Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 7 Edward I

Coram Rege Roll, Hillary, 7 E. I.

Staff. The Sheriff was commanded to take with him four discreet and lawful Knights of the county, and to proceed with them to the Court of Simon de Somery of Clen, and in full court to cause to be recorded the suit which was before the Court by the King's writ of right between Felicia de Brocton, plaintiff, and Nicholas Alen, tenant, of a messuage and a virgate of land in Clen, respecting which the said Nicholas complained that a false judgment had been delivered in the said Court; and the Sheriff had returned that the suitors (sectatores) of the Court had refused to record the plea before him, and the Sheriff was therefore commanded to attach the suitors of the Court, and to produce them at Easter Term, to record the suit, and to take the tenement in dispute into the King's hands. m. 12, dorso.

Staff. Magister Robert de Pycheford was attached to answer the King on the complaint of Peter de Colecestre, Ralph le Sergeant, Hervey de Ocle, Andrew Salvein, and three others named, that whereas when Hugh de Kave had lately arraigned an assize of novel disseisin at Tamworth before Ralph de Hengham and Walter de Hopton respecting a tenement in Clifton, and the said Hugh had recovered from him by the said assize a messuage and half a virgate of land, Robert had drawn the said Peter and the others named into a Court Christian before the Dean of Arches in London, to the great loss and trouble of the said Peter and the others, and against the dignity of the King.

Magister Robert appeared and stated he had not drawn them into a Court Christian on account of the assize in question, but because his men of Haunton in the manor of Clifton had been sent to the goal at Bridgenorth on an accusation of robbery.

And Peter and the others stated there had been no accusation of robbery against the men of Magister Robert, but they had been sent to gaol on account of the said assize which had been taken. The suit was adjourned to Easter.

A postscript adds that afterwards in the week of Pentecost a jury came before Ralph de Hengham at Pencriz and found a verdict in favour of Peter and the other plaintiffs: damages one mark; and as it was testified that Robert held no lay fee, a mandate was sent to the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield to levy the money on the goods of the said Robert, and to pay it into the Court on the morrow of St. John the Baptist, and the suit of the Lord the King against the said Robert was respited to the same date. m. 8, dorso.

Banco Roll, Easter Term, 7 E. I.

Staff. Richard de Loges appeared against Richard Attewode of Werlaye, Osbert Frene, and eight others named, in a plea that whereas when he had impounded their cattle at Werley (Wyrley) according to the law and custom of the kingdom, the said Richard and the others had broken into the pound vi et armis and released the cattle. Adjourned to Michaelmas. m. 39.

Staff. David de Pakynton sued Henry son of David de Pakynton for a messuage and a virgate of land in Pakynton, and he sued Peter de Colecestre for three virgates in the same vill, and John Selveyn for three virgates, and two other tenants for other land in the same vill, by writ of entry. The defendants prayed a view. Adjourned to Michaelmas. m. 46.

Staff. Agnes the widow of John de Wytemore sued Ralph son of John de Wytemore for one-third of nine acres of land in Wytemore, and other tenants for a third of their lands in the same vill, as her dower. The defendants did not appear, and the dower claimed is to be taken into the King's hands, and the defendants re-summoned for Trinity Term. m. 46.

Warw. Richard de Loges sued Gilbert le Harpur for three messuages, three virgates of land, and 13s. 4d. of rent in Cesterton. Gilbert appeared and stated he held the tenements in purparty with one Walter de Kylemedone (Elmedon) of the inheritance of Robert de Brok grandfather of the said Gilbert and Walter, whose heirs they are. Walter to be summoned for Michaelmas Term; the summons to be served in Staffordshire. m. 49.

Staff. William Trumwyne appeared against William son of William, Emma the widow of Gilbert le Mareschall, Thomas le Hore, and fifteen others named, for breaking vi et armis into his house at Saundon and taking corn and other goods to the value of £20. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce them at Michaelmas. m. 65.

