Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 14 Edward III

Staffordshire Historical Collections, Vol. 11. Originally published by Staffordshire Record Society, London, 1890.

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Citation:

'Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 14 Edward III', in Staffordshire Historical Collections, Vol. 11, ed. G Wrottesley, F Parker( London, 1890), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/staffs-hist-collection/vol11/pp100-108 [accessed 4 December 2024].

'Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 14 Edward III', in Staffordshire Historical Collections, Vol. 11. Edited by G Wrottesley, F Parker( London, 1890), British History Online, accessed December 4, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/staffs-hist-collection/vol11/pp100-108.

"Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 14 Edward III". Staffordshire Historical Collections, Vol. 11. Ed. G Wrottesley, F Parker(London, 1890), , British History Online. Web. 4 December 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/staffs-hist-collection/vol11/pp100-108.

In this section

De Banco. Easter, 14 E. III.

Staff. James de Pipe, who was of full age, sued Richard de Stafford, Chivaler, for the manor of Pipe, excepting two messuages. Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff returned the writ reached him too late. He was therefore ordered to summon him for the Octaves of Michaelmas. m. 24, dorso.

Staff. William Bracon not appearing to prosecute his plea against Roger de Rugakre and Margaret, his wife, and William, son of Roger de Rugakre and Agnes, his wife, respecting six acres of land and four acres of meadow in West Bromwych, the suit was dismissed. m. 33.

Staff. Thomas de Arderne, Chivaler, sued Thomas de Pype in a plea that he should render to him a reasonable account for the time he was the Bailiff of the said Thomas, in Rydeware Hamstall. Thomas did not appear, and the Sheriff returned that he had sent the precept to Adam de Peshale, the Bailiff of the Bishop's Liberty, who had done nothing. The Sheriff was therefore ordered, by writ of "non omittas propter libertatem," to summon him for the Quindene of Trinity. m. 67, dorso.

Staff. William de Frodeswalle sued William de Hykelyng for four acres of land and two parts of a messuage in Draycote, as his right and inheritance, and in which the defendant had no entry except by Richard de Craswalle, to whom Adam de Froddeswalle, his brother, whose heir he is, had demised the tenements whilst he was under age. William de Hykelyng stated that Adam was of full age when he demised the tenements, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 71, dorso.

Staff. Henry de Tymmor, Clericus, appeared by attorney against John de Cobbeleye for wounding, beating, and illtreating him at Ednynghale. John did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to arrest and produce him at the Octaves of Michaelmas. m. 124.

Staff. William, son of Robert Galpyn, appeared by attorney against John, son and heir of Thomas Itthel, in a plea that he should warrant to him the third of three acres of land and two acres of meadow in Chedele, which Margery, formerly wife of Thomas Ithel, claimed as dower. John did not appear, and the Sheriff had taken the dower claimed into the King's hand. Margaret is therefore to recover seisin and William is to be compensated from the land of the said John. m. 124.

Staff. Agnes, formerly wife of Roger de Knyghton, sued Henry le Braas, of Holford, for the third of a messuage and two acres of land in Mukleston, and she sued Richard fitzAlan for the third of an acre and Robert fitzAlan for the third of an acre, and Adam, son of William de Knyghton, for the third of a messuage and three acres of land in the same vill, which she claimed as dower. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand, and to summon them for the Quindene of Trinity. m. 128.

Heref. The Prioress of the White Nuns of Brewode sued Alan de Cherleton and Elena, his wife, daughter and one of the heirs of Alan la Zuche, in a plea that they, together with Matilda, the sister of the said Elena, daughter and the other heir of Alan le Zuche, should render to her 100 marks which they owed to her. The defendants did not appear and had been distrained. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to distrain again and produce them on the Morrow of St. John the Baptist. A postscript states that on that day the Sheriff made no return to the writ and he was ordered to produce them on the Octaves of Michaelmas. m. 135.

Leyc. Thomas Gasteneys, Chivaler, appeared by attorney against Richard, son of Simon de Threngeston, for forcibly rescuing his cattle which the servant of Thomas had taken to satisfy an amercement adjudicated against the said Richard in the Court Leet of Thomas at Threngeston. Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at the Quindene of Michaelmas. A postscript states that at that date the Sheriff made no return to the writ, and he was ordered to produce the defendant at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 136.

