Tennants of the lordship of Idle to Sir William Plumpton

 31 Tenants of the lordship of Idle to Sir William Plumpton, [before 15 October
     1480]¹ (No. 19, p. 164)

Beseketh your good maistershipp,^a all your tenants and seruaunts of
your lordshipp of Idell,² Wil. Rycroft, elder, William Rycroft, yonger,
John Rycroft, Henry Rycroft, and John Chalner except. And it please
your good mastershipp to heare and consider the great rumor, slaunder,
and full noyle of your tenants of your said lordshipp, att they shold be
vntrew peopell of their hands, taking goods by means of vntrewth. And
for as much as the said Wil. Rycroft, elder, Wil. Rycroft, yonger, John
Rycroft, Henry Rycroft and John Chalner are dwelling within your
said lordship, they all not hauing any kow or kalves, or any other gude
whereaby they might liue, or any other occupise; and fair they are
beseen, and wel they fair, and [. . .]^b att all sports & gamies they are in
our country, for the most part, and siluer to spend & to gameing, which
they haue more readie then any other <with> in your said lordship;
and to the welfare of our soueraigne lord the king and you, nothing
they will pay without your said tenants will fray with them. Wherearfore
they are in regage to diuers of your graues; and by what meanes they
in this wise, with 5 persons being in houshold, are found, God or some
euil angel hase notice hereof. And as for geese, grise, hennys, and
capons, your said tenants may none keepe, but they are bribed and
stolen away by night, to great hurt to your tenants. And for as much
as these persons afore rehersed are not laboring in due time, as all
other of your tenants are, but as vagabounds live, your said tenants
suppose more strangely by them. Whereafore att reuerence of God and
in way of charetie, your said tenants besketh you to call all them before
you, and to sett such remedy in these premisses as may be to your
worshipp, and great proffitt to your tenants, and in shewing of mikle
vnthriftiness, which without you is likely to grow hearafter, and your
said tenants shall pray to almighty God for your welfare and estate.^c

Endorsed: Complaynts of your servants of Hidell, John Rycroft and
William Rycroft to our maister and lord Sir William Plompton knight

     ^a Marginal note: 19 letter.

     ^b are deleted.

     ^c Marginal note: Copied 21 of January 1612 Fryday.

     ¹ Sir William died 15 Oct. 1480.

     ² The Plumptons had held ¼ of a knight’s fee (3 carucates) of the Percies in the
Lordship of Idle at least since 1166, Sir C.T. Clay (ed.), Early Yorkshire Charters (YASRS,
extra ser., ix, 1963), 266.

LETTER XXIX.

Complayts of your servants of Hidell,a John Rycroft and Wil.
Rycroft.

To our maister and lord, Sir William Plompton, knight.

    Beseketh your good maistershipp all your tenants and servants
of your lordshipp of Idell, Wil. Rycroft yelder, Wil. Rycroft
yonger, John Rycroft, Henry Bycroft, and John Chalner except.
And at it please your good mastershipp to heare and consider the
great rumor, slaunder, and full noyse of your tenants of your
said lordshipp, att they shold be untrew peopell of their hands,
taking goods by mean of untrewth; and for as much as the said
Wil. Rycroft yelder, Wil. Rycroft yonger, John Rycroft, Henry
Bycroft, and John Chalner are dwelling within your said lordship,
they all not having any kow or kalves, or any other guds whearby
they might live, nor any other occupise, and fair they are beseen,
and wel they fair, and att all sports and gamies they are in our
country for the most part, and silver to spend and to gameing,
which they have more readie then any other within your said
lordship; and to the welfare of our soveraigne lord the King and
you, nothing they will pay, without your said tenants will fray with
them, whearfore they are in regage to divers of your graves; and
by what meanes they in this wise, with 5 persons being in hous-
hold, are found, God or some evill angel hase notice hereof. And
as for geese, grise, hennys, and copons, your said tenants may none
keepe, but they are bribed and stolen away by night to great
hurt to your tenants. And for as much as these persons afore
rehersed are not laboring in due time, as all other of your tenants
are, but as vagabonds live, your said tenants suppose more
strangely by them. Whearfore att reverence of God and in way
of charitie, your said tenants beseketh you to call all them before
you, and to sett such remedy in these premisses as may be to
your worshipp, and great proffitt to your tenants, and in shewing
of mikle unthriftiness, which without you is likely to grow hear-
after, and your said tenants shall pray to Almighty God for your
welfare and estate.

    a Idle in the parish of Calverley, liberty of Ponterfract, a lordship belonging to Sir
William Plumpton.