The People of 1381
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Source
| Type | Indictment by jury |
| Unique Identifying Text | TNA JUST 1/103 m. 2 |
| 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 | Et Bodekesham et Adhuc de hundredo de Stane et de placita tenta ibidem die lune proxima post festum apostolorum Petri et Pauli anno regni regis Ricardi quinto. Predicti xii iurati dicunt quod Iohannes Clement de Queye die dominica proxima post festum Corporis Christi anno domini Regis nunc quarto apud Swaffham Prior' ad domum Thome Torell cepit vii lintheamia precii x s. et keverchefs precii xx s. et unam vaccam cum vitullo precii x s. Et ipse simul cum aliis ignotis bona et catalla predicta asportavit et abduxit et co. Et quod idem Iohannes Clement asportavit de bonis et catallis Iohannis Roger apud Wilburnham Parva contra pacem domini Regis scilicet ad valenciam xl d. tempore perturbacionis. [Clement] Item dicunt quod Iohannes Welles de Queye et Iohannes Wallyngford de Weston Colvyle ex mera voluntate sua fuerunt in societate Iohannis Saffrey et aliorum malefactorum ad expoliandum et prosternendum domum vicinorum scilicet Willelmi Malt et Iohannis Roger et aliorum et co. tempore perturbacionis et co. Et quod idem Iohannes Wallyngford fuit collector populi et communis malefactor et co. Plus de J. Wallyngford in rotulo vito. [Welles] [Wallyngford] [de eodem in Rotulo vito] Item predicti iurati dicunt quod Iohannes Kempe de Dullyngham die dominica et anno supradictis fuit consenciens ad prosternandum domos Thome de Swaffham apud Burwell et Reche que eodem die prostrate sunt proditorie et co. [J. Kempe] Hundredum de Chevele Item presentatum est per xii liberos et co. quod Iohannes Kempe die dominica proxima post festum Corporis Christi anno quarto insurrexit contra ligeanciam suam ut unus capitanus cum aliis ignotis vi et armis vexill' discoopert' equitavit apud Burwell et domum Thome de Swaffham ibidem fregit et bona et catalla ipsius Thome ad valenciam xl s. ibidem inventa cepit et asportavit contra pacem domini Regis et co. Et super hoc preceptum est vice' quod caperet predictos Iohannem Clement Iohannem Wallingford Iohannem Welles et Iohannem Kempe si et co et salvo et co. Et quod habeat corpora eorum coram prefatis assignatis apud Novum Mercatorum die mercurii proxima sequente scilicet post festum apost' Petri et Pauli anno quinto ad respondendum separatim de articulis predictis domino Rege super ipsos presentat' et co. Ad quem diem vic'retornavit quod predicti Iohannem Clemen' Iohannem Wallingford Iohannem Welles et Iohannem Kempe non fuerunt inventi in balliva sua et co. Et quesitur est a prefato vicecom' si predicti indict' seu aliquis eorum se retraxerunt seu retraxerit occasionibus predictis nec ne. Et testatum est per vicecom' et alios ministros Regis ad hoc requisites quod sit. Et eciam que constat prefatis assignatis tam per examinacionem vicinorum predictorum indictatis quam aliorum fidedignorum ad hoc iurat' quod omnes predicti indictati statim post adventum predictorum assignatorum fugierunt extra comitatum occasionibus predictis et noluerunt stare recto et co. Et sciend' est quod prefat' assignat' in propriis personis suis accesserunt apud Dullyngham ad manerium ipsius Iohannis pro veritate in hac parte sciend' et inquirend'. Et compertum est coram eis in forma predicta et co. Et super hoc proclamacione publice fact' per discrecione predictorum assignatorum ut dictus Iohannes Kempe et omnes alii super nominate venirent et redderent se paci domini Regis ad standum recto sub pena forisfaccere bonorum et catallorum et exituum terrarium et tenend' suorum et co. Et ipsi non venerunt. [exitus bonorum et catallorum] . Ideo preceptum est Radulphus atte Wyk Esc' quod seisire fac' ut supra tanquam Rege forisfacere per fugam predictorum indictatorum. Et quod idem Esc' fac' inde debitam execucionem et co. Et sic alias preceptum est vicecom' quod capiat prefatum Iohannem Kempe et omnes alios indictatos si et co. et salvo et co. Et quod habeat corpora eorum coram prefatis assignatis die sabati in festo Sancti Bart' apostoli proximo future apud Cant' ad respondendum domino Rege seperatim de articulis predictis super ipsos present' et co. Et interim quod vice' diligenter inquirat qualiter et quo modo predictus Esc' fecit execucionem et co. et illud plene certificet ad prefatum diem coram prefatis assignatis et co. Ad quem diem sabati vice' retornavit quod predictus Iohannes Kempe Iohannes Clement Iohannes Welles et Iohannes Wallingfold non fuerunt inventa in balliva sua post recepcionem precept' sui. Ex quo ad inquirendum et seisendum exit' terrarum et ten' bona et catalla sua prout superius precipitur vic' retornavit quod Radulphus atte Wyk esc' domini Regis dum ante recepcionem precepti sui ea seisivit per superius et contrarotulment' Simon de Burgh virtute brevis domini Regis ad hoc ei inde direct' prout ad presens sibi constare potest. Et nichil per se inde