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Croyland Chronicle 1486 is in Croyland Chronicle.
Influenced by this consideration, the writer before-mentioned determined to end his labours with the death of king Richard; only adding the fact that, after the victory of the said king Henry the Seventh, and the ceremonies of his anointing and coronation, on the last day but one of the following month, by the hand of the most reverend father, Thomas, cardinal archbishop of Canterbury, and in due conformity with the ancient custom, the marriage was celebrated, which had from the first been hoped for, between him and the lady Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of king Edward the Fourth. This was duly solemnized, at the instance and urgent entreaty of all the three estates of the realm, in presence of the Church, on the eighteenth day of the month of January, in the year of our Lord, according to the computation of the Roman Church, 1486; a dispensation having been first obtained from the Apostolic See on account of the fourth degree of consanguinity, within which the king and queen were related to each other. And although, by these means, peace was graciously restored, still, the rage of some of the malignants was not averted, but, immediately after Easter, a sedition was set on foot by these ingrates in the North, whence every evil takes its rise; and this, even although the king was staying in those parts. Taking note of this, he who has written this narrative, has added to the preceding history, for the inspection of posterity, a few lines of exhortation on peace and long-suffering, to the following effect:
"Thou who dost read these changes in the fate
Of mighty men, must needs despise the frail
And unsubstantial glories of this world.
Why should its fleeting pomps and short-liv'd pride
Enthral thy mind? Full many a king has fall'n,
Who to another had disdain'd to bow His head.
Emerging from the palace doors,
Others have enter'd at the postern gate;
Eager for rule, and, for their private ends,
Ready the common weal to sacrifice.
Nor age, nor blood, nor valour in the field
Shall now ensure a king his rights. Let those
Who come hereafter be upon their guard,
And know that o'er a populace they rule,
Fickle and fond of novelty"
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In the same composition, the Poet also alludes to the failure after such vast preparations made by king Edward for the expedition against France; the like of which will never be seen again---
"Gaul hath escap'd our vengeance, and we ourselves
Have pierc'd our vitals with our own good swords.
Now this, now that side conquering, this realm
Hath been the prey of factions.
But since God Hath now united them, and made but one
Of these two factions, let us be content.
A better fortune will ensue, if we
Receive these timely blessings of the Lord
With grateful hearts. But, if the blood-stain'd sword
Should still remain suspended, and great Jove
Cease not to hurl his lightnings, then must we
Bear our misfortunes with a patient mind."
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I shall now subjoin some lines written in praise of this monastery, which begin as follows:
"How sweet to be one of a brotherhood
Where envy is unknown. Such praise alone
Our Croyland claims, and as her own demands.
Here concord ever reigns, all strife afar;
Here do we recognize the grateful rights
Of hospitality; and every guest
Is amply cater'd for, and without charge.
This to her praise we tell, for we ourselves
Have witness'd it; and how within her fane
Devoutness hath subdued the minds of men.
The humble heart, the look sincere and frank,
The foot unfalt'ring, and the voice attun'd
To praise of the eternal God, find here
A holy refuge. May their pious life
Meet its reward in heav'n; and, while for you
I breathe a brother's prayer, my every good
I recommend to yours-well may they fare,
Who wish for you the same. In Christ, Farewell."
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This was done and completed at Croyland, in the year of our Lord, one thousand four hundred and eighty-six, in the space of ten days: the last of which was the last day of the month of April in the said year.
A Fourth Continuation of the History of Croyland.
Although the person who wrote the History immediately preceding, whoever he may have been, has brought his work to a close, at a point beyond which, for the reasons stated by him, he did not think proper to proceed; still, as I find, each day, something worthy of remark, and of such a nature, that if it be not immediately committed to writing, it may either be lost in oblivion or suffer from an unfaithful relation, I do not hesitate to write what follows, by way of Continuation of the preceding History. In so doing, I have determined to set an example to those who shall come after us, to the end that they may be encouraged, in a similar manner, at once to commit to writing such events as may happen in their times.
After the coronation of king Henry had been solemnly performed on the day above-mentioned, a Parliament was held at Westminster, on which so many matters were treated of (I wish I could say "all ably treated of"), that the compendious nature of this narrative cannot aspire to comprise an account of the whole of them. Among other things, proscriptions, or, as they are more commonly called, "attainders," were voted against thirty persons; a step which, though bespeaking far greater moderation than was ever witnessed under similar circumstances in the time of king Richard or king Edward, was not taken without considerable discussion, or, indeed, to speak more truly, considerable censure, of the measures so adopted. Oh God! what assurance, from this time forth, are our kings to have, that, in the day of battle, they will not be deprived of the assistance of even their own subjects, when summoned at the dread mandate39 of their sovereign? for, a thing that has been too often witnessed, it is far from improbable, that, deserted by their adherents, they may find themselves bereft of inheritance, possessions, and even life itself.
Note 39. The text seems to be in a defective state here. He probably alludes to the desertion of Richard by his party at the battle of Bosworth.
In this Parliament, the sovereignty was confirmed to our lord the king, as being his due, not by one, but by many titles: so that we are to believe that he rules most rightfully over the English people, and that, not so much by right of blood as of conquest and victory in warfare. There were some persons, however, who were of opinion that words to that effect might have been more wisely passed over in silence than inserted in our statutes; the more especially, because, in the very same Parliament, a discussion took place, and that, too, with the king's consent, relative to his marriage with the lady Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of king Edward; in whose person it appeared to all that every requisite might be supplied, which was wanting to make good the title of the king himself. But more, perhaps, on this subject hereafter.
This general sitting of Parliament being concluded, the king kept the festival of Easter at Lincoln; whither news was brought of the death of the most noble father, cardinal, Thomas Bourchier, and archbishop of Canterbury. He died in Easter week, in the year 1486, A being the Dominical letter; just as, thirty-nine years before, under the same Dominical letter, and in the same week of the festival of Easter, a great cardinal of England, Henry Beaufort by name, bishop of Winchester, had departed this life, it being the year 1447. The following is the noble lineage of each of these prelates, each being, in pedigree, lineally descended from king Edward the Third-Henry, bishop of Winchester, was descended from him in the second degree, through his father, John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, son of the said king Edward; while Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, was descended from him in the third degree, through his mother, the countess of Stafford, and the father of the said countess, Thomas of Woodstock, duke of Gloucester, another son of the aforesaid king Edward the Third.
