Crown Pleas: 22 Henry III - 24 Henry III (nos 128-151)

The London Eyre of 1244. Originally published by London Record Society, London, 1970.

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'Crown Pleas: 22 Henry III - 24 Henry III (nos 128-151)', in The London Eyre of 1244, (London, 1970) pp. 51-59. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-record-soc/vol6/pp51-59 [accessed 26 April 2024]

In this section

22 Henry III - 24 Henry III (nos 128–151)

De anno vicesimo secundo.

128. Eodem anno Willelmo de Haverhulle existente camerario, Johanne de Coudres et Johanne de Wylehal existentibus vicecomitibus, (fn. 1) accidit quod quedam mulier Felicia nomine inventa fuit occisa in domo sua, et Johannes filius Rogeri de Ispannia eam occidit et fugit. Ideo exigatur et utlagetur secundum formam etc. Nulla habuit catalla. Ideo nichil. Et Emma ancilla ipsius Felicie attachiata pro morte illa venit et non male creditur. Ideo inde quieta. Et vicini attachiati [veniunt] et non male creduntur. Ideo inde quieti. Non fuit in franco plegio quia clericus. Ideo nichil.

Of the twenty-second year [Mich. 1238–Mich. 1239],

In the same year, William of Haverhill being chamberlain, and John de Coudres and John de Wylehal sheriffs, a woman named Felicia was found murdered in her house. John, son of Roger of Spain killed her and fled. Therefore let him be put in exigent and outlawed according to the form etc. He had no chattels. Therefore nothing. And Emma, Felicia's maid-servant, attached for the death, comes and is not suspected. Therefore she is quit. The neighbours attached come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit. He was not in frankpledge because he is a clerk. Therefore nothing.

129. Quidam homo ignotus inventus fuit mortuus in vico de Welnedebrigge. (fn. 2) Nullus inde male creditur. Iudicium infortunium et vicini attachiati pro morte illa veniunt et non malecreduntur. Ideo inde quieti.

An unknown man was found dead in Welnedebrigge Street. No one is suspected. Judgment: misadventure. The neighbours attached for the death come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

130. Quidam Willelmus filius Bernardi et Ricardus serviens eius venerunt die Martis proxima ante festum Sancti Botulphi ad domum Jocei judei et ibidem occiderunt ipsum judeum et Hennam uxorem eius et fugerunt. (fn. 3) Et postea fuit idem Willelmus captus apud Sanctum Salvatorem pro quadam cuppa argentea furata et fuit suspensus, et Ricardus serviens eius exigatur et utlagetur secundum formam etc. Et quidam Milo le Espicer qui fuit cum eis in eodem conflictu (fn. 4) et male fuit vulneratus, fugit ad ecclesiam et obiit in eadem. Ideo nichil. Nulla habuerunt catalla nec fuit in franco plegio quia extraneus. Nullum factum fuit attachiamentum, quia istud accidit in Judaismo nec pertinet ad vicecomites aliquod facere attachiamentum de eis set tantum ad constabularium Turns Londoniarum.

William, son of Bernard and Richard his servant went on Tuesday before the feast of St. Botolph [14 June 1239] to the house of Joce the Jew, and there killed him and Henna his wife, and fled. Afterwards William was arrested at St. Saviour's for the theft of a silver cup and hanged. Richard his servant is to be put in exigent and outlawed according to the form etc. A certain Miles le Espicer, who was with them in the fight and was badly wounded, fled to a church and died there. Therefore nothing. They had no chattels, nor was he (Richard) in frankpledge, because he was a stranger. No attachment was made, because this happened in Jewry, and the right to make attachments there belongs not to the sheriffs, but solely to the constable of the Tower of London.

131. Accidit die Martis proxima ante festum Sancti Bartholomei hoc anno quod quedam judea Henna nomine uxor Jacobi filii Furie post prandium intravit in domum Alwredi de Pyncebrok parmentarii quamdiu Alwredus fuit in nundinis de Lenne et nunquam postea visa fuit. Et super hoc venit predictus Jacobus sicut alias (fn. 5) fecit appellum super Isabellam uxorem ipsius Alwredi que tunc fuit in domo predicta et quamdam Agnetem et quamdam Matilldem ancillam ipsius Isabelle et quemdam Petrum de Sheftesbiria.

