Close Rolls, Richard II: July 1393 | British History Online

Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: Volume 5, 1392-1396. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1925.

'Close Rolls, Richard II: July 1393', in Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: Volume 5, 1392-1396, (London, 1925) pp. 158-165. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/ric2/vol5/pp158-165 [accessed 20 April 2024]

July 1393



July 5. Westminster.	To the constable of the Tower of London and his lieutenant. Order, for particular causes laid before the king and council, to receive John de Drayton knight from one who shall deliver him in the king's name, and to keep him in custody in the Tower until further order.
July 8. Westminster.	To the king's lieutenant in Ireland, the keeper of the great seal, the justices of either Bench, the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer there for the time being. Order, upon petition of Queen Anne, if lawfully assured that other the queens of England heretofore had successively a fee called the queen's gold of particular fines made in Ireland to the use of former kings, to cause the same to be levied of such fines before them made in Ireland, and answer to be made to her for it, as used to be done; as on her behalf it has been shewn the king that, although by reason of her prerogative by praiseworthy custom heretofore approved she takes the said fee of such fines in England, as did other queens heretofore, and although those other queens time out of mind used likewise to take such fee of fines in Ireland, certain men going about utterly to do away that custom, are contrary to the same gainsaying payment thereof in the case of particular fines made in Ireland; and the king's will is to keep unbroken the queen's rights and privileges, and to restrain such as infringe them.
July 3. Westminster.	To the sheriff of York for the time being. Order of the issues of that county to pay to John de Mosdale one of the king's serjeants at arms 25 marks a year for life, and the arrears since 5 February last, on which date the king granted to the said serjeant for life the keeping of Scardeburgh castle, which John de Sancto Quintino lately had for life of the king's grant and forfeited his office and estate therein to the king, taking for keeping the same and in name of his wages all issues and profits to the castle pertaining, and his gown, and moreover the king granted him 25 marks a year to be taken as aforesaid.
	To the bailiffs or farmers of the town of Scardeburgh for the time being. Like order, mutatis mutandis, for payment [of 25 marks (fn. 1) ] of the issues or farm of the town.
July 13. Westminster.	To William Hugforde escheator in Staffordshire. Order to assign dower to Joan who was wife of Ralph Basset of Drayton knight, and the issues thereof since 8 December 14 Richard II, on which date the king ordered Edward Acton then escheator to assign her dower; as he was removed from office before that writ was executed.
	Like writs to the following:
	John Fossebroke escheator in Norhamptonshire.
	Thomas Chelrey escheator in Oxfordshire.
July 5. Westminster.	To William Rikhille and William Brynchesle justices of assize in Devon. Order, upon petition of the plaintiffs, to proceed in an assize of novel disseisin concerning 3 acres of land in Teyngras arraigned before Robert Bealknap and William Rikhille, then justices of assize, by John Prestecote and Margery his wife against John Valence, John Meancombe, Richard Ulfe and Richard Thorston, the allegations hereinafter mentioned notwithstanding, so that they proceed not to rendering of judgment without advising the king; as the defendants appeared in person and said that the plaintiffs were seised of the land put in view, and were thereof tenants on the day the writ was obtained, craving judgment concerning the writ; and the plaintiffs said that against their will the defendants dug and worked therein, claiming to have profit therein, and so disseised them; and the defendants alleged that they were the king's tinners in Devon, that King Edward I by charter, confirmed by King Edward II and King Edward III, granted to the tinners among other things that all of them might dig tin and turf for smelting (findendum) it everywhere in the county upon the lands, moors and wastes of the king and of others whatsoever, diverting rivers and watercourses to their works when need be, and buying brushwood for smelting (finturam) of the same, as used to be done of old time, without let of the king or of others, and further that after the date of that charter the tinners of the stannaries in Devon did ever dig tin and turf as aforesaid wherever it was found, and that they were informed that there was tin in the said lands, and did dig and work therein, finding tin, and further that of every hundred of white tin the king has 18d. and of every tinner 2½d. a year, of which profit the king and his forefathers were seised time out of mind, and they took it that the justices would not proceed without advising the king; and the plaintiffs said that before the date of the said charter tinners of the said stannaries dug no tin nor turf except upon lands, moors and woods of the said king and his forefathers save for payment at the will of the owners of the soil, and that by bargain and agreement and at the mere will of them in whose soil they were to dig, and that this they were ready to prove, and further that by common law and the law of the land the said king might not nor may any other grant to a person to dig, work and take profit of the freehold of another without licence of the owner, wherefore the plaintiffs craved judgment inasmuch as the defendants expressly acknowledged that without licence of the plaintiffs and against their will they dug and worked to take profit in their soil and so disseised them, craving that the justices should proceed to take the assize and adjudge the damages; and the defendants alleged that without the king they might no further answer to the pretended proof and the plaintiffs' allegations, craving the king's aid, wherefore the justices have deferred to proceed.
