Murder in Medieval Knotting

Volume 41 produced by Bedfordshire Historical Records Society in 1961 is devoted to 13th and 14th century coroner's rolls for Bedfordshire from the National Archives, edited and translated by the late Roy F. Hunnisett. Casual violence seems to have been quite common in Middle Ages as this account suggests: “At dawn on 23rd September 1269 William Page of Knotting came to”Welsat” in Knotting Field below John Bossard’s wood [Bossard was Lord of the Manor] to search for a horse and found a woman called “Swetealys” [Sweet Alice] lying slain there with a wound in the back of her head above the hattrel [made] with “a pik” axe, so that her brains had issued forth, and with her left arm broken. The said Alice was staying throughout the Autumn at Riseley, at the house of Thomas Saly of Riseley. William found pledges, William Page, his father, and Walter Blund of Riseley. The hue was raised and followed”.

“Inquest before Ralph of Goldington, coroner, by Knotting, Riseley, Melchbourne, Yelden and Dean, who said that Thomas Sayly of Riseley and Ellen Seward of Melchbourne knew the truth of this matter better than any others and that they could not discover the truth without them. Ellen came before the coroner and found pledges to appear before the justices, John and Ambrose the Forester, David the Cobbler and William Seward, all of Melchbourne. No Englishry was presented. Afterwards the townships presented that Thomas and Ellen were not guilty, but Thomas still found pledges, William son of Lawrence and Simon de Pertissoyl, both of Riseley. They also said that the felons who killed the woman were unknown”.