THE CERNE CARTULARY. 89 



and council and their successors the demand of the service of 

 the aforesaid eight knights, which they do not admit to be due 

 to us. Provided nevertheless that they perform for us and our 

 heirs the service of two knights for scutage and one knight for 

 foreign service, as aforesaid. In the presence of these 

 venerable witnesses, W Archbishop of York, primate of England, 

 N Bishop of Winchester and G Bishop of Worcester Richard 

 King of Germany and William de Valence our brothers, John de 

 Warrenne Earl of Surrey, Philip Basset, Robert Walrond, Robert 

 Anguylan, William of Wynthreshill William Belet, Ralph of 

 Bakepuz (?) Stephen of Edwrich Roger of Walton and others ; 

 given under our hand at Westminster on the 24-th day of May 

 in the 54th year of our reign. 



Letters of the Lord King directed to the barons of the Folio 6b. 

 Exchequer on behalf of the Abbot and convent of Cerne. 



The King to his barons of the Exchequer, greeting. Since 

 by our charter we have confirmed to our beloved in Christ the 

 abbot and convent of Cerne all the lands and tenements which 

 the Lord Henry formerly King of England our grandfather 

 granted to them on doing service to him of two knights for 

 scutage and one knight for active service, and since we have long 

 demanded from them by the summons of our Exchequer the 

 service of eight knights as well as the aforesaid service in 

 respect of the lands and tenements belonging to the same 

 abbey, which service of 8 knights however they do not admit to 

 us and which service of 8 knights according to the agreement 

 which they have made with us we have released, upon the 

 ground that it is not shown by the rolls of the said Exchequer 

 that we or our ancestors kings of England since the granting of 

 the aforesaid charter have at any time had seisin of the same 

 service of eight knights ; We command you that you do cause 

 our charter which the same abbot and convent hold to be read 

 before you and do cause it to be declared and enrolled that they 

 are quit of the said service together with the arrears of the 

 same service of the aforesaid eight knights which they do not 

 admit to us, saving to as our aforesaid service of two knights for 



