DATA BASE REF: H 1049
CASTOR IN WHITE BOOK OF PETERBOROUGH
The White Book of Peterborough ed Sandra Raban, Northants Record Soc
2001
All references to pages and entry nos are made to the above edition.
The White Book of Peterborough is a surviving manuscript from
Peterborough Abbey, containing the registers of William of Woodford and Godfrey
of Crowland, Abbots from 1295- 1321
These are abbreviated extracts.
P115 11 Oct 1300
In prescencia fratrum Simonis de Freston, Johannis de Walcot’ et
Willemli de Jarewell’ domini J de Aysfortheby, Bernardi de Castre et aliorum
P151 entry no 146 Part of the
1291 Valuation of the Abbey’s spiritualities and temporalities:
Abbas de Burgo habet in Castre xiij
li. Xviij s. vj d.
P172 entry no154 Summary of
rents, farms and customs from the Abbey’s manors:
Castre
Summa tocius redditus, firme, et consuetud’ de termino iiij
li. Xix s. qa.
natalis Domini cum termino
sancti Martini
Summa de eisdem de termino Pasche cum termino vj li. xj s.
Purificationis
Summa de eisdem de termino sancti Johannis baptiste iiij
li. v s. iiij d. qa.
Summa de eisdem de termino sancti Michaelis xv li. xij s. v
d. ob.
Summa tocius per annum xxxi li. viij s. viij d.
P263 entry no 251 Note of the
abbot’s liability for payment of a thirtieth (1306)
(Marginate) Castre
item idem abbas habet apud Castre xx quarteria frumenti, viij ordei,
xxiiij avene, fenum cum fur’ xij s.; iiij afros prec’ afri v s.; viij boves
pre’ bovis vij s.; iiijxx ova; x porcas prec’ porci xviij d.; carrucam cum ij equis
xx s. Summa bonorum xvi li. xiij s. viij d. Unde tricesime ix s. xi d. ob
P281 entry no 280, Inquisition
to establish those holding knight’s fees in Nassaburgh Hundred ( Jan 1315)
…Willelmum Cordel de Castr’, Willelmum Adam de Marham, Galfridum filium
Radulphi de Sutton’, Johanem Godwyne de Castr’,
videlicet Johannes deTichemers’ et Simon de Drayton’, tenet in Marham j
feodum militis de abate de Burgo, et abbas medius ut supra. Henricus Torold
tenet in Castre (5) j feodum militis et dimidium feodi militis de abate de
Burgo, et abbas medius ut supra.
Edwardus Charles tenet in Milton’ j feodum militis de abate de Burgo, et
abbas medius ut supra.
Page 282(cont)
Johannes Marmioun tenet in Castr’ sextam partem j feodi militis de abate
de Burgo, et abbas medius ut supra.
P34 entry no 31 Damming of R
Nene (24 Aug 1297)
An agreement whereby the abbot and convent of Thorney may continue to
dam and repair a watercourse between the River Nene and Inggewelle in return
for an annual payment of half a mark to the abbot and convent at Castor (sic)
…in manerio predictorum abbatis et conventus de Burgo de Castre ad duos
anni terminos; videlicet ad festumsancti Michaelis tres solidos et quatour
denarios, et ad Pascha tres solidos et quatour denarios.
Note: payment of this sum can be traced in subsequent surviving accounts
for Castor under assised renst. E.g. NRO, Fitzwilliam(Milton) a/c roll 2388, m
4d for 1300-1
Comment: What can be meant by the convent at Castor, does it just mean
the court was at Castor?
P78 entry no 77 John de
Assfortheby fined for hunting (1295-6)
Memorandum from the rolls of the Exchequer concerning a 100s fine levied
on John de Assfortheby for taking hunting dogs into the royal forest without
warrant, which theabbot falsely claimed under terms of his own liberty.
…Et quia idem attornatus prius dixerat quod debitum predictum levari
posset et idem Johannes clericus ets et beneficiates in ecclesia de Castr’ et
plura habet bona ecclesiastica ibidem de quibus debitum etc….
Note:
John de Affordeby, d., was Rector of Castor in 1287. This is certainly the same man. Another hunting
parson!
