The English register of Oseney abbey / by Oxford, written about 1460. Ed., with an introduction and indexes, by Andrew Clark.

[VIII. Of the Meadows beside Oseney [Titul. VII, somewhat incorrectly, was supposed to continue to this point: i.e. 'Howe þe church of Seynte George was i-ȝeve to the chanons of Oseney.' The English MS. had, however, ceased to give it as a headline.] ]

[44.]

Explana|tion of phrase in no. 12.

NOTA that whenne hit is i-saide in A Charter of Robert Doylly owr foundar 'And all þat is myne in the forsaide Ile of Osneye' hit is to be vndurstande of all þabbey of Osney, with hegges, wallys, and Gardeyns, with þe mede i-ioyned to hit that is i-callyd Orchardysmede.

[45.]

Reference to no. 12, and to its confirma|tion in no. 25.

SEKE þ^e forsaide charter above In þe title of þe funda|cion of Oseney And furþermor how 'I Henry Doylly þe secunde haue i-ȝeve to þe forsaide chanons for þe sowles of my kynnes|folkes and for my helth and of myne all my mede þe which is at þe weste of þere Courte of Oseneye in-to perpetuell almes free and quyte fro all seruice,' et cetera.

[46.]

About 1240. Extract from charter by Philippa, countess of Warwick, granting two mea|dows near Oseney, and pas|ture-rights in West|Oseney.

KNOWE all men, et cetera. withinne ffurþermor that þ^e seyde Countesse [Philippa Basset, co-heiress of Thomas Basset, lord of Headington, widow of Henry de Newburgh (died 1229), 6th earl of Warwick.] hath i-grauntid for her and for her heyres to þe Abbot and Couent and [folio 13b] to þere successours that þey haue þere closes in goode pece and holde þem foreuer, þat is to say, þe close of þe hamme [of the fee [Added from the Latin.] ] of Doylly and of Seynte Walerye be-hynde þe fullyng [mill [Added from the Latin.] ] of Oseney, and þe close that þey haue of þe ffee of Henry Symeon, et cetera. as within þe title of 'Hedynton,' in þe which charter is i-conteyned that 'þabbot may haue xx^ti bestys in Westoseney [An island, between streams of Thames, immediately to the west of the abbey, as figured in map ii. to Wood's City of Ox|ford.] after þ^e hey is i-mowe and i-leuyd vn-to Myȝhelmasse and after myȝhelmasse as many as he will.'

[47.]

About 1180? Confirma|tion to Oseney, by Henry Doyly (? I), of meadow.

TO all cristen pepull to þe which þis present writyng shall come Henry Doylly, our lorde Kynge's constable, helth. Know ȝe all þat mede [Marginal note: 'Mede.'] that lyeth be-yonde [þe] water the which is i-called Eldee towarde þe west and is nyȝhe to þe Burgeys medis of oxonforde þe which [are] of the ffee of Hedyndon, that ['quod videlicet pratum . . . est col|latum.'] is to say, þe mede to þe chanons of Oseney of me for my helth and of my aunceturs is i-yeve, is of my ffee and of my aunceturs. In-to wittnysse of this þynge, to this present writyng my seele I haue putt to. Witnysses, et cetera.

[48.]

1239, Aug. I. Sale to Oseney, by Humphrey de Monte, of 16 acres in Bulstake mead, subject to quit-rents of 1d. to the mesne lord, and 5s. to the chief lord, with 8d. 'to the mower.' Purchase|money, £4.

Know þey that been present and to be that I, vmfrey of þe mounte þ^e Soone of Gylberte of þe mounte, for my sowle helth and of þe sowles of my aunceturs, ȝafe and grauntid, and with my charter confermed, for me and myne heyres for euer, to god and to þe church of Seynte Mary of Oseney and to þe chanons þere seruyng god, all my mede with þe pertinences that I had in the mede þat is callid þe mede of Bolestake [Marginal note: 'bolestake Mede.'] , withoute oony agayne-holdyng to me or to my heyres for euer, þat is to say, xvj. acris, were-of x. acris lyen bytwene the mede [of [Added from the Latin.] Henry son of Henry and the mead of William de gardino of Botelee, and vi. acres lie between the mead] þat Roger of

