Notes of some Early Documents Relating to the Manor, Church and Priory of Bilsington, Kent

( 19 ) NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE MANOR, CHURCH AND PRIORY OF BILSINGTON, KENT. BY C. EVELEIGH WOODBTTEE. BY the courtesy of our member, Dr. Gordon Ward, of Sevenoaks, I am enabled to offer to our Society a description, and, in some cases transcriptions of certain early charters and other documents which recently have come into his possession. They extend from the first half of the thirteenth to the seventeenth century, and, with one exception, viz., No. 18, they all relate to the manor, church, or priory of Bilsington. It was during the summer of last year (1928) that Dr. Ward brought the documents to Canterbury and, deposited them in the Chapter Library for my inspection, and, by a somewhat remarkable coincidence, only a few weeks later the British Academy published the Cartulary of Bilsington Priory, as their seventh volume of records of social and economic history. Miss N. Neilson, Ph.D., the editor of the above volume, has made use of a fifteenth century register-book, which doubtless was at one time the property of the prior and canons of Bilsington, but is now preserved in the library of the British Museum [Add. MS. 37018], and she has prefaced her transcript of the Cartulary by exceedingly able essays on the customs of the weald and marshland of Kent. Four of Dr. Ward's charters can be identified as the originals of which copies were made in the fifteenth century; the rest are not included in the Cartulary and therefore form a short supplement to it. To many of the documents fine seals are attached which in some instances still retain their original silken bags. 20 NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. 1 [c. 1236]. Grant from Humphrey de Boun (Bohun), Earl of Hereford and Essex, and Matilda his wife, daughter of the Countess of Eu, to John, son of Henry of Sandwich of all their manor of Bilsington,—with the exception of the military services which the grantors retain to themselves and their heirs, and a rent of two shillings which they have given to John of Snaves— to be held by the said John (of Sandwich) and his heirs or assigns —religious houses excepted—for the service of half a knights' fee. And, for the grant the grantee makes a cash payment of eight hundred marks. Seals : (1) Circular of red wax, a shield of arms bearing a bend cotised between 6 lions rampant, Bohun. (2) Oval of red wax, displaying a full length figure of a lady, wearing a long gown covering her feet, and a hat fastened with strings tied beneath her chin, and holding in her right hand a flower, and with a hawk on her left wrist. Legend : SIGJXLUM COMITISSE ATJGI.1 Humphrey de Bohun succeeded his father Henry de Bohun as Earl of Hereford in 1220, and was created Earl of Essex in 1228, on the death of William de Mandeville, his mother's brother. Hasted does not mention the Bohun family in tracing the descent of the manor of Bilsington, but the connexion is explained by the return of an inquest—taken by the King's command in 1247 for the purpose of determining what part of the manor was given by the Earl of Arundel to the Count of Eu2—which found that WilHam d'Albini, who died in 1193 as Earl of Arundel, gave one half of Bilsington, and seven knights' fees in Meiham (? Maytham in Rolvenden), Beindenne (? Biddenden) and Herbertindenne to his daughter AHce on her marriage with John of Eu, and that subsequently Matilda, the great granddaughter of the said John, carried the land in marriage to her husband, Humphrey de Bohun. The latter's grant to John of Sandwich is undated but since Archbishop Edmund—who was primate from 1234 to 1240—is one of the witnesses, it must have been executed between the above years. 1 A woodcut of the seal of tho Countess of Eu was published in the Journal of the Archaeological Institute, vol. xi, p. 387. a Bilsington Cartulary, No. 170. NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. 21 [No. 1 Transcript.] Sciant presentes et futuri quod Ego Humfridus de Boun comes Hereford' & Essex', et Ego Matilda fiHa comitisse Augi uxor Humfridi de Boun prenominati, dedimus concessimus & hac presenti carta nostra confirmauimus Johanni fiHo Henrici de Sandwych pro homagio & seruicio suo totum manerium nostrum de Bilsinton integre cum pertinentiis suis exceptis seruiciis miHtaribus remanentibus nobis & heredibus nostris & duobus sofidis de redditu quos dedimus Johanni Snaues, sine ullo retinimento, sicut nos illud mefius & Hberius tenuimus. Habendum & tenendum supradicto Johanni & heredibus, suis uel eius assignatis, exceptis domibus refigiosis, de nobis & heredibus nostris Hbere & quiete bene & pacifice jure hereditario in perpetuum, faciendo inde nobis & heredibus nostris seruicium mediatatis feodi unius mfiitis pro ormiibus, seruicus consuetudinibus quereHs sectis