40. Robert, son of Robert of Ferrers, appeals Ranulf of
Tattesworth, for that he came into Robert's garden and
wickedly and in the king's peace assaulted Robert's man
Roger, and beat and wounded him so that his life was
despaired of, and robbed him [Roger?] of a cloak, a sword, a
bow and arrows: and the said Roger offers to prove this by
his body as the court shall consider. And Ranulf comes and
defends the whole of it, word by word, and offers the king
one mark of silver that he may have an inquest of lawful
knights [to say] whether he be guilty thereof or no. Also he
says that Roger has never until now appealed him of this,
and prays that this be allowed in his favor. [Ranulf's]
offering is accepted. The jurors say that in truth there was
some quarrel between Robert's gardener, Osmund, and some
foot-boys, but Ranulf was not there, and they do not suspect
him of any robbery or any tort done to Robert or to Osmund.
Also the county records that the knights who on Robert's
complaint were sent to view Osmund's wounds found him
unwounded and found no one else complaining, and that Robert
in his plaint spoke of Osmund his gardener and never of
Roger, and that Roger never came to the county [court] to
make this appeal. Therefore it is considered that Ranulf be
quit, and Robert and Roger in mercy.
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