APPENDIX 2

SPURWAY DEED No.2:
ATTESTED COPY LISTED BY CHARLES SPURWAY,
SEEN DURING A VISIT TO OAKFORD 29 JULY 1983 [1]

Note by Charles Spurway accompanying the deed:

“The deed in a tin case with a copy of it imports the grant of twelve pence a year from Robert de Fawlewrigge to Robert son of Richard de Spyrwaye Greda ‘propter mei filiationis copaternitatem’.  It is without date, but I believe it to have been made in the reign of Henry II.  [Written on the case is the date ‘2 November 1790]”. [2]

“Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quorum notitiam hae literae presentes pervenerint Robertus de Fawlewrigge salutem in domino.  Noverint universi modesipse concepi de Roberto filio Ricardi de Spyrweye Greda primogenito et eidem presenti certa pro me et omnibus meis heredibus confirmasse duodecim denarios in Terra de Fawlewrigge in perpetuum propter mei filiationis copaternitatem quos idem Robertus filius Ricardi Greda et heredes sui et sui assignati meis annuatim recipirunt ad duos anni terminos principales reddi sine ulteriori dilatione portionibus, videlicet as pascham et ad festum sancti Michaelis.  Si contiguarit, quod absit, quod ego Robertus de Fawlewrigge sive heredes mei aut assignati mei de duodecim denariis annuis redditibus in parte vel in toto terminis prenotatis defecerimus, concedimus wtiam pro me et heredibus mei sive assignatis meis predicto Roberto filio Ricardi Greda et heredibus suis sive assignatis suis quod eo distringamur per avariam nostram et aliorum apud Fawlewrigge per dominum capitulem de Spyrwaye aut per suos servientes pro quodlibet termino annui redditus prenatato et non observato.  Et quod avaria nostra ingantur apud Spyrwaye et ibidem retineantur quosque predicto Roberto filio Ricardi Greda plenariis et omnibus servititis de predicto xii denariis annui redditus sine uxione et reliqua cavillatione fuit vel fuerint satisfactum.  Renunciamus nos omnibus in peccatis atque peccatis tam curiae romanae quam regiae qua contra tenorem presentis scripti nobis possent prodesse.  Et dicto Roberto filio Ricardi Greda vel suis de predicto redditu secundum formam prescriptam de cetero notemus.  Et ego dictus Robertus de Fawlewrigge et heredes mei sive assignati mei predictum redditum dicto Roberto filio Ricardi Greda et quibus eundem redditum dare vel assignare tam in equitudine quam in sanitate voluerit contra omnes homines et feminas in perpetuum warrantisare et defendere tenemur.  Et quia volo qud omnis donatio concessio warrantisatio et presentis catto meo continuato rata et stabilis omnibus temporibus predicto Roberto filio Ricardi Greda et heredibus suis sive assignatis preserventur ne…scripto privum sigillum meum duxi appondendum.

Hiis testibus Nicholas de Ancastre, Philippo de Sydeham, Rogero de Middledon, Petro de Wodeburne, Roberto de Aspe, Petro de Losemore, Nicholas Hitterel, clerico, et aliis.”

[On the back is written:]

“Andreas Paregentarius (The seal is taken off a true copy of the above on parchment, 20 Oct 1790)”.

TRANSLATION

To all faithful Christians to whose attention this letter may come, Robert de Fawlewrigge greets in the name of the Lord.  All should know that I have of my own accord undertaken on behalf of Robert the eldest son of Richard de Spurway Greda and his presence assuredly on behalf of myself and my heirs to settle twelve pence from the estate of Fawlewrigge for ever, on account of my godfathership, which the said Robert son of Richard Greda and his heirs and assigns should receive from mine annually at the two chief dates of the year to be paid without any delay in equal parts, that is to say at Easter and at the Feast of St. Michael.

If it should happen, which God forbid, that I Robert Fawlewrigge my heirs or assigns should fail to pay the twelve pence, we agree on behalf of myself or my heirs or assigns with the aforesaid Robert son of Richard Greda and his heirs or assigns that in that case we may be distrained for our own or others’ meanness in Fawlewrigge by the proprietor of Spurway or by his servants at whatever date of the annual income specified above was not observed.

And what by our meanness may be carried to Spurway and retained there until to Robert son of Richard Greda full satisfaction and expenses in connection with the xii pence of the annual income has been or will have been met without any quibble or argument.

We renounce on pain of charges or misdemeanours both in the Church courts and those of the king, everything which can be of benefit to us which go contrary to the tenor of this present deed.  And further we shall signify to Robert son of Richard Greda or to his men the aforesaid revenue according to the prescribed form.

And I the said Robert de Fawlewrigge and my heirs or assigns are bound to maintain and guarantee the same income in freehold or leasehold against all men and women for ever.  And since I wish that every gift, concession and guarantee should be preserved continuously fixed and stable for all times for the aforesaid Robert son of Richard Greda lest…I have caused my private seal to be affixed to this deed. [3]

Witnessed by [etc].



[1] See main text, Chapter 3, section “Late thirteenth century”.

[2] The estimated date of the original as being in the reign of Henry II (1154-1189) is probably in error.  Present best estimates date it between 1260 and 1290, see text.  Perhaps the 1790 estimate was intended as being in the reign of Henry III (1216-1272), a grandson of Henry II.

[3] I am grateful to the late Rupert Seacome for this translation from the Latin text.