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"[ac]cordingly, and our traytors whatsoever in this behalf
offending, conform to their demerits, to chastise and
punish.
"And also the said plaints, pleas, and debates, to hear,
discuss, and duly to end and determine, according to the law
and custom of the parts of the marches and dominions
aforesaid.
"And also, at the costs of our liege subjects of those
parts, by their own assent and good will, as heretofore hath
been reasonably done, to set and appoint watchmen and others
to explore and give notice to us, and our faithful subjects,
for the defence of us and our realm, against the hostile
incursions of our enemies of Scotland, if any shall be made
against us, our realm, or our faithful subjects.
"And for the safety and defence of our town and castle of
Berwick, and our city of Carlisle, so often as any assault
or siege of the said town and castle or city shall be
proposed or made by the Scots or any other our enemies, all
fencible men, between the ages of sixteen and sixty, within
the said Marches, to cause to be mustered; and all men at
arms, armed billmen, and archers, every of them according to
their estate, degree, and condition, to be armed and
defended with fit and competent armour; and to be marshalled
in thousands, hundreds, and twenties; and the same so
arrayed and appointed to be holden and kept, so as all men
at arms, armed billmen and archers, be ready and prepared to
march to the defence and safe keeping of our town and castle
of Berwick, or our city of Carlisle aforesaid; so often as
any peril, assault, or siege, by the incursions of our
enemies, shall happen to be; and to be compelled, upon
summons or warning of the said Lord Warden or his deputy, in
our name and behalf, to proceed, march, and be led, remain
and continue, for the defence of our marches aforesaid, and
our realm and faithful subjects; and the rescue, defence,
and safe custody of the town, castle, and city aforesaid, by
imprisonment of their bodies, and by other ways and means as
to the said Lord Warden or his deputy respectively shall
seem expedient.
"And we give and grant to the said Lord Scroope and his
deputy or deputies in this behalf, full power and authority
for us, and in our name, to appoint, conclude, and agree
upon abstinences of war between us, our lieges and subjects,
and the governors, ministers, and subjects of the realm of
Scotland, from week to week, from two weeks to two weeks,
from three weeks to three weeks, and from month or months to
month or months.
"And furthermore, that the said Lord Scroope may be the
better enabled to execute the said office, and every thing
thereunto belonging, we will, and by these presents do give
and grant to the said Lord Scroope, power and authority to
name and assign, make, ordain, and substitute under him, in
the said office of wardenship, two deputies or substitutes,
and also two other officers under him called
Warden-Serjeants; and also all and all manner of other
ministers and officers under him necessary and expedient to
the said office, or for the exercise of the same; and all
and singular the premisses in his place and stead to be done
and executed, which by the keepers or wardens of the West
Marches aforesaid from time to time have been accustomed to
be done, as to him shall be thought expedient: Ratifying and
confirming hereby all and every thing by the said Lord
Scroope, his deputies or substitutes, in form aforesaid to
be done in the premisses or any part thereof.
"To have and to hold, occupy and enjoy, the office of keeper
and wardenship aforesaid, and all and singular the premisses
above expressed and specified, with their appurtenances,
liberties, commodities, advantages, profits, and all other
appendages, to the said Lord Scroope, his deputy or
deputies, substitute or substitutes, in as ample a manner
and form in all things, as any other person or persons
before this time have had or received, from the feast of the
annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past so long as
it shall please us.
"And further, we grant to the said Lord Scroope, for the
exercise of the office of wardenship aforesaid, so long as
in that office he shall remain, the fee and wages of 600
marks by the year, for himself and for his two deputies
aforesaid under him in the said office of the West Marches
aforesaid; that is to say, for either of them by the year,
Ten Pounds; and also for the said two officers called
Warden-Serjeants of the West Marches, for either of them
yearly Forty Shillings during our pleasure aforesaid; to be
paid at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, and the
annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, by equal portions,
out of our treasury, at the receipt of our Exchequer at
Westminster, by the hands of the Treasurer and Chamberlain
there for the time being.
"And further, we command all and singular our ministers,
lieges, and subjects whatsoever, that in the execution of
all and every the premisses to the aforesaid Lord Scroope,
and also to his deputies and ministers whatsoever, from time
to time, they be helping, obedient, and conforming in all
things as appertaineth.
"In witness whereof, we have caused these our letters to be
made patent: witness ourself at Westminster, the 6th day of
April, in the fifth year of our reign."
From the above, and others such like, we may trace another
custom amongst us; the warden-serjeants having a very small
pay, viz. forty shillings a year, an aid was granted them of
corn out of several townships, which to this day is paid, by
the name of Serjeant's Oats; in some places it is paid to
the Lord of the Manor, in others not.
The aforesaid Robert de Clifford continued sole Warden of
the Marches till he was
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