GICAL CIETY. WITH SELECTED PLEAS M THE DE … · 6 gical ciety. the pipe ll r leicestershire r the...

846 LEICESTERSHIRE! ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

THE PIPE ROLL FOR LEICESTERSHIRE

FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF KING JOHN (11991200),WITH SELECTED PLEAS FROM THE DE BANCO ROLLS

FROM THE TWELFTH TO THE THIRTYSEVENTH YEAR OFKING EDWARD III. (13381363).

I.

The English abstracts of documents in the Public Record Office which, follow have been made by Mr. W. K. Boyd, and have been presented to the Society by Mr. George Farnham. In spite of the amount of miscellaneous material collected by Nichols, the history of Leicestershire is still unwritten : its documentary material has hardly been touched, and a vast amount remains to be done before a scientific history of the county, as distinct from an antiquarian miscellany, can be compiled. It is only by the gradual publication of historical documents hitherto unprinted that the way can be paved for this task ; and with this view the present instalment of Leicestershire records is placed before the reader who is willing to give time to research among original sources.

Of the extracts from the Pipe Roll of 11991200 only a general explanation need be given. A summary description of the contents of the Pipe Rolls or Great Rolls of the Exchequer will be found in Mr. ScargillBird's Guide to the Public Records, pp. 2313. Once a year the sheriffs of the various counties returned to the Exchequer an account of the rents and payments due from their several areas to the Crown. The method of accounting is fully described in the famous treatise. Dialogue de Scaccario, the work of one who was thoroughly conversant with the business of the Exchequer. As a rule, the sheriff had a lease of the rents of the county for a fixed yearly sum, the firma or farm, for which he accounted in gross, mentioning deductions or special charges in detail. His account was entered by the clerk of the Exchequer upon a roll called the Pipe roll. The origin of this name is said to be metaphorical: the Pipe office, as this department of the Exchequer was called, was the pipe or conduit through which the stream of gold and silver fiom the various parts of the realm passed into the cistern of the royal treasury. Although other derivations have been given, this is the one generally accepted.

A passage translated from the Dialogus de Scaecario, a dialogue between a learner and his master, explains the composition of the

THE PIPE ROLL FOB LEICESTERSHIBE. 347

rolls. 1 " It is th^duty of the scribe who sits next to the treasurer to get ready the sheepskin rolls for writing, not without reason. Their length is to the extent of two parchments, not of any sort whatever, but of large size and specially procured for this purpose : their width is rather more than a hand's breadth and a half. The rolls then are ruled almost from the top downwards and on either side with lines at a seemly distance from one another, and at the top of the roll are written the names of the counties and bailiwicks, the account from which is rendered below. Then, leaving a short space of about three or four fingers' breadth, the name of the county which is dealt with in the first instance is written in the middle of the line. Next, at the beginning of the line following the sheriff's name is engrossed, followed by this form of words, ' Soandso the sheriff renders his account of the farm of such and such a county.' Then a little after ' into the treasury' is written on the same line, nothing else being added until the account is completed, for the pressing reason which is explained in the description of the sheriff's duties. Then at the beginning of the next line are stated the charges upon the farm of the county arising from alms and settled tithes and also from liveries. After this at the beginning of the lower line under the title of ' lands given' note is made of the gifts granted by the bounty of kings to churches or to those who have served in them, as regards such of their estates as are appointed to the crown, some in blanc and some by tale."

At this point the pupil asks the meaning of blanc. and tale, but the master proceeds . " Let us for the present pursue the question of the scribe's duties ; you may ask this, if you please, when we come to the sheriff's business. After ' lands given,' a break of a line is left to show that these form another separate department on their own account, and note is made of expenditures from the farm which are ordered by royal writs, because tbese are not fixed, but occasional. Some there are also of which mention will be made below, of which reckoning is made by custom of the Exchequer. So ends the account for the corpus of the county. After this, following a space of six or seven lines, comes the account of pur prestures and escheats beginning thus, ' The same sheriff renders his account of the farm of purprestures and escheats,' as well as of all the farms of manors and the estimate of woods which are due and paid yearly. Then the accounts are put together in their order, with the exception of those of certain cities, towns and bailiwicks, the accounts of which are larger, because they have settled alms or payments and lands given. Special summonses concerning the dues of the crown are addressed to the bailiffs of these lands, and they are accounted for after the reckoning for the counties in which they are is completely finished, as is the case with Lincoln, Win chester, Meons, Berkhampstead, Colchester and many others."

• Dialogic de Scaccario, ap. Stubbs, Select Charters, 1857.

348 LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

What, asks the student, is the difference between the terms ' farm ' and ' cess,' as applied to certain fixed rents. " Farms," answers the master, •' apply to manors, cesses to woods only. For the revenues from manors are rightly called firm and immov able, because they are renewed and recur by tillage from year to year, and further there are certain rents fixed in the same by perpetual right of custom. Those, on the other hand that by yearly law are due from woods, which are cut down and destroyed daily, do not bring in so firm and immovable a profit, but go up and down, if not every year, at least constantly, and are called cesses (census) ; and so they say in the abstract that these rents are cessed. Some believe, however, that ' cess' is a name for payments from individuals, ' farm ' for the amount accruing from these. In this case 'farm,' like 'crowd,' is a collective designation ; and on this account the estimate is made on trust, so as to show that it is a yearly return and denote that it is not fixed." He then goes back to the main subject. " After this is settled, another space is left, and the account is given of the debts for which the sheriff is summoned, preceded by the names of the judges to whom they belong. Finally we come to the account of the chattels of fugitives, or of persons who have been mutilated for their trespasses ; at the end of which the account of the shrievalty is finished. The scribe must take care to write nothing which his own mind may prompt on the roll, apart from what he takes down at the treasurer's dictation. If haply by carelessness or any other chance he makes a mistake in writing the roll, as regards a name or a number or a reason, in which the true force of the writing consists, he must not take on himself to scratch it out, but should cancel it by drawing a thin line beneath it, and should write the correct words after it. For the writing of the roll has this in common with charters and other writings patent, that erasures must not be made ; and for this reason warning is given that the rolls should be of sheepskin, because they do not readily suffer erasure without disclosing the fault."

We may now turn to the deferred explanation of the difference between payment in blanc and payment by tale. 3 " Farm is paid in blanc, when the coin is blanched by assay ... by tale, when it is paid merely by counting money without assaying it. When the king, then, gives an estate to anyone together with the hundred or the pleas accruing therefrom, the estate is said to be given to that person in blanc ; but when he makes a simple gift of the estate, keeping back for himself the hundred, by reason of which the farm is said to be blanched, and not defining it as given with the hundred or in blanc, it is said to be given by tale. Now," he proceeds, " as concerning the estate granted, the grantee must bring the king's writ or charter to the Exchequer at Michaelmas term, so that it may be charged to the sheriff's account: otherwise

1 Ibid. ±201.

THE PIPE ROLL FOR LEICESTERSHIRE. 349

it will not be written in the great roll for the year, or charged to the sheriff. And it shall be written thus, after alms and tithes and fixed liveries of either kind, at the beginning of a line, ' in lands given to X. £20 blanc in such a place, and to N. £20 in such a place by tale.' Observe also that, if you happen to find among lands given, ' to soandso £10 blauc,' or ' by tale in such a place of the king's gift,' and the man who has enjoyed the benefit of the accommodation or gift has departed this life, it is only by the king's grace that opportunity of claiming the benefit on account of the gift is afforded to his wife, his children or anyone in his name ; and likewise if the phrase runs ' to such a man £10 so long as the king pleases.' "

Further glosses from the same source may be added upon the chief terms used in the main headings of the roll. a " Of liveries some are those of needy people, as when the king, from the mere impulse of charity appoints a penny or twopence or more a day to anyone for his food and clothing. Some are by way of salaries received by servants, such as housekeepers, king's porters, minstrels, wolfcatchers and so on. These liveries, then, are of various kinds, which are paid for divers reasons, and yet are put among the fixed items of the account. It should be noted that, though the king is free to grant these liveries to any needy persons whomsoever, never theless they are wont of old appointment to be assigned to such servants in the court as, having no income, fall into bodily infirmity and become useless for work."

As regards purprestures : b " Sometimes it happens by neglect of the sheriff or his officers, or perhaps by the long continuation of a state of war, that persons dwelling near estates appropriated to the Crown, seize upon a portion of them for themselves and add them to their own possessions. Now, when the judges on their rounds have discovered this by the oath of lawful men, they are priced apart from the county farm and given to the sheriffs . to be answered for separately. These are what we call purprestures or things occupied, which, when they are discovered, are taken away, as is aforesaid, from the possessors and henceforward go to the revenue. If he from whom the thing occupied is taken away is himself the author of the deed, he shall at the same time be very heavily punished in money, unless the king spares him ; but if he is not the author, but the author's heir, the mere resumption of the estate by the crown is sufficient penalty."

Escheats, upon which the dialogue enlarges at considerable length, are briefly properties "which, on the decease of tenants of the king in chief, lapse to the revenue, when there is no heir by reason of blood ; and of these account is made together with pur prestures in one continuous writing; but in such a way that the individual names are mentioned in order."

' Ibid. 221. k Ibid. 2256.


The pleas which are so prominent on the roll, together with the covenants or offerings (oblata) are thus explained.1 " Pleas are the name we give to ,the fines in money incurred by transgressors: covenants are voluntary offerings. When the time for exacting these is come, the summons is first delivered to the chancellor's clerk, who presses the sherifE for the several details in order, saying ' Render £10 for soandso, for this reason.' And if the sum de manded is paid in the treasury, there shall be written as follows in the roll for the year, ' X. renders account of£10 for this reason,' and the whole should be put in writing in order ; ' he has paid it in the treasury and is quit.' But if he is quit by the king's writ, so that, as we have said, the amount is stated in the brief, there shall be said, ' X. renders account of £10,' with the reason added ; and then a little lower down on the same line, ' by the king's brief to the same N. £10, and he is quit.' But if he be summoned for 100s., albeit the sum of the debt in the roll is £10 and he has paid 100s. in cash, or the king's brief has sued him for 100s., there shall yet he said, ' X. renders account of £10 ; he has paid 100s. in the treasury and owes 100s.,' or ' in pardons by the king's brief to the same N. 100s., and he owes 100s.' And take note that in all accounts of pleas and covenants each man shall answer himself, so, that is, that he may undertake in his own name the burden of the debt, if he has not paid, or the acquittance if he has paid the whole, except in the case of common assizes, Danegeld and fines for murder. For these last the sheriff gives account, and touching these he himself is written down in the roll either as quit or in debt."

Today the value of the Pipe Rolls is largely the result of inferences to be derived from details which to the Exchequer were purely of financial interest. Thus historians have discovered an immense amount of information with regard to the building of royal castles and manorhouses from the record of the sums ex pended upon them out of the county farms : the Pipe Rolls may be said to have played the chief part in correcting the irresponsible statements and legends which have long passed as historical fact in popular descriptions of the castles of the twelfth century. For the genealogical information which they convey they are priceless : at a time when charters are undated and their dates can be only approximately fixed by handwriting or by the occurrence of the name of some wellknown witness which supplies a limit of date, the mention of individuals in a dated roll often gives the necessary link in a pedigree or in the descent of property. The continuous series of Pipe Rolls, moreover, covers a period some years earlier than the beginning of the series of Chancery Rolls, the Patent and Close Rolls, etc., which for the reigns of Henry n. and Richard I. are wholly wanting.

* Ibid. 2323.

THE PIPE ROLL FOE LEICESTERSHIRE. 351

The earliest Pipe Roll, for 31 Henry i., was edited by Joseph Hunter for the Record Commission in 1833 : he subsequently (1844) edited the rolls for 2, 3 and 4 Henry n. and 1 Richard I. The Pipe Roll Society, founded for printing these and kindred docu ments of a date before the year 1200, has printed a large number of the rolls from 5 Henry n. onwards ; and its publications include a general introduction to the series by Mr. Hubert Hall (1884). For extracts relating to separate counties, the index of the late Professor Gross's Sources and Literature of English History (2d ed. 1915) should be consulted.

It will be noted that the returns for Warwickshire and Leices tershire are made together by one sheriff for the two counties. Such small portions as relate to Warwickshire alone are omitted in the present English version ; but the history of the two shires is closely intertwined, and the necessary inclusion of much Warwick shire matter serves to enlarge our knowledge of our own county. Placenames have been identified as far as possible : the forms, however, are often of a general kind or occur in several places, and all merely conjectural identification has been avoided.

II.

The second series of extracts is a selection of suits from the De Banco Rolls of Edward in. This great series of rolls, beginning with the reign of Edward i.. is the record of pleas heard before the justices of the common bench or Court of common pleas, as distinct from pleas heard coram rege or in the King's bench. These two courts, sitting at Westminster, were the outcome of the Curia Regis of earlier reigns; and in their records of litigation we have the most important source for the history of real property in England. Owing to their magnitude, however—for a De Banco roll for a single term, embracing suits from the whole of England, generally consists of several hundreds of membranes, each some four feet long—they remain a source which has been very imperfectly worked. Explorers from various counties have done their best; and the extent of information which may be gleaned by research may be estimated from the single volume of General Plantagenet Harrison's projected History of Yorkshire, dealing with the wapen take of Hang West. Neglect of these rolls vitiates the older county histories and is a defect even of modern and more scientific com pilations.

The few suits which are given here liave been selected by Mr. Farnham from the large extracts which he has made from the De Banco Rolls. While they give a clear idea of the judicial procedure, they are to some extent complete in themselves. Suits dragged on from term to term and may be pursued from roll to roll; and, in


spite of the voluminous nature of the records, their issue is frequently left undecided. The whole question of the way in which the rolls were compiled is a difficult one, which needs close study and a special monograph. The original record is often continued with the sequel of the suit in a blank space left for the purpose, but terminates abruptly ; often the blank space is left without being filled up. If the records thus leave much to be desired, the details given by the several parties in the case or their attorneys are full of interest, tracing, as they often do, the history of the descent of a piece of property for a long period. The statements, of course, are not always to be relied on, and attorneys did not scruple to bolster up weak cases by fictitious evidence; but a comparison of opposing statements will often show how the land really lay, and frequently the truth can be tested by reference to other official documents.

This is especially the case with regard to the disputes about advowsons of churches which came before the court. It is well known that the right of presentation to ecclesiastical benefices, although reserved by Canon law, the common law of the Church, to the courts spiritual, was in England a matter outside their jurisdiction and came within the cognisance of the temporal courts, Owing to tlie frequent division of heritages and to the subinfeuda tion of property, it was often extremely uncertain to whom an advowson, a right which, being in itself merely a notion, was always appurtenant to and inseparable from a parcel of land, actually belonged. A claimant sued out a writ of quare impedit against the tenant in possession and his presentee, if the latter had received institution : an assize of darrein presentment was called to investigate the circumstances of the last presentation and the right of the patron, and both parties told their story of the descent of the advowson, often including the names of the incumbents who had been presented and instituted to the living for more than a hundred years back. We have an infallible means of checking their statements in the institution registers of the bishops, which, for the diocese of Lincoln, including Leicestershire, begin early in the thirteenth century ; and, what is more, where the rolls do not contain the result of the suit, it is noted in. the institution registers, where the brief ordering the bishop to institute the winning party's presentee is often copied in full.

