214. Penultimate day of August 29 Hen VIII (30 August 1537) Indenture whereby Robert Brandelinge Mayor of Newcastle and the commonalty of the same grant to John Brandelinge clerk the office mastership or keepership of the free chapel of S. Thomas the Martyr next the bridge of Tyne in the collation nomination and gift of the said mayor and commonalty as the true patrons thereof; to have hold and exercise during his natural life with the mansion master's chamber and garden belonging to and adjoining the chapel. The grantors to repair and maintain at their own cost the said chapel mansion chamber and garden with the walls roofs ornaments books vestments and chalices. The grantee or his sufficient deputy to celebrate or cause to be celebrated daily matins vespers and other canonical hours, for which office and service the grantors shall give to the grantee £9 yearly to be received as his salary and stipend at the feasts of Martinmas and Pentecost by equal portions at the hands of the Stewards or collectors of the farms of the lands and tenements belonging to the chapel and the bridge. Power reserved to the grantee, in the event of non-payment of his salary, to re-enter (sic) on the lands of the chapel and bridge and on the lands called Briglandes and Wodmanlandes and to hold and enjoy the same during his natural life, and to convert the same to the use of himself and of the chapel. The grantee at his own free will may for six years after the date of the grant remain at any university. Warranty. Given in the guyldehall' of the town.

(Newcastle Corporation).

215.-4 August, 32 Hen. VIII (1540). Indenture of demise to fee farm by John Brandeling, clerk, master or keeper of the Chapel of S. Thomas on the bridge of the town of Newcastle, with the consent of Henry Anderson mayor, John Hylton sheriff, and the aldermen and commonalty of the town, to Thomas Patenson, of a house and garden outside the gate of the street called Pilgramstrete gate, between the ditches (fossas) called 'lez Kings Diches and the walls of the town on the west and the King's street (regiam stratam) there on the east, and the said walls on the south, and the tenement and garden which John Dawton husbandman then held in fee farm on the north, which tenement thereby granted was formerly in the tenure of Edward Patenson, collier (carbonarii) and Isabella his wife and then of William Bryce, tiler (tegularii), and the garden was situate on the west of the house; to hold to the grantee and his heirs and assigns for ever of the chief lords of the fee, rendering yearly 8s at Pentecost and S. Martin in winter by equal portions. Covenant by grantee to maintain and repair; power to distrain for rent; power to re-enter on non-payment of rent or for waste (vastum enorme); warranty. Sealed with the seals of the keeper of the bridge the common seal of the town, and of the grantee. (Newcastle Corporation).

216.-Ante 1235. Grant by Daniel son of Nicholas of Newcastle to John de Pampedene, his heirs or assigns, of 4s annual rent which the grantor had from the land which Richard Fayner held of him in Market street, in consideration of 5 marks which John gave to him in his need. (P. fasc. 1, n. 1).

Omnibus hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris Daniel filius Nicholay de Novo Castro salutem. Sciatis me vendidisse concessisse et hac presenti carta mea confirmasse Johanni de Pampedene quatuor solidatos annui redditus quos habui de terra quam Ricardus Fayner tenuit de me in vico fori et totum jus et clamium quod ego vel heredes mei in predicta terra umquam habuimus vel habere poterimus. Habendos et tenendos predicto Johanni et heredibus suis vel suis assignatis Libere et quiete in perpetuum. Pro hiis autem quatuor solidatis annui redditus predictus Johannes dedit mihi quinque marcas in mea necessitate. Et ego &c. (warranty) In hujus rei &c. Hiis testibus Petro Scoto Rogero filio Willelmi Bartholomeo benedicto Allano fratre suo Hugone de Bedeford Allano filio Hugonis Elya fratre suo Rogero de Bernham et aliis.

217..-C. 1240-50. Covenant between (convencio facta inter) John de Pampedene and Symon de Benewell, whereby John demised to fee farm to Symon his heirs and assigns land in the vennel leading to the chapel of Saint John in Westgate, between land formerly of Bernard son of Bernard and land of the said John on the east side, as it extends in length and breadth, rendering therefor to the King the farm due, and to the said John his heirs and assigns 4s yearly. Witnesses: Peter Scot, John' filius decani,' Bartholomew Benedict, Allan his brother, Roger son of William, Roger de Bernham, John de Killingwrd, Henry Page, John Serjeant (serviente), Nicholas de Wilii, William Brun. (P. fasc. 12, n. 3).

218.-Between 1250 and 1258. Demise to fee farm by Alice daughter of Richard Stayard in widowhood, to dame Sibilla, daughter of Thomas de Carliolo, her heirs or assigns, of the messuage which her father Richard Stayard gave to her, in Sinedegate, between land formerly of Thomas Daubur and land. formerly of William de Herington, rendering therefor yearly to Alice 1d at the feast of the Purification, and to the King the farm due. For this demise Sibilla has given to the grantor

premanibus' three and a half marks in her great need. Sealed with the common seal of Newcastle and the seal of the grantor. Done in the court of Newcastle in the presence of Henry de Carliolo, mayor, Adam de Blakeden, Nicholas Wandesford, John Wydelard, Thomas de Carliolo, bailiffs. (P. fasc. 13, n. 1).