July 13. Westminster.	To the sheriff of Norffolk. Order by mainprise of Thomas Godelake clerk of Norffolk, John Bally and Thomas Kele of Lincolnshire and Thomas Lynton of Yorkshire to set free John Carkeney, imprisoned in the county prison for certain contempts and evildoings contrary to the peace and the statutes of the realm; as they have mainperned under a pain of 40l. to have him before the king and council in the quinzaine of Michaelmas next.
July 13. Westminster.	To William Staundoun mayor of London. Order to take of Robert Newenton, the deputy whom John Slegh the king's serjeant, his chief butler and coroner of the city of London, has appointed under him to exercise the office of coroner in his room until the return of John de Scardeburgh his deputy to London, being by order of the king too much busied about service in the king's household and elsewhere to have leisure for that which concerns the said office, an oath to deal truly therein, and order to admit him to the same during the time aforesaid.
July 15. Westminster.	To William Staundoun mayor of the city of London and escheator therein. Order to remove the king's hand and meddle no further with two messuages and thirteen shops with solars thereupon built, cellars and appurtenances in 'Watlyngstrete' and 'Frydaystrete' in the parish of St. John the Evangelist London, delivering to Margery who was wife of Richard Knowesley, Michael Cornewaylle and John Gerard, being the executors of the said Richard, any issues thereof taken since 26 June last; as the king has learned by inquisition, taken by the escheator, that the said Richard at his [death] held the same for his life of the heritage of Thomas son and heir of Edward le Despenser knight, that they are held of the king in burgage, that he died on 26 June last, and that by demise of the said Edward the executors ought to hold the same for a year and a day from that date, rendering one pair of gilded spurs.
July 6. Westminster.	To the king's searcher in the port of Plymmuth. Order, upon petition of Martin de Chare merchant, to dearrest 29 pairs of hose, and suffer him without a second payment of custom or subsidy to take them over to Gascony; as he has shewn the king that in the port of London he lately laded the said hose among other wares in a ship to be taken thither, and that although he there paid the customs etc. due upon them and the other wares, as appears by letters of cocket by him produced in chancery, the searcher has arrested and is unlawfully detaining them in the port of Plymmuth, being in a fardel among other wares of his, pretending that a general order was lately made by advice of the council forbidding any hose to be taken over sea without command of the king, when none was made; and the king reckons that arrest insufficient and unreasonable.
	Membrane 34.
July 15. Westminster.	To John Wykynge escheator in Wiltesir. Order to remove the king's hand and meddle no further with the manor of Henton, one carucate of land in Lytteltoune, six virgates of land in Ricardeston, one carucate in Westknete, the manor of Medebourne Doynel and Medebourne Stokke with appurtenances in Ludynton, ten virgates in Chuselden, Hodeston and Draycote, one virgate in Walcote and one carucate in Wambergh, delivering to Isabel who was wife of William Worfton any issues thereof taken; as the king has learned by inquisition, taken by the escheator, that the said William at his death held the same as jointly enfeoffed with her of others than the king.
July 7. Westminster.	To the justices of the Bench. Order, upon petition of the plaintiff, to proceed in a plea between Francis prior of Montacute and Richard Godefelowe parson of a mediety of Okforde Shillynge for 20 marks arrears of a yearly rent of 13s. 4d. due to the prior, the defendant's allegation notwithstanding, provided that they proceed not to rendering of judgment without advising the king; as the prior by John Janet his attorney said that he was seised of that rent in right of his church of St. Peter and St. Paul Montacute by the hands of Walter late parson of that mediety, the defendant's predecessor, and that he and his predecessors time out of mind were so seised by the hands of that parson and his predecessors, until twenty years before the writ was obtained, namely 20 September 11 Richard II, when the defendant withdrew the same, refusing then and yet to render it, damages 10l.; and the defendant by John Fauntleroy his attorney alleged that the prior is an alien of France and of affinity with enemies of the king and of former kings, that the priory was seized into the late king's hand by reason of the war with France, that the late king demised it to farm to the now prior saving to the king advowsons of churches to the same belonging, that the advowson of the said mediety pertains to the priory, that the king presented the defendant thereto, that he was admitted and inducted, and so is parson therein impersonate by right of the plaintiff's patronage, and that he found that mediety discharged of the said rent, and so may not charge it therewith or discharge it without the now prior as patron and John bishop of Salisbury the ordinary, craving their aid; whereupon a day was given to the parties, and the plaintiff was told to sue meanwhile with the king for licence to proceed.
