Ralph Crepyn

Ralph Crepyn, aka Ralph de Alegate
Born c. 1245
unknown, England
Died bef 1331
London, Middlesex, England.
Nationality English
Other names Ralph Crepyn, town clerk of London - Radulphus de Alegate
Occupation Town Clerk of London, lawyer, Member of Parliament
Known for Town clerk of London, early London Lawyer, Member of Parliament

Ralph Crepyn also known as Radulphus de Alegate who was the first documented Town Clerk of London in 1274 and a lawyer in that city.[1] His birth was probably circa 1245 and he was well educated for his day. His death was certain by 1331.

Town clerk service

He served from 1274 to November 1284, then after an absence due to a Royal Inquest, he was restored to office in 1286 and served until at least 1306.[2] During this time period, the term "clericus" or "common clerk" was used for the Town Clerk of London.[3][4]

Attack and aftermath

In November of 1284, he suffered grave injury when attacked in the street by one 'Laurence Duket'.[5]

This event excited local society because Ralph Crepyn defended the honor of his mistress and lover 'Alice Atte-Bowe' who cried out in distress when her lover was carried home close to death. The villain then fled to St Mary-le-Bow to seek sanctuary. Within days, Laurence Duket was found hanging from the 'mullion' of one of the church's windows in what was believed to be a suicide. In an official inquest, the Sheriff and others declared the incident closed and that justice served. However, a young lad, who was closeted within the church, saw what had really happened. In time, the truth came out.[6]

John de Bauquell was the listed town clerk or "clerk of the city" on 21 November 1284 during Ralph Crepyn's long recovery in which he had to 'vacation' his 'Alermanry' for most of 1285.[7]

Royal inquest

On 2 July 1285, Crepyn's "houses" in Cornhill were given to Ralph de Sandwych to hold for King Edward's (Edward I of England) pleasure.[8] This was due to a Royal inquest that seized all of Crepyn's lands in Borham, and also in Ware, in the county of Hertford, along with lands and estates in Stepney and Hackney.[9] Richard de Gravesend, Bishop of London, took care of the slow recovering Ralph Crepyn during the Royal inquest into the vile murder of 'Laurence Ducket' who had been given Church sanctuary. It is unknown if Ralph served within the gaol or jail during this period.

After the Royal inquest and the sentence given, 'Alice Atte-Bowe' was burnt at the stake, which was the common execution for women. Fifteen[10] so called 'ruffians', who she excited to commit such a vile deed within the Bow Church were hanged. Sheriff Jordan Godchepe, a friend of Ralph Crepyn, along with others were detained and imprisoned during the months of the inquest. Finally they, along with Crepyn, were released after stiff paying fines.[2]

Summary

Coat of arms of the City of London.

Ralph Crepyn was noted as a "clerk in the service of the mayor of London" in 1286 and his lands were restored by the King due to his incapacity during the murder of his assailant.[11][2] In 1294 Richard Crepyn (Richard de Gloucester) and in 1306 Walter Crepyn (Walter de Gloucestre) were documented as sons of Ralph Crepyn, the clerk.[12] By 1331 Ralph Crepyn is reported as deceased.

Portrayal in fiction

"Building on an actual murder in 1284, Doherty (The Death of a King) auspiciously begins a mystery series featuring Hugh Corbett, clerk of the King's Bench. Lawrence Duket, goldsmith, kills Ralph Crepyn, moneylender, and flees to London's St. Mary Le Bow for sanctuary. The next day Duket is found hanged inside the locked church, an apparent suicide. Bishop Burnell, Chancellor for King Edward I, assigns Corbett to investigate. Burnell fears that the antiroyal Populares party will join with practitioners of devil worship at this time, Christianity is only skin deep. Hugh Corbett is threatened and attacked while probing a suicide which was really murder which . . . masked treason, sorcery and rebellion. The satanist group seems to be centered at The Mitre, a tavern owned by the beautiful Alice atte Bowe, with whom Corbett falls in love. The mystery is neatly done and Doherty's ease of scholarship in giving us the rich sights, sounds and smells of medieval London is masterful." http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/p-c-doherty/satan-in-st-marys.htm

