General Notes

Thomas (Sir), of Blisworth and Deeping; Sheriff of Northants 1329-30 and 1335-36; Chief Falconer to Edward III 1343-46, fought Battle of Crecy 1346; married Elizabeth, widow of John of Heigham and daughter and heiress of Hugh Cransley, of Cransley, Northants, and died by 15 March 1346/7 while at Siege of Calais.

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From The Wakes of Northamptonshire, p. 19:

"He was among the knights of the county of Northampton that were returned in Chancery in 1343, the same year as he was appointed Chief Falconer to the King, and he was Sheriff of the county, 1329-30 and 1335-6. By his marriage to Elizabeth Cransley he inherited the Manor of Cransley, which lies immediately south-east of Kettering. Sir Hugh was a distinguished soldier, being among those who chose 200 archers to go to France in 1345. He fought with the Black Prince at Crecy and probably died during the siege of Calais in 1346.

"Thomas, as Sheriff, was the chief officer of the Crown in the county at a very interesting time. The justices in eyre, (itinerant judges who rode the counties), were given powers by the king to try a whole range of law cases and to review local administration. The justices made a circuit round the country every seven years. By the beginning of the fourteenth century, it had ceased to operate on a regular basis: in 1329, Edward III was determined to revive it as a regular form of judicial administration. Two commissions were arranged, one in Nottinghamshire and the other in Northamptonshire. The last eyre of the county had been in 1285 and a detailed review of events spanning the forty five years had to be undertaken. The eyre of Northampton lasted from November 1329 to June 1330. It was held in Northampton Castle, in the great hall and other buildings there, which were especially repaired for the occasion. A few days before proceedings began, the incumbent Sheriff was removed and Thomas Wake, who had never served in the office before, was appointed.

"The work was very onerous. Whilst they were in session, the justices held court six days a week, resting on Sunday, but with recessions for holy days and festivals. After completing their business at Northampton in June, the justices immediately moved on to Bedfordshire. The range of cases which were heard was enormous. We read of a murder at Haselbech on 27Ju1y 1328 and of Thomas le Corour who broke into the Earl of Lancaster's pound at Higham Ferrers on 14 May 1329 and stole a steer and two cows. The details of the eyre were carefully recorded by the law reporters who were present. One man who was arraigned for felony refused all three juries which were offered to him. As a result, he was condemned to suffer the peine forte et dure in this form. He was to be stripped of all his clothing except the linen, placed in a clean-swept house and loaded with as many irons as could be placed on him. He was to have a piece of bread on one day and the next day a drink of whatever stagnant water was found nearby. This was to continue until he died."