Henry Makney to William Stonor

                             190. HENRY MAKNEY TO WILLIAM STONOR

[before 1478]

     Henry Makney of Makney or Mackney, near Wallingford, in Berkshire,
had a lawsuit between 1467 and 1472 with John Colyngrygge. Colyngrygge
and his wife Isabell, together with John FitzRobert, and his wife Agnes,
pleaded that William Makney, great-grandfather (besayll) of Isabell and
Agnes, was seised of the manor of Makney and levied a fine in 1350 entailing
it on him and his wife Elyn and the heirs of their bodies, with remainder to
his right heirs; and that Henry Makney, son of Richard, son of William,
son of the said William and Elyn, and whole brother of Isabell and Agnes,
saying that he had been married 15 years and had no issue, had covenanted
with Thomas Stonor, esquire, for 20l., part of a great sum to be paid, that the
manor should be made sure to Stonor and his heirs. To this Henry Makney
replied that his father Richard was seised in his demesne as of see, and so
enfeoffed Sir Robert Shotebroke and others, who granted the manor to Richard
and Margaret his wife. After Richard's death Margaret made an estate in a
moiety of the manor to Henry for her life; she was still alive and seised of
the manor, Henry not holding by the fine. He denied the alleged bargain.
Colyngrygge replied asking for Makney to be bound not to defeat the fine
(Early Chancery Proceedings, 40/87-89). The litigation may have been pro-
longed, but seems from these letters to have been decided in Makney's favour.
This letter is earlier than 1478; it is convenient to place it here in conjunc-
tion with the next two documents. From No. 192, William Stonor would
seem to have acquired some right in the manor; in the Arbitrament between
him and his mother he was awarded Makney's obligacion of ?40, whereof
?20 was yet due (see vol. i, p. 164 above). Leland describes Mackney as
"a pratie manor place of brike," builded by one Courte, "uncle to Molines
that now dwellith there" (Itinerary, i, 120). From A.C., xlvi, 103.

     Myne especialle gode Mastire, y recomand me to youe &c. Syr, y
have seyne a grete oxe for youe, yf ye be note purveyde: þe pris is
grete, hit is of xxx. s., but ye shalle have x. s. for þe talow and hide, and
he wulle serve youe wele for a C. messe: ye moste sende a servante of
yours to mete with me at Wallyngeford on Moneday by vij at þe clokke
at Buttons. Y wull showe hyme þe oxe, and if ye þynke þe pris to
grete, y wulle go with hyme to Abyngdon markete, and ye shalle have
iiij or v dosyne pygeons, ij or iij lamys of xij. d. a pece, chekyns and
capons moste be hadde at Oxford on Satusday. Colyngerygge and y be
at opyne warre: y purpose to entre in pe Manere of Makney with Godes
grace on Moneday or Wennysday; and yf y have nede, y pray youe sende
me a gode lade or ij that y be note bete owte ayene. If þer be any
odire servise, þat y may do abowte your busines, sende me word, and y
shalbe redy &c. Your owne.

                                                            H. Makney.

     To my specialle gode Mastire W. Stonor.

190. HENRY MAKNEY TO WILLIAM STONOR

[before 1478]

     Henry Makney of Makney or Mackney, near Wallingford, in Berkshire,
had a lawsuit between 1467 and 1472 with John Colyngrygge. Colyngrygge
and his wife Isabell, together with John FitzRobert, and his wife Agnes,
pleaded that William Makney, great-grandfather (besayll) of Isabell and
Agnes, was seised of the manor of Makney and levied a fine in 1350 entailing
it on him and his wife Elyn and the heirs of their bodies, with remainder to
his right heirs; and that Henry Makney, son of Richard, son of William,
son of the said William and Elyn, and whole brother of Isabell and Agnes,
saying that he had been married 15 years and had no issue, had covenanted
with Thomas Stonor, esquire, for 20l., part of a great sum to be paid, that the
manor should be made sure to Stonor and his heirs. To this Henry Makney
replied that his father Richard was seised in his demesne as of fee, and so
enfeoffed Sir Robert Shotebroke and others, who granted the manor to Richard
and Margaret his wife. After Richard’s death Margaret made an estate in a
moiety of the manor to Henry for her life; she was still alive and seised of
the manor, Henry not holding by the fine. He denied the alleged bargain.
Colyngrygge replied asking for Makney to be bound not to defeat the fine
(Early Chancery Proceedings, 40/87-89). The litigation may have been pro-
longed, but seems from these letters to have been decided in Makney’s favour.
This letter is earlier than 1478; it is convenient to place it here in conjunc-
tion with the next two documents. From No. 192, William Stonor would
seem to have acquired some right in the manor; in the Arbitrament between
him and his mother he was awarded Makney’s obligacion of £40, whereof
£20 was yet due (see vol. i, p. 164 above). Leland describes Mackney as
“a pratie manor place of brike,” builded by one Courte, “uncle to Molines
that now dwellith there” (Itinerary, i, 120). From A.C., xlvi, 103.

     Myne especialle gode Mastire, y recomand me to youe &c. Syr, y
have seyne a grete oxe for youe, yf ye be note purveyde: þe pris is
grete, hit is of xxx. s., but ye shalle have x. s. for þe talow and hide, and
he wulle serve youe wele for a C. messe: ye moste sende a servante of
yours to mete with me at Wallyngeford on Moneday by vij at þe clokke
at Buttons. Y wull showe hyme þe oxe, and if ye þynke þe pris to
grete, y wulle go with hyme to Abyngdon markete, and ye shalle have
iiij or v dosyne pygeons, ij or iij lamys of xij. d. a pece, chekyns and
capons moste be hadde at Oxford on Satusday. Colyngerygge and y be
at opyne warre: y purpose to entre in þe Manere of Makney with Godes
grace on Moneday or Wennysday; and yf y have nede, y pray youe sende
me a gode lade or ij that y be note bete owte ayene. If þer be any
odire servise, þat y may do abowte your busines, sende me word, and y
shalbe redy &c. Your owne.

                                                                                                        H. Makney.

     To my specialle gode Mastire W. Stonor.