The People of 1381
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Source
| Type | Indictment by jury |
| Unique Identifying Text | TNA KB 27/485 rex m. 33 |
| Archive name | The National Archives (London) |
| County | Hertfordshire |
| Text (English translation) | Hertfordshire It was previously presented before Robert Tresilian and his companions, lately the lord king's justices appointed to hear and determine various felonies and treasons in the aforesaid county, that Thomas Long of Watford was voluntarily with the evil company that rose up against the lord king and his people around the feast of Corpus Christi, and that [he came] to the house of John Lodewyk, the lord king's justice appointed to keep the peace in the county of Hertfordshire, at Digswell, and there he treacherously and feloniously broke into the close and houses of the same John Lodewyk there, and seized and carried off the record, processes and indictments of the said lord king, which were in the same John's keeping there, on the Saturday following the feast of Corpus Christi, in the fourth year of the reign of King Richard the second after the conquest. And it was presented that the same Thomas Longe, on the Sunday following the aforesaid feast of Corpus Christi in the aforesaid fourth year, came treacherously to the house of John Kymperle in the aforesaid town and the same John caused to be handed over to him the record and process and other books of the lord king, and the lord king's commission of the peace by which the same John and others had been assigned to preserve the aforesaid peace in the aforesaid county. The same Thomas feloniously and treacherously carried off the aforesaid record, process, books and commission from the keeping of the said John, and had wished to burn them on his own authority. And he also looked for many books of the same lord king's at the house of John Lodewyk. And it was presented that the same Thomas Longe, together with other malefactors and disturbers of the lord king's peace, on the Friday before the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist in the fourth year of the reign of King Richard the second after the conquest, treacherously taking royal power, against the lord king's peace, and his crown and dignity, also treacherously broke into and cast down a certain house belonging to the abbot of St Albans called 'le Thwerthouerhous' in the town of St Albans, and it is said that on the following Saturday he treacherously broke into and cast down the houses of Robert atte Chamber, Richard Stryveyn and John Clerk at the town of St Albans. And he treacherously broke into the prison of the abbot of St Albans in the aforesaid abbot's abbey in the town of St Albans, and seized and abducted all the prisoners who were in the same prison. The lord king had these indictments brought before him, among others, to be determined. For this reason the sheriff was ordered not to fail etc. but to seize him etc. And now, namely on the Wednesday following the quinzaine of St John the Baptist in this same term, the aforesaid Thomas Longe appeared before the lord king at Westminster and surrendered himself to the prison of the lord king's marshal for the aforesaid reasons; and he is handed over to the marshal. And immediately, led by the marshal, he appears and is asked how he wishes to acquit himself of the aforesaid felonies and treasons. He says that the present lord king has of his special grace pardoned him the suit of his peace that belongs to him for all manner of felonies and treasons done or perpetrated by him in the aforesaid insurrections, by his letters patent which he produces here in court in these words: Richard by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to all his bailiffs and all his faithful to whom the present letters come, greetings. Know that out of reverence for God and at the special request of Anne, queen of England, our most dear consort, and from consideration of the good and faithful conduct of our subjects towards our progenitors and us, which we have experienced before the insurrections of certain rebels of ours, which have lately taken place against us and our peace, and so that our individual subjects might have happier hearts to remain faithfully in faith and love towards us, we have, of our special grace, pardoned to Thomas Longe of St Albans, otherwise called Thomas Longe of Watford in the county of Hertfordshire, the suit of our peace which belongs to us from him, for all manner of treasons and felonies done or perpetrated in any way by him in the aforesaid insurrections, from the first day of May in the fourth year of our reign until the feast of All Saints following, for which he has been indicted, accused or charged, and also outlawries, if any have been pronounced against him for these reasons, and we grant him our permanent peace on this, provided however that he did not kill the venerable father Simon of good memory, archbishop of Canterbury, lately our chancellor, or brother Robert Hales, prior of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England, then our treasurer, or John de Cavendissh, then our chief justice; and that he is not an approver or appealed of such treasons or felonies, where there is a surviving approver or appellant, nor did he escape from or leave prison and not surrender himself to the same prison. Provided always that the parties harmed in the aforesaid insurrections should have and be able to pursue any action by which it is not possible to proceed to a judgement of life, for recovery of their damages and losses in this matter against the