Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 12 Edward I

Coram Rege Roll, Hillary, 12 E. I., apud Lincoln.

Staff. Nicholas Dun of Madele appeared against Thomas son of Thomas de Pessale (Peshall) in a plea of maheem and breach of the peace. Thomas did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and to produce him at three weeks from Easter. m. 5.

Staff. The appeal of Adam de Hanchirch against Thomas de Mere and others is dismissed, Adam not appearing to prosecute it. m. 9, dorso.

Staff. Whereas for certain causes the King wishes to be certified respecting the demand which Peter Corbet and the other executors of the will of Thomas Corbet had made against Richard de Loges respecting a debt of £22 and 14s. for which Richard was bound to the said Thomas for the redemption of his lands according to the Dictum of Kenilworth, the Sheriff had been commanded to summon for this day William de Munslawe, Bartholomew Costard, Walter de Elmedon, and John Conseye, to compute, together with the said Robert, the value of the goods and chattels of Richard which had been seised for the said debt, and they did not appear. The Sheriff is therefore ordered to distrain and produce them at a month from Easter, wherever the King may be. m. 7, dorso.

Coram Rege Roll, Easter, 12 E. I., apud Kaer in Arvon (sic).

Warw. Geoffrey de Caunvill sued Geoffrey Canon, Robert son of Walter, William son of Richard de Hyntes, Thomas de Endesovere, Richard de Endesovere and Philippa the widow of Hugh de Meynill, and fourteen others, in a plea that whereas the King had taken all his men and lands into his protection, forbidding any one to molest them, they had come vi et armis and trodden down his growing corn at Clifton Caunvill with their cattle and horses and pigs, doing damage to him to the amount of £100. The defendants appeared and stated that the land was their common of pasture in the said vill, and appealed to a jury, and as the trespass took place in Staffordshire, the Sheriff of Staffordshire was ordered to summon a jury to be before the King at Michaelmas, unless Ralph de Hengham came first into these parts; and afterwards on the Monday before the Feast of the Assumption in this year, a jury came before Ralph de Hengham at Tamworth, and stated that the men of Geoffrey de Caunville had sowed oats in a certain part of the heath of Clifton in the name of the said Geoffrey, and they were growing in peace (in pace) until the Saturday before the feast of St. John the Baptist last, on which day Geoffrey Canon and the other defendants came with many and divers beasts and trampled down the oats, and they put themselves at the discretion of the Justices (se ponunt in discretionem Justiciarii); but they say that the said men of Neuton from time out of memory were accustomed to common in the portion of the heath where the oats were sown with all manner of cattle and for service which they performed to the said Geoffrey de Caunville and to his mother, in the name of the said Geoffrey, and of which services the mother of Geoffrey is now in seisin. m. 22, dorso.

Staff. In the suit of Thomas de Mere versus William de Mere and others for taking his goods at Mere, viz., a boat (batellum) and fishing nets, the defendants appeared and denied they had taken any of the goods of Thomas, and stated that certain men of the Prior of Trentham who were unknown came to fish in a fishery belonging to William de Mere, and he had prevented them, and they appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 4, dorso.

Warw. Nicholas son of Nicholas le Archer sued Margaret la Rousse for a messuage and two carucates of land excepting two virgates in Caldecote, and in which Margaret had no entry except by William le Rousse, who had unjustly disseised William le Archer the great grandfather (proavum) of Nicholas, whose heir he is. Margaret appeared and stated she held the tenement in purparty with one William de Morteyn, without whom she cannot answer, which William had died, and to him had succeeded one Roger son of Roger de Morteyn as his nephew and heir, and she now held the said tenement in purparty with the said Roger. Roger is to be summoned in co. Stafford for the Octaves of Michaelmas. m. 2.

