LOCAL MILITARY LEVIES.

THE following extracts show the contributions  demanded of Kidwelly from time to time to the royal army.

‘Esegarston [East Garston, Berks].  The manor [extent given] with the advowson of the church, held of the king in chief by serjeanty, as member of Kaddwelye, viz. :—with the garrison of Kaddwelye to lead the vanguard of the king’s army, when­ever he shall go into West Wales with his army, and the rearguard in returning.’—Inquisitions—Writ 23 Sept. 2 Edward I., 1274.—P.R.O.

‘Esegarston [East Garston].  The manor, including ‘‘scepes­cot” and “cherichscot,’ with the advowson of the church, held of the king in chief by serjeanty of finding one armed horse­man with his horse barbed with iron, during the whole time the king shall remain with the army in the land of Kedwelly.—Maud his daughter, aged 1 at the Feast of the Purification last is his next heir.’—Inquisitions, Berks, Saturday after St. James the Apostle, ii. Edward I., 1283.—P.R.O.

‘Commission to Walter de Beysyn to array 1500 Welsh foot, to wit, in the parts of Brecon 400: in the parts of Castle Maud 300: in the parts of Buelt and Hirveryton 500: and Trecastle (de partibus trium castrorum), Kedwelli and Monmouth 300.  And to Master de Clune, king’s clerk, to pay their wages until they come to the king.’—Patent Rolls, 26 Edward I., April 8, 1298.—P.R.0.

‘Request to Henry de Lanc[aster] for 100 footmen in his lands of Kedewelly [sic] and Kadewalthan [Carnwyllion].’— Close Rolls, ii. Edward II., July 28, 1317.—P.R.0.

‘Commission to William le Blound and Robert de Hunteleye to raise 400 footmen from the lands of Kedewelly and Kayrwathlan [Carnwyllion]; with like mandate to Henry de Lancastre, or his bailiff’—Patent Rolls. Membrane 28.  15 Edward II., Feb. 14, 1322.—P.R.0.

‘A mandate, issued to all persons of commotes, lands, and cantreds, to come properly armed to the king’s assistance in the Scotch expedition, as their laudable assistance lately given when the king was pursuing the rebels in the Marches of Wales, makes the king confident they will be ready to do so.  A claim is hereby made on the Cantred of Kedwelly, and the commote of Karnegwelliaun [Carnwyllion]’—Patent Rolls, 15 Edward II., June 10 1322.—P.R.O.

The lordship of Kidwelly entailed the conduct of the king’s army—‘with its banners and all its train through the middle of the country of Neth to Loghor, whenever the king or his chief justice came into these parts of Kidwelly.’

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