Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume 25, 1437-42

MARGARET, LATE DUCHESS OF CLARENCE

438 Writ. ‡ Reading. 4 February 1440. [Bate]. Addressed to the escheator in Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

LEICESTERSHIRE. Inquisition. Leicester. 11 October 1440. [Palmer].

Roger Hodord and Richard Coelle , of Enderby; Thomas Mauncell of Newton Harcourt (Newton); William Peek of Kibworth Harcourt; William Russell of Kibworth Beauchamp; Richard Norton of Gaulby; Thomas Crosse of Husbands Bosworth (Boseworth); Thomas Elyot of Theddingworth; John Nicholl of Braunstone; William Crosse and John Ancoke , of Enderby; Richard Coolle of Narborough; John Simond of Burton Overy; and Thomas Mercer of King’s Norton (Norton).

She held no lands or tenements of the king, or any other.

She died on 30 December 1439. John, earl of Somerset , is her next heir, and aged 30 and more. [Head:] Delivered to court on 9 February 1441.

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439 Writ. Reading. 4 February 1440. [Bate].

GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND THE ADJACENT MARCH OF WALES. Inquisition [indented]. Cirencester. 4 November 1440. [Rokes].

John Oswold ; Nicholas Tuffley ; Thomas Yonge ; Thomas Ayell ; William Spencer ; William Reymond ; John Hart ; Laurence Gobsell ; Thomas Hart ; Stephen Cante ; John Pecok ; and Alexander Pynne .

She held no lands or tenements of the king in chief, or any other, in demesne as of fee. She did, however, hold the following fee farm in demesne as of fee tail, to her and the heirs of her body. It was granted by ‪ Edward II , among other manors, lands, tenements, rents, and services, to Edmund de Wodestok , his most beloved brother, and the heirs of his body, by letters patent dated at York on 6 November 1319 [CChR 1300–1326, p. 416] and shown to the jurors. Edmund was thus seised in demesne as of fee tail and died so seised. The fee farm descended to Edmund, his son and heir, who died so seised without heir of his body, and the fee farm thus descended to John, late earl of Kent , brother and heir of Edmund son of Edmund. John also died seised of the fee farm without heir of his body and, after his death, it was assigned in the Chancery of ‪ Henry IV in dower, among other things, to Elizabeth, lately wife of John, by endowment of John, with reversion to Joan, late princess of Wales , sister and heir of John, late earl. After the death of Joan, the reversion descended to Thomas, late earl of Kent , as her son and heir, and, after his death, it descended to Thomas, late earl of Kent , son and heir of Thomas son of Joan. After the death of Thomas son of Thomas, the reversion descended to Edmund as his brother and heir and, after Edmund’s death, it descended to Edmund son of Eleanor, late countess of March , 1st sister and heir of Edmund brother of Thomas, to Joan, late duchess of York , 2nd sister, to Margaret, late duchess , 3rd sister, to Eleanor, wife of Thomas, late earl of Salisbury , 4th sister, and to Elizabeth, lately wife of John Neuyll, chevalier, 5th sister. They are all heirs of Edmund, and kin and heirs of John, late earl of Kent. Elizabeth, lately wife of John, late earl of Kent, afterwards died seised of her estate and the fee farm was then assigned in Chancery to Margaret, late duchess, to have in her purparty from all the manors, lands, tenements, farms, rents, and services that Elizabeth held in dower and for life. Margaret, late duchess, afterwards died so seised, and the fee farm descended to John, present earl of Somerset, as her son and heir. Cirencester, £30 fee farm rendered yearly to the king’s Exchequer by the abbot and convent of Cirencester for the vill of Cirencester and seven hundreds in the county, held of the king as 1/100 knight’s fee.

She died on 30 December 1439. John, present earl of Somerset , is her son and next heir, and was aged 30 and more on the day of her death. [Head:] Delivered to court on 5 February.

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440 Writ amotus. 5 December 1440. [Bate]. Addressed to John Paddesley, mayor and escheator of London . Regarding a writ diem clausit extremum sent to Robert Large .

CITY OF LONDON. Inquisition [indented]. Guildhall. 31 December 1440. [Paddesley].