On Tuesday before the feast of St. Bartholomew [23 Aug. 1239], a Jewess named Henna, wife of Jacob son of Furia went, after lunch, into the house of Alfred de Pyncebrok, parmenter, while he was at the fair at King's Lynn, and was never seen again. Jacob conies and, as elsewhere, appeals Isabel, Alfred's wife, who was in the house at the time, and Agnes, and Maud, Isabel's maid-servant, and a certain Peter of Shaftesbury.

132. Leticia filla Roesie de Wymbeldone appellavit Ricardum de Nortone vinetarium quod ipsam vi rapuit et defloruit et modo non sequitur et affidavit sequi. Ideo capiatur. Et Ricardus venit et maior et cives dicunt super sacramentum suum, et in fide qua tenentur domino regi, quod non est culpabilis nec concordati sunt. Ideo inde quietus.

Lettice, daughter of Rose of Wimbledon appealed Richard of Norton, vintner, of violently raping and deflowering her; but now she does not prosecute although she swore to do so. Therefore let her be taken into custody. Richard comes and the mayor and citizens say upon their oath and in the faith in which they are bound to the king, that he is not guilty, and that they have not made peace. Therefore he is quit.

133. Accidit die Sancti Bartholomei quod quedam puella Matilldis nomine octo annorum et quedam Alicia quinque annorum luserunt adinvicem. Et accidit quod in ludendo predicta Matildis proiecit predictam Aliciam super quendam bancum, ita quod die Sancti Egidii proxima post inde obiit. Et quia nichil fuit ibi nisi infortunium maxime cum ambe fuerunt infantes infra etatem, dictum est quod predicta Matilldis sit in pace tum quia nullus sequitur, turn quia nichil fuit nisi infortunium. (fn. 6)

On the feast of St. Bartholomew [24 Aug. 1239] a girl of eight named Maud, and another named Alice aged five were playing together and Maud accidentally threw Alice upon a bench, injuring her so that she died on the feast of St. Giles [1 Sept.]; and because nothing was in question save misadventure, especially since both were children under age, it is adjudged that Maud be in peace, as well because no one prosecutes her as because it was nothing but an accident.

134. Quidam homo Richerus nomine inventus fuit submersus in aqua Tamisie; nullus inde malecreditur. Iudicium infortunium; vicini attachiati pro morte illa, veniunt et non male creduntur. Ideo inde quieti. (fn. 7)

A man named Richer was found drowned in the Thames. No one is suspected. Judgment: misadventure. The neighbours attached for the death come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

135. Quedam Alicia que fuit uxor Willelmi Cheval servientis domini regis occidit quemdam Petrum capellanum ecclesie Sancti Michaelis et fugit ad ecclesiam Sancti Edmundi et inde de nocte evasit. Et quia malecreditur de morte illa exigitur [sic] et weyvetur secundum formam etc. Catalla eius ij s. unde vicecomites respondeant. Vicini attachiati pro morte illa veniunt et non malecreduntur. Ideo inde quieti.

Alice, relict of William Cheval, king's serjeant, killed Peter, chaplain of the church of St. Michael, and fled to the church of St. Edmund, whence she escaped by night. And because she is suspected of the death, let her be put in exigent and waived according to the form etc. She had chattels worth 2s. for which the sheriffs are to answer. The neighbours attached for the death come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

De anno vicesimo tercio.

136. Eodem anno Willelmo de [Haverhille] existente camerario et Radulfo de Asshewy et Reginaldo de Bungeye vicecomitibus existentibus, accidit quod quidam Martinus le Gardiner inventus fuit occisus inter Alegate et Bysshopesgate. Et Laurencius le Coureour et Johannes Dote nuncius Rogeri le Bigod male creduntur de morte illa. Et Laurencius obiit. Ideo nichil. Et Johannes qui fugit exigatur et utlagetur secundum etc. Nulla habuit catalla. Et Agnes ancilla ipsius Laurencii attachiata pro morte illa venit et non male creditur. Ideo inde quieta.

