| Description (Repository) |
346. Confirmation made in form of a cirograph by Prior Robert of Moulsham, with the assent of the convent, to William English of Westminster and his heirs, of a messuage in the vill of Westminster, lying between the land of Geoffrey Smith and that of William parmenter, which messuage William English and his wife Isabel received in fee and inheritance from the aforesaid Geoffrey son of Jocelin Smith and his heirs, by service of 3s. annually, which rent Geoffrey and his heirs granted to provide lights for the Lady Altar. William English and his heirs were assigned to render this rent to Prior Robert, or to anyone else who might be warden of the altar, as Geoffrey's charter testifies. William and Isabel, in presence of the better and more lawworthy men of the viii of Westminster, constituted the Blessed Virgin and the warden of the altar their heirs. Prior Robert, as chief lord, on behalf of the Blessed Virgin, and in his capacity as warden, has confirmed the messuage to William and his heirs, at an annual rent of 4s. 6d. due to him (Prior Robert) or to anyone who is warden for the time being. [c. 1199 x 1207]
Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Robertus de Mullesham, prior Westmonasterii, assensu et voluntate tocius conventus nostri, dimisi et concessi et hac presenti carta confirmavi Willelmo Anglico de Westmonasterio et heredibus suis unum masuagium cum pertinentiis in villa Westmonasterii ; quod masuagium iacet inter terram Gaufridi fabri ex una parte, et terram Willelmi parmentarii ex altera, et quod masuagium predictus Willelmus Anglicus et Isabella uxor eius receperunt in feudo sibi et heredibus eorum de predicto Gaufrido filio Jocilini fabri et heredibus suis per servitium trium solidorum per annum pro omni servitio et per gersummam quattuordecim solidorum. Redditum quorum trium solidorum predictus Gaufridus et heredes sui dederunt et concesserunt ad administrationem luminaris altaris Beate Marie in ecclesia nostra pro xl solidis. De quibus tribus solidis predictus Willelmus et heredes sui assignati fuerunt reddere mihi, vel alii qui pro tempore esset custos predicti altaris, sicut carta ipsius Gaufridi testatur. Unde sciendum est quod predictus Willelmus ante decessum Isabelle uxoris, eius assensu et voluntate utriusque, de predicto masuagio cum pertinentiis Beatam Mariam et custodem altaris ipsius qui pro tempore fuerit, coram melioribus et legalioribus hominibus ipsius ville Westmonasterii, heredes fecerunt et constituerunt. Ego autem vice gloriose Virginis et nomine ipsius altaris custodis tamquam capitalis dominus concessi et dimisi et presenti scripto confirmavi predicto Willelmo et heredibus suis predictum masuagium cum pertinentiis vel cui assignare vel dare voluerit; reddendo inde singulis annis mihi vel alii qui pro tempore fuerit custos predicti altaris iiijor solidos et vj denarios , unde prius reddidit nisi tres solidos tantummodo. Habendum et tenendum sibi et heredibus suis, vel assignatis, libere et quiete, integre et plenarie, per liberum servitium predictorum solidorum et vj denariorum reddendorum ad anni terminos, videlicet: ad Natale Domini tresdecim denarios et obolum; et ad Pascha tresdecim denarios et obolum; et ad Festum Sancti Johannis Baptiste tresdecim denarios et obolum; et ad Festum Sancti Michaelis tresdecim denarios et obolum. Ut autem hec omnia securam firmitatem futuris temporibus obtineant ego Robertus, vice gloriose Virginis et nomine altaris ipsius tunc temporis custodis, sigillum meum apposui parti carte cyrographate quam remanet ipsi Willelmo et heredibus vel assignatis suis, et ipse Willelmus sigillum suum apposuit parti carte cyrographate que remanet penes me vel alium tunc temporis ipsius altaris custodem. Hiis testibus: Domino Willelmo Eliensi, domini regis thesaurario; Domino Roberto Mauduit; Johanne de Sterteford; Willelmo de Casten; Alexandro cleric°, Ludovico clerico; Odone aurifabro Henrico Sumer; Ricardo filio Edmundi; Roberto de Claigate; Stephano de Berking; Roberto de Crokes1'; Laurentio Muschat, et toto alimoto Westmonasterii.
MSS: (1) WAM 17326.
20.3 x 17 cm; t.u. 2.3 cm. Indented CYROGRAPHUM at top.
Seal: on tag; red; 4 x 3.5 cm. Obverse: fleur-de-lys; legend: + S. WILL LE ANGLETS DE CHECCER.
Endorsed: (a) Convencio inter capellam et Willelmum Anglicum de Westmonasterio de tribus solidis annui redditus solvendis eidem capelle ad luminaria sustentanda pro quodam mesuagio in villa Westmonasterii. (b) Westmonasterii capella lvj
WAD, ff. 547v-548.
Pd: Richardson, 'William of Ely', 86-7, no. VI.
Date: William English, sergeant of the Exchequer, transported treasure in the early years of John's reign (Rot. Litt. Claus. I, 12, 13, 16). He was active on Exchequer business in the latter part of H II's reign and was prob. a brother of Richard of Ely, royal treasurer and subsequently bp. of London, and a kinsman of his successor as treasurer, William of Ely; he is last mentioned in 1207 (Richardson, 'William of Ely', 47 and n. 2; 86-87n.).
Note: Geoffrey son of Jocelin's charter is 433. Walter, a later proctor of the Lady Altar, granted this messuage to Robert son of Maurice and his heirs, c. 1225 x 1235 (WAM 23638(d)). |