Sinedegate, otherwise Senedgate, Cynidgate, &c., and later Sidegate or Sidgate, is now Percy Street. The late R. O. Heslop was of opinion that the name might be derived from the verb 'to sind' meaning to rinse or wash, and that Sinedgate was the way to the washing place or washing wells. If this be so it is possible that the washing place which gave the name to the street was the Sevenhed Wells (Cal. Pat. 1340-43, p. 351) or Seyvenwel hevedys (Cal. Pat., 1348-50, p. 214). There was a Synedegate at Stanley, co. Durham, early in the thirteenth century (Brit. Mus., Wolley Charters, v, no. 2). Synodgate (1330) and Sidgate (1517) occur in Corbridge (N.C.H., x, pp. 101, 435, 446). The derivation suggested by Brand (i, p. 423) cannot be accepted.

219.-Between 1253 and 1258. Covenant between (convenit inter) Sybilla, late the wife of John de Pampeden and William le Sklater of Newcastle whereby Sibilla demised to fee farm to William his heirs or assigns a house in the street of Synedegat between land formerly of Thomas Daubur and land formerly of William de Heringtona, rendering therfor yearly to the king ld and to the said Sybilla and her heirs or assigns 5s. Et si ita contingat quod dictus W. et heredes sui vel assignati dare vel vendere vel alicui domui religiose concedere voluerint dicta Sybilla et heredes vel assignati de duobus solidis pre omnibus aliis erunt propinquiores et dictus Willelmus et heredes sui vel assignati predicte Sibille licenciam debent pertractare.' Witnesses: Thomas de Carliolo, mayor, H. de Carliolo, Adam Clericus, Adam de Blakeden, Thomas de Merchyngley, Robert de Valencyns, Thomas Brun, Henry Lewyn. (P.fasc. 13, n. 2).

220.-Between 1250 and 1258. Demise to fee farm, by writing divided into two parts (scriptum in duo divisum) by Henry de Carleolo to Ralph Skile his heirs or assigns (except Jews and men of religion) of land in Pilgrim street between land of the said Henry and formerly of William Selarius, that, namely, which Edward Conin formerly held, and in length from the highway to the garden of Gervase de Gardino, rendering yearly to the king the farm due, and to Henry and his heirs or assigns 10s. 'Et si contingat quod dictus Radulfus vel heredes sui vel assignati dictam terram vendere vel invadiare voluerint dictus Henricus et heredes sui vel assignati propinquiores erunt omnibus aliis ad illud jus redimendum.' Witnesses: Thomas de Merchingleia, Nicholas Scot, Adam Clericus, John Saut en Mareis, Thomas de Carleolo, Robert de Valencines, Robert Aviz, Henry Lewin, Thomas Brun. (P. fasc. 6, n. 1).

221..-c. 1260-63. Sale, grant and quitclaim by Nicholas son of Reginald to Hugh de Pampeden and John le Norays, priests (sacerdotibus) their heirs or assigns (vel cui assignare voluerint) of land in Newcastle in which he had dwelt between land of dame Sybilla de Pampeden and land of Matilda de Buskeby, in consideration of a sum of money paid by Hugh and John to the vendor in his need. In testimony whereof, having affixed his own seal he also obtained the affixing of the common seal of Newcastle. Witnesses: Dominus Henry de Karleolo, mayor, John son of Roger, Thomas Thorald, John Godrike, Robert de Mitford, bailiffs. (P. fasc. 2, n. 2).

222. c. 1260-63. Acknowledgment of the above sale by Ysota, wife of Nicholas son of Reginald of Newcastle, made between the four benches of the town's court. (P. fasc. 2, n. 3).

Omnibus hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris Ysota uxor Nicholai filii Reginaldi de Novo Castro salutem Noveritis me vendicioni concessioni et quieteclamacioni facte Hugoni de Pampeden et Johanni le Norays de terra eisdem vendita per Nicholaum filium Reginaldi virum meum necnon et omni juri et clamio in viduitate mea vel extra mihi competenti prout in carta continetur principali liberum assensum non coactum prebuisse et dictum assensum in plena curia Novi Castri intra quatuor banchos dicte curie religione sacramenti tactis sacrosanctis ewangeliis vallasse. In cujus rei testimonium hoc scriptum sigillo meo una cum sigillo communi Novi Castri roboravi Testibus in principali carta nominatis hic testimonium perhibentibus.