Boteley helde and þe mede that Robert Mercer sumtyme helde: to be had and to be holde, to þe saide church and chanons for euer, in-to ffre and perpetuell almes, with all þe ryȝght that longeth to þe same mede (with þ^e pertinences) [that] I haue or I had or Euer myȝght haue, well and in peece, ffrely and quietly, yeldyng þerof yerly to me and my heyres j. d. at Estur at Oseney for all seculer seruice exaccion custom Sevtes and Demaundes in all thynges þ^e which of my lond or for my londe may be axid, Savyng to þe chefe lorde of þe ffee the rent of v. s. in tyme of heying and to þe mower viij. d., þe which þe same chanons shall quyte. And I vmfrey and my heyres all þe forsaide thynges to þe forsaide church and Chanons for Euer shall warantize agaynste all men and women, that, if, for Defaute of my warantyzing or my heyres, harmys or Expensis þey renne in, whe shall satisfye them by the syȝht of lawfull men of our oþer londis. And for þys yevyng grauntyng and warantizyng þe saide chanons yafe to me vj. marke of siluer. This charter was i-maade at Oseney att þe feste Seynte petur Ad uincula, The ȝere of þe reyne of Kyng Henry [Marginal note: 'Henricus 3, Rex Anglie.'] þ^e sone of Kyng John xxiij. And that this my ȝevyng grauntyng and warantiȝyng abide sure and stable for Euer, with this present wrytyng and puttyng to of my seele I haue i-strengthit hit. The witnyssis, et cetera.

[49.] Quyte-clayme of xxiiij. s. goyng owt of bolestake Mede & other parcelles.

1248, June 10. Surrender to Oseney, by Henry III, of rent|charges over Oseney property, viz., in Oxford|shire, out of Bulstake mead, 9s.; and out of meads at Bampton, 5s. and 3s. 4d.; and in Bucks, in Southcot, 6s. 8d.

HENRY, By the grace of god Kyng of Inglonde, lorde of Irlonde, Duke of Normandy, and Erle of Aungye, to all Baylyffes and his true men helth. Knowe ȝe vs in the waye of cheryte to haue i-relesid to thabbot and Couent of Oseney and þem quyte to haue i-claymed, for vs and our heyres for Euer, of xxiiij. s. ȝerly to be i-ȝelded of þ^e londes the which þey holden of oure [folio 14a] seriaunt Mys ['seriaunt Mys' in MS., in error for 'serjauntyes': 'de nostris seriantiis.'] , that is to saye, in Oxonforde-shire of þ^e mede of Bolestake withoute Oxonforde þat is of þe seriaunty of Gilbert of Mountes ix. s., And of A mede withoute Bampton þe which is i-callid Huntmede that is of þe seriauntye of Richard de la mare v. s. And of þe mede that is i-called

Burewege that is of þe Seriauntye of Henry de la mare iij. s. iiij. d. And In Bokyngham-shire of j. ȝerdelonde with þe pertinences in Suthcote þat is of þe Seriauntye of William of Seynte Clare dj. marke. In-to witnysse of this thyng these our letters we haue i-made to be i-made patent, My-selfe witnesse, at Wynchester x. daye of June In the yere of our reame xxxij.

[50.]

About 1170. Excerpt from grant to Oseney, by Ralph Boterell, of meadow at Oseney, as in no. 217, and confirmed in no. 218.

BE hit i-knowe to all true men of holy church þat I, Raph Boterell, prayng and willyng Julyan my wife and Johan her Dowghter, ȝafe and grauntid, in-to ffre and perpetuell almys, to þ^e church of god and of Seynte marye of Oseney and to þe chanons þere seruyng god, et cetera. And within et cetera And þe mede [Marginal note: 'Mede.'] that is by þe courte of Oseney of þe oþer side of þ^e water: for þe which mede þey shall yelde Euery seynte John Baptiste day euery yere to þe church of seynte ffrideswith for me xiij. d. for all seruice. [This [Added from the Latin.] grant I have made to them free and quit from all service] bothe ryalle and oþer and all exaccion, in þe chapiter of þem afore þe Couent, And vppon þ^e Auter, also with my wife I offerid hit: þese witnyssys. This my [Omit 'my.'] Charter is i-write hole in þe title of Hokenorton. And note þat we haue a con|firmacion of William Horevile and of Johan his wife vppon þe forsaide charter, þe which is Above in þ^e title of Hokenorton, et cetera.

[51.] quyte-clayme of ij. s. et cetera owt of Gocesham.

About 1190. Grant to Oseney, by Thomas de la grave, of meadow, subject to 2s. quit|rent to Heading|ton manor.

