The english register of Godstow nunnery, near Oxford : written about 1450 / edited with an introduction by Andrew Clark.

WOLVERCOTE.

[NOTE.—In pope Nicholas IV's 1291 Taxatio Ecclesiastica Wolvercote (with Godstow) was assessed at £13 14s. 3d. yearly value. In the survey of 1531 (Monast. iv. 373) we find Wolvercote by itself valued at £24 18s. 4d., viz. from lands, £13 18s. 4d.; from quit-rents, £2 3s. 6d.; from the mill, £8 16s. 6d.]

[folio Vb(17b)] A chartur of Robert Euyrci of a medewe callyd the yle.

About 1140. Grant to Godstow, by Robert of Everci, of a mea|dow called 'the isle,' probably in Wolver|cote.

THE sentence of thys chartur is, that Robert of Euercy, by the consent of [his] eyerys, Robert & Thomas, hathe gyf & grauntyd to god, & to the churche of our lady seynt Marie & of seynt Iohn Baptist of Godstowe, & to the Mynchons there seruinge god, in-to pure & perpetual almys, a medewe that is callyd the yle, the whych medewe Robert of Meysy hys vnkle gafe to hym for hys seruice. Thys medewe he gafe to the fore|seyd Mynchyns, for the helthe of hys sowle, & of hys aunceturs, & of hys heyrys ['h' was afterwards erased. There are frequent instances in this MS. in which initial 'h' is erased from words elsewhere spelt with it.] , with hys dowhtur, Agas, the whyche was made mynchon in the same churche foreseyd. Thys medewe he wyllyd to be hadde for euyr freely and [folio VI(18)] restfully fro all exaccion or worldly seruice, paynge yerely to hym & to hys heyrys ['h' was afterwards erased. There are frequent instances in this MS. in which initial 'h' is erased from words elsewhere spelt with it.] j. pound of pepyr, with-in xv. dayes aftur the fest of seynt Myhel: thes beynge wytnes: and thys chartur is with-out date.

A chartur I-made of the medewe callid the yle, by pagan caurcis.

About 1140. Confirma|tion to Godstow by Pain of Caurcis, overlord, of the grant (no. 767) of 'the isle.'

THE sentence of thys chartur is, that Pagane of Caurcis wyllyd to be knowe to all men, that he grauntyd & gaf, Also confermyd with hys chartur, a medewe that is callyd the yle, the whyche lyeth be-twene temse [i.e. Thames.] & the medewe of syr water [i.e. Walter.] of chaldfeld, to god & to the church of Godstowe, & to the mynchons there seruynge god, in-to pure & perpetual almys for hym & hys eyerys, & the sowles of hys aunceturs; that is to sey, the seyd medewe to be holde of hym & of hys heyrys for euyr, frely & quietly & worshypfully fro all seruice, & fro all quarell, & playntys; &, for-asmuche as he wyllyd thys gyft to be ferme & stable, he strengthyd hyt by the puttynge to of hys seele: these beynge wyttnes: & is with-out date.

A confirmacion made by þ^e same pagan of all þ^e yeftes made of þ^e seyd yle.

About 1140. Fuller con|firmation to Godstow, by Pain of Caurcis of 'the isle.'

THE sentence of thys chartur is, that Pagan of Caurces Willid to be know to all men that he grauntyd & confermid with hys chartur the gyft that hys aunceturs madyn to Robert of Meisi of a medewe that is callyd the yle, the whyche medw the same Robert gaf to Robert of Euercy, & that same Robert of euercy gaf to god, & to the churche of Godstowe, & to the Mynchons there seruyng god: wherfore the forseyd Pagane of Caurces willid & grauntyd, for hym-self & hys heyrys, that the forseyd mynchons shuld haue & hold the forseyd medewe, in-to pure & perpetual almys, as the charters of Robert of meisi & Robert of Euerci by-fore I-myndyd wytnes, the whyche the fore-namyd Mynchons hauyn ther-of: so yet þat, for the lacke and defawte of the forseyd Robert of Meysy & Robert of Euerci or of her heyrys, noþer [folio VIb(18b)] , I [Lapse into first person of the Latin.] , pagan a-foreseyd, ne none of myn [Lapse into first person of the Latin.] heyrys, may aske ony thynge in the foreseyde medewe, but that they shalle haue hyt & holde hyt in-to pure & perpetual almys as it is a-fore-seyd, sauynge the seruice of that medewe callid the yle dewe to me & myn [Lapse into first person of the Latin.] heyrys: these beynge wytnes: & is with-out date.

