STAC 5/L42/36

Court of Star Chamber:

John Lumley, Lord Lumley v John Lawson & Richard Fenwyck

Transcript: Dave King

Bill of Complaint:

(tbc dated on reverse: March 1573)

To the Queenes most excellent Ma[jestie] our moste gracious Sov[er]eigne Ladye

[In moste] humble manner sheweth and complayneth unto your highnes, your highnes humble, obedyent, and faythfull subiect and Supplyant John Lumley knyght, Lorde Lumley, that where one Roger Thorneton Esquyer Longe sythence [dece]ased, Anncestor unto your Ma[jesties] said Suppliant, and whose heire your Ma[jesties] said Supplyant is, was amongeste other thinges Lawefullye seased in his demeasne as of fee, or feetayle gen[er]all of and in the Mannor, and Lordshipps [of] Wytton and Benton w[i]th Thappurtenances in the Countie of Northumberlande, and of and in dyverse other Landes, Ten[ements], rentes, rev[er]sions, s[er]vices, and hereditamentes w[i]th Thappurtenances in Wytton, Greate Benton, Stannyngton Cawdecotes, and Seaton w[i]thin the said Countie of Northumberlande. And the same Roger beynge thereof so seased, dyed thereof by p[ro]testacion of sutche an estate seased, havinge issue of his bodye Lawefullye begotten one Elizabeth Thorneton who marryed and tooke to husbande one Sir George Lumley knyght, Lord Lumley unto whome all and singular the mannors, landes, Tene[mentes], and other the p[re]misses discended, and came or of right ought to have discended and comen as in the right of the said Elizabeth daughter And heire of the said Roger Thorneton, by force wherof, the said George Lord Lumley and Elizabeth were therof seased accordingly./ And they the said George Lord Lumley and Elizabeth beinge therof so seased, afterwardes (that is to say) in the Tyme of the late Kinge of famous memorye Kinge Edward the fourthe, uppon dyvers sutes, quarrells, and controversies, happenynge betweene the said George Lord Lumley, and Thomas his son begotten by hym the said George Lorde Lumley on the boddye of the said Elizabeth on thone p[ar]tie, And Roger Thorneton Esquyre one of the bastarde sonnes of the sayd Roger Thorneton father of the said Elizabeth on thother p[ar]tie./ They the said George Lorde Lumley Elizabeth A[nd] ... Thomas Lumley by vertue and force of an awarde made betwene the sayd p[ar]ties by the said late kynge of famous memorye Kynge Edwarde the fourthe in the xixth yeare of his reigne dyd assure and convey the same unto Co..... p[er]sons, who assured the same unto the said Roger Thorneton the Bastarde, and to the heires of his boddye lawefullye begotten, and for defaulte of sutche issue unto the said George Lord Lumley, and Elizabeth, and the heires of the said Elizabeth by the said George Lorde Lumley Lawefullye begotten w[i]th remainder as is conteyned in the same conveyanns, After w[hi]ch assuranns, and conveyanns so made and executed unto the said Roger Thorneton the Bastarde he the said Roger Thorneton dyed by protestacon of sutche estate seased of and in the premysses in the said byll mencyoned, by and after whose deathe, the same dyscended unto one John Thorneton sonne and heire of the said Roger Thorneton the Bastarde, who was therof seysed accordinglye, and afterwardes dyed therof seased w[i]thout yssue, by force, wherof all and singuler the p[re]misses amongest dyvers other thinges dyd accrue and come, and of right ought to have accrued and comen unto one John Lorde Lumley Granndfather unto your Ma[jesties sayde Supplyant as Cosyne and heyre of the bodye of the said Elizabeth by the sayd George Lorde Lumley Lawefullye begotten (That is to saye) sonne and heire of Rycharde Lorde Lumley, sonne and heire of Thomas Lumley sonne and heire of the boddye of the said Elizabeth by the said George Lord Lumley Lawefullye begotten, who entered, and was therof seased accordinglye, and dyed therof by protestacon of sutche estate seased, by and after whose deathe all and singuler the p[re]misses dyscended and came and of right ought to have dyscended and comen unto your Ma[jesties] said Supplyannte as Coosyn and heire unto the said Elizabeth by the said George Lorde Lumley lawefullye begotten (That is to say) sonne and heire of George Lumley Esquyre deceased Sonne and heire of John Lorde Lumley, Sonne and heire of Richarde Lorde Lumley, sonne and heire of Thomas Lumley, sonne and heire of the saide Elizabeth by the said George Lorde Lumley Lawefullye begotten But so yt is if yt may please your highnes that after the assurans, and conveyanns made and executed unto the said Roger Thorneton the Bastarde by the sayd George Lorde Lumley, Elizabeth his wyffe and Thomas Theire sonne in manner and forme aforesaid, All the evidences Charters, wrytinges and mynnmentes concernynge the mannors, Landes, Ten[ements], and hereditaments aforesaid over and besydes the conveyanns of The said intayle were delyvered unto the sayd Roger Thorneton the Bastarde for the preservacyon of his estate Tayle of and in the premysses, and after his estate ended, The same to be and remayne unto the said Elizabeth and her heires for the preservacon of theire saide estate therein, Sythence w[hi]ch tyme dyvers and sundrye of the same evidences, deedes, Charters and wrytinges have by synister meanes comen To the [handes] and Custodie of one John Laweson of Cawdecotes in the countie of Northumberlande gent and Rycharde Fenwycke of Stannton in the countye of Northumberland aforesaid gent, who havinge not the feare of God nor of your Ma[jesties] Lawes and statutes in sutche case p[ro]vyded before theire eyes, But myndynge verry malycyouslye, craftely and devylleshlye the utter dysinheritanns of your highnes sayd Supplyannte Of all and synguler the mannors, Landes, Ten[ements], and hereditamentes aforesaid he the said John Laweson abowte the xiijth yeare of your highnes moste happye reigne, by a subtyle and lewde devyse hadd and Practised, betwene hym and the said Rycharde Fenwycke dydd moste wickedly, wyttyngly s...yngly and falselye forge and connterfeyte one deede or Feoffment, beinge fayre wrytten in p[ar]chement, and sealed w[i]th the ... Seale of Armes of one of Your Ma[jesties] said Supplyanntes Anncestors And the same deede beynge so wrytten and Sealed the said John Laweson by the counsell procurement, and advyse of the saide Richarde Fenwicke dyd raze and deface thes... and uppon the same [par]chement sealed, dyd