dilecti in Cristo filij nobilis viri Johannis de Lascy, comitis Lyncoln et constab. Cestrie, ecclesiam de Eccles, cum capellis et omib3 ptinētijs diuine pietatis intuitu eisdem in pprios usus possidēdam cōcessimus. Saluo nobis et successorib3 nostris iure pōtificali et parochiali et etiam iure archidiaconali. Saluis et Couētr. et Lich. ecclesiaru auctoritatib3. Et ut hec nostra cōcessio rata et incōcussa pmaneat presenti scripto sigillu nostru apponi fecimus. Hijs testibz, Magistris Galf. de Warewyk, Petro Marescallo, Hug. de Breuse, Galfr. capellano qui has literas scripsit. Data apud Susam iiij kaln Januar. pontific. nostre anno undecimo.

V. Confirmatio Couentrensis capituli de ecclesia de Eccles.

a

NIUERSIS sancte matris filijs ad quos presens scriptum puenerit, ffrater Rogerus diuina ordinatione prior Couentr. et eiusdem Loci conuentus humilis eternam in dño salutem. Nouerit uniuersitas vestra nos attendentes honestatem et religionem dilectorum in Cristo fratrum Abbatis et conuentus Loci Benedicti de Stanl. ad petitionem venerabilis patris nostri dni Alexandri Couētr. episcopi, secundum tenore cōcessionis eiusdem qua inspeximus, ecclesiam de Eccles cum capellis et omib3 alijs ptinentijs diuine pietatis intuitu eisdem in pprios usus ppetuo possidēdam auctoritate capituli ecclesie nostre Cathedralis cöfirmasse. In cuius nostre cöfirmationis testimonium hanc cartam nostram sigillo nostro roboratā Abbati et conuentui antedictis cōfecimus. Hijs testib3, magistro Rico dicto Umitario, Sym. de sancto Mauro, R. de ffranketon, Henr. de Leycestr., clericis nostris, Henr. et Rad. de Sutham, Andr. de Stokes, Thoma Portario, Willo de Couetr. et alijs. Acc. anno gratie m.cc. tricesimo septimo.

VI. Confirmatio Capituli Lichfeldensis de ecclesia de Eccles.

a

NIUERSIS sancte matris ecclesie filijs presentem paginam inspecturis, W. decanus et capitulum Lichef. eternam in dño salutem. Cocessionem et cöfirmationem quas venerabilis in Cristo pater Alex. Dei gratia Cōuentr. et Lichef. episcopus fecit Abbati et conuentui Loci Benedicti de Stanlawe de ecclesia de Eccles cum capellis ac alijs ptinentijs sicut iuste facte sunt et canonice auctoritate ecclesie nostre cöfirmamus et presentem paginam sigillorum nostrorum robore communimus. Dat. in capitulo Lichef. prid. Non. martij anno gratie mo cco xxx. septimo.

VII. Confirmatio Hugonis Couentrensis episcopi de ecclesia
de Eccles facta G. alfrido Biron.

h

UGO* miseratione diuina Couentr. episcopus tam clericis quam laicis p episcopatu Couentr. constitutis salutem gratiam et benedictionem. Nouerit uniuersitas vestra nos ad presentationem Edithe de Barton consensu Roberti Grelley dedisse et cōcessisse Galfr. de Biron clerico medietatem ecclesie de Eccles cum omib3 ptinētijs suis in puram et ppetuam elemosynam quam pxio possedit Suanus clericus. Et ut hec nostra cōcessio rata et incōcussa pmaneat eam presentis scripti munimine et sigilli nostri impressione roborauimus. Saluo nobis et successorib3 nostris iure episcopali et parochiali. Dat. apud Wynewhik mense Aprilis anno secundo postquam rex Anglie Ricardus Jerosol. profectus est.† Presentib3

* Hugh Nouant, consecrated Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry A.D. 1186, 33 Henry II. and died 27th March, 1199, 1 John.

+ i. e. A.D. 1192, for Richard departed on the Crusade 6th March, A.D. 1190.

hijs, Rob. Archid. Cestrie, magro Willo Dured, Ernulpho capello, Petro de Bury, Henr. de Lond, J. decano de Mamecestr.,* Nich. de Croston, Stepho de Waleton, magro Pho Sampson, Rob. clerico de Budiford, Rob. de Nouant, Galfro Saluagio, Patricio de Prestecot, Hug. clerico de Wynewhik, Ric. de Prestecot, R. de Heyton, Philippo de Kynton.

VIII. Scriptum Alberti de Grelle† de iiij parte ecclesie de
Eccles facta W. clerico.

NIUERSIS sancte matris ecclesie filijs tam futuris quam presentib3 clericis et laicis Albertus Grelli, salutem. Notum sit vobis me dedisse et concessisse et hac carta

* The Rural Dean of Manchester; an office, according to Dr. Whitaker, the historian of Manchester, of great antiquity in the Anglican Church. "The Rural Deans," he says, 66 were constituted at the same time with the parish priest, and Lancashire was partitioned into Rural Deaneries very early in the seventh century." There are very strong reasons, however, for supposing that Deans Rural did not exist in England at the period alluded to, nor have any authentic traces of their establishment been discovered until the eleventh century.

