Wolley Ch x.33

Composition of Tithes and Award made under a mandate from pope Martin [IV], dated the Ides of November in the 3rd year of the Pontificate (13 November 1283) to the abbot of St James without Northampton and the priors of St Alban's and St Andrew's, Northampton, or any two of them, to investigate the complaint as between [William de Wederow], prior of St Peter's, Dunstaple [co. Bedf.], and the convent there, and Laurence, abbot of La Dale, and the monastery there. These delegates appointed the precentors of Newenham [co. Bedf.] and Caldwell [co. Bedf.] to act as subdelegates, on 3 September 1284. Dunstable appointed as proctor their canon John de Maydenbui, vicar of Bradbourne, on 3 May 1286; canon Geoffrey de Merston, who was present at the judgement, was also appointed, but did not act. Dale appointed as proctor canon Hugh of Bradbourne on 5 March 1286. In his libel the proctor of Dunstable complained that whereas the canons of Dunstable were entitled to the major and minor tithes of the Brad[bourne] in the High Peak [co. Derby], and its chapel of Brassington, the canons of Dale had not been paying tithes from lands which were held by Hamo the clerk, William called Borgoilon and Joseph de Breideshasle and the tenants of the said Hamo, namely Lewin and Nicholas, Matilda, Edusa and Richard called Fichet in the hamlets of Griffe, Unthank with Haukeswell in the said parish. The proctor for Dale replied that the prior and convent did not have to pay tithes on the house called Haukeswell of about one acre, the meadow called Milnemedwe of about 2 and a half acres, and 40 acres of land at Hauekeswell which were of Joseph de Breideshale and of the tenement of the same Joseph at Unthank, and the small house which Hamo the clerk held at Unthank. It was agreed in a composition that the canons of Dale recognised the rights of the canons of Dunstable in all the tithes at issue, and the canons of Dunstable demised these tithes to the canons of Dale for an annual payment of half a mark, so long as these lands remained under the direct cultivation of the canons of Dale, and that no 'alien' animals were pastured there. All other tithes, not specified, are to belong to Dunsable.Dated Bedford.

Dated as: Saturday after Invention of the Holy Cross, 1286.