Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 33 Edward I (2)

Banco Roll. Hillary, 33 E. I.

Pleas at Westminster, before Ralph de Hengham and his fellow Justices of the Bench, etc.

Staff. Hugh de Okovere (Okeover) sued William son of William de Pikstok and Thomas his brother for an illegal distress, viz., the seizure of the cattle of his plough at Melewych (Millwich), against the Statute. The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached for the Octaves of Trinity. m. 93.

Staff. The Dean and Chapter of the Church of St. Cedde of Lychefeld sued the Prior of St. Thomas the Martyr near Stafford for 140 marks, the arrears of an annual rent of 10 marks owing to them, and they stated that one Brother Nicholas formerly Prior of the said House in the eighth year of the King's reign, had entered into an obligation to pay to the Dean and Chapter a yearly pension of 10 marks from the Church of Stowe, and up to the date of the writ 140 marks were owing to them for the said annual rent, which the Prior and Convent refused to pay, and they produced the deed of the said Prior, dated A.D. 1278. The Prior appeared and acknowledged the deed, and likewise the debt of 140 marks, and the Dean and Chapter are therefore to recover the said arrears and damages. And the Dean and Chapter then remitted the said arrears all but 40 marks, for which the said Prior conceded for himself and successors, that if the said annual rent should be in arrear in future, that the Diocesan of the place might levy the same from the goods of the Church of Stowe. m. 134.

Staff, Salop. Richard de Dockessey and Margaret his wife sued Robert de Staundon, custos of one part of the lands of Thomas son and heir of Robert de Halghton; and they sued Walter the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, the custos of another part of the said lands, and William de Stafford, the custos of another part, and Juliana formerly wife of Robert de Halghton, the custos of another part, and Simon de Halghton of Brusenhelle, the custos of another part, and Edmund de Stafford, the custos of another part, and Robert de Knyghtelegh, the custos of another part, all in co. Stafford; and they sued Nicholas de Wokendene, the custos of the body of the heir and of another part of his lands, and Roger de Mortimer and Lucy his wife, the custodes of other parts, and John Doylley, custos of another part, and Juliana formerly wife of Robert de Halghton, the custos of another part of the said lands in co. Salop, in a plea that they should be in Court on this day, and that the said Nicholas should produce the heir at the same time to warrant to the said Richard and Margaret together with the lord the King, the custos of other lands of the said heir in co. Salop, the third part of the manor of Dokesseye, and the third part of eighty-three acres of land, twenty-six acres of meadow, two acres of wood, and eight acres of heath in Selkemor, Gretwode, Bradelegh, and Wolaston, which Juliana formerly wife of Robert de Halghton claimed as dower against them. None of the custodians appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to take land belonging to the said heir which was in their custody, to the value of the dower claimed, into the King's hand, and to summon them for the morrow of St. John the Baptist; and as the value of the said lands was not known, the Sheriffs of Staffordshire and co. Salop were ordered to make an extent and to appraise them. A postscript states, that on the day named the Sheriff of Salop sent the valuation, by which it appeared that the lands of the heir held by Roger de Mortimer and Lucy his wife were worth annually 106s. 7¼d.; and those which Nicholas de Wokindene held were worth 28s.; and those held by Juliana formerly wife of Robert de Halghton were worth £10 2s. 8d.; and he returned that John Doylly held no part of the inheritance of the heir. And the Sheriff of Staffordshire sent a valuation and extent, by which it appeared that the tenements held by the said Richard and Margaret, of which a third part was claimed, were worth annually £22 and 12d.; and that the tenements held in custody by Robert de Staundon were worth 4s.; and those held by William de Stafford were worth annually £54, and the tenements held in custody by the Bishop were worth £10 9s. 4d., and the tenements which Juliana held in custody were worth 66s. 8d.; and he returned that Simon de Halghton of Brusenhulle, Edmund de Stafford, and Robert de Knyteleye held no part of the inheritance of the heir. The Sheriffs were therefore commanded to take into the King's hand, land of the said heir to the value of the dower claimed, per portionem, and to summon the custodes for three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 139.

