BARTELOT, Robert

Bartelot was presumably related to the established Canterbury family of that name. His relationship to Richard Bartelot, the bailiff of 1382-3, is unclear but it seems unlikely that he was his son as when he gained the freedom of the city in March 1404 it was through purchase rather than inheritance.3 CCA-CC-F/A/1, f. 63v. At Michaelmas 1404 he was chosen as one of the four cofferers, and five years later was elected as jurat for the first time. He seems to have had little involvement in the city’s external affairs. The only payment to him made before 1422 was in 1414-15 when he received 4s. for his costs in repairing the city’s mill; this may have been in a professional rather than administrative context as he was described as ‘wodour’ on his admittance to the freedom.4 Ibid. f. 114v. Nevertheless, Bartelot must have proved an effective member of the city’s governing circle for at Michaelmas 1420 he was elected as one of its bailiffs. In September 1422, on the accession of Henry VI, he rode to London to obtain a new charter for the city and have it enrolled.5 Ibid. f. 153v.

That it was Bartelot and not one of his more experienced and legally-trained colleagues who was entrusted with this important task must be a measure of his status within the city at this time. Accordingly, in October 1422 he was elected as one of the burgesses to represent Canterbury in Henry VI’s first Parliament. He received wages for 42 days’ service, indicating that he attended the Commons throughout the session, unlike his colleague William Chilton*.6 Ibid. f. 157v. Bartelot may have taken the opportunity of being at Westminster to initiate six actions of debt in the court of common pleas. These reveal local associations as the defendants were from Canterbury, Herne, Birchington, Faversham and Dover.7 CP40/647, rots. 120, 181d, 186d; 651, rot. 40. During Michaelmas term 1423 he brought further actions in the common pleas. These involved the alleged theft of corn at Birchington and pleas of debt against men from the Isle of Thanet and Sturry. The association with Thanet may have arisen from his second marriage, to Joan, the executrix and presumably the widow of Henry London of All Saints’ parish there.8 CP40/651, rots. 89, 248. There is little evidence of his other interests at this time but in March 1425 he conveyed lands in Canterbury, Adisham, Ickham, Littlebourne and Well to his brother, John, and William Benet*.9 CP25(1)/114/297/82. In January 1426 Bartelot was selected as one of the city’s MPs for a second time. He received wages for 83 days spent at Leicester, although the Parliament’s two sessions totalled only 63 days, and it was not until more than two years later that he was finally satisfied of this sum.10 CCA-CC-F/A/1, ff. 180v, 184v. At Michaelmas 1429 Bartelot was elected to his second term as bailiff. His last recorded duty on behalf of the city was during that year of office when he delivered the city’s livery to its attorney, John Fortescue*.11 Ibid. f. 198. By this time Bartelot’s activities had led to an increase in wealth and status. In 1431 he was assessed as having lands in Canterbury and Ringslow hundred, Kent, worth £4 p.a. and was styled as ‘gentleman’.12 Feudal Aids, iii. 57, 65.

Bartelot made his will on 27 Jan. 1432. He asked to be buried in the cemetery of St. Augustine’s abbey besides his first wife, Margaret, though he left money to the high altar and fabric of his parish church of St. Peter’s, Canterbury, as well as to other religious houses and hospitals within the city. Further sums of money were bequeathed to his servants and several named individuals, including the lawyers John Sheldwich* and John Pirie*, each of whom received 40s. His two messuages in the parishes of St. Peter and St. Margaret he ordered to be sold and £40 of the proceeds to be delivered to the prior of Christ Church. The proceeds of the sale of his goods were to be employed to the benefit of his soul. He named as his executors his wife, his brother and one John Quel.13 Canterbury consist. ct. wills, PRC 32/1, f. 23v.