This Member was perhaps related to another William Brit (d.1382) who had owned the manor of Clawton in Devon,CIPM, xv. 712. but it seems likely that he was the Cornishman of that name, who in September 1408 obtained from Bishop Stafford a licence for himself and his wife Joan to hear mass privately in the chapel at ‘Bossym’ (Bochym, near Helston). In 1420, described as ‘of Cornwall’ the same William Brit stood surety in Chancery for Sir William Bodrugan, and eight years later he was in possession, with others, of lands in Restronguet which Bodrugan had once held. He appeared as a witness to deeds dated at Trethake near Fowey. As ‘of Bossiney, esquire’ Brit obtained a royal pardon of outlawry in July 1425 following his failure to attend the lawcourts when sued for a debt of £3 12s.3d. by a London tailor.Reg. Stafford ed. Hingeston-Randolph, 272; CPR, 1416-22, p. 260; 1422-9, p. 252; CCR, 1419-22, pp. 114-17; Feudal Aids, i. 222, 232. However, no connexion has been discovered between Brit the Cornishman and the borough of Tavistock.
