THE CERNE CARTULARY. 79 



of our church as of the time of King Henry, your grandfather, 

 and what Knights hold them. Robert de Vere holds one 

 Knight's fee and, besides this, one hide and a half for which he 

 ought to render contribution. William of the Monasteries, one 

 Knight's fee. Alured of Nicholas, one Knight's fee. And the 

 fee of which Jordan is unjustly in possession is one Knight's fee. 

 Robert of Mount Sorel and Jordan of Wotton and Osbert 

 Kiggenhot and Humphry Makerel, one Knight's fee. The fee 

 which Ralph Redpole held is one Knight's fee. Hugh de Bush, 

 half a Knight's fee. Robert Russel is in possession of one 

 Knight's fee, less one rod, which he holds unjustly and against the 

 will of the convent because neither did his grandfather nor his 

 father ever hold it of the church, nor ought he to hold it. In the 

 demesne of the church itself are three and a half Knights' fees 

 under the tenure of freemen in the town of Cerne. Now each 

 of these ought at your bidding to keep the guard at Corfe Castle 

 one month in the year : or if it shall please you to have from 

 them soldiery for your army (in the meanwhile dismissing the 

 guard) they shall find two knights for your service. 



Such a letter Robert the Abbot sent, and it is written in the 

 roll and in the book at the London Exchequer at Westminster. 



In the second year of King Henry, the grandfather of the 

 present King, ascutage was assessed on the fees of the prelates 

 at the rate of 20 shillings. And then the abbot answered for 

 three Knights by the hand of the sheriff. 



In the fifth year of the same king, he had an aid of the 

 Knights of England, to wit, for each fee 2 marks, and then the 

 abbot [answered] in the same way for three Knights. 



In the 7th and 8th years the scutage of Toulouse was assessed 

 at the rate of 2 marks, and then the abbot [answered] for three 

 Knights. 



In the 1 4th year of the same reign King Henry demanded for 

 the marriage of his daughter to the Duke of Saxony from each 

 fee of the Knights of England i mark, and he required that every 

 one who held of him in chief should signify by his letters patent 

 how many Knights he had (as tenants). Amongst whom the 



