Charter concerning the manor of Loveden, Lincolnshire, 1378

Enlarged image | Seals

I am very grateful to Guy Vincent for sending me these images of a Lincolnshire charter of 1378, which were kindly provided by the charter's owner. The charter is particularly interesting because it includes very detailed information of the lands concerned and the names of many tenants, including the "native" tenants whose bodies were included in the conveyance. The heraldic seals of the four grantors have also survived intact - see notes on the heraldry. A translation of the text is given below.

The grantee, Grace de Roos, later married Sir Philip Tilney, of Boston, Lincolnshire (d. 1394). The manor was later known as that of Tilney Hall, alias Lovedens.
[Thanks to Douglas Richardson for the identification of Grace de Roos.]

This indenture attests that we Roger de Kirketon, knight, Robert Bernak, John de Haugh and Thomas de la Launde have demised, delivered and by this our present indented charter have confirmed to Grace the daughter of Richard the son of John de Roos of Tydd

A moiety of the site of the manor of Loueden, from Tydd St Mary towards the east with part of the Park and of the Lane from the Edyk as far as the land formerly of Robert the son of John to the width of the same site of the manor with part of the Edyk next to the river bank on the eastern part as is attested by by bound and mark, which contains 9 acres, 3 roods, 4 perches, 5 feet and a half of land by estimation.

And 110 acres, 2 roods, 10 perches, 5 feet of arable land, of which:

• in Dufcotecroft 10 acres, 1 roods, 2 perches and 5 feet of land,
• in the same place 4 acres, 2 roods, 33 perches and 9 feet of land,
• in the same place 15 acres, 1 rood, 23 perches, 12 feet and a half adjoining the Edyk,
• in the same place 5 acres, 1 rood, 25 perches and 9 feet next to the Wilgh,
• in the same place in a croft 12 acres, 2 roods, 23 perches and 9 feet with a windmill [molendino ventritico] on it,
• 4 acres, 1 rood, 12 perches, 13 feet and a half next to Milnecroft,
• 13 acres, 32 perches and 9 feet in 2 pieces at Makerelesdore,
• 9 acres, 26 perches in the Longemikilfeld at Parkelanesende,
• 5 acres, 1 rood, and 17 perches at Kelbylond beyond the lane,
• 10 acres, 1 rood and 10 perches at Kelbylond,
• 6 acres and a half and 27 perches of land next to the land of Nicholas Jurdon,
• 3 acres, 1 rood and 1 perches of land opposite the land of Nicholas Jurdon,
• 2 acres which extend from the Edych on the eastern part of the manor as far as the land formerly of Robert son of John and thus from there as far as Millecroft towards the east,
• 2 acres adjoining Drouedyk which the Rector of the church of Tydd St Mary holds in exchange,
• 6 acres, 3 rood, 15 perches and 9 feet with 2 acres of pasturage [maretti] or in the said piece of pasturage be it more or less.

And 56 acres, 10 perches and 9 feet of meadow and pasture, of which:

• 10 acres, 10 perches and 9 feet of meadow lie at Fencroft,
• 6 acres of pasture in the marsh called Cokkesdole,
• 40 acres of pasture in the marsh called Russhedole.

• And 2 acres of native land which John son of Nicholas Godewill our native holds in the said vill, and the aforesaid John with all his suit,
• 2 acres and 1 rood of native land which John son of Agnes holds,
• 3 acres of native land which Thomas Shottfeld [?Shortfeld] holds,
• 3 acres of native land which Nicholas Benet holds
• and half an acre of native land which Nicholas Dobyn holds.

Also we have granted to the same Grace the rent and service of the free tenants written below in the aforesaid vill, namely:

• 3 shillings and a pound of pepper valued at 18 pence to be received from the tenants of the manor of Treton from 10 acres of land and 7 acres of pasturage,
• and 12 pence to be received from Margaret formerly the wife of Richard Eliaduk for 5 acres of land,
• 12 pence to be received from the lands and tenements formerly of Hugh de Hillyngton,
• 16 pence to be received from Nicholas Dobyn for 4 acres of land,
• 6 pence, a halfpenny, a farthing and half a pound of cumin valued at 1 penny to be received from John de Retherwyk for 6 acres of land and for land in Redymer,
• 16 pence to be received from William Gilbert for 4 acres of land with a messuage on it,
• 8 pence from Richard son of Roger, the chaplain, for 2 acres of land,
• 6 pence to be received from Simon Cokke and William de Childerhous for 2 acres of land,
• 2 shillings and 2 pence to be received from Geoffrey son of Robert and John son of William son of Geoffrey for 3 acres, 1 rood of land,
• 2 shillings to be received from Geoffrey Hunston for 24 perches of land,
• 6 pence to be received from Nicholas son of Nicholas for 1 acre and a half and 39 perches of land
• and 2 burning torches to be received from the tenants of the lands formerly of Nicholas Eliaduk for 1 acre in Kirkefeld, which tenants shall find one burning torch in the church of Tydd St Mary for 3 nights yearly at the Birth of the lord, Easter and of St John the Baptist, and another burning torch in the chapel of St John the Baptist within the manor of Loueden yearly for the same nights and daily for the celebration of mass in the same chapel,
• together with all other services of the aforesaid tenants
• and with half the court of the said manor of Loueden
• and half the fishery of 'EE' belonging to the said manor of Loueden.

To have and to hold all the aforesaid lands and tenements rents and services both of the free men and of the natives with the bodies, cattle and suits of the same natives and all other things and rights abovesaid aforesaid, to Grace her heirs and assigns, of the chief lords of that fee by the services owed and customary for it for ever.

In testimony of which we have affixed our seals to this indented charter, these being witnesses:

• Robert de Roos, knight,
• Robert de Hau[er]yngton, knight,
• John Hode of Flete,
• John de Retherwyk of Tydd,
• William son of Fulk of Sutton,
• Robert son of Nicholas of the same

and others.

Dated at Tydd St Mary the first day of May in the first year of the reign of King Richard the Second from the conquest of England [1378]