P228 entry no 226 Request to
institute William of Melton to church of Castor (20 Jul 1308)
Letter from Abbot Godfrey and the convent to John, Bishop of Lincoln, requesting
him to institute William of Melton, chaplain,
to the church of Castor, to which the abbey has right of presentation
and which is vacant de jure.
Presentatio domini Willemi de Melton’ ad ecclesiam de Castre etc…
Note:1 For William de Melton’s institution on 24 Oct .1314, see Dalderby’s Institutions, fo.
126v. the entry is vacated.
Note:2.He was instituted, being succeeded by Rog de Northburgh in 1316
P289 entry no 293 Request to
institute Roger de Northburgh to church of Castor (10 Mar 1316)
Letter from Abbot Godfrey and the convent to John, Bishop of Lincoln,
requesting him to institute Roger de Northburgh chaplain, to the church of Castor, to which the abbey
has right of presentation and which is vacant de jure.
Presentatio domini Rogeri de Northburgh’ ad ecclesiam de Castre etc…
Note:2.He was instituted being succeeded by Roger de Nassington in 1317.
P117 entry 113K Rector of
Castor a witness. (2 Jan 1302)
Abbas Croyl’. …. In presencia…, domini Johannis de Aysfordeby, rectoris
ecclesie de Castr’,…etc
P28 entry no 25 Conduct of
Castor Court
Order to the bailiff of the court of Castor concerning conduct of the
court. Marginal reference to aid for the knighting of the king’s son (n.d.).
See also page xx and possibility of date in May 1253
Document follows in Norman- French…Commaunde est au bayllyf de la curt
de Castre ke les somouns tesmoyent a meynes cele curt ke nul assoyne gettent
etc….
Page xxxiv Suit at court at
Castor 1308
CASES AT CASTOR COURT
Page 140 entry 131 Abbot of
Sulby to pay fee at Castor Court to the bailiff of Castor
Cirograffum abbatis de Suleby de secta curie de Castr’ sibi et
successoribus relaxata. …etc
Page 55/6 entry no 50
manumission of William son of Richard of Werrington (4 Jun 1278)
……Salvis tamennobis sectiscurie nostre de Castre de tribus septimanis
etc….
Page 65 entry no 61 re
Nicholas of Bassingbourn junior to Abbot Walter
Recognition by Nicholas of Bassingbourn junior to Abbot Walter that he
holds quarter of knight’s fee and will in future answer for a total of four
fees(1233-45).
…Hiis testibus:…Roberto Puttok et tota curia de Castr’
Page 89 entry no 89 homage by
Geoffrey Russel to Abbot Robert de Sutton (1262-73)
…ad curiam de Castre de tribus septimanis …etc.
Page 133 entry 124 Abbot of
Sulby to pay fee at Castor Court
Cirograffum abbatis de Suleby… in manerio suo de Castre…etc
Page 167 entry no 151 Grant to
John Marmyon at Castor court
… pro secta curie de Castre
Page 264 entry no 252 Royal
Writ re manors of Torpel and Upton
… sectam ad curiam predicti abbatis de Castr’…etc
Page 295 entry no 299 Grant by
Abbot Godfrey at Castor court to Walter de Lardar (18 Feb 1309)
Et quia tenementa prius quadam serjantia pro officio curie de Castr’
faciendo onerabatur, …etc
Page 140 entry no 130 Grant by
Thomas ...to Abbot Godfrey c1300
…Hiis testibus:…Bernardo de Castre, …etc
Page 240 entry no 244 Extract
from pipe rolls for Northants (1291-92
…..
Idem vicecomes reddit compotum de xx s. de villata de Thornhawe pro
concelamento de itinere J de Vallibus. Et de xl s. de villata de Castr’ quia
non venit sicut continetur ibidem.
Page 290 entry no 294 Grant by
Abbot Godfrey and the convent to Bernard of Castor of clothing and sustenance
in the abbey for his lifetime. (8 Jun 1317)
Carta Bernardi de Castr’
Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos presens….Noverit universitas vestra
nos unanimi assensu concessione dilecto et fideli nostro Bernardi de Castr’
competentem sustentationem in tota vita sua in victu et vestitu in abbacia
nostra;…etc
Note 1. Bernard of Castor was bailiff of the northern group of manors
from 1300-1310. King Peterborough Abbey, p136