Of the twenty-third year [Mich. 1239—Mich. 1240].

In the same year, William of Haverhill being chamberlain, and Ralph de Asshewy and Reginald of Bungay sheriffs, Martin le Gardiner was found murdered between Aldgate and Bishopsgate. Laurence le Coureour and John Dote, agent of Roger le Bigod are suspected of the death. Laurence has died. Therefore nothing. John, who fled, is to be put in exigent and outlawed according etc. He had no chattels. Agnes, Laurence's maidservant, attached for the death, comes but is not suspected. Therefore she is quit.

137. Quedam mulier Matilldis nomine inventa fuit scaldata in domo Thome filii Petri in quodam plumbo pleno aqua calida. Nullus inde malecreditur. Judicium infortunium. Precium plumbi v s. unde vicecomites respondeant. Et predictus Thomas et vicini attachiati pro morte illa, venerunt et non male creduntur. Ideo inde quieti.

A woman named Maud was found scalded in a leaden vessel full of hot water in the house of Thomas son of Peter. No one is suspected. Judgment: misadventure. Value of the vessel 5s., for which the sheriffs are to answer. Thomas and the neighbours attached for the death come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

138. Quidam homo Badde nomine cecidit de quodam gradu in Tamisiam et submersus est, nullus inde male creditur. Judicium infortunium; precium gradus iiij d. unde vicecomites respondeant. Et vicini attachiati pro morte illa veniunt et non malecreduntur. Ideo inde quieti.

A man named Badde fell from a step into the Thames and was drowned. No one is suspected. Judgment: misadventure. Value of the step 4d., for which the sheriffs are to answer. The neighbours attached for the death come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

139. Quidam homo Ernebaldus de Marcia Wallie occidit quamdam mulierem sociam suam Clariciam nomine ante ecclesiam Sancti Benedicti et fugit ad eandem ecclesiam et ibi cognovit mortem et plura latrocinia et abiuravit regnum. Nulla habuit catalla. Vicini attachiati pro morte illa veniunt et non malecreduntur. Ideo inde quieti. (fn. 8)

A man named Ernebald, from the Marches of Wales, killed a woman named Clarice, his companion, before the church of St. Benet, and fled to the same church, where he acknowledged the death and sundry thefts, and abjured the realm. He had no chattels. The neighbours attached for the death come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

140. Quidam homo Adam Perceval nomine occidit Nicholaum servientem Petri Grumbaud et Emmam que fuit uxor Waited le Turnur in vico de Fletebrigge, et captus fuit et ductus ad Bancum, et per iudicium suspensus fuit pro morte illa. Nulla habuit catalla. Et Walterus films Galfridi de Kinggestone fuit cum eodem Ada quando ipsos occidit et fugit ad ecclesiam Sancte Brigide Londoniarum et ibi cognovit mortem illam et abiuravit regnum. Nulla habuit catalla, vicini attachiati pro morte illa, veniunt et non malecreduntur. Ideo inde quieti. (fn. 9)

A man named Adam Perceval killed Nicholas, servant of Peter Grumbaud, and Emma, relict of Walter le Turnur in Fleet Bridge Street. He was arrested and taken before the Bench, and, being condemned, was hanged for the death. He had no chattels. Walter, son of Geoffrey of Kingston was with him when he committed the murders, and fled to the church of St. Bride in London, and acknowledged the death and abjured the realm. He had no chattels. The neighbours attached for the death come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

141. Quedam mulier Matilldis nomine suspendit seipsam in domo Willelmi le Neuweman viri sui quam conduxerat de monialibus de Haliwelle. Nullus malecreditur. Iudicium infortunium de se ipsa. Catalla eius v s. unde vicecomites respondeant. Vicini attachiati pro morte illa veniunt et non male creduntur. Ideo inde quieti.