exacciombus & demandis temporaHbus ad nos uel ad heredes nostros de manerio prenominato pertinentibus. Et Ego Humfridus de Boun & Ego Matilda predicta & heredes nostri warantizabimus & deffendemus totum predictum manerium cum pertinentiis suis supradicto Johanni & heredibus suis uel eius assignatis contra omnes homines & f eminas in perpetuum per predictum seruicium. Pro hac autem donacione concessione deffensione & warantizacione nostra & huius carte nostre confirmacione facta & recordata & sigilhs nostris firmiter munita, dedit nobis sepedictus Johannes octo centum marcas sterfingorum in gersumam. Hiis testibus, Domino Eadmundo Cantuar Archiepiscopo, Magistro Roberto fratre suo, Willelmo Talebot, Henrico de Wintreshelle, GaHrido de Sancto Leodegaro, Ricardo de Wokesheye, Henrico de Sandwych, Symone fiHo suo, Randulfo de Gosehalle, Ricardo Camerario, Johanne de Snaues, Johanne Chich de Cantuar', Willelmo Eadward de Sandwych, Henrico de Menstre, et multis afiis. 2 1242. This is a confirmation by Roger (de la Lee), prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, of two ordinances of Archbishop Edmund relating to the rectory of Bilsington. The first, which is dated 5 March, 1236, provides for the payment' of a perpetual pension of 10 marks per annum to the prior and convent of St. Mary Boxgrave (Boxgrove near Chichester) from the rectory of Bilsington. 22 NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. The second—which is dated 1237 (day and month not given) —decides a controversy between the prior and convent of Boxgrave and Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford, as to their respective rights in the patronage of the church of Bulsinton in favour of the monks, on the ground that in the days of Archbishop Stephen, the clergy of the deanery of Lymne, assembled in chapter, had found that the patronage of the said church formerly belonged to the abbot and convent of Essey in Normandy, by whom it had been transferred to the prior and convent of Boxgrave, and, that the Earl of Hereford had sold, and pubHcly renounced aU claim to the patronage of the said church, moreover, the archbishop had instituted two clerks to the benefice on the presentation of the prior and convent of Boxgrave, namely Thomas of Gosebech, and, after his death, one Thomas, a chaplain. Boxgrove Priory was founded in the reign of Henry I as a cell of Essey. Since WilHam d'Albini, the first Earl of Arundel, was a benefactor to Boxgrove, the latter house probably acquired the patronage of Bilsington rectory through him. In 1328, however, Boxgrove handed over the advowson to the prior and convent of Bilsington.1 [No. 2 Transcript.] A.D. 1242. Omnibus Christi fideHbus presens scriptum inspecturis Rogerus Prior ecclesie Christi Cant' & eiusdem loci conventus eternam in domino salutem. Noverit universitas vestra nos inspexisse cartam venerabihs patris nostri Edmuhdi dei gracia Cant' Archiepiscopi Priori & conventui de Boxgrava factam sub hac forma. Omnibus sancte matris ecclesie fifiis presens scriptum inspecturis. Edmundus permissione diuina Cant' Archiepiscopus tocius AngHe Primas, salutem in domino. Nouerit universitas uestra diuine pietatis intuitu dedisse & concessiste ecclesie beate Marie de Boxgrava & monachis ibidem deo seruientibus decern marcas de ecclesia de Bulsinton nomine perpetui beneficu in perpetuum per manus Rectoris euisdem ecclesie qui pro tempore fuerit annuatim percipiandas ad duos anni terminos, videHcet in die Purificaciones beate Marie quinque marcas & in die Pentechost' quinque marcas in quibus computabuntur decern sofidos quos de eadem ecclesia prius percipere solebant annuatim. Statuimus autem ut defuncto euisdem ecclesie 1 Pat. R., 23 Septr. 2. Edw. 3. NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. 23 Rectore qui fuerit, Prior & Conventus de Boxgraua nobis ,& successoribus nostris virum idoneum capeUanum presentabunt qui in dicta ecclesia possit & veHt perpetuaHter residere qui de predictis decem marcis eis respondeat & omnia onera dictam ecclesiam contingentia subportet, prestito sacramento quod dictas decem marcas prefatis monachis supradictis terminis sine difficultate quaHbet & conditione persoluet. Ut autem ea que in hac parte acta sunt a nobis & precediata ac statuta perpetuam obtineant firmitatem ea. presenti scripto sigilh nostri apposictione munito duximus confirmanda. Dat' apud SumaUing III Non martii Pontificis nostri anno secundo. Preterea aHam cartam eiusdem Edmundi archiepiscopi sub hac forma. Omnibus sancte matris ecclesie filiis presens scriptum inspecturis, Edmundus permissione diuina Cant' Archiepiscopus & tocius AngHe primas salutem in domino. Nouerit uniuersitas vestra quod cum controuersia inter priorem & conventum de Boxgraua ex una parte & nobilem virum Humfridum comitem Hereford' ex altera super patronatu ecclesie de Bulsinton sub nostro examine fuisset