Roger was a key member of the Coterel gang, a band of medieval outlaws which seems to have served as one of the real-life models for the Robin Hood legends.
Events
Date of Birth: late 1304 or early 1305.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Roger is said to be aged 6 on 3 December 1311 and aged 7 on 10 April 1312 in his father’s inquisitions post mortem.
Date of Death: about 1339.
Place of Death: unknown.
In his wife’s inquistion post mortem, taken 21 February 1369/70, Roger is said to have died “30 years ago”. However, a case from the Close Rolls given below suggests that he may have been alive as late as 1345.
Relationships
Father: John le Savage.
This relationship is recorded in John’s inquisition post mortem.
Mother: Margery.
Margery is recorded as John’s widow in the Fine Rolls.
Spouse: Isabel.
Isabel is recorded as Roger’s wife in her inquisition post mortem. She died 10 November 1369.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
John Savage (about 1331 - 1386) married Margaret Danyers about 1375.
Evidence
from the inquisition post mortem of Henry de Somerbury (CIPM vol. 6, Edw. III, no. 116)
Surrey. Inq. Thursday the octave of St. Michael, 11 Edward II. (defaced.) [1317]
Somerbury in Gomshulve. A messuage, 1/2 caruoate of land, and 20s. rent, held of the king in chief as in socage by service of 14s. yearly, and doing suit at the sheriff’s turn of la Purye in the hundred of Blak’ (?); 19s. 4d. yearly rent held of the abbot of Lettelee by service of 5s. 4d. yearly; 50a. land and 10s. 4d. rent, held of Roger son of John le Sauvage by service of 4s. 6d. yearly; 12a. land and 5s. rent, held of Walter de Brembelhurst by service of 6s.; and 6a. land held of William Man (?) by service of 12d. yearly.
from Bellamy:
The first real reference to the Coterel gang comes on 2 August 1328. On that day James, John and Nicholas Coterel, Roger le Sauvage and their followers, acting on the instigation of one Master Robert Bernard, sometime clerk of chancery, a teacher in the University of Oxford, parson of Edith Weston (Rutland) and registrar of lichfield Cathedral, threw down Walter Can, vicar of Bakewell (Derbys.), in Bakewell church and took 10s. from the offerings.
[citation: Middleton MSS. (in Nottingham University Library) 6/179/1 m. 2. ]
Roger le Sauvage, born 1305, son and heir of John le Sauvage (or Savage) lord of Stainsby manor (Notts.) and of a moiety of Gunshelf (Surrey) was a close ally of the Coterels and took part in many of their misdeeds. He probably joined them because of his debts. In 1328 he borrowed 1,000 marks from Sir William Aune (or Anne), a former constable of Tickhill (Yorks.) and a future maintainer of the gang, entailed Stainsby on his wife Isabel and himself and joined Coterel.
from the Middleton Manuscripts:
Roger le Sauvage, with several others, “slew Thomas Ithel and William de Pare in the town of Asshebourn [Ashborne, co. Derby], on the night of Tuesday in Easter week, 5 Edward III, and burgled the house of Geoffrey le Wright there, and there robbed Roger de Wandesleye of armour and other goods to the value of 100s., and robbed William de Pare of armour and other goods to the value of 50s., and robbed Thomas Ithel of armour, etc., to the value of 60s.” (p. 272)
Roger le Sauvage was present and aiding when James Coterel, Nicholas his brother, Walter servant of James, and William de Eyom slew William Pare and Thomas Ithel. (p. 273)
“William de Aune, knight, is a receiver and maintainer of Roger le Sauvage, who was outlawed in co. Nottingham for felony, and received him at Steynesby [Stainsby, parish of Ault Hucknall, co. Derby].” (p. 273).
