Bysekyth yow full mykely John Shillyngford now beyng Mayer of the cyte of Exetre yn name of hymself as mayer and alle the hole comminalte of the seyde cyte, youre owne puple and true bedmen, and at alle tymes at youre commandement as most specyall lorde after the Kynge our soverayn lord, consyderyng the gode and gracyous lordship and endyfferency that they fynde yn yow that they have moste feyth hope and truste ther yn, and that y dar well seye by my trauthe; that hit please B. begins here with "Please hit yn to your right gode and gracious lordship." youre gode and gracyous lordship to be remembred of the grete mater mater—"mater hongyng yn debate." B. bytwene the Ryght Reverend Fader yn God, and gode blessed man yn hymself, hymself—"yf he most be," inserted in B. Edmund Bysshop of the Cathedrall Church of Excetre, the Deane and the Chapytre of the same churche, and the mayer and the comminalte of the seyde cyte, the whiche mater came before yow and the two Chif Justises by the sywte ynstance and laboure of the seyde bysshop deane and chapitre yn to the highnesse of oure soverayne lorde the Kynge made; by whas ryght high and ferfull commandement by his his—omit, B. letters under his privy seell, we the mayer and comminalte hadde day to appere before yow, whiche day we kepte and apperyd and didde and demenyd us that day and evere sythenys yn fulfyllynge of the Kynges commandement, as we truste to God ye woll reporte us, and yet buth redy to do the same as we aughte to do. Nerthelez atte begynnyng of thys mater comyng to fore yow yn revelucion the^b mayor and comminalte, as they darst, sywed unto you my lord chaunceller by supplycacion to have be descharged and dys∣myssed as the law wolde, and have hadde the maters to have be determyned atte comyn law; bot when your gracyous lordship the to lordship—We by your gracious lordship, B. so beynge enfourmed of the Kynges wyll, whiche was to us ryght a high and ferfull commandement, that^c we darst so not, but wyth ryght gode wyll at alle tymes obeyed us that to us—"we for drede levyng the comyn lawe and the benefice therof whiche we as þe kinges true lege men buth an habited ther yn with right gode will obeyed and bounden us." B. to abyde suche rule as the Kynge by his seyde letters apoynted us to; whereupon we sythenys wyth grete coste have labored and at alle tymes have be redy and yet buth to bryng yn dyvers evydencys and munimentys concernynge oure ryght title and clayme of franchises and libertees of the seyd cyte as the Kynges seyde commandement woll, woll,—B ends as follows.—"as hit is comprehended and appereth yn oure articles and shorte entitelynges of oure evidences y put yn before your gode lordshippis, to the whiche we buth not yet answered all be hit that we have answered and buth redy to answere to alle and every their articulis of evidences whiche they have put yn. Also we have put yn before your gode lordship answeres to their articulis of compleyntes and rejoynders to the same, and yf any thyng lacke we buth redy to performe hit. And so we truste to God we have do all thynge that we aughte to do to prove openly and clerely oure entent the con∣trary of theire claymes." B. by the specyall sywte yn∣stance and laboure of the seyde bysshop, deane and chapytre. Also we have made and putte yn before your gode lordshipp articles, answers, rejoynders, For these "articles, answers, replications," see Part II. post. and alle other thyngs that we aughte to do. And yf eny thyng lakke we buth redy perfourme hit. So as we truste to God we have do and shall do all thyngs that longeth to oure part for to do, bysekyng yow of youre gode and gracyous lordshyp that the other party do the same for their part, or ellys to be con∣cluded, and thus ye shall have the maters of bothe parties in know∣liche, and the ryght openly to appere. And therapon that hit like your gode and gracyous lordship to make and end after the Kynges commandement, calling to you the two chefe justises; and yf eny party be found yn defaute, so to be conceyved, ruled, and reported to the Kyng oure soverayn lorde, and that for the love of God and yn wey of charyte. This document is indorsed in a hand of Elizabeth's time—"Anno Regis Henrici Sexti vicesimo quarto."

Worthy sires y grete yow well alle; doyng yow to understonde that y rode fro Excetre on Fryday and cam to London on Tywys∣day by tyme at vii atte cloke; and ther sithenys have full bisily labored to make an answere to the articulys. articulys.—i. e. the Articles of Proof. See Part II. The cause of so longe taryng yn makyng of the answers hath be for right grete bysynes y^t Alisaunder Hody hath hadde aboute his awne maters; maters—after this there was originally "w^t owte wham y cowde not well labore w^t oute much more tarynge." netheles by the avys of Alisaunder Hody and Dowrisshe and Roger Rawly, [they] beth made as may be yn so shorte tyme, trustyng to God that al the substance ys comprehended ther ynne, so that what tyme hit is amended, corected and made by avys of counseyll to be right well; of the whiche answeris so shortely made y sende to yow ij. copies, oon to be send to the Recorder yn hast yf hit may be for shortenys of tyme, &c., that other copy to abide w^t yow, prayng yow Thomas Cook most specially w^t the lu tenaunt, callyng to yow William Noble, Coteler, Druell, and other wham ye seme is to be don, and that this answer be sadly over seyn; and yf eny thyng be ther yn to myche or to litell yn substance to sette the penne to sadly. Originally "to sette to the penne sadly." This don y pray yow to calle be fore yow atte halle halle—"in my name," erased. the substance of the comminalte, praynge every of tham yn my name and chargyng tham yn þe most streytest wyse yn the Kynges byhalf to come to fore yow yn haste for the tydyngs that y have sent home to yow; and that ye wysely declare to fore tham these answers; so that they sey manly yee and nay yn suche poyntes as yow thynke to be don, &c. and þ^t þey wyll abide by þ^e answers yn all wyse, and that labo^r and spekyng be before to that entent. This don y pray yow that y have a gode man sende to me yn hast.

Memo^d that on Monedey next before the feste of Seynt Luke 16 Oct. 1447. N. B. This was written by Shillingford, as later on he takes up the first person. the yere of the regne of the kyng that now is xxvj (Henry VI.) Richard Druell, William Speere and Henry Dobyn w^t ham rode oute of Exceter to London-ward for nedes of the cite, that is to seye to kepe the dey of apparence atte xv. of Seynt Michall as the cite was bounde to, as hit appereth by a bounde condycionell, havyng w^t ham sufficiant power and the comyn seell and xl s. of John Shil∣lingford, Mayer, and xx s. of John Germyn, for their coustages; and so departed the seyde Monedey yerly. And as tochyng the seyde xl s. w^t xl s. more that the seyde John Mayer payed to Trevy∣lian, he was payed ayen by the feloship of the collecte mony to the plee, &c. How the seyde Richard Druell and William Speere spedde when they came to London hit appereth yn a sedule by the sayde Richard Druell and William Speer therof made, remaynyng w^t the [seyde] Rychard Druell. Forthermore as tochyng the goynge of the seyde John Shillyngforde, mayer, he was all redy for to ride the seide Monedey: varians y moved bytwene hym and the seyde Richard Druell, nerthelez better accorde hadde by mene of Tho∣mas Cook, Richard Druell w^t other held his wey, and the seyde mayer abode at home yn to a tuysday next after Seynt Luke is dey 24 Oct. 1447. for settyng of the kynges dyme, comyng of Trevylian, and other grete maters toching the cite, and yn especiall to have the feloship togeder, a sadde communicacion to be had or his departyng, the whiche communicacion myght not be had before Saterdey next after Seynt Luke is dey 21 Oct. 1447. for this cause that the grete part of the feloship was at Calston is fayre, and thoo that war at home, as Upton, Cote∣ler and Pope, were syke on theire beddes; and for alle these causes the mayer abode at home so longe, and all that tyme he kepte his iij. hors yn stabill every dey redy to ride to hym grete coste. The tuysday 24 Oct. 1447. he rode and w^t hym William Hampton and John Fagot. On Wendysdey 25 Oct. 1447. at nyght they came to Sheftesbery and there mette w^t Richard Druell, whiche made reporte of his gode spede and grete laboure at London, as hit appereth yn his sayde remembrance, and that on the beste wyse. The Saterdey 28 Oct. 1447. next ther after the mayer came to Westminster sone apon ix. atte belle, and ther mette w^t my lorde Chaunceller atte brode dore a litell fro the steire fote comyng fro the Sterre chamber, y Note that here Shillingford takes the first person. yn the courte and by the dore knellyng and salutyng hym yn the moste godely wyse that y cowde and recommended yn to his gode and gracious lordship my feloship and all the comminalte, his awne peeple and bedmen of the Cite of Exceter. He seyde to the mayer ij. tymes "Well come," and the iij^de. tyme "Right well come Mayer," and helde the mayer a grete while faste by the honde, and so went forth to his barge and w^t hym grete presse, lordis and other, &c. and yn especiall the tresorer of the kynges housholde, w^t wham he was at right grete pryvy com∣municacion. And therfor y, mayer, drowe me apart, and mette w^t hym at his goyng yn to his barge, and ther toke my leve of hym, seyyng these wordis, "My lord, y wolle awayte apon youre gode lordship and youre better leyser at another tyme." He seyde to me ayen, "Mayer, y pray yow hertely that ye do so, and that ye speke w^t the Chief Justyse and what tyme that ever he will y woll be all redy." And thus departed, &c. The Soneday 29 Oct. 1447. abowte viij. atte clokke y came to Lambeth, and w^t me Dowrissh and Speere to myte and speke w^t my seyd lord. We mette and spake w^t hym yn the ynner chamber, he at that tyme beyng right bysy goynge yn to his closet. And w^t right gode longage and gode chere yn godely wyse exscused hym that he myght not speke w^t ous atte that tyme for grete bysynes, and comaunded ous to come ayen the morun. Y, mayer, prayed hym of oo a worde at that tyme and no more, y seyyng that y was enfourmed that he was dysplesed of my late comyng, and yf he so were, y bysoghte hym to hire myne excuse grete. He seyde "Nay;" but that y was come yn right gode tyme and well come, and at his departyng yn to his closet he seide, "Mayer, wolde God ye hadde made a gode ende at home." And y seide, "Wolde God my lord that we so hadde, and God y take to recorde y have done my due dilygent part therto, and that yn tyme y truste to God ye shall well knowe; for y have right meny thyng to enfourme yow of yf y hadde tyme." He seide "Well, mayer," and bade me come ayen that same dey afternone, and so departed, &c. Y was by the Styward and meny other of the housholde full fayre y bede to abide atte mete, ne never hadde better chere chere—chese MS. of my lorde ne of the hous∣hold then y hadde atte tyme. Netherlez y exscused me and wold not abide as for tyme. And so went over the water to Temple to Bluet, &c. and so went w^t Bluet, Dowrissh, Speere and y to the chief justice and comyned of meny thynges w^t hym. He is like as y conceve to have the grete rule yn this mater, for my lorde Chaun∣celler seide, as hit is aboveseid, that he wolde attende when the justyse wolde, the whiche y seide to the justyse. The justyse seyde he wold be aredy at his callyng. And as y conceve by dyvers wordes that they have comyned of a rule yn this mater; what ever hit be y can not wyte as yet. God eve eve—first written "yeve" and altered to "eve." grace hit be gode, and so y truste to God that hit be. That afternone y went ayen to Lambeth 29 Oct. 1447. to my lord after his commaundement aboveseid and when y come thider to hym yn to his ynner chamber, there was myche peeple, lordes and other, my lord Tresorer, under Tresorer, the pryvy seel, land dyvers abbottes and pryours, and meny strangers aleyns of other londys. And then came yn the Duke of Bokyngham, and ther was grete bysynes at that tyme, hardly alle men were bede to avoyde that chamber saaf the lordes. Nerthelez y awayted my tyme and put me yn presse and went right to my lorde Chaunceller and seide, "My lorde y am come at youre commaundement, but y se youre grete bysynesse is suche that ye may not attende." He seide "Noo, Noo—first written "nay.", by his trauthe and that y myght right well se." Y seide "Yee, and that y was sory and hadde pyty of his grete vexacion." He seide "Mayer, y moste to morun ride right MS. by tyme to the Kyng, and come ayen this wyke: ye most awayte apon my comyng, and then y woll speke w^t the justise and attende for yow, &c. Y seide, "My lorde, y woll do after youre commaundement," and prayed hym of hys gode and gracyous lordship of oo worde more, yf he were enfourmed by worde or by wrytyng of eny thyng that y have do or seyde or governed me yn eny wyse at home sithen the last terme my depart∣yng fro hym other wyse then to his plesure and after his com∣maundement. He seyde right hertly "Nay," but that y hadde governed me at home yn the most best and godely wyse and therfor he oowde me grete thanke, and seide hertely that y sholde have Goddes blessyng and his therfor, &c. And so departed, &c.