mota post altercationes hinc inde propositas turn ex testimonio CapituH de lymenes turn ex mandato domini Regis sub hoc nobis directo auctentico etiam pie memorie Stephani predecessoris nostri scripto cognoscentes patronatus dicte ecclesie de Bulsinton ad abbatem & conventum de exaquis de quorum dono dicti prior & conventus de Boxgraua eandem ecclesiam obtinere noscuntur de iure pertinere, quia supradictus comes Hereford' totum ius & clamium in supradicta ecclesia uendicabat pro se & pro heredibus suis dictis priori & conuentui de Boxgraua penitus remisit & quietum clamanit ao constitutis super hoc Hteris suis patentibus appeUacioni pro se interposite renuncians quicquid iuris in sepe dictam ecclesiam habuit uel habere potuit in presencia nostra resignauit. Quiauero de predictorum prioris & conuentus de Boxgraua iure nobis constitit evidenter ad ipsorum presentacionem Thomam de Gosebech & post decessum ipsius Thome Ricardum capeUanum admisimus ad eandem ecclesiam & Rectores perpetuos in eadem canonice instituimus solutis supradictis monachis de Boxgraua decern marcis nomine perpetui beneficii singuHsannisinperpetuum pecipiendis per manus ipsius Rectoris qui pro tempore ecclesiam rexit memoratam. Et ut futuris temporibus memoriter, teneatur presenti scripto sigfilum nostrum duximus apponendum. Dat' apud Cant' anno gracie M° CC° tricesimo septimo Pontificatus 2 4 NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. nostri anno quarto. Nos igitur prescriptas cartas & donationem ipsam sicut rationabiHter factam est quantum ad nos spectat confirmandam duximus, salua in omnibus Cant' ecclesie dignitate. In huius autem rei testimonium presenti scripto sigillum capituH nostri apposuimus. Actum est hoc anno gracie M° CC° quadragesimo secundo. 3 12 Sept. 1250. [B. Cart. No. 4.] Confirmation by King Henry III. of the gift by the heirs of Hugh sometime Earl of Arundel of the manor of Bilsington, which is held of the King in serjeanty, and the land belonging thereto in Poldre and four knights' fees in Meyham (? Maytham), to John Maunsel, provost of Beverley, as an endowment for the monastery of Augustinian Canons which the said John proposes to build at Bilsington. ^ H« * * * John Maunsel or Mansel, the founder of Bilsington Priory, was held in high esteem by Henry III. who loaded him with ecclesiastical preferments. According to Matthew Paris, Maunsel was induced to found a refigious house by the wise reflection that the royal favour was not hereditary nor worldly prosperity lasting.1 Six years before the date of the present charter he had obtained the King's Hcence to receive the lands of the late Earl of Arundel in the manor of Bilsington2 ; but the foundation charter of his priory was not executed until June, 1253. It is printed by Miss Neilson (No. 1 B. Cart.) and from that source we learn that Maunsel granted to Prior WilHam and the canons aU that part of the manor .of Bilsington which he had received from the heirs of Hugh Earl of Arundel,3 together with the said earl's lands in Poire, Gozenhall, and Ecche, which perhaps may be identified as Poulders in Woodnesborough, and Goshall and Each in Ash-next-Sandwich. Great seal of England, and seal bag. 1 Hist. Min., R.S. 968. 2 Pat. R., 28. Hen. 3. 3 Hugh d'Albini the fifth and last earl of Arundel died young without leaving issue, Mat. Paris says : aetate juvenali vix metas adolescentiae pertransisset, and his estates were partitioned between his three sisters. » ^ ^ ^ • ^Vl ^St f ^ ^ f j u ' 5 sS&4Pi iVy>i l i i ^ . f nM A^eam 6mr nefJliiS niA'-ftfeifTomi i^Srm^'Jwwgs^b^'^^^^M^WSememe t^JSUtet) &SS«^i"-? V»»le3jp. Wjtt&xynkiKft&£yz&!&& "if^slrtmf Pymw GRALYT. c. 1236. SILK BAG FOR SEAL OF CHARTER, DATED 1250. !_N«^V-U lLU\\L>fc CHARTER, DATED 125«J. NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. 25 [No. 3 Transcript.] 12 Sept. 1250. Henricus dei gracia Angl' Dfis Hybern' Dux Normann' Aquit' & comes Andeg', Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Comitibus, Baronibus, Justiciarns, Vicecomitibus, Prepositis, Ministris & omnibus Ballivis, & fideHbus suis salutem. Sciatis quod cum dilectus & fideHs noster Johannes Maunsel prepositus Beuerlacencis in proposito habeat construere quoddam monasterium canonicorum regularium ordinis sancti Augustini in manerio suo de Bylsygton quod habet de dono heredum Hugonis quondam Com' Arundell & quod est de seriancia nostra ipsumque manerium & terram suam de Poire cum eorum pertinentiis & cum quatuor feodis mihtum in Meyham eisdem canonicis in predicto loco de Bylsygton deo & beate Marie perpetuum seruituris pia deuotione assignare, nos devotam intentionem suam in hac parte merito commendantes sic fieri concedemus & predictum manerium & terram predictam cum eorum pertinentiis, & cum feodis predictis memoratis canonicis & eorum successoribus in perpetuum pro nobis & heredibus nostris confirmamus. Hiis testibus, Willo de Valencia fratre nostro, Radulfo fiHo Nicholai, PauHno Peyur', Roberto Waleraund, Willo de Chaeny, PhiHppo Lunel, Stephano Bauzam, Rogero de Lokenton & aliis. Dat' Oxon' per manum nostram duodecimo die Septembr'. anno regni nostri tricesimo quarto [1250]. 