Staffordshire Forest Pleas: January 1262

Pleas of the Forest Before Alan La Zouche and His Associates (14 January, 1262, on the Morrow of St. Hillary).

Pleas of Venison of Kannoc. (fn. 1)

It was presented and convicted (convictum) by Ralph de Coven, Richard de Grendon, Robert de Esington, and Thomas de Tamehorn, verderers, and by the foresters, and the following vills, viz., Eton, Hatherdon, Pencrich, Redbaldeston, Wirleg, Sardon, Savershulf (Shareshill), and Hulton, that Alan Page of Ecclesale, and Edmond son of Geoffrey de Wyrleg, took a stag in the wood of Werleg without warrant on the Thursday after the Feast of St. James the Apostle, 33 H. III.; and because the said vills did not appear in full before the Justices, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented and convicted by the same that four men, viz., William de Blithefend, Stephen de Scey, Stephen le Brun, and William de Penculle, entered the said forest on the Tuesday before Christmas Day, 35 H. III., for the purpose of taking venison, and committing other felonies; and because the vills of Allerewych (Aldridge) and Esington did not appear in full, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented and convicted by the same, and by the four vills, viz., Swynesfend, Cestrefeud, La Linde, and Stonhale, that Henry Clerk of Honsworth, John de Herteshorn, and others, took a stag in the said forest without warrant on the day of St. Thomas the Martyr, 35 H. III.; and because the said vills did not appear in full, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented, etc., and by the vills of Wolgareston, Huntingdon, Linhull, Penchrich, Kynewaston, and Eton, that William Strutecurteys took a stag in the said forest without warrant on the Wednesday before the Feast of the Epiphany, 37 H. III.; and because the said vills did not appear in full, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented, etc., and by the vills of Bromleg, Alrewas, Hopewas, Bolenhull, and Cestrefeud, Linde, Alerewych, Rushale, Peleshale, and Hulton, that Richard de Wytington, Adam son of Alexander de Bromleg, and others, are malefactors of the King's venison; they say also that a certain heath was burnt by the vills of Homerwich, to the injury of the King's game (ferarum), and all the said vills are in misericordiâ, because they did not appear in full.

It was presented, etc., and by four vills, viz., Bromlega, Alerewas, Fodreslega, and Orgrave, that Geoffrey son of William Herring of Fodereslega, and others, took a roebuck (capriolum) in the King's Haye of Alerewas; and James de Puteis and Adam Hanggedogge, at that time foresters, came up and took away the roebuck from them and three shillings to say nothing about it (pro pace habendâ); and they carried away the roebuck with them, and appropriated it (inde fecerunt voluntatem suam).

It was presented, etc., and by the vills of Great Sardon, Little Sardon, Sarnesculf (Shareshill), Eton, Redbaldeston, Linhull, Kynewaston, Pilletenhale, Wolgareston, and Huntingdon, that a cervus palmatus, often seen in the bailiwick of Gaule, came into the liberty of the Bishop of Chester, and was captured there; and because the said vills did not fully appear, they are in misericordiâ.

Inquisition respecting a certain place in Boscehaye, containing 20 acres, which Sir Robert de Grendon wished to assart and plough, taken by the verderers, foresters, and regardors, if it would be the damage of the King or his forest, who say on their oath that there is no cover (vestura) on the land, and it would not be to the detriment of the King, or of his forest, if it was ploughed up; and the soil belongs to Robert. Robert may therefore assart and plough it for a fine of 6 marks, but to so enclose it that the game can freely pass in and out.

Reguard of Kannok.

Assarts.—Roger Miche of Pilentenhale had newly assarted a rood of land without permission; it is therefore to be taken into the King's hands. Fine 12d.

Roger son of Robert de Huntingdon holds half an acre which his father had newly assarted. To be taken into the King's hands. Fine 12d.

Hugh de Buweles had newly assarted two acres at Rushale. To be taken etc. Fine 4s.

Robert de Blakefurlong had newly assarted a rood of land at Oterton. To be taken, etc. Fine 6d.

Nicholas Attewode of Wylenhale had newly assarted half an acre. To be taken, etc. Fine 12d. The hay to be taken for the King's use.

Robert le Crumpe of Piletenhale had newly assarted a rood of land. To be taken, etc. Fined 2s. To have back his land.

Reginald son of Edwin de Wirleg had newly assarted half an acre in Wodenesford. To be taken, etc. Fined 12d. Richard his son holds it. The hay to be taken for the King's use.

