ALLET, Richard

Allet’s links with the Hamelys, explained in the earlier biography, The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 25. drew him into the orbit of Thomas, Lord Berkeley, who acquired the moiety of the Wiltshire manor of Nethercott and lands in East Peek in Devon, which had formed part of the paternal inheritance of Osbert Hamely’s wife, Maud Pipard. Between 1401 and 1413 Allet served as one of the feoffees of these properties, before quitclaiming them to their new owner. Berkeley Castle mss, BCM/B/5/7/2-5, 5/9/5-7. In the interim, his related dispute with John Polmorva* had adopted a new dimension, when the latter was appointed sheriff of Cornwall in September 1406. In May 1408 Allet appeared in the exchequer of pleas, and claimed that his opponent had abused his office in refusing to accept royal writs that our MP had sued out of Chancery, and claimed substantial damages of £200. E13/123, rot. 21d.

The execution of Allet’s will was entrusted to his widow, Thomasina, and the chaplain Richard Hendre. They were still engaged in their task in the early 1440s, when they were squabbling with Peter Gerveys* of Bonallack over some of the deceased man’s goods, including a horn bound with silver and other plate. C254/143/7; KB146/6/19/1. The Richard Allet who in the summer of 1438 was suing the Penryn draper Richard Drogon for the return of a box of muniments must have been a son or other kinsman: KB27/709, rot. 38.