First Record Book

RYE/33/7

First Record Book

15th century-1504

The volume is made up from at least 4 different sections:

(i) fos. 1-8, vellum, mainly alphabets and modes of address. The rest of the volume is on paper.

(ii) fos. 9-45, deeds, precedents and decrees, mainly 15th century.

(iii) fos. 46-74, Assize of Bread, with some sessions and assemblies, 1538-50.

(iv) fos. 75-158, Court of Record, 1497-1504.

A full summary with extracts is given in 5 HMC., App., p. 489.

fos.1-7r Alphabets in a fine hand temp. Edw. IV, interspersed with modes of address. On fo. 1v. is the oath, in English, of the Duodecanarii, possibly the jury sworn in at the St. Andrews sessions.

fo. 7v Letter testimonial that R.E. (sic) is combaron and enjoys liberties of the Cinque Ports, dated 1 June 1462, followed by a different form of certificate for John Cheeseman al. Baker and William T. (sic) dated 14 August 1478.

fo. 8r The page commences with an incomplete note of the wages of Thomas, being 26s. 8d., with clothing of linen and wool and shoes both for holidays and working days. Then follow the names of 9 foreigners within the liberty of Rye, 7 names at 16d. each keeping lodgings of tenants, and 2 names at 6d. yearly not doing so. Total 10s. 4d. After this is written: 'Per me Willelmum Roberthe Clericum ville de Ria in Com' Sussex' Generosum' [Town Clerk 1537, 1540-48].

fo. 8v Bond dated 10 November 1473 in 10 marks by William Diggys, gent., to Babilon Gainford, esq., of Rye, for delivery of 10 great seams of oats before 2 February next. (A seam is equivalent to a quarter or 8 bushels of corn, see Parish W. D., A Dictionary of Sussex Dialect, p. 113. It can also be found meaning a cart load, Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, II. p. 1822. J. O. Halliwell's Dictionary of Archaic ... Words, II, p. 716 quotes Ray as saying this is a Sussex word. No evidence as to the amount of the 'great seam' has been found.)

fo. 9r Gift dated 20 March 1490 by Robert Couper, sen., of Stone, co. Kent, to William Eston of Rye, sen., of 13a. in Stone (abuttals). 5 witnesses.

fo. 9v Gift dated August 1490 between same parties, of 9a. in Stone (abuttals). No witnesses.

fo. 10r Gift dated 8 June 1489 by Clement Adam, tailor, and his wife Joan, to John Mailard, fisherman, of a messuage 'at the Wisshe at the Strond,' abutting (amongst others) S. on the 'Common Dok,' for a yearly rent of 20d., both parties repairing their part of the sea wall. Fine made before mayor, William Pernell and witnessed by John Rigby, bailiff, Adam Oxenbregge, John Sutton, esq., Robert Crouch, William Eston and John Swan, common clerk.

fo. 10v Gift dated 17 December 1483 by John Swan of Lydd, co. Kent, and his wife Joan, to Richard Swan, of a tenement and land in Rye (abuttals). Mentions fine made before the mayor 29 January 1483. 13 witnesses, including mayor, jurats, clerk and sergeant-at-mace.

fo. 11r Letter of attorney dated 18 December 1490 by Thos. Watell of Peasmarsh to William Pernell, to deliver seisin of 6a. in Peasmarsh (abuttals) to Thomas Harley. No witnesses.

Demise, undated, by Robert Wymond and Clement Adam to William Gemyn' of Smallhithe in Tenterden, co. Kent, of a messuage (abuttals).

fo. 11v Gift dated at Playden 6 December 1487 by John Goodwyn to Thomas Frebody, Richard Goodwyn and Nicholas White, of 4a. in Playden. 3 witnesses.

fo. 12 Letter testimonial that Margaret Pudland of Brightling intends to travel to St. Cornelius across the seas to cure her epilepsy, wherefore she seeks alms. Given under the seal of the official of Lewes Archdeaconry, dated 31 July 1495.

Gift dated at Brede 26 July 1495 by John Harley of Udimore to Thomas Harley of Peasmarsh, of 3a. in Brede (abuttals). 5 witnesses.

Gift dated 10 December 1460 by John atte Stone, sen., of Udimore, to his son John and his wife Katherine, 7a. in Brede (abuttals). 3 witnesses.

fo. 13 Deeds by way of mortgage dated 23 and 27 February 1498 by Richard Creche of Peasmarsh to Laurence Stephyn of Rye, of 6a. called Lynden in Peasmarsh.

fo. 14r Conveyance, undated, by Thomas Basden to Robert Holstok, of land (abuttals) in Rye for 3s. yearly.

