APPENDIX L.
THE CREATION OF THE DUCHY.
1 - Charter Roll. 11 Edw.III. n. 55. 16th. March 1337.
[Patent creating the Earl of Salisbury reciting the creation of the Duchy.]
The King to the Archbishops &c. greeting. Know ye that whereas the glory of Princes consists in the multitude of wise and exalted subjects, and that by so much the more the regal throne is raised up, and a Government of a kingdom is strengthened as there are subject to them nobles of dignity and pre-eminence; we, at the request of the prelates and nobles, and also of the Commons of our kingdom assembled in our present Parliament convened at Westminster, willing more securely to establish the Royal sceptre as well as by the addition of new honors as by the restoration of old ones, and to augment the number of nobles by whose counsels our realm may be directed in doubtful, and by whose suffrages be supported in adverse circumstances, have advanced our most dear first begotten Edward (whom in the prerogative of honour as is meet, we have caused to have precedence of others) to be Duke of Cornwall, over which awhile ago Dukes for a long time successively presided as chief rulers. And of the said Duchy we have given him investiture by girding a sword upon him, as is the custom. Considering also among others whom we have promoted to be Earls of divers places, the strict probity and circumspect prudence, and the renown as regards both virtue and lineage of our beloved and faithful William de Monteacuto; and also the expenses and dangers to which he hath submitted himself for us and ours at all times with ready promptitude; and also hoping that an addition of honour will add a grateful increase as well to his probity as to his fidelity towards us; we, by the definite advice of our said Parliament, in consideration of the premises, and with a grateful remembrance of the accepted and useful services by him hitherto rendered, have given him investiture of the County of Salisbury, by girding a sword upon him, freely granting to him and his heirs the name and style of Earl of the said place. And that the same Earl and his heirs may be able the better and more honourably to support the burthens incumbent on them in a manner befitting so high a name and honour; we have given and granted and by this our Charter have confirmed to the same Earl and his heirs twenty pounds of rent out of the issues of the County of Wilts every year at the Feasts of Easter and Saint Michael, by equal portions to be paid by the hands of the Sheriff for the time being of that County for ever. Wherefore we will and strictly command for us and our heirs that the aforesaid Earl and his heirs may perceive the aforesaid 20l. of rent from the issues of the County aforesaid every year at the Feasts aforesaid, in equal portions by the hands of the Sheriff for the time being of that County for ever as is before said. These persons being witnesses, &c. Given under our hand at Westminster, the 16th day of March.
By the King himself and all his Council in full Parliament.N.B. - The three Duchy Charters dated respectively the 17th and 18th March and 3rd January in the 11th of Edward III., are set out at length in the Appendix to the Observations of the Officers of the Crown
2 - Petitions in Parliament. 18 Edw. II. No. 18.
[The church of St Burian appendant to the Earldom]
To our Lord the King and his Council sheweth his chaplain Walter, Bishop of Exeter, that albeit so it is that the Church of St. Burian, in Cornwall, is in the Bishoprick of Exeter, having parochial cure of souls and not being a free chapel of the King, and that the advowson of this church is appur- tenant to the Earldom of Cornwall, and in no otherwise than that to the Crown, and that the Bishops of Exeter time out of mind in the name of the said Church of Exeter, have had in the same church of St. Burian institution and deprivation, and all manner of other ordinary jurisdiction as in the other churches of the same bishoprick, as well during such time as the Earldom (County) of Corn wall, and the same advowson were in the hands of the Kings of England as when in the hands of the Earls of Cornwall, notwithstanding which now of late one Sir Ralph de Manton, after the death of Sir William de Hamelton, who was Dean of the same Church of St. Burian, and presented by Edmund, then Earl of Cornwall, and instituted by the Bishop of Exeter, did make his suggestion to our late Lord King Edward, whom God assoil, (whose clerk he was,) father of our Lord the King that now is, whom God preserve, that the same Church of St. Burian was and ought to be the King's free chapel, exempt from all manner of ordinary jurisdiction, insomuch that the King might give the same Deanery and put the Dean in possession by his Royal power without presenting him to the Bishop, wherefore our said late Lord the King, whom God assoil, who was deceived by such untrue suggestion, did give the same Deanery to the said Sir Ralph, and caused him to be put in possession without presenting him to the Bishop of Exeter; and after the death of the said Ralph, in the same manner and on that same suggestion he gave the same Deanery to one Sir Matthias, Chaplain to Madame the Queen Margaret his Consort, whom God assoil, and caused him to be put in possession thereof in the same manner. And now again recently our Lord the King that now is gave the same Deanery to one John de Medunta, and caused him to be put in possession without pre senting him to the Bishop in the same manner by his Royal power; the which power the said
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Bishop that now is, nor his predecessors cannot nor could resist without, asking and having remedy of the .King ; but in all respects since as before have the Bishops of Exeter used their ordinary jurisdiction therein all other things, and so the Bishop of Exeter that now is always has been and still is ready to aver all things abovesaid so far ais to him belongs, and so far as the court of our Lord the King- shall award that lie ought aver.
