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1388 SC8/20/997 PETITION OF THE MERCERS OF LONDON

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4    (To) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN the moost noble & Worthiest Lordes moost ryghtful & wysest
5conseille to owre lige Lorde the kyng Compleynen if it lyke to yow.
6the folk of the mercerye of London: (as) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN a membre of the same
7Citee of many wronges subtiles & also open oppressions ydo to hem:
8by longe tyme here bifore passed.
9    Of which: oon was where the eleccion of Mairaltee is to be to
10the fre men of the Citee. bi gode & paisible auyns of the wysest & trewest.
11at o day in the yere frelich: there nought withstondyng the same
12fredam or fraunchise: Nichol Brembre wyth his vpberers purposed
13hym the yere next after Iohn Northampton mair of the same Citee:
14with stronge honde as it is ful knowen. & through debate & strenger
15partye. ayeins the pees: bifore purueyde. was chosen mair. in destruccion
16of many ryght:
17    ffor in the same yere. the forsaid Nichol with outen nede ayein
18the pees. made dyuerse enarmynges bi day & eke bi nyght: & destruyd
19the kynges trewe lyges. som with open slaughtre. some bi false
20emprisonementȝ. & some: fledde the Citee for feere. as it is openlich
21knowen.
22    And so ferthermore for to susteyne thise wronges & many othere.
23the next y(er)e THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN after the same Nichol ayeins the forsaide fredam
24& trewe comunes did crye openlich. that no man sholde come to chese
25her mair. but such as were sompned & tho that were sompned:
26were of his ordynaunce & after his auys. / And in the nyght next after
27folwynge. he did carye grete quantitee of Armure to the Guyldehalle
28with which as wel straungers of the contree. as othere of with Inne were
29armed on the morwe. ayeins his owne proclamacion. that was such:
30that no man shulde be armed & certein busshmentȝ were laide.
31that when free men of the Citee. come to chese her mair. breken vp
32armed. cryinge with loude voice sle. sle. folwing hem wherthourgh
33the peple for feere fledde to houses & other (hidi)nges. THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN as in londe
34of werre: adradde to be ded in comune.
35    And thus yet hiderward hath the mairaltee. ben holden as it were
36of Conquest or maistrye: & many othere offices als. So that what
37man pryue or apert in special that he myght wyte. grocchyng pleyned
38or helde ayeins any of his wronges: or bi puttyng forth of whom
39so it were. were it neuer so vnpreuable. were apeched. & it were
40displesyng to hym Nichol. anon was emprisoned. And though it
41were ayeins falshede of the leest officer. that hym lust meynteigne: was