Staff. Matilda formerly wife of John le Bret sued Hugh de Alditheleye and Isolda his wife for the third of a messuage and a carucate of land, twenty acres of pasture, and six acres of meadow in Chesterton near Newcastle-underLyme, as her dower. Hugh and Isolda called to warranty William son of William de Thicknes, who is to be summoned for a month from Easter. m. 148.

Staff. Alice formerly wife of Walter de Lodyngton sued John de Peyto whom William Moryn called to warranty, whom John de Peyto and Joan his wife called to warranty, and who warranted to him the third part of a messuage and of a virgate of land in Drayton near Doddewell, and which had been valued at 11s. 1¼d. annually; and she sued John de Peyto, whom William Moryn, whom John de Peyto and Joan his wife, and whom Prudence formerly wife of Richard de Peyto called to warranty, and who warranted to her the third part of a messuage and of a virgate of land in the same vill, valued at 11s. 1¼d. annually, as her dower. John and Joan appeared by attorney, and called to warranty William son and heir of Roes Trussel, who now appeared by attorney, and warranted the tenements to them, and pleaded that Alice had no claim to dower in them, because Walter formerly her husband was never seised of them as of fee when he married her, nor at any time after, and they appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for a month from Easter. m. 155.

Staff. Agnes formerly wife of William de Pencrich sued Richard de Vernun for a third of a messuage and a virgate of land in Herlaston, as her dower. Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand, and to summon him for the Quindene of Easter. m. 161.

Staff. Richard de Blithefeld and Richard de Wulseleye sued Richard de Herthull in a plea that he should acquit them of the service which Peter de Gresleye exacted from them for the free tenement which they held of the said Richard de Herthull in Wulseleye, and in which Richard de Herthull is mesne lord (medius), and ought to acquit them. Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff returned he held nothing within his bailiwick, and it was testified he held sufficient within the county. The Sheriff was therefore commanded to summon him for the morrow of St. John the Baptist. m. 185.

Staff. In the suit of Elizabeth daughter of Richard de Loges versus Adam de Staneye and Elizabeth his wife for waste and destruction in Wyrleye, the defendants did not appear upon the adjourned summons, and the Sheriff was ordered to go in person to the place, and cause an inquisition to be made into the alleged waste, and to return it into Court at three weeks from Easter. m. 187.

Staff. William le Fevre of Overpenne and Margaret his wife sued John son of Richard Gerveyse of Overpenne for a third of a messuage and sixteen acres of land in Overpenne; and they sued William Hary and Alice his wife for a third of eight acres of land, and Walter de Bylston and Denice his wife for a third of eight acres, and Ralph de Pendeford and Margaret his wife for a third of eight acres, and Robert son of Nicholas and Edith his wife for a third of eight acres in the same vill, as the dower of Margaret. And they did not appear, and had previously made default at the Octaves of St. Martin at York, upon which the Sheriff had been ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand. It is therefore considered that William and Margaret should recover seisin against them, and as it was testified that one Richard Wylimot formerly husband of Margaret died seised of the said tenements, the Sheriff was ordered to make inquiry respecting damages. m. 208.

Staff. Dyonisia (Denise) formerly wife of John le Bret, senior, sued Stephen, Parson of the Church of Swyneverton, for a third of a messuage and carucate of land and 10s. of rent in Shulton (Shelton) as her dower. Stephen did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand, and to summon him for three weeks from Easter. m. 235.

Staff. Magister Alan le Bretoun sued William son of William de Thomenhorn for deforcing him of ten acres of meadow in Wygenton, which William de Thomenhorn had demised to him for a term still unexpired, and within which term the said William had sold the tenements to William son of William de Thomenhorn, who had ejected the said Alan. The defendant did not appear, and the Sheriff returned he held nothing within his bailiwick; but as it was testified he held the ten acres of meadow in question at the date of the writ, the Sheriff was ordered to summon him for the Octaves of St. John the Baptist. m. 235, dorso.

