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Foundation Charters of Roche Abbey

The House of Roche was founded on 30th July 1147 by Richard de Busli and Richard FitzTurgis (de Wickersley).

Charter of Richard de Busli

Be it known to all who see or hear these letters that I, Richard de Busli, with consent of my wife and heirs, have given to God and St. Mary, and to the Monks of the Rock, for the salvation of my soul, and the souls of all my ancestors, the whole wood from the middle of the road from Eilrichethorpe to Lowthwaite, and so far as the water which is the boundary between Maltby and Hooton, and the two parts which belong to Gamul, with a great culture which is there adjacent and common of pasture for a hundred sheep, in number six score, in the soke of Maltby, by this tenure, that they build their Abbey on whichsoever side of the water they please, according as the situation of the place shall be more suitable, Richard de Busli and Richard Fitz Turgis agreeing between themselves that both should be the founders of the Abbey, on whichsoever's property the Abbey may be built, as a perpetual charity, free and quiet from all secular service or gift.

Before these witnesses:

Charter of Richard Fitz Turgis

Be it known to all who see and hear this Charter, that I, Richard Fitz Turgis, with the consent of my wife and heirs, have given to God, St. Mary, and the Monks of the Rock, for the salvation of my soul, and the souls of my ancestors, the whole land from the borders of Eilrichethorpe, as far as the brow of the hill beyond the stream which runs from Fogswell, and so to a heap of stones which lies in the part of Elsi, and so beyond the road as far as the Wolfpit, and so by the head of the culture of Hartshow to the borders of Slade Hooton; all that land, and all that wood below these bounds and common of pasture of all my land, and fifty cart loads every year in my wood of Wickersley, where I shall provide, or some one on my behalf, for a perpetual charity, free and quiet from all secular service, on this condition - that they build an Abbey on whichever side of the water they please, according as the situation of the place shall appear best, Richard Fitz Turgis and Richard de Busli agreeing between themselves, and conceding that both be founders of the Abbey, on whosesoever side of the water it may happen to be.

Before these witnesses:

Charter of Richard de Busli of Elrichethorpe

To all the sons of Holy Mother Church, as well present as future, Richard de Busli, greeting ! Be it known to all that see and hear these letters, that I, Richard de Busli, with the advice and consent of my wife and heirs, have given to God, St. Mary, and the Monks of the Rock, for the salvation of my soul and those of all my friends, Elrichthorpe, and whatever belongs to it in all things. And I have granted to them the land of William de Alz which my father gave them, and the land which the aforefaid monks have of my Knight of Scalzebi.
Witnesses:

About 1171

Charter of John de Busli son of Richard

To all the sons of Holy Mother Church, present and future, John de Busli, greeting ! Know that I have granted and confirmed by this my charter, to God, St. Mary, and the Monks of the Rock, for the salvation of my soul, and the souls of my father and mother, and all my ancestors and heirs, all the donations and liberties, without reservation, which Richard de Busli, my father, gave them, and confirmed by his charters; so that the ditch of the aforefaid monks as it has been made around the wood shall remain for good and peace, without any clamour, common from me and my heirs, except the aerie of sparrow-hawks, which the aforefaid monks have granted me. I have granted also, to the aforefaid monks, to make ditches and enclofe their fields between the wood of Maltby and the fields of Sandbec, below their boundaries at their pleasure, keeping the two roads untouched, to wit, Bolgate and the road which comes from Blythe. All these I have granted and confirmed to the aforefaid monks, for a pure and perpetual charity, free and quiet from all secular service, and from everything which belongs to the estate; so that I and my heirs shall warrant and defend that charity against all.

Before these witnesses:

In the court of Tickhill.

Confirmation of Pope Urban iii

Urban Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his beloved sons, Osmund, abbot, of Roche, and his brethren as well present as future, professing a regular a life salvation in Christ. To all those who choose a religious life it is fitting that apostolical guardianfhip be at hand, left, haply the attacks of any one's temerity should either call them off from their purpose, or (which God forbid!) break in upon the strength of their sacred bond. Therefore, beloved sons in the Lord, we favourably assent to your just requests, and after the example of our predecessor, of happy memory (Pope Lucius;) take under the blessed Peter's and our own protection, and fortify by the privilege of this writing the aforefaid monastery of Roche, in which ye are bound under a divine servitude; in the first place decreeing that the monastic order which is acknowledged to have been instituted in the said monastery according to the rule of the Lord and the blessed Benedict, and the institution of the Cistercian brothers, be inviolably observed in the said place for all time. Next, that whatever possessions and whatever goods the said monastery possesses at present or in future, by the grant of Pontiffs, largess of Kings or Princes, offering of the faithful or in any other just modes by the help of the Lord it may obtain, remain firm and entire to you and your successors, according to the very words in which we have thought right that these things should be expressed.