KNOWE þey that present be and to be that I, Thomas ffiȝt ffulcon. de la Grave, yeve and graunte, in-to fre and perpetuell almys, to þe church of Seynte Marye of Oseney and to þe chanons þer seruyng god, all my mede of Gocesham that Geffrey ffiȝt Durande helde: to be holde ffrely and quietly, sauyng ij. s. þe which þe same chanons of þe same mede yelden for me and my heyres to þe maner of Hedynton yerely at þ^e feste of Seynt M[i]chȝhell. Truly I toke in my hande for me and my heyres to warantiȝe to þe same chanons þat tenement ouer all and agaynste all men. Of this our yifte, et cetera. Þe witnysse, et cetera.

[52.]

About 1210. Sale to Oseney, by Adam, porter, of 2 acres and 4 butts of meadow, subject to quit-rents, 2d. to the mesne lord, 3s. to the chief lord, with 2d. to the mower. Purchase|money, £4.

KNOWE þey that been present and to bee þat I, Adam Porter of Oseney, haue i-ȝefe, grauntid, and with my charter confermed, to þabbot of Oseney and to þe chanons þere seruyng god, all my mede that I holde of Water Cole þat lieth bytwene Bolestake and þe mylle of Boteley, that is to say, ij. acres and iiij. buttes: to be holde of me and of my heyres for Euer, ffrely and quietly, worschipfully and hooly, yeldyng þerof [Marginal note: 'Mede.'] to me and to my heyres yerly ij. d. at Myȝhelmasse and to Water Cole iij. d. [Latin: 'iii. solidos.'] and to þe Mower ij. d. for all seculer seruice. And I Adam porter and my heyres shall warantiȝe to þ^e forsaide Abbot and Couent þe forsaide mede agaynste all men and women. And if þe forsaide ij. Acris and iiij. Buttes to þ^e forsaide Abbat and Couent we may not warantiȝe, all my londe of his ffee that I haue in seynte Thomas parish [folio 14b] shall abide quyte to þem. And for this yifte and graunte the forsaide Abbot and Couent ȝafe to me in Rewarde ['in gersummam.'] vj. marke of siluer. And þis yifte graunte and warantiȝyng truly to be holde I adam porter for me and my heyres haue I-pliȝght my trowth and with my seele puttyng to haue i-strenghthe hit. These witnyssys, et cetera.

[53.]

1226, July 14. Agreement between Oseney and Einsham abbey, in respect of counter claims about tithes, Oseney receiving a perpetual lease of Einsham interest in meadows near Ose|ney, paying 5s. to Heading|ton manor, excusing 6s. due from Cassington by Einsham, and paying to Einsham 13s. on July 20. Oseney also is to pay the mower.

TO all cristen men to þ^e which this wrytyng shall come, prior of lantony, Archedecun and Deene of Gloucetur, helth in our lorde. Knowe ye all þat whenne, by diurese letters afore vs and afore þabbot and prior and Deene of Abendon of Delegatye of our lorde þe pope Honory þe iij., whas a plee betwene þe lorde Abbot and Couent of ['Oseney' follows in MS., and ought to have been struck out.] Enysham of þe oon partye, and lorde Richard, Abbot, and Couent of Oseney of þe oþer partie, vppon tithis of heye of þe saide Munckes of þere medys by Oseney liyng, and vppon a yerly rente of vj. s. for þe ferme of þe tithis of þe saide chanons of Kersynton [i.e. Cassington.] , and vppon þe peyne of xl. s. [and] vppon interesse of þe same chanons by-cause agaynste þ^e mynchuns of Wrokeshale and vppon summe despites, at þe laste after many altercacions vppon þe saide all axynges of Euerych oþer and mony wronges vnto þe tyme of makyng of this writyng i-meved, þe stryves ['lites.'] betwene þe saide howses thys frendely restyd: þat is to say, þe