Staff. Agnes formerly wife of John de Pendeford sued Roger Purcel for a third of ten acres of moor and pasture in Pendeford as her dower. Roger did not appear, and had made default at York at Michaelmas term; and the Sheriff had been ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand, and the Sheriff returned no writ. He was therefore ordered as before, and to summon him for three weeks from Easter. m. 198, dorso.

Lanc. Ralph de Singelton and Mabel his wife sued Adam de Walton and Alice his wife for the third of three messuages, and a bovate and a half and fourteen acres of land, four acres of meadow, and 7s. 6d. rent in Grenok as the dower of Mabel, of the dotation of Nicholas le Botiler her first husband. Adam and Alice called to warranty William son and heir of Nicholas le Botiler, (fn. 1) who is under age and in ward to William Wyther, and part of whose land is in the custody of Ralph de Singelton and Mabel his wife, and a part in the custody of Alice le Botiler, and a part in the custody of Edmund le Botiler, and a part in the custody of Richard de Haconeshowe, and a part in the custody of John de Kirkeby, and a part in the custody of Richard de Lathum, and a part in the custody of Nicholas del Marreys; and Adam produced the deed of Nicholas le Butiler, which showed that he gave all his land of Grenok to the said Alice to hold to her and the heirs of her body, with a clause of warranty. William Wyther is to be summoned in co. Stafford, and the others in co. Lancaster, for three weeks from Easter. m. 122, dorso.

Staff. Margaret formerly wife of John de Wanton had sued John son of John fitz Philip for a third of the manor of Bolynton sic (Bobbington) as her dower; and John had made default at York at the Octaves of St. Martin; and the Sheriff had been commanded to take the dower claimed into the King's hand; and Margaret now appeared and claimed it by the default of John. And John stated he had never been summoned to be at York at the date named, and offered to wage his law; and his sureties are William de Simplingford of co. Stafford, and Adam Coygne of the same county. He is therefore to appear with his compurgators at a month from Easter. A postscript states that John waged his law at Trinity term, 33 E. I., and Margaret was therefore in misericordiâ for a false claim. m. 94, dorso.

Staff. Agnes formerly wife of Adam Brun of Aston in Halys, sued Hervey son of William de Stonilowe for six acres of land and two parts of a messuage in Great Madeleye-under-Lyme, as her right and maritagium, and in which Hervey had no entry except by a demise made by Adam Brun formerly husband of Alice to one William son of Adam le Bedel of Ellesmere, and to which she could not object, during his lifetime. Hervey defended his right, and denied that Adam her husband had ever been in seisin of the tenements, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of St. John the Baptist. m. 76, dorso.

Staff. Hugh de Okoure (Okeover) sued William son of William de Pykestok and Thomas his brother in a plea, that whereas it had been provided by Statute that it was not lawful to levy a distress out of the fee, nor in a high road except by the King's officers, the said William and Thomas, not being officers of the King, had taken his cattle outside the fee of the said William and Thomas at Melewych vi et armis, and had impounded them against the Statute, etc. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce them at the Octaves of Trinity. m. 72, dorso.

Staff. The Sheriff returned into Court the inquisition made into the waste and destruction caused in Stotfold in lands, etc., of the inheritance of Geoffrey Salveyn by Gundreda formerly wife of Robert de Stafford, by which it appeared that two granges had been pulled down worth 8 marks, a solarium, an oriolum, and a garderobam worth 40s., and a wall and ditch round the same buildings worth 20s.; and Gundreda now appeared and stated that she held the tenements in fee and not for a term, and she produced a deed by which the said Geoffrey gave to Robert de Stafford and to the said Gundreda his wife the said tenements to be held by them and the survivor of them, and rendering to the said Geoffrey and his heirs each year for the said ten years a rose at the Feast of St. John the Baptist, and after the completion of ten years to render 20 marks annually. And the said Geoffrey being solemnly called, did not appear, and the suit was dismissed. m. 62, dorso.

