Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 10 Edward III

De Banco. Easter, 10 E. III.

Staff. William, son of William le Boweles, sued the Abbot of Halesoweyn for an acre of land and 100s. of rent in Rouleye as his right and inheritance, on which the Abbot had no entry, except by a disseisin which William Declyng had unjustly made of William le Boweles his father, whose heir he is, and he stated that his father William was seised of the tenement in demesne as of fee in the reign of Edward I. The Abbot pleaded that he held the manor of Rouleye, of which the tenement in question was a parcel, by the gift of the present King, rendering to the Exchequer £10 6s. 8d. yearly. He produced the King's charter to that effect, dated the 24th January, 4 E. III, and he stated he could not answer without the King, and as William could not gainsay this, a day was given to the parties at the Quindene of Michaelmas. A postscript shows repeated adjournments of the case up to 19 E. III, when William produced the King's close writ addressed to his Justices of the Bench commanding them to proceed with the case and to do justice according to law and custom, dated 8th June, 19 E. III. And at the Easter term following the Abbot appeared and denied that the said William Declyng had disseised the said William, father of the plaintiff, and appealed to a jury, which was to be summoned for the Quindene of Michaelmas following. m. 65, dorso.

Staff. A writ of capias directing the Sheriff to apprehend and keep in safe custody Richard Prentise, of Haywode, until he had paid to John de Snede a sum of 60s., which he had acknowledged to owe to him before the Mayor of York, etc. m. 71.

Staff. Thomas, son of Geoffrey de Quikeshulle, sued John son of Henry atte Brugge, and Agnes, his wife, for a messuage and a carucate of land in Roucestre and Ethelaston, and Alveton, which Thomas de Peverwych of Assheburne had given to Geoffrey de Quickeshull, and Isabell, his wife, and heirs of their bodies, and which should descend to him as their son and heir. John and Agnes appeared by their custos, Nicholas de Rossington, and pleaded that the tenements had been given to the said Geoffrey and Isabell and their heirs in fee simple, they appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of St. Michael. A postscript shows that a verdict was given in favour of John and Agnes at Tuttebury in 20 E. III. m. 72, dorso.

Warr. Thomas Hastang and Elizabeth, his wife, sued William Lovel and Margery, his wife, for causing waste and destruction in the lands, houses, etc., which they held as dower of Margery of the inheritance of the said Thomas and Elizabeth in Buddebrok. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach them for the Quindene of Trinity, on which day the Sheriff made no return, and he was ordered to attach them for the Morrow of St. Martin. m. 96.

Salop. Robert Corbet, of Hadleye, Chivaler, and Matilda, his wife, sued Hugh Beumays and Robert and Richard, his brothers, and Roger de Ovyoteshay for breaking forcibly into the park of the said Matilda at Tonge, and driving away her game. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce them at the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 96, dorso.

Staff. Thomas, son of Richard de Marnham, sued Margaret, formerly wife of Edmund de Stafford, in a plea that she should give up to him a bond in writing which she unjustly detained. Margaret did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach her for the Octaves of St. Michael. m. 159.

Staff. Geoffrey Leveson, of Willenhale, sued Henry Pollard, of Wyllenhale, and Alice, his wife, for causing waste and destruction in the houses, woods, and gardens, which they held as dower of Alice of his inheritance in Wolvernehampton. The defendants did not appear, and were attached by Moses Leveson and Simon Leveson. Their sureties were therefore in misericordiâ, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain the defendants and produce them at the Quindene of Trinity. m. 159.

Staff. John, son of Elias de Burghton, sued Roger, the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfeld, and William de Cobynton, Clerk, in a plea that they should give up to him the custody of the land and heir of Adam de Swyneshed, which belongs to him, inasmuch as the said Adam held his land of Roger de Burton, the grandfather of John, and whose heir he is, by military service. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff returned the writ reached him too late, and he was therefore ordered to summon them for three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 175.

Staff. Joan, formerly wife of John l'Estraunge, and Ralph de Calton, were sued by Thomas Meverel for an illegal distress in taking and detaining nineteen oxen belonging to him in 8 E. III, at a place called Wildaleford, in the vill of Throuleye. Joan defended the distress, and stated that Thomas held of her the manor of Throuleye by homage and fealty, and 10s. of scutage when the King's scutage of 40s. was levied, and by the service of 6s. 8d. yearly, and she had been seised of the said services by the hand of Thomas Meverel, the father of the said Thomas, whose heir he is, and she had taken the oxen because the above rent was in arrear for eleven years. Thomas pleaded that the cattle had been taken outside the fee, and appealed to a jury, which is to be summoned for the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 186, dorso.