saide Abbot and Couent of Enysham grauntid and toke ['concesserunt et tradiderunt.'] to þe saide Abbot and Couent of Oseney all þere mede of Bolestoke [Marginal note: 'betwene thabbotes of Eynesham & Osney for bolestake mede & the hammys &c.'] , with ij. hammys lyyng be-hynde þ^e courte of Oseney towarde þe sowth, to be holde of þem and to be had in þ^e name of a perpetuell ferme, for xxiiij. s. yerly in þis maner to be payde, þat is to say, v. s. to þe chefe lorde of Hedyndon at þ^e terme of Seynte John Baptiste, and vj. s. by relese þe which þe saide chanons maade to þe saide Munkes vppon þe vj. s. in þe which þe same Munkes were i-holde to þem for þe saide tithis [of] Kersynton for ['pro solutis habendis.'] i-paide i-had, And þe xiij. residue s. at þe fest of Seynte Margarete at Oseney to þe Secresten of Enynsham or to his certeyn messynger þe saide chanons yerly withoute agayne|saying and Cauillacion shall paye, And euermore þe saide chanons ofte to susteyne þe Burdon ['onus' in the Christ Church MS.; 'onus consuete mercedis messarii,' in the Cotton MS.] of þe mower of þ^e saide mede: And þ^e saide Munkes been i-holde to þe warantiȝyng of þe saide fferme. Also þe bothe parties haue i-subiecte þem-selfe by goode feyth to our Jurisdiccion, of þ^e consent ['de consensu'; scil. of the parties.] , for euer to constreyne both by censure of þe churche (apelyng i-put aweye) to þe kepyng of þe forsaide thynges, notwithstandyng þe com|posicion betwene þe parties a-noþer tyme vppon þe saide tithis i-made, þe which naþelesse in oþer artikuls in þe composicion i-contente in þere surenysse shall abide. And that this com|posicion sure and stable abide for euer, both parties also with our seeles haue i-strengeth hit with þere seeles. Thes thynges were i-doo at Oxonforde in seynte Marye church þe thride fferie after þe ffeste of þe translacion of Seynte Benet, þ^e yere of þ^e Incarnacion of our lorde M^lCC xxvj., afore Master Roger Caunt|lowe and Reginalde Chapeleyn of þ^e church of Seynte Oolde of Oxonford vndur ['subdelegatis nostris.'] our Delegates, þ^e dede of þe which we by þe popes auctorite strengthe. Þese witnysse:—

[54.] betwene thabbot of Osney & the Pryor of ffrys|wyse [about] the tyth hey of the meades of Northam, Pytmeade, Hallcwer, Brademore [et cetera].

1225, May 22. Contro|versy be|tween Oseney and St. Frides|wyde's, about tithes of hay and corn in several places near Oxford, were re|ferred to arbitrators, by whose offices Oseney surren|dered to St. Frides|wyde's all claim to tithes in Thomley; and to cer|tain tithes in Put|mead, Halkwere and Brad|more; and to half of tithe of Wyvelsey: St. Frides|wyde's sur|rendered to Oseney all claim to tithes of meadows west of Oseney and to tithes of Nor|tham: the tithe of 'the lynch' to go with that of the meadow to which it belongs, or to be divided: expense of getting tithe-hay of Wyvel|sey to be shared. Oseney to have tithe|hay of Andrew of Cowley; and tithe of Hulc mills so long as held by present tenant. Oseney also to have a quit-rent (challenged by St. Frides|wyde's) of 9d. in St. Mary Mag|dalen parish.

KNOWE [The Latin text is in Wigram's Cart. S. Frid., ii. 31. The Oseney Latin text is more correct.] all cristen men that whenne, bytwene Richard,

Abbot, and Couent of Oseney and Simon, prior of Seynte ffrideswith, moony stryves were i-meved afore Jugges fro þe pope Delegate and also afore Arbitrars of þe commune consent of parties i-chose, that is to say, Archedecon of Wircetur and his co-arbitrars, vppon tithe of heye of all medes of þe ffee of Hedyndon withoute þe courte of Oseney towarde þe west liyng; [folio 15a] and vppon þe tithis of þe heye of þese medis, Northam, Pitmede, Halcwere, Brademore; and vppon þe tithe of Corne and heye of Andrewe of Coveley; and vppon þe tithe of þe corn of all þat porcion of telthe lying be-yonde þe Hospitall of seynte Bartholomew towarde þe Est þe which was commune pasture of Coveley; and of þe tithis of Corne of þ^e prior and Couent of seynte ffrideswith in Cudeslawe, with ['Comyng-therof-offrynges' is an alter|native rendering with 'obvencions,' for a single Latin word. So also 'profittes' and 'prouentes.' The Latin runs:— '[super] obuencionibus, oblacionibus & aliis parochialibus prouentibus servientium suorum ibidem degencium.'] þe obuencion[s] or comyng þerof offrynges, offrynges, and oþer parishall prouentes or profittes of þere seruauntes þere levyng; and vppon þe tithis of corne and heye of half j. hide of þe prior þe which was of Henry Bewfiȝt in Thumele [Thomley, a hamlet of Waterperry parish: Wigram, Cart. S. Frid., ii. 154, 157.] , with þe obuencions, offrynges, small tithis, and parishe servyng ['et parochiali sequela.'] of þere men þere levyng; with þe tithis of þe telthe þe which is i-called Bradmore berewes: with þe tithes of A telthe þe which is i-callid Gilbers ['giberis,' a 'cultura' in Walton.] ; with [Latin [et super] 'gravamine': the grievance being that St. Frideswyde's had bolstered up some claims by producing forged deeds: cp. no. 5. Wigram's Cart. S. Frid., i. 44, describes a forged deed, purporting to be of date, 1201.] þe greve that hath i-come by þ^e rente Encresed of langeneye, In the charter of Eldrede [The Foundation Charter of Ethelred, 1004, is printed in Wigram's Cart. S. Frid., i. 2.] Kyng and [in] þoo oþer Instrumentes by þe which þe church of seynte Marye Mawdelen, or oony thyng in hit, oþer tithis of Northam, may be i-calengid of ['of' = 'by': 'decime . . . vendicari possint a Canonicis S. Frid.'] þ^e chanons of seynte ffrideswith, with renouncyng of þe vse of suche Instrumentes of periury of þ^e same chanons; and vppon þe tithis of þe Milles gryndyng corne in þ^e courte of Oseney, And of all officis þe which been i-sett be-yonde ['ultra veterem cursum illius aque que vocatur Ealde-ee versus occidentem.'] þe oolde curse of þem þat is i-callid Eldee and towarde þe weste, and vppon obuencions and oþer parysshall profites of seruauntes in þe same

