About this time or in the yeare 1391, according to Henrie Knightons
account, there was a prophane statute made against the church &
churchmen; namelie, that no ecclesiastical person or persons should
possesse manors, glebeland, houses, possessions, lands, reuenues or
rents whatsoeuer, at the hands of the feoffer, without the kings
licence & the chiefe lords. And this statute extended it selfe, as
well to parish churches, chappels, chanteries, as abbeies, priories,
& other monasteries whatsoeuer: likewise to citizens of cities, to
farmers, & burgesses, hauing such rents or possessions for the common
profit. For men in those daies, that would bestow land or liuelod vpon
church, fraternitie, or conuent, and were not able for cost and charges
to procure a mortmane, vnder the kings licence and chiefe lords; were
wont to feoffe some speciall men, in whom they had confidence and
trust; vnder whose name and title, churchmen, or anie other fraternitie
or conuent might inioy the profit of the gift, and might haue the
commoditie thereof in possession. And it was prouided by that statute,
that all and euerie as well persons ecclesiasticall as parishioners,
both citizens, burgesses, and farmers, or anie other whatsoeuer, hauing
such rents, possessions, manors, or anie reuenues whatsoeuer, in the
hands of such feoffers, without the licence of the king and chiefe
lords; that either they should obteine and get a licence of the king
and the chiefe lords to make it a mortmaine; or else set such things
to sale, & raise profit of them, on this side or before the feast of
Michaelmasse next insuing: or the said feast being past and expired,
that then the king and the |814| chiefe lords, in things not ordered
and disposed accordinglie, may enter and seize vpon the same, and them
haue and hold at his and their pleasure.
[Sidenote: The duke of Glocester his iournie into Prutzen land.
The duke of Glocester in great fauor with the commons.
An. Reg. 15.