Roger de Birthorpe

Roger de Birthorpe (c.1280–c.1345) was an English landowner and lawyer who had a distinguished career in Ireland as a judge, becoming Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer in 1327.

He has been described as a "forceful and dextrous" speaker,[2] but, like many medieval landowners, he was quite capable of resorting to violence to achieve his ends.

[3] In 1312 the neighbourhood of Birthorpe was plagued by a series of raids and counter-raids, involving John de Camelton, the Prior of Sempringham (the priory was about a mile from Birthorpe) on the one hand, and Roger and his brothers, assisted by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell, Edmund Colville, Guy Goband of Rippingale, and other neighbours, on the other.

In July 1312 the Prior made a formal complaint to the Crown that Roger and his associates had invaded the priory, broken down its doors, carried off goods to the value of £500 and assaulted several of the monks.

[2] A second commission, set up to investigate Roger's counter-claim that the Prior had unlawfully seized some of his cattle, was abandoned almost at once.

[2] According to Roger's later petition, he was the innocent party in the conflict, although he admitted to having impounded some cattle belonging to the Prior.

[2] By his account he and his companions "the great Lords and good people of the country", fully intended to reach "a good accord" with the Prior, who however would not receive them; and then "conceiving a malicious plan, he had the doors cut down by the men of his household", and raised the hue and cry against Roger.