The assistance which the institution books afford in this way will be understood from the notes to the case of the Crown v. Richard Scrope in 1355, relating to the advowson of Medbourne. The history of the manor and parish of Medbourne, connected with many famous names, forms one of the most interesting studies in Leicestershire local history ; and the circumstances leading to the present suit may be explained from other sources. The advowson of Medbourne, which belonged to the Crown, was given by

THE PIPE BOLL FOE LEICESTERSHIRE. 353

Henry 11. to the abbot and convent of Owston in frankalmoin, as a reward for the hospitality which they had given him on one occasion. As was usual in such gifts, it was understood that, upon the death or resignation of the rector for the time being, the abbot and convent could enter upon the enjoyment of the rectorial tithes. Thomas Griffyn, the rector, survived many years and did not die until the very end of the reign of John. Meanwhile, the abbot and convent had taken the precaution to get Henry n's charter con firmed by Richard i.; but it is evident that they neglected to obtain the necessary confirmation from John. When Griffyn died during a period of civil war, they probably felt that to appropriate the church would be insecure, and so presented a clerk for institution to the rectory. Here, however, the legate Gualo stepped in and gave the church to Nicholas or Colin, brother of the notorious Fawkes of Br^aute, who was duly instituted/ In spite of the compliance of the bishop with this highhanded proceeding, the fact that the patronage belonged to the abbot and convent seems to have been generally recognised.*1 In 1237, after the death of Nicholas of Breaute, bishop G*osseteste admitted one of his own clerks to the church on the presentation of the abbot. c

This, however, was disputed by the Crown, and a writ of Quare presentavit was issued against the abbot. To his statement of the main facts it was answered that he and his convent had never taken seisin of the church according to the terms of the charter. The court recognised, further, that Gualo had acted, not merely by virtue of his legatine authority, but as guardian of the infant Henry in. and regent of the realm. Henry n's charter was there fore declared null, seisin remained to the king, the abbot was amerced, and the bishop was ordered to admit the king's presentee.d

Some six years before this suit, in 1231, the Crown had pre sented a olerk to the church." If this marks the date of Nicholas of Br6aut6's death, the church must have remained vacant a long time, as there is no record of an admission until that already mentioned in 1237. This took place in April, in the face of two successive presentations by the Crown in the previous month ; f and, though the abbot lost the suit, the clerk who had been insti tuted at his presentation kept the church, nor is there any sign that a third presentation, made by the Crown in 1238,g had any effect. In 1249 Re'my of Pocklington, who had been instituted in .1237, died :b and, although the vacancy at Medbourne is not recorded, we find the Crown presenting one Gerard Belac in April

• Rot. Hug. Welles (Cant, and York Soc.) I., 92. " See ibid, i., 260. e Rot Qrosseteste (Cant, and York Soc.), 393. 395. a Abbrev. Placitorum (Record Comm.) 105. e Pat. Rolls 122532, p. 455. ' Gal. Pat. Rolls 123247, pp 1 j$ l 177. i Ibid. p. 222. " Rot. Grosseteste, 106.


of this year to the living. 8 His institution is missing, but we know that he died rector of Medbourne in 1268.b It is therefore clear that after 1238 the Crown admitted the possessory right of the existing incumbent, resuming the right of presentation on his death, and that this right was na longer disputed by the abbot and convent of Owston.

In 1268 the Crown presented Geoffrey Neubald, but subse quently cancelled the letters ; and the same clerk was admitted on the presentation of the king's clerk, John Kirkby, to whom the advowson had been granted by charter.0 The circumstances of this grant are detailed in a document of 13134, the statements of which may be compared with those made in the present suit.d Henry in. made a grant of 47s. 9d. rent to his serjeant, William le Chaundler, and his heirs, for a yearly' payment of sixpence at the Exchequer in lieu of all service. Chaundler subsequently parted with this to John Kirkby and his heirs and with it conveyed the advowson of Medbourne, which had not been mentioned in the king's charter. This transaction was confirmed by Henry in., who granted the advowson to Kirkby as appurtenant to the rent and, in place of the yearly sixpence, charged the grant with the service of a twentieth part of a knight's fee. When Kirkby died bishop of Ely in 1290, his property passed to his brother William, who died without issue. It was then divided between his four sisters and their husbands; and one of these, Robert Grymbaud, husband of Mabel Kirkby, to whom the advowson had been adjudged in June 1306, e conveyed 9s. 3d. rent and the advowson as appurtenant to Henry le Scrope and his heirs to hold by the due and accustomed services. This grant was confirmed by the Crown on 24 March 13134, with a commutation of the service to twopence a year at Easter.

As will be seen from the footnotes to the text of the present suit, the Lincoln registers show that Henry le Scrope's right to present remained unquestioned, and, though it is not stated whether he presented Peter Medbourne in 13278, four clerks were instituted at his presentation between then and 1334. In November 1354 a licence was granted to his son Richard, afterwards first lord Scrope of Bolton, to grant the advowson, said to be held of the Crown in socage, to William de la Pole, his fatherinlaw, for con veyance and appropriation to the hospital which the latter proposed to found at Hull. f These letters patent, however, were surrendered, and in the following year, when the church was vacant, the Crown claimed the right of presentation against Richard.

a Cal, Pat. Rolls 124758, p. 39. ' Rot. Oravs'n. (Cant, and York Soc.) 148. ' Cal. Pat. Rolls 126672, p. 2^1; Rot. Gravestnd, ut sup. « Cal. Pat. Rolls 13137, pp. 97, 98. * Cal Close Rolls 13027, p. 41. ' Cal..Pat. Rolls 13548 p. 158.

THE PIPE ROLL FOE LEICESTERSHIRE. 355

The end of the suit is not recorded on the rolls, but the Crown won its case on what, if we compare the plea with the real facts, were certainly insufficient grounds. We may suspect that the real cause of the action was the proposed alienation in mortmain of the church to a religious foundation, with the consequent loss to the Crown. As the result, the Crown presentee was instituted. Simi larly, the Crown presented incumbents in 1361, 1366, twice in 1371, in 1373 and 1378. a During this period the projected grant of the advowson to the house at Hull was not relinquished. It forms part of the new licence granted to William de la Pole in 1365, when his scheme was changed to the foundation of a house of Franciscan nuns, and again in 1377, when his son Michael eventually realised the plan by founding the Hull Charterhouse. 15 No mention, however, is made of it in the foundation charter granted in 1378.c

In October 1382 Richard n., by his free grant, restored the advowson to lord Scrope of Bolton,d who accordingly presented on the next vacancy in 13856. e His presentee was rector at the beginning of the reign of Henry iv., f after which an institution is missing. In 1438 Richard Neville, earl of Salisbury, presented, apparently as guardian of his nephew Henry, fourth lord Scrope, who presented in 144950. John, fifth lord, presented in 1469, 1479 and 1483.; Henry, seventh lord, in 15078 and 1519, when an inquiry was held and it was found that he was patron under the grant of Richard n.g In 1540 a presentation was made by Thomas Nevill of Holt, whether by purchase of the advowson or as a lessee is not stated. 11 John, lord Scrope, was seised of the manor at his death in June 1550 ; but the interest of the Scropes in manor and advowson appears to have terminated in 1565, when Thomas Nevill entered into possession. 1

The other suits, with one exception, may be left to speak for themselves. Their genealogical value may be instanced from the suit relating to land at Long Clawson in 1352. The suit between the priors of Monks Kirby and Lewes in 1353 recalls various suits of an earlier period which preceded the appropriation of the Church of Melton Mowbray to the prior and convent of Lewes and throws some light, in which the Lincoln institution rolls are deficient, upon the vexed history of the advowson. Further, the plea of

• Lincoln Reg. ix., ff. 363, 376; x., ff. 236, ajid, 252, 253. 2561! 257, 2&gd; cf. Cal. Pat. Rolls 13614, p. 46; 13647. P 3°9:. '37°4. PP T 35. 156. 320; 137781, pp. 220, 262. Another presentation occurs in 1367 (ibid. 136770, p. 25), but this seems to have been made in error. b Ibid. 13647, p. 163 ; 137781, pp.4701. • Monasticon VI,, 20 ; cf. the deeds in York Reg. A. Neville, I., ff. 47, etc. " Cal. Pat. Bolls 13815, p. 176. e Lincoln Reg. XI., fo. 203. f Cal. Pat. Bolls 11991401, p. 137. ' Lincoln Reg. xvin., if. i^grl, 153 ; xx., £0.222; xxi., fo. 75 ; xxii., fo. 207 ; xxin., fo. 26od ; xxv., fo. 4od. h Lincoln Reg. xxvn. 1 See the uot very clear account in Nichols, Hist. Leices. u. (2), 714.


1356, in which the prior of Laund was concerned, adds some details to the story of the foundation of the chantry of Chaddesden in Derbyshire, for the services of which the parochial chapel, a beautiful example of late fourteenthcentury architecture not far from the borders of our county, was rebuilt.

The earliest plea of the series, in 1338, demands, however, more detailed consideration, as it touches part of the large possessions of an alien abbey in Leicestershire. It concerns the withholding by the abbot and convent of Leicester of the farm of certain tithes iu Leicester, Braunstone, Bushby, Evington, Kirby Muxloe and Wigston which had been leased to tbem by the abbot and convent of SaintEvroult in Normandy. So far, the suit tells its own story. The connexion of the foreign abbey, famous as the monastery to which Ordericus Vitalis, the greatest of twelfthcentury historians, belonged, with Leicester and Leicestershire needs some explanation. The abbey of NotreDameduBois at SaintEvroult in the forest of Ouche, near Echauffour (Orne), wasrefounded in 1050 by William and Robert, sons of Giroie, aud their nephews Hugh and Robert de Grantmesnil, of whom Hugh became the first Norman earl of Leicester. Thus, after the Norman conquest, when English lands were freely granted in frantalmoin to Norman monasteries, the abbey received various endowments out of the estates of Hugh de Grantmesnil and his tenants. The confirmatory charter granted by the Conqueror in 1081 mentions the grant of three villeins at Earls Shilton, two at Belgrave, and one each at Carlton Curlieu, Kirby Muxloe, Stoughton and Thurmaston, and the six advowsons of Belgrave, Carlton Curlieu, Glenfield. Noseley, Great Peatling and Thurcaston.a Before 1108 Robert de Beaumont, baron of Hinckley and high steward of England, confirmed in frankalmoin to the abbey whatever it possessed in his whole land, with special' mention of demesne tithe in Leicester, Brentingby, Oadby, Thorpe Arnold, WalthamontheWolds and Wigston. This was farther confirmed by Robert's grandson, the husband of Pernell, greatgrand daughter of Hugh de Grantmesnil, and son of the founder of Leicester abbey. b

The property acquired by the abbey of SaintEvroult from the earls of Leicester and their tenants may be estimated from the statements contained in the Matriculus of bishop Hugh Welles. This document is a summary of returns from the parishes of the archdeaconry of Leicester, compiled about 1228 and containing the names of patrons and incumbents with details of the allocation of tithe. It mentions the six advowsons of the churches already re ferred to, with the addition of that of Swithland. Of these churches Great Peatling only was appropriated to the convent—i.e., they

" Ord. Vit. vi,, c.v ; Monasticon vi., 10789. b Monasticon vi., 1079.

THE PIPE BOLL FOB LEICESTERSHIRE. 357

were rectors of only one. Their other property arose from the grant of demesne tithes from various manors, amounting in most cases to twothirds of the whole sum. In Evington, Galby, Great Glen, Humberstone, Langton, Laughton, Oadby, Shangton, Earls Shilton, Little Sheepy, Stonton Wyvill, Stoughton, Thorpe Arnold, Willoughby Waterless and Wymeswold they owned such two thirds. From Broughton Astley and Wigston they received com positions of two shillings for similar tithes in each place ; and from Thurlaston two shillings for the whole of the earl's demesne tithe. In Braunstone and Kirby Muxloe they had the entire demesne tithe ; in Sapcote twothirds of the tithe of wheat from one carucate of the fee of Leicester ; in the parish of St. Mary's, Leicester, onethird of the tithe of sheaves from three carucates ; in Bushby twothirds of the tithe of one carucate. Miscellaneous tithe also came from Knaptoft and Sileby.3

In spite of these possessions, the abbey established no cell or priory in Leicestershire, where a few monks could take up their abode and act as their estate agents. Their affairs in England were managed by the prior of their cell at Ware in Hertfordshire, who collected their rents and presented incumbents to their churches in their name. It should be noted that at Ware, as in the case of most ' alien priories,' there was no convent, strictly speaking, with its own church and cloister buildings. Alien priories which were really monasteries, such as Blyth, St. Neots and Tutbury, were few in number : the ordinary alien priory consisted of a monk, with one or two companions, who were sent over to England for business reasons and lived in a rectory or manorhouse which belonged to the mother abbey. In 1338, when the present suit was brought, we are at a period when, owing to the recurrent state of war with France, the position of alien priories was extremely precarious ; and, during the Hundred years' war, their property was, with very few intervals, in the king's hands. Edward in. and Richard n. used it freely for the endowment of new foundations at home, such as St. George's, Windsor, New college at Oxford, and the various Charterhouses which came into existence towards the end of the fourteenth century; and it was finally alienated from its foreign possessors by Henry v. Thus the abbey of SaintEvroult lost its Leicestershire possessions. Certain of these had been parted with earlier : the right of patronage of the church of Noseley had been transferred in the thirteenth century, before the conversion of the church into a collegiate chapel by Roger Mortival, archdeacon of Leicester. Great Peatling church was transferred to the prior and convent of Laund, who appropriated it. The goods of the abbey of SaintEvroult, after their confiscation by Edward in., remained in the hands of the Crown until 1414, when Henry v. granted the

» Rot. Hug. Welles i., 23873.

2 Vol. XL


alien priory of Ware with its appurtenances, including the Leices tershire property and the advowsons of Belgrave, Carlton Curlieu, Glen field and Thurcaston, to the Carthusian house of Jesus of Bethlehem at Shene which he had founded. The endowments of this monastery, in addition to the English possessions of Saint Evroult, were formed out of those of the abbeys of St. Peter at Ghent and of Jumieges and Lire in Normandy ; and with those of Lire passed the Leicestershire alien priory of Hinckley, with its advowsons of Fenny Dray ton, HighamontheHill, Sibson and Witherley."

" See Monasticon

THE PIPE BOLL FOB LEICESTERSHIBE. 359

I.

PIPE ROLLS i JOHN, m. 18.

WARWICKSHIRE AND LEICESTERSHIRE.

Reginald Basset renders account of 532. 8s. Id. blanc, of the farm of the counties for the 8th year [of Ric. i.] and 312. 6s. 4<i. blanc for half the 9tb year.

The same Reginald [renders account of] 362. 5s. tale for half the 7th year and half the 6th year [of Ric. i.J.

And he renders account of 802. 16s. 4d. blanc of the farm of Leicestershire. Into the treasury 92. 8s. &d. blanc.

