The header for each year is preceded with an @ sign to facilitate searching
@1200
`The most famous
poem about romantic love was Romance of
the Rose, which was widely read throughout
Rise of Polynesian
chiefdoms.
There is reference
to a Ralph, Prior of Pilton at about this time.[2] [cf:1218 Wearesins de Pileton?]
Roger de
Branscombe, probably born before 1200. [cf:1218
husband of Juliana. Could he have been known also as Roger de Sege? cf:1238]
@1201
@1202
@1203
@1204
3 December:
Charter of Henry, Bishop of Exeter, granting exemption of tithes to the abbot
and convent of Montebourg, regarding their lands at Exmouth. Dated and signed
in Branscombe by William de Swindon, Magistro H. de Wiltshire and Canon of
Exeter, Magistro William de Calne, and others.[3]
Loss of
@1205
The introduction
of the office of mayor to
Peter "priest and chaplain", builder
of the new Bridge, dies before its completion
(1176-1209). He had been replaced (due to old age) as director of works in 1201
by a Frenchman, Isembert, "master of the Saintes schools", and the personal choice
of King monarchsJohn.[4]
In the reign of
King John, there had been as many as twenty-eight little sandstone churches in
@1206
Mongols under Ghenghis Khan begin conquest of
@1207
@1208
@1209
The new Bridge;, begun in 1176, is completed.
@1210
@1211
@1212
@1213
@1214
@1215
15 June: Magna Carta signed and sealed by King monarchsJohn at
`A document held
to be the cornerstone of democratic governments in
@1216
Reign of King John
ends (since 1199). monarchsHenry III ascends the throne (to 1272).
`Henry was an
extravagant patron of the arts. His expensive building projects included the
re-building of Westminster Abbey; between 1245 and his death in 1272, in the "Rayonnant" style.'[6]
After the daeth of
John, the French decided to seize the English throne. The
@1217
Matthew Paris,
monk & historian, enters the monastery of St.Albans. He becomes an expert
in writing, drawing and painting and in the artistic working of gold and
silver. He probably died in 1259.
@1218
`The assize of mort d'ancestor between Roger de
Bromkescom & Juliana his wife, plaintiffs, and the Abbot of Forde,
defendant, regarding the manor of Lington... "Whether Wearesins de Pileton
[Walter de Piriton, Archdeacon of Exeter,
d.30 April 1157?[7]], uncle of Juliana, wife of Roger de
Brumkescumbe, died seised of the manor of Lington, held by the Abbot of
Forde"... is adjourned to the fortnight after St.Michael at Westminster,
because the said abbot has produced the charter of King John by which the said
king forbids the abbot or monks of Forde to be impleaded for any of their
tenements, except before the Lord King or his Chief Justice.'[8] [there was a manor called Pyleton in Pinhoe
("Pynhoo")][9]
In the medieval
period, there are some 15,000 manors in
`from the
thirteenth century onwards, justices were sent (normally in pairs) from the
central courts at
@1219
Julianna, niece of
Werres, married to Roger de Branscombe.
(EBMI)
The episcopal
registers of Bishop Brantyngham of
`Apparently,
Branscombe was the place of origin of the Bonvil family, for on 12 March 1219,
Godfrey de Burdvill/Bolevyle/Bonevill?, in consideration of 6 marks to hand and
1 mark to be paid annually, granted 2 virgates of land there to the Chapter of
Exeter, owners of the manor.'[12]
@1220
Emergence of first
Thai kingdom.
