“Radulphus comes Stafford et dominus de Tonebrugge” donated property to Cold Norton Priory, for the soul of “Margaretæ uxoris nostræ”, by undated charter witnessed by “Hugone de Stafford filio et hærede nostro, Ricardo de Stafford fratre nostro, Johanne de Peyto consanguineo nostro…”.
He succeeded his father in 1372 as Earl of Stafford. The will of "Hugh Earl of Stafford", dated 6 Apr 1385, chose burial “in the Priory of Stone”, bequeathed property to “my sisters Roos and Charlton and Dame Elizabeth Stafford” and appointed “my cousin the Archbishop of Canterbury, my brother the Earl of Warwick...” among his executors. A codicil to the will of "Hugh Earl of Stafford", dated 15 Apr 1385, bequeathed property to “my daughter Joan [to] be well and fitly married...my three sons William, Edmund and Hugh...Thomas my son”. A codicil to the will of "Hugh Earl of Stafford", dated 21 Sep 1385, bequeathed property to “my sister Roos...Margaret de Nevill my daughter...Katherine de la Pole my daughter...Joane my daughter...my sister Charleton...Dame Joane d´Engayne my cousin”. 1
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Appointed co-executor of the Will of Thomas Beauchamp, earl of Warwick (written 1369).
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18 May 1378, Westminster
Licence for £10 paid by Hugh, earl of Stafford, for him to enfeoff Richard de Stafford, Nicholas de Stafford, John Bampton, John Fernyngham, William de Morton, clerk, and John de Sewell, of his manors of Forton, Overgorther, Baghaltre, Hopton and Weston, of the forests of Haberley and Ponteslith, of a moiety of the manor of Worthyn and forest of La Hey, of four knights' fees in Westbury, Legh, Hope, Walton, Yokelton and Horton, and of the advowsons of the churches of Worthyn, Wentenore and Shelve, held in chief, and for the feoffees, after seisin had, to grant the premises to the said earl and Philippa, his wife, in tail,with remainder to the heirs of the said earl.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ric. II, vol. 1, p. 219
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14 Feb 1380, Westminster
Appointment, with the advice of the council, of Hugh, earl of Stafford, to the custody of the body and lands of John de Paunton, knight, now in his company, formerly sane but now insane, until he shall have recovered his sanity ; on condition that he commit no waste therein, and that the said John and his family live on the issues and be suitably supported, the residue being faithfully preserved for their use after his recovery.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ric. II, vol. 1, p. 440
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15 Oct 1381, Westminster
To the sheriff of Norhampton. Order to give Hugh earl of Stafford seisin of a messuage and one virgate of land in Draghton held by Henry Isoude outlawed for felony ; as the king has learned by inquisition, taken by the sheriff, that the premises have been in his hand a year and a day, that the said Henry held them of the earl...
Calendar of the Close Rolls, Ric. II, vol. 2, p. 16
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20 Jul 1384, Westminster
Licence for Hugh, earl of Stafford and Ralph his firstborn son, to hunt in all the king's parks, forests, chaces and warrens, and to fish in all his rivers and ponds, in the presence of the keepers of the same, and to take away what he catches.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ric. II, vol. 2, p. 443
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20 Aug 1385, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Grant, for life, to Hugh, earl of Stafford, of the office of forester of the forest of Macclesfeld, co. Chester, and of the custody of the park within the forest.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ric. II, vol. 3, p. 7
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Abstract of the Will of Hugh Earl of Stafford. 2
Hugh Earl of Stafford, April 6, 1385. My body to be buried in the Priory of Stone, near to the grave of my wife, if I depart this life in England. I will that six large tapers be placed about my hearse, and four morters of wax, but I desire that no horse or arms be offered at my funeral, and that no prayers be said thereat excepting by ecclesiastical persons, my allies, and friends. Also I will that one hundred poor men be clothed in white, with a cross behind and before on their garments, each of them to carry a torch, as well on the vespers as on my burial day. Also I will that five hundred masses be celebrated for the souls of my father and mother, my wife, myself, and all my benefactors, also for all Christians, within one year after my decease. Likewise I will that within the said year there be celebrated fifty masses and trentals of St Gregory, for the souls of the before-mentioned persons, by the most fitting people that can be found. My sisters Roos and Charlton, and Dame Elizabeth Stafford. And I appoint my cousin the Archbishop of Canterbury, my brother the Earl of Warwick, the Lord Nevile, the Earl of Suffolk, and Sir William Beauchamp, my executors.
Another Will of this said Earl, or rather a Codicil to the Preceding.
At Jernemuth, April 15, 1385. I will that my daughter Joan be well and fitly married ; and that, out of the profits of my lands in the hands of my feoffees, my three sons, William, Edmund, and Hugh, shall each have one £100, per annum during their lives. To Thomas, my son, my coat of mail, d'Astere of Naples, and my helmet made at Bourdeaux, with a camail d'astere, and also my sword made at Turenne, which Sir Ralf Ferrers gave me. I will also that three priests be found to celebrate divine service for the health of my soul, near to the place of my burial, for three years next after my decease.
Another Codicil to the said Will.
At Rhodes, in the house of Bartholomew Comerch, September 21, 1385. To my sister Roos a gold ring with a little diamond. To Margaret de Nevill, my daughter, a large gold ring, with a great diamond set therein ; to Katherine de la Pole, my daughter, a fermail of knots;
to Joane, my daughter, a golden fermail with a heart; to my sister Charleton a large gold ring with a karrect ; to Dame Joane d'Engayne, my cousin. Witnessed by John Radington, Prior of England of the Order of St. John, Richard Baru, Thomas Skipwith, and the noble Knights Sir William Arundel, and Sir Richard Ludlow.
A Third Codicil to the said Will.