aforesaid Thomas, as might seem beneficial to them. In testimony of which thing we have had these our letters patent made. Witness myself at Westminster, the twentieth day of May in the fifth year of our reign. By reason of which letters the same Thomas Longe asks to be delivered from the lord king's prison etc. And when the lord king's aforesaid letters had been inspected and more fully examined, because the date of the aforesaid charter is within the period defined in the lord king's statute for finding sufficient mainprise towards the lord king and his people for good conduct etc., the aforesaid Thomas Longe is told to find sufficient mainprise etc. Whereupon John Eggessale, Richard Lokiere, Richard Vynter and Peter Webbe appear and stand bail for the aforesaid Thomas Longe that he will conduct himself well towards the lord king and his people according to the form of the aforesaid statute etc. For which reason it was decided that the aforesaid Thomas Longe is to go from here without day etc. |
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People
| ID | First name | Last name | Gender | Occupation | Domicile | Role in source | Incidents | Go to participant page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24447 | Robert | atte Chamber | Male | St Albans,Hertfordshire | 4253 | Go to participant page | ||
| 24449 | John | Clerk | Male | St Albans,Hertfordshire | 4253 | Go to participant page | ||
| 24451 | John | Eggessale | Male | Mainpernor | Go to participant page | |||
| 24446 | John | Kymperle | Male | King's justice | 4252 | Go to participant page | ||
| 24445 | John | Lodewyk | Male | King's justice | 4251 | Go to participant page | ||
| 24452 | Richard | Lokiere | Male | Mainpernor | Go to participant page | |||
| 24444 | Thomas | Longe | Male | Watford,Hertfordshire | 4253,4252,4251 | Go to participant page | ||
| 24450 | Thomas | de la Mare | Male | Abbot | St Albans,Hertfordshire | 4253 | Go to participant page | |
| 24448 | Richard | Stryveyn | Male | St Albans,Hertfordshire | 4253 | Go to participant page | ||
| 24453 | Richard | Vynter | Male | Mainpernor | Go to participant page | |||
| 24454 | Peter | Webbe | Male | Mainpernor | Go to participant page |
Incidents
| ID | Summary | Description | Type | Go to incidents page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4253 | Thomas Longe breaks into houses and the prison in St Albans | Thomas Longe, together with other malefactors and disturbers of the lord king's peace, on Friday 21 June 1381, treacherously broke into and cast down a certain house belonging to the abbot of St Albans called 'le Thwerthouerhous' in the town of St Albans, and on Saturday 22 June he treacherously broke into and cast down the houses of Robert atte Chamber, Richard Stryveyn and John Clerk at the town of St Albans. And he treacherously broke into the prison of the abbot of St Albans in the aforesaid abbot's abbey in the town of St Albans, and seized and abducted all the prisoners who were in the same prison. | Trespass to person: abduction,Trespass to land: forcible entry of close and houses,Breach of prison | Go to incidents page |
| 4251 | Thomas Longe steals royal documents from John Lodewyk, king's justice | Thomas Long of Watford was voluntarily with the evil company that rose up against the lord king and his people on Saturday 15 June 1381, and he came to the house of John Lodewyk, the lord king's justice appointed to keep the peace in the county of Hertfordshire, at Digswell, and there he treacherously and feloniously broke into the close and houses of the same John Lodewyk there, and seized and carried off the record, processes and indictments of the said lord king, which were in the same John's keeping there. | Larceny: theft of documents,Trespass to land: forcible entry of close and houses | Go to incidents page |
| 4252 | Thomas Longe steals royal records from John Kymperle | Thomas Longe, on Sunday 16 June 1381, came treacherously to the house of John Kymperle in Digswell and the same John caused to be handed over to him the record and process and other books of the lord king, and the lord king's commission of the peace by which the same John and others had been assigned to preserve the aforesaid peace in the aforesaid county. The same Thomas feloniously and treacherously carried off the aforesaid record, process, books and commission from the keeping of the said John, and had wished to burn them on his own authority. | Arson: burning of documents,Larceny: theft of documents | Go to incidents page |
Incidents and People
| Person | Incident | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert atte Chamber ( 24447 ) | Thomas Longe breaks into houses and the prison in St Albans (4253) | Victim | |
| John Clerk ( 24449 ) | Thomas Longe breaks into houses and the prison in St Albans (4253) | Victim | |
| Thomas Longe ( 24444 ) | Thomas Longe breaks into houses and the prison in St Albans (4253) | Accused | |
| Thomas de la Mare ( 24450 ) | Thomas Longe breaks into houses and the prison in St Albans (4253) | Victim | |
| Richard Stryveyn ( 24448 ) | Thomas Longe breaks into houses and the prison in St Albans (4253) | Victim | |
| John Lodewyk ( 24445 ) | Thomas Longe steals royal documents from John Lodewyk, king's justice (4251) | Victim | |
| Thomas Longe ( 24444 ) | Thomas Longe steals royal documents from John Lodewyk, king's justice (4251) | Accused | |
| John Kymperle ( 24446 ) | Thomas Longe steals royal records from John Kymperle (4252) | Victim | |
| Thomas Longe ( 24444 ) | Thomas Longe steals royal records from John Kymperle (4252) | Accused |
