Arbitration award by Richard Fox

75 Undated [27 March 1515]

Arbitration award by Richard Fox, bishop of Winchester, Sir Thomas
Lovell, kt, treasurer of the household, Judge Robert Brudenell and
John Earnley, king’s attorney, dated 27 March 1515, reciting that
whereas there had been discord between Sir John Rouclife, kt, and
Dame Margaret, his wife, one of the cousins and heirs of the late Sir
William Plompton, kt, Sir William Perpoynte, kt, guardian of Elizabeth
Sotehill, cousin and heir of Sir William, Sir Marmaduke Constable,
snr, kt, and John Constable, esq., guardians of Jane Sotehill, another
of the cousins and heirs of Sir William Plompton, of the one party, and
Sir Robert Plompton, kt, and William his son and heir apparant of the
other, of and upon the right and title to certain lands, the arbitrators
after hearing the depositions of the parties, and with their consent,
make their award as follows: [i] Sir Robert and William shall have and
enjoy the manor of Plumpton with its appurtenant lands in Plumpton
or within the parish of Spofforth, to have and hold to their heirs male.
In default of such heirs, remainder shall be to Dame Margaret Rouclife,
Elizabeth and Jane Sotehill. [ii] The heirs general and other interested
parties named above, including Dame Joan Perpoynte, mother of
Elizabeth and Jane, and Elizabeth and Jane themselves when of full
age shall quitclaim Sir Robert in such terms as he shall devise. [iii]
The heirs general are to have and enjoy the residue of all the manors &c.
according to their inheritance from the late Sir William Plompton. [iv]
Sir Anthony Seale, clerk, shall have and enjoy the chantry in Ripon,
hereafter to be in the gift of the lords of the manor of Plumpton, if it
may be proved of right so to belong.¹ All other benefices are to remain
to the heirs general. [v] In case of Sir Robert being able to prove to
the arbitrators within a year of this date the purchase or recovery by
legal action at his expense, or proof of title to any premises awarded
to the heirs general of the same yearly clear value as the lands in
Studley Roger, then the heirs general shall cede Studley Roger to Sir
Robert in exchange for the lands purchased or recovered by him. Any
excess shall be adjusted by a sum of money calculated at the rate of 16
years’ purchase. Signed Richard Winchester, Thomas Lovell, Robert
Brudenell, John Earnley.

[English]

[Copyist’s note.] Copied 10 December 1627, hauing 4 seales.

[CB, 841]

     ¹ See pp. 245–6. On this chantry becoming vacant Sir John Rocliffe appointed William
Cooke of Ripon and Henry Bell to present Stephen Clarkson as chaplain, who was duly
admitted. The result was an action by William Plumpton against Christopher Cragley,
clerk, and the above-named persons; a jury was summoned 30 May 1530 to determine
whether Sir Robert Plumpton was legitimate or a bastard, and hence on William’s right
to present to the chantry, CB, 857.