“William de Uston is a maintainer of William Bustlard, Walter servant of Walter de Uston, and Roger le Sauvage, outlaws”. (p. 274)
“...James Coterel, Nicholas and John his brothers, Roger Sauvage, [and others] ride with armed force secretly and openly, and are maintainers and receivers of Ralph son of Geoffrey de Repyndon, Roger le Megre, and Reginald de la More, notorious theives, outlawed in that county, and that they received them at Denewalehay in the second week of Lent, in the sixth year.” (p. 277)
“...Gilbert de la Bruere, supplying the place of the dean of Lichfield, Philip de Turvill, John Clarel, and William de Leycestria, canons of the church of Lichfield, are common receivers of James Coterel, Nicholas Coterel, Roger Sauvage, and Walter Jamesman and other outlawed malefactors, and that they received them at Baukwell in their houses, before and after their outlawry, in the fifth and sixth years of the reign. (p. 277)
“...James Coterel, Nicholas and John his brothers, Roger le Sauvage, …, are common malefactors and disturbers of the peace, drawing to themselves unlawful assemblies in public and private places, and …they beat men in fairs and markets, and extort intolerable ransoms. (pp. 277-8)
“...James Coterel, Nicholas and John his brothers, Roger le Sauvage (and others) came with force and arms to Baukwell chuch on St. Stephen’s day, 2 Edward III., and entered the church, and they threw down (deposuerunt) Walter Can, vicar of the church, and took 10s. from the offererings…” (p. 278)
“...James Coterel, Nicholas and John Coterel, Roger Sauvage, [and many others] rode armed in co. Derby publicly and secretly, and sent letters in the royal stile (sub stilo regio) to William de Birchovere for 20l., which they had, and to Thomas Cort of Edensovere [Edensor, co. Derby] for 40s., of which they had 20s., in the fifth and sixth years of the reign. (p. 278)
“...James Coterel, Nicholas Coterel, Stephen de Edenesover, Roger le Sauvage, and Nicholas de la Forde and others unknown, in the fifth year of the reign, took John de Stanclyf in his house at Mapelton [Mapleton, co. Derby], and carried him away at Le Malcave [Malcolf, parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith], and there imprisoned him, and detained him in the house of Nicholas de la Forde for one week until he took an oath that he would never be against them, and besides this they took from him a bond for 20l., to be paid if he opposed them. And that Godfrey Folejaumbe retained divers malefactors for the sake of taking money from men by extortion, and that he thus took 20s. from the vicar of Yolgreve. (p. 279)
“The jurors of the town of Newerk present that Henry de Wynkeburn is the bearer of letters sent by James Coterel, Roger Sauvage and William Pymme to William Amyas of Nottingham to extort money from him.” (p. 280)
“William de Aune, knight, knowingly received James Coterel and Roger Sauvage in his manor of Grineleye [Gringley, co. Notts] after their outlawry…. William de Aune and William de Uston are maintainers of James Coterel and Roger le Sauvage, outlawed for felonies…” (p. 280)
“Inquisition taken at Cesterfeld. The jurors of [the wapentake of] Scarvesdale present that William de Aune, knight, received at the manor of Steynesby, on Thursday after St. Chad, 6 Edward III, Roger Sauvage, James Coterel, Nicholas Coterel, John Coterel, and John de Grymmesby of Lincoln, knowing them to be outlawed, and that he sustained and daily sustains them out of his goods and chattels. And that William son of Hugh del Hethe came, on Thursday the feast of St. Stephen, in the fifth year of the reign, to the house of Robert Fraunceys at Hertestoft [Hardstoft, parish of Ault Hucknall] as an envoy of Roger Sauvage to demand 40s. from Robert by means of threats, by reason of which threats Robert left his house and durst not dwell therein for a long time. And that Roger le Sauvage, William de Uston, John Hare, William son of Hugh del Hethe, William le Couper of Steynesby, and Henry Ody of Asshebourn took Henry son of Albredus del Heth, a free man, and imprisoned him at Steynesby on Monday after St. Dunstan, in the fifth year of the reign, and detained him there for a month, and took and drove away and sold his goods and chattels, to wit four oxen, three cows, five stirks (stirkett'), and 40 sheep.” (p. 281)
“Henry de Wynkebourn, indicted for sending a letter to William de Amyas demanding money for the society calle “la compaignie sauvage,” and for carrying a similar letter to Geoffrey Luterell, knight, acknowledged the charges, and is remitted to prison until the court be further advised.” (p. 281)
from the Plea Rolls:
5 E. III.
Nottingham.
