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JOHN BERTELOT

1186 Writ de idiota inquirenda. ‡ 6 March 1405 [Gaunstede]. The king accepting that John is an idiot, and has alienated a great part of his lands and tenements, and dissipated a great part of his goods and chattels, orders inquiry by personal examination and by a jury regarding: whether he is an idiot; whether he has been from birth or another time; whether he has lucid intervals; what lands if any he has alienated in a state of idiocy and to whom, and what lands remain to him; of whom all these lands are held and by what services, and their value; and the identity and age of his heir.

HERTFORDSHIRE. Inquisition. Hitchin. 19 May. [Leget].

Jurors: William Legat ; John Mussell ; Richard Chaundeler ; Geoffrey Catelyn ; William Cok; Thomas Northe ; John Briddesthorne ; Walter Hole ; Luke Coterell ; Thomas Hundirder; Peter Mabon ; and John Frankeleyn .

He was an idiot from birth, incapable of adminstering his property. He held in St. Albans by right of inheritance: One messuage called ‘Bertelottestenement’ between the tenement of William Jolyf on one side and a messuage of the abbot of St. Albans on the other, annual value 20s. Two shops in ‘Heyrowe’ between the tenements of Adam Stonham and the prioress of Sopwell , annual value 9d. One messuage and 3 a. in Holywell Hill by ‘Fullyngwelle Lane’ between the lands of the abbot on both sides, annual value 12d. The 3 a. are in the field called ‘Malebranchefeld’ in St. Peter’s parish, extending from the king’s highway to the field formerly of John Randulf , between the land of Richard Wellyng and John Faunton , and are held of the abbot of St. Albans and the prioress of Sopwell , service unknown. All descended to him after the death of Margaret wife of Robert Whight , as next heir of William Bertelot , his grandfather.

Robert died on 10 Aug. 1402 . Joan wife of Alexander Smith , sister of John Bertelot , his next heir, is aged 50 years and more.

C 137/51/57 mm. 1-2

ENHANCEMENT OF TEXT: The text of this IPM which appeared in the print edition of CIPM XVIII has been enhanced in certain respects: see the About pages.

Richard Wallyngford and Roger Bryde , fuller of St. Albans, have held them since 10 Aug. 1402 , title unknown. Geoffrey Felyngdon, chaplain of St. Albans , on 20 April last , after the messuage was taken into the king’s hands by the escheator, knocked down, took and carried off from the messuage, without the king’s licence and to the king’s annual loss of 10s., a building made for John Bertelot worth 30s.

C 137/51/57 mm. 1-2

ENHANCEMENT OF TEXT: The text of this IPM which appeared in the print edition of CIPM XVIII has been enhanced in certain respects: see the About pages.