A Common-place book of the fifteenth century, containing a religious play and poetry, legal forms and local accounts. Printed from the original ms. at Brome Hall, Suffolk, by Lady Caroline Kerrison. Edited with notes by Lucy Toulmin Smith.

Part 2.—Manorial Law.
INCLUDING FORMS OF GRANTS OF LAND, ETC.

THE FELSON BOOK. [See Introduction, pp. 4 and 10. This list appears to have been written by R. Melton.] [folio 47b]

This is the felson booke for the Est Comonne of Stuston as apeurth her aftur, that is to weet:—

First the maner of How Margareth [How Margaret's appears to be another name for the manor of Stuston, the parish containing several manors. (See p. 128.)] for comenyng upon the Est comune of Stuston	ijd.
Item the prioras of Flyxston for comenyng upon the same comonne [The manor of Falcons, otherwise Facons, in Stuston, belonging to the Augustine nunnery of Flixton (suppressed in 1528): see Dugdale, Mon. Angl. vol. vi. p. 594. It appears on the "Felson" and "Task" Books.]	vjd.
Item Necolas Adham for comonyng	ijd.
Item Robert Clerk de Stoston for the tenment yt Burgat dwels in caled Elams	ijd.
Item Joh. Byrde for the tenment Lommys	jd.
Item Willm. Hoberd for ye tenment Martyns	ijd.
Item Willm. Warnne for ye tenment Colydurs	jd. qr.
Item Joh. Wheymond for the tenment Adgor de Ocle [Oakley, or Okeley, in Suffolk, one of the group of Cornwallis manors.]	jd. qr.
It. Willm. Becket for the ponde yerd	ijd.
It. Joh. Chapman for ye tenment Roger Chapman	jd.
It. Thomas Row for diuers tennementes	vjd.
It. Alysaundur Bullur for the schepcot	jd. ob.

It. the (? Dame) Clerke [Mr. Robt. Clerke is interlined.] for hyr tenment sumtyme John Clerkes	jd.

This is the felsson bocke of the West Comon of Stuston as apeurth her after that is to weete— [folio 48a]

First Willm. Warnne for the tenment F. Snow|hyttes for comenyng upon the same comon of Stoston	jd. ob.
It. the same Willm. for the tenment Wheyberdys	ijd.
It. Willm. Davy for ye tenment Ropkyns	jd. ob.
It. John Cade for ye tenment Water Caddes	ijd.
It. John Calwer (Mr. R. Hoberde [Interlined.] ) for ye tenment Grenys Yerd otherwysse calyd Brockes	ob.
It. the same John (Mr. R. Hoberd [Interlined.] ) for the ten|ment calyd Brabys now R. Hoberddes	ob.
It. the same Recherd Hoberd for the tenment Jordons	jd.
It. John Cade for the tenment sumtyme Recherd Osborns ner Ropkyns	jd.
It. Watur Turner for the tenment calyd Barnerdys	jd. ob.
It. the same Turner for the tenment calyd Debnhams	jd. ob.
It. the same Turner for the tenment sumtyme Ballys	jd. ob.
It. the same Torner for the tenment calyd Chaundlers	ob.
It. Robt. Smalborow for the tenment sumtyme Andrew Smalborows	ijd.
It. Harry Harolde for the tenment sumtyme Harwys and sumtyme Clerson	jd. ob.
It. Robt. Clerke bocher for the tenment Porsons	jd. ob.
It. the same Robt. for the tenment calyd Lewe|reches	ijd. qr.

It. Watur Cowper for the tenment sumtyme Thomas Cowpers	jd. ob.
It. John Cowper for the tenment Rolffys sumtyme Stylys, antea Wardes	jd.
It. Joh. Byrd for the tenment Frennys	jd.
It. Thomas Cade for the tenment sumtyme Nycolas Caddes	jd.
It. Recherd Edone for ye tenment Berkers	jd.
It. ye same Edone for ye tenment Roger Hoppers	ijd.
It. ye same Edone (Mr. Twaygth) [Interlined.] for ye tenment Roger Gyllysire	ob.
It. for the tenment Barthulmew Lelyes [Summa]	ob. ijs. iiijd. qr.

This is the bille of the Felson in Stuston. [folio 49a]

Fyrst Robert Melton for the tenment Tomas Cadys	jd.
It. the Toune of Dysse for the tenment Clerkys and after Edon [Blomefield mentions "the lands that were given by Richard Edon, in 1494, to pay the leet fee, or common fine of Diss, for ever, and to keep his obit, &c.," (Hist. Norfolk, ed. 1805, i. p. 36) as part of the town lands of Diss. This tenement in Stuston is identified by his name as one of these lands for which the town owed to felson, task, and church dues.]	qr.
It. Joh. Byrd for the tenment late Roger Cade	jd.
It. Joh. Moton for the tenment Rolffys, sumtyme styled [MS. stylys.] Warddys	jd.
It. Robert Cowper for the tenment late Watur Cowpers	jd. ob.
It. Recherd Hobard for the tenment calyd Grennys Yerd	ob.
It. the same Recherd for the tenment Jurdons	jd.

It. the same Recherd for ye tenment Kateryne Taylers . . . . . . . .	ob.
It. Robt Clerke for the tenment Leweryche . .	ijd. qr.
It. the same Robt. for the tenment Joh. Porsons .	jd. ob. [folio 49b]
It. Sr. Joh. Harolde, preste, [In A. Page's Supplement to the Suffolk Traveller, London, 1844, p. 487, it is stated that John Herold, Parson of Stuston, gave certain gifts to gilds and a service in Diss, in 1504. This must have been the same Sir John Herold, preste, above named.] for the tenment sumtyme Joh. Clerson . . . . .	jd. ob.
It. Joh. Permanter for the tenment lat Andrew Smalburo . . . . . . .	ijd.
It. Watur Turnor for the tenment called Bawllys .	jd. ob.
It. the same Watur for the tenment cawlyd Dobmanys . . . . . . .	jd. ob.
It. the same Turnor for the tement cawlyd Bar|nardys . . . . . . . .	jd. ob.
It. the same Turnor for the tenment cawlyd Chalundlers . . . . . . .	ob.
It. Joh. Cade for the tenment sumtyme Water Cadys . . . . . . . .	jd.
It. the same John for ye tenment cawlyd Recherd Osborn . . . . . . . .	jd.
It. Roger Calthaw for the tenment lat Margery Ropkyn . . . . . . .	jd. ob.
It. Willm. Waren for the tenment sumtyme Betrys Wheyberds . . . . . . .	ijd.
It. the same Waren for the tenment sumtyme Thomas Snowhyte . . . . . .	jd. ob. [folio 50a]
It. the londholders of Recherd Edon (Mr. Joh. Twaygth) [Written above the line.] for a tenment in Thranston sum|tyme Roger Gylys, ob. It. the same lond|

holders for another tenment in Thranston sumtyme Roger Hopers, jd. . . Summa	jd. ob.
It. Joh. Cheweler for a tenment in Thranston sum|tyme Berthulmew Lylys . . . .	ob.
[Summa]	ijs. iiijd.

THE TASK BOOK. [folio 60b]

Thys ys the boke ffor the holle Taske of Sturston. [These two pages are in a different hand from the rest of the accounts. See Introduction, p. 10.]

John Warne . . . . . . .	iijs.
Item Thomas Cawthaw . . . . .	xvjd.
Item John Clarke . . . . . .	iiijd.
Item Master Mynster chamber for Cadys . .	iijs.
Item Robt. Harrold . . . . . .	iiijd.
Item Water Turner . . . . . .	xvjd.
Item Thomas Parmenter . . . . .	xvjd.
Item Master John Mynster chamber for ye tene|ment sumtyme Parsons Harrolds . .	xvjd.
Item John Clarke . . . . . .	xvjd.
Item Robt. Cooper . . . . . .	xvjd.
Item John Muttur . . . . . .	xiiijd.
Item Rychard Hubberd . . . . .	ijs. viijd.
Item Thomas Byrde . . . . . .	xvjd. [folio 61a]
Item Wyllyam Jesepht . . . . .	iiijd.
Item the towne of Dysse . . . . .	ijs.
Item Thomas Jesepht . . . . .	vjd.
Item Robt. Popy . . . . . .	vjd.
Item the maner of (Stustone als. [Interlined.] ) How Margettes	ijs. vjd.

Item the maner off Facons	iijs. iiijd.
Item Master Robt. Meltun for the tenement late Thomas Cades	iijs.
Item the same Master Robt. Meltun for Jesephs	xvjd.

Thrandston.

Item Master Yaxflay for Edons landys and late Ropkyns	ijs. iiijd.
Item Pullam	vd.
Item John Qwayght [Perhaps Twayght, but the initial letter is not T.]	iiijd.
Item John Cheveler	iiijd.
Item Wroo	jd.
Jaffery Row	ijd.

CHURCH DUTIES. [See Introduction, pp. 5 and 10. This list appears to be in R. Melton's hand.] [folio 64a]

Thes be the dutes longing to the Cherche of Stuston as apeurth her aftur—

In primis Thomas Jesope for ij lokys [See before, p. 5, as to plow-shot and lock.]	jd. ob.
It. the same Thomas for plowshote [See before, p. 5, as to plow-shot and lock.]	ob.
It. the same Thomas for Curtelage	ob.
It. the plasse late Thomas Cadys for a locke, halffe a busshell of barly.
It. for ij lockys	jd. ob.
It. for plow shot	jd.
It. for curtelage	ob.
It. the plasse longyng to the Towne of Disse for plowshete	jd.