offices lyvynge; and vppon þ^e tithis bothe of corne and of heye of Middeleye, with þe obuencions and oþer parisshall profites of seruauntes and of oþer men þere levyng; and vppon þe tithis of all þe telthe þe which lieth vppon þe Kynges hye weye nyhe to þe telthe of Wynterbroc vnto þe Hospitall of seynte Bartholo|mewe; and vppon þe processions [Ascension-day long retained, and still in some places retains, its processions 'beat|ing the bounds' of parishes: cp. Wood's Life and Times, iii. 15.] of þ^e churchis of seynte George and of seynte marye Mawdelen in þe assencion daye of our lorde; and vppon þe tithis of þe heye and of þe Milles and of þe ffisshynges of Robert Hulc; and vppon [þe tithis [Added from the Latin: 'omnium ter|rarum cultarum de feodo de H.'] of all the tilled lands of the fee of Hedendon on] þ^e weste partie of Charewell, outetake þe tilthis of Northam, berecrofte, and oþer tilthes with-in þe bondes ['limites.'] of Seynte Marye Mawdelen: at þe laste, by masters Robert officiall of lincoln and [the] Archedecun [of Lincoln] and Adam Archedecun of oxonforde mediatours bytwene þem, all þe saide controuersies whare i-sesed frendely for Euer in this maner:—Þat is to say, for þe goode of per|petuell peece, þe saide Abbot and Couent of Oseney haue i|grauntid to þe saide prior and Couent of seynte ffrideswith all þe tithes of Corne and heye þe which þey were i-woned to take of þe hide of þe prior In thumele; and also all small tithis and tithis of heye of putmede and Halcwere; and tithis of heye In Bradmore when þey haue i-gete hit ['eas,' scil. decimas.] ; & half þe tithis of heye of Wyuelseye [Or Wyueleye. The boundaries of Cut|slow (Wigram, Cart. S. Frid., ii. 207) suggest that this was a meadow there.] : And saide prior and Couent of Seynte ffrides|with haue i-grauntid to þe saide Abbot and Couent of Oseneye that þey haue pesible all tithis of medis of þe ffee of Hedyndon withoute þ^e Courte of Oseney towarde west, and that þey ioye pesible þ^e tithis of þe Medis of Northam, all quarelyng for Euer vppon þ^e saide tithis relesyng to þe saide Abbot And Couent afore i-meved: And if þe litull mede that is i-callid lynch haue i-be longyng of Northam or Halcwere [Northam was on the north of Oxford, on the Cherwell. 'Lynch' was a meadow, surrounded by a stream of Cherwell, which might go either with Northam on the south or with Halcwere on the north.] , þat hangyng ['appendicium.'] , shall be of þat parte to þe which hit is hangyng ['appendicium.'] , and if it be of noþer hangyng, be hit departid betwene parties: and þey