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42holden vntrewe lige man to owre kyng. for who reproued such an
43officer maynteigned bi hym of wronge or elles. he forfaited ayeins hym
44Nichol. & he vnworthy as he saide: represented the kynges estat.
45/ Also if any man. bi cause of seruyce or other leueful comaundement:
46approched a lorde. to which lorde he Nichol dradde his falshede
47to be knowe to. anon was apeched. that he was false to the conseille
48of the Citee: & so to the kyng
49    And yif in general his falsenesse were ayeinsaide. as of vs togydre
50of the mercerye. or othere craftes. or ony conseille wolde haue taken.
51to ayeinstande it: or as out of mynde hath be vsed. wolden companye
52togydre how lawful so it were. for owre nede or profite: were
53anon apeched for arrysers ayeins the pees. (&) THE SIGN IN PARENTHESES TORN falsly many of vs:
54that yet stonden: endited. And we ben openlich disclaundred. holden
55vntrewe & traitours: to owre kyng / for the same Nichol sayd bifor
56mair. Aldermen. & owre craft bifor hem gadred in place of recorde.
57that xx. or xxx. of vs. were worthy to be drawen & hanged the which
58thyng lyke to yowre worthy lordship. by an even Iuge: to be proued
59or disproued. the whether that trowthe may shewe. for trouthe
60amonges vs. of fewe or elles no man many day dorst be shewed.
61And nought oonlich vnshewed or hidde. it hath be by man now: but
62also. of bifore tyme. the moost profitable poyntes of trewe gouernaunce
63of the Citee. compiled togidre. bi longe labour of discrete &
64Wyse men: wyth out conseille of trewe men. for thei sholde nought
65be knowen ne contynued: in the tyme of Nichol Exton mair: outerliche
66were brent
67    And so ferforth falsehede hath be vsed that oft tyme he Nicol
68Brembre saide in sustenaunce of his falshede: owre lige lordes wille
69was such. that neuer was such: as we suppose. He saide also whan he
70hadde disclaundred vs. which of vs wolde yelde hym false to his
71kyng: the kyng sholde do hym grace cherise hym. & be good lorde to
72hym. And if any of vs alle that wyth goddes help haue & shulle
73be founden trewe. was so hardy to profre prouyng of hym self trewe:
74anon was comaunded to prisone. as wel bi the mair that now is:
75as of hym Nichol Brembre bifore
76    (Also) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN we haue be comaunded. oft tyme vp owre ligeaunce. to
77vnnedeful & vnleueful dyuerse doynges. And also to wythdrawe vs.
78bi the same comaundement (fro) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN thynges nedeful & lefful. as was shewed
79whan a companye of gode women. there men dorst nought
80trauailleden barfote to owre lige lorde. to seche (gra)ce THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN of hym for
81trewe men as they supposed for thanne were such proclamacions
82made. that no man ne woman sholde approche owre life lorde for
83sechyng of grace & ouermany othere comaundemantȝ also. bifore

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84& sithen. bi suggestion & informacion of suche that wolde nought her
85falsnesse had be knowen: to owre lige lorde. And lordes by yowre
86leue. owre lyge lordes comaundement to symple & vnkonnyng men.
87is a gret thyng to ben vsed. so famulerlich: with outen nede. for they
88vnwyse to saue it mowe lyghtly ther ayeins forfait
89    ffor thy graciouse lordes lyke it to yow to take hede. in what
90manere & where owre lige lordes power hath ben mysused. by the
91forsaid Nichol: & hi(s vp) THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN berers for sithen thise wronges bifore
92saide han ben vsed as accidental. or comune braunches outward: it
93sheweth wel. the rote of hem is a ragged subi(ect). THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN / or stok inward.
94that is: the forsaid Brere or brembre. / the whiche comune
95wronge vses. & many other. if it lyke to yow: mowe be shewed & wel
96knowen bi an indifferent Iuge & mair of owre Citee / the which
97wyth yowre ryghtful lordeship. ygraunted: for moost pryncipal remedye:
98as goddes lawe & al resoun wole: that no domesman stonde togidre
99Iuge & partye: wronges sholle more openlich be knowe. & trouth
100dor apere. And ellis. as amonge vs. we konne nought wyte in what
101manere. with(out a moch gretter) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES IS OVER ERASURE disese. sith the gouernaunce of
102this Citee standeth: as it is bifor saide / . / & wole stande whil vittaillers
103bi suffraunce. presumen thilke states vpon hem. the which gouernaunce
104of bifor this tyme to moche folke yhidde: sheweth hym
105self now open. whether it hath be a cause or bygynnyng of dyuysion
106in the Citee & after in the Rewme: or no.
107    Wherfore for grettest nede as to yow moost worthy. moost
108ryghtful & wysest lordes & conseille to owre lige lorde the kyng.
109we biseche mekelich of yowre g(race coreccion) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES RUBBED of alle the wronges
110bifore sayde & that it lyke to yowre lordeship. to be gracious menes
111to owre lyge lorde the kyng: that suche wronges be knowen to hym.
112& that we mowe shewe vs & sith ben holden. suche trewe to hym: as
113we ben. & owe to ben.
114    Also we biseche vnto yowre gracious lordeship. that if any of
115vs in special or general. be apeched to owre lige lorde or to his
116worthy conseille bi comunyng with othere. or approchyng to owre
117kyng. as wyth Brembre or his abettours with any wronge wytnesse
118beryng as that it stode other wyse amonges vs here. than as it is
119now proued it hath ystonde / or any other wronge suggestion. by
120which owre lige lorde hath ybe vnleeffullich enfourmed: that thanne.
121yowre worshipful lordship be such: that we mowe come in answer
122to excuse vs / ffor we knowe wel as for by moche the more partye of
123vs. And as we hope for alle: alle suche wronges han ben vnwytyng.
124to vs. or elles outerlich ayeins owre wille.