Staff. John son of John de Duddele sued Agnes de Duddele and Richard her son for two messuages and seven acres of land in Lichefeud, of which William de Duddele the grandfather of John, whose heir he is, was seised as of fee. Agnes appeared and stated she claimed nothing but the wardship of Richard, and Richard stated he was under age. The suit is therefore to remain till the full age of Richard. m. 21.

Staff. Matilda the widow of John de Lyttlebyri sued Thomas Meverel and Agnes his wife for a third of four acres in Great and Little Sandon, and she sued Roger de Merlynton (sic, Marchington) and Alianora his wife for a third of four acres in the same vill, and Ralph de Montjoye and Isolda his wife, and John de Grendon and Joan his wife, and Henry de Knyveton and Isabella his wife, in each case for a third of four acres in the same vill as her dower.

The defendants appeared, and as regarded the third of an acre in each of their holdings called to warranty Nicholas son and heir of William le Butiller, who is under age, and with part of his land in the custody of Joan the widow of William le Botiller, and the other part of whose land is in the custody of William de Pykestoke by a deed of Richard le Botiller the grandfather of the heir. The custodes are to be summoned for the Octave of Trinity, and to produce the heir. Joan is to be summoned in Lancashire, and William in Staffordshire.

And as regarded the third part of an acre in their respective holdings the defendants called to warranty William de Trummevile (Trumwyne), who is to be summoned for the same date. m. 37.

Staff. Matilda the widow of John de Litelbyri sued Roger de Pyvelesdon and Joan his wife for a third of eight acres of land in Great and Little Sandon, and Nicholas Meverel and Sarra his wife for a third of two acres, and John le Sweyn for a third of fourteen acres in the same vill as her dower. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to summon them for the Octave of Trinity, and to take the dower claimed into the King's hands. m. 37.

Staff. John son of William son of Gilbert de Colton sued John son of William de Colton for a messuage and fifteen and a half acres of land in Colton. The defendant had made default on the morrow of All Souls, and the tenement has been taken into the King's hands, and the plaintiff now claimed it by his default. And John son of William pleaded he had never been summoned at the said term, and offered to wage his law. He is therefore to come with his compurgators (cum lege suâ) on the Octaves of Michaelmas. m. 42.

Staff. The suit of Roger de Levinton and Petronilla his wife versus Richard Corbet is dismissed, the plaintiffs not appearing to prosecute it. m. 75, dorso.

Staff. Idonea the widow of Hugh de Wroctesley sued John le Botiller for a messuage and half a virgate of land in Perton, and William del Hulle of Lappeley for half a messuage and one-fourth of a virgate, and Robert Laweles for half a messuage and one-fourth of a virgate in the same vill as her right and maritagium (fn. 1) and in which the said John, William, and Robert had no entry except by Amice the daughter of Hugh de Wrocteley, to whom Hugh formerly her husband had demised it for his life.

The defendants appeared, and John called to warranty William son of Hugh de Wrottele, and William stated he holds the tenement in question by a demise of the said John le Botiller son and heir of the said Amice, and called him to warranty, and Robert for the tenement for which he is sued called to warranty the said John son of Amice, and he said also that the tenement was the right and maritagium of the said Amice, and that Amice together with her husband had demised the tenement to him, and for this he called to warranty the said John likewise, as her son and heir. Adjourned to a month from Michaelmas. m. 73, dorso.

Staff. William Trumwyne and Ralph le Mouner were attached to answer the plea of William de la More that they had cut down and carried away his growing timber at Great Wyrley in 8 E. I.

William and Ralph acknowledged they had cut the timber, and stated that the wood of Great Wyrley formerly belonged to one Richard de Loges, who had granted to William husbote and haybote and dry wood for burning and underwood for fencing and burning in the said wood. And William de la More had acquired (perquisivit) the wood and held the status of the said Richard. William de la More denied that William Trumwyne had any right to husbote and haybote in Great Wyrley, and appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 43, dorso.

Banco Roll, Trinity, 12 E. I.