	To the same. Like order, mutatis mutandis, in regard to 4l. arrears of a yearly rent of 40s. due to the said prior, as he says, from William atte Hawe parson of Odecombe, the prior saying by John Sparwe his attorney that he was thereof seised by the hands of Richard Couche sometime parson etc., the date of the writ being 3 February 15 Richard II, damages 40l., and the defendant craving the aid of the prior as patron and Ralph bishop of Bath and Wells as ordinary.
Sept. 6. Beverley.	To John Bussy knight. Strict order to take of John Grynder, Thomas Bescherche, John Reyles and John Blyburgh security that they shall make no unlawful assemblies within the city of Lincoln or the liberty thereof, henceforward making or procuring no attempt whereby the peace may be broken or the people disturbed, but shall stand to right and abide the customs and honest ordinances of the city under governance of the mayor and other their superiors for the time being, and to give command to the now mayor and bailiffs to admit them to the city altogether restoring them to their own therein, and honourably entreating them as other the citizens their fellows, and order to certify in chancery under his seal the security so taken; as the said knight is not ignorant how that by hateful incitement of the cunning enemy strife and controversy have arisen between the high and mighty persons of the city and the king's middling subjects thereof, whence were like to happen many things not to be borne, and perhaps the ruin of the city, but for the intervention of grace from on high and wiser counsels, and how that the said four men of his middling subjects, appearing among others before the king at Westminster at his command, were after by report of the now mayor committed to the Flete prison, and at their suit were at last set free, under a condition that they should not approach the bounds or liberty of the city until they had made agreement and unity with those high and mighty persons, or until other order should be taken by advice of the council; but after full ventilation of the whole matter before him, John duke of Aquitaine and Lancastre on his journey to the king's presence has made a concord between the parties, whereat the king is no little pleased, and those high and mighty ones have before him given their free assent that the said men be restored to the city, there to dwell in their first estate, finding security for their good behaviour.
	Membrane 33.
July 11. Westminster.	To the collectors of customs and subsidies in the port of London, and to the keepers of the passage there. Order to suffer Nicholas Soverans, after payment of customs, subsidies etc. thereupon due, to take over to his own parts a galley of Vinecia, whereof he is master or owner (patronus), laded in that port with wool and divers goods and merchandise of his and of other merchants, any command of the king and any ordinance or proclamation to the contrary notwithstanding.
July 15. Westminster.	To the collectors of the petty custom in the port of London. Order to suffer Sabellus Rynos and Conrad de Coloyne, both of Almain, to lade in that port and, after payment of customs, subsidies etc. thereupon due, to take over to Prucia, Flanders or Lescone a hundred dozen caps without grain, any proclamations, prohibitions or commands to the contrary notwithstanding. For one mark paid in the hanaper.
July 10. Westminster.	Order to the sheriff of Suffolk for election of a coroner instead of Edmund de Carleton, who is insufficiently qualified.
July 8. Westminster.	Order to the mayor and bailiffs of Exeter for election of a coroner in that city instead of William Gerveys, who is too infirm to travail for exercise of that office.
July 6. Westminster.	Like order, mutatis mutandis, to the sheriff of Roteland for election of a coroner instead of John Knot, who is too sick and aged.
	Order to the sheriff of York for election of a verderer in the forest of Pykerynge instead of William de Kirkeby, who is dead.
	Like order concerning William Anlagby.
	To John Longevylle escheator in Bedfordshire. Order to remove the king's hand and meddle no further with a messuage and one acre of land of Robert Bonhomme in Eton, delivering up any issues thereof taken; as lately the king ordered the escheator to certify in chancery the cause wherefore he took and kept the same in the king's hand, and he returned that Hugh Bayly of Eton, outlawed for felony on a day and year to the jurors of an inquisition before him taken unknown, held as his own a messuage there with croft adjacent, value 8d. a year; and after view and oyer of the writ and inquisition in chancery before the justices and serjeants at law, it seemed to them that the seizure was insufficient.
July 10. Westminster.	To the constable of the Tower of London and his lieutenant. Order to cause John de Drayton knight, imprisoned in the Tower in their custody at command of the king, to come before him in chancery on Friday next.
July 12. Westminster.	To the same. Order to set free John de Drayton knight and John de Mussenden a monk of Thame abbey, imprisoned (as above). By C.
July 10. Westminster.	To the same. Order to cause John Mussenden (as above), imprisoned in the Tower in their custody, to come before the king in chancery at Westminster on Saturday next.
	Like writ to the constable of Rochester castle and his lieutenant concerning John Milton a monk of Thame abbey.
