General Notes

Lord Ralph de Cameis: Baron by tenure of Flockthorpe Manor. A minor at his father's death, as already stated; in the scutage levied by King John in 1201 and finally collected by 1212, his guardian David, Earl of Huntingdon is first mentioned as having exemption from scutage on one fee in Norfolk (i.e. Flockthorpe) and subsequently the name of Ralph de Cameis is substituted. On coming of age, he paid the King a relief, as a Baron, and received livery of his lands in Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Hunts, and Northants; in 1211 he still owed 10 marks for his lands in Essex. Inherited from his father, Flockthorpe Manor with a quarter of a Knight's fee in Hardingham and the advowson of the latter, Norfolk, certain lands in Suffolk, a Manor in Toppesfield Lete, Essex, held of the Honor of Clare, the Manor of Wood Ditton, Cambridge, held in chief, Great Stukeley Manor, Hunts, and half a Knight's fee in Tansor, Northants, all previously referred to; from his mother he inherited Wotton Manor, Surrey, and North Denchworth Manor, Berks, both as aforesaid. He appears to have acquired by his wife Burwell Manor (16) Cambridge, one Knight's fee held of the Honor of Richmond: certain further lands in the Lete of Toppesfield, Essex, held as one Knight's fee of the Honor of Mandeville: lands in Tisted and Hambledon, Hants, (17) and lands in Eling and Lasham, (18) also in the last named county.In 1208 he levied a fine on his lands in Cambridge; mentioned in 1211 as holding one Knight's fee of the King in chief in Flockthorpe, Norfolk. In 1212, he claimed the right of presentation to Tansor Church, stating that Roger, Earl of Clare had granted this advowson with the lands he held in Tansor to Eobert Fitz Humphrey, his forefather. It would appear that he only had the alternate right of presentation and therefore his claim on this occasion was disallowed; but twelve years later, in 1224, he presented the living. Claimed one Knight's fee in Berton and Eastmore in Baron Burial Manor, Norfolk, from Ralph de Roucester, of which he stated Ralph Wallensis, uncle of Stephen his father, was seised in the reign of Henry II. He farmed from the Crown at one time the Manor of Hengham, Norfolk, the payment for which was £25. 7s. 6d. In 1210 was with the Royal Army in Ireland and is mentioned as receiving 3 and 4 marks at the camp at Odiham, Hants, and at Dublin, respectively, on account of disbursements; in 1212 assessed to pay 20s scutage for the war against Scotland on one fee held in Norfolk, but being granted exemption by writ he received free quittance accordingly. In 1216, he joined the forces of the Barons, combined against the King John, consequently on 25th March of that year the King granted to Imbert de Hereford all his land in Norfolk, Suffolk, Northants, Hunts, Cambridge and Essex. It seems probable however, that he never lost actual possession of his lands, as King John died shortly afterwards, and Ralph hastened to pay homage to Henry III, who by writs dated 6th September and 27th October 1217 restored his lands to him. On February 19th, 1221, he was commanded to take scutage from the Archbishop of York for all the latter's lands in his Baillia, from which it may be presumed that he was then Sheriff of certain counties. From 1242 to 1246 as "Ralph de Keymes", he appears a Sheriff of Counties Surrey and Sussex. April 20th, 1230, granted letters of protection when embarking with many other nobles from Portsmouth on the King's service abroad; in 1242, paid 10 marks as voluntary scutage for his lands in Essex, towards the fine from those Knights who did not go with the King to Gascony; 12th May 1244, the Sheriff of Huntingdon was commanded to distrain him to do homage to John de Bailliol for a quarter of a Knight's fee in that county (i.e. Stukeley Magna Manor), assigned by the King to the said John and Devorguilla his wife as part of her share of the heritage of John, Earl of Chester and Huntingdon. In 1246, granted free quittance from scutage on Flockthorpe for the army against Wales and also for scutage on half a fee in Cambridge. Prior to 1253, he appears to have granted Denchworth Manor, aforesaid to his son. In 1253-4 as "Ralph de Cameys Senior", he was granted free warren in all his lands he then held in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge and Essex; and in the latter year was assessed to pay 20s for half a fee in Cambridge (i.e. Wood Ditton), both held in chief, towards the Aid on the King's son coming of age; the year following, he levied fines on his lands in Ditton Cammays (Wood Ditton), Kertling and Cheveley, Cambridge.In 1256, he was summoned "with horse and arms" to the Great Council to be held in London on the Morrow of the Apostles Simon and Jude; and in 1258 was summoned to attend the King at Chester on Monday preceding the Feast of St. John Baptist, with horse and arms to do service against the Welsh.In a Roll of Arms of the reign of Henry III and dated as between 1240-45, the armorial bearings of Ralph de Cameys are give as "d'or ung cheif de goules a trois torteux d'argent". Died prior to 1259 in which year by inquisitions post mortem, he was found to have died seised of Flockthorpe Manor, including 280 acres of land in demesne and 34 in meadow, with the advowson of the Church (i.e. Hardingham Church) and "Conteshall maner' extent" (19), all in Norfolk: Wodeton Manor, Surrey: Stivecley Magna Manor, Hunts: two Knight's fees in Essex: Ditton and Burwell Manors, Cambridge, and lands in Tisted and Hambledon, Hampshire.