Richard Basset (royal justice)
Encyclopedia
Richard Basset was an English royal judge and sheriff during the reign of King Henry I of England
. His father was also a royal justice. In about 1122 Basset married the eventual heiress of another other royal justice; the marriage settlement has survived. In 1129 and 1130 Basset was sheriff of a number of counties together with another nobleman. Basset and his wife founded a monastic house in 1125 from of their lands, which before the donation were equivalent to 15 knight's fee
s. After Basset's death between 1135 and 1144 his lands were granted to his son.
, who was also a royal justice under Henry I. It is unclear whether Richard was Ralph's eldest son or not. Richard inherited Ralph's estates in Normandy
, which were near Montreuil-au-Houlme
. He also inherited his father's English estates at Colston Basset, Kingston Winslow, and Peatling Parva. Basset's brother Nicholas signed over his own inheritance to Richard. Ralph Basset was one of the "new men" of Henry I, and his son was also considered to be so. William Basset, the abbot
of the Benedictine monastery of the abbey of St Benet of Hulme, may have been a relative, as he granted lands to Richard Basset in return for a ₤10 annual rent. Another relative may have been the Robert Basset who nine times witnessed charters of Ranulf de Gernon, Earl of Chester
.
and Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, together with Aubrey de Vere, in 1129 and 1130. He was also sheriff with de Vere in the counties of Essex
, Hertfordshire
, Leicestershire
, Northamptonshire
, Norfolk and Suffolk
, and Surrey
. The number of shrievalties was unusual, and is known from the Pipe Roll of 1130. According to the entries in the Pipe Roll, de Vere and Basset did not function as traditional sheriffs in their counties, farming the revenues, but were instead responsible for the entire royal revenue in those counties.
As well as his service as a sheriff, Basset also served as a royal justice, hearing pleas in Leicestershire in 1129 and 1130. Other royal service included being sent to Peterborough Abbey in 1125 to oversee the abbey's lands after the death of the abbot. The revenues of a vacant abbey went to the king, and Basset's job was to secure Peterborough's income for King Henry. Between 1131 and 1133 Basset appears to have been a frequent attendee at the royal court, as he witnessed a number of documents. Included among these attestations are some originating at the councils held at Northampton in 1131 and another at Westminster in 1132. Basset witnessed no royal documents after 1133, when King Henry left for Normandy for the final time.
After King Henry's death in 1135, Basset was not employed as a royal official, either as a justice or as a sheriff. He appears once as a witness to a charter of Stephen's in 1136, but the authenticity of this document has been questioned. He had built a castle in Normandy at Montreuil-au-Houlme, but it was not held by him in 1136, when it was held against Stephen's opponents by William de Montpincon.
s, but they did not form a compact estate, as they were spread over 11 counties. In 1135, Basset's lands totalled 184.25 carucate
s of land, and were considered to be the equivalent of 15 knight's fees. These lands would have been about 1500 acres (607 ha), calculateded at the normal rate of about 120 acres (48.6 ha) per carucate. In Leicestershire, Basset held most of the lands previously held by Robert de Buci at the time of the Domesday Survey. The lands were held by Basset in right of his wife, but how the lands had passed into her family is unclear. These lands were held directly from the king, but in addition, Basset held more land in Leicestershire from both King David I of Scotland
and from Robert de Beaumont
, the Earl of Leicester
.
Basset founded an Augustinian Order priory at Launde
in Leicestershire, together with his wife. This priory, Launde Priory
, was founded by 1125, and was endowed with the village of Loddington
in Leicestershire and a number of churches in that county and others.
, some time between 1120 and 1123. Matilda had a brother Robert, who was mentioned in her marriage settlement, by the terms of the settlement Robert Ridel was placed in the wardship of Basset until he was knighted and married. The document of the marriage settlement survives, and describes Matilda's dowry
as being worth four knight's fee
s. Basset also received the right to arrange Matlida's sister's marriages and was to marry Robert Ridel to Basset's niece, with Robert's lands reverting to Basset if Robert had no children. Not long after the settlement was written, Basset was in possession of the lands that should have been Robert's.
