The People of 1381
Search All View Names A-Z View Locations A-Z
Source
| Type | Trespass action |
| Unique Identifying Text | TNA KB 27/483 m. 26 |
| Archive name | The National Archives (London) |
| County | Surrey |
| Text in Original Language | Surrey. Robertus atte Tye de Merstham Stephanus Prat de Merstham et Iohannes atte Dene in mia pro plur' defaltis. Iidem Robertus Stephanus Iohannes Willelmus Taillour de Merstham Willelmus Broun de Merstham Iohannes Broun de Merstham Thomas Broun de Merstham Willelmus Stevenservant Prat Iohannes Stevenservant Prat Iohannes Lynkefeld de Merstham Ricardus Tenewene de Merstham et Hugo Williamservant Ropkyn attachiati fuerunt as respondendum priori ecclesie christi Cantuar' de placito quare vi et armis clausum et ffossatum ipsius prioris apud Merstham fregerunt et arbores et subboscum suos ibidem nuper crescentes succiderunt et germina bosci sui cedui ad valenciam decem librarum ibidem nuper crescent' cum quibusdam averiis depasti fuerunt conculcaberunt et consumpserunt. Et alia enormia et co. ad grave dampnum et co. et contra pacem et co. Et unde idem prior per Iohannem Cogg' attornatum suum queritur quod predicti Robertus et alii die lune proxima post festum corpus christi anno regni Regis Ricardi secundi quinto [recte: quarto] vi et armis scilicet gladiis baculis et co. clausum et fossatum ipsius prioris apud Merstham fregerunt et arbores scilicet quercus fraxinos pomos et subboscum suos ibidem nuper crescentes succiderunt et germina bosci sui cedui ad valenciam decem librarum ibidem nuper crescend' cum quibusdam averiis scilicet bobis et vaccis depasti fuerunt conculcaberunt et consumpserunt. Et alia enormia et co. ad grave dampnum et co. et contra pacem dom' Regis nunc unde dicit quod deterioratus est et dampnum habet ad valenciam centum librarum. Et inde producit sectam et co. Et predicti Robertus et alii per Nicolum de Sancto Germano attornatum suum veniunt et defendunt vim et inuriam qu' et co. Et quo ad venir' vi et armis arbores et subboscum predict' dicunt quod ipsi in nullo sunt culpabiles. Et de hoc ponent se super patriam. Et predictus prior similiter. Et quo ad fossatum et depascum predicta dicunt quod predictus prior accusacionem versus eos manutenere non debet quia dicunt quod quilibet eorum tenert unum mesuagium et duas virgat' terre cum pertinent' in Merstham predicta ad que ipsi habent communam pastur' in loco ubi predictus prior supponit transgress' predictam sibi fieri tanquam partem ad liberum ten' suum predictum et quod predictus prior levavit fossatum predictum per quod ips' impediti fuerunt de communa sua predicta ac predicti Robertus et alii fossatum predictum prostraverunt et in loco predicto ut in communa sua depasci fuerunt prout eis bene licuit. Et petunt iudic' ut supra si et co. Et predictus prior dicit quod locus predictus in quo ipse supponit transgress' predictam sibi fieri est separale suum proprium absque hoc quod predicti Robertus et alii habent communam pastur' in loco predicto prout ipsi supervis allegar'. Et petit inde iudic' et dampnum et co. Et predictus robertus et alii dicunt quod ipsi habent communam in loco predicto tanquam partem liberum ten' suum predictum. Et hoc petunt quod inquiratus per patriam. Et predictus prior similiter. Ideo ven' unde iur' coram domino Rege a die Pasche in xv dies ubicumque et co. Et qui nec et co. ad recogn' et co. Quia tam et co. Idem dies datus est partibus predictis et co. |
| Text (English translation) | Surrey. Robert atte Tye of Merstham, Stephen Prat of Merstham and John atte Dene in mercy for several defaults. The same Robert, Stephen, John, William Taillour of Merstham, William Broun of Merstham, John Broun, of Merstham, Thomas Broun of Merstham, William Stevenservant Prat, John Stevenservant Prat, John Lynkefeld of Merstham, Richard Tenewene of Merstham and Hugo Williamservant Ropkyn were attached to answer the prior of Christ Church Canterbury on a plea that with force and arms they broke the close and ditches of the same prior at Merstham and felled his trees and underwood lately growing there, and his coppice wood seedlings lately growing there were depastured, trampled down and consumed by certain cattle. And other enormities etc. at the grave damage etc. and against the peace etc. And thus the same prior by John Cogg, his attorney, impleaded that the aforesaid Robert and the others on Monday after Corpus Christi 4 Richard II (17 June 1381) with force and arms, namely swords, clubs etc., broke the close and ditches of the same prior at Merstham and felled his trees, namely oaks, ash and fruit trees, and underwood lately growing there, and his coppice wood seedlings lately growing there were depastured, trampled down and consumed by certain cattle, namely bulls and cows. And other enormities etc. at the grave damage etc. and against the peace etc. whereupon now he says that he suffered damage worth £100. And therefore he brings suit etc. And the aforesaid Robert and the others by Nicholas de St Germain, their