| Description | From: Stephen of Penshurst, constable of Dover and warden of the Cinque Ports
Stephen has received Edward I's writ dated 28 Apr at Westminster (recited). The dispute between the prior of Canterbury Cathedral Priory and the barons of the port of Sandwich, relating to the prior's appointment of a bailiff in Sandwich, had been settled in the king's court at Canterbury by the barons' agreement, on behalf of the commonalty of Sandwich, that the prior could appoint a freeman ('intrinsecus') or foreigner ('forinsecus') as his bailiff as often as necessary. However, the barons prevented the bailiff from acting and exercised the office themselves with force and arms, causing great losses. The king ordered Stephen to go to Sandwich and command the barons to abide by the terms of the agreement. He was also to put right the damage they had caused and punish any rebels in such a way as to deter others.
The prior complained that the barons had broken the agreement by violence and had prevented the bailiff from holding the hundred court for 2 years. Only 3 courts were held and the prior lost £100 as a result. Stephen commanded the barons to let the prior's bailiff hold the hundred court and exercise his office but they refused. The prior complained that Nicholas barroc, his bailiff, had summoned the court on 8 Apr but the barons refused to come and all defaulted except for a few who refused to make any judgement without their absent peers. On 11 Apr Nicholas distrained Thomas Edward for default and wished to distrain the others when John Denys, mayor of Sandwich, came, struck the distraint from his hands and attacked him, and he suffered damages of £40.
Afterwards the barons agreed to observe the original agreement. The prior can appoint a freeman or foreigner as his bailiff to hold the hundred court in the town from 3 weeks to 3 weeks throughout the year. Details on procedure for summoning the court, appointment of a deputy bailiff, jurisdiction to be exercised by the bailiff and deputy bailiff, and procedure for assessing amercements. For this grant, the prior has remitted all the damages he said he had suffered because of the barons' actions. |