And in alms constituted to the Knights Templars 2 marks. And in land given in Warwickshire to the monks of Bordesley 142. 12s. tale in Budiford." And to the monks of Rademore 172.15s. in Stanlega.b And to the same in the same manor 92. 2s. 6rf. of the King's prest. And to William Cook (Coco) 20s. tale in Staverton. And to Geoffrey Salvage 52. tale in Neweton. And in acquittance of Ralph Fitz Ralph's land 4s. in Tamworth. And to Ralph Pincerne 10s. tale in Budiford. And also in lands given in Leicestershire to Robert de Harecurt 162. in the soke of Stratton. And to William de Filgeriis 172. 10s. tale in Buggeden and Hauerberg. 0 And to earl John 102. in Kinton d for half a year. And to the same [John] 232. 10s. in Rolea" for half a year. And to Luke de Trublevill and Ralph, his brother, 102. in Kinton for the other half year, by the King's writ; and now the whole [has been paid]. And to John de Harecurt, Ranulf de Ugrai and Geoffrey Lutrel 23L 10s. in Rolea for half a year, by the king's writ, and now the whole [has been paid].

And for doing judgments and justice 33s. 6d. And in livery to an approver 40s. 3d, in respect of 69 weeks. And in payment (procuratione) to the daughter of William de Braiose, wife of Griffin son of Rees, in the castle of Muntsorel 2£ marks by the king's writ. And he owes 522. 2s. blanc.

a Bidford. b Stoneleigh. The Cistercian abbey founded by the empress Maud at Radmore in Cannock Chase, Staffs., was transferred by Henry u. to Stoneleigh in 1153. c Great Bowden and Market Harborough. J Kiueton. • Rothley.

360 LEICE8TEE8HIEE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Robert de Harecurt [owes] 511. 9*. 8d. blanc, of the farm of the counties for the year past.

William de Albeuni [owes] 31i. 17*. Id. blanc, of the same farm for the 9th year [Ric. I.].

The same sheriff renders account of 200J. of new increment of the counties. Into the treasury 1002. And he owes 1002. But he answers below.

The same W [illiam de Albenni] owes 50Z. of new increment for half of the 9th year. But it is recorded by H., archbishop of Canterbury,0 and G [eoffrey] Fitz Piersb and by the other barons that for this half year and for half the 7th year he answered as keeper (custos): and therefore it is considered that for both incre ments of the aforesaid year he be quit.

Hugh, bishop of Coventry,0 owes 561. 16*. 4d. blanc of old farm of the counties for the 5th year, and 63Z. 5s. of old farm of the purprestures. And 501. for having the priory of Coventry. And 2000 marks for having King Richard's grace.

The same sheriff renders account of 2s. 2rf. for one bovate of land in Tilton, and of 48s. for 22 bovates of land in the soke of Roleg,d and of 32«. 8d. for the farm of Caldewell, and of 10*. 8d. for the farm of Scaftinton," which belonged to [earl] David.*

He delivered it into the treasury in four tallies. And he is quit.

Hugh Bardolf owes 29*. for the assart of Stanleg' for the 6th year; and 29s. for the 7th year; and 29*. for the 8th year; and 29*. for the 9th year; and 29s. for the year past; and 29s. for this year. For all of which he answers as [. ?.ec.ayed ] But for the aforesaid debts he answers in the aforesaid years in the rolls of escheats, except for the year past, and for this year, for which he answers below amongst the escheats.

Henry de Clinton owes 100*. for right, g as is contained in the 9th roll, and 61. 11*. 5d. for right, as is there contained.

RobeM Mallore renders account of 141i. 7s. 8d. for disseisin, for his father. Into the treasury 10*. And he owes 1101. 17$. 8d.

Ralph Fridai renders account of 6£ marks for disseisin. Into the treasury 3 marks, and he owes 8J marks.

• Hubert Walter, bishop of Salisbury 1189, archbishop of Canterbury 1193 1205. b Justiciar 1198, earl of Essex, died 1213, " Hugh of Nonant, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield 118898; sheriff in 1189 and 1191. d Roth ley. * Skeffington. l I.e. to the earldom of Huntingdon. e I.e, for a writ of right (breve de recto).


William de St. Michael renders account of 21Z. 13s. 4d. for default. Into the treasury half a mark. And he owes 21Z. 6s. 8d. Whereof Gerard, his son, ought to reader 5s. yearly.

Juliana de Daivill renders account of 101. for having right, as is contained in the 9th roll. Into the treasury 100s. And she owes 100s.

Richard son of Roger owes 60 marks for having right, as is contained in the 9th roll.

The prior of Keneluord owes 100s. as is there contained.William de Blaston owes 71. for having a recognition, as is

there contained.Hugh, bishop of Coventry, owes 28s. 6d., and 40s. for the

causes which are noted in the 9th roll.The earl of Warwick" [owes] 4U. 3s. 4d. for the scutage

Wales.William de Bello Campo [owes] 40s. for his knights whom he

holds in chief of the king throughout diverse counties.Walter, serjeant of Cumpton, owes 100s. for a fine which he

made, as is contained in the 9th roll.Robert sou of Geoffrey owes 40s. for having his record against

Peter son of Ralph.Serlo de Sutton owes 10 marks for a recognition of mort dan

cestor concerning the land of Sutton. Bat the said Serlo answers therefor in the second roll of king Richard. And he is quit there.

CONCERNING THE DEBTS OF AARON.Simon de Scaftinton renders account of 27s. 4d. [which he

owed] by charter. Into the treasury 3s., and he owes 24s. 4d.Roger Fitz Robert owes 33s. Wd. Geoffrey, son of W. Luci,

owes 113s. on his land in Leicester1" and outside. Adulf de Brasei owes 22i. 16s. 8d. by a charter; and 29 marks and 8d. by other charters.

Ralph le Turnur renders account of 181. 17s. 5d. on all his lay fee in Leicester" and outside. Into the treasury 2s., and he owes 181. 15s. 5d.

Hugh de Chaucumb renders account of 25i. [which he owes] by charter. Into the treasury 20s. And he owes 24i.

Simon de Harecurt owes 9i. by the pledge of Thomas de Estlega; and 20J. 8d. on Seinton and Mortond by the pledge of

• Waleran de Newburgh, fourth earl. b c Leicest)* (in margin). d Saddington and Gilmorton.

3<>'.i LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Robert do Harecurt. Richard de Champain owes one mark by charter.

William Pupet [owes] 30L by one charter, and 22Z. &d. on Scrapetoft.*

Gilbert Medicus renders account of 73Z. 10s. on (Jlaibrocb and Belegrava. Into the treasury 20s., and he owes 721. 10*.

Robert de Harecurt [owes] 10Z. 4s. Qd. by the pledge of Thomas de Estlega.

The countess Petronilla owt;s ~> marks by a charter; and one mark by another charter, by the pledge of the earl of Leicester. [Interlined.] She is to be sought in Dorset.

Ralph le Turnur owes 10Z. on his lay fee in Leicester" and outside.

Robert, earl of Leicester,0 owes 3521. 6s. 8d. on his manors which are noted in the 7th roll; and 39Z. by a charter.

William Mallore owes 58s. 6d. by a charter.

Aaron the Jew of Leicester owes 47s. and 19Z. 10s. But Benedict de Taleoiout is to answer therefor in his account.

William, son of Robert Fitz Ralph, renders account of 36Z. 14s. 6i/. ; and of 5 marks on Harestan6 by a charter. Into the treasury 10Z. ; and he owes 301. Is. Id. In respect of which he ought to render 10Z. yearly.

William de Turevill renders account of 80J. on his lands of Lintou and of Fulebroc and of Wili. f And of 61. 3s. 4d. on his land of Hameldon. Into the treasury HZ. : and he owes 75Z. 3s. 4d.

The earl of Leicester [owes] 61i. 16s. for waste of the wood of Haldanebi.

Reginald Basset renders account of 100Z. of new increment of the county. Into the treasury 76Z. 13s. 4d. And in the livery of 5 knights and 20 mounted serjeants (servientimn eqtiitiim) and 20 serjeants on foot (servientimn peditum) in the castle of Muntsorel 18Z. and half a mark by the king's writ. And in repair of the same castle 100s. by the same writ and by the view of Godfrey le Norreis and Robert le Megre. And he is quit.

" Scraptoft. b ClaybrooUe. c Leicestn (in margin). d Robert Fitz Parnell. ' Harston. ' T.yndon, Fulbrook and Willey, Warwicks.

THE PIPE BOLL FOE LEICESTBESHIEE. 863

OF THE PLEAS OF H [UGH] BISHOP OF COVENTB?.

Miles, son of the chaplain (Jilitts capell') renders account of . 8d. for plevin. Into the treasury half a mark : and he owes

23s.Robert de Turevill renders account of 13s. for a mill broken.

Into the treasury 3s. And he owes 10s.Osbert Cherl renders account af is. because he impleaded

monks who do not prosecute.Philip de Kinton renders account of 33L 18s. lOd. for having

king Richard's favour. Into the treasury HZ. 14s. lid. And he owes 22Z. 3s. lid.

Ralph de Gernemue [owes] 20 marks for having custody, as is contained in the 9th roll.

Ralph de Grafton owes 4 marks for having right, as is con tained in the same place.

William, son of Ernisius, owes 40s. But he rendered them to the Exchequer of redemption,* and therefore he ought not to be summoned therefor. William de Bukingham is witness that it had received them.

Robert de Pedliuges owes l'2d. because he withdrew.Robert de Crevequerb owes 30 marks for having a writ of right,

as is contained in the 7th roll.Thomas de Ardenn' owes 40s. for having a recognition, as is

contained in the 9th roll.William, son of Odric, owes 40s. for right in respect of 151.

against Hugh de Bello Campo.Henry, archdeacon of Stafford,0 owes 50Z. 6s. 8d. for his fine

for having king Richard's favour. But he rendered 501. thereof to the Exchequer of redemption, as Master William de Bukingham is witness before the barons, upon the Exchequer.

Robert de Wulfeia [owes] 200 marks for having seisin of the archdeaconry of Coventry.

Alice de Harecurt [owes] 20Z. for marrying whom she will in England.

William de Albenni [owes] 20 marks that he have the afore said record of acquittance of the increment of the counties, which is demanded from him, as is above noted.

King Richard's redemption. b Lord of Billesdon. c Henry of London, archdeacon, c. 1191; archbishop of Dublin 121228.


OF THE SCUTAGE FOR KING RiCHARD's REDEMPTION.

The earl of Warwick [owes] 38L 3s. 8d. for the scutage. Hugh Pipard owes 40s. for the scutage of the bishop of

Coventry.

OF THE PLEAS OF G [EOFFREY] FlTZ PlERS AND HIS FELLOWS.

The same sheriff renders account of 18d. from William de Keneliwrde in respect of an amercement (misericordia); and of QiQd. from Robert Galopin because he withdrew ; and of 20rf. from William Pachet for disseisin ; and of 8d. for Richard Blund's frankpledge ; and of 8d. for Richard Kipping's frankpledge; and of 21d. for William son of Goda's frankpledge ; and of 2s. 8d. from Alan Clerk (clerico); and of 2s. 8d. from Richard, son of Anketill; and of half a mark from Miles de Sancto Mauro ; and of 3s. from Freneli Wapeutake 8 for murder. Total 22s. lid. He delivered it into the treasury, and he is quit.

William, son of Peter, renders account of 6s. for a false claim. Into the treasury 4s., and he owes 2s.

Richard de Kildebi renders account of 20s. for disseisin. Into the treasury half a mark ; and he owes one mark.

Waldin Crede renders account of 3s. 8d. for wine sold contrary to the assize. Into the treasury 12d.; and he owes 2s. 8d.

Hugh Saget renders account of 4s. 8d. for a false claim. Into the treasury 12d., and he owes 3s. 8d.

Margaret, who was the wife of Richard, renders account of 20d. for a false appeal. Into the treasury 12d.; and she owes 8d.

William Pedman renders account of 4s. because he did not have a certain pledge [in the Court]. Into the treasury 12d.; and he owes 3s.

Walter de Cimiterio renders account of 3*. 8d. for disseisin. Into the treasury 14d.; and he owes 2s. 6d.

Walter Catin owes 2s. 8d. for Ralph's pledge.Hugh Tanner (tannator) owes] 20d. for disseisin.Gudlakeston Wapentake owes 17s. 3d. for murder.Gertre Wapentake owes 6s. lOd. for the same.Simon de Helidon owes 6s. 2d. for disseisin.William de Burleia owes half a mark for a false claim. Walter

de Wihton owes half a mark because he does not prosecute. Wil liam de Furches owes 20s. for having right.

Reginald Basset [owes] 171. in respect of increment of the counties for half the 9th year.

• Framland.

THE PIPE BOLL FOR LEICESTERSHIRE. 365

The earl of Warwick [owes] 5 marks for having to wife Robert de Harecurt's daughter," who was the wife of John de Limesei.

Peter de Lincoln owes 10L that he may have the land of Hingetonb until the king's advent from Germany.

OF THE SECOND SCUTAGE.

The prior of Coventry [owes] 10L for the scutage, which were sought from William de Sancta Maria Ecclesia. 0 But as the sheriff and the same William say, Hugh, bishop of Coventry, received them.

The earl of Warwick [owes] 102L 6s. 8d. in respect of the scutage.

Doun Bardolf* [owes] 43s. for the scutage in these counties, which are to be demanded from Hugh Bardolf, as the sheriff says.

The archbishop of York8 [owes] 75s. for the scutage in these counties, which are to be demanded from Master Thomas de Husseburne,* as the sheriff says.

Osbert de Clinton [owes] 20s. for the scutage.Ralph de Sumeri owes 5s. for the scutage. But he has acquit

tance of the same scutage, as is contained in the roll of the 9th year in Staffordshire.

The Abbot of Evesham [owes] 24s. Wd. for the scutage.Hugh Bardolph [owes] 40s. for the scutage in respect of the

fee of John de Limesi.William de Molbrai [owes] 28s. for the scutage. William de Albeneio [owes] 33Z. for the scutage.

OF THE THIRD SCUTAGE.

Hugh, bishop of Coventry, owes 41. 15s. for his fine for not crossing over and for having the scutage of 25 knights, to wit, of 15 knights for the scutage of the bishopric, and of 10 knights for the scutage of the prior of Coventry.

* Waleran de Newburgh, 4th earl of Warwick, married ist Margery, daughter of Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford, by whom he had a son and heir Henry the 5th earl; and Alice daughter of Robert de Harecourt. Waleran died in 1205. Henry was born 1193. b riungerton. ° William of SteMereEglise, bishop of London 11991221 : see Foss, Judges of England, 582. * Married Beatrice, daughter and heir of William de Warren, acquired by her the barony of Wormegay, co. Norfolk. He died in 1209 leaving Beatrice a widow (Burke's Extinct Peerage). c Geoffrey Plantagenet, archbishop 11901212. ' See Foss. op cit,, 35960.


Emma de Dunmart renders account of 20s. for the scut age. He delivered it into the treasury ; and he is quit.

The archbishop of York [owes] 5s. for the scutaga. Osbert de Clinton [owes] 20s. for the scutage.Ralph de Surueri [owes] 5s. for the scutage. But he has

acquittance of the same scutage, as is contained in the roll of the 9th year, in Staffordshire.

The abbot of Evesham [owes] 24s. for the scutage.The earl of Warwick [owes] 10 marks for licence to return

into England.Samson de Norwicz owes one mark for having right concerning

10 marks against Henry Costeiu. But B. de Talemout answers in his roll.

OF ESCHEATS.William de Sancta Maria Ecclesia [owes] 7 marks for the

residue of the farm of Wichiord" for the 9th year, as Ralph de Welleford says, who answered therefor in the year past.