It. for curtlage	ob.
It. John Burgat for a locke	ob. qr.
It. for curtlage	ob.
It. John Byrde for iij lockes	ijd. qr.
It. for plow shote	jd.
It. for curtlage	ob. [folio 64b]
It. Raberd Cowper for the tenment nest Byrdys, lat in the holde of Chawercurte, for a locke	ob. qr.
It. for plowchote for one holl plow a jd., and di plow ob.
It. for curtlage	ob.
It. Robard Harolde for the tenment lat watur cowpers for ij lokes	jd. ob.
It. for plow chot for one holl plow	jd.
It. for curtlage	ob.
It. Recherd Hoberd for ij lockys	jd. ob.
It. for plow chot for one holl plow	jd.
It. for curtlage	ob.
It. Rabard Clerke the bocher for iij lockes	ijd. qr.
It. for plowchot	jd. ob.
It. for curtlage	ob.
It. the tenment lat Smalborows for plowchot for di. plow obol	ob. qr.
It. for curtlage	ob.
It. Thomas Turner for iij lockes	ijd. qr.
It. for curtlage	ob. [folio 65a]
It. John Cade for plowchot	jd.
It. for curtlage	ob.
It. John Pennyng for the tenment lat Raberd Clerkes ye bocher for curtlage	ob.
It. Will Davy for a locke	ob. qr.
It. for curtlage	ob.
It. John Kyng for curtlage	ob.

It. Nycolas Spray for curtlage	ob.
It. Willm. Warene for iij lockes	ijd. qr.
It. for plowchot	jd.
It. for curtlage	ob.

LEGAL FORMS OF PRIVATE CHARTERS, BONDS, &c.

THE following forms appear to have been copied from original documents, as among them are found the names of some well-known neighbouring places and of Lord Scales. The transcriber translated each one as he copied it, writing in first the Latin, then the English; probably the local scriveners were none too strong in their Latin grammar, and it would be useful to be sure of the right form, when a legal deed had to be drawn up. [Charters, deeds, writings, "evidences, or mynyments that concern men's enheritance," "feates" as they were called, were from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries made by scriveners, who formed a craft or mystery in chief towns, such as York and London. In 1497 the Company of Scriveners in London ordered that every apprentice to their fellowship should be examined whether he "have his congruity in the Latin tonge or not," because it was found that many "have not had their perfect congruity of grammar, which is the thing most necessary and expedient to every person exercising and using the scyence and faculty of the said mistery; and in default whereof they cannot have the perfect knowledge and cunnyng of the said scyence, wherethrough oftentimes they err, and their acts and feates been incongruous and not perfectly done." The masters were accordingly enjoined to set their apprentices to Grammar School.—(Ordinances from the "Common Paper," quoted in The Case of the Free Scriveners of London, 1749, pp. 24-27.) If the London scriveners were thus deficient, it is not surprising that those who fulfilled their functions in the country should be glad of such aid as these forms and translations would furnish. It may be noted that several words in Nos. 9 and 12 were a puzzle to the translator, who left them blank in the English.] The translation is very literal, even in the rendering of the historic infinitive, which becomes somewhat obscure in English, so treated; [See Nos. 8 (b), 10 (b), near the beginning of each.] and occasional lapses occur, here

supplied between []. It furnishes, besides, one or two interesting English words or phrases, such as mysse = messuage (1); dow|hows = pigeon-cote (4); feeding = pascua (5); sterm [This, however, is perhaps a mistake for pond or pool, the true meaning of stangna or stagna, (Fr. étang).] (i.e. strem) = stangna; turve-dole = turbaria; plegys of corte = visu franci plegii (5); thowys, plural of thow, = those (5b); ostey = hospicium (11). "In to the wytenesse of the wych thynge," is the rather clumsy equivalent sometimes used for the formula "in cujus rei testimonium."

The Addit. MS. 24,844 in the British Museum (kindly pointed out to me by Mr. E. J. L. Scott) is a volume of the time of Henry VIII., containing a number of legal common forms of grants, &c.; but they purport, in nearly every case, to issue from the king or central authority, while the Brome collection illustrates only private or domestic law. The following is a schedule showing the nature of these twelve documents:—

1.

Grant of a messuage in fee simple.

2.

Grant of land and buildings thereon, with reversion to grantor, if grantee die without heirs.

3.

Grant of messuage on pepper-corn rent, to pass to a second grantee, on death of the first grantee without heirs.

4.

Grant of a pigeon-cote, with reversions to second and third grantees, if the first and second grantees respectively die without heirs.

5.

Grant, by a priest, of two messuages with lands and tenements to four named persons, in trust for the father of one of them, with reversion after his death to the son and his wife.

6.

Grant of a manor with its appurtenances, which latter are enumerated.

7.

Summons in a plea of debt, on a payment not being fulfilled.

8.

Bond for the payment of £10 on demand.

9.

Grant of certain herbage, heather, and turves, i.e. the right to cut fodder and fuel on certain ground.

10.

Bond for payment of £100 at a given future date, due for live goods sold and delivered at date of the bond.

11.

Bond for payment of wages due to a chamberlain, and for giving him a yearly livery.

12.

Grant by a man and wife of all their property in the hundred of East Flegg, to Lord Scales and two others, one messuage and eight acres only being excepted.

1 (a). Sciant presentes et futuri, quod ego [folio 68a] Galfridus Sprot de Sutton dedi, concesci, et hac presenti carta mea confirmaui Ade Laurence de Walton, vnum mesuagium cum suis pertinenciis iacens in Walton, inter terram Petri Alexander ex vna parte, et terram Hamonis filii Clerue ex alteri parte, et vnum capud abuttat super regiam viam, et aliud capud abuttat super terram Roger de Wosted; Habendum et tenendum predictum mesuagium cum suis pertinenciis predicto Ade, heredibus et assinatis suis, de capitalibus dominis feodi, libere, bene, et in pace, in feodo et imperpetuum per servicia inde debita et consueta. Et ego, predictus Galfridus et heredes mei, predictum mesua|gium cum pertinenciis predicto Ade, heredibus et assinatis suis, contra omnes gentes warantizabimus imperpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium hinc presenti carte sigillum meum apposui. His testibus, &c. Data apud Walton, die Mercurii proxima post festum Sancti Luce evangeliste, anno regni regis Edwardi tercii post conquestum.

1. (b). All men presont and for to cum be a [folio 68a] knowyn, that I Gafrey Sprot, of Sutton, hath [Thys dede ys of ffysympyll, folowyng in englys.] ȝowyn and grantyd and be my presont cherter hath confermyd to Adam lawrons of Walton, on myse with hys pertinences, lyyng in Walton be-twyn þe lond of Peter Alysander on þe on parte and þe lond of Hamonys þe son of Clere on þe tother parte, and on hed abutth vpon þe kynges wey on þe on parte, and a nother hed abutth vpon þe lond of R. of Wosted; To haue and to hold þe forseyd mese with hys pertynences to þe forseyd Adam to hys heyrys and to hys Assyneys, of þe schyffe lordes of þe fee, frely, wyll, and in pesse, in fee with owtyn end, be servyse þer-of due and costum. And I, þe forseyd Gafrey and my heyrys, þe forsed messe with þe partynens to þe forseyd Adam, to hys heyrys and to hys assyneys, a-ȝens [folio 68b]

all men xall warant fore euer more. In þe weche thyng wytnes to thys presont chertar I haue put to my sele, be thes wetnessys, &c. Govyn at Walton on þe Wedenys|day nex after þe feste of seynt Luke þe ewangelyst, and þe ȝere of þe reyng of kyng Edward þe iij^de after þe conqueste, þe iij^de (ȝere).

2 (a). Sciant presentes et futuri, quod ego Matheus Burgensis Cantabrigge, dedi, concessi, et hac presenti carta mea confirmavi Willelmo, Duke de Cantabriggea, et Mabilie vxori eius, [vnam placeam terræ cum edificiis super edificatis] [The words between brackets are omitted in this place in the MS.] et suis pertinenciis in Cantabriggea, iacentem in parochia Sancti Petri extra portas vocatas Trumpetongates, in suburbio predicte ville, inter terram Johannis Moris ex vna parte, et terram Roberti de Caston ex altera parte: Habendum et tenendum predictam placeam terre, cum edificiis super edificatis et pertinenciis suis, de me et heredibus meis predictis W. et M., et heredibus de corporibus eorum legitime procreatis, libere, bene, et in pace imperpetuum, reddendo inde annuatim mihi et heredibus meis duos solidos argenti ad festum natalis domini, et dominis capitalibus feodi illius pro me et heredibus meis omnia seruicia inde debita et consueta. Et si contingat quod predictus W. ex predicta M. nullum heredem procreauit, post mortem dictorum W. et M. predicta placea terre, cum pertinenciis, mihi et heredibus meis plenarie reuertetur. Et ego predictus Matheus et heredes mei predictam placeam terre cum edificiis super edificatis et pertinenciis, predictis W. et M. et heredibus de corporibus eorum legitime pro|creatis contra omnes gentes warantizabimus imperpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium huic, &c., hiis testibus, &c. Data apud W., die Januarii [This seems to be a mistake, it was usual to fix the date by some day of the week, before or after a feast, or else the reckoned day of the month.] proxima post festum sancte, &c. Anno regni regis Edwardi, &c.

2 (b). All men presont and fore to cum be a [folio 69a] knowyn, þat I, Matheu Burges of Cambrege, hath ȝowyn and grantyd and be my presont cherter hath confirmyd to Wylliam doke of Cambrege and Mabyle hys wyffe, and to þe eyrys of there bodyes lawfully comyng, j place of lond with þe byldynys þer-upon edyfyed and hys pertynences in Cambregge, lyeng in þe paryes of seynth peter with-owte þe gates calyd Trumpetoungates, in þe suborbȝ of þe seyd Town, betwyn þe lond of John Morys on þe j parte and þe lond of Robert of Caston on þe toþer parte: To haue and to hold þe forseyd place of lond with þe byldynys þer|vpon edyfyed and hys pertynessys, of me and my eyres þe forseyd Wylliam and Mabyle and þe eyrys of þer bodyes lawfully comyng, frely, wyll, and in pesse for euer more, yeldyng þerof ȝerly to me and to my eyres ij^d of mony at þe feste of þe berthe of owre lord, and to [MS. has "of."] þe schyffe lordes of þe fee for me and my eyres all seruyes þer-of dew and coston. And yf yt happyd þat þe forseyd W. or þe forseyd Mabyle non eyres begotyn, after þe deth of þe seyd W. and Mabyle þe forseyd place of lond with hys pertynences to me and to my eyres [shall be] fulfyllyd and retornyd ageyn. And I þe forseyd Matheu and my eyres, þe forseyd place of lond with þe byldynys þer-vpon edyfyed and þe partynences, [to] þe forseyd W. and M. and to þe eyres of þer bodyes lawfully comyng, a-ȝenns all men xall warant for euer-more. Into þe wytnesses, &c.; be þis wetenessis, &c. Govyn atte W. of þe day of Janyvere nexte after þe feste of Seynt, &c., and þe ȝere of þe reyng of kyng Edward þe therd, &c.

