Ralph de Normanville

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ¹¹¹⁶
Ralph, said to be son of Gerold de Normanville, paid 40s. for a writ of right in 1170 [Ibid. 16 Hen. II, p. 147; Geneal. New Ser., 13, 15] and was in possession of Empingham in 1205, when he obtained a grant of free warren there [ot. Chart. John, Rec. Com, 149]. King John by the same charter granted him the county of Rutland at farm, for which grants Ralph agreed to pay 60 marks, a destrier or war horse, and a palfrey [Pipe R. 7 John, m. 50; Rot. de Oblat. et Fin.. Rec. Com., 268]. At about the same time Ralph inherited from his uncle, Reginald de Normanville, land in Rouceby and Rokesham, co. Linc. [Curia Reg. R. iv, 299; v, 84].

In the early years of the reign of King John, Ralph de Normanville was apparently in the king's favor, and in 1213 served with Ralph de Bray as Marshal of the king's army in England [Rot. Litt. Claus., Rec. Com., i, 16]. In the same year he was appointed to make inquiry as to damage done to churches in the diocese of Lincoln, during the late disturbances in the kingdom [Ibid.]. Later he joined the rebellion against King John, and though he was pardoned [Ibid. 260], severe conditions were imposed upon him. Gerold his son, and one of his knights, William de Badlesmere, had been taken prisoner, and for their release and his own pardon, Ralph was required to pay 500 marks and 5 palfreys of 25 marks. Of this, 250 marks and 25 marks for the palfreys was to be paid before the release of his son Gerold, William de Badlesmere. Two other of Ralph's sons, Geoffrey and Thomas, were to be delivered to the king to be held as hostages until Ralph made two further payments of £100 at Easter and 100 marks at Whitsun. After payment of these sums, Ralph was further required to give the king his charter of faithful service, when one of his two sons should be released, the other being retained as a hostage for the faithful service of Ralph and his son Gerold [Rot. de Oblat. et Fin. 576.].

Ralph was constable of Stamford in 1221 [Cal. Pat. R. 1216-25, 451], and it was he, probably, who served in 1225 as a justice of the forest for the perambulation of the Forest of Rutland [Cal. Pat. R. 1216-25, p.569]. The date of his death is not known, but an incomplete entry on the Pipe Roll of 1230 suggests that his son Ralph had then succeeded him [Pipe R. Soc., New Ser., iv, 324].

~ A History of the County of Rutland, Volume II, pp. 242-250