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

GLOUCESTER CITY

[Deeds referring to a pension [This pension was still paid to Godstow at the dissolution, 1540 (Monast. iv. 375).] out of St. Mary le Crypt church.]

[folio 57b] A evidence of xl shillings of rent in Glouceter.

A.D. 1138/9. Grant to Godstow, by Robert Chi|chester, bishop of Exeter(1138|55), of a pen|sion of £1 out of St. Mary le Crypt.

THE sentence of this euidence is, þat Robert, by the grace of God bysshop of exetur, ȝaf & grauntid to þe holy mynchons of Godestow xl. shillings in-to perpetuel almys ȝerly, þat is to say, in owre lady church of Gloucetur xx. shillings, and in the church of faryndon xx shillings. These beyng wytnys Stephyn, kynge of Inglonde; Theobald, Archebysshop of Caunterbyry, & mony other. And is with-owte [date].

A pension of Seynt mary chirch of Glouceter.

1289, Oct. 8. Decision binding the parson of St. Mary ad austrum, to pay yearly a pension of £1 to Godstow, as in no. 163.

THE sentence of this wrytyng [is], þat in þe church of seynte Nicholas of glowcetur, the satyrday next after þe feste of seynte Fyde virgine, The ȝere of owre lorde a thowsande two hundred

fowre score And nyne, A-fore þe officiall of wyrcetur, whas a sentence diffinityf I-ȝef, by-twene thabbesse and here Couent of þe oon parte & syre Gregorye, person of seynte marye towarde þe sowth of Gloucetur, þat þe same gregorye & euerych & alle his successoures þat fore þe tyme helde þe sayde church were I-bounde euery ȝere to þe payment of the sayde ȝerly pension; & also ofte as þey cesyd, þey to be compellyd to þat payment by censure of þe church. And [folio 58] to do this þe seyde gregorye, person of þe sayde church, agreyng to þe fore-sayde sentence diffinitif, leyng & takyng the holy gospelys in his [MS. 'his his.'] handis, made a bodely vowe þat he wolde pay the foresayde pension with-owte oony dilacion to thabbesse & couente of Godestow or to here procutours in the feste of seynte myȝhel, Also longe as he leuyd & had þat church.

[Grant by Robert of Everci.]

[folio XLVb(55b)] A charter of Robert Euersy of j tofte of Roddis and a mansion to Godestowe.

About 1180. About 1180. Grant to Godstow, by Robert of Everci, of land out|side and a house in|side the wall.

THE sentence of this charter is, þat robert euersy, by the [consent] of agas his wyfe & of his eyeris, ȝaf & grauntyd his toft [Latin 'virgultum.'] of roddys, þat whas of turstane, Archedekun of glowcetur, & A mansure or dwellyng place þat whas of robert Oisun, to god &c. & to þe holy mynchons there seruyng god, in-to perpetuel almys, for þe helth of his sowle &c., frely & quietly. The[se] beynge wytnys & cetera.

A Charter of þe priour of seynt Oswaldes of Gloucester of ij shillings & j li of comyn.

About 1190? Perpetual lease by Godstow, to St. Oswald's Priory, of no. 165, subject to quit-rents of 2s. and a lb. of cumin on Jan. 13 to Godstow, and of 4s. to the king.

THE sentence of this charter is, þat wylliam, by the mercy of god prior of seynt oswalde of glowcetur, & his successouris [This quit-rent seems lost before the dissolution.] , & his couent, oft to pay ȝerly, to thabbesse of Godestow & to here couent of the same place, for the londe with-owte Eluen|gate of Gloucetur, the wyche robert of euersy ȝaf to þe church of Godestow, the which he helde of the sayde mynchons by charter, ij. shillings of sterlynges & j lj. of comyn at þe feste

of seynte hillary, & to þe kyng iiij. [shillings of] sterlynges for alle seruice, exaccion & demaunde. In-to wytnys of the which, he ȝaf to the sayde mynchons this present charter I-maade sure by the impreyntyng of his [seele]. These beyng wytnys & cetera.

[Land acquired from Laurence, son of Richard.]

A charter of laurence fitȝ Richard of his lond in Glouceter. [folio XLVIb(56b)]

About 1200. Grant to Godstow, by Lau|rence son of Richard, of land near St.Nicholas church.