Basset witnessed a royal charter in 1135 but was dead by 1144, when his lands were granted by the Empress Matilda
and her son Henry
to Richard's son Geoffrey Ridel. Other sons were Ralph Basset, who held lands near Drayton, and William Basset
, who held lands near Sapcote. William became a royal justice and sheriff like his father. Richard also had two daughters: Sibil, who married Robert de Cauz, and Matilda, who married John de Stuteville. Ralph inherited the ancestral lands in Normandy. The Norman chronicler Orderic Vitalis
wrote that Basset built a tower on his anccestral lands of Montreuil in Normandy, purely to increase his own importance.
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
. His father was also a royal justice. In about 1122 Basset married the eventual heiress of another other royal justice; the marriage settlement has survived. In 1129 and 1130 Basset was sheriff of a number of counties together with another nobleman. Basset and his wife founded a monastic house in 1125 from of their lands, which before the donation were equivalent to 15 knight's fee
Knight's fee
In feudal Anglo-Norman England and Ireland, a knight's fee was a measure of a unit of land deemed sufficient from which a knight could derive not only sustenance for himself and his esquires, but also the means to furnish himself and his equipage with horses and armour to fight for his overlord in...
s. After Basset's death between 1135 and 1144 his lands were granted to his son.
Early life
Basset was the son of Ralph BassetRalph Basset
Ralph Basset was a medieval English royal justice during the reign of King Henry I of England. He was a native of Normandy, and may have come to Henry's notice while Henry held land in Normandy prior to becoming king...
, who was also a royal justice under Henry I. It is unclear whether Richard was Ralph's eldest son or not. Richard inherited Ralph's estates in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, which were near Montreuil-au-Houlme
Montreuil-au-Houlme
Montreuil-au-Houlme is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.-References:*...
. He also inherited his father's English estates at Colston Basset, Kingston Winslow, and Peatling Parva. Basset's brother Nicholas signed over his own inheritance to Richard. Ralph Basset was one of the "new men" of Henry I, and his son was also considered to be so. William Basset, the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of the Benedictine monastery of the abbey of St Benet of Hulme, may have been a relative, as he granted lands to Richard Basset in return for a ₤10 annual rent. Another relative may have been the Robert Basset who nine times witnessed charters of Ranulf de Gernon, Earl of Chester
Earl of Chester
The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The...
.
Royal service
Basset served as Sheriff of Bedfordshire and BuckinghamshireHigh Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. One sheriff was appointed for both counties from 1125 until the end of 1575, after which date separate sheriffs were appointed...
and Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, together with Aubrey de Vere, in 1129 and 1130. He was also sheriff with de Vere in the counties of Essex
High Sheriff of Essex
The High Sheriff of Essex was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years...
, Hertfordshire
High Sheriff of Hertfordshire
The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years...
, Leicestershire
High Sheriff of Leicestershire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Leicestershire. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
, Northamptonshire
High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of Northamptonshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been...
, Norfolk and Suffolk
High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Norfolk and Suffolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
, and Surrey
High Sheriff of Surrey
-List of High Sheriffs of Surrey:The list of known High Sheriffs of Surrey extends back to 1066 At various times the High Sheriff of Surrey was also High Sheriff of Sussex -1066-1228:...
. The number of shrievalties was unusual, and is known from the Pipe Roll of 1130. According to the entries in the Pipe Roll, de Vere and Basset did not function as traditional sheriffs in their counties, farming the revenues, but were instead responsible for the entire royal revenue in those counties.
As well as his service as a sheriff, Basset also served as a royal justice, hearing pleas in Leicestershire in 1129 and 1130. Other royal service included being sent to Peterborough Abbey in 1125 to oversee the abbey's lands after the death of the abbot. The revenues of a vacant abbey went to the king, and Basset's job was to secure Peterborough's income for King Henry. Between 1131 and 1133 Basset appears to have been a frequent attendee at the royal court, as he witnessed a number of documents. Included among these attestations are some originating at the councils held at Northampton in 1131 and another at Westminster in 1132. Basset witnessed no royal documents after 1133, when King Henry left for Normandy for the final time.
After King Henry's death in 1135, Basset was not employed as a royal official, either as a justice or as a sheriff. He appears once as a witness to a charter of Stephen's in 1136, but the authenticity of this document has been questioned. He had built a castle in Normandy at Montreuil-au-Houlme, but it was not held by him in 1136, when it was held against Stephen's opponents by William de Montpincon.
