Manorial records: Ministers' account of the Lordship of Leckwith (1456)

Minister's Account of the Lordship of Leckwith. 1456.

(One long skin of parchment, written on one side; in good condition.)

Lent by R. W. Llewellyn, Esq., of Baglan.

Leckwith.

Account of Patrick crispy, exercising the office of Reeve there, from Michaelmas in the 33rd year of the reign of King Henry VI. until the same feast in the 34th year of the aforesaid King, namely, for one entire year.

Arrears. He answers for 11l. 3s. 2¼d. arrears of the last Account there of the year last past, as appears at foot of the said Account.

Sum 11l. 3s. 2¼d.

Rents of Assize. And for 70s. 7½d. received of rent of freeholders there by the year; whereof at the term of Christmas 23d., at the term of "hockeday" 23d., at the term of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist 23d., and at Michaelmas 64s. 10½d., as appears by a certain new Rental. And for 63s. of the rent and works of 13 customars and a half, by the year; whereof at the term of Christmas 11s. 3d., at the term of "hockeday" 14s. ½d., at the term of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist 16s. 10½d., and at Michaelmas 20s. 10d., as appears by the said Rental, namely, for each customar 4s. 8d. And for 4s. 8d. received of the rent and works of John Watts for one acre of bondsman's land formerly of William Davy, so unto him demised during the lord's estate, as appears by roll of Court. And for 2d. received of the rent of William Hogges for one cot so unto him demised by the year. And for 11d. received of the rent of John Danyell for one acre of land and half an acre of meadow, formerly of John Hogges, so unto him demised by the year. And for 8d. received of the rent late of William Smythe, for half an acre of meadow of bondsman's land by Wynnyweye. And for 18d. received of John ap Robyn for half an acre of meadow by Liquyth bridge, so lately demised unto William Carriour and afterwards to Henry Hogges, and now demised to the aforesaid John as above.

Sum 7l 18½d.

Issues of lands and tenements in the hands of the Lord. But for issues of the tenure formerly of William Sturmy he answers nothing here, because it is demised with other bond tenures. But he answers for 20s. 4d. received of the farm of all the demesne lands and bondsmen's lands being in the Lord's hands, on the west side of the river Elye, so demised unto John Mascolde, Joan his wife and Maurice their son, for the term of their life and of the longest liver of them, by record of the Exchequer of the 21st year preceding. And the aforesaid farmers will build on the said demesne or bondsmen's lands one house three couples at their own costs and charges, besides that the Lord shall find them big timber for the building of the said house when it shall be necessary, by the view and delivery of the Constable of the Lord of Kardyff for the time being; and so the said house well and fittingly built, repaired and maintained will demise; and after the decease of each of them one heriot shall fall to the Lord, as is contained in the said record, at the term of Saint Michael by the year. And for 16s. 8d. received from a certain pasture of the demesne land and bondsmen's lands by Bolecrofte, lately demised unto Meureke ap Grono ap Ivor, so now demised unto Thomas ap Grono ap Ivor, Margaret his wife and Grono ap Thomas their son, for the term of their life, by record of the Exchequer of the 23rd year preceding, at the usual terms. And for 2s. 4d. received of 6 acres of land and meadow of the half tenure, formerly of Walter Porter, late in part demised unto Ivor Webbe, afterwards demised unto Lewis Carpenter and now demised unto John Mascolde for the term of [blank] years, by record of the Exchequer. And for 4s. 8d. received of the farm of one messuage and 12 acres of the land and meadow of one bondsman's land late of Walter Ithell, so demised unto John Willy for the term of his life, by record of the Exchequer. And for 4s. 8d. received from one croft and 12 acres of land and meadow late of John Jones, and which lately were within the farm of the abovesaid Henry Hogges and afterwards demised unto David ap Ieuan Vaughan, and now demised unto Gruffith ap Hopkyn this year at the usual terms. And for 1d. received from one small garden lying by the garden of Walter Bille, so demised unto John Revell this year. And for 4s. 8d. received of the farm of one messuage and 12 acres of bondsmen's land and of one acre of meadow called Harpe Acre, late within the farm of John Mascolde, late demised unto John Mascolde for the term of his life by roll of Court of the 19th year preceding; now demised unto Thomas Clerke for the term of his life by roll of Court of the 18th year preceding, for that the said John Mascolde gave up the said messuage with the lands aforesaid.

