Sir Henry Leybourne's gang includes Wateringbury vicar (1317)

Post date: Dec 05, 2012 4:29:39 PM

Extract from Kent Keepers of Peace, 1316-1317 published by Kent Archaeological Society 1933 is a transcription (but unfortunately without translation from Latin) of two rolls (charge sheets from local juries) of 1316 and 1317. The translations into English have been undertaken for this web-site by Diana Webb of Kent Archaeological Society.

Sir Henry of Leybourne was the second son of Sir William of Leybourne and had distinguished himself in battle against the Scots before effectively becoming a brigand with at least two Wateringbury members in his gang, one of whom was the vicar, Andrew. Many of those charged were acquitted, but it is known that later in 1317 Henry was a prisoner in the Tower on the king's orders although much later, in 1335, he received a comprehensive pardon.

Andrew 's clerical career seems to have survived the charges brought against him as in 1336 John de Stodham, priest, was instituted as vicar of Wateringbury (of which Leeds Prior and canons were the patrons) following the death of Andrew (DIOCESIS ROFFENSIS in Kent records series 1935 Edited by Charles Johnson ). An earlier reference (1299) to Dom Andrew is at Land Tranaction (1299) where we also learn that Roger Swift is his brother.

The fact that the same incidents seem to be included in two separate sets of charges is not unusual.

Inquisicio iuratorum hundredorum de Chetham, Gillingham, Twyferd et Maydestane capita ibidem.

Inquisition taken of the juries of Chatham, Gillingham, Twyford and Maidstone.

41 Qui dicunt per sacramentum suum quod Henricus de Leybourne , miles , vi [et] contra pacem afforciauit Aliciam filiam Amie de Woteringburi.

41 They say under oath that Henry de Leybourne, knight, against the peace forced himself on Alice, daughter of Amie of Wateringbury.

42 Et dicunt quod Willelmus , Iohannes et Thomas vocati le Welshe, Robertus Coleman ate Mershe et Rogerus Swit de Woteringburi, sagittarii dicti Henrici, vna cum eodem Henrico burgaueraunt domum Thome de Lyndestede¹ in Woteringburi et denarios suos et alia bona ad valenciam x li vna cum Amiana vxore eiusdem Thome felonice depredarunt et rapuerunt, ita quod adhuc nescitur vbi eadem mulier deuenerit , et hoc vthesio leuato per predictam Amianam. Et dicunt quod predictus Henricus vna cum predictis nominates burgarunt domum Iohannis le Heyward de Terstane in hundredo de Twyferd ; et non valentem eundem Iohannem apprehendere ut ipsum interfecissent , C solidos dicti Iohannis a domo sua felonice asportarunt et depredarunt . Et predictus Henricus cum predictis nominates et cum Stephano ate Melle de Chetham, querentes Dominum Ricardum de Cantuaria canonicum de Ledes , et Ricardum de Twymere , seruientem dicti canonci in ciuitate Roffe, ut eos interfescissent, equum carectarium predicti canonici , precii xl s., in vico Domini Regis felonice depredarunt et predictos canonicum et seruientem suum non inuenientes, domum dicti Ricardi de Twymere burgarunt in Chetham ut eos ut prius interfecissent, nec eos potuerunt invenire.

And they say that William, John and Thomas called le Welsh, Robert Coleman atte Mershe and Roger Swift of Wateringbury, bowmen of the said Henry burgled with the same Henry the home of Thomas de Lynstede in Wateringbury and stole money and goods to the value of £11 and at the same time feloniously seized and carried off Amiana, the wife of the said Thomas, so that up to this moment it is not known where this woman went, and he raised a clamour for the said Amiana. And they say that the aforesaid Henry together with the others who have been named burgled the home of John le Heyward of Terstane [Teston?]in the hundred of Twyford; and not being able to seize the same John so that they could kill him, they feloniously stole and carried off one hundred shillings from his house. And the said Henry with the aforesaid men and with Stephen atte Melle of Chatham, seeking Master Richard of Canterbury canon of Leeds and Richard of Twymere, the said canon’s servant in the city of Rochester, in order to kill them, feloniously stole a cart horse worth forty shillings on the king’s highway and not finding the said canon and his servant burgled the house of the said Richard of Twymere in Chatham in order to kill them as before and could not find them.

