A Farnborough (Kent) Court Roll of 1408
The Court Roll printed below is the first of a series which has recently been deposited in the Museum of Beaumont College, Old Windsor, Berks. It is printed separately here because it stands apart from the remaining rolls both in date and in interest. It belongs to the year 1408, whereas all but one of the remainder date from 1617 to 1755, and it represents the manorial court in possession of real judicial and administrative powers whereas the later rolls tell of desuetude with a final “ Gothic Revival ”.
In 1408 the Court is given the name of “ View of Frankpledge ”. This name refers to the practice dating at least from the eleventh century,[fn1] by which all men were bound to form themselves into groups of ten, and each group to have a Headman or “ bors-ealdor ”. If one man broke the law the other nine were held responsible for his production in court. The supervision and maintenance of these groups became one of the chief duties of the local court of petty criminal jurisdiction which was consequently given the name of “ View of Frankpledge ”, even after the actual grouping had ceased and the Headman was simply the village constable.[fn2]
The Farnborough roll depicts firstly the appearance of the Headman with all those who owe suit of court.[fn3] He pays the “ common fine ”—a contribution towards the expenses of holding the court, and then presents to the Court those who have neither appeared in person nor made their excuses for non-appearance. After these have been fined the criminal cases are heard : one man has been brawling, another has overcharged for leather or the use of his mill; women have been brealdng the Assize of Ale. They are all fined by the common judgment of the suitors[fn4] and the sums they are to pay are fixed by the “ Affeerers ” whose names are added at the foot of the Roll.
The Roll thus reveals the normal working of mediaeval village life. As Vinogradoff has said, “ The local unity does not act through the personality of the lord of the manor, but through chosen or customary representatives of a community . . . there is no question of enforcing
[fn1] See Select Pleas in Manorial Oourts, Vol. I, ed. F. W. Maitland, Introduction, p. xxxvi.
’ At the end of the Middle Ages, and still more in the seventeenth century- under the influence of Coke, the title “ View of Frankpledge ” yielded to the title of “ Court Leet ”, of. op. oit., Appendix A.
• This, in spite of the fact that normally either the chief pledges or the reeve and four mon represented the township (op. oit., p. xxx).
‘ Maitland’s considered view was that “ the whole body of suitors both and unfree found the judgments ”.
[pg22]the rule of a local potentate ”.x Although serfdom was in many ways rigorous yet the mediaeval peasants did form a self-governing community and the laws and customs they enforced were carefully designed to protect the peasant from oppression. There is more to be said for the “ Golden Middle Age ” than some modern writers allow, and this Court Roll is but one further fragment of evidence for the communal as opposed to the tyrannical element in mediaeval life.
The Roll contains entries for seven townships or boroughs within which there lay some estate over which the Liberty of the Duchy of Lancaster claimed jurisdiction[fn2] but in addition there appear Common Fines of 8d. and 21d. paid by borsholders without any township or borough being mentioned. This quite extensive franchise had been annexed to the Manor of Farnborough from an early date and was held by the Duke of Lancaster since the reign of Edward I.
I am indebted to the owner of the Roll, Brian Tolhurst, Esq., for permission to print this transcription, and to Dr. E. JafiK, of Girton College, Cambridge, and H. W. Knocker, Esq., F.S.A., of Westerham, Kent, for most generous help in deciphering and interpreting it.
Farnebergh (modern, Farnborough).
Views Franceplegii tentwa Die Jovis proximo post festum Pasche Anno "Regni regis Henrici qwarti nono.
WillieZmws Haselhersh BorgheaZdir[fn3] cum tota secta sua ibidem presented communem finem v b.[fn4]
Item presents qwod Thomas Colgate[fn5] (ii d.), Henricws Leche (iid), Inglardus Jacob (iid), Johannes Barnewell (iid), Robertas Drye (iid), Robertas Betford (iid), Johannes Sergeant (iid), Johannes Shelle (iid),. et Johannes Swetemouth (iid) fecerwnZ defaltwm huias visas.
Item Deonisiws stake (ixd.) et Johannes Fesdyng (iiid) quia pand- oxerunt[fn6] panem eqwinam.
[pg23]Item presented quod Yhilippxis White (iid) fecit inBultum Roberto Cagot contra pacem.
Item presented quod Robertos Halle (iid) leuauit utesium[fn1] in matildam White contra pacem.
Item presents quod Ricardus Cok leuauit utesium in Johannem Flemyng iniuste contra pacem.
Thomas Mokedyssh tastator[fn2] seruicie ibidem presentaZ quod Cristina Hankyng[fn3] (iiiid)—II, Johanna Mayster (iid)—I, Agnes Haselherssh (iid)—I, katerina kemsyng (vid)—III, Johanna Leche (iid)—I, Agnes Albard (iid)—I. Agnes Smale (iid)—I, Isabella Andrewe (iiiid)—II, Matilda Atte Welle (iid)—I, Isabella Cox (iiiid)—II, Margarett Flemyng (iiiid)—II, Isabella Cat (iiiid)—II, Agnes Cok (iid)—I, Johanna Ver- dyng (vid)—C, Dionisia Stake (vid)—C, brasiauerunZ et fregeruni Asstsam.[fn4]
Johannes Bolle BorgheaZdir ibidem presentaZ Communem finem viiid.
Item presentaZ quod Walterus Geter (iid), Ricardus Walbrond (iid), WillieZmus Horn (iid), Ricardus Carpenter (iid), Johannes Tumour (iid), Ricardus Tumour (iid), Thomas Theghe (iid), Ricardus Cook (iid), Georgius Hankeslond (iid), Ricardus Godyng (iid) et Rotulandus Foghill (iid) fecerunZ Defaltuwi huius visas.
