CRIME AND JUSTICE | |
Subject: | Community responsibility for police duties |
Original source: | Corporation of London Records Office, Misc. Roll AA, m.2 |
Transcription in: | Helena Chew and Martin Weinbaum, eds. The London Eyre of 1244, London Record Society, vol.6 (1970), 21. |
Original language: | Latin |
Location: | London |
Date: | 1231 |
TRANSLATION
In the same year [1231] ... on 13 January, it came about that Robert de Kingestone, a servant of Andrew Bukerel, struck Alice's son Adam on the head with an axe, resulting in his death the following day. Coming to the place where Adam had been attacked, Alice seized Robert and she and her neighbours brought him to the house of John, beadle of the ward at that time, so that he could be kept in custody until the following day. She delivered him to the beadle, who received him but afterwards allowed him to escape. Because this took place during the day, and hue-and-cry was raised so that all the neighbours and everyone living in the ward of Joce fitz Peter, alderman at that time, were made fully aware of what had gone on, yet the wrongdoer was not detained after his capture, they are to be subject to judgement. When the beadle comes [before the justices] he is committed into the sheriffs' custody. Robert was in frankpledge in St. Pancras' parish, in the county of Middlesex. So the sheriff of Middlesex is instructed to make enquiry among his frankpledge and concerning his possessions, and to arrange to have him exacted and outlawed in the county court. Since the mayor and citizens testify that Robert was captured and taken to John the beadle's house at a time when he was not there, John is exonerated. Robert had no belongings. The chamberlain, the sheriffs, and the [ward] alderman knew nothing of this affair, nor was Robert in frankpledge or [resident] of the ward, for he was an outsider; therefore nothing [is due from them by way of fine]. Nothing from Andrew Bukerel, to whose household he belonged, since Andrew is dead. |
Created: August 18, 2001. Last update: November 23, 2002 | © Stephen Alsford, 2001-2003 |