Staff. Margaret formerly wife of Edmund de Mortimer sued Hugh de Aldytheleye and Isolda his wife for a third of the manor of Arnleye excepting the weirs on the Severn, and the wood within the metes of the Forest of Wyre and manor of la Boure within the same manor, as her dower. Hugh and Isolda appeared and stated they held the said manor with the above exceptions for term of the life of Isolda, and they called to warranty Roger son and heir of Edmund de Mortimer, who is under age and in ward to the King, and to Margaret formerly wife of Edmund de Mortimer, and whose lands are in the custody of Peter de Gavaston, Walter de Thornbury, Roger de Mortimer, Richard de Baskerville, Grimbald Pauncevot, Milo Pychard, John de Mortimer, Hugh Godard, Walter de Evereus, Hugh Poer, Philip Ap Howel, Richard de Leghton, and forty-nine others named, and they produced a deed of Edmund the father of the heir, which showed that the said Edmund had given to Walter de Balon and to the said Isolda then his wife, the manor of Arnleye, excepting (as before), to hold for the lives of the said Walter and Isolda. They (the custodians) are therefore to be summoned for the Quindene of Easter, and the said Margaret likewise, together with the King, are to produce the heir at the same date to warranty, and the custodians of the lands of the heir are to be summoned for the same date in the counties of Stafford, Salop, Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester, Somerset, Southampton, Oxford, Berkshire, and Bucks. A postscript shows successive adjournments of the suit up to Michaelmas term. m. 60, dorso.

Coram Rege Roll. Easter, 33 E. I.

Staff. The King sued Ralph Griffin and Robert his brother for the death of William le Cuntur the brother of John le Cuntur, for which John had appealed them, and afterwards withdrew his appeal, and they did not appear, and the Sheriff had been ordered to arrest them, and returned they could not be found. He is therefore commanded to put them into the exigend, and if they do not appear, to outlaw them, and if they appear, to arrest and produce them coram Rege at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 14.

Staff. The Sheriff was ordered to arrest John le Cuntur, of Colton, and keep him in safe custody and produce him at this term to answer coram Rege for not prosecuting his appeal against Ralph Griffin and Robert brother of Ralph for the death of William le Cuntur his brother, and he returned that John could not be found, and held nothing within his bailiwick. He is therefore ordered as before, to arrest him and produce him before the Court at the Quindene of Michaelmas. m. 14.

Staff. Margaret formerly wife of Richard Henry, sued Richard son of Hervey de Strattone (Stretton) in a plea of trespass; and he did not appear. The Sheriff was ordered to distrain and to produce him at the Octaves of Trinity. m. 7, dorso.

Banco Roll. Trinity, 33 E. I.

Staff. Philip, son of Philip de Chetewynde and Isabella his wife gave half a mark for license of concord with William de Pywelesdon respecting tenements in Mutton (Mytton). (fn. 2) m. 10.

Staff. William Orpynger and Margaret his wife, sued William Roleg and Lettice his wife for a third of a messuage and noke of land in Sondon (Sandon), as dower of Margaret, of the dotation of Richard Wolrich of Sondon, formerly husband of Margaret. William and Margaret called to warranty Richard son of Richard Wolrich of Sondon, who is to be summoned for the Octaves of Michaelmas. m. 12.

Staff. William de Thomenhorn sued Henry son of Hugh le Serjaunt of Elleford, in a plea that he should render him an account for the time he was his bailiff in Ruggeleye; and he did not appear, and the Sheriff had been ordered to arrest him, and returned he could not be found. He was therefore ordered as before, to arrest him, and to produce him on the morrow of All Souls. m. 12.