A woman named Maud hanged herself in the house of William le Neuweman, her husband, which he had rented from the nuns of Haliwell. No one is suspected. Judgment: suicide. She had chattels worth 5s., for which the sheriffs are to answer. The neighbours attached for the death come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

142. Honorius le Rumungur occidit Rogerum de Vilers quodam cnipulo et fugit ad ecclesiam Sancti Bartholomei et ibi cognovit mortem illam et abiuravit regnum. Nulla habuit catalla et fuit in franco plegio in warda Jocei filii Petri. (fn. 10) Ideo francus plegius in misericordia. (fn. 11) Nullus alius male creditur de predicta morte. Vicini attachiati pro morte illa veniunt et non malecreduntur. Ideo inde quieti.

Honorius le Rumungur killed Roger de Vilers with a knife, and fled to the church of St. Bartholomew, where he acknowledged the death and abjured the realm. He had no chattels and was in frankpledge in the ward of Joce fitz Peter. Therefore the frankpledge is in mercy. No one else is suspected of the death. The neighbours attached for the death come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

De anno vicesimo quarto.

143. Eodem anno Willelmo de Haverhulle existente camerario et Johanne de Gysorz et Michaele de Tovi existentibus vicecomitibus, accidit quod quidam ignotus inventus fuit submersus in fossato extra Aldresgate. Nullus inde male creditur. Judicium infortunium. Vicini attachiati veniunt et non male creduntur. Ideo inde quieti.

Of the twenty-fourth year [Mich. 1240—Mich. 1241].

In the same year, William of Haverhill being chamberlain, and John de Gysorz and Michael de Tovi sheriffs, an unknown man was found drowned in the ditch outside Aldersgate. No one is suspected. Judgment: misadventure. The neighbours attached come and are not suspected. Therefore they are quit.

144. Quidam clericus Michael nomine inventus fuit occisus ante monasterium Sancti Nicholai a quodam ignoto qui fugit, et nescitur quo devenit. Et quia justiciarii nesciunt quis exigendus sit ad utlagandum pro morte illa nec potest eis constare per aliquam inquisicionem factam quis fuerit ille malefactor et attachiamenta et inquisiciones de morte hominis usque nunc (fn. 12) fecerunt vicecomites et non camerarius, quesitum est a maiore et civibus quale iudicium faciendum fuerit de vicecomitibus qui nullum attachiamentum vel inquisicionem inde fecerunt, qui dicunt quod vicecomites non sunt in culpa nec esse debent maxime cum hoc fuit factum sero et longe a domibus vicecomitum, nec vicecomites aliquid inde sciverunt usque mane. Ideo loquendum etc.

A clerk named Michael was found murdered before St. Nicholas Cole Abbey by an unknown man who fled. No one knows where he went and because the justices do not know who is to be put in exigent for outlawry for the death, nor can they discover from any inquest made, who the malefactor was, and attachments and inquests in cases of homicide have, up to the present [i.e. 1244], been made by the sheriffs and not by the chamberlain, they enquire of the mayor and citizens what judgment should be made concerning the sheriffs for making no attachments or inquest. They answer that the sheriffs are not at fault, nor should they be blamed, more especially since the deed was done in the evening and far from their homes, nor did they know anything about it until the morning. Therefore let the matter be discussed etc.

145. Quidam Willelmus Baggard verberavit Thomam le Porker qui postea obiit et fugit et fuit in franco plegio in soka prioris Sancte Trinitatis. Ideo in misericordia. Et Margeria uxor ipsius Thome venit et neminem male credit de morte illa. Et quesitum est a maiore et civibus qualiter predictus Thomas obiit, dicunt quod predictus Willelmus verberavit ipsum Thomam, set bene dicunt quod inde non obiit nec ipsum nec aliquem alium male credunt de morte illa. Et Willelmus capiatur pro transgressione illa.

One William Baggard beat Thomas le Porker, who afterwards died. He fled. He was in frankpledge in the soke of the prior of Holy Trinity. Therefore [? the soke is] in mercy. Margery, Thomas's wife comes, but suspects no one of the death. Asked how Thomas died, the mayor and citizens say that William beat him; but they aver that he did not die of the beating, and they do not suspect William or anyone else of the death. William is to be taken into custody for the trespass.

