Abbot of Arbroath. King and council. Abbot of Arbroath The abbot of Arbroath states...

Petitioners

Abbot of Arbroath.

Addressees

King and council.

Occupation

Abbot of Arbroath

Nature of request

The abbot of Arbroath states that his church holds and has always held the church of Haltwhistle in the diocese of Durham, for their own use, and that when the war arose between the two countries, the then abbot went to Durham, and there spent the esplees of the church of Haltwhistle until he died, in the faith of the king of England. After his death, malicious persons told the father of the present king that he could present to that church; so he did, and his presentee still holds it. The abbot of Arbroath requests that the church be restored to his abbey, according to the form of the peace treaty between the two kings, and as his predecessor died in the king's faith, and no Scotsman afterwards had anything in that church that he could forfeit.

Nature of endorsement

Certain people are to be appointed to inquire, in the presence of the current parson of the church, to be summoned to attend if he wishes, if the abbot or his predecessors held the said church before the war for their own use as is claimed etc., and from what time etc., and if the king presented to this church because of the war or for some other reason, and if for some other reason then for what reason etc.; and when the inquisition has been returned, justice is to be done.

Places mentioned

Aberbrothoc (Arbroath), [Angus, Scotland]

Haltwhistle, [Northumberland]

Durham, [County Durham]

[Scotland].

People mentioned

Abbot of Arbroath, predecessor of the current abbot

[Edward II], King of England, father of the present king.

For a similar petition from the Abbot and convent of Jedburgh see SC 8/16/756

• Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous, vol. II, Edw II - 22 Edw III, (Public Record Office, 1916), no.1038 (inquisition finding that the abbot of Arbroath holds the church of Haltwhistle, apparently the result of a petition by the present parson)
• Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw III, vol. I, 1327-1330, (Public Record Office, 1891), p.394 (restoration to abbot of Arbroath of church of Haltwhistle)
• Rotuli Parliamentorum; ut et Petitiones, et Placita in Parliamento, vol. II, Edw III, (Record Commission, 1783), p.398a (no.112) (full edition of original petition)