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

[folio 186] A Confirmacion of kyng henry fitȝ Emperesse confermyng all maner of yiftis afore I-yove, & cetera.

About 1182. Confirma|tion to Godstow, by Henry II, at its re|foundation as a royal abbey, of the pro|perties mentioned in no. 878 and no. 879, and, in addition to them, of (40) Wy|combe church (no. 87); (41) Blox|ham church (no. 306); (42) cow|house and pasture at Pattishall; (43) fishery in Cher|well, with adjacent meads (no. 540); (44) Pekes|ey mead, with 2s. rent-charge in Yarnton and 2s. in North Leigh (no. 772); (45) rent|charges in Brackley and Far|thingho, Northts. (no. 269); (46) shop in West|cheap and land in London (no. 243); (47) a hide in Walton (no. 516); (48) mill in Empshott (no. 202); (49) land at Winchester (no. 236); (50) land & house at Gloucester (no. 165); (51) houses at Winchester (no. 237); (52) rent|charge at Petham (no. 864); (53) yardland in Bletching|don (no. 290); (54) rent-charge in Tormarton, (no. 193); (55) rent-charge in Knighton (no. 16); (56) meadow called Paderis|ham (no. 33), (57) Easington church(no.438); (58) Lamyat church(no.780); (59) rent-charge on Highworth mill (see no. 863); (60) Frampton mill, and salt|rights(no. 156); (61) salt-pit at Wiche (no.200); (62) Dinton church (no. 52); (63) rent|charges in Winchester; (64) rent-charge at (? Glouces|ter or Win|chester); (65) rent-charge at Brackley; (66) Rus|monger's rent-charge outside North Gate, Oxford; with manorial privileges; and with exemptions from royal imposi|tions.

HENRY [The Latin text in the Monasticon, iv. 364, is from the Inspeximus of Richard I.] , by the grace of god kyng of Englond, graunted and with his charter confermed, into perpetuel almesse, to god & cetera and to the mynchons of Godestowe there servyng god, the towne of wolgarecote and the place in the which the chirch was I-founded and all the yiftes that were I-made to them, that is to sey, of his yifte, the towne of wolgarecote and the place that is I-called Godestowe in the which the chirch was I-founded, with the assent and graunte of Bernard of Seynt Walerye and of his heires, the which, that is to sey, Bernarde of Seynt Walerye yaf the forsaid towne and the forsaid place and graunted hit to kyng henry and seisyned hym (by a silken cloth, wherof was a chesible I-made) with the lordship and the right of the Avowery of the same Abbey that he had afore in hit, So that the forsaid abbey shold be free for ever, and in chief of his crowne, as the Abbey of Seynt Edmond and other riall Abbeyes that ben I-sette in Englond; Also of his yifte, the chirch of wycombe, with all his [folio 186b] pertynentis; And the chirche of Bloxham, with all his pertynentis; Also of his yifte, the vicariage [A slip of the translator. Latin is 'vaccaria de Pautheshale cum pastura,' a cow-house. See no. 902, § xxxvii.] of Patishulle, with the pasture, as he had hit in his owne hande; And the londe of Clare by name prevet, the which he bought of Manasse Sandevyle ['Sannerville.'] for xxv. mark; Of