[11th April 1447]. There recurs to my recollection, at the moment while I am writing this account of these circumstances, a praiseworthy deed, and one most deserving of all imitation by others, of that glorious and Catholic man, the said cardinal bishop of Winchester (age 72). When he was ill and at the point of death at his palace of Wolnesey, near his cathedral church of Saint Swithun, in the said year 1447, he caused all the ecclesiastics, religious, and laymen in the vicinity to be summoned to the great hall of the palace, on the Saturday on which the office Sitientes [those who thirst] is chaunted, and which immediately precedes the Sunday of the Passion of our Lord. Here he had a solemn funeral service and the mass of the Requiem performed in his presence, as he lay on his bed; and, on the fifth day after,40 the whole of the office was performed by the prior of that cathedral church in full pontificals. Shortly after the funeral service, his last will and testament was publicly read aloud in presence of all; and, certain corrections and codicils41 having been added by him thereto, on the morning after the mass was performed, publicly and in an audible voice he confirmed all his said testamentary dispositions, which were then once more read over; after which, he bade farewell to all, and departed this life at the time above-mentioned. For, he who wrote this account, was present, and both saw and heard all these things, and we know that his witness is true. Having thus digressed a little, we will hasten to return to the acts and fortunes of the king.
Note 40. This account of the death of Cardinal Beaufort differs very materially from the picture painted of that scene by Shakspeare in his King Henry VI., Part 2; and which is supposed, in some respects, to have been founded on the account given in Hall's Chronicle.
Note 41. These were added on the seventh and ninth of April. He died on the eleventh.
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On passing from Lincoln on his way to York, by his castle of Nottingham, he there heard various rumours of a certain rising42 of the people in the north; upon which, for the more securely establishing his position, he caused a great multitude of men, but all of them unarmed, to be summoned and collected from the county of Lincoln; it being his wish to appear rather to pacify than exasperate the people who were opposed to him. When he had come to York, and was intent upon his devotions, on the feast of Saint George, he was nearly slain by means of a stratagem on part of the enemy. The earl of Northumberland, however, prudently quelled this insurrection at its first beginning, and caused certain of those who had prompted the movement to be hanged on the gallows: after which, the king returned in peace towards the southern parts.
Note 42. Headed by lord Lovel (age 30), and Humphrey (age 60) and Thomas Stafford.
While these commotions were still going on in the north, there came to the house of Croyland the reverend man, John Russell, bishop of Lincoln, and stayed there the space of a whole month, making payment every week for himself and a retinue of twenty persons, on such terms as were deemed satisfactory by both parties. During this period, a conference was held at Singlesholt with the abbat of the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, as to the mode and order of proceeding in the matter of the appropriation of the church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, and how much should be held to be payable each year by that church for indemnification due to the bishops, archdeacons, and the cathedral church; upon which, the said bishop, with the express desire and consent of the beforenamed abbat, appointed a day and place, in the parish church of Croyland, when and where the Proctor of the abbat and convent of Burgh, having received full powers to act as Proctor, should appear. This was, accordingly, done; and, at the prayer of the said Proctor, the matter of the said union or appropriation was in all respects discussed, and, by sentence of the bishop judicially pronounced, in all respects concluded; the said Proctor being present, and giving his entire consent thereto, as well as the before-named abbat of Croyland, who, according to the force and effect of the said award, bore and paid throughout all and singular the costs and expenses necessary in that behalf. We have here inserted the form of this act of impropriation:
"To all sons of Holy Mother Church, to whom these our present letters shall come, or to whom this public instrument shall come, John, by the Divine permission, bishop of Lincoln, health in the Lord everlasting. It behoveth all Catholic bishops, within the limits of their respective jurisdictions, to give their especial attention to those things which concern the peace and tranquillity of convents of the religious; and more especially of those, the proximity of the confines of which may more readily give cause and occasion for dissensions; as also, at the same time, in every way to provide for the preservation of peace and tranquillity in this behalf. For this reason we do bring it to the notice of all of you, that, in the matter under-written of the union, annexation, appropriation, incorporation, and consolidation of the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise called Eston, in our diocese of Lincoln, with the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, in the same our diocese, it being the year of our Lord, one thousand four hundred and eighty-six, then current, and the fourth year of the indiction, and the second of the pontificate of the most holy father and lord in Christ, the lord Innocent, by the Divine Providence the Eighth pope of that name, on the twenty-second day of April, in the parish church of Croyland, within the conventual church of the monastery of Saints Bartholomew the Apostle, and Guthlac the Confessor, of Croyland, in our said diocese, and on the northern side of the said conventual church we publicly sitting, before us there judicially and in judgment seated, there did personally appear in court the religious man, the lord John Croyland, a brother of the said monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, and Proctor thereof, appointed to act as Proctor in the name and behalf of the venerable and religious men, the abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter aforesaid; and that, he having in his hands and actually producing his commission of Proctorship sealed with the common seal of the said monastery of Burgh, as also the royal letters containing therein the royal licence granted to proceed in the matter aforesaid, we were, often and urgently, and with no small importunity, entreated by the same lord John Croyland, the Proctor aforesaid, that we would deign to make inquisition and to proceed in the said matter of the union, annexation, appropriation, incorporation, and consolidation of the parish church aforesaid, in such manner as should be canonical, and to examine the reasons for making such union, annexation, appropriation, incorporation, and consolidation, and duly to expedite the said matter. Wherefore, we, John, the bishop before-named, there sitting in judgment, and being of opinion that the requisition to the said effect was just and consonant with reason, at the instance and prayers of the Proctor before-mentioned, did determine so to make inquisition and to proceed, so far as should be duly canonical, in the matter aforesaid; there being then present Masters Thomas Hutton, Doctor of Laws, and William Spencer and William Miller, clerks and notaries public, specially summoned and invited to be witnesses to the premises: and, all and singular the premises being so arranged, we, John, the bishop before-named, still there sitting in judgment, did name and appoint the discreet man, Master William Spencer, clerk and notary public, before-mentioned, to act as our secretary in the said matter, so far only as setting forth the things to be done in this behalf, and did make him there to remain with us, for the purpose of faithfully writing down all and singular the things then done in this present matter, in the order and succession in which the same should take place. And forthwith, the said lord John Croyland, the Proctor before-named, in virtue of his Proctorship, then and there did actually produce the commission of his said Proctorship, of which mention has been made above, in writing, and sealed in white wax with an impression of the common seal of the said monastery, and did take upon him to act in the aforesaid business in behalf of his masters, the said abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh of which commission of Proctorship so granted to the said Proctor, the tenor was to the following effect:
