Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 13 Edward II

Coram Rege. Mich., 13 E. II.

Warw. Edith, the daughter of Robert de Grasbrok, appeared in propriâ personâ suâ against John Dunheved of Dunchirche, Oliver Dunheved, John of the Crosse, and two others named, in a plea of rape and breach of the King's peace. None of the defendants appeared and the Sheriff had been ordered to attach them, and returned that he had served the writ on William the Clerk, the Bailiff of the Abbot of Westminster, at la Knolle, who had done nothing. The Sheriff was therefore ordered by writ of "non omittat propter libertatem," to attach them so that they should appear coram Rege at the Octaves of St. Martin ubicunque, etc. (wherever the King might be). m. 4.

Salop. The Sheriff had been ordered to put into the "exigend," John de Hugford, William de Hugford, Simon de Hadyton, and Thomas de Hadyton, and if they did not appear, to outlaw them, and if they appeared to arrest and produce them at this term, to answer the appeal of Hugh de Kynsedeleye (Kinnersley) for the death of Richard de Kynsedeleye his brother, and the Sheriff now returned that Simon had not appeared, and had been outlawed, and the said John, William and Thomas had surrendered themselves at the fourth Court and were now sent up by the Sheriff as prisoners, and Hugh de Kynsedeleye did not appear and was the appellator. He is therefore to be arrested, and the Sheriff was ordered to send the indictment into this Court, on the Quindene of Hillary so that the prisoners might be prosecuted at the suit of the King, and in the meantime they were committed to the Marshalsea, and afterwards Roger de Swynnerton, Baldewyne de Fryville and Stephen de Swynnerton of co. Stafford, Geoffrey de Cornewalle of co. Salop, John de Ludham of co. Norfolk and Richard de Cornewaille of co. Oxon, appeared and became sureties to produce the said John, William and Thomas at the above term and from day to day afterwards, etc. A postscript states that the defendants appeared at the date named, and the Sheriff and Coroners returned that on a scrutiny of their Rolls they could find no indictment or appeal against them for the death of the said Richard. They are therefore quit of the King's suit for the same. m. 116, but marked Rex, 2.

Staff. The Sheriff had been ordered to attach John de Hakedon, Robert le Serjaunt of Slyndone, and Emma, wife of Henry Williams by their bodies and to produce them at the Quirdene of Michaelmas, 12 E. II., to answer the appeal of Alice, formerly wife of Vivian, son of Vivian de Staundon, for the death of Vivian her husband, and they did not appear, etc. (as before), and the Sheriff returned that at the County Court of Stafford held on the Thursday after the Feast of St. Martin, 12 E. II., the said John and Robert had been "exacti," and had not appeared and so from County Court to County Court up to the fifth Court held on the Thursday before the Feast of St. Gregory the Pope of the same year when the said John and Robert surrendered themselves, but they as well as the said Emma were so infirm that their lives were despaired of and without peril of death to them he could not produce them, coram Rege, on the morrow of St. John, he was therefore ordered to keep them in safe custody and produce them at this term.

And the said Alice now appeared and likewise the said John, Robert and Emma. And Alice appealed John de Hakedon for the death of Vivian her husband and stated that on the Thursday in the week of Pentecost, 11 E. II., at the break of day in the vill of Swynesheved (Swineshead) the said John had feloniously struck the said Vivian on the head with a sword of Cologne, and he had languished until the first hour of the same day when he died in the arms of the said Alice, and so soon as the said John had committed the said felony, he had fled, and she had raised the hue and cry, etc., and if the said John denied the felony, she was prepared to prove it against him, as a woman against the King's felon, etc.

John appeared and denied the felony and breach of the peace, and put himself on the country, and a jury was ordered to be summoned for the Quindene of Hillary. A postscript states that John appeared at the Easter term following, and Alice did not appear, and John being prosecuted at the suit of the King appealed, to a jury which was summoned for the Octaves of Trinity, on which day John was produced by the Marshall and a jury stated on their oath that he was not guilty.

The same Alice appealed Robert de Slyndone for the death of Vivian her husband, and stated that he had struck him feloniously with a sword of Florence on the right side of the head at the place and hour named, etc. The proceedings are the same as those against John de Hakedone and the same jury found that Robert was not guilty.

The same Alice appealed Emma wife of Henry Williames for the death of Vivian her husband, and stated that the said Emma and William de Cotes Bedel of Eccleshale, who had been outlawed at her suit, were together in the vill of Eccleshale on the Wednesday in the week of Penticost 11 E. II., at the ninth hour in the house of Roger le Mareschal, when the said Emma had feloniously procured and assented to the death of the said Vivian. The proceedings are the same as those of the last case up to the date of the Octaves of Trinity, on which day Emma did not appear and the Marshall gave evidence that she had died in co. Stafford in his custody and the Coroner had held an inquest on her and he produced the certificate of the said Coroners. m. Rex, 16.

