Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/676

 666 A^. M. Trenholme important demands, were incorporated in a charter and the prior and brethren were threatened with death to themselves, and the total destruction of the monastery, unless the}- assented in the name of the convent to this document. Under the circumstances little choice was left to them save compliance and the day following they took a solemn oath before a notary, to observe the articles of the charter. The abbey seal, which had been seized by the leaders of the rabble, was produced and the prior was forced to seal the charter with it. In addition bonds were exacted to the amount of ^^3000 that no one would be molested, vexed, or called in question for be- ing concerned in these proceedings against the monastery.' Meanwhile tumult and disorder reigned in the town of Abing- don. The market rights of the abbot were freely encroached on ; his portmoot court was interfered with, so that it could not be held ; and his bailiffs, servants and officials of the abbey were attacked and beaten by the townsmen.^ The troubles continued for over a fortnight, until, at the instance of the prior, the Bishop of St. David's visited the place and sought to restore peace and order.^ The ab- bot himself, who had fled on the occasion of the attack, made a suc- cessful appeal for royal protection. A commission consisting of four royal justices was directed to hear and determine the com- plaints and charges of the abbot against the men of Abingdon and Oxford.^ A writ was also issued to the sheriff of Oxford and Berks to cause proclamation to be made, prohibiting any one under pain of forfeiture, from invading by armed force the abbey of Abingdon, of the King's patronage, or any of its manors, or from attempting anything to the breach of the King's peace, or from inflicting dam- age or annoyance upon the abbot and monks in their persons or goods. Anyone doing any of these things was to be arrested, and if necessary the sheriff was to levy the posse coniitatus to quell the revolt, and all malefactors taken were to be kept in prison until further notice. Finally, the King was to be notified concerning the proceedings, for he had learnt that the abbey was wasted and im- poverished by the incursions of evil-doers and disturbers of the peace, and many of the monks driven away. Accordingly the ab- bey was to be under royal protection, together with its inmates, their lands and persons, and the sheriff was to exercise protection over them. A similar mandate was directed to the conservatores pads, ' Ca/. Pat. Rolls, 1327-1330, pp. 22-23; Brit. Mus. MS. 2S666, p. 156; Egerton MS. 281, p. 21. 2 Cat. Pat. Rolls., 1327-1330, pp. 2SS-2S9. 3 Brit. Mus. MS. 2S666, p. 159.
 * Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1327-1330, May 24, I327.