attorney, come and defend the force and injury etc. In regard of (the accusation) that they came with force and arms to the forest and underwood they say that they are not guilty. And they put themselves upon the country. And the aforesaid prior does the same. And in regard of the ditches and the depasture they say that the prior should not uphold the allegations because they say that every one of them holds a messuage and two virgates of land with appurtenances in Merstham by which they have (the right of) common pasture in the place the prior alleges the trespass has taken place as part of their free tenements, and the aforesaid prior built the aforesaid ditch by which they were impeded (to use) the common, and the aforesaid Robert and the others levelled the ditch in the aforesaid place in order to feed their animals on the common as is lawful. They request a trial etc. And the aforesaid prior says that the aforesaid place in which he assumes the trespass has taken place is his private property without this [legal term for denying what has been alleged] that the aforesaid Robert and the others have common pasture in the aforesaid place as they have argued above. And he request a trial and damages etc. And he aforesaid Robert and the others say that they have common rights in the aforesaid place as part of their free tenements. And therefore they request an inquiry upon the country. And the aforesaid prior does the same. A jury is to come before the king's bench at the quindene of Easter ... A day is given ... |
| General Information | Cf. TNA, KB 27/484 m. 10, adjournment of the case until Trinity; see also TNA, JUST 3/164 m. 14d; JUST 3/216/5 m. 184. |
| Image of Source |  |
People
| ID | First name | Last name | Gender | Occupation | Domicile | Role in source | Incidents | Go to participant page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21953 | John | Broun | Male | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21954 | Thomas | Broun | Male | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21952 | William | Broun | Male | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21961 | John | Cogg | Male | Attorney | Attorney | Go to participant page | ||
| 21950 | John | atte Dene | Male | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21963 | John | Fynch | Male | Prior of Christchurch Canterbury | Canterbury,Kent | 3964 | Go to participant page | |
| 21957 | John | Lynkefeld | Male | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21949 | Stephen | Prat | Male | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21960 | William | Ropkyn | Male | Merstham,Surrey | Mentioned | Go to participant page | ||
| 21962 | Nicholas | de St Germain | Male | Attorney | Attorney | Go to participant page | ||
| 21951 | William | Taillour | Male | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21958 | Richard | Tenewene | Male | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21948 | Robert | atte Tye | Male | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21959 | Hugo | Male | Servant | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21956 | John | Male | Servant | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page | ||
| 21955 | William | Male | Servant | Merstham,Surrey | 3964 | Go to participant page |
Incidents
| ID | Summary | Description | Type | Go to incidents page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3964 | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. | King's bench suit brought by John Fynch, prior of Christ Church Canterbury, against Robert de Teye and several other tenants from Merstham for trespass on the prior's enclosure. The accused claim that the prior had enclosed common land and that they rightfully pastured their animals on it. | Trespass to land: forcible entry of close and houses,Trespass to land: cutting down crops or trees | Go to incidents page |
Incidents and People
| Person | Incident | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Broun ( 21953 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| Thomas Broun ( 21954 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| William Broun ( 21952 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| John atte Dene ( 21950 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| John Fynch ( 21963 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Victim | |
| John Lynkefeld ( 21957 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| Stephen Prat ( 21949 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| William Taillour ( 21951 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| Richard Tenewene ( 21958 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| Robert atte Tye ( 21948 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| Hugo ( 21959 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| John ( 21956 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused | |
| William ( 21955 ) | Trespass action by the prior of Christ Church Canterbury. (3964) | Accused |
