Godfrey Greene to Sir William Plumpton

18 Godfrey Greene to Sir William Plumpton, 5 December [1469] (No. 27,
     p. 172; CB 623)

Right worshipfull maistre,^a I recommend me vnto your good mastership.
Sir, I have sent to you by þe bringer of this letter a venire facias against
the minister [p. 173] of St Roberts,¹ for he hath pleaded not guiltie for
fishing your ponds att Plompton. If so be your writt be well served and
the issue tried for you, þe punishments wilbe greuieous to them, for it
is gyffin by a statute. Also I haue sent you a venire facias against
Dromonby, parson of Kynalton; he hath pleaded he withholds you
nothing in accion of detynue of the goods deliuered him by Heynes.
Also the copie of the pleadings betwixt you and the minister for your
milne att Plompton; it were wele don that ye had a speech with Mr
Midleton² of the forme of the pleadings, and of the matter both of the
title of his milne and your milne, and of the freholds of both sides the
water, soe that your counsell may haue instruccion thereof [. . .]^b next
tearme at the pleasure of þe partis.³

     Mr Midleton had great labour thereof; I profferd him no rewards
because ye may reward him yourselfe as it please you. Maister Fairfax
had xs for that matter allon,⁴ Mr Suttill laboured effectually;⁵ I tould
him he shold be rewarded of the mony in his hands, and said lightly
he would haue none, so I wot whether he will take, or no: he hath not
all paid yett. I pray you, against the next terme, send me word how I
shalbe demened in rewards giueing, for and it go to matter in law it
will cost mony largely. Also I haue sent you a capias ut legal⁶ against
Hargreaue of Friston; Sir John Maleuerer⁷ gaue me a chalenge for
him, and said he was outlawd under my treaty: I told him I treted
neuer; I bare your message to him, and that was [p. 174] a continuance
for the matter against Fulburn, but nott for Hargreave. And he said ye
had sued all the trew men to the king, to my lord, and to him in the
Forest, sith that ye come home; and that he shold complaine to the
king and to the lords thereof. And I said I trust to God ye shold come
to your answere, & he said that shold not lyg in my power to bring
you to, for he wold deele with you & yours, both be the law and
besides the law; and said he wold cutt þe clothes norwithstanding. He
was full angrie and hastie, what time he said soe, and I was with Mr
Roclif the same time ye gaue me this chalenge, and Myles Willestrop⁸
was with him, and said no word. And Maister Roclif asked him what
þe matter was, if he might any ease, & he answered him that ye
desseyued him and all that ye dellyd withall, and Mr Rocliff said he
trust to God, who haue you euermore in his proteccion. Written at
London, the vth day of December.^c

                       Your servant                       Godfrey Grene

Endorsed (p. 172): To my right worshipfull maistre Sir William Plompton
kt this letter be delivered

     ^a Marginal note: 27 letter.

     ^b CB ‘it hath cost you money this tearme, & yett no conclusion but to change the
pleadings the next tearme . . .’

     ^c Marginal note: Copied 1 of February 1612, Munday.

     ¹ The writ sent by Greene with this letter was returned unexecuted by the sheriff in
the following Hilary term because of lack of time. Another was issued 12 Feb.1469/70,
returnable at Easter, Stapleton, 22n.

     ² Thomas Middleton, App. III.

     ³ Sir William’s disputes with the convent were eventually resolved by arbitration, 20–
25 June 1471, CB 571, 572; App. II, 31, 32.

     ⁴ Guy Fairfax, of Gray’s Inn, king’s sergeant 1481, App. III.

     ⁵ Henry Sotehill had been king’s attorney at the trial of Hungerford and Courtenay,
App. III.

     ⁶ Writ for the arrest of an outlaw.

     ⁷ Sir John Mauleverer’s challenge related to forest prosecutions initiated by Sir William
as chief forester, 26.

     ⁸ Miles Wilstrop, of Wilstrop in the Ainsty, escheator of Yorkshire, 1469–70, married
to Eleanor, daughter of Guy Fairfax, List of Escheators, 189; Flower’s Visitation, 355.