Summa huius visas (xivs vid—deleted) xvs iiiid.
AfferaZores Ricardus Lorens
Ricardus atte Broke.
POWLESCRAY (St. PAULS CRAY).
Visas Franciplegii tentus ibidem Die Lime proximo post festum sancZi marci Ewangeliste Anno supradicZo.
WiUielmus Hokynden BorgheaZdir ibidem cum tota secta sua presentaZ communem finem xiid.
Item presentaZ quod WiUielmus Danvers (iid), Ricardus Drye (iid) et Johannes Walkelyn (iid) itmiunt defaltum huius visas
Item presentaZ quod Andreus mellere (iiiid) molendinarius de Dyngellsmylle cepit t^olneum exescive[fn5]
* More normally “ gustator ”, meaning “ ale-taster ” or “ ale-conner ”.[pg24]
Item presentaZ quod Ricardus Yonge (iiiid) molendinarius de Scottesmylle facere eadem.
Item presented quod Thomas Ropere feciZ insultuni Johanni Brecho1 contra pacem.
Item presents quod Idem Thomas (iid) leuauit utesium in prefatum Johannem iniuste contra pacem.
Summa huius Visas iis vid.
AfferaZores WillieZmus mawerne
Johannes Bokere[fn2]
Lullyngston (Lullingstone).
Visas Franciplegii tentus ibidem die martis proximo Ante festum AposZolorum PhiZippi et Jacobi Anno supradicZo.
Johannes atte Wode BorgheaZdir ibidem cum tota secta sua presentaZ commanem finem iis.
Item presents quod Johannes Randolf (iid) molendinarius ibidem capit tAolneum exescive
Item presentaZ quod Johanna Porter (iid)—I, Johanna Carter (iiiid)—II Roberta (iid)—I brasiauerunZ et fregerunt Assisam.
Summa huius Visus iiis iid.
AfferaZores Johannes Porter
Thomas atte Stone.
Esshe (Ash).
Visus Franceplegii tentus ibidem die et Anno supradicZis
Johannes Pascall BorgheaZdir ibidem presentaZ commanem finem viiid iob.
Item presentaZ Ricardus Jaspar BorgheaZdir ibidem commanem finem iid iob.[fn3]
Item presentaZ quod Alicia atte Wood (iid)—I, Alicia Gnat (iiiid)— II, Uxor Johannis Clement (iid)—I braaiauerunt et fregerunt assisam.
Summa huius Visus xix d.
AfferaZores Robertas Gnat
Johannes Carles.
Strode (Strood).
Visus franceplegii tentus ibidem die veneris proximo Ante festum AposZolorum Philippi et Jacobi Anno supradicZo.
Johannes Neweman BorgheaZdir ibidem cum tota secta sua presentaZ communem finem xiid.
• Possibly “ Botcere ”.
’ i.e. unus obolus (one halfpenny). [pg25]
Item presents quod Johannes Warner (vid) molendinar&us de Cobham mille capit tZiolneum exescive etc.
Item presentai Simon Rede tastator seruicie ibidem quod Johanna Horewold (iiiid)—II, Johanna Trepitt (vid)—C, Alicia Pilgrym (vid)— C, Alicia Scodynton (vid)—C, Johanna Grove (vid)—C, Johanna Badecok (vid)—C, Johanna Reade (vid)—C, (Johanna atte Grove—II, deleted) brasiauerunt et fregerunt Assisam.
Summa huius Visus iiiis xd.
Afl'eratores Johannes Pilgrym
Henricus Hert.
Estsutton (East Sutton).
Visus Franceplegii tentus ibidem die Jovis proximo post festum sancii Marci EwangelisZe Anno supradicto.
Robertas atte Welle BorgheaZdir ibidem presentai quod RaduZ/us Grove (iiid) et Johannes Donne (iiid) sunt frunitores[fn1] et vendunt correa2 exescive.
Item presentai quod Johannes Charcheweye (iid) et Johannes Glovere (id) sunt Whittowres.[fn3]
Item presentai quod Johanna Coupere (vd)—V, Johanna atte Hille (iiid)—III?
Summa huius Visus xviid.
ASeraZores Thomas Reygnold.
Johannes Robyn.
Godneston (Goodnestone).
Visus Franceplegii tentus ibidem die mercurii proximo post festum sancZe Trinitatis Anno supradicto.
WillieZmus Salman BorgheaZdir ibidem presentai quod Johanna atte hamme (iiid) est regatrix seruicie.[fn6]
Summa huius visus iiid.
Afieratores.
Note.—Letters in. italics have been supplied as extensions of abbreviations and contractions in the manuscript.
[fn1] “ Are tanners ”, from “ frunire ”, to tan.
[fn2] “ Hides ”, from “ oorium ”, a hide.
[fn3] “ Whittowres ” is clearly “ White tawyers ” or “ tanners of White Leather ” (see Murray’s English Dictionary, sub. “ Tawer ”). They, too, have probably overcharged.
_ ‘ This entry suggests the regular listing of offences against the Assize of Ale, with the number of offences after the fine, but there may simply be assumed some such phrase as “ have offended also ”, which would make the two women Tawyers.
[fn3] She is “ a regrator of beer ”. Regrating was a major offence in mediaaval commerce and signified the purchase of large quantities of a commodity in order to resell them at a higher price.