The People of 1381
Search All View Names A-Z View Locations A-Z
Source
| Type | Indictment by jury |
| Unique Identifying Text | TNA JUST 1/103 m. 1d |
| Archive name | The National Archives (London) |
| County | Cambridgeshire |
| Published source (may be more than one) | Extracts printed in W. Palmer, 'Records of the Villein Insurrection in Cambridgeshire', East Anglian, n.s., vi (1896). Discussed in Powell, Rising in East Anglia, pp. 41-56. |
| Text in Original Language | Adhuc de Hundredo de Stane Item iur' dicunt quod Robertus de Corby iuxta Rokyngham fuit in societate infrascripti Iohannis Greyston dum fecit felonias unde commitus est et quod ipse simul cum aliis malefactoribus ignotis sibi congregatis apud Cantebr' die sabati proxima ante festum Nativitatis Iohannis Bapt' ad quandam naviculam Thome de Swaffham ibidem in aqua venient' contra nund' de Bernewell ivit et illam vi et armis cum potestate sua intravit et ibidem pannos lineos laneos piscem salem et dur' ac alia mercimonia ibidem inventa in manu sua cepit illa felonice asportavit ac homines et servientes dicti Thome de dicta navicula omnino expulsit et illam vendidit cuidam extraneo pro decem marcis quos recepit. Et quod ipse fuit communis insurrector et notorius malefactor toto tempore perturbacionis in comitatu predicto et co. Et ipse captus est et allocutus de feloniis predictis qualiter et co. Qui dicit quod ipse in nullo est culpabilis de premissis sibi impositis et de hoc se super patriam et co. Ideo facta est inde iur' per xii et co. qui ad hoc electi triati et iurati dicunt super sacramentum suum quod predictus Robertus culpabilis est de omnibus sibi impositis. Ideo per discrecionem predictorum iustic' decollatus est ibidem die et anno predictis. Et dicunt quod Robertus est extraneus et habet nullas terras nec bona nec catalla in dicto comitatu et co. [decollatus] [catalla nulla] Walterus Colveys captus apud Bodekesham pro suspectione insurrecionis tempore turbacionis eo quod semel visus fuit in societate predicti Roberti de Corby qui examinatus diligenter de omnibus circumstanciis et loquel' inter ipsos prelocutus qui dicit quod ipsi metu mortis ivit cum eo apud Canteb' vi per ipsum Robertum coactus set nichil male operatus est et de hoc ponit se super patriam et petit quod inquir'. Et super hoc captus inquis' modo debito per quam compertum est quod idem Walterus est bone condicionis et fame et nichil male operatus est tempore perturbacionis predicte et quod coactus fuit ut supra tempore quo fuit in societate predicti Roberti. Et proclamacione factus si quis aliquid aliud erga predictum Walterum dicere velit vel sciat et co. et nulla venit et co. Et super hoc per discrecionem dictorum assignat' recessit quietus capta securitate de se bene gerendo in futurum versus dominum Regem et populum prout lex requirit scilicet per manucapt' Iohannis Loord Thome Spicer Henrici Baroun et Willelmi Sleper. Et ipse Walterus iuratus est et co. [quietus] Stane. Idem iurat' dicunt quod die sabati proxima post festum Corporis Christi anno regni regis Ricardi secundo a conqestum quarto Iohannes Saffrey de Stowe iuxta Angleseye ex malicia propria et mera voluntate sua equitavit ad societatem malefactorum et procuravit eos cum auxilio suo et famulorum suorum ad prosternendum domos Thome de Swaffham in Recheas et asportaverit bona et catalla dicti Thome ad valenciam xl li. Et per assensum suum carecta sua fuit oneratus cum bonis et catallis Thome Torel videlicet plumbum cathedr' langzeteles et alia bona et catalla ad valenciam xl s. felonice et co. Item dicunt quod die dominica proxima sequent' post proclamacionem domini Regis dictus Iohannes Saffrey et alii per procuracionem suam prostraverunt domos Willelmi Malt in Wilburgham Magna felonice et meremium domorum predictarum vendiderunt ad dampnum predicti Willelmi xx li. Item dicunt quod predictus Iohannes et alii per procuracionem suam fregerunt domos port' host' et fenestras Iohannis Roger in Wilburham Parva et bona et catalla dicti Iohannis Roger asportaverunt ad dampnum x li. felonice. Item dicunt quod dictus Iohannes Saffrey misit diversos fideles homines Willelmo Margrete ballivo domini Regis ut mitteret sibi xxvi s. argenti vel domos suos prostraveretur dum potestas sua durat et sic illum minatus fuit. Et etiam tali modo Edwardo Foster et aliis qui fuerunt in inquisicione pro Rege et co. Item dicunt quod predictus Iohannes Saffrey fuit unus capitalis procurator et congregator malefactorum