cenobij in pastura marisci quod dicitur Ryshemersch coione de iure vel debito sine gratuita volūtate Abbatis aut fratrum predicti Loci habere debet. Scil. neq. Abbas vel monachi Cestrie in festiuitate sancti Johïs ad Nūdinas in predicto marisco herbā vel juncū ad logas suas tegēdas ex iure vel debito vel aliqua cōsuetudie sine bona volūtate aut gratuita pmissione Abbatis aut fratrum loci Benedicti habere debet. Quia nuquam tepib3 meis aut antecessoru meoru alio modo hoc habuerut.

III. Carta eiusdem Johannis de Leuing de Staneye.

NIUERSIS sancte matris ecclesie filijs tam presētib3 quam futuris Johes constab. Cestrie salutem. Sciatis me dedisse et hac presēti carta mea cöfirmasse Deo et sancte Marie et Abbati et monachis de loco Benedicto imppetuā elemosinā Leuing et heredes eius, ea tamen conditione quod ipse Leuing clamauit omem terra quam habuit in Staneya liberam et quietam Deo et sancte Marie et Abbati ac monachis de loco Benedicto, et tacto sacro euägelio iurauit se aut heredes eius nuquam imppetuū se terra in Staneya repetituros, aut in eadem villa scil. Staneya se diutius remāsuros, nisi ad volūtatē Abbatis de loco Benedicto sed alibi p consiliu et volūtatē predicti Abbatis se terra qsituros. Ita tamen quod sepe nōiatus Abbas medius esset inter Leuing et heredes eius et illu de quo terra supsisset. ffecit quoq. Leuing homagiu Abbati de loco Benedicto et hec omia se fideliter seruaturu et heredes post eu iurauit. Hijs testibz Robto Abbe Cestr., Willo de Kamb., Willo legato, Leonardo mocho de Cubermer, Rogo mocho de Cumberm., Hug. de Dutton, Ad. de Dutton, Martino Angeuino, et alijs multis.

IV. Carta eiusdem de Leuing et fratre eius et eorum heredibus.

a

NIUERSIS sancte matris ecclesie filijs tam presētib3 quam futuris Johes constab. Cestrie salute. Sciatis me dedisse et hac presēti carta cōfirmasse Deo et sancte Marie et Abbi ac monachis de loco Benedicto imppetua elemosinā Leuyng de Staneya et Wydonē fratrē eius, necnō et heredes utriusq., ea tamen cōditione, quod ipse Leuying et frater eius Wydo clamauerūt omem terrā quam habuerut in Staneya liberam et quietā Deo et sancte Marie et Abbi et monachis de Loco Benedicto, et tacto sacro euägelio iurauerut se aut heredes eoru nūquam imppetuū terra suā de Stanl. repetituros aut in eadem villa, scil. Staneya, diutius remāsuros, nisi ad volutate Abbis de Loco Benedicto sed alibi p consiliu et volūtatē predicti Abbatis se terra quesituros. Ita tamen quod sepedictus Abbas medius esset inter Leuing et Wyd. et heredes eorū et illu de quo terra supissent. ffecerüt quoq. homagiu Abbi de loco Et hec omia se fideliter seruaturos et heredes eoru post eos iurauerut. Hijs testib3 Henr. priore de Norton, Thoma mocho, Hug. de Dutton, Ad. de Dutton, Rico de Grauel, Willo de Eton, Willo legato, et multis alijs.

Benedicto.

V. Quietaclamatio Ricardi de Mora de terra de Staneya.

NIUERSIS sancte matris ecclesie filijs presētibz et futuris Ricus de Mora salutē.

Sciatis me reddidisse et

quietuclamāsse Johĩ Constab. Cestrie et Abbati atq. Cōuētui de Stanl. totā terra meam quam habui in Staneya et quam mihi Johes constab. Cestrie dederat p meo homagio et seruicio. Clamaui similiter quietā terrā illā que dicitur Stanlawe, que est sedes Abbathie, Deo et sancte Marie et Abbathie de Stanl. p salute anime dñi mei Johis Constab. Cestrie et uxoris sue et omiu antecessoru et

heredū suoru, necnō p salute anime mee et uxoris mee et heredū meoru. Sub tali cöditione quod prefatus Johes Constab. Cestrie dedit mihi in excābiu quatuor bouatas terre in Ronconer. Et qm sigillu nō habui ppriū, placuit mihi ut scriptu istud sigillo Abbatis Cestrie firmaretur. Hijs testib3 Robto Abbte Cestrie,* Henr. priore de Norton, Hug. de Dutton, Willo Patricio, Ran. Wallense, Ad. de Dutton, Willo Patricio juniore, Hug. fil. Hug. de Dutton, Willo de Canuilla, Robo fil. Rogi, Willo fil. Iuonis, Robto de Wygemora, Willo legato.

VI. Carta Hugonis comitis Cestrie de libertatibus nobis concessis.

h

UGO comes Cestriet uniuersis sancte matris ecclesie filijs

et specialiter Justic. Constab. Dapiferis, et omib3 baronib3 suis et omib3 balliuis suis et omib3 hominib3 suis ffrācis et

*This was Robert Hastings, sixth abbot. He received the benediction from Baldwin, archbishop of Canterbury, A.D. 1186, but his appointment was opposed by Earl Randle, and, after much controversy, Hastings was deposed, and Geoffrey, his successor, was confirmed A.D. 1194. And as John, constable of Cheshire, died at Tyre, 1190, the date of this deed must be between 1186 and 1190, and most probably was almost contemporaneous with the foundation of the abbey itself.

