The cartulary of Cirencester Abbey[6] records the Metfords of Hakebourne (modern name East Hagbourne, Berkshire) as a leading freeman tenant family of the village.

His name appears as "Metford" in his own household accounts[7] and as "Medford" in the Register of John Chandler,[8] who was Dean of Salisbury Cathedral during much of Mitford's episcopacy.

He was one of the members of the royal household arrested by the "Lords Appellant"[a] in late 1387 for treason, and was imprisoned first in Bristol Castle and then in the Tower of London.

While Bishop of Salisbury, Mitford spent much of his time at one or another of his episcopal manors, and by chance the household accounts survive of his stay at Potterne, near Devizes, for the last seven months of his life.

These give day-by-day records of members of his household and his visitors, the amounts and prices of the food provided for everyday meals as well as the feasts given at Christmas, and even at his own funeral.