Thomas Weyland
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Weyland was a British justice. He was the third son of Herbert Weyland and his wife Beatrice; his three brothers, John, Richard and William, also pursued administrative and judicial careers. Thomas's first appearance in official records is in 1251 as an attorney for his brother John for the making of a final concord. In 1258 he paid 100 marks
for the Manor of Chillesford in Suffolk
, and purchased a second manor in 1258 at Blaxhall
for 300 marks; it is unknown what career he had to earn such money. In 1266 he married Anna, daughter of Richard de Coleville, and was knighted in 1270. In 1274 he was made a justice of the Common Bench
after the death of his older brother William, who had previously held such a position.
He served as a junior justice for four years, and was appointed Chief Justice
in 1278 after the retirement of Roger of Seaton
. He held office for 11 years until his removal from office 1289, and his time in this position is the first period of which substantial law reports survive. The reports present a mixed view; while they show he was in possession of a clear and sharp legal mind, often deciding litigation cases of the court either on his own or with his colleague William of Brompton, he was also involved in several instances of corruption and misconduct, including editing his plea roll in a land litigation case involving one of his relatives, being rewarded by an interest in the property in question. Many of these cases only turned up after his removal from office, and although some were shown to be false many were not. During this time he made large acquisitions of property, including seven manors in Suffolk, three in Essex
and several others elsewhere. He spent an average of £150 a year on property acquisition while in office, and while much money may have come from the profits of his estate or the income from his wife's dower lands, his relative lack of scruples makes it likely some came from judicial corruption.
His removal from office in 1289 was not, however, as a result of judicial misconduct. On July 20 1289 two of his servants committed a murder at a village fair, killing William Carwel, an Irish servant of the Earl of Norfolk
. The killing may have been as a result of a drunken brawl, but it is probable it was part of bitter factional fighting between followers of the Earl, of which Weyland was one of his leading councillors. After they returned to his house at Monewden he failed to have them arrested, despite knowing of the murder, therefore becoming an accessory. Due to the Earl's desire to have the matter dealt with a warrant was issued for a court of enquiry on September 4, and the men were executed on September 14. The jurors in the matter also indicted the Chief Justice for harbouring the killers, and orders were given for his arrest. A clerk of the High Sheriff of Suffolk was sent to capture him, but soon after his arrest he escaped under cover of darkness. He made his way to the Franciscan
priory at Babwell, where he took the orders habit. After his location became known, Edward I
sent orders to Robert Malet to starve him out. Thomas surrendered in 1290, most likely in return for safe travel to the Tower of London
, where he was offered a choice between standing trial, perpetual imprisonment, and exile, of which he chose exile. On February 20 he took an oath not to return to any English territory, including Ireland, and was given nine days to reach Dover
, his port of departure. By 1292 he had settled in Paris
, and was pardoned by the king in 1297 and allowed to return home, where he died in 1298.
Mark (money)
Mark was a measure of weight mainly for gold and silver, commonly used throughout western Europe and often equivalent to 8 ounces. Considerable variations, however, occurred throughout the Middle Ages Mark (from a merging of three Teutonic/Germanic languages words, Latinized in 9th century...
for the Manor of Chillesford in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, and purchased a second manor in 1258 at Blaxhall
Blaxhall
Blaxhall is a village and civil parish in the Suffolk Coastal district of Suffolk, England.Located around west of Aldeburgh, in 2007 its population was estimated to be 220.-External links:*...
for 300 marks; it is unknown what career he had to earn such money. In 1266 he married Anna, daughter of Richard de Coleville, and was knighted in 1270. In 1274 he was made a justice of the Common Bench
Court of Common Pleas (England)
The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...
after the death of his older brother William, who had previously held such a position.
He served as a junior justice for four years, and was appointed Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas, also known as the Common Bench or Common Place, was the second highest common law court in the English legal system until 1880, when it was dissolved. As such, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was one of the highest judicial officials in England, behind only the Lord...
in 1278 after the retirement of Roger of Seaton
Roger of Seaton
Roger of Seaton was a British justice. He studied canon law at Oxford University, and by 1258 he was a qualified magister, a rarity for British justices of the time; of the sixty or so justices who had served under Richard I only three held such a title, with ninety and eight respectively for...
. He held office for 11 years until his removal from office 1289, and his time in this position is the first period of which substantial law reports survive. The reports present a mixed view; while they show he was in possession of a clear and sharp legal mind, often deciding litigation cases of the court either on his own or with his colleague William of Brompton, he was also involved in several instances of corruption and misconduct, including editing his plea roll in a land litigation case involving one of his relatives, being rewarded by an interest in the property in question. Many of these cases only turned up after his removal from office, and although some were shown to be false many were not. During this time he made large acquisitions of property, including seven manors in Suffolk, three in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
and several others elsewhere. He spent an average of £150 a year on property acquisition while in office, and while much money may have come from the profits of his estate or the income from his wife's dower lands, his relative lack of scruples makes it likely some came from judicial corruption.
His removal from office in 1289 was not, however, as a result of judicial misconduct. On July 20 1289 two of his servants committed a murder at a village fair, killing William Carwel, an Irish servant of the Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod was 5th Earl of Norfolk.He was the son of Hugh Bigod , and succeeded his uncle, Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk as earl in 1270....
. The killing may have been as a result of a drunken brawl, but it is probable it was part of bitter factional fighting between followers of the Earl, of which Weyland was one of his leading councillors. After they returned to his house at Monewden he failed to have them arrested, despite knowing of the murder, therefore becoming an accessory. Due to the Earl's desire to have the matter dealt with a warrant was issued for a court of enquiry on September 4, and the men were executed on September 14. The jurors in the matter also indicted the Chief Justice for harbouring the killers, and orders were given for his arrest. A clerk of the High Sheriff of Suffolk was sent to capture him, but soon after his arrest he escaped under cover of darkness. He made his way to the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
priory at Babwell, where he took the orders habit. After his location became known, Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
sent orders to Robert Malet to starve him out. Thomas surrendered in 1290, most likely in return for safe travel to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, where he was offered a choice between standing trial, perpetual imprisonment, and exile, of which he chose exile. On February 20 he took an oath not to return to any English territory, including Ireland, and was given nine days to reach Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, his port of departure. By 1292 he had settled in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and was pardoned by the king in 1297 and allowed to return home, where he died in 1298.