falsely wrytt and forge a newe wrytinge conteyninge the substanns followinge, (That is to saye) that it should be knowne unto all that were present, and to come that ..... Thorneton of Nether Wytton uppon the water in the said countie of Northumberlande Esquyer dydd geeve, grannte, and by the same his charter confyrme unto John Nevyll knyght Robert Ogle thelder knyght John Heron knyght Robert Ogle the younger knyght, Robert Danebye Justice of our sov[er]eigne Lord the Kynge, Wyllm Bartram Esquyer, Master John Burne Clerk, Robert Welldon, Robert Wardell, Willm Laweson, & Willm Beckingham gent, all that his Mannor of Wytton uppon the water aforesaid w[i]th all Thappurtenances in the countie of Northumberland, and all his mannors, demeasnes, landes, ten[ements], rentes, rev[er]sions, fees, advowsons, possessions & s[er]vices w[i]th thappurtenances w[hi]ch he had in the countie of Northumberland aforesaid, And all his Capitall Messuage w[i]thin the towne of Newecastell upon Tyne w[i]th all and singuler his landes, ten[ementes], rentes, rev[er]sions, fees, Advowsons, possessions & s[er]vices w[hi]ch he hadd w[i]thin the said Towne of Newcastle and the suburbes of the same Towne, And also all that his Mannor of le Ile w[i]th Braydburye w[i]thin the Byshopryck of Duresme, And all his Mannors, demeasnes landes, Ten t[ements], rentes, rev[er]sions, fees advowsons Possessions and s[er]vices w[i]th thappurtenances, the w[hi]ch he had in the Byshopryck of Duresme aforesaid, and also all that his Mannor of Thorneton in Clevelande w[i]th all and singuler thappurtenances in the countie of Yorke & all his Mannor, landes, ten[ements] Rentes, rev[er]sions, fees, advowsons, possessions and services w[i]th theire appurtenances w[hi]ch he had in the countie of Yorke aforesaid. To have and to holde all and singuler his said Mannor of Netherwytton uppon the water in the countie of Northumberland All his capital messuage in the Towne of Newcastle upon Tyne, all his Mannor of Le Ile w[i]th Bradburye All his Mannor of Thorneton in Cleveland, w[i]th all and singuler his mannors, landes, Townes and ten[ements] rentes, rev[er]sons fees, advowsons, possessions, and s[er]vyces w[i]th theire app[ur]tenances in the countie of Northumberland, in the Towne of Newcastle upon Tyne w[i]thin the Byshopryck of Duresme, and the countie of Yorke aforesaid to Them aforesaid, John, Roberte, John, Roberte, Roberte Wyllm, John, Richarde, Robert, Wyllm and Wyllm and to theire heires, and assignes for ever to the use and behafe of hym the aforesaid Roger Thorneton Esquyre, and for terme of The naturall Lyfe of hym the said Roger, And after his decease to the use and behooffe of Gyles Thorneton, Roger Thorneton and John Thorneton his sonnes, and to the heires males of the bodyes of the said Gyles, Roger and John for ever. And he the said Roger Thorneton the father and his heires, all and singuler the Mannors of Wytton in the countie of Northumberland aforesaid the capytall messuage w[i]thin the towne of Newcastell uppon Tyne aforesaid his mannor of Le Ile w[i]th Bradburye aforesaid, his mannor of Thorneton in Cleveland, w[i]th all and singuler his Mannors, demeasnes, landes, ten[ements] rentes rev[er]sions, fees, advowsons, possessions and s[er]vices w[i]th their app[ur]tenances in the countie of Northumberland, w[i]thin the towne of Newcastle aforesaid w[i]thin the Byshopryck of Duresme and the countie of Yorke, unto the foresaid John Nevyll Roberte Ogle, John Heron Robert Ogle knyghtes Robert Danbye, Wyllm Bartram Esquyers, John Burne Clerke Richarde Weldon, Willm Laweson, and Willm Beckyngham their heires and assignes, to the use and behoofe aforesaid against all people shall warrant and defende for ever by theis presentes, In Wytnes wherof to that this charter he dydd putt his seale dated the syxte daye of Maye in the yeare of the reigne of Henry the syxte after the conqueste of Englande the seventeeneth, And the same deede so beinge moste wyttyngly subtylly & falsely forged and counterfeyted in maner and forme aforesaid, They the said John Laweson, and Richarde Fenwycke moste malycyouslye and devyllyshely myndinge and intendinge the utter dysheryson of your hygnes sayde Supplyant, of and in the landes and ten[ements] aforesaid, have in dyvers and sundrye open and publique places oppenly publyshed and shewed forthe the sayd false and forged deede, as a good and true deede where in truthe the same is and was very false and forged in manner and forme as is abovesayd to the greate slannder and Discredytt of your hignes sayd Supplyanntes Tytle in and to the Mannors, landes and ten[ements] aforesaid, And they the same John Laweson and Rycharde Fenwyck not beynge herew[i]th satysfyed or Content, but beinge moste corruptlye enfected w[i]th theis devellyshe and horryble practises dydd Lykewise aboute the said xiijth yeare of your Ma[jesties] reigne, wyttinglie, subtyllye and faleslye forge and make dyvers And sundrye other false deedes and wrytinges sealed, intendinge thereby to transfer the Lawefull inheritanns of your hygnes sayde supplyannt of and in the landes and ten[ements] aforesaid, unto them selves and dyvers Others of theire Freindes and kynffolkes to the manyfest dysheryson of your Ma[jesties] said Supplyannt and contrarye to the lawes and statutes of this your Ma[jesties] Realme in sutche case provyded, and to the p[er]nycyous and danngerous example of all your faythfull and Lovinge subiectes, yf condygne punyshment be not unto hym shewed in this behalfe, May yt therefore please your moste excellent Ma[jestie] of your moste habundant grace and clemencye the p[re]misses consydered, To grannte your moste gracyous wrytt of Subpena to be directed unto them the said John Laweson and Rycharde Fenwyck comanndinge them and eyther of them by vertue thereof to appere in Your Ma[jesties] highe Courte of Starre Chamber at a certeine day and under a c[er]teine payne by your hygnes to be lymitted Then and theire not onelye to [an]swere to the p[re]mysses, but also to abide sutche furder order and punyshment for the sayd offences as to your hyghnes counsell of the sayd Courte shalbe thought to stande w[i]th Justice and your Ma[jesties] [lawes] and statuttes in that behalfe p[ro]vyded, And your hyghnes sayde Supplyant shall daylie praye for your hygnes moste prosperous Reigne Longe to endure

