The People of 1381
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Source
| Type | Indictment by jury |
| Unique Identifying Text | TNA KB 27/484 rex m. 20d |
| Archive name | The National Archives (London) |
| County | Middlesex |
| Text (English translation) | Middx: Before William Walworth and his associates lately justices of the king appointed to hear and determine divers felonies and treasons in said county it was presented that John Smyth of Lewisham [Leuesham] together with other traitors to the king on the Thursday of the feast of Corpus Christi 4 Richard II in the county of Middlesex feloniously and traitorously rose up and on the same Thursday burned the manor of the Duke of Lancaster called the Savoy and the manor of the prior of Clerkenwell in the same county of Middlesex. Which indictment the king had made among other things to come to be determined. And now, that is to say the Tuesday first after the quindene of Easter in this term before the King´s Bench the said John Smyth comes and is committed to the Marshalsea. And at once led from the Marshalsea he comes and is questioned how he will acquit himself of the said felonies and treasons. He says that the king by his special grace by his letters patent presented in court had pardoned him of the felonies and treasons he had committed, in these words: [paraphrased] Richard by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland to all his bailiffs and faithful men to whom this letter comes, greetings, by the special request of our consort Anne, queen of England, pardons John Welles 'Smyth' of Lewisham otherwise called John Smyth of Lewisham in county Kent of treasons or felonies committed by during the rebellion from 1 May 4 Richard II to the feast of All Saints following provided he is not a principal (rebel) in the said insurrection nor (involved) in the death of the venerable Father Simon, archbishop of Canterbury, or Brother Robert Hales, late prior of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England, then our treasurer, or John de Cavendish late our chief justice, or in the burning of the manor of Savoy, or of the house of Clerkenwell, or the death of the prior of Bury (St Edmunds), and that he is not an approver or appealed of treasons or felonies by an approver etc.; witnessed by me at Westminster 12 May year 5 [1382] For this reason, he seeks to be released from the king's prison; and he goes without day because the charter is within date and he finds sufficient mainprise from Philip Walworth [Walleworth] of London, Richard Waltham of London, Richard Durham of Lewisham [Leuesham] and Thomas Knowell of Bekenham. |
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People
| ID | First name | Last name | Gender | Occupation | Domicile | Role in source | Incidents | Go to participant page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23901 | Richard | Durham | Male | Lewisham,Kent | 4157 | Go to participant page | ||
| 23902 | Thomas | Knowell | Male | Beckenham,Kent | 4157 | Go to participant page | ||
| 23897 | John | Smyth | Male | Lewisham,Kent | 4157 | Go to participant page | ||
| 23900 | Richard | Waltham | Male | London | 4157 | Go to participant page | ||
| 23899 | Philip | Walworth | Male | London | 4157 | Go to participant page |
Incidents
| ID | Summary | Description | Type | Go to incidents page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4157 | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell | It was presented that John Smyth of Lewisham together with other traitors on Thursday 13 June 1381 rose up and burnt the Duke of Lancaster's manor of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell. John Smyth is led from the Marshalsea before the king's bench and produces a pardon by request of Queen Anne; he is mainprised and released. | Arson: burning of houses | Go to incidents page |
Incidents and People
| Person | Incident | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne of Bohemia ( 5717 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Pardon at their request | |
| John de Cambridge ( 19937 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Mentioned | |
| John de Cavendish ( 10740 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Mentioned | |
| Richard Durham ( 23901 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Mainpernor | |
| John of Gaunt ( 5695 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Victim | |
| Robert Hales ( 6778 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Victim | |
| Thomas Knowell ( 23902 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Mainpernor | |
| John Smyth ( 23897 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Accused | |
| Simon Sudbury ( 6098 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Mentioned | |
| Richard Waltham ( 23900 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Mainpernor | |
| Philip Walworth ( 23899 ) | John Smyth takes part in burning of the Savoy and the manor of the Prior of Clerkenwell (4157) | Mainpernor |