John Grene ; John Lynd ; Robert Brigges ; Thomas Wollaston ; John Bunche ; John Grymmesby ; Henry Yole ; Simon Whaplode ; Roger Laurence ; Philip James ; John Merssh ; Thomas Colman ; and William Herman .

[1]+By letters patent dated on 12 November 1404 [CPR 1401–1405, p. 477], shown to the jurors, from his special grace and with the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal and the community of the realm in parliament at Coventry, ‪ Henry IV granted £1000 to John, late earl of Somerset , and the heirs male of his body, taken at Easter and Michaelmas equally from the king’s Exchequer, to be taken from Michaelmas then last, to maintain his estate as earl until the king or his heirs provide the earl or his heirs male with lands and tenements that are not parcel of the crown, to the value of £1000 yearly, as more fully contained in the same letters. The late earl was thus seised until the same king, by letters patent dated on 25 October 1406 [recte 1409], from his special grace granted £500 yearly to the late earl, described as his most beloved brother, John, earl of Somerset , to hold to him and his heirs male from Michaelmas then last from the petty customs in the city of London, by the hand of the collectors of farms or occupiers of the same, at Easter and Michaelmas equally in part satisfaction of the £1000, notwithstanding any ordinances, grants or assignments made or to be made to the contrary from the petty customs. If the earl or his heirs male are, for any reason, not paid the £500, or any parcel of the same, then payment should be made at the king’s Exchequer, as more fully contained in the letters patent [CPR 1408–13, p. 142].+[1] The late earl was thus seised in demesne as of fee tail, viz., to him and the heirs male of his body, of £500, to be taken yearly from the petty customs in the port at Easter and Michaelmas, according to the force and effect of the later grant [of the two described here] made by the late king. The earl had issue: Henry Beaufort, late earl of Somerset , and John, present earl of Somerset , and he died seised of his estate. After his death, 250 marks, a third of the £500, were assigned in dower to Margaret, late duchess of Clarence , lately wife of John, late earl. Henry Beaufort died without heir of his body, with the duchess still living. She then died seised of her estate, and reversion of the 250 marks belongs to John, present earl, as son and heir of John, late earl. She held the following in demesne as of fee and, after her death, it descended to John, present earl of Somerset, as her son and heir. St Thomas the Apostle, a tower called ‘le Ryall’ in the parish of St Thomas the Apostle in the ward of Cordwainer Street, annual value 40s., held of the king in free burgage as all the city is held, service unknown.

Date of death and heir as 439. [Head:] Delivered to court on 23 January 1441. [Dorse:] Escheator.

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441 Writ. ‡ Reading. 4 February 1440. [Bate]. Addressed to the escheator in Kent and Middlesex.

MIDDLESEX. Inquisition [indented]. Westminster. 28 October 1440. [Burgh].

William Chalkhill ; John Mushacch ; William Page ; John Robert ; John Querne ; Thomas Glouer ; John Hille ; Walter Smyth ; John Benet ; William Fivian ; William Philip ; and Ralph Chalkhill .

Begins as 440+[1]. The letters patent of 25 October 1409 were shown to the jurors. The late earl was thus seised in demesne as of fee tail, to him and the heirs male of his body, of £500 – from the original £1000 – to be taken yearly at the Exchequer, according to the force and effect of the first grant [of the two described here] made to him by the king. The earl had issue: Henry Beaufort, late earl of Somerset , and John, present earl of Somerset , and he died seised of his estate of the £500 from the Exchequer. After his death, 250 marks, a third of the £500, were assigned in dower to Margaret, late duchess of Clarence, lately wife of John, late earl. Henry Beaufort died without heir of his body, with the duchess still living. She then died seised of her estate, with reversion of the third belonging to John, present earl, as son and heir of John, late earl.

Date of death and heir as 439.

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442 [Writ: see 441.]

KENT. Inquisition. Dartford. 29 October 1440. [Burgh].

John Chapman ; John Stonhill ; William Chapman ; Walter Heth ; Peter Boltham ; Thomas Blithe ; John Scherewode ; Richard Sadeler ; Robert Balle ; Thomas Grenewode ; Thomas Golet ; Robert Frankeleyn ; Thomas Maykyn ; and John Hawe .