3 (a). Sciant presentes et futuri, quod ego [folio 69b] Johannis Broun de Burigate, consessi, dedi, et hac presenti carta mea confirmaui Ricardo de S. et heredibus de corporibus eorum [Sic plural, also in English.] legitime procreatis, vnum mesuagium cum suis

pertinenciis in Preston, jacens, etc. Habendum et tenendum predictum mesuagium cum pertinenciis, de me et heredibus meis, prefato Ricardo [et] heredibus de corpore suo legitime procreatis, libere, bene, et in pace: Reddendo inde annuatim michi, [et] heredibus meis vnum granum piperis, ad festum Pasche, pro omnibus aliis demandis. Et si contyngat quod predictus Ricardus [The MS. has Rec.; but the contraction for Ricardus was intended.] obierit sine herede de corpore suo legitime procreato, volo quod post ejus [The MS. has "ei."] descessum predictum mesuagium cum suis pertinenciis remaniat Waltero de Bardeweyth heredibus et assignatis suis imperpetuum; Habendum et tenendum de capitalibus dominis feodi, per servicia que ad dictum mesuagium pertinent. Et ego predictus Johannes et heredes mei predictum mesuagium cum pertinenciis predicto Ricardo et heredibus de corpore suo legitime procreatis, ac eciam predicto Waltero heredibus et assignatis suis, contra omnes gentes warantizabimus imperpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium, etc. Hiis testibus, etc. Data apud, etc.

3 (b). All men presont and for to cum be a-knowyne, þat I, John Broun of Bery, hath grauntyd and ȝowyne, and be my presont chartyr hath confermyd, to Rychard of S. and to þe eyres of þer bodyes lawfully be-gotyn, j messe with hys pertynences in Preston, lyenge, &c. To haue and to holde þe forseyd mysse with hys pertynences of me and my eyres, to þe forseyd Rychard to þe eyres of hys body lawfully begotyn, frely, wyll, and in pesse; ȝeldynge þer-of ȝerly to me and to my eyres j corne of pepyre at þe feste of Esterne for all owthere duteys. And yf yt happyd þat þe forseyd Rychard deyet with-owte eyres of his body lawfully begotyne, I woll [that] after þe dysses of [folio 70a] hym þe forseyd mysse with hys pertynences re|mayne to Watere of Bardewyht, to hys eyres and to hys

asseyneys, for euer more; To haue and to holde of þe chyffe lordes of þ^e fee be all seruyes þe wyche to þe seyd [messe] þerteyne. And I, þe forseyd John and my eyres, þe forseyd messe with þe pertynences to þe forseyd Rychard and to þe eyrys of his [body] lawfully be-gotyn, and also to þe forseyd Watere, to hys eyres and to hys asseyneys, a-ȝens all men xall warant for euer more. In to þe wy[t]nesse, &c.; be þis, &c.; gowyne.

4 (a). Sciant presentes et futuri, quod ego, [folio 70a] Lawrencius de W., dedi, consessi, et hac presenti carta mea confyrmaui Johanni de Foxton et heredi[bus] de corpore suo exeunti[bus], vnum columbarium, cum curtilagio [ad]jacente, prout includitur sepibus et fossatis in villa de W., et cum suis pertinenciis; Quodquidem columbarium jacet inter terram Willielmi Coleyn versus orientem, et allyud capud abutat super terram Thome Waryn versus occidentem: Habendum et tenendum predictum columbarium, cum curtilagio adjacente et suis pertinenciis, de me et heredibus meis, predicto Johanni et heredibus de corpore suo exeun|tibus, libere, quiete, bene et in pace, reddendo inde annuatim, michi et heredibus meiis vnum denarium, ad festum Sancti Botulphi, et faciendo dominis capitalibus feodi omnia seruicia inde debita et consueta. Et si contingat predictum Jo|hannem sine herede de corpore suo exeunte descedere, volo quod predictum columbarium, cum curtilagio adjacente et suis pertinenciis, remaniat Johanni fratri suo de Foxton; habendum et tenendum predictum columbarium cum curti|lagio adjacente et cum suis pertinenciis, de me et heredibus meis predicto Johanni et heredibus de corpore suo exeuntibus Reddendo inde annuatim mihi et heredibus meis vnam rosam. ad Nativitatem Sancti Johannis Baptiste, et faciendum dominis capitalibus feodi omnia servicia sicut pre|dictus Johannes fecit. Et si contingat predictum Johannem sine heredibus de corpore suo [folio 70b]

exeuntibus discedere, volo quod predictum columbarium, cum curtilagio adjacente, provt includitur sepibus et fossatis et suis pertinenciis, remaniat Waltero de Loke heredibus et assinatis suis, imperpetuum, Habendum et tenendum predictum columbarium, cum curtilagio adjacente et cum suis pertinenciis, de capitalibus dominis feodi per seruicia inde debita et consueta. Et ego predictus Laurencius et heredes mei, predictum columbarium cum curtilagio adjacente et cum suis pertinenciis, predicto Johanni et Johanni et heredibus de corporibus eorum exeuntibus, et predicto Waltero, heredibus ejus et assinatis suis, in forma prenotata contra omnes gentes warantizabimus imperpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium his testibus, &c. Dat., &c.

4 (b). All men presont and for to cum be a [folio 70b] knowyn, þat I, Lawrens of W., hath ȝowyn and grantyd and be my presont charter hath confermyd, to John of Foxtune, and to þe eyres of hys bodi be-gotyn, j dowhows with þe curtlyge lyenge-to, as yt ys in-closyd with hedgys and dechys, in þe Town of W., and with hys pertynens; þe wych dowhows lyth be-twyne þe lond of W. of B. on þe on parte, and þe lond of John of W. on þe tothere parte, and on hed abuttyt vpon þe lond of wylliam Coleyn toward þe este, and a-nothere hed abuttyt vpon þe lond of Thomas Waryn toward þe weste: To haue and to hold þe forseyd dowhows with þe curlyche lyenge-to and hys pertynens, of me and myn eyres to þe forsed John and to þe eyres of hys bodie begotyn, frely, quiette, wyll, and in pesse, ȝeldynge þer-of ȝerly to me and to myn eyres jd. ate þe feste of seynt Botholl, and to doo to þe schyffe lordes of þat fee all servyes þer-of dew and custon. And yf yt happyd þat þe forseyd John dessesse with-owt eyrys [folio 71a] of hys body be-gotyn, I woll þat þe forseyd dowfhows with þe curtlege lyeng to and hys pertinences remayne to John hys broder of Foxton; To haue and to

holde þe forseyd dowhows, with þe corlege lyeng-to and with hys pertynences, of me and my eyrys to þe forseyd John and to þe eyrys of hys body be-gotyn, ȝeldyng þer|of ȝerly to me and to my eyrys j rosse at þe Natyvite of seynth John þe Baptysyd. And to make of þe chyffe lordes of þe fee all seruyce as þe forseyd John hath donne. And yf yt happyd þat þe forseyd John dyssesce with [out] eyrys of hys body be-gotyn, I woll þat ye forseyd dow|howsse with þe cortlege lyyng-to as yt ys in-closyd with hedges & deges and hys pertynences remayne to Water of Loke, to hys eyrys and to hys assyneys, with owtyn end; To haue and to hold þe forseyd dowhows with þe corlage lyenge-to and with hys pertynences, of þe chyffe lordes of þe fee be þe seruys þerof dew and custum. And I þe forseyd Lawrons and myn eyrys þe forseyd dowhows with þe corlage lyyng-to and with hys pertynences, to þe forseyd John and John, and to þe eyrys of ther bodyes begotyn. And to þe forseyd Water to hys eyrys and to hys asseyneys, in forme a-bothe [I.e. above.] notyd a-ȝens all men [warrant for ever], &c.