THE sentence of this charter is, þat laurence fiȝt Richarde fitȝ Iordan of Glowcetur, in the wey of charite & for the helth of his sowle &c., ȝaf, graunted &c., in-to pure & perpetuel almys, all þat londe þat his fadur Richarde fiȝt Iordan bouȝght of raph pynel, the which lyeth by-twene the londe summe tyme of thomas plecche & wyllyam hoyen, in þ^e grete strete afore the churche of seynte nycholas, to be holde and to be had, welle and in pece, Worschipfully frely quietly fro all seculer custome & exaccion; And þe foresayde laurence fiȝt Richarde fiȝt iordan & his eyeris warantiȝed to þe foresayde holy mynchons the foresayde londe Agaynste alle men & women, & Aquited the langabul: þese beynge &c. And is with-owte date.

Iulian abbesse of Godstow graunted to laurence fitz Richard, & cetera.

About 1200. Grant by Godstow, to Laurence son of Richard, of no. 168, quit-rent, 5s. on Jan. 13,

THE sentence of this euidence is, þat Iulian, by the grace of god abbesse of Godestow, & alle here couent, ȝaf & grauntyd & with þere charter confermyd to laurence fiȝt Richarde fiȝt Iordan, for his homage & seruice, þere londe þat þey had in þe town of Glowcetur þe which Richard fiȝt Iordan fadur of the foresayde laurence bought of Ranulph pynel, the which lyeth by-twene þe londe summetyme of thomas plecch & wylliam hoyen in the grete strete a-fore the church of seynte Nicholas, to be holde & to be for ryȝht heritage, welle & in peece, frely & quietly, payyng þerof ȝerly to here & to here successoures v shillings of syluer for all seruice & custome longyng to them, þat is to say, at þ^e feste of seynte hillary. These beyng wytnys & is with-owte date.

[Lands acquired from Walter, the writer.]

[folio XLIIII(54)] A Charter of Richard Ticedwell made vnto Walter Scriptor, writer of the abbey of Gloucester, of vj. acris lond and iij acris mede.

About 1200. Sale to Walter, the writer, by Richard Ticedwell, of 4 acres of land, and 2 acres of land, and 2 acres of meadow, and 1 acre of meadow, quit-rent, 1s. Purchase|money, £6 13s. 4d.

THE sentence of þis chartur is, þat Richard Ticedwell gaf, grauntid, & confirmid with his writinge, to walter scriptor oþerwise writer of þe abbei of Gloucetur, vj. acris of arable londe & iij. acris of mede, of his londe þe whiche he hilde of þe abbot & couent of Gloucetur: þat is to sei, iiij. acris of arable londe towarde þe kinges hall, þe whiche turnin [Form for plural: cp. 142/1, 143/22.] to þe kinges hi wei, þe whech Gladewine fuller hilde of him; & ij. acris at longeforde, tho tweine, þat is to sei, þat lien bitwene þe londe þat walter Grute hilde of him & þe londe of Raph auenel; & ij. acris of mede in waltham, tho tweine, þat is to sei, þat lien bitwene þe kinges mede & þe abbottes mede of Gloucetur, & j acre of mede in londemede: to be holde & to be had all þo acris a-fore namid, of him & of his heiris, to him & to his heiris for euer, for xij d yerli to be paide to him & to his heiris in too termis, half at estur & half at mihelmas: & Richard & his heiris warantiȝid to þe fore-seide walter & to his heiris & to whom-so-euir he wolle aftur him of þe fore-seide acris ageiniste all men, bi þe fore|seide seruice I-do, acquitid of all seruices & seculer demaundis. For this gifte & graunte, þe fore-namid walter gaf to him a-fore-handis x. marke of siluer to acquite him of þe Iuis of Gloucetur. And for as muche þat he wolde þat hit sholde be sure, he confirmide hit with þe impression of his seele: and is with-oute date.

[folio XLV(55)] A charter of Walter Scriptor Writer of vj. acris of arable lond & iij. acris of mede.

About 1210. Grant to Godstow, by Walter, the writer, of no. 169.

THE sentence of this writyng is, þat water scriptor or wryter ȝaf graun[tyd] & confermyd by his charter &c., as a-bove, syxe acris of Arable londe & thre acris of mede, the which he heldo by heritage of Richarde of tycedewelle, þat is to say, fowre

acris of arable londe the which turnyn vppon the kyngys hye wey to þe kynges halle of glowcetur, & twey acris of arable londe: & so forth, as his conteynyd be-fore I-wryte.