Inquisaicio iuratorum tocius comitatus Kancie

55 Qui dicunt per sacramentum suum quod Henricus de Leybourne miles , Phillipus Lannal, Willelmus de Ho sagittarius et manupastus dicti Henrici , Willelmus ate Catele camerarius dicti Henrici et Rogerus Swift de Woteringberi domum Roberti ae Westberu iuxta hostium fregerunt, et ipsum Robertum ibidem verberauerunt et contra pacem uulnerauerunt . Et dicunt quod predicti felones et Thomas Lynet simul cum aliis ignotis combusserunt felonice domos Galfridi ate Melle , videlicet vnam aulam solarium cum aliis cameris appendentibus, vnam grangiam, I boueriam, stabbulum et molendinum aquaticum, et bona et catalla in eisdem existential , ad valenciam xx li. Et dicunt quod dictius Henricus de Leybourne , Willemus le Walshe et Rogerus Swift de Woteringberi domum Thome de Lyndestede felonice fregerunt et bona et catalla sua ibidem inventa asportauerun, precii x li., et Amianam vxorem dictii Thome rapuerunt et abduxerunt. Et dicunt quod dictus Henricus de Leyburne et Thomas le Sytoler insultem fecerunt Iohanni de Crek apud Nortone in hundredo de Fauerisham, et ipsum verberauerunt, wlneruerunt et mutilauerunt contra pacem, propter quod pedidit ibidem x libras et x solidos. Et dicunt quod idem Henricus recettauit Robertum Soleman ate Mershe vtlagatum initenere Heuici de Suttone et suspensum in deliberacione gaole castri Cantuarie coram Henrico de Cobbeham et sociis suis iusticiariis, et ipsum Robertum recettauit per I quaterium anni; et eciam recettat omnes predictos felones. Et dicunt quod Andreas vicarius de Woteringberi fuit abettator et consentatus combscionis domorum Galfridi ate Melle et recettauit redictos malefactores post feloniam factam. Et dicunt quod dictus Henricus per confederacionem et assensum Thome le Sage et Phillippi de Pympe attraxit ad se conuenticulas et congregaciones illicitas, scilicet Willelmum Walshe, Thomas Walshe , Thomam Lynet, Robertu arte Mershe, Rogerum Swift et Andream vicarium ecclesie de Woteringberi et alios malefactores ignotos, adinterficiendum Dominum Bartholomeum de Badlesmere et ipsum si venisset per vias regias versus partes Kancie vbique insidiauerunt.

Inquisition of jurors of the whole county of Kent

55 They say on their oath that Henry of Leybourne knight, Philip Lanal, William of Ho bowman and member of the said Henry’s household, William atte Catele chamberlain of the same Henry, and Roger Swift of Wateringbury broke into the house of Robert atte Westberi near the door and there beat the same Robert and wounded him against the peace. And they say that the aforesaid felons and Thomas Lynet together with others unknown feloniously burned houses of Godfrey atte Melle, that is to say a hall, solar, with other rooms appertaining, a grange, a cowshed, stable and water-mill, and the goods and chattels therein, to the value of twenty pounds. And they say that the said Henry of Leybourne, William le Walshe, Robert atte Mershe, Thomas Lynet, Thomas Walshe and Roger Swift of Wateringbury feloniously broke the house of Thomas of Lynsted and carried off the goods and chattels found there, to the value of ten pounds, and seized and abducted Amiana, wife of the said Thomas. And they say that the said Henry of Leybourn and Thomas le Sytoler committed an assault on John de Crek at Norton in the hundred of Faversham, and beat, wounded and mutilated him against the peace, and because of this he lost there ten pounds and ten shillings. And they say that the same Henry harboured Robert Soleman atte Mershe, outlawed on the circuit of Hevic of Sutton and hanged at the delivery of Canterbury castle gaol before Henry of Cobham and his fellow justices, and he harboured the same Robert for a quarter of a year; and he also harboured the aforesaid felons. And they say that Andrew vicar of Wateringbury abetted and consented to the burning of the house of Godfrey atte Melle and harboured the said malefactors after the felony was committed. And they say that the said Henry, in alliance with and with the consent of Thomas de Sage and Philip de Pympe, convened illicit assemblies and meetings, that is to say William Walshe, Thomas Walshe, Roger Swift and Andrew vicar of Wateringbury and other unknown malefactors, in order to kill Master Bartholomew Badlesmere and everywhere lay in wait for him if he came by the king’s highways into Kent.

1. Domum Thome de Lyndestede: In Kilwardly's Survey of the Archbishop of Canterbury's manors (of 1273/4 i.e. 43 years earlier) reference is made to domino Thome de Lyndested thesaurio Cant (Sir Thomas de Lyndested treasurer of [Archbishop of] Canterbury )