5 (a). Sciant presentes et futuri, quod Ego [folio 71a] dominus Johannes Smyth capellanus, dedi, concessi, et hac presenti carta mea confirmaui, Willelmo B. juniori, filio Willelmi B. senioris, de E., et A. vxori sue, Johannes B. et Thome S., heredibus et eorum assignatis, Omnia illa mesuagia, terras, tenementa, cum omnibus et singulis eorum pertinenciis, in villis de E. W. et A. et condam fuerunt Willelmi M. Ac eciam totum illud [folio 71b] mesuagium edificatum, ac omnia terras, tene|menta, prata, pasturas, pascuas, cum omnibus eorum pertinenciis, jacencia, et situata in villis et campis de E. predicta, et W., et nuper fuerunt Willellmi A. de Norwico, et que nuper hujusmodi ex dono, concessione, et con|

firmacione Willelmi B. senioris patris dicti Willelmi B. junioris provt per cartam ejusdem Willelmi B. michi nuper inde confectam manifeste apparet. Habendum et tenendum omnia et singula supradicta mesuagia, terras, tenementa, prata, pascuas, pasturas, & cetera premissa, cum eorum pertinenciis, prefatis Willelmo B. juniori et A. vxori sue, Johanni B. et Thome S., heredibus et eorum assignatis, ad vsum dicti Willelmi B. senioris, videlicet ad totam vitam ipsius Willelmi, de capitalibus dominis feodorum illorum, per servicia inde debita et de jure consueta. Et quod post mortem sepedicti Willelmi B. senioris, omnia et singula supradicta mesuagia, terre, tenementa, prata, pascue, et pasture, cum seteris premissis, et eorum partium remaniant prenominatis Willelmo B. juniori, et A. vxori sue. Haben|dum et tenendum sibi et heredibus de eorum corporibus legitime procreatis et procreandis de capitalis dominis feodo|rum illorum, per servicia inde debita et de jure consueta, Sicut pro defectu heredum dictorum Willelmi B. junioris et A. vxoris sue quod omnia et singula supradicta mesuagia, terre, tenementa, prata, pascue, pasture, cum seteris premissis et eorum pertinenciis remaniant rectis heredibus sepedicti Willelmi B. senioris, tenendum sibi heredibus et assignatis suis de capitalibus dominis feodorum illorum per servicia inde debita et de jure consueta imperpetuum, per presentes, In cujus rei testimonium utrique parti hujus carte indentate Ego, dominus Johannes Smyth, capellanus, sigillum meum apposui: hiis testibus, &c. Data apud E. predictam, &c.

5 (b). All men beyng present and for to cum [folio 71b] be a knowyne, þat I syr John Smyth, pryste, hath ȝowyne and grantyd and be my present [folio 72a] Chartyr confermyd to W. B. þe ȝownger, sonne of W. B. the elder, of E, and A. hys wyffe, [to] J. B. [and] T. P., to þe eyrys and seyneys of them, all thowys myssys,

londes, tenementes, with all and iche of ther pertynans, in the Townys of E. W. and A., and sumtyme werne William M., and also all þat holl mysse edyfyed, and all londes, tenementes, medowys, pasturys, fedynges, [The difference between pastura and pascua is shown in this translation. Lindwood, speaking of tithes, says that a pasture is any kind of feeding|ground, whether in meadow, stubble, or field; but that pascua is a place chiefly devoted to feeding sheep, as on hills, moors, and uncultivated ground.—See Ducange, s.v. pastura.] with all thyr pertynences lyyng and edyfyed in þe Townys and fylddes of E forseyd and W, and late worne William A. of N., and þe wych late I have had of that gyfte, grantyd, and con|fymacone of W. B. þe elder, fader of seyd W. B. þe ȝownger, as be dede of þe same W. B. to me late þer-of made manyfestly apperyt. To haue and to hoold all and iche a-bothe [I.e. above.] -seyd myssys, londes, tenementes, medowys, fedynges, pasturys, and the oder premeces with þer perty|nences, to be-for-namyd William B. þe ȝownger, and A. hys wyffe, J. B. and T. P., to þe eyrys and seyneys of them on to þe evse of þe seyd William B. þe elder, þat ys to sey on to þe holl lyffe of þe same William, of þe chyffe lordes of thow feys be þe serueys þer-of dew [and] costum of ryte. And þat after þe deth of þe oftyn[ty]mys seyd William B. þe elder, all and iche a-both seyd myssis, londes, tenementes, medowys, fedynges, pasturys, with þe oder premyces and þer pertynans, xall remayne to be-for-namyd William B. þe ȝownger and A. hys wyffe; To haue & to hoold to hem and to þe eyrys of þer bodyes lawfully comyng and for to cum, of þe chyffe lordes of thow feys, be seruyes þer-of dew & custum of ryth. So for þe defa[u]te of þe eyrys of þe seyd William B. ȝynger and A. hys wyffe, that all and iche a-bothe seyd mysces, londes, tenementes, medowys, fedynges, & pasturys, with þe oder premyces and þer pertynences, xall remayne to þe ryth eyrys of þe oftyntymys seyd William B.

þe elder; To hoold to hem to [þer] heyr[ys] and seyneys of þe schyffe &c. [The translator, being near the bottom of the page, is here content to let an &c. express some necessary repetition: "dominis — consueta."] for euer more. In to þe wytenesces of þe whych to eyther party of thys dede ind[e]ntyd I be-for namyd syre John Smyth, hath putte-to my sele be thys, &c., ȝouyn at E. forseyd.

6 (a). Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego, [folio 72b] Petrus [Johannes in the MS., but see below.] Gardener de Hopton, dedi, concessi, et hac presenti carta mea confirmaui Johanni de M., heredibus et assing|natis suis, manerium meum de Cryssy[n]gham cum omnibus suis pertinentis in comitatu Lyncolnie, vt in pratis, pascuis, pasturis, viis, semitis, boscis, planis, moris, fossatis, turbariis, aquis, stangnis, ripariis, gardinis, curtilagiis, wardis, releuiis, maritagiis, hamonis, [This word should be "homagiis." See the English.] redditibus, assisis, consuetudinibus, serviciis, libertatibus, aysiamentis, escaetis, visu franciplegiis, reconnicionibus, cum libero ingressu et egressu, infra villam et extra, cum omnibus alliis rebus, comoditatibus, proficuis, ad predictum manerium meum quouis modo pertinentibus: Habendum et tenendum dictum manerium cum suis pertinenciis de capitalibus dominis feodi, libere, integre, bene et in pace, dicto Johanni heredibus et assinatis suis, per servicia inde debita et consueta. Et ego, predictus Petrus et heredes mei, predictum manerium cum suis pertinenciis vt supradictum est, dicto Johanni heredibus et assignatis suis, contra omnes gentes warantizabimus imperpetuum. In cujus rei, &c.

6 (b). All men beyng present and for to cum xall know, þat I, Peter [John in the MS. The same mistake was made in copying the Latin charter; plainly the copyist translated from his own copy, instead of the original.] Gardener of Hopton, hath ȝowyn and grantyd and be my present chartyr hath confermyd to John of W.,

to hym [MS. has "hys."] and to hys asseyneys, my maner of Cryssygham with all hys pertinences in þe cownty of Lyncoln, as in medowys, ffedynges, pasturys, weyes, bypathys, woodes, playnys, mores, hegys, tvruedollys, watyrys, stermys, reverys, gardenys, curleges, wardys, relyvyes, maryages, hommages, rentes, sysys, custumys, servyes, lyberteys, ese|mentes, exschetes, plegys of corte, knowlages, with þe lyberte of in-gate and owtte with-in þe Town and with-owte, with all other thynges, cometyteys, profytes on to þe forseyd my maner, ony maner of wey perteynyng: To haue and to holde þe forseyd maner with hys pertynences of the chyffe lordes of the ffee, ffrely, holl, wylle, and in [folio 73a] pesse, to the seyd John, to hys eyrys and to hys assyneys, be þe servyes ther-of dew & custum. And I, the fforseyd Peter and my eyrys, the forseyd maner with hys pertynences as yt ys a-bothe seyd, to the seyd John to hys eyrys and to hys assyneys, a-ȝens all men schall warant for euer more. Into the wettenesse of þe wych thynge, &c.

7 (a). Thomas Myngy summonitus fuit ad [folio 73a] respondendum Edmundo Tunsted in placito debiti, quod reddet ei viginti vnum solidos quos ei debuit et injuste detinet. Et vnde idem querens per Johannem O. attornatum suum, dicit quod vicesimo-quarto die Januarii anno regni regis Henrici vij^mi quinto apud T. infra jurisdictionem hujus cur[i]e, predicti Thomas et Edmundus insimull compu|taverunt inter se super diuersis debitis et pecuniarum summis per prefatum Thomam de predicto Edmundo per antea habitis et receptis, Super quoquidem compoto predictus Thomas inventus fuit in areragis et claris debitis, erga predictum Edmundum in vinginti vnum solidis soluendis eidem Edmundo quandocunque inde requesitus fuisset per eundem Edmundum, predictus tamen Edmundus licet sepius requisitus fuisset de solucione dictorum viginti

vnius solidorum per dictum Thomam, idem Thomas eidem Edmundo nondum reddidit, sed illos ei reddere contradixit et adhuc contradicit. Vnde idem Edmundus dicit dete|rioratus est et dampnum habet ad valenciam sex solidorum et octo dinariorum, costas sectæ tres solidos et quatuor dinarios, et vnde producit sectam, etc.

7 (b). Thomas Myngy wos summund on to ansswere to Edm. Tunsted in a ple of det, that he schuld ȝyld to hym xxjs. the wyche he to hym owth [folio 73b] and on-trewly with-hold; and wer-vpon the seyd pleyntyffe, be John O. hys attorny, seyth that the xxiiij day of Jenyvere and the ȝere and reyn of king Herry the vij^th the v^te ȝere, at T. with-in the jurdyxyun of [t]hys curt, that the for seyd Thomas and Edm. to-gedyr hath [reckoned] be-twyn themselfe, vpon dyuers dettes and summys of mony be the forseyd Thomas of the forseyd Edms. be-for had and rec[eived], vpon the wych cownt the forseyd Thomas wos fownd in a-rerage and clere dette a-ȝens the forseyd Edm. in xxjs., to be payid to þe seyd Edm. wane-someuer he wer requeryed be the forseyd Edm. Neuer-the-lesse all-thow ȝe for-seyd Edm. oftyn|tymys hath requeryd hym for the payment of the said xxjs., the same Thomas to þe seyd Edm. hath not ȝyt content nor payid, but the same xxjs. to hym hath denyed to pay and ȝyt denyeth. Were-for the seyd Edm. seyth that he ys hurt and harmyd be that vn-to the valew of vjs. viijd. and the costes of sute iijs. iiijd., and ther-vpon prosedyth þe sewte.