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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
"Be it known unto all men by these presents, that we, William Ramsey, abbat of the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, of the order of Saint Benedict, in the diocese of Lincoln, and the convent of the said place, having the advowson and the right of patronage of the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, in the said diocese, and well known to be patrons of the said parish church, do by these presents, name, ordain, make, and appoint our dearly beloved brethren in Christ, John Gente, John Croyland, and Richard Sutton, monks of our said monastery, jointly and severally, and each of them by himself, wholly and solely, that so any one of them who has begun to act may not have more force and effect than the others, but that what any one of them has begun, any other of them may be at liberty by himself to carry into effect and conclude, our true and lawful proctors, agents, factors, and managers of our business, and our especial deputies; and we do give and do grant, and by the tenor of these presents do give and do grant to the same our Proctors, jointly, and to each of them, by himself, severally and wholly as before-stated, general power and special authority, for us, and in the names of us and of our said monastery, in a certain matter of union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation of the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, with the before-named monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, canonically to be made, to appear before the reverend father and lord, John, by the grace of God, lord bishop of Lincoln, his commissary or commissaries in that behalf deputed or to be deputed; as also to give and propound, and pray, and obtain, to be admitted, any article or articles, and any other petitions whatsoever, whether of a summary, solemn, or simple nature, and to declare, allege, propound, and prove the reason and reasons for the union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation aforesaid; and, as to the truth of the said reasons, to make oath required by law, as also to cause and procure the truth to be testified and declared as to the said reasons and the validity thereof; and to produce and exhibit, and demand to be admitted, the testimony of witnesses, letters, and instruments, both public and private, and all other kinds of proof whatsoever; and to demand witnesses in this behalf to be produced to be sworn and examined, and to see their words and evidence duly published; as also to swear, and to give and make any lawful oath whatsoever upon our souls, which shall be necessary or requisite in this behalf; and to demand that the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, before-named, together with all the lands, tenements, revenues, rights, and appurtenances, to the said church pertaining, or in any way belonging, with the before-named monastery of Burgh Saint Peter and us, the abbat and convent aforesaid and our successors, may, under the authority of the reverend father before-named, be united, annexed, and incorporated; and that the said monastery and parish church, saving always the portion of the perpetual vicar of the said church from ancient times set apart, limited, and appointed, may be consolidated; and to ask, hear, and see that sentence or final decree of union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation aforesaid, is pronounced and published; and likewise to ask and obtain the consent of all persons whatsoever having any interest in this behalf, the same to be really and effectually had and given, to the union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation aforesaid, and to the final decree for the same, as also to the whole and entire process in this behalf to be had, and in its various steps and successively to be carried on: and after such union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation aforesaid, to ask and to see that it is decreed, and is effectually ordered and enjoined that we, so empowering them as aforesaid, or our Proctors for us, shall be inducted and placed in real and bodily possession of the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston before-named, and all other its and our appurtenances, saving always the portion of the perpetual vicar, as previously stated; and to obtain possession to that effect, and when so ob tained to continue and preserve the same. We do also authorize them to ask for and obtain letters testimonial or other public instruments of and concerning the union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation before-mentioned, and that the same shall be ratified by the seal of the venerable father beforenamed; and to promote the matter of the said union, annexation, incorporation and consolidation, unto the final and effectual conclusion thereof, and duly to prosecute, manage and complete the execution of the decree before-mentioned; and to treat of and communicate upon, the indemnifications, unto the before named reverend father and lord in Christ, John, by the grace of God, lord bishop of Lincoln, and his future successors, as also, the lords the dean and chapter of the cathedral church of the blessed Mary at Lincoln and the archdeacon of Leicester, for the time being, and their future successors, such indemnifications being due by reason of the said union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation; and, in our name, to consent and assent to the assignment, limitation, and transfer of any yearly payment for and in place of such indemnifications, by the before-named reverend father and lord in Christ, John, by the grace of God, lord bishop of Lincoln, to be agreed upon, and, by his authority, in this behalf to be made; as also to bind us and our monastery, when it shall be so, as already stated, united to the parish church aforesaid, to make payment of any sums whatever which shall in name of the indemnifications aforesaid, by the authority of the reverend father before-named, be assigned and limited, the same to be faithfully made by us and our successors in our said monastery; and in our name to offer, set forth, and give securities both by oath and by sureties for the payment of the said sums as already stated, as also all other securities whatsoever which shall be necessary and sufficient in this behalf; and likewise to make challenge and appeal, and to demand and receive oath upon the Apostles, and to substitute any other of others as Proctor or Proctors, in place of them or any one of them, and to revoke the substitution of such substitute or substitutes, and to resume to himself or themselves the office of Proctor, and exercise the same, so often as and when it shall seem best and most expedient to them or any one of them, their present Proctorship in the meantime remaining valid and of full effect: and generally to make, do, and execute, all and singular other the things in and about the premises which may be necessary thereto, or which may in any way at their pleasure seem desirable, although the same may demand of them an authorization more special than is in these presents set forth, and which we ourselves, so appointing them, would have made, done, or executed, or ought to have made, done, or executed, in case we had been personally present in the premises. We, the before-named abbat and convent, so appointing them, do also promise that we will for ever hold as ratified, good, and established, all and whatsoever our said Proctors, or those by them to be substituted, shall do, or any one of them shall do in the premises or any one of the premises; and will abide by the judgment, and will do what shall be adjudged, under pledge and obligation of forfeiting all our goods both present and to come; and in that behalf we do by these presents make offer of the said security. In testimony whereof we have to these presents set our common seal, the same being given in our Chapter-house, on the twenty-first day of the month of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand four hundred and eighty-six."
