Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 13 Edward III

De Banco. Easter, 13 E. III.

Staff. Alice, formerly wife of Robert le Rotour, of Stafford, sued Ralph Basset of Chedle, and Joan his wife, for a third of a messuage, twenty-five acres of land, and seven and a-half acres of meadow in Dulverne as her dower. Ralph and Joan called to warranty Richard Basset of Chedle, who is to be summoned for the Quindene of Trinity. m. 36.

Staff. Thomas de Dene and Avice, his wife, and Thomas le Smyth of Snytenfield and Joan his wife, sued William de Aston, and Margaret his wife for a messuage and a carucate of land in Longedon, as the right of the said Avice and Joan. The defendants did not appear and the Sheriff returned the writ reached him too late. He was therefore ordered to summon them for the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 78, dorso.

Staff. Thomas de London, the Prior of Duddeleye, sued Edmund de Penne for a debt of £36. Edmund did not appear, and the Sheriff returned he had been distrained up to 20d. He was therefore ordered to distrain again, and to produce him at the Octaves of Trinity. m. 84.

Ebor. Ralph de Burton and Agnes his wife, sued William de la Chaumber, Chaplain, for the third part of two bovates of land in Burton Annays, and they sued Magister John de Somerville, Parson of the Church of Benton for a third of eight messuages, twelve bovates of land, etc., in Thirnem, and they sued Roger, son of George de Salvayn, Chivaler, for a third of three messuages, a toft, a croft, a mill, and three and a half bovates of land in Carthorp and Willesthorp, as the dower of Agnes, of the dotation of Roger de Somerville, her former husband.

William and John appeared by attorney, and Roger by his custos, and they called to warranty Philip de Somerville, brother and heir of Roger de Somerville, who was to be summoned in cos. York, Warwick, and Northumberland, and the said Philip now appeared by attorney to the summons served upon him in Northumberland, and prayed it might be shewn why he should warrant the tenements to them.

And Roger, son of George stated, that Roger de Somerville, the brother of the said Philip, and whose heir he is, had enfeoffed him in the tenements with a clause of warranty, and he called the said Philip to warranty. And Philip, for the dower claimed against the said William, and as heir of blood of the said Roger, but holding nothing from him in fee simple by hereditary right, warranted the dower to him, and the said Ralph and Agnes are therefore to have from the said Philip to the value of the dower claimed, out of the land which had descended to him by hereditary right from the said Roger, and as regarded the other defendants, Philip denied the claim to warranty, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Octaves of Trinity. m. 107, dorso.

Derb. Staff. Robert Mold, of Twyford, appeared against John, son of John de Ipstanes in a plea that he should warrant to him the third part of eight messuages, and eight bovates of land in Steyneston and Twyford, in co. Derby, which Elizabeth, formerly wife of John de Ipstanes, Chivaler, claimed against him as dower. John did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to take into the King's hand, land belonging to the said John to the value of the dower claimed, and to summon him for the Quindene of St. Michael, and the Sheriff was ordered to make a return into Court of the said value at the Quindene of Trinity. m. 116, dorso.

Salop. William de Ercalwe sued Richard atte Lane of Wolvernehampton in a plea that he should render a reasonable account for the time he was receiver of the moneys of the said William. Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff had been ordered to arrest him and returned he could not be found, and held nothing within his bailiwick. He was therefore ordered as before to arrest and produce the said Richard at the Octaves of St. Michael. m. 174.

Staff. William de Ercalwe sued Thomas Hillary, John de Ruggeley, John de Wyrley, Richard Tokery, Henry de Shene, Henry de Wotton, Stephen Bythewater of Salt, William atte Lowe, Philip de Ipstanes, and John de Bysshebury in a plea that each of them should render to him a reasonable account for the time they were the receivers of the moneys of the said William. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain those who had found sureties and to arrest the others, and to produce them all at the Octaves of St. Michael. (fn. 1) m. 174.

Staff. Robert, son of Robert de Gresbrok not appearing to prosecute his plea against William, son of William atte Rydyng, for a messuage and forty acres of land, and four acres of meadow in Shenstone, the suit was dismissed, and the said Robert and his sureties, viz., John de Gresbrok and William Page, are in misericordiâ. m. 199.