A Charter of Richard Ticede Welle of vj acris lond and iij acris of mede. [folio XLIIIIb(54b)]

About 1210. Confirma|tion to Godstow, by Richard Ticedwell, as feudal superior, of the gift as in no. 170, quit-rent, 1s.

THE sentence of thys charter is þat Richarde Ticedewelle grauntyd, & by thys present charter confermyd, to god & to the churche of owre lady seynte marye & of seynte Iohn baptiste of Godestow & to þ^e mynchons þere seruyng god, for the helth of his sowle & of alle his aunceturs, syxe acres of arable londe & thre acris of mede: þat is for to say, fowre acris of arable londe by the kynges hye wey towarde the kynges halle of gloucetur; & twey acris of arable londe at longeforde, the which lyen by-twen the londe of raph Auenel & the londe þat water grute helde; & twey acres of mede in Walham; & oon acre in Londemede, the which acris all water scriptor alias wryter helde as eyere of me. All these acres he grauntid & confermyd, to be holde & held of hym & of his eyeris, frely & quietly for euer, in-to pure & perpetuel almys, for xij. d ȝerly to be payid to hym & to his eyeris for all seruices & seculer demaundis, in two termys, halfe at þe annunciaciun of owre lady & halfe at myȝhelmasse. And Richarde & his eyeres warantiȝed to þe sayde howse of Godestow all þe fore|sayde agaynste all men. And to make hit sure, he confermyd thys wrytyng by þe settyng to of his seele.

[folio XLIIII(54)] A Charter of Richard Ticedewell made to the mynchons of Godestow of vj acres lond & iij of mede.

About 1210. Confused duplicate of no. 171, the writer be|ginning by making the confirma|tion to Godstow, and then wandering off to Walter, the writer.

THE sentence of þis chartur is, þat Richard Ticedewelle grauntid, & confirmid bi his writinge, to god & to þe churche of our ladi & of seint Iohn Baptiste of Godestowe & to þe minchons þer seruinge god, for þe helþe of his soule & of all his aunceturs, vj acris of arable londe & iij. of mede: þat is to sei, iiij acris of arable londe bi þe kinges hi wei towarde þe kinges hall of Gloucetur, & ij acris of [folio XLIIIIb(54b)] the whiche gladewyne fuller helde of hym; & twey acris at lonke|forde,

þo, þat is for to say, þat lyen by-twene þe londe þat water grute helde of hym & þe londe of raph auenel; & twey acris of mede in Walham, tho, þat is for to say, the which lyen by-twen þe kynges mede & þabbot of glowceturs mede; & oon acre of mede in londemede: to be holde & to be had of hym & of his eyeris for euer, for xij d ȝerly to be payid to hym & to his eyeres in too termis, halfe at estur & halfe at myhelmasse. And the sayde richarde & his eyeris warantiȝed to þe foresayde water & to alle his eyeris, agaynste all men; & aquited hym of all seruices & wordely demaundis. For þys ȝyfte & graunte, þ^e fore-namyd water ȝaf to hym be-fore handys x. marke of syluer to quite hym of the Iuys of gloucetur. The whych for-asmuch þat he wolde haue hit sure, he confermyd hit by settyng of his seele. Wytnyssys mony beyng present.

A charter of William Chercheden and Edith his wyf [of] vj acris lond & iij of mede.

About 1210. Confirma|tion to Godstow, by Richard Ticede|well's heirs, of his con|firmation, as in no. 171, subject to the quit|rent of 1s., on payment of a marc, of a meas|ure of wheat, and of a meas|ure of rye.

THE sentence of this charter is þat wylliam cherchesdon, with thassent & wylle of edithe his wyfe & of his dowghter & of Richarde ticedewelle his eyere, confermyd to god & to þe churche of owre lady seynte marye & of seynt Iohn baptiste & to þe mynchons of Godestow þere seruyng god, for the helth of his sowle & of all his aunceturs, vj. acris of arable londe & thre acris of mede: of the whiche fowre acris of londe arable lyen at þe kynges halle of glowcetur & turnen vppon the kynges hye wey, and twey acris at longeforde by twene the londe þat whas of raph Auenel [folio XLV(55)] & þe londe þat water grute helde, And tweyne Acris of mede lyen in Waleham, & j acre of mede lyeth in landemede: the which all acris water scriptor or wryter by heritage helde of richarde tyce|dewell, fadur of the foresayde edithe his wyfe, & ȝaf hit to þ^e foresayde mynchons in-to perpetuel almys. And þe same richarde confermyd hit to þ^e same mynchons by his charter, to be had & to be holde, alle þ^e foresayde acres, of hym & of his eyeris, in-to pure & perpetuel almys, ȝeldyng to hym & to his eyeris ȝerly xij d in two termys of the ȝere, halfe at þe annunciaciun of owre lady & þe oþer halfe at myȝhelmasse, for all seruices sewtes exaccions & seculer demaundis. And

