'Iy'c^C Cc
iYc L*L
J
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/b24879241_0002
©jfor* £)t0foricaf ^ocutjf
VOL. LI.
THE CARTULARY
OF THE
ABBEY OF EYNSHAM
OXFORD
HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
THE SEAL OF ABBOT ROBERT AND THE FIRST SEAL OF THE ABBEY. See p. XCviii
EYNSHAM CARTULARY
EDITED BY THE
REV. H. E. SALTER, M. A.
NEW COLLEGE, OXFORD
WITH THREE ILLUSTRATIONS
VOL. II
PRINTED FOR THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
(z) CacbA • ifif2.5
PREFACE
i
In the preface to the previous volume a list was given of the abbots of Eynsham with their dates ; it can now be made more accurate in four details. First, we can extend the rule of Abbot Thomas Bradingstock as late as October 20, 1413, by means of a deed preserved at Lincoln College (see ii. 198). Next, the date of the death of Thomas Oxin- ford and of the election of his successor John Quenington is fixed by an entry in a computus roll of Michaelmas, 1441 (Harleian Roll F. 13) where it is stated that a certain tenement had paid no rent during one quarter of the year, because Thomas Oxinford, late abbot, had promised that it should be free of rent as long as he lived, and that for the first quarter of the year he was alive ; he must therefore have died between December 21, 1440, and March 25, 1441. Thirdly, the interval between 1483 and 1499 can now be nearly bridged ; for an acquittance by William Walwayn, preserved at Lincoln College (see ii. 208 note), proves that he was alive on September 29, 1493 ; while a roll,1 giving the records of courts held at Shifford dated by the years of Abbot Miles, enables us to say that his term of office began between December 13, 1497, and March 28, 1498. Lastly, the date of the resignation of Abbot John, and of the appoint- ment of his successor is supplied by an entry in Madox,2 which states that the abbey of Evesham was in the king’s hands from August 1, 1281, to January 13, 1282. At Evesham there was no vacancy at this time, and Madox should have read the name as Enesham.
A friend has pointed out that the words ‘ periurus et dilapidator used of Abbot Adam (vol. i, p. xix), are probably a hendiadys ; by wasting the goods of the monastery he broke the oath he had made at his consecration.
The statement that Abbot Dunstone took part in the consecration of Archbishop Parker (vol. i, p. xxxii) is not quite correct. Although the Letters Patent of Royal Assent to the election of Parker were addressed to him among others, so that it must have been known
' Court Rolls, 197.63 (Record Office). - History of the Exchequer, p. 496.
VI
CARTULARY OF EYNSHAM
that he was willing to take part in the consecration, he was not present at the actual ceremony.1
II
This second, and concluding, volume of the Eynsham Cartulary consists of three parts : —
pp. 1-154, the second cartulary of Eynsham preserved at Christ Church, Oxford.
pp. 155-254, a collection of Eynsham records from various sources, supplementing the cartularies.
pp. 255-371, the Vision of the Monk of Eynsham.
It is a piece of good fortune that so many additional deeds have been discovered, especially as some of them throw some light on what is often the most obscure part of the history of a monastery, its last fifty years. The muniment rooms of New College, Lincoln, Queen’s, and Exeter have furnished some interesting leases and sales to which attention may be drawn. Although long leases were for- bidden by many bishops, and at one time a limit of five years was laid down,2 yet we have a lease for eighty years granted in 1536 and another for ninety years granted in 1537.3 In 1535 there was a still more extraordinary case, a lease for ninety years to begin after the death of the present tenant.4
It may be that some of these favourable leases were granted when the monks saw that the confiscation of their property was imminent, but the accounts of 1539 (ii, pp. 250-4) show that many of them date from early in the reign of Henry VIII. They were a feature of the Tudor age and were used by the bishop himself, as the episcopal registers show ; as a fine was paid at the beginning of such leases, they were a means of forestalling the income of posterity. Unfortunately it was not the custom to mention in the lease what fine was paid ; and in the case of monasteries we do not know what fund received such fines. Perhaps the most curious of the leases is the grant to Richard Gunter in 1534 by which he obtained for ninety- nine years all the possessions of the abbey in Oxford, namely, six tenements and a garden and quit-rents amounting to 64^. a year, in return for which he was to pay to the abbey 26^. 8 d. a year.5 It is obvious that to secure such terms he must have paid a fine, but no information is given on this point.
Not only did Eynsham grant these long leases, but in more than
1 Register of Parker (Canterbury and a See pp. 240, 241.
York Society) pp. 5 and 31. 4 ib., p. 239.
2 See below, II, p. 190/ 3 II, pp. 246, 253.
PREFACE
Vl l
one case alienated monastic property. Charter 694 shows that the abbey was parting with the tithes of Appleton in 1531 ; in 1532 it gave away a holding in Oxford (see ii, p. 243); in 1534 it sur- rendered a pension of £3 from Lincoln College for a lump sum of £60; and in 1538 it sold the advowson of Stanton St. John to the Bishop of Lincoln.1 When we examine the Valor of 1535 we find that many small properties possessed by the monastery at the end of the fourteenth century have been lost, but the annual accounts of the abbey which survive are not sufficient to show exactly why or at what time or for what price they were alienated.
