This extract from the Bishop of Lichfield’s register from 1415 refers to a dispensation granted to John Loghtborowe, canon of Charley in the diocese of Lincoln, who had petitioned the Pope claiming that the prior of his monastery had tried to kill him because the prior thought Loghtborowe had tried to get him sacked

"on account of his bad rule and unfit life."

The incident is described in harrowing detail; Loghtborowe was out hay-making when the prior and two kinsmen

"each carrying a fork with iron points . . . started to argue with the petitioner that his work was not good and he was inept at haymaking. The petitioner suffered this patiently, but the prior became increasingly angry, and unable to contain himself suddenly struck the petitioner on the head with one of the forks, rendering him stupefied. The prior, overcome by anger, gave another blow, and blood from the wound flowed over the petitioner's face, and he fell to the ground as though dead. " Loghtborowe recovered and the struggle continued until, "realising there was no other way to evade death," he stuck a knife in the prior's chest, "although without being aware of where he had struck him because he was blinded by blood."

An investigation found that Loghtborowe was not to blame for the death because he had acted in self-defence.