In 1262 March 15, Johannes Mannsell, Thesaurarius Ebor (John Mansell; Maunsell) was granted, by Henry III, (In year 46 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Seggewik [Seggewyk] (Sedgwick Castle)

"Licence for John Maunsell, treasurer of York, to strengthen (firmare) his house of Seggewyk, with ditches and a wall of stone and lime and to crenellate and fortify (inforciare) his said house."

Granted at Windsor,

Licence to crenellate granted in 1258 and 1262. The work caused trouble locally hence the need to re-licence, although the Barons' War, just about to start, meant there were high levels of anxiety and caution. (see repeated licenses for Perching at this time)
The previous licence had been granted by 'the earls of Leicester and Gloucester and others of
the council' so this may also be a 'political' re-grant direct from the king.

Original source is

• Calendar of Patent Rolls (1258-66) p206

(In fact, the original source given is usually a transcription/translation of what are precious medieval documents not readily availably. It should be noted that these transcription/translations often date to the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries and that unwitting bias of transcribers may affect the translation. Care should also be taken to avoid giving modern meaning to the medieval use of certain stock words and terms. Licentia is best translated as 'freedom to' not 'permission'.)

Significant later source are;

• Woodburn, Bill and Guy, Neil, 2005-6, 'Sedgewick Castle' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol 19 p75
  Coulson, C., 1994, 'Freedom to Crenellate by Licence - An Historiographical Revision' Nottingham Medieval Studies Vol38 p130n135
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p478n46
  Blaauw, William Henry, 1861, ' Royal Licenses to Fortify Towns and Houses in Sussex' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol13 p106 http://www.archive.org/stream/sussexarchaeolo01socigoog#page/n135/mode/1up
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p402

Mansel, John (d. 1265)

Mansel, John (d. 1265), administrator and royal councillor, sometimes described as 'prime minister without portfolio', is said by Matthew Paris to have been the son of a country priest.

Biographical source include;

• Robert C. Stacey, ‘Mansel, John (d. 1265)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/17989, accessed 19 Nov 2007]
  

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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