Staff. Henry de Verdun sued Richard the Abbot of Cumbermere for a messuage and a hide and a half of land in Herlide (Yarlet). The Abbot made default, and the Sheriff is ordered to take the tenement into the King's hands and produce him at Trinity Term. m. 66.

Staff. Thomas de Mere not appearing to prosecute his suit against Joan de Baskerville, it is dismissed. m. 66.

Staff. Thomas de Melewich gives five marks for licence of concord with Simon son of Thomas de Melewych and Alice daughter of William Gilbert in a plea of land, and the fine was levied saving to William de Spiketoft his term of twenty-seven years which he had by the grant of the said Thomas in the same land, and saving to the same William a third part of the inheritance of Roger de Melewich the father of the said Thomas, whose heir he is, in Melewich (Millwich), and which the same William holds in fee by the concession of Thomas and of Petronilla the widow of Roger, who held the said third part in dower. m. 74.

Staff. Ralph de Grendon appeared against John de Weston and Robert de Gresebrok in a plea that they were carrying on a suit against him in Court Christian respecting goods and chattels pertaining neither to a will nor to a matrimonial cause, against the King's prohibition, etc. Adjourned to Michaelmas. m. 60, dorso.

Staff. The Prior de Lanton outside Gloucester sued the Prioress of Fayrwell for customs and services owing for a free tenement in Langedon (Longdon) which she held of him, and stated that the Prioress held a messuage and two carucates of land in Langedon by fealty and service of two marks annually, and to find a priest to celebrate the divine offices in the Chapel of Redemor (Radmoor), and which customs, etc., had been performed by Julia the predecessor of the said Prioress in the reign of King Henry the father of the present King. The Prioress appeared and denied the claim. Adjourned to Michaelmas. m. 54, dorso.

Staff. Robert son of Peter le Venur sued Robert de Dockeseye to carry out the provisions of a fine levied in the Court of King John before the Justices Itinerant at Lichfield between Felicia de Dockeseye the grandmother of the said Robert de Dockeseye, whose heir he is, and John le Venur the ( . . .) of the said Robert son of Peter, whose heir he is, tenant of two virgates of land in Bury. Robert de Dockeseye made default, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce him at Trinity Term. m. 34, dorso.

Staff. Richard de Loges sued William de la More for the manor of Great Wyrleye, excepting three messuages and a virgate of land and an acre and a rood of pasture. William defended his right, and put himself on a great assize. Adjourned to Michaelmas, when four knights are to choose a jury. (fn. 1)

The said Richard withdrew his suit against the same William for a messuage and a virgate and a half of land in La More. m. 26, dorso.

Staff. Simon Bethun of Stafford and Agnes his wife recover dower in thirty-five selions of land in Newcastle-under-Lyne against Adam son of Adam le Lavyndon; Agnes being widow of Adam de Lavyndon. m. 25, dorso.

Staff. Alice the widow of Henry Sautcheverel sued Theobald de Verdun for a third of a rent of 8s. 8d. in Athelaston (Ellastone) as her dower.

She also sued Richard de Blethefeld for a third of a rent of 10s. in Blethefeld (Blithfield), and the Prior of St. Thomas near Stafford for a third of a rent of a mark in Chavernes (Charnes), and John Pygaz for a third of an acre in Northwode, and Richard de Caverswelle for a third of 6d. rent in Lowe, and the Abbot of Crokesdene for a third of fifteen acres of land in Northwode, as her dower. None of the defendants appeared, and they are to be re-summoned for Trinity Term. The dower claimed to be taken into the King's hands. m. 18, dorso.

Warw. Agnes the widow of Philip de Rowele sued John le Carpenter of Eton for a third of a messuage in Bermyngham as her dower. John stated she had been endowed with the said messuage by one Adam de Rowele after the death of her husband Philip, and had afterwards remitted her claim, and Adam had enfeoffed him of the said messuage. Agnes denied this, and the suit is adjourned to Trinity Term. m. 10, dorso.