Dors., Berks, Oxon, Salop, Staff. Henry de Knyghton appeared by his essoign against John, son and heir of John de Brumpton, (fn. 1) in a plea that he should warrant to him the third part of a rent of four marks in Laston, co. Dorset, which Isabella, formerly wife of John de Brumpton, claimed as dower against him, and he had been summoned in the above counties and did not appear. The Sheriffs were therefore ordered to summon him again for the Morrow of St. John the Baptist. m. 168, dorso.

Staff. Robert de Holand not appearing to prosecute his writ against Matilda de Holand, respecting the presentation to the church of Yoxhale, the suit was dismissed and the said Matilda is to have the usual writ of "non obstante" to the Bishop. m. 173, dorso.

Staff. Robert de Holand appeared by his essoign against Henry, Earl of Lancaster, in a plea that he should permit him to present a fit person to the church of Yoxhale. The Earl did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach him for the Octaves of Trinity. m. 174, dorso.

Staff. John, son of Richard de Rivers, Knight, sued Alexander, the Prior of Tuttebury, for a debt of 90 marks, the arrears of an annual rent of 20 marks owing to him. The Prior did not appear and had been distrained and the Sheriff paid into Court 20s. He was therefore ordered to distrain again and produce him at the Quindene of Michaelmas. m. 181, dorso.

Staff. John, son of John Baldwyn, of Salop, sued Thomas, son of Roger de Swynnerton, for the manor of Adbaston. Thomas appeared by attorney, and called to warranty Robert, son of Roger de Swynnerton, who is to be summoned for a month from Michaelmas, by a writ of "non omittas propter libertatem Episcopi Cestrensis." m. 200, dorso.

Staff. The King recovers the presentation to the Prebend of Berkeswych in the church of St. Cedde, of Lychefeld, in a suit against the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. The King claimed on the ground that his predecessor, Edward I, had made a presentation to the Prebend after the death of Walter de Langton, the former Bishop, and whilst the temporalities were in the King's hands. m. 245, dorso.

Staff. Margaret, formerly wife of John de Perton, executrix of the will of John de Perton, was sued by Robert atte Wode, of Kyderminstre, in a plea that she, together with her co-executor, William de Perton, should render to him five marks which they unjustly detained. Margaret appeared and pleaded that she had never had the administration of the goods and chattels of John de Perton in Perton and Tresel as stated by Robert, and she appealed to a jury which is to be summoned for the Octaves of Michaelmas.

William de Perton did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at the same date. m. 308, dorso.

Staff. Robert de Swynnerton sued Roger le Wryghte, of Stafford, and two others, in a plea that they should render a reasonable account for the time they were receivers of his money. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff returned they could not be found, and held nothing, etc. He was therefore ordered to arrest and produce them on the Morrow of St. John the Baptist. m. 353.

De Banco. Mich., 14 E. III.

Staff. The suit of William, son of Hugh de Chauledon, plaintiff, who is said to be of full age, versus John de Haukeston, tenant, of a messuage and two carucates of land, etc., in Madeleye, near Newcastle, is made a remanet, because the said John was in the King's service abroad, and had letters of protection till Christmas. m. 67, dorso.

Salop. The Sheriff was ordered to arrest Robert de Dulverne of Lodelawe, and keep him in safe custody till he had paid to Henry de Fereres, Knight £62, which he had acknowledged to owe to him at Salop in 13 E. III. m. 68.

Staff. William, son of William de Hondesacre, appeared by attorney against Walter de Portes and Margaret, his wife, in a plea that they should carry out a covenant made between them respecting eleven messuages, four tofts, and two carucates of land in Hondesacre. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce them at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 91.

Staff. Alan Bestsped and Joan, his wife, sued John Perkesone, of Cressewalle, and William, his brother, for four acres of land in Cressewalle, which they claimed as the right of Joan.

The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the tenements into the King's hand, and to summon them for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 99.

Staff. Reginald de Bachan and Agnes, his wife, and Isabella, sister of Agnes, sued John de Pendeford, for an acre of land in Rydeware-Maveysin, and they sued John Wysse for an acre of land in the same vill, and they sued Juliana de Pendeford for an acre of land, and they sued Geoffrey Kex for an acre and a half, and John de Croumbford and Alice, his wife, for an acre of land, and Henry de Luttelhay and Katrine, his wife, for an acre of land and Emma, formerly wife of William Maveysin, for an acre of land, and Agnes, daughter of Hugh, son of William, for an acre of land, in the same vill, as the right of the said Agnes and Isabella. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the tenements into the King's hand, and to summon them for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 122, dorso.

