Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 1225-6

ROLL No. 60. Temp. K. John. (fn. 1)

Headed, "Essonia de Malo Veniendi, in Octavis Sancti Hillarii." [20th January, 1225.]

Staff. William de Bromle, the custos of Richard fitz William, versus Geva Basset, in a plea of hearing of judgment ("de placito audiendi judicium suum"), by William de Manecestre, who pledged to appear at the Quinzaine of Easter. m. 1, dorso.

Wigorn, Staff. Thomas de Bosco, the attorney of Henry Luvet, and Walter le Poher and others, in their suit against Geva Basset, in a plea of dower, and against William de Bromle, in a plea of warranty, by William de Westwude, was pledged to appear on the Quinzaine of Easter. m. 1, dorso.

Staff. Henry de Hulle, the attorney of William Rufus, versus Robert de Colevilla, on a plea of land, by Philip de Haya, at the Quinzaine of Easter.

Staff. Robert de Swinnerton versus Mabel de Swinnerton, in a plea of dower, by William fitz William, was pledged to appear on the Quinzaine of Easter. m. 1, dorso.

Staff. Hervey Bagot versus Henry de Aldithelega (Audley), in a plea of land, and versus Hugh Warc, in a plea of services, by Richard fitz Richard, at three weeks from . . . . by the pledge of Stephen de Sticund; and he had first essoined himself, as in the King's service, and holds the King's warrant. m. 2, dorso.

Roll No. 22. Temp. H. 3.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: de termino Sancti Hillarii, anno nono." [January, 1225.]

Bucks. Geva, widow of Richard fitz William, sued William de Cantilupe for one-third of two carucates of land in Heselberg (Ellesborough), as her dower; and William prayed a view. A day is given to them at a month from Easter.

The same Geva sued Henry de Strattie for one-third of a virgate of land in the same vill, as her dower. A day is given to them at the same time.

Wigorn. The same Geva sued Amice Basset for one-third of half a virgate of land in Hampton; and Simon de Merton for one-third of half a virgate of land in Boywic (Powick), as her dower; and Amice called to warranty Maurice, Parson of Hampton, who is to be summoned for the same term.

And Simon came, and said she had no claim to dower in that land, because Richard, her husband, neither on the day he married her, nor ever afterwards, held the land in question; that three years before he married her he had given the land to John Blund, his serviens; and John held it for a long time; and afterwards John, mutavit vitam suam (took religious vows), and wished to sell the land, and Simon was told he ought to buy the land. And upon this Richard, husband of Geva, ordered Simon to come to him; and it was arranged with Simon and John that certain land in Standwell should be given as security for the money to be received from Simon for the land, and in this way the land remained to Simon; and Geva claims dower for the land given at Standwell (Sandwell); and as Geva would not appeal to a jury, and has no evidence to the contrary, she is in misericordiâ. m. 3.

Staff. Margaret, widow of William de Bromwic, sued William de Bromwic for one-third of a carucate of land in Bromwic, and one-third of a carucate of land in Oxele, as her dower. And William appeared, and conceded to her onethird of all the land in Oxele of which William, her husband, had been seised on the day he died, together with a competent messuage in the same vill; and afterwards he conceded to her one-third of all the land in Bromwic which William de Bromwic (sic) holds in custody, and which land William, formerly her husband, had demised to the custody of Henry de Alditheleg together with his son. m. 5, dorso.

Staff. Margaret Bagot appeared against Roger Martel in a plea that he should acquit her of the service which Millisent de Stafford claimed from her for the free tenement she holds of him in Blumhulle and in Brunton, and of which Roger, who is "medius" between them, ought to acquit her; and she complained that the predecessors of Roger had distrained her, and she had been distrained for the relief of the said Roger, which he owed to Roger la Schuche for the same tenement, which he held of the said Roger Martel, and which fee Roger la Schuche holds of Hervey Bagot, son and heir of Milisent de Stafford, who is now dead (quæ jam mortua est). (fn. 2)

And Roger acknowledged that Margaret performed all the service to him which she owed, and denied that, by his default, she had ever been distrained; and he conceded peace to her, and admitted she held of Roger la Schuche, who was present in Court. m. 5, dorso.

Staff. Richard, son of Peter, arraigned an assize of mort d'ancestor before the Justices last Itinerant, against Robert de Camera, concerning a virgate of land in Hakedon; and Robert called to warranty before the Justices William, formerly Bishop of Coventry, who was summoned; but in consequence of sickness, being struck with paralysis, he could not appear, and the assize remained. And the said Bishop is now dead; and Robert came and called to warranty Alexander, Bishop of Coventry, who is to be summoned for five weeks from Easter, and the recognitors are to be attached for the same date. m. 7.

