The Court Rolls and Other Records of the Manor of Ightham as a Contribution to Local History

\ \ 􀀕 \• 􀀖 I . -300-• ·1 --· r' -I' , \ /" - I ...... , 1,-. \ _i - \. ... / \• ...1. .... JL ' J ,,/ I / ('-- 1r I i \. ___ """· \ 1·-- i .I ' (. \ -- I , 􀀅 \WR􀀆THAM I.,.. .I \->,, / \.1 MANoR < c·-- \'- \, \ j \ \ '----.. \ \... ·, ·.._ \,_ '\ . / ,? . ' ' ) , ) ) ' / ___ , ,' .) ,' r /• <...• •\ r· \' ,I \ I 'I (. \ I I i r' \ , . _ _, t \ I } \ / / ( SKETCH MAP OF IGHTHAM PARISH AND MANOR., [ lfjhth.am Parish iru:u.JAiS St Ckre estak _ tglztham Manor iJoes ,wt' J Scalt- 1􀀄1e 􀀐 rch􀀑.ologia 􀀒antinna. THE COURT ROLLS AND OTHER RECORDS OF THE MANOR OF IGHTHAM AS A CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL HISTORY. BY SIR EDWARD HARRISON. (Concluded from Vol. XLVIII, p. 218). Section (l)-PO.ACHING. A few cases of rabbit poaching occur in the 1490-1508 group of Court Rolls. None of these cases relates in terms to poaching in Oldbury Hill, although Sir Percival Willoughby wrote in 1605 that, "for conneys Olburye Hill hathe binn allways thought as fi.tt a place as anye in the countiee."1 1.5.1492. Thomas Hawke took a litter of rabbits upon the demesne lands of the lord, without licence from the lord and his farmer. 28.10.1492. William Essex, alias William Brownyng, and William Westwell of Ightham, taillor, broke into an enclosure of the lord at Ightham called Hyghfeld and hunted there, and on divers occasions took and carried away the rabbits there, to the value of 2s., against the peace of our Lord the K.ing. Fined 4d. each. 6.1.1492-3. Thomas Chipstede, on 3 February, 1491-2, broke a close of the lord at Ightham and took away one bundell of brushwood oaks to the value of 2d. The said Thomas is a common hunter of rabbits on the land of the lord of the manor, without licence from the lord, his officers, or tenants. 1 See Vol. XLVIII, pp. 177-8. 2 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 1.5.1493. Thomas Chipstede (2s.) and Simon Smyth (12d.), servant of Thomas Tailor, on 24 January, 1492-3, broke the close of the lord of the manor, and assaulted John Hasylherst, and hunted there and took and carried away rabbits. 1.5.1493. John Partrich of Seale, "tabrer ", Thomas Hayte, lately of Seale, tailor, and William Digaon, with others, broke the close of the lord of the manor at Hevyhach, and with nets and ferrets hunted there and took, killed, and carried away rabbits. Fined 12d. each. 4.3.1500-1. Laurence James of Ightham, Robert Bright, jun., of Stanstede, la.borer, and Poket of Stanstede, laborer, on 2 January, 1499-1500, broke into the close of William Stawle at Ightham, and then and there in the night time of the same day hunted Stawle's rabbits and took, slew and carried them away. And Thomas Chipstede was fined 3d. for trespass, and John at Reale for taking away the lord's trees without licence. The last sentence follows the previous passage without a break, as if all the offences took place when the poaching was done. The notorious Thomas Chipstede and John at Heale were probably not actually caught poaching, though suspected of it, but were fined for such minor offences as could be brought home to them. In the following case the poachers seem to have set up the defence that they were not taking rabbits on the lord's land [Conyngerd, or Coney Earth] but on the adjoining field Ovyches, which was not part of the lord's demesnes. 4.8.1505. The homage say that the lord and his farmer have been accustomed from old time to have charge of the hedge between Conyngerd and Ovyches, and to take their rabbits feeding in Ovyches. And that William Parker (3d.), John Benet (4d.), William Chipstede (2d.), and John Wulferich, jun. (2d.), and John Wells (2d.) and others took rabbits there, contrary to the said custom. 23.2.1505-6. John Benet, sen., of Wrotham, yoman, William Parker of Wrotham, husbandman, William Chipstede ofWrotham, tyle-maker, on 23 January, 1505-6, and at divers times before and afterwards, took with nets at Ightham and carried awa.y divers rabbits of William Stawley, farmer there, value 20s. Fined 6d. each. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 3 Section (m)-BREAKERS OF THE PEACE. Cases of breaking the peace are found in considerable numbers in the 1586-1618 group of Court Rolls, most of them consisting of street fights and common assaults of a not very serious nature. It will be noticed that in some of the later entries the value of the instrument with which a blow was struck is commonly stated, suggesting that, on the analogy of deodands, the offending weapon or its value, was forfeited. 27.4.1587. William Petley, William Siggisse, and one George, a servant of the said William Petley, broke the peace of our Lady the Queen near an enclosure, at a holly tree. Fined 6d. each. 27.4.1587. The jury present the wife of William Webb and the wife of Robert Huntick as common brawlers, quarrellers, and disturbers of the peace, against the peace of our Lady the Queen and in bad example of the neighbours. Wherefore, since there are no convenient means of punishing them, they are to be punished at discretion. The above entry, which has the side note, "The Jury doth revoke ambo," may mean that Ightham had no ducking stool for scolds, and that it was therefore, left to the jury to devise a suitable punishment for the offenders. This they failed to do, and got out of the difficulty at the following View by revoking their previous presentment :- 2.10.1587. The jury present that the wives of William Webb and Robert Huntick are not common quarrellers, as was previously represented.. 2.10.1587. Walter Gardiner and John Goffe fought together and drew blood. Walter was fined 20d. and John 3s. 4d., because the latter made the attack and gave first occasion [for the fray]. The fight between Gardiner and Goffe arose, no doubt, from Goffe's having rescued his cattle, which Gardiner had taken for distress. For this offence Goffe was fined 3s. 4d. at the Court Baron.1 2.10.1587. William Staley and George Staley fought together. Fined 20d. each. 1 See Section (q), post, p. 31. 4 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 2.10.1587. Edward Wood assaulted George Staley. Fined 20d. 3.10.1588. William Petley struck John Boroughes upon the head with an iron hammer, and drew blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 3.10.1588. Robert Baldwyn and Robert Bound fought together with their hands. Fined 12d. each. 3.10.1588. William Bennett and John Boroughe fought together. Fined 12d. each. 11.4.1589. Thomas Brissenden assaulted John Borroughe in the village of Itham, and struck him with a stick, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. The said John Borroughe at the same time and place assaulted Thomas Brissenden, and struck him with a stick, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 1.10.1589. Colbe and Edward Lambert, on 28 September, 1589, assaulted each other. Fined 12d. each. 6.10.1591. Henry Peckham, gentleman, on 1 September last, assaulted Haberdijohn at Ightam in Haberdijohn's house, and then and there struck him with his dagger, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 5.10.1591. William Pettley, on 2 September last, assaulted George Hawke and struck him with his fist. Fined 12d. George Hawke then and there assaulted the said William. Fined 6d. 6.10.1591. George Staley, on 3 September last, assaulted David Siflet and struck him with a stone, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. David Siflett then and there assaulted George. Fined 12d. 5.10.1591. Robert Launder, on 2 September, assaulted Robert Bownd, and struck him, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. Robert Bownde then and there assaulted Robert Launder. Fined 6d. 5.4.1592. Robert Brissenden assaulted Ralph Shelden, servant of Robert Wade, at Ightam, and hit him with a stick, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. each. 5.4.1592. Nicholas Barret and Samuell Mere assaulted each other. Fined 4d. each. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 5 5.4.1592. John Borow and Thomas Borow assaulted Thomas Stretfild, drawing blood. Fines, John and Thomas Borow, 3s. 4d. each, Thomas Stretfild 4d. 5.4.1592. The said John Borow is " a common quarreller " with his neighbours, and " an alehouse haunter ", to the bad example of the inhabitants and his own considerable danger. Fined 12d. 11.10.1592. Walter Gardner, on 12 September last, assaulted John Bound in the highway at Ightam. Fined 12d. 26.4.1593. Francis Greentree and Thomas Peres, on 20 October, 1592, assaulted each other at Itham, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. each. 5.4.1594. Thomas Castleden, on 2 April last, assaulted in the village of Ightam a certain man living at Gravesend. Fined 12d. 5.4.1594. John Woodland and Walter Willard, on 1 April last, assaulted each other in the village of Ightam. Fined 12d. each. 5.4.1594. John Willard, sen., on the same day assaulted John Woodland within the precincts of this Lete. Fined 12d. 5.4.1594. Richard Johnson of Ightam and James Woodden ofLighe met together unlawfully at Ightam in the night time and conducted themselves impudently towards George Stalie of Ightam, in disturbance of the Queen's lieges there abiding. Fined 12d. each. 5.4.1594. The said George Stalye remained unlawfully in the night time with Richard Johnson and James Wooden. Fined 12d. 17.10.1594. William Waters of Barowe Grene, on 20 July last, assaulted Walter Staley at Ightam and drew blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 17.10.1594. William Fuller, on 20 July last, assaulted Thomas Blatcher at Ightam and struck him, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 17.10.1594. Christopher Romney, on 20 July last, assaulted William Waters at Ightam and struck him, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 24.4.1595. Robert Baldwyn assaulted George Hawkes at Itham and struck him with his fists. Fined 6d. 6 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTRAM. 8.5.1598. Samuel Mare, about 1 November last, assaulted Robert Baldwyn in the public way at Ightam, and Robert Baldwin in defending himse1£ broke the head of Samuel : wherefore Samuel was fined 3s. 4d. 8.5.1598. William Willmott, yoman, on 7 May, 1598, broke the head of Richard Austin with his dagger and drew blood. Fined 5s.-remitted because he is in the service of the lord. At first sight the remission of Willmott'a fine for the reason given looks indefensible, but the entry which follows puts a different complexion on the matter. 8.5.1598. Richard Austin, labourer, attached to himse1£ five other armed persons in the night of Saturday, 6 May, 1598, and they assaulted William Willmott in the mansion house called" Ightam Courtlodg ", and with an iron-shod stick which he held in his hands he broke the head of William Willmot, and drew blood, against the peace of our Lady the Queen and to the alarm of her people. Fined 5s. 24.4.1599. Thomas Castleton, on 10 March last, assaulted John Huntick and struck him with a stick, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 24.4.1599. John Ley, on 20 March last, assaulted John Johnson. Fined 3s. 4d. John Johnson then and there assaulted John Ley and drew blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 24.4.1599. Robert Averill and William, servant of John Wood, gent., on 1 March last, assaulted each other. Fined 12d. 20.10.1600. Robert Averell assaulted --. Fined 12d. 20.10.1600. Mary, wife of Edward Lambard, and the wife of John Garland assaulted John Johnson, drawing blood. Edward and John [Garland] were fined 20d. 20.10.1600. Edward Tunbridge, on 20 September last, assaulted Robert Baldwin, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. Robert Baldwin then and there assaulted Edward Tunbridge, drawing blood. Fined 20d. 20.10.1600. Stanley assaulted John Willard, drawing blood. Fined 20d. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTH.A.M. 7 16.4.1601. Thomas Castleton, on 20 March last, assaulted Alexander Thompson in the highway. Fined 3s. 4d. At the same Court Castleton was fined 5s. for being a common drunkard. 1.4.1602. Thomas Castleton and Robert Averill, on 10 March last, assaulted George Bownde in the highway at Ightam and drew blood. Fined 3s. 4d. ea.eh. The said George Bownde then and there assaulted the said Thomas and Robert. Fined 12d. 19.4.1604. Thomas Williamson, on 30 December last, assaulted John Emerson, and struck him on the head with his dagger, value 12d., drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 19.4.1604. Robert Warde, on 1 November last, assaulted John Williams and struck him with a stick, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 16.10.1604. Thomas Couchman, on 4 October last, assaulted Richard Mathew in the house of Robert Ward at Igham, and struck him with a stick, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. Richard Mathew on the same day assaulted Thomas Couchman. Fined 6d. 16.10.1604. John Wiborne, on 3 October last, assaulted Richard Mathew. Fined 12d. 16.10.1604. William Bennet, sen., in 1602 assaulted Nicholas Barret and struck him with his dagger, value 6d., drawing blood, in the house of John Willard lately of Igtham deceased. Fined 3s. 4d. 16.10.1604. William Glover on 30 September last at Oldburie Rill assaulted Edward Lambard, and drew blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 16.10.1604. Weston Balden on the same day assaulted Edward Lambard in the highway at Oldburie Rill. Fined 6d. 4.10.1605. Robert Palmer of Wrotham assaulted John Baldewyn at Igtham and struck him with a stick, value 2d., drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 13.10.1606. Lewys Williams, on 20 August last, assaulted Prudence Martyn, wife of James Martyn, and struck her with a pitchfork, value 3d., drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 22.10.1607. Edward Lambert, on 19 October, assaulted James Butler and drew blood. Fined 2s. 8 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 2.10.1615. Richard Stuborne, on 30 December last, assaulted one Simon, gardener to Sir William Selby, and then and there struck him with a hanger, value 12d., drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. William Willard, Stephen Mellis, Peter Mellis, Robert Launder and John Launder then and there took part in the assault and affray, and Price was struck with a certain dagger, value 6d., to the effusioa of blood, but by whom the jury are utterly ignorant. William, Srephen, Peter, Robert and John were fined 12d. each. 16.10.1616. Thomas Richardson, about Christmas last, assaulted Reginald Hasden and struck him with a stick of no value, drawing blood. Fined 3s. 4d. 16.10.1616. Reginald Hasden, about 30 November last, assaulted Robert Kipps. Fined 12d. 23.10.1617. Thomas Pa.rvyn, a.bout 24 August last, assaulred Thomas Richardson and drew blood. Fined 3s. 4d. Thomas Richardson then and there assaulred Thomas Parvyn. Fined 2s. 6d. Section (n)-PuBLIC DUTIES AND THE PUBLIO WELFARE. Cases in the Court Rolls falling under these heads vary considerably in character, and the chronological sequence has been interrupted in order to bring similar cases together. All lads on reaching the age of twelve years had to take the oath of allegiance, or, in earlier language, to be sworn into the Assize. Parents, guardians, employers and others were required to bring to the View for this purpose the youths in their charge. The records of these cases are all in substantially the same form, and only a few examples are given here, beginning with the first recorded case. 28.10.1490. To this Court came John Laneham and William Syflere, aged 12 years and more, and were sworn into the Assize of our Lord the King. 1.5.1507. John Gyles, dwelling with William Pelsowth, and Richard Leechford, dwelling with Richard Weller, have not been sworn to the allegiance of our Lord the King. To be summoned to the next Court to take the oath. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 9 31.5.1556. William Terry was given till the next Court to bring Edward Mowg and Walter Mowg to take the oath of allegiance, under penalty 40d. 4.10.1586. Thomas Syfelett, son of Richard Syfelett, and William Crouchley have dwelt within the precincts of this View of Frank-pledge for the space of one year and more, and are twelve years of age and above, and yet have not hitherto been sworn to the allegiance of our Lady the Queen, wherefore they were sworn here in Court to be faithful, obedient, and loyal subjects. The Assize of Bread and Ale was designed to ensure that the food and drink of the people should be of good quality and full weight or measure, and that excessive prices shonld not be charged. It dates from the reign of Henry III, and the first of the existing Court Rolls contains a list of bakers and brewers who were fined for breaking the Assize -or, in effect, made to pay a small fee or licence duty. Similar lists are found till the seventeenth century. The brewers of the year 1490 include Jane Parker, who brewed once but was excused the usual fine, as a poor person. Isabel Lanem was reported on 28 October, 1490, to have . brewed twice and to have sold her ale before the taster had tasted it, contrary to the proclamation in that behalf made. 1.5.1492. The wife of John Pyers (2d.) has brewed for sale without putting out a sign at her door, contrary to the proclamation. At each View the ale taster for Ightham usually presented the names of several persons who had brewed during the preceding half year. A separate taster for Ivy Hatch1 often presented only one or two names, sometimes none at all, the explanation being, no doubt, that Ivy Hatch was so small a hamlet that little brewing for sale was done there. 28.10.1494. Hevyhaoh. John Tanner, taster there, made no presentments, because he said that no one had brewed for sale since his last report. 1 See page 34. 