Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 1219-20

Plea Rolls Of The Reign Of Henry III.

Roll No. 1.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: de termino Sancti Michaelis, anno regni Regis Henrici, filii Regis Johannis, tertio, incipiente quarto." (fn. 1) [October, 1219.]

Salop. The Sheriff is commanded to give seisin to Bertram, son of Bertram (de Burgo), (fn. 2) of two carucates of land in Legh, which the said Bertram recovered by a verdict in the Curia Regis, against Alice, the widow of Philip fitz Bishop, and into which Helis, mother and custos of Bertram, had complained that Ralph de Picheford had intruded himself after Bertram had recovered seisin of the land, Ralph to be attached to answer at the Octaves of St. Martin respecting the said intrusion. m. 5.

Staff. A day is given to William de Parlis, plaintiff, and to Richard fitz William, tenant, to hear the election (of a jury) at the Octaves of St. Hillary, in consequence of default of electors; inasmuch as Nicholas le Urs only appeared, Gerome de Curzun essoined himself, and William de Kileby and Roger de Mulewic did not appear. m. 11, dorso.

Staff. vel Warwic. The King sent word to the Justices in Banco that Albreda Marmiun attorned in her place coram Rege William de Canvill, or Walter de Arderne, in the suit between her and Henry de Aldidileg. m. 15.

Warw. William de Coleville (Canville) sues Albreda Marmigiun (sic), his mother, to warrant to him half a knight's fee in Horweye (Arrow), which he claimed to hold of her, and for which Robert Marmigiun (Marmiun), the capital lord, distrained him for the service of three parts of a knight's fee. m. 16.

Salop. Robert de Glaushall, the essoinor of Helisant, mother and custos of Bertram fitz Bertram, appeared on the fourth day against Ralph de Picheford, for intruding himself into two carucates of land in Lecha, which the said Bertram had recovered by a judgment against Alice, who had been the wife of Philip fitz Bishop; Ralph did not appear, and was ordered to be attached to answer at three weeks from St. Hillary. m. 18, dorso.

Roll No. 2.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: de termino Sancti Michaelis, anno regni R. Henrici, filii Regis J., tertio, incipiente quarto, coram M. de Pateshull et sociis suis, in Octabis Sancti Michaelis." [6th October, 1219.]

The suit of William de Parles versus Richard fitz William, repeated as on last roll, with the addition of the words, "de terrâ de Sandwell." m. 6, dorso.

Staff. et Warw. The King sent word to the Justices that Albreda Marmiun attorned before him John Ruffus versus Leuca de Canvill, in a plea of dower, and Walter de Arderne versus Walter (sic) de Canvill, in a plea of warranty of Charter. m. 21.

Warw. William de Colevill (Camvill) sues Albreda Marmiun, his mother, to warrant to him half a knight's fee in Harewe (Arrow) (etc. as before).

Albreda by her attorney asks for another day, and a day is given to them at the Quinzaine of St. Hillary.

Roll No. 3.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: in Octabis Sancti Hillarii. [20th January, 1220.]

Oxon. Alina, who had been the wife of Nigel de Newinton, (fn. 3) sues Eustace Purcel for one-third of a virgate of land in Newenton as her dower, and Eustace called to warranty Richard, son and heir of Nigel, who came and acknowledged the charter of Nigel his father. Alina to recover seisin of the land, or Eustace to give her land in exchange of equal value. m. 6.

Staff. Assize of last presentation to the Church of Clifton, the advowson of which Albreda Marmiun claimed against Henry de Alditheleg, who pleaded that an assize ought not to be taken in the matter, because Albreda held nothing in the vill, either in demesne or in services.

Albreda, by her attorney, pleaded that this ought not to prejudice her, because owing to her weakness and her great age, (fn. 4) she had committed the custody of her lands to her son Geoffrey de Canvill, and he held them in his custody all his life; and Henry had no ingress in them except by an intrusion he made after the death of her son Geoffrey; as it appeared that Albreda was suing Henry in the Curia Regis, the assize is to remain until the other suit is terminated. m. 8.

