1391-12-06, Westminster wherefore

Exemplification, at the request of the prior and convent of Luffeld, of (1) a writ dated at Wapenbury, 12 March, 19 Edward I, directed to Elias de Hauvill, constable of Rokyngham castle, to enquire what lands John son of Richard de Sulveston, lately deceased, held of the king and of others, by what service, and their yearly value, the prior of Luffeld having declared that the said John held some of the king in socage and some of the said prior by knight service, whereof he the prior should have the custody during the minority of the heir, yet the constable, asserting that the lands held of the king were not held in socage but as of the Crown, and that the king should on that account have the custody, seized the premises into the king's hand; and (2) the inquisition taken thereon at Selveston, Saturday before the Annunciation, 19 Edward I, by oath of Geoffrey de Braunteston, Richard Avery, William Cardoun, William le Teler, Henry de Hauvill, Robert le Fevere, William Kyngesman, William Dynne, Geoffrey le Hokere, Roger le Fevere, Adam de Brackele and Geoffrey Fitz Richard, who say that the said John de Selveston held at his death of the king in socage a messuage and four virgates of land in Selveston by the service of 11s. year, doing suit at the king's court of Selveston and giving a beast of the better sort as heriot for all services, of the yearly value of 20s. and that he held of the prior of Luffeld a messuage and three cottages with two virgates of land in Selveston by knight service, doing homage and foreign service to the said prior, and that they are of the yearly value of 10s.; (8) a certificate by the treasurer and chamberlains of the king sent into Chancery : Pleas de quo warranto before Geoffrey Lescrope and his fellow-justices itinerant at Northampton, Monday after All Saints, 8 Edward III. The prior of Luffeld was summoned to answer the king in a plea of quo warranto why he claims to have a fair at Luffeld on the eve, day and morrow of the Exaltation of the Cross, and view of frankpledge, assize of bread and ale of his tenants in Sulveston ; and the prior by John de Apperton, his attorney, comes and as to the fair says that Henry II by his charter granted and confirmed it to the prior of Luffeld and his successors, which charter he produces in court, he and his predecessors having ever since been seised of the said fair. As to the view of frankpledge, assize of bread and ale, he says that he and his predecessors from time immemorial have been seised thereof in respect of their tenants in Sulveston, to be held once a year. Asked if he had pillory and tumbrel he says no, and that from time immemorial he and his predecessors have been wont to punish offenders by fines and not by corporal punishment, - . Parr I. 505 he claims those liberties. Richard de Aldeburgh, following for king, says that the said prior acknowledges he has no pillory or the proper judicial instruments pertaining to view of frankfor duly punishing convicted offenders against the assize aforesaid, that he does not practise the due form of punishment, but only them, which is manifestly against the law and custom of realm, and therefore prays judgment for the king, and if the are not sufficient, he prays that enquiry be made how the prior his predecessors have used the said liberties, from what time ete. come the jury on Friday after Easter etc., on which day the prior and the jury, who say that the prior and his predecessors the time of the making of the said charter have used the said fair as should, and that they from time immemorial have been seised of and the said view of frankpledge without interruption. Asked to what the fines levied by the prior amount, they say 40d., and because he that he had not pillory nor tumbrel, and that he has now offenders in this respect every time by fine, it was decided that said view be taken into the king's hand and the prior is in mercy. he prays that he may have the said view again etc., and it granted to him, and he gives the king half a mark for having it again. the prior is sine die, saving to the king his right when he shall at another time to sue for it.