Page:English Historical Review Volume 37.djvu/508

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500
THE 'DOMESDAY' ROLL OF CHESTER
October

(died 1278), and it is evident that the non-inclusion of her name in the charter raised difficulties at the time, for in 1840 Mr. Black found at Chester a document, dated 1287, which, after stating the fact of enrolment of what can only have been this charter, in pleno scaccario, proceeds 'ubi predicti Ricardus et Agnes venerunt; et predicta Agnes super hoc examinata, predictam cartam recognoverunt'.[1] Vernon regranted the lands to them at the same time by a charter, now in the possession of the duke of Westminster, which itself states that the parties procured it to be placed 'in rotulo qui vocatur Domisday'.[2]

Many of the enrolments are dated by reference to the sitting of the court at which they were ordered. Before the annexation of 1237 this is usually done by reference to the year of the earl or some other event, the regnal year of the king not being used until later; thus, often after the words 'In pleno comitatu qui sedit' we get such dates as:

1. Die Martis proximo ante Festum sancti Marci Evangeliste anno interdicti septimo [22 April 1214].[3]
2. Die Martis ante festum Apostolorum Simonis et Iudae proximo post iter Domini Ranulphi Comitis Cestrie et Lincolnie Ierosolimam. [The earl set out for Jerusalem in Whit week 1218.]
3. Anno secundo post reditum Domini Comitis Cestrie et Lincolnie de Terra Sancta. [About 1222, the earl returning from Damietta in 1220.]
4. Anno quarto Translationis Beati Thomae Martiris. [Between 6 July 1223 and 7 July 1224.]
5. Anno primo quo Dominus Iohannes de Scotia cinctus fuit gladio comitatus Cestrie et Cestriscire,[3] Comitatu sedente eodem die, presentibus Domino Iohanne Comite Cestrie et Huntindonie, Domino Ricardo Phitun tunc iusticiario Cestrie (&c.). [1232–3.]
6. Anno primo quo Dominus I. de Scotia factus fuit Comes Cestrie. [1232–3.]
7. Anno quinto de tempore Comitis Iohannis. [1236.]

R. Stewart-Brown.
  1. Ante, p. 483.
  2. Facsimile in Journal Chester Arch. Soc. ii. (New Series) 151, and see ibid. v. (New Series) 432.
  3. 3.0 3.1 See ante, xxxv. 29.