Transcript

of

Deed of Amicia, Countess of Devon

In: The Cistercian Houses of Devon: Introductory - 1. Buckland. Trans. Devon Assoc. vol. 7 (1875), pp. 354-356.

by

J. Brooking Rowe

Prepared by Michael Steer

This Deed of Amicia, Countess of Devon is one of several documents appended to the author’s seminal article  on the early history of Buckland Abbey. His paper was delivered at the Association’s Torrington meeting, July 1875. The Abbey was founded by Amicia, Countess of Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon, who endowed it with certain lands, including three manors in the neighbourhood — Buck- land, Bickleigh and Walkhampton. The foundation deed was signed by Amicia in the eighth of Edward I. (1280), and eleven years later the gift was confirmed by her daughter, Isabella de Fortibus, by charter. In these instruments the bounds of the lands bestowed upon the abbey are set forth. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries.   These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Know all men, now and to come, that we Amicia Countess of Devon and Lady of the Isle' [in our lawful widowhood] with the thought of God and for the health of the souls of Lord Henry, formerly King of England, and the noble Queen Dame Eleanor, his wife and their children, and of the Lord Henry, formerly King of England, son of the same King Henry and the noble Queen Dame Eleanor, his wife and their children, and for the health of the souls of Lord Gilbert of Clare, formerly Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, our father, and the Countess Isabella, our mother, and Baldwin, Earl of Devon, our husband, and for the health of our souls and the souls of Baldwin, our son, formerly Earl of Devon, aud Isabella, our daughter, Countess of Devon and Albemarle, our daughter, nun of Lacock, and of all our ancestors and successors, and of all to whom we are bound by any favours, and of others who do or shall bestow alms or any favours have given and granted, and confirm by this present writing to God, and the Blessed Mary, and St Benedict. and to Brother Robert and his convent taken from Quarr, and their successors of the Cistercian order in holy, free, pure, and perpetual alms, for building and perpetually supporting an abbey in honour of Mary, most blessed Mother of God, and die blessed Benedict, the manors of Buckland, Bickley, and Walkhampton according to their metes and bounds; that is to say, from the Lobbapilla, on the western part of Bocland towards the north and east, through the middle of the water of Tavy, and from Walkhampton to the boundaries of Dartmoor, on the northern part of Mistor, and thence towards the south by the boundaries of the Verderere (regardorum) of Dartmoor, that is to say, by Mistorhead (Mistor panna), and by Hysfochres, and by Siwards Cross and Gyllesbuigh and Plymcrundla to the Plym, and thence by the Plym towards the west to Taddabrook, and so by the bounds which surround Syderoore and Smalacumba, that is to say, by the old ditch to the angle of the ditch of Yllalonde, and thence by Hurtwallen to Smalacumbacrosse and Smalacumbalak, and by the water course of Meavy to Olyak, and by the ditch to the road which leads from Plympton to Schitestor, and so by the stone bounds to Biricombaford and by Crewecumba, and Denebrok, and [along] the course of the river Meavy to Schollaford, and so by the old boundaries to Yanedonecross, and thence by the bounds to Stoford and Lake and Churcheford, and by the divisions between Elleford and Crossfton to Elfordlak and to the course of the river Meavy, and so to the place where the Meavy falls into the Plym, and along the Plym towards the divisions of Hescombe, and to the cross Toads beyond Purpris, and thence by passing along the way which leads from Cadaworth bridge to Plympton through the land of the Schagh towards the east as far as Shitaburgh, and thence by old bound-stones to Haneketorr, and thence towards the west and north through the land of Farnbill to Maynstonktown and Maynstoncross and Horingbrook and to Writewillak, and thence by a certain footpath to Pudehel, including Southpudehel, and so along the bounds towards the east to Horsford, and thence along the ancient metes to Writewille and Horyngbrok, and so to the Plym and to Wolewillebroke and to Wolewille Gross, and thence by the road which leads from Sutton to Tavistock at Copriscroese, and thence towards the north along the ancient ditch to Bycacumbayoneda, and so along the ancient bounds to Lobbapilla.

And the lands and villeins of Tor at Shitestorr, lying near to the manor of Bickleigh, with the appurtenances and with their villanages and chattels and belongings, and the hundred of Roborough, and with all profits thence arising with all suits of freemen and bondmen, and with everything which belongs or may belong to the said hundred.

We have also given, granted, and confirmed to the same abbot and convent and their successors the lands and villeins of Torr at Schitestor, adjoining the manor of Buckeleye, with their chattells and suits.

We also have given, granted, and confirmed, to the same abbey and convent and their successors the hundred of Koborough with all profits thence arising, with all suits of freemen and villains, and with all liberties, free customs, or whatever things belong to the hundred or can accrue or belong in any way to the same.

We also have given, granted, and confirmed to the same abbot and convent and their successors the manor of Colunipton, according to its bounds, that is to say, from Golump by the land of St. Nicholas of Exeter to Sraalabrok, and by the outer bounds of the land of la Brok to the road which leads to Padokbrok, and thence by Lutteskeskell and Ponteford, and by the boundaries from Hillesdon to Burn, and by Linor and Sweton, and Morston and Burn to Culump, and so by la Ny welond to Botherford Bridge, and a certain piece of land on the eastern part of that water near Eyngesmill, and thence by Stonweya, Crundla, Waterleta, Halstrewa, Westerhaya, and Lattemere, to Cliff brigg, with the lands of Halsholte, and the meadows and woods of Swenham, and with the advowsons of the churches of Boclond, Walkampton, and Bykelie, with the chapel of Schitestorr, with all that to the same manor and lands, and to the same hundred belong, whether in suit of court, demesnes, seignories, knight's fees, homage, scutage, service of free men, &c., without any reservation by us or our heirs. To have and to hold freely of the lord the king and his heirs to the same abbey and convent, and their successors, the same maaor and lands, with the advowsons of the churches of Boclond, Walkampton, and Byklie, and the chapels of Schitestorr, and with the aforesaid hundred, with all their appurtenances whatsoever in holy, free, pure, and perpetual alms, free, &c. These being witnesses, Sir Henry of Chaumbernon, Oliver de Denham, Hugo Peverell, &c