Staff. Agnes formerly wife of William Rycheman sued Thomas de Hulton for eight acres of land and half a messuage in Morghhale, which she claimed as the gift of Christiana daughter of Richard le Muner, who had enfeoffed her of them, and in which the said Thomas had no entry except by William formerly husband of Agnes, who had demised the tenements to him during his lifetime when she could not object. Thomas denied he had entered by William, and stated he entered by hereditary right after the death of his brother Robert de Hulton, whose heir he is, and he appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the morrow of St. Martin. m. 55.

Staff. William son of John le Mareschal gives a mark for license of concord with Robert son of Henry de Colton respecting tenements in Colton, Newelond, and Blythebury. m. 76.

Staff. Richard de Delves gives a mark for license of concord with Adam de Knottick and Joan his wife, in a plea of warranty of Charter. (fn. 3) m. 104.

Staff. Reginald de Charles (Charnes) and Juliana his wife sued William son of William de Wrottesleye for a third of a messuage and a carucate of land, etc. (as before), in Pylatenhale, as the dower of the said Juliana, of the dotation of Stephen de Elmedon her first husband. And the said William called to warranty William son of Stephen de Elemedon (sic), who appeared and warranted the tenements to him, and stated that the said Juliana had no claim to dower in the lands, because Stephen her husband was not seised of them as of fee on the day he married her, nor ever afterwards, and he appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of Michaelmas. A postscript shows successive adjournments of the suit up to Hillary term 35 E. I., on which day the attorney of Reginald and Juliana was told by the Court, "quod sequatur suo periculo." (fn. 4) m. 175.

Staff. William Bagod gives half a mark for license of concord with William son of Bertram de Burgo. (fn. 5) m. 184.

Staff. The Prior of Ronton sued Richard de Draycote in a plea that he should acquit him of the service which Richard de Cavereswell exacted from him for the freehold which he held of the said Richard, and of which Richard de Draycote is mesne lord and ought to acquit him. Richard did not appear, and is to be attached for the morrow of St. Martin. m. 196.

Staff. Joan formerly wife of Roger de Caverswall sued John son of William de Pykestok and John de Wenlok for a debt of 6 marks. They did not appear, and are to be attached for the morrow of St. Martin. m. 196.

Staff. John de Ferrars sued Robert de Bures for causing waste and destruction in the lands, houses, and woods and gardens of Charteley, which Robert held for term of his life only, of the inheritance of the said John. Robert did not appear, and is to be attached for the morrow of St. Martin. m. 245.

Staff. Robert de Somerforde was summoned by Jordan de Hamelhamstede in a plea that he had taken and unjustly detained two cows belonging to him. Robert stated that one John de Sempingham held of him a messuage and half a virgate of land in Somerforde by homage and fealty and the service of 4s. yearly, and suit at his court every three weeks; and he had taken the cattle in a place called La Grave, within his fee, because the service was in arrear. Jordan stated that the cattle were taken out of the fee on the high road, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the morrow of all Souls. m. 213, dorso.

Staff. Thomas son of Hugh de Weston, and John de Bradele, withdrew their plea of debt against John de Stretton, the parson of the Church of Weston near Brewode. m. 193, dorso.

Staff. Robert Gerveys and Petronilla his wife sued James son of William de Thyknesse for a third of ten messuages, two carucates of land, and 40s. of rent in Sheperig, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, which they claimed as dower. James did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hand, and to summon him for three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 179, dorso.

Staff. In the suit of Richard de Blithefeld and Richard de Wolseleye against Richard de Herthull to acquit them of the service due to Peter de Gresleye for tenements in Wulseleye, the Sheriff returned that Richard de Herthull held nothing within his bailiwick by which he could be attached, and it was testified he held sufficient at Herthull in co. Derby. The Sheriff of Derbyshire was therefore ordered to summon him for the morrow of St. Martin. A postscript further adjourns the suit to three weeks from Easter. m. 87, dorso.

Staff. John de St. Maur sued Alianora the wife of Thomas de Pyvelesdon (who had been admitted to sue by the default of the said Thomas) for twenty acres of land and two meadows in Felde (Field) as his right and inheritance, and in which Thomas and Alianora had no entry except by a demise which Henry de St. Maur, the grandfather of John, whose heir he is, had made to one Walter de Otteford for a term now expired.

