Catalogue description Early Letters

This bundle contains earlier letters of process and letters testimonial, many of which were calendared in 5 HMC, pp. 497-502 and are fully calendared below. Those letters testimonial to which the seal of Rye is or was appended would not be expected to remain in the corporation's archives other than in copy. How the originals were received is not known. The documents are in Latin unless otherwise stated.

(1) 22 May [1387-1402]. Letter from William de Hoo, captain of [missing] to the mayor, bailiff and governors of Rye. (A third of the document is missing and the dating clause omits the year. The writer is apparently Sir William Hoo, who was appointed captain of Oye Castle in Picardy in 1387 and held this office until 1402. He is recorded as being in England in February 1398 when this document may have been executed. See S.A.C. vol. 8, pp. 106, 107, where his seal is reproduced.)

Richard Gregge, now in prison, is William's neif and chattel of the manor of Wrotling [Wartling], whose delivery is requested. Given at London.

Seal, applied on verso, fragments.

(2) 18 December 1389. Letter testimonial of Guillaume Beaufils, seneschal of Fécamp. (5 HMC, p. 502a.)

Recites the letter testimonial (dated 26 September 1389) of Pierre de Derac, bailiff of Fécamp, wherein Pierre Cusin, Mahieu Gournay and Philippe le Ronyer, burgesses, say that in 1383 they heard it testified to Stephen Cely, called 'Playdenne,' Stephen Willes and James Hoppe, all of Rye, who were then prisoners there, that Constance de Rodes, then master of the English, had deducted Cely's ransom of 35 gold francs from Thomas Goscelin, burgess of Fécamp, which sum was owed by Goscelin to Alart the smith of Rye, who should recover his debt from Cely.

Seal on tongue, an angel holding a shield charged with 3 mitres, legend illegible, portion missing. Poor impression.

(3) N.d. [1389-94]. Letter testimonial of the mayor and barons of Rye (copy). (Transcribed in full in 5 HMC, p. 498b. John Plumptone was common clerk during this period, see Vidler, p. 163.) At the request of William Ive, jun., of Tenterden, co. Kent, and Joan his wife (daughter and heir of Stephen Elyot, late of Rye), they declare in open commonalty that Joan was born in the town in free wedlock, whose fathers and progenitors were free.

Attested: Plumpton.

(4) N.d. [c. 1390]. Letters of process [from Rye to ?] (copy). John Salerne of Rye complains of 'your justiciable' Sir William Sheriden', chaplain, concerning a broken covenant in that Sir William had agreed to obtain for him, between the feasts of Christmas and Candlemas, 1389/90, 2 papal bulls, one an indulgence for him and Agnes his partner (sa compaigne), the other a licence to have a chaplain at his manor house of La Leghe [Leigh in Iden]. The bulls were to be delivered by Midsummer following in return for a certain sum of which Sir William had received 2 marks in part payment. The bulls were not delivered, to John's damage, worth £20.

On dorse: part of an undated and incomplete conveyance by Helewis William of Winchelsea, widow of Robert William of Rye, to Robert Stonton'.

Tenement in Rye town, abutting E. on a tenement of the heirs of Simon Broker, S. on land of the heirs of Matthew Turold and on a tenement of Richard Putsterne [Document breaks off at the Reddendum clause with quotation from the Vulgate, John, c. 1, part of v. 6.] (5 HMC, p. 499b.)

(5) 18 January 1392. Letter testimonial of the mayor and barons of Rye. (5 HMC, p. 500a.) Certifies, at the request of John Wikham, 'shipwrite,' that he has lived in the community for the last 20 years, is of honest conversation, good fame and unblemished reputation, wherefore he has enjoyed the advantages of freedom for 16 years, bearing with his goods the maintenance of the ships of Rye [contributed to the Cinque Ports quota], scot and lot and other burdens there.

Attested: Plumpton.

Seal tongue and tie torn away.

