Highley Manor Accounts 1472-3

This account was drawn up when the manor of Highley had passed into the hands of King Edward VI, as heir to the Mortimer estates. William Palmer, a Highley man, was responsible for collecting all revenues due to King Edward as lord of the manor and also for paying out any expenses. Each year an auditor would come to check the account. The account begins with the arrears owed from the previous years and then details the sums due from the various leases and rents. At some point in the past, a lord had increased many rents from the sums previously agreed (the “ancient rents”), perhaps reflecting improvements made by the tenants to their holdings; these increases are all listed. This part of the account also shows that Thomas Southall was making stone tiles at a quarry. The perquisites of the court show that a small amount of revenue came from payments made at the manor court. In defualts of rent, William had to note cases where the rent was reduced. The account then lists various payments and expenses; these show that the manor house had seen significant new building.

This account is held by the National Archives (SC6/966/12). We are grateful to Dr Sylvia Watts and the Odericus Vitalis Latin Group for the translation.

Highley; the account of William Palmer, reeve there for the said time

Arrears
The same renders account concerning £7 17s 9d of arrears of the last account there of the preceding year as appears at the foot of the same account
Sum £7 17s 9d

Assise rents with increase of rent and leases
And for the £7 10s received from the assise rents there to be paid at feasts of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary and St. Michael equally a year. And for 4s received from the new rent of Richard Pountney for a barn formerly in the tenure of John Hull at the accustomed terms. And for 7s 10d received from the increase of various parcels of'?fallow land let to tenants at the will of the lord, to wit: John Palmer 3s 8d, Richard Muriden 20d, Richard Piers 6d and Roger Lowe 2s, as leased to the same tenants for the term of their life by certificate to pay to the court at the account of the 38th year preceding. And for 5s 8d received from the increase of the lease of the site of the manor with demesne land, formerly of Roger Ree now leased to William Hairer by the court roll of the 22nd year preceding beyond 18s of ancient lease previously above charged to be paid at the said terms. And for 2d of increased rent of William Curteys for a croft called Birmescroft beyond 2d of ancient rent previously charged to be paid at the said terms. And for 4d received from increase of the rent of a grange in Highley formerly of Katherine Astelcy, now leased to Roger Ree to be held for the term ofhis life for the said increase a year beyond the ancient rent to be paid at the terms of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary and Saint Michael equally a year by the court roil of the 34th year preceding. And for 6d received from the increase of the rent of a toft and 12 acres of land formerly in the tenure of John Arderne who used to render 18d a year, now leased to William White for 2s a year and thus from the annual increase as above by the court roll of the 27th year preceding. And for 18d received from the increase of the rent of William Lowe as appears by the of the 23rd year preceding where of 2d for 2 selions of land in the field of Soffietfelde & 14d from a mesuage and virgate of land with a croft and half virgate of land with appurtenances in Highley leased to the same William according to the custom of the manor by court roll to be paid at the usual terms a year beyond 12s of ancient rent before charged under the heading of assise rents. And for 3s received from the lease of Thomas Suthehalle for a quarry thus leased this year for making and splitting stone tiles as is certified at the account. And for 4d received from the increase of rent of a messuage with a nook of land with appurtenances called Stretelond and of a mound called Stretevalet leased to Roger Hawode and William his son for the term oftheir lift beyond 6s ofancient rent as apps by the court roll of the 12th year preceding.
Sum £8 9s 4d


Issues of the manor
From pannage of pigs there for the term of St Martin this year nothing because [it is] in the account of Ernewood when it occurs; and money by the sale of wood or timber there nothing because no sale occurred within the time of the account.
Sum nothing

Perquisites of the court
But he answers for 9s 10d received from the perquisites of all the courts held there this year as appears by the court rolls.
Sum 9s 10d

Sum of all the receipts with arrears £21 17s 11d

Defaults of rent
The same accounts in default of rent of a tenement formerly in the tenure of William White and afterwards of John Taillor who used to render 6s 4d a year to the then lord, whereof a profit of 20d was raised from John Swifte this year, and thus in decay of 4s 8d. And in default of rent of a close called ?Hollybush close formerly in the tenure of the vicar there who used to render 2s a year whereof 20d was raised from Richard Pounteney this year, and thus in decay of rent 4d.
Sum 5s

Expenses of the steward
And in expenses of the steward of the courts for holding the said courts this year as appears by the court rolls of this year 4s 8d.
Sum 5s

Repair of the manor
And in money assigned to Richard Nicolles, lessee of the manor and demesne land there in relief for part of the new construction of a hall and chamber there in all works by grant of the Receiver 46s 8d from arrears
Sum 46s 8d from the arrears.


Payment of money
And in money allowed to Peter Beaupie, receiver of the lord's money there by the hand of William Palmer, now reeve there from the arrears at the terms of the preceding year.

78s without a bill seen at the hand of John Crukeadam

60s and at the hand of John Hoten 13s
Sum 73s

Sum of the allowances and payments £6 9s 1d. And he owes £15 7s 10d to which is charged from the 20s from the fine of Geoffrey Jonys for various trespasses made by his wife by certificate of William Bridde at the account. And thus the sum of the debt against £16 7s 10d. From which is allowed to the said Accountant 20s from the fine of Geoffrey Jonys paid to the said receiver by bill. And he owes £15 7s 10d.

Further
Richard Pountney formerly reeve there 5s
Richard Palmer formerly reeve there l0s 11d
Ralph Low formerly reeve there £4 5s 4d
William Palmer reeve there, now accountant, with 36s 10d from the arrears with £89s 9d from the issue this year £10 6s 7d