Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/277

INQUISITION OF EDWARD III. 249 found at present fifteen deer, and there might be sustained in the same park forty deer ; and if there were no deer, it would then be worth for the agistment thereof 20s. a year. Claim. And the aforesaid John Moneroun proffers his oath to the lord Duke to do and exercise those things which belong to the office of Constable according to custom. He claims to have, for the term of his life, by Charter of the lord John, lately Earl of Cornwall, which the lord the King confirmed to him, the custody and constableship of the Castle aforesaid, and of the Park there ; to receive yearly for that custody 20 marks at the feasts of the Nativity of the Lord, of Easter^ the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and St. Michael, by equal portions, together with all other things which Peter Burdet, lately Constable there, received for the aforesaid Constableship ; And he produces for the same a charter of the lord the King in these words : Edward, by the grace of God, King of England, lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine, to all to whom the present letters shall come, greeting. Know ye that whereas John, late Earl of Cornwall, our brother, now de- ceased (which Earl held of our grant to himself and the lawful heirs of his body the aforesaid and divers other lands and tene- ments, and which, in consequence of the said Earl having died without heir of his body, have now descended to our hands), by his Letters patent, exhibited before us in our Chancery, entrusted to our beloved servant, John of Moneroun, the custody and con- stableship of the Castle of Launceveton, and of the Park of the same Earl there, To hold for the term of the life of the said John, to receive for such custody from the said Earl and his heirs, by the hands of his receivers there for the time being, 20 marks at the feast of the Nativity of the Lord, &c. [as before] . . . We also, being graciously willing to aid the said John in that behalf, receive, approve, and voluntarily confirm the aforesaid commission, And we grant, for us and our heirs, that the said John of Moneroun may have and hold the Custody and constableship aforesaid for the whole term of his life, according to the tenure of the aforesaid letters of our aforesaid Brother, to receive yearly from the hands of the Sheriff of the County aforesaid, or of our Steward there for the time being, 20 marks, for the custody and constableship aforesaid. In testimony whereof, &c. Given at Botheville on the 20th November, X year of our reign. (1337.)