Jo Popham Ric Lewkenor

Answers of John Lawson & Richard Fenwycke:

The Joint and sev[er]all Annswares of Richard Fenwycke and John Lawson defendantes to the Bill of Compleynt of John Lumley knight Lorde Lumley Compleynante

......... defendantes say and either of theime saith that the said Bill of Complaint and the matters therin conteyned are very incerten and insufficent in the Lawe to be Annswared ...... dyv[er]s and sondrie causes therin apparant nev[er]theles the avantage of excepcon to the insufficencie therof to the said defendantes at all tymes herafter saved for Annsware therunto the said [defen]dantes say and either of theime saith that one Roger Thorneton was in his liffe tyme lawfullie Seesed in his demeane as of fee or feetaile of and in the said Manors or Lordshipps of Wotton and [Be]nton w[i]th thappurtenances in the countie of Northumberland and of and in dyv[er]s Landes Tenementes Rentes rev[er]cons s[er]vices and heredytamentes w[i]th thappurtenances in Wotton Great Benton Stanington, Cawdcotes and Seaton w[i]thin the countie of Northumberlande mencyoned in the said Byll by lawfull tytle from his anncestors And that he and his Anncestors were seased of the said p[re]misses as verie lawfull owners therof and did take the issues and p[ro]fittes therof to his and their owne uses by the space of a hundreth yeres afore the decease of the said Roger And the said Richard Fenwycke for hym selfe saith That the said Roger Thorneton beinge seased of the p[re]misses as ys aforesaid by fyne w[i]th p[ro]clamacon and other sufficient con[vey]ance and assurance in the Lawe did convey and assure unto Dorathie Fenwicke nowe wyffe of this defendant and one of the daughters of the said Roger Thorneton and to her heires twoe Messuages twoe gardens sixe score and twelve acres of Lande Tenne acres of meadowe sixe score and xij acres of mosse and heath w[i]th their appurtenances in Woodhorne Seaton mencyoned in the said Byll by force wherof the said defendant and Dorathie his wiffe as in the right of the said Dorathie entered in to the said p[re]misses and were and are therof lawfullie seased accordinglie and have and doe take and ymploy the issues and profettes therof to their owne use as lawfull was and ys for theime to doe And the said John Lawson for hym self saith that the said Roger Thorneton beinge seased of the residue of the said p[re]misses as is aforesaid did by goode and sufficient conveyannce and other assurance in the Lawe convey and assure all and singuler his said Landes Tenementes and hereditamentes in Cawdcotes aforesaid unto this defendt To have and to hold the said p[re]misses in Cawdcotes aforesaid unto this defendant and his heires for ev[er], by force wherof the said defendant entered in to the said p[re]misses in Cawdcotes and ys therof seased in his demean as of fee and the issues and p[ro]fettes therof haith taken to his owne use as lawfull is for hym to doe And the said John Lawson further saith that certen conveyances Ch[arters] and wrytinges concerninge the said Mannors Landes ten[ements] and other the p[re]misses came to the custodie and possession of hym this defendt by the delyverie of the said Roger in his liffe tyme, all w[hi]ch to his remembrance he delivered unto the said Richard Fenwycke thother of these defendantes not rased enterlyned newe wrytten altered or amended but as they were at the tyme he first hadd and resceyved the same And the said Richard Fenwycke for hym self saith that he resceyved div[er]s and sondrie conveiances ch[arters] and writinges at the handes and by the deliverie of the said John Lawson and he the said Richard havinge the same evidence in his custodie and possession and certen other conveiances and evidences touchinge the said Landes and tenementes mencyoned in the said Bill or div[er]se p[ar]cells therof by reason that he hadd maried one of the coheires of the said Roger Thorneton did delyv[er] div[er]se p[ar]cells of the said evidences to the number (as he remembreth) of fortie fowre peces emonges w[hi]ch to this defendts remembrance there was a deed conteyninge the like or the same effect & substance as the same deede supposed by the said bill to be forged ys alledged to conteyne unto one Lawrence Thorneton of Wotton in the countie of Northumberland gentelman not rased enterlyned newe wrytten or altered by this defendt or any other by his meanes assent or p[ro]curement w[i]thowte that that the said Roger Thorneton named in the said Bill beinge seased of all the said p[re]misses in his demeane as of fee or feetaile gen[er]all died therof by p[ro]testacon of suche estait seased or that after his decease the said p[re]misses discended and came or of right ought to discend and come unto the said Elizabeth Thorneton as daughter and heir of the said Roger and wyffe of George Lumley knight Lord Lumley named in the said Bill/ or that the said George Lorde Lumley and Elizabeth were therof seased accordinglie or that the said George and Elizabeth beinge therof so seased in the tyme of Kinge Edwarde the fourte upon div[er]s Suites quarrells and controv[er]sies happeninge betwene the said George Lorde Lumley and Thomas his sonne begotten by the said George upon the bodie of the said Elizabeth on the one p[ar]tie, And Roger Thorneton esquier one of the bastard sonnes of the said Roger Thorneton father of the said Elizabeth they the saide George Lorde Lumley Elizabeth his wiffe and Thomas their sonne by vertue of the said award did to the knowledge of these defendantes assure the same unto certen p[er]sons whoe reassured the same unto the said Roger Thorneton the bastarde and to the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten and for default of suche issue unto the said George Lorde Lumley and Elizabeth his wiffe and the heres of the said Elizabeth by the said George Lorde Lumley lawfullie begotten or w[i]th any remainder, over or that there was any suche conveyance maid as in the said Bill ys alledged or that the said Roger Thorneton was a bastard as by the said Bill ys supposed or that after the said supposed assurance the sayd Roger the supposed bastard died of the said p[re]misses so seased or that after his decease the same p[re]misses dyscended unto one John Thorneton Sonne and heir of the said Roger Thorneton the bastard or that he was therof seased accordinglie or died therof seased w[i]thowte issue or that by force therof all and singuler the p[re]misses emonges other thinges did acrue and come unto the said John Lorde Lumley granndfather of the said Compleynante as cosen and heir of the bodie of the said Elizabeth by the said George Lorde Lumley lawfullie begotten that is to say sonne and heir of Rychard Lorde Lumley Sonne and heir of Thomas, sonne and heir of the bodie of the said Elizabeth by the said George Lorde Lumley lawfullie begotten, or that he entered in to the same or died therof seased or that after his decease all and singuler the p[re]misses discended and came or of right ought to discend or come unto the said Compleynante as cosen and heir unto the said Elizabeth by the said George Lorde Lumley lawfullie begotten that is to say Sonne and heir of George Lumley esquier sonne and heir of John Lorde Lumley Sonne and heir of Richard Lorde Lumley sonne and heir of Thomas Lumley Sonne & heir of the said Elizabeth by the said George Lorde Lumley lawfullie begotten as in the said bill is alledged for the said defendantes say that the father of the said Compleynante mencyoned in the said Byll in the tyme of the lait Kinge of famous memorie Kinge Henrie the Eight was attainted of highe treason, at the tyme of w[hi]ch attainder and before the entrie of the said Compleynantes father was not congeable in to the said Landes nether hadd he any right to the same, And w[i]thowte that that all the Ch[arters] writinges and mynimentes concerninge the Mannors Landes Tenementes and hereditamentes ov[er] and besides the conveiances of the said intaile were delivered unto the said Roger Thorneton the bastard for the p[re]servation of his estait taile of and in the p[re]misses or after his estait ended the same to be and remaine unto the said Elizabeth and her heires for the p[re]servation of their said estait therin or that sythens that tyme div[er]se of the said evidences deedes Ch[arters] and Writinges have by synister meanes comen to the handes and custodie of these defendts or that these defts havinge not before their ees the fear of god nor the Quenes Ma[jesties Lawes and statutes but myndinge verie maliciously craftelie or devilislie the utter dishinheritance of the said Compleynante of all and singuler the said mannors Landes tenementes and hereditamentes the said John Lawson abowte the xiijth yere of the Quenes Ma[jesties] Reigne that nowe ys by a subtill and Lewde devise hadd and practised betwene hym and the said Richard Fenwicke did wilfullie willinglie subtillie or falslie forge or conterfeat the said deede or feffament mencyoned in the said Bill beinge fair written in p[ar]chement and sealled w[i]th the Sealle of Armes of one of the Anncestors of the said Complt or that the same deede beinge so written and Sealled the said John Lawson by the councell p[ro]curement or advise of the said Richard Fenwicke did rase or deface the same or upon the same p[ar]chment Sealled did falslie write and fourge a newe writinge conteyninge the substance mencyoned and expressed in the said Bill or any p[ar]te therof as in the said Bill is very Slannderouslie alledged or that they the said Defendantes have in div[er]se and Sondrie open and publicke places openlie publisshed and shewed fourthe any deede that was false and forged to the knowledge of these defendantes as a good and true deede as is also Surmysed in the said Bill or that the said defendantes did likewise abowte the said xiijth yere of the Quenes Ma[jesties] Reigne that now ys willinglie subtillie or faslie forge and make dyv[er]s and sondrie other false deedes and Wrytinges sealled intendinge therebie to transffer the lawfull inheritance of the said Complts of and in the p[re]misses unto theire selves and diverse other of their Frendes or kynffolkes to the disherison of the said Complt as likewise ys Surmysed And w[i]thowte that that any other thinge or matter mencyoned in the said Bill materiall or effectuall in Lawe to be Annswared unto and not herin sufficientlie confessed and avoided denyed or trav[er]sed is true All suche matters the said defts are redie to averre and p[ro]ve as this honorable Court shall awarde and pray to be dismissed owt of the same w[i]th their costes and charges in this their wrongfull vexacon susteyned/