Banco Roll, Trinity Term, 7 E. I.

Staff. William son of William Trumwyn appeared against William de Wotton, John Copenhale, Hugh de Hedon, and William Benet, in a plea that together with Alan de Saundon, Adam his brother, and Alan le Fevere of Saundon, they had taken his goods and chattels to the value of £10 at Saundon (Sandon) vi et armis and carried them away. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff had been ordered to attach them, and returned that they could not be found within his bailiwick. The Sheriff is ordered to arrest and produce them on the morrow of St. Martin. m. 64.

Staff. Edmund de Estafford sued Nicholas the Baron of Estafford to acquit him of the service which he exacted of him for the free tenement he holds of him in Northmores (Norton on the Moors), and in which the said Nicholas is medius between him and the King, and ought to acquit him. The Baron did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce him on the morrow of St. Martin. m. 64.

Salop. Hugh de Beaumus and Roger de Eyton were summoned to answer Geoffrey de Pycheford in a plea that they should permit him to present a fit Parson to the Chapel of Burewardesle (Broseley), which is vacant, and of which the gift belongs to him; and he stated that the said advowson was the right and inheritance of one Roger de Burwardesle, and after his death descended to Mabel, Alice, and Margaret as his sisters and heirs, and from the said Mabel the eldest the right of her purparty descended to one Adam as her son and heir, who married a certain Matilda, to whom the said advowson after the death of Adam was assigned in dower; and she presented one Walter her Clerk to the said Chapel, who was admitted on her presentation, and she afterwards demised her dower to the said Hugh for a term. And Alice the middle sister (media soror) gave her purparty of the said advowson to the said Roger; and from Margaret the younger sister the right of her purparty descended to Alice, Margaret, and Philippa as her daughters and heirs, who gave their purparties in the said advowson to Geoffrey. And when the said Church became vacant after the death of Walter, the said Matilda brought a writ of last presentation against the said Geoffrey and Roger before Martin de Litlebyri in 55 H. III., and she made default, by which the said Geoffrey and Roger recovered their presentation to the said Chapel. And because Roger held the status of Alice the middle sister, the said Geoffrey conceded to him the right of presentation for that turn, illâ vice, and when by that concession it appertained to Geoffrey to present, the said Hugh and Roger had unjustly impeded him, by which he had been damaged to the amount of £40, and he produced his proofs (inde producit sectam). Hugh and Roger appeared, and Roger stated that Geoffrey had no right of presentation by the above concession, because before they had recovered the right the Bishop had given away the Chapel owing to the lapse of six months. A concord was afterwards made, by which Hugh and Roger conceded to Geoffrey the right of presentation for this time, saving to them their rights if further litigation should arise. m. 71.

Staff. William Tromwyne appeared against William son of William, Emma the widow of Gilbert le Marescall, Thomas le Hore, Reginald de Blakelowe, and fiteen others named, for entering vi et armis his house at Saundon (Sandon) and carrying away his goods and chattels and corn to the value of £20. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce them at Michaelmas. m. 79.

Staff. Henry de Verdun withdrew his writ of entry against the Abbot of Cumbermere respecting a messuage and a hide and a half of land in Herlide (Yarlet). m. 81.

Staff. Alice the widow of William fitz Geoffrey sued William de Hondesacre for a third of two messuages and three carucates of land, thirty acres of meadow, one hundred acres of wood, two hundred acres of pasturage, and 100s. of rent in Tybeton (Tipton). And she sued Avice de Hondesacre for a third of a messuage and a carucate of land, twenty acres of meadow, forty acres of wood, one hundred acres of pasturage, and 20s. rent in the same vill, which she claimed as her dower. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hands, and to re-summon them for Michaelmas. m. 82.