Staff. Henry de Aldithelega was summoned to answer to Albreda Marmiun by what warrant he held the manor of Clifton, which she claimed as her right and inheritance, and which she had delivered into the custody of Geoffrey de Canvill her son, who is dead.

Henry stated that he held the land in custody with the heir of the said Geoffrey de Caunvill, who held it in fee, and not as bailee of the said Albreda, because he had done homage for it to the Earl of Chester, his lord, and had died seized of it as of fee.

Albreda appeared by her attorney, and stated that Geoffrey had no custody of the land except as her bailee, and that she had sufficient evidence of this, and put herself upon a jury. A jury is to be called for fifteen days from Easter, and John Baghot, Robert de la Mare, Robert de Pendeford, Ralph de Whitmere, Henry de Hamerwic, to be summoned. The same day is given to Leuca, the widow of Geoffrey de Canvill, who claimed her dower in the same land against the said Henry. m. 8, dorso.

Warw. Leuca, the widow of Geoffrey de Chanvill, sues William de Chanvill for one-third of the Manor of Arewe as her dower. William prayed a view of the land; and a day is given to them at a month from Easter, the view to be made in the interim. m. 10, dorso.

Membrane 15.—Headed, "Pleas at Westminster, at fifteen days from Easter." [12th April, 1220.]

Staff. Nicolas Horst, Roger de Muhaut, Robert del Bec, Ralph de Hintes, four knights summoned to elect twelve, between William de Parles, plaintiff, and Richard fitz William, tenant, of ten acres of land in Sandwell, came and elected the following: William Rufus, Robert de Grendon, William de Greseleye, Robert de Acoure, Robert fitz Pagan, Robert de Lega, John de Acton, Hugh Bagod de Bromlee, William de Ipstone, Henry de Verdun, Robert de Mere, Walter Counie, John de Wuttinges, Stephen Meverel, Adam de Bruneton, and John de Sautcheverel. A day is given to them on the Octaves of Holy Trinity, when the twelve are to come. m. 16.

Staff. Leuca, the widow of Geoffrey de Caunvill, by her attorney, sued Henry de Alditheley for a third part of the Manors of Clifton and Haneton (Haunton), as her dower. Henry pleaded he ought not to be required to answer to a writ of unde nihil habet, as she had her dower elsewhere. Leuca acknowledged this, and the suit is dismissed sine die. Leuca to sue by writ of right if she chooses. m. 17.

Essex. Roheis, the widow of Thomas de Erdinton, by her attorney, sued Earl William Mareschall for one-third of a carucate of land in Burstede, as her dower. The Earl pleaded he ought not to answer to the writ, as it was a writ unde nihil habet, and Roheis had her dower in Erdinton. Roheis answered she had had dower in Erdinton, but the heir of her lord had recovered his land by a verdict. The Marshall pleaded that William Crassus had given her seisin of her dower, and if afterwards she had been disseised of it, that ought not to prejudice him. Roheis withdraws her plea. m. 20.

Warw. A day is given to William de Parles and Henry de Parles to make an exchange for half an hide of land which the said William had warranted to Henry at the Octaves of Holy Trinity. Henry had a writ to the Sheriff to make the exchange by the view of honest (proborum) men, and the Sheriff is commanded to give him an exchange of land in Wulward, to the value of a virgate and a half of the land of Richard de Derton, and if that is not sufficient, of land elsewhere in his bailiwick belonging to William. (fn. 5) m. 21.

Wilts. Wencelina de Boullers (fn. 6) sued the Abbot of Lilleshull for dower in the advowson of Pulton. The Abbot produced a charter by Robert de Buthlers, which had been confirmed by Herbert, Bishop of Sarum, granting the advowson to that House. Wencelina pleaded that Robert had made the last presentations to the Church, and had made the grant in his last illness, and she was therefore entitled to dower. Suit adjourned to enable Wencelina to plead through her warrantor. m. 23.

Roll No. 4.

Is a Yorkshire Assize Roll, and contains no Staffordshire suits.

Roll No 5.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: in Octabis Sancti Hillarii, anno R. R. Henrici, filii Regis J., quarto." [20th January, 1220.]

