Survey of the Forest of Wentwood 1271

On the Saturday next after the feast of St Michael, in the open court of Strogul, in the 55th year of the reign of King Henry, the son of King John, before William de Walston, then Steward of Strogul, there were presented those who ought to have housbote and heybote in Wentwood.

The Jury:

Who say upon the faith which the owe to their Lord that

  1. Sir William Bluet ought to have housbote and heybote to his house at Langston from the Conquest.
  2. Sir William Seymour to his house at Penhow from the Conquest.
  3. Sir Thomas de Huntley to his house at St. Brides by reason that he holdeth of the Lordship of Strogul.
  4. John Martill, Esq. in like manner to his house and lands at Llanvagues. They say also that the said John and his ancestors always had housbote and heybote at Lanvihangel, by reason that his ancestors have always been summoned and bound, [to attend the courts], and that his heirs of his successors after his death being found under age at Lanvihangel, although they hold not of the Earl, yet the Earl ought to have the marriage of such heir or heirs.
  5. Sir Robert Fitz Pain to his house at Lanvair from the Conquest.
  6. Roger de Wilcrick ought to have housbote and heybote to his house at Wilcrick from the conquest according to his tenement there.
  7. Sir Roger Seymour ought to have housbote and heybote to his house in Undy for half a fish pool in Magor of the fee of Undy. And the said Roger ought to have housbote and heybote to his house in Magor near the East Common, called the Little Common, on one side, and abutting upon the way from Aberwaitha towards Wentwood, by reason that John Rose held it to him and his heirs for ever.
  8. Sir Bartholemew De la More and his tenants ought to have housbote and heybote at Undy, and at the west end of Undy, in like manner by charter, but at the Moor nothing but by favour.
  9. Robert De la More ought to have housbote and heybote to his house at Porteston by charter.
  10. William Durand in like manner to his house at Redwick by charter.
  11. Sir Richard De la More in like manner to his house at Pencoyd by charter.
  12. Robert Gamage and his ancestors have always had housbote and heybote to his house at Rogeat, which used to be [held] of  the Lordships of Strogul, but how the ancestors of the said Robert were enfeoffed therein to have housbote and heybote, they are altogether ignorant.
  13. The heirs of Robert Pykotts ought to have housbote and heybote to their house at Ifton from the Conquest.  
  14. Matthew Deneband in the same way to his house at Portskewet.
  15. Sir Bogo de de Knovill in the same way to his house at Mathern.
  16. John de Southbrook in like manner to his house at Southbrook.
  17. Sir William Denford to his house at Crick. His father was first enfeoffed in the tenement at Crick by the old Marshall by charter, as his lawful inheritance; and his said father in his time, and the said William ever since the said feofment have had housbote and heybote as of right from the conquest.
  18. Adam de Walens de Dynam ought to have housbote and heybote to his house there from the conquest.
  19. William Lake and his ancestors who first held the tenement of St. Arvans had that tenement in exchange, and the jury say that the father of the said William and himself have had housbote and heybote; but whether they ought to have it of right, or not, they are ignorant, as they know not the form of their charter.
  20. Sir William de Bendeville ought to have housbote and heybote to his house at Itton from the conquest.
  21. Dame Alice de Low, mother of Nicholas Wolf and John Wolf, had housbote and heybote at Wolvesnewton; and the said Nicholas, who holds a moiety of the said tenement, and John, who holds the other moiety by foeffment of their mother aforesaid, have both taken housbote and heybote, when by custom only one of them should take them.
  22. Knayth ap Adam, and Blethyn Sais ought to have housbote and heybote to their house at Henrew from the conquest, according to the quantity of their tenements, but no others in Henrew ought to have housbote and heybote.
  23. The father of Philip Champeneys was first seized of Little Tintern, but they are ignorant of the manner of the feoffment, and whether he ought to have housbote and heybote or not.
  24. The tenants of the fee of Kemeys ought to have housbote and heybote to their house at Kemeys from the conquest.
  25. The Prior of Strogul in like manner from the conquest.
  26. The Abbot of Tintern ought to have housbote and heybote to his Abbey of Tintern and all his granges by charter.
  27. The Prior of St. Kinsmarks ought to have housbote and heybote to St. Kinsmarks.
  28. Item, they say that no Rector of any church in Netherwent ought to have housbote and heybote, except the Rector of Caerwent, who ought to have them, because he brings, or causeth to be brought, text to every court at Strogul.
  29. Item, that if anyone, who of right has housbote and heybote, sells any part thereof, or confers it upon another, from henceforth he and his heirs shall forfeir their common of housbote and heybote for ever .... nevertheless...
  30. Item, they say that not one of those who bought land of the steward and bailiffs of Strogul, although they have charters from the Earl, ought to have housbote and heybote, unless it be specially put in their charters that they ought to have housbote and heybote.

Source: O. Morgan and T. Wakeman, Notes on Wentwood, Castle Troggy and Llanvair Castle (1863), pp. 40-45. The authors collated this version from a copy in the original Latin and three English translations.