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[[[[ facs BM]]]
54
CONFIRMATION by Henry II to Roger fitz Reinfrid of a soke in London given to him by Earl Simon of Huntingdon and pertaining to the earl's honour of Huntingdon, to hold at the yearly rent of one bezant. Dated at Woodstock [July, 1175].
. Henricus . dei gratia Rex Anglorum . et Dux Normannorum . et Aquitanorum . et Comes Andegavorum . archiepiscopis . episcopis . comitibus . baronibus . iusticiariis . vicecomitibus . et omnibus ministris . et fidelibus suis Anglie salutem. Sciatis me concessisse et presenti carta ccinfirmasse Rogero filio Rainfridi . soccam illam in Londoniis quam comes Symon de Hvntendona ei rationabiliter dedit . que pertinet ad honorem suum de Huntendona tenendam sibi et heredibus suis de eo et heredibus suis ,Ør redditum unius bizantii annuatim pro omni seruicio ad Pentechosten . sicut carta sua testatur . Qvare void et firmiter precipio quod predictus Rogerus et heredes sui post eum habeant et teneant illam soccam bene et in pace . et libere . et quiete . et integre . et honorifice . cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus suis . sicut comes jam dictus ei concessit et dedit . et carta sua confirmauit. Testibus . Ricardo . Wintoniensi . et Gaufrido . Elyensi . episcopis . Iohanne decano Sarisburiensi . Ricardo de Lvci . Mauricio de Creona . Iohanne de Sulineo . Regina/do de Curtenai . Reginaldo . de Pauilli . Roberto de Estutevilla . Girardo de Canuilla . Apud Woudestocham. [Harley Ch. 43 C. 26]
Vellum tag for seal (missing).
Simon ,de St. Liz, Earl of Northampton, who had claims of inheritance on the earldom of Huntingdon, obtained it from Henry II in 1174, on its forfeiture by William, King of the Scots, and he continued to hold it until his death, circ. June—July, 1184 (Benedict, i. pp. 71, 317). The position and nature of the soke, or liberty, in London attached to the honour of Huntingdon. are uncertain, but it existed as such temp. Hen. I, being mentioned in a charter of David, Earl of Huntingdon, issued between 11°8 and 1124, when he became King of the Scots (Cal. of Documents rel. to Scotland, i. pp. i, 557). According to Foss (Judges, i. p. 364), nothing is known of Roger fitz Reinfrid until he appears as a justice in 1176, after which time notices of him are frequent (Eyton, Itin. Hen. II, &c.). From the Pipe Rolls, however, we learn that he was employed from 1170 to 1174 with Richard de Lucy in the administration of Windsor, and he probably owed his advancement to Lucy's influence. He was apparently a brother of Walter de Coutances, Bishop of Lincoln in 1183 and Archbishop of Rouen in 1184 (Monasticon, ii. p. 499) ; and a few further details about him and his descendants may be found in Eyton's collections (Add. MS. 31929, f. 87) and in the Chartularies of Clerkenwell Nunnery (Cotton MS. Faustina B. ii) and Dunmow Priory (Harley MS. 662), to which houses he made grants in Little Dunmow, co. Essex. The date of the charter is fixed by the first three witnesses. Richard of Ilchester, or Toclive, Bishop of Winchester, and Geoffrey Ridel, Bishop of Ely, were both consecrated Oct. 6, 1174, and were with the king at Woodstock in the beginning of July, 1175 (Benedict, i. p. 93 ; Eyton, Itin. Hen. II, p. 192), while John, Dean of Salisbury, was appointed Bishop of Norwich Nov. 26, 1175. |