Ill
For our knowledge of the abbey of Eynsham and of its histoiy we have two sources besides what is printed in this volume. The first is a manuscript preserved in the Bodleian Library (Bodl. MS. 435) being the rule of the abbey drawn up by a certain John of Wodeaton, one of the monks. The manuscript is of the fourteenth century, and internal evidence shows that the work cannot have been com- posed before 1230. The headings of the chapters are given in Dugdale’s Monasticon, vol. iii, pp. 7-10, but the whole is worth printing. It wall be found to throw light not on the history of the abbey but on its internal arrangements, such as the names of the officials of the monastery and their duties, and the course of the daily life of the monks of Eynsham.
The second source, one of special value for what it tells us of the extent and management of the properties of the abbey, is supplied by a collection of rolls among the Harleian Rolls at the British Museum. Of these more than 150 belonged to Eynsham Abbey. The following is a list of them : —
A. 42. Dated the 26th year (i.e. Michaelmas 26 Hen. VI, 1447).
The names of the places are lacking but we have here :
(1) Computus of the farmer of Wick Rissington.
(2) Computus of the farmer of Little Rollright.
(3) Computus of the farmers of Mickleton.
A. 43. Computus of the collector of rents of Brookend, Michaelmas,
1380.
B. 1. Courts held at Brookend from April 12, 1389, to June 19,
1438 ; in all 38 courts.
B. 2. The computus of the collector of rents for Brookend, Michael- mas, 1391.
1 See ii, pp. 208, 242.
Vlll
CARTULARY OF EYNSHAM
B. 3. The same for Michaelmas, 1393.
B. 4. The same for Michaelmas, 1396.
B. 5. The same for Michaelmas, 1398.
B. 6. The same for Michaelmas, 1399.
B. 7. is 1414. B. 8 is 1413. B. 9 is 1420. B. 10 is 1421.
B. 11. Courts of Brookend from May 30, 1441, to Mar. 25, 1462; in all 12 courts.
B. 12. Courts of Brookend, Dec. 14, 1469, and May 9, 1470.
B. 13. Courts of Brookend from July 1, 1479, to April 27, 1491 ; in all 9 courts.
B. 14 (on paper) Court of Brookend, April 10, 1499.
B. 23. A rental of Charlbury and its hamlets; viz. Charlbury, Fawler, Finstock, Tapwell, Cote, and Chadlington ; probably about the year 1310.
B. 24. Computus of the bailiff who had charge of the demesne of Charlbury, Sept., 1341.
B. 25. Computus of rents collected by the bailiff in Fawler, Finstock, and Charlbury for the quarter from June 11 to Oct. 6, 1350. and also the perquisites of the courts.
B. 26. Computus of John Wrench, bailiff of Charlbury, for the year ending Sept. 29, 1354, giving the accounts of the demesne farm, and mentioning among his expenses the entertainment of the servants of the Bishop of Lincoln who was on his visitation.
B. 27. A similar computus of John Cubbul, reeve of Charlbury ; Sept. 29, 1355.
B. 28. Computus of John Carpenter, bailiff of Charlbury, for the year ending July 7, 1365.
B. 29. Computus of John Cubbyll, who collected assize rents of Charlbury and assart rents of Charlbury and Spellesbury ; Sept., 1367.
B. 30. Computus of John Carpenter, bailiff of Charlbury, Sept., 1367.
B. 31. Computus of John Swayne, who collected assize rents of Charlbury, Chadlington, and Cote, and assart rents of Charlbury and Spellesbury ; Sept. 29, 1373.
B. 32. Computus of John Sclaler, reeve of Charlbury, for ten months ending Sept. 29, 1373.
B. 33. Computus of the beadle of Charlbury, giving the perquisites of the courts and the profits of the woods, for the year ending Sept. 29, 1373.
B. 34. Computus of the bailiff of Charlbury, giving the accounts of the demesne farm and of the woods, Sept. 29, 13S0.
PREFACE
IX
B. 35. (i) Computus of John Baldok, who collected assize rents of Charlbury, Cote, Chadlington, Fawler, and Finstock, and assart rents of Charlbury, Fawler, Finstock, Stonesfield and Spellesbury ; Sept. 29, 1394.
(2) Computus of William Pomeray, beadle of Charlbury, giving the profits of the courts and of the woods ; Sept. 29, 1394.
B. 36. Computus of the collector of rents in Charlbury and its hamlets; Sept. 29, 1391.
B. 37. Computus of William Pomeray, beadle of Charlbury; Sept. 29, 1396.
B. 38. Computus of William Baugh, collector of assize rents of Charlbury, Cote, Chadlington, Fawler, Finstock, and of assart rents from Charlbury, Fawler, Finstock, Stonesfield, and the ‘tenants of Spellesbury and Cote’; Sept. 29, 1409.
B. 39. Computus of William Pomeray, beadle of Charlbury, of the profits of the courts and the woods ; Sept. 29, 1412.
B. 40. Another by the same man for the year ending Sept. 29, 1419. Among his expenses is fourpence laid upon the abbot because of Charlbury Bridge, which he was bound to repair.
