Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume 23, 1427-32

JOHN SON OF JOHN DE SANCTO MAURO

602 Writ de etate probanda . ‡ 21 December 1430. [Wymbyssh].G Regarding his inheritance as son of John de Sancto Mauro who held of ‪ Henry V in chief. The lands and tenements of the inheritance are in the custody of Thomas Brook, knight , by demise of Margaret who was the wife of John de Sancto Mauro , Elizabeth Roudon , Thomas Plussh, clerk , John Boef , and Richard Luyde , by letters patent of Henry V [CPR 1413–1416, p. 369]. Inform Thomas Brook of the forthcoming proof of age. [Dorse:] Thomas Brook was informed but did not attend. Date and place of proof given.

SOMERSET. Proof of age. Ilchester 15 January 1431. [Pauncefot].

[Proof: ms dirty and faded.] Thomas Blaneford , 45 and more, says that John was aged 21 on 26 May last, and born at Beckington in a place called ‘Nwbyry’ on 26 May 1408. Thomas knows because his daughter was born on the same day and he came to Beckington church, where the parson baptised John, and saw the same parson writing John’s age in a missal in the church. He asked William Cheyne, knight , godfather of John to be godfather of his daughter, whereupon William stood as godfather to his daughter on the same day. John Gilden , 50 and more, knows because, by a charter sealed in the church before John Pedenton , John Gregory , ?son of..., Isabel who was wife of John Roudon, knight , mother of Margaret mother of John son and heir of John, purchased a parcel of land and meadow in Levyngton from John Gilden , to have in fee simple in perpetuity. John was baptised in the church on the same day and he saw the parson write John’s age in a missal. John Milborn , 47 and more, was in the church at the same time as the baptism. A dispute had arisen a long time previously between William Cheyne, knight , one of the John’s godfathers, and John Milborn . Regarding many things, it remained unresolved and, finally, [a meeting was arranged] by friends to take place after the baptism. Each released all manner of personal actions against the other and this was recorded by the parson. John Lymyngton , 44 and more, knows because Isabel wife of John Roudon sent for John Lymyngton , then servant of William Bonevill, knight , to ask..., and certain lands and tenements in Chewton and Beckington and, for his good and faithful labour, Isabel gave him 100s. in Beckington church immediately after the baptism. He saw the parson write John’s age in a book in the chancel. Nicholas Caas , 46 and more, knows because his own son was born and he came to Beckington church at the time of John’s baptism. He saw the parson write John’s age in a book in the church and asked John, prior of Bath and godfather of John, to be godfather to his son. The prior thus stood as godfather to Nicholas’s son on the same day and gave 20s. to the child. William Drwe , 44 and more, knows because Isabel wife of John Roudon sent for him, as she had frequently done before, on 26 May 1408. He came to Beckington and met her in the churchyard. She wanted to buy his grey horse to ride on pilgrimage to the priory of Bridlington. William sold her the horse for 10 marks 6s. 8d., paid there and then, and subsequently entered the church where he saw the parson writing John’s age in a certain great book. The horse was the best and most sure-footed that he had ever ridden. John Welweton , 48 and more, after hearing about the birth of a son to Margaret wife of John de Sancto Mauro , rode with all haste to the manor of Merssh to tell Ella, Lady St Maur , mother of John father of John, about the birth. She gave him two gold nobles – such things he had never before had – and he afterwards went to Beckington church before the baptism and stayed until he saw the parson write John’s age in a book. William Lumbard , 49 and more, knows because Isabel wife of John Roudon sent for him and he came with all haste on the same day, that 26 May. She said, ‘Your wife is the best nurse in these parts, so I ask that she care for the son of Margaret my daughter. I will reward her for this work and service.’ William asked Isabel the whereabouts of Margaret’s son, and she said that he was in Beckington church for baptism. With Isabel’s permission, William entered the church to see the son. He saw the parson baptising him and naming him John after John, prior of Bath . He immediately returned to Isabel, saying that the son was exceedingly handsome and that he wanted to talk to his wife about satisfying Isabel’s request. Isabel gave him a gold coin. John Peny , 43 and more, had been staying in the inn of Isabel wife of John Roudon and, upon hearing that Margaret, daughter of Isabel and wife of John de Sancto Mauro father of John de Sancto Mauro , had given birth to a son, took a horse with all haste and rode to Frome in Selwood, two miles from Beckington, to report the birth to John de Sancto Mauro who gave him a gold noble. John Peny returned to Beckington where he lit a candle, and held it during the baptism. John Fraunceys , 50 and more, heard that John, prior of Bath , had come to Beckington to be godfather to John. A dispute had previously arisen between John the prior and John Fraunceys because John Fraunceys had broken an enclosure of the prior and taken game and wood.... To make peace, John Fraunceys came to Beckington church on the day of the baptism and, with the mediation of William Cheyne, knight , full agreement was afterwards reached without any money being freed to the knight. John Broun , 55 and more, knows because he came, as he occasionally did, to the inn of Isabel wife of John Roudon and was first man to tell the parson of Beckington that Margaret wife of John de Sancto Mauro had given birth to a son. The parson said that all must come to the church to give thanks to God before the celebration, and asked John to find fire, water, salt, and other necessities for the baptism. He also asked John not to leave the church until he had seen the infant baptised. John carried fire, water, and salt to the church and was there during the baptism. Stephen Hoper , 58 and more, came to Beckington to receive £20 from Laurence Purneour for woollen cloth sold to him long before by Stephen. Laurence was then staying at Beckington and, when asked about the money, had said to him, ‘Go to the church and stay there until I come. You will be paid.’ Stephen went to Beckington church on that 26 May. He was there during the whole baptism and saw the parson write the age of the son in a book. Laurence arrived at the church and paid his £20.

C 139/52/74 mm.1–2