FRAY, John (d.1461), of London and Munden Furnival, Herts.

Commr. of oyer and terminer June 1408 (appeal against a judgement by the dep. captain of Calais), Herts., Bucks. Mar., July 1430 (charges against Sir John Cheyne II), Norf., Suff. Apr., May 1431 (general), Norf. June 1441 (general), Berks. July 1444 (general), London July 1450 (aftermath of Cade’s Rebellion), Mar. 1451 (indictment of Sir John Say); inquiry, Staffs., Salop, Herefs., Glos., Derbys., Som., Wilts., Devon, Lincs., Rutland, Bristol Dec. 1409 (estates of Sir John Tuchet), Essex Dec. 1419 (property dispute at Havering-atte-Bower), Herts. July 1420 (property dispute at Aldenham), Essex, Norf., Suff., Lincs. July 1421 (concealments), London Feb. 1424 (treason and felonies), Essex, Herts., Cambs., Hunts., Norf., Suff., Beds., Bucks. July 1427 (concealments and wastes), Essex, Herts. Jan. 1429 (concealments), Bucks. July 1429 (property dispute at Fenny Stratford), Essex May 1433 (concealments), Norwich Dec. 1433 (misgovernment of the city), Norf., Suff., Cambs., Hunts., Beds., Bucks. June 1434 (escape of felons), Kent, Surr., Suss., Essex, Herts., Mdx., Norf., Suff., Cambs., Hunts., Beds., Bucks. July 1434 (concealments and evasion of customs), London Dec. 1435 (earl of Northumberland’s title to property), Herts., Feb., July 1436 (property dispute at Thele), Suff. July 1439 (a murder), Cornw. July 1441 (piracy), Norwich July 1441 (misgovernment of the city), London, Mdx., Essex, Kent, Surr. Oct. 1441 (treasons and insurrections), Hertford Nov. 1442 (escape of felons), Norwich Feb. 1443 (misgovernment of the city), Norf. June 1444 (violence at Ellingham), Bedford Dec. 1446 (petition for reduction of fee farm), Mdx. Feb. 1448 (concealments), Herts. Feb. 1451 (felonies); kiddles, Essex, Mdx. Feb., July 1416, Herts., Essex, Mdx. Feb. 1427, Feb., May 1428, Dec. 1433, Apr. 1434, Essex Feb. 1439, Essex, Herts., Mdx. May, July 1440; array, Herts. Mar. 1419, Dec. 1459; gaol delivery, Newgate Jan., Nov. 1423, Jan. 1425, Jan. 1426,Cal. Letter Bk. London, K, 7, 18, 39, 49. Huntingdon Apr. 1441; raise royal loans, Herts. Mar. 1439, Nov. 1440, Mar. 1442, Essex, Herts. June 1446, Herts. Sept. 1449, 1453; raise a subsidy Feb. 1441; assign contingents of archers Dec. 1457.

J.p. Herts. 4 May 1419 – July 1423, 12 Feb. 1429 – Nov. 1457, Hunts. 9 July 1428 – Feb. 1429, 27 Jan. 1432–50, Norf. 5 Dec. 1428 – May 1448, Cambs. 28 Apr. 1429 – Feb. 1448, Bishop’s Lynn 30 Apr. 1429 – Feb. 1437, Great Yarmouth 16 July 1429 – June 1459, Beds. 16 July 1429 – May 1461, Cambridge 24 Nov. 1429 – Feb. 1432, 4 Dec. 1433 – Feb. 1448, Bucks. 1 Mar. 1431 – Aug. 1453, Suff. 14 Oct. 1431-Apr 1448.

Common serjeant-at-law of London by 26 June 1421-Sept. 1422.Cal. P. and M. London, 1413–37, pp. 99, 100, 106; Cal. Letter Bk. London, K, 39.

Recorder of London by 21 Sept. 1422–26 May 1426.The supposed problem of dating Fray’s resignation from office (see Cal. Letter Bk. London, K, 50) is solved in CPR, 1441–6, p. 180.

Third baron of the Exchequer 26 May 1426 – 8 Feb. 1435, 2nd baron 8 Feb. 1435–6, chief baron 9 Feb. 1436–2 May 1448.

Auditor of the accounts of ministers of the Crown in Chester and North Wales 1 Mar. 1428–5 Sept. 1430.DKR, xxxi. 199, 200; xxxvii (2), 295.

Justice of assize, Beds., Bucks., Cambs., Hunts., Norf., Suff. May 1428, and Norwich July 1430, Oct. 1439, Feb. 1442.

Assessor of a tax, London Jan. 1436; collector, London, Herts. Aug. 1450.

Auditor of the accounts of the ministers of Beatrice, late countess of Arundel, Oct. 1439–40.E101/515/3, 4.

Dep. to James Fiennes, Lord Say and Sele, treasurer of England 22 July 1449–13 Apr./4 July 1450.PRO List ‘Exchequer Offs.’, 197.