haue [So also in Latin, but must be in error. St. Frideswyde's has already received its half; this should have been given as Oseney half.] i-grauntid to þe chanons of ffrideswith þe oþer partie of tithes of heye of Wyuesley, of þe which mede þe tithes with commune conselles and expenses of[t] to be i-gete and gaderid. Ouermore, þe tithes of þe heye of Andrewe of Coveley, fully and pesible, shall be i-paide to þabbot and Couent of Oseneye: Also þe tithes of þe heye and of þe mylles and of þe ffisshynges of Robert Hulc as longe as he is parisshen of Cudelynton by ['ratione illius tenementi.'] skele of þat tenauntrye, And if (after þat same mannys decese R. ['R.' is deferred out of its right place. 'Si autem, post decessum eiusdem R., canonici. . .'] [the] chanons of Seynte ffrideswith wille holde hit in here owne hande with pertinences, hit ['erit de dictis decimis, sicut ius dicta|verit.' For the final agreement as to this point see no. 76.] shall be of þe saide tithis as þe lawe yeveth: and other peticions And quarels (vppon oþer [folio 15b] þynges above i-named, and vppon small ['Small' is in error for 'mutual' or cross-actions. 'super mutuis [in the Cotton MS.: mis-read in the Christ Church MS. minutis] peticionibus pene L. marcarum.'] peticions almoste of l. marke, and of axynges of Expenses by-cawse of Stryves i|maade) i-mevid, both parties to euerche oþer haue i-relesed for Euer; thynges i-doo afore naþelese and composicions of lange|neye and vppon þe church of Seynte Marye Mawdelen sumtyme betwen parties i-maade þorowgh all here articles in þere strenght abidyng. Þe chanons also of Seynte ffrideswith full restitucion of A rent of ix. d. of A grounde sumtyme ['de terra quondam Siredi.'] fired in þe parisshe of Seynte Marye Mawdelen to þe same church shall do; and to [Omit 'to.' 'et canonici Oseneye. . . remiserunt.'] þe chanons of Oseney þere accion Haue relesed, and quarell vppon that rent i-mevid. Also both parties consentid that þe compromisse i-maade to-gedur bytwene þem of þe saide thynges be nawȝht and be i-cancellid; and hit is renouncid to þynges i-purchased ['et renunciatum est impetratis, quan|tum ad. . . .'] as to þo contrauersys and þynges above-named. And þe saide Abbot of Oseney and prior of Seynte ffrideswith, for þem-selfe and þere couentes, seyng the holy þynges, that in goode feithe and withoute Gile this composicion þey shall kepe in all thynges and neuer shall Imagyne ['nunquam aliquid in eius preiudicium machinabuntur.'] vnto oony preiudice of hit. Þese thynges were doo þe yere of þe Incarnacion of our

lorde M^lCCxxv, xj. kk of June, in þe Chapell of Seynte Nicholas at Osneye: and that all these thynges abide sure for Euer, they ben i-seeled with þe seeles of Both Howses, and of þe saide Abbot and prior, also and with seele of þe worschipfull Archedecuns, et cetera.

[55.] betwene thabbot of Osney & the pryoresse of lytlemore.

1223/4, Febr. 3. Agreement between Oseney and Littlemore priory, by which Oseney granted Littlemore a perpetual lease of the tithes of hay of a meadow near Ose|ney, for 2s. quit-rent.

THIS is Covenaunt i-maade Betwene sire Richard Abbot and Couent of Oseney of þe oone party, and þe lady priorisse and Couent of litulmore of þe oþer partye, þat where þe saide Abbot and Couent had i-Drawe þem in-to plee, afore Jugges of our lorde pope delegate, vppon tithis of heye of þer mede þat is betwene þe court of Oseney and of Henxhey and Is i-callid Snellesey: at þe laste, ffrendely þe saide chanons grauntid to þem þe saide tithis for ij. s. yerly, in þ^e name of A fferme of them to be holde for Euer, in two termes of þe yere to þem to be i-paide, that is to sey, At Estur xij. d. and at þe fest of seynte Miȝhell xij. d.; and, last by procese of tyme oony strife or question be i-sprunge vppon þe saide tithis, or þat þat is i-doo of þe same tithis betwene parties to be callid agayne in-to dowte or to be made vnsure by oony maner, þis writyng is i-made, of þe which oon partye i-seled with seelis of þe saide chanons abideth to þe saide prioresse and couent, And þe oþer partye i-seled with seelis of þe same mynchons to þe saide chanons. Also þe forsaide Abbot and Couent þe forsaide tithis as þere owne with þere owne costes [shall [Added from the Latin.] defend] for þem-selfe and for þe saide Minchons. Þese þynges were i-doo at Abendon in þe grete church In þe morowe of þe purificacion of þ^e blessed virgyn, þe yere fro þe Incarnacion Ml CC xxiij.

