IN obedience to your severall Orders of the 11 of September, 30 of October, and 25 of February 1651. upon the Petition of Tristram Wodward Esquire, who layes claim out of the Estate of Thomas Earl of Cleveland, to the Mannors of Tud­dington, Harlington and Tyngrith in the County of Bedford:

I have examined and finde,

That by the copy of an Office taken 35 of Eliz. after the death of Henry late Lord Cheyne, it appeareth that the Mannors of Tuddington, Harlington and Tyn­grith in the County of Bedford, were the Inheritance of the said Lord Cheyne, by discent from Anne Brough­ton his Mother: And it appeareth that in the 6 year of Queen Elizabeth, the Lord Cheyne did suffer a Com­mon Recovery of the said Mannors, to the use of the Lord Cheyne and Jane his Wise for their lives, the Remainder to the Heirs of the body of the Lord Chey­ne, Remainder in Fee to the said Jane.

And in Trinity Tearm 13 of Elizabeth, the said Henry Cheyne, then Sir Henry Cheyne Knight, and Dame Jane his Wife, did suffer a new Recovery of the said Mannors and Land, and by their Tripartite Deed da­ted the 2 of April the 13 of Elizabeth, limit the use to Sir Henry Cheyne and Dame Jane Cheyne and the heirs males of Sir Henry on the body of the Lady Jane, Re­mainder to the heirs males of the body of Sir Henry Cheyne, Remainder to the heirs of the body of the said Lord Cheyne on the body of the said Lady Jane, Re­mainder to the heirs of the body of the said Lord Cheyne, and for default of such Issue, to the use of such Person and Persons, and for such Estate and Estates as the said Dame Jane surviving the said Sir Henry Chey­ne at any time during her life shall dispose or appoint, by any writing subscribed with her hand and sealed with her Seal: and for default of such Issue and dispo­sition and appointment, and after the expiration of such disposition or appointment, then to the use of the said Sir Henry Cheyne his heirs and assignes for ever absolutely without any Condition.

And I finde by the Answer upon Oath of Thomas [Page 3] Earl of Cleveland, and Sir John Crofts 12 Jacob. to an Information in the Court of Wards, at the relation of Thomas Cheyne Esq the next heir of Henry Lord Chey­ne by three Inquisitions, that the said Lord Cheyne did cause his wife to joyn with him in a new Recovery 13 Eliz. to the use of the Lord Cheyne and Jane his wife, and to the heirs males of the body of the Lord Cheyne upon the body of the said Jane lawfully com­ing, the Remainder to the heirs males of the body of the Lord Cheyne, the Remainder to the heirs of the body of the Lord Cheyne upon the body of the said Jane, the Remainder to the heirs of the body of the Lord Cheyne, the Remainder to such person and per­sons, and for such estate and estates as the said Jane surviving the Lord Cheyne, at any time during her life shall dispose or appoint, by any writing subscribed with her hand and sealed with her Seal, as by a Co­py of the said Answer deposed by George Becke Gent. to be a true Copy of the Originall appeareth.

And it is deposed in Chancery, that upon a Refe­rence from the Parliament to Justice Reeve and Ju­stice Foster, the Earl by his Councell and Sollicitor, did produce the other part of the said Deed of 13 Eliz. which limited the Fee-simple of all the Mannors, for want of Issue of the Lord Cheyne and such disposition of his wife, and after the expiration of such disposi­tion to remain to the Lord Cheyne and his heirs and assignes for ever absolutely and without any Condi­tion, as by a Copy of the Depositions of John Cook and Richard Wallopp Esquires, deposed by George Becke Gent. to be a true Copy of the Originall appeareth.

And it appeareth by the Copy of a part of the Will of the said Jane Lady Cheyne, examined by the Re­cord, [Page 4] and deposed by the said George Becke, to be a true Copy of so much of the said Will: That the 10 Jacob. she made a Lease for 30 years of the aforesaid Man­nors, to Sir John Crofts and Dame Mary his wife, to begin from the death of the said Lady Jane: And it appeareth by a Memorandum in the foot of the same Will upon Record, she died the 16 of April 1 [...] Jacob. whereby the said Lease ended the 16 of April 1644.