146. Eodem anno (fn. 13) apud la Barre in comitatu Cancie accidit quod quidam Rogerus le Sauser et quedam ancilla Inga nomine exierunt de Civitate Londoniarum de domo Isolde de Tateshale et iverunt apud la Garre et detulerunt secum ignem in quadam olla ad comburendum domum Jocei de la Garre quam domum ibidem combusserunt, etidem Rogerus predictum Joceum quadam sagitta occisit et fugit ad ecclesiam de Upchirche et ibi cognovit factum et abiuravit regnum. Et requisitus per quem et ob quam causam hoc fecerat, dicit quod predicta Isolda (fn. 14) eum ibidem miserat, ad predictam Ingam defendendam et predictam domum comburendam, et in crastino predicta Inga Londonias est reversa ad domum predicte Isolde ubi statim capta fuit et imprisonata et super facto illo convicta et combusta. Et predicta Isolda propter hoc capta fuit et attachiata et posita fuit per plegios secundum legem Civitatis usque ad hec placita. Modo venit et requisita qualiter vult se defendere de huiusmodi precepto, dicit quod vult defendere se secundum legem Civitatis, quod nec predicta domus fuit combusta, nec predictus Josceus interfectus per preceptum suum vel consilium et assensum suum. (fn. 15)

In the same year Roger le Sauser and a maid-servant named Inga left the house of Isolde of Tattershall in the City of London, and went to Gore in the county of Kent, carrying with them in a pot fire with which to burn down the house of Joce of Gore. They burned the house, and Roger killed Joce with an arrow, and fled to the church of Upchurch, where he acknowledged the deed and abjured the realm. Asked through whom and for what reason he committed the crime, he said that Isolde sent him there to defend Inga and burn the house. Next day Inga returned to London to Isolde's house, and was at once arrested and imprisoned; and having been convicted of the deed, was burned. Isolde was on this account taken and attached and released on bail according to the law of the City until the present pleas. She now comes, and asked how she wishes to defend herself against an accusation of this kind, she says that she wishes to defend herself according to the law of the City, to prove that the house was not burned, nor was Joce killed, by her order, or with her counsel and consent.

[m. 4] Adhuc de anno vicesimo quarto.

147. Eodem anno quidam batellus et quoddam rete inventa fuerunt in aqua Tamisie. Et quia dictum fuit quod duo homines ceciderunt de batello illo et submersi erant, et nescitur quo devenerunt nec qui fuerunt et nichil fuit ibi nisi infortunium, fuerunt batellus et rete appreciata pro x s. unde vicecomites respondebunt. Et quia nulla inquisicio facta fuit de predictis batello et reti nec possunt constare justiciarii, utrum aliquis submersus fuerit necne in predicto batello vel quod debeat esse banum vel weyvum nec vicecomites istud ostenderunt. Ideo in [misericordia].

In the same year, a boat and a net were found in the Thames, and because it was said that two men fell from the boat and were drowned, and it was not known what became of them or who they were, and there was no question of anything save misadventure, the boat and net were valued at 10s., for which the sheriffs will answer. No inquest was held concerning the boat and the net, nor can the justices ascertain whether or not anyone in the boat was drowned, or what should be the bane or waif, and the sheriffs showed nothing. Therefore they are in mercy.

148. Gilo Niger et Gilbertus serviens eius et Robertus le Peytevin clericus vulneraverunt Warinum vinetarium fere ad mortem et fugerunt. Et Gilbertus fugit (fn. 16) ad ecclesiam Sancte Marie de Somersete. Ita quod vicecomites posuerunt vigiliam super eum; inde evasit. Et maior et cives requisiti quid faciendum sit de vicecomitibus in hoc casu utrum bene fecerunt necne quod ipsum evadere permiserunt, dicunt quod non est eorum consulendo quod aliquis vicecomes penam incurrat pro huiusmodi evasione. Ideo loquendum et Warinus vivit nec sequitur versus eos nec unquam secutus fuit. Ideo dictum est vicecomitibus quod si redierit capiatur.

Gilo Black, and Gilbert his servant, and Robert le Peytevin, clerk, beat Warin the Vintner almost to death, and fled. Gilbert fled to the church of

St. Mary Somerset, and although the sheriffs set a watch on him, he escaped. The mayor and citizens, asked what ought to be done to the sheriffs in this case, and whether they did well or not in allowing him to escape, say that, in their opinion, no sheriff should incur a penalty for such an escape. Therefore let there be a discussion. Warin is still alive, and does not prosecute [his assailants], nor has he ever done so. The sheriffs are told that if Gilbert returns he is to be taken into custody.