See also

References and notes

  1. ↑ Law Courts and Lawyers in the City of London, 1300–1550 Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-86668-2 - LAW COURTS AND LAWYERS IN THE CITY OF LONDON, 1300–1550 - by Penny Tucker.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hopkinson (1913), p. 23
  3. ↑ 'Notes on the aldermen, 1240-1500', The Aldermen of the City of London: Temp. Henry III - 1912 (1908), pp. 159-168. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=67246 Date accessed: 15 June 2009.
  4. ↑ 'Aldermen of the City of London: Cornhill ward', The Aldermen of the City of London: Temp. Henry III - 1912 (1908), pp. 121-127. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=67203 Date accessed: 15 June 2009.
  5. ↑ 'Laurence Duket or Duckett was a goldsmith and perhaps the son of John Duckett or Duket. See: 'Hackney: Settlement and Building to c.1800', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 10: Hackney (1995), pp. 10-14. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22694 Date accessed: 15 June 2009.
  6. ↑ THE HALL SITE 23 Unfortunately for those involved, a boy, hidden in the church, gave information. The matter was re-opened, and the parties implicated were convicted, with the result that Alice was burnt (the punishment in those days for women convicted of murder), and her accomplices hanged. Ralph himself, his friend, Jordan Godchepe, (who was one of the Sheriffs that year), and others were attainted, and after long imprisonment were, as Stow described it, " hanged by the purse," that is to say, were released on payment of fines. Crepin's land was taken in execution, and on the p- R- ^ . 13 Edw. I. Patent Rolls is a Grant dated the 2nd of July, 1285, ofm. n. his "houses" in Cornhill (" vicus de Cornhulle ") to Ralph de Sandwych (" custos civitatis London ") to occupy during the King's pleasure. I presume the property was vested in Ralph de Sandwych, in his official capacity. At that time, in consequence of some offence caused to Edward I, the City had been deprived of its liberties and placed under the authority of a royal official called the ** Custos." In the following year, 1286, Crepin's lands were c. p. r. ordered to be restored to him, he having purged his p. 386. innocence before Richard de Gravesend, Bishop of London, to whom he had been handed over in accordance with the benefit of clergy. I think this Ralph Crepin and Ralph de Alegate (" otherwise Crepin ") must have been the same person, for if they were not, it would be a remarkable coincidence that there should have been two men bearing the same name, living about the same time, both described as *' clericus," and both owning property in Cornhill. Walter de Glovernia (or Gloucester) was the son ofn. r. Ralph de Alegate, otherwise Crepin, for he is described as ^^^'^^' " filius domini Radulphi de Alegate clerici," in a deed on B.,p. 177 24 THE HALL SITE the Husting Rolls, and as "Walter de Gloucestre, son of Ralph de Alegate, called Crepyn " in a document entered in the City Letter Books. He was no doubt the same Loftie, vol. ii. person as Walter Crepin, father of Edmund Crepin, and p- 340. probably the same as Walter Crepin who was a member e".,p. 175- of Parliament for London in the year 1322, and elected E.,^'. ?8i. Alderman of the Ward of Cornhill, 1323. Too much importance must not be attached to changes in surnames, for in those days surnames had hardly become fixed. Other members of the same family assumed the name of Bultel, for among the deeds H. R. relating to this title is a Deed of Confirmation dated the 7' ^*^^' 23rd of February, 1344, by William Bultel who is therein described as the son and heir of Mascelinus Bultel, brother of Ralph Crepin (" frater Radulphi Crepyn"). Sir Oliver de Ingham, who was tenant of the premises when Edmund Crepin owned them, was a distinguished soldier. An interesting account of his life will be found in Clode's " Early History " of the Company, Vol. II. p. i.
  7. ↑ Libraries, Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery, "The Town Clerk" - Pages 71-74, from the London Metropolitan Archives, City of London, 40 Northampton Road, London EC 1R 0HB - www.cityoflondon.gov.uk - www.lma.gov.uk