Staff. Edith, widow of Gregory, son of William, sued John, son of Richard, for one-third of a virgate of land in Herleg (Arley), and sued Adam le Brun for one-third of a virgate of land in the same vill, as her dower; and they did not appear. The land to be taken into the King's hands, and the defendants to be summoned for the morrow of the Ascension. m. 9, dorso.

Roll No. 23 is a duplicate of Roll No. 19.

Roll No. 20.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: de termino Sanctæ Trinitatis, anno R. Regis H. tertii, nono." [June, 1225.]

Staff. William de Duston sued Thomas Coigne for the service owing to him for the free tenement he holds of him in Hulmo, viz., 8s. per annum for six bovates of land. And Thomas Coigne stated he held nothing of William, and owed him no service, because he held his land of Walter Coigne, son of Robert, his uncle, and performed his service to him, and he called him to warranty. Adjourned to five weeks from St. Michael. m. 2.

Staff. Robert Purcell sued the Dean of . . . . (fn. 3) in a plea of last presentation to the Church of Sharesweshull (Shareshull); and the Dean did not appear. To be summoned again for the Quinzaine of Michaelmas, nisi Justiciarii, &c. m. 9.

ROLL No. 21, of the same date, seems to be a duplicate of Roll No. 20, and contains no other Staffordshire suits but the above.

Roll No. 19.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: in Octabis Sancti Michaelis, anno R. R. Henrici, filii Regis J., IX.^o." [6th October, 1225.]

Salop. Vitalis Engaing puts in his claim to the Honor of Mungumery, and derives his right in this way. King Henry the elder (Henry I.) gave the land in marriage to Baldwin de Bollers with Sibilla de Faleise his niece. Sibilla had issue a daughter Matilda, whom the King gave to Richard fitz Urse, who had by her a son and two daughters, viz., Reginald fitz Urse, and Margery and Mabilla. Reginald had a daughter Matilda, the wife of Robert de Curtenay, and mother of William de Curtenay, who died without issue; so that the land ought to revert to the (issue of) the said Margery and Mabilla. Margery had a son Richard Engaing, and Richard had a son Vitalis, who now pleads.

Mabilla was mother of Roger Gernet, and the inheritance of the said William de Curtenay should revert to them (viz., Vitalis and Roger).

Giles de Erdington also claimed the honor, because the said Baldwin, after the death of Sibilla, married again, and he held the lands and honor during his life, because he had issue from Sibilla, and he had by his second wife a son and daughters, through whom Giles derived his claim. (fn. 4) m. 3, dorso.

Staff. Geva, widow of Richard fitz William, sues William de Bramwic for her dower in Bramwic; and William came and conceded it; and he is in misericordiâ for unjustly detaining it.

Geva's suit is continued against the other tenants as beforehand, who all, except Amicia Basset and Richard de Cofton, called to warranty Richard fitz William, the nephew of Richard, formerly husband of Geva, who was present, and is under age, and stated he held nothing of the land of his uncle except 28s. rent and twenty acres of land; and it did not suffice to perform the service of the King which he owed to the Honor of Dudley.

And Richard de Cofton stated that Richard, husband of Geva, never had more than 4s. of rent from his land, and conceded a third part of that.

A day is given to the parties at the Octaves of Saint Hillary, and Richard fitz William, who is under age, to be dismissed from the suit. m. 5.

Staff. Hervey Bagot was summoned to answer the complaint of Roger la Shuche (Zuche), that he distrained upon the fee of the said Roger in Blumhill and Bromton, when Roger had performed all he owed to the said Hervey for the fee he holds of him, whereby Margery Bagot, who holds the fee of the said Roger, was damaged to the extent of 10 marcs, and of which he produced proof.

And Hervey appeared in court, and admitted the distress, and stated he distrained for the relief which the said Roger owed after the death of his father, and of his brother.

And Roger stated that he owed him no relief, because his father had been dead forty years, and his brother had then done homage and paid his relief to the father of the said Hervey; and he afterwards performed homage to Milisent, the mother of Hervey, and afterwards to Hervey himself; so that he owed no relief during the time of Hervey, and asked for judgment on this point.

Hervey acknowledged this to be true; and it is therefore considered that Margery be dismissed from the suit, and Roger likewise; and Hervey is in misericordiâ, and he is to defray the damage of Margery. Sureties for the misericordiâ and damage, Walter fitz Ralph and Nicholas Ursus. m. 10.