Replication of John Lumley:

The replycacon of John Lumley knyght Lorde Lumley Complaynant to the awnswere of Richarde Fenwyck and John Laweson defendts

The said Complaynant maynteyneth his said byll of complaynte to be verry c[er]teine, and sufficient in Lawe to be awnswered unto, and that the matters therin conteyned are verry true in sutche manner and forme as in the said byll of complaynt the same beene verry truely sett furthe and declared, w[i]thout that that the said Roger Thorneton in the said awnswere specyfied was in his Lyffe tyme Lawefullye seased in his demeasne as of fee tayle of and in the said Mannors, or Lordeshipps of Wotton and Benton w[i]th thapp[ur]tenances in the countie of Northumberland, and of and in dyvers Landes, Ten[ements], rentes, rev[er]cons, services and hereditamentes w[i]th thapp[ur]tenances in Wotton Greate Benton Stannyngton Cawdecotes and Seaton w[i]thin the countie of Northumberland mencyoned in the said awnswere by Lawfull tytle from his anncestors or that he & his anncestors were seased of the said p[re]missesas verry Lawfull owners thereof, or dydd or Lawfullye mought take the yssues, and proffittes thereof to his & theire owne uses by the space of a hundreth yeares afore the decease of the said Roger, Or that, that the said Roger Thorneton beinge seased of the p[re]misses as is aforesaid by fyne w[i]th proclamacons & other sufficient conveyannce, and assurance in the Lawe dyd convey and assure unto Dorothie Fenwick nowe wyffe of this defdt, and one of the daughters of the said Roger Thorneton, & to her heires Two messuages, Two gardeines, syxe scoore & xij acres of land Tenn acres of meadowe syxe scoore & xij acres of Mosse & heathe w[i]th theire app[ur]tenances in Woodhorn Seaton mencyoned in the said byll, or that by force thereof the said defendant and Dorothie his wyffe, as in the right of the said Dorothie entered or Lawefully might enter, into the said p[re]misses and were or are thereof Lawefully seased accordingly & have or doo or Lawfully may take and ymploye the yssues & proffittes thereof to there owne use as in the said awnswere is untrulye alledged, And w[i]thout that, that the said Roger Thorneton in the said Awnswere specyfied, beinge seased of the residewe said p[re]misses as is aforesaid, dyd by good & sufficyent conveyannce & other assurances in the Law convey and assure all & singuler his saide l[ands] Ten[ements] and hereditaments in Cawdecotes aforesaid unto the said John Laweson one of the defendts, to have & to houlde the said p[re]misses in Cawdecotes aforesaid unto the said John Laweson & his heires for ever, or that by force therof the said defendt entered or Lawefully might enter into the said p[re]misses in Cawdecot[es] is also untruely alledged, And w[i]thout that, that c[er]teine conveyannces, charters & wrytinges, conc[er]nynge the said Mannors, Landes, ten[ements] and other the p[re]mi[sses] came to the custodie & possession of the said John Laweson one of the defendts, by the delyverye of the said Roger in his Lyffe tyme as in his said awnswere is also untruely alledged, And w[i]thout that, that the said Roger Thorneton dyd delyver dyvers p[ar]cells of the said evidences to the num[ber] of fortye foure peeces amonges w[hi]ch there was a deede conteynynge the Lyke, or the same effect & substans as the same deede supposed by the sa[id] byll to be forged is alledged to conteyne, unto one Lawrens Thorneton of Wotton in the countie of Northumberland gent in sutche manner & forme as in the said awnswere is moste falsely & untrulie supposed and alledged./ And w[i]thout that, it is anny thinge materiall to the matter of forgerye in the said byll of compla[ynt] alledged to be commytted by the said defendants whether the father of the said complaynant were attaynted or not, And if the same were a materyall ma[tter to] be replyed unto (as it is not) Then the said Complaynant sayth & averreth that the said George Lumley his father was attaynted duringe the Lyffe [time of] John Lorde Lumley grandfather unto the said Complaynante, and that the said John Lorde Lumley lyved longe after the deathe of the said George Lum[ley] And further sayth that afterwardes (that is to say) in the firste yere of the reigne of the late Kinge of famous memorye Kinge Edwarde the syxt the said complaynant was by acte of p[ar]lement restored to the degree, place, name & dignitie of a baron of this realme & restored & inhabled in bludd a..... sonne & heire and heires of the said George Lumley, and as Cosyn and heire of the said John Lorde Lumley and made heire in bludd aswell to th[e] said George as to the said John Lorde Lumley, by the name of Lorde Lumley, And by the same acte of p[ar]lement it was further enacted th[at] the saide complaynante and his heires from thenssforth might & sholde be inhabled to demande aske have holde and enioye all and ev[er]ye sutche honors, Castl[es], mannors, Lordshipps, hundreds, franchesies, liberties, p[ri]viledges, advowsons nominacons, p[re]sentacons, knightes fees, landes, ten[ementes], rentes, rev[er]sions s[er]vices remaynders, porcions, annuities, pencions, rightes, and all maner of hereditamentes, w[i]th theire app[ur]tenances, w[hi]ch at anny tyme shoulde or might come, remayne discend, or revert from anny collaterall annce[s]tor of the said complaynant, other then sutche Castles, mannors, landes, ten[ementes] rev[er]cons remaynders s[er]vices, possessions or other hereditamentes, w[hi]ch were of the said George father of the said complaynant in use, possessyon, reversion remainder, or otherwise the daye of the attainder of the said George, And other then sutche honors, Castles, mannors, landes, ten[ementes, and other hereditaments as the moste noble father of the said Kinge, King Henry theight, or the said Kinge hymselfe were intitled to have, or might or ought to have uppon anny office founde or to be founde by force of anny attainder in sutche the same, and lyke maner, fourme and condicon, to all inteantes, construccons and purposes as if the said George father to the said complaynant had never bene attainted and as thoughe anny sutche attaindor of the said George had never beene hadd or made/ And that the said complaynante and his heires might at all tymes from thensforth use and have anny accon or sute and make his pedigree and conveyance in bludd as heire aswell to and from his said father, and the said John Lorde Lumley as also to anny other p[er]son or p[er]sons in lyke maner and forme as if the said George his father had never beene attainted and as if no sutche attaindor were or had beene hadd or made, the corrupcon of bludd betwene the said George and the said John Lorde Lumley & the said complaynante & his heires or anny acte of parlyament or Judgement conc[er]nynge the Attaynder of the said George or anny thinge wherbye the bludd of the said George was or shoulde be corrupted to the contrary in anny wise not w[i]th standinge, as by the same acte of p[ar]lyament more fully and at lardge appereth. And the said Complaynante saythe and averreth that the mannors landes, ten[ementes] and other the p[re]misses in the sayd byll of complaynt specyfied was neither in the said George Lumley in use possession, reversion or remaynder the daye of the attainder of the said George nether was the said mannors, landes, ten[ementes] & other the p[re]misses in the said byll of complaynt specyfied anny sutche mannors, landes, ten[ementes] or hereditamentes as the said King Henry theight, or the said King Edwarde the syxte were intytled to have, or myght or ought to have uppon anny office founde or to be founde by force of anny attaindor, By force whereof the said complaynant, entered into the mannors landes ten[ementes] and hereditamentes in the said byll of complaynte mencyoned, & the yssues and proffittes thereof p[er]ceyved and toke in sutche maner and forme as the said byll of complaynt is truly sett furthe & declared w[i]thout that , that anny other matter in the said awnswere specyfied, or conteyned, and not in this replycacon sufficientlie replyed unto confessed avoyded, trav[er]sed, or denyed is true, All w[hi]ch matters the said complaynante is redye to averr & veryfie as this honorable courte shall awarde and prayeth, as in his said byll he before hath prayed