Membrane 11, marked, "Pleas at Westminster, at fifteen days from Easter. 4 H. III." [12th April, 1220.]

Staff. A jury, ex concensu partium, came to make recognition if Geoffrey de Caunvill, son of Albreda Marmiun, was seised as of fee, when he died, of the Manor of Clifton, etc.

The jury say that Geoffrey had performed homage to the Earl of Chester, and paid his relief, and received the homage and profits of the free tenants, and died seised of the manor by the consent of his mother Albreda. The manor therefore is to remain in the hands of the Earl, the capital lord, from whom Henry holds it in custody, and Albreda is in misericordiâ for a false claim.

Roll No. 6.

Headed, "Placita apud Westm: in Octabis Sanctæ Trinitatis, anno R. R. Henrici, filii R. J., quarto." [31st May, 1220.]

Staff. Adam de Shradicote sues Milisant de Stafford to warrant to him a carucate of land in Shradicote which he claims to hold of her, and for which he holds the charter of Robert de Stafford her father. (fn. 7)

Milisant did not appear, and she had been summoned by her essoignor to appear at fifteen days after Easter. To be attached for the morrow of St. John the Baptist. m. 1, dorso.

Wigorn. An assize of last presentation to the Church of Yerdel, which Giles de Erdinton claimed against the Abbot of Alencestre (Alcester), the Prior of Newport, and Ralph de Limesi. The Abbot appeared and pleaded that the Church is a chapelry pertaining to the Church of Belea, which he holds, and he produced a charter of Geoffrey de Limesi which testified that he gave the Church of Belega to the Church of St. John the Baptist de Insula, together with the Chapel of Yerdesle. He also produced the charter of John, formerly Bishop of Worcester, confirming the same gift, and the charter of H., formerly Archbishop of Canterbury, confirming the same; and the Abbot called upon Ralph to warrant to them the advowson which they had by gift of his grandfather.

Ralph de Limesi admitted that Thomas, father of Giles de Erdinton, had made the last presentation, but pleaded it was made in time of war, and as regards the charters, he stated that after the grant of Geoffrey de Limesi had been made, John de Limesi, the capital lord of the fee, had presented one Richard, by reason of the custody of Ralph his father, whom he held in ward. The Abbot acknowledged that the father of Giles had presented the two last incumbents, and a verdict was given for Giles. Giles it was stated was under age, and sued by attorney. m. 8, dorso.

Staff. Gilbert de Odewell appeared on the fourth day against the Prioress of Fayrwell, and Samson of Lichefeld, Thomas de Aula, and Mabilia de Aula, who essoined themselves de malo lecti, in a plea of land, and they neither came, nor the knights who should have made the view, viz., Ascelin de Sidenham, William de Milers, William de Parles, and Robert de Tatenhull. To be attached for the Octaves of St. Michael. m. 12.

Staff. Athelina, the widow of Alured le Sauser, sued Robert de la Putte for one-third of a virgate of land in La Putte as dower. Robert pleaded that Lettice his wife who had held the land was dead, and her children now hold the land, and he has no claim, because the children are not his. (fn. 8) Suit dismissed sine die. m. 18, dorso.

Staff. Suit of William de Parles versus Richard fitz William. Adjourned to three weeks from Michaelmas, as all the recognitors had essoined themselves. m. 20, dorso.

Staff. Adam de Shradecote sued Milisant de Stafford to warrant to him a carucate of land in Shradecote, for which he holds the charter of Robert de Stafford her father, whose heir she is, and pleads that against the tenor of the charter, Milisant and her son Henry had deprived him of the land, and taken his cattle, &c., and damaged him to the amount of 20 marks. She had also taken by force his oxen and impounded them, so that four had died, and she had taken the ropes from his volatilia and prostrated it.

Milisant came and acknowledged the charter and warranty, and denied the damage to his beasts, &c. A day is given to them at three weeks from Michaelmas, and Milisant put in her place Robert de Bernay. m. 20, dorso.

Warw. The King sent word to the Justices that Robert Marmiun had attorned before him William Rufus or Geoffrey de Sepe (Shepey) versus William de Campvill, in a plea of custody of the land of Geoffrey de Campvill in Arewe. m. 27, dorso.

