William Norman of Dunstable. Norman William [None specified]. Norman requests remedy...

Petitioners

William Norman of Dunstable.

Name(s)

Norman, William

Addressees

[None specified].

Nature of request

Norman requests remedy because when William, prior of Dunstable had his view of frankpledge in Dunstable on St Barnabas in 14 Edward I [1286], a man of Dunstable came and, out of hatred, presented that 20 years ago Norman has found £20 in a place called 'Pynlond' between Barnet and London, 25 miles from the prior's franchise, which presentment was entered on the coroners' roll without any other indictment or inquisition. The prior was so angry with Norman that he ordered Bolnhurst to enter his house on market day (the Wednesday before St John Baptist in the same year [1286]), take his merchandise and imprison him for the said presentment, contrary to the statute made in the thirteenth year [1285], until he was replevied by the King's writ by 12 pledges until the next Eyre. At the tourn of Vaus and his associates at Dunstable in the fifteenth year [1287] Norman was again imprisoned and brought before them as a thief, and they took it amiss that he was wrongly brought before them on suspicion only, and when Loveday accused him of finding this money and asked how he would acquit himself, he responded that he would swear on God and his country that he had found no money or other treasure, and the twelve jurors of the franchise acquitted him. And Norman has complained about this trespass to those assigned by the King, and the sheriff of Bedfordshire was ordered to cause the Prior of Dunstable and Bolnhurst to come, but when the prior came he claimed that he was not the King's minister, and that Norman should sue at the common law.1)

Nature of endorsement

Bedfordshire: Petition of William Norman of Dunstable concerning the prior of Dunstable.2) Response of the bailiff: the King should provide a magnate.3) He should have a writ in Chancery to complain in the county if he wishes.

Places mentioned

Dunstable, [Bedfordshire]

Barnet, [Hertfordshire]

London

Westminster

Bedfordshire.

People mentioned

William [de Wederhore], Prior of Dunstable

Thomas de Bolhurst (Bolnhurst), bailiff of the Prior of Dunstable

Edward [I], King of England

John de Vaus, justice

Roger Loveday.

For another version of this petition see SC 8/274/13697