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264. John le Jovene `weder' was found killed in his house in the parish of St. Mary Abechirche. Robert de Paris tailor, William de Derbi and Alan de Hakeny were accused of the death and arrested. They come and deny the death and everything and put themselves upon the verdict of forty-two men from the three aldermanries nearest to the place where the death occurred, because they are strangers and not of the liberty of the City. These men, sworn before the justices to tell the truth, say on their oath that none of them is guilty of the death, so they are quit. The mayor and aldermen are asked who killed John and say in the faith in which they are bound to the king that Robert de Bannebury, Walter Cadaz, Roger de Assebome and Geoffrey clerk of the church of St. James Graschirchel encountered John in the ward of Thomas de Basingge [Candlewick ward] and beat and wounded him so that he died. Robert, Walter and Roger at once fled and are sus
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The Plea Roll
pected, so let them be exacted and outlawed according to the custom of the City.2 Walter Cadaz' chattels *16d. for which the sheriffs are to answer. The others had no chattels. Geoffrey the Clerk took sanctuary in the church, but comes now in the king's peace to stand to right before the justices. Asked how he wishes to clear himself of the death he says that he is a clerk and is
not bound to answer here. Thereupon Richard de Herwes minor canon of London comes and claims him as a clerk by letters of the bishop of London
testifying that the bishop entrusted him his authority to claim clergy. But that it may be known for what he is to be handed over, let the truth be ascertained by the forty-two men; the jury say on their oath that he is guilty, so as such let him be handed over to the bishop. No chattels. Hugh de Gloucester, Godfrey le Barber, Robert atte Wodecote and Robert le Weder were present when the incident occurred, but are not suspected, so they are quit. All the neighbours come and are not suspected, so they are all quit. Afterwards Robert de Bannebyr', who was arrested for the death, comes and denies the death and everything and puts himself for good or ill on the verdict of forty-two men from the three aldermanries nearest to the place where the incident occurred, because he is a stranger and not of the liberty of the City; these men, sworn before the justices to tell the truth, say on their oath that he is not guilty of the death nor of any crime, so he is quit.
Nothing from his outlawry. [cf. 576]
Nota 84. De extraneis acquietatis per xlii. Quod major et aldermanni dicent quis occidit mortuum. De clerico convict° per xlii et liberato episcopo. De extraneo acquietato per xlii [cf. 524 no. 84].
1. ? St. James Garlickhithe.
2. See 238 n. 2. |