Staff. The assize of mort d'ancestor which Ralph de Barton and Agnes his wife arraigned against Robert de Somervile, who had been called to warranty by Richard son of Ralph de Wychenore, and who warranted to him a messuage and twenty-four acres of land and two acres of meadow in Wychenore, is respited till the morrow of All Souls through defect of recognitors. m. 9.

Derb., Staff. Agnes the widow of Oliver de Langeford sued William de Kavereswell for a third of thirteen marks of rent in Athelaston (Ellaston) in co. Stafford, and William called to warranty John the son and heir of Oliver de Langeford, who is under age, and whose lands and person are in ward to John Byroun, and John Byroun now appeared and prayed it might be shown why he should warrant, and William stated Nigel de Langeford the grandfather of John de Langeford, whose heir he is, demised to him the manor of Athelaston (Ellaston) to hold for the life of William for a rent of £8 4s. 5d., and Oliver the father of the said John had afterwards remitted this rent excepting one mark annually, and he produced the deed with a clause of warranty. John Byroun pleaded that the rent in question of which a third part was claimed as the dower of Agnes was no part of the manor in his custody, and it was considered that he should be dismissed from the suit, and Agnes is to recover seisin. m. 73, dorso.

Staff. Matilda the widow of John de Littleburi recovers dower against Roger de Pyvelesdon and Joan his wife, Nicholas Merevel and Sarra his wife, and John le Sweyn, tenants in Great and Little Sandon, by default, none of the defendants appearing. m. 47, dorso.

Derb., Staff., Warw. The essoin of William le Botiller appeared against Geoffrey de Gresele, the custos of the person and a portion of the lands of William son and heir of William de Handisacre, and Roger Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, the custos of the other lands of the said inheritance, in a plea that they should warrant to him a third part of a messuage and carucate of land in Sinerecote in co. Warwick, which Ala the widow of William de Handesacre claimed in dower; and they did not appear. The Sheriff is therefore ordered to take into the King's hands lands of the inheritance to the value of the dower claimed; and as the Court was ignorant of the value of the dower and of the amount of land held by each custos of the inheritance, the Sheriff of Warwickshire was ordered to make an extent of the value of the dower, and the Sheriff of Derbyshire was ordered to appraise the lands held by the said Geoffrey of the inheritance; and similarly the Sheriff of Staffordshire was ordered to appraise the land of the inheritance held by the said Roger; and to return the valuations into the Court at the Octaves of Michaelmas, and reference is to be made to the King, who is custos of another portion of the lands of the inheritance by reason of the wardship of John son and heir of William le Botiller of Wemme. m. 44, dorso.

Staff. Julia de Thene appeared against William de Merchyngton, whom William Wither called to warranty, and who warranted to him an acre and a rood of land in Thene, and William did not appear, and had previously made default, and the land had been taken into the King's hands. It is therefore considered that Julia should recover seisin, and William Wither is to be compensated from other land of William de Merchinton. m. 27, dorso.

Banco Roll, Michaelmas, 12–13 E. I.

Staff. John de Prestewode sued Theobald de Verdun for eight acres in Prestewode. Theobald did not appear, and is to be summoned for the Octave of Hillary, and the land to be taken into the King's hands. m. 11.

Staff. William de Beverley (Beverlaco) the Parson of the Church of Colton sued William le Jouene Seynur, John son of Geoffrey de Colton, and two others named, for 60 marks owing to him. The defendants did not appear, and are to be attached for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 21.

Staff. Geoffrey Wasteneys appeared against Eva de Oswaldesere in a plea that she made waste and destruction in lands and houses which she held in custody of the inheritance of the said Geoffrey in Tycsall (Tixall). Eva did not appear, and is to be attached for the Quindene of Hillary. m. 23.

Staff. Magister Philip de St. Augustine the Parson of the Church of Patingham sued Brother Roger de Dorcestre, John de Fexton, and four others named, for breaking vi et armis into his houses at Patingham together with the Prior of St. Launde, Ralph Basset of Drayton, and others, and taking his corn, goods, and chattels to the value of £40. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce them on the Quindene of Hillary. m. 37.

