Assizes at Lancaster: 4 John - 26 Henry III

Lancashire Assize Rolls.

4 John.

Assizes taken at Lancaster on Friday next after the Feast of S. Luke the Evangelist in the fourth year of the reign of King John [25 October 1202] before John, Bishop of Norwich, Hugh Bardulf, John de Gestlings, Master Roger Arundel and William fitz Richard, Justices in Eyre.

No Roll is now known to exist. See Lancashire Fines, pp. 9–22 and 37, for 30 Fines made at this Eyre from 25th October to 7th November inclusive.

From the Pipe Rolls of 4 and 5 John it appears that 324 cases were dealt with by these Justices in Eyre at Lancaster, and in 60 cases the amercements appear in the Pipe Rolls.

10 John.

Assizes taken at Lancaster on Sunday next after the Feast of S. Michael in the tenth year of the reign of King John [5 October 1208] before Adam de Port, Simon de Patshull, Henry fitz Hervey, Robert de Percy, Alexander de Pointon, Henry de Northampton, Ralph Hareng and Geoffry de L'Isle, Justices in Eyre.

No Roll is now known to exist. See Lancashire Fines, pp. 29–36, for Fines made at this Eyre, on 5th October and 7th December. The Pipe Roll of 11 John shews that the Sheriff paid into the Treasury £261 8s. 5d. on account of amercements at this Eyre in addition to a few others therein detailed.

3 Henry III.

Assizes taken at Lancaster on wednesday next after the Feast of S. Hilary in the third year of the reign of King Henry son of King John [16 January 1218–19] before Philip de Ulcot, Thomas de Muleton, Ralph de Feritate and Lawrence de Wilton, clerk, Justices in Eyre.

No Roll is now known to exist. See Lancashire Fines, pp. 40–42, for 4 Fines made at this Eyre on January 16th, 22nd and 23rd, and February 4th.

1218. November 4. Writ to the Sheriffs of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancaster, notifying the appointment of Philip de Ulcot, Thomas de Muleton, Ralph de la Ferte, William de Vernun (outside his own bailiwick), and Laurence de Wilton, clerk, as Justices in Eyre through those counties. These letters sent to the said Laurence de Wilton by Reginald Rochel, King's messenger. The first day at Appelby on the Quinzaine of S. Martin [26 November]. Patent Roll 3 Henry III, m. 1.

The following letter would reach the Justices while at Lancaster and be entered on the Assize Roll:—

1218–19. January 26. To Philip de Ulcot and his fellow Justices in Eyre, in Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancaster, etc. Whereas it was doubtful and not determined before the commencement of your Eyre by what judgment those persons are to be tried who are arrested for robbery, murder, arson and such like, since the judgment by fire and water has been prohibited by the Roman Church, it is prescribed by our Council for the present that in this your Eyre those arrested for such excesses may be dealt with as follows:—those arrested for the said greater crimes and suspected of being guilty, of whom also, though they should abjure our realm, there would still be a suspicion that they afterwards would do evil, let them be kept in prison and safe guarded, but so that they shall incur no danger to life or limb by reason of our prison; those arrested for medium crimes and for whom the judgment of fire and water would be fitting were it not forbidden, and of whom if they abjured our realm there would be no suspicion of evil doing hereafter, let them abjure it; those arrested for minor crimes, and of whom there is no suspicion of evil, let them find safe pledges for fealty and keeping the peace and be dismissed in our land. As therefore our Council will provide nothing more definite in this matter at present, we leave to your discretion this ordinance to be observed. Patent Roll 3 Henry III, m. 5.

11 Henry III.

Assizes taken at Lancaster on the Morrow of S. Hilary in the eleventh year of the reign of King Henry son of King John [14 January 1226–7] before Martin de Patshull, Ranulf fitz Robert, Brian fitz Alan, William de L'Isle, Richard Duket and John de Lacy, Constable of Chester, Justices in Eyre.

No Roll is now known to exist. See Lancashire Fines, pp. 47–53, for 17 Fines made at this Eyre on January 14th and 20th.

1226. August 30. Writ to the Sheriffs of Lincoln, York, Lancaster, Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmoreland concerning M. de Pateshull and his Fellow Justices in Eyre: that you cause to come before them all Pleas of the Crown that have been pleaded and that have arisen since the Justices were last in Eyre in those parts; and all Pleas and all attachments belonging to those Pleas; and all Assizes and all Pleas that are put down for the first Assize before the Justices, with the writs of Assize and of the Pleas, as more fully is contained in our close letters which we have thereon otherwise sent to each of you. Patent Roll 10 Henry III, m. 2, dorso.

19 Henry III.

Assizes taken at Lancaster on the Octave of S. John ante portam latinam in the nineteenth year of the reign of King Henry son of King John [13 May 1235] before Roger Bertram, Robert de Roos, William de Ebor and Richard de Levington, Justices in Eyre.

No Roll is now known to exist. See Lancashire Fines, pp. 59–73, for 29 Fines made at this Eyre on May 13th, 14th, 18th and 19th.

1234. August 1. William de Ebor, Roger Bertram, Robert de Ros, and Richard de Levington appointed Justices in Eyre in the County of Lancaster (only) for Assizes Pleas etc. Patent Roll 18 Henry III, m. 7, dorso.

26 Henry III.

Assizes Taken at Lancaster on the Morrow of S. Martin in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of King Henry son of King John [12 November 1241] before Robert de Lexinton, Ralph de Sulleg, William de Culeworth and Jolland de Nevill, Justices in Eyre.

There is no regular Roll for this Eyre, but probably the cases noted on Assize Roll 1176, which follows, were taken at Lancaster. See Kirkstall Coucher Book, Nos. 23 and 24, for 2 Fines made at this Eyre on November 12th and 18th; also Lancashire Fines, pp. 79-91, for 30 similar Fines, one of which (No. 81) undoubtedly refers to the Pemberton v. Holland case on Assize Roll 1176, m. 9 dorso.