3 - Inrolments in the office of the Duchy of Cornwall. 8th June 4th James II. 1688.
[Lease of the fishery and soil of the water of Fowey as parcel of the Duchy.]
James the Second, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith, &c. : To all to whom these our present Letters shall come, greeting : Whereas our most dear brother Charles the Second, late King of England, &c., by his Letters Patent, under his Great Seal of England, bearing date the 31st day of December, in the thirteenth year of his reign, for the consideration therein expressed, demised to farm to his dearly beloved Henry Seymour, Esquire, then one of the Grooms of his Bedchamber (amongst other things) all that water, watercourse or River of Fowey, with appurtenances, in his County of Cornwall, extending from the Park of Restormel, on the northern side, unto the Bridge of Lostwithiel on the southern side : And all that fishery within the aforesaid water and river, under or near the Castle of Restormel, extending from the Port of St. Salveour, alias St. Saviour, unto the bridge called Reprenne, alias Reprinne bridge, and from thence as far as two oxen joined together in the same water together could pass, together with the soil of the same water and a several fishery, and the freedom of fishing within the water aforesaid, with all its appurtenances, being parcel of the possessions of his Duchy of Cornwall : To have to the aforesaid Henry Seymour and his assigns, from the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel then last past, for a term of one and thirty years, under the yearly rent of fifty shillings : To be paid as by the same Letters Patents more fully appears : And whereas the aforesaid Henry Seymour, by an Indenture under his hand and seal, dated the 14th day of October, in the 14th year of the same late King, for the consideration in the same expressed had granted, sold and assigned the water, watercourse, soil of the fishery, and other premises (above-mentioned to the said Henry demised) to a certain Robert Hart, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, his executors and assigns, for the remainder of the term of year continuing and unexpired : And whereas also the aforesaid Robert Hart by his Indenture dated the 25th day of March now last past, had sold and assigned all the before-recited premises to a certain Christopher Toker of Blislan, in the County of Cornwall aforesaid, Gentleman, his executors and assigns, for the remainder of the term of one and thirty years, then also to come and unexpired, as by the several Indentures aforesaid, delivered into the hands of our Clerk of the Pipe in the Exchequer fully appears : And whereas also the aforesaid Christopher Toker, according to a contract and agreement with the Commissioners of our Treasury, by a writing under his hand and seal in due manner executed, dated the 3rd day of May now also past, remitted, released and surrendered to us, our heirs and successors, the water, watercourse, soil of the several fishery, the Indentures, sales and assignments aforesaid, and all the premises as is abovesaid, to Henry Seymour (amongst other things) granted, and by the aforesaid Henry sold and assigned to Robert Hart, and by the aforesaid Robert sold and assigned to the same Christopher, as by the writing of surrender aforesaid, in the custody of the Clerk of the Pipe may also more fully appear. Now know ye, that we as well for and in consideration of the surrender aforesaid (by us by those presents accepted) as of the rent and covenant below by these presents reserved and expressed, and on the part of the aforesaid Christopher Toker, his executors and assigns, to be paid and performed also for divers other good* and considerations, us at present moving by the advice of our most dearly beloved and especially faithful counsellors John, Lord Belasise, Sidney, Lord Godolphin, Henry, Lord Dovor, and John Ernley, Knight, Chancellor and under treasurer of our Court of Exchequer, and also of our dearly beloved and faithful Stephen Fox, Knight, Commissioner of our Treasury, have given, granted, and demised to farm, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, give, grant, and to farm, demise to the aforesaid Christopher Toker (at the nomination of our most dearly beloved and especially faithful kinsman Charles Bodvile, Earl of Radnor), all that aforesaid water, watercourse or River of Fowey, with the appurtenances, in our County of Cornwall aforesaid, extending from the Park of Restormel, on the north part, unto the