Fo. 42.
To all the faithful of Christ etc. William, abbot of the
monastery of the Blessed Mary of Vale Royal, greeting etc.
Know ye that I, the aforenamed abbot, have appointed my wellbeloved in Christ, Peter Sompnour, my coroner to enquire and
proceed in and upon all and all kinds of murders, homicides and
other accidents, articles and matters, of right concerning and
belonging to coroners, in my manors of Dernhall, Weverham,
Conerwardesley, Merton, Moresbarowe and Twemlowe in the
county of Chester; and that I have given and granted the office
of coroner in my manors aforesaid to the same Peter, to have,
carry out, execute and enjoy the office aforesaid in the manors
aforesaid to the same Peter, so long as he shall conduct himself
well in the said office. In witness whereof my seal is affixed.
Given on the tenth day of March in the year etc [c. 1500].
Fo. 43.
Concerning the plea of Bachemoos.
The assize came to recognize whether Robert, son of Robert
of Wynynton, unlawfully etc. disseised Richard, abbot of Vale
Royal of his free tenement in Weverham, after etc. And thereupon he complains that he disseised him of a moiety of one rood
of moss in [divers] places etc. And Robert comes in his own
person, as tenant of the aforesaid moiety of a rood, and says that
an assize ought not to be made between them on this writ,
because he says that the aforesaid moiety in question is in Wynynton and not in Weverham, and he demands judgment etc., and
he holds the said moiety together with Ellen, his wife, who is not
named in the writ, under a certain charter which he produces
and which testifies this fact etc., and he held it on the day of the
suing forth [of the writ], to wit, on the 24th of May in the 13th
year of the reign of the now Lord the King [1320], and therefore, by consideration of the court, these proceedings were discontinued. Thereupon [fo. 30 (267)] the abbot complained to
the King, and obtained a record in these words:
Edward etc. to his well-beloved and trusty Robert de Holland, his
justiciar of Chester, and his lieutenant, greeting. Our well-beloved in
Christ, the abbot of Vale Royal, has shown us that, whereas he lately
arraigned an assize of novel disseisin before you in our county of Chester,
by our writ, against Robert de Wynynton concerning a tenement in
Weverham, and the parties aforesaid pleaded at the taking of the assize
aforesaid before you in the county aforesaid, and that assize, for want of
jurors, was adjourned to be taken at the next county [-court] then following, and the said Robert came to that court, and began to plead afresh,
with another plea than he had previously used, whereupon the said abbot
demands judgment, because the said Robert is of full age etc.: We command you to read and inspect the record and proceedings in the aforesaid matter, and to call before you the parties aforesaid, in order to hear
their arguments on the subject, causing whatever may have been done
incorrectly in the same record and proceedings to be amended in such
manner that we may not be troubled any further on the subject. Given
at London on the 20th day of October in the 14th year of the reign of
King Edward [1320].
And afterwards Master Richard, then abbot of Dore, and a
number of other people arranged an agreement between the said
abbot and Robert, and divided the ground, and drew up a deed
indentate to last for ever.
[Outlawry.]
Be it remembered that Robert de Hykedon [and] William de
Hykedon, his brother, were indicted for the death of John Daa
in the time of Richard Dammery, justiciar, and for five oxen
feloniously stolen in the first year of the reign of King Edward
the Third after the Conquest, and they were afterwards outlawed
for ten years. And Richard Doun made the peace of the said
Robert in this matter in the time of Henry de Ferrars, justiciar,
in the twelfth year of the abovesaid reign, by Richard del Wode,
clerk of the rolls, and Richard de Venables of Newbold, then
vice-justiciar; and the aforesaid William Hykedon remained
outlawed at that time [1327, 1339].
[Middle Aston, or Middleton Grange.]
This cirograph witnesseth that the abbot and convent of
Vale Royal have given and granted etc. to the prior and convent
of Norton and their house for ever two bovates of land in
Midlaston, which were heretofore given and assigned to the
rectors of the church of Frodsham for finding a chantry for the
lords of that manor in the chapel thereof. The said abbot and
convent have also granted and for ever demised to the said prior
and convent [and] their house, all the tithes, as well personal as
naturally predial or arising by industry, which in any way soever
belong to the said abbot and monks in the said manor or vill of
Midlaston by reason of the chapel aforesaid, together with all
fisheries, liberties of common, and all other rights, commodities
and immunities, which at any time belonged to the said land or
to the said chapel of Midleaston, or by right or custom ought so
to belong, as the rectors of the church of Frodsham have ever
most fully, wholly and freely received the same, or by right or
custom ought so to have had and held the same, excepting the
petty tithes, offerings and mortuaries of the men dwelling in the
said vill of Midlaston. And the aforesaid prior and convent and
their successors will pay to the aforesaid abbot and convent of
Vale Royal and their successors, for the aforesaid two bovates of
land, with their appurtenances, as also for the tithes, liberties of
common and rights abovesaid, 40s. of good and lawful sterlings
by the year, payable faithfully and without fraud in equal portions
at the feasts of St. Michael and Easter for ever. And moreover
the said prior and convent and their successors will cause mass
to be celebrated in the said chapel on three days in every week
throughout the year, to wit, on the Sunday, Thursday and
Saturday, at their own expense, for ever, and will for ever
acquit the said abbot and convent from all and singular the
things which to the said chapel belong, with regard to all men,
as well the ordinaries of the place as all others, who may be
concerned. In witness whereof etc.