R. Lewkenor

Interrogatories to be ministered on behalf of John Lumley:

Interrogatoryes to be mynystred unto certeyne wytnesses on the Parte and behalf of John Lumley knyght Lord Lumley Playntyf againste John Laweson and Rychard Fenwycke defts

[1] Imprimis whether do you knowe the saide John Lorde Lumley nowe playntyf and the said John Lawson and Rychard Fenwycke defendts yea or no and howe longe have you knowen them

[2] Itm whether do you knowe or have you harde that one Roger Thorneton some tyme of the towne of NeweCastell uppon Tyne other wyse called Roger Thorneton of Nether Wytton uppon the Water Esquire longe sythens deceased was in his lyffe tyme lawfullye seased in his demesne as of fee or feetayle of and in the mannors of Wytton and Benton w[i]th thapp[ur]tynances in the coumtye of Northumberland and of and in div[er]s other landes ten[ementes] rentes reversions and s[er]vices w[i]th the App[ur]tynances in Wytton Greate Benton Stannyngton Cawdecotes and Woodhorne Seaton w[i]thin ye Saide countie of Northumberland and of what estate was he therof seysed to your knowledge or As you thynke./

3 Itm whether have you seen or redd or have you harde redd anny deed of deedes evidences or wrytinges making mencyon or specyfyinge yt the sayde Roger Thorneton was in his lyffe tyme seased of & in the said Lordeshippes of Wytton and Benton and of and in divers other landes and ten[ementes] in Wytton Grete Benton Stannyngton Cawdecotes and Woddhorne Seaton aforesaid and what and howe mannye deedes evidences or wrytinges have you seen redd or harde redde Concerninge the same to your remembrans and what was theffect and substans of those deedes to your remembrans. And where and when did you rede or see the same dede or deedes evidences or wrytinges and in whose custodie or keepynge were the same deede or deedes evidences or wrytinges when you did reede see or here the same Reade And in whose custodie or keepinge are the same deed or deedes evidences and wrytinges nowe to your knowledge or as you verrylye Thinke./

4 Itm have you not seen reade or harde readen annie lease or wrytinge specyfyinge or mencyoning that the said Roger Thorneton of Newcastle, other wyse called Roger Thorneton of nether Wytton uppon the Water did demyse grannt and lett the farme unto Gyles Thorneton Roger Thorneton and John Thorneton his Bastard sonnes the Lordeshippes and mannors of Wytton and Benton w[i]th div[er]s other landes ten[ementes] & hereditamentes in Wytton Grete Benton Stannyngton Cawdecotes and Wodehorne Seaton in the countie of Northumberland for terme of divers yeres longe sythens expyred, uppon w[hi]ch demyse or lease ther was One anuall or yerely rente Reserved unto him the said Roger Thorneton thelder and to his ryght heires, and where or in whose kepinge is the same lease at this p[rese]nte to your knowledge or as you thinke./

5 Itm what children had the said Roger Thorneton of Newecastle of his bodie lawfullye begotten and what were theire names. And whether had he the same Roger anny Bastardes and what were theire names. And whether were Gyles Thorneton Roger Thorneton and John Thorneton basterd sonnes of the said Roger Thorneton thelder yea or no./

6 Itm whether had the said Roger Thorneton of Newecastle anny doughters to your knowledge and yf he hadd anny then howe mannie doughters hadd he, and what their names and to whome were the marryed./

7 Itm whether hadd the said Roger Thorneton of Newecastle one doughter called Elyzabeth w[hi]ch afterwardes was marryed unto Sir George Lumley knight afterwardes Lorde Lumley to your knowledge or as you have harde. And whether was she the same Elizabeth doughter and heire unto the said Roger Thorneton yea or no./

8 Itm whether do you knowe or understand by annie meanes that ther was some tymes grete stryffe and controv[er]sie betwen the said George Lorde Lumley and Thomas Lumley The sonne and heire of the said Lorde Lumley and Elizabeth on thon[e] p[ar]tie and the said Roger Thorneton one of the Bastard sonnes of the said Roger Father of the said Elyzabeth for and concerninge the possessyon of div[er]s landes and ten[ementes] w[hi]ch were the Said Roger Thornetone the fathers in his lyffe tyme./

9 Itm whether do you knowe or do you understand by reading of anny wrytinges or otherwyse that the late Kynge of famous memorye Kinge Edward the fourth (heryinge of the said Quarreles and controv[er]sies) did by the assent and uppon the submyssion of the said Sir George Lumley Elizabeth and Thomas on thon[e] p[ar]tie, and the said Roger Thorneton The Bastard on thother p[ar]tie) make an awarde or arbytrem[en]t betwene them of for & conc[er]ninge the said Lordeshippes and mannors of Wytton and Benton and other the Landes and ten[ementes] in Wytton Grete Benton Stannyngton Cawdecotes and Woodhorne Seaton in the said countie of Northumberland and what was theffect and substans of the same arbytrem[en]t & awarde to your knowledge or remembrans. And whether have you seen or redd anny sutche award or arbytrement made by the said late Kynge Edward the fourthe under his highenes pryvie seale or signe man... or have you seene or redd anny coppie of annie such awarde or arbytrem[en]t yea or no./

10 Itm whether did the said Kinge by his said award and arbytrem[en]t determyne and award that the said Sir George Lumley and Thomas Lumley should assure and conveyghe unto the said Roger Thorneton the bastard all and singuler the Lordeshippes and Mannors of Wytton and Benton and dyv[er]s other landes and Ten[ementes] in Wytton Grete Benton Stannyngton and Cawdecotes in the said countie of Northumberland to have and to holde Unto him the said Roger and the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten and ........................................... and singuler the said Lordeshippes mannors landes and ten[ementes] to be and remayne unto the said Sir George Lumley and to the heires of Elizabeth Lumley wyffe of the said Sir George by him the said Sir George Lumley lawfully begotten./

11 Itm whether did you at annye tyme see or reade annye deed or deedes of intayle w[hi]ch specyfyed or made declaracon of anny intayle made by the said Sir George Lumley knyght and the said Thomas Lumley or anny of them in p[er]formans of the said award or according to the effecte and purporte of the same award or whether did you see or here anny other person or persons rede anny such deed, and where and when did yowe here the same redd and by whome and in whose kepinge or custodie is the same deede to your knowledg or as you thinke./

