The following notes summarise proceedings in the Court of Chancery in the 15th century
Early Chancery proceedings C1/17/7
as C1/16/214 or 49 HenryVI – 20-22 Edward IV 1470 – 1483
The Answer of John Grove to the bill of Sir William Okeborne.
That the said William had alleged that this defendant “by undue means of malice and against all conscience dayly vexeth and troubleth him” by diverse suits in the County of Middlesex.
In reply to him the defendant answered that “an action of conspiracy the which is yet hanging in the King’s Court at Westminster” before the justices of the King’s Bench between Richard Hounford of Elmyngdon in the County of Warwick clerk against the said John Grove and others for the part of the said Richard maintained for the which maintenance the said John Grove and others sueth the said William Okeborne in the said Shire of Middlesex as he hath cause and as leave will without that he dayly vexeth and troubleth him by undue means of malice “as William alleged in his bill.
He denied everything in the bill and said “it is untrue and that he is in no point thereof guilty.
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Early Chancery proceedings C1/16/214
8 Henry IV – 35 Henry VI 1406 – 1457
John Grove, Thomas Bele and Sir Gerard Snarr, priest
William Okebourne clerk, parson of Saint Anselms atte Poulesgate of London
On St Andrews day last the defendant said he will undo utterly your said supplicant and spend on him XI m [£40]
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Early Chancery proceedings C1/31/24
Edward IV – 1403/4 – seems an error with this date – should be after 1461
Richard Warla of Wilton, Wilts farmer
John Okeburn Prior of St John’s Wilton
The Mayor and Bailiffs of Wilton [Wiltshire]
That the said prior owed Sir Thomas Bishop priest 13s 4d but the prior is now taken prisoner by yonde see [beyond the sea – i.e. in a foreign country ?] in going toward Rome. And the said Richard Bishop had commenced an action of debt before the Mayor and Bailiffs of Wilton and “the said mayor being favourable unto the said Sir Thomas and judge of that court would condemn him in the said sum.