B. 41. (1) Computus of the collector of assize and assart rents in Charlbury and its hamlets; Sept. 29, 1426.
(2) Computus of Snareston, beadle of Charlbury ; Sept. 29, 1426.
B. 42. (1) Computus of the collector of rents of Charlbury; Sept. 29,
I43I-
(2) Computus of William Weller, beadle and woodward ; Sept. 29, M3I-
(3) Computus of the bailiff of Charlbury, recording the bushels of corn received by him for the tithes of Charlbury, Chadlington, Fawler, Finstock, Walecot, Shorthampton, and Chilson with Thurne ; Sept. 29, 1431.
C. 1. (1) Computus of Richard Asshe, collector of assize rents in
Charlbury, ‘ the vill of Coote,’ 1 the vill of Fawler,’ and ‘ the vill of Finstock ’, and assart rents in the fields of Charlbury, Fawler, and Finstock, and from the tenants of Stonesfield for land assarted in the fields and lordship of Charlbury and Fawler, and from assarts in the fields of Cote ; including a rent of three barbed arrows from the tenants of Charlbury for an acre of land called ‘ Pleyyng place’, for the year ending June 24, 1448.
(2) Computus of John Grey, beadle and woodward of Charlbury; June 24, 1448.
C. 2. (1) Computus of William Downesley, bailiff of the manor of Charlbury, who was in charge of the demesne. He also accounts
X
CARTULARY OF EYNSHAM
i9
20.
Sept.
1406.
Sept. 29, 1414.
for the tithe corn received from Charlbury, and Fawler; June 24, 1448.
(2) Computus of Thomas Brynne and William Wrench, farmers of the tithe corn of Chilson and Thurne; June 24, 1448.
(3) Computus of William Bekyngham, farmer of the tithe corn of Pudlicot ; June 24, 1448.
(4) Computus of Thomas Sercheden, farmer of the tithe corn of Walecot and Shorthampton ; June 24, 1448.
C. 3. Computus of William Sheparde, collector of rents in Charlbury and its hamlets; Sept. 29, 1528.
C. 4. A court of George Darcy, knight, for Charlbury, Fawler, and Finstock; Sept. 1, 1539.
There are also some rolls of Charlbury at the Record Office, Ministers’ Accounts, 957. 18-26 : —
18. Computus of William Pomeray, beadle of Charlbury'
Computus of William Baugh, collector of rents Computus of the bailiff of Charlbury Computus of John Maynard, collector of rents Computus of William Pomeray, beadle Computus of the same two officials; Sept. 29, 1416.
21. Computus of the same two officials; Sept. 29, 1418.
22. Computus of John Maynard, collector of rents; Sept. 29, 1419.
23. Computus of William Pomeray, beadle; Sept. 29, 1420.
24. Computus of John Martyn, collector of rents; Sept. 29, 1422.
25. Computus of William Drinkwater, collector of rents { Sept. 29,
Computus of the woodward J 1442.
26. Computus of Thomas Pauley, giving the rents, the profits of the
courts of Charlbury and the tithe corn received from Chilson, Thurne, Charlbury, Cote, Chadlington, Shorthampton and Walecot; Sept. 29, 1457.
Harleian Rolls : —
E. 17. Four courts held in Newland ( Nova Terra), Eynsham, between Michaelmas, 1307, and Hokeday, 1309.
E. 18. Three courts held in Newland, Monday, Oct. 6; Monday, Oct. 27, 1309, and Monday, June 1, 1310.
E. 19. Two courts of Newland; Monday, Oct. 5, 1310, and Monday, July 5, 13x1.
E. 20. Three courts of Newland; Monday, Oct. 4, 1311, Monday, Jan. 24, and Monday after Hokeday (April 17), 1312.
E. 21. Five courts of Newland; Monday, Oct. 1; Monday, Oct. 22,
1313, Monday after Hokeday (April 29), 1314, Monday, Sept. 30,
1314, and Monday after Hokeday (April 14), 1315.
PREFACE
xi
E. 22. Four courts of Newland ; Monday, Oct. 6, 1315; Monday, Mar. 15; Monday, May 3; Monday, Oct. 4, 1316.
E. 23. Court of Eynsham Manor with view of frankpledge Sat., Nov. 17, 1296; and courts on Saturday after the month of Easter and Aug. 1 (Thursday) 1297.
E. 24. Courts of Eynsham Manor for Saturday, Jan. 25 ; Sat., May 10 ; Sat., July 19; Sat., Aug. 1; Tuesday, Nov. n, 1337; and Sat., Sept. 26, 1338.
E. 25. Computus of William Budd, collector of rents in Eynsham for the year ending Sept. 29, 1358.
E. 26. Computus of William Budd, bailiff; Sept. 29, 1360.
E. 27. (1) Computus of John de Hamme, granarius of Eynsham, Sept. 29, 1325.1
(2) Computus of William Joye, reeve of Eynsham, collector of the rents of Eynsham, Tilgarsley, Hanborough, Cassington, and of the perquisites of a view of frankpledge and four courts of the manor; Sept. 29.
(3) Computus of Henry de Broughton, bailiff of Wick Rissington. for nine months ending Sept. 29.