Bridge of Lostwithiel, on the south part : And all that aforesaid fishery within the aforesaid water and river, beneath or near the Caatle of Restormel, extending from the port aforesaid of St. Salveour, alias St. Saviour, unto the bridge called Reprenne, alias Reprynne Bridge, and from thence as far as two oxen Joined together in the same water together, shall be able to pass, together with the soil aforesaid of the same water, and the several fishery, and the freedom of fishing within the water aforesaid, with all its appurtenances ; which premises are parcel of our possessions in right of our Duchy of Cornwall. To have and to hold the aforesaid water, watercourse, fishery, soil, and other premises above by these presents demised or mentioned to be demised with every their appurtenances, to the aforesaid Christopher Toker, his executors, administrators and assigns, from the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, now last past, before the date of these our Letters Patents, which was in the year of our Lord 1688, to the end of the term, and for the term of one and thirty years from thence next ensuing, and fully to be completed and ended, rendering therefore yearly. And the aforesaid Christopher Toker, for himself, his executors, administrators, and assigns, agrees and grants to and with us, our heirs and successors by these presents to render and pay, and that they the aforesaid Christopher Toker, his executors or assigns, will yearly render and pay to us, our heirs and successors, or to him or them who hereafter shall have inheritance or other estate of the Duchy of Cornwall, the ancient yearly rent of fifty shillings of lawful money of England, to be paid into the hands of the Receiver General of the Duchy of Cornwall or the Bailiff of the premises for the time being, at the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by even and equal portions during the term aforesaid. Provided always, that if it shall happen the aforesaid yearly rent of fifty shillings above by these presents reserved shall be in arrear, or unpaid in part or in whole during the space of forty days after any one feast of the feasts aforesaid, on which as abovesaid it ought to be paid ; or if the aforesaid Christopher Toker, his executors or assigns, shall not inroll or cause to be inrolled these our Letters Patents, before our Auditor of our Duchy of Cornwall, or
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his sufficient deputy, for the time being, within the space of six months next ensuing after the date of the same, that then and from thenceforth, in every such case, this our present demise and grant shall be void, and be held for nought, anything in these presents to the contrary thereof notwith. standing. Moreover, the aforesaid Christopher Toker, for himself, his heirs, executors and assigns lastly covenants and agrees to and with us, our heirs and successors, by these presents, that he, the aforesaid Christopher Toker, his executors or assigns, all the ditches, shores, banks and sea or water walls, also all other necessary repairs of the premises in all things, and throughout, from time to time, as often and so often as they shall be necessary and requisite, they will well and sufficiently, at their own costs and expenses, repair, support, sustain, cleanse, purify and maintain, and the fishery aforesaid will preserve and continue, and the premises so sufficiently repaired, supported, sustained cleansed purified and maintained, and the fishery preserved and continued at the end of the term aforesaid, or a sooner determination, if it shall happen they will demise and relinquish, anything in these presents to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. Any statute, act, ordinance, provision proclamation or restriction to the contrary thereof, before this had made, edited, ordered or provided or any other thing, cause or matter whatsoever in anywise notwithstanding. In testimony whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made patent. Witnesses : the aforesaid most dearly beloved and especially faithful Commissioners of our Treasury at Westminster, the 8th day of June in the 4th year of our reign.
CLIFFORD.
By Warrant of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and the Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the Court of Exchequer.
Examined by Bartholomew Tillingham, Deputy Clerk of the Pipe.
4 - Charter Roll. 16 Edw.III. n. 4. 16th. March 1337.
[The Fordington Charter, showing the identity of the Earldom and Duchy.]