“The juries of divers wapentakes that Roger Sauvage, with others unknown, came by night to Carleton in Lyndryk, viz. on the Sunday before the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord 4 E. III, and feloniously broke into the houses of Sibil de Fourneux and took her goods and chattels, viz., silver spoons and jewels to the value of 100s. and that Roger le Sauvage, lord of Steynesby, with others, had feloniously robbed John, son of John de Balderton, of Newerk, of £4 in money, etc….”
6 E. III.
“…A jury of co. Notts also presented that William de Anne, knight, received Robert Sauvage, James Coterel, Nicholas Coterel, John Coterel, and John de Grymmesby, who had been outlawed, at his manor of Grenneleye, and he also received Walter de Anne his brother, knowing he was a robber, and that he carried the rent of Steynesby and divers victuals to the said Roger Sauvage, James Coterel, and other malefactors in High Peak….”
from the Calendar of Patent Rolls:
1328. February 14. York.
Licence for Roger le Sauvage to enfeoff Geoffrey de Langeholt, chaplain of his manor of Steynesby, held in chief, and for the feoffee to grant the same to Roger and Isabella, his wife, in fee tail, with remainder, if they should die without issue, to the right heirs of Roger. By K.
1329. June 24. Rochester.
Commission of oyer and terminer to William de Herle, Richard de Wylughby, Henry de Hambury and John le Serjaunt of the persons who, with Roger de Wendesley, Thomas parson of the church of Braylesford, Henry le Parker of Braylesford, Henry Bate, Thomas de Rocheford, John son of Matthew de Bradeley, Giles de Irton, Edward de Irton, Robert de Irton, Walter Salveyn, Thomas le Hunte, John de Bradeboume, William de Bradebume, Roger le Sauvage, William atte Wode, John Roger of Holond, Richard de la More del Bugyng, Nicholas Arnald, Laurence Coterel, John son of Ralph Coterel, William de Langeley of Durley, Thomas de Crounford of Wyrkesworth, Hugh his brother, William le Porter of Wyrkesworth and James Cokerel, entered the free chace of Henry, earl of Lancaster, in Duffeld frith, co. Derby, broke his parks at Ravensdale, Shothull, Maunsel, Morley, Beaurpoir, Posterne and Shynyndeclif, hunted in the same without his licence and carried away deer.
1332. March 25. Westminster.
Pardon to John de Mockyng, one of the sheriffs of London, for the escape from his custody of Roger le Sauvage, lately arrested in the city of London by the king's order and imprisoned there for divers felonies whereof he is indicted before Richard de Grey and his fellows, justices of oyer and terminer in the county of Nottingham. By C.
from the Calendar of the Close Rolls:
1331. January 20. Westminster.
To John de Pulteneye. Whereas the king learns by inquisition taken by Henry de Seccheford and Robert de Kelleseye, in the presence of the sheriff of Surrey, that Roger Savage, lord of a moiety of the town of Gumselve, in the parish of Shire, in that county, sold by deed, on Tuesday before St. Peter in Cathedra last, to Tliomaa Bonet, Walter le Heymongere, and Geoffrey Aleyn, fishmonger (pessoner), citizens of London, all the trees and all the underwood and all the crop (vesturam) then growing in 250 acres of his wood called 'East Chirt,' so that the said citizens and their servants should have free ingress at their pleasure to the wood and egress thence upon his soil there to cut, fell, burn, or dig up the trees, underwood, and crop, and to carry the same away, and that the said citizens caused the trees, underwood, and crop to be cut and felled to the quantity of 80 acres, and that they carried away and sold from the wood thus felled to the quantity of 40 acres as their chattels, and that the remainder of the wood thus felled remaining there is worth 18l., and that the wood aforesaid is now in the king's hands and in John de Pulleneye's custody by his commission, with other lands of the said Roger in that county, because Roger broke and escaped from the prison of Neugate, wherein he was detained for certain felonies, and that thus the said citizens are hindered by John from felling the trees, underwood, and crop aforesaid, and from carrying the same away, as the king learnt; the king therefore orders John to permit the said citizens to carry away all the trees, underwood, and crop felled by them; provided that nothing be done to the trees, underwood, and crop still standing without the king's special order.
