Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 1256-60

Roll No. 101.

Headed, " Placita de diversis comitatibus apud Wynton in crastino Sancti Hyllarii, coram Gilberto de Preston et sociis suis Justiciariis Itinerantibus, anno regni Regis H., filii Regis Johannis, quadragesimo." [14th January, 1256.]

Staff. Henry de Pirye was summoned to answer the plea of Thomas de Hamsted, that he should permit him to have common of pasture in Pirye. Thomas came and prayed a view. A day is given to the parties at fifteen days from Trinity, at Lancaster ; and Thomas put in his place Robert de Swynefen. m. 10, dorso.

Leyc.—Staff. William Baggot sued Peter de Mora to acquit him of the service which Robert de Stafford claimed from him for the free tenement which he held of the said Peter in Huldelweston (Hilderstone), Patleshill (Patshull), Westcote, and Clifford (fn. 1) in co. Stafford, and of which Peter, who is medius, ought to acquit him ; and Peter did not appear, and had made several defaults. The Sheriff of Leicestershire is therefore commanded to distrain him by his lands, &c., and to have his body, &c., and the Sheriff had done nothing. He is therefore commanded to distrain him as before, and to have his body here at fifteen days from Trinity, and to be present himself to hear judgment (on his own default). m. 10, dorso.

Staff. Richard le Parker, of Certeleg, appeared against Margaret de Ferrars, Countess of Derby, in a plea that she should permit him to have every year the wood thrown down by wind in the park of the Earl at Certeleg (Chartley), which he ought to have as pertaining to the custody of the said wood, of which he is enfeoffed. Margaret did not appear, and is to be attached for fifteen days from Trinity at Lancaster. m. 11.

Salop Assize Roll Of 40 H. III.

"Placita forinseca apud Salop, in crastino Sancti Hillarii, anno XL." [14th January, 1256.]

Staff. Nigel de Langeford was summoned to answer the plaint of Magister Thomas de Shyreford, that he should hold to a fine made before the Justices Itinerant at Lichfield, between Joan de Athelakeston (Ellastone), the mother of Thomas, whose heir he is, and the said Nigel, respecting the suit of mill which the said Joan claimed of Nigel in Akelakeston ; and he complained that whereas the said Joan had remitted to Nigel and his heirs the suit of her mill so far as regarded the demesne lands of the said Nigel, and Nigel had conceded that his villains of Athelaxton should perform suit to her mill, and should find every year at Penticost a man to repair the mill-pool, and Nigel had also conceded to her a mark of rent to be received from Patrick Sautcheverel and Ralph Cnotte and their heirs; the said Nigel now would not permit him to receive the said rent, nor to distrain the said Patrick and Ralph for it, nor would permit his villains to repair his mill pond. Nigel appeared and acknowledged the fine, but denied he had impeded the performance of it in any way, and appealed to a jury. The Sheriff was commanded to summon a jury at Salop at the Purification, but they did not come. He is therefore commanded to summon them to be at Westminster at five weeks from Easter. m. 1, dorso.

Staff. The suit of Thomas de Hamsted versus Henry de Pirie, adjourned to Newcastle-upon-Tyne at fifteen days from Easter. Henry not appearing, the Sheriff is ordered to distrain him, et quod habeat corpus, at the above date. m. 2, dorso.

Staff. The suit of William Bagot versus Peter de More is adjourned to Newcastle-upon-Tyne at the same date. m. 3, dorso.

Staff. The suit of Thomas de Shyreford versus Nigel de Longeford, respecting the right of taking turf from Nigel's land for the repairs of the mill pond of Thomas in Ellastone, concluded by a fine. (fn. 2) m. 4.

Roll No. 25, Tower Records.

Headed, " Placita coram Domino Regc apud Clarendon, in Octabis Sanctæ Trinitatis, anno ejusdem XLII." [26th May, 1258.]

M. 6. "Placita coram R. Walerand, Senescallo Domini Regis, apud Bristoll, in Vigilia Omnium Sanctorum, anno XLI., incipiente XLII." [31st October, 1257.]

Staff. Ralph de Derdon appeared against John Morel, Robert Wyldegos, John Bungy, and four others, for taking and imprisoning him, and detaining him until he paid them a ransom ; and they did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain them, &c.; and the Sheriff returned that Robert resided in Derbyshire, and held no lands in Staffordshire, and the Sheriff of Derbyshire is therefore commanded to distrain him, and to produce his body at the Octaves of St. John ; and the Sheriff returned that John Morel had no lands in Staffordshire, and it was testified that he held land in Falede (Fauld). The Sheriff is therefore commanded, &c. (as before) ; and the Sheriff returned that John Bungy could not be found, and had left the Kingdom in consequence of this writ; and it is testified that he could be found with Richard de Pype. The Sheriff is therefore ordered to arrest him, and produce him at the same time as the others, &c. m. 7.