8 (b). Nouerint vniversi, me Willelmum T. de O. teneri et per presentes firmiter obligari Thome Foxton de S. in decem libris legalis monete, soluendis eidem Thome aut suo certo attornato in festo omnium sanctorum proximo futuro post datum presentium sine dilacione vlteriori, ad

quam quidem solucionem vt predictum est faciendum obligo me, heredes et executores meos, per presentes. In cujus rei testimonium presentibus sigillum meum apposui. Data apud O. predicto, in festo sancte Thome apostoli, anno regni regis Henrici sexti post conquestum vicesimo nono.

8 (b). Be yt a known to all pepyll, me, Wyllm. [folio 74a] T. of O., to be hold and be thys presont wrytyng ffeythe|fully to be bound to Thomas [Foxton] of Sudebery in xli. of lavfull mony, to be payid to the same Thomas or to his certeyne attornyis at the fest of all Seyntes nex comyng after the date of thys presont wyrttyn, with owt ony ferder delae; to þe wych payment as ys be-for I bynd me my eyrys and my executors be thys presont. In to the wytenesse of the wych thynge presentyd, I haue put to my sell. ȝowyne at O. the forseyd, in the ffest of Seynth Thomas the Postyll, the ȝere of the reyne of kyng Herry the sexth after the congquest [twenty-ninth].

9 (a). Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego, Robertus Thed de Terrynton, dedi, consessi, et [h]ac presenti carta mea confirmaui Johanni Collys de eadem villa, heredibus et assinatis suis, tres rodes erbarii, bruarii et turbare, jacentes in quodam loquo vocato Brakynholme, inter gerbar' bruar' et turbare [The gender and inflexion of these three words is uncertain. They are printed here as they are written, without attempting to extend them.] Willelmi Tunsted ex parte australe, erbar' bruar' et turbar' nuper Thome Greyn ex parte aquilonario, et abuttat super comunam de Terryntun versus occidentem, et super pasturam nuper Roberti Clarke versus orientem: habendum et tenendum predictas tres rodes erbarii, bruar' et turbar', cum suis pertinenciis prefato John Collys, heredibus et assinatis suis, de capitalibus dominis feodorum illorum, per seruicia inde debita et de jure consueta. Et ego, predictus Robertus et heredes mei, predictas tres rodes

erbarii, bruar' et turbar', cum suis pertinenciis prefati Johanni Collys, heredibus et assingnatis suis, contra omnes gentes warantizabimus imperpetuum. In cujus rei testi|monium huic presenti carta sigillum meum appossui; hiis testibus Johanne Man, Johanne Rekessond, Johanne Knyt, et alliis. Data apud Terrynton predictam, sexta die mencis Januarii, anno regni regis Henrici sexti post conquestum tricessimo primo.

9 (b). All men beynge presont and for to cum [folio 74b] schall know, that I Robert Thed of Terrynton, hath ȝowyne and grantyd and be my presont charter hath confermyd, to John Collys of the same Towne, to hys eyres and to hys assyneys, iij rodys of [herbage, heather,] [The translator was evidently puzzled how to English erbarium or gerbarium, and brueria or bruera, as the five places where the words occur he left blank. The first appears to be the herbage or coarse hay, the right for mowing which was purchasable from the lord of a manor; bruarium was a heath or waste, and implied a right to cut heather; turbaria was a place where turves could be cut; turve-dollys = turf-deals, i.e., pieces of turf or peat. The grant was thus one for the right of cutting certain fodder and fuel.] and Turve dollys lyth in the wych place callyd Brakyneholme betwyne [herbage, heather], and turvedollys of Wylliam Tunsted of the parte of þe sowth, and the [herbage, heather,] and turvedollys late Thomas Greyne of the parte of the north, and a-but v-pon þe comon of Terrynton a-ȝensse þe est, and v-pon þe paster late Robert Clarke aȝens þe west; To haue and to hold þe forseyd iij rodes [of herbage, heather,] and turvedollys, with hys pertynessys, to þe forseyd John Collys to hys eyrys and to hys a-syneys, of the cheffe lordes of thow ffeys be the servyis ther-of dette and of rygth custom. And I the [folio 75a] forseyd Robert and my eyrys, the forseyd iij rodes of [herbage, heather,] and turvedolys with hys pertynences, to þe forseyd John Collys to hys eyrys and to hys assynis

a-ȝens all men schall warent for euer more. In the wyche thynge wytnes be thys presont scharter my sell I haue put-to; be thys wetenessys, John Man, John Rakessond, John Kent, and other. ȝovyn at Ormysby the forseyd, the sexte day of the monyth of jenyuer, þe ȝer of þe reyn of kynge herry the sexte after the conquest xxxj ȝere.

10 (a). Universis presentes literas inspecturis vel audi|turis, Willelmus de Hopton salutem in domino; noueritis me teneri, et per presentes literas fideliter obligari, Thome Waryn de Cryssyngham in centum libris bonorum et legalium sterlingorum, pro bonis vivis mihi venditis et liberatis in villa de Noramptun, die confescionis presencium, vnde sum bene contentus, quasquidem centum libras sterlingorum predictas teneor et bona fide promitto solvere et deliberare eidem Thome vel suo certo attornato presentes literas ostendentes apud Lincolniam, infra proximos octo dies post quam presentes literas fuerunt vise et ostense sine vlteriori dilacione; et ad istam solucionem sic fideliter faciendam obligo me, heredes et executores meos; et ad maiorem hujus rei securitatem faciendam tales inueni fidejuscores subscritos, videlicet, Johannem de Snoryngs, Thoma de Rokelond, qui sigilla sua vnacum sigillo meo alternatim presentibus apposuerunt. His testibus, &c. Date apud Norampton die omnium sanctorum, anno regni regis E. tercii post conquestum tercio.

10 (b). To all pepyll [that] thys present letter behold or see, William of Hopton sent gretyng in owre lord. Know ȝe me to be hold and be thys presont letter feyth|fully to be bownd to Thomas W. of Cryssyngham in a cli. of good and lawfull mony, for qweke [folio 75b] goodes to me sold and delyueryd in the Town of Norampton, on þe day of thys present letter makynge, wer-of I am wyll content; of the wyche cli. of the forseyd

starlynges I am bownd, and be my good feyth permettyd to pay and delyuer to þe same Thomas or to hys sorteyn attornyys, thys letter schoynge, at Lyncoll with-in þe nexth viij day after the wych presont letter mad byn syn and schowyd, with-owt ony ferder delay; and on to thys payment so feythfully to be don I bynd me, my eyres and my executores. And on to the more suerte of thys thyng to be don I haue fownd thys suertys vnder wryttyn, that ys to sey, John of Snorynges, Thomas of Rockelond; the wych hyr selys to-geder hau put with my sell, alternatly, to thys present letter hau put to; be thys wetnessys, A., &c. ȝowyn at Norampton on Hallownesse day, the ȝere of the reyn of kynge E. þe iij after conquest, iij ȝere.

11 (a). Omnibus Cristi fidelibus ad quos [folio 75b] presentes litere pervenerint, J. de S., dominus de W., miles, salutem in domino; Noueritis me teneri et fideliter obligari R. de N. camerario meo, pro laudabili servicio suo, hactennus inpenso in xx solidis sterlingorum annue pencionis, et vna roba de secta hominis de officio osspicii mei, soluendis eidem R. annuatim vel attornatis suis apud S. de costys meis ad totam vitam suam, ad festum natalis domini, sine contradictione quacunque; ad quam dicte annue pensionis xx solidorum predictorum solucionem vna|cum roba prenotata, bene et fideliter faciendam obligo me, heredes et executores meos, et omnia bona mea, mobilia et inmobilia, presencia et futura, vbicunque fuerint in|venta. In cujus rei testimonium huic presenti, &c. His testibus, &c. Dat. apud.

11 (b). To all feythfull pepyll of Cryst on-to [folio 76a] wome thys presont letter xall cum to, John of S., lord of W., knyth senth gretynge in owre lord. Know ȝe me to be hold and feythfully to be bownd to R. of N., my schambyrleyn, for hys laudabyll servysse in old tyme,

hangynge in xxs. of starlynges, [That is 20s. of sterling money. The word is believed to have come from the name Easterlings, the merchants of the North German Hans Towns, who were the earliest moneyers in England.] of ȝerly pensyne, and j robe, þat ys to sey, j gowne of cloth of j mane of the offyce of my ostey, [Ostey, i.e. household, seems to be this translator's equivalent for hospicium. Compare the French houste, given in Ducange.] to be payed to þe same R. ȝerly or hys attornys at S. of my coffres, on to hys holl lyffe, at þe feste of the berth of owr lord with-owt ony geyn-seyyng; on-to the wyche seyd ȝerly penschyn of the forseyd xxs. to be paid with j robe a-for notyd, wyll and feythfully to be done, I bynd me, myn eyrys and myne executorys, and all my goodes mevabyll and on-mevabyll, present and for to cum, were-so-meuer they may be fownd. In to þe wytensse of the wyche thynge be thys present, &c. Be thys wytnessys, &c. ȝowyn, &c.

12 (a). Sciant presentes et futuri, quod nos [folio 76a] Willelmus B. de O. et Agnes vxor mea, vnico assensu nostro dedimus, concessimus, et hac presenti carta nostra confir|mavimus domino Thome Schalys, Edwardo M. armigero, et Willelmo S. de Walton, heredibus et assignatis ipsius Willelmi, omnia terras et tenementa nostra, redditus et servicia, prata, pascua, et pastura, bruare [See note to charter 9 (a), p. 145.] , junccar', turbar', et mariscos, cum omnibus suis pertinentiis, comoditatibus et proficuis eisdem terris et tenementis qualitercunque pertinen|tibus, in villa, campis, bruaris, communiis, et mariscis de O., seu alibi infra hundredum de Estflegge: Habendum et tenendum omnia predicta terras et tenementa, redditus et servicia, prata, pascua, et pastura, bruar', junccar', turbar' et mariscos, cum omnibus suis pertinenciis, prefatis domino Thome Schalys, Edwardo et Wyllelmo, heredibus et assingnatis ipsius Willelmi, de capitalibus dominis feodi illius per servicia inde debita et de jure consueta; excepta

vnum messuagium et octo acras terre cum pertinentiis in O., quod quidem messuagium et octo acras terre cum pertinentiis, nuper predictus Willelmus S. de O. habuit ex dono et feoffamenta Thome Grene et Marie vxoris sue. Et nos, predicti Willelmus et Agneta et heredes nostri omnia predicta, terra, tenementa, redditus, et servicia, prata, pascue et pasturas, bruar', junccar', turbar', et mariscos, cum omnibus suis pertinentiis, exceptis preexceptis, prefato domino Thome Schalys, Edwardo et Willelmo, heredibus et assingnatis ipsius Willelmi, contra omnes gentes waran|tizabimus imperpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium huic presenti carte sigilla nostra apposuimus. Hiis testibus Johanne Seyve, &c., et alliis. Data apud O. predictum vicesimo primo die mensis Januarii, anno regni regis Henrici Sexti post conquestum tricesimo secundo.