[56.] friswid gyueth to osnye iij. s. yerly rent for relese of ij. s. vj. d.

About 1180. Confirma|tion to Oseney, by St. Frides|wyde's, of a meadow held of their house by quit|rent of 3s., and accept|ance, by way of pay|ment, of surrender of 2s. 6d. due to Oseney for tithes, and of 6d. out of an Oxford quit-rent due to Oseney.

PHILIPPE [The Latin text of the Oseney grant to St. Frideswyde's is in Wigram's Cart. S. Frid., ii. 244.] prior of Seynte ffrideswith and all þe Couent of þe same place to all true men of our holy modur þe church

helth. Knowe ye vs to have i-grauntid, and with our seele pryntyng to haue confermed, to þe chanons of Oseney that yifte þe which William Hereville and Johan his wiffe [made [Supplied from the Cottonian MS., communicated by Rev. H. Salter.] to them of the meadow which the said William and Joan his wife] holde of vs for iij. s. yerly to be i-paide at þ^e ffest of Seynte John Baptiste for all seruice, that is to say, that lieth by þ^e courte of Oseney be-yonde þ^e water, whereof þe forsaide William maade to vs homage and hath our Charter, sa þat þ^e forsaide chanons of Oseney þo iij. s. þ^e which þe saide William and his heyres ofte to vs þerof, for hym and for his heyres, to vs ȝerly at þe forsaide terme shall paye, And þat þe chanons of [folio 16a] Oseney, for þese iij. s. and for here deliueryng, relesed to vs xxx. d. þ^e which we haue i-owyd to pay to þem ȝerely for summe tithis of Escote (vppon þe which hit ['Super quibus transactum fuit inter nostram ecclesiam,' i.e. 'translacion' for 'transaccion.'] was A translacion whas i-maade betwene our church and þem afore Jugges Delegate), and for vs haue assined þ^e oþer vj. d., þe which he shall paye Euery daye at þe saide terme of seynte John, to thomas ffiȝt Eilrice and þe heyres of hym, of a londe þe which he holdeth of þe forsaide chanons of Oseney within þe Borowgh of oxonforde for ij. s. ȝerely, so þat we no-thyng more ['nihil amplius quam vi d.'] of þe same thomas and his heyres maye axe. These witnesse, et cetera.

[57.]

1223/4, March. Decision in favour of Oseney, by papal commis|sioners, appointed April 28, 1220, in a suit against various Oxford citizens, for tithe of hay of meadows near Ose|ney, and award of costs of the suit to Oseney.

TO all cristen men to þe which þ^is writyng shall come Robert by þe mercy of god [abbot] and Osbert prior of Haben|don euerlastyng helth in owr lorde. To all yowre knowlege we wille hit come, vs to haue i-take owre lorde þe pope-is com|maundement in þe wordes:—

Honory, Bisshop, seruaunt of þe seruantes of god, to yowre [Read 'our.'] beloued sonnys, Abbot [Omit 'Abbot.'] of Redyng and of Abendon Abbotes, and prior of Abendon, of Saresbury Diocese, helth and þe apostels Benyson: our beloued sonnys Abbot and Couent of Oseney in here planyng shewed þat Richard Clerke and summe oþer of lincoln and Saresbury dioceses, vppon tithis possessions and oþer thynges to þere church of Seynte George of ryȝght longe [Read 'longing': 'de iure spectantibus.'] , wronge [i.e. do wrong: 'iniuriantur.'] to þe same. Þerfore to yowre discrecion, by þe

apostels writyng, we commaunde (þat þe partes i-callid) ye hire þe cause, and þat that is ryȝght (appelle i-put a-backe) ye ordeyne, makyng þat þat ye ordeyne by þe censure of þe church surely to be kepid, and þe witnysses that ben i-named (if þey, for grace, hatrede, or drede, with-drawe þem) by þe same censure (appelle cesyng) constreyne to bere witnesse to þe trowthe; and if ye all to þese þynges to be executid may not be ['non . . . potueritis interesse.'] atte hit, ȝit at þe leste tweyne doo execucion. Date at Viterbe, þe iiij. kk. of may, of our Bisshophode þe iiij. ȝere.

