| Description | Party: 'Dominus' Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury
Party: Philip de Columbar'; John de Gestling'; William de Well'
Made by Mgr Elias de Derham, concerning Shirley Moor ('mora de Syrle') [in Woodchurch], which is in the archbishop's hands. The moor which Philip, John and William are demanding lies between the land of the abbot St Augustine's Abbey and the ditch ('fossatus') called 'Hunteburn'' and between the land of the monks of Canterbury Cathedral Priory and the edge of William's land to north. The parties chose 4 arbitrators, namely the abbot of Robertsbridge on behalf of the archbishop, William Puingnaunt on behalf of Philip, Robert de Aub'vill' on behalf of John and Giles of Badlesmere on behalf of William, and agreed to abide by their decision. The arbitrators decided that the moor should be divided into 4 parts and so that the land of each part should be equally good, 12 jurors were appointed, namely Stephen, serjeant ('serviens') of Aldington ('Audinton''), William de Lydes and Reginald son of John on behalf of the archbishop, Wimund de Sarlesfeud, William de la Pende and Aylwin the reeve ('prepositus') on behalf of Philip, Daniel of Snave, Mauger de la Helde and William de Frephingehee on behalf of John and Philip the red ('Rufus'), Warren de Well' and Richard of Brook on behalf of William. The archbishop's part was to be nearest to the priory's land, followed by the parts of Philip, John and William in that order. After the division had been made it was to be be recorded in writing and sealed with the seals of the parties and read out in the shire court. The archbishop's steward ('senescallus') was then to deliver seisin in the lands to each of the parties and the archbishop was to keep the part of anyone who refused to observe the agreement.
The division was made and the archbishop and William received 52 acres each and John and Philip each received 50 acres. Afterwards the deed was read out in the shire court of Kent and then Elias delivered sesin in their parts to John and William, because they had sealed the agreement with their seals. Philip's part remained in the archbishop's hands because he did not seal the agreement. No date. [Date: according to Stephen Langton's ratification, transcribed in Major, cited below, Elias read this agreement in the shire court on 28 Jul 1214.]
Witnesses: Henry Greley; William of Ashford ('Esseteford''); Robert Bretel; Roger de Sotindon'; William de Ceriton'; Richard the young ('Iuvens'); Henry Punt; Alofus of Boughton; Walter le Brun'; Joyce ('Ioscius') de Eggeresden'; Thomas de Gingesnad'; William de la Gildehall'
Endorsed with description in late 13th cent hand. |