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125    And ryghtful lordes. for oon the grettest remedye with othere.
126forto ayeinstonde many of thilke diseses afore saide amonges vs:
127we prayen wyth mekenesse this specialich. that the Statut ordeigned
128& made bi parlement holden at Westmystre in the sexte yere of
129owre kyng now regnynge: mowe stonde in strengthe & be excecut as
130wel here in london as elles where in the rewme. the which is this
131Item ordinat(um) est (etc) THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES EXPANDED

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1414 SC8/23/1143A PETITION OF THOMAS PAUNFELT OF
134CAMBRIDGESHIRE

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136    To the worshipful and wyse syres and wyse Communes that to
137this present parlement ben assembled
138    Besecheth mekely ȝoure pore Bedeman Thomas Paunfeld oon of
139the fre tenentȝ of oure liege lord the kyng of his maner and tounshipe
140of Chastreton in the Shyre of Cambrigg: that ȝe wole considere
141how that I pursuede diuerse billes by fore oure liege lord kyng henry
142the four the fader to oure liege lord the kyng that now is and hise
143worchepeful lordes and comunes in his parlement holden at Westminstre
144that x day of ffeuer the xiiij ȝer of his regne:
145    To the whiche billes myne aduersaries replieden by mouthe and
146enformeden the kyng and the worshepeful lordes spirituelx and temporelx
147in that parlement: how that I was outelawed by heye record
148of trespace wherethurgh that I ne oughte not to ben herd nor answered
149of no maner compleynt in my billes writen but ȝif (it) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN so were that
150I hadde brought my Chartre in myn hond wherby that I myghte
151haue answered in lawe to alle maner of persones that ony replicacions
152wolden haue maked aȝeyns ony article of my billes:
153    And worchepeful and discrete sires that myghte I not done that tyme:
154for (I wi)ste THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN not how I was endited and outelawed of what maner
155trespace: but as Iohan Cokayn the Iustice recordede byfore the
156kyng and made mencion at that tyme. whiche I trustede to god to haue
157proued by lawe by fore the kyng and the worchepeful lordes and
158comunes in that parlement that the processe of myn outelawerye was
159vnlawefully made and al that longeth ther to: ȝif Iohan Cokayn
160the Iustice wolde haue brought in that record by fore the kyng in
161the parlement and there to haue ben determyned byfore hym and hise
162lordes and Comunes afore seyde (ȝo)r THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN thay hadde departed thennes
163    ffor byfore hene of the persones that weren and ben Commissioners
164vp on myn enditement wherby that I was outelawed: I myghte
165not haue ben remedied ne myne neyghebores nother so sone at that
166tyme lyk as we oughten to haue ben of right and as me thoughte we
167shulde ben here: and that was for cause of meyntenance that was
168aȝeyns vs and ȝit is. and that made me cause to come to that heye
169Court of rightwisnesse: (þ)heder THE LETTER IN PARENTHESES TORN to pleyne for to han declared thilke
170record aȝeyns my neighboures and me vnlawefully mad and there
171sounere to han ben remedied of the wronges that we haue had by the
172Priour and Chanons of Bernewelle and her meyntenours these .x.

