General Notes

[Joanne's Tree.1 GED.GED]

2  SOUR S332582
3  DATA
4  TEXT Date of Import: 14 Jan 2004


[daveanthes.FTW]

Roger de Merlay the 2nd confirmed the privileges to the Borough of Morpeth, a copy of his seal is illustrated. When he was a minor in 1188 Duncan, 6th Earl of Fife, gave Henry II 500 marks for having the wardship of him and license to marry his daughter Ada. In 1194 he paid 20 marks for being excused from going with the King to the wars in Normandy. His quoto of 7 to the 2nd and 3rd scutage of Richard I was accounted for at the Exchequer in the first year of King John, in which year he paid a fine of 20 marks and two good palfreys for the privilege of having a market and fair in his Manor of Morpeth. He also gave to the monks of Newminster 20s a year out of the mill of Stanton, and for the good of the souls of his mother Alice and his son Ranulph gave to God and the Church of St. Peter at Brinkburne, and the canons serving God there, common pasture in his woods on the south side of Coquet. In 1224 he was acquitted of the services due from him to the Castle of Newcastle for his loyalty in taking up arms for the King against the Earl of Chester. He died 1239 and was buried at Newminster. He improved the Town of Morpeth and promoted the hospital of Catchburn.