6 10 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. On the same occasion Robert Giles, the taster for Ightham, had reported that Agnes Hunt (4d.), Isabel Laneham (4d.), Rose Hasilherst (4d.), and Jane Throppe (4d.), had brewed twice, whilst the wife of William Tebold (2d.), the wife of William Pelsoth (2d.), Walter Fuller (2d.), and John Gardyner (2d.) had brewed once. 1.5.1500. Ralph Armestrong, tithing man, presents that Richard [Hawke] (4d.) is a common baker of bread, and sells short weight, and that the wife of Thomas Laneham (2d.) is a baker of bread and sells short weight. 31.5.1556. The wife of Henry Jeffery and William Parker have not exhibited the sign of a brewer. Fined 2d. each, and to remedy it before the next Court. 24.4.1599. Thomas Stretfild (3s. 4d.) is a common ale-house keeper within the precincts of this View, and sells ale in unlawful stone cups, breaking the Assize. There is one reference in the Court Rolls to the exactions of a miller and one to the misdeeds of a mercer :- 17.4.1588. Robert Launder (6d.) is a miller within this View of Frank-pledge, and has taken excessive payment from the inhabitants. 24.4.1595. William Yonge (2s.) is a mercer, and sells his wares by unlawful weights. The evils of overcrowding and of bad sanitary conditions were recognized even so long ago as Elizabethan days:- 22.4.1590. David Warren and Christofer Oulton in a certain cottage of theirs situated at Redwell, and Thomas Ware in a certain cottage of his at Itham do each of them allow" two several howsholds" to abide-contrary to the law in that behalf made. But by the grace of the lord of the manor the prescribed penalty was remitted, and they were given till the next Court to remove the inhabitants from the several cottages, under penalty 10s. 16.4.1601. Isabel Gardener, within the last :five months, has erected a cottage at Radwell in Ightam and " hath not laid unto it" four acres of land, contrary to law, and John Oliver in like manner has erected a cottage there without land, contrary to law. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 11 Many cottages at Ightham had till recently no water supply other than rain, and the springs which trickle out of the Sandgate beds and fill small, hollowed-out pools, called wells. These were once common in the district and several still remain in use to-day. These public wells, together with the intermittent Shode stream or Busty, were of great importance to the inhabitants, and the authorities were alert to protect them from pollution. 2.10.1587. Widow Beverley has corrupted and contaminated with her geese the common water necessary for the daily use of the inhabitants, to their damage, wherefore she was fined 6d. 17.4.1588. Lancelot Woodden has allowed his geese to disturb, dig in and defile a certain water or spring used for the necessary purposes of life by the inhabitants, called Redwell, to the grave inconvenience of the Queen's subjects. Fined 12d., and ordered to abate the nuisance before the next Court, under penalty 3s. 4d. 11.4.1597. Thomas Stretfild has placed a dead dog in the common water-course called the Bustour,1 in corruption of the water and to the inconvenience of the Queen's subjects. Fined 4d., and ordered to remove it before 13 April, under penalty 3s. 4d. 16.10.1604. William Chowninge and Richard Mathew allow their geese and ducks to foul the water at Redwell, to the damage of their neighbours. The penalty imposed upon them was that if they continue to offend in this way they are to forfeit 6s. 8d. for each offence. The inhabitants at large had their own public duties to perform, of which, probably for no other reason than the slow movement of rural life, they had to be reminded from time to time. Neglects in connection with the stocks, the public weights and measures, and the local crow-net were dealt with at the Court.2 1 Or Bustoum. The rea.ding is doubtful, but the reference is plainly to the stream now called the B\lSty. 2 Captain H. W. Knocker has informed the writer that it is usually found elsewhere tha.t the lord had to repair the stocks, the measures, and the pound. This was true at Ightha.m only o.f the pound. 12 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTH.A.M. 11.4.1589. The common stocks of the village of Itham are broken and defective. It was ordered by the steward that they should be repaired by the inhabitants before Whitsunday next, under the penalty provided in the Statute in that behalf. 22.4.1590. The jury present that there is not within this View a common net called a "crow-nett", according to the form of the Statute. By the grace of the lord of the manor the inhabitants were given till the next Court to provide a suitable net, under penalty 10s. 22.4.1590. The common measures of the village of Itham are out of repair. The inhabitants are to repair them before Midsummer Day, under penalty 20s. 26.4.1593. The inhabitants of the village of Ightam were given till Midsummer Day next, under penalty 20s., to repair sufficiently the measures and stocks of the village. 5.5.1603. The common stocks of the village of Ightam are broken and despoiled. The inhabitants were given till Whitsunday to repair them, under penalty 20s. 25.10.1614. The inhabitants of the village of Ightam were given till the next Court to make good the stocks of the village, under penalty. 16.10.1616. The inhabitants of the View of Frank-pledge were given till Lady Day next, under penalty 20s., to repair the stocks and weights. 23.10.1617. The inhabitants of the village of Ightam have forfeited to the lord of the manor the sum of 20s. for neglecting to buy "waytes" for the necessary use of the ale taster of the manor, as they were required to do, within a fixed time, at the last Court. They have now till the next Court to get them, under a like penalty. The Act of 33 Henry VIII, the preamble of which recited that archery was " sore decayed " owing to the invention of " slydethrifte or shovegrote " and other games, required all men to practise shooting with the long bow, and prohibited the keeping for gain of common houses, bowling alleys, and other places for unlawful games. The effects of this legislation are seen in the following passages. 4.10.1586. Edward Rootes is a common ale-house keeper, and has made for his private profit " locum globale vocat' a bowling THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 13 alley", contrary to the law, and divers persona have played bowls there. Fined 3s. 4d., and ordered to destroy the bowling alley and not to restore it, under penalty I0s. 4.10.1586. Henry Allen, borsholder, played bowls once unlawfully, wherefore he was fined 12d. for his bad example. 27.4.1587. Edward Rootes has destroyed the bowling alley, as ordered. 2.10.1587. Sylvester Swann is a common seller of bread and ale, and has allowed Thomas Pearceson, John Borough and Solomon Hasden to play in his alleys at the time of divine prayer, impiously, unlawfully, and irregularly, having no care for the worship of God and not giving due weight to the salutary provisions of the laws in that behalf. Wherefore, it being the first offence, Silvester was fined 6d., and the said Thomas, John and Solomon, unlawful players, were fined 6d. each. 19.4.1604. Richard Chownynge, alias Gregorie, "being a oomon alhouse keper apud Barrow greene ", allows in his house the unlawful game of common dicing. Fined 2s. Persons of bad reputation and living and houses of bad name were also the subjects of presentments at the Courts. 2.10.1587. John Burghe has received in his house a certain woman stranger of bad name (as the jury think). Ordered that she be removed within a month, under penalty I0s. 17.4.1588. John Bourghe has removed the woman stranger of ha.cl name previously received by him. 11.4.1597. Alexander Adam keeps without licence or other legal authority "a victualing howse ", and he has often received and entertained there persona suspected of bad name and conversation, to the alarm of the Queen's subjects ; and he keeps in his house unlawful games of dice and painted cards. Fined 3s. 4d., and ordered to reform these things before Whitsunday, under penalty 20s. 11.4.1597. John Willner keeps "a tipling howse" without licence or other lawful authority, and has often received and entertained there persons suspected of evil name and conversation, to the alarm of the Queen's subjects. And he keeps in his house unlawful games of dice and painted cards. A like order was made as in the preceding case. 14 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 16.4.1601. Thomas Castleton is a common drunkard, in prejudice and bad example of his neighbours. Fined 5s. 22.10.1607. Edward Lambert and his wife, since the last Court, have received and entertained in his house at Ightam at unlawful times persons " of lewd lyfe ", in disturbance of the inhabitants there and contrary to law. Fined 6s. 8d., and, moreover, it was ordered that if the said Edward offends again in this respect, he is to forfeit 10s. for each such offence. Section (o)-STR.ANGERS COME INTO !GHTH.AM. The evils associated with the unrestricted movement of poor persons resulted in such movement being controlled under the old Poor Law, and, after the Restoration, in the law of settlement. Earlier experimental remedies, some of them fruitless, can be traced back to the reign of Henry VII. In the Court Rolls of 1586-1618 there are many records of strangers being received into houses in Ightham without sureties for their good behaviour having been found. The orders made by the Courts were for sureties to be produced, or, failing security, for the strangers to be removed before the following Court, under penalty. Some representative cases have been reproduced below, but similar entries grow tedious by repetition, and numerous extracts have accordingly been cut down to the bare names of the persons concerned and the amounts of the penalties. The latter are of interest, as the varying amounts must be some index to the extent of the current mischief. 4.10.1586. John Goffe (6s. 8d.), by permission of Robert Gariliner (6s. 8d.) and William Chowning (3s. 4d.), by permission of William Siggis (3s. 4d.), and a certain other stranger by the reception and toleration of Richard Pelsott (3s. 4d.), have come within the precincts of this View of Frank-pledge, and have not found two good and sufficient sureties for their good behaviour : wherefore, by the authority of this Court it was ordered that they should produce their sureties by the next Court, or depart, subject to the penalties set against their names. 27.4.1587. William Weston, gentleman, became surety for John Goffe, a stranger come within this View of Frank-pledge, that he will be of good behaviour towards our Lady the Queen THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 15 and all her people, and he [Weston] will answer to the View of Frank-pledge for the :fines and amercements imposed on the said John. 27.4.1587. William Chowning, a stranger, came within this View without finding sureties and was amerced, but at the humble petition of the said William, who is a poor man of good name and fame, he was given till the next Court either to remove or to find sureties, under penalty 12d. The said William was at this Court sworn into the allegiance of our Lady the Queen, he having dwelt within the View of Frank-pledge for a year and a day, being over 30 years of age, and not having previously sworn allegiance. Chowning removed, but not out of the View, for six months later Thomas Ware was found to have received him into his tenement. On 17 April, 1588, it was reported that Ware had removed Chowning. Whether the latter resented his ejection and showed his resentment we do not know, but a year later he and Ware were both fined for assaulting each other. 11.4.1589. Thomas Ware (12d.) assaulted William Chowninge and struck him with his fists. William Chowninge (12d.) also a.ssaulted Thomas Ware and struck him with his fists. Chowninge seems to have succeeded in remaining at Ightham, for in 1592 he was himself fined for receiving strangers. 11.10.1592. William Chowninge has received into his cottage and taken care of Richard Colvyn and his wife "ut extraneos, Anglice inmates", without sureties. To bring sureties or remove them before Lady Day, under penalty 10s. 11.4.1589. Robert Gardiner has received certain strangers into his houses, namely Margaret Warren, Jane Usmer, and Ellen Busbye, who have not found pledges for their good behaviour, but live unlawfully and overburden the common of the lord. To remove them or find sureties, under penalty 6s. 8d. 11.4.1597. Thomas Ware has received into his house called Tebbes, a parcel of customary land, a ·certain Adam Alexander, an inmate and stranger, without sureties. To be removed before l November, under penalty £5. 16 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 20.10.1601. William Weston has taken into his cottage Christopher Bud, Finche, widow, and John Curde, as inmates, without sureties. To find sureties or remove them, under penalty I0s. 5.5.1603. William Weston has forfeited I0s. to the lord of the manor because he has not removed from his cottage Christopher Budd, Widow Fynche and John Crud. The bailiff was ordered to levy the penalty to the use of the lord. 1.4.1602. At this View it was ordered by the jury with the assent of the Steward of 􀃇he Manor that if any inhabitant or tenant of the manor shall have introduced any stranger into the parish of Ightham to dwell there, or shall permit such a person to dwell in his cottages, without sufficient sureties . . [ f or] any such strangers so seized there before Midsummer Day next; following upon the notice of this Court, he is to forfeit the sum of £5, of which one half is to go to the lord of the manor and the other half to the use of the poor of the parish. At the View of Frank Pledge held on 28 October, 1608, the following order was made in English :- Wee the jurors and Inhabitants of the said parishe of Ightam present at this Courte, doe for the better good of the said parishe and inhabitants thearof, Constitute and ordeine, that every suche person and persons whiche shall at any time henceforthe demise, lett, or sett any tenemt. or cottage within the said parishe of Ightam to any person or persons wch. hathe not been an inhabitant there by the space of one whole yeare last past before the daye of the date of this Courte : Or shall suffer, receave, or take as a resiant within the saide parishe of Ightam any person or persons wch. hathe not been an inhabitant there by the space of one whole yeare next before as aforesaid and doth not first put in securitie in the sume of ten pounds to the Churchewardenis and Overseers of the said parishe for the tyme being to discharge, or save harmelesse the parishioners of the said parishe of the said person or persoll8, and of his her and their charge then being or likelie after to issue, shall forfeite and lose to the Lorde of this Manor the summe of twentie shillings for everie month that any suche person or persons shalbe so resiant or dwelling in any suche tenmt. or cottage in the saide parishe ofightam: The one moietie whearof to be to the use of the lorde of the saide Manor, the other moietie to the use of the poore of the said parishe of Ightam. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 17 9.10.1610. John Terrye has received one John Chayrie, a stranger, in his cottage, without sureties for the exoneration of the parish, contrary to the order of 28 October, 1608. Therefore he has forfeited for every month of his reception and retention 20s. The following is a summary of all the remaining cases mentioned in the Court Rolls :- Fine. Fine. Date of Name of Person If Stran- If Stran- Court. receiving a Im- ger not Name of Stran- Im- ger not Stranger. med- removed, ger. med- removed, ia.te. and no iate. and no Sureties. Sureties. found. found. 27.4.1587 Thomas Ware 12d. 3s. 4d. Thomas Walter 6d. 20d. " John Lovegrove 3s. 4d. John Borough 3s. 4d. " Edward Robert Thruppe 3s. 4d. Eglestone 3s. 4d. 5.4.1592 John Lovegrove 10s. Robert Launder and Robert Gardner 10s. " William Walter 10s. Thomas Stace " William Hadlow I0s. Johnson " George Chown- 10s. John Williams ing, and and George Hawke 10s. John Dene " Richard Cohyn 10s. " John Curd 10s. 26.4:i593 Edward Lambert 10s. Jane Powell 10s. Widow Bullinge " John Bownde l0s. John Curd " William Chowninge 10s. John Huntwick 5.10.1593 William Webb l0s. Agnes Bullinge, Widow " Samuel Mare 3s. 4d. " Thomas Baker 3s. 4d. ,, Christopher Budd 3s. 4d. 17.10.1594 John Usroer l0s. Thomas Baker and Samuel Mare 24.4.'fo95 Robert Gardner lOs. Christofer Budd William Richard Lobley, Chittenden 10s. his brother and his wife " Launcelot William Bowes Woodden 10s. and his wife 18 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. Fine. Fine. Date of Name of Person If Stran. If Stra.n• Court. receiving a. Im- ger not Na.me of Stran- Im- ger not Stranger. med- removed, ger. roed- removed, iate. and no iate. and no Sureties Sureties found. found. 11 .4.1597 Edward Weston 40s. George Broome and his wife " Robert Wy- Edward West borne £5 and his wife ,, Walter Gardner and Isabel £5 John Skele Gardner, widow ,, William Webb £5 Butt and his wife " John Willner £5 Lee 8.5.1598 Allohin, clerk 40s. John Lay and his wife " Thomas Guning 40s. Edward West " John Skea.le 4-0s. Jerome Symons " Turner, widow, 40s. Richard Butcher and Mathew Johnson " Thomas Ware 40s. Thom118Lowe " Richard Hayward 40s. Richard Moody 20.10.1600 Thomas Ware l0s. John Vickers " John Terry l0s. Henry Everest " Marten l0s. Suton 20. 