Judicial inquisition (1316)

Post date: Dec 06, 2012 3:20:26 PM

Extracts involving Wateringbury from Kent Keepers of Peace, 1316-1317 (editor Bertha Haven Putnam) published by KAS in 1933 , a transcription (but unfortunately without translation from Latin-those below are my own attempts) of two rolls (charge sheets from local juries) of 1316 and 1317. The 'inquisitions' took place in the context of both economic (pestilence and harvest failure ) and political stress (defeat at Bannockburn in 1314 and division between King Edward II and Earl of Lancaster). In all they cover 319 cases but one case can cover several offenses and Wateringbury seems to be involved more than its fair share. Petty larceny where the goods stolen where under 12d. was not punishable with death. In fact a lot of the cases ended in acquittals. The case of John Shrop of Wateringbury (85 below) who seems to have gone around with a large bunch of keys to assist him in his burglaries is tantalising!

Roll 397

Inquisicio hundredorum de Twyferde et Littlefeld capta ibidem per sacramentum Godefridi ate Melle, Ade ate Broke, Ricardi ate Bourne, Iohannis de Totisham, Iohannis Badde, Iohannis Burgeys, Roger ate Mulle, Simonis ate Mulle, Willelmi Payn, Iohannis de Homherst , Iohannis ate Nesshe, Iohannis de Linleghe, et Gilberti de Grenhulle.

The inquest of the hundreds of Twyford and Littlefield taken under oath from Godefridi ate Melle, Ade ate Broke, Ricardi ate Bourne, John de Totisham [?Tutsham], John Badde, John Burgeys, Roger ate Mulle, Simon ate Mulle, William Payn, John de Homherst , John ate Nesshe, John de Linleghe, and Gilbert de Grenhulle.

84. Qui dicunt per sacramentum suum quod Petronella ate Hulle de Offham fregit grangiam Domini Ricardi de Brenchisle, rectoris ecclesie de Pecham, et asportauit i bussellum frumenti, precij xviij d. Et futara fuit i ouem matricem Rogeri le Smith in eadem villa, precij x d. Et eciam fregit domum , Iohannis Shipherde in Woteringberi et asportauit pannos et alia bona, precij xx s.

They say on oath that Petronella ate Hulle of Offham broke into the grange of Master Richard of Brenchisle, rector of the church of Peckham, and carried off a bushel of corn, value 18 d. And took one ewe from Roger le Smith in the same town, value 10 d. And also broke into the house of John Shepherd in Wateringbury and carried off cloths and other goods, value 20 s.

85. Item dicunt quod , Iohannis Shrop de eadem villa abduxit felonice dous porcos do domo Willelmi ate Lake, precij viij s. et habet clause ad aperiendum diursa hostia pro diuresis feloniis faciendis.

Also they say that John Shrop of the same town feloniously took two pigs from the home of William ate Lake , value 8 s. and had keys to open various doors to commit various felonies.

260. Et dicunt quod Clement ate Wode de Vppecam furatus fuit vj quateria[1] auene Domini Henrici de Leybourne apud Chert in Woteryngbury.

And they say that Clement ate Wode de Uppecam stole six quarters of oats from Master Henry of Leybourne near Chart in Wateringbury.

In this last case Henry of Leybourne appears as the victim whilst in other cases he appears as the perpetrator: see Sir Henry Leybourne's gang includes Wateringbury vicar (1317)

[1] For vj quateria read sex magnas summas.