The People of 1381
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Source
| Type | Indictment by jury |
| Unique Identifying Text | TNA KB 27/488 rex m. 25 |
| Archive name | The National Archives (London) |
| County | Norfolk |
| Text (English translation) | Norfolk It was previously presented before William de Ufford, earl of Suffolk, and his companions, lately the lord king's justices to chastise and punish certain rebels who lately treacherously rose up against the lord king and his people in the aforesaid county, against their allegiance, that John Creyk of Wymondham, on the Monday on the feast of St Botolph the Abbot in the fourth year of the reign of King Richard, the second after the conquest, gathered to himself and raised up a fellowship against the lord king's peace, crown and dignity at Cawston, and there he feloniously broke into the houses of John de Freton, archdeacon of Norfolk, and feloniously and furtively seized and carried off the same John's goods and chattels found in them, namely linen and woollen cloth, and vessels of brass and pewter, to the value of sixty shillings. And that John Betes, barker of Wymondham, a chief and leader at the aforesaid time, threatened John de Wolterton, clerk, with loss of life and limbs, and took from him a fine of twenty pounds on the Wednesday following the feast of Corpus Christi in the aforesaid fourth year. And that the aforesaid John Bedes of Wymondham, barker, together with other unknown people, at the time of the insurrection and riot of the people against the lord king's peace, rose up, namely that on the Friday on the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist in the aforesaid fourth year, he came with force and arms against the lord king's peace to Harpley and there he threatened John de Wolterton, parson of the church of Harpley, that unless he was willing to give him twenty pounds, he would otherwise allow a certain fellowship of robbers to kill and behead the same John de Wolterton, and cast down his houses and destroy and carry off his goods and chattels, and thus, because of his fear of death, the aforesaid John de Wolterton offered and delivered the aforesaid twenty pounds to the same John, and the said John Bedes seized and carried off those monies in the aforesaid form. And the aforesaid John Creyk of Wymondham and the aforesaid John Betes of Wymondham, at the parliament held at Westminster on the morrow of All Souls in the fifth year of the reign of the present king, were also accused by the community of the realm of England as being notoriously the principal leaders, abbeters, agents and first movers of certain malefactors who lately in various parts of the realm of England rose up against their faith and allegiance that they owed to the lord king, and against the same lord king's peace, together with other malefactors, and committed very many treasons, felonies and other crimes. They were accused and their names were delivered into the said parliament by the same community, among other names, to the effect that they and each of them were excepted and completely excluded from all grace made and granted by the same lord king to his people in the same parliament. The lord king afterwards had these indictments, among others, brought before him to be determined. And also the aforesaid names, among other names thus excepted, were afterwards sent by the lord king, with the assent of the nobles and magnates assisting him in the aforesaid parliament, here before the lord king, for the aforesaid reason, to carry out the process on this matter against them and the others thus excepted, at the accusation of the same community. Because of which the sheriff was ordered not to fail etc., but to seize the aforesaid John Creyk and John Betes if etc. And now, namely on the Monday following the feast of the Lord's Ascension in this same term, the aforesaid John Creyk of Wymondham 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 comes, and says that he is the same person who by the name of John Bedes of Wymondham, barker, is indicted of the aforesaid treasons, and also the same person who by the name of John Betes of Wymondham was excepted from all grace in the said parliament, and he is notoriously known by the same names in the said county of Norfolk, and is prepared to answer for the same names etc. Whereupon the aforesaid John is urgently asked how he wishes to acquit himself of the felonies and treasons of which he has been indicted and accused. He says that he is in no way guilty of them, and on this he puts himself on the country for good and ill. Therefore a jury is to appear on this matter before the lord king at the octave of Trinity wherever etc. And who etc. to investigate etc. And in the meantime the aforesaid John Creyk is sent back to prison in the custody of Robert Bray the marshal etc. Afterwards, namely at the octave of Michaelmas then following, the aforesaid John Creyk of Wymondham appears before the lord king at Westminster, in the keeping of the marshal. And the jurors likewise come, who, chosen, assessed and sworn for this, say on their oath that the aforesaid John Creyk is in no way guilty of the aforesaid felonies and treasons, nor did he withdraw himself for these reasons. The same jurors also say that the aforesaid John Creyk of Wymondham is one and the same person who by the name of John Betes, barker of Wymondham, is indicted above of various treasons. And also the same person who by the names of John Creyk of Wymondham and John Betes of Wymondham is excepted in the said parliament from all grace made and granted by the same lord king to his people etc. Because of which the same John Creyk, with regard to the aforesaid felonies and treasons is to go from here quit etc. And as for the fact that the aforesaid John Creyk was excepted from all grace etc. in the aforesaid parliament, because the court is not yet advised to pass judgment on this etc. the aforesaid John Creyk of Wymondham is released on the mainprise