Stephen de Turaeham [owes] 10L of the same farm for the year past, as the same Stephen (the sheriff) answered in the roll of the year past, and 110s. 3d. for the residue of the farm of a moiety of A.lencestreb and of Brome" for the same year.

The same Stephen [owes] 151. for the farm of Wicheford for this year ; and 91. 16s. 6d. for the farm of a moiety of Alcncestre and of Brome, whichd belonged to Henry de la Penne.

Hugh Bardolph renders account of 29s. in respect of the assarts of Stanlege for the first year. And of 8s. 6d. of rent which be longed to William de Sancto Leodegar' in Normenton for the half year past: and of 40s. for the farm of Edricheston,6 belonging to William Turpin, for half a year; and of 10s. for the farm of the land within the close of Kenilworth castle, with the increment of the year past; and of 54s. 6^d. for the farm of the land of Sadinton,' which belonged to Richard Rollos, for the year past; and of 50s. for the farm of Haseleia* [.dfca)'ed ] for the entire year. Total 9L 12s. Into the treasury, and he is quit.

The same H[ugh] renders account of 29s. in respect of the assarts of Stanleg' for this year; and of 10s. 6d. for the farm of the land within the close of Kenilworth castle, with the increment. He delivered it into the treasury in two tallies, and he is quit.

" Wixford, near Alcester. • Alcester. ° Broom, near Alcester. * A. and B. (in margin). ' Edstone, co. Warwick, near HenleyinArden. ' Saddington. « Haseley, near Warwick.


Stephen de Turneham owes 8s. Gd. for the rent which was William de Sancto Leodegario's in Normariton for the half "year elapsed. But he answers in the roll of escheats for the year past; and [he owes] 16s. of the same rent for this year; and 6s. 8d. of the same William's rent Ldecayed ] for the year past; and 6s. 8d. of the same rent for this year ; and 40s. of the farm of Edricheston, belonging to William Turpin, for half the year past. But he answers in the roll of escheats of the year past; and 4L of the same farm for this year; and 54s. 6^d. of the farm of Sadinton [for the half] year past; and 109s. Id. of the same farm for this year.

Ralph de Martiwast [owes] 36s. for the residue of the farm of Belegrave for the 9th year ; and 54s. of the same farm for the year past; and 54s. of the same farm for this year ; and 8d. for the cess (censu) of a house which was ..... Leicester for the 9th year ; and 8d. for the same house for the year past; and 8d. for the same house for this year.

OF ESCHEATS FOK THIS YEAR.

The same sheriff renders account of 8s. 9d. of the rent of Croxton" for half a year, which belonged to a certain man of Flanders [whose name the sheriff does not know underlined for deletion, and over it is ivritteii] which belonged to Hugh del Espeise. And [he renders account of] 3s. 8d. for Sudmardefeld,b belonging to the same Hugh, for the same term ; and of 34s. Wd. of the rest of [ .d?c?*ed. ] for the same term ; and of 33s. of the rent of Babbigrave," belonging to the same Hugh, for the same term ; and of 15s. 2d. of the rent of Sumeretebi,4 belonging to the same Hugh, for the same term. He delivered it into the treasury in five tallies ; and he is quit.

Henry de Clinton [owes] 40s. for right, as is contained in the 9th roll.

Robert de Harecurt owes 10 marks for having right in respect of one knight's fee in Badeleia.*

The same sheriff renders account of 4s. Id. of the issues of the aforesaid escheats. He delivered them into the treasury ; and he is quit.

OF THE AMERCEMENTS OF H. [ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY] AND HIS FELLOWS.

The same sheriff renders account of 5s. 8d. from William, son of Geoffrey, for a pledge ; and of 5s. 8d. from Simon de Scaldeford

» South Croxton. b Marefield. ' Baggrave. d Somerby. • Baddesley.


for the same; and of 5s. 3d. from Robert, son of Ailwin, for disseissin ; and of [5s.] 8d. from Robert de Paris for the same; and of '2s. 8d. from Robert de Tameworde for the same; and of 40d. from Ranulph de Birkingbir' for plevin : and of 40d. from Richard de Luci for the same; and of 40d. from Adam de Napton for the same ; and of [ d?°fyed. ] Tateshale for disseisin.

They delivered it into the treasury in ten tallies; and they are quit.

Hugh de Dunham renders account of half a mark for disseisin, Into the treasury 4s. 8d.; and he owes 2s.

Achard de Scaldeford owes half a mark because he did not prosecute. Osbert le May owes half a mark for the same.

OF PLEAS OF THE FOREST.

The same sheriff renders account of 16d. from Ralph, son of Drogo, for waste ; and of 2s. Sd. from Sybil de Weleham for ex change had contrary to the assize; and of 2s. 8d. from Robert Fridai for trespass of vert. Into [the treasury : and he is quit].

Henry, priest (presbiter) of Crawenho," owes half a mark for waste, and half a mark for another waste. The township of Overion owes 2s. 8d. for the same.

Henry de Scaftinton renders account of 3s. 8d. for the same. Into the treasury 2s.; and he owes 20d.

Adam de Bukemenistre renders account of 40d. for default. Into the treasury 18d., and he owes 22(2.

TALLAGE MADE BY H [UGH] BARDOLF AND HIS FELLOWS.The same sheriff renders account of 4 marks in respect of the

tallage of the township of Budiford, and of 10 marks from the township of Alencestre.

OF OFFERINGS.

Gilbert de Segrave renders account of 400 marks for aid of the king's war. Into the treasury 100 marks, and he owes 300 marks.

Eutropius Hasteng and Amice, his wife, owe ten marks for having right in respect of a debt of 60 marks against the earl of Warwick. John le Mansel, William de Fliett' and Rohesia de Dorton and Mabel de Saluervill owe [.deo?yed ].

Fretegest renders account of 2s. 4d. for an amercement. Into the treasury nil. And in pardons to the Hospitallers 2s. 4d. by the liberties of their charters.

» Cranoe.


Nicolas de Appelbi renders account of half a mark for plevin. Into the treasury 3s., and he owes 3s. 8d.

Thomas de Cisi renders account of 5s. 8d. for a supersedeas. Into the treasury 12d.; and he owes 4s. 8d.

NEW OFFERINGS.

Geoffrey le Burguinun and Beatrice, his wife, owe 100s. for having right in respect of their reasonable share which belonged to Norman, father of the said Beatrice.Maurice son of Robert the younger (junioris) who is in the custody

of W., bishop of London,* owes 30 marks for having recognition inj the king's Court touching the vill of Sauceby, 11 with the appur tenances, against Nicholas de Stutevill and Gunnora, his wife, whether the said Nicholas and Gunnora had entry [.d?cayed ] [Robert] de Gant, who, as they say, had nothing in that land except by Alice, the said Maurice's grandmother, whose inheritance that land was, who was the wife of the said Robert; and for having recognition against the monks of Vaudeyc touching the laud which is called Tokestoft, to wit, 40 acres, and touching the wood which is called How . [.decayfd ] and touching pasture of 300 sheep in Yrneham.d

Geoffrey de Ardenn' owes 50s. for having right respecting 10L against Richard Cordewaner. Abel de Ferendon owes 3 marks for having right respecting 13 marks.

Ranulf de Kenewarton owes 20s. that his suit which is in the county court be at Westminster] [.d?Myed ] Joan, his wife, touching tho land of Cocerton. John de Cruoil and his wife owe one young goshawk for having the king's writ that Peter de Goldinton render to them one knight's fee in Wirtinton, 6 which he claims of his father's gift, and for which he has his charter.

[.Decay.ed ] de Crumbe owes 40s. for a writ of mart dancestor, and for a writ of right touching one knight's fee in the bail (baillia) of William de London.

William de Bisscopesdon' owes 100s. for having seisin of 100 solidates of land which he took with Juliana, his wife, in marriage. But Stephen de Turneham answered for 50s. of this debt, and 50s. are [charged] on the said William.

" I.e., William de SteMere Eglise. b Saltby, ° The Cistercian abbey of VauJey, the site of which is in Grimsthorpe Park, near Bourne, Lines. d Irnham, Lines. ' Worthington. f Dugdale, Antiq. Wurw. n., 701. William de Bisshopesdon married Juliana the daughter of Henry de Montfort.


. . racena, daughter of Mazeline, renders account of 30 marks for having seisin of 10 marks worth (mercatis) of land in Croxton, which are her right and inheritance, whereof she was disseised by the king when he was earl.' Into the treasury 10 marks, and she owes 20 marks.

Henry de Hottot b owes one mark for a writ of mart dancestor touching 4 carucates of land in Meuton0 against the prior of Mealton.

Henry son of Reginald owes one mark for a writ of mart dancestor touching 3£ bovutes of land in Croxton against Robert de Bissopesleia.

Ralph son of Humfrey (Unfr') owes half a mark for having a writ of mort dancestor touching 20 acres of land in Claibroc.

Henry Mallore owes 60 marks for having full seisin of all the lands which Anketill Mallore, his father, lost by reason of the service of king Henry the younger, brother of the now king, (amisit |> seruit Henf R. junioris fris R.)

Richard Fitz Rogerd owes 100 marks for having his reasonable share of the land which belonged to.Turstan Banastre on Margaret,* his wife's part by right of primogeniture (cum esnecia), counting in those 100 marks 60 marks which he had before promised in a certain fine which was not received.

Robert, son of David de Keistinton, owes 100s. for having such seisin of 4 carucates and 1 virgate of land in Kestinton' as his father had on the day on which he died.

John de Spernoure owes 20s. that he can give further surety (ut possit replegiari) for right of the forest.

TALLAGE MADE BY GEOFFREY DE NORWIZ AND HIS FELLOWS.The township of Babbegrave 2 marks.The township of Kaiham g 1 mark.The township of Croxton £ mark.The township of Sumeretebi \ mark.The township of Tamewrde 20s.The township of Budiford 2 marks.

• Of Moreton. "> Of Bottesford. c Melton Mowbray. The ' prior of Melton ' probably means the prior of Lewes, although it is possible that at this date Lewes priory may have been represented by one of the monks as its agent at Melton. Such a monk may have been known as the prior of Melton. Many instances occur of such titles given to monks of alien monasteries who were sent over as estate agents to manage properties in England to which the general title of ' priories' was applied. " Richard Fitz Roger founded Lytham priory, a cell of Durham in Lancashire, and married Margaret Banastre. ' Margaret, lady of the Manor of Appleby, gave the advowson of Appleby to William, prior of Lytham. f Cossington. « Keyham.

THE PIPE BOLL FOB LEICBSTEBSHIRE. 371

AMBBCEMENTfl MADE BY HUGH DE NEVILL AND HuOH WADE AND THEIB FELLOWS.

Wavein de Kinewarton renders account of 4 marks because his dogs took a stag hunted from Warwickshire within the metes of the forest. Into the treasury 3 marks ; and he owes one mark.

OF THE FIRST SCUTAGE ASSESSED AT 2 MABKS AFTEB THE PIBST COBONATION OF KING JOHN.

The prior of Coventry 20 marks. Fulk Fitz Warin 2 Marks. Emma and Aliz de Dunmart 2 marks. The archbishop of York half a mark. William Crassus 8s. 10%d. Robert de Harecurt ... 2£ marks. Osbert de Clinton 2 marks. The abbot of Evesham ... 2 marks, 6s. 6. Hugh Bardolf, 4 marks for John de Limesi's fee. Eutropius Hasteng, 2 marks for Ralph Musard's scutage in these counties.

Earl David, Ralph Fitz Wigan, Wido de Diva, the earl of Ferrers, the earl of Albemarle, Roger de Mortimer, the earl of Leicester, William de St. John, William de Belmes, Henry Falconer (Falconarius), Robert Marmiun, William de Albenni, all these are found in the roll of the 7th year amongst those quit of the first scutage of king Richard ; nor did the sheriff render anything for them nor did he show writs for their acquittance, nor did he certify the barons for how many fees they ought to answer in these counties.

These have acquittance by writs. The earl of Warwick, William Fitz Hamon, William de Longo Campo, Richard Basset, Hugh de Ferrers, the earl of Chester, Ralph de Sumeri, William de Molbrai, Henry de Stutevill, Hugh de Herfiz, William de Harecurt, William de Cantelu, Doun Bardolf, Ralph Fitz Stephen, William de Ferrers, Warin Fitz Gerold.


II.

DE BANCO ROLLS 12 EDWAKD in. (No. 315), m. 232.

[A.D. 1338.]

PLEAS at York before J. de Stonore* and his fellows, justices of the bench, Trinity 12 Edward in.

The lord the king sent his writ closed to his justices of the bench in these words:—Edward, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland and duke of Aquitaine, to his justices of the bench, greeting. We send you under the foot of our seal the record and process of the suit which was before John de Vallibns b aud his fellows, late justices of the lord Edward, formerly king of England, our grandfather, in eyre in the county of Leicester, by writ of our said grandfather, between the abbot of St. Evroult and the abbot of Leicester, for that the same abbot of Leicester should render to the aforesaid abbot of St. Evroult 881. 13s. 4d. which were in arrear to him in respect of a yearly rent of 20 marks; and also the record and process of the suit which was before the same justices by another writ of our said grandfather between the afore said abbot of St. Evroult and the aforesaid abbot of Leicester for that the same abbot of Leicester should render to the aforesaid abbot of St. Evroult 41. 3s. id., which were in arrear to him in respect of a yearly rent of 13s. 4d.. Which said suits afterwards were determined before Thomas de Weylande" and his fellows justices of the same our grandfather, of the bench, in the 14th year of his reign, which records and processes we caused to come before us in our Chancery for certain causes, commanding you that, having inspected the records and processes aforesaid, you do further cause to be done at the prosecution of the now abbot of St. Evroult in this behalf what of right and according to the law and custom of our realm shall be to be done. Witness ourself at Ipswich the 24th day of June in the 12th year of our reign.d

"Justice of the common pleas, 10 Oct. 1320 ; chief baron of the Exchequer, 22 Feb. 13289 ; chief justice of the common pleas, 3 Sept 1329—2 March 13301, 7 July I33? 8 Jan. 13401, and 9 May 13421354 (Foss, Judges, 6345).

"John de Vaux, justice in eyre 614 Edw. i.: steward of Aquitaine n Edw. I,; d. 1288 (Foss, op. cit., 689). c Justice in eyre cos. Essex and Herts. 1272 ; justice of the common pleas, Michaelmas 1274 ; chief justice 127889. He for feited his office for bribery and corruption and his complicity in conspiracy to murder. See Foss, op. cit., 720. d 1338.