[folio Ib(13b)] The graunt of Nicholas fiȝt Reynold.

About 1160. Sale to Godstow, by Nicholas son of Reginald smith, of all right in a messuage and half|yardland which his father had held of Godstow. Purchase|money, £8.

THE sentence of thys dede is, how Nicholas, the sone of Reynald smyth, hathe grauntyd and relesyd and quite-claymed to the hows of Godstowe, and to the mynchens there god to serue for euyr, all his ryht and clayme that he had or myht haue, by ryht eryhtage or succession of hys seyd fadyr Reyginald, in that mese, with halfe a yerde of lond and medw to the same mese perteyny[n]ge with all odur perteynavnce in the towne of wolgarcote and with-oute; the whyche mese, with all the seyde purteynaunce ther-to belongynge, the seyd reyginald hys fadyr & hys predecessours of the seyd Mynchyns haue sum-tyme I-hold: To haue and to holde the forseyd mese, with all the pertenence a-boue rehersyd, to the seyd Mynchyns & her succes|sours or her assygnys, fre, quyt, wel & in pece for euyr, So that the seyd Nicholas, ne non odyr in hys name, eny ryht or clayme in the seyd mese, with all the pertynance, may (eny ryht [Omit 'eny right.'] ) here|aftyr aske or chalange ne clayme; and for thys yft and relese the seyd Mynchyns payd xij. marc., and he put to thys hys seal, wyttenesse of mony on: and ys with-oute date.

[folio IIb(14b)] a chartur of Reynalde of seynt walery of the yle in þ^e whych þ^e church is made.

About 1166. Grant to Godstow, by Regi|nald of St. Valerie, of site.

THE sentence of thys dede is, that ['Bernard or' struck out between that and Bernard.] Bernard [Read 'Reginald.'] of seynt walery hath y[i]f & grauntyd, in perpetual almys, to the Mynchyns of Godstowe & theyr successours, for the remedy of hys synnys & othyr moo rehersyd, (in [Omit 'in.'] ) the yle-lande a-fore-seyd & many othyr thyngys moo, as is a-boue wrytyn, in the dede next a-boue [Now no. 772.] I-wryte Bernardus: & thys is with-out date.

[[NOTE.—The Latin of the Exchequer MS. (a slip attached to leaf 190, back) exhibits the same hesitation as to the Christian name. The mention of Robert, bishop of Lincoln, who must be Robert de Cheney, bishop 1148-66, enables us to decide upon Reginald as the right name. The deed thus recites a grant made to Godstow by Bernard's father, Reginald, who died after 1166. The Latin may be summarized thus:— 'Another charter made to the convent by Bernard of St. Walery of the island in which the church is built. 'Bernard of St. Walery to Robert, of Lincoln bishop, &c. Ego Reginaldus de Sancto Walerico have given to Godstow for health of myself and for souls of my father and mother, &c., the island in which the church is built and which is called Godestowa... [As in his son's confirmation, which follows.] .' Witnesses include Magister Ralf ['Radulphus' became rural dean of Oxford, circ. 1165.] of Oxford, Hugh de belloramo, Reginald de Surpecampo, Pain de Wesberia, Walter de Peri, Walkelin Hering.]]

A chartur I-made to the couent of Godestowe by b. of seynt walery.

About 1180. Confirma|tion to Godstow, by Bernard of St. Valerie, of the site of Godstow, Wolvercote mill, four mea|dows, a fishery, a messuage, an island, a meadow and rent|charges to pay for mowing it, arable land in Wolver|cote, and another messuage.