Fo. 44.
[An assault at Swettenham.]
Thomas de Swetenham [fo. 30d (266d)], lord of Swetenham,
was indicted before John de la Pole, lieutenant of the justiciar of
Chester, at his eyre at Middlewich on Thursday next after the
feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the fortyninth year of the reign of King Edward the Third after the
Conquest [13 Sept. 1375], for that the same Thomas with force
and arms etc. on Monday, the feast of St. Gregory the Pope
in the year aforesaid, at Swetenham, assaulted Richard Giile of
Kernyncham, and beat him on the head with a stick and wounded
him, so that the blood flowed copiously. He came, brought
by the constable. And being asked how he would acquit himself concerning the trespass aforesaid, he says that the aforesaid
place, in which it is supposed that the said trespass was committed, is in the manor of Weverham, and parcel of that manor,
in the which Stephen, abbot of Vale Royal, holds his court every
fortnight, and he has there such liberty and jurisdiction, that if
any trespass against the peace is committed within the said
manor, as well by the tenants dwelling therein as by others, he
can both arrest the trespassers (or offenders) found within that
manor, and inquire in his court aforesaid as to such trespass by
twelve honest and lawful men of the same manor, and can take
indictments there, or enquire by twelve men, as is abovesaid,
either making or not making any arrest in the matter, and can
there arraign the men arrested or indicted, and try them according
to the common law; and, in case they acknowledge, or be convicted of, such trespass, he can imprison them until they make
a fine, and can take and have such fines to his own use. And
the aforesaid abbot and his predecessors, from the time of the
foundation of the abbey aforesaid, and all those whose estate they
have in the manor aforesaid, have from time immemorial been
seised of these liberties and jurisdictions, as pertaining to the
manor aforesaid; the which liberties were claimed by the predecessors of the aforesaid now abbot in the full county[-court] of
Chester, and thus allowed. And he says that on Saturday next
before the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary in the
first year of the reign of the now King, it was presented in the
aforesaid court at Weverham, by twelve men of the same manor,
before William de Bostok, steward of the aforesaid now abbot of
the manor aforesaid, that the said Thomas de Swettenham committed the trespass aforesaid on the day and in the place aforesaid;
whereupon, by proceedings in due form of law against the said
Thomas had, by pretext of the presentment aforesaid, the same
Thomas came into the court there, and was charged there before
the abovenamed steward with the trespass aforesaid, and made a
fine by 10s. And thereupon he demands judgment, whether he
ought to make a fine a second time, at the suit of the King in
this court, for the trespass aforesaid.
And John de Scolehalle, who prosecutes for the King, says
that it is not proved that the aforesaid claim was allowed to the
predecessors of the said now abbot, nor was it found that the said
abbot has such liberty and jurisdiction of taking inquisitions and
indictments, and this he is ready to prove on behalf of the King;
and thereupon he demands judgment etc.
And after an examination as to the liberties and claims aforesaid, it appeared that the same abbot ought to have his prison in
the manors of Darnalle, Ouere and Weuerham, so that if any one
commit an offence or be taken within the liberty aforesaid for
any cause, he shall be detained there in the prison aforesaid, until
he be delivered according to the form heretofore accustomed,
to wit, by the common law, and that the same abbot ought to
have the fines of all men whatsoever committing any offence
against the peace, or in any other way, within the liberty aforesaid. And therefore it was considered that the said Thomas
should go quit thereof.
Writ of privy seal directed to the auditors of Chester for having
fines and amercements.
