaplain, and eight other persons, who received the ])rofits for two years; within which time the said rector made his submission and peace, and was restored to his properties, an. 1298 3. • Juliana daughter of Richard Elys of Borstall, granted to John son of James Biffegod of Borstall one messuage and hidf a carucatc of land by this charter. Scidiit prcesentes et fiituri quod ego Juliana fil'ui Ricardi de Elys de Borstall pro servitio suo et (juadraginta so/idis sterlingorum prat ma- nibus dcdi, Sfc. Johauni jil'io Jacubi B'iff'cgod de Borstall unum nies- suagium et unam dimidium virgatam terrcc, Sfc. quce habui et tenui in fcodo de domino rege in villa de Borstall, Sfc. reddendo et faciendo an- nuatim, ^-c. secundum consuetudinem manerii domini regis de Bre- liull, ^-c. Hiis tesfibus ; Nigello Travers, Johanne le Broun tunc Bul- livo manerii domini regis de Brehull, Johanne Ferebraz, Helia de Bre- hull, Hugonefilio Nigelli, l^-c. Hat. upud Brehull die Jovis proxime antefestum S. Joh. Rapt, anno regni regis Edwardijilii regis Henrici riccsimo quinto ^. An. Mccxcviii. 26, 27- Edward I. By an incpiisilion taken this year in the neighbouring parts of the county of Bucks, the jurors found, that William late bishop of Ely died seized in his demesne as of fee, of the manor of Lotegarshale, (now Ludgarsal,) with all appertenances, one part of which he held of the king /// capite as a member of the king's manor of Brehull, t "W.Wyrley, Collectanea MSS. ut suprii. ^W. Prynnc, Histor. Collect, torn. 3. p. 7;m. I' Ex Chartul. dc Borstall, f. :»1. 472 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. and the other pari of the earl of Gloucester and Joan Uis wife: and that William Touchet and Isabel wife of Roger de Morteyn were next heirs to the said bishop". This William Lonth bishoj) of Ely was consecrated Oct. 1, 1290, and died in the beginning of this year, on the 25th, 2/'th, or 28th of March ''. Edmund earl of Cornwall, in right of his honour of St. Walery, was possessed of some demesne land in Knyttington, in com. Berks, and his steward used to hold a court in that place, and had by cus- tom been entertained at the charge of the prior of St. Frideswyde, to which monastery the said manor was given by Guy de St. Walery : which charge of reception the prior finding to be a burden, and the stewards pleading to be a custom, the said prior made his complaint to the earl, who sent his mandate to Simon de Grenhull steward of St. Walery, that he should make a special incjuisition upon this mat- ter, and return him the full and just account. Edmundus comes Comub. dilecto et jideli auo Simoiii de Grenhull seneschallo honoris S. Walerici salutem. Monsti^avit nobis prior beatce Frideswydoi Oxon. quod cum dominus Johannes de Diggebi/ dudu/n scneschallus nostcr JFalingford et honoris prcedicti ad manerium dicti prioris de Knyttington accessisset ad visum suum ibidem tenend. prout vios singulis annis cxistit, idem Johannes seniel ex gratia et ad roga- tum ipsius prioris ad sumptum etiam ipsius hospitabatur ibidem, quod An. Mccxcviii. 2G, 27. Edw. I. Henr. de Exon. subd. pros, per Edni. Will, de Blakethurn subd. pros, per com. Cornub. ad eccl. de Bekkeie vac. per d'num Laur. de Paveley milit. ad eccl. de mort. mag'ri Phil, de Heddeslore. Inquis. Wenlingbury vac. per mort. Hen.de Pavely, facta per offic. W. archid'i Oxon. admiss. admiss. 18. kal. Dec. pont. 19. G. kal. Feb. pont. 1!). Mag'r Job. le Flemeng cap. pres. per Job. de la Carneyle cl'icus pres. per rectorem et f'res domus de Assenigge ad d'num Job. de Insula milit. ad mcdietat. eccl. de Ambresdon vac. per mort. mag'ri eccl'ic de Heyford ad pont. vac. per mort. Rad'i de Martivallis, admiss. G, id. Dec. Rob. de la Carneyle. 13. kal. Jan. pont. 19. pont. 19. c R. Dods. MS. vol. 44. p. 237. '^ Histor. Elien. apud Wharton Ang. Sacr. p. 638. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 473 quidem Johannes toto tempore siio, et haUivi sui cum ad dictum visum tenendum venissent dictum hospitium usurparint, qiice quidem hujus- viodi USUI patio taliter introducta hucusque continualur in non modi- cum dicti prioris et domus suce gravamen ut dictum est. Et ideo vo- bis mandamus quod inquirentes super hitjus plenius veritatem de eo prout invenitur nos reddatis certiores, ut u/ferius ipsis quod Juris fucrit et rationis fieri Jaciamus. Duf. apud Ashrigge. kal. Maii, an. ?rgni R. Edwurdi xxvi"'.' On receipt of which precept, the steward caused a court for the honour of St. Walery to be held at North-Oseney, and there an in- quisition was made upon the oath of twelve men, who gave their ver- dict, that the said manor of Knyttinton was formerly in the hands of Guy de St. Walery, who gave the said manor in frank almoign to the prior and canons of St. Frideswyde ; and that one Peter de Asherugge, then steward of the honour of St. Walery, did appropriate the said manor to the honour of St. Walery, and held there a yetuly court, levying twelve pence of the said village ; and that the place of keeping the said court was upon an open green, within the said village, over against the house of Hugh de Gardin ; and in rainy wea- ther, by leave of the bailiif of the said prior, the steward hekl his court in the manor house of the prior, and sometime in the fiouses of the other tenants of the said prior, so as the steward had no right to houseroom or entertainment, or any other claim, but the sum of twelve pence from the said \ illage : and in the time of John de Diggeby, formerly steward of the honour of St. Walery, John de Lukenor, then prior of St. Frideswyds, desired the said .lohn de Dig- geby Ut stay with him on the couit day at his n)anor house, and there entertained him at his own charge ; and for two following years the prior nj;ule the like invitation ; after which the saiil John de Diggeby, for the whole lime of his stewardship, had there his enter- tainment by extortion, not by right. Inquisitio facta Juit in plena curia dc Nortli-Osen. die Martis ' Rcgisf. S. rriilfs. MS. carta AOQ. qu. VOL. I. 3 i' 474 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. proximc post fc stum S. Botulpin mi. regui regis Eilirardi xx\ i'". co- ram scneschnllo S. iralcrici per sacramcutum Galfridi dc Eljiiiton, fialtcri de Uayscl de C/icrewc//, Johannis le Cumber do Pusi/e, Ri- curdi de Houghton de Kui/ttinton, IVilliehiii le Cumber de Pusye, U'al' teri Aleijn de Harewell, Willielmi de Aula de eadem, Henrici IFilard de eadem, Hugonis Hucthi/d de eadem, Johannis de la Grave de Hen- ton, JVillielmi Payn de Knyttinton, IFaltcri Morin de Hen ton, qui dicunt super sacramcntum suum quod 7nane?~ium de Knyttinton ali- quandofuit in manibus Guidonis de S. JFalerico et tunc temporis fuit illud manerium spectans ad hundredum de Shryningham et idem Guido dedit prcedictum manerium in puram et perpetuam eleemosinam priori Sanctce Frideswydce et ejusdem loci conventui. Et prceterea venit quidam Petrus de Asherugg tunc seneschal, honoris S. Walerici, et appropriavit dictum manerium ad honorem S. Jfalerici et ibidem te- nuit unum visum per annum levando de eadem villat xii. denarios dc recto visa pro omnibus. Et fuit locus tenendi visum ibidem in qua- dam viridi placea in villa de Knyttinton contra donium quandam Hu- gonis de Gardino et in tempore pluvioso per licentiam ballivi prioris aliquando seneschallus tenuit visum ibidem in curia prioris et ali- quando in domibus aliorum tenentiuin in villa prcedicta : ita quod se- neschallus non liabuit ibidem aliquod hospitium nee aliquod tectum nee nisi tantum modo prcedictos xii. denarios pro recto visu, et dicunt pro tempore Johannis de Diggeby quondam seneschalli honoris S. Jf'a/erici dominus S. Johannes de Leukenor tunc prior S. FridesividcE supplica- vit dictum Johannem de Diggeby moratidum secum die visus ad mane- rium suum de Knyttinton sumptibus ejusdem prioris impensis eidem Johanni de Diggeby, et idem Johannes seneschallus venit ad fnanerium prcedictum et ad rogatum dicti prioris per duos annos et per dictos duos nnnos toto tempore suo habuit hospitia sua ibideni per extortioneni et non dejure. hi ciijiis rci testimonium prafati juratores hnic inquisi- tioni sigilla sua apposuerunt '. Upon which return of the jury, Edmund earl of Cornwall directed f Regist. S. Frides, MS. carta 406. qu. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 475 another prcccjit to Simon de GrcnluiU, steward of his honour of Wa- lingford, to refrain from such oppression of the said prior, &c. dated July the fourth, 26. Edw. I. - AVithin this nineteenth year of OHver Sutton bishop of Lincohi, Laurence de Pavcly, knight, presented to the cliurch of Wendle- bnry. John son of Guido, knight, presented to the chinch of Weston, and tlie king to the cliurch of Oakley, with the cha[)els of Borstall and Brill ''. By an infpiisition taken this year in the county of Berks, it ap- pears that Alan Phigenet, on the day whereon he died, held the ma- nor of Pidington within the parish of Ambrosden, of the king, for one knight's fee, and that Alan Plugenet was his son and heir'. This Alan was descended from Hugh de Plugenet, who in the 2. Hen. H. had lands given him in Hedingdon, com. Oxon. who, being a person highly esteemed for wisdom and military knowledge, had been sum- moned to parliament among the barons of this realm, from the 23d to the 25th Edw. I. He left Joan his wife surviving''. His ancestor Hugh de Plugenet, with consent of Josceus his son, had granted to the church of St. Frideswides common pasture in his manor of He- dingdon, and a ground in the said j)arish called Godenthecroft, and thirty acres of arable land, and all tithe of his own demesnes and of his tenants in Hedingdon and Merston, and the rent of Hakeling- croft, to find one hunj) in the church of Hedingdon '. When Hugh de Plessets in the ninth of Edw. I. surrendered to the king this manor of Hedingdon, a reserve was expressly made of an annual j)ension, 12'. per an. to the abbey of Oseney from the said manor, which had been given for a prebend to the said conventual church, which having been for some years detained by the said Hugh de Plessets, he was sued for the arrears, and compelled to pay them "'. s Rcgist. S. Frides. MS. ciirtu 110. qu. h [i. pods. MS. vol. 107. f. 170. ' \V. Dugd. MS. vol. .'\. I. p. 177. •< Dugd. IJar. toni. 2. j). :i. ' W . Wyrlcy, Collcttimca MSS. in Mus. Asiunol. ut supra. '" C'liartular. dt- Osi'iu-y, t". xliv. 3 P 2 476 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Ralph de Martival, rector of the church of * Amhrosdcn, died this year. The jjatronage being lately reposed in the hands of the rector and brethren of Asheriigge, they presented a chaplain of their col- lege, John le Fleming, who was admitted Novemb. 26. at Emping- ham, com. Rut. was instituted by proxy of John de Scalleby, priest, swore canonical obedience, and had a writ to the archdeacon of Ox- ford for induction. Tempore domlm Oliveri Sutton episcopi Lhicolii. qiu cwpit prte- esse in ecclesia cathoUca ibidem in anno Dom. m"'".cc°'".lxxx'"°. Ambrosden. Magister Johannes le Fleming capellanus prcesentatus per rectorem etfratres domus de Asherugge ad ecclesiani de Ambrcsdon vacantem per mortem magistri Radulphi de Martuallis ultimi rectoris ejusdem, facta prius inquisitione per officialem archidiaconi Oxon. per quam, Sfc. ad dictam ecclesiam, et admissus vi. id. Decembris anno xix. apud Empinghatn et rector in persona Johan?iis de Scalleby preshyteri pro- curatoris sui canonice institut. in eadem, juravitque episcopo canoni- cam obedientiam in forma consueta. Script um est dicto archidiacono vet ejus officiali quod, Sfc. et habcat liter am de institutionc paten - tem ". Ichel de Kerewent, rector of Bucknell, toward the end of this year had made satisfaction for the king's tax, and reparation of damage to the abbot of Oseney, upon w hich the interdict on his church was taken off, and he was restored to the full enjoyment of his tempo- rals; but those persons to whom the sequestration was committed * Venit apud Nettleham, 9. kal. Nov. Oxon. per cjueni, &c. ep'us certa conside- pont. 19. Mag'r Rogerus de Martivall ar- ratione coramisit dicto magistro Rogero chid'us Leycestr. presentatus per rectorem custodiam sequcstri ipsius cp'i in dicta ec- et fratres domus de Asserugge ad eccl'iam cl'ia de Ambresdon quousque earn duxerit de Ambrcsdon vacantem per mortem mag'ri rcvocandam. Rot. Oliv. de Sutton cp'i Rad'i de Martivall ultimi rectoris ejusd. et Line. MS. facta inquisitione per offic. W. archid. " Ex Regist. Line, transcript, per N. Thorold. Notar. Pub. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. Afl were unwilling to part with their stewardship : wherefore, to gain a repossession, the rector procured from the king a prece[)t directed to the sheriff, being one of those writs which the lawyers have entitled, de vi laica amovenda. Edvardus Dei gratia rex Anglicc, §-c. vie. Oxon. salutem. Preeei- pittnts tibi sicut alias tibi prcecepimus quod ponas per vadium et salvos plegios Johaunem de Bureij, Gilbertum de Bukenhal eapellanum, Jo- hannem de la March eapellanum, &fe. quod sint coram justiciariis nostris apud Ebor. in Ocfab. S. Trinitatis ad respondcnd. Uim no- bis quam Itliael Skenrent personce ecclesice de Bukenhull de placito quare cum ad requisitiotieni venerabilis patris O. Lincoln, episcopi plu- ries prcecepimus quod on/nem vim laicam qucB se tenet in ecclesia de Bukenhull quo minus idem episcopus ojfficiuni suum spirituale ibidem exercere possif, sine dilatione amovercs ab eadem : et tu virtute illorum hrevium nostrorum ad eandem ecclesiam pro vi prcedicta amovenda plu- ries accesseris, prcedicti Johannes, Gilbertus, Johannes, JValterus, §-c. qui se vi laica in eadem ecclesia tenuerunt in adventu tuo ibidem se alibi transtulerunt, et confestim post discessum tuum ab ea, aggregatis sibi aliis malefactoribus se in cam vi armata iterato intruserunt, et bona et cat alia prcedicti It had ad prcedict. ecclesiam spectantia dis- traxerunt et consumpserunt et alia enormia intulerunt et in eadem ecclesia adhuc se tenent pristinam malitiam suam continuantes et ip- sum Ithaelem indcbite fatigantes in nostri contemptnm manifestum et mandatoruni nostrorum illusionem et ipsius Ithaelis dampnum grava- men et jacturam et contra pacem nostram. Et insuper prcedict. epi- scopum officium suum spirituale ibidem exercere non permittunt. Nos iiiitnr liber tat em ecclesiasticam illa-sam conservare et malitice prccdic- torum nialefactorum in hac parte celeri juris remedio obviare : tibi prcecipimus quod in propria persona tua accedas ad ecclesiam prcedic- tam et omnem rim laicam quam ibidem inveneris absque mora amoveas ub eadem juxta tenorem mandati nostri prius inde direct i et habeas ibi nomina plegiorum et hoc breve. Teste J. de Metingham apud Ebor. .3 die Februarii anno rcgni nostri vicesimo septinio. In obedience to this precept, the sheriff in his own person went 47S PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. several times to the church of Biicknell ; but those persons, as they had done before, still absented themselves, and, I suppose for fear of a worse issue, left (juiet possession to the said rector. This return of the sheriff is endorsed on the said writ. Accessi in propria persona mea ad ecclesiam de Bukenhnll qiiam- plaries, et niillam Laicam vim in eadeni inveni iiUo tempore quo ibidem fiii cum toto viceneio illo ad vim Laicam ah cadem renovandam°. An. Mccxcix. 27, 28. Edward I. John Giffard baron of Brimsfield died 5. cal. June, when the estate which he possessed in right of Maud de Longspe, sonietin)e his wife, was divided between Margaret countess of Lincoln, daughter of the said Maud, by William de Longspe her former husband, now thirty years of age; and Catharine Alianore and Maud her daughters, by the said John Giffard p. Walter de Ailesbury, a tenant of Edmund earl of Cornwall, was by the said earl constituted governor of the castle and honour of Wa- lingford, and of the barony of St. Walery, by virtue of which his ju- risdiction obtained in Burcester, Ambrosden, &c. '^ There had been of late a controversy between the priory of Bur- cester and the convent of Asherugge, about a certain place or parcel of land in the common pasture near to Wrechwike, which difference was now composed between William de Thornberge prior of Bur- cester and his convent on the one part, and Ralj)h de Astone rector of Asherugge and his convent on the other; whereby it was agreed that the prior and his convent might appropriate and inclose three acres of common pasture in Blakethorn, (excejiting meadow to be mowed,) in any such place as where the tenants of the priory and convent used to common. Cum mota esset controversia inter fratrem WiUielmum de Thorn- berge priorem de Burncester et ejusdem loci conventum ex parte una^ » W. Pryiine, Hist. Collect, torn. 3. p. 7»t. P Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 501. 1 W. Dugd. Antiq. Warwic. p. 610. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 479 ctfratrem Radulfum de Astonc rectorem de Ashcrugge et ejiisdcm loci couventum ex parte altera, super quadam plac'ia in comviuni past lira juxta Wrechwike in comitatu Oxon. Tandem pro bono pacis habendo convenit inter eos in hac forma, videlicet quod pi (edict us rector et ejus conveiitus concesserunt pro se et successoribus suis quantum in ipsis est prcedicto priori et eidem conventui quod possint sibi appropriare et in- cludere pro voluntate sua tres acras prtedictce plucice super qua lis erat mota inter eos qiice jacet juxta separiam prcedictorum prions et conventus de Burncester Itabend. et tenend. prwdictis priori et conven- tui et eorum successoribus imperpetuum sine contradictione sen impedi- mento ipsorum rectoris et conventus seu successorum suorum quorum- cunque. Pro hac autem concessione et prcesenti compositione habenda concesserunt prior et conventus de Burncester pro se et successoribus suis quantum in ipsis est dicto rectori de Asherugge et ejusdem loci conventui quod sibi possint appropriare et includere pro voluntate sua tres acras de communi pastura in Blakethorn in eodem cofn. ubicunque et qunmodocunijue sibi placuerit absque impedimento seu contradictione pjrcedictorum prioris et conventus seu successorum suorum, dummodo talis appropriatio et inclusio nonjiat in prato falcabili sed in tali loco ubi tenentes prcedicti prioris et tenentes prccdicti rectoris de Blake- thorn omni tempore anni consueverunt conimunare seu communam cla- mare. Nee licebit de ecetero prajatis priori et conventui de Burn- cester vel successoribus suis aliquo modo de prcedicta communi pastura juxta ll'rechvike plus includere vel sibi appropriare quam tres acras pnenominatus sine voluntate et assensu proidictorum rectoris et con- ventus de Ashcrugge et eorum successorum, nee prcefati rector et con- ventus de Ashcrugge nee coram succcs.sores amplius quant tres acras iucludent vel sibi appropriabiint de comniuui pastura in Blakethorn ut predict urn est sine expressa voluntate prtedicforum prioris et conventus de Burncester vel successorum eorundeni. Et ad hujus concessionis perpetucun menioriam partes prtenomiuafa' hiiic scripto iudentafo si- gilla capitulorum suorum hinc inde apposuerunf. Uiis testibus ; do- niiuis llicardo de Aunuui, Johanne filio Xigelli milite, inagistro Hi- 480 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. cardo dc Wcndkhiiry, Ricardo de Caunne, Rogero de Drayton, tVil- lielmo Maunde, Johaniic atte Chai/ibrc, ct aliis. Dat. apud Asheruggc die Lunee proxime post f est am dccoUat'wnis Johminis Baptistcp. Anno regni regis Edwardi fi/io regis Henrici vicesimo sept i mo'. Roger Pcjoun of Borstall granted to Isabel daughter of Thomas Brown of Borstall, for due service and forty shillings in hand, one messuage and half a virgate of land, held in fee from the king in the village of Borstall. Dat. apud Borstall die Mercurii proxime post festum S. Petri qui dicitur ad vinculo, anno regni 7-egis Edivardi Jilii regis Henrici vicesimo septimo. Hiis testibus ; Nigello Travcrs, Jo- hanna Ferebraz, Reginaldo jilio Nigelli de Bosco, Hugone jilio Ni- gel/i, Ricardo Pymme, Johanne Broun, Ricardo Holay, ^r. ' Edmunil earl of Cornwall gave to the nunnery of Stodley, where- of he was patron, one acre and a half of his waste in Horton, to enlarge an enclosure of the said nuns. Dat. 1. Octob. an. R. E. XXVII '. The arms of Edmund earl of Cornwall were field argent three lions gules coronated in a black border charged with bezantines : why he bore these arms different from the royal family, being the grand- son of king John, see in Cambden ". Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln had a precept directed to him, re- quiring his attendance at York upon the feast day of St. Peter ad vhicula, to consult with the archbishop there, and divers other no- bles, for manning of the king's castles in Scotland, and guarding of the marches \ Sir John Fitz-Nigel of Borstall married Joan his only daughter by Isabel his wife, to John son of Richard de Handlo of Borstall ; An. Mcc;ccix. 27, 28. Edw. I. de Fynemere vac. per mort. mag'ri Rad'i de Joh. de Laiigeton cl'Icus pre>. per abb. Oxori. 6. non. Octob. pont. 20. et conv. s'cti Augustini de Bristol ad eccl. ' Ex Orig. MS. penes D. Gull. Glynnc, Bar. « Ex Chartular. de Borstall. MS. f. 91. tMon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 487. "Cambden. Brit, in Diinmon. ='Dugd. Bar. torn. l.p. 105. a. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 481 upon which match these following fines and infeoffments were made, to convey the estate of the said Sir John Fitz-Nigel to the said John de Haudlo. Edwardus Dei gratia, Sfc. Sciatis quod per jinem quern Johannes films Nigelli fecit 7iobiscum, Sfc. liccntiam dedimus eidem Johanni quod de duahus bovatis terrce cum pertinentiis in Borsta/l et de balliva fo- restarii fo7X'sta; de Bernwode quce de 7iobis tenentur in capite per ser- jantiam custodiendi forestani nostram prcedictam, feoff arc possit Ro- bertum de Harwedon et liccntiam dcdinms eidem Roberto quod ipse habit a inde plena seisina prcedictam terram et baUivam cum pertinen- tiis prafato Johanni dare possit et concedere tenendum ad terminum vitcB ipsius Johannis, ita quod post decessum ipsius Johannis terra ilia et balliva cum pertinentiis remaneant Johanni f Ho Ricardi de Hantlou ct Johannce flice Johannis f Hi Nigelli uxori ejus, ^c. Et si contingat ipsos Johannem Hantlou et Johannam ohire sine hceredibus, §-c. tunc prcedicta tenementa, S)-c. ad rectos hceredes ipsius Johannis f Hi Nigelli integre revertant, %-c. Teste tneipso apud fFestm. tertio die Augusti anno regni vicesimo septimo >'. Sciant prcesentes ctfuturi quod ego Johannes filius Nigelli dedi, ^-c. Roberto de Harwedon rectori ecclesice de Thingdone maneria niea de Borstall, Musewell, Adingrave, Acley, et Thomele, et totam ballivam mcam forestarice de Bernwode, ^t. reddendo niihi dicto Johanni et assignatis meis ad totam vitam meam trescentas libras argenti per an- num ad tres terminos subscriptos, scilicet adfestum S. Michaelis cen- turn libras, et ad natale Domini centum libras, et adfestum S. Johan- nis Baptistce centum libras, Sfc. this testibus ; domino Hugone le Dispenser justitiario forestce citra Trent am, domino Johanne de Has- tang, domino I Ic/irico flio Nigelli, Johanne de Greynvill, Ifaltcro de S. Andrea, Ada flio Petri, Nicholuo de Esses, et aliis. Dat. apud Borstall xii. die Augusti anno regni regis Edwardi vicesimo septimo'. Johannes le Fitz-Nigel miles omnibus tejientibus suis de Adingrave, Acley et Thomele salutem. Quiajenffavimusdom. Robert um Harwc- y Ex Chartul. dc Borstall, MS. I". ;>3. » lb. f. M. VOL. I. 3 Q 482 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. don clerJcum de omiubus icrris ct tcnevientls qitce hahiii in Borstalt., Museu'cll, Jdiiigrave, Aclcy, ct Thomcle, una cum halliva mea fores- tarice de Bernwode, Sfc. mando quod eidem Roberto de servitiis ves- fris, SfC. de ccetero sifis inteudentcs et rcspondentes. hi cujus re'i tes- timonium prccscntcs litems sigillo meo signatas cidem feci patentes. Dat. apud Borstall, S,-c.^ Sciant prccsentes etfufuri quod ego Kobcrtus de Harwcdon clericus concessi, St'C. Johanni de llandlo et Johaunce uxori ejus maneria mea de Borstall, Musetvell, Adingrave, Acleij et TItomcle, et totam ballivam meam forestcB de Bermvode, §-c. et hceredibus de corporibus prtedicto- ru77i Johannis et JohanncE legitime procreatis. Et si contingat quod prcedicta Johanna uxor dicti Johannis sine hceredibus obierit, Sfc. tunc post decessum dicti Johannis de llandlo omnia prcedicta, ^c. ad rectos hceredes Johannis jilii Nigelli plene et integre sine aliqua contradic- tiene revertantur. Hiis testihus ; dominis Hugone le Despensar, Ri- cardo de Aiimari, Joharine Peivre, Laurentio de Bluntcsdon, Egidio de Insula, militibus ; Johanne de Tingewihe, Johanne de la Lude, (Jil- berto de Gay, Adajilio Petri, et aliis. Datum apud Curtelington die Veneris proxime post festum S. Lucice virginis, anno regni regis Ed- zuardi vicesimo octavo "', The said Robert de Harwedon constituted Richard de Harington and Nicholas de Eshes, or either of them, to give possession to the said John de Handlo and Joan his wife, by letters of attorney dated at Curtlington, Decenib. 18. 28. Edw. I. And the said John de Handlo and Joan his wife appointed Richard de Staundon, clerk, their attorney, to take possession of the premises, by their letters pa- tent dated at Curtlington, on the Fiiday after St. Lucy's day, 28. Edw. I. After which Hugo le Despensar, justice of the forests on this side Trent, directed his letters to all the officers of the forest of Pat. 28. Edw. I. terr. et hercd. Warini de Insula defuncti.. Walterus de Bedewind habet lit. de prcs. 15. Jul. Lit. dirig. Line. ep'o. ad eccl. de Heyford Waryn ratioue custod. a Ex Chartul. de Borstall, f. 34 b Ibid. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 483 Bernwode, to receive and acknowledge the said John de Handlo to be keeper of the said forest. Dat apud Mivstre, xiv. die Decemh. anno regni regis Kdivardi vicesimo octavo '. Hugh, son of John Richards of Borstall, in 10. Edw. I. had granted to John de Handlo unuin furendellum prati in Bradmoor. Iliis testi- hus ; Ricardo le Ifarde, Nicholao de Fraxino, Johanne de Adingrave, tVillielino Broun, et Roberto de Byraicestrc. Dat. apud Borstall die Jovis proxime ante festuvi apostulorum Pliilippi et Jacobi, anno regni rests Edwardi dccinio ''. ''O' An. Mccc. 28, 29. Edward I. Edmund earl of Cornwall had a grant from the king for free war- ,ren in his manors of Thonnoyk in Lincolnshire, and Esthall in this county ". He granted to William de Bereford and Margaret his wife a fishery in the Thames from Shillingford bridge * to the stream run- ning from Ycldenebrigg between Bensyndon and Shillingford, which fishery was valued at half a mark yearly. Datum apud Rutherjield deci/fio die Septembris anno regni regis Edicardi JUii regis Henrici vicesimo octavo^ He died at his convent of Asherugge on Saturday morning, Octob. L-; his bowels were immediately there buried ; his lieart and flesh were more solemnly interred January the twclftii, in presence of Eilmund the king's son, Anthony de Beke bishop of Durham, Walter de Langton bishop of Chester, the earl of War- wick, and many others. After which his bones were carried to the abbey of Hales in Glocestershire, of his father's foundation, where a magnificent funeral was solemnized on the Thursday before Palm- Sunday : which the king honoured with his own presence, and sent letters of invitation to the bisho|)s of Hereford, Worcester, and Exon ; to the al)l)ols of Evesham, Teviksbiny, ^Vinchomb, IVrshore, Egneshani, Cirencester, Oseney, Stanly, Bordesley, llewley, Glo- • Vid. Rymor. 11. 865, 879. c Ex Chartiil. dc Borstall, f. 34. ^ Ibid. <^ K. Dods. MS. vol. 67- f- liO. 'Ex Regist. Borstal!. MS. f. 30. 3 Q 2 484 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. cester, Worcester, &c. desiring them to attend at the same place and time to celebrate the said obsequies with greater honour. The form of the letters was this : Rex, Src. Salutcm. Bonce memorice Edmundo quondam comite Cor- niibice consanguineo nostro, s'lciit domino placuit, nnper in patriam qua iter est cunctis mortalilms generatis vocato : nos humationi co/'poris ipsius in monasterio de Hailcs die Jovis proxime ante dominicam in ramis palmarum faciendoi proponimus domino concedente personaliter inferesse, benevolent iani vestram attente rogantes quafenus oh commune humanitatis debitum ac nostri honorificentiam ad humationem p7'eedic~ tarn ejus una nobiscuni cum devotione celebraturi exequias in prcefatis loco et termino concunatis, ut ex hoc divinam misericordiam valcatis. uberius promereri ^. One of his monks made him this epitaph in the poetry of those times. Cornubise comes et dominus mundusque beatus, Dicitur Edmundus de regum germine natus. Virtutis titulum trahit a probitate parentum, Et decus addit ei comitiva modesta clientum. Dapsilis in mensa, frugalia pabula prajstans, Sacratas domini leges in pectore gestans. Protervos domitans ne VVallia prjedominetur, Regis et absentis regnum ratione tuetur. Dulcis in elloquio, Justus, pius atque benignus, Prudens consilio, regni moderamine dignus. Fraxiuei dorsi per eum novus ordo virescit, Summa coelicolae nova messis in aggere crescit. Sumptibus Edmundi comitis locus isdificatur, Regius Oxoniae, quo plebs studiosu moratur^. The sepulture of his heart at Asherugge was with the heart of Thomas de Canlilupe, late bishop of Hereford, a holy confessor ; in veneration of whose merits the said earl had prepared a repository g Guil. Dugd. Analecta, MSS. vol. B. i. p. 130. ^ lb. Collectanea ex diversis MSS. vol. L. f. 17. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 483 made with exquisite art on the north side of the choir of that con- ventual church, where the hishoi)'s heart was some time preserved ; but on this occasion was removed by the pope's authority, and with the earl's heart, the portion of Christ's blood, and other sacred re- lics, was coiiimitted to an apartment finely guilt, by the earl in his lifetime prepared for that use '. He died without legitimate issue ; his honours and lands fell to the king, whom he had before declared his heir : in his treasury were found infinite sums of gold and silver, and great store of jewels''. Here I cannot but take notice of a great error in the register of St. Augustiu's in Bristol, which reports, that Edmund earl of Cornwall left one daughter, Isabella, married to Maurice lord Berkley. This mistake was copied out by one Newlond, an abbot of St. Augustiu's, who, in a fair pedigree of the family of Berkley, with a succession of their abbots intermixed, does so deliver it : as I remember to have seen among the records in Berkley castle, to which I had access by the favour of Mr. Robert Maundy, my kind countryman, an ingeni- ous lover of these studies. This same authority imposed on the la- borious Mr. Dodsworth, who to some of his collections has affixed this note. Isuhcllain lianc fuisse jiliam Edmundi JiHi regis Romano- rum exjide libri vctusti S. Augustlm crcdimus, licet alii efamilia Lu- signiana, et uteritia [Jenrici tertii sorore natam suspicantur. Nepfem vero fuisse Ileurici tertii docet charta in clausis Hen. III. When the truth is, Isabel, the wife of Maurice the third lord Berkley, was the daughter of Gilbert Clare earl of Glocester, and so the niece, not the daughter of Ednuind earl of Cornwall, who married Margaret sister of the said earl of Glocester. She was indeed grandmother to Ed. I. her mother being Joan de Acres the king's daughter. But when An. Mccc. 28, 29. Edu. I. Hetlic vac. per mort. Htn. ile Duntoo. C: Mag'r Rob. dc Pichcford pres. pi-r pri- id. .\|)r. I.UH). Htg. Dalderby. orem et con v. de Kenilworth ;id ectl. de ' Ad calcem lib. MS. de vita trium niagorum in Bib. Bodl. "* Collect, ex vet, MSS. Guil. Dugd. MS. vol. 39. f. 75. 4(i6 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Mr. Dodsworlh represents her lo be niece of Hen. III. he confounds her with Isabel, wife of Maurice the second lord Beikley, who was the daughter of Maurice de Creoun a baron in Line, bv Isabel his wife, daughter of Hush le Brun earl of March, by Isabel widow of king John; so as this elder Isabel, lady Berkley, was indeed on the mother's side niece to king Hen. III. Our said earl left Margaret his widow, to whom at Lincoln, in the year ensuing, the king allowed a dowry of five hundred pounds per an. ' : for the payment of which several lordships were assigned, and among others the manor and town of Henly in this county. The inquisition taken at his death, rehearsing the honours and ma- nors of which he died possessed, is preserved among the collections of Mr. Dodsworth"'. He left one base son, who, from his father's title, was called Richard Cornwall, knight; to whom his father gave the manor of East-Hall in Lye, (now Astol-Lye, within the hundred of Bampton in this county,) to hold to him and his heirs in fee tail. This Ri- chard, by Joan his wife, had issue Sir Brian Cornwall, knight ; which Brian took to wife Elizabeth, daughter to Brian de Brompton, knight, and had issue Edmund, Brian, and Peter : the said Edmund dying without issue, Brian Cornwall, knighl, married Maud tlaughter of the lord Strange, and had issue John Cornwall, knight, Henry, Brian, Thomas, and Isabel. The said John Cornwall, knight, took to wife Elizabeth, daughter to John Wasteney, knight, by whom he had issue Elizabeth, daughter and heir, married to William Lich- field, knight, and had issue Elizabeth and Maud. The said Eliza- beth was wife of Roger Corbet of Moreton, and died without issue. As also the said Maud, wife of John W^ood, died without issue : by which means the said manor of Astol-Lye remained to Henry Corn- wall, knight, who died without issue; then passed to Bryan, after to Thomas, who both died without issue : the said manor descending to Isabel their sister and sole heir, which Isabel married John Blount, 1 Tho. VValsingham, sub an. "' MS. vol. 44. p. 255. AMBROSDEN, BTIRCESTER, &c. 487 knight, and had issue John, who took to wife Alice daughter to Ry- nar de ki Beere, and had issue by her Humphrey Blount, knight ; upon whose death an incpiisition was taken Octob. 31. IJ. Ed. IV. wherein tlie jurors returned upon oath, that the said Sir Humplirey Blount at the day of his death held the manor of Astol-Lye in fee from Edward ])rince of Wales, as j)art of the honour of the castle of Walingford, for his homage and fealty only; that 'J'homas Blount his son and heir was then of the age of twenty-one years ". This manor of Astol-Lye had formerly belonged to the family of de Ivery, fords of Ambrosden, by one of whom the tithes were given to the monks of Ivery in France : the jirofits and burden of the vicar are recounted in a presentation made 11. Hug. Wells, an. 5. Hen. HI". There had been a controversy of rights and jiiofits between the priory of Burcestcr and the abbey of Aulney in Normandy, which was now composed on these terms : the convent of Bnrcester de- mised to the use of the convent of Aulney their prebendary church ofSotton, with the chajjel of Bokingham, and their respective ma- nors, for the term of two years, at the rent of two hundred pounds. Prior et conventiis de Bernccester (limiserunt Uodvaiio Bcke de Flo- rcntia ct Stephaiw geninino sno ccclesiam prebendalem de Sotton cit/u capella de Bo/ii/ig/tum et eanun maneriis an. Dom. millesimo trecente- simo, ill festo S. Hillarii ad termininn duorum aiinorum pro redditu ducciifarii/n librurum sterHngaruiii ^-c. p Within this year seems to have been an election of a new prior of * Burcestcr, coiifirmeil by their patron Henry Lacy, earl of Lincoln ; * Rogcrus de Cottesford elect, prior de turn S. Martini; pout. 1. Reg. Dalderby Burncestr per cessioneni i'r'is WiU'i de ep'i Line. Tliornberg per lieent. H. de Lacy patroni An. mccc. ejusd. adniissus die Martis prox. post fes- Vaeante eeel'ia de Midelin(;ton per mort. n W. Dugd. MS. vol. M). f. 81. -^ R. Dwls. MS. vol. I07. I. II. P Mon. Aug.. toni. .'. p. 1007. et H. Dods. MS. vol. C,6. f. 10!). 488 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. who, in the register of the dioeese ot'Lincohi, in this first year of .Tolui Dalderby, bishop, is thus tuentionecl in the abstracts of Mr. Dods- worth : Domitnis Henricus de Lascy com. Line, patromis ptioratus de Benwcester ''. Tlie said Henry earl of Lincoln was now again in the wars of Scotland ; and within this same year was sent to the pope with Sir Hugh Spenser from the king, to complain of divers injuries received from the Scots. He was now also made lieutenant of Gascoign '. Within this year Ela countess of Warwick died and was buried in the conventual church of Oseney *. Sir John Fitz-Wido, knight, pre- sented to the church of Ardley on the third of the ides of July '. Robert Doily, sen. had given two parts of the tithe of his demesnes in Burcester to the chapel of St. George in his castle of Oxford, and the secular canons which he there settled, which canons were after dissohed, and their endowment converted to the abbey of Oseney, built by Rob. Doily, jun. which abbey retained their right and title to the said tithes till this year; when, to makeup a contro- versy which had been long depending between the said abbey of Oseney and the priory of Burcester concerning the premises, by mutual indentures made on the tenth day of August, it was fully agreed, that the abbot and convent of Oseney should for ever grant the said tithes to the prior and convent of Burcester, and should re- ceive the yearly rent of sixty shillings sterling, to be paid half yearly Petri Durandi in Rom. curia decedentis signavit. Id. Maii 1300. et Ric'us admiss, d'n's papa eand. eccl'iam contulit mag'ro est. 16. kal. Jan. Ric. de Cclleseye juris cononici professori Joh. de Sehulton cl'icus pres. per d'num liabitaque inter ipsum et Will, de Luda in Joh. fil. Guidonis mil. ad eccl. de Ardele eadem ecd'ia ad pres. abb'is et conv. de vac. per hoc quod Rogerus de Sehulton in- Barling institutum per cj)'um Oliverum stitutus fuit in eccl'ia de Croulton. 3. id. tandem idem Will'us dictam eccl'iam re- Jul. 1300. pont. 1. Joh. Dalderby. H R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. f. 199. ' Ibid. ' Ex Tab. Annal. Oseneien. Coenob. apud Jo. Leland. tom. 2. p. 28fi. