THE BURTON CHARTULARY. 131 
of pasture in Sobenhale (Shobnall.)* The dispute commenced by the foresters 
of the Abbot finding certain men of Ansedelega cutting wood in the wood of 
Sobenhale, and demanding from them sureties (to appear to answer for their 
trespass in the Abbot’s Court.) Some of the delinquents laughed at the 
Abbot’s men, and others abused them violently (verberaverunt violenter.) 
The Abbot was also informed that a long hedge had been made by Sir Robert 
de Tok and his men of Ansedeleg between the fields of Ansedeleg and the 
Abbot’s wood beyond the ancient bounds between the two vills. On the Abbot 
demanding reparation in his Court, an answer was made by Sir Geoffrey de 
Gresley, the Earl’s Seneschall, and others, that no reparation could be made 
until the extent of the damage had been discussed and settled. It was then 
shown that great damage had been done by the depasturing of goats and the 
cutting down of timber, for which the Abbot could obtain no redress ; for when 
the goats were impounded, they were replevied by Robert de Tok; and the 
Abbot at that time labouring under great infirmity, was averse to taking legal 
proceedings. 
It happened also that a cart of the Abbot’s from Finderne, laden with timber 
from the wood of Bromley, was stopped by William Bungi, one of Robert de 
Tok’s men, in the middle of the vill of Ansedeleg, who demanded toll for it ; 
and on the carter answering that his lord the Abbot was quit of toll throughout 
all England, he laid hands violently on him, tore his clothes, took the horse 
out of the cart, and sent it to Ralph Form, the Earl’s forester ; and although 
the horse was released again on the Abbot’s demand, yet no reparation was 
ever made for the outrage. 
Robert de Tok likewise without license hunted in the Abbot’s lands, where 
the Abbot had the King’s grant of free warren ; and when the Abbot had 
caused to be built a mill at Finderne, Robert had denied the Abbot’s right to 
do so, and had put him to a great expense by an action at law ; for the Abbot 
| knowing that even if he won, that Robert would evade the consequences, had 
caused the mill to be entirely taken down, so that he had been damaged to the 
extent of twelve marks for expenses, and had lost in rent 16s. annually. 
At another time Robert de Tok and his cousin Roger had stopped two men 
and a woman of the vill of Finderne, returning from the vill of Willington with 
a cartload of flour, and had violently accosted them, wounded one of them on 
the head, and had taken the loaded cart and the horse to Potlac (Potlock), 
where he detained them until they were released by the King’s sergeant 
(servienti Regis). 
Likewise the miller of the said Robert de Tok took toll of the Abbot’s 
multure of Finderne for the mill of Potlac, in violation of the ancient usage. 
* Anslow and Shobnall are just within the confines of Staffordshire, and 
closely adjoining to Findern.—ED. 