Staff. Walter de Pulton appeared against Thomas de Hamstede in a plea that he had produced a false writ of the Lord the King, by which Hugh de Ocoure, formerly Sheriff, had given seisin to him of half of that land in Swynefen for which Walter de Pulton had sued him in the Court of the Lord the King at Westminster by a writ of right, and which by the verdict of the Court, Walter had recovered through a default of Richard de Vernun, who had been called to warranty. And Walter complained that after he had recovered seisin by the verdict of the Court, the said Hugh, lately Sheriff, by the production of a false writ, had given Thomas seisin of half the land ; and the Sheriff was ordered to produce the said Hugh before the Court to show what he had done in the said business. And Hugh stated that as soon as Walter de Pulton had obtained his verdict in the King's Court, he was put in seisin of the land named in the writ, but he had taken possession of the whole manor of Swynefen, excepting one virgate of land, without any warrant, and the said Thomas had sued out (impetravit) a writ of the Lord the King addressed to the Sheriff, to restore to him the part which belonged to him ; and the said Sheriff had done so according to the tenor of the writ. The Sheriff is therefore commanded to distrain the said Thomas, and to produce him at fifteen days from St. John the Baptist. m 7, dorso.

M. 8. "Adhue de tertiâ septimanâ, Sanctœ Trinitatis, apud Oxon." [23rd June, 1258.]

Staff. Robert de Stafford, Ralph Scurry, and William Hod, appeared to answer the complaint of Nicholas Mal, that they had taken his goods, and maltreated and imprisoned him. Nicholas did not appear, and was plaintiff; the suit is therefore dismissed. m. 8.

Oxon. The Lord the King, by Laurence de Brok his attorney, sued Alan de Rumelyaco (Romilly) for the advowson of the Chapel of Myddeleston (Middle Aston), which pertains to the Church of Hopton, and which is of the Free Chapel of the Blessed Mary of Stafford, and of which the King is patron; and Laurence stated that King Henry, the grandfather of the King, was in seisin of the said Chapel, through Robert the Dean of the said Chapel. Alan pleaded that he did not hold the whole advowson, because Adam de Bruynton (Brimpton) is patron of that part which is stated to belong to the said Chapel, and that King Henry was never in seisin of his portion of the advowson. The Sheriff is commanded to summon a jury at fifteen days from St. John the Baptist. m. 9.

Staff. Roger de Somery sued Richard, son of Gervase of Wolvernehampton, Hugh his brother, and Roger de Woundon, for entering his park of Segesle and taking his game (feras). The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to produce them at three weeks from Michaelmas. The same Roger also sued Thomas the palfreyman (palefridus) of the wife of Roger, and William, the messenger of the same Lady, for burning by night his granges in the vill of Kyngheswyneford. And they did not appear; and the Sheriff returned they were wandering about, and could not be found. He is ordered to arrest them and produce them at the same term. m. 11.

M. 17. "Adhuc de quindena Sancti Johannis." [7th July, 1258.]

Staff. Thomas de Hampstede was attached to answer the complaint of Walter de Pulton, that whereas he (Walter) had sued Thomas before the Justices of the Bench for a messuage and six virgates of land and half a mill in Swynefen, and had likewise sued the said Thomas, whom Nicholas, son of Alice, had called to warranty, and who had warranted to him a messuage and a virgate of land in the same vill, and the said Walter had included in the view of the land all the hamlet of Swynefen except two messuages, a virgate, and twelve acres of land; and the said Thomas had called to warranty Robert de Grendon, who had warranted the land to him, and who had called to warranty Richad de Vernun, by whose default the said Walter had recovered seisin by the verdict of the King's Court of all the land included in the view, and the said Thomas was to be compensated out of the lands of the said Richard in Horlaveston (Harlaston) to the value of all the land which the said Walter had recovered in Swynefen: Hugh de Acoure, then Sheriff of Staffordshire, by means of a writ surreptitiously obtained from the King's Court, had put Thomas into seisin of half the above tenement or more, and which the said Thomas now unjustly held in addition to his full warranty, (fn. 3) which he had of the tenements of the said Richard; and the said Walter complained that he had sued the said Thomas before the Justices at Westminster for the aforesaid messuages, &c., claiming by the seisin of one Haghene his ancestor, who was seised of them in the reign of King Henry, the grandfather of the present King, and who for that quantity of land (which had been specified in the view) held the whole hamlet which is called Swynefen; and by the ejection from his tenement by the said Sheriff he had been damaged to the extent of 10l.

And Thomas acknowledged he had sued out a writ in the King's Court to obtain seisin again of eight virgates and more in Swynefen, which the said Walter had occupied on the occasion of his having obtained a verdict for seven and a half virgates of land in Swynefen. A concord was afterwards made by which the said Thomas surrendered to Walter the hamlet of Swynefen, excepting two messuages and a virgate and twelve acres of land, saving however the right of the said Thomas to the said hamlet if in the future he wished to raise the question. (fn. 4) m. 17.