And I finde that by Indenture dated the 12 Martij 11 Jacob. made between Thomas Cheyne Cozen and next heir to the said Henry Lord Cheyne and Tristram Wodward the Petitioner and Ellen his wife, one of the daughters of Sir Edmund Pelham of the one part, and Sir Thomas Pelham Knight and Baronet, Sir John Hungerford Knight, Sir John Wodward Knight, An­thony Dyott, Herbert Pelham Son and heir of the said Sir Edmund Pelham, William Cobbs Esq and John Coddrington Gent. of the other part, Reciting; That whereas the said Thomas Cheyne by Deed of Bargain and Sale inrolled in Chancery, dated 17 Novemb. 6 Jacob. for the consideration of divers Lands, Tene­ments and Leases for years, amounting to the value of 10000 pound, which were purchased with the mo­ney and goods of the Grandmother and Grandfather of the said Tristram Wodward, and meant and intended for the Portions and advancement of Joan the Mo­ther of the said Tristram, and conveyed away from her unto Elizabeth Cheyne the wife of the said Thomas Cheyne and sister of the said Joan, and the money thereof spent in the great Suits of the said Thomas Cheyne, for the obteyning of the Lands wrongfully sold away from the said Thomas Cheyne by the said Henry Lord Cheyne, which Lands of the said Eliza­beth [Page 5] Cheyne, or so much in value was meant by the said Thomas Cheyne and Elizabeth his wife, after the death of the said Elizabeth without Issue, or after the death of the said Henry Lord Cheyne without Issue, to remain unto Joan the said sister of the said Eliza­beth Cheyne, and mother of the said Tristram. And for divers other good Considerations in the said Deed exprest, hath given, granted, bargained and sold unto the said Tristram Wodward and his heirs, the Mannors of Tuddington, Chalgrave, Harlington and Tyngrith, and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and Re­mainders thereof, and of all other the Lands, Tene­ments and Hereditaments of the said Thomas Cheyne, whereof the said Henry Lord Cheyne died seized in the said County of Bedford, after the death of the Lady Cheyne wife of the Lord Henry Cheyne, which lawfully descended and of right ought to come unto Thomas Cheyne, as Cozen and next heir to the said Henry Lord Cheyne, and whereof the said Thomas Cheyne by Inqui­sition after the death of the said Lord Cheyne, is found to be Cozen and next heir to the said Lord Cheyne, as by a Copy of the said Inquisition deposed by the said George Becke to be a true Copie of the Originall to me likewise appeareth.

Now the said Thomas Cheyne and Tristram Wodward, as well in consideration of divers summes of Money paid by the said Herbert Pelham to the said Tristram Wodward, in marriage with the said Ellen his wife, sister of the said Herbert Pelham, and in consideration of the said marriage had between the said Tristram and the said Ellen, the daughter of the said Sir Edmund Pel­ham and Ellen Lady Pelham her mother, Cozen of the whole blood to the said Henry Lord Cheyne and to the [Page 6] said Thomas Cheyne, she being descended from the Cheynes of Crall in Sussex, who are of the whole blood and family of the said Lord Cheyne: And for that the said Tristram is of blood of the said Elizabeth Cheyne, and the said Ellen and her Issue of the blood of the said Cheynes of Crall, and shall keep the same Name; and for advancement of the heirs of the bodies of the said Tristram and Ellen his wife, do Covenant to stand seized of the said Mannors of Tuddington, Chal­grave, Harlington and Tyngrith, and of the Reversions thereof, and of all other the Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments of the said Thomas Cheyne and Tristram Wodward or either of them, in Tuddington, Chalgrave, Horkley, Tyngrith, Harlington, Apsley, Ridgemont, Weston­ning, Sundon, Pullox hill, Haughton, Flitwicke, and Strackley in the said County of Bedford, to the use of the said Tristram Wodward and Ellen his wife, and the heirs of their two bodies, the Remainder to the right heirs of the said Tristram for ever, which Indenture was enrolled in Chancery 23 Febr. 18 Jacob. as by the Copy of the said Indenture deposed by the said George Becke to be a true Copy of the Record ap­peareth.

