Folios: 88-88v. Staffordshire. Settlement of a dispute. First party: Edmund, son...

Folios: 88-88v. Staffordshire. Settlement of a dispute.

First party: Edmund, son of Henry III [Edmund of Lancaster], and John de Swinnirton [Swynnerton], knight.

Second party: William de Mere, knight, and their men and tenants of Hanechirche [Hanchurch].

Place or subject: Whereas a dispute arose between Edmund and John on the one part and William de Mere and his men and tenants on the other part concerning certain common of pasture which William, his men and tenants were exacting for all their beasts at all times of the year in a certain pasture called le Schortelyme, the dispute came to a settlement, as follows: William quitclaimed to Edmund and John and their heirs and also their men and tenants the ownership of the ground and common of pasture which they had lawfully and de facto, and were exacting or could exact in any way in that land and pasture of Shortelyme with appurtenances and other pastures adjacent to that land, or also in any other wastes and lands, assarted, rented or in another way appropriated before the completion of the present deed within Edmund's manor of Newcastle under Lyme and the manor of John de Swynnirton [Swynnerton], except in open time after the corn and hay has been carried away. William granted that Edmund and John and their heirs and men and their tenants can assart the land of Schortelyme whenever they wish, plough or make a meadow thereof, and assess and rent it at their will without any opposition or impediment or right of reclaim from William and his heirs or their men or tenants forever. Saving that William and his heirs and their men and tenants are to have in those lands their common pastures for all kinds of their beasts in the open time after the corn and hay has been carried away in all the places, where they were previously accustomed and ought to have common, except for messuages to be built or enclosed in those lands by Edmund or John or their heirs or tenants, when they wish to build or enclose them. Edmund and John also quitclaimed to William and his heirs and their men and tenants the ownership of the ground and common of pasture which they had or could have de facto or lawfully in one place of wasteland in Hanechirche [Hanchurch] in a certain place called Witspot, which lies between the arable land of the old assarts of Hanchurch on the one side and royal way, which leads from Stafford to Chester on the other, in such a way that the royal way is suitable and sufficient, or in other wastelands of William, his men and tenants, assarted, assessed or in another way appropriated before the completion of the present deed, or to be assarted or appropriated from henceforth in Hanchurch, except in open time after the corn and hay has been carried away. [Further details given].

County: [Staffordshire].

Additional people: Witnesses: William de Audel' [Audley]; William de Caureswell; Thomas de Bray; Philip de Minton, knights; Hugh de Vien; Ingram de Estrus; Roger Brabenzon; and John Basset, clerks.

Dated at Newcastle [Newcastle under Lyme].

The feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 8 Edw I.