of Nicholas Wychyngham, John Gurneys, Edward Heryng and Roger Pogge, who stand bail for the aforesaid John Creyk, to have his body before the lord king from day to day until etc. Afterwards, namely five weeks after Easter day, in the seventh year of the present king's reign, the aforesaid John Creyk appears by the aforesaid mainprise before the lord king at New Sarum. Whereupon the lord king has sent to his beloved and faithful Robert Tresilian and his companions, justices here, his writ close in these words: Richard by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to his beloved and faithful Robert Tresilian and David Hannemere, his justices appointed to hold pleas before us, greetings. It has been shown to us, on behalf of John Creyk of Wymondham, otherwise called John Betes of Wymondham, barker, that whereas he was lately indicted before us of certain insurrections and other felonies, through certain enemies of his, and the same John put himself on the country for good and ill, and was acquitted of the aforesaid insurrections and felonies according to the law and custom of our realm of England, you have not wished to proceed to the delivery of the same John because he was excepted among other persons who were excepted in our parliament lately held at Westminster from all grace to be given by us, to the same John's detriment and manifest danger to his life; concerning which he has begged us to provide him with a remedy in this matter. We, favourably inclined to the aforesaid supplication, insofar as we lawfully can be, command you that, if the aforesaid John is indicted of such insurrections and felonies, and has now been acquitted before us according the aforesaid law and custom, then you are to proceed to the delivery of the same John on this matter, and to have him delivered without delay, the aforesaid exception notwithstanding. Witness myself at New Sarum, the thirteenth day of May in the seventh year of our reign. |
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People
| ID | First name | Last name | Gender | Occupation | Domicile | Role in source | Incidents | Go to participant page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25248 | John | Bray | Male | Marshal | Mentioned | Go to participant page | ||
| 25244 | John | Creyk | Male | Barker | Wymondham,Norfolk | 4335,4337,4336 | Go to participant page | |
| 25245 | John | de Freton | Male | Archdeacon | Norfolk | 4335 | Go to participant page | |
| 25250 | John | Gurneys | Male | Mainpernor | Go to participant page | |||
| 25251 | Edward | Heryng | Male | Mainpernor | Go to participant page | |||
| 25252 | Roger | Pogge | Male | Mainpernor | Go to participant page | |||
| 25246 | John | de Wolterton | Male | Clerk | 4336 | Go to participant page | ||
| 25247 | John | de Wolterton | Male | Parson | 4337 | Go to participant page | ||
| 25249 | Nicholas | Wychyngham | Male | Mainpernor | Go to participant page |
Incidents
| ID | Summary | Description | Type | Go to incidents page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4335 | John Creyk alias John Betes plunders John de Freton, archdeacon of Norfolk | John Creyk of Wymondham, on Monday 17 June 1381, gathered to himself and raised up a fellowship against the lord king's peace, crown and dignity at Cawston, and there he feloniously broke into the houses of John de Freton, archdeacon of Norfolk, and feloniously and furtively seized and carried off the same John's goods and chattels found in them, namely linen and woollen cloth, and vessels of brass and pewter, to the value of sixty shillings. | Larceny: theft of goods,Trespass to land: forcible entry of close and houses,Trespass to chattels: removal of goods,Raising the commons: other | Go to incidents page |
| 4336 | John Creyk alias John Betes threatens and takes a fine from John de Wlterton | John Betes, barker of Wymondham, a chief and leader at the aforesaid time, threatened John de Wlterton, clerk, with loss of life and limbs, and took from him a fine of twenty pounds on Wednesday 19 June 1381. | Trespass to chattels: extortion and forcible fine ,Trespass to person: threats | Go to incidents page |
| 4337 | John Creyk alias John Betes threatens John de Wolterton | John Bedes of Wymondham, barker, together with other unknown people, at the time of the insurrection and riot of the people against the lord king's peace, rose up, namely that on the Friday on the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist in the aforesaid fourth year [sic], he came with force and arms against the lord king's peace to Harpley and there he threatened John de Wolterton, parson of the church of Harpley, that unless he was willing to give him twenty pounds, he would otherwise allow a certain fellowship of robbers to kill and behead the same John de Wolterton, and cast down his houses and destroy and carry off his goods and chattels, and thus, because of his fear of death, the aforesaid John de Wolterton offered and delivered the aforesaid twenty pounds to the same John, and the said John Bedes seized and carried off those monies in the aforesaid form. | Trespass to chattels: extortion and forcible fine ,Trespass to person: threats | Go to incidents page |
Incidents and People
| Person | Incident | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Creyk ( 25244 ) | John Creyk alias John Betes plunders John de Freton, archdeacon of Norfolk (4335) | Accused | |
| John de Freton ( 25245 ) | John Creyk alias John Betes plunders John de Freton, archdeacon of Norfolk (4335) | Victim | |
| John Creyk ( 25244 ) | John Creyk alias John Betes threatens and takes a fine from John de Wlterton (4336) | Accused | |
| John de Wolterton ( 25246 ) | John Creyk alias John Betes threatens and takes a fine from John de Wlterton (4336) | Victim | |
| John Creyk ( 25244 ) | John Creyk alias John Betes threatens John de Wolterton (4337) | Accused | |
| John de Wolterton ( 25247 ) | John Creyk alias John Betes threatens John de Wolterton (4337) | Victim |