For the Duke of Cornwall. - The King to his Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls. Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Provosts, Ministers, and all Bailiffs, and all his faithful subjects, greeting. We consider it to be worthy and agreeable to reason that we who willingly show our hand profusely munificent to our beloved (subjects) also to foreigners, that we should grant with a certain abundance of more full munificence to our first born (Son), Edward Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester, who hath been born to us to the joy both of our subjects, the presage of lasting defence, and the strength and honor of our Royal House, considering, therefore, how the Earldom of Cornwall, now called the Duchy of Cornwall hath sustained for a length of time a great dismemberment of its rights, and desiring to make integral again (redintegrare) the said Duchy and re-collect its rights thus dispersed, in consideration of the premises we have given and granted for us and our heirs to the aforesaid Duke, the Manor of Little Weldon with its appurtenances, in the county of Northampton, the Manor of Fordington with the Hamlet of Whitewell, and other its appurtenances, in the County of Dorset, the Hamlet of Wyke Southteigne, with its appurtenances, in the County of Devon, and a certain tenement, with its appurtenances, in Shorham, in the county of Sussex, which were lately members and appurtenances of the said Earldom of Cornwall, now the Duchy of Cornwall, and which our beloved and faithful Hugh de Ardele, Earl of Gloucester, and Margaret his wife, now deceased, held for the life of the same Margaret, by the grant of Edward, lately King of England, our father, and which by the death of the same Margaret are now in our hand. We have given also and granted for us and our heirs to the aforesaid Duke The Town (villam) de Rokynham with its appurtenances, in the County of Northampton, which is a member, and among the appurtenances of the said Duchy, and which came to our hands by the death of John of Eltham, lately Earl of Cornwall, our most dear brother who held the town aforesaid by our grant to have and to hold to the said Duke and his heirs, firstborn sons of the Kings of England, hereditarily to succeed to the Kingdom of England, of us and our heirs for over by the services therefore due and accustomed, as annexed and united to the said Duchy together with the Knights' fees, advowsons of churches, and all other things to the aforesaid manors, towns, hamlets, tenements in anywise relating, in the same manner in which the aforesaid Duchy was granted to him by us. Wherefore we will and firmly command for us and our heirs, that the aforesaid Duke should have and hold the manors, towns, hamlets and tenements aforesaid, to the aforesaid Duke and his said heirs for ever as annexed and united to the aforesaid Duchy, together with the fees advowsons, and other their appurtenances aforesaid of us and our heirs as is aforesaid. These persons being witnesses, &c., &c.
Given under our hand at the Tower of London, the 9th day of July.
By Writ of Privy Seal.
5 - Pat. Roll. 21 Edward III. p. 2, M. 3.
[Grant of the preemption of tin within the Duchy of Cornwall and County of Devon.]
The King to all to whom &c. greeting. We have inspected another part of a certain indenture between Edward, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester, our first-born son and Tideman de Lymbergh, Merchant, made in these words. This Indenture made on Monday on the morrow of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, in the 21st year of the reign of King Edward III. after the Conquest of England, and in the 8th year of his reign as King of France, between the noble Lord Edward the first born of the said King, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester of the one part, and Tideman de Lymbergh, merchant, of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Lord the Prince, Duke, and Earl, granted, and to farm, let to the same Tideman the Coinage of the Stannary of the whole Duchy of Cornwall, with all profits of the same. To hold from the said Feast of St. John the Baptist, unto the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel next to come, and from the same Feast of St. Michael to the end of three years then next and to be continuously computed and fully ended, without hindrance or revocation whatever of the said Lord the Prince, Duke, and Earl, or of any person or person in his name or by his authority. And that it may moreover be lawful for the said Tideman, if he wished, at the end of