Staff. Will de Harecourt and Joan, his wife, appeared by attorney against Nicholas, the Parson of the Church of Shepeye, in a plea that he should carry out a covenant made between them respecting the Manor of Elnhale. Nicholas did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach him for the Quindene of Trinity. A postscript shows further adjournments up to Hillary, 11 E. III. (fn. 1) m. 180, dorso.

Staff. Roger, son of John de Cokenage, sued Humfrey de Hastang for three messuages, a carucate of land, six acres of meadow, twelve acres of pasture, and 14s. of rent in Trentham, which Thomas de Tytnesore had given to John de Cokenage in frank marriage with Margaret, his daughter, and which after the death of the said John and Margaret should descend to him by the form of gift. Humfrey appeared and acknowledged the right of the said Roger. m. 206, dorso.

Leyc. The Sheriff had been ordered to produce at this day (a month from Easter) Ralph Basset, of Drayton, senior, to complete a fine between Ralph Basset, of Drayton, junior, and Alesia, his wife, complainants, and the said Ralph, deforciant, of the Manor of Rakedale, excepting the advowson of the church of the manor, as agreed between them, and he did not appear, but had found sureties, they are therefore in misericordiâ, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce the said Ralph on the Morrow of St. John the Baptist. m. 235, dorso.

Staff. Isabella de Northwich, of Grendon, appeared by attorney against Robert, son of Ralph de Grendon, in a plea that he should warrant to her a messuage in Grendon, in co. Warwick, which had been valued at 6s. 8d., and which Philip de Chetewynde, and Alice, his wife, John de Freford, and Margaret, his wife, Roger de Chetewynde and Joan, his wife, claimed as the right of the said Alice, Margaret, and Joan; Robert did not appear, and the Sheriff of Leicestershire had been ordered to take land belonging to him to the value of the tenement in dispute into the King's hand, and to summon him for the Quindene of Easter, and the Sheriff now returned that he had delivered the summons to the Bailiff of the Honor of Wynton, who had done nothing. He was therefore ordered, by writ of "non omittas," to take into the King's hand land of the said Robert, etc., as before. m. 275, dorso.

Staff. Hugh de Wrottesleye, Chivaler, by his attorney, John de Clanefeld, appeared against John de Tettebury in a plea that he should render to him a reasonable account for the time he was the receiver of his moneys. John did not appear, the Sheriff returned 40d. as proceeds of a distress. He was therefore ordered to distrain again and produce him at three weeks from Michaelmas. m 285.

Staff. The Sheriff has been ordered to proceed in person to the woods of Wrottesleye, which John de Tettebury and Joan his wife, held as dower of Joan of the inheritance of Hugh de Wrottesleye, Chivaler, and on the oath of twelve men who had no affinity to the parties, make diligent enquiry into the extent of the waste and destruction caused by the said John and Joan, by cutting down and selling 100 oak trees, each worth half a mark, and to return the said Inquisition at this term, and the Sheriff now returned that the said John and Joan had committed waste and destruction to the extent of £10 in the Wrottesleye woods by cutting down 80 oak trees, and as the Sheriff did not return a certain value for each oak, he (viz., Simon de Ruggeleye) was in misericordiâ and was fined 20s., and he was ordered to make another Inquisition and return it at the Octaves of St. John the Baptist. A postcript states that, at that time the Sheriff made no return to the writ, and he was ordered to send it at a month from Michaelmas. m. 283, dorso.

De Banco. Trinity, 10 E. III.

Staff. Thomas le Hunte of Wulfvesbrugge sued Ralph de Shepeye and Alice, his wife, for two acres of land in Marchynton-under-Nedwode as his right and inheritance, and in which the said Alice had no entry, except by William de Jargonville, who had demised them to her, and who had unjustly disseised Adam le Hunte, his father, whose heir he is, and who had held them in the reign of Edward I. The defendants appeared, and stated they held the land as dower of Alice of the dotation of William de Jargonmulle (sic), and they called to warranty William, son of John de Jargonmulle, cousin and heir of the said William, who was under age. The suit is therefore to remain till the full age of the said William. m. 42.

