Notice of Screniuood. By James Hardy. 551 



I am unable from the fragmentary notices to trace the regular 

 descent of the family. In the remains of the Placita of Eichard I, 

 from the 7th year and of King John in the 9th year, we have 

 the early history of the Bataills who owned both the Umfravilles 

 and the De Vescies as their superiors, revealed by a complaint 

 of Richard de Umfravill that Eustace de Vescy (1191-1216), had 

 seized the custody of the heir of Henry Bataill, which from the 

 land held from the Umfravills by the Bataills pertained right- 

 fully to him. He pleaded that his ancestor, Eobert with the 

 Beard, when Gilbert Batail, the ancestor of the heir, came with 

 the foresaid Eobert de Umfravill to the conquest of England, he 

 was infefted by Eobert with Fawdon and the moiety of Nettertun 

 (Netherton) to hold of him and his heirs by one knight's service. 

 This land he held for his life time, and Walter Batail his son 

 followed him, and then Henry Batail father of the heir, about 

 whom the dispute arose. We are not informed how this affair 

 terminated, but it was alleged on the other side that there was 

 no legal precedent for wardship in the instance of either Walter 

 or Heni'y, as they were of full age, and knighted before the 

 decease of their fathers. (Placitorum Abbreviatio in Hodgson's 

 Hist. Part iii. vol. i. p. 341). 



To this Henry Bataille and his widow, the following entries 

 maybe applicable: (1). 1204, 6 John, Henry Bataille renders 

 account of 100 merks and 2 palfreys for having patent letters of 

 the king that he should not be impleaded outside the shire of 

 Northumberland for any of his tenements within the county, 

 and that he should not be placed upon any assises or under 

 recognisance out of the shire. In the treasury 100 merks, and 

 10 merks for two palfreys. And he is quit. (Pipe EoUs, lb. 

 Part III. vol. III. p. 88). (2). 1207, 9 John. Oonstancia who 

 was the wife of Henry Bataille, rendered account of 1 merk for 

 having a writ for her reasonable dowry. She has paid into the 

 treasury and is quit. (Pipe EoUs, Ibid, p. 98). 



It will be obvious that William, son of Walter, is omitted in 

 the above summary of heirs, and it is also observable that Henry 

 is not called the son of Walter Batail ; perhaps William pre- 

 deceased his father. One William Bataille, who also held of 

 the Umframvills or TJmfraviUs, has left his name attached to 

 Battleshield on the Usway, which is called in a charter of Gilbert 

 de Umfravill to the Monks of Newminster, the ''logiam quondam 

 Willelmi Bataill," which John de Letelwell then held (Chart. 