Staff. Philippa who had been the wife of John de Cokefeld sued Robert de Dutton for the manors of Great and Little Rowenhale excepting three bovates and an acre of land in Little Rowenhale. Robert called to warranty John de Cokefeld, who is to be summoned in co. Oxon to be in Court on the Quindene of Hillary. m. 42.

Staff. The Sheriff had been ordered to levy 25 marks on the lands and chattels of Philip de Chetewynd and Isabella his wife by writ of fieri facias, to pay William le Brun according to a recognizance made in Court by the said Philip and Isabella, and which ought to have been paid at Easter, 12 E. I., and the Sheriff returned he had done nothing in the matter, because Philip was dead, but he had chattels to the value of the debt. The Sheriff is therefore ordered to levy the money and produce it at the Octaves of St. Martin. m. 44.

Staff. Amice the widow of Richard Machen sued Robert de Barre for a third of ten acres of moor in Great Barre as her dower. Robert called to warranty Richard son of Richard Machen, who is to be summoned for the Octaves of Hillary. m. 48.

Staff. In the suit of Robert de Somerford versus Roger the Bishop and others for breaking open his pound and rescuing the cattle impounded at Somerford, the Bishop appeared and denied the trespass, and appealed to a jury.

John de Kynton and the other defendants also appeared and stated that John was the Bailiff of the Bishop in the manor of Brewode, and that the cattle impounded belonged to Stephen le Carpenter (one of the defendants), and Stephen had complained to John the Bishop's Bailiff that as Robert had impounded them unjustly, and he had found pledges to prosecute his suit respecting them, he ought to deliver the cattle, and the others had only intervened as neighbours to testify to the release of the cattle, and they appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for the morrow of the Purification. m. 52.

Staff. The suit of Roger Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield versus Robert de Somerford for a messuage and eleven acres of land, and two and a half acres of meadow in Brewode, is adjourned to the Purification owing to the default of three of the Knights who formed the jury, viz., Geoffrey de Greseley, Robert de Bromlegh, and William Wyther; they are therefore in misericordiâ. m. 62.

Lanc., Staff. Thomas Meverel and Agnes his wife, Roger de Merchynton and Alienora his wife, Ralph de Monjoye and Isolda his wife, John de Grendon and Joan his wife, Henry de Kyveton and Isabella his wife, and Richard de Tylynton and Agnes his wife, appeared against Joan the widow of William le Botiller, the custos of the person and a part of the lands of Nicholas son and heir of William le Botiller and William de Pickstok custos of the other part of the lands in question, in a plea that they should warrant to them the lands claimed against them in Great Sandon and Little Sandon by Matilda the widow of John de Litelbyri as her dower, viz., the third part of an acre and a half held by each (coparcener). The defendants did not appear, and as the Court was ignorant of the value of the lands of the inheritance of the heir held by the respective custodes, the Sheriff of Lancashire is ordered to value all the lands and tenements which the said Joan held in her custody of the inheritance, and similarly the Sheriff of Staffordshire is to do the same with respect to the same lands held in custody by William, and to return the valuations into Court at the Quindene of Hillary. The defendants to be summoned for Easter Term. m. 80.

Hunts., Staff. The same plaintiffs sued Roger son of John de Litlebyri to warrant to them lands in Great Sandon and Little Sandon claimed by the same Matilda in dower, and he did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to take lands of the said Roger to the value of the dower claimed into the King's hands, and Roger to be summoned for Easter Term. m. 80.

Staff. Joan the widow of Philip de Coulegh sued William son of the Chaplain of Wode-Eyton for a messuage and half a virgate of land, and half an acre of meadow in Wode-Eyton, in which he had no entry except through Philip formerly her husband, who had demised the tenement to him for the life of Philip. William appeared and stated he entered through his father Stephen, and not by Philip, and a postscript states that at Easter 14 E. I. a jury found in favour of William. m. 82.