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 199- AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 489 by equal portions under the penalty of forty shillings ; and farther to secure the said payment, the prior and convent did tie and oblige all their lands and tenements in Arncote, within the parish of Am- brosden. Hcec est conventio facta inter religiosos viros ahhatem et conventum ecck's'up heatce Marice Oseneij ex parte una et priorem et conventum Burncestrice ex altera, videlicet quod cum dicti religiosi de Oseneye duas partes decimce garbarum provenientium de dominico in Burn- cester quod comes Lincoln, et dictus prior nunc tenent in eadeni legi- time assecuti fuissent ratione ccclesia'. Sancti Georgii in castro Oxon. eisdeni canonicis appropriatce ipsusque decimas a tempore cujus con- trarii memoria non existit pacijice possedissent ac super jure et posscs- sione prcedictarum deciniarum tarn per viain aclionis quam per viam ' reconventionis inter prccdictos ahhatem et conventum ex parte una et priorem et conveiituni ex altera in consisforio Lincoln, aliquandiu li- tigatum fuisset, demum communihus aniicis utriusquc nionasferii inter- venientihus pro utriusquc nionasterii quicte et ad utilitateni dicti ino- nasterii de Burncester notoriam lis conquicvit in hunc modum, videli- cet quod iideni ahbas et conventus Oseneye prcedictas duas partes deci- marum prcedictis priori et convent ui de Burncestria ad per pet nam fir- mam conccsserunt pro sexaginta solidis honoriim et legalium sterlingo- runi ab cisdem priore et conventu Berncestre prcedictis abbati et con- ventui Osenei/e apud Oseneiam, videlicet medietatem in festo Sancti Miehaelis Archangeli et aliam medietatem in fiesta annunciationis heatce Marice virginis absque uUeriori dilatione pro dictis deciniis singulis annis solvend. sub pwna quadraginta solidorum solvendorum abbati et convent ui Oseneye quotiens iidem prior et conventus Burncestre in prce- dictoruni sexaginta solidorum solutione terminis prcedictis cessaverint. Et prtedicti prior et conventus Burncesfrifc omnia oncra ordinaria et extraordinaria ac omnes prestationes rafione dictaruni deciniarum sive authoritate papati ant legatorum sen nuufiorum sedis aposfolicce aut atiorum quorumcunqne ad hoc auctoritatem liabentiuni quocunquc no- mine censeantur imponenda semper sustinebunt. Ita quod solutio prw- dictorum sexaginta solidorum in/eijndi/fr dictis rclii^ioais Oscnei/e vol.. I. 3 u 490 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. semper rcmaneat. Ad hcec autcm omnia et singula Jideliter ohser- vanda prwdicti prior et convent us de Burncestre pro sc et successoribus suis coercioni et discrctioni officiaiiii domini Lincoln, episcopi vel cu- juscunquc altcriiis Judicis (jucm prwdicti abbas et convcntus elegerint se subjecerunt, quod possint cos et eoruni successorcs per omnem censu- ram ecclesiasticam ad omnium et singulorum premissorum observa- tionem absque articuli sen libelli petitione et quocunque strepitu judi- ciali compellere. Insuper nos prior et conventus Burncester volentes Jirmam et plenam securitatem parari dictis re/igiosis Oseneye in hac parte nos et successores nostros et omnia bona nostra et specialiter om- ves terras et tenementa nostra in Erncote eisdem canonicis Oseneye obligamus ad solutionem dictorum sexaginta soUdorum ut prccmittitur in posterum jideliter faciendam. Ita quod si contingat nos in dicta solutione dictis terminis et loco quod absit dejicere, possint nos et s«c- cessores 7iostros et prcedictas omnes terras et tenementa nostra infra et extra ad quorumcunque manus devenerint distringere ad solutionem mcmoratam in forma prcemissa Jideliter faciendam et districtiones re- tinere quousquc eisdem abbati et coiiventui et eoruni successoribus de prcBdicto redditu plenarie fuerit satisfactum una cum dampnis et eX' pensis si qiice vel quas prcedicti religiosi Oseneye sustinuerint occasione prcedicta, renuntiantcs in hoc facto omnibus impellationibus super hoc habitis, appcllationibus, in integrum restitutioni, regicc prohibitioni et omni alii remedio juris canonici et civilis sibi competcntibus et compe^ tituris quae ipsis religiosis de Burncester potcrint prodesse, ac eisdem religiosis Oseney in hoc facto obesse. Inque omnium suprascriptorum memoriam perpetuam et testimonium partes huic scripto indentato aU trinsecus sigilla sua apposuerunt. Dat. apud Oseneiam iii. idus Au- gusti, anno Dom. m". trece7itesimo". To the original indenture is appending the seal of the abbey of Oseney, the virgin Mary sitting with our Saviour in her arms, and underneath the imj)ress of an ox. Their arms being azure two bends or. This year, June the sixteenth, John Puflf, son of Robert Puff' of " Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 491 Burcestcr, granted to John Abbod of the said town one acre of ara- ble land in the north field of Burcester, which he had by the gift of Robert his father, and which lay between the two ways that lead from Burcester toward Bukenhull, between the land of the earl of Lincoln and of Gilbert Attewelle, in consideration of twenty shillings, by the following deed. Sciant prcesentes et futitri quod ego Jo/ninjies Puff fUus Roherti Puff de Biirucestcr dedi concessi et hac prccsenti churta meci coi/Jir- viavi Joluiiiti'i Ahhod jilio Thomce Ahbod de Burncester uiuim acram terra: aruhilis in cainpo boreali de Burucester illam videlicet quaiii lia- bui de dono prccdicti Roherti pat ris mei et jacet inter duas vias quce sc extendunt de Burncester versus Bukenhulle inter terrain doni. com. Line, et terrain Gilberti Atteivellc habend. et tenend. dictam acram terrce prcpdicto Johanni et hcercdibus suis et assignatis de capitalibus doniinis feodi Ubcre quiete bene et in pace et hcereditarie in perpetnum reddendo inde eisdem unum denarium annuatim in festo Sancti Mi- chaelis pro omnibus servitiis forinsecis et intrinsecis curiarum sectis et omnibus scccularibus demandis quce aliquo niodo poterint contingere vel exigi ratione dicti tenementi. Pro hac auteni donatione concessione et prcesentis chartce conjirmatione dedit viihi prcedictus Johannes viginti solidos in gersuma : et ego prcedictus Johannes et hceredes mei et as- signati prcedictam acram terrce prcedicto Johanni et hcercdibus suis et assignatis per prcedictum servitium contra omncs homines et fanninas warantizabiinus acquietidnmus et in perpetuum defendemus. In cujus rei testimonium banc prcesentem chartam meam sigilli mei impressione rohoravi. Hiis testibus ; JFillielmo Maunde, Rogero de Dreijton de Cestreton, Simone Germeyn, Nicholao le Blake de Bigenhulle, Roberto Clerico de Burncester, Johanne a la Forde, Johanne Fabro juniore de eadem, et aliis. Dat et act. apud Burncester sexto drcinio die Junii, anno regni regis Edwardi vicesimo nono'^. m An. Mccci. 29, 30. Edtiard I. This year died John Ic Fleming, rector of the church of Ambros- " Ex Orig. penes Hon. D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. 3 K 2 492 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. den. The rector and convent of Asliruggc, who by the donation of Ednuind earl of Cornwall were nndoubted patrons, presented John de Capella, an acolyte or taper-hearer of their own convent : but the fee of the manor of Anibrosden by the earl's death lapsing to the king, it was pretended the ])alronage of the church was also in the crown. Maurice de Pashelcw, clerk, procured the king's title to the church of Blakcthorn, a hamlet in the parish of Ambrosdcn ; a mis- take that arose from the parsonage house and glebe lying within the said hamlet of Blakcthorn, to which hamlet the parochial church could not be properly ascribetl. Upon this double presentation the bishop ordered the official of the archdeacon of Oxford to require an inquisition upon the right of patronage from each of the presented clerks : the said John de Capella returned his form of incpiisition, by which it appeared that the rector and convent of Asherugge had undoubted right of presentation to the said church ; and the said Maurice de Pashelew desisted from his claim to the king's title. Upon which, notification was given, that if any person could object against the admission of John de Capella, he should appear and give his reasons within a time limited before the bishop. But no one ap- pearing, the said John de Capella was admitted rector of the church of Ambrosden on the fifth of July at Snelleshale, and was there ca- nonically instituted, with a precept to the archdeacon to give him induction. Yet was the bishop and the law so tender of the king's right, that the said new incumbent obliged himself by oath to a vo- An. Mccci. 29,30. Edw. I. guinei nostri ad manus nostras devenit prae- Rex dilecto et fideli suo Waltero de fecerit sicut per literas patentes ipsius cp'i Glouc. escaetori suo citra Trentam. Cum nobis inde directas nobis constat, nos prae- venerabilis pater J. Lincoln, ep'us exami- fectionem acceptantes cepimus fidelitatem nato processu electionis nuper in eccl'ia de ipsius Margerise et temporalia doinus prae- Garinge de duabus monialibus ejusdein do- dictse prout moris est restituimus eideni ; et mus ih discordia factae alteram earundem ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Marge- videl. Margeriam Neela quae nobis extitit riae temporalia domus prifidictfe liberatis in presentata in priorissam domus illius cujus forma praedicta. Teste rege apud Nettle- advocatio per mortem bonje memoriiE Ed- ham ; 9. die Feb. Pat. 29. Edw. 1. m. 29. mundi quondam com. Cornubiae consan- AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 493 luntary resignation, if it could be proved, that the king had right of patronage to the said church of Ambrosden. Tempore Johannis Daldei'by olim cpiscopi Lincoln, qui coepit prce- esse in ecclesia catholica ibidem in anno Dam. millesimo trecen- tesimo. Vacante ecclesia de Amhrcsdon per morte?n magisfri Johannis le Fleming ultinii rectoris ejtisdem. Rector et conventus de Asherugge Johannem de Capella acoli/fiim, et dominus E. Dei gratia rex Anglice Mauritiiim de Pissiaco clericum ad ccclcsiam de Blahetliorn (pice est hamelettum in parochia de Amhresdon episcopo prcesentarunt ; et licet scriptumfuisset offieiali archidi. Oxon. pro inquisitione ad prccscntat- hujusfacienda, solus tamen dictus Johannes suam inquisitionem repor- tavit, et quia per eandem et alias satis constitit dejure prcesentandi ad eandem ecclesiani dictis rectori et conventui competente, dictusque Mauritius prcesentationem de ipso factam minime prosequehatur, licet per tempus non modicum expectatus fuisset , et etiam proclamatum ex- titisset, quod si quis contra dictum Johannem aliquid proponere vellef, quare ad diet am ecclesiam admitti non deberet, certo die sub dilatione tongrua coram episcopo compareret, et proponeret in hac parte quic- quid sihi de jure putaret competere : dictus Johannes ad dictam eccle- siam de Ambresdon est admissus in. wow. Julii anno secundo apud Snelleshale, et rector eanonice institutus in eadem, Juravitque episcopo canonicam obedientiani in forma consueta: script urn est dicto archidia- cono vel ejus offieiali quod §-c. Et est sciendum quod dictus Johannes post institutionem suam prcedictam juravit tactis sacrosanctis erange- liis quod si contingeret dictum I'egcm evincere jus patronatus ecclesice menujrafa', illam sine coactioue aliqua resignaret*-'. Upon inquisition on a writ called ad quod dampuum, in the county of York, the jnrors found it would bo no loss or prejudice to the king, if Alice de Lacy, the wife of Thomas earl of Lancaster, daugh- ter of Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln, and heir to the manors of 13ur- * Admissus :i. iiuii. Jul. l.ioi. y Ex Rcgist. Lincoln, transcrip. it exam, per X. 'Iliorohi. ct J. Walker, notar. pub. 494 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. cester and Midlington, should grant one messuage and four acres of land in Poterinton, to a chaplain that should celebrate divine service in the church of Bcrwyck, for the souls of the said Alice and Adam de Poterinton ^. The king within this year presented to the church of *Beckle, as having the honour of St. Walcry escheated to him. Henry de Lacy earl of Lincoln presented to the church of Northcotes, 6. id. Apr. and to the church of Wadington, 3. non. Maii, and to the church of Wynceby ; all within the archdeaconry of Lincoln \ An. Mcccii. 30, 31. Edward I. In Hilary term the prior of Rufford was impleaded by John bishoji of Lincoln for setting up a market in Hadenham, in com. Bucks, kept on Thursday, to the prejudice of the Tuesday's free market at Tame, com. Oxon. granted to Oliver late bishop of Lincoln; which being found a prejudice, the new market at Hadenham was put down ''. William Bourvvard of Ocley granted to Sir John de Handlo lord of Borstall one cottage, with a curtilage, in the village of Borstall, and all the service of Henry Pipat, John Pipat, Emma Hobby, and John Steel of Arncote, and other servile tenants, in consideration of * 1301. Jacobus de Berkhamsted subd. institutus fuit in vicaria de Burnccstr. 7- pres. ad cccl. de Bekkele vac. per resign, kal. Apr. pont. 3. Hen. de Exon. ad pres. regis. 16. kal. Jun. VValterus de Maydestan persona eccl'ias pont. 2. Job. Dalderby. de Bukenhale qui cum Waltero Coventr. et An. MCCCII. 30, 31. Edw. I. Lichfeld. ep'o profecturus est ad curiam 1302. pont. 3. Job. de Dalderby ep'i Romanam, babet literas de protectione per Line. Andreas de Cottesford capellan. pres. biennium duraturas. T. R. apud Gildeford. per pr. et conv. de Burencestre ad vicariam 20. die Januar. Pat. 31. Ed. I. m. 4. eccl'ie de Burnecestre vac. per mort. VVill'i , Petitio VVill'i pcrsonje de Lutegaresbale de Kynton. 2. non. Mart. in com. Buck, d'no regi in Parliamento por- Nicb. de Harlawe acol. pres. per priorem recta, anno 30. Edw. I. Vid. Rileii Plac. et conv. de Burncestr ad eccl. de Newenton Pari. p. 603. vac. per boc quod Andreas ult. rector ejusd. z R. Dods. MS. 44. p. 274. ^ lb. vol. I07. f. 166. b ib. vol. 1 19. f. 101. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 495 one mark in hand. Iliis tcstihus ; Johanne Brun, Martino de Ic Ro- kalle, Ricardo le JVarde, Nigello Travers, Thoma de Herford, et mul- tis aliis". Alice, widow of Henry Segr^'m of Borstal!, granted to the said Sir John de Handlo, daas sc/ioues, two ridges of arable land in a field called Sonthcroft, between the land of John Fitz-Nigel of Arncote on the one side, and a croft of the said John Fitz-Nigel and Grascroft on the other. Hi is testibus ; Jolianiic Ic Brun, Martino de la Ro- kayllc, Ricardo Ic IFarde, Thoma de Baukestoft, Nigello Travers, Thoma de Ilcrford, Ricardo de huchcs, ct inultis aliis ''. An. Mccciii. 31, 32. Edward I. Walter le Povre, knight, paid a fine to the king, that he might give the pasturage of eight oxen in his manor of*Odington to the master and brethren of St. John's hos|)ital without the east gate, Ox- ford \ An. MCCCIII. .31, 32. Edw. I. Joh. Albon p'b'r pres. per priorcm ct conv. de Burncestr ad eccl. de Niniton Pur- ceH vac. per resign. Nicli. de Herlavve. 8. id. Mart. pont. 4. * Rectores eccl'ise de Ottingdon com. Oxon. 1250. Mag'r Will, de Mara diac. ad eccl. dc Ottiiuloii ad pres. prior, et coiiv. rle Bi- reiicc;>tr. tominissa est ei eccl'ia sub titulo commendam donee ep'us revocavcrit ; ep'o tunc agente in transmarinis. Hot. Hob. Grostliead, anno IG. D'n's Joli. (le \Vy presb. coll. ad eecl. ;». Ii. \()I.. I. 3 .S 498 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Upon the original chart was endorsed the composition between the priors of Burcester and Aulney in Normandy with this title, Contro- versia inter priorem de Bysseter et priorem de Alneto, of which the form is recited sub an. 1300. This abbey of Aulney, in the diocese of Baieux, of the Cistertian order, was founded by Jordan de Say about the year mcxiii. rebuilt and endowed mclv. by Richard de Humetz, constable to Hen. II. who married Agnes daughter and heir of the said Jordan de Say ^ : by whom he had a daughter called Agnes, married to Baldwin de Wake, to whom king John, in the eighth of his reign, granted she should hold the manor of Wichendon or Winchcndon, com. Buck, in capite, which her father had given with her in marriage. Which Agnes, with consent of Baldwin de Wake her son and heir, gave to the canons of Nutley, for the health of the soul of Baldwin her husband, a certain messuage in the said manor of Winchendon '. Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln, with Margaret his wife, had lately given to the canons of Bromhall, in Berkshire, one hundred acres of his waste at Asserige : and in this year gave leave to the monks of Selby to have that ancient church-yard at Whitgift, which had been long before consecrated, thereon to build a church or chapel to the honour of St. Mary Magdalen, for the benefit of the inhabitants of Snaith '". Datum apud Cliftonam juxta Ehoi^acum die Jovis proxime ante festum apostolorum Simonis et Jtidce, anno gratice 1304". An. Mcccv. 33, 34. Edward I. Isabel, the widow of Sir John Fitz-Nigel, released and quit claimed to Sir John de Handlo and her daughter Joan his wife, all her right of dowry in the manors of Borstall, Oakle, &c. and to thir- teen marks of yearly rent. Omnihus, Sfc. Isabella quce fuit uxor domini Johannis filii Nigelli militis salutem iti Domino. Noveritis me in plena viduitate mea Sfc. k Neustria Pia. p. 760. ' Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 631. ™ Ibid. p. 105. " Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 374. a. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 499 remisisse et quietum clamasse Johanni dc Handlo et Johanna; uxori ejusji/ice mcce §-c. totumjus et clamium, &fc. quod hahui in maneriis de Borstall et Acle et Adingrave, et Musewell, Brehu/l, Thomele, et Claydon, nomine dotis, quod mihi competit vel competere poterit, Sfc. et totumjus §c. in tredecem marcis argenti annui redditus qiicB mihi per dictum Johannem de Handlo pi^o dote mea dictorum maneriorum per quoddam scriptum mihi assignabantur, Sfc. Hiis testibus ; do- mino Hugone le Despensar, domino R. de Burghasse, Georgia de Lan- ton, Thoma de Gore, Rogero de Stokenhesse, Thoma de Horton, Ro- berto de Leuknore, Nicholao de Esses, Ada de Paupere, JViUiehno de Rufcn. Dat. London, die Lume in vigilia purijicationis beatcc Marice virginis. Anno regni regis Edwardi tricesimo tertio ". Within this year the king granted to Sir John Handlo several acres of waste in the forest of Bernvvode by this charter. Edwardus Dei gracia rex Anglie, SfC. Omnibus ad quos presentes litere pervenerint salutem. Sciatis quod de vastis nostris in foresta nostra dc Bernewode in com. Buk. dedimus et concessimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris dilecto et jideli nostro Johanni Handlo quadrin- genta unam acras et unam rodam et dimidiam pro perficis viginti pe- dum, videlicet decent et septem acras in quodam loco qui vocatur Mer- descombe juxta Moscivell et centum acras in quadani placea que vo- catur le Hallehull juxta Lutgershale et quinquaginta et novem acras An. Mcccv. 