Staff. Geoffery de la Botellerie and Joan, his wife, and John, Roger, and Nicholas, sons of Joan, by Henry de Tyddeswelle, attorney for Geoffrey and Joan, and custos of the others, sued Malcolm, son and heir of Geoffrey Wastenays for a debt of £100. Malcolm did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach him for the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 147, dorso.

Staff. The Abbot of Burton sued Roger de Okoure, Knight, and Christiana his wife, in a plea that they should carry out a covenant made with him respecting 14s. of rent in Ilum. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff returned the writ reached him too late. He was therefore ordered to summon them for the Octaves of St. Michael. m. 223, dorso.

Staff. Roger Hillary appeared against William, son of John de Benteleye, in a plea that whereas he had taken at Bentley, by his servants, Roger Page and John Deyvil, certain cattle, and had impounded them according to law and custom, the said William together with William, son of Robert atte Pyrye, of Wylenhale, had forcibly broken open the pound and taken away the cattle. And the Sheriff had been ordered to arrest and produce him at this term, and now returned he could not be found, and held nothing by which he could be attached. He was therefore ordered to put him into exigend, and if he did not appear to outlaw him, and if he appeared, to arrest and produce him at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 280.

De Banco. Mich., 10 E. III. Apud Ebor.

Staff. Adam le Parkere of Talke sued Robert de Benhale and Eva, his wife, for a messuage and 40 acres in Audeleye. 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 Octaves of Hillary. m. 29.

Staff. Thomas, son of William de Morteyn, sued Isabella, formerly wife of Robert de Stepilton, for the Manor of Great Barre, by writ of formedon. Isabella appeared by attorney, and prayed a view. The suit was adjourned to the Quindene of Hillary. m. 109.

Staff. Robert atte Wode, of Kyderminstre, sued William Wolrich, William Bold, Thomas atte Mulne, and Margaret, formerly wife of John de Perton, and William de Perton, the executors of the will of John de Perton, for a debt of 63s. 4d., and five marks. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff returned that Margaret had been distrained up to 20d., and that Adam de Perton, Richard de Perton, Walter de Perton, and Richard Horn were her sureties, and that the said William de Perton had been distrained up to 20d., and his sureties were Adam Stet, Richard Mouny, Roger Douse, and Adam the Smith. They are therefore in misericordiâ, and as regarded the others, the Sheriff returned they held nothing within his bailiwick, and it was testified they held sufficient. He was therefore ordered to distrain again, and to produce the defendants at the Octaves of Hillary. A postscript states that at that date the Sheriff made no return, and he was ordered to produce them at the Octaves of Trinity. m. 118.

Staff. Robert, son of William de Styvyngton, of Colton, sued William de Cumberford, for a messuage and 50 acres of land, and twelve acres of meadow in Little Rydeware, and he sued John Hawys, of Hondesacre, and Agnes his wife, for ten acres of land and five acres of meadow in Rydewaye Mauveysin, as his right, &c. The defendants appeared, and prayed a view, and the suit was adjourned to the Quindene of Hillary. m. 132.

Staff. The same Robert, sued William, son of Robert del Hull, of Bromley Abbatis, for twelve acres of meadow in Blythebury, and Andrew, son of Roger Philip, of Hayteleye, for 100 acres of land and ten acres of meadow in the same vill. The defendants appeared by attorney and prayed a view, and the suit was adjourned to the same date. m. 132.

Staff. Geoffrey de la Botellerie sued Malcolm Wasteneys, Chivaler, William de Donyngton, and Robert le Heyward in a plea that they, together with Geoffrey Malculine prest Wasteneys (sic), had beaten, wounded, and ill-treated him at Tyschale, and taken away his horse worth 40s. and his goods and chattels to the value of 100s. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff returned 10d. as the proceeds of each distress levied against them, and he was therefore ordered to distrain again and produce them at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 157.

Staff. Alianora, formerly wife of William de Weston, and John, son of William de Weston, and William de Wettenhull, executors of the will of William de Weston, sued William, son of John de Perton, and John de Lappeleye, of Wolvernehampton, for a debt of £26, and they sued Simon de Congreve for a debt of £8 16s. 4d. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce them at the Quindene of Hillary. The sureties of Simon were John de Congreve and Philip de Congreve. m. 168.

