Ralph Crepyn

Ralph Crepyn (also known as Radulphus de Alegate) was a lawyer and the first documented Town Clerk of London in 1274. His birth was about 1245, and he was well-educated for his day. He died before 1331, but the exact date is unknown.

Town clerk service
Crepyn served as Town Clerk of London from 1274 to November 1284, and again from 1286 to at least 1306. His two-year absence from 1284 to 1286 was due to a royal inquest, after which he was restored to office. During this time period, the term "clericus" or "common clerk" was used for the Town Clerk of London.

Attack and aftermath
In November 1284, he suffered a serious injury when attacked in the street by Laurence Duket. This event excited local society because Ralph Crepyn was defending the honor of his mistress Alice Atte-Bowe. His attacker then fled to St Mary-le-Bow to seek sanctuary. Within days, Laurence Duket was found hanging from the mullion of one of the church's windows in what was believed to be a suicide. In an official inquest, the Sheriff and others declared the incident closed. However, a young boy who was closeted within the church claims to have seen what really happened. THE HALL SITE 23 Unfortunately for those involved, a boy, hidden in the church, gave information. The matter was re-opened, and the parties implicated were convicted, with the result that Alice was burnt (the punishment in those days for women convicted of murder), and her accomplices hanged. Ralph himself, his friend, Jordan Godchepe, (who was one of the Sheriffs that year), and others were attainted, and after long imprisonment were, as Stow described it, " hanged by the purse," that is to say, were released on payment of fines. Crepin's land was taken in execution, and on the p- R- ^. 13 Edw. I. Patent Rolls is a Grant dated the 2nd of July, 1285, ofm. n. his "houses" in Cornhill (" vicus de Cornhulle ") to Ralph de Sandwych (" custos civitatis London ") to occupy during the King's pleasure. I presume the property was vested in Ralph de Sandwych, in his official capacity. At that time, in consequence of some offence caused to Edward I, the City had been deprived of its liberties and placed under the authority of a royal official called the ** Custos." In the following year, 1286, Crepin's lands were c. p. r. ordered to be restored to him, he having purged his p. 386. innocence before Richard de Gravesend, Bishop of London, to whom he had been handed over in accordance with the benefit of clergy. I think this Ralph Crepin and Ralph de Alegate (" otherwise Crepin ") must have been the same person, for if they were not, it would be a remarkable coincidence that there should have been two men bearing the same name, living about the same time, both described as *' clericus," and both owning property in Cornhill. Walter de Glovernia (or Gloucester) was the son ofn. r. Ralph de Alegate, otherwise Crepin, for he is described as ^^^'^^' " filius domini Radulphi de Alegate clerici," in a deed on B., p. 177 24 THE HALL SITE the Husting Rolls, and as "Walter de Gloucestre, son of Ralph de Alegate, called Crepyn " in a document entered in the City Letter Books. He was no doubt the same Loftie, vol. ii. person as Walter Crepin, father of Edmund Crepin, and p- 340. probably the same as Walter Crepin who was a member e"., p. 175- of Parliament for London in the year 1322, and elected E.,^'. ?8i. Alderman of the Ward of Cornhill, 1323. Too much importance must not be attached to changes in surnames, for in those days surnames had hardly become fixed. Other members of the same family assumed the name of Bultel, for among the deeds H. R. relating to this title is a Deed of Confirmation dated the 7' ^*^^' 23rd of February, 1344, by William Bultel who is therein described as the son and heir of Mascelinus Bultel, brother of Ralph Crepin (" frater Radulphi Crepyn"). Sir Oliver de Ingham, who was tenant of the premises when Edmund Crepin owned them, was a distinguished soldier. An interesting account of his life will be found in Clode's " Early History " of the Company, Vol. II. p. i.

John de Bauquell was listed as the clerk of the city on 21 November 1284 through most of 1285.

