and Rushden, all in Northamptonshire; and the church at Foxton, in Leicestershire. Although it is believed Peverel did give these gifts to the priory, the charter of foundation which records these gifts is believed to be a forgery. The dates on the charter are implausible and the document is believed not to be contemporaneous. In the 13th century the priory received a gift from Philip Marc, Sheriff of Nottingham under King John, with the condition that the priory should look after his body and soul. The priory was given Royal Confirmation Charters by King Henry I, King Stephen, King Henry II and King John. These charters confirm the priory's earlier endowments and reveal additional gifts including: The church of Wigston in Leicestershire by Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester; tithes from the Peak Forest, Derbyshire, by William de Ferrers; the churches of Ossington, Nottinghamshire and Horsley, Derbyshire, and half of the church of Cotgrave, Notts, by Hugh de Buron and his son Hugh Meschines; the church of Nether Broughton, Leics (and its appurtenances, a chapel and 15 acres of land) by Richard Bussell; The Manors of Holme and Dunston, both in Derbyshire, by Matthew de Hathersage; and a moiety of the church of Attenborough, Nottinghamshire, "the land of Reginald in Chilwell", Barton in Fabis church, and part of the tithes in Bunny and Bradmore, by Odo de Bunny. King Henry II's first charter granted the priory freedom from taxes, tolls and customs duties. In his second charter he granted them an eight-day fair to celebrate St Martin's Day. Henry III's charter extended this fair to twelve days in duration. In 1199 King John issued a charter allowing the monks to take a cart of dead wood from "the forest of Bestwood" every day. In another charter towards the end of his reign, King John granted the monks game ("harts, hinds, bucks, does, wild boars, and hares") from the royal forests in Nottingham and Derby. Endowment disputes The priory had severe problems with Peverel's donations following the seizure of the Peverel family estates by the crown, during the reign of King Henry II. King Henry granted the Peverel families lands within the Peak District to his son, John Count of Mortain (the future King John). On ascending the throne, John transferred this property to the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and in turn it passed to the Dean and Chapter