The People of 1381
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Source
| Type | Indictment by jury |
| Unique Identifying Text | TNA KB 27/482 rex m. 43 |
| Archive name | The National Archives (London) |
| County | London |
| Published source (may be more than one) | Dobson, Peasant's Revolt, pp. 227-8. |
| Text (English translation) | The lord king sent to his beloved and faithful William Walworth his letters close in these words: 'Richard, by the grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to his beloved and faithful William Walworth, greetings. Wishing for various reasons (on a matter touching the indictments made before you and your colleagues, appointed as our justices to hear and determine various treasons, felonies, transgressions and injuries committed in our city of London and elsewhere) to determine before ourselves and not elsewhere the case of. Walter atte Keye, brewer, of Wood Street, indicted for various treasons etc.; we order you to send openly and clearly the relevant indictments with all pertaining to them together with this writ - so that we should receive them by next Saturday wherever we are in the kingdom. We will then be able to act lawfully as the law and custom of the realm demands. Witnessed by myself at West¬minster, 20 November [1381]'. The indictments of which mention is made in this writ are as follows: - The jurors state that Walter atte Keye, leading a company of other malefactors, came to the house of Andrew Vernoun, brewer, at Paul's Wharf, London, on the said Friday [14 June]. Walter criminally and treasonably forced his way into the said house and threatened to kill Andrew and destroy his house unless the latter paid a fine to him. In face of these threats, and in fear of his life, Andrew paid a fine of 3s 4d which Walter received despite its criminal and treasonable form. Accordingly Walter was a common malefactor to take such fines, as he did with many men in the said city of London. Item, the jurors state that Walter atte Keye, brewer of Wood Street, was one of the principal malefactors in that, together with many other rebels unknown to the jurors, he came to the London Guild Hall (in the parish of St Laurence, Old Jewry) on the Friday after Corpus Christi [14 June], Walter criminally and treasonably brought fire with him in order to burn the Guild Hall and a certain book called le Jubyle'. Moreover, on that same Friday, Walter was present with the said malefactors when the king's Compter in Milk Street was broken into and despoiled; and he performed many other illegal actions against the peace and, for this reason, he later fled. Item, the jurors state that Walter atte Keye, brewer of Wood Street, was one of the rebels, etc., and led many other insurgents to the king's Compter in Milk Street on Friday after Corpus Christi [14 June]. While there, Walter was one of the chief malefactors in breaking into and despoiling the Compter and the chests therein: he was looking for a book concerning the constitutions of the city of London (called 'le Jubyle') in order to burn it if he could find it. Walter did other evil things there and for that reason he later fled. He has no chattels to confiscate. |
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People
| ID | First name | Last name | Gender | Occupation | Domicile | Role in source | Incidents | Go to participant page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23931 | Walter | atte Keye | Male | Brewer | Wood Street,Cripplegate Within Ward,London | 4161,4159,4162 | Go to participant page | |
| 23932 | Andrew | Vernoun | Male | Brewer | Paul's Wharf,London,London | 4159 | Go to participant page |
Incidents
| ID | Summary | Description | Type | Go to incidents page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4161 | Walter atte Keye attempts to burn the Jubilee Book | Walter atte Keye with other rebels on Friday 14 June 1381 came to the London Guildhall with fire in order to burn the Jubilee Book. | Arson: burning of documents | Go to incidents page |
| 4162 | Walter atte Keye despoils the king's Compter | Walter atte Keye on Friday 14 June 1381 led many rebels to the king's Compter in Milk Street and despoiled it, and broke into chests looking for the Jubilee Book concerning the constitutions of the City of London. He is fled; he has no chattels. | Trespass to land: forcible entry of close and houses | Go to incidents page |
| 4159 | Walter atte Keye threatens Andrew Vernoun | Walter atte Keye, brewer, of Wood Street, on Friday 14 June 1381 with other wrongdoers went to the house of Andrew Vernoun, brewer, at Paul's Wharf, and threatened to kill Andrew and to throw down his house unless he paid a fine of 3s 4d. | Trespass to chattels: extortion and forcible fine ,Trespass to person: threats | Go to incidents page |
Incidents and People
| Person | Incident | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walter atte Keye ( 23931 ) | Walter atte Keye attempts to burn the Jubilee Book (4161) | Accused | |
| Walter atte Keye ( 23931 ) | Walter atte Keye despoils the king's Compter (4162) | Accused | |
| Walter atte Keye ( 23931 ) | Walter atte Keye threatens Andrew Vernoun (4159) | Accused | |
| Andrew Vernoun ( 23932 ) | Walter atte Keye threatens Andrew Vernoun (4159) | Victim |