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173ȝer (and) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN more vnduely and vngoodly:
174    And now thanked be god and the rightwisnesse of the discrete
175and trewe Iuges Sire william hankford and hise felawes: han after the
176laws of the lond made me able for to ȝeue myne answeres in lawe
177as my symple wittes wole seruen me to alle maner persones that
178ony replicacions wolde maken aȝeyns ony of the articles of my billes
179after the forme that sueth ȝif it like to the kyng: with swich conseil
180as he hath a(ss)igned THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN to me and shal by the grace of god: for to
181declaren the entente of my billes for the kynges auantage and for
182fortherynge of his trewe lieges better than I can in this heye Court of
183rightwisnesse:
184    And by cause that I am of no power to pursue these materes
185in any other Court saue in this heye Court of rightwisnesse where as
186most truste and hope to haue rightwisnesse and lawe rather than
187I shulde in ony other Court byfore ony of tho persones that weren
188and aren Commissioneres vp on myn enditement: for the heye
189meyntenance that I knowe wel shuld be made aȝeyns me:
190    Also worchepeful sires: we beseche ȝow at the reuerence of god:
191that ȝe wole praye to oure liege lord the kyng: that he wole fouche saf
192of his special grace and his Ryal prerogatyf in this heye Court:
193to graunte me durynge my pursuyte by the auctorite of his parlement
194to walken at large to pursue these materes that ben folwynge
195in my bille: lyk as his gracious graunt was by the autorite of his parlement
196and of his Rial prerogatif on good fryday at langeley the ferste
197ȝer of his regne at the reuerence of oure lord god that deyede for
198vs alle as that day fil not withstondynge the statut made vp on
199bonde bore men: whiche was holy pursued aȝeyns me whan I was
200byfore the kyng the second day of march whan I was remitted to the
201prison of flete at the instance of some of the Iuges til I hadde founde
202surete to pursue myn erroures and to reuerse myn outelawerye byfore
203seyde:
204    And sithe the tyme that I was resseyued to meynprise by cause that
205I was endited of trespace as an accessorie and not endited as a principal
206and delyuered out of prison at large by the kynges commaundement
207in strengthyng and enhaunsyng of his Rial prerogatif that
208he grauntede to me by the auctorite of his parlement:
209    Ȝit myne aduersaries hamhan pursued me nowe and holden me in
210prison sithen seynt katerynes day twelve monthes last passed in to this
211tyme. aȝeyns (the kynges graunt &) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES TORN ordinaunce no consideracion
212ne tendernesse hauynge in my pore persone that am goddes cristene
213creature of my longe contynuance in prison (for these materes that ben) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES TORN
214folwynge vij. ȝer and more to destroye me to the uttereste that

