The People of 1381
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Source
| Type | Petition |
| Unique Identifying Text | TNA SC 8/103/5142 |
| Archive name | The National Archives (London) |
| County | Yorkshire |
| Published source (may be more than one) | English summary taken from the TNA catalogue entry, compiled as part of the AHRC project 'Medieval Petitions: A Catalogue of Exchequer, Chancery and Gascon petitions in the National Archives', led by W. Mark Ormrod (2006-7) |
| Text (English translation) | The petitioner asks that certain bonds by statute merchant were made in fear of his life and should be cancelled, and he seeks compensation for money he has already paid to certain persons for fear of his life, and an order that he may safely return to his house in the city of York. He shows that Whixley, Agland, Pomifreit, Golding, Cotingham, and the most part of the commons of the city of York at their procurement, after the memorable and dreadful rising of the commons of Kent and Essex, accused the petitioner that he was assistant to John de Guisborough in the prosecution made to the king of various insults made to them in the time that he was mayor of the city. By colour of this and without cause or due process of the law, they encroached upon the royal power and took and imprisoned the petitioner and many other worthy men of the city until they should pay various great sums of money; some £100, others 100 marks, and each was to make a bond under a statute merchant that none of them would ever proceed against Whixley etc., in any way, and the petitioner was committed to the prison in the city on Thursday in Corpus Christi and detained there for nine days, and threatened that he pay Whixley 10 marks, and further that he make a statute merchant in £40 to Graa, Berden, Selby, Ampilford, Cotingham and Benetson, that he would never proceed against Whixley etc., and he refused to make the aforesaid payment or bond etc. Then, by Cotingham and others of his coven, he was taken from the prison and dragged away (just like the king's chancellor and treasurer), and for fear of his life paid 10 marks and by subtle malice they made the bond in Hull to Graa etc., and when he brought the said statute, Whixley detained him against his will without any default on the said statute. By reason of a petition made in the present parliament to bring all bonds etc., made during this dreadful time of uprising by anyone in fear of his life, Whixley and the others accused the petitioner that such petition was made at his suit and others of his coven, and they have laid traps for him, to take and kill or imprison him etc., and for fear of his life he cannot return to his house in the city. Response: [None]. |
| General Information | [1382] Datable to the immediate aftermath of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 when proceedings were taken against Simon Quixley by the crown. See ID 3871, 3872, 3874, 3875 (duplicates with different petitioners' names inserted and minor variations) |
People
| ID | First name | Last name | Gender | Occupation | Domicile | Role in source | Incidents | Go to participant page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18223 | William | Agland | Male | Bailiff | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | |
| 18231 | Robert | Ampilford | Male | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | ||
| 18221 | William | Bell | Male | Citizen | Yorkshire East Riding | 3738 | Go to participant page | |
| 18232 | John | Benetson | Male | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | ||
| 18229 | John | de Berden | Male | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | ||
| 18226 | John | de Cotyngham | Male | Saddler | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | |
| 18225 | William | Golding | Male | Bailiff | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | |
| 18228 | Thomas | Graa | Male | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | ||
| 18227 | John | de Guisborough | Male | Mayor | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | |
| 18235 | John | Gunnelay | Male | Chamberlain of York Guildhall | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | |
| 18224 | William | Pomifreit | Male | Bailiff | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | |
| 18233 | Richard | Santon | Male | Chamberlain of York Guildhall | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | |
| 18230 | William | de Selby | Male | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | ||
| 18234 | John | Thornton | Male | Chamberlain of York Guildhall | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page | |
| 18222 | Simon | de Whixley | Male | Mayor | York,Yorkshire | 3738 | Go to participant page |
Incidents
| ID | Summary | Description | Type | Go to incidents page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3738 | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds | The petitioner complains that Whixley, Agland, Pomifreit, Golding, Cotingham, and the most part of the commons of the city of York, after the rising of the commons of Kent and Essex, accused the petitioner that he was assistant to John de Guisborough in the prosecution made to the king of various insults made to them in the time that he was mayor of the city. By colour of this and without cause or due process of the law, they imprisoned the petitioner on Thursday 20th June 1381 until 29th June, along with other worthy men of the city, until they agreed to pay great sums of money, and forced them to make bonds of statute merchant against their will. He asks that these bonds be cancelled, and that he be able to return to the city without fearing for his life. | Trespass to person: false imprisonment,Trespass to chattels: extortion and forcible fine ,Abuse of legal procedure: false accusation | Go to incidents page |
Incidents and People
| Person | Incident | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Agland ( 18223 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| Robert Ampilford ( 18231 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| William Bell ( 18221 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Petitioner | |
| John Benetson ( 18232 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| John de Berden ( 18229 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| John de Cotyngham ( 18226 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| William Golding ( 18225 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| Thomas Graa ( 18228 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| John de Guisborough ( 18227 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Mentioned | |
| John Gunnelay ( 18235 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| William Pomifreit ( 18224 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| Richard Santon ( 18233 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| William de Selby ( 18230 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| John Thornton ( 18234 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused | |
| Simon de Whixley ( 18222 ) | Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds (3738) | Accused |
