1375-05-19, Westminster

Order to remove the king's hand, and not to meddle further with a messuage and 36 acres of land in Reylegh held by James Parker, delivering up any issues thereof taken ; as lately upon the finding of an inquisition, taken at the king's command by Roger de Wolfreston late escheator in Essex, that the said James at his death held no lands in that county in chief in his demesne as of fee, but by fine levied in the late king's court held the premises of others than the king by gift of John Smolt the elder to the said James and Katherine his wife and to the heirs of their bodies with remainder for lack of such an heir to the right heirs of the said James, that the said James and Katherine are dead without issue, that Walter Parker son of Thomas son of the said James is cousin and the next heir of the said James and of full age, that it was told to the then steward of William de Bohun late earl of Norhampton, who held the said honour with the manor of Estwode to farm of Queen Philippa for a term of 20 years, that John son of John Fullere the younger a neif of that manor was cousin and next heir of the said Katherine, having no knowledge of the fine above recited, and entered the premises, wherefore the said steward ordered the bailiff of the said manor to seize the premises into the said earl's hand and answer for the issues thereof until the said neif would receive and hold the same by way of increase according to the custom of the said manor; and now the said Walter has petitioned the king for livery of the premises, shewing that he is cousin and heir of the said James as aforesaid, and the king ordered the said Geoffrey to certify in chancery under his seal the manner and cause of his taking and keeping the same in the king's hand, and to be in chancery at a set day now past to give information touching the king's right to the premises now claimed by the said Walter by virtue of the said gift and fine, and he has certified that after the said Katherine's death the said John son of John Fullere the younger the lord's neif entered the premises as her next heir, wherefore order was given to seize the same into the lord's hand as a bondage, and appearing in chancery the said Geoffrey said that he knew no other cause for taking or keeping the premises in the king's hand; and the king reckons that cause insufficient. To John Stanhope of Rampton escheator in Notynghamshire.