Staff. Edmund de Cheyne, of London, and Richard, his son, and Margery Ulkel, the executors of the will of William de Esyngton, sued Roger Penne, of Esyngton, in a plea that he should render a reasonable account for the time he was the bailiff of the said William at Bisshebury. Roger did not appear, and his sureties, Richard de Esyngton and Roger Hayward, are in misericordiâ. And the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce him at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 199, dorso.

Staff. Robert de Acton and Sibil, his wife, sued Robert, son of Philip de Leghe, of Severleye, and Agnes, formerly wife of Philip de Leghe, for the third of a messuage and a toft, and eighteen acres of land, and six acres of meadow in Folford, and they sued other tenants in the same vill for a third of their holdings as the dower of Sibil. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff had taken the dower claimed into the King's hand. Robert and Sibil therefore recover seisin of it by default of the defendants. m. 232.

Staff. Henry le Prestesmon, of Eyton, appeared by attorney against Thomas de Brympton, lately Pastor of the church of Eylon, in a plea that he should warrant to him fifteen acres of land and five acres of meadow in Eyton, near Gnoushale (Church Eaton), which Thomas de Eyton claimed against him. The defendant did not appear, and the Sheriff had returned that he held nothing within his bailiwick, and it had been testified at Trinity term that he held lands and tenements at Mefford and Whitegreve. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to summon him for the Quindene of Easter. m. 301, dorso.

Derb., Staff. Agnes, sister of Matilda, wife of Henry, son of Thomas del Bothe, sued Richard, son of Richard de Alsopp, and Margaret, his wife, for half a messuage in Alsopp as the right of her and the said Matilda, the other half of the messuage being excepted because the said Agnes had sued elsewhere for it without the said Matilda. Richard and Margaret called to warranty Richard de Okoure, of Shene, who is to be summoned for the Quindene of Easter. m. 346.

Staff. John de Boseley and Margaret, his wife, sued Ralph de Tesseworth for a third of a messuage and fifteen acres of land in Waturfall, which they claimed as dower of Margaret. Ralph 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 Hillary. m. 367.

Derb. William de Harecourt, Chivaler, sued Alice, formerly wife of John de Harecourt, in a plea that she caused waste and destruction in the houses, lands, etc., which she held in dower of his inheritance in Pleseleye. Alice did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach her for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 372.

Staff. Hugh de Wrottesleye, Chivaler, not appearing to prosecute his claim against Roger de Levyngton for the manor of Levynton (Loynton), the suit was dismissed, and he and his sureties, viz., Richard de Ovyoteshay and Edmund de Penne, are in misericordiâ. m. 446, dorso.

Derb. Staff. The suit between Richard de Curzoun, Parson of the church of Breidesale, plaintiff, and Geoffrey de Skeftyngton, tenant, respecting land in Breidesale, co. Derby, and in which James, son of Nicholas de Audele, had been called to warranty by Geoffrey, remanet sine die, the said James having letters of protection between the 12th November, 10 E. III, and Easter, 11 E. III, whilst in the King's service in Scotland. m. 468.

Staff. Richard de Aston, Clericus, sued Adam atte Ford of Folverleye, John de Suthford, Alice Bagot, Henry de Suthford, and Richard, his son, and Richard de Bromleye, and Henry, his son, for forcibly entering his close at Aston, and treading down and consuming his growing grass with their cattle. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff returned they held nothing by which they could be attached. He was therefore ordered to arrest and produce them at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 468, dorso.

Staff. Alianora, formerly wife of Richard del Hay, of Mulewych, sued William Bythewater of Salt, for a third of a messuage and sixty acres of land in Mulewych, and she sued Margaret de Grendon for a third of three messuages and eighty acres of land, and Henry del Hethe, of Froddeswalle, and Margaret, his wife, for a third of a messuage and fifty acres of land in the same vill, as her dower. None of the defendants appeared, and had previously made default, and the dower claimed had been taken into the King's hand. Alianora is therefore to recover seisin of it. m. 481.

Staff. The essoin of Leon de Perton sued John de Fulford and Ralph, his brother, John, the Abbot's bailly of Dore, in a plea that they, together with William, son of William de Pyletenhale, John de Levynton, Thomas de Pyletenhale, John of the Halle of Neuport, and John de Houton had forcibly reaped his growing corn at Wyghtwyke, and carried it off, to the value of £10. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff returned they held nothing by which they could be attached. He was therefore ordered to arrest and produce them at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 481, dorso.

