http://boar.org.uk/ariwxo3FNQ425.htm            Latest edit 20 Nov 2007.   

Interactive version ©2006 R.J.PENHEY


The Bourne Archive


FNQ

Fenland Notes and Queries. Edited by Rev. W.D. Sweeting, Rector of Maxey.

Part 21. January  1894.

This quarterly periodical took the form of a forum in which people sent in questions about the history, ecology and so on of the Fens and the region’s environs and others replied with some sort of answer. Some ‘answers’ seem to have been spontaneous, so qualifying as ‘notes’.

Because of its length, the late fifteenth century document was spread between three FNQ articles of which this is the third. The first is FNQ 338. Two print versions are available. These include only the text of the 1500 document, one in the original Latin, the other translated. Each of the print versions combines the relevant material from FNQ 338, FNQ 380 and FNQ 425.

No claim is made as to the authorship of the FNQ articles until FNQ 468, dealing with the nineteenth century, is signed Ed[itor]. but it may be assumed that the whole set of four articles is by Sweeting. The parts of words in the Latin text which are printed in Italic will be those which Sweeting has reinstated after they had been omitted by the 1500 legal scribe’s shorthand (or perhaps, by that of the copyist).

I have inserted national grid references to facilitate the placing of the names motioned on a map. These are unqualified where I estimate the probability of their accuracy to be greater than 95%. Otherwise an indication of estimated probability is given.

R.J.P.


Bookmarks: – Aspath Bridgedike           Cross in the Ea 1 2                Cross in the Flags 1 2       Dowsby      Gogisland  Guthram Gowt     Maxey 1 2


Administration

425 – The Limits of Kesteven and Holland (338, 380). – Et ulterius Juratores predicti dicunt super sacramentum suum Quod mete et bunde predicte Dividentes partes predictas se extendunt a predicto puteo apud Wood Lodgraynes alias Crosse in le fleggs directa Linia trans fossatum vocatum Aspath alias Depingebancke usque ad crucem lapideam vocatam Crosse in ye Ea prope aquam de Welland positam Eoque eundo ad dextram habetur Mariscus de Deepinge et ad Sinistram Mariscus vocatus Gogsland qui est pars Asili refugii sive Sanctuarij de Crowland  Que quidem Crux constructa fuit in honorem Sancti Kenulphi primi Abbatis de Crowland ut sit meta et bunda dividens partes predictas   Et ulterius Juratores predicti dicunt Quod iste superius recitate mete bunde limites et diuisiones et loci et placee predicti sunt revera mete bunde et limites dividentes partes predictas vel loca et placee ubi ee solent et debent et sic semper habentur et noscuntur et ex quo non extat memoria in contrarium nec aliquid quo posuit moneri aliud sentire*  In cuius rei testimonium Juratores predicti hijs presentibus sigilla sua apposuerunt die et Anno supradicto Super que Commissionarij predicti omnia prefata loca ipsi videntes et totum tractum preter his* iam peragrantes et a loco in Locum ambulantes et Scripta Rotulos et recorda et allegata et rationes et quicqud dici potuit ex quavis parte diligerter audientes et limites et metas ipsas observantes et considerantes et de omnibus rebus et circumstancijs cun Juratoribus et omnibus quorum inerfuit consulantes post perambulacionem peractam tandem ex assensu nobilissime Comitisse cuius peculiariter et private maxime interfuit et ex consensu Consiliatorum suorum et ponderantes quod Limites et Diuisiones partium predictarum non aliter quam secundum veredictum sint nec possint esse nec debent nec possunt ex legibus huius regni alibi poni sive locari quam ubi ex antiquo in re fuissent et nunc esse constat decreverunt stauerunt ordinaverunt et auctoritate Commissionis predicte adiudicaverunt. Quod omnes ille mete bunde diuisiones et limites superius recitate inter partes predictas a predicta aqua de Wytham ad Welland vel e contra ut in veredicto predicto continentur recitantur et nominantur imposterum semper pro ipsis veris iustis antiquis et certis metis bundis diuisionibus et limitibus partium predictarum habeantur noscantur censeantur et sine dubitacione recipiantur imperpetuum per presentes prout decet et debet Que omnia et singula in Cancellariam dicti domini Regis ad Reverendissimum patrem miseracione divina Cantuariensem Archiepiscopium totius Anglie primatum et Metropolitanum Dominum Cancellareum Anglie mittimus et significamus humiliter per presentes. In cuius rei Testimonium et in maiorem eiusdem confirmacionem prefata nobilissima Comitissa sigillum suum hijs presentibus apponi curavit una cum sigilis Commissionariorum seorsim appensis ut in Cancellariam deferantur ut predicitur.