33, 34. Edw. I. Oscney petentlum quod cum ipsi et prede- Ad petitionem Joh'is de Segrave petentis cessores sui habuerunt xii. sol. redditus in tie lioc quod Margcria qu;e fult uxor Hu- liberam elcniosinam in niancrio dc Heden- gonis de I'iessetis cujus terraruni et here- don de dono Matildis iinperatricis unde dis custodiam rex concessit eidcm Johanni seisiti fuerunt quousque doniinus rex pre- habeat ultra rationabilem doteni ipsam con- dictum nianerium dedit dominie reginte tingcntem in manerio dcHoggenorton cxiv. quie nunc est quod rex pcrcipere vclit quod acras terne, &c. Ita responsuni est, terra-, eis solvantur. Ita responsuni est coram in manum regis rescisientur et reextendan- rege solvantur prout solvi consucvit ; et tur. Rot. Pari. ;i;{. Edw. I. super hoc habeaut breve, &c. Rot. Pari. 33. Ad pctilionem abb'is et eonventus de Edu'. i. " Ex Chartul. dc Borstal! penes D. Joh. Aubrey, Bar. 3 S 2 500 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. et dimidiam ct rodam iniain in quadam placea que vocatiw Gudstowc wode et sexaginta et quiiique acras et diniidiain et inmm rodam in qua- dam placea que vacatur hachcmede et viginti acras et unam rodam et dimidiam in quadam placea que vacatur la fVocche juxta Lutgar- shale et centum et triginta et octo acras et dimidiam in placea quadam que vacatur lez Cleres de Lutgarshale, liahend. et tenend. de nobis et heredihus nostris prefato Johanni et hercdibus suis imperpctuum, red- dendo inde nobis et heredibus nostris per annum ad Jest um nostrum S. Michaelis per manus vicecomitis comitatus predicti qui pro tempore fuerit centum solidos et quatuor denarios et ununi obolum et unum quadrantem §t. per dilectos et jideles nostras JFalferum de Gloucestre et JVilUelmum de Hardene ad predicta vasta arentanda nuper per nos assignatos, Sfc. Ita quod predictus Joannes et heredes sui predictas quadringenta et unam acram et unam rodam et dimidiam vasti pro va- luntate suafossata et haya secundum assisam forest e includere et in culturam redigerc et eas sic inclusas et in cidturam redactas tenere possint, 8j'c. In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras Jieri fecimus patentes. Teste meipso apud Westni. decinio dieAprilis anno regni nos- fri tricesimo tercio p. Within this same year, in Trinity term, was a trial for the right of patronage to the church of* Souldern, now in the deanery of Bur- cester, which, to shew the state of that church and the course of law in that age, deserves to be here inserted. Placita coram RadulpJio de Henghani et sociis suis justitiariis do- mini regis de Banco in termino S. Trinitatis, anno regni Ed.Jilii regis Henrici xxxiii. Thomas abbas de Egnesham per attornatum suum optulit se versus Luciam qucefuit uxor Thomce de Leuknore et Petrum de Schevyndon quod essent hie ad hune diem audituri assisam ultima: prcesentationis, * Ego Jordamis de Say pro anima flii Sulethom concessi. Testes Ranulfus Jilim Willielmi die quo eum sepultura: apud Egne- nieus ^t. Ex cart'ario dc Egnesham. Bib. sham tradidi eidem monasterio eccl'iam de Cotton Claudius, A. 8. fol. 135. P Ex Chartular. S. Frideswidae penes decan. et capit. iEdis Chrisli, Oxou. p. 145. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 501 qui idem Thomas in curia hie adramivit versus eos de advocatione cc- <:lesice de Soulthoru quce vacat et cujus advocationem pr^cedicti Lucia et Petrus ei deforc. et ipsi non veniunt ad hunc diem unde judicium, assisce capiatur versus eos per eorum defaltum, et recognitores dicunt super sacramentum suum quod prccdictus Thornas tempore 7-egis nunc et tempore pads decern et septem annis elapsis ut verus patromis ejus- dem ecclesice ad ea?]dem ecclesiam prcesentavit quendam Johannem de Bernwell qui ad prcesentationem suam fuit admissus et institutus in eadem, post cujus mortem prccdicta ecclesia modo vacat. Requisifi de jure ipsius ahbatis dicunt, quod tempore regis patris domini regis nunc vicesimo anno ejusdem regis H. levatus est quidam Jinis inter quendam Nicholaum quondam ahbatem de Egnesham prcedecessorem abbatis nunc et quandam Luciam de Ardernc aviam prcedictce Lucice per quemjinem eadem Lucia recognovit advocationem illam esse jus prce- dictce abbatue de Egnesham et post mortem cujusdam Qilberti abbatis prcedecessoris abbatis nunc vacantc prcedicta abbatia quidam Richar- An. Mcccv. 33, 31. Echv. I. Pat. 34. Edw. I. Will, de Boresworth ha- bet lit. regis de pres. ad eccl. de Heyford Waryn rationc custod. terr. et hered. Tho. <)e Breante. Lit. dirig. J. ep'o Line. 22. Fcbr. Idempresentatur per rcg. ad eandem ec- cl'iain ratione custod. tcrr. ct horcd. Ww- rini dt- Insula dcfuncti. 22. Apr. Rex venerabili in Xto Pulri J. eadem gratia episcopo Line, salutem. Licet nuper quihiisdmn de catt.s-i.s- vobis madaverimus (pind Ho.s- Kitper vera valore ecclesiw de Iltijjnrd If'aryn vestra: dit)c. ad (iikiiu K'iUielmum de Jioremvorth eleriann volm pr(ese)ilfiviT(imH. Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. 61. b. >» E.x Chartul. de Borstall, MS. f. 44. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 509 tenia. Teste mcipso apiul Westmin. vicesimo quinto die Feb. anno regni nostri secundo ". The Bonhonimes of" the convent of Ashrugge, to whom the presen- tation of this church of Anibrosdcn was given by Edmund earl of Cornwall, not content with the honour of patronage without the profit of the tithes, petitioned pope Clement the Fifth, that he would authorize the approj)riation of the said church to their convent, and effectually begged or bought the pope's consent, given in letters mis- sive dated in this third year of his pontificate, and recited in the bi- shop of Lincoln's licence, sub an. 1334. Thus at Rome began the sad abuse that yet wants a reformation. Richard Midleton, alias de media villa, a Franciscan, entitled doc- tor fundatissim us, who now fit)urished in school divinity, was possibly a native of this neighbourhood ; Fuller leaves it uncertain, whether he Mas born in Midleton-stony in Oxfordshire, or Midleton-Cheyney in Northamptonshire''. The manor of Ambrosden, with the rest of the honour of St. Wa- lerie, was in the crown since the last escheat by the death of Edmund earl of Cornwall without heirs. But within this first year of his reign, the king made a grant in fee of the whole earldom of Cornwall, the honour of St. Walerie, with Beckley the capital manor, and all other members of it, the town and honour of Walingford, with the manors of Watlington and Bensington, and of all other lands which Edmund earl of Cornwall held at the time of his death, as well in reversion as possession, to Piers de Gavcston'': who soon after obtained a pre- cept from the king to John de Clinton for livery of the castle of Wa- lingford, the honour of St. Walerie, and the town of Cicester; and to John de Knockyn for livery of the manor of Watlington'. An. Mcccix. 2, 3. Edward II. In the beginning of 3. Edw. II. there was a trial at Craumarsh, o Ex Chartul. dc Borstall, MS. f. 1 1. P Fulli-r, Ch. Hist. cent. 11. p. :m. . a. P K. Dods. MS. vol. 1 1 7. I. II. '' 'i'ho. Walsiiig, Mib an. V.'.Xl. Cod. MS. in Bib. Cot. cit. in Mon. Anp. ton). 2. p. 1S!». VOL. I. 3 U 514 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. After which speech, he departed this life at his mansion-house, called Lincoln's-Inn, in the suburbs of London, (which he himself had built in that place, where part of the Black-friars' habitation an- ciently stood,) on the feast of St. Agatha, Feb. 5. 1310'. He was buried in the new work of St. Paul's church, betwixt our Lady's cha- pel and St. Dunstan's chapel ; where a fair monument was raised for him with his effigies in armour, cross legged, as one professed for defence of the holy land against the infidels : which noble monument was defaced about the year 1598 ''. Sir William Dugdale imputes the time of this earl's death to the year 1312. 5. Ed. II. citing Wal- singham for the authority of that date '. It is true, Tho. Walsing- ham under that year speaking of Thomas earl of Lancaster, takes thence occasion to report the dying speech of his father-in-law the earl of Lincoln ; but he does not fix his death to that time. He left sole daughter and heir Alice wife of Thomas earl of Lancaster, who succeeded to all the honours and lands of his said father-in-law ; and, by the addition of Lincoln and Salisbury, was now earl of five several counties™. Who paying his fine had livery of the castle of Denbigh, and all other the lands of her inheritance, his homage for them be- ing performed in the next ensuing year, upon Thursday after the feast of St. Bartholomew, in the presence of divers bishops, earls, and barons, and other of the king's council, in a certain chamber within the house of the Friars preachers in London ". Presently after the death of the said earl, there was an inquisition taken in these parts, whereby the jurors found that Henry de Lacy late earl of Lincoln held at the time of his death the manor of Burn- cester, for the term of his life, by the law or courtesy of England, of the inheritance of Margaret his wife, formerly countess of Salisbury, as of the honour of Walingford, by military service : and that there were within the said manor one hundred and sixty acres of land : that the prior of Burncester held of the said Henry de Lacy earl of Lincoln the site of the said priory of Burncester, with four carucates • Stow's Survey, 4to. p. 270. k Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 105. b. ' Tho. Walsing. sub an. ™ Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 780. a. " Ibid. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 515 of land, twenty acres of meadow, and one water-mill, with other ap- pertenances, to the yearly value of forty pounds, with the church of the said town to their proper use, to the value of thirty marks ; with the manor of Wretchwike, worth twenty pounds [)er ann. in pure and perpetual alms : and that Alice, daughter of the foresaid Henry and Margaret, which Henry earl of Lancaster had taken to wife, was the nearest heir of the foresaid Henry and Margaret, of the age of twenty- six years and upward. Oxon. 4. Ed. II. Jur. d'lcunt quod Henriciis dc Lacy nuper comes Line, tenuit die quo obiit, nianeriuin dc Bunicester ad terminiim vitc sue per legem Anglie de hcredifafe Margarete uxoris sue quondam comitisse Sarum ut de honore de JFallingford per servitium vulitare, et sunt ibidem c. et LX. acre terre SfC. Et dicunt quod prior de Burncestre tenuit de pre- dicto Henrico de Lacy com. Line, die quo obiit, scitum predicti pri- oratus de Burnccster cum 4. carucatis terre, 20. acris prati et iino mo- lendino aquatico cum aliis suis pertin. ibidem, que valent per an. XL. libras, et cum ccclesia ejusdem ville in proprios usus quce valet per an. XXX. marcas, et cum mancrio de IVrethcwike quod valet per an. xx'. in puram et perpetuam elemosinam. Dicunt etiani quod AlesiaJiUa pre- dictoruni Ilenr. et Margarete quam Thomas conies Lancast. dnxit in uxorem, est propinquior hcres predicti Henrici et Margarete, et est eta- tis XXVI. annorum et amplius°. There was nigh the same time another inquisition taken in the county of Stafford, where the jury found that Henry Lacy late earl of Lincoln held the manor of Bunicester in the countv of Oxon of the inheritance of Margaret his wife. And that the prior of Bunicester held of the said earl the site of his priory, with four carucates of land, six acres of meailow, one water-mill, with other apjiertenauces, to the value of forty j)oimds, jmkI the church impro- j)riated to the value of thirty marks, and the manor of Wretchwike twenty-two pounds : and that the said earl held the manor of Mid- " R. Dods. MS. vol. 89. f. 13!). 3 U 2 516 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. lington in the said county of Oxford in demesne as in fee, being par- cel of the honour of Pontfract. The same jurors report, that Wicio Ferre held of the said earl the manor of Godington for the fourth part of one knight's fee : and that Alice wife of Thomas earl of Lan- caster was next heir, aged twenty-eight years p. The said Henry carl of Lincoln, after the decease of his first wife Margaret Longspe, had married Joan sister and heir of William Martin : which Joan surviving the carl her husband, her marriage was granted by the king to Ralph de Monthermer; but without his licence, or the king's, she married to Nicholas de Aldithley, baron. Whereupon the honour of Pontfract came to Alice, wife of Thomas earl of Lancaster, by a precedent entail. By the said Nicholas, who died 10. Ed. II. she had issue James, not fully three years of age at his father's death '^. An. Mcccxi. 4, 5. Edward II. There was now a trial at law for the patronage of the church of Blechesdon between the king as plaintiff, and Henry de la Wade, John son of John de Croxford, Maud de Musgrave, and John le Lou: on the calends of May, 1311, the eleventh of Joh. de Dal- derby, the king recovered his right of presentation. Yet I find that on the thirteenth of the calends of Apr. 1317, Thomas de Musgrave presented a clerk to the church of Blechesdon then vacant'. The barons, not able to endure the haughty spirit of Piers de Ga- veston earl of Cornwall, lord of the honours of St. Walerie and Wa- Ungford, in a parliament at London, prevailed with the king to ba- nish him into Ireland ; but on the dissolution of the [)arliament he An. MCCCXI. 4, 5. Edw. II. Joh. de Aulton capellanus pres. per abb. Galfridus de Welleford pres. per reg. ad et conv. de Egnesham ad medietatem ec- eccl. de Blechesdon vac. per mort. Ric'i de cl'ie de Heyford ad pontem vac. per resign. Musegrave. kal. Maii 1311. pont. 11. Joh. mag'ri Alex, de Juappelade. 1?. kal. Jul. Dalderby. 1311. P R. Dods. MS. vol. 48. p. 63. 9 W. Dugd. MS. A. 1. p. 207. et Bar. torn. 1. p. IOC. et 748. b. ' R. Dods. MS. vol. 107. p. 201. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 517 was from tlience recalled, and met by the king at Chester. Upon his return, and farther provocations given to the barons, they made their bold address to the king, that unless he freed his court of this inso- lent earl, they would arm themselves against him as a perjured per- son. Upon which the earl abjured the realm, and went first into France, after into Flanders ; but presuming on his interest with the king, soon returned to England, and obtained many new grants and favours from his too indulgent master '. Thomas carl of Lancaster, in right of Alice his wife, sole daughter and heir to Henry de Lacy earl of Lincoln, doing his fealty, had livery of the castle of Denbigh, and all other the lands of her inheritance; his homage for them being performed the next ensuing year, upon Thursday after the feast of St. Bartholomew, in the presence of di- vers bishops, earls, and barons, and other of the king's council, in a certain chamber within the house of the Friars preachers in London '. Alan Plokenet, or Plugenet, who was possessed of the manor of Pi- dington (detained from the monks of St. Frideswide) in 2. Ed. IL had procured licence for a market every week upon the Friday, at his manor of Kilpec com. Heref ; as also for a fair there yearly on the eve and day of the assumption of our Lady, and two days follow- ing : and this year received summons to be at Roxburgh upon the feast day of St. Peter ad vincula, i. e. Aug. 1. well fitted with horse and arms to march against the Scots ". An. Mcccxii. 5, 6. Edward IL Richard Clifford, son and heir of John de Clifford, knight, released to Margaret wife of Nicholas de Cryoll, and to Elizabeth de Paben- An. Mcccxii. 5, C. lidw. II. Edmund. Bacun mil. ad eccl.de Ewelin vac. Andr. de la flyda p'b'r pros, per pr. et per mort. Hob. Bacuii. 7. kal. Jan. 131 J. eonv. dc Keniiwortii ad cccl. de Hetlie vac. Joli. dc Barton acol. pres. per abb. et per mort. Kob. de I'iclicford. 1/. kal. Sept. conv. de Ef^nesiiam ad niediet. ecel'ie de \A\2. Heyford ad pont. \ac. per resign. Joii. de Hob. deDcrlington acol. pres. per (rmiin Aulton. Ki. kal. Apr. l.U-'. Reg. Daldciby. 'Dugd. Bar. torn. J. p. 13. a. ' lb. toiii. I. [>. 7S0. " lb. toni. -'. p. 3. a. 518 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. ham all the right which by inheritance he conld claim in any lands or tenements within the manor of Pudington in com. O.xon, i. e. Pi- dington in the parish of Ambrosden *. The king granted licence to Sir John de Handlo to fortify his mansion-house of Borstall with a wall of lime and stone ; i. e. to make a castle of it. Rex, §-c. Licentiani dedimus Johanni de Handlo quod ipse mansiim sitiim de Borstal/ Juxfa Brehull in com. Buck, niuro de petra et cake jirmare et kerncllare possit. Teste rege apud IFestviin. 12. Sept. ^ Nicholas de Amory, lord of the manor of Bucknell, adjoining to Burcester, obtained from the king a charter of free warren in all his demesne lands within his manors of Bokenhall and Blechesdon in com. Oxon, and Thornbergh in com. Buck '. John de Bloxham accounted for the lands of the knights templars in the counties of Oxon and Berks, from Mich. 5. Ed. II. to Mich. 6. Ed. II. seven pounds nineteen shillings for Couley, with its mem- bers, Horspath, Brugeset, and Gersindon. As also one hundred four- teen shillings and two pence for Meriton ^ William Hamlewyne of Brehull (now Brill) granted and demised to John Tulus of the same village one acre and an half of arable land in the field of Brehull, whereof one acre lay at le Frithvente, between the land of the prior of* Chetwood, and the land lately be- longing to John Ferbaz ; and the other half acre lay in Cocsetefor- long, between the land lately of John Ferbaz, and the land which had belonged to Elias de Brehull, to hold by inheritance of the capital * Placita pasch. anno 6. Edw. II. tus Ric'us Prynne et alii qui se dicunt esse Jurati dicunt quod prior de Chetwode et tenentes d'ni regis de manerio de Breimli omnes antecessores sui locum vocatum Pri- et ibidem clamabant habere communam our assart apud Brehull tanquam separale clausum praedictum fregerunt et hcrbam et inclusum tempore confectionis cartae re- praedicti prioris ibidem depasti sunt cum gis H. avi regis tenuerunt, et quod predic- averiis suis ad dampnum ipsius prioris xi.^. ^ R. Dods. MS. vol. 41. f. 59. v W. Dugd. MS. C. p. 135. ^ Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. 100. a. a R. Dods. MS. vol. 35. f. 66. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 519 lords of the fee by the usual service : in consideration whereof the said John Tulus paid twenty shillings and six pence into the hands of the said William Hanilcwyne. Sciant prcesentes etfitturi quod ego WilUelmiis Hanilcwyne de Brc- huU dedi concessi et hoc prcescnti charta mea coirfirmavi Johauni Tu- lus de eadein villa vnam acram et diiuidiaiti terrce arabilis in campo de Brehull unde una acrajacet apud le Frithvente inter terram prioris de Chetu'ode ex parte una et terram quondam Johannis Ferbaz ex altera, et alia dimidia acra jacet apud le Cocseteforlong inter terram quon- dam Johannis Ferbaz ex parte una et terram quce fuit Eli/ce de Bre- hull ex altera, habcnd. et tenend. dictam acram et dimidiam terrce cum omnibus suis pertinentiis prcedicto Johanni et hceredibus suis vel assig- natis libere quicte bene et in pace jure hcereditario in perpetuum de capitalibus dominis feodi illius per servitia inde dchita et dejure con- sueta pro omnibus aliis servitiis scecularibus et cunctis terrenis deman- dis. Et ego vero diet us IVillielmus et lueredes mci prcedictam acram ct dimidiam terra; cum pertinentiis pro'fato Johanni et hceredibus suis vel suis assignatis contra omnes homines et focminas warantizabimus defendcmus et acquictahimus in perpetuum : pro hac autem donatione concessione et prcesentis chartce mece conjirmatione dedit mihi prcedictus Johannes viginti solidos et sex denarios prce manibus. Et ut hcec mea donatio concessio et prcesentis chartce conjirmatio rata stabilis et invio- lata permanent in perpetuum huic prcesenti chartce sigillum mcum ap- posui. Iliis testibus ; lieginaldo de Boys, Henrico de Dadreshulle, li'iUielmo Pomeray, Kicardo Pymme, Thom. de Hereford, If'illiclmo Broun, Kicardo le Turner, et aliis. Datum apud Brehull die Lunce proxime post Hokcday anno regni regis Edward i filii regis Edwardi quinto *. In this year, says the historian, to relieve the oj)j)ression of holy mother church, and to recover the just liberties of the kinijdom, Uum|)hrey de Bohun earl of Hereford, Aymer de Valence earl of Pembroke, Guy de lieauchamp earl of Warwick, the earl of Arundel, ^ Ex Orig. penes hon. D. Guil. Glynnc, Bar, 530 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. and many other barons, adhered to Thomas earl of Lancaster, (lord of the manors of Bnrcester and Midlington,) and chose him their general, who by advice of the associated peers sent honourable mes- sengers to the king, then at York, to entreat him he would deliver up Piers de Gaveston earl of Cornwall, (lord of the fee of Bnrcester and Ambrosden, and all other manors within the honours of Walingford and St. Walerie,) or else, as had been before ordained, would com- mand him to quit the realm. The king slighted this message, and removed to Newcastle, toward which place the earl of Lancaster marched with an army, not to do any injury to the king, but to get judgment upon Piers de Gaveston. Upon this advance, the king fled with his favourite to Tinemouth, and thence by ship to Scard- burgh, commanding the garrison of that castle to receive the said Piers de Gaveston, and protect him, while he himself went toward Warwickshire ". The barons, after they had seized the horses left at Newcastle, marched on to the siege of Scarburgh, frou) whence Tho- mas earl of Lancaster with some forces withdrew, to j^revent scarcity of provisions, and left the carrying on the siege to the earls of Pem- broke and Warren ; who so wearied out the garrison, that Piers de Gaveston was forced to surrender himself, on condition of standing to the judgment of the barons. The king, when he heard of this, de- sired liberty to speak with him, and tliat his life might be saved. The earl of Pembroke persuadetl the barons to comply with this re- quest of the king, promising, under jienalty of the loss of all his lands, to keep him till such discourse with the king, and then to deliver him to the barons. Upon which the rest of the barons connnitted the said Piers de Gaveston to the custody of the earl of Pembroke, who proposed to bring him to Walingford castle ; and coming to Dadington in com. Oxon, the earl committed him to some of his Magister Wilhelmus de Boys, qui vivens sorum apud Buttlesden ubi sepulturam ele- nobilitatem suain probis inoribus decoravit, gerat crebris claruit nilraculis. E cron. MS. in morte quoque sua infra domuni religio- apud Job. Leland. toni. 2. p. 300. "= Tho. Walsingham sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 5-21 guards, while he went to lodge with his lady in an adjacent village, (perhaps at his manor of Mersh in com. Buck.) The earl of War- wick having intelligence of this slender guard, came that night and took him away to his castle of Warwick ; where after a consult whe- ther they should carry him to the king, or put him to death, this lat- ter was resolved ujjon : so they brought him out to a place called Blacklow, and there beheaded him, Jan. 19. The Friars preachers carried his body to Oxford, where it lay two years; and was thence by the king's order conveyed to Langley, where a convent was founded by the king for the health of the soul of that unhappy fa- vourite. On his death the barony of St. Walerie reverted to the crown, when the king immediately granted it to his new creature Hugh Despenser senior ; who accordingly obtained a charter for the manor and park of Beckley, to be held upon the same services as Ednmnd earl of Cornwall had performed for them **. An. Mcccxm. 6, 7- Edward II. The king with a pompous retinue marched northward to the re- lief of the town of Berwick, besieged by the Scots ; and sent this summons to Thomas earl of Lancaster, lord of the manor of Bur- cester, to attend him at Newcastle. Rex dilecto consanguineo et Jideli suo Thomcc com. Lane, salufeiii. Licet nuper pro diversis vegotiis nos et statum regni nostri taugcnti- bus parliamcntum nostrum apud JFestmin. die Dominica in quindena pasch. proxime jam futuri proposnerimus tenere, 8fc. Quia tamen Ko- herlus de Brus et sui complices inimici et rchelles nostri castra villas et fortalitia nostra cepcrint, ^-c. et villam nostram de Berewico supei' Tjccd. ohsidcre, §c. nituntur, §-c. pro repulsione corundem ininiicorum ordinavimus esse apud Novum Castrum super Ti/nam die Dominica ah instanti die pasch. in tres septimanas, §-c. Parliament, prcrdict. tenere non poterimus l^c. vohis signijicavimus quod vos usque IVestmon. t'enii'e nullatcnus oportcbit, §-c. Vos affectuose requirimus et rogamus, Sfc, <* Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 390. b. VOL. I. 3 X 528 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. eqtcis et armis quanto dccentius et potcntius poteritis, Sfc. ad dictatn vUlam dc Novo Castro acccdatis, §-c. Teste rege apiid JFestmin. xxiv. die Martis ". An. Mcccxiii. 6, 7. Edw. II. Some parishioners of A. refused to pay an accustomed mortuary to the rector of the said church, who, complaining to the court of Cliristianity, obtained a mandate from the official of the archdeacon of Ox- ford to the dean of B. to goe to the said church of A. with a competent number of his rural clergy, and there admonish the said parishioners to pay those accustomed dues ; and, upon their default, to excom- municate with bell, book, and candle. Though the following record has only the initial letters A. and B. yet I conclude "de- canus de B." is the rural dean of Burces- ter, and " parochiani ecclesite de A." are the parishioners of the church of Ambres- don ; because in the same manuscript there be several other instruments expressly re- lating to Burcester and Ambresdon, and few or none that refer to any other places. Officialk Oxon. discreto viro decano de B. salutem in auctore salutis. Ad aures nostras miper ascendente clamore pervenit, quod non- nuUi parochiani ecclesie de A. in reprobnm sensuni €onvprsi jura et lihertates sancte ec- clesie neqiiiter avertere pervertcre infringere et perturbare per malitiam presumpserunt, et ctiam presumiint in presenti morluarin ad dictam ecclesiam de consuetudinc laudahili debita ab ea conferendo in animamm suarum grave pcriculum et scandalum plurimorum. Subditos igitur nostros in culpam et errorcm ex hifirmitate prolapsos ne pereant ad liam salutis revocare cupientes vobis committimus et Jirmiter injuugendo mandamus quatemis f R. Dods, MS. ad ecclesiam de A. aliquo die Dominico seu fcstivo personaliter accedentes rectores et vi- carios et capellanos parochiules in nitmero competenti vobiscum associantes vicinos si J'uerit necesse in eadetn ecclesia post tectum evangelium indicto silcntio premissa secun- dum materic seriem informatione congrua omnes et singulos dicte ecclesie jura seu li- hertates infringentes seu perturbantes quovis modo seu mortuarium seu mortuaria ab ea- dcm injuste ut premittitur auferentes vel ad cam pcrtinentia seu pcrtinens detinentes in genere puhlice moneatis quod ab hujusmodi presumptione et perturbationc de cetera peni- tus desistant, et que vel quod per eos fuerit vel fuerinl ablata seu detenta dicte ecclesie cum omni feslinatione qua poterint integre rcstituaiit ut fcnentur. AUoquin omnes et sin- guhs mukjiutores hujusmodi Deo odibiles et eis in premissis consentientes ac scienter fa- ventes caiwnica monitione premissa in eccle- sia de A. tribu^ diebus dominicis proximis post receptionem j)rcsentium intra missarmn solempnia pidsatis campanis et candelis ac- censis in genere excommunicetis seu excom- municari per alios facialis, et quod in pre- missis feceritis nos cum per partem rectorls ecclesie antedicte fueritis requisiti certificetis per literas patentes Imrum seriem continentes. Dat. apud Niiceham, 2. id. Junii an. Dom. Mccc. tertio decimo. Ex MS. in Bib. Bodl. Digby, 154. Tho. Boteler de Bokenham capell. pres. per d'num Rob. de Insula mil. ad eccl'iam de Heyford Waryn vac. per resign. Will'i. 16. kal. Feb. 1313. vol. 115. p. 28. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 523 John de Handlo of Borstall was now in the wars of Scotland, being of the retinue of Hugh le Despensar. He had been in the same service in 4. Ed. II. When the king in this expedition came to Berwick, he stayed there to receive all the barons and knights who owed to him military ser- vice ; who all came except Thomas earl of Lancaster, (lord of the manors of Burcester and Midlington,) and the earls of Warren, War- wick, and Arundel, who refused to appear, because the king delayed to put in execution the articles for redress of grievances often peti- tioned for, and often granted '. Sir Theobald de Verdon, lord of the manor of Heth, was now con- stituted justice of Ireland, having likewise the lieutenancy of that realm, and the fee of five hundred pounds />tv' aim. then granted to him. In which year Maud his wife, departing this world at his castle of Alveton, was honourably buried in the abbey church of Croxden, before the altar of St. Benedict, upon the feast of St. Dennis and his fellow martyrs ; Thomas earl of Lancaster and many other no- bles being present at her funeral^' : which Thomas earl of Lancaster was this year godfather to Thomas eldest son and heir of Guy Beau- champ earl of Warwick, and at his christening gave to him a casket of gold with a bone of St. George ''. One of his feudatory tenants, Adam de Banaster, after Michael- mas, movens guerram contra dominum suiim Thomam, about the feast of St. Martin, was taken with William de Lee in a grange, where they had hid themselves, and was imprisoned and beheaded '. An. Mcccxiv. 7> ^- J^dward 11. Sir Laurence de Pavely, knight, lord of the manor of Wcndlebury, did this year, the fifteenth of John di- Dalderi)y, present a clerk to the said church of Wcndlebury on the 18th of the calends of May ^ f Tho. Walsing. sub an. fiDugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 47-1. '' Ibid. p. 2.VJ. ' IKiiry de Kuyghton sub an. ^ R. Dods. MS. c Reg. Line. vol. lOJ. p. 201. 3X2 524 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. And Sir Richard d'Amory of Bucknol, knight, on the 4th cal. of June presented to the church of Bix-Gibwyn in this comity'. Many of the peers who were concerned in the fatal death of Piers de Gaveston earl of Cornwall, were obliged for that offence to pur- chase their pardon from the king; among Avhom Thomas earl of Lancaster, lord of the manor of Burcester, Ivad his solemn pardon, dated Octob. 16'". John Abel, the king's escheator on this side Trent, had informa- tion that the abbot and convent of Oseney had appropriated to their house two virgates of land in Chesterton nigh adjoining, by the gift of Bardulf de Chesterton, without the king's licence, after the pub- lishing the statute of Mortmain made 7- Ed. I. by which dcAiult the said land would have been forfeited to the king, the lord of the fee having made no claim within one year after the said alienation ". Upon which the abbot of Oseney appeared personally before the said escheator, and did assert that William abbot of Oseney, his predeces- sor, had obtained a gift of the said land before the publication of the said statute. For more perfect information, the said escheator di- rected his letters to John de Trillawe, requiring him to impannel a jury of the neighbouring inhabitants at a fixed time and place, to make a fuller inquisition within what year and in what manner the abbot and convent obtained those lands. Johannes Abel escheator domhn 7^egis citra Trentam dilecto sihi hi Christo Johanni de Tri/lawe salutem. Licet niiper accepimus per in- quisitionem coram nobis factam quod abbas et conventus de Oseney ap- An. Mcccxiv. 7j 8. Edw. II. Steph'us de Marcham cap. pres. per rec- Joh. de Waure aeol. pres. per abb. et tor. et conv. de Assherugge ad eccl. de Ces- conv. de Egnesham ad eccl. de Meriton vac. treton vac. per resign, mag'ri Rob. de Cis- per resign, mag'ri Rob. de Kynelingworth. terna. Id. Feb. 1314. 7. id. Dec. 1314. Reg. Dalderby. 1 R. Dods. MS. e Reg. Line. vol. 107. p. 201. ■" E Ashmole MS. notat. X. p. 151. n Stat. Mortmain in Pulton, p. «'6. AMBRO.SDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 525 propriaverhit sibi ct floniui sue duas virgatas terre in Chesterton de Bardulfo de Chesterton post puhlicationem statuti de terris et tene- vientis ad vianum viortuam non ponendis editi sine Ucentia regis : guia cum idem abbas coram nobis personaUter constitutus asserit Jf^il- Uelmum abbatem predecessorem suum terrain illam diu ante publica- tionem statuti predicti, et non post ut predictuni est, adquisivisse : nos volentes inde plenius certiorari assignavimus vos ad inquirendum per sacramentum proborum et legalium honiinum de visneto de Chesterton per quos rei Veritas melius sciri poterit et inquiri de quo vel de quibus idem abbas et conventus terram iUam acquisiverint et quo anno et quo modo. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod ad certos diem et locum quos ad hoc provideritis inquisitionem illam faciatis in forma prcdicta ct tarn distincte et apte factam nobis sub sigillo restro §-c. Dat. London. XXVIII. die Januarii an. regni 7'egis Ed.jil. Ed. octavo". To execute this precept John de Trillawe at Rollandright in com. Ox. on Aug. 2. the Suntlay after the feast of St. Peter in cathedra, had an incjuisition made upon the oaths of John le Myrye, Edmund de Dene, Richard Onvylle, Richard Alleyn, John le Knyght, Ni- chohis de CherUon, William Basset, John Attehourne, Nicholas le Bloimt, Thomas Fonke, John Hereward, and John Herevyle, who returned u[)()n oath, that William abbot of Oscncy, predecessor of the present abbot, in the fourth year of Ed. I. had purchased to himself and his successors two virgates of land in Chesterton, from one Bardulf, son of Roger Bardulf, before the statute of Mortmain : which verdict was given under the seals of the twelve jurors. Inquisitio capfa coram Johannc de Trillawe ad hoc per dom. .Johan- ncm Abel eschaetorem domini regis citra Trentam assignatum die Do- viinico in crastino S. Petri in cathedra, an. regni regis Edwardi Jilii regis Edwardi octavo, per sacramentum Johannis le Mi/rije, Edmundi de Dene, Ricardi Onri/lle, liicardi Alei/n, Johannis le Kni/hf, Ni- cholai de Cherlton, lyUlielmi Basset, Johannis Attebourne, i\icholai le Blount, Tho. Fouke, Johannis Hereward, et Johannis Herevyle, Ja^ o Rcgist. Oscn. MS. p. lOi'. 526 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. rat. qui dicunf super sacramcntum suiim quod quidam ll'ilUclmus quon- dam ahhas de Oscney predecessor abhatis qui nunc est an. reg. regis Ed- tvardijilii j-egis Hen. 4'". perquisivit sibi et successoribus suis duas vir- gatas terrc in Cestreton de quodam Bardulfo flio Rogeri Bardnlf ante statutum dom. regis editum et publicatuni de terris et tenementis ad manum mortiiavi von ponendis. In cujus rei testimonium predicti jurati prescntibus sigilla sua npposuerunt. Datum apud Rollendryht magnani die et anno supradictis ''. William Broun of Borstall granted to Sir John Handlo, knight, a croft behind the church in Borstall, containing five selions or ridges of land, for five marks of silver ; and by another chart conveyed to him his messuage, garden, and close, nigh the church-yard of the said village, for five other marks of silver. Dat. apud Borstall nono decimo die Maii anno regni regis Edivardi Jilii regis Ed. septimo. Hiis testibus; dom. If^illielmo de Berford juiiiore, Roberto flio Eli E.\ Chartular. dc Borstull, MS. i. II. VOJL. I. 1 A 546 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. passed to their eldest dau^liter luid heir Ehziil)elh, married 10. Ed. III. to Tliomas lord Bardolf; and so in 45. of Ed. HI. to their son and heir William lord Bardolf; and in 13. Ric. II. to Thomas lord Bardolf; and 6. Hen. IV. to Ann his danghter and heir, married to Sir William ClifFord : as a|)|)eared by in([nisition made 10. Hen. IV. " Sir Richard d'Amory ot lincknell procvued licence from the king for a market every week, upon the Monday at his manor of Ubbele in com. Som. and a fair there yearly on the eve, day, and morrow after the feast of St. Bartholomew the apostle". Queen Eleanor, late wife to king Henry the Third, had formerly out of entire affection to Thon)as earl of Lancaster, and Henry his brother, her grandsons, given to them and their heirs a certain part of the earldom of Province, which by right of inheritance descended to her from her father and mother, with jurisdiction of a nicer and mixed empire, and all rights and privileges thereto belonging, of which our Thomas earl of Lancaster now obtained a confirmation from the king, bearing date June the fifth ■'. In the same year the said earl attended the king in his expedition against the Scots ; where, at the siege of Berwick, the king unad- visedly said, that he would make Hugh le Despenser governor of the castle, and Roger d'Amory of the town, when taken. Which Mas so nuich resented by Thomas earl of Lancaster, that with several of his forces he deserted the king ; for which the king's army proclaimed him a traitor. His retreat hindered the taking of the town i. An. Mcccxx. 13, 14, Edtvard II. The king by letters dated at York the first of July, required Tho- An. MCCCXX. l.S, 14. Edw. II. Joh. de Okie capellan. pres. per d'num Andreas de Cotcsford cap. pres. per pri- Hen. le Tyeys mil. ad eccl. de Oke vac. per oreni et conv. de Kcnihvorth ad eccl. de inort. Ric'i de Suthampton. 2. non. Mar. Hethe per resign. And. de la Hyde. 16. kal. 1320. Jul. 1320. n R. Dods. MS. vol. 40. p. 150. ° Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. 100. a. P lb. torn. 1. p. 780. b. 1 Tlio. Walsing. sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. ' 547 mas earl of Lancaster to choose out of his feudatory tenants two thousand foot-men well armed, and to bring them to the king at Newcastle-ui)on-Tyne, and pay attendance for one month, to com- mence from the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist ^ Walter Burcester, clerk, designing to give unto the priory of Bur- cester one messuage, ten acres of aral)le land, four acres of meadow, and twenty-five shillings yearly rent, with other appcrtenances in Grymcsb\irv and VVerkworth, j)ctitioned for the king's consent to dispense with the statute of mortmain. Upon which an inquisition was ordered, called ad quod damn ton, (kv. and the jury returned, that it would not be to the damage of the king, if he gave leave to Walter Burcester, clerk, to make the said grant to the prior and convent of Burcester, and their successors for ever\ The king in this year confirmed a charter of Hen. III. to the ab- bey of Oseney, which rehearses and ratifies the possession of two hides of land in Ernicot (now Arncot) in the parish of Ambrosden'. Some land in this village of Arncot had been given by king Ethel- red, an. dDo, to the abbey of Abeudon, com. Berks, by express char- ter, to whicli these witnesses subscribed. Ego Ditnstan arc/iiepisco- pus confrniuvi. Ego Oswald arckiepiscopus conjirmavi. Ego Atlicl- wold episcopus iinprcssi. Ego Ail/J'sfan episcopus suhscnpsi. Ego Jthel- gar episcopus consoUdari. Ego ^E/fstan episcopus adquieui. Ego ^El- fear episcopus iiou rciiiii. Ego ^(fric episcopus concessi. Ego Atliulf episcopus subscripsi. Ego JEscuin episcopus ii/ipressi. Ego L'ulfgar episcopus cousigiiari ". Richard d'Aujory lord of the manor of Bucknell, and Roger d'A- mory his uncle, were now both in the wars of Scotland \ This hitter was one who entered into the association with the earls of Lancaster, Hereford, &c. against the two Spencers-. About this time died Alan de Plugenet, lord of the manors of Pi- f El. Asliniolc, MS. ^ K. Doils. .Ms. vol. 8(;. i. \2(\. ' Mon. Aug. torn. J. p. 1 H>. " B. Twine, MS. C. -2. p. .