Sum 53s. 5d.

Farms. And for 6l received of the farm of 147 acres 3 roods of pasture of the demesne lands lying in Lyquith More, 7 acres of pasture called Redcrofte, 2 acres of pasture lying in Oldefeld, 3 acres of pasture in Torcoteshokes and Danyell Hok, of one parcel of pasture of land and meadow called Roggeshokes, with one parcel of land lying by Roggereshokes, which John Mascold formerly held and afterwards David ap Jacke Rudynge, and now demised unto Thomas Gatheley to farm, and afterwards demised unto David Mathewe, now occupied by my lady the Countess this year.

Sum 6l by farm.

Farm of the Fisheries. And for 9s. received of the farm of the fishery of Middelwere and the fishery of the water of Middelwere aforesaid as far as the Bishop's land, so demised unto Henry Mower this year.

Sum 9s. by farm.

Issues of the Manor. For 5 acres and a half of bondsmen's meadow, formerly of Roger Haywarde, he answers nothing here, because it is demised with other bond lands. But he answers for 3s. 4d., received of 2 acres of meadow of the part of 32 acres three roods of meadow in the meadow of Russham, so sold to divers tenants there this year, an acre for 20d.; and not for more, because 29 acres 3 roods of the said meadow are mown to the use of the lord, and one acre of the said meadow is delivered to the appraisor for his fee by ancient custom. For the hay there sold he is nothing charged here, because there was no sale within the time of the Account. For receipts from honey and wild wax or swarms of bees he is nothing charged here, because none was found within the time of the Account, within that lordship this year. For receipts from the sale of underwood there nothing this year, because no sale happened within the time of the account. But he answers for 5s. 8d. received from the second crop of the meadow of Russham in the year preceding, remaining unsold, so demised this year. For the second crop of the same meadow of Russham of this year he is nothing charged here, because it remains in the hands of the lord as yet unsold; therefore the aforesaid Accountant will answer at the next account [margin: "to be remembered in the next."] Nor for reeds there sold this year nothing.

Sum 9s.

Sale of the Herbage of meadows. For the herbage of half an acre of meadow formerly of Robert Wilcoke he is nothing charged here, because (it is) to rent in the new Rental. Nor for one acre of meadow in Westewhitnoke he is nothing charged here, because it is rented to John Mascolde as appears in the new Rental. Nor for one acre in Cowmede formerly of William Davy he answers nothing here, because it was rented to William Vaure as appears in the said new Rental, and now demised unto William Cowp^re with his whole tenure. But he answers for 25s. 7d. received of the herbage of 18 acres 1 rood of meadow lying in divers places in the salt marsh, sold unto the divers persons underwritten at divers prices this year; whereof from John Mascolde the elder for 2 and a half acres 16d.; of Maurice Mascolde for 4 acres 4s. 6d.; of John Revell for 4 acres 5s. 8d.; of John Robyn for one acre and 3 roods 3s. 1d.; of Richard Robyn for one acre and a half 2s. 6d.; of John Willy for half an acre 10d.; of Thomas Clerke for half an acre 12d.; of the same Thomas Clerke for 2 acres and a half 4s. 2d.; of William Smythe for one acre and a half 2s. 6d.; and not for more, because 2 acres are mown to the use of the lord; 3 acres lie in the hands of the lord and no profit thence arose by the oath of the Accountant, and were in part destroyed by a flood of the sea happening this year; and one acre called the Harpe Acre is granted to Thomas Clerke with his farm above. But he answers for 5s. received of 4 acres 1 rood in Corfham within the said salt marsh, sold unto Maurice Mascolde this year, not contained in the preceding Account but newly discovered by examination made upon the account. And for 9s. received of the farm of the meadow called Smalemede, sold to David Ryes this year. And for 2s. received of one parcel of reeds in the salt marsh by the bridge, sold to Maurice Mascolde this year.

