BAMLOND, James

Bamlond is an obscure figure, but he was evidently a local man and paid maltolts in Romney from 1409 until his death, doing so initially in Hamersnod and Colbrond ward, in 1427-8 in Mill ward and from then on in Bartlot ward.2 Ibid. ff. 77, 79, 83, 86, 89, 91, 95, 99v, 104, 109v, 111v, 113, 115, 117, 119v, 121v, 133. However, it was not until 1431 that he was first listed among the jurats of Romney. While serving as a jurat he was elected to Parliament alongside the experienced parliamentarian, James Lowys*. Bamlond received wages for 52 days’ attendance at Parliament, 18 fewer than Lowys, and was clearly the junior of the two. Unlike his colleague, he did not receive any special payments for the presentation of a bill (possibly related to Romney’s jurisdictional dispute with the lieutenant of Dover castle), nor for seeking allowance for the Portsmen from the parliamentary subsidy.3 Ibid. f. 118v. After his return from Westminster Bamlond does not appear to have been much involved in the affairs of the town; he was not listed among Romney’s representatives at meetings of the Brodhull nor did he engage in any extraordinary business on behalf of the Portsmen.4 White and Black Bks. of Cinque Ports (Kent Rec. Ser. xix), 1-8.

More is known of Bamlond’s private affairs. Described as ‘of Romney, fishmonger’, he was being sued in 1413 by William Kenewarde of Harrietsham, Kent, for trespass.5 CCR, 1409-13, p. 433. But he traded in other commodities besides fish. He was among the townsmen who paid occasional fees to the jurats to be allowed to trade in wine in Romney, and he was first listed among the ‘vintria’ in 1420-1.6 NR/FAc 2, f. 104v. Further light is shed on Bamlond’s activities by a Chancery petition presented by a merchant of the Hanse, Egard Yonge. Yonge alleged that his ship, the Lucas of Hamburg, had been seized by Bamlond, claiming to be victualler of the King’s kitchen, and its cargo, £355-worth of Hamburg beer and bacon, taken to the Camber at Winchelsea and unloaded, while he himself was kept a prisoner in Bamlond’s house at Romney for a month. Having escaped, Yonge obtained a writ from the King’s council directed to Geoffrey Lowther*, the lieutenant of Dover castle, ordering restitution of the ship and its cargo. This writ Bamlond ignored and Yonge, having returned to Germany, appealed to the English ambassadors to the Hanse, who in turn presented his case to the Council a second time. It was ordered that Yonge should receive £210 in damages and £69 in costs for his trips to England attempting to recover his goods, but by then Bamlond was probably dead.7 C1/17/418. The undated petition post-dated Lowther’s appointment at Dover, probably in 1417, and was addressed to the apb. of Canterbury as chancellor. This can only have been John Stafford, both chancellor and abp. between 1443 and 1450. Yonge claimed that his ship had been seized about eight years previously, suggesting that Bamlond committed the offence shortly before his death. Bamlond was also a shipowner: in April 1436, shortly after his death, a vessel formerly belonging to him was one of the two that the Brodhull ordered Romney to provide for the passage of the duke of York to France.8 NR/FAc 2, f. 124v; White and Black Bks. 8.

Little is recorded of Bamlond’s property interests, although in July 1434 he and Simon Hayton of Lydd demised a messuage there to another local man,9 E. Kent Archs., Romney deeds, NR/ZT 28. and in November the following year the widow of Richard Stotard* transferred possession to him of 12 acres of land in St. Mary’s parish, Romney.10 Romney assmt. bk. 1469-92, NR/FAc 4, f. 79v. Bamlond was last listed as a jurat in 1433-4, and although he paid his maltolts the following year he was dead by 25 Mar. 1436, when his unnamed widow paid his dues.11 NR/FAc 2, f. 123v.