Staff. Richard Levessone, Nicholas de Wythwyke, and Juliana, formerly wife of John atte Lowe, executors of the will of John atte Lowe, sued Richard, son of Reginald de Pelshale, for a debt of 5 marks. Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at the Octaves of St. John the Baptist. m. 239.

Staff. William de Sutton, of Warrewyk, and Margaret his wife, sued Christiana, formerly wife of Roger de Ocovere for a third part of the manor of Ocovere, in Ocovere (sic), Matherfeld, Casterne, and Ilum, excepting five messuages, a carucate, and one hundred acres of land, and four acres of meadow in the same manor. And they sued Richard de Methford, Parson of the church of Blore for the third of a messuage, twenty acres of land, and an acre of meadow in the same vill of Ocovere, and they sued Alice le Budeles for the third of a messuage, and twenty acres of land, and half an acre of meadow in the same vill; and they sued John de Snelleston for the third of a messuage, and forty acres of land, and an acre of meadow in the same vill; and they sued William, son of Alice le Budeles, for the third of a messuage, twenty acres of land, and half an acre of meadow in the same vill, as the dower of the said Margaret, of the dotation of John, formerly her husband.

Christiana and the other defendants appeared by attorney and called to warranty William, Parson of the Church of Enefeld, who now appeared and warranted the dower claimed from them, and stated that the said manor was formerly in seisin of Roger de Ocovere, Knight, who had granted and conceded it to him and to his heirs for ever by a deed, with a clause of warranty, and he called to warranty Thomas, son and heir of the said Roger, who was under age and whose person was in the custody of Christiana, formerly wife of the said Roger de Okovere, and a part of his lands were in the custody of Walter de Mungomery, Chivaler, and another part in the custody of Edward de Chaundos, Chivaler, and another part in the custody of Thomas de Rolleston and Reina his wife. The said custodes are therefore to be summoned for the Quindene of Trinity and the custos of the person of the heir is to produce him at the same date to warrant the tenements. m. 248.

Derb. Henry de Hambury, Chivaler, and Isabella, his wife, Simon of the Halle and Agnes, his wife, and Henry, son of the said Simon, John Wildegos and Isolda, his wife, John Tury, and Joan, his wife, William le Walour, and Alice, his wife, and Roger Broun of Snelleston, and Sibil his wife appeared by attorney against Christiana, formerly wife of Roger de Okoure, custos of the person and of part of the lands of Thomas, son and heir of the said Roger de Okovere, Edward de Chaundoys, Thomas de Rolleston, and Reyna, his wife, custodes of another part of the said lands, Walter de Moungomery, custos of another part of the same lands, and John, son of Roger de Bradeburn, custos of another part of the same lands, in a plea that they should be present in Court with the said heir, to warrant to the said Henry de Hambury, and Isabella, and the other plaintiffs a third part of their several tenancies in Snelleston, which Christiana, formerly wife of Roger de Okoure, Knight, claimed as dower against them. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to take into the King's hand, land belonging to the heir, to the value of the dower claimed, and to summon them for the Quindene of Trinity, on which day the custos of the heir is to produce him in Court. m. 249, dorso.

Staff. William de Wode, Clericus, sued William, son of Richard Sherard, of Chetelton, for a third part of a messuage and a carucate of land, four acres of meadow, and sixty acres of wood in Chetilton, in which the said William, son of Richard, had no entry except by Adam de Wode, who had demised the tenements to him unjustly, and he stated that he had been seised of the tenements in the reign of the King's father.

William, son of Richard, appeared by attorney, and produced a deed of the plaintiff by which under the name of William, son of Adam le Wode, he had remitted and quit-claimed to him all his right in the said tenements. William de Wode denied that the deed was his act and appealed to a jury, and the witnesses of the deed, viz., Sir Philip Barinton, Knight, Sir Henry de Cressewelle, Knight, Sir Ralph Basset, of Chedle, Knight, Sir John Basset, Rector of the Church of Chedele, William de Stanlowe, William de Lemersete, William del Sharpeclif of the same county, the witnesses named in the deed. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to produce them at a month from Michaelmas. A postscript shews that the process was continued till Michaelmas term 17 E. III, when it was removed by writ of nisi prius to be heard before Roger Hillary in the county, when the plaintiff made no appearance, and the suit was dismissed. m. 274.