And I finde that the said Thomas Cheyne 4 Novemb. 12 Jacob. did acknowledge a Recognizance in nature of a Statute Staple of 40000 pound, before the then Chief Justice Sir Edward Cook, to Tristram Wodward and Cheyne Wodward his sonne, defeazanced for per­formance of the Covenants of the said Deed of 6 and 11 Jacob. as by the Counterpart of the said defea­zance not yet proved appeareth.

And that the Lord Cheyne and Jane his wife, did the 20 Eliz. by Fine Sur concessit, make a Lease for [Page 7] 30 years of part of every Mannor to John Pare, reser­ving the old Rent to be paid to the Lord Cheyne and Jane his wife, and to the heirs of the Lord Cheyne.

And the Lord Cheyne without his wife, 24 Eliz. did suffer a Common Recovery of another part of every Mannor, and made the like Lease to one Francis Bevill.

And the Lord Cheyne and Jane his wife, 27 Eliz. did by Fine Sur concessit, make the like Lease for 30 years for another part of every Mannor, to Ralph A­strey Esq, and reserved the old Rents to him and Jane his wife, and the heirs of the Lord Cheyne.

And the Lord Cheyne and Jane his wife, 28 Eliz. did joyn in Fines of the Coppy hold Lands of every Mannor, to make them Freehold, whereby the Peti­tioner Claimes to part of the Lands and profits since the death of the Lady Cheyne, and to the Reversion and profits of the rest of the Mannors since the 16 of April 1644. when the Lease to Sir John Crofts, &c. expired.

And I finde that the Earl of Cleveland and Sir John Crofts, do in their Answers in the Court of Wards, plead two Titles against the said Thomas Cheyne; The one that 6 Jacob. he had conveyed the Reversion to the Petitioner and his heirs.

And that the 29 of Eliz. the said Jane Lady Cheyne did by her writing grant the Reversion of the said Mannors after her death, to one Edmund Pooley and Charles Glenham and their heirs, and that shortly after they re-granted the Fee to Jane Lady Cheyne and her heirs, which is the now Earl of Cleveland, as by a Co­py of the said Answer deposed by the said George Becke, to be a true Copy of the Record, appeareth.

And it is deposed in Chancery, That the said Earl by his Councel and Sollicitors, did produce the said Deed of 29 Eliz. to Justice Reeve and Justice Foster, upon the Reference to them, who being informed that the said Deed was not found in the Lord Cheynes Office 35 Eliz. nor in the Lady Cheynes Office 12 Jacob. nor pleaded by the Lady Cheyne in the Ex­chequer to the respit of Homage 36 of Eliz. nor spo­ken of by the Lady Cheyne in her last Will, as it like­wise appeareth to me by Copies of the said severall In­quisitions, Pleadings and Will, deposed before this Honourable Committee to be true Copies: and de­manding the reason why it was not found in the said Offices, M. Serjeant Taylor the Earls then Councel did confess the said Deeds of 29 Eliz. were proffered to the Jury 12 of Jacob. at the finding of the Lady Cheynes Office, but then the Jury would not finde them; and that Justice Reeves said, those Deeds were no evidence, which Justice Foster did not contradict. And it is likewise deposed in Chancery, That the said Earl borrowed Money upon his Title by the Deed of 6 Eliz. and the Inquisition of the 35 of Eliz. and concealed the Deed of 13 Eliz. and the Deed to Pooley and Glenham, the Copies of which Depositions are likewise deposed to be true Copies of the Origi­nall by the said George Becke.