ABSTRACTS FEOM THE DE BANCO BOLLS, CO. LDICESTEE. 873

The same lord the king also sent here the record aforesaid in these words :—Pleas at Westminster before Thomas de Weylande and his fellows justices of the lord the king, of the bench, of Easter term in the 14th year of the reign of king Edward, son of king Henry.a Leicester to wit. The abbot of Leicester was sum moned before John de Vallibus and his fellows justices in eyre at Leicester to answer to the abbot of St. Evroult in a plea that he render to him 881. 13s. 4d., which are in arrear, &c., and in a plea that he render to him 4L 3s. 8d., which are in arrear, &c. And wherefore the said abbot of St. Evroult, by his attorney, complains that whereas a certain Alan, predecessor of the said abbot of Leicester, on Mich. Day 25 Henry in.* for several contracts had between the said abbot and a certain William, predecessor of the said abbot of St. Evroult, granted for himself and his successors to the said abbot of St. Evroult %nd to his successors 20 marks to be taken yearly for ever at three terms of the year, and whereof the said William was in seisin, &c., the said abbot of Leicester refuses to render the said yearly rent. Wherefore he says that he is deteriorated and has damage to the value of 401. And therefore he produces suit, &c. And he proffers a certain writing concerning the said rent in this form :— To all, &c., the abbot of Leicester and the convent of the same place, greeting. Know ye that we have received from the abbot and convent of St. Evroult at perpetual farm all the tithes of sheaves of the demesne of the earl of Leicester, at Leicester, after the decease of Ralph Gunfrey, who holds them, to wit, the tithes of the south and west gate, belonging to the house of St. Evroult, for the yearly farm of 2 marks for ever to be paid to the said abbot and convent of St. Evroult at three terms, &c. And also the tithes of sheaves of Braundeston and of Kereby" for the yearly farm of 5^ marks to be paid for ever. Item, the tithes of Thorp Ernald.d For which tithes we shall pay to the said abbot and convent of St. Evroult 60s. of silver for ever, &c. Item, the tithes of sheaves which pertain to the house of St. Evroult in Stokton and Busseby e for the yearly farm of 40s. Item, the tithes of the demesne of Euenton f for the yearly farm of 3| marks to be paid for ever. Item, the tithes of the demesnes of Humbreston, when they shall happen to be void, for the yearly farm of 20s. to be paid for ever, &c. And when it shall happen that we have entry into any of the tithes abovesaid, for every term not observed we will give half a mark in the name of a pain with the principal debt, the appeals and privilege of the court being removed. And if the said abbot and convent of St. Evroult shall make any expenses in litigating for the said money, which God forbid, we will refund

0 1286. ' 29 Sept. 1241. ° Braunstone and Kirby Muxloe. 'Thorpe Arnold, e Stoughton and Bushby. 'Evington.

AA Vol. XI.


the said expenses to the said abbot of St. Evroult when they shall be proved before the archdeacon of Leicester or his official, &c. And we subject ourselves upon all the premises, to be compelled, by the ecclesiastical censure, to the jurisdiction of the archdeacon of Leicester who for the time shall be or of his official, &c. And the said abbot and convent of St. Evroult promised in good faith that neither they nor the prior of Ware, nor any other through them, will impede or procure impediment by which we cannot peacefully possess all the abovesaid tithes. And when it shall happen that the said tithes shall happen to be vacant by the death or by the grant of those who now possess them, the prior of Ware who for the time shall be, shall faithfully interpose bis mediation [partes suas), if it shall be necessary, that we have free entry into the said tithes with our expenses. And if we shall be hindered by others whomsoever whereby we shall not possess the said tithes or any of them, then we will give up the aforesaid tithes concerning which we shall be hindered free to the abbot and convent of St. Evroult, or to their proctor, or will pay the farm belonging to the said tithes without any gainsaying. And when it shall happen that we have all the tithes abovesaid, we will pay for the said tithes and for the tithes of Wykyngeston " 20 marks yearly to the said abbot and convent of St. Evroult at three terms of the year (&c.) And that this our agreement may obtain strength of perpetual firmness the seal of our chapter, together with our seal, is set to the present writing with our common consent. Done in the year of grace 1243.

And likewise, whereas the said Alan, the said day and year, granted for himself and his successors to the said abbot of St. Evroult and to his successors one mark yearly to be taken for ever at three terms, whereof the said William, predecessor of the said abbot of St. Evroult, was in seisin (&c.), the said abbot of Leicester has detained the said yearly mark now for 6 years elapsed. Wherefore he says that he is deteriorated and has damage to the value of 100s., and therefore he produces suit. And he proffers a certain writing under the name of the said Alan in these words:— To all, &c., the abbot of Leicester, greeting. Know all of you that we have received at perpetual farm from the abbot and convent of St. Evroult all the tithes to them belonging issuing from the wood in defence of Leicester which the noble man Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, had endowed us with and by his charter, &c., for the yearly farm of one mark of silver to be rendered to the said [abbot and convent] of St. Evroult by us at Leicester, and if we shall wish at any time to assart the said woodj bring it back to cultivation, sell or do anything else therewith,

•Wigston.

ABSTRACTS FROM THE DE BANCO BOLLS, 00. LEICESTER. 875

they shall receive nothing move from us therefor in respect of the said wood except only the said mark. In [witness] whereof, &o.

And the abbot comes and denies force and injury when, &c. And he says that it does not seem to him that he ought to answer here to the said abbot of St. Evroult therein, because the writing which the same abbot of St. Evroult proffers makes it manifestly clear that his action belongs to the ecclesiastical court. He asks for judgment, &c.

And the abbot of St. Evroult, by his attorney, says that he does not ask for the tithes, but a certain yearly rent due to him by contract, and the cognisance of such yearly rent directly belongs to the king's court. He asks for judgment, &c.

The abbot of Leicester says that the abbot of St. Evroult commenced action thereupon in a court Christian before the arch bishop of Canterbury, concerning which litigation is as yet depending between them before the said archbishop. And he asks for judgment if he ought to answer in this court in respect of the said yearly rent (&c.).

Afterwards in five weeks from Easter day in this year came the said abbot of Leicester and the abbot of St. Evroult, by his attorney. And because the cognisance of a plea asking a yearly rent according to the custom of the realm directly belongs to the king's court, and in it such kind of plea ought to be heard, and the abbot of St. Evroult asks for a certain yearly rent due to him by the said contract, it is adjudged that the said abbot of St. Evroult from henceforth recover the said yearly rent against the said abbot of Leicester, and likewise his arrears for the time of this abbot of St. Evroult, which are taxed by the justices at 601. And the abbot of Leicester is in mercy, &c.

Afterwards in 15 days from the day of St. Hilary came the said abbot of St. Evroult, by his attorney, and acknowledged that the said abbot of Leicester paid to him 20Z.

(The whole of the arrears paid) for the time of the said abbot of St. Evroult.

And hereupon comes a certain Simon Fakeman on behalf of Nicholas, now abbot of St. Evroult, and says that 40 marks for the two last years of the said yearly rent of 20 marks, and also 2 marks of the said yearly rent of 13s. 4d. are in arrear to him. And he asks that Richard, now abbot of Leicester, be summoned to be here on the quindene of St. Michael to show if he has or knows anything to say for himself wherefore the arrears aforesaid should


not be made from his lands and chattels, and rendered to the said Nicholas, now abbot, &c.

And now come as well the said abbot of Leicester as the said abbot of St. Evroult by their attorneys. And the abbot of Lei cester asks for a hearing of the writ of scire facias and likewise of the record in respect of which that writ issued. Which having been heard, he says that in that wrrt it is inserted that the now king wills by the writ aforesaid that those things which were rightly done in the court of king Edward, his grandfather, be sent on for execution. And he says that in the said record it is inserted that the (said abbot of St. Evroult demands against the said abbot of Leicester two different yearly rents, and in the judgment ren dered upon the same record, it was adjudged that the said abbot of St. Evroult should recover the said yearly rent: by which judgment it is not expressed nor can it be understood which yearly rent the said abbot of St. Evroult recovered. Wherefore the said abbot of Leicester says that a manifest error has happened in the judgment aforesaid. And he says that he does not think that the justices here will adjudge execution upon the record aforesaid and the judgment so erroneously rendered by virtue .of the writ afore said. Adjourned till the quindene of St. Hilary.

At which day as well the abbot'of St. Evroult as the abbot of Leicester came by their attorneys. And the abbot of Leicester is questioned by the court if he wishes to say anything else wherefore the said abbot of St. Evroult ought not to have execution. And the abbot of Leicester says nothing else in this behalf.

And because it appears to the court that what the said abbot of Leicester said above ought not to hinder execution in this case— Therefore let the abbot of St. Evroult have execution thereof, &c. And the abbot of Leicester is in mercy, &c.

Afterwards, on the octaves of the Purification of the Blessed Mary next ensuing the king sent his writ to John de Stonore, his chief justice, that he send the records and processes aforesaid before him ; and they are sent before him.

Arrears 42 marks, whereof to the clerks 2 marks.

ABSTRACTS FROM THE DE BANCO BOLLS, CO. LEICESTER. 377

DE BANCO ROLLS, HIL. 15 EDWARD in.(No. 825.) m. 134.

[A.D. 134142.]

PLEAS at Westminster before Roger Hilary8 and his fellows justices of the lord the king, of the bench, of Hilary term 14 Edward in. ending, 15 commencing.

QUINDENE OF ST. HlLARY.

LEICESTER, 10th day of July in the 14th year.

Alan la Zouche of Assheby and William le Bedel were sum moned to answer to Adam de Stretton in a plea wherefore the said Alan and William on Tuesday next after the feast of Holy Trinity, in the 14th year of the king who now is,b at Great Glen, in a place called Lytyeyerd, took two horses of the said Adam, and unjustly detained them against the gage and pledge, until, &c. Wherefore he says that he is deteriorated and has damage to the value of 20 marks, and therefore he produces suit, &c.

And Alan and William, by William de Mountsorell, their attorney, come and deny force and injury when, &c.

And the same Alan, for himself and for the said William, avow the said taking, and as just, &c. For he says that a certain Peter, son of Reginald, and Ela, his wife, held a moiety of the manor of Great Glen, as in right of the said Ela, of a certain Alan la Zouche, lord of Assheby, as of the manor of Assheby la Zouche, by homage and fealty and to the scutage of the lord the king 40s., when it shall happen, and to more more and to less less, and by suit of court of the said Alan of Assheby from three weeks to three weeks. Of which services the same Alan, lord, &c., was seised by the hands of the said Peter and Ela as by the hands of his true tenants, as in right of the said Ela, &c. Which said Alan, lord, &c., gave the manor aforesaid of Assheby, with the appurtenances, together with other lands and tenements, to a certain William Por, of Swaneseye, 0 chaplain, to have and to hold to himself and to his heirs. By virtue of which gift the said Peter and Ela, as in right of the said Ela, attorned to the same William in respect of the

• Roger Hillary was chief justice of the common pleas, 8 Jan. 13401 to 9 May 1342, and 20 Feb. 13534 to his death in June 1357 (Foss, Judges, 3478).

* 13 June 1340. c Rectius Swaueseye, i.e. Swavesey, Cambs.


services aforesaid. Which said William by fine levied in the court of king Edward i. granted the manor aforesaid, with the appurtenances, together with the lands and tenements aforesaid, to the said Alan, lord, &c., to hold all his life, and after the said Alan's death to remain to William la Zouche, of Rychardescastel,* and to his issue. By virtue of which grant the said Peter and Ela as in right of the said Ela, attorned in respect of the services aforesaid to the said Alan, lord, &c. And from the said William la Zouche the said manor of Assheby, to which the services afore said appertain, descended to this Alan who now, &c. And from the aforesaid Ela the said moiety of the manor of Glen descended to a certain Roger as son and heir, &c. And from the said Roger that moiety descended to the said Henry as son and heir, who now holds that moiety, whereon, &c. And because the homage and fealty of the said Henry were in arrear to him on the day of the taking aforesaid, and also the said suit of court, for two years, he took the said horses for the homage aforesaid in the said place as in parcel of the said moiety of the manor of Glen, and in his fee, as was well lawful for him, &c.

And Adam says that the said Alan cannot avow the taking aforesaid as just, &c. For he says that the said place wherein, &c. is outside the said Alan's fee. And he asks that this be enquired by the country. And Alan does likewise.

A jury to come on the octaves of Holy Trinity.

• Richard'i Castle on the borders of Herefordshire and Shropshire, near Ludlow.

ABSTRACTS FROM THE DE BANCO ROLLS, CO. LEICESTER. 379

DE BANCO ROLLS, MIOH. 22, EDWARD in. (No. 356.) m. 254.

[A.D. 1348.]

PLEAS at Westminster before J. de Stonore3 and his fellows justices of the lord the king, of the bench, of Mich. term, 22 Ed ward in.

LEICESTER.

Master John de Belegrave, parson of the church of Belegrave,* and Peter de Belegrave, parson of the church of Esthaddon,0 and Roger, his brother, were summoned to answer to the abbot of Sulbyd in a plea wherefore they took a certain pot (ollam) of the said abbot, &c., on Saturday next after the Purification of the Blessed Mary, 19 Edward in., 6 in the vill of Leicester in a certain place called Belegravegate and unjustly detained it against the gage and pledge until, &c. Wherefore he says that he is deteriorated and has damage to the value of 10L And therefore he produces suit, &c.

The defendants by their attorney, come and defend' force and injury when, &c. And they well avow the said taking, and justly, &c. For they say that they heretofore gave and granted in free, pure and perpetual alms to the said abbot and his convent and to their successors for ever all the lands and tenements, rents and services and all their appurtenances which the said John and Peter had in the vills of Leicester and Belegrave, and which the said Roger had in the vill of Boresworth,B that is to say, the said John and Peter [gave] jointly one messuage and the fourth part of a tenement in the east suburb of Leicester, and the said John [gave] by himself 11s. 6d. of rent issuing from the lands which Lawrence Crisp held of the same John in the vill of Belegrave ; and the rent of two 'cloves of gillyflower in Belegrave wherein Thomas Symonet was bound to him for the lands and tenements which he held of the same John in the same vill; and the service of Edmund Chifdefer h for the tenement which he held of the said

" See note on p. 372 above. bThere is no record of his institution to Belgrave: he died rector before 25 July 1351 (Lincoln Reg. ix., fo. 352). ° East Haddon, Northants. He was instituted 6 Dec. 1342, and vacated the church by 4 June 1350 (Bridges, Hist. Northants. i,, 505.) d The abbot and convent of Sulby were patrons of East Haddon church. The name of the abbot at this date is unknown. e 5 Feb. 13445. 'i.e. deny. «Husbands Bosworth " I.e. Chef de fer,\ Ironhead.