acted outside churchesBeverley Minster: one of the first mentions of theatre
outside a church in
Possible year of
birth of Walter Bronescombe,
@1221
@1222
@1223
@1224
@1225
@1226
@1227
@1228
@1229
@1230
@1231
Thomas de
Cyrencestria is Sheriff of Devon. [to 1232][14]
@1232
@1233
@1234
@1235
@1236
Mongols invade
@1237
According to
Hoskins, this year sees the first reference to the manor of Escot, Talaton.[15] [cf:1249/1353 Richard Branscombe/1688
Sir Walter /1808
destroyed by fire]
@1238
8 July, Devon Feet
of Fines, Exeter: Before William de Eboraco, Robert de Bello Campo, William de
Sancto (Ramundo?) and Jordan Oliver, justices itinerant, and other liegemen of
our lord the King ... Richard de la Hole and his wife Joan in dispute with
tenant Richard de Langeford over the ownership of a half hide of land at
Borcombe [Southleigh]. Richard &
Joan acknowledge it was the right of Langeford & his heirs forever.
Rendering therefore yearly one pair of white gloves ... and doing the service
of 1/30th knight's fee for all service. In return, Richard de Langford gave and
granted to Richard and Joan half a ferling and three acres belonging to
Langeford, at "Wabbewell" [Wabble],
in the manor of Braunkescumbe, which land Roger de Sege formerly held.[16] [Could Roger de Sege also be Roger de
Branscombe, husband of Juliana? cf:1218. It was evidently not unusual, at this
time of proto-surnames, for new lords of the manor to adopt the locality name
as a surname, or even to be known by two or three different surnames, depending
on the circumstances in which they were to be used. cf:1279 la Sege]
@1239
@1240
@1241
@1242
`At some date
before 1242 a Exetercustumal [`A written collection or abstracts of
the customs of a manor, city, province, etc.'O.E.D.] of the city of was compiled, which has in part
survived, giving an account, unfortunately incomplete, of the economic
privileges of the freemen. This can be supplemented from slightly later
evidence in the mayor's Exetercourt rolls of actions against those who infringed
these rights. In addition from the general exemption from tolls throughout the country
conferred by the Exetercity charters, the freemen enjoyed an absolute
monopoly of Exetertrade in certain articles, and of retail trade
in others. The basic principle seems to have been, as it was in the sixteenth
century, that they had a complete monopoly of retail selling, except for the
trade in victuals on the three market days, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, which
was open to outsiders. In the terms used by the court rolls those unfree might
not sell merchandise `by weight', or `by measure'.'
@1243
Walter
Bronescombe, aged about 23, having studied, probably at
@1244
Bishop
bishopsLincolnGrosseteste of
@1245
Walter Bronescombe
appointed Chancellor of churchesSt.Peter's,
The new Pope calls
an emergency meeting at
@1246
@1247
@1248
First mention of
Ralph de la in connection with Branscombe-
villageHole House? [cf:
The subject of
sanctuary and sanctuary-seekers throws a vivid light on the laws and life of
the county in medieval times, and draws individual members of the community
into that light, who perhaps otherwise would otherwise have spanned their
allotted years in permanently total obscurity.
`There were two
classes of sanctuary; firstly, the sanctuary rights for a limited period of
forty days, which belonged to every consecrated church and chapel with their
graveyards; and secondly, the chartered sanctuary with rights for a lifetime,
whose limits extended about a mile and a half from the church; these were
granted by kings to certain specially favoured abbeys and minsters. St.John of
Beverely, St.Cuthbert of Durham and Westminster Abbey were some of the greater
sanctuaries of
There were heavy
penalties for the violation of sanctuaries, increasing as the distance from the centre lessened. In
addition to these, the Cistercians claimed the privilege of not turning away a
felon from the doors of their abbeys, although this was not exercised to any
great extent. The privilege of sanctuary in churches did not extend to those
who had committed sacrilege, or who were atheists. In the reign of Henry VIII,
the sanctuaries suffered great curtailment of their priveleges, and in 1623 the
right was abolished for criminals.
The right of
sanctuary was very early recognized and well known in Roman times, being based
on the religious fact of the inviolability of sacred places. The Roman law
recognised the the use of Christian churches as sanctuaries, about the
beginning of the fourth century, whilst in England, the first mention of this
right is in the laws of Ethelbert in A.D. 597. The name Sanctuary still applies to the east end of the chancel, which
contains the high altar; and in many of our Western parishes, there is a field
or fields attached to the church called the
Sanctuary, often corrupted into sentry.
