Robert de Knaptone (Knapton), subcollector of the ninth in Bedingham; Thomas Beneyt...

Petitioners

Robert de Knaptone (Knapton), subcollector of the ninth in Bedingham; Thomas Beneyt (Bennet), subcollector of the ninth in Bedingham.

Name(s)

de Knaptone (Knapton); Beneyt (Bennet), Robert; Thomas

Addressees

King and council.

Occupation

subcollector of the ninth in Bedingham

Nature of request

Robert de Knaptone and Thomas Beneyt state that they were forced to collect the ninth in Bedingham by the prior of Wymondham, John de Brunham, and their companions, chief collectors of the ninth in Norfolk, because they could not sell this duty, as so much of the town belongs to the prior of Walsingham that it brings in very little. They paid their true value, but when the account was re-audited, as John de Brunham had falsely informed the king that certain things should be assessed communally in each town, they were imprisoned, and their lands seized and their goods sold to pay their arrears, with no regard had to the true value of the ninths. They ask that those holding the inquiry into the ninths be given a warrant to inquire into the true value of ninths collected by people commissioned to do this, and that what is in arrears of this sum should be levied as above, and no more. They also state that the sub-collectors in Brooke and Caistor St Edmund, where the abbot of Bury St Edmunds has his demesnes, are in a like case, and also request the same aid.

Nature of endorsement

This petition is to be sent by writ of Chancery before the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer, and when the account of the ninth in the aforesaid town has been examined, and information has been received from John de Houton and Edmund de Grimesby, who have a commission to inquire into the ninths in the same counties, and the people of the town and others who should be called have been called, justice and reason should be done to the sub-collectors of the town.

Places mentioned

Bedingham, [Norfolk]

Brooke, [Norfolk]

Caistor St Edmund, [Norfolk].

People mentioned

Prior of Walsingham

Prior of Wymondham

John de Brunham

John de Houton

Edmund de Grimesby (Grimsby)

Abbot of Bury St Edmunds.

For another petition concerning the same ninth, see SC 8/16/760

• Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw III, vol. VII, 1345-1348, (Public Record Office, 1903), pp.184-185 (Commission to John de Houton and Edmund de Grymesby to investigate irregularities in the collection of the ninth)
• Rotuli Parliamentorum; ut et Petitiones, et Placita in Parliamento, vol. II, Edw III, (Record Commission, 1783), pp.400b-401a (no.124) (full edition of original petition)