(4) Computus of Hugh le Smyth, collector of rents in Charlbury ; Sept. 29.
(5) Computus of the reeve of Charlbury for the half year ending Feb. 2, giving the perquisites of the courts and the profits of the demesne.
(6) Computus of the bailiff of Mickleton, including rents, tithes, and profits of the courts.
(7) Computus of Nicholas de Wythehull, reeve of Rollright, in charge of the demesne and collector of rents. Sept. 29.
E. 28. Computus of Nicholas, bailiff of the home farm of the abbey, for the year ending Sept. 29, 1377.
E. 29. Computus of Henry Scrippe, bailiff of the home farm; Sept. 29,
1385-
E. 30. Courts of Newland for [date illegible]; Monday, Oct. 1; Monday, Oct. 22; Monday, Nov. 12, 1386; Monday after Hokeday; Monday, Sept. 30, 1387; Monday, April 20; Monday, Oct. 5, 1388; and Monday after Hokeday, 1389.
E. 31. The complete account for the year ending Michaelmas, 1390, of the receipts and expenditure of the abbey ; printed below.
E. 32. A rental of Eynsham, of Tilgarsley with Hamstall and Cassing- ton, and of Hanborough ; Sept. 29, 1389.
1 The date of this roll is the ‘ninth 1325 or 133S, but the second abbot is
year of Abbot John’; as two abbots generally called ‘John de 13.’ to dis-
were named John, the date might be tiuguish him trom his predecessor.
Xll
CARTULARY OF EYNSHAM
E. 33. Computus of the garentarius of Eynsham for Sept. 29, 1393.
F. r. Computus of the bailiff of the home farm ; Sept. 29, 1394.
F. 2. Computus of Richard Thrwsteyne, collector of rents in Eynsham, Tilgarsley, Hamstall, Cassington, and Hanborough ; Sept. 29, 1414.
F. 3. Computus of John Scrippe, bailiff of the home farm; Sept. 29, 1415.
F. 4. (x) Computus of John Shoort, bailiff of the home farm ; Sept. 29, 1404.
(2) Computus of William Makerell, collector of rents in Newland.
(3) Part of a computus of the collector of rents in Eynsham, Tilgarsley, &c. ; Sept. 29, 1404.
F. 5. (1) Computus of Edward Mason , garentarius \ Sept. 29, 1406.
(2) Computus of Thomas Chaundeler, collector of rents in New- land; Sept. 29, 1406.
(3) Computus of Robert Tanner, bailiff of the town of Eynsham, collector of the perquisites of seven portmotes, held between Oct. 26 and May 25.
(4) Computus of Thomas Aleyn, bailiff of Newland, collector of the perquisites of two courts held during the year ending Sept. 29, 1406.
F. 6. (x) Computus of John Busseby, collector of rents in Eynsham, Tilgarsley, Hamstall, &c. ; Sept. 29, 1406.
(2) Computus of Walter Attewater, beadle, collector of the perquis- ites of six manorial courts, held Oct. 26, Jan. 14, Mar. 22, May 3, July 28, Sept. 17 and a view of frankpledge on Sept. 25; collector also of hidage, of Peter’s Pence, and of the pannage of customary tenants as appears on the roll of the court of Poukebrugge.
F. 7. (1) Computus of Richard Thrwsteyne, Sept. 29, 1415.
(2) Computus of William Bromale, collector of rents in Newland ; Sept. 29, 1415.
(3) Computus of William Bromale, bailiff of Newland, collector of the perquisites of two courts held in Newland.
(4) Computus of William Barbour, bailiff of the town, collector of the perquisites of the courts of Portmote held Oct. 1, Nov. 12, Dec. 24, Jan. 21, Feb. 25, Mar. 25, Monday after Hokeday, May 27, June 17, July 15.
(5) Computus of Robert Aleyns, beadle, collector of the perquisites of six courts of the manor and one view of frankpledge; collector also of hidage and Peter’s Pence.
F. 8. A court of Powkebrugge held Nov. 11, 1417.
A view of frankpledge held Friday, Sept. 26, 1420.
Courts of the manor of Eynsham held Monday, Oct. 4, 1417; Feb. 21, Monday after Hokeday, July 15, Sept. 12, Oct. 3 ;
PREFACE
xm
Dec. 5, 1418, Monday after Hokeday, July 10, Oct. 2, Oct. 23; 1419, Tuesday, Feb. 6; Monday ‘post dominicum Passionis’ (March 25), Monday, May 6; Monday after the Feast of Holy Trinity, Monday, Nov. 4, 1420; Monday, Jan. 13, Monday after Hokeday, and Monday, July 21, 1421.
F. 9. Courts of Newland, Monday, Oct. 4, 1417, the Monday after Hokeday and the Monday after Michaelmas, 1418, the Monday after Hokeday, 1419, Monday, May 6, and the Monday after Michaelmas, 1420.
F. 10. Computus of John Cole, bailiff of the home farm, Sept. 29, 1419.
F. 11. Computus of John Brounhale, collector of rents in Eynsham, Tilsgarsley, &c. ; Sept. 29, 1427.
F. 12. (1) Computus of John Bryd, collector of the rents of Newland, which he paid to * Master Walter Sandewyche, general receiver ’ of the income of the monastery; Sept. 29, 1438.
