The complete works of John Gower, volume 4 : $b The Latin worksGower, John
General
The complete works of John Gower, volume 4 : $b The Latin works
Gower, John
Poetry
By another deed, acknowledged in Chancery on June 25 of the same year,
the same William Sepvanus makes over to John Gower all his claims upon
the manor of Aldyngton, and also a rent of 14_s._ 6_d._, with one cock,
thirteen hens and 140 eggs from Maplecomb[19].
42 Ed. III (1368). Thomas Syward, pewterer and citizen of London, and
Joanna his wife, daughter of Sir Robert Gower, grant to John Gower and
his heirs the manor of Kentwell. Dated at Melford, Wednesday before the
Nativity of St. John Baptist[20].
43 Ed. III. Fine between John Gower on the one hand, and John
Spenythorn with Joan his wife on the other, by which they give up all
right to the Manor of Kentwell, Suffolk, except £10 rent, John Gower
paying 200 marks[21].
This was confirmed in the king’s court, 3 Ric. II.
By documents of previous date[22] it may be shown that the manor of
Kentwell had been held by Sir Rob. Gower, doubtless the same who is
buried in Brabourne Church, who died apparently in 1349; that it
was ultimately divided, with other property, between his heirs, two
daughters named Katherine and Joanna, of whom one, Katherine, died in
1366. Her moiety was then combined with the other in the possession of
her sister Joanna, ‘23 years old and upwards,’ then married to William
Neve of Wetyng, but apparently soon afterwards to Thomas Syward. As
to the transaction between John Gower and John Spenythorn with Joanna
his wife, we must be content to remain rather in the dark. John Gower
had in the year before acquired Kentwell in full possession for himself
and his heirs, and he must in the mean time have alienated it, and now
apparently acquired it again. It is hardly likely that the Joan who
is here mentioned is the same as Joan daughter of Sir Robert Gower,
who was married successively to William Neve and Thomas Syward. On the
other hand it must be regarded as probable that the John Gower of this
document is identical with the John Gower who acquired Kentwell from
Thomas Syward and his wife in 1368. The confirmation in the king’s
court, 3 Ric. II, was perhaps by way of verifying the title before the
grant of Kentwell by Sir J. Cobham to Sir T. Clopton, 4 Ric. II.
47 Ed. III (1373). John Gower grants his manor of Kentwell in Suffolk
to Sir John Cobham and his heirs; a deed executed at Otford in Kent,
Thurs. Sept. 29[23].
48 Ed. III (1374). Payment of 12 marks by Sir J. Cobham on acquisition
of Kentwell and half of Aldyngton from John Gower[24].
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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