Plea Rolls No. 16, Tower Records.

No heading; but a suit on Membrane 36 shows it to be of Michaelmas Term, 42 and 43 H. III. [October, 1258.]

Warr. William Maunsel sued Giles de Erdington, his coparcener, to repair a mill in Erdington. Giles did not appear ; and the Sheriff was ordered to produce him at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 1.

Derb. William Burgillun and Emma his wife, sued Thomas de Chatesdene to complete the chirograph of a fine made before the Justices at Derby, respecting two bovates of land and two acres in Chattesdene. Thomas did not appear. The Sheriff to produce him at the Octaves of Hillary. m. 3.

Staff. The assize of mordauncestor between Clement son of Robert, and Agnes his wife, plaintiffs, and Adam, son of William, tenant of two and a half acres of land in Forgate, near Stafford, is respited till the Octaves of Hillary through defect of recognitors. m. 4, dorso.

Staff. The assize of mordauncestor between William Musse, plaintiff, and Serlo (Saer) Mauveisin, tenant of a messuage and half a noke and thirtyeight acres of land in Cotes-extra-Stafford, is respited till the Octaves of Hillary through defect of recognitors. m. 4, dorso.

Staff. William de Caverewell gives 20s. for license of concord with Thomas de Keymes and Joan his wife, in a plea of warranty of charter. (fn. 5) m. 7.

Salop. John Chete sued William de Ebroicis (Devereux), Hugh de Baskerville, Robert de la Sale, Osbert de Covene, Alan de Paunton, William de Suyneye, and Thomas del Boys, that they together with Ralph de Covene, Ivo de Paunton, Roger de Eyton, Amian de Burewardele, and Stephen de la Hulle, had maliciously destroyed the stank of his fish pond in Burewardele (Broseley) and Wylie (Willey), and taken his fish. The Sheriff is ordered to produce the defendants at fifteen days from Hillary. m. 8, dorso.

Staff. John de Frene and Wylde Scheil appeared against Hugh de Wrottesle and William Schirelok for insulting, beating, and illtreating them, vi et armis, and against the King's peace, &c. The defendants did not appear; and Hugh had been attached by Stephen de Wrottesle, the Forester, and Nicholas, son of Richard, of the same. He is therefore to be attached by better sureties to appear at fifteen days from Hillary. And the Sheriff returned that William Shirelok could not be found ; he is therefore ordered to attach him to appear at the same term, if he can be found. m. 11.

Staff. Ralph de Perton appeared against Juliana de Glasle, (fn. 6) Alan, Laurence, and Henry, her sons, Hugh de Bladis, Roger de Arderne, William de Glasle, and three others named, for entering vi et armis his free haye in the manor of Perton which is called Harewude, and forms part of the Sergeanty which the said Ralph held of the King in capite, and cutting down and carrying away two oak trees. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is to produce them at fifteen days from Hillary. m. 12.

Staff. Geoffery, son of Geoffrey, sued Gilbert, son of Robert le Marescall, for twelve acres in Aston. Gilbert did not appear. The land to be taken into the King's hands, and Gilbert to be summoned for fifteen days from Hillary. m. 12, dorso.

Staff. The Abbot of Burton sued Hugh de Acovere for deforcing him of a mill in Ilum, which Henry de Ilum had demised to him for a term which had not yet expired ; and within the term the said Henry had sold the mill to John de Ilum his son and Amice his wife, on which occasion the said John and Amice and the aforesaid Hugh, to whom they had demised the mill, had ejected the Abbot ; and Hugh did not appear, and had made default before. The Sheriff is ordered to distrain him by his lands, &c., and produce him at the Octaves of the Purification. m. 21, dorso.

Warw. Bertram de Burgo sued Adam le Despencer for customs and services he owed for his free tenement in Alne and Passelowe. Adam did not appear, and is to be attached for the Octaves of the Purification. m. 22, dorso.

Staff. Nicholas le Blund summoned the Bishop of Chester to produce Ralph, the Dean of Lichfield, and others, to answer his lawful complaint that they had held a plea in Court Christian respecting the lay fee of the said Nicholas. The Bishop did not appear, and is to put in pledges to appear at the Octaves of the Purification. m. 29, dorso.

Staff. Margaret de Bromwice appeared against John Wygot, the serviens of Walter de Everos, (fn. 7) for imprisoning her against the King's peace, &c. Walter did not appear, and was attached by Richard de Pype and John Bungy. To be attached by better sureties to appear at fifteen days from Easter. m. 32.

Dorset. Giles de Erdington was summoned to answer the complaint of Hubert la Vygle that he impeded his right of way beyond the land of the said Giles at Cormelyn. Giles appeared and pleaded that he should not answer to a writ of right, when Hubert named in it that he had been damaged only; and the Court dismissed the suit. Hubert to sue by another form of writ if he chose. m. 32.