+ Albert de Greslei, the son of Robert de Greslei, who founded an abbey of Cistercians at Swineshed in Lincolnshire, A.D. 1134. He married Agnes, daughter of William Fitz-Nigel, baron of Halton, (ante, p. 1,) and received the thegn-lands of Manchester as a portion. He died circa 1185, and was succeeded by his son, Robert de Greslei, æt. 11, 28 Henry II.

de Longchamp, and had issue,

1. Thomas de Greslei.

2. Alan.

He married

daughter of Henry

He died A.D. 1230, 15 Henry III., and was succeeded by his son and heir, Thomas de Greslei, who was constituted, 43 Henry III., warden of the king's forests south of Trent. He died circa 1261, and was succeeded by his only son, Robert de Greslei, dominus de Manchester, who, 8 Edward I., married Hawyse, daughter and coheir of John de Burgh, son of Hubert, Earl of Kent. He had a son and daughter,

1. Thomas.

2. Joane.

mea confirmasse Willo clerico de Eccles quartam partem ecclesie de Eccles ex illa parte que fuit Haisolfi patris sui et Mathei fratris sui post decessum Haisolfi. Tenend. in vita sua libere et quiete cum omnib; ptinentijs que ad eam ptinet in pură et ppetua elemosynā p anima patris mei et matris mee et p meipso et uxore mea et pueris meis et p animab; omnium antecessorum meorum. Hijs testib3, Ric. capello eiusdem Alberti, Gilberto capello, Rob. capello Mamecestr., Jurdano clerico eiusdem ville, Helia clerico de Eccles, Ric. clerico de Leuer, Roberto de Biron, Hug. de Neuill, Uriano Basset, Rob. de Pōtewyk, Lesyngo de Leuer, Walto de Herlas, Henr. Hauteyn, Rad. de Roby, Willo clerico qui hanc cartam scripsit.

IX. Quieta clamatio Gilberti de Barton de ecclesia de Eccles.

MNIBUS sancte matris ecclesie filijs presentib3 et futuris
Gilbertus de Barton salutem. Nouerit uniuersitas vestra

me cōcessisse et hac presenti carta mea cōfirmasse Abbati et monachis Loci Benedicti de Stanlawe donationem dñi mei Johannis de Lascy, comitis Linc. constab. Cestrie, scil. de terris cum aduocatia ecclesie de Eccles cum omnib3 libertatib3 quas illis dimisi et vendidi pro hac quietatia quam p me fecit erga Aaron, Judeum Ebor, prout in mea carta illi facta continetur. Hanc autem cöfirmationem feci illis p salute anime mee et antecessorum et successorum meorum in puram et ppetuam elemosynam. Et ut hec mea confirmatio rata sit et imppetuū incōcussa presentem cartam sigilli mei munimine corroboraui. Hijs testib3, dño Thoma de sancto Nicho

Robert de Greslei died 1283, and was succeeded by his son,

Thomas de Greslei, who was summoned to Parliament from 1 to 4 Edward II. He died A.D. 1347, leaving his sister and heiress,

Joane, who married John de la Warre, the ancestor of the present Earl Delawar. This name is an instance of the great laxity of ancient orthography. It is spelt indiscrimately Greslei, Greslet, Grelli, Grelley, Grelle and Gredeley.

G

tunc archid. Cestrie, dño Johanni offic., Ric. de Standyssh, Ric. Biron, Galfr. Biron, H. tunc psona de Eccles, toto capitulo de Weryngton.

a

X. Restitutio dimidie bouate terre in Eccles.

NIUERSIS ad quos presens scriptum puenerit Willmus filius Willi clerici de Eccles salutem in dño. Noueritis me dedisse et omnino de me et heredib3 meis imppetuum quietu clamasse dñis meis Abbati et conuentui Loci Benedicti de Stanlawe et successorib; suis octo acras terre cum ptinentijs de terra ecclesie de Eccles p illa dimidia bouata terre de terra predicte ecclesie quam predictus Willmus pater meus de dictis Abbate et conuentu tenuit ad terminum vite p conuentionem, et unde cōtentio inter ipsos et me fuit post obitum patris mei antedicti. De quib3 videl. octo acris, quinq. acre et dimidia et una pticata iacent p se in le Bromhousefeld. Residuum vero octo acrarum quod deest in le Bromhousefeld iacet ex altera parte ecclesie de Eccles p plures pticulas inter le Hengendebank et aquam de Irwel p metas ibidem positas in confectione presentium. Quas quidem octo acras terre cum ptinentijs suis ita quiete volo dictis dñis meis et successorib3 suis imppetuum remanere, quod ego et heredes mei nichil in eisdem de cetero exigere vel vendicare poterimus. In cuius rei testimonium sigilli mei impressio presenti scripto est appensa. Hijs testib3, dño Henr. de Lee tunc vic. Lanc.,* dño Galfr. de Bracebrugg tunc senesc. Mamecestr., Willo de Gryngel tunc receptore dicti loci, Henr. de Trafford, Dauid de Hulton, Rico de Workedel, Ric. de Bolton, Rob. de Schoresworth, Ad. de Hulm et alijs.