Our Legal Heritage, King AEthelbert, 596 to King George III, 1775Reilly, S. A.
History
Our Legal Heritage, King AEthelbert, 596 to King George III, 1775
Reilly, S. A.
Law -- England -- History
40. Robert, son of Robert of Ferrers, appeals Ranulf of
Tattesworth, for that he came into Robert's garden and
wickedly and in the king's peace assaulted Robert's man
Roger, and beat and wounded him so that his life was
despaired of, and robbed him [Roger?] of a cloak, a sword, a
bow and arrows: and the said Roger offers to prove this by
his body as the court shall consider. And Ranulf comes and
defends the whole of it, word by word, and offers the king
one mark of silver that he may have an inquest of lawful
knights [to say] whether he be guilty thereof or no. Also he
says that Roger has never until now appealed him of this,
and prays that this be allowed in his favor. [Ranulf's]
offering is accepted. The jurors say that in truth there was
some quarrel between Robert's gardener, Osmund, and some
footboys, but Ranulf was not there, and they do not suspect
him of any robbery or any tort done to Robert or to Osmund.
Also the county records that the knights who on Robert's
complaint were sent to view Osmund's wounds found him
unwounded and found no one else complaining, and that Robert
in his plaint spoke of Osmund his gardener and never of
Roger, and that Roger never came to the county [court] to
make this appeal. Therefore it is considered that Ranulf be
quit, and Robert and Roger in mercy. Pledge for Ranulf's
mark, Philip of Draycot. Pledges for the amercement, Henry
of Hungerhill, and Richard Meverell. Pledge for Roger, the
said Robert.
41. One L. is suspected by the jurors of being present when
Reinild of Hemchurch was slain, and of having aided and
counseled her death. And she defends. Therefore let her
purge herself by the ordeal of iron; but as she is ill, the
ordeal is respited until her recovery.
42. Andrew of Burwarton is suspected by the jurors of the
death of one Hervey, for that he concealed himself because
of that death. Therefore let him purge himself by ordeal of
water.
43. Godith, formerly wife of Walter Palmer, appeals Richard
of Stonall, for that he in the king's peace wickedly and by
night with his force came to her house and bound her and her
husband, and afterwards slew the said Walter her husband;
and this she offers to prove against him as wife of the
slain as the court shall consider. And he defends all of it.
And the jurors and the whole neighborhood suspect him of
that death. And so it is considered that he purge himself by
ordeal of iron for he has elected to bear the iron.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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