“<g>Know ye</g> that the good praesage of circumspection and vertue which we have conceived by the towardly youth and happy beginnings of our most welbeloved cousin <g>Laurence Hastings</g>, induce us worthily to countenance him with our especiall grace and favour, in those things which concerne the due preservation and maintenance of his honor: <g>Whereas</g>, therefore, the inheritance of Aimar de Valence, some time Earle of Penbrok (as he was stiled), deceased long since, without heire begotten of his body, hath beene devolved unto his sisters, proportionably to be divided among them and their heires: because we know for certain that the foresaid <g>Laurence</g>, who succeeded the said <g>Aimar</g> in part of the inheritance, is descended from the elder sister of <g>Aimar</g> aforesaid; and so, by the avouching of the learned with whom we consulted about this matter, the prerogative both of name and honor is due unto him: <g>Wee</g> deem it just and due that the same Laurence, claiming his title from the elder sister, assume and have the name of <g>Earl of Penbroke</g>, which the said Aimar had whiles he lived: which verily <g>Wee</g>, as much as lieth in Us, confirme, ratifie, and also approve unto him: willing and granting that the said <g>Laurence</g> have and hold the prerogative of Earle Palatine in those lands which he holdeth of the said Aimar’s inheritance, so fully and after the same manner as the said Aimar had and held them at the time of his death. In <g>witnesse</g>, the King at Mont-Martin, the thirteenth day of October, and in the thirteenth of oure reign.” And now to continue:-- <g>After</g> Laurence, succeeded his sonne <g>John</g>, who, being taken prisoner by the Spaniards in a battle at sea, and in the end ransomed, died in France in the yeere 1375. The circumstances are these: “Having undergone four years’ imprisonment in Spaine, with most inhumane usage, he sent to Bertrand Clekyn, Constable of France, desiring that he would use some means for his enlargement; who thereupon interceding for him to the <g>Bastard</g> of Spaine, then calling himself King, obtained his liberty, in consideration of part of that money due to himself: which being agreed upon, he was brought to Paris. But after his coming thither, it was not long ere he fell mortally sick of poysin, as some thought, given him by the Spaniards, who were reputed to have such a special faculty in that <g>art</g>, as that the potion should kill at what distance of time they pleased. The French, therefore, seeing his death approaching, being eager to get his ransom before he died, made haste to remove him to <g>Calais</g>; but on his journey thitherward he departed this life, upon the xvi. day of April, leaving his sonne and heire only two and a half years old.”