Bailiff of Sarum
Encyclopedia
The Bailiff of Sarum or Bailiff of New Sarum was an official appointed by the Bishop of Salisbury
in the 14th and 15th centuries.
's bailiff
was appointed directly from the Bishop of Salisbury
. The appointee was paid whilst in office. The Office of Bailiff of New Sarum appears to centre on a legal function associated with the Church Courts in Salisbury
diocese
where jurisdiction of the bailiff was derived within the "lands, fiefs, and men of the bishop and his successors or of the dean
, the canons
, and their successors".
A document dated March 23, 1227, whereby King Henry III of England
granted financial privileges to Bishop Richard Poore
and his subsequent successors sheds light on the responsibilities of the Bailiff of New Sarum. Within this document it is found that the King "...conceded afterwards to the aforesaid bishop and his successors that no viscount
or constable
or any other of our bailiffs shall have power over or the right to enter into the lands, fiefs, and men of the bishop and his successors or of the dean, the canons, and their successors, but it [power and entrance] shall pertain wholly to the bishop and his successors and to their bailiffs, with the exception of those legal attachments from the pleas of the crown."
In the case of Sir Thomas Hungerford he also had the role of steward of the city of Salisbury and the manors of Milford and Woodford. A function described as a medieval demesne
manager on behalf of the Bishop of Salisbury
. It is unclear whether other incumbents had similar responsibilities.
.
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Bishop's Bailiff of New Sarum (Salisbury)
The Office of BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
's bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
was appointed directly from the Bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
. The appointee was paid whilst in office. The Office of Bailiff of New Sarum appears to centre on a legal function associated with the Church Courts in Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
where jurisdiction of the bailiff was derived within the "lands, fiefs, and men of the bishop and his successors or of the dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
, the canons
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
, and their successors".
A document dated March 23, 1227, whereby King Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
granted financial privileges to Bishop Richard Poore
Richard Poore
Richard Poore was a medieval English clergyman best known for his role in the construction of Salisbury Cathedral.-Early life:...
and his subsequent successors sheds light on the responsibilities of the Bailiff of New Sarum. Within this document it is found that the King "...conceded afterwards to the aforesaid bishop and his successors that no viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
or constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
or any other of our bailiffs shall have power over or the right to enter into the lands, fiefs, and men of the bishop and his successors or of the dean, the canons, and their successors, but it [power and entrance] shall pertain wholly to the bishop and his successors and to their bailiffs, with the exception of those legal attachments from the pleas of the crown."
In the case of Sir Thomas Hungerford he also had the role of steward of the city of Salisbury and the manors of Milford and Woodford. A function described as a medieval demesne
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
manager on behalf of the Bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
. It is unclear whether other incumbents had similar responsibilities.
Known incumbents of the Office of Bishop's Bailiff of New Sarum
Dates shown below relate to dates as they appear on documents contained within the national archive whilst the incumbent is in office. Only the dates corresponding to Sir Thomas de Hungerford relate to full term served in office. Robert Longe shown below is potentially Robert Long (politician)Robert Long (politician)
Robert Long of Draycot Cerne was an English politician.Born in Wiltshire, he was the son of Roger le Long.In 1414 Long was elected Member of Parliament for Old Sarum, and MP for Wiltshire in 1421, 1423–24, 1429–30, 1433, and again in 1442...
.
| Name | Indicative Date |
|---|---|
| John de Hildesle | 3 November 1310 |
| Geoffrey de Weremunster | 14 April 1317 |
| William de Stourton | 15 March 1317/8 |
| Walter de Hungerford | 21 April 1333 |
| Robert de Haveresham | 9 January 1347/8 |
| John de Westbury | 26 March 1352 |
| Walter atte Bergh | Wednesday after St. Matthew (24 September) 1365 |
| Sir Thomas de Hungerford | Life grant of office 4 April 1370 to death 3 Dec 1397 |
| William de Westbury William de Westbury William Westbury , also called William de Westbury and William of Westbury, was a fifteenth century judge of the King's Bench.-Career:... |
Earliest: Wed 11 Feb 1411 - Latest: 5 May 1418 |
| Robert Longe | Wednesday after Palm Sunday Palm Sunday Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. .... (12 April) 1430 |
| John Whittokesine | 5 Dec 1457 |
| John Fitz James | 27 January 1475/6 |