Alianora called to warranty Philip son of Philip de Chetewynde Knight, who appeared and warranted the tenements to her, and stated that John had no right, because Henry de St. Maur, from whose seisin he claimed, had remitted and quit-claimed all his right to Philip de Chetwynde his father; and he produced the deed of Henry. John denied that the deed was executed by his grandfather, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the morrow of St. Martin, and the deed in the meantime was handed into the custody of J. Bacun the King's clerk, and all the witnesses to the deed were dead. A postscript adds that on the Octaves of the Purification, 1 E. II., one Philip son of the said Philip, son of Philip, appeared in Court, and stated that his father (the defendant) was dead, and prayed that the deed might be given up to him as his heir. And after it was testified in Court by Nicholas de Warrewyke that Philip his father was dead, and that he, the said Philip, was his heir, the deed was delivered up to him in full Court (in plenâ Curiâ). m. 84, dorso.

Essex, Staff. Agnes formerly wife of Reginald le Wodeward of Wolverhampton, sued William de Fynchenefeld of Overe Penne, and Magister Richard Walraund, Clerk, for a third of twelve and a half acres of land in Overe Penne in co. Stafford, which she claimed as dower; and they did not appear at the day given to them at Trinity term, but they afterwards appeared in Court and called to warranty Richard son of Seburn de Bures. The Sheriff was therefore commanded to take the dower claimed into the King's hand, and to summon them to hear judgment at the Octaves of St. Michael. m. 23, dorso.

Staff. Mabel formerly wife of Geoffrey de Gorsthull sued Reginald le Bedel of Lychefeld, for an acre and a half in Elmhurst as her right and maritagium, etc. (as before). Reginald pleaded that he held the land conjointly with one Amice his wife, who was not named in the writ; and as Mabel could not deny this, she asked permission to withdraw it. m. 22, dorso.

Staff. The Sheriff was ordered to raise £150 from the lands and chattels of Edmund Baron of Stafford, and the Sheriff of Warwickshire was ordered to raise £50 from the lands of the same Baron, for debts owing by the said Edmund to Ralph de Hengham. m. 7, dorso.

Staff. Roger son of Peter Corbizun sued John Gyffard of Chylington and Alditha his wife for the manor of Chylington, of which Margaret Corbizun his kinswoman was seized as of fee when she died. John and Alditha took exception to the writ because they did not hold the whole manor, and they stated that one Thomas de Hyda held a messuage and a virgate of land in it, and Ralph Gyffard a messuage and a croft, and the Prioress and Nuns of Brewode held a messuage and half a virgate of land, and held those tenements when the writ was issued, viz., on the 6th March, 32 E. I. Roger replied that John and Alditha held the whole manor either in demesne, or as of alms, or as of service, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the morrow of St. Martin. m. 1, dorso.

Banco Roll. Michaelmas, 33 E. I.

Staff. William Sauvage and Lucy his wife not appearing to prosecute their suit for dower against Richard Constantyn, it is dismissed. m. 83.

Staff. John de Swynnerton sued Katerina formerly wife of Nicholas de Audeleye and James de Stafford, in a plea that each of them should pay him a debt of £40, which they unjustly detained. The defendants did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce them at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 103.

Staff. Richard le Eyr sued William son of William de Kynthon for two parts of a messuage and a virgate of land in Knyhton near Woninton; and he sued Richard le Brer and Cecilia his wife for a third of a messuage and a virgate of land in the same vill, of which William le Eyr his grandfather, whose heir he is, had died seised as of fee, and he stated that the said William his grandfather was seised of the tenements in the reign of King Henry the King's father, and from the said William the fee descended to one Adam as son and heir, and from Adam to Richard who now sues. The defendants appeared, and Richard and Cecilia stated they held the third part as dower of Cecily, and they called to warranty William son of William de Kynton, who is to be summoned for the morrow of the Purification; and William pleaded that the said William le Eyr the grandfather did not die seised of the tenements as asserted by Richard, and he appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the same date. m. 119.

