148 THE BURTON CHARTULARY. 
FOLIO 113. 
[*This folio contains the history of the persecution of the Abbot of Burton 
for fraudulently concealing and disposing of the goods and chattels of Thomas 
Earl of Lancaster, who was beheaded and attainted 17 E. II. The account 
(drawn up in the form of a memorandum) states that when John de Stonor, 
Robert de Malmerthorp, and other Justices of the King were at Tuttebury 
making inquiry into the forfeited goods and chattels of Thomas Earl of 
Lancaster, the King’s enemy, and of others his accomplices, at the Feast of St. 
Martin, 17 E. II., the Abbot of Burton was maliciously attached to answer 
before them, by the presentment of the Hundred of Pyrehill and the Liberty of 
the Bishop of Chester, for being illegally in possession (per ipsum occupatis) of 
4400 worth of the said effects. And the Abbot appeared and denied the 
accusation, and put himself on the Country (z.e., appealed to a jury). The jury 
by the malicious contrivance (per maliciosam procurgtionem) of John de 
Migners was composed of enemies and evil wishers (malivolis) of the Abbot, 
viz., of Sir Hugh de Menille, Sir Philip de Barinton, Sir Thomas de Pipe, 
Knights, and William de Freford, John de Migners, Roger de Aston, William 
de Tomenhorn, Robert Mauveysin, John de Benteleye, John de Perton, 
Geoffrey de Wasteneys, and Robert le Hunte, who falsely found a verdict that 
the Abbot had taken possession of £300 worth of the chattels of the King’s 
enemies which had been forfeited, by which verdict the Abbot was attainted 
(attinctus) of the said £300. 
Upon this the Abbot with several of the monks went to the King at Yoxhall, 
and solemnly swore before him that they were not guilty of the transgression 
laid to their charge ; and the King of his own free grace promised them pardon 
for it. In the meantime there came a writ from the King’s Exchequer to levy 
the £300 from the goods of the monastery, and the Abbot went again to the 
King at Derby, and a day was assigned to him to be in London at the Feast 
of the Purification, 18 E. II., to hear the King’s will; and this was then 
declared by Sir Hugh le Despencer, junior, and others of the King’s Council, 
to this effect, viz., that the Abbot and the monks who were with him, viz., 
Brothers Robert de Stapenhulle and Robert de Pakinton, should make oath as 
to all they knew respecting the goods of the Earl which had been in the 
possession of the Abbot, and that for the rest they should receive the King’s 
pardon (‘‘jurarent ad cognoscendum veritatem de bonis per ipsum Abbatem 
occupatis,+ et de residuo fieret eis perdonum ”’); and they delivered the follow- 
ing statement upon oath to Magister Robert de Baldok, the King’s Chancellor. ] 
* Here again is given, on account of its great historical and local interest, 
a part of the Chartulary, that, strictly speaking, pertains only to Staffordshire. 
+ It is evident that a part of the treasure had been traced to the possession 
of the monks, and they were suspected therefore of cognizance of the remainder 
which was missing. 