Staff. Robert de Somerford was summoned by John Gyffard of Chilinton in a plea that he should perform to him the customs and services which he owed for the free tenement he held of him in Chilinton, and he stated that Robert held of him a messuage and a virgate of land in Chilinton for homage and the service of a pound of pepper and suit at his Court of Chilinton every three weeks, of which homage and service one Peter his ancestor was seised as of fee in the reign of King John the grandfather of the King, by the hands of one William the father of Robert, whose heir he is, and from the said Peter the right descended to another Peter as son and heir, and from the said Peter, who died without issue, the right descended to one William as his brother and heir, and from William, who died without issue, the right descended to one Hugh as his brother and heir, and from Hugh, who died without issue, the right descended to John as brother and heir, who now pleads, and which suit of Court the said Robert refused to perform.

And Robert appeared and admitted he held the tenement by homage and the service of a pound of pepper, but denied the suit of court and the seisin of the said Peter the ancestor of it, and put himself on a Great Assize. A day is given to them at fifteen days from St. Martin, and then four knights are to come, etc. (to elect a jury). m. 83.

Staff. Robert de Barre and Cecilia his wife appeared against Felicia (de) Barre in a plea that she should warrant to them a third part of the manor of Great Barre which they hold and claim to hold of her, and for which they have her charter. Felicia did not appear, and is to be attached for Michaelmas Term. m. 78, dorso.

Staff. Alice the widow of Henry Saucheverell sued Richard de Blythefeud for a third of a rent of 10s. in Blythefeud as her dower. Richard did not appear, and had previously made default, and the dower claimed had been taken into the King's hands. It is therefore considered that she should recover seisin of it. m. 64, dorso.

Staff. A day is given to Alice the widow of William de Evenefeud (Enville), plaintiff, in a suit of dower against John de Dorton on the Octaves of St. Michael, at the prayer of the parties (prece partium). m. 55, dorso.

Staff. A long suit, in which Alianora the widow of Robert de Ferrars sued the tenants of Certele (Chartley) for her dower in the said vill, viz.:—

Richard le Parker for a third of twenty-two acres.

John le Engleys for a third of forty-two acres.

John le Parker for a third of two bovates of land.

Silvester Page de la Hoge for a third of six acres.

William le Mouner for a third of a messuage and seven acres.

William Aschard for a third of two bovates of land.

And seven smaller tenants named, for a third of their respective holdings. She also sued :—

Thomas Meverel and Agnes his wife for a third of forty-two acres of land and ten acres of meadow in Certele and Weston, (Chartley and Weston-onTrent); and Ralph de Burgo for a third of three water mills in the same vills, and the Prior of St. Thomas near Stafford for a third of the advowson of the Church of Stowe, and of two messuages and forty-nine acres in the same vill.

She also sued Thomas son of Robert de Ferars for a third of three bovates of land in Ambricton (Amerton); and Hugh le Wasteneys for a third of two bovates of land in Hucstedon (Hixon); and Geoffrey de Warilowe for a third of fifteen acres in Ambricton; and William de Hodynet for a third of seven acres, and nine other tenants named for a third of their holdings in the same vill.

She also sued Roger de Draycote for a third of two acres in Lestowe (Stow), and John de Bromculf for a third of thirty-three acres in Merebroke, Henry Kel for a third of two acres in Grenley, and Henry de Eneston for a third of a bovate of land in Weston, Robert de Wy for a third of nine acres, and two lesser tenants in the same vill, and Robert fitz Waring for a third of four bovates of land in Heywode, Roger de Aston for a third of nine bovates of land in Heywode, William Gody for a third of two bovates of land, John le Provost for a third of two bovates and four acres, and six other tenants for a third of their holdings in the same vill (Little Haywood).

She also sued Robert le Clerk of Gretewyz (Gratwich) for a third of six acres in Merebrook, and four other tenants named in the same vill for a third of their holdings.

She also sued Henry de Grenley for a third of three acres in Grenley, and eight others in the same vill for a third of their holdings.

