Winifred Cowper.

nquisition taken at the Guildhall, 7 May, 30 Eliz. [1588], before

In

George Bonde, knight, Mayor and escheator, to enquire concerning the idiotcy of Winifred one of the daughters and co-heirs of William Cowper, deceased, late of the said City, haberdasher, by the oath of Robert Dickinson, Thomas Russell, Roger Hole, Thomas Sewell, John Harrison, William Layer, John Bonde, John Stoddard, Robert Elder, William Crowche, Edmund Owen, William Cooke, William Povey, George Robertes, Hugh Ingram and Thomas Wigges, who say that

The said Winifred Cowper is an idiot, and not fit to govern herself or her manors, messuages, lands, &c., and has been an idiot since her birth and has not enjoyed lucid intervals.

The said William Cowper father of the said Winifred was seised in his demesne as of fee of 1 messuage and certain lands, meadows and pastures thereto belonging lying in Arlesey in co. Bedford, and so seised, by indenture made between himself of the one part and John Pelsant citizen and grocer of London and Edmund Brasey citizen and clothworker of London of the other part, in consideration of a marriage to be had between the said William Cowper and Joan Allen, widow, and for a competent jointure to be assured to the said Joan, agreed with the said John Pelsant and Edmund Brasey that he and his heirs would henceforth be seised of the said premises to the use of himself and his heirs until the said marriage should be solemnised, and afterwards to the use of the said William and Joan and the heirs of the said William for ever, as by the said indenture dated 18 June, 28 Eliz. [1586], more fully appears.

Shortly afterwards the said William Cowper married the said Joan, and died on the 5th day of March last past: the said Joan survived him and still survives and holds the said premises for her life, the reversion thereof belonging to the said Winifred as one of the 2 daughters and coheirs of the said William Cowper.

Of whom the said premises are held the jurors know not: the moiety thereof is worth per ann., clear, £3.

Thomas Silvester son of Thomas Silverster and Samuel [sic] late the wife of the said Thomas deceased the other daughter and coheir of the said William Cowper is the kinsman and next heir of the said Winifred, and on the 1st day of March last past was aged 9 years.

Chan. Ing. p. m., vol. 219, No. 55.

Henry Bracy, Gentleman.

nquisition taken at the Guildhall, 15 January, 32 (31 in cal.)

Eliz. [1590], before William Necton, gent., feodary of the said City, George Sotherton, senior, gent., and John Povye, gent., commissioners, to enquire concerning the lunacy of Henry Bracy, gent., by the oath of Robert Dickenson, Thomas Russell, John Harrison, Thomas Sewell, William Harvye, John Bonde, William Feake, James Robinson, John Tompson, John Adlyne (?), John Dixon, Robert Saunders, Arthur Wrighte and Christopher Dickenson, who say that

Henry Bracy is a lunatic and not compos mentis, and enjoys lucid intervals, but is not fit to govern himself or his lands and goods: he became a lunatic by the visitation of God 2 years ago and has remained so ever since, but during his lunacy he has not alienated any of his lands or goods. Long before his lunacy he was and still is seised of the reversion of the manor of Oddeston in the parish of Shaxton in co. Leicester, and all the lands, chief rents and services in Shaxton; and I water mill called the Clockmill in the parish of Swepton in the said county, after the death of Thomas Bracy his father, to hold in fee. tail, viz., to him and the heirs of his body; and for default, the remainder thereof to divers persons, as appears by a deed made by a certain Henry Waver alias Over late citizen and alderman of the city of Coventry to Thomas Wheatill, Richard Wheatill, Ralph Egerton and Simon Wheatill.

The said Henry Bracy was likewise seised and still is seised of the reversion of certain lands held by copy of the court of the manor of Balsall called a ploughe land lying in Escot and Barston, late of Richard Eglionbye, gent., after the death of the said Thomas Bracy his father which he holds for the term of his life, and after his decease the remainder belonging to the said Henry in fee tail, viz., to him and the heirs of his body, and for default, the reversion thereof to divers persons, as appears by the surrender made to the hands of the lord of the manor of Balsall by the said Richard Overs at the court held there 5 October, 26 Eliz. by copy of the said court: it is worth per ann., clear, £13 6s. 8d. The said Thomas Bracy still survives.

Of whom the said manor of Oddeston and other the premises are held the jurors know not: they are worth per ann., clear, £13 6s. 8d. Ralph Bracy is the brother and next heir of the said Henry, and is now aged 34 years and more.

Chan. Inq. p. m., vol. 220, No. 66.

LOND. INQ. P. M., III.

9

Elizabeth Kennett, widow.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 14 November, 31 Eliz. [1589],

before Matthew Cracherodd, esq., William Necton, gent., feodary of the said City, Edmund Ferrand, gent., commissioners, after the death of Elizabeth Kennett, widow, by virtue of a commission to them and to Matthew Dale, esq., and Arthur Forthe, gent., directed, by the oath of Robert Dickenson, John Harryson, Thomas Russell, John Bonde, John Jackson, Robert Elder, James William Crowche, William Cooke, George Roberts, John Tompson, Edward Swayne, William Povey, Hugh Ingram, Thomas Wigges and Arthur Wright, who say

that

Elizabeth Kennett long before her death was seised in her demesne as of fee of 1 messuage commonly called le Catt and Fidle, with all buildings, shops, cellars, &c., thereto belonging lying in Fleetestreet in the parish of St. Dunstan in the West London; and so seised, the licence of the Queen being first obtained, by charter dated 24 May, 25 Eliz. [1583], made between James Harrington, knight, William Glasier, Thomas Fortescue and Henry Dynne, esq., of the one part, and the said Elizabeth Kennett, widow, of the other part, in consideration of a sum of money to her paid, sold to the said Sir James Harrington and others the said premises: to hold to them and their heirs to their sole and proper use for ever.