ulterius actu' est propter tempore brevitate' et co. Et ipsi Iohannes et alii superius indictati solempniter exact' sunt et non venit. Ideo preceptum est vicecom' quod exig' fac' eos de com' in com' quousque utlagent' et co. sive caperverunt et co. et si et co. tunc eos capias et co. Et quod habeat corpus eorum coram prefatis assignatis apud Cant' die mercurii proxima post festum Ephie' domin' proximo future ad respondum domino Rege seperatim de premissis et co. Et vic' habent ibi breve de exigend tunc et co. [Stan'] Item iurati dicunt quod Henricus Simund simul cum aliis ignotis ex mera voluntate sua fuit in societate malefactorum ad expoliandum et prosternendum domos vicinorum et co. Et quod Iohannes Golofre de Brynkelee die dominica proxima post festum Corporis Christi anno quarto cepit bidentes et volatilia Willelmi Malt ad valenciam xx s. in Wilburham Magna et co. Et predicti Henricus et Iohannes capti sunt et venerunt et inde allocuti sunt separatim qualiter de premissis se velint acquietare et co. Qui dicunt seperatim quod non sunt inde culpabile et de hoc ponunt se super patriam et co. Et statim factum est inde iur' pro domino Rege apud Badburham et proclamacione inde factus si quis pro domino Rege et co. et nullus venit et co. Et super hoc xii liberi et co. venerunt electi et iurati. Qui dicunt super sacramentum suum quod predicti Henricus et Iohannes in nullo sunt culpabile de premissis sibi separatim impositis. Ideo eant inde quieti. Et ipsi iurati sunt et co. Et invenerunt pleg' decetero se bene gerend' versus dominum Regem et populum scilicet Michaelem Cok Iohannem Russell Henricum Smyth Henricum atte Chambr' et co. |
| Text (English translation) | Bottisham and hundred of Staine continued; pleas held on Monday 1st July 1381. The aforesaid twelve jurors say that John Clement of Quy on Sunday 16th June 1381 at Swaffham Prior at the house of Thomas Torell took seven linen sheets worth 10 s. and kerchiefs worth 20 s. and a cow with a female calf worth 10 s. And that he along with others unknown carried off the aforesaid goods and chattels. And that the same John Clement carried off goods and chattels of John Roger at Little Wilbraham against the king's peace, namely worth 40 d., at the time of the uprising. They say that John Welles of Quy and John Wallyngford of Weston Colville of their own free will were in the society of John Saffrey and other wrongdoers in the despoiling and tearing down of the houses of good men, namely William Malt and John Roger and others at the time of the rising. And that the same John Wallyngford was an assembler of people and common wrongdoer. (More on John Wallyngford in the 6th roll). The aforesaid jurors say that John Kempe of Dullingham on Sunday 16th June 1381 was an accessory to the tearing down of the houses of Thomas de Swaffham at Burwell and Reach, that on the same day were torn down by traitors. Hundred of Cheveley It is presented by twelve free men that John Kempe on Sunday 16th June 1381 rose up against his allegiance, as a ringleader with others unknown, with force and arms displaying banners, and he rode to Burwell to the house of Thomas de Swaffham and broke into the same, and came upon goods and chattels of the same Thomas worth 40 s. and carried them away, against the king's peace. And because of this it is ordered to the sheriff that he should arrest the aforesaid John Clement, John Wallingford, John Welles and John Kempe, and that they should appear before the aforesaid justices at Newmarket on the following Wednesday, namely on 3rd July 1381, to answer separately to the aforesaid charges presented against them. On which day the sheriff returns that they are not found in his jurisdiction. And it is inquired of the sheriff whether those indicted aforesaid or anyone else can be retrieved or not. And it is testified by the sheriff and other of the king's ministers as to what is required. And furthermore that it was established by the aforesaid assigned and both, by examination of good men of those indicted aforesaid, and of other trustworthy men, sworn, that all those indicted above immediately upon the arrival of those assigned fled out of the county on the aforesaid occasion and refused to stand lawfully. And it is understood that the aforesaid assigned in person went to Dullingham to the manor of the same John in order to understand and inquire into the truth in this case. And it is ascertained before then in the aforesaid fashion. And on this a public proclamation is made by the judgement of the aforesaid assigned that the said John Kempe and all others named above should come and return themselves to the king's peace to stand lawfully under penalty of forfeiture of their goods and chattels and ejection from their lands and tenements. And they do not come. Thus it is ordered to Ralph atte Wyk, escheator, to seize and forfeit [their property] as above for the flight of those indicted aforesaid. And the same escheator should