A Farnborough (Kent) Court Roll of 1408

( 21 ) A FARNBOROUGH (KENT) COURT ROLL OF 1408. TRANSCRIBED AND EXTENDED BY M. E. BOND, M.A. THE Court RoU printed below is the first of a series which has recently been deposited in the Museum of Beaumont CoUege, Old Windsor, Berks. It is printed separately here because it stands apart from the remaining rolls both in date and in interest. It belongs to the year 1408, whereas aU but one of the remainder date from 1617 to 1755, and it represents the manorial court in possession of real judicial and administrative powers whereas the later roUs teU of desuetude with a final " Gothic Revival". In 1408 the Court is given the name of " View of Frankpledge ". This name refers to the practice dating at least from the eleventh century,1 by which aU men were bound to form themselves into groups of ten, and each group to have a Headman or " bors-ealdor ". If one man broke the law the other nine were held responsible for his production in court. The supervision and maintenance of these groups became one of the chief duties of the local court of petty criminal jurisdiction which was consequently given the name of " View of Frankpledge ", even after the actual grouping had ceased and the Headman was simply the vUlage constable.2 The Farnborough roU depicts firstly the appearance of the Headman with aU those who owe suit of court.3 He pays the " common fine "—a contribution towards the expenses of holding the court, and then presents to the Court those who have neither appeared in person nor made their excuses for non-appearance. After these have been fined the criminal cases are heard : one man has been brawling, another has overcharged for leather or the use of his mUl; women have been breaking the Assize of Ale. They are aU fined by the common judgment of the suitors4 and the sums they are to pay are fixed by the " Affeerers " whose names are added at the foot of the RoU. The RoU thus reveals the normal working of mediaeval vUlage hfe. As Vinogradoff has said, " The local unity does not aot through the personahty of the lord of the manor, but through chosen or customary representatives of a community . . . there is no question of enforcing 1 See Select Pleas in Manorial Courts, Vol. I, ed. F. W. Maitland, Introduction, p. xxxvi. 3 At the end of the Middle Ages, and still more in the seventeenth century under the influence of Coke, the title " View of Frankpledge " yielded to the title of " Court Leet ", of. op. cit., Appendix A. 3 This, in spite of the faot that normally either the ohief pledges or the reeve end four men represented the township (op. cit., p. xxx). * Maitland's considered view was that " the whole body of suitors both free .and unfree found the judgments ". 5 22 A EARNBOROUGH (KENT) COURT ROLL. the rule of a local potentate ".1 Although serfdom was in many ways rigorous yet the medieeval peasants did form a self-governing community and the laws and customs they enforced were carefuhy designed to protect the peasant from oppression. There is more to be said for the " Golden Middle Age " than some modern writers aUow, and this Court RoU is but one further fragment of evidence for the communal as opposed to the tyrannical element in mediaeval life. The RoU contains entries for seven townships or boroughs within which there lay some estate over which the Liberty of the Duchy of Lancaster claimed jurisdiction2 but in addition there appear Common Fines of 8d. and 2Jd. paid by borsholders without any township or borough being mentioned. This quite extensive franchise had been annexed to the Manor of Farnborough from an early date and was held by the Duke of Lancaster since the reign of Edward I. I am indebted to the owner of the RoU, Brian Tolhurst, Esq., for permission to print this transcription, and to Dr. E. Jaffe, of Girton CoUege, Cambridge, and H. W. Knocker, Esq., F.S.A., of Westerham, Kent, for most generous help in deciphering and interpreting it. FARNEBERGH (modern, FARNBOROUGH). Visws Franceplegw tentws Die Jovis proximo post festum Pasche Anno B>egni regis Henna qwarti nono. WUHeZraws Haselhersh Borghealdir5 cum tota secta sua ibidem. presents communem. finem v s.4 Item presented qwod Thomas Colgate5 (ii d.), Henrietta Leche (iid), Inglardus Jacob (iid), Johannes BarneweU (iid), Robertus Drye (iid), Robertus Betford (iid), Johannes Sergeant (iid), Johannes SheUe (iid),. et Johewwzes Swetemouth (ud) fecenmtf defaltwrn hums visws. Item Deonisws stake (ixd.) et Johcwmes Fesdyng (iiid) quia pandoxerunt6 panem equinam. 