She held the following in demesne as of fee. Dartford, the lordship. Cobham, the manor. Chislehurst, the manor. Combe, the manor. They are held of the king in chief. Annual value £18.

She died on 5 January last. Thomas [recte John], earl of Somerset, is her son and next heir, and aged 28 years. [Head:] Delivered to court on 14 November 1440.

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443 Writ amotus. ‡ 1 February 1441. [Bate]. Addressed to the escheator in Essex and Hertfordshire. [Dorse:] I took into the king’s hand all rents, manors, lands, and tenements contained in the inquisition, as required by this writ, and I certify to the king in his Chancery that Margaret, late duchess of Clarence, did not hold any lands or tenements in demesne as of fee of the king, or any other, in Hertfordshire, that can be revealed by the oath of the good and law-worthy men of Hertfordshire and taken into the king’s hand as the writ requires.

ESSEX. Inquisition. Stratford. 11 February 1441. [Knyvet].

Walter Billeston ; John Benyngton ; Thomas Osbarn ; Robert Baldewyn ; John Dauell ; Thomas Thressher ; Edmund Shipman ; Richard Halman atte Crosse ; Thomas Heggeman ; John Ederyche ; John Andrewe ; John Hauelok, junior ; William Hauelok ; Peter Pogger ; John Sewall ; Roger Edward ; Thomas Hanger ; John Fotyng ; and Walter Burre .

She died seised of the following to her and the heirs of her body. £50 annual rent from a farm of £57 18s. 8d. that the abbot and convent of Waltham Holy Cross render to the king’s Exchequer for the manor of Waltham. £11 12d. annual rent from a farm of £22 2s. that the abbot and convent of Stratford Langthorne render to the king’s Exchequer for the manors of Sudbury and East or West Ham (Hamme). The rents are held of the king in chief, service unknown. By letters patent dated at York on 6 November 1319 [CChR 1300–1326, p. 416], shown to the jurors, ‪ Edward II had granted, among other manors, lands, tenements, fee farms, rents, and services, the rents of £50 and £11 12d. to Edmund de Wodestok , his most beloved brother, and to the heirs of his body. Edmund was thus seised in demesne as of fee tail, and he died seised of this estate. After his death, the rents descended to Edmund, his son and heir, who died without heir of his body and they descended to John, late earl of Kent , brother and heir of Edmund son of Edmund. John died seised of the rents without heir of his body and they descended to Joan, late princess of Wales , sister and heir of the late earl. After Joan’s death, they descended to Thomas, her son and heir, and, after his death, they descended to Thomas, late earl of Kent , son and heir of Thomas son of the princess. After the death of Thomas son of Thomas, they descended to Edmund, brother and heir of Thomas son of Thomas, and, after his death, they descended to Edmund son of Eleanor, countess of March , 1st sister and heir of Edmund brother of Thomas, to Joan, late duchess of York , 2nd sister, to Margaret, late duchess , 3rd sister, to Eleanor, wife of Thomas, late earl of Salisbury , 4th sister, and to Elizabeth, lately wife of John Neuyll, chevalier , 5th sister. They are all heirs of Edmund. After the death of Edmund, late earl, brother of Thomas, the rents were assigned to Margaret, late duchess, to have in her purparty from all the manors, lands, tenements, rents, fee farms, and services that Edmund, brother of Thomas, held on the day of his death. She died seised of the following to her and the heirs of her body. Wakes Colne, the manor, annual value 16 marks. Lamarsh, the manor, annual value 20 marks. The manors are not held of the king, but of others, service unknown.

Date of death and heir as 439.

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444 Writ. Reading. 22 January 1440. [Bate].

DEVON. Inquisition. Exeter. 24 September 1440. [Burton].

Richard Strode ; Thomas Werthe ; Thomas Cook ; Stephen Gyffard ; William Bysshop ; John Kyrton ; William Mey ; Richard Yeoo ; William Botour ; John atte Hey ; Walter Lywer ; and John Rytherdon .