July 6. Westminster.	To John Fossebroke escheator in Norhamptonshire. Order to give William Godeman and Joan his wife livery of five messuages and 6½ virgates of land in Clipston and the issues thereof taken; as upon the finding of an inquisition, taken by virtue of the king's commission before the escheator and John Mulsho, that Roger de Pedwardyn knight gave the same to Brian de Pedwardyn and Agnes his wife and to the heirs of their bodies, that they were thereof seised all their lives, that the same descended to John de Pedwardyn their son and heir, that he had issue Joan Pedwardyn whom the said William has now taken to wife, that the said John was outlawed for felony, wherefore the same were taken into the late king's hand and are yet in the king's hand, that John is dead, whereby the right thereof descended by virtue of the entail to the said William and Joan, and upon their petition for livery, the king ordered the sheriff to give notice to Robert Pedwardyn knight to whom the king lately committed the keeping of the premises, to be in chancery at a day past in order to shew cause wherefore livery thereof ought not to be given to the petitioners according to the form of the entail, and the issues thereof taken, and the sheriff returned that he caused Henry Boydoun bailiff of the liberty of Rothewelle hundred, to whom pertained the execution thereof for that he has full return and execution of all writs of the king within the liberty and no execution might be made without the liberty, to have the return of that writ, who answered that he gave the said Robert notice by Henry Boydoun and John Hay; and at that day the said Robert came not, wherefore by advice of the justices, serjeants at law and others of the council learned in the law it was determined that livery should be given as aforesaid.
July 18. Westminster.	To the collectors of the great and petty custom in the port of London. Order until the next parliament to suffer merchants native and alien, after payment of customs, subsidies etc. thereupon due, to take cheese and butter to parts over sea at will, any ordinances, prohibitions, proclamations or commands to the contrary notwithstanding. By C.
	Like writs to the collectors in the following ports:
	Gippewich.
	Great Jernemuth.
	Lenne.
	Sandewich.
	Suthampton.
	Exeter.
	Newcastle upon Tyne.
	Melcombe.
	Cicestre.
	Bristol.
	St. Botolphs town.
	Kyngeston upon Hull.
July 19. Westminster.	To the collectors of customs and subsidies in the port of Great Jernemuth. Order to cause all wool, hides, woolfells and other merchandise now and hereafter laded in that port by merchants native and alien for export over sea, and all imported into the realm, whereupon customs, subsidies etc. be not fully paid, to be by them or their deputies taken from time to time as forfeit to the king and exposed for sale, fines to be taken of the offenders according to their deserts, and answer to be made for the money at the exchequer. By C.
	Like writs to the collectors and to the king's searchers in the following ports:
	London.
	Gippewich.
	Lenne.
	Sandewich.
	Suthampton.
	Exeter.
	Melcombe.
	Cicestre.
	Bristol.
	St. Botolphs town.
	Kyngeston upon Hull.
	Newcastle upon Tyne.
July 20. Westminster.	To the treasurer of Calais for the time being. Order to pay to John Greneford for life the accustomed wages and fees pertaining to the office of purveyor of carpenters of the town of Calais and the marches there, and the arrears since 18 June last, on which date the king granted him that office for life, to be occupied by him or his sufficient deputy for whom he would answer, with the said wages and fees.
	Et erat patens.
Aug. 12. York.	To the sheriff of York for the time being. Order every year of the issues, profits, farm and emoluments of the county to pay to John Drax 12d. a day, and to pay him the arrears since 11 May last; as by letters patent of 9 October 15 Richard II for his good service the king by advice of the council granted him for life to be one of the serjeants at arms appointed in the parliament lately holden at Westminster, and 12d. a day wages as other serjeants at arms used to have, to be taken at a place and time which the council should agree as should to them seem good; and by other letters patent of 11 May last for his good service the king with assent of the council granted him for life the said wages to be taken as aforesaid by the sheriff's hands.
	Et erat patens.
	Membrane 32.
July 20. Westminster.	To the treasurer of Calais for the time being. Order in time of peace and war to pay to John Walden 2s. a day for life, and the arrears since 20 June last, on which date the king granted him for life the office of high bailiff of the county of Guynes in the march of Picardy, and that of victualler of Guynes castle, to be occupied by him or his sufficient deputies for whom he would answer.
	Et erat patens.
July 28. Scrooby.	To Edward Metteley, escheator in Warwickshire. Order, as he will avoid the king's wrath, to safe keep until further order the manor of Shotrithe, the lands, houses and gardens thereto pertaining without waste, the implements and other goods therein without alienation or dispersal, and the crop of corn of that manor or the price or value thereof; as it is found by inquisition, before the escheator taken of his office, that by reason of the neifty of Thomas de Newenham clerk, whom they claimed for their neif as of Newenham which is a member of the manor of Badby co. Norhampton, without obtaining licence of the king the now abbot of Evesham and the convent seized to them and their house and to their successors the manor of Shotrithe which is held of the bishop of Worcester, by colour whereof the escheator seized the same into the king's hand; and now the king is informed that since it was so taken manifold waste, sales, dilapidations and estrepements have been committed in the said manor, lands etc., and alienation and dispersal of implements and goods therein.