4 12 May, 1263. [B. Cart. No. 26.] Grant from King Henry III. to John MaunseU, treasurer of York of 100 acres of land in Pokes which Sarra of Polres formerly held, but which had escheated to the King as terrce Normannorum, with a covenant that if at any time the right heirs should recover the said lands the grantee shall not be disseised of the same without receiving other lands of like value. The lands, probably, had escheated to the crown in the time of King John who, after the loss of Normandy, seized the estates of his nobles who possessing lands on both sides of the channel preferred to be French rather than English subjects.1 1 For terrce Normannorum, see Pollock and Maitland's History of English Law, vol. i., p. 462. 2 6 NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. [No. 4 Transcript.] 12 May, 1263. [B. Cart. No. 26.] Henricus Dei gracia Rex Ang' Dominus Hibern', Dux Aquitann' Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Baronibus, Justiciariis, Vicecomitibus, prepositis, ministris & omnibus baUinis & fideHbus suis salutem. Sciatis nos dedisse concessisse & hac carta nostra confirmasse dilecto & fideli nostro Johanni MaunseU Thesaurario Ebor' centum acras terre cum pertinentiis quas sarra de Polres aHquando tenuit in Pokes & que fuit escaeta nostra de terris Normannorum. Habendas & tenendas de nobis & heredibus nostris predicto Johanni & heredibus uel assignatis suis faciendo nobis & heredibus nostris seruicium inde debitum. Et si contingat quod terra nostra Angl' & terre Normannorum sint communes & predictam terram in Polres rectis heredibus per pacem aut voluntatem nostram reddere voluerimus, non disseisiemur nee disseisiri permittemus predictum Johannem aut heredes vel assignatos suos de terra predicta, prius quam eis pro terra iUa escambium fecerimus racionabibile. Quare volumus & firmiter precipimus pro nobis & heredibus nostris quod predictus Johannes & heredes velassignati sui habeant & teneantpredictas centum acras terre cum pertinentiis in Polres libere quiete & integre cum omnibus Hbertatibus & liberis consuetudinibus ad terram iUam pertinentibus, faciendo nobis & heredibus nostris seruicium inde debitum. [Et si contingat quod terra nostra Angl' & terre Normannorum sint communes & predictam terram in Polres rectis heredibus per pacem aut voluntatem nostram reddere voluerimus non disseisiemus nee disseisiri permittemus predictum Johannem aut heredes vel assignatos suos de terra predicta prius quam eis pro terra ilia escambium fecerimus racionabile sicut predictum est. Hiis testibus Rogero Le Bigot comite Norff' & marescaUo Angl', PhiHppo Basset Justiciario nostro Angl', Hugone Le (parchment defective), WiUelmo de Wilton, Galfrido de Langeley, Waltero de Burges, WiUelmo de Saricta Ermina, Galfrido de Percy et multis alus. Dat'permanum nostram apud sanctum Paulum London' duodecimo die Man anno regni nostri quadragesimo septimo].1 5 1 Dec. 1359. [B. Cart. No. 278.] Grant of John Jekyn (with licence from King Edward III.) to the prior and convent of 1 The clause beginning et si contingat and the names of the witnesses, except that of Roger Bigod are omitted in the Cartulary, NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. 27 Bilsington of 62 acres of arable land, 9 acres of pasture and 1£ acre of woodland in the parishes of Lyde (Lydd) and Bilsington, with the reversion of another 2 acres of land in the latter parish, which WiUiam Coupere holds of the grantor for the term of his natural life. Dated at Lyde 1 December, 32nd Edward III. Witnesses: Edmund of Pasele, knight, Richard of Poundhurst, Thomas atte Capele, Hugh Colebrand of Romenal, WiUiam of Bolyngbroke, Richard of Meynyl, John of Hoke, Matthew of the More, and others. Seal: an intagHo figure of a man of classical design. Seal bag of yeUow silk. 6 3 Dec. 1386. [B. Cart. No. 180.] Letters Patent of King Richard II. confirming the licence in mortmain granted by his grandfather King Edward to John Lynot of Ivecherche, and Simon Clerk of Romene, to grant to the prior and convent of Bilsington 85 acres of arable land and 5 acres of pasture in the parishes of Lyde, and Saint Mariecherche in Romney Marsh, the said lands are of the clear annual value of 18s. 4c?. and not held of the king in chief, as has been found by an inquest held by John Brode of Smethe, the King's escheator for the county of Kent. Dated at Westminster 3 Dec. 10 Rich. 2. Great Seal. 7 12 June, 1437. Letters Patent of King Henry VI, dated 12 June, 1437, granting to Roger Erie, prior of Bilsington, a general pardon for aU transgressions of and offences against the statute prohibiting the export