Court of Wards (PRO WARD13/79 Countess of Oxford etc v: Hen Coppinger etc)

4.2.1605 (Monday 4 February 1605)

document 20000408

the joint and several answers of Rich Harlakenden esq and Thos Harlakenden gentleman to the information of sir Thos Hesketh knight attorney for the king's majesties court of wards and liveries 4.2.1605 the said defendants by protestation not confessing or acknowledging anything in the said information material or effectual for these defendants or either of them to answer unto to be true in such manner and form as the same is and by the same information set forth and alleged and saving themselves now and at all times hereafter advantages etc they say and first the said Rich Harlakenden for himself saith that he hath in his possession or custody one counterpart of an indenture of lease which came to the said defendant's hands bearing date =.10.25Eliz1 made between the right honourable Edw de Vere late earl of Oxenford deceased in the said information mentioned of the one part and one Nich Lambert of Henningham Sible in the county of Essex yeoman of the other part containing a demise of a certain portion of tithes renewing and issuing and growing out of the manor of Bloyes and Graveshales in Henningham Sible aforesaid and also the counterpart of another indenture of lease made between the said late earl of the one part and the said Nich Lambert of the other part bearing date 30.1.23Eliz1 containing also a demise of the said portion of tithes in Henningham Sible aforesaid and also one other roll or writing in parchment without date containing a terrier of the lands liable to the said portion of tithes in Aldham in the said county of Essex in the said information also mentioned as by the said roll and counterparts of indenture doth and may appear all this this defendant always has been ever since they came to his knowledge and possession and yet still is ready to deliver over as this most honourable court shall think meet and convenient but as touching that having any other evidences touching or concerning any the messuages lands tenements portions of tithes pensions rents annuities and hereditaments in the said information mentioned other than such writings charters muniments and evidences which this defendant in his answer hath formerly particularly mentioned and other than such evidences concerning some rents parcel of the manor of Colne Priory lying in divers of the parishes in the said information mentioned and this defendant saith that to his knowledge he hath not either in his own possession or custody or in the possession or custody of any other by his bailment or deliverance any such ledger books rentals terriers surveys registers writings or muniments as in the said information are set forth and declared and as touching the said rents parcel of the said manor of Colne Priory this defendant saith that he is lawfully seised of an estate of inheritance of and of and in the said manor of Colne Priory by good and lawful conveyance and assurance in the law and of divers charters writings muniments and evidences touching and concerning the said manor lan ds and rents parcel of the said manor which this defendant doth detain and keep as he hopeth it is lawful for him so to do for the maintenance of his just and lawful title to the same and the said defendant Thos Harlakenden doth for himself disclaim to have anything to do with any of the portions of tithes rents annuities pensions lands tenements or hereditaments mentioned in the said information and also doth himself doth deny that he hath to his knowledge either in his possession or custody or in the possession or custody of any other by his bailment or delivery knowledge privity or content any evidences ledger books rents registers escripts muniments or writings touching or concerning any grants pensions portions of tithes messuages lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever mentioned in the said information for this defendant hath not nor challengeth to have anything to do with any lands tenements or hereditaments whatsoever which were parcel of the possessions of the right honourable Edw de Vere earl of Oxford deceased save only certain parcels of the demesne of the manor of Earls Colne which were by good and lawful conveyance and assurance in the law conveyed and assigned unto this defendant by Roger Harlakenden deceased this defendant's father without that that any of the said portions of tithes lands tenements and hereditaments mentioned in the said information were ever to the knowledge of these defendants or either of them leased or occupied by the said defendants or either of them and without that that any of the said rents annuities pensions or portions of tithes mentioned in the said information other than such rents which are parcel of the said manor of Colne Priory were ever to the knowledge of these defendants received or taken by the said defendants or either of them or by any other to their or either of their uses or by their appointments and without that that these defendants or either of them have made or contrive to any person or persons whatsoever any secret estate or estates of any of the said messuages lands and tenements portions of tithes pensions rents annuities or hereditaments in the said in formation mentioned and without that that these defendants or either of the m were ever party or privy to the purloining or embezzling of any of the evidences muniments or writings mentioned in the said information or any were by any of the said earl's officers embezzled or purloined as in the said information is set forth and alleged and without that that these defendants do know or are privy out of what lands and tenements the said portions of tithes rents annuities pensions or other hereditaments in the said information mentioned are issuing and going and who of right ought to pay and discharge the same and without that that these defendants or either of them ever received or took to his or their own use or behoof the revenues or profits of the said lands or tenements mentioned in the said information or ever had anything to do therewith and without that that any other matter or thing in the said information etc copied 12.2.1605