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Taxes, more taxes
Having the Bishop of Ely as a lord could be every bit as onerous as having a secular baron to attend to. In the first item the King himself is forced to intervene. However the burden of unreasonable taxation is not always the fault of the bishop and the roles are reversed in item 2!
Item 1
From the Close Rolls of Henry III 1229
For the men of Somersham.
The king greets the Bishop of Ely. Our men of Somersham have come to us to complain loudly and heavily and they point out the heavy level of tax that has lately been levied upon them; you are allowed to take good, moderate and bearable taxes from them and then you could tax them again (later) as they had not been over burdened. And because you yourself have levied these taxes against (good) form, we command that the measure of these taxes is an unjust and intollerable burden which deserves loud complaint, and these taxes shall not be due to you. Witnessed by the King at
Item 2
From the Patent Rolls of year 13 of Edward III
15 March 1339
To William Moigne, Richard de Glatton and their fellows, appointed to collect and levy wool for the king's use in county Cambridge, according to the ordinance made at Northampton. Order to cause 86 stones of wool to be allowed to the men and tennants of Simon (Montecute) Bishop of Ely for his soke in Somersham, in that the wool which they are bound to pay according to the rate of the fifteenth touching them if it is found that John de Ravele and John de Wentlond appointed to levy a moiety of such wool in that county, took so much wool from them, that the bishop has besought the king to order such allowances to be made.