Of the gift of Richard de Builli, (called also Busli,) and Richard de Wikerslai, the place itself in which your Abbey stands.

Of the gift of Lord King Henry II. one hundred acres in Lindric, near the said Abbey.

Of the gift of the same persons, the grange of Aggecroft with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of the same Richard de Busli and Hugh de Drigwrt, Lambecroft ( Lambcote) with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of Leo de Manners, BranclifFe with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of William Avenell, Anes (Oneash) with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of Walter de Scoteni, Rokesby (Roxby,) with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of Ralph Tortemayns, Todwick with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of Symon, son of Symon, land in Insseby with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of Hamelin Bardolf and Robert Fitz Eudo, land in Winterington with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of Robert de Scalcebye and Adam de Newmarch and Roger de Mar, Newfome with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of William Vavasour, Thurnscoe with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of Gervas de Barnby, a grange in Barnby and Bramwith.

Of the gift of Thomas de Armthorpe, a grange in the said town.

Of the gift of Robert Fitz Payne, Wellingley with its appurtenances, and all the lands which ye have in the territory of Wadworth.

Of the gift of William de Moles and William Fitz Gerard, Sezacres with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of Simon de Plesley, Ashover (Derbyshire,) with its appurtenances.

Of the gift of Robert, son of Glai, land and wood of Cumrefbruig (Conisbrough,) as far as to Witewell between the road and the brook.

Of the gift of William the Fleming, all the land which Ligulf held and a certain essart between Hestwell and the essart of Orm,the man of Adam Fitz Swayn, with all appurtenances.

Of the gift of Gerard de Stirap (Stirrup), turbary in the territory of the same town.

Verily, let no man presume to extort from you tithes of your labours, which with your own hands or at your own expense you cultivate, as well from lands cultivated as uncultivated, or of the nourishment of your animals, under pain of etc.

Given at Verona, by the hand of Albert, priest of the Holy Roman Church, cardinal and chancellor, the seventh day of April, in the fourth indiction, in the year of the incarnation of our Lord MCLXXXVI, but in the first year of the pontificate of the most Holy Pope Urban III.

Confirmation of King Richard I

Richard by the grace of God, King of England, all, etc., know that I have granted, and by the present charter confirmed to God, and the Church of Saint Mary of Roche, and the monks serving God in the same, the Abbey itself, with all its appurtenances, to wit, whatever they have in the territory of Maltby and Hooton, and in the grange of Brancliffe, and whatever they have in the territory of Takewith, Bramley, and the grange of Lambcotes, and whatever they have in the territory of Stainton and Wadworth, and the grange of Wellingley, and the grange of Newhum, and whatever they have in the territories of Scoreby of Marr, Thurnscoe, Armthorpe, Barnby, Bramwith, and the grange of ... with all their appurtenances; and whatever they have in the territories of Ashover, Torworth, Fairwath, Oldcotes, Stirap, Winterington, Risby, and the grange of ... with all their appurtenances; and all the possessions which the said monks have, or which they may hereafter reasonably acquire, in granges, houses, buildings, men, services, rents, lands, meadows, pastures, commons, woods, ponds, waters, stews, mills, fisheries, turbaries, in-ways and paths, free introits and exits, and all other possessions and liberties, within the towns and without, and in all other places, as the reasonable charters and handwritings of the donors and vendors testify.

Wherefore, I will, and firmly enjoin, that the aforefaid Abbey and monks, have and hold all the aforefaid, well and peaceably, fully, entirely and honourably, in free and perpetual almoigne, free and quiet from all gilds, scutages, pleas, quarrels, summonses, county meetings, wapentakes, trithings, aids to Sheriff, and all other aids and all other charities, and from frankpledge and murder, and all other customs and occasions which appertain to me. I grant also, that the said monks shall have the rights of a Court of their own, over all their tenements, and men with soke, and sac, and toll. And I enjoin also, that the said monks and brethren be free and quiet from all toll and custom which belongs to me throughout my realm, of all things which they shall buy or sell for their own use, or cause to be carried out or brought in by land or water. And I forbid there being put in any plea concerning any tenement of theirs except before me or my Chief Justice.

Witness, the King.

