CRESE, Richard, of Exeter Devon.

Crese became a freeman of Exeter on 6 Oct. 1393 after completing a seven-year apprenticeship to a mercer, the then receiver of the city, William Oke. His property included a house, shop and cellars in North Street, next to St. Kerian’s church, and a tenement in St. Paul’s Street.2Ct. rolls 17-18 Ric. II m. 1, 1-2 Hen. VI m. 10, 4-5 Hen. VI m. 54; ED/M/576, 578, 618, 619. An inquiry made in 1403 regarding the capture of the Seint Pier of Dundarre by seamen from Dartmouth revealed that Crese had illegally purchased from them four tuns of oil and 14 bales of almonds from the ship’s cargo. His more legitimate trade was in wine and woollen cloth, which was sometimes carried on his own ship, Le Marie of Exmouth, ownership of which he shared with the famous sea captain William Wilford. It was specifically as a merchant that on 6 Nov. 1420 (when up at Westminster for his second Parliament) Crese was pardoned his outlawry in connection with a debt of £5 to the recorder of Exeter, William Wynard. Crese’s record as a civic officer is unimpressive, and he appeared on the panel of electors of the governing body only in 1414, 1415, 1416, 1420 and 1424.3CIMisc. vii. 251; Reg. Stafford ed. Hingeston-Randolph, 402; CPR, 1416-22, p. 290; mayors’ ct. rolls 2 Hen. V-3 Hen. VI. He was still living in 1426.