THE sentence of thys dede is, that Bernard a-bove I-seyde hath ȝyf & I-grauntid, by the consent of hys eyrys, in-to per|petual almys to the hows of Godstowe & to the Mynchyns of the same, for the helth of kynge henri & the quene Alienore & here chyldyrn, Also for hys soule hele & hys wyfys Anorid, And for the soules of hys fadur & modur & othyr rehersyd ther, The [is]land [in] the whych the chyrch of Godstowe is byldyd, with all hys purtinaunce; & the mylle of wolgarcote; & Boieham & Heringes|ham and lambey; & a fysshynge-were with wereham; & a Mansyon of Osmund; & the yle-lande [The island 'between two bridges' is that on which the well-known Trout Inn at Godstow now stands.] betwene too bryggys; & pyxey, & v. shillings to Mowe the same mede at the fest of seynt Iohn Baptist (xij. d. in wolgarcote, ij. shillings in erdinton ['Erdinton' is the old spelling for Yarnton.] , ij. shillings in ley ['Leigh,' i.e. North Leigh, north of Godstow, a manor of the St. Valeries.] ); & an halfe hyde of the lordshyp of wolgarcote, & x. acrys of the same; & the mansyon of Clay|doune [Corrupt readings, concealing the name of a tenant, parallel to 'Osmund,' supra.] . Alle these thyngys forseyd he grauntyd to the forseyd Mynchyns to haue & to hold, with-out eny seculer seruice, to hem, well & in pese, frely & quietly for euyr, in perpetual almes, as is a-boue-seyd. Thys wytnes many on, rehersyd in the same: & thys is with-out date.

[[NOTE.—The translation here requires correction from the Latin of the Exchequer MS.:—Bernard of St. Valerie, with the consent of his heirs Reginald [Eldest son, but died before his father.] and Bernard, lets all men, French and English, know that he has given to Godstow ...(a) the island in which the church is built, with its pertinences, (b) all 'licheseia'; (c) the mill of Wolgaricote and boieham and heringesham and la[m]beie, (d) et unam piscariam (piscatoriam, in no. 773) cum werehamo, etc. Later names are (1) pecheseia, (2) eardintuna, (3) leaga ['Leigh,' i.e. North Leigh, north of Godstow, a manor of the St. Valeries.] , et mansura Sladium [Corrupt readings, concealing the name of a tenant, parallel to 'Osmund,' supra.] (?). Among the witnesses are Richard Hareng and Vincent of Wytham. This deed is a confirmation of gifts which were bestowed by Bernard's (? uncle), John of St. John (no. 3), and afterwards confirmed by his father Reginald of St. Valerie (no. 771).]]

A confirmacion [The Latin text is in Monast. iv. 363.] of Thomas of seynt walery of the chartur of bernard of seynt walery I-made to kynge henry þ^e secunde.

About 1195. Confirma|tion to Godstow, by Thomas of St. Valerie (d. 1217) of his father Bernard's gift (no. 772).

THE sentence of dede is, a confirmacion of Thomas of seynt walery, the sonne of bernard a-boue-seyd, howe he hath grauntid all that yft of Bernard hys fadur, grauntyd to henry kynge of ynglond, the sonne of Mald that worshypful emperice. Also he confermith, in thys same dede, all that seyd yft that kynge henry forseyd made to the forseyd Mynchyns of Godstowe of the towne of woluercote, to hold, in pese, al that forseyd yft, with all purtynaunce, for euyr, as the chartur of the seyd kynge henry beryth wyttenes & cetera: & thys is with-out date.

[folio III(15)] a final a-corde I-made of ij. meses in the towne of wolgoryscote.

About 1220. Sale to Godstow, by Richard Barbour, of two messuages. Purchase|money. 3½ marcs.

THE sentence of thys is, a final concorde of ij. Meses, with the purtynauns, in wolgarcote, whych wer in varyaunce be-twene Richard Barbour, Matyld hys wyfe, and Cristian the sistre of the same, And anfelise the Abbas of Godstowe; by the whyche a-corde, made in thy kynges court at westmynstre, the day of seynt Hyllary, a-fore many Iustys in the same place, the seyd Rychard & cetera, hathe renunsyd & quyt-claymyd, for hym & her heyrys, vn-to the chyrche of Godstow for euyrmore: for the whych recognicion the Abbas gafe to the seyd Richard xlvj. shilling viij. d.

[folio 145] Seynt Petir parisshe in the Est [Wolvercote, three miles from the north gate of Oxford, was a chapelry of the city parish of St. Peter's in the East.] . A delegacie ayenst the vicary of Seynt Petir in the Est.

