The Insufficiently Accused Oxen
Four oxen, one technicality, and two neighbours who clearly had history.
In 1258, Roger Eyre of Cranfield took Elias of Stratford to the manor court.
A straightforward accusation. Or was it?
Roger said Elias had wrongfully taken four of his oxen and kept them. The loss had caused Roger such damage and shame that he claimed it was worth half a mark.
But Elias spotted a problem.
Roger hadn't said what year the alleged theft had happened. He hadn't given the value of the oxen, or said where Elias had taken them.
βRoger has insufficiently accused the said Elias.β
Elias argued that the accusation was therefore too vague for him to answer.
The court agreed.
Elias went βwithout dayβ β the case was dismissed β while Roger was put in mercy for bringing an insufficient complaint.
You might think that was the end of it.
It wasn't.
Elias immediately brought a complaint against Roger for trespasses committed against Elias and his mother.
βAlso Elias of Stratford complains of Roger Eyre of Cranfield for trespasses done to Elias and his mother.β
Roger then asked for the proper summonses β formal notice of Elias's complaint against him β and the court agreed. Both men had to provide pledges β people who would stand behind their promises to the court. Roger even put his property up as a guarantee and promised not to cause any more trouble for the Abbot's tenants in court.
So somewhere behind this very dry court entry are four oxen, two unhappy neighbours, a mother caught up in the dispute, and apparently a much longer-running feud.
Sadly, the court roll doesn't tell us what happened next.
Damn it.