carry this out. And thus it is otherwise ordered to the sheriff that John Kempe and all others indicted above should be arrested. And they should appear before the aforesaid assigned on Saturday 24th August 1381 at Cambridge to answer to the king separately on the aforesaid charges against them. And in the meantime the sheriff should diligently inquire in what manner and way the aforesaid escheator carried out [the seizure of property] and certify this plainly on the aforesaid day before the aforesaid justices. On which Saturday the sheriff returns that the aforesaid John Kempe, John Clement, John Welles and John Wallingfold were not found in his jurisdiction after he was ordered to recover them. Therefore in the inquiry into and seizing of their lands, tenements, goods and chattels as ordered above, the sheriff returns that Ralph atte Wyk, king's escheator, before receiving the said order, had seized them as above, and this was counter-rolled by Simon de Burgh by the king's writ, as necessary sent to him just as at present he is able to ascertain. And nothing further has been done on this at the time of the writ. And the same John and all others indicted above are summoned and do not appear. Thus it is ordered to the sheriff of Cambridge that writs of exigent be issued against them from county to county and they are to be outlawed unless they can be seized. And nothing of itself further than this has been done at the time of the writ. And the same John and others indicted above are summoned with due process and do not appear. Thus it is ordered to the sheriff that writs of exigent and capias be issued against them and they are to be outlawed unless they can be seized. And they should appear in court before the aforesaid assigned at Cambridge on Wednesday 9th January 1382 to respond to the king separately on the charges. And the sheriff has a writ of exigent at this time. Staine. The jurors say that Henry Simund along with others unknown of his own free will was in the society of wrongdoers in the despoiling and tearing down of the houses of good men. And that John Golofre of Brinkley on Sunday 16th June 1381 took sheep and poultry belonging to William Malt worth 20 s. in Great Wilbraham. And the aforesaid Henry and John were arrested, and they were questioned separately how they wished to acquit themselves. They say separately that they are not guilty and place themselves upon their country. And immediately it is done thus by the king's jurors at Babraham, and a proclamation is made if anyone for the king and no-one comes. And on this twelve free men come, elected and sworn, who say upon their oath that the aforesaid Henry and John are not guilty of the crimes of which they are accused, and they therefore go acquitted. And they are sworn, and pledges come for their good behaviour regarding the king and his people, namely Michael Cok, John Russell, Henry Smyth and Henry atte Chambre. |
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People
| ID | First name | Last name | Gender | Occupation | Domicile | Role in source | Incidents | Go to participant page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16250 | Simon | de Burgh | Male | Escheator | Escheator | Go to participant page | ||
| 16248 | Henry | atte Chambre | Male | 3514 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16234 | John | Clement | Male | Stow cum Quy,Cambridgeshire | 3511 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16245 | Michael | Cok | Male | 3514 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16244 | John | Golofre | Male | Brinkley,Radfield Hundred,Cambridgeshire | 3514 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16241 | John | Kempe | Male | Dullingham,Cambridgeshire | 3513 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16240 | William | Malt | Male | 3512,3514 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16236 | John | Roger | Male | Little Wilbraham,Cambridgeshire | 3511,3512 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16246 | John | Russell | Male | Cambridgeshire | 3514 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16239 | John | Saffrey | Male | 3512 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16243 | Henry | Simund | Male | 3514 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16247 | Henry | Smyth | Male | 3514 | Go to participant page | |||
| 16242 | Thomas | de Swaffham | Male | Burwell,Cambridgeshire | 3513 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16235 | Thomas | Torell | Male | Swaffham Prior,Cambridgeshire | 3511 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16238 | John | Wallyngford | Male | Weston Colville,Cambridgeshire | 3512 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16237 | John | Welles | Male | Stow cum Quy,Cambridgeshire | 3512 | Go to participant page | ||
| 16249 | Ralph | atte Wyk | Male | Escheator | Escheator | Go to participant page |
Incidents