the yifte of the Empresse and his, the lond of Shillyngford, that is to sey, ij. hydes and j. half yerde, with medys and pasturis, the which Raaf Scribe helde for lij. shillings vj. d by yere; and an hundred shillyngworthe of londe in Walton, as they had hit whan the Empresse was I-seged in Oxenford; And a fisshewere ['piscaria.'] in Charewelle watir, with medis, and pas|tures, and all ther pertynentis; And all the tythe of all the frutis of wodestok; And the faieris that shold dure thre fulle dayes, at Godestowe, at the Natiuite of seynt Iohn Baptist, And he comaunded surely that all they that come to tho faires shold have there sure pease in comyng and goyng away, that no man distrouble ['disturbare iniuste.'] wrongfully them nother theire goodes; Of the yifte of Raynold of seynt Walery, the mylle of Wolgarecote, and one fysshwere that is I-called the kyngiswere, and the medys that ben called Heryngesham, Boieham, and Licheseye, and the lond that lieth bitwene the two watirs, and half a mede that is I-called Lambeye; And the other half of the same mede, of the yifte of Robert Doylle; Of the yifte of Alisaundre, bisshop of lyncolne, an hundred shillyngis by yere of the tolle of Banbury; Of the yifte of Bernard of Seynt Walerye, a mede that is I-called Pekeseye [At the dissolution, 1540, Godstow still possessed (Monast. iv. 370) Pyxsey, 40 acres, valued at £3 (i.e. 1s. 6d. per acre), which was common after removal of the first hay-crop (vestura).] , And to mowe the same mede iiij. shil|lings by yere at the fest of seynt Iohn Baptist (ij. shillings in Erdynton and ij. shillings in lye ['Leyga.'] ); Of the yifte of Robert, Bisshop of Exetir, xl. shillings by yere to be paid, that is to sey, xx. shillings in the chirche of Farendon, and xx. shillings in the chirche of our lady of Gloucestire; Of the yifte of Robert, Erle of leycetire, thre poundeworth of lond in Halso; Of the yifte of Amye, Countesse, his wyf, and with the graunte of hym, ij. marke by yere, one in Brakley and another in farnyngho; Of the yifte of Raynold, the Erles sone, and of Emelyne his wyf, and his heires, Eaton, with alle his pertynentis; Of the yifte of Symond Wadhille, half of the chirche of Patishulle; Of the yifte of Robert Bluet and of his modir and of his brethern, the chirche of Dantesburne, with the [folio 187] londes and his pertynen|tis; Of the yifte of Symond Spenser, the tythe of Rollendrith; Of the yifte of Nicholas Basset, one hide of lond in Rysyndon;

Of the yifte of Richard Labaanc, all the dowery of his modir, that is to sey, Hodycote al so moche as his predecessours had in possession, that is to sey v. hides, and Cnolle and Swanton with all that longith therto, that is to sey, ther pertynentis; Of the yifte of Arnulphe Bolde, the londe that is I-called Sanford; Of the yifte of Roger Dalmary, fyfty acris in Blechesdon; Of the yifte of Walter Pyrye, in the same towne, one yerde [Latin 'virgata': Monast. iv. 364.] of lond and x. acris; Of the yifte of hugh Tywe, nyne shillyngworthe of lond in Oxenford; Of the yifte of Rogere, Bisshoppe of Salis|bury, a mylle that is I-called Boymylle, with the lond that lieth to the same; Of the yifte of the Citeȝens of Oxenford, the wyke the which Segryne helde, in portemanheyt beside Oxenford; Of the yifte of Eylwyne Godegose, the chirch of seynte Gyle, with his pertynentis, the which he founded, the which is with|out Oxenford; And of the other parte of the same Citee, vpon the Southe Brigge, xviij. shillyngworthe of lond; Of the yifte of Ambrose fitȝ Gerolde, v. shillings in wynchestir; Of the yifte of Raaf ['Baldwin,' ibid.] fitȝ Ingerid, in london in Estchepe, xj. shillings; Of the yifte of Edward fitȝ Sewyne ['filii Siwimeri': ibid.] , vj. shillings, vpon Corn|hull; Of the yifte of hugh, Archidekon of leyceter, one shop in westchepe, And ij. shillings with-out the west yate of Seynt Poule; Of the yifte of Anstede ['Aluredi': ibid.] Bendeville, the mylle of Benchesworde ['Becheswrde': ibid.: 'Benchesworda' in the Exchequer MS. See note 1, p. 658.] ; Of the yifte of henry of Oxenford, one hide of lond in walton [In Richard I's Confirmation (Monast. iv. 364), there appear at this point two clauses, probably omitted here by accident: 'of the gift of Bartholomew of Yckeford one half-marc of land in Ikeford (no. 67); of the gift of William (son of Durand) and Maud his wife one marc of rent in Oxene|ford.' But William is in error for Jeffrey (no. 517).] ; Of the yifte of william vennȝ, one mylle and his lond [in [Line omitted in MS., supplied from the Latin copy.] Imbesette; of the yifte of Robert of Meysy, in Wynchestir all the londe] with-oute the northe yate, And in Shedewritstrete and Flesshmongerstrete; Of the yifte of Robert Euersy, his tofte with-oute Gloucestir at the kyngesham, and one dwellyng place; Of the yifte of herebert of seynt Quyntyn, in Wynchestir, ij. dwellyng placis with-in the walle and one with-oute; Of the yifte of Aleyne of lye, half a marke in putham; Of the yifte of Robert fitȝ Nigell, one yerde of lond

