CORFE, William

A leading burgess of Melcombe, who attested the borough elections at least six times and represented his home town in no fewer than four Parliaments, Corfe may also have been bailiff for as many as seven annual terms. His first appearance in the local records showed a less respectable side to his character: he drew a baselard in breach of the peace in 1396, and the bailiffs were amerced for failing to bring the weapon into court. He was among the burgesses who owed suit at Melcombe in May 1397, but made default.2 HMC 5th Rep. 576-7. As bailiff, Corfe went to the Exchequer at Michaelmas 1423 to answer for the forfeiture of Scottish coin according to the proclamation. This visit to Westminster coincided with his first Parliament, which met there on 20 Oct. He was summoned to the Exchequer for the same purpose in each of the following five years and again in 1431, although on these occasions he was represented by an attorney. Probably a merchant, Corfe sometimes brought suits in the common pleas for the recovery of debts, occasionally appearing in person to do so. In 1424 he accused John Pullare of Melcombe and his wife of abducting his servant Edith Smythes, to his damage of £5, and in Hilary term 1431, when up at Westminster for his third Parliament, he attended the court to bring a plea of debt against a merchant of Weymouth and two men from Somerset.3 CP40/653, rots. 50d, 185d; 680, rot. 168d.

Corfe is not recorded after his last Parliament, which was dissolved in December 1433. John Corfe of Melcombe Regis, alternatively called yeoman or merchant, may have been his son. In 1437 John was pardoned outlawry incurred after he failed to appear in the common pleas to answer a widow from Yeovil in a suit for debt, although he was in trouble again six years later, when sued by Sir John Styward for the substantial sum of 50 marks.4 CPR, 1436-41, p. 105; CP40/720, rot. 145d. Other members of the Corfe family attested deeds at Melcombe in the 1460s.5 Dorchester Recs. ed. Mayo, 294.