Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume 22, 1422-27

PHILIP DE COURTENAY SON OF JOHN DE COURTENAY, KNIGHT , BROTHER OF RICHARD COURTENAY , BISHOP OF NORWICH

530 Writ de etate probanda. ‡ 1 February 1425. [Smyth] Regarding inheritance as kinsman and heir of Richard Courtenay, late bishop of Norwich , who held of ‪Henry V‬ in chief. Robert Cary , to whom ‪Henry V‬ committed custody of Richard’s lands and tenements by letters patent, to be informed [CFR 1413–22, pp.115–16]. [Dorse:] Robert Cary informed by John Gore and Peter Loke to be at Tiverton at a specified date, where he had nothing to say... [ms creased] should not hand over his inheritance.

DEVON. Proof of age. Tiverton. 12 February 1425. [Beaumonnd]

[The ms is generally worn, soiled and galled, and some of the readings may be doubtful. The return is described as an inquisition rather than a proof and the jurors are also separately listed.] The jurors, separately examined, say that Philip de Courtenay , son of John de Courtenay, knight , brother of Richard Courtenay, late bishop of Norwich , and Richard’s kinsman and heir, was 21 years on 18 January last. Questioned and separately examined by the escheator as to how they know this, they all claim to have seen the parson write the day of Philip’s birth in a church Bible, and further reply as follows. John Brydham , aged 60 years and more, says Philip was born at Ashton and baptised in the vill’s church on 18 January 1403, on which day John de Courtenay, knight , Philip’s father, sent for John Brydham for a conversation about various matters between them. It was then necessary to have a further talk... John went to the church and was present when the parson baptised Philip. He was specially asked as witness to verify the time. That night he dined with John Courtenay . Afterwards... riding in fog, his horse was startled and stumbled on a stony road; he fell to the ground and only by the grace of God escaped death. He often suffered from his injury afterwards at various times of the year but especially.... William Elyot , 50 years and more, says that on that day, for lack of care by her nurse, his daughter named Walkelina suddenly died of thirst in her cradle. For this reason he came to the church at Ashton to ask the parson to say divine services for his daughter’s soul and saw the parson writing while Philip was baptised before the altar... for the time she lay dead. The memory of this misfortune has never left him. John Prestecote , 53 years and more, says that on that day, W[?e]burga then his wife, gave birth to two boys and died instantly after their birth, on which day he came to the church to have the cross and holy water placed and sprinkled on her body. He went straight to the parson asking that he come to say the divine services for the soul of his late wife, the parson responding said... received ready kindness. Guy Puke , 43 years and more, says that hearing that Philip de Courtenay, knight , father of John, father of Philip, was come to the church to be Philip’s godfather, he awaited his arrival outside the church, not daring to meet publicly because of an outrageous transgression by the same Guy against the same Philip father of John. He was present in church until Philip was baptised. Guy promptly... genuflecting begged Philip, father of John, to remit and pardon the transgression for God’s honour and on account of the love and reverence of the birth of Philip son of John there raised with others from the font. Thus in his deed sealed with his seal, Philip father of John remised and forgave Guy. John Russell , 50 years and more, says that he sold a palfrey that day to John de Courtenay, knight , Philip’s father, for £10 legal English money on condition that [? it proved the best of John’s horses]. Afterwards that same day, the horses ran about the great close called ‘Leypark’ near the church, and John de Courtenay ’s horse suddenly fell and ?injured itself. Nevertheless John de Courtenay, knight , by his grace gave 40s. to John Russell by way of [? compensation for the devaluing of the horse]. Returning from the close, John Russell ... in the church and was present while the parson baptised Philip. John Colle , 50 years and more, was servant (seruiens et famuliar’) to Richard Champernonn, knight , father of Philip’s mother. At dawn that day, Richard having knowledge of his daughter’s delivery of a son, sent John to Ashton with a silver goblet with a gilt cover in... of Richard, to deliver with all haste to his daughter. When he had come to Ashton, he went to the church and was present when the parson baptised Philip. Thomas Potell , 60 years and more, was present when the parson baptised Philip, and because the church clerk was absent, Thomas served the parson in all that the clerk would have done from the beginning to the end of the baptism, and never performed such deeds before or after. He saw the parson write the day of Philip’s birth in the church Bible and then read the writing there. John Scolmayster , 48 years and more, married Christine in the church that day and their marriage was celebrated there. After lunch he came to the church to see Philip father of John father of Philip, and was present when the parson baptised Philip. When he returned to his house in the same vill at the hour of vespers the same day, he found Christine dead. He often recalled this sudden reverse, and thus from the bitterness of his distressed soul (ex amaritudine anime dolent’ ?tordetanus) he is certain of Philip’s age. William Spirwey , 50 years and more, says that on that day Clarice his wife gave birth to a son, named Robert, who survives, whom the parson of that church baptised that same day. William was present in the church when Philip was baptised. As a result of seeing the parson write Philip’s age, that day William too wrote his son’s age in his book called ‘Prymer’. John Folebroke , 44 years and more, was churchwarden of that church, then in great need of repair, and for this reason he came to the church that day. He saw the parson baptise Philip. A little afterwards, at his request, Philip father of John father of Philip, offered 100s. for the repair of the church. Robert Spirwey , 50 years and more, was present in the church when the parson baptised Philip. Afterwards in the churchyard at the request of Philip de Courtenay, knight , father of John, father of Philip... quarrel and dispute between William ?Jow, esquire, the other godfather... such that both separately sealed their deeds there.... John Pyryn , 46 years and more, says that on that day he had custody... [?wife] of John Scolemayster , above, when [she] passed away the same day, was at the church when the parson baptised Philip... at the church to see... in meeting Philip de Courtenay , father of John father of Philip, and John de Courtenay , whom John met with Philip the father, at the churchyard stile and there among other things to ?request of John Pyryn , that John de Courtenay gave 10 marks of good English money to the parishioners to ring the bells.

C 139/20/50 mm.1–2