General Notes

1306 - Knighted Along With Prince Edward

Ralph Lord de Cammoys: Baron by writ and also by tenure of Flockthorpe Manor and subsequently by tenure also of Bekerton Manor, Norfolk. As already stated, his father granted Flockthorpe Manor to him in his lifetime, and in 1295 a writ was issued to seize "Ralph de Cameys son of John de Cameys" in that Manor, the same as his father had enfeoffed him. Heir to his father's and his mother's estates, and in 1311 on his mother's death also succeeded to her marriage portion consisting of the Manor in Eling, Hants, and half the Manor in Lasham, also in Hants, previously referred to. In 1317 and 1324, he still owed a portion of the relief due for obtaining livery of Eling from the King. He appears to have come of age in 1305, when he did homage for Flockthorpe Manor, the next year being Knighted with Prince Edward and many others "by bathing and other sacred ceremonies." Prior to 1316, he would seem to have been granted by he King the Manors (27) of Bekerton and Stowe, Norfolk, held in Chief - the former apparently "per Baroniam." Probably by the terms of the grant these Manors were entailed upon his second son John. Acquired by his first wife a quarter of a Knight's fee in Effingham, (28) Surrey, held of the Honor of Gloucester, together with the Manor of Little Bokham adjoining it: the capital messuage and one part of this Manor he held of the King as a quarter of a Knight's fee value £10, another part he held of John Pikard by like service value 10s, and 4 yards of land of the Abbot of Chertsey at the rent of 7s. He also appears to have acquired by his first wife the Manor of Woolbeding (29), Sussex, held of the Honor of Brembre, as in 1305 he and his wife possessed it. In 1303, his mother-in-law, Lady Mary de Braose with the King's consent, enfeoffed him and his wife Margaret in Bokham Parva, he in return enfeoffing his mother and Sir Wm. Paynell in Flockthorpe Manor to hold for his wife. In 1306, Ralph and his wife Margaret regranted Bokham Parva Manor with the lands in Effingham to Lady Mary de Braose, on her death in 1326, again obtaining the lands. By his second wife, he appears to have obtained the Manors of Rogate (30), Hering(30), Tortwike, Tadeham and Alfradesham (Alfriston), all in Sussex. In 1303, he obtained a grant of free warren in Hamptonett, Sussex. In 1316, it was certified persuant to writ that he was Lord of the following Manors, namely Stowe and Bekerton, Norfolk: Chylteley, Eling and Burwell, Hants: Broadwater, Trotton, Barcomb (31) Newick (32) Chiddingley (33), Hoodley and Isenhurst, and Elnested, (34) Sussex: also joint Lord of Thompson (35) and Hardingham, Norfolk: in Northants, Elmington (36), Tansour and Stoke with its members. It is probable that he built the present Church of Trotton, which dates from about this period. In Edward II reign, he also appears to have held the Manor of Bradeford by Taunton, Somerset, which he still possessed in 1330. In 1320, he would appear to be holding lands in Toppesfield, Essex. 1330, he mortgaged, with his eldest son, his Manor in Great Stukeley. In 1320, the King confirmed to him the tenement called Witherfield in Duntefold (37), Surrey, to be held by the customary service, and two years later acknowledged the payment of £100 by him for land known as "La Rudes" in the same parish. In 1327, he obtained a grant of free warren in his Manor of Rogate, Herting, Tortwyke, Tadeham and Alfredesham, with a license to hold a free market weekly in Rogate, which Manor he held from Thomas Earl of Arundel. In 1301, and again in 1324, he obtained a commission of oyer and terminer for trial of various persons who had broken into his park at Flockthorpe, hunted therein and carried away his deer, and in 1310 a similar commission for trial of others who had felled and taken away trees in Flockthorpe. In 1309, he presented to St. George's Church, Hardingham, and in the same year claimed the patronage of the Church of Piriho Priory for his tenant Wm de Kyrkby, but on account of a dispute concerning the presentation with Mabill de Hornby and John Knyvet, the Bishop presented. In this year also he obtained a grant of free warren in Woolbeding Manor. In 1312, he presented to St. Mary's, Pilton. 1313 obtained license to hold weekly markets and a fair at Broadwater, and the next year sued various persons for trespassing in his free warren there. By an inquisition ad quod damnum in 1315, Ralph de Camoys was found to hold the following woods - Elinge wood in the New Forest, with 40 acres of wood in Patresham, 70 in Fletewood and 16 in Birchwode, a parcel of Elinge Manor, all in Hants, also Pilkington (Pilton) wood within the boundary of the Royal Forest of Rockingham, Northants; and thereupon on 14th March of that year, he obtained the King's permission to fell in Pilton Wood trees to the value of 100 marks to assist him to pay the heavy ransom exacted from him by the Scots. From this it may be inferred that he was one of the numerous English nobles who were taken prisoners at the battle of Bannockburn. The following year he obtained