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215I shulde no more haue come to the kynges presence to pursue my
216right but for to kepe (me stille in prison til I hadde) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES TORN deyed for
217defaute of socour and helpe. and as it semeth to my symple wittes
218there is litel charite of priestes whiche shulden cherice goddes christene
219crature as the kynges trewe liege man:
220    And therfore I beseche ȝow that ȝe wole prayen to oure liege
221lord the kyng of his special grace that swich remedie may be mad at
222this present parlement by the auys of hise wise lordes spirituelx
223and temporelx in sauynge and encresynge of the kynges prerogatif in
224tyme comynge and in fertherynge of hise trewe lieges after that
225he hath graunted hise graciouse grauntes to ony of hise lieges: that
226fro hennes forward no persone of his Rewme deferre ony of hise
227lieges fro hise graciouse grauntes that he hath graunted in esement and
228in fortheryng of hise trewe lieges: and that vp on a suff(is)ant THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN
229peyne payinge to the kyng and a nother peyne paiynge to the partie
230so defferred fro the kynges graunt:
231    And also that ȝe wole praye the kyng to ȝeue in charge to myne
232aduersaries whanne thay comen to his worchopful presence to asken
233a copie of my bille: that they wryten her replicacions aȝens the
234articles of myne billes by a day assigned by oure liege lord the kyng
235vp on forfeture of her ferme: wherby that I may haue a copie ther of
236to my conseill which that the kyng hath assigned me and shal by
237the grace of god to make trewe relacion vnto the kyng of her
238replicacions
239    And than to pryen oure graciouse liege lord by the auys of hise lordes
240spirtuelx and temporelx ȝif it lyke hym by a day assigned that ȝe
241discrete and wyse comons mowen comen to his heye presence: whan
242that he is avised vp on her replicacions makyng and thanne after his
243heye discrecion to ȝeue rightful Iugement vp on these same materes
244in sauynge of his owne right and it forthryngein fortherynge of his trewe lieges
245for the loue of god and of seynt charite:
246    And also to praye oure liege lord of his special grace that the
247peticions afore rehersed and alle othere peticions that ben folwynge after
248hise graciouse (grauntes) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN mowe ben enacted in the parlement rolle:
249and also to ȝeue in charge to the Clerk of the parlement: that I
250may haue (a copye) THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES TORN of the same for the loue of god and of seynt
251Charite:
252    Also to ȝow worechepeful and wyse Comunes greuouseliche compleynen
253alle the kynges tenentȝ of the Ryal lordshipe and tounshipe
254of Chestreton in the Shyre of Cambrigge: the whiche holden
255of the tenure of anxien demeyn of the Rial Coroune longynge to oure
256souereyn lord the kyng as it sheweth by oure euydence of old record

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257in the book called Domesday thus begynnynge. Dominica villa regis
258E &c in the kynges eschekker at Westminstre:
259    Also we greuouseliche compleyne vs vp on the Priour and
260Chanons of Bernewell in the Shyre of Cambrigg byfore seyd and vp
261her predecessour that was the kynges fermour how that they han
262cleymed and ȝit cleymen the regalite and the frehold of the kynges
263lordshype and tounshipe of Chestreton in the Shyre byfore seyd
264as for her owne with oute ony excepcion wher it is wel knowen by alle
265manere of euydences that the konne shewen for hem self or ony
266man for hem. that they were but fermours to the kyng: and now
267they are not as it sheweth by her chartres of king henry the thridde:
268    And vnder colour of the regalite and of the frehold whiche they
269presumen wilfully to haue: they haue cleymed and ȝit cleymen the
270kynges trewe lieges that ben hise fre tenentȝ annexed to his coroune:
271as for her bonde bore men and her bonde lond holderes: wher it
272is wel knowen by alle manere of euydences that they konne shewe
273for hem self of any man for hem that they ben fre tenentȝ and fre
274holderes to the kyng in chief and the chiefte resert and principalite
275of the same lordshipe and tounshipe shal retourne to the kyng and
276to his forseide Coroune as for oure chief and perpetuel lord of the fee:
277    And ȝit algates the forseide Priour and Chanons han seid and
278ȝit seyn that they ben chief lordes of the fee and that the kyng
279ne none of hise heires han nought to entremete of hem for no trespace
280no for no forfait that euere they diden or is possible by hem to
281be done: which is an heye preiudice to the kyng as vs semeth and and
282heye destruction to hise trewe lieges that ben hise fre tenentȝ annexed
283to his worthy coroune:
284    And also the forseid Priour and Chanons han cleymed and ȝit
285cleymen of hem vnduely and vntrewely bonde seruages and
286customes for her singuler profyt and non auantage to the kyng ne to
287hise heires in tyme comynge but in perpetuel destruction of the
288kynges fre tenentȝ afore seid and othere seruages and custumes
289than euere we or oure auncestres diden to any kyng. whan the same
290lordshipe and tounshipe was in othere kynges handes by old tyme
291and sithe tyme of mynde:
292    And for cause that we haue pursued to oure liege lord the kyng
293as for oure chief lord of the fee for to haue remedie and socour of
294the grete wronges mischiefs and diseses the whiche we haue suffred
295these .x. ȝer and more vnduely and vngoodly: The forseide Priour
296and Chanons han pursued aȝeyns vs a Commission of oyer and
297termyner after the forme of a statut mad vp on bond bore men
298and bond lond holderes: which statut was made the ferste ȝer of kyng