10.1601 Richard Hunter 10s. Edward Lambert ,, Stephen, widow lOs. John Rawlins ,, Francis Greenetree 10s. George Bedell 19.4.1604 William Warren £5 John Hubble at Cha.rte Bottome ,, Gabriell Bruer £5 James Butler 16.10.1604! John Emerson l0s. 4.10.1605 John Terrye £5 Henry Martyn ,, Reginald as provi- Elizabeth Styles Haseden ded in Statute. ,, Jane Hamon l0s. Andrew Waters 13.10.1606 do. l0s. l0s. do. 28.10.1608 John Terrye 20s. Richard Shoe- Richard Daye bridge " 10s. George Turner ,, William Porter 20s. Taylor ,, Richard Austen 20s. George William Porter 30s. Stephenson ,, Fathers 11.12.1611 John Terrye £5 Kertman THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 19 Section (p )-SMALL DEBTS. The Court Baron acted for a period as a court for the recovery of debts not exceeding 40s., but this function gradually lapsed owing to the dilatory nature of the procedure and the greater effectiveness of the Court of Requests and, in modern times, the County Court. In considering the extent of the jurisdiction of the Court Baron it must not be lost sight of that 40s. in the fifteenth centW'y would be the equivalent of, perhaps, as many pounds to-day. Many of the cases recorded suffer in interest from lack of detail, or of an ending. Figures sometimes fail to add up to the natural total, and entries may be defective or unintelligible in other respects. In spite of all this, in addition to scraps of information about current prices and economic conditions, there is a good deal of human interest in these records. Cases of debt occur mainly in the 1490-1508 group of Court Rolls, but there are a few brief references to this subject in the 1461-75 group. 28.10.1462. John James complains against Richard Wymbyll for debt. For the next Court. 28.10.1462. Alice Mercer complains against John Smyth for debt. Adjourned till the next Court after the Epiphany. Alice Mercer, however, dropped the case, for against her name is written, " Non pros." In a list of fines imposed on 12 June, 1466, Richard Jekyn of Sele is marked as amerced 3d. in a debt case between him and Geoffrey Taylor, and on 20 March, 1474-5, John Hamme was charged 3d. for licence to settle out of Court a similar case between him and William Sawyere, sen. After 1490 the entries become more informative, but usually include particulars of formal steps (e.g. the taking of security for prosecution of a case) and other legal processes which for the sake of brevity have been omitted from the extracts given below. 18.ll.1490. John Tryce complains against Walter Fuller for debt. Order made to summon the defendant. 20 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 14.2.1490-1. Walter Fuller was summoned to answer John Tryce for debt. [Marked in the margin, "Non pros.".] 18.11.1490. Laurence Jamys complains against Thomas Lannem for debt. Adjourned by consent of parties till the next Court, when he failed to appear. Fined 2d. The defendant also failed to appear on 14 February, 1490-1, and was again fined 2d. 1.5.1491. Laurence Jamys, complainant, and Thomas Lannem, defendant, applied for licence to agree . .A small fee, usually 3d., was charged for permission to settle by agreement a case which had come before the Court. 14.2.1490-1. A day was fixed, namely at the next Court, for the case between Walter Fuller and John Tebold. 28.10.1491. Robert None complains against William Fuller for debt, 13d., namely, for oats bought from him on 14 June. The defendant acknowledged the debt, which was ordered to be levied against the next Court. 28.10.1491. William a Ware complains against John Tebold for debt 8s. He states that the defendant, on 10 February, 1490-1, bought from him an o:x for 18s., of which he paid on the day aforesaid, 10s. Tebold was attached by two heifers to answer the claim, which, however, was settled out of Court. 28.10.1491. Emmotte None complains against William Fuller for debt 20d. She appeared in person and said that the defendant owed that amount for land let to him. The defendant admitted that he owed the money, which, he paid in Court, with 4d. for costs and expenses. 8.12.1491. William a Forde complains against Thomas Pelsowth for debt lls. 4d. The defendant was attached by 13 sheep, value 13s. The plaintiff, by his attorney, William James, stated that on 10 October, 1485, the defendant borrowed from him 4s. He was surety for the defendant to Thomas Levesoth of Gowdeherst for 2s., and the residue, 5s. 4d., was for fresh fish which the plaintiff delivered to the defendant at Ightham. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 21 The defendant asked for leave to imparl with the plaintiff till the next Court and on 25 June, 1492, the parties were allowed to settle out of Court. 6.3.1491-2. Sarah Chipstede, widow, as executrix of the will of William Chipstede, complains against William Tebold for debt 7s. 4d. Orders were made at eight different Courts to distrain Tebold to answer the claim, and there the case ends. He was probably not worth powder and shot. 24.3.1491-2. Ordered that William Goddyn be distrained to answer Richard Wybarn for debt. He was attached by two oxen, value 20s. Goddyn also displayed a masterly inactivity, and five further distraint orders were made against him, with no recorded outcome. The entry from which the following particulars have been taken is partly illegible, and the arithmetic seems to be faulty. 25.6.1492. Laurence James complains against William Fuller, jun., for debt 3s. 2d. The plaintiff states that 2s. is owed to him for a saddle delivered by him to the defendant, and 8d. for (1 taking] a horse from Ightham to Flemewell, and 8d. for (1 the carriage of something] of the defendant to Yaldyng. The case seems to have been settled out of court. In a case mentioned on 5 December, 1493, between John Cuddy and Thomas Maryner, the defendant was attached by one "oUam eueam," apparently some kind of earthenware jug. 3.2.1495-6. Thomas Burton complains against John Throppe for debt 19s. 4d., because the defendant, on 20 July, 1495, bought from him four quarters of malt, to be paid for before Christmas last past. The defendant was distrained by two oxen value 20s. He does not appear and is in mercy. The case was settled out of Court. The record of the next case is defective, part of a page having been torn away. 22 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 21.12.1496. John Frensshe and Richard Frensshe, by their attorney William Stawley, complain against Thomas Fuller for the return of five sheep, value 6s., and also that he owes them 12d. for [1 payment for services] for two years from 2 February, 1493-4 to 1495-6. He has neither returned the sheep nor paid the 12d. The defendant asks for time to imparl. On 1 February, 1496-7, a jlll'Y to inquire into the case was named, but the defendant did not appear punctually. Before the Court rose, however, he came in, and stated that he owed nothing and did not detain the plaintiff's property. 1.5.1497. John Forde complains against William Fuller for debt 5s. 5d. He says that the defendant owes him 12d. for one "jaket" bought from him at Ightham, and the remainder of the debt for the carriage of fresh fish from Godehurst to Ightham on various occasions. After an adjournment, the case was settled out of Court. An involved case, the point of which seems to be a disputed apportionment of rent, was recorded in 1497. 23.11.1497. John Tryce complains against Henry Hasylherst for the payment of 4s., which he says he owes and detains unjustly. He says that the defendant holds a house and garden, formerly Denis Runt's, and afterwards the property of John Williams, father of John Williams of Strode, for which house the tenants of John Watts paid a rent of 4d., and which the plaintiff now holds by rent 4d., which 4d. he is bound to pay each year to the lord for the said house. The defendant denied liability, and the case, after being mentioned at several Courts, was settled by the verdict of a jury on 22 May, 1498. It was found that Hasylherst held certain lands of the lord of the manor, and was bound to pay therefor a rent determinable by the respective acreages of his land and of Tryce's land. The lands were ordered to be measured by the parties before 5 June, 1498, a course which Hasylherst declined to take. 14.12.1497. Robert Brode and Jane his wife, executrix: of the will of Walter Fuller, complain against William Fuller, jun., for debt 5s. 4d., in respect that the defendant bought of the said THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 23 Jane, on 10 February, 1496-7, a horse for 6s. Sd., of which he paid to her ls. 4d. A licence to agree out of Court was granted, but on 23 January, 1497-8, William Fuller was reported to have made default "de lege sua, viz., se tribus manibus," a t the suit of Robert Brode, that is, h e had failed t o carry out his undertaking to produce three witnesses to swear to his veracity. 14.12.1497. John Partrich complains against Thomas Laneham for debt 2s. 4d., for wool bought from him at Ightham. The defendant admitted the debt. 12.6.1499. John Bewgle was attached by [a blank] to answer John Tryce, jun., for debt, and does not appear. Fined 4d. On 3 July, "John Bewgill" admitted that he owed the plaintiff 3s. 2d. "Therefore," the entry continues, "the custom is that the said John (Tryce) should recover against the said John B ewgill the said debt together with expenses and costs of the Court." The judgement was not satisfied, for on 18 November "John Begull" was again before the Court. The entry is marked" Non pros.," the debt and costs, with a further fine of 3d., having a pparently been paid at the last moment. 23.7.1499. Richard Weller complained against John Burdon for debt 3s. 8d. The defendant admitted the debt in Court. 23.7.1499. Ramo Wymbyll was distrained to answer Thomas Hawke for debt, and does not appear. 10.10.1499. John Kyng and Elizabeth his wife complain against Thomas Gardyner, alias Court, for detention of a silver ring called a sygnet, value 2s. 8d. The plaintiff said that on 10 October, 1494, Elizabeth delivered the ring to a certain William Gardyner for safety. And the said William delivered it to the defendant with the intention of re-delivering it to the said Elizabeth when she should ask for it. She had often done so. On 28 October, 1499, Walter Pelsowth, a ttorney to the defendant, asked for time to imparl. Three weeks later 24 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. the defendant asked to be allowed to wage his law twohanded [to bring two witnesses to his veracity]. On 21 December he was called upon to do so but failed to appear. " Therefore he is in mercy." The family of Pelsatt (the name, as usual, is variously spelt) were substantial land holders in Ightham for several generations, but included one impecunious member, Thomas Pelsouth, who was sued for debt on several occasions. He first appeared as defendant in a complaint by William a Forde on 8 December, 1491, for a debt of lls. 4d., the particulars of which are set out above. During the years 1499-1506 this man's name was constantly coming up in debt cases. 18.11.1499. Thomas Pelsouth was ordered to be distTained to answer William Taylor for debt. 4.3.1499-1500. William Taylor of Wynfild complains against Thomas Pelsowth for debt 4s. 4d. 25.3.1500. Thomas Pelsouth was distrained by a horse, value 10s., to answer William Taylor of Wynfild for debt 4s. 4d. He does not come. He and his sureties a.re in mercy as he had previously admitted the debt. He was similarly reported as distrained by a horse at two Courts in October, 1500. 20.11.1500. Thomas Pelsouth was distrained by a horse, value 10s., to answer William Taylor, sen., for debt, and is in mercy by his sureties, John Swetyng and Laurence James, whom the said Thomas puts in his place. Laurence James acknowledged the debt, 4s. 4d., which he and John Swetyng undertook to pay at the next Court. 1.4.1501. John Swetyng and William Pelsouth appeared at this Court, and became sureties for payment at the next Court, to be held on I May next, of 4s. 4d., with 12d. (1 for expenses] on behalf of Thomas Pelsouth, to the use of William Taylor. 4.8.1505. John Thropp complains against William Pelsowth and William Fuller for debt 6s. 8d. They were separately distrained by two horses, value 13s. 4d. The plaintiff says that the defendants, on 10 February, 1504-5, became sureties to pay the plaintiff the said 6s. Sd. for Thomas Pelsowth, whenever THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 25 thereto required. The debt has often been demanded but has not been paid. William Pelsowth in person admitted liability for 3s. 4d. William Fuller did not appear and was fined 2d. 25.9.1505. William Fuller was distrained by two horses to answer John Thropp for debt and does not appear. 28.10.1505. William Fuller appeared and admitted that he owed John Throp 3s. 4d., which he is in mercy to pay for Thomas Pelsowth. Order for recovery made. 28.10.1505. Reginald Guerhard complains against Thomas Pelsowth for debt 2s. 4d., which the defendant admitted in Court. He was given time till the Epiphany. 23.2.1505-6. At this Court Reginald Guerhard appeared against Thomas Pelsowth for debt 2s. 4d., and asked for judgement because Thomas admitted the debt at the preceding Court. And upon this, John Pyers paid the plaintiff 2s. 4d., and the defendant remains in mercy. We now go baok a few years to pick up cases in which Thomas Pelsowth was not involved. 18.11.1499. William Burdon was ordered to be di.strained to answer Richard Weller. 6.2.1499-1500. Richard Miller complained against Thom.as Laneham for debt 6s. 8d. He said that on 20 June, 1499, the defendant bought from him one quarter of corn for 6s. 8d., to be paid for before I August. The debt had not been paid. 16.4.1500. William Hobyll complained against William Pelsouth, Henry Hasylherst, and John Throp for debt. The defendants were twice distrained to answer the claim, but did not appear. 28.10.1500. John Godewyn complains against Ramo Wymbyll for debt 2s. He says that the defendant bought from him, on 1 October, wares called "an old stapill" for the said 2s., which was to be paid by 13 October. The defendant says that he owes nothing. The case was referred to a jury, but, after several adjournments, it was settled out of Court. 12.6.1504. William Fuller was summoned to answer William James for debt 9s. The plaintiff says that on 14 October, 1498, 6 26 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. the defendant borrowed from the plaintiff's wife 3s. 4d., and 2s. for the rent of one "sydelove " in the year 1500-1, of which he repaid in fresh fish 4d. And he owes for ploughing a piece of land belonging to him 2s. 8d., and for ploughing with his own plough for 2½ days, 20d. And for making two doles of syder, 4d. The defendant admitted that he owed 2d. but no more. Case to go to a jury. The claim of 9s. becomes intelligible only if it was the defendant who made the cider. An account would then read as follows :- Dr. Borrowed of Mrs. James .. Owing for rent of " sydelove " Owing for ploughing " " " Total William Fuller. Or. 4d. 3s. 4d. 2s. 0d. 2s. 8d. ls. 8d. 9s. 8d. For fresh fish For making « syder" Balance due to William James 4d. 9s. 0d. Total . . 9s. 8d. 12.6.1504. Diatrain William Pelsowth, Thomas Laneham and John Pyers to answer William James for debt, 3s. 4d. Licence to settle out of Court was granted. 12.6.1504. John Lemage appears at the suit of Rose Ha.silherst, widow, and says that he became surety for Richard Boleyn, smyth. The said Richard admitted that he owed the plaintiff for 400 pounds of iron, value [a blank]. The case was remitted by consent to four arbitrators but was not so settled, for on 31 July, 1504, three members of a jury named for the case were fined for nonattendance, and the defendant also failed to come. The record is marked, however," No fine, because he is infirm," and the case was discontinued on 19 September. The Rector of Ightham appeared as defendant in a case in this year, 1504 :- 31. 7 .1504. William Snydale, Rector of the ecclesiastical parish of Ightham, was attached to answer Edith Hobyll, widow, THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 27 for debt. He appeared, and asked to be excused answering till the next Court. He named Robert Christofer as his attorney. And William Pelsowth was attached by a horse, and is in mercy by his pledge. He appeared, and said to Edith Hobyll, widow, that he owed her nothing. 19.9.1504. To this Court came William Snydale, clerk, and said to Edith Hobyll, widow, that he became surety for William Wymbyll for 20s., arrears of the farm of the mill of Berstede (Basted), and that William Pelsouth, the other defendant, made a like admission. The said Edith, by Robert Christofer, attorney, agreed to allow William Snydale and William Pelsouth time to pay the said 20s., namely I0s. by Christmas, and the remaining I0s. by the following Easter. 4.8.1505. Thomas .Aleyn and .Alice his wife complain against John Throp for debt 8s. He was distrained by a cow, value 8s. The plaintiff says that on 2 April, 1505, the defendant agreed to pay him the said 8s. The defendant denies that he did so. The case was sent to a jury but was settled out of Court. 28.10.1505. Stephen Bryggs complains against John Hardell for debt 9d. Hardell was distrained by a horse, value 4s. 4d. 25.11.1505. To this Comt came John Hardell, by Thomas Partrich his attorney, at the suit of Stephen Bryggs, and admitted that the defendant owed the plaintiff 9d. for 4 bushels of oats, which he undertook to pay before the next Court. Richard Weller and his hunting dogs have been mentioned in cases of trespass.1 We now meet with his name in a case about the detention of a colt, which dragged its weary way through seven Courts. 28.10.1505. Thomas Partrich complains of Richard Weller for debt, 3s. 4d., for one colt, and 12d. for its keep, bargained between them. The defendant was attached by a mare, value 10s. He admitted the debt of 12d., but as for the colt he said that he owed nothing because he did not take it into his custody. 28.10.1505. Richard Weller has till the next Comt to answer Thomas Partrich for detaining a colt, value 3s. 4d., because he says that he never took it into his custody. And afterwards at the next Court he says that he does not detain the said colt. 1 See Vol. XLVIII, pp. 214-15. 