By another charter of even date made between the said parties, it was agreed that the said Elizabeth having sold her said messuage to the said Sir James Harrington, knight, William Glasier, Thomas Fortescue and Henry Dynne, and having given to them all her goods, jewels, and household stuff should enjoy the said messuage and all the said goods to her own use for her life without paying any rent for the same, and after her decease the said messuage and goods should be sold to the greatest advantage to pay the debts and legacies of the said Elizabeth and also the sums of money hereafter specified, viz., to Stephen Bragge son of the said Elizabeth £100, and to the creditors of Richard Burnell £100, if they will fully discharge him of all debts, but if not, to pay the said £100 for the maintenance of Martha wife of the said Richard, being one of the daughters of the said Elizabeth, or to her children; also to Alice Swallow another daughter of the said Elizabeth £100; and to Ursula Burnell one of the daughters of the said Richard by the said Martha £40; and to Anne Burnell another of the daughters of the said Richard £40; and to 2 other children of the said Richard and Martha (one unborn) £40; and to 4 of the children

of the said Alice Swallowe £80 between them. The residue of the money received for the said premises and goods shall be divided amongst the said Stephen Bragge, Martha Burnell, Alice Swallowe and other the said children and all other the children of the said Alice Swallowe and Martha Burnell: by virtue of which said charter the said Elizabeth occupied the said messuage all her life.

The said messuage is held of the Queen in chief by the service of the 40th part of a knight's fee and by the yearly rent of 4s., and is worth per ann., clear, 40s.

Elizabeth Kennett died 3 Sept., 26 Eliz. [1584]; Stephen Bragge is her son and next heir, and is now aged 24 years and more.

The said William Glasier and Henry Dynne died at London, and the said Sir James Harrington and Thomas Fortescue still survive there.

I'

Chan. Inq. p. m., vol. 220, No. 34.

Thomas Haselwoode.

nquisition taken at the Guildhall, 13 June, 31 Eliz. [1589],

before Matthew Cracherod, esq., William Necton, gent., feodary and Edmund Farrande, gent., commissioners, to enquire by virtue of a commission to them and to Matthew Dale, esq., and Arthur Foorthe, gent., directed, after the death of Thomas Haselwoode, by the oath of Robert Dickenson, Thomas Sewell, John Bonde, John Jackson, Robert Elder, William Crowche, William Cooke, George Robartes, Nicholas Hawkesforde, Peter Noxon, James Robinson, Thomas Wigges, Edward Swayne, Robert Saunders, Nicholas Maddox and Arthur Wright, who say that

The said Thomas Haselwoode son of Thomas Haselwoode, senior, citizen and brewer of London, long before his death was seised in his demesne as of fee of 1 messuage or brewhouse called le White Harte, lying in Knightryder streete in the parish of Holy Trinity within the City of London late of Henry Roberdes and now divided into 2 dwelling houses, and now or late in the several tenures of Robert Cawsey and James Alcocke.

So seised, the said Thomas Haselwoode by indenture dated 23 June, 28 Eliz. [1586] demised and let to farm the said messuage to the said Thomas Haselwoode his father for the term of 41 years, if the said Thomas so long should live, paying therefor yearly 26s. 8d. The said Thomas still survives.

The said messuage is held of the Queen in chief by knight's service,

but by what part of a knight's fee the jurors know not, and is worth per ann., clear, 26s. 8d.

Thomas Haselwoode, junior, died 22 March last past; Samuel Haselwoode is his brother and next heir and was then aged 28 years and more. Chan. Inq. p. m., vol. 222, No. 20.

John Braunche, knight.

nquisition taken at the Guildhall, 14 Nov., 31 Eliz. [1589],

before Matthew Cracherode, esq., William Necton, gent., feodary, and Edmund Ferrand, gent., commissioners, to enquire after the death of John Branche, knight, by virtue of a commission to them and to Matthew Dale, esq., and Arthur Forthe, gent., directed, by the oath of Robert Dickenson, John Harrison, Thomas Sewell, John Bonde, John Jackson, Robart Eldar, James Robinson, William Crowche, William Cooke, George Robartes, John Tompson, Edward Swayne, William Povey, Hugh Ingram, Thomas Wigges, Arthur Wright and William Harvye, who say that

John Braunche long before his death was seised in his demesne as of fee of 1 tenement newly built in a yard and of the said yard, lying in the lane called Grene Lettyce Lane in Candelwicke streate in the parish of the Blessed Mary Abchurch, London, in the occupation of the said John Branche: which said yard was formerly in the tenure of Ellen Wilkington alias Wilkinson and was late parcel of the lands and possessions of the late priory or new hospital of the Blessed Mary without Bisshoppesgate, London, now dissolved, and purchased by John Branche, senior, father of the said John Branche of Christopher Campion, citizen and mercer of London; also of 1 messuage, with all solers, cellars, buildings, &c., called the Ould Muscovye House situate in the parish of St. Dunstan in the East; I other messuage called Le Signe of the Kinges Hedd lying in Abchurche Lane in the parish of the Blessed Mary Abchurche; and 1 other messuage called le White Horse in the occupation of William Osborne situate in Candelwyckestreete in the said parish of the Blessed Mary Abchurche.

The tenement with the yard in Grene Lettyce Lane are held of the Queen in chief by the service of the 40th part of a knight's fee, and are worth per ann., clear, 40s. The messuage called the Ould Muscovye Howse is worth per ann., clear, £6, but of whom it is held the jurors know not. The other 2 tenements called le Kinges Hedd and le White Horse are worth per ann., clear, £8, but of whom they are held is not known.