The corporation of Coventry: Rolls and files

Rolls and files

V. Rolls and Files, to the number of eighteen.

These writings comprise the following matters:—

Suit of Robert De Morley versus The Prior of Coventre.

Edward III. Detached membranes of a Roll (French and Latin), comprising a copy of the Record of proceedings in Robert de Morley's suit at York in 11 Edward III. [1337] against the Prior of Coventre, for the recovery of a thousand acres of arable land, ten acres of meadow, twenty acres of pasture and twelve acres of wood in Sowe.

Statute Merchant Rolls for Recognizance of Debts.

(a) 15 Richard II.—3 Henry V.—Remains of a Roll; the Clerk of the Statute throughout the term of years covered by these remaining membranes was John Ofchirch.

(b) Temp. Henry VI.—Four membranes of another roll, to wit, for the 8th, 12th, 13th and 34th years of Henry the Sixth.

(c) 15 Henry VIII.—3 James II.—A collection of detached membranes of similar rolls, the membranes being for the years 15 and 26 Henry VIII., 29, 31, 33 and 45 Elizabeth, 1 James I., 33, 34, 35 and 36 Charles II., and 1, 2 and 3 James II.

(d) 26 Henry VIII.—29 Charles II.—A great and heavy File of one hundred and eighteen Rolls, upon the same number of membranes, for four years of Henry VIII., two years of Edward VI., five years of Mary, thirty-six years of Elizabeth, twenty-two years of James I., twenty-three years of Charles I., the eleven years of the Commonwealth Period and fifteen years of the reign of Charles the Second.

The membranes of this imperfect series of Statute Merchant Rolls appear to have been flattened out and put together on a single file by a comparatively modern worker upon the Coventry records.

The Warwickshire antiquary who would edit this large body of Statute Merchant Rolls would discover curious pieces of information, touching the personal history of notable individuals, and could hardly fail to throw light on the social condition and financial vicissitudes of one of the most interesting cities of England.

Furniture and Ornaments of the Guild of the Holy Trinity.

20 Henry VI. [1441–2].—Roll (a single indented membrane) of the Inventory of the tapestry, needlework, seats of estate, registers, silver and silver-gilt plate, napery (diapered and plain) and other chattels, belonging to the Guild of the Holy Trinity of Coventre, in the custody of William Barynton, "officiarium dicte Guilde, custodientem jocalia dicte Gilde subscripta."

Incident in the Dispute between William Briscowe and the Citizens of Coventre.

11 Edward IV. [1471–2].—Copy of the Record of the Proceedings in the cause of William Pere v. Briscowe (otherwise spelt Bristowe) of Coventre, gentleman, and William White of Whitley co. Coventre, husbandman, charged by the said William Pere with assaulting him and breaking into his close, &c. on 4th July, 10 Edward IV.

Warrant for levying Distresses on Tenants of the Manor of Cheilsmore.

14 James I. [1616–7].—Roll-Schedule of arrears of rent due to the King from tenants of the manor of Cheilsmore; with a warrant at its foot, signed by Fulke Grevyll, for levying distresses for the payment, and for arresting those tenants who refuse to pay.