Staff. Edmund Bret had appeared at the Octaves of Trinity last, against Roger, son of Richard de Draycote, Henry Fraunceys, Henry Fox, William Nichol, John Gossyp, senior, William, son of John Gossyp, John Gossyp, junior, William de Marketon, Roger Machen, senior, William de Lee, Richard de Draycote Chivaler, Robert Bek, Peter de Maddeleye, William, son of Roger Machen, Roger Machen, junior, and John de Stonihegge for the death of Roger Bret his brother, for which he appealed them. None of the defendants appeared and the Sheriff returned they could not be found, and he was ordered to put them into the "exigend," etc., and to produce them, if found, at the Octaves of St. Martin, and Edmund now appeared and the Sheriff returned that at the fifth County Court, held at Stafford on the Thursday after the Feast of St. Martin, 13 E. II., Henry Fraunceys, Henry Fox, William, son of John Gossip, and William, son of Roger Machen, had not appeared, and had been outlawed, and that the other defendants had surrendered, but he had not sent them coram Rege, owing to the cost and absence of requisites for their safe conduct which he could not provide in so short a time. He was therefore ordered to produce them at a month from Easter, and the Sheriff, Robert de Grendon, is ad judicium for the above return. A postscript states that the prisoners appeared coram Rege at the above term, but the appellator never appeared, he was therefore to be arrested, and the defendants were committed to the Marshalsea and prosecuted at the suit of the King, and the Sheriff and Coroners were ordered to send the indictment at the Octaves of St. John the Baptist, on which day the Sheriffs and Coroners returned they could find no indictment or appeal on their Rolls against them for the death of the said Roger. They are therefore quit of the same. m. Rex, 18.

Coram Rege. Hillary, 13 E. II.

Gaol Delivery of York Castle, made before the King at York, on the Friday after the Purification of the Blessed Mary, 13 E. II.

Ebor. Joan formerly wife of Hugh de Hepham (fn. 1) had been indicted before the Sheriff for sending two unknown men to kill the said Hugh, and who had feloniously killed him, and one John Lovely of Fetherby, his groom, on the high road, near Aldeburgh. A jury, summoned coram Rege, acquitted her. m. 87.

Warw. The Sheriff had been ordered to produce at this day, the bodies of John, son of John Hastang and William the brother of the said John son of John, and of Richard Jonesprest Hastang, who had been taken and were in his prison, to answer the appeal of Alice, formerly wife of Vivian, son of Vivian de Staundon, for the death of the said Vivian, her husband, and the Sheriff had done nothing. He was therefore ordered to produce them coram Rege at three from Easter. m. (no number).

Warw. Edith de Cresbrok (sic) in propriâ personâ appeared against John Dunheved of Dunchurch, Oliver Dunheved, and three others named, in a plea of rape and breach of the peace. None of the defendants appeared and the Sheriff returned they could not be found. He was therefore ordered to put them into the exigend, and if they did not appear to outlaw them, and if they appeared to arrest them and produce them at the Quindene of St. John the Baptist. m. (no number).

Staff. The suit of Alice formerly wife of Vivian, son of Vivian de Staundon, against John de Hakedene, Robert le Sergeant of Slyndone and Emma the wife of Henry Williames, for the death of Vivian, son of Vivian her husband is respited till three weeks from Easter through defect of a jury, and the defendants are to be committed to the Marshalsea in the interim.

Robert le Vavasur appeared in court and acknowledged a deed by which for his soul and for the souls of Sir William le Vavasour his father, and Sir Walter le Vavasour his brother, and his other ancestors, he had confirmed to the Church of St. Mary of Fountains, and the monks, all the lands they held of his fee in Thorpe Underwode in Burghshire (sic) and in Elnewyk, of the gift of Geoffrey Haget his ancestor.

Coram Rege. Easter, 13 E. II.

Staff. Henry le Rowe of Blithebury, William, son of Ralph del Newelond, Reginald le Wasteneys of Colton, Robert, son of John son of Walter de Colton, and Henry de Caldewall were attached at the suit of Thomas le Rowe of Blithebury, for insulting, wounding, and ill-treating him at Colton on the Friday before the Feast of St. James the Apostle, 11 E. II., and for reaping vi et armis his corn and siligin, and carrying it away to the value of 60s., and for which he claimed ten marks as damages. The defendants appeared by attorney and denied the trespass and injury, and appealed to a jury which is to be summoned for the Octaves of Trinity. m. 5.

