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Complex relations
Life in feudal England was getting so complicated that in order to work out who owed what exactly and to whom a survey was taken of every Hundred (a division of the County) in England of all the conflicting claims so they could be recorded, and hopefully in due course resolved. Huntingdonshire had four of these Hundreds and Somersham was in Hurstingstone Hundred. Needless to say while the King, Bishop of Ely and Abbot of Ramsey all claimed some kind of right over the community, the humble peasant was often caught in the middle! The returns and please being referred to are essentially the rights to raise taxes and to look into disputes between tenants.
Item 1
It is declared that the free tenants of the Soke of Somersham have withdrawn themselves from the Bishop of Ely's assize and enquiry where they are accustomed to appear. They claim that when the bishop fines them the Bishop takes the money (ie for his own use not for the purposes of upholding the law)
Item 2
Which of those concessions and liberties have had the result of preventing justice?
It is declared that the bailiff of the Bishop of Ely in Somersham and holding his honor of Huntingdonshire, Radulfus de Camoys, does not permit the Kings bailiffs to execute the writ of the Lord King.
Item 3
How many (bailiffs?) are there in the Wapentacium (A unit of measure similar to the Hundred)
It is said that the Abbot of Ramsey stands for himself in all his manors. And for the Bishop of Ely in his soke of Somersham, Robertus de la Kornayle, Radolfus de Camoys and Simon of St Ives claim to have the inquisition into frankpledges and pleas.
Item 4
Who else claims to have returns to the Lord King?
The Bishop of Ely has the returns for his soke of Somersham and does not permit the bailiff of the King to execute his mandate. The King in this soke however, attacks all who have forestalled (his bailiff).And the said abbot of Ramsey, Bishop of Ely, Radolfus de Camoys, Robertus del Kerneyle et Simon de St Ives have the suit against them delayed and are transferred the right of bread and venison and inquisition into frankpledges and pleas standing together in the county according to the warrant that is known.
Item 5
The parson of Somersham tenants to 4 villains namely Symon Belestre who rents 1 acre of land, Matilda Pope who rents 2 acres, Clement Vaccar 1 acre and Thomas Perpositus 1 acre. Altogether paying 7 shillings and 8 pence to the parson of Somersham.
Alan Putehand rents 1 acre of land from the parson of Somersham for 20 shillings per annum.
Alan Carpenter rents a house on 1 rod of land and also 2 acres of land for 3 shillings per annum from the parson of Somersham. The parson of Somersham holds 50 acres of land and meadow belonging to his church in free alms, the church belongs to the Bishop of Ely (actually it belonged to the Bishop of Lincoln - it was the palace next door that belong to his Grace of Ely)