Sum 41s. 7d.

Sale of the herbage of pasture. For 2 acres of demesne pasture he answers nothing here, because sold above with the demesne land. Nor for 3 acres of demesne pasture in Torcoteshok he is nothing charged here, because (they are) to farm in the hands of my lady the Countess with other demesne pastures as in the title of Issues of the Manor. Nor for 4 acres of demesne pasture before Rogershok nothing, because rented above unto John Mascold as appears in the new Rental. Nor for 2 acres and a half of pasture in Russhamwey, formerly of John Morys. Nor for 2 acres and a half of pasture there, formerly of the said John, he answers nothing here; because (they are) to rent in the hands of John Mascolde, as appears in the said new Rental. Nor for one cot formerly of Walter Ithell, which was wont to render 6d., he is nothing charged here, because (it is) to farm in the hands of John Mascold. Nor for one cot formerly of John Watts, which was wont to render by the year 2d., nothing, for the cause aforesaid. Nor for one cot formerly of Robert Rogger, which was wont to render by the year 2d., nothing, for the cause aforesaid.

Sum none.

Perquisites of Court. And for 23s. received of the perquisites of 2 Courts there holden this year, as appears by the Roll of the same.

Sum 23s.

Sum of the whole Rent with Arrears 31l 8¾d.

Tithe paid. Whereof he counts paid to the Rector of the church there, for tithe of underwood above sold this year, nothing, because no sale happened for the time of the Account.

Sum none.

Allowance and loss of Rent. But he accounts in allowance of rent and works of the Reeve and Reaper there, by reason of their offices, by the year, as was allowed in preceding Accounts, 4s. 8d. only; to wit, for the Reaper, to each of them 4s. 8d. And in allowance of the rent of one acre of land of the tenure formerly of William Davy, which Henry Hogges held; for that the said acre is demised unto Gruffith ap Owen with his whole tenure, as appears in the title of Rents of Assise, by the year 4d. And in loss of the rent of 2 acres and a half of meadow of the tenure of the aforesaid William, now demised unto John Watt with his whole tenure, as above in the title of farms, by the year 3s. And in loss of the rent of one parcel of pasture formerly of Llewelyn Hope, for that it is doubly charged in the Rental, by the year 8d. And in loss of the rent of one acre of meadow formerly of William Davy, late rented to John Watt as appears by Roll of Court; now demised unto Gruffith ap Owen with his whole tenure, at the old rent, by the year 16d. And in allowance of the rent and works of half a bond tenure formerly of Walter Porter, coming into the hands of the lord after the death of the said Walter; whereof he answers above in the title of Issues of bondsmen's lands, by the year 2s. 4d. And in loss of the rent of demesne lands and tenements lying in the hands of the lord for lack of tenants— where the said lands and tenements lie is not known, nor is it known where the said rent should be distrained for, except that allowances above in that Account of Rent of Assise as well of freemen as of bondmen and customars, above in divers titles particularly charged (as appears by Inquisition of a certain Extent thereof by 12 jurors before the demesne commissioners of my lady Isabel, late Countess of Warwick) were made upon the Account of the 32nd year preceding, examined and in the Treasury of the Remembrancer of the Castle of Kardyff remaining, beyond that which is above allowed 22s. 4½d. And in allowance of the farm of John Mascolde for one bond tenure and 12 acres of bondsmen's land now in the hands of Thomas Clerke, as above in title of issues of the demesne lands and bondsmen's lands, 2s. 8d.; for that the said tenure and land were within his farm above, and now unto the aforesaid Thomas Clerke demised for the term of his life, by Roll of Court of the 18th year preceding; and so the aforesaid 2s. 8d. are to be yearly allowed to the aforesaid John Mascolde, &c.

