Commission investigating Agnes de Vescy, 1283

Translation

[A commission [investigation]… is granted] to John de Reigate and Geoffrey Aguillun concerning a complaint by the prior and monastery of Malton in Yorkshire that although they had done nothing wrong, nor been excommunicated [no longer allowed to be a member of the church] by the church authorities, nor by orders of any church judge… Agnes de Vescy, Master Richard de Pywelsdon, Roger Clerk, John de Davile and other servants of Agnes attacked Brother William de Malton and

William de Cauncewyk, canons and other lay brothers [workers on the monastery’s estates] of the monastery in the common road near the church of St Leonard’s Malton. They seized them, imprisoned them and treated them badly and many times took their horses, sheep, oxen, cows and other animals and would not return them. They detained [kept] [the animals] without food… And by public proclamation [announcement] in Agnes’ market of Malton forbade anyone from selling or taking any food to [the monastery] and from talking to them. They stole food and by various means prevented the monks from farming their lands, carrying their hay or storing their corn in their barns.