380 LEICEfeTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

John in the same vill. And the said Peter by himself gave to the said abbot and convent 12s. of yearly rent in the vill of Belegrave; and the said Roger by himself gave and granted to the said abbot and convent 11 roods of land in the fields of Bores worth and as much pasture as appertains to one bovate of land in the same vill; the licence of the lord the king, by the statute touching lands and tenements not to be put to mortmain, being therefor obtained. To have and to hold to the said abbot and convent and to their suc cessors for ever, doing for them to the chief lords the services therefor due. And the same abbot and convent by their writing indented between the parties aforesaid, granted and assented for themselves and their successors, and by that writing obliged [themselves] that they would cause to be distributed yearly at six terms of the year in the same writing contained or within six days next following each of the said terms by someone in their name 9s. 4d., viz., for each term of five terms 20d., and for the sixth term 12d., and at one mass in every term of those terms the said abbot and convent would offer or cause to be offered in their name Id. Which mass the said master John and Peter and Roger and their heirs would cause to be celebrated by some fit chaplain, for ever, in the church of Belegrave. And if the said master John, Peter and Roger and their heirs should not cause this mass to be celebrated, then, at the same time, the said oblation should be retained, and the distribution aforesaid should be made under such form, namely, on the vigil of Peter and Paul a next to come after the making of the writing aforesaid, and every year following the same term there should be distributed in the church aforesaid to forty poor persons 20ti., viz., to twenty poor persons of Belegrave, ten being of the vill of Thurmaston and ten of the vill of Burstall,b by the said master John, Peter and Roger and their heirs to be chosen of the same poor persons, to each one halfpenny, for the healthful state of the said master John, Peter and Roger whilst they should live, and for their souls after their decease, and for the souls of Roger and Susanna, father and mother of the said master John, Peter and Roger, and for the soul of Lawrence de Belegrave, formerly parson of the church of Esthaddon,c brother of the said master John, Peter and Roger; and if the same master John, Peter and Roger and their heirs should not choose such poor persons in form aforesaid, that it should be lawful for the said abbot and convent by someone in their name, as should seem to be expedient, by the. view of two lawful men of the parish of Belegrave to make the distribution, and on the vigil of St. Peter

" 28 June. b South Thurmaston and Birstall were chapelries in the parishof Belgrave e Instituted 13 Nov. 1301 : he was succeeded in 1342 by hisbrother Peter (Bridges, ut sup.).


ad Vincula a should cause the like oblation and distribution to be made in the same church of Belegrave every year, as is aforesaid, and should make a like oblation on the feast of the commemora tion of All Souls b in the same church everyyear, and [cause] 12d., to be distributed to 24 poor persons, viz., twelve of the vill of Belegrave, six of the vill of Thurmastou, and six of the vill of Burstall, to be chosen in form aforesaid, viz., to each of them one halfpenny, for the healthful state, &c., and for the souls, &c. And on the 5th day of December, viz., on the vigil of St. Nicholas, should cause the like oblation and distribution to be made as on the vigil of the apostles Peter and Paul above is expressed in the same church for the healthful state, &c., and for the souls, &c.; and on the feast of St. John the Evangelist in the month of December' should cause the like oblation and distribution as on the vigil of the apostles Peter and Paul to be made in the same church every year for the healthful, &c., and for the souls, &c.; and on the 6th day of March, viz., on the vigil of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas, should cause the like oblation and distribution as is aforesaid to be made for the healthful, &c., and for the souls, &c., in form aforesaid. (With a clause of distress in case of non performance by the abbot and convent.)

And they say that they were seised of the said oblation and distribution for the said term of the vigil of the apostles Peter and Paul in the ] 9th year of the reign of the king who now is, d in form aforesaid: and because the said oblation and distribution were in arrear of them for the other terms following before the day of obtaining the writ, for the said oblation and distribution on the vigil of St. Peter ad Vincula then next following, they took the pot aforesaid, in the place aforesaid, as in parcel of the said tene ments, as was well lawful for them. And they proffer here in court the aforesaid writing, &c.

And the abbot is not able to gainsay that the said writing is his deed, or that he is bound to make the said oblation and dis tribution as is aforesaid, &c. Therefore it is adjudged that John, Peter and Roger go without a day. And let the abbot take nothing by his writ, but is in mercy, &c. And let the said Master John, Peter and Roger have return of the pot aforesaid, &c.

• 31 July. b 2 Nov. "27 Dec. d 28 June 1345.


DE BANCO ROLLS, MICH. 22 EDWARD in.(No. 356.) m. 188.

[A.D. 1348.]

PLEAS at Westminster before J. de Stonore* and his fellows justices of the lord the king, of the bench, of Mich. term, 22 Ed ward in.

As yet of the quindene of St. Michael.

LEICESTER.

John Mallore, of Walton, heretofore in the king's court here, was summoned to answer to Henry, late earl of Lancaster, in a plea that he render to him Lucy, daughter and heir of Henry de Somervill, of Cosynton,b whose custody pertains to the said earl because the said Henry de Somorville held his land of him by knight service, &c., and so, the said plea pending between them, the said earl of Lancaster died, 6 whereby, by the form of the statute, &c., the sheriff was commanded to summon the said John to be here on the octaves of St. Michael, 21 Edward in.,4 to answer to Henry, now earl of Lancaster, son and heir of the said late earl, in the said plea. Which said John came in his proper person at that day by summons made to him in the said county of Leicester. And wherefore the same earl of Lancaster who now is, by John de Caldon, his attorney, says that the said Henry de Somervill held of the said late earl of Lancaster a nioiety of the manor of Cosynton with the appurtenances, by homage, fealty and 40s. to the king's scutage when it should happen, &c. Of which service the same late earl was seised by the hands of the said Henry de Somervill as by the hands of his true tenant, that is to say, of the said homage and fealty as of fee and right, and of the said scutage in his demesne as of fee and right in the time of peace in the time of the king who now is. and died in the homage of the said late earl. And so the custody of the heir aforesaid pertains to the earl who now is as son and heir, &c., and the said John deforces the said earl who now is of the same custody. Wherefore he says that he is deteriorated and has damage to the value of 1000J. And there fore he produces suit.

And John denies force and injury when, &c. And he says that

" See note on p. 372 above. b Co sington. "In 1345. '6001.1347.

ABSTRACTS FROM THE DE BANCO ROLLS, CO- LEICESTER. 383

a certain Philip de Somervill, lord of Wycbenouere," was seised of the custody of the land and heir of the said Henry de Somervill. Which said Philip by his writing, which he proffered, granted and demised the same custody of the land and heir aforesaid, together with the marriage of the same heir, to the same John; to have until the lawful age of the heir aforesaid, and bound himself and his heirs to warrant, &c. And he calls the said Philip to warrant. Who now comes by Thomas de Holt, his attorney, and freely warrants to him. And the earl demands against him the custody aforesaid in form 'aforesaid, &<?. And Philip says that the earl ought not to have action against him ; for he says that the said Henry de Somervill, father of the said heir, held one carucate of land in Stockton, co. Warwick, 13 of the said Philip and his ancestors by knight service, by ancient feoffment, as they held the said moiety of the manor of Cosynton of the said late earl or his ancestors, or of those whose estate the said late earl had, by the like service. And this he is ready to verify, &c. And wherefore he asks for judgment, &c.

And the earl says that the said Henry de Somervill, father of the said heir, held of the said late earl and his ancestors, &c., the said moiety of the manor of Cosynton by knight service by the ancient feoffment, as he held the said carucate of land in Stocton, co. Warwick, of the said Philip and his ancestors, or of those whoee estate, &c. And concerning this he puts himself on the country. And Philip does likewise.

The sheriffs of Leicestershire and Warwickshire to cause a jury to come on the quindene of St. Hilary.

Afterwards on the octaves of St. Hilary 28 Edward m. ending c came the said Henry, son ol Henry, by his attorney, and says that he is duke of Lancaster,"1 and that the said Philip, warrant, &c., died. And he asks for a writ to resummon the said John Mallore to be here, &c., to answer to him respecting the said plea. And it is granted [to him, returnable here on the octaves of Holy Trinity."

* Wichnor, Staffs., between Lichfield and BurtononTrent. b Stockton, near Southam. c 20 Jan. 13545. a Henry, fourth earl of Lancaster, was created duke of Lancaster in 1351. • 7 June 1355.


DE BANCO ROLLS, EASTER, 26 EDWABD in.m. 148.

[A.D. 1352.J

PLEAS at Westminster before John de Stonore a and his fellows justices of the bench, of Easter term, 26 Edward in.

As yet of the month of Easter.b

LEICESTER.

Adam Plungun and Alice Sycond, by John de Ayleston their attorney, demand against William Rous and Joan, his wife, and Henry, son of Nicholas de Langar, and Agues, his wife, one mes suage and one bovate of land in Claxton c which John de Folevill, of Claxton, gave to Philip de Whelesburgh in free marriage with Cecily, daughter of the same John, and which after the death of the said Philip and Cecily and of Adam, son and heir of the same Philip and Cecily, and of Robert, son and heir of the same Adam, son of Philip, and of Petronilia and Sarra, sisters of the same Robert, and of William, son of the said Petronilla, ought to descend to the' said Adam Plungun, son of the said Sarra, and to Alice, daughter of the same William, son of Petronilla, and cousins and heirs of the said Robert, by the form of the donation aforesaid, &c. And wherefore they say that the said John gave the said tenements, &c. in the time of king Edward, father of the king who now is, &c. And from the said Philip and Cecily the right descended to a certain Adam as son and heir, and from Adam to Robert as son and heir, and from the said Robert because he died without issue the right descended to Petronilla and Sarra as daughters and heirs, and from the said Petronilla the right of her purparty descended to William as son and heir, &c., and from the said William to this Alice who now demands. And from the said Sarra the right of her purparty descended to this Adam who now demands, &c. And therefore they produce suit, &c.

And William and Joan and the others come, &c. And they say that a certain Robert atte Brigge, brother of the said Joan and Agnes, died seised of the said tenements in his demesne as of fee. After whose death the said tenements descended to the said Joan and Agnes and to a certain Matilda as sisters and heirs, &c. Which said Matilda died. After whose death the right of her purparty

1 See note on p. 372 above. b Easter fell on 8 April 1352. " Long Clawson.

ABSTBAOTS FROM THE DE BANCO ROLLS, CO. LEICESTER. 385

descended to a certain Robert as son and heir of the same Matilda. And so they say that they hold the tenements aforesaid together undividedly in common with the said Robert. Which said Robert is not named in the writ. And this they are ready to verify. Wherefore they ask for judgment of the writ, &c.

And Adam and Alice say that on the day of obtaining their writ, to wit, 10th Nov. 24 Edward m. a the said William and Joan, Henry and Agnes were sole tenants of the said tenements. And they ask that this be inquired by the country. And the said William and Joan, Henry and Agnes do likewise.

A jury to come on the octaves of St. Michael.

DE BANCO ROLLS, TRINITY, 27 EDWARD in.(No. 374.) m. 193.

[A.D. 1353.]

PLEAS at Westminster before J. de Stonore b and his fellows justices of the bench, of Trinity term, 27 Edward in.

LEICESTER.The prior of Lewes was summoned to answer to the prior of

Monks' Kirkeby ° in a plea that he render to him 5 marks which are in arrear to him in respect of a yearly rent of 10 marks which he owes him, &c. And wherefore the same prior of Kirkeby, by Thomas de Holt, his attorney, says that whereas the said prior of Lewes and the convent of the same place by a certain their writing indented sealed with their common seal granted to the said prior of Kirkeby and to the convent of the same place and to their suc cessors for ever the said yearly rent of 10 marks to be taken every year at the feasts of Easter and St. Michael by equal porticjns, &c. the said prior of Lewes, although often requested, has hitherto refused, and as yet refuses, to render the said 5 marks of arrears for Easter term next before the day of the obtaining of the writ, &c. viz., the 28th day of May in the 27th year of the reign of the king who now is, to the said prior of Kirkeby. Wherefore he says that he is deteriorated and has damage to the value of 100J., and there fore he produces suit, &c. And he proffers here in the court the

1 1350. b See note on p. 372 above. ' Monks Kirby, Warwicks., a cell of the Benedictine abbey of SaintNicolas at Angers.

386 LEICESTERSHKE AKOHAEOLOOICAL SOCIETY.

writing aforesaid which witnesseth the said yearly rent in these words :—

This indenture made between the religious men Brother Hugh, prior of the monastery of St. Pancras, of Lewes, of the Cluniac order, in the diocese of Chichester, and the convent of the same place, canonically holding the parish church of Melton Moubray, in the diocese of Lincoln, to their proper uses, and Brother Maurice, prior of the priory or college of Monks Kirkeby, of the order of St. Benedict, in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, and the convent of the same place, witnesseth that, whereas lately much matter cf complaint had sprung up between the eaid parties concerning the tithes and the right of taking the great tithes issuing in respect of lands formerly belonging to Sir John de Moubray, and in respect of the demesne lands of the lord of Moubray and the lands of William de Assheby, Robert de Waltham and some others, lands, selions and culture,* lying, situate and made in the fields of the vill of Melton Moubray and several and diverse other places within the bounds and limits of the parish church aforesaid canonically appropriated to the aforesaid prior and convent of Lewes and to their monastery, 1" as is aforesaid, and concerning the tithes of the mills of the master of Burton c and of the market and fair of the said vill of Melton Moubray, and also of 3s. which the said prior and convent of Kirkeby were wont to take for the small tithes of a thicket (spinetod)—at length, for the good of peace and quiet and of concord and for the utility and conveni ence of the said monastery and church and of the persons aforesaid, and also on account of avoiding the grave perils which might in like manner threaten by such contention, that every matter of dissension might be cut off between the said parties, and with the assent of the parties aforesaid, it was agreed between the parties aforesaid as follows. That is to say, that the aforesaid prior and convent of Kirkeby granted for themselves and their successors whomsoever that the aforesaid prior and convent of Lewes and their monastery aforesaid shall take entirely, peacefully and quietly to themselves and to their successors for ever in times to come, in the name of their church of Melton aforesaid, ever hereafter, &c., all and all kinds of great tithes, of whatsoever kind of corn issuing from all and singular the demesne lands of Moubray and the other lands aforesaid whatsoever, and also from whatsoever other lands

• Cultura. implying a piece of tilled land, has no exact modern English equivalent. The word which renders it most nearly is the old English ' wong.' b The appropriation took place in 1286. The ordination of the vicarage, of which the beginning has been lost, is the first document in the remaining fragment of bishop Oliver Button's institution roll for Leicester archdeaconry. Before that date the advowson of the church was a source of frequent litigation, as the question of the land to which it was appurtenant was doubtful. c The hospital of Burton Lazars. d Eng. ' spinney.'

ABSTRACTS PROM THE DE BANCO ROLLS, CO. LEICESTER. 387

and places within the bounds and limits of the parish church afore said or the appointed titheable places thereof, and to the said religious men of Kirkeby and to their monastery by whatsoever title or cause howsoever belonging or appertaining, and the said tithes of the mills of the master of Burton, and the market and fair aforesaid, of the vill of Melton Moubray, and also 3s. which the said prior and convent of Kirkeby were wont to take for the small tithes of the thicket, and all other tithes issuing from what soever other places appointed within the said parish. All which said tithes abovesaid the said prior and convent of Kirkeby had on the day of the making of these presents and hitherto took or were able to take and were in possession of taking from olden time without any withholding. Rendering by reason of the said tithes or for the fruits and issues of the same every year to the said prior and convent of Kirkeby and to their successors for ever 10 marks of a yearly pension, at Monks Kirkeby, co. Warwick, at Easter and Michaelmas by equal portions. For paying which pensions at the day and place aforesaid the said prior and convent of Lewes bind themselves and their successors for ever. (With a clause of dis tress in case of nonpayment of the pension.) The prior and convent of Kirkeby also grant for themselves and their successors that if the prior and convent of Lewes shall be hindered by the prior and convent of Kirkeby from taking and enjoying the said tithes, for the time they should so be hindered they shall be dis charged in respect of the pension, unless those tithes, together with their expenses caused for that reason to the prior and convent of Lewes, should afterwards be reallya restored. And the prior and convent of Kirkeby grant, moreover, that if the prior aud convent of Lewes and their successors pay 6 marks of the said 10 marks yearly at the terms and place aforesaid or within a month thence following each term they shall be discharged of the residue of the said 10 marks of the yearly pension aforesaid, not withstanding the grant abovesaid of the said 10 marks. And if the prior and convent of Lewes or their successors shall be deficient in the payment of the yearly pension of 6 marks at any term abovesaid or for one month after, they grant that from that time the said yearly pension of 10 marks for that year in which they shall so be deficient, viz., for each term so unpaid as is aforesaid five marks of the said pension of 10 marks shall be levied from the same prior and convent of Lewes and their successors and from their lands aforesaid, as above is contained. In witness whereof the parties aforesaid have alternately set their common seals to these presents. Dated the 1st day of March in the 27th year of the reign of King Edward m.b

" Realiter, i.e, in all essential respects. * 13523.