The defendants appeared by attorney, and the tenants all called to warranty John the son and heir of Robert de Ferrars, who is within age and in ward to the King, and they produced charters of Robert by which he gave them their lands, and by which he and his heirs warranted the same to them. A day is given to the parties at Michaelmas, and in the meantime reference is to be made to the King (loquendum est cum Domino Rege). Afterwards by command of the King the suit is dismissed, and Alienora is to have her dower out of the land of the said heir to the value of her dower claimed.

The Prior of St. Thomas denied that Alienora had any right to dower in the advowson, because Robert de Ferrars was never seised of it in such a way that he could endow her out of it, and appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury at Michaelmas. m. 6, dorso.

Banco Roll, Michaelmas, 7—8 E. I.

Staff. Roger de Pylesdon appeared against Nicholas le Barun of Stafford in a plea that whereas the custody of the land and heir of Gilbert le Mareshall belonged to him until the full age of the heir, inasmuch as Gilbert had held his lands of him by Knight's service, and he had been in peaceable seisin of them, the said Baron had violently ejected him. Adjourned to Hillary Term. m. 19.

Staff. Alice daughter of Hugh de Dockesay sued Henry Wymer for sixty acres of land and twenty acres of meadow in Stafford, in which Henry had no entry except by Ascelina Wymer, who had unjustly disseised her of them. Henry stated he had not entered through Ascelina, and Ascelina had never been in seisin of the land. The jury say that the said Alice was in good seisin of the land by the feoffment of one Ralph Wymer, who had made Henry his attorney to put her into seisin of it, and she remained in possession for three weeks, and had taken the profits of the land until the said Ascelina had unjustly disseised her. Alice therefore to recover seisin. Damages 60s. m. 28.

Staff. The Sheriff had been ordered to distrain Richard de Chaunes and Alice his wife, and to produce them at this term to acknowledge by what service they held their tenement in Great Suggenhull of Henry de Tukerdon, who had transferred their service to Roger the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield by a fine levied in the King's Court; and the Sheriff returned he had distrained them, and 3s. as the value of their chattels; their sureties are in misericordiâ, and the Sheriff is commanded to distrain them again and produce them at Hillary Term. m. 43.

Staff. Sarra the widow of Thomas de Coule sued Bertram de Burgo for a third of two parts of half the vill of Coule (Cowley) as her dower. Bertram prayed a view. Adjourned to the Octaves of St. Martin. m. 45.

Staff., Derb., Lanc. Alienora the widow of Robert de Ferrars sued Edmund the King's brother for a third of the vills of Tuttebyry, Scropton, Rolleston, Mercynton (Marchington), Calyngewode, Uttekasthre (Uttoxeter) Adgeresley, and Neuboreg (Newborough), in co. Stafford, and for a third of Duffeld, Spondon, Chatesdene, and nine other vills named in co. Derby, and a third of Liverpool and seven other vills in co. Lancaster, as her dower.

And Edmund appeared in Court and stated he held nothing in Spondon and Chatesdene, and as regards the rest she had no claim to dower in them, because neither at the time Robert had married her nor at any time afterwards had he been seised of them; that King Henry had taken all the above lands into his hands owing to certain transgressions committed by Robert, and had given them to him (Edmund); that Robert had afterwards made a fine with him of £50,000, and for this fine he (Edmund) had surrendered all the land to certain manucaptors of Robert, who had become sureties for him on condition that if the said Robert did not pay to him the said sum of money within the Quindene of St. John the Baptist, 53 H. III., the manucaptors should render up the said lands to him (Edmund) to hold until he should pay him the said sum on one and the same day (uno et eodem die); and on the day when Robert had married Alienora, viz., on the third day after the Feast of St. John before the Quindene above mentioned, the lands were in the hands of the manucaptors of Robert, and Robert had a free tenement elsewhere out of which she could have her dower.

