After Edward III’s victory at Halidon Hill in 1333, pardons were handed out to a large number of men, including knights and many criminals amongst the ranks, as reward for their service.
It is said the victory belonged, “to their perpetual laud”, to those murderers, robbers and poachers, including a man who held up a monk in Sherwood Forest. James Coterel and the remnants of his notorious criminal gang were on the list too.
But the system was quickly abused.
One man, Roger Wensley, a sworn enemy of the Coterels, hadn’t fought at all. On the very day of the king’s triumph, he was in the High Peak stripping Randolph Lockwode naked, tying him up, and demanding 80 marks for his release.
Then he audaciously procured himself a pardon to absolve him of such crimes.
What he hadn’t anticipated was that the Crown would soon ask for proof of service and his deceit would soon unravel.