And the said prior of Lewes, by Walter de Wernham, his attorney, comes. And he is not able to gainsay that the said writing is his deed and [that] of his convent, and he expressly acknowledges it, nor that he by virtue of the same writing is bound to the said prior of Kirkeby in the said yearly rent of 10 marks as above is alleged. Therefore it is adjudged that the said prior of Kirkeby should recover against him the yearly rent aforesaid and the arrears aforesaid and his damages, which are taxed by the justices at 20s. And the prior of Lewes is not amerced because he came on the first day by the summoner, &c. And hereupon the prior of Kirkeby freely remits the said damages.

DE BANCO ROLLS, MICH. 29, EDWARD in.(No. 888.) m. 42.

[A.D. 1355.]

PLEAS at Westminster before Roger Hilary* and his fellows justices of the bench, of Mich. term 29 Edward in.

LEICESTER.

Richard de Scrop, chivaler,b was summoned to answer to the lord the king in a plea that he permit him to present a fit parson to the church of Medburn, which is void, 0 and belongs to his donation. And wherefore John de Gaunt, who sues for the lord the king, says that a certain Peter de Thedyngworth, formerly abbot of Osolveston,d which is an abbey of the foundation of the progenitors of the king who now is, e was seised of the advowson of the church aforesaid as of fee and in right of his church of St. Andrew of Osolveston in the time of king Henry [ill.] great grand father of the king who now is, and that advowson he held of the

a See note on p. 377 above. b Richard le Scrope (c. 13281403), youngest son of Sir Henry le Scrope, who succeeded to his father's inheritance c. 1345, after the death of his elder brothers. He was summoned to the house of peers in 13701, as first lord Scrope of Bolton. He was treasurer of England 13715. and chan cellor 13789 and 13812, See Foss, Judges 6074 ; his will is printed Test. Ebor (Surt, Soc.) I, 272 8. "The cause of voidance is not stated in the episcopal register. d Probably Peter, elected in 1241 (Gal. Pat. 123247, p. 256). He is called Peter of Leicester, ibid. p.2$g. c The actual founder was Robert Grimbald, before 1167. The patronage passed early into the hands of the Crown.


said king Henry in pure and perpetual alms as parcel of the foundation of the abhey aforesaid of the collation of the same king Henry's progenitors, formerly kings of England, and to that church he presented a certain Kemigius de Pokelington, his clerk, who was admitted and instituted in the time of the same king Henry.3 After whose death the church aforesaid was void, the temporalities of the abbey aforesaid being in the hand of the same king Henry after the death of a certain William de Flamstede, late abbot of Osolveston, successor of the said Peter. b At which time a certain John de Kirkeby0 usurped on the right of the said king Henry, and as usurper presented to the same church a certain Geoffrey de Neubold, his clerk, who at his presentation was admitted, &c., in the time of the same king Henry. 4 After whose resignation, the temporalities of the abbey aforesaid being in the hand of the lord Edward [i.] late king of England, grandfather of the king who now is, by the cession of a certain Ivo, late abbot of Osolveston,* successor of the said William, the said John de Kirkeby again, by usurping on the right of the said king, the grandfather, presented to the same church a certain Adam de Norffolk, his clerk, who at his presentation was admitted, &c., in the time of the same king, the grandfather, &c.* In the time of which king a certain Richard, formerly abbot of Osolveston,g successor of the said Ivo and pre decessor of the abbot who now is,h granted and released to a certain William de Kirkeby, brother and heir of the said John de Kirkeby, the advowson of the church aforesaid, after the statute/ the said king's licence concerning this not being obtained ; whereby the right of the same advowson accrued to the said king, the grandfather ; and from the said king, the grandfather, the right, &c., descended to king Edward, late king, as son and hair, &c., and from the said Edward, &c., to the said king who now is as son and heir, &c. And for that reason it appertains to the said king to present to the church aforesaid, and the said Richard unjustly hindered him, to the damage of the said king of 1000Z. And this he offers to verify for the said lord the king, &c.

And Richard, by Walter de Askham, his attorney, comes and denies force and injury when, &c. And protesting that he does

" 6 April 1237 (Rot. Grossetestc, [Cant. andYork Soc .] 393. 395. Peter was not abbot at this time : the abbot was Richard Watlington, formerly precentor of Oseney, elected in 1236 (Cal. Pat. Rolls 123247, p. 151). 'Elected on the death of Peter, and confirmed 17 Nov. 1264 (Rot. Gravesend, [Cant. andYork Soc.], 144). c Treasurer of England 128490; bishop of Ely 128690. "^Aug. 1268 (Rot. Gravesend ut sup. 148). ' Ivo was elected abbot on the death of William Flamested and confirmed 29 April 1268 (Rot. Gravesend, ut sup. 148), He resigned before i June 1280 (Cal. Pat, Rolls 127281, p. 374). 'No record of this institution survives, as the roll for this year is missing. « Richard Bokesworth, elected November 1298, on the death of Ernald (Cal. Pat. Rolls 1292 1301, p. 372). " William Cottesmore had been elected abbot in March 13545, on the death of John Kibbeworth (Cal. Pat. Rolls 13548, pp. 193, 201). ' I.e. the statute of Mortmain, 1279.


not acknowledge that the abbey aforesaid is of the foundation of the progenitors of the king who now is, nor that the advowson of the church is held of the king's progenitors, nor that the said Peter de Thedyngworth presented to the church nor was seised of the advowson, nor that the said John de Kirkeby usurped, nor that a grant or quitclaim was made by any abbot of the place aforesaid, he says that the said king Henry [ill.] was seised of 47s. 9d. of rent with the appurtenances in Medburn, in his de mesne as of fee and right, to which rent the advowson of the church aforesaid then pertained, and [was] also [seised] of that advowson as of fee and right. After which time the said Richard, then abbot, nor any of his successors ever had anything in the advowson aforesaid. Which said king Henry [m.] gave and granted that rent, with the appurtenances, to a certain William Chaundeler, his servant (serrienti). To hold to himself, his heirs and assigns for ever, of the said king and his heirs by the service of 6d. yearly. Which said William was seised of the same rent and gave and granted the same rent, with the appurtenances, and the advowson aforesaid appertaining to the same rent to the said John de Kirkeby, to hold to himself and to his heirs lor ever. And afterwards the same king Henry by his charter recited his gift aforesaid formerly made to the said William Chaundeler and also the gift made by the said William to the said John de Kirkeby of the said rent arid of the advowson aforesaid, ratified and con firmed the estate of the said John in respect of the rent and advowson aforesaid to the same John and to his heirs, and granted that the same John and his heirs should hold the rent aforesaid and the advowson aforesaid as pertaining to the rent aforesaid, of the said king and his heirs by the service of the 20th part of a knight's fee, for ever, notwithstanding that in his charter made to the said William Chaundeler, there was not special mention made of the advowson aforesaid. Which said John presented Geoffrey de Neulaud to the said church, who was that same person above in the king's demonstration called Geoffrey de Neubold, who was admitted, &c. By whose death the church aforesaid was void. Wherefore the same John de Kirkeby presented Robert Sampson, his clerk, who was admitted, &c., in the time of the same king Henry." And afterwards John de Kirkeby died without heir of himself, wherefore the rent and advowson descended to a certain William de Kirkeby as brother and heir, &c. Which said William was under age,b whereby the rent and advowson, amongst other things, were seized into the hand of the said king Edward the

• This institution is not recorded and probably never took place. h In the inquisition taken after the death of John de Kirkeby, the age of his brother and heir William is variously stated to be 25 and 30 years, so the alleged minority of William de Kirkeby may be a misstatement of fact.


grandfather, &o. A.nd afterwards, that church being void during the minority of the said William, the same king Edward as, guardian of the said heir, presented to the same church a certain Robert le Venour, his clerk, who was admitted, &c." Which said William when he arrived at full age sued the *ent and advowson and the residue of his inheritance from the hand of the said king Edward, and died thereof seised without heir of himself, wherefore the rent and advowson and the other lauds and tenements descended to certain Alice, sister and one of the heirs of the said William, b and to Robert Gi'ymbaud, cousin and the other heir of the same William. Which said coheirs made partition of their inheritance .aforesaid between them, so that 9s. 3d. of rent of the said rent and the advowson aforesaid———

[The record ends here.] c

DE BANCO ROLLS, EASTER, 30 EDWARD in.(No. 386), m. 173.

[A.D. 1356.]

PLEAS at Westminster before R. de Wylughby* and his fellows justices of the bench, of Easter term, 30 Edward in.

LEICESTER. 10th Feb. in the 30th year.The Prior of Laund (Landa) in the diocese of Lincoln, was

summoned to answer to Henry Baily, of Spondon, chaplain,• Instituted 25 Nov. t302. The church had been vacant for some time, and

had previously been commended to John Osevyle. archdeacon of Ely (Lincoln Reg. ii., fol. igSd). b William's inheritance was divided between his four sisiers, Alice, wife of Peter Prilly, Mabel, wife of William Grimbaud, Margaret, wife of Walter Osevile, and Maud, wife of Gilbert Houby, He died in 1:502. Ing. p.m. William de Kirkeby, 17 Sep. 30 Edward i. c It looks as though the clerk had forgotten to enter up the rest, as it comes very close to the next entry. No presentations or institutions are mentioned in this suit after 1302. Lincoln Reg. iv. however, gives the following:—(i) 12978, 4 Jan. Peter Medbourn, rector of Church Lawford, Warwicks, by exchange with Robert Venour (fo. 123 and d). (2) 1330, 7 May. Ralph Malton, priest, rector of Great Stoughton, Hunts, pres. by Sir Henry le Scrop. knight, by exchange with Peter Medbourne (fo. 129). (3). 1330 z Nov John Eston priest, pres. bv Sir Henry le Scrop, kmght, on death of John (sic) (fo. 134 d). (4) 1333. 3' Dec Geoffrey B >lton, priest, pres. by Sir Henry le Scrop, knight, on res. of John Eston (fo. 139) (5) i33 + _ 15 Sept. William le Scrop, clerk, pres. by Sir Henry le Scrop. knight, on death ot Geoffrey Welton (sic) fo. i*r d .William le Scrope was still rector in 132 (Cnl. Put. Rdl* 13501 P * 9) uTe

probably died in 1354. The result of the present suit is sho vn bv Ke< ix . 10.36.1, where the institution of William de Burfjh is recorded, 27 Oct. i $55 on >.n< pre sentation of the Crown, which had recovered the presenUtion agai:i *i Ki • ,:uM le Scrop. His letters of presentation bear date 26 July (Cai. P.I'. »'«« i 5<t ' :?">

•"See Foss, Judge* 7478. Roger Hillary appears to have bee t ; c .u:i justice at this date.


warden of the chantry at the altar of the blessed Mary in the chapel of Clmddesdene, and to William de Abketelby and Richard de la Hay, of Newton (de novo Burgo), chaplains of the same chantry," in a plea that he render to them ]OOs. which are in arrear to them of a yearly rent of 10L which he owes them. And wherefore the same Henry, William and Richard, by their attorney, complain that wliore;is the said prior and the convent of the same place by their writing on Monday next after the feast of St. James the apostle, 29 Edward m.b in the chapter of the priory aforesaid, granted to the said warden, William and Richard the said yearly rent of lOt. to be taken yearly to the same warden, William and Richard and to their successors chaplains of the chantry aforesaid from the priory aforesaid, and also from all their manors and lauds and tenements in the vills of Lodyngton, Tilton, Frisby, \Velham and Norton at the feasts of the Purification of the blessed Mary and St. Peter ad vincula by equal portions, for ever—of which said yearly rent the same warden, William and Richard were seised until the feast of the Purification next before the day of the obtaining of the writ, viz., the 10th day of February last past, that the said prior withdrew from them and refused and as yet refuses to render the said 100s. Wherefore they say that they are deteriorated and have damage to the value of 16s. And there fore they produce suit, &c. And they proffer here the said writing under the name of the said prior and convent which witnesssth the premises in these words :—

To all the sons of Holy Mother Church present and to come, John de Withryngton, prior of Launde,c and the convent of the same place, in the diocese of Lincoln, greeting in the Lord ever lasting. Know all of you, that whereas by the death of our tenants in the time of the general pestilence lately happening, and also the vehement impoverishment of our manors, and also on account of very many other misfortunes, the issues of our priory have endured much diminution, which for the greater part are debts incumbent on us, necessary and accustomed nevertheless, so are we weighed down with the heavy charge of debts, and prostrated with so great want that we will not be able to satisfy the said debts and to undergo our aforesaid want by the sale of the movable goods of our house nor suitably in any other manner. Unwilling therefore to alienate the movable goods of our house if we should be able to provide ourselves with a lighter and more useful remedy in any other way, but rather wishing to impose on ourselves and

"The first warden and two priests of the chantry, instituted in 1356. See Cox, Chli. of Dcibyshire HI.. 307, who gives their names as Henry de Bayly William Kettleby, and Richard de LaUey (sic) de Novoburgh. Kettleby succeeded Bayly as warden in 1377. >> 27 July 1355. « Appointed prior, May 1354 ; resigned i Dec. 1366 (Lincoln Reg ix. fo. 359 ; x, fo. 2376).


our house a yearly and perpetual charge, and the more commo diously tolerable, that in times to come they may be thus divided into small lots, we have had conversation and treaty with the reverend men Master Nicholas de Chaddesden, clerk," Sir Geoffrey de Chaddesden, rector of the church of Long Whatton,b and Sir Henry de Landa, chaplain, executors of the will of Master Henry de Chaddesden, of good memory and our benefactor, late arch deacon of Leicester," more fully and abundantly to endow a certain perpetual chantry of three chaplains at Chaddesden being actually ordained by the same executors according to the will of the said deceased with a certain yearly rent of 101. to be bought from us and to be paid for ever to the said executors by us and our executors from our priory aforesaid and our manors, lands and tenements below written for the said chaplains, at Chaddesden, according to the form and manner below written, at the same time, nevertheless, full security should be made therefor, at their will, by us finally procuring 400 marks. We have had full de liberation and diligent and solemn treaty together and in common which in such perpetual grants is expedient, concerning the premises, and at length thereupon considering that the urgent necessity of oar house could in that manner be more fully relieved, and also that evident utility would be effectually procured for the same our house, without doubt, for the future by the said contract, and also that the alienation of the movable goods of our house, otherwise necessary, be so avoided, with the licence of our lord the king and with the authority of the lord bishop of Lincoln, and with the consent of all others whose consent it was necessary to have, being had, as in the charters and letters thereof made more fully is contained, with all the solemnity which by law and custom in this behalf is required, the vote of the said executors concurring and assenting, we have harmoniously thought fit to assent to the offer to us as is aforesaid with the unanimous consent and equal will of all of us as to things fitting, and we do entirely convert the 400 marks to the utility of our house, for freeing as well us and our house from debt, as also suitably repairing our

