Item circa Natalis Dominis anno regni regnis nunc vicessimo tercio, predictus episcopus apud Sumersham contra pacem domini Regis receptavit duos fraters ordinis predicatorum cum unus fardello iocalium furato ad valenciam xx librarum, sciens ipsos esse fures et fardellum predictam esse furatum, et dictum fardellum devenit ad proficuum dicti episcopus. Et per malam custodiam dicti latrines, qui fuerunt in custodia dicti episcopus apud Sumersham, evaserunt.

Around the festival of Christmas in the twenty third year of the reign of the king, the aforesaid bishop (Thomas de L’Isle), in defiance of the king’s peace, received two ordained brothers (friar preachers) near Somersham, with one bundle of stolen goods to the value of twenty pounds, knowing that these were thieves and the bundle aforesaid to be stolen, the said bundle came to the profit of the said bishop. And through bad custody the said thieves, who were in the custody of the said bishop, escaped near Somersham.


And a second item later on in the same roll:

Thomas de Baa per assensum Radulphus Carles parcarii de Somersham cum auxilio aliorum ignotorum posuerunt ignem super domos domine de Wake apud Colne

Thomas de Baa unknown others, with the help of Ralph Carles the “parker” (park keeper) of Somersham, set fire to houses belonging to Lady de Wake at Colne.

And a third

Item dicunt quod circa festum Sanctorum Simonis et Jude anno decimo nono regnis resgi apud Somersham, predictus Robertus de Godyngton, tunc ballivus ipsius episcopus, per preceptum ipsius episcopus cepit contra pacem domini Regis Simonem filium Hugonis liberum hominem et ipsum imprisonavit et in prisona detinuit quosque finem fecerat cum predicto episcopi de centum solidis.

It is said that around the feast of Saints Simon and Jude (28th October) in the 19th year of our king’s reign (1346), near Somersham the said Robert of Godyngton, Bailiff to the said Bishop (of Ely, Thomas de L’Isle) at the instigation of the said bishop and against the king’s peace, imprisoned and then detained in prison, Simon son of Hugh, a free man, until he had paid a fine to the said bishop of 100 shillings.

Taken from the Kings Bench Rolls - Reference KB27/381, rex 24

Public Record Office

(Translation by Andy Lee)