John Hotham, Bishop of Ely. Hotham John King. Mitford half-hundred, Norfolk. The...

Petitioners

John Hotham, Bishop of Ely.

Name(s)

Hotham, John

Addressees

King.

Places mentioned

Mitford half-hundred, Norfolk.

Nature of request

The Bishop of Ely makes four requests: 1) He requests confirmation of his charters, with the clause that if they have not been used in the past they may be used in future. 2) He also requests confirmation in the aforesaid form of the franchises which he and his predecessors have had and used, and which they have claimed and had allowed in Eyre. 3) As the Bishop and his predecessors have had chattels of felons and fugitives in their lands and fees, he asks that he and his Bailiffs might seize these chattels without any sheriff or other minister of the King being involved. 4) He states that he and his predecessors have always had return of writs and all the aforesaid franchises in the half-hundred of Mitford in Norfolk, and asks that he might have a coroner there by writ of the King.

Nature of endorsement

The justices, the King's sergeants, and two wise Chancery clerks are to be assigned to examine the charters mentioned in the petition and to advise themselves on the articles contained in it, and which points have been used and which not, and to advise themselves on whether confirmation of the charters should be granted or not, and which of the points not used can be granted to be used henceforth, without prejudice to the crown, and they are to bring their advice to the King. And with regard to the second and third petition, they are to advise themselves and to bring back their advice in the same manner. With regard to the coroner, it is to be inquired into in due manner etc., and returned in Chancery, and if it is found that it is not to the King's harm or anyone else's, it is to be granted of the King's grace.Afterwards the King, with the advice of the aforesaid justices, sergeants and clerks, who have diligently examined the points of the said charters and the articles concerning these petitions elsewhere in all points as they were charged, and with the assent and advice of the great men and others of his council, has agreed and grants that the Bishop should have confirmation of his charters with the clause that if any of the points contained in them have not been used, they should nevertheless be able to use them in future etc. With regard to the franchises claimed and allowed in Eyre, the King has agreed that what has been allowed on record is to be put in charters. With regard to the chattels of felons and fugitives, by the same assent and advice, he agrees and is pleased that the Bishop and his successors are to take them and have and hold them according to the form of the petition. And with regard to having the coroner etc., it pleases the King that it is to be inquired into and done in the aforesaid manner, and if it is found that it is not to the harm etc., he is to have it as is demanded.

For an inquisition into whether the Bishop can have a coroner, see C 143/138/2

For a draft of this petition, see SC 8/321/E459

• Calendar of Charter Rolls, vol. III, Edw I and Edw II, 1300-1326, (Public Record Office, 1908), pp.397-398 (inspeximus and confirmation of a charter, with clause concerning non-usage as above)
• Rotuli Parliamentorum Anglie Hactenus Inediti, Ed. H.G. Richardson and G.O. Sayles, (Camden Society, 3rd Series, vol. LI, 1935), pp.68-70 (full edition of petition)