Staff. The Prior of St. John of Lichefeld appeared by his attorney versus Philip de Rule respecting a rent of a mark in Lichfield ; and Philip did not appear, and was plaintiff. The suit is therefore dismissed. m. 48, dorso.

Roll No. 107.

No heading ; supposed to be Pleas at Westminster of Hillary Term, 43 H. III. [January, 1259.]

Salop. Ralph de Coven and Roger de Eyton sued the Bishop of Hereford, William de Ebroicis and Mathania his wife, for the advowson of the Church of Burwardesle ; and they did not appear. To be re-summoned for the Octaves of the Purification. m. 4.

Staff. Robert de Beverle acknowledged he owed to Richard, son of Richard de Kamvill, 45 marks, and conceded that the said Richard should be paid from the annual rent of Robert Dru and Roger Reyner, his villains in Auneton, owing for the land which they hold of him by the demise of William de Kamvill. (fn. 8) m. 4, dorso.

Staff. An assize, &c., if John, son of Gunilda, father of Agnes, the wife of Clement son of Robert, was seised, &c., of two acres in Foregate outside Stafford, when he died, and which Adam, son of William, holds. Adam appeared and stated that an assize ought not to be taken, because Gunilda had a sister, by name Margaret, of the same father and mother, and who had as much right in the land as Gunilda, and who was not named in the writ; and as Clement and Agnes could not deny this, the suit is dismissed. m. 6.

Staff. The suit of Ralph de Cotes versus Saer Mauveisin, adjourned to the morrow of Ascension Day. m. 11, dorso.

Staff. The suit of the Abbot of Burton versus Hugh de Acovere, respecting the mill of Ilam, is adjourned to a month from Easter. m. 23, dorso.

Staff. Fulk, Archbishop of Dublin, sued Andrew le Blund for two carucates of land in Penkriz, excepting forty-seven acres and the third part of an acre of pasture, as the right of his Church of Dublin. Andrew did not appear, and on the Quindene of St. John the Baptist, 42 H. III., he had essoigned himself "de malo veniendi"; and a day was given him at fifteen days from St. Martin, at which day he essoined himself "de servitio Regis," and a day had been given him at this date. The land is therefore to be taken into the King's hands, and Andrew to be summoned for a month from Easter. Afterwards Hervey de Borham and Richard de Havering came into Court and stated that Andrew non est compos mentis, and could not understand whether he had made default or not. The Sheriff is therefore commanded to send four Knights to see him, and who are to appear before the Court at fifteen days from Easter to certify the state he is in (de statu suo).

Staff. A day is given to Roger de Lovetoft, and to John de Littelbiri and Roes his wife, and to Ada, the widow of William de Stafford, (fn. 9) in a plea of waste, at three weeks from Trinity. m. 28, dorso.

Warw. Robert de Grendon was sued by William de Kamvill for homage and service owing for a Knight's fee in Grendon, pertaining to his manor of Clyfton, which manor Richard de Kamvill had delivered up to the said William in the Curia Regis without any other reservation than two virgates of land in the same manor. (fn. 10) Robert appeared and acknowledged he held a Knight's fee in Grendon of the heir of Geoffrey, but stated he had elsewhere done homage to one Richard de Kamvill, lord of Clyfton, for the same fee, whilst the said Richard held the manor of Clyfton ; and he was quite willing to perform homage to William if the Court considered he could recede from the homage he had already done to Richard, so long as the said Richard was alive, nor did he know for certain whether the said fee was part of the manor of Clyfton or not. The Sheriff is therefore commanded to summon the said Richard at a month from Easter to declare by what right he claimed the homage of Robert for the said fee. m. 29, dorso.

Staff. Henry de Pirye sued Henry de Morf and Isabel his wife for waste in the houses, &c., they hold in dower of the inheritance of the said Henry in Pirye. The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached by better sureties to appear at three weeks from Trinity. m. 30.

Hunts. John de Littelbyri and Margaret his wife, sue John, son of John de Littelbyri and Roes his wife, for a messuage and virgates of land in Overton as the right of the said Margaret. John and Roes pray a view, and a day is given to the parties at three weeks from Trinity. m. 31.

Staff. Hawise, the widow of Henry Knyght, sued Joan, the widow of William de Hunesworth, for one-third of thirty acres of land and two acres of wood in Lichfield, as her dower. Adjourned to Easter. m. 35, dorso.

Rolls Nos. 108 and 109 contain no Staffordshire suits.

Roll No. 27, Tower Records.

Headed, "Placita de Octabis Sancti Michaelis, anno XLIII., coram Domino Rege et H. le Bigot, Justiciario Angliœ." [6th October, 1259.]

