Windleshaw Chantry in court papers 1500s

Extracts in this (the third) volume of the * Pleadings and Depositions relate to the period between i Edward VI. and 5 and 6 Philip and Mary, i.e, from A.D. 1547 to 1558. 

IN THE DUCHY COURT. 1 29

Sir Thomas Gerrarde, Knight, versus John Caryll, Attorney General of the Duchy, re Claim to Exemption FROM Rent and for Support of a Priest AT Windle Chapel, 

To the Right Honorable Sir John Gates, Knight. SIR Thomas Gerrarde, Knight, complains that where he is Vol. xxix. lawfully seised in his demesne as of fee, as of his awn [Ca^ndar;.] proper inheritance, of divers messuages, lands, and tenements 6 Edward VI. within Wyndell [Windle], in the county of Lancaster, and where also plaintiff has been used to keep one chaplain or priest to serve in his own house, and also sometimes to say divine service in plaintiff's chapel, called Wyndell [Windle] Chapel,* standing within his park called Wyndell Parke, within the said county, for the ease of plaintiff's tenants dwelling near thereabouts ; and to the said priest or chaplain plaintiff has sometimes . given yearly jQ/^ and sometimes less for his wages, at his will and pleasure

: And now so it is that now of late since the making of the late " estatute " for the dissolution of colleges and chantries there has been a certificate made into this court that there was a yearly rent of £^ going out of plaintiff's lands and tenements in Wyndill [Windle] for the maintenance of a priest within the said chapel, to have continuance for ever : which said certificate is in every article very untrue, forasmuch as there was never any lawful con- veyance made of any such rent of £^ yearly for the maintenance of a priest. Plaintiff is ready to " averre " and prove that all the said premises are and ought to be discharged of the supposed rent of ;f 4, and that there never was any such rent paid, and that there is not any ^^ good matter of recorde " other than the said certificate to prove that there ever was any such rent. Prays that examination may now be made of the said certifi- cate and the "verrye" cause thereof, whether there be any good matter to maintain the same to be true or not, and thereupon to take such order with plaintiff in the matter as shall be consonant with equity and conscience. ' Afterwards known as Windleshaw ChapeL l$t> 

LANCASHIRE PLEADINGS The answer of John Caryll, Esq., Attorney General The said John Caryll says that there is a good certificate remaining in this court, whereby it is certified for the King that there has been and is a yearly rent of £4 going out of the lands and tenements of Sir Thomas Gerratde, in Wyndyll [VVindle], for the maintenance of a priest to have continuance for ever within the Chapel of Wyndill [Windle] : which rent was always so used wiihin live years next before the making of the said "eslatnte," whereby the King is now entitled to the said rent, without that that the said rent has been paid by the ances- tors of the said Sir Thomas Gerrard to a priest, at their will and ■ pleasure, &c,, &c.