Gangs and lords

Attached is the first membrane of a commission set up in 1333 to deal with criminal gangs in England, principally the Coterels and Folvilles. I posted on this topic recently, but a few more details have emerged since.

Among those accused of aiding and abetting the outlaws is one Walter Comyn (circled in red on the image). This man seems to have been a kinsman of the main branch of Comyn of Badenoch, driven out of Scotland by Robert de Bruce after he murdered the head of the family, John, and John's uncle Robert Comyn at Greyfriars church in Dumfries in 1306.

Walter Comyn also appears in several documents relating to Scotland. In 1310 he was a prisoner of the Scots, implying he had chosen the English side (as many Comyns did), and was exchanged for Maria Bruce, whom Edward II had in custody. This was done at the request of Geoffrey Mowbray and Walter's other friends in England.

He next appears on 2 December 1331, when he was given protection so he could go overseas on the king's business with Henry Beaumont, heir to John Comyn of Badenoch. Over a year later, on August 1332, Edward III ordered Walter's outlawry to be suspended because he had surrendered and was now in prison at Wigmore castle in Hereford, pending trial.

Thus, sometime between these dates Walter Comyn chose to throw in his lot with the outlaw gangs of the midlands and northern counties. As it happens, we know exactly what he was getting up to. Another surviving court record, dated 14 February 1332, reads thus:

“And that James Coterel, Nicholas and John, his brothers, Robert Griseleve, Edmund and Roger his brothers, William Corbet of Tasley [Shropshire], Nicholas de Eton, John de Dinston of Walton [Derby], William de la Warde the younger, Robert son of Richard Foljambe, Nicholas de la Firde, Robert son of Matthew de Vyers, Nicholas de Sparham and Walter Comyn ride with armed force secretly and openly, and are maintainers and receivers of Ralph son of Geoffrey of Repton, Roger le Megre and Reginald de la Mere, notorious thieves, outlawed in that county, and that they received them at Dean Hollow in the second week of Lent, in the sixth year of the reign of King Edward III [c 15 March 1332].”

From this it appears the influence of the gangs was spreading into the borderlands and Welsh Marches. One of the gang, William Corbet of Tasley, sounds like a member of the powerful Corbet family of Gorddwr, Caus and Morton Corbet. The location of their activities also explains why Walter Comyn ended up in prison at Wigmore, a March stronghold.