Staff. Leo de Perton sued William de Pylatenhale, John de Levynton, Thomas de Piletenhale, John de Houton, John of the Halle of Newport, John de Fulford, Ralph his brother, and John the Abbotesbaillyf, of Dore, in a plea that they had forcibly reaped his growing wheat at Wyghtwyk. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce them at the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 308.

De Banco. Mich., 13 E. III.

Staff. William, son of Hugh de Chauledon the younger (junioris), who is of full age, sued Nicholas de Haukeston for a messuage and two carucates of land, six acres of meadow, and five acres of wood in Madeleye, near New Castle under Lyme by a writ of entry. Nicholas called to warranty John, son of Alan de Haukeston, who is to be summoned for the Octaves of Hillary, the summons to be executed both in this county and in co. Salop.

A postscript states that at that date the Sheriff made no return and he was ordered to summon him for the Octaves of Trinity. m. 39, dorso.

Staff. The suit between William, son of Hugh de Chauledon and John de Haukeston respecting tenements in Madeleye remains sine die, the said John having letters of protection whilst employed in the King's service abroad to last from the 24th July, 13 E. III, till the following Christmas. m. 76.

Staff. William de Marnham, who is of full age, sued Nicholas, son of Roger Basset, for twenty acres of land, and five acres of meadow, and five acres of pasture in Westbromwych, which he had demised to him whilst under age. Nicholas appeared by Roger de Wyrleye, his custos, and did not deny that the tenements had been demised to him by William whilst under age. William is therefore to recover seisin of them, and Nicholas is in misericordiâ, but his fine was remitted because he was under age. m. 76, dorso.

Staff. John de Stalinton, the Prior of Stone, Matilda, formerly wife of Roger de Swynnerton, Nicholas de Swynnerton, and William de Blorton the executors of the will of Roger de Swynnerton, appeared by attorney against Walter de Dorsete, of London, Taillour, in a plea that he should render a reasonable account for the time he was the receiver of the money of the said Roger. Walter did not appear, and the Sheriff returned he could not be found and held nothing by which he could be attached; he was therefore ordered to arrest and produce him at the Octaves of St. Martin. m. 91.

Staff. Agnes, formerly wife of Richard, son of Henry Ingessone, sued Henry, son of Richard, son of Henry Ingessone, for a third of a messuage, a carucate of land, and twelve acres of meadow in Kingesleye, which she claimed as dower. Henry did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand and to summon him for the Octaves of St. Martin. m. 145, dorso.

Staff. John de Barre, senior, sued Geoffrey de Barre in a plea that he had forcibly broken into his close at Little Barre, and taken fish from his fish ponds to the value of £20. Geoffrey did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 145, dorso.

Staff. Ralph Basset, of Drayton, executor of the will of Ralph, son of Ralph Bassett, of Drayton, appeared by attorney against Richard, son of John de la Wardrobe, of Pembrugge, in a plea that he should render a reasonable account for the time he was the receiver of the money of the said Ralph, son of Ralph. Richard 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 Quindene of St. Martin. m. 145, dorso.

Staff. The Sheriff had been ordered to distrain Thomas de la Hyde, Hugh atte Pyrye, John de Engleton, John Giffard, and Ada, formerly wife of John Giffard, and to produce them in Court to acknowledge by what services they held their tenements of Ralph Thikbrome in Gunston, and which services the said Ralph had conceded in the Court of King Edward the King's father to Hugh de Gunston by a fine levied between the said Hugh de Gunston, complainant, and the said Ralph, deforciant, of 12s. of rent and the sixth part of a Knight's fee in Gunston. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff had been ordered to distrain, and he returned certain sums into Court as the proceeds of distraints levied against all the defendants, except John de Engleton and Ada, whom he stated were dead, and it was testified in Court that they were alive. He was therefore ordered as before to distrain and produce them at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 158.

Staff. John de Barre, senior, appeared by attorney against Geoffrey, the brother of John de Barre the younger, and John de Barre the younger, in a plea that they had forcibly broken into his house at Little Barre, had insulted, wounded, and ill-treated him, and carried away his goods and chattels to the value of £20. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff returned that he had distrained the said Geoffrey and 10d. as proceeds. He was therefore ordered to distrain again and produce him at the Quindene of Hillary, and as regarded John, he returned that he could not be found and he was ordered to arrest and produce him at the same date. m. 163.