Salop. The Lord the King by Laurence del Brok appeared against John fitz Alan in a plea that after the death of Roger Corbet, who had held of the King in capite, he had intruded himself into Roger's manors of Hedlegh, Haiton, and Tasseleg, the custody of which belonged to the King ; and John fitz Alan did not appear. The Sheriff is ordered to distrain him, and to produce him on the morrow of St. Martin. m. 1.

Staff. Philip de Penebrigge, the essoin of Robert de Fornham, and John le Messager, the essoin of Warner le Tayllur, appeared against Robert de Peleshall and William de Leminstre, in a plea that when the said Robert and Warner betook themselves to Segesle, the manor of Roger de Somery, in order to replevy Walter Ordrich, the villain of the said Roger, they had interfered and taken the said Warner and bound him and illtreated him, and taken him to Bridgenorth, where they still detained him. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is commanded to distrain William to appear at fifteen days from St. Martin, and as Robert has no lands or chattels, he is to be arrested and produced in Court at the same time. m. 2.

Staff. Roger de Somery appeared on the fourth day against Robert de Peleshall and William de Leminstre, for entering by night his manor of Segesle and taking his villain Walter Ordrich by force to Bridgenorth, where he had been put into prison. The Sheriff is commanded to proceed as before. m. 2, dorso.

Staff. The Lord the King by Laurence del Brok sued R. the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield for coming on the Saturday before Christmas Day in the 43rd year of his reign, to the free Chapel of the King of Stafford, with a great multitude of armed men, both lay and clerical, viz., with coats of mail (haubergellis), lances, bows, and arrows, and other arms, and broken the doors of the said Chapel, and beaten and illtreated the Canons, Chaplains, and Clerks of the said Chapel, against the peace and dignity of the Crown.

And the Bishop was present in Court, and stated he would not answer to the plea as he was a Clericus, and upon this came R. de Clare, the Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, and said that one Bogo, his son, is Dean of the said Chapel, and he claimed on behalf of his son that no plea should be held in this Court respecting the rights of the said Chapel. m. 7.

Derby. The plea of Nigel de Longford and Matilda de Gousell versus Nicholas de Stamford, respecting the advowson of Barlebury, comes on again. The Bishop is ordered to produce Nicholas at fifteen days from Hillary. m. 8.

M. 9. "Assisœ (fn. 11) captœ, coram H. le Bygod, Justiciario Angliœ, et in presentiâ Domini Regis, a . . . . festi Sancti Martini, anno XLIIII." [November, 1260.]

M. 20, dorso. "Adhuc de tertiâ septimanâ et de crastino Purificationis Beatœ Mariœ." [3rd February, 1261.]

Roger de Somery's suit against William de Leminster and Robert de Peleshall comes on again. The Sheriff returned that he could not find either of the defendants, and they had no lands by which they could be distrained. It was testified, however, that William was living at Drayton, in the service of Ralph Basset, and that Robert de Peleshall held lands in Peleshall. The Sheriff is therefore commanded to have their bodies in Court at a month from Easter, and to appear himself at the same date to hear judgment on his default. m. 20, dorso.

Banco Roll, No. 14.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: coram Rogero de Thurkelby et sociis suis, Justiciariis de Banco, in Octabis Sancti Hillarii, anno R. R. Henrici, filii R. Johannis, quadragesimo quarto." [20th January, 1260.]

Warw. William de Camvill appeared on the fourth day against Richard de Kamvill in a plea that he should be present in Court on this day, to state by what right he claimed the service of Robert de Grendon for a Knight's fee on Grendon, which is of the manor of Clifton, which manor the said Richard had surrendered to William in the Curia Regis; and Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff was commanded to distrain him by his lands, &c., and to have his body in Court at this time; and the Sheriff did nothing in the matter. He is therefore commanded to proceed as before, and to produce the said Richard at five weeks from Easter; and the Sheriff to be present to hear judgment on his own default. m. 1, dorso.

Staff. Matania, the widow of Simon de Rideware, sued William, son of Nicholas, and Margaret his wife, Thomas Hervey, and Isolda his wife, and Agnes de Hyghetorp, for one-third of a messuage and twenty acres of land in Thohull as her dower. The defendants pray a view. A day is given to the parties at a month from Easter. m. 6.

Staff. Robert de Beverle sued Robert de Vernun for a debt of five marks and forty pence; and he sued William de Kaunvill for a debt of seven marks, and they did not appear, and had made frequent default. The Sheriff is therefore commanded to distrain them by their lands, &c., and to produce them at three weeks from Easter. m. 10.

Salop. The Abbot of Lilleshull appeared by attorney on the fourth day against William de Harecurt in a plea that he should be present in Court to hear judgment in a suit which was in the King's Court before the Justices Itinerant at Salop, between the Abbot and the said William, respecting the waste and destruction of the wood of William in Tang; and he did not appear, and had made frequent defaults; and the Sheriff had been commanded to distrain him, &c., and had done nothing. William's sureties are therefore in misericordiâ, and William Bagod the Sheriff also, because he made no return; and the Sheriff is commanded to distrain him, &c., and to produce his body at a month from Easter. m. 17.