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299Richard the seconde in his tendre age with oute mencion excepcion
300or declaracion made of the same fre tenentȝ of the fre tenure
301of the ryal coroune byfore seid:
302    And by strengthe and colour of the forseide statut so generaly
303mad vp on bonde bore men and bonde londe holderes: the forseide
304Priour and Chanons han vs endited by men of her owne clothyng
305and also by enquestes enbraced as for her bonde bore men: to
306the which statut we fre tenentȝ of the coroune owe not obeye: for we
307be not in the cas of the statut and ne oughte not to answere lyk
308as bonde men of byrthe shulde: for the whiche the forseide statut was
309made:
310    ffor we be fre tenentȝ and fre lond holderes annexed to the
311worthy coroune of oure most souereyn lord. the kyng and that
312we wele proue and declare by oure euydence wreten in the kynges
313eschekker at Westminstre: wherfore we wole answere as fre men
314oughte to done and proue that the suyte of the commission byfore seide
315which is mad vp on bonde bore man and bonde lond holderes:
316was wrongfully taken aȝeyns vs and al the proces that longeth ther to
317with oute auctorite and power and that shal we proue by the grace
318of god:
319    Neuertheles the forsaide Priour and Chanons of Bernewell han
320vs enprisoned as for her bonde bore men and oppressed vs by
321duresce of prison to be bounde to hem and to othere persones in singuler
322obligacions in .ml.ml. li that we shulde not pursue oure right ne
323the kynges right aȝeyns hem: but onely to ȝolden vs to ben her
324bonde cherles and oure heires for euermore to oure vttereste perpetuel
325destruction and disheritance to the kyng and to his heires for euere
326but we haue the sounere remedie by ȝouer most gracious socour
327and helpe at this present parlement
328    And thus worchepeful sires ȝif this be suff(red) THE LETTERS IN PARENTHESES TORN : the freest
329knyght or Squyre of the Rewme ȝif they be dwellynge tenentȝ vnder
330ony of the religious that haue swiche lordshipes of the kynges
331to ferme may be put in prison by swych cohercion and compulsse
332as (ye) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES IS OVER ERASURE mischeuouse statut byfore seid sheweth and declareth: for to
333ben the moste bonde tenentȝ of al the Rewme: also in the contre
334they shullen ben endited by enquestes enbraced by these dede religiouse
335fermours: and that for cause of the grete profites and the grete
336extorcions that the Sherreues of the Shyres resceyuen and done:
337they mowe haue no remedie of the lawe but onely enprisonned manaced
338and oppressed: and ȝif ony consaill of the lawe hem wolde
339helpe after the cours and fourme of lawe: thay shulle ben put in
340prison as her conseilloures fa(c)tours THE LETTER IN PARENTHESES TORN and abettouers and as they were

