Scope and Content
p.1. The answer of William Clerke to the bill of complaint of Joan Scroggs
p.4. The replication of Joan Scroggs, widow, complainant, to the answer of William Clarke, defendant
p 6. The rejoinder of William Clarke, gentleman, defendant, to the replication of Joan Scroggs, widow, complainant
p.7. Depositions at Bedford before Henry Dive, esquire, Thomas Dive, John Colbecke, William Bridges and Robert Hatley, gentleman, by commission from the Court of Wards and Liveries, 26 March:-
William Storer of Renhold, servant to plaintiff
Robert Joye of Renhold, labourer
p.9. Hugh Bayllye of Renhold, carpenter
p.10. Richard Scroggs of Renhold, gentleman
p.11. John Rands of Felmersham, gentleman
p.13. John Hoggeskyne of Renhold, yeoman
p.14. William Okeham of Renhold, husbandman
William Tyby of Renhold, servant to defendant
p.15-18. Interregatories on behalf of Joan Scroggs
p.19-21 Examination of William Clerke 29 June 1576
p.22-3 "Clark's bill for the receipt of his evidence back again" 7 July 1576:
release of title of Renhold parsonage from John Rands (?) 1547
award between John Raines and William Clerke for above, 1547
2 bonds for keeping award 1547
2 obligations by Clerke to Rawnes for payments under award, 1547
bargain and sale of Renhold parsonage from Raunes to Richard Bishoppe, 1539
release from Bishoppe to Clerke, 1537
release from Haselden to gentleman, to William Clerke of the "chauntry lond", 10 March 1546
will of William Clercke, 14 November 1550
Witnesses to re-delivery: William Clerke, Hugh Broker, Richard Rigbye, 7 July 1576
p.24 Release from Haselden to William Clercke of the chantry land, 1546;
… lands and tenements in Renhold called "les chauntry londs" which he late had by demise from Sir John Gascoigne for a term of years
Witnesses: Thomas Stringer, clerk; William Berd; William Dix; William Gale; Walter Dennis; George Manningham, Thomas Knyght, John Gifford
p.25 "The effecte of the case … between Joan Scroggs, committee of Oliver Scroggs, the queen's ward, plaintiff, and William Clerke, defendant, doth depend … in the Court of Wards as followeth:-
Alexander Scroggs, father of Oliver was seised in fee of Renhold parsonage and ground called the chantry lands, chantry closes, and Addingraves. At his death they descended to Oliver. William Clercke claimed to have a lease, and committed great spoil. Joan exhibited a bill against this in the Court of Wards. Defendant said that Thomas Rands had a lease from the prior of Newnham 1536/7 for 99 years, and on his death the lease came to his executor, John Rande, who sold it to William Clercke, father of the defendant, who devised it to his son. As to the chantry lands and closes and Addingraves, Sir John Gostwick was seised of them, and demised them 2 June 1541 to William Clercke senior for 40 years, and Clercke devised to his son
p.26 Plaintiff says defendant has committed waste by cutting 9 score trees; though she admits the prior's lease, she claims that Thomas Raunds sold it in his lifetime to Richard Bishoppe, who released it to William Clercke senior
p.27 Summarises Joan Scroggs' case:
defendant alleges 99 year lease from prior John [Ashwell?] of Newnham, of Renhold parsonage to Thomas Rands, which came to John Rands; other lands sold after Dissolution by Henry VIII to Sir John Gostwick who leased them to defendant's father for 41 years
p.28 Claims that "the old lease of the rectory made by the prior is drowned in the last lease made by Mr Gostwicke"
p.29-32 References from many particular points to the depositions of various witnesses