Staff. William de Decling sued Robert de Stafford for the unjust detention of a horse worth 30 marks; and Robert did not appear, and had made frequent defaults, and the Sheriff had been ordered to distrain him by his goods, &c., and to have his body in Court at this date, and the Sheriff had done nothing, and sent no writ. He is therefore commanded to distrain him as before, and to produce him on the Octaves of St. John the Baptist, and to be in Court to hear judgment on himself. m. 32.

Roll No. 110.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: coram R. de Thurkelby et sociis suis, Justiciariis de Banco, de termino Paschœ, anno regni Regis H., filii Regis J., quadragesimo quarto." [April, 1260.]

Staff. John de Chetwode was summoned to answer the plea of Thomas de Mere, that he should render to him the custody of two parts of a fourth of a knight's fee in Mere and Aston, which belongs to him, inasmuch as Robert de Mere held the fee of him by knight's service. John appeared and stated that Thomas had given the custody of the land and heirs of Robert de Mere, together with their marriages, to Philip Lovel, by a charter which he produced, and that Philip gave the same to him.

Thomas stated there had been some talk (prolocutio) between him and the said Philip concerning the demise of the said custody at the Priory of St. Thomas of Stafford, but he had receded from the arrangement, and the business had never been completed, but that certain servants of the said Philip had come to him at Cresswell on the same day, and had taken, beaten, and maltreated him and forced him to return to the said Priory, and had there detained him a prisoner, until, under constraint, and against his will, he had executed the said charter and appended his seal; and he prayed that inquiry might be made into this. John denied that Thomas had been forced to execute a charter against his will and (the record suddenly stops at this point). m. 3, dorso.

Staff. The assize of mordauncestor between William Mosse and Saer Mauveysin respecting thirty-eight acres and a noke of land in Cotis, near Stafford, is respited till the Octaves of Michaelmas through defect of recognitors. m. 11.

Derby. (fn. 12) Magister Henry Lovel sued Richard de Curzun and Amice his wife to warrant to him a messuage and a mill and one hundred and sixty acres of land, and twelve acres of pasture, &c., in Littilburi, in co. Essex, which he holds of them, and for which he holds the charter of Philip Luvel, the father of Amice, whose heir she is. Richard and Amice did not appear, and had previously made default; and the Sheriff is ordered to produce them in Court at fifteen days from St. John the Baptist. m. 11, dorso.

Staff. Robert de Malebis sued Nicholas de Geringeshale in a plea of nativity. Nicholas did not appear. To be re-summoned for the Octaves of St. John the Baptist. m. 17.

Staff. William Trumwin and Ada (fn. 13) his wife sued William de Caverswell, and Henry, son of Henry de Billington, for customs and services due to them for the free tenement they hold of them in Billington. The defendants did not appear, and had previously made default. The Sheriff is therefore to distrain them by their lands, &c., and to produce them in Court at fifteen days from Michaelmas. m. 24, dorso.

Roll No. 29, Tower Records.

Headed, "Placita coram Domino Rege, de tempore Hugonis Bigod, Justiciarii Angliæ, in crastino Clausi Paschæ et a die Paschæ, in quindecim dies anno XLIIII." [12th April, 1260.]

M. 17. "Placita de Octabis Sancti Johannis Baptistæ." [30th June, 1260.]

Staff. The Prior of Sandwell appeared against William de Parles, Simon Mustrel, Adam de Pyrie, Thomas de Wythenhay and eight others, in a plea that they had come upon the land of the said Prior at Brompwich, and had insulted him, and had beaten and illtreated his men, and had chased the said Prior with arms in their hands into his house at Brompwich, so that he had barely escaped from them. The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached again by better pledges for three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 17.

Staff. John le Maunsel appeared against Philip Marmiun, Henry Kek, of Tamworth, and three others, in a plea that they had come vi et armis to his granges in Tamworth, which were in the custody of Robert, the Parson of Wadinton, and had taken away his corn, &c. The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached again by better pledges for fifteen days from Michaelmas. m. 23, dorso.

Roll No. 28, Tower Records.

Headed, "Adhuc de quindena Paschæ." (Supposed to be a Banco Roll of Easter Term, 44 H. III.) [April, 1260.]

Staff. A day is given to William de Harecurt, plaintiff, and John de Oyley and Roes his wife, in a plea of a fine levied; at fifteen days from St. John the Baptist. m. 2, dorso.

Staff. Robert fitz Nicholas sued John Morel to render to him a reasonable account for the time he was his Bailiff in Thurvardeston, Langele, Eginton, and Spenden. John did not appear; to be attached for the Octaves of Michaelmas. m. 4.