wylliam & his eyeris warantiȝed to þe foresayde mynchons All þe foresayde acris agaynste all men & women for euer: & Aquited of alle seruices & exaccions þat were in that tyme or myght chaunse afterwarde. And for this confirmacion the foresayde mynchons of Godestow ȝaf to hym oon marke þat is to say xiij shillings iiij d to his grete nede & tweyn cronockes [In the Latin 'duos cronocos bladi.' See crannock in New Engl. Dict.] of corne, oon þat is to say of wete & anoþer of rye. In-to wytnys of this thyng, he toke þys present wrytyng to hem I-seelyd with his seele. Mony wytnys beyng present.

A charter of amphelice abbesse of Godestow of vj acris and iij acris.

About 1220. Perpetual lease by Godstow, to St. Oswald's priory, of the lands described in the pre|ceding deeds, on condition of paying quit-rent to Godstow, 10s. on Jan. 13, and quit|rent of 1s. to the feudal superior, and a fine of 3s. if the payment be in arrears.

THE sentence of this charter is, that amphelice, by the grace of god Abbesse of godestow, & þe covent of the same, with consent & assent of alle the chapitre, for vs & alle owre successoures grauntyd to þe prior of seynte oswalde of glow|cetur, & to þe covente of the same place, & to alle þere successouris, syxe acres of arable londe &c. as in the charters Afore, to be holde & to be had, of here & of here successoures, to hym & to his successouris, frely & quietly for euer, ȝeldyng to here & to here successouris ȝerly x shillings [This quit-rent of 10s. was still paid at the dissolution in 1540 (Monast. iv. 375).] at the feste of seynt hillary, And to wylliam of chirchesdoun & to edithe his wyfe & to here eyeris xij. d of sterlynges at two termys of the ȝere, þat is to say, at þe Annunciaciun of owre lady vj. d & at myȝhelmasse vj d, for all seruices & demaundis as they were wonyd & oftyd to pay. Furþermore þe fore-sayde prior & chanouns & þere successouris scholde ȝef to þe forsayde abbesse & mynchons iij. shillings of sterlynges for a peyne, with-owte Agayne-saying, if they cese in oony ty [folio XLVb(55b)] me of the paying of here rente. In-to wytnys of the which thyng, they maade bytwene them A wrytyng in the maner of A charter, Of whiche the sayde mynchons token to þe fore-sayde chanouns oon perte I-selyd with þe sele of there church, & they aȝenwarde toke to þe fore namyd mynchons þe same charter I-selyd with þere sele. These beynge wytnys &c.

[Land given by Richard of the cellar.]

[folio XLVIb(56b)] Emma abbesse of Godestow graunted to Iohn Blunt & cetera.

About 1260. Grant by Godstow, to John Blunt, of land and houses in Ebruge street, on payment of quit|rent, 8s., and per|formance of the feudal ser|vices due by the holding. Power of distraint.