letters of protection until Midsummer next wilst undertaking a pilgrimage to Santiago. In 1316, he levied a fine in Tansor and in that year, also, he settled Bekerton Manor upon his wife. It is probable that this was the date of his second marriage. The same year, he obtained license during pleasure to hunt the fox and the hare, fence time excepted, in the Royal forests in counties Northants, Hunts, and Hants. On 27 January 1319, he again obtained letters of protection whilst making a pilgrimage to Santiago. In this year he presented to Hardingham and to Pilton, and also successfully upheld his right to one half of the Manor of Lasham, as part of his mother's marriage portion, against Robert, Warden of St. Nicholas' hospital, Portsmouth.From 4th June to Machaelmas 1320, he acted as one of Hugh le Despenser's attorneys. In this year, he obtained a confirmation of two grants which he had made to various persons of all his lands in Hardingham and also a commission of oyer and terminer for the trial of various persons who had fished in his stews in Stowbedon Manor. In 1322, it is related in the Close Rolls that Sir Thomas Wake of Blisworth and Thomas Wake of Liddell owed him 100 marks secured upon their lands in Northamptonshire, but in 1328 Ralph and his son Thomas appear as owing the latter 1000 marks, secured upon their lands in Sussex; between 1322 and 1334 there are many similar enrollments of debts due by and to Ralph de Cameys, and, from 1328, by him and his son Thomas jointly. In 1324, the Manor of Cokeham in Sumpting, (38) Sussex, and the advowson of the hospital of St. Anthony annexed thereto, were settled by fine upon Ralph and his wife Elizabeth for life, and on their son Ralph for life, remainder to their grandson John, and on failure of his issue to his sisters Margaret and Isabella and their heirs in succession, remainder to the right heirs of Ralph. In 1327, he obtained license at the request of Sir Thomas Roscelyn to grant to his son Thomas de Cameys and his wife Margaret the Manor of Flockthorpe and the advowson of Hardingham Church. Ralph appears at the same time, probably the occasion of his son's marriage to Margaret de Roscelin, to have also granted the latter Pilton Manor, Hunts, and lands in Sussex. In Volume 6 of the Sussex Archaeological Collections in a description of Edward II visit to Battle Abbey the following occurs: "On Friday September 7th the expenses at Petworth were £8. 17s. 5.75 and the presents consisted of bread, 3 eels, 1 trout, 3 large pikes, 3 bream, 4 mullets, a fish dinner for the Friday; but the day was not passed in gloom, for there is and entry of 20s paid to Nicholas the Harper, minstrel of Sir Ralph de Camoys, and playing before the said lord King, as a gift by his own hands." In 1288, Ralph de Cameys had a remittance of Common summons for the Common Pleas in Sussex (i.e. as being a minor). In 1305 and again in 1313, he received letters of protection whilst going beyond the seas on the King's affairs with Hugh le Despenser the Elder. In 1307, he was summoned for Sussex with his consort to attend the coronation of Edward II in the train of the King and Queen. The next year and apparently again in 1310, summoned to perform military service against the Scots, on the latter occasion he preferred the service of one Knight's fee for all his lands held in chief in Norfolk (i.e. Flockthorpe Manor) to be performed by two "servientes" with two barbed horses; in 1315, he was requested by the King to continue stationed in the northern parts during the winter campaign and to repair to him on the Feast of All Saints, then next; in 1318, 1319, 1322, and 1323 summoned again to perform military service in person against the Scots, but discharged from the summons on the last occasion; he was again summoned for the same purpose to muster at Newcastle on Tyne in 1335. Summoned to Parliament in the 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, Edward II, as also in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, Edward III. In 1316 and 1318, one of the Conservators of the Peace in Sussex and in 1317 one of the Justices appointed in that county to suppress illegal meetings, and also appointed Warden of the City of Chichester. Addressed in 1318, as one of the "Majores barones:" next year one of the Commission of the Peace for Hampshire; in 1319, commissioned with other justices to deliver Chichester gaol. In this year Hugh le Despenser the younger, Ralph de Camoys and Elizabeth his wife obtained a pardon for acquiring for themselves and the heirs of Ralph the bailliwick of the forestership of Assheholte and Wolmere from Richard de Venuz, tenant in chief. In 1320, Ralph de Camoys was appointed Governor of Winsor Castle and Warden of the forest, which important post he held until the end of the reign of Edward II. In this year in consideration of services sent by him in 1311 he obtained his writ of scutage; the same year and also in 1325 and 1326 one of the Conservators of the Peace for Surrey and Sussex, in the first mentioned year being commanded to act vigorously, and in the last