Notices of Heathpool. By James Hardy. 399 



at Heathpool. In 1262, 46 Henry III., Adam de Gesemue being sheriff ; 

 for unjust detention, whatever that signifies, Eva, who was the wife of 

 Stephen de Hecpol, was fined half a mark, which fine she does not pay 

 till after several applications in 1272.* It is possible that Stephen de 

 Hecpol, was Stephen de Coupland of the ' : Testa," a free land-holder by 

 military service. In 1271, 55 Henry III., when Wischard de Charrtm was 

 sheriff, William Heron, previously sheriff, remains indebted for 

 £6 14s. 8d., which he received from the land of Robert de Hecpol, who 

 was hanged ; and 33s. 4d. for fine of a year and waste of the land of the 

 said Robert.f This punishment might be for a murder, which entitled 

 the King " to his year and a day," and then the land may have reverted to 

 the oldest male heir, according to the Kentish adage, — 

 " Father to the bough, 

 Son to the plough." 



This might be the same John de Hetpol of 1254, whose services were of 

 the fixed value of 16d. annually, or a descendant, for that date was 

 seventeen years bygone. 



On May 16th, 1291, the homage of Muriella, wife of William late Earl of 

 Mar, and daughter and heiress of the deceased Margery, Countess of 

 Stratherne, daughter of Robert de Muschampe, was ordered to be taken. 

 Edward I. signs the writ himself, being then at Norham.* She only 

 survived a few months her accession to her hereditary demesnes. The 

 inquisition post Mortem was held at Wooler, before Thomas de 

 Norman ville, Nov. 23, 1291. The writ of Diem clausit extremum is dated 

 at Worcester, 12th Nov., 19 Edw. 1. The vill of Hetpole paid by the year 

 of rent of assise, i.e., the rent of the Freeholders and ancient Copy 

 holders, 109 shillings. || The jurors declared that Maria, the wife of 

 Nicholas de Graham, sister of Muriella, was her nearest heir, and was of 

 the age of 40 and more. The sheriff, after reckoning for half a year's 

 income of her land delivered it by writ 20 Jan. 1292, to Nicholas de 

 Graham and Maria his wife. Hetpole is written "Hokepol."§ 



In 1292, by a plea " de Quo Warranto " before H. de Cressingham and 

 his associate Justices at Newcastle-on-Tyne, "in crastinis Sci Hillarie," 

 21, Edw. I., Nicholas de Grame being summoned to show by what warrant 

 he claimed to have the amendment of the assise of beer broken (malt) in 

 Beleford, Lowyk, Wesingham, (Easington), Hethepol and Hedirslaw, 

 without licence and will of the King, proved an uninterrupted usage by 

 him and his ancestors.^" 



Two inquisitions were held on the death of Nicholas de Graham, taken 

 under mandates dated respectively, 4th April and 4th May, 1306, 34 Edw. I. 



*Mag. Rot. Pip., cols. 264 etc., to 296 (Hodgson, Part III.) 



t Id., col. 292. 



X Stevenson's Historical Documents, Scotland, II., p. 229. 



|| Ibid, p. 258. 



§ lb., p. 230. 



1 Ford Tithe Case, Printed, p. 224. 