THE sentence of this charter is, þat dame Emme bluet, by the grace of god Abbesse of Godestow, And þe couent of þe same place, with oon assent & consent, ȝaf grauntid & confermyd by wrytyng to Iohn blunt, burgeys of Glowcetur, A grounde in glowcetur with howsys byldynges & with all pertinences, þat is to say, þat londe þat Richard of þe celer [This benefactor has not been mentioned elsewhere.] of glowcetur ȝaf them in-to pure & perpetuel almys, & þat londe lyeth in Ebrugestre[te] of glowcetur, bytwene þe londe of the fore|sayde Iohn blunt & þe londe summetyme of Iohn ferur, to be had & to be holde with all his pertinences, to þe sayde Iohn blunte & to his eyeris or his assynys, frely quietly vtterly & hole for euer, paying þere-of ȝerly viij shillings of sterlynges [MS. 'of sterly of sterlynges.'] , þat is to say, at myȝhelmasse iiij. shillings & at þe feste of owre lady in marche iiij. shillings, for alle seruice, exaccion & demaunde þat myȝht chaunse to them & to þe successoures for þe sayde londe. Also þe same Iohn & his eyeres or his [folio XLVII(57)] Assynys scholde do to þe chef lordes of þat fee all seruice þat longyd to them of þat londe. And þe foresayde mynchons of Godestow & þere successoures warantiȝed & defendid to þe sayde Iohn blunte and to his eyeres or to his assynys alle þe foresayde londe with his pertinences for euer. And if þe foresayde rente be not payid in the termys Aforesayde, hit scholde be lawfull to þe fore-sayde mynchons & to þere suc|cessouris, with-owte oony Agayne-saying of þe sayde Iohn blunte & of his eyeris or assynys, by there baillifs, what-so-euer þey be, to distreyne&nyme vpponalle þe tenement of the foresayde Iohn blunte in the towne of Glowcetur tylle þe foresayde rente be fully I-payid. And þat þys writyng scholde be sure & stable for euer, both partyes maade hit stronge by puttyng to þere seelys, euerych to oþer. þese beyng wytnys &c. And is wit-owte date.

Mabil abbesse of Godestow viij. shillings of rent.

About 1289. Grant by Godstow, to Richard of the garden, of the quit|rent in no. 175, for 6s. yearly. Power of distraint.

THE sentence of this charter is, þat dame mabile Wafre, by the grace of god Abbesse of Godestow, & þe covent of the same

place, by the commune assente & consente, ȝaf, grauntid, & by there wrytyng confermyd, to Richarde, burgeys of Glowcetur, viij shillings of ȝerly rente in Ebruggestrete, þe which Iohn blunte burgeis of Glowcetur whas in certeyn termys to paye to them, to be had & to be holde to þe sayde Richard of Gardeyne & to his eyeris or assynys, frely &c. for euer, paying there of ȝerly vj shillings of sterlynges, þat is to say, at myȝhelmasse iij shillings And at þe feste of owre lady in marche iij shillings, for all seruice, exaccion & seculer demaunde. And þ^e sayde mynchons of Godestow & þere successoures warantiȝed & defendid for euer to þe foresayde Richarde of Gardeyne, to his eyeris or assynys, the foresayde viij. shillings of ȝerly rente Agaynste All men levyng. And if þe fore-sayde rente in the foresayde termys were not payid, hit scholde be lefull to them & to þere successoures, with-owte oony agayne-saying or lettyng of the sayde Richard of Gardeyne, his eyeris, or of his assynys, by there baillifs, what-so-euer þey be, to distreyne & to nyme vppon alle þe tenement of þe foresayde Richard of gardyne of Glowcetur, tyl þe foresayde rente be fully payid. And þat þys present writyng scholde be sure for euer, the bothe partyes a-seelyd euerych to oþer in þe maner of A charter, these beyng wytnys: & is with owte date.

[Houses and quit-rents bought with dame Rose la moyne's money.]

[folio XLVb(55b)] A evidence of Iohn of pershore all londis & tenementis in Gloucestre.

1289, Aug. 16. Sale to Godstow, by John of Pershore, of property near the South Gate, and Smith street, quit-rents, a rose to the mesne lord, 2s. to St. Peter's abbey, 2s. to St. Aldate's church. Purchase|money, £16, given by dame Royse la moyne.

THE sentence of this euidence is, þat Iohn of pershore, burgeis of glowcetur, ȝaf, grauntid, & confermyd by his charter, in-to pure & perpetuel almys, to þe religious women ladyis abbesse & mynchons to god &c., alle londes & alle tenementes & alle ȝerly rentes þat he hadde or myght haue in þe grete place towarde þe sowthȝate of glowcetur, the wyche londes & tene|mentes lyen & been by-twen þe londe þat whas sumtyme of water Cramich & þe smythys strete thorowgh þe which me[n go] to þe castell fro þe grete place; Also A voyde grounde, the which strecchyth hit selfe towarde the sayde smythys strete:

