In 1379 July 30, Thomas, episcopus Exonien (Bishop Thomas Brantingham) was granted, by Richard II, (In year 3 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Chudele or elsewhere in the bishopric (Chudleigh Bishops Palace)

"Licence for Thomas, bishop of Exeter, at his manor of Chudele, co. Devon, or elsewhere within his bishopric on his own lands to make and crenellate a fortalice (fortalicium)."

Granted at Westminster, by privy seal.

A licence to crenellate the episcopal manor was granted to Bishop Thomas Brantingham in 1379. The licence was to build (make and crenellate) a fortalice at Chudleigh or elsewhere within his bishopric on his own land.

Original source is

• Calendar of Patent Rolls (1377-81) p377

(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;

• Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p695
  Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p168
  Higham, R. A., 1988, 'Devon Castles: an annotated list' Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society Vol46 p146
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p124n39
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p352, 418

Brantingham, Thomas (d. 1394)

Brantingham himself said that he had served Edward III and Queen Philippa ‘from our adolescence to our time as a bishop’ ... A financial account for the year between February 1353 and February 1354 names Brantingham as an attorney for the comptroller of the household. He was appointed cofferer on 5 October 1359, with executive responsibility for finance during the French campaign of 1359–60... On the accession of Richard II, with the king a minor and consensus the government's objective, Brantingham was recalled as treasurer on 19 July 1377 after a year of severe political crisis. (Davies)
The post of treasurer was becoming increasingly unpopular but the licence is probably a reward for taking on a difficult job rather than as a defence from potential attack.

Biographical source include;

• R. G. Davies, ‘Brantingham, Thomas (d. 1394)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/3278, accessed 30 Jan 2008]
  

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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