1239, June 11. Commis|sioners appointed by pope Gregory IX to examine claims of Robert, vicar of St. Peter's in the East, against Godstow, and others, for tithes. =1238, May 7. The vicar claimed, as due to him by God|stow, in Wolver|cote, being a chapel-of|ease of St. Peter's in the East parish, (a) tithes of the mills, (b) tithes of the mea|dows, (c) tithes of calves and lambs, (d) parish|duties from Godstow servants there resident. Godstow produced papal privileges, exempting them from the tithes asked, also ex|empting from parish-duty such of their ser|vants as were not married house|holders. The vicar was awarded (a) tithes of meadows held in villeinage, (b) tithes of certain specified 'little meads,' (c) a pension of 3s to be paid each November 11th, in Wolver|cotechapel. The rectors of St. Peter's in the East, as also Godstow, and the vicar, sub|mitted themselves to the diocesan in respect of the above award.

THE sentence of this delegacie is, that Gregory, Bisshop, seruant to the seruantis of god, greted, or sente to his welbeloued dean and archidekon of herford hailysyng and his blissyng, willyng to be know to all the children of our modir the chirch, that Robert [Robert of York, admitted vicar 1236: Wood's City of Oxford, iii. 96.] , perpetuel vicary of seynt Petir chirche in the Est

of Oxenford, playnyng, shewes that the abbot of Oseneye, and the abbesse of Godestowe and her couente, the maister of seynt Iohn hospitall without the Est yate, and some other of lyncolne wirceter and london Citeis and diocises, did wronge to the same, vpon tithes, possessions, questis, and other thyngis. Therfor the pope commaunded to theire discrecion, by his writyng, that, the parties I-called, and I-herd the cause, and appelyng I-put away, and hit dewly I-ended, they shold make hit so that that they decreed shold be surely I-obserued by the censure of the chirch. And the witnesses that were I-named, yf they with-drow themself for favoure, haterede, or drede, they shold constreyne them to bere witnesse to [folio 145b] the trouthe, appelyng cesyng. The date at Viter[b]e, the nonys of may, of his Bisshophode the xj. yere.

Than sithe the said Robert, Vicary, by auctorite of this maundemente, had I-draw the forsaid abbesse and Couente of Godestowe into ple afore the said Iuges, and had I-made vndir this forme: The said Vicary axed of the said abbesse and Couente tythis of their mylles of Wolgarecote, by the commune law longyng to the said chirche, sithe they were within the lymytes and markes of the said parissh chirch of seynt Petir at the Est of Oxenford; Also he axed the tithes of ther medys beyng at Walgarecote, perteynyng to the said chirch, forasmoche as they were with-in the lymytes or markes of the said parissh chirch; Also he axed the tythis of the norisshyng of ther bestes, the which ben I-fedde and lye within the lymytes of his parissh; Also he axed that the seruantis of the abbesse and Couente of Godestowe, the which were liyng and arisyng at Wolgarecote, shold be compelled to here ther dyvyne seruyces and ther to do ther rightis that longe to a parissh. These thynges he said, savyng to hym-self the benefice of lawe, The stryf of this lawfully I-contestate.

And whan the said Robert, Vicary, personally, and the said mynchons by hereberte ther chapeleyn, procuratour specially to that I-yeve, comperyng in the presence of the bisshop of lyncolne, and there had I-swore, leiyng or towchyng the holy Godespellys with ther hondes, that they shold stond to theire prouision, Iugement, and ordeynyng, vpon the said tithes I-axed and vpon all thynge towchyng that ple, renuncyng to the said letters, and

to all other I-gote or to be gote, accion, cauillacion, excepcion, and appelyng, and all remedy of bothe lawes.

And sithe that the said mynchons shewed theire privilegis full spedefull, by the which they were exempte fro yevyng of the said tythes of norisshyng of bestis in ther pasture, and that hit was I-shewed lawfully to them by the same privilegis, in ther audience I-redde, rehersed, and I-vndirstonde: They assoiled hem fro the yevyng of the tythes of the norisshyng of ther bestis; and of other tythes abouesaid, that is to sey, of Medis, mylles; and of the seruauntis of the said mynchons, lying and risyng at wolgarecote, resceivyng ther wagis and nedefull vitaile of the house of Godestowe (out-take them that haue wyfes and ther owne housholdes in the towne of wolgarecote).