| ID | Summary | Description | Type | Go to incidents page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3514 | Henry Simund and John Golofre steal from William Malt | Staine. The jurors say that Henry Simund along with others unknown of his own free will was in the society of wrongdoers in the despoiling and tearing down of the houses of good men. And that John Golofre of Brinkley on Sunday 16th June 1381 took sheep and poultry belonging to William Malt worth 20 s. in Great Wilbraham. And the aforesaid Henry and John were arrested, and they were questioned separately how they wished to acquit themselves. They say separately that they are not guilty and place themselves upon their country. And immediately it is done thus by the king's jurors at Babraham, and a proclamation is made if anyone for the king and no-one comes. And on this twelve free men come, elected and sworn, who say upon their oath that the aforesaid Henry and John are not guilty of the crimes of which they are accused, and they therefore go acquitted. And they are sworn, and pledges come for their good behaviour regarding the king and his people, namely Michael Cok, John Russell, Henry Smyth and Henry atte Chambre. | Larceny: theft of livestock | Go to incidents page |
| 3511 | John Clement steals from Thomas Torell and John Roger | The aforesaid twelve jurors say that John Clement of Quy on Sunday 16th June 1381 at Swaffham Prior at the house of Thomas Torell took seven linen sheets worth 10 s. and kerchiefs worth 20 s. and a cow with a female calf worth 10 s. And that he along with others unknown carried off the aforesaid goods and chattels. And that the same John Clement carried off goods and chattels of John Roger at Little Wilbraham against the king's peace, namely worth 40 d., at the time of the uprising. | Larceny: theft of livestock,Larceny: theft of goods,Trespass to chattels: removal of goods | Go to incidents page |
| 3513 | John Kempe aids at the tearing down of the house of Thomas de Swaffham | The aforesaid jurors say that John Kempe of Dullingham on Sunday 16th June 1381 was an accessory to the tearing down of the houses of Thomas de Swaffham at Burwell and Reach, that on the same day were torn down by traitors. | Trespass to land: throwing down of house | Go to incidents page |
| 3512 | John Welles and John Wallyngford aid John Saffrey in despoiling William Malt and John Roger | They [the jurors] say that John Welles of Quy and John Wallyngford of Weston Colville of their own free will were in the society of John Saffrey and other wrongdoers in the despoiling and tearing down of the houses of good men, namely William Malt and John Roger and others at the time of the rising. And that the same John Wallyngford was an assembler of people and common wrongdoer. (More on John Wallyngford in the 6th roll). | Joining rebel company,Trespass to land: throwing down of house | Go to incidents page |
Incidents and People
| Person | Incident | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry atte Chambre ( 16248 ) | Henry Simund and John Golofre steal from William Malt (3514) | Mainpernor | |
| Michael Cok ( 16245 ) | Henry Simund and John Golofre steal from William Malt (3514) | Mainpernor | |
| John Golofre ( 16244 ) | Henry Simund and John Golofre steal from William Malt (3514) | Accused | |
| William Malt ( 16240 ) | Henry Simund and John Golofre steal from William Malt (3514) | Victim | |
| John Russell ( 16246 ) | Henry Simund and John Golofre steal from William Malt (3514) | Mainpernor | |
| Henry Simund ( 16243 ) | Henry Simund and John Golofre steal from William Malt (3514) | Accused | |
| Henry Smyth ( 16247 ) | Henry Simund and John Golofre steal from William Malt (3514) | Mainpernor | |
| John Clement ( 16234 ) | John Clement steals from Thomas Torell and John Roger (3511) | Accused | |
| John Roger ( 16236 ) | John Clement steals from Thomas Torell and John Roger (3511) | Victim | |
| Thomas Torell ( 16235 ) | John Clement steals from Thomas Torell and John Roger (3511) | Victim | |
| John Kempe ( 16241 ) | John Kempe aids at the tearing down of the house of Thomas de Swaffham (3513) | Accused | |
| Thomas de Swaffham ( 16242 ) | John Kempe aids at the tearing down of the house of Thomas de Swaffham (3513) | Victim | |
| William Malt ( 16240 ) | John Welles and John Wallyngford aid John Saffrey in despoiling William Malt and John Roger (3512) | Victim | |
| John Roger ( 16236 ) | John Welles and John Wallyngford aid John Saffrey in despoiling William Malt and John Roger (3512) | Victim | |
| John Saffrey ( 16239 ) | John Welles and John Wallyngford aid John Saffrey in despoiling William Malt and John Roger (3512) | Mentioned | |
| John Wallyngford ( 16238 ) | John Welles and John Wallyngford aid John Saffrey in despoiling William Malt and John Roger (3512) | Accused | |
| John Welles ( 16237 ) | John Welles and John Wallyngford aid John Saffrey in despoiling William Malt and John Roger (3512) | Accused |