12 Itm whether have you seene or reade att anny tyme annye deede of Intayle wherby the Lordshippes mannors landes & ten[ementes] aforesaid were assured conveyed or entayled unto ye said Roger Thorneton and to the heires of his bodie lawfully begotten and for defaulte of such yssue to the said Sir George Lumley knight and the heires of the saide Elizabeth Lumley wyf of the said Sir George Lumley by the sayde Sir George lawfullie begotten or whether did you see or here anny other p[er]son or p[er]sons reade anny such deede, and whome did you here reade the same and in whose keping or custodie is the same deed to your knowledge or as you thinke./

13. Itm whether doo you knowe that anny p[er]son or p[er]sons dydd at anny tyme brynge annye suche deede or deedes to London to be shewed to anny p[er]son or p[er]sons or to [a]ske councell or advyse theruppon yea or no, and to whome was the same shewed and what advise or counsell was geven theruppon and what became of the same deede or deedes or to whome weare the same delyv[er]de, after the shewinge or askinge counsell theruppon./

[14] Itm whether doo you knowe that the said John Laweson & Rycharde Fenwycke or anny of them did rase or scrape oute or p[ro]cure to be rased or scraped oute annye l[etter] or l[etters] worde or wordes sentence or sentences oute of annye deede or deedes wryting or wrytinges sealed w[i]th the seale of armes of anny the anncestors of the Said Lorde Lumleye or sealed w[i]th the seale of annye other seales whatsoev[er] w[hi]ch did touche or concerne annye mannor of conveyans or assurans of annye landes ten[ementes] or hereditamentes of anny p[er]son or p[er]sons whatsoev[er], and where is the same deede or deedes wryting or wrytinges remayning to your knowledge./

15 Itm whether did the said John Lawson or Rychard Fenwyke or eyther of them at annye tyme, forge Or conterfeyt the hand or seale or annye p[er]son or p[er]sons or putt or sett annye seale or seales of anny p[er]son or p[er]sons to annie deede or deedes w[i]thoute the consent and knowledge of the same p[er]son or p[er]sons whose Seale the same was supposed to be./

16 Itm whether did you annie tyme knowe the said Rychard Fenwycke and John Laweson or eyther of them at anny tyme forge or counterfeyte anny manner of deede or deedes or forge or counterfeyte annye Seale or seales whatsoev[er] and howe longe is yt sythens you have knowen or hard of annye suche acte or actes to be by them or annye of them comytted./

17 Itm whether do you knowe or have you hard that the said Rychard Fenwycke or John Laweson or eyther of Them did at annye tyme advise p[er]suade p[ro]cure or counsell anny p[er]son or p[er]sons to rase scrape oute alter or change anny l[etters] word or wordes sentence or sentences wrytten in anny deede or deedes wryting or wrytinges sealed towchinge or concerning anny mannor of conveyans or assurans of annie landes or ten[ementes] of anny p[er]son or p[er]sons whatsoev[er]./

18 Itm whether do you knowe that the said John Laweson did at anny tyme wryte or cause to be wrytten uppon anny peece of paper or parchm[en]t beinge sealed w[i]th the seale of annie thanncestors of ye said Lorde Lumley or anny other anncyent seale./ Anny mannor of wryting, wordes or sentences p[ur]porting or specyfyinge theffect that followeth (That is to saie) that ye said Roger Thorneton of Nether Wytton in the said countie of Northumberland Esquire did infeffe Sir John Nevell knight Robt Ogle thelder John Heron knight Robt Ogle the younger knight and dyvers others of and in the Lordeshippes mannors landes and ten[ementes] in Wytton Grete Benton Stannyngton and Cawdecotes aforesayde, to thuse of the said Roger Thorneton for Terme of his naturall lyffe, and after his deathe to the use and behoof of Gyles Thorneton Roger Thorneton and John Thorneton his sonnes and the heires males of the boddyes of the said Gyles Roger and John for ever./

19 Itm whether do you knowe that the said John Laweson did at anny tyme delyv[er] unto anny p[er]son or p[er]sons anny such counterfeyt or forged deede or deedes being sealed w[i]th anny anncyent seale of armes of anny the anncestors of the sayd Lord Lumley p[ur]porting or specyfyinge that the said Roger Thorneton should infeffe Sir John Nevill knight Sir Robte Ogle thelder knight John Heron knight Robte Ogle the younger knight, and div[er]s others of the Lordeshippes mannors landes and ten[ementes] in Wytton Grete Benton Stannyngton and Cawdecotes aforesaid to the use and behoof of the said Roger Thorneton for tearme of his lyffe naturall and after his decease to the use of Gyles Thorneton Roger Thorneton and John Thorneton his sonnes and to the heires males of the bodies of the said Gyles Roger and John for ev[er]. And whether did the said John Laweson at the Delyv[er]y of the same deede saie unto the p[er]son to whome he delyv[er]d the same, that he the said John Laweson hadd made amd wrytten the same deed for a purpose [?for to serve anny .....ns terme?] and to whome did he delyv[er] the same deede and speke theis wordes./

20 Itm what hadd the said John Lawson for makinge or wryting of the same deed or what did he require to have for the making and wrytinge therof, and what was p[ro]mysed him or should have beene payd him therfor./

21 Itm what deede or deedes weare they w[hi]ch were shewed by the said Rychard Fenwycke and John Lawson and others at Durham and at Awenewycke and what advise or counsell was there geven uppon the said deedes and whether after that yt was tolde them that the same deed or deedes wold not serve theire turnes or that the said deed or deedes was not suffycyent by reason of some wordes conteyned in the same deed or deedes, did the said John Lawson amende the said Deede in annye poynte or in anny worde or letter or whether did the said John Lawson rase oute anny worde or wordes w[hi]ch was in the same deede or deedes and in steede therof did wryte or put in annie newe word or wordes. And whether did the said John Lawson saye yt yf ther were anny worde or wordes amysse or that woolde not serve ......... that he coulde or wolde quyckely amend them./ and whether dydd he speake anny woordes to that effect

22 Itm what other matter or thinge do you knowe or have harde that the said Rychard Fenwyck and John Lawson or eyther of them hathe comytted or doone in or aboute the forginge or Counterfeytinge of anny deedes avidences or wrytinges or in or aboute the forgynge or conterfeytinge of anny seales of anny evidences or in or aboute the rasinge or interlyninge of anny evidences after the sealinge and delyv[er]ie therof/

Depositions:

Deposicons taken at Yorke the thyrtenth day of January 1573 on the p[ar]tis and beh[alf of] the Righte hon[or]able John Lorde Lumbley playntyf against Rychard Fenwycke & John Lawson [defendants] Before Thomas Gargrave Henry Gale Cuthbert Collingwood knightes and James Ogle esqui[re] by vertue of the Quenes Ma[jesties] Comysson to them dyrected & hereunto annexed upon the Interrogatoryes hereunto also annexed

Laurence Thorneton of Wytton in the County of Northumberland s[er]vante to the plt of the age of Fourty eighte yeres Sworne & examyned on the p[ar]tie of the plt deposeth as followeth

[1] To the Fyrste Interrogatory he sayeth he knoweth the said p[ar]ties//

[2] To the Seconde he sayth he harde say that the said Roger was Seazed & owenor of those landes, but of what estate he knoweth not./

[3] To the thyrde he sayth that he hath sene dyv[er]se evydences touchinge the said landes in the house of the said Richard Fenwycke at Stanton & at Wootton in the house of the plt about two yeres & more synce but what theffecte of the said Evydences was he knoweth not.

