CLEREVAUX, William, of Bedford.

Clerevaux was one of the feoffees of William King to whom John Grey II made a quitclaim of property in Bedfordshire in 1387; and in 1402 he performed a similar service for John Swineshead, a local clergyman. The Bedford lay subsidy roll of 1399 shows him to have been one of the wealthiest men in the town: he owned at least two sizeable plots of land there and was often called upon to stand surety for the good behaviour of his fellow townsmen. He witnessed a number of deeds, both as mayor of Bedford in 1396 and simply as ‘of Bedford’ in the years between 1400 and 1407. In February 1407 he and John Marker offered securities of £4 to Simon Gaunstede (keeper of the Chancery rolls and later of the great seal itself) and William Asthill, clerks, but the reason for this is not recorded.2CP25(1)5/69/16; Bedford Town Hall, DDX 67/49-54; unnumbered lay subsidy roll for 1399; Bedford ct. bk. 1400-1, mm. 4, 5d.; Beds. RO, DDTW 372, 373; CFR, x. 146; CCR, 1385-9, p. 666; 1396-9, p. 229; 1399-1402, p. 475; 1402-5, p. 491; 1405-9, p. 247.