Thanks, Paul, for finding a fifteenth century lawyer amongst our ranks! In a message dated 2/5/07 5:42:28 PM, pluddington007@tiscali.co.uk writes: > http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=37992 > > . . . [T]he management of the affairs of the house was deputed to the > [Crowland Abbey's P]rior, Richard Upton. He was a man of considerable experience. > . . . He firmly determined to end the disputes about the marsh. . . His first > step was to excommunicate all persons who infringed the liberties of the > church of St. Guthlac, plundered its property, or invaded its possessions. . . > Afterwards, in the words of the chronicler, 'he manfully girded up his loins > as though about to fight against beasts,' and hastened to London to prosecute > the men of Spalding, of Moulton, and Weston,. . . The suits dragged on for > nearly two years, and the expenses exceeded £500. The prior fell sick in > London from vexation and despair. . . His counsel was a skilled lawyer named > William Ludington. According to the story current at Crowland, St. Guthlac > appeared one night to Ludington with cheering promises of success. The next day he > succeeded in agreeing with the counsel for the other parties to submit the > question to arbitration. Two arbitrators were chosen on behalf of the abbot and > convent of Crowland, and two for the men of Moulton and Weston, and William > Ludington and John Cockayne; both justices of the common pleas, acted with > them. > > After an examination of the evidence and muniments at Crowland, they [the > arbitrators - ed] gave their award early in September, 1415. The island called > 'Le Purceynt' was adjudged to be within the bounds of Crowland, and the men > of Moulton and Weston were excluded from common of pasture, piscary [fishing > rights - ed], or turbary [the right to cut peat for fuel - ed] therein. They > were condemned to rebuild the fishing-house at Sandistowe before 1 November, > to pay 40 marks to the abbot and convent for damages, and to enter into > recognizances to pay £200 before 25 December. The award of the arbitrators in the > suit against the men of Spalding and Pinchbeck on 30 October, 1415, was > equally favourable, and the rights of the abbot and convent in the marsh of > Goggisland were strictly safeguarded. > Ludington lawyers ROCK. Gay Ludington, Esq. ;-D