[275] See my note on Osbert in ‘Geoffrey de Mandeville,’ App. Q (pp. 374–5).
[276] Ibid.
[277] Lansd. MS., 170, fo. 62 d. The terms of this writ are of some legal importance in connection with the principle of “novel disseisin” under Henry II. The recovery of seisin is here a preliminary to a proprietary action, and the formula “injuste et sine judicio” (cf. ‘History of English Law,’ ii. 47, 57) recurs in this charter which is of similar illustrative value: “Stephanus rex Angl[orum] Waltero filio Gisleberti et preposito suo de Mealdona salutem. Si Canonici Sancti Martini London’ poterint monstrare quod Oswardus de Meldon’ injuste et sine judicio illos dissaisierit de terra sua de Meldon’ de Burgag’ tunc precipio quod illos faciat[is] resaisiri sicut saisiti fuerunt die quo Rex Henricus fuit vivus et mortuus. Et quicquid inde cepit postea reddi juste faciatis et in pace teneant sicut tenuerunt tempore regis Henrici et eadem consuetudine, et nisi feceritis Ricardus de Lucy et vicecomes de Essex faciant fieri ne audiam inde clamorem pro penuria recti. Teste Warnerio de Lusoriis apud London’” (Ib., fo. 170).
[278] It was almost certainly previous to Stephen’s captivity, though this cannot be actually proved.
[279] Another writ of Stephen (date uncertain) similarly recognises his position:—“Stephanus dei gratia Rex Anglie Osberto Octod[enarii] et Adel (sic) et civibus et vic[ecomiti] Lond[onie] salutem. Precipio quod canonici Sancti Martini London[ie] bene et in pace et honorifice teneant terras suas et estalla sua que eis reddidi et confirmavi” (fo. 57 d).
[280] Endorsed “de Cancellario” (9th Report Hist. MSS., i. 45 b).
[281] Athenæum, 23rd January, 1897.
[282] “Justitiarium qualem voluerint de se ipsis.”
[283] See ‘Geoffrey de Mandeville,’ p. 305.
[284] Ibid. p. 150.