| Description | Depositions relating to a dispute between Prior John [Wodnesbergh, II] and Thomas loveryk of Sandwich for cutting up the prior's ground beside the prior's fish house ('fyschous') at Ickham.
The witnesses are: John Dounholm, aged 70, farmer of William tytecumbe; Thomas Swynfford, aged 80; Walter of Wenderton, aged 70; Thomas Coupere of Ickham, aged almost 80, born in Ickham; Thomas Ropere, aged 60 and more, who was servant under Prior Robert Hathbrande when 'Dan' Hamo of Herne, the prior's chaplain, scoured the ditch; and James Twytham. The land ran along a watercourse or ditch, and much of the evidence concerns what happened to the dirt from the ditch when it was scoured. Thomas Ropere deposed that about 20 years ago in the time of Prior Thomas Chillenden, I, Harry horsman, who had the land that Thomas loveryk now has, enlarged a ditch across the prior's land, laid nets in it and 'tok gret profyt ther off'. When this was discovered he was prosecuted at the manor court and amerced 10s and the ground was made good. In the time of the present prior, Nicholas Byrd and John of Colynton, Thomas loveryk's servants, broke up the ground again. The prior sued them by writ and Nicholas was taken to Maidstone Gaol and fined 40s. John submitted and was also fined 40s, but the fines were remitted because they made the ground good again at their own cost.
The document is sealed with the seals of the witnesses and Henry horsman. John Scheldwych' and John Foxhunte, bailiffs of the city of Canterbury, have affixed the seal of their office to reinforce the credibility of the witnesses' statements, at the witnesses' request. Sealing clauses in Latin. No date. [Date: John Scheldwych' and John Foxhunte's dates as bailiffs of Canterbury.] |