Confirmation of Countess of Eu

To all the sons of Holy Mother Church, present and future, Alice, Countess of Eu, formerly wife of Ralph de Isondun, Earl of Eu, greeting! Know all of you that I in my widowhood, and being in full power over my own body, for the welfare of the soul of the said Ralph my lord, and for the welfare of my own soul, and that of Ralph my son, and all my ancestors, and heirs have granted, and by this my charter have confirmed to the Monks of the Abbey of St. Mary of Roche, the site of the said Abbey, and the grange of Aggecroft, with the appurtenances, and the wood of Lindric as it is bounded by a ditch, in pure and perpetual alms, and moreover, all the lands and possessions which they hold in the Barony of Tickhill, with the appurtenances, liberties, commons and easements in woods and plains, and in all places as the reasonable charters of the donors and vendors thereof contain and testify.
Witness, Lord William Earl Warren, my uncle; Philip de Ulecotes; William de Cressi; Mavelin de Hersy; Baldwin his brother; Mathew de Shepeley; knights. Given at Tickhill in the year of grace 1219.

Confirmation of King Henry III

Henry, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Normandy, and Aquitaine, and Count of Anjou, to Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Counts, Barons, Judges, Viscounts, Provosts, Servants, and all Bailiffs, and his faithful subjects, health ! We have inspected over a charter which King Richard, our uncle, made with the Abbey and monks of Roche, of donations, sales and grants reasonably made to them in there words: Richard by the grace of God, etc., to Archbishops, etc., health ! Know that we for the safety of our soul and the souls of all our predecessors and successors have granted, and by this present charter have confirmed to the Abbey of Roche and the monks of the same, serving God according to the Cistercian order, all donations and sales reasonably made to them, viz: the Abbey itself of Roche, with all its appurtenances, tenements and possessions which are in the counties of York, Nottingham and Lincoln, to wit, those which they themselves hold in the territory of Maltby and Hooton with the wood of Lyndric as it is inclosed by the ditch near the said Abbey, and as it is inclosed by the same ditch towards Bernehill, and from the said ditch towards Bernehill, and from Bernehill towards the Mill of the same monks as it is included, and all possessions which they have in the territory of Anftean (Anston,) Tathewic (Todwick,) Bramleye, Braithwell, Stainton, Tikehill, Doncaster, Cuningesburgh (Conisbro',) Stansale (Stancil), Wellingleye, Wadeworth, Thirnscohot (Thurnscoe,) Mar, Newhus (Newhall), Scalceby (Scawsby), Askern, Wareleye, Alnelthorpe (Armthorpe,) Sandale, Barneby, Bramwick (Bramwith,) Steinford (Stainforth,) Wykersley, Tange, Sonke, Blide (Blythe,) Farwath, Tordwith (Torworth,) Ulcotes (Oldcotes,) Babry (Bawtry,) Scirap (Stirrupp,) Anes (Oneash,) Aexoure (Ashover,) Lyncoln, Wyvelsworth, Riseby, Wytrinton, and the grange of Rokesby (Roxby,) with all appurtenances, in granges, freepholds, houses, buildings, men, rents, services, vassals, lands, meadows, pastures, commons, woods, coppices, brushwoods, heaths, pools, waters, fisheries, mills, saltiprings, marshes, turbaries, twiggeries, with free ingress and egress, and all other possessions and liberties within cities, boroughs and towns and without, as reasonable charters or deeds of their donors, fellers, granters or exchangers testify of the possessions which they have, or which in future they may reasonably add to them, of whatsoever fee they may be. Wherefore, we will, and firmly enjoin, that the said Abbey and the monks shall have and hold all the aforefaid well and peaceably, entirely and honourably, as a free and perpetual alms, free and quit from all gilds, danegilds, corngilds, themantale, scutages, cotages, hidages, carucages, shires, assizes, pleas, summonses of theft, armies, miscellaneous suits, counties, wapentakes, trithings, and from every mixed and common assize, and from fine which belongs to murder and larceny, and from aids to the sherriff and his bailiffs, and from all things to them pertaining, and from all other aids, and from the guardianship and working at castles ... .

Signed by Master Malgerio, of York; Master Roger Richmund; Vivian, Archdeacon of Derby; Robert of Thornsham, then Steward of Anjou; William de Rupibus; Girard de Furnivale; Girard Brochard, and many others. Given at Susa by the hand of Master Docelin, then fulfilling the office of our chancellor, on the ...day of February, in the tenth year of our reign.

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