World History

12.

Typical Pleas of the Crown Before the Justices Itinerant.

1201–1203. (Nos. 5, 6, 39, 56, 57, 66, and 68 in Select Pleas of the Crown, edited for the Selden Society by F. W. Maitland. Latin originals and translations.)

Cornish Eyre, 1201.

a. The jurors say that they suspect William Fisman of the death of Agnes of Chilleu, for the day before he had threatened her body and goods. And the four neighboring townships being sworn, suspect him of it. It is considered that he purge himself by water under the Assize.

b. William Burnell and Luke of the Well are suspected of burglary at the house of Richard Palmer by the jurors of the hundred, and by the four neighboring townships, which are sworn. Let them purge themselves by water under the Assize.

Lincolnshire Eyre, 1202.

c. Ranulf, son of Richard of Saxelby, appeals1 Alan, Aldane’ son, for that he in the king’ peace and wickedly slew [Rauulf’] father Richard, and this he offers to deraign,2 etc., but he does not assert that he saw the deed. And being asked how long has elapsed since his father was slain, he says eighteen years, but he was then within age and he made his appeal for the first time before Hugh Bardolf. And the twelve jurors being asked if they suspect Alan of the said death, say that they do not. And Alan comes and defends all of it, etc., and craves that it be allowed in his favor that the justices have been in the parts of Lincoln several times since Richard was slain, and [Ranulf] never made his appeal before them. It is considered that the appeal is null. So let Alan be quit. Ranulf in mercy. Pledges for the amercement, Robert of Owmby and Simon of Saxby.

Bedfordshire Eyre, 1202.

d. Aubrey, wife of Peter Crawe, appealed Oliver and Roland, brothers of the parson of Cranfield, for that they wounded Peter her husband. And she has not prosecuted her appeal. And because Peter died, the jurors are asked whether he died of those wounds. They say that he did not die of those wounds. Let Oliver and Roland go quit thereof.

e. The house of a certain woman at Shelton was burgled by night. Robert Fale is suspected of this and other crimes by the jurors and the four neighboring townships. Let him purge himself by water.

Staffordshire Eyre, 1203.

f. Andrew of Burwarton is suspected by the jurors of the death of one Hervey, for that he concealed himself because of that death. Therefore let him purge himself by ordeal of water.

g. Godith, formerly wife of Walter Palmer, appeals Richard of Stonall, for that he in the king’ peace wickedly and by night with his force came to her house and bound her and her husband, and afterward slew the said Walter her husband; and this she offers to prove against him as wife of the slain as the court shall consider. And he defends all of it. And the jurors and the whole neighborhood suspect him of that death. And so it is considered that he purge himself by ordeal of iron, for he has elected to bear the iron.

1Appeal is here used in the sense of formally accusing any one of a crime.

2 To prove in court by one of the regular methods.