Staff. The essoin of John de Stafford, Chivaler, appeared against John, brother of William le Verney, John de Calewych, Robert de Wetton, William de la Warde, William le Verney, Ralph Ithel, Thomas, son of Roger de Verney, and Roger, his son, Richard de Smalrys, Richard Wolrych, Robert, Vicar of the church of Sondon, Richard de Melewych, Stephen Bythewater of Salt, Robert de Stalynton, William de Horseleye, John de Horseleye, Adam de Horseleye, Hugh Sharp, of Sondon, (fn. 2) William Cradock, of Frodeswalle, William, son of Roger de Bromshulf, William Bythewater of Salt, John de Uslewall, Adam de Burgh, Roger Selimon and Robert, his son, Roger Snell, and Hugh, his son, Adam de Erberton, Henry le Goldsmyth, Philip de Salt and John, his son, William le Goldsmyth, William de Boterton, Thomas de Titnesovere, Hugh de Dokeseye, John le Rotour, John Russel, Robert Hardyng, Richard le Heuster, Henry de Tittensovere, Adam Lynch, Philip de Hughtesdon, John de Slyndon, Simon de Picstoke, Henry le Bere, Richard Hervy, Hugh Lambart and Richard, his brother, Henry de Cotoun, William de Cotes, Richard Falde, and many others named, for forcibly carrying away his goods and chattels from Great Sandon to the value of £100. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff returned they held nothing by which they could be attached. He was therefore ordered to arrest and produce them at the Quindene of Hillary. m. 520.

De Banco. Hillary, 10–11 E. III. Apud Ebor.

Staff. Isabella, formerly wife of William de Chetewynde, sued Geoffrey Biron for a third of two messuages, sixty acres of land, eight acres of meadow, and twenty-four acres of pastures in Bidulf, and she sued Robert de Brichull for a third of a messuage and four acres of meadow and half a virgate of land in Berleston, and she sued William Gryffyn for a third of four acres of land in Colton, and John Bagod for a third of four acres of meadow in Severley, 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 Easter. m. 38.

Staff. Richard, son of Henry de Consale, sued Hugh de Fulford, Clerk, for a messuage and forty acres of land, and two acres of meadow in Fulford, and he sued Elena, daughter of John, son of Hugh de Fulford, for fifteen acres of land in the same vill by a writ "de avo." Hugh appeared by attorney and prayed a view, and the suit was adjourned to the Quindene of Trinity. m. 52, dorso.

Staff. John, son of Robert de Wyrleye, was summoned to answer the plea of John de Pyrie, that he should render to him a butt of wine "unum dolium vini" which he unjustly detained. And John de Pyrie stated that various dissensions having arisen between him and the said John respecting detinue of cattle and other trespasses, an agreement had been at length made between them, and the said John, son of Robert, had released by deed to him and his heirs all his right to common of pasture in his demesne lands in Pyrie (Perry Barr) and likewise all his right in a rent of 21d. in the vill of Pyrie, and all his actions of trespass and detinue, up to the making of the deed, and he had also acknowledged that he was seised of the right of way he claimed to his meadow in Pyrie, and he likewise conceded that he should be bound to the said John de Pyrie under an obligation to render a butt of wine to him for the said trespasses at the Feast of the Lord's Ascension next after the date of the deed, and the said John de Pyrie remitted to the said John, son of Robert, all manner of actions, trespasses, and detinue of cattle up to the date of the said deed; and the said John, son of Robert, although the butt of wine had been frequently demanded had never rendered it to the said John de Pyrie, and for which he claimed 100s. as damages, and he produced the indenture containing the above provisions. John, son of Robert, appeared by attorney and could not deny his deed, and it was therefore considered that John de Pyrie should recover his debt and 20s. as damages. A postscript states that at the following Michaelmas term, John de Pyrie appeared and stated that the defendant had not satisfied his debt and applied for a writ of "elegit" which was granted. m. 60, dorso.

Staff. The Sub Prior and Convent of Tuttebury were summoned to answer Henry, Earl of Lancastre, in a plea that they should permit him to present a fit person to the Priory of Tuttebiri which was vacant, and he stated that he was seised of the advowson of the Priory and had presented to it one John de St. Albin in the present reign, and by whose resignation the Priory was now vacant, and the said Sub Prior and Convent impeded the presentation for which he claimed £1,000 as damages.

