• General Notes

  Note: Lord Ralph de Cameis: Baron by tenure of Flockthorpe Manor. Aminor at his father's death, as already stated; in the scutagelevied by King John in 1201 and finally collected by 1212, hisguardian David, Earl of Huntingdon is first mentioned as havingexemption from scutage on one fee in Norfolk (i.e. Flockthorpe)and subsequently the name of Ralph de Cameis is substituted. Oncoming of age, he paid the King a relief, as a Baron, andreceived livery of his lands in Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk,Cambridge, Hunts, and Northants; in 1211 he still owed 10 marksfor his lands in Essex. Inherited from his father, FlockthorpeManor with a quarter of a Knight's fee in Hardingham and theadvowson of the latter, Norfolk, certain lands in Suffolk, aManor in Toppesfield Lete, Essex, held of the Honor of Clare,the Manor of Wood Ditton, Cambridge, held in chief, GreatStukeley Manor, Hunts, and half a Knight's fee in Tansor,Northants, all previously referred to; from his mother heinherited Wotton Manor, Surrey, and North Denchworth Manor,Berks, both as aforesaid. He appears to have acquired by hiswife Burwell Manor (16) Cambridge, one Knight's fee held of theHonor of Richmond: certain further lands in the Lete ofToppesfield, Essex, held as one Knight's fee of the Honor ofMandeville: lands in Tisted and Hambledon, Hants, (17) and landsin Eling and Lasham, (18) also in the last named county.
  In 1208 he levied a fine on his lands in Cambridge; mentioned in1211 as holding one Knight's fee of the King in chief inFlockthorpe, Norfolk. In 1212, he claimed the right ofpresentation to Tansor Church, stating that Roger, Earl of Clarehad granted this advowson with the lands he held in Tansor toEobert Fitz Humphrey, his forefather. It would appear that heonly had the alternate right of presentation and therefore hisclaim on this occasion was disallowed; but twelve years later,in 1224, he presented the living. Claimed one Knight's fee inBerton and Eastmore in Baron Burial Manor, Norfolk, from Ralphde Roucester, of which he stated Ralph Wallensis, uncle ofStephen his father, was seised in the reign of Henry II. Hefarmed from the Crown at one time the Manor of Hengham, Norfolk,the payment for which was œ25. 7s. 6d. In 1210 was with theRoyal Army in Ireland and is mentioned as receiving 3 and 4marks at the camp at Odiham, Hants, and at Dublin, respectively,on account of disbursements; in 1212 assessed to pay 20s scutagefor the war against Scotland on one fee held in Norfolk, butbeing granted exemption by writ he received free quittanceaccordingly. In 1216, he joined the forces of the Barons,combined against the King John, consequently on 25th March ofthat year the King granted to Imbert de Hereford all his land inNorfolk, Suffolk, Northants, Hunts, Cambridge and Essex. Itseems probable however, that he never lost actual possession ofhis lands, as King John died shortly afterwards, and Ralphhastened to pay homage to Henry III, who by writs dated 6thSeptember and 27th October 1217 restored his lands to him. OnFebruary 19th, 1221, he was commanded to take scutage from theArchbishop of York for all the latter's lands in his Baillia,from which it may be presumed that he was then Sheriff ofcertain counties. From 1242 to 1246 as "Ralph de Keymes", heappears a Sheriff of Counties Surrey and Sussex. April 20th,1230, granted letters of protection when embarking with manyother nobles from Portsmouth on the King's service abroad; in1242, paid 10 marks as voluntary scutage for his lands in Essex,towards the fine from those Knights who did not go with the Kingto Gascony; 12th May 1244, the Sheriff of Huntingdon wascommanded to distrain him to do homage to John de Bailliol for aquarter of a Knight's fee in that county (i.e. Stukeley MagnaManor), assigned by the King to the said John and Devorguillahis wife as part of her share of the heritage of John, Earl ofChester and Huntingdon. In 1246, granted free quittance fromscutage on Flockthorpe for the army against Wales and also forscutage on half a fee in Cambridge. Prior to 1253, he appears tohave granted Denchworth Manor, aforesaid to his son. In 1253-4as "Ralph de Cameys Senior", he was granted free warren in allhis lands he then held in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge and Essex;and in the latter year was assessed to pay 20s for half a fee inCambridge (i.e. Wood Ditton), both held in chief, towards theAid on the King's son coming of age; the year following, helevied fines on his lands in Ditton Cammays (Wood Ditton),Kertling and Cheveley, Cambridge.
  
  In 1256, he was summoned "with horse and arms" to the GreatCouncil to be held in London on the Morrow of the Apostles Simonand Jude; and in 1258 was summoned to attend the King at Chesteron Monday preceding the Feast of St. John Baptist, with horseand arms to do service against the Welsh.
  
  In a Roll of Arms of the reign of Henry III and dated as between1240-45, the armorial bearings of Ralph de Cameys are give as"d'or ung cheif de goules a trois torteux d'argent". Died priorto 1259 in which year by inquisitions post mortem, he was foundto have died seised of Flockthorpe Manor, including 280 acres ofland 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 MagnaManor, Hunts: two Knight's fees in Essex: Ditton and BurwellManors, Cambridge, and lands in Tisted and Hambledon, Hampshire.

Details of Ralph's family with Asceline de Torpel