149. Eodem anno quidam Clemens filius Willelmi de Sancto Botulpho qui furatus fuit duas juventas, fugit ad ecclesiam Beate Marie de Bothhaugh et cognovit latrocinium et abiuravit regnum. Catalla eius v s. unde vicecomites respondeant.

In the same year, Clement, son of William of St. Botulph, who had stolen two heifers, fled to the church of St. Mary Bothaw and acknowledged the theft and abjured the realm. He had chattels worth 5s., for which the sheriffs are to answer.

150. Margeria filia Hugonis Chaumberlein et Agnes filia Roberti filii Reginaldi fugerunt ad ecclesiam Beate Marie de Aldermannechirche et ibi cognovit recognitionem [sic]. Nulla habuerunt catalla.

Margery, daughter of Hugh Chaumberlein, and Agnes, daughter of Robert son of Reginald, fled to the church of St. Mary Aldermanbury, and there acknowledged (? their deed). They had no chattels.

151. Ricardus Bernere, Rogerus filius Semanni Queneman et Ricardus filius Reginaldi de Haspesbrigges latrones ignoti fu[g]erunt ad ecclesiam et abiuraverunt regnum. Nulla habuerunt catalla.

Richard Bernere, Roger son of Seman Queneman, and Richard son of Reginald de Haspesbrigges, 'unknown' and thieves, [fled] to a church and abjured the realm. They had no chattels.

Footnotes

  • 1. Margin: Nota quod non oportet clericus esse in franco plegio.
  • 2. ? Fleet Street. Stow identifies the Fleet with the River of Wells, H. A. Harben, Dictionary of London (1918), 234.
  • 3. Margin: Nota de inquisicione facta per constabularium Turris pro mortejudeorum, as in Liber Ordinationum f. 209d and Liber Albus, i, 74 and 99.
  • 4. This has been misread as conflatu in both Liber Ordinationum and Liber Albus.
  • 5. See 345.
  • 6. Margin: Infortunium. Nota and quia de pueris infra etatem, added in a 14thcentury hand.
  • 7. Margin: Infortunium.
  • 8. Margin: abiuracio.
  • 9. Margin: Nota de quodam homine qui occidit quosdam infra libertatem Civitatis ductus fuit ad Bancum regis et ibi habuit iudicium.
  • 10. Beaven, i, 367 suggests Ludgate and Newgate (i.e. the modern Farringdon) for an earlier period; no definite date can be set for his tenure of office.
  • 11. Margin: Nota de franco plegio amerciato, as in Liber Albus, i, 74 and 99.
  • 12. Margin: Nota de inquisicionibus faciendis, as in Liber Ordinationum, f. 220 and Liber Albus, i, 100, which is extended ibid, i, 74: De inquisitionibus de morte cuiusdam, occisi per quendam ignotum qui fugit, et nescitur quo devenit.
  • 13. Margin: De mulieribus dimittendis per plegios usque ad iter justiciariorum almost as in Liber Ordinationum, f. 220, but in Liber Albus, i, 100–1 the entry is divided into two chapters xxxiv and xxxv with separate headings: Abiuramentum regni and De mulieribus dimittendis per plegios usque ad iter justiciariorum etc., which is further extended in the table of contents, ibid, i, 74: ob feloniam per earundem praeceptum, consilium, et assensum, ut asseritur, commissam.
  • 14. Suggested by Liber Ordinationum, Isabella in original.
  • 15. Arnold fitz Thedmar reports successful completion of the wager of law by Iseuda de Tateshall during the eyre of 1251, Lib. de Ant. Leg. 18.
  • 16. Margin: Loquendum and capiatur (in 13th-century hand); also Nota de custodia non facienda super eos qui fugerint ad ecclesiam (in 14th-century hand), as in Liber Ordinationum, f. 220 r & d and in Liber Albus, i, 74 and 101.