English Economic History: Select Documents. Various

and services aforesaid he should render to the aforesaid lord the King the value of the same yearly in money; and if it should be to the damage of the lord the King aforesaid or to the injury of the same manor, to what damage and what injury; by the oath of the below written persons, to wit, Philip de Hatherle[60] … Who say upon their oath that the aforesaid Adam holds of the aforesaid lord the King within the manor aforesaid in Colverdon a virgate of land with the appurtenances and renders 10s. a year to the lord the King, and another virgate of land with the appurtenances in Walesworth and renders 20s. to the same lord the King, and for the aforesaid two virgates of land he owes suit to the court of the lord the King at the Barton aforesaid, and it is worth 2s. a year, and he shall carry writs within the county and shall have no answering of the aforesaid writs, and it is worth 2s. a year, and he ought to be tallaged for the two virgates of land aforesaid, when tallage is imposed, at the will of the lord the King. And if the aforesaid lord the King should grant to the aforesaid Adam to hold the aforesaid land for the aforesaid service,[61] it would not be to the damage of the lord the King nor to the injury of the manor aforesaid.

[59] November 2.

[60] And twelve others named.

[61] i.e., for the money-payments specified above.

      9. Subinfeudation [Rotuli Hundredorum, II, 350], 1278

      Township of Thornborough.—The abbot of Biddlesdon holds 6 hides of land and a virgate in Thornborough, to wit, of John de Hastings one hide of land, and John himself holds of Sir John son of Alan, and Sir John himself holds of the lord the King in chief.

      Again, the said abbot holds a half hide of land and a virgate of Alice daughter of Robert de Hastings, and she holds of Sir John son of Alan, and he holds of the King in chief, and the said abbot renders to the said Alice 30s. a year.

      Again, the same abbot holds of Hugh de Dunster 2½ hides of land and a virgate, and renders for the said land to the nuns of St. Margaret of Ivinghoe 40s. a year, and maintains the chapel of Butlecote for the aforesaid land. And Hugh held of John de Bello Campo a hide and a virgate of land, rendering to John de Bello Campo 4d. a year, and John himself holds of Sir John son of Alan, and he holds of the lord the King in chief.

      Again the same abbot holds of the gift of Roger Foliot a half hide and a virgate, and Roger himself held of Reynold de Fraxino, and Reynold held of John son of Alan, and he of the lord the King in chief.

      Again, the same abbot holds of the gift of William de Fraxino and his ancestors a hide of land, and they held of John son of Alan, and he of the lord the King in chief.

And it is to be known that all the aforesaid land used to render foreign service,[62] except the land which the said abbot has of the gift of John de Hastings and Alice daughter of Robert de Hastings, but John son of Alan and his heirs will acquit the said abbot towards the lord the King and all other men, to wit, of the ward of Northampton, of scutage, of a reasonable aid to make the king's son a knight and to marry his daughter, for ever, and of all services pertaining to them.[63]

[62] i.e., service due to the King, a permanent burden upon the land. See Bracton, f. 36. "Item sunt quedam servitia que dicuntur forinseca … quia pertinent ad dominum regem … et ideo forinsecum did potest quia fit et capitur foris sive extra servitium quod fit domino capitali."

[63] The process of subinfeudation was brought to an end by the Statute of Quia Emptores, 1290. "Our lord the king … has … enacted that henceforth it be lawful for any freeman to sell his land or tenement or any part thereof at his pleasure, so always that he who is enfeoffed thereof hold that land or tenement of the same chief lord, and by the same services and customs, whereby the enfeoffor formerly held them."

      10. Licence for the Widow of a Tenant in Chief To Marry [Fine Roll, 10 Edward II, m. 19], 1316.

      The King to all to whom etc. greeting. Know ye that by a fine of 100s. which our beloved John de la Haye has made with us for Joan, who was the wife of Simon Darches, deceased, who held of us in chief as of the honour of Wallingford, we have given licence to the same Joan that she may marry whomsoever she will, provided that he be in our allegiance. In witness whereof etc. Witness the King at Westminster, 11 July.

      11. Marriage of a Widow without Licence [Fine Roll, 12 Edward III, m. 26], 1338.

      The King to his beloved and trusty, William Trussel, his escheator on this side Trent, greeting. Whereas Millicent, who was the wife of Hugh de Plescy, deceased, who held of us in chief, who (que) lately in our Chancery took a corporal oath that she would not marry without our licence, has now married Richard de Stonley without having obtained our licence hereon: We, refusing to pass over such a contempt unpunished, and wishing to take measures for our indemnity in this behalf, command you that without delay you take into our hand all the lands and tenements which the aforesaid Richard and Millicent hold in Millicent's dower of the inheritance of the aforesaid Hugh in your bailiwick; so that you answer to us at our Exchequer for the issues forthcoming thence, until we deem fit to order otherwise thereon. Witness the King at the Tower of London, 6 May. By the King.

      12. Alienation of Land by a Tenant in Chief without Licence [Fine Roll, 1 Edward I, m. 7], 1273.

Order is made to the sheriff of Hereford that without delay he take into the King's hand the manor of Dilwyn, which Edmund, our[64] brother, holds of the King in chief, and which he has now alienated to John Giffard without the King's licence; and that he keep it safely until the King make other order thereon, so that he answer to the King at the King's Exchequer for the issues arising therefrom. Given as above [at St. Martin le Grand, London, 5 October]. By the King's council.

[64] i.e., the King's brother. The enrolling clerk confuses the first person of the original writ with the third person of the enrolment formula.

      13. Wardship and Marriage [Pipe Roll, 26 Henry II, Rot. 5, m. 2d.], 1179–80.

      Otto de Tilli renders account of 400l. to have the wardship of the land of his grandson; and let his daughter be given [in marriage] at the King's will. In the treasury are 100l. And he owes 300l.

      Adam son of Norman and William son of Hugh de Leelai render account of 200 marks for marrying the daughter of Adam with the son of William, with the King's good will. In the treasury are 50 marks. And they owe 100l.

      14. Grant of an Heir's Marriage [Fine Roll, 13 Edward II, m. 3], 1320.

The King to all to whom etc., greeting. Know ye that by a fine of 6l. which our beloved clerk, Adam de Lymbergh, has made with us, we have granted to him the marriage of John, son and heir of Joan de Chodewell, deceased, late one of the sisters and heirs of Philip le Brode, deceased, who held of us in chief, which John is under age and in our wardship; to hold without disparagement.[65] In witness whereof etc. Witness the King at Odiham, 26 March. By the council.

      And command is given to Richard de Rodeney, the King's escheator on this side Trent, that he deliver to the same Adam the body of the heir aforesaid, to be married in the form aforesaid. Witness as above.