Staff. Beatrice, formerly wife of John de Benteleye, senior, sued Richard Aleyn for a third of ten acres of land in Benteleye, and she sued Andrew atte Mere for a third of two acres of moor, in the same vill as her dower. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand, and to summon them at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 122, dorso.

Staff. Beatrice, formerly wife of John de Benetleye, the elder, sued Agnes, formerly wife of John de Bentleye, the younger, for a third of one hundred and seventeen acres of land, thirty acres of meadow, ten acres of moor, and £4 of rent, in Benetleye, Tresele, and Wolvernehampton, as her dower.

Agnes pleaded that the tenements in question only contained one hundred and one acres of land, nine acres of meadow, and she only had 45s. of rent, and that John de Benetleye, senior, had given and conceded these tenements to her and to John de Benetleye, junior, by deed, with a clause of warranty, and she called to warranty John, son of John, son of John de Benetleye who was under age, and whose person and land was in the custody of William de Petlyng, Chaplain. The custos is therefore to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary and was ordered to produce the heir at the same date. m. 144.

Staff. Beatrice, formerly wife of John de Bentleye, the elder, recovers the dower she claimed in Bentleye against Andrew atte Mere and Richard Aleyn, by the default of the defendants. m. 144.

Staff. In the suit of Alice, formerly wife of Robert le Rotour, of Stafford, against Richard Basset, of Chedle, for a third of a messuage, and twenty-five acres of land, etc., in Dulverne (Dilhorn), which she claimed as dower: Richard called to warranty Ralph, son of Ralph Basset, of Chedle, who now appeared to his summons and called to warranty William Trussebut. The Sheriff was ordered to summon the said William for the Quindene of St. Martin, the summons to be made in co. Stafford. m. 167.

Derb. John Giffard, of Chylynton, appeared by attorney against Robert de Overton for causing waste and destruction in houses, lands, gardens, etc., in Chadesden, which he had demised to him for a term of years. Robert did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to proceed in person and make inquisition by a jury into the extent of the damage and return it into Court at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 232.

Staff. Richard de Swynnerton sued John de Westone, Parson of the church of Little Grantesdone, for a debt of £1,000, and the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield had been commanded to produce the said John, his Clerk, and had returned he held no benefice within his diocese, and it was testified he was Dean of St. Cedde, of Salop (sic). Another mandate was therefore sent to the Bishop to produce the said John at the Quindene of Hillary. A postscript states that on that date the Bishop made no return to the writ and he was ordered to produce his clerk at the Quindene of Easter, on which day the Bishop again made no return, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach him for the Octaves of Holy Trinity. m. 253.

Salop. Margaret, formerly wife of John de Perton, sued John Sprynghose, of Astwalle, for a debt of 40 marks. John did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 270.

Staff. The Sheriff had been ordered to arrest Hugh de Wrottesley Knight, William de Pylatonhale, Hervey de Oken, and Ralph de Oken, and to keep them in safe custody in the King's prison until they had fully satisfied a debt of £123 6s. 8d., they had acknowledged to owe to John, son of Walter Geffrey, of Salop, on Friday the Feast of St. Vincent, 12 E. III, before Thomas le Foremon and Roger Pryde, Clerk, deputed to receive acknowledgements of debts at Salop, and which should have been paid on the Feast of Pentecost, 13 E. III. And the Sheriff had done nothing and returned the writ reached him too late; he was therefore ordered as before and to make the return at the Octaves of the Purification. A postscript states that at that date the Sheriff again returned the writ reached him too late, and he was ordered to make the return at the Octaves of St. John the Baptist. m. 284.