Nota that Druell and Speere is beyng afore dide gode, for they dide theire part yn the most best wyse.

[Worthy The original of this letter and part of the draft are extant; the words in brackets are filled in from the draft, called B. for the purpose of collation. Sires, as yn the other letter &c. y grete yow w]ell alle. Yn the whiche letter y wrote to yow that y hadde a dey to appere before the lordis for [oure mater the Fridey next ther after; and for as moche as] my lord Chaunceller bade the Justyse to dyner dyner—written "mete" in B. and altered. ayenst that same day for [oure mater, seyyng that he sholde have a dys] of salt fisshe; y hiryng this, y didde as me thoght aughte to be done, and by avys [of the Justise and of oure counseill, and sende] thider that day ij. stately pikerellis and ij. stately tenchis, for the whiche my [lord Chaunceller cowde right grete thank]ys and made right moche therof hardely; for hit came yn gode seson, seson—ceson, B. for my lordis [the Duke of Bokyngham, the Markis] of Southfolke and other, Bysshoppis divers dyned with my lord Chaunceller tha[t dey. But] as touchyng the laboure and spede of oure mater that day, hit was by my seide lorde ajorned over yn to the [morun] Saterdey for these causis that a grete disputacion was be fore my lorde yn his chapell at Lambeth for pre[chyng of] Bysshoppis. And the seide lordis that same Friday were there at diner. originally "mete" in B. and altered. And the Justise came not there that day; but the same Friday after mete y was with the Justise by by—omit B. longe tyme and yn gode leisure to comyne of oure mater. Y fynde hym a gode man and well willed yn oure right, and like to have the grete rule of the mater, as yn the other letter. And he bade me move of some gode meene to ende the mater. Y seide ayen, savyng his commaundement, y cowde no skyll theryn ne to speke ne move of menyse, of menys—omit B. ne hit was not my part so to do; for hit wolde seme if y so didde, that y hadde doute of oure right, where y have right none, but we woll dwelle and abide thereapoun and go no ferther; but if eny man wolde move of eny meene, hit was my part to hire and so to reporte, &c. But furthermore y seide that fro ij. thyngis w^t oure gode will we wolde never departe; that the churche and cimi∣tere, as as—and, B. that they calle synt Stevyn is fe, is parcel of the cite and ever hath be and shall be; and that we have a vyw and alle that to belongeth, and they right none, ne never hadde ne shall shall—sholde, B. have but ever w^t ynne the jurisdiccion and under the correccion and punyssh∣ment of the cite, &c. He seide that they claymed a viw and that they hadde used moche thyng, &c. and he seide hit was aunsion de∣mene. And y seide nay, and proved hit by Domesday, and so were on grete argamentes by longe tyme, to longe to write: all hit was to tempte me w^t laghynge chere. Y seide they hadde no more but sympell Court Baron, if they so hadde. He seide that every man myght have of his awne tenantis and aske no man no leve, &c. Y seide how sholde they have more; they have no no—nother, B. olde grauntis of kynges, ne clayme none allowance yn Eyere, ne instrument to do punysshement of that that longethe to a lete. He seide hit was a fe called of olde tyme. Y seide yee, as suche fees as beth ther on towne, and reherced hym of vij. and that alle were parcell of the cite: and among other y rehersed hym of Seynt Nicholas fe. He seide lete the Bisshoppis fe be as Seynt Nicholas fe is. Y seide, if hit pleased hym, nay, hit myght not be so; for Seynt Nicholas fe, y called Haroldis fe, is is—and. B. graunt of olde kyngis and confirmaciouns, &c. He seide the Bisshop hadde the same. Y seide nay that I never knyw ne sigh, sigh—segh. B. and if that they so hadde, lete hit be shewed and but hit be answered hit sholde ende the mater. Then he moved of divers menys and abstynance of arestis. Y seide when the last grete debate was of the suburbis w^t oute Este yeate, of whiche debate he was cause of an ende by a recompence, atte ende of whiche mater hit was desired for to have have—have hadde, B. an abstynance, but none y graunted but under this fourme, that the Maier that tyme beyng, and every man that hadde be Maier and like to be Maier, promysed on his feith to forbere of arestis on the Churche for certyn ouris, alle that they myght godely, and sithenes hadde they no cause resonable to com∣plaine; and y seide this was a grete thynge as me thoght. He seide nay for that that sholde be attis tyme sholde be do by writynge for a perpetual pees. Then he asked of me of this mene; if we wolde absteyne us and forbere of arrestis of alle men of habite habite—abyte, B. servantis familiars knawed without any fraude generally. Y seide, if hit pleased hym, nay; for hit was better the last terme before this, that we sholde forbere of arrestis but yn tyme of doyng of divine servys of men of habite, servantis familiars and theire Baillyffs knawed, &c. and of alle other as on Sent Paull is Chirche at London. He seide hit was soth, and asked ayen if we wold wold—wold so, B. forbere and absteyne and be re∣compensed therfor, and we to have the viw and alle that longeth therto generally, as well on the fe as, &c. and so to make arrestis w^t ynne the fe, as y conceved hym, and to forbere alle other arrestis w^t ynne his tenementis of the seide fe and to be recompensed &c. and the Bisshop to have his courtis of his awne tenantis and to holde plees of gretter somme thenne thenne—þen, B. Court Baron xl s. and spake of xl. marke. Apon this mene he stiked faste, and thoghte thoughte—þoughte, B. "th" is frequently "þ" in B, and is not noted after this. hit was resonable and ever asked of me divers tyms what y wolde seye therto, all as y conceve conceve—conceved, B. to tempte me, and to concente to a mene, &c. and then y seide My lorde, if hit please you, ye shall have me exscused to answere, &c. for thogh me thoght that hit were a mene resonable y dar not sey yee, thogh y have power, for the mater toucheth a grete comminalte as well as me, and so that y dar not seye yn to tyme that y have spoke w^t my felowship at home: and y seide, My lorde, for as moche as y conceve right well that this mater, if hit ende attis tyme, hit is like to ende by a mene, hit is my part to hire and to reporte, &c. but be the mene never so resonable to conclude with yow, thogh y have power ynogh, y beseche yow of youre gode lordship to have me exscused therof yn to tyme y have be at home with my felowship, or of tham here with me vj. or vij. for other wyse woll y never con∣clude with my gode will, &c. He seide ayen, Ye didde theron as right a wise man, and so departyd, &c. The morun Saterday Saturday, 28 Oct. 1447. y came to Westminster to kepe my day as hit is aboveseid. Y spake with my lorde Chaunceller. He adjorned hit over yn to Soneday, and and so, B. afterward fro Soneday Sunday, 29 Oct. 1447. yn to Moneday; for the Justises dyned with the Maier of London that Sonday. The Moneday Monday, 30 Oct. 1447. y maier, Bluet, Hody, Dourissh, Germyn and Speere with me come to Lam∣beth to my lord, and ther was at that day atte dyner with my lord the ij. chif justises, justises—judgys, B. and so we appered before them; and for oure party advers Kys, Hengston, More, Wode and Wolston. My lord hym self furst moved the mater to the Chif Justises, so that the Chif Justise seide the mater stondeth thus: that as to the compleyntis of the Bisshop Deane and Chapitre, hit is answered, repplyed and re∣joyned, and as moche do therynne as may be do; and as tochynge the compleyntes of the maier and comminalte, the whiche them semeth grevous, beth not yet answered, and them semeth, &c. My lord Chauncellor therwith sodenly went right to the justises bothen, and called to hym Nicholas Ayssheton at that tyme beynge there, and leide theire iiij. heddis negh negh—right negh, B. to gedder and comyned to geder right privyly a grete while, and alle as y conceve conceved, B. and as hit proved afterwardis that the answeris to oure articulis articulis—to be laid apart erased in B. not to be spoke of. After that my lorde toke his cheire and the justises sate with hym, and bothe parties with theire consell kneled before. My lord asked how we last departed and therapoun stomped "abode" erased, "stomped" inserted in B. a grete while. My lord asked the bokis. He seide that his were on Kent is warde. He asked of oure party advers theire bokis: they wolde be knawe of none yn no wyse. And y mayer, seide yes, with with—put in place of "and" in B. moche more therto, &c. and how my lordis commaundement was at London, and aggrementis at home yn the chaptry hous, that oure articulis sholde be answered or we proceded any ferder, y praynge my lorde that so, &c. My lord was loth therto and the justises bothe. My lorde seide furste merily merily—myryly, B. of Vaspasianus. Vaspasianus—See the City's Articles, Part II. And y seide that that that—hit, B. was no mater of oure compleyntis, but y putte yn to prive prove, B. what the cite was of olde tyme; and then my lord seide some what strangely and sharpely that oure articulis many were maters of noyse and desclaunder, and forto for to—for, B. answere them hit wolde be cause of more grucchynge and yvell wyll. And y seide, "Yf eny suche be, lete tham be leide apart, and tho that beth substancialle grete and grevous to us, and somme cause and begynnyng of alle this debate, lete tham be so answered:" and y reherced iij. yn especiall, oone of the Dyme, Dyme—the "decima" or king's tenth? another of the feloun that toke the bysshoppis fe, and afterwarde of the churche, and the the—of the, B. coroners ylette, &c. and of the toure on the bisshoppis gardyn, &c. The chif justise seyde as tochynge the arti∣culis of bothe parties, that there were maters amendis to be made to ayther party, and that were longe to do, and that hit myght be don as well after as before, as to before—inserted on a rider in B. and that he hadde sey somme of oure arti∣culis ij. in especiall, oone of the Deme, another of the feloun above∣seide; and seide that us semed that they were grevous to us. Where∣apoun my lord spake of the bokis to us ayen; and y seide that my bokis were alle redy. And my lord bade to leye ham forth; and so we didde the articulis. They were but litell y radde ne take kepe to. Thenne as touchyng the deme, Whereapoun to deme—inserted in a rider in B. but much decayed. Hengston seide that he wolde right well that the deme were payed with us, as hit aughte to be, and hath be of olde tyme; but we didde not so, but sette hit and called none of the bysshoppis tenantis to us. Y saide nay, and made a longe rehersall therof fro kyng Edwardis tyme ynto this dey, how and under what fourme hit was don of olde tyme, how sithenes, and how now, and how late they sette with ynne tham tham—ham, B. self, and kept the mony and yet kepeth, and that sholde be well y proved. My lorde seide seide—seide hym thoghte, B. that as touchynge the settynge we were alle most accordyd theryn. Then seide Hengston lightly as touchynge set∣tynge and kepyng of the mony of the deme, hit shall be sone an∣swered; he menyng of Upton is tyme y wote right well, as y seide to yow at home. Y seyde to Hengston as lightly ayen, "As sone hit sholde be repplied and truly with the grace of god." Then my lord asked furste of that other party if they hadde full auctorite and power and wolde consente to menys: and they seide anone with gode gode—right gode, B. wille, yee for theire part. My lorde asked of me, me—put in place of "us" in B. Maier, if we wolde the same. Y seide as touchyng the power we hadde suffi∣ciant and y nogh; as touchyng to menys, y bisoghte hym of his lordship that y myght go apart to comyne with my felowship and oure conseill there at that tyme; and so y didde, and yeaf an an∣swere. Hody hadde the wordis of power as above; and as touchyng the menys with this condicion that oure articulis were answered, that we wolde aggre to suche menys as they lordis wolde rule us to. Then hit was no more at that tyme but the the—þ^t þe, B. articulis most be an∣swered; and as loth as they were to answere, and hadde no bokis as hit is abovesayde. Then they aggreed ham to bryng yn the an∣swere the morun. Y seide they they—þ^t þey, B. hadde seide dyvers tymes that they hadde olde charters, evidences, and munymentis to ende the mater; and y seide if they so hadde to bryng ham yn, and but they were answered to ende, &c. Hengston seide moche moche and strongely—myche and strangely, B. and strongely because y seide they hadde suche charters. Y seide yee, and avowed hit well they seide so. He seide that they hadde olde recordis, &c. and y saide as above. above—And here apon we hadde dey to receyve oure articles þe morn and so de∣parted, erased in B. Hengston honged sore to have a lete and a grete courte, and y traversed hym ever, and seide to hym moche thynge, and yn especiall that they never hadde instrument, and reherced what that belongeth belongeth—longeth, B. to a lete. Hengston seide but litell therto, but made wyse as thogh hit were yes; but Wode seide that they hadde olde wrytinge to have hit, and spake no more at all that tyme. Hengston seide openly that Radeford and he hadde commu∣nicacion at home of this mater, and were well negh accorded; and my lord seide, "Wolde god hit hadde be so," and yet "Wolde hit were so, for oure discharge." Y, Mayer, seide y knywe well and was spoke to of suche a communicacion; but what the privyte and the menyng was y myghte not knowe, and yf y hadde hit sholde have be never the werce but the better; and so we departed, stondyng a fer fro my lorde, and he asked wyne and sende me his awne cuppe and to no moo. Y wende right to my lord ayen before them alle, and spake with my lorde prively a grete whiles of divers maters, and among other of thys blynde entrety that Hengston spake of, y sey∣ynge to my lorde verily that this blynde entrety growith of my lorde of Excetre as y supposed. as y supposed—not in B. Wherfor and for as moche as Hengston seide yn his presence that Radeforde and he were negh accorded: y The rest of B. is much decayed. bysoghte my lorde, as me thoght his part was, and to ende the mater the rather to knowe of the communicacion, &c. My lorde seide y moved hym right well and sholde have goddis blessyng and his, and seide he wolde do so, &c. and so we toke oure leve and departed fro my lord and my lordis alle. My lord at this tyme didde me moche worsship, and openly yn the communicacion above∣seyde commended me for my gode rule at home, and yn especiall for the grete favo^r that y have do to men of the churche, hongyng this debate; and furthermore he of his awne mocion yn the communi∣cacion aboveseide spake openly of the letter that he send home to the bysshop by me, seiyng these wordes, "Maier, apon the communica∣cion that y hadde with yow here y send home a letter by yow to my brother of Excetre, the whiche y hoped sholde have do moche gode and cause of spede the rather ende the rather ende—not in B. of the mater." Y seide, "My lorde, B. ends here abruptly. that is true, and y have do my due diligent part therto, after youre commaundement by my trauthe." Y seyde more to Kys these wordis, "Kis, ye seide to me at home that y didde and seide moche thynge more there then my lorddis commaundement was, sey ye here be fore my lorde what hit was; and y truste to God and my lorde is gode lordship that my lord will avowe me on alle thyng that y didde and seide." My lorde sate stille a while, and Kys knelyng spake never a word, and thus passed over. Hengston among the maters abovesayd seyde moche more than is above writyn as touchyng the towre that stont on the bysshoppis gardyn, seiyng that that towre stode upon the bisshoppis grounde, and the bisshop sum tyme hadde his prison yn that towre, and that we repaired hit never, as is write on oure articulis: atte last hit was seide by their party that parcell of the towre stode upon the bisshoppis grounde as hit appereth openly there; they menyng by a wall and kernellis stondynge withoute the towre and thiknys of the towne walle, to∣ward the bisshoppis gardyn and annexed to the towre and towne wallis, &c.