1 In The Growth of the Manor, 2nd edition, p. 361. (1911.) 3 See the map, " The Territorial Interest of John, Duke of Lancaster ", in John of Gaunt by S. Armitage-Smith, 1904. This, however, only shows three of the seven townships mentioned in the Roll—Ash near Farnborough, Strood near Rochester, and Goodnestone near Sandwich. The other manors forming parcel of the Duchy then were Cliffe, Queenborough, Horton, Brabourne and Hastingley. 3 The more usual word for Headman was " borgesaldrus ". 1 The roll is possibly a series of extracts of the most important business only. The later Farnborough rolls, unless they are marked " Extracts ", open with the swearing in of the Jury and a list of names of those excused attendance (Essoins). 5 The figures after each name here and elsewhere in the roll represent the fine imposed. 0 " Pandoxere " means " to brew ", but here presumably the meaning of the phrase is that they " baked horse bread ". Horse bread was simply loaves given to horses. Jurors were regularly charged to present those who baked it unlawfully and by 21 Jao. 1, c. 2, ostlers were forbidden to bake it and were subjeoted to the jurisdiction of the court leet (see passim, Hearnshaw, Leet Jurisdiction in England). A EARNBOROUGH (KENT) COURT ROLL. 23 Item presents qwod Philippus White (iid) fecit iosultum Roberto Cagot contra pacem. Item presented quod Robertas HaUe (Ud) leuauit uteswm1 in matUdam White contra pacem. Item presents qwod Ricaraws Cok leuauit utesmm in Johannem Flemyng iniuste contra pacem. Thomas Mokedyssh tastator2 seruicie ibidem presents qwod Cristina Hankyng3 (hud)—II, Johanna Mayster (nd)—I, Agnes Haselherssh (Ud)—I, katerina kemsyng (vid)—III, Johanna Leche (Ud)—I, Agnes Albard (iid)—I, Agnes Smale (nd)—I, IsabeUa Andrewe (mid)—II, Matilda Atte WeUe (Ud)—I, IsabeUa Cox (find)—II, Margarett Flemyng (mid)—II, IsabeUa Cat (Und)—II, Agnes Cok (nd)—I, Johanna Verdyng (vid)—C, Dionisia Stake (vid)—C, brasiaMeran* et fregerani Assisam.4 Johannes BoUe BorgheaZaw- ibidem presentai Commwnem finem viud. Item presentai qwod Walterws Geter (hd), Bicardus Walbrond (Ud), WSlielmus Horn (nd), Bicardus Carpenter (hd), Johannes Tumour (Ud), Bicardus Tumour (Ud), Thomas Theghe (Ud), Ricaraws Cook (Ud), Georgiws Hankeslond (Ud), Bicardus Godyng (Ud) et Rotulandus FoghUl (Ud) fecemnt Defaltwra huiws visws. Swmma huiws visws (xivs vid—deleted) xvs Uiid. Afferafores Bicardus Lorens Bicardus atte Broke. POWLESCRAY (ST. PAULS CRAY). Visits Franciplegw tentws ibidem Die Lune proximo post festum s&ncti marci Ewangehste Anno supradicto. WHlielmus Hokynden BorgheaZaw- ibidem, cum tota secta sua presentai commwnem finem xnd. Item presentaf qitod WUlieJraits Danvers (Ud), Bicardus Drye (Ud) et Johannes Walkelyn (ud) f&ciunt defaltwm hvdus visMS Item presentai quod Andreus meUere (Uiid) molendinamis de DyngeUsmyUe cepit tholaeum exescive5 1 " Leuauit utesium " (for the more usual " 1. huthesium ")—" he raised the hue and cry ". Under a series of twelfth and thirteenth century statutes all the inhabitants of a township were obliged to pursue a criminal when the hue and ory had been raised. In this case the hue and cry had been raised falsely; in other words, slander had been committed. 3 More normally " gustator ", meaning " ale-taster " or " ale-conner ". 3 The Roman numerals following the fine immediately indicate how many times the offence had been committed—C (Centum) meaning " very often ". 