28 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 25.11.1505. Richard Weller was required to answer Thomas Partrich for detaining a colt. He was distra.ined by a duncoloured mare, value 10s., and is in mercy by his pledge to the bailiff and does not appear. 18.12.1505. Richard Weller appeared at the suit of Thomas Partrich for detaining a colt. He says that he does not detain it. The case was sent to a jury. On 21 January, 1505-6, the jury were named and given time to inquire into the matter. On 23 February two defaulting jurors were fined, and the plaintiff asked for the dispute to be put to the arbitration of John Tryce, Richard Hawke, John Kyng, and John Nele. The case, however, was disposed of by two other arbitrators. 16.3.1505-6. Thomas Partrich and Richard Weller: By consent of the parties the matter was placed in the arbitration of John Pers and William Pelsowth, who found that Thomas Partrich should have for detention of the colt, 8d., and for expenses of the Court, 6d., apart from the 12d. which was admitted at an earlier Court to be due. 1.5.1506. Richard Weller came to this Court and offered to Thomas Partrich 12d. truly owed to him, and 8d. for detention of the colt. And so there remains for withdrawal of the plea 4d. 28.10.1506. Robert None complains against John Brode for debt 13s. 4d., for the farm of 20 sheep called ewes for two years past. 22.12.1506. John Hardell was distrained by two cows to answer William Stawley for debt. The defendant admitted that he owed the plaintiff 2s. for the farm of one cow for the year ended Whitsunday last. He was given till the next Court to pay, failing which the amount was ordered to be levied. And he was to deliver the said cow, which he had to farm, to the plaintiff before the same day. 24.5.1507. William Stawley complains of John Hardell for debt 2s. 8.2.1506-7. John Clerke, gent., and Lucy his wife, complain of Hamo Wymbyll for debt, 20d. 1.2.1507-8. At this Court an order was given to the bailiff to levy the goods and chattels of Ramo Wymbyll for 19d., the principal debt, and 6d. for expenses and costs of the Court, to the use of John Clerke, gent. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 29 16.12.1507. To this Court came John at Fen, jun., plaintiff against William Fuller, defendant, for debt 2ls., and by assent of the plaintiff the defendant has till the next Court to pay the amount. 11.4.1508. William Fuller was required to answer John at Fen, jun., for debt. He was condemned in default of doing so, and, on this, he agreed with the plaintiff and found sureties, namely William Pelsowth and John Throp, and did not appear. He is in mercy. 1.2.1507 -8. William Parker complains of John Brode for debt 7s. The defendant was distrained by his chattels, upon which he appeared as required, and admitted that he owed the debt, 7s. The plaintiff is to recover the debt and costs. The name of Richard Weller occurs once more, in the last case relating to debt which is found in the Court Rolls. 11.4.1508. Ralph Armestrong complains of Richard Wellar for debt 4s. He says that the defendant, on 20 February, 1499- 1500, bought two oxen for 28s., of which he paid 24-s. The balance, though often applied for, has not been paid. And the plaintiff says that the defendant owes him 40d. for ploughing 4 acres of land in a field called Webysfeld on 10 January, 1499- 1500. The defendant states that he owes nothing. The case was ordered to be sent to a jury of twelve, upon which the parties put it to the arbitration of William Sawyer, William Pelsowth, John Swetyng and Thomas Laneham, whose decision is not on record. Section (q)-MiscELLANEOUS ENTRIES IN THE COURT ROLLS. A few passages are brought together in this section which do not fall readily into place elsewhere. A complaint of deceit-the only example in the Court Rolls-was made in 1505 :- 28.10.1505. William Stawley complains of John Tryce for deceit. 18.12.1505. Ordered to distrain John Tryce, sen., to answer William Stawley for deceit. Laurence James has the prosecution. The case was sent to two arbitrators but the outcome is not on record. 30 THE OOURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 8.2.1506-7. The goods of Thomas Miller, servant of Laurence James, namely, 1 white russet tunic, worth 8d.; 1 little sack holding half a quarter, worth 4d. ; I hatchet, worth 2d.; 1 "sarra ", worth 4d.; 2 augers, worth 5d., and l small auger, worth l½d.; 1 drawing knyfe, worth 3d.; 1 hammer, worth 2½d. (in the hands of J. Pyers), and two" vedomes ", worth Id.; 1 "loclicum veterum, voc' an old blankert ", worth 2d. ; 1 "vanga voc' a spade ", worth 5d. And so they were valued by the tenants to the use of the said Laurence. Sum total, 3s. 2d. The relations between the hundred court at Wrotham and the Ightham View of Frank-pledge are the subject of Section ( d) of this paper. They were sometimes strained, and in the following case the Ightham court imposed a fine on the constables of Wrotham. It may be doubted whether this fine was ever collected. 3.10.1588. The constables of the hundred of Wrotham did not remind the borsholder of this View of Frank-pledge to place a watch, as by ancient custom they ought to have done, by reason of which the borsholder of this View did not place a watch of our Lady the Queen at Ightham, as he ought to have done. Therefore each of them was fined 5s. A few cases of contempt of court are on record, the most important being that of William Pelsott, a man of substance and respectability. We may suspect that he and his neighbours found irksome the duty of attending the courts, as tending to delay farming operations and other business, and that his protest arose in that way. He assumed the part of " village Hampden," but without success. Indeed, the half-yearly View of Frank-pledge was so universal and wellestablished that any informed person would have advised him that he had no case. 17.4.1588. William Pelsott, a tenant and resident of this manor, has denied openly here in Court that the lord of the manor ought to hold a Court Leet of our Lady the Queen oftener than once a year, at the feast of St. Michael the .Archangel; and because he would not assess the fines of the inhabitants making default at this Court, when elected as affeerer of the Court, saying that it was against his conscience, both in contempt of tb.e Court THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 31 of our Lady the Queen and in bad example of stubbornness, he was :fined by the steward IOs. It is worth noting that although Pelsott's contention was technically bad, his case may have had some commonsense foundation and a body of public opinion behind it, for it is surely significant that less than a score of years after this time the courts in fact ceased to be held oftener than once a year. 23.10.1617. George Hawkes made contempt in open Court, and used certain scandalous words against the steward of the manor and the jurors of the Court. Fined 6s. 8d. 26.10.1618. Henry Allen, borsholder, duly attended the View, but made in open Court contempt in the execution of his office. Fined 3s. 4d. A cru;ie of misconduct towards an officer of the View occurred in 1699, when the fine originally imposed was reduced by one-half by the ru;isessors. 11.10.1699. John Page of Ightham, blacksmith, misconducted himself towards the constable in the execution of his office, by saying injurious and scandalous words of him. He was therefore amerced 6s. 8d., which fine was assessed by the a:ffeerers at this Court at 3s. 4d. Rescues from impounding and distress are the subject of two or three presentments. 2.10.1587. Walter Gardiner took certain cattle for distress, and John Goffe by force and arms made a riotous assault on the said Walter, he being in the peace of God and our Lady the Queen, and rescued the said cattle, and snatched them from the custody of the said Walter, against the peace of our Lady the Queen. Fined for the rescue, 3s. 4d. The assault was separately dealt with, at the View, where Goffe was fined 3s. 4d. and Gardiner 20d., Goffe having caused the disturbance.1 On 17 April, 1588, Richard Corneford was fined 8d. for rescuing cattle from Robert Baldwin, but part of the entry is obscure. 1 Seep. 3. 32 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 26.4.1593. William Selbye, esquire, would lately have impounded [a blank, ? cattle] of a certain William Balcombe for trespass made against him the said William Selbie. William Balcombe by his wife took the [? cattle] so impounded out of the pound and escaped, without the licence or consent of the said William Selbie or by form of law. Fined 3s. 4d. 1.4.1602. Andrew Homewood of Seale has unjustly and unlawfully moved certain posts and rails from the lands of Henry Selyard, clerk, in Bromyfield, in the occupation of Thomas Gunnynges and lying to the lands of William Bruer called Cooks, to the south. Section (r)-LocAL 0FFIOERS AND THEIR FuNCTIONS The principal officer mentioned in the Court Rolls is the steward of the lord of the manor, who presided over the courts and acted generally on behalf of the lord, whose interests he had to guard. The steward or his clerk also kept the records of the proceedings at the courts. The first steward to be mentioned by name is John Addams, who signed a list of fines imposed at a court held on 14 April, 1586. The reeve is mentioned only once, in the earliest Court Roll that has come down to us, that of 25 October, 1425, where the election of two persons to that office is mentioned. The reeve was a land-holding tenant, chosen in rotation, whose primary duty was to join the plough of the manor tenants for work on the lord's land. The tithing man, or borsholder, attended the Views of Frank-pledge, and, during the time covered by these records, presented the names of persons who had baked bread or brewed ale for sale during the preceding half-year, and had broken the Assize of Bread and Ale. At the View held in the autumn a tithing man for the succeeding year, from Michaelmas to Michaelmas, was chosen. The office, which in early times was an essential part of the system of joint security-frank-pledge-became of less importance as conditions changed. The name tithlngman ( decennarius) occurs in the earliest Court Roll. The first mention of borsholder in the Ightham Court Rolls occurs in 1463 :- THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHA.M. 33 28.10.1463. " Et eligerunt in oific' borsel,d,' Johes. Gastelyn (jur') et Relfe Hadlo." The word decennarius, however, continued to appear from time to time, and is found as late as 1557. The method of choosing a borsholder is shown in the following extract. 3.10.1588. The jurors have nominated Robert Baldwin and Theophilus Had.low, in order that one of them, at the election of the steward, should execute the office of borsholder for the coming year, and Robert Baldwin was chosen by the steward and sworn in. On I May, 1491, John Furmonger, the tithing man, failed to appear to do his office at the View, and was marked for a fine. He was not in fact amerced, for he came late. The words " non venit " have been struck out and replaced by "ven."-he comes. John Cowper, ten years later, was less fortunate-he had to pay a substantial fine :- 1.5.1501. And because John Cowper, alias John Bayle, the tithing man, was required to perform his office this day and did not appear, he was amerced 6s. 8d. The three following extracts require to be considered together. Percival Willoughby, who succeeded Thomas Willoughby as lord of the manor, held his first court in April, 1597, and apparently found many indications of slackness. Re was about to sell the manor, but the profits from dues and fines were low, and the saleable value of his seigniorial rights was likely to be correspondingly depressed. Steps to tighten the administration of the manor were accordingly taken at the October courts. 10.10.1597. William Selby, esquire, Richard Wilkinson, gent., Christopher Pelset, gent., James Fox, George Cowper, Ralph Orafte, Richard Syfelett, William Webb, William Waters, Edward Lambert, William Had.Iowa, Stephen Mills, Thomas Polhill, gent., John Bownde, Cuthberd Fethergill are residents within this View of Frank-pledge and owe suit at this Court, and have made default, but they are pardoned because they were not sufficiently summoned to the Court. 34 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. The neglect was primarily that of the borsholder, who was next dealt with. 10.10.1597. John Tirry, borsholder, officer of this Court, was fined 40s. for not giving a sufficient note in writing of the names of the inhabitants of this View of Frank-pledge. Similar circumstances were disclosed at the Court Baron held on the same day. 10.10.1597. The homage present that very many tenants of this manor, both free and customary, who owe suit at this Court have made default this day, but because they were not sufficiently summoned by the bailiff of the manor their defaults were remitted. What happened to the bailiff is not recorded. Defaulters were fined as usual at the 1598 courts, and, on 2 December, 1598, the manor was transferred to Sir John Roper. In 1606, for the first time, a newly-chosen borsholder was recorded as being sworn in by a justice of the peace. 13.10.1606. The jury at this View nominated to the office of borsholder of Ightam for the coming year John Bauldwyn and Richard Daye, of whom John Bauldwyn was chosen by the steward. And he was sent to the nearest justice of the peace to take the oath. The reason given for Robert Olyver's failure to attend a View, although conclusive, is a little unexpected :- 4.10.1609. Officers there [i.e. at the Court] : Robert Olyver, borsholder there, did not appear as required, because he had previously died. Of ale tasters there were anciently two, one for Ightham and the other for Ivy Hatch. This seems to indicate that Ivy Hatch was a small local centre of population in early times, although the distance of Ivy Hatch and the Mote from the greater centre in Ightham village may have led primarily to the second appointment. A taster for Ivy Hatch does not appear in the records after the gap in the Court Rolls between 1508 and 1553. As explained above, the jury nominated two persons to the office of borsholder, of whom the steward chose one. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 35 They put forward only one name for the office of ale taster, their nominee being taken without question. 3.10.1588. Stephen Milles was elected to the office of taster of bread and ale for the coming year, and was sworn to the execution of his office. 13.10.1606. The jury elected Thomas Richardson to the office of ale taster, who was sworn in Court. The only other officer who needs to be mentioned is the bailiff, whose functions included distraints and the collection of the fines and dues payable to the lord of the manor. After each Court an extract or list of all sums falling to be collected, as determined at the Court, was prepared in English by the steward, and by him transmitted to the bailiff, with a written order to distrain for the amounts due. The following is an example of such a list :- 14.4.1586. Manerium de Ightham. The extrete of the defaults, amercements and other profitts coming and falling to the Lord of the Manor at his Court holden upon the 14th day of Aprill in the 28th yere of the reigne of our Sovereigne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of god Quene of England, Fraunce and Ireland. for not doing sute at the Court { Reignold Hawke Christofer Outen Nicholas Myller Thomas Ware Willm. Warren for breaking the peace l{ William Bennett · · within the view of Reignold Tresse frankplege William Fuller • for spoiling, breaking } { Robte. Gardener · downe a.nd carrying John Warren for his wife away the Lord's wood Rafe Cupper for his wife · Richard Steven for his wife John Brongger for his boy Willm. Pelsott for Relief and herriott upon Monday in Whitsun week next coming, by coven- 4d. 4d. 4d. 4d. 2d. 20d. 20d. 20d. 3s. 4d. 3s. 4d. 3s. 4d. 3s. 4d. 3s. 4d. aunt and agremt. between the lord and him · £3 6s. 8d. Sum of the Extrete of this Courte • £4 9s. 10d. 36 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. To the Baylife of the Manor of Ightham, greeting. These are to will that you doe distreyne those above written by their lands, goods and cattalls until they satisfy yowe of those severall somes sett upon their names. And this faile you not to doe upon the perill shall fall hereof. Geven the day and yere above written. By me John Addams Steward there. Section (s)-MANoR BusINESS. The formal records of alienations of land, deaths of tenants of the manor, and other proceedings at the Court Baron contain a good deal of local history, but their interest is, in general, too narrow to call for reproduction on a large scale, and accordingly the extracts given below may be taken as typical of many similar passages. The Ightham manorial incidents were those commonly obtaining, and may be summarized as fealty, suit of Court, quit rent, heriot and relief. 1.5.1494. Henxy Hasilherst was sun:unoned to appear here this da.y to pay bis relief and do fealty for a messnage with lands adjoining at Ightham Crosse, and did not come. Therefore he is in mercy. To this entry a note has been appended, " He did fealty last year." In taking an oath of fealty the tenant undertook to be faithful to the lord and to perform the services due from him. Attendances at the Courts Baron, and"the performance there of customary duties, such as serving on the homage-the tribunal which heard and determined matters arising in that Court-or assessing the fines to be imposed, was required of all tenants of the manor and was known as common suit of Court. The proceedings usually opened with the calling of the Suit Roll by the bailiff, a record being made of tenants doing suit, sending by others excuses for non-attendance, or making default in attendance. The duty to attend the courts was burdensome, and it was common for the lord of THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHA.M. 37 the manor to accept, in many cases, a composition payment freeing a tenant from liability to do suit for a period of one year. In the following list of such remissions the common fine of 4d. has been increased to 6d. for " gentlemen." 