Edmund further stated that Robert had sued him to recover the said lands before Ralph de Hengham and the King's Justices of the Bench, according to the Dictum of Kenilworth, and he (Edmund) had then called to warranty the recognizance which Robert had made before the Chancellor, and he now appealed to the same and to the records of the Court. Alienora pleaded that she was entitled to dower because Edmund held the lands only in pledge, but she afterwards withdrew her suit. m. 49.

Staff. Agnes the widow of William de Thornebiri sued Adam de la Schawe for a third of twelve acres in Thornebiri, and she sued Richard Coyne for a third of eleven acres, and other tenants in the same vill for a third of their holdings as dower. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff is ordered to re-summon them and to take the dower claimed into the King's hands. m. 55.

Staff. Robert de Longrugge (Longridge) and Basilia his wife sued Robert son of Stephen de Bromleye for a messuage and eighteen acres of land in Burton near Stafford, as the right of Basilia. Robert called to warranty William son of Roger le Tayllur of Burton, who appeared and warranted the land to him, but stated he held nothing by inheritance from Roger his father by whose charter he was obliged to warrant the tenement. Robert son of Stephen stated that at the date he called him to warranty he held land of the inheritance of Roger his father to the full value of the tenement in dispute. Adjourned to Easter. m. 58.

Staff. Phillip de Say and Roes his wife sued Henry de Perton and Alice his wife for a third of a virgate of land in Overpenne which they claimed as the right of Roes. Adjourned to Hillary Term. m. 92.

Staff. William le Chamberleyn and Felicia his wife sued Richard le Norreys of Twykros and John his son for a third of a messuage and two virgates of land and 4s. of rent in Tweykross as the dower of Felicia of the dotation of Henry de Hunhyle (Houndhill) her first husband. Richard and John call to warranty Henry de Hunhyl (Houndhill), who came and warranted the land to them, and stated Henry her first husband was not seised of it as of fee when he married her. Adjourned to Hillary Term. m. 122.

Staff. The Prior of Repyndon, Richard le Curcun, and William de Curcun sued Hervey de Ocle (Oakley) in a plea that he should permit them to have common of fishery in the water of Mays in Croxhale. Adjourned to Easter. m. 123.

Staff. Margery the widow of Nicholas de Wolveleye sued Robert son of Andrew le Wodeward and Cecilia his wife for a third of an acre of land in Uttokeshathere (Uttoxeter), and other tenants in the same vill for a third of their holdings which she claimed as dower. None of the defendants appeared, and had previously made default. She is therefore to have seisin. m. 143.

Staff. Roger de Merston sued Simon de Cotes for one hundred and sixty acres of land in Cherteleye. Simon did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to take the land into the King's hands and summon him for Hillary Term. m. 153.

Staff. Agnes the widow of William de Thorneburg recovers dower by default against Adam de la Schawe and other tenants in Thornburi. m. 154.

Staff. Writ of fieri facias to the Sheriff to levy 60s. from the land of Henry Wymer, the damages adjudicated against him for illegally detaining sixty acres of land and twenty acres of meadow in Stafford belonging to Alice the daughter of Hugh de Dokeseye. m. 152, dorso.

Staff. Margaret the widow of Henry son of Geoffrey de Walton sued John de Huton for a third of a messuage and fifty-two acres of land, etc., in Aston, and other tenants for a third of their holdings in the same vill as her dower; she likewise sued tenants in Stokes and Stanes(Stone), Burweston (Burston), and Oldeton (Oulton) for a third of their holdings. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff is ordered to take the dower claimed into the King's hands. m. 149, dorso.