Salop. Staff. Philip de Stepelton appeared by attorney against Robert de Stepelton, kinsman and heir of Robert de Stepelton, Knight, in a plea that he should warrant to him two mills in Great Barre, in co. Stafford, which Thomas, son of William de Morteyn, claimed against him, and he had been summoned in co. Salop for this day and did not appear. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to take lands belonging to him to the value of the mills in question into the King's hand, and to summon him for the Morrow of the Purification, and as the value of the mills was not known, the Sheriff of co. Stafford was ordered to appraise them on the oath of legal and honest men, and to return the value into Court at the same date. A postcript shows repeated adjournments of the case up to Michaelmas 14 E. III, the Sheriff of Staffordshire not having sent the extent required. m. 198, dorso.

Staff. Ralph Basset, of Chedle, and Joan his wife, appeared by attorney against Richard Basset, of Chedle, in a plea that he should warrant to them the third of a messuage, twenty-five acres of land, and seven and a half acres of meadow in Dulverne, which Alice, formerly wife of Robert le Rotour, of Stafford, claimed against them as dower. Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to take land belonging to him to the value of the dower claimed into the King's hand, and to summon him for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 232, dorso.

Staff. Albreda, formerly wife of John de Tewenhale, sued Thomas de Whatecroft for the third of a messuage, sixty acres of land, twelve acres of meadow, six acres of wood, and twelve acres of pasture in Horebourne, as dower. Thomas pleaded that she had released all claim to dower in the said tenements to him under the name of Thomas, son of Adam Whetecroft, of Northfelt, by a deed dated from Horebourne on the Sunday after the Feast of Saints Tyburca and Valeria, 19 E. II, which he produced. Albreda replied that at the date of the deed she was cooperta by her husband John de Tewenhale, which she was prepared to prove. Thomas denied this, and stated she was sola et non cooperta at the date of the deed, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Octaves of Hillary. m. 262.

Staff. Thomas, son of William de Morteyn, sued Isabella, formerly wife of Robert de Stepelton, for the manor of Great Barre, excepting two mills, six acres of land, and the advowson of the Church of Alrewych (Aldridge) and he sued Richard le Chaumberleyn for six acres in Great Barre, which Robert de Barre had given to Roger de Morteyn and Isabella, his wife, and the heirs of their bodies, and by which grant the said Roger and Isabella were seised in demesne of fee temp. E. I, and from the said Roger and Isabella the right descended to one, William, as son and heir, and from the said William to Thomas, who now sues, aud he produced his proofs.

Isabella called to warranty William le Deystere, of Bermyngeham, Chaplain, who appeared and warranted the manor to her and, Richard for the tenement claimed against him, called to warranty the said Isabella, who appeared and warranted the tenement to him. And the said William and Isabella defended the suit against them, and denied that Robert de Barre had given the manor and the six acres in question to the said Roger and Isabella and their issue, and appealed to a jury which is to be summoned for the Morrow of the Purification. A postscript shows repeated adjournments of the suit till Michaelmas 16 E. III, when it was transferred to be heard before William de Shareshull and Roger Hillary by a writ of nisi prius, and the said Thomas, being solemnly called before them, did not appear, and the suit was dismissed. m. 227.

Staff. William, son of Hugh de Bearston (Burston) and Matilda his wife, sued Thomas, son of Thomas de Aston, for three acres of land in Mere, near Assheleye; and they sued Margaret de Staundon for an acre of land in the same vill, and they sued Robert, son of Margaret de Staundon, for an acre of land in the same vill, and they sued William, son of Margaret de Staundon for an acre of land in the same vill as the right of the said Matilda. Thomas appeared by John de Snethe, his custos, and the others appeared by attorney, and prayed a view, and the suit was adjourned to the Quindene of Hillary. m. 351.

Staff. John, son of Ralph de Whitemore sued John, son of Roger de Trentham for three acres of land in Swynnerton. The defendant did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to take the lands into the King's hand and to summon him for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 366.

Staff. The same John, son of Ralph, sued William, son of William de Bromley the elder, seniorem, for two acres of land in Swynnerton. William prayed a view and the suit was adjourned to the same day. m. 366.