sediciose. Item dicunt quod idem Iohannes et alii expulsaverunt Simonem Andreu de Wilburham Parva et uxorem eius firmar' Thome de Swaffham et posuerunt Margaretam relictam Iohannis Andreu in Wilburham Parva in libero tenemento dicti Thome ad dampnum dicti Thome et co. Et super hoc preceptum est vice' quod caperet eum si et co. et salvo et co. et quod habeat corpus eius coram prefatis assignatis apud Novum Mercatorum die mercurii proxima post festum apostolorum Petri et Pauli anno regni regis Ricardi quinto ad respondum domino Rege de premissis et co. Ad quem diem vic' retornavit quod predictus Johannes Saffery non fuit inventus in balliva sua et co. Et quesitum est a prefato vice' si predictus Iohannes se retraxerit occasione predictis nec ne. Et testatur est per vice' et alios ministros Regis ad hoc requisitos quod sic. Et etiam que constat prefat' assign' tam per examinacionem vicinorum predicti Iohannis quam aliorum fidedign' ad hoc iur' quod idem Iohannes statim post adventum assign' predictorum fugi't' extra comitatum occasionibus predictis et noluit stare recto et co. Et super hoc proclamacione publice facta per discretionem assign' ut dictus Iohannes veniret et redderet se pace domini Regis sub pena forisfact' bonorum et catall' suorum et ex' terrarum et ten' suorum et ipse non venit. Ideo preceptum est Radulfo atte Wyk esc' quod seisin' fac' ut supra tanquam forisfactis per fugam ipsius Iohannis domino Reg' et co. Et quod idem Esc' faciat inde debitam execucionem et co. Et sic al' preceptum est vice' quod capiat prefatum Iohannem si et co. et salvo et co. Et quod eum haberet coram prefatis assignatis die sabati in festo Sancti Bart' apostol' proximo future apud Cant' ad respondum Reg' de articulis super ipsum prescatis [...] predicti Iohannis [....] certificet ad prefatim [...] assignatis. Ad quod die sabati [...] sua post recept' et co. Et quod [...] superius precipit' retornavit quod Radulphus atte Wyk [...] contrarotulavit Simon de Burgh' [...] inde act' est propter tempore brevitate [...] Ideo precept' vicecom' quod exigat [...]. |
| Text (English translation) | Hundred of Staine continued The jurors say that Robert of Corby next to Rockingham was in the company of the aforesaid John Greyston while he committed felonies and that along with other unknown wrongdoers assembled with him at Cambridge on Saturday 22rd June 1381, and they went in a certain small ship belonging to Thomas de Swaffham in the water up to the market at Barnwell and entered with force and arms and came upon cloth, linen, wool, salted fish, dried fish and other merchandise and feloniously carried it away, and expelled the men and servants of the said Thomas from the said boat and sold it to a certain foreigner for ten marks, which [Robert] received. And that Robert was a common rebel and notorious wrongdoer throughout the whole uprising in the aforesaid county. And he is captured and accused of the aforesaid felonies, and he says he is in no way guilty of the crimes of which he is committed and places himself on his country. It was thus decided by twelve elected, tried and sworn who say upon their oath that the aforesaid Robert is guilty of all charges. Therefore by the decree of the aforesaid justices he is beheaded on the aforesaid day. And they say that Robert is a foreigner, and has no lands, goods or chattels in the said county. (Beheaded, no chattels). Walter Colveys was captured at Bottisham under suspicion of rebellion at the time of the uprising and that he was on occasion seen in the company of the aforesaid Robert of Corby, and he was examined diligently regarding all circumstances and speech that took place between them, on which he states that in fear of his life he went with Robert to Cambridge impelled by force, but committed no wrong-doing, and places himself upon his country, and asks for an inquiry. And thus he is captured and it is found by the inquisition that the same Walter is of good character and reputation and committed no wrong-doing at the time of the aforesaid uprising, and that he was impelled for the duration of the time he was in the company of the aforesaid Robert. And a proclamation is made that if anyone speaks otherwise of the aforesaid Walter he should come forward, and no-one comes. And upon this by the decree of those assigned aforesaid he was released and acquitted with surety for his good conduct in the future regarding the king and his people, as the law requires, namely by surety