Staff. An assize came to make recognition if Peter de Hakedon, father of Richard, was seised as of fee of a virgate of land in Hakedon when he died; which land Robert de Caudre (fn. 5) held, who called to warranty Alexander, Bishop of Coventry, who did not appear; and Robert appeared by his essoignor, who did not wait for the judgment. Therefore the assize was taken in his absence. The jury say that Peter died seised of the land, and Richard is his next heir; therefore Richard is to recover seisin. m. 12.

Wigorn. Geva, widow of Richard fitz William, sued Amicia Basset for one-third of half a virgate of land in Hamtun, as her dower. And Amice called to warranty Maurice fitz William, who was summoned, and essoined himself de malo veniendi. Therefore the land is to be taken into the King's hands, and Amice to be summoned for the Octaves of St. Hillary. m. 13 dorso.

Warw. Hugh des Loges was attached to answer the complaint of Alicia Croc, that he did not hold to the fine levied respecting two hides of land in Greneburgh (Granborough) and Caldicote, and half a virgate of land in Sowe, and that he refused to take her homage for the said land, as contained in the fine levied between them. Hugh appeared and acknowledged the fine and chirograph, and accepted the homage of the said Alice, and Alice made a fine for her relief. m. 19, dorso.

Staff. Richard de Puteo (Puis) sued Robert de Puteo for thirty acres of land in Rugelegh, of which Richard his uncle was seised as of fee, &c., in the time of King Henry, the grandfather of the King. And from Richard the land descended to Roger his brother, and from Roger to Richard his son, who now sues. And Robert came and offered to defend his right by his body (i.e., by wager of battle).

And Richard stated he should not be called upon to defend his right by duel, because a certain William de Puteo had three sons, viz., Roger, Richard, and Reginald; and Richard, the second son, acquired the land in question, and died without issue, and the land should have reverted to Roger, the eldest brother, and father of the said Richard; and Reginald, the younger brother, was the father of said Robert, and by whom Robert obtained ingress; and Richard died seised of the land; and therefore it ought to revert to him, as to the eldest son of his brother; but if the Court considered that there should be a duel, he offered to prove his right by his freeman, John, son of Nigel, &c.

And Robert acknowledged the parentage as stated, but said that Richard had given the land to Reginald his father. And Richard gave a mark to have an inquisition whether Richard his uncle did not die seised of the land as of fee. A jury to be summoned for the Quinzaine of St. Hillary. m. 21. (fn. 6)

Staff. Walter Huse was attached to answer the complaint of Andrew Blund, that notwithstanding that he had recovered 43s. of rent in Couleg by an assize of novel disseisin taken at Salop before the Justices Itinerant against Hugh de Neovill and John de Mere, he (Walter) exacted from the men of Coule customary services, which he (Andrew) had recovered by the same assize.

And Walter replied he claimed nothing he had not recovered, because he recovered 43s. rent from the men of Coule who held their tenements of him; and he had besides recovered half a virgate of land and a mark of rent, and asked for the record of the Court.

And this was proved by the record produced; and Andrew acknowledged that he never had seisin of the land &c., except at the time when Walter had been disseised of it, and that Walter had recovered seisin of it. Therefore it is considered that Walter should be dismissed from the suit, and Andrew be in misericordiâ for a false claim. m. 21.

Staff. Hascuillus Gernet sued Robert de Acoure for six bovates of land in Stratton; and Robert prayed a view. A day is given to them at the Quinzaine of the Purification of the Blessed Mary; and in the meantime the view is to be made. (fn. 7) m. 21, dorso.

Staff. An assize of last presentation to the Church of Erlegh (Arley), the advowson of which Thomas de Burgo claimed against Magister William, the Dean, and Chapter of Lichefeld. The Dean pleaded that the advowson was not vacant as stated in the writ, because he and the Chapter were in possession of the Church; and he produced a charter of Adam de Portu and Sibilla his wife, which testified that they had given to the Chapter the advowson of the Church; and he also produced a charter of Richard the Bishop confirming the grant to the Canons of Lichefeld.

Thomas de Burgo pleaded that these deeds should not prejudice him, because after the date of them King Henry, the grandfather of the King, was seised of the advowson, and presented a Clerk; and afterwards King John gave the Church to that Archdeacon of Stafford, who now is Archbishop of Dublin. And he claimed to have the same seisin as the King who had given the land to him.

And the Dean pleaded that Thomas could derive no claim from the seisin of the Archdeacon, because after the Archdeacon had been consecrated Archbishop of Dublin, the Dean had presented one Philip de Bray, who was admitted on their presentation, and died parson of the Church, after holding it for fourteen years.