Gift dated 21 December 1423 by William Longe to Thomas Pyers, of Barnardeshell field in Rye (abuttals) for a peppercorn rent. 5 witnesses.

fo. 14v Quitclaim dated 22 December 1423 by Thomas Longe and Thomas Langele to Thomas Pyers, of premises above.

fo. 15 blank.

fos. 16, 17 Award dated 3 October 1503 by John Shurley and Robert Oxenbrege, esqs., to end a suit in the Court of Winchelsea between Robert Wymond and John Dyer, exors. of William Wykwik, vicar of Rye v. Robert Sparow, exor. of Thomas Fysshe of Winchelsea for a debt of £15. [See below fo. 42 v.]

fo. 18r Gift dated 12 October 1503 by Clement Adam to Edward, Nicholas and Henry Scott, and Richard Harenden of High Halden, co. Kent, of 2 tenements by the Landgate.

fo. 18v Lease for 40 years dated 6 August 1503 by Sir Richard Lewkenor and Edmond Sudeley, esq., to Robert Clerke of Iden, of the Park in Iden (80a.).

fo. 19 General quitclaim dated 8 June 1496 by John Pieres factor on behalf of the King of Portugal and others to the inhabitants of Sandwich, Deal and Walmer, all co. Kent, concerning merchandise (specified) purchased.

fo. 20 Indenture of apprenticeship dated 5 October 1503, William Whytyng to Thomas Smyth of Rye, shoemaker.

fo. 21r Gift dated 6 October 1503 by Henry Swanne to Giles Love, Thomas Baseden, Richard Pedyll and George Mercer, of all his lands in Rye, Sussex and Kent. 9 Witnesses.

fo. 21v Gift, undated, by John Sutton, esq., to Vincent Fynch of Sandhurst, co. Kent, Giles Love, Clement Adam, George Mercer and John Tolkyn, all of Rye, of all his lands, etc., in Rye and Playden except a tenement on the S. side of the churchyard.

fo. 22 blank.

fo. 23 Scribbles only.

fos. 24-25r Record of a manorial court, unnamed [Stanton?] held 26 May 1466, including pleas of debt and trespass and presentments which include the Abbess (sic) of Battle and Sir John Pelham as suitors, fo. 24v. is blank, continuity between 24 and 25r assumed. There are further presentments and a reeve of the marsh mentioned, together with the expenses of the steward at the court the following Friday, against which is written Stanton'.

fo. 25v Gift of 40a. land in Rye to Isabel, widow of John Bayle, in the court of the Hospital of St. Bartholomew of Rye dated 12 May 1477. The entry is unfinished; remainder of page blank.

fos. 26-29 Precedent for an account of the steward of the house-hold, quoting the account of John Pawlyn, steward of Sir Robert de Harynton (not identified), Easter and Michaelmas 1431. There are references to some Somerset manors of the Harington family.

fos. 30, 31 Regulations and tables for the Assize of Bread, temp. Edw. IV.

fo. 32r Warrant to the bailiff's sergeant to seek out a sworn prisoner to the mace, 6 September 1481. (See another copy in the Custumal, RYE/57/1, fo. 63v.)

Note that in a case in Rye court, William Dobyll of Romney, co. Kent, v. Thomas Water of Ewhurst, carpenter, the latter 'was sworn uppon Kyngs Rodde .... to remayne as trwe prisoner that is to sey to come whan so ever he wer sent for.'

fos. 32v-34r blank

fo. 34v Lease for 10 years dated 14 May 1408 by John Bever' Chaplain of the Chantry of St. Mary of Rye and William Shipman to William Marchaunt, of all chantry lands in Iden called Hiltys land.

fo. 35 blank.

fos. 36-39 Entries of decrees in Assemblies, Brodhulls and Guestlings, 1396-1484. These include the election of 3 treasurers, 3 collectors of the Great Maltod, and 1 collector of the Small Maltod of Rippiers, 1429.¹

fo. 40r Brodhull and Assembly entries, 1483, 1526.

fo. 40v Fine levied on Robert Croche, mayor, in Rye court, 5 May 1479.

fos. 41r-42r Record of Assemblies 1479, 1493, 1549.

fo. 42v Bond to perform award, made 3 March 1498. John Dyer of Rye and William Wikwik of Somerford, co. Wilts, late vicar of Rye to stand to the award of William Pernell and John Cheseman, jurats, concerning lands, rents and services which lately belonged to Wikwik as vicar.

fos. 43, 44 Memoranda and scribbles including certificate of payment of customs by Peter Dolphyn, master of the Katheryn of Crosike (goods listed), dated 29 December 1495.

fo. 44a Remains of a leaf which lists writings done at the instance of William Pernell.

fos. 45-54, 59-74 Records of Assize of Bread, 1538-49.

fos. 55, 56 Record of sessions of the Peace, 1538-40.

fos. 75-159r Record of Courts of Record, 1497-1504.

fo. 159v Proclamation of adjournment of court and oath of jurymen.

English