Henry, (fn. 1) by the grace of God King of England and of France,
and Lord of Ireland, to the auditors appointed to receive the
accounts of our officers and ministers in our county of Chester,
greeting. Whereas on the sixteenth day of October last past,
by our letters patent under our great seal, (fn. 2) we confirmed amongst
other things the grant of Lord Edward, son of King Edward,
formerly [fo. 31 (268)] Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester,
made to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to the abbot and
convent of Vale Royal and their successors for ever, of certain
fines and amercements of artificers and labourers, and of all their
men and tenants in the county of Chester; we, unwilling that
the said abbot and convent, or their successors, should be in any
way molested, disturbed or annoyed, with regard to the said fines
and amercements by him, or by his officers and ministers whomsoever, as in the said letters of grant and of our confirmation
more at large is contained, charge you to suffer the said abbot
and convent peaceably to have and enjoy the said [fines] and
amercements, as they and their predecessors have had and enjoyed
the same by force of their said patents, not vexing or annoying
them in any way contrary to the tenor and effect thereof.
Given under our privy seal at Westminster on the 20th day of
October in the ninth year of our reign [1430].
Fo. 45.
[Dutton.]
These parcells (fn. 3) following be the summes of money and service that the abbot of Vale Royall demands of Mr. Dutton of
Dutton.
First the said abbot demands for the yearely rent of the
Lordship and wast of Dutton being unpayd the space of . . .,
every yeare 2s., as appeareth in the grene booke in the title of
Feilt[ies] & Homage of the Tennents of Weuerham.
Item he demands of the said Mr. Dutton 50s. for relefe of
halfe a knights fee by reison that the said Mr. Dutton holdens
6 meses et 6 oxganges of land in Dutton aforesaid of the said
abbot by the same seruice, as appereits per an Inquisition found
afore the Escheator of Cheshire anno 1 Edw. III.
Item it apperits in the said title in the said booke that Hugh
of Dutton, ancestor of Mr. Dutton, did homage to the predecessor
of the said abbott.
Item it apperits in the said title that the said Mr. Dutton
holdits 6 oxganges of land within the maner of Dutton of the
said abbot to make sute to his court of Weuerham, and for lack
of soe doeing it hath bin used out of tyme of mynde to amercy
him and his ancesters for every default in 2s., and that the tennents
of the said 6 oxgangs shall appere ones in the yere at the court of
Weuerham to enquire de assisis fractis etc. and to find serten men
on fote in harnes to doe seruice in the warre against Wales.
Item it apperits by a writ in the said booke the second
yeare of K. Henry the 4th that the copar[c]eners of Acton do
holde Acton of the maner of Weuerham by xijd. by yere, which
rent belongs, to Mr. Dutton to pay, and not payd by the space
of . . .
Fo. 46.
Memorandum of the receipt of money for wine being in arrears to
the abbot and convent of Vale Royal, as appears hereafter.
To wit: In the great roll of the year 7 Hen. VI in Stafford,
in an allowance made to William Troutbek, esquire, chamberlain
of Chester, from Michaelmas in the fourth year of the King to
Michaelmas in the eighth year [1425–9] amongst other things it
is thus contained:
And to the abbot and convent of the monastery of the
glorious Virgin Mary of Dernale of the Cistercian Order, now
called Vale Royal, £32 for eight casks of wine, price £4 a cask,
by the King's writ, enrolled among the Memoranda of the ninth
year of the now King, in the second roll of Michaelmas term, in
which it is contained that the Lord Edward, son of King Henry,
late King of England, progenitor of the now King, by his charter
which the now King has confirmed, granted to the same abbot
and convent and their successors, one cask of wine to be received
every year from the right prise of the King in the city of Chester,
by the hands of the King's justiciar there for the time being, or
the hands of his lieutenant, or of some other official of him and
his heirs; and afterwards the Lord Edward, when he was Prince
of Wales, by his letters patent, which the now King has likewise
confirmed, granted to the same abbot and convent and their successors for ever one other cask of wine to be received every year
from the King's right prise abovesaid, in form abovesaid, by the
said abbot and convent, etc.
Henry [fo. 31d (268d)], by the grace of God King of England
and of France, and Lord of Ireland, to his justiciar of Chester or
his lieutenant there, or to any other his official (minister) in the
same county, greeting. Whereas the Lord Edward, son of
Henry, late King of England, our progenitor, by his charter,
which we confirm, granted to his well-beloved in Christ, the
abbot and convent of the monastery of the glorious Virgin Mary
of Dernhall, of the Cistercian Order, called Vale Royal, one cask of
wine to be received every year by them and their successors out of
our right prise in our city of Chester, by the hands of our justiciar
there for the time being, or of his lieutenant, or of any other
official of him and his heirs; and afterwards the Lord Edward,
when he was Prince of Wales, by his letters patent, which we
have likewise confirmed, granted to the same abbot and convent
and their successors for ever one other cask of wine to be received
every year from our right prise aforesaid in form abovesaid, as in
the letters and confirmations aforesaid more at large is contained;
we command you [to cause] the same abbot and convent [to have]
what is in arrears to them of the aforesaid two casks of wine a
year out of our wines delivered to us in our city of Chester aforesaid, according to the tenor of the letters and confirmations aforesaid, taking from the aforesaid abbot and convent their letters of
receipt, which will be sufficient for us in this behalf, upon which
and this our order we will cause you to have due allowance
thereof in your account at our Exchequer. Witness: Humphrey,
Duke of Gloucester, Keeper of England, at Westminster on the
14th day of October in the ninth year of our reign [1430].