Staff. John de Blakelawe and Margaret his wife sued Hugh de Hakedone for a third of a messuage and thirty acres of land in Eccleshale, and William Meverel for a third of a messuage and thirty acres of land in the same vill as the dower of Margaret of the gift of Richard le Barber her former husband. The defendants appeared and prayed a view. Adjourned to the Quindene of Hillary. m. 93.

Staff. In the suit of Margaret widow of William de Lee against tenants in Fulford for dower, the defendants called to warranty Richard son of William du (sic) Lee, who appeared in Court and warranted their lands to them and admitted the right of Margaret to dower. The tenants are therefore dismissed from the suit, and Margaret is to be endowed from the land of Richard to the value of the dower claimed. m. 117.

Staff. Alianora de Ferars appeared against Thomas de Bray in a plea that whereas the custody of the land and heir of William le Botiller belonged to her until the lawful age of the said heir, and she was in peaceable seisin of the said custody, the said Thomas together with Edmund the King's brother, Joan la Botilere and Ralph de Rolleston, had violently ejected her from the custody. Thomas did not appear, and the Sheriff returned he held no lands within his bailiwick; and it was testified he held lands in co. Bedford. The Sheriff of Bedfordshire is therefore commanded to attach him to appear at a month from Easter. m. 120, dorso.

Staff. Matilda the widow of William de Arderne sued Peter de Arderne for a third of a messuage, of a hundred acres of land, forty acres of pasture, forty acres of wood, and 40s. of rent in Knetton (Cnotton) as her dower; and the Sheriff had been commanded to summon him for the Octaves of St. Michael, 12 E. I., and he made default, and the Sheriff had been ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hands, and Matilda now claimed it by his default.

And Peter now appeared and denied he had been summoned as stated, and offered to wage his law. It is therefore considered that he should wage his law (quod vadiaret ei legem duodecimâ manu), and come with his law (veniet cum lege (fn. 2) ) on the morrow of the Purification. And the attorney of Peter was informed that he must attend in person. A postscript adds that the said Peter appeared and made his law (fecit legem suam), and Matilda is in misericordiâ for a false claim. m. 113, dorso.

Staff. The suit of Isolda widow of Richard de Rollowe against William Gilbert for dower is dismissed, Isabella not appearing; her sureties, Nicholas de Salt, and John de Salt are in misericordiâ. m. 99, dorso.

Staff. Muriel the widow of John de Swynnerton sued Adam le Chapelyn for a third of ten acres and a half of land in Swynnerton, and Elyas de Boys for a third of ten and a half acres of land, and two others for a third of their holdings in the same vill as her dower. The defendants appeared and prayed a view. Adjourned to the Quindene of Hillary. m. 83, dorso.

Staff. Hugh de Beaumes appeared against Robert de Fraunkeville and Hyllaria his wife in a plea that whereas the late King had given to him the marriage of the said Hyllaria who had been the wife of William de Harecurt, deceased, who held of the King in capite, by a fine by the terms of which the forfeiture fell to him if the said Hyllaria engaged herself to marry without the license of himself or the King, the said Hyllaria had married the said Robert to the damage of the said Hugh and against the terms of the King's concession. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce them on the morrow of the Purification. m. 82, dorso.

Staff. Alice the widow of Saer Mauveysin sued the Prior of St. Thomas of Stafford for a third of four messuages and two carucates of land in Cotes as her dower. The Prior prayed a view, and the cause is adjourned to the Quindene of St. Martin. m. 50, dorso.

Staff. The suit of William son of Thomas de Bedulf against Theobald de Verdon for a messuage, three bovates, and thirty acres of land, twenty acres of wood, and 5s. of rent in Fenton-Culverd, is dismissed, William not appearing to prosecute it. m. 27, dorso.