Derb. Robert, son of John de Ferrars, sued Geoffrey de Skeftington, for three messuages, a toft, two acres and a rood of land, an acre of meadow, and twenty acres of pasture, and 6s. 8d. of rent, and the rent of a pair of gloves, in Breydeshale, as his right and inheritance, and in which the said Geoffrey had no entry, except by a disseisin which James de Audeleye had made of Robert, son of William de Ferrars, the grandfather of the said Robert, whose heir he is, and he stated that the said Robert, son of William, his grandfather, was seised of the tenements in the reign of Hen. III, and from him the right descended to one John, as his son and heir, and from John to Robert, who now sues as son and heir. Geoffrey called to warranty James, son of Nicholas de Audele, who appeared by attorney and prayed it might be shown why he should warrant the tenements; and Geoffrey stated that James de Audele, the grandfather of James, whose heir he is, had granted to one Geoffrey, son of John de Skeftyngton, the father of the said Geoffrey, and whose heir he is, the manor of Breydeshale, of which the tenements now claimed were a portion, and he produced the deed, and James acknowledged the deed as heir of blood of the said James, but holding nothing of the said James by hereditary descent in fee simple. And James defended his right and denied that his grandfather had disseised the said Robert, son of William, the grandfather of the plaintiff, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Octaves of Hillary. A postscript states that the process was continued until Michaelmas, 17 E. III, when it was transferred to be heard by the Judges of Assize, in co. Derby, by a writ of nisi prius, and a verdict was returned at Dovvebrugge on the Monday after the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary before Roger Hillary, with whom was associated Sir Thomas de Barynton, Knight; when a jury elected ad hoc returned on oath that James de Audeleye had unjustly disseised Robert, son of William de Ferrars, the grandfather of the plaintiff, of the tenements in question, and the said Robert is therefore to recover seisin of them. m. 308.

Staff. John de Wyvereston and Eva, his wife, sued Adam, son of Adam de Chetewynde and William Wymar, for four acres and a half of land and an acre and a half of meadow in Colton and Blythefeld, as the right of Eva. Adam did not appear and had previously made default, and the tenements had been taken into the King's hand. John and Eva therefore recover seisin of them. m. 347.

Staff. John de Codynton and Isabella, his wife, sued Malcolm de Wasteneys for a third of a messuage, a carucate of land, twenty acres of meadow, forty acres of pasture, and 40s. of rent in Tyxhale, as the dower of Isabella, and he did not appear, and the dower claimed was taken into the King's hand. They therefore recover seisin of it by his default, and as it was testified that John de Wasteneys, formerly husband of Isabella, had died seised of the tenements, the Sheriff was ordered to inquire on the oath of a jury into the amount of damage caused to the said Isabella by the detention of her dower, and to return their verdict at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 349.

Staff. Thomas de Wasteneys, Chivaler, appeared by his essoin against William de Knotton and Agnes, his wife, in a plea that they caused waste and destruction in lands, houses, and gardens, in Colton, which William de Wasteneys, the father of Thomas, and whose heir he is, had demised to them for the life of Agnes. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was commanded to attach them for a month from Easter. m. 491.

Glouc. Robert de Staunton sued Ada, formerly wife of John de St. Philbert for a messuage and four carucates of land, excepting two virgates, in Thorineyton which Philip de Mutton had given to Christine, his daughter, and heirs of her body, and which, after the death of Christine and of Peter, her son and heir, and of Robert, son and heir of Peter, should descend to the said Robert de Staunton, son and heir of the said Robert, son of Peter; and he stated that the said Christine was seised of the tenements as of fee, etc., in the reign of Edward I, by the said gift, and from her the right descended to Peter, etc. Ada stated she held the tenements in question for her life of the inheritance of John, son and heir of John de St. Philbert, and the reversion of them after her death belonged to him, and she could not answer without him, and that the said John was under age and in the custody of the King. As Robert de Staunton could not deny this, the suit was to remain till the full age of the said John. m. 507.

Staff. Walter Parles sued Joan Butetourt for the manor of Honnesworth (Handsworth), which William Parles had given to John Parles and heirs of his body, and which after the death of John Parles, should descend to him as son and heir of John, and he stated that the said John Parles was seized of the manor as of fee, etc., in the reign of King Edward I by the above gift. Joan Butetourt appeared by attorney and denied that the said William had given the manor to John as stated, and appealed to a jury which is to be summoned at three weeks from Easter. A postscript shows that the process was continued till Michaelmas, 15 E. III, when it was transferred by writ of nisi prius to be heard before Roger Hillary, with whom was associated John de Aston, Knight, on the Wednesday after the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, 15 E. III, when a jury stated that the said William Parles had not given the manor to John Parles as supposed by the said Walter. Walter was therefore in misericordiâ for a false claim. m. 536.