>:M. in Bib. C. C. C. » Dugd. Bar. toni. .'. p. KK). ^ Tli... de la Moor, od. 2. sub an. -I .\ 2 548 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. dington and Ilcdingdon, leaving Joan de Bohun bis sister and heir, who doing her homage in 19. Ed. II. had livery of the lands of her inheritance; and dying without issue in 1. Ed. III. her estate de- scended to Sir Richard de la Berc, knight, son of Richard de la Bere, brother of the whole blood to Alan Phigenet her fatlier. But the said manor of Pidington now reverted to the crown, and the king bestowed it on his indulged friend Hugh Despenser, sen. who granted it to his kinsman Sir John de Handlo of Borstall, to hold during his life^ This manor was by injustice and court interest de- tained from the prior and canons of St. Frideswide, who had the legal title to it, by the donation of Simon St. Liz the first earl of Huntendon, confirmed by Malcolm king of Scots in possession of the said honor, or rather first given by the said king Malcolm, and rati- fied by Simon the third earl of Northan)pton and Huntendon. The confirming charters of Hen. II. of Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury, and earl Simon, which should have been recited in their respective place, deserve to be here inserted. Hefiricus rex Anglie ct dux Normannie et Atjnitanie et comes An- digavie archiepiscopis episcopis, ^-c. salutem. Sciatis me concessisse et preseiiti carta conjirmasse Deo et S. Marie et ecclesie S. Fridcsivyde, de Oxon. et canonicis ibidem Deo servientihus villam de Pydcntona in Oxenfordscira qitam Malcohmis rex Scotie eis co7icessit et dcdit in per- petuani elemosinam et carta sua confirmavit, ita ut Johanna soror Thome Bassett cam teneat in vita sua ct quamdiu vixerit scrvicium inde debit um canonicis predictis reddat, ct post decessum ejus villa prcdicta canonicis remancat cum pertinenciis suis in perpetuam elemosinam ct possessionem. Quare volo et firmiter prccipio quod predict a ecclesia et canonici ejusdem ecclesie predictam villam cum omnibus pertinenciis habeant et teneant in bosco et piano in pratis et pascuis in aquis et mo- lendinis in viis et semitis et i?i omnibus aliis locis et aliis rebus ad earn pertinentibus ita bene et in pace libere quiete plenarie et integre et ho- norifice et rationabiliter cum omnibus libcrtatibus ac liberis consue- ^ Ex Chartul. S. Frideswydie, p. 118. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 549 tudinihus suis sicut carta Malcolmi regis Scofie testatur. Iliis testi- bus, SfC^ Thomas Dei gracia Cantuariensis ecclesie minister humilis iiniversis S. matris ecclesie jiliis salutem. Collata Sanctis ac venerahilihiis locis hcneficia cum graciariim debcmus accione quod ad nos pertinet confo- vere. Ea propter donacionem illam quam dilectus fi/ius noster Mal- colm us illustris rex Scotorum fecit ecclesie S. Fridesivyde in Oxenford de villa de Pydentona ratam haheutes, et juxta cartam ejusdem regis Scotie Tiostri scripti munimine conjirmanfes, statuimus ve quis ejusdem ecclesie caiionicos in liujus ville sive rerum adjacencium possessione contra cartam domini nostri regis Anglie Heniici et cartam dicti re- gis Scotie concutere vel aliquihus exaccionibus indehitis vexare pre- sumat. Valete ''. Comes Simon omnibus hominibus suis Francis et Anglis tarn clericis quam laicis salutem. Sciatis me dedisse Deo et Sancte Marie et ecclesie S. Frideswide Oxon. et canonicis ibidem Deo scrviencibus in liberam et perpetuam elemosinam villam Pydintonam in Oxenfordscira pro sa- lute mea et patris et matris mce et omnium antecessorum et successorum meorum, ita ut Johanna in vita sua teneat et scrvicium inde dehitum canonicis predictis reddut, post dccessum vero prefate Johannc villa predicta eisdem canonicis remaneat in perpetuam possessionem et ele- mosinam cum omnibus pcrtinenciis suis aliis in bosco et piano in pas- cuis in pasturis et cum omnibus pcrtinenciis suis aliis que ad candcm villam pertinent, Hiis subscriptis testibus ; tlereberto Jilio Athelardi IFaltero de D. Sfc. ' But after this charter made by Simon St. Liz, the third earl of Hunteiidon and Northampton, he seized and detained the said vil- lai^e of I'idinijton ; upon which grievance the canons of St. Frides- wide made tlieir complaint to j)ope Alexander the Third, who sent letters to the archbishop of Canterbury his legate, and the bishop of Chichester, conunanding them to see restitution made to the said prior and canons; and till such restitution vshould be given, he forbid » Ex Chartul, S. Fridcswydw, j). \l^. >' Ibid. \>. 1 1;. ^ Ibid. 550 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. all divine offices to be celebrated within the fee, under which the said village of Pidington was contained. Alexander episcopus servus servorum Dei vencrahilihiis fratribus Cantuariensi archiepiscopo apostoUce sedis legato ct Cicestrensi epis- copo sahitem et apostolkam henedictiovem. Ex parte prioris et fra- tru/n ecclesie S. Frideswyde ad aures nostras noverltis pervenisse, quod cum bone memorie Malcolmus quondam Scotie rex eidem ecclesie vil- lam de Pydintona cum universis pertinenciis suis in perpetuam elenio- sinam contulisset et scripti sui munimine conjirmasset ita quidem quod Johanna nobilis mulier in vita sua eandem villam teneret et servi- cium quod de predicta villa eidem regi debuerat prefute ecclesie sol- veret : Willielmus frater ejus qui sibi in regno successit eandem vil- lam prescjnpte ecclesie abstulif, et postmodum David frater ejus qui honorem de Huntindon tenuit prescriptam villam que ad ipsum hono- rem spectare dinoscitur injuste detinuit, et nunc comes Simon contra do- viinum, qui prescripte ecclesie pretaxatam villam scripti sui robore con- jirmaverat in sue salutis periculum detinet occupatam. Quum igitur quod Deo semel offertur non debet ei temeritate qualicunquc subtrahi vel auferri, fraternitati vestre per apostolica scripta precipiendo man- damus, quatenus inquisita veritate rei si vobis constiferit eandem vil- lam memorate ecclesie violenter ablatam fuisse eidem ecclesie villam ipsam auctoritate nostra contradiccione et appellacione cessante restitui facialis, et deinde siquis adversus prefatum priorem et fratres exinde agere volucrit, causam audiatis ct fine debito terminetis. Si vero ad viandatum nostrum prelibuta villa eidem ecclesie nonfuerit restituta, in feodo sub quo eadem continetur donee ipsa villa ecclesice appellutione remota restituatur dominica prohibeatis officia celcbrari. Dat. Feren- tium, ^c. ^ An. Mcccxxi. 14, 15. Edward II. The king now confirmed that charter of king John which re- hearsed and ratified the grant of Thomas de S. Walery, lord of the •^ Ex Chartul. S. Frideswyda, p. 117- AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 551 manor of Ambrosden, of the manor of *Mixbury to the abbey of Oseney : in which j^arish Wido do Areins, son of Bernard dc Arcins, had given six virgates of land, with vilhmage and appertenances to the said abbey of Oseney ; who i)aid to the successive barons of St. Walery, homage, reUef, and scutage for two knight's fees in Mix- bury and Newton-Purcel, and half a knight's fee in Hamj)ton- Gay, with suit at their court of the said barony, till Edmund earl of Cornwall released some part of their service by indenture in 20. Ed. I. Omnibus Christ'i Jidclibiis ad quorum naticiam prescntes literc per- veneriut Edmundus comes Cornuhic salutem in domino. Noverit uni- versitas vestra quod cum pctissemus dc ahhate dc Oseney homagium rclcvium et scufagium dc duohus fcodis viilitum in Mixeburi et Ni- weton-Purcel et de dimidio fcodo militis in IIampfon-(Jai/ unde idem abbas cognovit quod tenet de nobis terras et tcnementa sua in Mixe- buri et Niwcton-Purcell per servicium dimidii feodi militis, et me- dictatcm mancrii de Jlampfon-Gai/ per scrricium dimidii fcodi militis An. Mcocxxi. 1 J, 1.5. Edw. II. Job. Sporowe acol. pres. per d'riuin Joh. de Insula mil. ad cccl. de Heyford Waryn vac. per resign. Joh. de Wellcton. 3. kal. Mart. 1321. *Rectores eccl'ije de Mixbury com. Oxon. Wibertus cl'icus ad eccl'lam de Mixebir. ad pres. nol)ilis viri R. com. Drocaruni. Rot. Hug. Wells, pont. 13. 26. Octob. 112.5. Dominus Cant. :i('iiiisit mag'rum Joh'em Norton decretorum doc- toreni tid eccl. de Mixbury, Line. dioc. ad pres. U. Joii'is Itotlcn. ep'i. Reg. Cbichele, 2G1. 1.501. 1. Maii. Mag'r Ric'us C'ar|u'ntfr, LL. pres. per Rie. Roll', ep'uin ad eccl. de Mixbury vac. per mort. inag'ri David Per- sons. Reg. Smytl), Line. 1503. 18. Sept. Mag'r Hugo Saunders, S. T. P. pres. per Ric. Roft". ep'um ad cccl. de Mixbury per mort. Ric'i Carpenter, ib. 1513. 5. Apr. Mag'r Jacobus Gilbert ad ])res. Joh'is ep'i Roff. adniiss. ad eccl. de Mixbury vac. per resign, mag'ri Hugonis Saunders, ib. Perinutatio inter dom. T ho. de Branktre rcitoroni ocd'iie (if Mixebury et mag. Jc>ii. (Ic Daltoii rcctort'iii eccl'iai S. Albani in VVodestrete, London. 12. kal. Maii. 1361. Reg. Hokingliani, ep'i Line. Hen. Waryn di' liuckyngbani presbiter prescntatus |)ir Tiu). ep'uni Roll', ad eccl. de Mixeburi per resign. I). Joii. de Dalton ex causa permutationis de ipsa cum ecd'ia de Hoghton magna cjusdem dioc. 13. cal. Aug. 136/. ib. 552 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. et faciendo scctam ad curiam nostra in de North-Osciieyc dc trihus septimanis in tres septimanas. Nos pro salute aninie nostre et anima- rum antecessorum nostrorum remisinius et quietuniclamavbnus pro no- bis et heredibus nostris prefato abbati et successoribus suis abhatibus de Osen. servicia qucB a pr edict o abbate pctcbainiis et quod de cetero de 60 petere poterimus de iino feodo mi/itis ct dimidio in vi//is prcdictis ultra servicium unius fcodi militis quod predict us abbas nobis facere recognovit sicut predictum est Ita tamen quod predict us abbas et successores sui abbates de Oseney faciant nobis et heredibus nostris om- nia alia servicia que pertinent ad ummi feodum militis videlicet pro terris et tenementis que idem abbas tenet in Mixeburi et Niweton- Purcell servicia que pertinent ad dimidium feodum militis et pro me- dietate manerii de Hampton- Gay servicia que pertinent ad dimidium feodum militis et sectam ad curiam nostram de North-Oseney de tri- bus septimanis in tres septimanas exceptis tantummodo homagio et re- levio de terris et tenementis prcdictis. Remisimus etiam et quietum clamavimus pro nobis et heredibus 7iostris predicto abbati et successo- ribus suis homagium et scutagium quod aliquo niodo ab eis petere po- tuimus de terris et tenementis quce tenentur de feodo nostro de Evere. Ita tamen quod faciant nobis et heredibus nostris omnia alia servicia que ad predicta terras et tenementa pertinent et nobis hide dehentur. In cujus rei testimonium tarn nos quam predicte abbas de Oseney et ejusdem loci conventus presenti scripto in modum cirographi confccto sigilla nostra apposuimus alternatim. Dat. primo die Januarii anno regni regis Edwardi vicesimo ". I do not question but this village of Mixbury (anciently called Meoxberie) took its name from the old word COeox, (i. e. in the middle, or between, or mixture, whence ?nixen or maxen, a dunghill,) and berie, an open plain, the place being so situate on a wide spa- cious plain, through which ran the confines of the Mercian and West- Saxon kingdoms. It is true, Sir Henry Spelman in the name of ' E.\ Chartul. de Oseney penes decan. et capit. .^d. Christi, Oxon. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 553 places confounds the termination of bcrie with that of burg and bury, as if the appellative of any ancient town : whereas the true sense of the word berie is a wide, open, campaign place, as from sufficient au- thorities is proved by the learned Du Fresne, both in his Glossary \ and his Notes on the Life of St. Lewis *^; where he observes that Beria S. Edmundi, mentioned by Mat. Paris, sub an. 1174, is not to be taken for the town, but the campaign, or adjoining plain. To this and his other remarks on that word might be added, that many flat and wide meadows, and other grounds, are still called by this name of the bei^ic, and bcrie field. So the spacious mead between O.vford and Giftelei, or Ifley, was in the reign of king Athelstan called bcri ; when it was pretended to be recovered by a miracle to the late owners, the abbot and convent of Abingdon ^. The barons who had entered into an association against the two invidious favourites Despensers, father and son, met at Sherborn, un- der the command of Thomas earl of Lancaster, and thence marched to St. Alban's, and returned through these parts of the country, as ap- pears from this ; that one of the army, who was chiefly concerned in a design of plundering the monastery of St. Alban's, died in his march at Ailsbury, com. Bucks '. The barons, when they had stayed at St. Alban's three days, sent the bishoi)s of London, Salisbury, Hereford, Ely, and Chichester, to the king at London, with proposals that he would banish the Despensers, as traitors to the kingdon), and would send letters of indemnity for them and their adherents. The king not assenting to these terms, the earl of Lancaster with his forces marched to the city, and quartered in the suburbs, till he had leave to enter within the walls: and then, by the mediation of the queen and bi- shops, the king did agree to the banishment of the Spensers, and letters of pardon were granted, and the barons returned to their al- legiance ans. I.Kit. in voce Inria. K Not. ad S. Lud. vitam, p. 89. '' B. Twine, MS. C. 2. p. 253. ' The. Walsinft. sub an. ^ Ibid. VOL. I. 4 B 554 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. renewed the flame ; and at Christmas the king was with one army at Cirencester, and the earl of Lancaster at the head of another near Bamnton '. During these fatal heats, there were solemn justs per- formed at Whitney, com. Oxon, between Humphrey Bohun earl of Hereford on the one side, and Aymer Valence earl of Pembroke on the other ; which latter in 8. Ed. H. obtainctl a licence from the king to make a castle of his house at Banipton in this county. When queen Isabel was going to take possession of Leeds castle, the lord Badlesmere, owner, was then at* Whitney, and sent from thence some * Rectores eccl'iae de Wltteney com. Oxon. 1219. Dionislus clericus ad eccl. de Wit- teneia ad pres. d'ni Winton ep'i per resign, mag'ri Humfredi de Midliers qui liabuit custodiam ejusd. Rot. Hug. Well. pont. 1 1. Mag'r Helyas de Glovernia subdiac. ad eccl. de Witteneya ad pres. mag'ri Barthol. Winton et Luc. Surrei archid'orum procu- ratorum ep'i Winton. Rot. Hug. Well, pont. 19. Mag'r Will, de S. Mariee eccl'ia ad eccl. de Winten ad pres. P. ep'i Winton. Rot. Rob. Grosthead. anno 2. (1236.) Rad. Grosset. subdec. prepositus Augus- tens. ad eccl. de Wytteneia ad pres. regis ratione ep'atus Winton. vacantis. Rot. Rob. Grosthead. anno 9. (1243.) Will'us Wachi de Cambriaco pres. per dom. regem ratione ep'atus Winton in raanu sua existent, ad eccl. de Witteneya vac. per resign, mag'ri Petri de Cambriaco. Will, de Witteneya p'b'r ad vicar, de Witteneya vac. per mort. Gilb'ti ad pres. procuratoris Guill'i dicti Vach rectoris ejusd. 1262. Rot. Ric. Gravesend. anno 4. Will'us Vacce nepos mag'ri Will'i Vacce de Chambriaco per provis. papal fit rector eccl. de Witney per resign. Will'i Vacce de Cambriaco in curia Romana admissus. Id. Feb. 1310. Reg. Dalderby. Mag'r Tlio. de Tcssunt subd. pres. per J. ep'um Winton. ad eccl. de Witteney vac. per resign. Will'i Vacce de Cambriaco ultimi rectoris ejusd. nomine pcrmutationis quam idem Will'us cum eccl'ia de Hag- wortliingham quam prefatus mag'r Thomas prius tenuerat, ad dictam eccl. de Witteney admissus est. 17- kal. Dec. 1318. ib. Joh. de Orleton p'b'r pres. per Adam. Winton. ep'um ad eccl. de Witteney Line. dioc. vac. per mort. mag'ri Tho. de Tes- sunte. 14. kal. Apr. 1336. Reg. Burg- wersh. Permutatio inter Joii. de Orleton rector, eccl. de Wytteney et mag'rum Joh. deTrillck rector, eccl'ijfi de Brocdon Wigorn. dioc. dc patronatu ep'i Wigorn. 9. kal. Apr. 1339. ib. Rogerus Folyot p'b'r pres. per Adam, ep'um Winton ad eccl. de Wytteney vac. per dimissionem Joh. Trillek. 7- l. Roger d'Amory, the uncle, was of the barons' party ; for which the said Roger was after attainted, and his manor of Kenynton, in com. neye per niort. d'ni Hog. Foliot. 4. id. Juii. 1359. Reg. Ginewell. Perniutatio inter mag. Rob. de Wycford rector, eccl. de Witter.ey dioc. Line, et d'num Joh. de Bleohury rector, eccl. de Felgham Cicestr. dioc. admiss. 4. kal. Aug. 1359. ib. Job. de Crekkelade adniissus ad eccl. de VVythendoii \\'igorn. dioc. et Job. Frencbe rectorem eccriae de Witteney ex permutat. 31. Jan. 13fi9. Reg. Bokingbam. Mag'r Job. Frensbe rector eccl'iaj de Wytteneye et Joh. de Kelleseye rector ec- cl'iae de Uppingliam permutant. 5. Mart. 1370. ib. Nicb. de Wykebam licentiatus in legibus presb'r pres. per Will, op'uin VVinton. ad eccl. de Witteneye permort. niag'ri Joli. de Kelseyc. admiss. 3. Sept. 1373. ib. Nicb. Wykebam rector eccl'ije de Wyt- iiay presentat vicarium ad dictam eccl'iani. 13. Aug. 1390. Job. Frank eapcUanus pres. per llenr. ep'um Winton. ad eccl. de Wytteney. 27. Nov. I'lN. Reg. Rcpingdon. Catryk rector eccl'iw dc Wytteney. 1422. Reg. Flcmmyng. Job. Laceby p'b'r pres. per Rob. C;atryk rectorem eccl. dc Wytteney ad vicariam ejusdem per mortem Tbo. Curson. 22. Oct. 1131. Reg. Gray. Mag'r Job. Cokkys p'b'r pres. per Will. Waynflct prepositum coll. regal. B. Mariae de Etona custodcm ep'atus Winton. va- cantis ad eccl. de AVytteney per mort. D. mag'ri WiH'i Estcour, admiss. ult. Apr. 144/. Reg. Allien yk. Mag'r Leonel Wodevile pres. per Will. Winton. ep'um ad eccl. de Wytteney per mortem mag'ri Joh. Cokks. 4. Apr. 1476. Reg. Rotberbam. Mag'r Edw. Cbeyny deer, doctor p'b'r pres. per Will. Winton. ep'um ad eccl. de Witteney per resign, mag'ri Leonelli Wode- vile. 11. Dec. 1479. Reg. Rotberbam. Mag'r Nicb'us West LL.D. p'b'r pres. per Ric. Winton. ep'um ad eccl. de Wit- ney per mortem mag'ri Edw. Cheyney. 4. Aug. 1502. Reg. Smith. D'n's Georg. Gray cl'icus pres. per ep'um Winton. ad eccl'iam de Wittney per con- secr. Nicb'i West in ep'um Elien. 12 Nov. 1515. Reg. Alwater. Mag'r Ric. Sydnor, A. M. pres. per Ric. Winton. ej)'um ad eccl. de \^'ytteney per resign, d'ni Cieo. Gray. (>. Jan. 1519. ib. 153(;. 