County or diocese: London. Grant: Clerical tenth from Canterbury province, 1472 Feb...

County or diocese: London.

Grant: Clerical tenth from Canterbury province, 1472 Feb 21; Clerical tenth on unassessed benefices, Canterbury province, 1472 Feb 21.

Document type: Appointment of collectors and schedule of exemptions.

Folios or pages: 2.

This file of two membranes contains the following documents: (1) A letter (m. 1) from Thomas, bishop of London, to the prior and convent of Little Dunmow. After reciting a writ, dated 23 July 1472, which he had received from the king, ordering him to appoint collectors in his diocese of the tenth on both assessed and unassessed benefices granted to Edward IV by the clergy of the province of Canterbury on 21 February 1472, he appoints them collectors of this tax in the archdeaconries of Colchester and Essex, except for the benefices, goods and possessions of various religious houses (named herein) to whom the bishop has granted an exemption, on grounds of poverty. The certificate also lists other benefices, goods and possessions which have been excused payment of the tax because of damage caused to them by fires and floods, and states that he has annexed a list of the benefices similarly excused because they were valued at less than 12 marks per annum, The certificate is dated 4 October 1474; and (2) A schedule of exemptions (m. 2), listing, firstly, the assessed benefices valued at less than 12 marks per annum, and secondly, on the dorse, the unassessed benefices valued at less than 12 marks per annum. On the dorse also is a further list of possessions and benefices excused payment of the tax because of damage caused by fires and floods.

The first membrane is almost wholly legible, but the second is much damaged and has to be read with the aid of a UV light.