Biography of John Deveril

Rymer's Fœdera Volume 2. Concerning the capture of John Mautravers and others.

The King, to the Sheriff of Northampton, greeting.

Because we have learned that John Mautravers (age 40), Thomas de Gurney, John Wyard, and William of Exeter, lately constable of the castle of Wallingford, John Deveroill, and William of Ocle, indicted for various crimes committed by them in our realm, intend on that account to leave the realm secretly; through whose malice diverse evils may arise, unless we quickly set our hand to this:

We strictly order you that you cause all seaports and other places within your bailiwick, both within liberties and without, where ships come in or where there is passage of ships, to be so guarded, under the peril that lies upon you, that the said John, Thomas, John, William, John, and William may in no way within the said bailiwick pass out of the realm. And moreover you are to seize them within the said bailiwick, whether they be within liberties or without, and also cause them to be seized by your officers, and have them brought before us, wherever we shall be, to undergo what by our council shall be ordained.

And you shall set such guard in every place in the said bailiwick, along the coast and the aforesaid places, that they may in no way escape from the realm. And you shall do the premises with such diligence that, if such escape should occur, which God forbid, the blame may not fall upon you, whereby we should have to take heavy action against you.

Witness the King at Westminster, the third day of December [1330].

By the King himself and the council.

In the same manner mandate is given to each of the sheriffs throughout England.

De capiendo Johannem Mautravers & alios.

Rex, Vicecomiti Nort', salutem. Quia accepimus quod Johannes Mautravers, Thomas de Gurneye, Johannes Wyard, & Willielmus de Exon', nuper constabular' castri de Walyngford', Johannes Deveroill', Willielmus de Ocle, de diversis facinoribus per ipsos in regno nostro perpetratis, rectati, eâ occasione extra idem regnum clandestinè egredi proponunt; per quorum maliciam diversa mala poterunt evenire, nisi celeriùs ad hoc apponeremus manum nostram;

Tibi præcipimus firmiter injungentes, quod omnes portus maris & alia loca infra ballivam tuam, tam infra libertates quam extra, ubi naves applicant, seu passagium navium existit, taliter custodiri facias, sub periculo quod incumbit, quod dicti Johannes, Thomas, Johannes, Willielmus, Johannes, & Willielmus alicubi infra ballivam prædictam nullatenus transeant extra idem regnum; et insuper eos in ballivâ prædictâ, sive fuerint infra libertates sive extra, capias, & eciam per ministros tuos capi facias, & eos, ubicumque fuerimus, ad nos duci facias, ibidem, quod de consilio nostro ordinari contigerit receptur';

Et talem custodiam in singulis locis in ballivâ prædictâ, super costeram & loca prædicta apponas, quod ipsi ab eodem regno nullo modo evadant:

Et præmissa cum tantâ diligenciâ facias, quod dicta evasio si eveniat, quod absit, tibi impingi non valeat, per quod ad te graviter capere debeamus.

T. R. apud Westm', tercio die Dec'.

Per ipsum Regem & cons'.

Eodem modo mandatum est singulis vicecomitibus per Angľ.

Close Rolls Edward III 1331. 24th February 1331. Croydon. To Williani de Sfaundon. Whereas the king has appointed John de Merssheton, John de Percebrigg and Adam Lucas by letters patent to suivey all the castles, towns, manors, lands, goods and chattels that belonged to Roger de Mortuo Mari, late earl of March, and to Simon de Bereford, who were drawn and hanged for certain seditions and felonies, in cos. Hereford, Worcester, Gloucester, Salop and Stafford, which he ordered to be taken into his hands by reason of their forfeiture, and also to survey the castles, towns, manors, lands, goods and chattels of John Mautrayers (age 41), the younger,¹ Thomas Gourneye, Bego de Baiocis, John Deveroil, and William de Okele in the aforesaid counties, who are charged with seditions and felonies and have withdrawn themselves for that reason, not permitting themselves to be justieed, wherefore the king ordered their castles, etc., to he taken into his hands, and to canse all the goods and chattels aforesaid to be appraised by men of those counties, and to be present at the sale of certain of the goods and chattels, and to execute certain other things contained in the said letters, and Ihe king understands that the said John de Merssheton was unable to labour about the premises by reason of bodily infirmity, and that it is espedient that William, who has better knowledge of the premises, shall intend to the premises with the aforesaid John de Percebrigg and Adam: the king therefore orders him to be intendent, aiding and counpellins to them in the premises as often as he shall be summoned by them. The king has ordered the sheriffs of ihe aforesaid counties to pay to William 18d a day for his wages whilst thus employed. By C. Et erant patentes.

The like, 'de verba ad verbum' to John de Wonneton. By C.

Mandate in pursuance to the sheriffs of the aforesaid counties to pay to William and John the wages aforesaid. By C.

Note 1. His father John Maltravers (age 65) died in 1343.