And the Sub Prior and Convent appeared by John de Percy, their attorney and stated that they had the election of their Prior, and in the reign of King Edward I they had elected one Walter le Mouner, a monk of the Convent, and had presented him to Thomas, at that time Earl of Lancastre, the patron, who had admitted him as the elect of the Sub Prior and Convent, and had finally presented him to the Ordinary as their election, and he had been admitted and instituted in the said reign. And as regarded the presentation made of the said John de St. Albin by the Earl, they stated that, at that vacancy, the Sub Prior and Convent had elected as Prior one Giles de Longeford, a monk of the Convent, and had presented him to the Earl who had refused to admit him, and on the mission of the Abbot super Dynam had presented the said John de St. Albin, who had been admitted and installed on his presentation, and the said Sub Prior and Convent had moved a plea in Court Christian against the said John de St. Albin, and had appealed him before the Roman Curia, and the said plea was now pending; and the said John perceiving that the judgment would be against him and that he would be adjudicated an intruder, had resigned the Priory, and it was through his resignation that the Priory was vacant, and they prayed judgment whether the Earl could claim to present whilst the above plea was pending and on the resignation of an intruder.

And the Earl stated that the Sub Prior and Convent did not deny that he was patron of the Priory and he pleaded that Walter le Mouner had been admitted and installed on the presentation of Earl Thomas simply, and not by a previous election of the Sub Prior and Convent, and he appealed to a jury which is to be summoned for the Quindene of Easter. A postscript states that the suit was adjourned till the following Trinity term, when the Earl appeared by his attorney, but the Sub Prior and Convent made no appearance. A verdict was therefore given in favor of the Earl, and a writ was sent to the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield to admit a fit person to the Priory on his presentation, notwithstanding any reclamation on the part of the Sub Prior and Convent. m. 146, dorso.

Staff. Richard de Aston, the executor of the will of Richard Wankleyn, appeared against William de Raveneston in a plea that he should render him a reasonable account for the time he was Bailiff of the said Richard Wankleyn in Patincham. William did not appear and the Sheriff was ordered to attach him for the Octaves of Trinity. m. 153.

Staff. The same Richard sued William de Corbrigg, the parson of the Church of Patingham, for a debt of £5 8s. 2d. William did not appear and the Sheriff returned that he held a benefice in the See of Coventry and Lichfield. A mandate was therefore sent to the said Bishop to produce his clerk at the Octaves of Trinity. m. 153.

Staff. The Abbot of St. Ebrulph appeared by attorney against Joan, formerly wife of Henry Wymer, of Stafford, in a plea that she should give up to him the custody of the land and heir of Henry, which belonged to him inasmuch as the said Henry held his land of him by military service. Joan did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach her for three weeks from Easter. m. 196.

Staff. John de Barre sued Geoffrey de Barre in a plea that he should render a reasonable account for the time he was his Bailiff in Little Barre. Geoffrey did not appear, but had been bailed by William de Barre and Roger de Barre and two others. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to distrain, and produce him at the Octaves of Trinity. m. 224, dorso.

Staff. Roger Wroude of Stafford sued Thomas, son of William de Wolseleye, and Alexander de Brerdon for a debt of £12 and 16d. And he sued William de Aston, the parson of the Church of Rydeware, for a debt of 40s. and Edmund de Stafford, parson of the Church of Draycote, for a sack of wool, worth 10 marks, which he unjustly detained. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach them for three weeks from Easter. m. 255.

Staff. Robert, son of William de Styvynton, of Colton, recovers ten acres of land and five acres of meadow in Rydeware Mauveysin, from John Bonde, of Little Rydeware, by default of the latter. m. 301, dorso.

Staff. John Giffard, of Chylynton, Knight, appeared by attorney against Juliana, formerly wife of John atte Nore, of Chylynton, in a plea that she should give up to him Alice, the daughter and heir of John atte Nore, whose custody belonged to him, inasmuch as the said John held his land of him by military service. Juliana did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce her at three weeks from Easter. m. 310.

Staff. William le Weduesone recovers five acres in Bettelegh from Thomas de Thicknes, Robert de Baskerville, and Margaret, his wife, and Elena and Matilda, sisters of Margaret, by default of the defendants. m. 337.

