Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 19 Edward I

Staffordshire Historical Collections, Vol. 6 Part 1. Originally published by Staffordshire Record Society, London, 1885.

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'Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 19 Edward I', in Staffordshire Historical Collections, Vol. 6 Part 1, (London, 1885) pp. 200-204. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/staffs-hist-collection/vol6/pt1/pp200-204 [accessed 23 April 2024]

In this section

Coram Rege Roll, Easter, 19 E. I.

Staff. In the suit of the King versus Richard son of Richard de Loges, for the manor of Rodbaston. Richard appeared and defended his right, and called to warranty Richard son of Hugh de Loges, who is to be summoned in the co. Warwick, to be present at the Quindene of Trinity. m. 24, dorso.

Coram Rege Roll, Michaelmas 19–20, E. I.

Wallia., Hereford. A long and interesting suit, in which Theobald de Verdun appeared by summons before the King and Council for concealing and harbouring Philip Vaghan and others, tenants of Theobald's lands of Ewyas Lacy, who had driven the Sheriff of Hereford from the land by force when he was serving the King's writs, and against whom writs had been issued. But a jury summoned before the Justices Itinerant, Michaelmas, 20 E. I., stated that Philip Vaughan was dead, and that Theobald was not guilty of the contempt laid to his charge. m. 51, dorso.

Staff. Robert le Champiun was attached to answer the plea of William de la More that he had beaten, wounded, and illtreated him at Pencrich on Thursday on the Feast of St. Clement, 10 E. I., and for which he claimed £40 as damages. Robert appeared and denied the injury, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Octaves of the Purification. m. 29, dorso.

Derby. Geoffrey de Grisley, Peter de Grisley, William his brother, William de Hondesacre, and five others, are sued by John Gilbert for beating and wounding and illtreating him at Lullington on the Vigil of Easter 19 E. I., and for which he claimed £100 as damages. The defendants appeared and denied the injury, and put themselves on a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 7, dorso.

Banco Roll, Michaelmas, 19–20 E. I.

Warw. Gerard de Canville recovers the advowson of the Church of Seekindon versus Thomas de Berchester, the jury stating that Albreda his grandmother had presented one Bernard to the Church, and Thomas father of Gerard had presented to the same, Richard Sidense and one Nicholas of their own right, and not by reason of any custody of a minor. m. 40.

Wilt. Ermegerda the widow of Henry de St. Maur not appearing to prosecute her suit versus Nicholas de la Hose for a third part of the manor of Rondon, which she claimed as dower, the suit is dismissed. m. 62.

Warw. Nicholas de la Lee and Alice his wife sued Robert de Okovere and Alice his wife for a third of a messuage, a virgate of land, and 21d. of rent in Franketon, and for one-third of the advowson of the Church, as the dower of Alice. Robert and Alice called to warranty William le Paumer, who is to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 125.

Staff. Matilda the widow of William de Declyng sued the Abbot of Hales for a third of fifty-two acres of land and four acres of meadow in Rouwelegh (Rowley Regis) as her dower. The Abbot stated that he only held twentyfour acres of land and two of meadow of the tenement from which Matilda claimed dower; and as regards those, that her husband had never been seised of them as of fee after he had married her. Matilda stated that at the date when she sued out the writ, viz., 17th May, 19 E. I., the Abbot held the whole tenement, and that her husband was seised of it after her marriage, and she appealed to a jury. A jury is to be summoned for the Octaves of Hillary, nisi Justiciarii prius, etc. m. 159.

North-Staff. Isabella de Grey appeared against Mauger son of Mauger le Vavasur in a plea that he should attend in Court to answer the plea of Henry de Ashecote, the Parson of the Chapel of St. Mary of Ashecote, together with her (Isabella) and one Joan Duilly (de Oilli) of co. Stafford, respecting the annual rent of a cart-load of hay in Dunston in co. Northampton which the said Henry claimed as the right of his Chapel, and respecting which Isabella had pleaded coram Rege, she could not answer without her coparceners the said Mauger and John Duilly. And the Sheriff returned that Manger held nothing within his bailiwick by which he could be attached, and it was testified he held lands and tenements sufficient at Wyklee. The Sheriff is therefore commanded to summon him for three weeks from Easter, and the same day is given to Joan. (fn. 1) m. 204.