of John Loord, Thomas Spicer, Henry Baroun and William Sleper. And the same Walter is sworn. (Acquitted). Staine. The jurors say that on Saturday 15th June 1381 John Saffrey of Stow-cum-Quy out of malice and of his own free will rode in the society of wrongdoers and gave them his aid and that of his servants in throwing down the house of Thomas de Swaffham in Reach and carried away goods and chattels worth £40 belonging to Thomas. And with his assent his cart was feloniously loaded with the goods and chattels of Thomas Torel, namely, lead, chairs and long benches and other goods and chattels worth 40 s. And they say that on the following Sunday [16th June 1381] after the king's proclamation the said John Saffrey and others under his command broke the houses, gates, doors and windows of John Roger in Little Wilbraham, and feloniously carried away goods and chattels of the said John, to the damage of £10. And they say that the same John Saffrey sent various faithful men to William Margrete, king's bailiff, that he might send to him 26 s. in silver or his houses would be thrown down while he resists his authority, and thus he was threatened. And furthermore in such a way Edward Foster and others who were in the king's inquisition. And they say that the aforesaid John Saffrey was one of the chief organisers and assemblers of wrong-doers seditiously. And they say that the same John and others expelled Simon Andreu of Little Wilbraham and his wife, tenants at farm of Thomas de Swaffham, and placed Margaret widow of John Andreu in Little Wilbraham in the free tenement of the said Thomas, to his damage. And because of this the sheriff seizes [John Saffrey] and he is to appear in court before the justices at Newmarket on Wednesday 3rd July 1381 to respond to the king on the charges. On which day the sheriff returns that the aforesaid John Saffrey is not found in his jurisdiction. And it is enquired of the aforesaid sheriff if he can retrieve the aforesaid John or not. And it is testified by the sheriff and other king's ministers as necessary what is required. And furthermore that it was established by the aforesaid assigned and both by examination of good men of the aforesaid John and of other trustworthy men, sworn, that the same John immediately upon the arrival of those assigned fled out of the county on the aforesaid occasion and refused to stand lawfully. And on this a public proclamation is made by the decree of those assigned, that the said John should come and deliver up himself to the king's peace under penalty of forfeit of his goods, chattels, lands and tenements, and he does not come. Thus it is ordered to Ralph atte Wyk, escheator, that possession and forfeiture is carried out as above for the flight of the said John from the king. And that the same escheator should therefore bring this about. And thus it is ordered to the sheriff to capture the aforesaid John. And he should appear before the justices on Saturday 24th August 1381 at Cambridge to respond to the king on the aforesaid charges. [On which Saturday he does not appear. The escheator Ralph atte Wyk has seized his possessions, and this has been counter-rolled by Simon de Burgh. It is ordered to the sheriff that he should be outlawed]. |
| Image of Source |  |
People
| ID | First name | Last name | Gender | Occupation | Domicile | Role in source | Incidents | Go to participant page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16231 | Margaret | Andreu | Female | 3509 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16230 | Simon | Andreu | Male | Little Wilbraham,Cambridgeshire | 3509 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16217 | Henry | Baroun | Male | 3508 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16233 | Simon | de Burgh | Male | Escheator | 3509 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16214 | Walter | Colveys | Male | 3508 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16211 | Robert | of Corby | Male | Corby,Northamptonshire | 3508,3507 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16229 | Edward | Foster | Male | 3509 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16212 | John | Greyston | Male | 3507 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16215 | John | Loord | Male | 3507 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16228 | William | Margrete | Male | Bailiff | 3509 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16227 | John | Roger | Male | Little Wilbraham,Cambridgeshire | 3509 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16225 | John | Saffrey | Male | Stow cum Quy,Cambridgeshire | 3509 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16218 | William | Sleper | Male | 3507 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16216 | Thomas | Spicer | Male | 3507 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16213 | Thomas | de Swaffham | Male | 3507,3509 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16226 | Thomas | Torel | Male | 3509 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16232 | Ralph | atte Wyk | Male | Escheator | 3509 | Go to participant page |