At Rhodes, September 25, 1385. To John Hinckley, my Esquire, £20 ; to Robert Corbet, my Chamberlain £10.
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8 Jan 1387, Westminster
Order, with the assent of the Council, that all the profits, rents and revenues arising from the lands late of Hugh,earl of Stafford, tenant in chief, in the king's hands by reason of the minority of his son and heir, be paid to the keeper of the wardrobe of the king's household, during the said minority, in aid of the expenses of the said household, without other assignment.
3 Feb 1387, Westminster
Grant,by advice of the Council and in consideration of the unfulfilled promise of Hugh, late earl of Stafford, to give her a sufficient reward as his kinswoman and for good service to him, to Matilda Wasteneys of 10 marks a year from the manor of Quatcote, co. Warwick,so long as, on account of the minority of the earl's son and heir, it remains in the king's custody.
8 Nov 1387, Westminster
Grant for £100 paid at the Receipt of the Exchequer and for £100 more which will be paid there by them at Easter, to Thomas de Bello Campo, earl of Warwick, Thomas earl of Stafford son and heir of Hugh, earl of Stafford, John Lord of Nevill and William de Bello Campo, knight, brother of the said earl of Warwick, of the issues and profits, from the date of the death of the said Hugh until the morrow of Michaelmas, 10 Richard II, of all the lordships, demesnes, castles, towns, manors, lands, and tenements, honors, hundreds etc., late of the said Hugh in England and Wales,tenant in chief, which are the inheritance of the said Thomas,his son, a minor, except such as are held of the archbishop of Canterbury by knight service, and the manors, lands and tenements, whereof certain persons were enfeoffed at the time of the said Hugh's death in the following places, viz. the manor of Rokeby with its advowson, the manors of Great Wolford, Little Wolford and Ufford, certain lands in Fulrody, co. Warwick, the manor of Naseby with its advowson, certain lands in Rothewell called ' Lyounsplace, ' co. Northants, an inn (hospicio) in Oxford, the manor of Stratton Audeley, co. Oxford, the manor of Estynton with its advowson, the manor of Alkrynton, certain lands and tenements in Thornebury, co. Gloucester, the manor of Marcle, co. Hereford, the manors of Effyngham, Chepstede and Tyllyngdon, certain lands and tenements in Blecchynglegh, the manors of Waldyngham, Cat[er]ham and Porcle, and certain lands and tenements in Stangrave, co. Surrey, the manor of Southo, co. Huntingdon, the manor of Bernyngham with its advowson, co. Norfolk, certain lands and tenements called 'Talmaches, Cresseneres, and Passelewes' in the lordship of Desenyng, co. Suffolk, the manor of Stanford Ryvers with its advowson, the manor of Tracyes, certain lands and tenements called 'Suttones,' co. Essex, an inn with a certain rent in the city of London, the manors of Berleston, Hertewell, Tytnesore, Mere, Bertherton, and Geryngeshalgh, and certain lands and tenements in Holdych, Audele, Noteburgh and Chesterton, co. Stafford.
21 Nov 1387, Westminster
Ordinance, by the advice of the Council, that the number of chaplains to celebrate divine service at Langley, where the body of Ralph, eldest son of Hugh, late earl of Stafford, lies buried, shall be three and not two notwithstanding the previous ordinance that there should be two there and one at the spot where he was by misadventure killed by the king's brother,John de Holand, knight.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ric. II, vol. 3, pp. 251, 277, 364-5, 368
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27 Feb 1391, Westminster
Whereas by agreement between Hugh, earl of Stafford,deceased, and Michaelde [la] Pole, also deceased, upon the marriage of Michael de la Pole, son of the said Michael, and Katharine, daughter of the said earl, Michael the father was to enfeoff his son and the said Katharine of lands of the yearly value of £100 whereupon he enfeoffed them of the manors of Blyburgh and Herpeswell, co. Lincoln, and Gresthorpe, co. Nottingham, not amounting to the value of £43 2s. 10d. a year....
20 Dec 1391, Westminster
Pardon— for a fine of 100 marks and for the release and quit-claim granted to the king by the executors of Hugh, late earl of Stafford, by their deed enrolled in the Exchequer, in respect of all actions for debts,accounts etc., which as executors theymight have against him before 26 November last and for their mainprise in the Exchequer to hold the king and his heirs indemnified against the executors of Ralph, sometime earl of Stafford,and the administrators of his goods and chattels, in respect of all like actions to the same date— to the king's kinsman Thomas, now earl of Stafford,son and heir of the said Hugh,and tenant of the lands late the said Hugh's and Ralph's,and to the executors of both and the holders (occupatoribus) of their goods and chattels at the time of their death, and to all other their tenants,of all reliefs, debts, accounts, arrears of accounts, loans, farms, arrears of farms, fines, amercements, issues forfeit,chattels of felons and fugitives which are in demand at the Exchequer to the king's use from the said Hugh or Ralph or Thomas or the executors, administrators, holders or tenants aforesaid, who are all herebydischarged at the Exchequer.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ric. II, vol. 4, pp. 383, 505-6
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20 Oct 1392, Westminster
Licence, for 20 marks paid to the king by his brother Thomas de Holand, earl of Kent, for the said earl to grant the manor of Chesterfeld, co. Derby, the manor of Wyssenden, co. Rutland, £30 of rent in Skeldynghope, co. Lincoln, and the manor of Broune, co. Lincoln, except 700 acres of wood in the manor of Broune, the premises being held in chief, to his son Thomas and Joan, daughter of Hugh, late earl of Stafford, and the heirs of their bodies; and for the said earl to grant the 700 acres aforesaid, similarly held, to the said Thomas, his son, and Joan, and the heirs of Thomas of the body of the said Joan.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ric. II, vol. 5, p. 211
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