They decreid, after they had I-communed with the counseil of wise men, havyng god and equyte byfore ther sightis, ordeynyng, iugyng, and providyng, that, with-out ony stryf, they shold longe to the chirche of Godestowe and abidyng for euer: So natheles that the tythes of the villenagis of medys and litell medis of the same towne shold be sauf to seynt Petir chirch, in whos posses|sion they were in the tyme of this composicion, that is to sey, of all northmede, with the tythes of the hamme the which was I-yeve somtyme [folio 146] to the said chirche of seynt Petir in the name of the tythes, the which is I-called herthesham (out-take ij. hammes, the which ben of the demayn of the said abbesse and Couente in the same northmede, Wherof the tythes were never I-yeve; and out-take ij. acris the which ben also of the demayn of the said abbesse and Couente, the which longe to the mylle of wolgarecote; And out-take the hedis of the mylle crofte). And that the chirche of Godestowe, for the goodnesse of pease, shold be I-bounde for ever to pay iij. shillings yerely to the vicary of seynt Petir at the Est of Oxenford, at the fest of seynt Martyn, in wolgarecote Chapell. And they decreid this ther composicion to be riall, the which parties, and also Pounce de pontibus [Read 'fontibus.' Possibly a dictation-error, since there is no 'f' which a copyist could mistake for 'p.'] or (in englyssh) of welles, than person of the said chirch of seynt Petir, graunted the composicion to be to them ryall, to be stronge bitwene the said chirches for euer, and toke hit lefe, with opyn consente, yf the bisshop of lyncolne wold conferme hit with his

auctorite. Also the said parties subiected them self, with ther owne good wille, to the ordeynyng and wille of the worshipfull fadir bisshop of lyncolne, that he shold haue full power of aboue|said composicion, to compelle the said parties to kepe the composicion yf they wold not. And that this composicion shold abide riall and perpetuall, they put-to theire seales, and also the seales of the parties, euerych to other, to this composicion I-chartered. I-acted at Godestowe, in seynt Barnabe day the appostle, the yere of grace a thousand CC xxxix.

A Confirmacion of the bisshop of lyncolne, con|fermyng the riall and perpetuel composicion bitwene Robert, Vicary of seynt Petir chirch at the Est of Oxenford, and the abbesse and Couente of Gode|stowe, & cetera.

1239. Confirma|tion to Godstow, of preced|ing award, by Robert Grostête, bishop of Lincoln (1235-53), acting on advice of his official and of the Archdeacon of Oxford, on perusal ofthe whole case; viz. Pope's com|mission. Vicar's demand. Godstow's plea of exemption. Award made. Ratification by the diocesan.

THE Bisshop of lyncolne, Robert, willed to be know to all cristen men, that he had sey and behold the ordeynyng I-made by his welbeloved sonys in crist, maister Robert Caden|eye his officiall, and maister Roger Wyseham Archidekon of Oxenford, vpon the contrauersie I-meved bitwene Robert, vicary of seynt Petir in the Est of Oxenford, of the one parte, and the abbesse and Couente of Godestowe of the other partie, in these wordes:—'Be hit I-know to all the children of our modir the chirch that ben to se and to here this present writyng of maister Robert Cadeneye, officiall of the bisshop of lyncolne, and Roger Wyseham, Archidekon of Oxenford, that we saw the lettres of our holy fadir the pope vndir this forme—"Gregory, bis shop, seruaunte of seruauntis, to his welbeloved children, dean and Archidekon of herford, helth and blissyng of the appostle. Robert, perpetuel vicary of the chirch of seynt Petir at the Est of Oxenford, playned, shewyng to hym that the abbot of Oseneye, and the abbesse of Godestowe and theire Couente, maister and brethern of the hospitall of seynt Iohn without the Est yate of Oxenford, and some other of lyncolne Worceter and [folio 146b] London Citees and diocises, vpon tythes, possessions, quethyngis, and