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"Accordingly, we sitting there in judgment, in presence of the Proctor of the said abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh aforesaid, appeared there, personally in court, the discreet man, Master William Miller, clerk and notary public, and Proctor, as he stated, of the venerable men, the lords the dean and chapter of our cathedral church of the blessed Mary at Lincoln, and before us actually produced the commission of his Proctorship by his said masters granted to him, and signed with the impression in green wax of their common seal, and made his appearance in behalf of the same his masters in the matter before-named. At the same time also, appeared there, personally in court, in presence of the Proctors before-named, the discreet man, Master Roger Wood, Master of Arts, who stated that he was the Proctor of the honorable man, Master Richard Langueder, Doctor of Laws, our archdeacon of Leicester, in our cathedral church aforesaid, within the precincts of whose archdeacoury is situate the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston and then and there actually produced the commission of his Proctorship, set forth in writing, and sealed with the impression in red wax of the seal which the before-named Master Richard Langueder, our official in the diocese of Lincoln, uses by right of his holding the said office, and made his appearance in behalf of the said archdeacon, his master, in the matter beforenamed. The terms of the commission of Proctorship of the Proctors of the said dean and chapter, and of the archdeacon, of which mention is made above, were in words as follow;"
Be it known unto all men by these presents, that we, Philip Lipyat, Licentiate in Laws, Subdean of the Cathedral church of the blessed Mary at Lincoln, in the absence of the Dean of the said church, and with the unanimous consent and assent of the Chapter of the said church, do, by these presents, ordain, make, name, and appoint, our dearly beloved in Christ, Masters Thomas Hutton, Doctor of Laws, Canon of the Cathedral church aforesaid, Andrew Bensted, Master of Arts, William Spencer, John Bevyll, and William Miller, clerks and notaries public, jointly and severally, and each of them, by himself, wholly and solely, that no any one of them who has begun to act may not have more force and effect than the others, but that what any one of them has begun, any other of them may be at liberty by himself to conclude and carry into effect, our true and lawful proctors, agents, factors, and managers of our business, and our especial deputies; and we do give and do grant to the same, our Proctors, jointly, and to each of them by himself, as before stated, severally and wholly, general power and special authority, for us, and in the names of us and of the said cathedral church, to proceed and to view proceedings in a certain matter of union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation of the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, in the diocese of Lincoln, with the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, in the said diocese, and the abbat and convent thereof for the time being and all their future successors whatsoever in the said monastery, the same to be duly and canonically made, before the reverend father and lord in Christ, John, by the grace of God, lord bishop of Lincoln, or his commissary in that behalf deputed or, to be deputed; as also to be present and to see that the witnesses, letters, instruments, and other documents in proof in that behalf necessary and requisite, are produced, and that the said witnesses are admitted and sworn, and that their words and attestations are duly published: also, in like manner, to give our consent and assent, and in our name really and effectually to consent and assent, that the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, before-named, together with all its rights and appurtenances, shall be canonically united, annexed, incorporated, and consolidated with the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter aforesaid, the abbat and convent thereof for the time being, and their successors for all future time whatsoever, the same to be held for ever to their own proper use; and, if need shall be, to dissent from the same; saving always to ourselves and our successors, a certain yearly payment of six shillings and eightpence of and from the fruits and profits of the parish church of Brynkhurst aforesaid, the same to be paid for ever in each year at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, as and for an indemnification to us and our successors; and to demand and see that the parish church of Eston aforesaid, and the fruits, rents, profits, rights, incomes, offerings, tenths, and all and singular the emoluments whatsoever of the said church, are bound to payment and security for payment of the yearly sum aforesaid, and that the said abbat, and convent, and all their successors whatsoever are charged with payment of the said sum to us and our successors, in manner before stated, for ever; and in our name to receive all other bonds and securities whatsoever sufficient in that behalf; and to make demand, and to hear, sentences both interlocutory and definite, given and pronounced, and other enactments, ordinances, and decrees, in that behalf requisite, made and ordained, and to consent to the same, or otherwise, if needs be, to dissent therefrom; as also to carry out the said matter of union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation, until and unto the final close thereof, and so to conclude the same; and to substitute any other Proctor or Proctors whatsoever, in the place of them and of each of them, and to revoke each substitution, and to resume to themselves the duties of such Proctor, so often as, and when it shall seem good and expedient to them or to any one of them: and generally, to make, do, and execute all and singular other the things in and about the premises which may be necessary thereto, or in any way desirable, although the same may require of them an authorization more special than is in these presents set forth. We do also promise that we will for ever hold as ratified, good, and established, all and whatsoever our said Proctors, or those by them substituted or to be substituted shall do, or any one of them shall do, in the premises or any one of the premises; and will abide by the judgment, and will do what shall be adjudged under pledge and obligation of forfeiting all our goods; and in that behalf we do by these presents, make offer of the said security. In testimony whereof, we have to these presents set our common seal, the same being given in our chapterhouse on the first day of the month of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand four hundred and eighty-six."
