(Image courtesy of Ashley Dace)
On 14th November 1351 there is an entry in the Fine Rolls for William de Middleton, escheator in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk regarding Alice of Norfolk. An escheator was a royal officer responsible for overseeing the reversion of lands and property of the deceased back to the lord or crown; in this case back to the king as Alice was the tenant-in-chief. Alice’s death must have then been reported to officials approximately five months after the attack by her husband and his two retainers. However, an addendum was added after stating that the escheator ‘vacated because it is testified that Alice is alive’.
Working Title: Murder, Power and the Plantagenets: Edward I’s Granddaughters @penswordbooks
©2020 Louise Wyatt