(2) Computus of Richard Blakeman, bailiff of the town, collector of the perquisites of thirteen courts of Portmote; Sept. 29, 1438.
(3) Computus of John Stokeman, woodward. ‘ De attachiamentis in bosco domini, ut patet in curia tenta ibidem die Lune proxima post festum sancti Michaelis iij. i d. ; et de viiir/. de perquisitis alterius curie.’
(4) Computus of John Carpenter, beadle, collector of the perquisites of the manorial courts and of ‘ viiifi?. being the perquisites of the pannage of the pigs of Powkebrege, as in the roll of the court ’ ; Sept. 29, 1438.
(5) Computus of Richard Fox, farmer of the Rectory of South Newington for the year ending Mar. 25, 1439 ; part of the money was paid by him to Master Walter Sandewyche by the hands of ‘ John Beek, master of the new college of Lincoln in Oxford ’.
(6) Computus of William Wyntour, collector of the rents of New- land ; Sept. 29, 1427.
(7) Computus of John Blakeman, woodward, collector of the per- quisites of two courts, probably courts of the manor; Sept. 29, 1427.
(8) Computus of John Vyntenar, bailiff of Newland, collector of the perquisites of two courts of Newland; Sept. 29, 1427.
(9) Computus of John Hynebest, bailiff of Eynsham town, collector of the perquisites of five portmotes held during the year ending Sept. 29, 1427.
F. 13. (1) Computus of John Blakeman, collector of the rents of Eynsham, Tilgarsley, &c. Sept. 29, 1441.
(2) A ‘ visus computi ’, or quarterly account, of William Brounhale, for the quarter ending Mar. 14, 1442.
XIV
CARTULARY OF EYNSHAM
(3) Computus of William Blakeman, bailiff of the portmote, who collected the perquisites of fourteen portmotes for the year ending Sept. 29, 1441. It is evident that by this time the receiver- general was the abbot, not Master Walter Sandwych : a new abbot was appointed early in 1441.
F. 14. (x) Computus of John Lynby, fisherman, in charge of the fishery of the Abbey; Sept. 29, 1442.
(2) A list of the expenses of the fishery, e. g. in nets, ‘ clereweles £ eseweles ’ and a ‘ drystewele
(3) A rental of Tilgarsley, giving the names of the fields.
(4) A rental of demesne land in Eynsham, leased to tenants.
(5) A schedule giving the names of three to whom William Page, woodward, had sold brushwood and ‘ shrud ’ of oak.
(6) Computus of Robert Blakeman, collector of rents in Eynsham
manor, Sept. 29, 1442.
(7) Computus of John Long ‘ capellanus ’, collector of rents in
Newland; Sept. 29, 1442.
(8) Computus of William Page, woodward.
(9) Computus of John Carpenter, beadle, collector of the perquisites of four courts of the manor.
(10) Computus of John Kene, farmer of the lands and tenements in Eynsham pertaining to the Almoner ; for which he paid £6 3*. 4 d. ; Sept. 29, 1442.
(n) Computus of John Stokeman, bailiff of Newland, collector of the perquisites of two courts of Newland.
(12) Computus of John Stanley, collector of the perquisites of 16
portmotes; Sept. 29, 1442.
F. 15. Computus of John Webbe, bailiff of the home farm (balhvus husbondrie ) for the half year ending June 24, 1446.
F. 16. (1) Computus of John Middeltone, collector of rents in Eynsham, Hamstall, Hanborough, Cassington and Wightham,
for the quarter ending Sept. 29, 1453-
(2) Computus of Richard Payn, collector of rents from leases in
Tilgarsley.
(3) Computus of Richard Payn, ‘ firmarius piscane separalis aque Thamisie ; ’ io.v. for this quarter.
(4) Computus of Richard, Payn ‘beadle’ {sic) of the portmote and of William Cornysshe, beadle of the manor court, for the per- quisites of courts held within the quarter.
(5) Computus of Thomas Dustelyng, woodward, for wood
s°ld. . ,
(6) Computus of Thomas Dustelyng, collector of rents in Newland,
PREFACE
xv
and of John Stokeman, bailiff of Newland, collector of the per- quisites of the court of Newland.
(7) Computus of Thomas Dustelyng, collector of rents pertaining to the Almoner for this quarter.
(8) Computus of Thomas Robyns, bailiff of the home farm; among his expenses was the fetching of wine from Northleach and provisions from ‘ Cambridge and Stourbridge Fair’.
(9) Computus of Thomas Robyns, gra?igialor (i. e. in charge of the barns).
(10) Computus of John Dogett, garentarius (i. e. in charge of the granaries).
(11) Computus of Thomas Dustelyng, staurarius (i. e. in charge of the live stock).