Staff. Hugh de Tymmore and Ela, his wife, appeared by attorney against Richard de Bradeleye, Chaplain, and John de Barewell, Chaplain, in a plea that they should carry out a covenant respecting three messuages, two carucates of land, twelve acres of meadow, and 4s. 1d. of rent in Haselovere (Haslor). The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to attach them for the Quindene of Easter. m. 359.

Staff. A copy of a fine, dated 10 John, was sent into Court from the King's Chancery by which Ralph de Blore gave a mark of rent and the advowson of the Church of Blore to William, Abbot of Burton. m. 366, dorso.

Assizes taken at Wolvernehampton before William de Shareshull and his fellow Justices assigned to take assizes, etc., on Saturday after the Feast of the Epiphany. 10 E. III.

Staff. An assize, etc., if John, the Abbot of the Church of St. Remige (Rheims) and brother Baldwin, his fellow monk, and John de Gnoushale, had unjustly disseised Adam, the Vicar of the Church of Lappeleye, of common of pasture in Lappeleye, viz., of his common of pasture in forty acres of land, twenty acres of meadow, and forty acres of wood, viz., in two parts of the land after the corn was carried, and until the land was resown, and in a third part of the land which lay fallow each year for the whole year, and in the meadow land each year after the hay was reaped until the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Mary, and in the wood, each year for the whole year with all kind of cattle. The Abbot did not appear, but the said John answered for him as Bailiff, and for the Abbot also as tenant, and stated that the said Adam never was seised of the common of pasture in question. And he put himself on the assize. The jury found that the said Adam had been seised of the common of pasture claimed as appurtenant to his freehold in the vill of Lappeleye, until the said Baldwin and John de Gnoushale had ejected him "vi et armis," and they assessed his damages at 10 marks. And they said that the Abbot took no part in the forcible disseisin. The said Adam is therefore, to recover seisin, and the Sheriff was ordered to arrest the said Baldwin and John. m. 7.

Staff. Philip de Ippestanes who had brought an assize of novel disseisin against Nicholas Dorylot, of Little Onne, did not appear to prosecute it, and he and his sureties, viz., Richard in the Lone and Roger in the Lone, are in misericordiâ. m. 7.

Staff. An assize, etc., if Walter de Rydeware Hampstal, Chivaler, and Joan, his wife, Hamon de Sudbarewe, and William Revesone, had unjustly disseised Philip de Auste of Swynefen of 20s. of yearly rent in Rydeware Hampstal.

The defendants did not appear, but one Roger atte Pyrye answered for them as their Bailiff, and the said Philip then produced as his title for his freehold, an indented deed in these words. (Here follows a deed in French by which Waltier de Rydeware, Seigneur de Rydeware Hampstal, granted to his "cher et bien aime Phelip de Auste," of Swynefen, the seneschal of his manor Courts of Rydeware Hampstal for the term of the life of the said Walter, the office of Steward of his manor Courts for which he was to receive annually, "une robe convenable pour gentilshommes," with a suitable fur at the Feast of Christmas, and 20s. of annual rent. Dated 6 E. III, and witnessed by Mons. Philip de Somerville, Mons. Robert Mauveysin, Mons. Johan de Myneres, Mons. Thomas de Rolleston, Johan de Heronville, William de Allerwych, Johan le Rous, and others.

Roger denied that any injury had been inflicted on the plaintiff, and appealed to a jury, which found in favour of Philip and assessed his damages at 20 marks.

Philip appeared afterwards before the Justices and applied for a writ of "elegit" against the goods and chattels of the defendants. "Venit coram Justiciarios et elegit sibi liberari omnia bona et catalla predictorum Walteri et aliorum preter boves et affros, etc., et similiter mediatatem terrarum et tenementorum suorum tenendum, etc., quousque, etc."

Staff. An assize, etc., if William de Rughtley, of Calangwode, Richard Haukyn, of Calangewode, and Ivetta de Calangewode had unjustly disseised Alice, formerly wife of Matthew de Vilers of 10s. of rent in Calengewode. The defendants did not appear, but one John de Bloxwych answered for them as their Bailiff and conceded the assize. The jury found in favour of Alice, and assessed her damages at 60s. She is therefore to recover seisin. Alice afterwards remitted her claim to damages. m. 8.