Page 57 - 3rdPub1

The Blaker Society © Sussex

John prior of the monastery of St Pancras of Lewys by his attorney appeared for the fourth
day against Richard Blaker late of Preston in the county aforesaid yoman in a plea that he
render him £10 which he owes him and unjustly detains &c. And (the defendant) has not
come; and it had been ordered the sheriff to summon him &c.; and the sheriff now reports
that (the defendant) has nothing (in lands of chattels by which he might be attached) &c.;
therefore let him be taken, to be here in three weeks from Easter &c.; on which day the
sheriff did not send the writ; therefore, as before, let him be taken, to be here on the octaves
of Trinity; on which day the sheriff did not send the writ &c.; therefore, as many times, let
him be taken, to be here on the octaves of Martinmas &c.

The fact that Richard Blaker yeoman is described as ‘late of Preston’ does
not indicate that he had removed from the parish: it was a common device in
preparing a writ to describe the defendant as ‘late of’ to guard against exception
being taken to the wording, it only being necessary to prove that the defendant
once resided there. Caley’s Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. 5, p. 7 n., lists among
the extensive former holdings of the priory in Sussex granted in 1537 to Lord
Cromwell, messuages in the parishes of:

Lewes, Southover, Kyngeston juxta Lewes, Wongnam, Hamsay, Newike, Rotyngden,
Falmer, Boromer, Peccham, Cheley, Dychenyng, Twynham, Bolney, Slaugham,
Chiltyngdon, Herst Perpound, Berwynt, Balneth, Lynfeld, Fletchyng, Horsted Parva,
Altyngworth, Portyslade, Aldington, Bryghtehelmeston, Hove, Imberhorne, Estgrensted,
Westhotheley, Horsted Caynes, Langney, Westham, Pevensey, Wyllyngdon, Estborne,
Borham, Hethefelde, Soyngden, Sutton, Seeford, Nytymber, Wantley, Goryng, Pedynghoo,
Cookefeld, Hangylton, Ekyngton, Rype, Bletchyngton, Clayton, Pycomb, Mechyng,
Waldern, Balcomb, Erchyngley, Torring, Preston, Bedyngton, Berecomb, Berynden,
Westmeston, Walland sub Castro, Twynham, Southberwyke, Benhover, Shotenbere,
Perchyng, Plumton, Mullescomb, Ballysden, Radmell, Northes, Ludershale, Bygner,
Medlers, Compton, Upm’den, Midlavant, Stedham, Weysbett, Tollyngton, Cottys, Ipyng, et
Boxgrave in com. Sussex

The priory holding land in Preston points us strongly to locate the priory rentals
or court books for the period in question. If the Blakers held land from the
priory, these records could enable us to establish the descent.
There are surviving lay subsidy returns for Lewes rape from 1524 and
5
1525:

Public Record Office E 179/189/119 - 1524; E 179/189/162 - 1525
Indenture dated 6 April 15 Henry 8 (1524) by Richard Covert Sqvyer, Richard Bellingeham, George Gifford,
Nicholas Gaynesford, John Michell, Richard Shelley and Thomas Michell, commissioners. John Bird of
Perching’ and John Alchorn, high collectors.
‘Sum of the hoole Subsidie within the Rape of Lewes - cccxij.li. xijs.vjd., whereof payed by anticipation -
xiij.li.’
Endorsed ‘Per manum Ricardi Covert infrascripti quinto die Julii xvj Regis H. viij.’
6

5 Printed Sussex Record Society lvi, 1956, Lewes
6 by the hands of Richard Covert within-written on the 5th day of July in 16th of king Henry VIII [1524].