1367-05-20, Westminster

To the sheriff of Lincoln. Order to stay by the mainprise of James Sothill and William Preston of Lincolnshire the taking of the of Alice daughter of John de Everyngham of the diocese of a nun of Haversholme priory of the order of Sempyngham, the execution of the king's command to arrest and deliver her brother William master of the said order or to his attorney to be according to the rule of the order; as lately at the request the said master, signifying to the king by letters patent that the Alice, a nun professed of the said order, was apostate therefrom, the habit thereof, and wandering from country to country secular habit, to the peril of her soul and the scandal of the order, which cause she incurred sentence of excommunication, the king the sheriff to arrest and deliver her up as aforesaid ; after for that the said Alice made lawful appeal to the see of and for protection of the court of Canterbury against grievances to be brought upon her in this behalf, as appears by a public on her behalf produced in chancery, and the business of appeal is being prosecuted with effect as she avers, the king the sheriff to give notice to the said master to be in chancery month after Easter last, which day was given to the said Alice, shew cause wherefore the taking of her body ought not to be pending the business of the said appeal; at which day as well said master appeared in person as the said Alice by James Sothill attorney, being so warned, and the master alleged that she being nun professed, and sister of the house and order aforesaid, withdrew despising the same, and craved that she should be given up the said house there to abide according to the rule of the order the oath of her profession, and the said Alice said that she is not ever was a nun professed, offering to prove this in due manner, craving a stay of execution of the said writ to take her body, the said master said that she is and long ago was a nun professed, craving proof thereof, and she likewise, wherefore command is given to John bishop of Lincoln the diocesan to call the parties before him and take information touching the premises as well by examination of the said Alice and the brethren and sisters of the said house as by inquisitions of the neighbouring parts and otherwise, and to certify under his seal in chancery in or before the quinzaine of Michaelmas next that which shall so be found, which day has been given to the parties in chancery to do and receive what shall be right in the premises ; and the said Alice has found the said James and William Preston, who have mainperned in chancery under a pain of 1001. to have her body before the bishop at a day to be by him fixed to stand to his examination and do what else is required in that behalf, and if she be found a nun professed in the said house, to bring her again before the king in chancery at the day named to be delivered to the said master.