Abbot and convent of St Mary Graces next to the Tower of London. King. The abbot...

Petitioners

Abbot and convent of St Mary Graces next to the Tower of London.

Addressees

King.

Nature of request

The abbot and convent state that they were founded by Edward III, and that during vacancies neither the king nor his progenitors have taken seisin of profits during that time, which was confirmed by an inquisition held by the escheator following the death of Ralph, late abbot of the monastery, which found that he died holding properties in Middlesex. Following Ralph's death on 18 July, his successor Paschal entered into those properties, and the king did not take a rate from the issues and profits from the temporalities. However, diverse processes have been made out of Chancery both in the city of London and in Middlesex to the petitioners to show why they shouldn't be charged for the issues from the properties for the period of the vacancy from 28 July to 23 November. The abbot and convent request consideration of the premises concerning the processes made against the petitioners which is against the form of their foundation, and that by the advice of the lords spiritual and temporal in parliament, and the authority of parliament, grant writs or other sufficient warrants to the treasurer and barons of the Exchequer ordering them to surcease all manner of processes, and discharge the petitioners.

Nature of endorsement

[None].

Places mentioned

Beaulieu, [Hampshire]

London

East Smithfield, [Middlesex]

Whitechapel, [Middlesex]

Popiller (Poplar), [Middlesex]

Stebenheth (Stepney), [Middlesex]

Middlesex.

People mentioned

Thomas Haseley, Escheator of Middlesex

Ralph, Abbot of St Mary Graces

Paschal, Abbot of St Mary Graces.

For another petition from the same petitioners, see SC 8/20/989