And I finde that by Inquisition taken at Dunstable in the County of Bedford 17 Martij 12 Jacob. upon a Diem clausit extremum, after the death of Jane Lady Cheyne, it was found that the said Jane Lady Cheyne in her life time, and long before her death, was seized in her Demeasne as a Fee of the Mannors of Tudding­ton with the appurtenances in the County of Bedford, [Page 9] and of certain Glebe Lands in the said Parish called the Portionaries, and of the Mannors of Chalgrave, Harlington, the Rectory of Harlington, the Mannor of Tyngrith, and divers Messuages, Lands, Tenements, &c. in Tuddington, Chalgrave, Harlington, Tyngrith, Horkley, Apsley, Rigemount, Westonning, Sundon, Pullox hill, Hauton, Flitwicke and Strackley in the said County of Bedford, and that she was seased in her Demesne as a Fee of a certain Grange called Pullox hill Grange, alias Harlington Grange in the County of Bedford, and of a Close of Pasture called Muncks Close, and a parcell of Meadow called Cranford Meade, and a water Mill to the said Grange belonging, some­time belonging to the late dissolved Monastery of Wooburn, which last mentioned parcels were purcha­sed by the said Lady Jane, and Henry Lord Cheyne her late husband of one Roger Alford, and of divers other parcels of Lands in Tuddington, therein particu­larly mentioned; and that she died seized thereof in Fee 16 of April then last past 12 Jacob. And I finde Thomas Wentworth Kinght, Lord Wentworth her Co­zen and next heir, as by a Copy of the said Inquisition deposed by George Becke to be a true Copy of the Ori­ginall appeareth.

But I finde in a Suit depending in Chancery, be­tween the Petitioner his wife and others Plaintiffs, and Thomas Earl of Cleveland and others defendants, upon opening and long debate of the matter 26 Novemb. 5 Carol. in the presence of Councel learned on both sides, the Lord Keeper being assisted with the Lord Chief Justice of the upper Bench and M. Justice Crook; his Lordship, and the said Lords the Judges were of opinion and did so declare, that they held it [Page 10] not fit that the said Defendant should shew his Evi­dences, or that he should make any further Answer to the said Bill; and th [...]t they found no such Conside­ration expressed in the Plaintiffs Deeds, as was fit for that Court to give any allowance thereof, and there­fore did order that the matter be cleerly and absolute­ly dismist out of the said Court, as by a Copy of the said Order hereunto annexed, deposed by John Willis to be a true Copy of the originall Record appeareth.

And in pursuance of the Order of Jan. 1. 1651. I finde it is deposed by Sir John Thorowgood Knight, That about the yeare One thousand six hundred forty and two, the Petitioner Tristram Wodward came to this Deponents house in St. Jones, and shewed a Case formerly drawn up and signed by two or three emi­nent Lawyers, which did intitle the said Wodward to the Lands of the Earl of Cleveland in Bedfordshire, as descending to him by Title derived from the Lord Cheyne; his Proposition to this Deponent was, that this Deponent would compound with him the said Wodward, for the Mannor of Harlington in the County aforesaid, which was morgaged to the said Deponent by the said Earl, and that he would use this Deponent well in it: This Deponent was apt to imbrace the motion, which might free the Mannor from all for­mer incumbrances, and give him a Title before the Earl, and therefore he desired that he might have the said Wodwards Title in writing, to advize with his Councell upon it, which the said Wodward willingly delivered to this Deponent.

The Opinion of this Deponents Councell was, That M. Wodward had not rightly stated the Case to his Councell, because there was nothing more talked [Page 11] of in Westminster Hall, then that supposed Title which had passed the Court of Wards, and other Courts of Judicature.

And he did beleeve that if the Right had been on Wodwards side, one Court or other would have relie­ved him, and therefore disswaded this Deponent from trusting to his Title or to give him any thing for it.

M. Wodward coming to receive an Answer, this De­ponent told him, that his Councell would not advize him to deal with him; M. Wodward then told this Deponent of one M. Smith an able Gent. and a Law­yer of the Middle Temple, who as he said did rightly understand his Title, beleeved it to be good and intend­ed to deal with him, the said Smith having likewise an Ingagement upon the said Earls Estate, and prayed this Deponent to speak with the said Smith.

This Deponent went to M. Smith, being willing to secure his Debt, and found him strongly possessed with an opinion that M. Wodwards Title was good; and not being able to convince him, this Deponent propo­sed that we should all three go to M. Hales of Lincolns Inne, M. Wodward should shew him his Evidences, and M. Smith and this Deponent should joyn in the Fee.