Criminals taking
sanctuary were not to fly with any kind of arms into a church or its precincts,
and whilst the Church was bound to provide food for a fugitive, the watching to
prevent an escape was thrown on the township, which was fined if this happened.
Before the
statutory forty days of sanctuary expired, the criminal had either to abjure
the realm on oath before the coroner, or surrender himself for trial if the
prosecutor could not be pacified. The fugitive had a port allotted him, which
he had to reach within a certain period, and take the first ship abroad. He was
clad in sack cloth and carried a cross in his hand. He was allowed to leave the
King's highway for a short distance under great necessity, or for sleep and
food, but if he left it permanently, or returned to the kingdom, he was liable
to be slain ... The right of sanctuary under the protection of the Church
softened the harsh penalties of the English law. In the thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries, hanging was the almost invariable punishment for all
offences, even in such matters as theft of the value of a few pence. Sanctuary
substituted transportation for life for capital punishment.
The value of the
fugitive's possessions was forfeit to the king. On the Exeter Pleas of the
Crown Roll 1248-9, there are 15 cases. One concerned Branscombe.
Although medieval
gaols had thick walls and heavily barred windows, whilst the prisoners were
ironed, escapes after capture were frequent, not only when shut up in the gaol,
but also when being taken there, probably in many cases by the connivance of
their guard ... in many cases the fugitives avoided sanctuaries near at hand,
and fled to more distant churches; the reason for this is that the townships
and their officials were fined if they allowed a criminal to escape. Warning
was given, probably by the sounding of a horn, and all would be on the alert to
intercept the culprit as he fled to the church; the fear of this led sanctuary
seekers, therefore, to choose a more distant refuge. Again, churches at or near
a port were more favourably situated for embarkation, and were therefore
frequently selected.
`Adam, the Miller
of Branscombe, William and Richard his sons, and Matilda his wife, slew Stephen
de la Done [Dene?], in the township of Branscombe, and Richard was arrested,
and put in the prison of Branscombe, and thence escaped; therefore there is judgement
on that township. Afterwards it was testified that no one prevented the escape;
there must be further inquiry into this matter; he was not in any township.
And Adam and the
others fled to the
And Randolph de la
Hole, constable of Honiton, Baroke, the son of Wallis Blakebone, Miles Mogge,
John Frelling and Richard Boye, accused of the aforesaid death came and
defended, and put themselves on their country for good or evil [that is, they
elected to leave the case to a jury].
And the twelve
jurymen from the four neighbouring townships say on their sacred oaths that
Randolph and the others are not guilty; therefore they are quit. And they
present that the aforesaid Adam and others killed Stephen, and they were not
arrested; therefore the township is in mercy.
Afterwards,
Randolph and the others came et finem
fecerunt pro 20s for sureties, Alexander Judde, Walstel Blakebone, John de
Chenelston, and Walter de Edem.'[20]
@1249
According to
Hoskins this year produced the first written record of Branscombe- villageHole
House.
`The home of the
Holcombe family for seven generations until the
seventeenth century, when it passed to the
`Talaton: The
manor of Estcote (). Domina Lucia de a widow, dwelled in this place in 1249,
and was succeeded by Baldwyn de her son. The land was afterwards
possessed by the Beauchamp- of Rym family...'
[cf:1227/1353 Richard Branscombe/1688
Sir Walter /1808
destroyed by fire]
@1250
23 August: Walter
Bronescombe granted a papal licence to hold the chapel of Bloxworth, Dorset, in commendam.[22]
Walter Branscombe
acts for Henry III at a papal curia
securing confirmation of the highly controversial election to the bishopric of
Winchester of Aymer de Valence, the King's half-brother. Walter is by now
styled Papal Chaplain and King's Clerk, indicating he is favoured by both the
King and the Pope.[23]
Approximate year
the monks of built Great Coxwell tithe barn.