John son of William de Wodenesfeud had newly assarted a rood of land. to be taken, etc. Fine 12d. The hay to be taken for the King.

From Clement de Wodenesfeud, for an assart, 12d. From Alan son of Adam, of the same, for the same, 2s.

William de Fulebrigge had newly assarted half an acre in Wodenesfeud. To be taken, etc. Fine 12d.

And because the Reguardors' answers were insufficient, they are in misericordiâ.

Waste of Woods within the Forest of Kannok.

Pleas of the Forest of Kynefare, 46 H. III.

It was presented and convicted by Thomas de Tresel, Philip de Liutelega. Henry de Morf, and Walter de Overton, the verderers, and by the foresters, that John Waleraund and others had taken a stag in the forest of Kynefare without warrant, and because the vills of Pebbemore, Wayrnerton, Brome, and Chirshull did not fully appear before the Justiciary, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented, etc., that John Hog and others had come into the forest of Kynefare with an evil intent; and because the vills of Old Swineford, Amelecote, and Swyneford, did not fully appear at the inquisition, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented, etc., that William Brun and Roger Brun and others took a stag in the forest without warrant; and as the vills of Wulwardeslega, Winduverton, Witenton, and Chirshull did not fully appear at the inquisition, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented, etc., that Roger de Amelecote, the brother of the Lady of Amelecote, and others, are malefactors of the King's venison; and because the vills of Humelega and Womburne did not fully appear, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented and convicted by the above, and by the four vills of Chirshull, Wymerton, Brome, and Duncleg, that Gilbert the serviens of Sir Fulk de Samford took a stag in the said forest without warrant; and as the said vills did not fully appear at the inquisition, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented and convicted by the above and by the four vills of Evenefeud, Morf, Liutelega, and Swyndon, that Leoninus the Parson of Kynefare and others took two stags and two hinds in the said forest without warrant; and as the above vills did not fully appear, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented, etc., and by the four vill of Evenefeud, Morf, Luttelega, and Witemere, that Walter the Pilgrim (Pelerinus) and others took two hinds without warrant in the said forest; and as the said vills did not fully appear at the inquisition before the Justices, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented, etc., and by the vills of Cumpton, Evenefeud, Luttelega, and Lymingford, that Gregory de Caldehull and others took a buck in the said forest without warrant; and as the above vills did not fully appear, they are in misericordiâ.

It was presented, etc., that Thomas de Bromlega took a stag in the said forest without warrant; and as the vill of Wolwardele did not fully appear, etc., it is in misericordiâ.

It was presented, etc., and by the four vills of Womburne, Overton, Tresel . . . . . . and others took a hind in the said forest without warrant . . . . . .

It was presented, etc., and by the four vills of Morf, Evenefeud, Overton . . . . . .entered the said forest without warrant and with an evil intent.

It was presented, etc., and by the four vills of Pebbemore, Swyneford . . . . . . that Geoffrey de Ordesle and others took a stag in the said forest without warrant . . . . . .

The First Reguard of Kynefare and the Names of the Reguardors.

Robert de Biscopburi, Hugh de Wrotteslega, Robert Buffere, William son of . . . . . . . . . . . . Evenefeld, Adam de Camera, John son of Adam de Luttelega, Clement . . . . . . . . . . . greve, and Walter de Bradelega.

Thomas de Corneswelle, and Robert of the same assarted half an acre . . . . . . . To be taken into the King's hands. They paid a fine to have the land back . . . . . . .

Richard de Bosco of Tettenhale had newly assarted . . . . . . He fines for his misericordia, and to have back the land with the grass upon it . . . . . .

Richard the Vicar of Seggesle assarted a rood of land in Puttelye . . . . . And because the above reguardors make insufficient answers they are in misericordiâ. (fn. 2)

Waste of Woods.

The wood of William de Tracy in Keniggeford is wasted . . . . . .

The wood of Walter de Overton at Puttelyth is wasted . . . . . .

The wood of the Prior of Worcester at Wuldwardelega is wasted . . . . . .

Reguard of Kannok.

Nicholas de Alrewich, William de Stretheye, Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . Derlweston, Roger Durdent, and others.

Elias de la Lind assarted an acre and a half in La Linde . . . . . . He afterwards fined for his misericordiâ, and to have back his land . . . . . . .

Robert atte Wode de la Lynd assarted two acres . . . . . .

Roger de la Lynd assarted newly two acres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . son of Osbert assarted newly two acres . . . . . .

The rest of the Roll is illegible from decay and damp.