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"Be it known to all men by these presents, that we, Richard Langueder, Doctor of Laws, archdeacon of Leicester in the cathedral church of Lincoln and officer of the consistory court of Lincoln, have named, ordained, made, and appointed, and do by the tenor of these presents, name, ordain, make, and appoint our dearly beloved in Christ, Masters Thomas Hutton, Doctor of Laws, Andrew Bensted, and Roger Wood, Masters of Arts, and William Spencer, John Bevil, and William Miller, clerks and notaries public, jointly and severally, and each of them, by himself wholly and solely, that so any one of them who has begun to act may not have more force and effect than the others, but that what any one of them has begun, any other of them may be at liberty by himself to continue, conclude, and carry into effect, our true and lawful proctors, agents, factors, and managers of our business, and our especial deputies and we do give and do grant to the same our Proctors, jointly, and to each of them by himself, as before stated, severally and wholly, general power and especial authority, for us and. in the name of us and of our said archdeaconry, to appear in a certain matter of union, annexation, incorporation, appropriation, and consolidation of the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise called Eston, in the diocese of Lincoln, with its rights and appurtenances, with the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, in the said diocese, the same to be duly and canonically made, before the reverend father and lord in Christ, John, by the grace of God, lord bishop of Lincoln, or any his commissary whatsoever, in that behalf appointed; as also to hear the reasons for the said union, annexation, appropriation, and consolidation, and as to the reasons so admitted and pronounced, to estimate the validity of them and each of them and to consent, and in like manner to make and give our assent and consent, that the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston aforesaid, together with its lands, tenements, rents, services, fruits, profits, commodities, and all other its rights. and appurtenances whatsoever, shall be canonically united, annexed, and incorporated with the monastery of Burgh aforesaid, and the abbat and convent thereof, and all their successors in future times whatsoever: saving always unto ourselves and our successors, archdeacons of Leicester, a certain yearly payment in each year to come, as and for an indemnification to our said dignified office; seeing that the said parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, is known to be situate within the precincts and circuit of our archdeaconry aforesaid — the same to be faithfully paid; and to demand, see, and obtain, that the said parish church, and the yearly fruits thereof, for all future time, are bound and charged for security of payment being made of the said yearly sum; and to prosecute, carry on, and conclude the said matter of union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation, until and unto the final close thereof, and so to finish the same, and to make, do, and exe cute all and singular other the things in and about the premises, which may be necessary thereto, or in any way desirable, although the said things may be such as by their nature may require an authorization more special than is set forth in the premises, and which we ourselves would have done, made, or executed, in case we had been personally present in the premises. We also, the archdeacon before-named, do promise, for ourselves and our successors, that we will for ever hold as ratified, good, and established, all and whatsoever our said Proctors, or any one of them shall do in the premises or any of the premises; and will abide by the judgment, and will do what shall be adjudged under pledge, and obligation of forfeiting all our goods, and in that behalf we do by these presents make offer of the said security. In testimony whereof, because we do not happen to have the seal of our aforesaid archdeaconry at hand, we have to these presents set the seal of our office aforesaid. Given, so far as the sealing of these presents, at Stamford, on the fifth day of the month April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand four hundred and eighty-six."
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"After these premises had been completed, the before-named lord John Croyland, the Proctor of the abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh aforesaid, in their names, did before us judicially and actually present the royal letters containing the royal licence granted to the said abbat and convent, for despatching the said matter of union, annexation, appropriation, incorporation, and consolidation, the same being sealed with an impression of the king's great seal on wax of a green colour, in presence of the Proctors there before us still in person remaining, of the lords before-named, the dean and chapter and the archdeacon, to whom reference has been made above; the tenor whereof was to the following effect:
"Henry, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, to all to whom these present letters shall come, greeting. Know ye that we, of our special grace, as also at the humble prayer of Edmund, abbat, and the convent of Croyland, have granted and given permission, and by these presents do grant and do give permission, for ourselves and for our heirs, so far as in us lies, unto our dearly beloved in Christ, the abbat of Burgh Saint Peter and the convent of the said place, and their successors, that they shall be empowered and enabled for ever, for themselves and their successors, to appropriate, unite, annex, and consolidate, the church of Brynkhurst, otherwise called Eston, in the county of Leicester, and in the diocese of Lincoln, together with all the rights and emoluments, thereof whatsoever both spiritual and temporal, with the said abbat and convent, and their suc cessors, and their house and church aforesaid, and when so united, appropriated, annexed and consolidated, to hold, possess, and retain the same to their own proper use; and that, without in any way taking, making, or paying any fine or fee for the same to our use, and without any writ being in any way had or issued of Ad quod damnum,43 by reason of the premises; and without any demand, let, or hindrance on part of ourselves, or of our heirs, justices, escheators, sheriffs, or other the bailiffs or servants of ourselves or of any of our heirs whatsoever. We do will, however, that the vicarage or vicar of the church aforesaid, or in the said church, sufficiently.... and a certain sum of money from the fruits and profits thereof each year to be paid and distributed by the diocesan of the said place, shall be divided among the poor parishioners of the said church, according to the form of the statute in that behalf made and provided. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters patent to be made. Witness, myself, at Westminster, this twenty-fifth day of February, in the first year of our reign."
Note 43. A writ to enquire whether a grant intended to be made by the sovereign will be to the damage of him or others.
"The royal licence being then and there by us inspected and understood, the before-named lord John Croyland, the Proctor aforesaid, in name thereof, and in presence of the others, that is to say, the Proctors of the lords the dean and chapter and the archdeacon, who were still present, then and there did actually propound a certain article or petition, set forth in writing, and urgently requested that the same might be admitted and that inquisition might be made thereon, and that he might be decreed to be admitted, and so be effectually admitted, to make proof of what was set forth and contained in the same. The tenor of the said article or petition is set forth in the form of words which follows:
"In the name of God, Amen. Before you the reverend father and lord in Christ, John, by the grace of God, lord bishop of Lincoln, or your commissary in this behalf last appointed, or hereafter to be appointed, on part of the religious men, the abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, of the order of Saint Benedict, in your diocese of Lincoln, patrons of the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise called Eston, in the same your diocese, and canonically holding the right of advowson and patronage in the said church, in the matter underwritten, it is, in such mode, manner, and form, as it may be best, most usefully, and most efficiently, consistently with what is lawful, said, alleged, and in these writings, lawfully propounded: That the abbat and convent before-named have been and are the true and lawful patrons of the parish church of Brynkhurst aforesaid, and that the right of patronage and advowson thereof, have anciently and from ancient times, and have in times and from a time to which the memory of man runneth not to the contrary, peacefully and inviolably belonged, do belong, and for ever ought to belong unto the monastery aforesaid, and the abbat and convent which may be necessary thereto, or in any way desirable, although the same may require of them an authorization more special than is in these presents set forth. We do also promise that we will for ever hold as ratified, good, and established, all and whatsoever our said Proctors, or those by them substituted or to be substituted shall do, or any one of them shall do, in the premises or any one of the premises; and will abide by the judgment, and will do what shall be adjudged under pledge and obligation of forfeiting all our goods; and in that behalf we do by these presents, make offer of the said security. In testimony whereof, we have to these presents set our common seal, the same being given in our chapterhouse on the first day of the month of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand four hundred and eighty-six.