And Thomas replied that Philip was never Parson of the Church, but Fermor only, and put himself on the assize. An assize is therefore to be taken, but respited till the Octaves of St. Hillary through default of recognitors, because three only who were retained for the assize had appeared, and the others had been removed from it without substitutes having been named in their place. And the Sheriff produced the Sergeants (servientes) of the Hundred to state why they had taken money to remove the names of the other knights.

And it was testified by a jury that Sweni and Andrew, the Beadles (bedelli) of the Hundred of Seisdon, had removed all the knights who had been first put upon the assize for a reward, and they said that the following had been first named for the assize, viz., Walter de Bradeley, William Bofare (who had given 2s. that he might be removed), Robert Maunsel, Walter fitz Ralph, and Ralph de Longok. m. 25.

Oxon. Henry de Oilli sued William Basset for half a knight's fee in Ispedene (Ipsden) as his right and inheritance, which one Matilda de Oilli held in the time of King Henry, the father of the Empress; and from Matilda the right passed to one Robert de Oilly as her nearest heir, inasmuch as she had no heir of her body; and from Robert de Oilly to Henry de Oilly, father of Henry; and from that Henry to this Henry de Oilly; and this he offered to prove by one William; and if William, &c., then by another.

And William came and defended his right, and said that Brien fitz Count gave the half fee in question to one Osmund Basset, the grandfather of William Basset; and from Osmund the right descended to John Basset, the father of William Basset; and from John it descended to William Basset as son and heir; and he produced the charter of Brien fitz Count which testified to this, and also the confirmation of King Henry, the grandfather of King Henry, which confirmed to Osmund Basset and his heirs the land of Ispedene, which Brien fitz Count had given to him; and he produced also the confirmation of King John, which confirmed to William Basset, son and heir of John Basset, the fourth part of a knight's fee in Ispedene, which Osmund Basset, the grandfather of William Basset, had of the gift of Brien fitz Count.

And Henry de Oilly stated that these charters ought not to prejudice him, because Brien fitz Count could not give away the half knight's fee, inasmuch as he only held it by right of Matilda his wife, of whose inheritance it was; and he asked for the judgment of the Court as to whether he could make a valid gift of it or not. And he produced the charter of King Henry, the father of the Empress, in which it was contained that he (the King) conceded the convention made between Matilda de Oilly, the wife of Brien fitz Count, and Robert de Oilly, respecting the claim which she had against him for the land of Robert de Oilly in Watlington and in Ispedene, and in the knight's service (for the land), viz., the service of Ralph Basset and of Gilbert Basset; and if the said Matilda, wife of the said Brien fitz Count, should die without heirs, then the said land and the knight's service should revert to Robert de Oilly and his heirs. And inasmuch as the said Matilda died without leaving issue, he claimed that the half knight's fee should fall to him, as it should have reverted to Robert de Oilly his grandfather. And William Basset, being questioned as to whether Brien had any right to the fee except through Matilda de Oilly his wife, whose inheritance it was, stated he thought not.

A day was given to them at Reading in the Octaves of St. Hillary, and William on being asked if he had anything further to urge, said that inasmuch as he had the confirmation of King Henry, the grandfather of the King, and the charter of King John, he called upon the Lord the King for warranty.

[In different handwriting, and evidently added afterwards.]

And because the convention which Henry produced was made before the day when King Henry the elder (senex) died, and because the convention was never followed up (assecuta fuit), and because the charters of King Henry, the grandfather of the King, and of King John, confirmed expressly the land to the said William and to his ancestors, it is considered that Henry has no claim to the land. Therefore William is dismissed from the suit, and Henry is in misericordiâ. (fn. 8) m. 29.

Roll No. 24. Temp. H. 3.

Headed, "Placita in Octabis Sancti Hillarii, anno X^o." [20th January, 1226.]

Staff. Philip de Heronvill sued William de Heronville for the manor of Wotnesbiri (Wednesbury), in co. Stafford, and ten and a half virgates of land in Hokenorton, and five virgates of land in Rollendricht, of which Joan, the widow of William de Heronvill, the mother of Philip, whose heir he is, died seised, &c.; and William appeared and prayed a view. A day is given to them at three weeks from Easter. m. 6.

Staff. The assize of last presentation to the Church of Arley, between Thomas de Burgo and the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, is respited to Easter, through default of recognitors; and the Sheriff is commanded to remove the recognitors, who are verderers (of the King's forests), and to substitute others, and in future not to place verderers upon juries out of the county. m. 11.

Roll No. 25. Temp. H. 3.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: ad quindenam Paschæ." [3rd May, 1226.]