Incidents
| ID | Summary | Description | Type | Go to incidents page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3509 | Rebellion of John Saffrey | The jurors say that on Saturday 15th June 1381 John Saffrey of Stow -cum-Quy out of malice and of his own free will rode in the society of wrongdoers and gave them his aid and that of his servants in throwing down the house of Thomas de Swaffham in Reach and carried away goods and chattels worth £40 belonging to Thomas. And with his assent his cart was feloniously loaded with the goods and chattels of Thomas Torel, namely, lead, chairs and long benches and other goods and chattels worth 40 s. And they say that on the following Sunday [16th June 1381] after the king's proclamation the said John Saffrey and others under his command broke the houses, gates, doors and windows of John Roger in Little Wilbraham, and feloniously carried away goods and chattels of the said John, to the damage of £10. And they say that the same John Saffrey sent various faithful men to William Margrete, king's bailiff, that he might send to him 26 s. in silver or his houses would be thrown down while he resists his authority, and thus he was threatened. And furthermore in such a way Edward Foster and others who were in the king's inquisition. And they say that the aforesaid John Saffrey was one of the chief organisers and assemblers of wrong-doers seditiously. And they say that the same John and others expelled Simon Andreu of Little Wilbraham and his wife, tenants at farm of Thomas de Swaffham, and placed Margret widow of John Andreu in Little Wilbraham in the free tenement of the said Thomas, to his damage. And because of this the sheriff seizes [John Saffrey] and he is to appear in court before the justices at Newmarket on Wednesday 3rd July 1381 to respond to the king on the charges. On which day the sheriff returns that the aforesaid John Saffrey is not found in his jurisdiction. And it is enquired of the aforesaid sheriff if he can retrieve the aforesaid John or not. And it is testified by the sheriff and other king's ministers as necessary what is required. And furthermore that it was established by the aforesaid assigned and both by examination of good men of the aforesaid John and of other trustworthy men, sworn, that the same John immediately upon the arrival of those assigned fled out of the county on the aforesaid occasion and refused to stand lawfully. And on this a public proclamation is made by the decree of those assigned, that the said John should come and deliver up himself to the king's peace under penalty of forfeit of his goods, chattels, lands and tenements, and he does not come. Thus it is ordered to Ralph atte Wyk, escheator, that possession and forfeiture is carried out as above for the flight of the said John from the king. And that the same escheator should therefore bring this about. And thus is ordered to the sheriff that captured the aforesaid John. And he should appear before the justices on Saturday 24th August 1381 at Cambridge to respond to the king on the aforesaid charges. [On which Saturday he does not appear. The escheator Ralph atte Wyk has seized his possessions, and this has been counter-rolled by Simon de Burgh. It is ordered to the sheriff that he should be outlawed]. | Joining rebel company,Larceny: theft of goods,Trespass to chattels: extortion and forcible fine ,Trespass to person: threats,Trespass to land: forcible entry of close and houses,Trespass to land: forcible ejection of landholder | Go to incidents page |
