Simon de Brantingham
Encyclopedia
Simon de Brantingham was an English
noble
of the mid-fourteenth century. During the reign of Edward III
, de Brantingham held the stewardship
of the Hospital of St John the Baptist in Dorchester, Dorset, although his involvement in the embezzlement
and wanton disposal of the hospital's assets resulted in his replacement by Thomas de Brantingham
in 1360.
giving. A royal inquiry
, commissioned by writ
of 18 November 1359, headed by the county escheat
or and with a jury
empanelled to hear the findings, found that de Brantingham, then steward
of the hospital, had not only alienated land but also carried off chattels from the hospital, including linens
and bedding
. Shortly after the commission reached its finding, de Brantingham appears to have been dismissed and, in any event, the following year, as recorded in the patent rolls
for 6 June 1360, King Edward III
granted the stewardship of the hospital to Thomas de Brantingham
.
, on 2 July 1324, of a messuage
and appurtenance
s on the high street in Beverley
, between Margaret, widow of Walter de Brychton of Beverley, and Roger Northiby of Walkington
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
of the mid-fourteenth century. During the reign of Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
, de Brantingham held the stewardship
Steward (office)
A steward is an official who is appointed by the legal ruling monarch to represent him or her in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his or her name; in the latter case, it roughly corresponds with the position of governor or deputy...
of the Hospital of St John the Baptist in Dorchester, Dorset, although his involvement in the embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
and wanton disposal of the hospital's assets resulted in his replacement by Thomas de Brantingham
Thomas de Brantingham
Thomas de Brantingham was an English clergyman who served as Lord Treasurer to Edward III and on two occasions to Richard II, and as bishop of Exeter from 1370 until his death...
in 1360.
Stewardship of the Hospital of St John the Baptist
De Brantingham was implicated in the wasteful and destructive administration of the Hospital of St John the Baptist in Dorchester, which had suffered the alienation of so much of its land that it was no longer capable of almsAlms
Alms or almsgiving is a religious rite which, in general, involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue.It exists in a number of religions. In Philippine Regions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to monks and nuns to...
giving. A royal inquiry
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
, commissioned by writ
Writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
of 18 November 1359, headed by the county escheat
Escheat
Escheat is a common law doctrine which transfers the property of a person who dies without heirs to the crown or state. It serves to ensure that property is not left in limbo without recognised ownership...
or and with a jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
empanelled to hear the findings, found that de Brantingham, then steward
Steward (office)
A steward is an official who is appointed by the legal ruling monarch to represent him or her in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his or her name; in the latter case, it roughly corresponds with the position of governor or deputy...
of the hospital, had not only alienated land but also carried off chattels from the hospital, including linens
Linens
Linens are fabric household goods, such as pillowcases and towels.Originally, many, such as bed sheets and tablecloths, were made of linen. Today, the term "linen" has come to be applied to all related products even though most are made of cotton, synthetic fabrics or blends...
and bedding
Bedding
Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, to protect the mattress, and for decorative effect. Bedding is the removable and washable portion of a human sleeping environment. It is more easily and economically replaced than the bed itself...
. Shortly after the commission reached its finding, de Brantingham appears to have been dismissed and, in any event, the following year, as recorded in the patent rolls
Patent Rolls
The Patent Rolls are primary sources for English history, a record of the King of England's correspondence, starting in 1202....
for 6 June 1360, King Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
granted the stewardship of the hospital to Thomas de Brantingham
Thomas de Brantingham
Thomas de Brantingham was an English clergyman who served as Lord Treasurer to Edward III and on two occasions to Richard II, and as bishop of Exeter from 1370 until his death...
.
Legal duties
De Brantingham and his son, Walter, appear as a witness to the grantLand grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
, on 2 July 1324, of a messuage
Messuage
In law, the term messuage equates to a dwelling-house and includes outbuildings, orchard, curtilage or court-yard and garden. At one time messuage supposedly had a more extensive meaning than that conveyed by the words house or site, but such distinction no longer survives.A capital messuage is the...
and appurtenance
Appurtenance
Appurtenances is a term for what belongs to and goes with something else, with the appurtenance being less significant than what it belongs to. The word ultimately derives from Latin appertinere, "to appertain"....
s on the high street in Beverley
Beverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
, between Margaret, widow of Walter de Brychton of Beverley, and Roger Northiby of Walkington
Walkington
Walkington is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately to the south west of the town of Beverley on the B1230 road.The civil parish is formed by the village of Walkington and the hamlet of Broadgate...
.