15. Mart. Job. Indcrbill. S. T. P. ad eccl. de Witney. Reg. Whitgift ar'ep'i tant. •" Jo. Leland, Collectan. torn. 1. p. S2H. 4 B 2 556 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Berks, given to Hugh Despenser, sen. earl of Winchester; but Ri- chard (rAn)ory, his ne[)he\v, of BuckncU, adhered to the king ; which Richard d'Amory, banneret, had been this sunnner in the wars of Scotland, and received for the service of himself four shillings a day, for two knights two shillings, and for thirteen other soldiers one shil- ling per diem, for forty days ; from the fomlh of Aug. to the thir- teenth of Sept. forty-two pounds : as also forty-four pounds received for the like military service by his knight Sir Roger de Nonnewike at York, Nov. 7- as appears from the accounts of Roger de Wal- tham, keeper of the king's wardrobe ". Thomas earl of Lancaster, with his associated barons, (of whom many had returned to the king's service,) marched to Gloucester, thence to Burton upon Trent, and so to his castle at Tutbury. The king with his forces in pursuit of them marched to Coventry ; thence to Litchfield ; to which place the two Spensers with recruits came in to him. The earl of Lancaster placed some foot to maintain the bridge at Burton, which obliged the king to pass the Trent at Wal- ton : when the earl found the king's army had passed the river, he drew out his men from the castle in order to engage ; but when he perceived that one of his retinue. Sir Robert Holland, who was bring- ing in five hundred men to his assistance, had carried them over to the king, he fled northwards ; and before the king's forces could overtake him, he got to Boroughbrigge in Yorkshire, where he found the country people in arms under the conduct of William lord La- timer, governor of York, and Sir Andrew de Harcla, governor of Car- lisle ; where, after a short skirmish, Humphrey de Bohun earl of He- reford was slain, and the earl of Lancaster taken prisoner, and car- ried to Pontfract, to the king and the two Spensers ; and three days after, was in implacable haste condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered : but in honour to his great birth the sentence was miti- gated into the loss of his head ; and on 11. calends of Apr. this noble patriot, being carried to a hill without the town on a lean white jade n R. Dods. MS. vol. 35. p. 125. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 557 without a bridle, was made there to kneel, and when he directed his face to the cast, was coiiipelleil to turn toward Scotland, while a vil- lain of London cut oil" his head ". Of the death of this great peer, the king himself did soon repent. Many miracles were reported to be done in the place where he was buried, and a beautiful church was there erected to the honour of his memory. The common people had so great a veneration for him, that they worshipped his picture, drawn on a tablet in St. Paul's cathedral in London, till the king, by special letter to the bishop of London, dated at York the 28th of June, 16. Ed. II. inhibited thai practice. His attainder was annulled in the first parliament, L Ed. HI. ; and the opinion of his merits so far prevailed, that in 33. Ed. III. it was generally believed .that miracles were done at his tomb, anfl that blood issued out of it P. Nay, in 3. Ed. III. Ediuund earl of Kent, having some occasions at the court of Rome, held a discourse \\\\\\ pope John XXII. at Avignion, and informed his holiness, how Almi-ihty God had done many notable miracles for the sake of Thomas earl of Lancaster, and therefore prayed that his body might be translated. But tlie pope would not consent, until he should be better certified by the clergy of England what miracles had been so done, and what credit was to be given to them''. In the history of W. de Pakinton, treasurer to" the Black Prince, there is a chapter of the miracles whirh God wrought for Thomas earl of Lancaster at the place where he was be- headed. One of our historians makes it a moot case, whether he deserved the honour to be reputed a saint. De Thoince coniifis Lancasfriie meriiis, an infer sanctos sit annumeraiidus, crehra in vn/go discepta- tio est : aliis qiiidem asscvcrantibtis (jnod sic, eo (juud e/enwsinis in- dulsit ; quod rc/igiosos hononircrif : i/nod pro Justa querela, ut vide- batur, usque ad mortem eertaverit : quod eciam ejus inseetatores parro " Hist. W. do Pakinton apud J. Li-l. Collect, toni. 1. p. C>V.'.). V Tho. \V:d. sub an. 1322. et Dugd. Bar. torn. I. p. 781, 78;^. 1 Barnes, Hist. lid. III. p. .S'J. 558 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. post tempore duraverunt , imino dira morte perieriint. Aliis vero in con- trarium sentientihus, hominem videlicet cunjugatum vcglecta uxore sua generosa inmimeras niuliercu/as polluere ; offendentcs vel leviter in eum morti wandare ; ordinum fiigitivos legisqiie fransgressores ne lege plecterentur pertinacitcr fovere : cuncta denique agenda sua ad nutnm unius secretarii sui passim committere ; tempus quoque certandi usque ad mortem pro justitia defensanda inermiter fagientem non debere sanctum censcri, prcesertim cum invitus comprchensus passus fuerit : set ohiationum donaria et miraculorum simulacra qua^ in loco sure de- capitafionis in prfesentiarum celebrantur, qualeni in posferum liabe- hunt exifum scecula videhunt post f'utura\ The arms of Thomas earl of Lancaster were gules, three lions |)as- sant gardant or, a label of five points ermine. The arms of Lacy, field quartered or, and gules ; lion rampant purpure. In this year, Humphrey de Bohun earl of Hereford, and Roger de Mortimer, with many other nobles, prosecuting their revenge on Hugh Despenser the elder, fell upon the lands and estate of his kinsman John de Handlo lord of Borstall, and committed great spoil and rapine, because he had been one of the chief counsellors of the said Hugh Despenser". An. Mcccxxii. 15, 16. Edward 11. Alice daughter and heir of William Longspe earl of Salisbury and Lincoln, upon her marriage with Thomas earl of Lancaster, had been endowed at the church door with the castle and borough of New- castle-undcr-Line, the towns of Penkhill, Sheprugg, Walstatton, and Clayton, in com. Staff, and all other hamlets belonging to the said castle and borough, as also with divers manors and lordships lying in other counties, of which she had livery soon after her husband's death, resigning to the king all her right to the lordships of Winter- bourn, Anibresbury, and Troubrigge in com. Wilts, Caneford in com. ' Hen. de Knyghton inter X. Script. 2540. ' Jo, Lei. Collect, MS. vol. 1. p. 328. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 559 Dorset, Henstrigge and Charlton in com. Som. which were of her inheritance': the manors of Burcester and Midlington continuing to her, as the hereditary estate from her father, as appears by this record. Universis Christi fidcUbus ad (/iios presais scriptum pcrvcneiit Ale- sia que fid f uxor I'/ioiiw (juoiidaiii com. Luiic. ct Jilia ct hcres Hairicl dc Lidcy (juondam coniilis Line, salutciii. Novcritis me conccssisse, ^-c. excel/en fissiino principi ct domino meo Edwardo rcgi Jiiglic, 8fc. quod maneria de ^Imbresbury, IVhiterbouni, Troubrigges, cum pertin. in com. in/ts. et maner. de Cancford in com. Dorset, et maner. de Ilen- gisfesrigge et Cherleton in com. Som. cum ri//is et liumlettis terris te- nementis hundredis et wapentagiis, ^c. que Johanues de irarrena comes Surregie tenet ad terminum vite sue de liereditate mea post de- cessum ejiisdem com. domino meo Edwardo regi remaneant". All which king Edward the Third did after grant to William earl of Sa- lishnrv, and his heirs general". At the end of this year, Richard Serich granted and confirmed to the prior and canons of Bnrcester and their successors one niessuage and nine acres of aral)le land, lying in the town and fields of Bur- cester, with gardens, cnrtilaiies, meadows, and other appertenances, which he held from John Pull", to have and to hold to the said prior and canons from the capital lord of the fee for the usual service, by charter dated the 24th of Ahuch, 1(5. Ed. II. Sciant prasentes et futuri quod ego Ricardus Serich dedi et hac pra'senti cliarta men confirmari priori et canonicis de Berencesfer et successoribus siiis iinum messiiagium et novem acras teme arubilis ja- centes in villa et campis de lierencester cum gurdinis curtilagiis pratis haiis maris fossatis et omnibus aliis uhiqiie pertinentiis, quw qiiidein messuagia ct terras liabui dc dono et feoff amento Jobannis Puff ha- bend. et tenend. prccdicta messiiagium cl lerram cum omnibus suis per- tinentiis supradictis priori et conventui et successoribus suis dc capita- • Dugd. Bar. toin. 1. p. 782. " Ex Chiirtulario abbiU. dc Barlitigcs, MiS. " U. Doils. MS. vol. ;»/. f. n:'. 56o PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. lihus dombiis fcodi per servitia inde dchita ct constieta lihere qiiicte et ill pace in perpetuum. Et ego prcpdictus Ricardus Serich et hcere- des mei pra'dicta uiessuagium terrain et prata cum omnibus pertinen- tiis supradictis prcedictis priori et conventui et successoribus suis con- tra omnes gentes warantizabimus acquietabimus et in perpetuum de- fendemus. In cujus rei testimonium huic prcesenti cliartce sigillum meum apposui. Iliis testihus ; Henrico de Boweles, Ricardo de Bur- cester, Johanne le Leche de eadem, Thoma IJonetoun de Stratton, An- drea de Stamford, Roberto Broun, Johanne Abbod, et aliis. Datum vicesimo quarto die Martii, anno regni regis Edwardi Ji/ii regis Ed- 7vardi sexto decimo ^. Henry le Teis, lord of the manor of Grendon, having took part with Thomas earl of Lancaster in the northern insurrection, suffered death at London, as others of the confederates did in several places, leaving Alice his sister and heir, then the wife of VVarine de I'lsle, of full age^ And by inquisition taken 1. Ed. IIL it was found that the said Henry le Tyeis held the manor of Alwerton and Tywerwell, in the county of Cornwall, which, together with the manor of Sherborn, in com. Oxon, were held of the manor of S. Walery de North- Oseney ; as also the manor of Chilton, in com. Berks, held of the honour of Walingford ; and that Alice the wife of Warine de Tlsle was his sister and heir ^. An. Mcccxxiii. 16, 17- Edward II. By an inquisition now taken in Kent it appeared, that Guy Ferre, lately deceased, held the manor of Godindon, in com. Oxon, to him- self and heirs, by the gift of king Ed. L '' Out of the profits of which manor, Edmund le Botiller, who died on the feast of St. Michael this 16th of Ed. n. had six pounds, eighteen shillings, and sixpence; as appears by another inquisition taken in this county of Oxon, wherein the jurors found that Edmund le Botiller, who died on the feast of y Ex Orig. penes D. Guil. Glynne, Bar. ^ Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. 21. » R. Dods. MS. vol. 82. p. 70. b lb. vol. 51. p. 101. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 561 St. Michael, 16. Ed. II. and his heir, then in ward to the king, held the manor of Fretvvell, in com. Oxon, and \ i'. xviii*. \'i''. of the rents, assize, and other profits arising from the manor of Godindon, in the said county of Oxon, wliich Guy de Ferre held to himself and to the heirs of his body, by the gift of Edward, father to the present king, in the twenty-sixth year of his reign ^ In an account of the knight's fees of John de Hastings, it is re- cited that Roeer de (irev at this time held half a knight's fee In Pe- dington, will-.in the parish of Ambrosden : and that Laurence de Preston held one knight's fee in Preston, Hakeiinton, Ilorton, Pi- dington, Quenton, and Wotton ''. The Knights Templars, who had caught up nine thousand ma- nors in this kingflom, being dissolved an. ]'A\-2. and all their lands escheated to the king; in this year, by act of j)arliament, all their late j)ossessions in tlngland were given to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John's of Jerusalem, Ac in plus usus erogata contra clunafonan vohintatcm in a/ios iisi/s (lisfra/icrenfur" : by which means the manor of Merilon came to this new order. Alice widow of Thomas earl of Lancaster ([uitted her whole right in the castle of Donington to the king, and by the name of Alice countess of Lincoln and Salisbury, gave to the canons of Barliniis in com. Lincoln, in her pure widowhood, her manor of Swaton in that county, with the advowson of that church'. Soon after she married to Eubulo le Strange, (a younger son to John le Strange of Knokyn, the fourth of that name, and of Maud his wife, daughtiM" and heir to Roger d'I'2ivir%) with whom (as was reported) she had been familiar whili- re|)udiate(l from the earl of Lancaster; but taking this second husband uilhout the royal consent, the king seizeil into his hands whatever she possessed or could claim of the inheritance of her la- ther; nor would the king be satisfied till she had by lino released to him and his heirs all the lands and rights which descended to lur c U. Dods. MS. Hut. I'i|). vol. 17. 1. 1 1.». '1 H. D.uls. MS. vol. SG. f. IJ'J. 'Cnimlon, in Trinol). 'Ex Cartulario Abb. «lc iiarlinf,'s. K. Uods. .MS. vol. 7^- f- 1'^. *= "). f. (:(;7. b. vol.. I. 4 C 562 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. from her fatlier in the counties of Lancaster, Chester, and York ; and to Hugh Despenser the younger, the castle and dominion of Denbigh in Wales, and the castle of Bolinghrook with its apperte- nances, and all other lands in that county, and in many other parts of England. Which Hugh Despenser in 15. Ed. II. had a grant of the manor of Brustlesham, in com. Berks, late Thomas earl of Lan- caster's, attainted. And in 16. Ed. II. had a charter for a fair yearly at his manor of Boreford in this county, for the space of seven days preceding the nativity of St. John the Baptist, the day, and eight days following ^ ; at which time he obtained a grant of twenty pounds yearly rent issuing out of the said manor of Burford, late John Gif- fard's, attainted : he had likewise the manors of Finnmere and Shal- deswell, which had belonged to William Tuchet, hanged at York in 15. Ed. n. So as by these great alienations, the said Alice had not above three thousand marks per an. of her hereditary estate, which had been formerly more than ten thousand marks per cm. ' After Christmas, a conspiracy was formed among the followers of the late earl of Lancaster and the barons, to release all persons in one night who had been committed to prison upon that occasion. A party of these conspirators came to the castle of Walingford, where Maurice de Berkley and Hugh de Audley (lord of the manor of Stratton-Audley) were in custody, and got into the castle by a postern gate toward the river of Thames'". Upon this alarm, the king sent orders to Richard d'Aniory, lord of the manor of Bucknell and steward of the king's household, who was then in Lincolnshire, to come with forces to the said castle, and expel from thence the king's enemies. For which service he after received from the master of the wardrobe for the expences of himself and retinue, from the 24th of Jan. (at which time he received those orders) to the 29th day of that month, during which time he stayed for the coming of his men, one hundred and seventeen shillings. And afterwards for h Dugd. Bar. torn. 1. p. 392. b. ' MS. in Bib. Bod. James, vol. 2?. ^ Tho. Wals. sub an. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 563 nineteen men at arms, of which three were knii^hts, from the thirtieth day of Jan. to the Hfteenth of March, computing thirty-Hve days, during which he continued his stay j)artly in besieging the castle, and partly in defence of it, after the expulsion of the king's enemies, forty- five pounds ten shillings, at 4\ per diem for himself, 2\ for each knight, and 12'. for every common soldier: in all 51'. J\ as appears by the accounts of Roger de Waltham, master of the king's ward- robe '. The said Hugh de Aldithley, when he made his escape, was re- ceived into the king's favour by the interest of his son's wife, who was the king's niece, riz. Margaret, one of the daughters and coheirs of Gilbert earl of Glocester, and widow of Piers de Gaveston earl of Cornwall, married to Hugh de Audley le Fitz. Soon after which time the said Hugh the father died, leaving the said Hugh his eldest son by Isolda the widow of Walter Balun : he left another son, James, who succeeded in the manor of Stratton-Audley "'. John de St. John, lord of the manors of Staunton-St. -John's and Great Barton, departed this life, leaving John his son and heir fifteen years of age ; and Alice his widow, who after married to Reginald de Pavely, lord of the manor of Wendlebury, and patron of that church ", An. Mcccxxiv. 17, 18. Edward 11. Alice wife of Eubulo le Strange had livery (as daughter and heir to Henry de Lacy earl of Lincoln) of the court of the fee of de la Hay, and the gaol standing before the gate of Lincoln castle : as also an annuity of twenty pounds for the third penny of Lincoln : all which, by reason of the forfeiture of her late husband, had been seized into the king's hands". it is a mistake in Mr. Fern to preteiul, that when Thomas earl of Lancaster died without issue, his countess Alice, heir of the Lacies, I K. Dods. MS. vol. 35. p. 12fi. "> El Ashmole, MS. " Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. 10. o lb. torn. •-'. p. 7^2. 1.. 4 t 2 564 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. took to her second husband one Hugh de Fresnes in Arlhois, who was called ronjnionly (l)y what ri. '.'