The morun tuysday al Halwyn yeven 31 Oct. 1447. y receyved the answeris to oure articulis at Westminster of the whiche y sende yow a true copy, yn the whiche articulis as hit appereth they have spatte out the uttmyst and worste venym that they cowde seye or thynke by me; y blessed be God hit is nother felony, ne treson, ne grete trespas, and thogh hit hadde be, so they wolde have don, and werce yf they cowde: but as for trawthe of the mater that tocheth me, meny worthy man stondeth on the same cas and have do moche werce than ever y didde, thogh that be to me none exscuse. As touchyng the grete venym that they menyth of my lyvyng, y may and pur∣pose be at my purge, as y may right well apon my sawle of alle wymmen alyve excepte oone, and of hire righte a grete while; therfor y take right noght by and sey sadly si recte vivas, &c. and am right mery and fare right well, ever thankyng God and myn awne purse. And y liyng on my bedde atte writyng of this right yerly, myryly syngyng a myry song, and that ys this, Come no more at oure hous, come, come, come. Y woll not dye nor for sorowe ne for anger, but be myry and fare right well, while y have mony; but that ys and like to be scarce with me, considerynge the bisynesse and coste that y have hadde; and like to have: and yet y hadde with me xx li. and more by my trauthe; wherof of trauthe not right moche y spende yet, but like &c. Constre ye what ye will. Item, Thomas Mon∣tagew sholde sende me xj li. and odde mony as he wote well and can telle yowe: and y supposed that John Germyn sholde sholde—originally wolde altered to sholde. have broght to me all most x li. all this of myne awne gode; wherof cometh to me no peny. Wherfor y sende home to yow attis tyme William Hampton, berer of this writyng, for this cause most spe∣cially that ye, how that ever ye do, sende me xx li. yn hast, as ye wolle the spede of youre mater and welfare of the cite, y not shamed but pleased attis tyme; and that ye faill yn no wyse, mer∣vaillyng moche, for as moche as y departed fro yow with oute eny mony of youris, that ye ne hadde sende to me sithenesse some mony by Germyn, Kyrton, or some other man, &c.

Forthermore as tochyng the seide answeris, y pray yow that they be well redely avysely and distinctely over radde and the substance of them right well understonde, and most speciall the furste arti∣cule, the whiche ys most and right harde to answere, and that oure Recorder have knoweliche of all thyng that y have write home yf he be here as y suppose attis tyme, and but yf he be, to sende home to hym in hast; so that y have youre conceyt witte and entente to repplye to the seide answeris, and to the furste most specyally, whiche is derke to my conceyte as yet; but y truste to God hit shall be right well with youre gode enformacion and helpe therto: to whiche entent y sende yow a rolle yn the whiche is conteyned copies of Domus Dey, copy of Eyris, of charters and other thynges that is necessary to be seye yn makyng of thes repplicacions. Y can no more attis tyme, but y pray you to be not wery to over rede hire and se all the writyng that y have sende home to yow attis tyme; and yf ye be, no mervaill thogh y be wery, &c. and God be w^t yow. y-writen at London yn alle Sawlyn day Nov. 2, 1447. afore day yn hast. Item, y pray you to sende me the blak rolle whiche shall be delyvered to yow by Thomas Montegow, by William Hampton berer of this wri∣tyng, the which is a man tru ynogh as y truste and suppose and hath borwys for his office, lete them be pryvy to, yf yow, yf yow, sic MS.—? yf yow like. that hit is to be do.

Indorsed. A letter of certificatt from John Shillingford, Maior, of his doinges at London.

Right Worshipfull ser, y recommaunde me un to yow; doyng yow to understonde that as touchyng the grete maters yn debate by twene my lord the Bysshop of Excetre the Deane and the Chapiter ther, and the Maier and Comminalte of the seide Cite, the whiche maters at London this last term passed, by comaundement of the lordis ys put yn rule as hit appereth by a letter the whiche y have sende to William Hengston, wherof y sende to yow a copy; as well as of dyvers other bullis of supplicacions by the seide Maier and Comminalte y putte yn be fore the seide lordis. The whiche copies all y pray yow avysely to over rede and well understonde after the commaundement and rule aboveseide. And after the gode will, prayer, fourme, effecte, desire, and entent of the seide Maier and Comminalte comprehended yn the seide letter and bullis, to applie your gode will and to do your tendre and diligent labour to helpe to make a gode ende, and that all my feloship and y pray yow right hertly. And yn especyall that ye be oon of thoo pryncipall en∣differently to entrete ther ynne that most gode may do ther yn, and with yow Radeforde and Hengston, and so that William Beef be oon with yow by your speciall meene to be brogh yn, for pleasur and the better to ende the mater hardly with the grace of God. Ye may constre moche thyng &c. bot this aboveseide thus don, y dowte noght, bot truste to God verily to have a gode ende and pees with the grace of God, whiche have yow ynh is kepyng. Amen. Writen at Excetre on Wendisdey yn the vigill of Seynt Thomas the Apos∣tell.

Right Worshipfull and Reverend Fader yn God and gode lorde, y recommaunde me un to your right gode and gracyous lordship. Please hit your gode and gracious lordship to have yn knowliche as tochyng the grete maters yn variance betwene yo^r right gode and gracious lordship the Deane and Chapiter of yo^r Cathedrall Churche of the Cite of Exceter and the Maier and the Comminalte of the seide Cite, the which maters by yo^r menys so labored un to the highnesse of our soverayn lorde the Kyng was broght yn and so by longe tyme hath honged and yet hongeth yn compremys be fore the lordis. The whiche by the seide lordis this last terme as y con∣ceyved thus ruled, and commaunded nywe bondis to be made and enseled to entrete yn to Candelmasse and lenger yf the parties myght so aggre and accorde at their comyng home; and yn the mene tyme to entrete at home to shorte the mater to their hondis, and that we myght not accorde therof they to make an ende; and that by longe tyme hath be my lorde Chauncelleris commaundement as y knawe right well, and as hit proveth and appereth by a letter by hym late to yow sende, the whiche letter he this terme avowed well for myn excuse your conseill beyng present, and as y seid yn yo^r presence yn the Chapetry hous of yo^r Cathedrall Churche of Excetre. The whiche rule and commaundement the seid Maier and Commi∣nalte fully aggreed ham for their part and were all redy to fulfille hit at London and so buth yet her at home, and shall be yn all wyse, or eny other resonable entrety that may be moved or stured or by yow commaunded, so hit be knowed to the pleasure of my seid lords aboveseid, praying yow and yo^r parties and yow most specially of your gode and gracious lordship to yeve your gode will and applie yo^r favo^r to conforme to the same; considryng verily that we wold right fayne have a gode ende with yow as lawe, right, reson, and gode consience requiren, with all favo^r desired resonable that by our part may be shewed or don, and to that is called your fe, most specially bysekyng yo^r gode and gracious lordship to be amytted therto, for hit was never our will to putte that yn debate ne to de∣spute the right therof, but as we have be forced therto by yo^r Arti∣culis of Complayntes and other actes of the same, or elles to lese our rig(ht), &c. Also hit was never known ne seide bot that the seide fe was a thyng by him self, and the seide Churche and Cimitere another thyng by him self, as ye have supposed and claymed and allegged by two the furst divers articulis therof made yn your furst articulis of compleynts, withoute that yo^r Cathedrall Churche and Cimitere be parcell of the seid fe or annexed therto, as hit is and shall be well proved by evident writyng, witnesse, and other wyse. But now late this last terme ye have supposed and leyde the seid fee Churche and Cimitere to be conjoyntly contrary to yo^r furst clayme, as hit openly appereth yn your furst articulis of yo^r provys to have a colo^r to the seide Churche and Cimitere by the seide fe, &c., as hit is right well conceyved, and therto ye have aleyed for yo^r prove the boke of domysdey, the whiche is no prove, and that we have and shall comytte yn to the grete wysedomys of the lords abovseid. But we truste to God, savyng yo^r gode lordshippe, the same boke shall prove our entent as hit is proved and pleynly appereth yn our furst answer to the seide same articule of y^r provys. The whiche with meny other thyngs shall be redy to be shewed before yo^r gode lordships yf hit please you. But what conclusion that ever ther folwe we trustyng to God to have yo^r gode lordship, we woll be demened resonabilly with all favo^r to the pleasur of your gode lord∣ship as hit is aboveseid, and of the seid fe most specially, ever bese∣kyng you and as we dar requyr you that ye woll applie yo^r blessed favo^r and benyvolence to the gode ende and appeasynge of this mater, after the will, desir, forme, effecte and entente of dyvers bullis of supplicacons by us y put and to be put yn be fore the lordes of this mater, of the whiche bullis I sende to you copies by the berers of this my pore writyng, whiche copies please hit yo^r gode and gracious lordship at yo^r leysure to over se and fully conceyve, the rather to have a gode ende as we truste to God: and like you to knowe that y have write to Copleston and Hengeston and y spoke with Radeford of this maters for myn exscuse to be reported above be fore the lords, so that no cause of taryng shall be founde yn our party, but ever all redye, &c. Bysek∣yng you of yo^r right gode and gracious lordship, as y have my lord Chaunceller, to have me exscused of myn non comyng to you as my dute hath be and is. Considryng verily if y myght knowe . . . . lordships pleasur and commaundement therto, the whiche y wolde full fayne knowe and come grete joye and comfort to alle yur puple and gostly children of the Cite of Exceter and me most specially; and how hit may please your gode lordeship to do and commaunde us yn the rule and commaundement of the lords above∣seide to have yn knowliche by the berers of this my symple writyng at yo^r pleasur. Please yo^r gode and gracious lordship to have yn rembrance that I and all the Comminalte of the seide Cite ben your gostly children and yo^r men at yo^r commaundement and ever shall be by Godd's mercy, whiche preserve yo^r gode and gracious lordship and yo^r blessed faderhed yn his high mercy. Writen at Exceter the xxiiii day of Decembre.

