The Society’s MSS. Chiseldon, &c. 157 
widow by Anne Blake his sister. Presumably, too, the depositions 
of witnesses were taken as to the “custom of the manor.’ But in 
teresting. Whether at her then age, and for so small a stake, it 
was prudent of Mrs. Blake to embark upon the suit is questionable. 
To the righte honorable Thomas 
Lord Ellesmere Lord 
Chauncellor of England 
~ Inall humblenes complayninge sheweth unto your good Lordship your dayly 
atrix Anne Blake late wife of Nicholas Blake late of Bristoll gentleman 
deceased (one of the daughters of Ralph Calley gentleman late of Highway in 
the County of Wiltes now deceased) That whereas the abovesayd Ralph 
ley in his life tyme was lawfullye seised in his demesne as of fee, or fee 
le generall or especiall of and in the manor or lordship of Cleeveauncey 
his rightes members and appurtenaunces in the said countye of Wilteshire, 
in which mannor there are and tyme out of memory of man have ben 
se auncient messuages and copyhold and customarye landes tenementes 
hereditamentes which are and were devised and devisable by copy of 
roll accordinge to the custom of the sayd mannor unto any person or 
sons that will take the same for one, twoe, or three lyves in possession, or 
two lives in reversion of one Jife in possession And the sayd Ralph Calley 
soe thereof seised, and one Robert Jeffereye now deceased being there 
aunte by copy of courte roll, accordinge to the custome of the sayd 
mnor of Cleeveauncey of and in one copyhold messuage there, and of and 
one yarde lands and an halfe with thappurtenaunces, with all medowes 
tures, feedinges, commons and hereditaments customary to the same 
onginge He the said Ralph Calley in his life tyme, and in the life tyme 
the said Robert Jeffery did at a courte barron holden for the sayd manor 
Cleevauncey, at Cleeveeauncey afforesaid in or about the twoe and twentyeth 
of Apryll in the second and third yeares of the raigne of the late Kinge 
ippe and Queene Mary [1556] for the advauncement and preferment in 
liveinge of Suzan de Lyle beinge one of his daughters and of your said oratrix 
ne Blake another of his daughters by copy of courte roll accordinge to the 
tome of the sayd mannor sufficiently and lawfully graunte the sayd 
c pyhold messuage and premisses with all and singuler the appurtenances 
then in the tenure or occupation of the sayd.Robert Jeffery or his assignees 
unto the sayd Suzan de Lyle shee being then unmarried and unto your sayd 
oratrixe Anne his said daughters your said oratrix not then also beinge 