12 (b). All men beynge presont and for to cum [folio 76b] be a know, That we, Wyllm. B. of O. and Anneys my wyffe, with on a-sent hath ȝowyne and grantyd, and be owre presont chartyr hath confermyd to lord John Schalys, and to Edward M. esqwyer, and to Wyllm. S. of Walton, to the eyrys and syneys of the same Wyllm., all owre [In the MS. "owre" is placed before "rentes."] londes, tenementes, rentes, and seruyes, medowys, ffedynges, pasturys, [heaths, reed-beds,] [These words are untranslated in the MS., a blank being left in each case as before, p 146.] torvedollys, merchys, with all hys pertynences, comedyteys, proffytys, of the same londes and tenementes, were-so-euer they perteyne, [folio 77a] in the towne or fyld [heaths] [Ib.] comownys and mercys of O. or ony othere were-with in the hunderede of Estflege: To haue and to hold all the forseyd londes and tenementes, rentes, and seruyis; medowys, fedyngyes, and pastures, [heaths, reed-beds,] towrvedowlles, and merschys,

with all there pertynences, to the forseyd lord Thomas Scalys, Edward, and Wyllm., to the eyrys and to the assyneys of the same Wyllm., of the chyffe lordes of the ffeys be the seruyis there-of dew and rygth custum, excepte on messe and viij acrys of lond with the pertynens in O., the wych messe and viij acrys of lond with the pertynens late the forseyd Wyllm. S. of O. haue had of gyfte and feffement of Thomas Grene and of Mary hys wyffe. And we þe forseyd Wyllm. and Angn', and owre eyrys, all the forseyd londes, tenementes, rentes, and seruyis, medowys, fedynges, and pastures [heaths, reed-beds,] Turvedowllys, and merces, with all ther pertynences, excepte befor excepte, to the forseyd lord Thomas Scalys, E. and Wyllm., to the eyrys and the syneys of the same Wyllm., a-ȝens all men schall warant for euer more. In the wyche thynge wettenesse of thys presont chartyre owre selysse ar put to; be thys wytenesse John Seyve, etc., et allijs. Dat. apud O. predict.

THE ARTICLES OF ENQUIRY AT A COURT BARON AND A COURT LEET.

THESE "articles" carry us back to the older system of English law and polity, when the people being more equally distributed over the land bore a closer relation to the soil than at present, when local justice and local responsibilities were relied on as agents in the administration of public welfare, when peace and order had to be cared for by the people themselves. The Courts Baron and Leet were two important factors in this system.

The Court Baron, or lord's court, was held in every manor, and properly consisted of the free tenants of the lord; the freeholders as suitors (i.e., those who owed suit, or ought to come to each court, from Fr. suir = suivre, to follow) being the judges, the steward being merely the registrar and president. The term is also used to include the customary courts of the copyholders and customary

tenants, of which the lord or the steward was the judge. The Court Baron was of two natures, "the Freeholders' Court, which hath jurisdiction for trying actions of debt, trespasses, &c., under forty shillings, may be had every three weeks, and is something like a county court . . . . . The other, for taking and passing of estates, surrenders, admittances, &c., is held but once or twice in a year (usually with the Court Leet) unless it be on purpose to grant an estate; and then it is holden as often as requisite. In this court the homage jury [Mr. Charles Elton, a recent authority, speaking of the Court Baron and the homage jury, says, "the name is given by common usage to the customary court of the copyholders, which concerns the copyholders only, and may be held without free tenants; and in the same way the word 'homage' is used to denote the jury of copyholders."—Custom and Tenant Right, 1882, p. 90.] are to inquire, that the lords do not lose their services, duties, or custom; but that their tenants make their suits of court, pay their rents and heriots, &c., and keep their lands and tenements in repair; they are to present all common and private nuisances which may prejudice their lord's manor, and every public trespass must be punished in this court by amercement, on presenting the same." [Court Leet Records of the Manor of Manchester, edited by John Harland, Chetham Society, 1864, preface, p. 9. This passage is based upon Coke's 4 Report, 26; 6 Report, 11, 12; Compleate Copyholder, § 31 (ed. 1641, p. 60); and the Statute 4 Edw. I.]

A steward presided at the meeting on behalf of the lord, and gave the charge to the homagers (or freeholders), who were sworn in to enquire and adjudicate whether the general articles here following had been kept within the manor. The Court Baron thus, "chiefly regards the suit and service, the trespasses and offences, of the tenants, as relating to the rights and privileges of the lord of the manor." [Ibid.]

On the other hand "the Court Leet takes cognizance of felonies and misdemeanors, offences and nuisances generally," being "the older and superior tribunal, a Court of Record and the Court of the King." That is, the Court Leet included powers of dealing with the public peace and welfare, and matters which had to be dealt with by the general law of the land; it was the Law-day, held usually in manors, sometimes also in the larger jurisdiction of the hundred, when it was called the Sheriff's Tourn and Leet, because the

sheriff, on behalf of the king, held court for the dispensing of justice in the different hundreds in turn. I cannot do better than quote the words of John Kitchin, a lawyer of Gray's Inn, in the preamble to his well-known treatise on "Le Court Leete et Court Baron," written in 1580, fo. 3, "Fineux (12 H. VII., fol. r8) says, that at the beginning all the administration of justice was in the crown, and wherever the king was, there was the law administered. Then, afterwards, because of the multiplying of the people, were the Court Leet and the Court Baron ordained; to wit, the Leet for the punishment of enormities and nuisances against the public weal, within the precincts of the same, and its articles and pains are ordained to this end. And it is called the 'View of Frankpledge, because the king may there have ascertained by the view of the steward, how many people are within any leet; and thus have account, and view, by the steward, of their good government and behaviour in any leet. And also the leet was ordained to have every person of the age of twelve years who has dwelt therein a year and a day, to be sworn to be faithful and loyal to the king. And also that the people there might be held in peace and obedience, these Courts Leets were established." [This translation is quoted from Court Leet Records of the Manor of Manchester, 1864, prefatory chapter, p. 7. This chapter contains a mass of valuable information collected in illustration of the history and practice of these courts.]

It would require a small treatise to explain the details of these different Articles, dealing with various laws, tenures, and customs anciently in use and derived from a feudal origin. The articles to be inquired of in a Court Leet were dealt with by the Statute of Winchester, 13 Edward I., and articles of the View of Frankpledge of the date of Edward I. or II., are found in The Statute Book (Record edition, vol. i., p. 246), with which the reader may usefully compare these Articuli lete. The great value in old times of this system of inquiry and justice in the matters touching public health, highways, bridges, and sewers, and as to keeping the peace and taking criminals has been shown by my father in several published works, [See for example Practical Proceedings for the Removal of Nuisances, by Toulmin Smith, 1856, pp. 2-10; The Parish, pp. 128 and notes, 367-369.] and the present collection is an excellent illustration of the reality and life of those local institutions which, though reviled or forgotten, have helped to make the England of the present. Some of the inquiries made in a Court Baron were often regulated by

a Customary or Custumal, in which, the jurors at some date having made a searching inquiry and statement of the customs in use within their manor (as is well known they varied greatly in different parts of England), these were all enrolled. Examples of such Custumals may be seen in that of Tettenhall Regis, printed in English Gilds (ed. Toulmin Smith, Early Eng. Text Soc., 1870, p. 432), and of Sutton Coldfield, printed in Dugdale's Warwickshire, vol. ii., p. 911. There is no reference to such a roll for Stuston, though it may possibly have existed. For useful information on the old terms, tenures, and customs, see Elton's Custom and Tenant Right, quoted above, and the Introduction to the same writer's Treatise on the Law of Copyholds, 1874. [I am indebted to Mr. Charles Elton for several kind hints and corrections of my notes on these "Articles."] The "charge" given in a Court Leet and a Court Baron, with articles similar to the following, will be found in Kitchin's work above referred to (fourth English edition, 1663, pp. 16 and 109), and in Sir Edw. Coke's Order of Keeping a Court Leet and Court Baron, 1650.

These two sets of articles appear to have been written in the book by Melton himself, the hand resembling that of the accounts.

THE CORTE BARUNE. [folio 51a]

[Charge by the Steward to the Homagers, of Articles to be enquired by them].

Ye schall treuly enquere and forth presente on my lordys be-halffe all ye pointys yat longeth to the Corte, and to ye plasse [Plasse, pleas.] betwyx party & party, and for no thyng spare, but yat ȝe schall so do; so helpe you god and hullydum, [Hullydom, halidom, the company of saints.] & be this boke.

Fyrst ye schall enquere of all y^o yat owe sute to this Corte, yf they be here, and all they that make defawte present ther namys, be the otthe that ye haue take.

Also ye schall do us to wete if ther be ony tenaunte ded sithe the last Corte, and ye schall do us to weete what he hylde of my lord, and be what serwyce he is, his nexte eyur, and of what age; what profyte my lord may haue after his deth, as ward, mariage, releeffe, harryet, [Harryet, heriot, a gift due to the lord on the death of a tenant.] other eschete [Eschete, escheat, that which falls in due to the lord.] or ony oyer proffyte; do us to wet what proffyte he owte for to haue, be ȝower othis.