Staff. Richard de la Lone and Margaret, his wife, sued William de Perton, of Tresell for a debt of £10 10s., owing to the said Margaret as arrears of an annual rent of 10s. William did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 414.

Staff. Agnes, formerly wife of Richard, son of Henry Ingessone recovers the dower she claimed in Kyngesleye, in a suit against Henry, son of Richard Ingesone, by default of the defendant. m. 440.

Staff. William de Morton, Clericus, appeared by his essoin against John, son of William de Morton, Adam de Morton, and William, his son, John, brother of the said William, Thomas de Morton, Robert de Orselowe, and Robert de Ruyton, for forcibly making him a prisoner at Morton, in Gnousale, and taking him as a prisoner as far as Lilleshull, in co. Salop, and retaining him in prison there until he had paid a fine of £40 for his release, and for taking his horse worth £20. None of the defendants appeared and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce them at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 467, dorso.

Staff. Vivian, son of Vivian de Staundon, sued John, son of Vivian de Staundon, and Margaret, his wife, for the manor of Staundon, which Robert de Staundon, Knight, had given to Vivian de Staundon and Matilda, his wife, and the heirs of their bodies, and which after the death of the said Vivian and Matilda, and of Vivian their son, should descend to the said Vivian, son of Vivian, son of Vivian and Matilda, as kinsman and heir of the said Vivian and Matilda, and he stated that under this gift the said Vivian and Matilda, were seised temp. E. I, and he gave this pedigree—

John and Margaret denied that Robert de Staundon had given the manor to the said Vivian and Matilda as stated by the plaintiff, and appealed to a jury which is to be summoned for five weeks from Easter. A postcript shows that the suit was transferred to be heard at Wolverhampton, by writ of nisi prius, and was heard before Roger Hillary, with whom was associated Henry de Bysshebury, Chivaler, on the Monday after the close of Easter, when a jury returned a verdict in favor of Vivian, who recovered seisin of the manor. m. 494, dorso.

Leyc. Matilda, formerly wife of Robert de Holand, sued Robert, son and heir of Robert de Holand, in a plea that he should warrant to her half the manor of Baggeworth which William, son of William de Harecourt claimed against her, and he had been summoned in cos. Lancaster, Northampton, and Stafford, and did not appear, and the Sheriff made no return to the writ. He was therefore ordered to summon him again for the Quindene of Hillary, and the attorney of Matilda was told she must proceed with the suit at her own peril. m. 495.

Staff. Simon de Ruggeleye sued Adam atte Goter, of Ruggeleye, in a plea that he should render a reasonable account for the time he was his Bailiff in Haselovere (Haslor). Adam 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 the Purification. m. 498.

Staff. Robert, son of Robert de Gresbrok by John de Gresbrok his attorney, sued William, son of William atte Rudyng for a messuage and forty-four acres of land in Shenstone. William did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to take the tenements into the King's hand and to summon him for five weeks from Easter. A postcript shows repeated adjournments of the suit up to Hillary term, 14–15 E. III. m. 512.

Staff. Margaret, formerly wife of Henry, son of Adam le Mulward, of Boterdon, recovers a toft and four acres of land in Boterdon, in a suit against Ralph, son of John Richard, of Grendon, the said Ralph to be compensated from the land of William Loweles, of Grendon, who had not appeared when called to warranty. m. 527.

Staff. John, son of Richard, son of William Swetemon, of Fynchespathe, recovers a messuage in Fynchespathe, in a suit against Walter, son of Robert de Covene, by the default of the latter. m. 529.

Staff. Robert Hereward, of Colton, sued Cecily, formerly wife of Ralph, son of John de Colton, and William, son of the said Cecily, for a messuage and an acre of land in Colton, which John Gryffynesmon had given to John Hereward in frank marriage with Margaret, his daughter, and which after the death of the said John and Margaret, should descend to him as their son and heir. Cecily and William appeared by William de Whytyngton, attorney for Cecily and custos of William, and pleaded he held nothing in the tenements, and the said Cecily stated she held the whole of it for her life of the inheritance of the said William, by a demise made by John Hereward. As William was under age the suit is to remain till his full age. m. 537.