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"Be it known to all men by these presents, that we, Richard Langueder, Doctor of Laws, archdeacon of Leicester in the cathedral church of Lincoln and officer of the consistory court of Lincoln, have named, ordained, made, and appointed, and do by the tenor of these presents, name, ordain, make, and appoint our dearly beloved in Christ, Masters Thomas Hutton, Doctor of Laws, Andrew Bensted, and Roger Wood, Masters of Arts, and William Spencer, John Bevil, and William Miller, clerks and notaries public, jointly and severally, and each of them, by himself wholly and solely, that so any one of them, who has begun to act may not have more force and effect than the others, but that what any one of them has begun, any other of them may be at liberty by himself to continue, conclude, and carry into effect, our true and lawful proctors, agents, factors, and managers of our business, and our especial deputies and we do give and do grant to the same our Proctors, jointly, and to each of them by himself, as before stated, severally and wholly, general power and especial authority, for us and in the name of us and of our said archdeaconry, to appear in a certain matter of union, annexation, incorporation, appropriation, and consolidation of the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise called Eston, in the diocese of Lincoln, with its rights and appurtenances, with the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, in the said diocese, the same to be duly and canonically made, before the reverend father and lord in Christ, John, by the grace of God, lord bishop of Lincoln, or any his commissary whatsoever, in that behalf appointed; as also to hear the reasons for the said union, annexation, appropriation, and consolidation, and as to the reasons so admitted and pronounced, to estimate the validity of them and each of them and to consent, and in like manner to make and give our assent and consent, that the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston aforesaid, together with its lands, tenements, rents, services, fruits, profits, commodities, and all other its rights and appurtenances whatsoever, shall be canonically united, annexed, and incorporated with the monastery of Burgh aforesaid, and the abbat and convent thereof, and all their successors in future times whatsoever: saving always unto ourselves and our successors, archdeacons of Leicester, a certain yearly payment in each year to come, as and for an indemnification to our said dignified office; seeing that the said parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, is known to be situate within the precincts and circuit of our archdeaconry aforesaid-the same to be faithfully paid; and to demand, see, and obtain, that the said parish church, and the yearly fruits thereof, for all future time, are bound and charged for security of payment being made of the said yearly sum; and to prosecute, carry on, and conclude the said matter of union, annexation, incorporation, and consolidation, until and unto the final close thereof, and so to finish the same, and to make, do, and execute all and singular other the things in and about the premises, which may be necessary thereto, or in any way desirable, although the said things may be such as by their nature may require an authorization more special than is set forth in the premises, and which we ourselves would have done, made, or executed, in case we had been personally present in the premises. We also, the archdeacon before-named, do promise, for ourselves and our successors, that we will for ever hold as ratified, good, and established, all and whatsoever our said Proctors, or any one of them shall do in the premises or any of the premises; and will abide by the judgment, and will do what shall be adjudged under pledge, and obligation of forfeiting all our goods, and in that behalf we do by these presents make offer of the said security. In testimony whereof, because we do not happen to have the seal of our aforesaid archdeaconry at hand, we have to these presents set the seal of our office aforesaid. Given, so far as the sealing of these presents, at Stamford, on the fifth day of the month of....
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thereof for the time being: And that the present abbat and convent, have been, and still are, through and by reason of the premises, openly, publicly, and notoriously, commonly held, had, called, named, and reputed to be the true and lawful patrons and the canonical possessors of the said rights of patronage and advowson: and that, between the venerable monasteries of Burgh Saint Peter and of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle and Saint Guthlac of Croyland, of the order of Saint Benedict; in your diocese of Lincoln, holding lands and territories close adjoining to each other, and without limits sufficiently set forth, there have long prevailed, and have arisen, now on the one side and now on the other, strifes, dissensions, quarrels, and disputes, the which have notoriously caused, and still do cause, to the communities of both convents many vexations, expenses, and damages, by both greatly impeding and lessening the worship of God, and the due observance of hospitality, in the said places, to such a degree that unless by means of the moderate measures of wholesome counsel, provision shall be duly made for the indemnifying of each, the advantages and prosperity of the one monastery or the other, or perhaps, which may God forbid, of both, must be utterly sacrificed: And that, for the purpose of allaying strifes, dissensions, quarrels, and disputes of the said nature, and of encouraging and nourishing peace and concord amongst the parties aforesaid, (seeing that only in the time of peace is the Author of all peace duly worshipped), and to the end that thereby the duties of hospitality as well as the worship of God may be promoted in either monastery, it has, seemed that the same could not be more conveniently brought about or provided for, than by an arrangement that the parish church of Brynkhurst aforesaid, together with its lands, tenements, rents, services, fruits, and profits, as also all the advantages to the said church belonging, (saving always the portion from ancient times reserved and set apart for the support of the perpetual vicar of the said church), should be duly and canonically united, annexed, incorporated, and granted, for their own proper use for ever to be held, to the said lords the abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter aforesaid and their successors, at the costs and expenses of the said lords the abbat and convent of the monastery of Croyland. All and every of which things have been and are true, public, notorious, manifest, and well known; and public rumour and report have long treated of and still do treat of the same. Wherefore, the sureties having been given which were required in this behalf, it is prayed on behalf of the said lords, the abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, that the reasons for the union, annexation, incorporation, and appropriation aforesaid, and above set forth, shall be admitted, and that it shall be pronounced and declared as to the same and the validity thereof; and that the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston aforesaid, together with its lands and tenements, rents and services, fruits, proceeds, and all the advantages thereof, may by and with the licence of the king's majesty, and the consent and assent of all and singular the parties having an interest in the said matter, be duly and canonically united, annexed, incorporated, and appropriated to the aforesaid monastery of Burgh Saint Peter and the abbat and convent thereof, and all their future successors whatsoever, and may, saving always the portion aforesaid of the perpetual vicar, be granted for ever to be held to the proper use of the said abbat and convent of Burgh, and their successors; and that the said monastery and parish church, saving always the portion of the perpetual vicar aforesaid, may be consolidated; and that the abbat and convent, for the time being, of the monastery of Burgh aforesaid, may be decreed, by themselves or by their Proctors, to be inducted into real, corporal, and actual possession of the said parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, and of the lands, tenements, rents, services, fruits, and proceeds thereof, so soon as it shall happen that the said parish church is vacant, by reason either of the resignation, cession, or death of Master John Tapton, the present rector thereof, or in any other lawful way, and may then be effectually inducted therein; and that leave may be effectually granted and given by you, and by means of your sentence and decree, Reverend Father beforenamed, unto them, the abbat and convent of Burgh, so soon as the same shall happen to be vacant in manner aforesaid, to enter upon the same, and to take possession thereof, together with all the rights and appurtenances above-mentioned, and, after possession so taken, to keep and continue to keep the same: and that further, all things may be enacted and decreed to be done in the premises, and in all matters concerning the same, which shall be consistent with law and reason. which things are propounded and prayed to be done, on part of the said abbat and convent of Burgh Saint Peter aforesaid, jointly and severally; the said parties not restricting themselves to the proof of all and singular the premises, nor yet undertaking the burden of making any superfluous proof, against which they do hereby protest; but, confining themselves solely to those things which shall suffice in this behalf lawfully to manifest their intention to establish their right; and, saving in all things what is for their benefit, in this behalf, Reverend Father before-named, humbly invoking your aid.