* Nicholas Chaddesden was at this time rector of the portion of Attegrene in Waddesdon, Bucks, to which he was instituted 27 April, 1354 ; he resigned it before Aug. 1361, but the date is not known. (Lincoln Reg, ix. ff. 3010!, 319.) Lambeth Reg. Langham shows that he was rector of Long Whatton in 1366, but of this there is no record at Lincoln. b Brother of Nicholas. Institutions to the church of Long Whatton are deficient from 1338 to 1398. c Archdeacon of Leicester 13467—1354 (Le Neve, Fasti n. 60). A certificate of his pluralities Lincoln diocese, returned long after his death, shows that in Disc. 1346 he ex changed the archdeaconry of Stow for St. Martin's prebend in Lincoln and the portion called Attegrene in Waddesdon, Bucks (Chancery Misc., bdle 19. no. 4). In April 1354, shortly before his death, he resigned his portion in Waddesdon, in which he was succeded by his cousin, Nicholas Chaddesden. He was preben dary of Willesden in St. Paul's, 13504 (Hennessy, Nov. Rep. 56) and, also 13504 of Sandiacre in Lichfield. The story of the foundation of the chantry is told by Cox, op. cit. in. 3045.


manors and abundantly stocking them, and also for supporting the necessary charges incumbent upon us, and for augmenting many times for ever the learned men of our house, acknowledging good faith; and for the information of our successors we confess all these things expressly that therefore the premises may be more firmly strengthened and sufficient security may be complied with for payment of the said yearly rent of 10L, as is quit. We the prior and convent aforesaid for us and our successors do give and grant to Sir Heniy Bailly, of Spondon, warden of the perpetual chantry for the healthful state of our Jord the king whilst he shall live and for his soul when he shall die, and for the soul of the said Master Henry and the souls of his ancestors and of all the faithful deceased founded in the chapel of Chaddesden at the altar of the blessed virgin Mary by the said executors, and to Sirs William de Ketilby and Richard de le Hay, of Newton, his fellow chaplains of the same chantry ordained by the same executors, presented or preferrfid to the same, and to the successors of the said Henry, the warden, William and Richard, their fellows, secular and perpetual chaplains of the same chantry, to be presented, ordained or appointed by the same executors, as long as they shall live, and by every of them who shall live the longest, and after their decease by the religious men the abbots of Derley and Dale (Dala), in the diocese of Lichfield, and also in their default by the archdeacon of Derby or his official, and in their default by the bishop of Lichfield and the chapter of the cathedral church of Lichfield and others according to the ordination of the said executors, and celebrating for the state and souls aforesaid in the said chapel of Chaddesden at the altar aforesaid of the blessed Mary for ever, as is aforesaid, a certain yearly rent of 10Z. to be taken from our priory of Laund aforesaid, and also from all our manors, lands and tenements in the vills of Lodyngton, Tiltou, Friseby, Welham and Norton, to be paid to the same Henry, the warden of the said chantry, and to William and Richard, his fellow chaplains aforesaid, and to all their successors in the same, as is aforesaid, every year for ever at olir costs, at Chaddesden, at two terms of the year, viz., at the feasts of the Purification and of St. Peter ad vincula by equal portions, the said Henry, William and Richard having and taking the said yearly rent of lOi. for the stipends and maintenance of the said warden and his fellow chaplains and for all other their charges and [the charges^ howsoever incumbent on the chantry aforesaid according to the ordinance of the said executors therein made and to be made, of us and our successors aforesaid, and also from our priory and all our manors, lands and tenements in the vills aforesaid, for ever, at the terms abovesaid. And, nevertheless, for greater security in this behalf for payment of the said yearly rent (&c.) we bind ourselves and our successors and our priory


aforesaid for ever by these presents, and also all our manors, lands and tenements in the vills of Lodyngton, Tilton, Fryseby, Welham and Norton abovesaid. We also grant for us and our successors for ever that it shall be well lawful for the said Henry, the warden, and William and Richard, his fellow chaplains, and all their suc ces'sors in the same chantry, as is aforesaid, to distrain in all our manors, &c. aforesaid, the church, dormitory, refectory, infirmary, the prior's chamber and the kitchen of our said priory altogether excepted, as often as and whensoever the said yearly rent of 101. in whole or in part shall be in arrear at any of the said terms (&c.). We also will and grant that if payment of the said yearly rent of 101. or any part of the same cease at any of the same terms by our fault or the fault of our successors in future, which God forbid, then we and our successors are bound to pay 5 marks to the king and 5 marks to the said Henry, William and Richard and to their successors chaplains in the same chantry by waj of debt, the obligation [for payment] of the said yearly rent of 101. remaining in its strength. Moreover we will and grant by these presents for us and our successors for ever that as often as and whensoever the said yearly rent of 101. or any part thereof shall remain unpaid in any of the terms aforesaid, then it shall be lawful for the president of the court of Canterbury whomsoever, and also for the bishop of Lincoln, the see being full, and the see of Lincoln being vacant, for the archbishop of Canterbury and the chapter of Lincoln (&c.) to proceed against us and our successors and our church aforesaid for nonpayment (&c.). And that the premises may hold the strength of firmness we the said prior and convent have set our common seal to one part of these letters indented, for ever to remain in the possession of the said Henry, the warden, and William and Richard and their successors. And the said Henry, William and Richard have set their seals to the other part re maining in our possession. These being witnesses: Master Robert de Shuttelesworth, rector of the church of Desford ;" John Cook, of Leicester ; William de Rothele, of Sythuston ; Nicholas de Wythcoke; John Clerk, of Lodyngton; John Lewys, of the same : Walter, son of William de Norton ; and others. Dated in our chapter house of Laund aforesaid on Monday next after the feast of St. James the apostle, 29 Edward m.b

And the prior comes and denies force and injury when, &c. And he well acknowledges that the said writing is bis deed and that of his convent, and that he is bound to the said warden and chaplains in the said yearly rent as they have above narrated against him. Therefore it is adjudged that the same warden and chaplains should recover against him the said yearlj' rent and the

• Instituted 22 Oct. 1349 ; next institution 3 Jan. 13778 (Lincoln Reg. ix., fo. 346. x,. fo. 268d.) " 27 July 1355.


arrears aforesaid and their damages, which are taxed by the justices at 20«. The prior is not amerced because he came on the first day, &c. And hereupon the warden and chaplains freely remit the damages, &c.

DE BANCO ROLLS, MICH. 37 EDWARD in.(No. 416.) m. 457.

[A.D. 1363.1

PLEAS at Westminster before Robert de Thorp a and his fellows justices of the bench, of Mich. term, 37 Edward in.

LEICESTER. William de Wodeford is in mercy for many defaults, &c.The same William was summoned to answer to Laurence

Hauberk in a plea that he render to him a certain writing obliga tory which he unjustly detained from him, &c. In which said writing it is contained that certain Geoffrey de FolleTill and Master Henry de Folevill, brother of the said Geoffrey, are bound to the said Laurence in 300i., &c. And wherefore the same Laurence, by his attorney, says that whereas he on Friday next after the octaves of St. Hilary in the 35th year of the reign of the king who now is,* at Melton Moubray, delivered to the said William the writing aforesaid safely to be kept and to be delivered again to him at the feast of the Assumption of the blessed Mary next following,0 the said William, although often requested, has not yet delivered that writing again to the said Laurence, and as yet detains it. Wherefore he says that he is deteriorated and has damage to the value of 300J., and therefore he produces suit, &c.

And William, by Robert de Deryng, his attorney, comes and denies force and injury when, &c. And he says that the writing was delivered to him by the said Laurence and the said Geoffrey and master Henry to be safely kept, under the conditions which follow, viz., that if Ralph de Secchevill, parson of the church of Twyford,d Thomas de Gra, parson of the church of Assheby Follevill, 8 Laurence Hauberk, of Grymeston, John de Frisseby, and John Veysy, chaplain, should be hindered by the said Geoffrey or any other in his name so that they could not enter into the manor of Ty,* with the appurtenances, in the county of Rutland.

• Chief justice of the common pleas 27 June 1356 ; chancellor of England 26 March 1371 ; died 29 June 1372 (Foss, Judges, 65^7). & 24 Jan. 135960. " 15 Aug. 1360. « Instituted 18 Oct. 1334 ; died rector before 13 May 1369 (Lincoln Reg, iv., fo. I4od ; x., fo, 244d). • This was Thomas Gaddesby, who exchanged the church of WaltonleWolds for Ashby Folville n June 1354 and died rector of Ashby by g Jan. J3734 (Lincoln Reg. ix., fo. 360 x. fo z6od) 1 Teigh. ''


when it should please them, and peacefully hold that manor to themselves and to their heirs for ever, saving to the same Geoffrey and [sic] the reversion of all the tenants of the same manor in fee or for term of life who have not attorned in respect of their services to the same Thomas, Laurence Hauberk of Grymeston, John and John during the life of John de Follevill, chivaler, and likewise if the said Geoffrey by warning of eight days, if the said Geoffrey at the time of that warning should be in good health and fit to work, or if at the time of the warning he should be hindered by any disease that he could not then work, then at another time when he should be fit to work, by warning of eight days, as is aforesaid, he should be ready to make to the said Ralph, Thomas, Laurence Hauberk of Grymeston, John de Frisseby and John Veysy, four, three or two of them, or to others whom the abbot of Oseleston a should assign therefor, an estate by fine and by deed of a moiety of the manors of Wath, Hummanby and Langeton on Swale,b with the appurtenances as fully and securely as snould be ordained by the said Ralph, Thomas, Laurence Hauberk of Grymeston, John de Frisseby and John Veysy and the abbot or by [ d?°fyfd ] of them. To have to them and to their heirs for ever. And also if the same Geoffrey should cause them to have, before the said feast of the Assumption, a certain writing of demise and quitclaim made to the same Geoffrey of the said manor of Ty by all those who had any estate in the same manor in any manner by the said Geoffrey, then at the said feast of the Assumption the said writing obligatory should be delivered again to the said Geoffrey and Henry and should be of no force or virtue. And if the same Geoffrey should be lacking in any of the conditions aforesaid that writing ought to be delivered to thevsame Laurence Hauberk in its force and virtue. Bnt whether the conditions aforesaid are held and fulfilled or not, he says that he is altogether ignorant. And he asks that the said Geoffrey and master Henry may be warned, &c. Therefore the sheriff is commanded to warn the said Geoffrey and master Heury to be here on the quindene of St. Hilary 0 to show whether he has or knows anything to say wherefore the writing aforesaid should not be rendered to the said Laurence Hauberk if, &c. The same day is given to the parties aforesaid by their attorney here, &c.

(m. 437d.) William de Wodeford in mercy for many defaults, &c.

The same William was summoned to answer to John Hauberk, knight, and Laurence Hauberk, of Grymeston, in a plea that the

1 Owston. b LangtononSwale is in north Yorkshire, between Catterick and Northallerton. Wath is Wath, N.R., near Ripon. Hummanby is apparently Hunmanby, E.R., near Bridlington. « 27 Jan. 13634.


same William render to thema certain writing obligatory which1 he unjustly detains from them, &c. In which said writing it is contained that the same John and Laurence are bound to the said Geoffrey de Follevill in 300i. &c. And wherefore the same John and Laurence, by their attorney, say that whereas they, on Friday next after the feast of St. Hilary in the 35th year of the reign of the king who now is, at Melton Moubray, delivered to the said William the writing aforesaid to be safely kept, and to be rendered to the same John and Laurence at the feast of Easter then next following, the said William, although often requested, has not yet delivered the writing aforesaid to ,the same John and Laurence again, but has hitherto refused to deliver it again to them and as yet detains it from them. Wherefore they say that they are deteriorated and have damage to the value of 3001. And therefore they produce suit, &c.

And the said William comes by Robert Deryug, his attorney, and denies force an'd injury when, &c. And he says that the writing aforesaid was delivered to him by the said John and Laurence and the said Geoffrey safely to be kept uuder the con ditions following, viz., that if Ralph de Secchevill, parson of the church of Twyford, Thomas Gaddesby, parson of the church of Assheby Follevill,* Laurence Hauberk, of Claxton,b John de Frisseby, and John Veysy, chaplain, four, three, two or one of them having as full estate in the manor of Ty, co. Rutland, as they had of the gift and feoffment of John de Follevill, knight, should grant and demise before the said feast of Easter to Mar garet, who was the wife of Christopher de Follevill, chivaler, all the life of the said Margaret, the said manor of Ty, saving" the reversion of the same manor to themselves and to their heirs after the death of the said Margaret, and that after that demise made in form aforesaid the same Ralph, Thomas, Laurence, John and John, four, three, two or one of them, as is aforesaid, should grant to the said Geoffrey de Follevill and his heirs the reversion of the same manor after the decease of the same Margaret, and likewise should demise, release and quitclaim to the same Geoffrey and to his heirs all their right and claim which they had or in any manner could fall to them in all the lands and tenements which were lately given and granted to them by the said John de Follevill in the vill of Assheby Follevill, saving always and reserved to the said John Veysy sufficient security for a certain yearly rent of 80s. lately granted to be taken to the same John Veysy for the term of his life from those tenements ; and moreover they should remit and release to the said Geoffrey and to all others who stood with him in the said manor of Ty after the death of the said John de

• See note on p. 396 above, b Long Clawson.


Follevill all manner of trespasses to them in any manner there done by the said Geoffrey or other •whomsoever adhering to him or being with in the same manor, then the said writing obligatory should be delivered again at the said feast of Easter to the said John Hauberk and Laurence Hauberk, of Grymeston, and from thenceforth should be of no force or effect. And if the said Ralph, Thomas, Laurence Hauberk, of Claiton, John de Frisseby and John Veysy should be lacking in the condition abovesaid or in any of them, then the writing aforesaid ought to be delivered at the said feast of Easter to the said Geoffrey iu its force and virtue to remain. And he proffers here in the court the said writing, and he says that he is ready to render it to whom the court shall adjudge. Eut whether the conditions aforesaid have beeii held and fulfilled, or not, he is altogether ignorant. And he asks that the aforesaid Geoffrey be warned, &c. Therefore the sheriff is commanded to cause the said Geoffrey to be warned to be here on the quindene of St. Hillary to show whether he has or knows anything to say wherefore the writing aforesaid should not be delivered to the said John Hauberk and Laurence Hauberk, of Grymeston, if, &c. The same day is given to the parties afore said here, &c.

NOTE.—William de Wodeford, of Brentingby, died on 22 July, 1369 leaving a son and heir John, born IT Nov., 1358. John de Wodeford married Mabel, daughter and heir of Geoffrey, brother and heir of Sir John Folville, knight, of Ashby Folville. Sir John Folville died before Hilary Term, 1363, leaving no legitimate issue. He had married Joan, elder sister and coheir of Robert Marmion, hence the connection between the Folville family and the manors of Wath and Langton, co, York, of which manors John Marmion of Tanneld, grand father of the said Joan, died seised in 15 Edward n. Geoffrey Folville, died in 1369. Nichols, in his history vol. in, p. 22, gives a scurrilous version of the means adopted by Margaret, wife of Christopher, younger brother of Geoffrey Folville, to obtain, for herself and her issue, the manor of Teigh, co. Rutland, and to defraud the rightful heirs. The compiler of the Wodeford Chartulary, whence this version is drawn, is by no means accurate in all his statements; so Margaret may not have been as bad as he represents her. Whether that is so or not, Margaret, after Christopher Folville's death married Lawrence Hauberk and after his death Sir John Calveley, Knight. The pedigree of the Folvillas printed by Nichols is incorrect in several instances.

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