Royal inquest
On 2 July 1285, Crepyn's estates in Cornhill were given to Ralph de Sandwych to hold for King Edward I of England. 13 Edw. I. Patent Rolls is a Grant dated the 2nd of July, 1285, ofm. n. his "houses" in Cornhill (" vicus de Cornhulle ") to Ralph de Sandwych (" custos civitatis London ") to occupy during the King's pleasure. I presume the property was vested in Ralph de Sandwych, in his official capacity. At that time, in consequence of some offence caused to Edward L, the City had been deprived of its liberties and placed under the authority of a royal official called the ** Custos." In the following year, 1286, Crepin's lands were c. p. r. ordered to be restored to him, he having purged his p. 386. innocence before Richard de Gravesend, Bishop of London, to whom he had been handed over in accordance with the benefit of clergy. I think this Ralph Crepin and Ralph de Alegate (" otherwise Crepin ") must have been the same person, for if they were not, it would be a remarkable coincidence that there should have been two men bearing the same name, living about the same time, both described as *' clericus," and both owning property in Cornhill. Walter de Glovernia (or Gloucester) was the son ofn. r. Ralph de Alegate, otherwise Crepin, for he is described as ^^^'^^' " filius domini Radulphi de Alegate clerici," in a deed on B., p. 177 24 THE HALL SITE the Husting Rolls, and as "Walter de Gloucestre, son of Ralph de Alegate, called Crepyn " in a document entered in the City Letter Books. He was no doubt the same Loftie, vol. ii. person as Walter Crepin, father of Edmund Crepin, and p- 340. probably the same as Walter Crepin who was a member e"., p. 175- of Parliament for London in the year 1322, and elected E.,^'. ?8i. Alderman of the Ward of Cornhill, 1323. Too much importance must not be attached to changes in surnames, for in those days surnames had hardly become fixed. Other members of the same family assumed the name of Bultel, for among the deeds H. R. relating to this title is a Deed of Confirmation dated the 7' ^*^^' 23rd of February, 1344, by William Bultel who is therein described as the son and heir of Mascelinus Bultel, brother of Ralph Crepin (" frater Radulphi Crepyn"). Sir Oliver de Ingham, who was tenant of the premises when Edmund Crepin owned them, was a distinguished soldier. An interesting account of his life will be found in Clode's " Early History " of the Company, Vol. II. p. i. This was due to a Royal inquest that seized all of Crepyn's lands in Borham, and also in Ware, in the county of Hertford, along with lands and estates in Stepney and Hackney. Richard de Gravesend, Bishop of London, took care of the recovering Crepyn during the Royal inquest into the vile murder of Laurence Ducket, who had been given Church sanctuary. It is unknown if Ralph served within the gaol during this period.

After the Royal inquest and the sentence given, Alice Atte-Bowe was burnt at the stake, which was the common execution for women. Fifteen "ruffians", who she enticed to commit the murder within the Bow Church were hanged. Sheriff Jordan Godchepe (a friend of Crepyn) and several others were imprisoned during the months of the inquest. Finally they, along with Crepyn, were released after paying stiff fines.

Summary
Ralph Crepyn was noted as a "clerk in the service of the mayor of London" in 1286 and his lands were restored by the King due to his incapacity during the murder of his assailant. In 1294 Richard Crepyn (Richard de Gloucester) and in 1306 Walter Crepyn (Walter de Gloucestre) were documented as sons of Ralph Crepyn, the clerk. By 1331 Ralph Crepyn is reported as deceased.

Portrayal in fiction
"Building on an actual murder in 1284, Doherty (The Death of a King) auspiciously begins a mystery series featuring Hugh Corbett, clerk of the King's Bench. Lawrence Duket, goldsmith, kills Ralph Crepyn, moneylender, and flees to London's St. Mary Le Bow for sanctuary. The next day Duket is found hanged inside the locked church, an apparent suicide. Bishop Burnell, Chancellor for King Edward I, assigns Corbett to investigate. Burnell fears that the antiroyal Populares party will join with practitioners of devil worship at this time, Christianity is only skin deep. Hugh Corbett is threatened and attacked while probing a suicide which was really murder which . . . masked treason, sorcery and rebellion. The satanist group seems to be centered at The Mitre, a tavern owned by the beautiful Alice atte Bowe, with whom Corbett falls in love. The mystery is neatly done and Doherty's ease of scholarship in giving us the rich sights, sounds and smells of medieval London is masterful." http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/p-c-doherty/satan-in-st-marys.htm
 * Satan in St Mary's - Paul Doherty, 1986, www.revealweb.org.uk - ISBN 0-7472-3492-2 - McArthur & Company - 1990 Paperback ISBN 0-7472-3492-2 and ISBN 978-0-7472-3492-0
 * This is a work of fiction based on events in the life of the first Town Clerk of London. The blurb describing this book reads,

References and notes

 * Additional information can be seen in "Hundred Rolls", pp. 428 & 415. And see: MISC MSS3 66.1.