1303-11-02, Burstwick

Order to the sheriff and coroners of Lincoln, reciting that by charter of Henry III and the king's confirmation it was granted to the prior and brethren of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England that they and their successors should have the chattels of their men, fugitive or condemned, and because the sheriff and coroners and others of the county impeded the prior and brethren from having the chattels of Robert Mawe of Benyngworth, their man and tenant, who fled for the death of Simon le Pestour of Horncastre, the king ordered them many times to permit the prior and brethren to have the same if it appeared that Robert was their man and tenant on the day of the said felony and made flight therefor, and not to molest them or permit them to be molested, or to signify to the king why they would not execute the king's order, and they returned that by inquisition made by them it was found that Robert was the man and tenant of the prior and brethren and that his chattels should pertain to the latter by reason of his flight and that the chattels came to the hands of Robert de la Doune, parson of the church of Welingham, Hugh Amory of Horncastre, John Amory of Horncastre, Alan Hermyn of Horncastre, Gilbert Laurot of Horncastre, Ralph Rudde of Horncastre, William Paune of Horncastre and Ralph Aster of Horncastre, who sold and alienated the same before receipt of the writ directed to the sheriff and coroners, whereby the latter could not deliver the same to the prior and brethren; and ordering the sheriff and coroners, after taking security from the prior and brethren for answering the king before the justices next in eyre in the county touching the said chattels or the value thereof unless they can they prove that the same should pertain to them and not to the king, to deliver to them the said chattels or the value thereof.