of cloth, &c. of which he may have been guilty since the tenth year of the King's reign (1431); and also exonerating him from any claim which the King may have against him for the repayment of money which had come into the prior's hands in connexion with the Erench wars in the reign of the King's father, or for the return of the jewels which the latter had deposited with the Prior as security for the wages of his soldiers, and for their transport to Normandy. That the Prior should have been guUty of a Uttle smuggHng is not surprising as the situation of his house on the edge of the marsh was particularly favourable for iUicit trading overseas ; 28 NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. but it is extremely puzzling to learn that King Henry V. kept his war chest in such an insecure place as BUsington Priory. Moreover, since Roger Erie did not become prior until 1435,1 he could not have been personaUy responsible for what had taken place twenty-three years earher. The foUowing is the text of the clause relating to the profits acquired by the prior during the Erench wars : " Perdonamus . . . eidem Priori omnimoda prestita guerrarum ac guerrarum vadia et tercias as terciarum tercias redemptionum prisonarum in guerra captorum et omnimoda lucrorum guerre pro viagiis domino Henrico nuper Regi AngHe patri nostro usque diem obitus sui per ipsum Priorem nuper debita, necnon omnimoda iocaHa que fuerunt dicti patris nostri predicto priori pro securitate vadiorum guerre pro viagiis dicti patris nostri versus villam de Herflewe ac partes Francie et Normannorum Hberata & nobis pertinencia sive spectantia nisi eidem Priori aHqua aha debita securitates regarda demandas vel onera pro guerris ac guerrarum vacfiis sibi racione aHcuius retinencie guerre cum dicto patre nostro vel aHcuius alterius cause de guerra pro viagiis predictis competencia seu competitura, preterquam debita securitates regarda demandas et onera sibi pro custodia Castri et ville Cales ac merchiarum ibidem tempore dicti patris nostri competencia de nobis vel heredibus nostris non exigat nee exigere possit in futuro quovis modo set quod nos et dicti heredes, nostri de debitis securitatibus demandis . . . si que fuerit erga pref atum Priorem quiete sumus et penitus exonerati imperpetuum.'' 8 Letters patent of King Henry VI.—dated 22 June, 1452— granting a general pardon to the prior and convent of Bilsington for aU offences &c. committed before Good Friday last past (AprU 7th). In the long preamble, which is so characteristic of the piety for which Henry VI. is famed that it surely must have been his own composition, the King states that desiring to imitate the mercy of the divine Redeemer, " out of reverence to God and the most glorious Virgin Mary in whose name and honour our colleges are founded,"2 he extends his mercy to all persons who^ i Pat. R., 13. Hen. 6. J Eton and King's, Cambridge. NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. 29 lately have " offended against God our royal dignity and authority, and the peace of our realm," with the exception of those impHcated in the murder of Adam, bishop of Chichester and WilHam, bishop of Salisbury.1 The pardon of course refers to the rising of the commons of Kent under Jack Cade, in which, apparently, the prior and convent of Bilsington were in some way involved, though W. D. Cooper in his article on Cade's followers in Kent (Arch. Cant., Vol. VII., pp. 233 et seq.) mentions the abbot of Battle and the prior of Lewes as the only heads of reHgious houses who participated in the rebellion. [No. 8 Transcript.] Henricus dei gracia Rex AngHe & Francie & dominus Hibernie, omnibus BalHvis & fideHbus suis &c. . . . Sciatis quod non solum ob insignia merita subditorum & Hgeorum nostrorum que nobis probitissimam fidem suam illesam incontaminatam servarunt, verum eciam nos attendentes quod ineffabihs divine prudencie subHmitas Hcet hominem ad imaginem & simifitudinem sui conditum post lapsum eius in peccatum ac statum gracie a quo decidit nuUatenus ex se aut suis viribus seu meritis, set sola dignacione divine propiciacionis & misericordie redire valentem restaurare reparareque decrevisset, non tamen ad opus ipsum tarn grande perficiendum protinus & incfilate procedent', duxit quinimmo post multas & longissimas labentis huius secuH etates ipso videHcet genere humano maiore sui ex parte in mahgna digresso cum nemo de suis meritis gloriari potuisset, opus huiusmodi tarn insigne tot&tantorum annorum curricuHsexpectatum, novissimis tandem temporibus censint consummandum cuius sacra vestigia pro nostre modicitatis viribus sequi sectarique cupientes, considerantes plerosque Hgeorum ac subditorum nostrorum in diversis huius regni nostri partibus contra Deum & iusticiam ac contra dignitatem auctoritatem nostram regiam ac adversus tranquifitatem & pacem huius regni nostri & rei pubHce nobis commisse