Fo. 47.
[Over.]
Be it remembered that it is found on the roll of the 28th
year [1299] that Richard, son of Warren le Grosvenour, [was]
attached in that year for the inclosure of a certain piece of land
of the waste of the forest of la Mare, within the meets and
bounds of Ouere, which vill the King in time past gave to the
abbot and convent of Vale Royal, with its appurtenances; and
he found pledges to answer at the next pleas of the forest, Robert
Daa and Adam de Kelsale, formerly "Poker" [? parker]; and he
was prohibited, through (per) Gilbert le Rider, from working
any further in that place. But notwithstanding this prohibition
he enclosed the whole piece, against the King's command to the
contrary.
Richard de Buddeworth and Margery, his wife [were] attached
to answer the abbot of Vale Royal in a plea of land. And the
abbot says that Richard and Margery, on Monday next after
the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in the fourth
year of the now King [28 June 1311], at Great Ouere, in a
place called Blakedene, with force and arms etc. broke down a
bridge belonging to the said abbot, to [his] damage £40.
And Richard and Margery come and deny force etc., and say
that the aforesaid place of Blakedene, where the aforesaid abbot
says the bridge was raised (levatum), is partly the soil of the said
Richard and Margery in Merton, and partly the soil of the said
abbot in Great Ouere, and that the same abbot had fixed the
timbers and planks of the same bridge to the soil of the said
Richard and Margery in Merton. Therefore the same Richard
and Margery removed the said timbers and planks from their
own soil, etc.
And the abbot says that Walter, late abbot of Vale Royal,
his predecessor, died seised of the aforesaid bridge, raised on his
own soil in Great Ouer, as in right of his church, so that the
same now abbot found his church seised of the aforesaid bridge,
raised in the place and vill of the same [church], and so continued
the estate of his predecessor in the aforesaid bridge, raised there,
for a long time, until etc.
And afterwards proceedings were continued until the county
[-court] on the Tuesday in Easter week next following, when
R. de Holand, then justiciar, came, and likewise twelve jurors,
who say upon their oath that Walter de Hereford, formerly
abbot of Vale Royal, was seised in his time of the aforesaid
bridge as in right of his church of St. Mary of Vale Royal, and
died seised thereof, and, in like manner, John, the now abbot, is
seised thereof, as in right of his church etc.
In the great roll of 6 Edw. III, in the account of John
Paynel, chamberlain of Chester.
And to the prioress and nuns of Chester, who receive £16
yearly of the ancient alms appointed to them, and £4, 17s. in
recompense of certain tithes belonging to the church of Oure,
which they demised to the abbot of Vale Royal at the King's
request; and 10s. in recompense of 4 acres of land near Godesbache, resigned to the aforesaid abbot at the King's request;
and 105s. 2d. in recompense of the tithes coming from the vills of
Bradeford, Little Oure, Sutton and Merton in the parish of Oure,
which were assigned to the aforesaid abbot by the King's writ,
at the terms of Easter and St. Michael in equal portions
£26, 12s. 2d. by the King's writ, and by the letters of the
prioress acknowledging the receipt.
As yet [fo. 32 (269)] in the account of the chamberlain of
Chester. Know all men by the presents that we, Elizabeth,
prioress, and the nuns, of the house of the church of the Blessed
Mary of Chester, have received from John Troutbek, esquire,
chamberlain of Chester, £10, 12s. 2d., which Lord Edward
the First, formerly King of England and Earl of Chester,
ancestor in blood of the now King, [gave] to the prioress
and nuns of our house and church aforesaid then being, and
to their successors for ever, to be received every year at
the Exchequer of Chester, by the hands of the chamberlain
there for the time being, at the feasts of Easter and St.
Michael in equal portions, in recompense of 4 acres of
land near Godesbach, and of sundry tithes in the townships
of Ouere, Bradford, Sutton, Littil-Ouere and Merton, then
belonging to our church (fn. 4) of Ouere, resigned at the request
of the aforesaid then king and earl by the prioress and nuns
to the use of the abbot and convent of Vale Royal then being,
and their successors for ever. Sealed with the common seal
of our house aforesaid. Given on the 18th day of October in
the nineteenth year of the reign of King Henry the Sixth
[1440].