After the recommendacion had yn the most godely wyse, ye shall seye to my lord that the Maier yeveth yow yn commaundement to seye, that my lorde Chaunceller greteth hym well and sendeth hym the letter, bysekyng hym of his gode lordship avisely to overse hit: wherapon as ye suppose after the entent of the letter that ye most speke myche more with him, also bysekyng him of his gode lordship atte reverence of my lorde Chaunceller to yeve leyser and attend∣ence therto; seyyng also that hit is the Maier is part to have come hym self with the letter and exscuse, &c., and then how dan∣gerous hit was to make eny worthy man to come to hym att tyme for strange chere at Clist, &c., and that the Maier exscused hym ayenst my seide lorde Chaunceller to brynge the letter, &c., and pro∣mytted to sende of the most worthiest as he hath, &c.

Item, that ye commende my lorde Chaunceller yn the most beste and trusty wyse, and that hit is his commaundement and other lordes, and longe tyme hath be, that we sholde entrete at home, the whiche hath be the Maier is grete laboure the grete part of all this yere, and myghte noght be excepted therto, and so he hath re∣ported before the lordes as well as the furst coming to hym to Clist to seke his gode lordeship and pees for his exscuse: and yet the Mayer and the Cite now aswell as before this tyme by commaunde∣ment of the lordis and by their awne gode wyll prayeth and desireth that the matter myght be disclosed before his gode lord∣ship, the Maier, the Recorder with other of the Cite at his pleser beyng present, trustyng to God verely al for the best, and myche the rather and the better to have a gode ende as lawe, reson, and right gode conscience requyren, he to fele alle the maters, and so as ye suppose to be his awne juge, and ende myche of the maters by his awne conscience, we knawing his blessednysse and gode con∣science, &c. Forthermore, ye shall seye as for the Maier wher my seyde lorde hath seide, and sende hym word that he is not the man that he wend that he had be, the which worde is to hym right hevy, and seith that he shall fynde hym the same oo man and same true man as he hath be, and so he trusteth to God he is take and knawe among the lordes above; but thogh he and other labor for the right of the Cite w^t true menys as he hath do and none other∣wise as hit shalbe well proved, hit is no cause, &c., they beth sworn therto as he is to the right of his benefice. Make ye myche of this matter and of the deme suying, and of the short chere at Cliste, and the gode chere that the Maier had yn his Closet, bryngyng Coteler to his gode grace, y yet praying the same yf y may be herde, and that ye desyre his gode leysur now, and but yf ye mowe now to come to hym ayen.

And after dywe recomendacion ye shall byseke my lord of his gode lordship to have me exscused of myn non comyng to Chud∣legh. For yf aughte be by me otherwyse than aughte to be done God y take to wytnesse hit is but for defaute of connyng sympel∣nesse and lewdenesse of myself. But for myn exscuses dyverses ye shall sey that y hadde warnyng of my lordis comaundement bot the nyght before and that late, after candell tendyng, my hors bare and my ridyng harneys being at Shillyngford, feloship not comyned with ne warned who to ride with me. The whiche y cowde not all brynge aboute yn so shorte a tyme, and also hit was seide to me with the seid comaundement these wordis fro my seid lorde, that y sholde come to Chudlegh yf me thoghte hit were to be done, &c. The whiche seyyng yn my sympelnys considerid, me thoght hit was not to be don at that tyme, consideryng before all thyngs the Kynges right high furst comaundement, the rule of my lord Chaunceller and the ij Chif Justises, and of their comaundement to ensele nywe bondis and entrete at home with a resort; wherapon men y nempted, day y sette to entrete, and all growith and is under the Kynges furst comaundement; and also considryng the bulle the whiche y presented late to my lord Chaunceller, wherapon dyvers letters were made, wherof whereof—whereof all. B. ye shall presente my lord copies; Also y most considryng yn my sympelnesse that my lorde hadde no knowliche of all this laboure ne y no knowliche of his privy comaundement as all tyme hath be hadde yn thes mater how y sholde have governed me, and seide at Chudlegh y stondyng mayer and of power, and yet havyng no power, ne noght may do, seye, aggre, ne assent withoute communicacion hadde with my feloship, a Comminalte whiche is harde to dele with, dredyng my sympelnys lest eny thyng shold have passed me the whiche yf hit sholde have be noted right well, &c. the whiche all this con∣siderid me thoght hit was not my part to come to Chudlegh with∣oute more streiter comaundement, and so y sent Thomas Cook, &c. Also ye shall seye to my seid lord that he shall fynde the seide Maier oo man and his welwylled and true men what eny men seye of hym, and a redy at alle tymes as hym aughte to obeye and fulfille his comaundement. And yn the grete mater yn debate specially y-trustyng to God and his gode lordship that he will no not—noght. B. comaund me ayenst the Kyng's comaundement, my wordis, works, and writyngs. Item ye shall seye to my lord that y have do my dayly labour yn all wyse, aswell here at home as at London, and to my lord Chaunceller specially, furst by mene [of] Courteys the Frere, and then by writyngs, as hit appereth yn the seide bulle, and then by mouthe myself to my lord Chaunceller. And so y have do as moche as y can may and dar do by my trauthe to bryng the mater all yn my lords hondis; And yet yf hit may be seye how by my lordis privy comaundement y may more do y shall the utmyst as me aughte do to my lordis pleasure, besekynge my lord not mystrustyng mystrustyng—mystrute. B. me or To—or to. B. lete me be dyscharged of the privy consell of the mater, for Thomas Cooke tolde to me so that y sholde not have knowe of the privy communicacion betwene the Bysshop and my lord at his rather beyng at Chudlegh for drede of discoveryng ne hadde be, that noght myght be do w^toute me as mayer.

Right worthy siris, y grete yow well; doyng yow to understonde that on Candlemasse yeve y receyved a letter y send to me by Harry Dobyn, whiche letter yn my sympell conceyt y yn alle thynges have well understonde, and y am and was before that letter fully remembred of all thynges that is comprehended theryn, as specially of Stokewode, as well as more of the entrety some tyme moved by Sir William Bonevill, and of the communycacion ther upon hadde at London, and specially yn the Cloyster at Paulys, the right grete of the parties, with theire conseille, and moche other puple beyng present; what was comyned, moved, stured, desired, and by whom; how hit was procured and shortly throwen of; how hit was conceyved, reported, and take there and ellis where, and what yvell wyll, waywardnys, and unkyndnesse was assigned, and what was promysed and what was do therfore, ye knowe right well, and Richard Druell specially: some wherof ye and y com∣myned therof the last hole day of my beyng at home at Exceter yn my parler; constre ye alle thynges what y mene. What is to do furthermore y can not yet be redely avysed by conseill, bot y most doe as y se the mater woll be ruled, and as y can, may, and dar do, eschewyng variance, breche, throwyng of, and yndyngnacion specially, and so y shall by the grace of God, by the grace of God—originally "so far as God will yeve me wyt and grace." whiche have yow yn his kepyng.

[Worthy siris, y grete] yow well alle, doyng yow to understonde that the bukhorn came to me bot on Candelmasse yeven [afternone somewh]at better late than never, whiche bukhorn was presented to my lord on Candelmasse day by the [morun. How hit] was presented y-take, and what thankys and better thankis y nogh therfor Harry Dobyn can telle [yow of some]what by mowthe. That day was y at Lambeth with my lorde at masse, and offered my candelle [to my lord is] blessed hond, y knelyng adoun offeryng my candell. My lord with laghyng chere upon me seide hertely, "Graunt mercy, Mayer," &c. That same day y abode there to mete by my seide lordis commaundement; [y mette] with my lorde atte high table ende comyng to meteward, and as sone as ever he saw me he [toke me] fast by the honde and thankis ynogh to: y seide to my seid lorde hit was to symple a thyng considryng his astate to seye onys graunt mercy, bot yf y hadde be at home at this faire he sholde have had better stuf and other thynges, &c. Y went forth with hym to the myddis of the halle, he stondyng yn his astate ayenst the fire a grete whiles, and ij bisshoppis, the ij Chif Justises, and other lordis, knyghtes, and squyers, squyers—"quyers" B. and other comyn puple grete multitude, the halle fulle, alle stondyng a far apart fro hym, y knelyng by hym, and after recommendacion y moved hym of oure mater shortly as tyme asked, and yn especiall of the ij Chif Justises beyng there, bysekyng hym or their departyng to calle ham to hym for oure mater; he seid hertly with right godewill, and prayed God that ther myght be right a gode ende; and y thanked hym and seide with his gode lordship we were almost thurgh and at an ende, y seyyng also by these menys "My lord, y have herd yow seye that ye and the ij Chif Justises of a rule of the Churche and Cimitere were negh accorded." He seide hertely, "Yee for gode." Y seide, "My lord, as touchyng the fee Radford and Coplestone beth nigh accorded at home, whiche two accordis y knowe we buth alle most thurgh:" the whiche seyyng alle he toke on the best wyse and was well pleased therwith, and so departed fro hym at that tyme. Mete y doun, my lord toke his chamber, the astatis and other with hym. Y put me yn presse and to my lorde and spake with hym right a grete while, so that he called the Justises to hym and moved of oure mater. Y wolde have seide, &c. the Chif Justise toke upon hym to seye, &c. and seide moche thyng for oure part, and quytte hym a gode man man—originally "lord." B. to us. Furst he reherced how we were broght yn be fore tham by the Kynges commaundement, how we wolde have be dysmyssed and discharged fro tham, See the Petition to the King in the Appendix. and be atte comyn lawe and myght not, and how hit hath be labored ayenst us duryng the tyme of this entrety, so that ther is a Shirf y made and the contrey embraced ayenst [oure] entent and thus we stode at at—originally "yn." B. myschif, &c. The other Chif Justise seide well therto also, and my lord toke hit [welle] seyyng, "Hit may not be so; assigne ye a tyme the parties to be called, a rule to be sette, so that hit shold be amendyd:" and so departed as for more communicacion of oure mater. Afterward y spake with the ij^de Chif Justise there a grete while, to whom oure mater myche was rawe. He understode and toke my seyyng and ynformacion [yn the moste] beste wise, and so seid and so seid—originally "and seyde right blessedly" in B. therto for oure part. [After this we toke our leve, and y yn my leve takyng seyyng [these] wordis, "My lord, have mercy and pyty apoun that pore Cite, Jesus vidit civitatem et flevit super eam;" also bysekyng him to yeve me leve to sywe to his gode lordship to have the mater refourmed as hit is aboveseide; he seide y sholde be right welle come what tyme that ever y come, and so departed thens and stonde this day, &c. That nyght right late Harry [Brok] broght me a copy of a recorde whiche y sende to yow, See end of letter. ‡ to the whiche recorde with avys of conseill y thyng "thenke" in the draft. bolde[ly to] appere forthwith this terme, &c. and y hope hit shall be right well as the cas stoondeth, and better than hit was desired and like to have be atte last entrety at home, with the grace of God, whiche have you in his kepyng. Writen at London the morun after Candelmasse day. [3 Feb. 1447-8.]

Please hit yn to youre right gode and gracyous Lordship of youre specyall grace and favo^r to write unto the right reverend fader yn God and blessed man yn hym self Edmund Bysshop of the Cathedrall churche of Excetre and to the Deane and Chapitre of the same, as touchyng the grete mater yn variance that by long tyme hath honged betwene the seid Bysshop, Deane and Chapitre and the Maier and Communalte of the seid cite; furst, yf hit please yow, recytyng how that the seide mater of variance came before youre gode Lordship and the two Chif Justises by the high com∣maundement of oure soverayn lord the Kynge by theire sute, ynstance, and laboure to his highnesse therof made, at whiche tyme the seide mayer and communalte wolde full fayne to have be dysmyssed a large and the mater to have be determyned atte comyn lawe, bot for drede of the seide commaundement, to tham right ferfull, obeyed and bounden them to abide the rule of youre gode lordeship and the seide two chif justises after the seide commaunde∣mente; and so they have governed tham, don and fulfilled all thyng that longeth to theire part to don; and if any thyng lakke they beeth redy to perfourme hit as they seyn, trustyng to God verily to have hadde right a gode ende. Whereapon how that ye yn your gode lordship yn the ende of the last terme of Seynt Mighell, for shortness of tyme and grete bysnesse for þe Kyng, evyng yn com∣maundement to the seid parties to go home, nywe bondis to be made and enseled yn to Candelmasse, and yn the mene tyme to entrete at home to shorte the mater to youre blessed Lordis, and so an ende to have be made this terme. Bot as ye beeth enfourmed by the part of the seide Mayer and Communalte that they beeth varied fro the seide comaundements and suyth a large atte comyn lawe to yow grete mervaylle if hit so be, praying tham specially at this tyme to be refourmed and confourme tham to the seide com∣maundement, the whiche the seide Maier and Communalte have and woll yn alle wise obeye, abide, and be bounde therto, as they seyn, to have a gode ende and pees; and as us thenkyth hit is yo^r part to do the same; and so we woll that ye do atte reverence of Godes pleasure, of the Kyng, and oure worship, and as ye woll yese and pees yn this mater; and ellis to oonswer the Kynges com∣maundement and oure rule, and to lete us have yn knowleche why ye woll not. The latter part of this petition shows that it was only a draft. The last sentences were evidently intended to be employed by the Chancellor in addressing the Bishop.