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the first or second year, to surrender and give up the said farm, provided that he sufficiently forewarn the said Lord the Prince, Duke, and Earl, or his Council upon that point at the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, next preceding the end of the year in which he so wished to resign the said farm. And the same Prince, Duke, and Earl granted that the aforesaid Tideman should have the emption of the whole tin dug or to be dug, as well within the said Duchy of Cornwall, as the County of Devon which ought to be sold. And also of the money arising from the issues of lands and demesnes of the Lord the Prince, Duke, and Earl in the said Duchy of Cornwall and County of Devon, as Receiver. And that he may have and hold the office of Receiver of the same, for so long as he held the said coinage as is aforesaid, and that he should account and answer for the same money in his own Treasury at Westminster as is right. So that he in nowise be charged with any further sum than what he shall have received, or by requisite diligence could have received. And for having and holding the premises as is abovesaid the said Tideman pays to the said Lord the Prince, Duke, and Earl beforehand a thousand marks, for which thousand marks the same Lord the Prince, Duke, and Earl granted and demised to the said Tideman all the coinage of tin of the County of Cornwall, from the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist last past, to the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing ; and for three years of the said Farm to be computed from the same Feast of St. Michael as is aforesaid, the same Tideman shall pay to the said Lord the Prince, Duke, and Earl annually, at the terms of the birth of our Lord, Easter, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and St. Michael, 3,500 marks, by equal portions, of which, on the day of the completion of this Indenture, he hath paid 2000 marks in part payment for the first year of the said three years ; and 1,500 marks then to be paid for the same year, will fall due at the terms of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and St. Michael, within the same year, to be paid in equal portions, and for the subsequent years will pay at the appointed times as is said ; provided, nevertheless, that always the last term of payment of that year, at the end of which he shall be desirous of giving up the said Farm, shall always be the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, next preceding the end itself of the year. And that the aforesaid Tideman may the more freely enjoy the said grants the said Prince, Duke, and Earl will maintain and warrant him in the same. In witness, whereof, &c. These persons being witnesses, &c. We, however, approve and confirm for us and our heirs as much as in us lies the aforesaid Indenture, and all things contained in the same to the aforesaid Tideman, as by the aforesaid Indenture is more fully testified. In witness, &c., the 25th day of August.
By Writ of Privy Seal.
6 - 50 Edward III. Orig. Roll. M. 8.
[The Comitatus reverted to the King on the death of the Black Prince.]
The King to all to whom, &c., greeting. Know ye that we have committed to Richard Cergeaux the office of Sheriff of the County of Cornwall, which county, by the death of our most dear first begotten Edward, lately Prince of Wales, deceased, hath come to our lands, to hold during pleasure, so that of the issues therein arising he answer to us at our Exchequer of England. In testimony, &c. Witness the King at Westminster, the 5th day of July.
7 - Close Roll. 1 Henry IV. Mem. 27.
[The Duchy comprised the whole territory that was under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff.]
By Letters Patent dated on the 15th of October 1st Henrv IV., A.D. 1399, it is recited that, whereas the late King Edward III. in the 11th year of his reign, with the assent of Parliament, gave to his eldest son Edward the name and honor of Duke of Cornwall, and by his Charter granted to him (among other things) the Vicecomitatus Comubiæ with the appurtenances, the Castle, Borough, Manor and Honor of Launceston with the park there, and other its appurtenance, the Castle and Manor of Trematon, with the town of Saltash, and the park there, and other its appurtenances in the said County of Cornwall, and in the County of Devon, and the Manor of Tyntagel, &c. (enumerating all the manors, &c. as in the Charter), with the castles, boroughs, vills, manors, honors, &c., and all other things ad cosdem Ducatum et Vicecomitatum qualitercumque et quicumque spectantibus sive pertinentibus, &c. and the writ then continues,-" We command you " (the King's Escheator in the County of Cornwall) " to deliver to Henry, our eldest son, Ducatum praedictum ac Vicecomitatum ejusdem, with the appurtenances, with the castles, burghs vills, manors, honors, stannaries, coignages, farms, lands, and tenements, together with the Knights' fees and advowsons of Churches and all the other things abovesaid in your Bailiwick to have according to the tenor and effect of the abovesaid Charter of the same our grandfather, notwithstanding that our same son is under age. Saving the right of every one."
8 - 3 Henry IV.
[The Crown at this period had only the moiety of one Knight's fee in Cornwall.]
