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From:
Subject: Re:Evidence re. the identity of Alan Fitz Roland's wife
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 14:26:15 EDT


Peter Stewart kindly presented the following document, edited by Dr Keith
Stringer:-

". Sciant omnes presentes et futuri has Litteras visuri [et] audituri . Quod
ego Alanus filius Roll(andi) . Dominus Galuuath' Scotie Constab(ularius) .
quitam clamaui . Rogero de lascy . Centrie Constab(ulario) [et] heredibus
suis . de me [et] heredibus meis . aduocationem ecclesie de kipeis . Hijs
Test(ibus) . Eustacio de Vescy . Roberto Walensi . Willelmo de bello monte .
hugone despensario . Thoma fratre suo . Gilberto fili(o) Cospatric . Radulfo
de Campania . Ricardo clerico de creuequor litterarum scriptore . [et]
multis aliis."

I translate:-
Let all those living and to come who may see or hear these writings know that
I Alan son of Roland Lord of Galloway, Constable of Scotland, have
quitclaimed to Roger de Lacy Constable of Chester and his heirs for me and my heirs the
advowson of Kippax these being witnesses Eustace de Vescy Robert Walensis
William Beaumont Hugh the Despencer Thomas his brother Gilbert son of Gospatric
Ralph de Campania (?Champagne) and many others.
The document as cited bears no explicit date, but it must evidently have been
made after the gift of Kippax as a marriage portion to Alan of Galloway:
before that gift Alan would have had no possible claim to surrender. Perhaps group
members more learned than I am may be able to tie the date down by reference
to the names of the witnesses?
Since we know, from materials already presented to the group, that the
advowson of Kippax had been gifted to an Abbey many years before, we might I think
deduce that Alan had been asked to surrender his claim back to the person who
had given the advowson to him, though without any right to do so. Even in those
long-distant days a donor of land normally warranted that neither he, nor
anybody through whom he claimed otherwise than for value, had parted with title
to the subject of his gift. If that is right, then Roger de Lacy/Chester would
seem to have been the donor of the marriage gift of Kippax, and therefore to
have been anxious to be released from liability as donor of property to which
he had no title. But I would accept that it might have been equally appropriate
for Alan to be asked to surrender a claim to the advowson available to him by
reason of a gift made by Roger's brother Richard.

I am somewhat surprised that Dr Stringer has not, as far as I have heard,
recorded the deed of gift of Kippax to Alan of Galloway. Have I perhaps missed
something? I do note that Mr Stewart owns a copy of Keith Stringer, 'Acts of
Lordship: The Records of the Lords of Galloway to 1234', in T. Brotherstone and
D. Ditchburn (ed.), Freedom and Authority: Scotland c.1050-c.1650, (East
Linton: Tuckwell Press, 2000). Is there ammunition in this resource with which to
blow down the walls of Doubting Castle?

MM



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