to disperse seditious assemblies and to apprehend offenders: also in this year appointed for counties Bedford and Bucks pursuant to Act of Parliament, for the punishment of offenses committed by Sheriffs and others by colour of the offices; 1321 was one of the justices appointed in counties Beds and Bucks for the punishment of offenses and extortions of collectors of aids and also one of the justices in the said counties to decide, pursuant to ordinance of Parliament, causes by bill: the same year requested to co-operate in appeasing disturbances and to refrain from attending illegal assemblies, particularly that of the "Good Peers" convened by the Earl of Lancaster to be held at Doncaster on the Sunday next after the quinzaine of St. Martin - 29th November: the same year commissioned with Nicholas atte Hull to deliver certain persons from Odiham Castle: also in this year granted the chief custody of the Manors of Berhampton, Hants, and Woking, Sutton and Braggeshut, Surrey. The following extract from the process by Parliament in 1321 against Hugh le Despenser the Elder (Earl of Winchester) and Hugh le Despenser the Younger, -the King's favourite- throws a light upon many of the offices filled by Lord Ralph de Camoys, the suits brought against him and the lands he acquired - "also in order to obtain their evil and covetous wishes --- they (the Despensers) removed the good and suitable ministers who were appointed by assent and replaced them by other false and bad ministers of their conspiracy who would not suffer right to be done and appointed sheriffs, escheators, constables of Castles and others in the King's offices who were not suitable for the King of his people, and caused judges who were ignorant of the law of the land to hear and determine matters touching the magnates and the people, such as Sir Hugh, the father, Sir Ralph Basset, Sir Ralph de Camoys, Sir John Inge and other their allies and sworn (adherents), and by conspiracy of such ministers and their false procurers and aiders caused the peers of the land to be falsely indicted by false jurors of their alliance, to wit the Earl of Hereford, Sir John Giffard of Brymmesfeld and Sir Robert de Mohaut and other good men, coveting their lands -- also they counselled the King evilly to take into his hands the lands and chattels of Sir Hugh D'audele, the son, and forjudged him of his lands without process of law, coveting to accroch those lands to Hugh (Despenser) the son." In 1322 Ralph de Camoys was enjoined to raise as many men at arms and foot soldiers as he could and to appear at Coventry with them on the first Sunday in Lent for the purpose of proceeding against the rebels and adherents of the Earl of Lancaster (i.e. the "Good Peers"): the same year exonerated in consequence of his continuance with the King from the fine imposed upon the Knights and esquires of the counties of Southampton, Sussex and Northampton; the same year empowered to attack Robert Lewer and to take the Castle of Odyham by force, also to act jointly and severally with John de S'c'o Johanne in pursuing the said Robert and his accomplices, for the trial of whose offenses he made one of the justices of oyer and terminer in the County of Southampton: 6th May 1324 he was appointed to enquire the names of those who took or concealed any goods of the said Robert Lewer now deceased, and on 30th July the Sheriff of Southampton was ordered to release Margery late the wife of Robert Lewer, a late rebel, and to deliver her to Ralph Cammoys. In 1327, Margery Lewer brought an action against Ralph de Camoys to recover her late husband's Manor of Westbury, Bucks, which she pleaded had been unjustly seized by him after her husband's attainder in the previous reign. Ralph produced in defence a charter of Edward II, dated 1324, granting Westbury to him and his wife Elizabeth with remainder to their sons Hugh, but Margery having proved that he had obtained unjust possession of Westbury long before that date, judgement was given in her favour. In 1331, William de Holhurst brought an action against Ralph de Camoys and three others relative to the Manor of Bromley, Kent, similar to that brought by Margery Lewer in 1327. He was met by a similar defence and although the result does not appear it was probably in favour of the plaintiff, as Bromley Manor does not figure again as the property of the Camoys family. On 30th July 1322 the justices of Assize in Sussex were ordered by the Prior of Hernyngham before them against Ralph de Camoys concerning tenements in Sountynge, Lanncynge, New Shorham, Horsham and Stangemerynge, for so long as the said Ralph remained in the King's service in the Scottish war; on 5th August following Ralph was granted a protection on going to this war with the Earl of Winchester, the same month he was ordered to certify the King of the tenor of the record and process and pronunciation of judgement at Wyndesore upon Francis de Aldeham, the King's enemy and traitor, by him and others appointed by the King for this purpose, and of all thing touching the same, and of the day of the