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JOHN ROCHES, KNIGHT

410 Writ 8 Oct. 1400 . [Chitterne]. Addressed to John Bernard escheator.

WILTSHIRE. Inquisition. Marlborough. 27 Oct. [Bernard].

Jurors: Walter Wychampton ; Richard Chamburlayn ; John Bonde ; John Sandrigge ; Peter Lavyngton ; John Holeput ; Robert Ryly ; Richard Frye ; Robert Tailor ; Thomas Spaldyng ; John Carre ; and Thomas Speke .

He once held in his demesne as of fee among others the manors of Wroughton and Winterslow, the latter of the king in chief, service unknown; lands, tenements, meadows, feedings, pastures, rents, services and woods in Bromham, Berwick Bassett and West Chisenbury; and a lordship in Hardenhuish, with 18s. rent and other profits and services of the lordship. By the name of John Roches, knight , he granted these premises with 2 marks rent from John Cokkulbergh for lands and tenements which he held for life in ‘Browton’ [ recte Brinkworth] by his grant and with reversion to himself; 5 marks rent from Nicholas Webbe for lands which he held for life in Broughton Gifford, by similar grant, and the reversions of the lands; and the reversion of all the lands and tenements which Robert Kent , now deceased, similarly held for life by like grant in Chelworth; to master William Byde and Stephen Botiller , their heirs and assigns, by his charter shown to the jurors, and dated 2 July 1377. They had seisin and the tenants attorned to them. By their charter dated 4 Feb. 1378 , likewise shown to the jurors, they granted to John Roches , Willelma his wife and the heirs of their bodies, with remainder failing such heirs to his right heirs, the said manors, lordship, rents and other holdings and reversions, including the rents of John Cokkulbergh in Brinkworth and of Nicholas Webbe in Broughton Gifford, the reversions of these lands and of the lands of Robert Kent in Chelworth and Crudwell. By livery of seisin and the attornment of the tenants John and Willelma duly held them. Then on 1 March 1390 John, disregarding the issue he and Willelma then had, gave by his charter to Maud widow of Robert de la Mare, knight , Lawrence Bren , William Storton , William Weston and the heirs of the body of Maud, with reversion, failing such heirs, to his own right heirs, all the above lands and all his lands in Calne, Compton Bassett, Cherhill, Devizes, Chelworth, Berwick Bassett, Eastcott, Crudwell, Winterbourne Bassett, Richardson, Chiseldon, West Chisenbury, Alderbury and Hardenhuish, with all his holdings in the lordship, and the reversions of the lands in Horton and Shaw by Melksham which John and Willelma secured by a fine of Richard II [CP 25(1) 256/54, no. 12]. By this gift the feoffees were seised of them and still hold. John and Willelma formerly secured to themselves and the heirs of their bodies the manor of Whaddon from Thomas Gorges, senior . It is held of the duchy of Lancaster of the manor of Trowbridge, service unknown. All except the manor of Winterslow are held of other than the king, but of whom is unknown. Hence he held nothing but the manor of Whaddon when he died and that jointly with his wife, who still lives.

He died on 20 Sept. 1401 [2 Henry IV, recte 1400]. Robert son and heir of both John and Willelma is aged 11 years and more. Richard II in parliament in 1398 [ Rot.Parl . III, p.369] pardoned and released his lieges for alienation without licence among other offences. By virtue of this the king has no rights in the manor of Winterslow or in any of the above lands and tenements owing to the death of John Roches , the minority of the heir or any alienation. [Many readings doubtful].

C 137/23/40 mm. 1-2

ENHANCEMENT OF TEXT: The text of this IPM which appeared in the print edition of CIPM XVIII has been enhanced in certain respects: see the About pages.