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"And we, John, the bishop before-named, seeing that it would be meritorious to grant to this prayer that which is only just, and regarding the contents and tenor of the said article or petition, which we there did have and hold as set forth and fully understood, did, at the instance and prayer of the said Proctor, so propounding and praying, as before stated, as also with the consent and assent of the said Masters William Miller and Roger Ward, the Proctors of the lords the dean and chapter and our archdeacon of Leicester before-named, judicially decree that the said article or petition should be admitted, and that inquisition should be made of and concerning the truth of the matters in the said article or petition contained; and that the said Proctor of the said abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh, should be admitted to make proofs of the contents of the said article or petition; and we did name and appoint unto the before-named John Croyland, the Proctor aforesaid, the Monday then next ensuing, and the eighth hour before mid-day of the same day, at the parish church of Croyland aforesaid, for him to produce witnesses and all other kinds of proof whatsoever, to him belonging in this behalf, the same being granted at the prayer of the said Proctor of the abbat and convent aforesaid; so continuing and proroguing the said matter, in the plight in which it then was, until the said day, hour, and place.
Accordingly, upon the said Monday, at the eighth hour before mid-day of the same day, in the church aforesaid, we then sitting there in judgment, in presence of the Proctors then personally present of the lords the dean and chapter and the archdeacon before-named, the lord John Croyland, the Proctor of the abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, and in their name, did produce John Hyeremouth, John Douthfiere, William Digle, John Slyng, and William Spencer, of Croyland, and Thomas Grace, and Robert Austhorp, of Peterborough, as witnesses to depose to and upon the truth of the contents of the said article or petition above-specified, as also to undergo the examination by us, and of our authority, in that behalf to be made; and did urgently request that the said persons might by us be received, admitted, and, after the form of swearing witnesses, sworn and examined. Upon which, the said John Hyeremouth, John Douthfiere, William Digle, John Slyng, William Spencer, Thomas Grace, and Robert Austhorp, the witnesses before-named, then and there, by our commands, touching the Holy Evangelists of God, did make oath upon the same, that they would speak all and every the truth in this behalf, to the best of their knowledge, all love, hatred, fear, solicitation, reward, and all other things whatsoever like thereunto, utterly removed and set aside. The burden of the examination of all and singular which witnesses in this behalf to be made, we, being then occupied with other business, so as not to be able to give our personal attention to the examination of their evidence herein, did, by the consent and assent both of the before-named lord John Croyland, the Proctor of the said abbat and convent of Burgh, and of the before-named Masters William Miller and Roger Wood, the Proctors aforesaid, fully entrust unto the venerable man, Master Thomas Hutton, Doctor of Laws, then present, who did willingly accept and undertake the same; and we did then and there give and grant unto the said Master Thomas full power to do the same, acting in our behalf, and to examine them orally and by word of mouth: and did then and there continue and prorogue the aforesaid matter, in its then plight, until the second hour after mid-day of the same Monday, at the parish church of Croyland aforesaid.
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"At the said second hour after mid-day, on the said Monday, in the parish church of Croyland aforesaid, we, John, the bishop before-named, then sitting there in judgment, did, at the prayer and instance of the before-named lord John Croyland, and Masters William Miller and Roger Wood, the Proctors aforesaid, who did then appear and were personally present before us, publish the words and evidence of the witnesses before-named, so as aforesaid produced before us and by our authority sufficiently examined, and did then and there cause the same to be publicly declared; after publication of which words and evidence, so made as before stated, the discreet men, Masters William Miller and Roger Wood, Proctors of the lords the dean and chapter and our archdeacon of Leicester, saying before us, that, as it appeared to them, the reasons set forth in the article or petition aforesaid, for such union, annexation, appropriation, incorporation, and consolidation, were well and sufficiently proved, did, at the prayer and request of the before-named lord John Croyland, the Proctor of the lords the abbat and convent of Burgh, before-named, then and there spontaneously and voluntarily consent and assent to the union, annexation, appropriation, incorporation, and consolidation, so to be made as already stated, and did likewise give their consent and assent in that behalf. After which, the said lord John Croyland, the Proctor before-named, and in the same behalf, did often and repeatedly, with urgent prayers, request that the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston aforesaid, might, in manner above prayed in the article before stated, be united, annexed, appropriated, and incorporated, with the monastery of Burgh aforesaid, and that decree or sentence of the said union, annexation, appropriation, and incorporation, might by us be made and in that behalf pronounced, and that the other things might be done, enacted, and decreed, according as, in the aforesaid article or petition it was prayed, and that justice might be done for him in the premises. Wherefore we, John, bishop of Lincoln before-named, considering the reasons for the union, annexation, appropriation, and incorporation aforesaid, to be fully and effectually before us proved, and that the same are reasonable, and were and are of such a nature as may, by reason of the premises, be in many ways to the advantage of both of the convents before-mentioned, and wishing, so far as we were able, with all becoming speed, to bring to an end and conclusion the matter aforesaid, of which, as it is not unknown to us, the abbat and convent of the monastery of Croyland have borne and supported the whole expense, and so, duly to provide for the convenience of both the monasteries of Croyland and of Burgh Saint Peter in the premises, did, at the prayer and instance of the before-named lord John Croyland, the Proctor before named, in presence of the before-named Masters William Miller and Roger Wood, the Proctors of the lords the dean and chapter and our archdeacon of Leicester, then personally present, and with their assent and consent thereto expressed, determine that we would proceed to pronounce our decree or sentence in this behalf to be given; and accordingly did so proceed, and did then and there read, give, and publish our decree or sentence in writing, in words to the following effect:
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All About History Books
The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
"In the name of God, Amen. The merits and circumstances having been heard, understood, and fully discussed by us, John, by Divine permission, bishop of Lincoln, of a certain cause or matter of union, annexation, appropriation, and incorporation of the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise called Eston, in our diocese, together with the lands, tenements, rents, services, fruits, and proceeds, and all the advantages thereof whatsoever, the same canonically to be made, with the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, in our diocese aforesaid, and the abbat and convent of the said monastery, and all their future successors whatsoever, and which cause or matter is being discussed before us, and is still pending, and undecided, and undisposed of; and there appearing personally before us the discreet man, brother John Croyland, a brother and monk of the said monastery of Burgh, as also the Proctor, well and sufficiently appointed of the abbat and convent of the said monastery, patrons of the aforesaid parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise called Eston, and known to hold the right of patronage and the advowson of the said church; as also in presence of the discreet men, Master William Miller, clerk and notary public, Proctor of the venerable men the lords the dean and chapter of our cathedral church of the blessed Mary at Lincoln, and Master Roger Wood, Master of Arts, Proctor of the venerable man Master Richard Lavynder, Doctor of Laws, our archdeacon of Leicester, within the precincts and circuit of whose archdeaconry the said parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise Eston, is known to be situate; the said Proctors there personally appearing and being sufficiently and lawfully appointed, as from the commissions of Proctorship of the said Proctors before us in the said matter by the said Proctors severally and actually exhibited and lawfully empowering them to act in this matter or cause, sufficiently appeared; and [the said Proctor of the said abbat and convent of Burgh Saint Peter aforesaid], by their petition, often and urgently requesting of us that the reasons for the said union, annexation, and appropriation may by us, of our authority as ordinary, be admitted and approved of, and the validity of the same be declared and pronounced, and that the aforesaid parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise called Eston, together with all its lands, tenements, rents, services, fruits, and enrolements whatsoever, may be canonically united, appropriated, annexed, and incorporated with the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter aforesaid, and the present abbat and convent thereof, and their future successors, the same to be held for ever to their own proper use, and that the said monastery and parish church may be consolidated, and that sentence or final decree may by us in this behalf be given and pronounced: -we have thought proper to proceed to give or pronounce our sentence or final decree in the said matter, and do proceed to pronounce the same, to the following effect:-
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"Forasmuch as, upon diligent inquisition by us and of our authority made, of and upon the reasons for the union, annexation, incorporation, appropriation, and consolidation of the premises, before us in this behalf alleged and proposed, fully, sufficiently, and canonically made, and upon the sufficient and lawful proof by witnesses before us in this behalf had and made, as also the other kinds of proofs and evidences sufficiently before us in this matter exhibited and produced, we have found and understood that the reasons for the union, annexation, incorporation, appropriation, and consolidation above specified, are true, reasonable, satisfactory, and admissible in this behalf; and that the said abbat and convent of the monastery of Burgh Saint Peter, have on their behalf, expressed their intentions in a certain article or petition on behalf of the said abbat and convent before us in the matter aforesaid actually propounded and given; in which said article or petition the causes for the said union, annexation, incorporation, appropriation, and consolidation are more fully set forth; and which said article or petition begins in the words following, the tenor thereof being to the following effect:- 'In the name of God, Amen. Before you, the reverend Father and Lord in Christ, the lord bishop,' & c.; and the tenor whereof we shall hold as read and as inserted herein; and have found the said intentions sufficiently set forth so far as is here under-written, and the same to be well-founded and the reasons thereof fully proved; and have found that no other matter has intervened to preclude us from proceeding to the sentence and decree aforesaid, and from giving or pronouncing the same in this behalf; therefore, we, John, the bishop before-named, considering how pious and meritorious it will be to allay and quiet the strifes, discords, disputes, and dissensions which have long continued between the before-named monasteries of Burgh and Croyland, to the heavy and almost insupportable detriment of them both, and for ever, as we do firmly hope, to put an end to the said strifes, discords, and dissensions, and to do those things which shall tend to nurture and cherish peace, amity, and brotherly love between the parties aforesaid, to the end that in the said monasteries the Divine worship and the observances of religion may be the more quietly performed, and wishing, with all the ability we can, to interpose our duteous offices herein, the licence of his royal majesty for the union, annexation, appropriation, incorporation, and consolidation aforesaid, with the said abbat and convent of Burgh, being first, as already stated, graciously granted in this behalf and obtained at the prayer and instance of the before-named the abbat and convent of Croyland, and before us, in the present matter actually produced; do, having first invoked the name of Christ, and having God Himself alone before our eyes, by the advice of persons learned in the law with whom we have held communication in this behalf, as also of the Proctors before-named of the venerable men, the lords, the dean and chapter of our Cathedral Church of the blessed Mary at Lincoln, with whom we have treated upon this union, appropriation, annexation, consolidation, and incorporation, so to be had, and, with the consent of them in chapter assembled, to be made, and of the venerable man, Master Richard Lavynder, Doctor of Laws, archdeacon of Leicester, within the precincts and circuit of whose archdeaconry the parish church of Brynkhurst, otherwise called Eston, aforesaid, is known to be situate; the said Proctors, so as aforesaid, appearing before us, and expressing the wishes, consent, and assent of both of them the said Proctors, as to the union, appropriation, annexation, incorporation,.... [The rest fo the continuation is lost.]
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