pronunciation of judgement. In 1323 commanded to provide packsaddles for the army (?against the Scots) in case it should be necessary to advance without the wagon train. In this year he obtained license to enfeoff Jno. de Hampton and Peter de Gosele of his Manor of Elinge and their heirs. In 1324 commanded to hold himself in readiness to perform military service in person for the defence of the Duchy of Aquitaine and to raise all the forces he could in addition to his contingent due by tenure and to lead them to Plymouth: subsequently in consequence of his being ill he was ordered to send some expert person in his place; the same year summoned to perform military service in person in Gascony, but the muster was prorogued until the following year when he was discharged from attendance; the same year returned Knight of the shire by the sheriffs of Sussex and Southampton severally and summoned to attend the Great Council of the Magnates at Westminster by subsequently discharged from attendance; the same year appointed one of the commanders or keepers of the sea shore of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, a "dedimus" being issued empowering the Archbishop of Canterbury to swear him in the due execution of the office, afterwards the Archbishop and the Bishop of Winchester were requested by writ to assist him in his capacity of "custos" of the sea shores; the same year appointed one of the Manucaptors for the good behaviour of Thomas de Byngham, an adherent of the Earl of Lancaster, and responsible for his fine. In 1325, 1326 and again in 1327 appointed jointly with Robert de Kendale Constable of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports, on 30th September 1326 being ordered to be diligent in arresting suspected persons and in searching for letters. The same year one of the chief Inspectors of Array in Sussex and Surrey to whom special powers were granted, and that year also appointed one of the Chief Supervisors of Array for the counties of Southampton and Wilts in the room of the Earl of Winchester; on 18th July of this year the King notified that he had explained his pleasure as to the ware with France to Ralph de Camoys. On the imprisonment and murder of Edward II, Lord Ralph de Camoys obtained a pardon from Edward III for his adherence to Hugh le Despenser the Younger, lately a rebel, dated 19th February 1327. In 1329, he and two others received a commission of oyer and terminer to try certain persons who had trespassed and stolen timber from the park of Edmund, Earl of Kent, at Arundel. On 24th January 1331, an order issued from the King and Council to Ralph de Camoys to attend in Chancery on the quinzaine of the Purification next to inform the King's Council concerning certain matters which should be said to him on the King's behalf, and on 28th November of the same year his accounts for the custody of Red Castle and the Castle of Egemundon, the Hamlet of Marchumle, Manor of Forde and Township of Newport, county Salop, the property of Nicholas de Audele, and for the custody of the Castle of Helegh and Manors of Tunstall, Horton and Endon belonging to the same, were settled to the 15th February 1327 when the King had granted the said custodies to Roger de Mortimer of Wyggemore. In 1333 a commission of oyer and terminer was granted to try Sir Ralph de Camoys and others on complaint of John de Moubray, Lord of the Honor of Brembre, that they had carried away 4 tuns of wine, £20, and other goods driven ashore in a storm at Worthing and that they had broken four of his parks, entered his free chase at St. Leonards, hunted there and carried away deer, and had assaulted his servants at Horsham and Shoreham. In 1335, a similar commission was granted for the trial of various persons who had broken Lord Ralph de Camoy's parks at Trotton, Demford, and Alkesbourne, Sussex, hunted there and carried away deer and his goods, and also his goods at Elnestede, Dydelinge, Rogate, Broadwater, Duryngton, Beningden and Berecampe (39). In a Roll of Arms of the time of Edward III is given "Rauf de Camays porte d'or un cheif de goules et trois torteaux d'argent on le chief." Died prior to 24th June 1336, in which year he was found by inquisition to have died seized of a messuage in Tanesoure, Northants; his inquisitions in other counties do not seem to have been preserved. Married first, circa 1303, Margaret, daughter of William de Braose who held large estates in Surrey and who bore "Gules, 3 bars vair," she was probably buried in Trotton Church where there is a mural tomb against the south wall and in the pavement a long slab of black marble, a brass portrait of a lady being inlaid, with a flowing mantle into which several inescutcheons were inserted, probably emblazoned in enamel but since removed. Ther marginal brasses are inscribed "Margarite de Camois gisc ici - Dieu de sa alme eyt merci." Second, circa 1314, Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh le Despenser the Elder, Earl of Winchester, who bore "quarterly argent and gules, in the second and third quarters a fret or, over all a bend sable."