in nostri legumque nostrarum contemptum multipliciter offendisse quosdem videHcet enormia atque gravia 1 Adam Moleyns, bishop of Chichester (1446-50) was murdered at Portsmouth as he was preparing to leave the country. His connexion with the party of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, murdered at sea off Dover, 2nd May, 1450 (Paston Letters, i, 124, 126) which was generally in favour of peace with France, is said to have been the main cause of his unpopularity. William Ayscough, bishop of Salisbury (1438-50) was murdered at Edynton in Wilts. He was secretary and confessor to the King. 30 NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. alios leviora crimina atque dehcta perpetrando et idcirco nostre serenitatis & castigacionis aculeos merito formidare debere, nos quanquam propter eorum multitudinem misericorditer cum eis agendis existimaverimus, non tamen precipiti vel immatura festinacione ad hoc duximus procedendum quinimmo remissionis huiusmodi ac perdonacionis nostre, largicionem&graciamadventui sacre diei parasceves, videHcet septime diei ApriHs ultimo preterite, decrevimus reservand' ut ea quidem die remissionis & indulgencie nostre largitatemimpatiemur qua redemptor noster ampHssimum & inestimabUe sue miseracionis & indulgencie beneficum universo generi miro quodam & ineffabiH UberaHtatis & munificencie sue modo decreverat largiendum, horum igitur pia and reHgiosa consideracione permoti ob Dei reverenciam gloriosissime virginis genitricis sue Marie in cuius laudem & honorem CoUegiorum nostrorumfundacionesereximus & in quam post deum totam spem nostram prefiximus, ac predicte diei paraceves universo generi humano, venerande ipsius redemptoris nostri quatenus sufficimus & valemus exemplum imitari volentes de gracia nostra speciaH & ex certa sciencia & mero motu nostris dicto die parasceves perdonand' censimus remittend' & relaxand', ac in presenti perdonand' censemus remittend' & relaxand', necnon per presentes perdonamus remittimus & relaxamus priori & conventui ecclesie beate Marie de Bilsyngton . . . in comite Kancie, seu quibuscumque aliis nominibus censeatur omnimodo transgressiones offensas, mesprisiones, contemptus, & impetitiones per ipsos priorem & conventum ante predictum diem parasceves contra formam statutorum de liberatis' pannorum & capiciorum factos sive perpetratas unde punicio caderet in finem & redempcionem aut alias penas pecuniares seu imprisonamenta, statutis predictis non obstantibus. Et insuper ex motu & sciencia nostris predictis perdonamus remisimus & rexalaxamus easdem priori & conventui sectampacis nostre que ad nos versus ipsos pertinet per omnimodis prodicionibus murdris, raptibus muHerum, rebellionibus, insurrectionibus, feloniis, conspiracionibus, cambipartns, mauntenensns & imbraciariis, ac aliis transgressionibus, offensis, negligentiis, extorcionibus, mesprisionibus, ignoranciis, contemptibus, forisfacturis, & deceptionibus per ipsos priorem & conventum ante predictum diem parasceves quaHtercumque factis sive perpetratis, ac eciam utlagare si que in ipsos priorem & conventum hiis occasionibus seu earum aHqua fuerint promulgate & firmam pacem nostram NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. 31 ei inde concidimus. Ita tamen quod stet recto in curia nostra si quis versus eos loqui voluerint de premissis seu aHquo premissorum perdonamus, eciam remisimus & relaxaminus eisdem priori & conventui omnimodas donaciones, afienaciones, perquisitiones, per ipsos de terris & tenementis de nobis vel progenitoribus nostris quondam Regibus AngHe in capite tentis, ac eciam donaciones & perquisiciones ad manum mortuam factas & habitas absque Hcencia regia, necnon omnimodas intrusiones, & ingressus, in hereditatem suam in parte vel in toto post mortem antecessorum suorum absque debita prosecucione euisdem extra manum regiam ante eundem diem parasceves factos una cum exitibus & proficuis inde medio tempore perceptis. Et insuper perdonamus &c. . . . eisdem priori & conventui omnimodas penas ante dictum diem parasceves forisfacturas coram nobis seu consiHo nostro CanceUario, Thesaurario, seu aHquo judicum nostrorum, pro aHqua causa & omn.es aHas penas tarn nobis quam carissimo patri nostro defuncto ipsos priorem & conventum pro aHqua causa ante eundem diem parasceves forisfacturas, & ad opus nostrum levand' ac omnimodas securitates pacis ante eundem diem parasceves simiUter forisfacturas, ac eciam tercias & terciarum tercias omnimodorum prisonariorum in guerra captorum nobis dicto die parasceves quaHtercumque debitas pertinentes sive spectantes per eosdem priorem & conventum, necnon omnimodas transgressiones, offensas, mesprisiones. contemptus, & impeticiones per ipsos priorem & conventum ante eundem diem parasceves contra formam tarn quorumcumque statutorum, ordinacionum & provisionum ante dictum diem parasceves factorum sive editorum de