1385-10-27, Westminster

To the nuncio of the papal chamber and collector in England of fruits thereof for the time being. Prohibition, upon petition of earl of Arundel and Surrey presented in this parliament making henceforth any process or demand against the prior Castelacre, which is of the earl's foundation and a cell of the prior Lewes, the monks his fellows or their successors, for payment to pope's use of first fruits or of a sum of 4841. 9s. 9d., and order at peril altogether to stay and cease any levy, process or demand the same whatsoever ; as that petition shews that William Warenne prior of Castelacre resigned the priory to the then prior of who appointed another prior, as he might and ought to do, although the new prior was in peaceable possession thereof all life, the said William craftily made another resignation of the into the pope's hands, making no mention of his first resignation he was bound to do, and obtained for himself a papal provision, the prior for payment to the pope of the said sum as the first of the priory, and that the fruits, rents etc. of the priory are times sequestrated by the collectors in England for the time and the prior and monks are many times excommunicated, etc. for payment of the same; and these things are not to borne, especially as the said William was never in possession of priory by virtue of the said provision, nor ought first fruits to be or paid of churches or priories which are of lay patronage. By pet. in parl. [Ancient Petitions, 4388.]