OXFORDSHIRE. Inquisition. Watlington. 26 September 1440. [Fetiplace].

C 139/99/31 mm. 1–2

WILTSHIRE. Inquisition. Tisbury. 22 October 1440. [Techeburne].

C 139/99/31 mm. 3–4

John Forde of Iver; Nicholas Wexham ; John Smyth of Langley Marish; Robert Lambard ; John Foulemere ; William Gardener ; Thomas Floure ; Robert Bron ; William Shepwassh ; William Kynge ; Jude Wellesbourne; Thomas Spayne of Amersham; John Gardener of Beaconsfield; Thomas Merston ; and John Wokyngham .

By letters patent dated at Westminster on 2 October 1337 [CChR 1327–41, p. 430], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , described as his beloved and faithful John Molyns, that John and his heirs have the following within his manors [of John Molyns] of Brill, Stoke Poges, Ditton, Datchet, Fulmer, Ilmer, Addington, Aston Mullins, Weston Turville, and Ludgershall: the same liberties and franchises as in 384. By letters patent dated at Kennington on 12 November 1338 [CChR 1327–41, p. 457], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , described as his beloved and faithful John Molyns, that John and his heirs have the following within his manors as well as within the manors of Stewkley, Littlecote, and Swanbourne: view of frankpledge, with all things whatsoever belonging to the view, and fines from the assize of bread and ale. By letters patent dated at Windsor on 27 September 1339 [CChR 1327–41, p. 462], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , described as his beloved and faithful John Molyns, that since John holds for life the manor of Cippenham, among other manors contained in the letters patent, with its members, hamlets, and other appurtenances, with successive remainders to John son of John Molyns, and the heirs male of his body; to William brother of John son of John, and the heirs male of his body; and to the right heirs of John Molyns , then John Molyns, John son of John, and William, should also have the following within the manor: the same liberties and franchises as in 384 and 385. By letters patent dated at Windsor on 28 September 1339 [CChR 1327–41, pp. 463–4], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , described as his beloved and faithful John Molyns, that since John has acquired the manor of Beachendon for life, and that manor and the manor of Chearsley – which is presently held by Isabel, who was wife of Peter Carbonell , and John her son, for their lives, with remainder to John Molyns for life, by virtue of a fine levied at Westminster on the quindene of Michaelmas 1339 [CP 25/1/19/83, no. 15] – shall, after the death of John Molyns, remain successively to William, son of John Molyns, and the heirs of his body; to John, brother of William, and the heirs male of his body; and to the right heirs of John Molyns , then John Molyns, William, and John brother of William, should also have the following within the manors of Beachendon and Chearsley: the same liberties and franchises as in 384 and 385. By letters patent dated at Westminster on 4 February 1338 [CPR 1338–40, p. 8], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III , with the assent of prelates, earls, barons, and others of his council in his parliament at Westminster, granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , and his heirs, the advowson of the abbey of Burnham. By letters patent, dated at Nottingham on 8 August 1331 [CChR 1327–41, p. 231], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , that he and his heirs have free warren in the demesne lands of Stoke Poges, Ditton, and Riding, as long as those lands are not within the metes of the king’s forest, provided that no-one enter the lands to hunt or capture anything belonging to the warren without the licence and will of John Molyns and his heirs, on pain of forfeiture of £10 to Edward. John and his heirs were also to have a market on Mondays at the manor of Stoke Poges, and a fair there, lasting seven days, viz., on the vigil and feast of St Barnabas the Apostle, and the five days following, as long as the market and fair are not to the damage of neighbouring markets and fairs. By letters patent dated at Wells on 23 December 1331 [CChR 1327–41, p. 258], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , that he and his heirs have a yearly fair at his manor of Stoke Poges, lasting seven days, viz., the vigil and feast of St Giles and the five days following, as long as it is not to the damage of neighbouring fairs. By letters patent dated at Stamford on 12 April 1332 [CChR 1327–41, p. 269], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , that he and his heirs have view of frankpledge in his manor of Stoke Poges with all things belonging to the view. By letters patent dated at Odiham on 25 October 1333 [CChR 1327–41, p. 303], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , that he and his heirs have a yearly fair at his manor of Stoke Poges, lasting three days, viz., the vigil, feast, and morrow of Lady Day, as long as it is not to the damage of neighbouring fairs. By letters patent dated at Eltham on 6 November 1333 [CChR 1327–41, p. 303], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , that he, his heirs, his tenants in the vills of Stoke Poges and Ditton, and their heirs, are to be quit of tolls, pontage, murage, pavage, stallage, and picage throughout the kingdom. By letters patent dated at the Tower of London on 8 October 1337 [CPR 1334–38, p. 530], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns that he and his heirs hold houses in his manors of Stoke Poges and Ditton that are quit of livery for the marshals of the household of the king, his other ministers and heirs, and other magnates, so that the marshals etc. [as above] cannot claim livery in these houses nor are entertained against the will of John and his heirs. [Inquisition continues of the dorse of the ms.] By letters patent dated at Cockburnspath on 24 September 1335 [CChR 1327–41, p. 342], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward III granted, for him and his heirs, to John Molyns , that he and his heirs have a yearly fair at his manor of Datchet, lasting for 3 days, viz., the vigil, feast, and morrow of the Assumption of Mary, as long as it is not to the damage of neighbouring fairs; and that they have free warren in the demesne lands of the same manor and in all demesne lands of his manors of Addington and Fulmer, as long as those lands are not within the metes of the king’s forest, so that no-one enter the lands to hunt or capture anything belonging to the warren without the licence and will of John Molyns and his heirs, on pain of forfeiture of £10 to Edward. John Molyns was thus seised of the liberties, franchises, and advowson as of fee and by right according to the above grants. John his son died without heir male of his body. John Molyns afterwards died, and William son of John Molyns died. After William’s death, the liberties and franchises descended to William Molyns , named in the writ, kin and heir of William son of John, as son of William son of Richard son of the same William son of John Molyns, and the other liberties, franchises, and advowson also descended to William, kin and heir of John Molyns [descent as above]. William was thus seised as of fee and by right of the liberties, franchises, and advowson. They are held of the king, and worth nothing yearly above the fees and expenses of the stewards and bailiffs. He held no more nor other lands or tenements other than those specified in the inquisition taken by royal command after his death.

Date of death and heir as 384 [Head:] Delivered to court on 2 November 1440. [Dorse:] Bucks [and continuation of inquisition]. [Exchequer ms only: scored out at the foot.] He died seised in demesne as of fee of the advowson of the abbey of Burnham, and advowsons of the following chantries: a perpetual chantry of one chaplain celebrating in the parish church of Stoke Poges, Lincoln diocese, at the altar of St Thomas the Martyr; a perpetual chantry of one chaplain celebrating in the chapel of Ditton, annexed the church of Stoke Poges; and a perpetual chantry of one chaplain celebrating in the abbey of Burnham at the altar of St Katherine.