Hugh, surnamed Cyveliok, the fifth earl of Chester of the Norman race, succeeded his father, Randle le Gernons, A.D. 1153. He married Bertred, daughter of Simon, earl of Evereux in Normandy, and had issue,

1. Randle, his successor.

2. Maude, married David, earl of Huntingdon, brother of William, king of Scotland, and had issue,

John le Scot, who succeeded to the earldom.

3. Mabilla, married William d'Albini, earl of Arundel.

4. Agnes, married William Ferrers, earl of Derby.

5. Hawise, married Robert de Quency, son and heir of Saher de Quency, earl of Winchester. Her brother Randle gave the earldom of Lincoln to her, and she transferred it to her son-in-law, John de Lascy. They had, with other issue, a daughter,

Margaret, married John de Lascy, see p. 3. Hugh, earl of Chester, ob. 27 Henry II, A.D. 1181, and was succeeded by his

son,

Anglicis tam presētib3 quam futuris salutē. Sciatis me cōcessisse et hac presēti carta mea cōfirmasse donationem illa quam Johes constab. Cestrie dedit et cocessit in pura et ppetua elemosyna Abbathie de Loco Benedicto et monachis ibidem Deo seruiētib3, illu scil. locu qui vocatur Staneya cũ omib3 ptinentijs suis. Et si constet quod inde aliquid seruiciu habere debeam, hoc eis omnino remitto p salute anime mee et omiū antecessoru et heredū meoru. Et phibeo ne quis balliuorū meorū, p seruicio quod predictus Constab. mihi debeat, animalia vel aliquas possessiones eoru nullo modo capiat, sed alibi ubicuq. voluerint in terra Constab. namiū capiat. Testib3 Rado de Menylwar, Rado fil. War, Aluredo de Cubray, Willmo Patrik, Willo clerico.

VII. Carta Hugonis Comitis Cestrie de acquietatione thelonei.

h

UGO comes Cestrie Justiciarijs, dapifero, Vicecom, et omib3 baronib3 suis, et omib3 hominib3 suis Francis et Anglicis

U tam presentib3 quam futuris salutē. Sciatis me dedisse et cōcessisse et hac presēti carta mea cōfirmasse in puram et ppetuā elemosynā p salute anime mee et p anima patris mei et p animabz ancessoru meoru Abbathie de Loco Benedicto de Stanlawe et monachis ibidem Deo seruietib3 quietātiam de theloneo in villa mea Cestrie de omib3 que prefati monachi ibi emerint ad opus sue dñice domus de

Randle, the sixth earl, surnamed Blundeville, He married Constance, daughter and heir of Conan, Duke of Little Brittany, Earl of Richmond. She was widow of Geoffrey, fourth son of Henry II., and by him mother of Prince Arthur; and upon the marriage, A.D. 1188, Randle, Earl of Chester, took the title of Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond, but upon his divorce from her, A.D. 1200, he relinquished the title, and was only stiled, Comes Cestrie.

The earl ob. s.p. 1232, and was succeeded by his nephew,

John le Scot, earl of Chester and Huntingdon, who died s.p. 7th June, 1237. On his death the earldom was seised by King Henry III. into his own hands.

C

Stanlawe. Testib; Abbate Cestrie, Johe constab., Rado fil. Warini, Hug. de Dutton, Johẽ Burdun, Martino Angeuino, Ada de Dutton et multis alijs, apud Cestriam.

VIII. Confirmatio Ranulphi Comitis eorum, que pater suus dedit

R

nobis.

ANULPHUS dux Britannie comes Cestrie et Riche

mūdie, cōstabulario, dapifero, camerario et omib3 ministris suis et omib3 baronib3 et militib3 suis et omib3 hominib; suis ffrācis et Anglicis clericis et laicis tam presētib; quam futuris salutē. Notu sit vobis omib; me cōcessisse et hac carta mea cōfirmasse Deo et Abbathie de Loco Benedicto de Stanlawe et monachis ibidem Deo seruiētibz omes illas libertates et donationes quas eis fecit Comes Hugo pater meus et prout carta sua qua habent monachi predicti testatur. Testib3, Johe constab. Cestrie, Petro cacellario, Rado de Maynilwar, Hug. de Boidel, Ran. de Praers, apud Cestriam.

IX. Carta Ranulphi comitis de quietantia de theloneo.

R

ANULPHUS, comes Cestrie, constab. suo, et dapifero, Justic. et Vicecomiti, baronib; et balliuis suis salutē. Sciatis me p Dei amore et p salute anime mee dedisse et hac carta mea cōfirmasse in ppetuā et purā elemosyna Deo et sancte Marie et monachis Loci Benedicti de Stanl. quietatiam de theloneo p tota terra meam de Sale et de omib3 alijs reb3 quas emerint vel vēdiderint ad usus suos pprios tam p aquam quam p terram. Quare firmiter pcipio ne aliquis ab eis theloneu exigat nec ppter theloneū eos vexare aut molestare presumat. Hijs testib3 Rogo constab. Cestrie, Johe de Orreby tuc Justic. Cestrie, Warino de Vernon, Willo de Venables,