And also be well awysed whether he ware a [folio 51b] fre tenaunte or a bonde, for ȝeffe he ware a fre tenaunte yan must ȝe enquere be what seruyce he helde of this lordscheppe, whether he hylde be skwage [Skwage, escuage, knight's service.] or be sokage, for if they holde be skwage, that is knytes serwyce, and ȝeffe he died sesyd in the lond and his eyur with-in age, my lord schall haue the ward of ye lond and the maryage of the chylde. And if the chylde be of full age yat holdith be yat tenuer of knyte serwisse, whan his fadyr is ded the eyur schall enter the lond and pay a releeff, and do his omage and sewte, and althow it be sokage lond ȝet ye eyur schall pay a releffe and do his sewte; and ther-for ȝeffe ony sweche be, do us to wete.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef ony manne be owte-lauyd of feloney, convycte or atteynte of felonye, do us to wete what he heelde of my lorde, and wheyer he helde frely or bondly. For if he helde frely the kyng [folio 52a] schall hawe the wauntege and the profyttes a yer and a day, and after yat it hath be in ye kynges hande a yer and a day, my lord schall serve it owte of the kynges honde be a wryte of eschete; and ȝeffe it be bond lond it is a cleer eschet to my lord of this lordscheppe and to no oyer manne.

Also ȝe schall enquere yf ony manne dyed sesyd of

ony lond or tenement of this maner, and if he ware a basterd borne, and hath non eyur of his body in wedlok, his lond schalbe eschetyt to my lord be it fre or bond.

Also enquere ȝefe yer be ony manne or woman dyed sesyd of ony londys or tenementes yat is helde of this maner, and yf he haue non eyur of his body noyer non eyur colaterall, his lond shall be eschetyd to my lord, be it fre lond or bonde lond.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝefe ony lond befall [folio 52b] be desent of ye faderes syd, and if yer be non eyer forth of ye faderys syd it schall neuer turne to ye eyurs of the moderys syd, and if it be ye enherytauns of the moderes side it schall neuere turne to ye eyurs of the faderes syde, but it shalbe eschettyd to yis lordscheppe: thus cum eschettes into lordscheppys; ȝeeffe ony sweche be, do us to wete be [ȝ]owre othis.

Also ȝe schall enquere if ony mann yat wasse bond tenaunt of this lordscheppe, and dyed sesyd of ony bond lond, ȝe schall enquere of how meche he dyed sesyd of, and how is his neste eyer, and what auauntage my lord may have after his tenaunttes deth, as fynne or haryet, lyke as the custom of the maner wyll.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝeef ony man hath pur|chasyd ony lond yat is holde of this maner frely, and be what seruyce it is holde ȝe schall enquere, and wee schall warde owte a dussces [A Writ of Duces tecum was one commanding a person to appear in the Court of Chancery, bringing certain evidences or writings. From the above it appears that the steward and homagers in the Court Baron could make the same kind of order.] a-ȝens heme yat haue purchased this lond, to schowe how they be entryd in-to my lordes

fee, that they may do homage and sewte to my lord, a-cordyng to the custom of this lordscheppe.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef ony man hath [folio 53a] bowt or sold ony bond lond sythe ye last corte, or be for, and hath nowte be presentyd, present yt [MS. has presentyd.] nowe.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef ony man or woman hath ocupyed ony of my lordys demen landys, medowis, or pastures, with owte lysens of the lord or of his offeser, or ony bond lond after tyme it hath be sesyd be the omage of ye corte in to my lordys hande, do us to wet, how it is, and how longe he hath ocupyed it so, and of what walew it is be yer, be the othe that ye haue made.

Also ȝef ther be ony man hath lete ony bond lond to ferme for terme of lyffe, or for terme of yerres, with owte lysens of the lord and fynne-makyng in the corte, do us to wete ther-of and of ther namys.

Also ye schall enquere ȝef ony man hath alyenyd ony bond lond be chartre or crafte for terme of lyff or for terme of yerys, the wheche here-after may be in preiudyce to my lorde or hurtyng to his eyurs in tyme cummyng.

Also ȝe schall enquere yef ony bond mane [folio 53b] or bond womane of blood of this lordscheppe be dwelyng ouȝte of this lordscheppe with ouȝt lycens of my lord or chewache [Chewache, i.e., chevage or chiefage, head or poll money, paid by the bond man or woman in sign of the link between lord and tenant, of right due from the tenant, and of protection due from the lord.] paying yerly of record in the Cort Rollys, do us to wet how it is.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef ony bond manne of

blood hath sete his sone to skole, [Perhaps with a view to taking holy orders, cf. art. 3, p 161; the eccle|siastic being exempt from military and feudal services, the lord was so far a loser by him. But it appears elsewhere that a villein was forbidden to send his son to school.] or hath maryed his douter with ouȝte lycens of my lord, or ȝef ony bonde woman hath hade chylde ouȝt of wedloke, my lord not hawyng 2^s. 8^d. of gersom, [Gersom. A fine or amercement.] or agre with my lord; ȝef ony sweche be, presenttyd [I.e., present it.] be youre othis.

Also ȝe schall inquere ȝef ony mane or womane hath made ony stryppe or waste in my lorddys bond tenmenttes, as lat fall doun ony howses or hewyng ony tymmber wheche [This word is contracted w^t in the MS.] ouȝt to be to repare the same tenment with-thall,—do us to wete.

Also ȝefe ther be ony mane with-holdith ony rent, sute, or seruice of this maner, be it coke, henne, gosse, pyge, egges, wyntir worke, or summer worke, or ony other rent or serwisse, as peper, gynger, clow, [folio 54a] gilofre, or red-roffe, or ony other dewte, with|holdyng & wil not pay,—do us to wete,—ho it is, and how long it hath be with-holde, and wher the fee lyth, yat ye baly may destreyne ther-for, ȝef nede be.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef ony manne hath made ony rescous [Rescous. Rescue of the goods distrained by driving away the officer.] up-on ony officer of my lordes, what tyme yey cume to take ony dystresse, oyer atte sute of partye or for rent, sute, or servyce, or for ony other dute longyng to my lord, and so takyng the dystresse fro the offycer in contempt of my lordys lordscheppe; and if ony man hath broke my lordys pounde, and stolyn, takyn, and drewyn a-wey his

bestes with owȝte lycens of my lord or his officer,—do us to wete ther-of be ȝouer othis.

Also ȝeffe yer be ony mane vsurpyth upon my lord in this lordscheppe, claymyng free boole [Boole, bull.] or fre bore, or fre foldage other-wysse yan ther ouȝte for to haue of rygth, or hath be acustumed of olde tyme,—do us weete be the othe that yew haue made.

Also ȝeff ony mane hath huntyd or hawkyd [folio 54b] in my lordis wareyn, takyng hare or cony, larke, ffesant, or partrych, or any oyer best or fowell of warenye,—presente ther namys be ȝoure othis.

Also ȝef ony mane hath fisshed my lordys seuerall wateres, as pondys, pyttes, or reueres,—do us to wete how they be and what fisshe they haue takyne, be [ȝ]owre othis.

Also ye schall enquere ȝef ony custumable scathe [Skathe, injury, damage.] be done in my lordys londys, medowis, pasturys, or woodys, with hors, nete, or schepe, or ony other beeste,—do us to wete.

Also ȝe schall enquere ef ony bonde mane of blod hath purchasyd ony free lond be chartre, or ony free lond be falle to hyme be desent of erytage, and that land hath nate be sesyd to my lord and takyne aftyr of my lord be copy, and be encres of rent;—do us to wete be the othis that ye haue made.

Also ye schall enquere ȝef ony mane [folio 55a] hath done ony skathe [Skathe, injury, damage.] in my lordys woodys, or in his undurwoodys, hewyng dong ony tres or roddys, brekyng

dong ony heggys, and beryng a wey the wood, presentith be[ȝ]oure othys.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef ony strayes be comyne in to this lordschepe, be it horsse, nete, or schepe, or ony oyer catell, and no mane knowith hos ye propirte is, ȝe schall do us to wete. For ȝef it hath be with in this lordschippe twelmoneth and a day it schall be forfete to my lord, and ȝef it hath not be so long ȝe schall tell us how long it hath be in this lordschepe, and proclamaschone schall be made ther-of; and ȝef ony mane come and make lawfull pruf, he schall haue his best aȝene, and ȝef he pay my lord for the pasture for the tyme ther beyng.

ARTICULI LETE. [folio 55b]

Ye that be hedborwes [Hed-borowes. The head-borough, or chief-pledge, was originally one man out of every ten who gave surety to keep peace and order, as head of the ten others in the tything.] of the lete ȝe schall trewly enquere and make presenment of all maner of poyntys that longith to the lete on the kynges be-halffe and on my lordes. The kynges counsell, my lordes, the stuerdys, yower felowes, and yowre owyne, ȝe schall well and trewly kepe, and for no-thyng spare, nowther for maleys nor yl-wyll, nor for loue nor for fauor no-thyng present, but as ye know of ryte, and may know or enquere, and trewe sertyficat make. So helpe you god and holy-dom, and be this boke.

Fest ȝe schall enquere ȝef all the persons yat schulde do sute to this lete atte thys day, ȝef yat they be her, and they that make defawte presente ther namys be [ȝ]owre othis.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef all y^o y^t haue dwelyd

with-thin ye preseint [Preseint, precincts.] of this lete twelmonth and a day, and if they be xij yer olde or a-boue, ȝefe yey be sworne in this lete; and ȝef yei be note sworne [folio 56a] her ȝe schall present their namys, and hoo hath ressettes heme, howsed or harbernyd heme, for ther be non owt-take [Out-take, excepted. As to school, see before, p. 158] but knytes and knytes' eldest chyldryn, and chyldyrne that go to skole to take holy ordurs.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef ony hedborgh of ony oyer lete be come demoraunt [Demoraunt, dwelling.] with-thyne this lete, do us to wete ho it is, be [ȝ]oure othis.