  8. ↑ 13 Edw. I. Patent Rolls is a Grant dated the 2nd of July, 1285, ofm. n. his "houses" in Cornhill (" vicus de Cornhulle ") to Ralph de Sandwych (" custos civitatis London ") to occupy during the King's pleasure. I presume the property was vested in Ralph de Sandwych, in his official capacity. At that time, in consequence of some offence caused to Edward L, the City had been deprived of its liberties and placed under the authority of a royal official called the ** Custos." In the following year, 1286, Crepin's lands were c. p. r. ordered to be restored to him, he having purged his p. 386. innocence before Richard de Gravesend, Bishop of London, to whom he had been handed over in accordance with the benefit of clergy. I think this Ralph Crepin and Ralph de Alegate (" otherwise Crepin ") must have been the same person, for if they were not, it would be a remarkable coincidence that there should have been two men bearing the same name, living about the same time, both described as *' clericus," and both owning property in Cornhill. Walter de Glovernia (or Gloucester) was the son ofn. r. Ralph de Alegate, otherwise Crepin, for he is described as ^^^'^^' " filius domini Radulphi de Alegate clerici," in a deed on B.,p. 177 24 THE HALL SITE the Husting Rolls, and as "Walter de Gloucestre, son of Ralph de Alegate, called Crepyn " in a document entered in the City Letter Books. He was no doubt the same Loftie, vol. ii. person as Walter Crepin, father of Edmund Crepin, and p- 340. probably the same as Walter Crepin who was a member e".,p. 175- of Parliament for London in the year 1322, and elected E.,^'. ?8i. Alderman of the Ward of Cornhill, 1323. Too much importance must not be attached to changes in surnames, for in those days surnames had hardly become fixed. Other members of the same family assumed the name of Bultel, for among the deeds H. R. relating to this title is a Deed of Confirmation dated the 7' ^*^^' 23rd of February, 1344, by William Bultel who is therein described as the son and heir of Mascelinus Bultel, brother of Ralph Crepin (" frater Radulphi Crepyn"). Sir Oliver de Ingham, who was tenant of the premises when Edmund Crepin owned them, was a distinguished soldier. An interesting account of his life will be found in Clode's " Early History " of the Company, Vol. II. p. i.
  9. ↑ 'Stepney: Manors and Estates', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 11: Stepney, Bethnal Green (1998), pp. 19-52. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22734 Date accessed: 15 June 2009.
  10. ↑ fn.5 ... No fewer than sixteen persons, according to Stow, paid the penalty of death for the crime, a woman named Alice atte Bowe, the chief cause of the quarrel and the instigator of the murder, being burned alive; whilst several rich persons implicated were, according to the same authority, "hanged by the purse" after long imprisonment. (See 'The French Chronicle of London,' edited for the Camden Society by G. J. Aungier, pp. 18, 19, translated by Riley). From: 'Wills: 18 Edward I (1289-90)', Calendar of wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 1: 1258-1358 (1889), pp. 88-95. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66826#n5 Date accessed: 16 June 2009.
  11. ↑ Letter Books of the City of London, 11 vols., 1899-1912 B.
  12. ↑ [Xo dak.'] https://archive.org/stream/calendarofletterb00corp/calendarofletterb00corp_djvu.txt - see also: 'Notes on the aldermen, 1240-1500', The Aldermen of the City of London: Temp. Henry III - 1912 (1908), pp. 159-168. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=67246 Date accessed: 15 June 2009.

Bibliography

  • Hopkinson, Henry Lennox (1913). A History of the Site of Merchant Taylors' Hall And Adjoining Properties Belonging to the Guild of Merchant Taylors of the Fraternity of Saint John Baptist, in the City of London. London: Riorden Press.
Preceded by
 Town Clerk of London
1274–1306 		Succeeded by
William ____
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
 Member of Parliament for London
Several years from 1285 to 1307 		Succeeded by