Worshipfull and right welbeloved Frend,—Y grete yow well, and doute not ye be well remembred of that mater whiche hath longe tyme abiden yn travers betwixte my Brother of Excestre the Deane and Chapitre and the Maier and the Comminalte of Excetre, wheryn ye for your part have hadde grete laboure; y pray yow, considryng the mater is attainyd at large in the comyn lawe not likely by that mene to be ended lightly, as your wysedom knowyth well, yow like at this tyme yn your beyng ther to move and enduce my seid Brother and alle parties to putte the mater yn entrety at home, trustyng as me semyth fully wyth more charite and lasse coste the mater to take sonner ende by that mene than by processe or rigour of lawe withoute your dysplase. And almyghty Jhesu have yow yn his kepyng. Writen, &c.

The bishop of Canterbury unto the lord Cheff Justice for an intrety to be had.

Furst ye shall recommende the Maier and all the hole comminalte of the Cite of Excetre to my lorde Chaunceller is gode and gracyous lordship as his awne puple and true bedmen, and at his commaunde∣ment at alle tyme redy, and that this be seide with more after your discrecyon yn the most godely wyse and under the most best and convenyent termys as longeth to his high astate and plesure as lord. Y sey for my self by my trawthe and for all the seide Com∣minalte as y suppose, yn wham after the Kyng your soverayn lorde we have most feith hope and truste verylye, ever thankyng hym of all his ryght grete gode gracyous and endyfferent lordship at alle tymes to us redy shewed and don, and yn especiall yn this mater yn debate by twene the right reverende Fader yn God and blessed gode man if he most be Edmund Bysshop of Excetre, and the Deane and Chapitre therof of that oo part, and the symple Mayer his man and the Comminalte of the seyde Cite of that other part, the which mater, with the grace of God, with contynuance of the gode, gracyous, and endyfferent lordship of my seide lorde, the grounde of right y knawed yn bothe parties by leysur ys like to take effecte and gode ende.

After this recommendacion and thanks ye shall praye my seyde lorde of his gracyous lordship to be remembred how the seide Mayer last departed fro hym, and specially of the communicacion that the seyde Mayer hadde with my seide lorde the Sonedey yn the mornyng next be fore his departyng yn my lordis ynner chamber at Lambyth, wher y moved my lord of meny dyvers maters and yn especyall of my lord Bysshop of Excetre and of the grete mater hongyng yn debate by twene hym the Dean and Chapiter and the seide Cyte, and how that as y supposed that my seide lorde of Exceter had no more knawlyche of the grounde of this mater then the ymage yn the cloth of areys ther, &c. and yf he knyw the right title and grounde of this mater, considryng his blessednesse holy lyvynge and gode consyence, that hit wold be cause myche the rather to be at a gode ende, and cause to knowe the better the gode, gracyous, and favorable lordship that my seyde lord Chaunceller hath showed and don as well to my seid lord Bysshop of Excetre Dean and Chapitres part as to the Cite of Excetre and elles not, &c. My seyde lord Chaunceller conceyved and consydred me well, and seyde that y sholde have a letter wyth me to his seide brother Bisshop of Exceter of this matter, and comaunded me to abide, and so y didde anon to Tuysdey, the whiche Tuysdey y hadde the letter delyvered wherof y send a copy. That day y spake to my lord to have a tokyn to Sir John Wulston to have oure articles y-answered. My seide lord as y conceyved hym seide y sholde not nede, for he knyw well that they would answer at home, and so that they hadde promytted hym. Y seide of lesse then they wolde answer to the articulis y sholde never enduce my felowship to no suche no suche—first written "none." entrety; and thus y hadde my leve and departed fro my lorde and came home to Excetre, &c. Item, ye shall enfourme my lorde of the governance at Excetre tyme of assise and specially of the wacche and kepyng of þe pees, and how that my lord of Excetre is tenantis were somned to come and kepe the wacche and the pees and came not, and what querell ther was made by the surveyur and Copleston, and how the Mayer bade ham to compleyne to the Justise and so they didde, and how the Justise demened hit, so that the seyde tenants wolde have come afterward as well as be fore yf they moste, but they wer forbode apon a grete payne and charged yf eny of the Mayeres officers entred yn to eny tenement of the Bysshop for to warne eny man to come to the wacche that they sholde breke his hed, wherof hit was like to have be right myche a do and grete troble. Nerthelez the pees by the mayeres rule well y kepte and all other thynggis so don that y truste to God the Justise woll reporte the beste.

Item ye shall enfourme my lorde how that y sende his letter to my lord Bysshop of Excetre by John Hulle, John Coteler, and yow Richard Druell; how godeley the letter was receyved, what gode chere and welfare they hadde there, and the answer that they hadde to the letter; that my lorde the Bysshop seyde that hit was not his part ne noght wolde comyne ne hire therof, but that he wolde sende his Counseill Copleston specyally to comyne of that mater, &c. and so the seyde John Hulle, John Coteler, and Druell departed, &c. Sone afterward came to the Mayer fro my seyde lord Bysshop of Excetre Sir Rogger Kys, chanon, and seyde that he hadde a bulle y come fro my lorde of Excetre, that he sholde speke with the Mayer there to know his entent of the seyde letter, and so to reporte to my lorde. The seide Mayer seide to hym ayen that he cowde cowde—oowde, MS. no skyll to speke entrete ne uttre no mater to my seyde lord Bysshop by mene. And that the seyde Maier conceyved and knywe right well that his seyde lorde Bysshop toke unworthy as he myghte right well for sympelnesse and poverte to speke or entrete with hym. Nerthelez he seyde suche sympell as he was he was Mayer of Excetre and hadde yn comaundement of my lord Chaunceller to speke, uttre maters, and entrete with hymself. Wher∣for he seyde that he after my lordes commaundement and as Mayer of Excetre he wolde boldely take hit upon hym, &c. Kys wolde no ferther yn that, but moved and stured of other divers entreteys. "And yn especiall to have a day of entrety, ij. of their counseyll y called to and ij of oures. Whereupon we accorded of a day. The Mayor" struck out in MS. And y seide ayen, sithen that they wolde leye this entrety apart, what ever entrety they wolde move, sture, or desire resonable hit sholde be aggreed, so that no defaute shoulde be founde yn oure part; wherapon we comyned of divers maters and entretyes, and atte last we conducended yn this wyse: ij men to be nempted of ayther counseyll to sette ayther party yn rule of entrety; hit was aggreed, men of counseyll y nempted, and a dey y sette at Seynt Peter's. They nempted Coplestone yn certeyn, Hengston or Wode for their part. Y, Mayer, nempted Radeforde in certeyn; Hody, Beef, or Douryssh as y myghte gete, and so departed. The whiche dey at Seynt Peter's we mette with bothe counseill, but they fayled of Hengston and broghte Copleston and More. We faylled Radeford and broghte Beef and Douryshe; wher was myche com∣municacion, ye Druell beyng present at that tyme and at every doyng and communicacion sithen; wherof y pray yow to remembre yow right well and enfourme my lorde of all thynge truly and yn especyall of the answer to our articulis how ofte yn name of my lordes commaundement above seide hit hath be asked what answers we have hadde, and latyst specially, and how the counseyll at Seynt Peters Churche tyme aboveseyde, seyde hit was reson that we hadde answers to oure articulis, and hit was aggreed. The Dean seyde that they wolde not entrete but yf they hadde Hengston, and seyde that they had meny old charters, evydences, and munimentes that their counseyll saw never, whiche sholde be shewed. We seyde and prayed for the love of God that they myght be shewed, yf eny suche were, and it sholde ende the mater but it wer lawfully answered; and so dey yeve over and ajorned yn to Hengston is comyng. Our counseyll asked yf they sholde eny lenger tary for this mater: they seide nay, and so our counsell was by them conveyed and so de∣parted fro us that dey ayenst nyght. The morun at viii atte cloke came to the Mayer my lorde of Exceter is surveyour and Copleston and warned hym that my seyde lorde Bysshop of Exceter wolde be att Exeter that same dey atte oon atte clokke to speke w^t hym of the maters comprehended yn the letter that my lorde Chaunceller sende to hym by the Mayer; of the whiche warnyng the Mayer was fowle astoned and encombred, and seyde that this was grete mervaille to hym, trustyng to God that it was not my lorde Chauncellers com∣maundement that my lorde of Excetre should come so, but that the seyde Mayer with other of his felowship sholde come to hym at his assignement and callyng as their parte is, and wolde w^t right gode will to comyne after the commaundement and the entent of the seyde letter, and thought that my lord of Exceter were avysed and ruled so to come for so myche as the matter of the seide letter by my lord of Exceter was leide apart as is aboveseide, and a nywe fourme of entrety take and entred yn entrety, and the matter ajorned over by avys of bothe counseyll as hit is aboveseide. Y cowde ne wolde not, savyng my seid lorde Bysshop of Exceter is commaundement, nother speke ne entrete w^t hym of this matter, prayng so to have me ascused; but yf he wolde nedys thus come, y w^t my felowship wolde awayte apon his gode lordeship, and comyng w^t all worship and reverence to receyve hym as oure part was. Copleston asked yf this sholde be oure answer, and yf hit so sholde he most sende a man yn hast ayen my lord for my lord was comyng. The Mayer seide this was hasty processe, and conceved right well that hit was do for to take hym yn a defaute, whiche he trusteth to God and my lord Chauncelleres gode lordeship that they sholde not; and seide they shold take this for none answere, for the mater tochith the grete Comminalte of the Cite of Exceter as well as hym. But communi∣cacion y hadde w^t felowship they sholde have an answer. Cople∣ston seyde hit most be don forth with, for my lorde was comyng. The Maier seyde he most have resonable tyme for callyng and of communicacion, and desyred ij oures, oone to calle another to comyne, and no moo. And that with grete ynstance and prayer was graunted, with ynne whiche ij oures and fast by oon oure they were answered that the Mayer w^t alle the worthy of the Cite wolde awayte apon his gode lordship and his comyng. And at alle tymes to be all redy to come to his commaundement to his presence and specially suche as he wolde calle accordant to the writyng of my lord of Canterbury. At yevensonge tyme my lorde the Bysshop was come, the Mayer w^t alle the worthy as ys aboveseide and grete parte of the Comminalte, a fair felowship hardly, wayted apon hym as is aboveseid, after aboveseide—"w^t all the reverence that they cowde"—struck out. and well comed hym yn the most best and godely wyse that they cowde. How hit was y take and what stronge chere was hadde of the meyny y pray yow to reporte When my lorde hadde seide his prayers atte high auter, he went a. part to the syde auter by hym self and called to hym a part the Maier and no moo and there comyned to geder a grete while. My seide lorde the Bysshop seyde to the Maier that he was come to towne by commaundement of my lorde Chaunceller to speke with hym, and seyde that he sholde seye what that he wolde. The Maier answered and seyde he trusted to God that my lorde Chaun∣celler commanded not so, and ^bthat he right hevy was of his grete laboure at that tyme and that hit neded not, for yf he had send for the Maier "that" to "Maier" put in place of "that hit longeth to his astate to have bide at home and to have commaunded the seide Mayer to come to hym." and suche of his felowship as hit plesed hym to have come to hym they wolde have come to hym at my lord Chaun∣celleres commaundement and his as their part was with right gode wyll, and that as he supposed was the entent and commaundement of my lorde Chaunceller, praying hym forthermore and bysechyng hym of his gode and gracious lordship to be oure gode lord as he hath be before this tyme, with myche more &c. And that hit pleased hym to assigne hym an oure the morun, &c. My seide lorde seide he myght not tary, but be agone anon. The Maier seide that he cowde not comyne with hym sodenly and with so shorte avys and by hym self, and my lorde Chauncelleres commaundement was that y sholde have w^t me at this communicacion of my felows suche as hit pleased yow. And at your commaundement my seide lorde seide y sholde take wham that y wolde, there stode right y nogh ynogh—first written "ynowe." abowte. The Maier seide yf he sholde so do he most comyne w^t hys felowship wham he sholde have, and that oon of them that they wolde have as he knywe well was Thomas Cook seke lame at home, and so prayed my lorde most specially of his gode and gracious lordship to have dey over yn to a mourn; and so w^t myche hardnys, prayer, and ynstance hit was graunted at x atte clokke, and so hadde leve of my lorde and departed yn to a mourn.

