1374-07-11, Westminster

To the justices of the Bench. Order, if proceedings have been taken before them as hereinafter rehearsed, to proceed further in a plea of dower brought by Margaret who was wife of William de Ferrariis of Groby knight against Henry de Ferrariis and Joan his wife, doing justice to the parties, certain allegations of the defendants notwithstanding ; as on the plaintiffs behalf it is shewn the king that she is suing against them for dower of a freehold in Lutterworth which was her husband's, that by reason of default made by the said Henry the said Joan craved to be admitted to defend her right therein, that being so admitted she vouched to warranty Henry son and heir of the said William, a minor whose lands are in the king's hand, craving that further proceedings should not be taken in that cause without advising the king, that the plaintiff thereto alleging that the said vouchee is the same person as the defendant Henry, who has already made default, craved judgment whether the said Joan ought without special cause to be admitted hereto, that thereupon the said Joan averred that the said William was seised of the said manor in his . 37 demesne as of fee, that by writing he granted and demised the same to John bishop of Lincoln, Robert de Ufford late earl of Suffolk, Ralph Basset of Sapcote, John de Cavendissh, Edmund de Stebbyng clerk, Simon Pakeman, Richard de Leycestre, Robert de Bradenham, Alan de Sutton and Thomas de Warsop for their lives, that the said earl died, that after the said bishop, Ralph, Edmund, Richard, Alan and Thomas by writing produced made a grant and quitclaim of all their estate therein to the said John de Cavendissh, Simon and Robert, that the said William for himself and his heirs made a quitclaim with warranty of the said manor, being in their seisin, to the said John, Simon and Robert, their heirs and assigns, that the said John de Cavendissh after released his right therein to the said Simon and Robert and to their heirs, that by a fine after levied in the king's court before the said justices the said Simon and Robert granted the said manor to the said Henry and Joan and to the heirs of their bodies, and that so as the assignee of the said Simon and Robert the said Joan has vouched the said Henry as son and heir of the said William, being a minor whose lands are in the king's hand, craving that no proceedings be taken in that cause without advising the king, shewing also that by colour thereof the said justices have deferred hitherto so to proceed and do yet defer, wherefore the plaintiff has prayed for remedy ; and it is the king's will that justice be not deferred for her. 11.