C1/1405/12

Robert Ballarde c. Nicholas Ballarde

[Document is damaged making reading it a problem in parts]

Bill of Complaint of Robert Ballarde,

No date,

Clement Ballarde, his father, was lawfully seized of a desmesne in the Manor of Horton near Chartham and Sabbyington in the County of Kent, and of 1000 acres of land, meadows, pasture and wood with appurtenances in Chartham and Petham in Kent. The lands were entailed by a deed of 1 June [date obliterated] for the use of Clement Ballard and Mary, his wife and their male heirs. After Clement’s death, Mary took possession of the lands [?4 February 1535/6]. She later died and the lands were passed to Nicholas Ballard as son and heir. Nicholas has no lawful male issue, as yet and thus the land should descend to your complainant, as brother of Nicholas. But Nicholas ‘by subtelty and craft counsell of divers and sundry evil disposed persons” used means to “cut off and take away the said entail and to take the benefit thereof from your [complainant]”. Thus defying the mind and will of his father, Clement. Asks that Nicholas be called to answer these charges.