Court Rolls 21 to 25

Willington Court Rolls Introduction

Willington Court Rolls Index

Court Roll 21

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October 6th 1416

Welyngton View of Frankpledge with Court of John Mowbray, Earl Marshall and of Nottingham held there on the Tuesday next before the feast of St. Dennis in the fourth year of the reign of Henry Vth after the conquest.

• The steward holding the court is named as 'Bekingham' but it is not clear whether he is the head steward whose court dated 13^th October 1417 is referred to in the final paragraph.
• The Lord's bailiff is named as Richard Marable in the early part of the document, but near the end of the document William Rydere is named as bailiff.
• Two tenants were excused attendance at court. Three tenants did not attend, including the Prior of Newnham who was not fined. The other two were. The usual common fine of 12s was paid.
• Two men were fined because their sons had not joined tithings. The sons were ordered to join one before the next court.
• The Miller took tolls by a measure without a seal' and was fined.
• A husband and wife stole from Richard Marable, the lord's bailiff, and were fined.
• One tenant made an enclosure in the lord's wood, 'called the Hoo, with fences and a ditch and he has put one of his granges there from ancient time.' He was fined and ordered to open the enclosure before Easter.
• A tenant had ploughed the lord's road called Smalweye, causing a nuisance, and was fined. He was ordered to put it right before the next court.
• Thomas Shepherde took one ewe from John Shepherde of Coupul [Cople], and was fined.
• Isabell, wife of John Bande the elder, assaulted Joan Fesaund and had beaten her. Joan rightly called the hue on Isabell, who was fined.
• There were 3 brewers of ale, and one who sold 'ale by the bottle and the cup.'
• One tenant had died and his wife took over the holding.
• Eight tenants had ruined buildings and were given timber to repair them.
• Felicia Prentys's holding had been without a tenant. The villagers had been asked to see whether they could find one. This they did. Another holding was also let, but there was still one without a tenant.
• Six tenants appealed against the by-law which ordered them to keep their bullocks only in Eastfield. Later the head steward gave them extra time to move their bullocks into this field.
• The names of all the men in the second jury are given; in most previous courts they have been simply been referred to as 'the twelve sworn men.'

Full transcript of Court Roll 21 (pdf)

Court Roll 22

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May 4th 1417

Weylyton: for the fields at Michaelmas, [29^th September] in the fifth year of the reign of Henry V [1417]. This heading seems not to have been used, as further down the page the following record begins: Court held there on the Tuesday next after the feast of the finding of the Sacred Cross [3^rd May] in the fifth year of the reign of Henry V after the conquest.

• John Rydere Tayllour, servant of Thomas Tayllour, lives at Ronhale (Renhold) 'outside his demesne and homage. Therefore he was ordered to be seized.' His name does not appear again in the rolls, so presumably he did not return.
• Six tenants have ruined buildings and are given timber to repair them. Timber was also given to three other tenants.
• Seven tenants have still not repaired buildings as they were told to in the past.
• Felicia Prentys's former holding again needs a tenant. Nicholas Mergret is found and holds it according to the custom of the manor. He paid an entry fine (or a premium) of two capons. However, he left the manor later in the year and does not re-appear in later rolls.
• One quarter of assarted demesne land was surrendered into the hand of the lord and no tenant was found. Two cottages which used to belong to the Smith were still not let.

The end of the roll seems to be missing. There is no mention of assessors of fines, or of income and costs.

Full transcription of Court Roll 22 (pdf)

Court Roll 23

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October 6th 1417

Welyngton View of Frankpledge with Court of John Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham and Marshall of England held there on the Wednesday next before the feast of St. Dennis [9^th October] in the fifth year of the reign of Henry the Fifth, after the conquest.

• The head steward holding the court is named as 'Bekingham.'
• There were no essoins; the usual common fine was paid and the Prior of Newnham did not attend, but was not fined.
• Two swarms of bees came as strays. One was sold and the other was kept by the lord.
• The miller took tolls by a measure without seal but no fine was noted.
• John Rudland the Hayward called the hue on two men who had stolen from him. They were fined.
• A man from Blunham called the hue unfairly on a Willington tenant. The Blunham man was fined.
• There were three brewers of ale.
• One tenant was fined because his son had not joined a tithing. The son was to join one before the next court.
• One tenant died. His heirs paid a heriott, a form of medieval death duty, of a bay horse, equal to the annual rent of the holding. He held another holding which his wife was granted.
• Another tenant, who held two holdings, had died. His wife was granted one of them.
• Two cottages are still un-let and Felicia Prentys's holding again needs a tenant, as Nicholas Mergret left the manor.
• One tenant complains that another has trespassed on his land.
• The twelve sworn men of the second jury are listed.
• A tenant stole six sheaves of barley from the fields. The fine was fixed by the lord at 12d.
• The Lord's Council has ordered that the bailiff should sell the large poplar cut down by Master William Cook.
• In the time of the former steward, John Preston, a tenant took one Messuage and x [10] acres of land for the term of his life, and then destroyed an Insethouse with a solar. He was ordered to repair it before Michaelmas.

Full transcript of Court Roll 23 (pdf)

Court Roll 24

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April 21st 1418

Welyngton Court of John Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham and Marshall of England held there on Thursday next before the feast of Saint George the Martyr [23^rd April] in the sixth year of the reign of Henry 5^th, after the conquest.

• The steward holding the court is named as 'Bekingham.'
• One tenant was excused attendance.
• One tenant had died and his wife did not come to claim his holding, so the lord took it and granted it to a new tenant for the term of his life, according to the custom of the manor. He was not allowed to sub-let the holding or any part of it, without the lord's permission.
• A widow has died and her holding is left without a tenant.
• Master William Cook has sold one hedge next to the Crascroft.
• Two men had been given trees to repair their buildings and not done so.
• Three men were ordered to repair their buildings.
• Two widows came to court to say that they had found men to stand as security for them so that they could take over their late husband's holdings.

Full transcript of Court Roll 24 (pdf)

Court Roll 25

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October 6th 1418

Welyngton View of Frankpledge with Court of John Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham and Marshall of England held there on the Thursday next before the feast of Saint Dennis [9^th October] in the sixth year of the reign of Henry the Fifth after the conquest.

• Thomas Bekyngham, the head steward ,John Boteler under-steward and William Rydere the Reeve.
• Two men were excused attendance. The usual common fine was paid and the Prior of Newnham did not attend, but was not fined.
• A servant is outside a tithing, so his master is fined. The servant must join one.
• A lamb came as a stray. It has been proclaimed but no-one has come for it.
• A watercourse is stopped up; the tenant is told not to obstruct it.
• One tenant has died and his wife took over his holding. He also held a cottage, she was granted that too.
• Eleven tenants have ruined buildings and were given timber to repair them before August 1st. They were described as servile tenants. One tenant had not used the timber that he was previously given and was ordered to do so.

Full transcript of Court Roll 25 (pdf)