perquisicionibus, acceptacionbus, lectionibus, pubHcacionibus, notificacionibus & execucionibus quibuscumque, quarumcumque Hterarum & buUarum apostoHcarum, ante diem parasceves & omnium aHorum statutorum, ordinacionum, & provisionum, pretextu quorum aHqua secta versus eosdem priorem & conventum . per bfilam vel per breve de premuniri fact' seu aHo modo quocumque pro aHqua materia ante eundem diem parasceves fieri valeat, quam quorumcumque aHorumstatutatorumfactos sive perpetratos, statutis, ordinaoionibus & provisionibus iUis non obstantibus. Proviso semper quod presens perdonacio remissio sive relaxacio nostra ad aUquem seu aHquos versus quem vel versus quos aHqua seota ex parte nostra aut alterius cuiusoumque per breve nostrum, aut per billam premuniri faot' in curia nostra coram nobis, aut aHqua aHa curia nostra dicto die paraxeves, aut aHquo alio die 32 NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. citra festum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptiste ulterius preteritum, & ante diem dictum parasceves, de perquisicionibus literarum & buUarum apostoUcarum supradictarum contra formam statutorum ordinacionum & provisionum predictorum factis, aut de ahquibus alus rebus priori & conuentui omnimodas penas & puniciones quas occasionibus predictis seu earum aHqua erga nos incurrere deberet ac omnes & omnimodas forisfacturas terrarum tenementorum reddituum possessionum bonorum & cataUarum suorum quorumcumque nobis occasionibus ilHs seu earum aHqua pertinentes sive spectantes. Proviso eciam quod presens perdonacio nostra se non extendat ad ahquem illorum qui venerabilespatres AdamCicestrensis & WiUelmum Sarumepiscopos seu eorum alterum nequiter interfecerunt, seu ad iUum veU iUas qui neci eorum vel alterius eorum quovis modo agentes faventes auxihantes consencientes vel procurantes exstiterunt. In cuius rei testimonium has literas patentes nostras fieri fecimus patentes, Teste me ipso apud Westmonsterium vicesimo secundo die Junii anno regni nostri tricesimo. [1452.] Great Seal. 9 21 March, 1453. Licence of King Henry VI. to Joan, widow of Sir WUHam Brenchesle, knight, who is seised of the manor of Bilsington, which she holds in chief of the King, and to John Fray, late chief baron of the exchequer, Thomas Hoo, and Richard Wakeherst, the younger (who have a reversionary interest in the manor on the death of Joan), to grant the said manor to Sir John Cheney, knight, and his heirs, to be held in trust for him by John (Kempe) cardinal and archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas, bishop of Ely, Edmund, Duke of Somerset, Sir John Stourton, knight, Sir Robert Shotesbroke, knight, Sir Thomas Kiryell, knight, John Pympe, esquire, WiUiam Cheyne, of the county of Sussex, Ralph Seyntleger, Thomas St. Nicholas, John Rawe, WUHam ApulerviUe (sic, for Apuldrefeld), Ralph JosseHn, merchant, John Norton, and WilHam Bigge, of Canterbury. Dated at Westminster, 21 March, 31st Hen. 6. Great Seal. Joan, the widow of Sir WiUiam Brenchley, a justice of the Court of Common Pleas, was the founder of a chantry Chapel in Canterbury Cathedral. The chapel was built between two NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. 33 buttresses outside the south aisle of the nave; it was puUed down in 1786. A Thomas Brenchesle was prior of Bilsington from 1389 to 1411- 10 28 Nov. 1474. Indenture of an award by Sir John Fogge, Knight, and Robert Forster, the arbitrators in a dispute between John Elryngton esquire, and Margaret his wife, and the prior and convent of BUsington, as to the right of the former to receive from the latter a yearly rent of 12 quarters of salt, issuing out of 88 acres 3 roods and 10 perches of land in Lide (Lydd) " where sometime there was a saltcote." The arbitrators decided that the rent in kind should be commuted for a rent charge of 33s. id. payable to the said Margaret and the heirs of her body or in default of such to Sir Thomas Etchingham, Knight, and his heirs. Five Seals. Of the priory seal only a fragment remains. John Elrington was treasurer of the King's household, constable of Windsor Castle, and baiUff of Winchelsea. His wife, Margaret, was a daughter and one of the co-heiresses of Sir Thomas Etchingham of Sussex. In 1485 a pardon was granted to Margaret Elryngton widow, late wife of Sir John Elryngton, knight, for all ahenations &c. of land without the royal Hcence, and for all debts and arrears due to the King.1 11 20 April, 1475. Deed of agreement by which the prior and •convent of Bilsington (in accordance with the award made in No. 10), agree to pay to Margaret the wife of John Ekyngton, •daughter and heiress apparent of Sir Thomas Etchingham, Knight, a yearly rent of 33s. id. in Heu of 12 quarters of salt. Two seals. One has a tun suspended by a ring, and perhaps the letter L, for Elrington. 