28.10.1490. To this Court came the tenants of the lands of James Pekham, esquire (6d.), the tenants of Chaltons (6d.), Walter Sextayn (4d.), John Chown (4d.) and others for land lately John Brightrede's, the tenants of the land of Thomas Pelsouth (4d.), namely William Jamys and Reginald Reve, the same Reginald for his own lands (4d.), Geoffrey Hadlo (4d.), William Fuller {4d.), Laurence Partrich (4d.), the tenants of the land of John Pyers (4d.), namely, John Fenn and Alice his wife, daughter of John Preston, Robert Chapman (4d.), the tenants of the land of John Moote { 4d.), Richard Barton ( 4d.), the tenants ofland lately William Godewyn's, namely, John Preston, William Fuller and John Lyrnage, the tenants of land called Moresole and Russe .(4d.), Sibyl Wildbore (4d.) for the land of John Sawyer and John Benet: tenants1 of this Court who owe suit every three weeks. And they gave respectively to the lord a fine for their suits remitted until the feast of St. Michael, as above. The annual quit rent, originally a substantial charge, became with the lapse of time a trifling burden, owing to the altered value of money. A relief of one-fourth of the quit rent accrued on the death of a tenant or on alienation of his land in his lifetime, and was payable by the incoming freeholder. A heriot of the best living beast became due on the death of a tenant, and fell to be satisfied from his estate. It was often compounded for by a money payment. If there was no living animal a "dead heriot" of 3s. 6d. or 3s. 4d.2 was payable. There is an obscure reference in 1588 to a heriot being due on alienation, and 200 years later it seems to have been usual for a time to claim such heriots as well as 1 The word tenant, as used in these extraots, had a wider meaning than to-day, a tenant of the ma.nor being a freeholder. 2 The dea,d heriota mentioned in the older Court Rolls were always 3s. 6d. In 1698 a dead heriot of 3s. 4d. was recorded, and the smaller amount was claimed in several later cases. There is a single reference to a dead heriot of 6s. 6d., in 1612. This may be a mistake for 3s. 6d., but the larger sum, which occurs in the text, has been repeated in the margin. 38 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTH.AM. heriots on death. The descent of land was, in general, governed by the custom of gavelkind.1 A record of alienations and deaths was essential to the collection of the manor dues, and if the Court Rolls were complete it should be possible to trace the devolution of land from owner to owner continuously to modern times. The gaps in the rolls make such a course impracticable, and add to the difficulties of identifying particular properties, which in the older records were often described vaguely. The following extracts relate to owners of the Mote and the devolution of the Mote estate. One of these owners, Richard Hawt (or Haute) was implicated in a plot to purloin the person of the young king, Edward V, in 1483, to prevent his coming into contact with Richard of Gloucester (Richard III). He was beheaded at Pontefract on 25 June, 1483. Richard Hawt, presumably his son, succeeded to the estate, but took part in Buckingham's rebellion in the autumn of the same year. The Mote was confiscated, but was granted to James Haute, no doubt a relative, for " good service against the rebels ". Richard Hawt was pardoned in 1485.2 The passages below suggest that the estate may have been vested in trustees in order to avoid anticipated forfeiture, and the order of 21 September, 1497, seems to imply that if Richard Hawt (the son) lost the estate by confiscation he had regained jt by that date. 28.10.1494. The homage have ascertained that all the lands which lately were Richard Hawt's within this lordship have been alienated, but to whom they are ignorant. They were given time to inquire into the matter. The facts were difficult to ascertain, for a year later the homage were given till the next Court after Christmas, 1495, to report. 1 There were considerable exceptions. The lord's demesnes a.nd ma.nor waste, a.nd freeholds which could be shown to have been enclosed off the waste, as well as the ma.nor of the Mote (imd the ma.nor of St. Olere) were held by !might service, and so were not subject to the custom of gavelkind. See, generally, Elton's Tenures of Kent, 1867, London, Parker & Co. z See "Ightham Mote." Notes by Ayroer Vallance. Arch. Oant., XLV, p. 116. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGRTHAM. 39 The matter was again adjourned on 24 February, 1495-6, and a report was not made till December, 1496. 21.12.1496. Richard Haute, esquire, by Walter Sextayn alienated all the lands and tenements which he had within this lordship to Sir William Haute, John Pelsouth and others, and the same John Pelsouth alienated all the said lands and tenementsto whom is not stated. On 21 September, 1497, an order was made to distrain Richard Hawght, esquire, for relief and fealty for all his lands within the lord.ship. On 28 October, 1505, the tenants of William Hawt paid the customary fine for suits respited in respect of Chaltons-a farm lying some two miles north of the Mote, but owned at certain times by the owners of the Mote. Delareus Hawt was mentioned in the same Court Roll as holding Rolfs Wode [Rose Wood], a piece of copyhold land near Ivy Hatch, and in 1507 this land (then called Rolf's Grove) was stated to be held by Edward Hawt. In the time of Queen Elizabeth the Mote was owned by the .Allen family, and the deaths of Sir Christopher .Allen and his wife were duly recorded. 4.10.1586. Sir Christopher Allen has died seised of certain lands and tenements held of the lord of this manor, and advantage accrued to the lord thereby, but the ho mage are at present ignorant as to this. They were given till the next Court to consider the matter. 27.4.1587. Sir Christopher Alien (was] lately a tenant of certain lands held of this manor, but what the lands were and at what rent held the jury are ignorant. There accrued to the lord an ox, seized as heriot, and a relief of one fourth part of the rent. 27.4.1587. The lady Audry Allen, wife of Sir Christopher Allen, deceased, has died since the last Court. She held certain lands of this manor. A heriot of a white cow was seized. Charles Allen is the heir of the said Sir Christopher Allen. A few years after the death of his father, Charles Allen sold both the Mote and Chaltons, the former to William Selby. The Mote estate remained in the Selby family for about 40 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 300 years, until it was sold to the present owner, Sir Thomas C. Colyer-Fergusson, Bart., in 1889. 11.10.1592. Charles .Allen, esquire, who lately held of the lord of this manor a messuage called Chaltons and divers parcels of land belonging thereto, called Upper Deane, Middle Deane, Lower Deane, Red Conye Brooke, Boots Holme alias Burcham, Stonye Crofte, Broade Sea.re, Webb, Holm.efeild, Barne Crofte, Holm.eland, Woodgate, Parsons Broome and ten acres in Wisfeild, and other lands appertaining to the said rnessuage; likewise the tenement of the Mote and other lands thereto belonging formerly called Pollards, Pollards Brooks and Crepham, Wetherohocke, Parsonsland, Dynes, Brownes and divers other lands appertaining to the said Mote, lying in Ightam, by fealty, rent 25s. Sd., suit of Court, relief and heriot, when they accrue, has by deed dated 30 June, 1591, alienated the said messuage called Chaltons, with the said lands belonging thereto, to Hmnfrey Berwicke, esquire. And by the same deed he alienated the other premises, the tenement of the Mote and [the lands] belonging to William Selby, esquire. A relief of 6s. 5d. accrued, namely, one fourth part of the rent, according to the custom of the manor. Humfrey Berwicke, present in Court, did fealty for Chaltons and William Selby also did fealty for the remaining premises. 7.10.1612. Sir William Selby, sen., who lately held of the lord of this manor the messuage . . . of the Mote and divers lands thereto belonging, has died since the last Court. Sir William Selby, jun., should enjoy the premises, by virtue of the last will of the said William, senior. The following extracts, which relate to various properties, illustrate further the procedure at the Court Baron. 28.10.1491. Reginald Pekharn and William Michell have alienated to John Ivot and John Tryce divers parcels of land lately John Sawyer's. Whereupon there accrued to the lord for a relief as appears above. [Nothing above.] And [the purchasers] being present in Court did fealty. They have till the next Court to pay the relief. 28.10.1491. Reginald Pekham and William :Michell alienated to John Piers and others a messuage and appurtenances containing I rood and 8 dayworks1. 1 i.e. I rood and 32 perches ; see page 45. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 41 An alienation to trustees for the purposes of a family settlement occurs in the records of 1492 :- 25.6.1492. John Preston, being in full possession, alienated his own lands and tenements within the lordshlp to William Pelsouth and John Tryce. The said William and John alienated the said lands and tenements to John Preston for the whole term of his life, and thereafter to John Fenne and Alice, his wife, daughter of the said John Preston, and the lawful heirs of their bodies for ever, and, for default of such heirs, with remainder to the heirs and assigns of the said Alice for ever. 28.10.1492. To this Court came John Fenne and Alice his wife, daughter of John Preston, and paid a double relief for all those lands and tenements which John Preston lately alienated, as appears in the rolls of the preceding Court. In the margin is noted, " Relief 6d. paid in Court." The double relief was payable because there was a double alienation. 24.11.1495. John Gardyner was solely seised of and in all his lands and tenements within the lordship, and died a tenant of the lord. Whereupon there accrued to the lord a relief, namely Id., but nothing for heriot because he said that he did not owe suit. To be inquired into. Isabel and Alice are his daughters and heirs, and are under full age. 17.7.1497. John Hasylherst was seised in fee of and in a messuage with appurtenances in Ightham, and died so seised. Whereupon there accrued a heriot, by the custom of the manor, 3s. 6d., because he had no beast. 27.4.1587. David Syfelett, a tenant of this manor, has alienated to John Syfelett part of a house with a yard1 of land and one daywarck2, who [John] was admitted tenant and did fealty, and was given till the next Court to bring his evidence [ of title J and to pay relief. 11.4.1597. John Turner, who held of the lord of the manor a messuage and orchard, has died, whereupon there accrued to the lord for heriot a red cow, value 46s. 8d., which was seized, and sold to the wife of the said John Turner: to whom Bridget Willoughby, wife of the lord of the manor, by her special grace 1 Or rod, virga. 2 See page 45. 7 42 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTH.AM. forgave 10s., upon which there was paid to the lord for heriot 36s. 8d. The sons of the said John Turner are his next heirs by the custom of gavelkind. On the division of land subject to a single quit rent, the rent had to be apportioned by the homage, and such apportionments were recorded from time to time. 1.5.1506. Inquest of tenants to apportion the rent of land formerly Robert Reve's, between John Reve and Richard Wellar. The names follow of fourteen jurors, who are to be summoned to the next Court. 3.11.1506. Inquest of the tenants to apportion rent between John Reve, of the one part, and Richard Weller, of the other part, of whom John Ivot, John Pyers, John Tryce, John Sexteyn, John Throp and Laurence James appear, and say that John Reve ought to pay rent per annum for his lands 3s. 4½<1., suit of Court, heriot and relief. And Robert Shildmell ought to pay per annum for his house in Ightham and a piece of land called the Goore, which was formerly Robert Reve's, 20d., suit of Court, heriot and relief. Cases of arbitration by agreement of parties were not uncommon. A general reference to arbitrators is found in the following example. 28.10.1506. To this Court came William Parker, farmer, William Lambe in right of his wife, formerly wife of Walter Sextayn, concerning his lands, on the one side, and William Sawley,1 farmer of the lord of this Court, and they place all and every matter of controversy, trespass, and debate between them, before the present day had and noted, in the arbitration of John Chown, sen., Thomas Baker, Robert Turke and Richard Dodge, indifferently chosen to arbitrate on the above matters, and that before next Easter. The rolls of the Hundred Courts were known colloquially as the Ragman Rolls, a name that originated in the appearance of certain documents which were sent up to Westminster in 127 4. These documents contained the answers to an investigation which had be􀁯n ordered by King Edward I, 1 Probably a mistake for Stawley. 'rHE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 43 and, the dangling seals of all the jurors who gave the answers being attached to the rolls, their untidy appearance gave rise to the nickname, Ragman, which term was afterwards applied to hundred rolls generally. There is a single reference to " the Ragman " in the Ightham Court Rolls. 22 (or 29).ll.1494. At this Court appeared John Ivot, William James, John Swetyng, sen., and Robert Chapman, and did suit. And they say that the tenants of the land Hasylmans (2d.), the tenants of the land of John Throp (2d.), James Pekham, esquire (2d.), John Piers (2d.), and William Pelsowth (2d.), have made default of suit. It was ordered to distrain them to the next Court. And all others have done their suit, as appears in the Ragman this year. The subjects of Title to Land and Copyholds have been dealt with in separate sections, which follow. The records of the proceedings at the Courts end with· the names of two or more affeerers-persons appointed to assess the amount of the fines, or "amercements" 􀂌posed by the homage at the Court Baron, or by the steward at the Court Leet or View of Frank-pledge. Section (t)-TrTLE TO LAND. Evidence of title to freehold land was produced at the Court Baron as occasion required, and disputes between claimants to copyholds might be determined at that court. In the absence of rival claimants, the object of the steward in getting on the rolls such entries as those given below was (a) to ascertain the identity and extent of the lands in respect of which he claimed the lord's dues, or (b) to discover whether . any landholder really had no title, and, if so, to claim an escheat for the lord. The absence of reliable maps in early times must have been a constant source of difficulty to the steward, who had to collect the lord's dues, often without knowing the holdings. 2.7.1491. At this Court John Preston and John Tryce were given till the next Court to produce their document of title regarding lands lately Walter Sextayn's. And John Ivot and 44 THE COURT ROLLS OF IQHTHAM. the sai.d John Preston have till the next Court to produce their grant of lands lately William Sawyer's. 12.12.1492. To this Court came William James and Jane his wife, daughter and one of the heirs of Thomas Berme, and produced a certain deed sealed with green wax made by William a Wolford for Ralph at Hall and Agnes his wife, concerning three acres of their land called Bromteye and four dayworks of woodland lying at a place called Marleput, adjoining the said land on the west. 28.5.1493. Inquiry to be made respecting the alienation by John Chown to Laurence Partriche of certain lands called Russe, &c. 28.10.1494. The homage say that William James ought to have a certain way on the far side of the land of William Fuller to his pasture, for carrying and returning, as he was wont to have from old time. 1.3.1506-7. John Throp was ordered to be distrained to appear at the next Court to show how he holds a piece of land called Courtfeld. 4.10.1586. By the authority of this Court it was ordered that every member of the homage and every other free and customary tenant of this manor making default at this Court should bring to the next Court and deliver to the steward a brief terrier in writing of all messuages, houses, stables, barns, lands, tenements, with all and singular their appurtenances within the manor of Ightham, held of this manor, with the rents, customs and services to the lord of the manor and his heirs of right accustomed, with their names, qualities and bounds, and this under penalty 10s. for each free and customary tenant. 11.10.1592. At this Court time was given for the Court to ascertain, through the jurors, upon inspection of the last will of Robert Miller, lately a tenant of the manor, that the said Robert by his last will left all his lands held of this manor to William Miller, his younger son, who is nine years old, and now in the custody of Nicholas Heathe, alias Brooker, who married the widow of Robert Miller. 24.4.1599. The jury were given till the next Court to inquire whether John Lovegrove, lately a tenant of this manor, died without any heir, and afterwards to certify to the Court. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGlITHAM. 