Heref., Wygorn., Staff. Hugh de Aldythele and Isolda his wife appeared by attorney against Peter de Gavaston, Walter de Thornbury, Roger de Mortimer, Richard de Baskerville, Grimbald Pauncefot, Milo Pychard, John de Mortimer, Hugh Godard, Walter Devereux, William ap Phelip, Ralph de Wyntercote, John Devereux of Bredwardyn, Robert de Stepelton, Richard de Harle, Walter de Huggeford, Peter de Eyton, Philip de Stepelton, Richard de Leghton, and many others named, the custodes of the lands of Roger son and heir of Edmund de Mortimer, in a plea that they should be present to warrant to them together with the King and Margaret formerly wife of Edmund de Mortimer, custodians of the body of the said heir, the third part of the manor of Arneleye, excepting the weirs in the Severn and the manor of la Bure in the same manor in co. Stafford, which Margaret formerly wife of Edmund de Mortimer claimed as dower. And they did not appear; and the Sheriff of Hereford returned that Walter Deverous, Ralph de Wyntercote, and Richard de Leighton were dead; and the Sheriffs were ordered to take into the King's hand land belonging to the heir in custody in proportion, etc., and to summon the custodians for the Quindene of Easter, and to send an extent of the value of the land in the hands of each custos; and the Sheriff of Staffordshire was ordered to send an extent of the dower claimed and in question between the parties at the same date. A postscript states that the Sheriff of Stafford sent an extent at the above term, which showed that the tenements in question were worth annually £29 and 21¼d. The suit was further adjourned till the Quindene of Hillary. m. 142.

Staff. In the suit of Hugh de Okoure (Okeover) versus William son of William de Pykestok and Thomas his brother, for illegally levying a distress outside their fee at Melewych, the Sheriff returned that William was dead. The Sheriff was ordered to distrain Thomas and produce him at the Quindene of Easter. m. 274.

Staff. William Orpinger of Sondon (Sandon) and Margaret his wife, sued Richard son of Richard Wolrich of Sondon for a third of twelve acres of land and two acres of meadow in Sondon; and they sued Richard de Aston for a third of an acre of land, and Nicholas le Mouner of Sondon for a third of seven acres, and Alexander de le Hul of Sondon for a third of an acre in the same vill, as dower of the said Margaret, of the dotation of Richard Wolrich her first husband.

Richard appeared in propriâ personâ, and the other defendants by attorney, and they stated the plaintiffs had no claim to dower from the above tenements, because the said Richard had assigned to her a messuage and twelve acres of land in the said vill in allocation of dower, and with which she had declared herself to be content, and she had been put into seisin of them. William and Margaret denied this, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Octaves of Hillary. m. 279.

Staff. Joan formerly wife of Robert de Huggeford sued William son of Robert de Huggeford of Hildulveston, for a third of the manor of Hildulveston; and she sued Robert de Grendon for a third of six acres, and Robert son of Walter de Melewyz for a third of five acres, and Robert le Mareschal of Aston near Stane for a third of six acres, and William son of Ralph de Melewyz for a third of four acres, and Ralph de Bradeheved for a third of six acres, and William le Bercher for a third of three acres, and William de Miravalle of Hildulveston for a third of twenty-four acres, and William son of Richard son of Matilda for a third of twenty-two acres, and William Jordan for a third of twenty acres, and Richard del Brok for a third of nine acres, and Thomas Ody for a third of five acres, and Nicholas Spanderaye of Aston for a third of five acres and a rood of land, and Henry Neot of Stone for a third of one and a half acres, and Geoffrey de Coppenhale and Nesta his wife for a third of two acres, and John son of Thomas Rose for a third of two acres, and John Matheu for a third of two and a half acres, and John Page for a third of two and a half acres, and Adam de Berlaston for a third of three and a half acres, and Richard le Spenser for a third of two acres, and Thomas Dun for a third of three and a half acres, and William Oldman for a third of two acres, and William Phelip for the third of half an acre, and Richard de Hales for a third of four acres, and John son of Robert de Huggeford for a third of a messuage and two acres, and thirty other tenants in the same vill for a third of their holdings in the same vill, as her 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 morrow of the Purification. (fn. 6) m. 405.