Staff. William Shyrard and Petronilla his wife recover a third of a mill in Gretton versus Nicholas de Audelegh, as the dower of Petronilla by default of Nicholas; and as it was testified that Ralph de Gretton the first husband of Petronilla died seised of the tenement, the Sheriff is ordered to inquire by Inquisition the value of the tenement, in order to assess the damages, and to give seisin of it to the plaintiffs. m. 201, dorso.

Staff. Robert de Weston, Robert his brother, Walter de Morton, and seven others, were attached to answer the plea of Philip Marmyun that they had come vi et armis and cut down his growing trees at Northburi (Norbury) to the value of 60s., and committed other enormities, for which he claimed £10 as damages. The defendants appeared and denied the trespass, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for three weeks from Easter. m. 216.

Staff. In the suit of John de Northale versus John Gyffard for an illegal distress, John Giffard took exception to the writ because it made mention of cattle unjustly detained, and in the account now given by John de Northale (in narratione suâ) he spoke of a single heifer having been unjustly seized. The suit is therefore dismissed, and John de Northale is in misericordiâ for a false claim. His fine is remitted by the Justices because he is poor. m. 232.

Staff. William de Tytteleye was summoned to answer the plea of Theobald de Verdun that he unjustly detained a ruby set in gold, of the value of 100s., which he had handed to him at Alveton on the Thursday after the Feast of St. Hillary, 17 E. I., which he ought to have given back to him at the following Feast of the Annunciation. William denied that Theobald had given him the ruby as stated, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned at three weeks from Easter. A postscript states that at Easter the Sheriff sent no writ or jury, and the case was adjourned to the following Quindene of Michaelmas, at which day no jury appeared, and it was further adjourned (no day named). m. 235.

Staff. The Sheriff returned an inquisition assessing the damages of John Giffard of Chillington in his suit versus Richard fitz John at 20 marks, and the Sheriff was ordered to raise the money by writ of fieri facias and pay it into Court at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 241.

Staff. Alice the widow of Henry de Coudray, sued the Abbot of Deulacres for a third of nine messuages, two carucates, and sixty acres of land and fortyone acres of meadow in Overholm and Lek as her dower. The Abbot called Benedict son of Henry de Coudraye to warranty, who is to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary. And she sued Richard son of James de Essinge and Henry son of James de Essinge (fn. 2) in each case for a third of a messuage and a carucate of land and twenty acres of meadow in Essinge. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hands and summon them for the same day. m. 244.

Staff. Roger de Thorenton and Philip son of Philip de Chetewynd came into Court and acknowledged a deed enrolled in these words: "Hec est conventio facta inter Philippum filium Philippi de Chetewynd ex parte suâ et Rogerum de Torenton ex alterâ, videlicet. (Roger demises to Philip the manor of Brerdun, which he held of the gift of Magister John de Lacy by a fine levied in Court, for term of his life, Philip rendering to him for his life 2 marks annually. m. 272.

Staff. The same Roger and Philip appeared in Court and prayed that the following deed might be enrolled: Noverint universi quod ego Philippus filius Philippi de Chetewynde concessi, etc. (Conceding to Roger for his life the manors of Mitton, Crotewych (Gratwich), and Brerdun, together with the advowson of Crotewych, to revert after the death of Roger to Philip and his heirs.) m. 272.

Staff. Philip son of Philip de Chetewynd appeared in Court and prayed that the following deed might be enrolled. (By this deed Philip releases and quit claims to Roger de Thorneton (sic) 44s. which Roger was bound to pay to him for life for a certain annual rent from land in Ireland. No place named.) m. 272.

