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                                                                        Edmund del Clay

The Catalogue of Seals

   8617. [14th cent.] page 646

 Sulph. cast from imperfect impression) injured by pressure. 14 in. [D.C., F. 357.] shield of arms, couché a chevron betw, three uncertain charges. Cf. a chevron betw, three trefoils slipped, for CLAY. Crest on a helmet, lambrequin, and chapeau, a ball betw. two buttresses (?) Within a carved gothic panel. Sigil: edmundi: del clay.

As yet we have no birthdate or birth year for Edmund del Clay, we have a possible year of death c 1394/5 that we are currently investigating.

The del part of del Clay is Norman in origin but this may only mean that the writers of his name were just using the Norman style.

Edmund is very often described as " of Finningley " (1) and in this area of Nottinghamshire/South Yorkshire we find preceding him, what could possibly be his grandfather, Robert del Clay of Blida or Blythe, now spelt Blyth (2) and a possible father Hugh del Clay of Blyth.(3) Hugh del Clay is also mentioned as of Finningley. (4) An Adam del Clay was also the vicar of Clarborough and Walesby. (5)&(6) Hugh del Clay held an official position under the King and we are trying to determine what this was, he was also appointed a commissioner to collect taxes in 1350.(7) He was also charged by villagers in Blyth of commiting excesses, which ended with their imprisonment in Tickhill castle.(8) In 1354 Hugh was with others granted land,  by the King in Nottinghamshire.(9) However the first recorded Clay is at Hodsock in 1222 and Robert del Clay is recorded as the vicar of Selston in 1250. (See Clay of England Society in links)

Looking at all the dates we have with regard to the del Clays, we can make a reasonable assumption that Edmund was born around 1330/40 and as such he would have grown up amidst the turmoil of the Black Death which hit England in November 1348.  Due to the rural location of Finningley, if that's where he was born, it's possible Edmund and his family were spared the ravages of the plague. If so they were lucky by 1377, the population of England had halved to 2.5 million people.

Where Edmund trained as a lawyer we have yet to find out.

In 1368, Edmund granted the manor of Finningley, to Alice Perrers, Alice Perrers was the mistress of Edward III. How Edmund knew her, we don't  know, we don't know why he granted her the manor. He with another lawyer called Robert Brown  later represented Alice Perrers after her fall from grace and later banishment.(10)

In 1377 Edmund was given a permit with two other men to pass by sea with twelve servants and sixteen horses and carrying 5000 pounds in money and jewels and they travel with the Kings license.(11) We do not know what the purpose of this mission was but it may have had something to with Alice Perrers.

In 1377, Edmund was appointed as a commissioner for the peace for Nottinghamshire, this would be a recurring position.(12)

In 1382, Edmund was summoned by the king to be a Sergeant at law, this involved a huge amount of expense and Edmund along with two others who had been summoned didnot comply. In november of 1382, Edmund was ordered by the King and Council, under threat of a large fine to prepare himself to become a Sergeant at law.(13)

Edmund was appointed to a commission of Oyer and Terminer in May 1384, concerning the abduction and ravishing of Phillipa, wife of Sir Ralph de Percy by a John Halsham. Later it would turn out that Phillipa had agreedto be abducted and she later married John Halsham.(14)

Having acted as attorney for many people who had been despatched to Ireland by the King, (15) in February of 1385 it was now time for Edmund to be despatched to Ireland as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas of Ireland.(16) From the Medieval Soldier Database, we have a list of soldiers who are going to Ireland under the Captaincy of Edmund del Clay.(17)

Phillip de Courtenay, the Lieutenant of Ireland was ordered to be arrested by Edmund Clay Robert de Crulle and the Bishop of Meath. Courtenay was to be kept under honourable arrest and not to depart Ireland, 26th of March 1386. Courtenay who had a somewhat dubious reputation before serving in Ireland, was accused of intolerable oppressions, excess and duress against the Kings Lieges in Ireland. (18) Later in 1388, Edmund himself was ordered to be arrested and to await the Kings Lieutenants on charges of wicked extortion.(19)

Prior to that in 1387 Edmund had been granted the Manors of  Heynestoneld and Martry by Robert de Vere, 9th Earl of Oxford and Marquis of Dublin.(20) The land of Ireland had been granted to De Vere by Richard II.

The arrest of Edmund was the last we hear of him in Ireland.

Edmund did not let  his  arrest and wicked extortions set him back too far, for when he returned to England he sat on three commission’s as well resuming his own law career. (20,21,22)

We believe Edmund died c1394/5, we have a record of an Edward Del Clay in Nottinghamshire records, we are trying to obtain a copy of these records. (23) Unfortunately we have not yet discovered the will of Edmund del Clay but we are aware of a George del Clay of Finningley, whom we believe to be his son.

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