1333. January 30. York.
To the sheriff of Surrey, Order to supersede, until further orders, the execution of a previous order directing him to deliver the manor of Gomshulve to John de Ifeld, which manor Roger le Sauvage had held of the said John, and it had been in the king's hand for a year and a day because Roger le Sauvage was outlawed for felony, because the king has learned that the said manor, together with other lands of Roger, was taken into the king's hand for other reasons.
To John de Pulteneye. Order to retain the said manor in his custody according to the king's commission to him, notwithstanding the king's previous order not to intermeddle further with it.
A like order to Thomas de Brewosa, who holds that manor by the demise of John de Pulteneye.
1333. May 18. Tweedmouth.
To the sheriff of Derby. Order to restore to Robert Bernard, clerk, late vicar of Boukewell church, diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, his lands, goods, and chattels, which were taken into the king's hand on his being indicted before Richard de Grey and his fellows, justices of oyer and terminer in co. Nottingham, for maintaining and receiving James Coterell, Roger Sauvage, Walter, serjeant of James Coterell, Thomas de Bukstones and William his brother, and John Coterell, outlawed for divers felonies perpetrated by them in co. Nottingham, knowing them to be outlawed, as Robert has purged his innocence before W. archbishop of York, his diocesan, to whom he was delivered by the said justices, according to the privilege of the clergy.
1345. June 6. Westminster.
To William Scot and his fellows, justices appointed to hold pleas before the king. Whereas at the suit of Margaret late the wife of Stephen de Asshewy, daughter and heir of John de Ifeld, and of Andrew Peverell and Katherine his wife, second daughter and heir, by her petition showing that one Roger Sauvage in the time of Henry III held the manor of Gomeshulve, co. Surrey, of William de Brewosa by knight's service and 8l. yearly rent, and William and his heirs were seised of those services until William de Brewosa, William's son and heir, granted them to John in the late king's time, by virtue of which grant Roger Sauvage the younger, now tenant of the manor, attorned himself to John for those services, and although the manor was taken into the king's hand by reason of an outlawry promulgated against Roger for felony, and was restored to John as his escheat, as is customary, and he died seised thereof and the manor descended to the said Margery and Katherine as his daughters and heirs, and they and Andrew entered the manor and held it as lords, yet by colour of an inquisition of office taken before Robert Parvyng and his fellows, late justices appointed to hear and determine divers trespasses and excesses in that county, by which it was pretended that the manor ought to escheat to the king by reason of the said felony, they were amoved therefrom by the king's ministers without due process being made against them in accordance with the law and custom of the realm, …
from the Calendars of the Fine Rolls:
1331. December 2. Clarendon. Commitment during pleasure to John de Pulteneye, citizen of London, of the keeping of the manor of Roger le Sauvage of Gunshelf by Guldeford, co. Surrey, in the king's hand because Roger broke the prison of Neugate wherein he was detained for felonies whereof he was indicted; so that he answer at the Exchequer for the issues thereof. By K. & C.
1332. January 28. Westminster. Commitment during pleasure to John de Pulteneye, citizen of Westminster. London, of the keeping of the manor of Roger le Sauvage of Gunshelf by Guldeford, co. Surrey, in the king's hand as above, to hold with the issues thereof from 2 December last, rendering yearly at the Exchequer 8l. 8s. 0¾d., at which the manor is extended by Ambrose de Novo Loco and William de Weston, and doing to John de Ifeld, of whom the manor is held, and to other chief lords of that fee the services due. By K & C.
1332. March 29. The Tower of London. Sale for 9l. to the same John [de Pulteneye] of the goods and chattels late of Roger le Sauvage in the manor of Gunshelf by Guldeford, co. Surrey, forfeit because Roger broke the prison of Neugate as above. By C.