(IS. b. 566 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. gatam terrce per homagiitm ct JidcUtatem quod Hugo attc Ford capel- Iwiiis quondam tenuit, et quod idem Hugo Iiahuif ex doi/o Margerice atte Ford matris suee, qucB dictam terrain de domina tenuit in capite , reddendo per annum ii'. vi'*. ad quatuor anni terminos, videlicet ad festa S. Michaelis, nativitatis Domini, annuntiationis bcatcc; Marice, et nativitatis S. Johannis Baptistcc, per cequa/es portiones. Galfridus de Langlcye Jilius doniini Johannis de Langleye domini de Bigenhull tenet unnm messnagium et unam virgatam terrce cum prato in Berencester quod vocatur le Palmerslond, videlicet illad mes- snagium et illam virgatam terrce cum prato quod Thomas II i I Ham oliquando de ipso tenuit in Berencester, et reddit inde per an. \i'. ad terminos prcedictos. Quod quidem messuagium et virgata terrce cum prato jacet particidariter in campo ut sequitur, videlicet, una acrajacet juxta murum canonicorum inter terram Johannis Pistoris et terram Nicholai le Grey, et una acra supra la Hulle inter terram priorissce et terram Thomce jilii IVillielmi. Item duce acrce super Longelond juxta \z tOODC VUCp inter terram quondam domini Johannis de Lang- leye et \z toODC loep. Item tres acrce et dimidia apud \z t^h^^VitS juxta terram Nicholai le Grey. Item duce acrce et dimidia super le Croft- land inter terram dicti Nicholai et terram Johannis Pistoris. Item una acra super Cufeschomemor inter terram priorissce et terram Roberti Elyot. Item una acra apud le mulnclDCg juxta terram prcedicti Ni- cholai et AlicicB viduce. Item una acra apud le IVowelond juxta ter- ram Johannis de la Ford et terram Johannis jilii fFalteri. Item una acra quce jacet inter terram Alicice Heirhiches et terram Thomce f Hi IVillielmi. Item una acra in Bodeinore juxta terram priorissce. Item tres acrce super Hesneford inter terram Nicholai le Grey et terram Simonis le Frend. Item tres acrce apud Fishthorne inter terram Alicice viduce et terram Walteri Cavel. Item vna acra super Croc- ivellforlonge inter terram Nicholai le Grey et terram Radulphi ad ca- pud villce. Item duce acrce super Eldeforde inter terrain Nicholai le Grey et terram Nicholai Germayn. Item tres acrce super Ily nacre inter terram pnorissce et terram IValteri Cavel. Item tres acrce super Imhelowe inter terram Nicholai le Grey et Kyngesmere. Item una • AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 567 acra super Haggethorn jiixta tcrram yicholai le Grey. Item una acra super Pudwellforlong inter terrani priorissce et terrain prcedicti Ni- chola'i. Pratum prredictce virgatce terrce pertinens jacet particulariter ut se(juitur : videlicet, duce acroB et diinidia super Roweloive inter terrain prioris dc Berencester et terrain Nicholai le Grey. Item una acra VO' cata Henedacre jacet in Kynsedeham. Item tres acrce apud le Whi- theyes inter llelenesmede et tcrram domince priorissce. Prior de Beren- cester tenet dims acras terrcB de preedicta virgata acres quas hahuit in escambio de irultero de Laugleye et simul jacent apud Eldeford in campo boreuli inter terrain Nicholai Germayn et terrain Nicholai dc SaJ'ord. Johannes Jilius Thoiiue Abbod tenet per quoddam scriptum inden- tatum factum Thomce Abbod et hcercdibus de corpore suo procreatis sub nomine Agnetis quondam priorissce et sui conventus unum messua- gium cum curtilagio ubi manet, quod situm est inter messuagium quod Robertus le If^ebbe aliquando tenuit et gablam capitalis messuagii quod H. Faber aliquando tenuit, et reddit per annum xii''. et sectam curicc. — Idem Johannes tenet aliud messuagium cum curtilagio ubi manct per quoddam scriptum indcntatum factum sub nomine Isabella; quon- dam priorissce et sui conventus Thomce Abbod et hceredibus de corpore, procreatis quod situm est inter messuagium quod Henricus Faber ali- quando tenuit et magnam portam domince priorissce, et reddit inde per annum ad terminum suum iii'. vi**. et sectam curice. Idem Johaii- lies tenet unam placeam terrce ex transverso curiilagii sui ad capud boverite domince priorissce ubi ingressus et cgressus ad crqftum pri- orissce de manerio suojieri solebat, et reddit inde per annum ad festum S. Micliaclis \\'\ et tenet sine ctiarta. Item Johannes et Juliana u.vor sua tciient per quoddciin scriptum indcntatum sub nomine Mafildis pri- orissce et sui conventus factum eideni Johanni et Juliance et hceredibus de corpore dicti Johannis legitime procreatis unum messuagium cum curtilagio quod quondam liogerus Ic Mayiic tenuit Ju.rta messuagium domini de Higcnhull quod tenet dc priorissu. Tenent etiam per idem scriptum decern acras terrce de dicta priorissa in campo de Berencester, 568 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. quariim ducp. acres jaccnt apuJ Eldcford inter terrain prioris dc Be^ renccster et terram Nicholai de So ford : ct una acra et diniidia ct una roda Jaccnt super JMorforlong inter terram (iilherti de Stratton et ter- rain Aic/io/ai fe May, et una roda jacet apud LevcnchcMlich inter terrain domini de Bigenhull et terram Johannis Mich, et dure acrce ct dimidia jacent super Lifothjjnacre de quihus diniidia acra jacet infer terram comit. Lijncoln et terrain Uainotidi et una acra Jacet infer terrain dicfi Hamondi et terram Johannis atte Ford: et una acra jacet inter terrain Johannis Caret et et una acra vocata Cut- tacre jacet super Mangefhorn inter terram Johannis Pines et terrain Agnetis le Blake : et dimidia acra jacet J ux fa Buchamwey infer ter- ram Johan?iis atte Ford et terram Johannis Mich : et dimidia acra ja- cet ibidem inter terram UiUielmi Gavelet terram Roberti JMichel : ef dimidia acra jacet ibidem inter terrain Johannis Knyght et If'ilUeliiii Cavel : ef una acra jacet super (ioldforlong inter terram domini de Bigenhull et terrain Roberti Michel, et reddif per annum ad (juafuor terminos x'. vi''. Robertas Jilius Johannis le Smith tenet unum messuagium Juxta cu- riam domince priorissce, et reddit inde per annum ad terminos prce- dictos III', et sect am curiae. IFillielmus Jilius Johannis Squier tenet unum messuagium cum cur- tilagio sibi et hceredihus de corpore legitime procreafis per quoddam script um indent at um factum sub nomine Agnetis priorissce de Mar- hyate ef sui convenfus, quod messuagium cum curfilagio quondam fait Hugonis Coci de Berencesfer, et reddit inde per annum ad terminos prcedicfos II^ et sect am curice. Johannes Goldes tenet duo messuagia ef quafuor acras terrce qua- rum una acra jacet super Buchamwey inter terram Nicholai le Sqford et terram Roberti Thames : et una acra jacet atte Melleiveysend inter terram Johannis Gavel ef terram Johannis de Aston : et una acra jacet super Nynacre inter terrain domince priorissce quam Petrus Galewei tenet et terrain Andrece le Rooke: et dimidia acra Jacet super le Melleiveysend infer terrain Johannis de Aston et terrain Nicholai le Saj'ord : ef dimidia aci'a extend it usque Twyseledivey infer terrain AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 569 priorissce et terrain Andrece Ic Rooke : et reddit inde per annum ad terminos prwdictos vi*. ef sect am curios. Sumvia reddituu/u li/n'roruiii te/ieutiuin hcercditarie xxxIV^ vii''. ob. undc pro termino S. Michaelis vIrI^ viii''. oh. pro tcrmino nativi- tatis viii'. VII''. ob. pro ternmio annuntiationis viii'. viii''. et pro ter- mino nativitatis S. Joh. Bapt. VIII^ vii**. ob. Libere Tenentes ad terminum vita Cotag. Mafi/dis Ic Taillur tenet per rotulum curice unum mcssuagium cum curti/agio ad terminum vitce, et reddit inde per annum ad quatuor ter- minos pra'dictos iv*. et sectam curice. Isabella Mandi tenet unum mcssuagium cum curtilagio per rotulum curice ad terminum vitce suce, et reddit per annum ad terminos prcB- dictos ii\ et sectam curia:. Johannes Monekes et Matildis uxor sua tenent per scriptum inden- tatum ad terminum vitce eorum umim mcssuagium cum curtilagio, et reddunt per annum in', et sectam curice. Johannes le Baker et Christiana uxor ejus tenent per scriptum in- dentatum ad terminum vitce eorum quatuor domos cum curtilagiis et unum furnum cum secta custumaria ad cundem : et reddunt per an- num ad terminos prcedicfos ix'. et sectam curice. Summa xviii' Terrce dc dominicis dimissce ad terminum vitce. Johannes Abbot tenet ad terminum vitce suce per rotulum curice tinam acram et unam rodam terrce prout Jacent in canipo in quinque parcel/is unde una rodajacet inter tcrrani Nicholai pnposifi de Bigen- hull et terrain Roherii Michell dc Bigenhull, ef extendit usque Oldc- dich : ef alia rodajacet inter terram prcedicti Aicholui et terrani Jo- hannis Rooke super Shottedown, et extendit super Longeland : et alia rodajacet inter terram Roberti Michell de Berencester et extendit us- que Longelond : et alia roda jacet juxta terram Nicholai pr edict i de Bigenhull et extendit super Oldedich : et a/ia roda jacet ad inj'erius capud del Oldedich juxta Ic nt ^i^D^ l)lIl"Ol)C£ (>rcnC=lUCJ) 7'/x/« terrain Johannis Abbot : ct una acra apud ■\ 1) 2 572 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Netherdenyshclond juxta terrain Simonis JVardc : et reddit per annum ii\ x"*. oh. q. If^iUieliniis le Blake nat'wus dominte tenet ad voluntatem illas tres acras quas dominus IVilUelmus vicarius aliqiumdo tenuit, et post ipsiim Johannes Faber et Isabella uxor ejus aliqnando tcnuerunt : quarum una acrajacet in le Morforlong juxta Sidenhal : et dimidia acra jacet juxta Stanfordewcy : et alia dimidia acra jacet et alia dimidia acra apud Eldejord ; et alia dimidia acra super Overdcnyshelond : reddit per annum ii'. lu'^. fnilielmus Cavel et Nicholaus de Saford nativi domince tenent qua- tuor acras terrce quas Kogerus Morain aliquando tenuit, quarum dutc acrce jacent in le Northjeld apud Cotemanleye : et reddunt per annum ad terminos prcedictos ii^ viii<^. et tenet ur per rotulum ad voluntatem. JVillielmus Cavel nativus tenet quatuor acras terrce per rotulum cu- rice, quarum una acrajacet super Hangeteshulle juxta terram Nicholtd le Blake : et una acra inter terram quandam Simonis Germeyn et Agnetis le Blake, et abuttat super preedictam acram : et dimidia acra in Lallesden : et dimidia acra super Middlejbrlong inter terram Nicho- lai atte Brigge et Roberti Germeyn : et una acra super Middleforlong inter terram Nicholai le Blake et Siinonis Germeyn : reddit per annuni II^ viii'^. Robertus le Frend ymtivus domince tenet per rotulum curice ad volun- tatem quinque acras terrce, quarum una acra jacet super JVadforlong inter terram Simonis Germeyn et terram dicti Roberti: et una acra jacet in eadem cultura inter terram Roberti Baudi et terram et dimidia acrajacet super le Crojtelond inter terram Johannis atte Forde et terram Johannis Walter, et extendit super le JVodeiveye: et dimidia acrajacet super EldeJ'eld proxime la More inter terram Johannis James et JVcdteri Sebern : et una acra jacet super Netherdenyshelond inter terram Johannis Knyght et terram et una acra super Shortefor- long inter terram reddit per annum ii*. x"*. Pet r us Galewar nativus domince tenet ad tcrminum vitce suce et uxo- ris ejus sex acras terrce quarum duce acrce et dimidia simuljacent super AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 573 le Netherynacrc inter terram Roherti Gcrmeyn ef terram Johnnms Goldci^: ct iluce acrcc jacciit in la Morforlong inter dom. Johan. de La)i t)UtgC0*5tCnC=UJCyj«A-^flr terram Johannis Abbot : et dimidia aera apud ^^ClClS'lECpcnDC .' et una aera apud Cornhull : et dimidia aera apud %tanforDS^gccnCVDCpC : et una aera super Netheresdencheland : et reddit inde per annum ii*. x*". §-c. Rogerus Mortimer nativus prioris de Bercncester tenet quatuor ac7'as terrce, quarum duce acrce jaccnt in Southfeld apud Oldediches-end. : et duce acrce jaeent in Northfeld apud Colmaneleye : et reddit inde per an. ii'. viii''. ad terminos prccdictos : et tenetur ad terminuni vitce suce. Henrieus Par la custume tenet novem acras et unuam rodam terrcs, quarum quinque acrce jaccnt super Radyforloug : et dimidia aera super Overdenchesland : ct una aera et dimidia et tres rodce super Cat acre, Sfc. Several donations were now confumed to the abbey of Egnesham, com. Oxon, and particularly four hides of land in Chesterton adjoin- ing to Burcester, which had been given by Henry de Oily, son of Robert, lord of the manor, by this charter. Notum sit omnibus qui sunt et qui venturi sunt, quod ego Henrieus de Oili concessi ef dedi ecelesie Dei et sancte Marie de Egnesham quatuor hidas terre apud Cestreton villani meam in perpetuam elemo- sinam pro anima patris mci et Edid sororis mee, duas videlicet in Brueria et duas in villa Cestreton, libcras et quietus ab omnibus que- relis excepto murdrcdo et danegeldo. Testibus Nicholao capeUano AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 579 ineo, IFalcheVino prcshyfero dc ircsfon, Nigello (h Oil}, Widonc de Oili, Leonardo dc Ifltttj'cid, ff'i//ic///io de Caiifelu, Pctro de JVittc- feld, IliU'iclmojUio llicardi". This church of Chesterton, with those of Weston and Hampton - Gay, &c. liad been appropriated to the abbey of Oseney, by Richard bishop of Lincohi, in the year 1263. under this form. Omnibus Cbristi jidelibiis ad qiios presentes litcre pervenerint Ri- cardiis miseracione divina Lincolnieusis cpiscopits saliitcm in Domino sempiternam. Predeccssorum nostroruni vestigiis inherentes, gtii ad dilectos in Christo JiHos canonicos S. Marie de Oseneia propter sua dc- vocionis nierita ct caritatis opera pia affectionis viscera gestabanf, ec- clesias de ffesfon, de Cestcrton, de IIciiipton-Gay, de H'allington, et capellas de Burton, et de Forsthull, nccnon annuani pensionem decern solidorum ab ecclesia de Ylbestan in (juaruni antiqua et pacijica pos- sessione cxistunt in proprios usus perpetuo optinendas conccdinuis et auctoritate ponfijicali coufirmamns. Salcis in omnibus episcopalibus consuetudinibus et Lincolnieusis ecclesie dignitate. In cujus rei testi- monium presenti scripto sigillum nostrum duxinius apponendum. Da- tum apud Tynglebrarst — Idibus Junii anno Domini Mccr,x. tercio et pontificatus nostri quinto^'. The said church of IIam|)lon-Gay liad been a|)propriatcd by tlie ])atroii, Robert Gait, in the time of Hugh the second bishop of Line, by these letters of request to the said diocesan. Reverendo patri in Christo et Domino IJugoni Dei gracia Lincol- niensi episcopo ct qfficiariis suis Robertus Gai/t saluteni et debitam cum omni devocione rcverenciam. Noverit discrecio vcstra quod def'uncto (J. persona ecclesie de I/empton vw caudem ecclesiam vacanteni dedissc et concessisse in perpetuam elemosinam abbati et conventui dc Oseney, et quoniam in propria persona ad vos non possum, per presentes lit eras nieas dictos canonicos robis prcscnto, pctens et supplicans quatenus ad eandem ecclesiam admiftafis'. » I'^i; C'liarlul. do Egiicsliani, MS. f. (iO. > Kx Chartul. dc Oseney, 1". 32. ' Ibid. -1 K 2 680 PAROCHIAL ANTIQl^ITIES. An. Mcccxx\'i. 19, 20. Edw. II. 1. Edw. III. Sir Richard d'Amoric, lord of the manor of Buckncll, who had other large possessions in Godindon, Blcchesdon, Weston, and other adjoining parts, for his many faithful services to the king, had the honour to be now first summoned to parliament as a baron. He and his family had the successive j)rayers and other religious benefits of the abbey of Oscncy, by express compact between that convent and Roger d'Amory, when he released to them the manor of Weston ; of which conveyance mention is already made sub an. mcclxi. and the fine, which was then passed in the king's court, is fit to be here inserted. Ilec estjiiialis concordia facta in curia domini regis apud Oxon. a die S. Hilarii in quindecem dies anno regni regis Henrici filii regis Jo- Jiannis xlv". coram Gilberto de Preston, Martino de Littlchijri, et Galfrido de Leunor justiciariis itinerantihus, et aliis domini I'cgis fi- dclibus tunc ibi prcsentibus, inter Rogerum de Aumari petentem et P/ii/ippian de JFappeleg positum loco suo ad lucrandiim vel perden- dum, et Ricarduni abbatem de Oseneia tenentem, de feodis duorum militum cum pertinenciis exceptis xxx. et quinque acris terre et tribus aci'is prati in JVeston unde recogn. magn. ass'e. sum. fuit inter eos in eadeni curia, scilicet quod predictus Rogerus recognovit predictafeoda duorum militum scilicet totum manerium de Jfeston cum pertinenciis ut in dominicis, homagiis, serviciis Uberum hominum, luardis, releviis, escactis, viUcnagiis cum villanis villcnagia ilia tcnentibus, boscis, plants, pratis, pascuis, pasturis, aquis, stagnis, violendinis, vivariis, piscariis, et omnibus aliis rebus ad predictum manerium pcrtincntibus, <§t. ex- ceptis predictis triginta et quinque acris terre et tribus acris prati, esse jus ipsius abbatis et ecclesie sue S. Marie de Oseneija et illud remisit et quietum clamavit de se et heredibus suis predicto abbati et successo- ribus suis et ecclesie sue predicte imperpetuum. Et p)'o hac recogni- cione remissione quieta clamacione Jine et concordia predictus abbas dedit predicto Rogero trecentum marcas argenti. Et preterea idem AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 681 abbas recepit predictuvi Rogeriun et heredes suos in singidis bcncfi- ciis ct oracioiiibus que de ccterojient in ecclesia sua predicta impcrpe- tuum ■\ James de Aklithley, lord of the manor of Stratton-Audley, who had been in the expedition made into Gascoigne, 18. Ed. II. died this year witliout issue, by which tlic said manor was escheated to the crown '' ; because his ckler brother, Hugh de Aldithley, had his kinds seized, and stood outkiwed, for refusing to attend the king : but in the first of Ed. III. upon his allegation in parliament, that there were divers errors in his prosecution, all his lands were restored, and he came then to the enjoyment of the said manor of Stratton^ In which village, the abbey of Egnesham rented their appropriated tithes to the jiriory of Burcester at the yearly rent of twelve shillings ; for which sum 1 have seen this form of receipt. Noverint universi per presentcs nos Jacobuni perniissione dlvina ab- ba/cm monasterii de Egnesham recepisse ct liabu'isse die conj'ectionis presencium de priore de Burcester duodec'im sol'idos leguUs moncte pro dec'ums in Strutton, videlicet pro crastino S. Michaelis urcliungeli ul- timo preterito ante dat. presencium, de quibus quidem duodecim solidis fatemur nos inde plenarie fore solutos per presentes sigillo nostro con- signatas ''. John de St. Amand, lord of the manor of Bloxham, com. Oxon, and Grendon, in com. Buck, (who in 11. Ed. II. had obtained a li- cence from the king for a market every week upon the Thursday at his manor of Wydenay, com. Berks, and a fair there yearly on the eve, day, and morrow of thi' jjurilication of the blessed virgin.) had been svuninoneil to parliament from the sixtli to the nineteenth of Ed. 11. inclusive; and ilied nigh this time, leaving Almaric his son and heir imder age*^'. These parts of the country were much concerned in the approach- ing revolution, when (jucen lkd)el, with the prince her son, landed at » Ex Cbartul. tic Oscney, MS. f. 3 1 7. ^FA jVslimolc, MS. "^ Dugd. Bar. torn. I . p. 750. <^ Ex Uciital. de EgnesLani, MS. « Dugd. Bar. torn. 2. p. I'O. 582 PAROCHIAL ANTIQUITIES. Harwich, and lia\ing many of the barons joined to them, came to Oxford, where the bishop of Hereford preached before the Univer- sity on these words, Caput mctim dolct, with this application, that when the liead of a kingdom was sick, there was no cure but divid- ing it from the body^ After which the queen (who for some weeks had lodged at Islip^') and the prince kept their Christmas atWaling- ford : and after Epiphany held a convention at Westminster, where the young prince, aged fourteen years, was elected king ; who, when his father was prevailed with to resign, began his reign on the 2()th of January, 132^". That imperious favourite, Hugh Dcspenser the younger, among other vast possessions lord of the manors of Burcester and Midling- ton, (surrendered to him by Alice countess of Lincoln in her widow- hood,) when his father was beheaded at Bristol on St. Dennis's day in October, Hed away with the king, but was taken November 16. at Lantrussen, in Wales, brought to Hereford by Sir Henry Beaumont, and delivered to the queen and her son, where he was executed on a gallows of fifty feet on St. Andrew's eve. And being then (juartered, his limbs were sent to four several places, and his head to London bridge. One of our historians does observe, that his execution was done upon a Monday, in revenge of the tleath of Thomas earl of Lancaster, whose blood had been shed on the same day of the week. By this means the manors of Burcester and Midliiigton, by consent of the first parliament in the beginning of this reign, fell to the king among other escheats, who kept the said manors, till, in the fifth year of his reign, he restored them to the said Alice and her husband Eubulo le Strange '. By the death of Hugh Despenser, sen. and the attainder in this parHament, the manor of Pidington, within the parish of Ambros- den, should by this forfeiture have fallen to the king; but Sir John Handlo, holding the said manor for his life, continued in possession : f Tho. de la Moor, Edw. II. S Wood, Antiq. Oxen. 1. 1. p. ICl. h Tho. Walsing. sub an. ' R. Dod. MS. vol. 78. f. 81. AMBROSDEN, BURCESTER, &c. 583 yet when occasion served, in the fourth of Edw. Ill, he pleaded a la])se to the king to stop the process of the prior and canon of St. Frideswide, who then laid a judicial claim to it''. k Ex Chartul. S. Frideswidse, MS. f. 100. THE END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. p UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. tfC^D >.u >. NOVl 11387 Form L9-75m-7,'61(Cl-l37s4)444 D 000 716 713 3