We did so, M. Hales desired three or four dayes time to consider of the business, after which time we repaired to M. Hales, who said, that if such a Deed which he had then in his hands, which this Deponent taketh to be a Counterpart or a Copy of the Deed of Pooley and Glenham, could be proved, which to this Deponents best remembrance was witnessed with se­ven or eight witnesses, some of them persons of qua­lity, then M. Wodwards Title to the said Lands was nothing worth: then this Deponent asked M. Hales, [Page 12] if the Witnesses were dead how it could be proved? his Answer was, that if it could be proved to be their hands it would be sufficient, with which Answer M. Smith and this Deponent were so well satisfied, that they moved no more in the businesse, only M. Wodward came afterwards to this Deponent, setting forth his wants and saying, that a very small matter would content him, and this Deponent verily belee­veth, that much lesss then one hundreds pounds would at that time have bought his Title to the Mannor of Harlington, which was morgaged to this Deponent by the said Earl.

And at another time meeting with the said M. Wod­ward, he desired this Deponent that he would not dis­swade other men from dealing with him the said Wodward for his Title, or words to that effect.

And Tristram Wodward Esq deposeth, that Richard Ruffin the father of Eliz. Cheyne, took an Administra­tion after the death of Anne Ruffin his wife, mother of Elizabeth Cheyne and Grandmother of this Depo­nent; And that the said Richard Ruffin 2 Eliz. did by Fine purchase a Lease for 65 years of divers Lands called Swinford Lease, in which Lease is mentioned to be demised, one hundred Acres of Meadow, and five hundred Acres of Pasture, and one hundred Acres of Wood, together also with the Ferry of Swinford, as by a Copy of the said Aministration and Fine deposed by George Becke Gent. to be true Copies appeareth.

And this Deponent further saith, That 4 Eliz. there was an Administration taken after the death of the said Richard Ruffin, wherein there is also mentioned divers other Leases of Lands called Great twelve acres, Cloddings, the Free Lands, Wersey, Tiffins, the Mills and [Page 13] Mill Mores, Perts Close, Gloverse Close, Millers Close, and Lintorne, and about two thousand six hundred Sheep, eighteen Oxen, forty seven Kyne, fifty five young Beasts, sixty Horses of all kinds, divers ounces of silver and gilt Plate, and some ready Money, besides Houshold goods of severall sorts, and Corn and Hay in severall Reekes and Barnes; and that in the foot of the Inventory there appeareth to be Eleven hundred twenty five Pound thirteen Shillings four Pence, due to the Children of Anne Ruffin by her former hus­band William Seacoll alias Salkell, as by the Inventory under the Seal of the Prerogative Court appeareth, of which Children this Deponents mother was a sur­vivor: And this Deponent further saith, that 14 Eliz. this Deponents Aunt Eliz. Cheyne, married with Tho­mas Cheyne Esq found heir to the Lord Cheyne by three Inquisitions.

And that the father of Thomas Cheyne, before the marriage of Elizabeth Cheyne, did Covenant to assure to Eliz. Cheyne in recompence of her Lands, the Man­nor of Kynburie and impropriate Parsonage of Kyn­burie, which this Deponent hath heard and doth verily beleeve, to be of the value of seven or eight hundred Pound per annum: and before the said Covenant and Conveyance made to Elizabeth Cheyne, the said Thomas Cheyne the father had made two former Conveyances of the said Lands, the one for 50 years or thereabouts the 12 Eliz. and the other of the Fee-simple 13 Eliz. to one Langly of London, as by the Copy of the Inqui­sition taken after the death of Thomas Cheyne the father 31 of Elizabeth, and the Copy of the Deed inrolled dated the 13 Eliz. deposed by the said George Becke to be true Copies appeareth.

And this Deponent further saith, That the Deed and Recovery 6 Eliz. was only found in the Lord Cheynes Inquisition 35 Eliz. and the Deed and Re­covery of 13 Eliz. was left out of the Inquisition, and 12 Jacob. in the Inquisition then taken after the death of the Lady Cheyne, to intitle her to die seized of the Fee-simple, there was neither the Deed of 6 nor 13 of Eliz. found, and so found her to die seized without Deeds of the Lands in the said Recoveries mentio­ned, as by the Copies of the said severall Inquisi­tions deposed by George Becke to be true Copies ap­peareth.