45 20.10.1600. At this Court, at the instance of the jury, a time was named for anyone who as next heir of John Lovegrove could claim a tenement and garden containing half an acre of land in Trice Lane, to come to the next Court, or else the premises should be seized into the hands of the lord as escheat. Section (u)-CusTOMA.RY TENURE 0.R CoPYHOLDS. The number of references in the Court Rolls to copy hold tenure is not large, and it seems likely that customary holdmgs were never very numerous in Ightham Manor. Permissions to enclose, and hold by copy of Court Roll, portions of the common may account for most, perhaps all, of such holdings, which, as far as the indications go, were of no great size. The first extant reference to copyhold tenure occurs in 1491-2. It relates to land called Patches (obviously from the copyholder's name), one of a little group of customary holdings which lay together on the hill-top east of Redwell at Woodgate (now Copthall). Patches remained copyhold land till modern times. 6.3.1491-2. To this Court came William Pacche and surrendered into the hands of the lord a house and garden and certain lands adjoining at Wodegate, containing 3½ acres, to the use of Robert None and his assigns, lying to the highway leading from Ightham to Tunbrigge towards the east, to the land of Reginald Reve towards the north, to the la.nd of John Preston called Adams, west, and to the common of the lord of Ightham to the south, to have to him and his assigns at the will of the lord, according to the custom of the manor. The aforesaid Robert, present in Court, was admitted to the said land and did fealty. He gave to the lord for admittance as appears above (3d.). The following case evidently refers to the taking into a garden of a small piece of the adjoining common or manor waste. A daywork was sometimes 4 rods or perches, that is, one fortieth of an acre. 1.5.1492. Robert Gardyner took from the lord one daywerke of land lying next to his house on the east and south, to 46 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTH.A.M. have to him and his heirs at the will of the lord according to the custom of the manor, paying therefor to the lord 3d. per annum for all services. And he gives to the lord as a fine for such his estate, as appears above. The More (Moor] mentioned in the next extract lies under the eastern slopes of Oldbury Hill. Morewell spring could still be seen, in the road now called Spring Lane, so recently as 1934, but has recently been destroyed by building operations. 27.12.1503. To this Court came John Wymbyll, sen., payle-maker, and took from the lord of this Court by the rod a parcel of land containing l½ acres at the More, lying there to the highway leading between Oldebury and Hevyhacche to the north and oost, to the spring there called Morewell to the south, and Oldebury Hill to the west, to have to him and his assigns at the will of the lord according to the custom of the manor, rendering therefor annually to the lord and his heirs 6d. for all services, &c. And he gave to the lord a fine for his admittance as appears above, and being present in Court, took the oath of fealty to the lord. In 1505 we find, first a short list of copyhold lands, and, secondly, an order to all copyholdera to show their titles. Some of these entries probably arose from copyholders on the rolls having died or gone away, without anyone having come in to be admitted. The steward was concerned to obtain payment of fines on admittance, and also bis own fees, or escheats for the lord. 28.10.1505. Thoma.s Sawyer holds by copy at the will of the lord: summon to show [title]. 28.10.1505. Robert None holds one messuage with certain lands by rent 6d. 28.10.1505. John Throp holds by copy certain lands, by rent 2d. 28.10.1505. William Goodewyn for certain lands by copy. 28.10.1505. And a parcel of land in Rolfs Wode by copy. And Delareus Hawt holds [it] as he says. But by what [title] the jury [are ignorant]. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 4 7 25.11.1505. It was ordered to distrain all the tenants who hold by copy at the will of the lord to show how and by what title they hold, &c. There was a similar order six months later. 1.5.1506. Thomas Sawyer was ordered to be distrained to appear at the Court to show how he holds certain lands by copy of Court Roll. And aJl other persons who hold by copy. Tebbs, a name which has survived,1 was a piece of copyhold land lying on the eastern margin of the common, about half-way between Ightham village and Ivy Hatch. 5.10.1556. William Terry has died seised of a parcel of land called Tebbis, held by copy, containing ten acres of land. John Terry is his elder son, and will have the land by the custom of the manor. He pays a fine of 13s. 4d., and rent per annum 3s. 4d. 30.3.1558. John Hawke surrendered in Court into the hands of the lord a messuage called Paches, a garden and a parcel of land held by copy of Court Roll, to the use of Robert Gardener, according to the custom of the manor. Rent 5d. per annum. The procedure followed in order to obtain admittance to copyhold lands as successor to a tenant who has died is illustrated by the following extract. 7.10.1612. Reginald Hawkes held at the time of his death, of the lord of this manor, by copy of Court Roll, one customary messuage and one garden with two parcels of land containing three acres. No heriot accrued because he had no live animal at the time of his death. Margaret and Jane Hawkes, as sisters and co-heirs of the said Reginald, ought to enjoy the premises. Upon which a first proclamation was made for anyone claiming the premises as next heir of Reginald. Whereupon Margaret Hawkes and Jane Hawkes, sisters and co-heirs of Reginald, appeared and prayed to be separately admitted to the premises, namely, Margaret to the one half of the premises and Jane to the other. Upon which, in the sitting Court, the lord by his steward, with the consent of the said Margaret and Jane, granted to them seisin of the premises 1 The old farm-house called Tebbs was, some years ago, altered and re-christened Oalda.nds, but the present owner has re-vivified the old name by calling the property Tebbs Copyhold. 48 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. by the rod, to have and to hold one half of the said messuage, garden and three acres of land, with the appurtenances, to Margaret and her heirs, and the other half of the same premises to Jane and her heirs at the will of the lord, according to the custom of the manor, by rent per annum lOd., suit of Court, heriot, and relief, when they fall due. And they paid to· the lord a fine of £5 for such their separate estates and admittance to the premises so had, and separately did fealty to the lord in Court, and were admitted tenants in the form aforesaid. Two years later Margaret, a married woman, gave up her share of the premises to her sister Jane. 27.6.1614. To this Court came William Gibson and Margaret his wife, one of the sisters and co-heirs of Reginald Hawkes, deceased, and the said Margaret, in open Court, after separate and secret1 examination by the steward, surrendered into the hands of the lord by the acceptance of the steward of the manor, all her one half share or part of one customary messuage, one garden, and two parcels of land containing three acres, with the intention that the lord should deign to re-grant the premises to Jane Hawkes, sister of the said Margaret, and her heirs, at the will of the lord according to the custom of the manor. Upon which Jane appeared in Court and sought admittance to the premises according to the intention of the surrender. At whose request the lord by his steward granted to the said Jane seisin of the premises by the rod, to have to her and her heirs at the will of the lord according to the custom of the manor, by rent 9d. [and other incidents]. The said Jane gave to the lord a fine of 40s. for such her estate, and for admittance so had, and so was admitted tenant and did fealty in Court. Patches and Tebbs, two of the copyholds mentioned above, came in the fulness of time into the possession of Thomas Ware, who left his holdings, and went into Ireland, never to return. After three proclamations in accordance with custom, his property reverted to the lord of the manor. The story is told in picturesque fashion in the following extracts:- 2.10.1615. Lastly, the jurors upon their oath present in the following words in English, namely, that Thomas Weare 1 Secret, in order to preclude unfair pressure by her husband. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 49 being a coppieholder of this manner, did in Lent was twelvemoneth willinglie goe into Ireland, but whether he bee dead or a live wee know not. And therefore daye is given to him to bee att the nexte Court yf hee bee then livinge uppon payne of forfeitinge his coppieholde. 16.10.1616. At this Court the first proclamation was made that if Thomas Weare, one of the customary tenants of this manor, or anyone else in his place or name, wished to claim out of the hands of the lord of the manor a customary tenement and one acre of land called Patches, lying near the customary lands of the heirs of Richard Hayward, let him appear and be heard. And no one comes. There was a first proclamation in similar terms concerning the customary tenement and ten acres of land called Tebbs. A year later the second proclamation of both properties were made, without result, and on 26 October, 1618, the third and last proclamations, all ending with the same sad, ringing phrase, "And no one comes." And so Patches and Tebbs were forfeited to the lord of the manor. It may be noted here that copyhold tenure was abolished by the Law of Property Act, 1922, as from 1 January, 1926, provision being made for the extinguishment of the lord's dues and the steward's fees, normally by a capital payment. Section (v)-PERSONAL NAMES OCCURRING IN THE RECORDS. At the foot of a page of the Court Roll relating to a View of Frank-pledge held on 1 May, 1507, someone has written, "No'i'a inh'itanc'm infra visum patet in dorso "-the names of persons residing within the View appear on the back. Who would not turn over the page in haste, eager to read on the other side an authentic list of the inhabitants of Ightham in the reign of King Henry VII 1-to find there, alas, only a blank page. Although there is no such list, either for 1507 or for any other old-time year, the names occurring in the Court Rolls and other records, when grouped over a short period, .50 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM • .approximate, however imperfectly, to something of the kind. ,Such a list usually includes some names that do not belong to Ightham, and also omits the names of many residents. Further, a list drawn up from a group of Court Rolls cannot be directed to a single point of time, while the names to be found in any one roll are too few to be of any use as a list •Of inhabitants. In spite of these and other defects, it is worth while to •collect the names from each group of Court Rolls, for they .at least bring us nearer to contemporary directories than we -can get by any other available route. The lists which follow cover six groups of rolls, namely 1425-6, 1461-75, 1490-1508, 1553-74, 1586-1618, and 1697- 1707. No list has been prepared for 1708-86, for (a) the period is too long to be used as the basis of a single list, {b) owing to the discontinuance of the Views, after 1707, it would in any case be very defective, and (c) better lists could be compiled from other sources, e.g., rate-books. Occupations and local offices have been given, where ,<:1hown, but an attempt to mark all freeholders and copyholders was found to be impracticable. The brewers might ·equally well have been called ale-house keepers. Several bakers are described in the original rolls as bakers of both white and black bread. A clerk means, usually, a clerk in holy orders. Persons coming from other places to settle in Ightham (e.g., John Withers of London, hosyer) are often ·described, long afterwards, as of the place whence they came. ·Old spellings of names have been reproduced as far as possible,. but it was impracticable to give all the variants that are to be found in the records. Armiger has been translated .as esquire, generosus as gentleman. In attempting to estimate how nearly the lists approach •Complete lists of heads of families (together with some others) we are faced with the question of the popula.tion of the manor at the significant times. To this question no answer can be given, we can only work backwards from the 􀃚ensus of 1801, when the population of the parish of Ightham numbered 709. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM:. 51 The lists speak for themselves, but attention may be ften to illegitimacy. The names Chillman and Chilmaid are perhaps the same, and, possibly, Tilman also. Alexander Cordell, whose name appears first in 1712, is mentioned soon .afterwards as Cordellee, Coeur de Lion, and Cordelees. Variants of a name do not always carry the same initial letters, for example, Ivot, Yvotte and Gyvot, Hooley, Huley, Hewley, Wholy and Woolley, Hewhill, Hueil, Yeowell and Yule, and there are other puzzles for searchers after particular names. Names occurring in the Records, 1425-6.1 Thomas Baker, Thomas Baldewyn, Thomas Barbour, Richard Bealde, Henry Beneyt, Richard Beneyt, William Beryme, reve, .John Berton, John Best, John at Bore, ale taster, John Boteler, -John Chapman, John Danyell, John de Dene, Jane Dyker, brewer, Walter Fuller, William Furmager, Ellen Fyssher, brewer, Robert Fyssher, James Godewyn, Richard Gylmyn, ·reve, John Hadlo, Isabel Hamond, brewer, Gunter Hase bard, Isabel Hogges, baker and brewer, William at Hoke, Denis Hunt, brewer, Isabel Ivot, brewer, Laurence Ivot, Jane James, John Kene, ale taster, John K.yng, Thomas K.yng, John at Merssh, Peter Morejohn, Margery Mote, brewer, William Mote, Richard Mydendale, Thomas Parker, Reginald Pekham, Agnes Pelsolte, brewer, Alice Pelsolte, brewer, John J:>elsolte, poulterer, John Pelsolte, senior, Alice Pertrych, brewer, Richard Pertrych, John Pope, John Reve, Robert Reve, Walter Rogger, Denis Sawyer, brewer, Margery Shode, brewer, Richard Shode, Simon Shode, Thomas Shode, John Smyth, tithing man, John Stalye, John Watte, Peter Wylkyn, William Wynker. Names occurring in the Records, 1461-75. · Thomas Baker, John Baldewyn, John Benet, Richard Benet, Thomas Berme, Richard Bertyn, Thomas atte Borne, Silvester Brode, brewer, Jane Browne, brewer, Jane Bryghred, brewer, .John Bryghtred, tithing man, Richard Carter, John Castelayn, 1 The pages containing these lists of names al'e additional to the normal volume, the cost of publication having been borne privately. 52 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. John Chapman, Robert Chapman, John Chowne, Richard Dogge, ale taster, Henry Droper, John Droper, baker and brewer, Margaret Droper, brewer, John Fuller, William Fuller, tithing man, Ellen Fysher, Robert Fysher, John Gastelyn, tithing man, John Godewyn, William Godewyn, Richard Gylmyn, Geoffrey Hadlo, John Hadlow, Relfe Hadlo, borsholder, John Ham.me, Gunter Hasberd, William Hoke, Alice Horne, brewer, Isabel Yvotte, brewer, John Ivot, Laurence Gyvot, John Jamys, brewer, Laurence Jamys, brewer, William Jamys, Richard Jekyn of Sele, William Kegyll, John Kene, Stephen Knyght, Alice Lymage, brewer, Alice Mercer, brewer, John Mercer, Thomas Mercer, brewer, William Mercere, John att Mersh, Philip Mordens (surname doubtful), John Moote, William Mote, Alice Nemmage, brewer, John Nemmage, William Pach, ale taster, Margaret Partrych, brewer, Richard Partrych, James Pekham, John Pelsholt, brewer, Thomas Pelsholt, William Pelsholt, brewer, John Preston, Reginald Reve, Robert Reve, William Rowherde of Northflete, John Sawers, William Sawers, Margaret Sawyere, brewer, Robert Sayers, John Sextayn, Walter Sextayn, John Smyth, Thomas Smyth, Cecily Swetyng, brewer, Jane Swetyng, brewer, John Swetyng, tithing man, ale taster and brewer, Thomas Swetyng, ale taster, William Swetyng, Geoffrey Taylor, John Thrope, Margery Thrope, brewer, John Tryce, Thomas Tryce, tithing man and ale taster, Margery Walkelyn, brewer, John atte Waters, John atte Welle, Alice Wellett, brewer, Alice Wymbyll, brewer, Richard Wymhyll, William Wymbyll. Names occurring in the Records, 1490-1508. Alice Aleyn, Thomas Aleyn, Edith Alonem, brewer, John Alonem, Adam Althorn, Walter Ambylson, Jane Armestrong, Ralph Armestrong, tithing man, Thomas Baker, alias at Heth, John Barlo, John Barton, brewer, Richard Barton, John Bayly, alias Cowper, tithing man and brewer, John Benet of Wrotha.m, yeoman, Thomas Berme, Thomas Best of Chart, John Bewgle, Richard Boleyn, smith, John Bore, Agnes Bownde, Jane Bownde, brewer, John Bownde, William Bownde, Stephen a Brig, brewer, Robert Bright of Stanstede, labourer, John Brightrede, Harry Brode, Jane Brode, John Brode, brewer, Peter Brode, Robert Brode, tithing man, Thomas THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 53 Brompton, William Brownyng, alias Essex, Jane Burdon, brewer, John Burdon, brewer, William Burdon, William Burgoyn, esquire, Thomas Burton, Thomas Butte, James Byrche, William Byrch, John Carpenter, John Castelyn, Jane Chapman, Robert Chapman, Thomas Chapman, William Cha.pman, John a Children, Sarah Chipstede, Thomas Chipstede, William Chipstede ofWrotham, tylemaker, John Chown, Robert Christofer, John Clerke, Lucy Clerke, Robert Clerk of Seele, Thomas Coke, William Colyer, William Coteman, smith, Thomas Court alias Gardyner, John Cowper, alias Bayly, tithing man and brewer, Thomas Cowper, John Crystmas, John Cuddy, Alexander Culpeper, esquire, John Degull, Thomas Dene, William Digson, Richard Dodge, John Douke, brewer, William Essex alias Brownyng, Henry Fane, gent., Thomas a Fen, Alice Fenne, John Fenne, Ellen Fischer, John a Forde, brewer, Thomas a Ford, William a Ford, James Foster, brewer, John Frensshe, Richard Frensshe, Richard Frist, Robert Fuller, Thomas Fuller, tithing man, Walter Fuller, tithing man and brewer, William Fuller, tithing man and brewer, John Furmonger, tithing man and brewer, Alice Gardyner, Isabel Gardyner, John Gardiner, brewer, Robert