other thynges, wronged the same. And therfor he comaunded to ther discrecon by his apostolike writyngis that, the parties I-called, and herde the cause, appelyng I-put a-side, that they shold with a dewe ende ende hit, makyng that that they decreed to be observed or I-kepid surely by the censure of the chirche, and that the witnesse that were I-called, yf they with|drow them-self for fauour haterede or drede, they shold constreyn them to bere witnesse of the trouthe by the same censure, appelyng cesyng. The date at Viterbe the nonys of May, of his popehode the xj. yere. And whan the said Robert, vicary, by this maner auctorite, had I-draw the said Abbesse and Couente of Godestowe afore the said Iuges into ple, and had I-made to them vndir this fourme: The said vicary axed of the said abbesse and Couente tythes of ther mylles of wolgarecote, to the said chirch longyng of the commune lawe, for-asmoche as they ben with-in the lymytes of the parissh of the said chirche. Also he axed the tythes of the norisshyng of theire bestis, the which ben I-fedde and ben I-logged with-in the lymytes of his parissh. Also he axed of the seruauntis of the abbesse and Couent of Godestowe, that ben liynge or cowchaunte and vprisynge at wolgarecote, shold be I-constreyned to hire goddis seruyce at wolgarecote and ther to pay parochial rightis. These thynges said he, savyng to hym the benefice of lawe, the stryf lawfully vpon these thynges contestate. And whan the said Robert, vicary, personaly, and the said mynchons, by here|berte ther chapeleyn, specially procuratour I-yefe to that, had I-swore in the presence of the bisshop of lyncoln, and ther com|peryng, ther hondes towchyng the holy godspelles, þat they shold stonde to his prouysion, arbitrement, and ordeynynge vp-on the said tythes I-axed, and vpon all thynges towchyng that plee, renounsyng to the said lettres and all other I-gete or to be gote, cauellacion, excepcion, and appelyng, and all remedy of bothe lawes. And whan the said mynchons had I-shewed in his presence their pryvilegis full spedefull by the which they were I-exempte fro the grauntyng of the said tythes of noris|shyng of bestis, And was I-know to hym by the same pryvylegis, I-rede, I-rehersed, and I-vndirstonde, in his audience, [he] assoyled the same mynchons fro the said tythes of the norisshyng of bestis and of the other said tythes of medes, mylles, and of the

seruauntis at Wolgarecote liyng and arisyng, resceivyng ther wagis and necessary vitaile of the hous of Godestowe (out-take seruauntes havyng wyfes or propir houses in the towne of wolgarecote), ordeynyng arbitryng and prouydyng, havyng god and right afore sight, with the counseil I-communed of wisemen, decreid that without stryf [folio 147] they shold perteyne to the house of Godestowe for euer, and remayne: so, natheles, that all the tythes of the villenagis of medis and heyis of the same town shold be saf to the chirch of seynt Petir, in whos possession they were in the tyme of this composicion, that is to sey, of all the north mede, with the tythes of the hamme (the which were I-yove somtyme to the chirch of seynt Petir in the name of the tythes) the which is I-called herthesham, out-take ij. hammes the which ben of the demayn of the saide abbesse and Couente in the said northmede wherof the tythes were never I-yeve, And out|take ij. acres that ben also of the demayn of the said abbesse and Couente, the which longe to the mylle of wolgarecote, And out-take the hedes of the mylle crofte. And that the chirche of Godestowe, for the goodnesse of pease, shold be bounde to pay yerely iij. shillings to the vicary of seynt Petir at the Est of Oxenford, at the fest of seynt Martyn, in the chapell of Wolgarecote. The which partyes, and also Pounce of the welles, than person of the said chirche of seynt Petir, graunted and accepted, with opyn consent to them, riall composicion bitwen the said chirche to be stronge for ever. And the bisshop decreid his ordeynyng and prouision to be a riall composicion to the parties. And yf the bisshop of lyncolne wold conferme hit with his episcopall auctorite, the parties subiected them-self (with ther owne wille) to his ordeynyng and wille, that he shold haue power of the abouesaid composicion to compelle the parties not willyng to kepe the composicion. And that this composicion shold be riall and perpetuell, they made theire seales to be putte, euerych to others composicion I-chartered, also with the seales of the bisshop. I-acted and I-do at Godestowe, in seynt Barnabe the appostels day, the yere of grace M^l. CC. xxxix. And the bisshop, ratifiyng the same ordeynynge, al so moche as was in hym, confermed hit with his episcopall auctorite, as hit was customably and rightfully I-made.

A memoriall I-made bitwene the abbesse and Couente of Godestowe and Robert vicary of seynt Petir of the Est of Oxenforde.

1239. Minute of agreement between Godstow and the vicar of St. Peter's in the East, in terms of the award (as in nos. 775 and 776). Godstow assoiled from giving the small tithes; vicar to receive a pension of 3s. yearly, and to be allowed £4 for his expenses in the suit.

