CARY, Robert

More can be added to the earlier biography.1 The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 495-6.

It was probably in the context of Cary’s troubles after Henry IV’s usurpation that he came to quarrel with his earlier associate William Allington I*, perhaps in connexion with their joint landholdings.2 CP40/567, rot.609. This was just one of a number of lawsuits for an account that Cary brought over the course of more than 20 years against a series of men entrusted with receiving his revenues. Others included in 1422 Richard Smith II*, a merchant of Kingswear, in 1426 John Cornelys, a ‘birmaker’ of Dartmouth, and in early 1431 John Medelond* who had represented Totnes in Cary’s last Parliament.3 CP40/647, rot. 170; 660, rot. 70; 680, rot. 169.

An obscure incident in Cary’s career concerned an inquiry into the activities of John Bosom† of Bozomzeal ordered in July 1414. In November 1413 the chief justice of common pleas, Richard Norton, and other commissioners had been ordered to inquire into treasons and other offences committed in the county of Devon, and they had arrived in Exeter to hold their sessions on 26 Feb. 1414. On that day, Cary had purportedly intercepted Bosom in the street, and had said to him ‘John Boson, justices have come here with a commission containing diverse articles, and no such commission has been issued in any other county, and various men of the country doubt what damage might grow thereof’.4 KB27/670, rex rot. 7d: Johanne Boson, justiciarij venerunt hinc cum una commissione continente diversos articulos et nulla talis commissio exivit ad aliquem alium comitatum Anglie, et diverse gentes patrie dubitabant quale dampnum inde posset evenire. Bosom had replied that he would work to keep the county harmless.

Despite his extensive record of administrative and parliamentary activity, Cary still found time for lesser duties on the local stage, such as service on presenting and grand juries.5 KB9/205/3. Among the numerous clients who sought his advice were the authorities of the city of Exeter who made him occasional gifts of wine in the later 1420s. By contrast, the Totnes merchant John Wele* took the opportunity of his return to Parliament in 1423 (one of the few occasions when Cary had failed to be elected), to bring a suit against him for detinue of two obligations.6 Devon RO, Exeter city recs., receivers’ accts. 2-3, 7-8 Hen. VI; CP40/648, rot. 227.