Gardyner, Thomas Gardyner, William Gardyner, Henry Garrerd, John Godewyn, tithing man, William Godewyn, Reginald Guerhard, John Gyles, Robert Gyles, ale taster and brewer, John Gylmyn, Thomas Hacche, Geoffrey Hadlo, Henry Hadlow, John Hadlowe, brewer, Richard Hadlow, Walter Hadlow, John Hale, Agnes at Hall, Ralph at Hall, Ham.ond, brewer, John Hardell, ale taster and brewer, Henry Hasilherst, brewer, John Hasylherst, Rose Hasilherst, baker and brewer, William Hastelyn, Jane Hawke, baker, Richard Hawke, tithing man and baker, Thomas Hawke, Delareus Hawt, Edward Hawt, Richard Hawt, Sir William Haute, Thomas Hayte, lately of Seele, taillour, John at Reale, Thomas at Heth, alias Baker, Edith Hobyll, William Hobyll of Chapell in Wrotham, Agnes Hunt, baker and brewer, Denis Hunt, ploughman, Isabel Hunt, brewer, John Hunt, tithing man and brewer, Richard Ifeld, John Ivot, Alice James, Henry James, brewer, Jane James, John James, Laurence Jamys, brewer, Robert James, Walter James, William James, Elizabeth Kyng, John Kyng of Wrotham, William Lambe, Isabel Laneham, brewer, John Laneham, Thomas Laneham, baker and brewer, William Laneham, Richard Leechford, Thomas Levesoth of Gowdeherst, 54 THE COURT ROLLS OF IG:HTHAM. John Lewes, John Lyma,ge, Robert Lynsey, clerk, Thomas Ma.deys, clerk, John Martin, gent., Thomas Maryner, brewer, William Mercer, Alice Meryman, Geoffrey Meryman, Katherine Meryman, William Meryman, William Michell, Richard Miller, Thomas Miller, John a More, Godyn Mote, brewer, John Moote, brewer, John Mountford, William Mountford, John Moyer, Richard Mymines, John Neale, brewer, Gilbert Newman, Thomas Nisell, Emmotte None, John None, Robert None, ale taster, William Northfelde, William Pa.oche, Jane Parker,. brewer, Margaret Parker, William Parker of Wrotham, husbandman, Henry Partrich, John Partrich of Scele, "tabrer ", Laurence Partriche, brewer, Thomas Partrich, John Pekerell, tithing man, John Pekham, Reginald Pekham, John Pelsouth, repier,1 Thomas Pelsouth, ale taster and brewer, Walter Pelsouth, William Pelsouth, brewer, Poket of Stanstede, labourer, Richard Pollie, John Preston, John Pyers, brewer, Marga.ret Pyers, brewer, William Rele, Jane Reve, John Reve, Reginald Reve, Robert Reve, Jane Reynar, John Reynar, Thomas Rolff, John Ruggesby, paylemaker, John Salmon, Richard Saund, brewer, Richard, servant and "berebruer" to Pekham, Henry Sawyer, John Sawyer, Thomas Sawyer, tithing man and brewer, William Sawyer, John Sextayn, Laurence Sextayn, ale taster, Walter Sextayn, Thomas Sherywyn, Robert Shildmell, Peter Skynner, John Smyth, Simon Smyth, Thomas Smyth of Falke, William Snydale, clerk, Thomas Sparys, William Stawley, John Stephyn, Alice Swetyng, brewer, John Swetyng, tithing man, William Swetyng, John Syflete, William Syflete, tithing man, Thomas Taillor, William Taillor, 􀃤as Westewell, John Tanner, ale taster, Richard Tanner, ale taster and brewer, Thomas Tanner, William Tanner, Agnes Tebold, brewer, John Tebold, William Tebold, brewer, William Terry at Hothes in Wrotham, Jane Thrope, brewer, John Throppe, tithing man, baker and brewer, Margery Throp, brewer, Richard Thropp, baker, John Tryce, tithing man and brewer, Thomas T r yce, John Turke, miller, Robert Turke, Thomas Underoombe, brewer, Henry Upton, William a Ware, John at Water, brewer, John Watts, Margaret Weller, baker and brewer, Richard Weller, tithing man, baker and brewer, William Weller, John Wells, Henry West, John West, William Westewell, alias Taillor, Sibyll Wildbore, John Williams of Strode, John a Wode, William a 1 See Section (w), under the head FlsHE STB,l!lATE. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 55 Wolford, William, servant of Richard Weller, Worme, servant of William Forde, John Wulferich, Richard Wybarn, Ramo Wymbyil, tithing man and brewer, Henry Wyrnbyll, John Wyrnbyll,. tithing man, brewer, and payle maker, William Wymbyll. Names occurring in the Records, 1553-74. Richard Adduson, Sir Christofer Aleyn, John Applebe, clerk,. vicar of Wrotham, Alice Baker, John Baker, Thomas Baker, Baker a.Jias Hardyng, Agnes Bauldewyn, baker and brewer, Nicholas Baldewyn, horsholder, William Ba.uldewyn, baker and brewer, Barret, John Benet, John Bletcher, William Bletcher, John Bounde, Robert Bounde, William Bounde, tithing man, John Bourman, Richard Brandfeld, Richard Bresyndeyn, Marga.ret Brode, baker and brewer, Nicholas Brode, Dr. Broke, parson ofitham, Richard Bromfeild, borsholder, John Bronnger, John Brown, Robert Byng of Wrotham, John Caryll, Richard Chapman, Henry Charleton of Sutton, Richard Ch6isman,. Nicholas Chown, Richard Chowning, Thomas Cogger, Elizabeth Colyn, John Colyn, Hugh Cornfurthe of East Mallinge, yeoman,. Reginald Cotman, William Cotman, John Crongger, Robert Dakine, 'William Dawlton, William Denman, husbandman, John Dodge of Wrotham, John Dawne, John Dyrkyn, Alexander Dyrlyng, John Evatts, Nicholas Fitzherbert, John Fuller, borsholder, E,obert Gardener, borsholder, Stephen Gardyner, John Garland, Richard Giles of Wrotham, husbandman, Sir Godfrey, curat of Itham, John Goodewyn, Richard Gough, Lady Anne Grey, Richard Greygory, Hugh Hach, John Hach,. Henry Haddon, husbandman, Henry Hadlow, ale taster, Laurence Hadlow, Thomas Hadlow, William Had.low, borsholder,. Thomas Haeselden, John Hamond, Hardyng, alias Baker, Thomas Harman, Crystofer Harryes, Nicholas Hastlyn, John Hawke, Margery Hawke, Richard Hawke, Thomas Hawke, borsholder, William Hertle, parsone of Itham, Christopher Hilles, alias Morgan, of Stansted, clerk, Morgan Hilles of Wrotham, labourer, Thomas Hills, John Hooper, John Ivot, Agnes. Jeffrey, ba-ker and brewer, Ann Jeffrey, George Jeffrey, baker and brewer, Henry Jeffery, borsholder, baker and brewer, William Jeffery, baker and brewer, Ked Jesop, Agnes Kattis,. Edward Kattis, Margaret Kattis, William Kettell, Henry Knowles, Jane Knowles, John Lennarde, esquire, Edward Lusted,. 56 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. Nicholas Lye, Edward Lymsey, Walter Miller of Wrotham, husbandman, William Miller of Wrotham, husbandman, Christopher Morgan, alias Hilles, George Moulton, esquire, Edward Mowg, Walter Mowg, John Olyver, Silvester Page, John Paine, Agnes Parker, brewer, Robert Parker, William Parker, baker and brewer, James Pekham, Reginald Peckham, Reginald Pelsatt, William Pelsoit, yeoman, William Perrie, Henry Pers, Thomas Pole, Reginald PoulJ, John Pulle, William Pullenger, Henry ReP (1657) : s., north-east of the Court Lodge, possibly in Wrotham parish. SPREAD EAGLE (1710): s., an alehouse, now two cottages, standing on The Bank in Ightham village. The house ceased to be an alehouse before 1805. STANFEILD (1705): s., on Chaltons, now the Warren, farm. STANG.A.TE (1604) : ) s., south of Borough Green, STANGATE BRIDGE (c. 1750): 􀃊 and outside the manor of STANG.A.TE CRosSE (1590) : ) Ightham. STONE.A.ORE (1496) : s., uncertain, but adjoins Wythfeld. Possibly the same as Stone Acres. STONEACRE (1566): s., at Oldbury. STONE ACRES (1657) : s., east of the Court Lodge. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 81 STONE ORoFTs: s., on Ohaltons, now the Warren, farm. Variant--Stonye Orofte (1592). STONE FEILD (1591) : s., on Trice Well farm. VariantsStonye field (1594) ; Stony feild (1616). The references may not a.}I relate to the same land. STONEHILL (1506): s., uncertain, probably near Ightham church. STONE STEPS: s., a field lying east of Ightham village, at a point where a footpath (Bellows Lane) leaves the road and, after crossing the Shode stream, runs towards Borough Green. Variant--Stonestapps (1495). The name plainly indicates that the stream was once crossed by stepping stones. STONY STEPPS (1698): s., in Ightham village, probably near Trice Well. STYRYS AsSHE (1557): s., unknown. THE SWERE (1507) : s., unknown. SYNS (1554) : s., unknown. TEBBS : s., once a farm, lying east of the Ightham village-Ivy Hatch road. Variants-Tebbis (1556) ; Tebbes (1586) ; Tebbs (1616) ; Tebs (1710). TuoNG LANE: s., a road running south from Borough Green towards Plaxtol. Variant-Tong Lane (1650). TmxEs (1586) (John Turke, 1500) : s., unknown. THE ToLL: s., a strip of woodland lying north-west of Oldbury Hill, once known as W algrove. ToWN HousE (1710): s., in Ightham village, adjoining the George and Dragon inn. Town House seems to have been Town farm house, i.e. the house belonging to the town (village) farm. TRELAWNEYS: s., at Borough Green. Variants-Trelawnys (1710); Trellawnays (1713). Freelawneys also occurs in manor rentals, but this form may be due to a copyist's error. TruoE LANE (1593) : s., a lane leading from Ightham village to Trice Well. 82 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. TRICE WELL, aJso TrocES (Thomas Tryce, 1438): s., east of Ightham village. Variants-Tricewell (1592); Trices (1616); Thrice Well (1650) ; Trysses (1713) ; Tryces (1717). Trice Well is, strictly, a spring on the farm called Trices, but the former name has also been appropriated by the farm. This farm was also known for a period as Hatches, and probably as Bounds Tenement. TRUNCB:MUDLE (1610) : s., uncertain, perhaps near Muddles. Trunchmudle and Hawkes Mudlers may represent the parts of a divided Muddles, but definite evidence is lacking. USSHERS (1556) : s., unknown. WA LDERS (1556): s., at Oldbury. Now called Old Bury Hall. WALOROVE (1631): s., woodland lying north-west of Oldbury Hill, now called The Toll. The prehistoric earthworks which enclose Oldbury hill fort run through Walgrove, which, plainly, is the wall-wood. W ALLERAC0H (1500) : s., the north-east gateway of Oldbury hill fort. See Vol. XLVID, p. 191. WATERll'IELD (1631) : s., a field on the north sido of Oldbury Hill. Possibly the same as Water Place. WATERFIELD SPRING (l 631) : a., north-west of Oldbury Hill. The name occurs in a lease of " W algrove, Waterfield, Waterfield Spring and BroomR, and all woods and underwoods . . . which shall renew and grow upon the springs which are within W algrove, and all the woods which . . . shall renew and grow upon the land called Waterfield Spring". Waterfield Spring, therefore, is land bearing springing wood, the word Spring having no reference to water. W ATERFLASH : s., in the centre of Oldbury hill fort. Variant- Water Plashett (1598). The name means water splash or plash, see Vol. XLVIII, p. 195. LowER WATER PLA0E : } . s., two fields on the north side of Oldbury Hill. Possibly the same UPPER WATER PLACE : as Waterfield. WEBBS: s., on Ohaltons, now the Warren, farm. Varia.ntsWebysfeld (1508) ; Webb (1592) ; Webbs (1705). WEBBS MEADE (1661): s., west of the Court Lodge. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 83 WEBBS SHAW (1705): s., on Chaltons, now the Warren, farm. WEIKE and WEIKE FARM (1657): s., east of the Court Lodge. Probably the same as a farm now ea.lied Oricketts. WELL FIELD (1588) : s., at Petham. A spring, of which there are several in the locality, no doubt accounts for the name. WEST CROWOHE (1466) : s., unknown, but within Ightham Manor and therefore not to be associated with the ha.mlet of Crouch, 2 miles south-east of Ightham. WETHER 0lI00KE (1592) : s., on the Mote estate. WISEFIELD : s., on Chaltons, now the Warren, farm. Variant- Wisfeild (1592). WILLYAMSL.AND (1500): s., near Rose Wood. WoDEGATE (1491): s., between Ightham village and Ivy Hatch, including the area now called Copthall. W odegate was, no doubt, the wood gate. It lay on the eastern border of the common. WooDSGATE PLAIN (1712): the same as Wodegate. WYBURNES (1764) {Richard Wybarn, 1491): s., near Redwell. Variantr-Wybornes (1767). WYTHFELD (1496): s., uncertain, probably north-east of Ightham village. Section (x)-BING v. HOOPER, AN ELIZABETHAN TITHE CASE. A deep indentation in the northern boundary of Ightham parish1 brings the Wrotham border to the door of an old farm-house at Oldbury, and takes into Wrotham the farm buildings which lie immediately behind the house. This indentation consists of a field, now called Barn Field, which was formerly three small fields known as the Borne Crofts. The tithe of Middle Borne Croft was claimed by the tithe owners of both parishes, Ightham and Wrotham, and about the years 1564-6 there was litigation to determine the parish in which the field lay. The judgement seems to have gone 1 I.e. the parish as it existed before 1934, when certain changes were made. 84 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. in favour of Wrotham, but we are here concerned less with the result of the case than with some of the statements made by witnesses whose written depositions have been preserved. Robert Bing, or Byng, the plaintiff, was the lord of the manor and tithe owner of Wrotham ; John Hooper, the defendant, was a rector of Ightham. Thomas Willoughby, lord of the manor of Ightham, and William Hertle, also a rector of Ightham, were also cited in the case. The dispute was one of long standing. The depositions include statements by eleven witnesses for Ightham and ten for Wrotham. The tenor of the evidence of the Ightham witnesses is all to the effect that the field was known to them to lie in Ightham parish, while the Wrotham witnesses all testified to the contrary. There is much repetition in the evidence, and the extracts reproduced below are conflned to passages in which witnesses have strayed a little from the tedious, common path. The tithe was taken in kind. The Rev. John Hooper stated that " in the right of the . . . parsonage of Itham in the laste harvest tyme this respondent did perceve and take a coppe and a half of wheate for the tythe." He also " belevethe that the coppe and a halfe . . . was worthe 6s. and no more." William Pelsatt "hard one John Syfflett say at a lord's courte holden in Itham paryshe . . . that he and William Syffiett his father dyd carrie tythe corne out of the same grownde cauled Borne Crofte, alias Myddle Borne Crofte, unto the parsonage barne in Itham, to the use of Sir William Staneger, the farmer of the parsonage of Itham under Master Dr. Broke, parson of the parsonage of Itham." " And . . . in the fyrste or second yeare of the reigne of owr Sovereigne ladie Queene Elizabethe this deponent went with certayne olde men of the paryshe of Itham in the rogacion weke unto the same grownde . . . wheare he did heare Henrie Hadlowe, being a man of the adge of 7 6 years, and John Syffiett, beinge a man of the adge of 60 years, say that the same grownde . . . was lyinge within the paryshe of Itham." THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTH.AM. 85 Stephen Swanne said that " he himselfe did fetche tythe haye oute of a little medowe nighe unto the same Borne Crofte . . . and brought the same ha.ye unto the parsonage barne of Ithame." And that "the same grownde cauled Borne Crone . . . is nearer unto the paryshe churche of Itham then the same grownde wheare he dyd fetche the same tythe haye . . . of his certayne sight and knowledge." William Weston stated that " at a leven years paste he . . . toke to farme the parsonage of Itham and all the tythes." In the first year of his farm Borne Crofte was sown with " wheate " of which he took the tithe. In the second year the field was sown with " ots," and, " in the harvest tyme that yeare this deponent beinge then at London when the ots were felled . . . Mr. Binge caused his servaunte to fetche awaye the tythe of the same ots and to convye them unto the parsonage barne of Wrotham." He continued in language highly reminiscent of a chapter of the English Bible of 1611. "And the next daye followynge this deponent came unto one William Tyrrie, beinge a man of the adge of 60 years and uppwards, beinge a paryshioner, and lyinge on his deathe bed sicke of a sickness, of the whiche he deceased, and declared unto the said Tyrrie that the sayde Master Binge had caused his servaunte to fetche awaie the tythe ots oute of the sayde Borne Crofte . . . to whom the sayde William Tyrrie made aunswere agayne and said, I am the more sorrie and you have the more wronge. And addinge sayde, for that I am gods prysonor and lyke to go no more uppon the yearthe, I praye you beare witnesse what I shall saye. Sixty years have I k.nowne this same paryshe and in thirty years in the same tyme I did carrie quietlie nine times the tythe corne of the same grownde unto the parsonage barne of Itham. And I never knew or hard that ever the tythe of the same grownde was carried unto Wrotham but when Mr. Pecham had the parsonage of Wrotham and Itham, bothe at one tyme to farme, and then he might oarrye the same whither he wolde : being then preasent and hearinge the same William Tyrrie so report and saye (as he bathe before 86 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. deposed) this deponent, Marie his wife, one Sir Godfrey, then curate of Itham, John Syfilett and William Perrie." Richard Stalie, husbandman, said that " at a 7 or 8 years paste when certaine of the paryshioners of Itham and the curat of the same paryshe went in deambulacion in the rogacion weke, this deponent went with them and dyd see them compasse in the same grownde . . . as grownde lyinge within the . . . paryshe of Itham." John Talbott related how, when farmer of the parsonage of Ightham, he noted the coppes of wheat on one occasion, and perceived that " there was one coppe dewe for the tythe." He intended to go for this coppe within a day or two, but one, Henry Charlton, farmer of the parsonage of Wrotham, forestalled him, and carried the tithe whea.t to Wrotham. Upon this, Ta.lbott "went unto the sayde parsonage of Wrotha;m to speake with Henrie Charlton . . . and when he came there the sayde Charlton was not at home. Notwithstandinge, this deponent declared unto the saydeCharlton'swife that her husband had done this deponent wronge in takinge away the sayde oopp of wheate. . . . The sayde Charleton's wife making aunswere agayne sayde, yf he (meaning her husband) have done you anie wronge he will make you recompence for the same." He afterwards received " in