Staff. Joan the widow of John (sic, William) de Caveriswell sued Richard de Caveriswell for a third of the manor of Caveriswell, and for a third of a rent of 36s. 9d. in Holm, and for a third of a rent of 4s. in Asshe, and for a third of a vivary and water mill, and 8s. of rent in Dulverne (Dilhorn), and for a third of a bovary and bercary, thirty acres of wood, sixty acres of waste, and of a vivary in Staunton, and for a third of half a virgate of land in Folsbrok (Forsbrook), and for a third of 24s. and a penny and a farthing of rent in Fulsford, and for a third of a rent of 44s. and 6d. in Severleg (Saverley), and for a third of a rent of 2s. in Hildeleston, and for a third of smaller rents specified in Muliswic (Milwich), and Waleton, near Stanes; and for a third of seven acres of land in Athelaxton (Ellaston), and for a third of seven cottages, two carucates of land, and 10s. of rent in Bylynton, and for a third for a messuage and 3s. of rent in Legh, near Bylynton, and she sued tenants in Fulford and Selverle for a third of their holdings; and she sued Dionisia the widow of Henry de Caveriswell, the custos of the land and of the heir of Henry for a third of a messuage and half virgate of land in Caveriswell; and she sued Richard son of John de Molewik for a third of a quarter virgate in Mulwich, and William de Ethelaxton and William de Rowenhale for a third of two messuages and two bovates in Quixhill, Robert Bird for a third of a messuage and six acres of land in Cotes, near Molewys, and Richard de Warilowe for a third of half a virgate in Fosbrok as her dower. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff is ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hands, and to summon them for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 280, dorso.

Staff. Robert Bishop of Bath and Wells gives half a mark for license of concord with William Bagot and Isabella his wife. m. 276, dorso.

Staff. Ralph de Rocheford and Agnes his wife sued Philip de Draycote for the custody of two carucates of land in Tillington belonging to them, inasmuch as Richard de Tillington held the land in soccage, and Agnes is his nearest heir. Philip did not appear and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce him at five weeks from Easter. m. 262, dorso.

Salop. Joan the widow of William de Caverswelle sued Richard de Caverswelle for a third of a rent of five marks 8s. 8d., in Tybrigham and Dalileye as her dower. Richard did not appear and is to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary, and the dower claimed to be be taken into the King's hands. m. 244, dorso.

Staff. The Sheriff had been commanded to apprehend Bertram son of Bertram de Burgo, and to keep him in safe custody in the King's prison until he satisfied a debt of £21 4s. 8d., which he had acknowledged to owe to Roger Pride, Merchant of Salop, and the Sheriff returned that Bertram non est inventus. A writ of scire facias issued, returnable at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 138, dorso.

Staff. The suit of the Abbot of Hales versus John Paynel and Margaret his wife in a plea of trespass is dismissed, the Abbot not appearing to prosecute it m. 49, dorso.

Staff. Robert Gaunsil of Alveton sued the Abbot of Crokesdene for a messuage and four bovates of land and nine acres of wood in Doggechedile (Cheadle). The Abbot did not appear, and is to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary, and the tenements to be taken into the King's hands. m. 48, dorso.

Staff. Ralph de Thikness, Thomas le Forester, and two others, were attached to answer the plea of John Organ, that they had taken and imprisoned him at Newcastle-under-Lyme on the Friday after the Feast of St. Martin, 18 E. I., and had detained him a prisoner for three weeks until released by the King's writ, and had taken from him a gold ring, and clothes to the value of 100s., and for which he claimed £20 as damages.

Ralph and the other defendants pleaded that they are Bailiffs of Edmund the King's brother, Lord of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and the said John had beaten and wounded one Henry Bryan so badly that his life was despaired of, and they had sought him out to attach him, and he had fled and remained away fourteen days, and when he returned into the vill the wife of Henry raised the hue and cry against him, stating her husband had been so badly wounded there was no hope of his getting better, and asked that John might be attached until it was certain that her husband would recover. John denied that the hue and cry had been raised against him, and stated he had found six sureties "ad standum recto," and he appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 43, dorso.

Footnotes

  • 1. See note by Canon Bridgeman on the last page of Vol. I., "Staff. Coll."
  • 2. The reader will note here again a patrimony divided between two sons. This, which is by no means uncommon, was done under two customs, one where land was held by Thenage or Sokemanship, and descended by ancient Saxon custom, and the other by virtue of an ancient Norman custom called Paragium, because the second son was placed in pari casu with the elder.