[4] To the Fourthe he sayth that he in Wootton dyd see a leasse for yeres of all the landes named in the Interrogatorye made by thaforesaid Roger Thorneton to Gyles Thorneton Roger Thorneton & John Thorneton his basterde Sonnes & by the same referred a rente to hym the said Roger & his heyrs, and Chrystofer Collyngewood redde the leasse at that tyme & said the yeres thereyn specyfied were ended, but he can not certenly depose for howe many yeres the same leasse was but to his remembrance yt was for one hundreth yeres and above.//

5.6.7. To the fyfte syxte & vijth he sayth that he hath harde saye he had two daughters the one named Elizabeth maryed to Sir George Lumbley knighte anncestor to the playntyf & one other daughter whiche as he hathe harde dyed wythout yssue and he had as he hath harde thaforesaid thre basterde sonnes & no other yssue, and the said Elyzabeth after the death of her Syster was Sole heyre.//

8. To the eighte he sayth that he hath harde there was greatt trouble for the said landes as ys articulate.//

9. To the ixth he sayth there was suche no Awarde as he knoweth by certayn copyes thereof which this examynate hath sene & one p[ar]te thereof under the said Kynges pryvey Sygnett.//

10. To the xth he sayth that theffecte of the same awarde was accordinge as ys articulate as by the said awarde Remayninge wyth the plt may appere./

11. To the xjth he saythe he can not depose.//

12.13. To the xijth & xiijth he sayth he hathe sene suche a deede & hath a Copye thereof & dyd se the same at London but what Councell they toke thereof he knoweth not & the same was then in thandes of the defend[ts]//

14. To the Fouretenth he sayth that about two yeres agoo he came to the house of John Lauson one of the defendts for to have receyved certayne Evydences whiche the said John hadd promysed to this defendt (sic) for the mayntenance of his estate in the landes late Roger Thorneton, & beinge in the p[ar]lour of the said John Lauson he shewed thys examynate a sealle & asked this deponent yf that were his anncestors sealle whereunto this examynate said he toke yt for his anncestors sealle, & then the said John opened the p[ar]chemente where unto the Sealle was affyxed & lett this examynate se a blanke pece of p[ar]chemente wythout any wrytinge thereyn & yet the p[ar]chemente semed to be olde on the backesyde & then he said he woulde make in that dede & p[ar]chement a dede of hintaylle to convey the landes to the heyrs males of thaforesaid thre basterde Sonnes, & after that about xxti dayes the said Richard Fenwycke & John Lawson delyv[er]ed the same dede then under Sealle written wyth a conveyannce thereyn of the said landes to the said thre basterdes sonnes in taylle and thys ................................... should Receyve & enioye the landes he shoulde for his frendeshippe have ...........................

15. To the fyftenth he can not dep[ose] ............

16.17.18.19.20. To the syxtenth xvijth xviijth xixth & xxth he can not further de[pose] then to the xiiijth he hath deposed.//

21. To the xxjth he sayth that the said John Lauson as Thomas Bradforth sayth promysed to the said Thomas that yf the daughters & heyres of Roger Thorneton was geve hym their p[ar]tes of their landes in Cawdecotes that he woulde gave them a dede whereby they myghte have & enioye the landes against the Lorde Lumley & this examynate, whereupon the said Bradfurth promysed he shoulde have their landes that yf he so dyd & he said he woulde delyv[er] the dede to Richard Fenwycke and he should go w[i]th them to their Councell wyth yt and so he dyd & they wente w[i]th the said dede tp Mr Justice Wraye who founde faulte wyth certayne wordes in the dede & thereupon the said Thomas Bradfurth broughte the dede againe to the said Lawson & tolde hym what wordes or faulte was founde in the dede & the said John Lauson awnswered that yf he woulde kepe his Councell he woulde amende the dede & make yt p[er]fecte and this he hathe harde by the reporte of Thomas Bradfurthe.//

22. To the xxijth he sayth he can no further depose then before he hathe said./

Robert Hallyman of Greatt Lumley in the county of Durham yoman of thage of lxvij yeres or thereaboutes sworne & examyned sayth of his othe as followeth.//

1. To the Fyrste Interrogatorye this examynate sayth that he knoweth the same John Lorde Lumley the Complanante & the said John Lauson & Richard Fenwycke the defendantes named in the same Interrogatorye & hath knowen them, that is to say, the said Lorde Lumbley by the space of xxxti yeres & more & the said John Lauson by the same space of xxxti yeres and the same Richard Fenwycke by the space of eighte yeres or thereaboutes

2. To the seconde Interrogatory this examynate sayth that he hath harde say that the same Roger Thorneton named in the same Interrogatory was in his lyfe tyme laufully Seazed in his demesne as of Fee of all the landes & ten[ementes] mencyoned in the same Interrogatory.//

3. To the thyrde Interrogatory he can not depose.//

4. To the Fourthe Interr[ogatory] he can not depose.//

5. To the fyfte vjth & vijth this examynate sayth that the same Roger Thorneton at the tyme of his deathe had one daughter called Elyzabeth which was marryed unto Sir George Lumley knighte, for this examynate havinge occasion to serche amongest the Recordes at Durham he dyd se [an] office that was founde after the deathe of the same Roger of all such landes & ten[ementes] and dyed Seazed of in the Byshpprick of Durham, And yt is founde in the same office that one Elyzabeth wyfe of Sir George Lumley knighte was daughter & next heyre of the same Roger Thorneton And Further to the same Interrogatoryes that he hathe harde saye that the said Roger had three base gotten sonnes that ys to say Gyles Roger & John./

8. To the viijth Interrogatory this examynate sayth that he hath harde say that there was greatt stryfe & controversye betwene the said George Lumley & Thomas Lumley on the one p[ar]tie & the said Roger Thorneton one of the base gotten sonnes of thother p[ar]tie for & concerninge the possession of dyv[er]se landes & ten[ementes] which were the same Roger Thorneton his fathers in his lyfe tyme//

9. To the ixth he this examynate sayth can say nothinge savinge that he hath harde say that the same Kinge Edwarde the Fourth hearinge of the same quarrelles & controv[er]syes dyd make an award & order betwene them.//

