‹ E-CIPM 19-999: WILLIAM DE BOTREAUX ›

William son and heir of William de Botreaux, knight , and of Elizabeth his wife, was born at the manor of Walton in the parish of Kilmersdon on 20 Feb. 1390 , and was 21 on 20 Feb. last. The jurors know this for the following reasons:

John Pederton , aged 54 years and more, was in the church to hear mass and saw him raised from the font.

Richard Virgo , 50: on the morrow of the baptism John his brother set out for the Holy Land and died on the journey.

John Babyngton and Richard Champeneys , each 52, carried two flagons of red wine to the church and all the bystanders drank after the baptism.

Walter Silfayn , 58, carried 4 silver cups to the church from which the bystanders drank.

William Asshelegh and William Orum , each 56, on that day were in the hall of William de Botreaux in the manor of Walton for business with the lord and saw William in the arms of various women being carried from the chamber to the hall and hence to the church with unlit torches.

Benet Chaumberleyn, 51, on the morrow of the baptism bought a black horse from William Ryngwode for 10 marks and sold it next day to Richard Rose for 20 marks.

William Stedeman and Nicholas atte Boure , each 53, were sitting on chairs in the church, fell asleep and were left sleeping; the clerk of the church, not noticing, shut the door. They were left there until the third hour after noon.

John Blakhous and William Neel , each 55, set out on the day after the baptism on pilgrimage to St. Thomas of Canterbury.

The escheator informed Elizabeth the widow and other guardians of the manors, lands and tenements of William de Botreaux of the day and place of the proof. They did not come.