Palmer.                                 

Exm. per me Jo : Anderson

Willm Gannocke.

Translation.  [Kesteven and Holland]

And further the Jurors aforesaid say upon their oath that the metes and bounds aforesaid dividing the parts aforesaid extend from the aforesaid well at Wood Lodgrayns otherwise Cross in the Flags in a direct line across the fosse called Aspath otherwise Deeping bank up to a stone cross called Cross in the Ea put near the water of Welland. And in going from this place to the right there is situated the Marsh of Deeping and to the left the Marsh called Gogsland which a part of the Asylum of Refuge or Sanctuary of Crowland. Which cross indeed was erected to the honour of Saint Kenulph the first Abbot of Crowland to be a  mete and bound dividing the parts aforesaid. And further the Jurors aforesaid say that those above recited metes bounds limits and divisions, also the places and spots aforesaid, are really the metes bounds and limits dividing the parts aforesaid, or the places and spots where the customarily are and ought to be and so always are held and known to be and from the time when no memory exists to the contrary. In testimony whereof the Jurors aforesaid to these presents have put their seals the day and year above said. And besides the Commissioners aforesaid themselves seeing all the places aforesaid and going over the whole district and walking from place to place and perusing writings rolls and records and diligently listening to the allegations and reasonings and whatever could be said on any part and observing and noticing the limits and metes themselves and consulting about all things and circumstances with the Jurors and all who had any interest in the question after the completion of the perambulation at last by the assent of the most noble Countess whose special and private interest was considerable and with the consent of her Counsellors, and judging that the Limits and Divisions of the parts aforesaid are not and cannot be otherwise than according to the verdict nor ought they or can they by the laws of this realm be put or placed elsewhere than where of old they really had been and where it is now agreed they are [the Commissioners] have decreed decided ordained and by the authority of the Commission aforesaid adjudged  That all those metes bounds divisions and limits above recited between the parts aforesaid from the aforesaid water of Wytham to the Welland or the reverse way as in the verdict aforesaid are contained recited and named for the future always shall be held known and esteemed and without hesitation received for the future by these presents as is fit and right for the very true just ancient and certain metes bounds    divisions and limits of the parts aforesaid. All and singular which things into the Chancery of the said Lord King to the Most Reverend Father by Divine permission Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of All England and Metropolitan Lord Chancellor of England we send and humbly signify by the presents. In testimony whereof and to the greater confirmation of the same the aforesaid most noble Countess has directed her seal to be placed on these presents together with the seals of the Commissioners separately appended that they may be taken to the Chancery as is aforesaid.

Palmer,                                              

Examined by me Jo: Anderson.

Willm. Gannocke.          

It will be noticed that some of the boundary marks and places occur in Art. 402. John Anderson was Mayor of Boston in 1601, and in 1609. There seem to be only six crosses named. These are at Bridgedike, dedicated to S. Mary the Virgin ; at Dowesby, to S. Helena the Empress ; at Gotheramscote, to the Holy Trinity ; at Gotheramsend, to S. Nicolas , at Cross in the Flags, to S. Guthlac ; and at Cross in the Ea, to S. Kenulph.

The moat still remains that encircled Maxey Castle. A seventeenth century farm house, built just outside the moat, now goes by the name of The Castle. It was originally a Manor House, and the licence to crenellate, or convert it into a castle, was granted to William de Thorpe, 48 Edw. III. The property came to Margaret, Countess of Richmond, through the Somerset family ; and at her death, in 1509, fell to the crown. In the Red Book of Thorney (V. xx) is a curious paper, which was copied by Bishop Kennett in his interleaved copy of Gunton’s Peterburgh, now in the Minster Library. It is in these words:--

To the high and gracious Princesse thc Dutchesse of Somerset.

Besecheth you mekely your powr Preste bedesman Don John Bukke Prior de Depyng against John Miller of the Mill of West Deping for deteining corn of their House wch was of ye foundation of her noble Progenitors. Whereupon she commanded her Counsell in all haste to consider the said matter who determined in favour of the Prior & brethren. Acta fuere apud castellum de Maxey xv Die mensis Aprilis Anno Regis Hen. VI. XXXIIIIto.

At this date the Lady Margaret, although only fifteen, was already married to the Earl of Richmond ; and in this very year her only son, afterwards King Henry VII., was born. The Duchess of Somerset was her mother.


Footnotes: those of FNQ are marked with an asterisk. –

* Some error here.

Other footnotes are in preparation


First part (FNQ 338)   Second part (FNQ 380)   Fourth part (FNQ468)   Printable version (English)   Printable version (Latin)   FNQ Home page