Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 1229-30

Roll No. 31.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: a die Paschæ in XV., dies, anno R. Regis H., filii Regis Johannis XIII.^o, coram S. de Segrave, Willelmo de Ralegh, Roberto de Lexinton, Willclmo de London, et Thoma de Huleton, et sociis eorum." [29th April, 1229.]

Staff. Richard, Abbot of Hales, appeared on the fourth day against Margaret de Rivers (fn. 1) (Ripariis), in a plea that she should acquit him of services and customs which the capital lord claimed for the tenement which the said Abbot holds of Margaret in Horeburn and Smethewike. Margaret did not appear, and is to be attached to answer on the Sunday after Ascension Day. m. 5, dorso.

Staff. A day is given to Adam de Shradicote, plaintiff, and to Hervey de Stafford, tenant, in a plea of a fine levied, at three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 5, dorso.

Staff. Adam de Shradicote sued Roger de la Lega and Richard de Shradicote for one-half of a virgate of land in Sradicote. Roger and Richard pray a view of the land, and a day is given to them at three weeks from Michaelmas; the view to be taken in the interim. (fn. 2) m. 6, dorso.

Staff. Adam de Mora sued Magister Walter de Langedun for a carucate of land in More, in which Walter has no ingress except through the said Adam, who had demised it to him for a term now expired. And Adam proffered a deed of Walter, which stated that Adam conceded the said land to Magister Walter his lord for a term of nine years for 4s. annual rent, and which term had now expired for eleven years. Magister Walter acknowledged the above deed, but produced another by which Adam remitted all claim to the land, excepting the homage of the freemen. Adam stated this deed should not be to his detriment, because at the time he executed it he was not in seisin of the land, and that the first deed was later in date by five years. Walter afterwards came and acknowledged that Robert, the father of Adam, died seised of the land of la More, both in demesne and in services; and judgment is given for Adam. Walter is in misericordiâ. Surety for Walter's fine, Roger de la Dune, a knight of county Middlesex. m. 11.

Staff. Robert de la Lega, John Sautcheverel, Robert de Dulverne, Roger de Vernay, Hugh de Litleham, Robert fitz Elias, Roger fitz Hawise, Ralph de Rosseton, (fn. 3) Hugh le Nur, Robert Putrel, William Bibbi, Hugh de Poddebroc, and Thomas de Bosco, recognitors of an assize of novel disseisin which had been taken before the Justices Itinerant at Lichefeld between John Marescall, plaintiff, and William de Aldithell, respecting a free tenement in Stantun, were summoned to certify to the Justices as to which tenement they had given him seisin, and by what boundaries.

The aforesaid jurors appeared and stated that they had given to the said John all the land from the head of Dupedale in a direct line to Hudeldale (Hillsdale) towards the south-west, but from the same head as far as Dupedale north-west they gave him nothing, but nevertheless it was put within the view, and that part is of four fees, of which William has a portion. (fn. 4) It is therefore ordered that John should have seisin of the part towards the southwest, and hold it in peace, and that the Sheriff should maintain him in seisin of it; and the jury say that respecting that part which they gave to John, William never did any injury to the said John. William therefore is dismissed from the suit, and John is in misericordiâ. m. 13.

M. 16. "Placita in Banco apud Westm; in Octabis Sanctæ Trini tatis, anno XIII^o." [17th June, 1229.]

Oxon. The Abbot of Hales appeared on the fourth day against Margaret de Rivers, to acquit him of the service and customs which the capital lord claimed for tenements which the Abbot held of her in Holeburn (Harbourne), and in Smethewic. Margaret did not appear, and the Sheriff had been commanded to distrain her, but had allowed sureties to be taken for her. He is therefore commanded to distrain her by her lands and chattels as it was formerly ordered, and to produce her at three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 17.

Staff. Richard de Lisle (de Insula) sued William de Ferrars, Earl of Derby for intruding into 100 solidates of land in Barton, which he had recovered in the Court of the Lord the King before the Justices Itinerant at Lichefeld by an assize of novel disseisin; and the Earl did not appear, and the Sheriff was commanded to attach him; and the Sheriff was present in Court, and stated that the Earl would neither find sureties nor permit that a distress should be levied; and William de Bromlegh and Robert de Seles, the clerk, were present and stated the same, and that the men of the Earl had rescued the cattle of the said Earl.

The Sheriff is commanded to distrain the Earl, and to cause him to appear at a month from Michaelmas, to show cause why he would not give sureties. The Sheriff to be present at the same time, and to make diligent inquiry in the interim as to the men of the Earl who had rescued the cattle of the Earl, and to produce them before the Court to answer for the trespass. m. 17.

Staff. William de Esseby sued the same Earl for an intrusion into fourteen acres of land in Mercinton, which he had recovered against the said Earl before the same Justices at Lichefeld; and the Sheriff who was present stated the same as in the present suit; therefore it was ordered as above. m. 17.