Staff. Richard de Stafford and Isabella, his wife, appeared by Roger de Aston, their attorney, in a plea against Matilda de Vernoun that she should carry out a covenant made between them by which she should find sufficient security for a rent of £30, to be received from the lands and tenements formerly belonging to William de Campville, father of Matilda, in CliftonCampville, and Haunton. Matilda did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to attach her for the Octaves of Hillary.

Staff. John, son of John de Morton, near Neuport, had acknowledged before the King's Justices at York at Easter, 11 E. III, that he owed to William de Morton, Parson of the Church of Holm, near Mare, £40, and which had not been paid, and William prayed for execution; and John now appeared in person and stated that William had been paid the £40 and he held his letter of acquittance for it, which was dated from Morton, on Palm Sunday, 12 E. III. William stated that the deed was not his act and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 550. (fn. 2)

Staff. Hugh le Smyth and Agnes, his wife, and Thomas le Breuster and Matilda, his wife, sued Adam de Derleye for half a virgate of land and a messuage in Hughcesdon (Hixon) and they sued Roger, son of Felice de Hughcesdon, for an acre of land in the same vill, which Isolda de Bromleye, the great-grandmother of Agnes and Matilda, whose heirs they are, was seised temp. E. I, and from Isolda the right descended to Hugh, as her son and heir, and from Hugh to William, as son and heir, and from William to Agnes and Matilda, as daughters and heirs. Adam prayed a view, and the suit was adjourned to the Quindene of Hillary. m. 559, dorso.

Staff. William, son of Stephen de Brokholes, sued Robert, son of Richard de Burton, of Forebrugge, for ten acres of land in Bromleye Bagot, and Robert de Cok for four acres of land, and John, son of Amice de Bromleye Bagot, for four acres of land, and other tenants in the same vill, for other land; none of the defendants appeared, and the land had been taken into the King's hand. William therefore recovers it by their default. m. 576.

Staff. The Sheriff had been ordered to summon for this term Sir Philip de Barinton, Knight; Sir Henry de Cressewelle, Knight; Sir Ralph Basset, of Chedele, Knight; Sir John Basset, the Rector of the Church of Chedele; William de Stanlowe, William de Leversete, and William del Sharpcliff, the witnesses named in a deed of quit-claim which William, son of Richard Sherard, of Chetelton, produced in Court under the name of William de Wode, Clerk, respecting the third part of a messuage, a carucate of land, four acres of meadow, and sixty acres of wood in Chetelton, which the said William claimed as his right. And the parties appeared in Court but the Sheriff returned the writ reached him too late, and he was ordered to summon them for the Octaves of the Purification. m. 574.

A deed enrolled, by which John, son of William de Bromleye, releases to William de Bromleye, Clerk, his brother, all the right or claim he held in lands and tenements which the said William held of his feoffment in Botterton within the demesne of Whitegreve, and in all the lands and tenements which the said William his brother held by the gift and feoffment of William de Bromleye, his father, in Bromleye, Whitemore, Brocton, and within the manor of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Witnesses—Sir William de Shareshulle and Sir Roger Hillary, Knights and Justices de Banco of the King, Nicholas de Ruggeleye, John de Delves, John de Wyverstone, John de Snede, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Ralph Burgynion, junior, and others. Dated from London, on the Thursday the Feast of St. Katherine, 13 E. III.

William de Shareshulle, Knight, and Thomas, son and heir of Otewel Purcel, came into Court and acknowledged the deed given below and prayed it might be enrolled.

By this deed Sir William Shareshulle, Knight, grants to Thomas, son and heir of Otewel Purcel aud to Joan, his wife, all the lands and tenements, services, etc., both of free tenants as of villein tenants, which he held in Great Tywe, in co. Oxford, of the gift and feoffment of Sir Thomas de Bamburgh and of John Nichol, Chaplain, and for this gift and concession the said Thomas gave to him in exchange the manor of Shareshulle, in co. Stafford. Witnesses—Richard de Williamescote, Thomas de Langele, Robert de Barton, Walter de Somerton, William de Louthes, Thomas de Eyton, Simon de Dychesle. Dated from Great Tywe on the Tuesday, the Feast of St. Lawrence, 13 E. III.

Assizes taken at Stafford before William de Shareshulle and other Justices on the Vigil of St. Michael. 13 E. III.