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341bonde men to these religious byfore seide in so moche that they
342shulle non other mercy haue ne non other remedie but only for
343to ȝolden hem to ben her bond cherles for euere motemore and her heyres
344(alle the dayes) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES IS OVER ERASURE of her lyues to these dede religious fermours:
345    Wherfore we beseche ȝow mekely discrete and wyse Comunes of this
346present parlement: that ȝe praye for (vs to ouer liege lord) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES TORN the
347kyng and to hise worchepeful lordes of (this present) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN parlement
348in sauynge of the right of the coroune of yngelond and of the fredam
349(and the fraunchise that was) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES TORN endowed ther to in the tyme of
350oure worthy kynges progenitour seint edward: that he wole haue
351compassion and pite of these grete mischiefs and (falsetes so done) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES TORN
352to hise (to hise) THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES RUBBED fre tenentȝ of his coroune byfore seyd: and to
353ordeyne at ȝoure prayere resonable and intierie remedie in this
354partie for (goddes) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN loue and for seynt charite after the (forme) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN
355that sueth ȝif it be lykynge to ȝow:
356    That is to seyn that he wole at ȝoure instance and prayer in
357sauynge of his owne right and in fortherynge of (his) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES IS OVER ERASURE trewe lieges: ordeyne
358at this tyme or ȝe departen hennes fro this present parlement
359with auys of hise wise lordes and also by the assent of (ȝow
360wyse) THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES TORN and worchepeful comons: such remedie that fro hennes forward
361none swiche commissions be take nor pursued aȝeyns the kynges
362fre tenentȝ annexed to his worthy coroune by no religious fermours
363that (han such manors) THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES TORN and tounshipes of the kynges to
364ferme: til that it be pleynly determyned byfore hise Iustices of that on
365benche or of that other by comon lawe: whether the forseid tenentȝ
366ben fre or bonde and whether they ben worthy to ben punysshed
367by that forseide statut or non and that vp on a suffisant peyne payinge
368to the kyng and a nother peyne payinge to the partie pursued and
369greued for such sute:
370    Also we beseche ȝow that ȝe prayen to oure liege lord the kyng
371in fortheryng of (his trewe lieges) THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES TORN that alle other commissions
372brought or pursued aȝeyns any of hise fre tenentȝ in manere byfore
373seide by the strengthe and colour of the forseide statut at this present
374parlement: that they with alle the (processe circumstance) THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES TORN and
375dependance mowen alle vtterly ben repeled THE WORD IN PARENTHESES TORN and adnulled for
376honor and profyt of the kyng and for ese and remedie to hise
377forseid fre tenentȝ: ȝif ony so be (in this cas of mesch)ief THE TEXT IN PARENTHESES TORN at this tyme
378withinne the Reme:
379    And also worchopeful sires: (that) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES IS OVER ERASURE they ne cleyme ne haue none
380othere seruages ne custumes of the kynges fre tenentȝ for her owne
381singuler profyt and none auntage to the (kyng ne to) THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES TORN none of
382hise heires othor than the kyng chief lord hadde in his tyme whanne

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383the same lordshipes weren in his owne hondes withoute another
384(suffisant peyne payinge to) THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES RUBBED the kyng: a nother peyne to paie
385to the partyes that ben pursued and greued for swiche wrongful
386cleymes and also vpon peyne of forfaiture of the same maneres (for
387euere) THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES RUBBED for eschewynge of grete meschiefs that mighten by swiche
388wrongful cleymes: falle and turne to gret preiudice to the kyng and
389noiancie to al the Reume:
390    ffor manye of tho Religious that han swiche fermes of the kynges
391in gouernaunce: by strengthe of the forseide statut disesen and
392destreyen manye of the kynges tenentȝ of the same lordshipes
393and maken hem to voyde and gon out of hise lordshipes. by cause that
394they wolde hise lordshipes so destroyen that the kyng nor none
395of hise heires (shulden) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES RUBBED neuer haue lust ne wille to cleyme tho lordshipes
396in to her owne handes aȝeyn: ne that non other lord of
397his rewme shulde desire to ferme tho lordshipes of the kyng ne
398(of) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES RUBBED his tresorer to the kynges encres ȝerly: and that is the cause that
399they ben so abated: so desolat of housyng and so destroyed and
400voyde of peple which is gret doel to alle the kynges trewe lieges
401to knowe and to weten of swiche meschiefs done and vsed with
402jnne the Rewme:
403    Besechinge also (to) THE WORD IN PARENTHESES RUBBED oure liege lord that he wole haue compassion
404and pyte vp on vs that euere haue ben trewe lieges and trewe fre
405tenentȝ to his worthy coroune of his worthi maner and tounshipe
406of Chestreton byfore seide that these greuouse meschiefs that ben done
407to vs mowen ben amended now at this tyme or ȝe departen hennes
408and this commission mowe be repeled and the obligacions
409to ben adnulled and to ben delyuered to ech man his owne obligacion
410for (the loue) THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES RUBBED of god and of seynt charite:

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411

[#xpath1(ancestor::TEI//sourceDesc//biblStruct[2]/monogr/editor): A PETITION OF THE KING'S TENANTS
412AT BANSTEAD, SURREY]

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413

[#xpath1(ancestor::TEI//sourceDesc//biblStruct[2]/monogr/editor): DATE: 1413-19]

414TEXT OMITTED

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415    Also all the forsaid tenantȝ pleyneth hem of the forsaid Sir
416Richard, and of his Officers, in þat the same Officers amercied
417the forsaid tenantes in ix marcs, Far þat thei wolde nat gree
418hem to the newe custumes and vsages late made ageyns hir olde
419Custumarie; And of þat somme aforsaide there was arerid
420xxvj s viij d of John White, tenant there, And þat same John
421White, in the forsaid Sir Richard Arrundell In, was holde
422in prison in london tille he had founde surete to paie it hym.
423    Also the forsaide Sir Richard toke Robert atte Mere, Petre atte
424Mere, and enprisoned hem and stokkid hem withinne the forsaid
425lordship, forto haue had hem his bonde men, there þat thei and
426alle tenantȝ of the same lordship aren fre, and euere haue be,
427and all hire auncestrie sithen tyme oute of mynde. And, for as
428moche þat þei nolde nat assente to hym, he amercied hem
429excessiflich fro court to the somme of xl s. And for þat
430same amercimentes he destreined hem bi here Bestes and catell,
431to vtre destruccion of hem, but if thei ben holpen.
432    Also the forsaid Sir Richard and his Officers claymed and
433toke oon Julian Lampit, the was fre tenant of the kynges there,
434to be his bondewomman, and helde hire in prisoune tille he had
435raunsommed her to an c s, whiche þat had be fre tenant withinne
436the same lordship lx yere & more.

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437    Also the forsaide Sir Richard and his officers, agayns the
438tenure of hire holdyng of þe same manere of Banestede, makis
439hem Bedelles, and aftirward woll yeve hem none acquytance, but
440claymeth hem for his bonde men, and alwey fro tyme to tyme
441putteth hem to fyne & raunsomme, ageyns her olde auncien
442custumes and vsages of olde tyme made.
443    Also for these causes aforsaid, John Taillour, Richard Colcok
444and John Clerc, which þat were most sufficeaunt and olde tenantȝ
445of the foresaide lordship, aren avoided and go oute of the forsaid
446lordship for euere more, and many mo bene in purpos to avoide
447& go oute of þe forsaid lordship for eueremore, to vndoyng
448of the forsaid lordship for euere, but if it be remedied.
449    Also the forsaid tenantȝ of Banstede aren destreyned by the
450kyngges Baillife from terme to terme for the rerages of the
451countes of the same Sir Richard, for dyuerse writtes þat rennyth
452a-yens hym yn the Cheker fro the same Maner of Banstede,
453Wawton, and Cherwode, yn the Counte of Surre, whiche he hath
454for terme of lyf of the yeft of the kyng, yn recompensacion of
455^xxllll mark, accountyng for þe surpluys yn the Chekyr, as it
456schewith by his patentes þer-of to hym y-grauntyd, In gret
457hyndryng and lettyng of theyre labour, and also in vexacion by
458diuerses tymes to þe Marchalsie by cause þat þe distresse were nat
459redy atte comyng thedir of the Bailly; In gret destruccion and
460anientisyng of hem, but it be holpyn and remedy don þer-to þe
461sonner by your graciouse help.