recompence of the same at sonderie tymes . . . halfe a quarter of wheate and other grayne whearwithall " he " toke himselfe satisfied for the tythe of the same wheate." In a second deposition Stephen Swanne tried to create prejudice against several Wrotham witnesses. "Reginalde Pelsatt is tenant to . . . Mr. Binge . . . and verye familiar with him, as moste parte of the reste of his witnesses are." "John Paine, Morgan Hills and Beatru: Stale are pore folks having litle or nothinge to lyve upon." He had heard Beatrix Stale confess that " she knewe 3 closes . . . named Bourne Croftes, but knewe not within what parishe they lay." Richard Thrupp said that about five or six years ago Morgan Hills took upon himself " to directe and guyde . . . Mr. Binge and others, parishioners of Wrotham, in THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 87 there perambulation over . . . landes lyinge in the parishe of ltham . . . to note and shewe them . the bounds . . . very affectionately. And that . Mr. Willoughby had him . . . in sewte and was allowed 4: marks against him for costs and damages, and by reason hereof . . Morgan is enemy as moche as in him lieth . . . to . Mr. Willoughby, and no indifferent witness.'' William Staley stated that he was present with one Henry Geffrey, and by his "conunaundemente" went to plough in Borne Crofte which was then in the occupation of John Bennett. "At what tyme . . . a mare of the said Henry Jeffres which this deponent had browght thither to ploughe, did, beinge lett forth of her harnesse from ploughe, fole a colte, for the fall whereof . . . Henry Geffrey did paie to the said John Bennett, then beinge a gatherer of the tithes for Itham parsonage . . . one penny at Easter followinge.'' John Applebe, vicar of Wrotham, said that" aboute the thirde yere of King Edwarde the sixte " he was " vicar of Wrotham, and there continued vicar . . . until he was deprived thereof in Quene Marie's tyme for mariage." " Aboute the seconde yere of the Queues mattes reigne that nowe is " he was " restored to the said vicaredge of Wrotham." William Miller tried to restore the reputation of the Wrotham witnesses who had been attacked. He said that John Payne, Morgan Hills, Reynolde Pelsatt, Bettres Staley, Henry Charleton, John Bennett, Thomas Hills and Thomas Powle were " persons of honest fame, name, creditt and conversation . . . well able to lyve of themselves . · . . and that by there trewe labor and travaill they gett and have competent and suffitient to maintayne and kepe there wifes and familie. . . . " Reynolde Pelsatt, he said, " is a freholder of the lorde of Wrotham . . . and for his just dealing in matters was chosen this last yere one of the sessers for the subsedie dewe to the quenes matte in the parishe of Wrotham." 88 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. It may be mentioned, in conclusion, that the :field which was the subject of this litigation, while it is still in the ecclesiastical parish of Wrotham, was transferred to the parish of Ightham for civil purposes on l April, 1934. Section (y)-THE STALEYS AND THEm ACRE. A few yards south of the church at Borough Green, a footpath (Bellows Lane) runs westwards towards Ightham village. For a short distance this path forms the northern boundary of a piece of land some three acres in extent, which was once known as the Acre, and was owned by Richard Staley. Staley had had a chequered career. About the year 1546 he and a companion, Richard Thrupp-one of the witnesses in the case of Bing v. Hooper1-were "accused and detected for stealing of certain shepe of the Lady Grayes, and one Nicholas Hastelyn and others . . . and that thereupon they were sent to Bullen2 as laborers, and there continued a certain space."8 After their return to England Thrupp confessed that, apart from the crime for which t-hey had been transported, he and Richard Staley had stolen from one John Dodge," at several tymes forty hennes and capons and two fat weathers. . . . The said Mr. Dodge, heringe his confessione, said that for those matters, because they were past longe before, he would forgive him and his cumpanye so that he and they were not hereafter taken with the like. . . . "8 After this incident had been closed Staley settled down at Borough Green as a husbandman, and died, in 1589, a freeholder of the Manor of Ightham, leaving two sons, Walter and George, his co-heirs by the custom of gavelkind. Walter and George Staley, a year after succeeding to their joint inheritance, partitioned their land, the Acre being 1 Section (x), amte, p. 83. 2 Boulogne, at that time an English possession. s From the evidence given in the case of Bing v. Hooper, Section (x) ante, p. 83. THE 0OURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 89 taken in severalty by Walter. His brother George need not concern us further. Walter Staley sold the Acre to " one William Staley of Barrow Greene," probably a relation, but soon repented of his bargain, for within a year or two he filed a Bill of Complaint to the Lord Chancellor praying for relief. It is to the particulars given in this Bill and to the "Aunswers of William Staley " that we owe our knowledge of the case. In weighing the statements made, it is to be borne in mind that the Bill would be prepared in a lawyer's office at a time when the art of creating prejudice by blackening an opponent's actions and character was commonly practised. Walter Staley stated that, having become sole proprietor of the Acre, he had "divers ernest suiters unto him to have purchased the sayd land: and might have had a good and Rounde some, that is to say, forty pounds or above . . . for the inheritance thereof." But he '' thought it not good to be rashe in the sale thereof, hopeinge to have gotten -fivfty pounds or more." But William Staley, " well knoweinge the ritchenesse of the sayd land, and that it would yeeild a good valew for the Quantety thereof, beinge a very conninge, wylye, deceitfull person of smaule ability and lesse credit, deviseinge and inventynge how he might by all allurements and enticements compase and decevie." Walter dealt with him "with many faire and large protestes first himself and then by the meanes of his wyfe, a woman of fairer words than condicions and a mete instrument to oompasse sutche a matche." As the outcome, it was agreed that Walter should sell the land to William, and that William should pay £20 for it, and should also find and allow Walter" meete and convenient meat, drinke and lodgeinge dureinge his naturall life." " In affecting whereof," Walter alleged, " William Staley suffered noe time to be lost withall post haste caused a deed of feoffment to be drawne, and never left " Walter " until he had sea.led and delivered the same as his said act and deede, and in the night time the same was executed." 10 90 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. William did not pay the £20 at once, but gave Walter 40s. down and created in his favour a rent-charge of 20s. for a term of eighteen years. Walter received "no assurance for his meate, drinke and lodgeinge " but yet " toke his meate, drinke and lodginge at the house of the sayd William Staley accordinge to the said aggrement." So far, so good. But William, "haveinge gotten the sayd parcell of land . . . in sutche subtill and deceitfull manner and forme . : . did alsoe shortely after grow weary of" Walter's company, and did utterly deny him "to take any more meat or drinke in his house or to take his lodginge there, saying that he was a combersome guest and troblesome u,nto him, protesting that he never promised . . . any sutche thinge." Walter admitted that he " hath noe wittnesse . . . deed, or writinge to prove the sayd promise and therefore is utterly voyd of all remedy in the course of the common lawes of this Realme." He therefore petitioned the Lord Chancellor for equitable relief. William's answers to the Bill tell a rather different story. According to him, Walter "divers and sundrie tymes did move " him to buy the land, which he " often tymes refused to doe. But yet at laste . . ., by reason of the great impportunytie" of Walter, he "yeilded thereunto," and agreed to pay for the land forty shillings down and twenty shillings a year thereafter. He denied that he promised " to fynde and allow unto the complaynaunte meete and convenient meate, drinke and lodginge during the naturall life of the . . . complaynaunte . . . for the said lande is not in his conscience worthe above fiftene shillinges by the yere to be letten." We have no record of the result of this case, but Walter seems to have failed to prove his allegations, and it is difficult to see how he could win. As to the equities of the claim, Walter is not likely to have been more than three score years old at the time of his father's death ; and board and lodging for the rest of his life in addition to a payment of £20 (equal, to many times that amount, nowadays) seems far too high a price for three acres of land in a purely rural district. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 91 William Staley was certainly not dispossessed, for in a Court Roll of 1606 it is recorded that William Staley, who lately held of the lord of this manor a piece of land called the Acre . . . has died since the last Court. . . . Walter Staley is his son and next heir, and is eighteen years of age and more. The la.at words of the entry on the Court Roll tell us that young Walter was born a little too soon to have been named after old Walter, following upon a reconciliation. So a happy ending is denied to us. Section (z)-REVIEW. An attempt ha.a been made in this paper to extract from the records of the Manor of Ightham everything that, in a broad sense, tells us something about the history of the parish-its changing topography, local government, economic conditions, and the lives of its people. The paper is not, in itself, a history of the place ; it is a mass of historical material. Owing to its length there has been little space for comment, beyond what was necessary to explain extracts in the light of a knowledge of the locality. In this final section more latitude has been taken, in order to bring out a few points that deserve further notice. A village, or a group of hamlets such as Ightham, may be thought of a.a having grown slowly but more or less continuously round its original centres. This is not true without qualification. We find, for example, in the Court Rolls that have been preserved, a good many references to houses standing on land which is now uncovered, both near the hamlets and in more remote parts of the parish ; and there must be many more such references in records that have been lost. The total disappearance of all traces of many ancient buildings must often be due to their having had no belowground foundations, a well-known feature of many old houses. The records reveal some of the topographical features of the district three or four centuries ago. The woodland of 92 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. Oldbury Hill seems to have changed very little during that time, except by the introduction of the pine tree. The slopes are no longer worked for " walkers earth," but the hill is still as " fitt a place as anye " for conies.1 The " highway leading between Eyghtham and Sevenoke "2 remains as a track, and the wall of the hill fort, though levelled in part, still stands up boldly at Wallehacch.2 The village of Ightham no doubt dates back to Saxon times, the early dwellings having been replaced more than once. Considerable rebuilding seems to have been done in · the sixteenth century, when a group of houses was put up round the triangular space which is the centre of the old village. Of these the George and Dragon inn (1515), Skynner's house (1555)3 and Town House (1587) remain, while two others, probably of the same type, have been destroyed almost within living memory. There are other old houses and cottages, on the little rise leading to Tryce Lane and on the neighbouring Bank, and it requires no great effort of the imagination to picture the village as it looked in Elizabethan days. Between Town House and its opposite neighbour, Skynner's house, was the exit from the village which led to the church, with its ford across the stream for animals and a wooden bridge, often sadly out of repair, for foot passengers. On the other side of Skynner's house a second exit, Busty Lane, followed the bank of the stream in the direction of Borough Green. The open space in front of the houses wa.s a small green, a patch of manor waste, where the village fair was held and where, in all likelihood the stocks were placed. This little green was probably the scene of many of the fights recorded in the Court Rolls,4 especially about the time when the ale-houses closed. From Sections (i) and (j) we may glean a little, though less than we would wish, about the rights of the commoners of the manor, which included the digging of sand, the use of the common pasture near Ivy Hatch for sheep and cattle, 1 Vol. XLVIII, p. 178. z Vol. XLVIIl, p. 190. a Vol. XLVlli, p. 192. t Section (m), ante, p. 3. THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 93 and the beating of the forest trees for mast. We learn, too, of many unauthorised acts in relation to the common-tree cutting, hedge breaking and wood stealing: offences for which fines (which could not always be collected) proved insufficient deterrents, and which had to be punished with the stocks. The Ightham virgate of 2½ acres, which seems fairly established by the evidence, 1 is of more than local interest, and it would be interesting to hear whether this unit is known elsewhere. Reference has been made 2 to the forfeiture of the weapon with which a blow was struck, or its value, in cases of assault. The only evidence of such a practice is the record of the value of the offending instrument, which seems to have no purpose unless that of forfeiture. The analogy of the deodand comes to mind, but a deodand was an instrument which caused death, and a similar forfeiture in cases of simple assault seems to be a novelty. Here again it would be interesting to learn what was done in other manors. There is a single instance in the Court Rolls of the fining of the constablesfor failure toplacea watch at Ightham,namely, at a Court held on 3 October, 1588.8 The date raises the question whether special notice may not have been taken of the neglect owing to the fears roused by the Spanish Armada, which sailed for this country towards the end of July, 1588. Kent was in a danger zone, and the Ightham beacon was a link in one of the chains of national defence,4 so we should expect the authorities to be alert at such a time and not lightly to pass over any neglect of a public duty. Several references to the sale of fish will be found in extracts which are included in this paper, the place name Fish Streate5 (situate just outside the village on the way to Tonbridge) occurs, and John Pelsouth, an inhabitant of Ightham, is described as a repier,6 or rypier (perhaps from Rye) a carrier of fish from the coast to London by rapid 1 Vol. XLVIII, p. 196, 1 Page 3. 8 Pa.ge 30. ' Vol. XLVIII, p. 195. 5 Page 72. 8 Page 64. 94 THE COURT ROLLS OF IGHTHA.M. pack-horse transit. Ightham lies on a route between Rye and the Metropolis, and a good deal of the fish traffic may have passed through the village. Little biographies-of a kind-of many Ightham people can be made up from entries in the Court Rolls. The subjects would generally be undistinguished persons whose lives were unexciting ; but the particulars given do at least tell us something that we want to know, namely, how the good folk of Ightham lived several hundred years ago. There are well over 300 entries relating to the Pelsatt family alone, spread over several generations, but their reproduction would fill many pages, and a shorter " biography " of Richard Wellar, may serve to illustrate what may be found in the Court Rolls. The particulars that we have in this case cover only eleven years, 1497-1508, owing to a long break in the records after the latter year. We first meet with Richard Wellar in 1497-8, as one of several purchasers of a house and garden. In 1499 he sued John (or William) Burdon for a debt of 3s. 8d. He served on juries in 1500, 1504, 1505 and 1506, and was fined once for non-attendance. His wife brewed ale for sale (1504 and 1508) within the area of the taster for Ightham, and also baked bread for sale (1507). He was tithing man in 1505-6. Wellar was a man of substance who held Chaltons (a large farm), had a servant, William, and probably another servant, Richard Leechford. His possessions included two basins of fine brass, a dun-coloured mare, two oxen, and some notorious hunting dogs. In 1505 he was a joint purchaser of a house and land called Hasylmans, lying near Ightham rectory. Wellar's dogs killed two of Stephen Bryggs's pigs, and so.me of Bryggs's pigs destroyed two acres of Wellar's oats. They went to law about it and Wellar had to pay 17d. for the pigs. His dogs also killed a sow belonging to John Lymage, and altogether they must have been a terror to the neighbourhood. Wellar also appeared in court to answer a claim for the detention of a colt, which he denied, but for which, after the THE OOURT ROLLS OF IGHTHAM. 95 case had come up seven times, he was ordered to pay 8d. He was fined 4d. in 1507 for digging, without authority, a sand pit at Wodegate (which adjoins Chaltons). John Ivot sued him in the same year, but for what is not stated. Finally, in 1508 he was sued by Ralph A.rmestrong for the unpaid balance of the price of two oxen, and for 40d. for the ploughing of four acres of land in Webysfeld (one of the Chaltons fields). There are many individual extracts, printed in these pages, about which something might be said, but they must be left to speak for themselves, for everything must come to an end, even this long paper.