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Source: www.fordham.edu/halsall/seth/court-brightwaltham.html
From the Internet Medieval Source book, The
Abbot of Battle's Court at Brithwaltham, edited by F. W. Maitland from
Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts. Volume 1: Reigns
of Henry III and Edward I. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1889. Although the primary function of a manor court was to hear cases involving
property and inter-tenant disputes, manorial court rolls are especially useful
to social historians who want to study the daily lives of medieval
people.
Lawday. Court of Brightwaltham holden on Monday
next after Ascension Day in the twenty-first year of King Edward (A.D.
1293).
The tithingman of Conholt with his whole tithing
present that all is well save that William of Mescombe has stopped up a .
. . [the word is indecipherable in the manuscript, but Maitland thinks it
is a watercourse] wrongfully. Therefore he is in mercy (12 d.). Also they
say that Edith of Upton has cut down trees in the enclosure and the seisin
of the lord contrary to a prohibition, and they say that she has no property
and has fled into foreign parts, (amercement, 12
d.).
Adam Scot is made tithingman and sworn to a
faithful exercise of his office.
John son of Hugh Poleyn enters on the land which
Randolph Tailor held saving the right of everyone and gives for entry-money
4 marks and will pay 1 mark at Michaelmas in the twenty-second year of King
Edward, 1 mark at Christmas next following, 1 mark at Easter, and 1 mark
at Michaelmas next following, and for the due making of all these payments
the said Hugh Poleyn finds sureties, to wit, Adam Scot, John Gosselyn, William
of Mescombe, John Gyote. And because the said John is a minor the wardship
of the said lands and tenements is delivered to his father the said Hugh
Poleyn until he be of full age, on the terms of his performing the services
due and accustomed for the same. Also there is granted to the said Hugh the
crop now growing on the sown land, and the heriot due on this entry, for
a half-mark payable at Michaelmas next on the security of the above-named
sureties.
(a) Hugh Poleyn gives the lord 2 s. that he
may have the judgment of the court as to his right in a certain tenement
in Upton which J. son of Randolph Tailor claims as his right. And upon this
the whole township of Brightwaltham sworn along with the whole township of
Conholt say upon their oath that Hugh Poleyn has better right to hold the
said tenement than anyone else has, and that he is the next heir by right
of blood.
(The Conholt case as to the tenure of Edith
wife of Robert Tailor according to the inquest made by the jurors. One Alan
Poleyn held a tenement in Conholt upon servile terms and had a wife Cristina
by name. The said Alan died when Richard was the farmer [of the manor]. Thereupon
came the friends of the said Cristina and procured for her a part of the
land by way of dower making a false suggestion and as though [the land] were
of free condition, and this was to the great prejudice of the lord Abbot.
Upon this came one Richard Aleyn and espoused the said Cristina and begot
upon her one Randolph. Then Richard died, and the said Cristina of her own
motion enfeoffed Randolph her son of the said tenement. Then Cristina died,
and Randolph being in seisin of the said tenement espoused Edith the present
demanding; and after Randolph's death Edith married Robert Tailor. Now you
can see and give your counsel about the right of the said Edith. And know
this, that if I had at hand the court-rolls of the time when William of Lewes
[was steward] I could certify the facts and I could show you many strange
things that were improvidently
done.)
The whole tithing of Hartley comes as it ought
to come and presents that all is
well.
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