And this Deponent further saith, That in the Dis­mission at large 12 Jacob. against Thomas Cheyne in the Court of Wards, it appeareth that the Earl did plead this Deponents Deed and Considerations to barre Thomas Cheyne, and that the Clark had entred in the said Dismission, that the Court was satisfied the Earles Title was good and sufficient in Law, with­out any such words or warrant in the Order for the dismission, as by the said Order and Dismission depo­sed by the said George Becke to be true Copies ap­peareth.

And this Deponent further saith, That 4 Carl. the Earl demurred to the Considerations generally ex­pressed in this Deponents Deed and Bill in Chancery, for want of the Evidences, and got this Deponents Bill dismist, and in the dismission the Earl did cause the Clark to insert, that the Court would not allow of the Considerations of this Deponents Deeds, albeit it was directed by the Court and so written in the Re­gisters Note-book, that the Bill was to be dismissed without prejudice, as by the Notes in M. Edwards [Page 15] his Book Register did then and after appear to this Deponent, and is so certified by M. Devonish a Clark in the Registers Office under his hand.

And this Deponent further saith, That it appeareth under the hands of Serjeant Rolls, Serjeant Godbolt, Serjeant Atkins afterwards Judges, and Sir Thomas Widdrington and others, subscribed in the year of our Lord 1645. which is deposed in Chancery by John Cooke and Richard Wallopp Esquires to be their hands; that they are of opinion the Considerations are great and valuable Considerations for the Lands claimed by this Deponent, and that the entring by the Clark in the Court of Wards, in the dismission against Tho­mas Cheyne, that the Court was satisfied that the Earls Title was good and sufficient in Law, without any such words or warrant in the Order for the dismission and the pleading thereof against this Deponent at the Councel-Table and in Chancery, was unduly done and ought to be suppressed, and that this Deponent ought to have a Decree against the Deeds to Pool [...]y and Glenham, for divers reasons under their hands ex­pressed.

And this Deponent further saith, That it appeareth by the Depositions in Chancery of George Almery Gent. that he and Justice Phesant did compound with this Deponent for their part of the Lands Morgaged to them by the Earl of Cleveland.

And this Deponent further saith, That to this De­ponents best remembrance, M. Hales Councellor at Law did advise Sir John Thorowgood to compound with this Deponent for his part of the Lands morga­ged to him by the said Earl, and told this Deponent he would be of Councell for this Deponent against [Page 16] the Title of the Earl, and to this Deponents best re­membrance, the said Sir John Thorowgood did tell this Deponent that he had lent the Earl three thousand Pound upon a Morgage of the Mannor of Harlington, and that the said Mannor was worth six thousand Pound, and that if this Deponent would allow the said Sir John Thorowgood his three thousand Pound in the Purchase, he would give this Deponent three thousand Pound more, or used words to the same effect.

And this Deponent further saith, That the profits of one of the Leases of Elizabeth Cheyne called Swin­ford Lease, from the time of the marriage of Elizabeth Cheyne 14 Eliz. to the time of the making of the Deed 11 of Jacob. did amount to more then the ten thou­sand Pound mentioned in the said Deed, for recom­pence whereof, and for other the Lands and goods of Elizabeth Cheyne, the said Thomas Cheyne did convey and Covenant to convey the Reversion of the said Lands claimed by this Deponent.

And this Deponent further saith, That after the Lease for 30 years made to Sir John Croft was ended, this Deponent did prefer a Bill in Chancery to be re­lieved against the said Deeds to Pooley and Glenham, which Bill was signed by Bulstrade Whitlocke Esquire, after one of the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal, and by John Bradshaw Esquire, after Lord Presi­dent of the Councell of State, and by Sir Thomas Bed­dingfield Knight after one of the Judges of the Com­mon Pleas, and by Henry Pelham and John Maynard Esquires, who have also declared in the Bill, that this Deponents remedy is by Decree in Equity against those Deeds to Pooley and Glenham for divers reasons; [Page 17] And the president of Kinersley and Colmers Case in the Bill set forth, which Title of the Earl by the said Deeds to Pooley and Glemham is now come to the State, whereby this Deponents Title is to be heard and de­termined by the Committee of Obstructions both for Law and Equity, by the saving in the Act for the sale of Delinquents Lands, as this Deponent humbly conceiveth by the words in the Act. All which is humbly submitted to Judgement.