Staff. Alice the widow of William son of Geoffrey fitz Warine sued Henry de Herevill, Stephen de Pret and Letitia his wife, William de Oxele and Alice his wife, Robert de Blome and Isolda his wife, and Alienora the daughter of Geoffrey fitz Warine, for a third of two messuages and two carucates of land, thirty acres of meadow, two hundred acres of pasture, one hundred acres of wood, and 100s. rent in Tybeton (Tipton) as her dower. Henry and Alienora did not appear, and Stephen and Lettice state they only hold 8s. and 6d. rent, and William and Alice likewise state they only hold 8s. and 6d. rent. and Robert and Isolda the same. And they were ready to render one-third of the above rents as dower, and they say that the said Henry had deforced them of their reasonable purparties of the residue. And the said Alice stated she had brought a writ of dower in the Curia Regis against William de Handisaker and Alice his wife for the same tenements (sic); and the said Henry and all the other coparceners whilst the plea was pending had brought a writ of mort d'ancestor against the said William and Alice, by which assize they had acknowledged themselves to hold the tenements in question; and Stephen and the others admitted this. It is therefore considered that Alice should recover dower as claimed. And as Henry and Alienora did not appear, and had previously made default, and the dower claimed from them had been taken into the King's hands, Alice is to have seisin of it by their default. m. 143, dorso.

Staff. Robert de Brommele (Bromley) was sued by Robert de Brumtona to permit him to have common of pasture in Blumenhulle (Blymhill) appurtenant to his free tenement in Brumton (Brinton), and of which Geoffrey de Bromlee the father of Robert de Brummele, whose heir he is, had unjustly disseised him, viz., of common of pasture with all manner of cattle in twentyeight acres of pasture in Brommele (sic) throughout the year.

Robert de Brumle stated that as regards a fourth part of the said acres Geoffrey his father held nothing except in the name of one Philippa his wife, mother of Robert de Brummeleye, and he claimed a verdict on the writ; and as regarded the residue in which Robert claimed common of pasture he said that he together with Roger de Pycheford and Thomas de la Hyde his coparceners, is capital lord of the fee, and it was lawful for him by the Statute of Merton to take the profit of woods, wastes, and pastures within the fee, saving to the tenants sufficient pasture and free ingress and egress, and that Robert de Brumton held sufficient pasture in the said vill and free ingress and egress. Robert de Brunton denied this to be the case, and the Sheriff was ordered to summon a jury and return the verdict at Easter. m. 141, dorso.

Staff. William de Audelegh sued Lucy the widow of Henry de Audelegh for waste and destruction in houses and woods which she held in dower of the inheritance of the said William in Enedone (Endon), Donewode, and Harecheles. Lucy did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce her on the morrow of the Purification. m. 132, dorso.

Staff. John Wymer of Stafford sued Emma de Bromfeld for the manor of Beresardon (Sardon); and Emma called to warranty William de Audytheleye. Adjourned to Easter. m. 100, dorso.

Staff. David son of Griffin and Elizabeth his wife sued John le Mareschal for a third of the manor of Cunton (Colton), as the dower of Elizabeth. John stated he only held a rent of 19s. of which he offered a third. David and Elizabeth stated at the time the writ was sued out he held the whole manor, and appealed to a jury. The Sheriff is ordered to summon a jury for Hillary Term. m. 79, dorso.

Staff. William son of Robert de Wyrleye sued Richard son of Henry de Pyrye for two parts of the manor of Pyrye (Perry Barr). Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to take the two parts into the King's hands, and to re-summon him for Hillary Term. m. 74, dorso.

Staff. A jury came to make recognition if nine messuages and forty-four acres of land in Stowe were the free alms pertaining to the Church of Stowe, of which the Prior of St. Thomas near Stafford is the Parson, or the lay fee of Adam de la Grene, who holds two messuages and two acres, and of Alexander de Stowe, who holds a messuage and six acres and half a rood, William del Hethe a messuage and four acres, Roger de Draycote a messuage and three roods, Nicholas de Ambrithon (Amerton) three acres, Roger de Ambrithon three acres, Henry de Ambrithon eight acres and a rood, John de Ambrithon a messuage and eight acres, William de Drengeton (Drineton) thirty acres, etc. Adjourned to Hillary Term. m. 60, dorso.