Roll No. 7.

Headed, "Placita in Octabis Sanctæ Trinitatis." (Trinity Term, 4 H. III.) [31st May, 1220. (fn. 9) ]

Norf. William de Duston and Mary his wife were summoned to answer to John fitz Alan by what warrant they held the manor of Melcham, which John claimed as his right and inheritance.

William and Mary acknowledged the manor to be the inheritance of John, and stated they claimed only dower in the said manor of the gift of William, brother of the said John, who had been husband of Mary.

John, by his attorney, stated William and Mary had been endowed with a third part of the whole land of her former husband, and that the said Manor was the caput of the Barony, and asked for a verdict whether she ought to be endowed out of it. William and Mary deny the said manor was the caput of the Barony, because Album Monasterium (Oswestry) was the caput. A day is given to the parties on the morrow of St. Peter and St. Paul. m. 5.

Roll No. 8.

Headed, "Placita in Octabis Sancti Michaelis, anno regni Regis Henrici quarto." [6th October, 1220.]

Staff. Gilbert de Odewell sued the Prioress of Fairwell, Sampson of Lichfeld, Thomas de Aula, and Mabel his wife, in a plea of land, and the defendants essoined themselves de malo lecti, and the knights who should have made the view did not appear, viz., Ascelin de Sidenham, William de Parles, Robert de Tatenhulle; (fn. 10) and the Sheriff was commanded to attach them; and Gilbert admitted he had lost the writ. The visors to appear on the morrow of St. Martin. m. 3, dorso.

Staff. William de Parles versus Richard fitz William, who was called to warranty by the Prior of Sandwell. A concord was made by which William remitted all his claim to ten acres of land for a sum of one mark. m. 9, dorso.

Warw. William de Kaunvill appeared to answer the plea of Robert Marmion, junior, respecting the custody of four hides of land in Harewe (Arrow), which Geoffrey de Caunvill had held of the fee of his father Robert Marmiun. Robert did not appear, but Geoffrey de Sepye, one of his attornies, essoined himself; and William pleaded that William Rufus, the other attorney of Robert, had not appeared, nor had essoined himself; and the Court had recorded that William Rufus was attorney for Robert, and it is therefore considered that William be dismissed from the suit, and the sureties for the prosecution be in misericordiâ, viz., Adam Wareniarus of Watton, and William Rufus of Frosele. m. 15, dorso.

Staff. Richard de Stafford for himself and his wife Agnes, sued Robert de Gaham for one-third of a virgate of land in Dunston, as dower of the said Agnes. Robert prayed a view of the land, and a day is given to the parties at fifteen days from St. Hillary. m. 21, dorso.

Roll No. 9.

Headed, "In Octabis Sancti Michaelis." [6th October, 1220.]

Leic.-Derb. Ralph Grim and Idonea his wife, Geoffrey de Griseleg and Margery his wife, Simon de Berkeston and Elizabeth his wife, were attached to answer by what warrant they intruded themselves into the land which Matilda de Sumervill had held in Cusinton, which land should descend, it is said, by hereditary right, after the death of Matilda, to Roger de Sumervill, who is within age, and in ward to the King; and they appeared and denied the intrusion, and stated that they hold the land as hereditary right of Idonea, Margery, and Elizabeth, which descended to them from the said Matilda their mother, who died seised of it for long after the death of Roger de Sumervill, father of the said Roger. They also stated that Matilda did not hold that land nor any other of the King; and because Roger fitz Roger is the brother of the said Idonea and the others, et est de masculo, it is considered that he has the greater right. Let him have therefore seisin, and the others be in misericordiâ. m. 9, dorso.

Staff. Gilbert de Oddewell sues the Prioress of Fairewell for a hide of land, and Thomas de la Haulle and Mabel his wife for a carucate of land in Lichfield, and Samson of Lichefeld for thirty acres of land.

The defendants state that they came on the first day of the plea, and again on the second day, and Gilbert did not appear, nor essoin himself, and as Gilbert could not deny the default, it is considered that the Prioress and the other defendants should be dismissed from the suit, and Gilbert be in misericordiâ. m. 18, dorso.