GERNET, William, of ?Rainhill, Lancs. and Aylesford, Kent.

King’s serjeant-at-law, Cheshire, Flint 11 June 1416–?10 Sept. 1427, DKR, xxxvii (2), 303; G. Ormerod, Palatine and City of Chester ed. Helsby, i, 69. palatinate of Lancaster 2 Feb. 1425–5 July 1437. R. Somerville, Duchy, i. 482.

J.p.q. Lancs. 2 Mar. 1418-aft. 5 Feb. 1429, 24 Aug. 1442 – d., Kent 7 Dec. 1433 – June 1443.

Dep. steward, duchy of Lancaster ldship. of Halton, Cheshire 12 Nov. 1420 – 27 Feb. 1421; steward 27 Feb. 1421 – 22 Oct. 1425, wapentake of West Derby, Lancs. by July 1421-Feb. 1422. Ibid. 503, 510.

Commr. to assess subsidy, Lancs. Apr. 1431, Aug. 1450; PL3/3/28, 29. take musters, Liverpool July 1431 (forces of (Sir) Thomas Stanley II*); of inquiry, Lancs. Oct. 1431 (tenure of lands), Feudal Aids, iii. 91. Kent June 1441 (illegal seizure of Breton balinger at Rochester), Cheshire Dec. 1452 (descent of manor of Hawarden); DKR, xxxvii (2), 592. array, Kent Dec. 1435; gaol delivery, Maidstone Feb. 1437, Feb., June 1438 (q.), Feb. 1442, Lancs. Nov. 1443, Jan. 1446, Nottingham Apr. 1448 (q.); C66/440, m. 33d; 441, m. 9d; 442, m. 27d; 451, m. 5d; 465, m. 6d. oyer and terminer, Kent June 1438 (rebellions etc.); sewers July 1439.

Apprentice-at-law retained by duchy of Lancaster Feb. 1438–?d. Somerville, i. 454.

Dep. chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster to Walter Shirington, clerk, by Nov. 1446 – 2 Feb. 1449, William Tresham* 2 Feb. 1449 – 23 Sept. 1450, John Say II* 23 Sept. 1450-aft. May 1451. Ibid. 478.