Staff. Geoffrey de Caunvill sued John de Somerville for the manor of Allerwas (Alrewas), excepting four messuages, six virgates of land, and the advowson of the Church, as his right, of which Geoffrey de Kaunvill his grandfather, whose heir he is, was seised in demesne as of fee in the reign of King Henry father of the King, and from Geoffrey the right descended to William as son and heir, and from William to Geoffrey, who now sues. John appeared and stated that King John the grandfather of the King had given the whole manor of Allerwas in fee farm to one Roger de Somerville his grandfather, to be held at the old farm and 100s. of increase and by the service of one-fourth of a Knight's fee, and he produced the King's charter, and pleaded he could not answer to the writ without the King. A day is given to them at the Purification. m. 35, dorso. (In the margin is written "loquendum cum Rege.")

Staff. (fn. 2) Richard de Loges sued Gilbert le Harpur of Cesterhunte (Chesterton) for a messuage and six virgates of land in Cesterton, and likewise for three messuages, three virgates of land, and 13s. and 4d. of rent in the same vill by two writs. And Gilbert had stated elsewhere in the Curia Regis that he held the said tenement in purparty with one Walter de Elmedon, and he could not answer without him ; and Walter now appeared, and they pleaded that King Henry the great grandfather of the King had given and confirmed by his charter to one Henry de Brok the ancestor of the said Gilbert and Walter, and whose heirs they are, all the lands and tenements which one Brun had held with the daughter of the said Brune, to be held as freely as ever any of their ancestors had held them in the reign of King Henry his grandfather, and with a prohibition that none should molest him either in his forest office (forestariâ suâ), nor in his lands and tenements, and they produced the King's charter to this effect. A day is given to them at Hillary Term, the King to be consulted in the interim. m. 16, dorso.

Staff. Alice the widow of Gervase de Levedale sued Robert de Hasting (Hastang) for one-third of a messuage and a virgate of land in Shaldeford (Shallowford) as her dower. Robert did not appear, and is to be summoned for the morrow of All Souls ; the dower claimed to be taken into the King's hands. m. 5, dorso.

Staff. The suit of Richard de Loges versus William de la More is postponed till the advent of the Justices into those parts. m. 3, dorso.

Coram Rege Roll, Trinity Term, 7 E. I.

Staff. Agnes the widow of Geoffrey de Walton sued Roger Prior of Stone and John de Brok for beating, wounding, and illtreating her at Stone. The defendants did not appear, and are to be summoned for Michaelmas Term, the writ having reached the Sheriff too late. m. 6.

Staff. The same Agnes sued Roger Prior of Stone, Nicholas de Fileby, Hugh le Wodeward, and Robert le Skinner, for the death of Geoffrey de Walton her husband. Adjourned to Michaelmas for the same reason. m. 6.

Linc. Robert the Bishop of Bath and Wells sued William son of William de Handesacre and ten others named for entering his manor of Paunton and carrying away his goods and chattels to the value of £10. Adjourned to Michaelmas. m. 23, dorso.

Coram Rege Roll, Michaelmas, 7–8 E. I.

Staff. Robert the Bishop of Bath and Wells sued by his attorney Richard de Benetley in a plea that whereas by a feoffment which Ralph de Grendon had made to him of the manor of Shenestan, he ought to have the liberty that no Bailiff of the King without his permission or through defect of the Bailiffs of the said liberty should enter to execute the King's precepts, the said Richard affirming himself to be Bailiff of the Hundred of Offelawe had entered and apprehended a certain man named Robert and had detained him in prison until he had paid a mark for his release. Richard did not appear, and the Sheriff is ordered to distrain and produce him at Hillary Term. m. 47, dorso.

Warwick. and Staff. William Bagod acknowledged he had done homage to Richard Prior of Kenilworth for all his lands and tenements which formerly belonged to Peter de la More, and similarly that he had done homage for the same to David the Prior's predecessor. m. 22, dorso.