Lands
Basset held lands that totaled approximately 176 hideHide (unit)
The hide was originally an amount of land sufficient to support a household, but later in Anglo-Saxon England became a unit used in assessing land for liability to "geld", or land tax. The geld would be collected at a stated rate per hide...
s, but they did not form a compact estate, as they were spread over 11 counties. In 1135, Basset's lands totalled 184.25 carucate
Carucate
The carucate or ploughland was a unit of assessment for tax used in most Danelaw counties of England, and is found for example in Domesday Book. The carucate was based on the area a plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual season...
s of land, and were considered to be the equivalent of 15 knight's fees. These lands would have been about 1500 acres (607 ha), calculateded at the normal rate of about 120 acres (48.6 ha) per carucate. In Leicestershire, Basset held most of the lands previously held by Robert de Buci at the time of the Domesday Survey. The lands were held by Basset in right of his wife, but how the lands had passed into her family is unclear. These lands were held directly from the king, but in addition, Basset held more land in Leicestershire from both King David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
and from Robert de Beaumont
Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester
Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester was Justiciar of England 1155–1168.The surname "de Beaumont" is given him by genealogists. The only known contemporary surname applied to him is "Robert son of Count Robert"...
, the Earl of Leicester
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
.
Basset founded an Augustinian Order priory at Launde
Launde
Launde is a civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, bordering Rutland. The parish is the site of Launde Abbey. It gives its name to an electoral division of Leicestershire that stretches all the way from Scraptoft, Thurnby and Stoughton, near Leicester, to the border with...
in Leicestershire, together with his wife. This priory, Launde Priory
Launde Abbey
Launde Abbey is located in Leicestershire, 14 miles east of the city of Leicester and six miles south west of Oakham. The building is presently used as a conference and retreat centre, by the Church of England Dioceses of Leicester and Peterborough....
, was founded by 1125, and was endowed with the village of Loddington
Loddington
Loddington is a small village and civil parish north of Market Harborough and east of Leicester in the county of Leicestershire. It has a population of 77....
in Leicestershire and a number of churches in that county and others.
Family and death
Basset married Matilda, the daughter and eventual heiress of Geoffrey RidelGeoffrey Ridel (royal justice)
Geoffrey Ridel was a landholder and royal justice during the reign of King Henry I of England.Ridel is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book as holding land in Norfolk, and is probably also the same Geoffrey who held land in Derbyshire in Domesday...
, some time between 1120 and 1123. Matilda had a brother Robert, who was mentioned in her marriage settlement, by the terms of the settlement Robert Ridel was placed in the wardship of Basset until he was knighted and married. The document of the marriage settlement survives, and describes Matilda's dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
as being worth four knight's fee
Knight's fee
In feudal Anglo-Norman England and Ireland, a knight's fee was a measure of a unit of land deemed sufficient from which a knight could derive not only sustenance for himself and his esquires, but also the means to furnish himself and his equipage with horses and armour to fight for his overlord in...
s. Basset also received the right to arrange Matlida's sister's marriages and was to marry Robert Ridel to Basset's niece, with Robert's lands reverting to Basset if Robert had no children. Not long after the settlement was written, Basset was in possession of the lands that should have been Robert's.
Basset witnessed a royal charter in 1135 but was dead by 1144, when his lands were granted by the Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
and her son Henry
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
to Richard's son Geoffrey Ridel. Other sons were Ralph Basset, who held lands near Drayton, and William Basset
William Basset
William Basset was an Anglo-Norman administrator and justice.He was born in Colston, Nottinghamshire, the son of Richard Basset, a royal justice and his wife Matilda Ridel. He settled in Sapcote, Leicestershire....
, who held lands near Sapcote. William became a royal justice and sheriff like his father. Richard also had two daughters: Sibil, who married Robert de Cauz, and Matilda, who married John de Stuteville. Ralph inherited the ancestral lands in Normandy. The Norman chronicler Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis was an English chronicler of Norman ancestry who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th and 12th century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England. The modern biographer of Henry I of England, C...
wrote that Basset built a tower on his anccestral lands of Montreuil in Normandy, purely to increase his own importance.