THE CERXE CARTULARY. ilC) 



the abbot by Robert of Smalemue * and Hugh Cole and the 

 abbot appeared and showed that the mandate of our Lord the 

 King was executed. 



At a yth county court, to wit, on Monday next after the feast of 

 S. Michael, the Abbot of Cerne caused himself to be essoined 

 against the said prior by John Marshall and Ralph Giffard, and 

 John the attorney of the prior offered himself. 



At an eighth county court to wit on Monday the morrow of 

 All Souls, John of Basing the attorney of the Prior offered himself 

 and stated his plaint as above. And the Abbot appeared and 

 said that the date of the writ by which he (John) was appointed 

 attorney was before the suit between himself and the prior was 

 commenced in the county, wherefore he was not bound, as it 

 seemed, to answer to such an attorney ; and if he was bound, he 

 would say something further ; and he put himself upon the 

 county whether he was bound to answer or not. And as to the 

 judgment on the afforcement, he also said that moreover the 

 prior ought not to challenge his default and that essoins were 

 admitted 6n either side. 



At a ninth county court, to wit, on Monday the morrow of 

 S. Nicholas our Lord the King sent his writ concerning the 

 reception of an attorney of the Lord abbot in the argument 

 raised in the county between the same abbot and the prior of St. 

 Swithin, to wit, John Gerard. The same John later on the same 

 day essoined himself. On the same day the attorney of the prior 

 appeared. 



At a tenth county court, to wit, on Monday next before the 

 Epiphany came the Prior by John of Basing his attorney and 

 offered himself against the Abbot of Cerne, who appeared by his 

 attorney, and he claimed the record and his judgment and pro- 

 duced a writ of our Lord the King as to having the record and 

 his judgment, and another writ as to the reception of his attorneys 

 to wit John of Basing and Thomas of Winchester, clerk. 



* (?) Smallmouth. 



