| Description | From: Richard of Dover, archbishop of Canterbury
Goddard, rector of Slindon [Sussex], and Alexander the chaplain ('capellanus'), vicar of Slindon, have complained that the archbishop's servants have been infringing the church's rights in wood, pastures and other things, because the charter of Archbishop Theobald which granted Goddard the church did not take full effect ('plene non constabat'). Richard has learned upon investigation that in the time of the knights who held Slindon before the time of Theobald or St Thomas Becket, the church had whatever it wanted in the wood and pasture rights and other rights as specified. Richard grants the church of Slindon the house ('curia') and 2 virgates of land which it possessed anciently, with all the rights and liberties previously mentioned, together with tithes of any assarts that may be made in future and tithes of pannange and from the sale of wood and herbage and of all profits which may arise from the wood and pasture. No-one is to infringe the possessions, rights or liberties of the church on pain of anathema. Richard grants an indulgence of 10 days to all who come to the church to pray on the anniversary of its dedication. No date. [Date: handwriting.] Original sealed on 11 Jul, when Richard dedicated the church and endowed it with the croft which Sefrid the deaf ('surdus') held, no year. [Date: 11 Jul 1176xSep 1181, as in English Episcopal Acta, cited below.]
Witness: Mgr Gerard Pucella |