F. 17. (1) Computus of Thomas Wykes, collector of rents in Eynsham, Hampstall, Cassington and Wightham ; Sept. 29, 1457.
(2) Computus of Richard Payn, collector of rents of land let on lease in Eynsham and Tilgarsley ; Sept. 29, 1457 > among his ex- penses is ‘ pro cervisia empta in recessu episcopi Lincolniensis ’ ; probably the bishop had come to enthrone the new abbot. This roll is headed * anno domini Roberti Faryngdon primo incipiente
F. 18. Courts of Eynsham Manor held Monday after Michaelmas,
1458, Monday after Hokeday and Monday after Michaelmas,
1459, and Monday after Hokeday, 1460. At these courts a homage attended from Hanborough and made presentments apart from the homage of Eynsham ; perhaps the inclosures in Til- garsley were let to men of Hanborough.
F. 19. A rental for Eynsham, Tilgarsley, Hamstall, Cassington and Hanborough ; it is without date, but it is later than 1389 (E. 32) and earlier than 1440. It seems to be the rental that was in use in 1414 (F. 2), which, as we are there told, was drawn up in 1406.
F. 20. A roll of the expenses of the abbey for a year; imperfect at the beginning; undated, but of Michaelmas, 1406 {printed below).
F. 21. Eighteen portmote courts held between Monday, May 14, 1453, and Monday, June 3, 1454.
F. 22. A list of the closes, part of the demesne of Tilgarsley, with the names of the tenants and their rents; undated.
F. 23. A court of Eynsham Manor held May 6, 1476.
F. 24. Computus of Thomas Dustelyng, bailiff of the home farm ; Sept. 29, 1443.
F. 25. (1) Computus of Geoffrey Bryan, bailiff of the portmote and beadle of the manor court. He accounts for 2 ir. 4 d. from port-
XVI
CARTULARY OF EYNSHAM
motes ; but nothing from Puckebrigge court, or the manor court, ort he view of frankpledge, for lack of the rolls ; also nothing irom Peter’s Pence ‘ quia nullus computans apparuit
(2) Computus of Richard Whithorne, woodward.
(3) Computus of Thomas Wode, collector of rents in Newland, and of William West, bailiff of Newland, collector of the perquisites of two courts of Newland.
This roll is undated, but it mentions what took place 1 in the sixth
year’ of Edward IV : it is therefore after 1466.
F. 26. A fragment; perhaps the end of F. 28.
F. 27. A roll giving the expenses of the monks on clothing ; probably Michaelmas, 1404 ( printed below).
F. 28. A roll giving the expenses of the abbey for a year; undated, but probably 1470 or 1471 ( printed below).
F. 29. (1) Computus of Thomas Jaye, slaurarius ; about1 1454.
(2) Computus of Thomas Jaye, collector of the rents of the Almoner, amounting to £6 os. 7 d., of which 20J. was for tithe in ‘Dernford ’ in Wootton parish.
(3) Computus of William Aylewyn, farmer of the fishery, for which he paid £4 13^. 4 d.
(4) Computus of Thomas Probyn, bailiff of the home farm.
(5) Computus of William Bokeler, garentarius.
F. 30. (1) Computus of Thomas Smyth, collector of the rents of New- land ; Sept. 29, 1448.
(2) Computus of Thomas Dawers, bailiff of Newland, collector of the perquisites of two courts of Newland; Sept. 29, 1448.
(3) Computus of Thomas Dustelyng, collector of the rents of the Almoner, amounting to £6 9 s. 3 d.
F. 31. Court rolls of the portmote of Eynsham for April 13, May 4, May 25, June 15, July 6, July 27, Aug. 17, Sept. 7, 1461.
F. 32. A court of Eynsham Manor; Sept. 30, 1465.
F. 33. A rental of Eynsham, Tilgarsley, Hampstall, Wightham, and Cassington; Sept. 29, 1467.
F. 34. (1) Computus of Hugh Buelton collector of the rents in Eynsham; Sept. 29, 1471.
(2) Computus of William Bryan, bailiff of Eynsham ‘burgus’, collector of the perquisites of portmotes ; Sept. 29, 1471.
(3) Computus of Thomas Shorte, beadle; he collected 56*. 6d. as the perquisites of the manor courts, but nothing from ‘ Pouke-
1 This roll is undated, but Thomas Probyn was bailiff of the home farm in M53 (F-
PREFACE
XVII
brigecourts ’ nor any Peter’s Pence ‘quia non comparuit ad computum’; Sept. 29, 1471.
F. 35. Twenty-eight portmotes ofEynsham held between Dec. 18,
1475 and Aug. xi, 1477.
G. 1. Courts ofEynsham manor; Sept. 30, 1476, and May 5, 1477.
G. 2. (1) Computus of Henry Doget and John Fellow, who have a
lease of the manor and tithes of Southstoke with Exslade and Woodcot; Sept. 29, 1470.
(2) Computus of William Eyton, collector of rents in Shifford ; Sept. 29> I47°- E mentions that Richard Boyd, rector of Northmoor, was receiver-general of the rents of Eynsham for part of this year.
(3) Computus of Thomas Panley for the demesne lands of Charl- bury, for the tithes of Charlbury, Finstock, and Fawler, and for the rectory of Brizenorton.
(4) Computus of Richard Kymer, collector of rents in Charlbury.
(5) Computus of John Strauke, collector of rents in Milcombe, including rents from Netherorton and Hempton.
(6) Computus of John Hamond, who had a lease of the manor of Little Rollright.