Þen for [Read 'þerefore': 'igitur.'] , by þe auctorite of this maundement, abbot of Redyng, our ffelawe Jugge, hym-selfe at ['ad totam causam.'] all þ^e cause excusyng, þe which was i-meved betwene Richard Abbot and Couent of Oseneye, of þ^e oon party, and Henry ffiȝt Symon, Philippe Miller, Symon Balehorn, Rordan rede ['rufum.' Read 'Iordan.'] , William Were ['Bere.'] , Oriot wydwe of Oeyen, Anneys wydwe of John Burewalde, John Pady, Richard Stocwell, Alurey Elmel, Robert oerre, Andrewe Halegoode, Milon Baker ['pistorem.'] , of the oþer party; Abbot and Couent of Osneye by a procutor ['per procuratores': 'procutor' seems to be a shortening, in the direction of 'proctor.'] , Philip Miller, S. Balehorne, and John Rede ['Iordano ruffo.'] , in here owne persones, and oþer afore-named by procutours ['per procuratores': 'procutor' seems to be a shortening, in the direction of 'proctor.'] in our presence i-sette, þe striffe vppon tithis of heye of þe forsaide men, that is to saye, of þe medes þe which lye withoute the courte of Oseneye towarde þ^e west i-witnessed, and witnesses to ['ad probandam intentionem.'] þentente of þabbot and Couent of Osneye to be proued afore vs i-browght forth and examined, by [Omit 'by.' 'iuris ordine, circa publica|cionem attestacionum dictorum testium productorum et partium disputacionem, per omnia observato.'] ordre of lawe abowthe þ^e pubblisshyng of [the attestations] þe saide witnisses i-browthȝ forth and þ^e disputyng of parties thoroght all thynges i-kepid: When ['Cum nobis de causa liqueret, renuncia|tionibus productionum testium et allega|cionum hinc inde factis': i.e. both parties declared they had no more oral testimony (testes) or written statements (allegaciones) to produce.] it was opyn of plee, renuncyng of þe bryngyng forth of witnesses and the allegacions hidis [Read 'hidir' (hither and thither).] and þere i-doo, whenne fully it was i-preued by feythfull men þat þe saide medis [Marginal note: 'vppon the tythes of certeyn Mede lying without the Courte of Osney towardes the west.'] of þe forsaide places of oxonforde was of þ^e parish

of þere church of seynte George, or of seynte Marye Mawdelen þ^e which longeth to þe same church of seynte george, and noþyng whas i-proued in-to contrarye, þe grace of þ^e holy goste i-called ['invocata.'] , þe tithis of heye of þe forsaide mede i-axid, with þe counsell of wise men and of men of lawe sittyng ['assidentium.'] to vs, þe saide [aduersaries [Added from the Latin.] being present, and of the said] aduer|sariis beyng absent þ^e procutours in þere name beyng to, þe tithis of þe hey of þe forsaide medes [Marginal note (of later date): 'quaere if it be not the meades that mr. president of corpus christi colledge;' referring no doubt to Botley causeway, constructed about 1530 by Dr. John Claymond across these meadows: Wood's City of Oxford, i. 437.] to be i-paied for parish ryȝght for euer to þabbot and Couent of Oseneye by [folio 16b] sentence diffynyng ['per sententiam diffinitivam.'] , we haue i-Jugged. Moreouer we haue þ^e forsaide aduersariis in-to resonable expensis to þe saide Abbot and Couent condempned. In-to þe strengh and witnysse of this thyng, to þis writyng present owre seelis we haue i-Juggid worthy to put to. These thynges were i-do in þe chapell of Seynte Nicholas at Abendon, In þe moneth of Marche, þe yere of þe Incarnacion of our lorde anno M^l CC xxiij.

[58.]

About 1220. Excerpt from a grant to Oseney, by Simon Balehorn, of (amongst other gifts) 6 acres of meadow.

KNOWE þey þat ben nowe and to be þat I, Symon Balehorne of oxonforde, haue i-ȝeve grauntid lefte and haue deliuered and with þis present charter confermyd, for me and my heyres, to god and to þ^e church of Seynte Marye of Oseney and to þe chanons þere seruyng god, all þe londe, et cetera. Also vj. acris of mede [Marginal note: 'Mede.'] , where-of iiij. lye by þe mede that sumtyme whas of Robert Mercer, of ['de quibus eciam sex acris.'] þe which also vj. acris alyne Smyth ['Alanus faber.'] helde sumtyme ij. acris, and Hugh Carpenter oþer ij. acris, and John Sewy oþer ij. acris, and þey lye By þe mede of þe lorde of that ffee, and all þo vj. acris strecche þem-selfe vn-to þe water þat floweth fro Bolestake, et cetera. This charter is i-write hole with|inne þe title of 'þe parish of Seynte Marye' of þe Borowgh of Oxonforde.