LETTER XV.

To my right worshipfull maistre Sir William Plompton, knight, this
letter be delivered.

    Right worshipfull master, I recomend me unto your good mas-
tership; Sir, I have sent to you by the bringer of this letter, a
venire facias against the minister of St. Robert's, for he hath
pleaded not guiltie for fishing your ponds att Plompton; if so be
your writt be well served and the issue tried for you, the punish-
ment will be grevieous to them, for it is gyffin by a statute.^a Also
I have sent you a venire facias against Dromonby, parson of
Kynalton; he hath pleaded-he withholds you nothing, in accion
of detynu of the goods, delivered him by Heynes. Also the
copie of the pleadings betwixt you and the minister for your
milne att Plompton; it were well done that ye had a speech with
Mr. Midleton of the forme of the pleadings, and of the matter
both of the title of his milne, and your milne, and of the fre-
holdes of both sides the water, for that your counsell may have
instruccion thereof: it hath cost you money this terme, and yett
no conclusion but to change the pleadings the next terme at the
pleasure of the parties. Mr. Midleton had great labour there-
with, I profferd him no rewards because ye may reward him your-
selfe as it please you. Maister Fairfax ^b had x^s for that matter
all on. Mr. Suttill labored effectually; I tould him he shold
be rewarded of the mony in his hands, and said lightly he would
have none; so I wot whether he will take or no: he hath nott all
paid yett. I pray you, against the next terme, send me word how
I shall be demened in rewards giveing, for and it go to matter in
law, it will cost mony largely. Also I have sent you a Capias ut-
legat. against Hargreve of Fuston; Sir John Malevera gave me
a chalenge for him, and said he was outlawd under my trety: I
told him I treted never; I bare your message to him, and that was
a continuance for the matter against Fulburn, but nott for Har-
greve. And he said ye had sued all the trew men to the king, to
my lord, and to him in the forest, sith that ye come home; and
that he shold complaine to the king and to the lords thereof; and
I said, I trust to God ye shold come to your answere. And he
said that shold not lyg in my power to bring you to do, for he wold
deele with you and yours, both be the law and besides the law;
and said he wold cutt the clothes notwithstanding. He was full
angrie and hastie what time he said soe, and I was with Mr.
Roclif the same time he gave me this chalenge, and Myles Wil-
lesthorp^c was with him, and said no word. And Maister Roclif
asked him what the matter was, if he might any ease; and he
answered him, that ye desseyved him and all that ye dellyd with-
all: and Mr. Rocliff said he trust to God,?who have you evermore
in his proteccion. Written at London, the vth day of December.

                                                                 Your servant

          (5 Dec. 1469.)                                        GODFREY GRENE.

    ^a The writ of venire facias against Robert Bolton, the minister of the house of St.
Robert near Knaresborough, and his fellow canons Richard Dryver, William Rute,
John Malle, and William Usworth, for fishing in the ponds of Sir William Plompton,
Knight, at Plompton, on the 29th day of February, 3 Edward IV. 1463-4, and taking
breams, pike (dentrices), tench, and roches, sent by Godfrey Grene with this letter,
was returned unexecuted by the sheriff in the following Hilary Term, by reason of
the time being too short; and another was issued, returnable in Easter Term.-
Teste R. Danby apud Westm. 12 Feb. 9 Edw. IV. 1469-70. The parties ulti-
mately bound themselves (10 May 1471) to refer all matters in dispute to arbi-
tration; for which purpose Robert Roos, of Ingmanthorp, and Lawrence Kighley were
chosen on the part of Sir William Plumpton, and Robert Gascoigne and Thomas Clape-
ham on the part of the minister, who made their award on Saturday after the Ascension
day, 11th Edward IV. 23 May, 1471. (Chartul. No. 517 and 573.)

^b Serjeant Guy Fairfax, called in 1464, was made King's Serjeant 28 April 1468.

    ^c Miles Willesthorp, of Wilsthorp, com. Ebor. esq.