Roll No. 32.

Headed, "Placita in quindena Paschæ, anno XIII^o." Appears to be a duplicate of No. 31, the Staffordshire suits being the same verbatim.

Roll No. 33.

Headed, "In Octatis Sancti Hillarii, anno regni Regis Henrici XIIII^o." [20th January, 1230.]

Staff. An assize of last presentation to the Church of Huneswurth, the advowson of which John de Parles claimed against William, Prior of Sandewell, and against Roger, Prior of Lenton; and John, the Prior of Sandwell, had made a convention respecting half the advowson, and the Prior of Lenton did not appear, but sent one of his monks, who produced a chirograph, by which the other half of the advowson should remain to the Prior and Convent of Lenton. John acknowledged this; and the Prior is therefore dismissed from the suit, and John is in misericordiâ, and the concord made between John and the said Prior of Sandwell was to this effect, viz., that the Prior acknowledged half of the aforesaid Church to be the right of the said John and his heirs for ever, and for which concession John should render a mark of annual rent in Bermingham. (fn. 5) m. 3.

Staff. Geva Basset puts in her place Richard fitz William, against William de Bromle, in a plea of dower.

Staff. Margaret, the wife of Henry de Prestewode, puts in her place Henry her husband, against the same William, in a plea of waste.

Staff., Leic., Warw., Northamp. A day is given to the Abbot of Burgh (Peterborough), plaintiff, versus Robert Marmium, who is in ward to the Earl of Chester, in a plea of service, at the Octaves of Holy Trinity. m. 1, dorso.

Staff. Geva Basset, and Henry de Prestewude and Margaret his wife, were attached to answer the complaint of William de Bromleg that they had caused waste and damage in the woods of Bromwic, Northecote, and Ofelegh. And the said William de Bromlegh, the custos of Richard fitz William, who is within age, complained that the said Geva, Henry, and Margaret, who held nothing in the said inheritance except as dower, had made waste and destruction of seventy oak trees, by which he was damaged, to the extent of 100s., and he produced evidence to that effect.

And Geva, Henry, and Margaret appeared by their attorney and denied the waste and damage. The Sheriff was therefore commanded to take twelve discreet men of the vicinage, knights and freemen, and in his own person and in the presence of Geva, Henry, and Margaret, to proceed to the above woods, and to make inquisition upon oath as to the damage and destruction complained of, and to return the inquisition at the octaves of Holy Trinity by his letters sealed and by two of the jurors. The same day is given to the parties (to hear judgment). m. 12.

Staff. Adam de Shradicote gives half a mark for licence of concord with Hervey de Stafford in a plea of a fine levied; the same Hervey is his surety. (fn. 6) m. 12, dorso.

Staff. Sarra, the widow of Reginald de Puteo, by her attorney, sued Richard de Puteo for one-third of thirty acres of land in Rugelegh; a concord and chirograph were made. (fn. 7) m. 13, dorso.

Staff. William Earl of Ferrars was attached to answer the complaint of Richard de Lisle, that he had intruded himself in 100 solidates of land in Berton, which the said Richard had recovered in the Court of the Lord the King before the Justices Itinerant at Lichifeld against the said Earl.

And the Earl appeared by his attorney and acknowledged that Richard had recovered twelve virgates of land, but stated that Richard now held those virgates of land without any impediment from him; and because Richard produced no evidence of any impediment, it is considered that Richard should hold the lands peaceably, as he had recovered them in Court, and the Earl be dismissed from the suit. Richard to be in misericordiâ for a false claim. m. 18.

Roll No. 34.

Headed, "In Octabis Sancti Hilarii" (marked as Hillary, 14 H. III., in a modern hand, but should be 13 H. 3). [20th January, 1229.]

Staff. Henry de Bermingham gives half a mark for licence of concord with William de Bermingham in a plea of a fine levied. m. 1.

Staff. Margaret de Rivers (Ripariis) was summoned by the Abbot of Hales to acquit him of the service which Alexander the Bishop of Coventry claimed of him for the free tenement which he holds of her in Horeburn and Smethewic, and of which Margaret is media (mesne-tenant) between them, and ought to acquit him. Margaret appeared by her attorney, and stated she did not hold the tenement of the Bishop, and therefore could not acquit him of the service owing to the Bishop. As the Abbot did not deny this, he is in misericordiâ for a false claim, but to sue in another form if he wished. (fn. 8) m. 4.

Staff. Adam de Shradicote sued Robert de Shradicote for half a carucate of land in Shradicote. Robert prayed a view. Adjourned to Easter, and a view to be taken in the interim. m. 5.

Staff. John Mareschall sued William de Audelegh for deforcing him of a tenement in Staunton, which he had recovered against the said William before the Justices Itinerant at Lichfield by an assize of novel disseisin. William denied that the tenement in question formed a portion of the land which John had recovered at Lichfield. The jury which gave the verdict is therefore to be summoned on the morrow of the Ascension. (fn. 9) m. 14.

