C1/1231/12-14
Thomas
Harlakenden and Margaret, his wife, executrix of William Draper of East
Greenwich v. Nicholas Ballard
1231/12
Bill
of Complaint of Thomas Harlakenden of Woodchurch in the County of Kent and of
Margaret, executrix of William Draper of East Greenwich, Kent.
No
date
That
one John, Abbott of the late monastery of the Blessed Lady of Keynsham in
Somerset had in his desmesne the parsonage of Eltham in Kent. In 1486 he granted
a parcel of the parsonage to Richard Chock, John Chock and John Smyth. The grant
consisted of the mansion house with all the lands, rents, meadows, pastures,
emoluments etc. to be held by the said three men and their heirs and assigns
from Easter next until the end of the indenture which was for 90 years. Richard
Chock and John Smyth died, leaving John Chock possessed of the whole premises
who granted them to William Draper. The executors of the latter were Margaret
Harlakenden and Robert Draper (now deceased). William Draper died in London on
22 March 1538. After this, Nicholas Ballard unlawfully entered into a messuage
in East Greenwich, belonging to William Draper at the time of his death. He also
took an indenture relating to these premises. Now the right of William Draper
and his executrix to these premises is being denied by Nicholas. John Choke died
on 8 September last. Nicholas has been asked many times to send the indenture of
the lease made between William Draper and John Chock for the messuage but he has
refused. Since they do not know the name of the abbott who originally granted
the land and other relevant details, they cannot proceed in Common Law, so they
ask that the defendant be subpoenaed to appear before the Court of Chancery.
1231/13
Answer
of Nicholas Ballard to the ‘insufficient’ bill of complaint of Thomas
Harlakinden and Margaret, his wife,
No
date,
That
one Sir Roger [blank space in the document], late Vicar of Eltham, perceiving
the revenues and profits of the said vicarage not to be sufficient for a
priest’s living, shortly after the death of William Draper, he made surety
with the late King (Henry VIII) with the support of his friends, to unite the
parsonage of Eltham (part of the
late monastery of Keynsham) with his vicarage to the intent of making it a
better living. The vicar was informed by his counsel that the friends who were
supporting him, would need to be informed of the yearly value of the parsonage,
otherwise he would not success in his suit. The vicar, knowing that Nicholas
Ballard had at his house in Eltham[1],
certain writings concerning both the vicarage and the parsonage, requested these
documents from Ballard, he being a special friend. Ballard, nine or ten years
ago[2],
delivered a box containing the documents to the vicar’s counsel. Does not know
whether these were passed on to the vicar. Denies that he entered into the
messuage at East Greenwich illegally.
1231/14
The
Replication of Thomas Harlakenden to the answers of Nicholas Ballard,
No
date,
That
the answers are ‘nothing to the purpose’ and are insufficient. However, he
notes that Nicholas has confessed to taking away the documents.
[see
also C1/951/1-2]