Our Legal Heritage: King AEthelbert - King George III, 600 A.D. - 1776: June 2011 (Sixth) EditionReilly, S. A.
History
Our Legal Heritage: King AEthelbert - King George III, 600 A.D. - 1776: June 2011 (Sixth) Edition
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.
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