Abbess of Elstow. Council. Abbess of Elstow The Abbess of Elstow states that she...

Petitioners

Abbess of Elstow.

Addressees

Council.

Occupation

Abbess of Elstow

Nature of request

The Abbess of Elstow states that she and her people have a royal highway between Elstow and the King's town of Bedford, the Master of the hospital of St Leonard purchased a writ, in the time of the late King, to inquire into what damage would come to the people of the country if he enclosed the highway; and the inquisition found that this would obstruct the nuns and their people. The matter was brought before the King and council at Carlisle, and, through the procurement of Walter de Molesworthe, then Sheriff of Bedfordshire, and the maintenance of Walter de Langeton, then Treasurer of England, the then Chancellor was instructed to give the brothers a charter to obstruct the highway; with the result that they have done so, with force and arms. The Abbess requests a remedy.

Nature of endorsement

She is to sue to the next parliament. But she is to have a writ of Chancery to have the Master of St Leonard's appear there with the charter that he has concerning the contents of the petition, and to answer to this claim before the council there.

Places mentioned

Elstow, [Bedfordshire]

Bedford, [Bedfordshire]

Carlisle, [Cumberland].

People mentioned

Master of the Hospital of St Leonard, Bedford

[Edward I], King of England

Roger de Heghham (Hegham)

Henry Spigornel (Spigurnel)

Walter de Molesworthe, Sheriff of Bedfordshire

Walter de Langeton (Langton), Treasurer of England.

For an inquisition into whether the Master and brothers of the hospital of St Leonard can enclose this highway, see C 143/62/17

For a related petition, see SC 8/199/9934