| Description | From: Henry IV, king of England
Addressed to all his justices, sheriffs, escheators, coroners, stewards, mayors, bailiffs, constables, servants and other faithful men. Among other liberties, the barons of the Cinque Ports are quit of shire and hundred courts, so that if anyone wishes to sue them they may not answer or plead other than they used to in the time of Henry II ('H Rex proavus domini E filii Regis H quondam Regis Anglie'). They shall have what they find at sea or on land and shall be quit for all their possessions and goods as the king's free men are and all lands which they had in 44HenIII [1259-1260] shall be quit of common summons before the king's justices to any itinerant pleas in any counties. They are not bound to come before the justices unless any of the barons sue them or is sued by them and shall not plead anywhere except Shepway. They are not to be placed on sworn assizes or juries ('recognicio') because of their foreign tenure against their will. They are to be quit of prise of wine on their own wines and shall have certain rights as specified.
The manor of Bekesbourne is a limb of the port of Hastings. The king therefore commands the addressees to allow John Cobham, knight ('Chivaler') and John Doget and all other tenants of the same manor to use and enjoy the said liberties and exemptions, if they are tenants of the manor and barons of the said ports, as long as they are barons. The clerk in Waker'.
Given at Westminster [Middlesex].
Endorsed with description in early 15th cent hand. |