Among other next aboveseide my seide lorde commaunded the seide Maier to shewe that speciall writyng that he hadde promysed to my lorde Chaunceller that sholde make an ende of all the mater, and ther apon he stiked fast with stroynge longage and chere as well as yn other maters aboveseide. The seide Maier answered and seide he hadde made noo suche speciall promys, and that he trusteth to God my lord Chaunceller woll reporte. The Bysshop taried at Excetre fro Fridey yevynsonge tyme yn to a Monedey erly yn the mornynge. The Maier wayted apon his gode lordship at alle tymes as his part was, and proferred hym his servys yf eny thyng he sholde and myght do or eny of the Cite; they wer alle redy at his commaundement and ever prayed him of his gode lordship, and forthermore moved hym yf eny thyng wer by commaundement fro my lorde Chaunceller to call hym therfor, they wer at alle tymes redy to obeye, do, and come by his commaundement, and so bysoghte hym to take and reporte us, &c.

At whiche tyme, at x atte belle, by assignement of my seide lorde the Bysshop, the seide Maier and his felowship w^t their coun∣seyll awayted apon my seide lorde the Bysshop in Seynt Peteres Churche of Excetre, and there and at that tyme they were assigned to come be fore hym yn the Chapitre hous of Seynt Peteres.

Memorandum. To have yn mynde of a blynde entrety, and how hit hath be ladde forth thus hiderto.

Memorandum. Of the priestis that beth endyted.

Furst, ye shall remembre my lord how ye last departed fro hym by your olde enstruccion. Item, declare hym yn especiale of vyw de Franke plegge, what hit is, and as many thyngis as hit drawith to hym as fer as ye can, the whiche no lerned man can well declare, ther beth so many. Item, how the cite stondeth entitled theryn, &c. Item, ye shall enfourme hym of the grete laboure that hath ben at London sithenys, &c. by an enstruccon and letter that sholde have be sende home, yn the whiche is conteyned shortly myche of the grete laboure that hath [be] at London. Also ye shall enfourme hym of the Justyses comyng yn to Excetre, how he was receyved, what chere he hadde, and how he toke hit, and what rule and governance hath be at Excetre at tyme of his beyng ther, and yn especyall of the wacche, and how that the Bysshoppis counseyll was w^t the Maier, makyng grete querellis by cause that he somned the Bysshoppis tenaunts to watche; the mayer avowed hit well, and seide that that somnys was no wronge, ne cause to make no querell, but that he woll do more; of lesse of lesse,—in the sense of "unless," as in a previous page, and again in p. 70. then they wold come when they were somned, that he wold streitly punysshe ham, and that they sholde knowe well.well—after this there was "and seid to ham that they sholde enfourme the Justise thereof, and so they did." The Maier made his grete querell to the seide Bysshoppis counsell, seyyng that they hadde forbode the Bysshoppis tenants every apon payn of xl^s that they sholde not come to wacche, and that they had seyd that yf eny of the Maiers officers entred yn to any hous, that is of that that the Bysshop calleth his fee, that the tenant sholde breke his hed. Wherapon the Mayer made right grete wayward longage to tham.tham—after this there was originally "and bade ham to telle that to the Justise, and seide that he wolde do the same, and so he did." The Maier seide waywardly he wolde do more, he wolde make levy bothe of the Citeseyn spendyng and the fe ferme, and that he wolde well avowe, and bade ham of all to enforme the Justise therof, and that he wolde do the same, and so the Maier did, and the Justise to all thyng for the cite is part yn resonabilly gode wyse toke hit, and yn especiall the wacche yn the best wyse, so that they woll wacche now w^t a gode wyll, and beth gode men and eysy as at Radwey.Radwey was one of the Bishop's seats. The allusion appears to be to the obedience and good conduct of the Bishop's men there as compared to that of his men in the City. Wherof y pray yow to enforme my lord of all thyng that was done and seyde ther at that tyme, &c. Next after this ye shall yn the Mayer is name speke to my lorde for John Coteler and John Germyn, and then ye shall speke to hym for the Mayer of Pencrygge, w^t all the grete circumstance. Y pray yow to remembre yow of all thyngs therof. After this ye shall speke to hym for the Mayer, that the Mayer that is and shalbe some tyme, may not ne shall not mow dardar—after this "for drede of my lorde" has been struck out. to rule the Kynges puple after his lawys, ne putte the lawe yn execucion, ne do ryght as he is sworn to for drede of my lord, and sey un to hym what men defauteth ryght by his comaundement. Furst, oon Wouston, my lordes tenant, and Richard Prewe. Also the jugement by twene Broghton and the Glasier, and by twene John Husset versus John Notte, and specially of S^r John Notte of his fyn. Item in speciall of S^r Thomas Gogh, how he is take out of Court, and the Court stondeth y charged w^t hym in dyvers wyse, and S^r William Slug defauteth ryght, and meny other[s] that wolde sywe ayenst hym ther. Item, of William Hampton, he remayneth by wey of execucion contrary ayenst y^e lawe as hit is supposed, and lith yn grete myschif. Also afte tymes [the Mayor] hath not dar do the lawe and execucon thereof, as right requyreth, apon his tenants, mayny and other, as Huxhill, John Fyle gold∣smyth, most specially Robert May and his wyf, by wham the Mayer is rebuked, &c. Richard Ree specially; his mynstral made affray apon a woman, and wold have ravasshed hir. S^r Thomas Gogh þ^t made affray and toke the churche late. Forest seide þ^t þ^e seyd S^r Thomas was my lordes man. John Hussett arest a Saterdey, he most be delyvored to make my lordes work. Thomas Mayer ynter∣ruptyng our franchise a Lammasse yeven. Of alle these and right meny moo þ^e Mayer hath not dar do right lawe ne execucon, for now almost every man taketh colo^r by my lord. Bysekyng þ^s to be remedyed, and also of beryng of the mace w^tout Westyeat and of þ^e bryggeþ^e brygge—Exbridge was in decay at this time; Shillingford made great efforts to restore it. See his petition in the Appendix. while seson ys.

Me^d that apon the breche at Tyverton bitwen Radford and Hengston, of whiche reporte was made to the Mayer, he þen by the speche of the seid Radford, and by labour and spekyng of Syr John Wolston, and other, was ynduced to speke wyth Mayster Harry Webber, and so I dide, beyng presente the seyd Sir John Wolstone and John Coteler; at which tyme ther was right gode and gentle communicacon, and thus accordide, and that by the motiun of Mayster Harry Webber, that John a Copleston and the seid Radford shuld have the mater yn communicacon, and as for oo poynt or tweyn yf such were, that they myght not accorde therof, &c. than the parties to be bounde to byde the reule of the lordis, &c. Of the which mocion the mayer was right wel apayed, and wyth assente of hys felowship fully agreyd hym therto, with all ther hertis, for hit was accordyng to my lord Chaunceler ys comaunde∣ment, &c. Wherapon the seyd John a Copleston and Radford, by two joynte lettris, yn name of the seyd Mayster Herry and the seyde Mayer, were sende fore yn all haste. And so they come and were yn communicacion by two dayes, and desirid the partyes to be bounde to bide the reule, ordinance, and arbitrement of them. The whiche was aggreed wyth this, that of such thingis as they myght not accorde of to be putte on the lordis as hit aboveseide, &c. They wolden not therof yn no wyse, but seide that thei were discharged and dymyssyd by the lordis, and so at large, and that they wold sue ne have a do ther no more. For this matter we seyd that we knew not therof, ne not so wolde, ne hit was not our parte yn to tyme that we had other knowliche, &c. They seyde yf we wolden so aggre us, that the Kyng and the lordis shulden thanke us, and that they wolden undertake uppon ham. Wherapon yf so, &c. hit was aggreed. After this ther was a nother communicacon, and then yn ther rehersall they wolde that the seyd Mayer shuld have sued for a discharge to be delyvored and departid for the seyd lordis. The seyd Mayer wold noght therof yn no wyse, ne so departe fro the lordis, hit was not his parte to do so wythoute ther special comaunde∣ment, the whiche comaundement, yf they wolde ordeyne and gete, the Mayer wyth his felouship wyth right a gode wille wolde aggree hem, &c. The whiche seying was amytted, seying hit shulde be done, and bothe parties aggreed therto, and so departid atte þt time, &c. Sythenys the parties were never callid to gidre, and so this mater ys broke up, the cause not knowed to us yn no wise. This mater write yn hast I praye yow to understonde h^t well, and by þe avyse of Dowryssh to amende þe makynge þerof, if nede be, and þen to write h^t clene, and have h^t yn youre hond when ye speke w^t my Lord Chaunceller as for yowre instruccion. And when ye may take a tyme yn communicacion to delyvere hit to hym, saynge to hym þt þis was sende after yow yn grete hast for youre instruccion yn þis mater.

Worthy sirs, y grete yow well alle, doyng yow to understonde that y was at Wyndesore to London wardis on seynt George is day, and there taried almost all that day, and cowde not hyre ne knowe there of noo thyng comprehended yn the letter y sende home to yow by William Duke, ne of none other thyng, bot all ther as well as hit was wont to be, and as y suppose with laboure and other thyng that longeth therto, yf men wyll better may be. The Wen∣disday y came to London, where was moche longage of oure comyn mater, and specially of this laste grete entrety at home, how hit was broken up, and for right litell thyng, and all yn oure defaute. Thus hit was y seid that accorde was hadde here at home by the seide entrety, that the Bisshop sholde have his fee churche and cimi∣tere parcell of the same, as he claymeth generally, and generall municion yn the churche, we to have right noght to don ne make none arestis withynne his fee, bot yn the cimitere to make arrestis, excepte of the Bysshop and his mayny, chanons, and alle men of habite, and for we wolde noght aggre bot to have power to arreste chanons men servants familiars withynne the cimitere, was only cause of brekyng up of the seide entrety. Y of purpose mette with S^r John Wolston, of wham y suppose growe all this untrue longage, and asked hym, &c. He seid every word, and that the accorde was suche as hit is aboveseide, with more that ther was writyng therof, and by what menys y write, by the hondis of John MOre, yn presence of my lord of Devonshire, atte Blak Freris as Excetre, all redy to shewe; y seide if any suche writyng were knowe and proved by my seide Lorde and the other arbitrous, we moste nedys and with right gode will wolde abide hit, or any other reporte that they wolde make. This same day Wendisday, as sone as y was come to towne ayenst mete tyme, my lord Chaunceller send for me yn hast. Y came to hym in Lambyth, wher y founde the ii Chif Justises of purpos mochemoche—? mette. y suppose: of wham alle and specially of my lord y hadde right gode chere, never better, and right well come yn the best wise. Y spake with my seide lord and the Justises, apart fro my Conseill, a grete whiles. They moved me to knowe of the entrety and departyng at home. Y prayed my lordes to have my Conseill to seye for me. He graunted hit to me. S^r John Wolston was yn the utter chamber, and wolde come noo nyre, and for as moche as Hengston was not there hit was enjorned over yn to the morun at Westminster, yn the Escheker Chamber, wher Hengston reported to my seid lord as S^r John Wolston hath as hit is aboveseid, excepte of writyng. Y answered and seide y knywe noght therof, nee of noo such accorde, ne cowde make noo reporte, and asked of hym what knowliche he hadde of that he reported. He seide as he herde hit reported. Y asked of wham. He seide the comyn voys of the Cite. Y seide of none bot of soche as were of theire part, and by tham self. Y seid forthermore that y was enformed by S^r John Walston ther beyng present that ther was writyng of that reporte, as hit is aboveseide.