12 20 April, 1475. Grant from the prior and convent of Bilsington to Robert Forster and John Elryngton, senior, brother (sic) of John Elryngton, the husband of Margaret, of the rents and 1 Pat. R., 2. Rio. 3. 7 34 NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. services of 88 acres 3 roods and 10 perches of land in Lide, in exchange for a rent of salt issuing out of the said lands. Three seals. (1) A Hon rampant, (2) a man with a hawk on his wrist (?) Forster, (3) a tun on a ring, Elrington. 13 20 Nov. 1539. Confirmation of Thomas (GoldweU), prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, of a grant by Archbishop Thomas (Cranmer) to Sir Anthony Seyntleger and his heirs, of the house or site of the lately dissolved priory of BUsington,1 together with aU lands pertaining thereto and the rectory of the church of Bilsington, for a yearly rent of £70 payable to the Archbishop and his successors. 14 30 Oct. 1576. ExempHfication, made 30 Oct. 1576, of a fine levied in the Court of King's Bench in the year 1568, whereby Sir Warham Seyntleger, knight, WiUiam Seyntleger esquire, SibiUa his wife, and Nicholas Seyntleger, gent, convey to Francis Barnham the Manor of BUsington, which is said to contain 10' houses, 100 acres of arable land, 270 acres of pasture, 350 acres of woodland, 400 aores of marshland, and rents amounting to £16,. in the parishes of Bilsington, Lydd, Romney, Brookland, Brenset,. Newchurch, St. Mary's, Willesborough, Ruckinge, Hinxhill,. Aldington, Tenterden, Mersham, Eastry, Woodnesburgh, and Sandwich. Great Seal of Queen EHzabeth. 15 19 Feb. 1582. Release from Thomas Cheynie of West Woodley, Berks., and Thomas Cheynie his son and heir to AHce Barnham, widow, late wife of Francis Barnham alderman of the City of London, deceased, and Martin Barnham son of the said Francis Barnham of aU their right, &c. in the manor of lower Bilsington. 16 2 Dec. 1598. Royal Hcence, to Martin Barnham, esquire, to convey to Sampson Lennard esquire, and Sir Henry Lennard, 1 The P. and C. surrendered their house 28 Eebr., 1536. NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. 35 knight, the manor of Nether Bilsington, which is now said to contain 100 acres of arable land, 100 acres of pasture, 300 acres of woodland, 600 acres of marshland, and rents amounting to £10 per an. Great Seal. 17 16 Jan. 1645. Indenture leading the uses of a Fine of Recovery, &c. of the manors of Lower and Upper Bilsington in fee to Robert Barnham esquire. 18 7 Feb. 1684. Patent of King James II. to Sir Thomas Walcott, knight, for a judgeship to be held during the King's pleasure. (See Foss's Judges of England, vol. VII., p. 278.) SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE BY THE EDITOR. A circumstance of unusual interest is that three of the Charters have the original textile bags for their Seals attached to them. No. 1, A.D. 1242. The material of this bag has a warp of cotton thread, only the woof being of coloured threads of yellow, white, crimson and pale red, with a sUght admixture of gold thread. But the whole is too much worn and faded for the pattern to be distinguishable. No date nor provenance, therefore, can safely be assigned to it. No. 2, A.D. 1250. This, though tattered and worn to shreds, and mounted, to protect it, on white linen, is a very remarkable specimen of silk fabric of the finest and most deHcate texture possible. The ground, now a rich creamcolour, is so faded that it is impossible to say what it originally was, but it may be conjectured to have been of crimson or of madder-red dye. The pattern shows up in golden brown with a sparing introduction of gold thread, which has tarnished to a bronze hue. The ornament consists almost exclusively of abstract geometrical forms— 36 NOTES ON SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS. interlaced circles and squares, and a tiny scroll of conventional leafage ; but the most interesting detail consists of double-headed eagles displayed, which rather resemble parrots than eagles. On the thick part of each of their wings is a Uttle Greek cross. This design, not being found in either of the standard works on textile ornaments (Fischbach or Dupont-Auberville), adds another design to the known repertory of ancient damask patterns. It appears to be of Byzantine or Siculo-Saracenic origin, and may date even from the twelfth century. No. 3, A.D. 1359. This is a self-coloured bag of gamboge yellow silk, with a diaper pattern of five-lobed leaves. The bag is smaU, and it appears to comprise but a fraction of the design. What there is of it resembles a detail from the pattern iUustrated on plate 54 of Fischbach, who describes it as a Venetian fabric of the fourteenth century. A.V. NOTE,—Special thanks are due to Dr. Gordon Ward, the owner of the charters, for depositing his valuable property in the rooms of K.A.S. at Maidstone Museum long enough to enable the seal-bags to be inspected and described.—ED.