RODE, Robert atte, of Suss.

On 24 Dec. 1388 atte Rode proclaimed before the county court at Chichester the writs ordering the registration of guilds, in accordance with a recent statute. (He was no doubt acting as an agent for the sheriff of Sussex.) A few years later he was sued in the court of common pleas by Richard Hurst, for refusing to reimburse him £15 3s.6d. due under the terms of an agreement, and he was subsequently outlawed for failing to pay the fine imposed by the justices. However, in May 1398 he obtained a royal pardon of outlawry, after he had surrendered to the Fleet prison and rendered all sums due, including the four marks damages awarded to Hurst.2Suss. Arch. Colls. xxiv. 292; CPR, 1396-9, p. 346.

Atte Rode’s place of residence in Sussex has not been ascertained, but it seems likely that it was Midhurst, where others of his surname lived.3Suss. Arch. Colls. xcv. 50.