HIT is to be mynded this to be the fourme of the composicion I-be-gonne bitwene Robert, vicary of seynt Petir of the Est of Oxenford, of the one parte, and the abbesse and Couente of Godestowe of the other parte, afore maister Robert Cade|neye officiall of lyncolne and maister Roger Wiseham archidekon of Oxenford, vpon the tythes of the mylles, medes, norisshyngis of bestis, and sequelys of seruauntis at Wolgarecote lying and risyng, the which the said Robert, Vicary, axed of the said mynchons, afore the archidekon of herford and his felawes, delegatis of the pope, as longyng by the commune law to the said chirch of seynt Petir by the reson of the vicary: that is to sey, that the said Robert, personally comperyng, and the said mynchons, by hereberte her chapeleyn, specially procuratour I-yefe to that, swore, leiyng ther hondes vpon the holy God|spellys, that they wold stonde to the prouysion arbitrement and ordeynyng of the said officiall and archidekon vpon the said tythes I-axed and vpon all thynges towchynge [folio 147b] the same plee, renouncyng to all thynges I-gete or to be gete, accion, cauillacion, and appelyng, and all remedy of bothe lawes. Than the said official and Archidekon, the priuylegis of the mynchons I-sey and I-loked, assoyled them fro the yevyng of mynute or smale tythes, but of other I-axed it was provyded in this wise, of the said officiall and archidekon, that the saide mynchons, for the goodnesse of pease, shold yeve to the said Robert, in the name of his chirche, iij. shillings yerely and vj. mark for his expensis I-do in the stryf, And that yf hit happened that the composicion bitwene parties myght be ryall, and yf hit were not riall, hit shold be in the ordeynyng and prouysion to prouyde another forme bitwene perties the obligacion of bothe parties abidyng sure, and the renounsyng of the same, vndir the forsaide fourme.

A ratefiyng of the same I-made by Pounce of Welles, person of Seynt Petir in the Est of Oxen|forde, & cetera.

1240. Confirma|tion to Godstow, by the rector of St. Peter's in the East, of the award (as in nos. 775 and 776).

THE sentence of this ratefiyng is, that Pounce of welles, person of seynt Petir chirche at the Est of Oxenford, willed to

be know to all them þat se this writyng, that he, in the name of his chirch, had and toke hit for sure and to be plesed what|so-euer thynge the worshipfull men, maister Roger Wyseham Archidekon of Oxenford and maister Robert Cadeneye officiall of lyncolne, vpon the contrauersye I-meved bitwene Robert, vicary of his said chirch, of the one parte, and the abbesse and Couente of Godestowe of the other partie, vpon all the tythes of the mylles, medis, norisshyngis of bestis, and sequelis of seruauntis at wolgarecote liyng and vprisyng, comyng forth, the which the said vicary axed of the said mynchons, afore the dean of herford and his felawes, delegatis of the pope, as longyng to the said chirch of seynt Petir of right by the reson of his vicariage, they accorded to be ordeyned in this wyse, So nathelesse that Robert, Bisshop of lyncolne, the worshipfull, of his wille and consente expressed, the ordeynyng of the forsaid maisters I-made vpon the premysses fully I-loked and I-sey and I-vndirstonded diligently, shold haue power full, of the same ordeynyng, to chaunge, encrese, and to lessen, as he saw hit best to spede. And yf either of the other of the forsaid maisters myght not be at the forsaid ordeynyng to be made within the fest of seynt myghell next comyng, and that notwithstondyng that the said parties haue submytted them-self to the ordeynyng of the forsaid maisters Archidekon and officiall, the forsaide worshipfull fadir bisshop of lyncolne, vpon all the premysses, as he semyth best to spede, shold make an ordeynyng to dure for euer. And that this his ratefiyng shold abide afterward stedfast and sure, he strengthed hit with the defence and suerte of his sele to the forsaid abbesse and mynchons, with his owne good wille, he graunted to be sealed. These beyng witnesse, & cetera. These thynges I-acted at the old temple at london the yere of grace M^l. CC. and xl^ti.

A Couenaunte I-made bitwene the Abbesse of Godestowe and

[A leaf is missing [In the Exchequer MS., no. 778, is on leaf 139, and is followed by the 'Risin|done' section, beginning with nos. 186, 187. The order in the English Register was therefore different; and we have thus no clue to the contents of the mutilated deed.] ]