acquietabimus et contra omes alios homines in omib3 et ubicūq. warāt manutenebimus et defedemus. Et quicuq. hac mea elemosinā destruere vel minuere voluerit destruat eu Dñus et eius maledictionem et omiu sanctorū et meā habeat. Hac autē elemosinā dedi et cōcessi liberam et quietā atq. honorifică sicut ulla elemosina liberius vel quietius atq. honorificetius dari potest. Anno ab incarnatiōe dñi mo co lxxviijo. Huius autē donationis et confirmationis testes sunt isti Robtus decanus de Donyngton, Nichūs psona de Marishm, Rad. sac'dos de Sallowe, Sym. sac'dos de Eston, Greg. sac'dos de Castello, Gaufridus monachus de Parco, Sym. monachus de Cuberm?, Henr. Byset, Johes de Danuilla, Martinus Angeuinus, Hugo de Dutton, Johes fil. Thurstani, Ran. fil. Gilbti, Gilbtus fil. Ran., Matheus fil. Johis, Johes fil. Affr., Ric. ffyton, Willus fil. Rici, Rob. venator, Ad. de Dutton, Hugo suus frater, Rob. fil. Rogeri, Rog. Burdon, Gaufr. de Meryng., Willus Benuenu, Ric. de Cheyle, ffulco dispensator, Henr. de Aylnton, Petrus de Sandal, Willus clicus de Cambrebek, Osbtus marescallus, Willus Legatus, apud Donyngton.

II. Carta Johannis Constabularij de marisco et fundatione domus de Stanlawe.

a

NIUERSIS sancte matris ecclesie filijs tam presetib3 quam futuris, Johes cōstabularius Cestrie salutem. Notu vob. facio quod ego Johës constab. Cestrie cōstruxi quoddā cenobiu monachoru in terra mea de pprio feudo et baronia mea quod Stanlawe, siue locus Benedictus, dicitur, quod dedi et cōcessi et carta mea confirmaui Abbati et monachis ibidem Deo seruientibz cum omib3 ptinentijs et libertatib3 et liberis cōsuetudinib3 quas ego vel antecessores mei unquam habuerut in terra illa libere et quiete absq. omi exactione seculari. Scire etiã omes volo literatos et laycos presētes et futuros et firmiter tenere, quod nullus vicinoru prefati

cenobij in pastura marisci quod dicitur Ryshemersch coione de iure vel debito sine gratuita volütate Abbatis aut fratrum predicti Loci habere debet. Scil. neq. Abbas vel monachi Cestrie in festiuitate sancti Johis ad Nūdinas in predicto marisco herba vel juncũ 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 tepib; meis aut antecessoru meoru alio modo hoc habuerüt.

a

III. Carta eiusdem Johannis de Leuing de Staneye.

NIUERSIS sancte matris ecclesie filijs tam presētibz 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 imppetua 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 terrā in Staneya repetituros, aut in eadem villa scil. Staneya se diutius remāsuros, nisi ad volütatē Abbatis de loco Benedicto sed alibi p consiliu et volūtate predicti Abbatis se terra qsituros. Ita tamen quod sepe nõiatus 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 testib3 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 presē

tib3 quam futuris Johes constab. Cestrie salute. Sciatis me dedisse et hac presēti carta cöfirmasse Deo et sancte Marie et Abbi ac monachis de loco Benedicto imppetuā elemosinā Leuyng de Staneya et Wydonē fratrē eius, necnō et heredes utriusq., ea tamen cōditione, quod ipse Leuying et frater eius Wydo clamauerūt omem terra quam habuerūt in Staneya liberam et quietā Deo et sancte Marie et Abbi et monachis de Loco Benedicto, et tacto sacro euägelio iurauerūt se aut heredes eorū nūquam imppetuū terrā suā de Stanl. repetituros aut in eadem villa, scil. Staneya, diutius remāsuros, nisi ad volutatē Abbis de Loco Benedicto sed alibi P consiliu et volütate predicti Abbatis se terra quesituros. Ita tamen quod sepedictus Abbas medius esset inter Leuing et Wyd. et heredes eorū et illu de quo terra sūpissent. ffecerut quoq. homagiu Abbi de loco Benedicto. Et hec omia se fideliter seruaturos et heredes eoru post eos iurauerüt. 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.

V. Quietaclamatio Ricardi de Mora de terra de Staneya.

a

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

quietuclamasse 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 quieta terra illa 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 excābiù quatuor bouatas terre in Ronconer. Et qm sigillū 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 presētib; quam futuris salutē.

Sciatis me cōcessisse et

hac presēti carta mea cōfirmasse donationem illa quam Johes constab. Cestrie dedit et cōcessit in pura et ppetua elemosyna Abbathie de Loco Benedicto et monachis ibidem Deo seruiētib3, illu scil. locu qui vocatur Staneya cu omib3 ptinentijs suis. Et si constet quod inde aliquid seruiciu habere debeam, hoc eis omnino remitto p salute anime mee et omiu antecessoru et heredu 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

tam presentib; quam futuris salutē. Sciatis me dedisse et cōcessisse et hac presēti carta mea cöfirmasse in puram et ppetuā elemosyna p salute anime mee et p anima patris mei et p animab3 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