able task of acknowledging the assistance he has in no sparing manner asked, and which has been given with a willingness which enhances its value. To Sir CHARLES YOUNG, Garter, the Editor and the other members of the Society are indebted for a copy of Dr. Kuerden's MS. relating to the abbey at its dissolution, which will be found in the Appendix, and will not be the least valuable part of the work. To the Rev. F. R. RAINES and Mr. W. LANGTON, the Editor is under the deepest obligations. Their extensive antiquarian knowledge, their acumen, local information, and patient accuracy, have been enlisted by the Editor during the progress of the work; and to them the Society stand indebted for many of the Notes by which the work is illustrated, and for frequent suggestions, by which inaccuracies have been corrected, which perhaps would otherwise have been overlooked. As to the mode in which the Editor has performed the arduous task confided to him, the readers of the work must form their own conclusions. His aim has been to give a faithful copy of the document itself; but it is proper to explain, that, during the progress of the work, a change, to some extent, was made in the manner of printing. The Editor at first desired to give the contractions as nearly similar to the original as the type would allow. As the work proceeded, he discovered his mistake, and to render the work more readable he discarded most of the contractions. All which substituted the circumflex for the letter m or n were unhesitatingly rejected, and he retained merely those which denoted the power of pro, per, the final us, and the common contraction of dominus. The notes inserted are few in comparison with those at the Editor's command. The great length of the work has caused the rejection of some, and demanded that others should be shortened. On this ground, and to avoid repetition, a Glossary of the words not generally used will be appended. The main object was the text itself. That errors and inaccuracies exist in it the Editor is fully aware; but it has been thought desirable to postpone their correction till the whole work is printed. That some will then have crept in and will remain unnoticed, is more than probable; but for them the Editor hopes for indulgence. The work has been copied with his own hand, and the corrections of the press made, in the few leisure moments he has been enabled to snatch from the engagements of a laborious and exacting profession. W. A. HULTON. PRESTON, MAY, 1847. CONTENTS. Maria. Jesu. (Translation.) Johannes. THIS BOOK, IN WHICH ARE WRITTEN THE DEEDS AND MUNIMENTS OF THIS OF WHICH THE FIRST TITLE IS CONCERNING THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE 17 CHESTER. Roger de Lascy grants a messuage and rent Agreement between Rich. de Aston and Robert de Clifton Agreement between us and Robert de Clifton HERE BEGINS THE SECOND TITLE, CONCERNING THE CHURCH OF ECCLES. 12 ECCLES. Thomas capell. Flekho, release to William de Eccles...... 43 44 Gilbert de Notton to the clerks of, concerning common.... ....... Gilbert de Notton to William de Eccles, one fourth of the church 46 Gilbert de Notton to the clerks concerning common 45 25 MAUNTON. Matilda, daughter of Mathew, grant of half an oxgang. 56 26 HALGHTON. Geoffrey de Biron to John his brother...... 59 Paulinus de Halghton to Cecilia, daughter of Yarweryth. ....... 59 30 SAYNTE MARIDEN. Thomas de Perpount, grant of land near......... 60 32 WESTHALGHTON. Geoffrey de Biron, grant to Thomas his brother... 62 33 ECCLES. Gilbert de Barton to John, Earl of Lincoln...................... William de Eccles, release of rent of gloves William de Eccles to Alice his sister, grant of land Alice de Quickleswyk, release of the same land 37 WESTHALGHTON. Richard de Penhulbury to Richard de Biron 38 FARNWORTH. Adam de Hulton, grant of land for a barn .... Here ends the second Title, concerning the Church of Eccles, and land |