Derb. Robert de Greseleye, Knight, sued William de Mortimer of Lychefeld in a plea that he should render a reasonable account for the time he was the receiver of his moneys, and he stated by Nicholas de Greseleye, his attorney, that between the 15th June, 12 E. III, up to the following Michaelmas he had received at the hands of the said Robert at Drakelowe, £42, "ad marchandizandum et comodum ipsius Roberti inde faciendum," and although an account had been frequently demanded from him, he had refused to render one. William denied that he was the receiver of the money of the said Robert as stated, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary, and Hugh de Aston, Richard de Aston, Roger de Elington, and William de Whitington, of co. Stafford, stood bail for the said William to produce him at the above term and afterwards. m. 590, dorso.

Staff. Margaret, formerly wife of Nicholas de Halughton, Knight, John de Grendon, and three others were attached to answer the plea of Ralph le Botiller, of Northbury, Chivaler, that they had come by night, on the Sunday after the Nativity of the Blessed Mary, 13 E. III, and broken into his close at Northbury and had taken his goods and chattels, viz., two gold cups, two silver ciphos, twenty-four silver spoons, six gold rings, four gold buckles, two brass pots, three beds, six robes, and other linen and woollen clothes to the value altogether of £60. The defendants appeared by John de Knyghteleye their attorney, and denied the trespass and injury, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 579, dorso.

Staff. Juliana, daughter of Richard de Benteleye, of Norton, sued William le Champion for three messuages, a carucate of land, twelve acres of meadow, and fifty-eight acres of moor in Norton, near Cannokbury, which Thomas de Bentele had given to Richard de Benteleye, and Matilda, his wife, and heirs of their bodies, and which after the death of the said Richard and Matilda should descend to her as their daughter and heir, by the form of gift, and she stated that the said Richard and Matilda were seised of the tenements in question in fee, etc., by the above gift, in the reign of Edward I.

William defended his right, and denied that the said Thomas had given the tenements to Richard and Matilda as stated, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for five weeks from Easter. A postscript shews that the process was continued till Michaelmas, 15 E. III, when a writ of nisi prius was issued and it was heard before Roger Hillary and Sir John de Aston, on the Wednesday after the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula at Lichfield, when a verdict was given in favor of Juliana, who recovered seisin of the tenements. m. 525, dorso.

Staff. Isabella, formerly wife of Henry le Prestesmon, sued John, son of John de Brumpton, for a third of a messuage, a carucate of land, twenty acres of meadow, and twenty acres of pasture in Eyton (Church-Eaton) as her dower, of the dotation of Henry, formerly her husband. John stated he was not tenant of the tenements in question, nor was he tenant at the date of the writ, viz., on the 24th May, 14 E. III. Isabella replied he was tenant at the date of the writ and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 507, dorso.

Warr. Ralph Basset, of Drayton, and Richard de Stafford, executors of the will of Margaret, formerly wife of Thomas de Pype, sued William de Brimesgrave, of Childerwykwane, in a plea that he should render a reasonable account for the time he was bailiff of the said Margaret in Waweneswotton. William did not appear, and the Sheriff returned he held nothing by which he could be attached. He was therefore ordered to arrest and produce him at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 507, dorso.

Staff. Thomas de Clopton sued John de Hondesacre and Isabella, his wife in a plea that they should carry out a covenant made between them respecting sixteen acres of land and four acres of meadow in Homerwych. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach them for the Octaves of Hillary. m. 446, dorso.

Salop. John le Skirmesour sued Robert de le Legh for four messuages, and four virgates of land in Pontesbury, and he sued William Aleyn for two messuages and a carucate of land in Staunton Lacy, and he sued John le Walshe, of Salop, and John, his son for three messuages, two carucates, and half a virgate of land, ten acres of meadow, and ten acres of wood, and 4s. 9d. of rent in Longedon, near Hanewode, which William de Stepelton his great grandfather, whose heir he is, had given to Robert, the son of the said William, and to his male issue, and failing such to Reginald, the brother of the said Robert, son of William, and his male issue, and which after the death of the said Robert and Reginald should revert to him by the form of gift inasmuch as they had died without leaving any male heir, and he gave this pedigree:—

Pedigree

The defendants appeared and Robert pleaded that he held the land claimed from him conjointly with Joan, his wife, who was not named in the writ, and William Aleyn pleaded that he held the tenements claimed from him conjointly with Joan, his wife, and John, his son, who were not named in the writ, and John le Walshe and John, his son, pleaded that John le Walshe was sole tenant, and they prayed judgment on the writ. John le Skirmesour stated that at the date of the writ, the defendants held the tenements claimed, as set out in the writ and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for three weeks from Easter. A postscript shews adjournments of the suit through defect of a jury up to Hillary term, 15–16 E. III. m. 413, dorso.

