John de Hothom (Hotham), Bishop of Ely de Hothom (Hotham) John King and council Bishop...

Petitioners

John de Hothom (Hotham), Bishop of Ely

Name(s)

de Hothom (Hotham), John

Addressees

King and council

Occupation

Bishop of Ely

Nature of request

John de Hothom, Bishop of Ely, makes six requests;1) Although he holds the Isle of Ely free and quit of all royal demands, and with fines, amercements and all manner of forfeitures, the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer refuse to allow him these issues in the Sheriff's account. He requests the king's grace and a remedy. A writ issued in answer to a similar petition from Robert, Bishop of Ely, is quoted.2) He states that he has done service to the king in his wars for certain fees which Gilbert Peche held of him in chief and which the king's father purchased, although he receives nothing for them. He requests grace and a remedy, and that his church might not be disinherited by this purchase. A writ issued in answer to a similar petition from Robert, Bishop of Ely, is quoted.3) He states that when Cambridgeshire is assessed or taxed, the Isle of Ely is assessed as making up a third part of the county, whereas it should only be assessed at an eighth. He requests a remedy.4) He states that the Sheriff of Cambridgeshire is infringing his liberties in the matter of doing justice to his tenants, and requests a remedy.5) The king's foresters and other ministers are entering his free chace at Somersham, to hold inquests and do other things pertaining to their office, contrary to his charters. He requests a remedy.6) He states that he and his predecessors have always had a lodging in fee in the New Temple in London, which is now in the hands of the Hospitallers by the king's grant, and that they are refusing to allow him to have a lodging there. He requests the king's grace.

Nature of endorsement

[Responses given on both the dorse and the face, in similar terms. I have given those on the dorse.]With regard to the first petition, he is to have a writ according to the tenor of his charter.With regard to the second, faithful people are to be appointed in Chancery to inquire etc. by how many fees the Bishop holds of the king, and by what services and how etc., and how many fees are held of the Bishop, and if as many fees as belonged to Gilbert are now in the king's hand through purchase etc., and if those fees are part of the fee that the Bishop holds of the king, and are defended by the same fees, and into other necessary articles; and when the inquisition has been returned in Chancery the king is further be informed on this.With regard to the third, he is to have a writ to the Sheriff not to asses or tax the people of the Isle, except according to the proportion of their share of the land and tenure etc.With regard to the fourth, he is to clarify if this is for something done within the Isle or outside.With regard to the fifth, the charter is to be examined in Chancery, and the foresters and others ['are to be forbidden' omitted] to attempt to do anything which is contrary to the tenor of his charter or in prejudice of his liberty.With regard to the sixth, he is to sue at common law.

Places mentioned

Ely, Cambridgeshire

Westminster

Madingley, Cambridgeshire

Rampton, Cambridgeshire

Impington, Cambridgeshire

Windsor, [Berkshire]

Somersham, Huntingdonshire

London

People mentioned

Robert [Orford], Bishop of Ely

Edward [I], King of England

Edward [II], King of England

Gilbert Peche

Eleanor [Of Castile], Queen of England

Ralph [Walpole], Bishop of Ely

the Knights Hospitallers

For another petition by the same petitioner relating to the second request see SC 8/1/27

For another petition by another bishop of Ely relating to the second request see SC 8/1/28