MSS. Ch. Kent. 83-88

TUNBRIDGE. Fragments of a long roll of documents belonging to the priory of Thonebregge, viz.:

(a) Mutilated document relating to the convocation of the clergy of the province of Canterbury.

(b) Petition of the religious to the archbishop of Canterbury and others, setting forth the non-fulfilment of the conditions contained in the king's writ, dated at Lincoln, 24 Nov., 10 Ed. II, on which a subsidy of a tenth had been granted, and praying that the same may be repaid to them. (See Wilkins' Concilia, vol. ii. p. 460.)

(c) Deliberation of the clergy concerning the articles transmitted to them, considered the Wednesday after the Sunday in which is sung the office Quasimodo geniti, in the church of St. Paul's, London, 1319. [Mutilated.]

(d) Form of appointment of an attorney for rendering an account of the profits and issues of a manor.

(e) Letter to Walter, archbishop of Canterbury , from the chapter and convent of Tunbridge, signifying the appointment of William de Frend, canon of Tunbridge , as their proctor, to appear before him in the church of St. Paul's, London, the Friday next after the Sunday Quasimodo, to consult for the advantage of the Church of England, &c. Dated at Tunbridge the Id. of April, 1318.

(f) Bull of pope John XXII, addressed to the abbot of Milton, Sarum diocese, for the prior of Twynham. Dated at Avignon 4 Id. January. [Mutilated.]

(g) Another bull of pope John XXII, to the prior and convent of Winchester, for the prior of Twynham. [Mutilated.]

(h) Letter from the pope's nuncio to the prior of Tunbridge, demanding that a good horse, a palfrey, and a sumpter horse caparisoned, may be sent to his chamberlain. Dated at London, 8 June, 1318.

(i) Letter directed to the prior of Merton by the abbot of Cirencester and the prior of Lanthony near Gloucester presiding at the general chapter of the order of St. Augustine, for the collection of subsidy for the lawsuit against the priory of Twynham. Dated 1318.

(k) Letter to the heads of houses of the order of St. Augustine from William, prior of Merton , concerning the collection of the said subsidy. [Mutilated.] Dated 4. Non. Nov., 1318.

(l) Letter of presentation of the heirs of Okestede. [Mutilated.]

(m) Mutilated document concerning the collection of the subsidy against the priory of Twynham.

(n) Letter of William, St. Mary of Merton , revoking the sentence of the greater excommunication promulgated against the prior of Tunbridge for the non-payment of the subsidy.

(o) Answer of the clergy to the archbishop of Canterbury in the council held at London, containing the heads of matters proposed for deliberation. [Mutilated.]

(p) Mutilated document concerning the same council (o).

(q) Form for the appointment of a general proctor by John, the prior of Tunbridge .

(r) John, the prior, and convent of Tunbridge present Benedict de Ealdyng (Yalding) to the church of Stradselle, Norwich diocese.

(s) Fragment of a letter of Gilbert Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hertford, to the prior and convent of Tunbridge.

(t) Letter of Laurence ate Wealde, canon and proctor of the prior and monastery of Tunbridge . [Fragment.]

(u) Benedict de Ealdyng (Yalding) indemnifies the prior and convent of Tunbridge, on his presentation to the church of Stradeshulle, against any suit, and promises to be satisfied with the allowances hitherto paid. Dated the Thursday next before the feast of the apostles Simon and Jude.

(v) Letter of excuse from the prior of Rochester to the prior of Tunbridge. [Mutilated.]

(w) Letters testimonial for priest's orders from Roger, the prior of Tunbridge , to the bishop of Rochester, in favour of W. Mareschal . Dated 13 kl. October. [Mutilated.]

(x) The priors of the monasteries of Ledes and Combewell, deputed visitors of the houses of the order of St. Augustine, Canterbury and Rochester dioceses, notify to the prior and convent of Tunbridge their intention to visit their house the Wednesday on the feast of the Commemoration of St. Paul next (30 June). Dated at Ledes on the morrow of St. John the Baptist, 1311.

(y) Simon de Clare, clerk, swears that he will be faithful to the church of St. Mary Magdalen, Tunbridge, and to his lords the prior and convent of the same place. Dated the Sunday on the feast of the Assumption of the B. V. M., 1316.

(z) Roger, the prior, and convent of Tunbridge acknowledge that John de Gelderegg , their servant at Tunbridge, has rendered his account of receipts and expenditure to the date of the feast of St. Michael, 5 Ed. II. Dated at Tunbridge, &c.

(aa) Mutilated deed of John Hering binding himself to faithful service to the priory.

(bb) Mutilated deed of Andrew ... acknowledging receipt of 2s. 4d. for expences with reference to Bruncheslee.

(cc) Citation by the priors of Ledes and of Combewelle, visitors of the houses of the order of St. Augustine within the dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester, to the prior of Tunbridge to come to the general council to be held in Christ Church, London, 1318. [Mutilated.]

(dd) Letters patent of King Edward II, dated at Westminster, 22 May, 14 of his reign, being a pardon for Henry de Shipton and others for detaining the castle of Tunbridge, in opposition to the king's writ to the sheriff for seizing it and other possessions of Hugh de Audley .

(ee) Writ of King Edward II, concerning the lands, &c. of Hugh de Audele, junior. [Mutilated.]

(ee(b)) Another fragment.

(ff) Letter of Walter, archbishop of Canterbury , to the prior and convent of Tunbridge concerning an exchange between William, rector of Merston , and the vicar of Brenchesle. Dated at Lambeth, Nones May.

(gg) John, the prior, and convent of Tunbridge grant to master Walter de Grenewey an annual pension of two marks. Dated at Tunbridge, &c.

(hh) John, the prior, and convent of Tunbridge grant to sir Thomas de Somersete, chaplain, a corrody of 2 white loaves and one gallon of the better conventual beer from their common cellar, commencing the Sunday on the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, 1320. (See Ch. 88b.)

(hh(b)) Another fragment.

(ii) Letter of pope John XXII to the archbishop of Canterbury, directing him to exhort the king to the due observance of the laws and just government, especially for the non-exaction of subsidies for wars from the possessions of the church. Dated at Avignon 1st year of his pontificate.

(kk) Claricia, who was wife of sir Roger de Wellesworth, kt. , deceased, and Alice , who was wife to sir John de Hamme, kt., deceased, daughters and heirs of sir Roland de Hokstede , deceased, present to the prior and convent of Tunbridge their faithful clerk Robert Quyntyn to be a canon of their house. Dated at London, 14 Aug., 1319.

(ll) Letter of H., bishop of Rochester , to the prior of Tunbridge, inviting him to be present at his inthronement in the church of Rochester on the octave of the Epiphany. Written at Borstall near Rochester, the kl. January.

(mm) Writ of Edward II, tested at Westminster 25 Jan., 11th of his reign, to the bailiffs of Roger Dammory of Bodegesham , to allow the prior of Tunbridge to appear by proxy at the court of Bodegesham.

(nn) John, the prior of Tunbridge , appoints in his place Richard de Hoton to make suit to the court of his lord, sir Roger de Ammory of Bodegesham , according to the tenor of the king's writ directed to the bailiffs of the said court. Dated at Tunbridge the day of the Annunciation, 13 Ed. II.

(oo) Richard de Holedene, priest, having been presented by the prior and convent of Tunbridge to the church of Leghe, indemnifies them against any claim to the advowson. Dated at Bromlegh, 2 Non. Sept., 13[20]?.

Cf. MS. Rolls Kent 6