Worthy siris, ryght feyne ffrendis and ffelows, y grete yow well alle, doyng yow to understonde that on Wendisday next after Corporis Christi day, as ye knowe right well, after vj atte clokke yn the mornyng y rode oute of Exceter to London warde; the Saterdey next ther after at vij atte clokke by the mornyng y came to London, and so to Westminster, and ther mette with my lord Chaunceller, he beyng yn right grete bysyness; as sone as he sawe me seyde right hertely, "Mayer well come," and toke me by the honde, and made me right gode chere, and so departed fro hym at that tyme. That day y hadde right grete bysynesse: furst y went yn to the Escheco for oure mater of Exmouth, and there y spedde spede can and may spede resonabylly well. That day on Westminster halle y mette with S^r John Wolston, and other of oure [and] theire conseill, of wham alle y hadde gode chere, and as they seide that y was right well come. Afterward y spake w^t the chif Justis S^r John Fortescu, goyng w^t hym homward, and hadde with hym right muche gode longage and wordis of comfort. After this y spake with the chif justice S^r Richard Nuton, thankyng hym of his favo^r the last terme, &c. He, a full gode man, seide he wolde do for me what he myght godely. That day y comyned w^t oure conseill of oure maters, and hadde wordis of gode comfort to spede right well. That day after none y wold have be at Lambeth w^t my lord, bot y came not there because that Wolston was there that day. The morun be byme y came to my lord, and hadde hym at right godd short leyso^r; to wham y recommended you all to hym yn the best maner that y coude, thankyng hym of his gode lordship, &c. praying contynuance at this tyme speically, and to helpe that we myght have a gode ende by doyng after the kynges commaunde∣ment, for elles we most to a triall, and that were harde. He seide, "God hit forbede, then sholde ye never love, and that were pyty," and he seide he woll speke with the Chif Justise Fortescu, and þen another rule, &c. Y thanked hym and seide, "My lord, they take grete boldenesse of ij thynges, oon of truste of the Shirf, another apon the lawe, y truste to Gode other wyse than they shall fynde hit." Also y seide to my lord that we hadde be yn debate by dyvers tymes, almost by tyme of viij^xx yere, and that y coude never knowe fynde ne rede that we ever toke a sute ayenst tham, but ever stonde yn defence, as a bokeler player, and smyte never, and that y hadde to seye fro you to hym that we were fully avysed, with leve of his gode lordeship, onys to smyte, takyng a sute, for we hadde meny and dyvers causis, and they hadde none, bot that we wold no thyng do bote that his gode lordship hadde know liche of, for we wold attempte hym yn no wyse. He thanked and seyde that he coude not blame us. Y seide, "My lord, thus we most beare, serve and defende," that not with stondyng that, we woll be all redy at all tyme to obeye the kynges commaundement and his.

And where as ther hath longe honged a mater yn travers betwene my lord the Bysshop of Excetre and the Deane and the Chapitre and the Maier and the Comminalte of the Cite of Excetre, whiche by the kyngs commaundement was putte yn compremys and rule of my lord Chaunceller, callyng to hym the ii Chif Justises, whiche mater hath longe tyme honged be fore tham yn communicacion and entrety and yet remayneth undysscussed and unended: now late my lord Chaunceller hath yeve yn commaundement to bothe parties generally to entrete and to procede to gode conclusion of the seide mater at home; uppon whiche my lord Chaunceller wrote to S^r Richard Nuton, oon of the ii Chif Justises, desiryng hym to move the parties now at the assises yn bothe sides to the same entent; wherapon the seid Justise, on Sondey that last was, called severally bothe parties be fore hym, and moved ham that the seide mater myght be comyned and entreted by John of Copleston and Nicholas Radeford, and by theym to be broght to gode conclusion and gode ende be twene this and the next terme, whiche entrety and com∣municacion shold be gynne a Tuysday next comyng; to whiche bothe parties at that tyme were aggreable, and for as moche as hit ys sythenes fully conceyved by the seide Mayer and Comminalte that the ende of the seide mater is non certyn and doutefull to make conclusion and ende by this maner of mene, the seid Mayer and Comminalte woll beseke you at the reverence of God, that hit may please yo^r gode lordship to take this mater yn your gracious hondis, callyng to yo^r lordship my maysters S^r Philip Courtenay and S^r William Bonevyll, and such rule as hit may please yo^r gode lord∣ship to appoynte yn the seid mater, the seide Mayer and Com∣minalte will abide yo^r commaundement yn all maner wyse. Please youre gode lordship also to calle be fore yow the seide John of Copleston and Nicholas Radeford, as for the declaracion of the titulis and claymes of bothe parties.

Please hit youre gode lordeship my lorde of Devonsshire, and yow oure to Maysters S^r Philip Courtenay and S^r William Bonevyll, and and also yow oure two other Maysters S^r John Copleston and Nicholas Radeford, to have yn knawliche that alle the evydences whereof writynges shorte titelynges or mencyon buth made, the orygynallys or true copyes therof buth redy to be shewed with right meny other dyvers and moo, concernyng oure right, title, and clayme of franchises and libertees of the seid Cyte of Excetre, to prove oure ententes, and specyally suche as ye well commaunde us to bryng and shewe next and best to ende the mater. The whiche evydences so shewed and right proved conceyved and knowed we the Mayer and Comminalte lowly byseke yow oure seid Lord and yow oure other Maysters alle so to procede and make an ende as lawe, right, reson and conscience requyreth. And yf the right by evidences be not declared by suche a mene, as yow seme yn youre conscyence next to the right is to be done to make an ende after the kynges furst commaundement considryng the premisses. And that this mater hath honged yn debate by tyme of iiij yere, of the whiche tyme almost ij yere yn entrety, the whiche hath bene to the seid Maier and Comminalte right grete laboure, troble, vexacion, coste, loste, and other right grete hurte and hyndryng, and moche more like to falle, aswell as right meny other perilles and yncon∣venyences yn subvercion and anyntysshement of the said Cite, and dysherityng of oure soverayn lorde the Kyng, and the Maier and Comminalte, of lesse than an ende is like to be made.The end was made by an award which is printed in the second part of this volume after the Articles and Answers.

Besechen most mekely your humble lieges the Maier and Citezenis of your auncien Citee of Excetre, the wich they hold of yow for a fee ferme to them right chargeable, that where it liked your highnesse by the suyt of the reverent fader in God Emond Bysshopp [of] Excestre and the Dean and Chapitre of the same to addresse your letters [of privy seal] unto your seid Maire and Comminalte of yo^r Citee aforeseid commaunding them upon þe peyn of m^l̄. l̄i. and upon their liegeaunce [to come and appere] afore your Chaunceller of Englond and certein of your Jugges by him to be assigned the xx^th day of Juyn last past [and to bringe] w^t them ther Chartres and evidences consernyng her libertees and Fraunchises and to obey such reule and ordenaunce as shall be sette by your seid Chaunceller and Jugges bitwene the seid Bisshop Deane and Chapitre and your seid besechers; the goyng out of the which prevee seall is ageinst the forme and ordre of your lawe of this your noble Reaume; in the which every yo^r trew liegeman in this your same Reaume is enherited. Please it your highnesse of your grete right wisnesse and speciall grace tendrely to have in rightfull favo^r your seide Cite Mayer and Citezeyns, Forasmuch as Cite to as] originally "Mayer and Citizens considering the grete and huge charges that thei bere yerely to you for the seid Citee and have doen unto your noble pro∣genito^rs afore this tyme, and howe." it is ordeigned by the statute made in Magna Carta of the libertees and franchises of Englond þat no man shuld bee disseised ne put out of his free hold ne þe King upon him shuld goo, neither him shuld vex ne in no manere him shall take ne enpreson but by lawfull juggement and by lawe of the lond, neither the King shuld deferre ne deny right or justyce And over þat it is ordeigned by a statute in the tyme of your noble pro∣genitor King E. the III^de in the XLII yere of his reigne for the gode governaunce of the commune that no man shuld be putte to answere before the King or his Counseill w^tout presentment before Justice or matier of record or due processe and writte originall after the auncien lawe of this your seid reaume. And yf eny thing be doen the contrary that it shall be hold for nought. And to the end] altered in MS. as follows: Where for most soveraynge lord please yn Right wiseness that yo^r said besechers as for yo^r said preve seall be utterly discharged and dismyssed and rueled and demened after the cours of yo^r Comen law and accordyng to yo^r Statutes aforesaid yn the wurshup of God and way of Cheryte and they will pray to God for yow. And forasmuch as your seid suppliantz ben vexed and put to trouble by colour of the seid preve seall ageinst your lawe and ageinst þe seid ordenaunce to adresse your honorablez letters under your signet un to your seid Chaunceller commaunding him that ne no wise he hold afore him no mannere matier by force of the seid preve seall ageinst yo^r seid suppliantz, and þt he for that cause dymysse hem. And yf eny man have cause to compleyne ageinst hem þat þei þt such cause have sue the commune [lawe] ageinst hem, and thei as yo^r most obeisantz lieges in your commune lawe will answere hem w^tout delay. And to graunt un to the seid Maier and Citezens of yo^r seid grace yf eny such preve seall or other such your high commaundement ageinst the lawe of this yo^r seid noble Reaume to hem be directed that for the nonnobeisaunce therof thei be putte in no vexacon hurt trouble ne losse in no manere wise. And this atte hone^r of God and in wey of cheritee. And thei yo^r humble lieges w^t all her triew entent shall pray evermore to God for your high estate.

Noverint universi nos Edmundum Exoniensem Episcopum ac Decanum et Capitulum ecclesie Cathedralis beati Petri Exonie teneri et per presentes firmiter obligari Majori et communitati civitatis Exonie antedicte in quingentis libris bone et legalis monete Anglie; solvendis eisdem Majori et Communitati vel successoribus suis aut eorum certo attornato in festo Sancti Michaelis Archiangeli proximo futuro post datum presentium. Ad quam quidem solutionem bene et fideliter faciendam obligamus nos et successores nostros per presentes. In cujus rei testimonium tam nos predictus Episcopus sigillum nostrum quam nos predicti Decanus et capitulum sigillum nostrum commune presentibus apposuimus. Datum octavo die Augusti anno regni Regis Henrici sexti vicesimo quinto.

Condicio suprascripte obligationis talis est quod si supraobligati Epis∣copus et successores sui ac Decanus et Capitulum ecclesie cathedralis et successores sui steterint judicio ordinationi et arbitrio Reverendissimi in Christo patris et domini Domini Johannis permissione divina Can∣tuariensis Archiepiscopi Cancellarii Anglie, Johannis Fortescu Militis Capitalis Justiciarii Domini Regis ad placita coram ipso Rege tenenda, et Ricardi Newton Militis Capitalis Justiciarii Domini Regis de com∣muni Banco, arbitratorum indifferenter electorum de et super jure titulo et possessione omnium et omnimodorum libertatum franchesiarum privi∣legiorum et jurisdictionum cum omnibus et omnimodis eisdem libertatibus franchesiis privilegiis et jurisdictionibus aliquo modo pertinentibus; necnon de et super omnimodis actionibus litibus querelis debatis et demandis inter predictos Episcopum Decanum et Capitulum et prefatos Majorem et communitatem ac Ballivos Civitatis predicte necnon inter prefatum Episcopum et dictos Majorem Ballivos et Communitatem ac inter prefatos Decanum et Capitulum et predictos Majorem Ballivos et Communitatem habitis motis sive pendentibus ante datum supradictum. Et si duo vel tres predictorum Episcopi Decani et Capituli ut procuratores sive attornati eorundem Episcopi Decani et Capituli ad ministrandum causas et materias de et super premissis personaliter compareant coram prefatis arbitratoribus in quindena Sancti Michaelis Archiangeli proximo futura post datum supradictum, et si iidem Episcopus et successores sui ac Decanus et Capitulum ecclesie cathedralis predicte et successores sui dicta judicium ordinationem et arbitrium ex parte sua bene et fideliter perimpleverint ac omnia in conditione ista specificata fideliter observave∣rint, quod extunc predicta obligatio pro nullo habeatur; alioquin in suo robore permaneat et effectu. Proviso semper quod dicta ordinatio arbi∣trium et judicium per prefatos arbitratores de et super premissis facienda fiant et reddantur in scriptis indentatis sigillis ipsorum arbitratorum sigillatis et partibus predictis separatim liberatis citra festum Natalis Domini proximo futurum post datum supradictum.

