5.

Monks of St. Stephen Versus the King’ Tenants.

In the year one thousand one hundred and twenty-two from the incarnation of our Lord. Henry king of the English commanded that the complaint of the monks of St. Stephen of Caen, which they were making about the land which pertains to Bridton which the king’ men of Bridport seized and have long held in possession by the help of the king’ ministers, be considered under examination of judges; so that indeed an end of the whole question be reached through a statement of the men of the four quarters of the neighborhood of that vill. Which often postponed, the king’ command at length insisted should be done. A day, therefore, having been set, the claim of the monks was heard before seven hundreds which convened upon that same land, from neighboring and distant vills, Warine the sheriff of Dorset and Somerset being present, upon whom the conduct of this ease was specially enjoined; and the oath was taken according to the king’ decree. For sixteen men, three namely of Bridport and three of Bridton and ten from neighboring places, swore that they would make a true statement in the inquisition concerning that land. The inquisition having been made as to whose it more justly was, these men affirmed on the faith of their oath that the said land of old pertained to Bridton. And whosesoever Bridton was, his that land ought to be. All acquiescing in their assertion, by God’ grace and the merit of St. Stephen, their rights were adjudged to the demandants, and that the land should be restored to Bridton, and therefore handed over to the monks. And so it was done on that same day. . . . . . The names of those who swore are these. . . . . . . .