165. [1451.] In the name of God Amen By the present public instrument let it be evident to all that in the year from the Incarnation according to the computation of the Anglican Church 1451 indiction xv in the 5th year year of the Pontificate of Nicholas V on the 23rd day of January in the cemetery of the church of Halsalle in the Diocese of Litchfield in the presence of me a notary public and subscribing witnesses the venerable man Henry of Scaresbrek esquire of the same diocese had reduced to writing a certain protestation and had it publicly read by another in these words In the name of God Amen Before you eminent men and a person to take authentic cognizance and these witnesses present I Henry of Scaresbrek esquire of the Diocese of Litchfield state allege and in these writings propound that I was born of lawful wedlock that I am of sound estate of good repute of uninjured eharacter not suspended nor excommunicated nor interdicted nor found guilty of any notable crime fearing for probable reasons and likely conjectures that prejudice may in the future with regard to the aforesaid arise against me Lest anyone by any authority colour or command attempt any prejudice against me by advising citing suspending excommunicating interdicting disturbing disquieting troubling or in any other way oppressing I call upon and appeal to the Apostolic See and the Primatial Court of Canterbury in these writings if and as far as there is a right of petition I petition firstly secondly thirdly instantly pressingly more instantly and most instantly Subjecting myself and all my adherents to the protection and defence of the said See and. Court, and I protest that in the event of any future trouble of any kind I wish to appeal and to prosecute my appeal with effect.

Given &c year and indiction stated in the presence of the venerable and discreet men Master Gilbert Halsall Bachelor in Sacred Theology Rector of the Parish Church of Halsall Henry of Halsall esquire Lord of Halsall Hugh of Ashton Richard of Halsall gentleman of the Diocese of Litchfield and others witnesses specially called.

And I Richard of Pleymudstowe of the Diocese of Litchfield Apostolic and Imperial Notary Public caused the above to be done and written as asked on the date etc. above given.

166. [1451.] Let the present and future know that we Nicholas Blundell son of Henry Blundell and Robert Blundell clerk have granted to Henry Blundell esquire all those messuages lands etc. which John Johnson John Griffre senior Gilbert Thomasson John Gibenson Gilbert Man and Robert Goldyng now hold of us at our will in Little Crosby and Ince Blundell and also one parcel of meadow in Crosby aforesaid called

Wildcattes acre To have and to hold the same for the whole term of his life remainder to Margaret daughter of Henry Scarisbrek for her life remainder to Nicholas son of me Nicholas and his heirs remainder to Henry Blundell and his heirs In case of divorce £100 to be paid by said Nicholas Blundell and his father to Henry Scarisbrek.

Witnesses Henry Halsale esquire, Hugh Aghton esquire, Thomas Scarisbrek and others.

Given at Crosby 27th January in the 30th year of Henry VI.

167. [1451-1452.] (Marriage Trust of Nicholas Blundell and Margaret Scaresbrek) Let the present and future know that we Nicholas Blundell son of Henry Blundell and Robert Blundell clerk have granted to Margaret daughter of Henry Scaresbrek all messuages lands rents etc. which Robert Warton John Rawlynson Robert Jankynson Marjory Whyk and Agnes del Morehouse separately hold at our pleasure within the vills of Little Crosby and Ince Blundell and which we have had among others by the gift and feoffment of the aforesaid Henry Blundell To have and to hold the same to the said Margaret for the term of her life without impeachment or hindrance And after the decease of the said Margaret to remain in their integrity to Nicholas son of me Nicholas Blundell and my lawful heirs Remainder to Robert Blundell his heirs and assigns To hold from the chief lords for due services Provided always that if in the future a divorce take place in the Ecclesiastical Courts between Nicholas and Margaret at the suit of the said Margaret only and that the cause of that divorce proceeded from the said Margaret and that the espousals or marriage are held to be void or null then we the said Nicholas and Henry agree to pay to Henry Scaresbrek or his executors £100 within five years after the said divorce and the said Margaret shall give up possession of the messuages etc. secured to her by this writing and the same shall revert to the aforesaid Nicholas son of me Nicholas after the decease of the said Margaret and all the aforesaid shall cease expire and be of no value In testimony of which we have affixed our seals to this paper.

Witnesses Henry Halsall, Hugh Aghton, Thomas of Scaresbrek, and others.

Given at Crosby on the 25th day of the month of January in the 30th year of Henry VI.

Seals (1) illegible; (2) crowned R between two sprays.

168. [1468.] Let all present and future know that we Hugh Lathum chaplain and Gilbert Hurdilton have demised to Agnes Scaresbrek daughter of Henry Scaresbrek all those messuages

lands and tenements which we lately had by gift and feoffment from Nicholas Hurdylton in the vills and fields of Longton and Hurdilton To have and to hold to her and her heirs male by Robert Hurdilton lawfully begotten Remainder to the heirs of the said Robert Hurdilton.

Witnesses: Henry Halsall, Hugh Aghton, John Aghton esquire, and others.

Given at Hurdilton on the 17th of April in the 3rd year of Edward IV.

169. [1468.] This indenture made between Henry Scaresbrek squire npon the one part and Nicholas Hurdleton upon the other part bears witness that the said Nicholas hath granted the marriage of his son and heir apparent Robert Hurdleton to Agnes the daughter of the said Henry between this and the feast of St. George next (April 23) Also that the said Nicholas shall enfeoff Hugh of Lathum priest and Gilbert Hurdleton of lands etc. in Hurlton and Longton discharged of statute rent charge and all other incumbrances to the value of 100 shillings a year The said Hugh and Gilbert to enfeoff Agnes Scaresbrek and her heirs male by Robert of the same estate Remainder at will of said Nicholas For the which marriage the said Henry grants ten marks at the espousals five at feast of St. Michael (September 29) and five at Pentecost and so yearly And if the said Agnes die without heirs by Robert within three years Nicholas shall pay the said Henry all he has received (Mutual bond in 100 marks).