An assize, etc., if Robert de Stepelton and Godwin le Taillour, and John Williames, of Blokeswych, had unjustly disseised Alice L'Archer of twenty acres of land, four acres of meadow, and ten acres of wood in Walsale. The defendants did not appear, but Richard in the Lone answered for them as Bailiff, and denied the disseisin. The jury stated that Godwin and John had disseised the plaintiff, but that Robert had no hand in it. Alice is therefore to recover seisin. Damages 20s.

Staff. Robert, son of John, son of Nicholas le Messager, not prosecuting his suit against Adam de Chetewynde and others respecting tenements in Colton and Blithfield, he and his sureties are in misericordiâ.

Staff. Robert, son of Richard de Blorton, not prosecuting his suit against Roger, son of Roger de Honford and others, respecting tenements in Blorton, he and his sureties are in misericordiâ.

Staff. Roger, son of Roger de Levynton, and Juliana, his wife, not prosecuting their suit against Roger le Lord of Levynton, and others, respecting tenements in Levynton (Loynton), they and their sureties are in misericordiâ.

Assizes taken at Lychefeld before the same Justices on the Saturday after the Close of Easter. 13 E. III.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Robert Mauveysin, Chivaler, and Margaret, his wife, had unjustly disseised Roger, the Bishop of Coventry and Lychfeld of a piece of land, 2,000 perches in length and ten perches in width, in Ruggele. Robert and Margaret stated that the land in question was the soil of the River Trent, and they answered as tenants, and stated that the River Trent was the boundary between Ruggele and Rydeware, and half the said land on the Rydeware side was in Rydeware and not in Ruggele, and they took exception to the writ on this ground, and they pleaded further that they had done no injury to the Bishop, and appealed to a jury. A jury found in favour of the Bishop, stating that the whole of the land was in Ruggele. The Bishop is therefore to recover seisin, and he remitted his claim to damages. m. 2.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Hugh de Wrottesleye and William de Wrottesleye had unjustly disseised John de Hampton of the manor of Wrottesleye. The defendants did not appear, and the assize was taken in their absence. A jury found in favour of John, and assessed his damages at 100s. (fn. 3)

Staff. An assize, etc., if Adam de Chetewynde, John de Wynreston, and Eva, his wife, Robert Bithewater of Salt, Robert de Sheperugge (Seabridge), John, son of Robert Bithewater of Salt, and William Roberdesserjaunt Bithewater of Salt (sic) had unjustly disseised Robert, son of John, son of Nicholas le Messeger of a messuage and forty acres of land in Colton and Blithefeld. William answered for the defendants as Bailiff, and denied the disseisin, and the said John and Eva answered as tenants, and called the said Adam to warranty, who warranted the tenements to them, and stated that one Henry, son of John le Messager, of Admundestonle, the brother of the said Robert, son of John, and whose heir he is, had remitted and quit-claimed to him and to his heirs the tenements in question by his deed, which he produced. Robert, son of John, denied that the deed had been executed by his brother, and appealed to a jury. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to produce the witnesses at Stafford on the Tuesday before Michaelmas, viz., Richard, lord of Blythefeld, William Gryffyn, of Colton, Robert de Hampton, William Cradok of Admundeston, and John Andreu del Lee. m. 2.

Pleas of Assizes taken at Wolvernehampton before William de Shareshulle, Roger Hillary, and John de Peyto, senior, Justices assigned, etc., on the Friday the Morrow of St. Katrine the Virgin. 13 E. III.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Thomas le Rous, Chivaler, John Maureward, John de Bevercotes and Matilda, his wife, Godewin le Taillour, and John Williames, of Bloxwych, had unjustly disseised Alice L'Archer of a messuage and 100 acres of land, sixteen acres of meadow, and four acres of pasture in Walsale. Thomas stated he held nothing in the tenements, and appealed to a jury on this point. John de Bevercotes and Matilda answered as tenants, and called to warranty John Maureward who was present in Court and warranted the tenements to them, and stated that he could not deny that he had unjustly disseised the said Alice of them. An assize is therefore to be taken to assess the damages and to state whether the other defendants had taken part in the disseisin. The jury stated that the said John de Bevercotes and Matilda took a part in the disseisin, and they assessed the damages at 20s. Alice is therefore to recover seisin, and the said John de Bevercotes and Matilda are to be compensated from the land of the said John Maureward. And the said John Maureward was committed to gaol because he had acknowledged the disseisin. m. 14.

