Attendance at Richard’s Coronation, 1377

Attendance at Richard’s Coronation, 1377 (SC 8/146/7271)

Richard’s coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on Thursday 16 July, just 11 days after the funeral of his grandfather, King Edward III. It was the first coronation for half a century, and people travelled from every part of the British Isles to attend. In this source, an esquire from Staffordshire travelled over one hundred miles from near Newcastle-under-Lyme to attend the coronation, probably as a retainer of his lord, Hugh, earl of Stafford (Hugh is mentioned in Document 1). The esquire didn’t have a pleasant return journey home, and claimed that he had to evade a plot to kill him.

Transcript

Adam de Pesale states that when he was returning from the King’s coronation, Hugh de Wrottesley lay in wait for him at a place called Foxlydiate to kill him. He also lies in wait for Adam’s servants and tenants of Shifnal, so that they do not dare to work or go to market, and stole some oxen from William Barker, tenant of Adam de Pesale, at Wrottesley, and held them until he made fine with him. His retinue are also outlaws and malefactors from Cheshire and Lancashire. Adam requests a remedy.

Simplified transcript

Adam de Pesale states that when he was returning from the king’s coronation, Hugh de Wrottesley lay in wait for him at a place called Foxhunt Ledeyate (Worcestershire). Hugh de Wrottesley also lies in wait for Adam’s servants and tenants of Shifnal (Shropshire), so that they do not dare go to work or go to market. Hugh de Wrottesley also stole some oxen from William Barker, a tenant of Adam de Pesale at Wrottesley (Staffordshire). Adam de Pesale states that Hugh de Wrottesley  and his retinue are also outlaws and criminals from Cheshire and Lancashire. Adam requests a remedy.

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