Given at Hurdleton April 20 of 3rd year of Edward IV.
Seal of red wax: a letter T crowned.

(In English.)

170. [1472.] Indulgence from Order of Our Lady of Mercy to William and Margaret Waleys Brother Robert minister of the house of St. Robert at Knaresborough in York diocese of the order of the Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives who are imprisoned by pagans for the faith of Jesus Christ and by the Divine mercy Vicar General of and Provincial of the whole order in England to our beloved in Christ William Walleys and his wife Margaret health and sincere charity in the Lord Since among the privileges granted from ancient times by the Apostolic See to us and to our order and confirmed by a late grant and among these special remedies are contained the following indulgences To all those truly penitent and shriven or wishing to confess who stretch forth their hands to the support of the order as often as they do so we relax 6 years and &o days of diminished satisfaction To those who annually contribute to our brothers or friends

they can choose a suitable cónfessor and if truly contrite he can grant them full absolution for those sins for which recourse has to be had to the Apostolic See Each brother can have a burial place among the brethren unless ecclesiastical sepulture is forbidden We dispense or commute into other pious works pilgrimages except to the Apostles Peter and Paul and to St. James Also by the presents we grant privileges indulgences favours and that they may choose a confessor who shall give them suitable penance and absolve them from cases reserved to the Apostolic See.

Given under our seal in our house 1472.

[Endorsed] By the authority of God the Father Almighty of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and by the authority of the Apostolic See granted to me for this purpose I absolve thee from all thy sins by thee truly confessed to me and also from all the sins which are forgotten and which thou wishest to confess if they occurred to thy memory and full absolution and remission of all thy sins in so far as the keys of the church have power by Apostolic authority I give and grant to thee brother In the name of the Father etc.

Fragment of a vesica shaped seal: a figure seated reading a book, round it the legend: SANC ROBERTI DE [See No. 6, plate xxxii, vol. xii. (N.S.) of this Society's Transactions.]

171. [1476.] James Scaresbrek esquire Justice of the Peace of the King and Constable of the county of Lancaster sendeth greeting to all John Longbok comes before him and gives a recognizance of £20 to keep the peace towards Robert Johnson late of Lydgate.

Given and sealed on December 12th in the 11th year of Edward IV. [Much defaced.]

172. [1476.] This indenture witnesses that as strife had arisen between Henry Halsall Lord of Halsall and James Scarisbrek Lord of Scarisbrek about boundaries between Rynakirs and Shirwallacres both parties were bound in the sum of £40 to abide by the arbitration of Richard Prior of Burscogh Robert Hesketh Nicholas Aghton and John Chaunterell knight We the aforesaid arbitrators having read characters and muniments and having had the evidence of certain old inhabitants on their oaths, ordain and arbitrate as follows Beginning at the end of Sewker where the Whitsuch falls into it where a stone is now placed thence to an old ditch between Rynakirs and Shirwallacres to a large stone thence following the stones placed by the arbitrators to the

Rodelath lying between Wolfehawe and Shirwallacres thence to two large stones to the bank of Shirwallacres Mewre (Mere) so that all the lands and moor on the north as far as Snape remain to James Scarisbrek and his heirs and all lands and moor outside the stones and boundaries on the west as far as the church of Halsall remain to Henry Halsall and his heirs And for greater security the said arbitrators affixed their seals to this indenture.

Given at Scarisbrek on the Assumption of B. Mary Virgin (August 15) in the 11th year of Edward IV.

173 [1481.] Let all present and future know that I John Thomasson have granted to Gilbert Sutton and his heirs one messuage and eight acres of land lying between Whassam Hyle and a house of Murgen in Murgen in Scharesbreck in county of Lancaster To have and to hold the same with all appurtenances together with common pasture and all other easements paying on St. John the Baptist's day (June 24) if asked for one peppercorn for all services exactions and demands Moreover I have appointed and placed in my stead the beloved in Christ John Sutton as my true attorney to enter into the aforesaid messuage and land and give full and perfect possession to Gilbert Sutton. Given on the 12th day of January in the year of the Lord 1481 and 21st of Edward IV.

174. [1483 (about).] Much defaced, and almost illegible. Release from the Prior of Burscogh to James Scaresbreke esquire.

175. [1468.] Let all present and future know that I Nicholas Hurdylton have granted to Hugh Lathum chaplain and Gilbert Hurdylton all my messuages lands tenements with their appurtenances lying in vill and fields of Longton and all my lands and tenements in the tenancy of John Greves John Golburne Henry Greves John Barton William Scaresbrek, Gilbert Arnold and Thomas Ley, the Morefyld the Brownehill House the Bedcokfeld and the Oggs (Hogs) acre and one rood of land in Hurlyton together with rent of 6d. arising from Marshall house of Henry Scaresbrek 6d. from the marshe of Wm. Haryngton 12d. from the Causeyfield 14d. from Hugh Asmoll 12d. from Robert Becunsall 7d. from Wm. Golburne 4d. from Richard Shagh, 20d. from John Barton 7d. from Agnes Goulburne and 6d. arising from Hodelstonlond To have and to hold of the chief lords by due services.