An Inquisition taken at Lanceneton in full session of the Assizes then there holden on Thursday next before the Feast of St. Gregory the Pope, in the third year of the reign of King Henry IV., &c. Before John Trenarthen, the Sheriff of the County of Cornwall, and Walter Reynold the Escheator of the same County, by virtue of Letters Patent of the Lord the King, to the same Sheriff and Escheator directed, and to this Inquisition sewn, by the oath of Noel Padardu find eleven others), who say upon their oath that John Coleshull and Emma, his wife, hold a moiety of one knights fee in the Manor of Manely, with the appurtenances, as in right of the same Emma of the Lord the King in capite, without mesne Lord by Knight service. And they further say upon their own oath, that no Knights' fees, nor any parcel of a fee, nor any lands or tenements are holden of the Lord the King in capite, without mesne Lord by Knight service within the County aforesaid (except the aforesaid moiety of a fee in Manely) ; nor are any lands holden of the Lord the King, without mesne Lord in Socage within the County aforesaid, because all the fees and lands within the same County, except the aforesaid moiety of a fee in Manely, are holden of the Lord the Prince as of his Duchy of Cornwall. In testimony whereof, the aforesaid Jurors to this Inquisition have put their seals. Given at the place and on the day and year abovesaid
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TENURES IN CORNWALL IRRESPECTIVE OF THE EARLDOM.
9 - Abb. Rot. Orig. 20 Edward II. Roll G.
The King took the fealty of Walter, son and heir of Richard, of St. Margaret, deceased, for all lands and tenements which the same Richard, his father, held of the King, &c. And be it remembered, that it is found by an inquisition, &c. that Richard held the hamlet of Treglast, with the appurtenances of the King in capite ut de corona in free socage and fealty for all services. So that after the death of the aforesaid Richard, his heir, of whatever age he shall be, shall enter into the aforesaid hamlet as his inheritance by a relief of 12s. 6d. and this, &c.
10 - Abb. Orig. Rot. 1 Edw. III. Rot. 23.
It is commanded to William Trussell, the Escheator south of Trent, that he should deliver one messuage four carucates of land, sixteen acres of meadow, twenty and seven acres of wood, and 72 shillings and three pence of rent in the Manor of Kilhampton, with the appurtenances in the County of Cornwall, to Anne, who was the wife of Bartholomew de Greynevill, deceased, who, &c., and which manor aforesaid is held of the Earl of Gloucester, as of the Honor of Wynkelegh in the hand of the King, by the forfeiture of Hugh de Despenser the younger, by the service of one Knight's fee, sufficient security being nevertheless taken from the aforesaid Anne for answering to the King for £20 annually during the minority of the heir, &c.
11 - Escheator's accounts 18 Edw. I. Cornwall.
It was commanded to the Sheriff of the County of Cornwall, that he do not omit an account of any liberty whatsoever within the County aforesaid, but that he should make come before the Escheator on Thursday next, after the Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.at Lanceston from every hundred of the same County, twelve free and lawful men, and besides these from all boroughs, liberties and vills of the same County, which of themselves receive lands in chief of the Crown before the Justices in Eyre, and therefore answer before the same justices by six or twelve as many free and lawful men as before the same justices answer thereof, to hear and do those things which the same Escheator to them on behalf of the Lord the King shall command. And on the said Thursday the Escheator being at Lanceston where Master John de Metingham, Justice of the Lord the King, was present upon certain royal matters, the Sheriff aforesaid being present, videlicet, Walter de Aylesbury, and it being enquired by the said Escheator of the same Sheriff whether he had received the mandate aforesaid, so that from the time of its reception he had been able to execute it, the same Sheriff said that he had so received it, but yet it was not executed, for he said that from the time that Lord Richard, father of the present Earl of Cornwall, had held the said Earldom until now, never had any Escheator of the Lord the King interfered in the said County concerning any matters belonging to his office, nor had the men of the same County ever assembled together on account of the summons of an Escheator. He said, moreover, that in times past the Escheators of the Lord the King several times sent their writs to the Sheriffs of the County aforesaid, to cause the men of the same County to come before them, which same Sheriffs, by reason of such mandates, up to the present time have done nothing ; wherefore he said it seemed to him that he had no authority for which he ought to cause any man of the County aforesaid to come before the Escheator at this time, and he seeks that nothing shall be done in prejudice of the liberty of his Lord. And the Escheator says that although Escheators his predecessors have not, up to the present time, interfered in the said County concerning matters which belong to his office, nevertheless he says no time runs against the Lord the King, nor prejudices him, and he says, that whereas in the County aforesaid, like as in other Counties, there are certain persons who hold immediately of the King, the same Escheator ought to do in that County those things which belong to his office, like as in other counties. And the said Sheriff saith as before ; wherefore upon these matters advice must be had.
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