Staff. Robert de Freford, Parson of the church of Elleford, who brought an assize of novel disseisin against Matilda de Vernon and others respecting a tenement in Clyfton Camville did not appear to prosecute it. He and his sureties, viz., William de Rideware and John de Elleford are therefore in misericordiâ. m. 14.

Staff. An assize, etc., if William, son of William le Champioun, of Little Sardon, John, his brother, and Thomas del Whitehors had unjustly disseised Thomas, son of William de Draycote, of two acres of land and two acres of pasture in Stretton, near Brewode. William, son of William, answered as tenant, and stated that he entered into the tenements by the deed and feoffment of John Whitelok, Chaplain, and had done no injury to the plaintiff. The jury found in favour of William le Champioun. m. 14, dorso.

Staff. An assize, etc., if John de Tettebury and Joan, his wife, and William, son of William Barre, of Albryghton, had unjustly disseised Hugh de Wrottesleye, Chivaler, of a messuage six acres of pasture, ten acres of wood, and forty acres of pasture, and 13s. of rent in Boterdon, Waterfall, and Grendon

The defendants appeared, and William Barre stated he held nothing in the tenements, and the said John stated he found his wife, Joan, seised of the tenements in question, and John and Joan stated that the tenements were formerly in seisin of one William de Wrottesleye, the grandfather of the said Hugh, and whose heir he is, and the said William had given them by his deed to William, his son, the father of the said Hugh, and to the said Joan, then wife of the said William, son of William, and which Joan is now wife of the said John de Tettebury, and to their heirs for ever, and they produced the deed of the said William de Wrottesleye to that effect.

And Hugh pleaded that he should not be precluded from the assize by the said deed, because William, his grandfather, had never delivered seisin of the tenements to William, his father, and to Joan, but had retained his status in them all his life, and had died seised of them in demesne as of fee. (fn. 4) and after his death the said William, son of William, entered into them as son and heir, and had died seised of them, and after his death he had entered into them as son and heir of the said William, son of William, and was seised of them, until the said John de Tettebury and the other defendants had unjustly disseised him, and he put himself on the assize. The jury stated that the said William de Wrottesleye, the grandfather of the said Hugh, had never delivered seisin of the tenements in question to the said William, son of William and Joan, but had continued his status in them all his life, and had died seised of them in demesne as of fee and right, and after his death the said William, son of William, had entered and was seised of them all his life, and had died seised of them, and after his death the said Hugh as son and heir of the said William, son of William, had entered into them and was seised of them as of his true freehold until the said John and Joan, and William, son of William Barre, had unjustly disseised him, and they assessed the damages of Hugh at six marks. Hugh is therefore to recover seisin of the tenements by view of the recognitors of the assize. m. 14, dorso.

Staff. John de Covene, who had brought an assize of novel disseisin against William de Chetelton and others respecting tenements in Bydulf, did not appear to prosecute it, and he and his sureties, viz., Adam de Shareshulle and William de Covene are in misericordiâ. m. 14, dorso.

Staff. Richard, son of Henry de Perton, who brought an assize of novel disseisin against Matilda, formerly wife of Nicholas, son of Roger de Lee, and Roger, son of Walter Millesone, respecting tenements in Overepenne, did not appear to prosecute it, and he and his sureties, viz., Adam de Swyneshed and Henry de Swyneshed, are in misericordiâ. m. 14, dorso.

Staff. Philip de Stepelton and William de Frome, who brought an assize of novel disseisin against Isabella, formerly wife of Robert de Stepelton and others, respecting tenements in Great Barre, did not appear to prosecute it, and he and his sureties, viz., Robert de Stepelton and William de Caynton, are in misericordiâ. m. 14, dorso.

Staff. John, son of William de Draycote, of Stretton, Chaplain, who had brought an assize of novel disseisin against William, son of William le Champion, of Little Sardon, and others, respecting tenements in Stretton, near Brewode, did not appear to prosecute it, and he and his sureties, viz., John de Mollesleye and Richard le Fremon, are in misericordiâ. m. 14, dorso.