Folios: 24-25v. Lincolnshire. Inspeximus by Edward III of a record and process in...

Folios: 24-25v. Lincolnshire. Inspeximus by Edward III of a record and process in Chancery.

First party: Edward III.

Second party: John, duke of Lancaster, son of Edward III [John of Gaunt], and Blanche, wife of same duke.

Place or subject: Pleas in Chancery at Westminster 37 Edw III: John, duke of Lancaster, son of Edward III, and Blanche, his wife, showed to the king that, whereas it was lately found by inquisitions after the death of Henry, late duke of Lancaster, that among other castles, honors, manors, lands and tenements of which Henry was seised in his demesne as of fee on the day he died, Henry was seised of the manor of Snayth [Snaith] and Cowyk [Cowick] with soke and other appurtenances in Yorkshire, and that Maud, then countess, and Blanche, wife of John, then earl of Richemund [Richmond] and now duke of Lancaster, were the daughters and heirs of Henry, and that all those castles, honors, manors, lands and tenements with appurtenances were shared between the heirs by petition made in Chancery, except for the manor of Snaith and Cowick, which was retained in the hands of the king for certain causes, and their shares were delivered to each of them. After Maud died without heirs in tail, her whole share descended to Blanche as her sister and heir according to the inquisitions taken by writs of diem clausit and returned into Chancery. And so John and Blanche were in possession of the whole of Henry's inheritance as on the day he died, except for that manor. For which reason they entreated the king that would cause that manor to be delivered as her right and inheritance. The king, wishing to do justice herein, and hearing that the manor is in the hands of Philippa, queen of England, his wife, has caused the queen to be warned that she should come before the king's council by her attorneys in Chancery at Westminster in the quindene of Easter 37 Edw. III to show if she has or knows anything to say for the king or for herself as to why that manor ought not to be seized into the king's hands and delivered to John and Blanche as her right and inheritance. The queen appeared by Richard de Ravensere, clerk, her attorney, and others of her council in Chancery, with there being present Simon, bishop of Ely, chancellor [Simon Langham], John, bishop of Worcester, treasurer [John Barnet], Henry de Grene, Robert de Thorp, William de Skipwith, John Mowbray, John Knyvet, Thomas de Ingelby [Ingleby], justices, William de Fyncheden, William de Wychyngham [Witchingham], and Edmund de Chelreye, servants and others of the king's council in the council chamber next to the Exchequer in the palace of Westminster. They said that the king, being lately seised of that manor, granted and assigned it with other lands and tenements to hold in dower to the queen, and she was seised of an estate tail of that manor, until she demised it to Henry, then earl of Derby, to hold for the term of her life, by indenture made between them on 27 Feb, 16 Edw. III [1342] and shown before the king's council, for £60 to be paid yearly to the queen. Henry continued that estate in the manor during his whole life. After his death the queen re-entered into the manor as in reversion and so holds that in dower from the king's assignment, and does not intend to be removed, or that the manor be delivered to John and Blanche, as they seek. John and Blanche said that Henry de Lacy, late earl of Lincoln, granted to Edward I that the manor, by the name of the manor of Snaith with soke, which Alice, Henry's mother, held in dower from his inheritance, which also after her death ought to have reverted to Henry de Lacy and his heirs, should remain forever to Edward I and his heirs. [Further details of descent given] John and Blanche seek that, on account that Duke Henry, father of Blanche, was seised of the same manor in his life, as in his own right by due process, immediately after the death of Alice, daughter of Henry, he was seised and died seised thereof, and that neither did Duke Henry after her death pay that farm of £60, but always pursued his ancient right which accrued to him by her death, anew, affirming his ancient right, nor did he do anything by which the right which accrued to him by the charter of Edward I could be weakened or made worse, that manor with the soke and other appurtenances should be seized into the hands of the king and delivered to John and Blanche as her right. Both the queen and John and Blanche submitted to the decree and order of the council. All of which having been diligently examined and understood by the king's council, it seemed to the council that the indenture extends only to Henry and not to his heirs, and that the manor of Snaith with soke and appurtenances by the death of Duke Henry pertains and ought to pertain to John and Blanche, daughter and heiress of Duke Henry, by hereditary descent, as of her right, and be delivered to them, the indenture notwithstanding. By which it is considered that the manor and soke be reseized into the king's hands and delivered to John and Blanche as her right and inheritance.

County: [Yorkshire].

Additional people: [unspecified]

Dated at Westminster.

15 May 37 Edw III.