By the middle of
the 13th century, public baths had been re-introduced to the main
cities of
Countess weir, , is built. Before this, the river
brought trade and traffic with the tide to the quays below the ancient city
walls. After its construction, the Exeterold Roman
`Countess Wear
takes its name from Isabella de Fortibus, Countess of Devon, who built it: her
grievances against the citizens of Exeter included non-payment of her bailiff's
tithes of fish ... after nearly 300 years of litigation Exeter got a canal, and
the quayside renewed its activity.'[25]
`At first, the
capital of [the Hanseatic] commercial world was Visby on the island of Gotland,
in the eastern Baltic: here, mercantile records were kept, and silver money was
coined that was so trustworthy that it was named after the common name for the Hanseatic
traders, Osterling silver, later just
Sterling.'[26]
The population of
Branscombe is probably about 100.[27]
@1251
8 November,
@1252
23 January: Walter
Bronescombe granted papal licence to hold the rectory of Clandon Abbots,
17 February,
LondonWestminster: `Allocate to Reynold de [Keeper of the Bishopric of Winchester],
three monks of
20 June,
@1253
@1254
Walter Branscombe
is a Canon of Exeter Cathedral by this date. Soon after, he has become
Chancellor.[33]
A canon was a
clergyman (including clerks in minor orders) living with others in a
clergy-house or (in later times) in one of the houses within the precinct or
close of a cathedral or collegiate church, and ordering his life according to
the canons, or rules of the church. This practice of the canonical life began
to prevail in the eighth century. In the eleventh century it was, in some
churches, reformed by adoption of a rule (based upon a practice maentioned by
St.Augustine) that clergymen so living together should renounce private
property: those who embraced this rule were known as Augustinian or regular,
the others were secular canons. (OED)
@1255
Latin liturgical
plays at
@1256
18 August,
The Liberate Rolls of the reign of
monarchsHenry III are enrolments
of mandates to royal officials and servants concerning expenditure and
accounting on an infinite variety of subjects from diplomacy to purely domestic
matters... the King's gifts and pensions to retired employees, the price of
shoes to be distributed to the poor, and improvements to the plumbing of royal
residences... from works at churchesWestminster Abbey and Castle, to
monarchsHenry III's continued
preference for green paint with gold or silver stars as interior decoration,
and the prudent order that his elephant house at the Tower of should be built
in such a way that if necessary it could be turned to other purposes.[35]
9 November: Walter
Bronescombe granted letters of protection as King's Proctor at the Roman Curia.[36]
@1257
July: Walter
Bronesombe is canon of the king's free chapel in
26 December,
Bishop's Palace,
`This bishop,
(says Hooker) tho' of a meek and gentle disposition, did nevertheless
strenuously oppose everyone who offered any injury to the church. But waxing in
years, and being a weak man, he was much led by some of his officers who were
frequently about him, and who, taking advantage of his weakness and the
opportunities they had, used all the means they might to enrich themselves.
His chiefest
officers were one Lodeswell, his chancellor, , his register (Registrar?), Fitzherbert, his official, and Ermestow, the keeper of his seal.
These, with others
of the chief servants of his household, compacted among themselves that whilst
the bishop was yet living (who then lay sick and very weak in his bed), to make
conveyances unto themselves as such livelihoods as then lay in the bishop's disposal.
Accordingly, they made out advowsons, and such other conveyances as to them
seemed best. All were forthwith sealed and delivered, according to the
agreement made between them. But these their subtle dealings being discovered
by the next bishop [Branscombe], he
not only reversed all that they had thus clandestinely done, but also
excommunicated them. Nor were they absolved until they did open penance for the
same in cathedral church.'
@1258
23 February: Walter Branscombe elected Bishop of Exeter, apparently undisputed.