| 3507 | Robert Corby steals a boat and goods from Thomas de Swaffham | The jurors say that Robert of Corby next to Rockingham was in the company of the aforesaid John Greyston while he committed felonies and that along with other unknown wrongdoers assembled with him at Cambridge on Saturday 22rd June 1381, and they went in a certain small ship belonging to Thomas de Swaffham in the water up to the market at Barnwell and entered with force and arms and came upon cloth, linen, wool, salted fish, dried fish and other merchandise and feloniously carried it away, and expelled the men and servants of the said Thomas from the said boat and sold it to a certain foreigner for ten marks, which [Robert] received. And that Robert was a common rebel and notorious wrongdoer throughout the whole uprising in the aforesaid county. And he is captured and accused of the aforesaid felonies, and he says he is in no way guilty of the crimes of which he is committed and places himself on his country. It was thus decided by twelve elected, tried and sworn who say upon their oath that the aforesaid Robert is guilty of all charges. Therefore by the decree of the aforesaid justices he is beheaded on the aforesaid day. And they say that Robert is a foreigner, and has no lands, goods or chattels in the said county. (Beheaded, no chattels). | Larceny: theft of goods,Trespass to chattels: removal of goods | Go to incidents page |
| 3508 | Walter Colveys acquitted of rising up with Robert de Corby | Walter Colveys was captured at Bottisham under suspicion of rebellion at the time of the uprising and that he was on occasion seen in the company of the aforesaid Robert of Corby, and he was examined diligently regarding all circumstances and speech that took place between them, on which he states that in fear of his life he went with Robert to Cambridge impelled by force, but committed no wrong-doing, and places himself upon his country, and asks for an inquiry. And thus he is captured and it is found by the inquisition that the same Walter is of good character and reputation and committed no wrong-doing at the time of the aforesaid uprising, and that he was impelled for the duration of the time he was in the company of the aforesaid Robert. And a proclamation is made that if anyone speaks otherwise of the aforesaid Walter he should come forward, and no-one comes. And upon this by the decree of those assigned aforesaid he was released and acquitted with surety for his good conduct in the future regarding the king and his people, as the law requires, namely by surety of John Loord, Thomas Spicer, Henry Baroun and William Sleper. And the same Walter is sworn. (Acquitted). | Raising the commons: forcing others to join company | Go to incidents page |
Incidents and People
| Person | Incident | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Andreu ( 16231 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Mentioned | |
| Simon Andreu ( 16230 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Victim | |
| Simon de Burgh ( 16233 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Escheator | |
| Edward Foster ( 16229 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Victim | |
| William Margrete ( 16228 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Victim | |
| John Roger ( 16227 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Victim | |
| John Saffrey ( 16225 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Accused | |
| Thomas de Swaffham ( 16213 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Victim | |
| Thomas Torel ( 16226 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Victim | |
| Ralph atte Wyk ( 16232 ) | Rebellion of John Saffrey (3509) | Escheator | |
| Robert of Corby ( 16211 ) | Robert Corby steals a boat and goods from Thomas de Swaffham (3507) | Accused | Beheaded |
| John Greyston ( 16212 ) | Robert Corby steals a boat and goods from Thomas de Swaffham (3507) | Mentioned | |
| John Loord ( 16215 ) | Robert Corby steals a boat and goods from Thomas de Swaffham (3507) | Mainpernor | |
| William Sleper ( 16218 ) | Robert Corby steals a boat and goods from Thomas de Swaffham (3507) | Mainpernor | |
| Thomas Spicer ( 16216 ) | Robert Corby steals a boat and goods from Thomas de Swaffham (3507) | Mainpernor | |
| Thomas de Swaffham ( 16213 ) | Robert Corby steals a boat and goods from Thomas de Swaffham (3507) | Victim | |
| Henry Baroun ( 16217 ) | Walter Colveys acquitted of rising up with Robert de Corby (3508) | Mainpernor | |
| Walter Colveys ( 16214 ) | Walter Colveys acquitted of rising up with Robert de Corby (3508) | Accused | |
| Robert of Corby ( 16211 ) | Walter Colveys acquitted of rising up with Robert de Corby (3508) | Mentioned |