to be holde & to be had, with all þere pertinences, of hym & of his eyeris or his assynys, to þ^e fore-sayde religiouse women & to þere successoures, frely, quietly, purely & vtterly, welle hole & pesybly for euer, paying there-of ȝerly to hym & to his eyeris or to his assynys oon rose At þe feste of seynte Iohn baptiste at Glowcetur in the sayde tenementes or in oon of the sayde tenementes whenne þey been conueniently requisityd or Axid, & to þabbot of seynt petur of Glowcetur ij. shillings, & to þe churche of seynte oolde [At the dissolution Godstow was still paying these quit-rents to St. Peter's abbey, and to St. Aldate's church, as also a quit|rent of 2s. to the sheriff of Gloucester to obtain exemption from attendance at his court (Monast. iv. 375).] in the same towne ij. shillings, for all seruices, customs, seculer sewtes, exaccions & demaundis. And þe fore-sayde Iohn perschore his eyeris or his assynys scholde warantiȝe to þe fore-myndyd religiouse women, & to þere successoures, þ^e [MS. þer.] fore-sayde londes, tenementes, ȝerly rentes, & grow[n]de, with alle þere pertinences, Agaynste all dedly men & women, and Aquite of þe Arrerages of þe sayde tene|mentes if þer were oony, & defende [folio XLVI(56)] for euer, for þe foresayde seruice. Furþermore for þe ȝyfte, graunte, & confirmacion of his charter, þe sayde abbesse and mynchons ȝaf to hym by-fore handis fowre & twenty marke of syluer, I-ȝefe & assynyd [& assynyd, in margin.] to þe sayde religiouse women of a nowble-woman, dame royse la moyne I-callyd, to þe more plentyfull susteynyng of the sayde monastery in tyme comyng. And þat his ȝyfte, graunte, & confermyng of his charter, myȝht haue strength for euer, he maade sure this wrytyng by the impreyntyng of his seele. These beyng wytnys &c. Date & doyng, at Glowcetur the nexte tywysday after þe feste of the Assumpcion of owre lady, The ȝere of þe reyne of kyng Edwarde þe seventenyth.

A quyte-clayme of Agnes the wyf of Iohne pershore of j mese, iii. shoppis and v shillings vj d.

1301, Sept. 22. Sale to Godstow, by Agnes, widow of John of Pershore, of her interest in a messuage, 3 shops, and 5s. 6d. of quit|rent, and quit|claim of all title in her deceased husband's property, as in no. 177. Purchase|money, £5.

THE sentence of this charter is, þat Agnes þe wyfe sumtyme of Iohn perschore, burgeys of Glowcetur, beyng in pure wydew|hode & in here own lawfull powere, grauntyd, remitted, & vtterly quyte-claymyd, for here & for here eyeris, to þe religiouse women abbesse & holy mynchons of the monasterye of seynte

Iohn baptiste of Godestow, alle here ryȝht & clayme þat sche had or in ony wyse myȝht haue in oon Mese, thre shoppis, fyfe shelyngworth and syx penys of ȝerly rente, with þe pertinences, in glowcetur: and also in alle & in eueryche oþer londys & tenementes þe which þe same Abbesse & holy mynchons had of þe ȝyfte & levyng of þe foresayde Iohn sumtyme here husbonde in the same towne of Glowcetur, as hit is conteyned of feoffement I-maade thereof to þe same religiouse women, so þat noþer sche, noþer here eyeris, ne none oþer for here or by here, myȝht afterwarde axe or clayme ony thyng of ryȝht or clayme in the foresayde mese, shoppis, and rentes, or in oony oþer londys and tenementes Aforesayde. For þe which grauntyng, relesyng, & quite-claymyng, þe foresayde Abbesse & holy mynchons ȝaf to here A hundred shelynges of sterlynges be-fore handys. In-to wytnys of the which thyng of quyte-claymyng, sche put to here sele. These beyng wytnys &c. The Date, At Glowcetur, þe two & twentyith day of septembre, The nyne and twenty ȝere of the reyne of kyng Edwarde the sone of kyng harry.

A charter of kyng Edward of I mese iii. shoppis in Gloucestre by lycence.

1306, Dec. 4. Licence in mort|main by Edward I, pardoning a breach of the Statute of Mort|main, and re|leasing no. 178 to Godstow.

