27. The Effect of the Black Death [Duchy of Lancaster, Misc. Bks. 8, f. 57d.], 1350.
Proxy for Parliament.—To his most excellent Prince and Lord, the most reverend Lord Edward, by the grace of God illustrious King of England and France and Lord of Ireland, his most humble chaplain, Geoffrey, Abbot of the Monastery of Selby, in the diocese of York, submission and reverence, with the bond of instant prayer to God. Since we are occupied beyond our strength in supporting the charges incumbent on our monastery, as well because our discreeter and stronger brethren, on whom rested the governance of our house, have gone the way of all flesh through the pestilence, as because our house both in decay of rents and in lack of corn and other victuals is suffering undue disaster, and also being hindered by other unavoidable obstacles, we are unable to be present in person in the instant Parliament to be held on the octave of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary next coming, we make and appoint by these presents our beloved in Christ Sir Thomas de Brayton, clerk, and Hilary de Useflete, and each of them singly, our true and lawful proctors to appear for us in your said Parliament on the said day and place with the continuation and prorogation of the days following; giving and granting to the same and to each of them special command in our name to treat with you and with the rest of the prelates, magnates and chiefs of the said realm, being in the same Parliament, on the arduous and urgent affairs touching you and the estate and good governance of your realm of England and other your lands and lordships, which shall be there treated in common, and to consent to the measures which by God's favour shall be ordained then and there by the common council, and also to do and further all and singular other measures which we could have done in the said Parliament, if we had been present there in person; intending to ratify and approve whatsoever our said proctors or any one of them shall deem fit to be done in the premises in our name. In witness whereof our seal is affixed to these presents. Dated, etc.
28. Accounts of the Iron-works of South Frith Before and After the Black Death [Ministers' Accounts, 891, 8 and 9], 1345-6 and 1349-50.
The account of Thomas Judde, receiver of South Frith, from Michaelmas, 19 Edward III, to the morrow of Michaelmas following, 20 Edward III.
Sale of Wood.—[He answers] also for 188l. 4s. 6d. for wood sold in South Frith by Sir Andrew de Bures, Walter Colpeper, and William Lengleys, in the month of April, as appears in the particulars; and for 18l. 7s. for wood sold there by the same in the month of August, as appears by the particulars; and for 6l. 7s. 5d. for wood blown down by the wind, sold during the time covered by this account, as appears by the particulars indented. Sum:—212l. 18s. 11d.
Defect of rent.—In defect of rent of 40 acres of land sometime of Hugh Champion in South Frith, because they are in the hand of the lady and lie waste for lack of a tenant, 13s. 4d. a year; in defect of rent of Thomas Springget for a smithy which lies waste and is not worked, 12d. a year; in defect of rent of a house sometime of Walter le Smyth, because it is pulled down, and it is testified that he has nothing on the lady's fee, 12d. a year. Sum:—15s. 4d.
The account of Thomas Judde, receiver of South Frith, from Michaelmas, 23 Edward III, to the morrow of Michaelmas following, 24 Edward III, for the whole year.