This Endenture made bytwene Edmund Lacy Bysshop of Exceter and the Dene and Chapitre of the Cathedrall Churche of Synt Petyr of Exceter of the one partie, and the Maier and the Comonaltie of the Citie of Exceter of the other partie Witnessith that where dyvers debates contraversies and discordes moved and hadde bytwyne the parties above sayd the same parties the xii. day of the moneth Decembre the xxvii. yere of the raynyg of Kynge Harry the Sixte by mene and mediation of Thomas Courtney Erle of Devonshire and of S^r William Bonvile knight buth agreed and accordyd of all the sayd debatis contraversies and dis∣cordes yn the forme folwynge:—

Fyrst that where the seide Bysshop hath sued and sueth a writte of trespasse upon his case yn the Kynges Courte before his Justices of the comyn benche ayens the seide Maior and Comonaltee, ther buth plees pleded and a issue joyned bytwyne the seide Bysshop Maier and Como∣nalte and theruppon a nisi prius is graunted to be tryed and take at Barnestaple in the shire of Devonshire the Mundaye next after the feste of Synte Lucie the Virgyne next cominge before S^r Richard Neuton Knight and Nicholas Ayssheton the Kynges Justices or one of them, as it appereth more pleynely of recorde yn the seide Courte; the seide parties buth accorded that the seide issue shall be tryed by there comyn assent for the parte of the seide Bysshop and his entent, and ther∣uppon jugement to be yeve in the seide Courte for the same parte and intent without any disturbaunce and lettynge of the seide Mayer and Cominalte or of theire successours. And forthwith the damages yn the seide sute to be recoveryd shall be relessed by the seide Bysshop.

Also the seide Bysshop and his successours shall rejoice and have to them and theire succcssours for ever more their lordshipp and fee yn the seide Citee and suburbes of the same called Bysshoppes fee, other wyse called Seynt Stevenes ffee, whereof the seide Cathedrall Church and Churcheyurde of the same buth and have be parcell. And Courte Baroun letes and vewes of frankeplege with yn the seide ffee of al thynges doun and to be doe there w^tyn, dystyncte and separate fro the juris∣diction and libertee of the seide Citee, w^toute any disturbance and lettynge of the seide maier and commonalte and bailyfs and coroners of the seide Citee and theire successours by the commowndment of the seide maier and theire successours. And that the seide maier and commonalte bailes and Coroners of the seide citee and their successours by commawndment of the seide maier and commonalte or theire successours shall make no somnes attachementes distresses arestes nor capies w^tyn the seide fee churche and churcheyurde parcell of the seide fee nor none jurisdiction ne interesse there have except certayn hye waies and stretes as hit foloweth hereafter write. Also the seide Bysshop nor none of his successours nor none of theire mynes∣ters of their Courtes foresaide by commawndement of the seide Bysshop or his successours shall never hereafter by prosses or cause of the same Courtes to doe somne attache nor areste w^tyn the seide churche or churcheyurde any persone of the seide Citee nor of the suburbes longynge to the juris∣diction of the seide Citee nor any jurisdiction yn the seide churche and churcheyurde have apon theym, save sprytuel jurisdiction of any thynge doe or to be do w^tyn the seide churche or churcheyurde or fee foreseide.

Also the seide Maier and Commonaltee Bailyfs and their successours shall have power for ever more to make somnes attachementes and arestes yn the hie wayes and stretes w^toute the olde bowndes of the seide churche∣yurde withyn the seide fee, except the waies and stretes w^tyn the seide churche and churcheyurde beinge w^tyn the olde bounds of the seide churcheyurde of alle persons theire godes and catelles; except the seide Bysshop Deane and Chapitre and theire successours and alle the mynes∣tres of the seide churche and theire successours and theire famyliar ser∣vantes and of every of theym and alle tenantes of the seide Bysshop and of his successours of the seide fee and theire godes and catelles for evermore.

Also the tenauntes of the seide Bysshop and of his successours of the seide fee dwellynge withyn the walles of the seide Citee shall yn resonable maner and yn resonable tyme by resonable warnynge made by the mynesters of the seide Mayer and comminalte and of their successours to the baily of the seide Bysshop and of his successours of the seide fee, in dywe tyme shal keepe theire nyghte wacche of the seide Citee for theire torne w^t other citizeins of the seide Citee upon payne of loste of iiii d. to be payd to the seide Maier and Comminaltee at every tyme that they be yn defaute to be made levy of goods and catelles of any of the seide tennauntes founde w^thout the seide fee w^thyn the libertee of the seide Citee w^thoute any lettynge or disturbaunce of the seide Bysshop Deane and Chapiter and of theire successors. Except the seide Dene and Chapiter and the mynesters of the seide Churche and theire successours.

Also the tennauntes of the seide Bysshop and his successours of the seide fee shall paye dymes and kynges silver and other taxes to the kinge at al tymes to be graunted to the kyng and his heires and successours, and murage of the seide Citee resonably w^th the citizeins of the seide Citee. And that the baily of the seide Bysshop and of his successours of the seide fee for the tyme beinge be resonably warned by the mynisters of the seide Maier and Comminaltee and of theire successours for to warne the seide tenaunts to be atte the settynge thereof and to be admytted to have theire voice theretoe as the seide citizeins shall have. And that the money or taxe so sette apon the saide tenaunts be reryd and levyed by the seide baily of the seide fee and payde to the mynesters of the seide citee assigned by the seide Maier and his successours to resceve hit or to other comyscyoners &c.

Also that alle Chartors late made and graunted to the seide Bysshop and his successours of any jurisdiction or jurisdictions to be hadde w^thyn the seide churche symytery fee or close of the same by the kinge that nowe is of any action real personall and myxte apon any person or per∣sons shall be atte the sute of the seide Bysshop or his successors revoked cancelyd and adnulled by fore Easter day nexte comynge.

Also the said Bysshop Deane and Chapter nor none of his successours by their comaundmente nor the seide Mayer and comminaltee and bailes and coroners by the commowndment of the seide maier and com∣minaltee nor none of their successours shal never hereafter purchase have occupie nor use any jurisdiction w^thyn the seide fee church and churche∣yurde by reason of any charter or charters or graunte or any other cause hereafter to be made or hadde by the Kinge his heirs or successours ne by graunte of Parliament ne by cause of anye grauntes byfore this tyme hadde by the Kynge that nowe ys.

Also the seide Bysshop Dene and chapiter nor theire successours by theym ne by other shal not lett nor disturbe the seide Maier Bayles and Commonaltee nor theire successours to have and purchace newe charters and grauntes for to have more jurisdiction libertee and frauncheses w^thyn the libertee of the seide Citee oute of the seide fee churche and churche∣yurd parcell of the same.

Also the seide Maier Bailes and their successours and servants for the tyme beynge of the seide Citee alle tyme cominge perpetuall shall bere theire mase and mases w^thyn the seide Church Cimitery fee and close w^thout lettynge or disturbaunce or contradiction of the seide Bysshop Dene and Chapiter or any of theire successours or any of theire mynesters or officers by the commowndment of the seide Bisshop Dene and Chapiter or their successours.

Alway foreseyne that the seide Maier Baylifs and their successours here∣after never w^thyn the seide fee churche and churchyurde parcell of the same fee clayme use nor have any maner jurisdiction authoritee or power other than is conteyned yn the olde composicions byfore this tyme betwene the seide parties y-made.

Also the seide Maier Baylifs and Comminaltee ne their successours nor none of them shall never sue any commyscyon nor no thinge by auctoritee of parliament nor ne nother graunte for any auctoritee or power to be hadde to make any arestes w^thyn the seide Citee or attachementes or capias or w^thyn any place by the whiche the auctoritee of the justices of peas of the seide shire nowe beynge or tyme to comynge shall be may be lette or herte.

Also if any difficultee be yn any article abovesayde that hit be reformyd after the trewe entent of the same by the avyse of councell of the seide both parties the substance thereof not chaungyd. And yn case that the Councell of the seide parties maye not accorde apon the premisses that then this wrytynge and appuyntementes after the true entent to be kept and fulfylled. In witnesse of all the premisses to the one partie of this endenture remaynynge to the seide Maier and Cominaltee the seide Bysshop Dene and Chapiter have putte theire seles and to the other partie of the same endenture remanynge towarde the seide Bysshop Dene and Chapiter the seide Maier and Cominalte have sette their common sele.

Noverint universi per presentes nos Edmundum Exoniensem Episco∣pum ac Decanum et Capitulum ecclesie Cathedralis beati Petri Exonie teneri et firmiter obligari Majori et Communitati civitatis Exonie et eorum successoribus in duobus millibus librarum sterlingorum bone et legalis monete Anglie solvendis eisdem Majori et Communitati vel eorum successoribus ad festum Pasche proximo futurum post datum presen∣tium. Ad quam quidem solutionem bene et fideliter faciendam obligamus nos et utrumque nostrum per se pro toto et in solidum et successores nostros per presentes. In cujus rei testimonium tam nos predictus Epis∣copus sigillum nostrum quam nos predicti Decanus et Capitulum sigillum nostrum commune presentibus apposuimus. Datum duodecimo die Decembris anno regni regis Henrici sexti post conquestum vicesimo septimo.

Conditio istius obligationis talis est quod si supra obligatus episcopus et successores sui ac predicti Decanus et capitulum et successores sui ex parte sua teneant et perimpleant omnia et singula convenciones articulos et appunctuamenta inter ipsos Episcopum Decanum et Capitulum ac prefatos Majorem et Communitatem in quibusdem indenturis inter eosdem Episcopum Decanum et Capitulum ex parte una ac suprascriptos Majorem et Communitatem ex parte altera factis et contingentibus quod extunc presens obligatio pro nullo habeatur; alioquin in suis robore permaneat et effectu.

Bysekyth yow full mekely John Shillyngford Maier of the Cite of Excetre yn name of hym self and all the hole Comminalte of the seid Cite as well as of all puple of the grete part of Engelond havyng con∣cours and way over the most perillous watter yn tyme of eere y called Exe by a brigge there y called Exbrigge ajoynant to the seid Cite, where of longe tyme and withynne tyme of mynde was nother brigge ne way bot by right a perillous fery bote; by the whiche fery as hit is seid and like that of olde tyme puple were yn grete perill and meny perisshed and lost. Wherfor oon Walter Gervys, some tyme Maier and Citeseyn of the same Cite, and a notable man of Gode, with other helpe of almes∣dede of the seid Cite as well as of the contrey there aboute as of the grete part of Engelond evyng almesdede therto the some of x ml̄. l̄i. and more as hit is supposed and appereth by the werk of the same, toke apon hym to make, and so was made a new brigge, where was none be fore. Whiche brigge is of the lengthe or negh by and of the same mason werk as London brigge housyng apon excepte, and by the seid Maier and Comminalte at theire grete yerly coste kepte susteyned repaired and amended; the whiche, and new makyng, they may noo lenger endure and bere. Wherfor grete part of the seid brigge by dyvers tymes hath fallen adown and made up ayen with tymber as now is, and ofte tymes with grete waters fallen adown ayen: by the whiche perillous waters and so fallyng adown of the brigge puple have be yn grete perill and meny and dyvers lost and ded, and withoute better remedy meny moe like and all the brigge to falle adown and a fery bote to be as of olde tyme grete perill and charge to alle puple, cause of withdrawyng of repaire of puple and vitaill and moche desolacion of the seid cite. Whiche alle God defende. The whiche brigge openly is knowen the grettest costlew werk and most of almesdede to helpe hit yn all the west part of Engelond and will not be new made and amended withoute helpe of grete almesdede as hit was atte begynnyng of makyng of the same brigge aboveseide. Wherfor bysekyng yow my lord cardynall most specially and yow alle oure worthy maisters executo^rs to my lord Cardynall of Wynchestre that late died, of whas sowle God have pity and mercy, to considre this bulle and to be begynners of yevers of almesdede to the seid brigge, whiche trustynge to God shall be cause of moche more gode yevyng makyng and repairynge of the said brigge thogh hit coste ij. ml̄. l̄i. as hit is like—and that besekyng yow for the love of God yn way of charite and almes∣dede for the seid sowle of my lorde cardynall aboveseid.

Nota pro Recordo. Ad hanc diem scilicet diem Lune proximam post festum Sancti Valentini Martyris (18 Feb. 1444-5) anno regni Regis Henrici sexti vicesimo tertio apud Exoniam in Ghihaldam ad horam secun∣dam post meridiem Johannes Shillyngford qui alias hic &c̄. die Lune prox∣ima post festum Sancti Michaelis Archiangeli anno regni predicti Domini Regis supradicto in Majorem Civitatis Exonie secundum consuetudinem &c̄. electus fuit, modo per mandatum Domini regis de privato sigillo suo sub pena mille librarum eidem Johanni eo quod idem Johannes officium Majoratus Civitatis predicte a die electionis predicte usque in hunc diem assumere recusavit ea occasione commissum in se benigne modo assumat et cum magna solempnitate juratus est. Et remanet secundum consue∣tudinem &c̄.