Staff. An assize of last presentation to the Church of Erleg, the advowson of which Thomas de Burgo claimed against the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield. The jury say that one Ralf fitz Richard died Parson of the Church, and after him King John presented Magister William de Bodekeham; and the Canons of Lichfield presented to the same Church Magister Henry, the Archdeacon of Stafford; so that there was a suit between the Lord the King and the said Canons, before Simon de Pateshill and his associates at Bridgenorth (Bruges), which was made a remanet; and Henry the Archdeacon remained Parson, on the presentation of the Dean and Chapter, as they understand, and after him Philip de Bray had the Church, on the presentation of the Dean and Chapter, and held it all his life; and they are certain that the said Henry never was presented by the King; and besides this, the attorney of the Dean and Chapter produced letters patent of Henry, formerly Archdeacon, which testified that during the vacancy of the See he had admitted the said Philip to the Church on the presentation of the Dean and Chapter. It is therefore considered that the Dean and Chapter should have the presentation, and Thomas is in misericordiâ. m. 1.

Wigorn. Geva, widow of Richard fitz William, recovers dower in Hampton against Amicia Basset, through default of Amicia, who makes no appearance. m. 4, dorso.

Warw. Robert de Harcurt and Matilda his wife, sue Henry de Aldithelegh for one-third of 100s. rent in Covintre and in Rokushull, as dower of Matilda. A concord is made by which Robert and Matilda remit all claim to dower for Matilda, and Henry renders to her her inheritance in the co. of Chester, which she ought to hold of his fee; and Henry further releases Robert and her from all liability for her marriage without his permission. m. 8.

Staff. Henry de Alditheleg sued Hervey Bagot for the manor of Hortun; and Hervey appeared, and prayed a view. A day is given to them at the next iter of the Justices; a view of the land to be made in the interim. (fn. 9) m. 9.

Staff. Bertram de Herteshorne and Alice his wife, withdraw their suit against Gilbert de Viliers and his wife, in a plea of land, because Gilbert is in the service of the King in Poitou. m. 9, dorso.

Wigorn, Staff. A day is given to Geva Basset, the plaintiff, and to Thomas de Bosco, Walter le Poher, Henry Luvet, the Prior of Sandwell, Adam the Smith, and Herbert Blund, at the next coming of the Justices; and the same day is given to William de Brome, the custodian of Richard fitz William, whom all the parties call to warranty. m. 11, dorso.

Staff. William de Duston sued Thomas Coynie for services owing for the tenement he holds of him in Ulmo (Hulme), viz., 8s. per annum for six bovates of land, and of which he only rendered to him 3s. per annum, and was now in arrear for four years, 20s. And Thomas called to warranty Walter Coyne, who was in seisin of the said service. And Walter appeared, and stated that the said William had no claim to the said service, because Alan, the father of Thomas, held the land of him in the time of King John, until William de Duston, the father of William, had disseised him of the said service; and he had arraigned an assize of novel disseisin against William, the father of William, before the Justices Itinerant at Lichfield; and William had by a concord rendered to him the service in question. And William denied this, and stated his father had died in seisin of the service, and that there was a suit in the Court of King John at Westminster, in which Henry de Verdun and Hawise his wife, and Robert de Sughenill and Petronilla his wife, and Dionisia de Derlaviston, sued the said Alan, the father of Thomas; and the said Henry and the others had given the fee and service after this suit by a fine to his father William de Duston; and William had held it all his life by their gift, and died seised of it; and he produced the chirograph of the fine in question.

And Walter and Thomas acknowledged the fine and chirograph, but Walter stated that the Court had been misled (decepta fuit), because he was not included in the summons; and it was therefore considered that the said Henry and the heirs of Hawise, and Robert, and Pentronilla, and Dionisia, be summoned at the next coming of the Justices, to certify what claim they had in the fee and in the service of 8s.; and if that service was owing to the said William by the aforesaid fine, as William averred. m. 12.

Leic. An assize of last presentation to the Church of Seyle, the advowson of which Walter de Rideware claimed against the Prior of Burdelegh; who came and said that Ralph de Seyle had given the advowson of the Church to his house. And Walter stated that the charter of Ralph ought not to injure him, because Ralph was a poor man, and could not perform his service to the Earl of Ferrars, so that he came into the Court of the Earl and rendered up his fief to the Earl; and the Earl had given the manor to his father, with all the appurtenances; and the advowson therefore ought to belong to him. And the Prior stated that this ought not to affect his claim, because the Prior of Wenlock, from whom he derived his right, had been dead thirty years, and the Earl did not have the manor more than twenty years back; and Walter replied that the Earl had given the manor to his father forty years before. m. 16 (suit left unfinished).