Subscribed in contemporary hand 'Omnibus est notum quod multum diligo potum,' followed by a defective alphabet, then 'Si ma mea penna valet: melior mea lettera fiet' and other scribbles.

(6) 29 November 1395. Letters of process from Rye to [?] (? copy). French. (5 HMC, p. 497b.) At the complaint of John Hamon' and Walter Englissh, two letters of process have already been sent requiring justice of 'your justiciable' John Petham for a debt of 46s. 8d. and for 10s. damages. The recipients are to compel payment accordingly.

A seal tongue appears to have been torn off.

(7) 10 December 1420. Letter testimonial of the mayor and barons of Rye. (5 HMC, p. 498b.) Certifies that John atte Wode and Thomas Langele, jurats, Richard Bedyll', John Wayte and others have confessed before the mayor and barons that Joan, late wife of John Baker of Guestling, in their presence said and required them to witness that she would rather eat dirt (quod mallet manducere terram) than ever alienate to anyone those lands, rents and services called Hykeman Thomasisland or lands called Whetfletismersch and Padyamismersh [Padiam marsh in Icklesham] or any rents or services belonging thereto, but that they should remain to the next heirs, John Burgeys and John Yonge.

Seals: 4 seals of witnesses on 2 tongues (i) a mark, (ii) 'A,' (iii) a rabbit, with legend, (iv) a mark; seal of Rye on third tongue, portion missing.

(8) 2 August 1495. Exemplification by the mayor, etc., of Rye of a writ of privy seal directed to the mayor, bailiff and other officers of Rye (copy). English. Paper.

By bill of supplication to the [Privy] council of Piers le Daulfyn of Crosic in Brittany it is understood that John Whalle of Sandwich, co. Kent, by means of the King's letters of mark granted to John upon the inhabitants of Penmark in Brittany, lately arrested the ship and goods of Piers which are now in Rye's jurisdiction. Since Crosic lies 140 miles from Penmark, Piers should not be liable, and his ship and goods are to be released forthwith.

(9) 4 June 1516. Letter from the mayor and aldermen of Calais to the mayor and jurats of Rye. English. Paper.

Answers the complaints of Richard Tailor of Rye against Richard Clerkson of Calais, cooper, for £3 2s. 3d., due on 33,000 billets of wood.

(10) 10 July 1516. Letter from the mayor and aldermen of London to the mayor and jurats of Rye. English. Paper.

Reply concerning the suit of Thomas Adam of Rye against Richard Capon, stock-fishmonger, and John Russell, for sums owed.

(11) 10 September 1526. Letter testimonial of Cornelius de Biestraten, Peter de Ram, John Walteri and Godscalens de Lyskeicke, eschevins (scabini) of Rosendaal [in North Brabant] to the mayor and prefect of Rye.

Records the deposition of Geoffrey de Nispen, forester, at the instance of William Willemsoen, sailor, both of Rosendaal, that he had not arrested John Bisscopen, merchant, at William's request, although he had formerly arrested him in about May 1525 at the request of Toppen Bussen, sailor, residing at Rosendaal; also that William never had a suit against John at Rosendaal, but that William alleged that he had been arrested by John at Rye.

Attested: J. Buenen, with notarial device.

Seal, on tag, poor impression.

(12) 31 July 1557. Letter testimonial of the mayor and aldermen of Winchester to the mayor and jurats of Rye, English. Whereas on 26 December 1556 Rye had notified Edmond Smithe, gaoler of the castle of Winchester, of the apprehension of Robert Bodlie alias Bottle, tailor, who had escaped from gaol; and had taken a recognizance of Richard Hawtrell and Thomas Coxe for safe delivery of the prisoner; and whereas the gaoler had since died; it is notified that Robert has been safely delivered to the castle.

Seal of Winchester, on tongue, good impression of castle, legend: + SIGILLVM MAIORATVS WINTONIE.