(7) Computus of William Shephurde, collector of rents in Wood- eaton, including rents from Baldon and Milton.
(8) Computus of Hugh Buelton, supervisor of the woods, and Thomas Stanley, woodward of Eynsham.
(9) Computus of Richard Bray, collector of rents in Newland.
(10) Computus of Richard Holway, bailiff, collector of the perquisites of the courts of Newland.
(11) Computus of John Mery, beadle, collector of the perquisites of the courts of the manor of Eynsham, of the court ‘ called Poukebrigecourt ’ and of Peter’s Pence; Sept. 29, 1470.
(12) The computus of Geoffrey Brian, bailiff, collector of the perquisites of the portmotes of the ‘ burgus ’ of Eynsham.
^ (13) Computus of the staurarius.
G. 3. Three courts ofEynsham manor for 1477.
G. 4. Two courts of Newland for the year ending Sept. 29, 1478.
G. 5. Two courts of Eynsham manor for the year ending Sept 20
G. 9. Computus of William Glover, collector of rents in Eynsham • Sept. 29, 1461.
G. 7. Computus of Thomas Dustelyng, woodward; Sept. 29, 1447
G. 8. Computus of William Woodde, bailiff of Newland, collector of the rents of Newland and of the perquisites of the court.
G. 9. (paper) The amercements of seven portmotes held between
11 b
XV111
CARTULARY OF EYNSHAM
Mar. x and Nov. 15, 1518 ; two of them, held May 6 and Oct. 4, are called ‘ great portmotes
G. xo. (paper) (1) Computus of Richard Holwey, bailiff of Newland, collector of the perquisites of the courts; probably 1 * 1469.
(2) Computus of John Bray, collector of the rents of Newland G. 11. Computus of Hugh Buelton, supervisor of woods, and Thomas
Stanley, woodward ; Sept. 29, 1471.
G. 12. Computus of John Barry, collector of rents in Eynsham ; Sept. 29, 1518. The rents are recorded as in Eynsham Street,
Mill Street, Thames Street, and Acre end.
G. 13. Computus of John Godwin, collector of rents in Eynsham;
Sept. 29, 1523- , . , c .
H. 1. Part of a computus for Histon manor and tithes; Sept. 29,
1445- 0 _
I. 17. Computus for Milcombe; Sept. 29, 143a.
18. Computus for Milcombe; Sept. 29, 1423.
19. Seven courts held at Milcombe between Feb., 1452, and May,
K. 31. Courts of Little Rollright, held Dec. 14, M69> and Ma-V 9>
K. 3247(i) Computus of John Hamond, farmer, of Little Rollright manor; Sept. 29, 1442.
(2) Computus of Robert Dome, farmer of Wick Rissington.
(3) Computus of John Faukener, collector of the rents of Brookend ,
K. 33. (1) Computus of John Hamond, farmer of Little Rollright,
probably * 1444- .
(2) Computus of William Deye, farmer of Wick Rissington.
(3) Computus of Richard Godye, farmer of Fulbrook, Bucks.
(4) Computus of William Wighton, farmer of Histon.
(5) Computus of John Shadde, farmer of the rectory of South
Newington. „ , . ~ .
K. 41. Computus of the collector of rents in Shifford, Aston, Cote,
and Weld; Sept. 29, 1381.
L. 1. A similar computus ; Sept. 29, 1392.
L. 2. Computus of the reeve of Shifford, in charge of the demesne of
Shifford; Sept. 29, 1396. . , .
L. 3 (1) Computus of the reeve of Shifford, for the demesne lend.
Sept. 29, 1403.
(2) Computus of the collector of rents ; Sept. 29, 1403.
1 There is no date, but the rector of see G. 2 undated.
Northmoor was the receiver-general. remaps 1443.
PREFACE
xix
L. 4. Two similar computi ; Sept. 29, 1406.
L. 5. Computus of the collector of rents of Shifford ; Sept. 29, 1423. L. 6. Computus of the bailiff of the demesne lands of Shifford, and of the collector of rents; Sept. 29, 1428.
L. 7- Computus of the farmer, who had a lease of all the rents and the demesne lands of Shifford; Sept. 29, 1434.
L. 8. Courts held at Shifford ; Dec. 10, 1434, June 13 and Dec. 1,
I435> attended by three homages from Shifford, Aston, and Clay-Welde.
L. 9. Courts held July, 1436, and April, 1437.
L. 10. Computus of the farmer, who had a lease of the rents and lands of Shifford; Sept. 29, 1437.
L. 11. Two courts of Shifford held in the year ending Sept. 29, 1442.
L. 12. Two courts; the date of the first is wanting; the second is Oct. 20, 1458.
L. 13. Two courts held in the year ending Sept. 29, 1460.
L. 14. Two courts held Oct. 10, 1460, and May 27, 1461.
L. 15. Two courts for the year ending Sept. 29, 1474.
L. 16. A court held May 24, 1524.
L. 17. A court held May 4, 1525.
N. 27. Thirty-eight courts of Woodeaton, from June 24, 1441, to
Oct. 10, 1462.
O. 20. An inquisition about the repair of the ferry-barge at Shifford.
Printed , vol. ii, pp. 186-9.