THE sentence of this charter is, þat edwarde, by the grace of god kyng of Inglonde &c.: know ye þat, by the fyne þat owre welle-belouyd in cryste abbesse of Godestow maade with vs, we haue I-perdonyd to þe same abbesse & to þe mynchons of the same place þe transgression þat þey dyd in getyng to hem & to here successoures in fee oon mese & thre schoppis with þer pertinences in glowcetur, of agnes, sumtyme þe wyfe of Iohn pershore of Glowcetur, after þe publyschyng of vs I-maade of londys and tenementes not to be put to morte-mayne & of the entryng of them with-owte owre licence & lefe, the whiche mese & shoppis for be cause of there transgression were take in-to owre hande; And whe haue grauntid to þe same abbesse & mynchons, for vs & owre eyeris also muche as is in vs, þat þat mese shoppis & pertinences þey haue agayne, & holde to them & to þere successoures, of the chef lordis of that fee, by seruices dew & customyd [folio XLVIb(56b)] there-of for euer, with-owte occasion or lettyng of vs or of owre eyeris, Iustices, escheters, vndursh[r]euys, or

oþer ballyfs or mynysters what-so-euer they be, owre fore-sayde statute notwythstandyng. In-to wytnys of this thyng we maade owre letters patentes to be maade. Myne owne selfe beyng wytnys at lanrecost, the iiij. day of december, the xxxv. ȝere of owre reyne.

[folio XLVII(57)] Margarete abbesse & cetera to hugh Coke a corner tenement & cetera.

1386, March 27. Grant by Godstow, to Hugh Cook, of a portion of no. 177, on a build|ing lease for 70 years, quit-rent 1s. yearly. Under covenant not to sub|let without leave. Powers of distraint, and re|entry.

THE sentence of this endenture is, þat Merget Mounteney, Abbasse of Godestow, & þe covent of þe same place, toke, grauntid, & lete, to hugh Coke of Wircetur, burgeis of Gloucetur, alle þere cornere tenement, by þe smythys strete of Gloucetur of þe oon parte & þe tenement þat William Straddell late helde of them & sytth Gylbert Chauntrell helde of þe oþer parte, to be had & to be holde, to same hugh, eyeris, & his assynys, to þ^e terme of thre score & ten ȝere fully complete, paying þere-of ȝerly to hem & to here successouris xij. d. of lawfull money at þe feste of owre lady of þe annunciaciun, ȝeldyng also & doyng for them & þere successoures to þe chef lordys [folio XLVIIb(57b)] and to all oþer all seruices & bordennys þere-of dew & I-wonyd. And þe fore|sayde hugh his eyeris & assynys scholde make oon competente howse newe þere, with his own costes & expensis, with-in þe ȝere nexte folowyng after þe date now presente. And also after þat hit is so I-bylde, thei scholde susteyne hit with þere own costes duryng þe foresayde terme, & þey scholde also lefe hit in þe ende of þe foresay[de] terme in competente state. Also þat hit scholde not be lawfull to þe foresayde hugh, his eyeris, and assynys, to lete to oony man the foresayde tenantry ne no perte of hit with-owte speciall licence of þe foresayde abbesse, of here Couente, & successoures. And if hit hap þat þe foresayde rente be by-hynde, in parte or in alle, after oony afore-sayde terme by a moneth, þat þen hit scholde be lawfull to þe fore-sayde abbesse & Couente & to þere successoures to distreyne in þe sayde tenement & reteyne þe sayde distreynynges tyl þat hit be fully satisfied to þem of þe foresayde rente & þe arrerages of hit. And if hit happon þe fore-sayde to be by-hynde, in parte or in alle, after oony A-fore sayde terme by a hole ȝere, or waste be made in the sayde tenement, or þat he bylde not þe howse (as hit

is set before) with-in þe sayde terme, or lete owte the foresayde tenement or oony parcell of hit agaynste þe forme aforesayde, þat fro þat tyme hit scholde be lawfull to þe fore-sayde Abbesse & Couente & to þere successoures to entre agayne in the sayde tenement with his pertinences And to holde hit to them selfe for euer, this letyng owte or dimission not-wythstandyng. And þe sayde Abbesse &c. warantiȝed þe sayde tenement &c., vndur þe forme aforesayde. In-to wytnys there-of they set to þys wrytyng the commune seele, and he his seele. The date at Godestow, in there chapitre, þe tywysday nexte the feste of þe Annunciaciun of owre lady, the nyneth ȝere of [MS. 'of of.'] þe reyne of Richarde þe secunde After þe conqueste.