Also ȝe schall enquere of all ye defawtes yat ware presentyd at ye last lete, ȝefe they be suffisauntly amendid or not, be the othe yat ye haue made.

Also ye schall enquere of all maner assawtes, as of frayes of hamsokenys, [Hamsoken (A.S. ham socn, home liberty), the privilege of a man's own house. Hence it came to mean the fine for breaking this privilege, and the offence itself. Compare the Scotch hamesucken, i.e., the assault on a man in his own house. Frayes of hamsokenys is equivalent to house-breaking or burglary.] and how hath made hem and of whome; and of blood drawtys drawing, and how hath drawyne heme, and up-one whome; and of owtas [Owtas, hue and cry (the word seems to be an intermediate between hue and hoot). To raise the hue and cry, for a constable or a private person, was the ancient method of pursuing and taking offenders against the peace and person, and the above article shows how it was regulated.] made or resyd, ho hath reryd and what they be, and wheyer it hath be a-reysyd ryȝ|fully or wornfully; for ȝef it haue be areryd ryȝtfully thane he that it hath be arreryd up-one shall be ponysshed yer for, and ȝef it ha be arreryd wrongfully [This word was first written "worng" and then struck out, which shows the intention of the previous similar spelling.] than [folio 56b]

he yat hath areryd shalbe ponysshed yer for, and therfor whether it hath be arrerid riȝtfully or wrongfully, present it and tell us ther-of, I charge you be the othe ȝe [MS. has he.] haue made.

Also ȝe schall enquere of all maner purprises and purprestures, [Purprises and purprestures, inclosures and encroachments.] in feldys, fennys, and in comyns, as eryng up of merys, [Erying = earing, ploughing; merys, land-marks or boundaries (A.S. mære, a boundary). Probably these which could be ploughed up were the earth|balks, strips of raised ground left untouched by tillage between each plot. See next note.] rasyng up of dowlys, [Rasyng up of dowlys, i.e., lifting or moving a boundary stone or post. According to Marshall's Rural Economy of Norfolk (among Reprinted Glossaries, iii., English Dialect Society) a dole-stone in Norfolk is a land|mark. Forby says a dole is a boundary-mark in an unenclosed field, often a low post. A dole in some places means a narrow strip of pasture left between strips of arable land; but its primary meaning appears to be a small allotment of land. See Jacobs' Law Dictionary, s.v. dalus and dole.] streityng or stoppyng of the kynges hey wey, pyttyng or plantyng in ye comyn or in the comyn wey to the nosons [Nosons, nuisance, hurt.] of ye cuntre; present all sweche thynges be ye othe ȝe haue made.

Also ȝe shall enque[re] ȝef ony mane make ony wyndolsse, [I am unable to explain this word; lay-stall (a dung-hill), carrion, or garbage laid on the highway usually comes in this place.] and ley oney dong in the comyne wey or comyne sty, or ley ony tymber, oyer hath ony bowis of heggerewis [Bowis of hegge-rewis, boughs of hedge-rows.] hangyng ouer ye comyne wey or comyne sty, [Sty, lane or path. For different kinds of stys or paths see article 10.] or ony brusshall [Brusshall, i.e., brushwood.] growyng in ye comyne wey or in the comyne sty, yat is nosauns to ye peple; present all sweche thynges be the othis yat ȝe haue made.

Also ȝe shall enquere ȝef ony mane hath [folio 57a] stoppyd, streytyd, or turned ony rizt cors of ye watur or hath not feyd [Fey, to cleanse a well, pit, or ditch, by clearing out the mud.] his dickes wher-thurgh ye water ouerfloweth ye comyne or ye comyne wey, or ȝef ony manne hath nouȝt defendyd aȝens ye comyne, or ȝef oney mane hath nouȝt stoppyd his skyp-styles [A skyp-style appears to be no other than a stile, i.e., a stationary gate which can be easily leapt over.] in resonable tyme; ȝe shall present it and tell us ther-of.

Also ȝe shall enquere ȝef ony mane hath made ony wrong wey or ony wrong sty, [Sty. See article 8.] —for yer be no mo of riȝte but cherche wey or sty, market sty, mylle sty, and welle sty. And ȝef ony mane hath turnyd ony riȝt wey or riȝte sty, oyer wyse thane of olde tyme hath be acustumed, with oute yat he have a wriȝte yat is calyd ad quod dampnum, that is dyrecte doune to the eschetor to enquere be ye visnete; [Visnete, i.e., vicinity. The enquiry made under the writ ad quod damnum (to find out what harm would ensue by the encroachment) was to be made by sworn men of the neighbourhood, according to old constitutional principle.] ȝe schall enquere and do us to wete be youre othis.

Also ȝe shall enquere ȝef ony man hath encrochid to hyme of the comune, with dyche, hege, hows, walle, or pathe, settyng ther up-one with-owte lysens of ye kyng or of my lord; do us to wete what length, what bred, and ther namys yat ded it, be ȝowre othis.

Also ȝe shall enquere ȝef ony mane vse [folio 57b] ony fals weytes or fals mesorys, yat is for to sey he yat bey be on and selle be anoyer, for to desey the pepull with-thall, or oyer vse to selle be punds, the weche is forbode be statute; ȝef ȝe know oney sweche do us to wete, be ye othis yat ȝe haue made.

Also ȝe shall enquere ȝef yer be ony gret thevys a|monges ȝow, sweche as ar stelers of hors, nete, or schepe, or ony oyer good or catell, or ravisshors of mene wyves or servauntes; do us to wete; for this ȝe haue full power to endite heme, and we shall takit under ȝowre selys as ye law wolle.

Also ȝe shall enquere ȝef ony pety bryburs be yer a|monges ȝow, sweche as stelyne shewis [Shewis, sheaves.] in harwest, hennys or caponns or ony other thyng, or to twykke [Twykke, twitch.] and bere awey swech good as mene hanne with-thyn ther howsys, oyer ȝef yer be ony suspeschus leueres a-monges ȝow, yat is for to sey stafe-strykers, nyte-walkers, ewysdropers, and swiche as slepe on the day and walke a ye nyte, and haue but lytyll or nowte for lewe by; present ther namys yat wee may know what they be, be ye othes ȝe haue take.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef yer be ony [folio 58a] comune bakers or brewe[r]s and typelers, ȝef yei do and selle as ye statute woll, and ellys ther defawtys; and of yower alle|founders, [Alle-founders, usually called ale-conners or ale-tasters—officers yearly chosen to see that the ale was rightly made, according to the assize.] ȝef they hawe do yer office well and trwly, and ellys present and chese newe.

Also ȝe shall enquere of all oyer witayllers yat selle in this lordshepe, as bochers yat selle on-holsume flessh and wynne no more than ye statute wolle, of xij^d a peny; ellys present.

Also ȝe schall enquere ȝef ony manne communeth in ȝour comune but yei that be communers of ryȝte, or ȝef ony mane surchargeth yowre comune, yat is to sey he yat hath

mo bestes in yowre comune thane ye quantite of his tennure woll bere, or ellys kepith ony bestis of ony straungers under colour of his owene; loke yat ye present ther namys, be yowre othis.

Also ȝe shall enquere ȝef ony mane hath made ony recuse [Rescuse, a shaking off, driving away. See note to Art. 19 of Court Baron.] a-ȝens the kynges constable, nowt standyng to his areste whane he is requeryd; oyer ȝef ony be rebell, and woll nowt wake the kynges wache, [The king's watch and the king's take; the first is the watchman to keep the public peace, the second the public taxes which were collected by local officers.] gadere ye kynges tayke [The king's watch and the king's take; the first is the watchman to keep the public peace, the second the public taxes which were collected by local officers.] whane he is requeryd on ye kynges name; ȝe shall present theme; oyer ȝef ony mane hath [folio 58b] made ony rescw up-on oyer, yat is for to sey ȝef he fynd his neybor's bestes doyng harme in his cornne, medowes, or pasturs, and he make a rescusse on yat destresse so takyne, ye shall do us to wet, for he may make his pounde a day and a nyȝte, and after yat brynge ye dysstresse to the lordys pounde a-bovyne; and ther-for ȝef yer be ony sweche present them be ye oth.

Also ȝe shall enquere of weyfe, of stray of catell, de futifes, and de felone, ȝefe ony haue come with in this lordshape; a weyffe is ȝefe a thefe haue stole hors, shep, or net, or ony oyer good or catell, and for drede of takyng or be bywrayyng fleth a wey fro that good or catell; ȝef ony sweche haue be take or sene with-thyne thys lordshepe, do us to wet, be the othes ȝe haue made.

Also ȝe shall enquere ȝef yer is ony mane yat hath noȝte hangyd his fal-ȝates [A fall-gate in Norfolk is a gate across a public road.—Marshall's Rural Economy, Reprint III. in English Dialect Society.] at resonable tymes as he owte to

do, the whiche on hangyng hath be noyans to hys neyburs, ȝef ther be ony swich, present theme, be ye othis yat ȝe haue made.

Also ȝe shall enquere ȝef ony baly hath [folio 59a] come with this lordshepe and take or made ony wrong distrese, or ony mane arestyd, ageyn the custom or the fraunchisse of this lordshipe, in preiudice or deshertyson [Deshertyson, disherison.] of ony lord and his lordshipe; present ther namys how and wher, be ȝowre othis.

And ther-for of thees poyntes and all other yat long to ye corte or to ye lete, in the kynges name and in my lordes, be the othes yat ȝe habe mad, I charge ȝow yat ȝe enquere truly and make us a trew werdyte. [I.e., verdict.]

Expliciunt Articuli Cure et Lete.