1 They " brewed and broke the Assize " (of Ale), either by overcharging or by brewing " flat " beer—or both. 6 The miller " took an excessive toll ", but " exescive " is unusual. Ducange, Gloss. Med. et Inf. Lat., gives only " exoessivus " adj. 24 A EARNBOROUGH (KENT) COURT ROLL. Item presentai qwod Bicardus Yonge (inid) molendinariws de ScottesmyUe facere eadem. Item presentai qwod Thomas Ropere fecit insultwm Johanni Breche1 contra pacem. Item presentat quod Idem Thomas (Ud) leuauit utesmm in prefatww Johawnem iniuste contra pacem. Swmma huiws Visws ns vid. Afferafores WUlie?mws mawerne Johannes Bokere2 LULLYNGSTON (LTJLLTJSTGSTONE) . Visws Franciplegii tentws ibidem die martis •proximo Ante festum Aposfolorum Bhilippi et Jacobi Anno supradicfo. Johannes atte Wode Borghea?dir ibidem cum tota secta sua presentai commwwem finem Us. Item presentai qwod Johannes Randolf (Ud) molendinariws ibidem capit thohieum exescive Item presentai qwod Johanna Porter (Ud)—I, Johanna Carter (Uiid)—II Roberta (Ud)—I hrasiauerunt et fregerunt Assisam. Summa huiws Visws his nd. Afferafores Johannes Porter Thomas atte Stone. ESSHE (ASH). Visws Franceplegii tentws ibidem die et Anno supradiciis Johannes PascaU Borghea?dir ibidem presenta* commwnem finem vUid iob. Item presentai Bicardus Jaspar BorgheaMir ibidem commwnem finem Ud iob.3 Item presentai qwod Ahcia atte Wood (nd)—I, Ahcia Gnat (hud)— II, Uxor Johannis Clement (Ud)—I hxasiauerunt et fregerunt assisam. Swmma huiws Visws xix d. Afferafores Robertws Gnat Johannes Carles. STRODE (STROOD). Visits franceplegii tentws ibidem die veneris proximo Ante festum Aposfolorum Bhilippi et Jacobi Anno supradicfo. Johannes Neweman BorgheaZdir ibidem cum tota seota sua presentat commwmem finem xud. 1 He " assaulted John Breohe ", » Possibly " Botcere ". * i.e. unus obolus (one halfpenny). A EARNB0R0UGH (KENT) COURT ROLL. 25 Item presentat qwod Johannes Warner (vid) molendinariws de Cobham mUle capit tftolnewm exescive etc. Item presentai Simon Rede tastator seruicie ibidem qwod Johanna Horewold (iihd)—II, Johanna Trepitt (vid)—C, Ahcia PUgrym (vid)— C, Ahcia Scodynton (vid)—C, Johanna Grove (vid)—C, Johanna Badecok (vid)—C, Johanna Reade (vid)—C, (Johanna atte Grove—II, deleted) brasiauerunt et fregerunt Assisam. Swmma huiws Visws hiis xd. Afferatores Johannes PUgrym Henricws Hert. ESTSUTTON (EAST SUTTON). Visws Franceplegii tentws ibidem die Jovis proximo post festum s&ncti Marci Ewangeliste Anno supradicfo. Robertws atte WeUe BorgheaZdir ibidem presentai qwod RadwZ/us Grove (hid) et Johannes Donne (Uid) sunt frunitores1 et vendunt correa2 exescive. Item presentai qwod Johannes Charcheweye (Ud) et Johannes Glovere (id.) sunt Whittowres.8 Item presentaf qwod Johanna Coupere (vd)—V, Johanna atte HUle (hid)—III.4 Swmma huiws Visws xviid. Afferafores Thomas Reygnold. Johannes Robyn. GODNESTON (GOODNESTONE). Visws Franceplegii tentws ibidem die mercurii proximo post festum sancte Trinitatis Anno supradicto. WUlieZmws Salman Borghea?dir ibidem presentai qwod Johanna atte hamme (ihd) est regatrix seruicie.5 Swmma huiws visws Uid. Afferafores. NOTE.—Letters in italics have been supplied as extensions of abbreviations and contractions in the manuscript. 1 " Are tanners ", from " frunire ", to tan. a " Hides ", from " oorium ", a hide. 8 " Whittowres " is dearly " White tawyers " or " tanners of White Leather " (see Murray's English Dictionary, sub. "Tawer"). They, too, have probably overcharged. 4 This entry suggests the regular listing of offences against the Assize of Ale, with the number of ofiences after the fine, but there may simply be assumed some such phrase as " have offended also ", which would make the two women Tawyers. 5 She is " a regrator of beer ". Regrating was a major offence in mediEeval commerce and signified the purohase of large quantities of a commodity in order to resell them at a higher price.