Staff. Juliana, daughter of Richard de Benteleye, of Norton, sued Reginald Aldyth of Norton, for twenty-six acres of land, four acres of meadow, five acres of wood, and twelve acres of moor in Norton, near Cannokbury, and she sued Adam Jurdan, of Alrewych, for twelve acres of land, and five acres of wood, and William Rowe, for six acres of land, and five acres of meadow, and Richard Burgeys, and Margaret his wife, for two acres of meadow, and Richard Saleway, of Norton, for twelve acres of land, and five acres of wood, and Stephen Fordyane, of Pype, for twelve acres of land, and five acres of wood, in the same vill, which Thomas de Benteleye had given to Richard de Benteleye, and Matilda, his wife, and heirs of their bodies, and which after their death should descend to her as their daughter and heir. The defendants appeared and defended their right, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Octaves of Hillary. A postscript states the process was continued till Michaelmas 15 E. III, when Beatrice (sic) made default, and she was plaintiff. The suit was therefore dismissed. m. 308, dorso.

Staff. William Bracoun sued Roger de Rugacre and Margaret, his wife, and William, son of the said Roger and Margaret, for six acres of land, and three acres of meadow, in Westbromwych. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the tenements claimed into the King's hand, and to summon them for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 308, dorso.

Staff. Thomas, son of William Coly, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, sued Jordan de Trubbeshagh, for a messuage and a carucate of land in Tunstale, and Jordan had made default at Easter term, and the tenements had been taken into the King's hand, and, Thomas now claimed seisin of the tenements by his default. Jordan appeared by attorney and denied the summons and offered to wage his law. He was therefore ordered to appear with his compurgators on the Morrow of the Purification. A postscript shows that Jordan waged his law at that date, and the suit was dismissed. m. 240, dorso.

Staff. Beatrice, formerly wife of John de Benetleye, sued William Petyt, for a third of sixty acres of land, twenty acres of meadow, and ten acres of moor, in Benetleye, and she sued Nicholas Gamel for a third of thirty acres of land, ten acres of wood, and eight acres of moor, and Richard Norman, for a third of ten acres of land, and Richard Attewall, for a third of six acres of land, and William, son of Robert Atte Pyrie, for a third of twelve acres of land, and three acres of moor, and Richard de Bromwych, chaplain, for a third of twenty acres of land, and an acre of meadow, and William othe Grene, for a third of twelve acres of land, three acres of meadow, and of an acre of moor, and John del Hethe, for a third of forty acres of land, and Walter del Hethe, for a third of ten acres of land, in the same vill, which she claimed as dower, of the dotation of John de Benetleye the elder, formerly her husband.

The defendants appeared by Roger de Aston, their attorney, and John del Hethe pleaded that with the exception of two acres, he held the land claimed against him conjointly with Alice his wife, who was not named in the writ, and Walter del Hethe pleaded he held the land claimed against him conjointly with John, his son, who was not named in the writ; as Beatrice could not deny these pleas, the suits against John and Walter were dismissed.

William Petyt pleaded that one Joan, formerly wife of Ralph Petyt, held fifty-three acres of the land claimed from him. Beatrice joined issue on this point, and appealed to a jury which is to be summoned for the Quindene of St. Martin.

And the said William Petyt as regarded the residue of the land claimed against him, and the other defendants, except Richard de Bromwych, called to warranty John, son of John, son of John de Benetleye, kinsman and heir of John de Benetleye, the elder who was under age, and whose person and land were in the custody of William Petlyng, chaplain. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to summon the custos and the heir for the Quindene of St. Martin.

And Richard de Bromwych for the land claimed against him, called to warranty William de Alrewych, and the Sheriff was ordered to summon him for the same date. m. 212, dorso.

Footnotes

  • 1. John de Brimpton, Lord of Church-Eaton, in Staffordshire.