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OK, after not making full use of some documents for the past nearly 20 years, I have started transcribing my hand written notes into an Excel document with the intention of doing some kind of basic statistical analysis of some 14th century criminal records. (In my defence, I did do the research I planned to from them - but no more. Luckily they don't get *more* out of date no matter how much time passes.)
Most of the accusations about crimes are easily recognised - theft, assault, murder, perversion of the course of justice. But I just found a *hilarious* one which I will transcribe for you here. It's from the Michaelmas sitting of the King's Bench in 16 Richard II (1392) at Nottingham and York.
John Derwald the younger and others made an English rhyme ['quanda m[]riman in Anglicis v[er]bis'] and publicly proclaimed it in Beverley and Hull and other places in Yorkshire.
In ye contre herd was we
yat in oure token schrewes shuld be - with al thr to bake
Among yis thrers it is so
And other ordres manyme - whether yei slepe or wake
And yet wil ilkan hel up other
And meyriten him als his brother - bothe in wrong and right
And so wil we in sond and soutre
Meynten our negheboure - with al oure myght
Ilk man may come and goo
Among us both to and froo - I say yow sikerly
[??] heythyng wilwe suffrenon
[No] [??] of Hobbe ne John - With what man he be
Her unkynd ne ware
Yif we suffird of lesse or mare - Any vilans hethyng
But it wore quit double agayn
And a corale and be ful fayne - To byde our dressyng
And on yat purpos zet we surand
Who so do us any wrong - in what plas it fall
Yet he might als wel
Als have I hap and sel - Do agayn us al.
It's a bit hard to read this but is definitely about the peasants sticking together which was pretty close to sedition this close to the Peasants revolt. See the bit about ilkan (each one) helping the other up and maintaining their 'neighbours'. Fighting words.
Most of the accusations about crimes are easily recognised - theft, assault, murder, perversion of the course of justice. But I just found a *hilarious* one which I will transcribe for you here. It's from the Michaelmas sitting of the King's Bench in 16 Richard II (1392) at Nottingham and York.
John Derwald the younger and others made an English rhyme ['quanda m[]riman in Anglicis v[er]bis'] and publicly proclaimed it in Beverley and Hull and other places in Yorkshire.
In ye contre herd was we
yat in oure token schrewes shuld be - with al thr to bake
Among yis thrers it is so
And other ordres manyme - whether yei slepe or wake
And yet wil ilkan hel up other
And meyriten him als his brother - bothe in wrong and right
And so wil we in sond and soutre
Meynten our negheboure - with al oure myght
Ilk man may come and goo
Among us both to and froo - I say yow sikerly
[??] heythyng wilwe suffrenon
[No] [??] of Hobbe ne John - With what man he be
Her unkynd ne ware
Yif we suffird of lesse or mare - Any vilans hethyng
But it wore quit double agayn
And a corale and be ful fayne - To byde our dressyng
And on yat purpos zet we surand
Who so do us any wrong - in what plas it fall
Yet he might als wel
Als have I hap and sel - Do agayn us al.
It's a bit hard to read this but is definitely about the peasants sticking together which was pretty close to sedition this close to the Peasants revolt. See the bit about ilkan (each one) helping the other up and maintaining their 'neighbours'. Fighting words.