Staff. William Wyther gives 20s. for license of concord with Reginald son of Reginald de Legh, respecting tenements in Caldon. (fn. 7) m. 425.

Staff. Margaret formerly wife of John de Wanton sued John son of John fitz Philip for a third of the manor of Bobyngton as her dower. John stated that he held the said manor for term of his life by the concession of John son of John de Wanton, and that the reversion of the manor after his death fell to one Joan the wife of Hugh de Hepham, daughter and heir of the said John son of John de Wanton, and he called to warranty Hugh and Joan; and Joan was under age; and their lands were in the seisin of the said Hugh and Joan by virtue of a fine levied in 15 E. I. between John son of John fitz Philip, complainant, and John son of John de Wanton, deforciant, of the manor of Bubynton, by which fine the said John son of John fitz Philip acknowledged the said manor to be the right of the said John son of John de Wanton; for which acknowledgment, etc., the same John son of John de Wanton conceded to John son of John fitz Philip the said manor, to be held of John son of John de Wanton and his heirs for the life of the said John son of John fitz Philip, etc.; and the said John son of John fitz Philip not being able to produce a transcript of the fine, a mandate was sent to Roger Brabazoun and his fellow Justices to send a transcript of it under their seals at the Quindene of Hillary; and the said John son of John de Wanton is to be summoned for the same date, the summons to be served in cos. Ebor and Lincoln. m. 426.

Salop. John son of Thomas Mauveysin of Berwick sued the Prior of Wambrigge (Wombridge) for the third of a mill in Orpinton, of which Henry Mauveysin his grandfather had been seised in demesne as of fee in the reign of King Henry the King's father. The Prior denied that the said Henry had died seised of the tenement, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for five weeks from Easter. m. 438, dorso.

Staff. Richard de Delves sued Ralph de Bromleye and Agnes his wife in a plea that they should warrant to him a bovate of land in Dimmesdale which he held and claimed to hold of them, and for which he held their deed. Ralph and Agnes did not appear, and are to be attached for a month from Easter. m. 428, dorso.

Staff. Adam de Leghe sued William de Wolseleye in a plea that he caused waste and destruction in the houses and gardens in Bertherton which Adam had demised to him for a term of years. William did not appear, and is to be attached for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 126, dorso.

Berks. An assize of last presentation to the Church of Suthdencheworth (South Dengeworth), the advowson of which William Waldyf of Wylbrighton claimed against Magister William de Bosco. And he stated that one William Russel the grandfather of William Waldyv, whose heir he is, in the time of King Henry the King's father had presented to the Church one William de Shireburne, who had been admitted, etc.; and he stated that one Adam, the ancestor of the said William (Russel) had presented one George of Chester, who had been admitted, etc., in the reign of King Henry, and one Hervey (fn. 8) the ancestor of the said Adam had presented in the reign of King John one Stephen de Wode, who had been admitted, etc., and one Adam the ancestor of the said Hervey had presented in the reign of King John one Thomas de Wilbrighton, who had been admitted and instituted on his presentation. Magister William took exception to the writ because the Church was not vacant, but was filled by one Magister Robert de Ocle, and who held it at the date of the writ, viz., 28th May, 33 E. I., and which he was prepared to prove. A mandate was therefore to be sent to the Bishop of Salisbury to return at Hillary term whether the Church was vacant or not. A postscript states that at the date named the Bishop returned that the Church was not vacant, because in April, 1299, he had admitted and instituted Robert de Ocle to the Church on the presentation of Magister William de Bosco. The suit was therefore dismissed. m. 3, dorso.