10.11.12. To the xth xjth & xijth this examynate sayth that about two yeres synce this examynate & one Xpofer Mayre by thappoyntement of the same Lorde Lumley rode to the same John Lauson one of the def to Caldecotes in Northumberland where he dwelte and there declared unto hym that they were sente by the same Lorde Lumley to se all suche wrytinges as he had touchinge the same landes nowe in controv[er]sye who said that they were not in his handes, but he would ryde w[i]th this examynate & the said Xpofer Mayre to Laurence Thorneton house to Wytton on the Water and there they should se them, and there comynge to Wytton he shewed to them certayne olde peces of Evydences touchinge some p[ar]te of the same landes whiche had bene made a longe tyme before the said Roger Thorneton the father had any thinge in the p[re]mysses whiche this examynate & the said Xpofer lytle regarded And the said Lauson Further said then that there were moo wrytinges touchinge the same landes at one Richard Fenwyckes house at Stanton and that he would ryde that nyghte before thyther, to p[re]pare them against the comynge of this exa[min]ate and the said Xpofer the morowe after, who so dyd and the morowe after at the comynge of this examynate and the same Xpofer he & the same Richard Fenwycke shewed them at the same Stanton in a p[ar]lour there a greatt manye peces of olde Evydences such lyke as the other were afore, savinge one whiche the sayd Lauson toke in his hande & delyv[er]ed into the handes of the same Xpofer sayinge yf there be any wrytinge here for the purpose this ys yt, w[hi]ch wrytinge was a dede of feoffment made by Sir George Lumley knighte & Thomas Lumley esquier to Gerrarde Mydforde & Willm Huton of his manor of Wytton Stanton Shele Seaton nighe Woodhome Wyndegates Todburne Horsley Garretley Stanyngton Calcotes Byerfelde Ponteland Rallesses Kyllyngworth Fearsden Babyngton Tockerington Trynwell Mydles & Morrell in the county of Northumberland to the use of Sir Roger Thorneton knighte & to the heyrs of his bodye laufully begotten And in defaulte of suche yssue to remayne to the heyrs of the said Sir George Lumley & Elyzabeth his wyfe & to the heirs of their bodyes laufully begotten for ev[er], and one Gilbte Ogle & Richard Horsley attorneys aucthoryzed by l[etter] of Attorney conteyned in the same dede to geve possession in the same p[re]myss[es] accordinge to theffecte of the same dede bearinge date the xxiiijth day of October in the xxth yere of the same Kinge Edward the Fourth, whiche said dede after yt was so shewed and redde by this examynate & the said Xpofer Mayre they demanded to have the same to delyv[er] to the same Lorde Lumley which Lauson annswered agayne that he woulde not then delyv[er] yt out of his handes but promysed that he woulde the next terme then after delyv[er] yt himself to the said Lorde Lumley att London orells yf he went not hymself to delyv[er] yt to one Lawrence Thorneton to delyv[er] over to the saide Lorde Lumley at the same terme, whereupon this exa[min]ate & the said Xpofer understandinge that they coulde not have yt desyered that they myghte take a note of theffecte of the same, who was contente therew[i]th & thereupon the said Xpofer Mayre toke a note in wrytinge of the same dede to theffecte abovesaid w[hi]ch dede then was lefte in thandes of the same John Lawson.//

13.14.15.16. To the xiijth xiiijth xvth xvjth xvijth xviijth xixth xxth and xxjth he can not depose.//

17.18.19.20.21. To the xxijth this exa[min]ate sayth as to the form[er] Interrogatoryes before he hath deposed savinge further sayth that the same John Lauson about two yeres & a half synce dyd shewe unto this exa[min]ate a dede whiche had a Seale annexed unto yt havynge the Signe of a Founteyne or a [?tonne?] w[hi]ch the said Lawson said to this examynate in his garden at Caldecotes was an olde dede of Thornetons and yf the said Lorde Lumley woulde be good unto hym he woulde delyv[er] hym that dede, w[hi]ch woulde overthrowe all the tytle & clayme of the daughters of Roger Thorneton that dyed laste, w[hi]ch were the Systers of the same Lawson, Albeyt yt were an unnaturall dede of hym to do yt to hys systers and Further he can not depose.//~

Thomas Gargrave Henry Gayll Cuth Colingwood James Ogle

Roger Collingewood of Ryle in the Countie of Northumberland gent of thage of xxxv yeres sworne & examyned deposeth as followeth .//

1. To the Fyrste he sayth he knoweth all the said p[ar]ties.//

2. To the Seconde he can not depose but by hearesaye.//

3. To the thyrde he sayth as his form[er] deponent Laurence Thorneton hath sayd.//

4. To the Fourthe he herde Xpofer Collyngewood his brother rede a leasse for certayne yeres at Wytton of all the Thornetons landes in Northumberland made by Roger Thorneton to Gyles Roger and John Thorneton his Sonnes but for what yeres or what Rente was Reserved he doth not remember//

5.6.7. To the fyfte vjth & vijth he can not depose but by reporte.//

8.9.10. To the eighte nyneth & xth he sayth he hath harde that there was a greatt Controv[er]sye betwixt those landes & he hath sene the copye of one Awarde made by Kinge Edward the iiijth for the tytle of those landes the which Awarded he hath harde was under the said Kynges Sealle.//

11. To the xjth he sayth that at London he dyd se a dede amongest others the w[hi]ch he this examynate Caused to be Copyed by a Scryven[er] at London who tolde this examynate that yt was of the same effecte that ys Artyculate & the dede was then in the Custodye of Richard Fenwycke & John Lauson who he thynketh hathe the same styll for this examynate hadd the said dede in a boxe in the chamber of the said Richard and John at London & they had the boxe & dede agayne.//

12. To the twelveth he sayth that the said dede was to the same effecte as ys artyculate for he hath a Copye thereof.//

13. To the xiijth he sayth that the said Richard & John had the said dede at London but what Councell he toke thereyn he knoweth not, but the said John Lauson this examynate beynge p[re]sent shewed many dedes to one Mr Barton there but whether that was one of them or not he knoweth not.//

14. To the xiiijth this examynate sayth that as they wente from Mr Barton this examynate Rebuked the said John Lauson for that he had delyv[er]ed an Insuffycient and evell dede to Laurence Thorneton, and he annswered that he had made yt & thoughte yt woulde have sarved hym, but he would Fynde such meanes by some order that he should geve the daughters some money & shoulde have & enioye the lande, and the said John Lauson should have hadd xxiiijli landes by yere for the said dede yf Laurence Thorneton myghte have enioyed the landes by that dede, and thys examynate Further sayth that he the said John Lauson made the dede to thentente the said Laurence myghte have hys offyce Founde accordinge to that dede and ..... sayth he made this dede accordinge to another dede whiche he Founde in a boxe

15.16.17.18.19.20 To the xvth xvjth xvijth xviijth xixth & xxth he can not depose no Further thereyn then before he hathe deposed. savynge that he se the said John Lauson have the said dede in Herborne churche caryed in to the Jurye for the Fyndinge of the office of Laurence Thorneton./

21. To the xxjth he sayth he should have had landes to the yerely value of xxiiijli as before he hath deposed

22. To the xxijth he can not depose./

Giles Jowcye of the West Sheles in Northumberland husbandman of thage of lx yeres sworne & examyned deposeth as Followeth.//

1. To the Fyrste he knoweth the defend[ants] but not the playntyf//

2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13 To the Seconde iijd iiijth vte vjte vijth viijte ixth xth xjth xijth & xiijth he can not depose.//

14.15.16 To the xiiijth xvth & xvjth he sayth that aboute vij or viij yeres agoo the said examynate came into the house of Roger Thorneton at Wytton & there in a p[ar]lour he founde John Lauson syttinge at a bourde & manye wrytinges about hym & se hym take an olde seale from an olde dede wyth a knyfe whiche he hette w[i]th a whotte coole he dyd cleve or cutte the Seale in two & then hette the waxe & cleved the Seale upon a newe dede that he had lyinge on the olde dede but of what effecte the dede was he knoweth not, And Further to those Articles he can not depose.//

18.19.20.21.22 To the xvijth xviijth xixth xxth & all the reste of the Interrogatoryes he can no Further depose then before he hathe deposed.//

Thomas Gargrave Henry Gayll Cuth Colingwood James Ogle