Staff. Richard But appeared by attorney against Walter de Monte Gomery, Thomas son of Peter de Gresele and Edmund his brother, William le Hunte, and five others named, in a plea of trespass. None of the defendants appeared, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain those who had found bail, and to apprehend the others, and produce them at the Quindene of Trinity. m. 48.

Staff. Robert le Rotour, Robert de Falde, Henry le Goldsmith, Richard son of Hugh Henry, Nicholas le Barbour, William de Aston, Nicholas son of William Reyner, William le Barbour, Richard Sabyn, and two others named, were attached at the suit of Simon le Wrughte of Apedon for beating, wounding, and ill-treating him at Stafford on the Saturday after the Invention of the Holy Cross, 11 E. II., and for which he claimed £100 as damages. The defendants appeared by attorney and denied the trespass and injury, and appealed to a jury which is to be summoned for the Quindene of Trinity. A postscript states that a jury appeared at Easter term, 14 E. II., and stated that the defendants with the exception of Henry le Goldsmith and Richard son of Hugh Herny were not guilty, and that the said Henry and Richard were not present at the time the assault was made on the plaintiff, but they had procured one John de Salt, who was named in the original writ, and who had not hitherto pleaded, to commit the offence, and that the said John had done it at the procurement and mission of the said Henry and Richard, and they assessed the damages of the plaintiff at twenty marks.

The same Simon appeared by attorney against William Croucok, John le Priour, John Boydel, Geoffrey le Parkere, John de Salt, and two others, in a plea of trespass. None of the defendants appeared and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain those who had found bail, and to apprehend the others, and produce them coram Rege at the Quindene of Michaelmas. m. 48, dorso.

Coram Rege. Trinity, 13 E. II.

Derb. A writ of fieri facias had been issued to raise ten marks from the goods and chattels of Roger de Okoure and Roger de Rossinton, damages adjudicated against them for a trespass committed against Laurence de Okoure of Assheburne, and the Sheriff now returned that he had taken goods and chattells of Roger de Okoure to the value of 40s., but had not been able to find purchasers for them. He was therefore ordered as before, and to pay the money into Court at the Quindene of St. John the Baptist. m. 6.

Staff. William de Trumwyne and William de Pilatenhale were attached to answer the King as well as Thomas de Wedon, that whereas the King had lately sent the said Thomas to his Forest of Hanek, sic (Canock), in the said county to take venison for the King's use during the season of fatness, "de sesonâ pinguetudinis," last passed, the said Richard (sic) William and William had insulted, beaten and wounded the same Thomas whilst hunting within the said forest at Pencrich on the Friday after the Feast of St. Michael 11 E. II., in contempt of the King and to the damage of the said Thomas. The said William and William appeared and denied the trespass and appealed to a jury which is to be summoned for the Quindene of St. Michael. m. 12, dorso.

Staff. Thomas de Wedon who brought a writ of trespass against Thomas (sic) de Pilatenhale and others named, did not appear to prosecute it, and he and his sureties are in misericordiâ. m. 31.

Warw. The Sheriff had been commanded to put into the exigend, Juliana, formerly wife of Thomas Murdak, and if she did not appear to outlaw her, and if she appeared, to produce her at this term to answer for the death of Thomas her husband, and she did not appear, and the Sheriff returned that she had been exacted up to the fifth County Court, when she appeared, and had been taken prisoner, but because she was pregnant he could not produce her without great peril to the life of herself and her offspring, and it was testified in Court that the said Juliana was in good health and capable of appearing before the King at this day, and that the said Sheriff had taken her to his manor of Shelton in co. Leycestre, and that she now wandered at her will out of prison and that the said Sheriff had falsely and maliciously made the said return in favor of the said Juliana, and to retard the execution of the King's precept. The Sheriff was therefore ordered to produce the said Juliana at the Octaves of St. Michael, and the Coroner of co. Warwick was ordered to attach the said Sheriff, and to produce him before the King at the same term to answer to the King respecting the said return. m. 12, Rex.

Staff. The Abbot of Evesham appeared against Joan formerly wife of William de Wrottesleye, Richard de Oveyhoteshaye, and William de Engelton, in a plea of trespass, and they did not appear, and a day had been given to the parties by their essoigns for this day. Afterwards the said Joan was attached by Richard de Wrottesleye and John de Wrottesleye, and the said Richard (de Ovioteshaye), by William de Engelton and Roger le Carter, and the said William by Richard de Wrottesleye and Adam de Wrottesleye. They are therefore in misericordiâ, and the Sheriff was commanded to distrain them, etc., and to produce them coram Rege at three weeks from Michaelmas. m. 51, dorso. (fn. 2)