1387-02-03, Westminster

Robert Tresilian and his fellows, justices (as above). Order, petition of Richard Palmere and Margery his wife, to proceed speed they may in a plea concerning the manor of Langedoun notwithstanding the king's letters patent granting the keepto Matthew Swetenham one of the yeomen of his chamber Katherine his wife for their lives, and notwithstanding the hereinafter mentioned ; as it was found lately by inquisition, office taken before Henry Helyoun then escheator in Essex, Saturday after St. Barnabas 3 Richard II John Ewelle late seized that manor into the king's hand, because John de Langedoun, who at his death held the same of the king as of the honour of Reylegh by knight service and service of 2s. a year payable at the court of that honour, died without an heir, and that on the said Saturday the said Richard intruded thereupon and occupied the manor, taking the issues and profits until the date of that inquisition ; and the said Richard and Margery after shewed the king that, although by the said inquisition it was found that John de Langedoun died seised of the manor in his demesne as of fee, he had no estate therein save for life only, by fine levied in the late king's court in 17 Edward III, with reversion after his death and the death of Joan his wife (likewise deceased), who held the same for life jointly with her husband, to William Pygot of Patiswyke and Joan his wife (both deceased) and to the said William's heirs, that by another fine levied in 50 Edward IIT John Clerk of Yerdele and Elizabeth his wife, the said Elizabeth being cousin and heir of Robert Pygot brother and heir of the said William, acknowledged the right of William Kynge citizen and draper of London, and made a quitclaim of the said manor to the said Richard (by name of Richard Palmere of Langedoun), William Kynge, Thomas Yonge, John Amour and John Norhampton citizen and draper of London, and to the heirs of William Kynge, that John Norhampton and William Kynge made a release thereof to the said Richard, Thomas and John Amour and to their heirs, that the manor pertained to the said Richard by reason of his joint tenure with the said Thomas and John Amour, whom he overlived, that he being in possession thereof made a feoffment to Henry Spenser chaplain and William Strange and to their heirs, that they again enfeoffed the said Richard and Margery and the heirs of the said Richard, and that Richard and Margery were in peaceable possession from that time until by the said escheator unlawfully thrust out without process of law by colour of the said inquisition and letters patent ; and at their prayer on 4 September 8 Richard II the king ordered the sheriff to give notice to the said Matthew and Katherine to be in chancery in the quinzaine of Michaelmas then next, to shew cause wherefore the king ought not to revoke his letters patent to them and make restitution of the manor; whereupon the said Matthew appearing in person, and the said Katherine by her attorney, alleged that without the king they ought not to answer, craving the king's aid, and a day was given them in the octaves of St. Hilary then next, and the said Richard and Margery were told in the mean time to sue with the king; and at their suit by writ of privy seal the king commanded the then chancellor to proceed in that plea, the aid granted to the said Matthew and Katherine notwithstanding, so that he should not proceed to rendering of judgment without advising the king, wherefore a day was given the parties in chancery at the quinzaine of Easter then next, at which day the said Matthew and Katherine, appearing as before, and protesting as to the finding of the said inquisition that the said manor is held etc. (as aforesaid), alleged that it is held in chief, and that John de Langedoun was seised in his demesne as of fee, pretending to prove it by the country, and Richard and Margery, not acknowledging that it is held in chief, said that it is held as of the honour of Reylegh, protesting that it is not held by payment of 2s. a year but by suit of court of the honour only, saying that John de Langedoun had no estate therein but for life, and craving inquisition thereupon by the country, wherefore a day was given the parties before the king in the octaves of Michaelmas then next ; . 203 the process was continued to the octaves of St. Hilary when the jurors of the inquisition said upon their oath that de Langedoun, from whom the king's title was taken, had no in the manor but for life, with reversion to William Pygot heirs according to the form of the said fine (produced), that son of William de Langedoun, John de Langedoun, Joan his William Pygot heir of the said William Pygot, namely son of daughter of Margaret sister of Robert his brother ... . was (seisita) of the manor after the death of John de Langedoun, said Elizabeth with her said husband by fine etc. made an and quitclaim as aforesaid, by virtue whereof the Thomas, John Amour, John Norhampton and William were seised of the manor, that by writing (delivered in evidence) 3 November 50 Edward III John Norhampton and William made a quitclaim thereof to the said Richard, Thomas Yonge Amour, their heirs and assigns, that the said Thomas and Amour died, and the said Richard held the same wholly by of survivorship, that being so seised by writing (produced), by of Richard Palmere citizen of London, he gave the manor to Spenser clerk and William Strange and to their assigns, and being so seised gave the same to the said Richard and Margery the heirs and assigns of the said Richard, by virtue whereof Richard and Margery were seised, until thrust out by the and Richard and Margery have now prayed the king seeing that by that verdict there is proof sufficient for right.