1335-03-06, Coventry

To the sheriff of Norfolk. Whereas lately at the prosecution of Edmund Lexham and William con of John de Patesle, showing the king that de Strabolgi, earl of Athol, had granted and demised to them and John de Gurney, late parson of Happele church, by indenture, the of Westlexham in that county, except the advowsons and outside fees without the town of Westlexham, pertaining to that manor, hold for their lives, rendering to the earl and his heirs, from Michaelin the 6th year of the king's reign for 10 years next following, at 1d. yearly, and after the end of those 10 years 50/. yearly ; and William and John were seised of the manor by virtue of that grant as aforesaid, and Edmund and William had seisin with John while he lived, and afterwards by themselves, nntil the sheriff took the manor into the King's hand under colour of an order directing him to take into the king's hand all the lands, goods and chatteis which belonged to the earl in that bailiwick by reason of his joining the Scots against the king whereforé Edmund and William besought the king to provide a remedy, the king appointed Simon de Hedersete, John Ciaver and Thomas de Egefeld to take an inquisition in the presence of the sheriff, if he chose to attend, upon the said matter, by which inquisition it was found that the earl granted and demised that manor to Edmund, William and John, by his deed, to hold as aforesaid at the said term, and that seisin of the manor was delivered to Edmund, William and John by Thomas de Busten and Robert Gower, the earl's attorneys, having power for this by the earl's letters patent, on 29 May in the said year, ; from which day they continued peacefully in seisin until Tuesday the feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist last, on which day the sheriff took the manor into the king's hand as Pioeeeant and that the demise was made for giving 90/. to the earl for the said term and for no other cause, of which said money nothing remains to be paid, and that the manor, which is worth 8/. 13s. 23d. yearly, is held of the king in chief, and that 2d. of yearly rent of the manor are still to be paid for the two years last past: and it appears by certain letters patent exhibited before the king in chancery that the said grant and demise were accepted and ratified by the king ; the king therefore orders the sheriff not to intermeddle further with the manor under colour of the said order, amoving the king's hand from it without delay, restoring 1o Edmund and William their goods and chattels if any were found in the manor, and the issues thereof, provided that answer is made to the king for the said 2d. remaining and for 1d. yearly until the end of the said term, and for 50J. after the lapse of that term if the manor happens then to be in the hands of Edmund and William, and if answer ought to be made to the king for that rent. By C.