1325-12-26, Bury St. Edmunds

To the abbot of Cluny. Whereas Adam, prior of Lewes, has obtained that priory, which is of the patronage of John de Warenna, earl of Surrey, the grace of the pope, and has received the temporalities of the priory the earl, according to custom, and has held them for some time, carefully for the improvement of the estate of the priory, which fallen away in means and is wasted by the carelessness and bad governof those who ruled over it in times past, and the king now learns from information of the earl that the abbot is endeavouring to draw the prior suits to answer to him outside the realm concerning certain things the advowson of the priory, whereby prejudice may arise to the because pleas of advowson of churches and priories in the realm to his crown and dignity, and danger of disinheritance of the earl arise; for the avoidance whereof the king requests and orders the to consider what inconveniences may come upon him and the priory the premises if they be carried into effect, and that the king cannot pass such prejudical things to him and his realm without providing a and to desist from his endeavours, causing to be revoked what has attempted in his name, so that it may not behove the king to apply a hand. The king has inhibited the prior from going out of the realm answer concerning anything touching the advowson of the priory, and sending any one on his behalf, especially as the king is prepared to do to the abbot and to all others wishing to complain of things whereof cognisance pertains to the king in this realm.