Roll No. 35 contains no new matter. It seems to be a duplicate of part of Roll No. 29.

Roll No. 36.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: in Octabis Sanctæ Trinitatis, anno XIIII^o." [25th May, 1230.]

Warr. An assize of last presentation to the Church of Aston which the Prior of Newport Painel claimed against Giles de Erdington. The Prior produced a charter of Thomas de Erdington, father of Giles, which the jury stated to be forged; and they further stated that Thomas, in time of peace, had presented his son Henry de Erdington to William de Cornhull, then Bishop of Coventry; but the Bishop had put off the institution of Henry until the legate Nicholas caused him to be admitted at his mandate, and on the presentation of Thomas de Erdington. They say also that Thomas de Erdington presented in time of war, one Thomas de Shireford, who was admitted on his presentation, and died the last parson of the Church. Verdict for Giles. m. 6.

Staff. William Earl of Ferrars was attached to answer the complaint of William de Esseby, that he had intruded himself into fourteen acres of land in Mercington, which William had recovered against the Earl before the Justices Itinerant at Lichfield by an assize of novel disseisin; and likewise that the Earl had taken his cattle, viz., four sheep, value 40 shillings, and twenty-two pigs, each worth 12 pence. He also complained that the Earl detained two marks which had been adjudicated to him on the same occasion.

The Earl pleaded by his attorney the fourteen acres in question were not those recovered by the assize, but are in Pundelegh, appurtenant to Tuttesbiri.

And as it is testified that the Justices caused to be recorded that the aforesaid fourteen acres are in Mercington, it is considered that William should recover seisin, and the Earl be in misericordiâ; and because the Earl's attorney did not deny the intrusion and the damage, he is taken into custody. And it is ordered that the Earl should render to William the two marks, and for other damages ten marks; and Joscelin the attorney of the Earl gave security that the Earl should appear before the Chancellor Stephen de Segrave at fifteen days from the Feast of St. John the Baptist, at which day William appeared and acknowledged that the attorney of the Earl had surrendered to him seisin of the land in question. The damages were respited till the morrow of All Souls. m. 9, dorso.

Staff. Fulk fitz Warin sued Philip de Burwardele for two carrucates of land in Esselegh (Ashley). Philip prayed a view. A day is given to the parties at the Octaves of St. Martin; a view to be made in the interim. m. 11, dorso.

Roll No. 37.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: in Octabis Sancti Michaelis, anno Regni Regis Henrici, filii Regis Johannis, XIIII^o, incipiente XV^o." [6th October, 1230.]

Staff. (fn. 10) Hugh de la Mare sued Nicholas, the Prior of Tuttebiri, for prosecuting a plea in Court Christian respecting the advowson of the Church of Budecote, (fn. 11) in violation of the prohibition of the King, and by which he had been damaged to the amount of twenty marks. The Prior denied having sued him in Court Christian for the advowson, and stated he had sued him for the tythes of two parts of the sheaves of his demesne, and also that the suit had taken place before the legal prohibition, and not afterwards, as stated; and if he had been excommunicated, he was ready to grant him absolution; and Hugh put in his place Andrew Cuckewell or Henry, son of William, versus the Judges of the Court. m. 5.

Staff. A day is given to the Abbot of Burton, plaintiff, and Ralph Wictemare, tenant, to take a chirograph respecting a plea of land, at fifteen days from Hillary. (fn. 12) m. 5.

Staff. Alexander, the Bishop of Coventry, was attached to answer the complaint of Thomas Corbet that he had held a plea in Court Christian respecting the lay fee of Thomas in Bromlegh, against the prohibition, &c.; he had also excommunicated him, because he had impounded the Bishop's cattle which were found in his lay fee and in his several pastures; the Bishop claiming to intercommon in his land, when he did not intercommon in the land of the Bishop.

The Bishop denied that he had held a plea as Thomas stated, but acknowledged he had excommunicated him in consequence of his violence in laying hands on one of his clerks, and he offered to give him absolution. m. 5, dorso.

Dereby. Robert Maulluvet sued Norman Pantoft and Matilda his wife for eight virgates of land in Dostlaveston. Norman and Matilda called Roger de Mohaut to warranty. Adjourned to fifteen days from St. Martin, for the attendance of Roger. Roger to be summoned in co. Lincoln. m. 11.

Staff. William de Bromlegh withdraws his plea of waste against Geva Basset, Henry de Prestwude, and Margaret his wife. m. 15.

Dereby. Robert de Suggenhull gives a mark for license of concord with Ralph Grim, in a plea of land. m. 28, dorso.

Staff. William Wymer sued Richard, son of Moses, and thirteen others (named), for raising a clamour in the market place of Stafford, against the suit of his mills, of Stafford, against the King's peace, &c. The defendants deny the accusation, and as William did not produce sufficient evidence of the fact, he is in misericordiâ. m. 30, dorso.