Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/286

2ol TUG ALIEN rrjORIES IX TIIC ISLE OF WIGHT. writ, authorising the confiscation of the alien priories, Philip declared the fief of the king of England forfeited. Edward renounced his fealty to the French crown, and conscious that this could imply nothing but open war with France, he took active measures to prepare himself for the conflict by raising forces at home, protecting his coasts with armed men and defensive works, and strengthening himself by foreign alliances, especially that with Flanders.

It is to this period that the two documents belong that are now in the Public Record Office, London; and which, through the kindness of my friend, Mr. Burtt, I have the opportunity of bringing before you, relating to the confiscation of the property of the Alien Priories in the Isle of Wight. They both travel over pretty much the same ground, and contain, to a considerable extent, the same particulars. The earlier of the two comprises the account rendered by Richard of Afton, of the property, real and moveable, of the five Alien Priories, viz., Carisbrooke, St. Helens, St. Cross, and Appuldurcombe, which, in compliance with the writ of 1294, in the month of August, 1295, he had taken into the king's hands, and delivered over to Simon Stake, on the 17th of the following November: together with a detailed report of the defensive works executed by him and Gilbert of Arden, the inspector of such works, for the protection of the coast of the Island "against the King of France and other the king's enemies." The second document is an Inquisition taken by the aforesaid Simon Stake on the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday following the Feast of St. Clement, November 23rd, and the subse(quent Monday, 1296, of the goods and chattels of the five priories we have named, seized for the king by the above-mentioned Richard of Afton and Gilbert of Arden. The returns are made on oath by seven witnesses, "juratores." Among these we may notice the name

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