Sum 37s. 4½d.

Expences of the Steward. And he accounts in expences of the Steward here being, for the 2 Courts abovesaid there this year to be holden, as appears by the Roll thereof; namely, for each Court 12d.—2s. And in a reward made to the Clerk writing the rolls and extracts of the Court, together with parchment bought for the same, namely, for each Court 6d.—12d.

Sum 3s.

Custody of the Meadows, with allowances. And in mowing of 12 acres and a half of the meadow of Russham, to the use of the Lord, by the customary tenants, with strewing (and) turning of the grass of the said meadow and making hay of it; for each acre 7d.—7s. 3½d. And in mowing of 17 acres I rood of the meadow aforesaid, and 2 acres of meadow in the salt marsh, by piecework, to the use of the said Lord, with other works in the making of the hay of the same, taking for each acre 14d.—20s. 1½d. And paid unto Maurice Mascolde, Thomas Clerke and others, with their wains and oxen carrying 30 waggon-loads of hay from the meadow aforesaid as far as the Castle; namely, for each carriage 6d.—15s. And paid unto John Robyns and other labourers, for 10 days, working between them and helping to house the said hay within the Castle; to each of them 4d. a day—3s. 4d. And allowed unto the said Accountant of arrears, as of moneys by him in the 3rd year preceding paid for hay provided for the horses of John Nanfan, Constable of the Castle of Kardyff; for that the grass of the Lord's meadow had in that year been destroyed by a flood, as is witnessed upon the account, 20s.

Sum 65s. 9d.; whereof of arrears 20s.

Wages and Stipends. And in the wages of the said Patrick Cryspy exercising the office of Reeve there, now accounting, and exercising the office of Reeve of the Manor of Roothe, because of his office by the year, taking 3d. a day, unto him granted; to be taken year by year by his own hands, of the issues and profits of his office, while the said Patrick should remain in the said office, at the terms of Easter and Michaelmas by the year equally, by Letters Patent of my Lady Isabel, late Countess of Warwick, thereof unto the said Patrick directed and upon the Account of the 31st year preceding alleged and enrolled, 4l. 11s. For the stipend of the keeper of the beasts this year feeding in divers parcels of demesne pasture, as well in the winter time as in the summer, nothing is allowed here, because the said pasture and demesne land are set to farm above.

Sum 4l 11s.

Payment of Moneys. And in moneys paid unto John Throkmorton, Constable of the Castle of Kardyff and the Receivor there, of the charge of Henry Mower, farmer of the fishery of Middelwere now accounting; as well of his arrears as of his new farm of this year, 16s. 7d., by bill thereof; of arrears 7s. 7d., and of the new farm 9s.

Enrolled. And unto the said Receivor, of the charge of the aforesaid Patrick Crispy, exercising the office of Reeve there, now accounting, of part of his arrears of the year preceding, 10s. by Indenture.

Sum 26s. 7d.

Sum of allowances and payments 11l 3s. 8½d.

And he owes 19l 17s. ¼d.

Out of which allowed unto the said Accountant 14d.; whereof 6d. paid for repair of the "pinfold" at Lyquith and 8d. paid for a hedge around the meadow in the salt marsh this year, by oath of the said Accountant and by witness of the appraisor upon this Account.

And he owes 19l 15s. 10½d.

Whereof upon:—

David Mathewe, late farmer of Lyquith More, 6l.

My Lady the Countess of Warwick, farmer of Liquith More, now of her new farm of this year, 6l.

Patrick Crispy, exercising the office of Reeve there, now accounting, with 65s. 7¼d. of arrears and with 4l 10s. 3d. of the issues of this year, 7l 15s. 10¼d.

Value there this year, with 4l 10s. of the price of 30 waggon-loads of hay of the issues of the meadows of this year, remaining of the store within the Castle; price of a waggon-load 3s.—15l 9s. 3d.

[Endorsed.]

Lyquith. Account there, ended at Michaelmas in the 34th year of the reign of Henry VI. [1456.]