There are also in the Record Office the following :
Courts Roils 197. 62. Ten courts of Shifford held between Oct. 23, 1481, and April 29, i486.
Courts Rolls 197. 63. Nineteen courts of Shifford, from May 31, 1498, to Nov. 30, 1510.
A court of Woodeaton, Dec. 13, 1510.
Courts Rolls 197. 14. (1) Courts of Brookend held April 30 and June 30, 1382; Feb. 7, 1385; Sept. 25 and Nov., 1386.
(2) A court of Rollright, June 30, 1382.
Ministers’ Accounts 961. 20: —
(1) Computus of the collector of rents in South Stoke, and of the woodward, for the year ending Sept. 29, 1448.
(2) Computus of Edmund Parson, farmer of the rectory of South Newington; Sept. 29, 1448.
(3) Computus of John Folkes, who had a lease of all lands and rents in Shifford; Sept. 29, 1448.
Ministers’ Accounts 958. 20. Computus of Thomas Stowe, garentarius
b 2
XX
CARTULARY OF EYNSHAM
of Eynsham, for the year ending Sept. 29, 1356. Among his expenses is ‘ 8 d. at Bristol, searching for fish’.
Ministers’ Accounts 958. 21. Computus of William Bromhale, collector of rents in Eynsham, Tilgarsley, Hamstall, Cassington, and Hanborough; Sept. 29, 1418.
Court Rolls 197. 38. Eleven courts of Eynsham manor; one on Oct. x, 1473 and the others between Oct. 1, i48l> and April 17, i486.
It is obvious that it would be impossible to print all these rolls, or any large portion of them ; and if it were possible, it would not be advisable. Court-rolls, rentals, or computus rolls, whether the manor belonged to a layman or a monastery, are much the same; they aie useful for economic and for local history, but they throw little light on the life and history of a monastery. It is true that from such records some undertake to prove that as landlords the monks were exceptionally lenient, as was generally said of them after they were gone, or exceptionally hard, as Bishop Longland said was the case with some monasteries1 ; but if it is difficult to say of a modern lease that it is favourable or unfavourable, — since we require full information of the state of the farm-buildings, the nature of the soil and its condition, — it is quite impossible when we come to an ancient lease. But there is one point which emerges clearly. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the monks ceased more and more to farm their own lands or to collect their own tithes. It was found more convenient not only by monks but by landowners generally to grant leases to resident yeomen or squires ; and although at first leases of tithes might not be held by laymen, Papal permission was subsequently granted freely. One result was that when the monasteries were dissolved and their lands and tithes confiscated, in many localities there was no change that would be noticed, as far as the residents were concerned ; for some generations the monks had had no connexion with their land or their churches, and the man who held them by lease before the Dissolution continued to hold them afterwards.
Such information as the rolls give has been incorporated in the following account of the properties of Eynsham, taken in their alpha- betical order.
Appleton, Berks. In 1291 {Taxaiio, p. 186) Eynsham possessed tithes in Appleton, of the value of £1 6s. 8 d., but we do not know how they were obtained. In 1320 they are described as being tithes from
1 ‘ Plus quam seculares aut laid suos firmarios excoriant.’ Longland s Register, Mem. fol. 6a (in the year 1526).
PREFACE
xxi
the fee of William de Merton (vol. i. 377); in 1390 they were paid to the almoner of the abbey (E. 31), but the amount is not given. In a computus of Michaelmas, 1448 (F. 30), we learn that the almoner received 12J. from a portion of tithes in Appleton, leased by him to the vicar of Appleton. In 1531 the abbey had it in mind to part with them (vol. ii. 152), and must have carried this out; for four years later the Valor makes no mention of them.
Baldon. At some uncertain date Eynsham was granted the tithe of the demesne of Marsh Baldon, and before 1239 had agreed to accept in exchange an annual payment from the abbey of Dorchester of twelve shillings (i. 2). This was still paid in 1535 (Valor, i. 210).
It also held a virgate of land in Marsh Baldon given by Robert de la Mare and confirmed by Peter his son (i. 159). In 1254 it was worth 6j. 8d. (i. 306), but in 1269 only 5*. (i. 10). In 1279 Robert Wymond held this virgate of the abbot at a rent of 6s. 8 d. (Hund. Rolls, ii. 724). In 1390 it is mentioned that the rent was paid to the collector of Woodeaton, but the amount is not given (E. 31). The holder of this virgate was bound to attend the court of the abbot at Woodeaton, and in fact he was a customary tenant under that court. In 1443 Walter Daniel attended the court and surrendered a virgate in Baldon, and paid a heriot, and in 1445 Robert Renne took it according to the custom of the manor (N. 27). In 1470 it is stated that the rent paid (G. 2) was only $s., whereas it used to be 6s. 8d. ; but in 1535 either the property had been lost or, as is more probable^ the rent is included in the return from Woodeaton.
Bampton Aston, see ShifFord.
Banbury. Eynsham had both temporal and spiritual possessions in Banbury. In 1254 it held property in Banbury to the value of 24J- (vol. i, p. 306), and at a somewhat later date it was worth 30 j. (ib. p. 305). There is no charter which shows how it was obtained. In the accounts of 1390 there is an entry which states that