Staff. Agnes, the widow of Stephen de Curzun, sued Mabilla de Curzun for one-third of three messuages and four bovates of land in Fald, and also sued John Morel for one-third of a bovate of land in the same vill, and Roger, son of Stephen, for one-third of a bovate of land in the same vill, and Ascelina de Curzun for one-third of a messuage and a bovate of land, and Stephen, son of Stephen, for one-third of five acres in the same vill, as her dower. The defendants did not appear; and the Sheriff is ordered to take the land claimed into the King's hands, and to summon them for fifteen days after Trinity. m. 6, dorso.

Staff. William de Bere sued Thomas, son of Robert de Bere, for a messuage and six acres of land in Littileg. Adjourned to Octaves of Michaelmas. m. 7.

Staff. Richard Brun sued Richard le Riche and nine other tenants of Hanchurch, for suit and service owing for the tenements they held in villenage of the inheritance of Robert, son of Robert de Mere, who was in ward to the said Richard by gift of the King. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to attach them for fifteen days after St. John the Baptist. m. 8.

Staff. Philippa, the widow of William de Northerhull, sued Robert de Northerhull for one-third of a messuage and six bovates of land in Northerhull as her dower. Adjourned to the Octaves of Holy Trinity. m. 8.

Staff. Letitia, daughter of Adam de Patlingham, sued Nicholas, son of Thomas de Thaxton and Petronilla his mother, for a messuage in Newcastleunder-Lyme. Verdict for Lettice. m. 8, dorso.

Staff. Robert de Merse, Robert de Worthyn, and five others, sued Hugh de Acovere for seizing their cattle in Salopscire and driving them into Staffordshire, and unjustly detaining them there. Hugh did not appear, and is to be re-summoned for fifteen days after Michaelmas. m. 12, dorso.

Staff. The Sheriff had been commanded to levy 10 marks from the land, &c., of Robert de Grendon for a debt owing by Robert to Alice, the widow of Reginald Gaugy; and he had done nothing but returned that Robert held nothing within his Bailiwick; and it was testified that Robert held lands in Shenestane, and that on the occasion that one hundred cattle had been taken and impounded he had permitted them to escape. He is therefore in misericordiâ (scilicet "de Kaverswell"), (fn. 14) and he is fined 100s., and the Sheriff is commanded . . . . at fifteen days from St. John the Baptist. m. 12, dorso.

Wilts, Staff. The Abbot of Hales appeared against Baldwyn de Lisle (de Insula), to warrant to him 100s. of rent and forty acres of wood in Horeburn, in co. Stafford, which Giles de Erdington claimed against him by an assize of mordauncestor; and Baldwin did not appear, and the Sheriff returned he had heard from the Bailiffs of Baldwin's liberty of Chirchelade that they had done nothing therein. Suit adjourned to Trinity Term. m. 13.

Staff. Matilda, widow of Richard de Kamwill, sued Geoffrey de Kamwill for one-third of two parts of the manor of Clifton; and Lucy, widow of William de Kamvill, for one-third of one-third of the same manor, as her dower; and Lucy called Geoffrey to warranty for the third of the manor held by her. A concord was made by which Geoffrey conceded to Matilda for her life 12 marks of rent from the said manor in the name of dower. m. 16.

Staff. Thomas de Honne (Onn) acknowledged he owed Thomas Corbet 100s., to be rendered at Michaelmas of this year.

Staff. Nicholas de Lega appeared in Court in a plea of mordauncestor, which Robert de Asshulf arraigned against the said Nicholas respecting half a virgate of land in Gnousale; and Robert did not appear, and was the plaintiff; the suit is therefore dismissed sine die. m. 27, dorso.

Banco Roll No. 15.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: de termino Sancti Michaelis, anno Regni R. H., filii Regis J., quadragesimo quarto, incipiente quadragesimo quinto, coram G. de Preston, T. de Wyvill, et J. de Kava, Justiciariis de Banco." [October, 1260.]

Staff. The Abbot of Bildewas sued Bertram de Burgo for half-an-acre of land in Wilbritton, and he sued the same Bertram for common of pasture in Wylbricton, of which Bertram had disseised his predecessor. Bertram did not appear, and to be attached for fifteen days from St. Martin. m. 3.

Staff. Baldwin de Insula (de l'Isle) was summoned to answer the Abbot of Hales in a plea that he should permit him to present a fit Parson to the Church of Horeburne, which is vacant, and of which the donation belongs to him, inasmuch as Warin fitz Gerold, whose right and inheritance the manor of Horeburn was, and to which manor the right of presentation belongs, had presented Robert, his clerk, to the said Church in the reign of King John, and who was admitted and died Parson of the Church; and Margaret de Rivers (Ripariis), the daughter and heir of the said Warine, gave the said manor of Horeburn, together with the advowson of the Church, to the Abbey of Hales.