223.-c. June 1269. Quitclaim by Robert de Merchingley and Hawys his wife to Hugh, son of John de Pampeden, his heirs or assigns, of the same land. Sealed between the four benches of the town's court. (P. fasc. 2, n. 4).

Noverint universi presens scriptum inspecturi quod Ego Robertus de Merchingleya et Hawysa uxor mea pro nobis et heredibus nostris concessimus et quietumclamavimus Hugoni filio Johannis de Pampeden et heredibus suis vel suis assignatis totum jus et clamium quod habuimus vel aliquo modo habere poterimus in terra que fuit aliquando Nicholai filii Reginaldi que jacet inter domum Domine Sibille de Pampeden ex una parte et terram Matilde de Buskeby ex altera pro quadam summa pecunie quam idem Hugo nobis dedit in nostra necessitate. Et ut hec concessio et quietaclamacio rata et stabilis sit in perpetuum presenti scripto sigilla nostra unacum communi sigillo Novicastri inter quatuor bancos curie ejusdem ville apposuimus. Testibus Domino Thoma de Carliolo tunc maiore Domino Henrico de Carleolo Domino Johanne Flemeng tunc ballivo Johanne tinctore tunc ballivo Henrico Scot tunc ballivo Henrico de Burneton et aliis.

224. -c. June 1269.-Quitclaim between the same parties relating to the same land, and executed in the same manner, by which Robert and Hawys quitclaim all right which they have by reason of a purchase which they sued (racione empcionis quam petivimus) in the court of Newcastle because Hawys was a sister of Nicholas son of Reginald. Same witnesses, with the addition of

Nicholas Scot after Henry de Karliolo; Burneton is described as a bailiff. (P. fasc. 2, n. 5)

The grant by Nicholas son of Reginald and his wife to Hugh de Pampeden and John le Norays (nos. 221, 222) appears to have been the occasion of proceedings by Robert de Merchingley and Hawys his wife against Hugh, both in the King's Court by assize of novel disseisin, and in the town court. The assize of novel disseisin was abandoned in June, 1269 (Northumberland Ass. R., p. 209), and the action in the local court was terminated by deeds nos. 223 and 224 probably at the same time. The wording of no. 224 seems to indicate that Merchingley and his wife claimed a right of pre-emption (rétrait lignager) because the latter was sister and next of kin to Nicholas.

The connection of the family of de Merchingley with the borough only lasted for about half a century. Shortly before the middle of the thirteenth century Thomas de Merchingley occurs as a bailiff and a witness to several deeds. His son William conveyed land near the Lortburn to Alan Woodman in 1269 or 1270 (Brumell Charters, no. 6; Arch. Ael., 2 ser. xxiv, p. 116, where the date is given as 1274). Robert de Merchingley above mentioned was probably another son of Thomas. The only other member of the family of whom there is any record is Hugh, who was bailiff six times between 1272 and 1280, and was one of the legales burgenses' of the town at the eyre of 1279 (Northumberland Ass. R., p. 399). On 26 May, 1280, the king renewed for a third period the grant of murage to the bailiffs and good men of the town, but Hugh de Merchingley, being then at Westminster on the town's business, secured a revocation of the grant, and a demise of the murage tolls to himself and Geoffrey de Catefeld for seven years, paying £60 a year to the sheriff for repair of the castle, and a like sum to the mayor and burgesses for the building of the wall. The commonalty of the town, on hearing of this farming of the murage, removed Merchingley from his office as bailiff and obtained a cancellation of his grant. Thereupon he represented to the king that, the grant being for the king's profit, the commonalty were guilty of contempt in so removing him, and the king ordered that he should be restored to the position of collector of the murage. The commonalty said that they did not remove him from his bailiwick in contempt of the king, or because he procured murage against them, but because he was sent to the king's court to do their business and did his own business. Nothing further is recorded of the dispute, but thenceforth the name of Merchingley never again occurs in the annals of the town. (Cal. Pat., 1272-81, pp. 373-5, 388; Cal. Inq. Misc., i, p. 366).

Brand refers twice to the removal from office of Hugh de Merchingley (i, p. 3; ii, p. 143) in each instance giving incorrect dates. The entry in the Aubone MS. which he cites is dated 9 Edw. I.

225.-c. 1268-69. Grant by Sibilla de Pampeden, with consent of Adam de Pampeden her eldest son, and in her lawful widow hood (in legitima viduitate mea) to Gilbert son of John, in frankmarriage with Isabella her daughter (i.e. in special tail), of land and buildings between the house of Walter Patun and the vennel which is called the vennel of the Friars Minor, rendering yearly to the King ld at the two terms of the year. Sealed with the seals of the grantor, and of her son Adam and the common seal of the town (ville) of Newcastle. Witnesses, dominus' Thomas de Karliolo, mayor, dominus' Henry de Karliolo, Nicholas Scot,