1369. November 1. [Order to take into the king’s hand the lands of] Isabel late the wife of Roger Savage; Derby.
1370. May 28. Westminster. Order to Robert de Twyford, escheator in the county of Derby, – pursuant to an inquistion made by him shewing that Isabel late the wife of Roger le Savage did not hold any lands of the king in chief in her demesne as of fee in the said county, but held in joint feoffment with her said husband, likewise deceased, the manor of Staynesby, co. Derby, which is held in chief by the service of one sore sparrow-hawk yearly, of the gift and grant of Geoffrey de Langeholt, chaplain, made to her and Roger and the heirs of their bodies by fine levied with the king’s licence before William Herle and his fellows, late justices in eyre in the said county, and that John le Savage, son of the said Roger and Isabel, is their next heir and of full age, – to deliver the manor to the said John after taking his fealty.
from the Calendars of Inquisitions Miscellaneous:
Commission to Ambrose de Novo Loco and William de Weston. Clarendon. 2 December 5 Edward III. [1331]
Extent of the manor of Roger le Sauvage of Gomshulve by Guldeford. Sunday the morrow of St. Thomas the Apostle.
Writ to the sherrif of Surrey. York. 15 December 6 Edward III. [1332]
Inquisition: –Guldeford. Wednesday the morrow of St. Thomas the Martyr.
The manor of Gomshulve, which Roger le Sauvage, a felon, held, had been in the king’s hand since 2 December 5 Edward III.
from the National Archives catalogue:
C 143/200/18
Roger le Sauvage to settle his manor of Stainsby in Hault-Hucknall on himself and Isabel his wife and the heirs of their bodies, with remainder to his own right heirs, retaining the manor of Gomschelf. Derby. Surrey.
2 Edward III.
C 241/102/28
Debtor: Roger le Sauvage of Surrey [held part of Gomshall, Blackheath Hundred, Surrey]
Creditor: Richard de Rothing, citizen and merchant of London.
Amount: £313 6s. 8d.
Before whom: John de Pulteney, Mayor of London; Henry de St Osyth, Clerk.
When taken: 20/05/1331
First term: 11/11/1331
Last term: 11/11/1331
Writ to: Sheriff of Surrey
Sent by: John de Pulteney, Mayor of London; Henry de St Osyth, Clerk.
Endorsement: Derb' Coram Justic'.
1331
C 241/102/35
Debtor: Roger le Sauvage of Surrey [held part of Gomshall, Blackheath Hundred, Surrey]
Creditor: Thomas de Harewold, citizen and pepperer [merchant] of London.
Amount: 200m.
Before whom: John de Pulteney, Mayor of London; Henry de St Osith, Clerk.
When taken: 07/05/1331
First term: 11/11/1331
Last term: 11/11/1331
Writ to: Sheriff of Surrey
Sent by: John de Pulteney, Mayor of London; Henry de St Osith, Clerk.
Endorsement: Surr' Coram Justic'.
1331
G85/13/51
Contempory copy of royal writs and inqusitions of the Sheriff of Surrey touching the manor of Gomshall, Shere, forfeited by Roger le Sauvage through felony, Dec [1332]- Jan [1333]
SC /54/2651
John de Ifeld states that the manor of Gomshall in Surrey, which is held of him, was taken into the king's hand because of the outlawry of Roger Sauvage, who held it, and granted to John de Pulteney to hold at his pleasure. After the king had had the year, day and waste, John de Ifeld sued to have delivery of it, but John de Pulteney has purchased a supersedeas to obstruct this delivery. He requests a writ of sicut alias to the Sheriff of Surrey, to give him seisin notwithstanding this supersedeas. [1333]
SC 8/244/12193
[The petition is only in small parts legible, and appears to concern a claim by Asshewy to rights in a manor held by Roger Savage of John de Ifield, though the exact request is now no longer clear though probably is a request for the petitioner to received into the on-going case in place of his late mother]. [1345]
from Yeatman (vol. 2, section 3, p. 80), citing a pleading quo warranto taken (2 July 1330):
Roger Savage claimed to have hounds for taking foxes (vulpes), hares (lepores), wild cats (catos) and wolves (lupos), through the whole county, and produced the Charter of King John to William fil Walkelin, his ancestor whose heir he is, dated at Lichfield the 3rd April, in the 1st year of his reign. It seemed to the Court that this claim should belong to the Iter of the forest, therefore nothing was done.