Henry, bishop of Winchester , Edmund, late bishop of Exeter , Henry, late archbishop of York , Thomas Langley, late bishop of Durham , and Henry Merston, clerk , were lately seised in demesne as of fee and by right of the following manors, lands, tenements, and 1/2 hundred that were formerly of William Asthorp, chevalier . Thus seised, they granted them to Margaret and John, late earl of Somerset , lately her husband, for their lives, with successive remainders to John, present earl of Somerset , their son, and the heirs of his body; to Thomas, brother of the present earl, and the heirs of his body; to Edmund, brother of Thomas, and the heirs of his body; and to the late earl of Somerset and his heirs and assigns, as more fully apparent in the deed by which the grant was made. Royal licence was obtained [CPR 1405–1408, p. 342], and the licence and deed were shown to the jurors. The late earl and Margaret were thus seised in demesne as of free tenement. The earl afterwards died, and Margaret survived him. She continued in her estate for life by virtue of the grant, and died so seised. Sampford Peverell, the manor. Allerpeverall, the manor. Boehill, Lynermore, Spratsland, Swyndon, Colyford, Pechcrofte, Halsewood, Prestonlond, Shutelake, Bolealler, Shuffhayes, Howyngham, and Westcott, certain lands and tenements. The manors, lands, and tenements, annual value £40, are held of the king in chief by knight service. Halberton, 1/2 hundred. The hundred, annual value 40s., is held of the Lord Despenser, service unknown.

She died on 31 December last. Heir as 439. All the above manors, lands, tenements, and hundred rightfully belong to the present earl by virtue of the grant, and should remain to him. [Head:] Delivered to court on 22 October 1440.

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445 Writ. Reading. 22 January 1440. [Bate]. Addressed to the escheator in Somerset and Dorset.

SOMERSET. Inquisition. Ilchester. 27 February 1440. [Seyntebarbe].

William N... [ms faded]; William Mountageu ; Thomas Walsshe ; John Welweton ; Robert Goulde ; John Wydecombe ; John Lymyngton ; Richard Baget ; John Milborne; Thomas Blauneford ; John Pytoo ; and John Curle .

She held the following in dower from the inheritance of John, present earl of Somerset, by endowment of John, earl of Somerset, her late husband, with reversion to John, present earl of Somerset, as son and heir of the late earl. Martock, a third of 2 parts of the manor, annual value £16. Curry Rivel, a third of 2 parts of the manor, annual value £12. Bulstone, a third of 2 parts of the hundred, annual value 20s. Abdick, a third of 2 parts of the hundred, annual value 26s. 8d. Langport Eastover, a third of 2 parts of the borough, annual value 16s. Langport Westover, a third of 2 parts of the borough, annual value 20s. The above thirds of 2 parts of the manors, hundreds, and boroughs, with the rest of the manors, hundreds, and boroughs, are held of the king in chief by knight service. She held the following in demesne as of fee tail, viz., to her and the heirs of her body. Queen Camel, the manor, annual value £20. Kingsbury Regis, the manor, annual value £12. Horethorne, the hundred, annual value £4. The manors and hundred are held of the king in chief by knight service. £20 fee farm, taken yearly at Easter and Michaelmas equally from the prior and convent of Bath. £8 fee farm, taken yearly at the same feasts from Milborne Port by the hand of the burgesses there. The fee farms are held of the king, service unknown.

She died on 31 December last. Heir as 439. [Head:] Delivered to court on 6 February 1441.

The dorse of the writ makes it clear that only one inquisition was returned. The first two sentences of this paragraph, beginning ‘John also died seised...’ and ‘[a]fter the death of Joan...’ are recorded more confusingly in E 149: ‘John also died so seised without heir of his body and, after his death, the fee farm descended to Joan, late princess of Wales, sister and heir of John, late earl. After her death, it descended to Thomas, late earl of Kent, as son and heir of Joan and, after the death of Thomas, the fee farm was assigned to Elizabeth, lately wife of John, late earl, in the Chancery of Henry IV, to her in dower by endowment of the same John. Reversion descended to Joan, late princess of Wales, sister and heir of John, late earl, and, after her death, reversion descended to Thomas, late earl of Kent, son and heir of Thomas son of Joan’. The date of these letters is given correctly in the ms of 441. The dorse of the writ makes it clear that only one inquisition was returned. Colyford might also be read as Cobyford. Only one inquisition is extant, but there is no information on the dorse of the writ as to whether one or two inquisitions were returned.

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