| Description | From: Henry VI, king of England
To: the prior and convent of Canterbury Cathedral Priory
[Document badly damaged. Several details supplied from DCc-ChAnt/S/265.] The priory showed the king that their predecessors were seised of a plot of land called 'Hosand' within the jurisdiction of the port of Sandwich in Kent which was so flooded in the time of Henry III that for a long time the priory had no advantage from it. It remained like that until the time of Edward III when the sea receded and left it as dry land. Edward's officers claimed it and he was seised of it, although it was the priory's right. The lands descended to Henry and by letters patent dated 17 Jul 1427 he leased them to William Warde, clerk, for a term of 20 years for an annual of 4s 6d. In this lease, the lands were described as 30 acres called 'Hosand' next to the port of Sandwich.The priory took over the lease from William, because the lands belonged to it by right and because it wished to defend its other lands against the sea. The king grants the priory the land in pure and perpetual alms, because of his devotion to St Thomas Becket and because the priory is especially bound to pray for him and for the souls of his ancestors and parents. Sent patent. By the king himself. The clerk is Stopyndon'. Dated 14 Feb, regnal year supplied from DCc-ChAnt/S/265.
Elaborately decorated first line: penwork initial, with a collared and chained heraldic antelope holding a banner of England and France quarterly to left, an inscribed scroll issuing from its mouth, a crown above the letter and another shield of arms with a crown above and inscribed scroll beneath. Other letters decorated with penwork, sunbursts, scrolls and foliage.
Given at Reading [Berkshire].
Endorsed with note that the document was enrolled in the memoranda of the Exchequer for ('ex parte') the Treasurer's Remembrancer among the records for Easter 1441 and description (part lost) in mid 15th cent hands. |