Baldwin appeared by attorney and defended his right, and stated that the Church was not vacant, but was held by one Henry de Geynes, a Roman, on whom the Bishop of Chester had conferred the Church with the permission of the Roman Curia.

The Abbot admitted that the Bishop had conferred the Church on the said Henry with the authority of the Roman Court, but stated that the said Henry had receded from the Church, and had married one Sibilla, and the Church is therefore vacant de jure. The Bishop is therefore commanded to inquire whether the Church is vacant or not, and to declare the same to the Justices on the morrow of St. Martin by his letters patent. The same day is given to the parties in banco. m. 5. (fn. 15)

Warw. Sengia (Sanchia), the Queen of Germany and Countess of Cornwall, sued, by her attorney, Robert de Stafford, William Blankfrunt, Frederic de Bosco, William le Champyun, and sixteen others, for 120 marks owing to her; and the defendants did not appear. They are to be attached by better sureties to appear at fifteen days from St. Martin. m. 5, dorso.

Staff. Lucy, the widow of William de Kamwill, sued Geoffrey de Kamwill for one-third of the manor of Clifton, and one-third of the advowson of the Church of Clifton, excepting ten virgates of land and five messuages and 8d. of rent; and she sued Robert de Beverle for one-third of nineteen virgates of land and 26s. rent in Hampton (Haunton), and Ralph de Burgo for onethird of a messuage and four virgates of land in Clifton, and Roger le Eskuur for one-third of 8d. rent in the same vill, as dower.

Robert, Ralph, and Roger call Geoffrey to warranty, who appeared and warranted the land and rents to them, and conceded the dower asked for. Robert, Ralph, and Roger are therefore dismissed from the suit, and the said Lucy to have the value of her dower from the land of the said Geoffrey. m. 8, dorso.

Staff. Hawise, the widow of Thomas de Shireford, sued John de Verdun for one-third of a messuage, nine virgates of land, ten acres of pasture, and half of fifty acres of wood in Athelaxton (Ellaston); and Henry de Northwode for one-third of nine virgates of land, ten acres of pasture and a water mill; and other tenants in the same vill for one-third of their lands as dower; and she sued Richard de Draicote for one-third of a messuage and seven virgates of land in Caldon, and William Poutrel for one-third of twenty acres of land in Boterdon as her dower.

Richard de Draicote prayed a view, and a day is given to the parties at fifteen days from St. Martin. John and Henry state they no longer hold the land in question, because Hugh de Shireford had impleaded them for it, and had recovered it by an assize of mordauncestor taken before Giles de Erdington; and Hugh was present and acknowledged this to be true, and he is therefore to answer for the others; Hugh stated that Hawise had no claim to dower, because Thomas was never married to her. Hawise is therefore to have a writ addressed to the Bishop to certify the truth of this matter. m. 15.

Staff. William Trumwyne and Alda his wife, sued William de Cavereswell and Henry, son of Henry de Billingtone, for customs and services owing to them for the free tenement which they hold of them in Billington. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff had been ordered to distrain them, &c., and had done nothing and sent no writ. He is therefore commanded to distrain them as before, and to have their bodies in Court at fifteen days from Hillary, and to be present himself to hear judgment on himself. m. 30, dorso.

Staff. Matilda, the widow of Richard de Kaunvill, sued Gerard de Kaunvill for one-third of three virgates of land in Clifton as her dower. Gerard appeared and called to warranty Geoffrey de Kaunvill, who is to be summoned for the Octaves of St. Hillary; and it is conceded that William de Walecote and William de Minsterton should sue for Gerard, because he was under age. m. 33.

Staff., Salop. The Abbot of Lilleshull sued Richard Trussell and Roes his wife, and Alice de Paunton, for 10s. rent in arrear of an annual rent of 10s., and in a plea that the said Richard and Roes should permit him to have reasonable estovers in his wood of Hales. The defendants did not appear, and had made numerous defaults. The Sheriff is ordered to distrain them by their lands, &c., and to have their bodies in Court at three weeks from Easter. m. 45.

Staff. The Abbot of Bildewas sued Bertram de Burgo for common of pasture in Wylbritton, of which Bertram had unjustly disseised his predecessor. Bertram did not appear, and was attached by Henry de Bromleg and Peter de Couleng. To be attached by better sureties to appear on the Octaves of the Purification. m. 61, dorso.

Staff. William de Decling sued Robert de Stafford for a horse worth 30 marks, and stated that he had sold a horse to him for 30 marks at Christmas 40 H. III., and he ought to have paid him the money at the Easter following, but had not done so. Bobert appeared by attorney, and stated that he had never bought a horse from William; and as William produced no proofs, it is considered that Robert should be dismissed from the suit, and William is in misericordiâ.

Rolls Nos. 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 contain no Staffordshire suits.