Roger Savage and Isabella his wife claimed view of francpledge and whatever belongs to infangenthef, furcas, waifs and free waren in Steynesby. John le Savage and John de Sherwood fined 10s. that they might have the privileges.
from Rotuli Originalium (vol. 2, p. 309a):
Derb’ P’cept’ est Rog[er]o de Twyford esc’ R. in com’ Derb’ q[uo]d capta fidelitate Joh[ann]is le Savage fil’ et her’ Rog[er]i le Savage & Isabelle ux’ ejus def’ de man[er]io de Staynesby cum p[er]tin’ in com’ p[re]d[ict]o q’ de R. tenet in capite p[er] s’vicium unius esp[ar]varu’ sori p[er] ann’ & q’ &c. et accepta securitate, &c. [44 Edw. III]
The inquisition post mortem of Roger’s wife Isabel (CIPM v. 13, Edw. III no. 4)
Isabel late the wife of Roger Savage, or Le Sauvage
Writ, 8 November, 43 Edward III.
Derby. Inq. taken at Chastrefeld, Friday after the Epiphany, 43 Edward III.
Steynesby. The manor, held jointly with Roger her husband in fee tail, to them and the heirs of their bodies, by a fine made in the king’s court at Derby before William de Herle and his fellows, justices in eyre, by gift of Geoffrey Langalt, chaplain. It is held of the king in chief by service of a sore sparrowhawk at the Exchequer.
She died on 10 November last. John Savage, her son, aged 38 years and more, is her heir.
Writ, sicut alias, 12 February, 44 Edward III.
Derby. Inq. taken at Sallowe, Saturday the morrow of St. Peter in Cathedra, 44 Edward III.
Staynesby. Roger le Sauvage was seised of the manor in demesne as of fee and held it of the king by service as above. With the present king’s licence he granted it in fee to Geoffrey de Langeholt, chaplain, who with the like licence granted it to him and Isabel by fine as above. Roger died 30 years ago, and Isabel continued her estate in the manor and died on 10 November last.
Heir of Roger and Isabel as above.
from the Calendar of the Fine Rolls:
(p. 89)
1370. May 28. Westminster.
Order to Robert de Twyford, escheator in the county of Derby,-- pursuant to an inquisition made by him shewing that Isabel late the wife of Roger le Savage did not hold any lands of the king in chief in her demesne as of fee in the said county, but held in joint feoffment with her said husband, likewise deceased, the manor of Staynesby, co. Derby, which is held in chief by the service of one sore sparrowhawk yearly, of the gift and grant of Geoffrey de Langeholt, chaplain, made to her and Roger and the heirs of their bodies by fine levied with the king’s licence before William Herle and his fellows, late justices of the eyre in the said county, and that John le Savage son of the late Roger and Isabel, is their next heir and of full age, – to deliver the manor to the said John after taking his fealty.
References
Bellamy, J.G. “The Coterel Gang: an Anatomy of a Band of Fourteenth-century Criminals” in The English Historical Review, Volume LXXIX, issue CCCXIII, October 1964, pp. 698-717.
Calendars of the Close Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office. (His/Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1902-).
Calendars of the Fine Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office. (His/Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1911-).
Calendars of Inquisitions Miscellaneous: Volume 2 (His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1916).
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem (His/Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1904-).
Calendars of the Patent Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office. (His/Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1906-).
Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton preserved at Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire (His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1911).
Rotulorum Originalium in Curia Scaccarii Abbreviatio. Vol. 2 Tempore Regis Edwardi III. (1810).
Wrottesley, G. “Extracts from the Coram Regis Rolls” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire vol. 14 (1893).
Yeatman, John Pym. The Feudal History of the County of Derby. vols 1-5 (1876-1886).