in Blechesdon; Of the yifte of Nicholas Sutton ['Yutton' or 'Nutton' (ill-formed letter) in Exchequer MS.; 'Murton,' Monast. iv. 364; in error for Mutton.] , ij. shillings in Thormerton; Of the yifte of wydon of Seynt Walerye half a marke in Cumberton ['Cumbreton' also in Exchequer MS.; 'Cnicheton,' Monast. iv. 364. Knighton in Berkshire is meant.] ; Of the yifte of the Abbot of Abendon and of all ther Couente, by theire peticion ['per petitionem domini Henrici patris nostri' in Richard I's confirmation: Monast. iv. 364.] , v. acres called Poderesham ['Pederissam' in Exchequer MS.] by name; Of the yifte of William of Sewkeworth, the chirch of Esyndon; Of the yifte of [Baldwin of] Columbers, [folio 187b] the chirche of Lameth; Of the yifte of Hugh Mortymere ['ex dono Hugonis le Morton,' Monast. iv. 64, in error.] , one Marke by yere of the mylle of Worthe; Of the yifte of Walter Clyfford, the mylle of Framton, with all his pertynentis, And in the wyche xiiij. myttes of Salte, and one mese [Latin has: 'et in Wichia xiiii. mittas salis et unam messuagium': Monast. iv. 365, and Exchequer MS.] ; Of the yifte of Osbert fitȝ hugh, one Salyne [Latin has: 'salinam unam in Wichia quae dicitur vacca': Monast. iv. 365.] , that is to sey, a salte pitte in the wyche, the which is I-called a Cowe; Of the yifte of Anneys mount|chenesy, the chirche of Donyngton, with all his pertynentis; Also in Wynchestir of the yifte of Herebert fitȝ westman, xvj. shillings ix. d, Of the yifte of Edyue, the wyf of Thurstey[n] Osyere, iij. shillings viij. d. obolus, Of the yifte of Herbert Reve [Latin: 'praepositi.'] , v. shillings, Of the yifte of william, Preest of Seynt Pancrace, ij. shillings with-oute the Est yate, Of the yifte of Humfrey, the Abbesse chapelayne, in Wynchestir in Chesshull, ix. shillings vj. d. obolus, Of the yifte of Alisaundre, preest of Gloucestre, xij. d.; Of the yifte of Thurkille Reve [Latin: 'praepositi.'] in Brakeley, iiij. shillings; Of the yifte of Aleyne Rusmongere and of Edithe his wyf, half a marke by yere with-out the north yate of Oxenforde: Wherfor he willed and comaunded that the forsaid abbesse of Gode|stowe, the which was his owne almesse, and the mynchons ther servyng god, all the fore-named thyngis and what-so|ever other thynge were I-gete by the yifte of god, they sholde have and holde hit, into fre and perpetuell almesse, wele and in pease, frely and quyetly, holy and worshipfully, in wode and in playne, in medys, in pasturis, in watirs and

mylles, in weyes and pathes, in pondis and stewis, with-in burgh and with-out burgh, and in all othere placis, with sok and sak, tol and team, and infangetheef, and vtterly quyte fro shires and hundredis, pleis and playntis, helpys and assises, yelde and danegelde, of Murthere and of theeft, of scuage, yiftis, scottis, and workes of Castels and howses, walles, parkes, stywys, dichis and briggis, of summage and cariage, of warde peny, and averpeny, hundredepeny ['hundreder peny,' in the Latin.] , and thederyngpeny; and they shold be quyte þurgh all Ingelond [and] by watir fro tol and passage and pountage and stallage and lastage and of all other customs, as the charters of the yevers witnesse. These beyng witnesse, & cetera.

[[Given at Winchester. The witnesses fix the date as not earlier than 1181. They are:—Richard [Tocliffe], bishop of Winchester [1173-89]; G[eoffrey Ridel], bishop of Ely [1174-89]; B[aldwin], bishop of Worcester [1180-84]; G[eoffrey Plantagenet], his son, chancellor [1181-89]; master Laurence, archdeacon of Bedford; Master Walter de Constantiis; Bertram de Verdon, &c.]]